TOOLS OF THE LIGHT Part 2

By Sunraven

 

The contests between the Anla’Shok and the picked crew of the Ingata started with denn-bok sparring matches between individuals. Chakur and Neroon had picked out the twenty best denn-bok users of the crew, of which Alyt Sorat was the best of them. Once the first matches were finished, the winners would pair off and spar, leaving five victors of the second heat. These would then fight, and so on. The ultimate victor would get the honor of fighting Lenann. The winner of a match with Lenann (which of course would be Lenann) would fight Durhan himself, once his three days waiting was up.

Terra was going to skip the matches, and instead catch up on her sleep and catch up on a little research, but Neroon and Lenann talked her into going and watching with the two of them. So she came along and watched the matches that Sorat was in, and a female Ranger that she had noticed admiring Lenann. She had to confess that she liked it when the females got the better of the males. Sorat was extremely good. She stood against a large Worker Caste Ranger who was about two-thirds the size of Kalain, which meant he was pretty big. Even Sorat, who was large for a Minbari female, looked small next to him. 

The two of them touched their denn-boks together in the ritualistic starting move, then brought them back into ready stance. Then Sorat flipped hers over her head and the Ranger blocked it, barely. From then on Sorat went on the offensive. Her gray eyes were almost reptilian in their coldness, so focused was her battle stare. Neroon’s dark eyes always gleamed with light whenever he sparred. She hooked the Ranger’s feet out from under him twice before he had the sense to block the move a third time. He did the same to her, but only once, and as she went down she boinked him over the head in a glancing blow. Terra winced as she picked up his pain, but strengthened her shields so that she wouldn’t be too distracted. Sorat was fascinating to watch because she was such an extremely efficient fighting machine. After about twenty minutes she disarmed him, and was proclaimed the winner by Durhan, who was judging.

The Ranger, who she’d been informed was named Tanane, was a Religious Caste, and was rather small. She was about five feet five inches tall, and probably weighed only about 130 pounds. She stood against an organic building with a headbone that was even more proudly bristling than Neroon’s, and a huge gnarly nose that looked as though it had been broken several times. He was obviously a Starrider, from the look on Neroon’s face as he watched him. At first it looked like there was no way Tanane could have a chance, as the Starrider had obviously been trained by Durhan at some point. But she was shrewd, and sparred in a way that made her small build and speed a strong asset. She was careful to minimize the amount of close work she did against him, as that type of fighting was an advantage for someone large. Instead she came and went into his reach like a hornet, stinging him with light, but nevertheless painful, blows to the head and body. They fought for over an hour, and finally Tanane got a good one to his head and knocked him out. Durhan beamed with pride over her when he pronounced her winner, and Lenann actually had a spark of martial interest in his eyes while he watched her spar.

The six Human Rangers did fairly well against their Minbari counterparts, considering the natural advantages that Minbari had over Humans. Two lost their matches, three tied theirs, and two won theirs.

After about three hours of sparring, Terra finally couldn’t keep the pain from the many injured fighters out, and she had to withdraw from the fray. Both Neroon and Lenann offered to escort her, but she told them to stay and enjoy themselves and left the training hall. She was surprised to look back and see Tanane following her.

"Doctor McClare, Sech Durhan has asked me to escort you to your quarters, with your permission." She said politely.

"That’s fine, Tanane, isn’t it?"

"Yes. I am honored you know my name." 

"Well, there aren’t so many female Anla’Shok that I don’t take notice of one that uses the denn-bok as well as you do."

"Coming from someone from the same clan as Fleet Captain Lenann, you honor me a great deal."

"Yes, he is quite good at the denn-bok, I hear."

The Minbari’s blue eyes widened. "Quite good! Doctor, next to Sech Durhan, he is the best master on Minbar." This one definitely was impressed with Lenann, Terra thought with a twinge of jealousy.

"Well I will rely on yours and Sech Durhan’s judgement as to his abilities, Tanane. I am no warrior, and as such cannot judge." She came to her quarters and palmed the door open. "Tanane, you don’t need to guard my door. I will be safe here alone. Please feel free to return to the matches."

"Are you sure????"

"Absolutely. Go ahead. My empathy is sensing that you are dying to get back to them!"

"Yes, Doctor, and thank you."

