Warrior's Contest

Noah followed Kazhvoyova into what could only be described as an arena. There were people hurrying to find spots to watch. Nekamormi attempted to melt into the floor while the Roschani were debating something. Noah approached and the three warriors focused on him. Noah didn’t understand why they had decide that metallic sports bra and shorts were the proper fist fight attire. Vazhchayvr turned to look at him, before the four returned to rapid discussion. Noah decided trying to follow their discussion to be more effort than it was worth, instead turning to an equally confused Nekamormi.

The Folpron was clearly a fish out of water. With the crowd watching the arena she was caught in the spotlight. Noah posted up beside her as Kazhvoyova backed up Vazhchayvr in what was now clearly an argument. “Don’t worry. I’ll win.” Noah attempted to cheer up the girl.

Nekamormi’s ears perked up turning to Noah. “Fight sounds important. Roschani are very,” she paused head tilting in thought, “passionate.”

“Yes. I don’t know why.” Noah knew that was the wrong why. But the eyebrow raise suggested that Nekamormi not only understood but sympathized.

Kazhovoyova came over and grabbed Noah’s arm, “It’s going to be one on one, set of three. Back to back. I frankly think these three are going to be made problematic by the fact everyone else wants to show off.” Noah couldn’t stop his eyebrows. “Yes Vazhchayvr wants you to show off. Flashy, fast.” Kazhvoyova’s eyeroll was cuter than normal. I’m medical, and there’s a team on it’s way to deal with the aftermath. Try not to tip your hand with the combatives.”

Noah shrugged. “I learned in the woods.” Kazhvoyova was unamused, instead glowering at him. “Got it.” He entered the ring and stood next to Vazhchayvr. Noah looked at the scantily clad women and decided pulling off his own shirt was probably warranted. Turning around and tossing it to Kazhvoyova he felt the eyes on the scar on his back. Noah knew how hungry Roschani women could be. Facing his opponents he saw the desire in their eyes. It annoyed him. He turned to Vazhchayvr who was mortified. “Ready?”

The single word started the four into motion. They went though a few chants, then two of the warrior women, and Vazhchayvr left the ring. The Roschani woman took one of the slightly impractical stances he’d seen in the Rockies, Noah squared up.

She didn’t need a starting bell advancing on Noah. Noah dodged the first to wild punches, they were very over telegraphed for the crowd. Noah’s steps back put him hopefully close enough and with the next lunging punch Noah grabbed the warriors arm and pivoted. Throwing the woman out of the ring, flat on her back. The slap was followed by wheezing as she attempted to catch her breath.

“Noah,” Vazhchayvr announced much to the annoyance of the other two warriors. The next one entered the ring and Noah reset to the center.

Once both had returned to their stance the second began her assault. She was still showing off, but much more seriously than the first fighter. Noah had to block a few punches rather than just dodge. She got a few hits in, softer than Noah was expecting. Moving around her biding his time to counter attack. When she went for a kick Noah ducked under her leg and planted an uppercut square in her jaw. Noah followed it with a kick to the chest launching the woman out of the ring and landing hard falling backwards. She stat up, dazed clearly uneasy even sat on the floor.

“Noah,” Vazhchayvr announced again. Murmurs ran though the gathered crowd.

Noah could see the crowd didn’t know what to do with these two rounds. The first had been quick, flashy, and ulitmently one sided. The second probably looked more balanced, yet his opponent was holding her ribs and ended up back on her back. The third warrior was the one who had called him out in the cafeteria. Noah could see she was trying to make sense of what had happened to her sisters. Her determination was clear as she took her stance.

She didn’t open as recklessly as the previous two. Rather than making a show of the fight she put Noah on the defensive. It was clear she was focusing on his shoulder. Noah met her offensive with one of his own. Punches and a few kicks were traded, each fighter was landing hits. It was a fairly even match.

Noah realized this first, and switched tactics. Instead of trying to precisely overpower the warrior, not to little to not win, yet not too much as to send her to the infirmary he turned it into an endurance fight. Once the Roschani started to tire she realized what Noah was doing and got more desperate. She caught one of his punches and pulled, pain erupted from Noah’s shoulder he felt the stiches pop.

Noah grabbed her arm before she could pull away and then pulled her in for a gut punch, the aggression, and strength caught the warrior off guard. Noah’s fist buried into her lower abdomen doubling over the warrior knocking the air from her lungs. He followed up with a kick that landed on the side of her neck. The warrior hit the ground in a heap.

The warrior attempted to get back to her feet, Noah let her try. To everyone’s amazement she got up right, uneasy and unsteady she was upright. She flailed a few attacks that Noah largely ignored. “Yield.” Noah saw the horrified realization on the warrior’s face. “Yield,” Noah repeated. The warrior landed a punch to his face. It was determined, if weaker than anything she had landed on Noah so far. Noah planted a kick to her closer knee and a with a crack her leg collapsed. Landing on the broken knee the still loopy warrior attempted to get up. A full power punch broke ribs, followed with a backhand that knocked the Roschani to the ground. A gasp escaped the now sizeable crowd.

