Merchants of Death

Things were going well for Imperious Dakar and his company.



Imperious Industries profits had more than tripled since the company

had began operating out of Iberia. Every week seemed to bring new

customers and new sources of revenue.



And it was all due to the off world markets Imperious Industries now

had access to. Planets like Toril and numerous parallel universe

Earths, which seemed to have an endless appetite for the weapons

Imperious Industries offered.



Business was growing so quickly, that it was becoming harder and

harder for Imperious Industries to hide its movement of people and

goods going in and out of Iberia from the outside world. But

regardless of how impractical it was becoming, such secrecy was

essential in order to avoid Illuminati interference.



This meant that Imperious Dakar was becoming ever more dependent on

Susan Zweller's ability to feed false intelligence to her Illuminati

superiors. Despite the fact that he could never truly be certain

what her loyalties were.



Imperious Dakar was also dependent on the ancient witch Selene now.

For it was her magic that opened the gateways to other worlds for

him, and it was her magic that kept them open afterwards. Dakar was

certain that he could eventually find a technological substitute for

the magical gateways, or simply master that type of magic himself if

necessary. But for now he needed the witch in order to maintain and

expand his multiversal business.



However, although Dakar needed Selene's skills, he was not foolish

enough to actually trust her. His one glimpse into the witch's mind

had shown him that Selene was perhaps even less worthy of his trust

than the incredibly insane Susan Zweller.



Leaving Imperious Dakar horribly dependent on two obviously

untrustworthy women in order to keep his profitable off world trade

going.



If a normal man was forced to rely on two dangerous and untrustworthy

women, he would probably try to limit his contact with them as much

as possible. But Dakar had never been normal.



*****



After Chrissy Lera and her lover Marian Casta had escaped from Iberia

the ancient mutant witch Selene had claimed the opulent Presidential

bedroom as her own. Since that time the psychic vampire had brought

numerous `meals' to the bedroom for her own sustenance and pleasure.



But Selene would never be so reckless or shortsighted as to consume

the two individuals currently sharing the Presidential bedroom with

her (assuming she could). At least in the literal sense.



Selene lay naked on the thick white bed covers, absently stroking her

own voluptuous body as she watched Dakar and Susan roughly fuck. Her

pale skin glistening with sweat but her face perfectly composed.

Selene's deep red eyes taking in every detail.



The witch found it fascinating to watch the werewolf and technomancer

together in an intimate moment.



Dakar's body was large and muscular, his nude form covered in battle

scars like the one that so prominently crisscrossed his face. His

big erection a testament to his genuine arousal. Yet his weird

crimson eyes gazed at the body joined to his coldly, and his face

wore a calm expression.



While Susan's body was small and slender. Her fair skin pale and

perfect as though it had never suffered an injury. Caressing her

small breasts and savagely pinching her own nipples as she bucked up

and down on Dakar's lap. Her blonde hair waving wildly and her

features locked into an expression of ecstasy.



Imperious Dakar merely closed his eyes and grunted as he came inside

Susan. But the werewolf literally howled and her vaginal muscles

clenched down on Dakar's member with painful force as she reached her

orgasm.



The technomancer had been lying comfortably on his back, but he

raised his upper body with blinding speed to roughly push Susan off

him. Making the werewolf land back first across Selene's legs.



"Enough Cain" Dakar said harshly. Knowing that Susan's masculine

personality had come out thanks to her more bestial behavior.



But Susan merely laughed in response. A sound that seemed far too

deep and feral to come from her small feminine frame.



Then the slender woman moved over Selene's body. Repositioning

herself so that her groin was rubbing against the witch's stomach.

For a moment Selene didn't know what was going on, gasping in

disbelief when she realized that Susan was literally marking her body

with Dakar's semen and the werewolf's own vaginal juices.



"Mine" Cain used Susan's voice to growl as he reached out to gently

cup Selene's cheek. The dark haired witch stared into the werewolf

in human form's blue eyes and saw not inhuman coldness, but the

flames of passion and madness.



