by L P Peace
Sofia turned back to the main table. The representatives there were talking, but there was no sound coming from them. Within the booths, the rest of the representatives looked irate but were calming down.
When a short time had passed, the Todaal representative looked at Thanesh.
‘While I understand your reasons for doing this, I don't agree with it,’ she said. ‘As you are not yet a member of the IGC, there is little I can do in the way of punishment. But be assured as soon as your membership is secured, we will be having a conversation.’
‘I look forward to it,’ Thanesh said.
Sophia looked at the Bentari again. The male sat at Hekalion’s side had left the chamber without her noticing.
‘Ronin…’
‘What is it?’
Sofia grabbed his own and pointed towards Dar’s booth. ‘He's gone.’
A sense of dread had settled over Sophia. She couldn't put a finger on why, but she knew she had to follow that Bentari.
Ronin nodded and led the way from the chamber.
‘Sophia, what is wrong?’
‘Dar sent that guy next to him out of the room. I just have a really bad feeling.’
Everyone who’d been in the room was now on the chamber floor.
Ronin and Sophia made their way through the door, then followed the hall towards the representatives’ private chambers.
‘How’re we gonna get in there?’ Sophia said, looking at the two massive horned guards stood either side.
The door opened, and the same Bentari walked out, taking the hall to his left.
‘That was convenient.’ Sophia frowned.
They casually walked past the guards, who watched them pass by, and followed the Bentari.
‘Do we know who that is?’ Sophia asked.
‘I believe someone said it was Dar’s son, Markalion.’ He stopped, pulling her arm. ‘You stay beside me,’ Ronin said.
Sophia nodded, staying at Ronin’s side as they followed Markalion through the halls.
‘Ronin, where are you?’
The voice burst over the Cintra gauntlet Ronin was wearing.
It took her a moment to realise Ronin had fallen behind her. Turning, she looked at Ronin, who looked up from the gauntlet. His face fell as his eyes moved past her.
Sophia turned her head to find Markalion had stopped and was looking straight at her, a grin on his face.
‘Sophia!’
Sophia turned to Ronin just as a door dropped from the ceiling, cutting them off.
‘Ronin!’
Arms grabbed her from behind, and a hand went over her mouth.
‘Look what I found. The spirited little female my father wants to vrok!’
Sophia felt Markalion’s fingers gripping her throat. She struggled against him but was unable to move him.
She could hear Ronin calling through the door, though she couldn’t make out his words. The fact that he wasn’t knocking against the door told her he wasn’t wasting time with panic. She imagined he had Cintra hacking into the door through his gauntlet already. It would be open any moment. All she had to do was delay the Bentari.
Jabbing her elbow into the alien’s rib hard, Sophia tucked her chin into her chest and threw it back into his face. She felt something crumple under the impact as stars flashed across her vision.
‘Argh! Vrokking little whore!’ Sophia felt a flash of satisfaction when she heard the unmistakable nasal quality of a broken nose.
A hand wrapped around her throat, and Sophia’s air was completely cut off. Markalion dragged her up the hall. He was moving fast. Too fast for her to get her balance or fight back. He rounded a corner, making Sophia lose her step. The grip around her throat seemed to tighten, and spots appeared in front of her eyes as he stopped in front of a door, activating the chime.
The door opened. The Todaal she’d met on Endurance answered. His eyes found her and widened with recognition as she was pulled inside.
‘What a pretty little human you are,’ the Bentari whispered into her ear. ‘I can have fun with you when my father’s through.’
He released her throat. ‘Let me go, you motherfucker,’ Sophia hissed out between sucking in large breaths and letting out choking coughs.
He dropped her and squatted on the floor, grabbing her face in his huge hand and squeezing until she could feel her teeth cutting the inside skin of her mouth.
‘You ever speak about my mother like that again and I will have to punish you,’ he snarled. There was burnt orange blood running down his face. ‘I usually take great pleasure from the pleasure my chyas gives females. I will withhold that from you. For you, I will enjoy breaking you until you can act the way a grateful slave should,’ he hissed the last words.
