by Lee Watts
"THREE DAYS," Koraden shouted from the back of one of the two-legged reptiles who would soon hunt the group. "You have three days to make your journey before the Rhia are released. Pray you have made it across the dunes before then."
Spurring his mount, the scaly creature roared in anger while displaying its twin rows of jagged, ripping teeth. The beast's long arms clawed hungrily toward the frightened prisoners, but Koraden reined it back just enough to keep its razor-sharp, curved claws from ripping the flesh from the prey.
The prisoners cowered in terror, causing Koraden to laugh with delight.
"Wait," came an unexpected and high voice.
Guards and prisoners alike turned to see who dared speak or approach. It was Pipaluk.
"Wait," she repeated. "Overlord, someone here is not who they appear to be."
CHAPTER 29
"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies." – Proverbs 31:10
Alexander blocked the mighty blow of the weapon swinging toward his head, countering with a thrust of his staff toward his opponent's midsection. Imenand parried the strike and sidestepped then spun and dropped low into a leg sweep, knocking the mortal off his feet and flat on his back. Before Alexander had a chance to recover, his new bodyguard had the tip of a stand-in wooden battlestaff pressed against the center of the king's chest. With the wind knocked out of him, it was hard for Alexander to speak so signified his surrender by releasing the grasp of his own weapon. Imenand swept a hand over his long hair, pulling it out of his face then extended an arm to help the humbled king to his feet.
"I thought Merrick would have prepared you for that," Imenand chided with a smile. "He was always fond of adding a punch or kick into a fight."
"Yes, actually," the king panted while regaining his breath after the intense workout. "He used to… beat me soundly. Some might call it abuse, but he called it training."
"You seemed stiff in your movements. You must become one with the staff – let it be an extension of yourself."
"Merrick and I didn't spend much time on staff techniques. On the jungle islands of Acatus, there wasn't room to swing a long weapon like a staff, so we mostly worked on the two short swords."
"A pity," Imenand remarked. "The battlestaff is such a versatile weapon. If you spend the time with it, you can switch from swords to staff even during the heat of battle. Let's try-"
"Sire," came an urgent voice of someone entering the palace dojo. It was Timotheus. He hurried to the student and teacher, giving a hasty bow.
"What is it?" Alexander asked apprehensively.
"Sire, the chief mediator has sent me. The Ramillie are invading the New Enty system!"
Breaking into a run, Alexander rushed toward the fleet command center at the far end of the palace. Entering the chamber, he waved a dismissive hand at the guard who was about to call the room to attention.
"What are we facing?" the king asked.
"Half a dozen battleships, twice as many cruisers and they've already started landing troop transports. Estimates project they'll have 50,000 troops planetside within six hours," one of the officers reported.
Alexander stood next to the circular, waist-high holographic projection table in the military command center of the palace. An image of the battle at New Enty hovered above the five-meter-wide device. Screens on the walls showed communications from various Realm ships throughout the galaxy.
"How fast can we get reserve forces there?" he asked.
There was some quick checking then came an answer of eight hours.
"Eight hours!" Alexander exclaimed.
"Highness," one of the officers explained, "we can get ships there far sooner, but not in sufficient strength to counter the Ramillie numbers. If we send them in there a few at a time, they'll be wiped out."
"In eight hours the Ramillie will be so entrenched that we'll have to launch an entirely new campaign to liberate the planet." Alexander groused.
No one dared respond. The king was right, and everyone knew New Enty was about to fall.
"Shall I give the evacuation order?" an officer asked.
"There's got to be another option," Alexander figured while racking his brain.
Yilib stepped closer to advise the king.
"Sire, you heard the analysis. This fight cannot be won, and to keep our forces engaged would be a waste of lives. I believe you should order a withdraw immediately."
"Absolutely not," came an insistent voice of Lord Mill, one of the High Councilors in the room. "That's my world! You wouldn't withdraw our forces if it were your family's lives at stake," Mill accused.
