Pop-ex (Population Exchange)

The Fallout

Vlon's view

Just as I'm about to pass out I feel a second surge of energy, and see myself being held up by Vloncar, and how our bodies line up. I don't hesitate. This energy won't do me any good if I black out before I use it. I raise my right knee with all the force the energy gives me, connecting with his weak spot.

His eyes roll back into his head. His hand releases my neck, but Vloncar manages to grab my shirt on the way down. His weight causes my shirt to rip.

I hear Tiger's voice in my head whisper, "Good girl, you heard me." Just as Captain Zerrva shouts, "Winner, warrior Vlon!"

Next thing I know he and Skit are in front of me, weapons drawn. Captain James appears behind me with my discarded chest armor and whispers, "You might want to put this back on."

I slip it on quickly as the Warvians close in on us. The one whose nose I broke in the market space declares, "The wench is ours!"

Captain Zerrva points his weapon at the man. "Vlon was challenged as a warrior, trained as a warrior, and won as a warrior. She has won the right to choose her crew."

"I choose to stay with the Maiden Explorer!" I declare loudly.

The space dock doctor manages to make it to Vloncar. After examining him for a few minutes he announces, "The warrior Vloncar has suffered permanent defeat."

"That puts us in a rather bad position." One of the Warvians who was in Vloncar's corner admits.

"Vlonca, help!" Valor's voice calls over the crowd.

I rush to him. When I'm almost to him I spot Tiger and Jorman lying on the ground beside Valor.

I don't have to ask. I know they gave me their energy. I get between them, squat down, and close my eyes. I don't have energy to give back, but so many people are excited or angry, that extra energy is flooding the vibrations in the room. I gather from that, and slowly funnel energy into Tiger and Jorman, being careful not to give them the energy faster than they can handle taking it in.

It takes several space minutes before they open their eyes.

Jorman looks at me and asks, "Did you win?"

I nod my head, holding back tears of joy and relief.

Tiger grabs me into a tight embrace. "You're a woman." He whispers.

"I am." I tell him, "But that's not exactly a secret anymore."

I feed him a little more energy. We can't afford for him to stay weak. Now that Jorman is awake he can tap his own energy, but Tiger still needs me.

"Arkner!" Tiger suddenly exclaims.

"What about me?" Arkner asks as he stumbles up.

Tiger shakes his head. "I saw you giving energy to Vlon."

Arkner nods his head. "But, unlike you fools, I kept some for myself." He says with a chuckle.

"I couldn't live with myself if I didn't." Tiger states as he stares at me.

Captain Zerrva orders, "Unless you are part of the crew of the Tharian ship, Maiden Explorer, or the Warvian ship, Battle Star, you need to exit the arena immediately! All feeds to ships not mentioned have already been cut off. The show is over."

There's a lot of grumbling. Captain Zerrva puts his compulsion skill behind the order, and no one can refuse. It's not something he usually does, especially on so many people. From what I understand his willingness to refrain from doing so is why he was entrusted with the largest space dock in the first place.

Part of me wants to leave too, but a bigger part of me knows I need to stay.

Once the arena is practically empty: Captain Zerrva says, "Vlon, you need to come here."

There's no compulsion. Even if there was: I'm one of the few people on this dock that could ignore it.

I stand up and step to where he is with Jorman holding my right hand, and Tiger holding my left, and Valor holding Tiger's left hand.

The body of Vloncar still lies on the floor, but now it's covered in a black cloth.

Captain Zerrva tells one of the Warvians, "Play it."

The man holds out a thick disk and presses a small button on the side of it. A hologram of Vloncar appears. It states, "As required of someone in command, who is about to enter a warrior battle: I hereby declare that if I am to be killed in this battle, my opponent, Vlon, has shown themselves worthy of command, and will take my place as the Captain of the Battle Star."

I shake my head in disbelief.

Captain Zerrva pulls me aside and explains, "We're in a predicament here. If you refuse the command on the grounds of being female; they can insist that you belong to them as a female child of a male Warvian, and charge you with murder of Captain Vloncar. As the warrior Vlon, you have to tread carefully to keep from causing conflict."

I take a deep breath, hold myself upright, and return to standing by my family, but don't grab their hands.

"Who is second in command?" I ask the Warvians.

The man holding the hologram disk answers, "I was Captain Vloncar's second, but as his replacement: you have the right to choose your own."

I close my eyes to think for a moment, and allow a light connection to the universal vibrations.

When I open them again I exclaim, "I realize there has never been a female commander of any Warvian ship. I also know that I'm not willing to step onto a ship I don't feel safe on." I take two steps forward. "So, here's the deal: if you are a male member of the Battle Star, and do not wish to remain under my command; you are welcome to use the rest of this space week to transfer to another Warvian ship."

"What of our females?" One of the Warvians I haven't met asks.

"The females are to be released from the Battle Star, and housed on the space dock, or other non Warvian ships, until I get a chance to interview them." I order, "No female from my ship is to be taken to another Warvian ship, or be treated as communal property from this moment forward, or I will personally kill you. Keep in mind that I'm half Nyrarian, with an active gene, and I will know if you disobey me."

Vloncar's second replies, "Yes Captain Vlon."

"Technically, it's Vlonca." I inform him.

"Vlon is acceptable." He states, "Whichever you prefer."

"I'm used to Vlon." I admit.

Another Warvian asks, "Where will you be staying?"

"On the Tharian ship, the Maiden Explorer, with my family, at least for this space week." I answer. Then I turn to Vloncar's second. "Are you going to be leaving the crew?"

He shakes his head. "Vloncar was told a long time ago that his offspring would return to take his place, and lead us into a great nation. I intend to watch it happen."

"Then I declare you my second. You will assemble a list of all males who are staying, as well as a list of all females and where they are being housed. I also require a copy of laws and punishments, so I can review them." I order in a deep tone.

"Yes Captain Vlon." He replies.

"One more thing." I say softer.

He looks at me expectantly.

I raise an eyebrow. "It would be good for me to know the name of my second."

He bows slightly. "Karnar, at your service."

I turn to Skit. "Make sure Karnar receives the information needed to send the requested documents to the wrist computer you provided."

Skit nods slightly and states with a smirk, "Yes Captain Vlon."

I turn to Captain James. "I now request access to your ship as a fellow captain, and in understanding that I am a guest, with no charge over your crew."

"Access granted, Captain Vlon." Captain James responds with a friendly grin.

I turn towards the Warvians. "Crew of the Battle Star, report to Karnar your intentions to stay, or transfer to another ship, so arrangements can be made. Dismissed!"

"Yes Captain Vlon." Fills the room.

I turn to Tiger, and my heart softens as our eyes connect. I offer him my arm, even though he's healed enough not to need it. He takes it.

Captain James leads the way out of the Arena, with Tiger and I behind him, Valor and Jorman behind us, and any remaining crew members straggling along behind them.

Once we're on the Maiden Explorer Captain James turns around and asks me, "May I return to your quarters with you?"

I nod my head.

Behind us I hear Arkner say, "Captain James, I request permission to board."

"As do I." Captain Ton states.

"Permission granted." Captain James states without even looking.

Both men fall in line behind our group, as the rest of the crew makes their way to their own destinations.

Jorman whispers, "Our quarters are going to be full."

I nod my head and tell him, "You and Valor should go to Tiger's quarters."

"Race you!" Valor says, slapping Jorman on the back just before taking off.

Jorman runs after him.