Terra went in and meditated, ridding herself of the pain she had taken in from the physical injuries that had been dealt during the matches. She worked on her shields a little more, then took another nap on the couch in the living area. She woke to the sound of someone coming in the door. Her heart pounding in reactive fear, she extended her empathic senses, and felt Neroon’s strong emotional signature. She smiled up to him as he came in.

"Hello. Shouldn’t you still be at the matches? They aren’t done yet, are they?"

He came over to her, and she made room for him on the couch. "I’ve seen matches before. I decided that I wished to see you more."

She got an even bigger smile on her face. "You, give up a denn-bok match for a female? This must be a first!"

"I wish I could have spent some time with you last night." He said, putting his arm around her and burying his face in her hair again. He really liked doing that, she noticed.

"I know, but you, Chakur, Lenann, and Durhan seemed to be having such a good time swapping battle lies that I couldn’t bear to call you away from it."

"Lies! You outrageous female! Every word I spoke was true." He put his other arm around her and hugged her fiercely, smashing her nose against his chest armor.

"Ouch! I surrender, Neroon, so you can let me breathe again." He loosened up, and she laid her head against his chest.

"Does that mean you will finally agree to marry me?"

She sat back up, alarm washing over her. "No. Neroon, I refuse to be rushed on the matter of marrying! It is very disrespectful of you to keep pushing it if I don’t bring it up."

He smiled at her, brown eyes glowing mischievously. Then his face got more serious. "You have seemed distant from me since you left Korun. Why?"

"Well, partially because of the condition of my shields. Distance is required to rebuild them. And partially because I am seriously considering your proposal. And also partially it is because of something Relinn said to me, something that has made me think about some things."

"What did he say that would cause you to move away from me?" His voice was suddenly all deadly warrior.

"Do not talk of Relinn in that.. that killer voice, Neroon. It upsets me! He merely told me what I was already thinking, that is all."

"He has never liked my caste, or me."

"He has nothing against you, Neroon. He just pointed out that a female like me, with my empathic gift, is vulnerable to emulating the emotions of those I am close to. He felt that you have too much anger in you to ever be an anchoring spirit for me, such as Ledann was. He feels I need a calm peaceful soul like Ledann to mate with, someone who can be an anchor to my restless spirit." She looked down to her hands. "He is correct about that. My gift is hard to control under the best of circumstances. I have had someone close to me to help me keep it under control for most of my life. My mother performed that role for me until she died. Then my mediator teachers filled the gap, until I met my first lover. Mack was a pilot in Earthforce, yet he was a gentle and scholarly soul, like Ledann was. He was killed in the war with your people. Relinn took over the role once I met him, and he has given me great support. Ledann followed him, and after he was killed I almost went out of control, though Lenann’s mother Sherissa has helped me a lot. I guess I do need someone to help anchor my gift, as Relinn said. It …it isn’t easy to admit that I can’t do it alone."

"It sounds as though Relinn is offering himself for the role. He has always loved you!" He said accusingly.

"He knows the difference between our ages makes that pretty impractical, even were I to fall in love with him. Your jealousy of him is illogical." She stroked his face. "Neroon, I have the same doubts. He only put them into words for me. I care deeply for you, and always will. But I am not at peace when I’m with you. You are angry, and passionate, and loyal, and honorable, but you are also a fighter, and a killer. I’m afraid that even with my vaunted empathy I haven’t allowed myself to see that side of you. It frightens me too much."

"Why would you be frightened by me? I would never hurt you, you know that. And you are passionate too, Terra. You showed me that at the peace talks!" 

"Neroon, I’m a class 25 empath. I emulate the emotions of the people I love and am with. Why do you think I fight with you so much of the time? I don’t do that with anyone else. Not with Relinn, not with Lenann, and I never did with Ledann. With you I act like a warrior caste, not like who I really am inside. I can’t help it, and I would stop it if I could! I become buried to the point of smothering in strong emotions when I’m with you. I’m a healer, and you are a killer, a warrior. We are the opposite of each other spiritually, and can't ever move closer in spirit unless one or the other of us changes a great deal." She smiled and caressed his face. "And neither you or I are very good at bending, I’m afraid. We are both so strongly who we are." 

