When the night shift took over monitoring in the flight control booth on the Cruiser, Kayla waved good-bye to them, and boarded her warbird. She threw her travel bags into the ES-519, supervised the crewmen loading her battle armor plex case for her, and started the pre-flight checklist. Xau was as good as anywhere to disappear for a while.
Xau
Xau was the third moon of K’Halon Prime, large enough to qualify as a planetoid, captured in the gravity of big K’Halon Prime. Kayla spent two and a half years in the Ranger Training facilities there, for Phase 1, 2, and 3 Training. Dry desert, full of humongous rats and shrews, snakes and poisonous scorpions; they called this inhospitable moon home. The only place green and lush was the Temple Complex, in the Southern Hemisphere.
The Temple Complex was a retreat for pilgrims and prayers, solace, devotion to the Creator, and T’Ly martial arts advanced schooling for monks, priests, and a few privileged students. The mountain rising from the desert centering the Temple Complex was the highest point on the moon. Although Xau had many bubbling mineral pools and hot sulfur springs, the Temple Complex had cool springs from an underground river. It was an oasis of fresh water, fruit trees and date palms, green grass, and prayer. A small flock of sheep peacefully grazed along the slopes of the mountain. After Phase 3 Training, Kayla was allowed to visit the nearby Temple Complex. It was as beautiful as the remainder of Xau was bleak.
When Kayla landed her ES-519 on the marked landing site, she was told to enter the Temple Complex without her weapons. “Weapons of war are not allowed in the Temple Complex, Commander Kayla. Leave your armor. Your breastplate and backplate, your knives, laser rifle, handgun, and your plasma sword must stay behind. Follow your faith inside the Temple of the Creator.” Okay, okay; whatever, she thought. My mind and body are my primary weapons, Kayla reminded herself.
Carrying only a travel case of clothing and toiletries, Kayla declined the offered skiff ride, and walked away from her warbird. No blades, armor, or plasma sword. Only her lonely, broken heart and her faith in the Creator accompanied her. She walked the two kilometers leading towards the Temple Complex in silence. She obeyed the will of her Emperor.
Two priests, one elder priestess named T’Char, and a shaved-head monk greeted her. “Welcome, Beloved Daughter of our Emperor P’Lau. We have prepared a place for you here,” the young priest said. The friendly greeter stepped aside after a few meters. Soon, the men took another path away from the women without saying another word, leaving them at the Entrance Arch to the Temple.
While they walked the path towards the Temple Complex, the elder Priestess T’Char said, “You will be schooled in our secret, advanced T’Ly martial arts. You are a rock; a thing; dull in sunlight, invisible in starlight. We will hammer and chip away your inconsequential matter. It will not be pleasant for you. Your training will require hard work, pain, dedication, and personal suffering. But master our ways, and emerge as a diamond. A thing of beauty. Polished and perfect in all its facets. This we offer you, Kayla.” The elder priestess turned her head a little and bowed slightly to Kayla. The women continued their walk into the Temple of the Creator.
Six months of pain, suffering, and hard work. It was the most perfect thing Kayla could imagine now. She said, “Bring it on, priestess.”
Tinkling chimes were so much nicer to wake up hearing than screeching alarm clocks at 4 a.m. Kayla tossed aside her covers and quickly put on her wool robe. It was cold, as usual. She slept in the long hall of the nuns, which closely resembled a dormitory. All of them slept on individual woven mats, and beds made of layered wool blankets. After straightening the blankets, Kayla rolled up her bed inside its woven mat, tied it closed with two attached cloth straps, and placed the bed atop her small dresser.
Daily regimen for the T’Ly advanced students consisted of meditation, stretching, and sixty minutes running up, around, and down the mountain, in sandals. Then a quick shower, followed by breakfast of green tea and honey cakes or gruel. They took ten minutes rest, and then the students walked silently along the Path of Penance to their training and sparring arena, an open-air arena four meters below ground. The walls of the arena were of sandstone blocks, with terraced wood benches lining either side. The tops of the walls were large, flat sandstone pavers, where the priests, monks, and others could observe the training and sparring.
