Princess Rescue Inc (17 page)

“Probably
not,” Ryans snarled then pointed behind the kids. He kept doing it. Perry
echoed the move. After a second a couple of other people tried to do the same,
lending urgency to the pointing. A kid turned ever so slowly and then screamed
at the sight of the approaching predator. They began to paddle to the shore in
a tangle of frantic arms and legs.

“They're
not going to make it in time,” Perry said urgently, running to the water's
edge. He felt and heard the thunder of a shot. It echoed out of the hollow
deafening them. The hex gator dived under the water and then came back up. It
rolled from side to side. Water splashed as it thrashed around. Several of its
fellows down on the far edge of the water came over. It thrashed at them then
moved up to the bank and out of the water. It shook itself then staggered out
into the nearby bushes.

“What
the hell?” Ryans asked, turning to Edsfield.

The
sniper was grimacing. “Son of a bitch is tough. Must have hit the skull at an
angle cause the round went up and didn't penetrate worth a plum nickel.” He
shook his head. “All I had was this here piddly MP-9 so I didn't have the
stopping power needed.”

“It
worked anyway. Thanks,” Ryans said nodding. The princesses and others were
coming over to them. He waved as the kids came over, dripping wet and clutching
their clothes. “I'd say there should be a no swimming sign. Don't you kids?”

The
kids looked confused. He sighed then pointed to the other croc beasts. They
looked then began to talk urgently and gabble about the animals. After a moment
he held up his hands.

“Just
a minute, just a minute. Princess, a little help here?” He turned to Zara. The
kids turned and noticed her tiara. The kid’s eyes widened comically. As one
they fell to their knees heads down.

Perry
rolled his eyes as Deidra seemed to preen. “Great, now they did it,” he sighed.
She glared. “Can you tell them not to go swimming again? At least till the
crocs leave?” She nodded and spoke for a moment.

“Get
up,” Perry said; pulling what looked like the eldest to his feet. “Go tell your
folks you're okay.” He pointed to the village. The boy gave the princess a
look. She pursed her lips and nodded. He turned and scampered fast.

The
other kids got up and bowed nervously.

“I
think if it's just the same to you we'll give these kids a ride,” Perry said
looking at Ryans. Reluctantly Ryans nodded.

<==={}------------>

They
entered a small walled village a few minutes later. At its center was a stone
building, not quite a keep or castle but definitely a lord or lordling's manor.
Perry kept most of the vehicles outside the berm and palisade wall. The kids
milled around and then drifted off one by one.

“That's
the castle, he's in charge when... oh.” Nate nodded to a lord in a long flowing
green outfit. “I guess the lord is in.”

They
watched as the princesses spoke with the lord. Perry frowned. “He's a small
time sheriff or lower ranked knight from the sound of it. He's also not very
amused with the women... It looks like they haven't met and he's not sure if
they are impostors since they are dressed in our clothes.”

Ryans
nodded. The girl's probably looked like peasants in the gray sweats they wore.
“Interesting, He's taking them in anyway. It looks like we're not invited
though,” Ryans commented, watching the women haughtily pass the lord and enter
the small keep. “They better know we're leaving tomorrow. I'll get Max and
Scooter to refuel and check the vehicles while we're parked,” he said. He
waved, walking off slowly.

The
princesses stayed the night with the local Dominus while the Terrans camped
outside. Deidra tried to lord over the local knight who got drunk during
dinner. “I've had enough of your sharp tongue!” he finally bellowed when her
sharp tongue cut him to the quick once too often. Ryans caught the bellow
outside while walking the perimeter and looked up with a frown.

“So,
are we going to leave them here or are we going to keep them around for a
little while longer?” Perry asked Ryans. Ryans could hear snarls and a faint
scream. There was a crack of something hitting flesh. Something was definitely
wrong he thought.

Ryans
grimaced. “I checked with Max, we're low on fuel. He's fixed the camper's flat;
it was a big ass hollow thorn that was giving it a slow leak. We need some down
time to make new fuel as well. And some local support would be nice,” he
grimaced. He felt an itching sensation on the back of his neck though.
Something was wrong, he could feel it.

