Red hot bullets streaked by me, missing me by inches, and I returned fire on the two fighters maneuvering around us. I selected my own nanobomb launcher and took aim at the closest. When the targeting system flashed green, I released the bomb. It shot out of the big barrel on the back of my hand and streaked toward the approaching ship like a heat-seeking missile. The turret gunners succeeded in blowing it up, but I had already launched three more.
Ella and Purshia attacked the other ship, and Val and I sped toward my target.
I switched to my laser sword and hacked the shit out of the left wing turrets. Val reached the cockpit and fired about a hundred rounds into it, and the ship veered off listlessly and disappeared behind the invisible barrier of the gravity well.
I turned my attention to the last craft in time to see it explode and disappear with the rest.
“Back to the ship!” I urged the girls, and we sped toward Malagag’s cruiser.
Bay doors opened in the back of the ship, and we flew through an energy shield and landed before a small army of silver craft as big as four-wheelers, which I presumed were fighter drones, given their aerodynamic design.
“What the fuck, Malagag?” I said as my visor slid open. “You had a bunch of fighter drones all along?”
He stood behind them, looking amused. “I had them ready in case you failed, but I must admit, that was an impressive show.”
“We just saved your ass,” said Ella. “How can you offer asylum and safety if you can’t even keep us from being blasted out the fucking window?”
She’d picked up the f-bomb from me, and boy did she know how to use it.
“And how did they know which room we were in?” I asked. “That fighter came right to our window and opened fire.”
“It seems the grays know your location.” Malagag strode through the drones and stood before me, and I wanted to slap the smirk right off his reptilian face. “Perhaps it was the assassin who attacked you in the bathroom who gave them your location.”
“You didn’t answer my question. How did he know what fucking room we were in?” I said, to which he only shrugged. “You’ve got a rat on this ship.”
“You realize you’re the most wanted creatures in the galaxy?” His condescending tone made me want to bitch-slap him, but he had a point. “Not only did you escape the grays, but you have the most advanced nanotech in existence coursing through your veins. In addition, those nanoarms of yours are each worth more than my tropical moon. Sheriff, you’ve got every bounty hunter, military leader, law enforcement officer, and space pirate in the galaxy after you.”
“We’re well aware of that,” I said, a little uneasy that he had mentioned space pirates.
He looked over my nanosuit knowingly. “I don’t remember seeing this variation of nanoarm tech in the arena. Last I knew, you have to switch out your nanoarms because they contained only one weapon each.”
Shit!
“Where did you get the upgrades?” His tone changed dramatically. Gone was the faux-friendly air, and in its place was malice and disdain.
“We took them from the grays when we escaped the arena.” I glanced at the fighter drones. They were currently inactive, hunched over and curled into themselves, but if Malagag activated them, we’d be in for a hell of a fight.
“Oh, did you? I must have missed that part of the highlight reel.” His smile returned, and he took a step closer, utterly unafraid. His slippery little forked tongue darted out and tasted the air, and his reptilian eyes narrowed.
“What are you getting at?” I asked.
“As they say on your planet, Sheriff, cut the shit.”
“Like I said, we picked up the new nanoarms when we escaped the arena. We were running low on fuel, so we landed on your planet to refuel. When we learned that your cruise ship was departing soon, we decided to board.”
He dripped with sarcasm as he watched me lie my ass off. “The alias Lord Zed, and the shell companies from which your funds were withdrawn—who owns those?”
“I do,” said Ella. “I’m a princess. You’re aware of that, are you not?”
“What I am aware of, doll, is that you four stink of lies and fear.”
The drones suddenly came to life. They rose to stand seven feet tall, and four arms unfolded with a glowing gun barrel at the end of each.
Ella, Purshia, and Val produced laser guns and aimed them at Malagag, but I held up a staying hand. We wouldn’t survive a shootout with a hundred drones, and for some reason the reptilian bastard didn’t even seem to notice the guns aimed at him.
“Let’s take it easy,” I told them all.
