The Pirates of Orion’s Belt: Boxed Set

Boxed Set

Book 1

The Dragonworld

Book 2

Beyond That Horizon

Book 3

The Cursed Planet

Book 4

Dead Men Tell No Tales?

Book 5

Percy’s Revenge

Copyright 2019 Neil Dabb

Smashwords Edition

Discover other titles by Neil Dabb at Smashwords.com

The adventures of Meserplunkt, a pirate from the distant future, as he pursues legendary treasures in distant parts of the galaxy.

If you like one or all of these books, please feel free to leave a review!

Neil Dabb

The Pirates of Orion's Belt:

The Dragonworld

by

Neil Dabb

Copyright 2014 Neil Dabb

Smashwords Edition

Discover other titles by Neil Dabb at Smashwords.com

The Pirates of Orion's Belt:

The Dragonworld

by

Neil Dabb

Chapter 1

Griff watched silently as Maria prepared for bed, his hawkish features intent on her actions. Her graceful tracing of the invisible forms that she made with the fencing foil was accentuated by the full curves of her body as she moved. It was amazing that for all the time that they had been together, he still never got tired of watching her perform this nightly ritual. He could spend the rest of his life here, he thought, but he knew that there was more just beyond the horizon.

As he watched Maria finish her exercise, and move toward him he thought of Charity and his steel grey eyes darkened. She had been his childhood sweetheart, and was the third member of the threesome that Griff had been a part of before the demise of his other friend. Griff shook his head, his light brown hair brushing his heavy brows and forehead as he struggled to forget what he'd been forced to do to that former friend. Someday he would have to find Charity and tell her what happened to Girard.

Griff put that out of his mind as Maria snuggled close to him, her cropped red hair brushing his shoulder as she looked up at him with her deep green eyes. In the morning, he thought.

同时

There had only been two other occasions when dragons had left the Dragonworld. The first had been long before man had ventured off earth. A group of drones had left, preferring the tender young human meat they thought they could easily obtain on earth, over the limited fare they could find on the Dragonworld. They learned only too late that the humans were far more clever and fierce than they thought. None of them ever returned.

The second group had escaped more than left of their own volition. They had been workers, and simply followed the call of greener pastures through a break in the barriers that kept the other workers in. Once outside the barriers and the influence of the dragon-leaders they wandered until they found the monks of NitoKan, who rather than keep them penned up, would train them as pets and found other uses for the dragons. Only two of the herd was ever found.

Now T'Christa was about to leave. As far as he knew, he would be the first of the dragon-leaders to leave, and he would likely not be allowed to return. Still there was always that chance, so he carefully folded and rolled up the leather map that would show him how to return, if he ever chose to.

同时

Nina grinned evilly as the young man guarding the employee entrance to the space port writhed in excruciating pain. The pain was not real, but projected by the tall auburn haired woman whose green eyes gleamed in the half light of morning. Long before the sun rose the guard would be dead, and she would be on her way off world.

Unlike many others who left the planet so that they could wear clothes, she was leaving under-cover before the authorities caught on to the fact that most of the recent deaths on the planet were linked to her.

The guard made one last painful gasp as Nina carelessly stepped over his nearly lifeless body, driving the sharp heel of her boot, the only clothing wore, into his palm as he reached for her. She keyed in the security code that she had ripped from the dying mans mind, and silently moved through the port, knowing full well that with that code she would have no trouble appropriating a ship and making her way to any off world destination she chose.

同时

T'Christa was amazed at the transformation that had taken place when he left Dragonworld. His tail and wings had disappeared from view, and his armor had become transparent. While he could tell they were still there, from the fact that he'd nearly killed one of the first humanoids he'd met when he stretched, spreading his wings as he walked down the street, he was still amazed at the change. Fortunately the young woman hadn't realized what hit her, and he'd moved on before a crowd gathered and noticed his reptilian skin and eyes. The stories of the first dragons to leave Dragonworld were still fresh on his mind.

