Eric Olafson, Space Pirate (Vol 5, GC 31)

by Vanessa Ravencroft

Copyright© 2018 by Vanessa Ravencroft

Description: It's the year 5019, and the Milky Way Galaxy is teeming with exotic species. The majority of the known civilizations have formed a multi-cultural mega organization called the United Stars of Galaxies. This Union is protected by the brave men and women of the United Stars Space fleet against external threats. Eric Olafson, born and raised under harsh conditions of the traditional and inward-looking society of Nilfeheim, left his planet to fulfill his dreams of becoming a Starship captain.

Tags: No Sex, Ma/Fa, Magic, Romantic, Slavery, CrossDressing, TransGender, Fiction, Science Fiction, Aliens, Extra Sensory Perception, Robot, Space

Published: 2018-10-18

Size: ≈ 164200 Words

Foreword

The Year is 5019 (Old Terran Time ). The Milky Way Galaxy is teaming with life and sentient species. Earth is now known as Terra and part of the United Stars of the Galaxies. A multi cultural mega civilization that stretches across two quarters of the Milky Way Galaxy and has a foothold in the Andromeda and the Fornax Dwarf as well as in the Large Magellan Cloud. There are now 5031distinctive member civilizations calling themselves members of the Union. The United Stars Space fleet protects this mega civilization against external threats.

Eric Olafson, born on a cold world called Nilfeheim raised under harsh conditions of a very traditional inward looking society of Neo Vikings left his planet to fulfill his dream to become a Starship captain. He managed to get accepted into the fleet academy and reach the third and senior year, along his way he made many friends and also powerful enemies.

Eric is 198 cm tall and weights almost exactly 90 kilos. His usually long blonde hair now cut short according to regulations. He has gray eyes and some say he moves with the same purpose and grace as a Tiger or Nubhir Wolf.

Like everyone from Nilfeheim he has a greater tolerance to freezing temperatures and is able to stay submerged under water for a very long time because of gills and eyes that are adapted to see well under water thanks to a second set of clear eyelids. His muscles are denser than that of a standard human, allowing him to swim longer and deeper. Due to that he has great endurance and is much stronger than he looks.

He loves fish, has a very clear sense of honor and hates unfair situations. Even though he doesn't like to admit it, he carries the same short temper of his father and is more often than not ready to face a challenge with his fists or weapons. This and a secret desire he tries so hard to suppress, get him in more trouble than the average guy. He is still oblivious to the fact that he is destined to play a central role in an ancient conflict of cosmic proportions.

The Author

Chapter 1: Alone

The last thing I remembered was the stinging prick into my neck and then a nauseating spinning sensation that dragged me into nothingness.

I was supposed to perform an Orbital assault jump as part of the final challenge and to win the Reagan trophy for the Devastator.

My friends and I equipped with heavy battle suits had boarded a Drop ship. Strapped into the drop rack, my suit malfunctioned and nothing worked.

At first I believed I was dead, but I felt still nauseas and I opened my eyes. I was not dead, but lying on a metal floor. My hands were tied to my back and I was bare feet, someone had stripped me of most of my uniform, but to my surprise I still wore the leather shoulder holster and in it was the antique colt 45, Admiral Stahl had given me. If I could only free my hands somehow. I wiggled and strained my arms into an awkward, painful position and glanced at my wrists. It looked like Memory material tape. Plastic fibers that stuck only to each other, but with an incredible tensile strength, no matter how much I strained it didn't budge. All it did was cut deep into my skin.

Still sick to the stomach I sat up and looked around. I was in a holding cell and I cursed, "Not again!"

The memory of my last time stuck in a holding cell was still fresh; even though it happened almost three years ago.

This prison cell had the shape of an inverted half pipe that was set like an alcove into a metal wall. I estimated it to be about four meters tall three meters deep and perhaps also three wide. There was no bed, no bunk, no hygiene unit, nothing. The front of the cell appeared unobstructed, no bars or barriers of any kind. Only at its edges I could see a shimmering distortion and it became clear to me there was a force field in place.

I tried to spit into the hallway beyond but my spittle hit the invisible force field with a sharp hissing sound and it was turned into a puff of molecular smoke. No Union holding cell would utilize an aggressive force field.

The room beyond the cell had two similar alcoves but they were empty and so was the hallway between them.

The loud vibrating hum of engines told me that I was aboard a space ship it ran with its engines near red line. The hum did not sound like a fine tuned Union engine.

What had happened? How did I end up here from being aboard a Union Drop Ship and inside a Quasimodo?

Was I alone or were my friends captured and in similar cells? That something worse happened to them I didn't even want to think.

However if my past experiences were any indication, it was most likely just me and I was almost certain Dent had something to do with it. Just how did he do it right under the nose of the Immortal Admiral of the Fleet?

I did not think of McElligott the same way as I felt about Admiral Stahl, but I trusted him and didn't want to believe that he might be involved in this. I also had to admit that the worm managed to get us to Quagmire Bog and acted within the Devi. I just wondered why it always had to be me.

While I was still contemplating my situation, there wasn't much else to do after all, a humanoid man came into view. He appeared almost human except for the fine scaled skin. I recognized him immediately as the half human, half Shiss Lieutenant that shared a dinner with us right after we had arrived on Newport.

"Ah my guest is up, splendid! I was already concerned I used too much energy on the paralysator."

I said nothing.

"What no questions? I expected you to ask me all sorts of questions!"

"I doubt you would tell me anything I really want to know."

"Oh but I would. You see you are dead as far as the world is concerned. I think they are holding a ceremonial service for you right now. No one is looking for you."

However they did it, I believed him. Somehow they managed to fake my death and that was how they managed to fool my friends and the Immortal Admiral. I did not want to give him any satisfaction so I kept silent.

It appeared he didn't mind and he confirmed what I just was thinking. "We did it right under the nose of the Old Admiral too."

I laughed at him. "If you think you and that goon Dent are smart enough to fool an Immortal who has seen every trick in the book, you are certainly on the wrong ship. He is going to figure it out."

"They do not look for you. I told you. They think you are dead. You see your suit malfunctioned and most of you burned up in the atmosphere, the rest that slammed into the planet surface had a few traces of burned DNA left, your DNA."

He was very proud of himself and I could not figure out why they went through all this trouble just to get me.

"It was quite a challenge to get you of the marine ship, but we did it. Oh I wish we could have taken the Quasimodo along, but something had to burn up and what they pay me for you is enough to buy me a new ship."

"Why me?"

"I was not told why they want you." He started thinking. "I bet I could get even more money for you if I knew what it is."

He suddenly left.

I was in dire need of relief myself. No telling how long I had been unconscious, but by the soreness of my body it could have been several days. I was hungry and very thirsty. I was already contemplating to face the indignity and the discomfort and relieve myself when he came back holding a Kermac Line Blaster.

"We have arrived sleepy head. I am going to be very rich and you going to be dead or something."

He deactivated the force field aiming his blaster at me. "Get up and let's go. If I have to deliver you with a leg or an arm missing then so be it. They said alive, but I assure you there are many nuances between alive and dead and I don't mind delivering a half cooked cripple."

I struggled to my feet, which wasn't easy. "Can I use a toilet? I really need to go."

He actually spat at me and said. "I don't care what you need. As soon as we are outside you may simply let it go. Just don't soil my ship. He kicked me hard into the groin and laughed." This is just a taste what I am going to do to you. If you don't shut up and walk."

Through the excruciating waves of nauseating pain I grunted. "I get you. I promise I will get you for this."

His answer was an elbow blow into my kidneys. "Move!"

There was no sense fighting him now, he had the upper hand while I was tied and he was armed, so I obeyed. We stepped on a platform and it lowered itself to the ground.

From what I could see now I was certain it was a Kartanian Jihhif type Courier ship, slightly larger than the Sturgeon class of the Union, it was at last 200 years old.

He kicked me and made stumble onto the Duro-Crete surface of a space port.

The air reeked of rotting garbage and the stinging putrid stench of smoldering burning plastic.

The sky had a sickly greenish shade coming from a pale sun that barely penetrated the thick smog that lay like a blanket over everything.

It was very warm; I estimated the temperatures to hover in the upper thirties.

The landing field was made out of Duro-crete or something similar, but it was heavily cracked and big sections had already crumbled into big chunks, thick patches of weed growing in those cracks.

Piles of trash everywhere I looked. Not far from us was the burnt out wreck of what looked like was once a Togar pocket freighter.

In the distance I saw the skyline of an immense city with tall sky scrapers and structures, none of which looked alike. There was no distinctive or predominant architectural style. Even from here I could see black smoke rising from many sources beyond that skyline.

At first we were alone and I wondered if whoever was to meet him had missed the appointment, but then a sleek looking skimmer of an unknown type approached. It was armed with two energy cannons mounted on articulated arms sticking out from its roof.

My captor laughed. "My payday and your final fate is approaching."

But before the skimmer had reached us, a bright energy bolt suddenly hit the speeder and a second one hammered into the Courier ships drive section. The skimmer lost its Arti-Grav cushion and screeched over the duro-crete engulfed in a cloud of dust and fire and crashed into a large pile of debris.

The second blast had done considerable damage to the Kartanian equivalent of an ISAH pod and I was certain it wasn't space worthy anymore.

My tormenting captor had forgotten about me and ducked behind a piece of scrap metal and cursed on the top of his lungs in a language I did not understand.

That was my chance and I bolted as fast as I could, ignoring the very likely possibility of another energy bolt across the uneven ground, leaped with all the strength I could muster over a busted shipping crate and rolled over my shoulder to lessen the still painful impact. Just as I did, a blaster shot cracked directly over my head. It came from the Half-Shiss that brought me here. Obviously he had remembered me after all.

The crate had been ripped open and there were jagged metal edges. As fast as I could I turned and started to work on the plastic tape that tied my hands.

