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

by Craig Gerttula

  “Vin!” Sasha shouted the name of the Program that existed within the Arm of the Emperor.

  “Yes, Grand Duchess Sasha Alutia?” Vin’s monotone response came from everywhere, but nowhere. It was the strangest feeling he had ever experienced.

  “What is going on?” Sasha asked.

  “A Mendthil Phenomenon event; a case when two BC Nodes become perfectly synchronized and allow one mind to enter another. All studies have been hypothetical and actual event thought to be impossible. Current situation arose when Grand Duke Trent Alutia and Grand Duchess Sasha Alutia accepted a perfect synchronization when Grand Duke Trent Alutia's mind began to fall into unconscious, which allowed Grand Duchess Sasha Alutia to enter Grand Duke Trent Alutia's mind, or subconscious.” Trent didn't understand what Vin meant, besides the part about how Sasha had somehow entered his mind through his BC Node.

  “Vin, can you explain it further? How did we synchronize? Why did I end up in Trent's mind?” Sasha asked desperately, squeezing his hand as she questioned the invisible Vin.

  “Grand Duchess Sasha Alutia and Grand Duke Trent Alutia's BC Nodes have been in sync since the Emperor's Jewelry rebuilt the “Program Bond” for their own purpose. The perfect synchronization event occurred when Grand Duke Trent Alutia's outer consciousness faded and connected to Grand Duchess Sasha Alutia in the process. Grand Duchess Sasha Alutia entered Grand Duke Trent Alutia's open mind through the “Program Bond” used by the Emperor’s Jewelry as he faded into his inner consciousness, or subconscious, and is now freely able to access a visual representation of his mind, created to allow two minds to survive in one.”

  He froze as he understood. “What of Sasha's body? Is she ok?” Trent asked, panic creeping into his words.

  A horrible, ghostly apparition appeared within the white landscape, just beyond the meadow, creeping slowly towards them. It was Sasha, but not the Sasha he knew. This Sasha was dead, a gaping hole in her chest, eyes empty, replaced by maggots feeding, falling free with scraps of her decaying flesh. As she approached, her empty eyes stared at him accusingly, and the white began to expand under her dragging feet, overwhelming the tiny green meadow.

  “You...you killed me...you betrayed me!” Sasha's gurgling accusation escaped the nightmare's torn lips. Trent fell to the ground, burying his face in his hands.

  “No I...I didn't...please...no...” I killed her, it’s my fault, why did I let her die? The desperate thoughts swirled out of control throughout his mind. The only woman he had ever loved, lost, because of...

  A slap brought his eyes open, warms lips pressing against his as a searing warmth burned away the darkness. The dead Sasha faded and the white receded slowly back to its original border, but still waited patiently to overtake the last bastion of his free soul.

  “I'm alive, Trent. You did not kill me,” Sasha whispered calmly into his ear as she wiped the fresh tears from his cheeks. He hugged her again, making sure that she was in fact, alive.

  “Grand Duchess Sasha Alutia is currently unconscious and will awake when Grand Duke Trent Alutia's current repair is completed,” Vin explained. Trent blinked the last few tears free, taking a deep breath to calm his rapidly beating heart, before climbing back to his feet, holding Sasha close.

  “How long will that be Vin?” Trent asked, desperate to leave this place as fast as possible.

  “Unknown, biological nanites are currently repairing a sensitive section of Grand Duke Trent Alutia's cerebral cortex and connecting neural pathways. Report immobile state required for immediate future,” Trent sighed, letting his chin fall to his chest. But Sasha snuggled closer, placing a tender arm around his waist and laying her head on his shoulder.

  “Vin, could you contact Sir Seb'Losh and let him know what has occurred? Have them move us to our bedchamber and call the medical officer, but inform them that we are alright,” she instructed. A loud confirmation sounded, echoing through the dreamlike world. “So what now?” she continued as she raised her head from his shoulder.

  “I don't know. Not much we can do besides stay in this meadow, that white “nothingness” scares me to no end...” he shivered, pushing away the debilitating emotions that threatened to break free. Sasha placed a hand on his cheek, turning him to face her. Her emerald green eyes caused his breath to catch, their fire burning deep into his heart, before she nodded, seeing his reluctance to talk about it further. She led him to the center of the meadow and they sat, arm in arm.

