by J. Naomi Ay
The guard took pity upon us, perhaps because it had started to rain, and here we stood outside the ruins bereft of coats.
“I’ll ring Kinar,” he decided, and then a moment later, the gates were opened, allowing us to be admitted inside. “Do you know the way to his office?”
“I used to live here,” Hannah snapped, and then, under her breath she added, “It wasn’t very long, but I do recall the way to the Big House. Kinar’s office was right next to the Emperor’s office, which I know, because I purposely avoided going anywhere near there.”
“Good," I agreed, although I wasn't entirely sure why that was, but my brain wasn't fully functioning at that time.
We wound our way amongst the rubble and pathways laden with ash. In some places, despite the rain, wisps of foul smelling smoke still rose.
"Wow," Hannah gasped. "Look at that."
"Kari-fa," I exclaimed, pointing at the shells of what were once many magnificent buildings.
Only the rose garden and the fountain spewing multi-colored water remained in the formerly exquisite Palace Courtyard. Everything else had been reduced to nothing but barren, ash covered grounds. Despite the desolation, and horror before us, to my surprise, Hannah started to laugh.
"Serves them right," she declared. "Every last one of those fucking de Kudisha's deserves this."
"I am a de Kudisha," I reminded her.
"You don't count."
"Good day, Hannah," Kinar rose from his chair to greet us as we entered his office. He was alone. All other offices in the Big House were vacant, an air of desertion prevailing within the cold walls. "And, you are surely one of the young de Kudishas, are you not?"
"I am indeed. I am Tuman, son of Rekah, Prince of Karupatani, cousin of the MaKennah, the Great Emperor."
"Of course, you are," Kinar replied. He offered me first his hand, and then a chair before the polished mahogany desk behind which he sat. "What brings you to our lovely palace today? As you see, we are about to undertake some renovations."
Hannah snickered, although I wasn't entirely sure what she found funny.
"Kinar," she began. "Would it be possible for us to meet with Shika or Rent? Tuman and I," she reached for my hand, and dramatically held it to her breast, "We want to get married. We're expecting a son in a few months."
Kinar turned his eyes to me, and regarded me warily. His eyebrows raised high upon his forehead as if he doubted Hannah’s claim. Then, shaking his head, he let out an exasperated breath.
“I’m sorry, Hannah. I cannot admit you into the Princes’ presence.”
“And why not?” She demanded, assuming the Emperor’s secretary disapproved of our union. "This is not a decision for you to make. Merely, admit us into Shika or Rent's presence. As a former Imperial Princess, you owe me that. If you can't convince yourself to do it for me, then do it for Tuman. Karupatani law requires he receive a royal blessing before he is wed. Unless, you intend to discriminate against our laws, you must allow the Princes a chance to decide."
"I would, Hannah," Kinar demurred, "But, the truth is, they are not here. No one is here except for me, and of course, the contingent of Imperial Guardsmen patrolling the grounds."
"Well, where are the Princes?" Hannah demanded. "Tuman and I will go to them.”
"Spacebase 22. Have you got a spaceplane, or money for a ticket or two?"
“Spacebase 22,” Hannah grumbled, as I followed her back out of the building en route to only she knew where.
We passed outside the Palace gates, and hurried down the hill to the Old City where night was falling. The street people were lingering about, panhandling, or pushing drugs. Whores stood on the corners, or in front of boarded empty shops with nothing for sale.
“Have you got any money, Tuman?” Hannah asked.
“Money?”
I felt through my pockets. If I had, I would have liked to spend it on a drink. I would have liked some Barkuti, or better yet, something stronger, such as Horkin.
Years ago, when I came to Mishnah to visit Shika, or some friends who I had known from school, I had a list of reliable dealers in the Old City. I suspected they were all gone now. When one lived on the street, life passed rather quickly.
“Stop it, Tuman.” Hannah grabbed my arm when I had paused to appreciate a young girl’s wares. Her round Mishnese face was kind, and far too young to be standing on this street.
“Fun, sir?” She inquired, striking a pose, exposing a glimpse her soft, white breast. “I’m young and without experience. I’m in need of a lesson or two. Have you got a coin which you might share?”
