His quiet reflection was interrupted by a flurry of sharpened sticks. A quick duck and dodge to the left and the spikes flew past without leaving even a scratch. Dregg was all smiles. It was time to fight.
To his surprise, Flotsam appeared out of the smoke and held his ground without charging. There were no more volleys. Despite Dregg being armed and ready to kill, Flotsam just waited there. Somebody had to get this fight started.
With a burst of fury and screams, Dregg bolted forward, blades ready. When he was a few feet shy of the other man, however, his body rammed into a force field. He was flung backward a good ten feet.
“Fucking coward!” Dregg yelled.
“Anything but,” Flotsam said, in a mechanical voice.
“Then fight me,” Dregg snapped. “Take down that pathetic shield.”
“Not for you.”
Rage burned in Dregg’s eyes. What the hell was the meaning of this, he wondered. “You agreed to a fight. Now fight!”
Dregg levered off the ground to launch another attack, but Flotsam turned and began striding away. “Where are you going?” Dregg screamed. “I came a long way to fight you!”
“Am I supposed to be impressed by that?”
“You should be fucking honored! I’m a champion!”
“Heh. Are you?”
Dregg stared at him, baffled by the other man’s impertinence.
“What have you done lately?” Flotsam called back to him.
Dregg sniffed. “Do I take care of myself back on Earth? Yes. Do I still keep up my fighting skills? Yes. Just look at me!”
“You’ve forgotten what it’s like to be here. You never knew, really.”
“Just because I had the freedom to leave at any time, doesn’t mean I didn’t accomplish what I accomplished.”
“Yes, it does.”
“Fuck you! I’m going to rip your body apart and throw a piece of it off every edge of this plateau,” Dregg yelled.
“No, you won’t. Because we’re not fighting.”
“Why won’t you fight me?”
“You’re not worthy. Your points weren’t earned. You always were, and still are, just a tourist.” He turned away.
Dregg lunged. “I’ll fucking end you!” But the shield moved with Flotsam as he continued creating distance between them.
“I told you I’m not fighting you,” Flotsam calmly said. “I don’t fight anyone below my point class. It could lower my status.”
“So that’s it? You’re a points whore now?” Dregg sneered. “Just as pathetic as your brother.”
That comment cut more than any dagger ever could. “What do you know about my brother?”
“Only that he cried like a baby when I bled him dry,” Dregg said. “He even offered me half his points to spare him. Cowardice must run in the family.”
“My brother died in a landslide.”
“No, I tossed his body in a landslide, because I didn’t have enough clout to get the weapons I needed to face you. Now I do, because, like I said, I’m a fucking champion, and you and your brother are nothing more than points whores.”
Flotsam slid his fingers over a biotech attachment on his left forearm, and the force field dissipated. Now he was ready to fight.
Flotsam charged, prompting Dregg to get down on his haunches and brace for impact. His plan was to absorb the blow and take his opponent to the ground. They would grapple, and he had an advantage in size.
But Flotsam surprised him and stopped just shy of the crouching Dregg. Instead of barreling into him, Flotsam pulled up and brought down a giant staff.
When it hit Dregg, he felt the weight of concrete upon him. It wasn’t the wooden staff it appeared to be, but one made of a special material that could only come from Planet Kill. Dregg knew it well. It was ironwood—a wooden staff made of a tree root that had been extracted from beneath the ground with iron naturally formed around the wood.
Flotsam had already outsmarted him, and Dregg knew it. It was tempting to ask Pierce for help in this moment of vulnerability. He could shoot a missile in their direction. He could blast an EMP and disable Flotsam’s shield permanently, so even if he lost this battle he could leave a mark. However, Dregg didn’t come here to simply destroy this man. He had come back to the worst place he’d ever been to earn his win. It was something he hadn’t done his first time here, whether or not he’d admit it publicly.
He dusted himself off instead. The big man pushed off his haunches and took the measure of his opponent. He had the points. He had the status. He had the experience and the skill. But he also had the confidence, a weakness in Dregg’s eyes. Dregg had come with the full power of wealth, influence, and success behind him. All of that was meaningless on this planet. His understanding and acceptance of that gave him an edge Flotsam couldn’t see coming.
Dust flew up in front of Flotsam as he sprinted toward Dregg, ready to finish his prey. Dregg was prepared for this. He was ready to take a few blows and even bleed for a chance at victory.
As Flotsam came in for the kill, Dregg swung his elbows around with full force and smashed his opponent in the chin, knocking Flotsam in the other direction.
They gathered themselves and faced one another down. Dregg waited for Flotsam to notice that he had come only lightly armored. That was his plan: to lure his opponent closer based on a perceived weakness so he could carry out a surprise attack.
When Flotsam charged the other man a second time, Dregg leaned into it and went with the momentum. The force took them both over the edge, and they tumbled down the side of the plateau. They hit rock after rock and ledge after ledge, until they reached the bottom.
Both dusted themselves off and readied themselves for more.
Flotsam whipped his staff to his side, and it lit up, full of pulsing energy. Dregg knew he couldn’t withstand the tremendous damage it was ready to inflict.
