by JA Huss
I nod.
"That is not true for the other avian siblings. They do not come from Gyr, only you do."
"Oh, does it matter?"
"Not to you it doesn't, because it takes you out of what we do here. We aren't interested in Gyr's genetics, we're interested in the genetics of the six remaining pure avians. Esta, for example. And Moju. The four we have yet to find."
"Oh."
"And the reason is because those genetics are ancient. In fact, they pre-date the time of flight."
I nod. "Uh-huh. OK, well, I don't get it."
"They represent our true genome. Unaltered by generations of engineering and pure as it was before we left Earth."
I shake my head. "Pretend I'm obtuse, Lucan, and just spell it out, OK?"
"We need that code. In fact, we must have it to make changes or we will not survive as a species."
"Well, you have Esta, isn't she enough?"
Lucan's face is serious. "She is not enough, Junco. We need all six or the code makes no sense. It's hidden, you see, wrapped up and inaccessible."
"So why do I care? I mean, not to be a bitch or anything, but what does this have to do with me if my code doesn't matter?"
"You could help us, Junco. Get these siblings to come home."
"Right."
"This is important, Junco. Which is why I took time out of my day to bring you here and show you just how many people are working on this problem. The Six have one job, to keep the genetic code. But the Seventh also has a job, and that's to keep the Six…" He stops for a second. "You could call it safe, or just in line, or maybe act as a shepherd. The translations are – muddied. But the Seventh does have a job."
"If I'm so important, then why did you want to kill me on Earth?"
He looks away and for a few heartbeats I figure he's not gonna answer. I look over at Ryse and he shrugs.
Lucan clears his throat. "Junco, I was wrong about you. You were a very difficult mission for Tier and the team. It was too long, they had too much freedom, they quite frankly spent far too much time on you. It changed them. You changed them."
I raise my eyebrows. "And?"
"And we thought that even if you were the Seventh, we could do without you. You were a lot of trouble for the part you were to play."
"So, you don't need me."
He smiles. "We do need you."
I stand up and walk over to the window to take another look. "How much time before you have to have the code?" I glance back at them. "I mean, it's not critical or anything, you guys all look normal to me."
Lucan gets up and walks over to me as I turn to watch the white-coats. "It is extremely critical, Junco. Our children are not surviving."
I spin around, furious. "Well, for fuck's sake, Lucan! Why the fuck do you kill them all off then? You could just let them live!"
"They are damaged, Junco. It's been happening for many generations now, and we are not able to obtain the same quality of individual as is necessary to ensure our survival. We cannot afford to allow the code to be further diluted. We stopped the clutches seven years ago. There are no children younger than seven at this very moment."
"Oh." I turn away again. "Well, that's pretty fucked up." I watch a bustle of activity in the lab for a few minutes as someone calls up a 3D protein model up on the large central holotable and a small group of scientists stand around pointing to it. Finally I shrug and turn back. "Of course I'll help. Why wouldn't I? Is there a reason they wouldn't want to come here? I mean, you're not going to mutilate or dissect them or anything, are you?"
He laughs a little and I realize that he doesn't do that often. "No, we would not mutilate or dissect them. But we've not had a lot of success convincing Moju."
"Well, shit, you better try to get him quick, there's no telling what Aren's done to him by now."
Lucan shakes his head. "You were correct in your prediction about that, Junco. Moju escaped shortly after and has been on a rather extensive killing spree ever since."
I smile. "Oh, well. Good for him. I knew he'd be fine if I stayed."
"But he might come back if you convinced him."
I shake my head. "I'm not so sure. Tier says he's wild. Besides, I never had any control over him, that was all Tier. Moju acted like he hated him but when the time came he followed his orders." An image of Moju saluting Tier in the hallway of the tunnels pops into my mind as I look over at Ryse and then back to Lucan.
"Yes, I've heard. But we don't need to discuss this now. We'll visit again after Fledge."
I huff. "How do you know I won't be killed in Fledge, Lucan? I mean, isn't it kind of risky to put me in there if you need me so bad?"
