Murder On The Golden Halo

by W H Beswick

  CHAPTER 29

  THE EARTHLING’S THEORY

  I looked at the Earthling, who did little more than shrug and turn his attention back to Queen Rexannis. “It is more than a fear. It is a logical conclusion. The only people who would benefit from this plot would be Earthlings. It also explains why the Earthlings returned him after his capture. I worked in what you might call Intelligence during the war. I was involved in similar plots but not on this scale. I knew the name Bacco Uxtel. Am I wrong in thinking his pro-Earthling feelings came after the war?”

  “No.” Queen Rexannis said with such firmness it made us both look up. “Before the war started he had met several military officers from Earth. He grew to…not like but respect their attitude in regards to honor and service. Then the war came and he did his duty. More than once he remarked to me with a smile, ‘these Earthling know how to make war.’”

  “I couldn’t disagree with him on that.” The Earthling said with a shake of his head. “Centuries of practice does make one an expert. But it is my understanding you didn’t see the Prime Centurion until after the conference on Earth’s moon.”

  “No. So you think the switch was made before the war ended?” Rexannis said, now interested.

  “I can’t tell you when or where the Prime Centurion was replaced.” The Earthling said, pouring himself another cup of coffee. He held the pot out. The Queen and I declined. “Now, as I understand it, the last battle Prime Centurion Uxtel was in was very close to Earth. It was there his ship was captured, along with him. As I said, I don’t know if your fiancé was killed or murdered. I do suspect this was when the switch was made. I think it was a desperate ploy to save our world.”

  “How?’ I asked, wondering how one man could save an entire planet.

  “Ah, ah, working in Intelligence I began to hear rumors of the final act. Toward the end of the wars everything was happening so fast. The Unification of Planets was close to keeping their word by finishing the war and making the Earth pay. Many planets including yours wanted revenge. I understand that. What was not known was there was a revolt going on my planet. The people who started the war. Corporate leaders, politicians, even the president found themselves up against the wall.”

  “Why would they put these people against a wall?” I asked, really not understanding.

  “Princess,” Queen Rexannis interrupted with a smile. “They were shot.”

  “Oh!” Suddenly I felt foolish.

  “Please continue, I find this fascinating.”

  “The Earth was in turmoil. The war was ending. Our planet was surrounded by Unification ships. The new leaders of my world sent out a delegation for peace. That’s where I was when I learned the actual plans for the final act. The decision on how to go forward was still being debated.

  “General Bacco Uxtel was one of the loudest voices against it.” The Queen said. “No, not my beloved, but an Earthling posing as him.”

  “By the God of Dag, that is horrible.” I gasped, looking at the Earthling, who just gave me a very sad smile.

  “The delegation was arrested and told they would be put on trial.” He continued. “By this time my group had been captured and were being held on one of our own moon bases. We were to be tried too.”

  “There were no trials?” I said. “Every Earthling was let go after the war.”

  “My dear princess,” Queen Rexannis said with a sad smile. “It is one thing to talk about destroying an entire world. It is another to actually do it.”

  “Exactly.” The Earthling said. “They went ahead with the final act. Many centuries ago, the Earthling who helped create the first nuclear weapon was supposed to have said, ‘I am death. I have become the destroyer of worlds.’ I assume he instantly regretted what he had created.”

  “According to the man posing as Bacco,” The queen said. “Seconds after the destruction of your world, those twenty people realized they had gone too far. Did you know four committed suicide with months? No one involved was unaffected.”

  “Yes, Lady Venusun told me.” He said, putting down his cup and sitting back. “The remaining Earthlings were given pardons and released.”

  “Now I understand.” I said with a smile that quickly faded. “The imposter was supposed to stop the final act. He failed, but why did he continue the façade? He couldn’t expect to fool the queen. There was the wedding night.”

  “They needed to keep the Prime Centurion alive so he could continue to fight for the rights of Earthlings. Bacco Uxtel was respected, rich and powerful. Only one thing stood in the way of his plan’s success.

