I don’t resist the teleportation with my Affinity when it engages to pull me away from my battle, which is over except for the mopping up that Rogar’s Legendary Strike Force is more than capable of handling. It was good to see one of the teams sent from the SSA in action, and particularly their Tauran leader. Turns out Rogar doesn’t just look a lot like Captain Kulnuk did, he also has a similar combat style, but far more skilled and powerful. I’m sure they could have eventually beat the nest of massive Fire Salamanders by themselves. They fought like a true team and even worked around me seamlessly when I arrived to pitch in, better than we used to work together in the Sentinels. My help just sped it along and ensured there were no casualties.
Waiting for me are my Goblin SSA representative B’esloor, Kauran the Beholder-like being, and Taiwo. We’re in a room that reminds me a bit of the main part of Real Earth Tours, a giant hub with doors all around. Large notification screens display scenes from around the Universe with nothing in common I can understand at a glance. About half are showing a combat scene and the other half are less bloody but no less intense. Everything is on display from pitched battles to meetings between two alien species I’ve never seen before… they could be lovers or the deepest of enemies.
I stand without saying anything for a few seconds, smoking and sliced up, as my wounds heal and then I swap out my armor for a new set. Feeling all the hair on my body, including my eyebrows, grow back so rapidly is still a strange feeling. Not as bad as regrowing teeth though, which I’m grateful for being able to do despite how it feels. Teeth moving around and growing in my head is the worst and totally unnatural. Still not used to it even now. I’m keen to check my notifications later to see how much my Fire Resistance may have jumped up after the roasting I just took.
My three hosts seem happy to wait the few seconds it takes to get myself back to looking and feeling presentable which I appreciate.
“Welcome High Enforcer,” says B’esloor. His gnarled face looks spooked and he seems fidgety which I take immediately as a bad sign. “Clearance Level nine…” he says and trails off in confusion then stares off into the distance with a stout, powerful hand held to his forehead.
A few of Kauran’s eye stalks turn toward B’esloor while we wait for him to continue. The silence stretches long enough that Kauran continues instead by addressing me. Somehow his voice still echoes straight in my mind as it’s spoken at the same time.
“Bronwic, of course you are familiar with the KCC and the Koldaavi Combat Trial is known to you. My role here is as the SSA representative, to ensure the smooth running of your KCT events and transitions. As with our previous times together, all questions about the SSA’s activities or policies outside of this Championship will not be answered. B’esloor’s role is to advise you what actions may be permissible according to SSA Protocols if you intend to try something unusual. In my experience, over half of the entrants into the KCT do attempt something against the SSA’s Protocols and I strongly suggest you do not put yourself in a no-win position. Remember that the first Trial is not officially sanctioned by the SSA. I am the final adjudicator of any disputes or incidents in this Championship and my word is law under the SSA’s delegated authority. Do you understand?”
“I do,” I reply simply.
Kauran’s floating form pivots to fix his large central eye on B’esloor and waits for a few seconds, then pivots back to me and resumes.
“B’esloor just made a comment that causes me to conclude you may have a Level 9 Clearance with the SSA. If so it is my responsibility to inform you that your extensive protections and exemptions will not apply during the KCT. Again, for clarity and emphasis I remind you this first trial is in no way endorsed or supported by the SSA and the SSA must not be implicated.
“What he’s not saying,” adds Taiwo with a grin, “is that whatever you’ll be heading into is a total political hot potato and a clusterfuck at the same time. You will be a lone shark swimming the seas as you please and the consequences of your actions will be entirely on you.”
I’m a bit surprised that ‘clusterfuck’ has made it through my SMI’s translation functionality and wonder briefly what the actual term might be in Taiwo’s language. I kind of like being referred to as a lone shark rather than a lone wolf, given the Dad joke pun that’s emerged in a very serious situation.
“Taiwo’s role is to brief you on the situation and provide you with advice in advance, should you request it. He will not offer unsolicited advice or give you any equipment, materials, or additional assistance. An introductory information pack is currently being uploaded into your Mana Interface that will provide you with maps and a summary of the situation.”
“How long do I have to review them?” I ask.
“Approximately the equivalent of 30 of your minutes on Earth,” he replies. “Please remember that the total time taken to complete all Trials, should you manage to do it, is the metric we use to determine the winner. This time is paused if you manage to complete each Trial successfully. If you fail the first Trial and you are still alive when the second period Trial starts and the public is engaged, you are permitted to participate and even win, but the prizes will go to the contestant who completes all three Trials in the least amount of time. Understood?”
I nod and try to put the Universal politics behind me so I can focus on the task at hand. There’s no way I’ll ever be able to figure them out, or do something about it if I could.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
“Your second and third Trials, if you should make it that far, will be available to everyone in your species through a personal notification screen which shows the Championship progress and allows wagers to be placed on combat outcomes. Other species and individuals will also have access for a fee. As a contestant in the KCT you are permitted to bet on yourself, but not against yourself or on any other contestant.”
