FREEDOM Legends

by Stephen Arseneault

  "Yes, in most instances. Watching the games is considered a high evening. Watching on a monitor is only done of necessity or when the observer is either incapacitated or perhaps away on travel."

  "You said they use stun pellets. Why? What happens when you're hit?"

  "The charge incapacitates the runner. He or she is then physically restrained and dragged to the center of the arena, where they are chained to a post for everyone to see. The fans then get to choose from a variety of terminations for them. Being tossed in the air repeatedly, upwards of fifteen meters, and then smacking the ground until they are deceased or no longer functional, hacked with swords—always a fan favorite—drowned, clubbed, electrocuted... the managers of the game typically offer a wide selection for the crowds to choose from. Fan participation is very much encouraged."

  Jamus rubbed the side of his head as his facial expression was one of building anger. "Has a bot ever been defeated?"

  Deffie laughed out loud. "Defeated? It is only rare that they take modest damage of any kind, perhaps a dozen instances in the last ten thousand years?"

  "You said there were also live hunters?"

  "The Brekan are particularly fond of full participation. For those games there is an inner arena where the slegg is, or sometimes sleggs are. An outer ring has pathways with ramps and scaffolds. The sleggs are given a decent chance to hide, but there is always an angle where they are exposed. A good hunter will know how to approach those angles without revealing themselves."

  "What weapons do the hunters have?"

  "Again, pistols with shock pellets. If the slegg is successfully subdued, a bot is sent in to finish the termination, again by a crowd-determined method."

  "Any hunters ever killed or hurt?"

  "Only through their own clumsiness. The outer ring is defended with an electrified fence to protect the competitors. The live games can sometimes almost get out of control. In the Ultimate Arena, the sleggs have been denied their shackle for as many as three days. Some are made useless by their cravings, while others seem to be made insanely fast and cunning, almost as if they have advanced thought. Hard to tell with your often-violent behavior."

  "Let me ask you something," said Dester. "You think we're violent? Us? Right here in this room?"

  "From the looks I've been given? Yes. I've assigned that to normal Human behavior. Something I currently have no control over. If you choose to assault me here and now, I have no way to stop it, so I just put it out of my mind."

  Jamus shook his head. "When off the Smudge we're no more violent than you. The drug is only intended to keep us dependent as slaves. I'm still waiting to hear how we defend ourselves. Hiding is not the defensive training we need. We need to be able to fight off an attacker."

  "Fight? For what purpose?"

  "To protect ourselves."

  "From what attacker? In the games? There is no fighting there."

  "We aren't in the games and we don't plan on being in the games. If you haven't figured it out yet, we're aware. We're off the drug. And at some point we will be fighting for our freedom. If two Leuchen come at me with clubs, I want to be able to defend myself."

  "Leuchen? With clubs? What are you talking about?"

  Jamus rolled his eyes. "We're talking about the revolution that's coming. Humans will be rising up. We'll be taking control. And when that happens there will be fighting. When you talk self-defense, it sounds like all you know is slegg instruction. You offer a lame attempt at making the games go on longer. We're talking real-world hand-to-hand fighting between your species and ours."

  Deffie stood in shock. "An actual revolution? Our military would surely prevent that."

  Bersa stepped in. "Deffie, please come with me."

  The Girda instructor followed Bersa out of the room. "Where are we going?"

  "You'll see."

  Chapter 15

  * * *

  The exit door of the classroom closed and Dester snickered. "She's not coming back. What a waste of skin and bones that one was. We should be allowed to pick her method of termination."

  The following day a new technology instructor was brought in. Two weeks were spent on digital circuits for both computers and control before the class moved on to programming. The instructor was standing in front of the class talking about algorithms when Hallik walked through the door.

  "Team, I have excellent news! Our addition of cameras to Master Snooka's shuttle has finally yielded the information we were seeking. We're already seeing progress from our moves and I anticipate being able to overtake the House of Snooka within the next two months. I've been conversing with Bersa and it was decided to keep you learning for another two weeks before we begin training for the new mission."

