Condition Evolution 3: A LitRPG / Gamelit Adventure by Kevin Sinclair (early readers .TXT) 📗

“Stop talking and arrest them,” Dolegg shouted again. The man looked over to Dolegg, confused.

“What for, sir? This is your son, and they were all sitting peacefully when we entered,” said the hulking Torax named Koparr.

“They are dissenters trying to bring ruin to our planet! Now do as you’re bid, officer!”

Koparr seemed offended, “With all due respect Chancellor, you’re not in charge of the guard force. Although I respect your position, I’ll not just arrest people on your say so.” He turned to Calegg, “What's going on?”

Dolegg started ranting and raving, threatening Koparr's career, his life. Anything he could come up with to have his own way.

Koparr ignored him, as did Calegg, who responded to Koparr’s question, “I believe my father is acting in the best interests of the Empire and may actually be in their pay. My captain here,” he pointed to me, “has just offered 15 senlar per Suldr, as I told him that is closer to their true worth. My father refused, and said he could only accept four senlar, as per the terms of the Empire’s agreement, which seemed very odd.”

“That is odd,” Koparr said, turning to Dolegg, “You actually turn people’s money away, when our people struggle so badly?”

“That is not all they came for; they are attempting to put our whole planet at risk by trying to take Torax as crew members,” he said, trying to deflect from the accusations thrown his way.

I worried how Koparr would take this revelation. He turned back to Calegg and raised a questioning eyebrow.

Calegg shrugged, “We came to trade, but also to offer some of our people a chance to become crew on the fastest ship in the galaxy. When I told my father this, he outright refused, saying it would destroy our people by reducing the miners available, and that unless we were trading, we should leave immediately.”

Koparr looked angrily at Dolegg again and pointed a finger. “Out of respect for your son, I have put up with you, but long since have I had my own suspicions. I’m taking this matter to Moulagg,” Koparr said authoritatively, then spoke to one of his squad. “Guparr, go and bring Moulagg. Tell him it’s urgent, and I will consider his debt to me paid.”

Guparr nodded at once and ran from the room. The other guards had relaxed their weapons slightly, and in a gesture of good faith, I slipped Havok onto my back, although he grumbled at the lack of action.

Dolegg began ranting again. “You're finished for this, Koparr!” he said as he began to head for the door, “Let me know when Moulagg arrives and we will have a discussion about your future.”

“You’re not going anywhere, Dolegg. Currently, you’re on the cusp of arrest yourself.”

“You can't hold me; you do not have the authority,” he retorted indignantly.

“Of course I do, Dolegg. If this goes badly, then I know how much trouble you can cause for me. But I believe you won't get away from it this time. You think I'm the only one who suspects you’re double-dealing, taking pay from the Empire? It's long past time your foot was removed from the necks of the Torax people!” he said, angrily. He turned to face Calegg, “Are you willing to defy your father in court?”

Both Ember and I looked to Calegg. I knew it was a big request, yet he didn’t hesitate.

“I most certainly will. I left because he's a mean spirited, selfish, man, and now I've come back, he's even worse.”

“Very good, Calegg. So, why did you come back again? You said something about a crew?”

“I did. My friends here have a large spaceship and a desire to build a crew.”

“A crew for what, though? What are your objectives?” Koparr asked, eagerly. His men also seemed to hang on Calegg’s every word. He was about to answer when Ember kicked him.

Calegg let out a yelp, turning to Ember, “What was that for?”

“I'll admit I don't know everything going on here, nor do I wish to offend anyone, but your father,” she said nodding to the fuming Dolegg, “seems openly hostile to us. How much information do you want to divulge in front of him?”

Calegg nodded thoughtfully, Koparr responded by looking dubiously at Dolegg, and replied,

“Yes. I understand your point.”

I whispered over to Ember, “Divulge? Aren’t you getting better with your words?”

“Yes. I am, and it’s called a vocabulary you dumb fucker,” she whispered back, smiling sweetly back at me.

We were stirred from our little conversation by Koparr speaking up. “I’d like to say that there will be plenty of takers to join your crew, depending on your purposes. I might even be tempted myself.”

“You’re a traitor to your people,” Dolegg snarled.

Koparr just laughed, “Ha. Good one, Chancellor. Really? Coming from you, that's brilliant. Just take a seat and we can sort all of this out once Moulagg comes.”

Dolegg quietened and sat down at his desk pretending to be busy. Ember and I sat back down, too. Koparr watched me as I did. “That axe is a marvel. How did you get it into your hand so quickly when we entered? And how does it move when you sit? For that matter, how is it even attached to your back?”

I smiled softly, “He’s a marvel, indeed, and I take no credit for the things he can do. He’s an ancient sentient weapon who has decided to help me out.”

Koparr looked at me like I was mad. I saw Dolegg looking over with a gleam of interest in his eyes.

“That is some story for a weapon. Whatever the truth, it is a fine weapon.”

“That is the truth,” Calegg said, “Havok, the, er, axe has spoken to me.”

“Ha, ha. Very well. Whatever the case, keep a close eye on it. Many people would eye such a weapon covetously.”

Havok laughed in my head at the thought of someone stealing him.

“Don’t worry, Koparr. I guarantee Havok would be one of the hardest