Eric Olafson, Neo Viking Vol. 01

There it was! This moment was worse than I thought. He was wounded and I am sure Bendixen could win against my father with a broken leg. Brunar would solve my problem of revenge. Kill my father for me; all I had to do was watch! But it was an unfair situation and I hated those!

I yelled "I am my father's champion if he gives me the honor. As it would be beneath my father to cross blades with a coward as you!"

Father nodded and Bendixen answered. "So be it then, Upstart. But who said anything about blades! We shall fight in the water with slayer harpoons and knives! I know your skill with the sword and I am no fool! But no one has ever beaten a Bendixen in the water!"

"There is always a first! I meet you there!"

I went back in the boat to put on a wet suit and get harpoon and knife. Sif opened the door.

"Sif! I am just putting on a wet suit, I am nak..." I realized what I was saying and pulled the wet suit up as fast as I could.

She threw her arms around me." Just as I start to like you, you go risk your life for that brute that tortured you!"

"It is an unfair situation and until I know for sure if he did all this to me on his own or under the influence of drugs I can't condemn him."

"You are a fool like all men. You have them at the point of cannons and now he dictates what we do!"

"We are a product of this world Sif! You are the one that is going to change it, but the Old man said we need to do it slow!"

She knelt down and attached a diver's knife to my leg." That's mine. Ram it in the bastard real deep!"

"Talking about brute men. Girl you are as brutal and Viking as the rest of us!" She kissed me on the lips and said." I never denied that!"

The boats were drawn to a rough square, Adolph and his crew eyed the FTL cannon drained. Brunar stood in a confident posture holding a Friesenheim triple shot." I thought you might back out!" Then he jumped in and so did I. The coldness of the water was invigorating and out of a strange impulse I closed my eyes and could see the surroundings clearly without actually seeing them. I could sense the boats and every fish around me and I felt Brunar and he was climbing out of the water already!

As I surfaced I saw Sif and Astrid held by two men, a third was standing on the bow of my father's sub holding a Spear gun leveled against the belly of my father. Brunar stood laughing on his boat." Do you think I risk everything observing stupid old rituals? Enemies can become friends fast in the face of humiliation!"

Adolph Lindbergh also laughed." Do you think I let you herd us back to town before the Elders? Accuse us and gain all that is ours? Why do you think I am out here? To make sure you are dead!"

Brunar poured a reddish liquid out of a big jug in the water." This region is known for Rock Sharks and Tyranno's let us have a little fun and see how you survive now. I will take your boat, kill all witnesses and since they are looking for Sif I will be awarded by the Arnske clan as well!"

The first triangle fin of a Rock shark appeared!

He added "It is time to die Eric. I let your old man watch and then he and his crew is next!"

Father screamed." I will get you for this!"

I had to do dive to face the attacking shark. I was again played like a well-tuned harp. Angry at my own stupidity! I had already won. Had them at the point of a gun and yet I was in the water and faced death as I sensed four more sharks!

I did have three spears in my slayer but this was open water, no rocks to hide, and four rock sharks. They were no were near as big as Tyrannos but each was at least 12 meters long and much faster than me, even though I had fins on my feet this time. Also Rock sharks did not have a mark, a clear spot to shoot at and if they did I did not know about it.

I evaded the first fairly easy but was almost snatched by the second, my strange new sense spotted two more attracted by the scent and in the distance at the horizon of my awareness, a huge shape ... no doubt a Tyranno!

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Chapter 31: Thingstead

I had one spear left. Two of the Rock sharks floated belly up to the surface, the Slayer harpoon meant for Tyrannos was good enough to kill these triangle snouts. Even now fighting for my life I wondered why I called them that way.

My last spear missed! Not that it mattered much, four sharks were now busy with the carcass of the ones I killed, fighting each other for the meat, there were three more now aiming for me, also that immense presence beneath me came closer. This was the largest Tyranno ever. The rock sharks suddenly hesitated and then turned and swam away as fast as they could! I opened my eyes and saw something white almost glowing shooting up from beneath. Too fast for me to evade. A huge white Tyranno with a maw big enough to bite a normal sub in half came up with the speed of a torpedo. This was it. I would be devoured like a Silver flicker! Strangely though I knew I had to die I did not fear that white shape. It hit my feet with its snout and pushed me out of the water! The same moment as if a veil was removed from my mind. I remembered and yelled with full lungs." Tyr!"

