Chapter Seven: Action and Reaction

By the time the area between Gerard and the rest of the battalion was cool enough to cross, an hour had passed. He was summoned before Santos, exhausted, hungry, and feeling more than a little guilty about those he had lost aboard the alien ship.

"Sergeant Gerard reporting as ordered sir."

"Report" Santos, said not even turning to face him.

"My team was able to infiltrate the ship sir. We gathered the information requested," he laid a disc on Santos' table, "We encountered heavy opposition, and were pushed back. Howard, Foster and myself were able to get out. The others... are..."

"We'll record them as casualties, Gerard." Santos said coldly.

"Yes, sir." he said in a whisper. "Sir?"

"Yes," Santos said distractedly.

"I... Encountered a possible hostage on that ship."

Santos spun the chair around to face him, an eyebrow raised in the first sign of curiosity he had ever seen from this officer. "Go on."

"UH," suddenly Gerard blanked on the details, having to think hard, "Mexican-American, five three, about thirty years old. Sir she was not in her right mind. She was going on about how we were out-matched, and she refused to come off the ship with me. That is not on the disk, I lost my camera during that time. She was 'rescued' by one of the creatures. It... It spoke English," he said confused.

"They have been known to do that, some kind of perfected mimicery ability." Santos said too lightly, looking at him oddly when he did not ask for dismissal, "Is that all."

"No sir," Gerard tossed an envelope on the desk.

"What's this?" Santos asked uncertainly.

"My resignation... I lost my company, sir. I want out, now."

"I can understand your feelings... This work comes with some deadly consequences. You've been an exceptional leader. I'll process this right now." he punched a few keys instantly processing a discharge, "I hope you have a good life." Santos said easily, handing him his papers, authorizing his discharge. Gerard became suspicious, that was too easy.

"Thank you sir." he turned smartly and left the tent.

Several minutes later, "Gomez!", Another soldier came into the tent.

"Yes sir?" he said

"Gerard has just resigned."

"I understand sir." Gomez turned on his heels and left the tent.

Gerard looked out from his niche, it seemed that he had lost his pursuit. So that is why it had been so easy, and why he had never heard from any of the other soldiers who had resigned. The Organization had them assassinated. They obviously thought they knew too much to be left as loose ends.

"Bastards." he whispered.

He had now been trying to dodge his pursuers for three days. He really needed to get out of the city for a while, but knew they would be checking on that. If he were going to get out it would be on foot.

Gerard checked his pistol again, assuring himself again that it had a full clip. He vowed to himself that if he ever got the chance he would pay them back. He slipped out of the concealing shadow into the surging rush hour crowd.

On the ship Courtney sat contemplating many things that had happened to her so far.  She had many questions but she was unsure how to ask them without illustrating extreme ignorance.

"What is Koratan to you?" Courtney asked out of the blue, stripping some of the totant from the edges of the wound on her hip. The sressra was no longer necessary. She looked up to Gui'Yata lounging in his Soyan, eyes closed, looking none the worse for wear considering the bullet wound in his arm. He turned to look at her.

"My older sibling?" He asked opening his orange and yellow eyes and propping up onto one elbow,  "We have been together since I can remember, trained in everything, hunted together. We are... were very close, but this last hunt has put distance between us. He hates your kind. His mobility is limited and his arm is prosthetic, damage done while hunting on Earth six of your years ago. His hatred is so intense as to blind him. I defended you and that will make me a clusuna to him."

"He has murder in his eyes," Courtney said distantly, pausing in what she was doing.

"Yes." Was Gui'Yata's reply.

Courtney was soon summoned before the council of Elders.

"Can you understand me, Yanahara?" Quona began.

"Your words have meaning to me, Quona." Courtney said formally. Quarta gave her a mental pat on the back for getting it right.

"We were dismayed when your companion brought you on board. We have come to the understanding that you have some standing among us, though you are Clusu." Courtney tried not to flinch at the venom, behind the words. Not necessarily directed at her, just an ingrained prejudice for what they considered a lesser being. "It was also agreed upon that you were only to stay with us long enough to recover your health, though it meant being planet bound longer than was planned. This wait subjected our vessel to an attack by the unthinking of your kind. The unforeseen happened, and a small party infiltrated this vessel. Several of our brethren were injured during the roundup. You are to be held responsible for those injuries."

"I accept responsibility for those injured, Elder." She said simply bringing a murmur from those gathered.

Taking a deep breath and straightening in his seat, Quona continued. So she had won that small contest of wills, If she had argued the fact she would be dead now. "The incursion was enough that we were forced to leave. You understand that we can not return?"