Most of the year, the weather on Xau was hot and dry, and freezing at night. But today, a pouring rain accompanied by blustery winds greeted the students during their run around the mountain. The rain turned into a storm, and the students were soaked to their skin by the time they reached the training arena. Wearing only cotton pants and tunic, and barefoot, same as the other students, Kayla took her place in line. The dirt floor of the arena had been only dust for two and a half months, but they were up to their ankles in mud today. The rain was still coming down, drenching them completely. Some students complained to each other quietly, but not Kayla or the military officers, T’Pul and M’Kel.
“What a blessed day our Creator has made for us! Today, we begin advanced spear training,” the bald monk instructor yelled. He raised both arms, then pulled them down sharply, signaling the monks standing on top of the arena walls. Twenty spears were thrown at the students, and each spear landed directly in front of their feet. Three students were startled, and broke their stance.
“Thank you for volunteering,” the smiling monk instructor said, and pointed at the three startled students. They took their spears, and walked in front of the instructor. He proceeded to lecture the students in the proper T’Ly handling of a spear, using the three volunteers for demonstration. The instructor enjoyed himself, lecturing loudly and evenly, while introducing trick maneuvers with his own spear. Not one of the volunteers could land a single hit on him. It was an impressive demonstration, but painful for the three volunteers.
To qualify for the advanced training offered by the monks and priests at the Temple, a student must have achieved a ninth-degree ranking in T’Ly from a certified master. The prospective student must also have an endorsement from an influential sponsor in the top tiers of the Imperial Class; there must be a good reason for the student to need to know the advanced, secret T’Ly art. And, pay the tuition of ten thousand credits per month.
The students in Kayla’s class were the two military officers, sons of wealthy aristocrats, and several priests. Kayla was the only female. She was also the only student with a twelfth-degree ranking, the highest of them all. The high ranking was earned on her own time, taking out her frustrations with C.S. T’Anh while advancing her T’Ly skills and ranking.
For hours in the storm, the students practiced the spear movements again and again, perfecting each nuance of hand, wrist, and body coordination. Monks walked among the students, correcting their motions individually, until each one perfected the spear routine. Regular T’Ly utilized several spear movements, but the advanced movements were very fast, and involved many new tactics. Kayla practiced the spinning movements, and special jump-thrusts until she perfected them, and could perform them at a fast speed.
At first, Kayla felt like a baton twirler. But she soon realized the advantages of the very fast twirling motions and thrusting of the spear, and learned to incorporate her own body’s spinning movements. Kayla moved to a corner of the arena, and took the wooden spear to new heights, totally engrossed. She was anxious to try the advanced movements with her new expanding plasma sword. The monk instructor watched Kayla, completely in “the spear zone,” and silently signaled to a priest watching from the top of the arena, so he could observe the Shi’Lon Ranger. She was amazing.
After a short break for lunch, the students gathered on the arena steps. It was still raining, but the worst of the storm had passed. A new instructor took over, and announced, “You have sparred with each other wearing training pads and gloves up until today. We will issue only helmets and pelvic guard pads to protect you. You must feel the snap of the spear, and the pain of its kiss.” The spears for
sparring had their sharp tips removed, thankfully, but they could still break bones and cause deep contusions. This could be painful.
No head or groin hits were permitted. Kayla hefted her wet sparring spear, and felt along its length for any cracks, or weakness. She felt only strong, solid wood, with just enough flexibility for a “snappy” hit. She was very good with spears. But so were most of the other students, especially after the morning training. They were paired off by the monks. Several priests in dark green hooded robes stood on the top steps to observe the bouts.
