Truth or Dare Chapter 14: Cold Furry
#14 of Truth or Dare
Standard legal stuff, if you are not of age to be exposed to adult themed material for your area then please do what you must. All characters are mine, please do not use without permission. Criticism is always welcome.
Truth or Dare
Chapter 14: Cold Furry
Bright light flooded his eye the moment he opened it, forcing him to shut it immediately. Opening his eye again he had a moment of clarity before bright light assaulted him again. Uttering an oath Deamos went to swat the annoying light away only to find his arms being restrained.
"Get that damned light out of my eyes," Deamos threatened, "or I am going to cram it sideways up your ass."
<He's good> a feminine voice said that he did not recognize stated <you can let him up now>
Feeling the pressure come off his arms Deamos opened his eye and found himself looking up at a flat grey ceiling and laying on some padded surface. Pushing himself into a seated position, he winced as pain crawled through the left side of his chest. Looking about the room Deamos saw Commander Ross and Delinach. There was also what looked to be a female dragon in white scrubs seemingly engrossed with the data pad she was holding, two large male dragons also in scrubs stood by her both looking very serious and ready to move if needed. It would have looked normal had they been in a medical bay of sorts and not what looked to be an empty storage room. Frowning Deamos realized that his field of vision was down by half.
"Anyone want to tell me why my eye is not working?" Deamos asked while smacking the side of his head with the flat of his hand, in an attempt to fix the issue.
<Side effect from the gun that pirate used> the female dragon replied, looking up from the data pad she was holding <the slug we pulled from your chest had trace residual of a micro EMP burst. That burst fried the optical processor in your pasatronic eye. Fortunately the nanites in your system were not affected and are repairing the damage. Fortunately we do not need to pull the whole thing and replace it. We can if you want, that is an older model>
"How long until it is functional?" asked Deamos, still lightly smacking the side of his head..
The female dragon looked at a data pad she was holding <Our techs say 48 hours. We can have a new one put in today if you want>
"Behfor chu ahnswr dat chu mahy wahnt chu heer what we haft chu say," Commander Ross interrupted, causing Deamos to look at her.
"What?" Deamos asked, in a slightly annoyed tone as he stopped smacking the side of his head, "what could be so pressing that I would need to take into consideration whether or not I get a new eye?"
"Es rehgardin Miss Reedtahil," Commander Ross answered, gaining the undivided attention of Deamos.
"What happened?" Deamos asked sitting up straight.
"She is currently a guest of the pirates at the moment," the elder dragon simply stated as she walked into the room.
"Then why the fuck am I still here?" Deamos asked angrily, he hopped down from what he saw was a counter with a thin pad laid out on it.
"Stay put half blood," Commander Delinach spat, "if I had my way this conversation would not be happening."
"I was not speaking to you," Deamos replied in an equally icy tone, "I was asking her." Stated Deamos, pointing to the elder dragon.
"We need you to do a mission," the elder dragon began, "and it involves you having died."
"What?" Deamos asked more annoyed than ever, "no riddles, what the fuck is going on and why are we not putting a rescue mission together to get Ka . . . Miss Redtail?"
"Marcus es handehlin de rehscue misshon," Commander Ross answered, "weh reported chu deed. Weh nehd ah oprahteev dat weh know keen cohmpleet a misshon. Dat es chu Deamos. Weh nehd de illehgal element ohn boff sihed chu beh a prohblem. De Imperium and de Empire ahre dis clhose chu ohpen waar. Wit de hoomahns pushen de Imperium, weh nheed de pirhats chu dehsteect de Empire. Weh nehd de lohcatchon oft whaar de hoomahns meek de mehtal chu wahs shoot wit."
"That makes no fucking sense whatsoever," Deamos stated angrily, "first I don't give a fuck if the Imperium is defeated by the humans. Second if Sykon gets Katl . . . Miss Redtail, he is going to make her use her ability and be a larger pain in the ass than he already is."
"There is another reason Sykon wants Miss Redtail," the elder dragon stated, getting the attention of Deamos and Commander Ross, "Debania was a deep cover operative for us." Deamos and Commander Ross both wore the same surprised expression, "yes she was an Enforcer but she was also a spy for me. I tasked her to get in close to the Enforcer Commander; at the time I did not know it was Demthoiousen Falchion . . . if I had known I would not have tasked her with the mission."
Deamos was fuming, smoke was streaming from his nostrils and he was opening and closing his fist rapidly. "Are you telling me you told her to get close to me?" Hissed Deamos, "to act like she cared, just so she could spy on me and the Enforcer Corps?"
"Spy yes," the elder dragon replied in a tired tone, "get close no. That happened on its own. Why she took interest in you is beyond my comprehension. You are violent, quick to anger and very much black and white, and have this chip on your shoulder that is as big as a planet. But she saw something in you that I cannot."
