Entrapted
When he pondered over the last few days how it got to his current situation, he always remembered the words of his Skittermander friend Ablok.
"Remember, the galaxy is a dangerous place. You must have eyes in the back of your head. And on the sides of it... And in a few other places... It's actually good if you grow eyes on stalks. Yes, at least four. Then no one will surprise you."
He should have listened. At least metaphorically. Up until now, the universe had seemed like a pretty nice place to him. At least from the time... When he was destroyed. Now he has discovered that the universe has a dark side.
It all started with the fact that he wanted to return to his home. Or at least to a place that resembled him. To his older brother and friends… Especially the one who freed him and gave him a name…
Or maybe it all started with the fact that he wanted to go to the stars ... Actually, he was born among them, in space. Aboard the Velvet Glove. His friend supposed there must be something more beyond the Empire. And of course she was right, as always, though others were skeptical, especially the queen.
Only now was not noot important how it began, but where it was all going. He was in a deep pit dug in the dry land of Saltmarsh. On a rope, they where lowered a bowl of food and a bucket for waste, and another for water. No one has spoken to him since he was placed here. He had no idea what they were going to do with him, but he wasn't worried about himself. The most important thing was what happened to Emily! Didn't they do anything to her?
- Hey Worm - he heard a voice from above. He looked there and saw a person sitting on the edge, his legs dangling.
- I'm not a Worm. I'm a Wrongdak, actually Wrong Hordak. Nice to meet you, but please call me by my name," he said, but he was glad in spirit. Perhaps salvation has just come.
- You're big, white, and you'd be very tasty if you were grilled.
Or maybe it wasn't the rescue he was hoping for.
- What are you going to do with me? - he asked uncertainly. The person he was talking to was dressed in a rather disturbing looking armor. She had a mask and goggles on her face. Instead of a right arm, she had a strange metal prosthesis. He knew such devices were common in the galaxy, but the sight of them always made him sad. Usually his seriously injured brothers were used for spare parts or biological material, though sometimes „He" had other plans.
- I don't think I'm going to eat you because Bina is supposed to bring meat, unless she forgets. - You know, I haven't eaten meat for two weeks... - she said, sighed heavily - Me and my buddies want to get you out of here. Don't worry, just don't tell anyone - she said and disappeared into the shadows.
- But… Emily - he said softly as she disappeared.
Itel paced nervously behind the escarpment behind which they had hidden, waiting for an answer from Eti, who had been silent for almost an hour since she had gone out to scout. She warned that she could turn off her communicator so she wouldn't be distracted. Except she was supposed to be back half an hour ago.
- Hey Itel, listen, I'll draw a plan for you in a moment - behind her came the voice she was waiting for. First she felt relief, then a rush of rage. Eti stood in front of her without a mask and hood, and then began to draw on the sand with the barrel of a rifle as if nothing had happened.
- Listen, it looks like this… - she started, but the elf yelled at her.
- You didn't think to tell us you were okay!
- Well, I didn't think about - replied Eti. The Ranger looked at her in surprise. There was confusion in her golden eyes with blue dots. Itel loved looking into those beautiful eyes, but right now she was too irritated to think about it.
- Could you think of others? You know we're worried too? - solarian called.
- Excuse me, but would you kindly show a little trust? I am an excellent scout. - Eti replied, contorting her face in anger
- Yes of course, because it's always about you! - The elf screamed, spreading her hands.
- Itel, Eti, do you understand that "Hiding" and "Screaming at each other for stupid things" are mutually exclusive? - Alatar said, looking over the interface he had on his hand. He was about to hack into the computer system of Grag's warehouses, which was slow due to the quality of the network here, whichwas deplorable. He was crouched behind the escarpment, trying to remain invisible. Lilka stood with her knees on the escarpment and looked through the binoculars if anyone was approaching.
Itel took a deep breath to calm herself down. She closed her eyes and when she opened them she said,
- Okay, Eti, please tell us what you found out.
Eti almost smiled. She never did, not out of joy. But Itel was sure she would look beautiful then.
- There are six guards, but only two look dangerous. They are armed with electric rifles. The rest have ordinary clubs, none have decent armor. These two always walk side by side and look like siblings, but I'm not sure because they're Shirrens, and I can't quite figure out how they're related. The others walk chaotically as they please. They used to have a mustelid guard animal, but they said it was bitten by a snakebird - she said, and her hand went to the sack where she had hidden the carcass of some birdie she had hunted in the meantime. Eti couldn't control her instincts sometimes.
- It's a good thing they didn't have a dog there, otherwise it would have been an impregnable fortress - Alatar muttered.
- Oh, I think your mouth misses my shoe - Eti replied putting her cat ears on herself.
- Are there any treasures? - Lilka asked, changing the subject, much to Itel's relief, who didn't want another argument, this time between Eti and Alatar about "Cat stuff".
The Ranger winced.
- It's a goods depot for farmers and nomads. There are parts for vehicles, water filters, fertilizer, seeds, some simple robots and elecronic. Our target is hidden in a beer warehouse, just sitting in a dug pit between the barrels. Looks like the drow, orc, and the bat had a very intoxicating night, but he talks our way.
