Lords and ladies of Ye Olde Delmar.

“Thank you, we appreciate the hospitality.” Gizzy said as Tildy placed the beers down and Gizzy claimed them both, protecting them from the impending trouble.

“Excuse me, Tildy?” Silverback asked, provoking a look from the big man, crossing his arms.

“I hear your friend here intends to marry you. Congratulations.”

“Oh, He wishes. Borren has been trying that bit for years. Never worked.” She chuckled.

“How tragic.” He said, as she politely nodded and tended to the next group of people. Gizzy tilted back, slowly pouring the entire mug down her gullet as the show continued. “She didn’t seem very claimed to me. Maybe you were just thinking wishfully there, chum.” Silverback shrugged.

“Borren.” He corrected.

“Borren the shit out of me, is more like it, Gizzy why are you drinking so much?”

“If the table goes, I’m not wasting free beer.”

“Listen up, old man. You come in here, from gods know where, acting chummy with other people’s women, you might get hurt. And your friend seems more interested in getting drunk than helping you back it up. So kindly get the fuck out of my pub old-man, before you start losing hair…or teeth.”

“Gizzy, you can take this guy, why aren’t you joining in?”

“I know I can take him, it’s not even sporting. I’m curious if you can. He’s bigger and younger than you, but you’re Eridani and military trained back in the day. I’m just seeing if you really wanna go for it, and if that’s something you can handle."

“Missy I can handle both of you, truthfully I could handle you for hours, but your friend, in a different kind of tussle, might have a heart attack drawing his sword.” Borren provoked.

“Now boys, keep your swords in your pants, let’s keep this casual and bare knuckle…and no Borren, you can’t handle me. Nathan is really the question here.”

“Well then Mister Nathan, care to apologize, leave, or prove your metal?”

“Nobody draws a sword!” Warned Gizzy, finishing the second beer.

“That’s Mister Silverback. Only family calls me Nathan. And that’s Professor Silverback to you, because you are about to get schoo-” He started, taking a knee to the groin and hitting the ground.

“HEY!” Gizzy barked. “Bad form, no cockshots, no weapons, fight like respectable men, Damnit.” She ordered as the tables scooted back, and the peasants watched, the new entertainment taking root and muttered bets casually made.

Silverback dusted himself off, pretending to be fine, throwing a sudden punch to the ribs and sinking into a layer of fat before taking one to the chin and stammering back. He stepped back in, blocking a left with his forearm and landing a hefty jab, getting Borren’s attention and narrowly sidestepping the return fire.

“Not bad,” Gizzy said, “go for the face, he’s got less padding there.”

“I got this.” He scoffed, ducking and jabbing the face again, bloodying Borren’s nose with little response. He jabbed again and was yanked in for a bear hug as Borren lifted him up and the crunch of bones filled the air. Silverback reared back, slamming his forehead into Borren’s face and making him drop him, staggering back to catch his breath.

“You wanna cheat?” Gizzy asked, munching some bread?

“No. Why would I want that?”

“He’s bigger and you’re losing. I got boosters if you want one. Delmarian battle wafers cut into 8ths.”

“Maybe later, I can win this.” He insisted.

“Your funeral.” She shrugged. He stepped back in and was knocked flat by a stray punch. Another man stood up and removed his coat, circling the fight as Gizzy crammed the rest of the bread in her mouth and did the same. “Don’t do it.” she said, mouth full, swallowing the bite. “It’s between them, keep it that way.”

“Or what, your other friends will show up?”

“No, I’ll just get involved, and you’ll look really bad really fast, trust me, this is not your moment to shine. Let em cook.” She said as the skinnier man slowly approached her.

“He’s handing your man, maybe I don’t want you stabbing him in the back while he does. Strangers never fight fair. So while the old dog bites, I’m just guarding his bitch.” He said casually as Gizzy tossed a right hook, grabbing his hair and driving his face into her knee, laying him out cold as everyone paused.

“Anyone else wanna call me a bitch today? Anyone? Don’t look at me, this is done and over, he made his choices, he chose poorly. The other fight is still going and all is fair. Go, fight, carry on.” She said sitting back down. They resumed exchanging punches, Silverback mostly dodging and Borren just absorbing and shaking them off. Gizzy casually patted the unconscious guy down, grabbing a knife, and confiscating it to the table as she nodded, and 2 men carried him out. “Anyone wanna wager me 2 more beers on the winner?”

