Dreaming of Atmosphere by Jim C. Wilson Page B

said, trying to look tough. Why, I don’t know.
    “No, calak is right.” Said Crege. I turned to face him in surprise.
    “Superior warrior not the one with best moves,” he explained, “it is the warrior who walks away at end of fight, not dragged away.”
    “What do you want Artemis?” I eyed her off. I looked at her, in her direction, I mean.
    “Can’t a girl get some exercise?” she said as she picked up my fallen blade.
    “You want to spar?”
    “Sure. Let’s see what you’re made of.”
    “I don’t know…”
    “Do it, human. Perhaps she has accident. Very unfortunate.”
    “Oh, come now. You really think you can hurt me?”
    “If I do, it might set off the charges. That would be mighty foolish of me.”
    “I tell you what, you cut me, I’ll tell you where one of the charges you haven’t found yet are.”
    “And if you cut me?”
    “You can quit whenever you like. If you can handle a few cuts you can keep trying.”
    “Deal.”
    Crege made a puffing sound, and tossed me his lurzak. I made sure it was deactivated and tested the grip. It was a little small for me, but was comfortable. Crege backed away and perched atop a supply crate, watching eagerly.
    “Don’t go easy on me, big boy.” she teased again.
    I lunged at her as fast as I could, trying to catch her off guard. She was ready, expecting it. She nimbly leapt back and with a flick of her wrist cut my chin slightly. She was grinning fiercely. I rubbed by chin and glared at her.
    “Want me to call Zoe?” chided Crege. I burned a dose of stink eye at him, then turned back to Artemis, who was patiently waiting for me to ready myself again. I would have to fight smart, I could see now. I could see she was a seasoned swordfighter; I won’t be able to trick her with my usual feints and dirty fighting.
    We circled each other, I watched her moving, studied her stance. She grinned at me like a shark. I moved slowly, putting each foot down with care. She mimicked me, moving at the same pace. I moved quickly, suddenly, changing direction and sidestepping. She pulled back and fell into stance. Her eyes flashed. I smiled back at her. We both leapt at the same time and out blades met in mid-air with a crash. I spun away and raised my guard, catching a sharp backhand chop on it. She sent out a foot to try to catch me on the chin, but I ducked and thrust my blade at her midriff. She turned aside and pushed my thrust wide, bringing her elbow down on my blade and rolling down the length towards me. I continued with my thrusting momentum and rolled under her flip, coming up just in time to meet her blade again.
    I went on the attack again, thrust, swing, chop, swipe. Each time I was met with the clang of steel and I could see my blows her hurting her hand. Hopefully, her fingers would go numb and I could disarm her. She was having none of that, however, and dove out of the way of my last attack leaving me unbalanced. She stabbed forward with her blade and caught the side of my forearm. Red wetness welled up through my sleeve. I pulled back in pain and she pirouetted on her foot and smashed her foot into the side of my head. My vision swam, and I could swear I could hear something rattling around loose inside my head.
    She continued her spin and swung her blade out to try to send me back again, but this time I simply grabbed her blade with my left hand and squeezed. Her eyes opened wide in surprise and in that instant, she knew I could have killed her. Instead, I swished my blade in front of her face, placing a neat little cut below her right eye. A single drop of blood trickled down her face.
    My cybernetic hand dropped the bent and crushed blade with a clatter. A moment later her smile returned, this time there was a trace of something else in it besides amusement.
    Crege was hooting and clapping.
    “So, where is that charge?” I smiled at her in triumph.

10.
     
    Engineering spaces have always been tight. The idea is to jam as much technology as