Eric Olafson Series Boxed Set: Books 1 - 7

by Vanessa Ravencroft

  Mehedi could apply this to many non-Human species as well.

  He had left the Tigershark and carried the same micro-fiber communication equipment we had used on Brahma Port. Currently, he was in the role of a freelancing ill-goods merchant, dealing with any kind of product that was illegal in the influence areas of one of the Big Four.

  Mehedi had contacted Elfi moments ago, and she told me that we could hear and see what he did right on the main viewer.

  It was fascinating and a little scary. Especially since the technology used was very advanced but not impossible for any technological society, and I thought to myself how scary and morally wrong intel work really was.

  Mehedi had contacted us because he had recognized the half-Dai Damon Honshu and had followed the man inside a Zorgo Cave.

  Mehedi spoke to us via a wet-link interface, so his brain speech impulses could be transferred directly into transmitted speech without making a sound. It was the next best thing to actual telepathy, and unlike telepathy, it could not be detected by a telepath. It was easily transmitted via GalNet nano bursts.

  I didn’t know what a Zorgo Cave was but didn’t want to distract him with unnecessary questions. I leaned forward in my seat and watched our man go inside a darkened half-spherical room with hammock-like cocoons hanging on silvery threads from the ceiling.

  Mehedi talked to the first fat Spindlar I had ever seen. “Two trips to the pink ocean.”

  The Spindlar took five full weights from Mehedi and handed him a coat-hanger-like metal piece with a hook in the middle of a boomerang-shaped metal bar.

  Our infiltration expert passed the Spindlar, who sat on a green force field bubble and placed the metal contraption into a slot, made some adjustments to a control panel, and a white sheet unfolded. He grabbed the hanger and swung himself onto the sheet that immediately wrapped him tight but left his arms and head free. Then he was pulled to the ceiling, joining the other cocoons that hung there. Now I could see a skin-colored, maggot-like creature was sliding down the thin thread.

  Mehedi squeezed something out of a small plastic tube and smeared it around the thread that was holding his cocoon. The maggot approached but did not pass the spot with the smeared substance.

  From up there, Mehedi had a great view, especially with his enhanced cybernetic micro-fiber periscope.

  Narth explained to me, “Those are Zorgos, a semi-sentient lifeform of Kermac origin that is bred and sold everywhere in Freespace. They lure their prey into submission by inducing lucid and pleasurable dream states. This ability has been somewhat enhanced and its mandibles and sucking mouth have been removed. They starve to death after three or four weeks and are replaced by a new one. Those cocoons simulate how they store their victims.”

  I shuddered. “Why would anyone have this done freely and even pay for it?”

  He transmitted his answer. “Why corporal species do things and what motivates them is still largely a mystery to me, but I assume it is some form of escapism. Zorgo Caves are even legal in the Union but many individual members prohibit them on their planets.”

  I was still thinking about that when our agent focused his surveillance equipment on the Half Dai Honsu, who hung a few meters away in another cocoon.

  Narth said, using Mehedi as a psionic relay and this Honshu person opening his shields to allow the Zorgo to transmit the dreams, “I can get past his mental shields without him noticing as I use the same opening he made to allow the Zorgo dreams.”

  “Your psionic abilities are scarier than I imagined, my hooded friend. Not that I really understood any of the details.”

  “And you still refuse to accept the fact that you, too, have such abilities.”

  While Mehedi monitored the man, Narth sat back and begun to describe the thoughts of the man.

  Damon Honshu relaxed as the colorful unsubstantial dream colors soothed his mind. He liked the Zorgo Caves. Here he could relax and these mindless creatures had no need for his secrets. As he was a good telepath, he knew many Zorgos and that the many dreams they produced and transmitted would confuse the best Saresii or Kermac spy.

  He had landed on Sin 4 and noticed the large number of pirate ships already there. Of course, it would be Pirate Market soon and the worst cut throats, killers, and deep space scum started to congregate and descend onto Sin 4.

  He had seen the market a few times before and he had to admit that some of the things offered were indeed rare treasures. A man with a good nose could make a killing.

  He knew most of the ships and he was familiar with the more famous or infamous pirates, privateers, and corsairs.

  Every time the market commenced one of them did not show up because he got caught by officials, bit into a victim that knew how to fight back, or met an early demise by one of his or her esteemed colleagues. Pirates never had a big problem raiding other pirate ships if the opportunity was there. But then there always was a newcomer that took their place.

  The Worm operated and supported three pirate ships in Freespace but only the Throat-Cutter was currently present.

  Captain Ivok of the Throat-Cutter did not know him as Damon Honshu, as he had never met the captain in this disguise persona. Of course, the Worm-sponsored captains had also never met the Purple Worm in person either.

  Then there was the Bloody Mary run by Crimson Curse, one of the oldest and most experienced pirates.

  Being in this business and surviving in this dangerous business for many decades was not easy and spoke volumes of the experience of this particular and well-known pirate.

  Crimson, so he had heard, never bit more off than he could chew, was not excessively brutal to his victims and usually stayed away from drugs and slaves. Maybe that was the secret of his success.