He laughs again, twice in one meeting. "Don't be silly, Junco. You've never been in any danger from these fights. You practically sat around filing your nails for the entire fourth battle. The other Archers think we're helping you cheat, that's how well you're doing."
Ryse is close now and Lucan taps us on the shoulders and delivers us to Fledge. "It was very nice to see you, Junco. Take care tomorrow."
And then he is gone.
I look up at Ryse and shrug. "OK, so this reporter thing?"
"Junco, he spies on us. Makes shit up about Tier and Ashur. He's on the screens like every night talking shit."
"That's not the point, Ryse. I'm not a little kid. You shouldn't be allowed to make up social rules for me."
He rolls his eyes at me. "Fine. Talk to whoever you want, OK?"
I smile. "Thanks." He turns to leave me there at the door but I hesitate. "Hey, Ryse?"
He turns back. "Yeah?"
"Tell Lucan thanks, too."
"What for?"
"For asking me to help, instead of telling me. I know it's just a token choice, but it sorta feels real. So, thanks for that."
He salutes me and I turn and go inside.
Chapter Twenty-Six
I'm on a mountain. By myself. Apparently Fight Five is a personal challenge and begins with being at the bottom of a mountain and ends with being at the top of a mountain. This whole stupid fight is climbing a mountain. Something I can do in my sleep. However, I'm currently on a ledge that was previously occupied by a rather angry bunch of eagles who now want it back.
The big one lurches at me for the tenth time and I kick out at it again. It snags my last toe and I scream as the blood squirts out.
Something in my thigh pocket begins to vibrate and I stop to pull out my com. I'm getting a call. During a fight. The screen says push to answer.
So I push.
"This better be a fucking emergency, Lucan."
"Uh, Junco?"
It's not Lucan. "Yeah?"
"It's Kadian."
Silence.
"The reporter from yesterday?"
"Oh. Yeah, OK. What do you want?"
The eagles are back and I miss his words as another one tries to attack my already bleeding toe – he lunges in and snags a bit of skin. "Fuck, that hurts! You stupid motherfucker, get the fuck out of here. I'll be gone in a minute, just let me get my fucking breath!"
I hear talking coming from my com and pick it back up. "Kadian, I'm a little bit busy right now."
"Are you in Fledge right now?"
"Yeah, I'm busy."
"Well, why are you answering the phone?"
"Hold on, there's an eagle who wants to eat my toe." My fingers pull up a small stone and I peg it good. It screams as it dives off the ledge and I cover my ears. "Ha, I got it in the eye!"
"Junco, put the com on your Aves shirt, near the upper left shoulder, so you don't have to hold it and I can see what's happening."
I slap it up there and his voice is amplified.
"So why did you pick up the phone?"
"Huh?" I answer, scrambling out of the way of another, smaller eagle. "Shit! Why? Oh, well, this is the first com call I've ever gotten, ya know. I was never allowed to talk on coms at home and I thought you were Lucan or Ashur or someone I shouldn't ignore."
"Wha
t are you doing in this fight?"
"It's not a fight, Kadian, it's a personal challenge. And they dumped us out at the bottom of a mountain and we're supposed to climb to the top. At least I think that's the point, they never really tell you, but what else could it be, right?"
"Describe what you're doing now."
"What the hell does it look like, I'm fighting eagles. But you know what, I'm done here. They can have this fucking ledge back, I'm done resting." I walk out towards the ledge and two big raptors are waiting to try and get my toes, but I fall to the ground and sweep them off with my legs and then I run to the edge and jump, grab a hold and begin to pull myself up past the outcrop that acts as a roof over the mountainside cave. My bare feet find their holds and I climb, one hand and foot at a time until I can see another ledge above me. I stop, breathing hard for a few seconds, then listen and hear the tell-tale whine of something I never wanted to hear again. "Holy shit, they've got nightdogs up here!"
"Nightdogs?"
Oops. "Oh, I didn't know you were still there."
