by M. Garnet
They were almost at the ship when the fight broke out. Several strong determined men came out from behind boxes and broken ships. Although all were dressed casually there was a military feel about them. They took the slavers down fast, but there were deaths and injuries on both sides. With the sounds of the local civil force coming in the distance, several of the men took hold of the chains and convinced the women to get on the ship with them.
On the ship, as they escaped the atmosphere, the collars were removed. It was explained that the one girl was the daughter of the older man, and he would travel with them. Only one other male would continue the voyage with them. At the end of the trip, it would be decided what was to become with each woman.
Those last words were the part Joo had a problem with. She made the decisions of what happened in her life, not some self-appointed hero on some distant planet. She would wait for her chance, and she would take control of her life.
Chapter Four
Bogdan decided to approach Gigas Vnee in a direct manner. After all, if he were to be in the role of protector it would be advisable to allow others to know he was on the planet. He sent word to Dee Con DeArmond, his contact, that he was entering the deep space travel and would appreciate transport to be provided down upon his arrival.
His badge and his black hooded cape announced to all what he was, so no one said much to him. The tech that led him to a pod was nervous.
"Shall I stow your bag for you, sir?" The tech asked, but said nothing as Bogdan tucked the bag tightly in one side of the pod. Bogdan took off his cape and avoided eye contact as he folded it to tuck it into the other side. Using his strength, it was one lift, and he was lying in the pod that adjusted to his size including the items on both sides. Transport pods were built to adjust to unusual sizes since anyone and everyone traveled in them. They just assumed he had wide arms.
He might end up with a few wrinkle marks in his skin from the tote, but he often got the same wrinkles on the back of his body from his clothes. They would disappear in a short time after waking, and no one would see them.
Bogdan's training brought him awake instantly as the pod lid began to rise. He was out and pulling his items before the tech could step back, probably scaring the life out of the male.
Once the tech regained his stability after jumping back from the large assassin he remembered he had a message for the dangerous man. "Sir, your shuttle is waiting. An honor has been paid as it is the royal shuttle. You were awakened first so you could exit before the others. It is docked just this way."
Bogdan felt there wasn't a need to answer so he just put his hooded cape on pulling the head cover so that he could see, but not be seen, and followed the tech. The trip down land was quick in the large luxury shuttle meant to carry several dozen passengers.
One look at him from the crew left him alone in the back. An announcement came on to tell him they would come through the heavy clouds to the ocean and the entrance into the inside landing area. Interest had him looking out the view port to be impressed with the violent planet.
The pilots were professional and handled the shuttle without a single bump. Bogdan stood at the top of the exit ramp of the luxury shuttle to examine carefully the area around the craft.
They had settled the shuttle apart from two areas. One area was where workers were repairing vehicles. The other area was where several ships of different sizes were docked. Around his shuttle, but at a respected distance was a large group of guards. There were no weapons out, and the guards were at attention as if in honor but Bogdan was not fooled. They knew they were allowing a Medaled Assassin on their planet.
With great calm, an elderly man stepped forward. "Welcome, sir. I am called Master Dee here. I am the one who summoned the help of the Assassin Society. Please feel safe to step down onto our home."
Bogdan liked the voice of the man. It held truth, and that was a rare commodity. He didn't lift his hood, but he came down the steps of the shuttle carrying his tote within the full folds of his heavy cape. When he reached the bottom, he bowed to the man he towered over. With his unusual height, he was taller than most of the guards, but he approved of the fact that none of them moved as he reached the bottom of the steps.
"If you are kind enough to follow me, I will take you up to our living quarters." Master Dee used a wide hand movement with these words, and the guards made an opening to allow the older man to lead them across the large area.
Bogdan watched the older man for only a moment, impressed with the military walk. Then, behind the shield of his lowered hood he carefully itemized the immensely large cave that could act as a landing bay for so many craft and still have room for repairs and forges and what looked like resting areas.
In a strange way, it made so much sense. On a planet of mostly oceans and heavy storms due to the two moons, one so far away that it looked like a large star, the pull of gravity only affected the winds and water. Man now had the technology to build on top of the plateaus against the storms, but when beings first developed here caves were the way to survive.
Respect for the planet was a way for the survivors to continue to enjoy this world. So with modern technology, the beings who chose to live here continued to live within the caves and not change the planet. Bogdan decided this wouldn't be a bad assignment as far as location was concerned.
Bogdan was interested that they took a lift with only the two of them, but when they exited on a wide hallway there were many beings in guard uniforms indicating different status. It was a short walk to a door that opened to the recognition of Master Dee.
Inside Bogdan took a swift walk around the office. He was impressed, knowing exactly where the older man was for every second of his inspection. First Master Dee said nothing as he sat down behind his desk and let the assassin inspect his office and the view wall that looked down on one of the oceans.
