The sea of ice, a large piece of land that was nothing but ice and snow. Once belonged to the cryomancers centuries ago, before they fled off to earth realm during Shao khan takeover. The only inhabitants left were the descendants of cryomancers whose powers had dwindled as the centuries passed. The villages were separated by politics, each specializing in their own trade. The main line of resources being the cold iron they harvest below the surface. That and the breeding of snow bison that were used for their thick fur and rich meat. Traders came by the dozen to pick up their shipments day and night. And Varanus happened to be a V.I.P trader of sorts, so when his ship arrives, his shipments get top priority.
Though this time around, Varanus had passengers on board with him. Rain in particular, who secluded himself in the lower part of the ship. Wrapped in 3 thick blankets that he took from the unoccupied cots. Looking at the tarkata just huddled up together chatting idly to themselves. Tarkatans can adapt to any type of weather, so when it got really cold, their body temp would raise up to keep themselves from getting hypothermia. As long as they wore at least one layer of warm clothing and huddle up, they can survive a night in a blizzard.
"You warm enough over there?" Chuma joked, finding it amusing that Rain was nothing but a bundle of covers in a corner.
"Yes, very warm." Rain snapped back, tucking his chin under the blanket as well. Millikan came down the stairs wearing a thick fur overcoat that Varanus had given him. He accompanied Varanus to the docks where he talked with another trader about the shipments he was picking up. The chat was short and Varanus shipments were already getting boarded on the ship by the local workers. Almost 30 plus large wooden crates got loaded into the side of the cargo ship, filling up the cargo hold. With nothing else to do, Millikan decided to check on the others. Seeing his tarks huddled up together for warmth was no surprise to him. It was Rain huddled up in the corner wrapped in layers of blanket that got his attention.
"Leave him alone Chuma." Millikan snickered as he walked over to his cot and sat down. "Varanus says we should get to the golden desert within three days. Since the shipments arrived ahead of time and the weather seems to be in order."
"Great." Rain shifted, pulling the covers closer to his body.
"What do you do when your mission requires you to travel to cold places, doubt shao let you get a free pass."
Rain brows furrowed as Millikan mentioned Shao. "Im more prepared for that type of weather. And if im lucky I can find someone else to do the job for me."
"And you got away with that?"
"You ask some very specific questions you know that."
"It's how I get direct answers." Millikan removed the fur coat and lays it on the floor at his feet. "Do you know what you are going to do if shao really is dead?"
"Well first I will have a drink and celebrate." Rain smirked behind his mask. "After that I don't really know. Maybe find his killer and shake their hand."
"That's if they're still alive." Millikan laid back on his cot. The ship rocked slightly as the bridge to the cargo hold closed up. "I think I might join you for that drink."
"Better to drink with others then alone." Rain shrugs looking up to the ceiling. Varanus must have gotten back onto the ship and was setting off. How the zatterran can put up with this weather surprised him. Then again he must really love his job and didn't care about the weather conditions.
"Chuma?" Millikan says.
"Hmm?"
"Did Haji wake up yet?"
"Oh…let me go check." Chuma stood up from the pile and heads to the other end of the room where the holding cell was located. It was for the shokan to keep their POW's in case they needed them alive. Several minutes passed by and Chuma returns with the most distraught look in his eyes. "Nope."
"He's been out for a whole day in a half now." Millikan got off the cot and walked to the back to check on Haji. He approached the barred and door and looks inside to see Haji laid on the wooden floor. He unlocks the door and pulls it open, walking over to Haji and nudged his leg. Chuma was right behind Millikan and grabs his shoulder.
"He's gone Mill." Chuma tells him. Millikan kneels down and pressed two fingers against Haji neck, checking for a pulse. Feeling nothing for a minute, he removed his hand with a sigh and stood up.
"I killed him." Millikan raked a hand through his dreads, feeling guilty for killing his own.
""it's not your fault ndugu." Chuma patted Millikan back. "We can't burn the body."
"And Varanus won't like having a rotting corpse on his ship." Millikan looks back at Chuma. "go get the others and tell them…nala." Millikan looks back at Haji then walks out of the cell. He walked back to his cot and sat down, placing his face in his hands with a long sigh. Chuma walks over to the group and motions everyone to follow him to the back.
"Something wrong?" Rain looks over at Millikan, noticing his distress. Also he wondered why the rest of the tarks just got up and went to the back. The faint sounds of flesh being teared and bones snapping made Rain move a bit closer to the wall. "Mill, what is going on back there?"
"I killed Haji so now he…is being mourned."
"By being eaten?" Rain will never understand tarkatans and that was just ok with him. Though most of the things they do were akin to wild animals, such as cannibalism. Millikan laid back down on the cot and rolled to his side, back facing Rain. He really didn't feel like discussing tarkata traditions right now, especially something so delicate as death. Getting the feeling that he was being ignored, Rain shrugs and lays down on his side, might as well rest some more to pass the time.
"One of you is missing?" Varanus spoke up before biting into a piece of fish. Everyone had gathered around on the upper level. It only took a couple hours for the ship to get out of the cold climate surrounding the sea of ice. Now sailing out in the open sea once more where the weather was warm and the sun was out with no clouds to block it.
"He…" Millikan looked at the other tarkata, trying to find a good explanation.
"He passed away in his sleep so we had to throw him overboard." Rain answered for Millikan who gave him a weird look.
