Outlaw

by Angela Verdenius

  Taking a steadying breath, Tenia focussed on the viewchip that, apparently, held the truth.

  But was it truth…or a fabrication that would seal the Reekas’ doom?

  ~*~

  Darvk watched Meekta place the viewchip into the slot on the table. In the far wall, in full sight of all of the occupants of the room, a large vision screen opened up.

  The first thing to appear on the screen was a man in a brown hooded cloak. In his hands he held a bottle of pink fluid.

  He spoke. “Good news, Shari. I have come with what you requested.”

  “And that is?” No sign of Shari, but his voice was unmistakable.

  “Once this is put into the drinking water it will affect the males.”

  “Are you certain it won’t affect the females?”

  “It’s been programmed according to gender, affecting only the male genes.”

  “It will kill the males?”

  “Yes.” The man nodded. “The symptoms will disappear within minutes of death. I’ll make sure to be the only healer available in Bendya, that way I can be sure that only I answer the Reekas call for help. By taking my time, the symptoms will vanish before I arrive.”

  “Good. Go and do it now.”

  The cloaked figure bowed and left the room. A rustling sound was heard and then the words, “My son, my son. Soon you will be home again.”

  The screen went blank and when it flickered it was a different scene. A peaceful settlement, the silence broken by a shouted command, and soldiers filled the screen, running into the settlement.

  Startled men spilled out of the dwellings and were ruthlessly cut down. Screams of the dying filled the room and more than one of the watchers in the room grimaced.

  Fire flared and no one was spared. Fleeing settlers were blasted by lasers and cut down with military precision. Someone stepped partly in front of the camera that was taking the viewchip film and muffled voices were heard. The figure turned around, the Dragon badge on his uniform shirt catching the glow of fire.

  “Now we attack the Reeka dwellings,” a male voice called. “In the vehicles!”

  The screen flickered, the picture switching to show the dim outline of a valley.

  “Take no prisoners!” A soldier roared.

  The night was shattered with laser fire, feminine screams, and the frightened crying of children.

  The leaders of the planets and the advisors all watched in stunned silence as the Dragon soldiers stormed the dwellings. Even though he was aware of the story, Darvk could only watch in horror. Reading the story and seeing it in bloody, gory detail, were two entirely different experiences.

  The Reekas’ battle cry was heard. “To arms, sisters! To arms!” It was choked off and the caller spun into sight, a young warrior with blood spattering her bodice, her eyes wide in shock. She fell from sight.

  But the cry was taken up, and the viewers saw warriors as young as thirteen take up the sword and charge the invading soldiers who brought death.

  “They’re running for the hills!” A Dragon soldier yelled.

  “Find Karana! Shari wants her and her two whelps!”

  The bloody battle waged on then ended suddenly. Fire from the torched settlement lit the screen enough to show the dead and dying; soldiers, women, and children.

  A sob broke out and one of the Morica advisors fled the room.

  The screen went blank and Meekta turned a grim face to the warriors who were standing as still as statues, their faces expressionless. “This sheds a different light on happenings. It is proof that the Reekas didn’t kill their men or massacre the settlement.”

  “Wait,” Minna said dully. “There is more.”

  A stifled moan came from Sarrah, and Darvk glanced around in concern to see Coran speak softly to his mother wile taking her hand. He nodded his thanks before returning his attention to Tenia, wishing he could embrace her from behind in silent support, knowing he couldn’t.

  Not yet.

  Taking a deep breath, he refocussed on the planet leaders, seeing the open sympathy on his own planet leader, Grezel’s, face. If anyone would champion the Reekas, it would be the Daamen leader.

  Grezel noticed Darvk watching him and gave him a brief nod.

  “In view of the distressing scenes, those who feel they can’t stay may leave the room,” Meekta said. “But I strongly stress that only those who absolutely can’t stay may go.”

  Only one other left the room and that was one of the guards. Going by the distress on his face, the viewchip was bringing something close to home for him - mayhap a daughter, mayhap something he’d seen. Darvk doubted he’d ever know, but it flickered hope deep inside him. If the viewchip could prove the innocence of the Reekas, he’d force himself to stand and watch.

