A Warrior's Heart Chapter 1
"Again!" Stargazer called, his voice forceful.
Strong Soul lay on the mat in the back of the cargo hold, surrounded by the familiar towers of crates and supplies. None of it had been offloaded, since most of it was spoken for and none of it would really help the refugee Mrr'tani, and it served as a convenient block to the view through the hold. Not that anyone would intrude on her here, she thought. After three weeks at the refugee fleet, Strong Soul was about ready to climb the walls to get away from all of them.
They were nice enough, and all of them were respectful, but none of them could see past the fact that she was some Mrr'tanah out of legend. No one saw her as a person, they all saw her as some incarnation of a goddess, and no matter where she went on any of the ships floating in the asteroid field, she couldn't escape any of it. The only place she still felt at home was here on the Mrr'tani pride.
She slowly got to her feet and shook the stiffness out of her joints and rubbed the back of her head where she'd landed hard after Stargazer's last throw.
"You're not pulling your punches, are you?" Strong Soul asked.
Stargazer regarded her across the mat and shook his head.
"I am not. Lyria taught you that experience is the best way to learn and that bruises accelerate that process. I have no intention of contradicting that training."
"Lyria was always a slave driver," Strong Soul muttered under her breath as she smoothed out the soft fabric around her body. From the moment she'd set foot on the fleet, a group of the Mrr'tanahn aboard had been trying to get her out of the patched together forest clothes that she'd managed to salvage through the entire journey and into something more traditional and befitting of one of her station. She'd managed to stave off the worst of the assault, but she finally acquiesced when one of them brought her a set of loose-fitting clothing made of neosilk that gave her all the freedom of movement that she wanted and yet looked at least partly traditional. She'd never give up the old clothing, the things that she had worn in the forest, and she fully planned on going back to it when they left the fleet again, but for now, she wasn't unhappy in the light garment. They even managed to find something in a green that matched the leaves of the forest on Silverwell.
"No," Stargazer replied, "she merely saw you potential and wished you to live up to it. As do I."
Strong Soul took a deep breath and settled down into a bent-knee stance, centering herself again as Stargazer had taught her. Since they had the time and they were safe for the time being, Stargazer had taken it upon himself to improve her hand to hand skills, something in which she was lacking, since most of the time she preferred the distance of a bow or a rifle. He had found her satisfactory with her blade, but less so when it came to actual hands. Now, her bow's target was up against the far wall, pushed out of the way so that the mats could be put down.
With the breath, she felt Stargazer's mind caressing hers, accompanied by the familiar analytical and logical feel of Micah's so very close behind him. Since arriving at the fleet, Micah's thoughts in her mind were joined by a small cacophony of other very orderly AI minds. She could feel them all, but some were much more distant. Some were old and their programming was more of a jumble than Micah's but they added to the flavor of the minds around her.
Then there were the other Mrr'tani. Strong Soul had given up on trying to be alone in her own mind and resigned herself to tolerating the sheer number of other minds so close to hers, but she found that unless she focused, there were only three who could sense her thoughts without her projecting them. Night Star, of course, bonded as he was to her, as her mate and her Frr'a'narr'ou, Stargazer, her OuwRrrahr'a'tan'ou, her protector, and First Spark, another Frr'a'narr'ah. She understood her two male companions and how they were able to get into her mind and read her thoughts, but she still didn't understand the bond that she shared with the little Mother. Still, having her there was somewhat comforting.
As she thought about her, her mind reached out and touched the link and it flared briefly to life, filling her thoughts with warmth and on the very edge of awareness, she smelled the heady scent of baking bread. First Spark was a native of New Mecca, one of the more industrialized worlds in the Allied Planets sphere of influence, and the girl had never had fresh food. The sights and smells of the kitchen had brought wonder that Strong Soul had never felt, and she could usually be sure that when she touched the link with her, she'd be somewhere in the kitchens.
"You are being distracted," Stargazer said.
Strong Soul started and hastily pushed the link back in her mind, blushing furiously.
"I can't help it. All these minds, all these feelings, they're still almost drowning."
"You must remember to breathe and to focus your mind. Do not let it wander of its own accord."
"Catcher of Souls said that trying too hard to control it was what made it so unpredictable in the first place," Strong Soul said.
"I am not advising you to control, merely to focus. Allow your mind to hold the links as it must. Distractions will come, but you must learn to acknowledge them and let them pass to continue focusing on what is important."
Strong Soul nodded and returned to the ready position, feet planted on the floor, hands held loosely in front of her, and her eyes focused on Stargazer.
"Remember what you feel when you draw your bow. I have watched you many times, and we have been linked while you have done so. I have felt the calm in you for that moment. That is what you are seeking now," Stargazer said.