"That has been made clear, Elder."

"Why did you not go when your kind came for you?"

"Elder, they were as you say the unthinking of our race. Had I been taken by them, I would have received no kind treatment from them, in their attempt to pry information from me." Information about WHAT was clearly understood.

Quona nodded slowly.

"Our question remains, what are we to do with you? There are some here who would see you killed, your skull on a trophy wall, but for the fact that you are Gui'Yatas Yanahara."

"I am aware of that Quona," She glanced at Gui'Yata, and taking a deep breath she plunged, "If I be favored, Elder, I wish to train, to hunt, to earn my place."

"You..." he faltered, "You wish to be Taura?"

Koratan, who was present in the wings started to protest, but was quickly silenced.

"That is the ultimate goal, Elder." those gathered were stunned, "I wish to serve the pack."

She knew as Gui'Yata did that this was the only chance she would have to survive the trip back to Soona. Gui'Yata had drilled her on the proper responses to the Quonas queries.

"The pack is sacrifice, the training strenuous. Are you worthy?"

"Time will be my judge."

Quona nodded again, "If time is forgiving it will be. Leave us."

Her heart was in her throat as she silently rose and retired from the room. The others in the room were doubly shocked that the Quona had agreed, as was clear by the chatter that arose. Quona silenced them with a gesture.

"Gui'Yata," Quona called, the young Soua took his place in front of the Elder, "I leave it to you to begin your Yanahara's training. I realize that this responsibility comes to you at an early age. The circumstances under which I make the choice are unprecedented. She will learn faster from the one she trusts."

"But Elder, I cannot train her. I am not Taura." admitting what he thought to be a failure. His body slouched in a position of submission.

"An oversight." Quona said tersely, and Gui'Yata quickly looked up, conveying his surprise. Quona rose from his seat and approached standing just before the young Soua. He cruelly twisted Gui'Yatas left arm to reveal the smooth scar of his just healed wound. He snatched the sasa from Gui'Yatas belt, and Gui'Yata winced as the blade cut into his flesh.

It was done quickly, and the blood had not welled from the last cut when Quona had seated himself again. Gui'Yata dared look at the tattoo then. The healed tissue represented an eye, from the scar rose two upwardly curving horns, with three deadly teeth glinting underneath. It was the image of the mystical Taura, a beast too wily to kill. To be endowed with the symbol was to liken one to the intelligence and cunning the beast was said to posses.

Gui'Yata was stunned, as he had not thought his hunt worthy of the endowment. He had just barely returned with his life. And he had brought back a live clusu, breaking with tradition and law both.

"You are now one of the worthy, a Taura. With it comes the responsibility to pass on your cunning so those you teach shall honor you."

With that the ceremony was finished, but the Quona was not yet done.

"Now teach this clusu, your Yanahara, how to be a Soua, a Taura."

"That is the ultimate goal." He said, his body stiff with respect.

Gui'Yata had been sure that the elders would accept her into training, probably thinking that she would not last through her first hunt, so it did not matter and he hoped she would surprise them. Though it was painful to admit, he was even unsure of her ability. But he had expected one of the council to teach her their ways, or even perhaps a senior Taura. But him? He had not counted on being tasked with her training.

Gui'Yata returned to his quarters, he needed his trophy bag. It was tradition after every hunt to put up the momentos. He had been delayed too long already, being laid up for the better part of a week. He headed for the trophy room. He waited while Quarta opened the protective cover, he then set his hand against the transparent cover, which quickly slid apart. He carefully arranged the skulls in the case, pausing as he pulled the last skull out of the bag. A wave of apprehension and doubt passed over him. Him, teach a human? He wondered if he was worthy of such a near impossible challenge. Not only did he have to teach her to be a Taura, he would have to start her out like a saru, teaching all of the traditions and structure of his society. He felt as if he was faced with a sheer cliff, one that he was required to climb. He ran his thumb absently over the eye ridges of the skull in his hand.

His doubt about his teaching ability became the least of his worries, when he heard voices approaching from the adjacent hall. From their voices it was Koratan, and his close companions Sayka and the female Yaha.

Yaha...where he was extremely short for his race, she was at the other end of the spectrum, standing at eight foot three, tall, even for a female. She was a vicious warrior, an excellent hunter, she would have her choice of mates. She had made Taura just two months ago, his immediate predecessor to receive the title. Her only problem was her mouth, which reflected her openly rebellious nature. But in this case she was unnervingly quiet, refusing to take a side on the issue being discussed, only acknowledging when she was addressed.