  The Reekas had lived it.

  The least anyone with the power to judge them could do was watch it from safety.

  But still he moved surreptitiously up behind Tenia, unable to keep so far back, hoping she’d feel his presence and draw strength from it. He couldn’t guess what she felt or thought, or her sister warriors for that matter. They all stood as if turned to stone.

  The screen came to life again to show another camp and a different voice. “Leave the viewcam in the middle of the camp when we attack. We’ll collect it to show Shari. He likes to check our progress.”

  Chuckles. The viewcam moved, but before they got near the camp a familiar battle cry rang out - the Reekas were aware of the coming attack.

  “Must they be forced to relive this?” Maverk hissed distastefully.

  “’Tis the only way.” Darvk grimaced. “I wish it were otherwise.”

  Laser fire sprayed the camp and the viewcam jostled as the holder ran. Suddenly it dropped and spun, landing sideways, the lens fleetingly capturing the spray of blood and wide, shocked eyes of the dead soldier holding it.

  The viewcam landed angled up toward the middle of the camp and a young warrior rushed into view carrying a sword. The warrior had golden braids and huge violet eyes; a much younger Tenia in her early teens.

  Darvk felt the bile rise to his throat as an Inka soldier appeared clasping a screaming child. The young Tenia sprang forward fearlessly.

  Holding up a knife, the soldier laughed cruelly. “Well, little bitch, want to see this girl die?”

  “Leave her and fight me instead!”

  The soldier on the screen ripped the child’s abdomen open and intestines spilled out.

  Dry retching, one of the leaders fled the room.

  With a roar of grief and fury the young warrior sprang for the soldier, but he’d already dropped the dying child and grabbed a laser with the speed of long practice. He pulled the trigger without hesitation.

  As Darvk watched the vision of Tenia on the screen fall to her knees, blood seeping between her fingers that were clasped over her stomach, her words back on Saalm, not that long after he’d bought her, echoed in his mind.

  “They gutted young girls, younger than I back then.”

  “That’s impossible.”

  “Impossible? I was there. You didn’t see the slaughter; no one apart from the soldiers and us saw it.”

  This scene on the screen was when Tenia had been shot, the cause of the scar Darvk and Byron had seen. He’d just never expected to see it done.

  Darvk swallowed, gave in to the need to reach out and lightly touch Tenia’s back in the briefest of caresses, just to let her know he was there. He’d always be there for her.

  “Men rule, bitch.” Darvk’s attention was brought back to the screen by the Inka soldier’s sneer. “Never forget that.”

  The soldier raised the laser and laughed until suddenly a hand hooked into his hair and jerked his head back to bare his throat. A deadly dagger slashed across the taut skin and he dropped to the ground.

  A younger version of Reya stepped over him to crouch beside Tenia. “Let me see,” she demanded, pulling her younger sister’s bloody hands away from her stomach.

  The vie
wcam tilted crazily, a booted foot passing the screen, and went blank, only to flicker to life again, this time in a richly-decorated room, the lens trained on a painting of a green-eyed, golden-haired young Inka Dragon soldier. Vulya.

  Shari appeared before the viewcam, crooning to the painting. “We were so close, my son, so close. But at least you are home again.”

  The screen went blank again.

  “Surely that’s it?” A female advisor gave a half sob.

  She’d only just spoken when the screen flashed on again, showing yet another valley bathed in brilliant morning sunlight. This time the viewcam came on in the middle of a battle to show a red-haired woman against a rocky wall, fighting desperately. A laser blast caught her in the arm, knocking the sword from her hand. No sooner did it hit the ground than a soldier thrust a sword deep into her stomach.

  Clutching the hilt of the sword in both hands, she slumped to her knees.

  “Mother!”

  “Karana!”

  “Mother, nay!”

  Three voices crying out simultaneously - Connie, Reya and Tenia’s.

