Mal turned her attention to the image of the mechanism. It wasn’t beautiful but it sure as hell was compelling. So ancient, and a testament to human ingenuity. A precursor to so many things to come. Her gaze slid to Xander.
He leaned forward over the table. “The mercenaries are big. Many close to seven feet tall. Athletic, muscular. Skin covered in a distinctive, cat-like, striped pattern, various hair colors. They are well-versed in hand-to-hand combat. They are equipped with weapons that can disrupt Centaxian enhancements.”
Images flickered onto the screen.
“Fricking giants,” Dathan muttered.
Mal felt her stomach do an uncomfortable turn, memories of her recent tangle threatening to engulf her. Like the giant she’d fought, they were all huge, with bulging arms. Most had shaved heads. But what stood out the most was the striped pattern on their skin. “It looks like the pelt of a large cat.”
Xander nodded. “They have fangs as well.”
Another image appeared, and in this one, the man’s large canines were distinguishable.
“Shapeshifters?” Eos asked.
“Not that I saw.”
“Nothing in my primary databases,” BEll said. “Running secondary searches.”
“Like I said, I checked all the Centaxian records,” Xander said. “Nothing came up for these people.”
“I’ve got something.” BEll’s voice was smug. “Just a small reference.”
Mal was eager to hear and knew the computer liked to grandstand. “Spit it out, BEll.”
“They appear to be an engineered species called the Rahl.”
“Engineered?” Mal winced. Her thoughts were on her new cousin-in-law, Ria. She’d been the victim of a secret regeneration program and was now also part of an engineered species.
“They were created in military labs as a kind of super-soldier,” BEll continued. “Whole bunch of DNA mixed together. Of course, they were bred as fighters. Their aggression levels are off the charts.”
“Let me guess,” Nik said. “They got away from their masters.”
“Yep. Slaughtered them. Took over the planet.”
“What planet and where is it?” Xander demanded.
“Even cyborgs should have some manners,” BEll huffed.
“Where. Is. It?” His tone was lethal.
“Please, BEll,” Mal added.
“Fine. It’s a planet called Rhage in the Remington system.”
Dathan was frowning. “Rhage? Rhage? That rings a bell.” He straightened so suddenly Mal started. “Shit…the pit-fighting world.”
“Come again?” Eos asked.
Dathan ran a hand over his face. “Now I know. It’s a pit-fighting world. It isn’t mentioned in polite circles. The quadrant’s best underground fighters go there and fight in giant pits. To the death.”
Mal grimaced. “That’s horrible.”
Dathan shrugged. “They can make a lot of money and apparently business is brisk.”
“I don’t care what they do,” Xander said. “I just want to find where they’re holding the Antikythera.”
“They don’t welcome visitors,” Dathan said. “Only fighters.”
