[The Lone Gunslinger, Chapter 11, Talon Dagger, Part II] [Previously on Lone Gunslinger] Jaco stops talking and I fall asleep in the warm sun and dream about Daraian girls. I really do like the Raven girls, I think it's their long black hair that I like best, and that they are so…umm…I don't know--confident and strong. [And now] "Wake up!" someone shouts. I roll towards Jaco to cover his body from the assault at the same time he rolls towards me, and we bump heads and fall back in the grass dazed. "Seriously?" says Goen stopping and looking down at us. Goen is one of our Raven classmates. "You two clowns need to decide who is the dominate and who is the Zoomie. "I'm the Zoomie," says Jaco. "Then why was Keal rolling towards you?" asks Goen. "Keal, you should be rolling away and moving to safety while your Zoomie gives his life to save you." I stand and brush myself off. "I know, his life is worthless, he's nothing more than a tool to be used, blah blah blah." I'm still a little sleepy and being grumpy. "What's going on, is it time for the competition?" asks Jaco. "No, it just broke over the Grackle News," says Goen excitedly. "The Lone Gunslingers have been deployed, they are about to attack a luxury space liner." "Huh?" says Jaco. "No time, they'll be doing the news black-out soon, but we have a Raven ship nearby, we'll be able to see something nobody ever gets to see. Come on," shouts Goen turning and running towards the big Raven Battleship in the middle of the field. I believe that, the Lone Gunslingers take secrecy during an Op very seriously. I don't think they've been vidded during a live mission more than a couple times. We run after Goen, maybe we'll really get to see a live Op. Everyone is pouring into the Battleship. I've never been inside before, but nobody stops me and I follow Jaco through the maze of corridors with everyone else. We all end up in what I'm pretty sure is the Mess Deck. There are benches and tables and Jaco grabs my hand and pulls me as close to the front where a big Vid-screen is on and a reporter is talking. I can see a large luxury liner in the background. "…splinter cell of the Imperial Liberation Front is claiming responsibility," says the reporter. "Cerel, your news ship is dangerously close to the scene, have you seen any movement since the attack on the negotiation team?" asks another reporter off camera. "We can see occasional movement through the port windows, but it is unknown if the terrorists have killed any further passengers." "Cerel, will you be able to maintain your position so close to the liner?" asks the off-camera reporter. "A Gunslinger Law Enforcement Team contacted us earlier and asked us not to move, they said any ship movement could alarm the terrorists. My crew and I have voted to remain here at the scene as long as possible to cover this breaking tragedy." "Our prayers to the ancestors go out to you and your crew, and to the passengers and crew aboard the Loraen Space Liner," says the off-camera reporter. The Vid-screen switches to a news anchor desk and a distinguished gray-haired Daraian is sitting behind the desk. There is a picture behind the Daraian of the Space Liner with the words 'Hostage Crises" across the top of the picture. "We will stay in contact with our local news crew on the scene as long as possible," says the gray-haired reporter. "For those viewers just joining us, we are covering a developing hostage situation aboard the Loraen Luxury Space Liner. Fourteen hours ago a splinter cell of the Imperial Liberation Front took control of the liner. A Gunslinger negotiator was sent to discuss the terrorist’s demands and was shot when he tried to board the ship. A Gunslinger Law Enforcement Team was then sent in to retrieve the negotiator and was attacked. An unofficial source reports that the Gunslingers suffered two casualties." I turn to Jaco. "This is bad; I wonder why they haven't gone to news black-out yet?" "Probably because they want that news crew there to keep vidding for intelligence as long as they can," says Tani sitting down next to me. "Hush," says Jaco. "He's talking about the Lone Gunslingers." "…sources indicate that the Special Operations Group of the Gunslingers may be arriving on the scene soon. We go now to our senior expert at the Grackle News Center on Darai. Koniet Vona, are you there?" "Yes, Sir," the Vid-screen switches to a Daraian standing in front of a picture of a Lone Gunslinger in black tactical gear, a black-mask covers the Gunslingers face." "Koniet, what can you tell us about this Special Operations Group?" asks the now off-camera anchor reporter. "Well, very little is known about them," says