14. Krogoth

Chapter 14

Krogoth

Ill repute

A s we hustle away from the imposing Crimson Beast's headquarters, Xandor's eyes flicker with a hint of suspicion. "Do you think we can trust Javik?" he asks, his voice low.

"I trust no one in this Gods forsaken place," I mutter. My eyes dart around the sparsely lit alleyways of the station. "But who knows? Maybe Javik will surprise us."

Xandor scoffs, his mischievous grin growing wider. "Why leave it up to chance?" he says, his claws extending and retracting. "We could just take the Elerium now and be done with it."

I smirk. "Cause your ribs are cracked, and so is your head if you didn't notice the turrets and sentries posted all around the hallway," I retort.

Xandor rolls his eyes. "Pfft, we could take them," he grumbles.

Javik gave us some intel for this job of his. The stolen Nebian technology is being held by the rival gang Whores Orphans in an undisclosed location. But Javik's informants had a valuable tip - one of the Orphans' high-ranking members is a regular at a seedy brothel called Lunar Dreams. It is our best shot at finding the location of the stolen tech. The best shot for getting back to Pebbles quickly.

I beckon the group to follow me towards the Lunar Dreams. Every nerve in my body is on high alert, scanning the shadows for any hint of danger or ambush. The stench of stale air and desperation hangs heavy in the recycled atmosphere, and the narrow alleyways are littered with Scoomer addicts in various stages of dishevelment. We move with stealth, careful not to draw attention to ourselves as we dart through the twisted metal shacks that line the streets.

After what feels like an eternity, I finally catch sight of Lunar Dreams - a sprawling metal building with twisted balconies and an array of garish neon lights spilling out from its windows. The air is thick with the sound of drunken revelry and debauchery, and I know this is the place we have been searching for.

Adrenaline builds within me as we approach the entrance, which is guarded by two massive Tuskarians staring menacingly at the customers entering. Above them, a large holographic pink crescent moon flashes, illuminating the dark alleyways. I gesture for my group to fall back, not wishing to be discovered by the bouncers. We make our way to the rooftop of a nearby building. From here, we survey the entrance and wait for the Whores Orphans member.

As we crouch in the shadows, Xandor leans over and whispers, "What does this guy even look like?"

"Javik's informant said he's a small Argorian with fewer spikes on his head," I reply, racking my brain for any additional details.

Xandor's eyes widened in disbelief. "Fewer spikes? How, by the Gods, are we supposed to pick this guy out from the other Argorians with their heads full of voiding spikes?"

I grin at Xandor's incredulity. I lean in closer, my eyes glinting in the low light. "Don't worry. He'll be wearing his gang patch. That's how we'll know."

Hours drag on, but we keep a vigilant watch from our perch overlooking the bustling brothel across the alleyway. The Lunar Dreams is thriving with a constant stream of patrons entering and exiting its doors. Xandor and Logarn grow increasingly restless, calling out false alarms at every Argorian that comes near.

As I scan the crowd, my attention is drawn to a figure making his way towards the entrance. A small Argorian with a distinct lack of spikes on his head, just as Javik described. I nudge Xandor and point towards the approaching figure. "That's our Argorian," I whisper.

"Good, I was getting bored. Do we grab him now?" Xandor says, about to leap down to the alley below.

"‘We' aren't doing anything. I'm going in alone after he makes himself comfortable," I say firmly, pulling Xandor back by his shoulder.

"What? After I've been waiting here for hours? That's ridiculous,"Xandor protests, eyes narrowed in displeasure.

"Xandor, if you go in there, we'll probably not see you for a week," I say, a sly grin spreading across my face.

Xandor scoffs, "Hilarious, Chieftain," and rolls his eyes, his annoyance obvious.

"I'll make it up to you next time." I pat his back firmly. "Stay here, keep watch, and make sure no one follows me," I command, eyeing my three comrades.

Leaving the group behind, I leap down to the alleyway, carefully avoiding any sources of light. The brothel is just as stone's throw away, but I need to cross a path to get to it. I keep an eye out for the two Tuskarian bouncers, hoping to remain unnoticed. As I get closer, the Lunar Dreams' metal structure looms above me, the misshapen balconies casting eerie shadows. With a powerful jump, I grab onto the first level balcony and pull myself up. I move slowly, crouching towards the nearest window, making sure not to draw any attention to myself.

As I creep towards the first window, the darkness within gives me pause. I listen intently, but all I hear is eerie silence. With a sigh, I realize it's not the one I'm looking for . Moving on to the next window, I hear muffled sounds of passion emanating from within. My ears prick up as I listen closely. "Yeah, that's it. Ride me good!"

