Standing upright Acorus said loudly “Right, get yourself off to Earth and don’t mess it up”.
Bowing Jo hurried off the flight deck in case she started to laugh. Going towards her quarters to change into human clothes she could hardly contain her excitement. Making her way to the hangar deck she was joined by Ghera Octpa and Tachus. Getting aboard the ship, she did calm down a bit at the thought of the entry into Earth’s atmosphere. Ghera and Octpa once again, looked like humans, so she was certain they would not cause suspicion. The only second looks they would get would be the girls gazing at Ghera and Octpa, thinking they were film stars or models. Looking a lot cleaner than they had when mixing with the slave traders, they were extremely good looking. Human jeans and tee shirts really suited them.
Within minutes of boarding the ship they were airborne. This time they were entering Earth’s atmosphere directly over the Atlantic west of Ireland. As the ship started to shudder they all put on their helmets and closed their face masks. The three in human clothes looked at each other and laughed, they certainly looked strange.
Tachus quickly took them to hover over the South west of England, and Jo looked through a viewing tube at the Earth. Fine tuning by Tachus enabled her to move from place to place. Saying that she was looking at a shopping complex just outside a town called Bideford, Jo realised that all the shops in the complex were closed. Finding that strange she asked what time it was on Earth and was told that it was eight o’clock in the evening.
“Mmm, strange, it’s all closed up and I can’t see any late shoppers. However there are security guards with dogs patrolling the area, so we’ll give this a miss”.
Octpa pointed out another supermarket actually in Bideford, but it too was closed.
However a petrol station near it was open with customers filling up their cars. A thought suddenly hit Jo “What day is it on Earth?”
Tachus consulted his instruments and said that it was the day they called Sunday.
“That accounts for it then. Damn, all the big supermarkets close at four on a Sunday”.
“What shall we do then?” Ghera asked.
“Find one on the outskirts of a town. Didn’t we see one on the map outside a town called Crediton?”
Looking at the map again they saw that there was a big Tesco just outside Crediton. Granted it had a petrol station and a pub there, but they were a decent distance from the actual store.
“Look” Ghera said “If we land there on that quiet road we will be very close to it”. They decided that his idea was perfect and Tachus moved the ship above it. Taking off their helmets and with Jo between them they stood in the ‘elevator’ beam and were within seconds on the ground.
As the beam disappeared they surveyed the area around them, and were pleased to see no one. At the back of the store there was a large unloading bay and they made their way towards it.
“I expect that the alarm will be on and it will probably be heard for miles, even if it doesn’t link straight to the police” Jo said wondering how on Earth they could get in. As they were formulating a plan, a door to the side of the bay opened and two men came out. They had torches and one said to the other “I told you, this camera lit up like a spotlight and I swear there were people here”.
“Well there’s no one here now. I’m parched, and want my tea. Let’s go back in”.
As they turned to go Ghera and Octpa hit them with a ray of their stun guns and they silently collapsed to the ground. Picking them up as if they were rag dolls the two Sceriae carried them inside, Ghera telling Jo that they’d be out for a couple of hours.
“That was a stroke of luck” Jo said “Be careful, there maybe others working”.
Opening a door to their right they were lucky to find the security room, with screens showing every area of the store. Octpa quickly disabled the alarms. The store was completely empty. With it being a Sunday the shelf stackers had finished early. Entering the main store Jo looked about in delight. The store smelled of the foods she had grown up with. As she walked through the store looking for books DVD’s and CD’s Jo paused at the ice cream freezer” Oh my god ice cream, I’ve just got to have one”.
Raiding the freezer she found a box of strawberry splits and opening it offered one to Ghera and Octpa. Sucking hers in delight she said that she just had to take some of these back with her, then remembered that she didn’t know it there were freezers on Scerior. When she asked Ghera who was nibbling his split tentatively, he told her that they didn’t, as all their food was fresh.
“Oh well, one day we’ll take some. Never mind, silly idea really” Jo sighed and took another lolly “Let’s get what we came for”.
They found the aisles full of what they had come for and filled the haversacks. Then they took a few more DVD and CD players; also three flat screen TV’s. Ghera and Octpa carried everything to the outside of the store and piled them up. Picking up some plastic bags Jo filled them too until finally the shelves were empty. As they went through the store on their way out Jo spotted the makeup aisle and taking another bag filled it with cosmetics, remembering Kylie and Julie using Kylie’s art materials on their faces.
Looking at the security guards Ghera said that they’d be coming round shortly. Jo grinned at what the authorities would make of the security videos, and for a minute considered taking them with her, but as a guard moaned decided against it. Cautiously leaving the store they stood alongside their’ shopping ‘ and in seconds were back aboard the fighter ship. Ghera and Octpa moved all the goods into boxes that were fastened down and then they were in their seats, helmets on, and back to the star ship.
