Sabre sighed. "Now Tarl's losing."
Grundel kicked Tarl’s leg, buckling it, and he went down on one knee. Fairen turned his head towards Sabre, his silent question obvious. Grundel kicked Tarl in the face, sending him sprawling, and then booted him in the ribs. Tarl tried to get up, but Grundel kicked him again, knocking him flat. Sabre pushed himself away from the wall, slipping from Tassin's grasp. Grundel was intent on his fallen foe, kicking him again and again as Tarl curled into a defensive ball.
Sabre closed the gap in a few strides, and Grundel whipped around as the officers behind him shouted a warning. Grundel's face went slack with terror as Sabre grabbed him under the arms, lifted him and hurled him against the wall. His knees buckled when his feet hit the floor, and he sprawled. The cyber bent and gripped his neck, dragged him back to his feet and pinned him to the wall. Sabre thrust his face close to the technician's.
"It's not nice to kick a man when he's down."
Grundel choked, clawing at Sabre's fingers, his face reddening. Sabre watched him for a moment, then released him and stepped back. Grundel slumped to the floor, clasped his neck and gasped. Tarl sat up, rubbed his ribs and scowled at Grundel. Sabre approached and held out his hand. The ex-tech hesitated before he took it, and Sabre pulled him to his feet and gave him a slap on the back that made him cough and stagger.
"You're a lousy fighter, Tarl. You should spar with me; I'll teach you a few tricks."
"Thanks, but no thanks."
Sabre shrugged, smiling. "I've never seen anything so pathetic."
"Hey, I'm not a trained fighter, okay?"
"Neither is he."
"He got lucky."
"Yeah, right." Sabre chuckled. "It was amusing, anyway."
Tarl glared at Grundel. "I haven't finished with him yet."
The ex-technician headed back into the fray. Sabre turned in surprise, caught Tarl's arm and yanked him back. "I think you've had enough."
"Well he hasn't."
Sabre glanced at Grundel, who sneered at Tarl, the expression vanishing when he noticed Sabre’s attention. Tarl tried to jerk free of Sabre's grip, but the cyber hung on, shaking his head.
"You're both pathetic fighters, but he's better than you."
"I don't care. I got in a few good hits, and I'm going to get in a few more before I'm finished with him."
"What are you trying to prove?"
"Nothing." Tarl hesitated. "Okay, maybe this is something I wish you'd do, but I know you won't. Why don't you want revenge? You should."
"He's just a man. I killed one like him, but not for what his kind did to me. He hurt Tassin."
"Why didn't you do it for yourself?"
Sabre frowned. "I don't matter."
Tarl groaned, shaking his head. "Of course you bloody matter. You have every right to take revenge."
"Are you trying to turn him into a psychopath?" Grundel demanded.
"You stay out of it!" Tarl tried to jerk free of Sabre again and failed, turning to him. "Why don't you matter, huh? Tell me."
"I just don't, okay? What good would it do? Do you think it would make me feel better to be as cruel and sadistic as him?"
Tarl stared at him. "Do you think I'm cruel and sadistic to want to hurt him for what he did to you?"
"No. I don't know. Did you enjoy it?"
"Hell yeah! He deserved it!"
Sabre nodded. "Good. I'm glad you did, but I wouldn't have."
"What if he'd done what he did to you, to Tassin? Would you have wanted to hurt him then?"
"I'd have killed him then, like I killed Previd."
"So why won't you do it for yourself? Why is your suffering unimportant?"
Sabre shrugged. "It always has been."
"Ha!" Tarl barked, looking furious. "That's your conditioning! Dig deeper. Find the rage and hatred you've been bottling up for years."
Grundel asked, "Are you insane? What the hell are you trying to do?"
"Give him back some of his pride. The pride you and your kind took away by enslaving and humiliating him all his life. By teaching him that he was nothing but a biological machine to be used, whose feelings didn't count. This is what you did to him. He doesn't even think he deserves the right to take revenge." Tarl turned to Sabre and gave him a shove. "You hate me for being an ex-cyber tech. Don't you hate him, too?"
