Rising Warrior-Rising Threat Read online

  Arion slipped under the rope. Clad in his PT clothes, Arion raised his hands to the crowd and turned slowly around as he waited for his opponent.

  A gasp rose up from the crowd.

  Arion finished his turn as his competitor entered the ring. His opponent charged across the ring. Stepping to the side, Arion grabbed him by the wrist. Spinning around he twisted and flipped the younger cadet back onto the dusty ground in the center of the ring.

  Arion craned his neck around in a theatrical manner to excite the crowd. He returned his attention to the man as he lay there gasping for breath. “This isn’t a dance sweetheart, get up and fight.”

  The man kicked at Arion but he jumped out of the way. His opponent lurched back to his feet and rushed him again. Arion rolled his eyes. No form, no technique, just blind rage. Arion twisted away from the man’s flailing first punch. Pulling his own punch, he struck the man in the side of the rib cage, knocking the air out of him.

  Arion pitied the man as stumbled back. This fight wouldn’t be any kind of challenge, and there was no way he’d even work up a sweat at this pace. He looked around, hoping that someone there might spar with him after he’d sent this sorry sack running. He froze in shock when he saw Alieha Tedrick standing amongst the crowd.

  She was the most alluring woman Arion had ever met. The sepia-skinned beauty could make even the hideous mustard-yellow uniforms look elegant and gorgeous. She was the focus of the affections of many males at the academy, not all of them Anulian. She had been in most of his psychology classes since starting at the academy. Arion, however, had little occasion to speak with her as she tended to work alone or with other groups.

  Ever since the start of this semester however, he’d caught her looking at him in class several times. She was subtle about it., sometimes setting her macomm screen to partial reflection so she could observet him. He wondered what she could see in him? He didn’t consider himself much of a looker and she was beyond gorgeous. She could have any man she wanted. She had even turned down Gavit, on more than one occasion. Arion had never heard of any other woman doing that.

  What’s she doing here? I’ve never seen her here before. The distraction gave Arion’s opponent a chance to land a punch to the bigger man’s cheek. Arion turned a dismissive eye on his opponent, the punch feeling like a baby’s slap. The man realized his mistake and tried to back away. Arion reached over, grabbed him and tossed him into the waiting crowd to the sound of cheers and laughter. His interest was no longer in this bout.

  Arion grinned and decided to work the crowd some more. “Give me some sport or find someone who can.” The match had been so lopsided that it had left Arion even more frustrated and pent up than before. I’ll have to ask Zithe or Trevis to spar with me later in the gym.

  Then a voice called out which sent a warm quiver through Arion. “I’ll give you some sport baby.” Arion turned to the sultry voice and found Alieha ducking under the rope.

  Arion had fought women before. In fact it was encouraged. The demands and challenges the cadets faced made no distinction based on gender or species and neither did The Ring. He stared at her striding across the dusty ground, each graceful step filled with purpose. There was something in her walk which suggested an agenda besides fighting, bur he was at a loss as to what it could be.

  Arion rose back to his full height as she approached. Even though Alieha was tall by normal standards, Arion still stood over a head taller. She took up a fighting stance opposite him. “You want a sparring partner to work up a sweat. Then let me show you that I’m more than just your little bedroom plaything.”

  That statement left Arion stunned and open to her first punch. He shook it off and grabbed her wrist, pulled her in close. “What in Drig’s name are you going off about?” he asked a hair above a whisper so that the crowd couldn’t hear him.

  She slipped out of his grip and slid behind him. Jumping onto his back, she wrapped her arms around his neck to try a chokehold. Her slim arms had difficulty getting around his powerful neck muscles. “Just play along. See that dip you practically tossed out of the ring?”

  Arion nodded and played along, making a show of struggling with her grip to keep her from crushing his windpipe.

  “He’s been after me since last semester, but I don’t want to date him. He’s insistent and I told him that you’re my boyfriend.”

  Arion spun about, dropping to the ground and onto Alieha in a controlled fall so as not to hurt her. “You’ve got to be kidding me!” He rolled off her as she let go and she shook her head no. Even tousled by the fall and the dirt, she still looked sexy.