Koniet. "We do know they are an elite operations branch of the Gunslingers, fondly called the Lone Gunslingers. They were responsible for the rescue of the Pyran Ambassador and his family during the Embassy hostage situation on Ronai Minor. We also have unofficial reports they were the Special Operations Group that located and diffused the nuclear device during the Raunu Capitol City terrorist attack." "Koniet…" interrupts the anchor reporter. The Vid-screen switches back and the anchor is holding his hand to his ear. "…I'll have to interrupt you. I'm receiving word we have just been ordered to go to news black-out. We will return with a full…" The Vid-screen goes dark with the words 'News Black-Out' across it. Everyone on the Mess Deck starts grumbling and an Officer stands up. "Calm down, we have a Raven Shadow Cruiser there; our Communications Specialists are patching a feed through." Jaco stands and cheers, "Woohoo, go Jackdaws!" Everyone laughs at Jaco's enthusiasm for his House. "What's a Shadow Cruiser?" I ask Jaco. "It's really a Jackdaw Shadow Cruiser, the Ravens just like to stick their name in front of everything," explains Jaco. "A Shadow Cruiser is a Com-Surveillance Ship; its crew is all Jackdaws." "Unity, Jaco," says Tani on the other side of me. Jaco looks around me and sticks his tongue out at Tani. Tani's eyes turn dangerous and her hand goes down to her Talon dagger. My new blade is sitting on the table in front of me and I lay my hand on it and glare at Tani. Tani smiles and leans in close to me, "Oh, you are so adorable, I love the way you defend that senseless Jackdaw." I turn red and smile shyly, and then I feel the point of her dagger pressing into my side and look down. "You shouldn't get distracted so easily," purrs Tani. Tani pulls her blade away and scoots in closer to me and wraps her arm around mine and takes my hand. "Egg muncher," whispers Jaco. "I heard that," says Tani. "Shut up, you three, the feed is on," says another Raven behind us. The black-out screen is gone and replaced with an obvious military surveillance image of the Liner from a different angle. I can see the news ship that reported, it really is close, maybe no more than five-hundred feet off the bow of the Liner. "Falcon One approaching bow at Angel Ten," says a voice. "Our people hacked into their Com-link," whispers Jaco proudly. "Falcon Two holding aft at Angel Ten," says another voice. "Falcon Three descending to Angel Ten, Mark three," says another voice. "Hey, look, Falcon Drop ships," shouts a Raven student. I can see two…wait, no, three Falcon ships. "Why are Falcon ships there?" I ask. Tani looks at me and whispers, "you really are a Chirp, don't you know anything?" "Umm…" "Lord Falcon provides the ships and crews for the Lone Gunslingers," says Tani. "I've never seen a Falcon ship at the Base before," I argue. "Of course not, sweetie, they stay on their own Base," says Tani. "Huh?" "On the other side of the mountain from your Base, silly." I had no idea there was another Base near ours, I feel kind of stupid and look at Jaco. He grins and shrugs. "Sorry, thought you knew, didn't you wonder where all the aircraft was being stored?" "You mean the airplanes we used for parachuting were Falcon planes?" "Yea, of course." The Vid-screen grabs my attention again and I listen. "Falcon One in position…" "Falcon Two in position…" "Falcon Three in position…" "All Slinger teams prepare to drop at my command," says a Gunslinger voice. I know that voice. "That's Simon!" I shout. "Your father?" asks Tani. Moro stands and turns to look at me, he's up front with the Officers. "Are you certain?" asks Moro. "Yes, Sir," I say. "That was Simon." "Come on up front," says Moro. "I'm okay, Sir." I just want to sit back down, everyone is looking at me. "Your Hatching father is out there, he deserves the respect of having his Hatchling up front representing him, get up here," orders Moro. I stand up and Jaco stands with me and we make our way to the front of the Mess Deck. All the Ravens are smacking their hands against their Talon daggers. I have to admit to feeling a sense of pride that my father is commanding the Assault Team. The screen is a lot easier to see up here and the Officers make a place for us to sit. Tani tried to follow me up to the front but a glance from Moro and she tries to save face by slinking in next to another boy close to the front. The Falcon ships have taken positions around the Liner’s bow, stern, and directly above. I wonder about the Falcon Ship at the bow, surely the terrorists can see that one from the bridge of the Liner. "All Slinger teams…drop…drop…drop," orders Simon's voice. I can