A Warrior's Challenge

Noah followed his alien teammates back through the ship and ended up in a rather intimate dining hall. Compared to the massive herbivore mess hall it was closer to a mall food court. With various stations surrounding a large yet properly scaled seating area.

“We ‘middle’ sized omnivores have our own hall.” Kazhvoyova said as they entered. “Grab what you want, and then we will find a spot.” Noah was glad the other two were willing to let her be the translator, and that there was someplace that didn’t feel over or undersized. He found what looked like grilled pork chops, some comfortingly potato like vegetable and what he could only describe as blue broccoli. Noah saw they had grabbed a table off of center on the lower of the two layers.

Even from here Noah could see the tension between Kazhvoyova and Vazhchayvr. They were two different classes of Roschani. Noah realized he was probably the only human in the galaxy who understood that there were three classes of Roschani woman. Kazhvoyova was a commoner. They were roughly equivalent to worker ants. The most populace of the Roschani yet seen as the most expendable. Vazhchayvr was a queen, at least that’s how Kazhvoyova had translated it, were the leaders, and matriarchs of the Roschani Empire. Noah thought they were also the ones who controlled the male Roschani. He still hadn’t figured out what the exact ratio of men to women were, his current theory was 1:7 although he figured he’d have to ask a Roschani man to get that story in full.

As he approached and sat down with the rest of his team, he could feel the group of Roschani warriors take notice of it. Roschani warriors were larger than both Kazhvoyova and Vazhchayvr, and significantly less shapely. They had good faces, all Roschani did, however since most stood as tall as Noah, and had better defined muscles than he did, and undersized features for their frame. Noah found them less than unattractive. Which was contrasted with the beauties he found himself sitting with. Beauties who were looking at him like he’d just stepped on a land mine.

Noah shot his best ‘What did I do?’ look. To his surprise all three seemed to understand his confusion. Yet none of them wanted to be the first to explain it. Noah decided that he wasn’t going to worry about it, at least not until they said something. The food was bland and not as filling as it looked. Which was what he had came to expect from the interstellar dishes he’d have had. It wasn’t terrible, but he should probably start carrying in salt and pepper to meals.

One of the Roschani warriors had made their way over to the table and started chewing him out in Galactic Common. Noah caught roughly a third of what she was saying. From what he could piece together he was ‘interfering with Vazhchayvr’ and that wasn’t permissible. If Noah didn’t care. He had done a fair bit more than interfere with Vazhchayvr when she took her prisoner during the war. I wonder if this brute knows who each of us is. As Noah pondered, Kazhvoyova stood up and unleashed a torrent of Rokran, “I don’t care what you think is going on. You’re wrong. Humans don’t work like they do on the net. I cannot”

“Enough.” Vazhchayvr said the warrior and Kazhvoyova recoiling. The two other warriors stopped in their tracks. “If you want to challenge him for my honor you should know he is it’s current defender.” This was news to Noah. He hand suspected that she was still hung up on the capturing and subsequent manhandling. Yet the way she put it both angered and subdued the irate warrior, which lead Noah to think that there was more going on. Noah decided that playing oblivious and continuing with lunch was the correct way to handle the situation. Yet he didn’t miss that all three warriors were now working though that line in their heads. “If you think he isn’t a fit warrior than an appropriate challenge can be arranged.” That was news to Noah, he knew the Roschani culture was centered around the queens. He hadn’t had the time during selection and ‘pairing’, a term that still frustrated him. The Ranger leadership insisted in ‘organic pairs’ then did things like this before their debut. Thinking about those six months made his head hurt with the moronic nature of it. The shouting hit him as he started rubbing his temples.

Looking up from his food there was a fight brewing. All three of the warrior caste Roschani were stacked up as if they were to fight, yet they were clearly weary to do so. Lt. Nekamormi was clearly scared her tail puffing up even more. Kazhvoyova was clearly ready to throw hands and Vazhchayvr was attempting to keep things calm. Noah stood up slamming his hands into the table, all eyes snapped to him. He locked eyes with the loud mouth. “I have killed many of your sisters in battle. You will not best me.” His Rokran wasn’t the best but he knew she understood, and realized he had understood the argument. At least what he had paid attention to. This warrior was on the smaller side, and a little shorter than Noah, her two friends were slightly smaller than her.

With Noah on his feet the group of warriors confidence faltered. Noah didn’t want to reveal his full veterancy to these three, they would gossip. Yet if they wanted to claim he couldn’t fight than he would have to prove them wrong. Besides if he took the mantle of most dangerous creature on the ship, it might work out in his favor. He decided to press his advantage, “Leave us alone, you should know better than to start something you can’t finish.” Noah watched the thoughts work their way though the three women. Mostly they weren’t buying it yet weren’t sure if they wanted to.

“A match.” Vazhchayvr said, “You three pick one, and they can fight my veteran champion here.” That crumpled what bravado was left in the three. Noah didn’t want to fight. With his shoulder stitched up it wasn’t a good idea. The work outs had been tricky enough, a fight would be needlessly reckless. Yet needlessly reckless had gotten him here, thus he put on his best smirk and waited for the group to respond.

