by Jessie Wolf
“Yes I do, Lady Maiha. I will have to admit that Corporal Taylor has always been one of the best squad leaders around. He never once had to use force to get his squad to get the job done. His men are all highly motivated and extremely professional. Also I notice that all of the men in his team are loyal to House Nakatoma. I wonder why?”
“Lady Allison, the answer to that is simple. If they couldn’t bribe, blackmail, or coerce someone they put them into the enforcer squads. Jacobs, Morehouse, Combs, and me were given orders to keep them in line or else.” He says.
“Do you mean that those three were coerced into being enforcers?” Alice asks him.
“Exactly, Lady Allison. All four of us are wanted men on our home planets, and here illegally for one reason or another.” He tells us.
“What are they wanted for? I won’t have killers, rapists, or anything like that here. If they broke the law along those lines then they’re going back.” I state very bluntly.
“No ma’am, nothing like that. I don’t know the whole story with Jacobs; you’ll have to ask him. Morehouse is a run-a-way male bride from Hellos Prime. He ran when he found out he was to be married at sixteen in an arranged marriage to an older man. Lady Maiha he’s straight.” Everyone knew what it meant for a male.
A life time of forced feminization and no rights. They were little more than slaves. Ever since Reclamation in the late twenty-first century arranged marriages became the norm. On some planets that was the only way you could be married. Everyone knew of Hellos Prime’s laws. This was one of the things the Emperor has been trying to put an end to for years. This was one of the reasons House Light so desperately wanted to destroy House Nakatoma, as Hellos Prime was their home planet.
The fact that House Nakatoma did not practice arranged marriages was considered an insult. “Combs’ story is a little harder to understand. You see he’s a full blooded member of the Walkatonie, and some kind of big wig. Anyway if he goes back home to Freedoms Landing he will be forced to be some kind of High Priest. Like I said it don’t make sense to me, it sounds like he would have it made. I know I wouldn’t have minded being in that kind of gig.” I almost lost it when he said that, poor Alice does. When a look of confusion crossed his face I decided to enlighten him.
“Corporal, trust me, not even your worst enemy would want that. The High Priest of Freedoms Landing is encased in bio-steel from the top of their head to their toes. After that they are latterly plugged into the planets internet by use of surgically implanted Ethernet ports. After that they are encased in a metal shell. They spend the rest of their lives acting as living AIs with absolutely no human contact.”
“Sweet Holy Mother of God! No wonder he ran. That kind of isolation would drive anyone insane. How can the Emperor allow that to happen?” he was truly shocked. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that some of the indentured servants from his home planet were sometimes used in that capacity.
“Unfortunately it’s called Freedom of Religion. That is why they are called ‘High Priest’s’. Try as he might the Emperor’s hands are tied. If it wasn’t for the following three Houses’ and their influence in the Grand Parliament He could change a great many things. Houses’ Light, Moore, and Daniels have done everything they can to keep things the way they are.” I go on to tell him of all they have done here on Hades to cripple first House Nakatoma, and the Emperor himself. As I lay everything out for this young man I see something I have only seen a few times in my life. The birth of a legion. I didn’t realize it at the time, but this young man was about to become one of the most legendary heroes of the people.
“If you give me the chance ma’am, I’ll make them pay for everything they have done. I won’t tell my team what you have told me here. I suggest that you also keep this from the rest of the House troops as well.”
“Why is that?” I was truly curious as to why he would suggest this. “I would think that everyone should know what they are fighting for.”
“That’s just it, my Lady. If you tell them what you have me, well you’ll be unable to control them on the battle field. You may not know this, and I doubt anyone else will tell you. Almost every last man and woman, with the exception of a few, have fallen in love with their new Head of House, and her sisters. What has endeared you to them Lady Maiha was the simple act of adopting ‘little ghost’ and her two ‘elves’.” At the look of shock on my face he explains. “All of the NCO’s plus a few select others know who they are. I bet not even Lady Allison knew who they were or our names for them.” he was grinning by this time.
