Candidate (Selected Book 4) (15 page)

I didn't answer.

As before, the alien took the field first. I used my cameras to watch her. She strode in on four legs but was upright from there, a little like a centaur, I suppose. Her stride was odd, and I couldn't place it. "She walks oddly."

"Different joints. You're accustomed to Earth animals. Her proportions are entirely different."

Like the Wookies, she wore no clothing except a belt worn around her middle just in front of the middle pair of legs. I zoomed a camera around her as she walked to the nearest weapon stand. She first collected the lengths of rope, tucking them into the belt. Then she picked up the staff.

At that point, she rose onto her back feet, and I watched as she went through a variety of motions with the staff, gripping it in any combination of four paws. Hands. Whatever the right word was.

Then she dropped back down to four feet, the staff held casually in one free hand.

Two minutes later the guards brought the human woman into the arena. Again, I sent my cameras around her, although I kept several watching the alien. And even I could see the hungry look that came into her eyes.

"Has she been fed?"

"They're vegetarian, actually," said Sal.

The woman was led to a pillar, just like each of the other events I'd watched. Her hands were secured, and the guards left. Once they were gone, Jasmine spoke, outlining the rules. Then the woman looked around, and I knew she could see. A moment later, her hands were free. She set her eyes on the weapon stand, stepped around the pillar, and collected a staff.

But she surprised me when she collected her own rope. All she had to do was get past the Greenbear.

Both combatants spun their staffs, and then Jasmine called begin.

They both ran towards each other.

I couldn't remotely follow the individual strikes of the staffs. They were both amazingly fast. The Greenbear was bigger and more powerful. The human was actually rather petite. She didn't try to block the Greenbear's swings but instead deflected them. And she was amazingly fast to counterstrike.

They both landed blows, and they both cried out from blows, pulling back.

"She's actually hurting the Greenbear?"

"A higher setting on the staff," offered Sal.

The two fought, circling each other. And then in a flurry of strikes, Dana drove the alien back then slipped inside her guard, ducked underneath, and somehow -- I didn't see how -- flipped the alien onto her back.

I stared in surprise.

At that point I expected Dana to run for escape. Instead she swept the Greenbear's staff out of her hands. The weapon went flying. Then she launched herself astride the alien and began raining down blows from the staff.

The Greenbear howled and tried to protect herself.

"Ground and pound," said Sal.

"What?"

"Mixed martial arts. She's doing a ground and pound. She's hoping to make the Bear submit."

"Gutsy."

The thing is, it looked like it could work. The Greenbear was obviously much more powerful than the small woman, but Dana managed to use the staff to control her opponent. The Bear howled with each strike, but she didn't surrender.

And then she reached up and caught the end of the staff. She screamed at that, but she held the staff, screaming, and then yanked it from Dana's grip, sending it flying.

Two more hands reached up and grabbed the human before she could escape, then two more, then the last two.

The human struggled, but the bear rolled over, pinning the human to the ground. After that, in spite of her struggles, the Greenbear meticulously tied the woman up.

I was caught staring instead of running my cameras, and Sal had to use the ones on auto. But I zoomed two down, one pointed at the Greenbear, one at the human. The Greanbear finished the knots then slumped onto the ground beside the human, two limbs thrown over her. Then she pulled the human to her, rolling onto her back and holding the helpless woman.

I zoomed in as she gently caressed the human face. I watched as Dana laid her head against the massive hand.

"Congratulations, Pegasus," said Dana. "Are you all right?"

The Greenbear's voice was a rumble. "Yes, Dana. Well fought." And then she pulled the human closer, and Dana laid her head on the furry shoulder.

I focused on that, then I slowly pulled my cameras away.

As soon as the event was over, Jasmine ordered me to return to my cell. I nodded and let the visor guide me. Of course, it guided me to the changing room. I sighed, changed into my skimpy clothes, and then meekly returned to my cell.

I sat down on the bed and sighed again.

I was only there for a few minutes before words appeared.

Please take care of any personal needs then change into the clothing provided.

I looked, and the nook was open. I hadn't heard it. I stepped over to find boots and one of the skintight jumpers. There was a tube of sunblock and a floppy hat.

Ten minutes later I was ready to go. Two minutes later the guards arrived. My visor dimmed even before they had me shackled.

* * * *

When next I could see, I was being hugged by a chair, my hands trapped by the table. I thought that was ridiculous given all the running around I'd been allowed, but I didn't say anything.

Jessica Maple was seated across the table from me, Jasmine beside her. At the end of the table was Dark Skies.

"Hello, Jessica. Was that your squad mate in the arena earlier today?"

"Hello, Andromeda. Yes, it was."

"When you see him, congratulate him for me."

"I will." She paused. "I must ask. Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Did you change your mind?"