As for Bogdan, he looked at the clean lines of the few pieces of furniture, seeing the sitting area in front of the viewing area overlooking the great wild waves down below. There were two comfortable chairs for guests in front of the desk, but he wasn't one to sit with his back open.
Bogdan returned to a dark corner next to the door that was now closed. Master Dee looked at the dark, tall figure covered in the hooded cape. It was an unlit corner and the male almost disappeared. Dee could run a hand over a pulse that would turn a light on in that corner, but he knew that the assassin wanted to stay in a protected corner.
At last, the assassin spoke, "Master Dee, are you the one I am to protect?"
Master Dee sat back and thought how to say the words carefully. "No, sir Assassin. You will be protecting a special female jewel. A slave."
There was silence for a moment, and Dee allowed the time because he didn't expect the assassin to show any reactions. Then he heard the voice of the assassin, deep and without emotions, barely above a whisper.
"This planet does not condone slavery."
Dee smiled. "Very good, you have studied us well before coming here. You are correct within certain circumstances. There was a slave female here several centuries ago. A very important, well-loved woman. Now there is another. What do you know from your studies about the Twinned Dissnue?"
The voice from the dark corner answered quietly. "A lot of myth but very little supported fact."
Dee nodded. "You are into a nice education for your time here. You see, sir, twice on this planet we have had a set of such twins born. Rare and unusual males that are the same in all ways yet walk in two bodies. Both times, before they could join fully and be one and stronger than all, they needed a catalyst. The catalyst each time has been a female with whom both twins fell deeply in love. A woman who seemed to cause some impetus that made the joining complete so that two brilliant, strong males became one being of a forceful spirit that no one quite understands what they are capable of doing if they chose to act."
Dee decided to stop and let all of this sink into the inky shape within the flowing cape.
"Will I be able to meet these amazing twins while I am here?"
Dee chuckled. "Well, assassin, I have peaked your interest. What is your given name so that I don't use the term that scares so many?"
"You may call me Bogdan if that is your wish. Is it the slave that belongs to the twins that I am to protect?"
"Ah, very astute. Yes, her name is Loralei, a very unusual female who will also broaden your education. She is on her way here now. I told her you had arrived and that we would meet here in my office."
There was no movement as Bogdan answered. "I will wait."
The wait wasn't long, but it was a surprise for all, including the assassin.
Loralei had just come off one of her yoga exercises. She felt relaxed but effervescent from the muscles in her body all alert and in the right shape. Her steps were fast, and the guard's weapons jangled as he jogged to keep up with her.
When she got to Dee's office, she waved him off as she went through the door alone. She was only one step into the room when she felt the threat. She immediately went into defensive mode by tucking into a roll before she came up on one knee. She had her force gun in her hand pointed at the male who had been standing just beside the door when she entered.
Except he wasn't there, it was just a plain dark wall with nothing on it. She hesitated until she felt one hand on her shoulder and another reaching down to take hold of the gun. The voice was in her ear as a whisper.
"Are you going to kill your protector?"
Although she felt the strength in the hands on her shoulder and hand, she froze processing the words the soft whisper had contained.
She released the gun as she spoke. "You are what I have heard of, a shadow that protects."
She felt the male behind her move away. She heard the sound of the gun being placed on the table. She felt it was now safe for her to stand. During the scenario, Dee had remained quietly behind his desk.
Now he looked at the woman that, in such a short time, he had come to love as a daughter. "Loralei, may I introduce you to your new guard, the Medal Assassin Bogdan."
Loralei rose slowly not sure where the shadow had gone. She looked around slowly to find him several steps behind her. He bowed from the hips, but she noticed he kept his hands free. Yep, she guessed he had lots of weapons under that full cape.
Then she turned and looked at Dee. "You have got to be kidding. Look at this male. He is taller than the twins and in that cape. Shit, why don't we put a red light on his hood? It wouldn't attract any more attention. How could he possible help me? People will just stay away from me and go after you or Tet or others that I love until he leaves."
She ignored the large black figure and leaned over the desk to take out her frustration on her dear friend. She decided this wasn't what she wanted, but she didn't know what to do.
"Wait." The assassin had moved to the other side of her, placing his hand on hers as it lay on Dee's desk. How did he move so fast? "Perhaps I am beginning to understand some of the problem facing us here."
She was shocked when he took off the hood and then the cape. In fact, the change in him caused her to need to sit down. She was grateful one of the chairs was close. He folded the cape carefully, maybe to give her time to take in his appearance.
He put the cape on the extra chair and then removed the strap of his tote from his shoulder, and then he dropped it on the floor. He held his hands out to show they were empty.
Loralei snorted. "Don't show me your palms. I can't guess how many weapons you have on you or how many ways you can kill with those hands. In my former life, I studied the many ways evil men killed with just their hands, and it was surprising but disgusting."
He spoke in his heavy whisper as he continued to stand in that strange pose. "Mistress, I have taken a contract and I must fulfill it for one year so I must convince you that I can protect you in a manner that pleases you. You are a surprise. Master Dee said you would broaden my education, and you have already done that within minutes. Now give me time to do the same for you."