  “Trent...I know you do not want to think about it, but this is your mind...and we really should explore this white “nothingness”...find its cause...” she said carefully after a time, locking her fingers in his. Trent stiffened, his stare turning again to the white “nothingness” that seem to extend forever in all directions.

  “I think...I...I have an idea of what is out there and why the image of the dead you appeared when my thoughts turned,” he stuttered. “And why all the happy images...the ones of us together...appeared in the green meadow,” she nodded, apparently coming to a similar conclusion.

  “Out there is the time before you met me and the meadow is the time since?” she asked. He nodded stiffly, unable to keep a slight smile from appearing on his lips, feeling his love for her grow. The meadow became warm and apparitions of him and Sasha kissing appeared all around them.

  “Trent,” she elbowed him playfully, before kissing him passionately, following the others example. The apparitions faded, much slower than the previous.

  They lay in the meadow, the touch of Sasha's tender lips and soft body clearing his mind. She pulled away and he couldn't help but smile blissfully, feeling much better than even moments before.

  He stood, pulling her up with him, having made a decision. “Promise me...that whatever you see...that whatever happens, you will not think less of me?” he asked.

  She frowned. “Trent...you know I love you. I've already seen the darkest parts of you,” she raised her hand, which still held the Emperor and Empress's Star on its palm, the same as he. “And I accepted you, knowing the darkness would always be within you, waiting to escape. But there is no way that would change, no matter what I learn. I will always accept you, my duke...and I will always love you,” she declared, honesty overflowing from her words and her eyes. He knew what she spoke to be true. They were suddenly surrounded by many scenes of Trent apologizing to Sasha, so he decided to follow the example of his past selves and do the same.

  “I'm sorry, my love...I trust you, with all my heart,” he leaned in and kissed her gently.

  “And I you, my duke,” she returned the kiss with her usual passion.

  Trent took a deep breath, tightening his grip on Sasha's hand and moved towards the edge of the meadow, fearful his resolve would fade. He stopped as his toe touched the border, staring fearfully across the desolate expanse of white “nothingness”, then back to Sasha, her wispy white dress flowing in a nonexistent wind. Her warm smile provided him the strength to move on.

  He took the first step.

  It was cold, so cold that it felt as if he would die. But she was at his side, her presence like a sun that could thaw any icy embrace. But the cold pushed harder, its tendrils reaching for his exposed flesh. The sun pushed closer, its burning surface touching his, scorching the tendrils that began to wrap around his limbs, then forcing them away, the warmth intensifying as the cold faded and the meadow grew.

  He gazed in wonder at his love, whose body glowed, light seeming to be born from within. She pressed closer, her warmth becoming his, and he ran the tips of fingers down her tender cheek, along her smiling lips, then through her long, silky black hair, flowing majestically over her shoulders. She was a goddess; my goddess.

  Her eyes twinkled, goading him forward. He smiled, taking a deep breath. The next step came easier, the cold fading immediately, the meadow growing at their heels. It was Sasha who allowed it, he knew, her love cleansing the “nothingness” from his mind, his very being, and allowing the time together to expand and grow. The
y ran, hand in hand, as the meadow exploded around them, spreading to all sides, along with his happiness.

  Why had I ever been sad? The thought was strange, since he had Sasha, what reason did I have not to enjoy every moment of my life, with her at my side?

  The blast of cold knocked them off their feet and the meadow vanished far behind them, the “nothingness” returning, its strength beyond reckoning. He climbed to his knees, shivering relentlessly, uncontrollable fear overtaking him as a dark presence approached. Sasha crawled back to his side, staring at the sight that overpowered everything; emanating such a cold that he thought it would freeze the universe itself.

  He knew he should look, knew it was part of him, part of his mind. But his heart cried out, telling him to run away, not to face this demon, for it would destroy him. Sasha's warmth trickled into his being, providing him strength, knowledge that no matter his past, she would always love him. He forced open his watery eyes.

