Forbidden Planet

by Cheree Alsop

  No wonder the Corporal had looked practically giddy at my video. He had called me Sunder. He knew he had a famous gladiator for his fighting ring. I would be a gold mine, and the marks would be stacked against me so high there was no way I would survive.

  I had tasted freedom, been able to walk on new planets and protect others. It was a heady sensation that I enjoyed. Now it was all to be taken from me and I was to be cast in yet another ring. When I stepped foot in that arena, my life would be over. It was a soul-breaking, heart-shattering thought.

  I did something I never thought I would do. I ripped the handcuffs from Corporal Thaymes’ grasp and fell to my knees at the edge of the ramp.

  “Nova, you’ve got to listen to me.” I hated the way my voice twisted with pleading. I had never begged in my life; now, I was begging for my life. It was the only chance I had. Nova still stood in the loading bay of the SevenWolf. I could just see her, but she didn’t face me. “Don’t leave me here. If you walk away now, you leave me to my death.”

  Gardsworn and Kaj stood on either side of their captain. Both men didn’t look happy at what was happening, but neither would act without their Lady’s word. Kaj met my eyes and shook his head. He mouthed, ‘I’m sorry’.

  “Get up,” the Corporal growled.

  “Nova,” I pleaded with my eyes locked on her back. “Don’t tell me what we shared didn’t mean anything to you, because it meant the ‘Verse to me.”

  “I’m warning you, Sunder,” Corporal Thaymes said.

  I ignored him and continued, “You made me feel what it was like to be a real man instead of someone’s prized pet, and I let you in more than anyone else alive. I know you felt it. I know it meant something to you. Nova, please!”

  Her shoulders shook. Was she crying? Gardsworn put a hand on her shoulder. She shook her head and walked away. My heart felt as though all of the life and joy that had filled it by being with her was sucked away. My head dropped to my chest.

  “I warned you,” Corporal Thaymes said.

  Electricity surged through the handcuffs. My muscles locked completely and I fell to my side. It was more painful than I remembered. I felt the small weight of the skull beetle that remained in my stomach and knew I could fight it for a moment, perhaps long enough to break free, but what did it matter? I closed my eyes and let them drag me from the landing bay.

  “Do you really think I want to electrocute my prize gladiator before his fight?” Corporal Thaymes shouted through the bars of my cell. “I’m trying to give you whatever advantage I can, Sunder! What is wrong with you?”

  I didn’t answer. He could shock me again to make me, but I knew it would be to both of our disadvantages if he did so. I sat on the pallet on the kixon dropping-strewed floor numb and without a care for the outcome of yet another fight.

  “Vexus take you then for all I care,” the Corporal said. “They’ll be coming to get you in an hour. I suggest you rest up.”

  As soon as he left, I lowered onto my back on the thin sheet that covered the pallet. Wood poked through from the termite infested wreck beneath me.

  Rest up.

  Why?

  Because it’s a fight, and you love to fight. It’s what you’re good at. Far better than falling in love, apparently.

  I don’t love her.

  You do, you hopeless sap. So fight for her.

  She didn’t fight for me.

  Did you see her cry? She was fighting in every sense of the word.

  So what?

  So if you lay down and die like a spineless vax, she’ll never forgive you and you won’t forgive yourself. So rest up.

  Every corner of the cell was rusted and slowly being devoured by metal termites. Yellow webs hung from the ceiling. I didn’t want to know what had spun them. There was a pot in the corner that looked as though it hadn’t been emptied in quite some time. Other than that and the pallet, the room was bare. Out of sheer boredom and exhaustion brought on by being electrocuted, I finally closed my eyes.

  After what felt like two minutes later, someone banged on the cell door.

  “Wake up. You fight in fifteen.”

  A flap in the door opened and a plate was shoved through. Footsteps walked away.

  A surprisingly delightful scent spread through the cell. I sat up and glanced at the plate, then stared at it. It was laden with boban steaks, purple tubers, and leafy greens drizzled with a light vinegar. My mouth watered. I had to give the Corporal credit. He knew how to prepare a last meal.

