by Henry Vogel
The radio crackled. “That man with you isn’t a native of this planet. He’s Terran Scout First Class David Rice!”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Caudill spun around and stared at me, his eyes as warm and filled with humanity as the eyes of a snake. His gaze flicked to Orrons. In a voice as devoid of emotion as his eyes, Caudill said, “Kill him.”
Upon hearing the order, Orrons’ face transformed. Pride in Caudill’s compliment fell away as Orron’s lips spread in a feral grin. His eyes went cold as the flash of humanity faded. Looking into that face, it was no longer possible to think of Orrons as a normal teenager. Before me stood a sick and twisted human being — one who could crush me without even trying.
“And Orrons,” Caudill added in a conversational tone, “we’re trying to make an impression on an audience. So please do your best to make his death messy.”
Now emotion flowed into Orrons’ eyes, but it was not comforting in the least. No one could take solace from the anticipation shining in Orrons’ eyes.
I only had one possible response to the threat Orrons represented.
Boost!
Time slowed as my implant poured adrenaline into my body. Orrons, already slowed by the cumbersome powered armor, moved in extreme slow motion as he lifted his arms to replace the helmet. If I was going to have any chance in this fight, I had to keep that helmet off of Orrons’ head!
I charged Orrons, grabbing the helmet and swinging my feet up to plant on Orrons’ chest plate. The armored boy shifted his grip, anticipating that I would pull the helmet from his hands. The suit’s mechanical muscles made that impossible. Even Boosted, my strength couldn’t match his. But I had a lot more experience than the young Orrons and went with something he never expected. I shoved the helmet at Orrons' head. With Orrons already pulling the helmet toward himself, the helmet slammed into Orrons’ face. Blood spurted from his smashed nose and he instinctively released the helmet to hold his nose.
Helmet in hand, I shoved off the chest plate, flipping to land ten feet from the boy. Spinning, I flung the helmet as far from the three of us as possible.
Flowing blood and burning rage turned Orrons’ face a mottled crimson. With a bellow, Orrons rushed toward me, his teeth bared, a guttural snarl on his lips. I held my ground, diving to the right just before the armored boy trampled me under his metal feet. Orrons thundered past but dug in his feet and, leaving twin furrows in the ground, slid to a stop far more quickly than I liked.
I had hoped to draw Orrons far out of position, giving me an opening to charge Caudill. If I got my hands on him, the fight was all but over. Orrons obviously worshipped Caudill and wouldn’t do anything to risk his piratical father figure. But my hope was in vain. Caudill moved constantly, always keeping Orrons between us.
Orrons charged again. I dodged again. And, damn him, Caudill moved again. This fight reminded me of my fight with the trog leader in Faroon, back before Callan and I were married. I couldn’t afford to let the trog get his hands on me then and I definitely couldn’t let Orrons get hold of me now. The difference was Orrons had but one vulnerable spot — his head. And, because the pirates frowned on armed guests aboard their spaceship, I didn’t even have a sword.
“Calm down, Orrons. You’re just running around like a child. Slow down and take your time,” Caudill called. “The scout can’t use his Boost for much more than a minute. Be patient and wait him out!”
And there was my one minor advantage. Caudill knew nothing of my extensive history with Boost. Could I draw Orrons in close by pretending to lose Boost? If I sold the act well enough, I’d have one chance to sucker punch Orrons. To have any hope of knocking him out with one blow, I had to hit him with something harder than my fist. I found that something the next time I dived and rolled away from Orrons. Pain lanced through my back as I landed on a rock twice the size of my fist. Ignoring the pain, I grabbed that rock and a smaller one close by.
Coming out of the roll, I flung the smaller rock at Orrons’ head. He brought his arm up and the rock clanged off the armor. Then I staggered, held a hand to my head, and bent over.
“What did I tell you, lad?” Caudill crowed. “You’ve got him now! Remember to make his death messy.”
Orrons grinned, stomping up to me. After chasing me all around the clearing, the teenager simply could not resist the temptation to gloat. A nasty smile on his face, Orrons leaned in close.
Grinning myself, I rose from my crouch and smashed the rock into Orrons’ head!
