Deep Space Endeavor 3 Death Match (3 page)

He smiled briefly as he finished thinking about that, he still wasn’t sure he actually passed that test. He was suddenly aware that Kimi had been talking to him.

“How are you feeling, Jess,” Kimi asked as she gently put her hand on his arm.

He noticed the faint but lingering smell of jasmine that she always seemed to have on her. “I’m not sure,” he honestly replied. “I’ve never really been in a situation like this before. All of the battle planning and contingencies are fairly normal, but this waiting for a one-on-one fight to the death with all of those rules is really getting to me. I think I feel like I would have been better prepared if I found out about it today and fought him tomorrow. But I still have to wait two days, so I’m a little on edge.”

“Anything I can do to help?” She smiled as she closed her hand around his. “I’m available to talk if you’d like.”

“I really appreciate that, and I’ll probably take you up on it later or tomorrow. I still have to be tutored in the match rules, and I should get a couple good nights’ sleep before I step into the arena with Garrinoras. For now, I need to go meet the teachers Wennagal set up for me.” His mind lingered on the scent of jasmine on her hands. He squeezed her hand for reassurance and then he picked up Kiah in a surprise bear hug. “I’m so happy I got to see you again. Do you think you could do me a favor while I’m learning the rules to this game?”

Kiah smiled as she tried to wiggle her arms free to hug him back. Jesse loosened his grip, and she hugged his neck tight. “Of course I can do you a favor, I’m seven now.”

“Well then, you are certainly qualified,” he laughed. “I need someone to watch Commando for a little while.” Her eyes grew big and she nodded her agreement with a smile.

He kissed her on the cheek and then put her down as Wennagal came over and let him know the tutors had just arrived. His lips curled into a smile as he heard Kiah telling Commando she was in charge. He followed the big Qualoosh to the room they would be using, and left everyone else to enjoy their night, although he imagined there was more worry than enjoyment. He did notice, however, that Josiah seemed to be enjoying Sergeant Rivada’s company quite a bit, just like he knew his first officer would. He allowed himself a small smile for Josiah and Tanna as he went to meet the men that would hopefully give him a chance in this competition. As he was leaving the room, he saw Kimi comfortably talking with Agent Sandstorm and it bothered him. He just really wished this situation could be worked out. He either needed to be with her, or move on. He should not begrudge Ogen for liking the woman he was in love with. Ogen was a great guy and if Kimi did end up with him, he couldn’t blame her. Jesse knew it would be his own fault. He may as well have introduced her to Ogen himself. At least if she started dating someone, he could move on.
Maybe the Princess might have an interest
. He pushed that thought aside as soon as it hit; he wouldn’t move on unless she gave him no choice.

______

“Before we get into the fine print of the rules you most likely already know, I would like to give you the history of the Zinnebailan Death Match. It goes back almost five thousand years, to a time when Zinnebulous was divided into three nations. One of the rulers, Lord Dralor, was trying to consolidate the planet into a single government. He took over the smallest nation easily, and set his sights on the remaining nation. As they were about to go to war to unite Zinnebulous for better or worse, Lord Dralor’s adversary tried to assassinate him. He missed and took out his rival’s entire family. Lord Dralor was so enraged, that he let protocol slip and challenged his adversary to a one on one battle, to the death. To motivate his rival, he put up his entire nation. The battle to unite Zinnebulous would be fought, and decided by two people. Lord Dralor won, but it took three days. Since that time, whenever a situation arose where someone had that kind of rage or hatred, a death match was declared. For a while they were very popular, until three thousand years ago, the government began instituting rules, and deciding which situations were severe enough to warrant a death match. Since that time, there have been only one or two a decade, and they have become events, with established rules, strategies and even betting lines. Participants are free to refuse the challenge, but they are forever branded as cowards if they do. I give you the background so you will understand that this is no small thing you are about to take part in. You will actually be the first non-Zinnebailan to ever take part in a death match, and this will be the first death match to ever be fought outside of Zinnebulous. It will also be broadcast live to other planets, which is a first. This is also the first time a two-day death match had been declared, although, the five-hour sessions format makes the amount of time spent in the arena only four hours less than the three day matches. That was no doubt Garrinoras’ idea.” As Tutor 1 finished his history lesson, he sat down and poured himself a drink, obviously pleased with his portion of the presentation.

Tutor 2 nodded to his brother and began. “Having a four session death match means you have to injure him four times before you kill him; once with each weapon. This means, when you get to round four, you cannot just kill him with your weapon of choice, you must injure him first. But let us begin with the first session. Garrinoras has added the up close and personal, hand-to-hand weaponless combat. You must injure him with either your hands or your feet. He must really hate you.” The tutor smiled.

“What about a head butt?” Jesse interrupted.

“If it draws blood, it is acceptable. Battle gloves may be worn for the first session, and Garrinoras will no doubt have some elaborate metal gloves capable of inflicting great pain. You will be allowed the same luxury.”

Jesse pulled out his gralium knuckles as an idea occurred to him. “What if I put this inside a regular glove? Would that be legal?”

One of the tutors looked at the inter-connected metal rings, and nodded his agreement. “This inside a regular glove would indeed be legal, but it would seem rather paltry compared to what your opponent will bring. The one thing you must know about Garrinoras, if you do not already, is that he will never do something unless he thinks he has the upper hand.

“That I did know, he no doubt thinks I will not be aware of the subtleties of this arrangement, but he never ceases to underestimate me.”