Unlike their previous sparring contests, each pair was sent to the center of the arena to spar, while their fellow students watched, groaned, and cheered. The winner of the sparring bout was the first to land four hits on his opponent. Kayla stood by, watching the bouts, and occasionally flexing her wrists. Her opponent was Imperial Army officer T’Pul, a tall, muscular man specializing in covert operations. He was a Phase 1 graduate; a fearsome combatant, and very strong. They had been paired against each other several times in their many weeks of training. One of them was going to be in pain tonight; perhaps in the infirmary.
The last two opponents were called into the center of the arena. Slowly twirling her spear, Kayla focused on her opponent’s eyes. T’Pul did not have an expressive face, but his eyes were another matter. She took the purely defensive stance against T’Pul, blocking and repelling his aggressive, fast moves. He landed one hit on her butt, and chuckled. Then Kayla began closing in on him, intently watching his eyes. She faked a left thrust, spun in knee-deep water, and hit his hard stomach with a “Whack” heard throughout the arena: the spear’s kiss.
T’Pul bent forward slightly in pain, and Kayla quickly pummeled him with three alternating hits on his upper back, ribs, and lower back. He fell to his knees in pain. The contest was over. Kayla and the instructor helped T’Pul to the steps to rest, next to several other injured students. One of the observing priests walked down the steps to them.
“A very effective attack,” the hooded priest said to Kayla. “But not every opponent you will face has untrained eyes, Student Kayla. The eyes can deceive, as well as reveal. Remember this,” he cautioned. The priest bowed his head to her and walked up the steps, leaving the arena.
Later in the evening after vespers, Kayla thought about the words of the priest. She was trained interpreting body language, and could read the faces and eyes of most people she met. Looking at her reflection in the bathroom mirror, she searched her own face for any signs of pain, joy, deceit, and so on. She was not able to change her eyes very much. In the months after her T’Ly advanced training, Kayla would spend considerable lengths of time looking in the mirror, training her eyes to express certain emotions, and how not to reveal her true feelings.
XXIX
Many days of advanced T’Ly training passed, with Kayla fulfilling her commitment as Student. She learned more of the secret T’Ly martial arts, and spent most evenings after dinner practicing the movements as fast as she could. Kayla was tall and strong, but her female body did not have the heavy musculature of her male competitors. The moves the students learned in their advanced classes could not only stop an opponent, but could kill. The best way for her to defeat the men in class—and in any future Rebel battles—was to be faster and more agile than the men.
But she was continually sequestered from the other students outside of training classes and the arena. A pair of acolytes or nuns escorted her to and from the training areas and arena. All her meals were taken with the white-robed nuns and blue-robed priestesses. She had never been around so many females in her life. Although they were kind, and sometimes had interesting conversation, they were not warriors, like Kayla. She had little in common with them.
The pain of Nat’N’s death was still fresh in her heart, and in the forefront of her mind. In her dreams, Nat’N laughed with her, and held her in his arms. Then the chimes would tinkle, destroying her only happiness. Kayla had undergone years of specialized training and eight months of service onboard the Imperial Battle Cruiser, surrounded by her friends, warriors all, most of whom were men. She was starving for Ranger conversations and warrior camaraderie.
Outside of training and sparring, the monks and priest instructors avoided any interaction at all with Kayla. In her fourth month, Kayla sought out the elder Priestess T’Char, and asked pointedly why she was continually sequestered from the other students. “In Phase 1, 2, and 3 Training, we trained, studied, ate, worked out, and swam together. I felt like one of the warriors there. Here, I feel ‘untouchable,’ and alienated, except during sparring. What have I done to be treated so?”
T’Char smiled graciously and told Kayla to sit next to her. She clapped her hands, and an acolyte served them tea and lemon cookies. After a few minutes, T’Char answered, “Female students have rarely been accepted into T’Ly advanced training here. Not because they are unworthy, but simply because of their gender. Here at the Temple of the Creator, no vows of silence, poverty, or celibacy are required of us. Some of our monks, and yes, even some priests and priestesses, have….enjoyed themselves too much, in times past.” She sipped her cold tea quietly.
