The Riss Proposal: Book II in the Riss Series (Volume 2) Read online

  “I’ve heard that Admiral Plimson and Vice Admirals Zann and Youell were on the Bateleur. They left several days ago to tour the Riss conclave. They aren’t expected back for several days, maybe longer,” Jaelle said. “Nadya, I also heard that Captain Wuffraat has charged you with attacking four of his lieutenants. He claims you’re unstable. If you’re found guilty, it would mean jail time.”

  “His lieutenants attacked me and it’s on tape. If I’d attacked them, they would’ve needed Rejuv. I was willing to let the incident go if they’d just agreed to deliver me to Saipha. Captain Wuffraat and his lieutenants are in for a real surprise.”

  “At your suggestion we’ve all started practicing Si’jin. I’ve found it helped, if for no other reason than it gave me confidence, knowing I could protect myself. You’ve been studying longer than us, and I can just imagine what you could have done to them,” Petar said with a crooked smile.

  “I’m glad you did. I know it helped keep me stay sane and saved my life once. We have several days of nothing to do, so let’s spend it working out. Get your clothes and meet me in the army workout bay.” I returned to my cabin, changed my clothes, and got directions to the army area. It surprised me that I didn’t get any comments from the navy personnel I passed on the way to the army bay. I waited for the others before entering the bay. We got lots of stares. As I surveyed the bay for a quiet spot to work out, a master sergeant approached us.

  “You seem lost. What can I do for you?” he asked. I’d watched him float across the bay and would bet he was a practitioner of Si’jin.

  “Sergeant, I was hoping to use your bay to workout?”

  “What’s wrong with the navy area?” he asked. He had that calm demeanor which reminded me of Master Valk. The thought gave me a lump in my throat.

  “I prefer the present company. The navy doesn’t appreciate Si’jin.”

  “Are you claiming you earned those knots? If you did, you should score easily against me in a match, since I only have five knots and none from Wei. What do you say? Want to try?” His look wasn’t quite a sneer, more like he had just caught me cheating.

  “I would appreciate a workout, Sergeant...”

  “Sergeant Cordell, I’ll meet you over there,” he said, pointing to the far end of the bay. He stared hard at me, appearing confused by my acceptance. I knew he had expected me to back down. He shrugged, probably thinking I was too afraid of being embarrassed to back down. Of course, if I were a fake, a thrashing by Cordell would have been even more embarrassing, not to mention the bruises.

  “Nadya, are you sure?” Elissa asked, with a worried look on her face. Her concern was understandable. Her three knots identified her as a beginner with some experience but knowledgeable enough to understand the potential dangers. Petar and Jaelle had four knots and Alena three.

  “Yes, Cordell has a right to question a newcomer who claims to be a Si’jin practitioner. The art is jealously guarded by its practitioners. Besides, it’s not often you see navy types in the army workout area,” I said as we strolled towards the area Cordell had indicated. I smiled, knowing everyone was looking forward to seeing a navy braggart taught a lesson.

  “This is scary, Nadya. I’m used to working out in the navy area. My instructor was navy. Although he never said so explicitly, I got the impression he’d accepted me because of some other master’s recommendation. Seeing your knots, I’ll bet it had something to do with you. Anyway, being accepted in his class helped me with a lot of the sailors.” Petar paused, looking pale, as Cordell emerged from the lockers. As the sergeant had said, his belt had five knots: two red, two green, and the last one blue. The colors indicating the rank of the persons who had promoted him—red for a seventh ranked master, green for eighth, and blue for a ninth. I was impressed. He had earned each of his knots from high-ranking instructors. Alena, Elissa, and Jaelle looked ready to run as everyone in the area began to converge on us. As I looked around, credits were beginning to change hands. I wondered at the odds—although my belt was impressive, I wasn’t. Cordell stood fifteen centimeters taller and was at least twenty-five kilos heavier. Then I saw Terril and my escort. There was a crowd around them eager to take their money. When I turned back to Cordell, I was shocked to see Wei step in between us and nodded for us to get ready. He intended to referee the match. I wasn’t sure what Cordell thought about Wei’s appearance. He seemed amused, judging by the slight smile that momentarily crossed his lips. Since Wei didn’t acknowledge me in any way, he probably assumed Wei was here to see me punished and to stop it before I got killed. As Wei’s hand began to drop, Cordell charged, kicks, punches, and elbows flying. It was obvious that he’d been studying for a long time. His combinations were delivered with the speed and precision I’d expect of an experienced fifth knot. Although he out-massed me, it mattered little unless I was willing to engage him straight on. I wasn’t. Instead, I flowed with his blows, spinning and twisting to attack from the side and back. While he scored now and then, the contact was light. From years of training, my body stayed relaxed. I gave no resistance, thus minimizing the impact.

