Euthara

by Michael McClain

  “Good,” Jon said. “So we have a deal then?”

  “I have one condition, and then we have a deal,” Jao’uos said.

  “That would be?” Jon said.

  “The ADF stops making the fold drives, and all drives created by you are locked down so they can’t be replicated,” Jao’uos said.

  “I can deal with that,” Jon said.

  “Including the Atlantis’ drive,” Jao’uos said. He was watching Jon for a reaction.

  “Certainly,” Jon said with no hesitation.

  “My family and staff will be ready to be picked up at your earliest convenience,” Jao’uos said.

  “I’ll contact you again when we’re in orbit and things have settled down a bit,” Jon said. “It will probably be a few days.”

  “Fine, now what account do I transfer ownership of the shares to?” Jao’uos said as he smiled.

  “Uh,” Jon said. It was the first time he was unsure of his self.

  It was Deatra’s turn, and she stepped into view. Jao’uos gasped and immediately knelt with his head bowed as he said, “Your Highness.”

  “Rise,” Deatra said. “You can transfer those shares to my account for the ADF under my care.”

  Jao’uos stood up as he spoke, “Of course, Your Highness.”

  “Princess will do, no need for all that,” Deatra said.

  “As you wish, Princess,” Jao’uos said. He turned his attention to Jon as he continued to speak. “You Sir, have a bit more clout than I gave you credit for. Had you just made mention of the Princess it would have been a done deal from the start.”

  “I understand that,” Jon said. He stepped up to Deatra and put his arm around her. “I wanted you to want to do it and not be forced to do it. I wanted to see what kind of a man I was dealing with.”

  Jao’uos gasped when Jon wrapped his arm around Deatra’s waist. Deatra caught his uneasiness and laughed as she spoke, “He’s my bond-mate.”

  “Oh my god,” Jao’uos said and dropped to his knee again and bowed his head. “Forgive me, My Prince, I had no idea.”

  “For god sakes man, stand up,” Jon said as he chuckled. “I’m less formal than the Princess, you can call me Jon while were in private company. You also don’t need to bow when we’re in private company.”

  “As you wish My Prince… Err Jon,” Jao’uos said as he stood up again.

  “I think we’re going to get along just fine,” Jon said. “Prepare for your departure, I’ll call when it’s time. Take care until then.”

  The viewscreen went blank just as the Tactical Officer spoke up, “Sir; we have an incoming hyperspace event. Ship is emerging now twenty thousand feet off our port bow.”

  Jon dropped his arm from Deatra as he spoke, “On main view screen.”

  Jon watched a ship exited the hyperspace event. It was twice the size of the Atlantis and if that wasn’t enough, the ship had a very dark look to it. Multiple gun ports littered its surface. It was definitely a ship of war from the way it was built. Jon watched as fighters swarmed over its surface heading towards the Atlantis.

  “Condition Red,” Jon said. “Contact the Desmodi and request their assistance. Bring us out of orbit and plot a rendezvous point with the Desmodi. Launch all fighters and bring all guns and point defense systems online.”

  “Sir the eight Invaru vessels are on the move. They’re headed directly for us,” the Tactical officer said.

  “Desmodi is in route to us. They report they should reach us before the Invaru fleet,” the Com officer said.

  Atlantis rocked slightly as if she had been hit by something.

  “What the hell was that?” Jon said. “Did they fire on us?”

  “No, Sir, they haven’t opened fire yet,” the Tactical officer said.

  “Explosion on deck twelve, section four,” the Engineering officer said. “No casualties reported.”

  Lights faltered on the bridge as stations shut down. Atlantis appeared next to Jon just as the last of the stations shut down.

  “Failure in the primary and secondary power coupler,” Atlantis said. “Engineering is trying to reroute. Secondary bridge reported a systems failure too just as contact was lost with them.”

  “What the hell is going on around here?” Jon asked.

  Chapter 3

  Visitors

  Emergency lighting flooded the bridge as guards took up positions around Jon, Deatra and Sa’oliq. In a flash of light sixteen kneeling figures dressed in pitch black armor appeared in multiple places on the bridge of Atlantis. The guards on the bridge immediately cycled up their guns and pointed them at the intruders.

