by S. E. Smith
She turned when Ash swung the walking stick away from her throat and tossed it in the direction of Kubo’s guard. The old man reached out his hand and grabbed it before his guard could. An inelegant snort escaped her. Ash was right; the old man must be tricking them about his vision impairment because Kubo saw far more than most.
“So, what will it be? A kiss or a truce?” Ash asked.
“I want you to teach me how to fight like you do. You are good, even if I did go easy on you,” she retorted with a mischievous grin, not answering his question.
Ash raised an eyebrow. She could see the doubt reflected in his eyes. Curious, she slid her hands up his chest to his shoulders.
“That wasn’t part of the deal,” he pointed out.
Kella rose up until her lips were a breath away from his. “Please,” she whispered, gazing into his eyes.
His eyes widened. “Damn, woman, but you make it hard to resist. Yes,” he said.
Kella grinned. It felt odd and unfamiliar. She couldn’t remember the last time she smiled – in fact, she wasn’t sure she had ever smiled before. A sense of freedom and a curious sense of playfulness flooded her. Leaning forward, she pressed her lips to his before quickly stepping back in excitement.
“Now? You will teach me now?” she asked.
“You are….” Ash started to say before he paused and drew in a deep breath. “Yes, we’ll have our first lesson now.”
Several hours later, Ash groaned and sank down next to Kubo. He couldn’t resist releasing another moan just for good measure when his muscles protested. He sat back, closed his eyes, and ignored the old man’s soft chuckle.
“You know, it is probably not wise to teach a Turbinta how to fight like you do. There is always the chance that the master may one day be defeated by the pupil,” Kubo said.
“Tell me about it. Kella is a fast learner,” Ash retorted, wincing when he pressed against his ribs. “I think I have a bruise.”
Kubo’s loud laughter echoed through the room. Several people paused and smiled at them before resuming what they were doing. Ash gazed around the area and sighed. A group of men and women chatted while they cleared the remains of the dinner. The enormous hall was used for both dining and socializing. Four sections of long tables sat in the center of the room with benches and chairs placed around them for after dinner talks. It would appear the Torrians were a very social species.
“Greetings, Aston Haze,” Natta greeted.
Ash grinned up at Natta. “Hi Natta. I was wondering where you were. I haven’t seen you around the last few days,” he replied, gingerly sitting up straighter in his seat.
“There are many places that need my attention at the moment,” Natta replied, sitting down next to her father.
“You made good time,” Kubo murmured.
Natta glanced at Ash before she replied. “I wanted to see for myself if it was true,” she replied in a quiet tone.
“If what was true?” Ash asked.
Natta hesitated; her gaze was focused on a woman walking toward them with a drink in each hand. His gaze followed Natta’s and softened. It would appear that Kella came bearing a drink as a way of saying she was sorry for kicking his ass – though he’d never admit that she had.
“Drink. It will help hide your pain,” Kella said, holding out the green liquor and sitting down next to him.
“Hide it or make it better?” Ash teased, taking the glass and looking suspiciously at the liquid in it. “What is it?”
“Tusku pissata,” Kella replied.
Ash sniffed it and shrugged. It smelled like alcohol. He took a sip. A hoarse cough escaped him when it burned a path down his throat. He lifted a hand to wipe at the moisture that formed in his eyes and shook his head.
Hell, if I finish this, I won’t be feeling anything, he thought.
He watched in disbelief as Kella tipped her glass and swallowed half the liquid in a single gulp. She wiped a hand across her mouth and sat back with a satisfied smile on her face. Ash glanced down at his glass and lowered it. The fire that had been in his throat was now burning in his stomach.
“What is Tusku pissata?” he asked in a hoarse voice. “I mean, I know it is your form of liquor, but this stuff is more like one hundred proof moonshine.”
“Tusku are very large beasts on Tesla Terra. They are very mean,” Natta laughed.
“Pissata is piss. A trader many years ago discovered if you fermented their urine and mixed it with some of the grains from the plants here, it makes strong liquor. It is a favorite among the travelers here at the Spaceport and only made here,” Kella explained.