"No, but I thought you may have."

"I'm nervous, but no, I haven't changed my mind." But I turned to Jasmine. "But I would like to know what will happen if I win or if I lose."

"Then you should ask the event coordinator," said Jasmine. She gestured towards Dark Skies. So I turned towards her instead.

"That is to be determined," said Dark Skies. "I will say only there will be a reward if you win, and there will be a price if you lose."

"You will not say more than that?"

"We will come to that at the end of these negotiations."

"Jessica Maple has invited me to dinner following our event. If I lose, will I still be able to attend dinner with her?"

Dark Skies inclined her head. "That is the agreed understanding."

"All right then," I said. I turned back to face Jessica and smiled. "Do I have a chance?"

"It wouldn't be a good competition if you didn't," she said.

"Very good," said Dark Skies. "I have been told this event is to be an opportunity for both of you to get exercise, and that it is to be together."

I cocked my head. "What do you mean?"

"Many of our events begin with the mating candidate and the challenger separated. You saw earlier. But today you wish to interact more directly."

"Ah, yes," I said. "I understand."

"Very good," said Dark Skies. She glanced at Jasmine. "In order to fulfill the mutually agreed goals, I would suggest you allow me to make some of your selections."

"Which selections?"

"I recommend we utilize the smallest of our savannah arenas," said Dark Skies. "It is a rough rectangle two kilometers wide by four long. Objections?"

I looked at Jessica. "Whatever," I said.

"This is acceptable," Jessica said.

"Very good," said Dark Skies again. "Well then. We can work a grid system, or I could recommend an event. Which do you prefer?"

Jessica turned back to me. "If you let me make one choice, I will allow you to make the others."

"Oh?"

"I wish my goal to be to catch you."

I laughed. "That seems like a popular goal."

"It is," agreed Dark Skies. "The species that enjoy these challenges enjoy catching their mates."

"We're not mates," I said. "But I understand." I smiled then turned to Dark Skies. "Can you devise a competition in which I can perform far better than I did our battle of wills?"

Dark Skies snorted. "You couldn't possibly perform worse."

"You two had a battle of wills?" Jessica asked.

"It was a taste," I said. "A demonstration only. She let me go after winning."

"You have been a very busy human," said Jessica.

"Are you upset?"

"No. Surprised. Shall we continue?" We both turned back to Dark Skies.

"Do you accept your challenger's request, Andromeda?"

"I want exercise and I don't want this to be too easy for her."

"You sound like you expect to lose."

I laughed. "Look at her. Can you even come up with something I could win?"

"Of course," said Dark Skies. "I could produce an obstacle course and have some of the obstacles require crawling through a very small hole."

I laughed.

"Do you wish me to choose your challenge?"

I thought for a moment, looking at all three of them, but their expressions offered no clues for me. "All right," I said.

"My decision will be binding," Dark Skies clarified. "Are you sure?"

"No, but go ahead."

"Very good." She switched languages and spoke rapidly. Jasmine answered with two syllables.

"Not fair," I muttered.

"My apologies," said Dark Skies. "If it's any consolation, Administrator Brighteyes declined to comment. This is your challenge. You shall both begin in the center of the arena. Andromeda, your goal will be to escape to the south. Jessica Maple, your goal will be to drive the human into a cage to the north."

"This isn't going to last long," I muttered.

"You will each be issued a power staff," Dark Skies continued. "Andromeda, you saw them used earlier."

"Oh, shit," I said.

"The staffs will start weak," Dark Skies continued. "Each contact will increase the power of the staff. The power will dissipate over time. Andromeda, the staff you hold will start higher than that of your opponent and will weaken more slowly. This is one of two handicaps."

"Oh, please," I said. "I'm never going to get close to her with it."

"Jessica Maple," said Dark Skies. "You may not touch your opponent except with your staff. Any other contact will enact a penalty. Andromeda, that means if you touch her, she receives the penalty. This is the second handicap."

"What penalty?" asked the Ardent.

"You'll undoubtedly find out," said Dark Skies. "Do the two of you agree to this competition?"

I looked at Jessica. "Be kind."

"If you retreat from me, I will not touch you with the staff," she said. "But are you going to make it easy for me?"

I sighed. "No."

"Good."

"I will consider that assent," said Dark Skies. "Now we must determine rewards for the winner and prices for the loser."

"I'm going to lose, so my price better be small."

"Andromeda Hayes," said Dark Skies. "You and your opponent may negotiate a personal reward if you wish. However, The Center offers this reward. If you win, you may pick from amongst a variety of privileges. You will retain the privilege for a period of three days. This is The Center's reward for you for all events while you are here. If you accept a sufficient number of challenges, you could build and retain several privileges."