see twelve figures drop from the Falcon ship above and another twelve from the Falcon ship behind the Liner. They are doing a ship to ship drop, the hardest type of drop to do. I don't see anyone dropping from the Falcon ship facing the Bridge of the Liner. "Of course," I whisper. "The one in front is a decoy to get the terrorists to watch that direction." There are small flashes of light as the Droppers fire adjusting thrusters on their spacesuits and close the distance to the Liner. "Angel 2…" says a Gunslinger voice. "Angel 2…" says another Gunslinger. "Angel is old human terminology borrowed from ancient aerial dog fights," the Officer next to me says. "It means they are two thousand feet out." I watch the little flashes of light close in on the Space Liner. "Angel 1…" the Gunslinger voice says. "Angel 1…" the other Gunslinger reports. I see all the Droppers adjusting-thrusters light up and stay on. "They're braking, bleeding off speed," explains the Officer next to me. "They were traveling much faster than is apparent from here." The Droppers do seem to be going slower and then they are at the hull of the Liner. I see two bright blue steady lights, one top and one rear. "Laser cutters," says the Officer next to me. "Slinger 1…hull breeched." "Slinger 2…hull breeched." "Slinger 3…boarded…Slinger 4…boarded…Slinger 5 boarded…" I listen to the count as each Gunslinger reports entering the ship. "…Slinger 6…boarded…" "That's Simon! Slinger 6 is Simon," I shout. Everything is silent for a few minutes and then we see flashes of light through the Liners port windows; Gunfire. "Tango down…F Deck, Hatch 54…" reports the voice of a Gunslinger. "Tango down…F Deck, Hatch 53…" reports another. I don't need to be told what Tango down means, they've killed two of the terrorists, or maybe it means target. I don't know. Works either way. "Tango down…E Deck, Corridor 12…" "Tango down…E Deck, Corridor 11…" The Gunslingers are moving deeper into the ship. There is a long line of windows towards the front of the ship, the observation lounge, that's where we really see the flashes of Gunfire light up. "Tango down…observation deck… Tango down…observation deck…" "Tango down… Tango down… Tango down…" All the Ravens in the Mess Deck are shouting enthusiastically now with the report of each 'Tango down'. "Slinger 11 down… starboard observation lounge…" The Ravens become instantly silent. We just lost a Gunslinger. "Tango down… forward observation lounge…" "Slinger 6 down…" "Slinger 5 assuming command…" My blood turns to ice and I stand and shout. "NO, FATHER!" I have my dagger in my hand and try rushing the Vid-screen slashing wildly; the Officer that was sitting next to me grabs me and pulls me back. I listen and watch, numb, as the reports of the assault continues. The whole thing takes another six minutes. I know. I'm staring at the clock timer at the top of the Vid-screen. "All Tango's down… ship secure…" reports Slinger 5. "We need a Med-ship immediately," says the voice of another Gunslinger. Moro is next to me and grabs my shoulders and turns me to face him. "Listen, hatchling," says Moro. "They just called for a Med-ship, that means Slinger 11 or Slinger 6, or both, are still alive and need medical evacuation." "How do we find out?" I whisper in shock. "They will take them down to the surface, we know what hospital they will be sent to," says Moro. "I'll have a Raven team waiting to report, we can wait." "How long?" I ask. "Thirty minutes, tops, for re-entry and arrival at the hospital," says Moro. I sit and wait while Moro talks to a Senior Officer and orders are passed. The Vid-screen goes blank and I look at Moro questioningly. "We will have audio only," says Moro. "There's not enough time to get a Vid-camera to the Raven team, they are scrambling just to make it to the landing pad at the hospital ahead of the Med-ship." All the Ravens remain in the Mess Deck and wait with me. I think that's odd, they aren't acting the way I would expect Ravens to act; I thought they didn't like Gunslingers. The next thirty minutes are the longest thirty minutes of my life. "This is Arono, over," says the distinctive voice of a Raven from the darkened Vid-screen. An Officer walks over and a Com-Specialist hands him a Com-headset. "This is Captain Genae of the Battleship Talon Blaze," says the Captain. "I need the status of the two Gunslingers being brought in on the arriving Med-ship." "Yes, Sir," says Arono. "I have eyes on. Two Gunslingers, first one looks in bad shape, a Med-team is working on him. Second Gunslinger is sitting up, and appears to be fighting with the Med-team to get off the stretcher, has a leg wound I