Notes:
The translations from the Nahuatl language below are not my own. I pillaged the phrases from another website. Credit where credit is due.
In the Imperial calendar system there are five placeholders. The middle number is the year, and to the right of that are the month and the day. The two leftmost numbers are larger increments of years, groups of twenty and groups of four hundred instead of the decimal system we are used to.
Thank you to ThatEditorGuy for some good feedback. Much appreciated.
*
Janetta Tlacotli had sarcastically sniped that my interest in her was that I just wanted to breed her. Truthfully, imagining her pregnant with our child had a strong appeal.
However, I couldn't do that to her. Besides her undoubtedly real declaration that she would kill anyone who interfered with her ability to fly, I also had no desire to destroy her career. I myself loved flying, and once I was at my next duty station, I intended to resume my twice monthly recreational flights. Things were much bleaker for her. Warrior women could fly but unless she had a patron, civilian women weren't allowed a license. I had never seen her fly, but if it was anything like the freedom I felt, I would never stand in her way of experiencing that joy, even if her life was in real danger.
Our trip to the mountain and Chingli Point was followed by two days of double shifts, and I was dead tired. But each night I pictured her smooth copper skin, her big black eyes, perfect white teeth, and pert nose within easy reach. I recalled squeezing her soft, full breasts in my hands, running them down her taut, muscular belly, down her flanks to her slim hips and to legs that went on forever. I wanted to explore that thick muff that hid her sex again. The sounds she made when she was being pleasured had been music to my ears. The smell of oranges and jet fuel whenever I leaned in close to her skin. I whispered her name as I drifted off to sleep.
Finally, the weekend was over and it was back to class. I didn't know if I was falling in love with Janetta, but the more I was with her, the more I wanted her.
When she walked into the room in Basic Tactics, I smiled at her. Once again, she pretended she didn't see me. The hot and cold treatment vexed me. I wondered if her actions were because I was Vedan. I certainly hoped not. I had been born in the Empire of Chimorro, sworn my oaths and was serving my country just like everyone else, Janetta included.
After class, she gathered up her gear and exited without even a look in my direction.
When my classes for the day were over, I resolved to abuse my limited power with military security and access her records. I figured if I learned a bit more about her, it might explain some things.
Once in the office area, I scanned around and found a free computer. I logged in and brought up Janetta's service record. I wanted this to be a discreet inquiry, so I muted the computer so that commands had to be typed in rather than spoken.
A quick search and her record came up on the screen.
Born in Uiyatiwitz, state of Huezteca. Date of birth, 318.16.16.08.14. Fourteenth day of the eighth month? Janetta's birthday was coming up. Women didn't get birthdays in the Empire of Chimorro, except for the Empress, but they did in other parts of the world. I intended to surprise her. I resumed reading.
Father, Milintica Tlacotli, Animal Handler Guild, enlisted in the Ground Service in 318.16.7.3.8, served with distinction during the Chon Revolt of 318.16.12.9.22. Awarded Silver Shield of Merit. Promotion to Second Sergeant. Served at [redacted], killed [redacted] [redacted] on [redacted] 318.17.0.4.13.
17.0? So he died when she was four.
Posthumous promotion to Captain. And, a posthumous induction as a Jaguar Warrior, Fourth Degree.
Promoted from Sergeant to Captain? Enlisted to mid-level officer after one action? And a Jaguar as well? I searched my memory and could find nothing that I could recall happening eighteen years ago. There was a link to another file, but suddenly I could feel warning bells about attempting to look there. The hair on the back of my neck rose. There was a story but it was secret and probably fatally dangerous. I wondered whether my look-see had triggered something with Imperial Security. I was already there, so unless Imperial Security came through the door to stop me, I was going to finish reading this file but no further.
Mother Zaniyah, address [redacted]. And a No Contact Order. Curious.
The usual notes of grammar school for a girl with a wild temper. Trouble began after her father's death. His death could factor in there. Then things quieted down for a couple years. Enlistment into Air Militia at fourteen, then a transfer to Topango War College at sixteen for two years. Hmm. A note that the Assistant Commandant, Kinchil Chac, disappeared a week before her graduation. Opening up the side notes, I saw that two cohorts, including Janetta, were questioned, but nothing solid materialized. That was two years ago.
Grades prior to military service were below average. Since then, they picked up and have continued to improve. Hand-eye coordination and dexterity, exceptional. Expert marksman. Expert with knives. I could certainly vouch for the latter. Her aerial evaluations were incredible.
Third Degree Eagle warrior. Natural choice for the Air Service. She already had the eagle tattoo of Huitzilopochtli, god of war, fire, and Lord of the North.
Each of the Services had their elite groups.