He
turned to the keep. His itch was coming from there. “Something's up. I'm going
to go check on the ladies and see if they are sticking with us or not.” He
started to walk to the keep. Perry shrugged and joined him.

 Ryans
heard the crack of flesh on flesh and realized someone was being slapped
around. From the whimper it sounded like a woman. He growled trying to move
faster. Ryans and Perry arrived to check on the women. When they entered the
main hall the Dominus was beating a bound Deidra. Deidra was bound much as
before, arms pinned behind her, rope pinning her arms to her sides, and more
rope apparently wound around her ample breasts.

“Hold
it,” Ryans growled. He pulled his weapon and held it on the knight. “Princess?”
he asked. “I don't think this is an S&M thing, though I could be wrong. You
okay?” he asked.

She
turned her head to look at him. She was gagged and he could see blood dribbling
around the gag. Pure rage was in her eyes as she squirmed. “No, guess not,” he
said. He fired into the air when the knight went for his sword.

The
harsh bark of the pistol made them all flinch and freeze. The bullet by chance
hit a chandelier made of antlers, pieces rained down making some of the drunken
footmen dodge and duck and cover. “Cover me,” Ryans ordered.

“Got
it,” Perry said. He touched his throat mike with his free hand, the other
holding his MP-9. “This is five, shot fired. Hostage situation, we're bugging
out. Three and four send a detail to the keep ASAP.”

“Roger,”
Waters said over the radio.

Ryans
waved the knight away from Deidra. The princess kicked the man in the shin. He
howled and grabbed at his leg. A second kick landed between his legs making him
double up. A third hit him square in the face and he went over backwards
bleeding and groaning.

“No
time to untie you princess, sorry,” Ryans said, scooping her up onto his
shoulder. “I have to admit I've always wanted to do this,” he grinned to Perry.
Perry snorted as the princess squealed indignantly over being manhandled.

Perry
held off the knight and his footmen while Ryans carried the princess out. Zara
was also found bound exactly as her sister, sobbing under a table. The
half-drunk squire lunged for a battle ax and Perry shot him in the arm. The
sharp bark of his MP-9 made every non Terran in the room flinch once more in
wide eyed fear. The servants stared at the gasping squire as the squire held
his left hand to his right bicep.

“Next
time listen dumb ass,” Perry snarled.

Perry
hip bumped the table over and carried the girl out with his free hand. He
grinned in the dark at Ryans, white teeth flashing as they ran off towards
Waters and the back up team approaching them. They could see the Terran camp
lighting up. “I could get used to this. Princess Rescue Inc. I wonder if it
should pay fringe benefits?” he said, waggling his eyebrows suggestively. He
didn't really mean it; his girlfriend back home would have his balls if he
strayed. Ryans chuckled until the girls squirmed and kicked.

They
took a left and paused at a building when they heard footfalls. When a native
patrol happened by he swatted her ass when she got too loud. She froze in sheer
outrage and then began to tremble. Fortunately her fit of impotent rage lasted
long enough for the danger to pass and for them to continue on their way.

Waters
met them at the gate. Ryans snorted when he spotted feet on the ground nearby.
Paterson grinned as she hauled the limp body into the shadows. “Not dead just
cold cocked the bastard,” Waters said as the back up team fell behind them as a
wary rear guard.

When
they were back to their own encampment he let Deidra down and untied her. She
had been bound as before, hands behind, biceps pinned to her sides. This time
the black knight had been thorough, for some reason binding her breasts and
binding her wrists up in an almost reverse prayer. Apparently she'd really
pissed him off. The moment her hands were free she rubbed her wrists and then
lunged for him, claws out. He held her off. “Maybe you untied her too soon.
That's gratitude I guess,” the sarge laughed pulling the fuming girl off. Zara
was quiet, leaning against a consoling corporal Paterson as the woman untied
her and gave her a drink of water.

