Rise

by May Sage

Spanking?

  He couldn’t help finishing that particular sentence.

  “Oh my.”

  Calden jumped, startled.

  “Fuck. Cousin.”

  “Fuck is about right. What’s that?”

  “A book Lena mentioned,” the Emperor grumbled, closing down his reading program; his screen returned to a surveillance dashboard.

  “You’ll have to let me borrow it when you’re done.”

  “Not a chance. Get yourself an Amazon account. Any reason why you’re intruding on my space without announcing yourself?”

  Touchy.

  Jaycn could have carried on making him squirm, but he resolved against it; it would be more amusing to allude to this incident in public, later on. Underhanded, but hey, he was the side-kick to his all-important imperial relative, might as well enjoy little things life threw his way.

  “I’ve come to see if you needed me when we land. Otherwise, I might make it to my place, see how things are going.”

  He hadn’t set foot there in eons; hell, he couldn’t recall whether he’d had his walls painted blue or red.

  Calden thought it out for so long, Jaycn wondered whether he’d been dismissed, but eventually, he replied:

  “I need you.”

  Another beat passed, before the Emperor confessed: “I don’t know what I’m doing, cousin. I should worry about the latest attack on the external belt. I should be looking at the reports. But all I care about is what’s happening in that room,” he said, pointing left, towards Alek’s quarters, and then right. “And this one. Particularly this one. I know Alek is guarded. Regardless, he can reach out to my mind instantly, should he feel threatened. And he can defend himself, I’ve seen to it. This one…”

  He was still staring right.

  Jaycn sighed.

  He wasn’t being petty in failing to reveal just how capable Lena was; he was protecting her. Not from Calden, obviously, but his cousin was often observed.

  Jaycn also suspected that someone had hacked into the imperial surveillance system – which would account for all the information recently leaked, such as their last meeting on Earth.

  He wasn’t going to put Lena at risk just to appease his cousin.

  And okay, he might be a bit petty, too.

  It had taken about twenty minutes for Jaycn to acknowledge that Lena was his equal; the fact that Calden still hadn’t caught on pissed him off. He needed a wake-up call.

  However, at the end of the day, Calden was his cousin, and his friend, so he sighed and said:

  “Calden, do yourself a favor. Look up Elena Snow.”

  If he’d been kinder, he would have let him do so by himself, but he wanted to see his expression when he took it all in.

  Calden started with the obvious answer to any human matter: Google. His eyebrows rose when he saw a mini version of the Lena they knew looking back at them with a humongous smile. She wore a white leotard, and held a golden trophy in both of her hands.

  Calden clicked on the picture, and read the article about the little champion.

  The child of twelve had been unknown until she’d applied for the Olympics, but she’d gone in, won gold, and gone home, disappearing once again.

  There was nothing else online, so next, he went to their own records; and nothing. She didn’t exist – there was just a Lena Smith, appeared about a month after the end of the war the Klints had won.

  Then, Calden tried a new angle: he looked up the father.

  Michael Ashforth, Secretary of Defense, retired.

  It took a while, but finally, Calden tracked her down through the old man’s list of known associates.

  The picture showed a child with the same green eyes, but she’d been younger yet. There was no name next to it; the humans had been efficient in erasing her very existence.

  Parents: Michael Ashforth and Amelia Snow.

  Age: 25

  Current address: unknown.

  Current employment: unknown.

  Status: threat.

  Calden pressed on the notes, and avidly read through each detail explaining just why Lena Smith was the very best mate nature could have possibly come up with in the middle of these uncertain times.

  Jaycn hadn’t known why she’d been trained, but meeting her father cleared that up: before the Klint’s arrival, the various nation of Earth had been at war. As an important soldier’s daughter, she’d been a target so, just as Calden had done with his own son, Michael had given her every possible defense.

  She might not be a Klint female, but she’d been raised as one.

  Calden clicked on a video recording. The child was in the middle of an empty room, surrounded by five fully grown men. They were obviously well versed in the art of war, Jaycn was impressed by their speed.

  The child had them all on their knees in seven minutes.

  “Not bad, squirt,” a voice said in the background. “Think you can manage that it five?”

  Little Elena was panting, catching her breath, but then, she lifted her head and flashed a wicked smile at the camera.

  “Bring it on, old man.”

  “You knew this?”

  “I knew she was skilled.”

  Calden threw his device against the wall, before punching the table.

  “Fuck. I could have claimed her. From the start, I could have…”

  So, he’d refrained to because he’d believed he would be putting her in danger. Jaycn had suspected something like that, when Calden had talked about not being able to try to form a bond, back at her house.

  Yes, his cousin was stupid and if she ever found out, Lena was going to kick his balls for it.

  “That’s on you, Cal. You could have asked her. Hell, you could have observed her. She has a gym in her house and she still trains every day.”

  “And you’ve refrained from volunteering this information because?” he retorted forebodingly.

  Jaycn shrugged; right now, Calden was pissed at him because he was here, but soon enough, he’d realize that the only one to blame was his own contemptuous ass.

