Different Paths (22 page)

Talia just shook her head and silently followed
the strange bounty hunter who was both her guardian and companion. There seemed
to be so much more to learn about these Terrans than was ever hinted at during
her time in the Seminary. She just hoped that she would have enough time to fully
understand the Terran race before her mission was complete.

Chapter 18

Iaido paused at an information terminal to locate
his destination.

Although he had been to Haven many times, the
station was so large that he had never visited every shop. The retrofitted
starbase was broken down into six major sections. The operations section at the
very ‘top’ of the station was considered off limits to non-essential personnel,
while the lowest sections consisted primarily of storage and uninhabitable
areas. The space docks took up most of the outer region, which left one area
for the market and the remaining two for living quarters.

The info terminal directed him to the ‘Louisville
Deck’ – which was level twenty-two of the Market section. Every level was named
for a city, modern, ancient or otherwise. Since Haven had a multi-cultural
population, sometimes the names were odd. Supposedly helped the inhabitants
recall their roots and made it easier for many to find their way around. Iaido
always found it trivial and frustrating but since he couldn’t change it, he
just accepted it.

Locating his destination, Iaido paused to study
his surroundings before entering.

It was a trinket shop and seemed to be filled with
knick-knacks from all over the galaxy. Several baskets of rugs and a stuffed
long-toothed cat adorned the storefront with only one aisle way visible and
seemed to wind through the store.  The traffic on this level was less than they
had encountered earlier but there was still a steady flow of people moving
about. Iaido leaned against the opposite wall and calmly waited.

Talia looked around. “What are we waiting for?”

“Patience. Just because that is our destination,
that doesn’t mean I am going to rush in without a proper recon.”

“Recon?”

Iaido rolled his eyes and took a calming breath. “It’s
a military term for reconnaissance.” He nodded at the store. “We have no idea
what’s in there but by watching traffic patterns we can learn a lot. For
example, since we have arrived approximately one-hundred and seventy-five
people have passed the shop but no one has entered. Furthermore, both stores to
either side have had steady traffic. What does that tell you?”

“I don’t know.” Talia shrugged and brushed a stray
lock of her silver hair behind her ears.

“Either the store owner Ishmael or the merchandise
he sells isn’t popular with the locals.”

Talia pulled out her tarot deck and began to
shuffle them. Iaido realized that it was a nervous habit she had and said
nothing about it as he continued to watch for ten more minutes without anyone
entering or exiting the store. Pushing himself from the wall, they moved across
the pedestrian traffic and stepped inside.

If walking into the Sylvan Embassy in New Atlanta
was like stepping back in time, then entering this shop was like entering a
nineteenth century museum crossed with a vaudeville magic store and there is no
other way to describe the place other than cluttered. There were knick-knacks
piled on top of boxes which were stacked next to piles of junk. Iaido didn’t
even recognize most of the trinkets in the store. An ornamental stone
sarcophagus stood on a pedestal and seemed to serve the purpose of the main
counter since it was the only uncluttered surface. A ledger book and a silver
bell sat on its top next to the sign ‘ring for service’.

As they stepped up to the counter, Talia rang the
bell.

Moving quietly for someone his size, Ishmael
stepped out from the back room to stand behind the sarcophagus and studied his
two customers.

Few things in life seemed to catch Iaido off
guard. Maybe it was his training but when the lizard-like Lemurian stepped out,
Iaido’s first instinct was to draw his blade. Reining in his combat urges,
Iaido studied the storekeeper.

At first glance it was obvious that somewhere far
back on the evolutionary ladder the Lemurians were related to crocodiles or
alligators of ancient earth. Imagine an alligator’s rear legs elongated enough
to allow the reptile to stand erect at nearly seven foot; while the front legs
lengthened enough to use as arms. Both hands and feet sported three inch long
claws, yet the dexterity of the race could not be discounted. This Lemurian’s
hide was a reddish-brown with a black crest running the length of his back. His
eyes were slightly elevated like those of a crocodile’s and when he blinked, a
second eyelid closed sideways proving that his ancestors spent many hours
underwater. His left eye was cloudy and judging from an old scar that ran the
length of his snout, Ishmael had seen the horrors of war up close and personal.
He was dressed in a simple dark brown robe and calmly watched his two
customers.

