Heaven Saga 2: Sands of Aquarius

by Marcus Johnson

Seles turned to Mya. “He was tiny compared to now. So how many outfits do you have for him to try out?”

  “Twelve or so,” Mya answered, staring into his eyes. “I hope you don’t mind.”

  “No, not at all…” Brian stopped in mid-sentence and stared across the room.

  “What?” Seles and Mya asked in unison. They turned, seeing what Brian was staring at.

  Zae emerged from one of the dressing rooms, wearing a gorgeous, sparkling emerald colored dress. It was cut low, highlighting her breasts, and the skirt hung just below her knees. She wasn’t wearing her usual rank circlet, but a pair of golden hair pins studded with emeralds. Wearing a pair of black sandals she walked over to him.

  “From that expression, I get the feeling this was a good idea,” Zae said while smiling playfully. She twirled, giving them a better view of just how much the dress matched her.

  Mya took Zae’s hand. “You look gorgeous dear.”

  “Brian, you’re gawking,” Seles said.

  He composed himself. “I’ve never seen you like this before.”

  Zae smiled at him. “I’m on leave so I thought I’d relax and try something different.”

  Mya took Brian by the hand. “Now it’s your turn!” He shrugged as he was dragged into the back room. The other Kalaidians watched. Seles stood next to Zae.

  “You look great,” Seles said.

  “Valis mentioned I was acting rigid,” Zae said. “Since I lost to Mira for the position of Reinere I‘ve been in a rut.”

  “You shouldn’t feel bad about that. Mira’s a special case when it comes to music,” Seles looked Zae in the eye, “Your skill is great as well. Much better than I could ever hope to be.”

  “I thought the queen of Kalaidia is the High Priestess and must know how to perform.”

  Seles laughed. “Do you know the reason why my mother is good at song and dance?”

  “Isn’t she a natural?”

  “No,” Seles said as she shook her head. “It’s because she’s had over a century to practice. I’m the same way. I’m sure if I practiced long enough, I’d be just as good.” Seles stared at the spectacle around Brian’s changing area. “Not like you or Mira.”

  The two watched as Brian came out wearing a black and green suit. Mya and the other Kalaidians were going crazy over it while Seles rolled her eyes and sighed.

  “He might be smiling, but I can tell Brian feels alone,” Zae observed.

  “It’s because we’re different. But there are things that bring us together.”

  “Are you speaking of love?” Zae asked.

  “That and beauty.” Seles brushed her hand against Zae’s dress. “That was the first time I’ve ever seen him look at you like that.”

  Zae smiled. “I know. I was hoping for a reaction.” She looked Seles in the eye again. “But the difference is he looks at you like that no matter what you’re wearing.”

  “I know. So what is it about him you find so enticing Zae?”

  Zae stared at Brian while thinking. “His honor, he’s shown all of us the kind of honor he carries. The weight of his people follows him wherever he goes, but he walks tall, with pride. I know I can trust him and that’s what attracts me to him. I know in my heart whatever he tries it will be the right thing. One cannot go wrong following such a person.”

  “What if he strays?”

  “When that day comes he’ll learn from the mistake.”

  “So how do you think he looks in that suit?”

  Zae smiled. “Good. Saying that, he’d look great wearing anything.”

  “Or wearing nothing at all,” Seles said while blushing.

  Zae rolled her eyes. “Only you and a few others would know.”

  “Just wait, he’ll throw the rose to you next time.”

  Chapter 11 - The Festival

  Valis sat alone in the back of a black hover car and looked out at the city outside. She wore a dark blue dress and a silver tiara with a necklace of Kali on her neck. She was made up as well, sparkling in the dark of the vehicle. She smiled as she looked at herself in the window. After a few minutes the hover car landed outside the complex Brian lived in. Kivi stood outside, impatiently waiting.

  Valis stepped out and walked over to Kivi. “Is he ready?”

  Kivi smiled. “My, you look gorgeous if I may say so.”

  “Somehow I get the impression you’re making fun of me,” Valis said, noticing Kivi bite back a laugh. “Where is he?”

