“You need to learn and do it very quickly,” Natalia heard him say. She could see him now, standing facing a fearsome beast. His hand shot out and connected with the side of the beast’s head. “No growling,” he said. The beast shook off the slap and leapt right into a fist and it hit the cage floor with a thud. It didn’t stay down, popping up and coming at him again. This time it reared up and came down claws first. She watched her father charge into it, shoulder in its chest. It fell back a few steps. The claws scored but had no effect on the armor.
“I’ve been easy on you, so this next round I’m taking it up a notch,” he said to the beast, his tone still soft and even. Natalia moved to a place where she had a clean shot. Sash stood next to Aisling. It came at him, jaws snapping. His hands blurred into a succession of open-hand slaps that rocked its head from side to side. An overhand hammer blow to the top of the head and it stumbled. Her dad took a second to look at her and then around at the others. Before Natalia could yell, the beast plowed into him, pinning him against the bars.
“Good one,” she heard him say to it. It stood on its hind legs while the front legs gripped her dad’s shoulders and its mouth was trying to bite his head off. It couldn’t get its mouth open enough to fit all his head in at once. His arms came up between the beast’s front legs and grabbed around its throat before it could bite down again. It was strong—the neck muscles were dense to aid the teeth in the tearing of flesh. He let go of the throat for some reason and broke free of the front legs. Giving it a shove, he now had room to move. Her father launched forward and wrapped an arm around its neck; with the other he pushed its muzzle up and away, twisting its neck. Letting his legs drop out, he used his weight to pull it down to the floor. He locked his arms and squeezed.
“You have a master now and it will be get better the sooner you recognize that,” he said. Natalia wondered if the beast had any idea of what he was saying. Its legs quit kicking after a few minutes and it lay breathing rapidly. She saw him relax his grip and start stroking the side of its head. He spoke softly, soothing it with praise now. She thought he was about to lull it into submission when it reared up faster than he could stand and came down, head aimed at his guts. Natalia thought in the wild that would have been a perfect scenario. Lying on his back, he caught it by its throat just under the muzzle and got his legs around its neck at the shoulders. He began squeezing.
Fatigue set in and it began to falter. Her father let go with one hand and began smacking the beast in the face. “Bad dog,” he said over and over with each smack. Again, it found itself on the floor barely able to breathe. This time when he began stroking its face, he said, “Good dog.”
“Benjamin, the shuttle just landed with the Khalnalax prisoners,” Nedra said, keeping her voice calm.
“Ask Genius if he can pick us up and put us out in the hold. Keep everyone out there. Aisling, how many prisoners did you have?” he asked.
Natalia knew what was coming. She knew him too well and she was sure if the others hadn’t figured it out they would in a matter of minutes. The overhead crane could be heard and the doors from the lab to the hold began to open. The beast got agitated at first, but he spoke to it, stroked its face and ears.
“Natalia,” he called. “Make sure Aisling is in attendance as well as the two captains.” She drew her pistol, getting the drop on Aisling who had been standing quietly watching.
“Sash, would you com the two captains and have them meet us in the hold immediately? If I have to come get them, I’ll just shoot their asses,” Natalia promised.
“They may want you to,” Sash said with a knowing look.
“Let’s go, Aisling. He wants you there and while you’re in the dog house—ha! Get it?—you want to do what he says so you don’t end up in the dog’s stomach. You get me?”
“I’m coming, too,” Ronnie added as she stepped in time with them. Natalia heard the others fall in behind them.
****
The overhead crane picked our cage up and we moved slowly through the air. Dog calmed down again and lay still. Genius was piloting us from the console, watching the crane’s progress. Minutes later we descended and came to rest in the hold with nothing more than a bump. “You’re doing well,” I said to it. “You have a lot to learn, but I think you’re smart. You’ll get it, the who’s who around the ship.” I heard a few gasps from the people who were hanging around in the hold or working. I decided it was time to get up and shoo them away. I relaxed my legs and arms and waited, but only for a few seconds as Dog got up and backed away. I stood up and reached out my hand. It sniffed and growled but made no move to attack.
