by Kyle Larson
“It’s group of five wise – we call them elders. They were the original, I guess what you know as the Pirates of Mercury. They are the ones who will lead us to bring down the Nine Kingdoms,” Aren said.
Kelvin was stunned when he heard the words come out of her mouth.
“You’re really going to do this now?” Riz asked, in an annoyed tone.
“Why not? We could be sitting here for hours. The sooner he learns his place in all this the easier it’s going to be,” Aren said. “Kelvin should be given the chance to do the right thing.”
Riz shook his head and rolled his eyes. Since Riz revealed himself, Kelvin could sense nothing but disdain from the man toward him. Of all the things that happened, this was one of the most disappointing things to Kelvin. He had looked up to Riz, thought he had a friend and someone to help teach him how to be a good leader, and eventually a good king. That had all been a lie and now the man just seemed to regard him as a nuisance.
“The right thing?” Kelvin scoffed. His tone descended to the level of loathe he detected each time Riz spoke. It was a new pitch for both Aren and Riz, and it caused the man to raise an eyebrow and turn in his chair to face Kelvin as well. “You just attacked a ship filled with people our family swore to help and protect centuries ago. Nothing either of you say to me means anything. It’s just more lies to try and get me to do what you want. If you want me to do the right thing, tell your ships to surrender and follow the Monarch back to Mercury so you can face the justice everyone in the Nine Kingdoms know you deserve.”
“Kelvin, that’s enough. Your little errand for Queen Evet in the Traditions of Service is just another bad joke in the farce that is the Nine Kingdoms,” Aren said. “I know you think you are doing what’s right, but no one in the Nine Kingdoms has any idea what our ancestors gave up. They have no idea what the Jovians are up to.”
Kelvin kept hearing about the Jovians. First, Riz had brought it up in their training. Then Queen Evet remarked about them. Now, Aren was implying that they were the reason behind all of this. Admittedly, Kelvin had not studied up much on the planet Jupiter and the people who inhabited its many moons. The gas giant itself had even been colonized by floating cities in the upper atmosphere, but its wealth in resources lay in the moons that orbited it. The Kingdom of Jupiter was the most powerful in the Nine Kingdoms, with Earth being a distant second. Every aspect of interplanetary trade flowed through Jupiter, which Kelvin could guess was at times problematic, but he’d never heard talk of them being an enemy like he was hearing from his sister now.
“Why the Jovians? What did they ever have to do with this?” Kelvin asked.
“Everything,” Riz said, with a tone that made Kelvin feel ignorant, as if he should be well aware of what their problem is with the Jovians. “There are history lessons that weren’t taught to you and the rest of the Nine Kingdoms. The rulers of old made sure to wipe away any trace of the war and how the Jovians stole all the resources that should have belonged to everyone in the Nine Kingdoms.”
“They share all their resources. They have trade relationships with every kingdom in the Nine,” Kelvin responded.
“Kelvin, they sell resources that should be given. Look at what’s happened to Uranus. Those people have almost nothing, yet the Jovians charge them the same as wealthy kingdoms like Earth and Neptune. The rest of the Nine Kingdoms donate large portions of their resources to Uranus, but the Jovians make them pay for everything. It’s what they’ve always done. They act like they built their kingdom of moons, when in truth, they stole it.”
“From who? Who did they steal it from?”
“From our families, your and mine!” Riz snapped. “What did they tell you about how the Nine Kingdoms were formed Kelvin? Please tell me what your teachers and Holloway told you about the Nine Kingdoms?”
The founding of the Nine Kingdoms was a story in history Kelvin and most people who were taught it never questioned – and that’s because its simple and nice. Humanity spread out through the nine planets of the solar system as Earth became heavily polluted in ancient history. At one point, there was almost no one living on Earth, but this was by design. Humans were trying to give the planet a chance to recover, so Moon City was established, and every other planet in the solar system was settled by large clusters of humans. The plan had been that once Earth was restored, their descendants would return to Earth.