"Now he is required to teach the clusu how to be not only Soua but Taura as well." Koratan had been saying.

"Outrageous! It doesn't have the capacity or the skill for it, Gui'Yata will be made laughing stock." Sayka added fearful for Gui'Yata's reputation.

"Serves him right," Koratan replied vehemently, "My brother has turned into a sniveling clusuna. And they made him Taura! His hunt was no better than mine!" He finished incredulously. Gui'Yata was amazed how fast news spread, his amazement quickly turned to anger.

They rounded the corner continuing to talk of him as though he was not there. Gui'Yata dropped the empty trophy bag on the floor, attracting the attention of the group. They fell into shocked silence. Gui'Yata angrily slammed the skull into place on the trophy wall without facing it, keeping a steely eye on the three.

Gui'Yata walked over to the group, keeping tight control of himself, stopping in front of his older sibling. He was not concerned with the other two, he would deal with them only if they got in the way. To an outsider this would seem as if the mouse was trying to stare down the cat.

"Do you feel I am unworthy of the title I almost lost my life for?" Gui'Yata said in a low powerful voice, Koratan remained silent, "You are unhappy with my Yanahara?" Gui'Yatas stiff body showing only some of the fury he was feeling.

This time Koratan did speak, "The beast takes up space, eats our food. It will never learn our ways, it will die on its first hunt. All because you were too weak to let it die when it should have."

Rage swept over Gui'Yata, he lashed out catching his brother with a right hook that dropped Koratan like a rock. He straddled his brother who angrily rubbed his cheek. Gui'Yatas Taura status the only thing keeping Koratan from retaliation. This was not the first of the rumors that had gotten back to him about Courtney. He was sure that most of them Koratan had fanned into flame. He was tired of it.

"You disgrace our name and our training, gossiping like saru." He shot angry glances at the other two, who would not meet his gaze, "You are so busy nurturing your hatred and self pity," he continued, turning his attention back to his brother, "you no longer seem my brother. It was not the human's fault you were injured it was your own. Yet you would drag me down into your private prejudices. Blinding me with your hatred for the human, having me believe there was no reason to respect the race. I found that it could be different than what you had ingrained into my memory. The human, Courtney has my respect, I am alive only because she was willing to help me. I will no longer listen to your tainted views, and I am never to hear another rumor about me or her." he turned and walked away growling. "Fausi." he snarled, making an insult out of Koratan's status. He snatched the trophy bag off the floor, looking angrily back at the three before leaving.

Courtney again looked herself over, in a mirror that Quarta had altered the far wall of her room for. The outfit was rather scanty, but it was so much cooler than her blue jeans. The average temperature on the ship was about 110-115 degrees with about 50 percent humidity. Muggier than she was accustomed to, and though Quarta had offered to adjust the climate in her quarters, Courtney had refused. She would stick it out, because she needed to adjust to her new living conditions.

Her face flushed again as she remembered what she went through to get the clothes. She was forced to stand there, under their intense stares, stark naked, bathed in a blinding revealing light. The Soua were comfortable wandering the ship with little or no clothing, they had no external sex organs, and it again reminded her how similar they were to reptiles. Human morals made her blush at the thought of walking around letting it all hang out. She was a subject of intense interest where ever she went aboard ship, as it was, something else she was going to have to get used to. They fitted her for her armor, and weapons, which would take several weeks to finish, because of the differences in physiology and brain functions. But they had provided her, within the hour of the fitting, with what would be the undergarment for her armor. The top was not very substantial, coming just under her breasts, and supported by chords not much thicker than spaghetti straps. The bottoms were high up her hips and had a dark skirt of the same material in the back that came down to mid-thigh.

It was like wearing a bikini, made of a material not unlike Gui'Yatas gloves. It was... and was not leather, very soft and supple. With a few distinct differences, the material was such that it molded to the body. It gave firm support, needing only a few minutes to adjust to the wearer. It was quite comfortable, dispelling her fear that she would move wrong and fall out.

With a sigh Courtney left her quarters heading for the practice room, leaving early enough so that even if she did get turned around, as she often did, she could still make it there before the scheduled practice time.  She was surprised when she arrived there slightly early, but found Gui'Yata had not yet arrived.  She stepped in surveying the surroundings.  I it was a bare room save the many and varied weapons on the wall.  The floor was slightly spongy and she wondered in an offhanded way if Quarta had done that on purpose, to prevent unnecessary injury.

"Yes," the single word sounded in her head to be amused.

Courtney waited inside the practice room, pacing impatiently when a good time later Gui'Yata still had not showed.  She paced the floor two more lengths, and spun around as she heard the door slide to, to see Gui'Yata's hulking form enter. He carried in his arms a package wrapped in skin. He handed it to her, and she looked at him and back to the package with confusion.