"Yeah, I do."
"You're always shoving me around. Why don't you shove him around a bit? It might make you feel better."
Sabre released Tarl's wrist and gripped his collar, yanked him closer and glared into his eyes. "Because I would kill him. And that wouldn't make me feel good at all."
Tarl's fury appeared to drain away, and he nodded, looking ashamed. "Okay. You're right, damn you. I just wanted you to stick up for yourself for once. But I guess it's hard to control yourself."
"I'm not a vengeful man. I discovered recently that I can shove you around, because I like you. You can goad me till you're blue in the face, and I can just bounce you off a wall. You taught me that. But there's a line I mustn't cross, because then I'll become the thing I hate most of all... a killer." Sabre released Tarl and tugged his rumpled jacket straight. "And that, I'm not."
"But you are," Grundel sneered. "One day, when you find that the life you want as a man will never be, all that rage and hatred is going to come out, and you'll kill."
Sabre turned to face him. "If that happens, I'll be sure to travel to Myon Two and do it where it will do the most good."
Grundel blanched, and Tarl charged the portly man and sent him sprawling. Straddling him, Tarl rained blows on Grundel's face. The technician raised his arms, and Tarl punched him in the ribs several times. When he was satisfied that Grundel had had enough, he rose and glanced at Sabre, who gazed at Grundel with something akin to pity in his eyes. Most of the spectators looked satisfied and some appeared dispassionate, but no one else showed the slightest compassion for Grundel's plight.
Approaching Sabre, Tarl asked, "Why is it that you're the only person here who pities that bastard, even after what he did to you?"
"Because I know what that feels like."
"Most of us do, but we don't pity him. He deserved it."
"Then you have harder hearts than I do."
Tarl nodded. "So it would seem, bud. You're a better man than any of us here."
Sabre shrugged headed for the door. "I think we've had enough amusement at Grundel's expense for today."
Chapter Six
Fairen's veiled presence filled his audience chamber with forbidding as he turned his head to study Reliant's assembled crew. Fairen had foregone the fiery torches and subdued lighting, and Tassin assumed this was because the session was to mete out justice and punishment, not intimidate a confession out of someone who might be a criminal. She, Tarl and Sabre stood beside the dais, not far from Commander Shrain. Tarl sported a black eye and swollen cheek, but seemed quite proud of them. Grundel's battered face bore testament to his beating, and Tarl sneered at him at every opportunity. The animosity between the two techs surprised Tassin somewhat, and seemed to puzzle Sabre.
"Today you will be judged." Fairen's deep, distorted voice boomed across the room with chilling dispassion. "If there is one amongst you who feels himself innocent of the charge of disobeying my decree, come forward now."
A fat, bald man in a white uniform and two younger, similarly clad men came to the front of the assembled crew and bowed. The bald man said, "I'm the chief engineer, My Lord, and these are my assistants. We knew nothing about the order to capture the rogue cyber."
Fairen rose and approached the edge of the dais, removed his right glove and stretched his hand out. "Come closer."
The three men approached and knelt, bowing their heads.
Fairen sighed. "Stand up."
They obeyed, looking nervous, and Fairen held his hand up to each of them in turn, then returned to his throne and settled upon it. "These three are innocent of the charge. Remove them."
Two guards e
scorted the engineers out, and silence fell. Fairen surveyed the group again. "The rest of you are guilty. The penalty for disobeying an Overlord is death. However, I said I would only punish you as much as you harmed Sabre, if I found him alive. Although you tried to hide him from me, that stands. I consider thirty lashes with a laser whip each to be a just punishment for the injury and pain you caused him. Let the sentence be carried out, then release them."
Commander Shrain gestured to the guards, who herded the enforcers out. As the door slid shut behind them, Fairen removed his hood and rubbed his face, looking tired.
"When they're released, I'll take you to Omega Five, Sabre."
"Thank you, My Lord."
Fairen stood up. "Call me by my name."
