Darterra Saga: Book 2 Marooned, Chapter 5

I apologize once again for the delay but thing that you will find this worth the wait.

The Darterra Sagas

Marooned

Chapter 5

It All Started with a Big Bang 

Lasigna Ranch

Fortier Territory Western Darterra

The ground shook for a moment followed by a thunderous boom. The only one that was not affected or startled by this was Rafe. Who stood unconcerned as if he had expected it.

          “What was that!” Tyrell exclaimed looking in the direction of the explosion. Then looking to the three slaves who were taken just as much but surprise and given their state of helplessness to do anything but stay where they were at resulted in several deep breaths as they tried to calm themselves.

          “That,” glancing back over his shoulder, Rafe said mater of factly, “Was my ship and anyone who was inside or close by when the self-destruct was activated.” He smiled as he unclipped the leash from Pip’s collar then turned her about to unfasten the muzzle and slash the rope on her wrists. “After your little visit. I knew that it would be only a matter of time before someone else found it and decided to snoop around inside. And from what I have seen of this place so far, there were things that I personally and I am sure you as well do not want wondering off.” Lightly smacking Pip on her ass to send her back towards her owner.

          “We haven’t agreed on terms.” Tyrell grinned watching the girl being sent back to him. Then eyeing the clothes that this man was wearing. He had seen them or something like them only in books or pictures. “But as far as the contents of your ship I would have to agree.”

          “Call this a gesture of good faith.” McNally shrugged. “That and I only want what is mine and nothing else.”

          “I could simply kill you and keep them all.” He smiled menacingly.

          “You could try.” Rafe shrugged once more unconcerned. “It’s been tried before.” There was a tense silence that had followed that. One that cause both Terra and Nina to pull at their bonds and Piper to cast worried looks back and forth between the two men as she backed away. Then Blackburn grinned and let out a booming laugh that broke the tension.

          “By God I like you!” He exclaimed pointing to Rafe. “Come let’s have a drink and talk.” Looking to Piper, “Free Red so she can help you. Put Blondie back in the stall. Then the two of you grab a jug from the cellar and come serve us.”

          “Yes, Master!” she exclaimed happily, moving to obey the instruction.

 Near the Crash Site of the Starship Yakali Kole

Western Territories, Darterra

 

         

         

          Kala lifted her head and took in a long deep breath to test the air. The air was heavy with the scent of many humans. Her feline sense of smell was highly refined. She could even tell the difference between other human females and her pet that was leashed beside her. It had amused her that even though she stood nearly a full head taller, was much stronger, faster, and more agile than her human pet. Yet the things that made them female were the same. The irony of the universe and nature always amazed her. Like her mission now. She was to travel deep into the human lands to search for a starship on the chance that it would belong to the Lost Ones.

          The odds were better that her mute pet would suddenly start talking after not having said a word since she was found abandoned and left for dead at an attack sight. The Lost Ones were a race of powerful beings that had visited Darterra centuries before the Magellans showed up. It was likely she would only discover that the craft had carried more humans, probably from the Cristo sect. They were the most vile and dishonorable of the humans according to the Elders. It was said that the Cristo’s were the humans that turned on them first. The Garbeh had welcomed all of these new people to their world. Sharing their friendship and knowledge only to be treated in return as beasts.

          When the Cristos had tried to enslave the Gerbeh, the people had revolted and fought back. They took everything that they could in their escape to the Lorast Mountains, including several humans as slaves. Twice the Cristos had sent armies into the Lorast range to hunt them. Those forces had been surrounded and defeated both times, the ones not killed in the fights had either fled back to where they came. Or have been added to the herd of human slaves. It was now the law of the people that any human that entered the lands of the Gerbeh were to be enslaved or slain immediately.

          There was the roar of an explosion and the ground shook under their feet. Kala straightened her body as she listened and checked the air once more.

          “Maco, I think that could have only came from the ship we seek.” Kala told her slave pet. The girl only nodded her agreement. If she were cleaned up, Kala was certain that by human standards the raven-haired slave would be very attractive. She had noted the looks of some of the male slaves looking at her several times. Amongst her people Kala was very pretty with her soft yellow pelt with the black spots. The humans she had been told said that those that had her coloring were called Cheetahs on the world they came from. But now was not the time to think of such things. The air had been fouled by the dirt and debris from the explosion and she was not able to detect if any other than the two of them were in the immediate area.

          “I should turn back,” she said to herself more than anyone else. “ But if the Lost Ones were on that ship then they may need our help even more so now. Come, girl” tugging on the leash knotted to the collar of the pet urging her to follow.