"What is this?" she asked.

"It was mine when I was young, given to me by my instructor. I give it to you now, it should be of perfect size." but that did not answer her question.

So she began to unwrap it. She stepped back as she took the last of the wrapping away. It was a sword, approximately three feet in total length. It shown slightly gold in color, it was edged on both sides, with barbs facing fore and aft to do a maximum amount of damage.

"You must have had some childhood."

"Our 'childhood' is only two years. Soua reach full physical maturity at that age. I outgrew the sword very fast."

Courtney lifted the sword from the skin, testing its weight and balance. Both were perfect, like it was made for her.

As she admired it, Gui'Yata unexpectedly rushed her, lifting her off the ground and throwing her across the room. She hit the opposite wall hard, winding her. Before she could even react, he was there and she placed both feet on his chest trying to push him away. He was too heavy and she swung awkwardly with the sword, watching in frustration and fear as he backed quickly out of harms way. The sword whistled harmlessly through the air.

She jumped to her feet while she had the chance, unsure what was going on. He came at her again and she swung, yelping at the shock of her wrist coming up against his hand. He wrenched her arm, poising his sraha at her neck, as she dropped the sword. He pulled her close; she was mad, scared and confused, staring down her nose at the knifed gauntlet at her throat.

"I could have killed you just now," he said panting. "Anyone on this ship could have. We are born to this, bred to this, trained from youth, and you will be extremely pressed to catch up. Do you see how hard this is going to be for us?"

She nodded, her cheeks drawn in, in frustration. Trying vainly to free her wrist from his grip. She knew what he was trying to do, keep her from thinking that this was going to be easy, but that knowledge did nothing to ease her temper.

"You must succeed at this, if not you will be killed, your Yanahara status will not save you, and I will be disgraced. I do not wish to see that day." He was scared of failure in this, it was written in the poise of his body, but as before it did nothing to ease Courtney's anger at her failure, "Your reactions must be faster, you should be able to exceed our speed being a true warm blood. Your fighting must be precise, timed and lethal, otherwise you will die on your first hunt." he had fallen into a teaching banter, so ingrained that it was second nature. He repeated it over and over until she could recite it to him from memory.

The next several weeks were spent in the training room, from the time she got up, until the time she was allowed to go to sleep. Gui'Yata taught her mercilessly, continually testing her, trying new attacks until he could no longer surprise her. As the weeks progressed she was able to predict his movements, and stay away from his attacks. If he were able to get close to her she was in trouble, his sheer size and weight would be enough to do her in. A fact he continually stressed, knowing full well the attitude of those aboard ship toward her. His attitude during these weeks was grim and intense, working hard to teach her well, at an accelerated pace. Soon he was enlisting the help of other Soua to help in the lessons. She was pushed to the edge every day, for some of those Gui'Yata enlisted were only more than happy to get a chance to hurt her. Several times they did, and Gui'Yata had been forced to step in before it had gone too far. Needless to say she broke her wrist and dislocated her shoulder during these sessions. Both required weeks of her time to recover, and she was almost forced to start over.

The periods when she was not practicing to hunt, she was embroiled in studies on Soua society. Gui'Yata instructed her, supplemented by Quarta who observed things that the Soua ignored about themselves.

Courtney got up every morning feeling as if she would never be able to move, bruised from her failed defenses, and stiff from exercise she was unaccustomed to. Yet somehow she would muster the mobility to get through another days training.

She became proficient at using the sword in her left hand, saving her right for the sraha she should soon have. Even when Gui'Yata did not come to a training session Courtney practiced, but not wholly what he had taught her, she practiced her street fighting, a skill she had long forgotten. Forgotten with the bitter memories of a troubled youth. She had begun to incorporate them into her fighting technique, sure she would someday need the extra edge. She had also had several devices that helped her work on her upper body strength. She had never before been interested in an exercise program, this was rather forced on her. After all, it is not every day that you fought multiple seven foot-something creatures, for practice.

Gui'Yata spent his free time conferring with Quarta, studying human physiology, history (As Sou knew it), and society. All in order to improve his understanding of his trainee, to help her become a better fighter. He was quietly impressed with her ability to adapt and learn, she was proving easy to teach, and had uncanny reflexes.

Courtney was awakened by ship voice in her mind, her body telling her it was still early.

"Morning," She said groggily, reverting back to Earth standards, her body sore from yesterdays session in the training room, her against four opponents, she needless to say had been thoroughly beaten in her attempt to fend off the attackers, "What am I up so early for? Gui' has not planned an early session, has he?"