As Flotsam rushed straight at him, Dregg launched his own body up against the side of the plateau. He levered his feet sideways, balanced his body against the pressure, and used his downward momentum to bring both of his elbows into Flotsam’s head. He smashed into him with all his force, barely skirting the charged staff.
As Dregg pushed off the ground, he knew he only had a second before Flotsam would regain the upper hand. In anticipation of Flotsam’s next move, he crouched back down and braced himself against the ground. It would propel him forward with more force than if he were to simply lunge without leverage. They hurled their bodies at one another, but Dregg’s attempt to get more force off the ground gave him more power. He narrowly snuck underneath Flotsam’s arms and slammed into his torso with full strength.
If Dregg had gambled wrong, the maneuver would have resulted in his death, but he’d come out the other side of the collision the victor. Flotsam lay helpless, wheezing, gasping for air after having the wind knocked clear of his lungs from the impact. He was only a few feet from Dregg, who marched forward at the ready, careful not to count his victory before it had been won.
“What’s taking you so long?” Flotsam panted. “Why don’t you just fucking end it?”
Dregg took in a deep breath. Savored it. “Smells like blood and bone. Only one place in the Universe smells like this. Should send us to hell for liking it. But honestly, I can’t help it. I love that smell.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Flotsam said. “This is some kind of fucking soliloquy for you? Fuck you! I hope you die from an inglorious engine malfunction or an idiotic oxygen shortage on your transit back to that cesspool you call home.”
“That won’t be happening,” Dregg said.
Flotsam looked confused. Full of dread. “Why the fuck not?”
“Because I’ve got someone more important than me who’s the main attraction now. Which means I get to enjoy myself without restraint. It’s kind of nice, really, but too bad for you, bitch.” As he said those last words, Dregg brought his fists down upon Flotsam’s face, smashing it to smithereens.
It was a soli
d five minutes before he was done, long after the other man was dead. This worried Pierce, but not too much. Nothing much about Dregg surprised him at this point. Yet, the fact that he was still pummeling a dead man long after he’d died was something he should have been concerned about. Nevertheless, Pierce blared an alarm over comms to get Dregg’s attention.
“Heh,” Dregg said, over comms, as he rose up.
“‘Heh’” is right,” Pierce said. “Time to go home, Killer.”
Dregg smiled, beaming from ear to ear. “Damn right, motherfucker.”
“Hey,” Pierce said. “I appreciate what you did today. It was sick. Believe me. It was sick in all senses of the word. But we’ve got to get going or we will be apprehended, and you do not want to end up in a Planet Kill correctional facility. Unless you’re into being circumcised ten times a day for the thrill of it. So, what do you say, big fella? Hop onboard and head back home?”
“Fine,” Dregg said. “I do need a ride.”
“I meant what I said. That was sick,” Pierce said. “Remind me never to become your enemy.”
“Not that I care what you think,” Dregg lied, “but you’re right.”
“That’s the closest I’m gonna get to a ‘thank you’ for all this, isn’t it?”
“Your payment will come in the form of intelligence on allies and enemies,” Dregg said. “Now pick me up.”
“No can do,” Pierce said. “It’s on you to find your way back. I can’t risk exposure of the ship.”
“Fine. I’ll savor my kill on the walk.”
“You do that,” Pierce said. “And try not to be seen. Unauthorized fights are punished by stripping your points. So stay out of sight.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Dregg said. “See you in your hiding place, coward. Stay there so you don’t get stung by a bee and die.” Condescension dripped from his voice.
“Roger wilco,” Pierce said. “And be quick about it. Our window for departure is closing.”
Once Dregg slid down the embankment of the crater, he saw the stealth ship still hidden. Pierce flashed the lights to let him know it was all clear.
“Not necessary,” Dregg said. “I can see you.”
“Just making sure,” Pierce said. “That knowledge inside your head is what I need to be successful here.”
Dregg snorted. “I doubt it will make a difference for a little beta male like you.”
Pierce rolled his eyes but opened the lower hatch.
Dregg entered the ship with a final trophy in tow as he boarded. He had wanted to have a little something to remember this moment by. The gory little trophy was Flotsam’s two front teeth. He began singing as he joined Pierce in the cockpit.
“All I want for Christmas is your two front teeth.”
“Why are you singing that?” Pierce asked. He shot a side eye at Dregg with a new perspective on his nature. His teacher, it turned out, was as vicious a beast as advertised. He could likely take out a bear and walk away without a scar. “And I think you’re getting the lyrics wrong.”
“Glad you asked,” Dregg said with a chuckle. “It’s because of my souvenir.” He held out the still-bloody teeth.
Pierce cringed. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
Dregg let out a raucous laugh. “So beautiful!” He continued singing.
The lyrics were making Pierce want to spew chunks all over his own ship, but he resisted and strapped in for the bumpy ride back out of the planet’s atmosphere.
Pierce closed the viewers so Dregg couldn’t see their ascension trajectory. Needed to keep it classified.
“Every trip to Planet Kill begins with fear,” Dregg said.
“Every one?” Pierce asked.
“You telling me you’re not pissing your pants right now?”
“Wouldn’t tell if I were.”
