Champions of Terra - Deal with a Dhemon By Viola Grace The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal, and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author's rights is appreciated. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Champions of Terra - Deal with a Dhemon Copyright ? 2006 Viola Grace SERIES ISBN: 1-55410-732-6 Cover art by Angela Waters All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher. Published by eXtasy Books Look for us online at: www.extasybooks.com I would like to thank Barb for reading everything I shoved at her, and being honest about it. And Silas, without whom writing would not be possible. Chapter 1 he ship coming in is loaded with Rranik warriors. You?re going to have your hands full tonight, Sam.? Moran was cheerful as he watched his friend getting ready for her evening at the Nodak Space Station brothel. Samantha Vorning was a dancer and entertainer of earth extraction. Holograms of her performances were making the station famous and making her quite wealthy. ?Aw, man. I hate the Rranik laments. Do they have any other requests?? She tucked her auburn hair behind one delicately pointed ear and put in an earring. She eyed the effect in the mirror, then removed it and selected another. ?The Warrior Laments, as well as any other songs you choose. As long as the laments are first.? Moran averted his eyes quickly as she dropped her clothing in a heap and began to sort through her costumes. Her naked body gleamed in the dim light of the dressing room, her hunter tattoo visible on her thigh, the trident dagger picked out in vibrant metallic hues. ?Stars Sam! Could you warn me before you do that?? His face turned a funny shade of silvery purple as a flush came over him. ?Do what? Oh the clothes. Sorry. I forgot.? She reached out and threw a caftan over her golden skin. ?You do know that Adal doesn?t care if you see me naked. She knows that we?ve been friends for years.? ?Yes, she knows that. And I know that, but you?re still an attractive female. I can?t help basic responses.? ?Yeah, but we were trapped on that mining station for months, you saw all that there was to see. It?s all old territory to you. Plus, we aren?t even sexually compatible.? She winked at her friend of three years and then continued her search. ?Moran, have you seen the costume armor that the M?dil ambassador sent me? Ah, here it is.? She held up the armored breast plate and grinned. ?Perfect. I may insult every Rranik there tonight, or it will be one helluva show.? She turned her back to Moran, stepped into a gauzy skirt, and tugged it up to her waist. ?Can you get Adal in here to help me with my hair?? She shed the caftan again and put a cropped top on to pad her from the armor. ?Look how fast I go.? Moran bowed to her and left the room with Sam struggling in the confines of fabric and metal. As he exited the door he reminded her, ?And don?t forget to call Negotiator Tyrell as soon as the set is over.? ?Yes, mother.? * * * * One hour later a vision in rainbow silk and silver armor walked out onto the stage at the Nodak Station brothel and entertainment complex. The crowd froze in astonishment. Disapproval came from the audience in a wave. Sam took a deep breath and cued the drums. She began the first of the Warrior?s laments. With a twist. As she chanted about being away from home and fighting wars that were not their own, she began to dance. Her movements speaking clearly of longing and loneliness. The crowd was silent. The Laments were normally performed with a soberly dressed performer standing still on the stage, chanting and singing each lament in turn. The sight of her standing there in a parody of the Rranik armor defied all of their traditions. It was shocking. It was titillating. And it was fabulous. As she twisted and turned her body in time to the drums, and chanted and sang the laments of an injured warrior on the field of battle, she grinned. Apparently they were not going to lynch her after all. With a glow of sweat coating her body she completed her set onstage and then wandered off to the bar, still in costume. ?So Adal, how do you think I did?? She was gloating now. ?I think that every whore on the station is busy at this particular moment, and that there will soon be a run on armor for the women. So all in all, pretty good.? Adal?s silvery skin was lit by the dim lights behind the bar, giving her an ethereal appearance. Her delicate features were echoes of those of her human friend. She had chosen to be female shortly after meeting Moran, and used Sam?s features as a template as she began her transformation from gender neutral. She bore no jealousy towards Sam, Moran?s best friend and partner hunter for the past three years. They had fought together, been sent to a mining colony to track a slaver together, and been assigned to Nodak together. But the Ontex could only mate and reproduce with their kind. No alien species could possibly take Adal?s place in the mating bond. ?Do you think I can get another holo deal out of this performance?? Her eyes sparkled. Their moss green depths amused to the core that she had become a star performer. The holos were exceedingly profitable. Her voice and dance recordings were plastered across the galaxy and people paid to look. They were very popular with the crews of deep space vessels. She guessed that all of those belly dance classes she had taken back on earth were finally being given a practical application. She also combined elements of hula and ballet, performing in a natural manner that was moving and graceful. ?Probably. Heads up, Moran?s trying to get your attention.? Adal jerked her head in a manner she had copied from Sam. She turned to face him as he bore down on her location near the bar. ?What is it, oh illustrious manager?? ?You need to do another set. The Rranik are getting restless and demanding more entertainment.? Moran looked harassed. ?Wow, come to think of it, they have been getting louder.? She looked through the crowded room, noticing the variety of species present. There was an Enjel, obvious by his wingspan, several Wyorans both male and female, Ontex and even a few Azon whose eyes followed her carefully as she moved around the room. Her eyes focused on the large gathering near the stage, and as she watched they began to pound their tankards against the table with a steady beat. As she watched, one of the mauve skinned Rranik stood and began to recite one of the laments. The goblin-like creature was off-beat and off key. In a few seconds the other patrons would riot. ?Oh, holy crap. I?d better get over there.? She strode over to the rear entrance of the stage and took the steps two at a time. She cued up the sound with a few gestures and stepped into the spotlight. She was on her third number, the audience rapt with attention when the attack came. She was halfway through a spin when the blast struck her. She flew backward, striking the floor. Pain flowed through her, emanating from her shoulder. Dazed and disoriented she sat up slowly. There was a tangle of bodies at the base of the stage and Moran and Adal running toward her. Sam felt a warm river running down her arm, and looked down to see a trail of crimson snaking its way to the floor. That was the last thing she saw for several hours. Chapter 2 edical bays were the same all over the Alliance. Designed to accommodate any number of species, they were extremely utilitarian. Foreign metals were everywhere, diagnostic equipment, and medical devices designed to cater to the needs of aliens from across the galaxy were carefully stored against the walls. It was the clean, metal-washed ceiling that Samantha noticed first as her eyes fluttered open. The second thing she noticed was the medical tech that was bustling and clicking around her arm. Several species were unable to speak Alliance common. It did not mean that they were unable to participate in Alliance matters. The C?vil were crablike, short and stocky. They also made excellent physicians. With practice, a well trained medical assistant could learn to speak C?vil. They acted as translators as well as assistants. It was the assistant who addressed her as the doctor made unintelligible sounds as he prodded at her arm. ?The blaster impact did not go all the way through, but you?ll have limited use of the arm for several days. We?ve used the regenerator on you, but it has only replaced the torn tissue. You?ll have to relearn to use your arm.? He was matter of fact as he passed on the doctor?s diagnosis, then left to attend to another patient the doctor was prodding and clicking at. Moran and Adal came into her view. Their faces were relieved, silver skin flushed with concern. The mottled purple under their jaw lines told Sam how worried they had been. ?Ok guys, what the hell happened?? She scooted up in the bed as best as she could. Not an easy task given that she ha...
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