Defender of the Empire: Cadet #1 Read Online Free Page B

your tattoo artist?” I asked coming out from my vantage point. At the sound of my voice they all turned to me. I kept my pace to a leisurely stroll, walking around them toward the construction section. I shrugged when they just blinked at me. “I was just curious because I want to know if he did you guys up like comic books on purpose. He must have had a laugh at your expense.”
                  “They make us look tough.” The guy holding the old woman’s bag said.
                  “Is that your opinion? Or what you were told to say when you were asked?” I inquired smiling patronizingly at him.
                  “Look girly, none of this is your business. But if you keep flappen your jaws like dat we will just have to include you.” The short leader said. I decided to call him Shorty L. The others smiled.
                  I rolled my eyes and continued walking toward the crowbar that was looking more useful by the second. The old woman shrank down upon herself to avoid attention. Pretty soon here she would have the opportunity to get away before things got nasty. I had a moment of worry, what if she couldn’t walk? I mentally shook my head. Then I’ll just have to keep the fight far from her. I glanced at the construction site thoughtfully. Perhaps there was an alarm in there that I could trigger that would send the thugs running and get help for the old woman if things went south fast. Keeping my thoughts to myself, I continued my taunting. “Pleease.” I said. “Your ‘business’ interests are amateur at best. I knew some real gangs and they would be embarrassed to be caught dead within ten light-years of your ‘business.” I reached the construction site and faced them. The crowbar was three feet behind me and to my left. I eyed the leader with a smirk “They also wouldn’t look like walking comic books.” The leader’s face grew redder with every word I said. My eyes widened dramatically. “Oooh! Looky dere! They even come in a single color! How fascinating!”
                  The Comic Book gang had completely lost interest in the old woman. I love it when a plan comes together. They dropped her bag and kicked her belongings out of their way as they came towards me. “Something I said?” I asked innocently as they came closer.
                  “Scrag, hold her!” Shorty L snarled. “I want to beat some respect into her.”
                  “Can I play with her?” Scrag (or Scrap which I think sounds more appropriate) asked with a leer.
                  “We all will, but first I want to beat her into submission.” I think they were trying for terrifying or disgusting. All I got was pathetic… and more ammunition.
                  I raised my eyebrow and started to move slowly backward. “I shudder in absolute disgust. You guys get off on raping girls of thirteen cycles? That’s just sad.” I snorted “Probably the only action you lot get, though eh?”
                  That was the last straw. Scrap lunged at me with a roar that was more obnoxious than anything else. I skipped backwards and lunged for the crowbar. I felt the breeze of Scrap missing me. The crash of him stumbling over the knee high bundle of bricks thundered in the hall. I rolled and snatched up the crowbar. I swept the bar in a low arc that toppled the next thug. I regained my feet as he lost his.
                  I danced away from the downed thugs. I took tally of my opponents. Two of them were down. The last three couldn’t stop glancing between their groaning companions and me. I could only imagine what was going through their minds. Both big men were taken down by a thirteen cycle old girl. And may I remind you, a girl holding a lovely crowbar. I think I might call it Bertha. The leader was gaping like a fish out of water.
                  “What? You just gonna stand there