Winters sighed deeply inside his helmet, thankful for the protective mask. His log entry tonight would be a long one to be sure. The emotional and adrenal roller coaster was taking its toll. Noting the star’s low position in the east, he made a right from Veera’s door, figuring it would be the quickest way back to the gate. Along the way he was the subject of even more curious glances and calls. With the ability to understand the chatter around him, Winters kept his composure and listened, walking without hurry. From what he could hear, his nature was still the topic of great debate, not really a surprise. He was sure he was the most exciting thing to happen to this village in a long time, perhaps ever. He noticed many adult Cauthan passing him with farming tools in their hands, presumably coming in from the fields. For the most part they gave him a wide berth. Though none of them seemed to possess much wealth or status, he didn’t see any Cauthan that appeared as underfed as Veera. That thought deepened the scowl on his face. Stepping around a pile of slop in the street, he couldn’t help but think back to Veera’s poor apartment. It was neat, organized, and clean. His opinion of her was growing by the day. Sure, his grand entrance had been motivated by a combination of white knight gallantry and a selfish desire for continued companionship, but what he’d seen of Veera that day only increased his esteem for her. She had close to nothing, and yet she was still capable of a smile, still willing to keep her dirt floor clean, still willing to trudge through that forest alone every day. Her will was undeniably strong, and Winters found himself drawn to that. Will won’t be enough though. She’s hanging by a thread. Winters considered, a smile breaking out on his face as two young Cauthan boys ran through the street ahead of him, play fighting with sticks. Ah, to be so carefree again. Before long he found himself at the gates of the town. Antoth, as promised, was waiting for him; along with the old Cauthan that Io had identified as the priest of Kel.
“Ah, the enigma appears again. You did not suffer any further trouble?” Antoth inquired.
“No. I’m here to uphold my end of our bargain.” Winters replied evenly, noting the guards at the gate and upon the wall watching him intently.
“Of course, though if you would humor me?” Antoth asked, gesturing to his companion. The old Cauthan had a coat of light brown fur, dappled with white. His feathers seemed like they’d seen better days and his jowls drooped slightly. All told though, Winters figured he looked pretty good for his age. He greeted the priest.
“You are the priest of Kel, yes? It’s a pleasure to meet you sir.”
“Sir!” The old one exclaimed. “You do me a kindness stranger. I am no sir. I am but a simple servant of Kel and this village.”
“And what does that imply, exactly? I don’t see Vash ordering you flayed alive.” Winters asked, unable to stop the malice in his tone.
“A nasty bit of work that was, and you have my sincerest apologies that you had to witness that.” The old one replied. Winters wanted to insist that Veera was the one owed an apology but held his tongue. Vash wasn’t there. “Though I am of course curious about you and your origins, stranger.”
“You and the whole village it would seem.” Winters replied.
“Indeed. We priests,” He gestured to Antoth and himself. “Are tasked with leadership and guidance, in addition to the service one might expect. There will be one question on everyone’s lips tonight; everyone except, perhaps, young Veera. Who are you? What are you? Contrary to Vash’s assertion in the square today Kel is not known to be deceitful or a liar. Death is rarely insidious. It is omnipresent, as essential to this world as life and the light of Seil.” The old priest paused, looking expectantly at Winters.
“Sorry to disappoint you old man, but I’m not a servant of your god; or any of your gods for that matter.”
“Ha, I believe I enjoyed being called sir more.” The priest chuckled. “You say this, but you can speak to us and understand us. How can it be that you are not of the gods?”
‘Do we really need to stand around and explain this to every Cauthan we meet?’ Io whined in Winters’ ear.
“Just the important ones.” He replied. “Remember the whole food shortage thing.”
‘Ah yes, carry on then oh immortal one.’