Slowly, I peek over the windowsill and hold my breath as I witness a scene of a Crongarian lying on a bed while a Jungarian female with ample breasts bounces on top of him. Her hands rest on his midsection as she gyrates her wide hips, and her short furred breasts bounce widely in motion with her eager movements. The Crongarian moans in pleasure with each rhythmic sway.

As I glance at the Jungarian female bouncing on the Crongarian, a thought flashes through my mind: "Her breasts aren't as nice as Pebbles'." I shake my head, tearing myself away from the lewd scene. It only serves to increase my longing for my beautiful Pebbles. I move on to the next window, staying in the shadows and keeping my head low, aware of the danger lurking around in this unfamiliar place.

I approach the next window, pausing for a moment as my ears strain to listen for any sounds. Hearing nothing, I slowly inch my head over the windowsill. But what I see makes me almost retch with revulsion. A pale Glaseroid is wildly splashing about in a tub filled with swarming tiny insects as another Glaseroid, perhaps a female, pours more of them on top of him. "Oh, the way they skitter on my body is… magnificent," he moans.

I spin away, my stomach churning at the grotesque sight. It is something that should never be witnessed. "Gods, I thought Xandor was bad," I mutter under my breath.

Taking a deep breath, I approach the last window with trepidation, hoping to be spared any more grotesque scenes of Glaseroid insect fetishism. I'm not sure how much more of this I can handle. As I draw closer, the muffled voice of a female reaches my ears. "Such a pathetic spikeless little boy, aren't you?" she taunts, followed by a loud cracking sound.

The submissive voice of a small Argorian reaches my ears as I peer through the window. He is tied to a metal frame with chains and leather, completely naked, while a tall and sleek Argorian female dressed in black leathers looms menacingly over him, tapping a multi-tailed whip in her hand.

"Yes, mistress, I'm pathetic," he whimpers, his eyes downcast in shame. But she isn't satisfied yet.

"Avert your eyes from my visage. You don't deserve to look upon me!" she spits on him, before bringing the whip across his midsection, causing him to cry out in pain. She twists his nipples cruelly, laughing maniacally at his suffering.

As I watch the scene unfold before me, a curious thought crosses my mind. I wonder if Klendathian couples indulged in such strange pleasures in the old days. Shaking my head, I suppress the thought, reminding myself of the task at hand. My target is within reach, and he has even neatly tied himself up for me. I chuckle at the irony.

Without hesitation, I leap through the window, landing with a thud amongst the broken plastics, suppressing the urge to laugh at the sight of the tied-up Argorian hysterically squirming against his restraints. The tall female dressed in black stands in shock, staring at me in disbelief.

"Who in the void are you?" she demands, her voice laced with anger.

"I'm his next appointment. Leave quickly and quietly," I reply firmly, my eyes burning into hers.

She seems taken aback by my boldness, "Oh my!" but quickly composes herself. "You two have fun." She practically runs towards the exit, closing the door behind her.

With a sharp turn of my head, I face the tied-up Argorian, slowly stalking towards him. My towering figure casts a long shadow over him. His struggles intensify as he frantically tries to break free of his bonds.

"Did the Psykes send you?" he mutters, his voice trembling with fear.

I close the distance between us, standing before the incredibly vulnerable Argorian, my eyes piercing into his soul. "Where is the Nebian tech?" I demand, my tone offering no argument.

"I don't know anything about Nebian tech! What, are you crazy?" He shakes his head in disbelief.

Undeterred, I extend my clawed index finger, scratching it across his chest. His body shudders in response, and a low moan escapes from his lips. "Oh yeah, big boy."

By the Gods, he's enjoying this! I have to resist the urge to step back in disgust. Why didn't I let Xandor do this? I deliver a crushing blow with my elbow to his side, the sound of the Argorian's agonizing screams reverberating through the room as several of his ribs snap under the force of my strike.

"I thought you liked pain?" My voice is cold and calculated. "Either you tell me what I want to know, or I will continue breaking every bone in your body."

The Argorian's eyes widen in agony and terror as he realizes the gravity of the situation. He knows he has no choice but to give me the information that I demand. Slowly, he describes the location of the Nebian tech. It's in a secret building nestled deep within the labyrinthine mining tunnels. Each detail is etched into my memory. One misstep in the maze would mean getting hopelessly lost, spelling certain doom. It is with a heavy heart that I assign my group to explore the bleak and foreboding depths of Terminus Exile Station.

