Bird of prey
by:John Beyers

The Socorian Falcon, was perched on my arm. I removed its hood and the Golden bird took a moment to survey the broad fields and patches of woods. Then spreading its wings, the Falcon leapt into the air. I smiled, following the Bird of prey with mechanical eye. An experiment I had worked on. Quickly I switched my receiver frequency to match the electronic eye attached to the Falcon. Working with the Imperial Beastmaster, and several engineers from the Klinza academy. I had designed a similar electronic eye for my favorite Hunting bird. I watched now, my mind seeing what he was seeing. He was soaring looking down for prey to eat. I felt the exhilaration of his flight. I could almost feel the wind in my face and complete freedom, that the Falcon felt. The Falcon soon spotted a tasty morsel.

A kronosian jumping mouse had made an early morning appearance, searching the Grain fields for seeds and tender sprouts. I could see the Mouse dodging between the tufts of grain as it went about its daily routine.

The Falcon circled once, then with a slight dip folded its wings and dove. I watched the ground zoom up to meet me. I felt the excitement of the hunt, and my blood boiled and roared in my ears. Just as it seemed that the Falcon would collide with the ground, the Falcons wings shot straight out, creating drag slowing it. Then its sharp flesh rending talons shot straight out catching the small field mouse easily.

With a mighty scream, the Falcon, grasped the mouse in its talons and with several flaps was once again airborne heading toward me. I pursed my lips and whistled to my loyal friend. The falcon banked and circled above me, then in gradually smaller circles the bird came to rest on my fur covered arm.

It still held its prey firmly in a talon, and screeched once as I scratched its neck.

"Excellent hunt, Goshon" I said to the Falcon. The bird seemed to swell with pride, and then turned to its lunch. Once Goshon had finished devouring its lunch, I placed the leather hood over its eyes and walked back to where my S'Tarahk was calmly chewing on the grass. I put Goshon on his stand, which was mounted to the saddle.

Then reached for my glaive, I turned toward the west, and looked toward the spires of our ancient capitol. I bowed once in deference to Kahless. The proceeded to go through my morning ritual.

The Klingon Glaive was not an easily mastered weapon, but in the hands of a master was it deadly, to even the feared BatlH. I had a long standing affinity for the Glaive, and I had used it more than once with deadly results.

I brought the weapon up its razor sharp curved blade, slicing through the air, it moved fluidly an eight foot extension to my own body movements. I twisted and turned. Going through my dance and feeling the exultation of such movements.

I soon grew bored with the two hour training ritual, and I tooka seat on the grass.

My eyes searched across the distance. Suddenly, I noticed a small column of dark smoke along the horizon to the east.

I started to tap my Comm badge, then thought better. I rose and worked a little of the soreness from my shoulders. Then turned toward my S'Tarahk, I climbed in the saddle, and slid my glaive into the two leather thongs which kept the weapon suspended from the saddle. Goshon was resting quietly. "Well my friend it seems we are in luck." I whispered to the Falcon. I reached my arm back and gently tapped the bird twice. He climbed upon my extended arm recognizing the signal that he would soon fly again.

I removed the hood, and pointed eastward toward the Column of smoke. "seek" I said. The Falcon beat it wings several times then climbed into the early morning air for a second hunt. Then with great speed flew east. I once again tuned to Goshons signal and followed below on my S'tarahk. It was tough to control my mount and watch the bird at the same time. But our Mounts were trained to be ridden in battle without use of hands.

I looked to my bow next to me, and the quiver of arrows. The mighty war arrows, had forked heads forged from the broken blades of  our enemies. I thundered across the grassy plains as my falcon sped eastward.

After about twenty minutes of riding, I could see Goshon circling the Column of smoke. he looked down and I could make out several figures surrounding a Klingon female and a group of even younger children. The figures wore armor, but the armor was ill kept. There were five each carrying disruptors. Two of the three were busy raping a young Klin female who could not have been but six months past the age of inclusion.

