The Noble Petty, Complete Edition (Alutia Rising Series, Book 2)

by Craig Gerttula

  “Sir Trent, could you accompany me for a moment if it pleases you,” Sir Seb'Losh interrupted, his serious expression matching his tone. Trent nodded, turning to Sasha.

  “I'll be back in a second, my love.” He leaned in and kissed her, worry apparent in her emerald eyes, like whenever he left her presence.

  “Be careful, my duke,” she kissed him back, pushing all her concern through her lips and their bond. He stood, shuddering slightly as his contact with Sasha was broken, his bond crying out, making him want to get this over with even faster.

  He found ABF Knight Captain Eru and an ABF Battleguard Commander he didn't recognize standing with Alutia Guard Commander Usa'Pol in the shuttle’s entry. The doors slid open just a crack, providing Trent a slivered view of their surroundings. He nodded to the waiting trio and peered outside.

  A slight breeze struck his cheeks, full of the fresh, earthy, almost sweet air born of Alutia'Earth, a pure world yet unsoiled by human hands, his new home. In the surrounding distance rose the red, purple, and orange semitransparent trees, reaching far into the clear sky, alive with the sights and sounds of Alutia'Earth's native wildlife. Closer at hand stood gigantic, dark green biological buildings of exotic design, showing the organic beauty of nature manipulated for human habitation. These biological buildings, standing a few hundred meters tall, were most likely the many different wings and annexes of the palace. Vine-like walkways connected them to each other and to the enormous tower being grown in the center of the palace grounds.

  Trent's gaze fell on the tower, appearing to be made of giant, organically braided green vines, covered with spikes, or possibly thorns, he realized, slowly growing towards the sky. Beyond the tower, many of the biological building’s still appeared to be under construction.

  He watched with fascination as a new tier was outlined with narrow green vines that grew at speeds Trent's mind told him should be impossible. Then, once the narrow vines finished outlining the tier’s interior, much larger vines grew from the tier below, adjacent to one another. Once they fully encased the new tier, they appeared to merge, creating solid biological walls of dark green, only leaving porthole-like gaps that must be for the windows. The moment the new tier was completed, the narrow vines extended again, starting construction of the next.

  Closer at hand, rising from the center of the landing pad, past a line of construction and freight shuttles, rose a single vine of enormous girth. Massive doors ringed its exterior, with smaller doors appearing alongside. But for some odd reason, though the landing pad was packed with shuttles and stacks of silver crates of varying sizes, no one moved about, and no other shuttles could be seen arriving or leaving. Where is this heavy traffic the captain spoke of? He wondered. A polite cough rose from his side, interrupting his observation. He nodded an apology and looked to the only people who were visible on the landing pad below.

  At the base of the exit ramp, waiting patiently, stood six men in ankle length robes of dark crimson and black, the Alutia Crest on their breast. Just beyond stood about 20 armed guards in an unorganized mass, all in the crimson and black Alutia Guard dress uniforms; the same as the guards who had turned on Sasha. Well off to the side, fidgeting noticeably, were three men in jumpsuits of black and purple adorned with a crest he couldn't clearly see. Trent concentrated on them first, a warm sensation rising from the Eye of the Emperor, telling him that they had kind souls and meant them no harm.

  He recalled his conversation with Vin where he tried to discern how the Eye of the Emperor actually worked. He knew it was able to provide him a glimpse of a person's mind, though didn't understand how. But, like most of the NHA’s advanced technology, when he tried to dig further into the science beyond its abilities, he'd received the response that the information was restricted. Though he did recover one tidbit; it had something to do with interpreting lower level brainwaves, those that relate to the subconscious and base desires.

  He turned his attention to the group standing at the foot of the exit ramp. His body froze, his veins filling with ice water, like he’d just been locked within the heart of a glacier. All the administrators and all of the assembled guards returned what he feared, the utter cold sensation associated with those of ill intent. Sweat pouring off his brow, so cold that it caused him to shiver uncontrollably. He forced his gaze free, the cold washing away as soon as his concentration was broken. Breathing heavy, he turned to the two true Alutia Guards standing by his side.

  “The three on...on the left are good, probably the architects...the rest...” His breathing wouldn't steady and he felt faint. Sir Seb'Losh nodded, grabbing his arm to escort him quickly back to passenger compartment. Sasha's eyes burned with concern as he took his seat beside her. I probably look even worse then I feel, he realized.