  A young Trent stood before him, at the age of twelve, naked, bloody, covered in cuts, bruises and dirt, limping slowly towards them. Sasha sobbed uncontrollably at his side, unable to resist the utter despair emanating in waves from the boy, her warmth fading, turning cold. Trent turned to her, trying to console her, rekindle her fire, but it was too much, the despair overwhelming, filling every pore, as the reflection of Trent as a boy, moved ever closer, reaching out, his icy touch calling eternal darkness...

  “Hey Trent, it's just a little farther...try to keep up!”

  Happiness; it was the only word that could describe his feeling as he followed the small group of his first friends down the animal trail in the woods just outside of town. They had invited him, him, to go on a camping trip for the weekend. He'd been ecstatic and finally had a chance to use the camping gear he had begged his mother to buy him the year before. A small clearing appeared up ahead, where the trail through the woods split, and the small group stopped, Trent hurrying to catch up.

  “So did you bring the money? We have to pay for this camp site you know...” the tall boy named Tom said, a peculiar smile spreading across his lips.

  “Ya, it's all my savings. But I couldn't miss this!” Trent said excitingly, unable to hide his enthusiasm. Tom looked at the other boys and nodded, punching Trent hard in the nose, sending him tumbling to the ground. Trent cried out in pain. Someone dragged him to his feet and pulled off his new backpack, holding him upright as the three other boys started punching and kicking him relentlessly. He cried out in agony as the beating continued unabated, until he could no longer move or feel, the world going dark.

  Cold; it was so cold he would die. He couldn't move. His arms and legs were bound, and he lay naked on frigid ground in utter darkness. Pain was his only relief, filling his tiny body with a false warmth.

  What had happened?

  Why had they done it?

  Weren't they my friends?

  Why would they hurt me?

  What had I ever done but be nice to them, to these people I thought my friends?

  Tears escaped, then wailing sobs, until the woods were filled with his cries of utter despair.

  Warmth; a gentle warmth that shouldn't exist enveloped him. At first, he thought it was the sun, rising to provide his frozen body with some relief. But no, this was different, this was human warmth given by someone who loved him. But no one loves me, his mind cried. He was alone and abandoned to die in the woods, his friends abusing and robbing him for no reason.

  Is that how all people are? How all people act?

  No, the warmth that embraced him caressed. The warmth isn't like that, it told, everybody wasn't like that, it continued, the thoughts born of its tender embrace. Her warmth is proof, it whispered, proof of her love for him, her undying loyalty.

  “Trent I’m...I'm so sorry, you...you told me, but...but I...I never knew...” the woman he knew, but didn't, cradled his tiny, beaten body in her arms, warm tears dripping on his open wounds, washing away the pain. He began to cry again, but this time not for loss or sorrow, but for hope. Hope that someone would love him and cleanse the blight that appeared that day, the day of the ultimate betrayal by those he called friends, who, for no reason other than cruelty, had beaten and robbed him, and left him for dead.

  He buried himself in her arms as the meadow exploded around them. Tears and sobs echoed throughout his soul as Sasha's joined in harmony. She had come; come when he had no hope, when he had lost a part of himself, his innocence, his trust, and his love. The heartache that had shaped his life, that had followed his shadow, leading to the isolated man he would become, began to fade.

  “You came, you...you...you saved me, Sasha...thank you...you were the only one who came,” he cried, his words a jumbled mess, broken by his sobs.

  “Oh Trent, it...it was horrible...I'm sorry, so sorry. I love you and will never allow anything like that to happen again! I will...I will...” Sasha broke down in his arms, unable to continue, her emotions tumbling out of control as he embraced her fully, letting her bury her face in his chest.

  Lightning flashed, destroying the world around him, it breaking into billions of tiny pieces.

  His eyes shot open, tears streaming free as the sound of sobs echoed through their bedchamber. “Sasha! Sasha! What's wrong?” Tiana asked desperately from the foot of the bed. Trent turned, realizing the sobs of despair were not his own, but Sasha's, who embraced him fiercely, kissing him relentlessly.

