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Goose Saves Terra-Part III

From Betamountain.org


Goose Saves Terra-Part III


The Rangers and Hahz watched as the junk slowly maneuvered itself into docking position. The other invitees on deck gathered their belongings; some also went belowdecks to inform the remaining 'Kombatants' that the ship was almost moored. The apparently mute sailors went about their tasks with a precision that struck the Rangers as somewhat unnerving; nary a sea-chanty or even a bawdy joke had seemed to issue from any of them.

"I've got your gear," Hahz told Goose, producing the kit from somewhere in his coat. "I thought you might want it handy, so I picked it up when I moved you away from the game after you passed out."

Goose accepted the package with a nod.

Buzzwang's optical-sensor shields flickered closed, then open; the equivalent of a 'blink'. "Sir Hahz, where did you keep the pack? It didn't seem that you had anything with you..."

The Knight looked at the android and gave a thin smile. "I've picked up a little sleight-of-hand, down through the years..." he said with an airy wave. The momentary bit of mirth passed from his eyes, and he turned grim. "You'll get a welcoming dinner, Goose, but I'm not sure what will happen to the rest of you," he said, glancing at the others. "It's likely that Chi Sui Sui Chuan will simply add your names to the rolls of the tournament."

The blood drained from Doc's face. "You mean... we'll have to FIGHT?"

Hahz nodded, spreading his hands in a helpless gesture. "One-on-one, with archaic weapons. And whatever 'extras' you may have as parts of you."

Zach looked at his pistol. "No guns?" he asked, voice flat.

"No guns."

Doc pulled out his interface unit and flicked it on, his forehead beading as he activated his Badge. The familiar bubble of light and the dancing flickers that were his Programs appeared readily. Tripwire's high-pitched voice sounded from the unit's speaker: "Wow, Doc, this place is weird. What's up?"

The tension flowed out of Doc's muscles. "Just a systems check, Tripwire." He paused. "Actually, could I get a status report from everybody? I want to make sure that all systems are operational."

"Sure thing, Doc. Okay, everybody, sound off! Tripwire, fully juiced."

"Lifeline, on the beam."

"Pathfinder, saddled up..."

The remaining programs reported nominal status, and Doc put the unit back into stand-by mode. "Well, that was ressuring," he said, looking up at Hahz. "So how did it work?"

"You *made* it work, Doc," Hahz answered after a moment. "Didn't you feel like some sort of current was flowing through you, into the unit and back again? Maybe you're a little winded?" When Doc nodded, eyebrows furrowing, Hahz explained. "You probably built that interface unit yourself, or modified it so much through your career that it's with you even in your dreams. That established a link between your emotional core, your 'soul', and the unit. It's part of what lets the programs behave in a fashion charmingly close to human, as well as what's making the thing work here in the Outlands."

Niko nodded. "I was wondering what this place was called..."

"There are a couple of different names, but that one will do for now. As far as the Tournament goes, Chi Shi Sui Chuan will perform his duties as host until around dawn tomorrow, when the Tournament officially begins. You should sleep safely until sunrise; lingering remnants of Terra's spiritual defenses will prevent any attempts at assassination until then."

"If that's the case, then why did you keep me and Commander Quartzite from going round and round?" Goose asked. He nodded at the other Kombatants, the Commander among them, as they began to line up on deck with their gear.

Hahz put up a hand as Zach shifted to a defensive position. "He isn't allowed to harm you or any of the others on this boat, Captain. Part of the reason I'm here is see to that."

Zach scowled. "Wait a minute here, 'Sir' Hahz. What is a Crown Trooper doing on this ship, if it's supposed to be full of Earth-warriors?"

"As I told Goose earlier, the Tournament has fallen into evil hands. The Queen has done research in areas that the Rangers, along with the rest of the Earth and its allies, have forgotten. These disciplines have allowed her to make contact with the owners of those evil hands and, in exchange for her support, she will receive a 'breeding stock' of Earth humans for use in her psycho-crystals."

"What sort of 'support' is she supposed to be offering?" Niko asked. "And how do you know about that kind of a bargain?"

"The Queen is providing a legion of Crown Troopers and technical experts in various fields that will prove even more devastating to Earth's remaining defenses. She has also offered three Marked Troopers in order to ensure victory for that 'side'. One is Commander Quartzite, the other two are probably on the island already.