“So you recognize me as your master but have to growl to show you’re rebelling at the thought. I can live with that right now.” I heard some unfamiliar voices giving orders and realized it was the soldiers from the Warhammer with the prisoners. Imelda, I have something for you, I thought.
I was hoping you had remembered your words when I saw them, Imelda answered. I smell something new and you are covered in its spore.
Dog and I have been working hard developing an understanding.
So, I cannot eat that one? I am curious. I have never smelled it before.
It was in a deep-space sleep for many years. It is much older than you are. No, you cannot eat it, but you can teach it a lesson if it attacks you. Just try not to maim or kill it.
I will do my best for you, Benjamin.
Thank you, Imelda. I will tell you when it is time.
Helmet Deireadh, my Reaper needs to speak when I confront the prisoners. Make the fire in its eyes dance and an evil grin would be nice. I’ll let you know when.
As you wish, Reaper.
Deireadh, don’t answer me unless I instruct you to. Just do as you’re commanded and we will be just fine.
Yes, Reaper, as you command.
Didn’t I just say not to answer? I walked over to meet Ronnie and the others. “Benjamin, what do think you’re doing?” Aisling yelled.
Let the Reaper speak now, Deireadh.
“Shut your mouth and keep it shut. Watch, listen, learn.” I said. She took an involuntary step backward, fear on her face. “Ronnie, go to all the families and get them out of here until I say they can return. If there are adults with no children and wish to stay, then it’s up to them.”
Walking toward the shuttle, I ran into Shawna coming out of the Claymore headed in the same direction. I wondered if she knew any of the guards and was going to say hello. “What’s going on?” she asked.
In a low voice, I answered “feeding time.” She looked at my chest from the side. I had my head turned toward her, watching as we walked. She raised her eyebrows.
“What do you call that thing in the cage?”
“Dog.”
“Damn, Boss, you suck at names.”
“I could name it Shawna . . . in your memory,” I said, practicing an evil stare. Controlling the face while Deireadh spoke would take a little practice.
“Dog is a damn fine name,” she answered hurriedly and I smiled at her—or Reaper did.
“Glad you like it.” I elbowed her gently. We approached the shuttle crew, guards and prisoners.
“Which one of you is the lowest ranking of the prisoners?” I asked. All eyes went to my chest. “Answer or I’ll pick one of you,” I yelled. “I want information, fleet movement, by the numbers, what star system is next for the World Eaters, ground expeditions, how many soldiers.”
“We have already been interrogated. We will tell you nothing. I thought we made it clear to the female of the red hair and her men.”
“You know, you seem like a guy who can get a point across. I’m sure you made it clear.”
Imelda, pick one. Just not the one I’m talking to.
I continued staring at the speaker. He tried to show no fear in front of his men. In a blink, I saw a man on the end covered in web, head to waist. He was jerked off the floor; legs kicking, he went up into the darkness of the structure above. There was a
muffled sound and drops began raining down. It only took them seconds to realize it was blood. I would have to talk to her about her table manners.
I hit the man next to the talker so hard he doubled over and went to his knees and heaved his stomach contents. Grabbing the collar of his prisoner jumpsuit, I drug him across the floor to the cage. Dog was growling and excited. It did a dance, feet stepping in anticipation as I approached; Imelda did the same thing, I remembered. Pulling the cage door open, I pushed the Khalnalax soldier inside, shut the door and walked away, never turning back. I stopped in front of the same man who had spoken only minutes earlier.
The screams coming from behind me didn’t last long. If I was a betting man I would guess Dog got his guts first and then got tired of the screaming and ripped out his throat.
“I want information, fleet movement, numbers, what star system is next for the World Eaters, ground expeditions.” I repeated, exactly as before. Blood still dripped from above. “Maybe you have information other than what I’m asking for. Supply ship schedules and routes. That would get you a pass if you don’t know any of the others.” He knew something. Time would tell.
Would you like another, Imelda? Pick one, same rules as before.
