20. Krogoth

Chapter 20

Krogoth

Chase

I gently close the eyelids of my dear old friend. My mind races, trying to make sense of the events that led me here. I must find and save Pebbles. Nothing else matters. I long to have her in my arms again, her sweet scent filling my nostrils once more.

"Xandor, scan for any suspicious ships that left the station recently," I plead desperately.

Xandor rushes to the command console, his fingers moving frantically across the holographic display. "Chieftain," he says with despair in his voice. "It's no use. There are hundreds of ship signatures coming and going from this accursed station."

"There must be a way!" I shout, feeling more and more desperate by the moment.

"We'd have to follow every signature and hope we get lucky. Even then, the trail will be cold by the time we find the right one,"Xandor explains with a heavy heart.

Suddenly, Felixus bursts into the room without his battlesuit. He halts at the sight of so many broken and maimed bodies strung around the room.

"By the void, I've never seen the likes of this before. Ship's a graveyard, bodies piled waist-deep, three corridors long," he says, looking aghast at the grisly scene. "I've installed the Elerium and can confirm the hull is repaired. Very sloppy work, I w-"

"Someone called Tensin Naxsus took someone very dear to me. Please, is there anything you can do to trace his ship?" I plead, my heart racing.

"I'll have a look, lad." Felixus rushes to the command console, his fingers moving across the holographic display with lightning speed. "Sorry. But without knowing his ship's exact signature, it'll be like finding a working hyper-drive in a junkyard."

"I will not give up until I find her. Even if it takes me five hundred years, I swear I'll track Tensin Naxsus down!" I roar, baring my razor-sharp fangs. The air in the room vibrates with my rage.

Felixus is taken aback by my outburst, his eyes widening in shock. He looks at me for a moment, rubbing his chin as if unsure whether to speak. "I've heard of this Tensin Naxsus," he finally says. "He's a Glaseroid weapons dealer, incredibly wealthy." He pauses, his expression growing darker. "I hear strange things about his ‘Pleasure Barge.' They say he collects exotic women."

A ‘Pleasure Barge'! If they have defiled my female, I will not rest until I hunt every one of the disgusting filth. I will break them, then leave their putrid bodies to rot in the deserts of Nardune!

"Yaksai must have contacted him. That explains where the Psykes got the arc pistols from," Xandor muses, his voice tinged with frustration.

"Maybe we can set up a fake arms deal to lure him—" I suggest, but Felixus cuts me off.

"Wait, lad!" Felixus exclaims, his eyes lighting up. "I'm picking up strange readings. Weapons' discharge twenty lightyears away." He gestures to the galaxy map displayed on the console.

"Set course at full speed now!" I order, daring to hope that Pebbles has somehow signaled me. It seems too good to be true, but I remember fondly how she once escaped my bedroom with the clever use of my armor. If anyone can escape Tensin Naxsus, it is she.

As I stare out the view port, the hyper lightspeed travel creates a stunning array of colorful lights streaming past us. I will Tensin Naxsus' ship to appear in the distance, hoping that we are getting closer. Suddenly, Xandor's urgent voice breaks my concentration.

"Chieftain, look at this," he says, waving me over to the holographic display.

I turn around and see the holographic display showing security footage of the attack on the ship by the Psykes Glaseroids. It's a chaotic scene, filled with violence and bloodshed. But it's the end of the footage that catches my eye, when the warrior in the golden armor appears and takes down Carndor with ease.

"By the void, that's Exoenhancer armor he's wearing! And that spear he's using is powered by my people's laser technology," Felixus exclaims excitedly. "Your men didn't stand a chance, lad. See here." He points to the part where Carndor blocks a spear thrust with his shield. "The laser spear broke through the plasma shield in a single attack."

Xandor thoughtfully adds, "He moves faster than a swooping arrohawk."

Felixus furrows his brow in confusion. "It makes little sense," he says, rubbing his chin. "Nebians would die before giving our secrets away. And the Exoenhancer comes from the Nu'warians. They shun contact with outsiders and would never create armor for another species, especially one that walks on two legs."

"It matters not! I will rip him to pieces before I feed him to this pathetic Tensin Naxsus," I say, studying the replay of the battle.

As I peer out of the view port, my eyes lock onto a medium-sized golden ship that emerges from the dark void of space. Its angular form, with multiple sections jutting out abruptly, reminds me of a modified Glaseroid transport vessel. The mere sight of it gives me a glimmer of hope that we are on the right track.

"Hail them," I instruct Xandor, who taps away at the console in front of him.

"No response," he reports, his brow furrowing in concern.

"Fire a warning shot," I order, determined not to let this opportunity slip away. With a resounding thump, a dazzling blue plasma bolt streaks across the darkness of space, missing the Glaseroid ship by a hair's breadth.

"They're coming out of hyper speed," Xandor alerts me, and I feel a surge of anticipation.

"Excellent. Move closer and match their speed," I command, my voice steady. "Request a two-way comms channel," I add, my eyes fixed on the ship's glowing silhouette as it draws nearer to us.

The display flickers to life, projecting the image of a repulsive Glaseroid. I feel my stomach churn at the sight of his corpulent body, gaudy robes, and excessive petty gold jewelry adorning his skittering limbs. The air in the room seems to thicken with his foul presence.

"Is there any reason for such aggression, stranger? I assure you, I am but a humble merchant," he whines, his voice laced with feigned concern.

"Hold your lying tongue, Tensin Naxsus. If you return Pebbles, the Earth female, I swear I'll let you live," I bellow, my anger barely contained.

"I'm afraid I don't have an Earth female by that name," he simpers, a wicked smile creeping across his face. "But I do have a Slop, a beautiful specimen with soft skin and an inviting body," he leers.

