Eternal City Crystal Tokyo
First Fang Za'tair of the Khanite frowned as the sable furred cat-woman hurried to the Crystal Palace on Earth, feeling distinctly unsuited to being a diplomat. She scowled at how the leather garment she wore rubbed her fur, wishing she could just be wearing her rank harness. But apparently these Earthers had body modesty issues, no matter how silly such ideas were.
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Not long after Ran Mizuno had come back to formally resign her commission, Za'tair had been summoned to the home of the planetary governor. There she had received a message direct from the Khan himself, instructing her to go to Earth and investigate the possibility of some kind of formal relationship between their peoples.
"The Earth civilization is young, by our standards," the Khan, N'oon Xing, said, his brown fur touched with gray, "but they're capable warriors."
"Yes, Khan," Za'tair nodded, having seen Ran Mizuno in action. Of the strike fighter pilots in her squadron there was only one who was her better, and that not by much.
Khan N'oon Xing frowned slightly as he added, "And their technology is... worrying."
Za'tair had also heard the rumors about Earth's technology, though she wondered if they were true. The Jurai fleet was the most powerful in the stellar region, it couldn't be true that their weapons were unable to harm a Earth cruiser. But if it was true, what did that mean...?
The old cat-man leaned forward, his pointed, furred ears flicking back and forth. "I am sending you to Earth to learn of these Earthlings and decide if we should ally with them," he told her. "Are you able to take this task?"
"Of course," Za'tair said confidently even as she firmly buried any nervousness or fear. She was a warrior of the Khan, and she would act like it!
"Good," the Khan nodded as he sat back on his throne. "Fight well," he gave the traditional farewell to a warrior, "die bravely."
The hologram flickered out as the planetary governor gave her a sympathetic look, the warrior's nearly white fur giving him a ghostly look. "Do you think you can do it, kinsman?" Za'shen asked, looking at her with some amusement.
Za'tair gave her cousin a annoyed look, "Of course I will." She felt more nervous than she wanted to admit, and hid it under bluster. "Can you arrange a ship for me?" she demanded.
"Of course," Za'shen echoed her, "but just to the edge of the Khanite territories." He shrugged eloquently and added a ear-flick, "As we do not have a treaty with Earth, we won't be allowed to bring a combat vessel into their space."
Za'tair nodded, but with a sour expression on her face. "I'll manage," she said as she bowed and excused herself.
Having talked to Ran about her trip into the Khanite Za'tair simply retraced her steps, though she had a somewhat better budget than Ran and could afford a better class of ship. She traveled first to Jurai, caught a interstellar liner there, then journeyed to the Earth's solar system. The whole trip she spent studying Earth and Sol system, but she still felt woefully unprepared on arrival.
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Shaking her head Za'tair banished memories of her journey to Earth, instead considering what she had to do. It had only been a week or so since she had arrived here, and had only presented herself to this planet's queen a few days ago.
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Unlike the Khan Queen Serenity was young, her skin blushing with health and her blue eyes soft and gentle. There was a appearance of softness around her, her hands and body unscarred by battle. Yet looking into her eyes Za'tair had sensed both great power and determination in her, fitting a woman who had pulled her people from a war ravaged ruin into being a great power in the region.
"We welcome the representative of the Khan to Earth," Queen Serenity said formally, "and I hope this signals the beginning of an era of cooperation between our people."
"I thank you for your welcome," Za'tair stood proudly as she continued, "and there will be cooperation if my Khan so decides."
As the formal audience ended a familiar blue haired woman strode up to Za'tair, dressed in the strange, full body coverings these furless ones seemed to prefer. She gave the traditional greeting of a warrior, mock striking out yet stopping before the blow landed, a grin on the blue haired woman's face.
Za'tair echoed the movement, then caressed the other's cheek. "It has been too long, Ran Mizuno," she said warmly.
"It's nice to see you," Ran admitted as the crowd of petitioners moved towards the queen, and others milled around watching. Dropping her voice she asked, "Is the Khan serious about opening up diplomatic relations with Earth?"
"Yes," Za'tair answered dryly, "but that does not guarentee peace."
"True enough," Ran conceded, running a hand through her hair.
Za'tair looked Ran over thoughtfully. "That is a Crystal Tokyo military uniform, yes?" she asked curiously, recognizing the design from her hurried studies.
Ran smiled proudly, "Yes, I reapplied for my citizenship and rejoined the Hardsuit Corps."
Za'tair felt a faint pang of regret at hearing that. Some part of her hoped that the famous pilot might return to the Khanite eventually, and possibly join her house as her mate. "Those are the light armored suits, correct?" she noted admiringly, "Your hunger for glory is impressive."
"I don't do it for the glory," Ran smiled wryly, "but thank you."
Za'tair nodded, understanding that these Earthers had different values than the Khanite. Among the children of the Khan there could be no greater glory than honorable combat between two evenly matched foes, and the pilots of the strikefighters were considered especially honored. All that stood between you and death was a bi of armor, a force shield and your own skill, what could be more glorious than that?
