The Duke slammed his fist on the table and pointed with his other hand towards the window behind him. “Sin 4 is a speck, an unimportant speck. There are bigger powers out there and I intend to play a part in the big games. I want all casinos under my control. I don’t want a miniscule share of the Sojonit business. I want to control that Whorehouse temple and all the profits. I am going to destroy the other cartels and then we build a new spaceport on the southern continent, mine the riches of our moons. Once I have put this system under my control, I will announce that we are part of the Shiss Empire. The White Nestling himself has told me that there could even be a position for me in the Royal Nest.”
The old man wrung his hands. “The Death fight arena is our crown jewel; we make more money with the advertisement deals and the merchandising than with all the casinos and business of the others together. Leave those world conquering dreams, this is not what we do. Your plan with the Nul is madness. You speak of powers out there and try to play on their level and yet you do not comprehend.”
“Silence old man. The White Nestling will give much control and I will be an important part of a galaxy spanning empire, not just a measly planet and the plan is perfect!
The Shiss have abducted the Nul who is very important to the Nul Empire. He will fight in the Arena tonight and die. I will claim I purchased it from Black Velvet, a notorious pirate. I’ll have her confess that she worked under direct orders of the Union and that will hopefully start a war between the Union and the Nul.
Of course the Union will win but at a high cost. I am almost certain the Kermac will not let an opportunity like that pass and will attack a weakened Union perhaps join the Nul in the fight.
No matter who wins, the Kermac, the Nul or the Union, one of them will be gone and the others weaker than ever before and the galaxy is ripe for the taking by the Shiss. We will have a front row seat and riches and power beyond anyone’s wildest dreams.”
The old man sighed. “You are a fool, these things aren’t as simple as dealing with other cartel families, and these things are way out of your league.”
“Be silent and be careful old man. I just might have you thrown in the arena for monster bait. I have a great show lined up for tonight.”
The old man walked out and slammed the door behind him.
I was losing time watching this. I needed to find my friends; nothing so far had told me how he managed to capture them and where he kept them. I was about to get up and call for a conference to hatch a plan when something happened on the screen that shocked me deeply. The next man that walked through the door was my former friend Wintsun.
Our tiny spy still invisible in the room said. "This is the Union officer we followed."
Donheer greeted the green skinned man saying. “You have been successful in capturing the Dai Warrior and I appreciate men who get me results, but then, you used to be a Union officer and they do train their people well.”
Wintsun was the same and yet he had changed. He seemed much older than he was and his face had a lost all of the openness it had before. What was he doing here on Sin 4? Did he recognize Har-Hi?
Wintsun said. “That is why I was able to use the P 4 Paralysator to get that Dai. He had his Clan glyph removed so he is most likely an Okthi you know a renegade and not associated with any clan anymore.”
“Wonderful, we have a nice full program for tonight. The Terror Hammer will make his great come back tonight and die heroically as I must punish him for deceiving me and running off, playing dead for so long.”
Wintsun grinned. “I think he is a Saturnian. I never liked these brutes anyway.”
Donheer grinned. “You will enjoy the big fight tonight and I see a great future for you Wintsun. You have risen fast in my organization since you came here.”
Wintsun sat down and said. “I am your man Mr. Donheer.”
“Have you activated the Loki torpedoes?”
“Yes I have, and they are the full size Type IV, one will be more than enough to destroy that pirate ship and level most of the city as well.
“Are they that powerful?”
“Four of them will buckle the shields of a battleship and the sixteen you got would be enough to take on anything short of the Devi.”
“Splendid, the Kermac are very interested in those and made a generous offer and since you activated them and made them useful, I think I will give you a nice bonus as well.”
I didn’t hear what Wintsun said as just then I felt Narth’s presence in my mind.
“Eric I am alright, but we were surprised by a Paralysator shot over a distance. Since there are so many minds out there I must have missed them. The person who captured us for the Duke is Wintsun.”