“Tuman,” Hannah growled. “Come away right now.”
I tossed the girl two pennies from my pocket, the only two pennies I owned.
“Sorry, Lass," I called. "You’ll have to find yourself another teacher. I am far too poor to afford two women in my bed.”
"You think yourself so clever, do you?" Hannah pulled up short. "Look at you, stinking drunk, and stoned besides. You're going to be a father soon, and we need money, not just for spaceplane tickets, but our baby's needs. Get your head together, Tuman, and hurry up."
“Where are we going?” I quickened my pace as Hannah raced across the city.
We passed a closed and empty supermarket, and an SdK Hospital, the only building around emitting light and warmth. The drive in front of it was crowded with homeless people, clustering in groups around rusty oil drums. Fires burned inside to keep them warm throughout the soon to be frigid night.
I paused for a moment and watched them. I had heard how years ago people had done the same. We had come full circle, had we not? From poverty to prosperity, and back. What would it take for us to round the circle again?
“We're going to get some money from someone who has plenty, far more than she needs, so she will share."
"Are you certain?" I asked, my breath coming hard, and my chest aching.
"Let’s wait here," Hannah announced, stepping behind a bank of steps, leading up to an old stone building amongst many on this street. “Go there, Tuman. Get out of the street. Hide on the other side, and get ready to pounce. We’ll surprise the next old woman who walks by, and take the coins from her purse.”
Why was I not alarmed by this proposition? Me, the High Priest would attack, and rob a defenseless Granny? The coins we would steal might afford her last meal. When had I turned into such a decrepit thief?
“Look,” Hannah hissed as an ancient woman approached.
Her skin was wrinkled, and her hands were bent. A tuft of snow white hair poked from beneath her knitted cap. She could not lift her gaze above the ground, as her spine was twisted with disease and age, yet she carried a purse upon her shoulder.
“Evening Granny.” Hannah stepped out to block her path. “I’m lost here. Might you help me find my way?”
The Granny stopped, and her old eyes lifted as far as they might. They gazed with neither fear, nor rage, merely acceptance of one whose life had been spent upon these streets.
"This is what you have come for, is it not? Do not strike me, and you may have it all. There is silver, and a gold one too.” She held out a ragged purse, the coins sparkling inside. Hannah snatched the bag away, and smiled, her dark red scar twisting up her face.
"That was easy," she chortled, tossing the purse to me. “Enough for the both of us to travel. Thank you, Granny, for your kind donation. Unfortunately, I’ll have to buy your silence too.”
“You have all I own,” the Granny replied, as Hannah drew her blade.
I did nothing to stop the murder for I was busy counting coins. As the old one gasped, I was dreaming of the bottles I might buy. As the stench of blood invaded my senses, I imagined the drugs I would soon ingest, and the high I would feel as I floated amongst the stars.
Hannah laughed, and pulled my arm.
“Someone ought to thank me for ridding this street of trash,” she said. “Come on. Hurry up before the coppers come.”
I didn’t move. Instead, I
stared at the ground, at the old woman’s body which was quickly growing cold. Something inside me awoke just then. Something knocked sense back into my head. Someone commanded the Holy man, who I had been, to kneel down. I reached for the Granny’s hand, and I bent my head in prayer.
“Go swiftly, Granny, to the land of eternal peace where you might dwell once again amongst those you love. May you be greeted there by the Heavenly Angels who will guide you to your rest. Blessed lady..."
“Kari-fa Tuman!” Hannah interrupted. “You’re wasting our precious time. Tarry any longer, and you will go to jail.”
“I can’t leave her,” I decided, my temples aching from lack of drink. “I will wait with her here. I will see her body safely retrieved. I will not partake in any more murders by your hand.”
“Suit yourself.” Hannah snatched the bag. She tossed me a silver coin. “Go buy yourself some Horkin. I’m going to the spaceport, and from there to Spacebase 22. Whether you accompany me or not, I’ll petition for our marriage. I want my baby to be legitimate, and bear the name of princes and kings.”
