“These are my other children,” said Sonja, motioning the nurse forward. One was a toddler of about two years of age. She was larger than a human child of the same age. The other was a child of about one year old. Obviously, Sonja had wasted little time once her mate’s problem was taken care of. Queen Maya watched the children in misery and regret. They all had the look of their father. “This is my daughter, Gorgo,” said Sonja, presenting the two year old, “and this is Barracka,” she said, taking the one year old.
“Oh my! By the goddess! They’re so adorable,” said Shoko taking the one year old. The baby laughed happily as the empress began playing with him. “Barracka, eh? Hmmmm, I like that name. He’s strong too, for a yearling…even a mutant yearling.” The empress finger was in the boys grasp. It was almost painful, and she was far stronger and durable than a human. I’m not kidding! This little guy is very strong! thought Shoko in amazement. After a quick kiss, the empress returned the boy to his mother. “Allow me to introduce you to High Lord Kang, my husband,” said the empress with a smile.
“I am pleased to meet you, my lords and ladies,” said Kang. Lord Kang was a medium built man of obvious Asian descent. He looked human enough, and rather unimpressive to Barrat and Ken, but both men knew that with mutants, looks could be VERY deceiving. If this man was the empress’s consort he must be powerful indeed. The women of the Illyrian royal family were famed for their strength even this far off the map. Not just anyone could mate with them.
The empress then looked to Queen Maya and her people. The Mavie leaders began to approach and the Barratians moved away.
“I am honored to meet you finally in person, Empress Shoko,” said Queen Maya, bowing.
The empress looked at her coldly for a moment, and then replied politely in return. “Your land is very lovely, Queen Maya. Thank You.” It did not go unnoticed that the empress had not expressed mutual pleasure at meeting Queen Mavie. “Well, I do believe I’ve met your family already, Queen Maya,” said Shoko dryly, “let’s get on with this, shall we?”
“Wait, Your Highness. There is one member of my…family that you have not met.” Maya looked to Lady Kima and she immediately motioned to some women behind her who then shoved a bound and collared Mavie woman forward. “This is my former mate, the Lady Rachel. She is a female shapeshifter who is also capable of cross-gender shifting. She is my daughter’s other parent.”
Empress Shoko looked at the bound woman. She was not unattractive, but she was in a sorry state. She had been much whipped and her long dirty blond hair was straggly and unkempt. The most confusing and shocking thing was that she, a woman, a Mavie woman, was wearing an inhibitor/slave collar.
“Why is this woman in such a wretched state if she was your mate?” said the empress, looking at Maya closely. Obviously, she was not trying to read the queen’s mind…yet.
Maya answered the empress’s question, but turned to face Barrat. “Yes, this woman was my mate…but she is also the real criminal behind the rapes that Barrat was accused off.” Maya then looked at Rachel and snarled, “Show them!”
Immediately, Lady Kima pressed a button on her bracelet, turning off and releasing the collar. A lash prodded the sad woman when she hesitated. Rachel then transformed into a large youth that looked almost identical to Barrat, except that his hair was brown, Barrat’s original color, with his body Barrat’s original size and unscarred. There was a gasp from the surrounding Barratians and others at this. Three women then came forward. Two walked under their own power, one was carried out and laid before Barrat. One of the women was a small, but curvaceous blond woman with blue eyes. Another was an equally well-made black woman with long braids, but taller. The third was the warrior whom Barrat had effortlessly dispatched in the first battle with the Mavie army after his escape. She had never walked again, but with the aid of mutant healers, had gained some limited use of her upper body. All of these women were the ones who had accused Barrat of raping them, and later, castrated him. The women all verified that this was indeed the real culprit and then the two who could still walk prostrated themselves before Barrat and his kin while the third cried silently. All offered themselves to Barrat for his justice. The Barratians were shocked, none more so than Barrat himself.
“Get up,” said Barrat finally. “You were as much victims as I. Besides…what you did to me was undone, so it’s forgiven…if not forgotten.” Barrat looked at the paralyzed woman. “Can anything be done for her?” he asked Bellasaris telepathically.
