Saber Cat lands
Dusal Mountains
25 March 3081
Point Commander Samson Nova Cat Dusal hadn’t been sleeping. The Elemental, one of the older members of the Clan, had been taken in battle many years before by the Lancers and joined with Krog as a result of a vision- a trait shared by many of the Nova Cat lineage. He didn’t get them often but when he did, it was usually a good precursor of events coming. As such, when he dared bring these visions to his Khan, they were listened to.
This night, one of those visions would cause him to wake from his sleep far earlier than normal… and seek his Khan out.
**
Krog was in the Mead Hall, seated at a desk to the side of the Khan’s Dais when Samson arrived. He had gotten a message from the former Nova Cat and told him to meet here. So when the Elemental arrived, the Khan had seen to having the morning staff ensure there was sustenance for the other…
As Samson approached, Krog took stock of the warrior and noted the stress lines upon his forehead. When he was close the Khan spoke. “What troubles you this morning, Samson?” he asked of the man.
Samson gave a brief bow to his Khan which Krog snorted at and waved off. After a pause, the mystic Elemental spoke. “My Khan, I’ve had a dream the last few nights… and this past night holds a peculiar symbology… that bears bringing to you. It is disturbing and I felt it should be brought to your attention… as it involves Death coming to the Mountain…”
Krog leaned back in his seat. “Death has come here before, Samson…” He replied. “He has come for many on Centarus and while you have seen his coming before, you never seemed this bothered by it… Why does his coming give you concern now?”
The former Nova Cat sighed. “My Khan, I know… what bothers me is how he is being presented within the vision… as a Man walking, a sword upon his side with a belt adorned with many bird skulls…” The warrior looked vexed. “I could hear the sound of Bagpipes, of all the sounds there could be… which is quite odd. When I have seen the visage of death before, the sound of battle was present… and his scythe prominent. This… is very different as he looked different.”
Krog looked at Samson. “That is odd…” Motioning to a seat, he continued. “Describe what you saw… take a moment and begin at the beginning…”
Samson sat and collected his thoughts… “The dream… the vision… begins with mists upon the mountain… as most of them do. It was peaceful… then I saw this man in the mists. Not tall… maybe a meter and a half… and not in Black,” He mused. “More a grey, with a hint of red on a forearm- some sort of symbol in red now I think of it. This man was walking through the mists on a path below where I was- not aimlessly, but seemingly relaxed and yet, with purpose….”
He looked at Krog. “He wore a sword-belt and the blade was sheathed…. And his belt was adorned with the skulls of birds. Mostly birds… there was a few feline skulls too and a canine one. All of them were branded with clan ranks…” A pause as the shaman-elemental was clearly puzzled. “My Khan, I know this was Death or his messenger… but he did not act as if he were seeking anyone or anything- though there seemed to be a purpose to his stride. Just… walking, as if for a stroll- and coming here.”
Krog listened and took note of the description. It was not one he knew of though he did know of someone who collected the rank pins of clan officers killed. Krog had not seen or heard of him in some time… and while he would not call him Death, the leader of Saber Cat would call him a highly effective killer of Clansmen. But that man was somewhere far away, last he knew, and not likely to return. “Where was he walking?”
“It looked as if he was here on the Mountain… The road below…” the former Nova Cat replied.
Krog nodded. “Should this Death come, he comes… and if he is not here for any of us, then we do not give a reason for him to have a reason,” he said. “For all we know, he is on Holiday… and I would think even He takes one once in a while.”
MacKenzie Cottage
0215 hours 26 March
Donnie had spent the previous day catching up with Spirits command element and the other team leaders, discussing key events each had done over the past few years along with learning of the events that had happened on Centarus. He’d been amused by the stories of Trinity Farquharson and her role in taking down the Fifth Column that had been on the planet, commenting she’d been as lucky as she was skilled… He’d also been intrigued by the developments that led to the return of Wolverine and the ending of their hunting by Ghost Bear and Snow Raven.
Donnie had found that incredible, their acceptance of what had been learned of those times in the past… and the finality of the two Clans deciding to end their hunt. Duncan and Aella both expressed varied levels of skepticism of those two entities making the decisions stick but the Skye Highlander expressed his confidence in their rulings. When Colonel McCormack explained her role in the Ghost Bear change of mind, he laughed very hard at that… and when prompted by Leslie, he explained.
