The Archer's Paradox - The Travis Fletcher Chronicles (13 page)

No escape.
He thought to himself.

“This is a basic training cube.” Xnuk Ek’ explained, indicating their surroundings. “It is sufficiently padded so that you will not be damaged, but not so much that you will not learn.” Travis was not sure he liked the sound of that, but kept quiet. “Sundaravāda Ci
ṭṭ
e has been teaching you mental discipline, and I will teach you to link those skills with physical discipline. As soon as we can walk, we are taught
Ha iik' tunich
which teaches the body and mind to work as one.”

Like martial arts, like Kung Fu and Karate?”

Xnuk Ek’ looked blankly but Niji No Tori sent her a mental image and a light of recognition registered on her face. “Yes, close enough.” She responded dismissively.

Travis had taken a few karate lessons, mostly to impress a girl, so he knew the basics and he took up a fair ‘fighting stance’ in front of Xnuk Ek’ who shook her head and pointed at the young
Aantah
.

“I am
Ka’nsah
, Niji No Tori is
Aantah
, you are
Paal Kanik
; I instruct, Niji No Tori assists, you learn.”

Travis sized up his new opponent. She was a much slighter build and a good few inches shorter than Xnuk Ek’, who towered over him. A much better prospect, he decided. He shifted his stance appropriately. He was ready.
Now what?
He caught Xnuk Ek’ smile and nod at the girl and the next thing he felt was his body striking the wall of the cube some three feet from the floor. He fell, winded, and lay in a heap on the floor with an ache in his chest as if he had just been kicked. He struggled to his feet, too shocked to say anything. He was sure neither of them had moved.

“Shall we try that again?” Xnuk Ek’ asked with a wicked grin, beckoning him over.

“Are you going to teach me that or just kick the shit out of me again?” he complained. Niji No Tori looked embarrassed about causing Travis’ distress.

“
Ha iik' tunich
is not just a skill of the body but also of the mind,” his instructor explained. “You must defend, attack, and misdirect with the body as well as with the mind.” She nodded at Niji No Tori again.
Watch and listen with your mind.
He heard her mind next to his. Time slowed to a crawl.
Watch how she moves and listen for the tell-tales that give her away.
He concentrated on the almost stationary figure in front of him.
She’s going to move to the left and sweep your leg away but feign a head on attack. Do you see?

It was uncanny, but he understood.
Yes, I think I see.

So be
Ha
iik'
, be like water and wind; flow away and let her stone meet air, like this.
She instructed, projecting the image of a graceful move to avoid the impending attack. Time sped up again and he leapt ungainly to one side just as his sparring partner’s beautifully flowing move passed through where he had stood. Unfortunately, his hasty counter move unbalanced him and he collapsed to the floor once more. He looked up to see the two aliens smiling at him, partially in congratulations and partially in seeing such a comical spectacle.

“Again.” Xnuk Ek’ instructed.

By the end of the session, Travis was battered, bruised, and completely worn out, but strangely elated. This had been no initial karate lesson, learning how to stand, breathe and punch the air. This was trial by fire, and although Niji No Tori had landed more blows than he had avoided, with Xnuk Ek’’s guidance he was starting to see patterns in her movements and thoughts that alerted him to what was coming, even if he could still not get out of the way in time. The basic moves were more like an intricate dance that was performed with a speed, agility and grace that would put any ballet dancer to shame and made the flowing moves of Kung Fu look like a toddler taking its first steps. She was beautiful and hypnotic to watch and that, reasoned Travis, was the reason he failed to react quickly enough. But he was not going to give up and he thought he was getting the hang of it. What had brought the session to an end was a particularly awkward fall that had twisted a muscle in his leg. Xnuk Ek’ had called the lesson to a close and suggested that Travis spend some time in the cleansing cubicle as he was dripping pools of sweat everywhere. Niji No Tori had offered to attend to his injury, which had a sort of strange symmetry in Travis’ eyes as she was the cause of his pain in the first place.

Travis was limping through the corridors back to his cabin, supported by his erstwhile sparring partner. Although of a much slighter build than he, she possessed the strength of someone twice her size and bore his weight with ease.
Or was she using some mental power to augment her strength?
Travis mused. Luckily the three mile trip back to his cabin was eased by the floor that whisked them smoothly along, albeit at a slower pace than before. It seemed to Travis, correctly as it happened, that their ultimate speed was proportional to the speed at which they walked. The young alien seemed uncomfortable and Travis could sense something was amiss. Was it just normal intuition or was he actually able to sense others thoughts and emotions?

“What’s wrong?” he queried her.

“I am sorry I injured you.”

Travis gave a wry laugh. “You are forgiven. Having my arse kicked by you is the least of my worries.” He caught her querying look, so he stopped and turned to face her, putting his hands on her shoulders. “I should be dead but here I am: living, breathing and further from home than anyone on my planet has ever travelled before, on an alien spaceship destined for another star, to save a race from extinction, but I don’t know why, or how, and I have no way home.” He leaned forward so his forehead touched hers. “I am the only human here so I have no-one to talk to about the amazing things I see and the amazing people I have met and I am so alone.” He whispered. He lifted his head and looked into her eyes. “Having my arse kicked by you is not high on my list of things to get upset about.”

“You are not the only human.” She whispered, so quietly he was not sure he had heard and immediately regretted the utterance. “Come, we must get you to your cabin.” She said brightly, changing the mood and redirecting his thoughts. They limped off again.

They eventually reached Travis’ cabin and after a shower he lay obediently on the bed, whereupon Niji No Tori massaged his leg, but it was like no massage he had experienced before. It was as if the girl was inside his leg, manipulating and rearranging individual muscle fibres. By the time she had finished he could feel no pain and was totally relaxed. She rose to leave.

