Chapter 4: Confrontation

Rubin Torris and Holly Claymore walked towards the auction house to see what Holly's brother had brought them. As they neared the huge building, they both saw the factors were gathering already to see the new merchandise. Slipping through the side door meant for employees, no one dared to stop them as they headed to the pens where they saw the abused women being treated.

"Damn him. He said no more!" Holly screamed as she saw the condition of the female prisoners. Grabbing the nearest guard, she glared at him and then started issuing her orders, "I want every female in here taken to the hospital for medical attention. Do I make myself clear?"

"Sorry Ma'am I cannot..." his words were cut off as he found himself kneeling on the deck, blood running from his belly.

Holly yanked her dagger out, and looked at the next guard.

"Well?"

Taking her threat seriously, the guards quickly gathered up the thirty women, and rushed them out the back loading dock to the nearest hospital.

"Holly, lass, you're trying my patience," said a voice behind her.

Turning Holly looked up at her twin brother and saw him holding a leash going to a collar around a naked woman's throat. "Damn you, Ray, what are you doing. Release her now, and give her some clothes."

"No! She is my property, and I like her just the way she is," Ray said as he glared at his sister. "Unless you think you can challenge me for leadership."

"No! I am not challenging you. However, would you do that to mother? Or me?"

"She's not you, she is Alderian scum."

Rubin stepped away from Holly, allowing her to handle her own brother.

Holly walked over to her brother, slapped him hard across his swarthy face, and shouted at him, "You're half Alderian yourself, and so am I!"

Raymond rubbed his cheek from where his sister slapped him.

"You're lucky you're my sister, otherwise I would kill you for that. As to Alderian, nay I am not, I am pure pirate and Tortugaian."

"Our mother was Alderian, and don't you ever forget it. She loved Dad, until the day she died."

"I know she did, and yes she was originally from Alderia, but became Tortugaian when she joined us willingly."

"Brother, dear, your stupid illogical hatred is going to destroy us. You think you are a brilliant tactician. Well, all you have met is few merchant skippers, and a couple of destroyers. Wait until you meet one of their dreadnaughts, or super dreadnoughts! Then you will be wondering, 'what the fuck have I gotten myself into.' NOW GET SOME GODDAMNED CLOTHES ON HER!"

Skull stood there, shaking in fury, his hands clenched in fists.

"Fine, clothe her. But have her at my home, tonight. She is going to get the fucking she deserves," he said as he threw the leash into her chest.

Holly saw the woman turn pale at her brother's words, and she started shivering. Taking the leash in hand, she started walking down the passageway and stopped at another cage with twelve children under the age of fourteen. Behind her, her brother went storming into one of the offices.

Looking to Rubin she smiled, "See, no need to worry about him."

"Damn it, Holly! I thought he was going to hit you."

"He wouldn't dare. He knows I would kill him while he slept."

Turning she looked at the woman, she said, "I am sorry about my brother, but he is leader, here."

"I understand, he is master," Vickie whispered.

"What's your name?" Holly asked as she inspects the bruise on the woman's cheek.

"Vickie Barlow, the late master of the SS Amsterdam, the last freighter of my family's merchant clan. Now we are no more," Vickie said as a single tear ran from her left eye to drop on her breast.

"I am sorry, Vickie, but we need the ships. We are at war with Alderia. They just do not know it, yet. Come on, let's get you some clothes." Looking at the guard, she tapped her foot and continued, "Well..."

"What may I do for you Miss Claymore?"

"Free the children, now, or join the other guard down the hallway."

"Yes, Miss Claymore. Right away, Miss Claymore."

Opening the door he grabbed a shock baton and herded them out of the room.

He snarled, "Get in line, you lazy runts."

Pulling her laser pistol, she pointed it at the guard's head. "You're trying my patience."

"Sorry, Miss Claymore, I will try to do better."

"Do so," she said. Turning to the kids she continued, "Kids, you're all coming with me."

