Trapped: Chaos Core Book 1

by Lalonde, Randolph

  He addressed the audience proudly. “I hunted down eleven people from the same facility that created these two. They managed to escape on their own, and almost all of them fell into service with criminal organizations or our competition. When they discovered that I was after them, their patrons tried to hide them, one of them tried to run, but they couldn’t get away from me. Now we employ more experts from that facility than anyone. Only three of the skilled workers who know how Larken and his mate were made are in the wild, and I can assure you that they will be employed by us soon. The next step is to return to the Geist system and take the facilities that make such wonderful beings. We will go, and hold the site for as long as it takes. While we begin more important work, I will volunteer my own material so thousands of soldiers can be made to defend the planet. The first batch will be a pre-trained army for defence, after that, we will be able to sell you perfectly loyal, high-performing soldiers for your own armies. We have discovered that an adult human can be grown and programmed in these facilities in only seven months, not ten at a time, not a hundred at a time or a thousand, but ten thousand at a time.” There was a smattering of applause, mostly from the United Core Authority officers, but from some household masters as well.

  “Those are mere tools, and while they are certainty useful, they are not as impressive as our specimens here,” The Countess said, gesturing towards Larken and Aspen. “When we arrive, Larken and Aspen will be analysed and the genetic locks that kept us from correcting their life expectancy limitations as well as their inability to breed will be cured. I will keep the first children they produce for myself, and they will be matured in the same facility that made the originals, so I can enjoy them as older children and watch them become as formidable as their parents.” There were gasps of wonder and disbelief. Aspen felt a chill run down her spine as she realized that most of the courtiers were excited about her children being slaves the moment they were born. She always wanted to have a child, was haunted by the fact that it was impossible, but the implications had her head spinning. “The next generation, five babies seem to be Aspen’s theoretical limit, will be perfect, natural children produced by their beautiful parents, and they will be auctioned off on their first birthday to you. You are all my very best friends, so this treasured generation will only be available to you.” She was grinning, practically beaming, and the court was applauding, cheering so hard that it hurt her eardrums.

  “It is every woman’s dream to have children of their own, and I am looking forward to seeing Aspen become a mother, and for you all to share in the joy. I love her like my own though, so I will only allow her to have five pregnancies, then she and Larken will retire as treasured members of my court service. There is more, of course. My people will create new generations of perfect servants for you, as beautiful and as tailor made as my Larken and Aspen. For a fee you can even determine their life expectancy, their intelligence level, base traits and whether or not they can be bred together. I know that even though you will be able to make generations of your own perfect little creatures, you’ll return to the source for more, because I personally know the joy that Larken and Aspen have brought me.”

  Aspen could barely stop herself from shaking as she forced a smile and bowed with Larken. He was having difficulty containing himself as well, flushed red, and she squeezed his hands when they came together. “We have to celebrate this,” she told him through clamped teeth.

  His smile looked more like a grimace as he let his anger slip for a moment, but he nodded, and over the next few minutes they regained enough of their composure to stand together and smile at their Countess.

  “Our forces, our estate here, and a force from the United Core Authority will be leaving for the Geist system in one week,” Kort said. “I invite everyone here to come with us, and am happy to tell you that your participation will ensure a healthy discount when production begins. Now, celebrate! Today will mark the dawn of a new civilization!”

  The rest of the day was a kind of hell Aspen could not have imagined. Everywhere she turned there was a courtier looking to congratulate her on her good fortune. They were eager to mention her extended life span, which she would have taken gladly, but many of them were even more interested in telling her how they would spare no expense in having the honour of buying one of her children for themselves. Aspen wanted to tear them apart, or to at least ask how they would feel if one of their children were sold to an owner who lived far away. Instead she grinned, and laughed along with them, accepting all their well-wishing.

  All the while, she planned, taking fresh notice of where all those doors and the landing sites along the outskirts of the garden were.

  06

  Aspen refused to use the sleep assist technology in her bed that night, her trust in everything around her was absolutely gone. Thoughts of being breeding stock for years then who knew what plagued her along with other worries. Sun and her other friends could be stuck on some freighter, or already in a work camp.

  When she did get to sleep she dreamt that she was a hooded guardian standing atop a tower that wobbled and bent in the wind. Faceless creatures swept in from a pitch black sky, picking at her, trying to pull her feet out from under her, and when she finally fell Aspen woke up violently, surging out of bed. The sun was coming up by the time she emerged from a hot shower.

  Tinick was already at the foot of her bed with her wardrobe for the day and a steaming bowl of fried noodles and vegetables. “I love egg noodles, these are from a shop in the city that I prepare myself, I hope you like them.” She said.

  The aroma of the hot chicken, broccoli, carrot chunks in a salty citrus sauce wafted up to Aspen’s nose and she couldn’t help but smile. The long nosed nafalli grinned as she dug in with a pair of chopsticks. “Oh my God, this is not on my diet,” she said around a mouthful of savoury noodles and chicken.

  “Oh, the vegetables are, and the sauce is good for you, but you’re right. I wouldn’t go telling anyone you had this.”