I felt a wave of relief and responded. “I know, I am watching that bastard right now. Where are you?”
“We are held in a prison underneath the Donheer fight Coliseum. It is a state of the art containment facility to hold all kinds of life forms. Unfortunately there is a very strong Kermac Psi screen, effectively neutralizing most of my Psionic abilities.”
“Do they know you are a Narth?”
“No they did not recognize us or me. I am not even scheduled to fight. They think I am a weak scholar and I am scheduled to be sold as a slave.”
I was deeply relieved to hear my friends were not harmed and then I called my senior officers to a conference in the den and said: “Here is my plan...”
***
Shea was brushing my hair out and said: “I am not sure if anyone has told you that, but you are very beautiful, and tonight you look quite stunning.”
Her comment touched the vanity of my female persona as I looked at myself in the reflection field. The long blonde hair had the same color as that of my mother and suddenly I was reminded of her and I felt guilty for no longer having nightmares or thinking much about that event. But now I saw her. Right there in the mirror. Not that my mother would have worn something like this. I wore the low cut clingy gown of thin black Saresii silk and black velvet I had purchased during our visit at the secret NAVINT base.It was hanging on thin straps from my shoulders. To it I added a shiny black fur stole, gloves and a tiny purse. Shea was finally done with the hair and Elfi handed me a feather domino with veil. I sighed, “Maybe I should simply wear an Atlas Battle Suit and we storm the place!”
Shea gave me a look from underneath her long lashes. Sojonits have an old saying. “Lace underwear felled more warriors then the sharpest swords. In some instances a dress like this can be more effective than a battle suit.”
Elfi added. “We can still change the whole thing. It is your plan after all.”
I pulled on the gloves and said: “No we better stick to the plan. I want this to be over with so we can concentrate on the Red Dragon and our mission. I want to leave this world. It really gets to me.”
Shea said. “If everything goes well then we will have done our part to change this world and to me that makes it all worthwhile if there are no longer Skaakh girls seeing their mother torn apart by scavengers and no one else dies of hunger.”
Looking at it all this way made me feel much different and I said: “You are right, we do make a difference and that is what counts. I just pictured my first mission as a Starship captain completely different, more uniforms and less silken underwear.”
Elfi blushed: “I am not wired that way but even I thought you looked extremely hot in your undies. Besides you enjoy every moment, so quit whining, Captain.”
I was split in my opinion inside as always. While part of me extremely enjoyed the feel and the look, the other found it exposing, impractical and not what a Starship Captain should look like. Would I ever find true peace inside?
At the agreed time, a luxury skimmer approached and I left the ship via the ramp and not by the IST. I found out it was anything but easy to walk down a declining metal surface in stiletto heel pumps without falling.
An Oghar and a Togar stepped out from the drive compartment and held big blaster weapons l
ooking nervously around.
I was glad I wore a mask as I saw Wintsun getting out of the skimmer as well. I felt nothing but contempt towards this traitor. I wondered what had turned him so completely, or maybe it was always there and I was just too blind and naïve back then to see the signs. It was he who shot Narth while I was unconscious in the Crawler Cat. For that alone he needed to pay, not to mention that he was a traitor and now responsible for the capture of my friends. He had a crooked smile on his lips as he undressed me with his eyes and he said: “My, my what a scrumptious sight. I had no idea pirates could look that hot. Now I need to make sure you don’t have any hidden weapons other than the obvious ones hidden under that thin dress of yours.”
I said. “Touch me and you are dead!”
He laughed dirtily and said: “Be civil, pirate whore. We have the better cards. Your crew mates die if you don’t comply and we blow your rust bucket sky high. Now let me scan you or I’ll have the Togar perform a manual search.”
He did use a hand held scanner and his hands were sliding up and down my dress and legs, around my breasts and down my thighs. He as breathing harder and I had never felt so angry and violated. How much worse must it have been to Jolai.