"Whaat whas de misshon?" Commander Ross asked angrily, interrupting Deamos, "why speey ohn us?"
"Not so much on you but everything else," the elder dragon replied cryptically, "I will not divulge what her mission was exactly but Debania found something that Sykon did not want known. He was the one that had her killed. But as we now know, Debania imprinted herself on an equally powerful Sympathetic. The down side was that Miss Redtail did not know of her latent abilities at the time and we thought the information lost. At the time Miss Redtail was just an infant and none though to look at her. I knew Debania would imprint on someone if she could, so it was very surprising to see that imprint here and Miss Redtail not knowing it."
"Ahre chu shurr?" Commander Ross asked, "et chold beh jest ahn echo. Ah haft saheen dem befohr."
"It is a complete Imprint Shoufahng," the elder dragon stated, sounding more tired, "I see the world through different eyes then you. Those that are gifted stand out from those that are not, Deamos being an exception. I see your bio-electrical signal not the individual, so yes it is a complete imprint of her mind buried deep in Miss Redtail subconscious. Sykon sees the world as I do too, which would be why he is so bent on acquiring Miss Redtail."
"What information could that be?" Deamos asked sarcastically with a raised eye ridge, "plans for a mega weapon? Your personal diary?"
<Watch your tone half blood> Commander Delinach growled.
<Fuck off> Deamos retorted.
"Debania had the shut down and activation codes to the Nexus Protocol," the elder dragon stated wearily, "she had them and destroyed all evidence associated with it. That is why Sykon had her killed and now why he wants Miss Redtail."
Deamos and Commander Delinach both stood dumfounded, looking at the elder dragon like she had just burst into flames. The three other dragons in the room also bore the same expressions of surprised disbelief.
"Ahney ohne wahnt chu feel meh en chu what dis Neexs Prhotacal es?" Commander Ross asked, in a rare sign of confusion.
"It was the fail safe during the Great War," the elder dragon replied, a faraway look on her face, "it was placed deep into space that was uncontrolled by anyone. We had thought to control the universe through sheer terror. A weapon that if used could wipe out an entire galaxy. Kill all living matter leaving nothing behind but barren rock. But we learned that if it was used it would not stop, if implemented it would wipe everything out. And I do mean everything. So we installed an advanced AI onto it and told it to avoid all forms of life unless called back. We had one give it a command line to return, another to activate and a third to deactivate permanently. All three Officers did this under the utmost secrecy and not even I know what the codes where. These three brave souls where 'retired' upon completion of this task. We learned that Sykon had somehow figured out what the return home command was. He was supposed to get the other codes when he went to Liberty Station. Debania intercepted those codes and removed the source. So you now know why he is so bent on getting her, she has the codes buried in her mind somewhere and he wants the keys to the most destructive weapon the universe has ever seen."
"Why didn't you just blow the fucking thing up!" Deamos shouted, throwing his hands up, "we could have avoided a whole lot of trouble because of this!"
"Es night jest ohn dehvice es et?" Commander Ross asked, her ears wilted slightly.
"No its not," the elder dragon replied, with a weary sigh, "the exact number in unknown to me. We were so clever in its implementation that we have shot ourselves in the foot."
"I'm not following," Deamos growled.
"It was designed that if one was destroyed they would all activate simultaneously," the elder dragon stated, "since we never knew how many were made or where they are, we could not just blow up one."
"Boot chu sahid ohn wahs pleeced en dheep sphac," Commander Ross stated.
"We did place one in deep space, the main one," the elder dragon stated, "the rest were created from an automated facility independent from everything. It was operational for more than a year before it was destroyed during the war."
"Fucking tits," Deamos growled, leaning against the counter and crossing his arms.
"For once, I agree with you half blood," Commander Delinach stated.
"This of course goes back to what I said earlier," began Deamos, "why the fuck am I not going after Katlin now?"
* * *
The March Hare had been making its way steadily towards the border between The Old Kingdom and the Imperium. Two days had already passed and the ship had not made much ground. The Captain had tried to make a jump when a ship that could have swallowed his whole materialized out of apparently nothing. As soon as it appeared the March Hare's jump drive had gone offline leaving only its sub-light engines operational. The engineers had reported that the larger ship was using some form of gravity well generator and that was what had knocked the jump drive off line. They also reported as long as they remained in the influence of the gravity well the jump drive would remain off line. Even under full burn the March Hare had not been able to put any distance from the much larger ship, this of course left the pirate captain in a wonderful mood.
"So any more good news?" the Captain asked in a sarcastic tone. He was currently occupying his captain's chain on the bridge. He was no longer wearing his duster but a dark colored vest and matching lose fitting trousers; he still had on his trademark boots.
"We can't fix the drop ship," the female cougar stated handing the Captain a data pad, "so we lost all three with that raid not to mention crew. It's going to be hard to pick up fifty bodies from Demon Cove."
