Chapter 43. A Name.
The world comes flaring back to life as I gasp and take in a deep breath of air. I immediately try to get a sense of my surroundings, my head is pounding, the meat between my shoulders stings and the muscles ache. My hands are restrained behind my back and secured to some sort of pipe I guess from the cold metal feel of it against my skin. The floor is damp on my bare feet. I shake my head trying in vain to shake the cobwebs from my rattled brain. I quickly come to a conclusion…the situation is fucked.
I have lost count of how many times I’ve been knocked unconscious since I received this “gift” from the Coeus. I have bounced from one life threatening chaotic event to another, I’ve thrown myself and my crew into fight after fight and it still feels like I am an ant trying to move an elephant. In retrospect I suppose I should have put more thought into this before I so willingly accepted my role. I can imagine if my life was a story the readers would have plenty of comments on how ignorant it was for me to just jump into this without a second thought. Well, those people weren’t faced with a sudden emergence of an advanced alien species threatening the livelihood of an entire planet so it would be easy to second guess my decisions.
So here I am in a dark room, chained to a pipe with no plan of escape. My crew are all being held captive somewhere in this city I’m guessing and if I don’t manage to free them, I have no hope of completing the task before me. This is the last test, the last floor of this dungeon and I am currently unable to do anything to complete it. I move my legs to see if I am able to stand up, and I smile. I have pants…I HAVE PANTS!!! Finally! Something positive. It’s a small victory but a victory nonetheless.
I hear feet shuffling in the dark then a metallic clank as what I guess is a latch on the door is unlocked. Three men walk in. I can’t make out their faces, the light behind them burns my eyes after being knocked out and waking up in pitch darkness. I squint and lower my head trying to give my eyes the chance to acclimate to the flood of light but it’s no good.
“This him?” a man asks.
“Yeah, Boss. That’s the one. Naked as a baby Lacertine he was. Brud was hollerin at a couple of civies walkin down the bully. They reckoned he was soft up top and ran on bout their business. I caught him in the alley with his prick out,” the second man says. I recognize him as the man from the alley.
“I don’t know what this is about. I am not from here and not even sure how I got here…” I say.
“Pipe down now, boy. Boss gonna get you sorted,” The man from the alley says.
“Boss? Boss of what? Who the hell are yo…” A large hand slaps me hard across the right side of my face before I can finish. Blood and split trickle down my chin as anger builds from deep inside me. “You might come to regret that.”
“Is that right, little human?” a deep voice replies with a menacing chuckle.
“Easy, Brock. No reason to harm our guest. Apologies…I’m sorry I didn’t seem to catch your name, fellow.” A third voice says. The mans words drip with false concern as he speaks.
“Dawes,” I say before spitting blood onto the ground in front of the man.
“Dawes, huh? Dawes it is nice to meet you. My name is Matthias. It seems you have found yourself in a bit of a predicament. My man Kindo here says you are a bit of an anarchist,” Matthias says before squatting down in front of me. He grabs the front of my hair and jerks my head up to look into my eyes.
“Thas right, Boss. Boy said the Council could get fucked. Man throw words like them round he bound to end up in a big pile of shit ‘for the sun come up,” Kindo says.
“Dangerous words, Dawes. Dangerous indeed. What would a naked degenerate like you be doing downtown spewing such hateful rhetoric at our glorious Universal Council?” Matthias says, still holding my head up by the hair.
“ I look Matthias in the eyes and smile. The blood that had been gathering in my mouth coats my teeth and just as he realizes what is about to happen I spit the entire mouthful of blood in his face. “Any more questions?”
Matthias shoves my head back against the pipe. The impact rattles me causing me to see spots, probably a concussion I think to myself. Matthias stands, takes a handkerchief from the pocket of his stylish blue suit and starts wiping the blood from his face and chest in disgust.
“Not the start I was hoping for Mr. Dawes,” Matthias says, “Not the start I was hoping for at all. Brock, I think our guest needs some rest. See to it that he gets some immediately.”