“You’re just a peach sometimes.” Winters switched back to external projection. “That’s an understandable question. I suppose you’ll simply have to take my word for it. I’m just as mortal as you or Antoth. My people used to live as you do, maybe…500 years ago or so? Just as your people surely advance and discover new things, so do mine. These discoveries allow me to understand and talk to you, so long as I wear my armor. We call ourselves humanity. My name is Winters.” Antoth’s brow cocked at him, but he paid it no mind. “As to what to tell your people, I suppose the best way I could describe it is that I am a traveler, or a scout. I came to your star with other humans.” He pointed to the setting sun. “My ship was lost. For lack of a better word I’m stranded here on your planet. It may be forward of me to say this, but I have need of your people’s aid if I am to survive. I hope that you can reassure them I come in peace.”
“What I see before me is armor?!” The priest asked in shock. “Such a miraculous construction…even Tyrdus himself would be hard pressed to create such a thing. I had thought it to be a shell of sorts.”
“Tyrdus?” Winters asked.
“The Lord of the Forge, patron deity of all craftsmen.” Antoth explained in an impatient tone. “Thantis, as much as I’m sure you’d love to continue examining our guest, we have matters of security to discuss. Given his attachment to Veera, I’m sure you will be seeing him again?” He smirked at Winters.
Thantis looked an apology at Antoth. “Ah yes yes, of course. My apologies. You must forgive an old man his curiosity yes?”
“Your species as a whole seems quite curious.” Winters replied. “It’s an admirable trait. And yes, Antoth I would like to negotiate conditions for a potential return. Thantis, should I have time I will seek you out.”
“That is kind of you Winters. I will leave the two of you to discuss your ‘warrior matters’.” With a quick flutter of his plumage, Thantis turned and set off down the main avenue.
“Now that he’s satisfied, you wish to negotiate terms of re-entry to this village.”
“Yes, preferably with less fanfare than today.”
“That would be preferable, yes.” Antoth replied as he scrutinized the various weapons Winters had attached to his person. “I must admit you have me at a disadvantage.”
“Doesn’t seem that way Antoth.” Winters motioned to the handful of guards around them.
“You’re being polite Winters. You may say that to be kind to someone whose help you need, but I see the truth. If you wanted to you could kill me, my guards, and likely everyone in this village. Am I wrong?”
“Well, not all at once.” Winters admitted sheepishly. “But yes, I could.”
“Unless we were to overwhelm you with bodies, we would stand no chance. And even then, it might not be enough. Your armor is, as Thantis said, quite the creation. So you see my predicament, yes?”
“I do. I suppose my word isn’t really good enough?”
“No. It is not. I’ll ask you again Winters, what is your relation to Veera? You challenged two of the finest warriors in our village and defeated them unarmed, all for her. Why did you do it?”
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“They were threatening her Antoth. And as it turns out, they were doing so on account of me. Even if I had no personal connection to Veera, it would be wrong to let another suffer on my behalf.”
“Oh, so you do have a personal connection?” Antoth grinned a feral smile. “Do tell.” Winters couldn’t help but slap his own forehead, cursing himself for inadvertently revealing information to Antoth.
“She found me after I crashed here. I’ve been escorting her from her field to the village the last couple days. This morning she came to keep me company following the rains. She has a good heart and a strong will. You would not raise a hand to defend her, so I did.” Winters ended on a hard note.
“I could not overrule Vash alone. With the others, yes. We are not subject to that man’s every whim. And while you saw only his cruel side today, he is where he is for a reason. He has managed this village well since he became high priest.”
“I will not apologize for what I did.”
“Oh don’t mistake me human.” Antoth clapped him on the shoulder. “You may think me cold and cruel as well, but I had to shield my men and the villagers from an unknown entity. You shielded Veera in turn. You may not serve our gods Winters, but you did Uthos proud today. I suspect that motivation will keep you honest, so here is my proposition. You say you need this armor to communicate with us, correct?”
“Technically I could understand you without the helmet. However if I wanted to speak to you, I would need it, yes.” Winters didn’t want to promise anything. He supposed he could use his fabricator to make some sort of audio projection device, but he didn’t want to waste material on such a thing when his helmet would do.
