“Something that belongs to you?” Wrynn looked at the Darkal that appeared to be presenting something all too familiar to the former hand-for-hire. A shakedown. But standing no bigger than a beachball, the winged furball could hardly be called intimidating. “Sorry, friend. I’ve not even been on this planet a week. Don’t see how I could have anything you’d want.”

The Darkal leader cackled. “Everything in Hell belongs to the Darkal. And the Darkal owe everything to their glorious leader. So if I wished to have the hair from your head, it would be mine.”

“Is that so?” Wrynn lifted an eyebrow at the threat. “And how would you suppose to take it from me?”

“Take? Ha.” The Darkal let out a soft chuckle. “If I wished it you would give me all that I desired. Now bend the knee in the presence of the One True Emperor.” Glistening, ruby eyes seemed to flash with intensity. Wrynn kept a straight face, hiding his emotions. He knew to keep his feelings in check in these situations.

But suddenly, the Darkal was getting taller. Rising to chest level, then eye level. No… he was getting shorter. Wrynn’s legs were giving out underneath him and even as he tried to resist whatever invisible force had control over his body, he was now kneeling. He watched the Darkal smile and then he was bowing his head without knowing it.

“What is this?” muttered Wrynn, his mind racing. Nerve agent? Maybe, but he still had mental clarity. Tech? He hadn’t seen anything on the vile creature. Magic? Nothing like that existed. Exhaustion? The most likely in his mind.

The Darkal leader let out a terrible laugh, and the rest of the flock began to laugh along until the sound echoed through the entire valley.

“You see?” The creature puffed out its chest and strutted in front of Wrynn. “Even giants and aliens submit to the power of the Emperor.”

Wrynn sighed. “I think you’ve made your point. What is it you want? I’m not so attached to my hair if that’s what you’re really after.”

“Yes, let us begin,” the Emperor continued to pace, making a show of presenting its feet to Wrynn’s prostrate form. “Nerboshriift ryl Xorys!” called the Darkal.

“Here, master!” said Nerbo, emerging from their hiding place. “I answer the call.”

“Tell me what it is I seek,” commanded the Emperor.

“Of course, Your Evilness.” Nerbo hopped on unsteady feet to the place where Wrynn was. “The giant has many items of great sorcery. A contraption that spits fire. A tool that projects light. An item that allows him to understand our language and more. All of these could be of great service to the Darkal.”

“Never would have expected you would be a spy, little Nerbo,” said Wrynn. “Hurts a bit if I’m being honest.”

“Then you do not know the mighty Darkal, giant,” replied Nerbo. “We take what we wish and do not suffer consequences.”

“And here I was thinking we were going to be friends.” Wrynn clicked his tongue. “What about all those meals we shared? All the bloodfruit I was going to get for you.”

“Nothing but a rouse.” Nerbo chuckled. “I told you—”

“Silence! Both of you!” the Emperor interjected. “It is true, we Darkal knew of the disappearance of Nerboshriift ryl Xorys. The word of bond holding him was strong, but you cannot turn a Darkal against their master. Yes, my agent of chaos has been of much use against the trusting Ufuli and their pet.”

“Listen, buddy. I’m no one’s pet.” Wrynn gritted his teeth and tried to stand, but his body would not listen. “And when I get out of here I’m going to enjoy making mutton out of one of you winged furballs.”

A gasp went out from the creatures in the vicinity. Carnivorous threats seemed to strike true among these folk, and Wrynn — his fascination in his predicament slowly turning to frustration — was starting to think he would make true on his words.

“Now, now. What is going on up here?” There was a commotion from down the hill as Chief pushed through the sea of Darkal. “Release our guest at once, you naughty, naughty Darkal.”

“Ah, the Ufuli leader.” The Emperor strutted over and stood face to face with Chief. The black, winged Darkal was a bit shorter than the grey-furred Ufuli and tried to stand a bit taller to make up the difference. “It has been some time since we last met, hasn’t it?”

“Not since you were a young kit hiding under the wing of your late master.” Chief folded their arms in front of their chest. “Now please explain yourself. Why have you come here?”

“Pfft. We owe no explanation to you, old one. The Darkal come and go as they please. And if you continue to disrupt me, I will send our flock to rain down on the Ufuli village every day until the next moon shines.”

“So be it.” Chief held firm. “Ufuli will continue to rebuild and rebuild. Now, why don’t you release our guest? You already have us at a disadvantage.”

“Not a chance.” The Emperor turned away. “Nerboshriift ryl Xorys has told us the giant is quite violent. We do not know what he would be willing to do.”

“I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to hurt the Great Emperor,” said Wrynn. “I thought the mighty Darkal did not know fear.”

The valley filled with the sounds of squawking Darkal as they protested the mockery. “How dare you, giant,” said the Emperor. “You should know your place.” With a sudden flutter of wings, Wrynn felt the Darkal leader perch on his back as if using him as a seat. “See? I conquer all foolish beasts.”

Captain Malcolm Wrynn had endured numerous disgraces in the past. He had abased himself for profit and done unspeakable things to get situations to go his way. Over the last two days he had been treated like a pack animal, lugging around tiny sheep people to reach his destination. But he had had enough. This was the final sheep to break the captain’s back, Wrynn shook with anger and fought to resist whatever charm held him. He let out a shout of rage and the small fluffy aliens were stunned to silence.

With a great struggle, he managed to tuck his shoulder and forced himself into a roll to fall on his back and swiped a half-paralyzed hand at the little Emperor that flapped away as the seat gave out under them. Wrynn’s hand caught a bit of fur, but the Darkal slipped out of his grasp as he fell onto his back, panting.