She looked at the male standing in front of her highlighted by the view of the storm outside. What shocked her was that he was beautiful. With that unusual white hair and those amazing eyes in that face that was given only to gods, maybe the hood would be better than having every female dropping for him.
She looked over at Dee and then back at this amazing killing machine. "What do you propose?"
"Go about your business. Return to your room, eat, meet with your Masters, go and work on your projects. I will be with you always, but if I seem to be in your way or too obvious to anyone else you can dismiss me and I will consider the contract void."
She looked over at Dee. "Do you agree with this?"
Dee looked very serious. "An assassin's word is honest."
"And if I said the contract is void, does he just go home?"
Dee looked at her then at the handsome male. Dee didn't take his eyes off the tall male as he answered. "He will commit suicide as he didn't finish the contract."
She looked back at the tall assassin. What had they said his name was? He had nodded in agreement with Dee. Bogdan, that was his name, and he was willing to finish the contract or kill himself trying. Shit.
"Okay, deal. What do I have to do to see if this is going to work?" She looked down at her hands.
The whispering voice spoke. "Let's do something simple. Dismiss your guards and just go to your quarters."
She chose to not get into any more conversation. She got up with determination and went out the door. She had an interesting conversation in the hallway until Dee came out and confirmed that she no longer required guards. She could hear the men talking to superiors as she hurried along the hallway.
Loralei needed to take two lifts, the first was close to Dee's office, and the second was a long walk and was private up to the twin's personal quarters. On that level, there were still servants who cleaned or brought prepared foods and met the needs of those who had the pleasure of staying on this top level.
As her doors recognized her, they opened. Tet came running down the hall smiling. Tet was a small girl that, through a trick the twins had played on Loralei, she had taken under her wing. The child charmed her entirely.
"I am sorry Tet but I want to be alone. Please come back later." She entered quickly not wanting to see the look of disappointment on the girl's face.
What next? Maybe a bath in one of the sunken pools would help her get over the reactions to what had happened in Dee's office. She kicked off her shoes and slipped off the slacks. The long shirt tickled her knees as she was almost to the pool. She began to pull at the closure when she heard the whisper so close behind her.
She was careful to control herself as she turned. The assassin was leaning in the archway only a few feet away from her. How did he get past the security code at the door? His low words were plain to hear.
"Unless you are comfortable being naked in front of others I thought it best to let you know I was here."
Loralei took a much need breath. "You were with me the whole way?"
He dipped his head once. "Where would you like me to stay when you are in your quarters?"
She wondered if he always spoke in that whisper. Probably. "I suppose I could have one of the rooms on this level opened up for you."
"No, too obvious. Let me store my tote here. I will find a place in your hallway outside. I will…," He stopped in the middle of the whispered sentence. "Something strange. Wait. Ah, I believe I am going to have the pleasure of meeting…."
Before he finished, the twins were behind him. Bogdan felt the need of all of his training to remain on his feet and turn slowly to face the two males behind him. It had been years….
"We know assassin, years since anyone has gotten this close to you without your knowledge."
Bogdan didn't make the mistake of taking a defensive position or bringing out one of the many weapons he wore. He recognized for the first time since he had graduated from his trai
ning as a cadet that he was in the presence of a superior force.
Chapter Five
Baloko had a job to do. His new job working for the twins was to organize the military into something that resembled what he had been used to when he was aboard the ship with Bleak. But more importantly, there were the slaves that he had brought with him and a couple of them remained unaccounted.
He felt guilty for the women, and he worried about what kind of damage was brought to the door of his friend. He felt the slavers had family or friends that would seek retribution. Slaves, even illegal ones brought in big money in certain areas.
The missing women might be dead because two of the others had been found deceased as one fell to her death. Another was attacked by a beast and didn't survive her wounds. Still, the trackers said there were some traces that seemed to be not of this world that kept showing up on a regular basis.
He dressed in the uniform he had requested that wasn't what had been supplied for the top ranking officer in charge. He knew it was a color that represented the highest ranking officers, but it had no decorations or any indications of rank. Let them get the message from his attitude and actions.
He had already started them on the basic exercises, the type that tired the body and numbed the mind. He shocked everyone when he notified the entire contingent that even officers must take part in the get-in-shape-or-get-out routine that he set up. The exercises were just two types. The first was a jog to loosen up, and the second was hand-to-hand combat training, Federated Military style.
He found there were three types of people that responded to this regimen. It was the same thing that had happened in the military, people were people.
Type one was the quitters.
Type two was the tries.
Type three was the doers.
With the type ones, he went and talked to Dee as to whether he could just throw them out or if they had some connection. Ninety-nine percent of the time they were thrown out. Dee had a list a mile long of volunteers on his desk. Good, but it could wait for the next group.