“You mean, I just drank some animal’s urine?” Ash asked in disgust.
“How do you know about the Tusku Pissata?” Natta asked.
Ash turned in surprised at the bite to Natta’s voice. She was staring at Kella. He glanced at Kella. She appeared relaxed, but he saw her left hand drop down to her side and she fingered the handle of one of the blades she wore. He dropped his hand down and covered hers. She stiffened for a moment before she relaxed.
“It is a popular drink,” Kella replied.
“Natta has discovered where Hutu and those with them have gone,” Kubo announced with a proud grin.
Natta snorted in disapproval at her father’s enjoyment. “There will be repercussions from Hutu’s act, Father.”
Ash started to set his drink down, but Kella drained her glass and reached for his. He handed it to her with a skeptical shake of his head before returning his attention to Natta. She glanced suspiciously at Kella before she reluctantly continued.
“Word is spreading that Hutu and two others boarded General Landais’ Battle Cruiser,” Natta said.
“Whoa, is that the really bad-ass guy for the Legion?” Ash asked in disbelief.
Kubo chuckled while Natta just nodded. “Packu de Rola was captured. He is the eldest son of Jemar de Rola, a former Knight of the Gallant Order and close friend of Hutu. Jemar and his youngest son, Jesup, were murdered by the Legion and their vineyard was burned to the ground. Rumor has it that the Legion commander found a capsule and is searching for its contents. Those contents, in the form of a stranger from another world, defeated the Legion forces and killed the commander before he and Cassa de Rola escaped over the mountains to where my son lived,” Kubo explained.
“The capsule… It must have been Josh’s…. But… How did they end up here?” Ash asked, searching Kubo and Natta’s faces.
“The signal from your capsule was tracked to the desert. Hutu recognized the significance of it. He would also need to hide Cassa and the stranger – Josh – from the Legion. He came here to find you. We are also the eyes and ears of the galaxy. Jeslean is the original home of the Gallant Order, but the Legion has all but isolated it from the rest of the star systems. A new, temporary headquarters was established on one of the moons orbiting Tesla Terra,” Kubo continued.
“Father…,” Natta murmured, glancing again at Kella. “Perhaps we should not be discussing this here.”
Kella drained the second glass and placed it on the table with a loud thump. She pulled her hand away from Ash and stood up. He started to rise, but she held her hand out for him to stay where he was.
“I have things to do. I will be in the quarters you assigned me,” Kella said.
“Kella…,” Ash murmured, reaching out a hand to her.
She turned to look at him with a cool expression that faded when she saw he was genuinely concerned. Once again, he saw a flash of emotion in her eyes, as if she wasn’t sure what to do. She shook her head.
“I will speak with you later,” she promised before turning and walking away.
Ash watched her go, a slow anger burning inside him. He had seen the looks of suspicion and distrust cast at Kella over the last two days. Whatever issue people had with Kella, they would have to get over it. Ash drew in a deep, calming breath and redirected his attention to Kubo and Natta. There were certain battles he needed to pick, and this was not o
ne of them – yet.
“What the hell is going on?” Ash demanded.
Kubo sat back in his seat. “Hutu, Cassa, and Josh stole a Legion supply ship, boarded General Landais’ personal Battle Cruiser, and freed Packu de Rola from the prison cells aboard it before disabling the Battle Cruiser and escaping.”
Ash blinked, absorbing what Kubo just said. He knew that move. It was a classic military strategy studied by students in middle school. Hell, he and Josh used the same principle once during a mission.
“The Trojan Horse,” he chuckled with a shake of his head. “He used the damn Trojan Horse to get on board.”
“You recognize how they were able to accomplish such a thing?” Natta asked in surprise.
Ash nodded. “Hell, yeah. Josh and I did the same damn thing on one of our missions back home. We caught holy hell for it, but we got the men out from behind enemy lines, so we got a medal for it too,” he replied.
