by Marcus Sloss
“My name is Mack Raul, Captain of the EDF. Thanks for saving me, if you did not reengage them, they would have finished me.” I said to the dragumi.
Two more lady dragons followed out of the tunnel behind her. A black and a green dragumi tossed some weapons into a pile. A saw only a few grenades.
The black female dragumi looked me over when her dazzling pink eyes widened in shock. “You… For the love of the maker… What are the odds? You filthy primate, I lost so many standing points from my death on Lunish.”
She looked exactly as she had then. Tall, brooding, deadly, and scary. The main difference was all the armor, weapons, and gear.
“Uniza? Damn… the odds are long. You look so much better naked.” I wished the words back into my mouth the moment they left.
The pretty teal broke into a roaring laugh as she covered her mouth. Uniza lunged and wrapped her clawed hand around my throat. She lifted me from my ass on the ground until my head touched the ceiling. Her eyes spoke of violence but she eventually placed me on my feet.
I was expecting a scolding but received none.
“I am Bexso, and that is Qnala.” The teal dragumi said and then indicated the green. “Antagonize Uniza later, we need to find the programmer before the men do. Here grab two grenades. This magazine will auto fit into your archaic weapon. Designed by the same species after all. We need to move. Uniza your our ranking officer now. Which way?”
“Back down past the fighting. My guess is that we hit a stalling defense. Not sure how much further we will get with only three of us and this soft flesh bag.” Uniza said.
“This soft flesh bag made it this far by himself.” I retorted.
“How did you manage that human? I find it intriguing that…”Bexso raced to me and snatch my jaw in her claws. She then spun my head. I was getting really sick of being roughly handled by a lady dragon. “The mark of the lancer Emperor. What? How? Did you know?”
The last part was directed at Uniza who nodded. “We will talk quietly, nothing over the sound of our footfalls,” Uniza said shifting to a whisper. “Our commander dug into Mack’s files when I was defeated. She swore humans were the next premonition species. That was wrong. What was established is this human owns a female lancer named Mila for the next thousand years. He defeated a lancer in hand to hand in his home over an honor violation. The Emperor was embarrassed by the display of his subject, combined with the proper actions of this human - he marked him. I know… unprecedented. Then he killed me on Lunish. A stage three with the intelligence of two placing ninth. The assessors got something wrong. That was what we determined and we spoke of it no more.”
“When I scan him he shows up as three intelligence and six in lethality. Apparently, killing you gave him a bump.” Bexso mentioned with a smirk. I did not feel the situation needed antagonizing.
We closed ranks and proceeded back down tunnel three. The underside of the first swordie I killed reminded me of something. I paused the group.
“I killed this one from below, it was reckless and stupid, but I discovered that there is no armor here.” I plunged a new hole into the upturned belly with my clawed digits and easily peeled the metal.
“That feline Emperor liked you enough to give you mites. Impressive, good find on the bottom armor.” The green dragumi Qnala said.
The four of us diligently stepped past the remnants of the previous fight. The dead dragumi littered the ground with the robots. It was sad to see and to experience. More like gross to feel, as our boots squished in the muddy blood. My curiosity perked about something.
“I died today, as I am sure you have experience with. Dying is stupid expensive. How do you afford to fight in battles like these?” I asked.
Bexso softly slid the back of her hand down my cheek in a stunning show of compassion. “You died and you raced back to fight. I will ask a question with a question then answer after you answer. You follow that?” I nodded as we progressed slowly deeper into Narshak. “This Mila, the one who must call you master. How often do you torture her or use her for your sexual whims?”
I raised my brows then furrowed them in confusion. There was even a head tilt at this question. To say I was thoroughly confused was an understatement.
“I… Your two species battle on many worlds do you not? Sorry, I know… a question chain without many answers. I do not want to disclose to you private matters that may lead to bigger problems down the line.”
“We do, but here. I will send a non disclosure agreement,” Bexso said and my eye pinged.