The man to the speaker’s left was jerked up into the air, this one a little more violently. Not sure what she was doing. Decided I didn’t care. “We’re down to two. You want keep on playing or start talking and get a free pass to beautiful Kanlost, home of the radioactive craters?”
He lost his willpower as my Reaper smiled at him. “We cannot live on that planet. I want a ship and a promise we can leave unmolested,” he said. It was weakly spoken.
“No. Really, are you that dense? Why would I give you a ship? Look, Kanlost isn’t as beautiful as it was before you came along but it’s all you got. Take it or leave it.”
“Benjamin, I don’t think they know anything. We worked them over pretty good,” Aisling interrupted.
“Captain, I don’t believe I gave you permission to speak. Maybe you’re right and I won’t get anything useful out of these two. What that means for them is…just like the others, they are no use to me. You, sweet Aisling, need to get with the program. Ok?”
“Or what?”
“Or…you’re fired. Told you this already. I care for you. I’m sorry Natalia kicked your ass, but not that sorry. You can go, set course for Trillond. If you do, don’t come back. Enough talk,” I said. “You two. Last chance to speak up.”
“I know something about supply schedules,” the last junior officer said. The captain tried to get his hands on him but was too slow and got a fist in the gut for his effort. I thought I should record it, if Deireadh hadn’t jacked up everything my helmet used to do.
The man finished his recitation in minutes and seemed relieved. He kept his distance from his captain.
“Well, Captain, how about you?” I asked, moving near the other officer at the same time. The captain paused to think and I put my spear-shaped fist through the side of his officer’s head. Deireadh could form it faster than I could move. Blood and fluids ran out the blood grooves and onto my forearm, only to disappear. His eyes still stared at his captain. I gripped his shoulder and pulled the spear blade out, letting the body fall. I heard a familiar voice in the background. Turning, I looked at them.
“Joon. You and Doon get over here.” I heard running feet. At least someone jumped when I told them to. I drew my pistol and held it by the barrel. The butt pointed at Doon. “Shoot him.” I said indicating the Khalnalax captain with a head nod.
Doon took the pistol. He looked from the captain to me then the pistol. Before I could intervene, Joon jerked it from his hand and shot the captain in the chest. I held out my hand to retrieve the pistol. Joon had a fierce look in her eyes.
“Joon. Don’t ever do that again.” Fire danced in my Reaper’s eyes. She handed it back quick. “Doon, if you want to survive, you need to learn to not hesitate. You can’t think about it. You have to act.”
“Aisling, we aren’t keeping Khalnalax prisoners. Using Mira as an example, it seems things I turn loose have a way of coming back to haunt me. I want to trust her, but I can’t. I thought I could trust you. Not sure if I can anymore. I need to be able to trust both of you if you’re going to stay. Not saying any more. Do what you want. Stay or go. Both options are good decisions.”
“Doon, you and your sister clean up the mess. Give the body to Imelda or Dog.” Doon walked away, his shoulders slumped. This was a new world for him and I knew it. His sister was a sweet girl but she wasn’t as strong as him emotionally and now was a little broken inside. I knew broken. I wondered how they would handle Dog if that was the choice he made.
“Benjamin, you aren’t easy to get along with,” Aisling said. “You never let me explain my actions. I can tell you my reason wasn’t the same as the other two captains who stood beside me. You aren’t well—or weren’t. You seem to be better these last few days but it’s not enough to make me change my mind. That crew on the Warhammer, they are still my people and I’m not about to let a leader who is emotionally and mentally disabled make decisions for them.”
“You know your options and I’m sane enough to know who has my back and who doesn’t.”
“I’ve always had your back. We are stuck out here because of you.”
“Go home then. You will have enough credits with your share to stock and fuel the Warhammer, and get you all the way back to the Alliance if you want.”