"No one said this life was easy," the Captain replied, squeezing the bridge of his nose, "besides getting more crew is not the issue. Replacing three Budong class drop ships is not cheap. Plus that little advancement Sykon gave us is only going to cover fixing the ship. And on top of that we have a planet killer of a ship ghosting us and not letting us get the fuck out of here. So what are fifty bodies and three drop ships in comparison?"
The doors to the ready room opened and a female leopard exited wearing a grim expression. She made her way directly to the Captain who was now looking in her direction. When she made it to the Captain's side she leaned in close and whispered into his ear.
"So now he can talk to us?" The Captain growled angrily as he stood, "now he can reach us?"
Fuming the Captain stomped into the ready room with the female leopard in tow. Entering it the Captain looked towards the communicator and saw a blinking light indicating someone was waiting. Swearing under his breath he approached the communicator and pushed the receive button on the interface. A holographic representation of Sykon's head came into view, appearing much cleaner then is had in the past.
"I see the communications lines are working wonderfully," the Captain barked angrily.
"Temper , temper captain," Sykon cautioned, "remember who you are talking with. And yes they are working better, we recently deployed a deep space communications satellite. There is nowhere within the Imperium that I cannot reach now."
"So I am talking to a future pair of boots that can use a fancy widget?" the Captain retorted with a snort, "what do you want oh self imposed glorious one?"
"Cute," Sykon replied in anything but an amused tone, "you are taking longer then you said. What is the delay?"
"Well . . . riddle me this Batman," the Captain began, crossing his arms and glaring at Sykon, "what is out of some 18thcentury medieval fairy tale, flies, can breathe fucking fire for Christ sake and oh was impervious to just about everything I threw at it?"
"I am not in the mood for your gibberish," Sykon hissed, "nor am I in the mood to decipher your references which make no sense to me."
"You had me walk into a fucking fire breathing dragon's home asshole!" the Captain snarled, leaning in close to the holographic image, "cost me three drop ships! Not to mention I will need to find new pilots too. Now I can't jump because I have one mother of a star ship tailing me and using some magic mumbo jumbo that is fucking with my jump drive. So I am a little sorry that I AM NOT ON FUCKING TIME!"
"Are you done?" Sykon inquired in an irritated tone.
"Fuck no," the Captain retorted, "you did not warn me of the fucking flying meat grinder. You told me you would not be able to talk once we passed into The Old Kingdom, yet here I am! Speaking to you! You failed to mention a god damned thing about a whole fuck ton of Enforcers camping out nearby. The only thing you passed in any detail was about this damned Katlin Redtail, whom I managed to acquire for you. So my rate it triple that of what we agreed upon and that is nonnegotiable fuck head. So try me and see what gets spaced out the nearest airlock."
"Is she alive?" Sykon asked with a raised eye ridge, "and untouched."
"No shit for brains," snarled the Captain angrily, "I brought a dead body on board and had my crew run a train on it before it got cold."
"I need proof of life pirate," Sykon stated, narrowing his eyes, "it would be in the best interest of all if you complied."
"You agree to triple what you were going to pay me?"
"If you have her and she is untouched then yes. If not, do not bother returning to Demon Cove."
"So you know about Demon Cove eh?"
"Everyone knows about Demon Cove Human. It is not exactly secret."
"Where is it?" the Captain challenged.
"I am not playing your game Human," Sykon replied in a flat tone, "show me that Miss Redtail is alive and in your custody."
"Yeah, that is what I thought," the Captain replied, stepping back from the hologram, "I could go get her but she is down in the holding cells. So if you want to wait while she is brought up by all means do so."
The lights in the ready room dimed suddenly to just above being off and low hum filled the room. The Captain frowned and stepped back from the communications consul, looking about the room as it seemed to stretch in length. He stopped moving when he felt the hairs on his body seemingly stand on end at the same time. Raising his arm to eye level he saw that he was correct, the hairs on his arm were standing on end. Looking past his arm he watched as the holographic display of Sykon shimmered slightly before winking out. A loud ripping sound filled the room at the same time a single glowing vertical line formed from the ceiling all the way to the floor. Stepping through the light was Sykon, looking none too pleased.
"Nifty trick you got there," the Captain said sarcastically, "I once saw a man make a tiger disappear from a floating cage. So this little light show meant to scare me or something?"
Sykon stepped forwarded and grabbed the Captain by the front of his vest with both hands and lifted the surprised man clean off the floor and so that he was face to face with him. "This little game you play I do not like," the dragon hissed, "and before you shit yourself no I am not really here. This is just an example of what I am capable of. Unfortunately your primitive brain could not handle much further abuse from me without synaptic overload and causing your brain to melt." Sykon tossed the man back causing him to strike the back wall. Striding over to the stunned human Sykon reached down and grabbed him by his throat with one hand and dragged him up the wall. "I don't need you to show or tell me anything Human. I already know that she is on your ship. I know you are being followed by the VelichFem Dranich. I know you are stalling because I know about your Blink Drive."