That is all she ever wanted of me, I realized, as she ran off. My name was all I could give her, as my love did not matter to one with a frozen heart. Her interest was never in me. I was only the means to an end. Perhaps, my father was right and the child wasn’t even mine.
It was then that I heard a wailing sound, and the lights of several speeders shone upon my face. The police had come to take me, for Hannah had left her blade by my side.
Chapter 19
Dave
I had just taken off my shoes, and was lying on the bed, which was unusually comfortable for a spaceplane berth, when I heard a soft rapping on the door.
“Dave!” Katie hissed. “Dave, let me in.”
Quickly, I jumped to my feet to admit her.
“Oh God,” she muttered, leaning back against the wall. I locked the door again, and sat back down. “I don’t know what the hell is going on, Dave. I don’t know who I am anymore.”
“Did something happen?” I asked, watching as she began to pace the short distance of my room, running her fingers through her red tresses. “Where is Luka? Did he…did you…uh…in your cabin?”
“He wanted to,” she said. “But, I told him I have a headache, and he should check back with me later.”
“I guess that always works,” I muttered, “Even with supernatural, evil creatures.”
“I actually do have a headache, not to mention, my husband, my real husband might get upset. Oh man, it feels like a migraine, and of course, I don’t have any pills.”
“Neither do I,” I admitted, feeling oddly guilty. Perhaps, I should have thought to bring an emergency kit, although it wasn’t as if we had planned this whole adventure.
“Luka, Rosso, whatever his name is,” she rubbed her head, “I don’t know who he really is, or who we might have been. But, I do know one thing,” she turned quickly back to me, “We’ve got to get out of here before we end up in the Black Eye Galaxy.”
I emphatically agreed, simply because I had no desire to go anywhere but back to my moon.
“Do you know anything about the Black Eye Galaxy, Dave?”
She was now standing by the window, her arms crossed behind back, her spine tense, her excellent posture still erect. If I was any other man, say this Luka or that Senya, I might have gotten up, and massaged her shoulders, and neck. I could have wrapped my arms around her waist, and pulled her tightly to my chest, kissing her, and all her stress and pain away. I didn’t, of course. I wasn’t them. I wasn’t in the least bit supernatural. I was just me, ordinary human, Dave Northgate, retired statistician, and RV Park manager.
“I don’t,” I admitted. “Although I’ve lived on the Black Eye Galaxy’s borders for a number of years. What do you know? Are we in danger, beyond the danger that we are already in?”
“Yes!” She cried, and then, pressing the pressure points beside her eyes, she turned back to me. “I can’t remember much, but I know things there aren’t the same as here. It’s not that matter becomes anti-matter,” once again she began to pace, “or dark becomes light, good becomes evil or anything like that. All that I can recall, is that things are different, very different. Our perceptions will be distorted. Life, as we know it, will completely change.”
“That would be horrific,” I replied, my wicked heart wondering only briefly, if in the Black Eye Galaxy, she might decide to love me instead. Wouldn’t that be a supernatural twist if the Awesome Senya and Evil Luka ended up watching in shame as Ordinary Dave walked away with the newly dyed, red-headed prize?
“I know, Dave, right? We’ve got to do something. I brought my cell but it doesn’t have a signal.” She held up an rPhone 8s, and waved it around. “I can’t ring Senya. He never answers the phone. I tried yelling to him my head. Sometimes when I don’t know it, he’s out there listening to my thoughts.”
That sounded very creepy, especially when considering the man ran half the government of the Milky Way. Obviously, the Empire of Rehnor had no need for an NSA.
“Every time, I call out to him,” she continued. “All I hear is Luka laughing in the background. ‘Go ahead,’ he says. ‘Summon Mika here to fight me.’ "
"Mika? You just said you were ringing Senya."
"It's complicated, and in any case, I can’t do that, Dave. That would launch the battle of the century, no the millennium, maybe even the battle of all time. That’s the whole purpose. That’s why we’ve been kidnapped. Oh! I can’t handle this stress!” She held her head in her hands. “Why, oh why couldn’t I have had a normal life?”
“Well,” I cleared my throat, not entirely certain what I should say. Perhaps, a normal life was just a parsec or two away. The Black Eye Galaxy might provide her exactly that.
