Butting Heads - Chapter #99

Free Enterprise  -  Butting Heads! -  Chapter  #99!


Upon waking the next morning, Tyr knew this was not going to be a quiet day. First off, he gave orders to his First Lady, Captain Tamara McPhearson, to order Shore Leave terminated as of 1300 hours today. Tyr planned to leave 0700 the next morning, so he wanted all crew members had to start returning to the Insurrection forthwith.

While Tamara and Xena were out chasing down arrant crew members and preparing the Insurrection to get underway. Desi had her hands full with the packing while Li Hoy and Hoy Li took care of Alexander and Lysander.

After his workout, Tyr and Amanda had a leisurely breakfast with Victoria, then they retired to the Throne Room. Only this time, there were no public audiences. It was just Osiris, Archduke of Pride Drago-Katzof and his retinue, and Delta Wolf, Matriarch of the Pride Secreto and her retinue. Each retinue contained about 100 people.

This morning Delta was dressed in a beautiful hunter green sari with matching sandals on her tiny feet. Of course she still toted her staff.

“That thing is definitely a weapon in disguise.” Amanda thought, as she smiled at Pride Secreto's Matriarch.

On the other hand, Osiris was still his puffed up and arrogant self. Tyr had caught him giving him the evil eye several times. And just as Amanda predicted during breakfast, his wives were openly sizing things up, wondering how they could start trouble.

After everyone took their customary places. Victoria beckoned Delta forward to speak.

“Please state your case.” Victoria said.

“My case is simple. My people want to return to their lands and their property and resume their.” Delta said. There was a loud snort of derision from Osiris and several of his wives. Victoria carefully made note of who they were. So did Amanda.

“What seems to be so humorous about their request, Osiris? They are still owners of said property and unless they agree to rent, sell, or give it away, they have a right to return to it. That is the law and you cannot stop them.” Tyr rumbled dangerously. There were whispers and grumblings in response from the Osiris camp.

“What? What was that?” Tyr asked. He as well as everyone else knew what was said. Sensitive Nietzschean ears picked up pejoratives and vituperatives in reference to Pride Secreto, and their “so-called talent”. As in testament to their great patience, tolerance, and professional decorum, the representatives of Pride Secreto stood silent and did not react.

Shaking with rage Matriarch Victoria stood to give Archduke Osiris a piece of her mind.

He held up his hand stopping her before she could speak.

“I'm not saying Pride Secreto is not welcome to live amongst the other Nietzschean Prides. I just will not allow them to live amongst the Pride Drago-Katzof.” he stated. There were mumbles of assent and agreement amid Osiris camp.

Pride Drago-Katzof were ultra strict purists and did not tolerate any “anomalies” within their pride. It was well-known fact that Drago-Katzof performed “cleansings” among their own. That was until Barbarossa got wind of the Tele-Nietzscheans plight and personally put a stop to the killings.

“Were you aware that nearly 35 percent of Pride Secreto has Drago-Katzof roots?” Delta asked quietly in return. You could have heard a fly poop in the Throne Room right then it was so quiet!

“Osiris, you may have elected yourself to be the spokesman for Pride Drago-Katzof in this matter, but what of the families want their children, wives, husbands, and friends returned to them? I strongly suggest you put this matter to a vote before the pride. Which ever choice gets the most votes stands as law.” Tyr challenged.

“Sure, YOU can say that since you've bonded with two of them.” Osiris shot back defiantly.

“Oh my! Such cheek, as my Mother used to say! How the hell did he know?” Amanda thought.

Tyr was instantly off the throne, and would have ripped Osris' lying tongue out of his head, had not Cornelius used his body to block his way. The rest of the Guard surrounded the three. Team Osiris stood ready to do battle to protect their leader. Team Secreto stood ready to protect the Matriarch, Viceroy, and his third wife.

However, with the representatives of Pride Secreto, they all moved as one with martial arts readiness.

"Everybody was Kung-Fu fighting. . . . ." Amanda hummed the "Carl Douglas" song in her mind

Upon first learning of their gift, Pride Secreto had reached out to the universe's foremost experts on telepathy. The Vulcans. The sons and daughters of Eridanni had agreed to do it because they had two once in a lifetime opportunities in one. First, to study Nietzscheans up close and personal . Second, sharing their love of logic and mental disciplines with others who desperately needed it.

So, these were no longer the “wild telepaths” Osiris or Pride Drago-Katzof had first encountered. Nor would they allow themselves to be slaughtered like a flock of sheep.

The dividing line between the two group stood Andreas and his Palace Guard. The atmosphere in the throne room was electric.

“ . . . . . .Those cats were fast as lightning. In fact it was a little bit frightning. For they fought with expert timing." Amanda continued to sing in her mind, as she stood so she could see better.

“Kroyka!” Delta shouted. Startling everyone, except Pride Secreto. All stared at her, but they stopped. Hey, if you lived and worked closely with Vulcans, you'd pick up the language, too.

“Osiris! You know what is expected of you. If you cannot or will not obey my order, I will appoint someone to do in your stead. Am I clear?” Tyr asked, in a tone which brooked no nonsense..

“Yes, Sire.” Osiris replied. With so many weapons pointed at him, he had no choice.

“I also want it done ASAP!” Tyr added. Making sure Osiris wouldn't have an excuse to further snarl the process by dragging his tail on the ground.

“Escort him out!” Tyr ordered. Two burly Nietzschean males stepped up and each seized Osiris by an arm. Osiris shook them both off and glowered back at Tyr.

Right then he knew he had lost, big time. He shoved several of his functionaries out of the way and stormed out of the room. His peeps then turned and hurried out after him.

“That is a very angry man, Viceroy.” Delta warned.

