The Sombreus Nebula, a dense cloud of dark gas and dust, was situated only three light years from the outermost edge of the Odious Sector. Very few dare to enter its miasmic encompassment. The vile planets of Slavitus and Degeneron, situated deep within the nebula were home to the pirate communities of the Portentous Tribe and the Ducplukas Clan respectively. Notoriously they capture and then dismantle any vessel that strays into their territories, brutally raping the crew and broadcasting it on television.

At the very heart of the Sombreus Nebula a fleet of over ten thousand deadly starships were waiting patiently. The smallest ships were no larger than an average dwelling. They were fashioned into the shape of black skulls, their eye sockets being the cockpit windows. The rest of the vessels varied in size, one of the largest being over eleven kilometres long, two kilometres wide and covered in one hundred metre long spikes. Menacing.

Without warning a spacecraft of even greater proportions emerged from subspace. It dwarfed every other ship in sight. More than fifty kilometres long, it cruised ominously to a position a few kilometres above the massive fleet.

"My Lord." A well groomed eunuch said, entering a rather ornate chamber. "We have arrived."

"Good." A voice said from a large brown leather chair at the centre of the room. A gentle plume of smoke rose towards the ceiling. The chair turned. Lawrence smiled unevenly. "Contact all of my generals. Order them to meet with me in my boardroom in one hour."

"Yes, my Lord."

"Kill anyone that is late."

"Of course, my Lord."

The eunuch left the chamber. A quiet groan emanated from above. Lawrence looked up. "Ahh!" He said dryly, taking a long, smooth draw on his cigar. "You're finally coming round."

Tara looked down. She had an amazing headache, she needed a shower, and she was suspended from the ceiling in a very claustrophobic cage. "What do you want with me?" She asked angrily.

"I don't want anything with you." Lawrence answered cleverly, slowly releasing the smoke from his lungs. "What I do want are the two people who will try to rescue you, that is, if Ken Kasino hasn't already killed them."

"Who are you?"

"No more questions. I have a meeting to prepare for. Relax. Enjoy. I'll see you later." Lawrence walked towards the exit.

"Bastard!" Tara screamed.

"No I am not!"

The door phumphed shut behind him.

"Yes you are" Tara said despairingly, shaking the bars on her cage.