Arsha woke up, feeling rather groggy. She moved her hand to her face only to realize that her other hand followed a few inches after. She then realized that her hands were linked in chains. More chains around her waist tied her to something. She saw Bashoon get up and realize she was in the same predicament. \u201cWhat happened last night?\u201d asked the Goblin Ensign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think the brew was drugged,\u201d muttered Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere\u2019s thanks for you!\u201d hissed Bashoon. \u201cWe help them get a super soldier under their control and they drug us!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI take it you haven\u2019t heard of our host, Reb Rojam,\u201d muttered a male voice. The two ladies turned their heads to see who spoke. The source had chains around his waist and was connected to them by separate links. Bashoon recognized him instantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYOTEK!\u201d she roared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou know this Goblin?\u201d asked Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe\u2019s my ex-boyfriend,\u201d replied Bashoon, \u201cand the one who reduced my family to destitution before you took us in!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou did that?!\u201d snapped Arsha to Yotek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was her family\u2019s fault,\u201d explained Yotek. \u201cThey shouldn\u2019t have announced their lack of support for a hero like Garsheek!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe funded for the re-enslavement of Trolls!\u201d snarled Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLike I said, a hero!\u201d countered Yotek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy friends, please!\u201d protested Reb\u2019s voice. \u201cMy crew has NOT woken up yet. DO show some decorum and let them take their MUCH deserved rest.\u201d Reb was outside the cell they were in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCaptain, explain yourself!\u201d snapped Arsha. \u201cWhy the chains?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI DO apologize for the chains,\u201d replied Reb, \u201cbut I simply can NOT let you escape. Not after you walked right into the trap my beloved husband set for you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell,\u201d hissed Bashoon, \u201cMr. Rojam\u2019s going to be incredibly disappointed to hear that you kidnapped a Realmfleet Captain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf it WAS just Arsha,\u201d called a voice, \u201cperhaps some slight disappointment. But, as luck would have it, we have the Endeavor<\/em> and her crew.\u201d The speaker then stepped into the light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMelgem?!\u201d squawked Arsha. \u201cHow did you escape?! Reb, you told us he wouldn\u2019t escape that cell!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUnder normal circumstances, he wouldn\u2019t,\u201d agreed Reb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHowever, these aren\u2019t normal circumstances for you now, are they?\u201d asked Melgem. He then gave a loving gaze to Reb. \u201cPerhaps we should explain, Sweet Scarlet Lady.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf you INSIST, my Pointy-eared Prince!\u201d giggled Reb. She then turned back to her prisoners. \u201cI wasn\u2019t lying when I said he was an escaped super soldier. He escaped from the AWFUL dreariness that came with the duties of being a Realmfleet Officer. He felt that things were taking too long for him to EVER get the respect he deserved. Poor Melgem was treated like a FREAK!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut, my luck changed,\u201d supported Melgem. \u201cI stumbled across this island, one of many for the vast hidden Empire that dealt with business that Realmfleet deemed…undesirable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe proved his EXCELLENT value to me,\u201d continued Reb. \u201cIn exchange, I let him live. Over time, a feeling started growing inside the pair of us. A VERY pleasurable feeling!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe then married,\u201d finished Melgem, \u201cand I became Rojam Melgem, First Mate and husband to then-Captain Reb Rojam of the Scarlet Stream Pirates!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWith his help,\u201d supplied Reb, \u201cI went from Captain to Admiral of the Scarlet Stream Pirates as MORE ships joined my crew. He\u2019s still my hubby, but now holds the RESPECTED rank of Commodore!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd then Melgem,\u201d guessed Arsha, \u201cdisguises himself as a surly Ensign and lures my ship to this island.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot my most brilliant plan, I will EASILY admit,\u201d confirmed Reb, \u201cbut, it worked, so I won\u2019t be so VILE as complain about it. Now, usually, that tactic gets us more recruits, but I WON\u2019T do that with you. You, your ship, and your crew WILL return on your merry way AFTER we get the ransom from Realmfleet. I can promise you, whatever damage my hubby had to cause, it IS repaired. Good day, my friends.\u201d They left the cell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, I hope you\u2019re proud of yourselves,\u201d muttered Yotek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t even start with me!\u201d snarled Bashoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEnsign, Sir,\u201d interrupted Arsha, \u201cI know you want to tear each other\u2019s throats out, and you will get that opportunity AFTER we get out of here and raise Realmfleet. But, right now, we need to work together. What abilities can we bring to the table?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m telekinetic,\u201d replied Bashoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI can cut the chains with my magic when we\u2019re safe,\u201d reported Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd I know the layout of the fortress and can bypass the locks,\u201d said Yotek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPerfect,\u201d commented Arsha. \u201cThen we can get out of here. Bashoon, can you press the buttons on the lock for our cell?