The next morning, even though she was tired from staying up late to talk with her new friend, Kayla was eager to grab some food and meet Urtiga. The canteen was mostly empty when they went down for breakfast and joined the short buffet line. Thandi was evidently also impatient to get started, as she began tapping her feet and exhaling sharply while they waited. A girl ahead of them apparently could not decide what she wanted to eat.

“Hey, so take your time,” Thandi said finally. “It’s not like the rest of us have plans.”

The girl swiped her blonde hair back behind her ear. “I’m just not sure if I feel like scrambled eggs or fried,” she said. “And if you’re up this early, you’ve probably decided to join the organization, so I actually don’t think your plans for today are that important.”

Kayla recognized the English accent from the transport. She jumped in front of the furious looking Thandi. “Christie, right? It’s Kayla. Remember, we met on the shuttle?”

Christie examined her. “Ah yes, the finger drummer.”

Kayla ignored the comment and smiled politely. “This is Thandi, and we’re both keen to join Valkyrie. Since you’re also up early, I guess that means you have the same idea? You should come with us—we’re going to hang out with one of the soldiers.”

Thandi’s eyes narrowed, and she frowned at Kayla.

Christie appeared to consider the suggestion. “Right. Get the ‘boots on the ground’ experience, as it were. I suppose that sounds interesting.”

“Do you suppose you can tolerate our company all day?” Thandi cut in, not bothering to hide her irritation.

Christie ignored her and turned back to the buffet.

Thandi grabbed a plate and dropped it onto Christie’s tray. “There you go—scrambled eggs. Okay move on, let’s go.”

The trio found an empty table, and Kayla wondered if she’d taken Urtiga’s advice too far. Just because someone kept to themselves didn’t mean they weren’t as elitist as other Helvets. “Where did you go to school Christie?” she asked, as she set her tray down.

“Earth. Cambridge, if you must know.”

“My ancestors killed a bunch of your ancestors, you know,” Thandi said with evident pride.

Christie peered intently at her. “I’m afraid that’s casting rather a wide net. Who are your ancestors?”

“The Zulu people.”

“Right. You’re referring to the Anglo-Zulu war of 1879, presumably. I see. Well, it’s a fresh wound, but I’ll try to get past it.” She swallowed a forkful of egg and made a face.

‘Why did you invite her?’ Thandi mouthed, as Christie turned to reach for a pot of salt on a nearby table.

Kayla shrugged, but she couldn’t voice what she was really thinking. Why would someone so stuck up want to join Valkyrie, much less agree to spend the day with her?

She turned back to Christie. “So, you’re a Helvet, right?”

Christie looked up from her food in confusion. “Am I? What does that even mean?”

“Um… well, I’m a colonist. From Caldera,” Kayla said, as she prepared herself for a contemptuous response.

“And do you think that Earthers have dark little sewing circles where we discuss how to oppress people like you?” Christie asked.

Thandi glared accusingly. “Absolutely.”

Christie shook her head. “The Helvetic League is a conglomeration of old institutions working together to maintain some semblance of authority in a disparate human social order. It isn’t a tribe, or a culture, or whatever. Most people on Earth don’t think of themselves that way.”

Rose entered the breakfast room, acolytes in tow, and Kayla’s heart sank.

“See that girl over there?” She nodded to the entrance.

“Yes. Oh my, she’s quite a looker, isn’t she?” Christie said.

Kayla glared. “She’s the proof your theory is wrong. She’s the daughter of a billionaire who proudly thinks of herself as Helvetic. She and her friends want to take over the galaxy, starting with my home planet.”

“Ah.” Christie thought for a moment. “Well, I admit that some of the missionaries in the outer reaches can be over-zealous.”

“Extremist, might one venture?” Kayla said, unable to hide a mocking tone.

“Hmm.” Christie tipped her head deferentially. “There are always bad apples. Anyway, I don’t know who that is, and I’m not sure I care, to be honest.”

Kayla blinked in surprise. How could anyone not know who Rose Djallen was?

“So, you’re telling us you don’t want to take over the galaxy?” Thandi asked.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Christie smiled. “No offense. I just don’t see what possible benefit I could find in getting involved in the business of colonists.”

Thandi looked unimpressed. Kayla wasn’t sure if Christie’s words were meant as an insult or a compliment.

“Whatever,” Thandi said, and engaged Kayla in a discussion about the upcoming Amazon Mixed Martial Arts Championship while Christie ate in silence.

“So, you see,” Thandi concluded, “Keala Maui will probably beat Lammy Žukauskas easily.”

“No,” Christie interjected. “Keala relies too heavily on striking. Lammy is creative enough with takedowns and movement to cause her problems.”

“You follow MMA?” Thandi said with an incredulous expression.

“From time to time,” Christie replied. “I find Jiu Jitsu to be quite fascinating in its depth and complexity.”

“So, you ought to know that Keala is a well-developed all-rounder—”

“You wouldn’t have a boxing background by any chance?” Christie interrupted. “I tend to find that boxers overestimate striking importance.”

Thandi glared at her, then turned back to Kayla. “I’m ready to go whenever you are.”

The three girls waited outside the hotel’s main entrance until the roar of an engine drew their attention. An expensive sports car rolled to a stop on the sidewalk.

The girls gawped as Urtiga stepped out and waved to them. “Bom Dia, Kayla. Glad to see you made some friends.” She introduced herself to Christie and Thandi, then gestured to the car. “Lesson one of life on Tyr, girls—It’s a post scarcity world. That means you can have whatever you want made on demand.”

