The Path We Choose, Ch14: Combat.

Soren closed his eyes as Sully doubled over, grunting in pain. Geren cursed, then aimed his scope down the slope of the valley cliff. The Baron yanked his sword out of Sully's stomach. Fortunately, the blade automatically cauterized the wound. The Baron grunted, and motioned to the Captains holding Moron and Sully. They began dragging them away towards a group of cages hanging from an overhang of rock. They threw Moron and Sully into the cages and walked away, laughing in their guttural tongue. Geren sighed. "Alright, here's what were going to do." Moron tore off his sleeve, wrapping it around Sully's stomach. Sully groaned. "How does that feel?" Moron asked. "Oh thank you!" Sully said sarcastically. "I feel so much better now that I have your dirty sleeve wrapped around my gut. I've probably contracted three diseases." "Yep, you feel better." Moron said as he leaned back. "So..." Sully began, wincing. "How are we going to get out of here?" "Give me some time. I'll think of something." Moron said. Three hours later he was banging his head on the metal bars. "Think, think, think, think, think!" Sully rolled over and looked at him. "You're giving me a headache! Would you shut up!" "Think, think, THINK!!! AHHHRRRGGG!!" Moron slammed his fist into the bars. "SHUT UP!!!" Sully screamed. A low long laugh sounded out side the cage. Moron and Sully turned. A large Captain stood outside the cage, laughing. "What do you want, creature?" Sully asked, disgusted. The Captain reached into it's belt and pulled out a small rectangular device. It spoke in it's rasping language. The device beeped, and then words began emitting from the translator. "You have two choices. One, you tell us who you are and why you are here. Two, you choose not to tell us, you will be... what is the phrase? Ah, yes, drawn and quartered. You choose." "What's drawn and quartered?" Sully asked. "It's an old Earth form of execution, where they tie each of your limbs to horses and then make the horses run. You are literally torn apart." Moron said. "Lovely." Sully said. He leaned forward, and said into the translator, "We were carrying cargo Earth. Why?" The Captain growled. "Do not lie to me. Your ship is not a merchant ship. It is designed for battle. You are bounty hunters. Tell me what you were doing!" Sully looked around. Fallen were running from place to place, handing out weapons. Walls were being prepared, with Arc cannons stationed along them. Skiffs hovered, dropping off supplies. He turned to the Moron. "They're expecting an attack. They think we're some kind of scouting force." He turned to the Captain. "We're from the Reef. They sent us to scout ahead of their fleet. In a couple of minutes, the sky will be full of Reef warships." The Captain smiled. "Thank you. Now you will be executed." He opened the door and yanked them out, holding them by their throats. He dragged them through the tents, heading for the center of the camp. Sully looked around. Slaves looked up, then turned away. Sloppily made masks covered their faces, protecting them from Venus's atmosphere. The Captain entered a wide ring of tents. Fallen surrounded it, chanting something. Four dregs on pikes revved their engines. Ropes dangled behind the pikes, ready for their next victim. "Well, it was nice knowing you." Moron said. "Uh, ya. You too." Sully said, uncomfortably. The Baron sat on a massive throne, watching the proceedings. Two Vandals grabbed Sully and held him tightly, while the Captain dragged Moron forwards. Four dregs ran up and tied each of his limbs to a different pike. The Captain stepped back, laughing. "Laugh it up, fuzzball!" Moron yelled. The laughter stopped. The Captain growled. He raised his fist in the air, and yelled. The crowd went wild, the bloodlust rampant. The Captain stepped out of the ring. The Pikes charged up, getting ready to tear Moron apart. He closed his eyes. "Wait!" a voice yelled. Moron twisted from his position on his knees, searching for the source of the noise. The Baron also stood. Two Vandals dragged a figure into the ring. The Baron yelled into a translator. "Who are you?" Geren smiled. "My name is Geren, and I have come for my crew." The Fallen muttered among themselves. "You have come to claim your crew?" The Baron asked. "Yes. I want my crew, and unhindered passage out of here!" Geren said. "And why would I let you go?" The Baron responded. "Because, I will win our freedom. I challenge you to single combat!" Geren yelled. The crowd gasped. The Baron jumped down from his throne. "And why would I waste my time fighting you? A human!" The Baron asked. "Because, if you don't, your honor will be tarnished." Geren said., "I doubt you could last long in a fight against me, when you can't even hold off two Vandals!" The Baron laughed. Geren moved so fast, there was barely enough time to see what happened. He kicked sideways, breaking the Vandal's knee on his right. He followed up with a backfist, knocking the Vandal out. Using the momentum, he spun, slamming his elbow into the other Vandal's helmet. Both Fallen lay in the dirt, unconscious. He picked up their Shock Blades. "Your move."