Kaji Warriors: Shifting Strength

by Kelly A Nix

  She sniffs the air and listens for the rustling of foliage, but the wildlife presence is too strong. She smells nearby creatures and listens to their frantic trampling.

  Where is he?

  A large hand grabs her right shoulder from behind, and Atae whips around. She uses her right elbow to knock the offending hand from her shoulder and slams her left fist into hard flesh. Atae can’t stop the triumphant smile that escapes when a couple of ribs snap under the force of her blow. The purebred Kajian male on the receiving end of her attack grunts from the pain but doesn’t retaliate. His broad shoulders cast a long shadow over Atae as he steps toward her with a disappointed scowl. She jumps back and watches him with a wary gaze as she meets his ebony eyes. His shaved head hides a hint of white stubble, but his square jaw and sharp features are clean-shaven. Average height for the Kaji, Solum towers over the youngling with a hard, expectant gaze.

  Solum crosses his arms over his chest and stares down at Atae as he speaks in a gruff voice. “You failed.”

  “No,” Atae says. “I reacted the moment I found you.” Across from her, Solum shakes his head.

  “You didn’t find me. I found you. If I wanted, you’d be dead.”

  “I can do better,” Atae says. “I will do better.”

  “You must if you want to survive the Gridiron,” Solum says. Atae snarls, and he smiles at her typical response to challenges. The dark warrior places both hands on the youngling’s shoulders and meets her gaze.

  “Atae, close your eyes and calm your body,” he says.

  She nods then closes her eyes before inhaling a deep calming breath. She wills her frantic heart to slow as the adrenaline ebbs from her system. Breathe in, thump. Breathe out, thump.

  “Now,” Solum says. “With a silent body, you can hear everything around you. Focus on the grass. Listen to it bend in the wind.”

  Atae notices the swishing noise from the tall stalks swaying around her, and she smiles.

  “Listen to the creatures scurrying along the ground,” he says.

  She pushes past the noise of the swaying stalks and listens for the tell-tale signs of wildlife. A snapping twig and rustling foliage whisper through the field, and Atae nods. When a light breeze whips past, Solum continues.

  “Feel the breeze on your skin and capture the smells it reveals.”

  Atae sniffs and wrinkles her brow at the odd smells. The scent of wildlife is overwhelming, but Solum’s proximity provides a strong sense of sweat and muscle.

  Solum jabs Atae in the midsection, and she crumbles to the ground with a surprised yelp. Opening her eyes to face her attacker and struggling to fill her lungs again, Atae squints up to find Solum gone. After catching her breath, she smiles at the new challenge and, again, closes her eyes.

  This time, I will win.

  It takes a moment to relax her body and spread her senses again. The breeze brushes at her back with the delightful smells of creatures going about their lives but no sign of Solum. So Atae decides to focus upwind and straight ahead. She listens for any sign of a large predator, but as the breeze picks up, so does the deafening noise of billowing grass. She frowns and concentrates past the wall of white noise until a snapping twig breaks through. Atae zeroes in on the sound and waits with bated breath for another. She grins when a heavy foot thumps against the ground.

  “I win!”

  Her voice triggers a surge of rushing footsteps, Atae opens her eyes to find Solum launching toward her through the tall stalks of grass. She gasps and scrambles out of his reach, then the youngling plants her feet in a defensive stance and guards her arms with clenched fists. In a similar stance, Solum shifts side-to-side, watching Atae’s minuscule reactions.

  “Are you afraid?” Solum asks.

  “I am Kaji. I fear nothing.”

  Atae launches forward to drive a jab into his chest, and Solum bats her away with a frown. The momentum of her attack pushes her past him, so Atae twirls around to slam a kick into the side of Solum’s knee. The joint falters, and the larger warrior yelps as he falls to his knees. Atae continues her attack, but her proximity only allows for an elbow thrust to Solum’s face. He catches the youngling’s arm in one hand and jabs her in the ribs with his other. The wind knocked from her lungs, Atae stumbles away from the dark warrior and gulps at him.

  “I found you,” she says. Across from her, Solum raises an eyebrow at Atae as he climbs to his feet.