  “You’re going to get into trouble,” Aspen said.

  “Not when I force them to consider how many calories you’ll be burning today. I’m afraid you’re going to be entertaining the court in the garden and in the halls. Everyone has questions for you, my dear, everyone wants your attention. There are new shuttles arriving right now, in fact the Fleet Feather just landed with a whole delegation of people. The servants haven’t even had time to unload their baggage. There’s so much going on, I doubt anyone will bother me about slipping you some noodles and chicken, so eat up.”

  “Yes, Ma’am,” Aspen replied, shovelling and slurping a load of noodles into her mouth.

  “And step into these please,” she said, holding a pair of black tights low for Aspen to step into. The next moment, she slipped a loose cap onto her head that dried, then styled her hair like a blonde wave that cascaded down her neck and shoulders but was drawn back from her face. “I don’t know why we need cosmeticians about with these automatic stylers, but then again, they were saying the same thing about clothing designers only two years ago, so I should keep quiet I suppose,” Tinick said as she took the empty bowl from Aspen and gave her a mask that was pre-set to do her makeup in bronze and black colours. Aspen looked at a mirror by the bed and was shocked at the result when the mask was finished applying the look. She almost didn’t look like herself with the deep shadowy colours applied. The tunic was more understated than Aspen expected as well, open along the sides with broad bands that clung to the front, she looked slimmer than she actually was, for sure, but she was comfortable in bare arms and clingy matte tights.

  “There, it’s supposed to be hot today, so it’s good that there are open spaces for your body to shed some of it, are you comfortable?”

  “More than I have been since I arrived,” Aspen said. “I don’t know if the Countess will like it though.”

  “The colouring is right in fashion now, this is how everyone will be looking in a week, you watch,” Tinick replied.

/>   “Who am I to argue with an expert?”

  “Larken is outside. He has been dressed to match. Perhaps I’ll see you in the garden? I have permission to attend the Tai Chi session you’ll be leading this morning.”

  “I can’t believe I almost forgot to check my schedule,” Aspen replied. Inwardly, the estate’s duty schedule made her cringe. She enjoyed leading Yoga, Tai Chi, dance and poise classes for the guests before, but she felt like it was such a waste of time, considering what was going on. Aspen hoped that she didn’t show her distaste openly. “Thank you so much for reminding me, I hope to see you there, Tinick.”

  The tall furred designer nodded and smiled as she left, leaving the door open for Larken, who was dressed in the same top and tights with copper highlights on his face. There were two guards behind him, one looked a bit like the one who gave her a meal bar on the day of her return, but Aspen couldn’t be absolutely sure. “Hello Tinick, thank you for leaving everything out for me,” he told her.

  “My pleasure, try to have a good time today,” Tinick replied as she moved down the hall. “Now I must attend the Countess and her party.”

  Larken let her go by and took Aspens hand as they headed into the hallway, their guards close behind. “Things are already starting, someone woke me up about half an hour ago. I was barely asleep anyway.”

  “What do you mean?” Aspen asked.

  “The garden is full, the landing field is packed,” Larken said. “Every major house in the system must have a representative here or on their way. Oh, I forgot to check.” He stopped and tapped his forearm where a display appeared. “I hope she hasn’t put it up on the public ‘nets.”

  The Sellernet local to the solar system already had an advertisement up for new dolls, featuring clips of her and Larken growing up. They were adorable, even she had to admit as she watched them morph from children into young adults.

  “You guys were so cute,” one of the guards said. His partner nudged him with her elbow.

  Aspen watched in horror as the display showed footage from their short shower together, only it didn’t end with her getting unceremoniously yanked out by Kort, but went on as though they were never interrupted. They even added dialog. This fictional Larken and Aspen made declarations of love and devotion as they caressed each other. If it weren’t on the public Stellarnet, she would only be mildly irritated, she wasn’t a shy person and she wished things did happen as they were depicted in that hologram, but she was furious. “How could she do this?”

  “You two are love birds, and she’s trying to sell copies to bird watchers,” the female guard whispered.

  “How would you feel if you were going to be used as a breeding mare?” Aspen said, whirling on her.

  “Don’t,” Larken said. “They can’t do anything.”

  “Listen to him,” the female guard agreed.

  “No, I’m going to be popping babies out for at least five years and watching them get sent away. Then, when they’re barely old enough, they might become breeding stock too, or get sold into a harem somewhere, or worse.”

  “It happens all the time to normal slaves, and there’s nothing anyone can do,” the male guard said. “Move on to the garden please.”

  Larken squeezed her hand and she allowed herself to be led to the garden. There was something about him, he didn’t seem worried about the future, or insulted by the holo of them in the shower. There must have been something going on that she wasn’t seeing, he must have a plan. Then she remembered, he’d already told her that he’d make sure they would be the welcoming committee for new shuttles, and there were so many arriving already.

  The only thing that enticed Aspen to stay was the idea that she may have her life extended, the clock might stop ticking or at least slow down to a normal crawl. They stopped in the foyer where Kort joined them with two guards of his own. Their chitinous purple and gold armour looked weathered, more practical than what the guards wore in the estate. “I think I’ll take escort duty for now. Are we going to the garden?” Kort said, smiling too closely and too broadly at her.