  Queen Rexannis looked right at the Earthling and said. “Me.”

  CHAPTER 30

  COMPLICATIONS

  “Yes,” The Earthling said as cool as you please. “Ah, I think this imposter planned to murder you before you reached your home planet. Then he would be free to continue on as the Prime Centurion.”

  “That’s ridiculous.” I said with a shake of my head. “Someone would have guessed.”

  “Probably not for a long time. Ah, I suspect that some people on your home world wouldn’t care.” He said, looking at the queen. “Ah, ah, I am guessing your death would throw the politics of your world into turmoil.”

  “Yes, it would.” Rexannis said, looking right back with that knowing smile. “I suspect you already know, thanks to the war and a questionable plane crash I am the last living member of the royal family. If I die, the royal bloodline dies with me. To some people, that wouldn’t be a bad thing.”

  “Ah well, I do know your world does have a parliament and prime minister, but the real power still rests with you.”

  “Much to Prime Minister Tunga’s dismay. She has made no secret of the fact that in her mind the royal family has outlived its usefulness. Happily I am still loved by my people and her not so much. She does try. Tunga is quite pretty and has a full rich body that she has no problem using to distract…well, let’s say her face and body is an advantage.”

  “She does that. You should have seen her ads when she was campaigning. Luckily royals don’t have to deal with such foolishness.” I said. Suddenly I recalled my sister’s wedding. It had taken almost a year to plan. “A royal wedding takes time to plan, but this has all been done in less than a month. Your majesty, you wanted to get married as quickly as possible.”

  “Ah, yes, her majesty wanted to…” The Earthling said.

  “Create an heir for the throne as quickly as possible.” Queen Rexannis said. “Those plans are now dashed. It will be at least another year before I could even consider getting married. A time of mourning is expected.”

  “Ah yes but the death of Bacco puts your life in more jeopardy.”

  “I agree.” The queen said. “That is why I have no intention of leaving my suite until we reach Sirona.”

  “Sirona?” I asked. “The ship is changing course?”

  “Yes, Lady Venusun and I agreed that it would be safer for me not to return home at this time. I am hoping you will solve this problem before we arrive there.”

  “Ah, hmp, your majesty, I am just trying to find out who killed the fake Prime Centurion. I don’t want to get involved with the politics of your world.”

  “Oh please, I can see you are no fool. You must know this murder is about the politics of my world. You find the murderer and you find my enemies. Here is a thought. Perhaps the imposter had planned to poison me. Sharing a glass of whiskey at a romantic moment.”

  “And he got the glasses mixed up.” He said with a shake of his head. “Ah, no, no. The Prime Centurion was the target. Your political enemies back on your world would never try to kill you. The public outrage.”

  “I agree. They will now have to at least try to wrestle power from me, pointing out I am the last royal. I myself consider that an advantage. You are right, the imposter was the target. I need to know who was behind this plot. I need to know what happen to my Bacco.”

  “Ah yes, he could have been killed because he was an imposte
r.”

  “I suggest you find the murderer then.” Rexannis said tilting her head. “Even though I am not a detective, I would suggest you talk to Prime Minister Tunga.”

  “Ah, ah, thank you for the advice but I think talking to Beta Chief Zana would be more interesting. He was with the Prime Centurion.”

  “Do keep me informed.” She said. One of the maids appeared, signaling the interview was over.

  “Thank you, your majesty.” The Earthling said standing up and then picking up three of the triangle shaped sandwiches. Then he smiled. “Ah, ah, something to munch on while I investigate. I think it is going to be a long night.”

  “It already has been.” Rexannis said, picking up a sandwich and biting into it.

  CHAPTER 31

  WHAT THE GOOD OPTIO KNEW

  The Earthling and I were escorted from the queen’s suite. The guard glanced as we passed as the Earthling took my elbow but quickly dropped his and motioned me to follow him down the hallway. Under other circumstances I would reminded him of his place. I had decided we were partners in this investigation and let it pass. He led me to the end of the hallway and looked around. He moved in closer and whispered. “Ah, ah, princess, I think it is best we keep the fact that the Prime Centurion might have been an Earthling to ourselves.”

