by T. A. White
Because of the planet's remoteness and his home's isolation—even from other fundamentalists—they'd gotten away with behavior that might have been considered criminal if it had happened anywhere else.
In the early days of space flight, Earth had come up with a codex of laws, one of which was that you couldn't interfere in another planet's recognized religion, no matter how abhorrent the spiritual practices were.
Then the war came—and not even his people's tightly held faith had saved them. Raider took advantage and used the opportunity for a new beginning.
He didn't often speak of his childhood, but from what little Kira had gathered, it had been harsh.
Loudon's expression was thoughtful as he considered Raider's question. "You could loosely interpret it that way."
Raider's lip curled slightly, but he held his opinions inside.
Nonetheless, Kira was careful to keep an eye on him. While she might have understood Raider's deep-seated suspicion of all things religious, she also knew he tended to sabotage himself.
The last thing he or Blue needed was to alienate their hosts. They had no idea how deeply ingrained religion was to the Tuann's daily life. On some planets, bad mouthing the faith could get you executed. On others, they'd take it in stride. Kira didn’t know which category Ta Sa’Riel fell under.
Loudon glanced at the three of them. "It would be more accurate to say I am a guide for the Tuann's sense of identity."
Blue's face scrunched up as her attention focused on him. "What do you mean?"
Kira found herself interested as well.
Loudon's head tilted. "We don't believe in gods in the same way humans do."
Something in Raider relaxed. He listened rather than assumed.
"Ki is the building block that connects everything in the universe," Loudon said. "I interpret the ki’s will. Provide counsel when needed and act as the keeper of our history."
Kira didn't get it, but she didn't need to. There was a serenity in Loudon as he spoke. It was enough to know he believed wholeheartedly. It wasn't her place to question or poke holes.
By then they'd reached the foot of the fortress, a tall curtain wall surrounding its exterior.
"Woah," Blue said softly, echoing Kira's sentiments as her head tilted so she could take in the imposing structure.
The perimeter wall stood impossibly tall; the towers of the fortress barely visible over its top. The surface was flat and seamless, with no evidence pointing to stones being stacked one on top of each other to create its structure. Unrelenting black stretched unbroken in either direction.
The only evidence of imperfection was regularly spaced, shadowy holes that Kira couldn't figure out.
"Where's the door?" Raider asked, breaking into her observations.
Loudon stepped forward and raised a palm. He touched his hand to the wall and spoke a word. An invisible force thrummed, stroking Kira's senses. A door appeared, revealing a courtyard on the other side.
Loudon stepped to the side, clasping his hands behind his back. "No matter how heavily guarded, a door will always be a point of weakness. We've found eliminating them to be the most expedient solution."
A squeak of glee escaped Blue as she moved toward the wall, her hand uplifted, and her expression blazing with fervid curiosity.
"Touching is not advised," Loudon informed her.
Blue drew back, just shy of touching, regarding Loudon with an interested frown.
He nodded at the wall. "This is our first line of defense. By successfully completing the Trek of the Weary, you're given admittance and are allowed to pass within. However, you will need someone from Roake to allow you to come and go. I wouldn't suggest attempting to climb the wall. There are defenses within to prevent anyone but one of us from gaining entrance."
Kira gazed at those holes with a newfound respect. They were a weapon of some kind. She was sure of it.
Knowing the Tuann, it would be deceptively powerful.
"While simply touching the wall once isn't likely to kill you, I am told the experience is unpleasant," Loudon continued.
Raider shifted his duffel bag on his shoulder. "I'm beginning to see the resemblance between you and these people. You both are paranoid and obsessed with security."
Blue nodded enthusiastically.
Kira didn't bother arguing, though she could make a case for Roake taking her paranoia to the next level. She couldn't help her admiration as she took in the perimeter wall. If a few human cities had defenses like these during the war, her job might not have been so damn difficult, and there might not have been so many casualties.
She took in the top of the wall. Then again, maybe not. The Tsavitee would likely have flown right over it.
"What happens if someone attacks from the sky?" Blue asked.
Loudon's lips curled, the devious smile making her question whether Tuann heralds were really that peaceful.
"They may try." He gestured to the door. "Welcome to the Fortress of the Vigilant."
"Yup, definitely seeing a family resemblance," Raider muttered as he moved past Kira. "They're as welcoming as you."
Blue quickly followed, leaving Kira, Finn, and Loudon bringing up the rear.
Kira paused as she got her first close view of the fortress. It was every bit as intimidating as her glimpse from a distance had suggested.
The fortress was massive. Its own city, much as the Citadel had been. What she'd thought was one structure turned out to be many. Wide at the bottom, countless smaller towers and buildings branched off the main one as it reached high into the sky.
Standing next to it, Kira felt small and young. The fortress seemed ancient and new all at the same time, countless ages steeped into its bones.
The door disappeared behind her as Finn stepped through. His expression was closed and set, his face a hard mask no hint of emotion could penetrate. He was even more reserved than typical as he took in Roake's home.
"This way," Loudon instructed.
