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Convergant Paths- Anya

Deviation Actions

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Aria System
Planet Nubia
December 3, 6200 Current Era
Port Switchblade

Varg looked over her daily reports slave traders registered all slaves with her for indentured servitor permits. Without a license, the slave traders were violating the law and were to be banned from trading for five standard Nubian years. Sadly many of these slave traders held legal, political power, specifically Kaine. A Krullian who managed to employ thousands of non-slaves legally had gone and kidnapped a royal member of the Krullian royal house Delia.  

The Krullian house dedicated most of its time to Special Forces training and weapons development. Now House Delia sent one of their most elite teams with a full frigate strike group as support. She was only a mere 72 hours away from the end. That kind of firepower was going to do a lot of damage and leave her colony open to attack from nearby pirates.

Kaine was currently not violating any laws the boy she kidnapped was kept in clean conditions, fed, and registered. If she even so much as mentioned the thought of releasing him, she could lose her job or worse. Time was against her the law was against her, and she was running out of ideas. Buying the boy was out of the question. Alexia Delia made one thing clear the boy was not for sale, and she would raze the entire colony if a single cent changed hand. This time she needed a foreigner to handle the situation.

“Ma’am we have one Gyran Tiger Class Corvette inbound it's hailing us on a closed channel. The commander is asking for a port to refuel,” Karl her Hegeran traffic controller said before sticking his snout into his cup of coffee.

“Tell him to land at dock 65,” Varg said realizing she may just have the right foreigner for her job.

Karl took his snout out of his coffee cup, “Ma’am dock 65 is private property, and don’t you mean dock 69?”

“Just send him to 65 I may need to impound his ship for our situation Karl,” Varg said knowing full well Karl would slur his words making 5 sound like a 9 after a dozen cups of coffee and having frayed nerves from Alexia’s promises. A hyper Hegeran could easily set a plan in motion.

Zack was in no mood to stay long at this port the unknown passed pirate space was bad enough, but now he had to refuel at a planet where Slavery was legal. “Why is this taking so long? Nines I don’t want to be here too long. We are going to get our supplies and fuck right off. Also, no more beer I am starting think you’re more defective than you already are,” Zack said tapping his thumb and forefinger together furiously hoping to speed up time.

“Yes confirmed land in Port 69,” a hyperactive voice said.

Nines looked back at Zachary from the copilot seat, “Was that 69 or 65?”

“I heard port 65 so plug that number into the flight computer. I will take us in and give you a shopping list while I buy fuel and fresh water,” Zack said his ship had a fuel tank technically, but he was able to convert a few of his storage containers into a surplus fuel stock. Also some fresh unrecycled or processed water would be a nice treat.

Zack took the Corvette toward the flight pad. When the Corvette touched down, he gave nines a list and went to buy some fuel. The problem was waiting for him with armed guards.

Karl and Varg waited for the crew to disembark. Karl greeted Nines and Zack with a question, “Excuse me sir, are you the commander of this ship?”

“Yes I am why, and who wants to know?”

“Well, sir we have to impound your ship. This port is 69 and is private property. The owner of the spot will not be returning soon so we can leave your ship here.

Varg stepped in noticing the confusion. “What Karl meant to say is port 65, you were expected to park in unit 69. This guy is hyped up on coffee we have a very stressful situation brewing. Right now I am in pounding your ship.

“What do I owe to get it out of in pound? I am not interested in your problem as I said I am passing through,” Zack said. He instantly regretted flying the Grizzly into hostile territory. “I knew Nubia had legalized slavery. Yes, your planet called it Indentured servitude and gave it a white wash with laws enforcing slave rights. I should never have come here for fuel!”

“Look, boy, I have had enough of you Gyrans slavery is not legal here it’s called indentured servitude, and the servants have rights. Enjoy your stay and don’t start shit. Rule one no starting shit with the locals, but if someone fucks with you, they are fair game. Be a good Gyran and exercise self-control. Oh, and your impound length is two weeks. You can freely come and go from your ship as it is a domicile. Have a beautiful day,” Varg told him.

Her comment had left Zachary annoyed and frustrated him. Zachary knew that it was not a good Gyran on Nubia, so he grabbed an overcoat and his pistols. An impounded threw him off track, knowing full well he barely made it into the corsairs, to begin with, and now he was stuck on a planet of slave traders. He needed to find Lilith but as he pushed forward the information became scarce, and the people willing to trade information made themselves scarce.