I worked franticly. I could hear him yell and scream obscenity laden predictions my way telling me what he would do to me as soon as he captured me again. He came closer; I could hear his steps. Blood trickled into my palms as I had missed the tape several times but I didn't care. The scaled face of my tormentor appeared over the edge of the crate. The tape finally ripped released my hands. I rolled on my back, the good old colt 45 in my fists a fraction of a heartbeat later. He had spotted me and was about to aim his weapon. The antique gun made a satisfying deep roaring bang and the heavy slug punched an ugly hole right between his eyes, blood and brain spraying from the back of his head as it was violently thrown back.

"That's for not letting me piss, asshole." I vented my anger cursing at the now dead man but I knew I was far from safe.

I crouched close to the ground as possible and edged forward, risking a peek around the crate.

Three men emerged from the damaged and smoking speeder. They all wore battle suits that did not look like any I knew and were certainly not Union fleet issue. I was certain the suits were shielded and that was the reason they came out alive from their damaged and smoking vehicle.

All three were armed with blaster rifles, one of them was limping and it appeared that his suit had been damaged.

They did not look into my direction so I extended my arm and reached for the Line blaster my captor had dropped as I ended his miserable existence.

Out from under the burned out wreck emerged a powerful looking assault tank, crushing debris and waste under its wide tracks. From the organic lines of its design I assumed it was Nul hardware. The tank was armed with two cannons one of them swiveled around aiming at the men. I wasn't sure if I wanted to stand in the firing line of a Nul cannon that close even in a Quasimodo.

All I could determine that they were humanoid, but as I only saw them from the back I could not tell much of anything else.

A loudspeaker squealed from the tank. "You don't do business on our space port without us getting a share. I suggest you drop your guns now and deactivate your force fields. Then we will talk fees and decide if you are allowed to continue your business."

I had no idea where I was, but I knew sticking around was not a good idea. While they were busy with each other I crawled to the next pile of dirt further away and kept on creeping from cover to cover putting as much distance between me and them as I could.

I was now a good distance away and chanced a peak to see what was going on. Two men and a Quadiped floated right above the tank, apparently against their will. The three men used Telekinetics and had disabled the tank by snatching its crew with that cursed power.

One of the armor wearing strangers yelled. "You mindless scum!. Do you have any idea who you are dealing with?"

The Line Blaster I had taken was a decent weapon and fired long bolts of energy. It was this fact that gave these weapons their common desingation.

However it was next to useless against men in shielded armor suits and with telekinetic abilities.

Besides even without armor and psionics the numbers were against me and the only sensible thing for me to do was get as far away as possible.

However I hoped to hear some clue as to where I actually was and perhaps get some idea who it was that wanted me so bad.

Who were they and what did they want of me?

The next possible cover was a pile of Duro-crete pieces but it was at least a hundred meters from my current position, I glanced back once more. No one looked in my direction so I risked it and dashed as fast as I could, then dove behind the pile, skinning my knees in the process.

The still floating tank crew floating started to scream in agony. One of them was ripped apart in mid air by invisible forces in a gruesome display of what could be done with telekinetics.

At the same time the tank fired again, and the powerful energy beam vaporized one of the armored men and tumbled the other two through the air. Only one of them got up right away, it seemed the one that had limped would not get up again.

Yet another hover-speeder arrived at high speed firing at the tank, melting much of its front section. More armored men scrambled from that newly arrived speeder and I could hear one yell. "Where is the Narth friend?"

The Narth friend, all this had to do with my friendship to Narth?

However reinforcements had arrived and there was no reason for me to wait any longer and give them time to search for me. Maybe they had scanners or some Psionic way to search.

The tank was burning now and if its energy source was anti matter or a reactor and containment failed, that possibility was another good reason for me to split. I ran again, towards the end of that trash littered landing field and toward the alien city in the distance.

--""--

INTERLUDE: DENT'S LAST STAND

The inquest into Eric's death already lasted more than two hours and continued behind closed doors. So far no one had called any of them to make a statement.

Har Hi held a PDD, he wanted to write an eulogy, he was sure he had to give one during the memorial service after the inquest was over.

He had not written more than Eric's name. "He became the best friend I ever had. He was like a real brother to me; even though he was not Dai I am sure he would have been among the first warriors in my tribe."

Wetmouth said with a dry voice. "You should simply write that then. I just realized how little I knew about him. We all talked about our origins and where we came from, but we never really asked Eric."

Har Hi said. "He has beautiful sisters and an uncle or grandfather who is the representative of his world."

Mao wiped his eyes. "We should all go there; to his planet I mean and bring his remains to his family."

Krabbel spread upper arms. "Yes we should go there, but I think he would want to be released into space."

Wetmouth worked her PDD and said. "They gave me access to his personal file maybe there are some things we can use." She switched to field screen output and Eric's file was displayed on a larger force field screen they all could see.

Hans and Wetmouth started to cry again as Eric's image came up and Har Hi said after reading a few lines." We don't need a file to remember Eric, turn it of Wetty."

The door opened and Admiral Webb came out and motioned them to remain seated, after Har Hi got up and wanted to announce the presence of an officer. He approached the group and said. "Sorry kids, but the inquest is still on. They are waiting on the Devastator to arrive. Admiral Stahl and General Lichfangh are on their way and should be here within the hour."

Shaka finally spoke; he had not uttered a word since he learned that Eric was dead. "What will happen next, Sir?"

Webb the Ult had spent most of his life among humans and non-Ult and had adopted a few distinctive human mannerisms; he sighed and tried to put empathy into his voice. "I personally am not convinced that this was an accident and it was me who insisted on PSI corps presence. So it might take a little while longer, but if we rule it was an accident then there will be a memorial service and we all go back to where we came from, in your case it will be the Devastator, of course." Webb pointed to an empty seat and added. "There is a short recess now, would you mind if I sit with you a little? I did know Midshipman Olafson personally."

Har Hi who became the speaker of the group said. "Of course Sir, please join us. We are trying to phrase an eulogy for the memorial service."

Webb looked at them. "You are indeed quite a diverse group, just as they say. Your friend Eric managed to stand out the first day he was at the academy, you know." He told them about how Eric organized a chain to fetch water for his moisture suit.

That made Har Hi smile. "Yes that sounds like him, alright."

Krabbel said. "He hated unfair situations you know. That was the reason he got in the middle of things so often."

Across from their seating group was a bank of IST tubes and a tall Shiss appeared from one of them. He wore Captain's Black on his sleeves and was followed by a Klack Commander.

Webb got up and greeted the new arrived officer. "Captain Zezzazzzzz what a surprise to see you here."

The muscular four armed Shiss growled. "We were only 70 light years from here when my Takian Comm Officer heard the news on the Chit Chat channels. Is it true? Eric Olafson is dead?"

Webb unable to nod, declined his upper torso to imitate that human gesture. "Yes, the inquest into his death is still going on."

The Ult made a sweeping gesture over the midshipmen, "these are his team mates and friends. We were just talking about Eric."

The Shiss captain motioned to the Klack and said. "This is my XO Lt. Commander Xt' Nartoo and I am Captain Zezz. We are friends of Eric and we are here to pay our respects."

Not long after that another Ult also wearing Captain's gold followed by Olia and Limbur joined the growing group. "I am Captain Wonn, of the Avalon, and these are fine crew members and the best midshipmen I ever had the privilege to have aboard my ship. They have been friends to the deceased and I am here to ask if they could remain until the ceremony is over?"

Everyone started talking how they met Eric and what he did. When Har Hi told how Eric busted a chair over his back thinking he was an intruder, there were the first giggles and Zezz made a hissing sound as he started to laugh. "Yes that sure is the Eric I remember. He saved my life and that of my brother in an incredible display of courage and fighting skills and I wish I could tell you about it, but I was there when he earned his Medal of Honor."

A new voice said with an amused tone. "This is how he should be remembered, with laughter and tall tales."

Everyone turned, Admiral Stahl was there. No one had really noticed him coming and with him was Captain Harris. "I have lost many individuals. Some in battle and some to time as it is the curse of an immortal, but I truly feel the loss of this remarkable young man, who in short time impacted so many lives and made such a deep impression on all those he met."

There was nodding and agreeing expressions. Admiral Webb updated the Immortal and concluded. "It may matter little in the great scheme of things but I would really like to know what really happened. I did not agree on what form that final challenge took in the first place, these are Navy Cadets and not Marines."

The immortals expression was stoic but his eyes did show regret and even sorrow. "General Lichfangh came with me and she has already begun her investigation. If anyone can get to the truth and find out what really happened it will be her."

He sat down as did the Captain of the Devastator. Har Hi got up and took the Reagan trophy and handing it to Harris, said: "Sir, we know Eric wanted you to have this one."

Harris took the bowl and said with a dry voice. "You all made me very proud."

A black robed being, completely shrouded came over from the IST bank and saluted looking at Stahl. "Midshipman Narth reporting as requested, Sir."

The Immortal made a sad face. "I am sorry Midshipman Narth, I completely forgot about you." Then he looked to Har Hi and the others and said. "This is Midshipman Narth he was supposed to join your group. He too was a friend of Eric."

Mao got up and went to the newcomer, put his hand on his shoulder and said. "Eric told us often about you and we know he considered you something like a brother. Come sit with us, we are talking about Eric."

Elfi sniffed and said, "Narth, do you want to know how he died?"

The voice of the mysterious being had a cold emotionless character and it was as if there was a slight echo when he spoke. "One wishes to know the identity of the being that ceased to live, before one wants to know how this being died."

Elfi actually felt a little afraid of the mysterious Narth, but she came closer never the less. "There is no easy way to say it, Narth, but Eric is dead."

"One was under the assumption this gathering was to discuss his rescue. One can assure you Eric is not dead."