“Very well, I won’t say a word. However I do need to know why Jacobs is a wanted man. Is he in one of the holding rooms?”
“Yes, ma’am, I heard they put him in the room next to mine.”
“Alice, honey, release him please?”
Alice quickly released Taylor from his bonds. Once he was released he stood to his full height. Before I thought he was around six foot six at most. Boy was I wrong. The hand cuff and torso shackles had kept him bent over further than I thought. “Um… Tayler just how big are you? Wait that didn’t come out right. What I…” his laughing stops me.
“It’s alright my Lady. I know what you meant. It’s one of the things they teach us after we start our HRT back home. We learn how to make ourselves look smaller than we really are. I’m actually seven foot one and weigh in at two fifty five.”
I can’t help it I have to ask. “Do all of the young men turn out like you?”
A very sad look comes across his face. “No ma’am. Some, well most, become extremely feminine in appearance. Most of them become indentured servants as maids or some such thing. I was one of the lucky ones in away. No one wants us giants. Sure we can work as miners back home, but they won’t let us out migrate.”
“Who is the House for Doreen V?” I asked him.
It takes him a few seconds to remember who the House for his home planet was. “That would be Moore, my Lady.”
“Alice, add another House to the scrap heap. No one that forces its people to make a choice between slavery at home or off planet does not deserve to exist.”
“Yes, love. I’ll make sure the commanders know.” She says.
“Taylor how would you like to help me with getting Jacobs to talk. I need to get him to tell me about his past. I need to know why he’s on the run.”
“I’ll do what I can, my Lady, but I don’t know if he’ll open up to you.”
“That’s all I can ask. Come on lets go talk to him.”
When we walk in into the room next door I come to a dead stop. I don’t have to ask why Jacobs is on the run. His solid white hair, coal black skin, white within white eyes, and pointed ears tell me everything I need to know. Switching to his native language of the High Elves, “Welcome to Hades Prince Raygel. Your mother is not too happy with you right now. Would you care to explain why you have decided to hide under my roof?”
I will give him this much he did try to play dumb and keep his cover. “Excuse me, my Lady; I didn’t understand what you just said.”
Staying with High Elfish, even though no one else but him understood me. “Please, your Highness, don’t try to play dumb with me. I know exactly who you are. If you doubt me I will call your mother Queen of High Winds, her Royal Majesty Tatianna Ravenswood. I have no desire to go to war with the Elves. Would you care to start over?”
The young elven warrior prince smiled “I see you, Daughter of Death.”
Returning the proper greeting “I see you Brother of War.” Switching back to Standard so everyone can follow what is being said I introduce them to the young man. “Lady Allison Ann Wendell, Corporal Laurence Taylor, allow me to introduce his Royal Highness, the First Duce of Mylar, the Earl of Isle, Prince Raygel Ravenswood.” Then with a small smile “The War Prince for the Elves.”
Tayler was the first to react. “Holy shit! Dude you’re a fracking prince. What the hell man?! Why are you even here?!”
Since I was the one to blow his cover I felt that I
should explain. Then again it was more a point of honor. “He’s here so his older brother doesn’t have to fight him for the crown when his mother dies.” At Alice and Taylor’s blank look of confusion I explain. “In their society there can be only one true heir for the throne. To decide who should rule all of the children of a king or queen must defeat the others in one on one combat. Raygel here is the greatest Elvin APS pilot of his generation. When he disappeared seven years ago from High Winds he was a seven time ace.”
“No wonder I could never beat him in the sims. He is just too damned good. My god I’ve been going up against a world record ace.” The smile on her face says she isn’t upset at being deceived.
“I am sorry, Lady Allison; if I have deceived you in anyway. That was not my intention. I just want to serve the people and not put up with the bullshit of having to fight to do it.” I could tell he didn’t have the heart to fight his family. The man just didn’t want to be a ruler. “Please, Lady Nakatoma Maiha, don’t send me home.”