  “You’ve found me,” Solum says. “Now, what? Can you defeat me?”

  Atae watches the older warrior step closer as she clutches at her injured side. Solum scowls and lunges for his weakened opponent. When he’s within reach, she smirks and sweeps her leg under Solum to knock him to the ground. The larger warrior lands hard on his side, and Atae jumps up, slamming the heel of her foot into the side of his face. She rejoices at the resounding crack of his cheekbone, fragmenting under the force of her attack.

  Stunned, Solum lies flat on his back and blinks up at the dimming sky. When he spots another foot descending upon him, the warrior rolls away from the hybrid. Solum leaps to his feet in time to catch another kick aimed for his ribs. Instead, he snatches her leg right out of the air and swings the short youngling around and down. The dirt crumbles under the force of Atae’s face and body crashing into the ground.

  Solum nurses his cheek as Atae sits up with a groan, then he brushes the grass and dirt from his uniform. Like most adult Kaji, Solum wears a tough bodysuit designed to withstand light training and day-to-day tasks. The latest technology allows for outfits that survive the violence of Kaji shifts, as well as protect against minor temperature changes. While the bodysuit remains a staple of Kajian fashion, recent outside influences created intricate designs that incorporate embroidery, beadwork, and even precious stones. Ignoring the latest trends, Solum wears a simple dark red uniform with gold trim. The sleeveless outfit ends inside his short, heavy boots and remains unharmed after his scuffle with Atae.

  “That was better but not good enough,” Solum says. He notes the darkening sky through the foliage and Sul’s descent over the ever-darkening field. “It’s time to go home.”

  “But,” she says. “I’m not done.” Atae struggles to her knees, and Solum hides a smile at the youngling’s naïve determination. He knows one day her naivety and innocence will be lost in battle, and when she is ready, she will rise to be a great warrior. But not for several seasons still. Until then, it is his job to prepare her. For now, Solum kneels to help her to her feet.

  “Yes, you are,” he says. Atae leans on him and grumbles.

  “One day, I’m going to defeat you, Father.”

  “But not today. And not tomorrow morning. I must leave early.”

  Atae nods in acknowledgment as she steps away from him to gather herself. Watching her inspect her bruised face with gentle fingertips, Solum wonders how many times he’ll get to use today’s tactics before Atae devises a strategy against them.

  “What did you learn today?” Solum asks. Despite her tender injuries, Atae smiles at her father.

  “Not to let you throw me into the ground.” When Solum frowns, her smile falters, and she stands straight before answering.

  “Feku, I mean…Elder Warrior Feku lectured about the Ru-Kai crest. He said they are the noblest bloodline in the history of the Kaji Empire. They’ve ruled the longest.”

  As they trample through the field and into the nearby forest that will lead them back to the city, Atae stares ahead and imagines her future fighting for the empire. A smile spreads across her lips, and she glances up to find her father watching her.

  “One day, I will fight for the empire. I will be a great warrior,” Atae says.

  When they reach the forest edge, Solum stops and faces his daughter. Recognizing the grave, yet inspired, twist to his face, Atae blows out a breath and prepares for the impending lecture.

  “A warrior is nothing without honor, Atae,” he says. “It gives you courage and keeps you loyal. It defines you. It haunts you. And i
t strengthens you. I do not doubt that you are strong, but there are warriors far stronger. And you do not know the true meaning of strength. Not yet.”

  “I do know!”

  “Think, Atae. Imagine the strongest warrior you can, and remember it. Strive to be that warrior. You must always strive to be better. To be stronger. To be Kaji.”

  Seeing his daughter’s look of consternation, Solum nods and waits for her to consider his words. Atae bites her lip as she glances at him, then she closes her eyes with a resigned sigh. It doesn’t take much imagination to create a clear image of her strong warrior. He stands in the daylight with a stern expression, unafraid to face numerous enemies. He defeats them with powerful attacks and impenetrable defenses. The mighty warrior cannot be injured and laughs at any attempts to challenge him.

