In A Just Cause: Walk A Crooked Line

by Edward Becerra
____________________________________

   "...Consider the men and women you would lead into a lost cause."
      - Tomalak, Romulan Commander

   "If the cause is just and honorable, they are prepared to give their
    lives.  Are you prepared to die today, Tomalak?"
      - Captain Jean-Luc Picard "ST:TNG; The Defector."

                                   * * *

   A whining hovercycle landed in the small clearing, and two people got
off. One, a coyote, headed for the lodge and opened the door.

   A bat rushed out and enfolded him in her wings. "<I feared you would not
return, my love.>"

   "<As did I, 'Sky.>" Kickaha shuddered, holding her tight. "<When Quick
Kills began the oath, all I could think, was that I was about to be trapped
once again. To my shame, I didn't think of you, or Knothole, or anything
else. Just escaping.>"
   
   "<You need not fear that any longer. King Acorn has some ideas about
that. He wishes to speak with you later. Right now, you need to rest,
love.>" Nightsky waved to David, who was standing outside the door, and
switched to Mobian. "I've prepared tea, David. Would you like to come in and
have some?"
   
   "No, I have to get back and report to King Acorn. He'll want to know how
the Kickster is. But I'll take a rain check, if you don't mind."
   
   She nodded. "You are welcome in our home anytime, David. Sometime again,
then."
   
   Kickaha turned to face Davey. "Thank you, Dave. I owe you. I ... I don't
think I'd have stopped running, if you hadn't been there."
   
   "Hey, Kicker, we _all_ got weaknesses. Just different ones for each of
us. You helped me, now I help you. That's how it goes." He hopped on his
cycle. "I gotta report back in. Nightsky, you take good care of him, you
hear?"
   
   With that remark, he took off and flew to Knothole.

   The couple went into their lodge. Kickaha noted that his shotgun was
hanging on the wall hooks, next to his bat'leth.

   "<Who brought that back, 'Sky?>"

   "<Sonia, love. She helped me when I realized what must have happened back
home.>" She massaged his back with her claws. "<We also questioned Quick
Kills. The boy is arrogant, but not dishonest. He couldn't lie to save his
life. Much like a certain _other_ young coyote I once knew.>"

   "<Ouch!>" Kickaha muttered. "<Was I ever that foolish, 'Sky? No, don't
answer that. I already know. Sometimes I wonder what you ever saw in me,
dear heart. Fortuna knows I was one of the most stuck-up young snots there
ever was.>"

   "<Only on the surface. What I saw was beneath that. Someone with honor,
courage, and a heart as big as the mountains of home. A person who'd try to
do what was right, no matter the cost.>" She finished massaging his
shoulders. "<By the Great Horn Spoon, you are tense! Your muscles feel like
rocks. Now finish your tea and get to bed, love. You're going to have a full
day's sleep before I let _anyone_ see you. Not even King Acorn. Now go,
love. I'll guard your back. You're safe now.>"

   He yawned, his jaw making cracking noises. "<There's no place safer than
in your arms, 'Sky. There's no place safer...>" He toppled into bed, asleep.

   "<I put a little something in the tea, love. Peaceful dreams, my one.
Peaceful dreams. Fortuna knows you'll have little enough peace in the days
to come.>"

                                   * * *

   The next evening, in King Acorn's hut...

   "King Acorn, I must apologize for my actions. I behaved in a cowardly,
dishonorable fashion. I submit myself for your judgement."

   "You made a mistake, Kickaha. Something we all do, now and then. And as
for punishment, well, I've got a job for you that ought to fill the bill."
The King rubbed his chin with one paw. "First, there's something I want you
to hear. Then I want your opinions of it. You're the only person I have
who's lived in both the Pack and here at Knothole. That's going to be
important. I _need_ someone who's familiar with both."

   "I'm at your disposal, your majesty."

