Cross Blades

Cross Blades

Chapter the Nineteenth: ‘Sraom’s Peril


Uzi. Help me. Please.

N’tho had been certain that falling from the sky aboard Forward Unto Dawn would always be the most terrifying experience of his life. But it was nothing next to the thought of being raped on camera by Shipmaster Epse ‘Gamul, and then the video sent to Uzi to lure him to his death.

He knew Shipmaster ‘Gamul would let him live long enough to watch Usze die.

N’tho struggled against the chains, but he knew already from his bleeding wrists that he could not break the chains, or tear them free from the ring on the floor, or slip his hands through the cuffs.

He had to stop thinking about escaping and start thinking about protecting Usze.

‘Gamul was on the other side of the room, fiddling with his camera and equipment. Rycl was standing nearby, fidgeting uneasily, carrying on a sickeningly banal conversation with the Shipmaster about lighting and glare. N’tho cold not see Toha, though he hoped the Blademaster had found something to keep him busy. Right now, Nitro had a brief opportunity involving the individual standing guard before him. Zhaal ‘Lymux, the miserable bastard, was cruel and quick-tempered and bored. N’tho hoped to take advantage of that.

“Hey. Zhaal.”

The Major Domo looked down at him with an expression of disdain.

“Stuck on guard duty ‘cause you’re too dumb to work a camera?” N’tho asked innocently.

“Shut up, ‘Sraom. It appears I’m going to get to fuck you after all.” Zhaal leered.

“Yep, right after ‘Gamul. Bet you love those sloppy seconds.” N’tho winked. “You do that a lot? Follow officers around, licking up their spilled seed, trying to pretend the eggs they sire are yours?”

Zhaal lost his grin and started to scowl.

N’tho knew a lot of insults, but the ones that hurt the most were the ones with a grain of truth. Nitro cast a line to see if Zhaal would bite.

“Hey, you and Ki ‘Chaz looked pretty friendly on the Ark. What went wrong?”

Zhaal’s scowl deepened.

Direct hit.

“I guess Aj ‘Qorop is just that much better in bed than you.”

“Shut up,” Zhaal growled.

“Maybe you should ask Aj if he’d let you have his seconds too.”

“I said, shut up!”

“Aj is pretty great in bed, though, and I would know. He’d be a hard act for you to follow. I have to say, I’d rather just have Aj twice.”

Zhaal drew his energy sword, eyes bright with rage. “Close your mouth or I’ll put this right through your intestines!”

“You mean the way you go around stabbing corpses to get blood on your blade, so it looks like you actually killed something? By the Rings, even with a Mark of Punishment, I could still get kills…then again, I’m the slut and you’re the incompetant coward, isn’t that right?”

Zhaal appeared on the verge of lunging when Toha ‘Sumai shot across the room and backhanded Zhaal across the face. “Don’t be stupid,” Toha growled, his voice perfectly controlled despite his obvious displeasure. “‘Sraom is making you angry on purpose.”

“What?”

Toha put his muzzle right up against the Major Domo’s. “He wants you to kill him, you idiot.”

“Why would he want to die?” Zhaal wasn’t getting it.

“Because if you stick your sword through his guts and he dies, we lose our bait, and my miserable son disappears.”

“He won’t get off this ship. He’s not a pilot.”

Toha backhanded Zhaal again. “That’s for your insubordination.” A third slap. “And that’s for your profound idiocy. He could hijack a ship. Or hide away in a Phantom. Or take an escape pod. Or call his traitor associates for help. Now leave the thinking to those of us with brains and do as you are told! Where’s that girl?”

There was a soft knocking on the door.

N’tho, desperately, muttered up at Zhaal. “Idiot.”

Zhaal glared at him, but did not move. Nitro’s plan to get himself killed had failed.

The door opened and there stood a slight Sangheili female dressed in the white robes of a nurse. N’tho felt sick as he realized that he knew her: she’d been a regular at Fil Storamy’s crud game. What was her name? Kya Pomoraa—Pomor, N’tho corrected himself, because she would not be using the –aa suffix denoting Covenant military service any longer.

Kya’s eyes widened when she saw Nitro, naked, chained to the floor.

“Kya,” N’tho croaked, “get out of here!”

Too late. Toha grabbed Kya’s arm, yanked her into the room, and closed and locked the door behind her. Kya struggled to break free of Toha’s grip. “What is the meaning of this?” she demanded, trying to sound outraged, succeeding only in sounding frightened.

