A Contest of Cowardice

“C'mon. You expect me to believe that load of milgak?”

The Skiidarian's mandibles parted in his species' creepily threatening equivalent of a smile. “Believe me or don't, human, it doesn't matter. You won't get any more information about it out of me.”

            “That so?” The words came out more strained than Luna would have liked, though there was little she could do about that. The battle that doesn't make you sweat isn't worth fighting, she reminded herself. “You seem awfully confident for a bug.”

            Seven soulless black eyes glared down at her. “Why you--!”

            The Skiidarian's six free arms affixed themselves to the floor and the ceiling, anything he could reach to provide more leverage against her. His seventh spindly, furry appendage pressed hard against the hand she had wrapped around it at the start of their match. With her elbow fixed firmly in place, it took everything she had to keep her knuckles from grazing the metal tabletop that separated the combatants. Smelling blood in the water, the onlooking ruffians filled the stale air of the bar with cat-calls and whooping laughter.

            Luna gritted her teeth as she held defeat at bay by mere centimeters. So that's the kind of game we're playing, huh? Not that she was going to complain or anything. Beating a cheater made victory all the sweeter. “If this treasure is so great, why not go after it yourself, huh?”

            “Just shut up and accept your defeat, human,” the Skiidarian hissed.

            A fierce grin split Luna's face. “Lemme guess. Would it take you a little too far from Queen Mother dearest?”

            The hairs covering her opponent's body stood on end. “No. Of course not.”

            “Oh, come on, Splex.” Her voice rose in volume, making sure every word could be heard over the din. “You can admit it! None of us will think any less of you, the big bad mercenary who's afraid of being away from his Mommy!”

            It seemed that the onlookers did in fact think less of Splex for this, as their jeers gleefully turned on him instead. The Skiidarian's hair was wiggling now with agitation, and his eyes glared in seven directions around him at the laughing patrons of the bar.

            “No! She's lying!” Splex roared, waving three of his arms for emphasis at them. “Skiidarians fear nothing! I fear nothing!”

            Luna barked out a laugh. “Sure, nothing but his speela!”

            Another round of laughter swept through the crowd. A thick green fluid was leaking from in between Splex's mandibles and dropping onto the table with a furious hissing sound. “You dare speak of the Queen Mother of Skiidar in such a manner?”

            “I wouldn't dream of it; I have the utmost respect for her,” Luna said defensively. She took on a patronizing tone. “Her little baby boy, though? Absolutely.”

            Splex's mandibles opened wide as if to rebuke her, but the words had barely formed in his acid-filled mouth when Luna slammed his leg against the table with her hand. All seven eyes widened in shock as the human thrust her fists into the air with a triumphant shout.

            “You...!” Splex sputtered, but his protests were lost as the drunken crowd cheered Luna's victory over the Skiidarian. He sank dejected into his stool, head shaking back and forth in defeat.

            Luna rose to her feet and smirked down at Splex with a hand on the sword at her hip. “Alright Splex, I won. Out with it; where's this treasure horde you mentioned? A Union crash-site filled with gold from Jerrus-3, you said?”

            Splex slammed four of his legs against the table in anger at her words. “You won nothing, human. You cheated!”

            “I resent that,” Luna snapped with mock outrage. “I played dirty. There's a difference.”

            “You dishonor me!” Splex spat at her, rising to his many feet in anger. Skiidarians were far more imposing sitting than standing, a trait likely a result of their squat, insectoid bodies; though he was twice as large as her, Luna could not quite shake the feeling that she could easily squash him with the heel of her thigh-high boot like any ordinary spider back home. “And my boss!”

            Luna stifled a yawn. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. Just tell me where the treasure is like you agreed and I'll get out of your–" She gestured vaguely at the still wriggling tendrils coating Splex's insectoid form. "—those."

            "I agreed to a fair match! You'll get nothing out of me, human!"

            "Splex," Luna's mismatched eyes glared down at him. "You ever heard of what happened to the last person who tried to back out of a deal with Luna Eclipse?"

            The Skiidarian recoiled a step–several, really, considering his many legs–before he recovered his wits. "Watch what you imply, human. My boss does not take kindly to threats made against her people."

            "A krrynf on your boss," Luna growled. "I'll threaten whoever I please! You, or your gaklar boss."

            A gasp swept through their audience. Their eyes, antennae, and clicks shifted focus from the human onto a table set in the far corner of the bar. There, a massive organism set down her barrel-sized mug and glared over at Luna with vibrant, rectangular-pupiled eyes. She rose to her four hand-like feet and cracked two sets of knuckles as she approached Luna.

