Chapter 21

Charlie knew Xander and Lennie were worried, they weren’t quite sure she could handle this mission, and for some reason, it seemed to her, Xander was even more worried that she could.

She couldn’t put her finger on it, but her character, her true personality seemed to be of concern to him, and everything she revealed bothered him even more. Oh well, another puzzle to solve for another moment.

They landed on the planet, just the other side of where the slavers were, and Xander tucked them neatly in between two larger ships, she didn’t even want to ask what those people were about. It made her angry to think about all the scum around her; but today she was only worried about one particular ship, and one particular scum. So, holding her rope-tied hands together, half hiding them so no one thought to take her before she was ready to be taken, she moved into position. Standing outside a bar, she looked around discreetly before letting her hands down. Putting her head down as well, she watched the untied length of lead-rope tumble to the ground.

“Testing, one...two, this is Hidden Thief, to Tracker One. Do you read me Tracker One?”

“Wow, do you really talk like that where you’re from?” Xander asked.

“Yes, don’t be an ass.”

“I was just wondering, it would definitely throw off anyone around here if they accidentally found our channel, they wouldn’t know what the hell you were talking about.”

“Good, that’s what it’s for,” Charlie was trying, really trying to not want to beat the crap out of Xander. It really wasn’t his fault, he was from a different time and place, and he didn’t understand her culture. He had no idea who or what she was, but he was about to find out.

“And tell me again, I want to make sure you know what to say incase you need me.”

Boy he was really pushing it this time. Grinding her teeth, Charlie took a deep breath, and released it before answering him.

“Oh, my, but my Master’s is bigger than that,” she said it dry one word at a time, knowing that Xander was in the ship with that goofy smile on his face, and his hair just a little too long, and his beard still the slightest bit scratchy. Suddenly everything in her flushed and she had to shake herself, shivering from the bottom up a down again. Goodness gracious, she couldn’t...couldn’t what? Walk onto a sex slaver’s ship turned on? Oh, no, she should never be in character! What was wrong with her? She knew what was wrong with her, that Tracker in there on the ship wanted her bad, bad, bad; but for the wrong reasons.

She was currency to him, and she needed to remember that. Remember that, and maybe give him a little bit to be sorry for? She knew what her main mission was. She knew it was for Brick. The end game was for Xander’s brother, and apparently these Dilligara were frightening enough that even a man as equipped and formidable as Xander was willing to trade one life for another. Hell, who was she kidding? She would trade half this planet if she thought it would bring her sister back.

Two men walked by, one looked halfway decent, and one looked like he came straight out of the gutter, but looks were deceiving.

She could see the light in their eyes, whether they were good or not.

“Him, what about the big guy, Charlie? Lennie?” Xander asked.

“No, he’s manipulative, but he’s not our guy. I think he’s just a middle man. He doesn’t feel like our guy. Not our target,” Charlie said.

“Lennie?” she heard Xander ask.

“She’s right, Xander. I not only don’t recognize him, but look, I’m using The Allegiant facial recognition program, and he is exactly what she said; he’s a middle man,” Lennie answered.

“How did you know that?” Xander asked.

“Shh, I can’t concentrate,” Charlie whispered.

She hated all the craziness in her head when she was trying to sort people out. It wasn’t long before she had a bead on guy, or a girl actually. She was pretty enough, tall, but shorter than Charlie, and had blonde hair. Her eyes though; there was a darkness behind them, a darkness that spread over her body like oil over a duck, it was polluted, and hers was the kind of sickness which didn’t care.

“That’s her.” Charlie said, it wasn’t a question, she knew. Deep, deep down she knew, and she was going to have to change her tactic since her target was now a woman.

“I’m going up to her,” Charlie told them.

“No, Charlie, that’s not the plan. We don’t even have confirmation yet!” Xander said.

“Wait, Xander, she’s right, look at the com, she’s the owner of the ship that took Rolara. See?” Lennie said.

Of course Charlie didn’t need the confirmation, she had known; but apparently, Xander needed it.

Walking up to the woman, Charlie made sure to keep her head down, and made her eyes rim with tears. No full on water-works, that would be too suspicious. Another step or two and, there, the dull thud of walking into someone had never felt more like victory than it did in that moment.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Charlie said, barely looking up as she began to walk again.

“Wait, Sweetheart, where are you going in such a hurry?” the woman asked her.

“I’m sorry, I can’t talk, I have to get away. I have to.” Charlie answered, continuing to walk, as though she were scared, disoriented, and unsure of how to get away from the evil behind her.

