Dark Nine [18+]

Chapter Eight

There were protected planets in the universe where you could not mine for resources, instead these planets were solely for camping, yup, entire planets – these were the homes of the Freed.

You couldn't build major infrastructure; the biggest home you could have was a travel pod, dropped in from one of the intergalactic manufacturers of the pods that provided everything sustainably. Shelter, tools for making drinking water, hygiene facilities and they could even help with growing edible food.

The Freed were not as friendly as I first thought they would be at Club Hive.

When I tried to talk to the staff, even for a moment, most of them were too busy to pay me any attention.

The one who helped me, ironically, was Iris.

She handed me a copy of her ET Key, and said I could borrow it since I was the Fey Empress and she couldn't refuse, although she said it rather sarcastically I'd like to believe, and I hoped she was more a friend rather than a worried 'employee'.

I had thought she worked for the Kors, but I hadn't really thought that would mean she works for me too.

Her ET Key gave me free ET movement and access to over 10,000 habitable planets, but her bookmarked favourites were Planet Live where I am now for my temporary hide out, Planet Meda, her home planet, Planet Dark Ninth... and Planet Earth.

The jungle that spread across Planet Live was full of the living pods, beautifully designed and completely impenetrable – if they were empty you could use your blood to gain access to it for three months.

I sit on top of my free camping pod, with one neighbour – a fellow female traveller named Quarzina. She was from Planet Meda like Iris and had the distinct bright pink eyes, pale pink skin and she was currently in hiking gear, after hiking through some of the marked trails around our camp site.

She sits with me on top of my pod, on a flat surface, we eat cooked food provided by the pod. I had no idea what it was; iaek6gh. That was the name of the food, and I didn't want to know what was in it, I just like that it tasted good and provided nutrition even though it was a green sludge in my bowl.

"It seems like it'll rain soon, it's only ever as heavy as a mist," Quarzina explains, "You haven't ventured far."

"I've been here 24 hours and slept half of that time," I explain, chuckling nervously, I'm just a runaway Empress, most valuable female in the universe, hunted by nine Kors who want to mate with me, have lots of babies, then devour me, no big deal! I don't say that, but Zina does know I am running from the Kors, she just doesn't know why.

I guess she assumes I am a fugitive or stole something from them, since I arrived wearing Kor finery, and still have it on currently – the Plum and Krown. I had just put on a basic yellow rain jacket I found in the pod as well.

"I wouldn't rest too long if I were you, I'd keep moving, I've seen a Kor twice," her eyes go wide as she recounts the stories, "Both strange instances. I've seen one walking through a city, almost perfectly one with the crowd, if it wasn't for their height or their sharp eyes. Only predators have eyes that focused – they barely blink. The other time I've seen a Kor hunt, I was camping on Planet Berry. That is when I first researched them...." she pales, "You realise they are intergalactic hunters, assassins, and bounty hunters, not just representatives of Dark Ninth? They are experienced in hunting throughout the universe. Not just their planet they destroyed," she tapers off into a whisper, "The only reason I am talking to you now, is for your soul. I doubt you will live past two days. For that, I will speak with you. But even I am unsure why you remain so calm..." she finishes off her own bowl and puts it down, grabbing a glass of water and chugging that dry, she looks at me and waits for me, "So? Spill it all, Diana," so she expects me to tell my story?