"Yes, the whole habitat is with you right now, Junco, in real time. You have to fight a nightdog?"
I snort. "I don't have to fucking do anything and I tell you what, I'm not fighting any nightdogs, they already ate two of my fingers. I'm climbing straight around these fuckers."
"Why don't you just fly to the top?"
"Can't – there was a sign at the drop-off that said no flying. Some kid tried, they shot him."
I lurch out over a slight overhang and the snapping to my left makes my heart jolt for a second. I grab with my left hand and then swing again, my legs scrambling to find purchase, and then my right hand finds a hold and I pull up a few more feet.
I repeat the process until I find a rest spot.
"How far from the top are you, Junco?"
I turn and look down. "Pretty close, I think."
An eagle soars by and makes to grab at me with its talons but I kick out at it, and when it turns away I resume climbing, one hand, one foot, one hand, one foot.
And then then I am almost there and I smile. "Kadian, look!" I pick the com off my shirt and pan it around. "I'm almost there!"
I stick it back on and climb again, and again and then I'm on a flat ledge and I stand and turn. "Holy shit! I'm at the top!"
I scramble over a few more outcroppings and stand on the peak to see if anyone else is around. "No one else is at the top. There's no one!"
"You're the first, Junco?"
I cup my hands to my mouth and shout, "Oi! Oi! Pledges! Where are you?"
"Junco!" A faint call to my left, and I twirl around. "Kush!" I wave frantically. "Kush is alive, Kadian! He made it! Tessen! Where are you?" I watch as a few more people clamber to the top, but no Tessen. "Tessen!"
"Junco!" Wyrd calls from just over to my right, and I wave. "Wyrd's alive too!"
"Shit, where are you, Isec?" I don't expect him to make it, but I hope he does.
"Who's missing, Junco?"
"Tessen, Joll, and Isec."
"Junco!" I whirl to my left and there's Tessen waving. I wave back. "Tessen's alive!"
Fuck, Isec, where are you? I wait. The silence from the com and the few people who pop up at the top who are not Isec make things worse. I scan, and scan and scan. "Isec!" I look around. "Isec! If you can hear me don't stop climbing, Isec! Keep going!"
I hear Tessen, Wyrd, and Kush calling for him too, encouraging him, and I smile. "He's gonna make it, I know he will." I let out a long breath and then I hear his tiny little voice. "Junco! I did it!"
I scream. "I knew you'd make it, I knew it!" I jump up and down and I can hear Kadian telling me not to fall, but all the pledges at the top are whooping now – we scream and dance at the top of our mountains and then the announcer comes on and tells us to prepare for removal.
We are whooshed down a tube and spit out onto a large web and I bounce into the others, happy at making it, happy my friends made it, and then I swing down to the ground and run towards the ledge. I hold back until last and then I hear Kadian asking me questions, and I dive like a swan down to the dorm a thousand feet below.
I land in a heap with everyone else and I take the com off my shirt as I walk into the lounge and see my feed live on the screens. Everyone is pointing at me and I look into the com and smile.
"Junco, what was the best part of Fight Five?"
"I made it, Kadian, and I didn't have to kill a single soul to do it. Goodbye!"
I push the off button and the feed disappears from the screen.
It's only then that I realize Joll is still missing. But am I surprised that I've already forgotten about him? Or that the rest of the team have also?
No. We all knew. Joll was already dead to us.
There is only one day between the Fifth and Sixth Fights, so we spend the next entire day in training. Ashur has gathered everyone in the gym, including me. Out of the original one thousand pledges, there are exactly thirty of us remaining.
The entire 039 is present, except Braun of course, fucking asshole. Plus four more teams that I've never met before. I've got Kadian on my com on my chest, as does Ashur. He says it's good PR. My wings are taped securely to my back, as are Ashur's. This can only mean one thing.
He paces up front screaming about how worthless we will be if the Aves are forced to take us into their Cluster. I stifle down a yawn and then kick Isec to pay attention when it's contagious. If Ashur sees him do that he'll make an example out of him.
