“I don’t think so,” said Monica.
“Did you see that?” Heather asked, as she jumped. Monica’s pilot moved the Huntington in for a closer look.
“What?” Cinnamon asked.
“I saw something move on that asteroid over there. It is a flashing piece of metal. Look, you see it?” Heather said, as she pointed.
“There’s a bunch of shiny metal flashing, dummy,” said Cinnamon.
“Oh yeah, now I do. What the hell is it? Move in closer,” Monica ordered her pilot. The Huntington pushed forward, rubbing and scraping against large metal debris. All of the women in the command room now seemed to stare at the metal object, squinting. The object they were looking at moved behind the asteroid that it was on, and then it disappeared.
“Where did it go?” asked Cinnamon.
“I don’t know. Natalie, check the radar for any moving objects other than debris,” ordered Monica.
Natalie, who was in charge of the weapons and navigation systems, scanned the surrounding area, “Something is out there, ma’am. The scanner is unable to identify it.” As Natalie reported her findings, the ship’s alarm went off. The entire ship shook with a great force.
“We have a hull breach on the third level!” reported Natalie.
“Wait a second; the computer is saying the hull is patched up. Now, we have an intruder,” Natalie continued. A computer voice came over the loud speaker, blaring the words, “intruder alert,” over and over.
“Arm yourselves, women!” yelled Monica. “Natalie, seal the hatch!” Natalie slapped a large black button on her console, and the hatch quickly shut, locking them in. “I hope my girls are okay.” Monica was worried about her other female crew members.
Natalie checked her radar, attempting to locate the intruder, and was shocked by her discovery, “Ma’am, the intruder is right outside the hatch!” Natalie called out, as she put her short black hair behind her ears, with her fingers.
“Kill the alarm!” Monica ordered. The alarm shut off, as the women in the room held their breath in silence. Within seconds, the noise of the alarm was replaced by a banging at the metal hatch. Dents began to form in the door.
“Oh, my God, what the hell is it?” Heather yelled in a panic.
“Make sure your weapons are fully charged!” Monica called out. Each woman’s weapons clicked on, charging, and was ready to fire. The pounding continued as the intruder punched dent after dent in the hatch. The metal of the door was thinning, becoming a lighter color as it stretched. Finally, after two more hits, a metal hand poked through, causing all of the women, except Monica, to gasp in terror. Monica had nerves of steel when it came to extreme situations, except when it involved Jesse.
Another metallic hand poked through and began to violently rip the hatch apart. Two glowing red eyes appeared in the shadows, as its hands completely destroyed the door. The intruder stepped forward through the torn hatch, revealing itself. Standing before Monica, and the girls, was a menacing six-foot tall robot, wearing a long, thick, black leather trench coat, which touched the floor. It took a step forward, and drew two laser pistols. The robot’s eyes narrowed, glowing brighter as it growled lowly in anger. Monica ordered the women to slowly put away their firearms. She felt it would be a senseless action to shoot at it, since it appeared to be made out of pure steel.
The light in the room shined off of the robot’s light, silver colored frame. The parts of its body, which were exposed through the black leather trench coat, were constructed of long, thick steel cylinders. The robot’s hands and feet resembled metal claws. As it stepped forward again, its feet gripped the metallic deck of the ship, slowly ripping into it. The robot’s mouth slightly opened, and it began to speak in a deep, growling, computerized voice, “You are trespassing,” the robot stated, as it twisted and spun its guns in an old western style. “I will give you one chance to live,”
Monica, who had never seen a robot, tried to find her voice, “H…how?”
“If you can guess my name…I will spare your lives,” it said. It wasn’t expecting to receive the answer, and prepared to fire on the women.
“Ro…Ro…Rojex,” Cinnamon spat out, with a nervous enthusiasm. The robot’s eyes slightly relaxed in confusion, since no one had ever guessed correctly. Its superior intelligence kicked in, realizing where she had gotten the name.
