Chapter Seventy-Four (2/2)
”This, this... creature, interfered with my discipline of my slave,” Madame Overseer harrumphed. ”Teach it a lesson.”
”This system is under Terran Confederacy Martial Law,” the biped said, the words vibrating Ustelet's fur.
”Kneel down and put your gripping hands behind your head,” an Socio-Police Overseer stated, galloping nervously around the big figure. ”Or be prepared to be negatively stimulated.”
”An assault upon one is an assault upon all,” the big biped rumbled. ”There is no need for violence.”
The Overseers jabbed the big biped with the sting-sticks. Ustelet closed his eyes, not wanting to see the big biped fall down and foam at the mouth. He wished he didn't have to hear the scream.
”This is a violation of Terran Confederacy Martial Law Statues,” the biped rumbled.
Ustelet heard more sting-sticks go off.
”You are assaulting a member of the Confederate Marine Corps, a duly recognized and bonded authority during this period of Martial Law,” the biped said.
Ustelet opened his eyes just as the Socio-Police Overseer with the strange thing lifted the long object to its shoulder and pointed it at the big black biped.
More Overseer Socio-Police had shown up. Ustelet could even see LawSec and CorpSec surrounding the biped, that had moved away from Ustelet, who was now forgotten.
”Do not,” the biped started.
The long thing the Overseer was holding gave a loud crack and a line connected the biped with the object for an eye-watering second.
The biped still stood there, a light smear on its chest. ”First violation. Transmitting to Command and JAG,” it stated.
Several of the Socio-Police and LawSec drew their weapons.
Ustelet had seen the SocioPolice and Corpsec use those weapons to kill unlucky Hakanians who had been accused of violations of the Social Order Policy. He winced, but watched, as he had forced himself to watch the executions.
More of the bipeds were showing up, only to be immediately surroudned by the Overseers with weapons drawn.
”This area is under Confederate Martial Law. Set down your weapons and raise your hands,” one of the smaller bipeds stated. Ustelet saw he had a sword in a sheathe on his hip that was longer than Ustelet was tall.
One of the LawSec sneered and spit cud on the ground at the bipeds feet. ”This is corporate property. We do not recognize your authority.”
Another LawSec, with a much more ornate sash, pointed at the smaller biped. ”Execute this fool as a lesson to his compatriots.”
A LawSec turned and fired, hitting the biped in the chest. The biped looked down at the impact point, which had not even marred his strange clothing that kept changing colors.
”SECOND VIOLATION!” all of the bigger ones intoned.
Ustelet saw the big black biped's eyes all go from blue to green. Ports opened on their backs and large tubes rose out of their backs, connected to their bodies by chains of smaller tubes.
”You don't want to do this,” the smaller biped said. ”You can still stand down.”
The LawSec Overseer with all the flashy stuff on his sash clopped forward, pressed his pistol against the biped's exposed forehead, beneath the short black hair but above the mechanical eyes.
And pulled the trigger.
The biped's head didn't move and when the LawSec Overseer drew back the smoking pistol all that showed was a purple mark that faded to red and vanished between one breath and the next.
”THIRD VIOLATION!” all of the big ones stated. ”COMMAND AND JAG JUSTIFICATION REACHED!”
Their eyes went to amber, the same as the small bipeds, all the mechanical eyes turning color at the same time.
Ustelet watched as swords were pulled out. Not clean edged metal but ones with edges that roared and blurred and rattled.
The biped that had been shot in the head pulled his out, the blade going from choppy looking to a blurry roar, and swung it at the Overseer, hitting the centuar-like creature at the base of the upper torso.
Blood sprayed as the sword howled, tissue gobbets sprayed across the street, bone and cartilage was ripped apart, and the sword tore free. The Overseer didn't even scream, just fell into two pieces, its mouth working.
All around Ustelet the bipeds set to work with swords.
Two of the larger ones turned and faced vehicles, the tubes on their back suddenly vomiting flame as a loud BRRRRRRRRT sounded and what looked like a solid beam of light connected the biped to a LawSec vehicle.
The LawSec vehicle suddenly exploded as it was ripped lengthwise down the side.
Ustelet dove to the ground, covering his head. Loud thudding footsteps sounded and a black armored foot was on either side of him. Ustelet looked up just in time to see the big black biped rip the Madame Overseer down the torso with the sword, flesh and blood spraying from the rapidly moving teeth on the edge of the blade.
Overseers were screaming, pushing to get away, trampling at each other. SOme were shooting around themselves with pistols, forgetting their LawSec and CorpSec training as they tried to keep the crowd from knocking them over.
A shot hit one of the smaller bipeds.
The big one standing over Ustelet turned and the tubes over his shoulder roared again.
BRRRRRRT!
The crowd just... dissolved as the twin beams of light swept across it. The Overseers, those nigh-on gods to Ustelet and his people, exploded into rags of bloody flesh.
In a few moments it was over, the street cleared of Overseers.
”Are you all right, Colonel?” one of the smaller ones asked the one who had been shot in the head.
”Yes. Drop the Marines. I want this place locked down. Eject the Lanaktallans. We'll sweep the system, make sure they're all gone, and turn the place over to the natives,” 'Colonel' said. He walked over to the huddled Ustelet.
”I'm not going to hurt you. None of us are,” the 'Colonel' said. He knelt down, holding out his hand. Ustelet took it carefully and was surprised that he was gently helped to his feet.
”We are the Terran Confederacy,” he said. ”How may we help?
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