think." "Can you see their ranks?" asks the Captain. "Checking..." says Arono.”Yes... the one in bad shape is a Master Sergeant; second one with the leg wound is a Colonial." I sit back and close my eyes and sigh in relief. "The Colonial is Simon," I say. Jaco lays his hand on my arm. "He's a tough bird," says Jaco. "Follow the situation and continue to report," orders the Captain and removes the headset. I stand and look at the Captain, “Thank you, Sir.” Moro steps up and faces everyone in the Mess Deck. “We will postpone the competition until tomorrow out of deference for Keal,” says Moro. Something in me, something that has been smoldering and set free by the near loss of my father snaps. I face Moro and he looks into my eyes and takes a step back. “No,” I nearly growl. “Simon is okay, that danger has passed, but Tani’s health is in more danger each day she waits, we compete now, this is what is best for all.” I turn and walk towards the exit, and Jaco scrambles after me. Tani follows next and then everyone in the Mess Deck is following. I realize I have no idea how to find my way out of the Battleship and Jaco takes the lead and we head outside. I also have no idea what to do once we get outside. How do we start the competition? Moro walks past me and everyone follows him to the center of the field. Moro picks up a stick and draws a big circle in the dirt and then faces the waiting Ravens. “All those competing step into the circle and spread out,” says Moro. “Hero, please don’t do this,” whispers Jaco. I ignore Jaco, grip my blade tight in my hand, and step into the circle. Other Raven boys are entering the circle, maybe twenty of us, and spread out. Tani is nearly glowing, happy with the large number of boys competing; her status will be high for the attention. The other Ravens are holding their Talon daggers in their hands and their eyes are blazing, they are ready. “Last Raven left in the circle has the honor of being the Hatching father,” says Moro. “Begin.” The Raven boys don’t rush right into a fight, we all move deliberately and each carefully choosing their first opponent. A smaller Third Year Raven boy chooses me, probably because he thinks he will get an easy first kill. I crouch and face my opponent. I’m angry and determined. The Raven boy screeches a battle cry at me and I crouch further until I’m nearly on all fours, and I roar like a Beastie-Cat. The Raven boy charges me and I block, though clumsily, with my dagger. The blades ring out and he tries a sweeping kick but I jump and twist my body and kick out with all my might. My foot connects with his chest and he flies out of the circle and lands with a heavy thump. At least I didn’t have to kill my first opponent. I sense more than see the movement and duck and spin. Another Raven boy is swinging at me, his Talon dagger reversed. I glance to the side and see his first opponent sitting outside the circle watching, a bruise forming on his eye. Why didn’t he kill his opponent? Raven fights like this are usually to the death, I knew what I was getting into. The Raven boy swings again and I block and try the jumping twist and kick but he knows the counter move and I take a good clip to the jaw and stagger back. Then he is on me and pummeling me mercilessly, I fall on my back and he is on top of me with his dagger at my throat. I’m dead. I tried, but now he will kill me. “You think we can not see through your simple manipulations,” says the Raven. “You deny what you know to even yourself, to protect yourself, not your mate; you are a foolish and stupid little Raven, just like your Jackdaw mate. You have no idea why we brought you here, or why we are here, or anything that is truly happening.” The Raven boy slaps me on the forehead with the flat of his Talon dagger. “I should at the least give you a scar to remember but I won’t,” continues the Raven. “I am sorry your Hatching father was wounded today, but that does not change how stupid of a Chirp you are.” The Raven boy grabs my belt buckle and the collar of my coat, picks me up, and throws me out of the circle. I land on my backside and then Jaco is there. “Jaco?” I look at him confused. “Why didn’t he kill me?” “I don’t know?” says Jaco. “But look, none of them are killing; this isn’t how Ravens do it.” We watch the boys fight until a single Raven is left in the circle, but none of the Ravens that lost are hurt, other than a bunch of bruises, and maybe some sprains. Tani walks into the circle and takes the arm of the winner and they walk off together. Moro walks over and looks down at me. “The trial is postponed again until Simon can be here,” says Moro and then walks away. [End Part II]