Never Surrender (The Kurtherian Gambit Book 16)

by Michael Anderle

  “Welcome to Station One Eight Two,” the Yollin spoke first, “My name is Denigh, how can I help you?”

  Tabitha held out her hand, and the Yollin looked down at it, then up to her, “Do I take your hand?”

  Tabitha nodded, “Yes, in our world it is a customary greeting. The practice goes back in time where it showed we didn’t have a weapon to stick into the person who we were meeting.”

  Denigh reached out and grabbed the smaller alien’s hand, “I assume, since your hand is so soft that squeezing hard would harm you.”

  Tabitha raised an eyebrow, “How about we give it a try? The first one of us who says ‘uncle,' has to buy the other a drink?”

  Tabitha grinned, the Yollin didn’t answer, he just started squeezing. Tabitha continued smiling as his mandibles started making an almost imperceptible noise like two horns rubbing against each other. Denigh looked at her, as she calmly accepted his effort.

  “Now, Station Master Denigh, it is my turn,” she told him and started to squeeze.

  The larger Yollin, whose hands still had minor levels of chitinous armor protecting his fingers, looked down in surprise as the smaller hand started to cause him substantial pain. “I’m not sure if you need your hands, station manager, but I guarantee I will continue squeezing until you say uncle or I break through your hand’s tough outer shell, to get to the squishy insides.”

  Denigh’s mandibles started tapping together quicker and quicker as he put everything he had into squishing the alien’s hand. “YIELD!” He screamed.

  But, she didn’t let up.

  “Benkle!” He yelled as he went to his knees, the first cracking of his hand’s armor loud in his ears. “No, UNCLE!” he cried out and the pressure released.

  “I hope you have some good drinks,” Tabitha told him. “You owe me. What say we go get some now?”

  Denigh was rubbing his hand, “Sure, it will probably help me with this pain.”

  Moments later, Ryu walked ahead of the group and Hirotoshi brought up the rear as Denigh and Tabitha walked through the space station, the manager explaining what they were seeing as he rubbed his hands.

  “Down this hall,” he pointed left, “are the quarters for most who live and work here. We are a smaller station, with docks for twenty ships. If a ship is too large, we have two shuttle craft that can each hold twenty Yollins. We use them to ferry crew and passengers back and forth.”

  “How many work on this station?” Tabitha asked, “From the outside, it looked like this station had to be at least a hundred stories tall.”

  “What are these tales you talk about?” Denigh asked, “and how do you use tales to figure out size?”

  Tabitha thought about her comment for a moment, “Sorry, stories in our world also speak to levels of a building. I’m suggesting a thousand feet tall.”

  The Yollin worked the height difference out in his head, “We are actually about twenty percent taller than what you suggest if my translation is correct about your feet to Yollin units.”

  Tabitha whistled, “It should be, and damn, that is huge.”

  The Yollin puffed out his chest, “Well, we aren’t the largest station in the Eubos area. We are sixth, those that are larger than us exceed our size by a large margin.”

  “Why so many?” Tabitha asked.

  “Well,” Denigh started warming up to the conversation, but then pointed off to his right, “down that way is my office, if you should need me.” Finally, he continued the explanation, “This solar system doesn’t have a decent world to inhabit. It’s smaller, considerably smaller than Yoll, and has had a significant amount of bad meteorite impacts that took out a large part of the population. So, the local species never got off planet. However, for those of us who can mine in space, it is like going around and picking up precious metals off of the ground.”

  He looked over at the alien, “It isn’t quite so easy as that, but it is significantly easier than trying to dig far into a planet.”

  Tabitha nodded before remembering he wouldn’t know a human’s mannerisms. “I understand.”

  Two turns later, the four reached the area on the station which had a few places to eat, and just as many places to drink. When they entered the double doors of one of the drinking establishments, Tabitha did a double-take.

  There were humans here?

  —

  “Who is that?” Chrillen pointed to the four who walked into the bar. He and the other two Skaines had dropped into Station one-eight-two just hours before. They had spent the last three days in the back of nowhere having finally sold their last two slaves to a small mining outfit.

  “Probably someone working on this damned station,” Mrik said, grabbing his drink and putting it up to his mouth, “It is my first time here, so, it’s a guess.”

  Chrillen turned to look back at his business partner, “Most Yollins you see, work for the station, idiot.” He rolled his eyes. “I’m talking about the new aliens next to him. They look like the two Torcellans in the corner, but their skin is darker, their hair is not white, and I don’t think they have purple eyes.” he looked again, “Too dark in here to see that much detail.”

  Avar leaned forward in the booth to look at the new people, “Torcellans make excellent slaves, very practical with their hands, and damned easy to train.” He leaned back, “Shame the two here are protected.”

  “What about the Yollin?” Mrik asked, his curiosity peaked. Three Torcellans would be worth as much as a dozen of the slaves they just sold.

  Plus, they had buyers already lined up.