Sabre smiled and inclined his head, looking a little embarrassed, and Tassin shot him a teasing smile. Tarl elbowed him with a grin, and Sabre gave him a shove that sent him staggering sideways. Fairen laughed and stepped down from the dais.
"Lunchtime, I think."
***
Tassin gazed at the peaceful blue and white globe in the screens with a smile, a deep sense of homecoming warming her heart. The Scorpion Ship had completed its translocation mere moments before, achieving in a few seconds what she and Sabre had been trying to do for months. She stood beside Fairen in his private lounge, sipping a mild-flavoured drink, and Sabre leant against the bulkhead next to a screen, also armed with a fruit drink. Fairen had invited them to join him for refreshments before they left the ship, and Tarl sat on a stool at the refreshment counter, clearly ill at ease.
"Home, at last." She sighed.
"This time nothing will stand in your way," Fairen said.
"Thank you, My Lord, for all you've done for us."
"You are welcome. I'm glad you're returning to your home, where I hope you'll be happy, but I'm sad to see you go."
"Come with us." She looked away when he raised his brows. "For a visit."
"I cannot leave my ship."
"Why not? You can do as you please, surely?"
"It's considered dangerous."
She shook her head. "There's nothing dangerous on Omega. Not in Arlin, and besides, Sabre will protect you."
"I haven't walked on a planet for... ten years."
"Then it's high time you did." She shot Sabre a coy glance. "I would like to invite you to our wedding, if only I knew when it was. Perhaps if you came with us now, Sabre will propose."
Sabre snorted. "Don't count on it."
"I will not be an accomplice to forcing his hand," Fairen rebuked her. "He'll do it when he's ready."
"But will you come anyway, just for a short time? I'd like to show you my kingdom."
Fairen shook his head. "I'm afraid I must decline. However, when your wedding day is decided, I will attend it."
"That will be wonderful."
"On the condition that I will be incognito. You cannot tell anyone who I am."
"But My Lord, if I introduce you as a commoner, that's how you'll be treated."
"Then you may introduce me as a noble."
"Of course. Thank you."
Fairen smiled. "Your gentle wiles won't work on me, Queen Tassin. Shame on you."
She grinned. "Sorry. Do Overlords marry?
"Some have, yes."
"Then perhaps you'll meet a nice girl when you visit. There can���t be too many to choose from on this ship."
"There are none,” he said. “The servants of an Overlord are precluded from trysts with him."
"By whom?"
"By us."
"Ah. Then how do Overlords find a wife?"
Fairen glanced at Sabre. "Is she always this curious?"
"Usually more so."
Fairen turned back to Tassin. "Overlords who have families will invite single peers to social gatherings, where they may meet their daughters."
"A rather limited selection, if I may say."
"Yes, but of a suitable social rank. Ordinary women tend to be in awe of an Overlord. To have one court them would be... a rather intimidating experience, I think. Fortunately an Overlord can sense when a woman's feelings for him are genuine and not inspired by respect, but, even so, the daughter of another Overlord is a more suitable spouse."
Tassin nodded, considering. "Then I would like to make you a proposition, My Lord. If you come to my country incognito, the girls you meet will get to know you for who you are, not what, and therefore you'll find a genuine love from a far larger selection."
Fairen said, "I appreciate your offer, but I must point out that I'm only fourteen, and as yet I don't find girls particularly interesting."
"I do tend to forget how young you are. You have the bearing and composure of an adult."
"But not the interests." Fairen hesitated. "As you said, the selection of Overlord daughters is limited, so we do have another way of finding a mate. This ship is equipped with surveillance instruments capable of finding a sicle parasite on a bunhound, for obvious reasons. Sometimes, Overlords have been known to use this to find a girl they find attractive, who they will then arrange to meet."
"They go down to the planet?"
He inclined his head. "If they so choose. It's not encouraged, but as you said, an Overlord may do whatever he or she wishes, including visit a world, but not as an Overlord, you understand? That is forbidden."
"Of course. Overlords never leave their ships."
"Exactly."
Tassin gazed at the planet. "I'm sad to leave you, My Lord, but I'm eager to go home."
