by Reiter
“I’m sorry?”
“You said, ‘for one’, which would imply there is at least a two.”
“It is of some concern that you are carrying far too much metaphysical freight,” Nugar replied. “You have a strong and steady set of shoulders, Dungi, but they would be put to better use in holding you up, not your anger… as substantiated as it might be, holding on to it only slows you down.” Nugar removed his hand from his student’s shoulder and extended it to Dungias. “What say we start working on getting rid of those stowaways?” Dungias looked at the hand for a moment, but then took hold of it and was helped to his feet.
“Are you all right?” Dungias asked in an unsteady tone.
“Both I and the First Flank are just fine,” Nugar replied with a smile. “And one very good thing came from all of this.”
“Oh?”
“You are strong, boy!” Nugar nodded his head emphatically as he spoke. Dungias held his doubts until he saw the expression on Kynsada’s face; an expression she had not intended to give, and quickly removed it from view.
“And here I thought that being able to meditate would have given me a stronger mind,” Dungias said bitterly. He simply hated the idea that he had wasted his time.
“Being able to board the ship doesn’t mean you’ve installed shields,” Nugar explained and his student was able to take comfort in the metaphor. “You’re no longer grounded, Dungi, but we have to make boarding your ship an extreme exercise when the party, or parties, boarding have not been invited.
“However, with respect to this current moment, we have digressed.” Nugar gestured toward the center of the room. “You are supposed to be learning how to fight, and there is something I noticed in your mind, during my brief visitation, which gives just cause for an alteration in our approach.
“So, enough of the sparring for the moment, we’ve had enough of that. Kynsada, would you be so kind as to simply instruct what you know? Start with the most basic techniques, even if you believe my Dungi here is proficient with them. Then proceed to the more difficult and demanding measures, and if you please, act as if you are testing before a panel of masters.
“Dungi, please do not interrupt if she says or does something you cannot follow,” Nugar added as he sat down. Tapping a button on the side of his Osamu, there was a flashing light and response tone. “You may begin when you are ready.
“And one more thing, Dungi,” Nugar said before coughing to clear his throat. The boy was indeed strong, and perhaps calling him boy was becoming an injustice.
“I would have never imagined the Star Chaser to be a muscled hulk!” Nugar thought, looking over the physique of his student. “But then again,” he pondered as his brow drew down over his eyes. “… what if his physical strength is the least of his abilities?!”
“Yes, well, hmmm!” Nugar stammered before clearing his throat again. “As you are listening to Kynsada and moving with her as best you can, I will also be giving you my instruction. I will call out the subject and then deliver a fact. Shortly after that I will give you a brief explanation and/or description associated to the subject matter.” With every passing word, Dungias’ brow became more and more furrowed. “Do you understand?”
“I understand,” the young student replied, stressing the last word to emphasize that was all he was able to do. The Traveler had spoken in clear enough terms, so the information was understandable. Denotations aside, Dungias was lost.
“There isn’t a teacher worth their weight in space debris that doesn’t give their student something that puzzles them,” Kynsada said softly as she completed her stretching. “The thing is not to fear the lesson… attack it!”
Dungias nodded to Kynsada and closed his eyes. The First Flank looked at the Traveler for a sign on how to proceed. He held up his hand to signal her to pause her beginning. He felt he owed the poor boy a respite, but that was not why he wanted Kynsada to wait. Nugar was a Traveler to the core of his soul, and he was in new territory with only the Stars to guide him. He was curious as to why this would-be navigator of those same Stars was making this particular trek change. When his eyes opened, it was clear that Dungias was once again calm and ready to receive information. He looked at Kynsada who received the signal to begin. She directed Dungias to stand at her side and follow her movements.
To her credit and incredible sense of ingenuity, Kynsada started with exercises to increase strength and flexibility in the parts of the body she was about to apply. There was hesitation in her voice, having felt the strength of the young Malgovi only moments prior to the class, but she had been asked to perform by a Traveler… one who had earned the respect of her Battle Group Commander and her Team Exemplar. She would not question his position.