"Oh, sssorry for your lossss." Varanus didn't think much of it as he continued to eat his meal. The rest of the tarkata were standing around looking a bit lost. Not sure what to do at the moment since they kept getting a guilt vibe from Millikan. And whatever the alpha feels, the others would feel it as well. And with no direct order from him, they just seem out of it. "I know it'sss not any of my buissnessss. Why the east?"
"I need to find my mother." Millikan quickly replied. It was the complete truth, just simplified and to the point. Varanus nodded, satisfied with the answer. He tossed the bones over his shoulder into the water below. He walked over to the wheel of the ship, having had enough fish and socializing for one day. "Everyone go workout, no sparring." Millikan ordered. Not really in the mood to do anything at the moment. Standing near the side of the ship, staring at the water below in thought.
Rain looks at the other tarks and walks over to Millikan side. "Ready for your first lesson?" there was no way he was going to let Millikan stand around and do nothing. Millikan looks over at Rain, his dreads falling over his face, obscuring his view.
"What's the first lesson?" Millikan asked.
"Balance, come." Rain walks to the head of the ship and Millikan follows. They reached the nose of the ship where an 8 foot long plank was hanging off the edge. Millikan eyed the plank then turns to face Rain. "You are going to walk the plank, don't worry Im sure the plank can hold your weight."
"I…im not going up there." Millikan took a step back.
"You are just standing over water mill, not that high up either." Rain jumped up onto the plank, walking to the edge with ease. He turns around and walks back to the middle and stays there. "Don't tell me you can't swim?"
"I can swim." Millikan grumbled as he removed his shirt and drops it next to his feet. He jumps up the edge and nearly falls over the side. Rain sprays Millikan with stream of water pushing him back so he could stand upright. Millikan glared at Rain, holding his arms out at his sides as he tried to catch his balance. After a minute of swaying back and forth, Millikan managed step onto the plank. "Please don't spray me again."
"That's part the lesson. You can block effectively but you don't dodge much. And that's something I notice tarkatans do very well, except for you and those really tall ones."
"You are referring to the jitu." Millikan kept is eyes on Rain, trying his best not to look down.
"The Jitu, is that separate breed of tarkata?"
"Breed." Millikan crossed his arms, feeling a bit more comfortable standing on the plank. "we are not animals."
"I didn't say you were animals but when you go around snapping and growling at anyone who passes by, that seems confirm most people assumptions. But no you are not an animal."
"There's only 3 types of tarkata. The ya kawaida, like my father and them." Millikan motions to the tarkata on the ship floor. "The jitu are the really tall ones, my brother Abasi is one of them." Just mentioning his brother name left a weird feeling in his gut. "And there are the extremely rare ones called Kati. Believed to be directly descendent from the first tarkata to ever live, Awali."
"So you are a kati?" Rain asked.
"Im surprised you never asked my father any of this. You did work with him right?"
"Yes I did work with him. But like I said before, you are more tame and can hold an intelligent conversation long enough without snapping at me." Rain took a step forward. "I learned more about the tarkata in a few days then I did working alongside them for the past few decades."
"How old are you anyway?" Millikan asked and gets a spray of water to the face making him fall over and land in the water below. Rain looked down as Millikan splashed around for a moment then resurfaces, glaring up at him. "Seriously!"
"It's rude to ask for one's age." Rain retorted.
"I thought that only applied to women."
"Great, a sexist tarkatan." Rain rolled his eyes and flicked his right hand. A jet of water brings Millikan up the side of the plank where he quickly grabs hold and climbs onto it. Millikan stands up on the plank, gaining his balance once more. "You ready to start the lesson now?"
"I thought this was the lesson…whoa." Millikan leans a bit to the left, dodging a spray of water. Growling he tries to take a step forward and gets hit in the face. This time he didn't fall off completely, keeping his arms raised to keep himself steady. He leans to the right, dodging another spray of water. He took note of Rain taking a step back, nearing the edge of the plank. Guessing the goal was to reach him without falling off the plank. He took another step forward and doges another spray, despite the risk of falling into the water below Millikan was actually having fun with this.
Just a couple more steps and Rain was within reach. Millikan dodges another spray and reaches out to grab only to grab at water. He almost fell forward but manages to steady himself at the last minute.
"Good, now come back." Rain was back on the ship, shooting jets of water at Millikan. Not even giving him a chance to turn around. Millikan managed to turn around and gets a splash to the face. Snarling, Millikan runs across the planks and jumps right over Rain head, landing right behind him. Rain stood there speechless, eyes wide as he looked back at Millikan.
"What?" Millikan grinned with shrug.
"You were not supposed to do that. Back on the plank and this time no running or jumping." Rain ordered as he jumped back on the plank and walked to the edge. Millikan looked back at the other tarkata making sure they weren't up to something. Seeing them do pushups, well everyone except Benzi who wanted to walk across everyone's back and cackle. With a sigh, Millikan jumped back onto the plank and waited for Rain to spray him but nothing happened. Instead rain took a fighting stance, putting one foot in front of the other and crouching slightly. "Think you are ready for the next step, don't worry I won't attack you but you have to try and knock me off the plank."
"Easy." Millikan took a few steps forward meeting Rain the middle. He looked down at the water then back at Rain. He took his silat stance and aims a low kick at Rain who raised his front leg up to dodge it then watched as Millikan threw himself off balance and fall into the water with a splash. "Damn it." Millikan spat out some water as he stared up at Rain.
"Thought it was going to be that easy. Hakuna Mill." Rain smirked behind his mask as he used his powers to raise Millikan back onto the plank. Millikan had fallen off the plank quite a lot that day but he did improve and learned from his mistakes.