Itel felt like she was about to punch someone.
- Have you talked to him? Who allowed you to do this? she snapped at Eti. The sniper looked at her in surprise. Sometimes she was so sweetly innocent… Or innocently insensitive.
- After all, no one forbade me, and what is not forbidden is allowed. It's called Wormdak - she replied, scratching behind the cat's ear
-Is that his name, or did you call him that?- Alatar asked suspiciously.
- I named him. He says his name is Wrongdak or Wrong Hordak… - There was silence for a moment.
- It must have been a very complex family situation - Alatar said.
- It's quite big, but also strong, so it might come in handy to carry heavy stuff - Eti said contentedly. - They have two more cameras and a few electronic gates, so Alatar can break in there?
- I'm doing it right now. - said the dragonkin from over the interface
- Only two armed guards... Do you think you could take them down without anyone noticing? - asked the solarian. Eti looked at her carefully.
- I think so. But I'd rather…- said the sniper. Eti could be aggressive and was created with no inhibitions against harming others, but she didn't like taking lives. The few times she did this, she was very upset during rainy days. Itel understood her, but she had lost her scruples during the swarm's invasion of Kesler. But after all, Igzar had told her to protect the others... Didn't that also include protecting from her? Before what the swarm was doing to her?
- All right, Eti, we'll try not to leave any dead bodies behind. Maybe it will be better that way, because we won't make more enemies - she said in a conciliatory tone. The ranger walked over to the elf and placed a metal hand on her shoulder. Although Itel didn't like the touch of the archaeotechnical hand, she felt a shiver run through her body anyway.
- Thanks Itel, I'll do what I can. You know I'm the best. - Eti said.
„You are" thought Itel.
It wasn't the best plan, but it was the only one he had. He wasn't sure if he could rely on that strange person's help. There was no time to lose. Emily's life was in danger!
So he took the spoon and continued digging, trying not to think how hopeless his situation was. Then he heard the blast of an energy weapon. Instinctively, he cowered, not like a civilian, but like the soldier he was made for. There were screams of the wounded, and battle cries. He heard the voice of this strange person, as well as several other people. He found himself in the heat of battle again, but this time he was absolutely defenseless…
"Not." He looked at what he had in his hand. "He had a spoon!"
After a while, however, the gunshots stopped and there was a moaning silence.
He was saved!
- It's good to tie them up and bandage the badly wounded one ... And the one without an arm too. Lika, put her in the bucket
He wasn't sure if he wanted to be saved by these people...
This strange person sat on the edge and started swinging her legs. After a while, a winged lizard and two girls appeared next to her. One with pointed ears and green hair and the other a redhead with a large ax in her hands. They looked as menacing as a squad of vesk.
- Hey Wormdak, I told you we'd come to free you," she said with satisfaction in her voice.
- I am Wrong Hordak, but you can call me Wrongdak
- Hi, Wormdak… Wrongdak… Wrong Hordak… I'm Lilka - said the redhead
- And I am Alatar - said the Lizard, and showed on the Datapad's display, "Ignore that Eti is calling you names."
- And I am Itel, someone will throw him a rope, because we are in a bit of a hurry?
The masked girl tossed him a long rope attached to something above, and he climbed it. A few Shirren lay on the ground, all injured, two quite seriously, but they were given basic medical care ... Although someone should have to take care of them eventually. He knew the basics of first aid and could even perform simple surgeries on himself, but He preferred to replace his brothers with new ones rather than heal them.
- All right, Wormdak, follow us and don't think, because thinking hurts. Sometimes very literally - said the girl with the metal hand, crouching on the barrel. He saw that she had a tail that twitched nervously. He met several Patras on Vesk III, though he didn't befriend any of them. Then the warehouse doors swung open and the Duergar Grag stood there, trapping him there.
- Hey, what are you going to do with my commodity? You can't afford to buy it. You can't even imagine what kind of people are interested in buying this creature - said Grag, baring his metal teeth. Beneath his cloak he had heavy armor clearly visible, and in his hands he held a two-handed hammer, on which the discharges ran. A large insectoid stood next to him.
- But they didn't take anything from you. All barrels are whole. - he said, completely not understanding what the trader meant.
- But you are my most valuable commodity. You know how much certain people will pay for a living White Demon. I wish I understood what you were worth the first time, I would have sold you long ago and paid off my debts.
He los his togue. How he dare do that to someone
- But... that's not allowed. You can't sell someone. Persons are not things - He said - "I don't want to be owned again"
- Oh White Demon, believe me, the strong can with the weak… - He jumped when the pahtra fired a rifle at him. The insectoid pulled out a shotgun and fired at the masked one himself. However, she dodged and landed on the wall, to which she stuck her shoes. Beer began to pour out of the keg.
- Okay, let's do it - said the green-haired girl and summoned the silver blade.
- For The Horde! - The redhead screamed, drawing her ax.
"No! No! No!" he cried in his mind.