“So you are. Good. It means you’re afraid. That’s good. Fear is what gets you through the first couple of weeks. Then letting go of that fear gets you through the next part.”
“And after that?”
“Luck.”
“Answer a personal question for me?” Pierce asked.
“Depends,” Dregg said, blood pooling on his bottom lip.
“Why’d you need this so badly?”
“Sometimes, in life, it’s a surprise what we connect with. It’s even harder to communicate why. What makes us feel something? People talk about feeling more alive. That’s not it for me. Watching the life drain out of someone else’s eyes is the only thing that ever made me feel anything at all.” He casually grabbed his crotch.
“I think I understand,” Pierce said.
“Doubt it,” Dregg said. “Maybe once you’ve popped your cherry, you’ll get it.”
Pierce snickered. “Any last bits of advice?”
“Have no regrets. Leave everything on the battlefield. Exhaust every possibility. If you don’t feel as if you have nothing left after a battle, then you failed. Spend every chip you have.”
Dregg gave one last bit of wisdom. “To most aspiring fighters on the planet, the cargo crates are indistinguishable from each other. There are three types, as you know from watching the broadcasts: a resupply because a fan has taken a liking to you, a message that wasn’t worth the fight to get to the crate or wrangle it from a competitor, and a trap. Traps are usually explosives. You never know what you’re gonna get until you open it, and by then, if it’s the third, it’s too late.”
“Not sure how that’s advice,” Pierce said.
“That’s not. This is,” Dregg said. “I’ve sent crates so that I could learn which is which.”
“Impossible.”
“You forget how I built my fortune. I own a transport company. The thing about a shipment is, the crates might start off identical. Their contents won’t betray their true nature either. There’s a shielding around the crate to prevent advanced screening. But when an item ships across the void between planetary systems, a mark is left. The way something is shipped across terrain leaves an imprint of the environment it’s passed through.”
“But how did that help you figure out which was dangerous and which was helpful?”
“That’s the trick. There are regulations. The passenger routes are less expensive, so all safe crates go that way. It saves the sender credits. But because of safety regulations, explosives have to go a separate route, and the one that is typically used passes through an asteroid belt. And that, my young idiot, is more expensive.”
“And their route leaves a mark?”
“Now you get it.”
“What’s the mark?” Pierce asked.
“There’s solar radiation on the other side of the asteroid belt, so if you check for and detect excessive neutrinos, that crate is not to be messed with.”
“Got it,” Pierce said. “Best advice you could give. I’m forever—”
“Save it,” Dregg said. “Besides, you won’t likely deal with crates and all that. PK did away with them a while back.”
“So why are you telling me this?”
“I’m preparing you for anything that could come your way. Be ready. Stay alive, so we can do this again. It’s hard to find someone with the access you have.”
“‘Stay alive.’ Also, good advice. I’ll try to follow it.”
“It is,” Dregg said, not sarcastic at all.
“Noted.”
“Well then,” Dregg said, as he leaned back and settled in. “What’s next?”
“For you, nothing,” Pierce said. “I’m launching you out of the escape pod. I need to catch up to the next recruit volunteer ship. I’m going to pose as one of them to get onto the planet.”
“Escape pod? That won’t be a pleasant ride back.”
Pierce couldn’t believe someone who could endure the hardship and rough environment of such a harsh world could take issue with an uncomfortable ride home. “You’ll live.”
“Maybe,” Dregg said. “Or I might die of boredom.”
“You’d be the first,” Pierce said. “N
ow suit up. You’re disembarking in five.”
“Ungrateful bastard,” Dregg muttered, and he forced himself up and stomped out of the cockpit.
Once Dregg’s evacuation pod was clear and out of sight, Pierce turned back to his navigation controls and set a course for the next Volunteer Transport Ship. He would have to board covertly, a stowaway. Blend in and assume a false identity, while setting his stealth ship on a preset course to land in the rock outcropping hiding spot.
In the meantime, his mission was simple: get onboard. Yet, there was already a problem.
The ship’s alarms flashed. A grinding, repetitive moan warning of danger filled the cabin.
“What is it, Selma?”
“I’ve been tracking the Volunteer Transport Ship’s passage, sir,” the ship’s A.I. replied. “And they’re ahead of schedule.”
“Shit,” Pierce said. “Time to get this show on the road.” He altered his ship’s trajectory and aimed for the path the volunteer ship was meant to be on. The trip was short and only took three quick, successive thrusts to get within physical eyesight. But now, the real fun was about to begin.
Other ships weren’t allowed to get too close to the volunteer transport ships. There was too much risk of damage to the valuable onboard cargo – humans ready and willing to die for the chance at a better life. There would also be the loss of ratings and investment if an entire month’s worth of fights had to be postponed. The corporation, despite its massive profits, could little afford to lose the commodities onboard or the reputation for protecting the transport route. The last thing they needed was to have volunteers ready to die on Planet Kill to die in transit instead, where their deaths meant nothing and had no monetary value. It could even lead to panic and fear of dying along the way.
Hence, six warships patrolled alongside the massive volunteer ship. There was a no-fly zone around its perimeter for all others.
Planet Kill Page 11