Anya woke up it was 1300 hours and her next day at work was to begin again. She called it work yet was nothing but a slave. As an indentured servant, this had been her longest running job. She threw the blankets off her and began to make the bed. Once that was done she went to the shower she always wondered if she was being watched while she showered.

Many of the other Krullians traded sex or did pornography for better conditions. Anya was perfectly content in the necessary by law quality quarters. She combed the hair on her ears down and undressed the water was warm enough she could be comfortable. She then went about dressing her clothing was provocative enough she would be appealing to customers, and the tip money she shared with other girls allowed her to buy makeup and other goods like real coffee and milk.

Anya put her tight athletic pants on they hugged her curves tightly and dressed in a business styled shirt that showed a fair amount of cleavage. It was a good combination for her she was comfortable but sexualized enough her master wouldn’t complain.  Now that she felt fully dressed she grabbed a few things left her slave quarters and headed out to the pub.

“Hello, Anya how are you doing? Beautiful weather we are having today,” Varg said to her friend.

“Oh, Commander Varg what can I do for you?”

“There is a Gyran roaming the Colony spread the word, that bitch Kaine has finally gone too far. I want to use the boy to fix our problem before house Delia gets here and start shooting,” Varg said motioning for her to keep walking.

“So you want me to care? I hate this place let the hypocrites burn this place down,” Anya said.

“He could be your ticket off this rock, Gyrans resettle and re-educate slaves. He only has one clone on his staff, so the option to see the stars is available too,” Varg said walking with Anya as they passed by a local school.

“Fine I will spread the word but how will you make him even visit my restaurant? I mean we are one of 15 that serve the 60s spaceport. Also, what does he look like maybe I will turn on the charm to sweeten whatever offer you have for him?” Anya asked her ears pointing straight up it was clear she was excited.

“His name is Zachary Ackerman here you go he’s cute by your mammal standards,” Varg said handing Anya a holo-projector.

Zack and Nines did the best to blend in with the locals, but with so many aliens humans were few in number. Skurmvald seemed to be swarming the place along with Hegerans and Krullians. Some were free others were slaves by the way they simply acted. For the better part of the afternoon, the two merely wondered aimlessly into the city.

Nines took an interest in a group of children of various species playing together in a water fountain. As a clone, many things were simply beyond his program comprehension. He wondered at the time what he felt watching the children play but thought little of talking about things. Nines noticed that the holo-pad was buzzing; he opened the device and read the message, FORGIVE OUR ERROR PLEASE ENJOY A NIGHT AT THE WINSTON PUB ON ME. I WILL COVER YOUR BILL UNCONDITIONALLY, VARG.

“Hey Zack that Shark lady just said we have access to her tab at the Winston Pub,” Nines said rather excitedly as he showed Zack the message.

“So we can run her tab into the red or end up paying one that could cost me my ship. I hope to God it’s the former,” Zack said walking over to a terminal to find the pub.

“So did you get it?”

“Yes, the place got a 4-star rating, for whatever that’s worth. Frankly, I am more in the mood to just run up a tab. The owner seems to parade Krullians around, the official uniform description reads cutest backs in tight pants and plenty of cleavages. The guy uses K in place of the C play on words. Well, lets go get some food,” Zack said downloading the information and directions.
 
When Zack and Nines walked into the Pub, the dinner rush had begun, but the bar area was largely empty. The number of species served in the restaurant varied, but the main crowd looked like a few Sharks and a group of humans in a private dining hall. Hegerans and a person came in and took a seat at a booth.

“Oh hello to you sirs Varg said you would be coming! As Commander Varg’s friends, my name is Anya I will take care of you at the bar. Follow me please,” Anya said in a sultry voice. She did everything she could imagine to be sexy.

“Your Varik steak sir, it is medium well like you ordered. A taste of Gyre when you are far from home,” Anya a Krullian said placing a steak with a vegetable side in front of Zachary as he sat the bar.

“Can I get some more of the Prussian beer for my lizard friends and me?” Nines said ordering a drink from the Krullian slave tending the bar. He looked at Zack who was eating his dinner. “Dude cheer up, we are basically on leave until that shark bitch gets back to work. Say Anya be a sweetie and tell me do you have anything that gets a Gyran drunk?”

“Did you say Gyran, clone boy?” questioned a large Skurmvald with a prosthetic arm and a metal plate on his head. Clearing his throat and stomping around.