Shaka said with thinly veiled anger in his voice. "Denial does not bring him back, and he is not a supernatural Narth that cannot die. We saw him burn up."

"I must apologize if One caused anger, however this Narth is an all natural Narth. I do know about the existence of a supernatural Narth. Perhaps your definition of nature is not the same as the definition Narth understands."

Wetmouth touched Shaka. "Don't be mad at him, Eric loved this Narth deeply and everyone grieves differently."

The shrouded being was silent for a moment and then said. "One has not interacted with humans and other beings like one did with Eric; One does not understand most of the emotions and feelings that motivate you, but I assure you Narth can die, as one would have if Eric had not risked his life to save me."

Galmy and Limbur nodded at the same time. "That is true, we were there when it happened. We thought you were dead."

"One was very close to this state of non existence and the reason for my long absence was the need to completley reconstruct this physical shell. so my Huhgavh can be anchored in this shell and this reality. Eric and this Narth shared the Huhgavh and for this reason there is a bond between Eric and Narth that is not easily explained as it is beyond what you define as Psionics, but I assure you Eric is not dead. No physical distance can prevent Narth knowing this. Eric is alive."

A stun grenade could not have had a greater effect on the group. It was the immortal admiral who first found words. "I have seen Narth do things I believed impossible. If he is not dead, then where is he? Can he be saved?"

"That I do not know. Eric is well shielded against Psionics even for Narth and he has not yet learned how to control his abilities. I do know that he is quite far from here and he is fighting for his live and in great danger."

Har Hi slammed his fist on the low coffee table, making the Reagan trophy jump. "If he is alive then who died in that suit and how did he get to wherever he is?"

Alyica Lichfangh, the Commandant of the feared PSI Corps arrived stepping into the room through a glowing portal of red light that disappeared as fast as it had flashed into existence. While most of those present still marveled at her method of arrival she said to Stahl. "I am done, Richard. I know what happened."

The Immortal got up. "Then let us go in there and end this and then we are going to find Eric."

He went to the conference room door, turned halfway and made a motion with his hand. "I meant all of us; you deserve answers just as I do."

--""--

The inquest into the death of Eric Olafson was chaired by Dent of course, as it was his Academy. He lorded over the proceedings and enjoyed the attention and the fact that he had accomplished what his associates wanted.

The others present were commandants of other academy branches and his inner staff. If it was up to him, the procedure would have been over, the incident declared an unforeseeable accident and everything would be back to business. Most of the other commandants agreed with him, for to them it was just an accident. The evidence provided was good, the eye witness accounts solid, the Poly Analyzer well rigged and even McElligott with all his detail questions appeared ready to call the verdict. It was Admiral Webb that stalled the proceedings, had the evidence reanalyzed and personally questioned every witness and then had asked for a recess.

Dent had enough and leaning forward said: "I don't see any reason to prolong these proceedings any longer. My esteemed colleague of Arsenal academy seems to have different ideas about what a short recess is. We agreed on twenty minutes and he is gone now for almost an hour. This is still my academy and I call for a resolution. We all agree it was an accident and by God's name it was just a Cadet. We all had men die under our commands before."

He saw most of them nodding or agreeing. McElligott glanced to the door probably waiting for Webb to reappear, but he too appeared to call the verdict and get on with other business.

Just then, door did slide open and Admiral Stahl walked in.

Dent did not expect the old Warrior to be here before the verdict was made. Somewhere deep inside him fear started to grow. He had little respect for McElligott as he considered him an old fool, easy to manipulate with fabricated reports and false evidence, but the man that just walked in was a different story. He'd never met Stahl in person before. The man they often called the Eternal Warrior brought an aura into the room that was not explainable, but almost touchable.

Other beings followed Stahl into the room. He recognized Webb of course and he smirked as he saw Harris. The woman in the black cat suit and the long silver colored hair he knew he should know who she was, but he could not remember at the moment.

He said. "Even though it is an honor to greet you Admiral Stahl. You are not part of this. Please step back outside, this is an orderly proceeding and we are about to come to a verdict. I will gladly give you a briefing afterwards."

He then pointed his gavel at the cadets. "You need to leave too, this is a closed hearing."

Stahl crossed his arms. "General Lichfangh here has conducted her own investigation and she is going to enlighten us all and these proceedings are far from over."

All blood left Dent's face and a cold fist clenched around his stomach. General Lichfangh, he should have recognized her right away. There was a rumor that no one could lie in her presence and everyone knew she was among the most potent Telepaths known to exist.

Commander Decker actually got up before anyone else could say anything. "I like to confess..."

Stahl's voice had a razor sharp edge. "Sit down, traitor. It is far too late for that."

Alyica said. "Eric Olafson is not dead. He was abducted. All you saw burn up was a rigged remote controlled Quasimodo. The charred bio matter you found was manufactured bio tissue from Olafson's DNA. The Lab technician who made it has confessed."

Dent's hand slowly disappeared underneath the desk. All his plans and all his future had ended and he knew it.

The Psi Corps general continued. "While you all saw the accident and the sabotaged suit explode, Eric was stuffed in a message capsule and sent on his way out of the system, the same time the Orbital Assault began. No one noticed because the officer on the ship's sensors was an accomplice to Commander Becker.

Eric was collected by Lt. Zyzahan at the outmost orbit; Zyzahan was also an instructor on this Academy and part of the criminal conspiracy that is the dark secret of this so called Elite School."

Wetmouth could not stop herself and said. "Where is he, where is Eric?"

The Psi corps General who had faced the petrified audience of Academy Commanders and Officers said. "No one here knows. The destination was only known to Lt. Zyzahan."

Dent hissed. "He will suffer for what he had done to the Worm! He will be sold to the Togar for flesh food. His eyes turned up and he made a gargling sound then his hand came up with a PPD.

Alyica said with a warning tone. "He is under the influence of a very strong Hypno implant."

The PDD projected a field screen into the middle of the room and a purple clad being appeared. It had the basic proportions of a human being but its head was that of a faceless worm, segmented, and with an ugly ring mouth.

"I am the Purple Worm and my plan has succeeded. You are all here. Admiral Stahl, Admiral McElligott, the famous Alyica Lichfangh and a host of high ranking officers.

With one single strike I am going to accomplish what no one has ever dreamed to do. I am going to kill you all!

Don't try to flee or leave. You have one chance and one chance only. You are to order Centron of the Devastator to accept Dent as its Commanding Officer. You are immortals and old enough to know that I am not bluffing. I have the means to kill you all in an instant and you Mr. Stahl will give Centron the Natrahee Command, the same command that made it your ship so long ago, the Celtest sequence code you alone know that overwrites all others, that will make it Dents ship and opens all the legendary X decks filled with working Celtest weapons and technology. You've got five minutes to think about it."

The projected being faded away.

--""--

INTERLUDE: AT A DISTANT LOCATION

The being in the purple suit leaned back. When Dent told him that the Admiral of the Fleet himself would show and that the Devastator was on her way, there was a chance that both Immortals would be on the same planet, feeling safe with their ships in orbit on a Union fleet installation. A planet, however that controlled through Dent and his other minions. Setting up the trap was easy, Dent was an Admiral and had free access to any weapon including the 1000 kilo AM Bomb he had them place in the basement of the administration building. That the game was up, and Dent exposed was only a matter of time. The little man had been too ambigious for his own good. While loosing the Academy and thus a convenient back door into the command structure of the Union fleet was a setback, eliminating both Immortal admirals, the mysterious and legendary PSI Corps general and a host of other high ranking officers was easily worth the losses.

Without the immortal guides, the fleet was a fruit ripe for the picking.

The Worm crawled for almost as long as the Union existed through every crack and hole of its shiny armour and burrowed deep, finding information and learning secrets.

What would the eternal soldier say if he ever found out who the Purple Worm really was? The being chuckled silently at that, since it would never happen. Stahl was never going to reveal the Celtest command code for the mighty Devastator, so they all had to die.

--""--

ERIC: SIN 4

I had reached the end of the landing field and stood before a wall at least twenty meters high, made of the same reddish colored Duro-crete material as the crumbling landing field.

The wall had cracks as well but none big enough to even look trough. I could no longer hold it and relieved myself against that wall. In all my misery and my hopeless situation, I found true bliss in taking care of this most simple of all needs.

After walking a short distance along the wall I found a large sewer pipe and crawled in.

Not a moment too soon as I found. Three beings in hover suits flew by at a slow pace.

I heard one say. "I don't think he could gotten this far. Let's go the other way. I bet the Union boy went south towards the water."

His companion agreed and both zipped into the other direction.

Something with tentacles, milky white and oozing with slime crawled from the back of the pipe. It took several blasts to make it stop move.

I waited till the sun set. Neither of the flying men had come back I sneaked back, hoping the drive section of the Courier ship was not completely destroyed and maybe I could lift off into space using Arti Grav. Also the ship must have had communication equipment. Something I could use to call for help with and find out where in Odin 's name I was.

As careful as I had left I went back. Crouching behind a piece of torn landing gear I peaked between ripped hydraulic hoses to see what was going on.

The Nul landing tank was destroyed, is front section completely turned to slack and still glowing cherry red. The fire that was burning inside was out and whatever powered the tank had not exploded, at least not yet.

The first flier, the one that was hit by the tanks blast no longer smoked or burned either. Not far from it, two of the bodies of the armor wearing individuals that had come to get me.

A shallow crater was all that was left of the third. The crew of the second flyer, I counted five stood at the boarding ramp of the Kartanian Jihhif, one of them arguing with someone inside I could not see while the others had their weapons aimed at a group of about 20 ragged looking beings, humans and non humans, most of them belonging to species I did not know. Everyone of that larger group was armed and wore some kind of armor. None looked new or complete and the weapons ranged from blasters to clubs and knives.