  Kivi glanced back at the door to the apartment. “He’s been in there for hours.”

  “And I rushed to get ready,” Valis said with faux disappointment in her voice.

  Brian stood in his apartment wearing a dark black and green suit with a dark green cape, along with the rakna on his belt. He checked himself one more time before walking out the door. He saw Kivi and Valis chatting down below in the street in. He couldn’t take his eyes off of Valis for a moment as he walked down the stairs.

  “You look lovely captain,” he said before kneeling and kissing her gloved hand. “I’d be honored to join you this evening.” He stood back up.

  “I’m glad I’ll have you at my side this evening,” she said before nodding to Kivi. She motioned for Brian to get in the hover car. “Kivi, I trust you’ll get the job done.”

  “Yes captain,” Kivi said.

  She stepped into the hover car with Brian.

  “What job are you talking about?” Brian asked when the car began to fly to the Kein Estate.

  “Daes has something she’s working on. She thinks she can mass produce craft similar to the Mjolnir at lower cost,” she turned to Brian, “You do know how much that monster cost?”

  Brian laughed. “I could’ve bought a light class ship for that much money. Is she going to use the Talon prototype?”

  “That’s what she told me,” Valis said. “If she succeeds, the Avoni will have the fighting power of an Original Five ship.” Brian looked like he wanted to say something when she waved him off. “I think that’s enough on this subject for tonight.”

  “Of course,” he said.

  “By the way, Celestia sends her regards.”

  “I’m sure she loves all the documents I sent her on forming a government.”

  Valis cracked a grin. “She’s chosen a parliamentary system rather than the one your homeland uses.”

  “I’d have to agree with that decision.”

  “Why do you say that?” she asked as she leaned forward.

  “My homeland’s system is inefficient. I admire the spirit of which it was born, but not the reality of what I saw before leaving Earth.”

  “Ideals always sound better in the realm of dreams, not in the world we live in,” Valis looked out the window, “The Kein family thought ideals alone would change the Kalaidian people,” she paused. “But it didn’t. It took a single Terran to change what we thought impossible,” She looked Brian in the eye, “Reality isn’t perfect, like the ideals in our minds, but what you’ve done is a start. Because of you my people can dream once more.”

  “But one can’t live on dreams alone.”

  “Of course, but one can’t live without dreams either,” Valis countered. “So let me ask you, what is it you dream about?”

  “I don’t know where to start.” He took a minute to think. “The dream I have is a world without war, without hate, without greed. I dream of a world where no one suffers needlessly, a world where everyone’s talents are allowed to blossom. That’s the dream I have, but I know it’s just that: a dream.”

  “Maybe it’s as far-fetched as you think.” She took his hand. “That’s why in the future, I’ll follow you.”

  “Why?”

  “Because the world you speak of is there, waiting for us to find. You’ve unchained the people of Kali from their cursed past. By breaking free from our past the future is all we can see. The other races don’t understand what you’ve given to us. It’s because they can only see the darkness surrounding them. They can’t see the light
that shines from the others nearby,” she smiled. “I’m glad I get to see what things you do from here on.”

  “I’ll do what I can.”

  “All I ask you try,” she said.

  Sunset neared as they arrived at the Kein Estate, landing at the front gate. There were a number of other Kalaidians all dressed as best as money could afford. They approached the gate, with the guards letting them through with a salute.

  “This place reminds me of the royal palace on your homeworld,” Brian said as they headed towards the courtyard behind the main mansion.

  “The Kein family is the second wealthiest family of Kalaidia. Now that our relations with the homeworld are back to normal we can resume free trade like we did before the Upheaval six years ago.” Valis smiled and nodded at a group of ladies passing by. She then looked forward, freezing in place, staring forward.

  “What’s wrong?” Brian asked. He turned and saw Valis’s grandmother, Veda, closing fast. While her age showed a little bit, Brian could see the beauty of the lady, especially in the contrasting crimson red dress she was wearing. Her long dark blue hair and aquamarine eyes shined brightly in the setting sun. She stopped in front of the pair and smiled before turning to greet him.

