Alutia Rising, Anniversary Edition (Alutia Rising Series, Book 1)

by Craig Gerttula

“My dear, Gil'Da, they may have officially been known as servants, but they were nothing but common whores. I never once recall seeing any of these so called servants performing any cleaning, except of Sir Simwa, of course,” Vickie laughed merrily as Tiana blushed at the image her words painted within her mind. A chime sounded from the sitting room door.

  “Enter.”

  Donnlie marched in, bowing stiffly.

  “Lady Tiana,” he squeaked, “Tomi asked me to come get you...there's something you need to see,” his unease was obvious.

  “If you ladies would excuse me,” she stood, nodding to Vickie and Gil'Da, who both graciously smiled back, before she followed Donnlie to the bridge.

  As she entered, she looked to the two 15 year-olds still working diligently at their stations, having succeeded marvelously in what they set out to do. However, Tiana knew they hadn't left the bridge, or taken a break, for the entirety of the eight hour journey to Earth's moon. Just as she was about to order them to rest, her gaze was pulled to the viewscreen curving around the front of the bridge.

  Alongside the tens of thousands of grey outlined satellites and primitive space stations orbiting Earth, a single blue square outlined a zoomed in section of space, showing a cylindrical starship of a like she had never before seen. She started to move closer, to try and read the indecipherably tiny words that streamed next to the outline, when Tomi glanced over her shoulder, noticing Tiana's presence for the first time.

  “Lady Tiana,” she squeaked excitedly, “we detected a TSB distress signal from Earth’s orbit. It looks to be some sort of escape shuttle, but it's not a design me or Yaz recognize. We've adjusted course and will be rendezvousing in about 10 minutes, so...um...we need someone to work the boarding tube in the airlock,” Tiana raised an eyebrow. “It's very simple, actually, and completely automated, you see, it’s just...someone just needs to be down there to open the doors and...” Tomi glanced passed her, and Tiana found herself unconsciously following her gaze to the captain's station. On the floor beside it lay the laser arc holster Tiana had left in her haste. Understanding laced with fear filled her as she realized what Tomi intended. They had no idea who was in the shuttle. It could be Sir Simwa, one of his men, or someone else who meant them harm, for all they knew. She nodded, scared that if she opened her mouth, her fear would be clearly evident.

  The holster felt heavy as she strapped it over her shoulder, before making her way to engineering. Donnlie and Regalia had gone before her, moving the children who'd been sleeping and playing in the crew quarters up to the passenger apartment. Tiana, after thanking the two, located the door labeled, boarding tube, down the primary engineering corridor, then, after taking a deep, slow breath to gather her courage, entered.

  The boarding tube airlock was empty, except for the outer airlock door that lay flush against the outer hull, outlined in a black and yellow projection, with a control PDU on the adjacent wall. Tiana selected the load icon hovering over the PDU. A projection appeared, displaying an image similar to the one she had seen on the bridge’s viewscreen, but zoomed in only on the cylindrical shuttle. A blue com icon started flashing in the bottom corner of the display. Unsure, but assuming it most likely from the bridge, she tapped the icon.

  “Lady Tiana, we will be within range in one minute,” Tomi’s voice echoed through the small airlock. “A “capture” icon should flash on the control display when we are close enough to start the docking procedure. Select the icon and the boarding tube will automatically extend to capture the shuttle. The airlock door will then open after the tube is pressurized,” she finished.

  “Ok,” Tiana whispered, slapping her cheeks, ignoring the blond locks that fell across her brow... you can do this, Tiana.

  Anxiously, she waited as they maneuvered alongside the rotating escape shuttle. A red icon flashed, then vanished, then appeared again, only to vanish once more. Confused, she started to access the com to check with Tomi, when an idea struck her.

  “It must be the timing,” she’d noticed the red “capture” icon only appeared when what looked to be the escape shuttle’s access hatch rotated into view. On the next pass, she counted eight seconds for a complete rotation, and then started counting down the moment the access hatch vanished.

  With a trembling finger, she timed her touch perfectly, striking the red icon the moment it appeared. The boarding tube shot out like a rocket, locking onto the side of the escape shuttle in an instant. The black and yellow outline around the outer airlock began to blink, before turning a solid red. Another icon appeared, flashing green, asking if she wanted to open the outer airlock door. With a confident nod, she touched the icon. The door slid open, a gentle mist tumbling from the tube to fill the airlock, providing the shuttle’s hatch that sat at the end of the boarding tube with an eerie look.