Itel knew this was how it would end. She hated it when even simple plans had to fall apart anyway, so she had to improvise. Holding her blade, she summoned dark matter and began to tune into the gravitational forces that held the world together. She jumped towards the Duergar, trying to flank him while furious Lilka attacked with a flaming axe. She hit the hammer's handle with the blade. Then Itel attacked him from the side, trying to stab him in the shoulder with the moonblade, but Graag growled and pushed Lilka away and hit the Elf in the face with an armored shoulder-plate. It hurt, but it would have been worse if she hadn't been protected by dark matter. During this time, Alatar cast a spell on Trox that made him lose his knowledge of how to operate his weapons. Eti jumped to the ground, then drew her laspistol and shot the insectoids in the side, but his armor held out. Grag swung his hammer, forcing the warriors to retreat, but at the same time he dodged as Alatar fired his rifle at Trox, who fired several times indiscriminately, no longer understanding how his weapon worked. Taking the opportunity when the Duergar dodged, Lilka hit the epaulette, which broke, but Grag tripped her with the handle of his hammer. He turned and swung at Eti, who was aiming for his back. The ranger blocked the blow with a metal hand. There was a bang as the ancient prosthesis absorbed some of the Energy. Iteel then felt she was fully attuned to the Graviton, so she summoned a gravity ball that pulled Grag backwards, knocking him over. The elf jumped and drove the moon blade into the trader's shoulder. He screamed, as did Trox, who was shot simultaneously by dragonkin and Eti. Lilka stood up and put the ax to Grag's neck. Then a spoon thrown by the prisoner hit his face.
- Give up! - the Solarian woman said, and twisted the blade in the Duergar's wound. Troks writhed in pain, both opponents released their weapons.
- Do you know who was going to buy it? Lord Admiral Antares. You know who is he scum from Kesler? I am from Atrax and I remember how many of you were saved by his ships. You don't know who you're displease - growled Grag.
"That's the last name you should be referring to." Itel thought. Eti straightened her tail anxiously clenching her fingers on the gun. Itel felt only overwhelming fury. She drew the knife Igzar had given her, then plunged it into Duergar's knee.
- Igzar sends his regards to the Lord Admiral. - she said and twisted the blade. She stood up and, ignoring Grag's screams, looked at the others. Everyone was fine, although Eti was rubbing her hand behind the elbow, where her metal arm ended. The prisoner tended to the wounded shiren, stealing a frightened look at them. At first she thought it was a rare slave collector or someone in the intelligence service who wanted to get it, but Antares? Why was he interested in such creatures and in the Ravaged Zone in general.
Lilka was wiping her forehead when the prisoner, whose name was probably Wrongdak, approached her and, putting his hands on her shoulders, said in a serious voice.
- Listen. Horde doesn't exist. He... Prime is dead and the Horde is gone. Are you free!
"He wants to die?" Itel thought, Tears appeared in Lilka's eyes and her lips began to twitch. She grabbed the ax and screamed
-The Horde will exist as long as there is at least one orc alive! - The redhead exclaimed and swung. The enemy jumped back and started to run.
- Alatar, calm her down - the elf ordered. Dragonkin ran to the enraged warrior.
- What now? – asked Eti, standing next to Itel. There was concern in her voice.
- Nothing special. We don't tell Bina because she'll be back again. Lord Antares doesn't know about us, and with any luck he won't - the solarian said, trying not to glance at the Duergar writhing in pain. "I didn't need to show off. Now it would be best if we finished him off."
Wrongdak finally climbed onto the barrel, and the dragonkin calmed Lilka down.
- He must have meant some completely different evil horde, didn't he?" -Alatar asked the ex-prisoner in a meaningful tone.
- Very evil, made of ones like me ... - said wyra. Lilka calmed down and sheathed the ax.
- I see. A real horde of orcs consists of countless hosts of honorable warriors who fight for good and justice - Lilka explained to him with absolute seriousness.
- But you're… - he wanted to say, but Dragonkin showed him a datapad with the inscription "Lilka is an orc, it's an indisputable fact."
He descended slowly, clearly being careful not to provoke another attack of aggression.
- What are we supposed to do with him? - Itel asked. Eti shrugged.
- In exchange for a ride home, he will clean, carry heavy things and clean toilets. - replied the scout.
- And what will we feed him? - the solarian asked, expecting what answer she would hear.
- Vescarian rations, of course - Ethi exclaimed happily. Itel looked at her grimly for a moment.
-That's mean even for you - she finally said.
Meanwhile, the prisoner came up to them and spoke earnestly.
- I have to ask for help. My friend Emily has also been imprisoned and needs to be rescued!
- Is Emily pretty? - Eti asked with interest.
- Oh, she's beautiful! - cried Wrongdak.
- We're in! - Eti and Alatar shouted simultaneously.
Itel looked at the scout. "Did you have to do that?" she thought. Then she walked over to the dueergar and kicked him in the wounded shoulder.
- Where is the one who accompanied the prisoner?
Grag laughed despite the pain.
- She went to the landfill.
"She was unlucky," the Solarian sighed.