“How are my dear sister and niece?” Sir Rehman asked with little love.
“Living in luxury with the harems provided by your son...I'd imagine. But I haven't seen or talked to either in years...after they sold me off to that bastard Simwa,” Vickie didn't notice the man move close and grab her cheeks, looking deep into her eyes. They stared at each other, neither moving, neither flinching, and the man finally laughed as he released her.
“Good! You do not have the eyes...”
“What eyes?” Vickie asked dubiously.
“The eyes of Hulk'Zif...as my grandfather called them. No emotions, my dear Great-Niece, and a lust for power many times that of normal nobles,” he sighed. “One day it will end our line...the emperor's eyes are always upon us...” he tried to stand, but Vickie stopped him.
“It is too late, Great-Uncle, he stepped over the line when he tried to assassinate the king...” Tiana couldn't clearly see the man's face, but she thought she caught the shimmer of tears.
“Ah...I hoped this day would come, but I feel somber all the same. I shall accept my fate as well...still being the scion of the family,” Vickie shot to her feet, releasing Tiana's hand and grabbing the old man's cheeks in a similar fashion as he'd done her, a moment before.
“You have paid enough. But if you demand additional punishment, I will recommend that Grand Duchess Sasha and Grand Duke Trent order you to help the petties, which...” Vickie paused, clearing her throat. “Are now free! The new rulers of the Alutia Duchy have stated there will! No longer will there be a separation of commons and petties within Alutia! As always should have been!” Vickie shouted, her words echoing violently off the stone. A few of the silent bodies began to stir.
“Is this true?” Sir Rehman looked from Vickie to Tiana, wonder in his ancient eyes.
“Yes...they made it official over a period ago...” Tiana responded, voice rough and very quiet, but many in the room still heard her.
“Then we should go. We must escape this place,” Sir Rehman started to turn, but was stopped by Vickie.
“No...you stay here and help as many of these people as you can. We will move forward, since that is our duty, as ladies-in-waiting to Sasha Alutia,” Vickie turned to Tiana as she spoke and smiled.
“If we fall, others will definitely come. You have my word, Great-Uncle,” the old man embraced her and they both helped Tiana to her feet. They quickly waved goodbye to the hopeful group of petties, lead by the banished Duke of Hulk'Zif, and moved into the tunnel, in the direction of their next challenge, with a new hope in their hearts.
*********
“We must go now! There is no excuse for not rushing to their aid!” Yukie exploded to her feet, shouting her demands like always. The assembled officers shifted uncomfortably in their seats, not certain if they should listen to the standing orders of Trent and Sasha, to stay a day's distant from Don'Alutia, or to follow the instructions of the irate Future Empress Yukie.
“Empress Yukie, I must remind you that they are currently undertaking a covert operation. If we intervene then it is possible...” Yukie's cheeks puffed out, turning a deep crimson as she trembled, Regalia thinking she would burst, as did the Empress Guard Captain, Sir Erio, whose voice trailed off.
“Vickie and Tiana have been kidnapped! And Trent and Sasha are going to lead a dangerous operation tomorrow morning to save them! We must assist...it is our duty!” Yukie continued screaming as she stomped back and forth before the assembled officers, her hands on her hips. Regalia sighed, knowing any debate was useless. Yukie would eventually get her way.
Regalia again glanced over her shoulder at her silent mother, who'd refused to speak to her after the argument where Regalia had slapped Yukie, slapped the future empress. It made her sad, being ignored by her mother, but she knew, eventually, she would find a way to forgive Regalia’s mistake. Or so she hoped.
“The empress is correct, Knight Captain. If we leave now we can most certainly arrive by tomorrow morning at almost the exact moment the operation will be commencing, and stealth will no longer be required,” Captain Daiyu explained, a barely perceptible smirk on her thin lips. Knight Captain Erio turned to the Captain of the ABF Sasha, then back to Yukie, expression rigid, unable to think of a suitable response.