“I’ll wager 3 Borren wins.”

“That doesn’t work for me, I was going to bet on Borren too. Anyone wanna just buy me 2 more beers?” she asked. Dee strolled in, starting to move faster.

“Honey…just casual.” She said, as she slowed and made a wider circle.

“Already getting into fights?”

“The locals don’t seem to mind, I’m guessing it's common either for this place or that specific guy. If he pulls a blade or anything sketchy, I’ll put an arrow in his kneecap. Otherwise, just take bets.”

“He’s gonna get killed.”

“Nah, he’s Eridani. I’ve married about 6 of them. They’re pretty hearty even at that age. He’ll live. He might lose, but he’ll be okay.”

“I dunno.” She sighed. “He’s just flesh and bone.”

“That’s what we’re waiting to find out: What he’s made of.” She shrugged as the others strolled in looking confused and waiting for their signal as Gizzy just casually shook “no” and they joined the table.

“You getting tired?” She yelled to Silverback.

“Just getting my second wind.” he said, noticing Dee and sucking up his discomfort. He suddenly got more bold, stepping into hits and tossing an elbow in the mix as Borren backed up and caught his breath for more taunting.

“Tough old shit, I’ll give you that. You can walk away right now with my respect and probably live another 3 or 4 years.”

“Calling it a draw?” he asked.

“No, I’m calling it a mercy. You’re barely standing, barely breathing, you’re gonna break a rib or your back over a stupid little fluff, or you can just say you fought hard and lost, enjoy your drink, and if you stay away from Tildy, I’ll let ya come back. How’s that sound, old man?”

“No thanks, I like Tildy, I think I got a shot there.” Silverback smirked.

“Well, then you’re just a dead fool.” He said, grabbing a sword from the table behind him as his friends smirked. “Because I’m a damn good fighter unarmed, but I’m the best man alive with a sword, and you just earned yourself a proper problem.” He said as Vinn started to move and Gizzy signaled him down.

“Vinn…nothing until the shit hits the fan.” Gizzy said, standing up and circling.

“Gizzy, he’s bluffing. Fat boy like him moving that slow might be able to take my swings all day, but it’s padding, not armor.” Silverback said, grabbing his sword. “First blood. You leave a mark, I shut my mouth and admit defeat. I leave one, you sit down and act civilized. Nobody dies.” He suggested.

“Agreed.” Said Borren.

“For the record… if he even attempts a lethal shot, I’m collecting his head.” Gizzy said, crossing her arms. “And nobody else stands up, or I put them back down and they stay down. First scratch, at least try to do this with honor.”

“You really got the balls to fight me, old man, with that little sword?” Borren said, eyeing the piece.

“It’s not the size that counts, but it’s not just a shower, it’s a grower too.” Silverback smiled, twisting the handle and turning around as the spring-loaded mechanism extended the blade to full length still in the sheath, ejecting the sword backward and bouncing off the bar counter and behind it, leaving him weaponless. “Well, shit. Can I get a redo on that?” he asked as Borren laughed.

“Dignity…” Gizzy sighed, shaking her head. “Should have said, do this with dignity.”

“Okay, fine, I was bluffing. I’m not a swordsman. Can we go back to just fist fighting?” Silverback asked as Borren stepped forward and lightly jabbed his arm with the sword.

“First blood. You lose old man.” He chuckled.

“Nathan, say the words and sit down.” Gizzy ordered.

“You’re not gonna back me up?” he asked.

“I’ll knock you out myself. Say it.” she growled.

“Fuck. Fine. I admit defeat. You are the victor, and I will get my sword in silence.” He said, bottling his pride and grabbing his weapon from the counter. Gizzy stepped up to Borren and stared him in the eyes.

“Deal is a deal. He’ll keep his mouth shut, and you keep your men in their seats…except the one outside. You can wake him up later. He stepped out of line, and he’s lucky to be alive.”

“Something about you.” Borren said, eyeing her with a grin. “I can tell when someone is bluffing their grit. You’re not. But we both got men willing to draw blood, and I got more men. So you should consider yourselves lucky.”

