All That Glitters Ch. 64

"Do you mean 'maybe she will be our dancer', Zarreniya?" Kriss asked pointedly of the little girl. She got a smile and a thumbs up from Zarreniya. "No, Zarreniya, that will not do. You must repeat the question properly."

Zarreniya sighed. "Yes, Miss Krissiya. 'Maybe she will be our dancer?'," she repeated.

"Well done, Zarreniya," Kriss acknowledged, giving her a one-armed hug.

"Damn it, Kriss, you had better do well in your evaluation tomorrow," Kim groused, getting knowing laughter from around the table.

Executive Gymnasium, Echo Deck, Liramor-23, The Piscium System

Early the next morning, the bodyguards and their respective principals arrived at the gym. All were eager to see Kriss' evaluation.

Kriss arrived with the Piscium family. The children had her bend down to receive hugs of encouragement.

"You go beat Kim. But no hurt her, please. She friend," Zarreniya told her, getting a smile from the other adults. Kriss gave her a nod.

"I hope that Kim doesn't hurt me too much," she said to the children in turn.

She stood and approached the mat. Kim was there, as was Gillaya and Raymond, but there was also a rather tall, powerful-looking black woman. The woman saw Kriss looking at her.

"I am Lieutenant of Marines Ululla Mbibo. I will be assisting in your assessment today," she explained with a feral smile that seemed to shake the Asocans, who saw the show of teeth as a threat action.

Kriss took off her soft deck boots and stepped onto the mat. Mbibo threw two combat sticks at her and as soon as she grabbed them, Gillaya was on the mat and attacking her with combat sticks of her own.

Gillaya was fast and the blows had strength to them, though nothing that Kriss couldn't handle. She easily met and blocked the strikes from her opponent. Gillaya began to move faster and faster, Kriss in turn moved to keep up with her.

Kriss knew that just keeping up wouldn't be enough so she pushed a little forcing the fight back on Gillaya. She pressed Gillaya hard and saw her stumble slightly, not very much, but just enough. Kriss unexpectedly snapped a kick from her hip directly into the stomach of Gillaya who tried, unsuccessfully, to jump back. She took a blow to her stomach with some force behind it but not the full force that had initially been thrown at her. Still it knocked her onto her back.

Kim stepped in and began to fight against Kriss. Kriss realized that Kim was much more proficient than Gillaya and she had to up her game to keep up with her. Once more she realized that sticks were not enough, so she began to use kicks with her stick attacks pushing Kim back.

Kim just smiled and added kicks of her own. Before long, the pair were a whirling motion of blurs as they pushed sticks and kicks at each other in a pattern that was speeding up continuously.

Kriss saw Gillaya step onto the mat and now she was fighting two opponents at once. She had to up her game once more but she couldn't stay on the defensive with these two so she starting using more aggressive kicks with her moves. That pushed the other two back a little but only a little.

Kriss stepped to her right, bringing Gillaya in front of Kim, temporarily blocking the other woman. That allowed Kriss to momentarily focus on Gillaya, just long enough to once again put Gillaya down. She then turned to Kim but she saw movement out of the corner of her eye and sidestepped a nasty blow as Mbibo stepped onto the mat.

Kim faded back leaving Kriss and Mbibo alone on the mat. Mbibo started using Marine Combat moves and Kriss grinned. Her last Mixed Martial Arts instructor had been an ex Marine so Kriss recognized and could counter these moves. She soon had Mbibo backing up until Kim came back onto the mat, forcing Kriss to deal with a pair of combatants once again. However, the combination of Mbibo and Kim was far more potent than that of Gillaya and Kim.

Damn, these people are good, Kriss thought as she fought against the pair. They were really pressing her; she didn't know how long she could hold out against them.

A loud 'KKKIIIAAA!' came from the side of the mat and both her opponents faded back. Kriss was suddenly confronted by Raymond. For the first time, she saw Raymond with no shirt on and she immediately identified the Black Lightning tattoo on his chest.

Shit!! was all she had time to think before he was crashing against her defences. Damn he is strong! she thought to herself as she was pushed back by Raymond.

Raymond dropped his combat sticks and Kriss smiled. She was actually a better fighter without them so she didn't mind losing them. The pair came together on the mat with fists and feet flying. Knowing his strength, Kriss deflected Raymond's blows rather than blocked them. She knew she wouldn't be strong enough to block him for any length of time so why bother, she reasoned. It was a wise choice as it allowed her to stay more-or-less with Raymond on a blow for blow basis.