“I’ve looked into your alias, Mr. Warwick. Lord Zed of course does not exist, but the money has to come from somewhere. After a little digging, I discovered the various shell companies entangled with your alias are owned by an old friend of mine, none other than the pirate Captain Orcag.”
I had two options: either start shooting and hope for the best or come clean and try to use Malagag’s obvious contempt for Orcag to my advantage.
“Orcag intercepted us a few days after we escaped the arena,” I admitted.
“Go on,” urged Malagag.
“He won the grays’ galactic arena games once, as I’m sure you know. He’s the one who gave us the enhanced nanoarms.”
“Why?”
“He wanted us to rob your gambling house and take you out.”
“Really?” Malagag seemed genuinely surprised. “Why did you go along with it? What does he have on you?”
I wasn’t about to tell him that Orcag could make us do whatever he wanted through the nanobots in our systems, but that forked tongue of his seemed to be able to taste deception, so I had to tread carefully. “He offered the same thing you did, asylum, protection, and money.”
“If that is true, then it stands to reason that your loyalty is up for grabs to the highest bidder.”
“Perhaps,” I said evenly.
“Then let me present my bid.” He snapped a finger, and hundreds of red laser dots covered Ella, Purshia, and Val.
“Harry?” Ella said nervously.
I pointed my laser gun at Malagag’s head and grinned. “You like American pop culture. Ever heard of a Mexican standoff?”
Malagag took the bluster right out of my sails when he flickered with the tell-tale signature of a hologram, then disappeared.
A light came on at the other end of the hanger, and I saw the bastard smirking at me from the other side of a crackling energy shield. “What’s it going to be, Sheriff? Your pride or your precious women’s lives?”
Harry, we’re in range. What’s happening?
This isn’t a good time, Jules.
Malagag has discovered your deception, she said, aghast.
What gave you that idea?
What does he want?
“Sheriff?” said Malagag.
“I’ll do whatever you want, but only if you let the women go.”
“Fuck that, Harry,” Ella growled. “We’re not going anywhere.”
“Feisty.” Malagag’s laughter echoed through the landing bay.
“Well?” I asked the reptilian prick.
“No,” he said bluntly. “They will remain where they are, and the drones will remain where they are until you have killed Mox Zerrarri.”
“And after that?”
“You will have a chance to earn my trust by killing Orcag.”
Little did he know that we couldn’t move against Orcag while he had control over our nanobots. Only Jules could help us there, but first she wanted the artifact.
“Looks like I don’t have any other options.”
“We can fight. That’s an option,” said Val, and I fell in love with her a little more.
Three circular energy shields burst into existence around the women. Val tried to cut through it with her laser sword, only to be repelled by a bolt of electricity.
“No,” said Malagag. “You cannot fight your way out of this one. Brains beats brawn
every time.”
Jules, can you hack into the system and release them?
I can, but it will take a while.
How long is a while?
Three or four hours, depending on the firewalls they have in place.
Tell Orcag our cover is blown and start hacking so you can free the girls. Malagag has us dead to rights, and the only way we’re going to make it out of here with the artifact is if Orcag attacks.
“Okay, Malagag,” I said and lowered my weapon. “I’ll do whatever you want, just don’t hurt them.”
“That, Sheriff, will depend entirely on you.”
One hour later, Malagag’s cruise ship settled into orbit around Cyriack, and I was loaded onto a transport ship like Hannibal Lector. I’d agreed to be tied up since Mox Zerrarri was under the presumption that Malagag had captured me.
Three other ships flew down to the planet, full of high-rollers eager to bet on the outcome of the fight, and I wondered what the odds were against me. I wasn’t surprised when we landed next to a massive arena. What did surprise me was that it was packed with giants. I couldn’t make out much more about them due to the distance, but they were humanoid, ripped like an army of body-builders, and about twice the size of humans.
