-Ruufarrl-

Conrad was looking intently out the window of his truck, trying to determine where he was. He claimed to know that he was close, but the landmarks he had used before were apparently missing. So now he was using the central terminal to give him directions, and it had not been updated since before he left for his tour on ship.

'Turn left, now.'

"No, that will just take us in a circle. OK. Time to turn you off." He jabbed at a button on the console and the monotone voice shut off in the middle of telling him he had missed his turn.

"Alright think. The park is gone, the billboard is gone, and I think the traffic pattern has changed too. Can't get there from here, so... into town we go."

His mind made up and his confidence returned, Conrad steered the truck down the streets of Santa-Anna. As much as he wanted to help, Ruufarrl was in no position to do so. He was on a completely alien planet in the middle of a city built by a people he only barely understood. He would be of no use to anyone here.

A few minutes later and Conrad chirped in triumph, he had found the place he was looking for. He pulled to the side of the road where some markings indicated a place to park. "Odd that they would use the road itself as a parking place. It leaves little room for error."

Despite his personal reservations, the parking spot, and the road width both proved to be adequate. Ruufarrl drew the usual stares from passerby, but no one approached or pointed. "You mentioned that a park was gone, are they common? I have seen a few of them while we were travelling. What purpose do they serve?"

"Oh, they can serve a few purposes. Humans in general tend to feel calmer if they are around plants and such, that is why we garden and have plants that we tend to in our homes, and small hydroponic gardens on spaceships so that sailors can visit from time to time. The city parks allow folks living where they can't see trees, or who don't have the time to make the trip outside the city limits to visit and take it in. They also serve as places to walk, play, meet and other things. They are pretty common, and some of the large ones are almost works of art."

"Then why not change your city layouts to include more space between places?"

"Ehh, convenience and efficiency, I guess? I think there was one colony sometime past that tried that, Gaia I think it was called. In the end it just didn't work, and increased the cities footprint by almost four times, destroying the majority of the forests they had intended to protect. It is just easier to cram everything into one small space. I think that is why we have skyscrapers too. More metric space in a smaller footprint. Here we are."

"Well that certainly explains a few things. Lead on."

The store that they entered smelled of hot chemical ink and paper, both old and new. It looked small on the outside, but apparently took up what looked to be three separate units from the outside, so it was quite spacious. Lines of racks marched through the store with signs indicating... something, and each rack was simply covered with parchment books. Ruufarrl felt like he had walked into the Grand library back on Ruuloth Prime. Scattered throughout the store were other customers browsing the shelves. "So many books, I cannot believe that this is just something they have."

"These are all for purchase?"

"Yep, every last one. Here, lets browse a bit first before I pick up what I ordered. You were looking for things like History and Military stuff, right?"

"I feel that would be a good place to start, yes. It is what my people look to the most when assessing new people."

"Alright, so let’s see... Non-fiction and historical is... Ah, over there."

He followed Conrad to the indicated section. He heard someone start in the distance, and was easily able to look over the racks of books to see a person that he assumed to be the proprietor standing behind a counter and watching him. He watched Ruufarrl moved about the racks with Conrad before shaking himself and leaving his post, heading their way.

Conrad did not notice and was busy thumbing through the spines of the books, head bent sideways as he read the titles. "Oh! These look good." He pulled out a set of three matching tomes, each with a slight variation of the same wording printed on them. Great Battles of History, Volumes one, two and three. Looks like they go from ancient history with one, to pre-jump with two, to modern battles with three."

He held them up for Ruufarrl to sift through as the proprietor came around a corner, "Any of those interest you?"

"It would if I could read them, Youngblood."

"Ahhh, don't you worry about that, good sirs. We can translate them to GalStan in but a few minutes. Every book we have here has been scanned into our system as an electronic file and is ready to be downloaded or printed in another language at your discretion. In fact," the older human with a bald head pointed at a terminal a few rows down, "You can use that terminal there to look up your selections and read a preview. Is there anything that I might be able to help you find?"