Another three restrained the oldest female, who I guessed was only about eighteen or nineteen years old. The smoke was a burning wagon used to gather harvest. Farther up the hill I could see the ruins of a home.

By this time I was completely filled with rage at the spectacle taking place. I lifted my whistle to my lips and blew three sharp blasts. The whistle undetectable by Klingon ears was easily received by Goshon. The falcon flew a little further to the north, and circled a stand of trees, then seeing no enemies headed toward the house. There Goshon noticed four other Brigands standing over the slumped forms of a male and female. "The children's parents." I thought. I was now about a quarter of a mile away. I spurred my mount toward the children. Reaching down with my left hand I pulled my short bow from its leather case and knocked an arrow.

"Allright K'vek let us take these petaq's and send them to hell." My mount snorted in reply and picked up its pace. Silently I cursed myself for not bringing my Disruptor.

I crested a slight rise, which lead down to where the Bandit scum raped and terrorized the youths.

I targeted one who held a disruptor to the face of the eldest. Then I let the arrow fly. She shot straight toward the target, here forked tip gleaming deadly. Then it pierced the Klingons neck. The arrow sunk itself into the flesh imbedding it's tip in the Klingons Larynx.

He toppled to the ground as blood spurted from several burst arteries. The blood sprayed the Girl and another brigand holding her. The third one let go of her, and turned to me preparing to shout a warning. But he was too late, my second arrow caught him full in the chest, and sent him reeling. He fell backward trying to bring his disruptor to bear on me.The elder female now free of her captors. Turned on the other who was busy trying to wipe his compatriots blood from his eyes.

She attacked him with her nails and managed to work his knife from its sheath. I could not risk a shot. I slung my bow and brought my Glaive to bear. The remaining two were desperately trying to pull their pants on.

One a short stocky, thickly muscled brigand, gave up trying to ready himself and pulled his disruptor. He took a quick shot at me which went wide and struck the grass about six feet from my charging horse.

I hefted my glaive and picked up even more speed. His friend saw me approaching and he too reached for his disruptor but in his haste and fear fumbled the weapon and it fell to the ground.

The stocky Klingon looked for a route to escape, as once again his shot was wide and crackled less then six inches away from my face. Then I was on him, my glaive swinging down. There was a little resistance as the weapon cut into his shoulder, slicing downward in Diagonal cut.

The momentum of my S'tarahk at full tilt, nearly caused me to lose my hold on the Glaive. But the weapon pulled free leaving the stocky Klingon on the ground his arm dangling and blood pooling around him.

The other rapist had turned and began running screaming a warning to the others on the hill. I reversed my Glaive, and the spike on the other end gleamed unblooded in the morning light.

I charged down upon the brigand, and raised the weapon above my shoulder. I let the glaive fly spearlike toward his exposed back. The galive was not balanced to fly like a spear and had the target been farther than the ten feet he was, surely would have fell useless to the ground, the heavy head dragging it down.

Unfortunately for the Brigand he was close and the spike tore through his armor, and burst through the otherside of his chest. His momentum and nervous system carried him another twenty feet before his brain told him he was dead.

The he abruptly collapsed and fell to the earth. The head of the glaive sticking up like a marker. I raced by his prone form and leaned over snatching my weapon from his back.

I looked over my shoulder at the elder female and saw that she had taken care of her opponent and had grabbed two of the disruptors from the dead Klingons. The other children she sent running to the safety of the trees.

I turned my mount toward her and rode to where she stood. "Give me a disruptor!" I commanded, Her eyes deep brown and her tangled hair and face were covered in Blood and gore, and I could see her beauty. She looked fearfully at me.

"Quickly women." I shouted, I had not time for these games. Already the other Brigands were moving this way.

A disruptor shot, made her jump and she tossed me one of the two disruptors she clutched. I checked to see that the other children had reached safety. Then I raised my Glaive in salute to the Brigands.