   "Good. Now listen to this." He set a recording cube on the table, and
pressed `Play'. Quick Kills' voice spilled from it. "This is what we found
out from young Jon. Listen carefully, and tell me what you think."

   Kickaha listened to the cube as Jon's voice described what had happened
to the elders, and why. His jaw clenched when he heard the bit about the
Swatbot messengers. The description of the elder's deaths brought a grim
look to his face. He swore softly in tlhIngan.

   "taHqeq jay'! I had many reasons to wish them dead, but not like that.
Never like that. Murdered in their sleep. That's ... foul."

   "That's Robotnik." Acorn returned.

   "As for my thoughts, your majesty... a moment, if you will?"

   "Take your time."

   Kickaha laced his fingers together and closed his eyes. Several minutes
passed, in silence. Then he stood up and began to speak.

   "First of all, there is a clear and present danger to Knothole. The
chance of the Pack accepting Robotnik's offer is great. They likely suspect
that he will betray them, but feel that there is little he can do to hurt
them. After all, they _do_ live in the wilderness. It would be difficult for
Robotnik to attack them directly. Or so they'd think. It's likely that
they've heard nothing about the recent attempt Robotnik made against the
Great Forest."

   King Acorn nodded at that.

   "So, if they do think they can get away with it, they will try. There are
some old grudges, there. Oh, we needn't fear the entire Pack coming at us,
but there will be many young warriors who would join in, if only for the
chance to gain honor in battle. With them, and Swatbots to aid them,
Knothole would fall. Even if it didn't, the civil war that would come of
this would weaken the effort against Robotnik. Given how furious he is at
his son's `defection', he'd take any advantage to destroy us and try to
reclaim his son." Kickaha winced at that. "Odd, you wouldn't think that
there could be any fatherly love left in that walking pile of toDSaH.  But
then love often takes the oddest forms, sire."

   "He was a good man, once, Kickaha. Someone who loved both his son and
Mobius very much." Acorn had a sad look on his face. "He was a hero in the
war, until the accident."

   Kickaha muttered something in tlhIngan. Acorn looked at him.

   "Uhh... It doesn't translate very well, m'lord. But for you...

      `Angels are bright, though the brightest fell,
       And rules now darkly, from the depths of hell.'

   It loses something in the translation, sire."

   "But the meaning does come through. Too fitting by far, more's the pity."
Acorn shook his head. "Any more thoughts on this?"

   "Only one, your majesty. Someone must be sent to speak to the Pack in
your name. A voice to match Robotnik's. And that means David. A Kintobor to
match a Kintobor. Only a diamond can cut a diamond."

   "Indeed. But he'll need help. He's no politician. The ways of political
intrigue are beyond him. And he's not familiar with the ways of your people,
Kickaha."

   At the last comment, a horrified look began to spread over Kickaha's
face.

   "So I'm sending him, _and_ I'm sending three others with him. My daughter
Sally, as my personal representative, Quick Kills as their guide, and you,
Kickaha. You _will_ lead your tribe. At least long enough to cast your vote
against the Pack's accepting Robotnik's offer. That is my judgement and your
punishment."

   Kickaha swallowed so hard, Acorn could hear it. Then he dropped to one
knee. "If that is your command, joH, then I obey. Must I remain there,
sire?"

   "No. I wouldn't ask that of you. I'm only asking this, because we _need_
your vote in the Pack's council against Robotnik. Otherwise, I wouldn't
require it of you." He put a paw on Kickaha's shoulder. "I'm sorry, my
friend. But it's neccessary."

   "I understand. I will obey." The coyote rose to his feet. "I must tell
'Sky of this. Then I can leave. When do you wish it?"

   "Just as soon as Sally and David are ready. That should be within the
day. So prepare whatever you'll be taking with you, then get some more rest.
You leave tommorrow."