She took his face between her hands, and looked into his brown eyes. "Soon I want both of us to go through a night of reflection. I want you to hear my words in your heart, hear the truth in them. And I want each of us to reflect on what it will mean if we mate forever. Being what I am, I need a mate who can help to anchor my spirit, or my gift could go out of control and overwhelm me. I want you to think about whether you could find enough inner calmness to help me do that. And I must decide whether or not I can accept the killer side of your spirit. I will have to make peace with that side of you if I marry you. I also want you to ask Sorat to share that night of reflection with you. She is your friend, and Warrior Caste to her core being, and I trust her judgement of what is in your heart. I will keep Lenann with me, for the same reason."

Neroon looked at her, surprised. "You would let me take a rival to my quarters for a night, Terra? That is not like you."

Sadness filled her eyes. "Yes it is, Neroon. For Sorat has a similar brave heart as you, and will understand, I think. I’m normally not a jealous person. What I felt for you when you were with her was unlike me, and now I wonder if I was reflecting your own jealousy. Will you honor my request? Because we both need to be away from each other to see the truth of who we both are, and if our paths can lie together."

"It is your right to request a night of reflection, since I was the one that brought up marriage. Yes, I will do it. But if you did decide that I would make a good mate for you, will you then agree to marry me as soon as possible?"

"Yes, I will, assuming your people will allow it. And if I decide the other, will you not hate me, but still be my friend?"

The forlorn sound of her voice touched his heart, and he hugged her. "Terra, I could never feel anything but love for you. You are my soul’s mate. But would you think me weak if I tell you that I am fearful of what we might discover on this night of reflection?"

"In Valen’s name, no, I would never think you weak."

The next morning, she could sense Lenann asleep in the other room of the suite. She meditated for a while, then went to take a vibe shower. After that she picked up some research material she had been working on, and took it out to the living area of the suite. She made herself some tea, and settled down on the couch to read.

About a half hour later, Lenann came out of the bedroom, still in his sleeping robe. It was the first time he had been informal in her presence, and she felt quite complimented.

"Good morning, Lenann. Would you like some tea?" She poured him a cup, then took her own back. 

The door chime sounded, and Sech Durhan came in, with a young warrior caste carrying a huge breakfast tray in tow.

"I thought we might break fast together, my friends." You could tell that Durhan was a Starrider. Like Neroon, he made himself at home wherever he placed his derriere. 

Terra eyed the huge tray of food. It looked big enough to feed a battalion of people. "Are we having the rest of the Rangers to breakfast as well, Sech Durhan?"

"I have taken the liberty of inviting Neroon. He should be arriving soon." He eyeballed Lenann. "You have made yourself quite comfortable, Lenann, more than is traditional for two unmated persons of the opposite sex!"

Lenann blushed deeply. "Terra is my clanswoman and the widow of the brother of my heart, Durhan. I may be pushing the traditions, but not breaking them. I have done nothing shameful!"

"Durhan, quit teasing Lenann. You have acted more outrageously in my presence than he ever has!" Terra ordered. Lenann did go in to change into his uniform, though. Terra and Durhan sat down and started on breakfast. 

Neroon buzzed right then, and Lenann came out, back in his uniform. Terra unfortunately had to put up with the warriors discussing the matches of the day before, but she supposed that she didn’t mind too much. It was nice to have them all together like this.

A little later, Durhan took his leave of them, and Neroon followed soon after.

Terra looked over at her clansman. "Lenann, I need to make a request of you. Neroon has asked me to marry him."

"He has? Better late than never, I suppose." And he grinned.

"I am filled with doubts. That’s why I decided that Neroon and I needed a night of reflection in order to seriously think it over. I asked him to have Sorat accompany him. And I would like to have you attend me, if you would, kinsman."

He bowed to her. "I would be honored to attend you during your night of reflection, Terra. And in Valen’s name, I hope that I may be able to give you wise advice. When are you to have it?"

"Is tonight convenient?"

"Tonight would be fine."

"I have enjoyed having you here, Lenann. You are a balm to my soul when Neroon’s wildness chafes at me. Thank you." She stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him lightly on the lips, then turned to take the tray and place it outside the door. Already her mind was on the night of reflection to come, so she didn’t notice the look of longing he gave her as she got rid of the tray.

 

Part 3 – more denn-bok matches and a night of reflection floating among the stars