"How?" the Captain managed to gasp out, both his hands where wrapped around Sykon's arm and he was pulling on it in an attempt to get pressure off his neck.
"Don't presume me to be a fool Human!" Sykon yelled slamming the Captain against the wall, "your mind is an open book to me! You are not as clever as you think and I am always watching. Bring back what I asked you to collect now!" Releasing his grasp on the Captain's neck the man fell to the floor.
"So . . . this is . . . just in my . . . head?" the Captain wheezed, a hand going to his neck and rubbing it, "why don't I . . . just kill you then? It is my mind."
"Don't make me laugh Human," Sykon spat, "you do not possess the cognitive capability to harm yourself let alone touch me. I grant you one week Human to bring me what is mine or I will be inside your head removing a piece of you at a time until there is nothing left." Without another word Sykon vanished and the room snapped back to as it was.
The Captain found himself against the far wall on his ass and in a lot of pain, "fucking hell," the Captain stated a hand going to the bruises forming around his throat.
"Captain what just happened?" the female leopard asked in a concerned voice, she was by his side in two steps, "you just flew back suddenly."
"You saw none of that?" Asked the Captain in an irritated tone.
"Saw what Captain?" the female asked with concern, "you were speaking to Sykon and then you flew backwards. What the fuck happened?"
"Sykon sends his regards," the Captain answered, getting to his feet. He grimaced slightly as he again touched the bruises on his neck, "we need to get the Blink Drive up and running."
"What? Why?" the female leopard asked in alarm.
"Crazy wants Miss Redtail something bad," the Captain began walking towards the ready Room door, "I want to find out why. Get the Blink Drive up and ready we need to get to Demons Cove."
"But you said the Blink Drive was near suicide," the leopard stated angrily as she followed the Captain out the door, "you said 'don't ever bring that fucking thing on line again' and now you want to bring it back on line."
"I know what I said!" the Captain snarled, turning on the female, "get the thing back online. We are done discussing this." Turning back around the Captain went to his chair and sat heavily in it and stared out at the main screen.
_ _ _
Sykon sat in the throne room with a board look on his face, he was sitting in the throne of the High Warlord and was drumming his fingers on the armrest in an annoyed manner. He was wearing the traditional garb of the High Warlord which comprised off a decorative chest plate etched with various imagines of dragons in combat, a red silk blouse that matched his scales. He had on black leather trousers that had metal knee guards. On his feet he had black steal toe boots that ran halfway up his calf. Each of his fingers was adorned with a simple gold ring. Currently he was listening one of the many Council members reporting on the state of the Imperium. The dragon that was speaking was wearing the traditional robes of office.
" . . . Further incursions in sector 25-A have resulted in the increased patrols of the 9th Security fleet. Estimated increase running cost will be in the range of 85 million Dracknars. Sector 79-C has reported a 20% increase in production of zisonite and gold. It has also reported that several Human type ships have been spotted in the sector but no confirmation from the 6th fleet to collaborate the sightings. Grain output from Delark 5 was 50% below predicted levels due to an infestation of Morthal Locust. The short fall will cause prices to rise by 10% through the Imperium. This concludes commercial activities of the Imperium.
Next on the Docket are request for more funding by the military commanders in sectors 3 through 14. The 14th and 2ndfleet needs to replace two wings after the last battle with the Human 26thfleet. They reported it was another clash with the Human Commander Jacob Daily. Every encounter with this individual has resulted in heavy losses and has required for tactical withdrawal. The 1st fleet is asking for funding to build the new Dreadnaught as the current one is considered outdated and inefficient after heavy fighting along the contested territories. The 1stand 84th Heavy Infantry have reported success on acquiring the planet AZ-3 and capturing 89 Human colonist and 123 military types. The commander on the ground is requesting what actions are to be taken with the prisoners. The 6th light infantry battalion has requested more body armor for ground forces and a replacement Troop Carrier.The 6th Wing Heavy Fighters have reported success in driving the pirates from the shipping lane and are requesting permission to peruse and engage. Current reports from the Aldrian Rift have indicated an increase in the Human class ship of 'Carriers' and their heavy assault ships they classify as 'Battleship'. Area commanders have requested the 5th Strike Fleet to the area to fill in several gaps that have grown due to increase encounters with Human vessels. The Malick and Fronrun shipyards have reported they have completed four more Dreadnaughts, five light Cruisers and ten Marauders.
Next on the docket is the appointing of-"
"Stop," Sykon interrupted waving his hand, "Gods stop your yammering. Why am I even listening to this? Kill the civilians they have no tactical purpose. Find out what the captured human military types know, if they have some beneficial knowledge bring them here for further interrogation, if not execute them. Tell all field commanders that they are to exercise their best tactical judgment that is in the best interest of the Imperium. That's a standing order from this point on; I don't need these petty reports, are there no Council members that deal with this?"
