Eric Olafson, Neo Viking Vol. 02

Hans was what you would call a troubled youth. Even among Saturnians considered stronger than most and he had already reached three hundred fifty two centimeters and was still growing. At first he seemed to turn out alright.

His family considered themselves of German Terran descent. This was considered a special social bonus as the Saturnians almost fanatically worshipped old Germanic legends of the Riesen (Giants) and the Teutonic knights. His father was First Paladin of the Granit und Eichen Order, a very old and honored society focusing on fighting and guarding the weaker. Hermann Neugruber had great plans for his son Hans and trained him from early on in all sorts of combat related skills. Hans won the Odin wide Schützen meisterschaft, a planet wide marksman ship competition when he was 14 for the third time. After his 15th birthday he was exposed to the Forbidden past, by old fanatics of the Falkenhorst Reich and the Reinheits-Bruederschaft, a secret society inside the Saturnian society that fanatically worshiped the old Falkenhorst ideals and historical events of the Terran national state Germany before the Ascent and what was called Earth's Second World War.

His father upon learning his son's involvement in this highly illegal society first tried to reach his son with discussion and education. However Hans was in a serious teenager rebellious phase of development and the verbal attempts of his father did nothing. So his father used physical punishment. Even this only hardened his sons stance. Herman decided to send his son to a distant uncle far away from the city, but close to the space port. In the hopes the distance to the secret societies meeting places in the capital city would help get Hans back on track. However Hans and two of his friends stowed away on a freighter and managed to leave the planet hidden inside a container, their plan was to go to Falkenhorst a planetary society of Human supremacists, not members of the Union.

In their youthful blue eyed fantasies they saw themselves already as hailed heroes of the Falkenhorst society but then everything went wrong. The freighter captain knew very well what was in the container and sold the entire box to a slave trader, the three Saturnians found themselves in shackles and in the training camp of a Death Fight Company on Sin 4.

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All this went through Hans once again as he stood in the elevator that took take him up to the arena, where he would fight as the Terror Hammer.

He had come to Sin 4 three years ago. Erwin, his friend had died in the training camp after he attacked and killed two trainers under the withering fire of Kermac Line Blasters and Siegfried had withered away only five month later from the poisonous sting of a Wurlag after fighting a whole herd of these poisonous monsters.

Hans however became a star; he had won every match and was sold to several syndicates to ever increasing prices and in a champion ship match supposedly won his freedom. He was now officially an employee of the Donheer syndicate, one of the four ruling syndicates on Sin 4. While he was technically free and no longer a slave and even enjoyed the perks of a mega star, he was not really free. He could not leave the planet as no one would want to get Duke Donheer angry by providing Hans the means of escape.

His opponent today was also of the top league and not a slave but an employee of a different Death Fight company. It was a Saturday night special and transmitted into the Union, with tremendous viewer ratings, merchandise and advertisement tie-ins. Even though Death Matches where illegal in the Union, watching them and advertising with images and footage was not.

He checked his helmet and his hammer weapon one more time and then the elevator platform started moving and he rose into the large circular arena, today filled with boiling oil and floating box islands. It mattered little to Hans. All he wanted was to escape this planet and atone for his sins with his family or die right here like his best friends had. He had no longer any ambitions to go to Falkenhorst or belong to the Supremacists. He made good friends among the strangest aliens on this crazy world. He wanted to make his father proud and become a good security guard or body guard and show that he could be a good son and hopefully be allowed to become a citizen as he had left before finishing Union School and because of this he was not even a Union citizen.

Nuclor the Death Dealer, pride of the Rillo Syndicate was his opponent for this highlight and title match. Hans was not sure what race or species he was, as he like Hans had fantasy origins made up by the PR department. \Hans was almost certain Nuclor was not from any of the cultures associated to any of the Big Four and hailed from a region of space unknown to the Union. Like Hans, Nuclor had fought his way up and won every grueling and demanding death match. While both warriors represented a great deal of investment and business to the Companies, it was not called Death match for nothing and only one would leave the arena. Nuclor relied on a steel ball on a long chain and with it he was an expert par none. He could make that ball dance in mid air, back and forth, entangle opponent's legs, crush bones and take out eyes and teeth.

