The Star Captains' Daughter

by Kimber An

  Ariez followed her into the lift and the door closed. “There is no need for further violence.” He reached into the small pocket of his doublet. He pulled out a silver-wrapped chocolate and presented it to her.

  Unwrapping it, she popped the chocolate into her mouth. “Mmm, Altarian chocolates are my favorite.”

  He felt her pleasure in the warm brown sweetness. “Yes, I know.” He tapped the control panel. “Computer, my office.”

  “Acknowledged.”

  “Stella!” Joy rushed through her at the sound of the computer‘s female voice. Just as quickly, she sunk into deep sadness.

  His chest heaved in the sudden surge and sinking of her feelings.

  “No. Of course, it’s not Stella. That’s the standard voice for all United Fleet starship computers.” Her feelings sunk even lower. “I named the Maverick’s computer voice ‘Stella’ when I was a little girl.”

  “Yes, I know. I will download her voice program to take with us when we leave.”

  She listened to the whirring of the lift carrying them up, deck by deck, to Jackson’s office. Her hearing was so keen it buzzed his inner ear. The sensation of feeling all she did so close to him in Waking Moments almost sent him back into his tele-conscious, but she was not ready to go with him.

  The door slid open.

  She stepped off the lift and into Jackson’s expansive office. “This doesn’t look much like a United Fleet admiral’s office and not at all like I remember.” The floors and walls were gray, the sofas and chairs red, gold and black accented everything else. “These are Menelaen colors, imperial colors. Only the emperor or empress or crown prince or princess is permitted to use gold, red, and black together.”

  “Yes, I know.” He listened to the door close behind them.

  Alone. He breathed relief after so many years of longing to become one soul. He reached out to caress her innermost thoughts.

  She glared at him, not comprehending his affection in their Waking Moments. She could not yet remember, but she did notice his physical appearance, his longer hair, smooth face, and royal blue jacket instead of a UF uniform.

  “Remember me, Rowan.” He approached, holding her gaze, face gentle. “Awaken to me.”

  “Awaken to…you pathetic old goat!”

  “Rowan, please, listen to me! I am Ariez, the one who loves you! I am only 19 years old!”

  “You’re old and you‘re ugly and I hate you!” Junior threw up her hands. “Oh, I can’t believe what a day I’m having! I’m deluged with psychos and megalomaniacs!”

  “Rowan, please.” Ariez followed her when she spun around for another tirade and he touched the palm of his hand to her cheek. Gently. “Your pain is unbearable to me.”

  “What are you…” She started to react, but the wave of his affection subdued her raging emotions at last. Her first breath was sharp, but the next softened. She faced him, lifting her eyes to meet his and then closing them in communion of soul. Her breathing deepened.

  “Remember me.” He entered her thoughts with all gentleness, finding them beautiful and soft. “I am yours. Every part of me belongs to you.” He showed her the redwood trees of their Dreamtime together.

  “Ariez?” She saw trees with her waking eyes.

  “Yes, I am Ariez, the one who loves you.” He slid hands around her waist and pulled her warm body against him, finally real together in Waking Moments.

  “This…” She shook her head. “This…can’t…we can’t…”

  “Rowan…” He meant to calm her with a kiss.

  “No!” Her anger slammed him against the hull in a ball of flames.

  “Rowan, please!” Ariez fell to the floor, the fire eating his face like a dragon.

  “Ariez!” Junior grabbed a knit throw from the sofa and dove to smother the flames. “I’m sorry!” The smell of his burnt skin gagged her. “I’m sorry.” Instinct pulled her hands to his burnt face. This has happened before.

  Yes.

  I remember. She watched the skin regenerate, the black burns, the busted blood vessels heal. More than that, whatever remained of the hated Admiral Jackson also vanished until his face resembled the one in her history text, only more mature. You’re not a little boy anymore.

  Ariez got to his knees and lifted her to the sofa. He kissed her hand cupping his face and smiled.

  “You’re real. You’re alive.” The rush of further memories roared through her senses so that her sight blurred and stabbing pain shot through her forehead. She cringed, hands to temples.