“Another subtlety you may not be aware of is that in any non regulation length match, which usually applies to extended matches, but in this case applies because it is a shorter match, you may bring your own weapons. You do not have to use the weapons provided. They will likely try to stop you from doing so, but that would only work on people that do not know the rules. If they do not allow you to use your own weapons, you need to demand that Garrinoras choose from the exact same assortment you have to choose from. Once you do, they will realize you understand the rules and relent.”

“Thank you, that is very important to know. Is there anything else?”

“Just a couple more details. In round four, you may bring as many weapons as you like. You may have multiple swords, staffs, hammers, axes, bladed weapons, your gloves and a normal blaster. You may not bring a heavy blaster or explosives. You may only use the type of weapons previously agreed upon. You may bring an entourage of twenty-five sentient beings with you. After the first session of each day, you will be allowed to retire to the contestant tunnel to eat, sleep and receive medical attention. It would be wise to have your own food, water and doctor available. I would not trust anything Chawanas provides. After the second session of the first day, you may go back to your ship and receive medical treatment, sleep in your own bed, etc…. One thing you need to understand and remember: if you kill him before injuring him four times, you forfeit your life as well.”

“What about the exchange? I won’t fight unless Captain Reed is safely aboard
Endeavor
.”

“Your ship will be under heavy scrutiny from the moment it lands, and Captain Reed will be transferred over to
Endeavor
as you enter the arena. This will be a very important exchange. Do not enter the arena until she is aboard your ship. You may enter the tunnel to the arena, but you need to make sure she passes you in the tunnel and makes it to your ship before you step in to the arena proper. Once you enter the arena, it is a death penalty to try to leave without fighting. So if you enter the arena before Captain Reed is released, they won’t release her.”

“I only have one more question, why are you helping me?”

“Our parents owned a restaurant, and Garrinoras killed them because he wasn’t satisfied with the meal they served. We may have no love for humans, but we wish Garrinoras dead, and you seem like the best opportunity that has come along in a while to make that wish a reality.”

“Very well then, if there is nothing else gentlemen, I would like to get some rest. Thank you, this information will prove most useful.” Jesse shook hands with each of the two tutors as he left the room.

______

Garrinoras could feel his excitement.  He was practically giddy. In just over thirty-six hours, he would finally have his revenge on Colonel Jesse Marcos.
I cannot wait to publicly torture and humiliate him before I kill him and take his precious ship. Once I have Endeavor’s secrets, I will be the unstoppable force in this sector and all of humanity will tremble before me
. He smiled, knowing he was fortunate that the opportunity to capture Captain Reed presented itself when it did, and Yartan had done well to take her. He was also pleased to know he would now have the full backing of all the worlds that hated humans.
Let the mercenaries of Ginderbar try to overcome that
, he thought. There was no way he could let Marcos continue to explore the galaxy and then go home after everything he had done.
Colonel Marcos deserves to die, and I am happy to be the executioner. Death alone will never be good enough for Marcos, I want to destroy him both physically and mentally, then see the look of despair on his face as his crew are killed and his beloved ship is taken by my pirates.
As he thought about how much he hated Jesse Marcos, he had no doubt that he would be able to kill Marcos, and he had a few surprises in store to prevent him from getting lucky as he so often did. A shipment of poisoned water and poisoned wine was already prepared to be delivered to
Endeavor
along with some infected food and sub-standard weaponry for Marcos to use during the match. He doubted there was any way Marcos or his crew would know they could demand to use their own weapons. Colonel Marcos would be completely out of his element and would not want to take any chances with Captain Reed’s life on the line, and the possibility of war on the horizon.

Garrinoras entered a strategy session with his top people to discuss how to best betray Marcos and get his ship for himself. As he was entering the room, he noticed his four top advisors had already arrived. Captain Yartan, his Farannsian second-in-command along with Captain Trae-bar of the Jar-Kargen, Captain Xia of Zinnebulous and lastly, the Jar-Kargen first mate of the
Retribution
, Channa.

“Mighty Garrinoras,” Yartan greeted as he and the others stood, waiting for their leader to take his seat. “We have good news.”

“Let us hear it then,” he replied as he took his seat.

“The Jar-Kargen,” Yartan began as the rest of the group was seated. “Have decided they no longer wish to keep to themselves. They are anxious to begin wiping away the stench of humanity from our sector.”

“That is good news. I assume they are willing to commit their fleet if it comes to war?”

“Indeed they are. I have a full breakdown of fleet resources available to annihilate the humans.”

“Very well, Yartan, let me hear it.” Garrinoras smiled as he knew he was going to enjoy hearing this. He mused that if he had been more patient, he could have had all of these resources available at Kaldor.
No matter,
he thought.
They will get what is coming to them soon enough
. He smiled as Yartan continued.

“Jar-Karga has a fleet of forty-six ships they are willing to put under your command. The Mannagore will supply us with an additional forty-one. We have two dozen Farannsian captains with handpicked crews ready to defect from the Farannsian Navy to join our cause. The Xenul have given us use of twenty-seven ships, the Salvarians have also decided to join the fray with twenty ships and the government of Zinnebulous has pledged its full fleet of sixty ships. We have eight ships that have just arrived all the way from Pandara filled with rangers that want nothing more than to kill Colonel Marcos and his crew, and lastly, the Banijard have also allied themselves to us. They send seventeen ships. Along with the seventy-one ships of your fleet, that gives us access to three hundred sixteen ships for you to command.”

Garrinoras eyes lit up in delight. “Eight races allied to destroy the humans of this sector. I never thought I would see the day. Let the Mercenaries of Ginderbar come. They will pose no threat now.”