The night wind brought cooler air and also carried some of the heated debate over into my direction. I could not hear every word and the language they used was Freezone-squak, a mixture of Union standard, Kermac Rhodom, Shiss Hiz and a dozen other sources that developed over centuries into the trade and Trans-culture language of Freespace.

Freezone-Squak was part of the Lingu packages uploaded into my brain at the academy during the first year, but it appeared they used a version of it, a local dialect perhaps and I could not get it all. Despite my difficulty to understand what they were saying I had no problem understanding what it was all about.

The larger group was some sort of scavenger gang claiming the ship as theirs, the crew of the second flier was much better armed and their battle armors looked factory new and certainly had shield capability, argued that it was unhealthy to interrupt their business.

I was certain violence would follow soon in one way or the other and I was actually surprised they did talk first, from what I learned of this stinking and dirty place so far was, shooting came first.

This however reduced my prospects to take possession of the Kartanian courier considerably. This idea of mine was a dead end and I was screwed like a Fangsnapper diving for Tyranno eggs and finding the mother instead.

No one however paid any attention to the first damaged flier, maybe not everything was destroyed inside and there was something I could use to improve my situation.

I was close enough and could make it there unseen. It was a Union Manufacture, a Daihatsu-Enroe armored ground skimmer and from the looks of it a recent model. Now at closer inspection it looked as if the flyer did have shields active while it was hit and the armor also deflected some of the blast energy. The damage was less severe than it appeared at first, but the thing would not fly without major repair work. The left Arti Grav was completely gone and the thrust turbine was a twisted molten mess. I poked my blaster into the open rear hatch first and then risked a peak.

A dead human was still sitting in the driver's seat; the sudden impact had broken his neck. A small palm sized flat box with the logo of the First Union Bank caught my eye. I put it in my pocket and was elated as I took the weapon of the dead man. It was finest Terran Weapon Tech, a genuine H&K Raketen Gewehr and he had even two spare magazines with him.

His boots looked like real Union manufacture Terran All Terrains. I took them off the dead man's feet. Like all good Union shoes and boots they were Auto Dresser enabled and thus vari-sized.

My naked feet were dirtier than the socks of Egill when I first saw him and my soles were bleeding from at least a dozen cuts, thankfully small ones.

It was a Union flyer and so it didn't take me long to find the first aid kid. I cleaned and treated my wounds as fast and as good as I could. The possibility that someone remembered this flier and decided check it out was very likley.

With a thankful sigh I slipped into the boots, ripped the size adjuster open and waited for the faint hissing sound to end that signaled the re sizing was complete. I closed the seams of the re-adjuster, gave the dead man a thankful pad on the shoulder. It was perhaps not the nicest thing to steal from the dead, but he was part of a crew that was involved in my abduction. Thinking about that made me wish he was alive so I could kill him.

I also put the dead man's jacket on, not for warmth but to disguise my uniform as much as I could; not wanting to be recognized as a Union Officer until I knew where I was. While I had no idea where I was, I had a fair idea it wasn't inside Union space.

He had a sizeable bag of radshield coated polonium coins with him and a wicked looking combat knife of unknown origin.

I felt much better, armed to the teeth, boots on my feet. I knew I was somewhere in Freespace, but not too isolated from the Union. Maybe there was some sort of communications center in that city beyond the space port from where I could call for help.

The expected fight broke out; I could hear the sharp crack of blaster fire and the deep thud of a grenade launcher followed by a thundering explosion. Through one of the fliers view port, I noticed now three distinctive groups battling over the Courier ship. The grenade had damaged the second flier, another grenade came in like a bright blue shining meteor in a steep ark, I was sure it was some sort of Nul Graviton weapon as it connected with the other fliers shields and with a rumbling explosion sucked dirt, matter and two men into a small dense ball and collapsed the last remnants of the fighters shields.

Someone used heavy ordinance out there, lingering here any longer was pushing my luck.

Quickly I searched the rest of the flier and the small cargo hold. The Hold was clearly designed to transport a prisoner. It was equipped with a stasis box and there was one of those transparent plastic prisoner suits complete with activation and punishment collar. They sure came prepared to take me to wherever they had planned to take me.

The night had fully set in and it was quite dark out there, except for the flashing lightning show the battle provided. I hoped they did not have any night vision equipment or at least weren't looking into this direction and I ran.

With good boots on my feet and my Nilfeheim eyes wide open, I sprinted as if I was chased by a dozen hungry Nubhir wolfs across the wide open patch, past the half melted tank and past the burned out wreck, the assault tank had used to hide inside. Running as fast as I could towards the skyline of that alien city. I chanced and looked over my shoulder. No one was following me, at least no one I could see. Hopefully no one with a Cloaking field was on my trail.

The Wall with the pipe was according to the flying guy to the north. Making the distant shore and the ocean beyond to be in the south.

The skyline of that city could be seen to the north behind that tall wall and to the west. I had no clues or ideas what might have been towards the east.

This was a landing field of a sizable space port and while there was garbage, debris and scrap strewn and piled everywhere it had huge wide open areas and I estimated the skyline to be at least twelve clicks away.

The Air above that city was alive with fliers and even from this distance and I could see aerial dog fights and flashing weapon fire.

Some of the Sky scrapers were brightly lit and I could see colored signs and lights, others were dark and just cutout silhouettes against the sky. One tall scraper had a blazing inferno what must have been the 200th floor, but I saw no emergency or first responders.

I had kept a steady pace parallel to the tall wall in a western direction for more than two or perhaps three hours now, taking short breaks whenever I found a place that had enough cover for me to feel at least somewhat safe.

I closed onto a group of buildings, what I assumed was the passenger terminal of this space port.

It was dark, no lights anywhere and what once were tall transparent wall panels, were busted and shattered and only pieces of the transparent material remained in the frames of these large facade covering windows.

On the far side of that space port terminal was a thick looking Duro-crete tower with a massive gun turret on top. Up there I saw a faint light. The shadow of a man was leaning against a hand rail and he was smoking something similar to Shaka's cigarettes and every time he sucked on it the orange glow illuminated his face. He was too far for me to make out any details but he looked human.

He flicked his cigarette or smoke stick away and disappeared through a thick armored door back into the turret and it slowly rotated its barrels pointed to the sky.

Now I could make out some of the project-a-signs beyond the wall and the terminal buildings. Some of them in clear Union Lingu advertising Casinos, Gambling, Hotels and restaurants. The name of the planet was used in many of the advertisements and I knew where I was, this was Sin 4, the hell-hole Wetty was born.

The walls of the building before me were pocket marked with thousands of blaster holes and scorch marks.

I had to go through that building as it appeared to be the only access to the city on the other side.

That strange space port ghost building so close to a bustling city felt like a trap as I thumped the safety to off on the H&K Missile gun and dialed the mini missiles to bio-track.

This weapon did not fire beams or rays but small rockets, each with an armor piercing ceramic tip of monofilament sharpness and a few grams of a very potent explosive. Each of these little rockets could be programmed to do a variety of neat tricks, like follow the Neuro impulse pattern of a specific individual, linger in midflight for several minutes until the target appeared or explode behind or above a cover to shower anyone below with deadly shrapnel.

That was the good part, the bad part was you needed a Neuro jack and a data brain or a combat helmet to access and use all those wonderful abilities of the weapon, the man I took it had the Neuro jack, I did not.

Inside the building it was even darker. The exit doors on the other side were about 500 meters away.

The Interior of the place stank of feces, urine but mostly of decomposing flesh, the stench of death.

I stayed as close to the walls, picking my way slowly and as silently as I could, through the trash and debris that littered the floor. I almost stepped onto the rotting corpse of a semi humanoid life form, much of its head was gone and so were most of its clothing and the flesh of its upper torso.

As I stepped over the badly mangled corpse I knew I was not alone, there were others hiding between stair wells, behind columns and underneath the trash. I heard a whispered word, just a few hissed syllables but enough to know it wasn't vermin or the rustle of paper moved by a draft.

Something grabbed my left leg, just as I stepped over the body.

I looked down and a hand sized spidery thing that looked almost like the boney claw of a skeleton hand scurried up my leg.

I fired a three round burst into the direction of the whisper and drew the large knife and used its blade to cut that thing in half.

The smart little rockets homed in on infrared signatures and exploded with force, killing something or someone the flash of light of the explosion revealed six beings, hiding halfway behind a toppled metal structure of sorts. The brief light also exposed hundreds of these bony spider things, crawling everywhere.

One of the beings I think was a Spindlar, judging by the shillouette and the others could have been Ogahr. The light of the explosion was there for no longer than a fraction of a second. I didn't waste the opportunity however and fired six times, this time in optical recognition mode and ran as fast as I could to the exit.

The six missiles found their targets and reduced the scum population of this world by at least the same number.

As I ran I crunched and crushed several of those spiders beneath my feet and I felt a stinging pain on the calf of my left leg just above the boot.

With horror I tried to shake one of those whitish spider things off. Even in this light I could see pencil sized needle sharp fangs burrowed into my own flesh.

I swiped the knife again. Cutting the parasite away, but its fangs remained. I had to ignore the pain, I simply had to and with five more steps I made it through the doors and into the streets of Sin 4.

A being with four arms and the general shape of a Shiss wearing a golden shimmering, truly vintage looking battle armor hovered only twenty meters distant and about six meters of the ground and yelled elated."I found him first. He is mine."

Both of his arms ended in weapons and he fired.

He was obviously not the sharpest harpoon in the boat. First he advertised himself by yelling in a gleaming golden suit and only then he fired.

The blasts hammered into the dirty Duro-crete where I had been standing a heart beat before. I was rolling shoulder first down the five steps that led to the Space port entrance, and fired a quad burst after him. The little rockets exploded and engulfed him in a billow of fire and smoke and I could see the bright white lightning spider webs of a collapsing shield.