 

 

Lasigna Ranch

Fortier Territory Western Darterra

 

 

          An hour had passed, and Tyrell and Rafe sat at a tabled inside the ranch house. Piper knelt beside Tyrell and at the other end of the table knelt Terra beside Rafe. Neither of the slaves wore a stich of clothing other that their slave collars. Both girls were listening to the conversation between their master’s but reluctant to interfere or jump into the conversation as this was still a tense situation. Piper had remained silent for the most part because that was how she was conditioned for the most part. Her family only had a couple slaves to help out and were treated for the most part like family. But she had witnessed when at friends or functions that the slaves there were to be seen and not heard. They were expected to be alert and attentive but to stay in the shadows and only speak when spoken to. Terra had been watching and taking her cues from Piper for the most part. Biting her tongue and not speaking had been hard for her. It was not part of her nature, but she trusted her master, Rafe and knew that he would not simply give Nina and the others up so easily.

          “So, you are a Master Gunner in the Union Fleets’s Marines. And Red there,” referring to Terra as he leaned in and refilled both of their glasses with some form of whiskey.

          “Yep, and she was a very talented agent up until she walked into the wrong place and wrong time and taken by slavers.” Rafe took his refilled glass and lifted it in salute then took a sip. It burned but for homemade hooch it was not bad. “Nina, the blonde, was an undercover agent who’s cover was blown. And the girl in the barn Marla was foolish enough to try sneaking into a slaver’s operation trying to rescue Terra.”

          “What about the other girl in the stall with, Marla you called her?” Ty taking a sip and leaning back in his chair. He has suspected that this Rafe was a Union Marine by the clothing that he had worn. Old Lasigna has several books in the house when they had found him weak and near death a couple years ago. Piper had fussed and nursed him back to health that time. But a year later his body finally gave out and he passed on. But they had told of the Union of Starfaring Worlds. Some of the officers and crew of the ill-fated SS Magellan had once served in the Union Fleet.

          “Let’s just say when I learned where the slavers had taken Terra here. I called in a few favors from some highly placed individuals. The high command while not wanting to lose an agent of her quality and knowledge. Was reluctant to take such bold and aggressive steps as I put in motion. They were highly pissed off at me in fact for doing what they should have done. It was only when they had to back me or look like the chairwarmers they were that I not only got some backing and support, but orders to acquire Terra and Marla but to buy four more slaves for an under operation to be run by Nina. That is where Naomi came into the picture as one of the four slaves I bought. The other three being the exotics as you call them.” Taking another sip. “From what our data banks and her papers say, she was a Union medic at one time. The information is not clear and I have had the time to talk with her to find out if she was sneaking medical supplied to the local and got caught by slavers or was selling supplies on the black market and was betrayed and sold to slavers.”

          “Sounds like you have a legal claim to all the slaves. Except for the fact that all but Red there are still locked in my chains and stable.” Tyrell leaned back and looked across the table at Rafe. “So how do you figure to get them back? I doubt that you have any gold to buy them back. And you just blew up your ship and everything you have or had except that slave and the clothes on your back.”

          “For starters, I still am not sure where the hell that I am.” McNally nodded in agreement at the lack of means available to him. “But the best place for all of them, including Terra here, is in the chains of a slave. If they were freed of the collar and chains of a slave, they might draw unwanted attention to themselves. So, wearing chains and working this ranch is the best place for them.”

          “Bless your military thinking mind, Lad!” Laughing hard at the practical answer and solution for the moment that McNally had just laid out before him. He needed more slaves and now he had a total of 8 counting Piper and Red. The three chained in the tack room would still be a problem. But if they were kept out of sight staying in the barn and stables during the day. Legally, his claim on the other six slaves was weak except for the fact that McNally did not know how precarious his position was on this world. “You’re on Darterra.” He noted the reaction from both the slave at McNally’s feet and himself at that news.

          “Fleet navigation charts and records say that Darterra is at the edge of the explored galaxy and is an unhabitable rock.” Mac responded with a raised eyebrow.

          “Yet you are here and that hardly looks like an uninhabitable rock outside that door.” Ty smiled.

          “Master,” Terra spoke up, “Those surveys were done by the Cristo Corporation over 100 years ago. If this is Darterra, then how could they have been so wrong.?”

          “One hundred and forty-eight years most likely,” Tyrell offered. That he offered such an exact number didn’t go unnoticed by Rafe.

          “According to Fleet records and intelligence,” Terra went on further. “This sector is mostly uninhabitable, has not strategically value, and home to a few warlords and pirates.”

          “Simple, someone lied.” Rafe answered, which drew a smile and nod from Tyrell.