I felt very vulnerable and cursed the thin dress that was such a great idea just a while ago. He finally stepped back and said: “What a nice firm body you got, I think we will have some fun later, you and I, after the Duke is done with you. Now get in the Acron-Lux Skimmer, we do not want to make the Duke wait.”
Elfi’s voice came on over my tiny inner ear receiver. It was made almost completely out of organic components and was of the finest Saresii spy technology from the first Saresii Empire and beyond anything the crooks on Sin 4 or pretty much anyone else could possibly scan for. She said: “Teams are in position. Circuit is almost there and the Marine Team is on it’s way too. We have you clear on the surveillance equipment.”
The Coliseum was a huge ring shaped building bathed in multi colored lights. Hundreds of heavily armed Skimmers patrolled the sky around it.
While we were underway Wintsun put his hand on my knee and said. “No worries Pirate whore I’ll be gentle the first time.”
I did not know where I got the strength to remain calm and say:. “You should worry scum face. The time you wish you had not done that is soon at hand.”
He laughed. “It’s over. You lost. Playing as a girl in a man’s universe has its dangers. So accept it and you might get an enjoyable ride out of it, or two.”
We approached a landing platform high above the ground and the fat Duke was standing there flanked by two Togar male warriors armed with Kermac Line Blaster Rifles.
He greeted me with what I could only describe as a slimy smile on his thin lips, revealing his needle like teeth. “Oh how lovely and mysterious. Well I am sure you will share your identity and show me what you have hidden behind those feathers and veil. You see I always get what I want.”
I said. “Why this interest in me?”
"Friends of mine,m I have on Brhama port told me what a strong woman you are and I love breaking beautiful, arrogant women.”
“Is it because you were rejected by one and couldn’t get her? Or did you mommy spank you a little too much?”
He pointed his finger at me, almost touching my nose and I knew I had touched a raw nerve as I he hissed: “You will beg for my mercy. I promise you!”
I smiled under my veil and said: “The night is still young and might hold a few surprises for us all.”
“Now that you are here I think we can come to a business agreement where I get your ship and I let you live. It’s a real good offer, I assure you. I am not always that generous.”
I said. “I thought I was here to discuss a price for my crew members release.”
He raised his shoulders and said. “I lied, I always do that and I’ve got you now. I am sure I can persuade you to give me all the necessary access codes.”
“I’ll have my ship blown up before I give it to you.”
His grin returned and he said: “Our little Pirate lady thinks she still has choices.”
His face became hard and the smile vanished. “Pirate, I do not know who you are and frankly I don’t care. Let me make it perfectly clear to you. You will die tonight in a most unpleasant manner if you don’t do exactly as I tell you.”
One of the Togar extended his claws and growled.” Follow him or I will make you!”
So we went into the VIP box with the best view over the fight arena. I estimated at least 80,000 beings in the bleachers around the arena. There was a GalNet Team complete with a group of flying Robo Cams.
An ocean of flags, project-a-signs and every surface that could hold advertisement was used to promote well known Union products.
He offered me a seat right next to him and said. “Until I kill you I will be civil and you can enjoy your evening as it will be the last you have in such freedom. How about some Terran Champagne or something else perhaps?”
I declined and sat down.
The lights went out and a single spotlight caught us, the fat Duke and me. He got up and said to me: “Get up and cling to my arm or I kill you right here.”
Pure rage was building up and as always I felt it first in my stomach, and only because I used a mental calming exercise I had learned from Narth was I able to do as he asked.
He held up his arms and his voice was magnified to thunderous levels. “Ladies and Gentle Beings from all over our pretty Galaxy, I Duke Donheer, welcome you all, here in person and via GalNet, Shiss-cpjt and all the other broadcasters that are here tonight. Welcome to another Fight to the Death night, here at the Donheer Coliseum, the home of the genuine Ultra Gore Kill League.”
He made a pause to accept the applause and the cheers and then said. “I appreciate you all and because you have been great fans I have prepared great fights for you tonight. As usual bets can be placed until the Fight siren signals the start of a contest. Merchandise and Souvenirs can be purchased at the GalNet Donheer Site. Get them now because these will be collector items soon!”