"Junco!"
I turn back to the front. "Yes, sir."
"Up here with me."
I get up and go to the front. He pulls me over and stands behind me with his hands on my shoulders. "For the rest of the day you will fight, and watch your fellow pledges fight, an Aves warrior. You will watch with a critical eye. You will look for weakness and strength. And you will ask yourself for each and every opponent, will this person save my life if I have to be on their team? You will rank them in your mind. Yes or no. Yes, this person is as good as or better than me. Or no, this person will get us all killed."
They stare at him like he has three eyes.
"Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir!" they shout.
He growls, "As Lucan's personal warrior, I am the ranking captain and I choose to fight Junco." He turns me around. "Junco, we will finish that fight now."
"Yes, sir." I'd like to tell him to go fuck himself, but he wouldn't tolerate that shit in front of the other teams. So I suck it up and prepare to get my ass kicked.
I walk towards him and grab him with both hands, one behind the neck, the other on his bicep, and swing into a flying arm bar, taking him down and slapping him on the mat. I hear him laugh. "Jasus, fuck, Junco!" He gets out of it easily and I end up on the bottom, but I have momentum on my side and I use my shoulder to flip him again. He catches my foot and gets me off balance, but I get my other foot hooked around his neck and get him in a leg bar, pulling just enough to make him know I won this move. He's not done with me yet, and flips over, but I hold tight to his leg. He struggles for a second, scooting back and forth to break my hold, but I hold on.
He hooks his leg around my hip, grabs my other leg, and pushes my ankle back until I cry out. I bite down the pain and let go of his leg to make him change position. He doesn't let go and the pain is searing back through my joint. I feel the tendon stretch and I think for a moment he might actually snap it if I don't tap out.
His foot appears by my head like a gift and I snatch it up and hold on, pushing his ankle back now. He rolls over on my hips and I use the motion to swing him all the way over as I twist on the mat. My foot slips free and I smack him in the face with it and he laughs. I still have a hold of his ankle though, and I twist and his laugh is cut off. Asshole.
He uses his considerable weight advantage to swing free and now he's lying across my chest as I take a few seconds to catch my breath, then swing my right arm over his neck and fishhook him to at least pop myself onto my stom
ach. Unfortunately, he's got me in a good shoulder lock and he's practically sitting on my neck. I take another second to rest, then let him flip me over and squirm away, my smaller size giving me room and advantage that no other person in the room might have, except for maybe Isec.
And then I've got him face down on all fours and I absently log people cheering for me in the background. I mount his back and hold his head in a choke, but since I weigh almost nothing compared to him he simply stands up. I unhook my legs and push off him into a back flip, miss the landing and slide across the mat. I scramble up as he's turning and hook him in the jaw with my foot as I spin. I watch his head snap to the side and a small trickle of blood seep out of his lip.
I stop, bending over and breathing hard trying to catch my breath. The whole room has been stunned into silence as they wait to see if he will take me down.
"Junco," Ashur says over his own heavy breathing. "You're fucking amazing."
I laugh. "Yes, sir." We meet in the middle and bow.
He points to the water bottles stacked up on a table at the other end of the room and I go to grab us some when I hear him talk to the pledges in a low voice. "That, you worthless throwaways, is a warrior who could beat every ass in here. But before you go getting jealous, she's also the one who will save you when you need it. You all fucking remember that."
We disconnect Kadian and sit down on one end of the gym to untape each other's wings and cool down. The remaining pledges repeat what we just did. The other Aves are really more into punching, flying and kicking than the grappling stuff Ashur and I did and most of the pledges suck so bad the entire encounter lasts for mere seconds. But some, like the biggest guy called Annun and a few of his buddies, and Kush, do OK, if not well.
It doesn't take long to see what Ashur's point was in facilitating this exercise. Some of the remaining pledges are very weak candidates to be warriors. And Isec's shortcomings are so painfully obvious I can't bear to watch and instead I head to the stairs and go outside to smoke. Ashur doesn't follow me.