  “Stop,” Wei said softly. We froze. “Very good, Cordell. Reese you need work.”

  I stood there with my mouth open. I had clearly won, which was obvious from the disgruntled troops paying Terril and the others. Cordell was as shocked as me. He bowed to me.

  “Thank you, Master Reese. I thought you a fake, but that fifth knot really is Wei’s. Only Wei would say you need work.”

  “Reese, you and Terril meet me back here in an hour. We have much to do.” Wei turned and walked off.

  “Well, Nadya. You earned me a year’s pay. And I’ll probably earn a bunch of free drinks, telling the troops about you and Saipha.”

  “You’re shameless, Shira. That was like stealing from babies,” I said with a grin. “What are you doing here? I would’ve thought you would be back on the Leopard.”

  “I would be except the Bateleur’s XO, Delfont, said Captain Wuffraat was pressing charges against Colonel Seng and me. We’re confined to the Bateleur.”

  The next week was glorious. Wei spent several hours each day working with Terril and me. Cordell amiably worked with the other Riss-humans.

  “You two are like pillows in a fight. When you fight you give like a pillow but you still absorb some of the impact. Better than a wall, that absorbs all of the impact. You must learn to be like a feather. If you punch at a feather, the wind created by the punch moves the feather away, and there is no impact of consequence,” Wei said at our first meeting. We fought, day after day, waiting for the Admirals to return. Fighting Wei was like trying to hurt the wind with punches and kicks. I don’t think Terril or I landed more than a light tap on him. For me, it was like being in a magical world. Each day the strikes from Terril and even Wei got weaker, as I imagined myself a feather. At the end of the week, Wei handed each of us a black knot. I thought I had died and gone to wherever the Gods reside. I had just earned my seventh knot from Master Wei.

  “Each of you already performed at the next level; however, I could not resist a little fine tuning. I am proud to say I promoted you.” Wei nodded and walked off. Terril and I stood frozen in shock. And thus, the fun ended.

  * * * *

  “Room. Attention,” a lieutenant commander shouted and the room with over one hundred present snapped rigid, as Admiral Plimson, Vice Admirals Youell and Zann, three Admirals I didn’t recognize, and the high-Riss, Tranquil mountain lake in the morning sun, entered the bay and took seats behind a long wooden table. There were gasps and shocked looks when the high-Riss entered. Most had never seen a Riss in its native host, the Gorillai, which massed over one hundred fifty kilos, stood two hundred twenty centimeters, and resembled a Gorilla-like man—a terrifying sight even at a safe distance.

  On the table, in front of each seat, was an electronic pad, carafe filled with water, and a glass. After everyone sat, except Plimson who remained standing, armed Wasps entered and took up positions at the perim
eter of the bay. Colonel Seng, Terril, and I sat in front of a small wooden table with Commander Hanzel, who was assigned to represent us. Captain Wuffraat, his staff, Doctor Vivens, and the four lieutenants were seated at two tables across from us with Commander Weinman, who would act as prosecutor. Plimson picked up a thin silver rod-like amplifier, which immediately turned green, indicating active.

  “This is an inquiry into the events that occurred on the Leopard involving Nadya Reese, formally a lieutenant commander in the SAS Navy. Since the Riss have terminated the SAS Riss Project as a direct result of those events, this committee will also examine the cause of the program’s failure. Commander Weinman, you may proceed,” Plimson said and sat. Weinman stood and looked towards the board members.