  Alieha rushed him and managed to land a punch against his chest; she recoiled. “Afraid not. He thought, stupidly, that if he challenged you, and beat you, that I would go out with him instead.”

  Arion shook his head and waggled a finger at her. “Bad move. All you had to do was ask me and I could have dealt with him. I just don’t get why he believed you’d date me.”

  She offered him a wicked smile, and dropping to the ground kicked him hard in the ankle. The first kick did little more than jar him, but a second to the back of the knee toppled him. She leapt onto his back, hollering. “See I can hold my own against you. I’m not some fragile trophy you place on a shelf!”

  Arion staggered to his feet with her on his back. She’s good at this. Still, she didn’t have near the training he did. He had to be careful not to really hurt her as she brought her lips back to his ear. “Please just play along. Maybe let me beat you so that he leaves me alone.”

  “I have a better idea,” Arion commented reaching back over his shoulder and grabbing her. “But one question first. Am I just your imaginary boyfriend?”

  They continued to struggle, Arion staggering about the ring as the crowd cheered. Alieha wriggled against his grip and wrapped her legs around him, rubbing her foot against his crotch in the process. She then leaned in close and licked his ear. “I’ve wanted you since the first cycle I saw you.”

  The whole thing surprised Arion and he faltered, almost falling as her shoe fell away. Looking down for a moment, he saw her dip her toes into his shorts, his manhood within rising to meet her. “And excuse me for being so forward, but I don’t want to waste any more time.”

  Arion liked where this was going, aggressive women tended to know what they wanted, and he’d ignored his own desires for too long. Reassuming his grip on her shoulder, he pulled Alieha off his back, and tossed her to the ground. She flipped in the air and landed like a choreographed dancer, skidding along the dirt for several metra. “Baby you need to get like this in the bedroom, I’m liking it!” he yelled, playing along, his erection bulging his loose shorts.

  “You want aggressive, I’ll give you aggressive,” she yelled back and ran at him.

  Arion dipped into a low crouch, his legs spread wide, and she dropped, sliding beneath him. Arion could see what she was doing and dropped as well, cutting off access to his privates and pinned her to the ground beneath him. She struggled for a moment against his mass. Arion held her hands down and both of them just stayed there, panting, staring at each other. Arion stared into those gorgeous azure eyes of hers. Her aggressive features softened, I could get lost in those eyes.

  Then she sat forward and kissed him on the lips. It was passionate, thoughtful and reminded him what he’d been giving up for too long. He released her hands and grabbed her face returning the kiss as she put one hand behind him, pulling him close and slipped the other into his shorts. “I want you so badly right now,” she said into his ear loud enough for everyone to hear.

  Arion wanted her too, and moaned with pleasure as she massaged the contents of his shorts. He wrapped his arms around her and hoisted them both off the ground. “You don’t waste any time do you?”

  She shook her head.

  “Then let’s not waste anymore,” he continued. Getting back to his feet, he cradled her in his arms before walking, triumphant, to the edge of the ring. The man he’d fought earlier stared up at him. “Stay away from my girl or next time it won’t be the dirt I toss you into, but an airlock!”

  The crowded hooted as Arion carried Alieha out of the pit. It was hard to focus as she nuzzled his neck and stroked his chest. When they reached ground level Alieha slid out of his arms and back to the ground. Looking back she saw her shoe still sitting in the ring. “Oh well, I have another pair in the locker room. I’ll race you there, I need a shower,” and she took off running.

  Arion chased after her as best he could with his throbbing erection, a giant smile across his face.

  Dorm Room 305, UCSBA-13

  Arion stood in the room, holding up various shirts against his chest as he looked in the mirror when his roommates rushed in. Gavit ran over and patted him on the back, as did Matt and even Bichard.

  Arion was even more confused when Rudjick, with Gokhead trailing him, ran into the room and gave the big man a hug. “What?”

  Gavit looked up at him incredulously. “Seriously, you have to ask? You blasted near bang Alieha Tedrick right there in The Ring and you have to ask?”