“I have a ship, just over here, let me help you. I can help you.”

“How do I know you won’t give me back to him?” Charlie asked, fear seemingly trembling her voice when it was anger.

“No, baby. I promise, I won’t send you back. Tell you what? What if I keep you for me? Would you like that? I have a special place, made up of the most beautiful fabrics and elegant food you could imagine, and it will be for you. Me and you,” the woman said.

“Just me and you?” Charlie asked.

“Well, there are a few other chosen ones as well, but just a few of the most beautiful creatures, and you certainly are a beautiful creature.”

“You won’t hurt me will you?”

“No, precious, you just come and be sweet to me and the other girls, and everything will be fine, and I promise your other master won’t come anywhere near me or my ship,” the woman said; her voice at once seductive and violent.

was a dangerous woman, and Charlie had no doubt that one of the other girls, was Rolara. If she was as pretty as Lennie let on, and had the rarity of red hair, then this woman might just want to keep her as part of her private collection.

“Oh, okay, if you’re sure,” Charlie made certain to stay hesitant, so as not to blow her cover.

Keeping her head bent, she let the woman take the rope so as not to look suspicious to anyone around them.

“Charlie, I don’t like this,” Xander said.

“You heard her, Xander, she’s gotta have Rolara in there. Charlie can get her out, I know she can!” Lennie pleaded.

It was too much in her head, but she’d promised to keep in contact, she’d promised. Sighing shallowly, as not to attract attention, Charlie tried to not concentrate on the rambling between the two of the men inside her head. They certainly didn’t do covert ops the way she did.

The ship was a short walk away, it was only four ships down from Xander. Good. She could identify Rolara and sneak out with her. If she couldn’t sneak then she would do whatever was necessary, and ridding this world of the likes of this woman would be a service to humanity.

They entered the woman’s ship through what looked to be a giant cargo bay. She had no idea what any of the stuff was inside the crates, there was a bunch of writing on them in languages she didn’t understand. However, if her knowledge of the criminal mind was correct, then it didn’t matter which galaxy or universe they were in, what read on the outside would not be what was on the inside. She didn’t look around too much, but made certain to turn her body so that the camera got whatever was needed, and the boys could tell her how to get out if it came to it.

Did she really trust those two, much? Yes. She supposed she did. She looked at them and only saw light, she heard their words, and it was only truth. She knew Xander would walk the line at times, and might even step over on the other side if needed, but his heart was right. She couldn’t help the small smile which played her lips when she thought of him.

Soon enough, they were walking into a humongous room and she swore she could hear the theme song. Bright colored silks and pillows on pillowed floors were everywhere. A large bed was set up in the middle and there were at least ten beautiful women of all shades and colors; some were even not quite human in their appearance. She had so been ready for that. She supposed she should have been, but no, not prepared. The women looked her over, some dismissive, and others looked too happy to see her, others were obviously trying to figure out where in the pecking order she would be. Then, in a corner sat a lone, red-haired beauty. She looked so much like Lennie it hurt Charlie’s heart.

Without thinking, she broke and ran toward Rolara, calling her by name. Everyone turned and looked at her then.

“Rolara! It’s been so long, and I’ve been so worried. When Papa said your parents had passed I didn’t want to believe him, then he died of the illness, and I...well, I’m here with you now, so that’s all that matters!” Throwing her tied hands over the shorter girl’s head, she whispered in her ear, “just go with it. Lennie is four ships over, we’ve come to rescue you. I’m Charlie, and apparently a relative. Just make sure you stay close to me, and we’ll get out of here.”

The younger girl never missed a beat. It was real tears that brimmed her eyes when she grabbed Charlie around the back, touching her with frantic hands as though she weren’t real.

“Charlie, Charlie, is it really you? It’s been so long!” Rolara beamed, and it was Lennie’s bright glow all over again, Charlie felt her own eyes watering up as she remembered love. She thought she’d never have it or remember it again after her own sister died, but feeling it from Rolara, knowing it was evidence of what existed between Rolara and Lennie, made it real all over again.

“Yes. Yes, Rolara, but we’ll be alright now.”

“Oh, so sweet. Maybe now, our Rolara will be less...resistant...now that she has a playmate. Yes?” the woman asked.

Rolara wiped the tears from her eyes with her sleeves, glaring at the woman from over the top of Charlie’s arm. “It’s okay, Lennie can see you, and hear you. So can the Tracker, Xander, and you’ve got me. We’re getting you out of here.”