I invested four more missiles and was rewarded with a shower of body parts and pieces of golden armor.

He was out of the equation, but he had not been alone. His triumphant yells of finding me had been addressed to two similar floating and equipped beings in the distance. I limped across the plaza before the space port and beyond a mind numbing steel, light and duro-crete labnyrinth of sky bridges and street canyons.

The pain in my leg turned to a burning sensation that spread slowly like the pain of a Galler-goob sting; that beautiful brainless almost transparent umbrella shaped life form that appeared during short summer in the Uhim grounds back home.

The spider thing had injected me with a venom, I hoped I would last.

The second armored fly man had spotted me and circled around in a tight loop, only to get a well aimed three burst of missiles into the exhaust of his turbine, the only place that could not be shielded.

I did not wait to see if the missiles ruined his day like I hoped they would and dove sideways into an alley way.

The sound of a deep thorated explosion followed me, confirming my hopes.

The alley was like a knife cut between two tall tall buildings I did not have to stretch my arms to reach both walls.

I stumbled over something and slipped through a broken grating into an empty foul smelling wet basement.

The tumble had stunned my left shoulder and scraped a patch of skin above my left temple right of my skull. I thanked Odin for making that skull of mine thick enough to not break after that sudden fall into that hole I was in now.

Here in the almost completely dark basement of some kind of building, found myself completely and utterly exhausted. My leg swollen and throbbing in pain, my shoulder stinging and hurting in competition with the leg; not to mention the dripping blood from the wound on my head; I listened trying to hear if someone was up there looking for me, then with shaking fingers, pulled the fang pieces of the spider thing out, opened the First aid kit. It was a very rudimentary kit, not an Auto Doc, but it was still union and lots of thought and planning went into this little accessory of the Enroe Daihatsu flyer.

A little light came on as I opened the lid of this brick sized box.A sensor on the little box noticing the lack of light responsible for this, this simple little light that shone over neatly packed and labeled things kindled a little spark of pride and hope. I used some derma Glue and spray bandage, a broad band anti infection agent and a pain killer patch to doctor me up as good as I could.

Then I wadded the jacket I had taken from the dead man under my head and wanted to close my eyes just for a little. There was a deep fear inside of me, that if I surrendered to my tiredness now and let the venom of the spider spread I would not wake.

I had no auto doc, and there was nothing in the kit that could be used to counteract an unknown poison.

Sleeping a little was not giving up, now wasn't it? All I needed was a little rest.

Chapter 2: Sin 4

The poison had not killed me, but the pain that radiated from my swollen leg made me almost wish it had. I was terribly thirsty and wondered if I had ever felt that miserable. I was able to answer my own question, yes I had. I had it much worse back on the Burg of my father, and back then I did not see any chance of escaping but here I was not out of options. I was still alive and I had weapons.

I used the little light of the first aid kit to check out the room I was in.

It was not as empty as I thought it was before. There was a pile of garbage and waste in one corner and there was a rusty metal door.

Something between the dark plastic film bags and discarded boxes, moved. I was certain I had seen a pair of shiny eyes. I thanked Odin for watching over me while I was out and nothing decided to have me for dinner while I was sleeping.

I cut the leg of my pants open, my calf and thighs had swollen and there was an unhealthy looking white blister around the area the spider thing had bitten me. There was no other way; I had to cut it open. Part of my training was first aid and I had served a spell in Sick Bay, combat and emergency aid was a subject they stressed.

I disinfected the sharp blade of the combat knife and my leg with a disinfectant spray that was part of the first aid kit. I put the blaster in reach of my hand, eyed the pile of garbage one more time and then bit down on the sleeve of my jacket, so I would not cry out too loud and cut the wound open. It was not as bad as I thought; I was already in tremendous pain so a little more did not really matter. Puss and blood drooled down on the wet and dirty Duro-Crete floor. I had to let it bleed out a little but also had to make sure I would not lose too much.

Again the pile of trash moved and I readied the line blaster, whatever it might be was big enough to move the sacks of waste. "If you are sentient say something, if not I am going to shoot."

Even though I was ready for some reaction, I was completely surprised as something jumped out of that pile in an explosion of garbage.

A dark shadow catapulted itself towards me. All I really saw was fangs, gleaming eyes and claws. I fired but did not hit it, that shadow of fangs and teeth was lightning fast and it collided with me. Needle sharp claws penetrated fabric and skin. My eyes were still blinded by the bright bolt but I saw the outlines of a humanoid face, and an obscenely large mouth filled with teeth snapping after my throat. I hammered my left fist across that face as I tried to bring the line blaster in line with that monster. My blow connected and whipped its head back; it screeched and I could not tell if it was a human voice or the sound of an animal.

Claws raked over my shoulder; my eyesight was clearing and I managed to get my right arm free enough to move. I pressed the muzzle of the blaster against that furious thing and fired. This time I could not miss and burned right through its chest.

It gargled and collapsed. The stench of burned flesh mingled with the foul odor of waste and the reeking smell of this creature.

In the dim glow of the first aide box light I examined the thing, it was humanoid in shape but was partially covered with fur; its face looked as if a human had been merged with a deep sea fish, with bulging eyes and a huge maw.

It was mortally wounded but not quite dead. From the garbage pile it had come I could now see a rugged hole in the wall that led to even deeper regions of this place.

At this moment the rusty steel door flung open with a creaking sound and a muscular Oghr like creature appeared, holding a Kartanian Flamer stomped past me and held its weapon towards that hole and fired a stream of superheated plasma, into the crack. A chorus of high pitched screams and the sizzling sound of fire consuming flesh echoed from below.

The being cursed in Squawk,"Damn Subzombs, I knew they had a hole coming in somewhere."

He turned and said. "We don't like Skaakh squatting in our basements either. You are certainly not a tenant."

The brutish Oghr stomped his heel on the skull of the mortaly wounded Subzomb I had fought moments ago which crushed with a sickening sound. "Get up and get out of here, before I change my mind and have you for dinner."

I struggled to my feet, gathered my meager belongings and put my jacket back on.

The big brute eyed me in the faint light coming from te still open door. "For a Skaakh you are well armed. I wonder where you got that Union fleet Uniform."

"I am on my way out, I fell through that busted crating up there."

"I don't think you need all these weapons and that nice first aid pack. Its way to good for a Skaakh and seeing you fought a Subzomb, you don't even know how to use them."

Like most Oghr species he was almost twice my size and I knew how strong and tough they were, as I had seen Az-Az in action. With all the energy I could still muster, I kicked his gun arm. Putting weight on my bad leg was a bad idea, it sent waves of pain up my spine but I had no choice. With all the pain and misery I was getting angry and I felt my own rage coming up like a storm surge. He yelped and dropped his weapon as I pointed the line blaster right at his broad nose.

"I am new on this rotten planet of yours, but one thing I noticed, you all talk way too much and think you are all so tough. So far I am not impressed."

He howled. "You aren't a Skaakh. You're Union! I rip you to pieces."

He raised his massive arms and I fired.

I hissed, "Yes I am Union and proudly so" and watched as he fell back with a burning hole where his nose used to be.

He didn't wear much in ways of clothing but I took his wide utility belt, slung it across my shoulder and used its pockets to arrange and carry my small arsenal and to holster the Flamer.

He carried a handful of dark gray coin like discs, more of the same rad shielded polonium based currency I had found on the other dead man. I am certain it wouls come in handy.

Not wanting to make this wet hole my permanent home, I finished bandaging my leg and took another pain killer. I had only four pain killer patches to begin with and was now down to two. By the rate I got wounded and attacked I wanted to hang on to the rest until I absolutely needed them.

I limped to the open door and looked down a sparsely lit corridor with a dozen doors just like this one and a steep flight of Duro-Crete stairs leading up at the far end. While I wondered what kind of building this was I heard the wailing of a baby from one of the doors. It was not closed completely so I peeked through the crack. There was a woman and I was certain she was human despite the rag she had slung around her head, nursing a baby on her thin empty looking breasts, while another kid not much older sat by a smoking little fire, the smoke wafting out a similar crating I had fallen through in the other room. This wasn't a basement for storage.

Those were rooms, apartments for the poorest. The kids and the mother were filthy, now I noticed a third kid banging with a hammer on a piece of metal. A pile of bowl shaped metal pieces on the side.

I should have gone on and left this depressing scene behind, the money I had taken from what perhaps was the landlord or rent collector would be invaluable to me, but I could not.

I opened that door wider and the woman wrapped her arms even tighter around the baby she was nursing and stared at me from underneath that rag she wore with a hollow haunting look of fear, hunger and resignation. I could only imagine how I looked to her, blood caked, dirty and bandaged, armed to the teeth.

I held my hand out and said." I am not going to harm you, Lady. I wanted you to have these." I put a number of the coins before her on the floor. "It's not a lot but I hope it helps you to get you and the kids some food."

There was utter disbelieve in the eyes and the face of the woman. Now as she looked up I guessed she might have been about twenty or twenty five. She had ashen skin and large dark eyes that reminded me of Galmy.

She looked at the coins then at me and I nodded. "Yes Ma'am I am not sure you understand me but you can take the money."

She shivered and groaned then she put the baby aside and opened the rags she wore exposing her naked body.

I stepped back and turned to the door. She would take the money eventually. I had to leave and somehow find a way to contact fleet command. I wondered if Wetmouth was born in a hole like this.

The woman said. "You give me money for nothing?"

I turned to look back at her. "It is for you and the kids; I don't want anything from you in return."

"Who..." She stopped and then begun again. "Who are you?"

"I am Eric Olafson."

"Lows usually don't have two names, Skaakh don't give Lows money and don't have weapons."

"I am not from around here, lady and I need to leave now and take steps to make sure I won't lie the next time I have to say that, but maybe you can tell me where I am exactly."

