Page 117 of Galaxy Games Four-Book Box Set (Galaxy Games)

117

Next Level of Hell

W illow

Sorry, not sorry, Zedd , I think to myself. Did I want to earn her wrath? No. But if I hadn’t done that, I’d be standing next to Gronk in blue coveralls right now. Talk about a no-win situation.

And my poor teammates. Braveheart looks to be in pain as he keeps rearranging his cock. His gaze darts to me accusingly.

“Sorry. Both you guys. Sorry,” I say. That second “sorry,” happened after I saw Valor flick his cock—hard—with one finger in an obvious effort to curb his erection. “You didn’t deserve that, but it was the only thing I could think of to keep us together. Being with you is the only way I’ll have any chance of staying alive until the finish.”

Zedd already had it in for us, Valor says. Besides, now every geneslave who has access to vids will see it’s possible for our cocks to function.

The commercial for outer space dats is almost over. As a kid I always wanted an animal that was half dog, half cat—a dat. I wouldn’t have put it on my Christmas wish list if it had three rows of teeth, though.

“I’m going to get back at you,” Zedd says, her voice still seething with anger. “I don’t know how, or when, but I’ll intervene when you least expect it.”

Her face morphs instantly from slit-eyed menace to a warm, welcoming host.

“Welcome back, viewers. For those of you who watched Down to One or Down to Two , you know there will be lots of excitement ahead. If you’re new to this franchise…” She pauses coyly. “What were you waiting for?” Whoever is in charge of the laugh track pauses a beat too long, then puts it on too loud.

“The rules are simple. All members of the team must complete each challenge. If one member of the team fails, the other team members are eliminated.”

The soundtrack makes a humorous “uh oh” noise. Out of anything that’s happened so far today, this is the most disturbing. It’s clear to anyone who watched either of the last two seasons that elimination doesn’t mean they’re taken off set and escorted via first-class transportation to their home. Elimination means they’re killed by network staff.

My stomach cramps at that thought. I’m the weakest link between the three of us. I need to pull my weight. Dear God, if I don’t, I’ll be sending Valor and Braveheart to their deaths along with me. They probably would have been better off with the Charthian.

“Sorry,” I whisper even though I doubt they know what I’m apologizing for.

“The other rules…” Zedd looks thoughtful for a moment, then says, “I can’t think of any.” She punctuates that with a coquettish shrug of her shoulders.

“Oh, I should remind the contestants and the home viewers that our winning team will receive a full pardon and one-hundred thousand credits to split between them. What are we waiting for? Let’s begin, shall we?”

The cameras pan farther on the asteroid than I’ve ever seen. It’s unnecessary. Everything they show is the same bleak landscape of blowing beige sand and tumbleweeds. I don’t know where the tumbleweeds come from, because from what they’re showing, there is no vegetation. No grass, no bushes, and no trees.

“I love this series,” Zedd announces with relish. “For this season, I’ve left nothing to chance. I scouted this planet and these cast members myself. I even came up with the name. Down to Three. Only one team will walk away a winner.”

Yeah. Only one team will walk away at all.

“To make it easier for you, we’ve given them clothes to shield them from the blowing sand. They each wear a team color. By the way,” she says conspiratorially as if she’s letting the millions of viewers in on a little secret, “do you have any idea how many shades of red there are?” She points to her red skin as if she were Vanna White revealing a cool prize.

“You won’t have to remember any of their names, not until we’re much closer to the end of the game. In the meantime, just keep track of your favorites by their team color.”

She pauses as the camera pans to us contestants. Things are getting real. I swallow with effort, all of the levity of our little sexcapade long forgotten. She’s going to reveal the first challenge. In the other games, a lot of contestants were eliminated in the first melee.

“The first challenge will be easy,” she says with a feral smile.

It’s always bad when she says that , I mindspeak to Valor, who relays it to Braveheart.

I snag both their hands and entwine our fingers. They’re strong and brilliant and have DNA that might prove helpful in a dozen ways I can’t yet fathom.

I’ve watched every minute of the first two seasons. Several times. My Mistress was addicted to the show. I might have some idea of the tricks we’re going to be subjected to. Maybe I can pull my weight after all.