The Royal Guard 

{pictures at some point}

Pirate short Pov

[ II Captain… their movement form the Steel Star! They seemed to have detached their cargo!] said the henchmen at the helm

[umm... About time something happened! I was worried that this star monster wouldn't be worth their shit! But I guess it worked out in the end! Looks like we can rip their ship's lost treasurer… right captain!] said the first mate after hearing the news

[Not yet… we're too close to Bredale! If we launch any ships, they will think we're mounting an attack on the city! And we can't have that, they're one of the biggest dealers in the black-market trade after all! Making an enemy out of this base city would mark us for destruction!] said the captain with a pause

[let's continue to just observe, focus all our attention on that cargo hold, however having said that, tell MR. Black I have a mission for him...] commanded the captain

Waltin short POV

[ I Can't believe not only were we unable to reap any spoilers for the fallen star, I even lost our guilds precious cargo…. NO! I have to get it back! The monster certainly has no need for minerals! I may have lost the slaves, but I should at least be able to recover the gems! I can't return to him in failure!] thought Waltin to himself while panicking

[Sir the garrison at Bredale is contacting us! They seem to have spotted us detaching our cargo and have started asking questions! What should I tell them!] said the navigator at the helm

[You tell them nothing! Let me do the talking!] said Waltin, while thinking. [shit! Once they hear about this, they will start an investigation but that is not what worries me! What worries me is that they are going to demand some of the minerals for themselves! Rotten bastards!]

Investigator and Waltin short Pov

Inside a garrison room

[So, let me get this right, there was an "accident" that caused you to detach part of your ship… and that your cargo only contained ores. Is that right?] questioned the investigator

[Yes sir! So, you don't have to worry or help me with the recovery efforts! My men are more than capable of handling such things ourselves!] replied Waltin

[umm… Ok! But you'll need to check in at docking station 3. Once you check in, we will send a team to "assess" your ship condition and give you an estimate on the repair "cost". Do you understand me?] is what the investigator said to Waltin but behind his back he told his superiors:

[I Don't believe this "Waltin"! He is way too nervous and just by looking at how shaken up his crew is... Something definitely happened! I advise to send a team out to go check out the scene before Waltin sends his men out! I bet there must be something very variable in that cargo hold that the man is refusing to deliberate on.]

But as the investigator was busy talking to his superiors, Waltin thought: [Ha! fools, do you really think I don't know what you're planning! Sure, go and die while you try to steal my treasures! And while you're dying, I will go hire so more "help"]

Breder POV

As the cargo was in free all, gravity felt nonexistent as it tumbled about in the air! Breder, knowing how dire the situation was, quickly forced his way to get back to Layla! For he invested too much in her for her to die like this!

He crawled to her, through gravity, through loose objects, through the flying corpses that were dead set in getting in the way! Through bloody bars, and slippery metals, he clawed his way forward!

As slaves screamed and banged, he made it to Layla and the rest! With their bodies they formed a shield for Layla! For any trauma right now at her stage of development could bring unforeseen consequences.

As they tumbled in the room, Mirielye received it the worst, for her heavy set and larger body was at the mercy of the waves!

As the hold crashed! Breder was the first to get up and check out the situation, with unsettled eyes Breder noticed Mirielye was severely injured with broken arms and torn crown! While Elphe was only battered and bruised, much like Breder himself. But surprisingly or not Layla was uninjured throughout the whole ordeal.

Seeing Layla and rest prompted Breder to thank the lord that the hive nodes were still working and were also not destroyed amongst the chaos of the crash! Relieved that they can recover in time Breder left the room and while starting at the cell in front of him, prompted him to ask Vice:

{Hey Vice!}

[beep... Yes… what do you need!] replied Vice

{I need five royal guard eggs!} respond Breder who was visibly upset for some reason

[beep... While that will be a problem you don't have enough points for five! Each egg cost 500 points!] said Vice

{Well then, it's a good thing that there are enough points right in front of me!} said Breder as he stared hungry at the cells!

Now the slaves weren't stupid! They knew just by looking at Breder what he was planning to do with them! And it wasn't anything good! With panicked eyes the ones that were lucky enough to squeeze out of their damaged cells ran like hell to the exit that was blown slightly open thanks to the crash! But would Breder let them go? No! He pounced on them with ravenous hunger!

As dozens of slaves ran to the exit only two managed to get to the very tip of the exit when one found a tale impaling him from behind! While another squeezed half of his body out when two black hands pulled him back in! His screaming voice was the only thing to truly escape!

When he was sure no one else could escape he commanded Elphe to guard the door for instance of "just in case"! While drenched in blood and guts Breder went cell by cell, door to door, or knocking them in!

He killed merciful ones, he killed the begging ones, he killed the stubborn ones! He killed the dying! But he spared a cell that had five of the best non injured!

When he was done, he stood at the door of the five and asked Vice {Do I have enough points now!}

[Beep…Yes] replied a little concerning and thought to himself… [damn! This guy is ruthless! I see now why that "god" chose him!]

As Breder stood over the five slaves that now had face huggers on them, he noticed Layla saw the whole thing! Seeing her sadden expression he approached her and said:

{Look, I will skip the niceties, and get to the point! I will not apologize for killing people from your hometown! In fact, you should be thankful for what I did!} said Breder without even a shred of modesty

[why…WHY should I be thanking you!] she yelled in response

{Sigh… Look, they have a slave mark! No matter where they ran to, they would be found! And besides dying is way better than being a slave! Once a slave the women would wish for death!

A fate you're all too familiar with, I'm sure! And while you're wishing for death the men would work to death! Then their children, if they had any, would be forced to watch their captives' happy family as they lived off their parents' suffering!} Breder paused then continued

{I'm not a fan of slavery but I'm also not a fan of passing up opportunities when they appear! I need the evolution points to make you better guards than me! After all, I can't always be there to protect you!} said Breder with much concern

[Please… Don't make this about protecting me! You… You monster!] replied Layla shakenly

{Ha Monster! Damn right I'm a monster! And in case you forgot, so are you! Remember this is what you signed up for! You made a deal with an evil god just like me! And this was part of the agreement! Don't start crying about it now! After all, both our souls are on the line here!}

Now Layla, emotionally charged at Breder's haughty attitude couldn't say anything to refute him for everything he said was true! Though she didn't like it, she had to accept the truth that both their souls were on the line now, and that if she didn't pull her weight, she risked getting her soul rewritten!

Now while her "mother and father" were busy bickering Elphe could hear noise coming from the forest just outside the exit, though wanting to investigate she was told to "watch the door" thus she fought the urge to go look and stayed put, but as she stayed her body motion betrayed her, as she did the "potty" dance.

While Layla was giving Breder the silent treatment Breder got to work by roping the three of the five to Mirielye back as she was able to move now, as it had been several hours since they landed.

While he and Elphe each carried one, Layla hid in the crown of Mirielye. When they were ready to set off Breder had instructed Vice to put the remaining minerals into storage.

But just as Breder was about to blow the exit door open, he heard the sound of vehicles approaching!