by J. Naomi Ay
Now, with the situation imminently changing, Berkan as the senior duke of the Empire and the Lord Chief of Staff, was the most likely candidate to ensure the smooth transition of the reins of government.
Years ago, Senya had drafted a Constitution, and his Final Proclamation, which declared that all should abide by the written law. However, Berkan believed, as did many of the Imperial Council that the Empire simply could not immediately revert into a Constitutional Republic. There had to be an interim Regent or temporary Emperor of sorts, at least until someone was elected President.
That could take years to figure out, while the Regent maintained the status quo. The question was, who could the Regent be? Certainly, that man could never be Shika. Ho no, that would be an unmitigated disaster. In fact, Katie would be better qualified to govern while this change took place.
"Katie," Berkan mumbled aloud while he considered her résumé of qualifications.
She had assisted Senya in this manner for many years. She didn't have his incredible brain, but she was a capable executive who listened to all sides. The people were comfortable with her. She had a certain star quality, along with a motherly appeal. On the other hand, Katie might be so distraught without Senya, she would be incapable of functioning.
Berk made a mental note to reread the Constitution and Articles of Operation later this morning after his breakfast. If Katie could continue to bear the title of Empress, yet do nothing more than be the figurehead, Berkan could assume control in a relatively peaceful transition.
In fact, that was the best case scenario. They could go on like that for years. Afterward, there was always Marik or even, Petya who could carry on. It was a unfortunate for the illustrious de Kudisha family that other than Shika, Senya and Katie had no descendants. Yet, out of this tragedy, the descendants of the Saint could rise again.
"What's the matter, Berkie?" Luci awakened by Berkan's noise, yawned and sat up on her elbows. The dawn was approaching, the sky gradually turning a slightly lighter shade of gray. Another blustery wet day was in the forecast as the weather in Mishnah only seemed to be getting worse. Berkan didn't feel like explaining his whole plan to Luci, although he truly believed she would be fully in support. "Are you worried about HIM?"
"Yes, yes, of course." Berkan planted a forlorn expression on his face, turning his mouth downward as far as it could possibly go.
"Well, he always survives these things. How many times before has he done something like this?"
"It's different this time," Berkan insisted.
"Pish tosh, it's not." Luci rolled over and buried her head in her pillow. "He'll be back sooner than you know it. Lay down and get some rest. You've got quite a burden on your shoulders until he does."
Berkan's heart thudded to a stop. What if this was just one of those temporary absences that Senya periodically liked to take? Luci was correct in that he had done it a few times before, and twice he had even visited Berkan in a sort of metaphysical, not actually there, kind of form. What if he appeared now in that way? And, what if he knew all of Berkan's thoughts? What if he grew angry at Berkan for his plotting and scheming? After all, if he wanted Berkan to be Regent, he would have declared that long ago.
Now, for sure, Berkan couldn't sleep a wink. There was no point in returning to bed. As he had broken out in a cold sweat, he headed straight toward the shower. While immersed in hot water, he tried to come up with an excuse for his devious plans, just in case Senya decided to pop in.
Shika de Kudisha, the Imperial Prince of the Realm awoke in a hospital bed. He didn't recall how he came to be there and were it not for the fact that he was fully dressed in his own clothes, he might have thought that he really was ill.
He sat up slowly, his head swimming, the contents of his stomach threatening to come back up. Finding the nurse call button just north of his head, he pushed it and barked for attention.
"Aspirin!" He shouted.
A moment later, a woman arrived with the requested meds. Her name was Nily, and she was just twenty-three years old, having graduated from nursing school only six months before. Nily had been thrilled to get her first job at the SdK Hospital in New Mishnah. There, she had been assigned to pediatric care unit, whereupon she assisted post-surgical patients as they prepared for their journey home. Nily loved working with the children, but her heart broke to see so many injured and ill. More often than not, she went home at night in tears.
