Chapter 17

17

M ikos, Rogue 5, Neutral Zone, Sim Arena

Everything was going according to Drakdak's plan. A group of four Silver Scion guards escorted me into the Sim Arena where Drakdak Trach would make his case against me, complete with a presentation of Sim evidence, and demand Astra Legion surrender me for execution.

Shade of Siren Legion followed our small group, his cuffs no longer locked around my arms. The Silver Scions had insisted I wear their restraints, as I'd expected. Shade had argued, then acquiesced, marking me as his bounty with a dark blue badge attached to the front of my uniform. The badge would remain, ready to secretly broadcasting specialized release codes to the Silver Scion's chains. I would truly be a prisoner until the moment Drakdak Trach made payment. Once Shade received his reward, he would trigger the release codes to activate, and I would bide my time. Pretend to be restrained. Choose the perfect moment to attack.

I had no doubt, Shade would be paid. A delegation of Siren Legion sat in attendance to ensure their Enforcer was paid what was owed. No doubt, Siren wanted their cut.

All five Legions were represented. Our leaders, Astra, Styx, Cerberus, Siren and Kronos, each sat in their designated section surrounded by at least five additional members for security. During a normal Sim hearing, one or two members of the Legions might deign to attend. If they had no interest in the outcome, they didn't bother.

Today, everyone was here. This was not a normal hearing.

The moment we cleared the entrance tunnel and stepped into the small, domed arena, I found Astra and met her gaze. She gave me a very slight nod, her mouth tighter than usual, her eyes narrowed, her posture rigid. She was worried. I'd known her since she was born, had held her when she was a babe. I knew her looks. This one straightened my spine and hardened my resolve. Astra was here for me, as a friend, a leader, as family. I hated seeing the worry in her eyes, hated keeping secrets from her.

I couldn't risk telling her that this was all by design, that Shade and I made a pact weeks ago, that with a simple flick of my wrists I would be free to unleash my vengeance. One word spoken in front of the wrong person, even in her home, and Drakdak Trach would never have left his fortress-like base of operations. He would have been lost to me, too hard to reach. Too hard to kill.

This way, Shade would claim the massive bounty on my head, and I would claim Drakdak's life. Win fucking win. Even if that meant Astra, Barek, and my beautiful mate suffered with worry for a few hours.

Soon, this would be over, and I would spend a few weeks in bed making sure Breanna was not angry with me. A few hundred orgasms ought to do the trick.

Standing in the center, I did a quick assessment of my surroundings. I'd been here before, seated in Astra's assigned area, but never on the floor, the center of attention. The domed ceiling was about twenty meters high, the center, where I stood, was an oval thirty meters long with a raised stage at one end. The back half of the stage was full of the simulation equipment. On the front half, five throne looking chairs were spaced evenly so the accusers could face the accused as well as address the witnesses. Evenly spaced around the oval, six seating sections held twenty seats each. The sections were divided by thick partitions designed to keep the members of the five Legions, and any guests sitting in the sixth area, separated from one another. Harder to kill each other with a nearly impenetrable wall between each group of attendees.

In the exact center of the hard, shiny, white floor was a single black chair with a silver headpiece resting innocently in the middle of the seat. I'd seen as many as ten black chairs in the center. Today, I was the only accused.

Drakdak Trach and his bodyguards should have been sitting on the thrones, gloating. Waiting to execute me. Where was he?

I turned to one of my guards. "Where is Drakdak? I demand to be released at once if he is not here." Had he changed his mind? Stayed home and hidden himself inside his fortress like the fucking coward I knew him to be?

Gods I hoped not. Shade and I had spent weeks planning this. Our plans were nearly ruined when I'd been captured by the Hive. As I suspected, and Shade confirmed during our journey, it was he who gave the Coalition Fleet the anonymous information that led their ReCon teams to the exact location of the Hive's Integration ship. Shade saved my life and sent Breanna to me. I owed him a debt I could never repay. Although, the exorbitant amount Drakdak offered to any bounty hunter who could bring me in would go a long way.

No. I would never tell him the truth that I would never repay him for the gift of bringing my mate to me. She was everything. I would not come so close to victory only to fail now.

"He's here, Astra scum. And he has a surprise for you."

Excellent. He was here. He would die. I cared about nothing else this fucker might say.

"Sit down and stop asking questions." The same guard lifted the headpiece from the black chair, clearing it so I could sit. He tried to shove me down using my shoulder for leverage. Took two of them to ‘force' me to sit. Didn't want it to look like I was happy to be here, so I had to resist. The last thing I wanted was Drakdak to realize we were all here because I'd planned his death, not the other way around.