Slowly, Charlie pulled her arms from over the top of Rolara’s head, and held her roped wrists up to Rolara. With quick hands, and––Charlie was certain––quite a bit of anger, Rolara untied Charlie, then hugged her properly and hard, grasping as if onto dear life.

“Oh, yes, I believe we’ll be very cooperative tonight, won’t we ladies?” the woman asked.

Now, Charlie was getting ick vibes all over. It was one thing for this woman’s kink to be women, and pretty woman, but to want an orgy including family members was down-right, unconscionable.

“Come to me,” the woman said.

Charlie started to walk toward her.

“No, not you. Rolara, come to me. If you want your family to live that is,” the woman said, and pulled a strange looking gun on Charlie.

The women around the room each sucked in their breath swift and hard, or made little keening noises of distress.

“It’s okay, Rolara, you stay right here,” Charlie said.

“Oh, someone is very brave,” the woman said to Charlie. “You won’t be brave with a phaser hole in your leg now will you? Or should I am for your stomach?”

“You told me you wouldn’t hurt me,” Charlie spoke to the woman as she bent down imperceptivity slow.

“I told you to play nice, not sharing your playmate is not nice. Is it ladies?”

A few more tight and frightened noises told Charlie all she needed to know. They had seen this woman do some terrible things, and they had all probably done some terrible things themselves just to survive. No, Charlie could not abide by this woman any longer. She was going to have to change or die, and unfortunately, Charlie was betting on the second option.

“I’ll come to you, I’ll play nice,” Charlie said.

“Oh, I know you will. You’ve obviously had some pretty good experience at playing very nice; but your playmate right there, hasn’t, and I want to have the opportunity to help her learn.”

Charlie felt bile rise in the back of her throat, and it was only grim determination that kept it down. Just an inch farther, or some damn fast moves were going to be needed. She should be reaching for , but was too good for this woman. It was time for some up-close wet work.

Charlie licked her lips, and watched the woman’s eyes follow her tongue. Knowing she finally had the upper-hand, Charlie dipped her voice an octave, lowering her tone to a husky need. She was going to have to get inventive. She had no idea what the woman’s weapon was capable of.

“So you know I can play nice, let me show you. Here...now. We can play with later. You rescued me from my old master, let me show you my appreciation. Please,” Charlie dipped her voice even lower, more intimate on her request of, .

She could see the woman’s eyes begin to cloud over with lust, so Charlie slowly lowered herself to the floor, crawling on all fours, knowing the woman was getting a view of her breasts. She hated every minute of it, the look in the slaver’s eyes made her sick to her stomach; but this show was going to save Rolara. With each movement, Charlie kept track of the woman’s eyes as they moved from Charlie’s breasts as they swayed inside her gown, to Charlie’s mouth which she kept slightly parted and wet from her tongue.

Finally, she was at the woman’s feet, the strange weapon dangling precariously from one hand, while the woman’s other hand reached inside the neck of the gown and grabbed Charlie’s bare breast. The woman’s hands were clammy, every caress, squeeze, and simply the knowing who was on the other end of the hand made bile rise in Charlie’s throat, yet again. Charlie had her knife out of her boot and came upon her feet in one quick, fluid movement. One, two, she slashed each leg just inside the groin area, three, four; two more slashes under her arms, and one, final stab in the side of the woman’s neck, at just the right angle. The perfect kill, in less than three seconds. The woman’s hand never left Charlie’s breast, until she fell. Charlie held firmly to the hilt of her favorite knife, as gravity took the body away from the bloodied weapon. Bending over, Charlie wiped her knife clean on the woman’s skirt putting it back its sheath.

This time she pulled .

“Come on, Rolara. Look, you ladies do whatever you want. There are other ships out there, you can stay here, or you can come with me. But I’m taking Rolara. Anyone else who stands in my way, will end up like her,” Charlie pointed her gun at the woman on the floor in a pool of her own blood; the circle ever-widening.

The women just sat; staring, stunned and confused. Charlie didn’t care though, she had given them options, their lives were in their own hands now. Rolara was the objective, and Charlie had her.

“Hidden Thief to Tracker One, the Jewel is in the hand, we’re on our way,” Charlie said.

“Yeah, Charlie, we saw,” was all Xander said.

It was oddly quiet on the other end of the earpiece, after all the chatter going on before. She supposed it must have been a little unsettling for Lennie to see that, but at least he knew Rolara was safe.

“Get the Box ready,” was all Charlie said, as she lead Rolara out of the slaver’s ship.

They were fortunate. They made it all the way to the cargo door before the screaming began.