"If you're lying to me, I'll finish what I started, and it won't be a happy ending for you," I growl, my eyes narrowing in warning. The thought of silencing him crosses my mind, but I know he will not be going anywhere, anytime soon. For now, I have all the information that I need.

I catapult myself out of the shattered window, landing gracefully on the balcony. I make my way carefully back to rejoin the others who are waiting perched atop the building overlooking the Lunar Dreams. They are jumpy as I climb onto the roof top, greeting them. "Hail, brothers."

Xandor, always eager, immediately asks, "Any luck, Chieftain?"

"The good news is I found the Argorian, and he gave up the location without much of a struggle," I respond, shaking my head. "The bad news is it's being held in a building deep within the old labyrinthine mining tunnels."

Xandor curses under his breath. "Brilliant. Those tunnels sprawl out like the twisted roots of a cursed tree."

"The Argorian told me the route," I say, nodding to reassure them.

With a determined look on my face, I lead our group once more through the decaying alleyways of Terminus Exile Station, my eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of danger. Finally, we reach one of the many access points for the old mining tunnels, marked by broken and rusted signs warning of the perilous depths ahead. As we approach the platform controls, I press the elevator button, but there is no response. I notice numerous chains and ropes dangling down the open shaft, disappearing into the darkness below. I turn to the group, a mischievous grin spreading across my face. "Looks like we're climbing," I say, my hand already reaching for the nearest rope.

Our descent down the ropes is swift, our bodies moving with a fluidity that only comes from years of rigorous training. But as we go deeper, the sheer magnitude of the abyss becomes apparent. The darkness is all-encompassing, and the only sound is the haunting echo of our grunts. I can't help but wonder if we'll ever reach the bottom, or if we'll be swallowed by the never-ending depths of this forsaken station, lost forever in its bowels.

Eventually, with a thud, my feet touch the ground, and I let out a sigh of relief. As I survey our surroundings, I feel a sense of dread. The darkness here is suffocating, the air thin and damp, carrying the stench of rot and decay. The primary arteries of the tunnels are massive, once used to haul precious minerals from the asteroid. But the smaller offshoot tunnels are tight and claustrophobic, built to access new veins of resources. The metallic sheen they once boasted has been replaced by a sickly black and green grime, littered with waste and debris. It's as if we've stepped into the intestines of some astronomical alien beast, waiting to consume us whole.

With each step, my feet trample over the remnants of long-dead station inhabitants, their bones cracking under my weight and their rusted armor and decayed garments clinging to their remains like tattered flags of defeat. It is a grim sight, but there is no better place to dispose of bodies than this cesspit.

Despite the eerie atmosphere, we press on, determined to follow the intricate directions provided to me by the Argorian snitch.

Xandor's voice breaks the haunting silence. "So, Chieftain, we could see you looking through the windows at the Lunar Dreams. See anything…stimulating?"

I shudder involuntarily at the memory. "More a nightmare than a dream. I never want to see anything like that again."

Xandor chuckles. "Some would pay good money to see that kind of nightmare."

"I'd pay to never see it again," I retort, laughing.

Suddenly, Xandor's hand shoots out, halting me in my tracks. I follow his gaze, and there, in the distance, amidst a pile of rubble, a horde of squeaking creatures feast upon their latest kill.

As if sensing our presence, the beasts turn their beady red eyes upon us, their hissing growing louder with each passing second. With a fierce roar, I extend my claws and prepare for battle.

The numerous creatures are small, barely reaching a foot, but their ferocity is unmatched. With razor-sharp teeth and murder in their eyes, they lunge at us with a fury, hungering for a fresh kill.

However, it is we who are the killers. With practiced ease, we dispatch the beasts one by one, their lifeless bodies piling up around us. It is a gruesome sight, adding to the colorful tapestry of decay, but they are little contest.

We continue to trudge through the muck and filth of the twisting tunnels, our eyes straining to pierce the darkness. Every sound, every rustle, sends shivers down my spine as I wonder what other strange creatures lie in wait for us.

Time has no meaning in the bleak, dripping tunnels as we press on through the grime, keeping a wary eye out for any signs of danger. But finally, we arrive at our destination.

My heart pounds with anticipation and anxiety as I scan the area for any signs of the entrance, when Traxios speaks up, his voice steady and unemotional.

"Chieftain, here," he says, pointing to a metal hatch that is deliberately obscured by debris. It looks suspiciously clean, like it has seen recent use.

At last!