Pursuit of the Bold Read online

"Mshindi Prime," a voice called out once the crowd quieted.

  At the raised bar where speakers were allowed, Perasti Tertiary stood.

  "House Perasti is recognized," Mshindi Prime answered.

  "House Perasti wishes to know how Hoffen Liam and Loose Nuts intend to pursue Kroerak."

  "The question is allowed," Mshindi Prime answered. "Loose Nuts is advised an answer is not compelled."

  "We pursue Kroerak with the purpose to uncover their origins and discover their weakness. Simply put, they are humanity’s mortal enemy. As for details; the history and efficacy of our pursuit is widely known. To our future plans, we will first rebuild. Beyond that, further details would not be wisely shared in a public forum."

  "You accuse Abasi of aiding Kroerak?" Badru spat as he jumped to his feet.

  "House Gundi is not recognized," Mshindi Prime said. "You are not required to answer."

  "I don't mind answering," I said. "Badru, your statement shows a fallacy of logic. Abasi have shown great disdain for Kroerak. I do not question this. Yet I have no basis of understanding as to how broadly the comments made in this court would be shared. I mean no offense."

  "What you mean and what you communicate are at odds," Badru said, still angry.

  "Are there further comments?" Mshindi Prime asked. She didn't wait long before she continued. "This court desists."

  Nick and Jonathan walked up to us and I had a gnawing in the pit of my stomach as I anticipated Nick's rebuke.

  "Three out of four isn't bad," Nick said.

  "A most noble gesture, Liam," Jonathan said. "We would discuss with you the logical path used to reach this decision, although, not at this moment."

  "Really?" I asked, looking at Nick. "You're not pissed?"

  "Adahy could have seized the Kroerak ship," he said. "She went way out on a limb. Asking for money would have changed our relationship with House Mshindi. Frankly, it made me proud that you understood the long-term value of our relationship with the Abasi as being greater than that ship."

  "Many pardons," Mshindi Second interrupted. "I have been asked to convey a request for meeting with Mshindi Prime. Will you accept?"

  "Of course." I looked and discovered that Mshindi Prime had disappeared.

  "She is this way," Zakia said, leading us from the courtroom and up one level. As with previous trips onto Thunder Awakes, I was impressed by the level of fit and finish. Every detail of the ship was perfect, and I wondered if other Houses were similarly able to maintain their ships.

  The room we entered was spare compared even to the passageways. A plain unvarnished wooden table sat atop low-napped carpet and was surrounded by wooden stools with low backs. The only ornamentation in the room was a landscape mural showing a hunting party of Felio wearing little clothing, chasing through the tall grass after a large-tusked animal.

  We'd no more entered the room when Mshindi Prime, Perasti Prime, and the elderly Gundi Prime appeared from a panel in the wall I hadn't previously seen. I found it surprising that the other heads of Houses were aboard, but had not appeared in the prize court.

  "Please sit," Mshindi Prime said in her usual abrupt manner. "There is much to do and to that I will delay greetings for the ceremony on Petersburg Station. Liam, do you recognize my companions?"

  "Of course," I answered. "We are honored by the foresight of Busara and the clarity of Onyesha, firsts of House Perasti and Gundi." I'd spent some time researching the heads of each Abasi house and was happy I was able to properly use the information.

  Both nodded and gave quiet chuffs of appreciation at the recognition.

  "Let us be as plain-spoken as the furnishings of this room," Mshindi Prime said. "How will Loose Nuts pursue Kroerak?"

  "Do I have the promise that you will neither stand in our way nor share this information beyond this circle?" I asked.

  "There can be no promise for the first, but information will be kept tightly among only our most trusted. As leaders, we are aware of the dangers of information finding its way to our enemies," she said. "Let it be known we have no desire to hinder efforts against a most difficult enemy."

  On my HUD, green ready checks showed next to Nick and Tabby's names, indicating their acceptance of my continuing.

  "There is an ancient species known to the Kroerak as Piscivoru. The Piscivoru were at one time as numerous as Felio, Pogona, or even humanity. Five centuries past, the Kroerak began feeding on this species and ended up wiping them out. We have learned that the Kroerak fear this species because it possesses a weapon that does great damage to Kroerak," I said. "We quest to find this species."