“But… your clothes…” Christie began, looking at the worn patches on Urtiga’s jeans, the stained ballcap, and a t-shirt that had seen better days.

Urtiga winked. “Yeah, I wear whatever I want when I’m off duty. By the way, it’s nearly eight-thirty, which is kind of late. Get used to the fact that you’ll be waking up a lot earlier from now on.”

“We were the first down for breakfast,” Thandi protested. “Most of the group is still in bed.”

“Great,” Urtiga said sarcastically. “Good job getting up earlier than lazy people,”

Thandi scowled.

Christie ran her hand along the bonnet of the supercar and frowned. “How can you have whatever you want manufactured? Who pays for all this?”

Urtiga shrugged. “No idea. Only the top brass has those kinds of answers.”

“Where are you taking us?” Kayla asked. Other early risers had emerged from the hotel and were staring at them with jealous expressions. Kayla had to suppress a proud smirk.

Urtiga grinned at her and opened one of the passenger doors. “Want to fight?”

A wild grin spread over Kayla’s face as Urtiga’s car raced along a road out of the city. She had never experienced such thrilling speed before, and the g-forces in the turns were so strong she thought the vehicle might spin out of control.

They closed on a large two-story building set back from a sandy beach. The gym’s walls were glass, and inside women clothed in martial arts uniforms were throwing each around on mats. Out to sea, windsurfers and racing dinghies skimmed across the waves, powered by a fresh breeze. As the vehicle reached the turnoff into the parking lot, Urtiga slammed the brakes and threw the sports car into a hard turn. Kayla wondered if her brain would be squeezed out through her ears.

They pulled up alongside dozens of vehicles, from heavy trucks to all-terrain vehicles, and more flashy sports cars. Kayla stumbled out of the passenger door and tried to find her legs as she followed Urtiga. As the girls approached the gym’s main entrance, a small group of casually dressed women flashed them annoyed looks.

One of them stepped forward. “Come on ‘tiga, do we have to suffer this again?” she said.

“Just deal with it, Gucci,” Urtiga snapped.

“Freakin’ girl scout club,” the woman muttered as they passed.

Inside they found a wide hall tiled with thick blue mats. Pairs of wrestlers faced off against each other, while other women watched and offered judgements on the moves employed. Kayla couldn’t help but glance between the violence around her, and the calming view of the beach through the gym’s transparent walls. She wasn’t sure why, but the contrast felt appropriate.

“Pick up your Gis in a closet through there,” Urtiga pointed. “Then get dressed in the changing room next door. And don’t bother anyone because they will punish you for it.”

Once they had gotten into their sparring outfits, Kayla, Christie and Thandi joined Urtiga on an empty mat.

“Okay,” she said. “I’ve got some friends coming to talk about their jobs in Valkyrie, and maybe show you some moves. But you can get started while we wait.”

Christie stared expectantly at the others, waiting for them to go first.

“Uh… I don’t know anything about wrestling,” Kayla said, ashamed by the admission.

“I watch the Amazon Championship,” Thandi said. “But I never really got into grappling.”

“Okay,” Urtiga said. “Sit around and do nothing, then.”

Kayla had the impression she was being tested. She exchanged glances with Thandi, who shrugged, and they both moved onto the wrestling mat.

Urtiga smiled. “Start on your knees, though.”

Thandi turned to Kayla with a grin. “I guess I can try a few moves I’ve seen. Sure you want to take me on?”

“Bring it.” Kayla set her jaw. Her body was buzzing with energy.

Thandi stopped smiling. “Okay, but basic rule—if you’re locked in a bad position, like a chokehold, you have to tap out. Got it?”

“Sure.”

“And if I tap out, you need to let go immediately. Otherwise, you might break a limb or something.”

“No problem.”

Thandi squared off and started to move closer, but hesitated. Kayla darted forward, slamming into her waist. With no idea what she was doing, Kayla threw her opponent sideways, then tried to wedge her arm under Thandi’s throat. Thandi moved quickly and squirmed away. Hands wrapped around Kayla’s arm and pulled it out to nearly full extension. She tried to twist away, but Thandi’s leg swept over her body, and she couldn’t escape. Her trapped arm was pulled even harder as she fought back with all her might.

The pair stayed locked in that position for a few moments until Urtiga stepped in and broke them up.

“Wow,” Thandi said. “That move went okay, considering I’ve only seen others doing it.”

Urtiga nodded. “Credible attempt at an arm bar. Good job. But your leg position wasn’t right—that’s why you couldn’t complete it. You need your thigh across her neck while your other leg is on her torso. Let me show you.”

Urtiga talked them through some basic moves and then pushed Christie onto the mat with Thandi.

Thandi took her opponent down easily and managed to complete a chokehold. “Thought you liked Jiu Jitsu?” she said after she released her grip.

Christie got up, her face red. “The theory.” She crossed her arms. “I didn’t get around to the actual practice.”

“You don’t like to lose, huh?” Urtiga said. “It’s good to have a competitive mindset, but here you will lose all the time. Kick your ego out the door before you get on the mat.”

“Come on Helvet, you and me,” Kayla said with a wink, and stepped forward. Christie narrowed her eyes, but dipped her head in acknowledgement and moved to join her. After a furious scramble, she managed to trap Kayla beneath her body and control her movements, until Urtiga stepped in and broke them apart.

When they stood up, Christie avoided her gaze while trying to hide a smile.

“Having fun?” Urtiga asked.

Kayla grinned. All she knew was that she was learning things she wished she had started years ago. And this crazy gang was going to pay her to do that and more besides.

“This is awesome,” she said.