“The soldiers outside stopped as soon as they saw me,” Ondex said. “These are obviously a different group.”
“We have an opening,” Raymond reported from out in the corridor.
Caja looked down at Ran. “He gave me his coat.”
“We will come back for him,” Ondex said in a calm voice. “He will be honored.”
2.
Frank approached the glass wall of the coliseum and paused. Looking down into the main room, he noticed dozens of soldiers moving the dead bodies aside. Instead of trying to figure out what they were up to, he called out to Gladys.
“Yes, my love?” she answered.
“Would you please ask Gildract to light up the front of the building again?”
“Yes, of course. It may take a few moments until the message is relayed to the Rotinoms.”
“Thank you.” He held out his hand.
“You're very welcome,” she replied as the orb landed in his palm.
“Save some for me, Frank,” Breet said as he scampered up behind Frank.
“We need to step back, Breet,” Frank said as he directed the large insect over against the wall. Seeing Constanthos and the royals approaching, Frank waved for them to hang back. He turned back toward the dome in time to see the silent death that fifty Rotinom backpackers could bring. The Gotes were simply too big and slow to find cover and most of them were hit at least a dozen times each. Holding the orb up to his mouth, Frank said, “That will do.” Within a few moments, the firing stopped.
“What manner of gun was that?” Breet asked.
“Rotinom. We always called them backpackers when we were fighting them. It's odd to find their presence almost comforting.”
“Ah, yes. Small caliber, ultra-high velocity. I've read about them.” Breet twitched his feelers. “There is another group of soldiers approaching. I can smell their fear.”
Frank looked across the dome to see them jogging. “What the hell are they carrying?”
“Fire guns. I believe those are meant for me.”
“Fire guns?” Frank then noticed the flames at the end of the barrels. “Oh, shit. Flame throwers. This should be interesting.”
“You know, Frank, I should probably wait back there.” Breet was retreating as he spoke, and not at all worried about sounding worried.
“Yes, of course. Please tell Connie that I may require her assistance.” He concentrated on pulling his shield in closer and hardening it.
“There he is! Burn him.” They activated the full power of the flames as soon as they were within range. Frank focused on the shield, and keeping his feet set. The flames were stopping within a foot of his face but he felt no heat. This went on for some time until a shuriken went flying by, striking the center of the three soldiers and exploding on impact. The blast ruptured all three of their fuel canisters and the ensuing explosion shattered the glass of the dome.
“Thanks, Connie.”
“You're welcome. I hope that was what you had in mind.”
“That was pretty fucking awesome really. Now lets get these guys to where they're going.” Frank motioned for the others to come forward. Raymond took the lead and rounded the bend and headed straight for Korick's office. He held up his finger, causing the others to pause as he opened the doors and led with his pistols.
Two shots later, he said, “Okay, it's all clear.”
Frank walked into the familiar looking room and noticed the two freshly killed soldiers. “Nice shooting, Ray,” he complimented as he looked at the two matching head wounds.
“Thanks. Now let's get this area secure.”
Caja and Ondex went straight to where Ahn was still sitting. “Ahn, why are the soldiers still fighting? Do they not realize the king is here?”
“Princess Caja,” Ahn started, “they don't want to lose this way of life that Korick had provided for them. I was told that a General Saum is leading a military coup.”
“And you have nothing to do with it?” Ondex asked.
“I can assure you that I do not, Your Highness.”
“And why should I believe you?” Ondex pressed.
“I tried to kill Korick myself. I got this for my efforts.”
“Is that so?” Ondex didn't sound convinced.
“He is telling the truth,” Constanthos interjected. “I was in this room when it happened.”
“You were?” Ahn asked.
“I did all of this,” Constanthos answered, pointing at all the damage.
“We need to find Saum and end this,” Moldew said.
“Agreed,” Ondex said. “But how do we find him?”
“Hand me the soldier's communicator,” Ahn requested. “I will find out where he is.” Rando rummaged around in the soldier's uniform until he found the right pocket. He pulled out the communicator and handed it down to Ahn who pressed a button and began to speak. “General Saum, this is Master Ahn. What is your status?”
The general's voice came through the device. “We are hunting down the combatants. As soon as we get the cameras back online, we will be able to track them.”
“You're in the control room?”
“Correct, Master Ahn. Where are you currently?”
“I am in a safe place. I will be in touch.” Ahn sat the device down and looked up at Ondex.
“Does anyone know where the control room is?” Ondex asked.
“I'm on it,” Constanthos said as she pulled the varitherm up over her head. She affixed the face-plate and said, “It's close. I won't be long.” She took two steps toward the door and vanished.
“Now it makes sense,” Ahn said with a chuckle.
“Hey, uh, King Ondex?”
“Yes, Frank?”
“May I?” Frank gestured toward the sheath that the king was holding.
“Oh, yes, of course.” Ondex handed it over and Frank re-sheathed his sword.
Frank was looking around the room, remembering the last time he had been there. “How did they get that blood stain off of the carpet?” he asked as he noticed the shadow in the corner. “Oh, hey Jard. How long have you been standing there?”
