Paladin Conscript
The Transender
Pierce shuffled into the precinct head low, shaggy unkept hair hanging
over his face. His boots left dirt tracks across the floor while the
fronts flapped open like mouths trying to hold a conversation. The
binding cuffs didn't bite into his wrists like the old fashioned ones
they used in poor neighborhoods but there was no way out of them. The
officer shoved him into the roofless elevator and they rocketed to the
top floor. Looking through the clear material known as fiber filigree,
wholly owned and distributed by Crackfort Corp.
They marched towards the detention block, Pierce's golden eyes meet
with those that were bluish-white and carved from a frozen flame. The
man with fire and ice in his eyes wore a katana, the traditional samurai
weapon, and a gigantic two handed broadsword on his back. Pierce's
eyes grew wide marveling at the weapons master.
Guards turned expecting the weapons master to follow, yet he strolled
away from them. Pierce defiantly met his stare. The man whispered
"How would you like to come with me?"
Close up the sword looked like a surfboard. Pierce could feel confidence
and power resonate from him.
The thunderous voice said.
"Come with me and you will know strength,"
Pierce's eyes drifted towards the guards. The Transender flashed a
half smile that did not reach his eyes on his sun darkened face. He said,
"Your prisoner will come with me,"
The confused guard looked to his companions frantically who nodded
agreement. The Transender held up Pierce's wrist so the guard could
undo the binding cuffs.
Confusion was evident on Pierce's young face as they started off
towards the elevators. Pierce wondered what the man's motives were.
He was thinking of running when they made it out. After his recent ordeal,
Pierce's new life philosophy was trust no one.
"Who are you and how did that just happen?" Pierce asked as he
looked over his shoulder at the guards standing in a circle conversing.
"That man has a lot of friends in high places. If you want to keep your
job I suggest you do as he says,"
"So why bother arresting him in the first place?"
"Simply because we have to follow protocol,"
As they walked through the city, Pierce decided that if he ran he would
end up back where he started. He shivered realizing what could have been
his fate.
Cars flew above zipping with their humming sounds while buildings
stood around the central down town plaza. Some reached for the heavens,
antenna for fingers, hovering in the air. Colorful billboards played
commercials. All day jazz bars on one street and baroque classical music
on another. Music streamed from every direction. This was Ronsonance,
the central hub of modern society on the planet Vrea. Wars raged
elsewhere but Ronsonance was unaffected. To normal citizens nothing was
awry but deep political, military, and social currents pulled at the
city's fabric like a seamstress. Homeless people vanished in the blink
of an eye. Pierce might have been in that situation if he continued down
his path of illegal activities. Criminals caught in Ronsonance became
fodder for scientific experiments and other scandals.
They walked freely beyond the city gates of Ronsonance; free to leave,
but not free to enter. That is what got him into trouble in the first
place. He wasn't authorized to be in the city and his associates were
more concerned with self preservation. Trust, he thought to himself,
never again.
They walked for miles without saying anything. Occasionally Pierce
looked up at the Transender. The Transender saved him from the cruel
fate in the city. At the peak of a small hill they stopped and Pierce
stared down at an old, run down school with a scowl.
The Transender said, "This is where you will stay for training.
There are few students now, but there will be more in time. Go down
and make yourself at home," He turned to walk away.
"Wait! This is the place? You took me from the city to this crap tank?"
Moving too fast for Pierce to register the Transender disappeared.
Lifelong training in the reiustu style gave the Transender his blinding
speed. Pierce felt a cool breeze against this back and spun around. The
Transender stood before him.
The Transender spoke firmly. "You will come to understand why I
don't believe in heaven or hell. Who I am doesn't matter; you will know
me in time. Names are something that should be unique instead of something
placed upon a person before he has had a chance to make a name for
himself. This place is your home, where you will undergo your training.
The moment we left together we entered an unspoken agreement. I helped
you and in return...."
Pierce stared at the building in disbelief then the Transender was
gone. Alone with the sinking sun and his shadow cast out long over the
crest of the hill. Pierce nodded, gathering his composure to focus on
what he might encounter.
