[IRW Aylhr] Penumbra - SD242301.07 -[Backlog] Past Imperfect Pt 11 - Shiarrael t'Rehu

A Mission Post by Riov Rhaego tr'Neyl
Mission: Penumbra
Location: Ch'Dherex
Timeline: 15 Years Previous

If quick, I survive. If not quick, I am lost. This is death." – Sun Tzu

[Ch'Dherex, I'Dhera]

Columns of smoke poured out from multiple buildings dotting the I'Dhera skyline creating a thin haze that obscured the full brightness of the Dherex sun. Everything was eerily quiet. The normal bustling city was devoid of activity and life- save for the gathering of officers from the Romulan and Klingon militaries in orbit. The setting for the battle was an old amphitheater at the edge of I'Dhera carved out of glossy ivory colored marble. On the north side the Klingon contingent stood, rowdy, and gleeful as they made mocking gestures across the marble stage at the Romulan contingent.

Flanked by Shiarkek on one side and Raha on the other Shiarrael surveyed the scene in front of her. The marble was old, worn, and porous. The stage itself had to be at least fifty feet in diameter set on the lower center of a bowled theater. Slung over her shoulder was the strap of her family's prized S'Harien's sheath that rested against her back.

"They are quite obnoxious." Shiarrael heard someone snort behind her.

"Well, what do you expect of such beasts? I can smell their foulness from here. I'm sure they happily bathed in targh dung before gracing us with their presence." Someone else replied.

"Enough!" Raha snapped from next to Shiarrael. She turned around and scowled at the group of wing commanders "silence, all of you!" Ever since Shiarrael had failed to dissuade Shiarkek from volunteering to fight the Klingon champion Raha had not spoken directly to her. She was tempted to tell her to calm herself but decided it was not worth the effort as a commotion amongst the Klingons caught her attention.

Across the amphitheater Kemeran slowly meandered down the steps towards the stage with the giant Klingon champion tailing him. The beast of a creature dwarfed the overweight Klingon in both size scope, creating a large column of shadow that crossed the stage. Stepping forward with Shiarkek, she whispered "you must not allow him to land a blow. While he may not be as agile as you, a single blow from that beast may be your undoing."

"I am not afraid." Shiarkek said "plus, remember who my teacher is." He looked at her and smirked. "I will not take him lightly."

Shiarrael grabbed the hilt of her S'Harien and removed it from the sheath straddling her back. The polished blade glinted against the sunlit haze. She held it out for him to take "the Bat'Leth is a weapon designed to kill. You will be at a disadvantage even with my S'Harien. Do not soil it with your blood- only the blood of that beast ahead of us."

"IE Rekkhai." Shiarkek bowed and took the ancient blade from her.

When they reached the center of the stage Kemeran chuckled "this will be a glorious battle." He said and slapped his bulbous chest "any words Shiarrael?"

"I have none." She stated tersely while wondering how glorious it would actually be. She had a fearful suspicion that it would be anything but. Shiarkek you fool- do not get yourself killed. Turning around she returned to Raha's side. When Kemeran reached the Klingon contingent he lifted a disruptor into the air and then fired, signaling the start of the fight.

Shiarkek looked like a small rodent against a giant thrai as he and the Klingon slowly circled one another about six feet apart. On the other side of the stage the Klingon audience shouted and snarled. Meanwhile only tense silence surrounded Shiarrael. Suddenly the champion lunged at Shiarkek spinning his bat'leth at the smaller Romulan. Anticipating the move, Shiarkek spun slightly managing to dodge Klingon's attack and swung the S'Harien as the massive beast passed him. He missed the Klingon by inches and spun around and aimed for the Klingon's back. The champion twisted and deflected the spearing blow with the edge of his bat'leth. The force of the bat'leth clanging against his sword sent Shiarkek stumbling backwards. The Klingons roared.

The Klingon charged at Shiarkek before he could get his footing and raised the Bat'leth swinging downward with force. Rolling to his left he managed to dodge the Klingon's strike by a hair's width and swung the S'Harien in retaliation as he rolled away. The tip of the blade caught a piece of the Klingon's armor sending several pieces of metal clattering across the marble of the stage. The Romulans cheered at this.