"My Lord," the Council member began nervously, "all of these reports and request have to get final authorization from you."
"Well that is dumb," Sykon stated, "Bring all civil reports and request and things of that nature to the High Queen she does need something to keep herself distracted since my father has fallen ill. As the acting High Warlord I am passing a decree that only Military matters will be brought to me. As for all military requests regarding funding and any secret projects, from this point forward they are approved. All diplomatic maters of state at this time are suspended indefinitely."
"But-but-but my Lord," the Council member stammered, "we have negotiations with the Kuralian and Coulic controlled sectors regarding mining rights and permissions. We can't just tell them to wait indefinitely regarding the treaties they will not allow mining without signing of a treaty."
Sykon sat forward in his throne, "Then take it from them," he stated in the same manner one would when explaining something to a child, "no more issue regarding treaties."
"That would be an act of war my Lord. With current tensions on both borders and the current conflict with the Humans we-"
"Take the mining sights," Sykon interrupted slamming a fist on the arm on the throne, "if there is an issue, take the system if they resist, send in the 1st Fleet and take the sector if need be. We are the Imperium we take, we do not ask. Done are the days of diplomacy, we do things like the days before, at gun point! I will not be bothered by anymore of this mindless drivel so you may leave; there are more important things for me to deal with besides grain output on a planet."
"But I must implore you my Lord to listen to reason, if we open another front or allow runaway spending it will-"
"LEAVE!" Sykon bellowed, standing from his throne suddenly his fist at his sides. All the lights in the Throne Room dimmed and the air around Sykon visibly rippled.
The Council member swallowed hard and held the data pad he had been reading off of to his chest and hastily bowed. Turning back around the dragon walked away quickly having to step over several bodies on the floor all wearing Council robes. Some bodies had been there longer than others but they all served as grim reminders to the Council as a whole, they were expendable under the current regime.
Watching the Council member leave Sykon sat back in his throne and let out an irritated groan, leaning his head against the back rest as he did so. The sound of clapping in the Throne Room made Sykon look back up and in the direction the sound was coming from. Stepping out from behind a column was a large male wolf wearing heavy body armor that was dark blue and trimmed in silver. Emblazoned across the chest piece of the armor was a black hand holding a black lightning bolt.
"Dalvinus I told you not to come here," Sykon stated angrily.
"Why? You're in charge now boss," the wolf replied candidly, stepping over a council member's body, "it's no secret that you control the Lightening Fist. We would like a more active role now, granted staying in the shadows does generate more fear in the populace. I came by to complain actually."
"What?" Sykon asked icily.
"It regarding Fleet Commander Karlentarg," Dalvinus stated while holding his hand up and examining his nails, "that little shit has been poking his nose into some of our . . . side projects. I need him to stop. I know you don't want him dead and we have tried to be diplomatic. I sent an envoy to ask in the most polite way and he sent their heads back packed in salt."
"So move whatever it is you are working on," Sykon replied, "Karlentarg in one of the few within the Imperium I have no leverage over."
"You are the High Overlord of the Imperium," Dalvinus said angrily, "make him or the work we are doing regarding White Holes will be made public. He has already compromised that Earth Project you set up. He has yet to crack the encryption or we would all be dead."
"You let him get a hold of that project?" Sykon asked in a quiet tone immediately getting the attention of Dalvinus.
"Hold on a second," Dalvinus said, raising his hands in a placating manner, "I did not let him do anything. We moved it six times in two days. Jumped through three sectors with two blind jumps and he still tracked down the team. He had codes and software to override the destruct protocols that were initiated. Someone here gave him information I don't know who."
"Excuses Dalvinus," Sykon said quietly getting to his feet, "That is all I am hearing from you."
"What the fuck did you want me to do?" Dalvinus asked taking a step back while a hand dropped down to the gun at his hip.
"You where supposed to not let that information get out," Sykon answered, bringing his hands together in front of him, "it was simple instructions and now it is in the hands of one of my few real enemies within the Imperium. If he manages to figure out the encryption and open the files it will cause a problem. I do not like problems."
"Then fucking have him arrested or some crap," Dalvinus stated taking another step back while flipping the safety off of his gun, "you can do that. I fucking did everything I could. He had override codes and software to counter what we implemented and we traced it back here. What more could I have done?"
Sykon lowered one of his hands while out stretching the other, "You could have dealt with it as I asked."
It took less than a second for Dalvinus to draw his gun and fire at Sykon. Everything slowed from the flash of energy discharging from the gun to the bolt of plasma headed towards Sykon. The red dragon tilted his head slightly as a surprised look came over his face. As the bolt of energy struck Sykon it seemed to spread slightly before burning through the chest plate and into Sykon. Crumpling backwards as a red splatter erupted from behind, covering the throne, Sykon landed heavily bouncing slightly and causing his upper body to fall over the right arm of the throne limply.