Deidra
was indignant about being manhandled and swatted. She angrily tore at the gag
in her mouth. “How dare you!” she fumed. “I'll have your head for that!”

Perry
shrugged it off. “You’re alive aren't you? That's three or four or five times
we've saved your ass princess,” the lieutenant replied. He held up four and
then five fingers in front of her face. She froze at that, going white. Her
sister was wide eyed and pale as well. They turned to stare at each other.
Deidra bit her lip. They looked at each other then stared at the Terrans.
“Something I said?” Perry asked amused, looking from one to the other. Then the
men shrugged it off. “Well, you can come with us or stay. I don't care,” he
walked off to check the perimeter.

“Time
to pack up folks! Gotta move!” he said over the net push. The team grumbled but
swung into action. They were underway in less than fifteen minutes.

<==={}------------>

Sue
wryly commented about the girl’s lack of clothes the next morning. The
princesses had borrowed a few peasant garments from the dark knight and a
couple of blouses from Sue to go with their torn dress and borrowed sweats.

“Most
likely that had been what had gotten them into trouble,” Ryans replied
thoughtfully. The men noted the two girls were wearing nightshirt tunics belted
at their waists as well as their tiaras. Perry was amused when Ryans took his
jacket off and put it on the older princess, Deidra. She at first shrugged it
off, then when the wind picked up and she got a chill she tugged it on tighter.

Doc
set them up with a spare set of clothes and modified clothes from Ben's duffel.
She showed the fifteen year old princess Zara how to knot her shirt on the side
or in front to take up the slack and make it more feminine. Zara was amused but
went along with it.

<==={}------------>

Nate
and Mary were intrigued and impressed that the natives had domesticated local
life forms and plants for use. Only a handful of animals and plants were from
Earth, most likely due to it being hard to get a foothold in a competitive
ecosystem. Mary pointed out that it might also be because they didn't have
enough genetic stability. Nate agreed after a moment of consideration.

Tubers
were found and logged in their records, also wheat.  Rats, goats, sheep,
cattle, rabbits and horses were seen. Dogs of various breeds as well. Domestic
cats didn't survive; they couldn't compete with the local predators apparently.

Most
of the Terran animals were limited in number; the girls explained that they
were dying out. “There are a lot of still-births. There are a lot of problems
with the blood lines,” Zara hesitatingly explained. Her work with Lisa had
greatly expanded the AI's lexicon.

“Many
have trouble eating the food I bet,” Nate commented about dietary deficiencies.
Zara explained to him that the poorer serfs kept their animals in their homes
to keep them safe and warm. It helped in winter.

“Must
stink to high heaven though,” Nate muttered.

“It's
not a new thing Nate; they did it in medieval times as well. Hell they did it
back in the American colonies for that matter,” Ryans said shaking his head.

They
discovered that the American Indians that had crossed over brought with them
cocoa, coffee, and maize corn, much to some amusement from a few Terran people.
“They have only a limited supply of course,” Mary commented.

“Why
is that?” Perry asked amused.

“Because
it's subsistence farming. They are lucky if they can grow enough for
themselves, their taxes, and a bit left over for next year's seed. I'm amazed
that they've made it for this long.” She shook her head. “Having a balanced
diet on an alien world?” She threw her hands up when the men kept giving her
amused looks. “Man can't live on beer and beef alone you know?”

“Could
have fooled me,” the Gunny said with a tight lipped smile. He'd noted that the
natives drank beer exclusively. The girls and the two peasants drank water
reluctantly.

“Barley
is a grass. Which is in short supply according to Mary,” the Doc said dryly.
“So beer while big in medieval times is probably a pain to cultivate properly.”
She shook her head. “Which means a clean water supply is a pain in the ass. The
medieval idiots didn't know that boiling water to make beer purified it. They
drank beer and were stoned through the middle ages.” When the men stared at her
in amusement she glared. “If you don't believe me, go talk to Gregory, he's the
nutritionist! Let him tell you!” she said exasperated. Perry chuckled.