by Ryk Brown
“Armor is not required for my role in this plan,” General Telles replied. “Why are you not in yours?”
Jessica shrugged. “Same reason, I guess. What if this is a trap?”
“Given the circumstances, that is highly doubtful,” General Telles insisted. “However, should this be the case, two more of us in combat armor will not make a difference.”
“I suppose not,” Jessica agreed, heading toward the ramp control panel on the port side of the aft bulkhead.
“I suppose this is where I wish you luck, Captain,” Kor-Dom Borrol told Nathan.
“I suppose so,” Nathan agreed.
As the kor-dom stepped up to his position at the head of the ramp, Preto Soray stepped up to Nathan. “This is suicide,” he stated, looking Nathan in the eyes. “You know this.”
“Do you know why the Ghatazhak are so formidable?” Nathan asked Trever. “It’s not their training or their education. It’s the fact that they never commit to a fight that they cannot win.”
Trever did not look convinced. “I do hope your confidence is not misplaced,” he said, turning to follow his leader.
Nathan looked to General Telles. “Are you ready for this?”
“I am always ready,” General Telles assured him. “I am Ghatazhak.”
Nathan smiled, then gestured for Jessica to activate the ramp.
The motors sounded, and the top edge of the ramp separated from its sealing collar, light spilling in from outside as it began its journey downward.
“Lord Dusahn and his seconds will march out to confront us, as if on the battlefield,” Kor-Dom Borrol explained. “It is ceremonial and not to be misinterpreted as an act of aggression. In addition to his eighteen guards, he will be accompanied by four others. Two seconds, his second-in-command, and his magistrate.”
“What are the seconds for?” Nathan wondered.
“If both primaries are injured to the point of imminent death, their seconds will fight as teams.”
“I see.”
“You should be the one first down the ramp,” Kor-Dom Borrol told Nathan.
“Why me?”
“The challenger leads his forces, just as the challenged will do.”
“Understood,” Nathan replied as the ramp touched the ground outside. He turned to General Telles. “After you, General.”
Kor-Dom Borrol looked at Nathan, a puzzled look on his face as General Telles headed for the ramp.
“Takara is his world.”
“This is most unusual,” Kor-Dom Borrol protested as he, Nathan, and Preto Soray followed the general out. “I am not certain how Lord Dusahn will react.”
“I guess we’ll find out momentarily,” Nathan said as they headed down the ramp.
Jessica jumped off the edge of the deck, landing on the ramp one step behind Nathan. “What the hell is going on, Nathan?”
“All part of the plan,” Nathan assured her.
General Telles strode confidently down the Voss’s cargo ramp, followed by his entourage, who in turn were followed by eighteen Ghatazhak wearing full mark two combat armor. In the distance ahead, a similar entourage came out of the building, led by Lord Dusahn and Commander Jexx, marching confidently toward them.
“Continue forward until he stops,” Kor-Dom Borrol advised as they marched toward them.
“Perhaps it would have been better had you informed us of the protocols involved,” General Telles commented.
“I could not be certain that the Dusahn continued to honor them,” Kor-Dom Borrol replied. “If they do, they will stop at twenty meters distance.”
Nathan said nothing, his eyes on Lord Dusahn. The man was older but carried himself well and was obviously in excellent physical condition.
“We are so in the open here,” Jessica commented as their entourage continued forward. “There are at least a dozen rooftop sniper positions they could mow us down from.”
“Have a little faith,” General Telles said.
“Faith?” Jessica laughed. “That’s funny coming from a Ghatazhak, especially from you.”
As the kor-dom anticipated, Lord Dusahn stopped his advance at approximately twenty meters.
General Telles stopped in his tracks, holding up his left hand in a fist to signal his men to stop as well. After a moment, Lord Dusahn resumed walking toward them, followed only by Commander Jexx, his two seconds, and the magistrate, while his soldiers stayed behind.
