The Third Cycle of Time-Chapter 12

From: Cheryl Baumgartner(C Baumgartner, Posted Date: Jul 9th, 2011

Kai had organized 15 groups of warriors to send to the worlds that now had military treaties with the Warrior Caste.  His own group was to be the last to leave, they would be going to Pordyah.  They would be leaving as soon As Lowen left with his group headed to Dagos.

“Don’t let those Dagosians give you any grief Major.” Kai told Lowen.

“I won’t General, I’ll get them whipped into shape.” Lowen replied.  “I can’t believe your mother promoted us all like this.”

“I promoted you all so that these worlds will take you seriously.  You have the experience, now you have the rank to go along with it.” Adana replied joining them and taking Kai’s arm.  “Kai, I would speak with you before you leave.”

Kai turned to follow her.  “What is it mother?”

“You left a very young woman on Pordyah, it’s been seven years now.  She is a grown woman probably married and with a family of her own by now.  Although you are careful to try to keep it from me I know your reputation.  Not just here, but on other worlds.  Leave her be Kai.  Don’t go looking for her, for your sake and hers.”

“Mother, you know better than anyone that I would protect Dava with my life.  You taught me to be honorable, do you think your lessons have fallen on deaf ears?  I will not seek her out or do anything to upset her life.  I promise.”

“Be safe, Kai.” She said with a hug.  “I’ll see you when you get back.  Nix and the judges know that you are my proxy delegate.  They will assist you in anything that you need.”

 

 

The men on this mission were young, more boys than men; so Kai was used to the whistles and appreciative comments they made when another pretty Pordyan girl walked by.  He mostly ignored it unless the men started crossing the border into disrespect. 

 He was on his knees inspecting the belly of the dragon fighter when a feminine voice said “Since you won’t come to dinner, I brought dinner to you.”

He straightened banging his head on the body of the fighter hard enough to see stars which produced a tinkling laugh. “Nice to know a girl can make a warrior knock himself silly.” He eased out from under the fighter and looked up to see Dava standing there holding a gaily wrapped box.  “And bring him to his knees.” She added dryly.

This was not the young girl he remembered.  She was a curvaceous woman.  And she was smiling at him.

“Hello Kai.”

“Dava, what are you doing here?” he asked getting to his feet.

“Bringing you dinner.” She said holding out the box to him with the same ‘innocent’ smile she had worn right before serving him odo peppers seven years ago.

“Why do I have the feeling that you are up to no good, again.” Kai asked suspiciously.

“Why whatever do you mean?” she was the very face of innocence.

Kai took the offered package, untied the bow opened it and looked down at the box full of odo peppers with disbelief.

“You enjoyed them so much the last time you were here!” she said with a laugh while Kai scowled at her.

“I came to ask you to join us for dinner tonight.  If you say no I’ll just come back tomorrow with the same invitation and another box of odo peppers.”

“Dava, I do not wish to disturb your life.  I’m only going to be here for a year.  You need to find some nice Pordyan boy and start a family.”

“Like you have settled down and started a family with some nice Brunnen G girl?” she retorted.  “Kai have you forgotten what I told you seven years ago?”

“You were only 17 Dava.” Kai reminded her.

“I fell in love with you then that has not changed.  The only thing that has changed is that I am an adult now, which means I can do this.” Dava said tangling her fingers in his hair, raising up on tiptoes and kissing him to accompanying whistles from the men.

“I’ll see you at dinner.” She said as she turned and walked away.

It’s going to be a long year, Kai thought to himself.

 

 

 

Far above Brunnis the blue Dwarf star continued shifting in its stabilizing field.  Not much, the entire repositioning would only be several inches.  Not enough to be recorded by the instruments of the humans on the world below but enough to do what must be done and return earn the chance to be united with the one that had called out to it in loneliness.  This was the compromise it had made.

 

 

“Adana, your treaties with these worlds are your own, this Council does not recognize them as valid.” Mara said.

“The Council does not need to recognize them.” Moira High Smith Delegate spoke up.  “As for the Smith Caste we do recognize them.  Each caste can individually opt to recognize Adana’s treaties or not.  Our priority is the production of weapons for ourselves, and our allies which are the same as those of the Warrior Caste.”

“Over 15 worlds have fallen while this Council sits by idly watching.  You may not like it Mara but it seems that others are becoming more concerned with the human death toll than with profits.  You are very popular among your caste because your only concern is profit.

I am just as popular among the warriors because my only concern is the safeguarding of lives.  You cater to the people of Brunnis by feeding their desire for material possessions.  How popular will you be when their lives are at stake?” Adana stated before storming out of the council Chamber.

 

 

“So you think we are weak?” Lowen walked up to the man who was proving he had the biggest mouth of all the Dagosians.

“Yes.  Brunnen G warriors are weak.” The man replied.

“What makes you think we are weak?  Because we do not kill other humans?” Lowen waved his hand in a dismissive gesture.   “We Brunnen G like a challenge!  We want to face something bigger and stronger than ourselves!  We choose to face the insects!  Have you ever faced an insect?” Lowen asked. 