Conrad tilted his head at Ruufarrl, giving him the floor. "I am looking for things that are related to the history or your species. Basic histories, military conquests and similar concepts. Perhaps something on military traditions as well?"

The old man nodded as he listened, and then Conrad spoke up as he saw the man's nametag, "You are Mr. Keaton? I believe I spoke to you yesterday about a translated copy of The Art of War? Did you happen to have that finished? It is also for him."

"Ahhh, yes. Mr. Mclaughlin was it? I do indeed, and if that is something for your list... Hmm. Come with me, and I will flag a few selections for you in the terminal."

Mr. Keaton led them over to the indicated terminal and started to tap on it, directing the program to hold a number of books for preview. All told he had pulled up ten books of various topics for them to have a look at.

"Alright, I will go over these with you briefly before I leave you to choose. First up we have the three that Mr. Mclaughlin selected earlier. Then we have Modern Military History, which includes a dissertation on the creation of the Titan Accords, which is our established rules of War and Engagement. Then we have Ground Combat Equipment, updated to last year. Military Spacecraft of the SSA, updated to this year's edition. A Primer on the General History of Humanity, looks like someone thought along the same lines as you have and wanted to be ready to meet aliens. Finally, a couple of special picks just for you sir, as I have heard a little bit about your people. Bushido and the Ancient Samurai, a book on the codes and history of an ancient sect of human warriors known for a stringent sense of honor and Great Hunts in Space, an in depth list of all the dangerous and challenging hunts on human planets.

Gentlemen, I hope you enjoy. Mr. Mclaughlin, I will have your other book ready for you at the counter."

"Thank you, sir. It... may be a bit." Conrad shrugged with one arm out towards the terminal. Mr. Keaton laughed, "All the better. Enjoy."

Ruufarrl stepped forward to scan through the books. He already planned on buying the three-part series and Primer, so he added them to his keep list and skipped over them to focus on the others. Curious, he started with the book on spacecraft, and found himself aghast at the information it contained. "What species in their right minds would put this information down for general knowledge? It is as though they are asking for someone to cause trouble!" He turned to the last indicated preview page, an indexed list of the contents. He saw the Athena class marked there, the ship he had seen on the way into the system. Shaking his head in wonder and astonishment, he added it to the list of books to keep.

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The book on ground equipment was the same way. Loads upon loads of pictures and information that explained their capabilities and specialized roles on the battlefield. This, too he marked to keep. He thought for a moment then quickly added the book that had their rules of engagement. "Why would they allow someone to access that information? To what end? Sharing that only lets someone take advantage of your own rules."

Finally, he decided to simply break the branch and added the others to the list as well, he would be buying all of them. He felt, strange, jittery. He was excited. This was a treasure trove of information, if any of it was to be believed and not simply well placed misinformation. But he didn't feel as though it was. He didn't think that Conrad would intentionally lead him astray in such a manner. Even so, he struggled to think of a plausible reason for it.

"Conrad, anyone can... just... get this information? Whatever and whenever they wish?"

"Well, yeah. They don't tell you anything classified or secret, the real cutting edge and sensitive stuff is always left out. I mean, it isn't like someone can't take a picture of something in the field. If it is in use, you can get at least some information on it. Even the classified stuff we can guess at because scientific journals are always talking about the applications of the next great technological advance. We don't really keep our history secret either. We just, don't think to hand out an encyclopedia on it to everyone we meet. If you want to know something specific, all you really need to do is ask. Someone, somewhere has probably written something on the subject."

Ruufarrl was dumbfounded, "All we needed to do... Was ask. All these problems, all this misplaced anger, worry and concern; and all we had to do... Was ask. By the ancestors, we have been complete fools."

Then another thought struck him, one that chilled his blood. "They aren't simply handing out free information to get attacked. They are actively DARING someone to try. They are telling anyone who has this information, 'This is what we have. This is how we will protect our people. This is how we will fight. This is how we will destroy you. We are not scared of you. If you still think you have what it takes, you are welcome to try.'"