After the ships landed, I was led out of the holding cell of the transport ship onto a floating circular platform. Glowing chains wrapped my arms tight to my sides, and a mask covered my face. Through small slits I beheld the massive coliseum. It reminded me a lot of the one in Rome, except this one was covered in big bones from top to bottom. I didn’t know how many creatures had lost their lives to create such a macabre exterior, but it must have been in the thousands.
The pounding of big drums and thunder of stomping feet greeted me as I was led through a tunnel and into the center of the arena. The sunlight was bright as hell, and I squinted against it, but I could see the bloodthirsty crowd was on their feet.
My heart sank when I realized these giant creatures were Argellians. If Mox was as big as those bastards, I was going to have my work cut out for me. Not only were they tall and well-muscled, but their broad foreheads and close-set eyes gave them a Neanderthal look. Their big heads were as thick as cinder blocks, and their huge hands looked like they could crush a fragile human skull like a soda can.
I hope you’ve got a nice nanobot cocktail ready for me, Jules.
I’m sorry I got you into this situation.
It’s all good. Just help me get out of it. How’s hacking Malagag’s ship coming along?
I’m working on it.
Malagag walked around me, chortling. He appeared semi-translucent in the bright sunshine, and I realized I was looking at a hologram. A little pod projected from beneath his feet. All the attendees must be holograms as well, watching from the safety of the cruise ship orbiting high above.
“Over my right shoulder you will see Mox high in the decorated booth,” said Malagag.
I took a look at the Argellian and wished I hadn’t. He looked like a damn killer if I’ve ever seen one. “What are the odds against me?”
“Ten to one.”
“Put me down for the billion.”
“For or against?” he said with a sneer.
“For.”
“Before you get too cocky, realize this: you will have to prove yourself before you are honored with the chance to battle Mox.”
“Prove myself? I thought I already did.”
“Against the other aliens in the arena, perhaps, but not to the Argellians. Make a show of it, Sheriff, and if you die, do so valiantly. And don’t worry about your wives. If anything happens to you, I’ll make sure they are taken care of.”
I wanted to pull his flicking little tongue out of his ugly face, but I kept my cool and saved it for the arena.
Malagag turned away and his hologram grew to fifty feet tall as he strode toward Mox’s booth. The Argellian warlord remained seated, his thick black unibrow set in a scowl. His massive jaw was set in what looked like a silent growl.
“Greetings, Warlord Zerrarri. I have come to you today with a truly unique gift.” Malagag turned a circle with his arms raised high, then pointed a long finger at me. “Behold the Terran Sheriff, the leader of Team Warwick, champion of the arena, the infamous galactic fugitive, Harry Warwick!”
The chains holding me fell to the ground, and the mask disintegrated. I blocked the sun from my eyes and walked a few steps forward.
“This is the legendary Warwick?” Mox asked with infectious amusement. He stood and walked toward the edge of the booth, animatedly squinting at me like I was hard to see. “This tiny creature thwarted the grays?”
Mox laughed, and thousands of his tribesmen joined in. The thunderous laughter sounded like a chorus of guffawing Andre the Giant clones.
Jules, can you enhance my voice for a minute?
Done, she replied.
“I will kill all of you!” I bellowed, and my voice was like that of a god. It echoed through the coliseum, silencing the laughter immediately.
A few Argellians nodded their approval, and some even clapped or howled back at me. Mox, however, was not impressed.
“Let’s see if your bite is as strong as your bark,” he said, playing to the crowd. Their excitement rose. “Release the gorgex!”
Oh no, Jules groaned in my ear.
What do you mean, oh no? What the hell is a—
There was a metallic screech behind me, followed by a ground-shaking roar. I turned to see a forty-foot-tall gate opening, and a moment later a giant centipede scurried out of the darkness and into the coliseum.
An alien centipede the size of a train is one thing, but add to that ten-foot-long pincers and a laser gun attached to the ugly head, and you’ve got yourself a bona fide fucking nightmare.
The crowd roared as the gorgex chased me, multiple legs moving in a blur. A moment later an energy dome erupted from the edges of the arena and locked me in with the beast.
