Koban (12 page)

Their facial pantomime could have been some sort of visual signaling,
but Dillon suspected the frequency range of Krall speech and hearing was considerably
broader than that of humans. The external ears apparently extended when they used
ultrasonic frequencies, because they didn’t use them when they spoke Standard, in
a basso voce.

The second Krall continued to stand casually, his side to them,
showing little of the caution of the other soldier. He continued to appear to ignore
them as he inspected the Bridge area, walking toward the consoles and screens.

Despite stocky and slightly bowed legs, the Krall moved in an
oddly graceful gliding motion that somehow conveyed the impression of strength and
agility. Its movements reminded Dillon of Earth's nearly extinct jungle cats, rather
than the jerkier motions of a lizard or reptile, which their lightly scaled skin
and facial features might have suggested. The alien appeared more interested in
the control consoles and view screens than the humans on the command deck.

Standing between the two command couches, he finally looked over
at the three humans. “Which of my enemies here is the...,” it searched for a word,
“is called a clan leader of space ships?”

Mirikami
answered. “I am the Captain of this vessel. My name is Tetsuo Mirikami.”

“Yes. The human arrogance of two names not earned. Your title
for clan leader of a ship is Captain.” He continued to stare at Mirikami. “You are
small, like a cub! You speak also for these clan members?” He pointed to the much
taller Dillon, and even Noreen, who was also taller than her Captain was.

“I speak
for every human on my ship,” Mirikami answered. “That is the responsibility of a
Captain.”

“You hide your strengths well little human, to lead so many”
he said cryptically. “Like a wise warrior. Perhaps I may test those strengths. I
have the title Harzax Kopandi. I am told this means ‘Measures the Enemy' in your
language. I was spawned of great Tanga clan of Merkrall, and I am named Parkoda,
an
earned
name, not a cub’s given name. Call on me when you are ready to
die in honorable challenge.” He made it sound like a polite dinner invitation.

There was a clear sense of pride as Parkoda had identified himself.
When he named his clan he had extended a claw to point to an oval shaped tattoo,
with small-multicolored markings inside, placed on the upper part of his chest,
at the base of the thick neck. There had been a similar marking, though less ornate,
on the other Krall. Dillon suspected they were signs of rank, or perhaps of family
identification, if the clan references were any hint.

Parkoda, noticing Dillon's scrutiny, moved to within a meter
of him. “You are near the size of a Krall before it becomes a novice, are you warrior
trained?” Without warning, the left hand moved with blinding speed. A single razor
sharp claw lightly raked Dillon's right cheek.

Noreen sucked in her breath as Dillon was slashed, drawing a
sharp look from the Krall, the red centers of his eyes boring into her. She carefully
avoided making direct eye contact, looking instead at the view screens.

Startled, Dillon had managed to check his instinct to pull back,
or even to raise a hand to the cut. He remembered Doushan's warning. A small amount
of blood began oozing slowly from the three-inch shallow scratch. It was relatively
painless, much like a shallow razor cut.

Returning a cooler gaze to Dillon, “You may have trained as a
warrior. You control good when to fight now means your death, or you may not know
of war. No difference, you will soon show if you know how to fight. Most humans
are like slaughter animals in battle, but some have small skills, and can learn
to work as a pack. We may yet find your race worthy for use.”

Just then, Parkoda’s left internal ear extended alone, cupping
downwards. He stood silently for a moment then touched a three inch blue disk on
its left shoulder strap. Dillon had thought the disk was some sort of uniform decoration.
Again, this time at close range, he observed the Krall engage in an undetectable
conversation. It turned its head slightly in the direction of the disk, lips rippling
rapidly, all but silently, except for a soft parchment sliding on wood sound as
the lips moved over those teeth.

Parkoda finished and tapped a claw against the communications
device, as the ear also folded away. He opened his mouth in an unnerving toothy
grin. “I will rise higher in Tanga clan when I deliver you to Koban. There are many
healthy enemies here, good breeding rights for me. Never has even eight raids captured
so many.”

