The Black Guard

by C. R. Daems

  "You make a good advisor, Captain, but I can’t afford to keep you forever." She smiled. "Let’s try it."

  * * *

  The talks were convened two days later at the insistence of the UF, with a hint that Suryah’s actions bordered on war. The meeting was held in the administration building. I met Kelebek in her office and accompanied her to the meeting.

  "Gentlemen, this is Captain Sapir of the Black Guard. I’ve invited her to give you the status of the prisoners," Kelebek said as she sat.

  "She’s a wanton killer—" A dark-skinned man stood, pointing a finger at me. I laughed, interrupting his grandstanding.

  "Thirty-one of the cowards surrendered without firing a shot. They don’t have a scratch. They didn’t even get their uniforms dirty. I expected two or three hundred of your elite troops. That would have been interesting," I said. The UF delegation had two men and a woman. The men were middle-aged, dressed in suits and ties—professional politicians. The woman looked younger, mid-thirties, also dressed in a dark suit but with a matching skirt and open-neck, white-silk blouse. She was sneering at me.

  "Then we will send a thousand troops with air support," she said.

  "Interesting, Miss?"

  "Haeckel," she said, still smirking.

  "Well, Miss Haeckel, I believe the Captain in the Jax cruiser orbiting this planet will consider that an act of war against the Jax. In that case, those that survive the encounter with the Black Guard will return to a stone age continent." I stared into her eyes. "Your twenty-first century Earth technology won’t last as long as that bunch of amateurs you sent against the Black Guard." I turned and left the room, smiling after the door closed behind me. I didn’t know what Captain Blatt would do and it didn’t matter. What mattered was what the UF delegation thought. I loved the book, "The art of War." Although written thousands of years ago, Sun Tzu’s wisdom was as valid today as then.

  * * *

  I stood with Imum Kelebek and General Zogby just outside the empty Compound 7 where two Jax combat shuttles sat waiting to return us to the Crouching Tiger.

  "They jumped at my generous offer to return their people and only gave token resistance to signing the written apology. I had thought the Jax unreasonably expensive, but I was desperate. I was wrong about the Jax and the cost." She gave a soft laugh. "I promise not to tell the UF that you’re not the heartless, wanton killer they think you are. Thank you, Captain Sapir. I believe you’ve given me a couple of years’ breathing room."

  I gave a small bow, and entered the shuttle. It had been a good assignment—not one of my team had been killed, we fulfilled our contract to the client’s satisfaction, and as a bonus thwarted an aggressor state. I looked forward to returning home and seeing my sister.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Avivo: Family and Buddhism

  A wave of contentment washed over me as I exited the shuttle and saw Hada’s smiling face.

  "Dragon Attali," I shouted when I saw the red dragon on her collar, grabbed her around the waist and swung her in a circle.

  "Thanks to you, sister. I was trying to please my father, his dream for me. I love him, but you helped me realize I must pursue my own dream, not his. Sounds strange since they appear the same, but ironically, they are like night and day. Although they may end at similar destinations, the paths are different." She held me by my shoulders and gave me a puppy-dog look. "You have after-action leave coming… Will you come with me to meet my parents? Please."

  "How could I refuse that little girl lost look you’ve been practicing all week?"

  "Just a couple of days," she laughed and hooked her arm in mine as we walked down to the officer level. "The rumors about you at Faithful run the gamut. I’m not waiting for the formal review. You’re going to give your dragon sister a detailed report."

  "After dinner, I’m starved," I said, looking forward to sitting up most of the night talking, snacking, and laughing like young, carefree children.

  * * *

  I stood in the front row, at a relaxed attention with my Suryah team to the right of me. In the rows behind us stood unassigned Guards and behind them the present candidates. Dragon Tzadok, Hada, and several instructors sat in chairs on the raised platform. Commander Wexler stood in front of the microphone.

