A tone sounded throughout the passenger compartment, signaling they had landed. Daniel gently kissed Ninifis and instructed her empty eyed servant to not allow her to leave until he returned. He sighed, the servant even more dimwitted then Ninifis, and waved his goodbye, making his way to the shuttles entry. A squad of reactive combat armored Ju'Lew Guards waited for the docking bay beyond to pressurize.
“Knight Captain Ja'Luk, any word from the colony administrator?” Daniel asked, already knowing the answer.
“No, sir, every channel is quiet,” Knight Captain Ja'Luk responded.
Daniel nodded. “Ok, so the plan is as we discussed. We head directly to the administrators office.” Knight Captain Ja'Luk saluted and turned to his men.
Daniel carefully placed a metallic disk on his shoulder and touched a button that appeared on its surface, causing a skin tight exosuit to grow around his entire body. It was similar to the combat armor the guards wore, but not reinforced or including an integrated helmet with combat PDU. He quickly located the pre-fitted helmet that went with the suit, sliding it on and checking the seal, just in case the habitation domes had been damaged.
The shuttle door slid open and the guards rushed down the boarding ramp to the landing pad. Daniel followed close behind, scanning the domed docking bay for any signs of life; finding nothing but abandoned maintenance supplies. He quickly covered the short distance to the entrance to the access tunnels that connected all the domes.
“Let’s go,” he nodded to Ja’Luk.
“Tri’Sti, get it open,” Ja’Luk instructed.
“Yes, sir,” Tri’Sti responded sharply as she entered a code into the PDU adjacent the door. It slid open, the guards rushing down the dimly lit tunnel, he following close behind.
The access tunnels were the definition of plain. The dark grey floors were grated, allowing easy access to the maintenance corridors that ran beneath, while the surrounding walls and ceiling were only broken by a strange type of strip lighting that was sunk into their surface. For some reason he found it creepy, the light forming misshapen shadows and playing tricks with his eyes. He couldn't wait to find out what had occurred and leave this hell hole behind.
After a time, they reached a fork, finding a sign stating that the tunnel to the left led to the city domes, while the tunnel to the right led to the administrative and security dome. He nodded to the guards, who started down the right tunnel. After another kilometer, they reached the administration dome and a locked door.
“Tri’Sti, can you get it open?” Ja’Luk asked as Tri’Sti knelt next to the PDU, the rest of the guards lining the wall behind her, Daniel taking up the rear.
“Not a problem, cap,” Tri’Sti responded. The door slid open and the guards rushed in with combat arcs raised. Daniel, heart racing, followed close behind.
The stench of rotting flesh struck him first, almost knocking him off his feet before he could activate the filter built into his exosuit. He blinked clear the tears that formed in his eyes, cringing at the sight of the repulsive, reddish-green slime that covered the floor and walls. Daniel found the sight oddly familiar. But before he could place from where, the guards spread out, and started slowly across what Daniel figured to be a lobby of some sort, evident by the rows of seating set against the side walls, and a single door, next to a PDU, positioned on the far wall. A guard slipped and fell, splashing the green slime on his companions, but was quickly helped back to his feet, seeming no worse for the wear. Daniel waited until they had made it across before he started himself.
The slime seemed to be alive, creeping up his feet with every step as if it was trying to resist him, hold him in place, making him reluctant to stop for even a moment. But it was also very slick and Daniel knew if he tried to walk too fast the same fate would befall him as had one of the guards.
As he slowly approached the now open door on the far side of the lobby, he found the guards stopped midway down the hall beyond, seeming reluctant to move any further. Daniel, once clear of the slime, hurried his pace, peering over the rear guard to see what had them spooked.
A reddish-brown stain, from what appeared to be dry blood mixed with tiny chunks of torn flesh, was splattered across the floor, ceiling, and walls.
“This isn’t recent,” one of the guards said, retracting a probe back into his combat armor that had taken a sample of the dried blood.
“Knight Captain...anything?” Daniel asked, trying to keep his words steady.