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Sif could not believe her eyes and the men holding her hostage suddenly trembled with fear. Eric shot out of the water, like a reborn God standing on the snout of a white Tyranno! It was the biggest she had ever seen!

Adolph Lindberg was the only one turning his spear gun aiming at the immense presence, and fired! The spear turned in mid air and nailed Adolph Lindberg right through his chest where it exploded.

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"Tyr!" I yelled again with the intensity of my relief. I knew everything would turn out well! Maybe Tyr wasn't a god but the next best thing and he was certainly the biggest friend I had. The men surrendered and dropped their weapons.

I learned that several of Bendixen's men were already in the water when I surfaced and had entered my boat as soon as I was in the water. This time I took no chances. Sif armed with the Neuro ripper gun held them in check while I used every drop of Stick and Bond to glue their hands together. Bendixen did have some fight in him but Sif dropped him with a short shock of the beamer and after that he too was no problem. Father's split his men up to crew the captured boats and to tow his damaged sub. After all this was done I went back out and looked at the huge white fish floating next to us."Why did you take my memory of you? I would not have told your secret!"

"Eric you have a long road ahead of you and I did not want you to be influenced by the knowledge I gave you, I will erase the memory of these men about me. I must remain to be a legend. However I had to come and safe you, little fish! You have a habit to swim in the middle of trouble a lot and the next time you decide to swim with Triangle snouts, make sure at least one Tyranno is nearby, or you carry a whole lot more of those harpoons."

"Tyr I don't know how to thank you and for the short time I actually know you, you have become a dear friend."

"If you call me cute, Eric I throw you in the water myself!"

"No worries, I still don't think of you as cute. But when this is all over I would love if you show me more of our oceans."

"Maybe my little fish, maybe!"

Sif came out and she was clearly afraid but came closer anyway." Is this Tyranno tame? I never knew how pretty they are."

She went close to the edge and stretched out her hand to touch Tyr." You are so beautiful! Look at his gorgeous eyes and he is all white!"

"I am not tame!" Thundered Tyr, but his voice grew softer." Well perhaps she is not totally wrong with the other statements."

"He doesn't want to be called tame, Sif. You also better not call him cute!"

Her eyes widened."Is it talking to you somehow?"

"Sif that is Tyr! He is very old and wise and powerful."

"Hello Tyr! I am Sif and I am a friend of Eric. I never saw a Tyranno so close and never one as big as you." She touched him." I bet he doesn't like that we kill his brothers and sisters. We must stop that!"

Her eyes widened and I knew she was hearing his voice as well now." Sif, I know who you are and it was me who suggest you to become our next representative. Maybe we could discus culling quotas when you are at that point. For now let my existence be a secret."

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INTERLUDE 12 CLEANERS

David Moyes greeted the new client in his office and he said. "I was told by our mutual contact that you are in need of special services and represent a larger organization?"

His visitor certainly dressed the part, and had arrived in a private Yacht. A 120 meter Bombardier executive no less. Whoever his client was had the means to hire Galactic Solutions, no doubt.

The person was not human but had distinctive Attikan features. The Attikan had only recently joined the Union and ruled pretty much the entire Larger Magellan Cloud. While he had the overall shape and size of a human he walked more like an upright hyena and his face shared the of the characteristic features of this Terran canine species. The Attikan spoke with a cool accent free voice. "Indeed you could say that. I am representing Schwartz Intergalactic; to be precise I am here to express the distinct displeasure of my employer using his personal image, name and reputation. He especially wanted me to point out to you that he is even less amused about the fact you used his image in the conduct of highly illegal activities."

David tugged at his collar." I can understand that and I will gladly make amends. You can tell your employer it will never happen again."

"It pleases me that you understand, Mr. Moyes. You will indeed make amends and yes it will never happen again, at least not done by you or anyone in this company."

"How much will it cost me?"