Jo had been so wrapped up in what they were doing that she hadn’t thought about the raids, but when they got back to the hangar and it was empty she started to worry about Acorus. Hurrying back to her quarters she quickly changed into her armour and made her way to the flight deck. There all was calm, it was now just after ten, London time, so was too early to attack that location, but all was going well in Serbia and Poland. The raiding parties had wiped out all the men at each location and taken forty seven females all together. They were loading them onto fighter ships, a bit of a squeeze, and taking them to the star ship that was waiting for them. Any that Acorus got would be taken to Pengha’s ship. Once all three ships were full they’d go back through the asteroid belt and three empty ships would take their place behind the moon.
The officer in charge of Acorus’s ship at the moment was a Sceriae named Hersha, who was deferential towards Jo and when she asked that Tachus take her to the second star ship he agreed straight away. As Jo made her way to the hangar deck, once again, she was joined by Tchu, who insisted on accompanying her. They very quickly reached the other star ship and were there as the females were brought aboard. All were in as bad a condition as the ones the night before but none had any disease, although two were infertile and three had been so badly raped they needed to be operated on. All five were reloaded and flown to the hospital in North Devon, because it had been so simple the night before.
Unfortunately a porter had seen the beam of light deposit them but whether he was believed by the authorities or not, what could they do? The poor girls would be questioned but they knew nothing other than monsters had fought with the slave traders and killed them all. When Acorus hit the London site, the authorities would have more questions, but Jo thought that they would keep it out of the news. They didn’t like talk of aliens.
Leaving the Sceriae to look after the girls Jo decided to go to Pengha’s ship to wait for Acorus. Tchu demurred as she thought Jo had done enough tonight but Jo insisted saying that she wouldn’t rest until Acorus was back. So Tachus flew them to Pengha’s ship where Jo found all was quiet, so made her way to the flight deck, leaving Tchu with the Escorii who were waiting for the girls. Pengha was sitting in his seat watching his men, and to Jo’s delight, talking to Acorus whose face w
as on a screen in front of them.
When Acorus saw Jo he laughed with delight “Obviously all went well, Jo”.
“Brilliantly Lord”, Jo said demurely knowing that would make him chuckle.
Turning his chuckle into a cough he said “I wish things were as good here. Does this city never sleep? We were supposed to strike ages ago but it was much too dangerous. These humans are more alert than those we attacked before. They also have big nasty dogs, why do humans make such things their pets?”
“London is very busy, maybe the early hours of the morning would be a better time. Fancy worrying about lovely little dogs!” Jo laughed.
“Shall I bring one back to make a pet of?” Acorus asked acidly.
“I don’t think Madam Tchu would approve, do you?”
Laughing Acorus said “This place is lit up so brightly we have no chance of getting in secretly”.
Jo thought for while then said “The electricity for different areas comes through junction boxes. If you could knock them out, the city would be plunged into darkness. Everything would be in a muddle, and it would give you a better chance to strike secretly”.
Pengha looked at Jo then at Acorus, obviously thinking that she was being foolish. Acorus gazed at Jo and shook his head, “You never cease to amaze me my Lady, what a brilliant idea, I’ll see you later” and he was gone.
Ignoring Pengha Jo went to a tube and looked down.
“Pengha, we are still behind the moon, so can’t see what is happening in London”
“This is where I am supposed to be!”
“If you moved over the Earth we could see if Acorus needs any help. Jo insisted.
“It is safer here” Pengha said stubbornly.
“Safer from what, you idiot? There is nothing on Earth that can hurt us. Move the ship so we can watch the raid” Jo was shouting now.
“Lady, I am captain of this ship, we stay where we are”.
“Pengha, when Lord Acorus spoke to his officers, he told them that an order from me is an order from him, so I order you to move the ship” Jo said calmly.
Pengha laughed “I am sure the general did not mean in army matters, after all you are only a female!”
Shaking with fury Jo turned to the soldiers who had been watching in amazement, not sure what to do. She recognised a young officer who had been gazing at her in longing at the officer’s lunch “You, what is your name”.
“Gherta, my lady”.
“Then I wish you to relieve officer Pengha of his duties, and take him to his quarters” she said, looking him straight in the eye.
Gherta looked shocked and looked round for someone to back him up. Shaking his head, he ordered two of them “Dighta, Ochra, do as the lady orders”.
The two stepped towards Pengha and stood waiting for him to move. Shouting at them in Sceria he told them to ignore the stupid female and obey him.
Jo was so angry she snapped in Sceria too “This stupid female will have you stripped of your rank, if you are not careful”.
Pengha was so shocked at her speaking Sceria he stood up, the two soldiers moving to his side, and Dighta asked him to accompany them.
“You forget who I am. I am Pensus, the Queen’s mate’s brother!”
“And I am your future Queen, mate to Lord General Acorus, take care what you say Pengha” Jo replied, once again in Sceria.
Dighta and Ochra marched Pengha off the flight deck, and Jo turned to Gherta and said “Oh god, I do hope you can handle this ship!”
“I can, my Lady, Pengha usually leaves it to us” he replied.
“Well then, get me into a position where I can see my Lord” Jo requested.
Gherta issued orders to the pilot and navigator and the star ship moved its position. Jo sat in her seat, suddenly feeling very tired, then unsurprisingly Tchu was by her side with food and drink. Shaking her head Jo said “You are a life saver Tchu; I must admit I am hungry and very thirsty”.