 “Have you ever sat out in the middle of space in a little fighter facing something larger and more powerful than you?  Something that can crush you and your fighter to death in its mandibles?

I have.  I have over 15 insect kills to my credit.  My Commanding Officer General Kai has over 35 kills to his credit. Our unit combined has over 250 kills.  Insect kills.  We have faced and killed something that can kill us much easier than we can kill it.”

Lowen got in the man’s face, nose to nose with him.  “Now tell me you think that I am weak.  Tell me you think that any one of us is weak.  We CHOOSE not to kill our own kind.  Instead we kill the thing determined to wipe all humans off the face of the universe.  The insects will kill Dagosians just as quickly as they will kill a Brunnen G.”

 

 

Nix watched as Dava cleared the unused plate from the table.  She had been persistently inviting Kai to dinner and he had just as persistently refused to come.  But Nix was learning that she was just as headstrong as her mother had been.  Dava had set her sights on Kai.  Nix had tried to explain to her why it wouldn’t work, but Dava remained deaf to his words.

“Kai came to see me today Dava.” Nix said.  “Please, leave him in peace, Kai is an honorable man.  He cannot be what you want him to be.  He cannot be your husband it is forbidden.”

“I love Kai.  He is simply being stubborn.”

“Dava he’s trying to protect you.” Nix said.  He immediately wondered what he had said as she started thinking, which was not a good sign.

“He is protecting me?” She asked.

“Yes, he doesn’t want to hurt you.  He is concerned with your welfare.  He cannot be your husband so he keeps his distance to protect you.” Nix answered cautiously.

Dava hurried around the table and hugged her father.  “Thank you!  You have told me exactly what I must do.”

“Dava, what?” he called after her.  “What must you do?”

“He needs a reason to come that concerns my well-being.  I will give him one!”

 

 

In the week since Kai had spoken to Nix Dava had stopped coming by everyday.  In fact he had not seen her at all.  While it meant she wasn’t there to tempt him, another part of him missed her presence.  He sighed as he read over the latest progress reports.

“General, Judge Nix is here to see you.”  One of the Pordyan students stuck his head in the door.

“Send him in.” Kai said as he stood up to meet Nix.  The man looked worried.

“What is wrong?” Kai asked as his thoughts flew to Dava.

“Kai, you must come with me.  I have done all I can. I have yelled, threatened, screamed and begged.   She will not come out of her room!”

“Dava?”

“Of course Dava! She has locked herself in her room.  She refuses to eat.  She has gone on a hunger strike!  She says that she will only come out for you.

I ignored it at first but she hasn’t eaten in days Kai.  She is determined to starve herself to death.” Nix said agitated.

“I will come Nix.  We will get her out of her room and see that she is well and then I’ll have a talk with her.” Kai said.

Kai thought furiously on the way of how he could convince Dava to fix her sights on someone else.  It wasn’t that he wasn’t interested, he was way too interested.  The problem was that he couldn’t be what she deserved.

“Upstairs, first room on the left.” Nix said as they entered the house. “I’ll fix something for her to eat.  She must be starving.”

Kai watched Nix head toward the kitchen and then started up the stairs.  He knocked on the door.

“Dava, your father is worried about you.  Will you please come out.” He said as the door opened.  Dava looked surprisingly strong for someone who had not eaten in almost week.

“Kai, what a surprise.  If I had known all it took was starving myself I would have done this sooner.” She said as she lifted the apple to her mouth and took a bite.

“You aren’t starving?” He said in shock realizing he had been duped.  “So did your father help you plan this?  His act was very convincing.  I came running over here because I thought…”

Dava had grabbed him and kissed him again.  “You came running over here because you were worried.  Just as worried as my father was when he came to you.

No I am not starving.  I simply climb out my window and down to the kitchen at night after my father goes to bed.  I would rather not have worried him like this but you gave me no choice.  You ignore me and that does hurt, more than you can know.”

“Dava, It will hurt worse when I leave.  I cannot stay here and build a life with you.”

“Kai, you are a warrior.  I know that your duty comes first, but we are at war.  The insects invade more and more of the galaxy.  You are worrying about outliving me when you are going to be the one in the line of fire.  Don’t you realize yet that I love you, idiot!

I’m not asking for your hand in marriage Kai.  I’m not asking for what we both know you cannot give.  I am asking for what you can give.”

Nix watched as Kai fought an inner battle with himself. “I can’t Dava.” Kai turned and started down the stairs.

“Can’t or won’t.  You complain about others only seeing the prophecy but I think it is you blinded by the prophecy.  I threw myself into studying Brunnen G history for the past seven years Kai.  Do you think you are going to end up like him.  Blown up in some battle? 

The insects didn’t kill him Kai, he chose to sacrifice himself to protect the people he loved.  The difference is he was willing to love others while you use this prophecy as an excuse not to love!  The big bad Brunnen G Warrior is a coward!”

“I am not a coward.”

“Yes you are.  You don’t face the insects because of bravery, you face them because it’s easier than facing someone who loves you.  Kai I love you and nothing you do is going to change that.”