"Right now my associates have cleaned this building, Kevin Atkien has certainly caught up with his last cigarette butt, he really shouldn't litter you know." The Attikan tugged at the thin leather gloves he wore." I am a Cleaner you see and my job is to clean this office!"

David pulled the little Walther Laser and fired. The beam was absorbed by a force field that was visible for a fraction." Please Mr. Moyes. You pride yourself to be a professional and your company is in business for many decades. Schwartz Intergalactic plays in the first league since the Union was founded, give us a little credit! And I do apologize for making it a little messy, but my Employer wanted to make your execution a statement for all similar ventures operating in this unsavory field. I am sure they understand why I feel it is necessary to decorate your office with your entrails!"

The Attikan went to do exactly that.

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The ship was a real space bus, manufactured by Leyland Ship yards. Just like the million space ships operated by Grey Lines, it was an old model, sold many decades ago as surplus. Hog Crafton had spend considerable money and a great amount of effort to refurbish the ship and make it look like a new one even the paint scheme down to the logos was just like that of a space bus. Hog was a pirate and he called his ship the Trojan Horse as it could slip in and out Union Territory unnoticed, he usually used it to smuggle illegal goods but this time he had only one item in its freight bay. A genuine Terran Mil tech P-Bomb, he had to pay an astronomical sum to the Worm, the Criminal Organization that operated within the Union Fleet to get his hands on this thing.

Officially it was designated as a Planetary Incendiary device, but as it was typical Terran custom they came up with funny names for their most deadly weapons. Parking Lot Bomb, because it would turn a planet into one gigantic parking lot once it had cooled down. He didn't like the mission one bit. Committing genocide was a big step up, even for a hard boiled pirate and smuggler like him and he knew the fleet would try to hunt down whoever dropped such a device on a Union planet. He decided to hide in Free Space space for a long time after this job. He actually regretted taking the job and wished he could change his mind, but once he had agreed to do a job, he had a reputation to see it through. In three days he was to reach planet Nilfeheim, drop the bomb and high tail out of Union Territory. The target world was deep in Union space and he hoped his ship's disguise would buy him the time he needed to get away.

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Chapter 32: Thingstead

We arrived in Halstaad Fjord and were greeted by a group of elders accompanied by twenty beefy looking men, all were dressed in the traditional Neo Viking way with leather vests and trousers and shirts.

They all wore identical helmets and swords and all were dressed in the same dark brown color. Egill was also with them. As we stepped ashore he said to me, I know what happened, Eric and I will take it from here. You may have noticed the men; these are the first members of the Nilfeheim Beskyddare Vakt or Police force if you will. I tell you more about them later. We waited for your arrival because due to the recent events the great meeting is held today and not at Yuletide."

Father who was helped ashore by two of his men said. "Go to the Burg Eric; bring the clan insignia and the Olafson sword, only an Olafson can open the clan shrine. I need to get that leg fixed!"

I said. "Greifen, tell the doctor to check father out for Psycho drugs as well. I am not sure if he can say it himself, but I want to know if he is on his own mind!" Greifen nodded." I will do as you say!"

I borrowed uncle Hogun's flier and went to the Burg. It was a strange feeling going home that way holding fathers clan ring which I needed to open the shrine. I set down right in the main yard, rushed over to the High Halls, a freeman women almost collided with me as she came out the door carrying a basket and crying. I said."What is the matter? Has Harkun done something again? By Odin this time I am not helpless!"

She shook her head." No Sir, they found Harkun dead in his torture chamber." She tried to look away but I saw the bruise in her face and the split lip.

"Then who?"

"Master Eric, there is nothing you can do; we know you are not welcome in your own home."

"You tell me this instant who harmed you, girl! It is my home and I will set things right, right now!"

Hope glimmered in her eyes." Your brother, the Lords favorite, he does this all the time."

I took my PDD." I call you a flier so you can get to the clinic and be checked out. If there are others with wounds or maladies, be it Freeman, clansman or low man tell them they can go to the clinic as well. The days of fear and torture in this burg end today or I tear it down, by Odin's spear!'

I rushed in and saw Lothar, Tyr and Gretel sitting at the great table having lunch. Gretel's face dropped as she saw me and she blurted out." You are alive?"