His thoughts were interrupted by a shrill cry and a huge shadow covering
the ground. He looked, astonished. A long neck swiveled back and forth
as its tail waved, powerful wings flapping to carry the huge fanged
creature. He had never seen a dragon before and his mouth hung open. To
see a dragon was a sign of good fortune to the Muchha. They worshipped
dragons and traveled the land in search of them. He was not one of them,
just a boy trying to survive, yet the thought comforted him and he walked
towards his new home.
People to Meet
Pierce could see candles burning in rooms above. Judging by how many
were lit this school was not at its full capacity. It was impossible to see through
the entrance doors windowpanes. He opened the door and was
greeted by a squeak. The main hall smelled of pine trees. Letting the
double doors close behind him, he glanced at a crystal chandelier. Twin
dragons roared at the front of a staircase. The marble balustrade was
beautiful and intricately designed.
He heard a piano and turned toward the sound but jumped back to avoid
being run over. The person, bent over polishing the floor with a huge
rag stopped in front of Pierce. Pierce surprised by his sudden appearance
said, "Sorry," the boy laughed and did not care to hide his gap toothed
smile. His jet black pony tail swung down to the middle of his back. Pierce
noticed the rapier on his side.
A short chubby female in her early teens peeked around the corner.
"Don't be shy Defender. Seems like we have a new classmate," said
the young man.
The girl timidly came around the corner. She had a sinuous sword
fastened to her plump hips. She never looked at Pierce and kept her hands
crossed in front of her. She wore a large grey loose fitting dress that came
down to her ankles and underneath, white socks with sandals.
"They call me Titus, on account of my pony tail I guess," said the boy,
"and of course, her name is Defender because she is always on the defensive
and shy, and...."
Titus was cut off by a kick in the back. He looked up with a wide smile
as Defender pouted behind him.
"So what brings you to our school?" he asked, "I can show you were to
put your things and take a hot bath. Defender can tag along as well."
Titus started off, she followed behind the two of them silently.
Pierce tried to recall his geography classes. The country Titus was a
large land mass far north. The people there typically maintained long, dark,
oiled hair and beards. The young man, Titus did not have a beard but the
hair style matched. As they walked up the steps the music became louder.
Pierce asked, "Who is that playing the piano?"
"We call him Heavenly Scale on account of him playing the piano so well,"
responded Titus.
"It's beautiful," said Pierce
"You will meet him eventually. Although he is a bit of a loner,"
Reaching a room on the third floor, Pierce decided that he wasn't
ready to tell these strangers anything and simply left the questions
unanswered; before he could get settled the window above his bed crashed
in. A young man in all black rolled off the bed, and sprang to the floor.
He pulled a pearl white katana from its sheath, deftly, blade held high.
Another person followed through the window, gracefully tucking and rolling
to avoid the jagged pieces of broken glass; she stood on the bed, notched
an arrow and pulled back on her bow.
"The inside is off limits!" screamed the skinny female, the tip of her
arrow pointing at the brown haired young man with the katana.
"Now I have the pleasure to introduce Mirror and Slayer. We call her
Mirror because she see's everything and...." Titus was cut off.
"It's because I can put a arrow in the middle of your forehead from
600 yards away. Get it straight." said Mirror.
"Um, yea, that too. We call him Slayer because of the sword that he
always carries," said Titus.
Pierce wanted to jump through the window. Everyone carried weapons
and now two people flew through a window. Nothing about this place made
any sense. Against his better judgment he stayed.
"Everyone I have seen so far carries a weapon. This place is backwards,"
said Pierce. He could feel the eyes on him.
"To become one with your weapon you must keep it with you at all
times. That is the only way to attain the subtle yet deadly grace,"
responded Slayer, closing his eyes, deep in thought.
"Do you sleep with them too?" asked Pierce.
"These two yahoo's do but the rest of us keep them close by," said Titus.
"But why? Is this place some sort of war zone?" asked Pierce.
"Not from any external threat but...." Slayer responded.
"Back outside, Shin! We ain't done yet!" Mirror screamed, "This Dewey
ain't worth wasting yo' words on."