The Earth had a proven history of restoring itself naturally, and without any pollution contributing to it, it would be allowed to heal after centuries of mistreatment from humans trying to exploit it’s resources. That’s not to say humans were bad in the early years, just that they weren’t aware of the consequences their actions would have on the big picture of their planet. By the time they became aware, it was almost too late, and many greedy humans in power didn’t want to stop their toxic industries.
By giving Earth a chance to restore itself, it would ensure that the planet that gave humanity life for so many years would be around for future generations. Only something happened that no one expected.
After a little over hundred years, the Earth had repaired itself for the most part. The humans that stayed behind on Moon City sent out word to the other settlements around the solar system, but the only problem was no one wanted to come back to Earth. Humans had grown attached to their new planets and didn’t consider Earth their home planet anymore.
“Our families were among the humans that stayed behind on Moon City,” Aren said. “Mom’s family were the first Lunar Guardians to stay behind and maintain it, and dad and Riz’s family were the first to resettle Earth.”
“I know that. I know my history. This is stuff I learned in the first year of elementary school,” Kelvin said. “What does this have to do with the Jovians?”
“You also learned in history about the Solar War? Who started the Solar War?” Riz said.
The Solar War is what lead to the formation of the Nine Kingdoms. Not much was known about who started it, as that blame seemed to be shared by all nine planets in history. At least that’s what Kelvin knew from his history lessons. Riz did make a good point that not a lot of history was discussed in Kelvin’s education. He knew humans had a brutal history of war and some of it was so horrific and unbelievable teachers didn’t even want to force students to hear it. It was very far from the humanity Kelvin knew and what the Nine Kingdoms represented. So no one knew who actually started the Solar War. Humans, for the most part, no longer believed in assigning blame. These mistakes were centuries old and humanity thrived in the solar system.
“I don’t know and it doesn’t matter. What matters is the thousands of people back on the Monarch who may be sitting in the dark or could run out of air if your ships keep shooting at them!” Kelvin snapped back.
Riz rolled his eyes and turned back to the controls.
“Kelvin,” Amelia’s voice said in his ear. He almost jumped, as her voice was so clear it was as if she were standing right next to him. Kelvin had forgotten the ear piece that accompanied his new digital assistant, Mara. “You don’t have to say anything. We can see you. If you can hear me, stand up and act like you’re stretching your legs.”
Aren had not stopped speaking to him while Amelia was, so Kelvin stood slowly and pretended like he was ignoring her.
“Good,” Amelia said. “Just hold tight. We’re coming up with a plan to get you out of there. The Monarch isn’t as damaged as they probably think it is. Just keep them busy. Their shuttle isn’t going anywhere.”
“If you want to act like a little brat and ignore me, this is just going to be harder for you!” Aren snapped at him.
“I’m not ignoring you! You just kidnapped me and Riz threw me down on the ground! I’m really dizzy,” Kelvin said, starting to form a plot in his head about how he could help Amelia and the crew on the Monarch watching him.
“I’m sorry,” Aren said, surprised that Kelvin yelled back. “Are you hurt?”
“I don’t know,” Kelvin said, d
oing everything he could to pivot from trying to act brave, to showcasing how scared he actually was. The temperature of the shuttle had not been as apparent to him as it was now. The shuttle was cold.
“Kelvin, look, there are things about Jupiter you don’t know. Things that most people don’t know. They are dangerous, and if we don’t prepare for them, all the Nine Kingdoms could be conquered by them. They have a history.”
“What history?”
“Do you remember the story of Imperator Manand?” Aren asked.
The Manand Dynasty was well known to Kelvin, as they were still the royal family to this day. Two queens that ruled the gas giant and all of it’s moons. If it weren’t for Jupiter’s prominence in the galaxy, they would be considered even more withdrawn than King Erelm. They were certainly more mysterious, only appearing for formal and diplomatic functions, hiding away in their floating fortress that hid in the violent storms of Jupiter. Kelvin studied the Manand Dynasty briefly in school, but he’d never heard the term imperator.