Knight Captain Ja'Luk shook his head. “Nothing, Sir Daniel. No signs of movement or signals. It's possible everyone is dead, sir,” he explained, voice unreadable.
Daniel shivered. “We need to check the administrator's office. It should be the door at the end of this hallway,” Daniel hurried, having studied the colony schematic before they arrived, and was now glad he did. This was not a place he wanted to be walking around blind.
The remainder of the long hallway was empty, but Daniel did notice a greenish colored slime, similar to what they'd found in the first lobby, oozing from under a few of the side doors they passed. He quickened his pace, following close behind the guards who stopped when they reached the end of the hallway, another locked door barring their way. Without word, Tri’Sti accessed the adjacent PDU and began decrypting the lock. The rest of the nervous guards lined up single file on the opposite side, and with a trained unison, rushed through as soon as it slid open.
Another lobby of simple design, and another layer of the greenish slime, greeted them. They quickly moved across, this time with steady steps, and entered the office proper. An overturned PDU desk of modest make lay in the center of the floor, while two couches lined the side walls, with a row of seating next to the door, all undisturbed. The white walls were covered with crude programmable matter art, while the crest of Ju'Lew, a yellow sun with a simple brown belt around its equator, stood behind where the desk would normally be placed. He could find no sign of foul play, besides the overturned desk, but also no sign of the colony administrator. Daniel directed the guards to fix the desk, then quickly went to work. He accessed the PDU that was built into its surface, entering his override code into the projected keypad.
He frowned as it came online. “The records are missing,” he whispered to himself, finding that the administrative archive had been wiped clean. Another icon flashed, catching his eye, which when selected, caused the air above the desk to shimmer, then fill with live record streams from every corner of the colony.
He gagged.
The sights were of grotesque horrors. Mutilated bodies, pools of blood, and the strange green slime were everywhere. But still, no signs of life.
“Sir!” one of the guards shouted and Daniel turned to the record feed that had caught the man's attention. A single woman, with shoulder length silver hair and a bright pink dress, skipped along an empty street in city dome three. Daniel froze. It isn't possible, his mind cried. Why is she there!
Countess Ninifis paused, peering into one of the abandoned buildings that lined the street, then placed her hands over her mouth, seeming to scream in horror. The guards stormed out of the office without a word, their first job the protection of the baroness. Daniel turned back to the records, deciding to leave the babysitting to them, when a sight he would never forget, a sight that still haunted his dreams, day and night, flashed across one of the feeds.
A jungle grew around him. The walls, floor, and ceiling mutating into a dense growth of vegetation, and he was once again back on Earth, watching a scene of horror. In a clearing just beyond where he stood squatted a grotesque, human-like creature, with taut, greenish skin, an elongated skull, long, muscular legs, and double-jointed arms with sharp, curving bones protruding above its wrists, devouring a helpless spider monkey. The fear and horror of that time returned, flowing through him as fresh as that faithful day so long ago, when he was forced to flee in terror from the monstrous creatures and only survived thanks to the assistance of an old ABF Engineer.
As quickly as t
he vision appeared, it vanished, his mind returning to the present. It isn't possible, his heart screamed. But it must be, his mind responded, knowing well that what he'd just witnessed flash across the feed was the same creature; the same as that dreadful time on Earth.
Two options filled his mind: Save Ninifis and return to the shuttle, or leave her behind and save himself. The answer was obvious. He would save himself.
He rushed out of the office and back towards the shuttle, ignoring the slime and blood stained walls. When he reached the entry to the docking bay, panic overtook him as a light on its surface flashed red; the bay had been depressurized. He quickly located a BAP with his BC node and sent a request for the door to unlock, but it was denied. At that same moment a message arrived from Sir Pariya. Shaking uncontrollably, he queued the message and froze as it streamed into his mind.