  “Here, I can help.” Ariez smoothed hands over her face and kissed her eyelashes.

  The familiar goodness dulled the roaring to a warm crawl, evaporating all pain and anxiety with it. She sighed and let him place her head on his shoulder. Everything that’s happened to me…

  The misery you endured was from incompletion. If we had come together at the appropriate time three years ago, neither of us would have suffered. The blue eyes, always before keeping watch, now shine upon her, beneath her fingertips, her lips. Your thoughts are pure beauty to me.

  Chapter 18

  The Mydis charged the Defensive Fleet battle group.

  Delano watched his ships blast apart those of the enemy with heavy strikes to their nacelles. According to sensors, six hours had passed since Jackson took possession of the yacht with his daughter on board and he knew the monster well enough to know what that meant. Rage drove him back to the operations console. “Teleportment, locate and lock onto the Princess!”

  “Viceroy!” The sensor technician glanced up. “Jackson’s personal shuttlecraft is launching! I’m detecting the Princess’ life signal on board!”

  “Get her out of there now! Now!” Delano grabbed the weapons officer and threw him out of his seat, taking over tractor beam operations himself, sweat dripping off his ski-jump nose. His fingers flew over the console’s many panels of light and snaking loops of color. He fired a focused laser beam and watched the viewscreen as it disrupted the shuttlecraft’s shields. Hitting the teleportment controls, he leapt up. “Got her!”

  Seconds later, Delano sprinted down a corridor, already his little girl’s screams pierced his soul. He charged through the teleportment bay doors to see the android physician standing over her, but doing nothing.

  “Why aren’t you helping her?” He shoved the android aside and grabbed up his screaming child.

  “There is nothing we can do, Captain,” said the android, face blank. “The Princess must be returned to her husband at once. It is the only way to relieve her pain.”

  “Husband? My daughter is only sixteen…ssseventeen years old!” Delano choked on his own tongue and stood with her cradled in his arms.

  “On the contrary, all scans indicate the Princess has just completed telepathic bonding with a male. She must remain in close proximity to him until her neural pathways fully adapt.”

  “My daughter was raped by a Menelaen on a human starship!”

  “No, Captain. The Princess was not raped. There is no evidence Her Highness was coerced or forced in any way.”

  “Kaliban is powerful enough to intoxicate a female. There wouldn’t be any evidence of force!”

  The Physician pressed a spray-syringe to her neck and the screaming stopped. “This is a mild sedative. It will quiet her, but allow her to remain in communication with her husband.”

  “My daughter doesn’t have a husband! Administer a stronger sedative!”

  “Forgive me, Captain, but if I administer a stronger sedative she may suffer brain damage. The Marital Bond has only just been completed. I must inform you it is a violation of Sacred Law to separate a newly bonded couple. The female, in particular, requires time to adapt. The Princess is human. The process will require even more time during which she will be vulnerable. The Princess must be returned to her husband at once.”

  Naana appeared at his side. “Who did this?”

  Delano looked at her. “Kaliban?”

  “I do not sense his presence, Cap
tain.”

  Delano shifted Junior around in his arms so her head propped up on his shoulder. “Rowan, who did this to you?”

  She winced in deep, sharp pain.

  “Rowan…Jun…Junior?”

  Her eyes opened a bit.

  “Junior, what happened?”

  Her eyes rolled and closed. “Ariez.”

  “Ariez?” Serene Naana’s voice sharpened in true horror. “Prince Ariez is alive?”

  “I’ll take care of my daughter myself now.” Delano strode from the room, mind racing. He’d lived in the Menelaen Empire long enough to know Sacred Law was against them. Worse than that, Prince Ariez was the Empress’s rightful Heir Designate. To oppose him was to oppose the full might of the Menelaen Empire.

  Olivia will never take me back. I failed to protect our baby. He broke into a jog down the corridor and into the lift. It’s been two decades since those female officers were raped by Menelaens and went insane. Isaiah just married the foremost neurologist in the quadrant. Maybe Dr. Williams can save Junior.