When the opportunity arose to do a rotation at the Palace's private facility, Nily jumped at the opportunity, hoping to advance her own station in life. She had an idea that she might meet a Palace Guard or even an under-under-secretary of someone important. She would be applying sealant to a misbegotten wound or taking their vitals while they waited for the doctor to treat them. Nily would smile in that way that her father had said would break a man's heart. A whirlwind courtship later, Nily would find herself installed in a Palace staff apartment, her own healthy and uninjured child playing at her feet.
Nily was momentarily shocked and surprised to find the Imperial Prince lying upon the bed. She wondered briefly if he was ill, but from the prevalent stench of stale alcohol and a sweaty unwashed male body, she guessed correctly that he was merely drunk.
Shika, on the other hand, was inordinately pleased by the vision who had appeared at his door with a bottle of pills. She was pretty enough, and here he was already in a bed. What better reason could there have been to wake up? Waggling his finger, he bid her come forward, even as he rose in anticipation.
"Come here," he ordered in a low and seductive voice that for years had turned female spines into mush.
"Yes, Sir." Nily curtseyed, remembering the protocols. She dipped half way as befitting the Prince.
"Come on, love," he purred. "Let's have a bit of fun, shall we? It'll be easier if you join me over here."
Nily stayed in her curtsey as long as she possibly could. Her knees ached from bending, but she was stalling for time. She hoped a doctor might come along or even an orderly who needed to clean the room.
"Why are you waiting?" Shika noticed the girl's hesitation.
This excited him even more, as he loved a challenge. Throughout his entire life, girls had willingly submitted themselves to him. Even when they didn't know who he was, they were attracted by his extraordinary good looks and winsome charm. All he ever had to do was smile, and they became putty in his hands.
Nily, unfortunately, was a bit repulsed. She didn't like stale breath and other foul smells. Although she had experienced all sorts of stenches in the hospital, she had never any desire to lay down with them.
On the other hand, if she held her nose, she might be pleasantly surprised. Tumbling with the Prince could be to her benefit. Some extra money, a few jewels or a promotion might be in the offing. If she was extraordinarily lucky, and it was the right time, which she thought it was, she might be gifted with a tiny version of the Imperial man. Then, she'd be set for her entire life. She'd have a palace and servants to do her bidding. Someday she might even find herself the mother of a future king. It was an unbelievable dream for an ordinary girl from New Mishnah, but certainly worth holding her nose and opening her legs.
The Prince was getting annoyed with Nily's deliberation. He had been ready and waiting since she first walked in the door. While he wasn't quite middle aged, neither was he seventeen and instantly able to get it up. In fact, the longer she delayed, the more effort it would take.
"Hurry up," he growled, wondering if there might be someone else on staff.
This one was pretty, but obviously dumb. On the other hand, if she had a friend, he could handle two. Sometimes he liked three and once he had four. That was way back in his youth when he had lots of stamina.
Now, his head was starting to pound, and his throat was getting parched. Shika decided he actually just wanted some aspirins, another drink, and some tomato juice with a slice of lime. His impatient cock thought otherwise, and unfortunately for Nily, it was in command.
<
br /> So, Shika acceded to the wishes of his Imperial Organ and exposed it for Nily to treat with her nursing skills. Nily did as she was bid, holding her nose and sucking in her breath while she dreamed of a reward that would make her rich. The whole event was over and done quite quickly, although for Nily, it could have been quicker still.
"Thanks," the Prince grumbled, apparently not pleased with the speed of his response, while Nily straightened her uniform and curtseyed once again.
Then, she ran to fetch the requested tomato juice, along with a fresh bottle of vodka, a slice of lime, and more aspirins for the road. She hoped when she returned, she'd get the gift that she had dreamed of. The Prince, however, was less than satisfied with the events. He tossed her a single gold coin bearing his father's head.
"Don’t spend it all in one place," he mumbled, swallowing the vodka. Then he waved for her to leave which she did with both relief and disappointment. That was, until two weeks later when her cycle went awry.
