by Bianca D'Arc
“Come with me. There is a class in progress in the main temple, but I don’t think you’re safe with a live opponent at the moment. It’s the bots for you, lad. And perhaps me, as well.”
The old monk swept out of the room and the four guards scrambled to catch up. Star was trailing after Julian and the four guards followed in their wake. They must’ve made a funny line of ducklings following the sweep of the old monk’s robes as he stormed out of the medical area and turned into what had to be the closest workout area.
He threw off his outer robe as he entered, tossing it aside and not seeming to care where it landed. Under the flowing outer robe, he had on a more formfitting costume of well-worn workout gear that was pretty much the same the universe over. Stretchy pants that were loose in all the strategic places and a stretchy top that allowed for freedom of movement.
From a purely feminine standpoint, the older man was very attractive. He’d kept himself in top form and even though he was older, he was still able to pack a punch—both figuratively and literally.
He had dialed up the fighting bots and began swinging, nearly knocking the robot’s block off with his first punch. Julian wasn’t far behind. He had discarded his jacket and was fighting in his shipsuit, which was more than adequate for the job. He’d also kicked off his shoes, fighting barefooted on the spongy practice mats, as the monk had done.
Star noted that the four guards had come in and stationed themselves around the room, watching all. She decided she might as well get some exercise of her own, while the two men were working out their anger.
She dropped her jacket next to Julian’s and kicked off her shoes before stepping onto the mats. She stretched a bit, to work out the kinks. It would feel good to get a little exercise after all those days of travel.
Once she was ready, she bowed as she had been taught by her childhood sensei and began. She went through a number of kata while the men did their best to destroy the two battle robots. She started with easy sequences then worked her way up to the more advanced kata she had been doing for the past several years.
She was a black belt in several styles of karate from old Earth, and enjoyed the battle dance of the kata, but once she realized the guards were watching her—at least one with his jaw hanging slack in amazement—she stepped it up a bit. She went for a showier kata she had learned in her more recent study of Tae Kwan Do. There were a bunch of flying, spinning kicks in that one that ought to impress the guys.
And as long as they were watching her, they were leaving Julian alone. He had a lot of anger to work out. She wanted to give him every opportunity to do so in this more-or-less harmless setting.
When she did one last flying, spinning leap across the practice area, coming down in an attack pose, Star realized everyone was watching her. Not just the guards, but the old monk and Julian as well. Of all of the males, only Julian was smiling, not seeming surprised at all that she had such skills.
She smiled back at him and bowed, ending her session on the mats with the sign of respect she had been taught as a child—one fist pressed against an open hand. War and peace in eternal opposition.
“Your lady has hidden talents,” the old monk observed, the first of the jits to recover from their shock at her display of fighting skill.
“It’s not all that uncommon for women in the Milky Way to study the martial arts,” Julian said with some pride in his voice. “It’s not for every woman, of course, but a good portion like to exercise this way.” Julian walked right up to her and bent, kissing her softly. He pulled back and winked. “You’re amazing, Star. Thanks for backing me up.”
“Always,” she assured him, giving his shoulder a squeeze before he moved back. “Are you feeling any better?”
“Still pissed off, but better able to deal with it,” Julian answered.
“Good. Now let’s see what we can do about justice for your family.” She wanted to encourage him to think about justice. She wanted him to focus on that, instead of revenge.
“I’m not sure about any of this anymore, Star. My entire life has been a lie, if these guys are to be believed.” He stood close to her and the others gave them space. She knew they could probably hear most of what Julian and she were saying, but this couldn’t wait.
“I don’t think they have any reason to lie. And, I almost hate to say it, but this fits with my vision. I didn’t know what would turn the switch to make your enemies into your allies, but I think this is it. I believe we’re still on track here for a really good outcome for the universe as a whole.”
He shook his head. “I didn’t really care about the universe when I started down this road,” he admitted. “But if it works out for the best, who am I to argue? Still, it’s a lot to take in. I’m not even human anymore.”
“Your father was human.” The old monk came up behind them, standing only a few feet away. “No matter what was done later to your DNA, you were raised human. Your family was human. You have not changed. You are simply aware of more now. Aware that you are more.”
Julian turned to consider the old man. “It’s a lot to take in,” he finally said, some of the tension leaving his shoulders.
“I suggest we adjourn to cleanse ourselves, then reconvene over lunch. There are a few things I need to look into before we talk further on this matter.” The older man turned to leave, but then turned back. “One thing you should know…” He looked hard at Julian. “Jit’suku do not make war on our own kind. What was done to your family is against our highest law. By the same token, the blood that runs through your veins assures your safety in this galaxy under our law, but there are criminals even here. These four can be trusted. I will send two with you, to watch over you. They will bring you to me when it is time.”
He nodded at two of the guards and the other two went out with the old monk.
“Well, it looks like it’s just the four of us,” Julian mumbled. He took Star’s hand in a move that reassured her of his calming temper and started walking toward the door. Then he looked back at the two warriors following close behind. “One of you want to show us how to get back to our rooms?”
