Never Underestimate...

A Republic of Earth Tale

by David Reese Dorrycott

She walked out of the liquor store into the middle a clan dispute. Or at least it looked like one to her at first. Three Yarsh were arguing between themselves across the street from her, two males and what, to her at this distance looked to be a young female. As far as she could tell it was nothing more than a bunch of cat growls. Not a real language at all. As she stopped to watch the older male batted the smaller female’s head, knocking her into tumbling the street to end up flat on her face. “Oh no you don’t” Kathleen growled, taking a step forward.

A hand stopped her, one she batted aside as easily as one would bat a leaf, still it returned just as quickly. She spun, finding herself looking up into a male Bridell’s face. “Your current course of action. Unwise” he said in that desert dry Bridell way. “That is a family matter.”

“This is Centauri, family matters don’t involve beating someone until they bleed” she snapped back. “It’s a violation of planetary law.”

“Yarsh are not known to follow certain laws where Clan honor is involved” the Bridell explained. “She wishes to join the Fleet. Her father does not wish this, he has chosen a mate for her. Nor does her oldest brother desire his sister to become a warrior, for that is the right of males only. Unless she accepts their decision one or both will kill her.”

Kathleen turned back to watch the ‘action.’ Just beyond the three forms two Star Marines stood in a doorway. By law, if the girl could get into that doorway and wanted to join, they would be obligated to defend her. Even if all she did was touch the carved stone it would be enough. Likewise, until she did so they were helpless to act. At the moment however the young female Yarsh wasn’t going anywhere. Lying in the street with blood coming from her mouth it was apparent that the young woman was barely conscious. “Maybe she needs a hero” Kathleen suggested. “I’m in civies so officially I can ignore protocols.” Opening her brand new bottle of Napoleon Brandy she splashed some on her tunic, then swallowed a capful of the fiery liquid. “Sixty credits down the drain” she sighed as she dropped the bottle, listening to the thin glass shatter upon impact. “Want to play interpreter?”

“You will challenge for her?” the Bridell asked. “Certainly. I shall find this incident worthy of observation. Please lead.”

Slipping into the stagger of a drunk Kathleen half charged across the roadway, half stumbled while ignoring or avoiding the very few onlookers who tried to stop her. As she reached the center of the road she saw the older Yarsh lift his booted foot. What he planned was obvious, what would happen was a splatter of grey brains across the roadbed if he completed his act. “Hold it jerk face” she bellowed, her marine trained voice causing both male Yarsh to look at her, while the two Star Marines watching suddenly snapped to attention. Though the felines might not understand that tone of voice, both marines obviously did.

Unintelligible growls an howls met her as she stopped a few feet from the males. “They ask if you are ready to die” her Bridell companion repeated in standard. “This is a clan matter, if you officially enter it you will die by their blades.”

“Tell daddy I’m here to protect her” Kathleen replied. To carry her point she stepped over the girl, straddling her with her feet. “Touch her again and I’ll gut you” she warned. Her hand dropped to the long blade strapped to one leg, a blade that had not left her possession in more years than she cared to think of. Behind her the Bridell repeated her words in Yarsh. Even as he did so she let herself sway a bit, as if drunk.

Her ruse and the spilled drink appeared to work, as the younger male snapped something to his father. A quick conversation followed while Kathleen continued her swaying. ‘I gotta learn that language’ she thought to herself while she waited. Finally the father said something short and sharp.

Her Bridell companion cleared his throat. “If you desire the woman then you must fight for her. I warn you human. This fight will be to the death.”

“Who dies first” Kathleen answered, her face now almost as expressionless as the Bridell’s.

“You will fight the son. I warn you. That red star he wears indicates that he has already defeated twenty foes with a blade in such combat.”

“Only twenty? He’s just a beginner son. Tell him to attack when he’s ready to be gutted, or back off and live. Its his choice.”

Repeating her words carefully the Bridell moved back, as did the older Yarsh. Kathleen’s opponent grinned, in the doing so showing quite a few very sharp teeth. It was a calculated insult that was wasted on humans, though the young Yarsh was unaware of that. In one move he drew his blade, diving at her with a howl of triumph. Kathleen moved too, slipping to the side of the paw that held his blade while dropping to one knee, her own blade singing as it cleared leather. As quickly as it started it was over. Kathleen stood, now within a hands breadth of the waiting marines. Beyond the still prone female her opponent stood, his stomach now opened like a ripe fruit. Turning back towards Kathleen he took one step, another, then fell face forward on the street near his still silent sister.