“Oh punkin, you really don’t know what you’re playing with. You think Nathan’s the leader because he’s the strongest? He’s just respected because he’s the oldest. You picked a fight with the only one of us that wouldn’t get you killed. Take a look at that group. I’m the meanest thing you have laid eyes on, and you so much as contemplate going near those two girls, and your best hope is that the big ginger fucker kills you before I get a hold of you. Because he kills quick and clean, and I like to take pieces home. You made your point, Nathan made his. Shit happens and boys fight. You won… yay for you. Don’t take it any further. I’m sure you have loved ones who would be traumatized to receive your skin in a basket. Now…celebrate your fair fight victory against an old man with a big mouth. Go on…food’s getting cold.” She smiled.

“Okay.” He said, looking half worried and half curious. “Maybe we’ll have our own little fair competition some day. Just us.”

“I don’t advise it, and I don’t want the hassle of burying the body, but if you insist on dying, maybe some day soon you can see your ancestors. Just don’t rush it. You have so much life to live and so much salted pork to pack away, fatass.” Gizzy said as she turned her back to him as an insult, pausing to tempt and then returning to her table.

“I’m either going to marry that woman or kill her.” He smirked.

“What about Tildy?” asked his friend.

“One at a time, I’m a patient man, wives aren’t cheap. I can’t afford two at the moment.” He said, sitting down.

“Okay Nathan, what the fuck?” Gizzy said, sitting down across from him as he looked up with one blackened eye.

“He disrespected the barmaid.” He shrugged.

“Knock off the chivalry bit, you were looking for a reason to prove yourself, and you did a solid job right up until you pulled the sword shit. You told me you had experience with a blade.”

“I do. 4 years in the Eridani military, best damn butcher we had on the ship. I can carve a pig down in minutes.”

“Damnit, you said combat experience.” She sighed.

“You asked if I had combat experience, I do. Hand to hand almost 2 centuries ago, basic rifle training and survival. You didn’t ask if I could wield a sword. Gizzy I was a child when men carried swords, buy the time I was 40 and enlisting, we had guns. I’m old, but I’m not…YOU old. I didn’t spend 8 thousand years hammering bronze for a living. I’m closer to these times than you, but I wasn’t a warrior, I was a butcher, I did the standard 4 years military training, I got out and worked the mines, upgraded to stonemason, bought a butchers shop, went back to construction and stayed there. If I told you that, maybe you’d have left my ass back on the stupid moon, bored and trying to date with scanner apps. I’m here, you see what I’m made of, it’s not that much, but it’s something. Downgrade me, make Vinn the leader, I’m fine with it. I’m just glad to be where there’s grass and adventure instead of black rock and Delmarians… No offense Vinn, but there are a lot of purists on Delmar and I hate them. They’d all kill me in 2 hits in a fight, you think I’d rather kiss ass and cut stone while 700 pound monsters call me old man and I have to just take it, or here where I can at least stand my ground? I don’t regret a damn thing. Demote me, give me a cleaver and a side of beef.”

“Oh my god, I forgot they have cattle here.” Gizzy gasped. “I’ve been on a moon with no real cows for so long I forgot it was a thing. BARMAID!! Steaks, everything you have, bloody as hell, seared and salted. If you have garlic, use a lot of it.” she said, placing several gemstones on the table. “No, I am not sharing.” She said to Vinn.

Gizzy strolled behind the bar to get some air as Dee waddled behind her, trying not to trip in the mud with shorter legs.

“Hey, what the hell was that back there?”

“That’s called a dick measuring contest, it’s way less fun than it sounds, but men do that all the time. I did that when I was a young fucker too.”

“Nathan got his ass kicked, and you just let him do it?” she argued.

“Humans fight, it doesn’t take much. They were after the same woman, they fought, he lost. I made sure it was fair and didn’t escalate into a battle scene.”

“So that guy just gets to treat women like shit and when Nathan stands up he gets beaten up for it? That’s not fair. That’s bullying, and then another round of bullying." Dee barked.

“Dee, this is not deep space where we can blast our way through every enemy we cross. These are regular people, peasants, assholes, not enemy soldiers with guns and murder for blood, not chaos gods who deserve to be eradicated like vermin. Just humans. We can’t be the heroes who go village to village policing the gangs and the bullies, it would never end, and we have items to secure and destroy. We have to blend in to some degree. Nathan overstepped, he made a point, he bit off more than he could chew, but he made his point.”