  Darvk glanced down to see Tenia’s hands clasped in Reya’s, their knuckles white as they watched silently. It was fleeting hold, their hands breaking apart as quick and unobtrusive. He doubted anyone had noticed, but it was a sight that he’d never forget.

  He doubted he’d ever forget any of this bloody vision playing out before a roomful of silent viewers. The same vision playing out to whoever in the galaxy was watching and seeing the truth. The whole gut-wrenching, horrific truth.

  Beautiful violet eyes lifted, staring towards the sound of the female voices calling her name. Tears filled the depths but Karana summoned enough energy to cry out one last command. “Connie, take the girls and run! Run!” She slumped back against the rocky wall, the light leaving her eyes as her spirit fled her body.

  “Mother!”

  “Reya, no! Take Tenia’s hand! Damn it, Reya, now! Run!” Connie’s voice, shaking with emotion and thick with tears, but strong.

  Laser fire drowned out their voices and the picture faded.

  Grezel was actually wiping his eyes.

  Meekta’s expression was grimmer than death.

  “The last is to come.” Minna broke the silence. “The most damning, to me.”

  The viewcam entered a brightly lit chamber and was placed on the rim of an ornamental casket, showing the figure within. Darvk felt a cold chill crawl down his spine when he saw the perfectly preserved corpse of Tenia and Reya’s father within.

  His gaze dropped to the Reekas, noting the stiff way they held themselves, the composure, and he wondered what was going on inside their heads, what damage or heartache these scenes were wreaking on them.

  Would he ever know? Would Tenia ever tell him? Would Reya tell Maverk, or Connie tell Morgan? He doubted it.

  On screen, Shari lovingly ran his hands down the cheeks of the corpse. “Karana is dead, my son. Not long now and her devil’s spawn will die, too. Even now they are being hung in Oslow. I saw them myself on the bounty hunters’ ship, only I was in disguise and they didn’t know me. Soon, my son, soon all that impure blood will be gone and you’ll be mine again. Ah, my sweet boy. It has all worked out so well.”

  For the last time the screen went blank.

  All eyes turned to the warriors in the middle of the room.

  The Reekas.

  Outlaws.

  Victims.

  Meekta stood slowly, dark eyes steady, facing the warriors squarely. “I speak for us all. The evidence Minna has provided has proven that Shari has plotted the downfall of the Reeka race, committing the most heinous of crimes to make it succeed. Military ships will be dispatched at once to arrest his Dragon soldiers and they will be brought to trial and punished, as will he himself.”

  The Reekas stood quietly, so calm and composed.

  “Let it be known that a full pardon is granted to the remaining Reeka warrior women, the remaining of the Reeka race, this day. The history will be corrected immediately, and the truth written in and authorized by the Intergalactic Peace Council so it can never be changed.” Meekta held out a hand. “You are all free and are no longer outlaws.”

  A murmur of approval swept the room and the warriors inclined their heads. No emotion passed their features, no joy, no happiness, and no surprise. Their faces could have been etched in marble. But Darvk knew they kept their emotions tightly under control until they were alone.

  Sarrah stood up. “Are there more of you in hiding?”

  Connie nodded. “Twenty in all and eight children.”

  “Children?”

  “Yes.”

  The three Daamen advisors and Grezel, the Daamen leader, approached the Reekas.

  Grezel spoke soberly. “We would like to be the first to extend the hand of friendship. It would be our honour if Darvk will collect the remainder of your race and you all stayed as our guests.”

  “Guests?” Reya frowned.

  “Aye. For as long as it takes you to decide what you want to do.”

  “I want to go home,” Aster said simply.

  “To the Reeka settlement?” Sarrah asked.

  “Yes. Home.”

  Grezel nodded. “Then let us help you rebuild it.”

  Darvk’s crew gathered near the warriors in silent support as other leaders and advisors sought to talk to the warriors and offer assistance.

  Darvk drew Tenia to one side, shielding her from the now friendly mob that surrounded them. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that, my love.”

  She looked up at him, dazed wonder in her eyes. “We did it.”

  “Aye, we did. The Reekas are free, lass. You’re not an outlaw anymore.”