  “You must be Brian,” Veda said as she smiled playfully. “Valis has told me much about you, and Celestia has nothing but praise.” She paced around him, gazing in a manner that caused him to blush before turning to Valis. “I can see why the young ones are going nuts about him.”

  He turned away. Valis took Veda aside and whispered to her. “Don’t talk like that, he’s not something, but a person.”

  Veda backed away, still smiling. “Don’t worry about that.” Veda took his hand. “Now young man, please dance with me.”

  He looked at Valis, who had resigned herself to the situation. “Of course my lady,” he answered as she dragged him to the courtyard.

  The courtyard of the Kein estate was filled with Kalaidian merchants from every family. The ladies stopped to see the young human dance with Veda.

  “You seem to have our traditional dances down quite well young man,” Veda said as they danced at the center of the circle.

  “I was trained as a Maigar, so of course I would know these,” he grinned, “I can show you one of the dances of my homeworld if this bores you.”

  Veda laughed. “No, this is enough.” She looked into his eyes, seeing how he looked at her. “Who trained you? That’s the question I’ve had on mind since I first learned of you becoming a Rakna Maigar.”

  “I was trained by the Reiniere of the Avoni.”

  “Was it Zae, the young one with green hair? How could she know the ritual to train you?” Veda asked, smiling coyly.

  “No, the Reiniere of the Avoni is someone you know well Veda, someone you thought dead long ago.” Brian answered, looking rather reserved.

  “Now I’m intrigued. Who might this person be?”

  “She slept for a hundred and fifty eight years to find me, the pride of your brother, Mira Kein,” Brian answered.

  Veda’s expression was one of shock for a second as she composed herself quickly. “So Mira’s alive,” Veda laughed, “He always did have a trick up his sleeve.” As the dance ended, the two bowed to the crowd and then walked over to her table. Valis sat alone, bored. She stood up as they got closer, annoyed with her grandmother.

  “My Valis, you look so impatient.” Veda patted her on the back. “Go have you fun with him, I’m sure that’s what he’s been looking forward to all evening.”

  Brian offered his hand to Valis. “Would you like to dance?”

  She took his hand. “Sure.”

  Chapter 12 - Illusions or Truth

  Brian stood in the doorway leading out to a balcony that stood over the courtyard. Across the room Valis slipped her dress back on. She walked over and took his arm gently with hers.

  “I feel like I’m taking advantage of you,” she said as she gazed at the stars with him.

  “I don’t feel that way at all,” he said while running his hand through her hair.

  She closed her eyes and held him. “When I’m like this, I can forget who I am. Holding you, I can relax and feel alive.”

  “It’s not like you to get all serious on me.”

  She looked up. “I know you don’t believe it, but I thank the goddess every day that you came to me.”

  “You’re right about that Valis. Although I don’t believe in a higher power like Kali, I believe in you.”

  “What?”

  “I didn’t agree to serve you because of just survival. I trust your judgment. You saw not what I was, but what I could be. And to be honest, I see the same for you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Your potential is great,” he turned to the stars, “I stay at your side because I know you’ll lead me in the right direction.”

  “Aren’t you supposed to be doing that for me and the others?”

  “I’m mortal, and a weak one at that. Despite how I carry myself, the pain of Delne Raekar follows me wherever I go.”

  She held him tightly. “What happened to you? Be honest with me.”

  He looked into her eyes again. “I saw a vision of Dega Jul, one that Delne used to trick me. I thought she was Seles, but something was off. I could tell by the way she acted it wasn’t really Seles. I broke her mental illusions, only to see the awful truth. I was chained to a wall. She enjoyed seeing me suffer. But as angry as I was I could only see one image haunting her.”

  “What was it?”

  “It was Gaelic Kein.”

  “I don’t know anything about him and Delne ever meeting.”

  His eyes glazed over as he looked up at the starry night sky. “When the two were very young, before their training in their respective arts, Delne and Gaelic knew each other.”