“Hey, Frank. I came up here looking for the key to my ship and all hell broke loose. I was considering killing those soldiers but the human beat me to it.”
“The key is in the desk,” Ahn said.
“Thank you, sir,” Jard said. Then to Ondex he asked, “Shall I kill this one for you?”
“That won't be necessary,” Ondex replied with a smile. “Caja needs him alive.” Before Jard could make it across the room to the desk, an explosion caused him to take pause.
“That's my girl,” Frank said. “Let's give her a bit to check back in before we plan our next move.” He walked over to where a map hung on the wall. “Are these the brothels?” he asked.
Caja walked over beside him to look at the map. “It would appear so.”
“I want them completely destroyed,” Frank said in an even tone.
“Done.”
“You have your work cut out for you, Princess. The mindset of your people is really kinda fucked.”
“I am aware,” she replied. “I was hoping to ask for the assistance of your Sessik friend.”
“My Sessik wife.”
“Yes, of course. I did some research on her. She may be able to help us with the Problem.”
“Do you mean that thing about, like, nine out of ten newborn Gotes are male?”
She shot him a look of surprise. “Yes, that's the one.”
Frank held the orb up to his face once again. “Babe, are you hearing this?”
“Yes, my love. I am sending two remotes in tandem. I'll need a male and female Gotian blood sample.”
“Well, there's plenty of male Gotian blood laying around.” He looked back at Caja. “I'm afraid you're the only female Gote around.”
Caja smiled. “I don't mind bleeding a little.”
Constanthos uncloaked mid-stride and pulled her face-plate off. “I'm afraid the control room has suffere
d extensive damage.” She affixed the plate to the back of her shoulder and smiled as she fixed her hair.
“Oh, Frank,” Jard said as he rummaged through the desk, “she is most agreeable.”
“She certainly is,” Frank agreed. He took note of the two orbs that must have flown in through the shattered dome. He then watched as Caja produced a short dagger from somewhere and used it to cut one of her fingers.
Ondex was looking on with pride at his daughter. Glancing down, he noticed the communicator sitting on the ground and bent down to pick it up. “Ahn, how does this work? I've never used one before.”
“Set it to the widest band if you wish to address everyone that has a device. Or you can pinpoint it if you know a particular frequency.”
“Thank you. We were friends before our campaigns. I must admit that I miss your company.”
“You ran a fair contest. But I couldn't see her with someone else so I left. I truly loved her. But after she was gone, I realized you truly loved her as well.”
Ondex nodded. He then spoke into the communicator. “This is King Ondex. Korick is dead. General Saum is dead. Several hundred, if not thousands of Gote soldiers are dead. I demand that your treasonous attacks stop now. My daughter is working to reach an agreement with the Monster, of Earth, as he and his people may be able to fix the Problem.” He handed the device to Ahn and turned to Frank and Breet. “I am truly sorry for all of this.”
“You know, shit happens,” Frank replied. Breet nodded in agreement. The two remotes had collected their samples and were leaving. “It may take some time to, uh, analyze the blood samples. I need to get the Mingrein out of the lower level and reunite them with their brothers.”
“Phildan is reporting that a large group of the soldiers from outside are moving away from the complex,” Gladys said. “The rest seem to be moving toward the far side of the Pyramid.”
“I don't understand,” Ondex said.
“Philosophical differences,” Frank replied. “The soldiers that are loyal to the crown, or simply too afraid to continue, are leaving. The rest are regrouping.”
“They are too far gone,” Caja said. She looked almost sad.
“Well, shit,” Frank replied. “I can't just leave you hanging. I'm going to have to take control of Vera. Don't worry though. I'll give it right back when I'm done.”
“What are you going to do?” Caja asked in a very concerned tone.
“I am going to break their resolve. Does that other dead soldier also have a radio?”
Moldew crouched down and searched the uniform of the second soldier. Finding the communication device, he handed it to Frank. “Just push this button and speak,” he instructed.
“Thanks. We're going to the lower level. You all need to evacuate the building. After I reunite the Mingrein, I am sending them off and then I'm going to fuck this place up.”
“Frank,” Caja replied, “I was hoping to investigate the records here. We need to go through the computational systems.”
“I can send you a copy,” Constanthos said.
Caja regarded her for a moment. Finally she said, “Have the pilot pick us up on the terrace.”
“Gladys?” Frank asked. “Could you ask Phil to cover their escape?”
* * *
“What is he up to?” Denise asked as she read the translation.
“He wants to give them a chance,” Gladys replied.
“The royals all seem pretty reasonable. But what does he mean when he says he says he's going to take control of Vera?”
“He obviously feels that humans will still be in danger unless he can somehow alter the mindset of the Gotes.”
Denise sighed heavily. “How the hell is he going to do that?”
“We'll just have to wait and see,” Gladys replied. An alarm caught her attention. “We have yet another rift opening. I'll expand a projection. Please tell me what you see.”
“It's a big, scary spaceship.”
Gladys turned away from her view-screens to sneak a peek. “That is a Gotian warship. This isn't good.” She turned back and narrowly avoided steering her remote into a wall.
