Chapter XIII

Author's Note:
TheColonel382: Thank you! I have yet to set up a sequence where Stackpole's Wolf characters meet mine. However, one thing I'm certain is that Marissa will not go with Carew (Dammit, there goes another twist!)
Ulquiorra9000: I may sketch one or two scenes from this story but it won't be Abby vs Dirk. I'll find something far more dramatic than that.

There will be a time when our descendants,
Return to reclaim what is our right.
With honor swelling their hearts, they will crusade
Against the dark emotions that have dimmed
The Inner Sphere for so long.

~ The Remembrance, Passage 3, Verse 41, Line 1-5

Tranquil, Kerensky Cluster,
September 26, 3050

"By this time I think you already know that the Clans are descendants from the Exodus initiated by Alexander Kerensky some 300 years ago," Darien said as he munched on his lunch, a simple cereal bar. He had been having lunch together with Marissa for the last several months, spending one hour a day to give Marissa everything she didn't get from Benten. At first Marissa was reluctant, lest Benten found out and hurt her for subordination. But Darien took her to the mechwarrior mess hall where aerospace pilots rarely hung out. With her similar appearance to Clan mechwarrior phenotype, Marissa blended nicely among Wolf mechwarriors.

"After they settled in Kerensky Cluster, they reconfigured the society into what you see today. There are five castes of the Clans. The warrior caste is the highest-rank and most prestigious caste, but it is also the hardest to get into. Mechwarriors, pilots, infantrymen, Elementals, all fall into this category. To get into the warrior caste, one must endure physical and mental hardships since very young age. Many died during this period, and those who survived and could not stand the harsh trainings were thrown into other castes. Only the best, toughest individuals were allowed to enter the warrior caste."

Marissa took mental notes as Darien went on to explain the scientist, merchant, labor, and the notorious bandit castes. She started to get a grip of the Clan society and the cruel treatment she received since she was captured by Benten. These Clan warriors had been forged and tested practically all their lives. Most Spheroid warriors did not start training until they were 16 or 17 years of age. Half of them – like Marissa – never had standard training. Now it was conceivable why these Clan warriors acted like they were superior to Spheroids because they were superior to Spheroids in almost any aspect.

"Resources were limited, good assets were scarce, and war machines were expensive," Darien continued as he took a large swig of his energy drink. "Our forefathers established rule-of-engagement laws called zellbrigen so war among Clans would not go out of control. For every engagement, the combatants are required to bid their assets in a ritual called batchall. The engagement is carried out with the lowest bid. This way, the losses and damages are minimized."

"Bid?" Marissa quipped; her voice was muffled by a large bite of sub. "I don't remember Benten bidding anything when he attacked me and my compatriots."

"Pirates and mercenaries are not worthy of such honor," Darien muttered bitterly. "They tarnish the sanctity of war by inducing money into it. Whenever we see one on our crosshair, we just shoot it."

Marissa's face turned red, and her ears burnt with embarrassment and rage. Not that she was proud of being a pirate, but the Clanner made such a derogatory comment about her heritage that she just had to defend herself.

"And what is this obsession about honor?" she hissed. "I saw your sibkin Abby bludgeon her opponent in an honor duel. Honor, you said? She could've killed the other guy! I have seen dozens of Clansmen getting crippled or killed over petty disputes. Honor, you said? Is it really honor or is it just some ultra-machismo of bio-engineered soldiers bred to conquer the universe?"

"Your understanding about our culture is pathetic, and your unwillingness to learn makes you an even more repulsive individual," Darien gritted his teeth. "I am trying to help you, but it is obvious that I am just wasting my time."

"Help me? If you want to help me, kill Benten in that honor duel of yours!" Marissa scoffed.

"I will, if I have a reason to do it," Darien said as he finished his drink. "I cannot just invite him into the Circle of Equals. It does not work that way. He is a Star Commander, a ranking officer whose worthiness has been proven in combats. I am just a cadet. To challenge someone in a higher hierarchy needs a very strong reason. Surely you understand this. It works the same in any Inner Sphere military system, quiaff?"

Marissa had never been in any military unit aside from the motley pirate band, but it was not hard to see the logic behind Darien's reasoning. Even in the dysfunctional pirate hierarchy, nobody dared to challenge somebody of a higher rank without a clear accusation. She was a squadron leader in the pirate band, and nobody raised a voice against her although her experience paled in comparison to her subordinates.

"You're right, I'm sorry," she whispered. "I have been ungrateful. But that's because you mocked my heritage. I may not be born through sophisticated bio-engineering program, but I am still a human. I am not the same as that monkey-bat crossbreed of yours, so if you really want to help me, don't insult me."

"Surat. The name of the monkey-bat crossbreed is surat," Darien nodded appreciatively. "And I apologize. I will not make any reference to your past anymore. But you have to learn to be our equal."

"But what for?" Marissa sighed in exasperation. "Benten will never recognize me. I can be as Clan as you are, but in the end, I will just be his toy for the rest of my life. He swore he would do it, and he made me believe him." She sunk her face into her palms. "I'm screwed, aren't I?"

Darien let out a long puff of breath. The solution was simple: pick a fight with Benten and bludgeon him in the Circle of Equals. It was the process that was almost impossible to execute because Benten outranked him by two levels. Besides, Benten had been known to beat up mechwarriors using his electro-lash. As much as Darien wanted to help Marissa, he didn't want to fall victim of Benten's cattle whip and face subordination at the same time.

"Do it regardless," he muttered. "Do your best to learn the way of the Clan. Benten can ignore you, but somebody will notice. There are good people, Warden people who sit high in Clan council. If they hear your story, if they recognize your spirit to be integrated into Wolf Clan and your only obstacle is Benten, they can pressure him to release you."

"But…"

"I will handle that part," Darien squeezed her hands. "Your job is to learn. We shall continue doing this, one hour a day during lunch. Take note everything I say to you. Change your attitude, change your way of speaking, and change your mindset about everything regarding the Clan. It is a long and painful path, but I assure you I will take you out of Benten's grip."

Marissa felt her heart tingled with hope.

"Why are you doing this?" she couldn't help but ask. "Why do you sacrifice so much for a freeborn like me? I'm not your bondsman, I'm not even a mechwarrior for you to care. What do you gain from helping me?"

Darien replied with a shrug. "Honor, I guess. I am proud to be a Wolf Clansman. What Benten does to you is not what an honorable Wolf kin should do. I am going to fix it."

Marissa smiled, feebly, but with all the sincerity she had in her heart. "At last, we can agree on what honor is supposed to be," she said as she squeezed Darien's hand back. "Thank you. I mean it."