The Admiral recognized me." I must say I am not surprised to see you here, Mr. Olafson."
The Ult then said even louder. "I agree with you, let's get started." He held up a PDD and read aloud the article in question and then Lupe's response. After that he repeated the cartel and introduced each of us. By drawing lots it was decided that I had to go against the Quadiped and Narth would have to face the Spindlar.
My mind suddenly filled with detailed information about the Quadiped. I knew it was Narth feeding me that information and I was glad he did.
The monstrous alien Cadet stalked towards me and said." You are but a weak human, so I will make it quick. Now choose your weapon"
"I can choose any weapon?"
"Yes Humans!"
"I see Boarding Axes over there on the Weapon rack. So Axes I choose."
"Do not blame me if first blood means I kill you. I am simply strong!"
Lupe held up his hand in protest and said to Stokes." First blood was agreed upon. Why is that Quadiped talking about killing?"
The Ult's face was unreadable as he responded." Cadet Amboo-du are you intended on killing?"
The Quadiped laughed."It is hard for me to control and measure my great power and a little tab of mine kills those weak and fragile humans like Tilsis. Besides it does not say how much first blood is to be spilled. I just spill all of that weakling's blood and if he dies it's his fault. That human should simply give up and I will accept this as satisfaction."
My old rage started to boil up and was overwriting any common sense once again. I jumped into the fight ring." Just quit talking and get it started. I never give up without trying my best, so bring it on Four legs!"
Stokes made a sound that sounded very much like a human sigh and he said."Let the first duel begin. The Contestants have accepted the conditions. You must cease all fight activity if I call to do so or after the first blood is drawn from either opponent."
The Quadiped stepped into the other side of the fight ring. Stokes dropped his arm. " Let the fight begin!"
I yelled."Hey Amboo-Du is that a Quadithaal behind you?" The giant turned right away as I hoped he would and I threw my ax as hard and as fast as I could. The Blade hissed true and sliced a nice chunk of flesh out of his upper left leg, blood sprayed.
From the information I got from Narth I had learned that a Quadithaal was a sexual aroused female Quadiped on a rampage, I was certain he would turn! If I mentioned that.
Stokes yelled."Cease all fighting. First blood has been drawn. Duel was decided for Olafson."
The Quadiped yelled in pain and roared."I am going to kill you, Human! You tricked me!"
He was about to stomp forward but a bolt of plasma peppered the sand before him. It was Stokes holding the blaster." The Duel is over. Continue and you are in violation of the Duel condition."
"I don't care about Duel conditions! I will kill this human. Interfere again and I kill you to, Ult!"
Milieu yelled too."Get back, here at once you dumb brute. If you attack now you hand them the Victory!"
Only now the Quadiped stepped back and towards his master.
Lupe padded my shoulder."Quick thinking there, Eric!"
Narth was next and he chose Saber.
This time no words were exchanged between the combatants. Stokes dropped his arm and the Spindlar extended his legs and arms rose to almost 3 meters and approached Narth with great speed. The Spindlar attack was lightning fast and his saber made a hissing sound as it whisked through the air, aimed at Narths neck. It was clear the Spindlar too was not out for first blood but to kill! Narth bend backwards equally fast and only so much as to avoid the blade by the fraction of a centimeter, as soon as the blade passed him he stepped forward took the wrist of the Spindlar and added his own weight to the tall aliens move. The Alien could not fight the momentum and was sent flying. Narth didn't let go of the wrist and leaned back. The Spindlar screamed in pain and his saber fell into the sand. Narth stepped close and slashed his own saber across the arm of the alien and cut it right behind the alien's glove. Dark blue was the blood of this alien and this contest ended just as fast as mine. The entire attack and Narths incredible fast counter lasted no more than maybe half a minute.
The only sound was the churning of the waves. Stokes dropped his arm again and announced Narth the winner.
Now Milieu and Lupe stepped into the ring, both with rapiers and it soon became apparent both men where supreme experts in that style of fighting. Lupe was better and he had slashed the other man several times but always hitting the armor and no blood was drawn.