*****



Imperious Dakar was always studying and analyzing the people and

world around him.



This was partially because he was simply a calculating and cold

blooded man by nature. But it was mainly due to the fact that Dakar

had used his technomancy decades ago to literally rewire his brain.

Improving his own unique mind as he saw fit.



Imperious Dakar no longer forgot anything (the computers integrated

into his brain didn't allow him to). But perhaps more importantly,

no matter how angry, frustrated, aroused, happy, or sad Dakar became,

part of him would remain objective and analytical. Coldly studying

the world around him.



Moreover Imperious Dakar could suppress or magnify his own emotions

at will. Giving Imperious a level of self control that even the

strongest willed could not achieve through self discipline alone.



This was why no matter how aroused he became, Imperious Dakar could

still study his lovers Selene and Susan impartially.



Dakar was beginning to suspect that the witch and the werewolf had

some sort of private deal or other arrangement going on that they

didn't want him to know about. He had no proof of this other than

the looks they would sometimes exchange when they thought he wasn't

watching, as well as a few cryptic things the technomancer had heard

them say when not in his company.



But it was enough to convince Dakar that even if they were not

plotting against him, Susan and Selene were definitely plotting

something.



However the head of Imperious Industries still needed the crazy

werewolf and the old witch. Moreover they had not actually made any

overt moves against him or his interests.



So Imperious Dakar was content to simply observe for now.



Sitting on the bed and watching Selene's lush curves move against

Susan's more slender frame. Observing with interest as Selene teased

the werewolf's womanhood with her fingers, then simply shoved her

hand inside the moistening orifice with one savage thrust. Listening

to the younger female's cry of shock and ecstasy with an expression

of arousal.



Imperious Dakar let the lust grow inside him. It was a pleasant

feeling and besides, he could simply shut it off if he needed to.



*****



Imperious Industries employed many talented and intelligent people,

so it had taken them a relatively short amount of time to figure out

what world Chrissy Lera and Marian Casta had fled to. However a

world is a big place to search for just two people.



Especially if its as heavily populated as this Earth was. Making the

task of tracking down Casta and Lera extremely difficult.



That task fell to the Chief of Security for Imperious Industries, the

elfin cyborg Angelus. Now the cybernetic elf was on an alien world,

forced to get by on extremely limited resources considering the size

of his task, and relying on employees that he was increasingly

convinced were incompetent.



"I do not need any more gossip, rumors, or innuendo…I do not need to

know where the necromancer and her vampire may have been three months

ago…I need some sort of solid lead to where they are now…can you

understand THAT?"



The massive black cyborg dominated the space he had claimed as his

office. His subordinates looked on fearfully as he held the luckless

employee who had given Angelus the latest `intelligence' on Marian

and Chrissy, by the neck. The smaller male's feet not even touching

the floor as Angelus strangled him with one massive metal hand.

Condemning all their efforts in his deep, mechanically produced voice.



Angelus finally dropped the human male and the man lay on the clean

floor clutching his throat and gasping for breathe. No one said

anything or made any move to help the stricken man. Too fearful of

incurring their superior's wrath themselves.



Angelus noted their reaction, his black mask revealing none of his

thoughts or feelings on the matter. Then he turned back to his own

notes and angrily asked himself ~where the hell are those women?~



*****



Chrissy Lera's group had grown with astonishing speed. She and her

lover the master vampire Marian Casta were amazed at how suggestible

and desperate for a bit of respect and power most vampires of this

world were. Of course they were much weaker than the vampires Marian

and Chrissy were used to as well, but when you had enough of them on

your side it ceased to matter so much.



The former ruler of Iberia had named her new group The Crimson

Legion, a name which both reflected Chrissy's vanity and the nature

of the group's members.