  When she opens her eyes, Solum stands across from her, waiting for her to continue on their trek homeward. As a swelling pride builds within her chest, she smiles at her perfect warrior. Solum raises an eyebrow but crosses his arms over his broad chest in satisfaction, then continues onward. Determined to follow in her father’s footsteps, Atae crosses her arms and stomps after him.

  Chapter 2

  Solum stands next to the throne room’s massive window and watches what remains of the asteroid disintegrate in a bright streak across the sky. The asteroid was detected last night and destroyed this morning when it came within the range of the planetary defenses. Ignoring the busy streets below, Solum peers around the majestic room with a bored sigh. Growing up in the royal palace, he’s accustomed to the lavish decoration and sparkling jewels. But of all the castles he’s visited throughout the empire, this one is, by far, the most beautiful. It is a testament to the growth of the Kaji Empire.

  Images etched into the stone and colored with jewels decorate every wall in the castle. They depict crucial moments or decisions in Kajian history, mostly gruesome battles. Earlier murals portray primitive and barbaric wars amongst the Kaji, but the most recent describe high-tech, but no less savage, conflicts with clashing interplanetary empires. The throne room depicts the ascension of the Ru-Kai family crest to power after Kruot Ru-Ghi led his men to victory centuries ago. He delivered the head of the enemy leader to Princess Skulta Fu-Kai as a token of affection for his new bride. While one wall illustrates the gruesome battle, the other depicts two family crests melding to form the Ru-Kai royal seal. It’s one moment in history that combined the two most powerful families into a new bloodline that would rule for centuries.

  The Ru-Ghi seal displays a fierce bird of prey with magnificent wings and deadly talons. The Fu-Kai seal illustrates the Kajian second form, a four-legged, massive, fur-covered beast with bladed tails and forelegs, in mid-attack. The two families joined to create the Ru-Kai royal seal. Etched into the stone above the two thrones, the seal depicts the beast in a protective stance with glorious, widespread wings erupting from its back. The Ru-Ghi warrior and the Fu-Kai princess promised to protect and strengthen the Kajian people when they took power. The dedication to that promise has kept the Ru-Kai royal family in power for centuries longer than any other before them.

  It is this promise that makes Solum proud to serve his queen and only slightly annoyed at her tardiness. He glances at the two giant marble thrones across the massive room and remembers the secret royal summons that changed everything. Even after nearly two decades, Solum remembers every detail of his conversation with the queen. Seventeen seasons are a drop in the ocean of time that rules the universe, but for the Kaji, this drop was a tidal wave of change. Change is never easy, but Solum and most of the citizens of Kaji recognize its necessity. Others fight tooth and nail to maintain the status quo.

  To fend off boredom while he waits, Solum activates his personal hologram and flicks his wrist in a memorized fashion until a small cube assembles in front of him. The head and shoulders of a Kajian female materialize inside the box with her name, Skiska, flashing underneath. The red ends of her course, long hair shim across her shoulders as she tilts her head in greeting, while the white roots frame her round face. With a dark, confident gaze, the holographic spokesperson presses her lips into a tight smile and speaks in a honeyed voice.

  “Yesterday, Queen Sula Ru-Kai and her son returned from their two-season campaign across Quadrant Four. Her Majesty’s work to systematically restructure the Kaji Empire seems to be proving fruitful as our economy slowly recovers.”

  The hologram shifts to an older Kajian male with a square jaw and deep-seated eyes. His name, Frack, also appears below him. His dark skin and eyes are typical for purebred Kaji, and his thick, white ponytail points in all directions. The lines of Frack’s face form a permanent scowl as he speaks with a loud voice.

  “It’s her fault the economy tanked, to begin with.” He jerks his head to the side and throws a hand into the air. “Queen Sula ended the war with no advance notice. After fighting for generations and building an empire around the strengths of our armies, she just signs a peace treaty and shuts down all our military factories.” The hologram reforms to display both commentators side-by-side.

  “Well, fifty percent of them…” Skiska says, but Frack interrupts.

  “And suddenly, our economy tanks!” Skiska narrows her eyes at her co-host as he fumes before she jerks her gaze back to the audience.