“Dear Sir Daniel...I mean Daniel the fraud. If you are reading this then that means the colony on Ju'Lew A03 has been lost, along with Baroness Ninifis and, of course...you. I will make sure to take very good care of the barony...so do not worry. Your plan was so very well thought out and will make me quite rich. Thank you for all your hard work, “Sir” Daniel. Your friend, Sir Pariya.” Daniel cursed himself. He had been double-crossed. He grasped the anger, trying to use it to resist his rising fear.
He had survived this once before on Earth, and he would survive it again, no matter the cost. He drew his laser arc and started towards the city dome.
“Damn you, Pariya...damn you, Trent...” he chanted, finding the words helped calm his nerves.
*********
Lady Vickie lounged seductively upon the golden couch within Sir Georigi’s private apartments onboard the NHA Super-Capital GBF Loyalty. She draped a bare leg over its armrest, though little could he notice the difference, the transparent, silk-like fabric that outlined her luscious curves providing him a clear view of what should be hidden beneath. Sensually, she glided her hands down her chest, over her stomach, then to her thighs, pulling her hem ever higher so she could stretch her legs even further. Her movements were seductive, sensual, drawing the attention and gaze of all those present, including his guards and servants, who shifted restlessly, trying valiantly to avoid falling under the spell of the near nude woman.
“Lady Vickie, I must again insist you change your attire. It is completely inappropriate and I have been most disturbed by more than one of my crewmen being overwhelmed by lust in your presence!” Georigi blustered, trying to keep his voice and temper under control, but unable to fully control either, Vickie being unreasonable.
“Is there a problem with that?” she scowled, her response singing his very heart. To have the woman he loved so prance around, showing herself freely to other men, was beyond imagining.
“Yes, it is completely inappropriate for a lady! I demand you change immediately!” Georigi stomped his foot, knowing he was right and leaving no room for further debate. Vickie's eyes flashed, twin supernovas being born within as she flew to her feet in a rage.
“You demand?” she hissed, Georigi suddenly regretting his words. “You demand of me! No man has the right to demand anything from me! I am not your property, Sir Georigi, and the sooner you realize this fact, the better!” she shouted, staring him down till he could no longer hold her gaze. “Til'Ma, come! I need to burn off this anger,” Vickie spun away from him, her fury engulfing her like a fog as she stormed into her bedchamber, her blushing servant Til'Ma in tow. Georigi sighed, regretting that he was the cause of her anger, but relieved she was out of view of his guards and servants.
They had left Alutia'Earth two days prior to journey to the uncolonized marks along the border Alutia shared with the Hulk'Zif Duchy. After much deliberation, he'd decided to request a mark that covered a portion of this boundary, it being much of the reason for his new lord and lady's past difficulties.
He recalled his meeting with Sir Trent and King Johan, where he stated his case, and after much discussion, deliberation, and research, they decided on three marks. Each had an abundance of habitable star systems and resources, but he wouldn't be satisfied until he found the perfect capital planet. So he'd decided to personally visit the best planets, not fully trusting the surveys and analysis conducted by explorers hired by the Hulk'Zif Duchy. It would have been much easier to employ his own explorers, he knew, but he felt it best to see the planets firsthand so as not to be swayed by others subjective opinions.
He'd requested Lady Vickie accompany him, he being her sworn protector, and after much debate, she'd obliged. But it'd been a test of his patience over the past few days. Vickie seemed to think it appropriate to move about the starship in clothing so meager that Georigi saw no difference from her prancing about naked. He was outraged. But Vickie found nothing wrong with her behavior, and to his own despair, actually seemed to enjoy the hungry stares of his normally honorable crewman. So he'd taken it upon himself to protect her from the eyes of his crew when she left the apartment. But that had just annoyed her further, leading to this latest debacle.
“Prince Georigi, a message from your father, King Peorigi,” Head Servant Nos'Fi informed him. He nodded his thanks and took a seat on the couch Vickie had just vacated, letting his anger cool before he queued the message.
“Dear Grand Marquis Georigi! My son! I am proud to hear of your heroics on Alutia'Earth, and that you are indeed the honorable man that I have raised you to be. Your mother and I are beyond overjoyed to learn of you being landed and provided the noble title of grand marquis. This honor couldn't have been given to a better man, and Grand Duke Trent and Grand Duchess Sasha are wise to realize your worth.
