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YOUNGLING

A Terran Empire Story

by Ann Wilson

Copyright (C) 1992 by Ann Wilson

Unnamed world, 2559 CE

Joste was waiting in front of his desk when two guards brought thejust-captured human into his office. He found it hard to look at theman without becoming physically ill, and wondered briefly how theguards could tolerate touching him. Well, that was their job; his wasto question the man, and he found himself hoping the foul thing wouldresist, give him an excuse to use force. 

It wasn't because the other was human, or because he was an enemy--Jostehad questioned prisoners before without having had the slightest desireto use physical persuasion--and the man looked no more repulsive thanany other human. Granted, he was dirty and his battledress was torn, but that was to be expected from someone who had been in combat. And, though he was bound, the man held himself proudly. 

No, the revulsion wasn't caused by anything so straightforward. It waswhat the man had done-- Joste's thoughts shied away from considerationof such obscenity, and he had to force them back. Simply endangeringfemales without dire need was enough to earn a dishonorable death; theywere so terribly few, less than a fourth of the Traiti race, cherishedfor themselves and honored for the young only they could bear--a thingthat happened less often than any could wish. 

And this monster had actually led females into combat!

He brought himself under control; the grammar and harsh sounds ofImperial English were difficult enough without having to fight emotionat the same time. "Yourself identify, " he growled. 

"Major Horst Marguerre, Imperial Terran Marine Corps. " It didn't lookat all good for him, Marguerre thought grimly. These huge gray-skinnedhumanoids were aggressive as hell--they were nicknamed Sharks as muchfor that as for the facial resemblance--and this one looked even lesswell-intentioned toward him than his guards did. "My ident code'sTERHE6-2063-4121. What're you doing with my wounded?"

"They are medical treatment receiving, " Joste said. "Though therelittle chance for their recovery is, the physicians their best doingare. " At least, he thought, the man had the decency to show concern--even if it had to be false concern--for the two survivors of hisraiding party, both of whom were female. "What your purpose was, herecoming?"

Marguerre didn't know what caused the loathing he could sense from thethree massive Traiti, but it was intense enough to frighten him inspite of almost a year's active combat. Still, fear or no fear, hewasn't about to tell them what they wanted to know. He shook his head. "Sorry, that's all I'm allowed to say. "

Then he winced as the one holding his shoulder and neck tightened thatgrip, and the one doing the questioning started to smile. This, to putit mildly, looked less and less like it was going to be a friendlyparty, and he was suddenly very thankful he'd been given theanti-interrogation conditioning before this mission. Not that he intendedto use it unless he had no other choice. 

Good, Joste thought. The man was going to be stubborn. "You mine noware, Major, and you will much more say. When you have enough pain had, you will to me gladly speak. " Slowly, almost luxuriously, he reachedfor the man, extending his claws. 

Marguerre tasted fear, his mouth bitter-dry as he watched the clawedgray hand approach. He remained still, though he could feel himselfgoing pale. He'd expected death if the mission failed, but not likethis--not being tortured for information while two of his people laybadly wounded in a Traiti military hospital. He knew his interrogatorwas right; everyone had a breaking point. He could only hope they'dkill him before he came so close to his own that he'd have to activatethe conditioning. He preferred to meet death knowing who he was. 

A sudden flashing movement of Joste's claws ripped the tough materialof the human's shirt to ribbons, exposing the soft undershirt. Asingle claw took care of that, still without breaking thin human skin. "Why did you here come?" Joste asked softly. "Now say, and yourselfmuch pain save. You no honor have to lose. "

Now what the hell did he mean by that, Marguerre wondered. Not that itreally mattered, under the circumstances. "Forget it. I'm a Marine, not a traitor. " His muscles were tensed in anticipation, but it didn'thelp much. He gasped and flinched anyway when the claws touched hisflesh, digging in and across, drawing blood. 

Joste was fully aware of human frailty, and was being far gentler thanhe cared to, but he was still startled at the amount of blood wellingfrom such shallow wounds. He would have to be even more careful; if heweren't, this Marguerre might bleed to death before giving him theinformation he needed. It might be best to use fists or slaps insteadof claws or teeth, at least for the most part, until the time came toexecute the man. 