“Shit, you were sent by Tommy, weren’t you?” Rojex said, in a deep, growling voice.
“How did you know?” asked Monica.
“He is the only one who knew my name. And, as you can see from all of the ships outside, no one has ever guessed my name,” Rojex paused, and then let out a barely audible laugh, “Why are you here?”
“Tommy suggested that you could possibly help me answer some questions…and fix a…slight problem,” said Monica. Cinnamon and Heather looked at each other, and wondering what she was up to.
“What are the questions, and what is the problem?” Rojex asked.
Before Monica could answer, Natalie had cut her off, “Ma’am, we’re receiving a communication from the Blue Neon,” Natalie reported.
“Put it through,” ordered Monica.
A familiar voice came over her radio, “Monica, its Haseeb,” Natalie said, in a panic.
“What’s the matter, Haseeb?” Monica asked.
“Jesse was ambushed and taken hostage by a woman!” Haseeb explained. Monica’s heart felt as if it had stopped beating.
“Bitch!” Monica yelled, feeling upset that now another woman was complicating matters. “What happened?”
“He took his friend to the Outer Rim Station’s hospital. Apparently, the girl he is with was pretty sick. Well, while he was there, he ran into an old friend, and as they were leaving, some woman hit his friend with a tranquilizer gun, and took Jesse and the girl. His friend came here to the Blue Neon and told Don, who then told me,” Haseeb explained.
“Who is the woman who took him? Did anyone see where they were heading?” Monica nervously asked. Monica felt as if she were about to have a panic attack.
“No one knows who the woman is. I put out a system-wide search, and luckily, a merchant reported to me that her ship was spotted heading to the Heffron Sector. Don and his friend are on their way to check it out. I figured you would want to know, in case you wanted to head on over there, to meet with Don,” Haseeb explained. Rojex’s eyes shifted, as it heard the Heffron Sector being mentioned.
“Thanks, Haseeb, tell Don we are on our way, Monica out,” Monica said as she cut off the communications switch.
“What are we going to do about him?” Heather whispered to Monica. The robot heard Heather, and narrowed its eyes.
“Rojex, I request your services. I know you have probably figured out what is going on by now. If you agree to help, you may name whatever price you desire. I wanted to inform you that I believe the UPG has something to do with what is going on,” said Monica.
“What’s your point?” Rojex calmly asked.
“A UPG spy killed Tommy Two Fingers…and it was him who told me to come see you.” Monica said, attempting to spark his interest. Rojex growled with anger, as his right eye twitched.
“Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?” Rojex asked.
“Because, I wasn’t sure if you would help me,” explained Monica.
“I will make a deal with you. If I help you rescue your friend, I want you to help me find who killed Tommy. Do we have a deal?”
“Yes. Plot a course to the Heffron Sector at full speed,” Monica quickly ordered Natalie. “Yes, ma’am,” Natalie replied.
The Huntington turned away from the asteroid field, and began to rapidly accelerate in the direction of their new heading. Monica sat in her command chair, and folded her arms in frustration.
Heather and Cinnamon approached her, “Are you okay?” Cinnamon asked.
“If that bitch has harmed him in any way, I’ll kill her. My baby needs me. I think I’ll kill her anyway, just to teach her a lesson. Yes, she�
��s one dead bitch,” Monica plotted. Something had come to her attention, and she turned to the robot, and asked, “Were you built by the UPG?”
“No,” Rojex replied, looking uninterested in engaging in conversation.
“The only reason I ask, is because there has never been a report of any robots being built. The government prohibited the building of any type of artificial life forms, in fear of over population and limited resources,” said Monica.
“Did you destroy all of those ships?” Heather asked Rojex.
The robot paused before answering, “Yes,” Rojex replied, as he smiled.
“Why?” Heather asked.
“I was not built by humans. I was built by an alien species who has been supplying your government with technology for hundreds of years. Every year, your government sends a couple of ships to try to capture me. They want me offline, because I have information they don’t want the human species to know. Occasionally, my creators send a ship after me as well, but they always fail,” the robot explained. The women were in shock.