"Koratan plots against you," Ship said bluntly.

"What?" she said coming full awake, so suddenly her head pounded dully.

"He plots something, what is not clear, he muddles his thoughts. I would be wary of him."

"Does Gui'Yata know?"

"No, do you wish me to tell him?" Quarta offered.

"No, it could be dangerous if Koratan finds that I know what he's planning. Even worse if Gui'Yata knew, he might try to protect me, and that would give the council one more pry bar to rid themselves of me."

"Then you must prepare for a confrontation."

Gui'Yata followed behind his brother, wondering vaguely why the council wanted to see him. He felt uneasy, something about this was not right. His brother was being too civil to him, especially after their confrontation in the central chamber.

"Courtney!" ship yelled in her head snapping her around, "It is happening, Koratan is trying to bring you down. He attempts to discredit you as a choice for Yanahara. If you are found unworthy they will kill you outright."

"Son of a bitch." she muttered under her breath, heading for the council chambers, "we'll see about this!"

In the council, it did not take Koratan long to come to the point of this large gathering.

"I challenge my siblings choice of the human as Yanahara. He was hurt, Elders, sick, and not in the proper state of mind to make the choice. Not enough thought was given to it. She has shown no indication of being worthy of the title."

Gui'Yata began to rise, angry at his brothers accusations, who was he to know whether she was deserving or not. Unfortunately now that it had been brought up to the council he would have to defend his choice, and his honor, as their code dictated. He moved toward his elder brother, stopping as the chamber doors slid open.

Courtney stood in the doorway, signaling Gui'Yata to hold.

"I will fight my own battles, for your honor and mine." she said to him in English. No one else in the room knew more than a few words of what Courtney had said.

Gui'Yata acquiesced, but his posture told her it was a reluctant compromise. Gui'Yata was fearful for her.  Her inexperienced fighting up against Koratan's years of training at the hunt? It seemed a lopsided contest.

She limped over in front of her teacher, looking him straight in the eye as she pulled his sasa from the sheath. Her whole body was trembling, she was afraid as well... but the look in her eyes, she was determined to do this. The meaning passed between them without a word, she would have to prove her own worth or be looked after for the rest of her days, if she lived that long. Nothing would be gained if he fought this for her. Unfortunately that was just what Koratan had been counting on.

Gui'Yata just hoped, as he watched her walk away, that what her taught her thus far would save her. Hoped that her injury would not limit her ability.

She stepped up in front of the council, "I accept Koratan's challenge, and ask my right to defend my honor and that of my Yaner." Quarta had given her a quick brief on the rules of a challenge fight, they bounced around haphazardly in her head, and she concentrated on the Quona to stop the buzzing.

"The right is yours and you shall have it. The fight shall last until one is defeated-this is not to the death. The sasa is the only weapon, besides your cunning, to be used." Quona stressed.

Courtney and Koratan both nodded and moved to their places at the center of the room.

Koratan was confident, the girl was inexperienced and not fully recovered from her injury, as her limp proved. That gave him an advantage. Even his scarred body could move faster than she could.

They circled the room sizing each other, waiting for the best opportunity to strike. Koratan made the first move, springing toward her like a cat. She barely sidestepped, losing balance, taking precious moments to recover. He was already on his rebound, but she was ready now. She timed it carefully, just as he came into range she hit him with a high kick to the jaw, easily using her left leg, glad that the deception had worked. As he spun away from her with the force from the blow, she followed through with the dagger across his lower back. She still felt as if she was off balance, forcing her moves rather than letting them come, feeling like a kitten fighting a bear.

Koratan howled grabbing as the knife cut into him. He gazed at the blood on his hand, fury building. He spun back around to face her, that had done it. He rushed her again, this time stopping short, throwing her timing off. He lashed out with the dagger in his left hand, which she ducked, but she came up into his right hook.

The punch caught her in the left cheek, the studs on his gloves drawing blood. Her head snapped sideways and her body followed as she crashed to the floor. She was still for long moments; Gui'Yata went cold as his hopes for her winning faded.

"She is no Yanahara if one blow can take her down. Her fighting is sloppy, relying on luck only to bring her through. Her defense is worthless, her deception has failed," he announced to the council.

"Then finish the deceiver, if she is as you say she will not be able to fight you. This fight is not finished." Quona said, his voice steel.