The younger of the two men actually seemed to blush as he stepped around them, moving to take the lead. Star looked up and caught the glint of amusement in Julian’s eye. They followed the warrior and a short while later, they were back in the room they’d slept in, cleaning up.
Lunch was way less formal than breakfast had been. The old monk had set up a private room for them, with a sideboard full of appetizing dishes. They served themselves before sitting opposite the old monk. Dr. Terva was there as well, as was a young monk who looked like he was acting as the older one’s aide.
The younger monk had a headset and data pad at the ready, as well as a multitude of data cubes, some of which were strewn about the conference table when Julian and Star walked in. Apparently the old monk had been here for a while, working on something with his aide and the doc, before Julian and Star had been escorted in.
“I asked Terva here to explain the genetic relationships between yourself and the ruling line,” the old monk said distractedly as he pored over something on his own data screen. He nodded almost absently to the doc to begin while Julian and Star nibbled on their lunch.
Star noticed that Julian ate mechanically—more like a soldier stocking up on fuel than a man actually enjoying his meal. But how could he really enjoy it while discussing such revelations. She totally understood where he was coming from.
“I’m sorry we didn’t get to finish this before,” Dr. Terva said quietly. “But I do understand it is a lot to learn all at once. I was asked to clarify your genetic relationships and I am happy to do so. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have along the way.”
The doctor remotely activated a small view screen that popped up from the table just in front of their plates of food. It contained the DNA profiles they had seen before, along with photographs. Julian’s DNA had been labeled with a photo of him they had taken last
night in the medical center. Matilda’s DNA had been tagged with a photo of a young woman with Julian’s eyes. His mother.
Julian stared at the image for a long time. “She looks so young,” he finally said, still staring at the image of his mother as a young woman.
“This is the last official image of the Princess Matilda,” Dr. Terva said. “It has long been believed that shortly after this image was taken, she died. We now know that to be untrue, since she seems to have fled to the human galaxy and found a new life there.”
“Why would she have to flee?” Julian interrupted to ask.
“This image was taken at a party to announce her engagement to Pater of Moon Malek. It was a political pairing. They were not true mates. Pater of Moon Malek was a bit of a thorn in the royal family’s side. He rules his moon as if he is some kind of god. He ignores the teachings of the temple and the Goddess, to his people’s detriment. Yet, he holds great power. Moon Malek is rich in resources, and he is a very wealthy man who can buy loyalty from less scrupulous warriors. It was thought the marriage would bring him under better control and he promised a good portion of his fortunes to support the empire and imperial family.” The doctor hesitated a few times, here and there, as if finding his tale distasteful. “It was thought Princess Matilda was resigned to the match, but…”
“But instead, my mother faked her own death and fled into the unknown welcome of an enemy galaxy,” Julian finished the thought for the doctor. “She must have been desperate to get away from this Pater guy. My mother was the strongest woman I’ve ever known. Things here had to be pretty bad to make her take such a risk.”
“Undoubtedly,” the doctor agreed. “Unfortunately the old emperor, your grandfather, was a hard man. He had arranged the marriage for political advantage and would not be dissuaded.”
A grunt from the old monk made Julian glance in his direction. The old guy was watching his screen, but Julian could tell the monk was interested in Julian’s reaction to these new revelations.
“Your mother had two brothers.” The doctor picked up the thread of his tale. “Her elder brother, Theos, succeeded his father as emperor, but abdicated in favor of their younger brother, Thadios, when his mate passed away without their having had any children. It is Thadios who sits on the imperial throne now, though it was Theos who ruled when Pater of Moon Malek led the raid that destroyed Pacifica Station.” The doctor paused for a moment as everyone connected the dots. “Of course, it all makes sense now that you have given us definitive proof of what became of Princess Matilda. Somehow, Pater must have gotten wind of where she was hiding after all these years, and gone after her, and everyone she loved.”
“Except the bastard couldn’t find me because I was running black ops on the other side of the galaxy. Even my CO didn’t know where I was half the time.”
“If Pater knew of your existence, he seems to have missed killing you somehow. Either you’re Goddess-blessed or just lucky,” the doctor observed. “Pater is not known to be the forgiving sort.”
“So there’s a good chance there’s been a price on my head all this time,” Julian stated the obvious. “Hence the dubious company of Frick and Frack back there.” He pointed a thumb back over his shoulder to the two guards who had stayed with them ever since that morning.
The doctor’s brows drew together in a frown. “Frick and Frack?” he repeated. “Their names are Hulgur and Bisnat.”
Star giggled and even Julian had to crack a smile. “Just an expression. They didn’t give us their names.”