  "And yet you say this species was wiped out," Onyesha said. "Do you believe this weapon still exists?"

  "We have reason to believe a remnant of this species still lives," Jonathan said. "While aboard the Kroerak vessel, we communicated with a Kroerak noble, which communicated its fear."

  "This is the noble that sat beneath the soil of planet Zuri below us?" Busara asked.

  "It is the same," Jonathan answered.

  "It would seem this noble was out of communication for two centuries," she said, actually using timespan terms common to Felio, and translated by my AI. "This information is suspect."

  "We learned that Kroerak nobles are capable of communication across galactic distances," Jonathan said. "They utilized the sunken vessel to secretly track the progress of Felio. We also discovered the Genteresk were complicit in providing aid to this ship and its inhabitants."

  "Aid?" the wizened Onyesha asked. "These are inflammatory words with significant implications. I do not believe this."

  "You asked for information," I said. "It is to you to determine its validity."

  "We would transmit the dialog that exposes this information," Jonathan said, nonplussed.

  "Honored Onyesha, no one accuses," Mshindi Prime said. "I do not believe Liam Hoffen has an understanding of previous, spurious accusations that House Gundi gave Genteresk traders lax oversight in Abasi space."

  The old Felio's tail twitched and she glowered at Jonathan, but didn’t say anything further.

  "Our Houses will provide aid to Loose Nuts for the purpose of pursuing Kroerak," Mshindi Prime said. "In return we require detailed reporting of events and discovery. Loose Nuts is a fragile House that can be broken. It would not do that the information discovered be lost."

  "What kind of aid?" I asked.

  "Loans that do not require repayment for many generations and bear little interest. Access to ordnance manufactory at significant discounts."

  "How much capitalization?" Nick asked. "To do this right, we need two hundred million credits."

  A low growl was heard emanating from Mshindi Prime as she locked eyes with Nick. "Nicholas James, you are easily underestimated. I will grant one hundred million and I require an accounting that shows the expenses are attributed correctly to the objective."

  "Easily accomplished," Nick said. "We're constructing a manufacturing plant for the purpose of rebuilding the engines of Intrepid and Hornblower. We need the capital to procure raw materials and pay for labor. We plan to add fuel production capability. These will have immediate, short-term impact on our capacity to continue our quest. Don't be fooled, though. For humanity to survive in this galaxy, we need a real foothold. I fully intend to use this capital for purposes beyond the mission Liam outlined. We have no desire to enter an agreement that hinders these secondary objectives."

  "I would be disappointed if you did not," Mshindi Prime said. "Our only restriction is that the capital we provide be used for this objective. Ancillary benefit to Loose Nuts is acceptable."

  The reception Mom and Katherine hosted on Petersburg Station was nothing short of a blow-out. They'd gone all in, hiring our good friends from the human settlement of York, Patty and Hog Hagerson, to cater the event and even brought a local band from the nearby Pogona city, Azima, up to provide entertainment.

  "Are you sure you're okay with what went down in the prize court?" I asked Tabby as w
e smiled politely at passersby.

  "Not initially, but I think it worked out in the end," she said. "Don't get me wrong. Abasi are good allies, but we've given them a lot of power over us."

  "It's no different than Mars Protectorate," I said. "They set out the rules and we had to abide by them."

  "It's entirely different," she argued. "Mars Protectorate had a duty to protect its citizens."

  I nodded, not wanting to argue. "I hear you."

  It was at this moment that Majida, Mshindi Tertiary, or third in House Mshindi, approached. To be completely honest, her revealing outfit was the first thing that drew my eye. She'd softened her look somewhat by allowing her long hair to flow down her back, but she was still every bit the wolf, regardless of the sheep's clothing she might wear.

  "I would have thought the pretty Hoffen Liam would be chattering amongst the shiny peoples," she said, pulling a glass of sparkling wine from a passing waiter. "Do you cower next to your mate for protection?"

  I decided to take a different tack with her, having not made any progress in the past. "You look very nice, Majida. I did not realize your hair was quite so long on your back." From Semper, I'd learned that Felio enjoyed talking about their fur and that it was a safe conversation.