  “But why? We know he was an imposter.” I said.

  “Ah, mph, yes we do.” He said and thought for a second. “What we don’t know for sure is if he was an Earthling. We won’t know for sure until the autopsy, which is one of the reasons we are going to Lady Venusun’s planet. There will be no one to protest the autopsy.”

  “Yes, I can see that. Considering you are an Earthling, some people would object. They might even blame you for this whole thing.”

  “Ah, exactly and what we don’t have is a clear motive. Was he killed because he was an imposter, or was he killed because of the coming wedding? Either way, finding the murderer would only create more problems. If it turns out to be Prime Minister Tunga or another Earthling, the fallout would be dangerous for me and you. You understand?”

  “Yes, you’re right.” I said and then another idea popped into my head. Right out of the blue. A brilliant thought. “Wait, there has to have been another imposter on board. Whoever he was couldn’t have expected to pull this off by himself. The question is who? Wait, you have someone in mind.”

  “Optio Zana was on the same ship as the Prime Centurion.”

  “Oh, oh, he was captured too and has scars!”

  “Now you see why we must be careful. Optio Zana, although not from the right social class, still was the Prime Centurion’s right hand.”

  “Yes, this is getting very complicated and dangerous for you.” I said, remembering he was an Earthling, which was odd. When did I forget that? “So, are we going to see the Optio?”

  “Yes, ah, ah, be careful princess.” He said with a small smile. “The Beta Chief, if he is involved, will be trying to get information from us. Ah, ah, ah, I have noticed you have a tendency to blurt out your ideas.”

  “I do not!” I said, feeling offended and, well, embarrassed. I could feel my face blush. The Earthling just stood there, showing nothing. My anger left as quickly as it had come. The fact was my mother, father, sisters, brothers and friends had pointed this out to me more than once. Putting on a brave face, I simply said. “I will let you do all the talking.”

  “Ah, that is very kind of you, your highness but if something does occur to you, feel free to share it.”

  “Of course, we are in this together.”

  The Earthling actually laughed. “Are we?”

  Optio Zana’s suite was smaller than mine which didn’t surprise me. Just two rooms and a bathroom, all decorated with nautical décor. The floor was free of any clutter, except for the captain’s jacket and tie. Both had been taken off and thrown to the floor. There was a bottle of some kind of liqueur I didn’t recognize. He had apparently kicked off his shoes after sitting down. There was large tumbler filled with a brown liquid in one hand. He did not rise when we came into the room.

  Actually he didn’t even answer the door. He just yelled it was open. Apparently the death of the Prime Centurion had made the good Optio forget his manners.

  I was about make a comment on his rudeness, one should always rise when anyone of royal blood enters the room, this is common knowledge, but the Beta Chief spoke first.

  “I don’t like Earthlings.” Zana said, eyeing the Earthling. His voice was hard and bitter, as well it should be. “I didn’t share the Prime Centurion’s generous feeling toward them. Your kind caused too much death and destruction. I lost family and friends.”

  “Ah, ah, well sir, you are not alone in those feelings.” The Earthling said, studying the officer with a small smile. He took off his glasses and began to polish them with his handkerchief. “It has been a long night for everyone. I would prefer to be in bed but here we are. So we must make the best of it. No games. I think we owe each other that. I won’t ask you the usual questions. Because, well, ah I know the answers. So let’s start with the obvious one. You were captured along with the Prime Centurion?”

  “Yes, you are right. We do owe each other the truth.” Zana said, sitting up and looking at the Earthling. “I can tell you know more than you should. I had heard of you and how clever you are. I was pleased that you have found something most of us could not. The Prime Centurion and I were caught together but not held in the same place. He was Prime Centurion.”

  “Ah, yes he was.” The Earthling said, holding up his glasses and checking to make sure they were clean before putting them on. “That’s better, I can now see you much clearer. Should I bother to ask if you noticed any differences in Prime Centurion Uxtel after his release?”