"What!" Pierce shouted.
Mirror jumped down off the bed, putting the bow around her back, standing
in front of him, "You heard me! I ain't stutterin'!"
Pierce had enough of this loud mouth boney female, yet he did not realize
what he was up against. He should have written his moves down and handed
them to her the way he telegraphed his punch.
The pitch black darkness stretched for eternity, eventually stars
shined. A sharp pain brought Pierce back to reality. He could feel a trickle
of blood. Slowly he got up trying to blink away the pain and the dark
flecks that streamed across his vision.
"One mo' weak one we gotta whip inna shape!" said Mirror. Now
he could feel the pain in the middle of his chest, she moved too fast for
him to register her movements.
"Watch yo mouth fool, or next time I won't just slam you into the wall,
you gonna go through it! Come on Shin!" she said, as they left through
the window.
Chalk Talk of the School
Defender and Titus found a new room. They left him to go finish their
chores. He wandered into a room on the fourth floor. Paintings lined every
wall and a suit of armor in each corner from different time periods. A
five tiered pagoda and a samurai horseman as the centerpiece for a
colossal table.
Pierce noticed a little girl sitting with a chess board. The young girl
with black hair falling over her eyes sat in deep thought contemplating
her next move. He took a seat, but she ignored his presence. He heard
her whisper, "Checkmate," and her brown eyes met his.
Rearranging the pieces, she silently gestured for him to take white. He
moved his queen pawn out two spaces, blacks king side knight pawn advanced
one. Pierce moved a pawn up two spaces and took control of the center while
she proceeded to move her bishop and complete the fianchetto. He held a
sizeable lead, moving up a knight. She attacked and there was no choice
but to retreat. Pierce over extended himself and squandered his first move
advantage. Here a pawn, there a bishop, then his queen. She whispered,
"Checkmate," and Pierce chewed his bottom lip; it was over before it began.
"What is your name?" he asked.
"I've said it twice already," said Checkmate rearranging the pieces. She
gave him white again, again he lost. Thanking her for the lessons,
he left hoping to get some sleep and put this embarrassment behind him.
The breeze from an open window made him pause and peer into the
night. Hearing heavy breathing and clashes through the gusts of wind,
Pierce looked out to see Defender hard at work against a wooden dummy. Once
outside, he leaned against the building watching her. A brick crashing to
the pavement broke the steady silence of the night. Defender never missed
a beat. Spinning around the wooden dummy, she tucked into a side roll
and came up with two deadly Kris in a defensive position.
"Oh, H-hi. W-would you l-like to join me?" stuttered Defender.
No wonder she didn't talk much. He nodded in agreement. She showed him
the collection of weapons. One in particular caught his eye. A two handed
long sword, not quite as large as the Surfers'.
"This sword will be perfect against you," he said smiling, resting the
long sword on his shoulder. Smiling in return, she took a few steps back,
both curvy daggers at the ready.
The long sword was awkward at first but after a few swings to build
confidence he held it in front of him, both hands on the hilt. She let him
make the first move; the first mistake. Approaching her slowly, unaware
that turning sideways would give his opponent less of a target. He swung,
aiming for her head. She slid in under his arms, and scored a hit. She
spun around and the flat of her blade struck his exposed rib. Pierce drove
an elbow backwards aiming for her chubby face. As she leaned away, a
smile played across his face. His sword came whirling from the opposite
side. As she flipped over his sword her blade nicked his shoulder. He
let the force take him in a complete circle, bringing the blade low and
missed again. Defender easily spun over his blade.
Pierce drove the long sword into the ground and flipped around it, letting
the energy from his consecutive swings carry him. She blocked his kicks
with her daggers. He lost his balance, landed awkwardly, and rolled
across the floor, blade skidding in the opposite direction.
Defender was there to help him up. Bruised and battered he said,
"Thanks. Since I've come here I've learned more things than I care to
know about myself,"
"It's not t-too bad is it?" she asked.
"A hot bath and a good night's sleep and you'll be as good as new,"
said Titus stepping into the light still holding his rag.