Chrissy and Marian had tried to teach the members of The Crimson

Legion how to eat without killing their human prey, and how to act

more civilized in general. This met with mixed results at best, but

Chrissy also commanded her vampire followers to carry and use

firearms, which resulted in fewer vampires falling to Vampire Slayers

and other human threats.



Chrissy Lera was mainly using The Crimson Legion to gather magical

artifacts and other things she thought she would need for her

conflict with Imperious Dakar and his company. Building up an

impressive stockpile of weapons, money, and other resources.



Of course all too often the members of The Crimson Legion acquired

things for their leader through theft. Though Chrissy Lera didn't

really approve of stealing, she could rationalize virtually anything

if she thought it would help her regain power in Iberia.



The one thing Chrissy could never excuse was her followers defying

her authority. Which was why she was hunting down one of them now.



She found the vampire in question by the side of a rural California

road. Surrounded by a few like minded members of The Crimson Legion.



"Hey Mistress Lera…you look pissed…have I been a bad boy?"



Edward O'Keefe was a very young and weak looking vampire. Pale,

short, and usually dressed in grungy jeans and shirts, he didn't

appear to be much of a threat. But O'Keefe was also an extremely

powerful warlock, and becoming undead seemed to have only sharpened

his mystic skills.



Those skills were why Marian Casta had so aggressively recruited

him. Even though she knew that Chrissy would dislike O'Keefe because

of his crudity, violence, and sexism.



But Marian had underestimated the vampire warlock's rebellious

nature. Despite the fact that he had vowed to serve Mistress Lera

when he joined The Crimson Legion, O'Keefe had never showed Chrissy

Lera or her companion Marian the proper deference or respect. Acting

as though he could do whatever he wanted.



Up until now his behavior had been largely tolerated because Edward

O'Keefe was one of the few competent mages that they had. But Eddy

(as he preferred to be called) had gone too far this time.



"You KNEW those humans were off limits…I gave specific orders…but you

betrayed my trust and ate them anyway" Chrissy said harshly. The

features of her pretty face twisted in anger.



O'Keefe didn't reply right away, instead the vampire simply stared at

Chrissy Lera. Leering openly at the dark skinned elf's willowy body,

his gaze finally settling on her breasts, which were rather large for

such a slender woman.



Chrissy Lera was not a prude. But she didn't appreciate it when

males like Eddy O'Keefe looked at her breasts like that. Finding his

open leer infuriating.



"Keep your mind out of the gutter FOOL…now do you have anything to

say in your defense?…or are you as stupid as you look?" Chrissy said

wrathfully.



Eddy O'Keefe wasn't worried though, he knew that the dark elf

necromancer was powerful, but he had never seen her fight. Assuming

that she had relied on Marian Casta and the other vampires in The

Crimson Legion to do her fighting for her because she couldn't.



"Oh come on CHRISSY…I know you're a poser…you can't take me down

without Mary and your other bitches to back you up…and none of them

is a match for me" Eddy said arrogantly.



Chrissy Lera was surrounded by a dozen of her Honor Guard, an all

female group of vampires handpicked by Marian and personally

empowered by Chrissy to act as Lera's personal bodyguards and

enforcers. Upon hearing Eddy refer to them as bitches six of the

Honor Guard surged forward, intent wiping the grin off the warlock's

face.



"NO…he's mine" Chrissy said harshly, and in response the female

vampires moved back behind her.



Chrissy was furious that O'Keefe would show her such disrespect, but

she was also shocked that he could have such a wrong impression of

her. Wondering how her followers could POSSIBLY underestimate her so

badly.



The necromancer called upon the mystic forces at her command, and her

entire body from the tips of her long pointed ears to her toes

appeared to glow with power. The whitish gleam blending with the

stark white of Chrissy's power suit, her silky white hair glowing

like liquid energy.



"ENOUGH EDWARD…you have betrayed your oath to me…and betrayal is the

one failing I don't ever forgive" Chrissy said icily. Her red eyes

alight with power and fury.



