An Assassin for the Slave Page 6

  She took a soft breath and forced her body not to show any reaction. It was the man who was responsible for bringing her to this planet and now to locking her in this plush cell. She wanted to hate him, but she had such mixed thoughts about the whole situation. She wasn’t sure what her feelings were when she thought about his harsh face late at night.

  She knew he had been a Sub-Commander in the Federated Military and here he was called General Sachim. She had listened constantly to learn any word spoken about him. There were some who called him Baloko.

  She was drawn to him and she knew why, so it was easy to fight the attraction. On her planet, even if they lived in one of the bigger towns, he would have been a leader of each hunt. He would have gone out to fight and kill a trid. The trid was the largest cat on her planet and hunger would drive them down from the higher ground to find easy food in the valleys.

  Such hunters, even females like her, had to spend some time in the universities. They were taught that it was necessary to know how to exist in the Universe as well as in the forests.

  Still, she wasn’t a silly village girl in her first attraction. This large man wasn’t someone she could have any connection with, as slavery was not part of the beliefs from her world.

  She heard his deep voice. “They tell me that you would not talk to the women who have not left this planet. The ones who have elected to stay here. Why won’t you listen to them?”

  Joo stiffened her back and returned her gaze to the sea, fascinated by the dark shadows in the water. “I think you have either tricked them or that they are afraid of you and would lie to me.”

  Baloko sighed and looked up at the ceiling to avoid the small figure of the female that had made his life so confusing. “You refuse to let me help you. You won’t believe me when I say that we will return you unharmed to your planet.”

  Now she turned quickly to face him. “You think I would trust you to take and put me in one of the pods to sleep and that I would wake up on my jungle planet. You must really believe I am nothing but a stupid child.” She let her anger show and she felt so hopeless and unable to act to help herself.

  Baloko looked down from the ceiling to watch her as she rose to start pacing in anger. He was amazed at the fury that was locked up in the small body. Then he smiled, thinking the body might be small but it was all female. It had all the curves in the right places. Maybe not voluptuous, but her body was tight and round from exercise and working in the forest.

  Baloko took only a second to get his right head working and forgot the other one for a while, letting it strain against his trousers. “I have discovered your home planet and I believe your one name is Joo, but you won’t give us anything to go on to help you in any way. I just don’t know how to help you.”

  Joo stopped her pacing and walked over to the door. “Remove the barrier from this opening.”

  He came up behind her, knowing what she referred to, even though the door was closed. “Where would you go? Would you run the halls and hide in closets. Would you steal food and find drinks on leftover trays? We have systems that would find you anywhere inside this dwelling.”

  Joo stood looking at the closed door and feeling his presence behind her. “I would find a way up to the forest.” She was uncomfortable, for so many reasons, with him so close that she stepped aside and returned to the window.

  “You want to live in the forest above on the plateau?” Baloko looked at her in surprise and knew it showed in his voice.

  After a long silence she spoke slowly, believing it would not make any difference. “Yes, it is very much like the jungles of my world. That would prove to me that you are setting me free.”

  Baloko stood facing the door, his head down on his chest and his hands high on his hips. He wondered if this was really her test for him to prove that he would give her freedom. But damn it, the forest was dangerous. This world was dangerous. Could he do what she asked?

  Baloko knew how important freedom was to anyone. Okay, he would do what she needed and see if he could protect her as much as possible.

  “If it will prove something to you, I will take you up to the forest. I will be back shortly, get into clothes that you deem appropriate for the forest.”

  Joo turned around in surprise…sure that she hadn’t heard him correctly. She saw only the door closing as he had already disappeared. She waited a moment trying to decide what type of trick this might be, yet if it were a real offer, what might she want to wear?

  She was running, finding a backpack in the closet, she pulled on leather pants that she knew she would soon cut off in the forest. She put another pair in the bag. She chose a tight lightweight dark shirt and put another like it in the bag along with a white one to use for wrapping any injuries. In the bathroom she grabbed soap and a small brush.

  She finished with two large plastic bags and a rain repellent long coat that was in a small square package. This left her standing ready, staring at the door, doubting that he would return.

  When the door opened to show him dressed for topside with a large package in one arm, she began to breath.

  “Come, we go up.” His words were harsh and deep in his chest.

  Joo moved fast, staying on his heels. She didn’t want to let him change his mind.

  Joo was shocked when the elevator deposited them on a beautiful tropical garden made to withstand the storms of this planet. There were stone seats with barriers to protect people from the winds. The plants were native to the jungle behind barriers but planted in groups and rows to create paths. There were rows of colors that were brought out with matching plants and bushes that were put side by side.

  Still, what Joo was looking at was the edge of the forest that marked the lines of the garden. It was instantly dark under the large trees that climbed upward to catch the light between each storm cloud.

  Under the thick round trunks at the edge, the growth was heavy as the brush and small forest plants took advantage of the sun and rain that was available. Within the forest there would be bare spots under the trees as heavy undergrowth, depending on the access to the rays needed for expansion.