“Well, your Highness, you have put me in a very uncomfortable position. You see I know that Captain Rockwood was blackmailing you to be one of his enforcers with the fact that you’re here under a false identity. Because of that I can’t have you in my House military, but I do have a solution. It’s the same one I’m going to give to all four of you who acted as enforcers. However in your case there will be a slight change. You game?”
After a few minutes he nods his head. “Sure let’s hear your deal. If it allows me to stay here I’ll sign. How about you Taylor, you in or out?”
“Buddy, I’m in either way. But if you think I’m going to call you, your Highness; after puttin’ up with those sinking ass feet of your’s for the past four years you’re crazy.” We all get a much needed laugh at Taylor’s playful comment. For me it was what I needed the most, a return to my roots. This was the type of slap stick, grab ass, bull shitting jokes of true brothers in arms. Alice was not to be left out of it either. “Boots don’t you got getting it in your head that you can be some ‘High Lady of Culture’ around me, I know better. I’ve cleaned up enough of your leg hair to know you only shave them once a year.”
“I know you just didn’t go there Teddy Bear. You have no room to talk. Leaving your unwashed underwear in the showers like that.” Alice retorted. I could tell that she had forgiven this young man, but there was still some animosity there. It’ll take a while and a lot of hard work on Taylor’s part before he is fully forgiven.
“So Lady Maiha, what’s this deal you have in mind?” Raygel brought us all back to the matter at hand.
“It seems that I’m shorthanded a Troop Captain. Seeing as how you not only have the training, but the experience as well, do you want the job?”
“How will me being one of your House Captains keep me here?”
“Oh that’s simple. You sign a Military Contract with House Nakatoma and you’re here until it runs out. This does two things, first it fills the open slot in my officer corps, and the second is it keeps you out of the game.”
“Ok, I buy the part about filling the hole, but how does it keep me here and out of the game?” he really wanted to know.
“We make it an open ended contract that can be broken when you are ready to leave. In short no one will be able to make you leave until you’re ready.”
“What about the others? Taylor, Combs, and Morehouse. If they don’t get the same deal it’s all off and I’ll deal with mother and her watch dogs.”
“They won’t get the same exact same deal, but it’ll be similar. Does that meet your needs?” I was trying to get the prince on my side of things. I really didn’t need a war with the Elves.
“I have one more condition, Lady Maiha. Sorry make that two.”
“What would they be, your Highness?” I really needed to get this taken care of, or send this man home. This was not a head ache I need right now.
“First no one outside of this room knows who I really am. What I mean is no one knows I am a prince.”
“That’s acceptable Captain Ravenswood, and the second?”
The growl that comes from him is not one I would have expected. “I want ten minutes alone with that sorry mother of a whore Captain Rockwood.”
I needed to know what was going on here before I let this man into that room alone. “Why?” He answered me in Elfish what I hear is not something I can let go. This was a matter of honor. “You’ll get your ten plus another ten my brother. I have seen this, now let it be done.” My very formal reply let him know it was now a matter of honor for me as well. I turn to Taylor “I need you to wait here with Captain Ravenswood, until Major Howard comes back with your enlistment contracts. Please don’t leave this room until then. I’ll make sure everyone knows you’re in the clear. Come on Alice, we still have work to do.”
Once back in the hallway Alice asks me what Ravenswood said there at the end. Knowing she would understand I tell her. “You’re not the only one Kinsley and Rockwood had raped to try and break them.” I watch as the color drains out of her face. “Ravenswood has claimed a ‘Blood Debt’ against Rockwood for someone named Elizabeth Grant.”
Chapter 5
Alice’s’ look of horror is one that I will always remember. “You mean to tell me Beth was raped?” when I nodded my head yes I thought she was going to come unglued. “My God! That’s what she meant in her note.” She was shaking so hard from her rage I was afraid she might have a stroke.
“Alice, baby, I need you to calm down and tell me about this Elizabeth Grant.”