“Garot my master has warned you about starting shit here!” the Anya said sternly.

“Silence girl I sold your ass to him.” The Skurmvald said walking over to Zachary who simply ate his meal. “Your kind cost me three ships and a full slave haul! You hear me boy?!” Garot said placing his hand on Zachary’s shoulder.

Zachary swallowed a slice of his steak and set his utensils down. “too bad it didn’t cost you your life lizard.” Zachary said taking the lizard’s arm and breaking it in two places finishing the move by slamming his head into the bar. Done with the slaver, he dropped him to the floor and continued eating.

Varg walked in watching the Gyran return to eating after Garot got his arm broken. “Get out Garot I’ve had enough of your whining. If you wanted to be a slave trader you’d get back out there kidnapping people instead of being in here drinking every day.”

“Next time you come here you better pay your damn tab slaver,” Anya said watching the slave trader leave in a pathetic.

Zachary ignored the Shark lady sheriff and kept eating his meal. Nines savored his drink wondering what would happen next. For him, entertainment was often confusing, but this had his attention.

“I tell you to stay out of trouble, and you break a washed up slaver’s arm? You are only here for a day, and you already find a reason to make me drink.” Varg said taking a seat at the bar.

“It’s hard finding a good steak on this planet,” Zachary replied ignoring the question and continuing to eat his meal.

“Well, then you probably would be better off leaving? I think if you cared a bit about other people’s problems I could get you out of here,”Varg said as Anya gave her a horrid smelling drink mixed with vodka and chum.

“Alright you are covering our bill, so Varg what do you want?” Zachary said finished with his meal he took a napkin and whipped his face clean. Nines simply watched with the returning to work sigh and finished his beer.

“There is a slaver her name Kaine a Krullian she specializes in sex slaves primarily selling her people she keeps things legit with the law here.  As a noble, she lures peasant girls here with elite education and then sells them into slavery. I want that half and half freak gone, as well as a certain princess freed before the Kurllian’s Special Operations team,  gets here and makes things messy for me.”

“what the hell no why don’t you just jerk them around like you did me?” Zachary said laughing. After leaving the Krullian woman a tip he got up and motioned to Nines to leave, “Alright, sharky we’re leaving or else I go and tell Kaine about what you have to say about her.”

“She gets the girls here at ages 8 to 12 then has them trained, that lizard whose arm you broke lost a shipment of those girls, he stole to a frigate of your people’s the Helios. Had it stayed Kaine would be out of business.” Varg said her tone showed a small elevation of concern. “Well, she finally stole a  Royal girl’s son. The mother bear is on her way with a five frigate ready to level this entire colon.”

“So what, I am sure her people will issue justice soon enough,” Zachary said hoping he wouldn’t have to beat the shit out of someone else when leaving.

“Damn it, you Gyrans are all about good deeds, this bitch needs to die for her crimes, and no one here can touch her!” Anya said barely holding back tears.

“Fuck it, alright I’ll do it, but you owe me big for this. I want my fuel sold at half price and free water,” Zack said certain Nines had an avalanche of complaints waiting. “My people have not been on the best terms with the Prax Krullian Kingdom our ambassador at the time was a bit of dick who overreacted.”

“Well she has a nice set up it’s a castle on an island the only thing that can get passed her defenses is your Corvette. You land at night; you go in kill the bitch save the boy and then leave.”

“Hey, boy it’s time for you to come and die!” Garot said walking back into the bar knocking down a waitress who was carrying a tray of food.

“That was our dinner you lizard fuck!” a human said as he and several Hegerans stood up from their booth.

“Fuck off you dumb mammals!” Garot said killing a Hegeran with a shotgun.

“Fuck you lizard that was my hatch mate,” shouted one Hegeran as he threw a knife into Garot’s eye. The second Hegeran pulled out a knife of his own and stabbed Garot in the throat.

No sooner had Garot fallen dead another Skurmvald pulled a large blade shouted: “Fuck you mammals!”

“Fuck you lizard that was my son!” cried the man who traveled with the Hegerans screamed as he pulled a pistol and began shooting!

Nines grabbed a bar stool and threw it out the back window, just a small scale shootout commenced in the front section. “Well, I am going to go feel free to follow.” He said jumping out into the back alley.