Goshon soared above them, watching the Brigands, I lifted my whistle once more and sent two shrill blasts. Goshon streaked down towards one of the bandits who was trying to take aim at me. The Klingon unaware of the threat from above, was taking his sweet time, while his fellows advanced. To bad for him he did not look above. Then he did perhaps a premonition or a sixth sense told him of danger.

I would have been better that he did not look up for already Goshons talons were extended and the brigands eyes were the target. H e tried vainly to raise his hands to protect his face.

The falcon was much quicker and it ripped into the soft orbs. I heard a hideous scream and could see the brigand trying to wrest the Falcon from his face. One of the Bandits turned and saw the struggle. The other two took position behind a small log. I jumped from my mount and with a sharp slap sent it toward the copse of trees. Then I fired. Next to me the female also fired pinning the other two bandits down behind their log embankment.

My blast struck the Klingon trying to reach his compatriot, he fell a gaping whole in his back. I whistled again and saw goshon streak up into the air. His target was rolling and thrashing on the ground. The last two decided against remaining and took to their heels. I thought about pursuing them. Then decided against such an act. The children and their parents must come before the Brigands.

I whistled once more and Goshon flew toward me, he settled down on my outstretched arm. Carefully I placed the hood over his eyes. Then I looked around and found the female pointing the disruptor at me.

"If you are going to kill me do so." I said staring at her.

"Otherwise hand that weapon over." She looked a little uncertain at first, then slowly she handed me the pistol.

Placing it in my outstretched hand. She looked furtively around.

"The children....where?" She asked.

"They are safe, though I fear your parents are dead." I said softly.

She hunched her shoulders, then collapsed in a pile on the hard ground. I called from my mount and took some water from my leather waterskin at my side.

Tearing a piece of cloth from one of the dead brigands, I wiped the blood and gore from her face.

She opened her eyes and for a moment struggled, then she allowed me to finish.

"Are you injured?"I asked.

"No...But they, they..." I knew what she was trying to say, and it sickened me.

To Klingons there was no more a repulsive crime then rape. But to rape children was considered to be such a crime that even Fehklr would not allow such villains into his realm.

I tried to soothe her as best I could. But I was a warrior with very little skill. Better I should call for a Ghopbe' to come and take her and the others to safety.

"Who are you?"She asked quietly.

"I am Goss, of the Emperors court." I answered. "I command the RaH'ir."

Her eyes widened and she softly touched my face. "You have saved us, and I cannot return such gratitude, we are poor." She lowered her eyes again in shame.

"There is no need for payment." I answered. "Just take care of your brethren, and that will be payment enough." I tapped my comm badge. "Klambra, send a patrol, to grid reference 162, please see to it that a Ghopbe, accompanies them."

"What has happened Colonel?"Klambra asked.

"Several Brigands attacked a group of farmers, they killed the parents and raped at least two of the children." I answered feeling the anger still simmering in my chest.

"I have sent a shuttle Colonel." Klambra replied quickly. I looked at the girl, then helped her up.

"I will wait until the patrol arrives." I told the girl. "What will happen to us?"she asked. I did not really know what would happen to them. The children would probably be sent to one of the many adoption houses. But the girl before me was too old, for such things. "The Ghopbe will take care of you and see that you are cared for." I answered, I looked toward the west and saw a Military shuttle approaching the farm. I turned to my mount and began to climb back into the saddle.

"Will I ever see you again?"She asked.

"Only the naked stars knows that answer." I said feeling sadness, wash over me.

The I turned K'vek towards the direction from which I had come.

The shuttle touched down just as I mad the crest of the small rise. I brought K'vek around and raised my glaive in salute to her bravery and she waved back.

Then I disappeared over the hill and out of her life.

I looked back at Goshon who rested on his stand behind me. He seemed proud of his actions and I felt that same pride. I scratched under his beak and he screeched his pleasure.

The End

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