Chapter 4 Marks Of Battle
Marks Of Battle
“You must explain the mystery of the word ‘ranch’ to me,” Khoth said to Jace as he studied the ranch-flavored Dorito.
“There’s a mystery to do with the word ‘ranch’?” Jace was already grinning.
“Oh, yes.”
This was bound to be good. Khoth always had such a different way of looking at things.
And, though the Thaf’ell Commander was definitely playing the “straight man” in terms of comedy, Jace was pretty sure that Khoth was trying to make him laugh.
In some ways, that seemed like a very un-Khoth-like thing to do, but that was only if one looked at the surface of the alien.
Underneath the logical and cool exterior, Jace thought that Khoth might be the most empathetic person he knew.
And he hugged you! Gehenna reminded him. It’s quite a big deal for a Thaf’ell to show physical affection like that. It’s, uhm, well sacred and such.
Jace wasn’t quite sure what she meant by sacred. Even if such an act was sacred normally, he was pretty sure that Khoth wasn’t being sacred with him. But was, instead, trying to stop him from breaking down entirely, which he pointed out to Gehenna.
Yeah, yeah, but that was because I was having a nervous breakdown, he reminded her, but he remembered the feeling of strong arms and a firm front and the sense that he was safer against blue skin than he’d ever been anyplace else.
But you’re better now. Aren’t you? You seem better, Gehenna said as she pressed pincers together from her spot by the oven.
I’m much better. Thanks, Gehenna, he assured her. Just a little bit overwhelmed back there.
Of course. You’re doing so well, Jace! It’s good to let these things out! She told him loyally.
She had been the one to suggest he go home after taking care of--killing--the last of the infected human beings--people I knew, people I cared for--in the Khul ships.
He shook himself. He didn’t want to fall back into that pit of despair again.
He and Khoth were no longer hugging after all, and he didn’t want to press his luck in needing a second, sacred hug from Khoth.
The two of them were seated on the kitchen floor as the table was not big enough for all the snacks they had opened.
Both of them were cross legged and faced one another.
In orbit around them were bags of chips of all kinds, not to mention various two-liters of sodas and candy.
Gehenna was heating burritos, Hot Pockets, and pizza rolls.
Jace was determined that Khoth try at least one of everything from their haul from the Con-Ve.
Khoth held up the triangular chip that was dusted with the white and green powder. “This is ranch-flavored.”
“Correct.” Jace crunched on some tortilla chips and fresh salsa.
Khoth then gestured to the house around them. “And this is a ranch-style home.”
“Ah, yes, that is correct, too,” Jace said with a nod as he plucked a Cheeto from an open bag.
“And there are homes nearby that are called ‘ranches’ though they do not look like this home, but are called that because they have cattle and other animals that graze on the land?” Khoth proceeded.
“I think I see where you are going here,” Jace said as he realized how confusing this must be for Khoth.
Khoth then touched the bottle of dressing beside him–they had been dipping hot wings into the creamy dressing–and said, “This is also ranch. Ranch dressing.”
Jace started laughing around a mouthful of food as he nodded vigorously.
“It does not appear that humans lack imagination,” Khoth continued as he finally bit into the chip, tasting it, and making a face before putting it aside.
“No, we definitely don’t lack that,” Jace agreed.
“So why the same word for things that are not truly related?” Khoth’s brow was furrowed as if he truly was considering this problem deeply.
“And those that are slightly related, but are very different such as this home and a ranch with animals, dilute the word’s definition. It makes it confusing and random.”
“I see what you mean. But humans like to use words that elicit certain ideas–like the freedom and old West from a cowboy on the range–to a milky dressing. It’s all advertising,” Jace said with a shrug.
“So a person eating ranch dressing would do so because it reminds them of a cowboy?”
“Exactly.”
Khoth’s eyebrows were doing that thing where one popped up then the other did. This was a two eyebrow up situation. Sometimes there was a third eyebrow raise when Khoth brought them both up at the same time. It was just one of the things that Jace was learning about the Thaf’ell Commander.
“Don’t you ever want to pretend you’re someone else? Or something you admire, don’t you want to be close to that? Feel like you’re connected to it?” Jace tried to explain.
Khoth lifted up the ranch bottle. “This does not make me feel close to a home with animals.”
Jace let out another burbling laugh. “I’m sorry! I shouldn’t laugh. You’re just seeing all of this from your eyes makes me see how it's a little crazy.”