  The plateau was not a smooth even mesa. Like the rest of this planet with its rocky protruding mountains, islands and uneven highlands, nothing was really smooth.

  The inhabitants of this world, centuries ago, had decided that even with technology they would not change the face of their wild world. In some ways the beings born on this planet claimed they felt a strength from this wild yet solid body.

  Over time most had spent almost no time topside except for a ten year old birthday celebration. A lot of families or beings had created secure gardens for these simple celebrations. Still there were some who embraced their history and took to the forests.

  Baloko knew that Bleak and his brother had spent days within the depths of this very forest, the one he was going to let Joo enjoy for a set time.

  He marched through the garden, hearing her soft footsteps on his heels. He approached the edge of the forest marked by one of the oldest, largest trees formed in this forest. It created a wall on this side of the garden. Someone had given it a name in an old language but it was forbidden to put the sign on the trunk.

  Nowhere on the trunk was there a scar. The name was on a sign in front in impressive metal that often was replaced when a really dramatic storm took it away. Baloko could not read even the letters as they were in a form no longer used and no one had told him what the lines and marks meant.

  “Every couple of days I will come here and leave items for you on the north side of this tree. Do you know which side is the north side?”

  Joo nodded and pointed in the direction that she had chosen when she had been in the forest.

  Baloko nodded agreement. “This small pendant can be pushed if you get hurt or in trouble and we will be able to find you. It is not a tracker and does not have any way for us to find you. Keep it on you for safety. Do you want any type of weapon?”

  Joo looked at him b
ut shook her head in a negative way.

  “I would like to talk to you in one month, here behind this tree to make sure you are safe. Then you can return to the forest if you like. We can repeat the meetings once a month, the turn of the main moon, here. If at that time you can tell me you might like to return to your home planet, I can make arrangements.”

  Joo looked at him. “Why then?”

  Baloko looked around at this wild place. “I hope by that time you will believe in me.” He handed her the package he had and stepped back.

  She took it so that she could slowly walk around him. Once she was past him she turned to face him, walking backwards into the edge of the underbrush.

  She had to ask because he reminded her of her home world hunters. “Do you have a mate?”

  Baloko had been in a stance with strong legs apart, fisted hands on his hips and his head down. But her words brought his eyes up to look at her, to examine her from toes to her own eyes.

  “No.”

  “A hunter on my world wants to breed strong sons. They will pick what they choose as a lusty female and chase her into the forest.” Joo continued to walk backwards in the forest. “When they catch them they tie them to a tree and have their way with them until they are sure they have put enough seed into her to make a good son.”

  Baloko watched her disappear and his hard on was enough to cut that damn big tree down with one swing. He had to let her go this time so he forced himself to turn and take the elevator down to the workout room.

  Chapter Ten

  Magda had been one of the many slaves brought to this strange planet by the male now known as General Sachim. Along with the others she had huddled in the large cave that served as a landing area.

  When some had run in fright, she had decided that there really was nowhere to go on a strange planet. She waited with a couple that had all knelt down to wait for the excitement to settle.

  Finally, their small group had been taken up in a lift by a young man and met by a female who took them to a place where they were fed. They were given clothes and a place for warm baths and to sleep.

  The next morning, with a couple of the others found and joining them, it was explained that they were free and had choices. They could be returned to their homes or wherever they had contacts.

  If they had nowhere to go, they could remain here, and they would be interviewed for jobs. They would receive pay and housing, and it would be up to them to build a life within the small city inside this cave.

  In time, if they stayed on this planet, they could even move to other locations within the network of similar towns around this world.

  Magda chose to stay on the planet, lying when she told them that she had no family. Actually it had been her family that sold her to the slavers. Her world was starving, and her family lived in one of the poorest areas.

  Her brothers worked hard and made very little money. They were angry and rough. It was not that they hated her, they hated each other, and they hated their life…they hated everything. But she had one item of worth. Her virginity.

  Her family of males had taken great pleasure to beat on anyone that looked at her, and then afterwards, they beat on her. She learned how to take a beating and how to throw her own fists, knees, feet and elbows. A good head bump could often get enough surprise to allow long swift legs to get away. Always carry a small sharp object.

  The slavers raped her, everywhere, but they protected her virginity as it was worth more. By the time she was rescued, she knew everything she could hate about males. She knew everything they could do to a female without destroying that one tiny piece of skin that someone would pay more money for in order to be the one to pierce her.

  Magda told the quiet doctor who offered her freedom that she wanted to stay on this planet. She said that she had no family or friends and couldn't remember her home.

  The doctor said it was trauma and not unusual for someone who had been through the horror that she had been afflicted. Although she had learned a little about the hallways and how large the facility of cave city was, she did not fit.

  She requested a position in the large hanger where she first had unloaded from the pods with all the others. The doctor seemed to understand and arranged for her to take training in one of the repair sections.