  As if they were of one mind and body they slapped their chests and said, “We are to serve.”

  “Who the hell are you and what are you doing on my ship?” Jon asked. He had pushed Deatra back behind him and was trying to look around the guards in front of him.

  The figures all stood up at once and bowed their heads.

  “Evacuate the bridge,” Jon said. Personnel quickly made their way to the transport tubes.

  “Rerouting power from my personal supply to transport tubes one through twelve,” Atlantis said.

  “I know this race,” Sa’oliq said. “Jon, do not trust them. They always have some ulterior motive for the things they do. Most times it doesn’t end well for the people they’re involved with.”

  Jon nodded as he started to speak but was cut off by a crystal clear female voice.

  “Why, thank you for the introduction Sa’oliq of the Castanian people,” the voice said.

  Jon watched one of the armored intruders step forward and remove her helmet. Gold and silver hair fell down to her shoulders as her gold eyes took in the room. Her skin was almost as black as her armor and as she grinned her gold colored lips parted to show a set of perfect golden teeth. She knelt and placed her helmet on the floor as she bowed her head to Jon.

  “Who are you?” Jon said.

  “I’m Nefeit,” Nefeit said without picking her head up. “I’m the High Priestess of the Drovasian people.”

  “Why are you on my ship?” Jon said. He quickly glanced at the other fifteen figures as if waiting for them to make some move. Each was like a statue as if waiting for a command to be allowed to move.

  More guns cycled to ready behind Jon as Mark spoke, “Atlantis said you needed help on the bridge. Are you ok?”

  “I’m fine,” Jon said as he raised a hand. He reached out and pushed through the guards in front of him so he could see Nefeit clearly. The guards shifted nervously as Jon exposed himself. “Care to answer my question Nefeit? ... and please no sudden moves. My guards are very nervous right now.”

  “Of course,” Nefeit said. She still hadn’t looked up the entire time. “We’re here to swear allegiance to you and the ADF.”

  “What kind of trick is this?!” Sa’oliq said, angrily. “The Drovasian people haven’t sworn allegiance to anyone, ever. The last time they even entered an agreement of any kind was when the Ga’sahde Treaty was signed.

  Even then, they did so only grudgingly, and only so they could hide behind the Ga’sahde when they pulled another one of their little schemes. Funny how that all ended when the Ga’sahde disappeared, and how you suddenly show up when they make an appearance.” She turned to Jon as she continued to speak. “Don’t trust them, they’re up to something. I don’t know what, but they are.”

  “Yes, this was true hundreds of years ago,” Nefeit said. She was still staring at the floor, and it was starting to agitate Jon because he wanted to see her face and expressions.

  Jon interrupted her and said, “Please, stand up so I can see your face. I think the top of your head is pretty and all, but I think your face is much prettier.”

  “Of course,” Nefeit said as she picked up her helmet and stood.

  “Sorry for the interruption, please continue,” Jon said.

  “While, what Sa’oliq has said is true,” Nefeit continued. “In the past one hundred years we have changed.
Since I have taken up the mantle of High Priestess, I have prepared for your arrival according to the prophecies.”

  “Oh boy,” Jon said, slowly shaking his head. He closed his eyes and put two fingers on the bridge of his nose. He rubbed slightly as if he was trying to fight off a headache. “Here it comes.”

  Deatra chuckled slightly as Nefeit locked Jon with her gold eyes.

  “In the time of need the darkness shall be lit by him you have never seen, from a place far removed. Releasing a ghost from slumber and arriving in special armor. He shall move to protect those he knows less.

  “Shades from ancient times shall arrive by his side. A great dying tree he shall prune bringing life yet again to its branches. Mantle and title forgotten he shall lead all but yet lead none. In jeopardy, his life will be in the place of the tree.