  “Queen Sula has made great efforts to rebuild the empire’s entire economic structure,” she says. “Almost immediately, she decreed the Sula Academy & Research Facility be built in the capital city of her home planet. I think we can all agree on the economic and social success of her first decree as queen regent. The multitude of her decrees that followed had varying degrees of success. Still, they all worked toward the same goal of not only stabilizing the imperial economy but also making it self-sustaining in this time of peace.”

  “Ha. And how long will this ‘time of peace’ last? We were at war with the Camille for generations. She can’t possibly believe the Kaji will forget the atrocities committed by the Camille?”

  “That, my dear Frack, we can agree on. It seems as though our queen’s latest policies, while economically beneficial, are detrimental to the Kajian culture. Even as the Camille continue to hide behind their galactic borders, the Setunn, Kips, and Runx have taken up shop on planets throughout the empire at Queen Sula’s insistence,” Skiska says. Frack snorts and rolls his eyes, but she continues unperturbed.

  “According to a recent study, about twenty-five percent of our latest generation of younglings are hybrids. That’s the highest it’s reached in Kajian history. On Queen Sula’s home planet, Planet Kaji, Capital City boasts a youngling population with just as many hybrids as purebred Kaji.”

  “Which is absurd. We are a race of warriors, not pacifists. I can guarantee that the majority of our viewers feel the dilution of our Kajian blood only weakens us as a species. The hybrids can’t shift-”

  “For the most part,” Skiska says.

  “They don’t have battle beasts. The few hybrids with alternative forms are not worth mentioning,” Frack says. Skiska nods her head with a shrug.

  “What do you think viewers? Are the Kaji growing weaker with each hybrid born? Has Queen Sula Ru-Kai done enough to repair the damage to our economy? Be sure to voice your opinions in our comment sections.”

  “Next time, we’ll be discussing the prince’s latest debacle and just what we can expect from the Ru-Kai heir in the coming seasons,” says Frack. He waves goodbye, and Skiska flashes a sparkling smile.

  “Well, that should be a lively debate,” she says. “Until next time, right here on the Skiska and Frack channel.”

  As the holographic image of Skiska and Frack disperses and reshapes into a list of viewer comment posts, Solum waves away the personal hologram. The royal advisor isn’t interested in the opinions of other Kaji at the moment. Instead, he reminisces about the intergalactic war that spanned generations and shaped the Kaji Empire. Solum remembers with fondness the battle stories that his father and grandfather told him
as a youngling. He idolized them and strived to exemplify their courage and strength during his training. It wasn’t until his bid for citizenship that he realized the real merit of his sires. Their stories of ambushes and crafty war strategies fueled his imagination and shaped him into a master strategist fit to advise the royal family. At the side of the king and queen, Solum led fifteen armies of the Kaji Empire against the Camille.

  King Uta and Queen Sula led the latest generation to continue the never-ending war. The walls of the palace detailed thousands upon thousands of gruesome battles that cost millions of Kajian lives. Solum doesn’t know why his ancestors declared war on the most powerful empire in the known universe and condemned their offspring to the laws of battle. He suspects that no one alive remembers their initial reasons for war, but Solum remembers his reasons for fighting. Even now, Solum struggles to curb his hatred for the Camille as he remembers the destruction of his homeworld. Solum was young and still learning the realities of war when his entire family, all seven generations of his crest, were obliterated, along with three billion other lives. He will never forget what the Camille took from him, and he will never offer forgiveness. But his life no longer revolves around the war. Thanks to his queen, Solum’s life now revolves around one fuchsia-eyed youngling, and he couldn’t be happier.

  With a small smile, he shifts next to the glass wall overlooking Capital City and its surrounding mountains. Early morning light basks everything in a red haze as Solis reigns supreme in the cloudless sky. Bright sparks shower the atmosphere as small fragments of the asteroid break apart and disintegrate in the atmosphere. It won’t be long before Cerule’s blue light breaches the horizon and begins the morning dance with Solis.

  When the large decorative doors swing open, Solum spins in time to watch Queen Sula arrive opposite the grand stairway. Her guards enter first and proceed to their appointed positions throughout the room while scanning the area for threats. Their movements are deliberate and graceful from seasons of repetition. Solum admires their tight formations, expecting no less from the queen’s guard.