Calming his breathing so Dagger wouldn’t hear the exertion and pain, he said, “I can keep this up all the way, Dagger. You transmit your emotions so easily. Even the beetles are more reticent. At this range, I have literally seconds to know you’re planning a shot… from that tree, and to evade it. So why don’t you give up now and I’ll promise you a safe flight home and a fair trial for mutiny, theft and the murder of your team?”
The only answer was an intense wall of rage blowing over him. That, and a volley of five hornet rounds that came whizzing overhead and dove for him. His harness cracked out its defensive signals, and the two that were close thudded harmlessly into dirt, showering it in small fountains. One careened off a rock with a sharp sound, while the last two, far ahead, hit two of the herbivores in the small herd. The rounds didn’t penetrate their armor but they must have stung. The beasts stirred and began to move at a trot.
Quickly, Tirdal splashed along and caught up with them, using their agitated movement for cover.
“Really, Dagger, emotional outbursts will not solve the problem,” he said, taunting. Jem discipline had to be different from human martial arts, but there was obviously some similarity. He would give Dagger the simplest, most childish instructions to insult him further.
By now he was among the animals, moving slowly and deliberately to keep them between him and Dagger. “First, let’s consider our center. Look within while breathing slowly, and find the ‘hradir,’ what you would call a pool, except it is a sphere. It is round so as to be even, calm and unruffled by waves. Our emotions cause waves upon it, but like any volume of water, it absorbs the energy and holds it within. If that is too complicated, think of a soap bubble. That often works best for those with chaotic minds, or children.”
The only reply was two more shots. The first was near enough for Tirdal to throw himself prone as one of the creatures shook and reared back. The other was quite some meters away and indicated that Dagger really didn’t know where he was at this point.
Ferret heard the shot far ahead and dropped down for cover. While it was only a joke that he could hide behind a leaf, he was good, and was invisible in an instant. Then he analyzed the threat. He had his sensors maxed and they confirmed that faint cracking sound to be a gauss rifle, sniper type. The gear quickly assessed sound pressure, atmosphere, general terrain, and flashed an estimated distance up. There were seven more shots in two volleys. So Dagger hadn’t hit with his first round. That was interesting. Was he in fact shooting at Tirdal and missing? Or at other threats? Ferret decided he’d keep alert for any more local forms. He recalled vividly that they were armored against most rounds. Was Dagger dealing with several small ones or one tough one? Or was Tirdal attacking him and drawing his fire?
No way to tell. And the information he’d acquired really didn’t tell him anything he didn’t already know from his own senses and the lifesigns gear. It was confirmation, though, and that was a help. Slowly, he rose and moved forward. Now would be the time to make headway on them.
The trees were thinning, so the best guess was that they were shooting it out on flat ground. Dagger likely had sought a tree or other high point. If he used his chameleon, he’d be hard enough to see, and Darhel couldn’t kill, which was why Tirdal was running.
Correction: Darhel had never been known to kill. But Tirdal certainly seemed different. So assume he’d find it awkward but not impossible. Hesitation would likely be his undoing, and he was smart enough to know it, so he’d be hiding.
Time to talk to Tirdal again.
“Tirdal, Dagger is between us, approximately. Should we attempt to flank him?”
Tirdal came on in only a moment. “That would be a good idea, Ferret, if I could be sure of where you were, and if we could trust each other. As it is, I expect you to shoot as soon as you locate me. So I’m afraid I can’t agree.”
“Dammit, Tirdal, Dagger’s the greater threat here.” The alien was so… alien. Precise, logical. Any human would be at least disturbed if not worried. Tirdal was not. It was infuriating.
“I agree. But it’s also likely you consider me to be the easier kill. Therefore, to expose myself would be to invite the two of you to try for me first. That’s the rough part of a three-way war, Ferret. Whoever moves first, dies.”
Sighing, Ferret acceded to the inevitable. He wasn’t going to persuade Tirdal yet. He’d have to bide his time. For now, threats would make things worse. So he said, “Okay, Tirdal, I guess we can’t work a deal now. But keep it in mind. Dagger’s the threat we have to eliminate, then we can try to come to a deal.” Though if he got a lucky shot at Tirdal, he’d damned well take it.
“Fair enough, Ferret. Good hunting.”
“Yeah, you too,” he grudgingly admitted. “As long as it’s Dagger you’re hunting.”
“Of course I can’t be convincing in that regard. Now if you don’t mind, Ferret, I think we’re done for now.”
Tired, aggravated, head itching and now going numb, Ferret limped on, and decided to harass Dagger some more. If he could push Dagger into exposing himself or making any mistake at all, they might get rid of him. It would also be a bargaining chip with Tirdal.
He smiled for a moment. Every part of him was either numb or screaming in agony. He’d always thought he didn’t want to die in bed, but he was beginning to think it had advantages.
“So, Dagger, it’s not going too well, is it?”
“Sooo, you think you can see. Tell me, Ferret, where are you?” Dagger asked back, voice light.
“Dammit, Dagger, you coward,” Ferret exploded. “I’m tempted to tell you so I can blow you away.”
“You’re going to stop me?” Dagger replied with a snicker. “Are you trying to suck up to Tirdal the same way? You know he’s with me, don’t you? That’s why he’s not helping you.” The last part was reasonable, but bullshit. Dagger wasn’t as tough as he tried to be, and Ferret had always known that. And in the last… had it only been two days? It seemed like months… every moral weakness the man had had come out to play.
“He’s not helping me because he’s a gutless freak,” Ferret said. “We both know that. I’m not afraid of him, but you should be afraid of me.”
“But, Ferret, my friend, aren’t you suffering neural effects? Are you going to limp up and bag me?” Dammit, Dagger knew how to twist things. That insult was worse because it was true. Ferret choked back tears and forced his quavering voice under control. Every step sent metal spikes through his legs. Every stumble from a foot that couldn’t find its own footing was another jarring jolt through the heel and up. Muscles were cramping up in his legs, in his hips, even in his neck and shoulders from wincing and reacting. His much-lightened ruck wasn’t helping either, in that regard. The cumulative effect was causing a severe headache under his helmet-numbed scalp. That was causing sporadic nausea, which made it hard for him to even swallow water.
“Oh, the neural effects were minor. I’m still walking, still talking, and still have a few weapons. I wouldn’t count on having range on me. You may be a better shot, but I have tactical position, and Gun Doll’s cannon,” he lied.
That seemed to make Dagger pay attention. “You’re lying,” he said. “Or you would have mentioned it earlier.”
“Sure I’m lying, Dagger. Come here and find out. Want to meet at two thousand meters and we’ll each give it our best?”