  “We couldn’t have done it without you.”

  “Now I suggest we set the wedding date.” He grinned. “We can be wed on Daamen instead of in the Outlaw Sector.”

  “Oh, Darvk-” Her words were cut off by a scream and the crackle of laser fire.

  “I’ll see an end to this myself!”

  “Shari!” Dana started forward.

  Catching her arm, Garret swung her back behind him. “Stay here!”

  Everyone in the room scattered, the gap in the crowd revealing Shari. He was looking at Reya and bringing the laser up.

  Maverk knocked her to the floor and Shari swung the laser toward Tenia. “I’ll take out one of you bitches at least!” he screamed and fired.

  Instinctively Darvk dove in front of her, shielding her as he knocked her backwards.

  It happened quickly - burning pain in his chest, shouts, and an answering burst of laser fire.

  “Shari’s dead!”

  “The guard got him!”

  “Darvk!”

  He was lying down, his head on a soft lap. He opened his eyes and looked straight up into his mother’s eyes.

  “Son!” She sobbed. “Dear God!”

  “Tenia,” he whispered frantically. “Mother, is she safe?”

  “I’m here.” He felt a firm grip on his hand, the soft brush of a golden braid on his cheek.

  He could smell the fragrance of jasmine.

  He heard Byron barking out orders as he staunched the flow of blood with a tablecloth.

  Everything was going black.

  “Mother,” he whispered. “Tenia.”

  “We’ll stabilize him here, then get him to the medi unit.”

  Good old Byron, ever the medic.

  “Is he going to die?” Maverk’s voice, so distant and choked with worry.

  Good old Maverk, his best friend.

  “You can’t die.” Tenia’s voice, a mere whisper in the black void pulling him under. “I need you.”

  Tenia, my love.

  Then he knew no more.

  ~ * ~

  The black void was full of nightmares that clawed at him and threatened to pull him apart.

  A golden-haired warrior woman who stood in chains, a golden death mask weeping blood covering her face. Blood cove
red her clothes but she stood straight and proud until a sword came slashing down and beheaded her.

  “Tenia!” The scream echoed in his mind as he tossed feverishly.

  The sound of laser fire and the cries of the dying passed away and suddenly she was before him, all softness and warmth. Only when he went to touch her did he see that her face was covered by a death mask, and he snatched it off only to reveal another and another.

  Cold features so distant and lifeless, frozen in time.

  “Come back! Don’t leave me!” He cried when she turned away.

  Quiet weeping came to him, the touch of a soft hand on his brow. “Darvk, my love, I am here.”

  The scent of jasmine. Hot and feverish, he turned his head toward the cool palm that cupped his cheek, the damp cloth that wiped his brow.

  Low words. “Will he be all right, Coran?”

  “It’s a nasty injury, Maverk, but he’s strong.”

  Who would be all right? Was someone dying? Was it he himself? Nay, he couldn’t die! There was something unfinished, something he had to do! But what?

  Then he was back in the dungeon, seeing the woman in the death mask pinned up against the wall by a monstrous mutant. She was calling to him, screaming his name. He shot the mutant and she fell to the floor. Heart pounding, he knelt beside her and wrenched off the mask. And he cried. Violet eyes stared lifelessly at him. There was no life in her.

  “Tenia! Tenia!” He wept. “Tenia, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to leave you alone. Maverk, tell her. Tell her I need her. She can’t go and leave me.”

  “She knows, my friend.” Maverk’s voice, deep and soothing, coming from a distance. “Tenia is all right.”

  “Where is she? She’s gone.” He looked down and all that was left on the floor was the mask.

  “Connie, get her.” Another familiar voice. “I sent her out for some air. She won’t be far. Make haste.”

  “Mother?”

  “I’m here, Darvk.”

  “I love her. She’s dead and she’ll never know how much I need her.”

  “She’s alive.” His mother’s voice was choked.

  “Then why are you crying?” he asked pitifully.

  Again the scent of jasmine was near, the soft brush of hair on his cheek, and he opened his eyes to gaze up into violet eyes.