Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Laoni stormed into his office, cursing to every god he knew, once again because of Ronan and the pale-skinned female his plans had been destroyed, and Sora was now even farther out of his reach. Sora was meant to be his; he had been saving to buy her freedom and had nearly amassed the funds required when Perrion had sold her away all because she’d beaten the pale-skinned scutt and threatened Ronan.

Sora had a temper as well as an unquenchable sexual appetite, and she enjoyed it rough something Laoni shared with her. He’d nearly had enough to buy her freedom when she’d been sent away, and Perrion had told him he could no longer use the females for free, that he had to pay for his needs. In addition, since she’d left, his unending need for sex and pain had made him turn to skooma to help relieve his needs. The expense of paying for the skooma and for paying for the females had been eating away at his savings putting, Sora even further out of his reach.

If Perrion and Ronan were both dead, then he could sell Lilly and have more than enough to buy Sora’s freedom. But why think so small if Perrion and Cheng were both dead, he could take over control of the Dome and have more than enough funds to do whatever he wished. But how could he get rid of both of them? Perrion was cautious always, having the slave assigned as lead cook to bring him his food personally. But it would not be hard to slip poison into the food before the cook took it to him. Then there was Ronan to deal with; he had to be removed and quickly, and Laoni wanted Sora, back and soon the idea of her unprotected did not sit well with him.

He would need help to kill off Ronan and to create enough of a distraction that he could take Sorcha back and seize the dome, enough of a distraction that no one would question the deaths of Perrion and Cheng.

The angry face of Captain Zardo came to him immediately, the Captain had been furious at the loss of so many credits and he’d wanted Lilly. If he was given a chance to reclaim his wealth and to have the scutt he was sure he would take it. The Captain was the answer to all his desires; he just had to convince him.

Laoni hit his wrist comm. “Tyrell has Captain Zardo left yet?”

There was a hum then his unit blinked on. “No, he and his men are at the front gate,” Tyrell replied.

“Hold him; let his men go but hold him I will be there shortly,” Laoni said a smile curling his lips.

“As you wish,” Tyrell replied then his comm wink offed.

Laoni would need a way to entice Captain Zardo to help him, but what could he offer other than Lilly. He could give him a way to get some of his losses back, Perrion and three of the other owners had a secret base on the dark side of the third moon. A base where they stored the best of the Halle ore that was mined as well as goods they acquired from the traders and pirates that frequented the world. Laoni had the access codes to the base as well as its location, and the base wasn’t guarded. Zardo could hide there till it was time to act and take everything he wanted as payment. Laoni opened his top desk drawer and pulled out two data sticks slipping them into his top pocket before turning to study his reflection in the mirror.

Laoni had learned long ago that if he wanted to intimidate another male it was important to look his best. He was short for a Uxmal male and had lost his lower left arm in a mining accident when he’d first come to the Pleasure world, what he was missing he made up for with his clothes. He wore all-black leather with a thick studded collar and arm guards, he kept his dark red hair close-cropped so his skull ridges showed. Satisfied with his appearance Laoni left his office and took the hidden stairs from his office down to the ground floor, when he reached the lower corridor he check that it was empty and that the rotating security camera was pointing the other way before he stepped fully into the hall and hurried to the exit.

Laoni stepped into the scorching late-day heat, he looked about to see no one was near before making his way across the courtyard to where Tyrell was standing by the door with Captain Zardo.

“I did as you asked, though he isn’t happy at waiting,” Tyrell said giving Laoni a polite nod.

“Thank you, you may go, Captain,” Laoni said seeing Captain Zardo scowl at him while his hands clenched at his sides.

“Are you sure?” Tyrell demanded looking from Zardo to Laoni and back.

“Of course, go be sure the repairs are completed, we need to reopen soon.” Laoni gave Tyrrell a dismissive wave.

Tyrell paused for a moment, then walked towards the side door of the dome. Laoni watched Tyrell walk away, and when he was sure he was out of earshot, he turned back to the enraged Captain Zardo.

“What do you want? Your master has already beggared me,” Zardo growled, standing toe to toe with Laoni.

“To help you reclaim some of what you have lost.” Laoni saw surprise, then suspicion flicker in Zardo’s eyes

“Why would you do that? And how would you do it?” Zardo demanded, crossing his arms across his thick chest.

“Because Perrion took something from me, too, a female, and I want her back, and I want to make him pay for it. I also want to be master of the dome. If you help me, I will help you acquire Lilly, as well as seeing you are recompensed for your losses.” Laoni replied.

“Say, I believe you. When do we start? I can call my men back immediately,” Zardo replied.

“Not yet, you must be patient till things quiet down. At the moment, all the owners are on alert, as are their personal guards. You try anything now and they would kill you and your men.” Laoni broke eye contact to look about to be sure they were alone, then returned his gaze to Zardo.

“Fine, when and do not try my patience, three arms.” Zardo snapped.

Laoni ignored the insult, though it hurt. “In seven days, besides you badly injured the female, she will need to heal. In six days, the ore ships leave to make their monthly delivery, taking many of the enforcers and guards from each of the domes with them, so there will be little opposition to our plan.”

“What do I get out of this other than one female?” Zardo demanded. “And what I should simply wait in orbit around this miserable, dusty planet till the time is right?”

“I was coming to that, you want females, don’t you? I plan to remove my master and take the Pleasure Dome for myself. Once in my possession, I will happily give you half the females here.” Laoni saw he’d gained Zardo’s full attention. “As for waiting around, I had a better idea and one that will help replenish your coffers. On the back side of the third moon is a secret base used by my master and several other masters. It holds a good supply of ore as well as various items taken in trade by the masters; it is their safety vault in case they have to flee this place. It is also supplied with food, water, and supplies, all you need to replenish your supplies and your coffers.” Laoni pulled the data sticks from his belt and held them out to Zardo. “These contain the location of the base, inventory of what is there, as well as access codes to all of my master’s storage units. The second stick holds my private comm channel. In seven days, you and your men need to return and then we will act.”

“Fine, but I want the female, and I want to make that grey male pay.” Zardo snatched the sticks from Laoni.

“Agreed, I am thinking of a plan to have them both unprotected. I can say they have been requested at another dome and send them there under minimal guard; do you have a man who could kill Ronan? It would have to be quick and silent?” Laoni demanded, and saw a smile twist Zardo’s face.

“I do, and I like the plan you are making. When should I contact you to finalize plans?” Zardo asked.

Laoni returned Zardo’s smile. “In five days, now you had better go before I am missed, I shall await your call, and Zardo if this works, we shall both be rich and have all the females we desire, so don’t disappoint me.”

“All the females I want and more profit, no, I shall contact you, you can count on it.” Zardo stepped through the small opening in the gate, and Laoni closed it after him. In seven days, Perrion and Ronan would be dead, and the dome would be his and Sora would be back in his bed. Now he had to figure out how to poison Perrion