An NDA protected chat from outside review. I should use them more. Three NDA contracts were sent to me at once and I accepted them. The lady dragumi were interested, or bored. Who knew how often they got inside gossip on lancers from a human? Never.
“Mila is a friend. I think she was in a bad place. I am young by every standard, she is young by her species standard but ancient to mine. Her life before me was of wallowing self-indulgence and what I believe was an intentional series of failures. My guess was she was seeking help. When I died that first time, I never expected to return to life. She was the reason for my demise. I was given two options, end her in a permanent death, or utilize her as a servant.
“My species is very inept and… Hmm… dumb works I guess. We know so little, and even though Mila caused me to die she gave me a new body. This body, my last body after dying today.” I gulped at this, hoping if I did die I would wake up on Lunish. We rounded a bend and a swordie charged us.
Our combined fire reduced it to slag in moments. We detoured around the still melting body and I continued to talk.
“Mila is a friend, and I treat her like a sister. I have never once harmed her and been there to support her however she needs. Not because I am a pushover but because I can’t help but care. It is who I am.”
This elicited gasps from the three. Disbelief etched on their faces with anger simmering underneath. I found the last recording I had of Mila and played it for them. Where she admitting to missing me like a sibling. The anger faded and those beautiful dragumi babes softened.
Whatever curiosity that had itched Bexso was scratched. “When we die on a world fighting a rouge species the ministry of warfare clones us a new body. They say no charge to us. But of course, we are charged a value added tax on everything. So the cost is offset by the trillions of transactions that go into a mutual defense fund. For clarity, this is for sanctioned rouge species call to arms. Which this event is. We almost never lose more than one clone per war though. I am not sure if yours will be reimbursed. Was it one of the little ones, or big ones that got you? Oh, I remember in the first minutes there were cyborgs. Was it one of those?”
I instinctively scratched the back of my neck in embarrassment. “No, I was assassinated by a political rival. Guessing that is not covered.”
Uniza halted my progress forward. “You are telling us you were killed by the treachery of your own kind during a combat engage…”
The wall beside us erupted with knifies before she could finish. There were dozens and they hopped onto Uniza. She fell under the sheer weight as the piled onto her. She was going to be so mad at me.
I squeezed the trigger and poured plasma on the tide of bots, including poor Uniza. Bexso was filling the hole with liquid infernal goo as I focused on the ones that escaped my initial salvo. Four climbed up Qnala and I swapped to laser to precision them off her. I got three but the fourth dug a knife limb past her guard, her shield, and into her eye.
It was only Bexso and I left now. We waited tensely expecting another attack. It quieted as minutes passed.
“How mad will she get do you think?” I asked Bexso.
“Over her death, not that mad. She outlasted the vast majority of our entire company. We fight in a unit called the Valkyries of Evea. A hundred and sixty entered the lair of Reddy Tuxpin. She made it to the last three… but not as far as you did. She will be irked you lasted longer than her actual demise.” Bexso informed me.
“Who is Reddy Tuxpin?”
“A little shiny mastermind AI. Hides in the evil body of a tiny robotic bear. Originated as an economics cheat by a species called the Baru. It decimated their economy when it pilfered the accounts. Since then the sneaky bastard has eluded capture five times over hundreds of thousands of your years. His bounty has stacked to three hundred million D-coins. Which is why you saw every ship in the verse drop on this planet when his tech was reported. That is a mighty large bounty.”
The two of us proceeded deeper and deeper into the depths of the planet. We got so far down the walls went from cool to warm.
“Are you a speciest?” Bexso asked at a random point.
“Uhh… why?”
“You said you thought Uniza looked good naked but don’t sex your lancer. Lancer females are known for maybe the best coupling within the universe. The men… hell, to the no. Only sadists like barbs. I find it odd you avoid her pleasure. They are said to be so talented with their vaginas males never let them go willingly.”