Growls came from the father. Softer ones this time. “He asks how you wish her. Slave or wife?”

“I always wanted a daughter” she admitted, waiting silently for the translation to go through. All hint of intoxication had vanished now. It was a warning the father obviously noticed.

Nodding apparently in agreement the father removed a ring from one finger, lobbing it towards Kathleen. Then walking to his son he lifted the still warm limp body and walked away.

“That ring belongs to her parent, owner or husband” her Bridell companion explained. “From this day on you have a daughter. May I ask your name and rank?”

“Gunnery Sergeant Kathleen Miko McKay, Sniper Spec” she responded. “And you?”

“Soterios, of the Ticondaroga. I am Engineering Officer aboard that ship. This has been an interesting day for me. Until next time Gunnery Sergeant McKay.” A moment later he too walked away, though in a different direction that the Yarsh. Both leaving a blood spattered Kathleen to help her battered ‘daughter’ to her feet.

“Can you speak standard?” Kathleen asked the bloody girl.

“Little” her new ‘daughter’ admitted. “Name Eryet.” Eryet wiped feebly at her fur, only managing to spread her own blood deeper into it.

“All right Eryet. Stop messing with your blood. Lets go into this building shall we?” As she lead Eryet into the marine recruitment office one of the men vanished, to reappear moments later with a med kit. “My daughter wishes to join the Marines” she announced to anyone listening. “Anyone have a problem with that” she asked.,

“Not a one Gunny” a marine, Gonzales she noted, replied. “Your sponsoring?”

“After what I did to get her, you bet your fat butt I’m sponsoring. And contact the Prycron. Tell Lt. Colonel Epsoin that Miko has a problem.”

“Right Gunny.” He moved away, calling to his companion. “Jake. You get the papers started, you speak better Yarsh than me. I’ll get hold of the brass.”

Some time later Kathleen was once more standing at attention before a very miffed Lt. Colonel Epsoin, her C.O. In another room Prycon’s CMO was tending to Eryet’s wounds. Enlistee Eryet McKay now. “You’ve gone too far Gunny. To far this time. Way beyond the line” Epsoin said, a bit of weariness in his voice. “I thought taking you off active combat status, giving you Gunnery Sergeant duties...” He sighed. “I knew better, but I had to try. Have you any idea who you killed out there?”

“A really bad knife fighter” Kathleen answered.

“You killed the Yarsh’s Ambassador’s brothers eldest son. That’s who you gutted like a fish, and let bleed to death on a public street. If it wasn’t for Ticondaroga’s Engineering Officer backing your story, and how you conned a Bridell Lt. Commander into seconding you in a knife fight I’ll never know, you’d be waiting for a firing squad right now.

“That bad sir?”

“Worse. Huffel wants your head. On a pike. In his bedroom. That’s the initial response. I understand his brother is still explaining everything. So you might just get away with having your heart served as his dinner. And that girl, she’s your DAUGHTER?” He shook his head. “I thought Brighton was the trouble maker. This makes him the blushing bride. Anything you want to add before I just shoot you and get you out of my misery?”

“Huffel’s brother might want this” she admitted, dropping a Yarsh’s clan badge on the table between them. “I’ll trade it for peace.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” Picking up the badge Epsion looked past her towards the still injured Yarsh female. “Her’s, right?”

“Yes sir. And this...” She opened her other hand, showing a red star. “Belonged to her brother.”

“I’ll take that too, if you don’t mind.” Standing, Lt. Colonel Epsoin looked up at the ceiling, thinking. “I’ll find a berth for you McKay because you deserve it. It won’t be anything you’ve ever done before, and it’ll be on the other side of the universe if I can manage it. But it’ll get you out of Yarsh sight. This daughter of yours is going to rub it in badly enough. Your orders are to accompany your daughter until she boards the first marine transport out. As soon as it leaves you will report back to me, in full kit. I’ll have orders ready for you. And McKay?”

“Yes Sir?”

“He really was a lousy knife fighter. Good job.”