General Telles did the same, with Nathan, Jessica, Kor-Dom Borrol, and Preto Soray following.
Lord Dusahn’s left eyebrow rose as he neared, realizing that it was not Nathan in the challenge position. “I had assumed it was you who wished to challenge me,” he said to Nathan as both parties came to a stop a few meters apart. “And who are you?” he asked the general.
“I am Lucius Telles, son of Isiah, leader of the Ghatazhak, the true protectors of Takara.” General Telles stared his opponent in the eye. “I challenge you for control of the Dusahn caste.”
Lord Dusahn smiled. “A Ghatazhak? You have no right to challenge me for control of my caste.”
“I am afraid you are mistaken, Dom Dusahn,” Kor-Dom Borrol stated. “The Ghatazhak have been made a caste of the Jung Empire, same as the Dusahn.”
“You cast us out, old man,” Lord Dusahn retorted. “We are no longer bound by your laws.”
“Perhaps not,” Kor-Dom Borrol admitted. “However, your magistrate might have a differing opinion on the matter.”
“The Dusahn were exiled from the empire,” the Dusahn magistrate stated. “However, our caste was never formally disbanded.”
Lord Dusahn turned, glaring at his magistrate. “This is preposterous,” he exclaimed.
“I understand if you do not wish to fight me, Dom Dusahn,” General Telles interjected. “I would not want to fight me either.”
“I would kill you where you stand,” Lord Dusahn snapped, his anger growing.
“I wonder what your men will think, should you refuse a rightful challenge?” Kor-Dom Borrol commented, taking a step to one side, as if to address the line of soldiers standing twelve meters behind Lord Dusahn and his entourage. “Shall we ask them?”
“My lord,” Commander Jexx said under his breath. “You are a Chankarti master. You are even better than the masters who trained you. Surely you have no fear of him or any other man.”
Lord Dusahn looked at the commander. “I fear no man,” he scowled.
“You have no options,” General Telles stated. “Fight me here and now, or our forces will wipe your forces from this world.”
“And doom a billion of your brethren?” Lord Dusahn chuckled. “I think not.”
General Telles took a step forward, a deadly serious look on his face. “Better they die in an instant than in a lifetime of servitude to an arrogant ass such as yourself.”
Lord Dusahn kept his eyes locked on his challenger for what seemed an eternity. “Very well,” he finally said. “I will fight you, Lucius, son of Isiah…but on one condition. If I kill you, I get to kill him as well,” he added, pointing at Nathan.
“Deal!” Nathan exclaimed.
“What the fuck?” Jessica commented under her breath.
General Telles cocked his head slightly right, his gaze still locked on his opponent. “It seems that your terms have been accepted, Dom Dusahn. Shall we begin?”
A smile slowly crept across Lord Dusahn’s face, his eyes taking on a maniacal quality. “I’m going to enjoy this day.” He raised his hand with a snap.
“Form the circle!” Commander Jexx barked to his men.
“What do we do?” Nathan whispered to the kor-dom.
“Have your men form half the circle,” Kor-Dom Borrol instructed. “Eighteen men per side, thirty-six points on the circle.”
“Form a circle!” Jessica barked. “One man
every ten degrees on our side of the circle!”
The Ghatazhak immediately reacted, following both Jessica’s command and the movements of the Dusahn Zen-Anor soldiers.
Lord Dusahn turned his back on them and began undressing in preparation for the bout. General Telles took off his jacket, handing it to Jessica. “Do not let this touch the ground,” he instructed. “I just got it back from the laundry this morning.”
Jessica smiled, taking the general’s clothing as each piece was handed to her. “You’ve got this, boss.”
After removing the clothing from his upper body, the general removed his boots and socks, and then turned to Nathan.
“You can take him, right?” Nathan asked.
“This is what I was born to do, Nathan,” he assured him.
“Then go kick his ass, Lucius,” Nathan replied with a smile.