Kayla said, “No one has approached me during my stay at the Temple. No man has even said, ‘Good morning,’ or had any conversations with me. None! And I have certainly not given any man leave to think I desire his advances. But the other students enjoy each other’s friendship, and camaraderie. Why does every man turn and walk away if I happen to meet them? It is unfriendly, and unjust,” she said. “What have I done to deserve this?”
The elder priestess sighed, and sat her tea cup down. Then T’Char said, “I see how difficult this is for you, Kayla. You are a warrior. I assure you, the reason for the actions of the men has nothing to do with your personality, or your behavior. The beautiful gold and bejeweled ring on your left hand signifies your life commitment to our Great Emperor P’Lau. You are his Beloved Daughter, Kayla. Emperor P’Lau gave stern orders for no man to touch you outside of class. Any man who violates his order is to be immediately castrated,” she revealed. “We were not supposed to tell you this.” She put her hands in her lap and bowed her head to Kayla.
Now Kayla understood. She thanked T’Char for her frankness and time. It wasn’t her fault she was treated so differently. She was not ostracized; they had to avoid her. There was absolutely no chance for her to be “one of the warriors” here. The men didn’t hate her. They were scared stiff.
The Path of Penance seemed to invite her to walk in the moonlight, and stop to kneel and pray at the several meditation areas. The last kneeling spot was near a little pool, fed by an underground spring. After a prayer, Kayla stood and silently watched fireflies begin to appear, performing their aerial mating dances. For the first time in months, Kayla smiled, and a feeling of pure joy overtook her.
Holding out her arms, Kayla let fireflies land and dance on her skin, and the feeling delighted her. She laughed softly, and wiggled her fingers in the little swarm of fireflies. A blue dragonfly landed on her left hand, and she gently brought him closer to her. The dragonfly slowly moved and shook his wings, and did not fly away.
“He is courting you,” a familiar voice said. Kayla turned only for a moment to see the priest behind her. She recognized him; he had observed her training since she arrived. He was the priest who spoke words of warning to her after the spear contest. She quickly turned away from his gaze, not wanting to get him into trouble.
She raised her hand ever so slightly, and the dragonfly flew off. “Even the dragonfly is afraid to be seen with me,” Kayla said softly. “May I at least know your name, sir, so I may properly address you?” She asked, not turning toward him intentionally. Someone was probably observing them.
The priest answered with a smile she could feel in his reply, but not see, “K’Ramm. My name is K’Ramm, Student Kayla. May our Creator bless you, and give you peace,” he said, and walked away. At long last, the lady warrior smiled, K’Ramm thought to himself.
Dozens more fireflies joined the swarm, lighting the area in front of her. After a few prudent minutes of waiting, Kayla walked back to the nuns’ quarters. She got ready for bed, and unrolled her sleeping mat and blankets. Sleep descended on her quickly, and gave her a peaceful night of no dreams; no pain, no loneliness, and no fear.
For their final test on the last day, the twenty students were once again matched to fight each other hand-to-hand in their arena. But these were contests of elimination, fighting until one winner emerged. The whispers among the monks prior to the beginning of the bouts were unsettling. T’Pul commented, “I think they’re wagering on who will win.” Several other students agreed with him and made a few bets of their own. The crowd favored T’Pul, the biggest and strongest of them all. Small vid cameras hovered above the arena, waiting to record the bouts.
A fighting ring had been set up for their bouts. Kayla stood to the side, away from the other students, praying for strength and endurance. K’Ramm watched her from the top of the arena wall and said another prayer for Kayla. He knew she had won many bouts during the last six months, but this was the first time the students had competed tournament-style, until only one winner was left standing. Kayla matched a few of the other students in height, but not in weight or reach; the others were all males. Anyone surviving their first few bouts would feel the strain of fighting as fatigue set into their muscles. Tired fighters made mistakes too easily. The arena walls soon filled with more priests, priestesses, and monks anxious to watch the fighting.
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