Euthara (17 page)

“What is it with you guys?” Terri said. She snapped the sword and flung the blood on the blade off on to the ground and then in a fluid motion sheathed it. “Always attacking people from behind?”

“All is fair in war,” the marine who had spoken before said.

“Oh, are we at war now?” Terri asked a little sarcastically. “I didn’t know that. I guess that changes things a little.”

“War might be a bit much,” the marine said. “How about battle or in a fight?”

“So, which is it war, battle or fight?” Terri said. “I need to know because I don’t leave people alive in war. This means these two I have disabled need to die and then both of you. If we are in a battle same rule applies as battles usually lead up to a war and your attack on me will probably piss my brother off and it will be war. If we’re just fighting then no need to kill as there will be no hard feelings when I pound you both into the ground.”

“Fight,” the other marine said.

“Yeah, fight,” the marine said that had the broken arm. He had stood back up and joined the small circle.

The marine who had been speaking to Terri nodded as he spoke, “Yeah fight.”

“Second guessing if you can take me?” Terri said.

“No, stalling,” the marine said.

Six more marines stepped from the forest as he finished. Terri grinned as she gave them a quick glance over. “So, what you’re saying is I’m going to get a work out?” Terri said.

“More like worked over,” the marine said.

“Excellent!” Terri said. “I haven’t broken a sweat in a while. So, why don’t you boys just bring it.”

The six new marines joined the three circling Terri. One of them had the emblem of the Eutharan medical service on his right shoulder. Terri pointed at him as she spoke, “You assist the downed marine. He is losing blood and will die soon if not tended.” Terri pointed at the marine with the broken arm. “He needs his arm set as it’s broken and possibly dislocated.”

The Medic looked at one of the new marines who nodded at him. “That’s pretty good of you,” the new marine said.

“No need for loss of life. One medic won’t make a difference in the outcome of this fight,” Terri said. She reached up and tapped the side of her helmet and it folded back as if consumed by the suit.

“You're pretty cocky when you're outnumbered,” the new marine said.

“True I’m out numbered,” Terri said. “But, I think you’re out of your league. You need another ten marines at the very least. I promise to leave the medic alone so he can tend to all of you.”

“Don your helmet and let’s get this over with,” the new marine said.

“I prefer it like it is,” Terri said. “Since this is a fight and we’re not shooting each other that is.”

Terri had been watching one of the marines out of the corner of her eye. She knew he was getting ready to attack, all the signs were there. He broke ranks and charged Terri alone.

“Corporal!” the lead marine said.

But it was too late, Terri took a step back and lanced a foot out catching the charging marine in the chest. “Oh, that was nasty,” Terri said as the marine fell to the ground. “I think he has a few broken ribs.” Terri crouched down over the marine and slammed her palm into the back of his helmet. A loud crack filled the clearing as the helmet on the marine split in two. She rolled the unconscious marine over and pointed at one of the marines standing in the circle. “You, take him to the medic.”

The marine she pointed at took a step back.

“I won’t attack you,” Terri said. A grin covered her face. “Come get him so the medic can look him over to make sure he isn’t seriously hurt.”

The lead marine looked at the man and waved him on. He rushed out and grabbed the unconscious marine and dragged him over to the medic. Then he rejoined the circle around Terri as the Medic turned his attention to the new marine.

“One on one, you’re no match for me,” Terri said. “Two on one I don’t even think you are. I’ll give you a second to decide what you want to do.”

Terri sat down on her heels and bowed her head. She had removed her helmet because it was more of a distraction since it couldn’t help her. She didn’t like it as it left her open to attack and being knocked unconscious.

When none of the marines made a move for over two minutes Terri stood back up. “We can call it quits,” Terri said. “You can go on your way and I’ll go mine and act like this never happened.”

“Sorry I can’t do that,” the lead marine said. “I have orders.”

“Waiting for more people?” Terri said.

“Maybe,” the marine said.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Terri said. “So, since you’re not going to make a move I will.”