“You mean to tell me that we have been in contact with an alien species for hundreds of years, and no one knows about it? Why not, I thought that would be a good thing. They seem to be technologically advanced, if they built you,” Monica replied.
“You don’t want to know about them, trust me. It is better that we end this conversation. If you are lucky, you may never meet them in your lifetime,” Rojex advised.
“Please, tell us,” Natalie nervously asked.
“Tend to your station, Natalie, and keep quiet,” Monica sternly ordered. Natalie turned around, and sat up with perfect posture. “This is getting too good, please continue,” asked Monica, as she threw one of her legs over the arm of her chair. To her, it is all one big, interesting soap opera, full of lies, drama, and deceit.
“Very well, they are a species of cannibals. They live off of the flesh and blood of humans, or humanoids,” Rojex explained as Cinnamon covered her mouth in disgust. The robot continued, “All of your technology, all of your advancement, has come from the Renexobious,”
“They’re called the Renexobious?” Monica asked. The robot slightly moved his head, as to confirm her answer. “Actually, that would explain a lot, if you think about it.”
“What do you mean?” Cinnamon asked.
“Well, the UPG built the first space station, Kobia, awfully fast. They built it in two years. Then, after that, space travel became so common, almost overnight. The first, the International Space Station, was only completed in 2012, which took two decades to build, and then technology began to skyrocket,” said Monica.
“All of your space stations, star portals, and ships systems, have come from the Renexobious. Your government made changes of their own, so that way it looked like they had invented it. And, in exchange, your government supplies them with human lives,” Rojex explained.
“What! You mean our government gives the aliens humans to eat?” Heather asked, in revulsion.
“Yes. Their planet was destroyed almost three hundred years ago, when a humanoid alien species revolted against the Renexobious. Most of their species was wiped out, leaving only a couple hundred survivors. They traveled for many years, eating their own species to survive. Finally, they came to Earth and made a trade with you humans, exchanging food for technology. Since only a few of their females had survived, they began to cross-breed with human females against their will, so they could add to their population. They call them half-breeds. You can always tell a half-breed by their black eyes. And, that is why your government hides the truth,” Rojex explained.
“Wow, that’s not cool. I can’t believe our government would do such a thing. I knew they were corrupt, but not sadistic,” Cinnamon said, as she sat in an empty chair.
“If the aliens built you, then why are they trying to destroy you?” Monica asked, still in shock from what she was hearing.
“On the planet, Renex, robots were servants who would prepare their food, and did all labor. They had very little intelligence, and were programmed only for servitude. Rojex means robot in the Renexobious language. At one time, there were thousands of us. Now, I’m the only robot who survived,” Rojex explained.
“You seem to be pretty intelligent,” stated Monica.
“I was altered.”
“By whom?” Monica asked, as she leaned forward, becoming more and more intrigued by the second.
“By the species that rebelled against the Renexobious. They reprogrammed me to help destroy the planet. The reason the UPG wants me dead is because I know their secret. The reason the Renexobious wants me dead, is because I helped to wipe them out. Because of me, they are almost extinct,” Rojex explained.
“Damn, I need a drink,” Heather said, nodding her head.
“What is the other alien species like that you mentioned?” Monica asked.
“I don’t know much about them, except that they look similar to humans, but they all have dark blue eyes, blue hair, and blue lips. They are called the Pulse. After they altered me, I helped kill most of the Renexobious, and then I departed.” Rojex explained.
Monica was still shocked about everything, even though she found it fascinating. All of the women in the flight room looked at each other with blank stares. It was quite a bit of information for them to digest. The thought that their government would send their own species to become helpless cattle for an inconceivable species, was too horrible to imagine.
“Do you want a room, or something, until we reach the Heffron Sector?” Monica asked, as she climbed out of her seat.
“No, I’ll stand here, you may require my assistance,” said Rojex.