  Right behind the Bloody Mary, he had seen an old Saran destroyer that was heavily modified and modernized. Captain Meateater, who owned that ship, was not a man to be trifled with. He killed first and never asked any questions.

  The large Karthanian Armed Merchant somewhat separated at the far end, he had briefly seen at Brahma Port before he left.

  He made it a point, of course, to keep up to date on news and rumors and it could only be the Silver Streak and the mysterious Captain Black Velvet.

  He knew there had been a ship and captain with the same names about 400 years ago, and she made a name for herself back then, before she vanished.

  If she was the same person or someone else using the name, he did not know, but she had made quite an impact as he had heard from his associates at Brahma Port. She was also on the Union Top Wanted list.

  He decided to keep an eye on her and maybe approach and recruit her for the Worm. He decided to stick around on Sin 4, partially because he had followed a few leads regarding the missing Nul and they all led here and then he wanted to visit the Pirate’s Market to see if that Red Dragon would show up.

  He was a thorn in the Worm’s side, because the Red Dragon had started to create and operate his own criminal organization known as the Sinister Alliance. Normally, this would not necessarily be a bad thing, but the Sinister Alliance was growing fast and he did not like competition he knew little about. The Red Dragon operated a ship that he could not identify, but rumors claimed he was closely associated to the First Hull Builder guild of the Karthanians. That in itself was a remarkable fact, if it panned out to be true. The Karthanians were xenophobic to the extreme and never associated themselves with a non-Karthanian, at least not on a mutual level.

  His mind wandered back to the Silver Streak. To examine that Black Velvet person a little closer. It never hurt to know a little more about a pirate. Her ship didn’t look like much at first glance to the laymen, but to expert eyes it was a different story. The ship had large added ISAH thrusters, probably making it quite fast, but he doubted it was very maneuverable.

  He was especially impressed with her weaponry. He considered himself a Nul technology expert and that ship over there sported impressive Nul firepower. Either she had a connection
to the Nul or, what would not be any less impressive, had raided Nul ships. If she had connections, maybe she was here for the same reason, looking for the Nul prince. Or maybe she was the one who abducted the Nul in the first place. In any case, a worthwhile lead to follow. But first, he would hire himself a Sojonit and then check out a few contacts and see if they’d heard anything about a Nul slave.

  Mehedi Senhadjii interrupted Narth’s narration on the thoughts of the man and reported, “He is moving and it looks like he is not finishing a full dream session. I better get ready to follow him.”

  Narth stopped and paused and then said, “Even in this state, he was very alert and well-shielded. I could not go deeper without him noticing.”

  We all had listened to this fascinating insight into another being’s thoughts and I said, “He seems to be a very high figure in the Worm organization as it appears he knows the Purple Worm himself. Mr. Sehadjii, stay on his tracks if you can, but do not risk too much.”

  Mehedi lowered himself to the ground and said, “I’ll try my best, captain.”

  Chapter 13: Sojonit Temple

  Donheer Syndicate Complex

  Duke Donheer stood by the window and looked outside over the ocean toward the mainland.

  The duke was Humanoid but he had no Human DNA. He was part Shiss, part Kermac, and even had some Saresii in him. He did not have any psionic abilities but had inherited the natural arrogance of his Kermac heritage. He was big, as he liked eating and eating a lot of the best things, but he surprised many with his agility and strength. It was important to him that his scalp appeared polished and he bleached his fine-scaled skin to a light shade to show that he was related to the White Throat caste.

  Duke Donheer was the unopposed ruler of his empire and one-fourth of all business on Sin 4 went through his organization, but he wanted more.

  Unlike his father and the Donheers before him, who were content with being part of the cartel and having one-fourth, Duke wanted it all. He knew there were bigger powers out there and only if Sin 4 was under one ruling hand, his hand would become the true power it could be. He dreamed about colonizing the South Continent and putting a new spaceport on the larger moon. He remembered the Stik and wanted to get rid of them completely.

  The other three families had to be eliminated and then he would take over business at Temple Island. Instead of getting a share of the Sojonit whore business, he wanted it all. The contract and agreement his forefathers made with the Sojonits was just a piece of paper. Once he was undisputed king of Sin 4 contracts and agreements became null and void and all that mattered was his will and word alone.

  The Donheers already made more profit than the other families. One of the reasons for it was his crown jewel, the Fight Coliseum. He had pushed it to new heights and a source of great profit.

  Union GalNet sports channels transmitted the weekly fights all over Union Space and the income from that and the advertisement deals brought in more money than most of his other businesses.

  He thought about the Loki torpedoes in his basement; these terrible weapons of Union origin could be used to blow up the fortress islands of the other families and he could sell the rest along with the P-bombs to the Kermac, who already signaled great interest. If he played his cards right, he would leave his son a real empire.

  The Kermac, Nul, and the Union already considered the Shiss no longer a real part of the Big Four, but he knew better, because he was a personal friend of the First Nestling and managed to capture an important Nul for his lizard friends. The Nul would die in the Arena, fighting, and he had plans to accuse the Union of capturing the Nul and selling it to him.