  "This is a critique of the Jax contract on the planet Faithful, which began on the tenth of Janus in the year 1159 of the Jax calendar," He began. "The assignment was unusual, in that we were asked to guard prisoners—both unusual and suspicious. Captain Sapir was able to determine our client had thought her adversary, the United Freelands, would destroy the Guard and that would incite the Jax to seek retribution against the UF, proving people will do many things they wouldn’t otherwise do when under great stress. When she confessed her intention, Captain Sapir agreed to continue the contract if the client would cooperate. The United Freeland did attempt a rescue of their captives using overwhelming force, which the Black Guard defeated without a single loss." He took a drink of water while scanning the assembled troops.

  "The lesson here is a reinforcement of our basic training: you cannot know enough about your client and those he comes in contact with. Because Captain Sapir was able to get the client to be honest, she was able to prepare for the worst case scenario and avoid a potential disaster." He laughed. "And she’s raised the bar on our already high standards higher. At Lanzhou she told the army captain facing five-to-one odds, ’I’m not going to let some want-to-be rebels demonstrate to the universe that the Jax can be beaten by rabble with a piffling ten-to-one odds,’ which the army is repeating rather frequently lately. At Faithful, the UF negotiators threatened they would send a thousand troops with air support against the Black Guard. Captain Sapir told them, ’few would survive the encounter with the Black Guard to return home.’ The irony is that people are becoming reluctant to test us. It’s a weapon we can and should use."

  * * *

  "I’m excited, Rivka." Hada shook my arm to get my attention. We had been traveling for over eight hours. First on the shuttle service the Guard ran from Sasser Mountain to the city of Cordo, then public air transportation to Avivo, and now a skimmer to the other side of the city where her parents owned a small clothing store and temple devoted to teaching old-Earth Tibetan Buddhism. Unlike the flat land surrounding Hadera where I grew up, Avivo was located in the foothills of a mountain range. The architecture was different, and I found the sights fascinating.

  "I’m looking forward to meeting him. You’ve talked about him so often over the years I feel I know him, although I couldn’t recognize him if I saw him," I said, not sure what to expect from this visit. I hoped it was all Hada wanted. Years could color our perceptions, especially those of a six-year-old child.

  "It’s been so long… And I was so young," Hada murmured, mirroring my thoughts. The skimmer settled down at a taxi-pad near a narrow street filled with mostly white two and three-story houses made with yellow and white brick. That would have been dreary except for the elaborate red, blue, and gold trim surrounding the windows, doors, and roofs. We made our way down the street, receiving smiles and bows but strangely not the stares I would have expected, since we were in uniform.

  "They don’t seem surprised. Do they see lots of military here?" I asked when my curiosity finally overcame me.

  "They are mostly Buddhist in this part of town… actually most of this city. They tend to be a happy people content with a simple life. They see us as people, not soldiers or strangers or portents of something bad," Hada said, dropping a coin in the wooden bowl a young man dressed in a yellow robe was holding. But before I could ask she shouted, "There, Rivka, my parents’ house."

  It was a beautiful, square, two-story building made of a yellowish-brick. The door and windows were surrounded by black frames, and the windows outlined in red with a blue head piece and colorful inscriptions. A gold-colored roof covered a porch with a blue and red railing, which was centered over the front door. Maroon brick, about a meter wide, formed a border
just below the roof-line.

  Hada stood looking up at the house for a long time, her eyes moist. "It’s just like I remember." Then she walked up to the door and knocked. A girl about Hada’s height answered the door.

  "Hada’s home!" she shouted, grabbing her in a hug and dragging her into the house, while waving me in. Soon a small middle-aged woman, another younger woman, and a well-built middle-aged man joined us. I stood back as they exchanged hugs and kisses.

  "Everyone, my adopted sister, Rivka," Hada said, pointing in my direction. To my astonishment, they all turned towards me and bowed. I bowed back.

  "Excuse us, Dragon Rivka, it has been a long time since we have seen our daughter and Lui and Mei their sister. I’m Jian and my wife, Daiyu. You are welcome as our adopted daughter."