CHAPTER TWENTY
Driven by my Boosted strength, I expected to hear the satisfying thunk of stone on bone. That would be followed by Orrons toppling to the ground, unconscious. None of that happened. Instead, I heard the clunk of rock on metal.
Orrons yelled in pain and flailed his arms at me, knocking me away from him. An arm caught a glancing blow against my chest, knocking the wind out of me and sending me flying from him. I crashed to the ground a good thirty feet from the armored figure. Then I tumbled heels over head for another ten feet.
When I stopped rolling, everything hurt. I could do nothing but gasp to draw breath into my empty lungs. Dazed, I couldn’t concentrate well enough to override my implant’s safety protocols. Those protocols, incapable of judging anything but my physical condition, decided Boost was more harm than good and shut it off. Unable to move, I could do nothing but stare into the bright sky. Absently, I noticed several of the airships break from their holding patterns and descend under full power. To my dismay, I recognized the Pauline leading the way. No doubt Nist acted under orders from Callan. Why couldn’t she understand how much I needed to keep her safe?
“That was quite a show you and Orrons put on, Rice! You should have seen the look on your face when you hit Orrons metal skull plate. It was priceless!” Caudill laughed as the heavy tread of armored feet started toward me. “Do you want to know why Orrons is so skilled with the armor? I had his brain wired with a direct neural interface when he was five years old. That kind of interface gives a man astounding control over the armor. As an added bonus, Orrons got a metal skull. He’s had a dozen years to practice since the operation, too. Add all that together and you get a true artist with powered armor.”
I knew of many people with neural interfaces, but they got theirs as adults. No reputable doctor would even consider installing one in such a young, still-developing brain. The child was almost certain to die a hideously painful death!
“Are you insane? How many children died before you succeeded with Orrons?” I wheezed, finally starting to regain my breath.
“Let me think. Four boys, two girls. So, only six.”
“Only? Only? How can you live with yourself?”
“Quite easily. After all, I did succeed with Orrons!”
Then Orrons loomed over me, blocking the sun. He raised his foot, planning to stomp the life out of me, I assumed. Instead, Orrons rested his foot on my chest. The weight of the foot, alone and without any pressure from Orrons, sent pain shooting through my bruised ribs. Meanwhile, I scrambled to discover some way to escape from this with my life.
“I’m going to take my time killing you.” Orrons’ smile twisted in a sick imitation of joy. “This will be like squeezing that woman’s head between my hands. I’ll build the pressure so slowly you won’t feel it at first. Second by second, the pain will build until your bones begin to crack. Then it will continue building until your organs pop. And all the time, I’ll be right here, looking you in the eye as you die.”
“You are one truly sick and twisted boy, Orrons.” I looked at Caudill. “You must be so proud of him.”
“Indeed I am, Rice.” Caudill regarded the armored boy with something akin to paternal pride. “Orrons is absolutely loyal and he never questions my orders. In many ways, Orrons is the son I never had.”
“Like any sane woman would ever have a child with you!” I spat through teeth gritted against the pain. “How much do you have to pay them to be with you, Caudill? Or are you the ty
pe who prefers a woman in a drugged stupor?”
All emotion fled Caudill’s face. Dead eyes met mine and, in a flat tone, he said, “You’d be surprised just how many women want a man exactly like me, Rice. They may deny it, but I can see the desire in their eyes. But enough of this chit chat. This game grows tiresome. My time is valuable and yours, alas, is short. I believe it’s past time to finish you. Orrons-”
The radio crackled to life and Callan’s voice burst forth. “Spare David’s life and I’ll give you everything you’re asking for!”
Caudill’s eyebrows rose and he gave me an appraising look. “David? Not Captain Rice? Well, Your Highness, that is an interesting development — one I find very intriguing. Princess Callan, would you care to elaborate on the true nature of your relationship with the nearly deceased captain?”
Silence stretched for several seconds.
“No? Then perhaps you would allow me to make a guess. Forced to marry against her wishes and now trapped in a political marriage — to the prince of a troublesome neighboring kingdom, perhaps — the young princess found true love in the arms of the dashing and mysterious Captain Rice.” Caudill’s smirk returned in full force. “How am I doing, princess? Please do let me know if I’ve gotten the wrong idea.”