“You were already half-jit’suku from your mother’s genetic contribution before the human military did some tinkering with your Y chromosome,” the doctor picked up on his talk, seeming to want to press on to the finish this time. “As we have discovered previously, the Enhancement process takes certain traits from jit’suku male donor DNA and splices them into an existing human Y chromosome. Since we have genetic prints for every member of our military since the time of Emperor Barnat the Bold, I have been able to match your traits with that of a jit’suku male presumed deceased in the Milky Way galaxy over twenty years ago. His name was Peregrine of House Tervanian. A relative of mine, in fact. My first cousin. Which makes you my cousin now as well, genetically speaking. Welcome to the family. We are a small House with a proud history. As a family, we have been nearly decimated by war in recent years, so I believe you will be welcomed with gladness if you choose to acknowledge the relationship. Especially since you would ally our House even more closely with that of the imperial line.”
“Not that you need any more ties to the royal line, Terva,” the old monk scoffed, finally joining the conversation. “But I’m just as glad to find he’s not carrying even more imperial DNA than just poor Matilda’s. That would create an even stickier situation than that in which we currently find ourselves.”
“You mean to say that you’ve identified human soldiers Enhanced with royal DNA?” Star was quick to ask.
The old monk frowned at her. “Indeed we have. And we’ve had the man in question perform a sacred ceremony in which he renounced his claim to the imperial throne for himself and for all those created like him. You should know him, my dear. He is mated to your cousin, Della.”
“Alex?” Julian exclaimed. He hadn’t seen Alex Hambly, his old handler, since he’d taken off for parts unknown with Della Senna.
“She kept calling him Alexander the Great,” the monk groused.
“After one of the great kings in human history. Like Julius Caesar, mighty ruler of the Roman Empire,” Star said quietly.
Significant looks passed between everyone in the room.
“Did Della explain about the cards?” Star asked, pulling the deck out of the small bag she wore. She shuffled through them, dealing four in front of her on the table facing toward the old monk.
“Those are not normal playing cards,” the doctor observed.
Star smiled at him. “This is the Tarot deck. They are related, but not exactly the same. These cards have been used for divination for centuries. My family and I have foreseen things about each one of the kings in this deck for many years now,” she revealed, surprising them all, it seemed.
“Why the four kings? Does your family meddle in politics?” the old monk asked with some suspicion.
Star tilted her head as if considering her reply. “We are seers. We sometimes end up advising people. I, for example, work for military intelligence.”
Julian tensed. What was she doing, making herself a target among these people?
“Honesty,” Star seemed to answer his unspoken question. “The time has come when secrets could harm us all. It’s important to have honesty at this time. Even if it seems dangerous,” she said, meeting Julian’s gaze and then the old monk’s.
“So you are an intelligence operative?” the monk asked her directly.
“Operative? No. Not really. I’ve had some training, but I don’t go into the field under normal circumstances. I have a nice office and a meditation chamber designed specifically to my needs. I sit around all day and meditate on the issues of the day. Often, I see visions I can direct to specific things—people, places or things. I also use the Tarot cards to help me clarify times, dates and other aspects of what I see.” She put the rest of the card deck on the table, face down. “My family sometimes sees things directly related to us and our future. That’s where the four kings come in.”
“These are not actual monarchs, correct?” Julian was quick to clarify, hoping to mitigate any possible consequences of her honesty.
“It’s more figurative than literal. But each of these kings in the deck has a counterpart who is somehow mixed up with one of the women in my family.” She moved closer to the table and tapped the first of the four face cards she had dealt. “This is King David. The real David is now married to Adele Senna, Della’s daughter.” She tapped the second face card in the line of four kings. “This is Alexander the Great. We identified him first of the four we sought. He is Alex Ham
bly, former owner of the bar on Madhatter Station, now married to Della Senna. It sounds like you’ve met both of them, unless I am much mistaken,” she looked pointedly at the old monk, but he said nothing. She tapped the third card. “This is Charlemagne. In reality, he is Charles—known as Chip—the new owner of Alex’s bar on Madhatter Station, who is now married to my cousin, Lila Senna. And this is you, Julian. The Emperor, Julius Caesar. Strange coincidence, no?”
“And is he your mate, Lady Star?” the monk asked rather unashamedly. Julian saw Star’s face flush with embarrassment.
“I don’t know. All I have foreseen is that he and I would take this journey and that I was to meet you, sir. After that, I’m afraid to speak about most of the things I’ve seen, lest I inadvertently change the future for the worse. I have a delicate line to walk between knowing and telling the future. But I can say this…” she pinned the old monk with her gaze. “You will be instrumental in helping Julian gain justice for the murder of his family. And before this is all over, Julian will save your life.”
Chapter Seven
Star felt the tension in the room increase at her pronouncement. Well, too bad. There were too many secrets floating around here. She was telling them as much as she could without endangering the future. Now it was time for some reciprocity. Way past time.
“Sir,” she eyed the old monk who kept insisting on anonymity. “Do you know if the AI in Julian’s ship is back online?”
The old monk tapped the screen in front of him. “I believe it is.”
“Then I have a word of advice for you in particular, sir. You should talk to her.”
The old monk looked surprised, then turned questioning eyes on Julian. “You named your ship for your mother…” He seemed to think aloud. “Is the AI…?” He didn’t seem able to articulate his thoughts further, but Star knew he was making the connections.