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI need to see them,\u201d replied Bashoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere\u2019s a mirror facing the keypad,\u201d reported Yotek. \u201cCan you read the numbers backwards?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEasy,\u201d boasted Bashoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cExcellent,\u201d praised Yotek. \u201cThe keypad uses a binary code. Once one number is used, it cannot be used again. Since the buttons are labelled 1 to 9 and order matters, that makes for 72 possible permutations for the code. Thankfully, we have unlimited attempts on each digit, so we just need to make sure no one\u2019s around.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo, in other words,\u201d simplified Bashoon, \u201cI have unlimited attempts for each number in the code and it won\u2019t let me go forward until I get the first number right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd, even then,\u201d continued Yotek, \u201cyou would have to start all over when you get the second digit wrong. So, do try and remember the first digit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGot it,\u201d muttered Bashoon. She then used her power to press the buttons from 1 to 9. She got lucky when she hit 8. \u201cOkay, 8\u2019s the first digit,\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood work, Ensign,\u201d praised Arsha. Bashoon then tried 1 for the second digit but had to start over until she typed 89. The cell then lowered its barrier. They left the cell and sneaked down a hall until they approached another door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOkay, this one had nine digits,\u201d reported Bashoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cStill the same principle as our cell\u2019s lock,\u201d assured Yotek, \u201cit just has more permutations on it. 362,880, I believe. Allow me.\u201d The current lock took a long time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCome on, you\u2019re supposed to be the lock-expert!\u201d hissed Bashoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCaptain,\u201d whispered Yotek, \u201cdo tell your Ensign to control her insolence so that I can concentrate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEnsign Bashoon,\u201d whispered Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat?!\u201d hissed Bashoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cControl your insolence,\u201d joked Arsha, \u201cyour ex-boyfriend is concentrating.\u201d Yotek rolled his eyes as he continued his work. So far, the correct numbers were 2-5-9-7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCaptain Relkor was right,\u201d giggled Reb as she and Melgem snuggled in her slime while a Lightning Dragon in his humanoid form stood by, \u201ckidnapping a Realmfleet ship and its crew is a BEAUTIFUL stroke of good fortune!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd brilliance,\u201d supplied Melgem. \u201cWe need to make that man Commodore of the 13th<\/sup> fleet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAn EXCELLENT suggestion!\u201d cheered Reb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI can almost smell that zap-spice now!\u201d rumbled the Lightning Dragon. \u201cIt\u2019ll be worth twice as much to us now on the black market! But, I say we could have gotten a bigger ransom from the Splitters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cABSOLUTELY not, Rochak!\u201d snapped Reb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSometimes, I wonder why we keep you,\u201d muttered Melgem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPrecisely!\u201d agreed Reb. \u201cIf we tried to ransom the Endeavor<\/em> off to the Splitters, they will simply sneak in here like cowards and WIPE us out from the INSIDE! Besides, it\u2019s as my DEAR mother always said; \u2018Reb, DARLING, if one hostage is good, two are better. Three or more? WELL, that\u2019s just GOOD business!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow much do you think they\u2019ll fetch?\u201d asked the Lightning Dragon, Rochak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t you concern yourself with how much,\u201d replied Melgem. \u201cYou\u2019ll get your cut. Just see to it that Realmfleet\u2019s ransom gets here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOnce we get the ransom for the SHIP,\u201d continued Reb, \u201cthen we get the ransom for the CREW.\u201d She then looked to the sky and kissed her fingers. \u201cThank you, my SWEETEST mother!\u201d Just then, a succubus entered the room. \u201cAH! Beloved Commodore Weltam, SWEETHEART! What can I do for YOU?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMembers of my crew just stopped Arsha\u2019s escape attempt,\u201d purred Weltam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cArsha? Escape? Oh, how DREADFULLY rude!\u201d pouted Reb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll take care of this, my Crimson Encased Queen,\u201d assured Melgem as he got out of the slime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSuch a GENTLEMAN, you are, my Tidal Wave of Love!\u201d purred Reb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019ll find that I\u2019ve ordered them to be chained to the wall, preventing any further attempts,\u201d reported Weltam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cExcellent,\u201d praised Melgem. \u201cTake me to them.\u201d He was led out of the room.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Arsha woke up, feeling rather groggy. She moved her hand to her face only to realize that her other hand followed a few inches after. She then realized that her hands were linked in chains. More chains around her waist tied her to something. 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