"Why?" he asked again. 

"Go to hell, " Marguerre snarled. 

"We do not that belief hold, " Joste said calmly. "And if either of usto such a place going is, it will you be. I have never a female to herdeath sent. "

"And I have. So? Nobody forced them to join the Marines, or apply forSpecial Forces. They knew what they were getting into. Every last oneof them's a volunteer. "

Joste growled in disgust. The human must think him a fool, to expecthim to believe such nonsense! The only time a female fought was inlast-ditch defense of the clan, something that hadn't happened sincethe clan wars almost four thousand years ago. "You lie, human. "

Marguerre shrugged, awkwardly because of his bound hands, but said nomore. He'd already said more than he should have; he knew the best wayto avoid giving anything away by accident was to remain silent exceptfor the required identification information. 

"Enough of that, " Joste said. He'd not discuss females more with thisperverted filth. "Now you will me truth give. Why came you here?"

 * * * * *

It was almost dark, and Joste was becoming discouraged. The man, except for sounds of pain, had remained silent. He was sprawled on thefloor now, naked except for his own blood, his hands no longer boundbecause he no longer had hands to bind. 

Yet he was trying to rise, had actually made it to his knees with hiswrists pressed against his chest and his head bowed to hide empty eyesockets, in a sickening parody of one paying homage to the Lords. 

Marguerre knew he was done. The pain, the maiming, were too much. . . And his tormentor wasn't going to allow him to die by accident. He had to activate the conditioning or buy his death with the informationthe Traiti wanted. For a Marine, that was no real choice--but there wasone thing he wanted to make absolutely clear before he went out. "Joste . . . "

"Speak, human. "

"You said . . . I've got no honor. " Marguerre raised his head, facedthe sound of Joste's voice. "Maybe not . . . Your kind, I don't know. I'd . . . Hoped you'd miscalculate . . . Kill me clean . . . 'fore itcame to this. Now I just want you . . . T'be certain . . . I do knowwhat I'm doing. " He straightened as much as he was able, drew inbreath, and forced himself to speak the single short phrase he'dchosen. Hearing himself say it, deliberately, would wipe out MajorHorst Marguerre. 

Nonsense syllables, Joste thought. "'Twas brillig, and the slithytoves"?

For a space of seconds, there was no sound--then Marguerre collapsedwith the heart-rending wail of a hurt, terrified youngling, to liesobbing brokenly at Joste's feet. 

Stunned, the interrogator could only stare, then he dropped to one kneebeside the bloody form. "Human . . . What wrong is?"

The face that turned toward him had nothing of the proud Marine in it, only pain and fear. The man had said he knew what he was doing--whathad he done? Whatever it was, there was clearly no point inquestioning him further. With a sigh, Joste picked up his prisoner andstood. 

Unbelievably, that seemed to comfort the man. He nestled closer toJoste's chest, and the sobs slowed to whimpers, then ceased. Hisbreathing showed he had gone to sleep. 

Joste and the guards exchanged amazed glances. "What did you do tohim, Group-Leader?" the younger one asked. 

"I did nothing, Sedni. What has happened to him was his own choice, hesaid. He had hoped to die before this became necessary. " Joste lookeddown at his burden, troubled by the man's sudden change. "He resistedme with all his will, yet now he clings to me for comfort, as a newbornclings to its mother. He seems not to know me any longer, perhaps notto know himself. "

"As one who has lost all memory?" the older guard asked. 

"I think . . . Not lost, " Joste said slowly. "He told me he knew whathe was doing, and I believe him. "

"What, then?"

"I cannot be sure yet . . . But he fought me as well as he was able, though he must have known he had no way to win, and I denied him theescape of death. Had he lacked honor as I thought, he would havespoken in an effort to live--but he did not. " Joste hesitated. He hadunderestimated the man; perhaps Marguerre had spoken the truth earlier. Perhaps he had truly felt no dishonor in leading females into combat--athing that was difficult to believe, but so was his sudden change froma defiant Marine to a sobbing . . . What? "Not lost, " Joste repeatedthoughtfully. "Far worse, if what I begin to suspect is true. Itwould appear that he destroyed his mind rather than betray his people. "

"Not even a human would go that far!" Sedni exclaimed, his voiceshaken. 

