by L. Fergus
Kita shrugged. “I don’t know. I just know the name has no credit limit.”
“That family is worth more than every human in the UEE could spend in several lifetimes.”
“That doesn’t do us much good here,” Rabbit sneered.
“The little girl is trying to act like she’s a full Rex,” Cotton scoffed.
“Ah, let her go,” said Kita. “You’ll only make it worse.”
“She’s got guts for just being here,” said Cotton, rolling her eyes.
“I’m not afraid of you, carrot face,” said Rabbit.
“Guts, but no brains,” said Case.
“I’d like you to know I finished first in everything I’ve ever done. I got Kita out of Angelica. I know what I can do. All you can do is fly a trash can.”
“So says the girl who wears one,” Cotton said, deadpan.
Rabbit slipped off her stool as her armor closed around her.
“Whoa, stop,” Kita ordered, jumping between the two sides. “Save the fighting for those who deserve it.”
“They both deserve it,” Rabbit said.
“This is not the time to settle anything, even if there were something to be settled. You're stupid to rise to their baiting. They’re acting very much the spoiled brats they say they no longer are. Me included. And don’t try playing the entitled card. Don’t forget you’re almost as bad as the three of us, darling of the Political Bureau. I need you to be what you just advertised, the best at everything. I also need you to pull your head out of your ass and quit sulking. I was hoping you’d all come here and play nice, and maybe, just maybe, start becoming a team.”
“I don’t need them. You know what I can do,” Rabbit scoffed, folding her arms.
“Trust me, the more people on your side, the better. No one wants to fight alone.”
“Were you planning on inviting the others?” Case said.
“Of course, but I want the heavy hitters ready to go first.”
Case grinned. “First the elephant and now this. Hawke’s going to hate you.”
“His time will come. I’m counting on the four of you to watch my back, and each other’s when it comes to a fight. So say your piece or forever hold it. And by that I mean, you drop it down a black hole, and never think about it again. Because, if your pettiness gets someone killed, I’ll gladly send you right after them.” She watched them digest her open threat.
“And who died to make you queen?” Cotton said with a hint of sarcasm.
Kita pointed. “There’s the door. Don’t get your tail caught when you leave.”
“You’re serious?” Cotton raised an eyebrow.
“Deadly. When it comes to bullets and steel flying around, I expect everyone to do their part. Death hurts. The only thing that hurts worse is burying a friend. I am in charge, period. In a fight, I expect to be obeyed and everyone to be able to fight on their own. Fighting as a team is something that we’re going to have to practice. If this bothers anyone tell me now.”
“If I must follow orders then it will be to someone I can punish later,” said Cotton.
“You know you can count on me without the attitude,” Rabbit said, looking at Cotton.
“The irony of that statement is truly breathtaking,” said Case. “I don’t have the military training. Remember that.”
“I know,” said Kita. “I might hand you over to Hawke when you’ve got some spare time.”
Case chuckled. “I knew I was going to regret that kiss.”
“You are my commanding officer, and I will do as you instruct,” said Zentix.
“I don’t want you here because I order it,” said Kita. “I will only accept you by my side because you want to be, whatever the reason may be—sex, toys, power, or adventuring.”
“Do we have to go in that order?” Case said with a smirk. “Because, I’ll settle for a good sex toy. I broke my last one.”
“You,” Kita pointed, but couldn’t hold back her laughter, “how did you come out of the Bush family?”
Case shrugged. “I’m a stray cow, what can I say?”
“Moo,” said Rabbit.
“So, she does have a sense of humor. Well played.”
Zentix made an uncomfortable noise followed by ripples through her quills.
“What is it?” said Kita, being the only one who understood the Diamocks’ subtle body language.
“I…My personal desires should have no bearing over whether I obey your commands or not.”
Case put her arm around the worried Diamock. “Give us a couple of days, Zen. We’ll take the edge off the hard coat of military bearing you’ve built up.”
“I am not a machine,” Zentix said defensively as she pushed Case away.
“I’m not saying you are. I’m saying we’ll work on making you want to come with us, instead of just following because you have to.”
“I do want to follow Kita.”
Case sighed a bit. “Do you consider her a friend or just an awesome fighter?”
“Both.”
“Really?” Case said with a skeptical frown.
“I have spent many hours of my off time studying human relations. I hoped to understand Kita and her methods, just as she has studied ours. The human Raph also gave me material to study, including a primer on friendship. Even though the characters were anthropomorphic ponies, I understood it to be for children, its basic message was most helpful. Angel friendship is much like Diamock comradery, but without rank to regiment it.”
“I know that show. I used to watch it when recovering from party binges,” Case said, clapping her hands in delight.
“I understand and believe Kita to be performing all six tenets of friendship, and I hope I am reciprocating correctly.”
“You are,” said Kita with a smile. She knew the show. “The girls just want you to be more relaxed. That’ll come, don’t worry.” She looked at the others. “So, who’s interested in making friends down in the practice chamber, since Cotton is onto our little scheme?”
“I’m sure Zen will be a good friend and show me what she knows of military tactics,” said Case.