‘Fuck you, ya pansy-ass momma’s boy!’
The impact of his slap echoed across the room. Dazed, Sophia found herself lying on the carpet, a stinging pain to one cheek, a banging ache where her head had impacted the floor.
The Todaal stood in the doorway, still staring at her, his face pale.
‘What, Arridis?’ Markalion said when he noticed. ‘Shut the vrokking door.’
‘Nothing,’ the male said, shutting the door and turning his eyes away.
‘Do you want to vrok her?’ Markalion grinned. He turned his eyes on her. ‘After me. As long as you were successful at your task.’
Arridis looked at Sophia, fear in his eyes and something else. Guilt.
‘What did you do to our ship?’ Sophia said.
Markalion looked down at her, his eyes narrowing, then looked up at Arridis.
‘You said you weren’t seen,’ he hissed.
‘They mistook me for an engineer. Only she and the Kerisian saw me.’
‘Time to take care of him then.’ Markalion’s voice was cold. ‘We can’t have him surviving and telling anyone.’
‘What did you do to my ship?’ Sophia growled. ‘The hum of the engine was off.’
Markalion grinned and squatted once again. ‘Arridis here is a radiant engineer. He made a few tweaks to the engine, and when it goes off in a few sicri, humans will never be allowed to join.’
‘Wait… You want me to blow it up here? We’re in the central sphere. Thousands, tens of thousands would die!’ Arridis backed away from Markalion.
‘Do you want our help to bring back your family business, or not?’ Markalion growled.
‘I… I don’t want to kill anyone!’ The Todaali stepped towards the door.
‘What do you think was going to happen to the humans on the ship? You set the engine. Do you really believe you’re innocent?’ Markalion hissed. ‘Give me the detonator. I’ll do it.’
‘You’ll still be the one who rigged it to blow,’ Sophia said from her spot on the floor. ‘You’ll still be responsible for every death.’
‘Shut up!’ Markalion glanced at her. ‘Give it to me and leave.’ He stepped closer to Arridis.
‘Please, Arridis,’ Sophia whispered. ‘It’s not just about my people now. It’s everyone in this station. Please.’
Arridis looked at her. The fear and guilt were still there and something else. His face softened for a moment, and a small smile touched his lips.
Markalion crossed the space and grabbed Arridis around the throat. ‘Give me the vrokking detonator!’ Dragging Arridis away from the door, he pulled him farther into the room. ‘NOW!’
‘I won’t—’
Markalion backhanded him across the face, and russet red blood burst from his lip and across his cheek.
‘What are you doing?’ Arridis’s voice was high pitched and full of fear.
‘You’ve never really appreciated what we’re trying to achieve here,’ Markalion growled.
Sophia listened, but her eyes scanned the room for any weapon she could use. She saw a statuette. A female Bentari in a dancer’s pose stood on a table several feet away from her. She moved across the floor quietly, turning to watch Markalion.
‘When we’re done, we’re going t
o be richer than your family has ever dreamed. But for that to happen, humans cannot be members here. So get me the vrokking detonator.’
Sophia reached the table and manoeuvred herself in front of it, pausing when Markalion turned to look at her. His eyes narrowed, but he turned away.
‘I won’t help kill anyone. That wasn’t the deal.’
‘The deal is whatever my father and I decide it is,’ he growled.
Sophia grabbed the statuette and stood; it was hefty. She stood and crept towards Markalion.
In front of her, Arridis caught sight of her and frowned.
‘Get the door!’ she yelled out as she ran at Markalion.
The Bentari turned, a look of shock, then amusement falling over his face. He was amused by her? That was fine. All she needed was to distract him.
Arridis ran to the door as Sophia crashed into the Bentari, leaping and landing a kick on his chest. She didn’t know if she or Markalion was more surprised when he fell back, falling into a cabinet and knocking it to the floor. Contents from the cabinet fell to the floor, scattering around in a mess. Through the debris, Sophia spotted a device that looked a lot like a detonator.
