Page 41 of Fresh Flesh

Joras

When the gasgrenade flew into the cave, my first thought was for Maisie. I ran to her, catching her right before her head could strike the floor.

I could feel the gas seeping into my lungs, and I knew that I didn’t have much time. I carried her all of ten steps down the mine shaft tunnel when my vision darkened at the edges. Then I didn’t see anything at all.

I started the process of waking up some time ago. I know because I’ve been hovering on the cusp between the waking world and slumber for quite a while. Time has no meaning on this endless black plain.

Slowly, I become aware of the rest of my body. I’m laying on my back on a hard surface. No pillow, no blankets, so it’s not a medical unit.

When I open my eyes, I’m not entirely surprised to see that I’m in a prison cell. Not the kind we keep humans in. A Grengoran could tear out of one of those in about ten seconds flat. No, this is a brig, a military prison meant to house exactly people like me.

I lift my head from the concrete and look up through the bars. A guard notices the movement and gets on his comm unit.

“Commander Tolex, he is awake.”

My heart sinks. Tolex is a hard ass, more of a zealot for the empire than even Mlarx before Maisie worked on him.

If he’s the one who’s decreed I be imprisoned, then I’m in trouble.

I start thinking of my story before Tolex arrives, trying to will my brain to work past the heavy fog which has descended upon it. There is no privy or sink in the cell, or I’d splash cold water on my face.

The sound of footsteps in the bare stone hallway draws my attention. I struggle to my feet, trying not to sway. I want to face Tolex on my own two feet, not slumped over on the floor.

I put on an appropriately miffed expression as he appears. He’s not a terribly large Grengoran, but his red eyes are rather unique. Legend has it the red eyes are the most sinister of all of my kind, but I don’t put much stock in them. Tolex is on the sinister side, but I’ve met other red eyes who aren’t as bad.

“Sir,” I say before he can even open his mouth. “Why am I in a cell?”

His brow ridges arch high on his face. Tolex never expected me to act indignant.

“You were found in a nest of humans. From the evidence we found, they were conspiring against the Empire. Worse, we found evidence that our own people are helping them.”

I scowl and nod my head vehemently.

“Yes, I am aware. Those stinking traitors make me sick to my stomach! I wanted to kill them all, and that’s why I radioed for backup, then went in alone to scope the place out.”

Tolex stares at me for a long time, his expression inscrutable. At length he speaks.

“You expect me to believe this falsehood?”

“It’s not a falsehood. I was in the area, tracking down an escapee, and I happened upon their gathering. When I saw Grengorans working for the humans, well, it boiled my blood. I had to do something, and that’s why I called for backup.”

“We have no record of any such call.”

“Maybe there was interference. I never got a reply.”

“I see.” His eyes narrow. “Then why were you found with a human woman in your arms?”

I try not to flinch.

“That was the escapee. You can’t expect me to have tracked her down across the country and not tried to make sure she was apprehended, can you?”

He snorts with derision.

“Your story does not add up.”

“Look,” I say, growing desperate. I really want to ask what happened to Maisie but it would blow my cover story if I did. “I’m an Overlord of the Vegas territory. You can call my co-leaders, Mlarx and Lurg, and they’ll tell you all about it.”

Those two should be able to figure out Maisie and I are in trouble, and they should also lie for me on demand.

“We shall see,” he snorts, and turns to walk away.

“Wait, won’t you let me out of here?” I ask.

He comes back and glares at me.

“No,” he says with finality. “I will not.”

It looks like I’m stuck here until Lurg and Mlarx figure a way to get me out.

Then we need to find Maisie before it’s too late.

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