Dalian Crystals

by Barbara Robertson

  The twenty students competed in ten center ring bouts of one round, and soon there were ten who qualified to continue to the second round. Her first opponent landed only one kick on Kayla, but she still felt the pain on her ribcage. Another bruise. The second round of five bouts began immediately after the first. Everyone watched T’Pul win again, eliminating his second opponent in only four moves. His fellow students cheered, and several monks were seen passing coins to each other. T’Pul’s confidence was very high.

  When the bell rang to begin her second bout, Kayla’s opponent charged her in an aggressive attack meant to knock her out of the ring. But she was ready for him and spun just in time to miss the flying double-kick to her chest. She jumped and knee-kicked his exposed back while he was still in the air. Kayla chopped his neck, and followed with a spinning kick to the back of his head. He fell to the ground, unconscious.

  The remaining five students were pumped by their victories, yet anxious to finish the competition. All were battered and bruised. T’Pul fought against his opponent M’Kel well, and showed little sign of fatigue. But his opponent beat him soundly with a well-placed kick to the side of T’Pul’s head, and the crowd moaned for him as he fell down, unconscious. More money exchanged hands, as the favorite was eliminated. Kayla won her next two bouts, after several minutes of very fast, hard kicks and hits. She was beginning to wonder if winning this competition was going to land the victor and the loser both in the infirmary.

  For the last bout, the formal T’Ly rules of greeting were used, not just the fighting. The opening moves of formal T’Ly were like a dance, very hypnotic. Kayla and her opponent M’Kel bowed to each other, and then bowed to the monks and priests at the four cardinal directions. The two fighters walked around one another in a circle, then faced off. Each formally pivoted to the left one step, raised hands, and touched the backs of their stiff right hands together. They were in traditional, formal combat positions of T’Ly, the highest of the martial arts. Their eyes were totally focused on each other, each waiting for the first move. Slowly and deliberately they stepped three steps to the left, hands touching, and eyes focused. Each fighter bowed their head slightly to their opponent, and then stepped three times to the right.

  M’Kel struck first with a fist intended for Kayla’s gut, but she blocked him. He made several attempts to kick and hit her, but she took the defense, and blocked him each time. Most lost count of the number of kicks and hits thrown; few landed on either opponent. It was a hard fight, with neither Kayla nor M’Kel about to give the other an easy win. Although he was taller and more muscular, Kayla was much faster than M’Kel, and more nimble.

  He backed her against the ropes of the arena ring twice, but she evaded his attack. M’Kel spun and kicked at her head, and Kayla did a perfect back flip, causing him to miss, and leave his body open. Then, she jumped straight up in the air, spun as fast as she could, and landed a kick on his upper chest. M’Kel gasped for breath, then jumped and double-kicked. But his target moved too fast for him, and he landed on the opposite side of the ring. When M’Kel touched the ground, Kayla jumped on his back, and caught him in the “Python:” a full-body squeeze-and-choke hold. She wrapped her legs around his ribs and squeezed, feeling his labored breathing.

  M’Kel bucked and turned, hitting Kayla’s legs, and tried to throw her off him, but she held on tightly. He used his free arm and pounded her arm holding his throat, but she did not release her grip. The students closest to the ring yelled and screamed for their favorite while the last two opponents battled each other fiercely. “Yield, M’Kel,” Kayla warned, and tightened her grip with her legs around his ribs and her arm around his throat. But he struggled again and again to get free. When he bent to try and throw her off him one last time, Kayla dug her toes into his liver and pancreas until M’Kel screamed in pain.

  The crowd was yelling so loud, and the midday sun beat down on them, burning their faces and eyes. The tension was incredibly high, as both opponents stubbornly held on for the win. With one final deep breath and battle cry, Kayla once more tightened her choke hold and pressured his pancreas and liver, and his ribs.

  “Yield! I yield!’ M’Kel choked out, and the monks rushed into the ring to stop the fight. Kayla let go, panting and breathing hard, and dismounted his body. When the monk instructor raised her hand in victory, Kayla took M’Kel’s hand, and raised it with hers. The students cheered loudly and the monks applauded, and the watchers along the top of the arena cheered for them.