Chapter 8
Dr. Hannah had just reported to duty. She was sitting in her office watching the vidmails. One was from her daughter, Cara complaining about her younger brother, Nate, who had stolen her favorite doll and ripped off the head. The second one was from her husband, Lee. Hannah smiled with fondness at the hulking Cascadian man. Lee wasn't the best looking. He wasn't the smartest guy in the Universe either, but he loved Hannah and he loved their children. Nothing else really mattered.
"Hi, Sweetheart." Lee waved and smiled, displaying his triple rows of yellow teeth. "I just wanted you to know everything is fine despite Barbie's decapitation. Miss you, love. We're all looking forward to your visit next week."
"Me too," Hannah called although the connection wasn't live.
She glanced quickly at her watch and calculated the time at their home on Cascadia III. It was the middle of the night, and everyone was sleeping. The vidmail had been sent more than five hours ago. Lee wouldn't have minded if she called back now and woke him, but Hannah decided it was more important he got his rest. She would ring later after her twelve hour shift when the kids got home from school, and Lee was back from work and making dinner.
Lee was a speeder mechanic, who was employed in a repair garage. He had enlisted in the SpaceNavy straight out of high school and served for a time aboard the Queen of Rozari. Hannah had met him when he wandered into sickbay one day, second degree burns all over his left arm. A shuttle engine had exploded in the repair bay when someone had left a blow torch on. Lee never once complained or moaned about the pain, but instead chatted her up and asked her out to dinner.
That was right after her divorce, and Hannah was feeling vulnerable. Lee was fifteen years older and the most uncomplicated man she had ever met. It might have been a rebound, or maybe it was meant to be. In either case, within six months of divorcing the Imperial Prince, Hannah was married to Lee.
The next few vidmails were staff updates from SpaceNavy Command. Hannah fast forwarded through those, almost skipping the last message which was from Commander Kiman.
"Doctor," Kiman said, formally.
Hannah and Kiman had been friends for more than ten years, but on only one occasion did she remember him calling her by her name. That was right after Hannah had caught her then husband, Shika, screwing around for the third or fourth time.
At that moment, Hannah had made up her mind to divorce him. She was in the sickbay, alone and crying, when Kiman had walked in for an annual vaccination. Hannah had been too distraught to give it to him. Instead, she ended up sobbing while he watched.
"I'll come back later," Kiman had offered, standing awkwardly by the door. Then, he put his arms around her and pulled her against his chest.
"He's such a fucking bastard," Hannah had seethed, getting Kiman's uniform shirt wet with her tears.
"He wasn't always." Kiman had sighed but said nothing more.
"Don't you start making excuses for him!" Hannah abruptly pulled away, wiping her face with the back of her sleeve.
She knew Kiman would never say a cross word about her former husband, or any of her former in-laws. Hannah was one of the few people that knew Kiman was actually an Imperial Guard posted aboard the Queen of Rozari to covertly protect the Prince.
When Shika had been grounded, Kiman requested a transfer to the SpaceNavy so that he might continue to stay aboard rather than return to the Palace. He was unfailingly loyal despite everything, just as his father, Lord Kinar, was unfailingly loyal to the Emperor. It was engrained in Kiman's soul never to object or to judge anything Prince Shika did. Sometimes, Hannah had thought Kiman was actually a droid.
That thought crossed Hannah's mind again as she listened to Kiman's monotonic voice telling her they were incoming with a patient. The subject was a ten year old girl, the daughter of the Xironian Ambassador and Pedah de Kudisha, a minor Karupta prince and second cousin of her former husband.
Hannah knew Pedah and thought he was a nice guy. She had even dated his older brothers a few times before she met Shika. But, Hannah's heart froze in her chest as she recalled the Xironian woman, who was this patient's mother.
"It doesn't matter now," she told herself aloud. She would be professional and treat the child well. It wasn't the girl's fault her mother had been a whore. The child certainly didn't need to know that her mother had slept with Hannah's ex-husband, which was the first time Hannah realized he was fooling around.