  His armor is breached by slight unseeing he shall be. Black and gold shall arrive to keep him alive. Fall upon a knee as ruler he shall be,” Nefeit said. “So, my people and I are here to give our allegiance to you and the ADF. I’ll be stepping down as the first High Priest in thousands of years takes his rightful place.”

  “No,” Jon said.

  “No?” Nefeit said the surprise on her face showed. For the first time, the fifteen black armored figures shifted uneasily.

  “I don’t want to be your High Priest. I don’t want to command your people,” Jon said.

  Nefeit frowned as she tried to figure out what was going on and why. “But the prophecy says you shall. It can be no other way.”

  “Are you sure the prophecy is speaking about me?” Jon said. “What if it’s talking about someone else that hasn’t showed up yet?”

  “You brought Ghost Station online, right?” Nefeit said.

  “Out of necessity, but yes,” Jon said. He didn’t like where this was going.

  “You arrived in Atlantis a ship far before its time,” Nefeit said.

  “Again, I had little choice,” Jon said.

  “The Ga’sahde was brought back because of you and your actions,” Nefeit said.

  “No, the actions of my sister, I had very little to do with that,” Jon said.

  “You used her status to gain the trust of the Castanian people, did you not?” Nefeit asked.

  “She has you there,” Sa’oliq said as she smiled.

  “Hush you! You’re not helping here,” Jon said.

  “That event caused you to go explore the Ga’sahde space. Again it was your choice to do so,” Nefeit said.

  “Again, something I had little choice about at the time,” Jon said.

  “Because of that, you are now the House-Primus and your sister is the Matriarch,” Nefeit said.

  “Again something I didn’t choose,” Jon said.

  “You arrived here at Euthara to stop their decline,” Nefeit said. “You have even set in motion plans to restore their outside contacts and their ability to resume their manufacturing and mining plants. During these current events, Atlantis lost power due to some type of engineering failure.”

  “Yes, that is correct,” Jon said.

  “We arrived to protect you, our High Priest, during your restoration of Euthara,” Nefeit said. “The dying tree is Euthara and you’re preparing to do some 'pruning' while breathing life back into it.”

  “I guess,” Jon said. He knew he was losing this battle and wasn’t pleased.

  “You don’t care for any title you have now,” Nefeit said. “Yet you still lead those around you, even if you don’t realize it.”

  Jon held up his hands in surrender as he spoke, “Okay, you win. I fit most of this prophecy of yours. I still don’t want to lead your people. No offense meant. I really don’t want to lead anyone. I just want to go home, which right now is impossible. Euthara is the closest thing to a home I have now, and I’m not going to let it die out.”

  “That is why you make a good leader,” Deatra said. Sa’oliq and Nefeit both nodded in unison as they agreed.”

  “Oh?” Jon said.

  “You do what’s right, not what is politically expedient or what would move you higher in rank. You care about everyone around you and those associated with you,” Deatra said.

  “Yes,” Sa’oliq said. “It makes people want to help you as they can see better times coming. You rally people to you even though you’re not trying to do it.”

  “We’ve been watching you,” Nefeit said. “To make sure you were the one spoken about, the Strider of Life and Harmony. Have you not seen how people are drawn to you and want to help you?”

  “All too much, it seems like almost everyone is falling over themselves to help me,” Jon said. “It gets a bit tiring.”

  “People know when they see a good leader,” Nefeit said. “They will move to protect that person and help him move his cause along. You haven’t done much but help those around you.”

  “The Invaru and Buranis don’t seem to feel that way,” Jon said.

  “In time they will come to see the light,” Sa’oliq said. “They have a prophecy also and from my limited understanding of it you are mentioned in it.”

  “Oh, great,” Jon said. “I don’t like the feeling that I’m not in control of my life and what I’m doing.”

  “Oh, but you are,” Deatra said. “Prophecies are more of a guide to be used to see certain events. That way we can prepare ourselves for them. Think of the prophecies this way if it helps.”

  “The prophets, as far as I know, of every race were someone who had high mental powers and were able to see events before they unfolded. The strongest of these could see far into the future,” Nefeit said. “They’re very rare and there hasn’t been one, as far as I know, named for ages. Most of the time what they saw was up to a broad interpretation by whoever read it. Sometimes, as in these prophecies, they’re pretty clear.”