"You did well, Defender is a pretty good fighter despite her name but your
moves were quick and they flowed into each other. Once you get used to
the weight of the sword you will be pretty good,"
"Thanks," he said limping away.
Titus shouted behind him, "A right when you get to the steps, left into
the first hallway and it's at the end of the hall. Showers that is."
Pierce waved and nodded his thanks. Looking up before he went inside, two
distinct shapes sat on a ledge. He could see the outline of a bow; the
other person carried a sword. Closing his eyes and entering the building,
that image haunted him: the image of Mirror and Slayer. As Pierce lay in
the tub the image of Slayer and Mirror burned into his mind like two
villains from a movie.
The Gangs All Here
A foot in the stomach jolted Pierce awake, "What the hell!" he screamed.
"Time ta get up, weaklin!" none other than Mirror; there would be no need
for an alarm clock here. She clonked him on the head with a broom handle.
"What am I supposed to do with this?" he asked.
"Don't be tryin fight wit it!" she laughed. Pierce heard a grunt, no doubt
Slayer stood outside his door. Pierce never cleaned before. Residing at
military bases and space stations, the robots did the cleaning.
Pierce fumbled in the hallway with the mop.
Mirror said, "You handle that like a long sword, what you good at
anyways?" as she looked down on him from the corridor a level above. He
smiled; it came out as a snarl because she fixed her face as if she was
going to shove him into the wall. His head hurt just thinking about it.
"W-why does she always p-pick on him?" asked Defender.
"That's just the way she is," responded Titus.
"I should s-say something to her,"
"There you go pouting again. Maybe this time you will beat her. I'll
be rooting for you," said Titus going back to polishing the floor,
enjoying the swish of wind in his ear.
"D-don't worry. I'll make her s-stop," whispered Defender as she carefully
walked over the puddle of water made by Pierce's mopping. Part of him
appreciated the gesture. Pierce wanted to say something, to tell her it
was not necessary, but she was on the move. Why would she stick his neck
out for him? They barely know each other.
"You shouldn't t-tease him like that," said Defender.
"Shut up!" Mirror shouted back.
"T-tonight I...."
"Huh? Why wait fo' da' night!" said Mirror.
Pierce looked up. Defender shrunk inward when she noticed him surveying
the scene.
"Don't be shy now! You want this Drew unda' yo' sheets eh'? I've seen
everythin', da' way you be lookin' at him. They don't call me Mirror
fo' nothing."
Defender flushed red from embarrassment and anger. She reached for her
Kris. The next thing she knew she was gasping for air. She looked up at
Pierce holding her in his arms.
"What happened?" she whispered
"After you reached for your dagger she kicked you over the railing and
I caught you."
"You might be fast as Titus, Drew!" Mirror spit to show what she thought
of him.
Defender was up in a heartbeat, Kris drawn. She leaped onto the staircase
railing, ricocheted up to the second level. The center of the main hall
separated them, leaping, colliding, they greeted each other in the
middle. Mirror spun, bow appearing in her hand. She blocked a thrust
from Defender's Kris. With Carrots spin nearing completion she kicked
only to be intercepted by a forearm. Defender caught Carrots ankle and
twisted. Mirror reached up into the twist and grabbed Turtles face.
Defender came up with her Kris poised for attack. Mirror jumped out of
range, turning in mid-air to fire. Defender dove backward to avoid being
punctured. Mirror closed the distance and planted an open palm to
Defender's chest.
Defender crashed through the window, rolling among the dead leaves of
autumn. Opening her eyes she stared into the steel tip of an arrow. Unable
to form words due to the foot implanted on her neck. Tears arose against
her will; Titus appeared in a flash,
"That's enough! You're going to hurt her!" he shouted.
"Who are you ta' tell me what ta' do!" she asked.
Unwilling to back down he fixed her with a cold stare. His feet were
fast and moved away from her low sweeping kick. The same could not
be said for his hands. She grabbed his wrist and twisted; his face,
a mask of pain refusing to yield. In her warrior state she was almost
unstoppable. A hand touched her shoulder, she instantly forgot about
Titus. Pierce found a weakness he might be able to exploit.