Connections with these quasi-religious groups could help with promotions, but it also meant taking risks. Membership as an Eagle or Jaguar Warrior was expected in a military career if one wanted to reach general or above.
Interesting. Janetta has applied to also become a Jaguar Warrior. Jaguar is popular with the Ground Service. Involvement with both might prove to be very demanding. I wouldn't do it. I'd have no personal life.
I glanced at the clock and realized over an hour had passed. I checked her class schedules. Basic Tactics had two more weeks, and then we both had other classes to attend. I printed off a copy of her schedule for the remaining three months of her stay here, logged off and signed out, without seeing the Senior Sergeant.
I headed to the cafeteria for dinner.
If I could, I would see if I could wrangle another class with her. Barring that, I intended to let her know I wanted more of her off-duty time.
* * * * *
On the weekend duty with Security, I worked it so I got patrol. Senior Sergeant Itznacoco growled about having to hit Tikun at the start of the weekend. As Senior Sergeant, he had made sure the junior sergeants and the other "sorry green ass officers" did that onerous duty.
I didn't care. I had learned that Janetta was planning on attending a ceremony at the temple of Tezcatlipoca. I wondered if this was to be her initiation into the Jaguar Warriors.
I wanted to do a sweep of that area near the end of the services.
In the Empire, local states were allowed to practice their own religion and even speak their local dialect as long as they acknowledged the supremacy of the Emperor, maintained a temple to the sun god Inti, and used Quechua as the official legal language.
The Central States had their Eagle and Jaguar Warriors, which were incorporated into the Empire's military. The Navy later created the Shark Warriors, but outside the Navy, they weren't very popular.
The eagle tattoo was a prerequisite for becoming an Eagle Warrior. Eagle was preferred, naturally, by the Air Service. Jaguar was favored by the Ground Service.
These quasi-religious warrior groups made demands on time and resources outside of active service obligations. Their political power was such that sometimes Command listened to their policies and interests over that of the Empire. Certainly some of the many brief conflicts over the past two hundred years had been at their behest. Without their emphasis on combat, some of those conflicts might have resolved sooner or not even become hot. Of course, I kept such treasonous thoughts to myself. My father made sure I was instructed in the official curricula of the Empire, but often talked to me of the different views and practices of the other powers, such as Atlantis or Aesir-Veda.
The more I learned, the more I was both grateful for my father's actions and concerned lest he was caught.
Finally, the weekend arrived. The security forces under my command geared up and we set out in pairs of those two-seat electric light transports, or HuetziCactis, or HueCacs for short. There were five HueCacs, one ChoCac -- a six-person armored support with a 35mm main gun and two 20 caliber supports. We also had a Tortoise, a dependable enclosed transport capable of carrying forty fully armed troops. We used the Tortoise for carrying soldiers back to Tikun War base. Our security detail comprised a total of thirty men, with Senior Sergeant Itznacoco and me in charge.
For three hours we scoured the streets and retrieved three drunk enlisted, and rescued two Ground Service sublieutenants from the Diamond District. Both officers had been beaten and robbed, but we got them before the locals made sure they disappeared permanently.
When the city bells rang the Eighth Hour, I ordered my driver to take us back to North Temple Square. Following our lead, the other vehicles fanned out and followed. As we pulled in at the entrance to the square, we stopped. It was past sundown, but the square was filled with people and lights. Food vendors, musicians, people talking and milling around for a late bit of shopping.
Pulling out my night glasses, I scanned the area briefly before looking midway up the temple steps. Several Jaguar Warriors in their feathers and jaguar skins appeared and began descending the long steps.
My sergeant's vehicle pulled up next to mine. Standing on the running board, he too scanned around, then focused where I was looking.
Janetta came out at that moment, dressed in white, cuts to her body in several places though none appeared serious. Her hair and much of her front were covered in blood. She held a jaguar skin in one hand as she spoke to no one, staring at the night sky.
Since my arrival, I had picked up a fair amount of Nahuatl. I thought I could make out a couple of words, and then it was like I was hearing her speak next to me.
Yn onihualla tatzin
I have come, my father
Nimic tlan mati
I know the land of the dead
Nito panmati
I know the beyond
yn onechcoc tatzin
I have arrived, my father
Ninahual ocelotl
I am the enchanted jaguar
Tezcat apec
on the mountain of mirrors
Ye nican nontlalpitza
for here I cast my breath
Yehuanti ezcotihuitze
they will come bloodied
Tlapal loti huitze
they will come reddened,
Yn cempopolhuia xitinia
I will completely lay waste to my enemies
Nimo cehuihtoc caxtica mihcai
I am resting in blood of the dead