Terri launched herself at the closest of the marines lancing her hand out and catching him under the front part of his helmet. His hands went up to grab his throat as he started gasping for air. Terri spun around catching him in the chest with her foot. He flew across the field on his ass and came to a rest by the medic.

The marines on either side of him jumped into action and attacked Terri. One of them landed a hit on her side, making her gasp, as she dodged the other. Terri did a backwards somersault to gain some distance from her attackers. As she rotated in the air she lanced out her foot and caught one of the attackers with the toe of her boot. The impact picked him up from the ground and he landed on his back. He jumped back to his feet as he shook his head.

By now the rest of the marines had started closing in. One of the marines barreled into Terri from behind as she landed on her feet, tossing her between the two marines she was fighting. Terri jumped back to her feet just in time to dodge another marine’s kick towards her chest. Terri grabbed the marine’s foot and spun him around in the air. She let him go at just the right time, tossing him into one of his companions. They landed in a tangled heap, the guy she tossed the only one getting back up.

That’s when the heat of the moment got to one of the marines and Terri heard the scrape of metal across the back of her armor. Terri rolled forward and spun around as she regained her footing. The marine that had been behind her had a very large knife in his hand.

“Ok, wanna play that way?” Terri said. She reached up and tapped her shoulder and her helmet once again covered her head. “Your funeral, I’m not going to be responsible for anyone who dies. I’ve done everything to avoid it so far.” Terri reached back and pulled her sword from its scabbard. The clicking of several blades coming out of scabbards filled the air.

“You’re first big boy,” Terri said. She charged the marine who had first pulled a blade and swung her sword.

The marine brought his blade up and blocked Terri’s slash. Terri kicked one of his legs out from under him dropping him to the ground. She swung the sword down at the prone marine. Suddenly his knife lengthened to sword length as he brought it up to block.

“Neat!” Terri said as she jumped back. “I want one of those.”

“You can have mine,” a voice said from behind her.

Terri brought both her arms up over her head so her sword would be covering her spine.

“No thanks,” Terri said as the the ring of metal on metal filled the air. “I want one of my own that no one else has used.”

Terri released her sword with one of her hands and brought her elbow back to impact the visor of the man behind her. A sickening crunch filled the air as her elbow smashed the visor of the marine and impacted his face.

The marine on the ground in front of her brought his blade up but Terri was ready and stomped down on his hand. The marine reached for her foot as Terri spun on her foot turning the hand in to mush. He let out a scream as pain flared in his hand. It was quickly silenced as Terri put her knee into his chest and slammed her palm into the bottom of his helmet knocking him unconscious.

Terri slammed her sword back into her scabbard. “I really don’t need it,” she said as she jumped up and slammed into another marine that was rushing her. He stumbled back as Terri dropped to the ground and rolled towards him. She grabbed one of his legs and jerked it out from under him causing him to crash into the ground on his back. She yanked violently on the leg forcing him to flip over on his stomach. She stepped over the prone man while holding his leg and twisted it. The muffled sounds of bones breaking followed by the man’s screams of pain filled the air. Terri dropped back and landed on the ground next to the screaming man slamming her elbow into the back of his helmet knocking him out.

Terri quickly rolled to regain her feet as she faced the last of the marines. They were all at a distance from her and looking a bit nervous. Terri did a mental count and blinked her eyes in confusion. There was one missing the commanding officer.

“Where is your commander?” Terri said. “Did he get cold feet?”

“Right behind you,” the commander of the small group said.

Terri reflexively swung with her elbow only to have it blocked.

“Time to end this,” the commander said as a snap reached Terri’s ears.

Before Terri could do anything an electrical charge shot through her suit as the small device activated. On her visor systems started shutting down as the charge coursed through the systems.

“Emergency lock out Alpha-One-Terri-Three-Zero,” Terri said.

Just before the displays failed the suit showed lock out status. The Commander spun her around like a rag doll and looked in her visor. “Your nothing without your suit and soon you will pass out from lack of oxygen. When you do we will remove your helmet as your wanted alive,” he said.