He had learned much about Clan Culture and how most of them reacted to change or challenges to long held beliefs. Donnie cautioned the leaders that the two clans were among the more open to adjusting ways of thinking- even when traditions were challenged. It helped that both were fairly unified clans (for Clans) and both took a large amount of stock in learning from mistakes- even old ones.
Neither Clan liked being fooled… that both were known to take umbrage in being led astray. If she had convinced the Ghost Bears to take the hard look (which they apparently did), their findings had obviously matched with what she had determined so it wasn’t a surprise to him they made the choice they did. Given that they were long time allies with Snow Raven, it must have been their doing to convince the them to take the same plunge. Given they too had come to meet with the Wolverines instead of fight, it really meant that info she found was enough to make change there too.
That the Falcons and Wolves hadn’t bought into the same information, that too didn’t surprise him. Those two clans were as hidebound as Highlanders… and that, to him, was saying something. Kerensky and his whelp could do no wrong as far as they were concerned so a doubling down was to be expected.
As the day wore on, Donnie had listened intently to the information on various battles that had taken place on the world and was very interested in the story of Dyckman’s death. He had expressed surprise at Krog’s methods of dealing with the former traitor… and a measure of satisfaction at what the new Clan’s Khan had done. It was very Old School… and even with the power difference, a bold and gutsy call. No matter who or what you were as a fighter, an opponent could get lucky… and Donnie remembered that Dyckman did have a bit of a lucky streak at times for things nefarious.
When he bedded down for the night, his thoughts turned to that action that Krog had done… and in mulling it over, Donnie really became impressed with what had been done. The old commando had always wondered who would have won in a fight between the two of them… and the more he thought on it, the more he became certain of one belief…. Had he had tried that Elemental back then, Donnie had a feeling it would have ended end with no winner… and he’d not have been here to kill that bastard.
He also thought that one such as Krog should never have to dirty his hands again in such a fashion. A leader such as he… should have something specific to deal with enemies as vile as that traitor. Something suitable for killing with finality and properly direct. Guns were too impersonal and swords, while excellent for combat… just didn’t seem appropriate for an Elemental to use. But something he had was… though it needed a new haft. Considering how he had broken it and on who… perhaps why he hadn’t fixed it had just presented itself to him.
Getting out of the bed in the side room, he padded out into the main room of the cottage, where Duncan sat going over something on a tablet. “Laddie…” he said quietly. “A question for you.”
Duncan looked up from his seat. “A question at two in thae morning?” He replied. “Must be important…”
“It is,” Donnie said. “How hard tae get a flight tae Crossroads?”
“Nae hard….” Duncan said. “Why, might I ask?”
“I be having a need to see a Khan.”
A blink. “Wha’ever fer?” Setting the tablet down, he fixed Donnie with a direct gaze. “Lots of Clanners down thair… Ye looking fer a fight?”
A shake of the head. “Nay… I be looking to give a gift.”
Duncan closed his eyes for a few seconds, mulling over what the hell Donnie could be looking to give as a gift. “What, pray tell… ye be looking to give him, besides mebbe a headache?”
“Ye remember that Jag Star Colonel I brained?”
“Aye…” Duncan answered. “And a right justified braining ye gave tha’ bastard too…”
“Well, I never did fix glacadóir ceann afterward. Never found the right wood or a reason tae get it done,” He said sheepishly. “And haven’t needed to, tae be completely honest. Haven’t had a worthy foe to dig it out for… Nor impetus to.”
“And now ye do?” He asked. “At two thirty in thae morning?”
A nod. “Aye… though nae for the reason ye may think.” Donnie replied. “It occurs tae me perhaps he needs a new home.”
Duncan was quiet for a few seconds. “Because of…”
A slight smile. “A king needs a proper tool to be dealing with those who need killin’… and well, I be long in the tooth to be using the likes of ‘im anymore.”
A slight smile. “I get it…” he said after a few moments of contemplation. “There be a shuttle in the morning, I think. Just do me a favor?”
“Mm?”
“No causing a diplomatic incident, aye?” Duncan said with a sigh. “His saKhan happens tae be a former Falcon. Krog’s mate is both Former Jaguar and a close friend; I be not wanting to have to kick your arse if ye piss her off.”
A chuckle. “If he’s right proper, then he’s a Saber Cat now and nae a wee uppity Katana Chicken.” Donnie said. “and I know better than to piss off his mate. I promise… no fightin’. Birgitta be proud of me fer practicin’ the gentler side o’ diplomacy and I be not about to wreck me learnin’ such things here. No need fer a shadow, either… My Mum gave me enough sense nae to pull a cat’s tail in a room full of lions.”