  Arion shook his head. “It’s not like that.”

  Rudjick jumped back. “You are my personal god, you know that. You stoiked the hottest woman at the academy, details man, we need details,” he called out and launched back into a chair, the look of an expectant child on his face.

  Gokhead even nodded. “I agree, even I am curious.”

  Arion held up his hands. “Nothing happened, I swear.”

  The room went silent, disbelief written on every face. Arion felt sure that the word coming back from The Ring said that the pair only just kept themselves from having sex right there in the dirt. After that he was certain someone had spotted them running into the shower room toge
ther.

  Gavit stepped back and eyed Arion. “You better have a damned good explanation big man or I will lose any respect I have for you as a sexual being.”

  “Look, she needed my help out of a jam. I helped her, and well, asked her out. She said yes.”

  “And?” Rudjick asked. “How in the infinite levels of Sheol did you not ravage her in the showers when you had her there? I mean, you were in the showers, she would have been all wet, and glistening,” he went said trailing off before crossing his legs and bending over.

  Arion grimaced. “The showers were full. Believe me, if they weren’t, we probably would have.”

  The group groaned in disappointment.

  “But we have a date in half a hect and I can’t figure out what to wear.”

  The door chimed and before anyone could answer, Chris strode into the room, a garment bag in her hands. Everyone stared at her as she walked across to Arion, looking him over before hanging the bag up next to the mirror and unzipping it. “Those shirts are shit, toss ‘em.”

  Gavit snatched the two shirts from Arion’s hands. “Gladly.”

  Chris took a shirt out of the bag and held it up to Arion; shook her head. “Wrong color for your dark skintone.”

  Gavit nodded and Arion just stared at them, confused as Chris got out the next shirt. “Look Arion, you need to get laid. Everyone here with the exception of Bichard has been getting some, and you need to loosen up.”

  “She’s right,” Rudjick laughed as Chris held the next shirt up to his chest, it was two sizes too small for his bulky frame. “Sheol, even Acknit has that ‘study partner’ of his. And no offense Gok, but even Gokhead here has managed to unload his sacks a few times.”

  Gokhead blushed beneath his fur as Chris shot Rudjick a hard look.

  Gavit nodded and looked at the shirt. “Right color but it’s too small.”

  Chris shook her head. She and Gavit were the most socially active of any of the team members, though Gavit’s exploits were more well-known. Rumors persisted about Chris and Bichard despite both of them denying it. “Meta-material,” she replied and tapping the collar, the shirt grew two sizes to fit him. “I just don’t like the collar.”

  Gavit dug into the garment bag. “His neck is hard to work with, here try this one. Where did you get this anyway?” Gavit asked handing her a new shirt.

  Chris smiled as she held the shirt up to Arion and adjusted the size. “Perfect. Remember Pelten, that legal major I dated last semester?”

  “Yeah, kind of a dick, but he knew how to dress.”

  “Yeah, well he left that in my room when he dropped out. I knew I would find a good use for it eventually.”

  Arion slipped on the shirt, and after adjusting the collar, had to admit that it looked good on him. “Guy had good taste.”

  “That he did, Sheol of a dresser,” Chris replied. “Too bad he was a total idiot. Now where are you two going?”

  “We agreed to Mendrick’s.”

  “Nope,” Gavit called and tapped his temple to activate his Micomm.

  “She suggested it.”

  Gavit held up a hand. “Hey Wolg,” he said to someone over the Micomm. “Yeah, thanks. Look I need a table for two in a hect, can you do?” Gavit waited a moment. “You owe me Wolg, make it happen.” Another pause and Gavit smiled. “Hect plus twenty, good, reservation is for Scotts and Tedrick.” There was another pause. “Yeah you heard me right, Scotts and Tedrick, can you get? Good,” Gavit went on giving Arion a thumbs up. “They’ll be there,” and Gavit signed off looking back at Arion. “I just released a huge favor big man. You’re in at the overlook.”