          “Are you saying that Union Command and the intelligence knew of this place the whole time and was keeping it a secret.” A bewildered Terra looked at him, then added after a stern look from her younger but more experienced sister in bondage, Piper. “Master.”

          “No. I don’t think it is anyone in the Fleet that knew about this.” Putting the puzzle together as he talked it out. “While Union ships have explored and charted several sectors and regions of known space. They haven’t covered all of it. Their navigations charts and intelligence information is compiled from not only their data, but data received from other worlds in the Union as well as,” Rafe paused as the next piece fell into place, “from civilian sources.” Tyrell nodding and smiled again. He knew something. “Something tells me that while you may not know it all, Blackburn. You know something that brings it all together.”

          “SS Magellan,” Was all he said.

          “What?” Terra puzzled, then adding after another stern look from Piper, “Master.” That was also noted by both Tyrell and Rafe.

          “The SS Magellan, if it is the same one that I am thinking of disappeared with all hands and a couple hundred colonist, what 200 years ago.” Rafe offered.

          “Two hundred and fifty actually,” Tyrell corrected. Then to Piper, “Check on the slaves in the tack room. Then put the other three in leg shackles and put them to work. We’ve got to get cooking fires going and water carried because we have more mouths to feed.”

          “Red, come with me.” Piper looked to Terra as she rose to her feet.

          “Red, will be staying with her Master while I talk to him.” Tyrell held up one hand motioning for Terra to remain where she was. This did not please Piper in the least. But her Master had spoken so she turned and left for the stables.

          “What does that have to do with any of what is going on.” Terra pressed.

          “I think I might know.” Rafe answered, nodding as the pieces seemed to fall into place. Seeing Tyrell across the table giving him a go-ahead gesture with his hand. “SS Magellan was a colony ship that launched 250 years ago. Contact was lost after they reported attempting to jump into the slip stream during an attack by marauders. Nothing was heard from them again.”

          “And they ended up here?” she asked.

          “It would seem that way. More importantly, the SS Magellan was flagged as a Union ship, but it was financed and owned by the Cristo Corporation.”

          “They seem to be everywhere.” She groaned.

          “That they are, girl” laughed Tyrell. “And wherever you find them. Expect to find nothing good.”

          “We’ve had some dealings with the Cristo Corporation.” Rafe explained.

          “I got that impression by the seven beauties in Corporation designed and issued slave collars.” Tyrell laughed again picking up a glass and having a drink.

          “Which brings up an interesting question. How did you get those collars off the slaves?” Rafe asked picking up his own glass holding it out to Terra to refill it. At first she was taken aback, then picked up the bottle and refilled his glass first then rising and refilling Tyrell’s. “Those collars have only been around the last 10-15 years. How did you just happen to not only know what they were but have a master key to open them on a planet that has been cut off for over 200 years?”

          “But we haven’t been cut off.” Taking a drink then sitting the glass back on the table. Pausing to admire the curves of Terra exposed body. “While it predates me by a few years. Most of what I know came from stories that old man Lasigna, his father was a young midshipman on the Magellan. And from what has been passed down from those with no love for the Corporation.

          “Their long-range communication was seriously damaged during the fight with marauders. As were their navigation computers. When they exited the slipstream, they had no fix on where they were. Darterra was the closest habitable planet in range, so they attempted to land here. But the Magella was too badly damaged and once she sat down that was it for her. She was broken up and used for building materials and anything else that could be salvaged and used. Captain Sullivan did his best to try and maintain control. But the Cristo people were not willing to let that stand and undermined him at every turn. All attempts at reestablishing contact with the home worlds of the Union failed. One morning Captain Sullivan was found dead and pronounced that he died in his sleep.

          “Cristo started taking over. It was decreed that Earth and the Union had abandoned and forgotten us. That the Cristo Corporation would help save us. But within 15 years of sitting down we were on the road to destruction. The indigenous people of this world were a feline race called the Garbeh. Corporate headquarters in New London had saw them as ignorant pawns to be used for what they knew or slave labor. But they revolted and vanished into those mountains to the West called the Lorast Mountains. They also took over 100 of our people as prisoners and slaves with them.” He paused to take a drink. “The Corporation sent four armed parties into those mountains over the years and only a handful of survivors returned to tell their stories. Over time supplies were exhausted and equipment simply wore out. We regreased technologically, and the Corporation’s answer was that we could not afford to maintain a penal system so all the convicted were declared as slaves to work in whatever capacity they were needed. Most saw the logic and need until people were being arrested and enslaved for the most minor infractions or trumped-up charges.”