Courtney tried to get up, able only to get her legs under her when Koratan kicked her hard in the ribs. She hit the floor groaning, rolled over holding her side, and fought to keep the tears from falling. She rolled up onto her knees, and just barely saw the sasa's downward arch, through watery eyes. She tried to get out from under it, but the blade caught the back of her arm, just below the shoulder. It cut her deeply down to the elbow. As she rolled back onto her side, she fought the pain and the shock, focusing on the words Koratan had spouted to the council, just a few minutes earlier. She allowed herself to get angry, letting it give her strength.

Courtney was slowly pushing herself up, listening to the bastard gloat, seeing his triumphant, mocking face. Her fear had left her, now she was angry; she looked up into Gui'Yatas worried eyes. He watched her face become a mask, twisted by her intense anger. She wiped the blood from her cheek, licking its salt from her hand. She no longer felt the pain, no longer felt the warmth of the blood trickling down her arm, pooling at her wrist. To Gui'Yata she suddenly looked like an animal, an angry cornered thing, willing to do anything rather than die.

Koratan turned his attention back to the prone woman. Slowly he circled, stopping in front of her, his poise full of disgust and hatred. She stared hard at his feet, then looked back at Gui'Yata and winked.

Her hair hid her expression from Koratan as it twisted into a maniac's smile.

"Fucking Puta..." he said to her in English.

Courtney acted quickly, shoving the sasa into Koratan's leg just above the heel. She swept out, listening to Koratan's scream echo off the council walls, as she hamstrung him.

Koratan fell to the ground clutching his bleeding leg, Courtney gaining her feet took advantage. Grabbing his temples, she yanked down hard as she brought her knee up. The crack resounded in the room. Koratan's head snapped back and he came down on his hands. Courtney took one step back, taking a spinning sidekick at his head. The blow knocked him down.

She paused a moment, watching him in his attempt to regain his feet. When he was back on all fours again, she again kicked him in the head. As he went over this time one of his hands caught her foot, throwing her off balance. He knew she went down and that gave him the initiative, he came to his feet with renewed strength. She had already recovered, her blood staining the floor where she had fallen.

He rushed her, with no finesse at all, forgetting all of his training in his rage. As he came up on her, she sidestepped, kicked out into his knee and stabbed up into his armpit all in one motion. The sasa hit home and as his leg went out, it was driven to the hilt. She deftly twisted out from under his falling body, recovering the dagger.

Koratan tried to catch himself but his arms did not support him and he landed heavily on his stomach. Courtney was quick to pin his right arm to the floor with her sasa. This done she kicked Koratans sasa from his grip. When it was out of Koratans reach she snatched it up.

She stepped on his free arm yanking his head back with her left hand, poising the sasa at his throat.

"Coup DE Grace", she whispered venomously, Quona quickly signaled the end of the match, trying to catch it before it got out of hand, and she was pulled off.

"Mother F..." she grunted, elbowing Gui'Yata's still tender ribs in her rage, and they ached dully from the agitation. He gripped her tighter, gritting his teeth against the pain, moving her away from the fallen Soua, while she continued to struggle.

Koratan lay there a moment, shaking with rage and shock. Somehow he managed to slowly reach over and pull the sasa out of his wrist. The pain was easily read on his face as he pushed himself up. He gained his feet unsteadily, staring at the retreating form of Courtney. He limped for a few steps, only dimly aware of its pain, his arm hanging limply at his side. His face twisted as he gathered himself. Without a sound he leapt after this human, the embodiment of all his failures. He would see her dead before life left his broken body.

Courtney caught the movement out of the corner of her eye. Spinning out of Gui'Yatas grasp, she sank the sasa into the side of the charging Souas neck.

Koratans body tensed, grabbing vainly at the hilt of the dagger in his neck as his nervous system shorted. He slumped to the floor, spasms wracking his dying body. Momentarily it was over, and Koratan was dead.

Gui'Yata stood in shocked silence at Courtney's performance. Some of her fighting had been his training, most however was something he had never seen in a fight. The council, who was equally impressed and baffled by her technique, shared his reaction.

She stood over the body for long moments, panting, expecting the creature to move again. She held her bleeding arm, vaguely aware of the blood dripping off her fingers. When her mind finally told her he was actually dead, she leaned over prying Gui'Yatas dagger from Koratans' hand, and retrieving the other dagger from his neck.

She slowly turned to face Gui'Yata who had come up behind her. She handed his dagger back to him, smiling tiredly.

"You honor my choice." Gui'Yata said, and in English, "Thank you."

"Your welcome." she answered him, turning to face the council, giving the sign of respect she addressed them, "Koratan's challenge is satisfied, my Yaner's honor and integrity have been proven. I claim Koratan's sasa as my own, times first trial, my first trophy."