I glance at Taiwo and give a slight nod. He and I have already discussed that I’m going to take a chunk of Credits and bet on me. The odds will be astronomical, but I’m still funneling most of the Credits to other causes just in case.
“One last thing…” says Kauran, and I make sure to keep a politely attentive look on my face as he pivots to B’esloor and then back to me again.
“Your liaison in your first Trial will be known to you. Zarithrax Vulkaainan, the Battle Tyrant who was running the Legendary Strike Force from Tenebris, is your contact,” says Kauran.
“Before you ask,” interjects Taiwo, “he’s been replaced by someone just as competent and yes, it means the world you’re being sent to has strong ties to Tenebris.”
I close my mouth, since those were exactly the two things I was going to ask.
“I will leave you now. Good luck,” says Kauran. He disappears and I flex my Affinity to track him and see if he’s really gone. The way the technique he uses takes shape is fascinating and I start diving into the intricacies. Unfortunately there’s been no time for me to get anywhere when it shuts off and I return my attention to the room.
“You’re looking better since last time I saw you,” comments Taiwo. I can tell he’s pleased and curious as to what’s happened. I don’t think I need to hide the fact that things clicked from him, but I’m reluctant to share much more than that and B’esloor is another story.
I glance at B’esloor who is still staring off into space and Taiwo takes the hint. We’re still standing around so he gestures to some seating and I agree it would feel less awkward to be sitting down and chatting so we take a seat. B’esloor doesn’t move, just stares off into space and occasionally an expression crosses his face or he makes a hand gesture I can only assume is manipulating his notification screens.
“What can you tell me about the Trial? And… bodyguard?” I ask Taiwo as I access the information that’s been provided to me. It looks like I have a fully detailed map of the topology of a small world, or actually maybe a large moon, called Orvorax and a cover story already set up.
“Not just any bodyguard, since your reputation will precede you if anyone does some digging and be hard to explain away. This particular Merchant that you will be attached to is very well known and deals in the kinds of semi-rare materials found on a smattering of planets like Orvorax. She has an elite guard and often supplements them with high profile bodyguards to discourage her enemies. Although she does not know that this Trial is part of the KCT, she does expect that you will ‘go rogue’ at some point and already has plans in place to distance herself from any actions you may take.”
I skim through all the material in the notification screens and before I’m done B’esloor returns his attention to us and addresses me.
“Apologies, High Enforcer Cadimus,” the Goblin says sincerely. “I thought surely there had been a mistake. However, I have gone through all the correct channels and now understand that you have, in fact, been raised to Level 9. This… well, this changes everything.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, and I can see Taiwo is looking just as interested.
“There are only a handful of High Enforcers at your status in this part of the Universe. I have no idea how you were given this extent of empowerment or why, that’s completely classified. I don’t even know what you’re allowed to do and not do. I’m not even sure if all the Protocols apply to you. I can’t advise you and I’m worried that it’s going to look like the SSA pointed you at this situation on purpose.”
Interesting information.
“Wasn’t that the case with my previous status also?” I ask, confused.
“Level 7 is high, yes, but numerically speaking there are hundreds of times more and those individuals tend to be assigned to work like this, so it’s within the realms of coincidence. Level 9, though…”
“Is still a coincidence,” finishes Taiwo and B’esloor fixes his small, dark eyes on him. “Remember who Bronwic is teamed up with and the whole situation. It’s absolutely plausible when you consider he has the Mark of Tenebris.”
B’esloor’s eyes practically bug out of his head at that. I’m not sure I’m thrilled Taiwo feels comfortable spreading around things that I’m keeping hidden, given some of the other things he knows. For now though I stay silent and go with it.
“Taiwo!” B’esloor half wails and half growls. “Did you have something to do with this? This smells worse and worse the more I find out!”
“Kauran is fine with it,” Taiwo says dismissively, clearly feeling the matter’s been settled.
“Kauran is fine with a High Enforcer with the Mark of Tenebris going to Orvorax to recapture the planet and free the population as part of the KCT?” B’esloor asks, clearly doubtful and possibly a bit stunned. I’m not really sure I understand what the big deal is so I keep my mouth shut.
Taiwo glances at me and then back at B’esloor, then takes a deep breath.
“Look, if Bronwic hadn’t made it here Tenebris would still have paid to have this mission as part of the KCT. He wants it done. The fact Bronwic is still alive and has been assigned to this Trial is a bonus and one we should support. Now, do your job and give Bronwic a rundown of what he’s allowed to do and not allowed to do as part of the Trial. Pretend he’s still got level 7, I don’t care. We’ve wasted enough time already and it’s not long before he’s transported there.”
B’esloor’s eyes narrow and he looks at each of us, then around the room. I’ve noticed a lot more of the notification screens around the room now depict alien Adventurers of all kinds engaged in combat, almost all of them. I wonder if one of the locations on the screens is Orvorax.
“Fine,” agrees B’esloor, and I’m glad Taiwo is here.
“Any advice for me?” I ask.
“Yeah. Win,” says Taiwo with one of those trademark grins.
Time for a crash course then.