I turn my head to see the giant walking toward me, he grabs me by my hair and pulls his right fist back to strike. I look him right in what I guess is his eyes since my head is spinning and the flood of light is till obscuring my vision.
“Fuck. The. Council.” I say with a smile before the massive fist makes contact with my temple knocking me out.
I come to again in darkness. I’m not sure how long it has been this time. My head throbs, my jaw is still tender from the slap as well. As soon as I come to I hear the latch once again. There must be cameras, they are watching me, I think to myself as the three men return once again.
“Mr. Dawes! You are well rested I presume. Is it safe to say that we are ready for some civilized discourse or do we need to relegate ourselves to our more based tendencies?” Matthias asks.
“He be lookin good and tender, boss. I say the boy bout ready to start yappin,” Kindo says.
“I’d say it’s about time to move you into quarters that you might find more comfortable, wouldn’t you Mr. Dawes?” Matthias asks, “All you need to do is tell me who you work for, it’s that easy. I have a room with a nice comfortable bed, I can have Brock here fetch you some warm food and fresh clothes. I just need a name.”
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“I don’t work for anyone. I told you I don’t even know where I am,” I say.
“Tssk, tssk,” Matthias shakes his head, “Come now Mr. Dawes do you honestly expect me to believe that a human mysteriously appeared in the capital and is not affiliated with anyone? I have seen your species before you know? I was recently on holiday and witnessed a glorious display of the ferocity of the human species. The Universal Council sponsored an exclusive event, it really was quite glorious. 100 humans were pitted against each other in a winner takes all tournament style fight to the death!” Matthias claps his hands together and smiles, “You humans aren’t the biggest but when faced with death you can be quite ferocious! It was quite a show, a little too much blood and mutilation for my taste but entertaining nonetheless.”
The realization hits me then. I’ve been so caught up in my own battles that I haven’t even considered what has been happening with the people that were shipped off-world. They are being used as entertainment for the citizens within the domain of the Universal Council. The feelings of rage and anger that grow inside me are like nothing I have ever experienced. I say nothing, though.
“You didn’t know, hah! Well isn’t this just wonderful!” Matthias says, “Brock do be a dear and bring me a chair. These shoes are expensive but not built for comfort I’m afraid.”
Without a word Brock leaves the room, returning a few seconds later with a chair for Matthias.
“Thank you, Brock,” Matthias reaches out to pat the large man on the shoulder, “Kindo, Lights please.”
Kindo taps some sort of screen attached to his forearm and the room lights up. I immediately take stock of the men. All three men are the same species I saw walking down the boulevard before I retreated into the alley. They are humanoid, resembling humans with a few minor differences. Their eyes are larger than humans, their fingers slightly longer and more bulbous on the tips. Their skin is much paler than any human I’ve ever seen as well. In comparison to Princess Danae and the few other Havokium these men are bigger, thick muscles cover their bodies under their clothes. The ears are also different, where Princess Danaes ears come to slight point at the top, these men have ears that are not large but resemble what I could most closely describe as fin-like. Webbed with three small points facing to the back.
Kindo is the smallest of the three, standing just around 6 feet tall. The man has brown hair that is thinning on top and greying on the sides. He is dressed in clothes that don’t stand out, brown pants and a striped long sleeve shirt and brown boots. You could easily assume that he bought his clothes on Earth except for the plasma pistol that rests in a shoulder holster and the data pad that is grafted into the bottom of his left forearm.
Brock on the other hand is huge. He has to be nearly 7 feet tall. One of his arms would dwarf the two of mine put together, his legs are like massive tree trunks. He is dressed in all black with a shaved tattooed head, and also has a plasma pistol in a shoulder holster. On his hip is a knife the size of a short sword in a sheath. He smiles as he sees me eye it, pulling it out to reveal its plasma edged blade. The edge of the blade burns bright white as he holds it close to my face.
“You like, little human?” Brock growls.
