The Gardens of Deathworlders: A Blooming Love (Part 112)
Part 112 Third to last stop (Part 1) (Part 110)
The click-clack of a pair of wooden poles smacking against each other filled one of the many exercise rooms about Karintha’s Dagger. Swings, thrusts, and parries, each expertly delivered, rang out with steady rhythm. Though neither combatant was attempting to actually hit the other, the small crowd who had gathered roared as if this were a life or death battle. Each and every single one of attacks performed by either Captain Marzima and Lenthum Tominet was met with a block and counter attack. Back and forth they went, exchanging strike for strike, block for block, and riposte for riposte. Just as Marz switched her grip to reposition her grip and stance for better striking angles, Lenthum spun his two-meter stick and effortlessly slid it between all three of his upper tentacle-arms most people who were watching this sparring session, it would seem like a choreographed dance where Marz and Lenthum were perfectly matched in all aspects. Sub-Admiral Haervria, Professor Binar Hapjut, and Tensebwse, however, could see the stark differences between them.
“And you said this young man is only at the third out of eight ranks of this form of martial art?” Sub-Admiral Haervria asked with a satisfied expression on her cobalt blue face. Despite knowing that Marzima could end this fight immediately if she wanted, the Sub-Admiral could respect the Turt-Chopian student’s skills.
“Yes, I believe so.” Binar laughed because he knew exactly how the Qui’ztar would react to the full explanation. “The purple lines on his fighting robe denote that he has spent fifteen years of life training. Which, I must say, is quite the investment of one's life.”
“Haven't you been a professor for like seven hundred years?” Tens chimed in just a hint of a chuckle, not at the fast paced yet low impact sparring but more that a Turt-Chopian would find fifteen years to a long time.
“Six hundred and fifty years, give or take a couple.” All three of Binar's mouths formed into smiles as the focus of his eye turned toward the young Nishnabe warrior. “However, not all of that time was spent giving instruction or grading assignments or the other elements of my profession. I would say maybe fifty or sixty years out of those sixty and fifty were actually spent in my professional role. Eating, sleeping, relaxing, all of those other aspects of life take up the majority of my time.”
“Are you implying…” Though Harv couldn't pull her gaze off the sparring session to shoot Tens a harsh despite having the urge to do so, her crimson red eyes grew wide as she turned to look at the Turt seated next to her. “When you say fifteen years, you mean…”
“Yes. I believe it would be somewhere around a hundred thirty thousand hours.” As an old man from a species known for their longevity, Binar was always fascinated by the reactions of shorter-lived species to the way his people could accumulate experience.
“That certainly explains why the young man is so skilled.”
For a few more minutes, Harz, Tens, and Professor B sat in silence as they watched the two training fighters engage in this very specific form of duel. Kilarpayt, the particular form of traditional Turt-Chopian stick-fighting on display, had changed quite a bit over the few hundred millions years of cultural evolution. What was once a genuinely lethal style used to ward off predatory animals and hostile combatants alike had slowly morphed into something far more ceremonial. By the time Turts had independently broken the light speed barrier and Ascended to galactic stage, this high speed form of martial art had shifted from its original defensive purpose into something more artistic. Now, after countless years, Kilarpayt to something more akin to an aggressive dance of two opponents actively seeking to show greater skill and control without physically harming the other.
A sudden burst of energy from Marzima consisting of a crouching pounce followed by a low but fast swing was countered by an equally athletic jump and deflection leading to a full-body spin. Though the Qui’ztar had just learned the rules of this martial art, and only been practicing for a few hours total over the past few days, her training with the ceremonial honor guard polearm bridged much of the gap in experience. She was, of course, more used to the intentionally lethal strikes that more practical combatives always emphasize. However, within the confines of Kilarpayt, her strength and reaction advantages meant little compared to Lenthum’s swiftness and muscle memory. After a hundred and thirty thousand hours of practice, the young Turt could control his entire body and all nine of his tentacle-limbs with deadly precision. Try as she might, Marz simply couldn't penetrate Lenthum’s defenses.
Where Marz stood firm, her power and speed starting from her toes and working their way through her entire body with each movement, Lenthum flowed like water. If this sparring session was taking place in a high gravity environment, the Qui’ztar might have had enough of an advantage. But at the galactic standard four meters per second squared of artificial acceleration, the young Turt’s six lower maneuvering tentacles granted him the ability to move in unpredictable ways. Marz would jab to right and Lenthum would block while using the momentum of strike to spin like a top, get his trilaterally symmetric, tetrahedral body out of the way, and swing his two meter long stick around for a counter. The only thing ensuring the two and quarter meter tall, blue humanoid’s defenses stayed firmly was the endurance training Yens had subjected her to.
