by M. R. Forbes
“Yes, Lord Arluthu,” Harai said. “I am honored by your acknowledgment. My Lord, may I ask, what about Sergeant Card? He is currently my second by your command.”
“He will remain second in Dojo Shing until he defeats the first in the Kuu. That is my decree.”
“Yes, Master.”
Arluthu smiled. “I would like to see Caleb enter the Kuu. Colonel Ae, inform Corporal Novai of his promotion, and that he is to challenge Sergeant Card one-tenth cycle from now.”
“Yes, Lord Arluthu,” Ae said.
“We have one cycle until the Seeker is ready for launch,” Arluthu said, looking at Caleb. “Which means we have one cycle for you to prove yourself. Thank you for the meal.”
Arluthu didn’t acknowledge Harai or Ae. He spun on his heel and headed back out the way he had come.
Caleb found he was able to move as soon as Arluthu was gone. He rose to his feet, looking at Ae. “Will someone please tell me what the damn Kuu is?”
Chapter 23
Neither Colonel Ae or the newly promoted Lieutenant Harai told Caleb what the Kuu was. They both claimed it was impossible to describe accurately, that he would need to experience it to understand and that he was going to find out soon enough.
Arluthu had decreed that he would meet Corporal Novai in the Kuu in a tenth of a cycle, which Harai, or rather Ishek, explained worked out to approximately twenty Earth hours.
Colonel Ae took his leave of Caleb and Harai at the hangar, claiming he had other pressing matters to deal with in preparation for the Seeker’s repair, and the Relyeh attack on the Deliverance. It pained Caleb to know Arluthu was preparing to make a move on the colony while he was trapped in the Citadel. Every time he tried to move while he was thinking about it, the inhibitor on the back of his neck shut him down, making his desires obvious.
Harai would be moved out of his quarters within the next few hours, shifting to an even larger room where he would be afforded more soldiers to command, more breeders to impregnate, and more servants to wait on his every need. His current cell would stay unoccupied until after Caleb entered the Kuu. As he understood it, whoever won the challenge, whatever it was, would become the de facto head of the Shing.
“You really believe Arluthu is a god?” he asked Harai as the Arshugg came to a stop in the station leading back to Dojo Shing’s apartments.
“You don’t?” Harai replied.
It seemed strange to Caleb that Arluthu would even put him in a position to become the head of a Relyeh Inahri squad at the same time his loyalties were still clearly not with the Relyeh. Either Arluthu was expecting him to fall flat on his face in the Kuu, or the Relyeh leader believed he would have a change of heart once he had experienced the challenge.
Then again, an Advocate was a third option that could guarantee his physical loyalty, even if his mental loyalty was lacking.
“What part of your encounter with our Lord Arluthu did you find typical?” Harai continued. “Lord Arluthu gained everything he was seeking and gave up nothing he did not desire to give up in return. In his wisdom, he illuminated the path forward for the Relyeh, the Inahri and the Earthers — both here and back on your homeworld.”
“I didn’t say he isn’t smart. I only said I didn’t see anything godly. You told me I would be convinced. I’m not.”
Harai smiled. “I can’t wait to meet you in the Kuu and put you in your proper place.”
“The feeling’s mutual.”
They left the Arshugg behind, crossing the passages back to Dojo Shing’s apartments. Word about Harai’s meeting and promotion had already spread across the ship, and both the Inahri soldiers and servants they passed on the way moved aside as Harai approached, stopping to bow their heads to him.
“As Lieutenant, I will be in charge of Dojo Shing, as well as Inam Shing and Pui Shing. If you defeat Corporal Novai, you will report directly to me. But I don’t think you’ll defeat him. The Kuu requires a certain level of focus, and I can see by the way the inhibitor keeps activating that you don’t have that focus.”
“I’ll have it when I need it. I don’t hold you responsible for following your orders. But I do hold you responsible for killing innocent Inahri and the good men and women of Metro Law, including Sheriff Dante. The fight was over. You didn’t need to go that far.”