            “You've done it now, human!” Splex chittered out a laugh. “You'll think twice before you—”

            “Shut up!” The D'florian barked at Splex, slamming one of her fists on the table. The wooden surface cracked beneath the blow and split in two; the two halves fell to the floor with a pair of hearty thumps. The Skiidarian quailed under her glare and retreated into the crowd. The being turned her horse-like face onto the human woman. “Who were you calling a gaklar, Eclipse?”

            Luna tried to reply but the words did not make it past her lips. With a shake of her head and a small cough, she aimed a confident smile up at the hulking giant before trying again.

            “Why, Yytri, is that you? Wow. It has been a while, hasn't it? You look good. Really. Have you been working out?” She rested a hand on the D'florian's nearest bicep. It was nearly twice as wide as her outstretched fingers were long. “Just... wow. Harder than Kondorian steel.”

            Yytri shook off her hand with a grunt. “Do you think flattery will make me forget the last time we met, you little plafkinter?”

            “Doesn't it? I've already forgotten, myself.”

            “You stole the Mariner's Soul from me.”

            “Oh, those are some very strong words, there, my friend,” Luna chided. “Though it is coming back to me now; it was all just a huge misunderstanding. I hope you've learned your lesson about putting your name on things you don't want other folks to confuse as theirs.”

            “That jewel was locked up tight in my quarters,” Yytri shot back. “And it was worth more than an entire frigate!”

            “Full disclosure?” Luna grimaced. “I wasn't able to fence it for quite that much.”

            A six-fingered hand wrapped around her throat and dragged her into the air level with Yytri's head. The onlooking ruffians cried out in excitement and glee. The D'florian's ears were lying flat against her skull, her breath seething from between clenched teeth. “You will die for that, Eclipse.”

            “Hang on, hang on-” Luna choked out. Her legs kicked uselessly in the air below her. “I made a deal with Splex. He didn't hold up his end of the bargain!”

            Yytri frowned and glared at the Skiidarian from where he hid in the crowd. Luna continued to struggle in her grip as her face steadily grew redder.

            “Yeah,” she continued with difficulty. “He said you were his boss. What kind of dishonor would that bring down on you if one of your mercs doesn't follow through on a deal?”

            After a moment's thought—Luna's face was passing crimson into a bruising purple—the D'florian released her grip on the human. Luna fell hard to the floor coughing.

            “A krrynf on you, Splex!” Yytri roared. “Do you intend to bring the wrath of the gods down upon me?”

            “No! Of course not!” Splex cried, his hair wiggling more violently than ever. “She cheated!”

            “I did not!” Luna quickly interjected from the floor. “He did!”

            “Enough!” Yytri released a heavy breath. “The contest will be repeated to make sure both participants comport themselves with honor. No more tricks.”

            Luna's jaw dropped. “Are you kidding me? I already beat that cheating gaklar fair and square!”

            “Then perhaps you need more of a challenge this time.” Yytri gestured into the crowd and a pair of ruffians dragged a new table forward to replace the one she smashed. The D'florian sat down heavily and rested one of her bulging, muscular arms on the table at the ready. A grin split her horsey face. “What say you, plafkinter?”

            The human slowly rose to her feet, her eyes never leaving Yytri's challenging gaze. After a moment of thought, a small smile pulled at the corner of her mouth. “You know, normally I would love to match my strength against yours and see who is stronger after all this time. I think both of us would be surprised by the results there.”

            Yytri rolled her eyes. “I'm sure.”

            “But!” Luna raised a finger warningly. “If you're filling in for Splex in this round, then it's only fair that I get a proxy as well, wouldn't you agree?”

            “Stall however much you like. There isn't anyone in this bar who's going to agree to take your place.” She chuckled. “No one who has a chance at winning, anyway.”

            “And that's where you're wrong.” She spun on her heel with her arms outstretched to either side and addressed the crowd. “Friends! Adventurers! Splex.”

            The Skiidarian hissed as the rest of the audience chuckled.

            “I would like to introduce you all to someone very dear to my heart,” Luna called. “Someone who is as cool under pressure as a dwarf star, who once stared down a dead spot until it blinked, and is the roughest, toughest being in this entire galaxy. I present to you the first mate of the Umbral Blade—Diana!”

            On the last word, Yytri, Splex, and the dozens of onlookers turned their attentions expectantly in the direction Luna was pointing.

            Standing at the bar, completely oblivious to the raucous show at the center of the room, was a slim humanoid with a shock of white hair. She accepted a glowing, neon blue concoction from the bartender with a bright smile before turning her attention onto a Soonus a couple seats down from her. Several bouncing steps carried the woman to the other being's side.