Standing up, Shiarkek smirked at the Klingon. Don't get too confident and focus, Shiarrael thought. This time Shiarkek charged at the Klingon swinging the S'Harien wildly as he did. The Klingon took a few steps back but braced himself and parried the blows easily with the bat'leth and slammed his right elbow into Shiarkek's cheek. A gasp erupted around her as Shiarkek fell to the hard marble and rolled away from the Klingon, the S'Harian landed a few inches away from his grasp. The champion roared and laughed. Shiarkek slowly pushed himself back up, his face slightly disfigured by a large welt growing on his cheek. He grabbed the blade and charged again at the laughing Klingon.

"You fool!" Shiarrael screamed. The Klingon again parried the attack but this time he wrenched the sword from Shiarkek's grip and spun him around. Before Shiarkek could react the Klingon's bat'leth tore through his neck in a slanted motion until it stopped halfway through his lower ribcage. Looking at them the Romulan Admiral opened his mouth but only a large river of emerald liquid poured forth before his body went limp. The champion roared and used his boot to push Shiarkek's body off the bat'leth causing it to fall hard against the ivory marble. A a cascade of emerald blood and organs spilled forth to Klingon laughing and roars.

Kemeran shouted "It is done! The champion-"

His voice trailed off as Shiarrael stepped onto the stage. She knelt in front of Shiarkek's lifeless and mangled body. "Forgive me, I should not have allowed this." She whispered and then looked up at the Klingon champion who eyed her from across the arena where he was enjoying the cheers of the other Klingons. "He will fight me."

"Galae'EnRiov no!" several of the officers shouted and a few even started to come retrieve her but Shiarrael lifted her hand to stop them. Standing up she walked over to the fallen S'Harien and picked it up. For his part the Klingon champion shrugged and slowly began to meander over to her with his bat'leth raised and a grin across his face.

Closing her eyes for a moment Shiarrael thought herself quite a fool at this moment. Perhaps she should have taken more to Sakarra's instructions on logic. Certainly, she would find it quite illogical that Shiarrael would challenge such a massive beast in physical combat. Shiarrael was a well known Telnari and Komerek practitioner, but this was a bit beyond her element. Holding the sword in front of her in a guard position she smiled at the champion "you smell as bad as you look." His grin turned into a scowl as he charged her.

The Klingon swung his bat'leth in a large arc. Shiarrael leapt away and felt the beast's weapon stir the air where she had been a few moments before. She quickly regained her composure, now watching the Klingon as he trampled over the lifeless body of Shiarkek and stumble. She saw her opportunity and charged him. The Klingon swept the Bat'leth at her but slipped on the blood-soaked marble crashing to his knees as he swung. Using a quick dodge, she moved away from its path, balancing on one foot as she thrust upward with her sword. The Klingon responded by leaning back just as the blade passed him by. Using his free arm, he punched her in the ribcage, the force sending her rolling across the arena. Standing up she spit out a mouthful of blood and stretched, feeling a heavy sharp pain from her ribs. How many had he just broken? She drew in a deep breath and let slip a feral grin as the Klingon slowly stood up and tried to balance himself against the bloody slickness. This would be it.

She charged again. Seeing her coming towards him the Klingon roared swinging his weapon with all the force behind him. Shiarrael met him, her sword a graceful blur of steel as it seemed to almost dance in the air. She parried, blocked, and struck with precision, her reflexes always managing to stay one step ahead of the Klingon. The two clashed, metal clanging against metal in deafening metallic thunder. With a sudden burst of energy, she launched an attack that saw her slicing through the air, her blade weaving in and out in a flurry of lethal movements. The Klingon reacted and ducked and parried with his bat'leth. Shiarrael reached out with her left hand and grabbed his shoulder plate armor pulling him down. He replied with his bat'leth and sent the weapon through her arm, but Shiarrael found her an opening and slammed into his chest. The S'Harian in her right hand thrust upward skewering the Klingon through his neck until the metal glimmered through the top of his ridged skull. She panted heavily leaning into the Klingon's massive body. His wide shocked eyes fell on her and smiled "Q'p-" he gargled causing purple spittle to splash from his mouth onto Shiarrael face. The Klingon fell backwards and Shiarrael followed crumpling on top on him, her hand still holding the sword. The entire arena was silent. Shiarrael felt her vision blurring, she tried to reach down and push herself up but looked over to only see a small, ragged stump remaining of her left arm. "Fvadt." She managed to mutter before blackness took her.

[To be continued]

This is an automated email, please don't reply to this message.