“Noah,” Vazhchayvr’s voice had lost the master of ceremonies aspect it had taken on. “Noah is the victor. The contest is over.”

With that Noah and Kazhvoyova moved in to assess the battered warrior, her two sisters looked in utter confusion. “Leave her to me.” Kazhvoyova whisper shouted at him, “Unless you want another wife?” Noah wasn’t sure if Kazhvoyova understood what she had said, but backed off taking a seat at the edge of the circle.

“You’re bleeding.” Nekamormi said taking a seat next to him. They watched the medical team attend to the broken warrior. “You’ve fought much.”

“Most of my life.” Noah responded realizing how much of a beating he had taken. “How bad bleeding?”

Nekamormi shuffled and looked at his shoulder, “You’ll live.” Noah laughed at that. “Humans seem breakable.” Noah gave her a look as she returned to her spot next to him.

“But we don’t fail.” Noah said as the Warrior got carted off and Kazhvoyova and another set of the medics snapped their attention to Noah. “I’m good,” he said with a smile.

Kazhvoyova glared at him, “Stiches.” Noah went to protest and was promptly ignored. She bypassed his attempts to dissuade her and without any warning started redoing the stitches. “These weren’t done right.” Kazhvoyova mumbled. “Not deep enough. Not tight enough.” Noah could feel each stich, which didn’t help his situation. Nekamormi was watching him get sewn up with a degree of intent Noah was not expecting. “You went a bit hard on that last one.” Kazhvoyova said which hit Noah harder than anything else today.

“She didn’t stay down. I didn’t kill her. Was there anything else I should have done?” Noah said watching the concerned onlookers who were slowly shuffling out.

Nekamormi nodded at that, “She drew first blood, twice.” Noah watched Nekamormi’s eyes track his split lip. He nodded, it amused Noah that their two species seemed to share that gesture.

“That was rather impressive display,” Noah recognized the voice of Grolvoni and turned to see the wooly creature. “I think the stories don’t do humanity justice. Although you should make your way back to medical. Unless you have adopted a personal medic?” Noah was glad that Grolvoni had one of the more understandable accents he had heard when it came to Galactic Common.

“I am not his,” Kazhvoyova started before thinking better, “At least not with out him paying.”

“She will be apart of my team.” Vazhchayvr reappeared, “Noah you’ve caused quite a bit of a splash. Who knew humans could fight that hard?”

You did. Noah thought, but stayed quiet. Renopold entered the growing circle, “I do say are you a good example of humanity?”

“I second that question.” Grolvoni said, “And if you are up for it I have some questions I’d like to ask.”

“Let me finish sewing him shut first.” Kazhvoyova said, putting her weight on Noah to tell him to stop moving.

“I think he is.” Vazhchayvr said. “From my tour on Earth he isn’t exceptional, but he isn’t anywhere near the bottom of the ranks. I doubt this was him fighting at full strength, he was wounded and wasn’t trying to kill anyone.”

“The third might.” Renopold said, “I am glad there was medical in attendance.”

Noah shifted his attention to Vazhchayvr as Kazhvoyova was still working on his shoulder. “Did I over do it?”

“Her life shouldn’t be in danger. Her fertility is another question.” Vazhchayvr admitted, clearly not wanting to think about the savagery Noah had unleashed. “Regardless you have won the challenge.” Everyone turned their questioning face on the Roschani, clearly no one knew what Roschani custom had framed this display of violence. Vazhchayvr squirmed under the gazes.

“I would translate it as ‘the right to the court’ although that still misses things,” Kazhvoyova said, “Noah don’t do anything too stupid, but you’re sewn back up again.” She then came around from behind Noah and joined the circle, “Vazhchayvr had no official defenders. In essence Noah claimed he could do all of it. I know that isn’t what you had said.” She directed that at Noah who was trying to figure out how that had been conveyed, “Which our three challengers didn’t believe. Now I don’t think they will ever be able to forget.”

“Fertility?” Nekamormi asked before Noah could.

The two Roschani women looked at each other clearly trying to decide who should answer that. “Where you hit her, in her lower abdomen it is likely you applied some trauma to her reproductive system.” Grolvoni said clearly not wanting to leave Nekamormi hanging.

Noah looked at the clearly embarrassed women, “Is that true?” Kazhvoyova nodded slowly. “Well, hopefully I didn’t do too much damage.”

“The medical bay will be able to assess that.” Grolvoni answered on behalf of the Roschani who were clearly struggling with some form of taboo. “As you are seemingly uninjured other than your previous injuries do you think you could manage an interview, or too? I know Colsov and I have some questions that need to be asked, and I believe Renopold has some as well.” Renopold’s trunk dipped seemingly in agreement.

Hello all, little post script this time. I am moving from 1/month to every other week. Meaning you’ll see Noah again on the 19th. It’s also why I moved it’s release to the 5th. If you want to read ahead you can go to the paid subscription to read a head. Otherwise I hope you enjoy the new increased rate of story.

- Grathew