The general cocked his neck right and left, making a cracking sound. “This will only take a moment,” he said before turning back to face his opponent.
Preto Soray stepped forward. “General, if I may?”
General Telles nodded, and Preto Soray leaned in and whispered something in the general’s ear. General Telles looked at him, a curious look on his face. “Interesting,” he commented, nodding at the preto.
General Telles took several steps toward the center of the circle, assuming a relaxed yet confident stance, hands clasped comfortably behind his back, eyes locked on his opponent.
Nathan watched from their position just inside their side of the ring of soldiers. “I have to admit, I’m more nervous than I thought I’d be.”
“Nothing to be nervous about,” Jessica insisted. “It’s only the fate of billions resting on the outcome.”
“Oh thanks,” Nathan replied.
“Captain,” Kit called from his position in the ring directly behind them. “You have nothing to worry about. Telles isn’t a general because he’s the oldest or most experienced of us all, but because he is the toughest, smartest… to use Terran vernacular, the general is a straight-up badass.”
“Badass?” Nathan wondered, surprised by Kit’s use of the expression.
“Josh and his old vid-flicks,” Jessica stated.
“Of course.”
“The man trains for four hours a day, then participates in combat drills for another four,” Kit explained. “No one can size up an opponent and find their weaknesses like Telles can.”
Nathan turned and looked at Kit. “Didn’t I see you getting the best of him in training the other day?”
“You left before it was over,” Kit insisted. “He misled me into believing I was winning to identify changes in my combat technique brought on by overconfidence. It is a training tool that we use to improve control of our emotions during combat.”
“So getting your ass kicked makes you better?” Nathan wondered.
“Yes, and that could be the general’s only weakness. He never gets his ass kicked.”
“I certainly hope this doesn’t become the first time.”
“You know, you could have told me about your little plan,” Jessica complained.
“We needed everyone’s reactions and concerns to everything to be natural,” Nathan explained.
“You believe we have a spy among us?” Jessica wondered.
“No, but we couldn’t rule that out, so we decided to act as if there were,” Nathan replied.
“I was equally deceived,” Kor-Dom Borrol commented, not sounding very pleased.
“Well now we’re even,” Nathan told him.
“Fair enough.”
Lord Dusahn strode out into the center of the circle, coming to stand face-to-face with General Telles, his gaze locked on the general, a menacing smile on the Dusahn leader’s face. “I’m going to enjoy taking you apart, almost as much as I will enjoy killing your boy-captain.”
“If you are attempting to use intimidation as a method to weaken my confidence, you are wasting your time,” General Telles replied, all without the slightest hint of emotion. “But I did find the attempt entertaining, and for that I thank you.”
“You Ghatazhak really think you’re invincible, don’t you?”
“Not invincible, just more capable than the likes of most, yourself and your Zen-Anor included.”
“We shall see.”
“Yes we shall.”
“Gentlemen,” the Dusahn magistrate stated as he stepped up to them. “The rules are simple. There are no armaments, and the fight is to the death. Both contestants must stay within the circle. If you breach the circle, the two closest circle keepers must execute you, or their lives will be forfeit as well. The one left alive will rule the Dusahn caste and all of its resources. Do both contestants understand and agree to the rules?”
“Of course,” Lord Dusahn replied, his tone dripping with hatred toward his opponent.
“I understand,” General Telles acknowledged calmly.
The magistrate then turned toward the circle of soldiers surrounding them. “Do the circle keepers understand and agree?” he asked, turning to the Dusahn side of the circle.
“The Zen-Anor agree,” the senior officer of the assembled Dusahn soldiers confirmed.
The magistrate turned to the challenger’s side of the circle. “Do the Ghatazhak understand and agree?”
Lieutenant Rezhik stepped forward to reply. “The Ghatazhak understand and agree.”
“Are you kidding me?” Kit whispered as the lieutenant stepped back into position to the corporal’s left.