            “Greetings, friend,” Diana said as she set the drink down on the table in front of the Soonus. Her voice was husky and kept low. “I hope you don't mind, but I got this for you.” She leaned in close and spoke slowly. “You looked... thirsty.”

            The Soonus' pale orange complexion blushed violet and the being bowed their stalk in thanks. They gingerly lowered one of their branches into the vibrant liquid, as if to buy time to think of an adequate response. There was an almost musical humming sound as the blue libation started to disappear from the glass. Diana watched the Soonus drink without blinking.

“Tell me.” Lust was replaced with eager curiosity. “Did all that arouse you?”

            The Soonus pulled their arm from the glass as if the alcohol turned to acid. With a more disgruntled humming sound, the being got down from their stool and slithered away. Diana watched them go with a smirk.

            “Interesting,” she breathed, nodding.

            “Diana!”

            The white-haired woman turned to see Luna approaching her. A grin split her face. “Captain!” Diana cried. “You were right, this establishment is a great place to learn more about all kinds of sentient organisms! I have been collecting so much data. You should've seen the color that Soonus turned just now!”

            “Yeah, trust me, I've seen it,” Luna muttered with an anxious look over her shoulder at Yytri. “Look, I need your help with a score. Now, before you get us thrown out.”

            “Ha! Please.” Diana nodded to the bartender. “It was just simple curiosity. You understand, right? No harm comes from curiosity.”

            The bartender folded their hefty tentacle-like appendages and growled in disagreement.

            Luna grabbed onto Diana's elbow and started to drag her towards the table where Yytri sat waiting. “Let's not test that theory right now.”

            Diana rolled her pupilless, citrine eyes as she allowed Luna to pull her across the room. Her gaze finally came to a rest on Yytri. “I see we have a more pressing matter at the moment. Old friend of yours?”

            “Not exactly.” Luna shoved Diana down into the seat opposite the D'florian. “But I really, really need you to kick her gakkr for me.”

            The other human nodded her understanding. “Yes, Captain. At once.”

            Yytri released a booming laugh that shook the foundations of the building itself. “This is your proxy, Eclipse? I see you haven't changed a bit. Cowardly offering up another to take the fall for your big mouth.”

            Diana, untroubled, offered the D'florian a friendly smile. “My captain does not meet the common definition of a coward. One could make the argument that you do, however.”

            “Oh?” A scowl split Yytri's muzzle. “How do you figure that?”

            The slim humanoid cocked her head to one side as if it were obvious. “People accept the risk of losing when they compete against one another. How else can one bolster their reputation without risking it against foes of equal or even greater ability? My captain accepts that risk all of the time, yet she knows her limits and when it would be foolish to compete. That is wisdom, not cowardice. However, in your case, a mighty D'florian challenging a feeble human to a contest of strength—”

            “Hey!” Luna interjected.

            Diana offered Luna a wink as she continued without missing a beat. “—one could therefore reason that you are too afraid to risk losing a real contest and so can only prey on weaker foes. That is cowardice, not wisdom.”

            Yytri's goat-eyes narrowed. “I was thinking about going easy on you,” the D'florian growled. “On account of you being Eclipse's patsy and all. But you know what? I changed my mind.” She readied an arm on the table. “You deserve everything you're gonna get.”

            Diana hesitated for a moment, studying Yytri's posture and body language, before mirroring her stance, one elbow propped on the table at the ready. Her tiny hand disappeared within the D'florian's grip.

            Luna stepped forward and rested her hands on top of theirs. “You both ready?” Her mismatched eyes lingered on Diana's sharp yellow ones.

            “Affirmative, Captain,” Diana said with a cold smile.

            “Let's get on with it,” Yytri hissed.

            “Alright then.” She hesitated for a moment longer before releasing them.

            It was over in an instant. With a crack like thunder, Yytri's beefy arm was slammed down into and through the tabletop, cleanly splitting the wood and sending the goliath sprawling to the ground. She roared while cradling her now broken arm with her other three. The crowd went silent, shock grabbing hold of each of the ruffians at the sight of the petite, smiling woman calmly sitting above the fallen D'florian.

            The only person not surprised by this outcome was Luna, who hesitated only long enough to pat Diana's shoulder before stepping over the fallen merc towards Splex.

            “You, bug,” she snapped. “Your boss lost. Out with it: where's that treasure horde you mentioned?”

            Splex shook his head from side to side, acidic drool flying this way and that. “I can't—how did she—?”