  The reward after the final day of tournament competition was a dinner feast, which Kayla was permitted to attend, sitting between two priestesses. Each student received a necklace of hand-woven colored wool strands, with a tungsten spiral-shaped ornament attached. The spiral symbolized the ever-expanding universe, and was one of the symbols most used in worship of the Creator. Carved spirals appeared frequently throughout the Temple.

  The students were invited to perform a cleansing ritual: walking on white-hot coals, followed by being branded on their shoulder. Most declined, but Kayla accepted. The monks took her into the garden for meditation and prayers, and chanting. Then they led her to a two-meter length of hot coals. “Your mind is your ultimate weapon. Push away your fear, and replace it with calm and control. There is no pain. Only peace,” they chanted.

  Kayla walked through the hot coals, and felt no pain. Neither did her feet burn. After the coals, the monks led her to Priest K’Ramm, dressed in white and gold robes, wearing an ornate, tall hat. He anointed her forehead in holy oil, and blessed her in the ancient language of the priests. Then, he pushed her sleeve up to her shoulder while the monks chanted, “There is no pain. Only peace,” and branded her right shoulder with a small spiral. She smelled her flesh burning for an instant, but felt no pain. K’Ramm rubbed holy oil on the brand, prayed over her, and smiled. It was done. She walked back to the feast, feeling as light as air.

  Priest K’Ramm watched Kayla sit between the two priestesses, and spend time happily conversing with the other students. She did not elevate herself above them, as some champions would have done. To Kayla, they were all champions to have completed the advanced training. K’Ramm had observed her training nearly every day for over six months. He knew of her Ranger and family background, her loss of Nat’N, her victorious battles, and her expertise with T’Ly before she arrived. K’Ramm respected the cool professionalism Kayla exhibited every day, her willingness to learn from the monks, and the way she handled herself. He had never met a warrior woman before, and Kayla fascinated him. Seeing he was watching her, Kayla bowed her head slightly to the priest, and gave him a gracious smile. K’Ramm was captivated.

  Priest K’Ramm prayed for Kayla every day, for her pain to heal while at the Temple. On this final evening of training, K’Ramm realized Kayla would leave the next morning, and take a piece of his heart with her. He thought of her too frequently, and not always in priestly ways. He was forbidden to touch Kayla, talk with her outside of class, or spend private time with her. K’Ramm knelt before the altar in the dark chapel and prayed for Kayla, that she would find peace, and survive in her Shi’Lon Ranger life. Perhaps the Creator would allow them to meet again in the future; who knew. K’Ramm brushed away a silent tear as he walked from the chapel, for the woman he never knew, and loved.

  No tinkling chimes played this morning. The Ranger uniform of black blouse, trousers, and boots were clean and waiting for her beside her sleep mat in the morning. Kayla dressed as a Ranger for the first time in over six months, and it felt good. She rolled up her sleep mat for the last time, packed up, and walked out of the Temple of the Creator. Two kilometers later, she boarded her ES-519, tossed her bag into the hold, and reluctantly reported to C.S. T’Anh.

  “Much has happened during your six-month absence, Commander Kayla. You are ordered to proceed directly to the Xau Imperial Army Outpost on the far side of the moon, and report to Captain Hal’Bek. You have been assigned there for an indeterminate length of time, to assist the Army p
atrols with curtailing Rebel activities. Further orders will be sent to you, once you are settled into your new post. T’Anh out.”

  So much for her peaceful disposition. Thirty seconds of hearing T’Anh’s harsh voice brought her sharply back to feeling under her Commander Superior’s thumb again. Kayla sighed, and then replayed T’Anh’s message, and visualized hundreds of fireflies dancing in the moonlight. Much better. There is no pain. Only peace.

  Commander Kayla flipped the switch to awaken her onboard computer, and began the pre-flight systems check. She logged in her flight plan and coordinates, and launched towards the opposite side of Xau, en route to the Imperial Army Outpost.