  I had licked the plate clean by the time the footsteps returned. A key turned in the lock and the door creaked open to reveal two soldiers.

  “Walk,” the woman on the right barked.

  I was almost amazed the Corporal had only sent two of them, but a glimpse of the controller for the electric handcuffs in her hand let me know why.

  “Gladly,” I replied. “Will you mention to the maid that the room needs service?”

  A chuckle escaped from the man. “I’ll let her know.”

  The woman shoved my shoulder. “Get moving.”

  I walked down the hall with the soldiers close behind.

  “So, care to tell me what I’m up against?” I asked. “It was common courtesy in the Bacarian System.”

  “So you are Imperious Kovak Sunder,” the man said with amazement in his voice. “I thought it was just a rumor!”

  “No rumor,” I replied. “Though I wish it was.”

  He grinned. “Me, too. For your sake.” He looked at the woman. “What do you say, Suez, should we tell him?”

  She looked from her comrade to me.

  I gave her my most roguish smile.

  She rolled her eyes. “I guess it couldn’t hurt. It’s not like you can do anything about it anyway.”

  “About what?” I asked lightly.

  “Your death,” she replied.

  Cold fingers trailed down my spine. I kept my tone light and said, “Well, it’s always nice to know the way you’re going to go.”

  The man nodded. “In this case, it’ll be against four of Akrul’s finest. The Quarter of Darkness, they’re called.”

  Suez shook her head. “It’s a ridiculous name.”

  I forced a laugh. “Yeah, what are they going to do, blow out all the candles?”

  A begrudging smile touched her lips. “Right?”

  I thought quickly through my options. There weren’t many. Actually, there weren’t any. I sucked in a steeling breath and said lightly, “So how did they become Akrul’s finest?”

  “They killed everyone else,” the man said. “The prison was pretty empty for a while. I kept telling Corporal Thaymes we need to pit them against each other, but he likes the odds they present.” He winked. “They bring in some pretty marks, if you know what I mean.”

  Suez grimaced. “Linc, he knows what you mean. He’s an Imperious, remember?”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  She turned back to me. “I guess it can’t hurt to give you a rundown. We’ve watched them for too long. It’d be nice if someone cut them down to size for a change, or at least one of them.”

  Her tone caught my attention. “Which one?”

  She looked away from me, her expression one of telltale pain that she quickly smothered. “Stoxon the Gray.”

  “He’s the leader,” Linc said. “He’s vicious, an artist with a knife, and a womanizer.” He leaned closer and said, “He’s wooed a few of our guards. Once he gets them in his cell, they never leave.”

  “Linc,” Suez said in a warning tone.

  His eyes widened. “Oh, I forgot about your sister.”

  She shook her head. Her eyes flickered with underlying anger when she turned back to me and said, “If you kill him, you’ll have my gratitude.”

  “And my marks,” Linc said. “I’m putting all my marks on you. We’ve never had an Imperious before.”

  “You know we’re not allowed to bet,” Suez pointed out.

  Linc lifted a shoulder and didn’t reply.

>   “I’ll do my best,” I said flatly. “Who else?”

  “There’s Cutie the Red.”

  I chuckled at the name. “Cutie?”

  Suez nodded. “Don’t be fooled by her name. Her weapon of choice is an ephiam leg bone wrapped in razor wire.”

  “And there’s Chauxer the Gold.”

  “What’s with the color names?” I asked. “Seems a little childish to me.”

  Linc shook his head. “It’s a sign of status. If a fighter is given a color with their name, they’re considered a lifer. They’re granted great honors, decent housing, less restrictions here on Akrul, and a choice of weapons before each battle.” He glanced at Suez. “And they get visitation rights if they catch the eye of a guard here who returns the interest.”

  “Moiren was not interested in Stoxon,” Suez stated flatly.

  “I’m sorry about your sister,” I told her.

