7

"What the hell is going on!" a new voice roared and Ianto turned to see Whitt running toward them with security. Like the Judoon didn't have it under control? Seriously? Rhino scoffed at them.

"He challenged me with this one, I only bit him and they are cheating with weapons so apparently… I now have the right to weapons as well, only… I own quite a few." Ianto said, one hand flapping around the ring at the Meatsticks now crouched and ready to fight, one or two of them throwing their servant's uniform on the ground to bare their chests.

"You fucking idiot!" Whitt roared "You challenged my boy? MY BOY? The Devil Himself? Are you insane? Look around you twat. He is the High Commander of the Red Planet. You foolish shit. He conquers and assimilates any and all Meatsticks that he comes across, if they so wish to join him. Looks like you have forfeit an entire regiment of them."

"What?" the man squawked as he saw the facility servants now all removing uniforms to add to the growing pile before taking a knee to show reverence to The Devil.

"Well, shit. How will we fit them all on the vessel? It only takes a hundred and fifty at a pinch and it will be tight quarters" John said to Justice like it was no big deal and the Judoon pointed at the idiot responsible "He forfeits. So, we have rights to demand his ship or his life! He is forfeit, so we want….we want…. An Offering!"

"Why Rhino, you lovely clever creature you" John swing to look at him with raw affection "what a pirate's thought process. Well done. Yes, we can take his vessel for any who wish to come home with us. You know what? You can fly it! We can easily fit another hundred and fifty, or even two hundred. Looks like about… one seventy, one eighty so far?"

Rhino grinned and believe me… you don't really want to envisage that.

They are…. Not pretty.

.

.

"We did not provide them, they are not a contracted offering by the Agency, rather from one of our high ranking officials so we will not pay for their keep" the council said as they looked down at the man in the dark clothing who seemed bored now.

"I never asked you to. We have our own income selling water, as you well know. That and the income from you for the others… these will not even be a drop in the bucket." Ianto informed them happily. "Pardon the pun."

"And I understand you are claiming one of his vessels? You know we cannot…"

"He has a private one, his family came on it!" the Judoon bellowed angrily "His own family insignia on it. We demand it as our right! He insulted our sovereign leader!"

Ianto shrugged.

"What sort of Meatstick are you?" one of the women asked, rising from her seat to walk around the large podium, lowering herself to stand directly in front of the man who seemed so much larger up close. Then Ianto smiled and she saw the beauty in him. Also… "Whitt?"

"This is Ianto, made of my DNA mixed with the splicing that created the Snake Cell. I consider him my son." Whitt said proudly "Rhino makes a good point though. This man has seen fit to follow my boy about, insult me and mine, demand a fight then choke like a child …"

Laugher broke out as the man in question spluttered.

"Now now. Mehaps he did not realize who and what you are" came the soft reply from one of the elders "for you not carry yourself as a High Borne."

"Because I am not. I was born to be a warrior, a soldier and a conqueror. I am of Meatstick stock, mixed with several of yourselves up there. And my beloved Whitty of course whom my daughter is named after." Ianto waved a hand in Whitt's direction "I own the planet, I rule those who chose to follow me and Rhino is right. By Warrior Code, I am slighted. I can either have his head and the heads of those around him as payment for the insult, or I accept the offering. These Meatsticks offer themselves, I accept. Simple."

"He is right. It was a duel, under the galactic rules of engagement, if one backs down the winner can demand satisfaction in a monetary way. If the vessel if his, then it can be considered forfeit in lieu of his life." One of the others nodded, then they all nodded and the Twat groaned as he saw that he had lost his shiny top of the line Star Jumper.

Maybe next time he will know better.

Ianto merely assimilates and imbibes.