Kaede sighed and went to leave. Sora grabbed his hand. “Kaede, I am afraid you only want to dance with Izanami,” Sora said, a tear in her eye, “Don’t make me choose,” Sora gulped, and asked, “Does it bother you that I also like Akiko?”
Kaede turned and bowed. “I do not mind if you dance with Akiko.”
“Do you like to watch?”
“I enjoy watching you play football.”
“That is not what I mean.”
They heard a loud bang outside. Freya called out, “What are you two doing? Where is Kaede?”
Kaede came out and saw Freya holding Akiko and Izanami apart.
“Sorry, I was in the kitchen,” Kaede said.
“I turn my back for five minutes and find Akiko holding Izanami in a headlock,” Freya said.
“It’s my fault,” Akiko said.
“Is that so?” Freya asked as she glanced at Izanami.
“Yes, Izanami said she could break any armlock,” Akiko said.
“Is that right?” Freya asked.
“I am sorry, I thought I could,” Izanami said.
“Save it for the dojo, Mako and Miko are on their way up,” Freya said.
Sora came out and asked, “Kaede, can we dance in the studio?”
“Now?” Freya asked.
“I need the practice,” Sora said.
“Kaede, do you want to go to the studio?” Freya asked.
“Sora is my guest. If she wants to dance, I will be glad to dance with her,” Kaede said.
Red-faced, Izanami with her hands on her hips, stomped her foot and exclaimed, “Hey!”
“Relax, you get to dance with him often,” Freya said.
✽✽✽
Andre sat opposite a Field Elf, she wore a tight black lace crop top and ripped black jeans with high heel ankle boots, the tip of her heels had a metallic point.
“You’re the first lich that I have met,” she said excitedly.
“Thank you,” Andre replied. “Are you possessed?”
“Yes, I host a cat demon.”
“I serve the Horned King.”
“I hope my hosting a demon will not cause us conflict?”
“No, but you know that I am not a good candidate to run a space station.”
“We don’t have many places to hide you.”
“I need a ship.”
“We don’t have a ship to give you.”
“Do you know what happens if you try to lock me up?” Andre asked as he stood.
“I know you’re too dangerous to keep locked up for a long time. You will eat those around you. But for now, the base is the only place I have to hide you.”
“Allow me to work on my goals and keep me well fed or worry about me eating your Goblins.”
“Do not forget that we must also benefit.”
“I am sure you will profit from the information I have given you.”
“Time will tell.”
“You do not have long to act, set up a system, and connect to the Embassy’s communications network.”
“Soon, they will change all the codes.”
“My agents will provide you with any updates and the new codes, but you need a working system on the network.”
“We reward you once we profit from the flow of information.”
Andre sat and looked at her. “When do we leave?”
“Tonight. We are preparing the container, so your friends survive the trip. But we need to chat. As you know, for now, our interests align, but not completely. Eventually, those differences will cause you to leave us.”
“It is inevitable, my friend. I hope you will not stand in my way.”
“Until then, we hope you will not kill too many Goblins. Good help is hard to find.”
“Do you know where the Nāga keep their prisoners?”
“Most are in prison camps on Nāga Prime.”
“I want the locations of all prison camps with Ogres in them.”
“The Nāga have black Dragons and powerful Liches on Nāga Prime.”
“The Nāga rely on slaves.”
“Wait here,” she said as she stood.
Andre watched her leave the interrogation room, outside two Elves in black uniforms with a red star in the middle of their chest stood guard. One closed the door as she walked down the hall.
Andre sat, staring at the wall for hours. She returned with a raw steak on a plate and a tablet; she handed him the plate. Andre looked at the steak.
“I heard that if you consume raw meat every day will help keep your body fresh, you will not smell like an Ogre, but at least you will not smell like a corpse.”
“Is the container ready?”
“Before you leave, the Dark Queen wants to know if you know when Pilu will send the next shipment of exotic matter to Nāga Prime?”
“He makes regular payments at the end of every month, but I only know the details of the next drop.”
“We will reward you for all the information you provide, but to verify the information, the Queen wants to mind probed you while you write the information,” the Dark elf said.
“Is she behind the glass?”
“No.”
Andre stood and bowed his head. “Queen Bethany it is an honour to meet you. I know you have concerns.”
“I know very little about Liches, but I know you serve a powerful demon who loves chaos and does not care about who gets hurt by your actions.”
“My demon does not give a fuck about you or the Nāga. But since I want to cause them and Pilu pain, it will tolerate you.”
“If you help us, we will help you.”
“I have helped you.”
“I have a tablet here with a link to the navigation computer of our ship in orbit. While you enter the information, I will probe your mind. I know you will want to resist; Give me access to your current thoughts and motives.”
Andre looked at her and saw a dark spot on her aura at the base of her skull. He asked, “Is that a data port or a locator chip in your skull?”
“It is a wireless connector to my tablet. It allows me to record the results of my divination spells. When this is over, I will give you a copy of the data.”
“Before we go, I need two pouches of orichalcum, a brass brazier, and some ingredients for a ritual.”
“What kind?”