  “Trent, I love you!” she screamed as if he was far away, continuing to kiss every millimeter of his face, thinking that it may heal his wounds. He let her, realizing the most horrid of memories had been altered.

  No longer when he thought of the young boy beaten and abandoned in the clearing, cold and crying, did he feel hopeless, helpless, and betrayed. Now he saw a young boy, though still full of despair, being saved by a woman who loved him and wanted to care for him, heal him, save him, be his everything, help bear the weight of torment that forever haunted his soul.

  “Sasha...it's all right now. I'm fine. You healed me,” he whispered gently, honestly, and she paused, trembling, looking deep into his eyes, her own bloodshot, but still shining as if made of beautiful emeralds.

  “How? How could anyone heal from that...I'd...” her tears threatened to begin anew, but seemed to freeze when Trent's expression turned serious.

  “Because you are present...in my memory, Sasha. You saved me, embraced me, gave me your warmth, and that is now my memory, my reality,” he tried to place the words as best he could, understanding little himself.

  Her eyes twinkled as she seemed to comprehend his words. “Can we do that...for...for others?” she asked tentatively.

  “I'm not sure...but I think we could try. I'd happily replace every one of my past memories with those of you, my love.” She smiled through a fresh wave of tears, pressing her lips to his with such force, such fervor, such ferocity, that his mind began to melt.

  “This is all well and good. But will you let the rest of us know what is going on?” Trent released Sasha as Tiana's question struck him unaware.

  “After the checkup! The rest of you out!” The all too familiar shout of Medical Officer Ru'Lut hustled Sasha's ladies out of their bedchamber.

  Trent heard Sasha sigh in relief. “I thought it impossible...but I love you even more...” she gushed, a wide smile on her lips.

  “Me too...to the point where I don't want you to ever leave my sight,” he responded, a playful smile finding its way to his own chapped lips.

  “That...my duke...is a splendid idea,” she leaned in.

  “Enough! You can continue after I complete my checkup!” the irate medical officer shouted, Trent and Sasha, unable to hold on any longer, broke out into laughter so pure, so honest, that he knew a darkness had forever been lifted from his soul.

  *********

  Bioglobe chandleries hung elegantly from the ceiling high above, each overflowing with a unique luminescence that danced as if alive, illuminating the honored guests who pac
ked their private dining hall. Sasha felt the heat of their curious stares, eyes burning with anticipation at what everyone must expect to be a dinner of much excitement. She smiled regally, nodding her greeting to each guest in turn, knowing her little unplanned foray into Trent's mind, which had lasted over six hours, forcing their planned dinner party to be rescheduled for the subsequent evening, had spread throughout the starship hours before they'd even awoke.

  Vin, for some odd reason she would never be able to fully comprehend, had initiated an emergency announcement through the captains channel, informing the crew and passengers of the ABF Sasha that Trent and Sasha were alright, but currently involved in the Mendthil Phenomenon. Of course, in itself, this wasn't so bad. Except, everyone onboard the ABF Sasha; officers, crewman, servants, and guards, decided to research this strange phenomenon Vin spoke of, discovering it to be a theoretical mind synchronization that had long been thought impossible. She took a deep breath and prepared to begin, but paused as Trent squeezed her leg under the table with a wink.

  “Everyone...I thank you for coming and all your warm regards for my recovery and that of Grand Duchess Sasha,” Trent glanced to Sir Seb'Losh, who stood at attention behind their seats at the head of the grand, oval shaped, rose stone dining table. The Alutia Guard Captain nodded as his expression went distant. Alutia and Empress Guards stormed into the dining hall, blocking all the exits. Sasha stared at Trent in confusion, concerned whispers rising from the assembled guests, some of who began to stand, fear apparent in their eyes. Trent let slip a smirk as he leaned close to her ear.

  “Yukie has been neglecting her studies,” he whispered. She playfully elbowed him in the side, but couldn't help but grin herself.

  “Empress Yukie...would you inform the crowd of what the Mendthil Phenomenon is?” Yukie, in an elegant, tight fitting black gown with silver and gold tassels hanging from a high cut neck, matching her flowing, gold and silver hair, smiled excitedly, seeming to have not yet caught onto Trent's scheme.