The clanging and screeching of steel filled the air of the now darkening beach. Torches were lit and their light cast long shadows of the fighters as they danced feigned and attacked, parried and counterattacked. The fight must have been on for almost 30 minutes now. Both fighters sweating and starting to slow down, especially Milieu looked fatigued as his armor suit, as flexible it was, was not good at exchanging heat or moisture. Something the X101 engineers had no experience with and the reason flex armor suits were not adopted by the Navy as official personal armor. Lupe however seemed to enjoy the entire thing. A collective scream of disappointment and anger went through the watching crowd as Milieu kicked sand in Lupe's face and used the distraction to cut Lupe! The sharp blade sliced through the shirt Lupe wore. And Milieu stepped back, lowered his blade, bowed and said."First blood!"
Lupe ripped the shirt off to show his body." You didn't even scratch me, only sliced the shirt!" With these words he stepped forward, before Milieu could react and with a flick of his wrist cut an L shaped wound into Milieu's cheek, this time there was blood!
Lupe stepped back and curtsied to the on lookers. Stokes declared Lupe the winner.
Milieu howled with rage and was no gentleman at all. "You cretin and your abominable escort only won through cheating!"
I had enough of that guy and my temper got a hold of me once again." You better quit calling me or my friend's names! You're the one cheating from the start. Simply go away!"
"You whelp dare to insult me?" He raised his sword and pointed it at me!" I should skew you like a rotten fruit!"
I grabbed a rapier from the table and stepped back into the ring."Bring it on Loudmouth! You and me right here!"
I wasn't certain I did the smartest thing, he was an expert with that blade and while I considered myself a decent fighter and I trained endless hours I was not sure if I was in his league, but I couldn't help it as much as I tried to deny my heritage, deep down I was a true child of my planet and a hotheaded Neo Viking just like all the others.
We fought and I stopped trying to fight as elegant as Lupe taught, but reverted to my own Nilfeheim style. Hard powerful and with the intent to kill.
Lupe at first trying to prevent me from fighting became as quiet as the others. With a precise flick of my wrist and a lightning fast attack I sliced through the fastening control of the flex armor and the whole thing reverted to liquid metal and almost like quicksilver fell of Milieu into a metallic puddle to his feet. He was so shocked of his sudden loss of the armor and his complete exposure to the night wind that he forgot to fight. I poked the blade of my rapier under his chin. For a brief moment I wanted to kill him and the very thought of running the razor sharp blade through his throat seemed a very good one. I think he saw what I was contemplating in my face as he paled and cried." Have mercy!"
I growled at him."You will now loud and clearly apologize to Mr. Lupe and Narth for your insults or I start cutting and poking."
He gasped and gawked, his rapier dell out of his hand.
I heard Narth behind me" Quadiped if you make one more step I will consider this an attack on my friend."
"You can't stop me. Narth are not as strong as we are!"
The Quadiped attacked or wanted to attack and flew in a wide arch over our heads. I could hear him splash into the ocean behind me and put a little more pressure on the rapier drawing blood."I can't hear you!"
"I, I apologize. I recognize Mr. De La Lupe as the better fighter and accept his critique in the Magazine to be justified and correct. I apologize for insulting you and the Narth."
He swallowed hard and then with a begging and miserable face he said."May I please get out of the light and put pants on?"
I stepped back curtsied to him. "Apology accepted. I suggest any bystanders turn now and let him regain his dignity. I will challenge anyone laughing at his predicament and consider it a personal offense."
Stokes was the first to turn and he started clapping. Milieu actually returned the curtsey and Lupe stepped into the light offering Milieu a beach towel then turned around.
I did so too and went to Narth. I whispered." You guided my hand across that armor control. I had no idea I could cut into it."
"I accessed an article and technical specs and instead of telling you I thought this would be faster. I had to do something you would have killed him otherwise."
"True enough. I must work on controlling my temper a little better."
"That is a worthy goal my friend!"