“I can't lie, Professor Hapjut. I'm starting to be genuinely impressed by how long that young man has been able to hold his own against Captain Marzima.” Considering this duel had been going on for nearly forty minutes straight, Sub-Admiral Haervria was starting to feel tired just by watching the two go at it. “She is one of, if not the, best Tlahu'xixina fighters in the First Fleet. Granted, the ceremonial weapons used in that martial art are bladed. I would wager that if she were using her txil’kotlom, our Matriarchy's traditional honor guard polearm, Lenthum would be struggling much more than he currently is.”
“I don't think he's the one that's struggling.” Tens replied with a light huffing laugh, his eyes turning to meet the Sub-Admiral's gaze. “Don't get me wrong, if Marz had her polearm and Lenthum was a lethal threat, this would have been over in less than a minute. But she's not going for the kill. And, more importantly, she's using a staff like a spear.”
“So I'm not just imagining things!” Binar blurted out while expanding the focus of his halo-eye to encompass Tens and Harv as well as the Marz and Lenthum. “The key to being a master of Kilarpayt, and the reason I was never able to pick up the sport, is the ability to rotate one's body to produce a constant whirl of strikes and counter strikes using both ends of one's stick. The supreme eighth level Kilarpayt masters, those with over three-hundred and fifty thousand hours of training, look like a lathe. Uh… A spinning top.”
“Use the force transfer from blocking to maintain momentum without extending energy.” Much to Haervria's surprise, the young Nishnabe warrior sitting cross-legged on the other side of the Turt-Chopian professor had taken up a much more calculating tone. “The first thing that comes to my mind is to use a series of blocking strikes to reduce the opponent's momentum and tire them out.”
“The duels between supreme masters can last for over twelve hours, Tens.” Though the elderly Turt-Chopian professor was well aware of just how obscenely capable humans are, he had witnessed several televised duels between Kilarpayt experts. “I suspect that if Captain Marzima had not undergone your endurance training, she would already be running out of energy.”
“And if she were using her full strength, she might injure that young-” Harv interjected with just a hint of offense in her voice. However, before she could finish her statement, her earpiece communicator began to buzz in her ear. With a quick movement to bring her hand up to the side of her head, mostly covering her long, knife-like ear to indicate she was taking a call, she spoke in a lower, quieter tone. “Haervria here. Is there something that needs my immediate attention?”
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“Why didn't we detect them before now?!?” Multiple saucer-shaped spacecraft in orbit over the next target planet was the absolute last thing that Sub-Admiral Haervria wanted to see displayed on her tactical holo-table.
“They just arrived in the system an hour ago, Sub-Admiral.” The relatively small and petite Qui’ztar officer, only just a hair taller than Tens but rather thinly built, almost seemed to cower under the gaze of the far larger Sub-Admiral. “We didn't detect their approach because they're using a very low energy form of subspace driver. Our recon drones don't have powerful enough sensors to detect their FTL transit signature.”
“Is there any chance those are Greens and not Grays?” Tens asked while carefully examining the data being displayed from the table, his expression just as cold and calculating as when he began to properly the way Lenthum had been holding Marzima off during their duel.
“I, uh… What's-”
“Lieutenant, what are Greens?” Harv cut the sensor officer off with a harsh and clearly annoyed tone.
“They're anti-slaver Arnehilians.” The Nishnabe Warrior blurted out, causing Marz to instinctively begin giving a proper explanation to her superior.
“Sub-Admiral, their existence is highly classified.” The Captain immediately pulled her tablet out and started drafting a message to Admiral Atxika. “We made contact with a group of entirely peaceful Arnehilians several months back when we first received our BDs. Without getting into explicit detail, they submitted to our authority the moment we entered that system and only wished to leave peacefully.”
“And what exactly happened?” As someone who had faced off against the evil Arnehilians on a few occasions was well aware of how dastardly they could be, Harv was clearly Irritated by the way Marz was withholding mission critical information.
“That's classified, Sub-Admiral, but I am asking Fleet Admiral Atxika for permission to read you in.”
“We don't have time for that, Captain! We will be entering the system in just a few hours. I need to know if I should be ordering all hands to battle stations!”
“Ansiki, do you have any drones in the system yet?” Tens directed his gaze towards a seemingly empty corner of the command room.
“What are you-?” Before Harv could get even more frustrated with the lack of information being shared, a liquid metal mantis manifested from nothing and began to approach the table. “Entity 139?!? What-?”
“My apologies, Sub-Admiral Haervria.” 139 bowed slightly towards the Sub-Admiral as they stepped forward. “I wasn't invited to this meeting, but I knew my presence could be beneficial.”
“Then answer the Lieutenant's question.” As much as Harv wanted to let her anger get the better of her, she also didn't want to yell at the closest thing to a god she had ever met. “Are these, and I can't believe I'm saying this, peaceful Arnehilians?”
“To be honest with you, Sub-Admiral, I'm not entirely sure yet.” Seeing the Singularity Entity extend one of their limbs, convert the end into a universal data plug, and jack it into the holotable was more than enough to get Harv to calm down a bit. “Neither Greens nor Grays broadcast identifiers. However, these vessels do appear to be in rather poor condition.” In a flash, the data procured by the sensor officer was augmented by much more precise readings and far more detailed images of the five saucer-shaped vessels. “With your permission, I can attempt to make contact to establish who these people are and what they want.”