“You expect too much of yourself Lady Jo-Anna”.
“I know but I must make sure that Acorus is OK” Jo said tucking into her food, after removing her helmet to make eating easier.
When Gherta and the pilot were satisfied with their position he asked Jo to look through a viewing tube. They were positioned perfectly and Jo had a bird’s eye view of the industrial estate where the slave traders had lots of girls. As Jo watched the whole of that area of London was plunged into darkness. Feeling excited Jo asked for night vision and then suddenly a light, which to human eyes, looked like sheet lightning, flashed down. One, two three four flashes, Acorus was making sure that he had enough soldiers.
Through the tube she could see large figures approaching the building. There were three small explosions, over very quickly and the figures disappeared into the building. Biting her lip Jo moved her tube to look at the surrounding areas. Pleased to see that there were no flashing lights from police cars, she panned wider, then she could see people from houses, a good three blocks away, come out into the street. They were looking in the direction of the industrial estate and pointing, then she could see a man raise a mobile phone to his ear and talk into it. Turning back to the derelict building, she watched in satisfaction as the Sceriae carried female after female out, usually one over each shoulder.
There were so many of them, maybe fifty, sixty, did Acorus have enough fighter ships above him? The girls were placed in six piles along with four or five soldiers, beams of light flashed down and one group at a time they were carried up to a ship. Jo ordered Gherta to send three more fighters quickly as they may have to leave some behind. He scrambled to obey her and Jo thankfully saw four fighters not three, zoom out of the hangar deck. Cutting in on the returning fighter’s conversations they learned that it was Acorus, Belain and four other soldiers along with a dozen females who had been left behind. The returning ships were asking for more to be sent and Gherta told them that they were already there.
Jo panned back to the area around the industrial estate and was worried to see police cars converging on the area.
“They’re there, they’re there” yelled Gherta.
As she looked back she could make out the size of Acorus standing, looking up. A beam flashed down and the soldiers put the girls in it, and they were beamed up. Police cars and riot vans screeched up to the fence around the building and armed police jumped out and deployed round the perimeter. As flash light flashed on and the police saw the Sceriae, they fired their weapons. Jo gasped and stuck her fist into her mouth, but at that minute another beam flashed to Earth and the Sceriae disappeared into it. The police were firing upwards, but quickly stopped when they could see nothing, Jo grinned to see the police looking flummoxed “Oh if only they knew” she thought.
Gherta turned and said that they were all safe; one ship hadn’t had to take anyone and were asking permission to return. Jo looked down the tube and saw that the police were standing around, obviously waiting for something.
“Gherta, can that ship eliminate that building without hurting any human?”
“Yes, of course. They can make it implode, no flying debris”.
“Right then order them to do it now”.
He gave the order and with delight Jo watched the old factory disappear. She could see that all the police were safe, even though they’d all hit the deck. Laughing Jo did a high five, shocking Gherta, who leapt back “Sorry, sorry. That’s a victory clap on Earth. Hand in the air and slap each other’s hand like this, see” and she put Gherta’s hand in the air and slapped it.
“Right you take charge here and I’ll go down to the hangar deck”.
Hurrying down to the hangar deck, she once again felt really weary. Shaking it off she got to the hangar in time to see the first fighters arrive. One Sceriae’s armour had been damaged by a hand grenade; he was a bit shaken up but other
wise just bruised. His friends were laughing at him, saying that he had moved too slowly. Jo insisted that he was checked out by a doctor and he grumbled but obeyed her. The girls who were brought in were slightly cleaner than the ones from Russia, but were still in a terrible condition. There were so many that Jo wondered where they would put them. Tsasha told her that some could stay in their boxes in the main chamber than transferred to another ship on the far side of the asteroid belt.
Tsasha had moved from ship to ship to supervise all the Escorii, and Jo realised that she must be very high in their society, so treated her with great respect.
The hangar was very crowded and the fighter with Acorus on it, only just found a space to park. As he jumped off Jo was there to meet him. He saw to his soldiers first and made sure they all were well. , then drawing Jo to one side he lowered his voice and asked what had happened. When she told him about Pengha she could feel his anger. Then when she admitted that it was her who ordered the vaporisation of the factory, he shook his head in disbelief. Telling her to follow, he strode off the hangar deck, with two of his guards following him.
When they reached the deck where the new girls chambers were he directed her into the main chamber. Checking that they were alone he left his guards outside and taking off his helmet, rubbed a hand over his head and said
“You have had a star ship captain arrested and taken off his flight deck. Handed the ship over to a young inexperienced officer, then you ordered the destruction of a factory on Earth. Is that right?”
Taking her helmet off, Jo stood up to him, “Yes, I did. Well I didn’t arrest Pengha, just told him to leave. He’s a useless, ignorant lazy pig”.
“That lazy, useless, ignorant pig is brother to Pensus, consort of our Queen”.
“Well, I’m sure Andea would agree with me” Jo snapped “He wasn’t even watching you. By the time he had been told you needed more ships, you could have been killed or caught by the police”.
Scerior Page 40