"As for how I know all this...?" Hahz reached behind himself and produced his scythe, the blade snapping into place. His face faded into shadow under the brim of his hat, despite the torchlight nearby and the sourceless glow from the clouds overhead. His eyes spilled grey light, and his voice regained the tone and acoustics of something at the bottom of a deep, dark pit: "The Restless Dead know many things, and Shadow accompanies Light through all planes and facets of reality. I have many responsibilities, and have been granted many tools to fulfill them."

The aspects of Hahz from 'beyond the pale' faded, but lingering traces of the promise, menace, and crushing duty behind them remained with the Rangers. "Suffice it to say," Hahz said, in a much more comfortably normal tone of voice, "that I am quite trustworthy in this matter. I am the guardian and guide of the Earth-warriors. I will lay down my life before I lay down my responsibilities."

This was stated so matter-of-factly that the Rangers wondered what, exactly, *could* end Hahz's life, even as they let themselves feel a little reassured.

"All right, so what's next?" Goose asked, shouldering his pack. The silent sailors were mooring the ship with the same eerie grace as they had on the Kowloon dock, and the Earth-warriors were lining up in preparation for debarking.

"Next," Hahz said with a smile, "we get off this leaky boat. Then we take a nice walk about a third of the way up yonder path," he pointed at a broad, brick road that lead from the beach to a large opening in the side of the island's rocky surface. "... We attend a feast, get what sleep we can in the next eight hours, and then..."

"We fight," Goose said. He considered the ramifications of the statement. A smile slowly spread across his face.

"This could be fun!" he said.

As Hahz said, the Rangers were accepted into the Island's interior with the same silent courtesy as the other Earth-warriors. A balding, wizened man with long fingernails took their names and assigned a silent man to show them to their quarters, barely acknowledging Buzzwang's curious protestations that they were 'merely spectators'

"Sir Hahz, I've been going over some hand-to-hand combat programming, but I'm not sure that I can truly qualify for a Tournament at this level," the android said.

Hahz patted him on the shoulder. "For what it's worth, Buzzwang, you may well be critical in the next few hours. Essential, in fact."

Buzzwang blinked twice. "Essential? Me? How is that possible?"

"You are an artificial life-form. You are sentient, but lack a soul. Or at least, you have no soul that Chi Shi Sui Chuan or his masters will be able to..." he paused and considered. "... I believe that the word I'm looking for is 'perceive', for now."

Niko, walking ahead of the Knight, stopped dead in the hall. She spun and planted a hand on Hahz's chest. "And just what is that supposed to mean?" she demanded. She had been silent as they set foot on the island, not even introducing herself when the majordomo asked her name at the gate; something in her body language was all but screaming, "This place terrifies me".

While the other Rangers stared at this uncharacteristic tone, Hahz glanced down at her hand, then matched gazes with her. "It means that Chi Shi Sui Chuan has been granted the power to enslave the souls of the losers in the Tournament and use them for his own nefarious purposes. Those that are merely knocked unconscious, at any rate. The souls of those who actually die leave the Tournament-grounds and *his* range before he can use this power."

No one needed to ask whose range the Knight meant.

Niko took her hand back, but kept glaring at Hahz. "Murder or enslavement. A delightful choice," she spat out.

Goose stepped forward and reached out for her. "Niko, what's wrong?"

The beautiful Ranger flinched as Goose touched her shoulder, then sighed and put her arms around his chest. "It's this... *place*..." she managed. "It's so full of pain and twisted emotions. I'm not sure how well I'm going to do in this... 'Tournament'. Some of the others are so... dark, inside..."

Hahz pushed his hat back on his head and took a deep, ponderous breath. "This will be hard for you, Niko, I can see that easily," he said. "For what it's worth, keep in mind one thing: where there's a shadow, there's a light."

Niko nodded, but she gave Goose a little squeeze before stepping back. Their silent 'bellhop' had simply stopped walking when the group had, and had waited until they seemed ready to continue. Without a word, so did he.

When the team had reached their quarters, Doc motioned for the others, inlcuding Hahz, to join them in his room. He pulled out his interface unit and sent Tripwire ghosting around the room to neutralize any surveillance; the program flew into a cobweb above a dark-stained dresser and it vanished with a sighing rustle and a sprinkle of glittering sparks.

Then the program stopped in the center of the room and began to spin; Doc's breathing became ragged, but he stayed upright as Tripwire's holographic image began to spin in place, flattening and growing, until it flared and shrank back down to normal.