  Magda was satisfied. She cut her hair short and wore one of the coveralls that the men wore. Still there were some of the males that she worked with that made passes. The word soon was out that she was unavailable.

  But she did learn fast, and her work was good. It was good as long as she was in the large entrance cave. The openness of this area gave her unhindered views of the outside through the great opening where the ships came in to land.

  There were some land vehicles, but there was not movement within the forests. When the storms moved in there were shields that were part metal and part of the clear protective barriers.

  Magda's job was interesting once it was discovered she had a knack for the electronics that did not require wires. Her work area was up against one wall and separated from a line of workers by five foot tall dividers that made open cubes.

  The cube, before it was developed for use, had a waist-high bench along the back stonewall. Above the bench were built in many shelves, and the sidewalls have numerous hooks.

  Once the cube was supplied for its proper usage, a tall stool and floating screens were added, and clutter would soon be a part of the bench and sidewalls.

  Her job was to repair the tiny units that let items recognize their owners. Her clever fingers could soon retract the hair thin filaments that her eyes said were damaged. She was always correct, saving time and fixing many more than those around her.

  Although she could go up to a bunk area assigned to her and shower and eat, she often ate from the carts that were brought through every six hours of the times of this planet. Her body had adjusted to the times, so she was sleeping within their day rotations.

  Well, that wasn't always correct, as sometimes she liked to work into the night when the others left. There were times when a full shift worked around the clock on some ship or some project, but the cubes against the wall in the repair areas were still ignored.

  Magda hung old rags down from her bench and fixed a place to catch naps. She actually slept better there than up in the immaculate bunk areas. Still she enjoyed the clean feeling of the hot water in the showers as it was a luxury not allowed her as she grew up on her starving planet.

  * * * *

  Bogdan was in his complete uniform as a Medal Assassin, the full soft black cape that floated around him without hindering. Everyone now knew that there was such a murderous being protecting the Mistress. He rarely showed himself, but she was taking a two day trip with the Twinned Dissnue along with an honor guard. It was appropriate he also appeared.

  He would escort her to the door of the small ship then do one of his fancy disappearing tricks and wait for her return. It would be up to the power of the twins to take care of her for the time she was gone. When the small ship returned, like magic he would appear again right at the entrance at the bottom of the short steps, to escort her safely into the lift.

  Loralei went up the short steps into the ship first and then the Twins stepped up, identical in their looks and in their walk. While all eyes were on them, Bogdan took one last quick look around to make sure there was no danger that he could recognize. He then pushed the button on the small attachment on his belt that caused a distortion around him.

  Knowing it would take a sharp eye to spot his movement he used his strong legs, trained beyond what a normal man could endure, to vault over-head and catch an arm of some narrow scaffolding. The light was dim up here, so he folded his cape around him and sat on one heel to balance and watch the surprise on some as they realized he was gone.

  The little ship moved out, and Bogdan regretted that his charge was no longer under his protection. Strange, he would never have told his Prime that he didn't want this assignment, bu
t he had felt it not one he would have chosen. To be a type of baby sitter for a rich man's plaything could be thought of as an insult.

  By this time, Bogdan had a great deal of respect for the Mistress. He had even made suggestions and told her of plots that she had to make decisions about either to ignore or trick the initiators.

  Bogdan had not spent much time down in this large entrance cave. He looked around as people settled down to their jobs with the little ship out of sight.

  He thought of the Mistress’s worry of security for the large city within the cave maze. This large opening here had to have been the beginning.

  At one time, the sea reached the floor of this granite or igneous rock and worked away all of softer types of rocks and stones until this enormous solid opening welcomed those who needed shelter. Added to the system at first were old volcano tubes, but as technology grew, the hard granite allowed for safe hallways to be added.

  This particular mountain series, pushed up over uncounted millions of turnings of the history of this planet formed one of the most stable sites available for people to live.

  So instead of building storm safe houses and destroying the forests, the beings of this planet continued to do what their ancestors did, and lived in caves. Huge, modern-outfitted, almost city-size caves.

  As a storm moved in, the entry cave grew dark and that suited Bogdan's purpose. He made his way higher, his soft-soled boots gripping the metal without a sound, his strong arms pulling him wherever he needed to ascend.

  He needed to fill his couple of days with good puzzles and to help to find security for this inside city for his charge was a good puzzle.

  Bogdan thought of the main home of the Assassins association. What kept it safe? Simple, everyone was afraid of the assassins. So fear might steer some people away from this city. The holding and punishing cells were hidden up within the military unit. It would be better if some of the cells were open and down on this floor so that all could see the ones who were imprisoned.

  He rolled and tucked his caped away to be there when the Mistress returned. Now lights were coming on, many down directly in the work areas, but the higher floating lights were on to make it seem almost daytime. It suited Bogdan as the beams that he was traveling on were above the lights and in the dark.