Terri started to reach up to pop the emergency release on her helmet but the Commander pinned her arms to her sides. “Care to test the theory that I’m nothing without my armor?” Terri said as the air already was starting to thin.

“No thanks,” the Commander said.

“Cowar…” Terri said as she passed out. The suits didn’t have much in the way of space inside and air only took a couple minutes to run out if you weren’t doing anything but sitting still. Terri had even less time as she was breathing a bit hard from all the fighting.

Terri woke in a small room with nothing but a light gown on with a large number across the chest. She reached up and felt the band around her neck. There was no clasp and it seemed to be a solid loop. She raised a hand palm out and fingers spread and closed her eyes. Her sword wasn’t far; she could feel it as it was almost a part of her. She would recover it and then people would pay.

The door to the room opened and a Eutharan male flanked by two marines entered the room. Terri glared at him as he looked her over.

“Take a picture it might be the last thing you see,” Terri said. She was coiled ready to spring.

“I wouldn’t advise that,” the Eutharan said.

Terri gasped, she recognized the voice from the clearing. “You were at the clearing.”

He nodded as he spoke, “I’m Captain Bryte.”

“We have some unfinished business,” Terri said.

“Another time, perhaps,” Bryte said. “As I said you don’t want to attack anyone. The collar around your neck is there to control you. It’s monitored by a jailer and can be activated at his discretion.”

Terri took a step towards Bryte and the collar emitted a small shock. Terri reflexively grabbed at it. “Hrm,” she said. “Do you really think that will stop me?”

“That was low power it can and will pass enough of a charge through you to knock you out,” Bryte said.

Terri twisted the collar around her neck as she listened and thought about her situation.

“I’m here to formally charge you with desertion, piracy and attempted murder,” Bryte said.

“You’re kidding right?” Terri said.

“The list is a bit longer than that. Those are the most serious charges though,” Bryte said. “The rest will be read at your trial.”

“I’m a lot more dangerous than you give me credit for,” Terri said. “All these trumped up charges will do nothing but make things worse for everyone involved.”

“You’re in no position to threaten anyone,” Bryte said. “You will stand trial and you will be sentenced.”

“Sounds like a done deal,” Terri said.

“Pretty much,” Bryte said. “However, I’m not a judge.”

“Back to the other thing,” Terri said. “You really think I’m no threat?”

“In your current state?” Bryte said. “No.”

Before anyone could move Terri was across the room. She snapped one of the guards neck with one hand as she pulled his side arm with the other. The second guard hit the ground before he knew what had happened. Terri stood there holding the gun on Bryte.”

“Care to restate that?” Terri said.

Bryte crossed his eyes and looked down the barrel of the gun as he paled a bit.

“I’m not going to kill you as I do like you,” Terri said.

She tossed Bryte the gun as the collar shocked her into unconsciousness. Everything had happened in the span of about ten seconds. Bryte had never seen anyone move that fast and he was still in awe.

“I like you too,” Bryte said as he turned to leave the room as four more marines arrived. “Get this mess cleaned up.”

Thirty minutes later Terri woke up in a dark room. It took her a second to realize it wasn’t dark and they had blinded her with something. She laughed as she spoke, “As if this will work.” Terri decided she would see this thing through and leave when she was ready to do so. On a whim she tried to use her nanites to communicate and all she got was a headache for it. So much for that she thought as she settled in and waited for her next visitor.

Nefeit’s startled look flashed towards Jon as a look of confusion crossed his face. Her face paled as Jon took a step in her direction as he tried to work out what was going on.

“I…” Nefeit said.

Mark shook her violently as he said, “I asked you a question. Who are you talking too?”

“Nefeit answer the question,” Jon said.

“I was…” Nefeit said. She stopped as she sensed the disappointment in Jon’s voice. Tears started to fill her eyes as she knew what Jon was thinking.

“Guards!” Mark said as he snatched the com unit from Nefeit. “I’ll deal with you later.”

Two marines came in and saluted.