“I see. In that case, should you wish to enter this village again you will approach unarmed and without your helmet. Should you need to communicate with someone, you may don it again. If you are willing to trust us with this small amount of vulnerability, we will trust you in turn. I may be willing to revisit your carriage of weapons another time.”
“Anything else?”
“No.”
“Then I accept your terms. With your permission Antoth, I should be going. There is little light left in the day.”
“Indeed. Go in peace then human, and may you serve Uthos in your deeds. Selah.” Antoth signaled the guards who began to open the gate.
“What does that mean exactly, Selah?” Winters asked. “Veera has used it to greet me before and I figured I would say it back, but I don’t know if there’s a deeper meaning.” Antoth chuckled at Winters question, but gave him a straight answer.
“She honors you, human. Selah is indeed more than a greeting. It is an invocation, that the gods may bless you with their favor. To the Cauthan this is no small thing. Everything you see around us, everything that we have, we toil for. If we wish to eat, we must work the soil. If we desire meat, furs, and leather we must hunt. It we wish to protect others we must train our mind and body. It we wish to create and craft, we must consume timber or metal. We see all around us that in order for something to be gained, something else must be given. This is the way of the land. Why would the gods be any different?”
“I see. Thank you for explaining Antoth. If I may ask one more thing?”
“Very well, if you must.” The guard captain was growing impatient again.
“What hunts in the night on this planet?” Winters asked with dead seriousness. Antoth couldn’t conceal his surprise.
“How do you know about that?”
“Know about what Antoth? All I know is Veera is terrified of walking home in the dark and that there’s something out there that’s capable of taking chunks out of trees and is taller than I am by a good margin.
“You surprise me again human. Most Cauthan have never seen what you speak of. We call them the Ursae. They rarely range this far south, but they are still used by parents to frighten children into not straying into the forest. They are large, powerful, stealthy, and hungry. I’m not sure even you would survive an encounter.”
“Then how do you know of them at all?”
“Every so often we will find a dead Ursae, or a hunting party will manage to slay a cub. The last slaying of an adult Ursae happened when my grandfather was still young and growing into his scales. He told me quite the tale of the hunting party’s return…or what was left of it. They seem content to leave the village alone behind our walls, but every so often hunters simply don’t return from the forest.” Antoth couldn’t suppress a shudder.
“I will keep my guard up then. Thank you Antoth. Farewell.”
“Farewell Winters. I am sure we will see each other again.” Antoth gestured to the now open gate. With a final nod, Winters strode through it, grinning at the awestruck looks on the faces of the guards he passed. This was their first chance to get a good look at him without the threat of violence hanging over them. As the gate closed, Winters yelled. “Remember your end of the bargain Antoth!”
“You have my word Winters, on my honor as guardian.” Satisfied with that answer, Winters began his trek home. He hoped he would see Veera safe and sound the next morning.
----------------------------------------
‘Well, that was quite the adventure. They are an interesting race of primitives.’ Io remarked, emphasizing the last word. They had reached the bridge a few minutes after darkness had fallen.
“No need to be insulting Io. I’m sure you’ve got plenty of literature in there that shows humanity was just like them once. I find their gods to be an interesting lot, not that I know all of them. The equal exchange philosophy is intriguing, and potentially useful.”
‘So intriguing you forgot to ask about food!’ Io reprimanded him.
“I think two questions was pushing it. Getting information on the Ursae was important.”
‘Understanding the meaning of Selah wasn’t!’
“No, maybe not. But it showed an interest in their way of life and I guaranteed us entry to the village. We won’t starve. Besides, with the solar panels completed, I have an idea.” Winters replied as they approached the pod. He gingerly removed the new panels from the fabricator, stowing them safely in his survival bag. He would affix them the next day, when he had more light. “Io, we’ve got plenty of material in here for plastics right? Should be relatively easy to make a basic fishing rod and line?”