  “Try to pay him off?” Chrillen asked.

  —

  “Aww, damn,” Denigh said aloud.

  “What?” Tabitha asked.

  “There is a table of Skaine in the back. I suppose they landed recently, or I’d have heard complaints from those on base. As a race, I’ve never found one who isn’t into some business that is usually forbidden or frowned upon.”

  “Murder?” Tabitha asked.

  “For profit?” Denigh considered, “Actually, not normally. They rob, steal, cheat, slave, pimp, cheat…Wait, did I say cheat already?” Denigh asked.

  “Yes, and I’m confirming you said ‘slave,' right?” Tabitha asked.

  “Yes, certainly. In fact, they are wearing the colors of a slaving ship.”

  “Oh, perfect,” Tabitha answered, “They seem to be getting up.”

  “Probably thinking you are a type of Torcellen or,” he looked at the top of Tabitha’s head, “no, not even a Skaine would think you are an Aen.’

  “Why not?” She asked.

  “You have hair on the top of your head,” he answered.

  “You think they are coming over here?” Tabitha asked.

  “Oh, definitely. I’ll get rid of them. They will talk with me first, to make sure they can buy me off before they try to take you.”

  “Oh, get your cut, Denigh,” she told the surprised Station Manager, “Just make sure you get it up front, because anything that is on their bodies after we get done with them, is ours.”

  Denigh looked sideways at the alien, “You aren’t trying to catch me doing something wrong?”

  “Actually, I consider it acting wages,” Tabitha told him, “make it look good, and they won’t realize it isn’t for real.” She finished.

  Worked for him.

  The three Skaine walked up, and the whole bar turned to watch the groups pair off.

  “Achronyx?” She subvocalized, “Anything about Skaines that can cause us problems in a bar brawl?”

  “They cheat,” he responded through their implant, “and they are pirates and slavers. Assume if you lose, you will be enslaved.”

  Nothing like a little encouragement. “Pass that on to Tonto 1 and 2.” Both Vampires turned to look at their boss, Ryu rolled his eyes when the EI passed on the warning.

  The first Skaine, his outfit a dark blue with gold edges looked the three up and down, “Torcellans?”

  Tabitha raised an e
yebrow as she slowly looked at the three aliens, with their big heads hooded under their clothes and replied, “Assholes?”

  Ryu snorted before he could stop himself, Tabitha chuckled. One of these days, she would catch Hirotoshi off guard and then, her life would be complete.

  Apparently, the translation programs worked just fine when all three aliens became agitated.

  Next to her, the Yollin started speaking in a language she didn’t have loaded, “What the hell, Achronyx?” she subvocalized again, “Why can’t we understand anything they are saying.”

  “Working on it, Ranger Tabitha.”

  Damn, her EI got all proper when it was his underwear down at the bottom of his ankles, didn’t he? She would have to see if the EI’s ego was reduced by comments about previous mistakes. You know, just like a guy. If so, then her communications with the EI were going to be so much easier.

  “They are using a rare dialect, a trading language. Updating your implants, now.”

  “… and that is why they are worth the money, Chrillen. They are twice as useful as a Torcellan.” He pointed to Tabitha, “I can tell you she might be puny looking, but she is stronger than she looks. Perhaps they are from a high gravity world, I don’t know.”

  “One-sixty is the highest I’ll go for the men, I’ll give you two-hundred for the female, I can always say she is a good incubator,” the alien told Denigh.

  Tabitha carefully kept a comment safely tucked behind her teeth. Although, she planned on knocking this asshat’s teeth right out.

  “Ok, but I want payment up front. If they understood what we are saying, my future is shit.”

  The middle alien paused, then nodded. The one to his right reached in his clothing and pulled out a purse. He dumped the contents out into his hand, then grimaced, “It’s four-eighty, just a little short.”

  Tabitha noticed he had pocketed four coins at the last moment.

  Denigh humphed, but held out his hand. The Skaine slipped the coins back into the purse, tightened the top and tossed it to the Yollin who turned to walk away, “Good luck.”

  Tabitha watched him walk away, just who the hell was he telling good luck?

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  “So, you didn’t get the memo?” Tabitha asked the middle Skaine wearing the blue robes, the two on each side of him were dressed in grays. “Don’t suppose the clothes colors tell me anything about you guys?”

  “If you aren’t an ignorant Torcellan, what are you?” Chrillen asked, “I’d like to know so I can sell you appropriately.

  Tabitha, keeping an eye on the three, but turned her head slightly to Ryu, said, “You got that, right?”

  “Hai.”

  “Ok. Just making sure.” She turned back to the three Skaine, “One second, you jackasses are my first bag in Eubos, so please be patient,” she put up a finger, “for one fucking second while I find out if my recalcitrant pain-in-the-ass EI has your ship locked down or not.”

  I did not, Achronyx replied in her ear, but I should have…Ok, they are locked from leaving as I have taken over the Yollin station’s systems. But, it will take me time to confirm their ship is under control. I don’t have any Skaine protocols.

