Freedom

I had been followed for the third day in a row. I drank long into the night in a local tavern. I staggered out and headed for the docks. I was still being followed. When I got to my ship, he took up a post in the shadows. I staggered inside. When the hatch closed I dropped my drunken pretence and moved to the back of the ship. I drew my blade and slipped out the rear hatch. I circled around until I came up behind my follower... he was still watching the front hatch. I pressed my blade to his throat and hissed out, "Don't make a sound... don't make a move... Are you alone?" He nodded, I took his blaster. "Into the ship." I palmed the hatch open and pushed him inside. "Your training shows." His words were brave but his eyes spoke fear. "So they're looking for me..." He smiled slightly, "Bradac does not take the loss of his property easily." Bradac... would I never be free?

I slit his throat and put him in the disposal unit. I then sold my ship and purchased a new one. I didn't know where I was going, but I left. I came to a backwater planet far off the trade routes. There was little to do there except drink. I spent a lot of my time in the ship... thinking.. painting. I don't know how, but only about a month had passed before I was found again. I had to find a way to put an end to this.

I let them take me. They brought 5 men and they took me at the docks. Two of them didn't make it. As far as they knew, I didn't want to be taken.

I fought for Elzion Bradac and moved up in the ranks. I waited for my time. We'd just come back from a reconnaissance mission and I was being debriefed in Bradac's tent. "The area is heavily patrolled. The only way in that we could see is over the mountains." "I don't need your recommendations," he snapped. "The mountains would take too long, anyway. We will make a frontal attack." "We'll be massacred." He sneered, "Are you a coward as well as a deserter?" I stared into his eyes. "You insult me. I issue the challenge." Bradac laughed. "You challenge me? You who were too afraid to stay and fight for me?" In answer, I drew my blade. I feinted left and rushed him head-on. He was quick... it seemed he could fight. We fought for what seemed like hours. Both of us were wounded heavily and tiring, but neither of us could take the advantage. I began thinking to myself, "Sold to Elzion Bradac..." over and over again. It echoed in my mind... it echoed in my muscles. All my focus was on Elzion Bradac and I wanted him dead even more than I had wanted Vardoc dead. No one would ever own me again. I rushed in with renewed strength. My blade sang in the air. He began to fall back. I pushed in and beat his blade out of his hands. I thrust down and rammed my blade through his heart. It would beat no longer... I was on my way to freedom.

I was brought before a group of soft-looking men. One spoke as the others watched me. "You are now called Elzion Bradac. You own 113 men, estimated resale value is 20 million credits. You have 18 million credits in reserve. Buy-out is 50 million credits." one reported. "What do you mean by buy-out?" "You can buy your way out of our organization. You need another 12 million to do it." he answered. I still didn't undersstand, "How do I earn 12 million credits?" "Bonuses for achieving objectives and any spoils you gather." I nodded, one of the men signalled and I was led to quarters. I couldn't sleep that night. 12 million credits... I knew it could be done, Bradac had done it and I planned on being better than him. But how long would it take? I ached for freedom.

They would not let me keep Bradac's head. While I waited for orders I fashioned an earring out of silver. I made it in the likeness of Bradac's head right before he died. I spent long hours getting the fear in his eyes. I put the ring in the hole in my ear that Vardoc made. It would remind me of the two I killed for freedom. I would be no man's slave again.

My first orders were to take the town where I had done the recon. It was heavily guarded except where the town backed up to the mountains. The mountains looked impassible, but I thought it could be done. Climbing those mountains brought back memories of the climb up the mine shaft. I could almost see the shaft walls... the men trying for freedom. We took the town with no casualties. I took no spoil. My bonus was 50 thousand credits. 239 missions to go.

Mission 217. We were on Sergath... The odds against us were immense. My men were losing ground.. losing heart. I moved up to the front, I would fight alongside my men. We broke through at dusk and turned in on them. Their nerve broke and they began to run away. We worked long into the night hunting them down and finishing them off. I finally called my men back to camp. They began cheering, "Bradac! Bradac! Bradac!" I was not going to be named after a slaver but I had no name for myself. We were given the owner's name and a number and usually the men were called by their number. One day we were in need of a recon within the enemy's perimeter. The leaders wanted details of how the camp was laid out, gun placements, sentries, command centers. One of the leaders said, "Get the painter, maybe we'll get some accurate maps." From that point on they referred to me as the painter. I motioned them to silence. "I will not be called Elzion Bradac. I will be the Paintr." With one voice they roared, "Paintr!" I had my own name.

The time came when I had my 50 million. I could go at any time. Or could I? I thought of my men. When I left they would be sold off again. How could I be free and my men remain slaves? 20 million. 400 missions. I was sick of the fighting, but I could not face myself if I left my men this way. I stayed... a home would have to wait.

I stood before my men and told them of my plan to free them. They stood silently, confusion in their eyes. I understood... freedom is a strange concept at first. They would understand in time.

The time came when I had the credits for buy-out. I went before the council and stated my intention to leave. They looked at me and one spoke, "You have 50 million credits in your account. You are 20 million over. How would you like this given to you? Credits, gold, illium? "I am taking my men with me." They looked at each other, "This has never been done before." "You said they are worth 20 million credits. I am paying you for them." Several nodded and another spoke, "Done." "I thank you. One more thing, I ask that you let us go on one more mission. We have no money." "Done." "Without the suits... and we keep our weapons." Surprise showed on their faces. They looked around at each other. Some whispered to others. Finally one spoke, "Done."

They had their sense of humor... It was a lousy mission... a swamp world after a 2 month flight. There was no dry land.. the trees hung with constantly dripping moss that blocked our visibility. The beings that lived there were fierce fighters and there were a lot of them. At times we had to fight off 3 or more at a once. Our mission was a search and destroy for a given sector. We would leave when none of those swamp beings were left. I don't know where they were coming from, we fought for 3 weeks with little rest. It was good that our wounds healed quickly or we'd have lost early in the first week. On the trip back I spoke of what was to come. "I will receive 50 thousand credits for this mission. That gives each of us 500 credits. Enough for transport to a nearby world. You can keep your weapons. Sell them or use them. There is always need for a good sword hand." They cheered. I raised my hand and they grew silent. I shouted, "Freedom!"

"Freedom!"

Excerpt from Paintr's Journal by S.E.Estes