Strong Soul nodded and she took another breath, letting the world narrow down to just her and Stargazer. The links were all still there, she could feel them all in the back of her mind, like the quiet conversation in the dining hall of Airgidbaille, but she didn't need to pay attention to them. None of them were important right now. The only thing that mattered was her opponent. Without her conscious thought, she felt herself drawing on Micah's mind, letting the sheer unemotional logic of his thoughts and calculations wash over her.
Little things became noticeable, like the way that Stargazer shifted his body from side to side, his eyes locked on her and seeking her reaction. She remained still, analyzing him. She gently pushed his link back with the others as well, ensuring that he couldn't see her thoughts as clearly as he had, and she felt his surprise when she did so.
She didn't know what it was that tipped her ready wariness into action, whether it was something in Stargazer's face or in his movement, but whatever it was, she noticed it and she was in motion before she could even think about it. She ducked under his strike, her smaller form giving her a slight advantage to getting inside his defenses, and she grabbed hold of his shirt. With one smooth motion, she twisted, then rolled, and when the motion and the timing was right, she planted her cybernetic foot in his chest and gave a firm shove before rolling back to her feet.
A chuckle escaped her lips when she realized that she'd exercised exactly the control that she'd been aiming for and sent Stargazer just far enough up and with just enough angle to land atop a pile of three crates, nearly five meters off the ground. He landed with a grunt and a small cloud of dust marked his position. Not content to let him regain the advantage, she took a step with her natural leg and pushed off with her artificial one, propelling herself after him.
She landed a bit short and had to catch a grav strap with her claws to get her the rest of the way up. When she was on top of the crates, she found Stargazer already in a ready position, a proud smile on his face, and she felt the wave of his pleasure and admiration down the link, something she couldn't suppress totally even if she'd wanted to.
"Much better," Stargazer remarked, readying himself to push the attack once again.
Strong Soul readied herself as well, but they both stopped and turned at the sound of the cargo bay door opening. She felt Night Star's confusion when he came around the aisle and didn't see either of them. She took two steps to the edge of the crate, then bounded off the edge, her eyes already fixed on the loose grav strap hanging from the overhead. With a deft grace, she caught it and slid down it until her feet landed softly on the deck right in front of Night Star.
He'd seen the movement and followed her progress with a smile of his own, and when her feet were on the ground, she found herself folded into his embrace, his familiar and comforting scent all around her, just as it should be.
"That's pretty impressive, love," he said, taking a step back.
Strong Soul saw his eyes flick over her shoulder to where Stargazer was climbing down off the stack of cargo crates.
"I think I'm finally to the point that I'm happy with the leg," she said, crossing to the small stack of clothing and towels that was resting against a bulkhead. "Took long enough."
"Well, don't let me be the one to burst your bubble, my dear, but the docs here say they've never seen anyone as in control of an artificial limb as you." Night Star chuckled. "And that's not just them being all deferential to the Keeper, either. They're damn curious about how you're doing it."
"I don't know," Strong Soul said, stopping to run the towel through her fur. "It doesn't feel artificial anymore. It's just like my old leg."
"Whatever it is, it's good to see that you're getting all your old grace back." Night Star gave her another chuckle and turned to Stargazer.
"I see that you're not wasting any time making a fierce warrior out of our little woodland cat," he remarked, grinning.
"As much as I wish it to be so, I cannot remain with her at all times, as the journey here proved," Stargazer answered, walking softly to join them.
"There is that," Night Star said. "Speaking of which, though, looks like everything is where it needs to be for the moment, and there's more runs to be made. Marcus is waiting for our deliveries and there are still a few more stops. Don't want Silverwell to go out of business just because we're lollygagging around here, do we?"
"Do you think that wise?" Stargazer asked. "The Allied Planets are looking for us. More specifically, they are seeking her."
"All the more reason to get back on the move. If you don't think that they already have trackers out everywhere searching for even the slightest feeling of her, then you're crazy, Stargazer."
"This fleet has remained undetected for decades. Is this not the safest place for her to remain?"
"Maybe for us, but what happens when they find us? They're going to eventually if we stay in one place. If they find us here, then they'll find her and First Spark. We're better off to keep moving."
"There's a much more important question," Strong Soul said quietly.
They both turned to look at her with questioning faces.
"What question is that, Keeper?" Stargazer asked.
"Whether I want to stay here."
The two Mrr'tanoun looked at each other and Night Star chuckled quietly.
"You're right, love. So, what's it going to be? Are we staying here or heading out?"
"Get me out of here, Night Star," Strong Soul said, grinning. "If I have one more person trying to bow to me in the corridors, or one more stupid problem that they want me to arbitrate, I'll probably just overpower the lot of them and march them out the airlock."