‘Yes sir, bringing up potential schematics now.’ A few designs flashed into being on his HUD.
“Let’s just go with the simple one on the right. Requires the least materials and it’s least likely to draw undue attention from the Cauthan.”
‘Still worried about first contact protocol? I don’t think anyone will care if you share the secrets of a fishing reel or a depth finder.’
“It’s not that Io, at least not in isolation, but everything adds up. If we get off of this planet a military tribunal will, with all likelihood, be forced to review a record of what happened here. If I run around making ray guns and fishing with hand grenades, you better believe that’s going to make someone’s life hell. Probably my own, or even yours. If the basics work then we will work with them. Besides, a little challenge might be nice.”
‘Today wasn’t enough for you?’ Io asked incredulously.
“Fishing isn’t exactly the same as a fistfight. Can’t exactly waltz into the water and start punching.”
‘I find that image mildly amusing. Very well sir, queueing up the rod and line in the fabricator. If you’re going to insist on the simple design, can I at least suggest and integration of the line into the rod, as well as a binary weave?’
“Looks good, do it.”
‘Yes sir. What do you make of these ursae that the guard captain mentioned?’
Winters gazed upward at the twin moons and stars, wondering if he’d be happier not knowing. “I don’t know Io. For now, we don’t go anywhere without firearms. We can disarm at the village if need be, but I’m not taking any chances. Antoth can just deal with it.”
‘Very good sir.’ Io seemed pleased with his response. ‘Should we perhaps turn in for the evening? I daresay it’s been quite the day.’ Winters noted his suit’s power levels. Io had a point. He figured it was best not to dip into his reserves unless absolutely necessary.
“Sure thing Io. Just going to brush up. Feel free to do…whatever it is that VI’s do to prepare for sleep. Do you even sleep?” He had to admit he was curious about that one.
‘I suppose you could call it that.’ Io spoke into his earpiece as he removed his helmet and grabbed his personal effects. ‘It’s more of a cataloging process for new information. As we assimilate new information there is a high probability that it is stored inefficiently. Periods of inactivity allow me time to go through everything. For instance, today I gathered quite a bit of information regarding Cauthan linguistics and body language. The sequence in which I received this information from your…cheering fans…was random. I will undo that randomization as we sleep.’
“Hrrrm, interesting. What did you mean by cheering?”
‘You didn’t notice? Quite a few Cauthan were impressed by your martial display. Flattening that first guard seemed to rouse quite a bit of passion amongst the onlookers, once they got past the initial shock of course.’ Io seemed to relish retelling the tale. Winters wasn’t quite sure why. A frown descended over his face as he thought back to what he’d done. He remembered very little with clarity, just that those two had been his opponents and that they were going to hurt Veera. He remembered red, the thrill of victory, the satisfying crunch of armored fist on bone.
“I did it again.”
‘Sir?’
“The battle trance. I did it again.” That seemed to give Io pause.
‘But you came back from it.’ She eventually replied. ‘I would say you handled yourself quite well. You didn’t kill either of those guards.’
“Yeah, I guess so. Doesn’t mean I didn’t want to.”
‘Then why didn’t you?’
“I…” Winters felt his face flush. “I didn’t want her to look down on me, see me as an animal.”
‘Who?’
“I don’t know Io. Veera, Jess…both of them?” Winters really felt awkward now. He was sure using Io as a psychologist wasn’t standard operating procedure.
‘I see. Whatever the reason Russell you controlled it, used it to your advantage, and didn’t allow it to consume you. That’s all that matters.’
“Russell?”
‘I’m sorry if that was inappropriate sir. It seemed that a more personal touch was called for.’
“Thank you Io, it’s no problem. And thanks for explaining that thing about VI sleep. I’m going to head down to the river. Don’t wait up for me. G’night.”
‘Goodnight sir, entering standby.’