Alexander didn't answer. He believed the Councilor was right, if it were his loved ones, he'd not give up so easily. He'd find a way; he'd make a way.
"What do you propose, Lord Mill?" Alexander asked.
"I am not a military strategist, Highness. I'm a representative of the people of my world, and I demand the military step up to the responsibility it has to New Enty and repel this invasion!"
Alexander looked to the generals and admirals in the room for some sort of a plan. Replying by averting their eyes or with small shakes of their head, each let the king know there was no way they could stop the attack."
Staring at nothingness through the floating image of the battle, Alexander made his decision.
"Signal the reaction force… tell them to withdraw."
"Withdraw?" Mill protested. "This is outrageous! I know why you're not willing to sacrifice for that colony, it's because it's an Enty world isn't it?!"
"You know that's not true," Alexander protested.
"With respect, Highness, I'm inclined to doubt it! Darius had a long record of favoritism toward Theeran worlds, and I can see his son is following right in his footsteps. The colonies of Enty deserve better than this. If the Realm won't protect them then what good is it to be a part of it?" With that, Mill stormed out.
Everyone froze, not wanting to be the one to break the tense silence. After several seconds, Alexander at last spoke.
"Send the message," he said lowly. "Full retreat."
As the military officers carried out the order, the gathered High Councilors left the room in silence. When the last of them were gone, Yilib waited patiently as the young king stared blankly at the floating hologram. Imenand also remained while keeping a quiet vigil at the doorway. It was a long while before Alexander finally spoke.
"The Ramillie attack us from without, and we destroy ourselves from within," Alexander reasoned. "The Realm is falling apart."
"But not beyond hope, Sire," Yilib hinted.
"You heard Lord Mill," Alexander grumbled. "I'm sure he's already plotting how to use this to win Enty Councilors to his side and split the Realm. Our only chance for victory was to stay together, but now, if the Enty worlds leave, the Ramillie will simply destroy us one at a time."
"Then you must act quickly to keep the Realm together," Yilib advised.
"How? I can't save that Enty colony from falling. What else could I do to let them know that the crown is as much for Enty as it is for Theera?"
"A union," Yilib suggested in almost a whisper. "With Lady Canton."
"Vivica?"
"Yes, My Liege. Your father foresaw the struggle you now face and that is the reason he arranged the marriage with Edric's daughter in the first place. He knew the Enty worlds wanted a concrete display of how the crown was equally shared between both founding worlds of the Realm. What better way to demonstrate this than by making the Enty woman your bride? It is precisely the thing needed to keep the Realm from fracturing."
"But… I don't love her."
"Sire, a king must consider his love for the people before his own desires. What is best for them must come first. Now Lady Canton is… pleasing to the eyes, yes?"
Alexander nodded.
"And I know she adores you. She has the pedigree, the influence, and social experience to serve as the Premier Lady of the Realm. You were affianced before the crash, and I
believe it is time you recommit to this union."
"You really think it will keep the Realm from civil war," Alexander asked.
"I'm certain of it. It's your only hope."
Alexander looked to the immortal at the door.
"What do you think, Imenand?"
"I believe the chief mediator has spoken wisely on this. A union with Lady Vivica will appease the Enty Councilors and assure them the royal line will be for all worlds of the Realm."
"I guess I should pray about it," Alexander said.
"Of course," Imenand answered, "but Alexander, do you think the Elder has put her here, has kept her from marriage all the time you were gone, and given Yilib this thought now by mere coincidence? I don't believe in coincidence, Alexander. Everything has a purpose and is carefully crafted. The Elder speaks to us in the situations he puts us in. To seek the Elder's will is wise, and if you look, I think you'll see He is already showing you what to do. All that's left is for you to act."
Considering Imenand's words, Alexander resigned himself to his duty, putting the good of the Realm above his own desires.