Hoping to justify the credit often given to him and his name, Nugar had decided not to hold back. His eyes squinted for a moment and he took in a deep breath. “Combat,” he said, declaring the first subject. He could feel the surprise coming from the First Flank. Travelers were known for their piloting skills and their lack of fear. They were hardly expected to engage in combat due to their value in getting from place to place. Nugar was pleased he had doubled his class size.
But what Kynsada did not know was that as Nugar spoke aloud with his mouth, he was also sending thoughts to Dungias’ mind. “Sight, Touch, Scent, Hear, Taste, Thought; these are the basic principles of the Traveler,” he projected. “We shall explore the exercises of how to sharpen all six senses, beginning with the one that is currently the simplest to confuse, taking the other five with it. I speak of your sense of mind, Dungi!
“You know of movement and can even engage in it,” Nugar stated calmly as he continued to project thoughts to his student. He decided to start with something simple: cooking. “… but you do not know how to move.” Dungias continued to follow Kynsada very closely, his actions getting smoother with fewer stops between them. Nugar was pleased with the strength of his student’s mind, and it was obvious he was practiced in focusing his thoughts. Nugar explained the essence of mental defenses before moving to the art of lending greater focus to the senses and applying them to the skills of the Traveler. Using telepathy, Nugar was able to teach at an accelerated pace. One movement in the fighting arts was equal to nearly one hundred concepts of the power of the mind and its connection with the senses.
“We live in the moment,” Nugar continued. “… but recognize the Light shines through both Time and Space. If you can believe in the Stars, seeing what their Light gives us is merely a single step. You must realize what you have seen but did not notice. Give your movements meaning beyond the moment in which they are demonstrated.
“Engage Kynsada if you understand,” Nugar commanded and Dungias, who was completing another arm flexibility exercise, stopped and slowly turned to face the female Mal-Vin. She smiled at the pace at which he moved. It was respectful to her position and it allowed him time to further digest the information he had been given. “Don’t overthink it,” Nugar warned. “Simply allow what you see to factor into your actions and reactions. See through the Light. You’ve done it before, you know!” Dungias stopped and looked to his left shoulder.
“Explain,” Dungias said and Nugar smiled, again deciding to go easier on his student.
“What you call innovation, Dungi… what you call discovery… what you call genius. Sometimes it is exactly what you have declared. And sometimes, especially when you’re dealing with the Grenbi, it is the Light talking to you. You just have to know how to listen!”
Dungias moved toward Kynsada who opted to give ground and set herself defensively. Dungias continued his approach as the room became brighter as shafts of light beamed from above and behind him, creating scores of images of himself and the actions he could take in attacking the female Vinthur. Most of the scenarios concluded with his attack being deflected or avoided, but there was one that drew his attention, and Dungias jumped up into a spinning kick. Kynsada had been the recipient of the boy’s power one time too many, an
d she squatted low to duck under his attack… which never came. He landed in front of her and she looked up to see his fist over her face, held in place. His hand opened up and Kynsada took it with her right hand, nodding as she stood up. She pulled sharply on the arm and Dungias was caught off guard. Her left arm was already coming forward, the forearm intended for his head. With his right shoulder going toward Kynsada and being nearly yanked off his feet, Dungias had few options, but his mind was still focused, seeing a number of options available to him. He threw his head back while turning his face, and lifted his feet. The power of the First Flank’s pull was enough to make him airborne, if only for an instant. As her arm passed just over his face, his right foot found her ribs, but the touch was light. His left knee, however, struck Kynsada’s jaw and her body shuddered. Dungias landed on the back of his left shoulder, but was already rolling and up on his feet while Kynsada’s knees were still buckling from the blow she had received. Breathing in sharply, Dungias’ ankles and knees bent.
“Hold!” Nugar commanded and Kynsada fell forward. A lunging and sliding Dungias put himself between the Mal-Vin and the floor. “What did you see?”