Mirror tried grappling but her skillful opponent let her momentum play
to his advantage reversing the hold. Facing the opposite direction,
she twisted and turned wrist and body becoming one. They spun around
each other, an elbow meet an open palm. In a whirling fury she finally
saw her challenger.
Pierce whispered, "The Transender,"
"Gemstone, Thom, gather up everyone else, and meet me in the strategy
room. Tell Checkmate I will make it up to her for interrupting her game,"
Pierce made it to the strategy room first, so he thought. Checkmate sat
in a high backed chair; he figured this to be her bedroom. Thom arrived,
carrying a quarter staff.
Gemstone entered next, a jian, double edged, straight blade strapped across
her back with the hilt showing above her shoulder. Short green hair fell
to her neck. She took a seat next to Checkmate and conveyed the Transender's
message. Pierce chewed his bottom lip remembering the harsh chess lesson.
Mirror and Slayer came in through the window. He wanted to ask if they
ever heard of a door, but common sense held his tongue. He told himself
he was not scared of her, simply recovering from his injuries. That
sounded convincing, and he nodded in silent approval.
A female with long, glistening, green hair, with ears poking through
drifted in. Her sharp features could only be that of an elf.
"Catseye. Come sit next to us!" shouted Mirror.
Pierce thought elves were extinct. There was a time when they outnumbered
humans. A time long ago, when dragons were born from the sea, and The
Auk Island inhabitants worshipped the sea gods. Now cyborgs, space ships,
and interstellar travel dominated the word.
Pierce lifted his eyes from the beautiful elfin female, and his mouth
dropped, and his heart leapt from his chest. There was no room for a
heart, his body was a furnace filled with a raging fire.
Defender limped into the room, supported by Titus, with a bandage on his
wrist. Pierce shot a look of death at Mirror, she smiled wickedly. He rushed
over to help Titus. Defender, flushed red all over from embarrassment.
"R-really, I'm not hurt that bad. Titus is o-overreacting," Defender
kept her head down trying desperately not to smile from ear to ear. Pierce
silently promised himself he would repay Mirror in blood. He had to get
stronger. His mind, jumbled; why would she fight over him.
Pierce's thoughts resided as the Transender entered the room and said,
"Good, almost everyone is here,"
"I hope you had fun on your latest adventure. It seems you've recruited
another student as well. This school will soon be unmatched with your
great leadership guiding us," said Thom.
"Hey Thom, I think you got a little brown on your nose. Want me to wipe
it off for ya?" said Mirror.
"My dear Mirror. Who is the only person you have yet to defeat? Oh,
wait, I know the answer; it's me!" said Thom. His cocky smile silenced
Mirror. The Transender, cleaned up from his travel, ignored their banter. He
sported a blue, green, and gray argyle sweater. Every head in the room
turned as the last person entered.
"Heavenly, late as always," said the Transender.
So, this is the man responsible for the angelic music, thought
Pierce. Caramel colored braids came to his neck. Pierce noticed Heavenly's
long fingers as he took a seat.
"Now that everyone is here I will get straight to the point. The city of
Ardile is holding a tournament to celebrate the successful teraformation
of GRRM-58, which they headed. The winner will be allowed to travel there
for a week. The prize is not what concerns me, it's the competitors that
do. We will start practicing immediately. I will take it upon myself
to get the new guy up to speed," the Transender looked at Pierce, "From what
I hear your speed is the last thing I need to worry about."
Fireside
The school was abuzz with the tournament news, which matched the buzzing
in Pierce's head. In the morning he woke to talk of parrying and blocking,
breakfast was counter attacks and feints.
The Transender did not go easy on him. When Pierce coughed up blood
the Transender tossed him a bottle of water, "I would swallow those fluids if
I were you. You might need them," he said. When Pierce spit out a piece of his
tooth, "You don't need that piece anyway," responded the Transender. When
Pierce wanted a bathroom break, "Tonight will be cold. You better save it
until then so you can keep warm," said the Transender.