Anya followed after Varg and Zack as they fled the bar fight figuring it was her best chance to escape. Nines and Zachary kept Varg close by, knowing she was their way off the rock. “Okay what do we do now Sharky? Oh no not you too this isn’t what I need.”  Zachary said looking at Anya.

“Look you just can’t leave me to take the flak for that event plus, I was trained at that castle I can help you navigate that place.” Anya said tying her long brown hair into a ponytail that would be less likely to get in her face.

Varg crushed the collar on Anya’s neck with her teeth, “Alright time to get going we need that Corvette of yours to give us any chance at stopping Kaine,” Varg said freeing the slave and motioning for the two men to follow her.

The Castle of Kaine was only accessible by a long drawbridge and an Airstrip for small-scale spaceships. Its design was archaic something that could only exist on ancient earth. As for the scale of the castle, it was smaller than anything the New Prussian Empire had built but had the same pomp to its architecture. The styling was similar to Hungarian designs of the 19th century with modernized defenses to keep small-scale attack aircraft away.

“This place is fantastic nowhere near what I pictured a slave trader would want to own.” Nines said looking over the scene through his view finder.”

The Grizzly flew overhead on and fired on the security control hub before the drawbridge could be raised. The corvette then dropped a series of bombs outside the castle killing most of the security personnel that came out.

“There go the guards on the outside, time to slaughter all the guards on the inside,” Zachary said picking up his particle rifle and leaving cover.

The four crossed the bridge and made their way into the lower level of the base. Varg sniffed the air down the hall before entering. “There is blood in there and it’s fresh. They are probably dragging their wound back,” Varg said as Nines only pulled out a grenade and dropped into the hole. Zachary approached and then fired a few blasts into the hole.

“Move in let's go get those wounded back and dig in this must be a probing attack for the special ops team.” The mercenary leader said directing the others. He noticed Zachary drop down instantly recognizing Gyran combat armor. “Shit it’s the Gyrans light that fucker up!”

“Shit these guys know what our armor looks like.” Zachary said firing his particle rifle at the entrenched mercenaries. “Whatever she is paying you it’s not worth it, assholes!”

Anya charged a plasma grenade and threw it at the mercenaries. “There is a chamber of cells and training rooms behind this wall I remember it from when I escaped.” She said to Zachary.

“Nines you heard the woman blow up that wall!” Zachary shouted only to see Varg fire her heavy machine gun into the wall then ram her way through the weakened structure.

“You keep them all busy and leave the ambush to us,” Varg said taking nines with her.

Zachary emerged from cover and fired three shots, the first guard hit lost her arm as the superheated beam of tungsten particles melted through her weapon, body armor, and finally her upper shoulder severed by the blast. The man who was shot in the center of his body was left with a smoldering hole where his heart used to be. The third guard an insectoid had its head severed as the exoskeleton hold its head to the body was cracked then broken as the heat turned the natural armor into a shell no tougher than a dried leaf.

The guard still alive was screaming at the top of her lungs in pain, but the sound was drowned out by the automatic weapons fire the remaining mercenaries fired at Zachary and Anya.  “Stay back they’ll probably land a killing shot on you at this rate,” Zachary warned the Krullian bartender.

“I can handle myself, thank you.” Anya said emerging from cover trying to copy Zachary’s attack. Zachary knew there was no way she could spot a target and pull a trigger so quickly he quickly grabbed her from behind as she emerged and swung her around behind the protection of his combat armor.

“What the hell!” Anya shouted unaware of the fact the shield Zachary’s shield had dropped under the barrage.

“Okay this should do it, bang goes the bomb!” Nines said detonating the pile of explosives he had attached to the wall of a slave cell.

The resulting explosion killed the mercenaries that had taken cover against the wall. “Eat this, you slaver assholes!” Anya after struggling free took a grenade and threw it at the survivors.

Kaine sat smoking a Prax cigarette at her Brazilian Rosewood desk, with a crystal glass full of Krullian brandy. Zachary Nines and Anya walked in. “Ah well if it isn’t the one that got away and got sold by a lizard,” Kaine said pouring herself a second glass.

“Room is clear, so is this the slaver,”  Nines asked Anya while holding his particle rifle at Kaine.

“Whatever you are being paid I will pay you triple and will overlook the assault on my castle. You realize this place was built on Earth from 1896 to 1908 to celebrate the conquest of Carpathian Basin.” Kaine said putting out her cigarette.

“Really you will triple my money, and all I have to do is walk away?” Zachary said laughing at the ridiculously proud woman.