The kids stood there scared. The collars around their necks had shocked them into obedience. The youngest was only six, and even she was wearing one. One of the children was around fourteen years of age and showed marks of where he has been burned as he tried to remove the collar. Each sign of abuse of the children made Holly more pissed off at her brother. Picking up the six-year-old girl, who was softly crying, she carried her in her arms. "God damn him. So help me if he pulls this shit again I will kill him."

Rubin helped guide the children to the back door. "Where are we taking them?"

"My place, it's big enough." Holly said as she tried to sooth the young girl.

Rubin started laughing, "Yes it is my love, and I always wondered why your dad gave you that huge mansion. He must have had a reason for it and I think this is it."

Pulling Rubin in to a hug, she kissed him, as their kiss separates she smiled at him. "Thanks lover, can you..."

"Ahhh, I see 'Miss Goody Two Shoes' is doing her deeds for the day, by rescuing these Alderian scum."

"Belladonna, I see they didn't kill you," Holly said as she turned and looked at the raven-haired woman. Kneeling beside her was a handsome young man, with a platinum collar around his throat. His only piece of clothing was a Speedo type swimsuit. Behind her, her three daughters stood dressed like their mother. Black leather, a bullwhip on their hips, along with a laser pistols on the other. Their outfits left nothing to the imagination to hide, except for their most deadliest: their ability to kill without a thought of remorse.

As they stood there, her guards started herding slaves down the hall to the empty pens. They stopped as they saw the confrontation going on.

"No, they didn't, but this scum is going to wish they had killed me twenty years ago. However, thanks to your brother, I now get my revenge on them. I am going to kill as many of them as I can, before they kill me."

"Jenny..."

"DON'T CALL ME THAT!" Belladonna screamed at the young woman. "She is dead! Dead! She died when the Alderian government murdered my parents!"

Turning on her people she snapped, "Get this scum in the block. Prepare the girl, and take her and Jimmy to my home. I want them both ready to please me when I get there."

The guards moved quickly, forcing the new slaves into the pens, two of the guards stepped forward, and grabbed a young girl between them, while a third stood behind her. They ripped the dress from her body, pulling a gasp from her young lips. Then she started blushing as she realized she was standing there, naked, in front of forty or more people.

"My dear ... you, your brother and I, are going to get to know one another very well, tonight. From now on, all you will wear is what I provide you, and for now, that is your collar. If you continue to please me, and do what I say, then you will earn the privilege of more clothes. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, mistress," everyone saw the young girl shudder at the meaning of Belladonna's orders. They saw the sudden tears that run down her face, as the child was led away.

Belladonna turned and looked at Holly with contempt in her eyes.

"Now listen, and listen well. This war is going to happen, and we are going to take thousands of them as our slaves. Either you can back us, or you are trampled under us. But it is going to happen."

Reaching out she gripped the young woman's chin, and continued, "It's too bad your father never sent you to me, like I suggested, but your mother wouldn't allow it. Not like she did with your brother. You could do with some steel in your backbone."

"I would rather be dead then be in your hands. Even as a child I heard of your disgusting practices. What you forced your slaves to do, would sicken any parent. It wasn't my mother who kept me away from you, it was my father. And I thank God he did. Now release me or I will kill you."

Bella burst into laughter at the idle threat.

"You, kill me? Maybe in your wildest dreams, little missy. Only in those dreams will you ever come close to killing me."

Turning, Belladonna headed for the doors, as Holly stood there staring hate at her. Stopping at the door, she turned and blew a kiss to Holly.

Holly watched her blow a kiss, and she shuddered. Then she moved to the pens, and looked at the men and women in them. Spotting more children, she shook her head in anger as she saw several with bruises.

"Listen, people. I am going to try and save your children. It's all I can do. So I need everyone who is under the age of fourteen to step to the front."

Spotting the newborn child being held by its mother, she continued, "I need the newborn children brought forward, as well.

Sara Adams looked up at the woman's voice and cried out, "No, please, she is all I have left."

"I am sorry, it must be done."

"I am a good cook, I can clean, I can do anything you want me to, just please don't take my Arianne."

Holly looked at the girl and the children, and then looked at the rest of the children, "Okay. You can come as well, and I will need two more to help care for the younger children."