Five Kilometers south of Saber Cat Compound
1404 hours 26 March
Donnie got out of the utility vehicle and pulled out his travel ruck. Within it was a change of clothes, a small bedroll and the item to be gifted. Setting it on the ground, he strapped on his sword belt and after adjusting the heavy pistol opposite of his blade, he closed up his coat, shouldered the ruck and adjusted his headgear before stepping off.
It wasn’t terribly cold out but given this was a mountain, he knew that could change. The old soldier found his hiking pace quickly as he worked his way up the road. If the Saber Cats were proper soldiers, he’d be found before long… Not that he was hiding his coming, of course, though he was tempted… but hiking in was a very old way of paying a social visit. Horseback would be more appropriate… but Donnie knew Duncan would never have loaned him one of theirs.
**
As he got closer to the compound, a group of what looked like young Elementals clad in combat uniforms approached. When they reached about fifty meters from him, Donnie stopped and stood waiting.
“Good afternoon, Sir…” the lead boy (jeebus, he’s large, Donnie thought.) called to him as the rest of the Point with the youngling spread out. All of them were armed and while none were pointing guns at him, they were all in positions to change that fast if necessary. “Are you aware you are entering the Lands of Clan Saber Cat?”
Donnie hollered back. “Aye… I am aware and I have business here.”
“What Business do you have upon Saber Cat Lands,” the young warrior asked politely. “And on foot?”
Donnie smiled. “My business is wi’ yon Khan, Point Commander…” he replied as he spotted the speaker’s rank. “And I am on foot as I thought it nice enough fer walkin’…”
**
Krog exited the Mead Hall as the patrol arrived with the walker. He’d been notified by Silas of the patrol’s return with a walker upon the road. When informed as to how the man was garbed, he recalled the discussion from this morning with Samson and smiled slightly. He told his saKhan to have the patrol bring him to the Hall and that he’d meet this person there.
The similarity to the being in Samson’s vision was slightly jarring, to be sure, but the Khan was not a man who was afraid of such things. If this was the same being, he would confront him head on and let the Fates determine what was to come next. Besides… he was tired of paperwork.
Donnie stood surrounded by the bulk of the patrol as its leader stepped up to speak with his Khan. He had turned over his blade and pistol without fuss along with his identicard as the patrol would be honor-bound to protect him if something happened… and if they were out here armed without an Elder, they were obviously capable. And it wasn’t like he was here to pick a fight.
The patrol leader, Mikail Dusal, stepped before Krog and saluted. “My Khan… we discovered this person walking the road up from Crossroads,” he said. “He claims to be coming here to do business with you… and was carrying that sword-” Mikail pointed to one of the others holding the broadsword in its sheath- “and pistol along with a small stiletto. He would not indicate what his reason for speaking with you is other than its personal.” The point commander handed over the identicard to Krog.
Krog, for his part, kept his face neutral. It had been over ten years since he’d last seen this man and he could tell the years had been both kind and not to him. Then again, the same could be said for a great number of those from a decade ago. “Thank you, Point Commander,” he said. “I trust he was polite with you?”
Mikail answered. “Aff,”
“Then he has become very mellow,” Krog replied as he moved to go closer. “Normally there is much invective involved when he speaks to those of the Clans…. And usually more than a few bullets.” When he got within ten feet of Donnie, he stopped. Looking him over, the Khan assessed what he saw before him and smiled slightly. “I thought you would be dead by now, Quiaff…”
Donne grinned slightly. “Oh aye… so did I. An’ it be not fer lack of tryin’ by me enemies,” was the reply. “I managed alright though… So have you, Khan Kell Dusal.” He used Krog’s Blood Name in addressing him, showing the respect deserved which registered with the Khan.
Krog smiled warmly. “Aff, I have. Far better than I could hope yet not as much as I would care for,” he replied. “But I have learned to temper expectations, among other things. Which leads me to ask why you are here, Chief Donald MacFinonaly, and not with your brothers and sisters. Or why they are not here with you…”
Donnie nodded. “Then ye have become far wiser than the Krog I knew a decade past… and better than most of the Clansmen I have fought.” He said. “I have heard of your exploits… and your actions during the Invasion. It is because of one event that I come alone… and bearing a gift. If I may?”