  He had to get out, and fast. The Maverick still hid among the asteroids. Somehow, they needed to escape the Mydis and find her before the Menelaens could stop them. Olivia is keeping watch. She’ll detect us right away, but what chance does she stand against this battle group?

  Olivia and the Maverick crew had outwitted this battle group before. Surely, they could do it again. There was nothing Olivia couldn’t do when her maternal instinct was engaged. And he knew the Menelaen battleships. He could send Junior to the Maverick and run interference while Olivia escaped with her into Alliance space.

  The searing pain forced screaming from Ariez as he lay on the shuttlecraft floor. Gone. Ripped away. The sorcerer Delano had ripped the Holy Bennu from his heart. Her screaming shook him across the Threshold.

  Then, an unnatural sensation shimmered throughout his body, almost providing some relief, and he materialized on a medical bed inside an Orachi reconnaissance starship.

  A subordinate’s words filtered through the blearing agony. “Prince Ariez is suffering the Pain of Separation. Administer the sedative so that he may speak.”

  A spray-syringe was pressed to his neck and the pain dulled. The heaving of his chest sent aches rolling throughout his torso and to his fingertips. He rubbed his tight brow, body heaving with breaths. “Status.”

  “Prince, Ariez,” the black-clad special operations officer braced him up so that he could sit. “Viceroy Delano keeps the Holy Bennu prisoner aboard the Mydis for the moment. His battle group is en route to Denahi. We have hailed his First Officer and demanded her immediate return to Your Highness.”

  “Commanders Bo and Naana are Kaiya-Bennu. They worship the souls of the dead and oppose union of church and state.” Ariez’s eyes burned with trying to keep them open. “Even if Delano died, they would never release the Princess to me. Establish communication with the Empress on a secure line.”

  “Yes, Your Highness.” The officer bowed at the neck and exited the medical facility.

  Cupping face in hands, Ariez reached through the pain deep into his mind to find her, suffering even greater than he.

  ***

  Dreamtime.

  Ariez appeared sitting among the ferns, cradling her on his crossed legs. “Shhh, My Love, I am here.”

  “Wha…what happened?” She trembled, face into his chest, tears staining his beige shirt.

  “A monster came. He ripped you away from me before you could even maintain a conscious state on your own.”

  “It hurts.” She clenched her teeth and dug her forehead into his chest. “It hurts!”

  “I know. It hurts me too.” Ariez kissed her. “Listen carefully. You must focus on your Waking Moments. Allow me to see what you see, hear what you hear.” He placed hands over face and willed her to focus.

  Everything will be all right. Delano’s voice! I’m taking you home to your mother now.

  Careful to hide his vengeful feelings, Ariez considered what would happen if Delano took his wife across the De-Militarized Zone.

  The Intari would do anything to seize control of the Holy Bennu and, thereby, bring the Menelaen Empire to its knees.

  War.

  The Empress was dying.

  Although Princess Ara held sway over the Imperial Council, he would have most of the starship commanders on his side. Still, he could not afford a war with the Intari as well as her loyalists. If the humans were drawn into the fight, the anguish for Rowan be horrible and that compromise his ability to rule.

  “Listen to me. Hear my voice.” Ariez stroked his wife’s face. “Please?”

  She managed to open her eyes a bit. “Ariez.”

  “I am coming. The monster promises reunion with your mother, but he will deliver you to the Intari instead.”

  “I want my mother.” Her pretty face twisted up with emotion.

  “I know. I will rescue you and bring your mother safely across the border to live with us at Pellosia.” He stroked her cheek and kissed her quivering lips. “Everything will be all right.”

  ***

  Waking Moments.

  Ariez lifted his face.

  “Prince Ariez.” The Captain’s voice alerted him over ship-wide communications.

  “The Empress awaits you.”

  Sliding off the bed, Ariez braced himself against it. He took the crimson cape offered by the Physician and drew it over his shoulders so that the golden ra shown over his chest, upper left side. Breathing in determination, he strode from the room. He could not show any further weakness to his subordinates.

