Chapter Fifteen

Datron put his mind on the task ahead. He had to stay upright. He and his crewmen had often faced Ussarians in bars and dingy alleys, when one or more of them had taken it into their heads to raid some small planet or colony.

But he’d never single-handedly stood his ground against repeated attacks. He considered his foes’ individual weights, heights, and musculatures and for a split second, wondered what Keir Trask would have done. That’s when the truth metaphorically slapped him in the face.

He’d been comparing himself to his best friend and hero for years.

Keir got the girl. Keir was Captain while he was second-in-command. Keir was the beloved king’s grandson and favored to one day rule over Oceanus while his family members were dead—so forth and so on.

He’d even found a way to die nobly so Keir—as his former captain—wouldn’t find fault with his last act.

He was damned tired of comparing everything he did to what the winner of the Mr. Interstellar Feller competition had done. He was tired of coming in second to anyone.

He was Valkyrian. It was time he acted like it.

“I hope you can outlast the first two fighters, Valkyrian. I’ve given instruction for my men to go easy on you.” Goron grinned when his men guffawed at that remark. “In the end, my admiral will see me take your head, with my own battle saber. Your friends will die when you fall.”

Datron stuck out one hand, palm facing toward the stars. He curled his fingers, beckoning the first fighter forward. “Bring it.”

He had only a second to think before a beefy, shirtless male launched himself forward.

Datron’s body hurtled backward and up against the thick, sturdy metal of a packing crate. Pinned as he was, he could do nothing. He needed to get his hands up to fend off the hammered blows of his opponent.

When the warrior ducked his head to use it as a ramming tool, Datron lifted his right arm and turned his body sideways. By doing so, he deflected the Ussarian’s forward motion into the crate. The fool’s head made contact with the surface and the resounding thud could be heard quite clearly. This first Ussarian fell unconscious to the ground.

“One down, nine to go,” Datron uttered as he pushed himself away from the crate, then wished he’d stayed still. The main bones in his right wing were broken. And at least two ribs didn’t feel all that connected. But he walked forward as if nothing was wrong, ignoring the pain.

“Is that all you’ve got?”

He glanced from one stunned Ussarian face to another. He registered anger in their gazes as well as confusion.

Goron immediately got up and strode to the downed Ussarian lying in the dust. He viciously kicked the fallen fighter. “Drag this bog-worm out of the way.” Then he turned to Datron and softly growled. “The night is still young, Captain.”

****

From near the open gangway of the Ussarian ship, Charlie heard loud, angry voices. She also heard the dull thud of bodies slamming together, followed by a series of horrific groans and grunts. The violence of the fight bounced off the rocks and reverberated throughout many canyons.

With luck, maybe her friends had escaped their bonds and were battling to freedom. But then her hopes crashed and burned as the logical side of her brain leveled that thought.

If her friends were free, the Ussarians would have fired every duetron immobilizer, photo-crush phaser, and particle redistribution weapon at their disposal. All their arms were illegal and lethal.

The Ussarians considered themselves above any law. Hence their being on the top ten hit list of every bounty hunter and constabulary in the known galaxy. And the cowards would waste no time using lethal artillery against unarmed captives. She put her mind on her goal and moved forward.

Once aboard the Ussarian craft, she had three objectives. The first—to access the ship’s schematics from the cargo bay computer. This took her only moments since most ships of this smaller class had no internal security codes.

Once she had the schematics, the second part of her plan fell into place. Using the blueprints she quickly memorized, she climbed into the air ducts to traverse the ship and bypass locked or alarmed hatches. The arsenal, where she’d hoped to find weapons to aid her friends, was completely empty except for shell casings, and containers marked in various languages including Earth English. It was likely the weapons the Ussarians now carried, or had near them, were looted from other criminals. But there was absolutely nothing left for Charlie to use as a bludgeon, never mind launch a defense against murdering savages with full firepower.