"And so is Isegrim! The Doctors will clean his mind of your vile poisons!"

Lothar threw a piece of fish on the floor. "Go eat that, like a Nubhir puppy. I want to see you eat that and then get out; when father comes back he will break your bones if I tell him you did not!"

"You sniffeling piece have you forgotten already? I drew Mördaren, rushed to him and hissed. "You will clean that up; you will crawl on your knees." He still was unimpressed! "Mother, can you tell this Nubhir poop pile to do as I told?"

I never hit anyone as hard as I hit Lothar. My fist clenched around the grip of the sword hit him at the side of the head; he was thrown out the chair and landed on the floor. I put my boot on his head." If you even so much as make a noise I kill you right here and now!" Tyr came running." Let my brother go!"

Gretel rose from her chair, producing a little elegant looking off world weapon and she shot but she hit Tyr who was still in front of me. I did not give her a second chance grabbed a bowl of fish and flung it at her she ducked instinctively and I was right after the bowl smacking the weapon out of her hand and put the sword tip on her throat. "Tell me now, when did you start poisoning father with your drugs?"

She panted and then a smirk came over her lips. "Only a few years ago! He killed that blonde bitch all on his own! I simply told him to do it and he did! He is just a man and so are you! Now be a good boy, put that sword away and I show you what a woman can do to a man to make him forget all else." She cupped her breasts. "You are old enough to learn are you not?"

She disgusted me so much, but I could not murder her. She was responsible for my mother's death and to to blame for my miserable childhood, but I could not drive the sword through her neck.

She purred in a sultry way as I put the sword away." I knew I could convince you. Maybe you and I can work something out!"

I hit her with my fist square into her painted mouth. I felt a tooth crack and said." You are a Nubhir scrubber and nothing more, a cheap whore that is fatter than a pregnant Fangsnapper. I will not soil this sword with your filth."

I left her as she was slumped in her chair and went to father's study and opened the Clan shrine with the ring and took the chain and sword that was in it.

As I came back out, she was still sitting there, Lothar was by her and I said." The piece of fish is still on the floor!"

He stared at me but then dropped to his knees and ate the fish. I left them and returned to Halstaad Fjord.

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Gretel saw Eric leave and her mind spun. If it was true and Isegrim was at the clinic and got treated for the Psycho blocks, he would come back and he would have no mercy. She still had the Credit strip, with a considerable sum on it; maybe she could leave the planet and somehow obtain a new identity. There had to be a way for her to turn things around. She tried to call Adolph but the call was not answered and neither was her call to Brunar. She waved at one of her handmaidens." Don't just stand there, fetch me ice you worthless thing!"

The hand maiden came back a few moments later with a bowl, but then dropped the bowl revealed a sharp dagger she was carrying underneath the bowl and stabbed Gretel in the throat and came closer with a smile as she looked in Gretel's pain filled eyes." Worthless? I don't think so. I am going to collect 60,000 credits for your head. You know I heard what Harkun said to you as well, and I checked your bounty on GalNet!"

The handmaiden pointed the bloody dagger at Lothar. "As for you, my older brothers are on their way and they will have a word with you for what you did to me."

Lothar brimming with tears seeing his mother die gushing blood all over herself, he was still on his knees as he heard the footfall of heavy boots. Three young Freemen with clubs and sticks came into the hall.

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Everyone was there, just like at Grandfather's funeral. I had no idea there were this many clans on Nilfeheim. The Roundhouse also was filled to capacity, it was especially historic as the Eldest occupied the seat that was always empty and to my surprise he was flanked by the current Head keeper of Hasvik to the right and the Ancient one to the left, both wearing the white robes with the World tree, and white hooded cloaks looking very mystical. Before the Eldest chair was a block of solid Platinum of table size. I had heard of it but never seen it. It was the Altar of Odin, brought from Earth by the first settlers, and upon it on a stand the Krigen Sverd, the mystical two hander sword of Olaf Erikson the first warrior and the Spear of Odin on which the first Circle of Elders had sworn to uphold the Laws of the Traditions. Every Clan chief was there as well, old and new. The Speaker for the Freemen and the majors of the three towns, everyone was present. I even saw a few teachers and Mr. Valthim.