***********************************

   Kickaha kissed Nightsky goodbye, and headed down the trail with a pack on
his back, shotgun and bat'leth slung by his side. As he walked through the
village, folks who saw him were reminded of the day he'd fallen into their
lives. The only difference now was that he was wearing the Acorn vest Sally
had given him, along with the long knife bearing the Acorn crest on it's
hilt.

   "nuqneH, Dave! I'm ready. How are the others?"

   "Sally's getting a last few things together. And I'm getting the
hovercycles ready."

   "I'd wondered about that. I walked once. I really _don't_ want to do it
again. Even with a new skeleton and a bionic leg."

   Davey snickered. "Can't say as I blame you, Kicker. But yeah, we're gonna
ride there." He had a sly look on his face. "You want a good laugh?"

   "Sure. I can use a good chuckle, after all that's gone down."

   "Well, come take a look at what Quick Kills used to get here." Dave's
eyes were twinkling. Kickaha thought to himself, *Ooookaaay, this oughta be
a goood one!*

   Sally had arrived by now, and joined them. The three walked in the
direction Davey pointed.

                                   * * *

   Kickaha looked at the ancient, dilapidated hovercycle sitting next to
Quick Kills and shook his head in disbelief.

   "You came here on _that_ thing? You're braver than I thought, boy."

   Kix, who happened to be walking by, broke into peals of laughter at that
statement.

   "What? Did I say something funny?" He stared at the albino fox, confused.

   "Nah, nah, Kickster." Kix laughed some more. "It's just that... well, you
really had to be there." He walked away snickering hysterically.

   Kickaha shrugged, and forgot about it. "Dave, are you sure this... this
_thing_ can make it all the way back? It looks older than the four of us put
together! ghe''or! It looks like a leftover from before the Great War!"

   "That's exactly what it is. But don't worry. I checked it out. It'll make
it. Probably be it's last trip, though."

   "Well... I _do_ trust you, Dave. But if it breaks down, he rides with
_you_." He turned to Sally. "Ready to go, Princess?"

   "I am. But are you ready, Kickaha?" She looked at him closely. "You look
nervous."

   "I'm as ready as I'll every be, my princess. And soonest begun, soonest
done. But one thing remains." He turned to the silent Quick Kills, hefting
his shotgun. "<Understand something, boy. Only my word to Princess Sally and
her father, the King, keeps me from parting your skull with a slug from this
12-gauge. And if you try to trap me into accepting the oath again, well...
there might just be a regrettable _accident_ along the way there. You got
that?>"

   "<Yes, elder.>"

   "<You call me elder one more time, cub, it'll be the last time you call
anybody anything!>" His lips curled back for a moment. "Now get on that
bike. We leave with the Princess."

   Sally'd been looking on curiously. "What was that all about?"

   "Just a coyote kind of thing, my princess. Don't worry. The pup will
behave, as will I. Shall we go?"

   "All right! Mount up!"

   The four bikes lifted off and headed for the Great Plain of Mobius.

                                   * * *

   The Great Plain unrolled beneath the speeding hovercycles. Kickaha looked
down at it and laughed.

   "What's the joke, Kicker?" asked David.

   "Oh, just thinking how long it took me to do this on foot. What took me
days to walk, we're crossing in minutes." He shook his head. "Odd feeling."

   "That's modern technology for you, Kicker."

   "Well, it's faster, anyway." He gazed ahead. "Looks like we're coming up
on the prairie, Dave. Wanna stop for a bite to eat?"

   "That sounds like a good idea," said Sally. "And something to drink. It's
pretty dry out here."

   "Yes! Isn't it great?"

   David and Sally gave him an odd look. "You like it like this?" asked
Sally. "It looks like a desert! All dry and brown."

   "That's exactly what it is, Princess. And that's the way coyotes like it.
For us, this is home. Here, I'll show you."

   They landed, and while David broke out some sandwiches and water, Kickaha
took off his Acorn vest and pulled another out of his pack. A dirty greyish
brown, it blended perfectly with the surrounding scrub.