“Good! Now that that's settled, we will leave immediately! Knight Captain Erio, I'll leave the rest to you. But if anything happens to my guardians...to Trent and Sasha...I will hold you personally responsible!” Yukie fell back into her chair as she finished shouting, ignoring Sir Erio, whose chin slumped with a sigh. Yukie turned to Regalia. “Do you have anything to add, Regalia?” Yukie asked kindly, lowering her tone.
The change within the normally overly excited Yukie's manner towards Regalia had been tiny, almost indiscernible to most. But to Regalia, it was quite obvious. They'd become close after the incident of a few days prior, when they slapped each other till their cheeks were puffy and bruised because Regalia had become angry that Yukie had struck her mother. At first, she didn't understand the change, but then she started to realize; Yukie had never been treated as an equal by anyone but her father, and that makes friendship, “real” friendship, all but impossible. So when Regalia had stood up for her mother, not backing down just because of Yukie's rank, she had seen her in a new light and they were suddenly best of friends.
“Thank you,” it was the only words that came to mind, but they were honest all the same. She couldn't bear letting the other ladies, her sisters, and Trent fight alone when they sat hiding in space.
“We will do all we can, Lady Regalia. Empress Yukie, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to contact Sir Seb'Losh immediately and discuss the plan going further,” Sir Erio stood and bowed, leaving the room with the rest of the Empress and Alutia Guard officers.
“I should excuse myself as well, Your Majesty. The crew is still a bit shaky after breaking speed regulations,” Captain Daiyu stood and saluted, exiting with the rest of ABF Sasha's officers on her heals.
“I feel like a bath. Regalia, would you care to join me?” Yukie instructed more then asked, placing a kind hand on Regalia's shoulder while showing an honest smile. Regalia's glance again fell behind her, to her mother, before quickly turning back to Yukie. But it was too late, the empress seeing everything.
“You shall come too, Belia. I have forgiven your daughter...it is about time you did the same!” Yukie grabbed Regalia's hand, then dragged her to Belia's side, and did the same to her. Her mother, obviously horrified at the idea of touching the empress, mouthed her shock without a sound.
As Yukie lead them out into the corridor, Regalia caught a fleeting glimpse of the projected, bluish-green planet still floating in the center of the conference room. Knowing that on that planet, Don'Alutia, were those who made her world, those she loved and cared for more than anything, more than she ever thought she possibly care for another, and who were about to knowingly face dangers she could never even begin to imagine.
“They will be ok, my dear,” Belia whispered, showing none of the anger or surprise of moments before. Her mother had finally forgiven her, Regalia realized. She looked to Yukie, bouncing before them, and couldn't help but smile.
*********
“Another 100 broke through!” Knight Commander Eyulclia shouted as she was again, almost thrown free of her station on the ABF Alutia's fleet command deck.
“Damn...where is the Emperor’s Purge Fleet! They should have engaged by now!” Knight Admiral Bhool responded rapidly through the com. Eyulclia frowned, sharing a similar thought as she watched the 100,000 newly arrived starships of the Emperor's Purge Fleet, the same fleet that had delivered Empress Yukie to Alutia'Earth, sit stationary at max weapons range, apparently not concerned that tens of thousands of ASU asteroid ships were escaping in all directions. All they would have to do is shift to a suitable containment formation and force the enemy to either fight them head-on or flee back into the platforms deadly fire.
It didn't make any sense!
&nb
sp; “Com! Contact Knight High-Admiral Asula and inform him that if he continues to refuse to engage I will report him for a direct violation of Article Two of the New Universal Empirical Human Alliance Founding Charter! He knows well what that means!” Eyulclia swallowed hard, knowing that the 119 remaining ABF starships would have little hope of actually carrying out that threat against the 100,000 EPF and EEF starships.
“Ma'am! A Knight High-Admiral Torici responded stating that he is currently in command....having found Knight High-Admiral Asula and the officers of the Emperor’s Escort Fleet guilty of treason! They've already executed him!” the announcement sent a shockwave throughout the bridge. Knight Admiral Bhool fell silent, her hovering command chair slowing to a near standstill high above the CID projecting the local battle space. The tension in the air grew as another asteroid ship broke through their desperate defense. Her sensor station blared a warning as new contacts appeared at the edge of sensor range, the sight sending a shiver down her spine.