The sudden action roused the drowsy Asha Ishavera’ai who had been passively watching the encounter but now understood that something was not right. Lifting themselves to two feet, the wolrung let out a bellowing roar that caused the flightiest of the Darkal flock to take to the air, including the Emperor who landed atop the ancient plane to be out of reach.

At the same time, Wrynn felt the invisible hold slip from his muscles and rolled onto his feet. He whipped out his pistol and took aim at the Darkal leader. Through his holo-sight he took aim, and fired a warning shot that whizzed over the fluffball and singed a bit of the black fur between the Emperor’s horns.

“Next one goes through that wing of yours,” warned the human as he watched with some pleasure as the Darkal tried to understand what just happened.

“Enough!” shouted Chief, putting their small hand against Wrynn’s leg. “No more tricks, naughty Darkal. Let us talk of peace.”

“Peace?” squawked the Emperor, incredulous. “Peace, when your wolrung threatens our lives? Peace, when your new pet spits fire at the One True Emperor? There can be no such thing.”

“Oh, I’m inclined to agree,” said Wrynn, keeping his pistol trained on the Darkal. “But how about we find a way to go our way and you find a way to go yours. What would that take?”

The Emperor fumed. “You would need to offer your souls to the Darkal for your sins.” As they spoke, the hair between their eyes burst into flame and the creature beat their wings to put it out. “Argh, see what you have done?”

“I’ve got plenty more left for you and the rest of your flock.” Wrynn gestured swiftly with his pistol arm and watched the Emperor cower. “So how about we do as your elder says and we talk peace?”

Puffing up their cheeks, the Darkal leader reluctantly relented and fluttered down to the ground in front of Wrynn and Chief. Asha growled at the small creature and the Darkal hissed back, flapping their wings.

“Hush, Asha,” said Wrynn in a soothing voice. He holstered his pistol and pat the wolrung’s snout. “We’re just going to have a chat.” Addressing the Emperor in a stern voice, he said, “So, tell me what it is you came here for.”

With the sullen face of a spoiled teenager, the Darkal leader muttered, “We heard of your sorcery and we wished to have some of our own.”

“That trick to keep me from moving seemed pretty sorcerous to me. What would you need any of my tech for, anyhow?”

“We do not need anything,” said the Darkal, pompously. “We only seek items of interest to show we have conquered far and wide.”

Wrynn looked down at the winged-sheep. They just wanted something shiny to take home. He chuckled to himself, recalling a previous thought comparing the Darkal to birds.

“You want to show you’ve conquered?” asked Wrynn. “I think I have just the thing.” He walked over to his pack and pulled out one of his satellite beacons. He needed to place them somewhere high anyhow. Presenting the triangular device to the Darkal, he pushed a button at its base and it unfolded with the sound of articulating parts to reveal a small radar antenna.

“What is it?” asked the Emperor, inspecting the device from a distance.

“A bit of magic from a sorcerer. Why don’t you take this back to your nest or wherever you live? It’ll show you conquered the spaceman.”

The Darkal poked the beacon with a wing. “It does not look so impressive.”

“No?” Wrynn faked shock. “Well I assure you it is a great source of power. I’ll be sorry to part with it. Look it’ll even talk to you if you push this.” He pressed another button at the base of the machine and a tinny sound played from a hidden speaker.

“Homing beacon active, distance from tracker… 26 centimeters.” The voice used for retrieving the satellite beacon came through in inoffensive Universal. Wrynn watched the Darkal listen intently.

“What… What is it saying?” asked the Emperor.

“It is music from my homeland,” answered Wrynn. “It sings of my praises when I wish it. Reminds me of how great I am.”

“I see,” the Darkal looked at him with greedy eyes. “This will make a fine addition for the Darkal. But I think this is not enough. I wish to have your fire-shooter as well.”

“You’re not getting my gun,” said Wrynn. “It’s made for folks with fingers, anyhow.”

The Emperor hissed at him. “I will have what I desire, giant.”

“No, you won’t. Tell you what. I give you this music box so you can leave us alone today and I’ll throw in a meal finer than any bloodfruit you’ve ever tasted.” Wrynn retrieved a packet of dried fruit from his pack, but pulled it out of reach when the Darkal made to grab it. “But you and your flock will leave the Ufuli village alone. For good.”

“Now, Wrynn,” interjected Chief. “That won’t be necessary.”

“It’s okay, Chief,” whispered Wrynn. “Just trust me.”

Licking their lips, the Darkal stared at him. “Sweeter than bloodfruit, you say? How could that be?”

Wrynn pulled open the corner of the packet and handed the Darkal a slice of pineapple. “Try it for yourself and see.”

The leader of the winged sheep people sniffed the fruit and then cautiously took it in their mouth. Chewing and tasting, their eyes lit up with the sweet flavor of tropical fruit. Quickly hiding their pleasure, they stuck their nose in the air. “This may be an acceptable offer. We will take your music maker and this… sweetfruit and we will leave you for today.”

“And you’ll leave the Ufuli alone,” said Wrynn.

“We will do no such thing,” said the Emperor. “What else would the mighty Darkal do to show their dominance over Hell?”

Wrynn shrugged. “Then the deal’s off. Let’s get to shooting.” He made to stuff the fruit packet into his pocket.

“Wait!” the Emperor cried. “Wait, wait.” With a frustrated huff they finally relented. “Fine, we shall leave the Ufuli alone until the next moon shines.”

“Until forever,” said Wrynn, sternly. Asha Ishavera’ai let out a growl on cue.

“Until forever,” whimpered the Darkal.

“Good.” Wrynn collapsed the satellite beacon for travel and placed the packet of fruit next to it. “Nice doing business with you.”

“Filthy giant,” muttered the Emperor.

Feeling a rush at a negotiation gone well, Wrynn stretched his arms and smiled. Still got it, he thought to himself, even in this upside-down world.