Sophia heard the door hiss open as she climbed over the Bentari and swung the statuette at his head. It hit with a dull thud, jerking the Bentari’s head into the carpet.
‘RONIN!’ she screamed at the top of her lungs.
Markalion groaned before his eyes fell on the device. He scrambled towards it.
‘The detonator!’ Arridis called.
Sophia stood from where she’d fallen prone and scrambled to reach the device before Markalion did.
‘RONIN!’
Grabbing at Markalion’s grasping hand, Sophia pulled on it with all of her might. It wasn’t enough. She’d never been able to build the muscle necessary for strength. She was about speed and skill.
She struck out at the alien’s groin, hoping it was the same for him as it was for humans.
Markalion grunted in pain. His eyes moved off the detonator for a moment, filling with anger before she pulled back his arm and struck him with the statuette so hard it broke in shards around him.
‘RONIN!’ Sophia screamed his name again, praying he was on his way.
Markalion’s fist connected with her face and Sophia went crashing back, away from him and the detonator.
Markalion snatched at it as Ronin finally entered the room.
‘Detonator!’ she screamed.
There was never a chance; Markalion was all the way across the room from Ronin. He’d activated the detonator before Ronin could get close.
‘NO!’
Sophia wasn’t sure if it was her or Arridis who cried out. For a few moments, everything went quiet as they waited for something to happen.
The sound was so faint that for a moment Sophia wasn’t sure what she was hearing.
Then it grew louder. A booming noise crashed through the structure and was followed by a louder boom moments later. Around them, the room shook.
‘That’s not right,’ Arridis whispered. ‘There should only have been one explosion.’
‘Arridis, one of the fighter jets had a radiant engine.’ Sophia looked at him. ‘How does that affect the explosion?’
Arridis visibly paled. ‘Any other source of radiant will have a catalytic effect on the initial explosion.’ He looked at Markalion. ‘The secondary explosion, even if it’s only delayed by a fraction of a sicri, sparks secondary elements created during the first explosion.’
The explosion continued to grow. A terrible noise of shearing metal tore up Sophia’s nerves. Finally, the explosion quieted, but she could hear new detonations going off now. They were increasing in number and frequency, and the sounds were gaining volume as they grew closer.
‘Ronin, the central chamber!’ Sophia took her helmet off. ‘Arridis, you have to come with us. You have to help. Tell them the truth.’
Arridis looked at her, his head shaking slightly.
Behind her, Markalion laughed. ‘Arridis has to think of himself now. If he goes in there and tells them he did this, he’ll be sent to prison for the rest of his life.’
‘Arridis?’
As soon as the Todaal’s eyes met hers, Sophia knew he’d already made his decision.
Ronin turned, grabbing the Todaal. ‘You’re coming with us, and you’re going to tell the truth.’
‘I can’t—’
‘Please, Arridis,’ Sophia begged.
Markalion stood and launched himself across the room.
‘RONIN!’
Ronin turned to meet the challenger, grabbing him and throwing him onto the floor. Markalion was not a fighter.
Behind him, Arridis slipped away.
Sophia stood. ‘Take care of him. I’ll get Arridis.’
‘I’ve got him,’ Ronin said, a snarl in his voice.
Slipping out the door, Sophia found Arridis running back towards the chamber.
Arridis may not have been strong, or a fighter, but he was fast. He was almost seven feet, and that advantage helped him to pull an even larger lead than he had when he left the room.
In the distance, the sounds of the explosions were increasing and now mingled with the cries and screams of people running. Around her, the hallway was emptying of terrified crowds.
In the din and confusion, she turned a hall to find it empty. She ran to a junction, but there was no sign of him. Instead, at the end of one of the junctions, the fleeing crowds were quickly disappearing.
She could see aliens covered in blood and burns. She saw a Protectorate running on by, carrying someone, but wasn’t sure who either one was.
There were still explosions happening, and they were definitely moving in their direction.