  “Captain Wuffraat, commanding the SAS Leopard, charges Nadya Reese, who at the time was a navy officer serving under his command, with assault and disorderly conduct. Specifically, that she attacked, without cause, Lieutenants Obrist, Mette, Betit and JG Lonzo, and the attack resulted in serious injuries to each of the forenamed individuals. He further charges Master Gunner Sergeant Terril with assault, in that she attacked, without cause, Lieutenant Obrist, who had to be hospitalized as a result of that attack. Furthermore, he charges Colonel Seng with refusing to obey a direct order from a superior officer.” Weinman turned back towards the table. “Captain Wuffraat, please take a seat in the witness chair.”

  The Captain was then administered the oath and sat. As he did, he grinned in my direction—an evil gesture that made my skin crawl. It reaffirmed my decision to terminate the project.

  “Captain,” Weinman began, “Prosecution exhibit one is a copy of the system tapes, which you have certified as exact copies of the events on the Bridge on the days that then Lieutenant Commander Reese had the third shift with JG Lonzo and Lieutenants Obrist, Mette, and Betit.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Exhibit two is a copy, from your SID, of the direct order to Colonel Seng, which you certify as an exact copy.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Please tell the court what you know of the incidents involving the attacks on the four lieutenants, Lieutenant Obrist, and Colonel Seng’s refusal to obey your order.”

  Wuffraat proceeded to tell how I reported false statements against the lieutenants, which his XO had verified as false after her review of the tapes, and that he had seen their injuries after the fight Obrist had when Master Chief Gunnery Sergeant Terril had assaulted him. Then he told of his confrontation with Seng. Next, the XO testified, then the four lieutenants, and finally Doctor Vivens testified that I was ranting and dangerously out of control when I was delivered to the medical unit. Interestingly, Commander Hanzel never questioned the Captain or the other witnesses. When they finished he stood.

 

  I was getting worried. Hanzel hadn’t even tried to dispute what they were saying.

 

  “If you’re wondering why I haven’t questioned any of the witnesses against Nadya Reese, it’s because I was too stunned at the depth of their perjury—”

  “I protest. What—” Wuffraat stood, knocking over his chair in the process. He stopped in mid-sentence, when Plimson pointed at him and put his hand to his lips. I thought I saw a slight twitch.

 

 

  Hazel continued after the whispering in the audience stopped. “Our young lieutenants thought they were very clever, replacing the incriminating tapes where they treated then Lieutenant Commander Reese with unimaginable disrespect with tapes from a previous rotation where they behaved.”

  “We did not—”

  Plimson’s mike turned green.

  “Gunny, would you please ensure there are no more interruptions from that table,” Plimson said, pointing to where Wuffraat and the others sat. Wei leaned over and said something to a sergeant. Seconds later two Wasps stood behind each individual. I wouldn’t want to be the next person to interrupt Hanzel.

  “Thank you, Gunny. The lieutenants either forgot about the Black Box that records everything happening on the Bridge or felt they had the Captain and XO’s support and it would never be examined.”

  Panella came halfway out of her chair with her mouth open. Before she could speak, the corporal behind her put his hand on her shoulder and slammed her back into the chair. Panella seemed to compress like a sponge. The corporal then stepped back, with an ever so slight twitch of his lips. Hanzel continued with only a small pause.

  “They were right. The tapes I’m about to show you are a copy from the Black Box and listed as defense exhibit one. The sounds you will hear were made from outside the Lieutenant Commander’s cabin after being confined to quarters is exhibit two. A three-dimensional hologram sprang to life two meters in front of the board’s table. For the next two hours, I relived the humiliating insults and beating, and listened to the insults hurled at me from outside my cabin. The mood in the bay had gone from shock to anger to rage. Even those who distrusted or hated the Riss-humans were affected by the sheer evil of the actions. When they were finished, Commander Hanzel rose again.

  “I would like to request a recess until tomorrow. Since Lieutenant Commander Reese’s performance was part of the testimony and one of the reasons she terminated the Riss project, I will need to question Doctor Vivens and Commanders Belercor and Verdi. Besides, I can’t tolerate any more today. I just hope that I can get those tapes out of my mind someday.” Hanzel sat slumped in his chair, shaking his head. Plimson looked at his other board members, then stood.