Her third objective—the ship’s bridge. Unfortunately, her time there was as wasted as it had been in the arsenal. The ships’ main armament—mounted on the exterior of the hull—could only be fired by entering an encrypted code into the computer. Unlike the vessel’s schematics, there were security codes for these arms. Given about two hours, she could hack the system. Unlike many of the other ship’s spaces, she was certain Goron had some kind of warning alert that would tell him if anyone attempted to access his craft’s external arms. Otherwise, there’d be no use for the codes needed to bring them online. It had been a last ditch effort to get the outside arms under her control so she could scatter the Ussarians and give her friends a chance. Rigged as the computer was, she’d likely cause more harm to her companions if she was discovered.

Despite what was going on outside, she couldn’t stay there forever. Because the Ussarians’ engine was in the cargo bay, she had time to reconfigure some of its specs. There was nothing else she could think of to cause any more damage.

“God forgive me,” she whispered as she carefully crept to the open back gangway.

As she was going out the opening and toward her friends’ location, two shiny crates caught her attention. These were configured differently from the others inside the bay and covered by a tarp on one side. She hadn’t seen them when she’d first sneaked onto the vessel.

The cases were super-sealed by an electronic locking device. Hopefully, these were the containers that held the Lucent Stones. She harbored a vision of getting to some of them for use against the enemy.

Suddenly, the noise outside stopped. Sounds of heavy boot steps and low voices grew nearer. The idea of using the stones was quickly squashed. She didn’t know how to actually induce their mind-controlling properties anyhow. Would one stone be enough or would several be necessary? Did one have to get close enough to deliver them in a crushed state? Was she strong enough to crush them or did she need a tool? Might they be introduced into some food or water? Or was there another delivery system available?

There were too many questions and no time left. Worse, she could easily render herself susceptible to their control since she didn’t know what she was doing. It made little difference now. She had to get off the ship or risk being discovered.

Safely hidden within the rocks again, Charlie spotted two Ussarian warriors dragging a couple of their own comrades into the cargo bay. She didn’t bother suppressing a grin. Someone, hopefully one of her friends, had made mincemeat out of two of the thugs.

That’ll teach those surly snots!

No matter what was happening near the Hyperion, she still had her own agenda and immediately turned her attention to the ambassador’s craft. The weapons there would be much less useful in a long-range situation—as this state of affairs warranted.

An envoy craft of that small configuration would normally be escorted by more battle-ready fleet vessels. If there were any of those nearby, she hadn’t found them and didn’t have time to look. If other Lucent vessels were present, the Ussarians had probably looted them anyhow, just as they’d looted the Hyperion.

However, the ambassador’s much smaller vessel did come with a very simple fuel system that might serve a purpose. It was meant to be accessed by one person and she knew how.

****

Datron swiped at the blood pouring from his nose and the lesion over his left eye. The next two Ussarians had met the same fate as the first attacker. Each lay on the ground to the silence of a stupefied audience.

“For the love of God, give him some water!” Electra angrily cried.

“Filthy bacoor leeches!” Clitus yelled, straining at the ropes holding him to his post.

Gilla let out a Silkan cry of rage, thus transforming himself from the sentient and gentle water-world creature everyone knew him to be, to a be-fanged, open-mouthed fury he seldom let anyone witness.

One of Datron’s attackers had pulled a short, serrated blade from his belt and embedded it deeply into his left rib area. In greater pain than before, he staggered but never fell.

“Cowards!” Gilla loudly howled when he managed to get his uncharacteristic show of shape-shifting anger under control.

Datron quickly glanced toward his bound friends, and lifted one hand to silence them. His efforts would be for nothing if one of them angered Goron enough to dishonor the challenge agreement. It wouldn’t take much for that to happen. Goron hadn’t bargained on his still being on his feet after several rounds of fighting.

Exiting his seated position on a crate, Goron walked forward even as two more of his minions were dragged back to his ship’s sickbay.