“We have our orders,” the lieutenant replied.
“In the event that both contestants die, their seconds will complete the challenge, as will the seconds’ seconds.”
“And if those seconds die?” Jessica asked.
“Then each side will offer a circle keeper to continue the ritual, until such time as a victor is clear.”
“And…”
“Jess…” Nathan interrupted. “I think we get it.”
The magistrate turned his attention back to General Telles and Lord Dusahn. “Gentlemen, you may begin,” he instructed, turning and walking back to the Dusahn side of the circle.
“I’ll try to make your death as quick and as painless as possible,” General Telles told the Dusahn leader.
“I shall not,” Lord Dusahn snarled, assuming the basic Chankarti fighting position.
The general remained in the same position, his feet shoulder width apart and hands clasped comfortably behind his back, both eyes locked on his opponent.
Nathan and the others watched from the challenger side of the circle as the two men squared off.
“I didn’t realize Griogair was so big,” Jessica commented.
“The Dusahn were renowned for their size and physical condition,” Kor-Dom Borrol explained. “They went as far as to manipulate their genetics to ensure their males would tower over those of the other castes.”
Jessica looked around at the Zen-Anor lined up on the far side of the circle, noting that they were all equally as tall. “I don’t remember their regular ground-pounders being that tall.”
“Their genetic purity has likely been compromised over the centuries,” the kor-dom stated. “Undoubtedly the result of being forced to breed with females from other worlds and accept their male children into their ranks. The Zen-Anor are likely made up of only those of pure lineage.”
Lord Dusahn flexed as he bounced slightly on his toes, preparing to face his opponent. After a moment, he settled into a relaxed fighting stance, his right leg back and his arms held slightly away from his body at approximately chest height.
General Telles remained in his previous stance, feet still shoulder width apart, hands still clasped comfortably behind his back, looking more like he was standing at parade rest than preparing for a fight to the death against a master of Chankarti.
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Lord Dusahn took two steps to his left, then two back to his right, sizing up the smaller, younger man. His opponent moved nothing but his eyes, which followed the Dusahn leader. “You are either overly confident or incredibly foolish,” he stated, assuming his fight stance again.
General Telles said nothing.
Lord Dusahn shifted his weight, bringing his right shoulder quickly forward, feigning an attack to test his opponent’s reflexes, but the general did not flinch, continuing to stand still and relaxed. After another moment of staring at his opponent, the Dusahn leader quickly raised his right knee as he pivoted on his left foot, kicking out at the general’s midsection, quickly withdrawing his right foot and following with a quick kick toward the general’s face. In response, the general moved his right foot back slightly, distancing himself from his attacker just enough so that both kicks, as well as the right backhand blow that followed, fell short by a few centimeters.
Lord Dusahn immediately returned to his previous fighting position, right foot back and left hand forward. Next, he jabbed outward with his left hand as he shuffle-stepped slightly forward, aiming for the general’s face.
General Telles easily batted his opponent’s fist away, just in time to prevent it from connecting with his face. Lord Dusahn followed by bringing his same hand back across, which the general avoided by bending slightly backward.
Lord Dusahn withdrew a step, satisfied with his first attempt to assess his opponent’s skill. “You are not as quick as I expected,” he stated, settling back into his combat stance. “I suppose the responsibilities of leadership tend to get in the way of your continued training.”
General Telles moved his right foot back to center, his hands dropping back behind his back.
Lord Dusahn stared into his opponent’s eyes, seeing no emotion. “I had heard the Ghatazhak learn to control their emotions during combat.” Mid-sentence, the Dusahn leader again jabbed out with a left to the general’s face, which again the general blocked, this time without stepping back. Another jab with the same hand was blocked by the Ghatazhak leader’s right hand, leaving the general’s right torso undefended. Lord Dusahn did not hesitate, sending his left hand into his opponent’s side, the force of his body’s rotation adding to the impact.