A Matter Of Principle

[STSF Seiben 0]

"A Matter of Principle"

Log entry ??: SD 50805.28

 

 

Evading his fans and the paparazzi was easy enough. An arranged shuttle from the rear entrance whisked Koga away from his penthouse suite at the Rihan Arms Hotel to his present location at the Rihan Roost, a popular up scale club in the centre of town. Already on his fourth drink, Koga checked out the available ladies. Dance music blared through the speakers mingled with a near hypnotising array of lights and strobing holograms. The sun had barely set, and the place was already at near capacity. The clientèle served were people similar to himself; well to do play boys, celebrities and minor political figures in their 20s to 30s. On the holo-screens by the bar played a live Ke'Veshrek match.

 

Koga didn't really pay much attention to the screen. Those days were behind him now. With the rigours of his job on the Talon, he had somewhat fallen out of the loop on star fighters, which took his place after his early retirement from the ring. Regardless, he was still welcomed back and chatted about those times with the other patrons. An attractive young lady caught Koga's eye. She recognised him from his fighting days and asked to dance. "But of course" he replied suavely. "You know, I used to love the way you fought. Nimble, but powerful at the same time with such efficiency. It was a shame you had to retire" she replied.

 

"Yeah. It's a shame I had to. I enjoyed fighting, but at least I'm still making a difference. I'm still fighting, but this time for the interests of the Empire" he shrugged. "Aww! You sound just like a brochure! Did your puppet masters at Galae PR tell you to say that?" asked a condescending voice from across the bar. Koga scowled a dirty look at the perpetrator. He was a young man, looked to be about his age sitting at the bar with an ale in his hands and two women sitting next to him.

 

"Who the heck are you?" Koga asked, brow half raised. "Me?" asked the guy. "Did that knock on your head affect your vision?" he asked, pointing to the screen. To Koga's mild suprise, he was watching this same man pound on an opponent in the ke'Veshrek ring. "I thought those things were live?" he muttered to himself. "Man, you've really been out of the loop! I'm Creven tr'Ekker. The man who took your place as World Champion" said tr'Ekker with a self deluded look on his face. "Oh?" replied Koga with a fake look of shock.

 

"Heh. It was easy taking the crown from a washed up verrul like you!" By now, it seemed that everybody in the club were looking at both of them and even replied with a collective "Ooooh!" Koga was somewhat taken aback. "Verrul? Come now. Let's be civil about this" he replied calmly. But tr'Ekker seemed to push on. "Well, if you don't like it.. you can take your hussy there and leave. Go back to being a brainless puppet for the military. They only did it for PR, you know"

 

This irked Koga. "Really, are all fighters as crude and uncivilised as you are now?" tr'Ekker sailed across the room at Koga, but luckilly was stopped before he could get to him. tr'Ekker was escorted out of the club, yelling obscenities at him as he went. Long after he left, people were still talking about it to themselves. One of Koga's friends came over and sat down next to him. "So... what are you going to do?"

 

***

 

A DAY LATER

 

"We can't take any of this" replied Koga's father. "The way he was talking.. it was shameful" Father and son were back in the capitol riding together in the Deihu's luxury shuttle. The sports world was abuzz with Koga's scuffle with tr'Ekker last night at the Rihan Roost. "Yes. I suppose I have no other alternative"

 

***

 

One hour later...

 

 

Flashbulbs went off throughout the conference room. Koga sat quietly in front a mic. At his right was his good friend and manager who stood up and called the reports gathered to order. Their murmuring and flashbulbs stopped and all took their seats. "Ladies and gentlemen. Thank you so much for coming out tonight. By now, we all know what happened last night. Some barbaric comments were made at Koga, who had just returned from a difficult assignment with the Galae. He's a decorated veteran and an excellent officer who didn't deserve such a shoddy treatment by such a crude individual"

 

"Who not only insulted the honour of Koga, but also that of the Galae and of the Empire of which he so bravely defends" his manager replied. "This type of insolence should never be tolerated! So.. to fight for his honour and that of the Empire, it is my pleasure to announce Koga S'Bien shall return to the Ke'Veshrek ring for one time only and fight tr'Ekker in two weeks' time at the Imperial Collesium! After speaking with a team of the finest maenaks in the Empire and Galae Command, it is deemed, that Koga has completely recovered from his head trauma that ended his career a few years ago. Permission has also been obtained directly from Galae command for him to fight one more time to reclaim his throne as undisputed champion and master of the ring!"

 

Loud cheers erupted from the conference room, which was being transmitted live across the Empire. To himself, Koga wondered how they managed to get Galae to do that. Talon did spend some time hiding from pursuers to even get here. His father still has some considerable pull in Command it seems, he thought to himself. Koga tried not to let those thoughts linger as he began to take questions from the reporters.

 

TO BE CONTINUED