“And a very cunning one too.” Amanda added.

“He is definitely up to no good.” Victoria said.

“Andreas, you will need to be extra vigilant for the remainder of the day. The vote should take no longer than that.” Tyr ordered.

“Yes, Sire.” Andreas replied and hurried out of the room with his men, after the Drago-Katzof representatives.

“Delta. I am sorry, I am going to have to ask you and your people to wait some more while they take a vote.” Victoria apologized.

“That is alright, Matriarch, Viceroy. We are used to waiting patiently.” she replied and inclined her head to them. Pride Secreto's representatives were then quietly escorted out of the Throne Room.


* * * * * * * * * *

“Tyr, I have some very important matters to discuss with you before you leave.” Victoria started. That's how they wound up in her office.

“While you were resting. Osiris . . . . . the report he was supposed to turn in was overdue, so I asked him for it. He gave me a long song and dance that he was unable to access the information and was thus unable to compile the report. Then there was a mysterious virus which deleted all of the information. In fact, he lied so much I had two of my best computer experts check out his story and his records. What I found was most distressing.” She continued.

Tyr raised an eyebrow as put the mug of Chai to his lips and took a sip.

“Pray tell.” he said.

"First of all, he lied.. . . . . ." Victoria started. The whole story about losing the information was fabricated. The information was deliberately destroyed. . . . . or they ATTEMPTED to destroy the information. My people were able to recover and reassemble most of it." she continued.

Tyr muttered something uncomplimentary in regards to Orsis's parentage. Victoria winced and continued.

“The recovered information showed that not only was man wasting tax-payers money, but he was skimming it too. According to the original schematics, the Asus 7 terra forming project which began one year ago should have been finished in seven months. Yet it still drags on and is not even half completed!” Victoria said stridently.

“So, what did you do?” Tyr asked. He knew in his absence she was more than capable of handling such affairs.

“I've stopped all funding of the Asus 7 project. If Drago-Katzof wants to terra form Asus 7, they will have to make do with private donations.” Victoria replied. In response Tyr stated laughing.

“What in the Universe is so funny?” his mother asked.

“I just had this vision of Drago-Katzof selling Nietzschean Scout Cookies to fund the project.” Tyr replied.

Victoria smiled but did not laugh. Nietzscheans were very determined when they wanted something. If it was cookies they needed to sell, come demons and hellfire, they WOULD sell them!

“Tyr, there is something else I must discuss.” she said in an ultra serious tone. Tyr looked at her and her face was serious as cancer.

“Have you ever wondered what happens when a Nietzschean goes wrong? When they cross over to the Dark Side? For the most part, we are peaceful people and play well with others. However, in times past there have been those . . . . . .” she sighed. “ . . . . . . . who had taken it into their heads that they would use their superior strength and intellect in order to start their own empire and subjugate weaker races.”

Yes, in times past, Nietzscheans kept slaves. The slaves were well treated and well kept, for the most part. But according to some anonymous writer. “A well-kept slave, is still a slave, nonetheless.”

“Pride Kodiak never kept slaves! Thank The Divine that was another vile practice Barbarossa put an end to.” Tyr thought.

“There are also those who were mass murderers and terrorists, etc. Have you ever wondered what happened to the likes of them? How we kept them under control?” Victoria continued.

“You surely cannot incarcerate them. According to Drago, a Nietzschean only remains a prisoner because he wants to be one. The moment he or she stops wanting to be imprisoned. . . . . .” Tyr started.

“All bets are off.” Victoria finished. “Even a horrid place like Rheua Pente couldn't hold them.” she continued.

“Or Vulcan's Forge.” Tyr said. Both locations were at opposite sides of the temperature extremes. Vulcan's Forge was a blast furnace, while Rhuea Pente was a ball of ice. Yet a Nietzschean would easily survive both and wonder where was their morning latte. . . . . . .

“So what do we do?” Tyr asked. He was hungry and thirsty but his tea and food was ignored.

“It's called the Black Watch. They are our Avenging Angels. Judge, jury, executioner all in one.” Victoria started. “They are an elite team of Nietzscheans who have devoted their lives to hunting down and assassinating Nietzschean rouges. No one else in the Universe can handle a Nietzschean but a Nietzschean. So we have to clean up our own mess.” she continued.

Tyr sat back, crossed his arms and gazed at his mother. So this was what she and Barbarossa had to deal with while he was running around the galaxy and playing Starship Captain. . . . . .

“Remember, with a Nietzschean there is no such thing a rehabilitation. After all, what type of treatment could we employ? The mind sifter, drug therapy, electroshock, complete mind wipe? What Nietzschean would allow themselves to be caught then subjected to such treatment? In every case, they wanted to die, fighting. The trick was not to let them take you with them to Hades. That is why we have the Black Watch.” she continued.

“Why are you telling me this now?” Tyr asked.

“Call it my mother's instinct, but I believe Osiris and some of his ilk will be their next target.” she replied.

“For stealing government money?” Tyr asked.

“For something far more heinous.” she replied. The sound of those words made the tiny hairs stand up on the back of his neck.

“Oh Divine! Not again!” he thought. “Please not again!”




Note To Readers

First: the idea of The Black Watch is all mine. Mine! Mine! Mine! I mean, how else would you deal with a "Rouge Nietzschean"?


Second; Ta-Dah! Here it is! The 99th chapter! The next will be number 100 and I haven't the foggiest what I'm going to do yet! Perhaps fireworks! Tiramisu for all! Maybe it will just be an extra LONG episode. I often don't know until I start writing.

However, I CAN tell you that at this juncture of “Free Enterprise” we have offically reached the halfway point.

“Oh-oh! Another hundred episodes?”

“Hummmmmm. Maybe not. . . . . . . .