Raider and Blue started after him as Kira stared up. They'd told her before that her father's family was an old one. She believed it now. Their ancestral lines, and by extension hers, were an ancient one. The proof was in this fortress, which would have taken countless generations to build.
"This is your home?" Kira asked as Finn paused by her side.
"It is."
There was a world of emotion in those two words. Loss and pain. Relief to have returned. Reluctance. All tangled together.
"Are you pleased to be back?" She couldn't help but prod.
Finn hesitated. "That's a difficult question."
Kira imagined so. If she'd grown up here as she was supposed to, would she have been willing to leave for any reason?
Knowing Finn wouldn't welcome an old wound being visited here and now, Kira started after the others, not wanting to get left behind. This place promised to be every bit as much a maze as the Citadel.
To her surprise, her first impression of the fortress's design turned out to be wrong. While it didn't have the artistic flourishes of the Citadel, there was still beauty here. Little touches here and there that managed to make it seem effortlessly timeless.
They were interwoven seamlessly with the defenses. Kira spotted eight cannons in the time it took them to step inside, and she had no doubt there were countless other weapons hidden in the event an enemy targeted the visible ones.
After showing them where they'd take their meals, Loudon took them on a quick tour, pointing out where they should report in the morning for training, and the parts of the fortress they were welcome to explore.
Kira couldn't help but be impressed with the structure’s interior. It reminded her of an ancient castle, the architecture serviceable rather than ornate. The dramatic arched hallways and large rooms managed to save it from plainness as the group wound through the lower levels. The fortress’s staircases became less wide and majestic the further they descended, until they ended up in an unassuming hallway lined with plain doors
.
"These will be your quarters for the time being," Loudon told Blue and Raider. "Normally, guests are housed on one of the upper levels, but since you've expressed a desire to undertake Roake's training, the Overlord thought these would be more suitable."
As he spoke, Blue and Raider opened the doors indicated, entering sparse rooms; their only furniture a bed, desk and wardrobe for clothes. The space was narrow and tight, without a window to let in the light.
Raider looked around and shrugged. "These are more than enough. They're bigger than most of the berths I've called home."
Blue nodded. "I doubt we'll be spending much time in them anyway."
Loudon sketched a partial bow. "I'll leave you to get settled then. Every room in this corridor is equipped with chimes to tell you when training events start. Tomorrow, assemble in the Warrior's Hall at 0900 human standard time. You'll learn more then."
Raider and Blue nodded their assent as Loudon walked toward Kira, indicating she should follow. She easily fell into step with him, Finn shadowing.
"I apologize for the accommodations," Loudon said. "This is not how a daughter of the House is usually greeted."
Kira lifted a shoulder, dismissing the sentiment. "As Raider said, the rooms are plenty big enough."
Her room on the Wanderer was about the same size. She wasn't here to be pampered. She was here to heal herself and maybe learn a little about controlling her ki if she was lucky.
"Still, it can't be the homecoming you were expecting," Loudon said, his gaze sympathetic. "Your uncle is a hard man to understand, but he usually has a reason for doing things the way he does."
Kira had no doubt, but whatever his game, she had no intention of playing it. Her mission was simple. Heal. Pass the adva ka and achieve some measure of control before going her merry way.
Simple—even if the execution was not. Whatever politics or maneuvering her uncle or anyone else had in mind, she wanted no part in them.
Kira didn't bother explaining any of that to Loudon. It was clear he was her uncle's man. Even if he seemed sincere, he wasn't an ally nor a friend.
She made a noncommittal noise she hoped he would take as understanding.
"This is you," Loudon said, stopping beside a door several down from Raider's and Blue's.
Kira opened it, unsurprised to find a room even smaller and sparser—if that was possible—than her former soldiers in arms. Like theirs, there was little furniture. A bed made up with the sort of military corners and crisp lines a few of her past NCOs would have been overjoyed to see.
The bed and wardrobe looked worn out and well used, chips and dings obvious even from here. A hole had been punched into one wall. Kira raised an eyebrow, impressed. It would have taken a lot of strength to crumple the stone like that.
There were no rugs or decorations of any kind. Nothing to soften the austere interior. That suited Kira well enough. She hadn't grown up with such things, and even now, they were few and far between.
After Loudon's hint, she read her uncle's message loud and clear. He didn't care if she was here against her wishes. She'd be treated like everyone else. That was all right. She was used to making her own way.
"Home sweet home," Kira said with a look around.
"I'll leave you to get comfortable," Loudon said with a partial bow.
She murmured a quick goodbye as Finn lingered at the threshold, the faintest edge of uneasiness in his posture.
Kira said over her shoulder. "I don't think this room is big enough for you to watch me sleep as you did on Ta Da'an."
That had Finn straightening. "My duty is to protect you."
Kira gestured at the small space. "Not a lot of ways to attack me in here. You can guard me from outside."
His jaw ticked, his teeth clenching as he considered his argument, but quickly discarded it. Kira's words had been the truth. There was no other egress or ingress than the door in which he still stood. The quarters were comfortable for one, but two would be tight.
"Don't you trust Roake? They're your people," Kira challenged.
"Dangers can come from within and without." Finn's words were stilted.
True enough.