She grabbed the coins and said. "I never seen that much, these are nine Twenty-weights. We earn a Twenty-weight in a year." Then she looked up again and realized I had asked her something. "You are in the sixth Skirt district, just outside the Spaceport. This is Bottom level; below us are the Subs and the old Sewers where the Subzombs and Light-Shys live. You better stay away from the Subs, Stranger Eric, not many that went down there ever came back. Not even the Uppers dare to go there."

I said. "I have no intention to go explore the underground of this Hell Hole."

Her information did not help me much. I was in no real condition to linger, but I said. "You are not a Skaakh?"

There was almost something like pride in her face as she shook her head. "Oh no, I am a Low, Bottom Low but not a Skaakh. I have a place and me and my kids scavenge for metals and we make half-a-weight every week."

I left her and did not want to know how the Skaakh lived.

I managed to get up the stairs without meeting anyone and after a while I learned how to keep my leg stiff and walk decently fast without too much discomfort.

After the stairs I looked down a similar corridor and an open door to the outside. A Shiss stood guard holding a spiked club and a wicked curved Vibro saber in his upper hands, his lower arm pair he kept crossed before his chest. The Shiss turned as he heard me coming and barked. "You don't look like any tenant I know. When did you move in?"

I had my hand on the line blaster and held it so he could see it. "I am not a tenant, your friend the Oghr showed me a room but it didn't have the ocean view I wanted and it had one hell of a vermin infestation. Now I want to leave and I suggest you let me."

I had been around Shiss for a while and Captain Zezz told me much about his species so I knew this red throated lizard was agitated, by the way he ruffled his throat folds. He held up his lower arms. If Nugth has shown you in, then that is fine by me and you can leave of course. I just wanted to make sure you are not a Skaakh or trying to steal something." Under his breath he muttered in his native Shiss. "I am going to kill you little human."

It wasn't that hard to pronounce Shiss correctly if you simply kept your teeth clenched and uttered this vowel free language as if you would eat hot soup. I was certain Zezz was a better teacher than any Cortex uploads and said. "You try that Red Throat and you are going to see your own guts exposed to the night air." This was a slight variation of a Shiss curse I heard Zezz say to another Shiss while we boarded their ship.

He stepped back and lowered his weapons. "This little human knows much about the Shiss and speaks our language like a nestling. Go Human and be safe"

I went past him, not letting him out of my sight for a second and then went as fast as I could around the corner.

This was the bottom street level of a towering city, none of the buildings were the size of the mega structures of Pluribus and no city planning had gone into the placement of the buildings but these were still sky scrapers of towering heights. Some looked well maintained and others were dark ruins, the sky was black and either it was still night or I had slept longer than I thought I had. I had lost all sense of time that was for sure.

The road gleamed wet as if it had rained just recently and even out here the air smelled dirty and foul. I found a piece of dark plastic tarp and fashioned it into a makeshift cloak, in the hope the thing would blend me at least somewhat into the shadows and hide most of my weapons.

I must have walked for at least ten klicks. The pain killer had worn off and the pulsating pain of my leg was killing me. I had to force myself to make each step. I knew I could not really slow down. Not that I had a clear cut target or destination, but I hoped that I would find some kind of Elevator or stair system that would take me up to the higher levels, where the Light signs were. One of the hotels or Casinos up there must have some kind of communication system I hoped.

I was not alone; there were beings of every size and shape, scavenging through the ever present garbage and waste. Lingering in those narrow alleys and at all times I felt as if there were thousand eyes watching every move I made.

I witnessed a brutal beating in one of those alleys, three beings of humanoid shape beat on a tall being that was either a Spindlar, perhaps an Andorian or member of a species I did not know. The beating was savage and I heard the wet blows of clubs and the painful groaning of their victim.

I should have gone on the other side of the street and put as much distance between me and them, but my cursed values of hating unfair situations overtook all common sense, but before I could intervene. Another group of five beings broke from out the shadows and attacked those who did the beating, from the few words and curses I heard, friends of the victim. There was no way I would get involved now and I increased my limping walking speed to get away before they decided to turn on me. Part of me wanted to fight everyone I saw, simply kill everything and everyone in sight and cleanse this cesspool and as I was thinking those thoughts with the still bubbling anger in my stomach. I suddenly remembered my ring and for a moment I thought it felt almost hot. If I only had Mördaren or that axe I had found. I shook my head freeing my mind of these strange thoughts, most likely fever delusions caused by the spider poison polluting my body.

Among all those foul smelling odors, a new scent wafted across my nose. Seared meat! It was a mouthwatering smell, making me painfully aware that I was thirsty and hungry. This smell banished all my fever fantasies and put me back into reality.

The smell of flame broiled meat directed me towards a dimly lit flickering light sign displaying alien writing, mounted over a hole someone had busted right into the foundation wall of a skyscraper.

A sturdy board had been wedged across the lower half of that hole. Behind it was an Oghr, wearing a filthy apron and working a fire grill with strips of meat on a steel grid. Several sod blackened pots with something that bubbled and steamed on the other side. Skinned animals of various sizes and shapes hung on steel hooks all across the low ceiling of this improvised food kitchen. A dozen beings, seven Oghr, three human shapes, a Quadiped and a Togar stood before the hole talking to each other and eating whatever they sold here out of paper wrapped packages.

Half concealed by the flickering light sign I also noticed crude but deadly looking automated Nuc Flamer heads, mounted on a remote arm. The red blinking sensor over the remote weapons made it clear the thing was active. I wondered how many non-paying customers had been roasted instead of the meat on the grill.

I felt into the pocket where I had more of the coins and hoped it was enough for whatever they sold here. I probably did not want to know what it was exactly but at the moment I didn't care and I did not plan to ask too many questions about the origin of the food.

Several banged up looking heavily armored flyers were parked near that group and they all were painted black and orange, had gun turrets of various weapon systems mounted on their hoods and roofs and each of those flyers had a lit sign on the roof. The signs switched writing and lettering every five seconds or so and the word Taxi was displayed in clear Union writing in regular intervals.

I crossed the street walking towards that food stand when one of the Oghr, dressed in black rhino leather yelled. "Skaakh, get away from my Taxi if you want to live." As he yelled the gun turrets on the nearest fliers swiveled around and targeted me and I stopped in my tracks.

The Quadiped laughed throaty. "Maybe he needs a ride. Never turn back a fare, Sigpah."

The black dressed Oghr yelled again in my direction. "I only take Polos, Telluriums, Union Creds. Not recy scrap."

"I have money. I want to buy some food and I need a ride too."

He waved his big hand and the gun turrets moved to point into the sky. "Come over then, if your money checks I take it, Skaakh or not."

I stepped into the reddish light from the sign above and they noticed the H & K which I could not hide like the other weapons under my make shift plastic cloak.

"He isn't a Skaakh, not with this kind of hardware." The Quadiped grunted.

The Oghr behind the counter leaned forward. "Don't see too many hunters around here, but I ain't buying Skaakh meat regardless of the species. I fry only Lum-Lums and Kultis, but there is Bonguu's five blocks up towards the District border, they take anything that bleeds."

I pointed at the grill. "I want to buy some of that and if you have water I like some too."

The cook said "You must be new around here. No one in their right mind asks for water in these parts. I sell Ogahr Brew but I think I have a squeeze bag of Nul Milk if you prefer that. I don't know how fresh it is, never had a Nul customer but I heard humans can drink it."

Since the selection was limited and I had no desire to experiment with Nul food I said. "I'll have Ogahr brew then."

He wrapped a piece of seared meat in a flap of white dough and put it in a round Oven made of sud blackened Duro-Crete bricks and added a few pieces of wood into the fire underneath. "Be ready in a minute. Brew and Lum-Lum Chew that will be half-a-weight and I only take Telluris. I don't have a fancy Credit strip like my Taxi friends here."

I handed him one of the big coins and he snorted. "Hunting must be good, paying with a twenty."

He handed me a handful of smaller coins, a round plastic bag filled with a yellowish liquid and then took the meat and dough combination out of the oven, wrapped it in brown paper and gave it to me as well.

I went to the side and leaned against the wall so I could keep an eye on things. The plastic bladder had a metal clip that when removed allowed the yellow liquid to flow through a short tube from which it could be sucked. Ogahr brew, so I found, was a flat and extremely bitter tasting beer, not even a drunken low man would touch it, but it was wet and quenched my thirst. What he had called a Lum-Lum Chew was actually quite delicious. It was a strong tasting very spicy piece of stringy meat inside a bland bread pocket. While I was eating I was watching them and they were watching me.

The Black dressed Oghr said, after I had finished the last bite. "I mistook you for a Skaakh, but sometimes these hungry bastards do crazy things. Still needing a ride?"

I nodded. "Yes I do."

He directed me to one of the armored and armed flyers and at his command the door opened. He said. "I have not lost a customer yet and my Hoogley is well protected. So hop on in."

I climbed into the passenger compartment, there was a bare steel seat and two Neuro Rippers pointed at whoever would be sitting on that seat.

I heard his voice through a speaker. "A word of advice, hunter, touch your guns and the Computronic will fry you on the spot. Fare is 10 Union Creds per 15 minutes or Two-weight Telluri coin." I saw him turn behind the transparent barrier that separated us and he pointed at a slot below." First payment is upfront and don't try to cheat. I don't take Kerms, too much of a hassle to fly out to the Kermac enclave and try to argue with those white skins."

I dropped one of the bigger coins in the slot and he grunted satisfied. "A fiver will certainly do the trick. Very well then, where would you want to go?"

"A decent hotel."

"You're in luck. My wives' brother works for a fine establishment. Clean, heavy security, right in the Donheer District and all Insurances paid to the Syndicate."

The Cab whisked up through these artificial crisscrossing canyons diving underneath sky bridges into a higher region of the city where the advertisement signs became brighter and the sky bridges were lit.

