Page 20 of Soliv Four
“What is it?”
Emon glanced meaningfully at Angie.
“She can hear it---unless it’s too personal.”
Emon shook his head. “No, nothing like that. I heard some guards talking a while back, then I forgot about it until that presentation by the warden. You know how we were told from the beginning that there are only five continents on Soliv.”
“Yeah, why?”
“It’s a lie. There are six.”
“What, an icy polar cap?”
“No, a tropical preserve. No inmates, no guards.”
“That’s interesting, but how would we get there?”
“Steal an air or sea transport? We’ve been concentrating on getting off-world, but it seems clear that probably won’t happen. But we haven’t considered relocating onthisworld.”
“That’s because none of the other continents is an improvement. Especially the mines. And this sixth continent is uninhabited?
“Not by people, just some exotic wildlife. We could live off the land. We’ve done it plenty of times before.”
“On worlds where we had intel on flora and fauna available,” Tomak reminded.
“There must be some intel because they made it a preserve based on something living there.”
“Maybe some kind of monsters live there, and it’s dangerous for humanoid habitation.”
“Let’s see what we can find out about it,” Emon suggested. “Getting transport is doable, I think, but there’s no sense in going there if we can’t survive.”
“Have you told the others?” Tomak asked.
Emon shook his head.
“Keep it to yourself until you get more intel.”
“Sure thing, Boss.”
Inmates were still milling on the grounds hardily grumbling about the warden’s presentation when Tomak and Angie headed back to their flat.
“What do you think that horrible production was all about?” Angie asked.
“It was a scare tactic to make the slackers train harder and fight harder. Deathmatches bring more viewers and higher wagers.”
“They want more blood and gore,” Angie muttered.
“Most likely, but don’t worry. He’s done this before, and I’m still here.”
Angie sighed and nodded.
As they came to the door of their flat, Tomak wondered if she forgot his promise to punish her. He hadn’t.
Soon as the door slid closed behind Angie, he turned and pressed her against it. Sliding his hands up under her shirt, cupping her breasts and kneading them. “Remember what I said in the training yard?”
She looked up at him, solemnly and nodded. “Punish me,” she said fervently.
He gave her a sly smirk and pinched her nipples.