“I’m going to make you pay,” Cotton said to Kita.
“Just remember, I have my own tenets of friendship: revenge, exploitation, manipulation, pain, and power.”
“And you have proven very ineffectual at all of them.”
Kita laughed. “We’re in for a fun ride, you and me.”
“Let’s go before these two have sex on the table,” Case said to the others.
Kita stood on the bridge. Above her, several clocks on a monitor ticked away. One displayed the time to the next FTL jump the other their arrival to the Tetrahedron.
“Checks with Dallas are complete,” the communications officer reported.
“Thank you. Commander, let’s head for the barn,” Kita said to Zentix.
Zentix gave the orders to make the FTL jump. After a dozen subsequent orders, she gave the jump order.
Kita felt a falling sensation as the ship dropped into the Nothing of the universe.
Kita stood in the massive airlock with her friends. They were surrounded by a platoon of decorated Diamock soldiers in new uniforms that complimented their unique frames and the unique face paint that made them look even more formidable. A Graniite brought up the rear.
As much as Kita didn’t want the extra security, it was warranted. Most in the intergalactic community had never seen a human. Her crew would attract attention. No one wanted an altercation or an attack.
The Graniite was along to stop her if she got out of hand. The first one didn’t stop me, what makes them think another will? Her ship knew she wasn’t a Valkyrie, but the rest of the galaxy did not. The inclusion of the Graniite was to show she was under control. Kita heard the four remaining Graniites brawled over who got to guard her. The loser received the dubious honor.
Kita motioned the group toward the elevator that would take them down to the security checkpoint. Kita had read Snowy’s galaxy
guide. She wished she’d had it earlier to help avoid embarrassing situations. She’d made sure everyone in her crew had read it.
Due to weight, two trips in the elevator were necessary. Her crew and soldiers went down first, and she waited with the Graniite. After the elevator had departed, Kita turned her attention to her lone guard. “So, am I as terrifying up close as I am far away?”
“Not scared,” it answered.
“I’m sure you’re not. That’s why your group tore up three of my bulkheads and a water purifier. I don’t care if you’re scared or not. Fear is a good motivator if used correctly. I care more that you respect me. Who are you?”
“I’m Onyx.”
“Pretty name.”
“Squished things are pretty. If you wish to compliment me I am hard, my color is uniform, or my joints glow brightly.”
“I apologize.” Kita made a mental note to add that to her guide.
“So how’d you get a job on my ship?”
“Squishy quick to take possession of something that she might not want later.”
“Why wouldn’t I want Mauler?”
“A prison is what it becomes. I’ve been here five hundred and sixty-two cycles.”
“You’re free to leave.”
“I can’t leave until we return to Grant, my homeworld. It’s in our contract. Diamocks recruiter told us they’d return in fifty or sixty cycles. They lie.”
“If you wish to go home, say the word. I will take you. A contract is a bond. If one side doesn’t honor it, then trust is broken. I would say take retribution, but I can’t have you destroying my ship.”
“The ship is the means of getting home. Destroying it would be foolish.”
“I’ll take you home, I promise.”
“Promises from squishy things are worthless.”
Kita didn’t want the Graniite to be jaded. She reached into her wing and plucked out a long flight feather. She held it up for Onyx to take. “Take this. It’s a symbol of my promise to take you home. I only give out feathers to those I believe need my help.”
Onyx plucked the feather from Kita’s grasp.
“You just have to show it to me, and I will do my best to get you home as soon as possible.”
“And if I wish to go now?”
“Then I will take you after the summit. Is that what you want?”
The rock on the side of Onyx’s arm rippled and created a cavity. It stuck the feather inside and sealed it. “No. Squishy has integrity. I see why Diamocks elected you ship leader. Few leaders are so good to their crew.”
“That’s because a happy crew is one that will fight for me with everything it has got. It won’t give up, it won’t say no, and it will train to be the best it can be. I only want the best, and I know how to get the best.”
The elevator arrived and opened. The pair stepped inside, and Kita ordered it to close. They stood in silence until Onyx pulled the feather out and handed it to Kita.
“I’ll get you home as soon as I can.”
“Don’t second guess me, squishy. I don’t wish to go home. I believe you will take me home. I wish to fight for you.”
“You’re a member of the Mauler’s crew. You don’t have to ask for that.”
“I want to fight by your side like the humans, Diamock, and Verisom do.”
“If that’s what you want. We’ll move our quarters to a location where we can all fit comfortably.”
“You are as you promise.”
“I told them we all have to live together to trust each other. That includes you.”
Onyx banged its fists together as a sigh of happiness. “I knew this would be a good idea.”
“Oh? I thought you fought for it.”
“Don’t be too clever, squishy. The males fought not to take it. Males can be such cowards. Something special about a squishy who can kill a Graniite in combat. I elected to take it from the male loser. He owes me a favor now.”
“I think we’re going to get along just fine,” Kita said with a grin as the doors opened.
The rest of the guard detail waited for them. Kita moved to the center, and the group moved out. The Diamocks tried to push Onyx to the rear.
