OMEGA Conscript by Stephen Arseneault

I was foolish enough to only rely on two guards?"
    Garrett shook his head as he looked back at me. "I'll have to admit it. You’re right, sometimes we Humans are a little thick in the head."
    I took two quick steps up to the front of Clevel's desk. Looking down, I picked up the jar that still held five long breadsticks.
    I grabbed Clevel by the lower jaw. "You look famished, Mr. Rugus. I'm thinking you could use another breadstick, or perhaps all five."
    I reached across the desk, taking the jar in my free hand as I pulled down on the Human's lower jaw. I shoved the glass jar inside the now wide open mouth. Clevel gagged.
    I raised my free hand in a balled fist. "The way I see it, your guards will happily disperse out there when they find out you are dead. And keep in mind, I won't let you die a quick and painless death. I'll only use enough force to shatter this glass jar in your mouth.
    "With your gag reflex continuing, your body will attempt to force down some of the glass shards that your mouth will contain. With each convulsive swallow, your pain will increase to what you might believe is an unbearable level, but you won't die from it, at least not immediately. So, tell me how you want to proceed, Mr. Rugus. Would you like to call off your guards and turn the helmet over to us? Or would you like to die a slow and painful death?"
    Clevel Rugus gagged as he attempted to nod his head.
    I raised my fist. "Slow and painful?"
    The large Human shook his head no.
    I said, "Is the helmet here on the premises?"
    Clevel nodded.
    I continued, "Does Mr. Cathos know of its whereabouts and can he retrieve it?"
    Clevel again nodded as he gestured toward Mollis Cathos with his eyes.
    Clevel pushed a green button on his desk as he continued to nod toward Mollis.
    Two minutes later, Mollis reentered the room carrying the helmet. "Here."
    Garrett took hold of the helmet with a smile. "And I'm sure you will direct your guards out there to not take a shot at us while we have the helmet. If it was to become damaged, it would be useless. Mr. Cathos, would you care to summon an air taxi for the three of us?"
    Mollis Cathos cringed. "Three?"
    Garrett nodded. "I would think you would like to see us off to the spaceport so you could collect your fee."
    Mollis returned a sheepish nod. "I suppose I could."
    I looked into Clevel's eyes. "You have a credit store?"
    Clevel raised his arm and moved his eyes toward a wrist cuff. I released his jaw, transferring two million credits to his store.
    "I'm giving you more than fair price. I hope you use that money for ventures other than an attempt to recover the helmet. If we should meet again, I assure you it will be the last time."
    Clevel nodded.
    Garrett waved his blaster at Mollis Cathos. "After you, Mr. Cathos. I believe our transaction here is complete."
    As Mollis Cathos opened the door, Clevel stood and pressed the red button on his desk repeatedly. Mollis' midsection exploded backwards into the room. I turned, firing one bolt after another into the far wall as I began to run. The wall shattered as I slammed into it and moved into the next room.
    Garrett fired two bolts out the door before turning his blaster toward Clevel Rugus. "You could have walked away from this still in good shape."
    Garrett reached out, grabbing a breadstick from the jar in Clevel's mouth before inserting it into his own. Garrett winked. As Garrett ran, he looked back, firing a single bolt into the bottom of the large Human's desk as he jumped through the open wall. The sound of glass shattering could be heard.
    I pulled the door of the adjacent room open, firing several bolts into the back of the guards crouched outside, facing down the hall in the other direction. The remaining guards scattered.
    As we emerged from the giant red warehouse building, the Jess was settling in on the air taxi deck.
    "How'd the Jess get here?" I said.
    Garrett laughed as we ran toward her. "You didn't think I would leave us reliant on a taxi to