Lupe and the Ult came over to us. The Admiral shook my hand."Fine display of fencing skills and chivalry, Mr. Olafson."
Then he complimented Narth as well and said to both of us." When we meet the next time Cadets, I will be Admiral W. Stokes again. This was a private affair and has never happened officially."
"Yes Sir."
"However before that happens, I am just Webb, the Ult and there is a little beach party going on and you are of course the guests of honor."
Lupe simply motioned us to follow the Ult and while we did he said." You are a true Master fighter, Olafson. You don't need any more training, at least not from me!"
"Oh yes I do, Sir. I need to learn much in terms of style and every moment of practice will not be wasted"
Narth said."You never were in much danger being 5.6 times better than him."
"Five point Six times better?"
"Yes, taking into account his experience, skill level and practice and comparing it to your skills. I also factored in…"
"Five point Six, eh?"
Narth nodded. "You would have sliced him into that Tyranno Bait of yours you were thinking off and I did not think it would be a good idea if you killed him."
Lupe blinked his eyes. "I think that is the difference. You fight to kill! I hate to admit it but there is no such thing as style in a real fight, the only score at the end is who is alive and who is not. In any case I owe you more than words can express and I am deep in your debt."
"So are we." I said taking the glass of beer the Ult offered me. "I mean we are here at least for a night while the other Cadets do something much less pleasurable."
Lupe nodded."You're right of course!"
"How long are we going to be here?"
"The freighter will leave in four hours."
Webb the Ult still standing near said. "There is a fast Cruiser leaving tomorrow afternoon. It has to make a stop at Camp Idyllic so you can party tonight. The Cruiser Captain knows you are going with them and he is waiting on the landing pad.
"Thank you Adm…I mean Webb." Lupe said and to us he said." We will be here all night then."
"That was all I needed to hear." The Narth robe was off in a heartbeat.
Lupe raised his arms."What are you doing?"
"Taking a swim!" I yelled back already running as fast as I could in my Fleet Issue boxers across the beach and then dove head first into the rolling waves. The water was much warmer than that on Nilfeheim, even during Shortsummer but it was a real Ocean. The salty water running through my almost dried out gills, feeling the fresh water energizing me was pure heaven. A shape was sliding next to me through the water. At first I thought it might be Narth, but it was Webb the Ult pushing past me with powerful strokes of his enormous legs. I pushed as hard as I could but without fins I could not keep up. Down here the Ult looked completely different than on land. Powerful, fast and I knew instantly they had developed from a carnivorous background. It was clear that water was their true environment.
Narth's thoughts reached me." They have food out here and wonder where you are, you and the admiral are gone for two hours."
"I am on my way."
I had to swim quite a distance to get back. The crowd seemed bigger than before and there was the savory smell of grilled fish and meat in the air.
Narth stood with the Saresii and was in a deep conversation. Webb came out of the water a moment after me. "You are the most excellent swimmer I have ever seen that is not Ult. You simply must visit Ulta one day. You might like it!"
"And I saw the true element of you Ults. You present quite a different picture when you are swimming."
His fish eyes looked at me and while his emotions and his face were as unreadable to me as before, he seemed pleased by my observation." Yes indeed. It appears you are among the few who really understand the Ult."
I put on the robe again just as I was done a plate of roasted meat and a mug of beer was floating before me.
Narth waved from where he was standing and said."This primitive roasting of raw meats over open fire is quite delicious."
Taking the plate and the beer I thanked him and started eating like a starved Tyranno.
Interlude: Stahl's Method
Webb walked away past the fire, and wanted to get himself a real Utlanese. He was Ult and didn't really have a sense of taste or smell, but he heard the Island Bars here served good Utlanese shakes with the right texture, to cater to the frequent Ult tourists when a man stepped out the shadows." It is quite a sight to see a Narth here among other beings. Eating solid food and using his telekinetic abilities to serve a human."