“Reinforcements! It's the King's Fleet!” she shouted as 250,000 starships, 100,000 from the actual King's Fleet and another 150,000 from the Duchies loyal to the King of Galaxy 189, approached at close to 1 million kps.
“Com! Inform all ABF starships to disengage and make for the King's Fleet. Open a channel on all frequencies. I want every starship captain to hear this!” the Knight Admiral's voice cracked, the fatigue of fighting nonstop for almost 14 hours finally starting to show through.
“Attention all NHA starships! A mutiny has taken place within the command of the Emperor's Purge Fleet! Knight High-Admiral Asula, the Emperor's Left hand, has been found guilty of treason by Knight High-Admiral Torici, the man responsible for the attempted illegal purge of Alutia'Earth,” everyone held their breath. “So be advised...all EPF and EEF starships that are loyal to the emperor...to the NHA...remove yourself from the standby formation immediately and assist in the defense against the ASU invasion! Or mark my words...each and every one of you will be reported for violation of Article Two!” the ABF Alutia shook violently as another large asteroid ship slipped through their LPA fire, punching its way through the ESS to strike the hull beneath as the 40 km long super-capital ship angled towards the newly arrived King's Fleet.
“Knight Admiral Bhool, this is King Johan Vn'Oco. This is a grave accusation you have just made...do you have proof?” a collective sigh rippled across the bridge as com linked the incoming communication from the King's Fleet to all stations.
“Yes, Your Majesty...sending the message we received now.” Com didn't require an order of what message, sending the one they'd just received explaining the execution of High-Admiral Asula, the man who commanded Emperor Yuloo's personal escort fleet.
The tension and silence on the fleet command deck was only broken by the constant hum of damage alarms and the shouts from the bridge below, where the crew continued their desperate struggle to minimize losses while destroying as many of the ASU asteroid ships as possible.
“Emperor's Purge and Escort Fleets...you will obey Knight Admiral Bhool's order or be destroyed,” the king’s deep baritone echoed through the air and almost immediately, 10,000 EEF starships began to break formation, another 20,000 EPF starships following suit a few seconds later, as if unsure of what their fellows would do. But the remaining 70,000 EPF starships turned and began to accelerate away, providing the king their answer.
At the same moment, 150,000 King's Fleet starship angled in pursuit, the remaining 100,000 continuing on a deceleration course to join the ABF starships in the fray.
“Looks like we will live another day! All starships cancel retreat and reengage! Let’s show the King’s Fleet what it means to be from Alutia!” Knight Admiral Bhool bellowed, swooping overhead as Eyulclia cheered, realizing once again that it was the right choice to follow her to the Alutia Duchy and into galactic history.
*********
A dense, unyielding fog crept around them unnoticed as the tunnel widened, then vanished from their sides, until they no longer knew their bearings. They tried to turn back, but quickly became disoriented, the fog just too thick. So with no other options, they trudged aimlessly forward, across the fog covered landscape of smooth white stone, lost and without hope.
A blood curdling screech struck her ears as something whooshed just overhead. Tiana cringed in terror. Vickie dove to the floor, dragging Tiana down with her. An answering cry echoed in the distance, then another, even farther still. Vickie lay still, a hand holding Tiana flat to the cool stone, waiting until the sounds of the creatures faded. They slowly climbed back to their feet, Vickie locking her hand in Tiana's with a new strength, and again, pulled her forward.
Tiana tried to think, to do anything but blindly follow Vickie. But her thoughts lay buried, the fog like her mind. The ghostly image of the little girl appeared again, just outside her reach. Asking why, why did you let me die? Tiana wanted to scream, say it wasn’t her fault, but her words caught in her throat and lay forever unspoken.
Her mind was the cause of the apparitions, she'd realized, wrapping her in a layer of guilt just as thick as the dense fog that surrounded them. But there was no way out. No salvation from the torment of her failure; the torment of the child she'd let die.
