Note: This entry isn't meant to be going for a win, but instead is the final piece of a mini series I've been writing.
Prelude to the Amazons #7 (of 7)
The elegant Caucasian man dressed in a top of the line business suit looked out the view port of the ship he was standing on, the blue glow of Earth shining as the only living beacon in the dead waste of space. Turning his back on his former home, the man strode over to a massive tank covered with an electrical field to prevent its contents, a massive jellyfish with a hideous sphincter of blades and teeth under the main bell, from escaping.
“High Navigator Morra, or former High Navigator, how the mighty fall to the many hands of the meek.” The man sneered as he tapped on the tank, the vibrations causing the beat inside to shudder with pain. “Three years ago your invasion force was quelled by a hybrid drone and a rag-tag bunch of ex-soldiers and college dropouts. How ashamed you must feel.”
“The Ai recognise Earth as a free world, as per the designation of the Congress of Lugh. Your actions would start war between Earth and Velia, something the Confederation of the Ai condone.” Morra stated, the voice sounding telekinetically in the man’s head rather than as physical words travelling through the air. “The prize we offered you long ago is no longer ours to give, cease these actions and we will return you to your world Mr. Hotchkiss.”
“Why would you think I’d ever return? Earth is filthy, ruled by the cruel and panders to the indifferent. It’s a cesspit, one I plan to cleanse when I decide to return!” Hotchkiss snarled, as he walked over to one of the myriad of consoles arranged around the room. “I may have been your agent once, but now you, your crew of parasites and this very vessel serve me. Very soon my plan will come to fruition you fetid jellyfish, soon poison will rain down across the Earth sparing the innocent and killing the wicked.” He added, as he tapped a button on the console summoning a gleaming map of the galaxy, small clusters of light centred on certain solar systems representing defensive fleets and commerce traders waiting to enter the planetary ports orbiting certain suns. “There are steps to be taken of course, but being telepathic you know what these are.”
“I do, you will drag innocents from Earth and from the colonies into a war that will set the celestial ocean alight.” Morra hissed as a segment of the floor opened up and six humanoid figures emerged, all wearing ceramic armour save for the jellyfish like head ornaments over their faces, hands clenched on weapons. “I may not be in full control of my network I have enough synaptic contacts on board my ship to free a few drones to fight against you.” She added as the drones opened fire on Hotchkiss, the man dodging the sonic blasts fired at him as he ran along the computer panel, his hand running along the surface with each touch bringing a system online.
“Your brief mutiny is at an end Morra.” Hotchkiss stated as a sentry turret dropped out of the command deck’s ceiling, its barrels spinning up in less than a second before taking a series of quick shots, each one hitting a rebel drone, their bodies exploding into clouds of thick blue smoke. “You are lucky that I need you alive ‘High Navigator’ or you would be joining them. Still I should punish you for trying to kill me.” He added, an evil sneer appearing on his face as he tapped something into the nearest computer network. With a buzzing crackling hiss, the electrical field over the tank descended into the water before discharging, lighting running across Morra’s body, a high pitched scream of pain racing around the ship and through the minds of every living thing on board
While the drone security force scattered across the ship bent over holding their heads in pain, the voice of their former master ripping through their craniums Hotchkiss simply laughed, his cackle bouncing round the control room until the electrical field was raised. Her body still convulsing Morra watched as Hotchkiss slumped down in the communication officer’s chair, his fingers flying across the keyboard as he contacted his associate on the planet below. As he did a holographic projection spread across the bridge, as location data from the first place Hotchkiss had met Morra’s former superior, the original High Navigator of the ship Ai Apaec, replaced the tank and computer banks of the recon ship.
“If I had known what kind of monster you would become I would have begged my father and master never to have brought you here.” Morra hissed, her words covering a second more secretive message, one that she hoped would reach her former enemies on the planet below. Hotchkiss had simply ignored the covering statement and even though she was still a prisoner she knew that the human race now had an inkling of the danger hovering above their world.
“Boccanegra, have you acquired the chemical compounds I demanded.” Hotchkiss stated as a hologram of a woman, her face covered in a black hooded cloak appeared before him. “Also what news do you have on the assassination of Professor Elise?”
“Mr Hotchkiss, as per your request we have secured a sample of the chemical from the mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo. My men in Port-au-Prince are already on site to take delivery of it tomorrow morning.” Boccanegra stated. “I’m afraid our other ventures haven’t been as fruitful.”
“Oh, and who do you blame for that?” Hotchkiss purred in a menacing tone. “I expected a ruthless cartel boss to be able to procure such things as simple diesel with ease. And you have men who boast about how many people they have killed, surely they can be counted on to kill an old man?”
“It’s a little more complicated than…” Boccanegra began to say, only for Hotchkiss to get to his feet, pure rage showing on his face.
“NO IT’S NOT. YOU WILL DO AS I COMMAND!!” He roared, his change in tone causing both Morra and Boccanegra to shudder slightly. “Kill the old man, get me the Blue Diesel and then when you have done both, well I’ll see what kind of mood I’m in. Pray I’m in a good one.” He warned as he turned off the communications device. “She failed, you know what that means.” He asked Morra, as he tapped the keyboard, the electrical field descending towards his captive, her screams beginning again in unrest.
Walking over to the back of the room, Hotchkiss clicked his fingers, the sound summoning a pair of drones, each with one hand over their head as they dragged in a crate each. “Careful you mindless idiots!” Hotchkiss snarled, as he swung at one of the drones as it put its case down a little too roughly, his fist breaking the alien slave’s head open, thick blue venom running down his arm, the noxious chemical running down grooves on his body to form a series of glowing tattoos shaped like tentacles leading to a round maw of teeth on his back, the eerie light glowing through his suit.
“My apologies my unnatural king.” The remaining drone whispered as he opened the case to reveal finned armour, a fanged helm complete with a visor between the jaws and a long black bladed knife. Taking the armour Hotchkiss placed the helmet over his head before equipping the rest of the suit and taking the knife from the drone.
“How many times have I told you not to call me that?” Hotchkiss asked, as he stalked to the computer console and raised the electrical field from the tank, before turning to see the drone staring up at the smoking body of Morra, her body thrashing from the discharge running through her gelatinous form. “ANSWER ME!”
“It is eight times I believe.” The Drone stated, as Hotchkiss glared at him, his eyes glowing blue from behind the visor, the same glow forming in the bell across his servant’s head. “It’s just the most beautiful majesty’s scream was hurting us. We couldn’t…” He stopped as his organs exploded within his body, thick blue fluid forming in his body, before flooding the parasitic bell, the gelatinous structure popping with an explosion.
“It’s the Decapitator to you and everyone else in the dark wasteland.” Hotchkiss sneered as the computer chimed a warning. “Hmm looks like the first of my fleet has arrived.” He murmured as a section of space was ripped open and a large bulbous, almost tick like ship arrived next to it. “There’s just one problem, it’s infested with people I need to kill!”
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