“Yea but… Tildy didn’t get any satisfaction. She still has a big brute harassing her, and the nice guy lost.”

“Welcome to human history. We have a planet to save, and we will be discovering real enemies soon, we don’t need to make more along the way. You don’t know humans like I do. If I cut him down, half the bar would be drawing blades, someone would get killed in the crossfire, or taken hostage, the bar would be destroyed. We’d have 8 dead men and posters of us at the next village. We can’t fight every wrong we encounter, we have to be selective and weigh the costs.”

“I just… I know you’re right, but I feel like in my heart, so was Nathan. How can you both be right and disagree?”

“Because it’s all perspectives and relevant, and Nathan is fighting his own small battles, I’m fighting a bigger one. If we become the band of killers that goes village to village wiping out every evil person, we’d kill half the villages and be hated for it, and then a hundred years from now they all die anyway. If we find and destroy the artifacts here, we stop a minor chaos god from existing, saving millions, most of them will still have shitty lives and unfair chances, but they’ll have some chance. There are laws and order here, this is not the void of space where anything is fair game. You kill an asshole, his brother hunts you down, then kills someone else for vengeance. Never ends unless you start at the top and cut the head off the dragon. I wanted to see if Nathan was capable of fighting, and if he knew when to stop, and he did. He was right, and I was right, and the conclusion still kinda sucks.” Gizzy sighed.

The group made their weary way through the woods as dusk approached.

“Is there a reason we’re walking this far from town?” Nicole huffed.

“Because the house popping up is loud, and we don’t want people finding a fully built 3-story home next door that wasn’t there yesterday, asking questions. It’s an hour walk, we’re 2 miles from the town road, in the middle of nowhere, it would be days before anyone stumbled across this place, and we may be gone by then. It’s unlikely, especially with the active camo, that anyone would find this exact location, and then find it again within a week, and if we’re still here we just say we built it in a week.” Gizzy said checking the land with a range finder.

“So how does this thing work exactly? Are we going to be here all night cutting down and clearing trees?” Vinn asked.

“Works just like the teleport bubble. We just sit down and level the lunchbox, and the bottom of the lunch box forms the top of the foundation. So in theory, these foot long extended feet should place the 2-foot thick reinforced concrete slab halfway in the soil, replacing the soil a foot deep in a 40 by 45 foot area. The sloped edges and artificial grass covering should blend with the terrain, and anything in the area of the house will be converted to energy, and that energy converted to filler material that fills the gaps of the home as it is displaced. So any trees, rocks, debris of any kind will just be cut from the area, and redistributed as material for the home. It’s mostly hollow and advanced plastics, so the structure is very light on its own. It looks like old wood, waddle and daub construction and stone bricks, but that’s just a thin exterior coating. The mud is a thin fiberglass façade, and the wood beams are just thin wooden cladding nailed around the actual carbon nanotube structural pipes. So the wooden shingle roof, the doors, the 4x4 beams, all just thin wooden decoration over modern super plastics. The superficial exterior parts that are not load-baring or integral like the stable gates, the rear awning, the front stairs and the little corner outhouse are just solid wood, because they aren’t essentials in the event of an attack. It makes the home more convincing. But everything structural and interior is artificial and tough as hell. It’s not like we’re likely to get hit with trebuchet fire or anything serious, even the wood can handle things like arrow strikes and thrown axes.” She said, stepping back and hitting the button. A blue transparent glow the shape of the structure appeared and gave off a hum, as she confirmed the location and activated it from her phone, discreetly in a leather wallet case.

The rush of air and bass drop struck them, as the house appeared perfectly in a nice cleared spot, as if magic, followed immediately by the delayed falling of 3 large trees that had 2 feet of their bases cut off. The trees dropped with a thud on the grass covered concrete and tipped towards the house, smashing the roofing tile and flattening the front staircase. She blinked in annoyance.

“So That’s the house, tomorrow we’ll be doing some repair work, and tonight we will be using the workshop ladder to get into the home. Nathan, you will be sleeping on the main floor, not using the deck until it’s re-attatched obviously, just keep that door shut for now. Vinn and Nicole will take the front attic room, and Dee will join me in the other attic bedroom. Everyone, sleep well, and we’ll address this glitch in the morning.”