"What sort of privileges?"

A list appeared in my visor. I scanned through it and laughed. "A swim suit?"

"I thought you might like that one," Jasmine said.

"Is there a price if I lose?"

"You will lose a privilege for 24 hours," said Dark Skies.

I sighed. "What privilege."

"First: any clothing worn while in your cell," said Jasmine. "It probably won't get past that very often, if at all."

I sighed again.

"If you are ungracious as a competitor," Dark Skies continued. "There may be additional consequences."

"Right." I smiled and turned my gaze back to my competitor. "Did you wish a private agreement between us?"

"I would, but there is no obligation."

"Tell me."

"We are to have dinner together afterwards. I wish to ask a question. Is this a date, Andromeda?"

"I don't know," I said. "You invited me. Is it a date, Jessica?"

She paused, studying me. "Yes."

"Good," I said. "Yes, it's a date."

"Then during our date, if I win our challenge, I wish permission to hold you."

"Hold me, how?"

"However I wish."

"Is this a euphemism?"

"I do not know that word."

Jasmine spoke briefly in a different language. Jessica leaned back in her chair. "No, Andromeda. It is not. I only wish to hold you."

"Then if you win, you may hold me, however you wish. And in exchange, what do you offer if I win?"

"I do not know what you may like that I am allowed to give you."

"Hmm." I leaned forward a little. "If I win, then during our date, you will hold me however I ask to be held."

All three offered laughter, and then Jessica said, "I agree."

"Then we are agreed." And my visor dimmed.

* * * *

It was perhaps thirty minutes before we stepped out into the late afternoon sun. We'd taken one of the jumpers, which didn't surprise me. It was Jessica that guided me into position, sitting next to me on the jumper and eventually pressing my hands into the stone pillar. She removed my restraints, and then the visor came to life.

The jumper was already gone.

I looked around. We were in a cut circle of a grassy plain, the grass outside the circle tall, well above my waist. The land was rolling, not flat, and here and there were small clumps of trees. From where we stood, I couldn't see any other distinctive features.

I turned back to Jessica then gestured with my nose towards my hands. "This is going to be a quick competition if I'm stuck like this."

Jessica gestured. "Our weapons are there. Have you ever fought with such a weapon before?"

"Yes," I said. "It's just a big Nerf stick, right?"

"I do not know these Nerf sticks, so I do not know."

"Jessica Maple," came Dark Skies' voice. "Collect your weapon and retreat towards the blue marker."

"Good luck, Andromeda," said Jessica.

"You could let me win, you know. I would really like that swim suit."

She offered a laugh, collected one of the staffs, and then turned her back. I watched her walk away perhaps fifty yards.

Then I heard Dark Skies' voice. "Andromeda, I would help you win if I knew how."

"This is in fun, Dark Skies," I said. "All I have to do is get past her and run like the wind. No problem. Dark Skies, could I ask a completely different favor?"

"Of course."

"I'm not going to have dates every night. Do you think you'd like to visit me some of the nights I'm alone. I know you don't want a human for your octal, but maybe we could be friends."

"I would consider you for my octal, but in a battle of wills, my entire family fights with the other family. You are unable to fight, and so it would be two against one. If not for this, then I would be very interested in making you mine."

I laughed. "I imagine I'd be very happy."

"You would," she said. "I would like to be friends, but does this mean you do not want me to ask you on a date?"

"It doesn't mean that at all," I said. "I didn't think you were interested."

"I think I would enjoy human style dating, Andromeda."

"Would our evenings end in a battle of wills?"

"Yes, but I would release you in the morning."

"I believe I would grow addicted."

"If I were to toy with you, you would. But if I release you fully, then it is only a very pleasant evening."

I smiled. "Perhaps I should focus on this event."

"Of course." A moment later my hands were released. "Andromeda Hayes, collect your weapon and retreat to the red marker."

I nodded, stepped to the weapon rack, and collected the staff. It was heavy, but not unreasonably so. I hefted it in both hands and practiced swinging and thrusting with it as I moved away from Jessica. I nearly whacked myself. Twice.

"I'm so going to lose," I muttered.

I reached the marker and turned around.

"Are you both ready?" Dark Skies asked.

"Ready," I said.

There was a pause, and then Dark Skies called out, "Begin!"

Jessica began running straight for me. I turned to my left and began running at an angle to her. Of course, she moved to cut me off, and soon we were both running east, Jessica keeping pace with me, cutting me off, and jabbing at me with her staff as we ran. Each time she did, I veered away.

I ran at full speed. I couldn't tell if Jessica was. But I realized something.

I was a lot, lot smaller than she was.

I came to a stop. She did too, but it took her a good half dozen paces to do so, and in the meantime, I slipped past her and began running for the exit.