  “Thank you, Sir Trent. Ladies and gentlemen, please continue to stay seated and disable all viewports,” ordered Sir Seb'Losh as he moved among the seated nobility, exiting to the rear where 60 ABF Battleguards waited patiently.

  “Are you all right?” Sasha asked lovingly, wiping the sweat from his brow. He tried to smile, but the overwhelming cold still lingered.

  “Yes...but it's bad. I've never felt such...such absolute cold from a group before. I don't think they mean to let you step more than a few meters from the shuttle...” Sasha frowned, a hint of fear showing in her eyes. But it vanished, both the frown and the fear, when reactive combat armored ABF Battleguards, with combat arcs at the ready, rushed past, towards the shuttle's exit. Shouts of confusion and fear erupted from more than a few of the Tidelia nobles. Sasha stood in response, placing a hand on his shoulder so he couldn't join her.

  “It is alright, just a precau-,”

  The shuttle rocked violently, the sound of muffled explosions filling the compartment. Trent instinctively pulled Sasha down into the seat, covering her with his own body. But before he could gain his balance, another, much more severe shockwave shook the shuttle, a blast ringing his ears. He rolled himself around Sasha as the shuttle rocked, allowing her to crash harmlessly into his chest as he struck the wall, smashing his head against its unforgiving surface.

  “Everyone out!” A voice boomed; sounding as metallic as the combat armor the speaker wore. Trent moved without question, ignoring the stars that swirled within his vision and the blood that started to trickle from his eyebrows. He checked Sasha over, who recovered quickly, studying his injured brow, her eyes burning. She’ll definitely be scolding me on self-sacrifice when this is over, he knew, but found he didn't care, just as long as his love was safe.

  Finding her uninjured, he took a quick inventory of her ladies. Tiana stood with her mother and two Tidelia Guards. Vickie stood with Gil'Da, both protectively holding Regalia, while Donnlie, eyes full of fear, stood in front of both. Nodding to the scared ladies, then the massing nobles beyond, he drew his laser arc, following the last ABF Battleguard towards the shuttle's exit.

  The jolt made his vision go black as they tumbled to the floor. He tried to recover his feet, but found himself on the wall, the shuttle almost tipping from the force of the latest blast. He helped Sasha steady at his side while glancing at her ladies recovering their feet just behind them.

  “We need to move!” He shouted, urging them forward.

  “Hurry!” Sasha pushed, grasping his outstretched hand as they again started towards the exit. A moment later, the shuttle rocked back to its original position. But he was prepared; moving his feet from the wall to the floor in a single motion, Sasha matching his step, then braced himself, hugging her close as the shuttle slammed back to the ground. Without word, he started sprinting; pulling Sasha along behind him, knowing the next blast may be their last. As he stormed though the shuttle entry and down the boarding ramp, he stumbled, only Sasha’s iron grip keeping him standing.

  The landing pad was a scene of horror. Unarmored enemy guards littered the ground, dead, tendrils of smoke rising from their charred remains. His stomach churned as the scent of burning flesh corrupted the pur
e air of Alutia'Earth. How could this have happened? His mind screamed as he hurried off the ramp, following the last battleguard to a squad that started to enclose him and Sasha.

  “No! Wait!” Trent shouted as he turned and pointed to the ladies hurrying towards them. But the battleguards didn't listen, pulling them clear of the shuttle, towards the enormous vine emerging from the center of the landing pad.

  As the last of the nobles and servants stumbled down the shuttle’s boarding ramp, two enormous laser bolts, fired from the top of one of the biological buildings being constructed in the distance, struck the side of the shuttle simultaneously, burning partially through the hull. The shuttle flipped, tumbling from the landing pad as everyone dove for cover, screams of fear attacking his ears. Trent, surrounded by metal clad bodies, lay protectively atop Sasha, fearful that the shuttles Neutron Star Drive core would collapse, killing them all. But after a moment, he found that his fears would not come to pass. The battleguards moved clear, helping them to their feet. Sasha's eyes checked him over as he did the same to her. She was ok.