  She smoothed her hair and a gleam brightened her eyes. "I understand human-Felio mating is quite pleasurable for both. I would find interest in play with both of you."

  I opened my mouth to respond, but Tabby cut me off. "Not going to happen, and you should know, I'm done with this conversation. Stop making suggestions to my mate or we will find ourselves in combat – no matter the dignitaries in attendance."

  "Ooh, I can almost see your fangs, Tabitha Masters," Majida said, a purring sound underlying her voice. "I find you most attractive."

  "Stop this, Majida," Tabby said. "Our only contact will be in combat or on the challenge court."

  A feral grin played across Majida's lips. "I accept. It is to you to choose the challenge."

  "All this hot hussy routine was to get me to challenge you?" Tabby asked, unbelieving. Majida tipped her head to the side and looked away. It was clear that exactly what Tabby had said was true. "We'd talked about pod-ball already. This was unnecessary, but fine; I choose two-on-two pod-ball."

  "Accepted. I have read of your game and demand that personal contact is no foul, only blood drawn results in penalty."

  Tabby stepped into Majida's personal space and looked down into her eyes. "Those rules are for your protection, Majida, not mine."

  "Majida!" Zakia, Mshindi Second, appeared, having worked her way through the party to us. "What is the meaning of this?"

  "Masters Tabitha levied challenge. It has been accepted," she said.

  "Tabitha Masters is not bound by our traditions," Zakia said. "You will withdraw and apologize, Majida."

  "I cannot," Majida said. "Ask Masters Tabitha if she wishes withdrawal."

  "Not even a little. This one needs a lesson in keeping her paws off what is mine," Tabby said, jabbing a finger into Majida's chest. "Put the word out. We'll meet on the Petersburg court in thirty minutes. Bring your anti-gravity suit. You're going to need it."

  When Tabby and I slipped away to get ready, news of the match spread quickly. I wouldn't have expected it to be quite such a big deal, but when we walked down the passageway to the courts, I was surprised by the milling crowd.

  "Do us proud, Tabby," a woman I didn't recognize said as we passed.

  "Show 'em what we're made of," another added.

  "Why aren't they in the stands?" Tabby asked as we jostled our way through the final few meters.

  The excitement was contagious and caused my stomach to sour with adrenaline. Mentally, I chastised myself; I'd been in plenty of real combat situations and shouldn't feel this way. I shouldn’t have been surprised that station workers from the only human settlement in this galaxy, York, were heavily invested in our success. It was understandable. They'd been abandoned in a galaxy where humans were far from the top of the food chain and any parity with the powerful Abasi was important to them.

  With that additional burden, I did some quick math and answered, "I bet the stands are full. We have forty Abasi dignitaries and over a hundred workers on Petersburg right now. Ortel and Priloe's biggest court holds thirty spectators."

  "You better sack up then, Hoffen," Tabby replied, smacking her hands together like a boxer. "This is one match we're not losing."

  Ortel Licht smiled as we approached the entry to the court. He'd thickened since we'd last met. When he'd joined us at seventeen stans, he'd been rail thin, as most spacers are. Over the last twenty ten-days, however, he'd put on mass, which was also common for asteroid miners. "Liam, Tabby – I gotta say, this is very exciting," he said with a confidence I hadn't seen in him before. "Come on in. We'll get you introduced. Majida and Duma are already inside and they're really getting the crowd whipped up."

  "Where's Priloe?" I asked, looking for the orphan Mom had taken in. He and Ortel, even with their substantial age difference, had discovered in each other a kindred spirit and were rarely seen apart.

  Ortel leaned in and whispered low. "Don't tell your mom. He's got a book going right now. I don't have to tell you there's a lot riding on this match."

  "He's taking bets?" I asked, surprised and annoyed.

  "You can take the boy out of the slum… " Tabby said, putting her hand on my back and pushing me toward the door. "Get focused, Hoffen. You're wasting time."

  "We're going to talk, Ortel," I said over my shoulder as I stepped through the hatch.