The spotlight turned off and the lights came back on. An unseen promoter now spoke.
“Tonight you will get your money’s worth of blood splattering excitement. Men, women and beasts will die in the eternal sands of the arena to satisfy you. And what a spectacle our Duke himself has lined up for you. A Dai Warrior just captured from the most vicious Dai Clan sold to us by the Kermac who declared all Dai must be eradicated. A Half Dai Assassin from a far off world with a long list of skills. Will this sneaky dagger wielding coward have a chance in open combat?
Into the mix and smuggled from the deadliest planet in the Universe, three monstrosities from green Hell, a real Stomper and two Insectosaurus’.”
The crowd cheers thundered. The speaker waited till the noise ebbed away somewhat and said speaking over a drum solo: “Our friends of the Union Fleet supplied us with a ghastly but powerful grey Nul warrior and to top this Royal Rumble to the Death we announce the return of greatest of all fighting champions this Arena had ever seen. The destroyer of life, the Terror from a far and unknown Galaxy, The one and only Terror Hammer has returned!”
A sea of blue and yellow flags and streamers appeared, held by fans who chanted rhythmically “Terror Hammer!”
Duke Donheer said more to himself than to me or anyone. “It is a shame to kill him, the crowd loves him, but no one defies me and makes a fool of me!”
The round arena was now lit and cages lowered from above. I saw Har-Hi in one and Hans in another. A third held a huge grey Nul. I had never actually seen a Nul in reality and I had to admit that being looked more frightening than a Y’All.
Of course truth to be told, ever since I knew TheOther I got used to the looks of the Y’All. The announcer presented six more ferocious looking beings: A Saurian, two Yellow Throat Shiss, a Togar fight champion and two Perthanian Union citizens who had been captured and were forced to participate in this spectacle.
Every advertisement director that Okayed this should be held accountable for treason, every Union citizen considering this entertainment and supporting it declared to be enabling criminals and stripped of all citizen privileges.
The Duke said.” Kiss me!”
“Not in your lifetime.”
He gave the Togar that stood behind me a sign and said. “Defying me has consequences! Maybe that will make your Dai fight even more! There is nothing the crowd loves more than a Damsel in distress and monsters with slimy tentacles. The Togar aimed his weapon at me and snarled. “Get up, Pirate!”
The Duke said. “On your knees and beg for mercy, or I’ll have you tossed into the arena.
Not waiting for the Togar, making me comply, I vaulted over the railing of his floating VIP box and landed in the coarse sand about five meters below, rolling over my shoulder to lessen the drop impact.
The Dukes voice spoke: “Captured by myself during a tremendous space fight. One of the Union’s most wanted Criminals. The lady pirate known as Black Velvet. Special bets can be made by whom this slender weak human female is killed first.”
Elfi spoke in my earpiece: “Team Aqua has breached the outer defences unnoticed and is in the process of neutralizing everything in sight.”
That meant my Marines had successfully landed on the Dukes Island and had begun searching for the Loki torpedoes.
Elfi then said. ”Team Blackout is also progressing towards their objective.”
Narth said into my mind. “I have recuperated well enough. I am certain I can teleport.”
“Can you take the Golden along?”
The answer came immediately. “Yes.”
I was sending him my mental instructions. “Narth take the Golden home.”
The cages holding the fighters and monsters clapped open and a pile of swords, spears and sabres was uncovered in the center of the arena. The stomper a terrifying monster with eight legs with a mass of long tentacles on one end screamed and went straight for me. Hans was immediately attacked by one of the huge Insectos .Looking like a cross between a praying mantis, scorpion and dinosaur it had sharp looking scissor claws and a stinger oozing with greenish slime on a long flexible tail while it scurried fast through the sand on its six insect like segmented legs.
Eric Olafson Series Boxed Set: Books 1 - 6 (The Galactic Chronicles Series) Page 116