"I would prefer a more acceptable idea myself, " Joste said. Death cameto everyone, soon or late; in the long run, it was unavoidable, and attimes a self-inflicted death was the only way to preserve honor--farpreferable to the alternative of living dishonored. The idea ofsomeone destroying his own mind, though--even for the same purpose--wasone that made the Traiti interrogator recoil. Still, at this point itwas only a possibility, not a certainty. Joste glanced at the humanagain, then began giving orders. "Chorvak, call the hospital and tellthem I'm bringing in an emergency patient. And find out if either ofthe females survived and is able to talk. Sedni, go to Communicationsand have them stand by for a possible priority call to N'chark clanhomeon Norvis. I may need to talk to Ka'ruchaya Jarna. "

Both saluted, and Sedni left while Chorvak went to Joste's desk to makethe call. The interrogator left as well, carrying the sleeping human. 

Within minutes he had covered the short distance to the hospital andwas putting the mangled man on an emergency surgical table. Marguerreseemed to partially awaken when Joste put him down, whimpering softlyuntil the duty surgeon gave him a sedative. 

"What's wrong with him?" the surgeon asked. "Aside from the obvious, Imean. "

"I am not certain, " Joste told him. "I am not even sure I really wantto know, but I must check. Give him support treatment until I can, please. "

 * * * * *

Chorvak was waiting when Joste left the surgery. "The tinydark-skinned female is dead, Group-Leader, " he reported, "but the biggerpale one's injuries were less serious than the physicians originallythought; she is alive and regaining consciousness. They will allow youto speak to her as long as you keep it brief and do not excite her. "

"Thank you, Chorvak. I will be careful. "

The hospital was small, so it didn't take long for the two to get tothe room assigned to the human woman. Joste went in alone, took a seatby her bed. "Ka'naya Marine, may I with you speak?"

"Uh?" She looked at him, clearly still groggy and trying to focus. "Wha' 'bout?"

Joste puzzled over that momentarily, then he figured out the slurredwords. "About Major Horst Marguerre, ka'naya. When I was himquestioning, he something said that did not English seem, a code ofsome sort, I think. Then he cried out, and like a youngling wept. Canyou me tell, what to him happened?"

She seemed to rouse at Marguerre's name. "Something not English? Buthe doesn't know any other language--" Then her eyes widened, and shelooked sick. "Blood . . . Is it his?"

Joste's silence answered her. Tears leaked out of her eyes and sheswore tiredly. "Damn you, you bastard Shark. What'd you do to breakhim?"

"Ask me that not, ka'naya. The answer would only you distress, and heis help now getting. But I must know, when he those strange wordssaid, what he by them meant. What they to him did. "

"Maybe I'd rather not know, at that. " She scowled. "What'll you do tohim if I tell you?"

"If it what I fear is, I will my Ka'ruchaya--you have not the term, female parent to the clan--ask, him to adopt. N'chark will for himcare. "

"Clan mother. But he's human--why would you do that?"

"He something to himself did, that him into the likeness of a younglingturned. If that likeness a true one is, then he must a youngling'ssafety and guidance given be. " He paused for a moment. "And it myopinion is, that what he did was from honor done. "

"It was. I'm not sure I believe you, but telling you what happenedcan't make it any worse for him. Okay, you're right. The wordsthemselves're meaningless, they were only triggers for anti-interrogationconditioning, a total mind-wipe. Didn't bother anythingelse, like intelligence, just memory. It's a new technique, but a lotof us already have it . . . " She turned her head away briefly, thenwent on. "You could say he has the mind of a newborn child in an adultbody. Who was the first person he saw after he . . . Blanked out?"

"He has no one seen. "

"I can guess why. " She grimaced. "Damn. Okay, who was the first onehe heard? If he can still hear. "

"He can, ka'naya. And I the first was. "

She gave him a mocking grin. "Hi, Daddy. If the psychs were right, he's fixated on you, now. How do you feel about taking care ofbabies?"

In spite of the dismay he felt at her confirmation of his worstsuspicion, Joste couldn't help a smile. "Ka'naya Marine, I have onlyonce the joy had, of sharing young. Say you he will truly me ases'chaya see? Male parent?"