"Someone was using some kind of spy-beam," Tripwire reported as it zipped back into the interface unit. "I had to mess around with their hardware to deactivate it." Doc's color improved and his breathing settled instantly. Zach helped him to a chair and he sprawled in it even more than usual.

Hahz stared, amazed. "That... *program*... interfered with a scrye?" he managed, looking even more dazed than Doc. "Extraordinary!" The Knight was clearly disturbed, yet intrigued. Still pondering, he went over to a large pitcher of water and poured two glasses; he passed one to Doc and sipped the other.

"So, what's the story with those strong, silent types?" Doc asked, two glasses of water later. He jerked his head toward the door.

"They are students, help-staff, and general lackeys of the island's master," Hahz replied. "They don't speak because they've been ordered not to communicate with the Kombatants unless specifically ordered otherwise by their superiors. Since this place belongs to Chi Shi Sui Chuan, they are likely to be part and parcel of the property."

He held up a hand as Zach opened his mouth. "I know, slavery and involuntary indentured servitude have been out of style on Terra for centuries, or at least, it is so on the parts that your law can reach. These 'quaint old traditions' survive here and elsewhere because, until now, Terrestrial law in any form has been unaware of their existence."

Zach looked at the other Rangers, Buzzwang included, one at a time, then back to Hahz. "We'll have to see about changing that after the Tournament," he said. "More than ever, we can't afford to lose, now." The mention of the word 'slavery' hardened him, his resolve plain.

Niko leaned against the foot of the elaborately-carved four-poster bed. "What I want to know is what we'll be fighting against. You said that some of them would be from Earth, but on the side of the invaders. There's that Commander Quartzite, but what else?"

At that moment, there was a knock at the door. Doc answered it; it was one of the hooded 'students'. "Dinner is served," he spoke in a rough, dry voice. "Please follow me to the dining hall."

Doc turned to the others and shrugged. "Guess he was 'ordered otherwise by his superiors'," he said, then turned back to the guide. "Great! I'm *starving*!"

Twenty minutes later, the team moved into a cavernous room deep inside the island. The eating facilities amounted to long wooden tables and accompanying benches; all scarred and worn, but worn smooth from what could have been centuries of use. They were arranged in two groups, with a four-meter-wide empty space between them that stretched from the entrance to the hall to a raised dais at the other side. Torches lined the walls, sharing space with disturbing trophies: battle-scarred weapons, pieces of armor from around the world and many eras, and skulls. Dozens of them, some with candles inside the brain-pans, and one or two bearing distinctly non-human attributes.

"How did a Bovo skull wind up here?" Zach wanted to know, pointing.

"That's not from a Bovo," Hahz said, examining it as they passed.

"So what *is* it?" Doc asked. "A minotaur?"

At Hahz's silent nod, Doc's eyes bulged.

The meal was simple and light, but very nutritious; the wait-staffer assigned to their table pointed to six vessels within easy reach that consisted of vegetarian fare at Niko's request. One or two plates and bowls began to glow with a sickly green light when they touched the surface of a table off to one side of the hall; the staff quickly carted them away, along with a protesting Earth-warrior dressed in pads of studded leather and camouflage pants. Fresh plates and bowls soon appeared, but the warrior did not.

"I wonder what happened to that warrior?" Buzzwang said, as he toyed with a large, unshelled Brazil nut.

"Like as not, he has just volunteered for this evening's warm-up," Hahz opined through a mouthful of noodles, nodding toward the dais.

The raised platform held a throne-like chair, upon which sat a man Goose identified as their 'host'. He stood, holding a silvery chalice in his right hand. The torchlight sparkled off the intricate carvings covering the vessel's bowl.

"My dear guests," he began, his voice cutting through the din of the other warriors' chatter and silencing it. "I am Chi Shi Sui Chu'an, your host for the Tournament."

The Rangers noticed that more than one of the other Kombatants frowned at the sound of the name.

"At the moment the first ray of sunlight enters this hall," he went on, pointing at a window that looked out on a sky that was now mostly free of clouds, "a great gong will sound, and the Tournament will begin. The entire island will be your battle-ground, so you must walk in readiness at all times. The initial bouts have already been chosen, and the participants will be informed of their opponents when they return to their rooms."