  A wave of nostalgia passed over me as I entered the court and looked up into the stands. Growing up, Nick's brother Jack, Tabby, and I had been one of the top teams at our home, Colony-40. With Nick as our sideline strategist, Jack as our defensive man, and Tabby as shooter, I ended up owning the middle ground, both defending and attacking. Life had changed since those days, and Tabby's confidence had done nothing but grow, not to mention her aggressive approach to all things resembling combat. She would be the attacker and my job would be to feed her the ball and defend our goal.

  On its surface, the game of pod-ball was simple. Playing natural – as it was commonly called – was by far the best game. At each end of a symmetric court, there are goals. A point is scored by placing the ball into the goal by any means. Part of the fun of pod-ball is that the home team is allowed to place obstacles onto the court, modify gravity, change lighting and so on. The only requirement is that the visiting team be provided a full layout in advance and that the court's layout is symmetric. Players are not allowed to carry anything, their suits cannot interfere with the actions of others, and there is no use of arc-jets or really anything that would provide a boost. Of course, every rule was allowed modification if both teams agreed, but we hadn't.

  There are numerous rules about contact, some of which are so nuanced that you need to be a player to even understand them. Majida, by rejecting these contact rules, basically called for a free-for-all, and I hoped she would at least respect the spirit of the game. Otherwise, it could devolve into two-on-two combat, something I worried Majida might actually want.

  Looking into the stands, I found Mom standing between Mshindi Prime and Zakia, Mshindi Second. I couldn't help but wave at her as I'd always done when playing at home. I felt a flutter of sadness as I recognized that Dad would normally have been next to her. Fortunately, the energy of the crowd wasn't about to allow for those types of reflections and I waved in recognition of the many that stood and cheered behind the armor glass.

  Together, Tabby and I approached the center where Majida, Mshindi Tertiary, stood next to a tall, sinewy, feral-looking Felio female. The two wore identical, simple garb: a six-centimeter-wide strap around their chest and low, tight shorts around their nethers. Beyond that, they wore no boots or gloves.

  "Mshindi Tertiary," I nodded as we approached. I held my forearm in front of my body at forty-five degrees.

  "Hoffen Liam, Masters T
abitha. Pleased to introduce my childhood partner, Duma," Majida said, lightly bumping my arm with her own. I moved across to Duma and bumped her arm. Her lips split in a grimace as her fangs slid into view.

  "Ladies and Gentlemen, honored Abasi guests." Ortel's amplified voice filled the room as he strutted into the middle of the court. "Today we have the first recorded pod-ball match between Felio and humans. Representing House Mshindi we have the fierce, the lithe, the always ready for a fight – Majida! At her side, the highly decorated and powerful Duma!"

  He waited as cheers from both human and Felio echoed through the court, transmitted between the armor glass panels by electronic means.

  "Representing the underdogs of Dwingeloo, the scrappy species that never says die, the one, the only, Liam Hoffen and his ass-kicking partner, Tabby Masters!" As Ortel spoke, his voice rose and trailed off like an old-fashioned circus barker from ancient vids. I had to hand it to him, he was getting the crowd riled up.

  "House Mshindi – are you ready?" Ortel turned dramatically to Majida.

  "Get on with it, mouse," she replied, unimpressed.

  "I'll take that as affirmative," he replied and turned to Tabby and me. "Loose Nuts – are you ready?"

  Tabby nodded to me and I walked three meters toward the goal we would defend and placed the back of my foot against one of several obstacles. She would stay next to where the ball would drop from the ceiling a fraction of a second before gravity was nullified and things like floors and ceilings became irrelevant.

  "Let's go, Ortel," Tabby said, twisting her neck, loosening up.

  "The match ends after three ten-minute periods or five goals, whichever comes first," Ortel said. "By agreement of both teams, personal fouls are lifted. Broken bones and deep cuts will be assessed by AI and the offending player will be ejected from game. Take your positions, match starts in fifteen seconds."

  Ortel turned and jogged off court. The lights dimmed, steam began pouring in from vents in the walls and rays of light, resembling blaster fire, danced around the room. If I survived, I'd be paying Ortel back for the spectacle. I hated strobes while playing, as they were just a distraction.