"Father?" The Marine's grin softened into an answering smile at hisobvious sincerity. "Not exactly. That, yes, but more. He's yourchild--yours alone--unless he heard someone else about the same time heheard you. "

"There no one was, ka'naya. He in my arms asleep was, before anotherspoke. I your leave to go must ask; I should Ka'ruchaya Jarna call. "

She looked worried. "Okay, I guess you will take care of MajorMarguerre. But what'll happen to me? So far I've been treated allright, but I'm afraid that won't--"

"Ka'naya!" Joste interrupted, horrified by what she was implying. "Youneed nothing fear. You will guarded be, of course, but no harm will toyou come! We not like humans twisted are, a female to hurt withoutgreat need. "

As her expression began to show relief, Joste gave her a courteoussalute and left for the Communications section. Sedni wasn't the onlyone waiting there for him; so was his commander, Senior Group-LeaderKunnos. 

"Sedni briefed me, " Kunnos said. "May I listen to your call?"

"Of course, Group-Leader. " It wasn't usually 'of course, ' but Jostehad served under Kunnos for a long time, long enough to trust hisdiscretion even in N'chark's clan matters. 

Clan priority traffic got the same treatment as militarycommunications, so it didn't take long for the operator to makeultrawave contact with N'chark clanhome, then leave to join Sedni. Nordid it take long, once contact was made, for Ka'ruchaya Jarna to appearon the comscreen. Joste greeted her formally, crossing arms over hischest and inclining his head. Kunnos followed suit, bowing more deeplyas befit an out-clan male. 

Jarna acknowledged the greeting, then looked curiously at Joste. "Ruesten, you have won the Honor scars; what problem can you have soserious that it requires my intervention?"

"Ka'ruchaya, it is a matter of adoption. "

"Ah, I see. Go on. "

Joste did as he was told, describing the human's torment, memory loss, and what the female Marine had told him. "Maybe he was being honestwhen he said the females volunteered for combat. Certainly the one Ispoke to showed pain at his hurt. And he did prove himself honorable, sacrificing his mind--himself--as he did. Ka'ruchaya, he needs help, and I think that once he learns our ways, he will be a credit toN'chark. "

"He lost only his memory?"

"Yes, Ka'ruchaya, according to the female Marine. "

"And she called him your 'child, ' your esten. " Jarna paused, thinking. "No, Cor'naya Joste. Under the circumstances, I do not think adoptioneither possible or necessary; he cannot take the blood-oath if hecannot understand it. He is a Terran, and apparently newborn by theirways, regarding you as chaya. I accept him as es'ruesten, a clan-sonof N'chark by birth. Care for him, see that he gets the medical helphe needs--including regrowth treatments if they are available there--and bring him home as soon as he is able to travel. If you wish, Iwill arrange for his naming ceremony. "

"Thank you, Ka'ruchaya. Let him be named Horst, of Clan N'chark. "

"So be it, Cor'naya Joste. " Jarna turned to Kunnos. "I will send aship for them, Group-Leader. Will you need a linguist to replaceJoste?"

"If you please, Ka'ruchaya. Stanek, if he has recovered. "

"He will be on the ship. " Jarna's expression became grim. "But hearmy words, Group-Leader: none of my n'ruesten will force another to thisliving self-destruction again. I will not have them dishonorthemselves so. "

"I would not ask it, Ka'ruchaya, " Kunnos said. "I will report this tothe Supreme, with the recommendation that he order any found to havesimilar conditioning questioned no further. " He extended claws toemphasize his determination. "I have no wish to be part of suchdishonor, either. "

"Well said, Group-Leader. " Jarna inclined her head. "Now if you willexcuse me, I must return to my duties. "

The two males bowed, then when the screen cleared, left theCommunications section. Joste made his way back to the hospital tocheck on his child, wondering at the Lords' ordering of things. Thehuman and he had met as enemies, and Joste had taken angry pleasure inhis torment. But now Horst was of N'chark, he would be raised as such. . . And this time, Joste vowed, Horst would be raised with a properrespect for females and younglings. 

END