  XXX

  Imperial Army Outpost, Xau

  What a desolate place. The ES-519 circled over the landing site. No surrounding town; just a handful of buildings next to the outpost entrance, including a flashing neon sign advertising hard cider and dancing girls. C.S. T’Anh probably sent her to this cesspool, as penance for her specialized six months T’Ly training with the monks and priests. Very well, then. Kayla reminded herself she was a Beloved Daughter of Emperor P’Lau, who had no idea what his Army outpost looked like. The officers and troops on this outpost most likely hated their assignments in this place. She was also the Emperor’s Emissary, and would do her best to be cordial, professional, and brighten someone’s day, every day. If possible.

  Kayla landed her warbird and walked to the main building. She reported to Captain Hal’Bek, and saluted. The hard officer had a half-chewed, half-smoked cheap cigar in his mouth. His office was reeking with cigar smoke. He scowled, “I ask for more help, and they send me a princess in her black cape.” The other two officers in his office laughed with him.

  Commander Ki said gruffly, “The Emperor must be too busy shagging his concubines to care about us here, or else he’s tired of you, sister.” They started to laugh again.

  Kayla pulled him out of his chair, backed him against the large desk, and put her knife to his throat. The Captain dropped the cigar from his mouth. She stated, “I am Commander Kayla, Shi’Lon Ranger, Beloved Daughter and Emissary of our Great Benevolent Emperor P’Lau. You have disparaged and demeaned the Emperor whose will I am bound by blood oath to obey. When any of you speak to me, you are speaking to our Emperor. Give me one reason I should show you mercy.”

  The stunned officers were momentarily speechless, then Captain Hal’Bek said, “He— he’s one of only two officers I have here. He’s in charge of our flight patrols,” he blurted. Shaking Commander Ki began pissing his pants. “Please Ranger, don’t do this. We need him here. We’re not used to Imperial protocols anymore, here in this shit hole. Please, forgive him,” the Captain pleaded. “Forgive all of us, please, Ranger.”

  Kayla drew her plasma pulser pistol from her backplate with her free hand, and blew out the window of the Captain’s smoke-filled office. “Enjoy the mercy of Great Emperor P’Lau, Commander Ki, and thank the Creator for your life. Let us all breathe some fresh air and begin again,” she said, and withdrew her knife from his throat. Ki took a deep breath.

  Captain Hal’Bek and his officers exchanged salutes with Commander Kayla, and they invited her to sit with them. Commander Ki excused himself for a few minutes, presumably to change pants. Tea was served, and then the officers gave her an in-depth update on recent Rebel activity discovered two weeks ago, near the southern ice cap.

  The new, underground Rebel base was just beyond the range of their Army short-range fighter patrols. Three armed land attacks had been carried out by the Rebels near the copper mines. They viciously attacked the food stores and fuel depot, and the towns supporting the copper mines. Several townspeople were killed, and many more wounded were transported home to K’Halon Prime for treatment. The miners and their families were terrified. Their Mining Guild ordered all work stopped until the mines and surrounding town were safe.

  “The Traitor Duma Wat prefers mines, especially deep ones, beyond our scanner range. He uses them to store stolen weapons and equipment, and house his Rebels. Have your drones spotted any Rebel incursions inside the mines themselves?” Kayla asked.

  “The Rebels have destroyed all our spy drones. This outpost is too small for the autonomous attack drones,” the Captain said. They discussed the current situation in depth for two hours with her, the Army officers now appreciative of Kayla’s being assigned to help them. The Emperor had not forgotten the men serving at his outpost, after all.

  A quick tour of the outpost was followed by a simple lunch. Kayla settled into her assigned room in the officer’s quarters. She didn’t bat an eye when they told her of the shared bathrooms and showers. The Captain watched his men deliver her travel bags, and fumble with the big plex case containing her black battle armor. He shook his head, and said, “How the hell do you wear that heavy thing? It must weigh thirty kilos.”

  “Thirty-two, to be exact. Plus the jet pack. I’ll show you, Captain,” Kayla answered. She took off her cloak, hit the button on the plex case, and the battle armor opened. She thrust her arms and feet inside, and it closed around her quickly.

  “Three seconds, flat. It takes our Army commandos two and a half minutes to suit up,” Captain Hal’Bek said. “I hope the Rebels don’t know you’re here, Commander Kayla,” he laughed, and walked down the hall shaking his head.