Hans stepped from the Lift platform onto the floating square and it rocked back and forth in the boiling blubbering oil. He could still see the gnarled fried bodies of the pre show fight floating in the dark red clear liquid. The air was hot and putrid from the stench of whatever oil they used. He felt very sorry for his opponent already and wished there was another fate, but now he had to concentrate.

Nuclor was almost four meters tall, his arms reached to the ground from his boxy body with relative short but thick legs. This gave the Nuclor a low center of gravity and a sure footed stand, but it came with a price, Nuclor was not the fastest on his legs and this is why he relied on the steel ball with the long chain to keep his opponents at a distance. So far he had not failed doing so, fighting a large number of skilled opponents.

While Nuclor had fans, he was considered the underdog wanting the championship belt. There was an ear shattering roar of over 250,000 voices, fans of the Terror Hammer; nicknamed the Hammer Fanatics and all dressed in blue and yellow. Just like the Helmet of the Terror Hammer and they were chanting his stage name. He could not deny it was this chanting did get him going and he felt uplifted by it and always thought he owed the fans for it. His fans screamed in competition with the fans of Nuclor and the rest of the almost five hundred thousand live spectators filling the seats. He knew there were billions more watching the fight live on GalNet right now.

The announcer introduced Nuclor as a man eating beast from another Dimension and as usual the Terror Hammer was from a far distant Galaxy only survivor of a race of Y'All slayers.

While the Announcer was still speaking, Nuclor attacked! This was neither fair nor in the rules, but in a contest where Victory meant life and failure painful death, no one was really much on enforcing the rules. All it would do for Nuclor to increase his reputation as a ruthless, no hold bars monster.

Hans had not one second looked away from his opponent and saw the attack coming. Nuclor quickly went to the edge of his float, about three meters end to end and threw the ball. Hans wanted to grab it, but suddenly spikes and hooks appeared in the previous smooth metal ball. Most likely monofilament, able to even penetrate Hans's tough Carbon Nano tube laced skin. Hans ducked agile, but one of the spikes did scratch over his back.

Nuclor retracted the ball with a fast yank on the chain to drive the hook deep in Hans's skin and it was testament to Nuclor's skills with his weapon, the spike caught and penetrated deep.

Hans ignored the sharp pain and hoped that the spike was not poisoned, he jumped up as hard as he could and slammed back down on the edge of the wooden float, a splashing tidal wave of boiling oil engulfed his opponent, the forward jump had put enough slack into the chain for Hans to grab the chain and jerked it with force. Nuclor already screaming of pain lost his footing on the now oil slick wooden float of his and fell into the hot oil. Hans kept pulling and smashed his hammer on the head of his opponent, ending all his pain and suffering. The fight was over before the announcer could complete his introduction sermon. The crowd had fallen silent as it always did for a long second when the arena kill occurred.

Then they went into a chanting frenzy. His fans elated and the supporters of Nuclor silent. Just as the announcer declared his victory the fastest Boiling Oil Inferno victory; two of Nuclor's friends, most likely his trainer and manager, both former death match fighters from the looks of it, almost certainly facing a bad fate from the hands of the owner of the opposing franchise, jumped into the ring. One was wearing a full battle suit, armed with a force field axe and waded through the hip high oil; he was a four armed Shiss, his tough scaled skin impervious to the scaling liquid. The other was a Quadi-Ped wearing a flight belt hovering over the opposite wood platform, wielding a sword of enormous length.

Now this was truly against the rules and would most likely escalate in a bloody syndicate war. However Hans did not expect that for anyone to interfere. It gave give the spectators an extra bonus, especially since the title match was so short.

Hans had freed the spiked ball from his back. He was certain his wound was deep enough to bleed and judging by the pain he felt, it had torn through a muscle. To be distracted by pain or wounds was a deadly sin in the arena, and facing two experienced opponents who could not back out facing certain death if they lost and perhaps even if they won was quite a challenge even for him.