  Tiana drew her laser arc and crept towards the tube. A yelp escaped her lips as she stepped over a purple and yellow line separating the airlock from the boarding tube’s interior, which too late she recalled meant zero gravity beyond. She floated down the tunnel, grasping desperately for the handholds that lined its sides.

  The escapes shuttles access hatch slid open with a hiss and before Tiana could react, a black haired blur shot out. A shoulder slammed into her mid-section, knocking the air from her lungs. Desperately, she fumbled for her laser arc, which slipped from her sweaty grasp, bouncing off the tube wall to fly well out of reach.

  They tumbled wildly, the attacker’s grip like a claw trying to snap her in half. Tiana struggled to break free, punching at the attacker’s arms with all the might her tiny body could muster, her legs flailing as it became impossible for her to catch her breath. A shimmer appeared at the edge of her vision, each breath coming harder and harder, until finally, Tiana realized, it was over. She stopped struggling, letting her body go limp, admitting defeat. Despair filled her. She had failed her charges. She had failed the children.

  “Who do you serve?” a woman grunted.

  “Sasha?” Tiana wheezed, the voice gruffer then she remembered, but she knew it immediately. The woman gripping her stiffened, then released her, floating away while looking up into her eyes. Tiana, gasping for breath, recognized the face of her friend, covered in filth only broken by a path of dried tears. Sasha gazed at her in disbelief, like Tiana couldn’t possibly be real, only a dream. She reached out her hand, running a finger down Tiana’s tear soaked cheek.

  “Tiana! Oh, Tiana!” Sasha cried, hugging her fiercely. Tiana returned the embrace with the same exuberance, beyond happy to be reunited with her friend.

  “My princess! Oh my princess! Why did you leave me behind! Oh why, why did you ever leave me?” Anger and loved swirled together to boil forth as she shouted from her heart.

  “I’m sorry, Tiana,” Sasha sobbed, “I am so very sorry, but...but I had no choice, I could not place you in danger again,” Sasha word’s overflowed with her sorrow, sorrow born of knowingly hurting a friend, and at that moment, Tiana forgave her. Fresh tears broke free at Sasha's words, but froze as Sasha again tensed.

  “Help me!” Sasha pulled away, expression shifting to hysteria. “He’s...He's hurt, we need to get him to medical...t-to bed and...!” Sasha grabbed Tiana’s hand before she could question, dragging her into the escape shuttle.

  Lying unconscious in one of the seats within was a man with curly brown locks that Tiana thought looked familiar, but couldn't place him, being cover in layer of filth thicker than even Sasha. Tiana watched in confusion as Sasha gently pulled him from the seat and started floating him towards the exit. She gasped when she caught an unexpected look flash in Sasha’s eyes, one she recalled from years before, before the incident with Roberto, before she changed forever.

  She muffled a cry as recognition took hold. This man is Trent! The same man Tiana was certain Sasha had fallen for at first sight. Now everything falls into place. Sasha had left her behind to save him. Tiana wanted to be angry. She wanted scream. But she knew she would be wrong. Her friend had not onl
y returned, but returned with a man beyond all of Tiana’s expectations.

  Locking away the millions of questions that appeared in her mind, Tiana grabbed his other arm and helped Sasha float him through the boarding tube, gently placing him into the gravity filled portion of the airlock. Together, they slowly dragged his deadweight into the corridor. Tiana looked up, noticing Donnlie and Regalia peering out from the distant crew lounge.

  “You two,” she shouted, an idea coming to mind, “go fetch Fredrick, Miquel, Mirza, and Lin!” Tiana listed off the four largest trainees. The two nodded in unison, before vanishing.

  They barely reached the crew lounge’s entrance when Gil'Da, along with the four TSB trainees, rushed down the stairs. Gil'Da cried in joy as she hurried to their side to embrace Sasha, mumbling like a mother reunited with a daughter thought lost forever.

  Tiana directed the trainees, who picked up Trent and carried him up the stairs towards the passenger apartment, Tiana, Sasha, and Gil’Da following close behind. They moved through a large group of trainees in the outer sitting room, who stared curiously at the newcomers, while Sasha looked on with obvious confusion.

  “TSB trainees,” Tiana whispered. “Commander Talan was planning on selling us to Duke Zehman. They helped us escape and I just couldn’t leave them behind,” Tiana expected more than the curt nod in response, but guessing from how Sasha looked, this may have not come as a surprise. Tiana took the lead, guiding them to Lady Vickie's bedchamber’s sitting room, where Vickie, quietly sipping from her favorite mug, was in the process of telling an inappropriate story to a group of furiously blushing young girls.