“The room… it changed, Teacher,” Dungias spoke and Nugar was suddenly happy to have something other than his legs to keep him from the ground. He gazed into Dungias’ eyes and peered once more into his mind, seeing the event pass before his young, hopeful, eager and highly capable eyes. The two shared knowledge of one another, and Dungias had used that knowledge against Kynsada. The Vinthur woman was most respected for her ability to receive punishment and continue fighting. It was a trait to be proud of, especially for a soldier. But that trait had been tested more than once by the strength of Dungias’ blows. Knowing that, he had opted for a powerful opening that was truly a feint. “I could see myself… Kynsada here… Onkorro, who is just outside the door to the right and squatting… now backing away from the door since he knows that I know he’s there. I can even see Exemplar Guyn watching from the control booth.”
“And thus ends the suspicion and fear,” Nugar decided as he stood up. Never had he seen, or even heard of, a student gaining the Perception of Light so quickly. It was as if the ability had been stalking, waiting for its time to pounce. Nugar had led Dungias to the door and taught him how to open it. A new chamber indeed, and the young student had quickly made himself rather comfortable in it. “Many things are not decided, but this child will not fall because I failed to give him what he needs!” He straightened his clothes and walked toward the center of the room. It did not escape his notice that Kynsada had recovered from the knee lift. She was simply swept up in what Dungias had said, as was the Traveler. Nugar turned and faced the wall. The good thing about sensor strips was that one could see from any angle at any point along the strip. But Nugar was not going to be distracted or dissuaded for a lack of dramatic impact.
“I trust, dear Exemplar, since you are in the control room, all preparations have been made?” Nugar asked, fidgeting with his Osamu.
“Storage Room Gamma is ready,” Guyn replied. Regardless of his normal sense of control, there was a very clear and youthful eagerness in his voice.
“Gamma?” Dungias repeated. “Isn’t that Founders Speak?”
“I am beginning to envy your Vi-Prin’s arm,” Nugar said, tapping a button on his Osamu. The doors to the room opened and Nugar started to make his way out. “I will take my leave. You two will either engage in another exercise associated with your current body positions, or you will follow.”
“Oh, my apologies,” Dungias said as he lifted the female off his body. She stood up on her own power and turned to assist the young Malgovi.
“For what?” she asked as she pulled him from the floor and drew him close to her face. “For hitting me or for holding me?” They had not been exercising long enough for either of them to start sweating, but their bodies were running warm, and Kynsada knew Dungias could feel her heat. Her lips parted enough for her tongue to wet them. “It’s not as if you did either poorly.” Dungias stammered, gazing into gray eyes that did not waver from staring into his. His level of perception had not changed; he could hear his own heart, but he could feel hers as well. His lips parted and his tongue mirrored Kynsada’s. Her eyes flared slightly, feeling the grip he had on her hand increase and her nostrils flared, taking in the scent of the young Malgovi. “Well?” Kynsada asked and Dungias jumped slightly as her body shuddered as if it had been struck, and then pulled away from him.
“That was just plain mean!” Onkorro said as he pulled Kynsada out of the room and down the corridor. She giggled as she was forced to follow her teammate.
Dungias ran to catch up with Nugar who was chuckling. “It would seem that my ideal of your training overlooked a few points that Kynsada was so very good to furnish.”
“She is a very capable instructor,” Dungias admitted, and Nugar reached for the wall as he laughed while still trying to walk. He shook his head and looked at his student.
“Tell me what you know of the Founders,” he directed.
“They are the most elder of the Vinthur and Malgovi,” Dungias said. “They were the ones responsible for our ability to create iro-forms.”
Nugar lost his laugh but managed to hold on to his smile. “So, the truth has been perverted that far, eh?”
“I read it from one of the oldest books–”
“And an old lie holds as much truth as a new one, boy,” Nugar interrupted. “Just because it was written and printed before the birth of your family name means nothing in the wake of the Light.