“I didn’t need to,” Harai admitted. “I wanted to. So did Ishek. And if I remember correctly, you were the one who pulled the trigger.”
Caleb growled and tried to lunge at Harai. Of course the inhibitor didn’t let him.
Harai smirked in response. “Easy there, Sergeant. Save it for the Kuu.”
Caleb eased off. He had to stay in control of the situation and not let Harai bait him to anger. Harai was right. He needed to find his focus and keep his energy on getting free of this situation.
The only problem was, he had no idea how he was going to do it.
They reached Dojo Shing’s apartments, entering the antechamber. The entire squad was already there waiting for Harai — cleaned and dressed in matching tunics and pants, and standing at attention. They bowed to Harai as the lieutenant entered the room.
“Shouldn’t you be over there, Sergeant Caleb?” Harai asked, motioning toward the end of the line next to Novai.
Caleb considered refusing. How would that help? He hurried to his place in the line and joined them in bowing his head.
“Dojo Shing,” Harai said. “At ease.” They straightened up. “You’ve all heard this tired old man has been promoted to Lieutenant by our lord Arluthu himself and in person. It is the greatest honor any of us can hope to achieve, and I achieved it not because of me, but because of you. It was your effort in our raid on the Earther ship that helped us recover the quantum dimensional modulator. It was your effort that allowed us to overcome the Free Inahri in their compound. And each of you will be rewarded for it.”
The Inahri soldiers stomped their left foot on the floor twice in acknowledgment. Caleb just stared at Harai. His squad had nothing to do with their victory. Valentine had enabled every one of their successes with her betrayal.
“First,” Harai continued. “The repairs to the Seeker are underway. We will be leaving for the ship in one cycle’s time, to bring the Might of Arluthu down on the Axon who enslaved us.”
Again, the Inahri stomped their left feet twice in perfect unison.
“It’s important that we are as prepared as we can be for the departure. Arluthu has ordered that Corporal Novai is to challenge our newest member, Earther Sergeant Caleb Card in the Kuu in one-tenth cycle. When that challenge is completed—”
“And Novai has emerged victorious,” Private Kilai interrupted, to the foot stomp of his fellow soldiers.
“When the challenge is completed,” Harai repeated, “the preparation will begin. Training rituals will increase to three cycles per day. That means there won’t be much time for anything outside of sleep. Which means I highly recommend you make the most of the time you have before the challenge.”
The soldiers stomped both their feet this time, looking more like a group of excited children than a unit of trained warriors. Caleb remained still throughout.
“Sergeant Caleb, if you are victorious in the challenge, I will introduce you to the rest of Dojo Shing,” Harai said. “I’m not going to waste my time otherwise. You won’t be with us for long.”
The other Inahri laughed at the statement. Harai knew they would. Caleb didn’t respond. He had been through too much to let it bother him. Actions would speak louder than any words, anyway.
“Dojo Shing, follow me,” Harai said.
He led them out of the antechamber and back to the harem. There were more women in it now than there had been earlier. The breeders looked up at the group as they entered, quickly getting to their feet and rushing over into a more ragged line than the soldiers had assembled, save for the women who were already pregnant. Each of them smiled warmly, their eyes crossing over the Inahri men.
Caleb watched them c
losely. Most seemed excited about the entrance of the soldiers, but not all. He was surprised to find Lia at the end of the line, her smile forced, her eyes downcast instead of suggestive.
“I’ve already made my selection,” Harai said. “Sergeant Card, I recommend taking a breeder to your cell for the evening. It may be the only opportunity you have to experience what an Inahri woman can offer.”
Caleb glanced back at Harai. Then he made a quick show of looking over the assembled women. Oni winked at him as his eyes reached her. One of the other women pursed her lips. A couple of them flinched, afraid of the idea of an Earther taking them to his cell.