A sense of relief and excitement built inside him. For the first time, the realization washed through him that at least one other member of the Gliese had made it. Yes, he had known that the description of the man sounded like Josh, but there was still that feeling of disbelief. This daring act, though, was a classic maneuver from their past.
“I need a way to this moon you were talking about,” Ash said.
Kubo released a sigh. “I agree, but it will be dangerous. Come, walk with me, Ashton Haze,” Kubo said, rising from his seat.
“Father…,” Natta began, standing as well.
“All will be fine, Natta,” Kubo reassured his daughter.
Natta bowed her head. “If you say so,” she murmured. “I will say good rest to you both.”
“Goodnight, Natta,” Ash said, standing and waiting for Kubo.
Ash silently followed Kubo out of the dining area and through a maze of tunnels. The elaborate passages wound for miles and miles under the surface of the planet. Most of the tunnels were carved by the underground rivers, while others were expanded by centuries of Torrians living in the naturally created caverns.
The rooms where he was staying were in the dwellings of Kubo and his extended family. Ash ran his gaze over the paintings and sculptures decorating the walls and rooms. Most of them appeared to depict the history of the Torrians. He paused when he saw one that showed a dozen men, each standing with long staffs in their hands and wearing elegant robes.
“What do you see?” Kubo asked, stopping in the corridor when he sensed Ash’s hesitation.
Ash studied the illustration. “Honestly? It’s like something out of a movie or from the time of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table,” he replied.
Kubo released a sigh. “I am the third one from the right,” he said in a quiet voice.
“You! You were a Knight of the Gallant Order?” Ash asked in surprise, turning to look at Kubo.
“I was not always old, Ashton Haze, or blind. How do you think Hutu learned to be a knight? There were twelve of us, then; far fewer than there were before our time. We were the guardians of the Gallant Order. Our mission was to oversee the peace among the different worlds under our protection. We trained our sons and daughters to follow in our footsteps. Hutu is my eldest child and became a Knight of the Gallant order at a very young age. I am training Natta. She is still young, but grows more skilled each day,” Kubo murmured, staring at the wall as if he could see the images painted on the stone.
“What happened?” Ash asked.
“Peace… and a belief that the Knights of the Gallant Order were no longer needed to serve the council. The culture of the Knights was abandoned by most of the new ruling class. This movement was led by a young counselor. Soon, the Knights began to die in mysterious accidents. Those who resisted found they were not the only targets, but their families were as well,” Kubo murmured.
Ash could hear the sound of grief mixed in Kubo’s voice. He turned to gaze at the painting. There was something powerful in it, noble and majestic.
“They came after your family?” Ash quietly asked.
Kubo nodded. “Hutu was not my only son,” he replied, turning away from the painting. “Come.”
Ash followed Kubo down the passage to the end where a large set of carved doors blocked them from going farther. Kubo held out his walking stick to Ash. Ash gripped the stick and watched Kubo unlock the door using an old key. He held out the walking stick to Kubo and stepped back when the other man pulled the door open.
Behind the doors was a large cavern with a vaulted ceiling. Dim lights came on, lighting the area as they walked forward. Ash quickly realized that this was a catacomb. He shivered when an icy draft swirled around him. The temperature in the room was cold enough that he could see his breath when he exhaled.
“What are we doing here?” he asked.
Kubo continued walking down the aisle between the sarcophagi. Ash ran his gaze over the walls as they threaded their way deeper into the room. He could see small lights glowing from those buried in crypts along the walls of the cavern. He returned his attention to a large sarcophagus placed at an angle in the center of the room. It took a moment for Ash to realize that all the center sarcophagi were placed in a circular formation.
He swallowed when Kubo laid a trembling hand on the carved top. Kubo released a sigh before dropping his hand and moving to the next tomb. Ash glanced at the face of the figure on the first one and realized it was of a woman.
“My mate,” Kubo said before Ash could ask. “And our son.”