The guard shoved the headpiece into place over the top of my skull and made sure the connectors were placed over my forehead and temples. The device would access my memories and broadcast them to every person present. There would be no argument, no stating of evidence or conjecture. With the headpiece in place, my accuser would request the date and time of the memory to be displayed. The intelligence system that operated the Sim would dig through my mind, extract the memory, and replay it as a simulation inside the minds of everyone in attendance—everyone who wanted to bear witness, or enjoy the show.

There were those here today who, without doubt, looked forward to experiencing my kill for themselves. Sick fucks. I killed, but took life out of necessity, never pleasure.

Everyone present would feel like they experienced the moment. The sounds. Smells. Sensations. They wouldn't know what I was thinking at the time, but as the Legions discovered long ago, times of extreme violence rarely involved clear thoughts. Nor were my thoughts relevant. Only the actions. Outcomes. Results.

I knew what they would see when they played my memory. Me as I charged Drakdak Trach. Him, begging for his life. The sights and sounds of tearing flesh, the smell of Scion blood, the way chunks of his muscles gave way, tore in groups, the bones in his neck snapping and popping as I took his head.

I regretted nothing. Still, I was relieved Breanna would not be here, would not be wearing one of the Simulation devices, would not be forced to experience the brutality of that moment. My sweet, innocent female did not need my darkness corrupting her any more than I already had. She believed I was a worthy male, honorable and good.

She was wrong, but I would attempt to be what she believed me to be.

Right after I killed the fucker walking onto the stage.

Lord Trach, as he'd begun calling himself, strode into view behind two guards, waving his hand and nodding at those in attendance with all the pomp and arrogance of a true king. Long black robes engraved with silver and gold covered him from shoulder to floor. Surplus material dragged the ground behind him in a display of excess, the reason for which I could not fathom.

I hid my satisfaction behind what I hoped was a stony gaze. His ridiculous choice of attire would simply make it easier to catch and kill him.

Unlike his dead brother, who had replaced the top half of his head with Hive tech, Drakdak had one band of silver imbedded in his flesh, the metal circling his head like a crown.

This fucker really did think of himself as royalty. Two guards in front, two behind, and the four surrounding me. Eight to one, before I could get my hands on him.

Not bad odds.

There had been twenty when I walked off the ship. He should have brought more men.

Careful to keep my expression neutral, I nonetheless noticed those in attendance, the other Legionnaires, looked unimpressed by his display. I doubted Drakdak noticed their bored gazes or open contempt. Those who lived a fantasy in their mind rarely dared to look outside it.

I took stock of the rest of my people, Astra Legion. My mate was not among them, as I'd requested. I did not want her to worry or suffer needlessly. Barek, too, was missing. I assumed Astra had assigned him to protect my mate, assumed her friends, Ruk and Sebastion, were also with her. I would need to thank them. After.

Soon, I would end this, end Drakdak's reign of terror, as I had his brother's. Shade had played his part to perfection, even with the added complication of Breanna and the need for the antidote, of the Prillon warrior, Sebastion, and the Atlans escorting us to Rogue 5.

We played our parts. We followed the plan. No one doubted his intentions or my capture. No one but Prince Ruk had been trusted with the full truth, not even my mate.

I'd tried to keep Breanna out of this. But when Breanna came to me and called me mate, I lost control . I claimed her, fucked her, sank my fangs deep and told her she was mine. Admitted that I lied to her, that she was, indeed, my mate. Perhaps I should have waited until Drakdak was dead to tell her the truth, until there was zero risk I might not return to her.

Hard as I'd tried the last few hours, I could not convince myself to regret claiming her. The way she melted in my arms, surrendered, gave herself to me? I would change nothing. She was mine and now she knew the truth. She would not return to the Coalition. She would never go back to her old life. She would never be alone or unprotected. I would not give her up. Could not go back to the bleak existence that was my life before her.

"Mighty Legions, welcome." Drakdak lifted his arms and spoke slowly, making sure the comm system picked up and clearly broadcast every word to all in attendance. "I am Lord Drakdak Trach, and I have come to collect the criminal, Mikos of Astra Legion, and carry out his execution for the brutal murder of my brother, Tarduk Trach."

Whatever, asshole. Let's go. I have somewhere to be. A mate to pleasure.

On cue, Astra stood and addressed Drakdak on my behalf. "I am Astra. Mikos is mine. I demand proof of your claim."

"Of course." Drakdak bowed slightly and lifted the provided headpiece from the seat behind him. He placed it over his head and sat. His bodyguards remained standing, watching. They were not going to partake of my memory. Smart, but it wouldn't be enough to save them.

"Pardon, Lord Trach. I am Shade, of Siren Legion. I hunted, captured and now present Mikos of Astra Legion to you, as required, to collect the posted bounty. Before you proceed, I demand payment."