“Hold on,” Denise said. “It looks like one of those scout ships is moving toward the warship.”
“More Gotes...” Gladys was lost in thought, considering the arrival of the warship.
“The scout ship is firing on the warship!”
Gladys spun in her chair in time to see several torpedoes impacting the hull of the vessel. The entire ship cracked and the oxygen ignited. “Those were well placed,” she complimented. “Phildan is reporting that Trove, the Wise, has hailed.”
* * *
“You all just get home to Gotoreo,” Frank said. “When the results of the blood sample stuff is done, we'll come for a visit.”
“Thank you, Frank,” Caja said with a bow.
“I assume you'll be visiting Hitakkita soon,” Ahn said.
“If that's where I'll find my answers, then yes.”
“I'll be at Hitakkita,” Jard added. “I'll escort them to their ship and let them brief me on the way. Perhaps I could gather some information for you.”
“That would be amazing. And then drinks.”
“Absolutely,” Jard replied, with that black smile.
Frank watched them make their way down the concourse to the west for a few moments before turning to Constanthos and Breet. “Okay, let's try something new.”
“What do you have in mind?” Breet asked.
“Stealth. I want as many of these fuckers out front as possible.” Frank led them to the stairwell and down two levels to where the cells were. It was uneventful and they moved quickly toward the ring.
“The position of the Mingrein's cells would make them out of the way if the soldiers were trying to gain access to the majority of the casino complex.”
“Connie? You got the whole place memorized?”
“Yes.”
“So you know where the tunnel comes in at?”
“Yes.”
“Do you think we should maybe somehow seal it off?” Frank realized he had left the key at Jard's cell door and grabbed it as they went by. He decided against giving the tour of his own cell.
“I think that would be a waste of shuriken,” Constanthos replied. “We will just go back the way we came. I would be willing to bet the Gotes are avoiding the main gaming floor.”
Before Frank could compliment her, they heard voices coming from around the bend. Frank motioned for silence as he clung to the curved wall to hide himself as he continued toward the Mingrein's cells. Four Gote soldiers were in the corridor attempting to open the cells. They didn't have a key.
“Maybe we should try shooting the lock,” one Gote said.
Frank again motioned for silence as he considered the situation. He opted for the direct approach. “Why are you opening those cells?” he asked as he strolled toward the Gotes. He was answered by a volley of bullets. He stopped and waited for them to empty their guns. “Yeah, those don't work too well,” he said when they were finally done. The Gotes turned to run so Frank darted forth and tripped the nearest soldier. “Not so fast there,” he quipped as he reached down and jerked the Gote onto his back.
“Please don't eat me,” the soldier pleaded.
Frank laughed out loud. “Is that what you think of me? Don't believe the hype. Now why were you trying to open the cells?”
“We have orders to kill all combatants.”
“You know that Korick and Saum are both dead, right?” Frank asked.
“It doesn't matter. We cannot be beaten by a human. It just wouldn't work.”
“I'm resisting the urge to insult your lack of intelligence as a race, as that would be insensitive.”
“I don't understand.”
Frank sighed, which is something he rarely did. “Do you frequent the brothels?” he asked.
“Well, yes. Doesn't everyone?”
Frank blinked. “I want to thank you for making this next part easy,�
�� he said just before he reached down and punched the Gote in the face. He took note of the soldier's unconsciousness before regarding the condition of his own hand. “Can you believe this guy?” he asked toward Constanthos. She answered with a shrug. “Okay, be ready.” He inserted the key and turned it, causing the mechanism to release the rods. He swung the door open and after the steam cleared, he was greeted by a smallish Mingrein lunging toward him with its teeth bared. Frank answered the advance with a stiff arm to the lizard's upper chest. “I call that move the Heisman Trophy,” he said as the Mingrein fell back. Switching into the Mingrein language as the lizard regained his footing, Frank said, “If you know who I am, you will stop right now.”
“I know nothing of you, human,” the Mingrein replied between the various sounds of his unhappiness.
“Hear me then. The tournament is canceled. I am returning you to your brothers.”
“You seek to kill me!” The Mingrein lunged again but Frank answered with a hip toss that sent the reptile across the corridor where his back met the hard wall. He looked up to see Breet 1751 regarding him. “The Champion,” he said as he sunk in defeat.
“Yeah, he's a good guy though,” Frank replied as he held out his hand.
“Just finish me quickly,” the lizard replied.
“Look, if we wanted you dead, you would be dead. I really am returning you to your brothers.” The lizard accepted Frank's hand and was returned to his feet. “What is your name?” Frank asked.
“I do not have a name.”
“Are you male or female?”
“Male.”
“Okay. I think I'll call you Larry.”
“I am honored.”
“Yeah. Don't get ahead of yourself.” Frank noticed Larry leering toward Constanthos. “Humans are off the menu, Larry.”
“I mean no offense.”
“I'm sure. Please tell these other Mingrein that they are going home. It would pain me to kill the brothers of my allies.”
Larry nodded before he spoke loudly, “Brothers, this human is taking us home. His power is insurmountable and he is accompanied by the Champion. I strongly suggest that you do not resist his charity.”
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