“I have decided, as a gift for your new land and title, with approval of King Johan, that you shall be granted ownership of the Giri Battle Fleet battle group that you have commanded on your travels. The men are proud to serve under a gentleman as fine as you, and Rear-Admiral Pom'Tis assures me she and the other officers have no reservations emigrating with their families to your new mark. But this is only part of my joyous gift, pending the approval of the Grand Duchess and Grand Duke of Alutia, your mark shall be permitted to construct and man its own battle fleet.
“As you know, this is a great honor and I hope you use this opportunity to further prove your worth and protect your new lord and lady as required. It will still be necessary for you to follow the same regulations as other holdings provided this honor, and yield half your battle groups to the emperor, along with a tenth to the local crown and duchy. I hope this pleases you as much as it does me.
“King Johan is a respectable man, and we have already brokered a trade agreement between our great galaxies. This will allow the Alutia Duchy to build an SJS Gate directly to NHA Galaxy 102, which means your mother and I will be able to visit when your marriage arrangements with the Lady Vickie have been formalized.
“This also means, as soon as your mark has been chosen, and a suitable capital planet has been assigned, I will be able to assist more than is traditionally acceptable. Part of the trade agreement allows me to aid in the construction and exploration, in exchange for priority trade rights with your mark, without payment to the king of the standard material tax, since it will be provided by me. The agreement also allows for the construction of an SJS Gate hub within your new mark, which as you know, is usually impracticable due to the enormous cost.
“Congratulations, my son, on all you have accomplished! Lady Vickie sounds like a noble and honorable woman and I know you will treat her right. Your Father, King Peorigi Giri.”
Georigi smiled, knowing his father's words rung true. The Lady Vickie, no matter her choice of attire, was a noble and honorable woman, and he best attain her formal consent to marriage as soon as possible. But to do that, he had to apologize for his latest transgression. He'd overreacted, he knew that now, since his nerves had calmed and his mind had cleared.
Taking a deep breath, he marched the few meters to the bedchamber assigned to Lady Vickie and chimed a request to enter. No resp
onse came. So he chimed again, again, and again, finding no response. Panic took him. What if in her grief she harmed herself? It was a thought he could not bear. With all haste, he accessed the local BAP, overriding the door lock, and barged into her bedchamber.
Ice covered his soul as his brain registered the sight before him. It isn't possible! His mind screamed. The Lady Vickie he knew would never do such a thing. But there she was, in the embrace of her servant, face contorted in unbridled pleasure.
Her drug laden gaze fell upon him, and her smile widened. “Would you like to...mmmm... to join us, Sir Georigi?” her question, blurred by her ecstasy, caused disgust to rise in his gullet.
He turned, ignoring her and the question in the air as he rushed out of the room. This had to be a trick! He tried to convince himself, but knew it clearly was not. Lady Vickie was not who she seemed, not the noble and honorable lady he had created in his mind, but a noble whore the likes his mother had warned him about.
He knew they were out there, the paramours and romantics, the noble gentleman and ladies who would indulge in pleasures of the flesh, no matter the man or woman. But he'd thought her different, had thought her a grand woman made of the same righteousness as himself. Though he wondered why, recalling how easily she had bedded him, only two days after they had met. Why had I not thought it odd? He suddenly wondered. Was I so blinded by love that I ignored the facts that had been clear before me? Even now, the way she dressed and acted should have allowed him to realize her true nature. But he didn't. Once again, Georigi realized, he had been fooled by one he trusted without question.
Slowly he wandered over to the guards standing stone faced by the doors.
“I will be leaving Lady Vickie in your hands, Tul’Dor. If she requests my presence, tell her I am indisposed.” Tul’Dor saluted without question. Georigi exited into the corridor, deciding a few hours on the fleet command deck may clear his mind.
The Noble Petty, Complete Edition (Alutia Rising Series, Book 2) Page 26