  “I’ll make you the same deal as I made Sa’oliq and her people,” Jon said. “You retain control over your people, and I’ll ask you if I need something specific done. It’s then your choice as to if you do it or not.”

  Nefeit looked at Deatra and then Sa’oliq, and then settled her gaze back on Jon as she spoke, “That can’t work.”

  “It’s the only option I’m giving you,” Jon said. “I really don’t want to have to deal with ten different races all wanting me to decide matters of their state. You want to call me a balance between the races fine that I can do. I can work to keep everyone functioning as one group. You want me to have military jurisdiction over your forces I can do that. I don’t want the politics though. I’m going to have my hands full with Euthara as it is. Because of my soon to be wife I’ll do it and deal with it. It’s something I’ve come to terms with and have accepted as part of my soon to be life.”

  “I think you misunderstand me,” Nefeit said. Jon thought it was impossible, but the woman blushed slightly, a light red filled her cheeks as she spoke. “I can’t do it, and even if I stepped down and appointed another in my place, they can’t do it. In order for a High Priest and a High Priestess to rule as one, they have to be a mated pair. It’s part of our laws and is the only way my people will accept such a thing.”

  Jon was floored and glanced at Deatra, who wasn’t showing any emotion but a slight grin on her face. Sa’oliq snickered quietly behind him. “Well, I, uh,” Jon stammered.

  “I’m sorry,” Nefeit said. “You must take the mantle alone. There is no other way. See when you become High Priest of my people I’ll become an Arch Priestess, one step below you.”

  “Good then you can rule as that,” Jon said. “I’m not interested in marrying anyone but Deatra.”

  “An Arch Priest or Priestess has no authority in our society,” Nefeit said.

  “Fine I’ll change that,” Jon said. “I’ll appoint you as regent.”

  “I’m afraid it’s not something that can be changed,” Nefeit said. “You, yourself said you didn’t want to interfere with our politics. Yet you’re ready to change the most basic principle of our ruling caste.”

 
; “Then we’re at an impasse,” Jon said. “I’m not going to be the supreme ruler of any race except maybe Euthara if the cards fall that way. Only then because it’s part of whom I am now.”

  Deatra laughed as she stepped forward and spoke, “We accept your proposal.”

  “Do what?” Jon said.

  Deatra turned to Jon and smiled as she leaned in and gave him a peck on the cheek. She pulled back as she spoke, “My dear; I knew where this was headed the second she said you’re the High Priest. I know their race and how you would react. I’ve seen it two times before. The Eutharan society allows multiple marriages as long as all parties agree to it. It’s how we strengthen our ties with other races; nobles often took other wives and husbands.”

  “But, I ...” Jon said.

  Deatra reached up and put a finger on his lips as she spoke, “Hear me out and then decide.” Jon nodded as Deatra continued. “Drovasian people have the same social rules of conduct. They allow multiple marriages with races besides their own within the ranks of the nobles.”

  “That is true,” Nefeit said. “But, it hasn’t been practiced in a thousand years or more.”

  “The laws are still there, and it’s a simple solution to the current situation,” Deatra said. “I have no qualms about it.” She tapped the side of her head. “I know you love me and how much you love me. One of the reasons it’s easy to allow this is for my people. I also know you think she’s very beautiful.”

  It was Jon’s turn to blush as he spoke, “No fair.”

  “I feel what you feel,” Deatra said. “I wasn’t spying on you, just so you know.”

  “I know,” Jon said. He looked at Nefeit and gave her the once over. She was rather startling and even easy on the eyes. He shook his head as if trying to wake from a dream.

  “Nefeit, do you approve?” Deatra said.

  “Now, wait just a second,” Jon said. “Am I some piece of meat to be passed around to every person we meet? What if I don’t approve of this?”

  “Then there is no resolution, and we can sit here and debate for the next fifty years and get nowhere,” Deatra said.