“No.” He sat up and took her hand on impulse. “Stay, please.”

She looked back, surprised. “You wish to have sex with me?”

“Eh? What? No!” He dropped her hand. She looked confused. “I like you, I like your company.” He blurted. “And you are the only person I have met who doesn’t treat me like I’m mentally deficient. I want you to stay and talk with me.”

She waded through the cacophony of thoughts that assailed her senses. Sex was indeed on his mind, but was not forefront. He was looking for company and conversation. She felt a little disappointed and relieved at the same time, but nodded her assent.

“You’re a star.” He smiled.

“How am I a star?” She queried.

“I mean thank you and I am glad you are who you are.” The explanation made no sense but she accepted the compliment. “Apparently if I think I need something, it will appear. Would you like some wine?”

“Wine?”

“Yes, a drink from Earth made from fermented grape juice.”

She caught the mental picture he projected and nodded. By the time they made their way to the living area, a sofa and a low table with two glasses and a bottle with Travis’ favourite label on was waiting for them. He motioned her to sit and poured her a glass. She examined it with some apprehension. He poured himself a glass and passed it under his nose, nodded appreciatively and sipped. It was just as he imagined.

“Is this a common ritual?” She asked, still eying the drink suspiciously. It was transparent with a yellowish tint. Although almost the consistency of water, it seemed to cling to the side of the long stemmed drinking vessel as she tilted it from side to side.

Travis felt more comfortable with this alien girl than he did with anyone else he had met on this ship, and all he wanted at that moment was to relax and chat, which he could not do with Xnuk Ek’; she was far too intense and secretive. “Good wine,” he said, holding the glass aloft, “good company,” he toasted his guest with the glass, “and good conversation. A time honoured tradition, indeed.” He concluded, with a smile.

“Good wine, good company and good conversation.” She said, imitating his movements and taking a sip. It was not unpleasant; the taste seemed to change as it hit different parts of her mouth and there was an aftertaste, that did not manifest until she swallowed, that was different again. There was alcohol but there was not too much. She took another, larger sip, to verify her findings and smiled at him holding the glass out for a top up. He gladly obliged.

“So, tell me did errm...?” He began.

“Xnuk Ek’?” She finished for him.

“Yes. She didn’t really slow down time, did she?”

The other’s tinkling laugh was enchanting. “No, she increased the activity in your brain to make it work faster and seem like time slowed down.”

“Nice trick.” He acknowledged with a nod.

“Essential if you want to compete at her level.” The girl’s voice sounded a little irksome and he looked at her. “I need to practice more.” She finished with a down turned mouth.

He laughed a loud guffaw that startled her. “
YOU
need to practise more?!” He exclaimed. She looked at him and started laughing herself.

Xnuk Ek’ arrived at Wingu Kanzu’s cabin. The door slid aside and she entered. Her
Nuuktak
was pacing the floor with a thoughtful expression on his face. Two chairs appeared and he motioned her to sit. This was unusual as he normally sat behind his desk for formal meetings and kept her standing if she was in trouble for some transgression or other. During the training session with Travis Fletcher, her curiosity had got the better of her and she had defied the Ts’ats’aak’s warning and slipped past his defences while he was distracted. What she found troubled her. Another conundrum with no answer. She kept her screens in place as Wingu Kanzu was also closed off.

“How is...” He started.

“Travis Fletcher?” She finished. He raised an eyebrow in question. “I cannot find it in myself to call him The Original,” she admitted, “and he is not truly an alien, so the insult I gave him offends my honour, just a little, so I find myself using his name.” She finished.

“But you also called him ‘primitive’, ‘primate’ and ‘animal’.” The accusation came with a smile that took the sting out of it.

“True.” She admitted. “He is still primitive, compared to us, but the other insults were unwarranted. I believe he is frightened and alone, and I contemplated how I would react in similar circumstances. Also we have kept the truth from him by evasion and misdirection, and he is asking questions.” She paused a moment and looked her
Nuuktak
straight in the eye, challenging him.

“And what truth is that?” He replied, with a warning undertone.

“Who he really is and who we, the Xi Scorpii, are and why we need him.”

“Do you think he would understand?”

“I think he deserves to know.”

“And if he then refuses to help us? Would honour allow you to go against his wishes?” He leaned forward.

“I…I do not know.” She faltered and her eyes avoided his.

“I thought so,” he concluded. “You are not to offer information that would jeopardise the mission, unless honour does not allow you to avoid it, do you understand?” His voice brooked no argument.

“Yes,
Nuuktak
.” She agreed meekly while seething behind her shields. Wingu Kanzu was strong enough to get through her barrier, but if she had nothing to hide it would affront her honour, and he could not afford the confrontation. Xnuk Ek’ meanwhile was now caught in The Paradox of Honour; to dishonour herself by disobeying a direct command from her
Nuuktak,
or to satisfy her own honour by being truthful with Travis Fletcher. Also, she was sure Wingu Kanzu was keeping something significant from her, but she could not bring herself to question his honour directly, not without proof. If she was wrong, she would lose all honour and her life. She was not ready for that, she was only thirty five years old.

“Five days and we leave hyperspace, six and we will be back on Otoch, where he will no longer be your concern.” Wingu Kanzu reasoned.

She had been so busy with her duties and enjoying Lak’in’s company she had not realised they were so close to getting home. She was a little surprised at Wingu Kanzu’s cold and offhand attitude towards Travis Fletcher, but maybe she had got too close to him. Wingu Kanzu had been her
Nuuktak
for twenty years and she trusted him implicitly, but this trip had changed him somehow; he seemed distant and cold. She dare not show her feelings but maybe she should think again about her relationship with him. Aloud, she said, “It will be good to be home.”