"My boss is a very rich and powerful man. He's gotten everything he has by controlling the criminal justice system in this county. He gets a piece of all the fines, fees and payments made to the Courts. He also gets part of the State and Federal funding for Prisons and Community Control."

"How the hell did he get all that power?"


"He has... associates. They know everything about everybody who is anybody in this town. They use that information to blackmail, control, and frighten people into doing whatever they're told. This includes getting Liberata to issue unwarranted traffic tickets, judges to exonerate criminals, and the system to put innocent people in jail."

"Putting innocent people in jail?"

"Well, innocent or only guilty of lesser crimes."

"But why? Doesn't it cost a lot of money to keep people in jail?"

"It cost the taxpayers a lot of money but the system itself profits from each person placed into custody. Datak is a facilitator for the system and to that end, he and his associates have set up a net to catch and process people through the system. They prey on the most vulnerable members of society. I'm talking about the poor, the young, the uneducated, foreigners, people who are mentally or psychologically challenged and people that live outside the mainstream. They feed these people into the system and provide the system with money, the life blood that keeps it going."

"And who or what is this system?"

"Almost everyone that makes money, directly or indirectly, from the administration of the criminal system is involved. Most of them are honest men and women who believe they are engaged in a worthwhile profession, but in one way or another they all profit from the system and therefore have an interest in maintaining the system. Self interest is a very powerful motivator and Datak and his people use that self interest to obtain the support of these unwitting collaborators that help them maintain the status quo."

"So what, you frame people to keep the Casti's happy? Seems like a lot of work to keep up the old ways."

"The entire system is designed to make money." Merik continued, "and where there is money to be made there are always people like Datak Tarr, ready to exploit the situation."

"So, what does he want with me?"

"Mr. Tarr hired me to investigate anything unusual that happens in this town. When Rajag told him that you made him sick, Datak wanted to know if you had any issues that made you a threat."

"Have you ever found anyone that meets his profile?"

"No, but the man is absolutely paranoid. He has eliminated several people that he suspected could be threats. Even being cleared by me is no guarantee that he won't go after someone he suspects."

"And would you come back and kill me if this Datak guy ordered you to do it?"

Merik nodded. "It's my job."

Sanhi thought for a moment. "Well I guess that makes Datak a threat to me I want to meet him."

"You what?"

"I want to meet him." Sanhi said indignantly.

"That's not exactly how it works..."

"Well. Make it work."

"We'll be in contact Miss. Thoch"


Nearly two weeks went by ithout hearing a word from either Merik or his scary boss. Sanhi figured it was just a ploy to scare her being as she was new to Defiance. She finally took it upon herself to get to know the town she currently inhabited.

Looking for a place to eat Sanhi was drawing closer to where she had come into town the first day. She heard arguing coming from a partially rundown building with a sign that read 'Syfu'. It was clearly a gambling hub with teenaged Casti's running about. Entering, she saw several men standing over a table with guns drawn. They were yelling back anf fourth about whether or not the card holder was cheating them out of their money. One boy, a Casti with a blue streak in his hair, was cursing the holder in Casti. When the argument was getting to its full height, the reigning lawkeeper came through the door. Sanhi pointed them in the direction of the disturbance and made her way out of the building. She was standing on the other side of the street and watched as the boys were practically thrown out.

The lawkeeper cleared out. The boy with the blue hair kicked an fruit cart over sending apples flying everywhere, screaming about how his dad would kill him for loosing so much money. Sahni caught one of the apples out of the air. So much for looking for food. The Casti's started to curse each other saying that they should have known that they couldn't beat the Syfu palace. Sanhi just stared at them Palace? this little dump was a palace? Sanhi tarted to laugh harder than she ever had, in fact, she had to brace herself against the wall. The blue haired boy walked up to her with a questioning look on his face.

"What the hell is so funny? I don't see the humor in any of this" he shouted at her threatening give her a piece of his mind.

"This," she said between gasping laughs "is not a palace, this dump is more of a hovel without the whores" The Casti male smirked and almost started to laugh himself

"You obviously haven't seen the second floor" as he too started to chuckle.

"Oh?" started Sanhi "he has them up there?"

"Yes they come and go but not as easily these days, they are scanned each time now and if there is any doubt, then they aren't allowed in."

"My my. Some people are so picky when it comes to their whores." They both laughed at this and the male stuck his hand out to her.

"Alak," he said as she shook it.

"Sanhi." Alak took in the small girls features.

"You act a half-breed."

"Wow. Haven't heard that term since I as about 12."

"Wait... I didn't mean it like that. I meant that you don't act like a Casti..."

"You're one to talk Mr. RandomBlueHairStreak. To say i act like a urutho (human). Do I look like one of those pick fleshed freaks?"

"You don't"

"Good. Glad that's cleared up. Good luck with your money problem."

"Yea." Alak smiled wearily at her and went back to his friends. The boys stared at Sanhi, asking Alak who she was.

Sanhi stared after Alak as her left with his friends, noting how attractive he was.


"You're very good you know," he startled her out of her thoughts. Sanhi paused, the almost forgotten apple, inches from her mouth.

"Who the hell are you and what do you want?" she eyed the man as she continued her attempt to fill her hunger.

"Forgive me. My name is Datak Tarr. I was watching you and my son from across the street you are very good, your reflexes are extremely sharp" he smiled at her.

"Your son? Uh huh so you're this Mr. Tarr everyone is afraid of... actually want to tell me what the hell is it you want with me?"

"Only to talk." He said eying her, off put by the fact that she had no respect for those of higher liros. Sanhi started to laugh, then to REALLY laugh; so hard she almost fell on the ground

"No" . Datak, clearly in an impatient mood, grabbed the young girl by her throat, causing the apple to fall from her hand. He squeezed slightly, cutting off her air supply. " It was less of a request and more of a demand you insolent enyasho (bitch). I should slit your throat where you stand. But, lucky you, I should be in need people like you with the skills you have to help maintain my empire," he stated matter of factually Datak dropped her to her knees and allowed her to cough. Finally she took a breath and stopped.

"Why," she gasped out, "would I want to help a bunch of bullies and non caring ass holes who only want to grab as much power as they can, step on everyone else and kill anyone who says different?"

"Ok how about you do it to help me make the world like it should be" he sighed as he looked at her.

"What about all the people you have, like your liberata?" Sanhi replied

Datak started to laugh "as you can see they obviously don't know their ass from a hole in the ground"

This time she just gave a tired smirk, "as if," She stood and began to walk away from him, but was stopped by a sharp tug on her arm.

Sighing again he started, "how about you do it because I could have you thrown in jail for destruction of property of the state?"


SO I HAVN'T UPDATED IN FOREVER. I HAD BEEN WAITING FOR REVIEWS BUT ONLY GOT ONE SO I WAS VERY SAD. ONLY TO FIND OUT, SO MANY PEOPLE HAD FOLLOWED MY STORY! I HAD NO IDEA! BUT HERE A NEW CHAPTER IS AND I HOPE YOU FIND THE TIME TO REVIEW. EVEN IF YOU DON'T, CONTINUED SUPPORT IS VALUED HIGHLY.