Quona looked at the other council members, who imperceptibly nodded to him, then back at the woman standing before them, "You have more than proven your worth to the pack. The sasa is yours, may it serve you in the hunt."

"Thank you Quona." She said curtly, her excitement shining through, despite her injury. She turned on her heels and left the room heading for the soyara, Gui'Yata nodded to the council and left as well.

He was saddened about his brothers' death, but Koratan had pushed the matter beyond any sane limits. He had let his hatred rule him, and in this society there was no room for it. That thought did little to ease the pain however, they had, until recently, been close. One bad experience did not erase his affection for his brother.

He followed her path to the soyara, speaking to her as Quarta tended her wounds.

"You amaze me, Courtney," he said quietly in Sou, "You actually had us all believing that you were still not fully recovered."

"I had to have the element of surprise, it was the only edge I had. If I had told you, then there was a possibility of it becoming known." she twinged as the wrap on her arm was tightened.

"Where did you learn to fight like that?"

"The streets of the city are not an easy place to grow up, especially on Earth. You either learn to fight dirty or you get hurt."

"You are quick," he said in English now, "Like Raha, the lightning that illuminates the darkness." He thought a moment, nodding as he came to a decision, "We can not continue to call you Courtney, that is your private name, and best to be used between close associates. So I give you the name Raha, my lightning, as your hunting name. As a Soua, so shall you be called."

"Alright, I am Raha, as a hunter. Though to you I am Courtney, you are my friend." she solemnly said after some thought, he watched as her face heated up again, a new wave of excitement washing over her, "I can't believe it Gui', I actually beat him!" She said, "You wouldn't believe how nervous I was." she quieted a minute, realizing who she had just killed, "I'm sorry about killing him, I had no choice." her head down in sorrow, to show she meant what she said.

Gui'Yata looked down, obviously distraught, "It was necessary." he said mechanically, "He no longer had the interest of the pack in mind."

But Courtney could tell there was pain behind the thought of his brothers' death.

The weeks following the fight were relatively quiet, though Courtney's training sessions were intensified. Gui'Yata was forced to become more wary of his students attacks, discovering the hard way just how disarming her street fighting was.

He approached too close during one particular session and soon found himself on the floor, from a well-placed kick to the ribs. She had found the exact spot where the ribs had been broken earlier, she had an uncanny knack for making old wounds new. He pushed himself up winded, holding his side, trying to ease the pain. She started at him again.

"Souch, Raha." She stopped mid-stride. He gained his feet stretching to relieve the pain. "You have improved greatly. Now you teach the teacher the meaning of pain."

"Only after hours of my own pain, Yaner." She retorted, and he nodded, amused. "I am glad, however, that my work honors you."

They both assumed fighting positions, ready for another round. They were interrupted when the door slid quietly away. They forgot all else, snapping to stiff attention as the Quona entered the room. They bowed in unison to the elder, showing sincere respect.

An elder did not often come to see individual training and his presence was a great honor. The old Soua stepped up in front of Courtney.

"Your Yaner tells me of your considerable progress. Most thought you incapable of learning our ways, myself included. You have proved us wrong. Your skills are formidable, as was evident in your fight with Koratan." Gui'Yata's mandibles clicked loudly in discomfort at the mention of his brother, Quona ignored it, "You have earned a place among us."

The elder raised his hand and two Soua came forward with bundles, which were set at Quona's feet.

"You puzzle our Noora with the strange patterns of your mind. He hopes that these will work properly." He pointed to the bundles, then he left without further explanation.

Courtney was left to puzzle out the contents for herself, her mentor was not offering any further enlightenment, although he looked quite smug. She plopped down on the floor next to the largest bundle. Gingerly, she pulled it toward her and began to unwrap it. She pulled a piece free, her eyes lighting up, it was her armor and weapons! She set down the chest piece and proceeded to unwrap the second package, with slightly more zeal. This was the more interesting of the two, for in it there was an intricately carved chest, about two feet long and a foot wide. The designs were strange but overall appealing, she opened it and inside, in neat display was her sraha, the yoysa, as the plasma cannon was called, the mask/data processor and the arm computer.

The arm computer as she found out also housed a small missile launcher as well as a self-destruct mechanism.

As the Quona left he was deep in thought not even aware when his attendants took their leave of him. His brows furrowed, what made this one so different? He had hunted Earth many times, and all were satisfying hunts. But he had never run across a human like the specimen Gui'Yata had been bold enough to bring aboard the ship. He had wondered several hundred times why he had refrained from having her exterminated when she was brought on board.