  “Because you don’t speak of Lena. Ever. I don’t actually believe I’ve heard you say her name yet.”

  And also, because surprise was their best ally.

  But thinking things through, it was an idea to throw whoever was observing them a bone. If they just saw that the Emperor was authorizing a human to fight Klints in the pit, they’d dig for dirt until they found an answer.

  Telling them right away that Lena could hold her own was preferable; they would take the puff of smoke for face value, and Lena’s strongest weapon would remain a secret until she made use of it.

  Nine

  Change

  Alek

  “Why is father pacing up and down the ramp, Uncle Jaycn?”

  “Partially because he’s an idiot, but also because he’s just realized your mother is insane.”

  Alek tilted his head, wonderingly.

  “It took him long enough,” the child mused, surprised that his all-powerful, intense father hadn’t noticed before.

  Hadn’t he heard her version of Snow White? There obviously was something wrong in the way her mind functioned, but Alek liked it. She was more entertaining than his tutors, his carers, and anyone else he could think of.

  His mother. She was the first person Alek recalled, and each time he thought of her, it was with pride.

  He was proud to have been born of the only creature in the entire universe who defied his father, and proud of the fact that she was so beautiful, and soft, and that she smelt so nice.

  But never had he been as proud of her as he had on their arrival upon Magneo.

  He knew she’d been anxious, because she let him touch her mind whenever he tried to, but she’d looked regal.

  There was a delegation waiting for them, as was the custom and Alek could only imagine what his human mother saw, in those men and women who all towered above her.

  They were looking down at her, their stance unwelcoming, t
heir eyes narrowed. Alek had heard most of them bad-mouthing her over the years, he knew they had very little love for her.

  And his mother had ruled them all.

  She hadn’t looked down. She hadn’t faltered, she hadn’t shaken. When she finally met some of their glances, they looked away.

  Alek was going to cherish the image of Sir Falc cowering under her cold gaze each time that man got him to do press-ups.

  Father and Uncle Jacyn had let her walk first, by herself, purposefully showing that she wasn’t in need of their protection – and she hadn’t sought it, even when Celma had detached herself from the group and stopped in front of her.

  “So you’re the human breeder,” she’d said haughtily, spitting out human like it was a dirty word.

  Alek hated Celma. She was vile. Her nails always scrapped his skin. She pretended to smile in front of his father and uncle, but to him, she never said anything that couldn’t be translated as some kind of threat.

  Alek wasn’t afraid of her, though, because he had a secret, a secret Uncle Jaycn had made him swear by blood that he’d never, ever mention.

  “I need you to try,” he’d asked, two, maybe three years ago. “I know it’s not supposed to be possible, but I’ve seen your mother do it. I need to know if you’re like her.”

  He’d tried, and he’d managed.

  That was the biggest reason why he was proud to call Lena Smith his mother.

  Because she was a hundred times more powerful than any Klint alive, his father included.

  And she’d shared that power with him.

  Lena

  “So you’re the human breeder.”

  That woman was a bitch.

  Lena’s chosen way of dealing with bitches did involve scissors, or at least, a good knife, but today, she only had one weapon: her mouth.

  She made good use of it, forcing it upward – the smile would probably frighten the life out of anyone who could read the murderous rage behind it, but the pink-headed, half-naked, surgically enhanced alien obviously couldn’t.

  Klint females were tall and skinny in a way that would make any girl envious, because they all looked like catwalk models, but Lena preferred her body. She wasn’t likely to fit into anything this twig wore, but at least, she had some curves; her size B boobs might not be huge, but they were natural. Any Klint she’d seen before had either been flatter than a teenage boy, or sporting a humongous pair of hard, gravity defying, store bought bosoms.

  That one had gone for option two, unsurprisingly.

  The one thing she could not deny was that her hair rocked. Come on, it took some guts to pull off the whole bright pink curls like that. Respect.

  “That would be me. I’m afraid I can’t say I’ve ever heard of you, though.”

  Hit one had reached the target dead center. Oscar Wilde had nailed it: there is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.

  Apparently, that was literally a universal truth.

  Out of the corner of her eyes, Lena could see Jaycn trying very hard to maintain a normal expression, when he passed her by, leaving her behind. And if she wasn’t mistaken, Calden was muffling a laugh.

  “Celma. I am head of his imperial grace’s household.”

  Lena had wanted to get a clear picture before landing, so she’d done the one thing she hadn’t dared before, and asked Chip to pry into Calden – and Jaycn’s – life.

  Calden was required by law to have three breeders, or a consort. Lena had rolled her eyes and stopped snooping, but pink-head was too insecure, so she asked Chip.

  Can you work out if Calden’s doing her?

  The Emperor’s movements cannot be recorded. However, there is no reason to believe he uses his household for breeding purposes. No pregnancy test, no in-vitro sessions in the lab.

  That was a surprise, both for Chip and Lena. She would have assumed that Calden spent all his free time between long skinny legs, trying to get a full-bred kid or two.

  He’d been so quick to want a child from her, she couldn’t comprehend why his blood-thirst for children hadn’t pushed him to do the same with any available female.

