CHAPTER 236: CHAPTER 236

(AN: My company onboarded several new clients in the middle of last week. Their former support team left them in shambles, now my team gets to clean up the mess. I still plan on releasing five Chapters a week, but they may not make my usual 8am EST release time. Just wanted to make you all aware.)

---Evening---

Inviting Hiro, Liam, and their partners to dinner on the beach, the couples accepted the offer without hesitation. Ensuring Hiro had all the cola he could stomach, we men got the barbecue going while the women and children played on the beach. Watching our partners enjoy themselves, Liam began nodding his head approvingly.

"You know, Victor, I think it is about time I expand my family with several concubines.", Liam stated, grinning like a moron. "I am in a financially stable position, have no political enemies to speak of, and have plenty of beauties back home to choose from."

"Is Liam actually stupid or something?", Hiro whispered as Liam laughed manically. "How can he claim he has no enemies with all the stunts he pulls? If what he told me earlier is accurate, at least half of his peers should hate his guts."

"Haha, try closer to three-quarters of them.", I snickered, flipping the burgers. "He is not a moron; Liam just lacks self-awareness. While I acknowledge he acts like a fool, his subjects are all better off because of it."

Taking my word for it, Hiro flipped the steaks over before stepping away to get a refill. While his back was turned, Mimi ran over and stole some of the meat he had already cooked. Scarfing it down in seconds, she attempted to take more but was interrupted when Hiro shouted at her. Calling Hiro a big meanie, Mimi fled the scene, giggling mischievously.

"Sorry about that; real ingredients are a rare commodity in the Grakkan Empire. This buffet of food, as far as Mimi is concerned, is heaven on earth.", Hiro said, playfully shaking his fist at Mimi.

Hearing the low rumble of rocket engines off in the distance, the three of us turned our heads to see what was happening. Spotting a black limousine shuttle heading our way, Hiro inquired if that could be the female co-owner I was waiting on. Assuming it was, I squinted my eyes to get a better look at the corporate decal on the side of the shuttle.

"Ah... Now I recall where I heard that arrogant voice before.", I said, recognizing the corporate name. "Samus, grab your laser pistol and follow me to the shuttle pad. Everyone else, keep a weapon close by. We may be in for a firefight."

"What is the Hammerlock Company?", Samus questioned, retrieving her pistol from her beach bag.

"The Hammerlock Company is one of Dahl’s material suppliers.", I answered, mentally ordering several Doombots to secure the shuttle pad. "They purchase primitive worlds rich in resources, enslave the local populace, and force them to strip their homeworld bare. Once everything of value has been extracted, they scorch the planet to hide their crimes."

While Samus and I walked toward the shuttle pad, my family readied themselves for a potential fight. Angelica, Bo-Katan, and Deirdre rushed to the tree line to take up hidden sniping positions, while Olivia positioned herself to protect the two children and the others concealed their weapons in the sand. Following our lead, Hiro, Liam, and their partners took shelter behind cover, ready to lend a hand, if necessary.

"How do you want to play this, Victor?", Samus questioned as the luxury shuttle touched down. "It is your call, but I am not comfortable cutting deals with known Dahl associates. Even more so when those associates regularly commit xenocide to cover their tracks."

"They are not going to get a single credit from me, I promise you that.", I assured her. "Just play along and keep your finger on the trigger."

As the shuttle’s gull doors opened, twelve heavily armed bodyguards disembarked to secure the perimeter. Letting their employer know once the area was seemingly secure, Aurelia Hammerlock stepped out of her shuttle to greet me.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Stark.", Aurelia said, eyeing me over. ’Now, this is what I call a proper man! If he happens to be an eligible bachelor, he is coming home with me tonight.’

"Likewise, Lady Hammerlock.", I answered, stealthily hacking into the enemy’s technology. "Do you have the papers we spoke of earlier?"

"Of course, my personal lawyer has them.", Aurelia replied, glancing over her shoulder. "Edgar, if you would please..."

Stepping off the shuttle, a frail-looking man hobbled over and shakily offered me the paperwork. Fleeing back to the shuttle as fast as his weak legs could carry him, the coward leapt into his seat, ready to leave this place. Reading through the extensive sales contract in seconds, I discovered why he was acting so fearful. Buried in the contract’s fine print, the lawyer had written in several provisions that were completely ludicrous.

Retrieving a red pen from my inventory, I altered a few provisions and crossed out the rest. Flinging the paperwork back at the lawyer, he let out a shriek as paper went flying everywhere.