"If you've harmed her in any way, you bloated corpse of a Glaseroid, I'll tear your arms off and feed them to you!" I roar, struggling to contain my fury.

"Oh my! It seems the Klendathians are as brutish as I've been told." He smirks, shaking his head in disappointment. "And as dull, unfortunately. You see, to kill me, you'd have to attack my ship. Now, I'll be the first to admit that my ship wouldn't last long against your mighty Scythian battlebarge," he raises his hands in mock surrender, "but that would kill poor little Slop, and we wouldn't want that now, would we?" he asks, his tone patronizing.

The Glaseroid pauses for a moment, his jowls jiggling as he is fed some choice delicacy off-screen. He savors the taste before resuming his conversation. "I will not give up my newest pretty," he declares, his arrogant tone shifting to one of rage in a split second. "Oh no, not after I went to all that trouble acquiring those arc pistols for Yaksai's entire gang of Psykes. The dullard still botched the extraction. I still had to send my Rubikrax. Such incompetence!" His many limbs tremble frantically as he speaks.

Taking a deep breath, the Glaseroid continues, his bug eyes staring inquisitively. "I don't tolerate loss of investments, you see. But maybe the art of negotiation will resolve our little dispute?" he asks, slowly whispering the word ‘dispute,' giving the impression that we are discussing spilled boracks milk.

I respond dismissively, "Hurry and name your price, Tensin Naxsus. You bore me," fully expecting his terms to be farcical.

"How rude!" the Glaseroid exclaims with feigned offense. "But hear me out. I'm known as a collector of rare exotic women. But the truth is, I am a collector of rare pleasures! And I long to see my Rubikrax, the greatest fighter in the universe, test his skill against a fearsome Klendathian leader like yourself in a death match. Obviously, I'd prefer your War Chieftain - I hear he's a truly terrifying specimen - but you'll do… for now."

I can hardly believe my ears as I ask in shock, "You can't be serious?"

"Never more serious in my life," the Glaseroid confirms, his bug eyes moving around in excitement. "If you win, you can take Slop and slither on back to whatever savage wasteland you crawled from. But if I win… well, I'll keep the pretty and witness one of the greatest arena battles ever."

I would accept any challenge to save Pebbles. "I accept," I say, almost immediately after he's finished speaking.

"Good, I knew you wouldn't disappoint… It's in your blood after all." The Glaseroid smirks. "I'll expect you in two hours at my docking port," he says as the communication display turns off.

I shouldn't have left her. Pebbles must endure this monster's attention because of me! A heavy sigh escapes my lips as I steel myself to win back Pebbles, no matter the cost. The mere thought of facing such a strong opponent is enough to make my heart race with excitement.

"I know you're strong, lad, but this is suicide!" Felixus exclaims, disbelief etched on his face.

A small smile tugs at Xander's lips. "You're a real confidence builder, Felixus," he says, tapping him on the back. The stark difference in their sizes nearly causes Felixus to lose his balance, but Xandor steadies him with his other hand.

Felixus furrows his brow in disbelief as he shifts his gaze between me and Xandor. "You think this is a good idea, too? This is blockheaded Klendathian madness. That's what this is," he mutters, his tone laced with concern.

Xandor's serious expression conveys his unwavering determination. "Chieftain's the best warrior in the universe. Besides, I'm not letting the scum that killed Astraxius live! And that is why I'm going with you," he says firmly, locking eyes with me.

I quickly shake my head. "Absolutely not. He'll cancel the deal if I bring anyone," I assert, my voice betraying my growing frustration.

Xandor's rage is intense as he faces me. "With respect, Krogoth, you can shove that command up your backside. Astraxius practically raised me from childhood after my father died, and I will not dishonor his memory by suffering this treacherous filth that killed him to breathe another day!" Xandor's eyes glisten with unshed tears of anger. "I swear if you deny me this, I will blow their ship out of the void. Gods bedamned."

Despite Xandor's outburst, my heart goes out to him. I have been so fixated on getting Pebbles back home safely, but he is suffering as well. He seeks only retribution for Astraxius' death. "Astraxius will guide me. I will avenge him, I promise," I declare, placing a reassuring hand on Xandor's shoulder.

Xandor nods thoughtfully. "We also have no idea if he'll honor the agreement when you win," he declares, his eyes merciless with determination.

Felixus interjects, his worry clear in his voice. "‘When you win?'" he says. "If you had my battlesuit, you'd be the favorite, but I doubt that's what Tensin Naxsus has in mind." His face becomes thoughtful for a moment.

"Wait, give me one of your plasma shields. I have an idea," Felixus suggests, gesturing towards one of the fallen warriors' arcshield gauntlets.

Without hesitation, Xandor retrieves both the left and right wrist plates from one of the fallen Klendathian warriors. Felixus quickly gets to work examining them.

"Yes! I shouldn't be doing this, but I can upgrade your plasma shield and weapons to use laser. I'll need to be quick. We have little time," Felixus says before rushing out of the room to work on the upgrades.

Turning to me, Xandor shrugs his broad shoulders. "Xandor, if you'll not take no for an answer, then bring Logarn. Felixus can manage our ship," I command, my voice firm and unwavering. "We might get lucky if you both cloak. They may not have the technology or foresight to check. But whatever happens, get Rocks and get the void out of there."

"I swear it, brother." Xandor salutes me, his fist held up to his chest in a show of loyalty. "Make Astraxius proud. I have faith you'll not fail." He smiles.

I pull Xandor into a tight embrace, feeling the weight of the moment and the uncertainty of our fates. "Never could I have wished for a better friend than you, Xandor," I say, my voice quiet but resolute. After a brief pause, I release him from the embrace. "I must go prepare," I add, my tone heavy with purpose.

All our destinies hang in the balance.