He changed the subject, “My Clanship comes. Will this ship Jump
again, human?” The last was directed to Mirikami.

“We can Jump if we can restore our Trap fields and close them.
I need all of my crew to assist.” That wasn't true, but he didn't want the Krall
to think that any of his people were unimportant.

Parkoda seemed satisfied with the answer. “We will let you restore
your ‘Traps’ as you call them. Your crew may work for you, if they still live. Many
often die opposing us. All healthy humans will come if you can Jump your ship. My
Clanship will carry only your strongest if not. The weakest and wounded stay and
die.” That came as a flat statement of fact.

“Tell your crew-clan to go to any warrior
when I order, to be released from challenge. We give their markings as a novice.”
He waved vaguely at his own tattoo.

Mirikami spoke up. “I am in charge of my crew, I would go first.”
Whatever would be done to his crew, he wanted to experience it first.

Parkoda gave him an apprising look. Then, with his right hand,
he removed a cylindrical tube dangling from his harness, flaring to an oval of several
inches at one end. “This tool will place a mark on you, like a cub’s entry into
testing for warrior status, as novice. A warrior will not offer challenge of humans
marked this way. Refusing a warrior’s command is same as a challenge, and he may
attack you if he wants. Without the mark, you are as a food animal, for slaughter
as a Krall may wish without a reason.

“Hold arms down with hands open and come before me, but do not
look into my eyes, or it will be as if you offer a challenge.” He ordered the Captain.

Mirikami, arms straight down, hands open, immediately walked
to within a step of the Krall and halted, staring into his chest rather than higher,
definitely not into the ebony surrounded red glow of his eyes.

Parkoda's left hand flashed out a set of razor sharp talons toward
Mirikami's throat, then as quickly back. A flap of cloth fell from the captain's
tough uniform material, exposing an area of the chest just below the nape of his
neck. There wasn’t a drop of blood, proving how deadly and accurate his slashing
movements could be,

 Parkoda made some sort of adjustment via small colored plates
along the cylinder’s side. Speaking as if formally, he declared, “I mark you as
unranked novice for all Krall to see.” He solemnly placed the cylinder against Mirikami's
upper chest, and pressed a small colored plate on the side. There was a hiss and
Mirikami jerked slightly, but his poker-faced expression did not change.

When the cylinder was withdrawn, there was a thin black line,
forming a near palm sized oval drawn on Mirikami's upper chest at the base of his
throat, slightly higher that it was wide. It was the same size as the one on the
Krall's chest, but was empty of color or markings.

“No warrior will kill you without your challenge unless attacked,
or you disobey his orders. Fighting
will
wait for you on Koban, the testing
ground.”

He next pointed to Dillon. “Come before me!” Parkoda apparently
assumed all three humans on the bridge were part of the crew. It didn't seem advantageous
to correct that impression, so Dillon stepped forward.

He went through the exact same ritual as had Mirikami, followed
by Noreen a moment later. The marking felt extremely cold as it was applied, and
left a mild burning sensation afterwards.

“Now instruct your crew-clan to step before any Krall with both
hands open and down. All who do so will be marked. Can you instruct them from here?”

“Yes, but I need to use the control console, if I have your permission
to touch that. I also wish to instruct the passengers to follow the crew’s example.
They are not my crewmembers, but under my protection. After they accept your marks
they will be more willing to cooperate.”

“I must hear
all that is spoken,” stated Parkoda, in no uncertain terms.

“Of course,
Sir.”

Jake was just starting a summary report, and Mirikami needed
him to setup connections for the ship wide broadcast. This led Mirikami to make
a small mistake, one he didn’t realize immediately. If he switched on the internal
intercom at the console Jake’s voice would be heard, he didn't want Parkoda to hear
anyone speaking, or even to suspect Jake’s existence.

“Do it now!”
ordered the Krall.

Mirikami couldn’t hesitate, since he believed his passengers
needed to receive the protection his crew received from being attacked. As Mirikami
walked to his console, Parkoda mouthed an unheard message into his shoulder communicator,
all the while watching the Captain intently at the control console.