After several minutes, Iaido placed both hands
together and bowed but never took his eyes off of the Lemurian. “I am Iaido
Spartan.”

“Greetingzz earthling… they call me Izzhmael.” His
voice was dry and whispery. His long tongue, like that of a snake, flickered in
and out as he talked.

Iaido pulled out the scroll. “My master asked me
to bring you this.”

Ishmael gently took the offered object and bowed
his head. “I izz zzorry for your lozzzz.”

Iaido cocked his head slightly. “How can you know
of the Sensei’s death?”

Ishmael slowly unrolled the scroll and scanned the
document. “There izz much I know and much I do not know but if you have this
zzcroll then Kenzzai izz dead.”

The hissing on certain words threw Iaido for a
moment. His long snake-like tongue which flicked in and out when he talked was
also distracting but it was the reference to his master as Kensai or
sword-saint which caught him off guard. Before he could ask more, the Lemurian
rerolled the scroll and passed it back to him.

“Thizz izz for you. It izz hizz lazzt will and
tezztement.”

Iaido unrolled the scroll and scanned it. Ishmael
was right; it was his master’s will. “Then why was I instructed to bring it to
you?”

The Lemurian reached down and pulled open the
sarcophagus. Talia and Iaido could hear the clanking of items being moved
around before Ishmael pulled out a bundle of black cloth. Closing the lid,
Ishmael set down the bundle and stepped back. “Thizz izz for you. It izz to be
your legacy.”

Curious and confused, Iaido reached out. The
moment his hand touched the bundle, his heart skipped a beat. Could it be? As
the black wrapping fell away and the light fell across the ancient blade, Iaido
couldn’t help but gasp at the sight. “Do you know what this is?”

“Yezz. It izz the Zzword of the Elementzz, uzzed
by the firzzt Kenzzai to bring harmony to hizz land.”

Talia shook her head, “I don’t understand.”

Still gazing at the ancient blade, Iaido spoke in
a faraway voice.

“Miyamato Mushasi was known as the first Kensai.
Legends state that as his skills grew, Mushasi had a vision concerning the
perfect weapons. He travelled the length of Japan until he found the master
swordsmith Hatori Honzo living in a cave as a hermit. There is no record at how
Mushasi convinced Honzo to accompany him but one winter’s eve they climbed the
slopes of Mount Fuji and with the help of the gods forged the Twin Blades of
Heaven.”

Lifting the ancient katana, Iaido slid the blade
free of its scabbard and the light reflected off its polished surface. Even
slightly mesmerized by the balance of the superb weapon, he continued his
explanation. “This sword is known as the Blade of the Elements. It was crafted
to embody the four elements of nature; fire, water, earth and air. Its sister
sword was known as the Blade of Void. Together the swords encompass the five
elements of the Ancients and when used together it is said that the wielder was
invincible.”

Talia asked, “Is that true?”

Iaido shrugged but it was Ishmael who answered.

“I too uzzed to walk the path of the blade and my
journeyzz brought me into conflict with the wielder of the Bladezz of Heaven.”
Ishmael pointed at his scar. “I wazz not the victor but my life wazz zzpared by
the Kenzzai. My cup wazz full but in defeat I learned to empty it.”

Talia was more confused after the Lemurian’s
explanation than before. Her best interpretation was that Ishmael and Iaido’s
master had fought a duel in which the lizardman lost but was spared by the
Sensei and somehow had become friends. She had no idea what he meant by the
Lemurian’s reference to a cup but before she could ask anything more, Ishmael
opened the sarcophagus and pulled forth a harness of black leather attached to
a circular device with two holes in it.

“Thizz arrived with the zzword,” hissed Ishmael.