“Now, now Brock. It wouldn’t be proper for you to filet Mr. Dawes he is our guest after all,” Matthias says as he places his hand on Brock’s forearm.
Matthias is the vision of grace and etiquette. He wears another pristine tailored suit that screams money. His hair is jet black and slicked back. He has a thin mustache sitting atop to thin serpentine lips. His eyes are the brightest blue I have ever seen and his face is thin with sharp features. Matthias sits on the chair in front of me, crossing his legs he pulls a small rectangle from his pocket. He pulls what looks like a cigarette from the container and taps it on his knee. “Where are my manners, would you like one?” he asks before grabbing another form the container.
“I don’t smoke cigarettes,” I say.
“Lucky for you this isn’t tobacco then. Our society managed to relegate the negative side effects of the majority of our vices centuries ago Mr. Dawes. One must allow oneself to indulge from time to time. After all, how am I to trust a man that won’t smoke with me?”
Brock puts one in my mouth, “Not cigarette little human. This is Chalo, we call it a stinger,” he pulls a lighter from his pocket and lights the stinger. I inhale the smoke and feel it invade my lungs. There is no pain, just a warm relaxing feeling that rushes through my body. My muscles relax and I feel at peace.
“Good man,” Matthias says with a clap, “Now, to business. I have seen no humans that were not enslaved. I find it odd that one would appear out of thin air in the capital no less. I must say Mr. Dawes you are in a bit of trouble here. I am willing to help you, however. I know the enslaved are often forced to perform unsavory tasks for their masters, I understand that this may not be your fault. I do however need a name and I fear that we are running out of time. I could continue to leave you in this room, let you rot, let you waste away but I honestly just don’t have the time. So here is what we are going to do, you are going to give me a name at which point I will move you to a more comfortable room and we can discuss what to do with you moving forward. I am nothing if not a man of my word and I give you my word that no further harm will come to you if you provide me with the name of the person that sent you,” Matthias sits back in his chair and takes a long drag of his stinger. His blue eyes drill into me as he waits for a response. “So what do you say Mr. Dawes? Do you have a name for me?”
I look at him trying to guess his angle. If he is loyal to the Council I will most likely be killed as soon as I give them a name. if he is affiliated with the rebellion in any way then that could be my way out of this mess. I don’t have enough information, hell, I don’t have the information he wants. I think for a second, what name could I give him that would appease him? Not Danae, if he is loyal to the Council they will torture me for every scrap of information I have on Danae and the Flaming Retribution. Then it comes to me, I will answer his question with test. If he knows this name it will shift the paradigm of this whole situation.
“I am running short on time and patience Mr. Dawes. I fear I must have a name, now,”
“Koametes,” I say.
“P…pardon me?” Matthias shifts uncomfortable in his seat at the mention of the name.
“I said Koametes sent me,” I say.
“Brock, unshackle Mr. Dawes immediately. See that his is provided with clothes and accommodations more fitting an honored guest,” Matthias stands and claps his hands as he orders the monster of a man around. Matthias bows deeply as I stand, “I apologize for this inconvenience Mr. Dawes. I was not aware the Administrator had and active agent in the capital. I can only ask for your forgiveness and hope that I haven’t delayed your mission. If there is anything you need, anything at all don’t hesitate to ask.”
Brock moves to unshackle me and stops to look at my forearms, “What is on your arms, little human?”
I stand, toss the stinger on the ground and rub my wrists where the shackles were before turning and looking Brock in the eye, “This? Oh, it’s just a little upgrade I got a while back. Wanna see how they work?” Before he can speak, I backhand him across the face, the large man stumbles before catching himself on the pipe I was shackled to. I don’t have my armor, but the Administrator ensured I wouldn’t lost the portion that made up my arms. I also have all the strength from my stat increases so her warning that I would have nothing more that I had before receiving the armor wasn’t completely true.
I walk over to Brock as he wipes the blood from his chin, “I told you that you would regret hitting me.”