Page 14

Cerces opened the hatch and stepped out. The air was cool and clean, the sun just setting at the horizon. The sky above them already blackening while red light still shone in the distance.
"Dusk," Mormont said, "Perfect."
Cerces took a step back and watched coldly how the spy took his gun, checked the ammo and pointed it toward a nearby tree. Figaro, foolishly young also pointed his gun and pulled the trigger. A soft plop was audible when the bullet left the silencer.
"Not yet!" Mormont hissed, the great man suddenly arching above Figaro, his eyes blacker than the black of nothing. Little drops of spit rained in the vicinity and Figaro held up his hands.
"Won't happen again."
"Maybe Trevor WILL be a better accomplice." 
"If he even dares pull the trigger."
"We don't pull the trigger." Cerces interrupted, "Killing field workers looks so bad on your resume."
"And killing your employees doesn't?" Ivana asked.
"That's just business." Cerces shrugged.
The five walked through the woods, Mormont in front. The spy cringed every time one of his followers stepped on a branch or rock. He looked back every time one of them even dared to sigh.
Finally they reached the edge of the forest and looked out unto the other side of the valley. A soft meadow ran between the two sides as a passageway... that was how the researchers had gotten here. But that road was too open for them. Colony researchers were supposed to be unarmed, but that didn't prevent many of them to carry a gun.
Mormont gestured to Figaro and Trevor. There were three groups of people. Five in total, two more than planned.
"How did they get here?" Trevor whispered.
"Later." Mormont cut him off.
Then the spy stormed out toward the closest duo of humans, a young woman and a man sitting in front of a tent, making food.
"Fun's over." Mormont said.
Xander got up, opening his mouth to ask where the man had come from. He was rewarded with a swing from the shot gun on his head. He fell down and momentarily lost consciousness.
Mormont looked up and saw Figaro holding his own against a young boy and a short colourful man. Not much further he saw the last of the party coming out of his tent at gunpoint, followed by Trevor.
"We are grateful for your hospitality." Cerces said when she took the pot off the fire and made herself comfortable. "We just know you won't mind us sleeping in those tents."
"What are you?" Liv asked, "Are you pirates?"
Cerces waved her hand to Pedro. "Shut her up will you. She's annoying."
Figaro happily obliged his mistress. He gagged the girl and tied her to a tree. She struggled feebly, but not for long.
"We have taken over this planet." Cerces told her hostages after she had eaten the stew they had been cooking. "Be nice to us and we won't kill you. Got it?"
The gypsy man nearly nodded his head off, his eyes open wide in panic. The young boy only looked angry at them, and most of all at Figaro. The older man just sat there and the other two were tied and gagged. Cerces figured the others wouldn't bother them much. All in all this take over had gone even better than planned. Must have been luck.

Continue

Lantessama Isle
Cy DragonStake  -   Darkling Dawn

Credits:
Backgrounds compiled with images found on Google