"Fuck me," Dalvinus breathed heavily, his eyes were wide while his ears where canted forwards, "I actually got the fucker." Swallowing Dalvinus walked towards the throne with his weapon raised. Stopping several steps from Sykon's body he looked for any signs of life. When he could not see any he fired his gun again hitting Sykon's chest and making the body jump from the impact. With a satisfied snort Dalvinus holstered his gun. Turning his eyes opened wide in surprise as a sword ran through his chest cutting through the armor he wore like tissue paper and erupting out his back.
"Dalvinus, Dalvinus, Dalvinus," Sykon chided, pulling the sword from the wolf's chest with a wet squelch, causing him to drop to his knees, "you had such potential."
"H . . .ow," Dalvinus coughed, blood oozing from his mouth. His eyes looked from the glowing blade in Sykon's hand to the murderous look in his eyes.
"Please I knew what your intent was the moment you started speaking," Sykon mocked walking behind Dalvinus, "besides Fleet Commander Karlentarg sent word that one of my own would make an attempt on my life. He does not like me but he is loyal to the Imperium. He also informed me a week ago about collecting unknown information for an unsanctioned militant group. I was very much aware of your failure before your little speech."
Dalvinus managed to turn his head to look behind him, confusion clouding his thoughts. He was barely able to see the throne, sitting pristine and quiet clean. No body and no blood. His head going forward he let his chin fall against his chest. Sykon was now behind him and had raised his sword with both hands so that the tip was straight down and just below the base of the wolf's skull. Without a word Sykon brought the sword down severing the spine of Dalvinus before going out the front of his throat. With two sharp twist to the left and then right Sykon pulled the sword back out and kicked the now dead wolf's body forward where his head struck the ground with a dull thud.
"I really do need to get more reliable soldiers working for me," Sykon muttered, wiping the flat of the blade on his sleeve, the blade was no longer glowing as it had been, "I swear you can't buy loyalty like one used too. A hundred years ago one would have shot himself and saved me the trouble." Holding the now clean blade up so he could look it over, Sykon smiled maliciously, "I do need to thank the R&D folks for their hard work on solid state photon emitters, their new toy works wonderfully."
* * *
"Damn it Charlie," Diana fumed, "for someone with such a long tongue you can't work it for shit."
"Mrph." Was all Charlie was able to say. Currently Diana was laying on her back in her bed and had her fingers buried in the back of Charlie's head fur while his head was buried between her thighs, "Nee mat reee," Charlie mumbled to Diana's annoyance.
"More tongue less talky," Diana ordered squeezing her legs together against the poor foxes head.
"Nee mat ree," Charlie mumbled again more insistently beginning to struggle.
"Yeeessss," Diana hissed happily, "wiggle some more like that and we might have something."
"Mat REEE!" Charlie mumbled louder, struggling more.
"Ok, what is the problem?" Diana asked angrily, raising her head up to look down at Charlie and releasing her grip on his head.
Charlie pulled away and took in a comical gasp of air, "Can't breathe!"
Before Diana could retort the door to her room slid open without announcement. Diana dropped her head back to look and see who just entered her room. In her upside down field of view she saw a none too pleased looking Marcus staring back at her.
"Oh hey Marcus," Diana said cheerily, "you come to play or watch?"
"Charlie. Out," Marcus ordered sternly, "pray I don't see anything I don't want to or I will castrate you myself."
"Yes ma'am," Charlie replied meekly, his ears burning red under his white fur. Staying low he grabbed a pillow off of Diana's bed before standing and keeping it strategically placed. Making a hasty retreat he disappeared from view.
Rolling to her stomach Diana gave Marcus an irritated look, "ok I will bite, what did I do wrong now?"
"He was supposed to be doing an after action report Diana," Marcus growled, angrily, "I don't need you causing more problems with my Enforcers. Is that understood Miss Stryker?"
"Well one, I don't work for you so . . . eat shit and two, I don't work for you so if Snow Balls wants to roll in the hay I'm not going to say no."
"Your right you are a civilian and if I had my way you would stay in this room and not be allowed out. But I am ordering you to not interfere with My Enforcers, is that clear?"
"Well you're not charge, Deamos is and he likes me better," Diana retorted with a large grin.
"Deamos is dead!" Marcus shouted, her voice cracking slightly, "so guess who is in charge?"
Diana stared back speechless the smile wiped from her face.
"It's a miracle," Marcus spat angrily, "she's speechless."
"Wha?" Diana managed to squeak out.
"Dead," Marcus repeated angrily, "and Dmitri is not doing much better. He might lose his arm because of that fucking Human."
"Oh . . . so you coming here makes a bit more sense," Diana offered with a small smile, "not the coming after Charlie because he had some bullshit report to finish."