He still wanted to give his fans a show and stepped back into the middle of the wooden float and closed his eyes, at least that's how it looked like to the close up cameras, and lowered his arms in a meditative stance, just how he had learned from his child hood martial arts instructors. That Saturnians had two eyelids, to protect them from sand storms and environments that could hurt eyes were a feature only very few outside Odin planet knew about. He could see less clearly but still well enough for this. His opponents were quite surprised by his move and while the Shiss seemed to smell the deception it worked on the Quadi-Ped who flew fast and with raised sword to attack.

The sword came down and would have split Hans's helmet and skull way past his shoulders, Reinforced skin and bone could deflect a normal blade but not the vibrating mono blade his opponent wielded.

He turned away in the very last micro second grabbed the wrist of the sword holding arm, added to the momentum like a Olympian hammer thrower and with all his inhuman strength flung the Quadi-Ped against the Shiss who was almost on the floating wooden island. The Shiss more out of reflex and instinct raised his force field axe and sliced deep into the body of his comrade, and using two of his extra arms to toss the Quadi-Ped aside, into the boiling oil and kept coming.

The Shiss was good! Very good! Hans's incredible move had distracted him for less than a heartbeat and he kept his focus on Hans, bringing down the axe and splitting the wooden raft with one stroke, right down the middle and Hans plunged into the scaling, blubbering oil!

His opponent already thinking Hans was done for, did not know that the nano carbon fiber reinforced skin was engineered by Schwartz Bio Tech so long ago. Because of it Saturnians could work on planets and in conditions no normal human could endure. The boiling oil burned in his wound and he could feel the heat all over. He could certainly not endure for long, but he was not in any immediate danger. He was thankful to God that he had closed his eyelids. Hans crouched and exploded out of the boiling liquid right before the Siss who had raised all four arms in a victory gesture and Hans brought down his hammer with all his weight and strength behind it, he could have felled a Battle robot with that blow and even though Shiss were though warrioors able to go toe to toe with Nul and Bootnar, it was enough to render the doomed four armed warrior into a horrible gory mess that collapsed into the liquid.

Hans waded to the other platform to get out as fast as he could.

As he now raised his arms, the audience exploded into ecstatic chanting.

A hover platform descended and took him up before the panel of the five Fight Judges, declaring him the Ultimate Death Champion for the 21st time, and by doing so he surpassed the previous unbroken record of Tabor Tremendous. Making him the most successful Death Fight Champion in history; he could hear the commentators already arguing that this was technically a triple win and should be counted as such. Part of him was disgusted by what he had done, but the chanting fans and the effects of his Adrenalin induced rush were making him feel elated.

The fat, half Shiss Duke Donheer proved he was quite agile despite his bulk, jumped on the floating platform put his arm on Hans shoulder and waved with his other to the crowd. "This is how a Donheer champion looks like, people. This is how a Donheer fighter deals with traitors, cowards and cheats! He simply kills them!"

He spoke into a swarm of floating hover cams and raised Hans's massive right arm. Hans knew this was also a hidden warning and declaration of retaliation to the Rillo Syndicate.

A reporter of Gal Sports floated close and said." This fight certainly will go down in Death match Sports history. Tell us Champ what motivates you?"

"Eating right, making my Team proud and most of all the legions of Hammer Fanatics. It is my fans first and foremost!"

Only a Union doctor with access to Saturnian replacement tissue could have fixed his back right, but the team medic, derma patched his wound and if he ever made it back to the Union he would have the normal skin replaced. After he had been doctored up and after a long shower he wanted to go home and find a way to escape from Sin 4. He had a good amount of Credits on the local SII Coin exchange, the only Union bank doing business on Sin 4, the Terror Hammer was about as well known as anyone could be on Sin 4, but no one knew Hans Neugruber. The problem was his stature and size, there weren't many disguises available and none would really make him blend into the crowd.

But as he emerged from the showers, Duke Donheer accompanied by his ever present Togar Warrior guards intercepted him with a broad smile. "You can't possibly want to go home. There are big parties in your honor tonight, and you have been invited to a party of Sinister Sports Inc. They made me an offer for you I am contemplating. They want to buy you for 200 Million real Union Credits. No higher sum has ever been offered for a Death Fighter and while I hate to see you go, it would be hard to find new matches for you."