After about eight or nine minutes the cab slowed down before the entrance platform of a Hotel with a bright blue sign reading 'Sleep save on a Budget Hotel' and two line blaster armed Oghrs guarding a heavy looking steel door.

The Cab pilot turned again and said. "Here we are and be so kind to deposit another one weight, that is the Opening Door fee."

I swallowed what I wanted to say, arguing with an Oghr behind a trans-plast shield and looking at two Neuro rippers was not a good idea so I dropped another coin in the slot and the door opened with an oily sounding groan. The speaker connection was still open and I heard a voice from his Com System saying. "We are looking for a male human shown on this holo likeness, there is a rew..."

I was already out as I heard him yell."Get back in now."

I ran as fast as my leg let me away from the hotel door across the sky bridge. I had to get some kind of cover before he could fire. There was another Sky bridge, about six meters below diagonal to the one I was on, I prayed to Thor to give me strength and courage, flanked over the hand rail and hoped I could land favoring just one leg and roll over my shoulder to lessen the impact of the fall. I was still in the air as a blaster shot melted the hand rail where I had just been.

Trying to use only one leg didn't work out so well and the impact of the landing made me feel as if I had been hit by a gigantic sledge hammer. I was certain I heard the breaking of a bone. I rolled over on my shoulder and almost tumbled over the edge, this Sky Bridge turned out to be a service pipe or sky tunnel, and it had no hand rail or safety force field of any kind. The surface was slightly curved to each side and slippery metal, still wet from the last rain.

I almost slipped as I struggled to my feet, hoping the All terrain soles would still work and adjust to the slippery condition at least somewhat.

There was no time for safety; the Taxi Cab was already coming after me to get a better firing position. I doubted the H & K rockets were strong enough to damage an armored flier, but I had to buy me a little time, so I turned, knelt down, aimed carefully and fired a five round burst in armor breaking mode right at the narrow wind shield sandwiched between two armor plates.

The mini rockets peppered the windshield and perforated it, one of the taxi cabs guns fired but the blast went at least two meters above my head and slammed somewhere into a wall; the cab went into a steep dive and collided with a sky bridge below me. I limped to the end of the bridge, pulled myself over a railing onto a balcony type side walk circling around this building.

I simply kept on going, to put some distance between me and that cab, who knows if he survived or managed to tell someone that he had seen me. Up here there were few places to hide, but luckily there weren't many beings out on foot either.

How many hours I limped through that strange city, always staying in the shadows as much as I could, I could not tell, but the sky above me began to brighten and a new day was dawning. My leg was completely numb and my right shoulder throbbed after taking the brunt of the fall, I was sure it was broken. I was at a point where I actually contemplated jumping, simply to end it. What was the point of trying to keep on going? There was no one and nothing on this planet that I could reach out to for help, and at this point I needed help badly. Then I saw what looked like a Dance Club with bright lights and expensive skimmers whisking from and to the Entrance platform.

From a lofty sidewalk I saw heavy armed guards and robots and there a little to the side stood Wetmouth, smoking one of Shaka's smoke sticks. My friends had found me.

That this could have been any Sojonit did not come to my delirious mind at that point. I balanced across a small ledge on the side of the building to make it from the sky bridge I was on to that platform and approached the Sojonit.

"Oh thanks Odin, Wetmouth. You guys found me."

She looked at me and said."I am not Wetmouth, I am Moistpromise, I am a Sojonit but do know of Wetmouth."

A robot and a security guard were approaching but she waved them away and then she looked at me from behind her mask and said." You are a mess, soldier, you better come with me."

A sporty pink colored Mercedes open roof Skimmer came floating to the edge of the platform and its doors swung open. The Sojonit took my hand." Get in fast, before anyone really sees us."

I did and she sat down behind the controls. The floater was neither armed nor had it any visible armor, but then I saw the controls of a state of the art SII Security shield and knew why she didn't need armor or guns.

She gunned the engines of this quick luxury skimmer and pulled it in a steep climb into the sky above the buildings. I wanted to say something, tell her who I was but everything became blurry and I passed out.

--""--

INTERLUDE: NEWPORT

There was no panic among the officers in the hearing room, but most of the ones present stared at Dent, his eyes rolled up, drooling from the corner of his mouth and yet he was speaking and making demands. "Six minutes left before this side of the planet and most of this continent are atomized and all of you with it."

Alyica said. "He is under hypnotic control, but I know he speaks the truth. There is a bomb somewhere near and ready to be activated."

The Narth declined his head slightly. "One would wager that such a device as the one that is directly below us is not sufficient to atomize half the planet. It is only a 1000 Kilo Bomb of Anti matter, it will however be sufficient to kill. Having been reincarnated so recently I must say I do not look forward to dying again and this time permanently."

Richard said. "Alyica and Narth you can teleport yourself and hopefully some others with you to safety. Take McElligott and whoever you can. I will stay and try to negotiate."

Circuit said to Narth, can you teleport me to that bomb? I am sure I can deactivate it."

Before Circuit even completed his last word, Narth and he vanished into thin air.

The hypnotized Dent cackled with a strange laughter, "Too late, you all die now."

Nothing happened, but Dent's eyes rolled down and he looked completely surprised and baffled around. "What did just happen?"

One of the Academy Commandants looked at his PDD. "The ten minutes have just ended."

Out through the window next to the glaring sun a new star flashed into existence and send blinding light erasing every shadow on this side of Newport for a long moment.

Stahl spoke into his PDD giving orders. McElligott got up and spoke for the first time since the ordeal begun.

"I don't care what it will take or cost, I want every resource, every man, every ship to hunt that Worm. No one sleeps, takes a break or a vacation until we have eradicated this disease from our fleet."

Dent still standing behind his desk said. "Never get into something without a Plan B. He pointed his PDD at Stahl, two streaks of sliver hissed through the air one decapitated Dent and the other severed his hand, while an energy bolt from the PDD hit the wall only inches above the head of the ancient Warrior.

Stahl brushed his hand over his singed hair and then gave Har Hi a brief smile. "Marines from the Devastator are dropping on Newport as we speak to secure this place, but you, my Dai friend, saved my life."

Circuit came in carrying the Narth who appeared dead. "He teleported the bomb into space, he said it would drain all his energies and he was not sure if he could teleport so much weight far enough away so it would not do any damage. He did it, but he collapsed and hasn't moved since."

A solemn silence fell over the room and everyone stared at the limp shrouded body in Circuit's arms.

Stahl was about to break the silence and say something when the Narth stirred and lifted his arm. "One is deeply moved by the feelings directed toward my person. I did somewhat overextend myself and need to return to Narth Prime.

Stahl said to Har Hi. "Take that Barracuda of yours and bring him as fast as you can to Narth Prime. She is the fastest ship."

Har Hi acknowledged the order, gathered his knifes, spat on the dead Admiral and went to the door followed by his friends, but Wetmouth turned. "Sir, what about Eric?"

"If anyone can find him or know where he is then it is the Narth Supreme. Now go, I promise you we will turn over every rock to do our part to find your friend."

--""--

ERIC AND WETPROMISE

When I came around I found myself in a large bed with peach colored satin sheets. The bed had curtains, a mirror above the bed and it stood in a large girlish decorated room in matching colors.

My arm was bandaged with a stiff Bone-Mender Patch; I was clean and otherwise naked under the thin soft sheet. There was no pain from my leg and it was bandaged with a rigid plastic film.

The Sojonit sat in a chair reading something on a PDD and noticed me waking up. She looked exactly like Wetmouth with pink hair and a mask displaying a beautiful stiff woman's face with an open mouth. Unlike Wetmouth however she did not wear a Union uniform but a pink sheer outfit with a skimpy bikini beneath it covering her only barely. She had her long legs crossed with long heeled boots on her feet.

I noticed her voice was different from Wetmouth's when she said: "So you are Eric Olafson. Half the planet is looking for you. Someone put a huge bounty and a very good description of you in circulation. That is bad news on a planet without laws and full of bounty hunters, assassins, killers and pirates to name just the tip of the iceberg."

I wanted to make sure and asked. "I am on Sin 4 right?"

"Yes you are and I just talked to the Mother Superior. She sent a message to Wetmouth to tell her you are alive."

A rock as big as Nilfeheim rolled of my chest and I said. "Thank you, Moistpromise. Thank you for rescuing me."

She laughed a friendly sounding laugh. "If anyone ever needed rescuing, it was you. Eric, but I am very glad I could help.Mother Superior ordered me to give you all the help you need."

I asked. "Is there a GalNet Terminal somewhere, or some other means to get a message to fleet command?"

She nodded. "Yes, at the SII-Bank and business center in the Uppers District, but getting you there will not be easy. Those who are looking for you will have eyes and ears all around that place and perhaps even scanning equipment. We are 170 Light years away from the closest Union Planet. Only the Union developed this marvelous instantaneous communication net. The Katarians have faster than light communication but slower than a space ship and it would take weeks to get a message to a Union Planet that way. Of course the Kermac have a PSI-Sender on their Enclave Island but entrusting any information to a Kermac long range telepath would not be advisable and I am not sure if there is a connection of the Kermac Psi Sender net to the Union anyway. As soon as Wetmouth receives the message, I am sure she will inform your superiors as well."

She got up, walked over, sat on the side of my bed and held her PDD over me. It made the characteristic sounds of a med scan in progress. She turned the display around and said.

"You are one of the lucky few who survived a Bone-hand crawler bite, the antidote and blood cleansing drugs are working and you will soon be as good as new."

I looked at the display and it confirmed her diagnosis. I said, "Thank you for patching me up and taking care of that. Before I saw you, I knew I wasn't going to last much longer. You saved my life."

I saw her smile behind her mask and she padded my shoulder. "Mother Superior commanded me to help you and besides it is a nice change of pace to help a young man instead of doing the other things."