Eventually, Hanalei called a halt to the exercise. "So, does she meet with your approval?" she asked pointedly of the group.

The four grudgingly nodded their heads, then came in for handshakes and hugs with Kriss.

"Damn, you are strong," she told Mbibo as she shook hands.

"I will say the same about you," Mbibo replied with a smile.

"What weapons are you familiar with?" Raymond asked.

"I can use a Chain Whip with some skill, in either the chain or rope version. I can use Butterfly Swords, knives, throwing stars and throwing knives, spear, and Bo Staff," Kriss informed them.

"Saalaa. Come and assess her skills with a staff," Mbibo called out. She pulled her collapsable staff from its pocket on her thigh, opened it and threw it to Kriss. Mbibo was slightly taller than Kriss but not so much that it made her staff unwieldy.

The one named Saalaa came forward, opening her own collapsible staff and suddenly attacked Kriss. Kriss was good with a staff, but she swiftly realized she was fighting against a seasoned pro with the weapon. Despite her smaller stature, the Byandi quickly had her on the defensive as she attacked relentlessly. No sooner had Kriss got into a good defensive rhythm and was preparing her counter attack than another of the Byandi entered the mat. She was now being forced to contend with two seasoned staff users. Again, as soon as she fell into a reasonably good defensive pattern, a third Byandi entered the mat.

That was too much for Kriss as one of them managed to get a spear point blow into her stomach. The distraction allowed one of the others to crash her staff against the back of her knees, putting her on her back, while Saalaa finished the bout with a downward slash that stopped mere millimeters from her face. The blow would have been fatal under most circumstances.

Mbibo reached down and helped her to her feet. "Not bad," she quipped. "It was a bit unfair having you face off against the Brucomma. I can just handle two of them at a time. Kim is much better with the staff, and Raymond just takes the weapons away from his adversaries."

"Why let them have them, when I can disarm the opposition?" Raymond asked reasonably.

Ya, but only you could successfully disarm most people, Kriss thought while shaking her head at Raymond.

"OK. I am content to leave you as the children's bodyguard. Congratulations, Kriss," Raymond stated. "We will work to improve your overall performance and your performance on the staff and to integrate you with the other security teams, in case you need them or they you. We will also get you concealable weapons made especially for you. Since the entire Piscium family carries knives, we will get you a good knife to wear as your obvious weapon."

"That will be our task, Raymond," Hanalei interjected. "She is, after all, our employee."

Raymond nodded and gave Hanalei a smile.

"Right, we have had our fun, now it is time to work," Mbibo snarled, alternately getting groans and laughter depending on who was responding...

Offices of the Council of Warriors, Pod-Saar, The Sharanas System, 109 Light Years from Terra

Gend-Hurl Ro found himself standing in front of the Council of Warriors and immediately admonished them for their stupidity.

"Are you so senile that you are unable to see a true warrior when she appears before you?" he asked with a withering snarl to his voice.

"Take care how you speak to this Council, warrior," Callet-Mon Kai-Rai, leader of the Council snapped back.

"Or what, Callet? Should I fear warriors who fear a brood?" Gend-Hurl replied with utter contempt in his voice. "For years, I have spoken out against the excesses of the Kumar-Pair in the Grand Hall, Callet. Why then should I fear you? Even if I am an old warrior, I have nothing to fear from the likes of you who fear Chohdae!"

"It is not just that they are Chohdae!" one of the other councillors spoke up. "They are not of the Pod-Drran race!"

"Ah, the real reason why you would not accept them becomes obvious then," Gend-Hurl replied. "You were admonished by the Kumaraie for 'bravely attempting to conquer the humans' once before (see chapter thirty-one). She told you just how stupid she thought you were when she explained the theory of the fortification on a hill filled with hidden tunnels. If I recall the story, you were so angry, first at having been lectured by the Kumaraie, second at having been goaded into action by the former Kumaroe, and third for being humiliated in front of all of the Warrior Class for your stupidity.