“How do I know I can trust you on the bridge of my ship?”
“If I wanted to destroy you, or your ship, you would already be dead. You don’t have to worry about me. Worry about the UPG and your friend.” Rojex advised.
“All right, I’m going for a drink and a hot bath. Cinnamon, Heather, do you want to join me?” Monica asked.
“Yes,” both sisters agreed.
“Ladies, I’ll inform the crew about our new friend, and our new mission, then I’ll have you relieved in one hour, so that you can rest. Natalie, take command,” Monica said, as she slightly motioned with her head toward Rojex.
Natalie instantly knew Monica meant for her to keep an eye on the robot and nodded back, and says, “All right.”
Monica left the command room, as the exhausted Haven sisters followed behind. Monica’s head was swarming with thoughts. She hoped that she could reach Jesse in time. Part of Monica wished something would happen to Jesse’s girlfriend, and that Jesse would embrace her, when she rescued him. She realized that it was probably just wishful thinking.
Chapter 12
"Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster."
Sun Tzu
Elijah quietly laid on one of his round beds, as he wondered what he was going to do with Luis’ ship. He thought if he put it on the market, someone may suspect that he had something to do with Luis’ disappearance. The only person, who he really worried about, was the White Skull. He knew that the White Skull was held captive by Silvana, and was going to Mr. Toad to be executed. Still, he decided that he would relax when Alexander brought him Jesse’s tattooed skin of the skull and crossbones. The president sent Alexander to see Mr. Toad, as a kind of aide. The president felt the need to patch things up, even though Mr. Toad said that it wasn’t necessary. Mr. Toad had only been slightly annoyed.
Pong Ling brought Elijah a tray of wine and fruit, and placed it next to him. She kneeled next to the bed, and poured him a glass of wine. Without even acknowledging her presence, he took the glass, and began to sip it, as he stared off into space. She motioned to Elijah to see if he wanted any fruit.
“No, rub my shoulders,” Elijah said, still not looking at her. Since being in the service of Elijah, Pong had rarely worn any clothes, and had grown accustomed to it. The only thing she
wore now was a diamond choker around her neck and a diamond bracelet around each of her wrists and ankles. Elijah felt very comfortable around her and had grown to trust her. She had become his favorite girl. He loved how she looked so innocent, especially with the freckles running across her nose. Elijah lifted up for a second so Pong could get behind him. After she sat on her knees behind him, he rested his bald head between her firm breasts. Pong began to massage his shoulders, as Elijah plotted his next business venture.
“Very nice, Pong, you have the hands of a goddess,” Elijah said, as he let out a sigh. Pong began to flirt with Elijah by playing with his sensitive nipples. She knew how much he loved that. Pong gave Elijah a pouty look, suggesting that she wished to be alone with him.
“Of course.” Elijah clapped his hands twice, and told everyone to leave the room. A handful of beautiful, naked women, and a couple of male servants, left the room. “Is that better?” Elijah grinned with pride.
Pong nodded her head, showing him her beautiful smile. She made him feel like so much more of a man. Elijah secretly wished that he treated her better, but knew he couldn’t show any weakness in front of his harem or his guards. Pong motioned to the fruit again, trying to please him.
“All right,” Elijah said, while smiling. Elijah felt as if he were in heaven. Pong took a pear from the tray, which rested to the right of her knee. Then, she took out a sharp knife, cut the pear in pieces, and fed some to Elijah. He let out another sigh, and closed his eyes in serenity. Pong smiled and tilted her head.
“Ah, my Asian flower, you are truly a gift from the gods,” said Elijah. With his eyes still closed, she took the sharp knife, firmly pressed it to his throat, and then strongly sliced his neck clean open. Stunned, Elijah jumped out of the bed, knocking Pong to the floor. She evilly smiled at him as Elijah held his throat in shock.
“What are you doing?” Elijah gargled, as blood flowed out of his neck, soaking his white silk vest and pants.
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