“Domo,” said Iaido as he took the offered
bandolier. Removing his trench coat, Iaido slipped out of his current weapon
harness which was designed to hold his katana upright and almost directly
behind his head. Removing his battleworn scabbard from his old harness, he
placed it in one of the holes on the circular device, the Blade of the Elements
in the other and slid the harness on; both hilts now rested just over his shoulders
and within easy reach.

Ishmael bowed low and hissed something in his
native language before adding in English, “Fear not Iaido-zzan, we zzhall meet
again.”

Iaido nodded his head, picked up his trench coat
and with a nod of his head signaled to Talia that it was time for them to
leave.

Once they were back in the thoroughfare Talia
asked, “Where to now?”

“Nick’s Place, I need to see a man about a horse.”

Talia had no idea what he meant but just shrugged
her shoulders and followed along. One thing for certain, it had been an
interesting day but she also realized that it had been one of the most exciting
times of her life…so far.

Chapter 19

Nick’s Place was the busiest bar on Haven and that
made the owner happy.

Nicholas Angelini, Nick to his customers, was from
an old Italian family of good character and with his family connections, he didn’t
have to serve in the military during the war. While all his friends were off
fighting for the good of the Coalition, Nick was having fun, chasing women, racing
cars and doing the latest recreational drugs. Life was good or so he thought.
Until the day Nick went to see his doctor about a stomach problem and was
diagnosed with cancer. After extensive tests and treatments, it was decided
that even with the advancements in medicine of the twenty-second century it was
still an inoperable tumor. The doctors gave Nick six months to live.

That was three years ago. After a week-long
drinking binge, Nick sobered up and decided to make a change. He left his
family and friends behind and began to wander the galaxy. Eventually, his
travels brought him to Haven and with the roll of the dice, Nick won the bar.

It was a dive back then but with some hard work,
Nick had found a home and his calling. The bar was especially crowded since several
transports had come through earlier in the day carrying settlers and
prospectors to the outer regions. Of course, the normal clientele of
mercenaries and thieves packed the place. As Talia and Iaido entered the bar,
the whole room fell silent. Moments later the low murmur of whispered voices
filled the air.

Iaido leaned over to Talia. “I guess the word is
out about us.” Gesturing for her to stay where she was, he moved to the center
of the bar, planted his feet shoulder wide and rolled his shoulders around to
loosen them up. “All right, anyone here foolish enough to try and claim the
bounty?”

“I am.” A young man stepped out of the crowd. He
stood just under six feet and probably weighed close to three hundred pounds. Judging
from his ragged camos and weapon rig, Iaido guessed that he was an ex-soldier
who had fallen on hard times and turned to mercenary work.

With lightning speed, Iaido pulled out his Graver
Mk7 with his left hand and fired one round.

The blast took off the young merc’s head before
his hand had even touched the grip of his own weapon. Keeping his weapon
raised, Iaido slowly turned around and took in the whole of the bar while the
thud of the young merc’s body hitting the floor filled the silent room.

“Anyone else?” asked Iaido. “Either step up or go
back to your drinks.”

Not seeing anyone foolish enough to take the
challenge, Iaido holstered his weapon with a spin and moved to the bar. “Sorry
about the mess, Nick.”

Nick shrugged his shoulders and continued to wipe
off an already clean mug. “Not a problem, Mr. Spartan. Not the first one to die
in here; doubt it will be the last.” He glanced at the body which was being
picked clean by his friends and added, “At least you didn’t break any
furniture. There will be a small surcharge on your bill for the body disposal.”

“Not a problem Nick. Add a ten percent tip on it
for the trouble it caused and send three beers over to my table.”

“Will do Mr. Spartan.”

Talia was furious but quietly followed the bounty
hunter to a corner table that was miraculously empty by the time they reached
it. As soon as they sat down, Talia unleashed her fury.

“How dare you kill so blatantly? That is the
second time I have seen you kill without hesitation. Does life hold so little
regard to you that you can just take it on a whim?”

Iaido took a huge gulp of his beer while his eyes continued
to scan the crowd. After a moment he answered in a low voice. “It wasn’t a whim
and as unfortunate at it seems, his death was necessary.”

Her fury unabated she asked, “How can you say that!!?”