Page 6 of Benet

“I can’t promise,” Benet said truthfully, rising from his chair. “What you’re asking is beyond me right now. I think I’ll turn in, natural sleep sounds good. Thanks for the dinner. Settled my stomach better than any inject from the robo doc.”

“One advantage to being here is the food,” Dmitri said as they took their plates and walked inside. “Much better than anything the Khagrish ever fed me in the labs. Help yourself to whatever you fancy in the stasis keeper for breakfast. Bear in mind the day is going to be intense.”

“At least no one will be trying to kill me, right?”

“That I can promise. Until the Games begin.”

Chapter Three

Kyden sat in his office at the gladiatorial House he owned and drummed his talons on the desk. His mood was dark and angry. There’d been no sign or sighting of Benet since the night they’d parted at the front entrance. As far as Kyden could tell he and Elara were the last two people to see him. His groundcar had been found parked in a public lot and there was no trace of him on any security feed in the city. After all his years in the gladiator system Kyden had contacts and friends in all the lower strata of the Five Systems society and he’d worked every single one in his efforts to locate his friend.

Elara had a huge web of contacts in the upper levels of society and she and her father the Senator had made extensive but futile efforts to flush out anyone who might have the tiniest clue in relation to Benet’s disappearance.

The planetary police had done their own investigation, spurred on by Kyden and the Vasclavians, as well as the publicity about Benet’s absence from the gladiatorial contests where he’d been supposed to compete. Benet was an extremely popular fighter, with a huge following of fans and the news and gossip sheets had a field day with theories and bogus tips and sightings. There was even a rumor he’d run off with a superstar singer who had been visiting the Five Systems during the time frame in question. The singer had hastily denied the reports and insisted she’d never even met Benet, which Kyden knew was true.

He was stymied as to what to do next and that wasn’t a position Kyden liked to find himself in. He knew Benet and his friend wouldn’t simply walk away from his life and disappear. He was too proud of his standing as a gladiator and of his position in the House, as second in command. Both had been hardwon and well deserved and Benet had had a bright future. Even if he quit the active arena as Kyden had done, there were still exhibitions in which to showcase his skills and the work the House of Badari was doing on many fronts, not just the care and training of top notch fighters, was something Benet enjoyed.

Kyden’s gut instinct was something bad had happened to Benet and his friend needed him to get him out of trouble. He always listened to his gut but without facts to go on, he was stuck. The galaxy was a big place and while the Five Systems was a relatively small piece of it, even the mighty Sectors didn’t span the entire galaxy. There was the lawless Hinterlands, other independent nations like the Five Systems and then the vastness of the enemy territory ruled by actively hostile enemies. Kyden couldn’t take all that on without even a smidgen of a clue. He’d prayed to the goddess for help several times now, even though Benet as a human wasn’t her concern but he was part of Kyden’s family which ought to matter. So far he’d received no answer from the deity.

His com chimed and he took an annoyed, quick look, seeing the incoming call was interstellar. The sender was an old, retired gladiator named Two Swords, who’d crossed paths with Kyden briefly in the arena many years ago and more recently had been instrumental in helping Rennyr survive his time in the harsh arena system of another planet. Kyden paid the old man a retainer to act as a sort of scout for him, should another Badari appear anywhere in the gladiatorial ranks. Gibbz ‘Two Swords’ knew everyone in the business and they all talked to him.

With a sigh, he decided to answer the call. Engrossed as he was in worry for Benet, he still had a gladiatorial House to run and Two Swords never called unless he had a genuinely worthy prospect to discuss.

The two men exchanged brief pleasantries and then Two Swords went straight to the reason for his call. “Hey, are you missing a man?”

Kyden sat upright in his chair and his talons deployed. “Why do you ask?”

“I heard a weird rumor the other day, slept on it and figured I’d bring it to you. You at all familiar with the Empress’s Games in Outlier?”

“Only that they happen,” Kyden replied, holding his impatience under tight control. “None of my business.”

“Until now maybe,” Two Swords said. “There’s whispers some Grand poobah Duke or whatever had brought in a ringer, one of your best is what I was told. Wanted to warn you off messing with anything in Outlier, can’t trust those people. But then I also heard maybe your man went without your knowledge or consent.”

“Benet’s gone missing,” Kyden said. Two Swords was unquestionably loyal and there was no reason not to tell him about Benet.

“I’m guessing maybe this grand duke is so hellbent on winning the games this time he might have persuaded our friend Benet to come be his ace in the hole.”

“Benet wouldn’t go willingly.” Now Kyden’s fangs were pushing against his control as he grew more upset. “Not for any amount of credits.” Gibbz had no response and there was silence on the interstellar link for a moment as he considered the matter. “Thanks for the tip—you’ve given me a new direction to extend my search for information. I never would have considered the possibility of Outlier being involved since they don’t have our style of gladiatorial combat.”

“That’s what you pay me for,” Two Swords replied cheerily. “Be careful, all right? My sources clammed up, like they’d been talking out of turn and someone was upset about it.”

“You watch your back too,” Kyden said. “I’m not there to do it for you.”

“I’ll be all right. I didn’t survive to this age without knowing a thing or two.” Gibbz cackled. “I know where a lot of bodies are buried. Catch you later.”

“I’ll be posting a bonus to your account,” Kyden said with gratitude.

Elara knocked and walked into the office, stopping after a few feet. “What’s wrong? You look ready to go into the arena and take on a team of cyborgs with a spoon. I know that Death Dealer expression.”

“Two Swords was on the com,” Kyden said, gesturing at the desk unit. “He thinks Benet was kidnapped and taken to Outlier.”

Eyes wide, Elara whistled. “Bad news indeed if it’s true. Even my family doesn’t have any connections we can use there. How in the seven hells can we extract him safely if he truly is there?”

“Thinking it’s time to talk to my silent partner and see what he can find out for us.” Kyden was referring to Prince Pargen, a relative of the noble who ruled over the Five Systems and a friend to Kyden and Elara. Pargen had funded Kyden’s bid to take over the House when the previous Master had been killed in a terrorist incident. The fact Kyden had saved the prince’s life also factored into things.

“Tread carefully,” Elara said as she moved to the desk and sat in his lap, putting her arms around his neck. Her face was set in serious lines. “Not even Pargen has any direct power in Outlier for all his influence here..”

“If he can confirm the rumor that’ll help.”

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