  “How do you know about this?”

  “When she was messing around in my mind I saw a number of her memories. I saw her true feelings, and her greatest sadness. What I saw in Delne’s soul was that of a broken woman,” he paused, “She was broken by her mother, who taught her the Kai.”

  “It’s said the only way to perform the Kai is to experience it.”

  “That’s exactly what happened to Delne in her youth. The Maigar’s art is the light, whereas the Kaida is the darkness. The Kai twists one’s mind and body, pushing them to madness. But no matter what horror Delne tried with me all I could see were the tears behind the mask. She was twisted in that world of darkness and desperately tried to get out. But by the time Gaelic returned to her life he was with his new love. In her madness Delne consented to what the Greys had to offer. After the plague hit and as Gaelic was dying Delne who showed him one last moment of mercy. She provided the tomb where he prepared the cure for the plague.”

  “Seles told me that Delne had strange smile as she died,” she said. “Promise me you won’t let the darkness twist you.”

  He smiled. “Time will tell.”

  “Do you remember how to use the Kai?”

  “I know how to use it. Saying that, I don’t think I’d ever have the will to go through with it. My head might not be on straight right now, but I’m not that far gone.”

  The pair stood together arm in arm, gazing upon the festival, a hint of fire glowing in each other‘s eyes. “I think it’s about time we got back to the party,” Valis said, breaking the trance they shared.

  “Of course Valis,” he said.

  * * *

  The Sheldik sat in port on Dega Jul, far from the Avoni. Captain Riga headed into the launching bay. As he entered the cubic room he saw a number of engineers modifying the Talon that Dreka piloted. He saw Dreka directing the engineers, shouting obscenities once every few minutes at their incompetence.

  “You don’t carry Grigon’s legacy for naught,” Riga said as he watched the drive being attached to the back of the Talon.

  Dreka turned away from his work. “The real reason for this is so we don’t fall behind the Mjolni
r.”

  “You held your own in the Talon as it was.”

  Dreka raised a claw and shook it back and forth. “No, Brian didn’t activate the full drive system,” Dreka stared at his Talon, “He was only fighting me on twenty percent output.”

  “How is that possible?” Riga asked.

  “I don’t know how he did it, but he must have the schematics for the original Talon. Our government believed it was too advanced to work properly, so they used the lesser model, the Phase Talon Beta that we’ve been using for over a year now.”

  Riga looked over the schematics on a nearby monitor. “No wonder they didn’t believe it.” He turned to the Talon. “Using a Q-Drive, you can match the Mjolnir in all categories.”

  Dreka threw up his claws. “It’s the best I can do for now. I’m not sure how to integrate a true gravity drive into a vessel this small, let alone the cost.”

  “It says here that you’ll need a charger to keep the drive functioning,” Riga said.

  “I’ve already built one,” Dreka pointed to the other side of the bay. There stood a scaffold with a massive glowing device at the top, “The back of the Talon is supposed to rest in there to charge it.”

  “I hope it works,” Riga said.

  Chapter 13 - Doing What Mercenaries Do Best

  Valis and Brian stood inside the tactical room while the last of the ship’s supplies were being loaded by shuttles. Kivi and the other of the senior officers entered and saluted their captain.

  “Thank you,” Valis said. “As you know, our next mission is an assault involving three vessels in addition to our own: the Daevoni, the Xardain, and the Callmai. Our objective is to destroy a weapons cache on the planet Kalmar. Our scouting reports reveal a number of options. The plan I’ve come up with is this.” She called up a holographic image above the center table. At the center was an image of the planet Kalmar, a desert world with a breathable atmosphere. She focused a key point on the image that pointed to a location on the surface. “This is where the main complex is located. Because of their heavy shielding an orbital bombardment may not work. But first, we must deal with this.” Valis moved the image off the planet and into the orbit. There were three large ships shown, a number of small ships and a satellite system nearby. “The orbital position is defended by three Gant class ships, at least a hundred and twenty Spits, and an orbital defense system.”