Now he was finally getting used to keeping his wings and tail pulled tightly against his body and was ready to find food. Again the stories of the first dragons to leave motivated T'Christa to follow the example of the humans rather than consider them prey. He would have to settle for the remains of the wide variety of lower species that they consumed, at least for now, he thought. T'Christa watched the local restaurant as humans exchanged script for food. He would have to find a way to get the script if he were to remain here. He slid a couple of jewels from his vest. It was rumored that humans placed great value in those jewels. Perhaps he could exchange them for script.

The gem exchange is over there, the auburn haired unclad woman said as she passed him on the street.

Thank you, T'Christa said defensively as she continued on her way. He didn't dare look back as he moved toward the building she'd indicated. The less attention he drew to himself the better, and what's worse, she had read his mind. No other humanoids he'd encountered had been able to do that.

Nina smiled as she went into the restaurant. She had felt the dragon's fear, but she had also felt his hunger. She would soon have him in her grasp. It would just be a matter of time before he returned.

With the exchange of the gems, T'Christa had a handle on the monetary system of this world. Now if he could figure out how to best fill his stomach.

Try the roast beast, Nina said as she quietly slipped into a chair beside him. It's good here.

You appear to know your way around, T'Christa said between bites.

And you're new here.

Yes, but don't tell anyone.

What are you looking for? Nina cooed.

This is the first in a series of stops, he said without looking up.

Would you like some companionship?

T'Christa glanced up at the woman. While he didn't understand everything about humans, the effects she had on the other men in this establishment were palatable. With her abilities, she could make any of them do whatever she chose. Everyone, that is, except him. He read her thoughts as he finished the meal that had been placed before him. I'm on my way to the Pole.

So? Nina said hiding a quiver in her voice. The dangers there were far greater than anywhere else they could go, especially for her, she thought as she looked down at her unclad body.

You asked, he said.

But you didn't answer.

You're welcome to accompany me if you dare.

When do we leave?

First thing in the morning, he said finally revealing that he'd made more preparations than he was letting on. There were hints of danger in her past, but it was danger that he could take advantage of.

Nina nervously followed the reptilian human. She knew he was leading her into more danger, but knew that all riches came at a price. The fact that he was a fellow telepath, and more than he seemed was just enough to stir her unquenchable curiosity.

The station on the Pole was not a place for the unclad to visit. Located on an ice planet in one of the un-named stars in the Orion system, the cold was so intense that without the protection of some sort of clothing most humanoids would be frozen solid within a few minutes. Even inside the buildings the temperature hovered well below the comfort level of most humanoids. However T'Christa had insisted that they flee there.

Nina forced herself not to shiver as she stepped from the transport, and moved quickly inside the port. She had no compunction about leaving her home planet or killing anyone who got in her way, but the thought of putting on clothes was almost more than she could bring herself to do. However, a few moments in the cool interior of the port nearly convinced her otherwise. Then she felt the tell tale puff of flame slide from the nape of her neck, down her back and over her shoulders. She looked over at T'Christa.

This way. I have rooms for us, he said.

She forced herself to take the cold arm of this alien being and follow him. She hoped that there would be more flame when they arrived in the room otherwise she would have to again consider the wearing of clothes. Then she probed T'Christa's mind and realized that this was all part of the preparation of her body for a feast in which she would be the main course.

Would you like to make this a bit more interesting? she said, struggling to maintain some control over her own mind. Some how T'Christa had managed to discover her murderous past and was going to save the authorities from her home world the bother of finding her and returning her home for a lengthy trial. Here on the pole companions were known to disappear without a trace.

You're stalling, T'Christa said, but felt his mouth water as he realized that his prey was suggesting an appetizer before the main course. It would be a bit riskier this way, but if there was the opportunity for a second course without consequences...

Nina nodded, then extended her control to a tiny young companion that was passing them in the deserted corridor leading to the rooms T'Christa had appropriated. The companion silently followed them into the room.