“But you still enjoy it?” Khoth made that sound like a question, but it was more of a statement.
“I do. I think I’m going to love this silly stuff more when we’re in space and it’s hard to get,” Jace said.
Khoth’s head lowered. “Yes, there will be as many ‘ranch’ mysteries for you in the Illumen Alliance as there are for me here though I dare say that our words are more precise.”
“Thankfully, between Gehenna and the Osiris I can understand and speak…” Jace cocked his head to the side and let out a low whistle, “over five-hundred languages and dialects. And I can learn more.”
“Impressive.” Khoth tipped his head.
“Not really. I’ve got two AIs in my head. It’s not me. It’s them,” Jace quickly amended. He didn’t want to take credit for any of this when he felt he hadn’t earned it. Like beating Khoth during their duel.
“You only have those AIs in your head because you are the right person to have them,” Khoth said, clearly seeing Jace as worthy regardless.
“Since I’ve answered your ranch question, can you answer one of mine?” Jace asked.
“You may ask.”
The way Khoth phrased it left the Thaf’ell Commander room not to answer.
“Those marks above your right eyebrow.” Jace pointed to the dark blue, stylized triangular tattoos on Khoth’s face. “Do they mean anything or are they just for decoration?”
Khoth reached up towards them as if to cover them with his hair, but stopped at the last moment and let his hand drop back into his lap. Jace had just been curious, but now seeing Khoth’s unhappy expression, he wished he hadn’t asked.
“You don’t have to tell me! Let’s have you try a Sour Patch Kid candy–”
“It is a ta’na,” Khoth interrupted. “We commemorate great battles normally on our backs.” The Thaf’ell Commander gestured towards his covered back.
Jace wondered how many were there. “But, if a battle is truly great and the soldier’s actions are highly honorable, they are allowed to mark it on their faces. ”
“So that was a really big battle that you were highly honorable in?” The truth was that Jace couldn’t imagine a time that Khoth would not be brave and honorable in battle after what he had seen in the Hive.
After Khoth nodded, Jace asked, “I guess the thing we did in the Hive wouldn’t be that big a deal. ”
“On the contrary, it would be worthy of a ta’na on the face, but I will not be requesting one,” Khoth replied stiffly.
“Why not? You were incredible in there. You were willing to sacrifice your life so that I could get away,” Jace told him.
“We should discuss your actions in coming back for me–”
“We’re not discussing that,” Jace cut him off and made a movement like a slice through the air with his arm. “Leaving you behind was not an option for me.”
Khoth frowned. “That is not logical.”
“It doesn’t matter if it is logical or not. It simply was not–and never will be–an option for me,” Jace told him.
“We just met.”
“Yeah, I know. It’s not even been 24-hours since this insanity began.
” Jace made a movement of looking at a watch he didn’t have on.
But the suit’s computer did show him the time not only on Earth but on other planets.
“Look, humans, ah, packbond with people they are in dangerous situations with. They also pack-bond with toasters if they have googly eyes on them, but let’s not get into that. ”
“You pack-bonded to me?” Khoth was doing that eyebrow lifting thing.
“Yes, yeah, I have. You’re someone I trust,” Jace told him awkwardly. “You’ve saved my life a bunch of times. You were there from getting me to Gehenna to jumping into the dark void of space. I’m pretty bonded with you.”
Khoth’s forehead furrowed. He was quiet for long moments and then said slowly and carefully, “We have something called the Rule of Duuskukeh.”
“What’s that?” Jace asked, even as he had a feeling he wouldn’t like it.
“It is difficult to explain in one sitting,” Khoth stated, “but its most concise meaning is: to put the needs of the many over the needs of the one.”
“Okay,” Jace said slowly, too. “And what does that have to do with me going back for you.”
“I think you know.” Khoth’s blue-on-blue eyes were fixed on him. They glowed a little in the low light of the kitchen. “Your survival is more important than mine for the sake of all in the Illumen Alliance. Your pack-bind to me is less than your duty to the whole.”
But Jace was shaking his head. “I don’t work that way.”
“You may not now, but you must learn–”
“No, I won’t,” Jace said fiercely. “There’s a concept in our military where they swear that they will leave no one behind.
They will do whatever they have to do to bring that person back with them from battle.
If that person is captured, they will go rescue them.
If they are killed, they will do all they can to bring their remains back. ”
“And that–”