Kira crossed to the door, a distance of only two steps, as she grabbed the door handle. "I'll take my chances."
She shut it in his face before he could argue further.
Kira grinned and patted the door. "That was way more satisfying than it should have been."
She faced the room. "Now, then, let's take care of that other matter, shall we?"
She lifted the bag and threw it toward the bed, not bothering to be gentle.
It lay there as she folded her arms across her chest and frowned. "Are you really going to make me do this?"
There was no answer—not that she'd really expected one. She shrugged. "You never were good at making things easy on me."
That was fine. It was more fun this way.
A knock came before she could deal with the problem on the bed.
"Come in," she called.
Somehow, she wasn't surprised when the door opened to reveal Raider, Finn standing over his shoulder, scowling.
Raider sauntered in like he owned the place. His hair was damp, evidence of a shower, and he'd taken the time to change.
"Where did you get a shower?" Kira asked.
She hadn't seen any door leading to a bathroom in the brief glimpse she'd gotten of his room.
He indicated a plain part of the wall, before touching a small indentation. The stone façade disappeared as a doorway took its place.
"Huh, guess they really don't like doors in this place," Kira said.
It made her wonder if there were other hidden doorways around.
"Blue's the one who found it and then showed me," he said.
Somehow that didn't surprise Kira. Of all the Curs, Blue adapted the quickest, and her always restless mind had no trouble ferreting out secrets.
"It's good you're here. Maybe you can help me with something."
Raider raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
She jerked her chin at the bed. Understanding settled on his face.
"When did you find out?" he asked.
She lifted a shoulder. "Does it matter?"
"I suppose not."
She let him see her irritation, not that it bothered him if his amusement was anything to judge by.
"Don't blame me. This wasn't my idea," he told her.
"You helped. This is your problem too." She pointed to the bag.
His gaze was unrepentant as Kira scowled.
Her shoulders relaxed as she nodded at the thin rod at his hip. She made a “give me motion” with her hands. With a sigh, he unclipped the rod and flicked his wrist, the asp baton unfolding to the length of Kira's forearm.
There was the slightest movement from the bag as he handed the asp over to Kira. Her grin was slightly maniacal as she faced the bag, lifting the asp before bringing it down with all her strength.
The asp whistled through the air as the door behind them opened. The bag jerked right, seconds before the asp connected. It rose, floating in midair as a strangled sound of disbelief came from the doorway.
Kira looked over her shoulder to find Finn's wide, disbelieving eyes on the tableau.
His hand dropped to the en-blade at his waist. "What is that?"
He didn't wait for her to answer, the en-blade clearing its scabbard in the next second.
"Would you believe it’s a poltergeist?" Kira inquired politely as Finn stepped fully into the room, kicking the door shut behind him.
His presence was less than ideal.
Ah, well, beggars couldn't be choosers, and plans rarely survived first contact.
Finn's glare burned; his tone flat. "No."
That was really too bad. Things would likely have been so much easier if he had.
In the resulting silence, Kira's gaze fell to his en-blade. "Oh look, you've already primed a second weapon for me. How kind."
She grabbe
d the weapon from him, slightly surprised when he let her.
She didn't waste time, her foot already sliding back as she swung. The blade hummed in her hand, energy running along its length and assuring her it could cut anything she wished.
The blade met the bag, slicing cleanly through it as the acrid scent of burning fabric filled the room. The bottom half of the bag dropped to the ground as the rest darkened, catching fire and whisking away.
Jin rose from the ashes, his sphere glowing white-hot from the flames. "Surprise, bitches! Did you miss me? Don't lie. We both know you did."
Finn inhaled harshly, sounding like an angry tea kettle.
Kira's arm was still extended, the blade held as if it were an extension of her body.
Jin tilted, taking in the bag's remnants. "Really, Kira? You had to go there? You don't even believe in ghosts."
Kira allowed her stance to relax as she glared at her friend. "When you see a pest, sometimes you have to cut it down."
Jin sniffed. "How rude."
An angry sound escaped Kira. "Do you even understand what you've done? What are you doing here?"
Finn rumbled threateningly, looking seconds from attacking. Kira shuffled a step away so she could put distance between him and his blade, the only distance she could manage in her small room.
"You didn't think I'd let you do this by yourself? Did you?" Jin lowered onto the bed. "I'm angry at you, but I don't hate you."
"How kind," Kira said through clenched teeth.
"I'm evolved. I know. It's good you recognize that."
A small growl escaped her, and she handed Finn the blade, hilt first. Maybe the oshota should teach her friend a lesson in social etiquette.
"If you were so evolved, you wouldn't have smuggled yourself in a bag." Kira snarled. "You've put all of us in danger."
Jin shot up from the bed, zooming across the room.
"Come on. You're exaggerating." Jin hit the far wall and changed directions.
"Quiet, you. I counted at least eight defensive weapons after their perimeter wall." She chucked a pillow at him when he wouldn't stop circling, a clear sign he knew he was wrong but didn't want to admit it.
"Fifteen, but who's counting?" Jin sniffed.
"These people make me look trusting," she spat. "How do you think they'll feel when they learn I brought a military-grade drone into their home?"