Once again, Callan held her silence.
“I’m sure your story would have quite a romantic ending if you didn’t already have a husband.” Caudill shook his head in mock dismay. “That’s quite an unfortunate detail — unless you and Captain Rice have plans to do away with the unfortunate fellow. Am I on the right trail?”
Callan’s continued silence kept Caudill heading down the wrong path.
“And what of poor, betrayed Prince Rupor. I wonder if he will reward me better for killing Rice than you will for sparing him?”
“I most certainly will not reward you for killing that man!” Rupor’s voice burst from the radio. “But if you grant me the satisfaction of killing him myself, I’ll give you everything you’re asking for and more!”
Caudill’s smirk broadened into a smile of true pleasure. “That, Prince Rupor, is an offer I simply cannot refuse. Captain Rice is yours to kill!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Orrons sulked at Caudill’s order to remove his foot from my chest, but he did as he was told. Obeying a second order from Caudill, Orrons stood straddling me, insuring I stayed put.
“Prince Rupor,” Caudill said, “I suggest you have Her Highness attend this event along with you.”
“I see no reason for that,” Rupor replied.
“You don’t? Then perhaps you have earned the disrespect she shows to you!” Caudill’s voice took on an edge. “If you coddle Princess Callan and shield her from witnessing the end result of her infidelity, you will simply encourage her to stray again!”
“There is no need to order me to attend. I insist on witnessing this duel, Rupor!” Callan replied. “I will take great pleasure in watching David slice you to pieces!”
“Foolish woman, where did you get the idea that Rice would be armed?” Caudill snarled. “I promised Prince Rupor he could kill Rice. I did not promise Rupor could duel with him!”
“That is unacceptable, Captain Caudill.” Rupor struck a perfect tone of effrontery. “Rice must be armed and I must slay him in a fair fight. It is the only way I can restore my tattered honor!”
Caudill stared at the radio in disbelief, but he desperately needed Rupor’s aid and good will. “If you say the fight must be fair, then fair it shall be. Her Highness may bring a sword for Rice.”
With an annoyed shake of the head, Caudill turned off his radio and turned to me. “Don’t think you’ve earned a reprieve, Rice. Should you manage to win this duel, I will have Orrons kill Princess Callan. After you’ve seen your lady love ripped apart by Orrons, I’ll have him do the same to you. So, if you truly love Princess Callan, I very strongly suggest you let Rupor slay you. Orrons will do the same thing if you make any attempt to warn her. Are we clear on this matter?”
I nodded.
“Oh, and I hope I don’t need to remind you to make this look convincing.”
I shook my head.
“Good. Enjoy the next few minutes. They’re all you have left.”
With that cheery comment, Caudill fell silent as we waited for Their Highnesses to arrive. The Pauline, bearing Callan, began descending when Caudill discovered my real identity. The fast little ship was minutes ahead of the others and was the first to arrive.
Nist brought the Pauline to within three feet of the ground and flew toward us. The airship moved slowly compared to an aircar — so slowly that I doubt Caudill ever realized just how fast the airship was flying. As the ship came adjacent to Orrons and me, Nist twisted the controls and spun the Pauline sideways. The stern swung around and smacked into Orrons back!
Small for an airship, the Pauline still greatly out-massed the armored boy. Orrons flew ten feet away, landing in a sprawl. Like an angel from heaven, Callan dropped my sword into my hand!
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
I drew my sword and sprang to my feet as Nist threw the Pauline’s throttle wide open and twisted the ailerons up. The airship nosed up but it would be long seconds before it was too high for Orrons to jump to it.
Servos whined as Orrons shoved off the ground with mechanically enhanced strength. Popping up and onto his feet, the boy’s eyes smoldered and his face went white with rage.
“I’m going to pull off your arms and legs and then laugh while you die, Rice!” Orrons’ voice cracked as he screamed my name.
“Hey, at long last you’ve hit puberty!” I could only hope goading worked as well on the boy as it had on Raoul.
Orrons roared wordlessly and lumbered toward me. Good, better me than the airship.