For all of his reptilian looks Nina quickly realized that the being she had attempted to seduce was not at all cold blooded. The ecstacy of going from nearly freezing to death as the tiny companions skin turned a beautiful shade of blue, to suddenly being roasted in puffs of the dragon's flaming breath was beginning to take it's toll. When the tiny woman could take no more, T'Christa eagerly began his feast starting with the legs. By this time Nina had moved as far away as T'Christa would allow and forced herself to block the mental screams of the other companion.

Suddenly T'Christa stopped. Nina turned to look at the remaining half of the other companion. A moment later a passing companion quickly entered the room and took the remains of other companion out into the corridor. Nina knew she'd been instructed to get the other companion to the nearest autodoc. In a few days the missing parts of that companion would be cloned and re-attached.

Her blood ran chill as she tried to move, but could not. If she didn't take control soon, she would become a tasty tidbit for the dragon, over and over until he chose to finish her off for good, on a world where no one would notice.

After what seemed like forever, Nina finally gathered enough strength to pull away as T'Christa let the room cool and her skin began to loose the red tinge from the last round of flame. She was about to run when there was an explosion outside the room. This would not bother the regular occupants of the room, as pirates were not known for being peaceful, but the explosion also took out the door, and a section of the far wall allowing a rush of super cooled air in. Nina had only seconds to dive under the remaining furs before her skin froze solid. A few seconds later she passed out and knew nothing of what happened next.

T'Christa knew the moment the door blew in that he'd been caught. His only hope was to be faster than his assailant, so he hit the door with a blast of flame as it crossed the room and sent it out the far wall. His pursuer was after him in a moment, ignoring the naked humanoid buried in the pile of furs near the door.

Chapter 2

Athena was sure that there was something dangerous going on in the room below her. The sounds were familiar enough that she knew it was some form of intimate contact, but there were subtle differences that made her nervous.

She slipped deeper into the heavy furs and waited anxiously for Meserplunkt to arrive. Being a companion for hire on the Pole, a planet where pirates came for shore leave, had it's advantages, but it had it's risks as well. She had recently watched one of her counterparts turn blue and nearly die in the cold when the pirate she was with took a dare. Fortunately the pirate died before she did, and Athena and her friends were able to save the woman. She forced herself not to listen to the sounds coming from the room below. Seeing something like that again was something she was not ready for yet.

As anxious as Captain Meserplunkt was to get to Athena, he could not resist the lure of a bit of booty to be gained while others fought. A quick perusal of the room directly below his yielded what appeared to be a treasure map on a piece of leather and the unconscious body of one of the companions. As he left, he hit the alarm that would summon medical help for the poor companion he'd seen buried under the furs, then he hurried up a level to spend his time with Athena. He would look at the map later.

Nina was not pleased when she came to in the autodoc, and was even less so when she realized that she was being watched.

Perhaps you could tell me how it is that such a pretty thing came to be a companion on this world? the voice above her rasped as she struggled against the autodocs restraint fields. It'll do you no good to struggle dearie. The autodoc says you'll be staying in there another day or two, the old man cackled. So you might as well relax and tell ol Percy how you got here.

Never again, Nina whispered as she felt the evil man's mind trying to rip the information on the Dragonworld from her mind. She tried to push back and take the old man by surprise. The last time they'd met, was not something she wanted to relive.

Not this time dearie. The old mans grin revealed the crooked but razor sharp teeth. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. Percy moved away. I'll be back though.

Nina mentally and physically slumped back into the autodoc. With Percy around she would be hard pressed to work her telepathic magic to get away, and she wasn't even sure she would ever escape if the dragon was still around. She closed her eyes. Escape seemed nearly impossible at this point, but she would have to try.