“That one,” Caleb said, pointing at Lia. “Lia.”
Lia looked up, surprised. The Inahri soldiers laughed.
“Sergeant, are you certain?” Harai asked.
“Very,” Caleb replied.
“Okay,” Harai said, confused by his pick.
“Perhaps she most resembles an Earth woman?” Corporal Novai said.
“They do let them fight,” Kilai said. “He probably likes them to be more like a man than a woman.”
Caleb glared at the two soldiers, but the inhibitor wouldn’t let him do anything. He cooled his anger as Lia walked over to him. She looked hurt by their comments, and fearful of whatever Caleb intended. He didn’t blame her.
He held his hand out, and she took it. Her palm was cold and sweaty. He squeezed it lightly.
“One-tenth cycle, Sergeant,” Harai said. “Though I suggest you leave some time to prepare.”
“You won’t even tell me what the Kuu is. How am I supposed to prepare for it?”
Both soldiers and breeders laughed at the statement — all except Lia.
Caleb walked toward the door out to the cells. He paused next to Corporal Novai. “I’ve killed more uluth than you’ve ever laid eyes on,” he whispered harshly. “You’re next.”
He continued to the door, smirking at the way Novai’s face paled with the words. He might be trapped in enemy territory. He might be surrounded by people who wanted to kill him. He might be in the worst trouble of his life, with not only the mission but the survival of the remainder of humanity on the line.
He was still a Space Force Marine, and he wasn’t going to go down without a fight.
Chapter 24
“Why did you choose me?” Lia asked the moment Caleb closed the door to his cell.
“What do you mean?” Caleb replied.
“It isn’t because I’m beautiful. I’m not. Not compared to the others. I’m not even a breeder.”
“Why were you in the line?”
“It is a tradition for a commander to offer all of his servants to his men in celebration of a promotion, including those he typically keeps to himself. You should have selected one of them. They can please you better than I can. I’m not even pleasing to look at.” She looked down at the floor.
Was she upset because she didn’t think she was pretty enough?
“You dishonored yourself with your selection,” she said.
“That’s one opinion,” Caleb said. “I’m not really into peer pressure.” He walked over to her, slowly bringing his hand to her cheek. Her skin was softer than anything he had ever felt before. He used his hand to gently raise her head until she was looking up at him. “Besides, there’s something about you I like.”
“What is that?” She was shaking under his hand, suddenly afraid again.
“I saw the way you reacted when Harai entered my cell before. And I saw how you reacted a couple of minutes ago. You can say whatever you want about what you think your place is. That doesn’t mean you agree with it. Not when you’re alone.”
She stared up at him, their eyes meeting. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes, you do. I’ve only been here and awake for a few hours, but I’ve been a Marine a long time, and I was special forces back on Earth. I’m trained to read people. And I can tell you aren’t as enamored with the life of a Relyeh Inahri woman as you might want the others to think.”
Lia shook a little harder, growing more afraid. “Please, Sergeant. If you want to take me to your bed, then take me to your bed. But please don’t speak to me of my place here. It is what it is. It’s the fate I was born into, as Arluthu wills it.”
“Bullshit,” Caleb replied. “It’s where you’ve been trapped because you don’t have the same look as those other women. And bullshit if their life is much better. That whole scene out there was sickening.”
“It is a great honor to bear sons for Arluthu’s Might.”
“Do you know your eye twitches when you’re lying?”
She seemed shocked and took a step away from him. “I am a loyal follower of Lord Arluthu. I could call for Lieutenant Harai right now and tell him what you said to me.”
“And he would probably believe you,” Caleb said. “But he might also believe my side. And then what? What happens to the Inahri women who are too old to breed or clean or whatever else it is you do? Where do they go? Why are there so few Inahri here, when Arluthu’s been breeding your kind for almost five hundred years?”
Lia’s face froze, turning completely pale. She wasn’t ready for this kind of confrontation, and she wasn’t sure how to react to it. Caleb had to decide whether to back off or keep pushing.