  “Thank you,” she replied. She glared at Linc. “See how easy that was?”

  “What? I’m sorry about Moiren, too. She was nicer than you.”

  Suez lifted a hand to slap him.

  “Tell me about Chauxer the Gold,” I interrupted.

  Suez lowered her hand and sighed. “He’s the big one. A Gorian who looks like he’s eaten all the other Gorians. Watch out for his right hook. He’s broken men’s necks with a single punch.”

  “Thanks for the head’s up,” I said.

  ‘Thank you,’ Linc mouthed from behind her for my change of subject.

  I nodded. “And who’s number four?”

  Suez and Linc looked at each other.

  Linc rubbed the scruff of his jaw and said, “That’s Leanda the Silver. She’s the worst of them all.”

  The almost-reverent way he said her name made me pay closer attention. “Why is that?”

  “She’s scary,” Suez said.

  Linc nodded. “Terrifying, really. She wears a cowl and fights with two swords and the grace of flowing water. Stoxon may be the leader, but Leanda’s the true heart of the Quartet.”

  I thought Suez might make fun of him for his poetic description, but she nodded in agreement instead.

  “Watching her is captivating. You don’t dare blink in case you miss something. She’s usually the one everyone bets on. If you have the chance, take her out after Stoxon.”

  Linc made a disparaging sound. “He’s not going to beat any of them. No one can kill the Quartet.”

  “You said so yourself he’s an Imperious,” Suez shot back. “He may have a chance.”

  “A chance at dying less soon?” Linc said. “Why not just give up and die quicker.”

  I didn’t like the direction of their conversation. “I thought you bet your marks on me.”

  Linc nodded. “I did, but I’m starting to think I made the wrong decision.”

  A wry smile touched my lips. “Thanks.”

  We walked in silence down several more flights of stairs. I was beginning to wonder just how big the prison really was. Doors led off from all of the hallways, but silence filled the place. There was no way to know how many prisoners inhabited Akrul’s lonely cells. The feeling of being beneath thousands and thousands of pounds of metal pressed in on every side. It was a terrifying and daunting place to be. I wondered how the guards stayed sane.

  “I can give you one tip that might help,” Suez said, breaking the silence.

  “What’s that?”

  She and Linc exchanged a glance. He lowered his head slightly in assent.

  “Don’t go for the weapons,” Suez concluded.

  I looked from her to Linc. “What does that mean?”

  His teeth ground musingly before he said, “It’s a trap. They expect you to go for the weapons laid out in the middle of the arena, but don’t do it.”

  “What will happen—” I began.

  “Just don’t do it!” Suez shouted.

  At her wide eyes, I was about to retract my thought about their sanity when she touched my arm.

  “I’m sorry. We normally don’t talk to the prisoners. Now that we have, I kind-of like you. I’m sorry you’re going to get torn apart by the Quartet.”

  I was touched by the genuine sorrow in her voice. The realization of how life on Akrul must be for the guards made me sad for her. “I am, too.” I looked from Suez to Linc. “Thank you for telling me about the Quartet. I’ll try my best not to let you down.”

  Linc patted me on the shoulder. “There will be no hard feelings when you do.”

  We had reached a single metal door at the end of the last long hallway.

  “We’re to leave you here,” Suez said. “Open the door when you hear the gong. Good luck, Imperious.”

  “Yeah, good luck,” Linc said.

  He slipped a key into my handcuffs and pulled them off. At my look, he shrugged. “You deserve at least a fighting chance.”

  “Thanks,” I said.

  He turned and walked back to the stairs.

  “Here,” Suez whispered.

  She pulled something from her sleeve and set it in my hand. I looked down to find a trio of throwing knives.

  “For Moiren,” she said.

  I nodded wordlessly.

  She followed Linc back up the stairs.

  A gong sounded before I had the chance to think their words through. Taking a deep breath, I pushed the metal door open. Silence met my ears, and it deepened as I walked up the long, dark tunnel. Where was the cheering crowd, the smell of exotic foods, the flowers and gifts thrown for the gladiators?