“Merely see her differently, plus we are bound for a thousand years. If one of my wives does something horrible we can split, the painful relationship will fade and we move on. I can't do that with Mila.”
“Do you find me attractive?” I raised an eyebrow at this. Was I being hit on? In the depths of a rouge species cave...
“You are in a lot of…” a display notification pinged and I opened it. Bexso was naked, her teal body smooth. There were no scales and she had human skin. It was odd… in fact, it hit me then. This was a rendering, she had drawn up a body that I might find appealing and it worked. There were no tiny horns, scales, or claws. She was almost completely human with golden eyes. The contours were very appealing and her breasts a nice firm b cup. A flat tummy transition to a vagina that looked no different than Starla’s sexy lady lips. Her thigh gap was almost as perfect as Lories. She was not a ten like Astrid, Starla, and Lorie but a high nine. Okay, when you added the impressive small wings and the short spiked tail maybe a ten. I had my hands full though, literally with triple threat and figuratively with triple hotties.
I sighed not sure what to say. She had paused anticipating my reply. Her face a mask, giving me no tells.
“I have two wives and working on a third. A lowly man like me has more than he deserves. Do I find you attractive, yes? That photo made me start to lose focus from the combat. That body you designed was divine and I want to play passionately with it until we become sore.”
Bexso beamed with a smile. My reply pleased her. “Perfect, you are in need of a combat trainer and a body guard. I am bored being in the Valkyries of Evea. Here are my terms of employment.”
I brought up her contract. I would pay her in nourishment, lodging, and a stipend of ten D-coins a week. She would be bound to not antagonize or harm those I deemed family or friends. In exchange, she would train me, learn of my species, and guard me.
“Why?”
“Well, Captain Mack Raul. You have natural talent. If the lancer Emperor ChiKhi can see that. Then so can we dragumi. I will be rewarded for helping to guide you, but that is not my primary reason. I like to learn and experience new things. You are also sweet, caring, and different. This intrigues me and I want to know more. It is only a contract for a year… sign it please.”
Her swirling red eyes sparkled in delight. She looked excited to start something new and I was that conquest. I signed the contract hoping Mila would forgive me if offended. It reminded me that sometimes enemies become allies, you merely needed a common goal. I signed the contract.
“Thank you. Now let us focus on this cave crawl and melt this little Tuxpin.” Bexso said in joyous excitement.
I rolled my eye at her enthusiasm. We should have been focused the entire time.
My display populated an urgent call. I answered it not realizing I would get reception in the bowels of the planet. Probably another stupid human deduction that proved wrong.
“What the hell were you thinking Mack? I read the contract and understand you need better protection and that I am no warrior to train you but a dragumi… Did you do this because I displeased you?” Mila screamed at me with panicked rage.
“Calm please, I am in enemy territory. The explanation is right there in what you said. All of us need combat training, and assurances were made to reduce the drama. Now sign off and handle stuff top side. Wait… has anyone found the Tuxin guy?” I asked.
“It is Tuxpin, and no. The consensus is he is deep in the planet. Where? No one knows. We surprised him though. He is throwing everything he has to keep us from finding him. Fighting has slowed as causality reports are recording fewer and fewer fatalities. Good luck Mack, but know I am not pleased.”
I trudged forward while I frowned. The reaction was to be expected though, I could rationalize her anger. Bexso stayed mum and we trekked on.
We came to a three way intersection and paused. I closed my eyes and listened. Dumb idea. Little knifers fell from the ceiling onto us. The sudden weight on my head startled me and I panicked. A blade hit my face mask and the cover stopped it rapidly. The pressure was enough to knock stars in my head. Triple threat was dropped as I wretched the robot off my head. My scalp erupted in pain.