Despite his low opinion of women, Eddy O'Keefe found it hard to

ignore Chrissy's feminine voice when she looked at him like THAT. He

tried to laugh it off and make a joke involving Lera's jet black skin

and his bodily fluids, but he found his voice desert him as he

watched the necromancer visibly gather her power.



Transparent shadowy forms began to take shape around Chrissy Lera,

their barely visible features twisted in what appeared to be

torment. The necromancer was soon surrounded by ghostly forms on all

sides, which moaned eerily as they circled their summoner.



All the vampires present except for Marian Casta and Eddy O'Keefe

were visibly frightened by the ghostly things. But Marian had seen

them before and knew what they were, while Eddy was too desperate to

appear macho to show fear.



Gathering his own reserves of mystic energy, Eddy extended his hand

and spoke a word of power. Grinning maliciously as a bolt of black

lightning leapt from his hand towards Chrissy Lera.



Then staring in amazement as his lightning bolt bounced off the

ghostly barrier and struck the ground. Incinerating a large section

of grass but doing no damage to his intended target.



~What the fuck…ghosts…she blocked my shot with fucking ghosts…what

the hell kind of magic is that?~ Eddy asked himself in disbelief.

Frantically trying to figure out a spell that would overcome this

weird mystic protection.



"How DARE you attack ME" Chrissy said in outrage. Pointing an

accusing finger at Eddy. Responding to the necromancer's unspoken

command the ghostly forms left her side and rushed towards the

vampire warlock with frightening speed.



Eddy got off a fireball spell just before the ghostly things reached

him. But the large fireball just passed through the creatures and

incinerated a nearby tree. Then the dozens of ghostly things struck

him all at once.



They had no mass, but each of the ghostly creatures hit Eddy with the

force of a freight train. Crushing flesh and bone so fast the

warlock had no hope of reacting in time.



Edward O'Keefe didn't even have time to scream before he was smashed

into the ground. Turning to dust so fast that no one present got a

good view of his mangled body.



Once O'Keefe turned to dust the ghostly things Chrissy Lera had

summoned seemed to fade away. Visibly relieving the few vampires who

had sided with O'Keefe.



At least until Chrissy Lera walked over to them.



The necromancer's dark flesh was no longer glowing. But she still

looked angry, and the vampires who had dared to support O'Keefe

(although only in words) now realized just how deadly her anger could

be.



"To betray me is to betray the Crimson Legion…and betraying the

Legion is unforgivable" Chrissy Lera stated imperiously as she

glowered at the frightened vampires.



Marian Casta grinned toothily was she watched her friend and lover

reassert her dominance over the vampires. Who were doing their best

to grovel and beg for forgiveness.



Marian appreciated the fact that Chrissy Lera tried to be a

benevolent dictator. Nevertheless Marian had suspected for some time

that a harsher approached was necessary with the vampires native to

this world.



Not only were they generally much weaker than the vampires from

Chrissy and Marian's homeworld, but they tended to be far more

bestial and stupid than what Marian and Chrissy considered normal for

vampires too.



Far too many of the vampires in this world truly respected only

violence and force. And that included a lot of vampires inside The

Crimson Legion.



Marian knew that when word of what Chrissy Lera had done to Edward

O'Keefe spread throughout The Crimson Legion it would do more to

ensure the obedience of such vampires than a thousand inspiring

speeches ever could.



*****



On world far from Imperious Dakar or Chrissy Lera and their

companions, a dozen people suddenly appeared near a small city in a

flash of light. These people were dressed in a manner that the

natives would consider strange at best, and the women in the group

moved with a confidence that many of the locals would judge unseemly,

if not downright unwomanly.



The woman who considered herself the leader of the group turned to

her blue skinned traveling companion and demanded "where have you

taken us now Mystique?"



"Patience Frost…I'm sure we are on the right planet this time" the

shape shifting mutant replied as she stared into Emma Frost's fierce

blue eyes.