“Hello there,” Toha practically purred. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am Toha ‘Sumai, Blademaster.”

Kya’s attention was divided between the Blademaster’s face and the sight of Nitro chained to the floor. “What has happened to ‘Sraom?”

“Oh, him? I’ve just stripped him of his sword, as is my right as Blademaster.” Toha grinned at N’tho before returning his attention to Kya.

She struggled to keep her voice cool as she said, “Rycl ‘Otsed commed me and told me there was someone here in need of medical attention. I see ‘Sraom on the floor, in chains, bleeding. I appreciate your attention, Blademaster, but it is time for me to do my job.”

Toha sniffed at Kya. “You’re coming into season,” he murmured.

The nurse fixed him with a disparaging look. “Did you call me here to heal or to breed?”

The Blademaster smiled, showing all his teeth.

Kya’s eyes widened in horrified understanding. “Sir, I am flattered,” she stammered, “but…”

“Come with me.”

“Sir, the Arbiter forbids forced mating in his fleet…” Kya planted her feet. Toha tugged her shoulder strongly enough to send her staggering into his chest.

“The Arbiter is no longer in charge of this fleet. This fleet belongs to Imperial Admiral Xytan ‘Jar Wattin, and Wattin says…”

Kya’s mandibles slowly recited, “That a powerful warrior may take what he desires.” N’tho could smell Kya’s fear as Toha caught her and pulled her close, too close. Kya put her hands on his chest and tried to shove herself away.
“Blademaster, I am in the middle of a tour of duty! I cannot stop my work to bear an egg—the whole ship will suffer! And besides, sir, I am not worthy of you.”

“I will decide that.” ‘Sumai caught each of her wrists in his hands. “And my decision is that you do not belong on your knees tending to a shamed warrior. You belong on your knees in my bed.”

“No!”

Toha’s gaze turned to ice. He wrenched Kya’s wrists around behind her back. “Yes.”

Kya’s gaze flickered to Rycl in desperation before ‘Sumai dragged her out of N’tho’s field of vision, towards the stateroom bed. Technically it was ‘Gamul’s bed, but Toha didn’t seem to care, and of course it would be no comfort to Kya either.

The SpecOps commander turned his face away.

N’tho saw another chance and jumped on it. “Rycl, you dirtbag, you aren’t half the SpecOps Commander Rtas ‘Vadum was. You aren’t half the warrior Kusovai was. You don’t even deserve to clean Commander ‘Coradee’s portrait, you pathetic excuse for a Sangheili.”

Rycl, however, was too cowed to rise to the bait. He just stood there, head lowered, accepting N’tho’s abuse.

‘Gamul clicked some buttons on his computer. “Testing…” He’d apparently made a recording and was playing it back; N’tho could see his own image on the monitor berating Zhaal. ‘Gamul appeared satisfied with what he saw.

The Shipmaster turned to Nitro with a vicious smile. “Showtime.”

*

“Piro?” Usze said into his comm link. “Condemnation, Piro, answer me!”

The connection activated. “Piro ‘Kipaz.”

“Piro, it’s Usze. ‘Gamul’s got N’tho in his stateroom in chains. Can you get up there, now?”

Fil Storamy interrupted him with a cuff on the shoulder. “Stop fidgeting!” she barked at Usze as she adjusted the harness on his back. “We have to get this right.”

Usze held still and listened to Piro’s reply.

“Yes,” ‘Kipaz answered.

“Piro, don’t go in there without me. Is that understood? You have to wait for me.” Usze swallowed as Fil draped the doarmir cape back around his shoulders.

“Understood.”

“Can you get Ki ‘Chaz and Aj ‘Qorop?”

“’Qorop went on the mission with the Arbiter. I’ll try to raise Ki.”

“I’ll meet you outside ‘Gamul’s quarters. Understood?”

“Understood, Blademaster.”

Fil nodded. “I think we’re go. Once you’re in, I’m going to set off an alarm in the rear drive core. That should keep everyone’s attention elsewhere. I’ll take care of any other interruptions. Ready?”

Usze nodded. “Ready.”

“Good hunting, Blademaster.”

*

N’tho turned his head and saw out of the corner of his eye that Rycl ‘Otsed was staring pointedly at the door, as if by refusing to watch he could deny his part in the victimization of Kya and Nitro—or perhaps even deny that any victimization was happening at all.