"Can you take anything serious?" Marcus snarled angrily, "Or is everything one big game to you?"
"No I get it," Diana stated as she moved to a seated position and grabbed a nightshirt that was draped over a nearby chair, "you needed to talk to someone and you didn't want to talk to the ice queen, what's her name . . . Leyine?"
"Lehlani," Marcus corrected dryly, "and pray tell why I would seek you out over her advice?"
"Well, I'm more fun," replied Diana, "and I think she would gut you on the spot if she thought you weak. That one scares even me. Everyone knows of the Enforcer Shadow Corps, and rumor has it Deamos made K-6 while with the Shadow Corps before moving to a command position. I never could figure out what K-6 meant, every military officer I danced for got real nervous when I put Shadow Corps and K-6 in the same sentence. So it was either super black ops crap or stuff that doesn't have a designator and makes folks disappeared."
"You're right," Marcus said quietly in a more relaxed voice, catching Diana's attention, "she would probably gut me if I came to her."
"You're as bad as Deamos is . . .er . . was . . . sorry," Diana's ears wilted slightly, "you came here for something other than girl talk? I am Sorry about Dmitri though, really. I am also sorry about Deamos, I didn't know him that well but he seemed to have a pretty solid head on his shoulders. I was shitting bricks when I first learned I was on the same ship as he was, his reputation scared me enough . . . funny I was living down the hall from 'The Deamos' and didn't even know it at the time."
"Knowing that I can speak to you, I may be by later to discuss the hole you drilled into my room's wall," Marcus stated, suppressing a smile, "but I did come here because Commander Ross and Commander Delinach have requested your presence."
"Fuck that," Diana replied quickly, eyes growing larger, "I lost all interest in wanting to be around deli snack when he ripped the spine out of one pirate and used it to skewer another. Of course seeing him bite the head off of one did not help either. Nor when he breathed fire or plasma whatever it was. It just melted a few of them . . . I have never seen flesh do that and it was really unnerving. So no dice on deli snack, Commander Ross I can meet with."
"It was not a request," Marcus said plainly, "I have been instructed to bring you there by any means necessary."
"Oh come on Marcus," Diana pouted, "we were having a moment and you went a ruined it."
Marcus snapped her fingers and a female black dragon came into view that Diana recognized immediately, "yeah you would bring her now wouldn't you?" Diana groused getting to her feet, "let me get some pants on first."
"Fucking hell!" Deamos growled angrily at the tech working on his positronic eye, <how much longer this going to take? Feels like you are jabbing my brain>
<Technically I am> the tech replied, his was a small green dragon with slight build and about half the height of Deamos. He was wearing a grey coveralls and a tool belt around his waist that had an odd assortment of gadgets. Over his eyes he wore what looked like miniature binoculars. He was standing on a ladder and leaning in close and was holding what looked like a cross between and arc welder and a soldering gun <They used the old G5 implant and those things are sturdy but twitchy as hell. Several of the control points are grafted to your brains optical processing nerve. I don't think I need to replace them but I might need to. Yup, I need to replace the whole thing. The synaptic conductor is fried . . . going to put the new PX-8 in, give you limited distance acoustic rebound imaging, let you see through walls if it's thin enough, check the showers and stuff. Watch the neighbors>
"Are all techs pervs?" Deamos asked with a raised eye ridge.
"No more than you," the tech replied with a grin <you installed a IR mod to your eye, mine just the next step up>
"That was for tracking and seeing in the dark!" Deamos replied angrily, "and nice to see that you do understand Common, been working on me for what, three hours? Acting like you don't understand me, you know how long it has been since I have had to speak OldDrahknaliss?"
<Of course> the tech stated with a smile <and your accent is horrible. So with the sonar mod you will be able to track and see in a zero light environment, plus you could pick up anything buried or hidden in the wall or ground> He continued working for a few more minutes before stepping back <That should do it. Remember it can take up to 24 hours for the eye and the brain to sync completely so be careful>
"I have dealt with worse," Deamos stated while looking left to right, up and down in an attempt to begin calibrating the new eye, "Why does everything have a yellow tint to it?"
<Oh that will go away> the tech replied stepping off his ladder, "new safety feature they started incorporating. When the tint is gone the eye is fully integrated with no problems. Let me know if it has not gone away in two days. If things start going red contact me immediately. Any questions?>
"How do I activate the features?" Deamos asked, rubbing two fingers over the new eye.
<Verbal at first. Once the system recognizes your brain wave pattern you will just need to think it and it will happen>
"Perfect."
A light rapping on the wall caught the attention of Deamos and the tech making them both look in its direction. Standing in the door way was Commander Ross. She was wearing her field uniform. The field uniform was standard military design with trousers and a long sleeve over coat both having a Urban camouflage pattern consisting of varying shades of black, grey and white. The difference between the military field uniform and Enforcer field uniform was that the Enforcer uniform had smart fibers built in allowing it to shift patterns with the environment as well as change density, giving it a near rip proof property and protection from smaller fire arms.
