The Bug Robber of Soelian-Twa

Sketch of Mar'vok in full battle kit

Mar’vok Ro HedpethThe Bug Robber of Soelian-Twa

   Mar’vok Ro Hedpeth, aka the Bug Robber or Lady Death, was a famous fast draw specialist. Born on the colony world, Klutchtik-4, in the Soelian-Twa empire in 2759, she was raised by a family of Lanthanide miners who made a modest living harvesting rare minerals. As a miner, Mar'vok learned to pilot a spaceship, navigate the stars, and fix almost anything because buying new was seldom an option for her family. She learned how to defend herself as well. Living in the hardscrabble mining conglomerates meant that many there thought that obeying the law was optional. Dodging gangs and defending herself was just a day in the 'habitat Rings' for a young female like her. Her first kill was at the age of thirteen when she was cornered by a gang of arthropods out for fun. Mar’vok killed their leader and crippled two others before they retreated. When violence was called for, Mar’vok didn't hesitate, and it often brought her to the attention of the nymph (juvenile) detaining officers, resulting in brief incarcerations.

   She sought out weapon specialists, which was a dangerous business. The reception she got was mixed. Sometimes she barely escaped with her life. Other times she got to talk with them and picked up a few tricks and tips, while a few actually took the time to hone her skills. In one instance a retired confidence man taught her his craft, but it was of little use to Mar’vok who was constitutionally averse to stealth and subtlety. Her real talent was her skill with a laser pistol carried in a side holster that she drew with lightning quickness. Her speed was phenomenal, and her reputation was such that a stern look from her could clear a room.

But Reputations Cut Two Ways

   She was in a bar in Drevia City, having a drink with some compatriots when a Xorphrinite came in looking for trouble. Word had started to filter off-world about this fast little bug, and he had come to try her out. The showdown was quick and lethal. The big reptile stood by the doors of the bar, his tail swishing and his scales gleaming in the bar lights. Mar’vok moved to the back of the bar, and the house patrons stepped well away to either side of the room.  It was one thing to back the local tough, but when a big fish swims in all bets are off. Everyone expected to be burying Mar’vok’s corpse the next day.

    With a single twitch, both went for their guns, Mar’vok got off three shots before the Xorphrinite cleared leather. The dead lizard's gun fired two rounds into the floor as he collapsed. The room erupted in cheers. The local girl was even better than people thought. She was arrested over the protests of the locals in the bar but having just killed a sentient, she had to go. The court ruled that it was a case of self-defense. But it was only the beginning.

   Others came looking for her. Mar’vok killed three more sentients the next year. The following year, in 2788, on a night when she was staying at a hotel in Anabar City, five canine sentients from the Pac territories slipped into the hotel and broke into her room as she slept. All five Pacs died in the melee that followed, along with the person she was with. The local authorities decided to lock her up for public safety, but she declined to be arrested and fought her way through the peace officers s to the spaceport and headed off-world.

   She began a notorious campaign of robberies throughout the Casandian Frontier. Mar’vok’s was severely wounded during a bank in the Western Rim Trade territories. She was taken, tried, and sentenced to seven years in prison on Gahalloway Five penal colony under Western Rim Trade jurisdiction.

Upon release from Gahalloway prison, she took up with several others whom she had met while in prison and formed the Hedpeth-Lukus Gang. Mar’vok's gang began a crime spree that eclipsed anything she had done on her own. They robbed no less than nine banks, four freighters, and thirteen payroll ships in the next three years hauling in over one hundred and thirty million credits. 

They bought a fast ship and used it to keep ahead of the law. A violent difference of opinion over a Kleptra captive scattered the gang. Mar’vok Ro Hedpeth and Uaria Lukus continued to operate together for a short time. One night in 2794, Mar’vok shot Uaria dead during a drunken row.

   Mar’vok tried to go straight after this, using the loot she had saved but high living depleted her funds. She went back to what she was good at and hired out as a bodyguard. First to businessmen and then to criminals; lowlife dealers and bookies. She ended her days, dying of synthahol poisoning at a flophouse in Kovreni, the district capital of Trimedia province, in the Xendares Empire in 2803.

Next Time...Audrians! END TRANSMISSION Story By Charles Lewis Artwork by Max Bagdasarov and Dmitry Borodin Copyright 2018 Kgruppe LLC