Usze couldn’t see Kya or Toha, but from the occasional whimpers, thumping sounds, and strangled cries he heard behind him, he could guess that the options for Kya’s fate were ranging between bad and worse.

Then Shipmaster ‘Gamul approached him and, Ancestors forgive him, his thoughts for Kya were driven away by his fear for himself.

“Before we start filming,” Epse murmured, “I’d like to make you a little deal.”

“What kind of deal?” N’tho spit.

“It all depends…” The Shipmaster trailed a finger across N’tho’s shoulders. “On how…cooperative…you feel.”

“Right now, not very,” Nitro hissed. He wondered if ‘Gamul would be careless enough to let his finger stray in reach of Nitro’s jaws. Would the Shipmaster be able to keep up his fake-seduction act after N’tho bit his finger off?

“So vulgar. Well, what can I expect of you.” ‘Gamul stroked N’tho’s flanks, making the SpecOps warrior quiver in disgust. “Then let me be blunt. Do you wish to survive this encounter?”

He did. He wanted to live to go back to Uzi.

“You know we’re going to kill ‘Taham no matter what you do.” He smiled. “You know I’m going to fuck you, no matter what you do. Yes?”

N’tho nodded. He knew.

“The big question on my mind is what I’m going to do with you afterwards. And this is where the choice is up to you.”

Nitro reminded himself that he could not trust Epse’s word, no matter what.

“I could kill you, dump your body in the garbage compactor along with Usze’s, and the two of you could rot happily ever after…but you don’t want that, do you, N’tho? You know how very many other warriors there are in this fleet. A fine soldier like you could find all sorts of other companions.”

Uzi. Uzi. Uzi.

“So…if you want to live…I want you to play for the camera. I want you to behave yourself: no thrashing or bucking. And when I’m in you, I want you to throw back your head and show the camera how much you’re enjoying it.” Epse grinned. “Say how I’m the best lover you ever had, and beg me to fuck you harder, deeper. Can you do that?”

N’tho thought he couldn’t be any more sickened. He was wrong. He didn’t even try to hold himself back as he turned his head and retched all over the Shipmaster.

‘Gamul pulled back, revolted. “Zhaal. Clean that up.”

Zhaal, who’d been pretending to watch the door while sneaking sidelong glances at Toha and Kya, tore his gaze away and did as he was ordered.

“I’ve had enough,” Epse ‘Gamul growled. “You’ll regret that, ‘Sraom.” He stripped off his soiled armour, throwing it against the wall. “Rycl. Start that camera.”

The SpecOps commander obeyed without question.

‘Gamul, wearing just his battlesuit, sauntered up to Nitro’s side and addressed the camera. “This is a special film which I would like to dedicate to former Blademaster Usze ‘Taham. That’s right, former Blademaster. As of yesterday, Admiral Xytan ‘Jar Wattin has officially stripped you of both your rank and your status as a Swordsman, as is his right as the head of the Sangheili military. Since you are wanted for treason and condemned to death by the Ascetics Council, I doubt you’ll be keeping your poor lonely mate warm at night. You will be too busy running for your miserable life.” He grinned at the camera. “And since I am such a generous individual, I wanted not only to assure you that I will do an excellent job keeping your mate satisfied, but also to show you just how I plan to do it.”

While ‘Gamul rambled on, N’tho tried to keep his breathing steady and think. Sex. It was just sex. He’d had lots of sex before. Some of it had even been rough. Some of it he hadn’t even wanted. What was the big deal about one more mate?

I don’t want anyone but Uzi ever again.

The thought of getting fucked by a complete asshole like Epse made him sick. And in the past, yes, he’d had sex when he was drunk, and he’d had sex with strangers, and he’d had sex where he’d more or less let it happen to him instead of actually giving consent…but he’d never been raped, never fought kicking and screaming while some evil bastard took him. Mastered him. It was this knowledge, this twin realization that he desperately didn’t want this, and that Epse was determined to make it happen anyway, that struck him through with fear.

So while it would probably have been more logical to acquiesce and lay there quietly while Epse took what he wanted, N’tho instead found himself driven to fight.

He gathered his legs under him and stood there on all fours, keeping his breathing steady, waiting for the Shipmaster. Waiting for Epse to finish gloating at the camera and come around to the back of him.

Nitro tried not to quiver as the Shipmaster stroked his shoulders, his flanks. “He’s very nice, ‘Taham. He feels so tempting…” Gamul let his fingers stray down N’tho’s spine and then farther down still. “I don’t think I can keep away from him any longer.”