  "We're going after Thelm as a shuttle crew?"

  "That is the situation I am attempting to put in place. Which is why you will continue with your current lessons for several weeks to come. By that time, I hope to have firm intelligence about the current shuttle crew and how to replace them. I only ask for your patience. And I again thank you for all your hard work."

  The class instructor asked, "What is this? What is going on? Are you attempting to usurp the power of the governorship?"

  Hallik smiled. "Nothing is being usurped. I intend to earn the power of the governorship. My team here is a tool I use to assist me in achieving that endeavor. As I continue to be successful, my team will be rewarded. I'm hoping that team will continue to include you, Huradi. I've heard nothing but good things about your methods of instruction."

  "You do not have to worry about my commitment, Master Hallik. I've been repeatedly briefed on the alternative."

  "Yes. Excellent. Please continue. I have further business to attend to."

  Hallik left the room with a grin.

  Bersa said, "Our instructor here has informed me that he has only ten days of material remaining in his lessons. Given the Snooka news today, I'm declaring the remainder of the day a free day. You have all worked so hard, and I have been thrilled with your test scoring. So go out and relax, enjoy the day."

  Huradi's expression turned into a frown.

  Bersa asked, "Something wrong?"

  "Nothing other than I probably only have two weeks to live."

  The Girda instructor sighed. "I was telling myself the same thing only months ago. Under Master Hallik, so long as you are supportive of our endeavors and attempt to assist where you can, he will treat you fairly and keep you alive."

  "What do I have to offer? Once this crew is trained, what do I do to have worth?"

  "We can work on that when the time comes. Just keep in mind, within the year there is a good possibility that Hallik will become governor of Betuaon State, a very powerful position. And also keep in mind that we aren't stopping there. The Talion District is in need of new leadership, followed by the Agedda Sector, and then the entire empire."

  "You're going after the throne?"

  "The House of Hallik has every intention of commanding the empire. It has been many centuries, but the Halliks have been there before. Now, think about being part of a team that has the ear and respect of the emperor. Does that prospect not have its appeal?"

  "I suppose it would. And as I stated before, given my alternative, I already have reason enough to be supportive."

  "Excellent."

  "What I don't understand is the Humans not being on Shackle."

  Bersa explained the purpose. She then related Hallik's commitment to free humanity. Huradi was shocked. But unlike his predecessor, after explaining their reasoning—the exploration, the expansion of the empire, the advancement of science and technology—the Talion instructor began to agree with the methods and practices of Hallik's team.

  Dester plopped down in his favorite chair. "Overtaking number five. Hard to believe any of this is happening."

  Daniel wheeled himself in. "I was thinking, given that we are now at least modestly educated on technology, maybe it's time we explored the science decks below. If we can
clear out any dangerous materials, maybe we can find a use for those rooms?"

  Jamus stood. "We have the remainder of the day. But if we do this we take every precaution. We already know at least one of those labs is off-limits. So we fully check out any of the others before breaking any seals."

  Daniel spun his chair around with a grin. "Finally. There are maintenance ports running through those decks. At some point we would almost certainly have to access them. Nothing lasts forever."

  Tamia smirked. "This station has. Ten thousand years at least. Would have liked to have known some of the people who built it. Anyone else ever wonder what it must have been like to be alive back then? Humans in charge? A growing empire?"

  The elevator stopped on deck nine. The group made their way into the central room with the sealed labs surrounding it. Dester moved over to a console and began typing away on a keyboard.

  "What are you doing?" asked Jamus.

  "I'm gonna see what the logs say about lab nine-three right here in front of me."

  Daniel wheeled up next to him as the others crowded around. "You gonna use the newer hacking tools Huradi showed us?"

  Dester nodded. "I'm gonna try. The empire security supposedly broke all the encryption on Human systems way back. What Huradi showed us was supposedly old. Maybe it still works on this stuff."