同时

Ranjon and his friend had signed up together under a good man, Captain Meserplunkt. Meserplunkt was a tall thin olive skinned man with a scraggly beard and thin mustache. Unfortunately Ranjon soon learned that most of the rest of the crew followed the tendencies of the mutinous first mate, Percy. While Captain Meserplunkt had managed to keep his crew in check, when the crew learned of the treasure planet things went bad.

Ranjon cringed as he thought of his best friend. He had not realized the danger his friend was walking into until it was too late.

Percy, had approached them just after they arrived for shore leave on the Pole. He had asked them to join him for some companionship, but Ranjon had expressed serious doubts about going. Unfortunately his friend was eager to go, especially when Percy had shown him the companion he had in mind for him.

The tall auburn haired companion was naked as she laid motionless in the furs. The autodoc induced sleep would be gone soon, and she would be free.

Watch out. She's a sneaky one, Ranjon whispered to his friend as he turned to leave. A moment later Ranjon was at the bar. He had no desire for companionship right now.

You needed to stay with him, another of the companions sitting at the bar said.

He wouldn't allow it.

Then he will die.

It only took a moment for Ranjon to return to the room where his friend had gone. Unfortunately by that time the battle had commenced, and they were in both the physical and mental death grip. He was too late.

Stay away boy, Percy said as Ranjon approached the room.

Not this time old man, Ranjon said defiantly as he prepared for the battle he would have to face in the room.

There was a long silence as the two men faced each other. Ranjon knew that Percy had been involved in the battle beyond the door, and that the old man had been searching for something from the companion's mind. When the door to the room exploded in a burst of light and psychic energy. Percy disappeared into the shadows while Ranjon moved forward to help his friend. Percy'd ripped as much information as he would ever get from the woman's mind, now it was time to disappear.

I'm here! Ranjon mentally screamed as he moved forward. The two bodies in the furs were linked in a death grip, and Ranjon knew he would be unable to help either party. On the other hand, he might be able to help his friend mentally defeat this woman.

The room around him disappeared as he moved into the mental world where a battle to the death was taking place.

Ranjon knew that the deafening roar was all in his mind, but that did not ease the pain. It was all he could do to push forward to his friend and place the lightsabre image in his hand. As he was moving away Nina noticed his presence. Fortunately he was able to raise shields and deflect most of the mental energy that she directed toward him.

Just as he was preparing to take another onslaught of mental energy, he caught a whiff of burning flesh. And instead of the onslaught, he heard Nina scream.

As his vision cleared he realized that his friends action had been the act of a dying man. The two bodies in the room were silent and still as he observed the burns where his friend had sliced Nina in two. The hole in his friends gut left no question as to her response. He turned and walked away, knowing full well that he had not been the only one concerned with what had just happened, and specifically went the opposite direction that Percy had taken.

同时

Meserplunkt was astonished. The legend went that the Dragonworld had a core of gold, and that virtually every precious metal and gem could be found in abundance there. No one knew exactly where the planet was, nor if there were any known inhabitants. Supposedly a single map drawn on a piece of leather showed the planets erratic and meandering orbit. Most who had seen the map still wouldn't find the planet.

Captain Meserplunkt knew he had the means to read the map, but it was not easily accessible. He was still amazed to find that map in his hands, and while the language had changed since he'd read about the map, he had the famed map in his hands, and could almost taste the treasure. He smiled as he realized that there might be a quicker way to learn about the language.

After his time with Athena Meserplunkt had tracked at least one the inhabitants of the room below to the hot springs. While Meserplunkt had never been to the hot springs before, Athena seemed at ease with them and agreed to accompany him. Despite the dangers, it was the only way to track the beings that made the map that he now had. As they moved further and further out into the snow he questioned the sanity of this course of action.

The further they moved away from the buildings, the hotter the stream of water they were wading through got. He had initially balked at leaving the confines of the building unclad, but he realized as they walked that the water served as ample protection for them. Now the water was becoming almost unbearable as the two reptilian beings were beginning to slow.