Datron’s left eye was swelling shut, but he was determined to face his enemy squarely. He only needed to see out of one to fight.

“How much longer do you think you can stand?” Goron asked. “Give way now and I will quickly take one of your crewmembers out.”

Datron lifted the corner of his mouth. It was the only way he could form any semblance of a smile. His entire face was going numb. “You go to whatever hell Ussarians believe in. I’m still standing. You don’t touch my crew!” he said, gasping for air in a way that made him reluctant to say more.

****

Working her way back toward her friends—using the same rock outcrops that had allowed her to escape notice before—Charlie hadn’t a clue as to how to help. She saw Datron’s battered body and anger the likes of which she’d never known overtook her. She physically had to hang onto the surface of a rough, red rock to keep from catapulting herself toward him. The sheer brutality of the battle she’d only heard became fully visible now.

“Wing man!” she whispered and choked on bile that rose in her throat.

Her beloved warrior stood proudly defiant and battered almost to an unrecognizable state.

From the vessel she’d just left, two Ussarians marched forward. One of them consulted with Goron. That same man took up a fighting stance opposite Datron who also squared himself to take on one more of what had to have been several attackers.

She didn’t see anyone else hurt. Gilla, Clitus, and Electra were still tied but appeared untouched. The expression on their faces mimicked the way she felt. In the firelight, she clearly saw their outrage and assumed this fighting was some kind of game where Goron’s men were taking turns beating up the Hyperion’s captain. Datron, like a magnificent winged god of mythic proportions, stood there flexing his muscles. For some reason, her lover was determined not to give an inch. Even though his once-handsome countenance was a mask of blood and gore, in her eyes he was still the most magnificent man who’d ever breathed. She ached to hold him close and to tell him how much she loved him. And one more thing became very clear.

I can never leave him.

If God allowed them to survive this horrible night and just a few more moments were granted them, she’d be his. Now she knew what she hadn’t before.

They were meant to be together until life left her.

Fear for her safety didn’t figure into the equation. Her future was sealed. But there might still be a way to help Datron and her friends. All she needed was one more break. God knew she was on overtime in that regard.

Since the dispenser of such favors was ever near her heart, she looked toward the starry night sky of Chiron and whispered a prayer.

“Dear Lord, I know I’m small. In this old universe that might not count for much. But you didn’t bring me this far and keep me safe just to watch good people die. Please…help me again.”

She closed her eyes for a long moment. Then, in answer to her request, a sudden surge of bravery hit her with all the force of a gamma ray.

The Ussarians were drinking heavily. Perhaps their sense of owning the situation drove them to carelessness. Their drunken state may have been augmented by the fact that Datron shouldn’t have lasted this long.

The huge Ussarian leader berated his thugs and threw an oversized tantrum. He picked up rocks and empty wine bottles. These he tossed aside in infantile disgust. The rest of Goron’s men cringed in response.

She whispered several uncharacteristic oaths when Goron pulled one particularly large Ussarian fighter to his feet and addressed the brute tersely.

“Put that winged parasite on his knees or I’ll have you in irons all the way back to Ussar,” Goron raged as he shoved the next fighter into the ring.

The next man up did as his leader commanded, but not quite as quick as his former shipmates. The new Ussarian contender gazed at the foe his leader wanted him to best, and seemed hesitant to approach.

There wasn’t one single part of Datron that wasn’t bruised or bleeding. Yet the winged man still stood, unwavering and ready to do battle.

Once more, she likened him to a combating angel. Even horribly beaten, he remained magnificent.

“You have taken out several of my friends, Datron Mann. But I, Rayos the Mighty, will not be bested.”

Datron swiped at the blood pouring from the deep cuts around his left eye.

“At this rate, you won’t have a crew left. I suggest you put down your arms and turn yourselves in.”

Through tears of pride, Charlie smiled at his audaciousness.