  In under a minute, the password to the system had been cracked. Seconds later, the elder Human was reading through the files of lab nine-three.

  "Insecticides. Deck nine is all insecticides. They were looking for ways to control insect populations. This lab, three, along with five and six, are possibly toxic. The others are simple bio-labs and don't show any quarantine or special treatment. The doors to those labs are unlocked, so we can go in and poke around as much as we want. Three, five, and six are now on quarantine lockdown. We won't be going in those without coming through this console."

  The group flooded into lab nine-one. Microscopes, digital chromatographs, various analyzers, and kymographs were poked, prodded, powered on and off, and looked through. Stacks of Petri dishes, beakers, and flasks sat dry. Whatever liquid or living substances they had once contained had frozen hard and sublimated over the course of ten thousand years sitting in the cold of space.

  The excitement over entering the once-closed lab slowly waned as nothing of real interest was discovered. The remaining labs held much of the same. The group returned to the lounge, bored with their adventure.

  Daniel said, "I really thought that would be more exciting than it was. Some of that equipment is cool, but we don't have a use for it."

  "We don't have a use for it right now," said Jamus, "but who knows, maybe we'll need it for a future mission."

  Dester chuckled. "Maybe we can transform the insecticides into alienicides. Just spray and forget. Then we have our freedom."

  In the weeks that followed, news came of the collapse of several Snooka enterprises, collapses which made millions of credits for the House of Hallik. Training had begun for positions on the Thelm shuttle.

  Bersa paced back and forth in front of a display. "Mr. Turnbull, what color were the pillow casings on Master Thelm's sleeping crib?"

  "Green."

  "Correct."

  "Mr. Marr, what color are the shoes of the Thelm bridge crew?"

  "Brown I guess. They're really more of a sandal that a shoe."

  "Correct."

  "Ms. Brown, what is the standard atmospheric temperature on Master Thelm's shuttle?"

  "Twenty-four degrees."

  "Correct. It would seem you are each ready for this mission. We will know in the morning how many of you, if any of you, have been placed. The initial monitoring of Master Snooka's shuttle ran for ten weeks. I expect our stay with Thelm will be of at least equal length. If any of you have questions or concerns about your assignments, please ask them now. Once you have been deployed, there will be no coming back until the mission is complete."

  Dester asked, "Explain again, why can't we go directly after the governor?"

  "The governor is surrounded by tight security. Without us being in a position of waiting to assume control, it makes no sense to take out the top earner. The person directly beneath them would be voted in."

  "I would think knocking any of the four above us from their perch would be beneficial to Hallik."

  "That is not how the game of wealth is played, Mr. Marr. Any elevation achieved from doing such would only be against names on that list. We still have to acquire the wealth needed to hold that position. Being the weakest state governor in our district is a very undesirable position. It just makes moving up within the district that much harder. Should we enter the governorship in a strong position, it's possible we will not have to depose all the other governors to earn the governorship of the district."

  Dester waved off the reply. "Meh, those rules are stupid. Take them out and we move up."

  "We need much of the wealth they control to further our ability to rise up. Control of wealth is control of citizens. Without a large backing of those who we rule, we are subject to some of the same deal-making we have been partaking in. Master Hallik's wealth must be solid and unquestionable. Those are the rules of the game, Mr. Marr. To try to skirt them will only work to our detriment."

  The following day, Jim, Kerena, and Jamus were given slave-staff positions on the Voluntra, the personal shuttle of the ruler of the House of Thelm. Upon arrival they were immediately put to work. Jamus stood at attention as Thelm came into his chambers for his nightly slumber.

  Thelm's tunic was removed before he stepped over into a panned washing area, where two other slaves got to work, gently scrubbing and buffing his skin as a warm water rinse was poured over him. Jamus was ready with a soft towel and an air-dryer. A conditioning crème for the light gray fur that covered his body was applied and then wiped clean before a gown was dropped over his head.

  "Such a long day. I'm always happy to retire to my chambers. The three of you take such excellent care of me. Wait... who are you?"