  Instead, I stepped out of the tunnel into a dark, empty ring. A foreboding feeling pressed against me from every side. Nothing was as it should be.

  You are on a forbidden planet fighting in a gladiatorial ring. It shouldn’t be as it should be.

  I tried to argue with my inner voice’s confusing rational, but a light appeared from overhead and stop my thoughts entirely.

  The light illuminated a pile of weapons in the middle of the arena floor. My first instinct was to run for the sword that glittering so invitingly from my side of it.

  I could reach it in time.

  That guard said it was a trap. Don’t be stupid.

  Stupid is knowingly entering an armed fight with my bare hands.

  Stupid is falling for a ship’s captain and letting her con you into being here in the first place.

  You’re stupid.

  At least the immature conversation with myself had prevented me from springing the trap. As soon as the rest of the lights turned on, I saw the half-covered pit between me and the weapons. The unmistakable sounds of a snarling drezian let me know just how serious of a mistake it would have been.

  The Quartet of Darkness appeared with no herald. Instead, they emerged from the shadows at the edges of the arena like wraiths basked in the darkness for which they were named. I tried to picture the announcement on the clandestine channels where such battles were broadcasted to wealthy speculators. I wished I could hear the announcer call out their names and kill records; on second thought, maybe I was glad it was a silent battle.

  Weapons glinted in the pale light. The four advanced, two from each side of the drezian pit. I took a calming breath and readied myself for death.

  Would it come swiftly at the edge of a sword, or slowly with the point of one of Stoxon’s knives tearing through my stomach and leaving me to bleed out on the dingy sawdust? Would Chauxer use his beefy hands to throw me into the pit to become drezian fodder, or would Cutie crush my head with her razor-wrapped club of bone?

  What was I thinking? They were gladiators with weapons. That was all. I had fought such enemies all my life; maybe not four at a time, but there was a first for everything.

  And a first to die.

  Death hasn’t begun to sing for me yet.

  I fingered the knives Suez had given me. Their small sheath was wrapped around my wrist and hidden by my shirt sleeve. The same shirt covered my tattoos, though I doubted the Quartet of Darkness had entered the arena blindly. They kn
ew exactly what I was; their only uncertainty was whether or not I had a skull beetle. My only uncertainty lay in how far it would go. There wasn’t much left. If I used it at the wrong moment, I might as well begin the dance myself.

  In the way of the gladiator, I accepted the only fact left to me. The skull beetle was unreliable because I had already used too much on the Trayshan. Because of that, it would be better to pretend it didn’t exist at all; false hope brings a swift death. I was at least wanting to prolong mine for a bit.

  Cutie attacked first. Her red armor glittered like living fire as she charged at me with the fearless brute strength of a yaken bull. The irony that she was the one wearing red whispered in the detached part of my brain. The knowledge that she could crush me as easily as said bull kept me from laughing.

  I dodged to the left. The ephiam bone struck the ground hard enough for me to feel it shake through the soles of my boots. Suez and Linc had forgotten to mention that Cutie the Red was a Gilanthor, a race of people who grew to massive height and strength due to the gravity and size of their planet. Up close, the woman towered over me by a good four and a half feet. She was thick, scaled to match her red name, and had eyes like fiery darts of rage that followed me wherever I lunged.

  I didn’t move far. A roll to the right, a dodge to the left, and a nearly fatal lunge back to the right that she anticipated by almost lopping off my head. One of the razor edges of her weapon caught the very top of my brow at the hairline. I put a hand to the fluid that began to drip from the wound.

  “Careful there, Red. You wouldn’t want to deprive the rest of the Quartet from taking a swing, would you?” I asked as I tried to ascertain the damage. It felt shallow. I was forced to jump back from another swing that would have disemboweled me completely. “What’s wrong?” I taunted. “Not up for a little conversation? Didn’t they teach you manners in the Akrul finishing school?” I narrowed my eyes impishly. “Perhaps you were too tall to get through the door.”