Goron clenched his hands and addressed the current Ussarian fighter. “Rayos, should you finally bring him to his knees, I will give you three times your share of booty.”

Rayos roared, beat his chest in anticipation and rushed Datron.

In the flickering firelight, Charlie saw a wicked set of brass knuckles glinting on the Ussarian fighter’s left hand. She started to shout a warning, but did not want to distract Datron or give herself away. She might be the only chance her friends had to live.

Datron waited until the lumbering Ussarian got to within a few feet, then he quickly turned to his right and used his uninjured left wing as a whipping device. Rayos was struck by a full frontal blow that made Charlie wince.

“That had to hurt, you son-of-a-bitch!” she whispered.

Even as she uttered those words Rayos was thrown backward into his comrades. The tattooed ruffian lifted his head and gazed up at the stars in a dazed manner. His eyes rolled back in his head. Then he succumbed to the dark domain of unconsciousness. His mates backed away, glancing between Goron and the Valkyrian defender.

Charlie shook her head in wonder.

Datron lifted his chin. “It’s too bad you brought boys to a man’s fight. You’re wasting my time,” he taunted and bravely turned his back on his enemies.

Goron was busy berating his men and shouting obscenities that would melt Vulcan rock.

It seemed Datron and the others might not die tonight. Goron shook with such apoplectic rage that he appeared incapable of making a decision. His men backed further away. It looked as though none of them wanted any part of a Valkyrian. She believed their retreat was probably the smartest thing they’d done so far.

On reaching the place where Gilla, Clitus, and Electra were still bound to their sturdy beams, Datron boldly opened one of the Hyperion’s supply crates and pulled out several bottles of water. Then he turned and offered his comrades hydration with his own hands. He did this before taking one drop for himself.

Charlie watched his selfless act, and her heart filled with such love the whole universe must surely hear it beating.

“My God! You should see yourself,” Electra said after she drank from the bottle Datron held for her.

Clitus smiled broadly. “I hope I live long enough to shake your hand, Captain. Watching Ussarians get the living crap beat out of them made my millennium!”

“Most emphatically!” Gilla added. “I don’t believe I’ve ever witnessed such a raw display of pugilistic expertise. Well done, sir. Well done, I say!”

Charlie clasped her hands in elation. She wanted so badly to be with them but their only chance remained with her not being discovered. Still, their camaraderie warmed her heart. What a sight to take into the hereafter. What a marvelous brave thing she’d witnessed.

Datron had just inspired her in ways she couldn’t have imagined. If he was going to die here, she could move up her death date and join him.

****

After a good amount of water poured down his parched throat, Datron stopped drinking and began to laugh.

“Are you all right?” Electra asked.

“I have the weirdest craving for an Earth hamburger with a big chocolate shake and a triple side-order of cheesy fries.” When his friends snickered in return, he knew he’d been able to alleviate their fear on his behalf. But then, he had to get down to business. “I’m relying on all of you to keep me awake. If I pass out and one knee hits the ground, you’re dead. So keep talking to me. Take turns. I don’t care what you say, just make me respond.” He turned when heavy booted steps sounded from behind. “Orion’s balls! Not him again.”

Goron approached his location, and the look on the bastard’s menacing face could only be described as incredulous. The bully clearly hadn’t meant to see him last this long.

Goron stopped in front of Datron and spoke in a slow, controlled fashion. “Have one last night, Valkyrian. But you know the rules. The challenge still stands! You may not sleep, or even sit. You must remain standing, even with your injuries.”

“Untie my crew and let them have some food!” Datron demanded. “They aren’t part of this. It’s between you and me. At least it should have been if you’d been man enough to face me.”

He had the satisfaction of seeing Goron actually tremble in anger.

If he could provoke the son-of-a-bitch into hitting him, he’d find the strength to take the Ussarian leader down. Once that was done the other criminals would be clueless as to their next move. He might be able to free his friends and fight.