            The Skiidarian found himself cut off—almost literally—by the edge of a silvery blade digging into the flesh under his mandibles. Luna glared down at Splex without a trace of mirth or satisfaction, only cold resolve.

            “The location,” she enunciated slowly. “Now. Or your boss is going to lose more than just her honor.”

            The spider-like mercenary swallowed. “The Gloucest system. About halfway down the Pojjick arm.”

            The crowd was slowly approaching Diana and whispering to one another in suspicion and awe. The white-haired lifeform seemed unbothered by the attention, though her gaze jumped from individual to individual methodically.

            “Diana, over here,” Luna ordered.

            “At once, Captain.” Diana leapt to her feet, the crowd retreating about a meter back from her with gasps of fear. Luna's first mate stepped beside her captain with a small smile. “How can I be of further assistance?”

            “I've never heard of the Gloucest system. Which exit is that?”

            “It's a primitive system,” Diana reported at once. “They have only just begun to make contact with the rest of the galaxy, so a gate has not been established for it yet. Ipswich is nearest; we would have to exit there and then dilate on our own the rest of the way.”

            From behind Luna, the hulking mound of muscle that was Yytri groaned as she got her feet back under her. Luna returned her urgent gaze to Splex. “If Yytri knows about this score, why isn't she going after the treasure herself?”

            “I... I don't know.” Five of Splex's eyes watched Yytri rise. His speech slowed to a crawl. “Maybe it's too far.”

            “He's stalling,” Diana noted.

            “Yes, obviously, thank you.” Luna’s blade was close enough to nick hairs off the Skiidarian's thorax. “Why aren't you going after it?”

            “Because,” growled an angry voice from behind them. “It's not worth the price we'd have to pay to retrieve it.”

            Luna spun around, raising her sword against the speaker. Yytri was on her feet towering above them. She held her broken arm across her broad chest while the others reached into her coat for the pistols concealed within.

            “Eclipse cheated,” Yytri announced to the curious onlookers.

            “You're just angry you lost to a human,” Luna shot back. She started to retreat slowly backward towards the door. Her companion silently matched her pace, brows pinched together warily as the crowd closed in tight behind them.

            “That thing is no human and you know it,” Yytri protested, jabbing one of her pistols in Diana's direction. “There is no honor in fighting a machine. Nor is there honor in relying on one to fight your battles for you.”

            A gasp ran through the bar. Luna's cheeks flushed with color. Diana glanced around at the shocked, disgusted, and fearful looks aimed at her and clung tightly to Luna's coat.

            “Captain,” she breathed nervously in her captain's ear.

            “Don't worry, I've got this.” Luna turned her attention back to the D'florian. “You're just mad you picked a fight you couldn't win. Remind you too much of home?”

            Yytri bared her teeth. “You can't fool me, Eclipse. D'florians are the mightiest race in this or any galaxy. No other organic species could ever best one of us in a contest of strength. It must be a machine.”

            “You know, maybe most D'florians are too strong to lose to a human, but come on. This isn't a normal D'florian we're talking about, here.” Luna grinned wickedly. “This one's a runt.”

            A terrible, furious whinnying scream exploded from Yytri's throat, and that was all the signal Luna needed to spring into action. Before Yytri could squeeze the triggers and fill the pair of them with plasma, Luna swung her sword up over her head and back down on Splex, severing one of his mandibles clean off his face with a fluid motion. He hissed in pain as a shower of green ichor sprayed from his mouth and his wound into the crowd. The onlookers shouted and dove for cover, the living barricade blocking the door falling apart. Everything the ichor splashed began to burn away—including patches of Yytri's exposed skin on her arms and face. The D'florian screamed, tossing her guns to the ground as she desperately tried to wipe the acid off of her.

            Luna took Diana's hand with a smile. “Hey, we may not be all that strong, but do you know what my species is good at?”

            “Being delicious?” Diana's confusion was genuine, her tone without irony.

            “Wha—No!” Luna’s cheeks burned red. “Why would you even—? Nevermind.” She gestured for the exit with her acid-splattered sword. “Run!”

            The captain of the Umbral Blade and her first mate bolted for the bar's exit. Chaos had broken loose in the crowded room; Luna shoved a particularly hefty Dexal out of their way while Diana found herself briefly slowed by a passing Fiieldus that was emitting far more sparks from its horns than usual from the stress of the situation. Nevertheless, the pair of them made it through the door just as Yytri's furious voice cut through the din, her burning orange eyes following their flight through the melee.

            “Eclipse!!”