  “Lady Vickie,” Tiana interrupted, “I hate to impose, but we have an injured man that needs to borrow your bed,” she stated, prepared to respond to the retort she expected, but instead, finding only a hungry smile in reply.

  “Oh my, yes...yes, the best place for that man would be my bed, this way,” she stood, waving them to follow into her bedchamber. Tiana glanced at Sasha, hoping to warn her about Vickie, and her romantic standing, but found Sasha was already warily eyeing the less then scrupulous woman. The four trainees, sensing something amiss, quickly, but carefully, placed Trent atop Vickie's bed, bowed, then hurried from the room. Vickie went straight to work, studying Trent's face as she started skillfully removing his jumpsuit.

  “I will handle this,” Sasha stormed to Vickie’s side, forcefully removing the woman's hands from Trent's jumpsuit, “go fetch me a medical kit,” she ordered with an authority Tiana had never before heard from her friend. A twitch of anger crossed Vickie’s lips...she won’t give up her prize that easily, Tiana realized.

  “Oh my, I did not catch your name. I am Lady Vickie and this is my starship and bedchamber. It would be dishonorable of me not to take personal care of this man. I believe it prudent for you to “fetch” a medical kit for me,” she grabbed Sasha’s wrist, her gaze confrontational, having no idea to whom she was speaking. Sasha looked down, then glared at the feminine, but powerful woman in the wispy, dark emerald dress. A tiny grin spread across her lips.

  “I am ever so sorry, I forget myself at times, you must forgive me,” Sasha stood, throwing her disheveled hair over one shoulder, while raising her chin, trying to look presentable in her current, less then ladylike state. “I am Grand Duchess Sasha Alutia and I would like to formally welcome you to my new private shuttle,” a menace tinged Sasha’s every word. Without waiting for a response, she returned her attention to Trent, running a possessive finger down his check as she started removing his dirty jumpsuit. Vickie's face flushed, not from anger, but embarrassment. She was only playing with who she thought must have been a noble lady of no consequence.

  “Forgive me, Your Grace,” she took a step back, her tone turning courteous, “I meant no harm or disrespect,” she held a curtsy to Sasha's back as she apologized. Sasha seemed to ignore her, busy pulling the sheets over Trent to hide his nudity, before blindly trying to remove the rest of his jumpsuit, then, after a moment, she sighed, turning back to Vickie.

  “I am sorry as well, Lady Vickie, I have been through much these last 12 hours and have only barely survived the destruction of TSB Earth Base,” Donnlie, who had accompanied Regalia in behind them, gasped. Sasha looked over at the young boy, pity in her eyes.

  “I see you are a member of the TSB. I am sorry to deliver this grim news to you in such a fashion, you will forgive me,” Donnlie couldn't contain his tears, crying loudly as the always mature Regalia placed a caring arm around him and slowly escorted him out of the room. Gil'Da, who no one had seen slip out, returned with a medical kit. Vickie grabbed it from her hand and moved to Sasha's side.

  “I have completed basic medical training. Sir Simwa required it of me before I became his fiancé,” Tiana moved faster then she had ever moved in her life, diving between the women as she sensed what would occur when Sasha found out about Vickie's past. Vickie tumbled away in surprise when Sasha lunged at her like a wild beast, but was stopped short by Tiana's desperate plunge.

  “It's political, Your Grace,” Vickie hurried an explanation, “he caged me in this shuttle for the past six months. I want him dead as much as, I assume, you do,” she growled, holding Sasha’s gaze. With each heartbeat, the anger slowly seeped from Sasha’s eyes as she relaxed.

  “You will forgive me again, Lady Vickie, I find myself losing control much too often as of late,” Sasha stood, gently pushing Tiana away with a nod of thanks. “I would be honored if you provided Sir Trent with care equivalent to his rank,”

  “His what?” Tiana blurted, unable to fathom when, or how, Trent could have possibly become a noble.

  “Not now, Tiana,” Sasha brushed her off, looking back to Vickie.

  “Of course, Your Grace, I will do everything in my power to ease his pain,” a grin of delight passed Vickie’s lips when she noticed Sasha momentarily glare in her direction. “Can you tell me everything that happened,” Vicki turned serious, leaning over Trent, pulling the sheets halfway down his chest to rigorously check his body for injuries.