“The Horned King wants me to make Ash and Avi into his servants. I will summon shadow demons to inhabit them.”
“Do they have any information of use to us?”
“No. Will you feed them?”
“As promised, no harm will come to your associates.”
“Is this, sloth?” Andre asked, putting his hand on the steak.
“Yes, it is,” Bethany said.
Andre picked it up and said, “If you ever need to dispose of a body, let me know, I prefer blood and bone to meat.”
“I can arrange that,” Bethany said with a grin.
“Any rotting carcass will do, as long as I get my body weight in blood and bone every week, and a ship within a year, we are fine.”
“Make each day count.”
✽✽✽
Freya, Sora, Akiko, Miko, Miko and Izanami stood in the dance studio and watched while Katerina Petrov danced the waltz with Kaede.
When Hiro entered the room, Freya stopped the music. He said, “Sorry, I would like to speak with my son for a few minutes.”
Kaede bowed to Katerina and said, “Excuse me, my lady.”
“I excuse you,” Katerina said with a curtsey.
Kaede left the room with Hiro and closed the door.
As Hiro escorted Kaede down the hall, towards the lift, two knights followed them.
“I know I promised to sit down with you for a meal and a chat, but Viktor has called me in for a briefing.”
“Will you be gone long?”
“If I am back before you are in bed, we can talk then.”
“Why you?”
“My father says it is an important mission.”
/> Kaede looked down, frowned and said, “You only just got back. We have other stealth ships.”
“I am sure he tells you more than he tells me,” Hiro said. He stopped and slid off his ring. He took Kaede by the hand, put his ring into it and said, “I know my father would rather do this, but you should know, I never wanted to be the crown prince.”
“Why are you giving me your ring?”
“I will be away for a few years.”
“But what about your promise to take a post with fleet command?”
“If I return, we can talk about it, then.”
“If?” a confused Kaede asked.
Hiro cut Kaede off. “I am still a fleet officer. I go where I am ordered to go.”
“Oh?”
“He didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“You know I love you, son, but I do not want to be Admiral Hagihara’s assistant. I know you asked the Admiral to offer me the post, but son, I belong in space, not in court, or the office of strategic defence.”
“I am sorry I thought you would be pleased. But that is no reason to leave now.”
“I thought my father told you?”
“No.”
They approached the security desk, Hiro stopped and said, “It is classified need to know. But my mission is one of many long-range missions, and there is a possibility of engagement with pirates.”
“Wait, I thought the series of strikes were once-off?”
“The details are still secret, but I heard the fleet lost some ships during an engagement with the pirates, but I am on a scouting mission. Right?”
“If I knew anything, you know I could not tell you.”
“I doubt my father would risk his stealth ships and will have us looking for where the pirates are now hiding,” Hiro said with a half-smile, he put his hand on Kaede’s shoulder and said, “See you later tonight son.”
Kaede nodded.
Chapter 8
The sun was peeking over the horizon when Hiro entered Kaede’s unit; His main room was organised chaos. Star charts covered the wall, and various tablets stood on stands all about it. An assortment of remote-control cars, tanks, helicopters, plastic guns, a skateboard, a dinosaur, and a pair of 60cm tall robots. They appeared at first to be toys from an anime, but the eyes looked like cameras, and their bodies had dents. Beside each unit stood headset with a microphone, an eyepiece, and an aerial, on a stand.
Hiro slid the door open to find Kaede’s bed made. He looked about the room. Various textbooks filled a large set of shelving. A martial arts practice dummy sat in the far corner of the room. Hiro entered the room and peaked in the bathroom. Kaede stepped out of his closet.
“Hello,” Kaede said behind Hiro as he slid his wand up the sleeve of his kimono.
Hiro turned and saw Kaede standing with his hands inside his sleeves.
“I was headed to the kitchens. Would you want to come?”
Kaede smiled and replied, “Sure.”
As Kaede put on shoes and socks, he said, “I have a question.”
“I cannot talk about my mission without written orders from Admiral Niemi.”
“Father, I have questions about Alcyone Prime.”
Hiro sighed. “All right, what would you like to know?”
Kaede stood and asked, “Why are there no navigation charts for Alcyone Prime?”
Hiro headed towards the door, Kaede grabbed a lanyard with his identification cards, phone, and satchel off the coat rack
Hiro replied, “That is because the entire system is off-limits to most ships; those with permission have charts.”
“How often have you been to Alcyone Prime?”
“Many times. The fleet patrols the outer system for illegal mining operations.”
“Do you have charts of the inner asteroid rings?”
“I cannot give access without written orders,” Hiro replied as they headed down the hall, followed by two knights.
“Father, I have Omega level clearance. You can tell me more than that?”
“What?” a surprised Hiro asked. He stopped and frowned at Kaede. With a snarl, he said, “Few people outside of command get Omega Clearance. I don’t have omega clearance.”
Kaede pulled out his identification; it hung around his neck on a lanyard. Behind his standard Imperial Identification was a black electronic key card. He handed it to Hiro.