The man speaking to Webb was of above average height and human but he did not recognize him. Webb lived most of his life among humans and could differentiate their faces and he was certain he knew this man from somewhere." Yes it is. "Webb wanted to keep going but the man held a drink bowl of greenish Utlanese before his face."I think you wanted to go to get some of this, right?"
"Yes but I rather get my own, if you don't mind."
The stranger laughed." It's Huglan with squiggle worms in it. Your favorite brand I believe. I also think you have no idea who I am. I had no idea shorts and a colorful shirt to be such an effective disguise!"
Webb's big fish eyes got even bigger."Admiral Stahl?"
"No one around here wears uniform and neither are you. You know my first name!"
Webb took the bowl." It certainly is a surprise to see you here, but you're right this is my favorite. I truly wonder where you found real squiggle worms."
"I got a few Ult friends on the Devi and I knew you would be here. I just came from Green Eden, you know."
Webb wiped his snout after he had drained the bowl." That was real pleasure. I think I shouldn't be such a credit pincher and pay the outrageous prices they charge for shipping them to Arsenal." The Ult pointed across the fire where the Narth and the Neo Viking stood."I think you are here because of them."
"You know I am. After Letsgo told me a Narth was among his Cadets I really wanted to see if it is true. Not to mention my surprise to hear he actually went to fight a duel."
"Did you see the fight?"
"Yes I did. It takes a lot to impress me nowadays, but that duel did."
"Haven't you been the only man ever to set foot on Narth Prime?"
Stahl nodded." This is why I am so interested and quite stunned by the recent development. I was on Narth. It was the most alien place I ever visited in all my life and during those few hours I felt like an insignificant insect that was allowed to see glimpse of something so far beyond my ability to comprehend. I simply can't adequately describe it. "
"They treated you that arrogantly?"
"No, nothing like that, the Kermac are arrogant, the Saresii are often seen as arrogant when dealing with others. It was more like…"
Webb said."More like a first year Cadet meeting Admiral Stahl aboard the Devastat
or eh?"
Stahl sighed and smiled."Actually that's a pretty good analogy. I was not very long on Narth mind you, a few hours at most, but the Narth is not the only reason I am here."
"Oh you still look for those special Cadets and I bet the Neo Viking is on your scanner screen? What is it actually you try to find?"
Stahl sat down and waved a Serv bot." It's a long story actually."
"I am the Commander of the Academy after all. To get new insights from an immortal who has a track record of finding the special ones would be beneficial."
Stahl sighed." I know it seems that way and I thought at least you could look past the Immortal part. We know each other for quite a while, old fish face. "
"I wasn't sarcastic, I really meant that. I mean you appear every so often, no particular pattern and pick seemingly random cadets others might even consider misfits and put them through your brand of more than unusual tests, that sometimes seem out of proportion and inhumane." Webb actually shrugged in a very human way." I don't know what happened to most of them, after you find them, but you found Harris that way who now steers that big boat of yours. Also I remember you picked that Shiss Zezzazzzzz. Nobody believed he would amount to much and look at him now. Then there was Lingodan the Shaill, Ilatora from Pertha and that woman Isadora. These are the ones I can remember right away. Each of them made history and will be remembered for a long time."
Stahl padded Webb's side."I also found you that way and I think you turned out quite alright."
"Of course I almost forgot. Yes you did put me through your strange process. I think I turned yellow for three month after you wanted me to steer the Devastator. I actually can understand why you are interested in the Narth, but what made you pick me for example? I certainly was not the first Ult in the Fleet."
"It is not all that easy to explain and not all the ones I pick turn out to be what I expected. For every Lingodan there are dozens I get disappointed. I remember seeing you struggle in a Desert survival test. Most Ults I knew asked to be excused from it, you did not. You nearly died and when you were told you failed you insisted in doing the test again and you only failed because you did not want to leave a human cadet who fell behind. After that I staged a few of those unfair and cruel scenarios and tests and you managed to succeed in every one."
Eric Olafson Series Boxed Set: Books 1 - 6 (The Galactic Chronicles Series) Page 262