Drakdak's head lifted and he glared at Shade, clearly annoyed at the interruption. "Of course, of course." Drakdak lifted one wrist. His obnoxiously large sleeve slipped to his elbow to reveal a small device. He ran one finger from his opposite hand over his wrist device and looked up at Shade. "Confirm payment has been received, Shade of Siren Legion."

Shade, who'd stepped forward when he spoke, looked at a screen built into the sleeve of his armor. "Confirmed. Pleasure doing business with you, Lord Trach."

Shade turned on his heel and moved into position facing me. With a dramatic flair I would congratulate him for later, he tore the Siren blue badge from my uniform and stuffed it in his pocket. I held his gaze and moved my arms just enough to make the restraints around my forearms rattle so he would know his program worked. I was free. "Enjoy your reward, bounty hunting scum."

His cruel smile was genuine as Siren Legion's members shouted insults at me and praised him. "Enjoy your death."

Everyone would assume he referred to my impending execution rather than the lives I was about to end. Perfect.

He strode toward the exit without a backward glance, taking his money, and the blue badge, the only thing that could implicate him in my plot, with him. If he was smart, he'd destroy the badge, and the signal, immediately. I had no doubt, he was far too intelligent to be caught. If the Coalition had ever managed to recruit him into their Intelligence Core, he would have put Commander Helion himself to shame. Shade had friends and secret alliances everywhere. Siren had no idea what Shade did for her people, how hard he worked to protect them from her sadistic, cruel tendencies. Those of us who knew the truth never spoke of it. I'd asked Shade why he didn't simply assassinate Siren and assume leadership. He hadn't given me an answer I believed. Fuck him, his secrets and his Legion. I had my own problems, and a mate, to take care of.

"Bounty hunter!" Drakdak yelled after him. Shade stopped and turned to face him.

"Yes?"

"Are you not going to stay and enjoy the fruits of your labor?"

Shade's gaze darted to mine and I gave him a nearly imperceptible nod. Our deal was done. Complete. He could not provide assistance with what came next without endangering his people. We both knew this, had known from the beginning.

Live or die, my future was in my hands, and mine alone.

"No, Lord Trach. I have urgent business elsewhere." Shade turned and disappeared back the way we'd come. I had no doubt he would be in a ship, on his way to gods only knew where, faster than Drakdak could locate and activate my memory of his brother's death.

"Very well." Drakdak's dramatics almost made me laugh. Almost. I had eight Silver Scion guards and one evil fuck to kill before I could give in to the urge. I had to choose my moment wisely. One wrong move and I might never return to my mate.

Breanna's heart would break if I died this day. She loved me. I saw it in her eyes, felt it in her touch. She gave herself to me with total abandon, held nothing back. She was mine, and she would not suffer for it. I refused to fail.

"Officiant." Drakdak activated the programmed intelligence in the machines behind him.

"I am the Officiant. How may I be of service?" The monotone voice sent a chill down my spine. Many, many people had heard that droning tone minutes before their own executions.

"I am Drakdak Trach, the accuser. I accuse Mikos of Astra Legion of murder."

"Mikos of Astra Legion, activated."

A strange tingling sensation flooded my head and I knew the machine was digging around inside my memories already, cataloging data, marking dates, getting its bearings. Grateful to be sitting down, I leaned my head back against the high-back chair and waited. I could start the battle now, but I wanted Drakdak Trach, and everyone else here, to know exactly what happened to Tarduk, what I would do to anyone who threatened me, my mate, or anyone from Astra Legion.

"Locate the memory of my brother, Tarduk Trach's death, eight years, four months, three days ago at approximately zero plus twenty-two minutes."

The tingling intensified to a cold, burning sensation as if I had a chunk of ice inside my brain and couldn't escape the contact. I was aware enough to see most of the Legionnaires in attendance place a similar silver headpiece on their heads. Drakdak's malicious grin made me want to drag out his killing, torture him for a few days before finishing him off.

He was going to enjoy this, enjoy watching his brother suffer and die. Enjoy experiencing the event as if he, himself, had done the killing.

Sick fuck.

It was common knowledge that he'd hated his brother. This trial and my execution were not about justice or love of family, it was about power. Control. I'd made the Trach family look weak. Vulnerable. Weakness among the Silver Scions was certain death.

"Memory located. Simulation activated." As the Officiant spoke, the ice block changed to a knife blade in the center of my skull. Seconds later, I was no longer in the Sim Arena, no longer a worthy male with a mate to protect.

I stood in a dark alley behind a popular canteen in the neutral zone. It was late, the new day's clock recently turned. Rage unlike anything I'd ever felt before burned through my blood at the evil I'd just witnessed. I was Mikos of Astra Legion, Enforcer, protector of my people, and the male standing before me, begging for his life, was going to die.