excerpt from 'Sex Blood and Videotapes"

[esercito sconfitto]

She contemplated the vial of red powder sitting on her workstation. It took quite a bit of effort on her part to not crack open the plastic and snort the entire load in one microt. But, she wanted her senses fully aware. Aeryn was living out her deepest fantasies, indulging the dark part of her that no other sensual act could touch, not even the drugs. She wanted to keep Aeryn as her own personal toy forever. Of course, even if Aeryn made it though this course, no one could last very long in one of Juliya’s actualized fantasies. She would try to prolong the inevitable as long as possible. The terror on the faces of the dead hunters, all dying at Aeryn’s hands because she told her, got her going. She had Aeryn under her complete control, and every order she follow and act she committed touched Juliya deeper than any kind of manual stimulation. And even when Aeryn was gone, she would always have the tapes to help her relive their relationship, over, and over again.


Aeryn tried her damnedest to keep from making a single sound in the water. The stream was foul smelling, but not in an organic way. It was also free of algae or seemingly any other form of life. She had tried to dive under it once, but the pain was far too bad in her eyes. She didn’t want to take the canal, but as Julyia had told her, there was a lookout posted inside the factory, using a powerful telescopic lens, she was watching the land route, as was a single huntress. Aeryn would have stuck out like a sore thumb.

She paddled against the subtle stream coming down the canal from the old factory. Dalon was being held in the open area, where the explosion had occurred. She could make her way up there from the ground, but it was too risky. She had to take the guard at the road out, and see had to do it staying completely out of sight. She decided a big patch of long grass was just what she needed. It was right next to the canal.

Aeryn slowly paddled to the tall grass, reaching under the water for something heavy. She found a bleached rock (not a good sign for the water). She saw her first opponent, a dark haired girl about her size. Aeryn held back, and chunked the rock.

The Walstian immediately turned to the giant slosh in the canal, just behind Aeryn. Aeryn kept in the waist deeper water, using the reeds as cover from the factory. She stood absolutely still as she heard the grass being crunched under foot. The woman apparently didn’t have impeccable hearing, because she was standing right over Aeryn. The silver hatchet she held gleamed in the artificial light from the city that surrounded them. It hung over Aeryn like the Sword of Damocles, a foot over her head. The woman scanned the river, looking for the racket maker. Aeryn slowly sank into the harsh water.

The water burned at her face and eyes. Despite the pain, Aeryn remained submerged and absolutely still. She could barely make out the weapon and face of the woman, who was now looking strait down. A couple of arrant floating hairs, and Aeryn could have a hatchet in the head. But, the woman scanned for a little while, then, turned her back to the canal. It was time to strike.

Aeryn grabbed her ankles and yanked. The young woman landed face first in the tall grass. The stronger former PeaceKeeper dragged her hard into the water by the ankles. Aeryn shoved the fellow raven-haired woman under the water as she tried to rise. Thankfully, the hatchet gleamed in the reeds, well out of reach. Aeryn pushed as hard as she could against the struggling female warrior. Aeryn punched her in the back of the head several times, before applying both hands again to keep the head under. This was a basic technique taught a commando training. Water was very common on habitable planets, thereby; you had to know how to use it to your advantage. Aeryn continued the combination of pummeling and constant pressure.

As the woman’s oxygen depleted, Aeryn didn’t let up. The woman was in a pointless situation, the trained killer ignoring the kicks and splashes. God she hoped there were no Walstians around.

In her ear, she could hear the heavy breathing of Juliya. The breathing seemed to increase with every second the girl fought Aeryn. An ever growing moan was mixed in with the breaths, the erotic sounds only getting louder as death approached.

The battle against Aeryn lasted almost a minute, but then the warrior became limp in her arms. Aeryn was trained better than to let go now.

After another burst of energy, the thrashing stopped. Aeryn kept the pressure on after all movement stopped for one minute. When the body refused to move, Aeryn dragged it into the tall grass. She looked at her younger opponent, trying her best to avoid her eyes.

Juliya’s voice came over the apparently waterproof earpiece. More like heavy breathing than talking. “Take them all down Aeryn, and do it just like that. That was perfect, a slow, terrifying, but entertaining death.”

Aeryn had a sudden idea. Avoiding the dead eyes, she stripped the body.


Up on the catwalk, the Walstian look out waited for her friend to come out. After a few minutes, she saw the black hair and camo pants. The Walstian on the ground waived up to acknowledge her. She waived back and continued her watch. She had seen no sign of their prey. Maybe Juliya was just drening them.


The Walstian guarding the gate looked at her waterlogged compatriot heading towards her. “What the frell happened to you?” she asked.

“Well…” said an unfamiliar voice.

She was a flash of blue from under the soaked raven bangs. Her partner had brown eyes.

She threw up a forearm, blocking Aeryn’s attack with the hatchet. She smacked Aeryn under the chin with an uppercut, sending her back. Instead of keying her mic, the female warrior pulled a short saber. “Bring it slut!” said the Walstian.