“Perhaps if I was able to take her back to Illyria,” said Bellasaris. “By myself with only my gifts I’m not sure if even I could do more than the healers of her own land could. Her neck was broken and her spine damaged. But back in the empire, with the aid of both mutants and highly trained human physicians and equipment, perhaps she could walk again. Not like before of course, but still…”
“I ask your favor, honored Grandmother. No matter how this turns out, I’d like you to do this for that woman,” said Barrat. Bellasaris smiled and nodded.
“And what of this one?” asked Maya, pointing at Rachel. She had been truly shocked by Barrat’s mercy concerning the three women. The paralyzed one she could understand, she had more than paid for her offense, but the other two?!? Perhaps his madness was somehow cured…or maybe he’d just gone soft. Maya would learn that neither was the case.
“Well, I don’t know,” said Barrat. “After all, she didn’t act alone did she? I’d bet my restored balls that your mother was behind this, or at least involved. And where is your little bastard? You murdered my son because he was the son of a serial rapist and you didn’t want that legacy in your bloodline, right? Well? If that is the culprit, then your daughter is the real spawn of the rapist. Why is she still breathing?” Maya looked at Barrat in sadness. “Bring them both forward to be judged with this twisted bitch.”
“Death would be too merciful for my mother,” said Maya. “And one incredibly stupid mistake will not be made right with another. My daughter is innocent of any crime,” said Maya who then stifled a sob, “just as our son was. If you want my life along with this cow’s you may have it. We need not fight. But you cannot have my daughter.”
Barrat’s eyes blazed at this, and Empress Shoko and the other lords and ladies of the empire could now clearly see his madness.
“No! She dies! Just as my boy did!” snarled, Barrat. “I wanted to kill her before your eyes and make you suffer, but that will not be possible now. But don’t you worry, in the dark realm of the damned you will meet again! I’ll send her there after I’ve killed you! You, the ravager and your child will be one big happy family in the afterlife!”
“Now I must kill you,” said Queen Maya miserably. “May the goddess grant you peace, my love.” Barrat spit at this. “I ask but one favor. Please, when this is over…let me visit my son’s grave.”
“You DARE ask?!” shouted Barrat in fury. “You…You…” Barrat’s mouth worked in fury, but he couldn’t express what he wanted to say verbally. Finally, he regained control over himself and a grim smile appeared on his face. “Very well, creature. If you survive you may visit Brac’s grave, but you won’t survive. I’ll scatter your stinking pieces all over this field.”
“You swear it,” said Maya. “Even if you fall, your family will obey and comply with this wish?”
“They will!” said Barrat, looking at Prince Ken and Lady Sonja. Both nodded.
“Then let’s get this over with,” said Maya, sadly. “But what of that?” she said, pointing at Rachel.
“Kill her as you see fit!” said Barrat, already walking towards his warriors.
Maya looked at Rachel on her knees, still in her assumed form of Barrat. “Humph! Do you want to die in that form, as a man? I suppose it’s fitting. After all, that was the shape you had when you committed your crimes.” Rachel said nothing, but obviously agreed since she did not resume her true form. The truth was, she
didn’t want her daughter to see her die in the form of her parent. “I’ve been thinking long and hard on what would be the best way to have you executed,” said Maya, “but in the end you’re right. You were but the hands of other devious minds and you are my daughter’s sire. I’ll have you killed before my mate…”
“Former mate,” said Rachel dryly, finally finding her voice.
“It speaks,” said Maya, sardonically. “But you are correct, former mate. And since others will, must, escape justice who deserves death even more than you, I’ll merely have you beheaded quickly. It also wouldn’t do for our daughter to remember me having you slowly put to death.” Maya looked at Empress Shoko, who grimly nodded in approval. Maya carried out Rachel’s sentence personally, with some small satisfaction. She then had the head sent to Barrat before marching back to her own people.
With great interest, the empress and the other imperial witnesses watched as the armies of the Barratians and Mavie grimly and silently formed up into their battle positions. The horns were sounding, but the usual ritual challenges were not coming forth. It was true that this would be a duel between the two leaders, but usually there was a bit of fighting and captive taking among the lesser chiefs and warriors…but not this time. Suddenly, a young woman who was clearly some new Mavie recruit from the east charged out onto the field.