I reacquired my weapon and let plasma fly. It found our measly five attackers. One of Bexso’s arms hung limp. I went to help her when she retrieved a container from her bandoleer and injected its contents in proximity to the wound. Healing bots coursed through her body patching her up. As time passed the mending completed and I saw a trail of urine leak down her leg ejecting the tiny robots. I ignored it, we were in combat where gross things happened.
“You okay? I am surprised you used robot tech down here.” I asked. “One of the cyborg masters was able to silence our computer run weapons in the opening engagement.”
“It was either they killed me or I stayed combat ineffective. Calculated risk that paid off. I feel more air from this tunnel. We will try this one first.” Bexso said while rotating her shoulder.
It was another large downhill slope that entered into a small chamber with six exits. Four went down and one was small. Signs of a past battle were here, a few dead male lancers and dragumi littered the ground. Both were far bigger, scarier, and muscled than their female counterparts. Dozens of the three meter tall machines lay tangled in death. It was clear which way the victors had gone. Blood trailed them down the largest tunnel. I had a thought… and it hurt a little.
I stripped my armor off and got naked. When I walked over to Bexso she turned and saw me.
“Not now Mack, does the blood of our dead turn you on?” She hesitantly asked. Wondering if I was some weird freak probably. I plastered the biggest shit eating grin I could and tossed my hands on my hips as my placid dick swung in the air.
“What… no. Give me your sidearm.” I said and she handed it to me. I kissed her cheek sweetly and left it at that. “I am going down that small tunnel where no one else besides those quarter meter bots, or this Tumpkin baddie can fit in. No armor makes it easier.”
She got it then and approved. “It is Tuxpin Mack and good luck. I will wait here. Too bad you peeled that armor off then left me. I will be endlessly pouting awaiting your return.”
I rolled my eyes, then slid a hand teasingly over her ass. She went to grab my hand for an embrace when I sprung away and dove face first down a narrow tunnel I prayed did not get any smaller. I feared my idea would lead to a slow horrid death. I shimmed down the small tube with a pistol in front of me. While not claustrophobic in nature, I was definitely not a fan of it.
The walls enclosed on me, the extra space shrank but I still progressed forward. My breathing became rapid as I shook my head and calmed myself. By the verse, maybe I was claustrophobic. The pause in movement revealed a scraping sound in front of me. I shuffled forward when I saw an opening and plopped down onto some equipment in a small cavern.
In front of me was a startled robot. It was half a meter tall with no outer coating besides
shiny metal. It had paws for hands on its two arms and it reached for a weapon. I triggered the laser and sliced off the arm. The need to control the situation incited more violence and I sliced a leg off above the knee joint. The little robot toppled over into the center of the room.
“Please wait… Spare me.” The crippled robot pleaded.
“Name is Mack. Mack Raul. Look me up, I honor my deals and never lie. Now, why should I spare you?” I said.
“Creator’s balls. In all my years, you… a third stage species passed a sniffing test from lancers. Even the dual lancer Emperor. Do not look so surprised, I am an artificial designed to hack and cheat systems. Of course, I can get by measly protections. It is my luck. I just know it. After this disaster of a day to get someone I can trust in a barter. I am rich Mack. When I fled the Baru I did so with hundreds of millions in what was Digicoins back then. Did you know they swapped the currency to D-coins because of me? I see your intelligence is a three… recently a two, so don’t answer that. It was rhetorical. Probably my greatest achievement. Getting the collective species that number in the tens of thousands to alter their currency. Ugh… and now I am without two limbs lamed on a dirt floor. I should have never transferred into a body.”
“Yeah, kind of dumb. If you want I can kick you while you’re down? Don’t answer that I will just do it.” I kicked the little ornery tin bear. It wasn’t very hard.
“Maybe I am being a bit dramatic for the situation. I am at a diversion point though. If I bribe you, your moral integrity will probably refuse. If I try to trick you, you will kill me and claim my bounty. Alas, my calculations have completed. Billions of scenarios played out in a fraction of a moment. It makes me feel like a god.” Talkin said.