  "Thank you and I understand. It has been many years, and you and Hada have much to catch up." I said, content to wait and watch. The discussions went on late into the night as Hada talked about her experiences and answered the many questions. Her younger sister, Lui, was interested in everything, Mei less so although happy to see Hada. The love in her father and mother’s eyes was unmistakable. Hada had been right. Her parents had not selected her to go because she was the least wanted. They loved her. I was content with my life… But I couldn’t help feeling sad for that little girl who had never known that love.

  * * *

  It was a fun week, and I was included in all the activities like a fourth sister or daughter. When I showed an interest, Jian spent a considerable amount of time discussing Buddhism. Ironically, it seemed close to the requirement for attaining dragon in the Guard, except Buddhists were against killing anything.

  "Yes, Rivka, that was the hardest part for me in the Guard. Killing is against one of the five main Precepts—not to take the life of anything living. The best I could do was to avoid killing whenever the other person wasn’t trying to kill me or a client or could be subdued without lethal force. Though I must admit, I’m at peace now that I no longer have to make those decisions." He was quiet for a long time. "I’ve come to the conclusion as I grow older and hopefully wiser, those of us in the Jax military live in accordance with the Buddhist Percepts so long as we do not kill out of hate or glory or pleasure."

  I laughed quietly. "I understand why you chose Hada and gave her the dragon dream. Buddhism strives to attain happiness in this life through peace of mind. That’s exactly what is necessary to attain dragon in the Guard, and you thought Hada was the most likely to achieve it." As I talked, he nodded softly. "I owe you my thanks for giving me a sister I love and a religion worth following."

  * * *

  The entire family walked us back to the taxi-skimmer pad the last day. They had made me feel like a real daughter and sister by the end of our week’s leave. Everyone gave me hugs and kisses.

  "Rivka, you are welcome in our home as our daughter anytime you wish to visit or stay," Jian said and Daiyu gave me another hug.

  "I would like that. Thank you," I choked out, tears in my eyes, as I followed Hada into the taxi.

  "You have a lovely family, Hada," I said as the taxi raced across the city. "I’m glad you dragged me along."

  "They’re your family now. They all loved you, and I see my father is trying to convert you to Buddhism," she said, pointing to the book I had sitting on my lap.

  "After hours talking with him, I think Buddhism may be a religion I could believe in, so I thought I’d like to learn more about it. Ironically, dragons seek a similar peace to the Buddhists. Maybe that was his real dream for you, Hada," I said, my eyes unfocused in thought. Hada gave me a hug.

  "A dream we shall pursue together."

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Halo: The Magistrates of the Halo Alliance

  I was sorry to leave Avivo but was glad to be back to Sasser Mountain, which had become my home and life—one I’d come to love. Part of each day was devoted to staying mentally and physically sharp. That meant time at the shooting range with every weapon, bouts with whoever was available, reading the most recent action reports as well as reviewing old ones, and conducting training exercises with those Guards not currently on assignment. And working with Hada on the whip, in which she had taken a renewed interest after hearing me describe my experience with it. Consequently, the days were full, and I loved every minute of every day, particularly when Hada was on station with me.

  I spent time each evening reading the books Jian had given me on Buddhism but hadn’t reached any conclusions. I actually agreed with the four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path which was the foundation of Buddhism, and the moral code given in the five Precepts—using Jian’s modification of the first Precepts about not killing a living thing. But I still hadn’t formed an opinion about wrathful deities, prayer wheels, mandalas, or Tara. Were they symbols to focus one’s actions or just crutches?

  * * *

  "Captain Sapir, Captain Attali, Commander Wexler would like to see you," Corporal Dorn, his aide, said as he carefully approached Hada and me. He had found us in our usual meditation place on the side of the mountain. Today the swirling wind created a mist blowing in our direction. Although it had my uniform damp and my hair plastered to my head, it created a strange feeling of being between worlds as described in the Tibetan Book of the Dead.