  “Vin,” Sasha’s expression softened, “can you provide Lady Vickie with anything that will help with Trent’s treatment?” A tiny bronze sphere appeared a few centimeters above Sasha's bracelet, which Tiana immediately recognized as the Program from the shuttle.

  “Yes, Grand Duchess Sasha Alutia. Severe organ damage was caused during restricted treatment. Emergency tubing would be advised, but if unavailable, standard emergency nanite treatment and calming agent will suffice for stabilization,” Vickie stared at the sphere, then to Sasha, eyes questioning.

  “It is a Program that has taken an unnatural liking to me,” Sasha seemed annoyed. “Can you provide the treatment the Program indicated?” turning their attention back to the problem at hand.

  “We do not have an emergency medical tube onboard, I’m afraid. But I can easily perform an emergency nanite treatment. It is rather simple, actually,” Vickie explained while flipping through the medical kit and selecting two tiny bottles. She loaded the first into an injector, then placed it up against Trent's neck. The contents vanished with a hiss. She quickly ejected the empty bottle, which disintegrated before it hit the floor, loaded the second bottle and proceeded to inject that as well.

  “He'll need another injection in about an hour,” Vickie studied Trent intently, her tongue unconsciously licking her luscious lips, “and he really should be cleaned up,” her voice fell hush, “I’d love to receive an injection from hi-,” Sasha “accidently” bumped Vickie away, glaring at Trent like a mother hen protecting its eggs. Vickie, instead of asking for forgiveness as Tiana would expect, hopped away, her gaze of a predator on the hunt for this particular hen’s eggs.

  “I will leave him in your care, then,” Vickie curtsied, a seductive smile on her lips as she sauntered back into her sitting room.

  “Your Grace, I can handle washing the gentleman. You should concern yourself with your own appearance,” Sasha spun, ready to snap, but seeing it was Gi
l'Da who spoke, locked her lips.

  “Thank you, Gil'Da, but I am duty bound to his care. I would appreciate you and Tiana's assistance, however.” The look in Sasha's eyes said, quite clearly, she would not accept any arguments in this matter. Gil'Da, however, either didn't notice, or chose to ignore this fact.

  “Your Grace, it would be scandalous for you to bath any man who is not your husband. You must allow me to perform this duty in your stead,” Sasha blushed furiously, even noticeable under the thick layer of grime that covered her cheeks.

  “My princess,” Tiana leaned in, hands on her hips, “tell me now or you know I will tease you relentlessly till you do,” Tiana threatened, Sasha eyes begging that now was not the time, making her want to know even more. “Your Royal Highness,” Tiana pushed, “these secrets are unbecoming a woman of your status,” she goaded, sensing Sasha's resistance fading and, like always, Sasha sighed, resigned to the fact that she could never hide anything from her best friend.

  “This is a secret that you will not speak unless I provide permission, understood?” Tiana nodded, unable to keep from bouncing with excitement. “Well, you know how Programs like to take things literally if you're not too careful...like what occurred a few times with Vin on my private starship?” Tiana nodded rapidly, remembering Vin taking it upon himself to respond to queries that might have been said jokingly, in passing, or not even aimed at the Program in the first place. “It was after he saved me and,” Sasha took a deep breath, gazing down upon Trent, eyes twinkling, “and we were following Vin's directions while being chased by the traitors who had taken over TSB Earth Base. I did not realize it at the time, but I had...had fallen in love with Trent,” Tiana couldn't contain her elation, squeaking in delight as she danced in place. She knew about Sasha's love already, but hearing it from Sasha's own lips was something else entirely.

  “We were led to a Royal Room where I was able to present Trent with the Star of Terra and the Eye of the Emperor,” she reached down and caressed the elaborate choker around Trent's neck. “We were then forced to flee into an old abandoned research complex. It was terrifying, Tiana,” Sasha reached out, grasping one of Tiana’s hands, “and we found ourselves alone and isolated...only one route of escape. So we talked, more then I have ever talked to any man in my life, Tiana. The emotions, both I and Trent let free, led us both to express our undying love for each other,” Tiana squeezed Sasha’s hand, hoping beyond hope that Trent deserved her loved. “I wasn't thinking of the consequences of the exchange at the time, but the words were enough for Vin to...” Sasha removed her hand from the chocker around Trent's neck and clutched his hand. A crazy thought suddenly popped into Tiana's mind, one that she couldn't believe possible.