"Naturally." Fairen turned to Sabre. "A shuttle is waiting for you." He dug in his pocket and took out another silver bracelet. "You broke the emergency beacon again, so I had another made. Perhaps I should make a few spares. Anyway, this one has a one-way transmitter, so you can send me a brief message. Like the wedding date."
"I didn't break it, Grundel did," Sabre said.
"Hold out your arm." Fairen snapped the new bracelet onto Sabre's wrist and removed the old one. "Try not to break this one."
Sabre nodded, then glanced at Cyber Two, who stood off to the side in an immobile guard stance. "What do you intend to do with him?"
"I thought he might come in useful as my protector, since you won't be here. He's not much fun, though. At least he'll be well treated here, and I will have my techs see if they can find a way to release him. Do you think that's the best thing to do, or would it be kinder to euthanize him?"
"No, keep him. As long as he's treated like a human being, his life won't be so bad."
"You know I will."
"Yeah." Sabre sighed. "We should go. Tassin is eager to go home, and I'm quite keen, too."
"Of course you are."
Sabre clasped his shoulder. "If ever you need my help, or just want to talk, I'll be here for you. I'll be glad to see you again. I wish you could come with us now and live a normal life."
Fairen smiled. "So do I."
"Why don't you then? Who would stop you?" Tassin enquired.
"I'm needed here. I have a calling, and it's not a bad life. Loneliness will always be my lot, and even on a world such as yours I'd be an outcast, uncomfortable around people, sickened by crowds. Being an Overlord has its advantages."
"Well, the invitation will always be open."
"Thank you."
Sabre put his arm around the boy's shoulders. "Come and see us off."
Fairen led them along the corridors to the shuttle, Sabre at his side, Tassin and Tarl following. At the docking port, soldiers carried their packs aboard and Tarl entered it at their heels, but Tassin hesitated in the doorway.
Sabre turned to the young Overlord and gripped his shoulders. Despite his intimidating ebon attire and escort of stone-faced soldiers, Fairen seemed like nothing more at that moment than a sad, lonely boy saying goodbye to a beloved older brother. He was paler than usual, and sorrow shadowed his eyes.
"This is just so long," Sabre said. "You know where I am, and I'll expect regular visits whenever you're not blowing u
p some disobedient planet, okay?"
"We still have to have that trial by combat to decide who is more in the other’s debt."
Sabre smiled and ruffled the boy's hair. "True. We’ll have to do that sometime soon. But hey, you could come visit us every week. Whenever you feel like it. I want you to. You're like a kid brother to me."
"Really? Would you want a kid brother like me?"
"Who wouldn't? Ah no," Sabre shook his head when Fairen's face fell. "You know me better than that. It has nothing to do with your being an Overlord. I wish you weren't one, then you could come with us."
Fairen looked a little ashamed, and Tassin was amazed by how his sadness at Sabre’s departure had stripped away his pride to reveal the true person behind the Overlord's mask. Her respect and affection for him grew, and the poignant moment saddened her too.
Sabre patted Fairen's shoulder and turned to enter the shuttle. He paused beside Tassin to glance back and raise a hand. Fairen made a slight gesture, then swung away and marched off as the shuttle doors slid shut with a wheeze and clunk. Tarl already sat on a couch in the luxurious passenger area, and Sabre sank down on the sofa opposite.
Tassin settled beside him. "You like him a lot, don't you?"
"Yeah."
"I think he loves you like a big brother."
"Yeah, I think so too."
She slipped her hand into his. "I hope you're not too sad to have to leave him to be with me."
"I wish we could have traded Tarl for him."
Tarl looked up. "Oh, thanks."
"Wouldn't you like to be an Overlord?"
"Not particularly."
Tassin smiled. "He's joking."
"I know."
"No I wasn't," Sabre said.
She sighed. "In a few years’ time, girls are going to swoon over him."
"What girls? He lives in a damned city ship with servants who won't even talk to him. Did you know that there are between one hundred and fifty-four and one hundred and fifty-six thousand people on that ship?"
The Cyber Chronicles VII - Sabre Page 7