   "Watch this, Princess." He ducked behind his cycle. A moment later his
voice came from behind her. "Now, where am I? And none of that infra-red
scanning, Dave."

   The two looked around in confusion, while Quick Kills simply looked
bored. 

   "I can't see you at all, Kickaha." Sally was amazed. "Where are you?"

   They heard an amused snicker. "All right, Jon. Make yourself useful.
Track me, and show the Princess."

   The younger coyote looked at the ground around the cycle, then walked
over to a large clump of sagebrush and tumbleweed. He pointed at it.

   "No way," said Davey. "Can't be him." But right then, part of the clump
stood up and spoke.

   "Like I said, Dave. This is home ground for us. This is the reason why
the Pack can think that Robotnik can't take us." The clump shivered for a
moment and fell apart, revealing Kickaha under a pile of dirt, buffalo
grass, and tumbleweeds. "We've been fighting each other as part of the
coming to manhood for as long as time itself. If Robotnik did come here,
he'd have a good fight on his hands." He laughed, then turned to Jon, a
serious look on his face. "Slow, cub. Very slow. I could have taken you. You
need more practice."

   "Yes, eld..." He stopped when Kickaha gave him a _look_. "Yes, Kickaha."

   "Good. See to it." He faced David and Sally again. "Now let's eat! I'm
starved!"

                                   * * *

   Sally just couldn't get over how _dry_ everything was. The prairie seemed
to go on forever. Then she noticed a thin purple smudge on the horizon. She
pointed at it.

   "What's that, Kickaha? A storm?"

   "The Rocky Mountains, Princess. Which means we're getting near to the
village." He scanned the land before them. "There. There's the river. The
people are nearby." He adjusted his course slightly. "Just follow me."

   Moments later, Dave saw a cluster of small hills ahead. "Is that it,
Kicker?"

   "Yes. Well, here goes nothing. I know I owe you and your father,
Princess, but this..." He sighed. "...this pays for all. Now let's do it."

   The cycles slowed and came to a landing just outside of the small
village. David noted that the `hills' were actually underground lodges like
the one they'd built for Kickaha back in Knothole. Some coyotes heard the
cycles and were pointing up at them as they set down.

   "joH, joH!" they were shouting. Sally noticed Kickaha flinching. But then
he took a deep breath.

   "Julian, have you finished that translation program we talked about?" he
asked.

   The computer on David's arm spoke up. "It's ready, but there are still
some bugs in it. It may not translate every word. But it won't give an
inaccurate translation. It will simply note an unknown word as unknown in
brackets."

   "It'll have to do. Reynard will need a copy. I want David and Sally to
understand everything that's going on. And there aren't many here that can
speak Mobian. They're kind of arrogant that way. `If it was good enough for
great-grandfather...'" He shrugged. "They're a good people, but a little
self-centered."

   Julian finished transfering the program to Sally's computer and the two
of them ran a test with Kickaha's help.

   "<Testing, testing, one, two, three... A long time ago, in a galaxy far,
far away...>" He grinned. "Did that come through, Princess? Davey?"

   "Did you try to say `galaxy', Kicker? I got `in a [something] far, far
away'."

   "Hmmm. Close enough, Dave. Well, Princess, shall we go meet my old
people?"

   "Let's go." Sally smiled.

                                   * * *

   To be continued....

-----------------------------------

Now for the legal stuff.

Sonic the Hedgehog, Princess Sally, Knothole, 
et cetera, (c) by Sega of America 
Davey Crockett, Blood and Metal, and The Wild Pack
(c) 1995 David Gonterman [DGONTERMAN@aol.com]
Sonia Hedgehog (c) by Emily S. Smith [SoniadaH@aol.com]
Kain "Kix" Trevor Knight (c) by Brandon Stewart
Kickaha, Nightsky Windrider, and Jon Quick Kills 
(c) by Edward Becerra

Coyote is a spirit of the native peoples of the Americas.
Please respect him as you would your own beliefs.