The next morning, Stryker arrived early at the training center. Atheria had built the center years earlier, to train it's local constabulary in police tactics. However, funding had ran short before it was finished, and the eternally tightfisted City Council had decided that it would be better for outside businesses to fund the rest of the construction than dip into the city coffers. Master Wolgram had offered to pay for part of the construction out of his own ample bank account, and thus his own training center for Blademasters was located in the western wing of the building.
As Stryker entered, Master Wolgram greeted him as the first class began sparring under the watchful eye of blademen.
"Hullo, Stryker, What bring you in a day early? You don't have to come until tomorrow, you know."
Stryker bowed to his master. "I felt a little extra practice couldn't hurt, Master."
"Hell, Stryker, you are already better than most Blademasters," Master Wolgram answered. "I think that I will Blood you when I blood my last class, in a month. You are three years behind them, but you are ready."
"Thank you, Master."
As Master Wolgram began to watch his class again, Stryker removed his shirt and moved to a clear spot on the training floor. Drawing a practice sword, Stryker began to move in the graceful, dancelike precision of a Blademaster. His long, straight single-bladed sword flowed around him in clean, easy sweeps. Slowly speeding up, he began to emulate fighting against another opponent.
His mind drifted back to the previous evening as his body danced. He had worked hard to get Amy those earrings, had spent hours choosing the right ones, had observed her other jewelry to discover her favorite styles. All of it wasted, because Brandon had spent a miniscule part of his earnings from the stock market to buy an ornate trinket that wasn't even Amy's style. And she loved him for it! She loved him for making a random choice at an expensive jeweler, while Stryker's carefully chosen gift had gone unnoticed after the sight of that bauble!
Stryker's feet slipped out from under him, and he landed face first on the mat. Cursing, he stood up to find Amy was looking right at him.
"What the hell? What are you doing here, Amy?"
She covered her face with her hand, giggling. "Smooth move, babe, smooth move. I came over because I wanted to show you how those earrings looked." She turned her head, letting Stryker look at the small rubies in her ears.
"So where is Brandon's gift?" asked Stryker.
"Oh, that thing. It's a little too ornate for my taste. He meant well, but it's just too much for anything I have to wear," she answered.
"They look nice, Amy, they really do. I have to get back to practice now," Stryker said.
"Well, come over tonight. I'm going to Brandon's right now, but I'll be back home tonight about eight. Brandon is coming over too, and he really wants to get to know you better."
"Sure, I'll be there," said Stryker, lying through his teeth.
As Amy walked out of the doors, Master Wolgram approached Stryker. "What were you doing, Stryker? I saw that, and it was horrible! Your movements were stiff; you repeated the same moves over and over. You were distracted. What is wrong?"
"Master, I am sorry. I was distracted. It was inexcusable, it won't happen again."
"What is distracting you, my student? Maybe I can help…" began Master Wolgram, but Stryker cut him off.
"It is nothing, my master. I'm fine."
Stryker began to work the forms again, ignoring his master. Master Wolgram continued to watch Stryker. If he continued to make mistakes like that, he would be unsuitable for Blooding. Those were the mistakes novices made. Master Wolgram began to muse to himself as to the reasons why Stryker was distracted.
**
The part of the Creator's mind searching for a Guardian was drawn to a small planet on the edge of the universe. It passed through glowing nebulae and bright star clusters, searching for the mind that was drawing it onwards.
It settled into orbit of the fourth planet of a small golden star, and began to observe. The one who might be the Guardian was located on this planet, somewhere on the southern continent. The mind would continue to watch, searching for the one who could be the new protector of the universe, and await the trial that the one would face before he could be chosen.
**
As Stryker walked into his flat that night, the message light on the com unit started to flash. He had worked hard at the training center to eliminate the traces of his mistake, and then had spent the rest of the day at his job, fixing holoprojectors. He was tired, and wanted a shower and some sleep, but the light was blinking in an urgent manner.
Tiredly, he walked over to the com unit and depressed the button to view the message. He would have given the message little thought, but halfway through, he was paying strict attention.
"Stryker Roland? This is Chief Barton of the City Constabulary. You are needed to help locate a criminal. Your friend, Amy Kassion, was found tonight, in an alley over near 88th Airway. She has been raped, by some mechanical means, and is currently resting at the University of Atheria Medical Center. If you have any information as to the perpetrator of this event, please come down to Constabulary Hall and provide your evidence. Thank you."
"AMY!" shouted Stryker, as he raced out of his flat and caught an aerobus to the Medical Center.
Some time later, he was standing outside Amy's room. He hesitantly opened the door, and stepped into the room.
To find Amy, bruised and hurting.
"Oh my dear lord, Amy!" was the only thing he could say.
He rushed over to her, intending to take her hand, but before he could she drew it back, unwilling to let him touch her.
"Amy? What's wrong, baby?" he asked her.
She began to cry. "Please go, Stryker, please. Don't stay here, I've been ruined, don't come near me, I'm a disgusting creature now," she sobbed into her pillow.
He bowed his head, and turned to leave the room. She was in a state of shock. It would do little good for him to stay there.
Out in the hall, he found the doctor. "What exactly happened, doc? What did that bastard do to her?"
The doctor turned to face Stryker. "Any particular reason you want to know?"
"She's my friend, dammit, how did this happen?"
"She was raped by mechanical means. Basically, that means it was done with an object, like a rod of some sort. We've found traces of a varnish compound, used on pool cues, so you can guess with what."
"Thank you, doc," Stryker said, before walking out into the night.
He sat on a bench in the hospital's smoking section and began to brood. She was just in a state of shock he told himself; that's why she had reacted like that.
But what if it isn't just the shock? What if she is going to be like that
forever?
She was going to see Brandon, or on the way back, when
this happened.
Who could have done this?
I would like to wrap my hands around the bastard who did
this's throat, and squeeze. Tightly.
What if I can never get near her again?
She was raped by a pool cue!
No, strangulation will be too fast. Slice him, slowly, and rub him with salt.
Brandon has a pool table.
I'm sorry, Amy, I should have been there to protect you.
She was on the way back from Brandon's.
Maybe a slow evisceration, instead of salt.
Brandon has a pool table.
She was raped by a pool cue.
She was on the way back from Brandon's.
…or was she?
Or maybe… she was raped by Brandon, and he dumped her in
that alley!
That son of a bitch! I knew something was wrong about him all along!
…
He's mine!
With the firmness of conviction, Stryker stood, and went to hail a cab. His sword was with him. He wouldn't want to get caught, so he would stop at his place first, and walk.
One asswipe would be dead tonight.