Goron glanced at the three tied enforcers. “I have allowed you to give them water. Be thankful for that concession. I did so only so they will remain alert. I want them to see, in the bright light of Chiron, how a Valkyrian is beaten at the hands of Ussarians. I will see you on your knees and you will then see them die! And do not think of unbinding them in the night. My men will be watching every move you make.”

“Bite me!” Datron blurted as he took a long, nonchalant drink of water.

He had the satisfaction of hearing Goron growl before stalking off.

Electra rolled her eyes heavenward. “Datron, try to remember Ussarians will only honor their own customs as long as it pleases them. I’m amazed they haven’t disregarded the rules so far.”

“I must heartily agree,” Gilla clearly enunciated. “I believe there’s an Earth expression about pushing their buttons a bit too much, sir. Ussarians aren’t deep thinkers. I believe if Goron can find any way to discard the rules of this game, he most ardently will. He keeps you alive so he can be a hero in front of his admiral and whoever might be traveling aboard the Ussarian flagship. Clearly, they are coming here to escort the Lucent Stones back to Ussar and out of heavily trafficked space lanes where enforcer ships may pose a deterrent. I don’t believe Goron has considered that such a squadron was devised so that his part in this escapade might be minimized. This admiral he so idolizes will take full credit for the entire venture.”

Clitus nodded. “Gilla is right. Goron is operating under the delusion the stones are his, and that this admiral will let him keep them. He thinks he’ll be a hero when he’ll only be an impediment.”

Datron took a deep breath and saw the bigger picture they’d painted. If the fleet of Ussarian ships arrived, Goron would be in that admiral’s gun sights. There might be a way to drill that into his enemy’s head and cause confusion and more conflict among the Ussarians holding them captive.

If he could convince Goron, they might stand a small chance of getting out of this situation alive. “The ambassador…and I use the term loosely…won’t get any better treatment. Not unless he can make some kind of deal with the Ussarian admiral,” Datron mused. “Whatever gems his miners discover on the Dagor Prime colony won’t do him any good. Not when Lucent Stones could yield control of many governments and many planets where greater riches and power lie. If I can talk some sense into Caul, we might get somewhere. I see no harm in trying.”

“Except that Micoriun bog-swill parasite has made himself conspicuously absent,” Clitus announced. “I’ve looked and haven’t seen any sign of the good ambassador.”

Electra snorted. “He probably couldn’t stomach watching two Oceanus enforcers and their captain, and one highly placed and covert Earth Protectorate operative, being slaughtered,” she smoothly announced. “But he’s around somewhere. He’ll slither back when we’re all lying in this nasty red dust. Maggots always show up to pick at what the vultures leave. Of course, the bastard won’t have long to witness our demise. We’ll be just so much star dust when Chiron is exploded with our own trungeon bomb.”

****

After getting as near them as she dared, Charlie overheard their discussion. She saw that Datron actually looked worse than before. Although, having been beaten mercilessly, his mental faculties seemed quite sound. This was a testimony to his superior stamina. But then, she’d had a sampling of that vigor albeit under much gentler and more romantic circumstances.

She shook her head and immediately got her mind off his lovemaking and back on her next course of action. Since it seemed her comrades-in-arms believed the weakest link in the enemy chain might be Ambassador Caul, then her recent actions were coincidentally appropriate.

She gazed through the murky dust, toward Radnor Caul’s vessel. Her compatriots would soon figure out they weren’t alone, and was almost sorry Caul wasn’t on his ship. But he’d certainly know someone had been.

What she’d managed to accomplish might put the fear of God into him.

Based on nothing more than the internal clocks on Caul’s vessel, and the estimated time it’d taken her to get to her current location, Charlie held her breath. About twenty seconds later, Ambassador Caul’s small transport blew into a million pieces and lit the night sky with all the force of a mega, proteus-beam fragment explosion.

If that didn’t rattle the Ussarians and bring Caul out of whatever hole he’d hidden in, nothing would.