People were evacuating, she realised—either this section of the station or evacuating the central sphere altogether. Behind them, smoke billowed up the hall.
That meant they had to get to the docking bay where Vernaya was—now. Especially once Dar’s plan kicked into effect and humans were held responsible.
Turning, she found herself face to face with Hekalion Dar.
His hand snapped out, snatching her by the throat and pushing her against a wall.
She hit out with her hand at him, but Dar deflected the blow with ease. ‘The pretty little human with such fierce spirit,’ he hissed.
‘I just had this conversation with your son,’ Sophia said. ‘It didn’t go well for him. In fact, I’m pretty sure it’s still not going well for him.’
Hekalion looked in the direction of Arridis’s room, a snarl appearing on his face. The smoke had grown thicker now and was filling the hall around them. ‘Every mark on my son will be visited upon you, whore!’ he promised. ‘And that’s how I’ll use you. Whore you out, after my son and I have broken you.’
Sophia was holding Hekalion’s arm, digging her nails into his tough skin. He looked down at her, a sneer on his face.
‘That’s why you humans sell so well, you know. Soft skin, soft cunts, soft nails. Pathetic, but worth so many credits.’ His eyes travelled down the length of her body.
‘You’ll never win this, you know,’ she said, trying to distract him. ‘We know you did this.’
‘Prove it,’ his sneer turned into a grin.
‘We have Arridis,’ she lied.
Dar chuckled. ‘My guards just took Arridis away. I have a nice secret market where he’ll find a master who won’t care what he knows.’
‘You’re going to sell him,’ she gasped.
‘Oh, yes. But you, I’ll keep.’ He ran a knuckle down her face. ‘I’m going to enjoy breaking you at one of my parties.’
‘You mean the ones you invite other representatives to so that you can blackmail them,’ she said, trying to dig her fingers in deeper.
Hekalion laughed. That faltered when another explosion sounded nearby. He growled and pulled Sophia from the wall.
‘You didn’t plan this very well, did you?’ Sophia laughed as he p
ulled her towards Arridis’s room. Towards Ronin and help.
They never reached Arridis’s room. Instead, they were halfway there when Ronin appeared. He was walking towards them, Markalion over his shoulder. When he saw them, he dropped the unconscious Bentari to the floor and stood in the centre of the hall, his feet planted, his whole body shaking with rage.
‘You have something I want. I have your son,’ he growled.
‘You were supposed to bring her to me,’ Dar hissed.
Ronin looked him up and down, then taking a step, he put his boot down on Markalion’s throat and pressed down. Markalion’s breathing strained under the pressure. ‘Now!’
‘You, back away from my son. When you’re back there, near the lift doors. I’ll let her go.’
Ronin pressed his foot down harder, cutting off Markalion’s breathing altogether.
‘What’s going on here?’ a voice behind them said. Hekalion turned.
One of the huge horned guards was walking towards them. ‘I won’t ask again.’ He got a weapon out as he spoke.
‘He’s assaulted my son.’ He pointed at Ronin.
‘Dar is behind—’ Dar’s hand gripped her throat and compressed her airway. Sophia found herself gasping for air that wouldn’t move past the obstruction.
‘That’s my mate. He’s trying to steal her.’
‘I don’t have vrokking time for this,’ the male grumbled. ‘You have to evacuate. We’re shutting off this section of the station. Fires and explosions are breaking out all over. They’re talking about venting the section of air in a few metri. You,’ he pointed to Hekalion, ‘let the female go, and you, get your foot off his neck. Now.’
As soon as he reached them, Hekalion struck. He threw Sophia to the ground and struck at the guard, snatching his gun and sending him careening into the wall.
Sophia turned, watching him as he tried to turn his gun on Ronin.
Everything slowed down.
The gun was moving towards Ronin. If he was hit, he’d die.
With Ronin out, Dar would get both Markalion and her. More importantly, Ronin would be dead. That thought alone spurred her to action.
She punched out at Dar, hitting his knee. The motion jerked him forward. He tensed, squeezing the trigger even as he buckled.