Aisling paused to think and I decided I was done with the conversation. I turned and walked toward Dog, leaving Aisling with her thoughts. I had had enough of emotional trips with Taz. Let me see, I needed a leash and collar for the damn thing. Had things to do. People and animals to train. A queen to search for. Invaders to kill. Maybe some non-invaders to kill too? I must hold it together and get through this war. Having people I’m responsible for is hard. Teaching them to be cold-blooded killers is harder. Children ran around the hold of my ships. Pregnant women, older men and women. Slaves I freed who now needed a life, a livelihood. Some are the type of people I used to kill on sight. They had to learn the difference between living and surviving. Now all I need are a few Allith in the crew and I will have come full circle.
The Akelorians seemed a decent species. Mira was something, a different race they hadn’t seen before, and she quickly rose to prominence in their caste system. Their ship was formidable in appearance and they didn’t seem like cowards, although I think sat them back on their heels a bit. A new ally would be nice.
“Benjamin, I wasn’t through talking to you,” Aisling said, walking up behind me.
“I want you to name it,” I said. Her footsteps stopped short of standing next to me.
“What. No. Why do I—”
“Aisling, I want you to name it. Give it some thought and get back to me tomorrow. I also want Doc to take a look at the Cjittan boy, Doon. There is no reason in this age that a healthy young man should be a mute. Doc can use the facilities on this Generations ship if needed. There should be plenty of Cjittan DNA chains to choose from. Maybe nanites or an electronic voice box could be designed. What do you think?”
“Doc has a lot on his plate, I don’t know—”
“I’m not asking. I’m trying to be polite, but don’t confuse that with a request. I’m not going to follow every sentence with ‘that’s an order.’ Just assume it is. It will save us both a lot of heartache.”
“Should we start shuttling people to the Warhammer for the training we discussed?” she asked.
“Yes, let’s get started. They can break for the little get-together Binda wants to have then get right back on it.”
“Will you be there?”
“I’ll probably drop in. Just have the marines keep it simple and don’t bully them. This isn’t Boot and they aren’t soldiers, yet. They need a good start with good instruction. I know Jared and his team can provide that.”
I looked at her face. It was already healing. S
he would be her beautiful self in no time. I knew she was still a little sore, I could hear it in her breathing, but that would take care of itself soon also. “Don’t get on the mat with Natalia. At least not before you talk to her. She is very protective of me and she’ll come around, but you must make an effort, too.”
“Is that an order?”
“It sure as hell is.”
“Benjamin, is your pet a male or female?”
“Yes.”
“So you don’t know.”
“You go in and hold its tail up and I’ll take a look from out here.”
“Very funny. Ask Genius. I’m sure he knows.”
“You ask him. I gave you the task,” I said and smiled.
“Are you going to kill the rest of the Khalnalax crew from the World Eater?”
“Why are you so worried about it? I told you already we aren’t keeping prisoners.”
“I’m worried about you. How these decisions affect you. I am a starship captain. Knowing our enemy and destroying them in a battle to survive is one thing but you use Imelda and now this Dog as well as Natalia and last, but not least, yourself, and you kill and kill.”
“Aisling, go back to the Warhammer. I’ll be fine,” I said, softly switching back to myself. “I’m going to put the crew on Kanlost. The same deal I offered the Khalnalax captain. You heard me, I offered him a chance.” And I’m going to drop Imelda off and let her have her fill of them. “Go on now.”
I knew she was worried, but Imelda was part of our crew. Born and bred to fight, she also needed to eat. As my enforcer, she got the best-case scenario in all the situations that involved interrogation and questioning and prisoners. She got to eat anyone who pissed me off.
“Doon, what are you doing? Why is that still lying there?” I asked. Poor kid pointed at Dog and shook his head no. Not sure I could fault him. Dog is kinda an asshole. Can’t fault it, though. It just woke up, only to get smacked around.
“I’ll help you. Pull the door open when I say and I’ll throw the bastard in. On the count of three. One, two, three.” Doon pulled the door open. Damn dog was ready for us. He hit like a battering ram and I found myself on my back looking up with a dead body and a beast on top of me. It pushed off to run. I grabbed a leg at the ankle and held on.
The Chronicles of Benjamin Jaminson: Empires At War (Book 5 Part Two) Page 14