  Trent, seeing the ladies still unprotected, tried to push through the battleguards, back towards them, but one moved before him, helmet retracting to reveal Sir Seb’Losh. “We can't protect everyone. We have to move, Your Grace,” he shouted.

  “Split the men, we can't leave the rest unprotected!” Trent shouted in response, pointing to Sasha's ladies and the group of Tidelia nobles huddling in fear. Sir Seb'Losh's eyes tried to burn a hole through him.

  “You will protect them!” Sasha shouted, rising to her full height at his side. Sir Seb’Losh held his reluctant gaze for moment longer, then nodded, Trent and Sasha’s own gazes, unwavering.

  “You, your ladies, and the countess with me!” Sir Seb'Losh shouted as his helmet grew from his shimmering armor, and along with three of the ABF Battleguards and Liana’s two personal guards, formed a star around them. The rest of the battleguards hurried back to the larger group of nobles and servants, desperate voices raised in an attempt to get them organized to follow.

  Without warning, two ABF assault shuttles streaked in from high above. Trent watched as bright green laser bolts erupted from the LPAs lining their hulls, raining death upon the enemy positions. He stumbled as the landing pad shook, massive explosions rising from the nearby rooftops where the laser bolts struck home.

  He turned his attention from the sight, tightening his grip on Sasha’s hand while trying to keep pace with Sir Seb'Losh. But a gust of wind caused him to turn, seeing another group of ABF assault shuttles screeching overhead, landing tubes shooting out from their bellies, straight into the ground in the courtyard that encircled the palace’s central tower. They hovered in place, battleguards flowing down the landing tubes like water as the shuttles traded fire with multiple positions on the ground and rooftops. At the same moment, another flight of assault shuttles boomed overhead, making another pass, destroying any location that dared fire upon the hovering shuttles unloading troops. But a large laser bolt, originating from a hidden position in the surrounding forest, struck one of the hovering shuttles, its landing tube breaking free as it spun away, returning fire as it tried to recover. Before he could witness its fate, his view was blocked by the vine that rose from the center of the landing pad.

  They came to a stop adjacent one the doors leading into a vine, him and Sasha breathing heavy, unable to catch their breath. Without pause, Sir Seb'Losh stormed in the moment the door slid open with a strange shimmer, like it was alive. They followed, rushing past rows of varying sized transport tubes, then down a long stairway. Sir Seb'Losh stopped at its base, pointing to an oversized doorway to the left.

  The room they entered was immense and mostly empty, appearing to be some sort of storage area not yet in use. In the far corner sat the three men Trent recognized as the biological architects. While closer at hand, being held at laser point, were four of the six administrators.

  He turned to Sasha, mind working as he realized their current plight. He knew that the ABF Battleguards may not be able to distinguish between Duke Zehman's planted men and the friendly royal architects, engineers, and workmen. An idea burst into his mind. “Come on,” he said, pulling Sasha with him towards the architects while looking back at the entrance. “Sir Seb'Losh, follow me!” he shouted the moment Sir Seb’Losh appeared behind Countess Liana and her two personal guards.

  “Trent...Trent, what are you doing?” Sasha asked, finding her voice. But her words didn't register, his mind already locked in. He knew if he didn't act fast, innocent lives would be lost, which he couldn't bear; not when I can prevent it from happening.

  “Are you loyal to Duke Zehman?” The question caught the three terrified men off guard. Trent stared intently at each as they shook their heads in unison. Sensing no lies, he nodded.

  “Can you get in touch with just your men? The ones that arrived with you...not any that may have joined later or were here when you arrived?” The men looked at him in confusion. The one who appeared to be in charge stepped forward.

  “Yes, My Lord. The Vn'Oco Biological Architectural Core's membership is strictly handled on Vn'Oco and my entire team arrived together. We have a closed channel. What should I tell them?” The man's voice trembled, having difficulty keeping eye contact with Trent, who felt the fire of hatred burning within him. He didn't care, knowing it was better for them to be afraid of him and live, then having to be treated similarly to those loyal to Duke Zehman.

  He turned to Sir Seb'Losh. “I don't want any innocent lives sacrificed. Setup some sort of code word, or something of the like so that the ABF Battleguards don't accidently kill any architects, engineers, or workmen.” He felt command erupt from within, not knowing exactly where it originated, but finding it felt natural, like it was always there, just waiting for him to grasp its essence. Sir Seb'Losh nodded as his helmet retracted, rushing over to confer with the architects.