Taking a few breaths and closing her eyes Alice slowly calms down enough to tell what had happened. Grant was a young maintenance tech who joined the House troops a year ago. From what I could understand she was one of the best. Anyway, one morning she wandered into the compound beaten and bruised. She couldn’t remember what had happened to her. A few days later she was found hanging from one of the APS gantries in the maintenance hangar with a suicide note in one of her pockets.
When she finished I asked her who lead the investigation into Elizabeth’s’ death. “It was First Sergeant Kinsley by orders of Captain Rockwood.” I could see she didn’t understand the importance of this piece of information. For me, well I know a cover up when I heard one.
“Alice, those two worthless pieces of shit covered up the real cause of her death.” When she still didn’t understand. “Women don’t hang themselves as a rule. Normally they overdose or cut their wrists open. Anything to keep from presenting an ugly corpse. They try to keep from causing their loved ones undue stress. For her to hang herself is way outside of the norm. Someone else hung that poor girl and Ravenswood believes it was Rockwood or Kinsley. For some reason he feels responsible for her. Would you know why?”
“Honestly no. I do know that he always looked out for her and made sure that no one hit on her. It was like he was her big brother or something.”
“Oh shit! Dee De get me all the information on Elizabeth Grant and now”
Coming right up, Maiha. Oh sweet holy Hanna! You’re not going to like this Maiha. (Dee De)
Instead of telling me what has her so upset Dee De just puts up a picture of Elizabeth Grant on my HUD. She was right I didn’t like it. As a matter of fact I knew that without a doubt that she was murdered. High Elves do not commit suicide no matter what is going on in their lives. For them there is no greater sin. The really fracked up part is I know who this girl really is. “Alice, where is her body?”
“Kitten, what wrong? You look like a ghost just walked over your grave.” Alice had a really worried look on her face. She was right to be worried, only she was worried for the wrong reason.
“Alice, please just tell me where her body is?”
“It’s over in the House troop cemetery. Why is that so important? And don’t tell me it’s nothing.”
“How long has she been there?”
“About three months now. Now why is that so important and what aren’t you telling me?”
“Do me a favor and go find Col. Fujiyama. Tell him I need her dug up and taken to the morgue ASAP.”
“Again why is this so important?”
“Alice, please just do as I have asked. I’m trying to prevent an all-out war with the Elves here.” When she didn’t move I sighed and decided to explain. “Alice, Elizabeth Grant was not her real name. She was a runaway from High Winds just like Raygel in there. Only she’s not a royal. Look have Marry pull up a picture of her.” I wait a few seconds. “Ok, have you got it?” she nods her head. “What do you see?”
“So she’s an Elf, what’s so special about that?”
“Alice, she’s a Sylvan or High Elf. They’re the rarest of Elves; all of the Elven Royalty have a sworn duty to protect them. Normally you’ll never see a Sylvan outside of one of the Holy Temples, or places. For her to be here means she had ran from one of those. Don’t you see; the Elves could turn this into a Holy War against the human race if this got out?”
“Oh Shit! I’ll get the Col. and take care of everything else. You keep Ravenswood under control.” With a quick kiss she takes off running to find Col. Fujiyama. With Alice taking care of Elizabeth, I head back into the room with Ravenswood and Taylor. “Gentlemen, if you would come with me, please?”
“Excuse me, Lady Maiha, didn’t you just tell us not to leave this room?” Raygel asked.
“Hey, you said for us to stay here.” Taylor put in. “No offence ma’am, but I don’t want to get in trouble the first time I get made an NCO.”
I almost laugh at Taylor. Here he is, newly cleared of all charges, and made Corporal, worried about losing his rank. “None taken, Corporal Taylor. What I need from you and Captain Ravenswood is help in the interrogation of Kinsley. I believe he knows more than he is letting on.”
“I already said I’d do whatever it takes, ma’am. All I need to know is, where, when, what, and how. After that just stand back and let me handle it.” Was Taylor’s very blunt reply. Oh, yes this man is wasted as a junior NCO. He’s the type of man that can motivate the troops to walk into the very Gates of Hell. He may be rude, crude, and socially unacceptable, but he gets the job done.