          “All very interesting, but it still doesn’t explain how you got your hands on a master collar key.” Rafe interrupted.

          “Patience, boy. Patience. I’m getting to that.” Laughed Blackburn. “Even with slave labor with worn out tools and broken equipment and the knowledge of how to fix or replace them. Our days were numbered. Then things started turning around for the better. The people were told that some old long-lost manuals and books were found that help the Corporation. Only the top-level officials knew that was not the case. I did some ‘research’ of my own in a district headquarters for Cristo. I learned that it was not long-lost books that helped. But they had been in contact with the home worlds. Not only that but that Corporation ships had been landing and suppling their Darterra counterparts with everything that they needed to retain control.”

          “And that is where you happened to find a collar key?” Nodded Rafe following the line of the conversation as Terra looked in disbelief.

          “Only the most prized slaves of the top-level officers and executives of Cristo’s regional and district headquarters wear the collar like your slaves did. One of the perks of position and rank, is that you get the best of everything.” Snorted Tyrell.

          “And you took the key so that you might liberate one of the Corporations slaves for yourself?” Rafe had to admit that it was not a bad idea. Nothing would sting the pride of a egocentric power-hungry executive like looking one of their prize toys. He glanced out the open door at the slave Piper who was encouraging Marla and Naomi about the chores she gave them with a slender switch. She was young and beautiful enough to have been a prized slave. Motioning to the door, “Piper?”

          “No, not her. But if I had not found her when I did. She might have eventually found herself in the chains of a Cristo Executive pleasure den.” Tyrell paused to take a long deep breath. “No, a few years while I was away. Not that it would have mattered if I had been home. But my wife and daughter had caught the eye and attention of a visiting rising star in the Corporation. When his attempts at charm and flattery failed. He sent his men to taken them back in slave chains. I know that, if they live, and I pray that they do, they are slaves in one of those dens. I took the key so when I find out where they are I can go bring them home.”

          Both Rafe and Terra looked at Tyrell but didn’t say a word allowing him to think of those he loved and who were taken from him. Rafe had now doubt that taking back his wife and daughter was only part of it. The other part was finding the man that ordered it and making him die long and slow. Rafe was also reasonably sure that Tyrell also knew and understand that even if he found them, years of being a pleasure slave might have scared them to the point that they might now be able to readjust to the life they once knew. That they might have to remain slaves even with him. He had seen it before. Glancing at Terra, if he had not acted as quickly as he had and got her back. That might have been the case with her as well once she had ‘broken’ collar and her new way of life.

          “But that brings up another point,” Tyrell said returning to the moment. “With what you have told me about yourself and Red there. As well as the others. It may only be a matter of time before someone puts two and two together and realizes that the thorn in their side on Darterra is the same one that thought themselves rid of elsewhere. Cristo has poisoned the minds of many that the Union is not their friend. My best advice to you is to get rid of those Union clothes you’re wearing. Even without insignia, sooner or later, someone is going to recognize then for what they are.”

          Rafe nodding in agreement with the sound reasoning and logic of what Tyrell had just said. He wanted to stay off radar as long as he possibly could. It was still too soon to tell, but he was reasonably sure that he had found an ally in Tyrell, if not a friend in time. It was clear that had he wished. They would all be in the hands of the Cristo Corp.

          “I would take it a step further,” Tyrell went on, “I would rename the slave Red there. Terra is not a common name for anyone let alone a slave on Darterra. I would suggest that she and the others remain slaves. And that you rename her and maybe blondie as they are the ones that are likely to be known the best to the Corporation system. You might think of a new name for yourself as well.”

 

 

         

Cristo Corporate Headquarters

New London, Darterra

 

          Barin Ritter looked out the window of his office at the busy streets below. Something was going on in the Western District. He detested the Western District, the only good thing that he knew came from there were the delicious slaves Cass and Ela that he had brought back with him a few years ago when on a fact-finding trip. They were delightful slaves that once they accepted what they were and only were, had been a delight to own. They had been mother and daughter, which made them very popular when he was entertaining associates and superiors.

          Now there were reports of previously undocumented crashed starship in that area. It might be nothing. But then there was an alert to watch for and intercept a ship that could be entering this region of space. His pirate fleet had been mobilized and been sent out to intercept the ship. Yet, here was a report from the captain of the airship Sullivan, named after that fool who had crashed his ship on this back water hell hole. To complicate matters, the third nephew of the Directors wife had been assigned to accompany a patrol out to investigate. The patrol had not been heard from having missed the last two check ins, With his luck the ass kissing  little boot licker when and got himself killed and now he would have to explain how that happened to the home office on Earth.