"You have not learned!" Gend thundered. "You are still being stupid. Look around you at what you are doing to the reputation of the Warrior Class! You are making a mockery of us. It is no wonder that the populace is asking that you be removed from office. How much longer do you intend to allow this to go on? How much longer will you defame our Class?" Gend asked.

"You saw the images of those two brood fighting for their very lives on Liramor Twenty-Three and all of you were in the Grand Hall when they unexpectantly had to fight against Hatta-Torre and defeated her! Two brood mates yet to be called Kisory!

"On Liramor Twenty-Three, they fought not for themselves but for their friends and those they loved, literally putting their lives on the line in that fight, one of them nearly losing her life! Is that not the epitome of the Warrior Class? In the Palace, they once fought again for their lives, this time taking down an angry Hatta-Torre who, like you, thought they those two were not worthy of being called warriors.

"They have proved you wrong, Callet. They are more than worthy. It is only you, the senile members of the Council of Warriors who cannot see this. Your actions will wind up denigrating the Warrior Class in the eyes of the Pod-Drran, and others around the Greater Community. They already have, as the populace speaks of replacing you.

"Own up to your errors and become the warriors you claim you are. Acknowledge the capabilities of these brood mates. They have earned the right to be called Kai-Rai, if not Sai-Rai, they did, after all, defeat a Warrior who drew her Kaldar in the presence of the Kumar-Pair!

"Confirm their status of Kai-Rai now, before you do more damage to this Council in the eyes of the Pod-Drran and the Greater Community, and before others realize that these Chohdae may be further elevated!" Gend-Hurl finished.

The Council of Warriors was suddenly looking rather nervous. It had not entered their minds that this brood has acted in defence of the Kumar-Pair and all of the other rulers! They looked around at each other, each now seeing determination in the eyes of the others.

Wee One's Playhouse and School, Mike Deck, Liramor-23, The Piscium System

The family arrived back at their home after morning exercise and Kriss was surprised to see the Byandi with them.

"We are learning to cook, Anuuran style," Alafka explained to her. Kriss noted that Marrallan, Alafka's PA, was working at the stove under Junelliya's supervision. She smiled at the thought.

Breakfast wasn't long and Kriss found it surprisingly good. It was obvious that Marrallan, Alafka's PA, had been studying hard at cooking.

"We each take our turn, even Mylat Alafka," Saalaa explained with a grin.

"What, I like being independent," Alafka retorting to laughter from the others.

"She just likes Anuuran style cooking," Saalaa retorted.

"True," Alafka agreed, again to laughter from the others.

"OK, children. Today will be your first full day back at daycare. You need not be afraid, as Krissiya will be with you for the first while until she has to go to her classes," Hanalei instructed, as she helped the children dress for school.

"Your friends will be happy to see you, but they might get a little emotional. It was a scarry thing that they were involved with. Seeing you two, might trigger that bad memory. You have our permission to help calm them a little, but only a little," Junelliya explained to the children. They gave their mothers a hug and kiss, picked up their back packs and took hold of Kriss' hands as they walked down toward the daycare. Kriss noted that they held her hands rather tightly. They soon arrived at the daycare door which promptly opened to admit them.

"Hello, Krissiya," came the familiar voice of Takebayashi Urano as they crossed the threshold. "It is good to see you two back in the daycare," she said with a smile to the children. She came around the counter to hugs and kisses from the children who then put their back packs, weapons, and deck boots in their lockers and put on their soft deck shoes.

Hanalei had been right. As soon as the other children saw Ikekiya and Zarreniya they let out squeals of delight. There were plenty of tears and hugs for the pair as their friends welcomed them back. It was an emotionally trying time for some of the children and, yes, the pair had to use a little empathic power to help their friends.

The children swiftly went back to their daycare routine including dancing with Miss Barbara, which all the children always enjoyed, working out in the gym, music classes in the music room, and story time. They were so busy, they never even noticed when Kriss left for her morning course.

At lunchtime, Hanalei, Junelliya, and their retinue, came to fetch the children as they had been sent to school without a lunch. It was also the first time back to the Food Court for the children since the incident, so they were initially nervous about being there until they saw all the people whom they knew sitting around.

As soon as the family had established themselves, their friends moved to set tables up with them. The children very much enjoyed being back in the Food Court with all the family friends around, even Kriss showed up for her lunch break and spent time with the family. While there was that one bad incident, they had many good memories of being at the Food Court so the children were happy to be back.

