Page 40 of Soliv Four
“And the transport is not ready to get us out of here yet.”
“We had better make it ready,” said Angie. “That’s six against two. They could even pit your own men against us.”
“They could try, but my team isn’t going to fight me for you. No offense, my mate, but they don’t want you; they know we are soul mates.”
“I should hope not. Maybe they won’t schedule us before the evac repair is done,” Angie said hopefully. “Let’s see if any more of your guys won a female.”
Tomak gave the command, and the results appeared printed on the screen. “Yes, Emon did, and J’garin. That leaves Praxus and Lazko. But they aren’t scheduled yet.”
“I hope they are scheduled before they set us up for their barbaric couples hunt.”
Tomak commanded the holo screen to display the expanded maze. The satellite map on the screen included sections of the jungle that he and his team had been exploring for rotation spans.
“Well, at least we know the area. The evac is well covered by foliage, so that shouldn’t be a problem. There are also some caves with hidden entrances where we could hole up that I doubt they know about.”
“What are you going to do?” Angie asked worriedly.
“I’m not sure yet. I have a gladiator match next rotation. I’m sure my team has all seen the announcement, so they are already thinking about what we should do next. It depends on the schedule for these new hunts and how much time we have to plan.”
“I just don’t understand how they can do this to people, to us. Obviously, they don’t have laws against cruel and unusual treatment. “The first hunt was bad enough, now they want to send a bunch of thugs to hunt us and try to take me from you!” Tears welled in her eyes, and she couldn’t stop them. “They can’t… They can’t. I love you; I don’t want to be with anyone else.” Then she was sobbing in earnest.
Tomak pulled her onto his lap and held her while she cried on his shoulder. “I love you, too, me’ara. I won’t let anyone take you from me!”
TWENTY-FOUR
The news was even worse in the morning. Tomak’s gladiator match was canceled, and he and Angie were scheduled for the first couple’s hunt instead, the rotation span after the next. As soon as he read that on their holo screen, he took Angie with him to Warden McKaro’s office.
“Why are you doing this?” Tomak demanded. “Angie is not a convict. She was diverted here illegally. You want to risk her life for ratings?”
“It’s what the viewers want. They enjoyed your savagery during the female hunt. They voted on this and several alternatives, and picked you and your mate to compete in this hunt.”
“I don’t give a fuck what they want! Let them hunt me and leave Angie out of it.” Tomak clenched his fists at his side, fighting the urge to jump over the desk and strangle the other man.
“That wouldn’t do. You have a choice, however…” McKaro paused for dramatic effect. “You and your female run the hunt, or we can send you both to the mines. That would probably draw even bigger ratings.”
“That’s no choice, and you know it,” Angie blurted.”
“Maybe you would rather just choose a new mate from the six, and you wouldn’t have to risk your lives.”
“Fuck that!” Tomak and Angie said in unison.
“The hunt, it will be. If the two of you win, the ratings will be incredible. Ratings equal credits, which is how we provide these luxurious accommodations for you and the other residents.”
“If you are unhappy with the terms,you can appeal to the prison board.” McKaro tapped on his virtual AI screen. Four armed guards entered the office behind the couple. “But they are the ones who approved this change in programming. They were all appointed by Emperor Szeqart, and he is a big fan. The whole royal court is.”
Tomakcould barely contain his outrage. As badly as he wanted to rip McKaro’s head from his shoulders, Tomak knew he would be dead if he tried.
“The expanded course should give you an edge against your opponents, plus the fact that you are a trained commando and they are not. You also get a whole span head start, unlike the female hunts. You and your mate will report to the starting gate at fourth span. Don’t bother trying to run. We both know there is no place for you to go,” Said McKaro dismissively. Officers, please escort these inmates to the exit.”
Tomak took Angie’s hand and stalked toward the exit. The prison guards followed them to the building exit, standing watch until they left the building.
“That was no surprise,” Angie grumbled when they were outside.
“I didn’t see this coming, even with the rumors. I thought they would go for the females cage fighting first,” Tomak said as he hurried her toward the training field. “I knew we wouldn’t get out of it, but I didn’t want him to think it would go easy.”
“We can do this, right?” Angie asked, hopefully.
“Yes, but we shouldn’t have to. McKaro is setting this up because it means more credits in his account. Three of those guys scheduled are more muscle than brains. A couple are from that gang who came after us that rotation at the refreshment bar.”