“Aren, he doesn’t know who Manand is,” Riz said over his shoulder.
“They don’t teach much history about the wars that first started when humans left Earth,” Aren began. “Humans weren’t always like they are now. They used to be greedy and shortsighted, consuming everything, no matter what the cost. They used to fight and kill one another for it. It took three-hundred years of interplanetary war for the Nine Kingdoms to be formed.”
“And there hasn’t been a war in almost five-hundred years.”
Peace was something humanity prided itself on. It was it’s greatest accomplishment. Though the Nine Kingdoms didn’t live in perfect harmony, there was no war. Anytime disputes came up, they were settled by arbitrators from each kingdom, so they could be objective. The arbitrators did not even know who the disputing parties were, so they made their decisions with blind justice. War was not even an option Kelvin had heard discussed, until now.
“Maybe there should have been, Kelvin. What your teachers didn’t tell you is that the Jovians occupied and enslaved the humans who stayed behind on Moon City for eighty-years. They did it to almost all the other Nine Kingdoms, but they were especially cruel to our family,” Aren said.
Kelvin knew a lot about the Sellwood family, since it was the second family to hold the crown of Earth. His mother’s side, the Monson family, was one he’d not known. Queen Eleyn always had a difficult time discussing her family. Kelvin knew there was a story, but his mother never wanted to speak about it, so eventually he just stopped asking. Now, Kelvin wished he had persisted.
“Instead of finishing off Jupiter and ending the rule of a family that oppressed the solar system for too long, people took the easy way and signed a peace treaty. Imperator Manand kept his power and his family still rules Jupiter today. Of all the battles fought in those war, Manand showed no mercy. He was ruthless, and our families were the only ones who stood up to him,” Aren explained.
“That was a long time ago, Aren. Why does that matter today?” Kelvin said.
“Because you see all of those ships out there. The Pirates of Mercury…it’s something the spoiled subjects of all these kingdoms think those men, women, and children chose to be. As if anyone would choose a life wandering through a barren asteroid belt. No, they didn’t choose a life of scraping by. The Pirates of Mercury were originally refugees from a battle on Saturn, over five-hundred years ago. They were the first settlers of Saturn, and then the Jovians attacked and destroyed their home. Most of them were killed, but the ships you see outside managed to escape. They went looking for another home on the other planets, but no one would let them in. They were starving and dying, and because Imperator Manand and his killers hunted them to whatever planet they went to, they chose to hide here in the Antioch Belt.
“It wasn’t easy for them. They had to mine asteroids for water and try to build greenhouses so they could grow food. They had to steal in order to survive. Cargo ships, but they never hurt anyone, and most times those ships they stole from were piloted remotely and didn’t even have a crew aboard. They had to do it. There was no choice. The Nine Kingdoms turned their back on these people, then had the nerve to call them criminals. The Pirates of Mercury, when all these people were starving victims of a cruel emperor.”
Kelvin’s attention was now completely drawn in to what his sister was saying. Whether or not it was true – and Kelvin had obvious reasons not to believe most the things coming out of Aren’s mouth – he could tell Aren believed every word coming out of her mouth. He could sense her anger growing as she described what was done to the Pirates of Mercury. Kelvin noticed Riz had his head tilted and listened to what Aren said, as if he could jump into the explanation at any time.
“Kelvin,” Amelia’s voice said. “Mara’s been analyzing the interior of the ship and she said there’s a space suit hanging in there you could fit in. She’s analyzed it and she can power it up. We’re going to try and create some sort of distraction so you can get to it. Mara’s also been able to hack her way into the computer of the shuttle you’re on, so when you get in the suit, we’ll get you out of there. Just hang on, Kelvin. We’re coming up with a plan.”
Mara had been able to access everything on the shuttle and was doing her best to stay unnoticed. She was deep in the computer system and trying to make it as difficult as she could for Riz’s repairs. The shuttle was equipped with billions of tiny robots no bigger than a flea, called nano-mech, that worked tirelessly to repair the shuttle. Each ship had their own swarm of nano-mech to repair, so Mara used that to keep giving them meaningless tasks to do, but on the Riz’s terminal it looked like they were working hard to repair the ship. What Riz saw on his terminal was the nano-tech repairing the main engine of the shuttle, but what Mara had them doing was cleaning the inside of the fuel lines, which would have nothing to do with the actual repair.