How will I ever tell Aulani? he pondered as his heart began to break.
"For the Realm," he softly uttered in defeat. Forcing composure, he straighten before continuing. "The Assembly summit is in two months. Yilib, arrange for us to host a formal reception at the end of the first day celebrating the announcement of the engagement. It will be a good excuse to meet some of the delegates outside of the regular session and see if we can win their support."
"I will make all the preparations, Sire," Yilib said with a bow. "Now we must consider the matter of the Council's confirmation of Lady Canton."
"Confirmation?" Alexander asked. "I didn't need the Council's confirmation when I was engaged to her the first time."
"No, Sire, but according to Realm tradition, a reigning sovereign must bring a potential bride before the Council for its confirmation, but that isn't necessary for a prince who hasn't yet taken the throne."
"What if they dissent against Vivica?"
"I sincerely doubt that will happen," Yilib assured. "It's a mere formality anyway. Anyone opposed to the lady must stand to show their dissent. Not a single Councilor rose against Queen Cheyenne or any other queen for that matter. I'm sure Lady Canton will receive the same warm blessing of the Council."
"When do you think we should do this confirmation ceremony?" Alexander asked.
"I believe the evening of the gala celebrating the new hall and reinstatement of the Council would be the ideal time," Yilib offered.
"Very well," Alexander said in resignation. "If you'll see to the arrangements, please?"
"Of course, Sire," Yilib answered with great satisfaction.
Still in his workout clothes, Alexander left the control room to shower and change. Thinking it cruel to express his true emotions to his future bride, he instead hid them and tried, unsuccessfully, to put Aulani from his mind. That evening, at a private dinner for he and Vivica, he forced himself to smile and re-proposed to her… she accepted.
CHAPTER 30
"Boast not they self of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." – Proverbs 27:1
Jaiden looked out the main screen of the Fortune at the green and blue planet growing steadily larger in the view, Acatus V. It took several days to reach the world, which gave him plenty of time to reconsider going through with this plan. It was a surreal experience returning to the world where he was marooned the first seventeen years of his life. Though it was barely short of a year since he left, in a way, it felt as though a lifetime had passed. Pulse racing and stomach full of butterflies, he tried to calm himself. He didn't know if it was his imagination or some kind of a warning, but he felt the planet reaching for him. It was as though there was an inaudible voice saying that if Acatus caught him again, this time, it wouldn't let go.
"You sure this is the place?" Captain LaRouche questioned. He paused for a moment, but the newcomer on his ship was lost in thought. "Hey, kid. Is this the place?"
"What? Oh, I guess. I never saw it from orbit, but by the looks of the islands and jungle down there yea, this is Acatus V," Jaiden answered.
"Excellent," Sosimo said drumming together the tips of his real and artificial fingers. "By this time tomorrow, we can be on our way to The Vault. Mei, begin a sensor sweep of the surface and tell me if you read any composite metals. We've got to find that ship."
"The crash was eighteen years ago," Jaiden marveled at the thought of anything remaining. "The Morningstar may have decayed to nothing."
"No worries, my Young Friend," Sosimo said confidently. "The metal of a starship takes much longer to decay than eighteen years. We'll find it. Have faith."
"Don't let him fool you," Mei chortled. "The Captain's not a man of faith."
"You’re not?" Jaiden questioned while turning back to Sosimo.
Wrinkling his nose, the pirate shook his head.
"Then how do you expect to get to Paradise?" Jaiden asked.
"That's easy, I don't," Sosimo answered. "No, here's how I see it kid - I lie, cheat, steal… shot quite a few people… the way I've got it figured the Elder would never let me in Paradise so I might as well get all I can while I'm here."
"But-" Jaiden's thought was cut off by a high-pitched repeating beep coming from Mei's console.
"Captain, I have a reading," the lean, green-eyed first officer reported. "It's big whatever it is. The size is less than what's listed for the colony ship, but a lot of it probably broke up on the descent. There's something else… an energy signature."
