Chapter 12

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 leaned back in his wide seat. “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 Union battleship and the sixteen you got would be enough to take on anything short of the Devi. What we lack are propper launchers, but our engineers managed to create a nice launch rack. No matter how fast she tries to leave, those torpedoes are faster.”

“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 a 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 just as effective as 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 looking 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 dirty 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 handheld 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 for 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 guns.

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 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 Petharian Union citizens who had been captured and were forced to participate in this spectacle.

What galled me most was that this arena spectacle included Union citizens kidnapped and forced to fight and die and according to Donheer, he had billions of viewers and lucrative advertisement contracts with Union companies.

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 loud addressing the crowd. “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.

The grey Nul, as big as Hans, was wearing a slave collar. It blinked and I knew someone was causing the Nul pain, perhaps controlling him via remote controlled shocks or something of that kind and they had glued something over his only eye, making him blind.

The huge Nul staggered through the sand while he tried to get rid of the gooey sticky mess over his eye.

I kicked the nice open toed heels of my feet, and ran as fast as I could towards the pile of weapons. Barely escaping the Stompers attack I came close to the Perthanian and said. “If you want to see Union side again make your way to the spaceport and find the Silver Streak as soon as the lights go out.”

I didn’t wait to see if he understood and in my ear I could hear Elfi say: “The Golden has just popped out of thin air and now Narth is here as well.”

I asked “Is Circuit ready?”

“Almost, he needs five more minutes to hack into the power grid, because it is more primitive than he thought.”

The Stomper collided with the Nul and grabbed him with his tentacles. I never liked the Nul but even he wasn’t here on his own free will. I threw a Vibrosword as hard as I could into my XO’s direction and Har-Hi jumped and elegantly took it by the handle out of mid-air and swung it immediately against the Insecto severing its right claw arm right off.

Hans had just shown what he could really do, grabbed the tail just behind the dangerously sharp stinger of the other Insecto and with a groan ripped it right out of the poor animal and used the tail like an oversized club beating the wounded animal with it.

The spectators exploded in a frenzied uproar and chanted his name even louder. I threw a sword to the half Dai who was just as agile catching it as Har-Hi and attacked the Sauron.

With a grim satisfaction I took a long handled battle ax with two sharp looking blades and swung it around. The weapon was not high tech. I did not have any Vibro or other function but it was made of a tough metal and had a razor sharp edge as I found out after slicing it through the upper thigh of the attacking Togar. The majestic looking cat warrior screamed and his shiny brown fur was dulled by his own dark blood.

I was no longer Erica or female. I was a child of Nilfeheim, Neo Viking by blood, savage warrior by heritage and all layers of my complicated personality peeled back as I put every ounce of my strength and anger into the second blow decapitating the Togar and sending his head flying.