  Maybe that would start a war, or at least seriously strain the already hostile relationship between Nul and the Union. That the Union win this conflict, there was no doubt, but at an enormous cost in life and resources. The Shiss, mortal enemies to the Nul, were no longer wasting time and efforts on the Nul, once more strong and able to mop up the pieces. Then he would announce Sin 4 to be under Shiss control and the First Nestling would give him dominion over the entire quadrant.

  The other families would then have no choice but to bow to him. Before his inner eye, he saw himself already ordering the execution of the other family patriarchs and taking over their treasures and possessions. No longer just lord over a fourth, but all belonging to him!

  He smiled at his own reflection in the window and walked back to his desk for the business at hand. His sources reported that an agent of the Nul Empire had arrived. Damon Honshu the assassin and privateer had been hired by the Nul to find the Gray Nul. The half-Dai had a great reputation in terms of being connected and having access to many groups, including the otherwise very isolated Nul. Donheer was certain, however, Honshu had no idea that the duke knew about the meeting that took place at Brhama Port.

  The half-Dai was on his way to meet the duke, no doubt to make an offer to obtain the captured Nul.

  One of his aides and bodyguards announced the assassin and let him in. Damon had Dai heritage that he saw at once; that explained his great reputation as assassin.

  Right away, the duke wondered how this Damon would do in the arena against a real Dai. A great fight for sure.

  Honshu bowed and said, “I am thankful for your time. I am Damon Honshu.”

  The duke waved impatiently. “I know who you are. The large gift of polo coins was well received and the reason I agreed to meet you. Anyone spending a million polos for an audience with me has my attention. No one spends this kind of money without a motive. You want something from me.”

  “You are as keen and straightforward as they say you are.”

  “If only half you heard about me is true, you also know that I am not a fool, so come to the point.”

  “I am certain you know who I am and what I do to spend my time. I was hired by a client to find an abducted Nul; some believe has been brought to Sin 4. I heard you bought the Nul and plan to fight him in the arena tonight. Would it be possible to see those fight slaves before the fight and perhaps purchase one if the one I am looking for is among them?”

  “No, that would be quite impossible, but if you fight tonight in the arena against a Dai and win, I’ll let you pick any serving fighter, including the Nul you are interested in.”

  “I can’t agree to that, but I ask you to reconsider. I am willing to pay you five million polos.”

  “And you do not have a choice. Either you agree to my deal or you won’t be very welcome on Sin 4 anymore. I doubt even you would make it alive from this world with a cartel price on your head.”

  Damon became angry. “You do not realize who you are dealing with!”

  “Oh, I know. You were hired by the Nul to find that Gray Nul. I believe you don’t know who you are dealing with. This is Sin 4, and my will is supreme. This conversation ends now. Now be a good assassin and strip all your hidden weapons or I’ll have my guys take you apart.”

  Damon felt like an amateur walking into a trap. He didn’t come unprepared, however.

  “Since you know I was hired by the Nul then it will come as no surprise to you that they are informed about my whereabouts and expect my reports at regular intervals. Not even you want to become an open enemy to the Nul Empire. Abducting Nul and having them fight in your arena will just do that.”

  “I told you the terms of my deal. You can walk out and try to leave Sin 4 alive or you fight in the arena and complete your mission the Nul have paid you for.”

  Damon swore to himself he would make this man pay. He had other resources but one thing was true. If he won in the arena, he could pick the Nul prince and complete his mission. He had killed many times before and fighting a Dai was dangerous but nothing he could not handle.

  “All right, I agree to your deal. I fight in the arena tonight, and I hold you to your end of the bargain. I win and leave with the Nul of my choice.”

  “I always keep my word when it comes to the arena, always. Now my associates will provide you with a nice apartme
nt where you can prepare for your fight tonight.”

  Donheer watched as his bodyguards escorted the man out. He then leaned back. Things were looking up. He had the Nul agent under control, and a nice fight before the main event. Now all he needed to find was a Dai warrior.

  The undefeated champion and perhaps greatest star of the arena, the incredible Terror Hammer had returned and he promoted that everywhere. He would have the champion fight the Nul tonight and throw in a Stomper and an Insectosaurus he had bought from a Lifeform Smuggler.

  They came from the famous Union World Green Hell and were as vicious and deadly as any monster he had ever seen.

  He called Wintsun. He was not family but he knew how to get things done, and Donheer trusted him more than most. The man appeared, making no noise as he moved. The green-skinned man used to be a Union officer and they trained their personnel well. The man knew no scruples and killed and bullied his way up the ladder and now was in charge of intelligence and he got results. He’d told him about the assassin, too.

  “Wintsun, I need a Dai warrior tonight for the arena.”

  “There aren’t any in the slave pens. I know of one who is now on Alvor’s Cove. I am sure I can get him here but even the fastest ship won’t make it till tonight.”

  Wintsun was thinking.” I think that newly arrived pirate has one in her crew. It must be a renegade or outcast.”

  “What new pirate?”

  “The Silver Streak and Captain Velvet I told you about. She leveled the DE towers of the Gorotolah Spaceport Protection Agency.”