“Out of the way, squishies. Kita is mine to guard,” said Onyx, pushing herself forward to be just behind Kita.
Case leaned into Kita’s ear. “And what did you two talk about up there, squishy?”
“You know, girl talk.”
“Did you look up her skirt to check?”
“I took her word for it.”
Case laughed. “You’re going to make us move quarters, huh?”
“Yep.”
“And I just finished moving in.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. This just keeps getting more interesting. Speaking of that, when are you and Cotton shacking up?”
Cotton had left after Mauler arrived to meet up with the rest of the Verisom summit delegation, leaving Kita behind.
“As soon as we’re done here.”
“Remind me to take the cabin as far from you two as possible.”
“I was going to ask Hawke to room next to us.”
Case giggled.
“Alright everyone, be cool,” said Kita when they arrived at the security station.
Kita’s Diamock guard commander presented the credentials to the station chief, a Zentos wearing the yellow uniform of the Tetrahedron Security Team, or Tet-Sec. The male’s large squirrel tail stood on end when he saw Kita. He began to chatter, insisting that no Valkyrie was permitted in the station, no matter how many guards.
Kita approached the unhappy squirrel. “Excuse me, do we have a problem?”
“Get back, foul creature. Your kind isn’t wanted here. I don’t care what the Diamocks with you say.”
“Then get me the Diamocks in charge of this station, and they’ll let me in. I am not a Valkyrie, I am an Angel. Do I look Swedish to you?”
“A nut by any other name is still a nut.”
“A fool by any other name is still a fool. If I were a threat, I wouldn’t be bothering to pass through security. I’d just go around you.” Kita phased to the other side of the security area. “See, isn’t that easier? Catch me if you can.”
“I don’t think so,” Case said, appearing next to Kita. “That’s not good form, no matter how big an idiot is in the way. We may need you to vouch for us. We don’t have legendary status.”
Kita sighed. “You and your damn logic. You humans need to do something legendary so I can skip the bureaucracy.”
“I think you just attracted more of it.” Case pointed to a bunch of yellow uniforms hurrying toward them.
“Nuts,” Kita muttered as the pair phased back to the station chief. “All right, squirrel, I’m coming aboard this station whether you want me to or not. If you’re too scared to do your job, find someone who isn’t.”
“Place all weapons on the counter and take proper government ID out for verification,” a voice said through the translator.
Kita looked at the male Verisom and smiled. “It’s about damn time.” Kita placed Dusk, Dawn, and Midnight on the counter. She took out her Diamock ID and handed it to the Verisom.
“I said weapons, not decorations,” the Verisom said, pointing at Kita’s gear.
She shrugged and put it away without a word. Someone would learn the hard way.
“Name, Kita Logine, species, Angel, homeworld, listed as unnamed and unknown, abilities, see attached, title, Vicereine, occupation, Captain of Diamock ship Mauler. And why are you here, Vicereine Captain?”
“To listen to you read my own life back to me. I’m here to speak to the summit. I’m sort of an expert on human warfare and tactics.”
“You have someone who can vouch for that?”
Zentix handed a card to the Verisom. He played the short message and registered the proper logs.
“All right, next.”
Kita stepped aside and let her party go through. It went smoothly until Rabbit�
��s turn.
“I’m not taking my suit off nor am I going to just let you have it. You let Kita keep hers.”
“Non-powered weapons are ceremonial, Miss. Armor doesn’t need to be worn inside the Tetrahedron.”
“That needs to change,” Kita grunted to Zentix and Case.
“It’s to make everyone feel safe,” said Zentix. “At least, that is the logic of the Aurora.”
The Aurora were even more prolific than the Diamocks. They were a diplomatic group and the host for the summit.
“I’m glad they’re dumb enough to think every weapon needs a battery pack to function,” said Kita.
“Be glad they didn’t ask to see your hands,” Case said with a grin.
The yelling at the counter went up an octave. Kita excused herself to go calm Rabbit.
“Excuse me, Rex,” said Kita, using the polite term for a Verisom male, “if I told you it was medical in nature to keep her calm, would that suffice?”
“I’d need a waiver from a medical or diplomatic staff of at least level seven.”
“What level am I?”
“Eight, but you’re military.”
“How about as her commanding officer I say it’s necessary as one of maybe three on this entire station that knows human physiology?”
“No.”
“Then what level is Princess Cotton, and what does that get me?”
“The Princess has more important things to do than help a vagabond like you.”
“Tsk, Tsk, I wouldn’t be insulting the Princess’ girlfriend if I were you.”
“The Princess wouldn’t den with something with feathers and no fur.”
“Care to ask her? I can have her here in a few minutes.”
She settled for a brief vid chat.
“I can’t leave you alone for half a day, can I?” said Cotton.
“What do you expect, I’m new here.” Kita batted her eyes at Cotton.
“That’s not an excuse.”
“Will this make it better?” Kita blew a trio of kisses at the screen.
“It’s a good down payment.” Cotton wiggled her nose in approval.
“See you soon, love.”
“Love you…” Cotton’s nose turned bright red. She cut the chat.