I asked. "Is it possible to leave this planet, perhaps booking passage on a ship? These Casinos need gamblers and they have to come from somewhere, right?"

She laughed again. "Eric this is Sin 4, we are in Free-space. There is no Space bus service. Yes I am sure you can get a ride on a ship, but you would have to hire one of the Privateers that run passenger services, and whoever is looking for you will have the two space ports under close surveillance as well. I heard there is a bounty of five million Telluri coins on your head; you could not trust anyone right now."

I swallowed and almost whispered. "Can I trust you?"

She spread her arms. "You have to trust me, but no worries. We are bound by the rule of Mother Superior and the Goddess and no amount of money can make us sell out! Mother Superior wants to see you and that is where we go next."

"Thanks again you for rescuing me."

"It was a pleasure, besides I am a friend of Wetmouth and she has told me about you in many letters. I know you are close friends."

"What happened to my uniform?"

"It's somewhere on the bottom of the South Ocean. There was a tracker tacked to it and hopefully, if they manage to finally track it they will think you are dead."

I felt my heart slump." There was a piece of metal, in a leather holster I had. Is it on the bottom of the ocean as well?"

She shook her head. "No, I have sent your weapons to the temple, they are safe there and you can collect them there. All I kept here is that Union Bank Credit box of yours."

I thanked her again and was glad that the Colt was not lost. That present I got from Stahl was not only quite dear to me; it had saved my life twice now.

The Sojonit turned off the PDD and got up. "We need to leave soon and get you to the Temple Island. Only there will you be really safe and Mother Superior will know what to do."

I felt quite naked without any weapon, despite the fact that I was under those sheets, "Someone knows we are here?"

She shrugged. "I took as much care as I could, while bringing you here but this planet is also called the world of a million eyes and someone could have seen me carry you in. Besides this is only a love hotel and if they want to see who my customer is I can't refuse. We Sojonites are under protection of the Four Families by old contracts, but whoever is searching for you, appears to have the blessing of the Four Families to find you. The temple island is off limits but we need to get there."

I wanted to get up and said.

"Then we should go."

She held me back and said. "Not like this. My flyer is open and everyone can see who is inside. You need a disguise."

I nodded and said. "Alright."

Her voice had a serious tone as she said. "It is forbidden by our highest laws that anyone who has not taken the oaths of our order shall impersonate a Sojonit. We command very high prices and respect for our services and there are those who want to cash in on our brand. We kill without mercy those who do, but our highest laws can be overruled by the will and command of she who is the Mother Superior and she told me to disguise you as a Sojonit so you can move and travel freely and go to the island. "She pointed at an Auto Dresser. "It looks like an old model but Mother Superior had sent it while you were still unconscious, it is a Saresii model and can do some temporary plastic surgery. Go use it."

She laughed as I wrapped the bed sheet around me to walk over to the machine and said.

"Who do you think undressed you? Besides there are no physical secrets you hide underneath that sheet a Sojonit hasn't seen thousands of times."

I blushed and said with a meek sounding voice. "I can't help it, I am from a very prudent and backwater society and being naked in front of a woman is one of those things."

She stepped on the seam of the sheet and I had to get in the machine without it. It seemed like a small eternity ago when I last used an Auto Dresser this way on Wichita Planet.

It took longer than usual and the process was not entirely pleasant. I felt as if I was a piece of dough Midril pounded, rolled and shaped with her round and strong underarms.

When I stepped out I wore a corset style top, a short skirt and long boots, over it a sheer jacket and all in shades of pink. The body underneath all this was quite feminine and filled the skimpy outfit in the right places.

She nodded approvingly and then handed me a Sojonit mask and said with a solemn tone. "To a Sojonit it is a very special day when she receives her mask and wig. You are the first ever as far as I know who is allowed to wear these without being initiated by the order."

I put the mask on. It felt warm and was soft and pliable. She helped me with the wig. I had not forgotten about my other persona, the side of me I called Freya came to the surface and the change in me was quite intense. This female persona that was part of me burst to life and brushed all maleness aside and I felt free once more.

Moist clapped her hands. "Either Wetmouth was a very good teacher or you have hidden talents of your own. I know few females and even fewer males that could walk like that in those heels."

I said, and was surprised of my soft female voice, "These are hidden talents. Wetmouth had little chance of wearing anything but a Uniform since I knew her."

She stepped back to inspect me with an approving nod. "Impractical they are and not exactly healthy. Fashion comes and goes but high heels have always been a hallmark of human female fashion the Galaxy over."

I had no real response, but simply enjoyed the feel and was certain no one would recognize me now, not even my friends. "There is a voice changer in the mask?"

She nodded. "Yes these masks are way more than disguises. Now help me delete any trace of your presence."

Under her instructions, we stripped the bed, threw the sheets down a garbage chute. She pressed a contact on the Auto dresser, it fell apart in dozens of pieces and they too went down the chute. We sprayed everything liberally with a strong smelling disinfectant. She explained." This will destroy any DNA traces of us being here, just in case someone is checking."

I wondered if she had done such clandestine things before, as it seemed she had quite the experience but I decided not to ask. I spotted the Credit box on the night stand and just out of curiosity checked the read out and almost fell over. The readout showed a secure account with 10 million Union Creds.

She came out of the bathroom and looked around. "As good as it gets. Let's get out of here and pay for the room and for extra cleaning."

We left the suite and went down a glass elevator into a plush decorated foyer. A truly white faced humanoid with sunken eyes wearing a tuxedo like outfit bowed slightly behind the counter and greeted us as we approached.

"We are always very grateful for Sojonit patronage. I hope everything was to the Sisters satisfaction?"

Moistpromise declined her head gracefully. "The Velvet Pasha meets the expectations of our customers, as always. We had a rather extensive session and I would like to order immediate room service and book the room for the rest of the week."

He pressed a contact and nodded. "Room service has been dispatched right away."

The read out on his terminal showed 1900 Creds and I swiped the box and left a hefty tip. I batted my eyes behind the mask and said. "That is for you. Your attention to excellent service is well received."

He pushed his chest out and smiled proudly. "You are too kind! Thank you so much. This is very generous."

Just then six beings came through the main entrance door. They wore armor plated uniforms, and were armed to the teeth. One of them came straight to the counter, touched a control on his left gauntlet and a projected a holo of my face appeared floating above it. He barked at the white skinned man behind the counter. "Have you seen this man?"

The Desk attendant looked the man down. "This is the Pasha. We are operated and owned by the Maroni family. We do not divulge such information even if we had it."

On his signal a big Quadiped appeared from behind an alcove and planted his massive body behind the Desk clerk and rasped with his steel barrel voice. "It is very unhealthy to mess with the Maroni. I suggest you bounty hunters leave now."

"We have permissions from the Cartel to search. So tell us, have you seen this man?"

The desk clerk shook his head. "No I have not."

Moistpromise took me by the arm and guided me towards the exit, one of the Bounty hunters, more Cyborg than man, stepped in our way and he too produced the Holo. "Have you seen him? There is a nice reward on his head."

"We serviced no such man." She said. "Now let us pass."

He grunted something unfriendly but one of his colleagues pulled at his shoulder. "Let the Sojos go. They are protected in ways you do not want to mess with. I could feel their eyes on my back as we left for the park deck.

Her pink Mercedes was already waiting and only after she piloted it in a steep curve above the peaks of the sky scrapers did I relax. "Whew, I thought he noticed something."

She giggled. "Yes he did, your ass. He had lots of machine parts but he was still a man."

The city was as dirty and gray during the day as it was at night. The air was full of smoke and sod and I looked around and sighed. "What a place."

She looked at me from the side and said. "Sin 4 is not just Casinos and prostitution. It produces lots of illegal wares. Drugs and weapons being on top of the list and companies take advantage of the cheap labor Lows, Skaakh and Slaves provide. There are no regulations, no laws. All waste is simply dumped anywhere. The City as you see it below us spreads almost over the entire continent and there are estimates that there are between eight and twelve billion beings living here, and most of them living at the bottom of the social feeding chain. Not even counting the true owners of this world, the native Stiks."

I asked, "Who are the Stiks?"

She answered. "A tribal pre industrial species that is native to Sin 4. They are treated even worse than the Skaakh. Most of them live on the Southern continent, but often they round them up for meat or for slave labor. It is very depressing."

"I wonder why anyone wants to live here."

"Because Sin 4 is within reach of the four big powers, not to mention the Shattered Kingdoms of the Oghr, the Karthanian, the Togar and hundreds of smaller Civilizations not associated with any of the Big Four."

She must have noticed despite my mask that I wondered who the 'Big Four' were, because she added. "Out here in Freespace we call the Union, the Kermac, the Nul-Nul and the Shiss simply the Big Four. You know by treaty of the last cease fire agreement, this is Freespace. None of the four powers are allowed to send warships here and all four closely watch that the others don't violate this treaty. So this world became a haven for the scum and criminal elements of the Galaxy and it is big business. Anything that is illegal in any of the four powers can be bought or sold here. It is a neutral meeting ground, hostages and blackmail money can be exchanged, as you learned yourself."

I sighed. "Whenever I think I know a little about the universe, I find out I really know nothing."

She steered the flier towards the open ocean and said. "I think you need to be one of those mystical Immortals the Union claims to have, to really know and understand it all."

I agreed with her. "Yes I think you are right, maybe Stahl and McElligott have a chance to do that."

Moistpromise said. "Not that anyone believes they are real, but you mention the name of the eternal Soldier around here in a spacers bar and you can see real fear in the eyes of hardboiled privateers and pirates that usually fear nothing. Some believe he is just well done propaganda, or some kind of Avatar projection, but there are quite a few who think he is a Demon or a God."

That was a preview of Eric Olafson, Space Pirate. To read the rest purchase the book.

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