Ash stepped closer to look at the mask that was created in the likeness of Kubo’s son. He looked a lot like the old man, but younger. The figure was wearing a cloak similar to those in the painting. His hands were folded, but in between them was a metal pole which Ash recognized immediately as one of the staffs the Knights carried.
Kubo’s hand ran along the tomb, gently tracing the features of the carved image before continuing down its side. When he reached the staff, he pulled it free. Ash watched Kubo turn the elegantly detailed cylinder of metal in his hands before he held it out to Ash.
“This belongs to you, Ashton Haze,” Kubo said.
Ash took a step back. “Kubo… I can’t…,” he started to protest.
Kubo’s finger slid over it and he reached for Ash’s hand. Ash felt Kubo’s cold fingers wrap around his right wrist. His gaze followed Kubo as the old man placed the cylinder in the palm of his hand. His fingers closed around the metal. Ash jerked when he felt a slight shock from the staff.
“It is now yours, Ashton Haze. You must accept your place in this world – and your position as a Knight of the Gallant Order,” Kubo said.
“Kubo… This isn’t my fight,” Ash protested, shaking his head back and forth even as he gripped the Staff in his hand.
Kubo’s eyes glistened and his voice trembled. This was uncharacteristic of the old man who almost always had a mischievous expression on his face. Ash could feel his head shaking back and forth even as he gripped the staff in his hand.
“Would you leave our world without hope? The Legion has attacked Jeslean. It is a peaceful world, home of the Ancient Gallant Order, and of the Gallant ruling council. Director Andronikos ordered the destruction of the major cities, including the capital. Hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women, and children of all species were brutally killed without warning. Andronikos has made a statement to all the star systems; he will wipe out any who try to resist him, and hurt the innocent in order to strike fear in the hearts of those who stand against him.” Kubo drew in a breath, and when he spoke again, his voice was infused with a quiet strength. “You and your friends bring hope. You have awakened a force that will not be extinguished.”
Ash swallowed. He looked around the dim interior before his gaze settled on the tomb of Kubo’s son and Knight of the Gallant Order. Ash said this wasn’t his war, but his and Josh’s presence had already ignited a firestorm. Josh’s involvement in a mission demonstrated that he wasn’t backing down and hiding. It had never been their
way.
“I never did like dictators or bullies,” Ash said.
“I did not think you would. Now, I will show you how a Knight of the Gallant fights,” Kubo replied.
Kubo walked by him, the old man’s hand reaching out to run along the tomb of his mate. With a silent expletive, Ash followed Kubo out of the cavern.
15
Several hours later, Ash walked the corridors. His mind was buzzing from everything he learned. Sleep was the last thing he felt like doing at the moment.
Kubo had shown him how the Staff worked. The shock he felt was a way of imprinting the device to his specific genetic markers. Kubo explained that each Staff was programmed for a specific user. It could be passed down, but in order to do so safely, the original owner or another Knight must pass the Staff on to the new member. This ensured the technology behind it remained a secret.
Ash spent several hours learning how the Staff worked. It shocked and amazed him – two things he should be over by now. Hell, those two feelings had been with him since he first woke up in the desert.
Lifting a hand, he ran it over his damp hair. He had gone back to his room, showered, and tried to sleep, but it had been impossible. After an hour of tossing and turning, he gave up, dressed, and decided a long walk might help. It took a few minutes to realize that his feet were taking him in the direction of Kella’s quarters.
He slowed when he neared the door to her room. He was surprised to find it partially open. He raised his hand to knock, but froze when he saw her doing one of the katas he showed her earlier. She was wearing a short, tan top with low hanging wide-bottom pants similar to those he saw some of the women here wearing.
Swallowing, he quietly stood watching her. There was one part she was having trouble with and kept repeating. His lips twitched when she released a growl of frustration and stomped her feet before moving back into position to try again.
Unable to just observe, he quietly stepped into the room and moved up behind her. Copying her stance, he extended his arm, allowing her to see him before he slid his hand along her arm and moved it back ever so slightly so that her elbow was closer to her side. He pressed his body against hers so he could lead her.