  Arion’s eyes went wide. The overlook didn’t show on any academy registry. The small restaurant existed only because Chief Flind allowed it to operate off the back end of the hangar bay, high above the rest of the academy at the outspin-most level. It looked across the whole expanse of the academy, and served the best food aboard. Cadet Chefs, from the gastronomy department, prepared every meal by hand.

  Guests didn’t even order a meal, the Chefs served whatever they made that cycle, and no one ever complained. The small cartel of cadets who ran it controlled access to the place and it was by invitation only. Few cadets ever got in. “You have access to the Overlook?”

  “Had,” Gavit corrected. “Don’t make me regret this.”

  Chris smiled, impressed. “I never even managed to get in there.”

  “Play your cards right Chris and I can make it happen.”

  “In your dreams Markus. Now Arion, let’s get you in some better pants. Drop them drawers, let’s see what we have to work with.”

  The Overlook, UCSBA-13

  Arion’s nerves trembled as he waited beside a nondescript hatch only a few metra from Chief Flind’s office. He wasn’t sure if he was overdressed or underdressed. The fashionable outfit his friends had picked out for him was not his style by any means. Checking the time on his micomm, he noted that Alieha was late. Please tell me this wasn’t all some elaborate joke and that she didn’t just stand me up.

  The clicking of shoes on the deck plating alleviated his concern. Looking up, he found Alieha making her way towards him. The simple blouse and skirt that Alieha sported looked glamorous on her. Then again Alieha could make even a trash sack look like something a fashion model would wear. She reached Arion and gave him a peck on the lips. “Sorry, but I forgot how hard walking in heels is. Would you believe that it’s even harder in low gravity?”

  Arion shook his head. “Not a problem, you look amazing.”

  “You don’t look so bad yourself,” she said taking his arm. “So where exactly do we go from here?”

  The door slid away and a dark hallway appeared before them. “Proceed down the passageway. Do not deviate,” an unknown voice called.

  Exchanging glances, the pair started down the dark passage toward an opening at the other end with light pouring in from it. They shielded their eyes as they exited and both of them gasped at the view. Arion had never been so close to the central shaft. Seeing the academy spread out like this before them was a little disorienting.

  At ground level it was easy to forget that they were in a giant hollow station as the lights of the central spine(?) served to create a sort of artificial sky. Here however, with shields to block the most intense light they could see all around the academy. Numerous officers and their companions engaged in quiet conversation at the restaurant. None of them took notice of the cadets as they waited at the entrance.

  A cadet in a Chef’s uniform ran up. “Please this way.” He guided them through the tables to one right at the edge, affording them the best possible view. “Compliments of the house,” he announced pulling a bottle of wine from his Chef’s coat and opening it before pouring each of them a glass.

  Arion nodded and pulled out Alieha’s chair for her. In that moment he felt unsure if he had to pay for this meal, and hoped that the cadet stipend he earned was enough. He took the seat opposite Alieha and marveled at this mystery woman as she stared out across the academy. “It’s breathtaking.”

  “Sure is,” he replied, never taking his eye from her.

  Alieha realized he was looking at her and blushed. Her cheeks flashed with an almost unnatural brilliance and then returned to their normal color.

  Arion raised a curious eyebrow. “Are you okay, do you…”

  Alieha took a sip of her wine and shook her head. “No, it’s okay, my uncles doing.”

  Arion cocked another curious eyebrow.

  “My uncle raised my sisters and I. We only had one bathroom. He didn’t want to wait for the lot of us to finish our makeup in the bathroom every dawn so he gave each of us nano-implants in our faces.”

  Arion nodded. In his father’s religion such an excess would be looked upon as sinful. The use of nanobots or any artificial organ or implant was considered blasphemous, even if it cost a life.

  “I like it. It explains why you always look so put together.”

  Alieha blushed, less so this time. “Thank you, my uncle would love to hear you say that. He’s very proud of all of us, but let’s talk about you and me.”

  “Let’s…”

  Long after they finished their meal, the best Arion could remember was that they took a walk around the academy. “Seriously, you like the Donar movies?” Arion asked.