“Hmmm, it’s about time,” said the empress.
The girl quickly began to run off her credentials. “I am Lady Shawna of Tabon! My mother fought the Bass and took the head of a chief! My great grandmother fought the Akkadians at the Bay of Wrath! My great, great grandfather fought the humans on Paolo, in the Earth realm! And my great, great, great grandparent’s parents fought with High Lord Cato himself against the Americans and won much glory! I challenge any of equally noble and ancient lineages to battle!” Much to the dismay of not only the girl, but the empress and the other easterners, not a single Barratian warrior came forward. “Anyone?” shouted the girl again, disappointment in her voice. The Barratians ignored her altogether. Quickly a Mavie warrior rode out and told the girl to return before she was filled with arrows.
“What the hell was that?” muttered, Empress Shoko II.
“Welcome to war in the west, Your Highness,” replied an Illyrian veteran of the western wars, now acting as her and the other’s aide. “The warriors fight to destroy the enemy here, and nobody, especially the women, wants to be taken alive. If something should go amiss, or if one side refuses to honor the outcome of this duel, you’ll see slaughter that is usually reserved only for Earth humans.”
On the Mavie side, Queen Maya’s daughter urged her to wear armor while facing this enemy. “Mother please,” begged Dalia, but Maya would not hear of it.
“No, Daughter,” said Maya. “Armor will slow me down and I need speed as well as strength to prevail against that monster. Besides…there is no protection proof against Barrat’s teeth and claws. Let’s get this over with!”
Barrat transformed fully and stalked onto the field. From the opposite side, Maya appeared. In her hand was a truly formidable spear. The long blade glinted in the sunlight.
“Now that is impressive!” said a woman of one of the small tribes near the border. “But then, so is Queen Maya’s opponent.” Suddenly there was a great roar and everyone looked around and slowly, between the two opposing armies, a huge snow white panther appeared. The cat dwarfed even Barrat in size. The armies and their leaders were speechless. “I take it back,” said the woman, “now THAT is impressive!” Although most of the younger mutants just stared in fascination and admiration of the beast, several of the older Bellasarian mutants immediately dropped to their knees and the empress slowly stood up and dropped as well, along with many of the queens present. Bellasaris and Gorgo began running towards the monster crying.
“Who…Who are you?” said Barrat mentally to the newcomer, as he drew near. Before the beast could answer Bellasaris and Gorgo brushed past Barrat and heedless of the danger, jumped on the monster and began to hug and kiss him. They looked like young girls as they cried and laughed. Barrat’s eyes opened wide as he now realized who this giant cat was. It couldn’t be anyone else. “Father?!?” he exclaimed.
The larger cat walked up to Barrat and looked at him, the two women still locked onto him. The big woman was even climbing onto his back and was soon locked onto his neck. “Aye, boy,” replied the white panther telepathically. “Everyone stand up!” ordered Cato. He then purred slightly in amusement and looked at Gorgo. “I’m going to take human form now, Gorgo.” The big woman slid off his back, but like Bellasaris remained close to the beast. Indeed, as the animal shrunk and took on human form, both women squealed in delight and were now all over him. Cato let out a sigh, but it was plain to see that despite the slight irritation, he was happy to see these two again as well. However, the matter at hand took precedence. “My son, it is good to see you again after all these years, your mother has told me that you and the Mavie Queen had begun to change this land for the better. Yet, when we finally arrive back this far east, we find a land even worse off than when she and I first met. War is everywhere. Men have thrown off their yokes, but are behaving like…like…humans! Women, mutant women, are enslaved and forced to breed like animals. I haven’t seen that since the humans ruled our people. What happened here?!?”
Barrat, now also in human form, looked at his father and shook his head. “Father, I too, have thought much of you. My heart is glad, very glad at the sight of you. I too have much to ask you, like where you’ve been and where is my mother? But if you want the answers to why things have gone to shit here, I would ask her.”