  “Well get them,” Tabitha spoke, “Don’t make me show you how to do it.”

  Back inside of the ship, the EI calculated whether the Ranger had a chance to accomplish her threat. He calculated a 23.7% chance of success on her first try. After two days, she had an 88.1% chance of success.

  The EI finally replied, “Working on it.”

  “Ok, here is what the memo said,” Tabitha spoke loud so as many of those in the bar as possible would hear her. “Yollins, and the systems claimed by the Yollins, are now part of the Etheric Empire. That places the Eubos system under Empress Bethany Anne, and she has issued an edict that slavery is to stop. Those who are slaves will need to be moved to non-slave status. For those who continue working the slave trade inside of the Etheric Empire, you will be summarily executed if you choose not to comply immediately.”

  “Uh huh,” Chrillen commented, “For a slave-to-be, you have a big mouth. I’ll give you that.” The Skaine leader commented. “Any particular reason you think you won’t be a slave in a few moments?”

  “You know, you should probably never ask a Ranger shit like…” Tabitha, Hirotoshi, and Ryu moved.

  They had seen the Skaines on either side of Chrillen turning something in their pockets, as little bumps became visible. The two Skaine were definitely pointing something through their robes.

  Tabitha jumped up, Hirotoshi and Ryu moved to the sides.

  There was a high-pitched thrumm, and she heard Ryu bitching. Hirotoshi grabbed a chair made out of some sort of plastic and used it like a fly-swatter, hitting his target upside his head.

  Ryu pivoted on his right leg, swinging a fist back behind him as he moved forward, his left hand swinging free, out of control. Ryu’s eyes were red, as the surprised Skaine caught a backhanded fist in his face, his eyes blanking out before the sheer power of the punch threw him back.

  Tabitha watched as the lead Skaine’s eyes registered surprise, then narrow in annoyance as his head tried to keep her in sight, looking up and over his shoulder to find her behind him. He had only managed to turn halfway around when her kick caught him under his arm.

  —

  Two Yollins were arguing, “There is no way that we can drop the gravitics energy down twenty percent and still have the food grow properly. They need to strive against gravity for the fibers in their stalks…” The first Yollin reached for the door to the bar, yanking it open as he continued his argument, “in order to…”

  A body, in a dark blue robe flew out of the now open door and slammed against the hallway’s wall to their left.

  Both Yollins stood there, surprised at the unexpected violence, the CLANG of the body hitting the wall reverberating. A few individuals came out of their doors to look up and down the hallway to see what was going on.

  “That’s a Skaine,” the second Yollin told his friend.

  Both Yollins stood transfixed as another person came walking out.

  She was dressed in black, wearing a large coat, and she looked pissed. “Come back here, you lazy assed cheating nut knocker, I’m not done with you, yet.” She grabbed a foot of the obviously unconscious Skaine and turned around, dragging him back into the bar. “Try to start the fight before we say ‘go’? Fuck you and the ship you rode in on. I’m going to shove my size 8 boots up your alien ass you fucktardian asshatus maximus. Gott Verdammt trying to shoot my guys like that.” She looked at the two surprised Yollins.

  “Thank you for holding the door, that was very gentlemanly of you,” she told the first Yollin who was still holding the door open, “I’ll be done in a moment.” She called out as she walked back into the establishment. Unfortunately, the Skaine’s head caught on the second door. They heard her from inside the place, “Oh, give me a break!”

  They watched as the Skaine’s head bounced twice against the door, hard before it moved enough so that the lady inside could pull the body back into the bar.

  —

  CRACK!

  Chrillen felt the pain blast through his senses, “Wakey wakey, asshat!”

  He opened his groggy eyes and found himself staring into the eyes of the alien. He was still in the bar, but his arms were bound behind him.

  Chrillen heard Mrik next to him, “I’m telling you…” he started, but the female looked to her left.

  “Didn’t I already tell you to shut the hell up?” She reached up, and Chrillen heard a tearing sound. He saw that one of her associates had placed a strip of something gray into her hand. She leaned towards Mrik and placed it over his lips. “Now, maybe you will give me a little damned peace and quiet. Who knew you dipshits were so talkative when your little cheats don’t work?”

  “I think you broke my ribs,” Chrillen coughed out.

  She looked back at him, “I fucking hope so, I was going for maximum power, and my
teacher would be pretty disappointed with his student if I weren't good enough to break a few ribs.”

  Chrillen could taste the blood in his mouth, “What will it cost to release us?” It pained him to admit he needed to buy their freedom. This was going to get him busted down in rank. He could argue, however, that no one had fought these non-Torcellans and therefore they should be given a pass.

  “Your lives, of course.” She told him, “I’m working with my trusted advisor…”

  Ryu spoke behind her, “I thought you called him your recalcitrant pain-in-the-ass EI?”