  A minute later, he strode onto the command deck fully Crown Prince Ariez of the Menelaen Empire.

  “Prince Ariez.” Bishop Trinh bowed at the neck in greeting. “It is a tremendous relief to see you alive and returned to us.” The fashion for religious leaders had not changed. The long green robes still matched Trinh’s skull cap, lined with gold.

  “Thank you, Bishop. I regret Meshell did not survive the quest. She sacrificed her life to save the Holy Bennu.”

  “Her mother and I are enormously proud of her service to you both. Dady remains in the temple, praying your son will come to you soon. She stands ready to care for him.”

  “I appreciate you both. However, the Princess is determined to care for our children with minimal assistance.”

  “As you say so shall it be.” Trinh bowed again and faced the viewscreen. “Audio confirmation. Trinh-ra-fidelis. Your Imperial Majesty, I bring the son of your own body, the son of your dear husband, the good and devout Prince Ariez before you. He is alive. I swear by the Sun and the Moon it is true.”

  “If the young man you bring before me is My Son, I will know.” The screen lit up with the Empress on her throne, flanked by too veiled ladies-in-waiting.

  Ariez expected his mother to have aged, but not so much. “Hello, Mother.”

  The frail creature in somber robes closed her eyes and reached for his thoughts.

  Ariez allowed her access, knowing she would only spend enough time on him to verify he was her biological offspring. My children will have a loving mother who will play with them.

  “My Son!” The Empress’ eyes opened wide.

  Ariez did not smile, but he let the gratification show on his face.

  “You are alive!” The Empress stood, wobbled, and was caught by the arm and settled back down.

  “The Intari Premarean Guard promised to help find the Holy Bennu. Instead, they trapped me in the guise of the human Admiral Jackson.”

  “Insidious creatures,” growled the Empress.

  “When I did find Her Holiness on my own, she transformed me back into my true self all at once.”

  “You have found her?”

  “Princess Rowan of Denahi.”

  “I knew it! Your step-brother attempted the Courtship Rites with her, but was rejected.”

  “Yes, but that didn’t stop him. I nearly died in his unsanctioned challenge.”

  “Yes, yes, Kaliban suf
fered severe neural trauma as well as burns to the face.” The Empress was relieved by this evidence of his veracity.

  “I have been engaged in the Courtship Rites with the Holy Bennu six years. Now, our Bond is complete.”

  “Then…” the Empress waved a hand “…where is she?”

  Ariez drew oxygen into his chest and exhaled. “We were on our way to you when Viceroy Delano attacked and ripped her away from me.”

  The Empress gripped her armrests. “It is as we feared. Delano’s service to the Empire has been flawless.” She touched her forehead in extreme tiredness. “Now, he attacks my own dear son.”

  “It is a violation of Sacred Law to separate a newly bonded couple. The agony burdens every part of me, but my wife suffers even more greatly. She is human.”

  “I will send my ministers to retrieve the Princess.”

  Ariez stepped forward, heart fierce. “They will fail. I have access to Delano’s plans through my wife. At this moment, he is preparing to take her across the DMZ.”

  “This could set off a war.” Empress Araina pressed hand to forehead. “What do you ask of me?”

  “Delano is still the father of the Holy Bennu. She would be devastated if he were to die. Grant me command of the Front Talon Fleet immediately. I must take his battle group with overwhelming force.”

  The Empress touched her chin and leaned back. “Some star captains are loyal to your sister. Princess Ara will not be pleased to learn of your resurrection and sub-sequent marriage to a fertile, red-haired female.”

  “Once it is known I have married the Holy Bennu, the political and religious powers will unite under our banner.”

  “You are the Incarnate Ra. May it be as you say.” Great sadness weighed upon the Empress then and, for a second, she was only a dying mother filled with regret. “I will notify my Admiral of the Fleet at once. The Front Talon will join you within the hour. Bishop Trinh.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty?” Trinh stepped forward.

  “Make every effort to convince Viceroy Delano to comply with Sacred Law. He has always insisted his daughter’s happiness was paramount. Now, we will see if that is true.”