From the corner of his eye he saw ‘Gamul toss his battlesuit clear. The Shipmaster’s hands gripped N’tho’s hips. ‘Gamul lowered himself down, lining up to mount, and…

And the fool didn’t bother to bite his unwilling captive. Apparently ‘Gamul didn’t want to make this easy for Nitro; well, he would pay for that mistake.

N’tho lashed out, landing his hoof squarely on ‘Gamul’s kneecap. He wished he could see ‘Gamul’s face, but the Shipmaster’s inability to hide his grunt of pain told him that the blow had hurt. N’tho only wished he could have been so sure at landing a kick in Epse’s crotch; he’d have liked that even better.

‘Gamul sucked in air. “Zhaal! Rycl!”

Zhaal tore his eyes away from the scene behind N’tho again. Rycl just looked miserable.

“I want you to teach ‘Sraom some manners.”

“Sir?” Rycl asked, dismayed, but Zhaal grinned.

“He means we get to beat them into him,” Zhaal said, coming up on N’tho’s left side.

‘Gamul shook his head. “Shame on you, ‘Sraom. Stop pretending to be a demure little virgin. Everyone knows what a slut you are.”

“And sluts get a slapping,” Zhaal grinned, and threw the first punch.

Rycl approached N’tho’s right side and did the same.

Zhaal’s blows were teeth-rattling, bone-jarring. The aches continued, seeping through his muscles and settling against his bones long after the initial hits had landed. N’tho could feel the bruises creeping out of his body and onto his skin.

Rycl’s hits were significantly lighter. N’tho could see the SpecOps commander pulling his punches, trying to hit hard enough to satisfy ‘Gamul and yet as softly as possible otherwise. N’tho felt a spike of anger. Rycl ‘Otsed clearly had problems with ‘Gamul’s behaviour, and yet was doing nothing to change it.

“Hit me like you mean it,” he growled at Rycl, “or leave me the hell alone, you fucking coward.”

Rycl gritted his mandibles and kicked N’tho in the ribs, harder, but still not nearly as hard as he would have kicked an enemy in combat.

Zhaal, on the other hand, landed a kick to N’tho’s other side that lifted him right off the ground, throwing him until his chains held him back, almost dislocating his arms, and his own momentum slammed him painfully into the ground. His wrists were bleeding freely now. Zhaal loomed over him. N’tho shut his eyes, protecting them as best he could from the blow he knew was coming.

Instead, ‘Lymux bent down beside him and dropped his muzzle to N’tho’s cheek. “When ‘Gamul’s done with you,” he whispered in N’tho’s earbud, “I’m going to put a chain around your neck, and fuck you while I strangle you. I hope Usze’s dueling Toha by then. I hope he gets his entrails spilled across the deck, so you two can watch each other die.”

N’tho pushed his emotions across the border of fear, deep into the territory of rage. Bluster, however impotent, was his only weapon now against despair. And despair would do Usze no favours.

“I hope you spend the rest of your life licking up Epse’s leavings.”

N’tho wondered if Zhaal’s next punch would snap his neck. For a second he was afraid it would. For a second he was afraid it would not. He couldn’t breathe. His lungs were filled with fire.

The second fear triumphed as he finally caught his breath, just as he felt Epse’s claws sinking into his hips again.

“Hold still, ‘Sraom, or I will have them beat you into submission.”

“Save your time and give the order, then,” N’tho growled, throwing himself down and twisting, trying his best to throw off Epse’s hold.

But ‘Gamul yanked him backwards, until his arms were stretched out in front of him. Nitro could not get leverage to get up on his hands or even his elbows. He kicked, then found himself pressed to the floor, unable to get his knees under him again. Gamul was pressing one knees onto the backs of N’tho’s thigh, and his hands were shoving down on N’tho’s shoulders, and his other knee was trying to wedge N’tho’s legs apart, and no, no…

But before Epse could enter him, there was the sound of a slamming door. ‘Gamul’s weight suddenly vanished. N’tho scrabbled to get up on all fours.

A tumult of grey and red cartwheeled across the floor; when it stopped, Epse ‘Gamul was flat on his back, pinned there by an enraged Piro ‘Kipaz.

And silhouetted in the doorway, wearing a purple doarmir-fur cloak, claret armour, and no helmet, stood Nitro’s hero, Usze ‘Taham.