“That would completely undermine any element of surprise we may currently have.” Harv didn't like this. It was her job to keep her cruiser, crew, and guests safe from potential harm. Though this updated information now being displayed indicated that Karintha’s Dagger could overpower this potential enemy, that wasn't enough to satisfy her. “If we need to go in with shields up and cannons firing, I need to sooner rather than later. And it would be best if they didn't know.”
“This next planet is habitable, right?” With the recent memory of the adorable little Arnehilian children on his mind, Tens couldn't help but want this situation to be similar to the one with the Kyim'ayik colony mission from several months back. “And these ships definitely look like they're in need of repairs. Maybe they're just here to gather essential resources and make repairs. Even if they are Grays and not Greens, this data shows they wouldn't be able to resist an attack from us. Worst comes to worst, I'm sure Ansiki here would be more than willing to help us… Remove them from the system if it came to that.”
“I will happily exceed my mission parameters if it means helping my friends.” As soon as 139 made that statement, Harv, Marz, and the young sensors officer gave the Singularity Entity a look of bewildered amazement. “Just tell me whether you want to do this the kind way or the aggressive way, Sub-Admiral.”
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“It is an honor to meet you, Sub-Admiral Haervria, Captain Marzima, and especially you, Lieutenant Tensebwse. I am Admiral Harideth, commander of the Green Flag Second Freedom Fleet, Eighth Sub-Fleet.” Having a gray skin, mostly humanoid, reptilian in her screen was not something Sub-Admiral Haervria had been expecting. However, the green beret, long scar, and look of professional respect on the Arnehilian's face was just enough to help calm the Qui’ztar. “I have received confirmation that you and your vessel are good standing members of GCC Military Command. First of all, let me apologize for attempting to prepare a trap for you. Singularity Entity 139-621 should be able to confirm for you that we have completely stood down all of our weapons and shielding systems. Second, I am more than willing to share any and all details concerning our assignment, which I had believed to be fully authorized by Military Command's Grand Council. And finally, I would like to personally thank your fleet for assisting in ensuring my cousins were able to find a safe, permanent home.”
“It is good that we are meeting under these cooperative conditions, Admiral Harideth.” Harv let a faint smile show as she nodded. Though part of her still felt uneasy, the fact that one of 139's drones could be seen in the background of the video feed was somewhat comforting. “My cruiser will be arriving in the system within the next hour, so we have an opportunity to meet in person then. But before that happens, I would like more details about this assignment of yours. In particular, I need to know who exactly gave it to you.”
“I will send you exactly what we received.” Admiral Harideth didn't hesitate to lean forward and begin typing into the terminal he was using g to communicate with. “However, I feel it is necessary to give you proper context on the formatting. As you can likely guess, my sub-fleet is not a part of the official Military Command structure. When we send and receive communications, there are usually multiple intermediaries with several levels of obfuscation. In short, that communique that should be receiving any moment indicates that we are to set a trap for a slavery group who is working for one of the Arnehilian dynasties. That was obviously a lie and, as I hope you can tell, I am not exactly happy about it.”
“I see…” It took a few seconds for the heavily coded message to appear on Harv's screen. But the moment it did, she, Marz, and Tens read through it as quickly as possible. “This beginning part about wearing a false cloak, what does that mean?”
“It means that our adversary would be using a counterfeit identification device to pretend to be someone they aren’t. That's part of why I initially assumed your First of the Third ID was a forgery.”
“And what does this section regarding… Argent and Path-ol-eesh?”
“Argent and Patholish references an older story about an evil king creating abhorrent technology that he tried to use to subjugate the oppressed, which is then stolen and used as a means of liberation. It means we are to collect high value technologies and pass them along to our contacts in Military Command for study.”
“That fucking shit-eater!” Tens blurted out, causing all eyes to turn to him. “Sorry but this just screams Darthikoi. I swear, that fungus is impossible to get rid of.”
“Lieutenant, are you referring to Supreme Heir-?” Before Harv could finish her question, Captain Marzima placed a hand on her shoulder to get her attention, then gave a very particular look. “Alright, Admiral Harideth, we can get into more of the details when we meet in person. But there is one thing I would like to know.”
“Of course, Sub-Admiral.” A curious expression had flashed on the free Arnehilian's scales face, but quickly faded. “I have no intention of hiding anything from those who fight the good fight.”
“What exactly would you have done if Singularity Entity 139-621 had not intervened to circumvent this… Misunderstanding?”
“We would have moved to defend the sapient life on this planet. However, we would have quickly-”
“Wait!” Harv cut Harideth off, her eyes narrowing. “Did you just say this planet is home to sapient life?!?”
Posted Mar 29, 2025, 6:09 PM UTC