It took them a noticeable moment. Noah could see the silent debates happening in each of their heads, “You each think you could have taken Earth sooner. As I’ve said, we yielded for your sake not ours.” The largest, whom Noah believed to be leading this doomed exercise tilted her head. Noah knew the nervous twitch, he’d seen it many times before.

“I accept Vakron.” She said, her face betraying her voice. Noah noted he’d have to find a translation for Vakron. The reactions from his team were rather split. Kazhvoyova was down right mortified, Noah knew that look of dread. One that was mirrored on the foxy features of Nekamormi. Both of their mortification was balanced out by the impish grin plastered on Vazhchayvr’s face. Noah had to laugh.

“It seems he’s ready. When do you want to fight?” Vazhchayvr stood up, drawing the attention.

“As soon as we can.” The warrior turned to leave, “Do you have a space or do I need to find one?”

“I have one,” Vazhchayvr turned back to her meal, “I hope you don’t mind if I finish my meal. I’ll send you the location.” With that the group of warrior Roschani left and Vazhchayvr returned to her meal. Nekamormi’s demands for translation, Noah gave Kazhvoyova the Translate look.

“Those warriors think it’s dishonorable for a queen to eat with a Human.” Kazhvoyova sighed, “They called it a miscarriage of Justice for her to be unprotected in the presence of such an ‘aggressive’ male.”

“In what way.” Noah asked finishing off the oddly sweet broccoli, that tasted more like a fruit.

“Both.” both of them took a glance at the tattoos on Noah’s arm, Kazhvoyova continued, “They invoked a challenge that in essence would end with your death.”

“Heard that before.” Noah had never been impressed by the Roschani’s resilience.

Kazhvoyova glared at him, “Take this seriously, although that right shouldn’t be applied to humans.” Noah’s expectant face caused the strongest embarrassed reaction he’d seen. “Lets just say don’t kill them.”

“Do I need a gun?” Noah studied her face, hoping to find the source of her embarrassment.

“It will be unarmed, unarmored combat.” Vazhchayvr interjected, Noah read from her face that she caught ‘gun’ which he had said in English and was downright horrified of the idea. He didn’t try to stop the smirk from returning to his face. “Don’t give me that. You two said it a lot.”

Noah shrugged, “How are you with this?” He directed to Nekamormi, hoping his grammar wasn’t too bad.

Nekamormi was clearly debating on what to say, “The three who left wanted to create your children.” Noah shot the two Roschani a look, who were completely mortified. “Is it common for Roschani to share males?” The Roschani stared at Nekamormi utterly dumbfounded. “That is what they said,” Nekamormi insisted, “Along with something about…”

“I will fill the Human in later.” Kazhvoyova said attempting to silence the Folpron. Which worked rather well. “I will fill him in on what he just agreed to. Then we can get this farce over with.”

“Agreed. I’ll do some cultural education, and secure the spot.” Vazhchayvr settled their plan. With lunch over Vazchayvr took Nekamormi off; Kazhvoyova gave Noah the Stay right there look. Noah ignored her, and went to go get a few fruit that looked like a large strawberry mixed with an apple.

When he returned Kazhvoyova looked down right defeated. “I know I’ve…”

“You can fill me in later. How badly do I need to win this? What level of damage should I stick to.” Noah cut her off. He knew when Kazhvoyova didn’t want to talk about something, and he wasn’t going to put her through an awkward conversation in such a public forum. “And what happens when I win?”

A very human smile spread across Kazhvoyova’s face. “Nothing happens to us when you win. You will be much more connected to Vazhchayvr, I think we both will end up moving into your room. Perhaps Nekamormi as well. That would make the most sense for the team dynamics.” Kazhvoyova raised a thoughtful hand to her face. “I think that would be the best for all of us.”

“What about the whole ‘lay low until announced’ part of the Ranger program?” Noah attempting to wrap his head around how Kazhvoyova had worked that out.

“You’re fairly close to a pair of Roschani.” Kazhvoyova said standing up before grabbing on to him, “It would be strange if these things didn’t happen.” She nuzzled over to whisper into his ear,“And the other two should join our team.”

The fact she said that in English, functionally unknown outside of Humanity, hit him much more than the seductive nature and tone. “Right,” Noah stood up and Kazhvoyova turned into a backpack. “My first questions?” Noah said as he went to clear their spot.

A mildly annoyed noise prefaced Kazhvoyova’s answer, “Loosing would functionally ruin everything. You could likely escape later although that’s a mess I’d rather not deal with; I’d be the easiest solution there. Would may our real job harder for a while.” She adjusted deciding to stay on his back. “Don’t kill them. Try not to send them to surgery, but that wouldn’t be too big of an issue. At least as far as the challenge goes. Probably would get you in trouble with the captain.” Kazhvoyova dropped to the floor and took up a position on his side opening her communicator. “Vazhchayvr sent me the location. Follow me.”