“Rice has already Boosted, Orrons! He’s just a normal man, now. I can handle him,” Caudill yelled over the roar of the Pauline’s steam engine. “You go teach the crew of that airship what it means to mess with a man wearing powered armor! I want the princess alive but you can do what you wish with the rest.”
Orrons turned toward the rising Pauline, flexed his knees, and jumped. He caught hold of a piece of the airship’s ornate trimming. I hoped the trim would break off in Orrons hand, but the airship was too well made. It held and Orrons climbed toward the deck. I didn’t even pause to consider my next action.
Boost!
Orrons and Caudill were in for quite a surprise. I leapt after Orrons, catching hold of a foot. Then I used Orrons like a ladder and climbed over him to the deck. As Orrons pulled himself over the railing, I bounded to his shoulders and jumped to the deck ahead of him.
Sword drawn, one of Callan’s guards rushed at the armored figure. With a bellow, Orrons backhanded the guard, sending him crashing against the cabin. Knowing there was no reasoning with the boy, I charged. As expected, Orrons’ swung his fist at me. I ducked under the punch, grabbed Orrons’ elbow, and swung around the arm and onto his back.
My sword flashed in the sunlight as I swung at the only unprotected part of Orrons’ body — his neck! The blade sliced through flesh and bone with ease. In terrible slow motion, Orrons’ head spun through the air before dropping over the railing.
The powered armor stumbled forward a few steps, following the residual impulses left after Orrons’ death. The headless figure hit the far railing and tottered off balance. Before the internal stabilizers could restore the balance, two of Callan’s guards slammed into it from behind. The armor tumbled over the side of the airship and fell from sight.
I dropped Boost as I collapsed to my knees and buried my head in my hands. Tears stung my eyes as the full impact of my actions hit me. Orrons was barely older than Milo — a child with his whole life ahead of him! My mind replayed the scene, searching for anything I could have done to save Orrons. In a grotesque mockery of reality, in my mind the severed head spinning away belonged to Milo rather than Orrons.
Then a pair of arms wrapped around me and rocked me in a ti
ght embrace. I felt warm breath on my cheek and soft lips kiss away my tears. Callan.
In ragged gasps, I said, “He was just a boy, Callan! But I didn’t hesitate to kill him!”
“You had no other choice, David!” Callan whispered fiercely.
“How can you be so sure?” I asked.
“I looked into his eyes and recognized what I saw in them,” Callan said. “I saw the same thing in the eyes of King Rat when he tried to kill you. And I saw it in Raoul’s eyes when he thought Sarn had killed you. I’m sure I’d have seen it had I ever looked Windslow in the eyes, too. You cannot reason with madness, David!”
My reply died in my throat as a red beam of light blazed overhead. The laser punctured the Pauline’s gas envelope and then the beam tracked along the taut fabric. The beam easily burned a long cut in the envelope. The envelope collapsed and the Pauline dropped out of the sky!
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
I wrapped a protective arm around Callan and grabbed a line with my free hand. Next to me, Nist worked the ailerons furiously. Surely he realized the airship was falling from the sky. What did he hope to accomplish? We weren’t more than thirty feet above the ground. The fall probably wouldn’t be fatal but it was far enough to cause serious injuries.
“Everybody, slide when we hit the ground!” Nist shouted.
I had just enough time to wonder what he meant by that when the Pauline tilted sharply to starboard. I suddenly understood Nist’s plan and my respect for the man’s skill as a pilot — already considerable — rose several more notches. The tilt would allow the airship to land on its hull rather than the much stronger keel. Then the collapsing hull could absorb much of the force from the impact. The angled deck allowed us to slide to the ground, dissipating even more of the force in the slide.
The Pauline struck the ground and my ears were filled with the sounds of breaking timber and shouting men. I released the line and wrapped my other arm around Callan. Then I lifted her off the deck, protecting her from splinters, scrapes, and cuts as best I could. My feet slammed into the starboard railing and my knees flexed to absorb the impact. Pain shot up my legs and agony burst anew from my bruised and battered chest. Then all was quiet except for the groans of the Pauline and her crew. With a soft rustle of fabric, the gas envelope settled over us and blocked everything from view.