For someone who claims to have never been to the springs before, you are further out than I would have come, his small leathery skinned companion said as she settled into the hot waters.

Meserplunkt ignored the initial pain as he slid down beside the red haired woman and faced the next pool. This will be good enough for now.... he said. He initially thought that Athena was only here for the money, but was pleasantly surprised when she didn't argue and even joined him as he observed the actions of the two beings in the next pool.

T'Christa knew he could do nothing to defend himself against M'Tong without causing permanent damage. They had chased each other back and forth up and down the channel where the pools were located, until finally they faced each other in nearly the furthest pool. They had been friends at one time, now he had one chance to convince her to join him, as they had finally come to a brief truce.

But look at what you are giving up, M'Tong said as she finally relaxed in the super heated water of the pool.

You're overlooking the adventure and the potential that is out here, T'Christa said quietly.

Nothing I've seen so far impresses me.

Let me show you...

T'Christa knew what M'Tong was going to do before she moved and was ready for her. The subtle sign that negotiations were over was all he needed. He hated what he was about to do, but she gave him no choice. It was either her or him, and he wasn't about to go back, at least not yet. The blow he delivered was intended to merely slow M'Tong but at the last minute she'd moved, and the blow, though not immediately fatal would result in the end of the female dragon.

T'Christa considered staying till the end, but knew better. The appearance of a dead female dragon would create more questions than he really wanted to answer. So he made a hasty retreat across the frozen landscape. It would be three days before he found another sign of life, but he would endure. He had come too far to stop now.

同时

Charity enjoyed her work most of the time. She especially enjoyed spending all of her extra spare time with Juan. He wasn't a bright or even overly handsome man but he treated her well and took care of her needs better than any other man she'd met. He worked in the loading docks of the shipyards and she was the med-tech who took care of the autodocs at the main port. She hid her full figure and long legs under the medical uniform, so most of the pirates never looked at what she hid behind her blonde hair and deep blue eyes. The few who had, saw what Juan had seen a few years before, and quickly learned that Juan protected her with a savage vengeance.

As the tech brought Nina's body in on a gurney she shook her head. The wounded bodies had never bothered Charity because she knew that the autodoc could fix most any injury given time and a little coaxing. The part she hated was the autopsies. Putting a body that would not recover in the autodoc somehow defiled the equipment. But on a remote world with limited facilities she had no choice.

Charity forced herself to look away as she slid the hatch over the dead companion. She had been a beautiful humanoid when she'd left the infirmary just a few hours before. That was before the battle, and rumors of what happened during the battle made Charity shiver. It would be good to get home to Juan tonight, she thought as she left the room.

Chapter 3

Meserplunkt knew he had to move further up-stream to see what was going on but the minute he moved toward the stream Athena grabbed him and pulled him back.

I don't particularly care if you want me or not, but you go up there you'll not have anything to entice any of the companions, if you survive at all.

I have to see what happened to the dragon up there, he said, jumping up on the shore.

Now you'll freeze them off, but you'll have a better chance of surviving, she said. Float her down stream and we'll both take a look, she shouted as Meserplunkt raced toward the next pool in the bitter cold.

Don't touch me! the voice sounded in Meserplunkt's head.

But...

I will survive only if I remain motionless for the next twenty days, the voice said.

He knew the voice he'd heard in his head was the motionless dragon floating freely in the pool before him. But you're hurt, he said.

Yes, and nothing you can do will change that or increase my chances of survival.

You'll starve before you're healed up.

That is none of your concern, she said. You must stop the other dragon.

How will I find him?

He has acquired a taste for females.

So have most humanoid men, Meserplunkt said struggling to keep from shivering.

But you do not eat them.

So what's in it for me? Meserplunkt asked as he began splashing the scalding hot water over his skin to keep from freezing to death.

I will show you how to read the map, as you desire.

A few moments later Meserplunkt had everything he needed as he stumbled back to Athena in the next pool downstream.