"Energy? What type? Radiation?" Sosimo asked.
Mei checked the computer.
"Radiation levels are within safety limits," she answered. "Whatever the source, it's extremely weak."
"That's probably the ship," Jaiden realized. "When Alexander crashed, he had a portable scanner with him and picked up the signal from the Morningstar. We'd hoped to modify it to send out a call for help, but we lost the scanner in a storm and were never able to find the wreckage."
"Sounds like that's it," Sosimo declared. "Mei, you take charge of the ship while Jaiden and I head to the surface. We'll need some volunteers to help with the search…" he trailed off speaking as he thought then hit the ship's intercom switch on his command chair. "Byron, Sisk, meet me in the shuttle bay. You're volunteering for shore duty."
So close to attaining his life-long goal, Sosimo rose from his command chair with a grin as wide as a kid in a candy store. He waved for Jaiden to follow him as he left the bridge.
As the shuttle broke below the cloud cover, Jaiden beheld the lush canopy of trees that seemed to go on forever. Looking for prey, a Gralla bird glided lazily high above the rainforest.
"We can't set down right at the spot," grumbled the pirate Sisk, who was piloting the craft. "There's not enough room."
The ship hovered in position over the ocean as the scanners searched for a clearing on the target island that was large enough to land their shuttle. While the ship was hovering, Jaiden looked down on the deep blues of the ocean and puffed thoughtfully.
Sosimo glanced out the window where Jaiden was taking in the view. Suddenly, bursting through the relative calm of the water came an enormous sea creature. Leaping toward them with great force and speed, the monster's gaping maw could easily swallow the tiny shuttle.
"MOVE," Sosimo ordered.
Eyes on the computer screen, Sisk was startled by the shout and hesitated to react; it was a second too long.
Reaching the apex of its jump, the monster's powerful jaws clamped down. Though it missed the shuttle, it was close enough for drops of water from its skin to splash on the windshield. The leviathan sank back down and under the sloshing waves and disappeared.
Wide eyes fixated on the spot where the creature submerged, Sosimo started breathing again.
"Sisk," he scolded while still looking at the sea, "next time, when I say move, I mean-"
Before
he could finish the thought, the monster returned. Launching like a rocket, the creature had obviously swum deep and used its massive fins to propel it to great speed and make a second reach for its dinner.
"MOVE," LaRouche finished with great urgency.
Slamming the controls, the shuttle occupants jetted out of the way just as the beast chomped at the spot where they were half a second prior. The creature roared defiantly as it slid back into the waters and the tiny shuttle quickly zoomed away. With a lopsided grin, Jaiden turned to the flushed group of pirates.
"Welcome to Acatus V," he chuckled.
Finding a suitable place to land, the shuttle sat down and Jaiden advised at least one person stay with the ship while the others made their way to the site of the Morningstar. Sisk and Byron almost came to blows on who was going to stay behind, but LaRouche settled it by saying since Sisk piloted, he could be the one to stay.
"How long should it take to reach the ship?" Sosimo asked.
"Not long," Jaiden divulged. "I got a good look at where we're going when we made that low pass. I'm guessing we can walk it in less than an hour."
After forty minutes they came to a rocky area clear of trees with a small stream running through it. The rough lay of the land made the spot unsuitable as a landing site, but a herd of shoulder high, four-legged herbivores were there getting a drink. Jaiden said they were called Hunnasun.
"Is it safe?" LaRouche asked tentatively.
"No way," Jaiden answered. We'll stick to the trees and take the long way around."
"Those things don't look dangerous," Byron discounted pointing to the drinking Hunnasuns.
"They're not," Jaiden answered.
"So why not cut through the clearing instead of taking the long way around," Byron asked.
Just then a screeching, leathery-winged Gralla bird swooped down and with its massive talons picked up a full-grown Hunnasun and flew off with it.