Hans blinked." You told me I am free. How can they buy me?"

"This is Sin 4, Terror! You are free as long as it suits me. Now be a good boy and come to the party! Oh and I forgot to tell you, that the doctor not only fixed your back, but implanted a little device filled with Wurgus poison, plenty to kill you. Just in case you decide to be a little more independent I like you to be. Of course you understand that I have to make sure my treasure piece does not get lost.

Of course he knew how deadly the Wurgus poison even for a Saturnian was. It took all his will power not to attack the man and see if he could twist off the fat man's head before the poison took effect." The day will come I am going to make you pay for this!"

"Yes, yes. If I had a credit for every time someone said that, I would not even need to sell you. Do I have to tell you again, or will you come along now?"

Hans clenched his enormous fists and followed the Syndicate boss and thought what he could do to get out of this predicament.

The party was in Ups, the most northern part of the Upper Continent of Sin 4. The entire continent was more or less one city and Ups was where the rich and Syndicate protected lived. Only the Syndicate bosses themselves lived even more exclusive on their own islands.

He had never heard of an outfit called Sinister Sports and wondered what his fate held in store for him. Hans was very tempted to simply end it. Attack the duke, kill the swine and be done with it. He would have done it if he could be certain he had time enough to kill the man before the poison took effect, but he had seen the effects of Wurlag poison not only on his friend but in the arena many times, it almost instantaneously paralyzed a being and every nerve in the body would wither away, including brain cells and this was a slow and painful death while you were unable to move a single muscle. There was so he heard no known antidote.

The party was big and every delicacy, drug and drink was provided in vast quantities. Even though they had Terran pig roast, his favorite he had no appetite at all. All he did was nurse a big glass of fruit juice.

The host of the party had not spared any costs and there were at least twenty Sojonit Prostitutes and the Mother Superior of the Order was here to make sure the sexual fantasies of the guests were met.

As she was introduced to Hans, the woman in the revealing red outfit and in Hans opinion creepy face mask said to him." You would not have any special fantasies?"

"I do, but I doubt the Sojonit could help me in my case."

"Why don't you give it a try and tell me? We are known to fulfill even the most unusual requests?"

Hans was not in the mood to talk to a masked prostitute or pretty much in the mood to talk to anyone. He barley contained his anger and frustration. He was traded like merchandise, forced to kill and fight until they decided to kill him per remote or giving him opponents and challenges in the arena not even he could survive."

He wanted to walk away but she put her gloved hand on his chest and said in a whispering way. "I can help you Hans. You need to trust me and follow me so we can talk undisturbed."

Duke Donheer was not far but he just waved and said loud. "Yes Terror, go with the Sojo and have a little fun! You deserved it! It's all on the house so no worries about the fees."

He was quite surprised that the Sojo knew his real name and he had not much to lose, so he nodded and followed the woman.

The party happened in a huge and expensive decorated, three level penthouse on top of a sky scraper, complete with in and outdoor pool and roof top park. The Sojonit Sisters had set up a series of pink tents on that roof garden and she took him to one of these flimsy looking love nests.

She pulled the flap aside and let him in and after she closed it she said. "Now we can talk openly, these tents are shielded against any known spy and surveillance technique including telepaths."

"Lady, I am not in the mood to have any intimate conversation or something else with you. I came because I was intrigued how you knew my real name."

"Even though we have ways to satisfy the appetites of a Saturnian," with these words she suddenly changes shape! Her form started to flow and expand and in a mere moment she had the physical size and attributes of a female Saturnian. I do this to show you that our reputation is well earned and that we have means and ways beyond the grasp of men. I also can read minds and when I sensed your troubled mind, I looked deeper and this is why I think I can help you. Help you to get home!"

The sudden change actually frightened Hans quite a bit. He knew of no species that could so easily change shape and add so much volume and mass. That she was no hologram or Virtu projection he somehow felt, of course if she was a good telepath she might be able to make him see and believe anything she wanted. He tensed his muscles, just to be ready. "Lady, if you read my mind and you are indeed a telepath then you know that it is quite impossible for me to leave now."