LightofBattle by Leandros

Chapter One
    Jiska was six when the recruiters arrived at her home.
    Her parents answered the door and stared at the seeker who led the military men to their door. “Yes, what can we do for you, Seeker?”
    The seeker frowned. “I am here because you have a warrior in your home, and we require that warrior for training. You know that the draft is on and refusal to hand over fighters is a punishable offense.”
    Her mother was confused. Jiska could see it from her perch on the stairs. “I don’t understand, Seeker. We don’t have a warrior here.”
    “I can smell the fighter here. Allow us entrance, or go to prison.” The seeker exhaled and inhaled again sharply. “I am correct. The fighter is here.”
    Her parents looked at each other and stood aside as the long-nosed seeker came into their home. The recruiters that followed kept her parents from interceding as the seeker sniffed and explored the main floor before heading up the stairs.
    Jiska looked into the man’s dark brown eyes and nodded. “Hello.”
    He paused and jerked back before sniffing again. “Hello. How old are you child?”
    “I am six this month. I just had my birthday.” She sat very still. The man seemed jumpy.
    “Your government needs you, child. Will you come with me?” He held out his hand.
    Her mother gasped and her father held her tight, keeping her from running to Jiska or touching the recruiters.
    “Will you leave my mom and dad alone?” Jiska narrowed her eyes.
    The seeker paused and nodded. “We will leave them unharmed. I promise you.”
    “Good. They didn’t know what I was.” She got to her feet and took the strange man’s hand.
    He seemed surprised. “You did?”
    Jiska looked at the man with the long, pointed nose and nodded her head. “Of course I did. I have to be careful when I play. The other kids aren’t as good at fighting as I am.”
    He led her down the stairs, and she reached out to her mother. “I will be fine, Mom. Don’t worry.”
    The seeker cleared his throat. “You can visit the training centre anytime you wish. She is so young that it will be years before she enters battle.”
    Jiska looked at him and smiled. “I am glad you think so, but darkness is coming, and I am the light.”
    She was put back on the ground, and the seeker took her hand to lead her out to the transport. When she looked back at her parents, her mother had tears running down her face and her father looked ill. The recruiters looked at each other as if they couldn’t believe what they had found, but Jiska knew the truth. They needed her to be the best fighter in the security force. She was going to be the best.
    * * * *
    “General Irthano, you are the best that the Urgat species has to offer, and your military record is exemplary.” The administrator in the centre of the judiciary panel looked nervous.
    Jiska kept her eyes forward and her expression blank. She was the final member of the security force being dismissed, and once she was gone, the peaceful world that had come to treaties after decades of bloodshed would be able to pretend that she—and the other warriors—never existed.
    “With the breakout of peace, I am sure that you understand why we cannot retain a military force in our cities.” The man was sweating, but the room was cool.
    “What is to be done with me?” She remained at attention, her limbs straight and head high.
    “We have made an effort to place our military with other colonies and the Alliance. They were interested in you, and you are being assigned to Citadel Lowel.” He brusquely moved his data pad and the judiciary watched her for any signs of attack.
    She nodded her head. “I realize that this will be struck from the record the moment I leave this room, but I have served the government of Urgat to the highest of my ability for the last fifteen years. I am pleased to see peace in my lifetime, but I know that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Sending the military away