Spurred on by this sudden thought, he quickly returned to the book on ships, looking for the introduction section. He skimmed until he found what he was looking for, and his ears went flat. "They have THAT many ships! That is nearly four times the size of our own war fleet, AND from the rest of the specs they look to be at least equally capable, if not more so. I hope to the Great Hunt that this gamble works. The Founders are going to be in for a very rude awakening when they open this Traazol nest. Depending on just how capable they are, the Humans may well be on equal footing to everything the Founders can throw at them."

He paused a moment to breathe and let the logical part of his mind catch up, "Ruushan needs this information, if only to produce at the appropriate time to prevent a catastrophe."

He closed down the terminal after confirming his desired purchase. He decided to get the books in both electronic and physical formats. Seeing the opportunity, he decided it would be well worth the extra expense to collect a few books of his own. He found that he was rather enjoying the smell of paper for the moment. He wouldn't be able to cart them around with him all the time, but it would mean that he could leave the physical copies behind on Ruuloth for Ruushan and the others to read, and they would add a small bit of luxury to his old office.

He wandered over to the counter to pay, leaving Conrad to continue his own searches.

Mr. Keaton looked over his order and whistled, something that no Ruulothi could do. "Well, thank you very much for your patronage, Sir. I can get those transferred right over to your wristlink if you are ready for the electronic copies."

Ruufarrl brought his arm terminal up to the data transfer relay, "Thank you for your recommendations. They have already proven to be quite surprising. Are you certain that the information contained is accurate?"

"Well sir, I don't sell tabloids or opinion pieces. Anything you find in those books is about as accurate as a thing could be. The specifications are pulled from declassified official documents. The histories are as accurate as one can get digging around in the past. Come about the start of the space age everything we did was recorded in multiples, even before that we kept a fairly decent record of events, though it may have been colored by a general lack of advanced knowledge. Magic versus Science and all that. Heck even ancient records of important events were pretty well recorded, by the victors at least. About the only thing I can't truly vouch for is the book on Hunts, and that is simply because I know jack all about hunting. The Primer might paint us in a more favorable light, but it at least sticks to verifiable facts. Besides, that is what you have the other history books for. The real interesting and gritty stuff can be found in them."

There was soft beep at the transfer relay. "Welp, looks like your electronic copies are all set up. While I am at it, here you go." He reached under the counter and pulled out a book printed in GalStan. "This is the book the boy was talking about earlier, he paid on order. This is still required reading by our military officers, even though it is something like almost four thousand years old. Some things, well, some things just stand the test of time."

Ruufarrl smiled in response, "That is truth. How long for the physical copies to be finished?"

"Well, that is going to take a few minutes. I will come find you when it is done. We got a few reading nooks scattered about, might as well dig in while you wait, eh? Unless of course you want to continue looking. I certainly won't say no to that either." The old man smiled coyly as he said the last part, turning it into a jest and handing him a stiff paper strip, "For holding your place sir."

Ruufarrl chuffed in turn and took the offered item, "I will find a place and start reading then."

He wandered the shop for a few minutes to look at the sights before picking a place. Some of the paper signage on the walls showed depictions of characters from what must have been a story of some sort, while others showed real people in what couldn't possibly have been a real situation. He had no idea how a human could shoot fire and lightning from their hands while flying through the air. He decided to let it be, this was a place that sold books and stories after all. Pictures were just other ways of telling stories, be they made up or factual.

His wanderings came to a close after he found a secluded nook in the back corner of the shop. It was surrounded by racks of books, which would interfere with and deter strangers from finding him. He had seen a few of the customers looking at him curiously, but they had respected his space and left him to browse on his own. Satisfied with his choice, he sat down and began to read The Art of War.