"Chu rehdey?" Commander Ross asked, "weh need chu geht chu yhour sheep."
"What ship?" Deamos asked with and suspicion.
"Fallhow meh," Commander Ross replied, dodging the question. Turning away from Deamos she began walking away.
With an irritated sigh Deamos followed after the older tiger trying to figure out what was being planned. To see her in a field uniform vise her ship uniform was troubling. It meant one of two things: ground forces had already deployed or they were prepping for a major offensive. With either case it was not something Deamos wanted to get wrapped up in at the moment. As the two continued through a series of halls that progressively went in a downward spiral. After what felt like hours the two stopped before a door that did not belong. It was solid steel, old and a fine layer of dust coated it. Large piston locks on the sides and the top. A rental was scanner was to the left of the door; Commander Ross walked over to the scanner and looked back at Deamos after she stopped next to it.
"Scahan chu eey Deamos et es progrhamd fohr chu," Commander Ross ordered.
"Why is my retinal print needed on a lock here?" Asked Deamos, he was standing back a few steps with his arms crossed across his chest. His tail was laying on the ground unmoving save the tip which was twitching in an irritated manner.
"Deamos plheas jhust do et," Commander Ross replied in a strained tone, "jhust troost meh on dis."
"Hard for me to trust you Commander, me being dead and all. I also know for a fact I have not locked anything below the palace. So whatever is in there was locked up for a reason and it was not by my hand."
"Chu fahda poot et heer," Commander Ross stated, to which Deamos raised an eye ridge, "chu shaar de sahm eey empreent. Dat es why weh need chu to scahn des look."
"Which father? The one that I was raised under while in the Imperium or my biological father that I never met?"
<You biological father half blood> Commander Delinach rumbled from behind Deamos. His voice came out as a blast of hot air and sounding much deeper than before. Turning Deamos only made it half way when a massive clawed hand grabbed his head and lifted him a foot off the floor. Commander Delinach was the same size as he had been before when fighting the pirates <I do not have time to deal with a whelp. Do as you're told>
Saying nothing further Commander Delinach strode over to the door carrying Deamos as if he weighed nothing. Deamos had grabbed the hand and was holding himself up keeping the pressure from his neck as much as he could. When they reached the door Commander Delinach shoved Deamos against the scanner holding him in place, with his other hand he manhandled Deamos until he had his eye pressed against the scanner. When nothing happened the larger dragon growled angrily.
"What is so important behind this door?" Deamos asked calmly, if not slightly muffled.
<Open your eye or I will rip it out myself> Commander Delinach threatened.
"Es de sheep, nohting mohre," Commander Ross Answered, "scahn chu eey date es ah orhder."
Feeling the pressure increasing as the seconds wore on Deamos weighed his options. None of them look good for him. Commander Delinach had gone primal before Deamos had a chance to react and caught him off guard. Commander Ross was dedicated to getting the door open. Though curiosity did make him want to see what could possibly be so important that his father would lock it away so that only he or Deamos could open it. Letting out a frustrated growl Deamos opened his eye to the scanner. It only took a moment for the system to scan his eye before beeping. There was a loud 'thunk' as the locks slowly disengaged and began to pull inward. Commander Delinach released his grip and allowed Deamos to step back from the scanner.
"A bit unnecessary," Deamos spat angrily, directing his ire more towards Commander Delinach.
<That was for stabbing me you little shit> Commander Delinach rumbled just as angrily, while drawing himself to full height.
"Sahve de cheest thumpen foh lather," Commander Ross said in a surprisingly kind voice as she walked between the two dragons. She patted Commander Delinach on his leg, in the same manner on would when comforting someone, "Weh haft a messhion chu ocohmpleesh. Ahfta dat den chu keen keel each oder."
<STAND BY FOR MITOCHONDRIA VERIFICATION> A computerized voice stated suddenly, making everyone turn towards the door.
"What the fuck doe that OW!" Deamos yelped jumping back from the scanner in time for everyone to see a thin spike retract back into the scanner housing, "son of a bitch that hurt." Deamos rubbed his arm where he had been jabbed by the spike.
<VARIFICATION COMPLEATE . . . WELCOM HIGH COMMNADER . . . JADE PROTOCAL IS NOW IN EFFECT>
"What the fuck is Jade Protocol?" Deamos asked looking to Commander Ross.
<VOICE PRINT DOES NOT MATCH FILE COPPY . . . ERROR 6-354K . . . COMFIRM IDENTY> the computer interrupted suddenly at the same time wall mounted heavy laser folded down from both sides of the door and painted Deamos with red dots.
"Well shit," Deamos stated with a dumbstruck look on his face as the barrel of the heavy laser began to warm up inches from his face, "if anyone has any ideas now would be the time."