Night Star laughed, and even Stargazer joined in.
"Nothing like a little cabin fever to get you in the mood for travel. It's settled then. I'll go get the clearances and we'll get back on our flight plan."
Night Star turned and headed back out the door, already ticking off things that needed to be done under his breath. Strong Soul chuckled as she watched him leave, the fact that he was making his lists was comforting, and she was more happy than ever to hear it. It meant that her imprisonment on this fleet was over and that she was going to be getting back into open space again. During the first voyage on the Pride, when she had left Airgidbaille, she thought she'd never wanted anything more than to get off the ship and onto land, but during the time she'd spent with Night Star and Stargazer, she'd found that she preferred the freedom that the ship offered. She was a free Mrr'tani, able to go wherever she wished, and being stuck in one place when there was a whole galaxy to see was bothering her more than she ever expected.
"Are you certain you wish to leave here?" Stargazer asked, feeling the emotions running through her head.
"Absolutely. I need to get away from all this devotion."
"They mean well," Stargazer said, frowning. "You are something out of legend to these Mrr'tani, Keeper. Even I find myself in awe of you from time to time, so it is understandable that they should be reverential."
"Understandable or not, it's stifling. You know what it's like at Airgidbaille, Stargazer. No one's falling over one another to help you with every little thing, and if Master... if Father saw someone taking advantage of something like that, he'd have them out at the main house strapped to the pole for twenty lashes."
"Master Marcus is, indeed, a wise human, and I see that he has taught you as well as Lyria. We will go, but I insist that we add two Mrr'tani to our crew."
"Just two?" Strong Soul said with a laugh. "I figured you'd be pushing me to take most of an army with us."
"No, just two. I have been training with some of the Mrr'tani on the fleet, and two have done well enough to be noteworthy. I will take you to meet them, and if you agree, they shall be your Rrrahr'ss'tan'i."
"Can we find a language teacher to come along with us, to translate all these old terms?"
"They are a part of your history, Keeper. It would do you well to learn them."
"Fine," Strong Soul said, turning towards the door with a sigh. "Take me to meet my future...what now?"
"Rrrahr'ss'tan'i. Defenders of the Mother. Before the Night of Blood, there were always two who guarded each Mother."
"Didn't seem to work out too well for the Mothers, did it?" Strong Soul asked, leaving the cargo bay and heading towards the airlock with Stargazer his customary half-pace behind and to her left.
"You must understand, Keeper, that the humans and the human collaborators spent a great deal of time learning the Mrr'tani culture and customs. Many of the Rrrahr'ss'tan'i surrounding the most influential mothers had been infiltrated by human collaborators."
"How did that happen? I can feel every single mind in this fleet, Stargazer. I can tell you who has ill intentions, and who they don't like. I can tell you who they love."
"A Frr'a'tan'lass'i'ah is different than a Frr'a'narr'ah, Keeper. You may see into every mind, but a Frr'a'narr'ah such as First Spark can only see within their clan clearly. Many can feel others of different clans, but as through a curtain. The humans used that to get their sympathizers close. Those of us who study the history also believe that the humans had a way to train Mrr'tani to be resistant to a Frr'a'narr'ah's mind."
"And you want to bring two new Mrr'tani along with us, knowing that?"
"That is why I want you to meet them, Keeper. You are different than the Mothers, and you will see into their hearts. I can observe what they are like on the outside, and from there, it appears as if they are totally devoted to you."
"You mean I've met them?"
"Not directly, but they have felt the touch of your mind, and like others here on the fleet, it has filled a void inside them. There are those who believe that each Mrr'tani is born to a destiny. They are molded for a single purpose throughout their childhood, and they take on the mantle of their destiny when they reach the age of maturity. Some say that the Frr'a'narr'ahn imprint this purpose on each new birth within the clan. Without that imprint, or the touch of a Mother's mind to theirs, the purpose never manifests. Now that you are here, and the Mrr'tani can feel the touch of a mind such as yours, some of them are finding that they desire things they never would have before."
"I will not impose myself on other Mrr'tani, Stargazer," Strong Soul said, turning to face him. She stepped towards him and put her chest to his, looking up into his eyes, knowing that he felt the passion stirring inside her even as her breath quickened against his neck fur.
"The humans have done enough of that to last until eternity. They'll come of their own accord and with their will intact, or they will go about their business as they like. I don't care if they're the greatest warriors in the galaxy."
"I would expect nothing less from you, Keeper. As I have said many times before, Lyria and Master Marcus taught you well."
Strong Soul held Stargazers eyes for a heartbeat before she finally turned away and stepped through the airlock and back onto the fleet.
"Fine, let's go meet these two."