Krog eyeballed the killer of Clansmen carefully and contemplated what that gift could be. A nod to the point commander who in turn motioned for Donnie to get his pack back. He watched the man set the bag down and pull out the peculiar shape of a Lochaber Axe.
The steel of the blade carried a dark sheen, with only the cutting edge shiny and bright. There was a large nick in the edge, as if it had struck something nearly unyielding at some point. It still had a piece of its original haft attached.
“This be Glacadóir Ceann- Head-Taker in the language of me kin…” Donnie said. “Or rather what remains of ‘im. ‘Twas last used during Operation Bulldog against a killer of innocents, a murderer of children who belonged to a Clan that no longer be.” Standing up, he faced Krog and continued. “The haft was broken then an’ I never had reason to repair it… as I had nae planned on it being used again. Nor having a reason to have it be used again.”
He gazed at Krog and held it out to him. “It’s nae a common weapon anymore though it was a commoner’s weapon when it was originally forged,” he said. “It’s meant for killin’ things that need killin’ and it be quite good for that. Given what you did to th’ Traitor a few months past… and what may come to pass in the years tae come, I believe it will do Good Work in ye hands once re-hafted… and ye not have tae dirty ye hands again on filth.”
Krog took the blade from Donnie’s hands and looked it over. After a few seconds, he looked at him. “This has a rich history, does it not?” he asked then laid a finger on the notch in the blade. “And the one you killed with it… would this be from then?”
Donnie took a breath and answered. “Aye… it would be… That was one of the highest-ranking Clansmen I ever killed. Not the last one I ever did but the last Jaguar I ever faced,” he replied. “I literally broke the haft on his head.” He paused then added. “No one gets away with the slaughter of women and children if I ken help it.”
Krog nodded. “Chief MacFionalay, I happen to agree with that notion… and I accept your gift,” he said. “It shall be repaired, and a suitable place will be found for it to reside until needed…” Handing it to a nearby Elemental, he looked back at Donnie. “Are you still chasing ranking Clansmen, Chief? And I also recall you never liked the Clans or those of us here on Centarus, Quiaff?”
Donnie looked directly at Krog. “Only when necessary… and that was then,” he said. Where is this going?
Krog nodded. “Aff, that was then,” he said. “How far up the ‘food chain’ have you managed, if I recall the phrase properly?” A slight smile.
“A Jade Falcon Galaxy Commander…” Donnie answered. “Not in any way that should have worked but it did…”
A nod. “I can imagine the story would be interesting to hear,” Krog said. “Which leads me to the other question… why bring your gift here?”
The son of Skye was quiet for a few seconds. He could tell Krog was up to something but not what it was. But in bringing up his past, there was a message or lesson there, he was sure. That a crowd had gathered was not lost on him… and Duncan did say they had picked up some weird bondsmen. Maybe this was for them. Time to find out…
“A few reasons,” he began. “One, it seemed appropriate tae bring it to you personally, so’s ye knew it came from me. Two… proof there be no shenanigans due to me former youthful habits. Me hatreds of ye clansmen back then were steeped in plenty o’ reasons, good and bad… but as an older an’ hopefully wiser man, I learned tae rethink some of them beliefs. I still have a few- suppose I always will… but those hatreds are nae directed at you and yours. And unless ye give me a reason, never will be.”
He paused. “And three… Given everythin’ that transpired back then, how better to show sincerity in me words then comin’ here alone and nae clad in battlearmor?” He smiled. “If I meant ill, being as nekid as a bairn to do so isnae exactly smart…”
Krog laughed hard at that last bit. “Neg neg… it would not be smart at all…”
Donnie nodded. “And in th’ spirit of being honest,” he added when Krog’s laughter lessened, “were I coming for you, I don’t think I’d be leaving either. No matter what I was using… I dinnae think either of us would walk away. Then or now, I am not suicidal.”
Krog expression sobered some then. He looked Donnie up and down once more and nodded. “Neg. There would be no walking away. A survivor, perhaps… but the price not worth it.” Motioning to Mikail, he ordered. “He is here as a friend and ally; return his things…”
Looking back at Donnie, he then added. “We will sit and eat, Chief MacFionaly… We will speak of times past and to come. I would hear of how you managed a Jade Falcon Galaxy Commander and still live…”
Donnie chuckled. “Sounds good tae me; swear to you on th’ Old Sword’s grave it be a stupid funny story… In exchange, I wanna hear what gave ye the wild hair to start ye own clan…”
Musings of a Gamer 