  “No. No games. As they say back on Earth. This was all big picture stuff. Desperate times call for desperate measures.”

  “Desperate enough to kill a queen?”

  “Yes.” He said, suddenly looking right up at the Earthling.

  “Ah, no disrespect but it was a terrible plan.”

  “It was never supposed to go this far. The original plan was just to stop the final act. Bacco saves the Earth and then dies in some manner. Life goes on. We failed.”

  I will admit I am not the smartest person I know, but it was then I realized the good Optio was an Earthling. I stared at his face and asked. “You are an Earthling?”

  “Yes.” Zana said, lifting the glass and then gulping his drink down. He smiled at the Earthling. “Jack Daniels. I am down to my last few drops.”

  “Ah, sir, I need to know…”

  Zana began to gasp. He looked at the glass in his hand and then at the Earthling. The man staggered to his feet and stumbled toward us, reaching out, but then collapsed to the floor. I jumped back squealing, afraid he had something catching.

  The Earthling rushed forward and knelt down by the captain. He turned the man over and looked into his face but it was too late.

  “He’s dead?” I asked

  “Yes.” The Earthling said, laying the captain’s head down. He stared at the face for what seemed ages. “I have to contact Lady Venusun. Poison. The Beta Chief has been murdered.”

  CHAPTER 32

  A THIRD EARTHLING

  Once again the Earthling went through the same motions as before, but this time the poison was in the whiskey bottle, not the glass. Fingerprints revealed that the good Beta Chief was not who everyone thought he was. Once again, the poison called cyanide was suspected and then confirmed by the little white strips.

  The other difference was the Earthling insisted the ship’s doctor not be brought in. Captain Fross objected until a call was made to Lady Venusun. I was there, so I can state clearly Lady Venusun not only had full faith in the Earthling, but made it clear he was in charge of the investigation. My name came up too. She more than implied that I was working with the Earthling to solve these murders.

  Always nice to be appreciated.

  Once
this was made clear, the Earthling didn’t give orders like I would have, instead strongly suggesting that this second murder be kept secret. No one was to know. Fross was uncomfortable with this, pointing out there were more than a few important beings on board. The Earthling was more consenting than I would have ever been. He told Fross he would inform the queen himself, which seemed to make the captain much more agreeable then made it clear that Prime Minister Tunga was not to be told.

  That all done he turned his attention to the cabin and me.

  “Ah, ah, well your highness do you have any thoughts?” He said, wandering around the room. He picked up the bottle of what I now knew to be Jack Daniels whiskey and muttered what a shame it was to ruin good whiskey.

  I couldn’t have agreed more. I would have loved to taste it. “Could he have killed himself? I mean, we both now know he was an Earthling. With all due respect he would be facing severe punishment.”

  “Ah no, the look on his face was of complete surprise.” The Earthling said, going into the bedroom. I followed and was surprised at the mess. The bed unmade. There were clothes on the unmade bed and lying on the floor. There were even dirty dishes on the side table and floor. I was appalled and said so. He turned back and smiled. “Yes it is quite a mess. Back to Optio. He reached out to us for help. I suspect his hope was the queen would try to cover the fact an Earthling had fooled her. Perhaps let him go.”

  “Impossible.” I said. “Queen Rexannis would never let him go. She would want to know the true fate of Bacco Uxtel. The Beta Chief was the only one who knew.”

  “He would have used that to bargain with her.” He said, moving around the room, avoiding the mess in the same manner I was. The Earthling seemed as disgusted by the mess as I. He would pick something up only with his gloved hands, then drop it, rubbing his fingertips as if he was trying to get the filth off. “I suspect the Optio was counting on Queen Rexannis wanting to know how her fiancé died. Still, whoever this man was, I doubt he was a military officer. The state of this room. Even after the service, most officers maintain the same need for order in their lives. Ah, oh princess, Optio is not the only one who knows the fate of the Prime Centurion. This conspiracy was not dreamed up by just two men. No, this is a bigger plot that than.”