He got so absorbed in reading that the twenty minutes it took for his order to print and Mr. Keaton to find him went by without his realizing. It was only with a great reluctance that he used his paper strip to mark his position within the book. "This book alone would send waves through the Clan Council. Even with the little bit that I have read, the conclusion is clear. Without a doubt, they are a warrior species. No people could write such a dissertation on war without being intimately familiar with it, without having experienced it in all its bloody glory and terror. Even to this day the information can be subtly altered to be completely relevant again, and it is easily applicable to all levels of combat. This book does not simply instruct in the methods of war, it dissects it, analyzes it, and puts it back together in a way that even a fool could understand. This is what I needed. Now, we see if I can add to its influence."

He slowly followed the old man through the winding racks of books to the counter, where Conrad stood waiting. "Well, what do you think?"

Ruufarrl smiled slowly, still trailing his thoughts, "I think I am going to be busy for some time."

Conrad started to say something else, but was interrupted by Mr. Keaton bringing all ten of the books that Ruufarrl had asked for. He blinked in surprise as he did a double take. "I can see why now."

Mr. Keaton gathered the items into a bag and handed it to Ruufarrl. "Once again, thank you for your business. Please stop by again if you have any questions or need to find something else. It's always a pleasure to see new faces, and I hope these choices stand you in good stead."

He couldn't be sure of it, but he felt that the old man may have putting some deeper observations behind his words. Something in his tone and the way he looked at Ruufarrl pointedly. It continued to nibble at his mind as Conrad drove them out of the city and back to his home, so he decided to ask about what it dredged up. It was something he should have done long before, and he mentally clawed at himself for forgetting it.

"Conrad, how much do your people know of mine?"

He tilted his head as he considered the question, "Well I can't speak to the experts and such, but most common folk at least know OF the Ruulothi. Actually, I think our first contact with you all is taught in schools. If only as a lesson in what not to do, considering the results. I'd have to say that your people are kind of... I dunno, romanticized maybe? Space Warriors with unshakeable honor and all that. The kind of people that we would want on our side. The general populace doesn't know too much in the way of specifics. But we know what happened, we know how you feel about us, and we are plenty capable of making certain connections when one of you suddenly shows up planet side and starts buying up history books." He stopped and looked at Ruufarrl with a grin, "Old man's words eating at you?"

He shook his head slowly, a slight smile on his face, "I was never one for the work of a Hidden Claw. I suppose my excitement got the better of me. Even so, I should have acquitted myself better and with more decorum and tact. I was a Clan Head after all. I should not be so obvious."

"Nah, it has nothing to do with that. You are a giant warrior cat on a planet full of hyperactive grease monkeys, you are going to be obvious to anyone with eyes. Regardless of the status of current relations, we both respect and are enamored of your people. My guess is that he saw the chance to make a mark on things, however small, in the hopes that we can find a way to come to terms with one another. What better way than sharing our history and standards of warfare with you? The things that you can relate to the most?"

"Hmm, perhaps. And what exactly is a grease monkey?"

"Ahh Ha. It is an expression for someone who is mechanically skilled, hence being covered in mechanical grease. It also references our own resemblance to a creature on earth."

He looked at Conrad with his eyes narrowed and ears forward a moment before chuffing in amusement and turning back to the window. "At least they don't hold themselves exempt from their silly little comparisons."

The rest of the trip back was uneventful and quiet, affording him the chance to read a little more. As they arrived Greg came out to meet them.

"Conrad! Good! You are back earlier than I thought you would be. There was an Infernum that moved in up on Engleman Farms. Those marks you found? They are from Hellboar. I've already called Wildlife Management, but they are busy tracking down and hunting the big pack and won't be able to get here for at least another week. So it's up to us. Grab your stuff and lets get going. I don't want to be out there at night with those things."

"Alright, is it all in the same place?"

"Yep, back of the barn. I'll get my stuff and the bait we just made and meet you on the path."

Ruufarrl watched their interactions as he listened. At the tone of Greg's voice and the intent in his posture he knew something was wrong and had left his purchases in the vehicle to be ready to move.

Greg turned to go back inside as Conrad turned to him, "So, interested in going on a dangerous hunt?"