“The Founders were indeed responsible for the creation of the iro-forms the Malgovi practice without the need for machines or training. But hear me when I tell you this, and understand it is a knowledge that is argued – perhaps the only thing our two peoples still wholly agree upon. The Founders were neither Vinthur nor Malgovi!” Nugar declared as he stopped walking to lock his eyes on Dungias.
His student stepped away from him, confused and surprised. His stare remained on Nugar and the Traveler could feel Dungias’ mind deny the fact at first, passing it off as another test. Surely his teacher was leading him into another pointless argument. “But why?” he thought. “We have had that lesson.
“The Founders were aliens?” Dungias asked before blinking and stammering. “That is, alien to our races?”
“A very interesting correction,” Nugar monitored as he resumed walking.
“The name for their race is Terran, though not all of them were even of that race. The one who interested us the most when they first appeared was called Elder and he was, sorry, is a living iro-form.”
“A sentient energy,” Dungias said, thinking of Sai-Eg and his people.
“Could Sai-Eg be of any relation to this Elder?” he thought. “What have I stumbled upon? Or have I stumbled at all? Here I am, quite mortal, and all too new to these things I am now experiencing. But the Stars have had the Perception of Light for countless ages! They may even be the ones who have allowed others to use the ability. But even if that is not the case, there is no stumbling. Everything that is happening they have already seen.”
“Yes, a sentient energy that was kommis to one called Zeu Rex,” Nugar explained. “It was never told to me why something so powerful opted to remain with a mortal of any race. Though, I would have to argue that if Zeu Rex is mortal, the definition of the word must be reconsidered.
“He was a man of many things and had mastered wizardry along with iro-form manipulation and physical combat. There is even note that he was a formidable pilot when the notion suited him. In fact, now that I am thinking about him, I would say the stories I was told remind me of you, Dungi!”
“ME?!” Dungias exclaimed.
“Indeed!” Nugar confirmed quickly. “You see, he was also a scholar blessed with a highly capable body. The people who traveled with him were masters of their own arts. One was called the Red Dragon, but I believe that was more of a pseudonym used by his friends. It was never recor
ded what a dragon was, but the Red Dragon was a warrior who rivaled Zeu Rex’s skill. Some have said he exceeded him, but there would be no contest between the two to decide the matter – their status of brethren was too strong.
“This band of explorers happened across our peoples when we were fleeing the BroSohnti.” Dungias was surprised to hear Nugar use the word that named the race, but at the same time he was comforted to hear the Traveler speak it. “We had not long settled in the Deku System, thinking that perhaps we had at last lost the BroSohnti altogether. Zeu Rex was teaching at the very place where the Malgovi Castle stands now. While many want to argue the subject of the lesson, I prefer to focus on the fact that he was teaching. We had to have been fearful of any alien, given our past. But Zeu Rex and his family had managed to supersede those fears and gain not only our trust, but our respect.”
The two entered through the doors marked Gamma and proceeded inside. The storage room was vast, greater than two hundred square trams with a ceiling that was fifty trams high. There were a few support columns and perhaps a score of crates of various sizes, but they had all been moved to the walls. Dungias could also see a number of projectors mounted along the walls and ceiling. Some of them looked like weapons ports and others simply looked like emission plates.
“He was not long into the lesson when word that the BroSohnti had been spotted reached him,” Nugar continued, hitting a few buttons on his Osamu. Most of the lights in the room dimmed, leaving one square bright. Nugar walked toward the illuminated area. “You can imagine the panic, but I think it would fall short of the actual response. At the height of the panic, I am told Zeu Rex did something to gain the attention of everyone, asking for an explanation of the fear he had witnessed.
“I can only imagine the sort of ship they traveled in,” Nugar smiled, looking up at the lights. “But then again, given some of the wisdom that has survived the edits of time and pride, it was most probably just a well-functioning construct. Simple and capable. Still, the Founders boarded their ship and flew off to meet the BroSohnti. When they encountered the patrol ships, two of the Founders, and more importantly none of the three which are named in our records, dispatched themselves into the attacking fleet.”