“So, I’ve got to do what’s necessary to save everyone, and that’s run away from both.”
“Well,” I started to say again. “You can run away with me.”
“Will you come with me, Dave? You won’t have to stay forever, just help me get to somewhere safe.”
My foolish little cardiac organ tripped a bit, as I pinched myself upon the thigh.
“Oh course, Katie, Your…uh…uh…what’s your title?”
“Imperial Highness, but that doesn’t matter now. I’m just Katie, or Red, or whatever in the hell you want to call me. Oh Dave, I’ll be eternally grateful if you come with me.”
“I’ll do anything for you, Katie,” I swore, dropping to my knees. I felt a twinge of pain as the left one locked, but did my best to ignore it. “I am your servant to command. Your vassal to do as you will. Your…”
“I get it. Dave, just be my friend.” She took my hand.
“Yes, dear.” I kissed her hand in the same way I had seen that Rosso/Luka fellow do. “I am your friend from now until the end of time.”
“Which may be a lot quicker than we anticipate if the two of us don’t figure a way how to get off this blasted spaceplane!”
Katie ripped her hand away, and jumped to her feet, while I considered what I just agreed to do. Would I now spend the rest of my life running from the Emperor?
"Excuse me, uh...Katie. Maybe, we should rethink this. Perhaps, the better course of action would be not to run away from, but rather to run back to the Empire? I mean, if safety is the primary concern, might we be better off on one of your ships?"
"I don't know, Dave. I don't want to be the reason more people end up dead."
"That's understandable, but on the other hand, we don’t want to end up dying ourselves, do we?"
“No,” she shook her head, before glancing at her cell.
“Wait! Look Dave, I’ve got three bars!”
“Really?” I rushed to her side, and behold, there they were. “Actually, there are only two.”
“That’s alright. That’s good enough. Who should I call? Shall I call the Palace or SpaceNavy Command?”
“Maybe you should call your sons?”
“No. Sen
ya told me specifically not to ring them.” She started to pace again, nervously tossing the cell from hand to hand. “But, if I call SpaceNavy Command, they might not believe I’m really me. It's been more than two years, and I've been unofficially dead. I know what I’ll do. I’ll ring Kinar at the Palace. I’ll tell him to send a ship.”
“Alright. A starship arriving to our rescue would be a good thing.”
She went to the window to maximize her reception. Within seconds, a holographic image displayed upon the ceiling of my room. At first, it appeared to be a Palace, but on closer inspection, we saw a pile of still smoldering ruins. Buildings were burned out, merely shells of what they had once been. The grounds were bare, all foliage dead, and apparently, still smoking, except for an odd fountain in the center spewing colored water.
“Oh my God!” Katie gasped, covering her mouth. “What happened? Kinar? Are you there?”
Now, a man’s bearded face appeared. He was dressed in a simple t-shirt, and a pair of jeans. He was sitting at an ornate desk, a cup of coffee in his hand, and a rather perturbed expression upon his face.
“Hello?” He inquired. “Who is this?”
“Kinar, this is Katie. What happened to the Palace?”
“Katie?” Kinar’s brow furrowed. “How did you get my private number? All people claiming to be Katie must first go through the central switchboard.”
“No! I’m really Katie,” Katie cried, waving the viewfinder of her cell upon her face. “Look at me, Kinar. See, it’s really me.”
The man frowned, and raised his eyebrows. “Sorry, Ma’am, but I’ll have to transfer you to reception. Just ask them for the Katie Screening Department.”
“Kinar!” Katie wailed. “I dyed my hair, but I have the same face. Don’t transfer me. Listen, I’ll tell you the secret password.” Both Kinar and I waited expectantly. Probably, we had the same blank expression on our faces. “Blood oranges,” Katie declared to which Kinar shook his head. “Oh crap!” Katie shrieked. “That was the secret password for Thad. You and I never set up one, did we? Alright, I tell you something no one else knows. Don’t hang up on me. Let me think for a minute.” She paced again another step or two. “I know! Your son Kiman’s fictional daughter is named after me!”