"Nice try, but I am no fool, naïve.", I said, looking at Aurelia. "There are a few provisions you need to address. Firstly, I am purchasing the robots in perpetuity, not leasing them long-term. Second, the robots are being sold as-is, including their central processing units. Thirdly, I am not keeping your company’s branding affixed to them. Lastly, you will not tell me how and what I can use the robots for once they are in my possession."

"My sincerest apologies, Mr. Stark. It appears my lawyer overstepped a bit drafting our contract.", Aurelia spoke, pleased I had seen through her pitfalls. ’Not only good-looking but also commanding and sharp as a whip. He is everything a sophisticated woman like me looks for in a husband. Time to put the spinster title behind me and rear a few brats to silence my peers.’

Looking me in the eyes, Aurelia invited me back to her villa for drinks. Politely declining her offer, the heiress laughed my rejection off, insisting no one told her no. Stepping forward to grab my hand, Samus slipped between with an angry look.

"Who are you, and where did you come from?", Aurelia questioned, having been completely oblivious to her presence until now.

"I am his wife, Samus Stark.", Samus asserted, stepping toward her. "Keep your filthy hands off our husband, or there is going to be trouble."

"Our husband?", Aurelia inquired, looking past us at the women glaring at her from the beach.

Blinking several times, she backpedaled a few feet to reassess things. Scrutinizing my family closely, Aurelia tried to recall if she knew any of them. Certain she did not, her gaze returned to Samus.

"You are the only one who seems vaguely familiar to me. Have we met somewhere in the- ", Aurelia began, before realizing where she knew Samus from. "Wait a second, you are the bounty hunter Dahl tried to off a while ago! How did a misfit like you end up bagging a man like him?!"

"Alistar was right; you are a stupid bitch.", I commented, knowing it would get under her skin. "Samus is a well-respected, platinum-ranked bounty hunter. Unlike your off-the-shelf gimmicks, her skills and talent are genuine."

Seething with rage, Aurelia ripped a pistol from under her coat and pointed it at my heart. In the same instant, Samus drew her pistol, aiming it directly at Aurelia’s forehead.

"Do not speak that filthy reject’s name in my presence!", Aurelia snarled, her finger resting on the trigger.

"You are in no position to give me orders, woman.", I replied, seizing her hand and pistol.

Letting her unload the pistol into my palm, Aurelia screamed as the molten metal seared her skin. Once the magazine was empty, I proceeded to crush her hand and the pistol. Falling to her knees, racked in intense pain, she told her guards to do something. As the twelve men rushed over to assist, three had their heads blown off, and the rest were subdued by the Doombots.

"You fucking bastards!!", Aurelia hissed as I let go of her mangled hand. "You idiots, do you have any idea who you are fucking with?! The Dahl Corporation is going to hunt every last one of you down, and kill- "

Ramming her pistol into Aurelia’s mouth, Samus pulled the trigger twice, sending smoking brain matter in every direction. Flicking Aurelia’s blood off her pistol, she proceeded to point it at the pilot’s head.

"All of you, exit the vehicle now!", Samus barked. "We are taking you all back to the Galactic Republic to stand trial for Dahl’s crimes."

Choosing to flee instead, the pilot attempted an emergency takeoff only to discover his controls were unresponsive.

"The shuttle and your cybernetics are under my complete control. This farce is over.", I informed them.

Forcing those onboard to draw their pistols and press them to their heads, they quickly complied with Samus’ command. Putting specialized cuffs on them to disable their cybernetics, I sent word to the Jedi Temple that we had captured several of Dahl’s associates.

"Doombots, please escort our prisoners to the Jedi Temple. Master Windu and Yoda are eager to have a word with them...", I commanded.

"Wait a moment, please!", the lawyer pleaded, wriggling toward me on his hands and knees. "You need me to complete your transaction. If you send me away, those bots are destined for the scrap heap."

"Haha, the transaction has already been completed and was notarized by you.", I chuckled, presenting him with a notarized bill of sale.

As the color drained from his face, he demanded to know how I had forged his digital signature. Calling him an idiot, I shared with him that Dahl’s encryptions were anything but infallible.

"Oh right, there is one other thing you gentlemen should be aware of.", I said smugly. "You are no longer registered with Dahl’s respawn station network. I used your connection to Dahl’s private network to delete your information. That means if you die now, you are permanently dead."

Realizing their safety net was gone, the captives quickly agreed to share what they knew in exchange for leniency. Telling them to take it up with the Jedi, my Doombots dragged the men back to Coruscant for interrogation. Stowing the shuttle in my inventory, I incinerated Aurelia’s corpse and began walking back toward the others.