Pierce's two handed long sword went against the Surfers... surfboard. During
the night, Pierce could barely lift his weapon.
Two weeks of the same thing. "I've had enough of this. I'm leaving!" Pierce
screamed as the blood dripped from open cuts.
Defender heard, and rushed over.
"Are you s-serious?" she asked on the verge of tears. Her wounds healed
up nicely only to be replaced by fresh ones.
She stood up for him, fought for him. If he left how would he get revenge,
he wondered?
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"P-please stay, at least for the night. The autumn w-weather in the
north east is t-too cold," said Defender, holding his hand.
Those eyes, looking up at him; he could drown in them. "D-Don't
leave?" she whispered, plump lips pouting.
Pierce went inside. His head clogged and conviction wavering.
He sat on the edge of his bed rubbing his shoulder. Heavenly Scale's
music could be heard in the distance. Pierce got up and closed the door,
then plopped face down into the pillow. A knock came at the door,
"Come in!" he shouted.
Titus led the way followed by Defender. Titus handed him a back pack while
Defender stood near the door with her head down, and hands crossed in front
of her. Pierce placed the back pack on his bed. He looked away and muttered,
"Thanks."
"Don't worry about it. Usually when people leave we just continue on
with our usually routine. But you seem to have caused quit a commotion."
The clash of steel rang out below.
"Don't be so surprised," Titus laughed, "We've had plenty of students
come and go for various reasons. But like I said you're different,"
The wooden chair groaned as Titus straddled it.
"Defender stopped our sparring session and pleaded with him to make
you stay, to no avail. He did mention that you had exceptional raw
talent. Just think about the tournament. We can go to the city! Just
think how many girls will be there!"
Defender made a sound in her throat, luckily no one heard.
Pierce smiled thinking about the beautiful girls on the Ardile beach.
"HA! I knew you would like that part. After we win we will be famous
and the interstellar counsel will recruit us for top secret space
missions!" said Titus.
They both laughed aloud. Pierce thought, he could not leave now. He noticed
Defender standing there with her face as red as a solar flare and thought
about the silent promise.
"Where is the Transender?" asked Pierce.
Defender and Titus looked at each other in confusion.
"The guy with the huge two hander on his back that looks like
it transends all weapons," said Pierce.
They looked at each other again and burst into laughter.
"That's a good one. Maybe we all should start calling him that," said
Titus, drying his eyes, "We will take you to him, come on,"
They exited the room and Defender lingered behind. Pierce made for the
stair case, but she pulled on his black trench coat, and handed him the
long sword.
"I b-brought it up so you could t-take it with you," said Defender.
"Why? I was planning on leaving it here," responded Pierce.
"W-well, I came up with a name for it. F-Fireside,"
"Fireside?"
"So that when you w-were gone, Fireside would make you t-think of
us. M-make you think of h-home,"
He strapped the long sword onto his back. Looking over his shoulder he
silently mouthed thank you.
They walked through the immense back yard, full of hills and bushes. Horn
root imported from the city of Fallace in the south. Moon leaf trees
twenty feet tall that drank the sunlight, and glowed. They found the
Transender on a hill, under a sycamore tree, watching the sunset.
"We knew we would find you here," said Titus.
"Am I that predictable?" asked the Transender.
"W-why do you always come to this s-spot?" asked Defender in her low
silky voice.
"It reminds me of a time long past when things were better. It gives
power to solar sails, thermal rockets and even plants and animals. It
reminds me that those without power need powerful people,"
Pierce looked at the back of Turtles long purple hair tied into a pony tail;
Titus with his wide smile and missing tooth. He breathed in deep through
his nose and puffed out his chest. He thought to himself, I have a job
to do, an oath to keep. They helped me, cared for me, they are my sun,
and they give me power.
"Me and Fireside will see you bright and early," said Pierce.
"Fireside?" asked the Transender, after Pierce walked away.
"I n-named his sword," said Defender with her cheeks as red as the leaves
on the ground.
"And it seems like he has named yours surfboard,"
Pierce batted away a mosquito. He was too far away to make out words. The
loud and raucous laughter from the Transender came through loud, and clear.
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