  “I thought we’d greet newcomers as they arrived,” Larken said.

  “I don’t think so. Security will be checking every shuttle that arrives, we can’t put you or your mate at risk. In fact, we’ll be putting you both in stasis later today so we can hide you aboard my carrier. Your value as a pair has gone up higher than we’d hoped.”

  The male guard who was at her door looked to Aspen and Larken. “Good luck, you two. I hope they fix you up.”

  Kort regarded him with a scowl. “They need help scanning the new guests in the garden platform, you’re with us, but you’re going to keep your mouths shut and your eyes open.”

  “Yes, Sir,” the pair of them replied.

  The walk to the garden platform was a silent one, with Kort walking close behind her and Larken, they were surrounded by the old and new guards. They passed the garish, trickling fountains. The sun felt hot on her face, and all the new arrivals seemed too cheerful for her liking. People she’d never met smiled at her expectantly as she passed, until one woman – her brown and violet hair was up in a circular hoop above her head that made her look ridiculous – ignored the guards and embraced Larken. “I was so disappointed when I didn’t get to see you on my last visit, Larken!” she exclaimed. Aspen knew her, she was a long time courtier who didn’t pay her much attention, but had great affection for Larken.

  “Lady Gadanne, how are you?” Larken asked, feigning joy at seeing her. “I’m happy I could see you before we go.” Aspen smiled at her and then turned her attention to the large marble ramp leading down to the grassy landing field. There were no guards nearby, they were occupied with the new arrivals, but the Fleet Feather was right where it aught to be at the bottom of the ramp, and the door was open.

  “You’re leaving so soon? I was so hoping we could sit, or walk the grounds for a while, especially now that you have your Aspen back. You seemed so forlorn while she was away. It’s good to see you whole again. I don’t know what I’d do if my new husband were to disappear,” the Lady said.

  Aspen stopped following the conversation as Kort’s hand landed on her hip and slowly began to slip downwards. Larken was too distracted by Lady Gadanne to notice, and the guards knew not to do anything about it. “When he’s in stasis, I’ll wake you up so we can have some fun before you get fixed. I wonder, did you learn any new tricks while you were away? I know you lost your virginity while you were out there, it was on the scans,” he whispered.

  Aspen wished she could rip his hand off and stuff it in his mouth. Whether it was because of her rising anger, or just by chance, she didn’t know, but her eye came to rest on the female guard that had come for her that morning. Specifically, she found herself staring at the woman’s sidearm, which was resting in its holster without the safety latch engaged.

  She snatched the handgun from where it hung, turned, started pulling on the trigger, found the safety with her other hand and struck Kort in the face and chest with half the white energy bolts the blaster fired. “Run!” Aspen said as the smell of burned flesh filled her nostrils and she burst into a run.

  “Sorry!” Larken said to Lady Gadanne as he followed her.

  Aspen dropped the handgun as she scrambled past a few guests, and didn’t bother stopping.

  Larken was beside her as she sprinted over an arched bridge that was built into one of the most grandiose fountains.

  Several yellow bolts of energy passed through the air wide of them as they sprinted between the fountains. “They’re shooting?” Larken asked, shocked.

  “Stun shots! We have to keep going!”

  They made it down to the landing spot then into the Fleet Feather. Aspen rushed up the stairs to the cockpit hatch before the pilot, an old, chubby man with a head of hair cut perfectly equal to a full beard, could close it.

  He fished a handgun out from its holster somewhere between his legs and fired at her wildly, barely managing to half-turn w
hile his pilot chair refused to cooperate. “Get off my ship!” he shouted, unable to hit her while his seat slowly turned. From behind his seat she slapped the gun out of his hand and avoided his grasp.

  Aspen stuffed her fingers into the back of the collar of his containment suit and leaned back. The pilot frantically scrambled to pull the front of the collar loose as he fought for air. She pressed against the back of the seat with her knees as he struggled, trapping him against the seat and cutting off his air completely.

  It was the hardest thing she’d ever done, listening to him choke, feeling the fight slip out of him as he passed into unconsciousness then finally dying. When she was sure he was dead, she let him go and watched the body slump in the pilot’s seat.

  His control panel was already active, unlocked and ready for the next group who wanted to be ferried around. “Close the hatch, Larken!”

  She rushed to the controls and activated the emergency ascension, getting the navigational system to start calculating a jump from orbit. “I can’t believe it, we’re almost out of here.” Ragged breathing was her answer.

  “Larken?” she asked, turning around.

  “Made it,” he said, coughing wetly. “Inside and outside hatches are closed.”

  He was slumped down against the back wall, two holes the size of her fist through his middle and one in the middle of his chest. The handgun the pilot used was a shredder, it didn’t hit hard enough to damage most electronics much, but it tore through flesh raggedly, savagely. “Oh, no,” Aspen said, taking him into his arms. “I’m sorry, my love. I’m so sorry.”