Hannah looked at the time stamp on the recording and guessed she'd have about an hour until they arrived. Instead of doing something productive, she headed up to the coffee shop. While ordering a grande, hot and black, Hannah cursed herself for even bothering to think of Shika. For almost ten years now, she had convinced herself she didn't give a whit about what he did, had ever done, or was doing now.
In fact, she quickly shut off the vid if he ever came on. Her life with Lee was far better than at any point with Shika. All the wealth in the Universe and a suite in the Imperial Palace couldn't even begin to make up for the turbulence caused by him and his parents. Yet, there was something about him that still made her heart tremble. When she heard his name, her breath would still catch in her throat.
"Damn him," she mumbled into her coffee cup, clutching it against her mouth as if for warmth. "Damn him, damn him," she repeated like a mantra knowing full well that Shika was if anything, already damned.
"Doctor." Captain Marik's deep voice abruptly interrupted her thoughts. The cup wobbled, a few droplets of hot coffee splashing on her hands as Marik pulled out a chair and sat down facing her.
"Hello, Captain." Hannah set down the cup and dabbed at the spill with a napkin. She was surprised by Marik's presence, as only rarely did he speak to her outside a formal meeting.
Hannah respected Marik immensely. She considered him an excellent officer and worthy of the office he held.
Something about him bothered her, while at the same time, she found herself attracted. She didn't trust him, but on the other hand, which of her former relations did she trust?
During the divorce, they had all lined up against her. Royal prerogative was the excuse to deny her any compensation. Marik's father was the mouthpiece for the Emperor who never deigned to speak to her even when she was married to his son. When the marriage was over, Berkan had called her into his office and presented the terms of her divorce with which Hannah had no choice but to agree. Since the duration of the marriage was so short, Hannah was not entitled to any holdings or the use of any titles. Basically, she walked away with a signed confidentiality agreement and nothing else. If she broke it, she'd find herself imprisoned or even dead. Only the Empress had expressed a tiny bit of sympathy for Hannah's situation.
"I've had to put up with a hell of a lot," she remarked, making a half-hearted plea for Hannah to reconsider.
As if Hannah should suffer just because Katie did? No thanks, that was your choice, and it isn't going to be mine. Furthermore, Shika wasn't exactly Senya, which was the root of all his problems. There was n
o way Shika could ever compete with his old man.
"I would like to speak with you about something," Captain Marik said, his voice drawing Hannah back into the present. She briefly shook her head to clear away those unpleasant memories. Even though it was ten years ago, sometimes it hurt just as much as it did back then. Hannah glanced at her watch and calculated how much longer until Lee was awake. "Something is going on in Mishnah," Marik continued. "The Emperor has taken ill." Now, Marik paused and tried to catch her eye.
"That's too bad." Hannah shrugged noncommittally as she never liked the Emperor much anyway. "But, you know as he always says, time has to happen in the way it has to be. Maybe time for him has finally run out the clock."
Marik chuckled and smiled with his big white teeth.
"Hannah, you and I need to discuss the future. Come with me." He wagged his finger, so Hannah stood and followed to his cabin. "You are an integral part of the plans which my father and I have devised."
Over the vid, Marik and Berkan had run through various scenarios of what might occur when they assumed the throne for themselves. They calculated who might by loyal to whom and who might object and prefer someone else; who would insist on the written law that the Emperor had drafted.
"We must rally everyone to us," Marik had declared to which Berkan agreed, at least for the transition. While Mishnah and Rozari were never a problem, without Senya's presence, Karupatani wouldn't have any representation.
"Do you think Rekah and all of his brood might cause a stir?" Berkan had mused.
"We'll just crush them," Marik replied, matter of factly.
"No, we won't," Berkan objected. "Above all, we must keep the Empire united which means we must prevent the planet Rehnor from destroying itself. Furthermore, the Karuptas are now wholly integrated into society. You've got them serving aboard your ship just like everyone else. What we need is a figurehead to keep them happy."