It was not because of his grandson, no he had been successful in being impartial toward the child. There had been several other animals that he had brought on when he was younger, that had been dispatched. Nor was it her Yanahara status, for he did not know of it at the time, and the circumstances of the choosing were always reviewed, and it had not been at the time.

He had been impressed by her boldness in the council. He was sure that Gui'Yata had prepared her for it. But she carried no hint of reluctance in her voice when she asked to train for the hunt. She had a kind of quiet charisma.

All was quiet on the ship tonight. The guards were posted and all others were on their sleep periods. All that could be heard was the steady thrum of Quarta's lifeblood.

Even that sound was irritating to Courtney right now. She found herself unable to sleep, staring through the dark at the ceiling above her. Her mind was not on where she was, on this ship not even on the voyage she had been forced into. All that was bouncing through her head was her life before. Before all of this craziness uprooted her and required her to adapt to such an alien lifestyle.

Courtney threw back the covers and got up. She padded silently to the other side of the room, pulling a small box from its hiding spot under her gear. She called up the lights, sitting where she was, and slowly lifted the lid on the contents. She still could not tell herself why she had kept the first two items she drew forth from the preservative wrapping. Her T-shirt and jeans were tattered and stained red and green with Gui'Yata's and her own blood, a violent reminder of that night she first found herself thrust among these aliens.

There was not much else to be found in the box. Just a leather billfold she had, had on her that night. The few dollars still contained in the billfold did not matter anymore, for dollars were useless. Here though was her only reminder of her family, a portrait to keep the memories focused. It was one of the few times the whole family had been able to get together. Both sets of grandparents, her parents, even her then husband, Steve Terrance, and their daughter Teresa, only three at the time of the picture.

She ran a shaky hand over her daughters' face. If there was one person she missed the most it was Teresa. Taken from her through the divorce.

Her marriage to Steve had been a dream come true. It had given her the ability to leap from the quagmire that had threatened her all of her young life.

He had been a counselor at the teen center she frequented. A place she made herself go, to express her confusion about the life she led and her fears about where it was going.

Steve had been the one to finally convince her that joining Los Diablos was as sure a death as putting a gun to her head and pulling the trigger. She had fallen for him easily, with his rugged good looks and simple charm. Oh, yes he had been seven years older than she had, but what was that when one was in love?

She had married Steve June fifteenth, 1997. Pulled away from the gang scene just as a record number of them fell to an unknown and deadly serial killer. Steve had often reminded her that she could have been one of the victims.

Her marriage seemed perfect, Steve got her a job through one of his contacts. A job running heavy machinery, a job he knew she would love.

Teresa was born the next year, with both her and Steve prospering in their new jobs. Shortly after Teresa's third birthday, things began to change. Steve's habits began to change after his father died at the hands of a gang. He began to drink excessively, from the time he left work to well after two or three in the morning. He came home drunk, and often went to work that way, and it soon cost him his job of twelve years.

His drinking led to violence, He became verbally and physically abusive. Courtney was often beaten, for she never allowed him to lay a hand on Teresa. Courtney had tried several times to get the police to help her and her daughter. But Steve was smart, never leaving bruises big enough or in the wrong spots. They were never on her face, and he always explained them as being from Courtney's work. After all, working heavy machinery could very well leave the same kind of bruises. The police agreed, and warned Courtney against making false reports like that.

Unable to bear it any more Courtney took Teresa and left Steve. She never gave him warning she just had the divorce papers delivered to him. But there were complications Steve fought for custody of young Teresa.

She could only guess that the divorce papers had been a slap in the face. By the time the court saw the case, Steve had pulled his life back together and found a steady means of income. He had even been able to afford one of the top lawyers around to present his side. The lawyer proceeded to convince the court that Courtney was unfit as a mother. Attributed to her long hours and the hazards involved with her work.

The court agreed, and consequently Courtney was to give up custody to Steve who was deemed to be a better parent for their daughter. She was allowed weekend visitations only.

Teresa had cried the whole time Courtney was preparing her to live with her father. Even at that age Teresa was petrified of her fathers temper. But what could Courtney do?

Courtney had sworn to Steve that if he ever laid a hand on Teresa, ever left her bruised, that she would kill him. He must have taken her seriously because Teresa never was bruised.

Courtney sighed as she closed the billfold, wiping the tears from her eyes. She wondered if that was still the case? Would her being proclaimed dead change his attitude about what liberties he could take with Teresa? Courtney would never know, and that knowledge left her with a hard knot of anguish. She fell asleep on the floor still clutching the billfold, and regretting not having seen her family before this had happened to her.