He decided to back off. “I’m sorry,” he said. “But from an outside perspective of this whole deal, there’s something here that doesn’t add up. I met Arluthu in person. Your people might think he’s a god, but I think he’s hiding something.”
Caleb turned away from her, walking into the bedroom. It was better to give her a little space. To let her process what he had said and give her the decision on how to respond. He was sure she was smart enough not to rat him out to Harai. She would be in as much trouble as he would. Probably more. He already had next to nothing to lose.
He passed through the bedroom and into the bathroom. The toilet was molded out of the stone in the wall, an empty hole that fed out to wherever. There was a shower too, the same kind he had used in the Free Inahri barracks. He didn’t need either, but he wanted Lia to feel safe, and maybe even a little abandoned. He waited there, listening.
He heard her bare feet on the stone floor a few seconds later, heard them end at the edge of the large, round bed. He counted to ten and then went back into the bedroom. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, her head in her hands. Sobbing.
Caleb crossed over to her, kneeling in front of her. He waited for her to speak first.
“Why did you have to choose me?” she said through her hands. “Why did you have to come here? A hundredth cycle with you and my life is ruined.”
“I’m sorry,” Caleb said. “But I have to do something. There are thousands of people on the Deliverance, and Arluthu intends to do the same thing to them that he’s done to you and me. Not only that, he’s on the verge of finding out what happened to the rest of the humans who escaped Earth. When he does, he’s going to use the Seeker to hunt them down, to capture and kill them. Tell me you’re happy with your life. Tell me you believe this is freedom, and I won’t say another word. You can go back to your cell and never have to deal with me again.”
Lia kept her head in her hands for a few more seconds. Then she slowly lifted it, wiping the tears from her eyes.
“The Inahri soldiers think this is freedom,” she said. “Because they hardly even have to fight. As long as they can avoid the Kuu, they can live in comfort for many years.”
“That’s all going to change.”
“Yes. The soldiers have no idea what’s coming for them. They think they’re prepared, but they aren’t.”
“I agree.”
“Many of the servants think this is freedom too. They believe they are doing the will of Arluthu. You asked me where the other Inahri go and why there are so few despite the number of children born and the number of years that have passed. They believe Arluthu delivers them to paradise for all of eternity.”
; “What do you believe?” Caleb asked.
“I don’t know. I’ve heard rumors. Whispers among the servants. Nothing detailed. They say some of the Inahri here try to leave. Not just women. Soldiers too. They say some of them make it. Arluthu brands them traitors. There was one breeder who belonged to Colonel Ae. Her name was Tsi. She had many children for him and his officers before she escaped.”
“Tsi?” Caleb said. “It that a common name?”
“Why do you ask?”
“I met a Tsi when I was with the Free Inahri. She was the sergeant who captured my squad on the Seeker..”
Lia’s eyes widened. “It isn’t a common name. Could it be that she’s still alive?”
Caleb looked away, wincing. The last time he had seen Tsi, she was bleeding out on the floor of the armory beneath Metro.
“She was with me when Harai captured me. I don’t think she made it.”
Lia’s eyes fell. “But she was there. She was alive. That means the rumors are true.”
“I can pretty much guarantee Arluthu isn’t shipping your elders off to paradise for eternity if that’s what you mean. How did you know Tsi?”
“I didn’t. Not directly. But if Oni has been honest with me, then Tsi was my mother.”
Caleb glanced back at Lia. Tsi had seemed relatively young. Mid-thirties, if he had to put an Earth age to her. But Lia looked young too. If she were Tsi’s first child, it might be possible. And now that he gave her a closer look, they did have very similar faces.
“I can see a resemblance,” he said. “I never would have thought to look for it. Oni told you that your mother ran away?”
“They were friends. I promised Oni I would never tell. In part, I didn’t believe her. Maybe I should have.”