“Nanosuit!” I barked. It clicked into place, and I selected laser gun for my right hand and an energy shield for my left.
The gorgex was startlingly fast for its size, and it nearly squashed me with its massive head as it struck with those sharp pincers. I dove to one side, and the ground where I’d been exploded. The thrusters on my back responded to my mental command, and I shot into the air. I opened fire on the creature as it cut a long swath with the laser gun attached to its head. It hit my shield and sparks flew. I focused on the laser gun and blasted it with my own. My bullets left a long line of green ooze on the gorgex’s side and hit the mounted gun, disabling it.
I continued to fire, riddling the body with laser rounds. The beast crouched low, then thousands of spikes protruded from its body, leaving it looking like a long pincushion. I didn’t like the look of that at all, so I flew as high as the energy dome allowed and tried to cover myself with my nanoshield.
The spikes shot out of the gorgex’s body, flying in every direction. They bounced off my shield and battered the energy dome.
I flew around the arena as the gorgex roared and continued launching spikes at me. The bullets weren’t doing enough damage, so I switched out the laser gun for a nanobomb launcher. I took careful aim at the creature and fired as I sped by.
To the delight of the crowd, the gorgex spun with surprising agility and batted the nanobomb away with its tail. It flew toward me and exploded less than twenty feet away, knocking me into the energy dome and leaving me shaken on the ground.
“Get up, Harry!” Malagag warned.
I rolled over. The gorgex rose above me, intent on squashing me like a bug. I frantically called upon a nanoarm ability I hadn’t yet used and pointed my gravity reversal gun at the beast.
When I pulled the trigger, a ring of pulsing energy issued from the barrel and hit the gorgex as it descended upon me. The screaming creature was yanked into the air and slammed against the energy dome.
I switched to flame thrower, and a long barrel grew out of the back of my right hand.
The gorgex roared as it tried to climb down the sides of the dome, but it couldn’t get a foothold. I did a flyby and bathed the creature in white hot flames. The crowd cheered and chanted for me to finish it off.
I switched to my laser sword, sped by the beast again, and gutted it like a fish.
Another blast from the gravity reversal gun made the dying gorgex fall to the ground from nearly one hundred feet up, and when it landed, its innards exploded outward.
“How do you like me now?” I roared, arms wide and eyes locked on the warlord.
The crowd grunted and growled their approval, and the stomping of a thousand giant feet shook the arena.
Mox stood and raised his arms. The crowd fell silent, and I waited for the next challenge.
“Release the crendor!”
The Argellians cheered and eagerly looked toward the big gates at the rear of the arena. I rose into the air, holding my shield in front of me and my gun at the ready, determined to put the next opponent down quickly.
The creature that emerged from the gate next looked like a whale with legs. Its mouth was gigantic, and it had so many rows of razor sharp teeth, I couldn’t count them.
I fired as soon as the thing lumbered out of the gate, and the laser rounds hit with a satisfying splat. I thought I had the sluggish monster right where I wanted it, but then an impossibly long tongue shot out of the gaping maw and wrapped itself around my waist.
It yanked me toward it so hard that had I not been wearing the nanosuit, I’m sure my back would have snapped like a dry twig. I fired and screamed in defiance as I was pulled toward the gaping maw. I barely missed the teeth as the jaw closed, and I found myself in darkness. The beast swallowed me whole, and I was squeezed down its throat into its acidic stomach.
Luckily the nanosuit held up against the creature’s stomach acid, but I didn’t know how long that would last. In desperation I summoned my laser sword and hacked away at anything I could reach. Sunlight poked through a hole in the crendor’s stomach, and I punched the sword through again and ripped downward with all my might.
The crowd had been cheering my death, but at my unexpected reappearance, they gasped and fell silent.
I enabled my jetpack and flew out of the crendor’s guts, then spun and shot a nanobomb into the gaping wound.
Warwick: Episode 2: Galactic Fugitives Page 7