  The Rebels would find out soon enough. Kayla took off her battle armor, and sat at the desk. Putting her ear buds in for privacy, she read the newly-received files from C.S. T’Anh. If the Rebels had concentrated on fortifying their new base and not attacked the mining towns, they might have escaped discovery for a few more weeks. She developed her flight plans for reconnaissance in her ES-519.

  Kayla unpacked after dinner and sent a “Hello” text to her brother Olm, Dan’L, and Steph’N. M.C. Steph’N congratulated her for graduating from advanced T’Ly training, and her rapid promotion to Commander. He tactfully reminded her most promotions came with a challenge, and a reassignment to a ship, a Space Base, or a solitary posting, like the Imperial Army Outpost on Xau. Reading his message made her feel better about her new assignment. Kayla determined to fulfill her duties on the Outpost to the best of her ability.

  The responding message from Dan’L was comforting. He was still on Home World, shadowing M.C. Steph’N, and learning Main Court duties. Handsome and out-going, Dan’L interacted well with the courtiers. But he missed his best friend Kayla. She missed Dan’L, too, and her other friends she hadn’t seen or been permitted to contact in six months. During her six months of training with the monks, Dan’L’s Mother, M.C. Javette, and C.S. G’Rosk became Life Partners. Kayla sent them a congratulatory message.

  Captain Hal’Bek ordered partitions built to provide some privacy in the shared officer bathrooms and showers. By morning, they were installed. His gesture of respect created the first of many bonds between the tough Army officer and Commander Kayla. They would become trusted, good friends over the next few months. On her personal requisition list, Kayla ordered a portable air purifier for the Captain’s office and a box of fine cigars for him.

  Flying the powerful, long-range ES-519, Kayla broke away from the regular Army flight patrols the five next days, in stealth mode. She flew well beyond the range of the regular Army patrol short-range fighters, directly to the Rebel base. She recorded the location of the base, its tunnels, entrances and exits, and weaponry. Kayla located the partially-buried, large life support power supply generators, and scanned the area thoroughly, all the while invisible to the Rebel scanners. She scanned and mapped out the entire Rebel base, and transmitted the information to C.S. T’Anh and C.S. G’Rosk.

  More Imperial Army fighters, personnel, weaponry, and Space Cadre long-range fighters were soon sent to the Outpost upon receipt of Kayla’s initial reports. In less than one month of Kayla’s arrival, plans were made for a full-scale attack on the Rebel base by Space Cadre fighters, the Imperial Army, and the ES-519.

  Cpt. Hal’Bek, Commander Ki, and Kayla met with
the Space Cadre flight squadron leader Maj. P’Rak, and meticulously planned the attack on the Rebel base. Since the base was largely underground, a traditional aerial assault would not be effective enough to destroy the base in one attack. Missiles and regular bombs would only scratch the surface, and the Rebels would remain safe in their tunnels. The decision was made to utilize a specially-designed cluster bomb for the mission: “Boring Betsy.”

  A standard cluster bomb contained fifty mini-bombs which would be released upon the detonation of the primary bomb’s delivery shell. The mini bombs would be fired in all directions, adhering to anything and everything, and explode in seconds. Cluster bombs were devastating in both traditional and space warfare. But they would not penetrate below the surface and reach tunnels and fortified underground facilities. Even the big “bunker buster” bombs caused little more than severe shaking a few meters underground.

  Three weeks went by while the weapons designers created “Boring Betsy.” The Imperial Army positioned dozens of various land craft within fifty kilometers of the Rebel base. Using the intel from Kayla’s many scans of the Rebel base, the Space Cadre fighters planned their bombing runs for the attack. But everything hinged on the success of Boring Betsy.

  XXXI

  Boring Betsy was too big to be delivered by any Space Cadre fighter or ES warbird. She was the Imperial Army’s baby. The Imperial Army Command advanced their land attack craft in a slow roll, dropping more troops and machines behind their lines daily, in an attempt to capture the attention of the Rebel defenders. Once the Imperial Army land craft were in attack formation, they held, and waited. The skies were clear and empty. The Rebels in their deep, underground base targeted the Army land assault craft, currently holding position far beyond the range of their weapons. No one moved. Each tactical officer watched, waited, and sweated bullets.