  Jamus gave a slow and muted reply. "Your newest manservant, Master."

  Thelm stared for several seconds. "Goodness, a servant who actually speaks?"

  Bersa and the others were watching on the monitors. "That was a grand mistake. Those questions are rhetorical. No one expects an answer. Slaves as a rule don't talk to their masters."

  Thelm looked his newest slave up and down. "Who told you to talk?"

  "I'm sorry, Master. My prior owner preferred that I do so."

  Bersa sighed. "He's digging his own grave."

  "Hmm. And this other master, did they carry on conversations with you?"

  Bersa stood. "Please don't say yes."

  "He asked that I do so, if only for him to have someone he could trust to use as a sounding board for his thoughts. I did not understand much of what he was saying, but he seemed to appreciate the responses I could offer. I will be silent if that is what you ask. I am here to serve you."

  "Hmm… no. I think I will opt for the responses, but only when I ask a direct question. I don't want to be bothered by some mindless babble from a slave. Did you like your prior owner?"

  "It was not my position to like or dislike, Master. I am property."

  "Good point. Excellent. Perhaps I will enjoy this evening banter before bed."

  "Would you prefer a greeting when you enter the room, Master?"

  "I think not. I don't want anyone thinking I carry on conversations with my slaves."

  "Very well. Only when you are alone."

  Jamus gestured toward another slave who was holding up a tray. "The kitchen has prepared your evening beverage. May I massage your feet for you once you are in bed?"

  "Not with your hands I hope."

  "My apologies, Master. With gloves. My hands are not worthy of touching your feet."

  "Hmm. I suppose, then. I don't believe I've had a foot massage before slumber. This will be interesting."

  Bersa shook her head. "I can't believe
he's getting away with that. Most would have caned him and called for his immediate termination."

  The Talion magnate sat back in his bed as he sipped on a beverage that Kerena had specially prepared. Jamus pulled on a pair of massaging gloves and got to work with a firm but gentle rubdown of his master's feet.

  "Oh... this is heavenly... why haven't I had this every night of my life?"

  Five minutes into the effort, the senior Talion was fast asleep. The two other chamber slaves moved about their normal evening business of quietly straightening up the room. Jamus removed the gloves and began to walk about.

  "He has a desk over here. With papers. Let's see... nothing. Nothing. Nothing... and possibly something."

  The paper in question was held up in front of the camera. "Bersa, make of that what you will. Don't know if it's relevant or not."

  Jamus pressed a button on the desk and a monitor and keyboard rose up from within. "Looks like we have our own private terminal in here. Keys to the kingdom?"

  Bersa said, "Please don't turn that on. Please. Access to the system will be logged. They will know it is after hours and will check on their employer."

  Jamus glanced down at the camera with a smile. "Bersa, I know you're squirming about now. Don't worry. I won't be accessing that unless I feel a critical need. And when I say critical I mean extreme. If that has access to all the Thelm data, which I would believe it does, we would be ready for a pick-up tomorrow. But not without leaving a huge footprint. So I'll stick to our current mission plans."

  Tamia nodded. "He knows how to build suspense, I'll give him that."

  The camera panned around the room as Jamus got to work on his assigned tasks. The master was tucked in; his prior day's wardrobe was hung and prepared for a cleaning. Towels were collected and the bathing pan wiped down to a dry, clean finish. The three slaves retired to a nook to sit, where they were just in view of the master's bed and ready to serve should he awaken. Nine hours would be spent in the dimly lit room before Thelm was ready to rise.

  After preparing a meal for the crew, Kerena was busy working up food for the slave staff. Leftovers from the master and senior staff were used to make the crew plates, where leftovers were then mixed into a pasty gruel that was spiced up to suit a Human pallet. The slave gruel was boiled down before being spread on freshly baked bread and handed out. The same meal and beverage was had four times per day. Master Thelm operated on a twenty-hour standard when on his shuttle.