  I rose, feeling relaxed and refreshed and along with Hada followed Dorn back to Wexler’s office where Dobrin and Tzadok sat waiting.

  Wexler shook his head when he saw us. "Sit. I have an assignment which is nontraditional and therefore best suited for a dragon. My problem is not only that the situation is nontraditional, but because of its high profile client, it will attract galaxy attention on the Black Guard and… Each of you makes me nervous in a different way. It’s giving me a blinding headache."

  "Put the numbers between one and twelve on a sheet of paper and have us each select three sheets. Roll two dice, add the numbers on the dice, and the person with the matching number gets the assignment," Dorbin said, smiling.

  "Thank you, Dragon Dorbin. That would be random, but it wouldn’t relieve me of the responsibility and most likely it would make me worry more, knowing I took the coward’s way out." He took a drink from his glass of red wine while glaring at each of us in turn.

  "What’s the assignment?" Tzadok asked. "Maybe we can help you decide."

  "That’s why you’re here." Wexler frowned. "Captain Gasparo has long been sought by the Halo Thirty Alliance, HTA, for acts of piracy, murder, and other felonies too long to list. He has always maintained he’s a mercenary and acted under the direction of legitimate planet governments. A few weeks ago the HTA Navy captured him, quite by accident. He is being brought to Halo, the capital of the alliance, and will be tried by the Supreme Tribunal. Captain Gasparo has his supporters among the alliance and enemies. There are groups who would like to have him killed, who want him to stand trial, and who would like to help him escape. Halo feels its military is normally capable of protecting high security prisoners, but because Gasparo is such a controversial individual and emotions on all sides are so explosive, they think it would be better if an outside group provided his security."

  "In other words, they aren’t sure they can trust their troops," Dorbin said, grinning.

  "Or they don’t want their own troops killed protecting him," Hada said, frowning.

  Wexler nodded. "What makes it worse is that he must be transported to and from the tribunal building and guarded during an open trial."

  "No wonder you have a headache," Dorbin interjected. He had been with the Guard for over fifteen years, and while he respected Wexler and his position, he wasn’t afraid to express his opinion. "It’s a win-win situation if an outside group is responsible for Gasparo’s security. The council can take the credit if everything goes right. If not, they can blame the outside group, and if the outside group is the Black Guard, no one can accuse them of not hiring the best."

  I agreed. Lanzhou and Faithful had been good examples that there was more than one
reason to hire the Jax. The Jax could provide cover for political schemes and a way to avoid responsibility.

  "Exactly, Dorbin. Although no one expects the Guard to be perfect, the murder of a high-profile person like Gasparo would be viewed differently—as an inability to protect important people in critical situations. It would be a major blow to the Guard’s reputation, could impact future contracts, and might taint other Jax units."

  "I guess it won’t help if the Dragon-in-charge dies in the process." Tzadok gave a wry laugh. "Or you hang him if he lives through the assassination."

  "No, you know as well as I do, our clients don’t care about us. Our reputation is judged only by the final result," Wexler said, taking another drink.

  "Sounds like a job for Sapir. She’s had practice guarding prisoners," Tzadox said, grinning at me.

  "Does that mean you don’t want the assignment, Tzadox?" Wexler snorted. "Sapir’s last assignment was guarding prisoners but the situations are not the same. Faithful didn’t care if the prisoners died. Halo, on the other hand, would like Gasparo to stand trial. You are all eligible for this assignment. My dilemma is finding the one I’ll feel the most comfortable sending." He stared at each of us for several minutes before continuing. "Why don’t each of you explain what you see as the solution to protecting Gasparo. Send it to me via your Mfi." He sighed and sat back with his eyes closed, like a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

  I saw only one solution, so I typed it on my Mfi and sent it to him. His eyes jerked open when his Mfi alerted him to a message. He scanned my message and leaned back again with eyes closed. I did the same. The final decision was Wexler’s, not mine, and I didn’t care one way or the other. The fourth time he looked at his Mfi, some fifteen minutes later, he nodded and sat up straight in his chair.