"Anyway," Ran said regretfully as they left the hall, "I'm on call tonight, so I need to go. But I look forward to seeing you again."
"And I you," Za'tair agreed warmly.
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Now Za'tair found herself hurrying to the Crystal Palace again, but this time because of a emergency. Apparently someone had attempted a attack during the citizenship ceremony, and a son of the Khan was there. Details were scarce, but the city's computer system had sent her a alert as the only representative of the Khan in the system.
'Lucky me,' Za'tair thought wryly.
As she neared the palace Za'tair's eyes widened in alarm as she saw what appeared to be a fight going on. Several lightly armed palace guards were fighting a naked human, one that seemed able to reshape it's limbs into weapons.
A more reasonable person might have hung back, watching the situation and determining the wisest course of action. Za'tair screamed a battle cry and leaped into the fight, extending her finger claws to drive the man back from choking a guard to death.
The man coughed, spitting blood as the fight swirled around them. "Thank you," he managed to get out.
"Ugh!" Za'tair grunted with effort as she kicked the strange human in the gut, sending it staggering backwards. "What are we dealing with?" she demanded.
A guard held her stun baton at a guard position as the redhead explained, "He's some kind of disguised bioroid. A group of them attacked the citizenship ceremony, we think this one was left behind as a distraction."
"So it's not human, then?" Za'tair comfirmed.
"Not human," a third male guard agreed, clearly wishing that he had a better weapon at hand than his usual sidearm.
"Good," Za'tair said as she attacked, visciously clawing at her foe. She ripped across the eyes first, blinding it, then attacked to cripple as she avoided the wild attacks. Wounded badly the thing collapsed, then some kind of biological self-destruct activated, the flesh and blood dissolving into goo.
"I'm going to be sick," the injured man moaned, covering his mouth.
"Easy," the redhead told him, then looked up at Za'tair as she said, "Thank you."
Za'tair felt a flash of annoyance at a warrior showing such weakness, but even she had to concede the smell was horrid. "You'd best take samples of whatever it is," she noted maliciously to one green faced guard, "your scientists will want them, I think." Then she briskly headed to the palace's enterance, determined to find out what was going on inside.
The redhead managed to get back to the gate to block Za'tair's way as she demanded, "Who goes there?"
She was faintly impressed one of them could recover so fast, so she didn't slap her down for insolence. "I am Za'tair, First Claw of the Knan and representative of the Khanite on Earth," she answered grimly, "one of my people is hurt in there, stand aside."
She conscienciously checked a wrist mounted computer unit, nodding after a moment. "Go ahead, ma'am," she nodded, "sorry for the trouble."
"You are just doing your duty," Za'tair noted the name on her tunic, "Officer Eiko."
Striding into the palace Za'tair was met by a functionary who took her upstairs to where various diplomats were attending to citizens from their home systems. Za'tair spotted the tawny furred Khanite almost immediately, and was faintly surprised to recognize him as a member of the K'irk line.
"I didn't expect to see you here, representative," J'ymes noted, his light brown hair flowing into his eyes.
"Nor I, you," Za'tair noted mildly. Dropping her voice she asked, "What happened?"
"There was a group of fur and clothing-less humans at the ceremony, seemingly from a outer world," J'ymes noted, "who pushed up through the crowd towards Princess Mercury. I'm not sure who first spotted a threat but a young human child called out the alarm."
"I see," Za'tair nodded. The Khan's intelligence sources had reported the arrival of a powerful teen named Alicia Testarossa, was it possible she was there? "Then what?" she asked.
J'ymes looked annoyed, "The press of the fleeing humans took me away from the battle. I did see the blond girl attack most effectively, and Princess Mercury and her servant both fought fiercely."
Za'tair felt a certain degree of contempt at a warrior who let himself be pushed away from the field of battle, but she hid it well. 'These Earther's deserve him,' she thought with a sigh. Studying J'ymes she asked, "Was Mercury the target or...?"
Seriously J'ymes answered, "I think that whoever was giving the oaths would have been the target, the creatures of Mesa have no honor."
"Agreed," Za'tair nodded. She studied him a moment then asked, "Are you certain you still wish to join these people?"
"I am," J'ymes said firmly. He smiled slightly and added, "If you wish, I will give my oath not to reveal Khanite secrets."
"It's not necessary," Za'tair told him, knowing he would be killed by agents of the Khan if he did reveal any secrets. "Good luck," she said, getting up and leaving him alone.
Making the rounds of the other diplomats present Za'tair confirmed his story, as well as adding more details. She would have to send a report back to the Khan about this immediately, along with a suggestion that they examine the bioroids in their territory. If all the creations of Mesa could transform like the ones that did here, they could be a deadly weapon to the Khan in the future.
To be continued...
Notes: this is a continuation of a chapter from 'Magical Atoner Lyrical Alicia' or more accurately a alternate point of view of those events. The character Za'tair is from WAY back in Chapter 35, though I had plans to bring her back sooner. She has quite a interest in Ran Mizuno, though Ran herself doesn't seem that interested.