  Trent then turned his attention to the four administrators, faces contorting in rage and eyes burning with hatred. He pushed Sasha behind him as he approached, looking to the one who stood forward in defiance.

  “Duke Zehman will never stand for this!” the man bellowed, spitting towards Sasha, but hitting Trent instead. The anger that hid just below the surface, barely locked away, erupted forth, and he suddenly felt at ease; at peace with himself and the universe. Sasha sensed it as well, pushing her own anger, and love, through their bond, affirming that whatever he decided she would support. Trent knew then, without hesitation, exactly what he had to do.

  “Sasha, give me temporary rights to lay judgment in your place,” his voice stone, all doubts vanished.

  “Vin, do it,” Sasha instructed, trembling with unbridled fury. Trent turned, looking at the woman he loved with his entire being, who he would protect by dirtying himself, allowing her to stay clean.

  “Vin, can you record this? I want to send a copy to every duchy in the galaxy.” A strange calm continued to fill him, but his heart beat uncontrollably, as if it was detached or part of another person.

  “Logging enabled, be advised: all words and actions are now being recorded,” Trent nodded, walking the last few steps to face the traitors. Sir Seb'Losh hurried back to his side, combat arc raised, just in case. Trent pointed at the first man, whose face continued to contort in uncontrollable rage.

  “Did you try to assassinate Grand Duchess Sasha Alutia?” The man's eyes shifted at the question, hate turning to fear, then back to hate as he seemed to accept his fate.

  “The stealing whore is no noble! She deserves to di-.” An ABF Battleguard crashed a metal covered fist into the man's face, his jaw cracking unnaturally before he crumbled to the floor.

  “I, Sir Trent, holder of the Eye of the Emperor, consort of Grand Duchess Sasha Alutia, pronounce, for the heinous act of attempted murder of 150 NHA citizens, banishment to dark space.” His words were doom and the semi-conscious man cringed in horror.

  Trent moved before the next man, who suddenly lun
ged at him with his two companions. He dove away, pushing Sasha behind him as laser bolts rained down on the traitors, who collapsed into smoldering heaps of charred flesh. Screams of horror escaped the lips of the group of Tidelia nobles who huddled in the far corner. Trent turned and embraced Sasha, verifying she was indeed, ok, before leading her to the center of the room so all could clearly see him, allowing his righteous fury to fully take hold, washing away any semblance of his senses.

  “As of this moment, all noble persons, unless invited by Grand Duchess Sasha Alutia, who have relation to the Hulk'Zif Duchy or their allies, are banned from entering the Alutia Duchy! Punishment for this transgression shall be death or banishment,” Trent's voice boomed, letting escape all the frustration that had been building as he found his loved ones constantly in danger. “Furthermore! For the capital offense of murder, I hereby pronounce the sentence of death for Duke Zehman Hulk'Zif. To be carried out when the criminal of Alutia can be captured by the forces of justice!” Trent shouted, pure emotion flowing through his words; words that arose solely from his heart.

  “In addition! All starships that have passed through Hulk'Zif space shall be subject to search and integration. If they are found to contain any nobles or retainers of the Hulk'Zif duchy, they shall be seized! All starships that hail from the Hulk'Zif Duchy shall be destroyed on sight!” Trent's gaze fell to Sasha who locked her arm with his, eyes full of pride.

  “This also goes for the Tidelia Earldom! All noble members of Hulk'Zif or her allies shall have one month to leave, or face the same fate pronounced by the Alutia Duchy!” Countess Liana, flanked by Tiana and her two guards, stepped forward.

  “I thank you for your support, Countess Liana Tidelia,” Sasha responded, her voice of pure courtesy,. Trent felt his own sea of emotions crest once more, calling for one final pronouncement.

  “I have one last proclamation! Laser arcs of any kind, outside the hands of ABF or Alutia forces are banned on Alutia'Earth and in the presence of the Grand Duchess Sasha Alutia, wherever she may be! For knowingly bringing laser arcs into her presence will be cause for immediate banishment from the Alutia Duchy! That is all.” Trent felt the adrenaline flow free with his final word, and with it, the worst of his anger.