  “I agree, Commander Hanzel. Gunny Wei, The Captain, his staff, including Doctor Vivens, and the four lieutenants are to be held in your custody for their own safety. This inquiry is adjourned until tomorrow at eleven hundred hours.”

  * * * *

  Later that day, Vice Admiral Zann invited the Riss-humans to meet with her in the Bateleur’s main conference room—invited because we’d all resigned and were therefore civilians. When I arrived, Zann was already there with the others. I had been delayed because several groups had stopped me to talk. Mostly it was an acknowledgement, sometime stated, other times not, that the Riss and I had been wronged.

  “Welcome Nadya, Tranquil Mountain Lake in the Morning Sun has informed me that your new position is Leader. I think that position is right for you. In a way, you have been the glue that has held the Riss Project together for so long. I’d hoped that exposing my Riss, Gentle breeze on the water, and getting the Riss classed as a sentient race would begin the process of integrating the Riss into the SAS. Instead, the governing council insisted on a test to ensure that Danu wasn’t an anomaly. They didn’t want to hear or believe that the Riss didn’t want human hosts, believing instead that Danu and I were the anomaly. I don’t blame any of you for the failure of the project. I should have expected it. But now that it has happened, where do we go from here?” Zann seemed to be taking all the blame for the project’s failure, when there was plenty to go around. If she were to blame for anything, it would be for not being a seer.

  “All we can do is our best. You tried and it didn’t work out the way you hoped. So, we must learn from our mistakes and take a different approach. We have seven high-Riss-humans with spaceship and the SAS experience. We will leave the next generation with the knowledge and tools to reach the stars.” I felt strongly that we could accomplish that in the two to three hundred years we could expect to live. That would be our commitment to our Riss-sisters. “Each day we will take a step closer to that goal.”

 

  Amusement vibrated through me like a tuning fork. It was a glorious feeling. I hoped Thalia was right, because I didn’t have a clue what to do next.

 

 

  I laughed with her. The others gave me a strange look, but it broke the tension when they realized, through their Riss, what
Thalia and I were laughing about. We spent the rest of the afternoon reminiscing about the people we had met, the jobs we had, and our experiences while in the navy. In a way, it was an inventory of the skills we had to work with. I went to bed energized and ready to face all the tomorrows to come.

  * * * *

  To my surprise, Commander Hanzel began the day by calling Doctor Vivens to the witness chair. After a young lieutenant gave Vivens the oath, Hanzel began.

  “Doctor Vivens, I have witnesses that say you were determined to put Lieutenant Commander Reese in the Rejuv unit against her will. Is that correct?”

  “Yes, I was trying to save her life. I’m a doctor,” Vivens answered loudly and angrily.

  “Even though her ID contains an SAS directive prohibiting such treatment without her permission, which she refused. Not that it mattered. It would have still applied if she were unconscious.”

  “I was trying to save her life!”

  “After she refused treatment, you were heard saying, I’m the doctor. You’ll do as I say. Clearly ignoring the SAS directive. And after you were told by another doctor that she would testify that you ignored the order, saying, Damn her. Let that monstrosity treat herself. And when the Captain asked for an evaluation of her, you said she was ‘aggressive and hostile.’ It sounds like you were prejudiced to the point that you were willing to ignore an SAS directive although it might kill her and only stopped because you realized you would be reported. I would say that you demonstrated a disregard for her life, SAS directives, and provided a false evaluation of her actions.” Hanzel turned back to the board without waiting for Vivens to answer.

  “Members of the board, I’m not going to call Commanders Verdi and Belercor to the witness chair to answer for their evaluations. It would be rhetorical since Miss Reese has resigned; however, considering they ignored the excellent performance she attained in the simulator using Symath and the projectile equations, the evaluations by Commanders Uchida and Kollar, and the justification for her two silver stars which involved the use of Symath, I would question not only their competency but their ability to command. After seeing those tapes, I believe Colonel Seng and Master Gunnery Sergeant Terril’s actions were justified and consistent with the highest traditions of the SAS military. Whereas, Captain Wuffraat acted with a reckless disregard for the human life.”