Aren continued. “Eventually, as the refugees stabilized their situation, they tried to go to Mercury and ask to live on the planet. At this point, most of the war was over and Mercury was one of the few planets that was doing okay and recovering from all of the fighting. Queen Evet’s ancestors told the “pirates” they were not welcome and declared them criminals because they had stolen parts of food shipments bound for Mercury. When the pirates offered to repay Mercury for what it had taken, the rulers of Mercury scoffed and told them they were criminals. Now, the refugees were branded criminals across the solar system and were not welcome anywhere. So, they went back to their home in the Antioch Belt.”
“Why didn’t they try to go to another planet?” Kelvin asked.
“Once you’re branded a criminal by one kingdom it’s pretty damn hard to set foot in another, especially in a time where no one trusted each other,” Riz said, anger in his tone apparent. “And it wasn’t just Queen Evet’s ancestors that rejected the Pirates of Mercury. It was your ancestors and mine as well. They decided to let these people live a life where they had to scrape and steal for every meal if they wanted to feed themselves and their children. It wasn’t fair Kelvin. The Nine Kingdoms forced them into this life, and now it’s their turn.”
“What do you mean, their turn?” Kelvin asked.
“Just like we said. First, we’ll take Mercury and banish Queen Evet and everyone that lives in that pretty palace. That will be our home world and that’s where we will launch our war on Jupiter. Every kingdom, except Mercury, will be given the opportunity to join our banner and help us take down the Jovians. Those that do will be allowed to keep their homes and castles. Those that do not will be banished to the same fate they left the Pirates of Mercury to all those years ago – left to drift and scavenge for food in the Antioch Belt.”
“What about our ancestors? If they turned on the Pirates of Mercury and didn’t offer them refuge, what makes us any better than Queen Evet?” Kelvin said. He was trying to be ready for whenever Amelia spoke to him again.
“The enemy of my enemy is my friend,” Aren said, in a tone that suggested
she was repeating a quote. “Riz’s ancestors and our ancestors fought shared a common fight against Imperator Manand. Long after the Pirates of Mercury resigned to making the Antioch Belt their home, there was a battle just outside the belt. Riz’s family was there, mom’s family was there, dad’s family was there, and the Pirates of Mercury were too. We almost lost the battle, but at the last moment, the Pirates of Mercury emerged from the Antioch Belt and saved us. All they asked for was a home on Earth, once Moon City was able to return to the planet. Petev Aker, Ares Monson, and Andyne Sellwood promised them that.”
“What happened?” Kelvin caught himself, as he was now engrossed in the history lesson his sister gave him.
“Riz’s ancestor, Petev, and mom’s, Ares, wanted to honor the arrangement, but Andyne Sellwood, who had just been made king of Earth by an election, went back on his word. The Pirates of Mercury were rejected and sent back to the Antioch Belt, once again. This time, they decided, they would never request to stay on a planet again. Next time, they wouldn’t give a spoiled king or queen the chance to say ‘no’. Next time, the Pirates of Mercury would take the planet, they wouldn’t ask.”
“Then how did you two get involved in this?” Kelvin said.
“My great grandfather, ten times over, and your great grandmother, went to the Antioch Belt and tried to help the Pirates of Mercury. For years, they sent supplies from Moon City to help these people, because they felt so awful your father’s family betrayed the promise. Eventually, the Sellwoods found out about it and stopped it. What Riz and I do today, we do to make things right.”
“But you said this had to do with the Jovians. You said they’re some kind of threat.”
Aren and Riz exchanged nervous glances, but Aren nodded at Riz, seeming to give him some sort of approval. Riz reached into a compartment and pulled out a tablet. He brought it online and stood from his seat, walking towards Kelvin.