Cato and the others looked at Maya who then glared at her mother. Cato was told everything that had occurred over the last twenty years. The castration of his son and especially the murder of his grandson at the hands of the child’s own mother were the most shocking and disturbing.
“Such a thing has never been done before!” growled Cato in rage.
Maya nodded in misery. “It is something I will have to bear for the rest of my life,” she said quietly.
“Don’t worry, bitch,” snarled Barrat, “that won’t be long. And I’ll send your mother and daughter to keep you company in the land of the irredeemable dead right after you!”
Cato’s eyebrows rose at this. “Why kill the girl?” he asked. “These two I can justify, but the girl is innocent.”
“Because she is the child of my son’s killer!” snarled Barrat. “Maya will suffer as I did!”
“Son, she’ll be dead. This is not justice. It’s nothing but petty revenge. I do not approve.”
“I don’t care if you approve or not, old man!” snarled Barrat. “It has already been agreed upon! It will be done! If you do not support me then stay out of my way!”
Shock registered on Cato’s face, quickly replaced with anger. That this boy would speak to a man his age, his own father, in such a way was disgraceful. From the equally shocked faces of Bellasaris, Gorgo and indeed everyone else, even the Barratians, it was plain that they thought so too. Cato’s fangs appeared and he let out a low growl. Barrat, baring his own fangs, did not back down.
“Stop that!” shouted Gorgo in outrage. “Have you forgotten who you are talking to?!”
The empress and other great leaders were now glaring at Barrat in open disapproval. “He is your father and our ancestor!” snarled, Shoko II. “Show him respect or die!” Barrat glared at the other mutants and took on his beast form. He had no chance against all of these people, but he was still prepared to fight. Cato shook his head, the boy was clearly mad.
“Enough,” said Cato sadly. “Fight your duel. The woman deserves to die, her mother as well. Personally, I think you’re doing them a favor. It would be better to let them live in their pain, but I won’t let you kill the princess. If you survive the duel, you’ll have to fight me next to get the girl. I’m done.” With that, Cato w
alked over to the Illyrian’s position to watch the fight with Empress Shoko.
Barrat and Maya faced each other again for what would be the last time, at least in this world. Barrat’s teeth were exposed and his ears were flat back against his skull. Maya, armed with the most formidable spear ever seen, was carefully judging the distance between the two of them. She knew that Barrat could move with blinding speed.
Suddenly, Prince Ras began chanting ‘Barrat’ ‘Barrat’!”
The chant was soon taken up by other men and even women from the other Bellasarian nations, some even from the ranks of Maya’s own warriors. The slur ‘Child Killer’ was heard from more than one voice. Obviously many of the warriors, even among her own people, hearts were with Barrat…at least on that score. This did not go unnoticed by the Barratians.
The two opponents were now very close to each other. Maya braced herself for the attack. Finally, Barrat struck with a terrible roar and Maya slashed viciously and desperately with her spear. There was a terrible splash of blood and Maya was sent hurtling a few feet across the field. The flesh on her back cut almost to the bone. She scrambled to her feet quickly and snatched up the spear. She spun around quickly to brace for Barrat’s next assault only to see the giant cat rolling around roaring in rage and pain trying to stand. Nearby, one of his monstrous paws lay on the ground. For the onlookers, all they had seen was a blur of fur blood and flashing steel as the two came together and Queen Maya flying one way and Barrat’s leg another.
“Impressive,” said the empress with a nod. “Whatever else she might be, the bitch can fight.” Several of the others nodded as well and applauds could be heard from many of the watchers, but few would wager on Queen Maya winning this fight. Already Barrat was on his feet and pouncing. Maya brought up the spear and fell back with the butt of the fearsome weapon braced against the ground. Barrat landed on the long point of the spear full force, which entered his body almost completely to the shaft. He roared with rage. Maya narrowly dodged the giant claw as it slashed at her head and with a strength none thought possible, she lifted Barrat up into the air and threw him to the ground. She could hear, Lady Sonja scream. She thrust hard and then jumped back, mindful of the giant cat’s rear legs and their claws. The shaft of the spear snapped as the monster thrashed and roared in pain and rage.
The Mutant World Page 24