As some people left, more arrived, causing a flow of friends at the table. Eventually, Meela and Marla sat across from the family and chatted them up.

Suddenly Marla sat up and squealed, calling out and waving to a friend. *Tokussa! How are you here?*

*Marla? Is this where they put you?* her friend answered as she approached. *And who are these Mallitana?* she asked of Ikekiya and Zarreniya (A Byandi term of endearment meaning 'Little ones'. The term is both singular and plural).

*These are the Mallitana (female children, Mallitono being the male variant) of my friends, Hanalei and Junelliya.* Marla replied. (For some unknown reason, the Byandi seem to be enamoured of human children.)

"This is Tokussa, my friend and the daughter of my teacher at the Medical Academy on Mylatinyl, our home world," Marla explained in Standard to the Piscium family.

*Good day, Tokussa, friend of our friend,* Ikekiya spoke to Tokussa in Byandi, giving her a hand sign that signified acceptance of an older person as a friend.

*Well! Aren't you very well mannered,* Tokussa remarked with a smile.

*Your name is funny,* Zarreniya commented in Byandi, once again surprising Tokussa.

*My name is not so odd on Taddassan,* Tokussa informed them.

*I am from the continent of Taddassan, which, along with the larger continent of Brallassas, are on the back side of our home world.

*There are five continents on Mylatinyl, the Northern Continent, the Eastern Continent, the Western Continent and, on the back side of the planet in the middle of the great ocean are Taddassan and Brallassas. Brallassas is the larger continent and is known for its seafood and meat production, especially its farmed shellfish, while Taddassan also produces seafood but has the Grand Academy of Taddassan, which teaches higher level instructions,* Tokussa replied.

*My sister and I apologize if we said something rude,* Ikekiya interjected. *She is younger than I am and not as wise.*

*Uh huh. I am two-and-a-half months newer than my much older sister,* Zarreniya answered for herself.

*Older but wiser,* Ikekiya put in. Both girls glared briefly at each other and then broke down into giggles.

*Just how old are you, older sister?* Tokussa asked with a smile at their antics.

*I have twenty-three months,* Ikekiya told her, very much surprising Tokussa.

*I thought human children were similar in growth to our own?* a surprised Tokussa asked of Marla.

*They are, however, these two are anything but normal for human children,* Marla responded with a laugh. Tokussa gave Marla a look that spoke volumes to her friend.

*I thought you had accepted a teaching position at the Academy on Taddassan?* Marela asked surprised.

*I had; however, one needs to experience life first in order to properly teach about such,* Tokussa replied. *Several of my friends are backing me in a Trading Expedition. This was the obvious place to come when dealing with Humans.*

*You need to speak with Aunty Caye,* Zarreniya told them. *House of Ur is coming to dine with us tonight.*

"Perhaps you would like to join us this evening, Marla, Meela?" Hanalei extended the invitation, smiling, after hearing the translation. "You can bring your friend as well. I am sure that she and Caye will have much to discuss."

They spoke together for awhile longer before Kriss indicated that it was getting near the end of lunch time and that she and the children had to return to school.

*You have a school on this station?* a curious Tokussa inquired.

*We do. Would you like to come see it?* Ikekiya asked. *Krissiya works there, she can give you permission to visit.*

"Now just a minute, children..." Kriss started, but she was stopped by Hanalei.

"It would be good if the Byandi home world understood that such a school exists on Liramor Twenty-Three, as well as the local campus of Malton University, and that both were visited by an academic from the Taddassan Academy," Hanalei slipped in quietly. "As a sponsor of the daycare/school, I can give you permission to visit."

The children were quickly cleaned up and readied to return. One took Tokussa's hand and the other took Marla's as they guided their family back to the daycare. Meela returned to the hospital as she was on shift in the afternoon.

Urano was thrilled to have a visitor from the Grand Academy of Taddassan visiting and she happily gave a tour of her facility to her guest, who was recording everything on her brand new wrist comp.

*This daycare/school is amazing, and you teach all levels here?* Tokussa asked.

"We really have no choice in the matter as this is the only school in the system. When the other two stations take up positions near here, there will be more families that require schooling. Our biggest issue is finding scholars for each of the races that have children here. I, as a human, obviously do not know the necessary life skills knowledge required by the members of each race," Urano explained.