Jake was early in his summary when Mirikami keyed up the intercom
manually. Therefore, his first words were immediately aimed at the computer, trying
to time it before Jake’s next words. He hoped the Krall wouldn’t understand to
whom he spoke. “Jake, standby!”

If the AI continued with the announcement, and talked over the
Captain’s words, it would probably apologize, or ask some question, which would
come out of the small intercom speaker on the console for Parkoda to hear. Thankfully,
the AI’s computer quick reaction instantly went silent at the command to standby.

Mirikami
was free to make the announcement.

“This is a ship wide announcement.” That would tell Jake to relay
the Captain’s voice to every compartment. “Attention passengers and crew. The Krall,
the aliens that are our captors, have ordered us to prepare the ship for a Jump,
or else to be transferred to a ship of theirs that is about to join us.

“We want to remain aboard the Flight of Fancy, so we will Jump
to where we are instructed to go. I believe crewmembers will be permitted to return
to work stations, perhaps under guard, but
only
after receiving an identifying
marking, a sort of tattoo placed below the base of the neck at the top of the chest.
Our captors have the means to apply this marking. This is
very
important
for your safety, because it provides you a small measure of security from attack
when in the presence of their warriors. After each crewmember has received this
tattoo, I ask that every passenger do
exactly
the same, and for the same
reason, your safety. Cooperate with every demand or instruction of any Krall, and
I have reason to believe you will not be harmed.

“The tattoo is not painful when applied, and the Krall themselves
wear one on their upper chest, in plain sight. First Officer Renaldo, Doctor Martin,
and I, have all received the marking, and it is very similar to the mark on the
chest of each Krall, but is a black ringed oval empty of any symbols.” He
thought of the handful of youngsters aboard, none younger than early teens.

He looked to Parkoda, deliberately leaving the ship audio Link
live and asked “May we hold the arms of our youngest children when this is done
for them? They have no discipline yet and might fight and die wastefully.” Then
he added, “But they can be trained if allowed to live and learn.”

He was slipping
in a warning and instruction to everyone, disguised as a suggestion to Parkoda.

Parkoda didn’t
hesitate, “It is allowed.” He again spoke into his disk.

Mirikami continued his announcement, “Exercise caution as you
walk toward the nearest Krall soldier, and do it
exactly
in the manner I
will now describe to you.” He told them what to do, and offered a reassuring
comment.

“Observe the Krall’s own tattoo’s location because they will
apply your tattoo in the same location. It will first feel cold, and burn a little
afterwards.  The Krall leader says the marking gives you limited protection from
an unprovoked attack or challenge. Continue to be very careful at all times, and
to obey their instructions.

“There have been a large number of deaths, and I'm deeply sorry
to have failed in my duty to protect you. However, as long as I am alive I will
do whatever is possible to see that as many of you as possible survive. All I know
of our destination is that it is called Koban, as soon...” Mirikami was brutally
smashed aside by a casual backhanded swipe as Parkoda took a step towards him.

The Captain flew several meters through the air before striking
the deck with a grunt, then sliding to the outer bulkhead. It had been a mere flick
of the Krall’s arm.

Feeling like he’d been hit by a truck, stunned and bruised, Mirikami
rose on unsteady legs, his right arm momentarily numb. He courageously walked back
to stand near the console, determined to show no injury. Facing the Krall, eyes
firmly on his chest, he said, “I will obey your orders. I was trying to ensure a
fast and efficient transfer of this ship and the humans on board to your chosen
destination. Was that a wrong thing to do?” The mike was still open, so everyone
could hear.

Parkoda seemed to consider for a moment before responding. “You
spoke to warn and to protect weaker clan members. That is not efficient. The weak
will die to leave the strong.”

Dillon saw that Mirikami was trying to apply Doushan's strategy
of appealing to the Krall's penchant for speed and efficiency. He took a chance
and interceded. If there were a risk to anyone in this tact, losing the Captain
would certainly not improve chances for everyone else.