Hiro examined the black card. It had a big gold Omega etched into the surface. On the left was a picture of Kaede, which was the outline of the Hashimoto Symbol. On the right was a smart chip. On the bottom was written, “Imperial Crown Prince Kaede Hashimoto.”
Hiro looked at the back, and it had a signature; a magnetic data stripe and message in bold red lettering, “Warning: Property of the Imperial Security Agency. If found, return this card to the Inquisition. Unauthorised use of this card is a felony.”
Hiro was angry. He glared at Kaede and made a fist. Kaede smiled at him and said, “At least you’re a good father to me.”
Hiro relaxed, he wanted to laugh. All he could do was return the card to Kaede.
Hiro took a deep breath and put his hand on Kaede’s shoulder. He asked, “How come you have Omega clearance?”
“My company has a joint venture with Grandfather and Viktor.”
Surprised, Hiro asked, “Since when are you on a first-name basis with the Admiral?”
“We chat a few times a week. As I said, I am working on some projects for him.”
“Oh. You do?”
“Yes,” he grinned and said, “I could access the archives, but I don’t want anyone to know what I am researching. I will arrange for you to send me all the data you can on Alcyone Prime without them knowing.”
Hiro walked down the hall and replied, “The system is dangerous. It has a dozen major asteroid fields with smaller debris fields between them, and massive dust clouds obscure the inner system. The innermost field is shaped like a torus and massive. It has an estimated mass of over 10,000 type M planets, with the average asteroid being over a kilometre long.”
Excited, Kaede asked, “How far from the star is the first field?”
“About 3 AU from the star cluster, but a dense dust cloud messes with sensors,” Hiro said, as he got on an elevator with Kaede.
“Is that the only reason the system is off-limits?” Kaede asked Hiro as he selected the kitchens on the elevator control panel.
“No. As you know, the majority of ships scoop fuel from the clouds around stars. Many have been lost in Alcyone Prime. The main star is a trinary system. Most ships have been lost in a cloud between the main star and its closest companion. There is also a fourth star orbiting the main cluster of stars; It has two tiny companions. These stars have large clouds in a column connecting the stars. Many attempted to collect exotic matter from the edges of these clouds, but most ships get pulled in and smashed. If you are thinking of mining them, forget it.”
“Oh,” Kaede said.
“Yes. The columns of plasma between the joined stars are beautiful and deadly. Two dull minor stars around a giant bright star, there is a column that joins them both to the main star. Each column looks like a tornado and is surrounded by a plasma cloud of intense heat, dust and charged particles,” Hiro said, “Any ship that has entered the cloud has disappeared.”
“Is the comic cloud dense?”
“We are not sure, attempts have been made to scan them, so we could mine the exotic matter these clouds contain, but any ship getting too close has vanished in an instant.”
“I am aware that ships have vanished,” Kaede said. “But in an instant?”
“One second the ship is on the scope, the next nothing. Not even debris. We think the ship was pulled into the star.”
Kaede looked at Hiro and said, “We designed a new ship, the Ninja. It is a scout class starship. In addition to better sub-light engines and shields, it has an anti-gravity system and a hyperspace drive. I would like you to test it in Alcyone Prime.”
“Hyperspace?”
“Commonly referred to as the dark dimension. The system opens a portal, once inside the unusual physics cause a ship to travel much faster than light. Naturally, the ship needs to open a portal to leave.”
“Is it bigger than an FTL drive?”
“Not by much. But eventually, we shall establish permanent gates around the Empire.”
Curious, Hiro asked. “How much faster?”
“A class one hyperspace drive can achieve FTL 20.”
Hiro gasped and said, “I can see why my father considers you a success.”
“You made the rank of captain and are in command of a stealth ship. I think you are a huge success,” Kaede said.
Hiro smiled and asked, “Did he tell you about my business venture?”
“Yes, Hiro’s Hotels and Hostels. He thought you were naïve for providing budget accommodation on the edge of high tourist areas. You may not make a fortune, but you have a dozen hotels.”
“Well, my father thinks I am underperforming. But those hotels bring me more than enough income.”
“Still, I would like to buy them all from you.”
“Son, they are profitable, and I want to keep them.”
“I will pay what they are worth.”
“Son, you don’t have to give me special treatment.”
“You don’t understand. I need to find affordable accommodation for migrant workers, mostly Dwarves.”
Hiro gasped. “What are you and my father up to?”
Kaede frowned. “They are not ladies of the night,” he protested. He took a deep breath and said, “I am hiring Dwarven engineers to work for my engineering company. I will offer to help complete projects, such as roads and buildings around the city, that are behind schedule.”
“Oh, sorry.”
“I need to provide migrant workers with housing. If I own the buildings, I save a fortune, and you have a guaranteed income for years.”
“Let me think about it,” Hiro stated.
Kaede looked at Hiro but said nothing as they rode the lift down. Hiro and Kaede got out at subbasement one and headed down the hall. Kaede followed Hiro through the maze of corridors to a large, empty kitchen. Hiro took an apron off the hook and handed it to Kaede and said, “Son, I thought about it, and I will sell you fifty-one per cent.”
“Yes!” Kaede exclaimed.
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