“Tell me who sent you so I can kill them.”

“Look we’re here for the boy and your head. There is no way you can buy us.” Anya said pumping a shell into her shotgun.

“Wait where is that damn shark chick put our ship in impound.”

“What you assholes weren’t going to leave me after this here on this planet?” Anya said looking at Zachary.

“Well, I don’t really think we need much more people to go after Lilith.” Zachary said pausing for a second, “Look I don’t know if it’s in the budget to free you.”

“Well if you boys need company I have plenty girls name any age, and I can give you each a small harem,” Kaine said before she could light a new cigarette Elyria descended from a vent and stabbed Kaine in the back of the neck with a knife.

“Not in the budget what after I go out of my way on that Varik steak and tolerate this clone you act as if it’s a matter of revenue?!” Anya shouted.

Elyria took an image of the dead slaver then filed and sent it her boss, “Shit Gyre was after her too? Look buddy just a bit of womanly advice she likes you. As for you honey well I hope you have no gag reflex because I nearly drowned going down on this one Gyran Yuki Marsh.”

“Holy shit that story was true?!” Zachary said in shock as he took off his helmet “Say, where is the shark at anyway?”

“I am not in love with anyone I just want off this rock!” Anya said blushing.

“Alright this way please as you can see the kidnapper is dead and the prince is safe as well.” Varg said following in a Prax special operation commander “Ah Gyran this means our business is concluded and the three of you can leave this planet with my thanks.” Varg said giving Zachary a data pad with his flight clearance to exit the world, and Anya a duffle bag before a human policeman came and shuffled them away.

“So what the hell is going on Anya?”  Zachary said as they sat at space port watching the Corvette having its water supply being refreshed.
   
“Well, my owner owed Varg money of course if she tried to collect he would make things terrible for her to the point she’d be the pub’s Saturday’s shark steak special. She wanted to fuck him over, but that race war you started leveled the local block. I guess she got more than what she wanted,”  Anya said as the Grizzly’s bomb replacements drove by.

“Well I got to meet the Emperor’s cousin and actually that story you told is true!” he laughed as he put his arms behind his head and relaxed a bit.

“Okay fine you’re on the crew, with your combat skills I have a great fit for you. I won’t lie most of your job will simply be mundane, and outright monotony the action is rare. Trust me that is probably a good thing,” Zachary said giving Anya a map of the ship.

“Really, you want me to man the cannon at the back and control the weapons?” Anya said as the trio boarded the ship’s elevator.

“The ship can have a max crew of 15 the bunks for crew are on the main deck has all the creature comforts of home the main washroom and dining area. The medical center is opposite of my quarters on the 1st floor that can reach the cockpit via the stairs. Nines get us off this rock,” Zachary said as the elevator’s door opened to the main deck. He and Anya got off on the main deck.

“Well, the vacation was fun while it lasted,” Nines said heading to the cockpit.


“The galley is like that of a home but is perfect for feeding up to 15 people. Everything is laid out the food is stored in that locker the silverware and plates are on the shelves. You have a large sink and an automatic dishwasher. Your first duty is to have a meal ready at 1200hrs and 1800hrs shipboard time. Your duty hours are the same as mine, but subject to change. Nines rarely need sleep, so he handles late to watch. I maintain the weapons and the bots maintain most of the heavy equipment so stay out of their way. Do you have any complaints if so I can have the government get you resettled on a colony of ours,” Zachary said giving her a way out?

“Refueling on Nubia, defective clones, and fucking rescue jobs never again,” Zachary said as he returned to the cockpit.

Anya wanted to see the ship’s cockpit, so he made a pot of instant coffee and gather cups. Zachary was sitting in the navigator seat. “I brought coffee I don’t know how you guys take it so here is sugar and milk. So this is amazing my first hyperspace jump as a free Krullian.” Anya said watching the computer systems. She picked up the datapad Varg had given Zack was sitting ignored she picked it up and clicked on a blinking file, “Well you may want to look at this.”

“What is this, holy shit this looks like a trade route Lilith visits?” Zack said taking a look at the information. “We have it time to head for the core end of Orion's arm this is perfect.”
Probably not my best work but oh well. In all the pirate worlds wouldn't have much of a choice but to trade and bow to the mother of demons.
© 2014 - 2024 thormemeson
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BOH-Games's avatar
Things are definitely getting interesting.