  Lena filed that information away, intending to ask pointed questions to someone – anyone – who had some answers at some point, but right now, she was in a middle of a bitchy power play.

  Ok, a power play she was hands down winning, without any effort, but all the same.

  “So, you’re the breeder who hasn’t managed to produce any kids.”

  The cheap shot turned Celma red from head to toes – which totally clashed against the cool hairstyle. Lena didn’t even have to force herself now: she was smiling quite openly.

  “I haven’t tried yet,” the woman replied, confirming Chip’s findings.

  “Oh, I am sorry. Tell you what, I’ll take you out shopping. I’m sure that with a few lingerie set, we can make anyone want you. You’re very pretty, I swear.”

  That had just been too easy.

  To add insult to injury, she patted the Klint’s back before walking off to catch up with Jaycn.

  As soon as the bitch was far enough out of earshot, they both burst out laughing.

  “Lena, Lena. That wasn’t very wise. Celma is going to seek you out in the Trials.”

  “Should I be worried?” she asked him.

  She hadn’t asked him before, because Jaycn would actually know her chances. If he said she couldn’t win, she knew she should reconsider her resolution to try.

  Contrarily to all of those who evaluated her worth based on the fact that she was human, rather than her abilities, Jaycn knew her. He’d seen what she could do, he’d seen her defend herself, and he’d also seen her playing with Chip.

  After the first time she’d showed him what she’d discovered, he’d made her swear to hide it, because it was, according to him, something no one would see coming – which meant that it could save her life.

  “No. As long as you’re careful, and keep your… strengths close to your heart until the last moment. Don’t let them be prepared for it, use it only if and when you have no other choice, and you’ll be fine.”

  She released a long breath she hadn’t known she’d been holding just as Alek caught up with them.

  “Where is Lena going to sleep Uncle Jaycn?”

  “She has an apartment ready for her use, right next to yours,” he told them, leading the way. “But you will have to let her rest. She has only a few days to recharge, and then, she’ll need all her energy, because she’s signed up for the Trials.”

  “For real?”

  She’d always thought Alek’s eyes had been amber, but when they glistened like that, they became pure molten gold, like his father’s.

  “Then, when you win, you can really be my mama!”

  Shit. She hadn’t seen that coming. Never mind a horde of bitches, her son was more lethal than any of them.

  Help, help, floodgate underway!

  She tried to hide, but Jaycn – and Calden, who was turned towards them – probably saw her wiping her eyes.

  Mama. That was a hit under the belt if there was ever one.

  “Jaycn?” she squeaked, begging for some kind of explanation, her voice higher than usual by at least three octaves.

  It had been made clear to her from day minus nine months: her baby would be the Emperor’s child, period.

  “Alek is the Emperor’s heir. His mother, on paper, is the Empress.”

  Fuck. She wasn’t only going to protect him, if she won; she also had a shot at actually becoming his mother.

  At first, she was too shocked to take in any of her surroundings, but eventually they managed to distract her.

  They’d passed vast, endless corridors, which seemed strangely ancient – carved woods, incrusted metals – until she saw that things she’d mistaken as raw materials had been some sort of cables, or computers – when activated, they lit up, ready to function.

  This will control the voice command, Chip inform
ed her, when she looked up at a golden tread running alongside them through a deep carving in the wooden walls. Try it. Speak to it.

  “Light down?” she said hesitantly, and the bright corridor’s lighting dimmed to an amber glow.

  It will also have some control over the temperature in your room. Don’t get cold again.

  Not for the first time, Lena wondered if her Chip actually cared about her. It almost felt like it did, to an extent.

  I will not be offended by that statement.

  She almost asked, but anything to do with Chip was very hush-hush – in any case, she wasn’t supposed to mention it in front of anyone, save for Jaycn, and Calden was trailing them from a distance.

  “There. You’ll be tired now, but I thought you might want to have a look, see where you are.”

  The next right hand side wall was completely translucent, a window to the outlandish outside world.

  They were in the middle of some sort of jungle, the vegetation was abundant, and more vibrant than anything she could have imagined. Bright pink trees harboring fluorescent yellow birds; there was something she could only call water, but it was a dark magenta, not blue, and their sky had been designed by an expressionist on crack.

  Fuck me, she needed sunglasses.

  Beyond, the entrance of the palace they were currently exploring made her think of old Asian monuments, with its dark orange bricks and shiny blue decorative roof tiles.

  Not what she’d expected; she’d thought everything would be modernized to the nth degree, when in fact all of their technology was cleverly concealed.

  Lena thought back to her microchip, which seemed to be a jewel, and the Anterra, so simply designed anyone might take it for a basic transport, when it was supposed to be seriously quick and powerful. The Klints obviously disliked exposing their tools; clever, really. The kinda thing a nation at war would think of.

  “Toto, we sure as hell ain’t in Kansas anymore.”

  Mr. Pepper meowed his agreement.

  He’d always been too lazy by a half to be interested in the outside world, but the birds, and the strange little things running around got him eagerly gazing at the window.