He sipped from his chalice, pausing to lick a drop of something pale and bluish from his lips, then continued.

"The first round will last until all of the bouts have been finished; no time limits, and no holds barred. You are free to stop at incapacitation, if you so desire, but you need not... 'limit' yourself."

A chorus of rough cheers rose from various individuals around the hall, and other warriors' eyes were as hard and cold as their smiles. Goose took a quick count of both categories and frowned.

"Once the first round is complete, we will break for an hour of rest and refreshment. This is optional, of course, though disturbing another warrior's meal is... dishonorable."

His thin smile told the Rangers all they wanted to know about the man's opinions of 'honor'.

One of the silent servants entered the hall, directly opposite Chi Shi Sui Chu'an, and nodded once. The host nodded in response, and the warrior stationed himself at one side of the door.

"And now," the host said, sipping from his chalice, "... for a taste of things to come."

Two lines of hooded men trooped into the hall and turned,facing each other, forming two living walls. The leather-and-camo Earth-warrior strode into the cleared space between the two ranks of tables, accompanied by Commander Quartzite.

"Tonight's demonstration incorporates the services of Commander Quartzite, a warrior for the Queen of the Crown," Chi Shi Sui Chu'an said, indicating the glass-bodied Trooper with an open hand. "...And Remo d'Arcade, fighting for the Earth," he continued, shifting the direction of the same hand, still holding the chalice in the other.

Remo sneered something about only being in it for the money, which generated a rumble of laughter. The hooded men showed the two warriors to their marks, about ten feet away from each other, with Commander Quartzite's back to the host. With a shout of, "Fight!", they began to circle each other.

The two fighters seemed to be evenly matched; both moved with arrogant strides, sneering, hands flickering in one feint after another. d'Arcade's fighting style seemed to be a variant of kick-boxing or savate, displayed when a wiry leg flashed up to thrust at the inside of the Commander's left knee.

In response, the Commander twisted his body to let the attack slide past him, dropping almost to one knee as his right hand slipped past d'Arcade's elbow to spear into the human's abdomen with a wet thump.

d'Arcade folded around the strike with a yelp and quickly backed away, jumping over a sweep as the Commander spun completely around to twist himself back up to a standing position. d'Arcade's left hand clamped around the point of impact, blood spilling from between his fingers.

Niko stifled a gasp, and Goose put a hand on Zach's shoulder to prevent the Captain from rising. "We have to play by their rules, now, Captain," Goose said to the older man. He glanced at the other Rangers' Badge. "Those are just tools, for now. We have no authority here." He tossed his head at the fight. "At least, not until after we win this Tournament."

Zach grunted, but Goose could feel him relax a little through the uniform.

d'Arcade pulled a rag from one of his pockets and quickly wrapped it around his middle, smearing a white paste on the wound. As the salve touched his raw flesh, he opened his mouth and released a howl of pain; the Commander took it as an opening to fire off a flurry of punches.

d'Arcade's body folded backwards and he planted his hands on the stone floor; with a scream, he tucked his legs up into a double flip-kick that rocked the Commander's head back and sent him staggering a full three steps away.

It was d'Arcade's finest move... and his last. As he rose to his feet, all the observers could see that the battle was over; d'Arcade's face was too pale and sweaty, his legs too shaky to continue. Commander Quartzite, however, had other ideas.

Recovering himself, he coiled down into a crouch, then launched himself into the air. He twisted and turned, coming down toward the staring and defeated d'Arcade with both feet. The toes on the Commander's boots took on a sheen, then the unmistakeable line of a cutting-edge.

d'Arcade's arms spread, almost embracing his fate.

The Commander's feet entered his opponent's chest, parting muscle and bone, piercing the heart, severing the spine. Riding the now-dead weight as d'Arcade's body flopped back onto the floor, the Commander gave a satisfactory nod at the *chink* sound his bladed boots produced as they hit the stone floor.

The master of the Tournament held up his chalice in a toast. "Fatality," he rumbled,smiling.

A cheer arose from many of the other warriors, and the Commander made a sweeping bow as he accepted the accolades. Turning as he waved, he faced Goose and matched gazes with the SuperTrooper.

He didn't need to point, clench a fist, or even glare; his intentions came through clearly in a simple, shallow nod.

Goose's eyes narrowed, but he accepted the silent challenge with an identical nod. One way or another, Ranger or not, only one of these two would be leaving this island alive.