A painful pressure struck her back and she was flying, locked in the talons of some airborne beast. She panicked, struggling to break free of the massive claws, screaming in agony as their sharp tips began digging into her soft flesh.
This is justice, her heart cried.
But why? her mind responded, not wanting to die. She wanted to see her mother again, Regalia, Yukie, Trent, and most of all, Sasha. She wanted to go back to the time when she played her ladies games and enjoyed the warmth of her lady’s company. Ash cried out, bringing her mind back to the dire situation she now faced.
The smell of decay and filth filled her nostrils as the massive beast continued to flap its giant, fleshy wings, blasts of searing wind striking her unprotected skin. Tiana couldn't clearly make out the hideous beast, it being shrouded in the foggy darkness, but she could see the pink claws gripping her strongly, trickles of blood growing from where their tips continued to dig into her shoulders.
She breathed in, ignoring the pain, and slapped her hands over her head, allowing the air coiled in the Dai Tempest bracelets to explode into one of the legs the held her. A horrible screech burst from the beast as Tiana began to fall, knowing that this was most likely the end, the last moment of her brief life. Past days began flashing before her eyes as tears started rolling free; tears for the happy life she'd planned on living being cut short, like she'd done to the child; the poor child.
She bounced hard off the cold stone, having only fallen for only a second. A fierce embrace engulfed her, Vickie's sobs filling the foggy air around her. Gradually, the darkness lifted and the mist began to exit her mind, realizing that yes, she was indeed, alive.
“What happened?” she asked, confused, Vickie's hazy face sitting only a few millimeters from her own.
“From above...luckily they seem to have...have trouble flying while carrying their...” Vickie stuttered, her words catching in her throat. Tiana thought she caught a hint of a smile. “My overweight companion,” Vickie grinned. With sudden clarity, Vickie's words stuck her and her mind came completely clear.
How dare she call her fat! She wasn't fat. If anything, Vickie was fat! The angry thoughts swirled within her, but the look in Vickie's eyes told her everything. The woman was trying to break the tension, the sorrow, break Tiana free of her own mind.
“Next to your obese frame I...I guess I...I could be called overweight,” Tiana retorted, taking Vickie, and herself, by surprise, a piece of her previous self breaking through the icy surface. Vickie squeezed her tightly. Not in anger, but in love. “Should we move?” Tiana asked as Vickie released her.
“Yes, but I lost the way as I chased you,” Vickie responded cautiously.
“I will trust your instinct,” Tiana smiled as she wobbled to he
r feet.
“Are you certain? You may not like what I think,” Vickie said hesitantly.
“What do you mean?” she questioned.
Vickie looked up, and pointed. “I think we need to follow...” her voice faded. Tiana understood to what she referred. But she couldn't grasp why; why would they want to follow the hideous beast? But then it struck her. The marquis most likely wanted the danger level to increase as they continued forward, so to escape this challenge it was likely they would have to pass through the nests of these horrible creatures.
“I trust you, Vickie,” she said honestly, trusting Vickie with her life. The tightening grip on her hand was the only response she could find in the oppressive fog.
They walked for what felt like hours, Tiana unable to tell if they were moving in circles or closer to their destination. Eerily beautiful songs began to rise through the mists, seeming to grow in the direction they walked, then fade and appear to come from another. Occasionally, a screech muffled the song as a creature passed just overhead. But they didn’t attack, Tiana thinking a warning may have been spread that this prey could bite.
Vickie's stomach growled from her side, breaking the tension that had been swirling around them as the songs began to grow louder, and come closer. Tiana flew forward, smashing hard against the unforgiving stone surface, Vickie's hand slipping free of hers with a grunt. A scream of triumph drowned out Vickie's desperate cry as she vanished in the fog ahead. It took only a moment for Tiana to realize what had befallen.
Vickie had been taken.
She scrambled quickly to her feet and started chasing after the whooshing sound of the rapidly flapping wings. Luckily, the giant beasts could only fly slowly, close to the ground when carrying a weight. But the smell of rancid decay that washed over her, seeming stronger than before, made pursuit difficult. She pushed through, somehow able to keep her feet and continue on.
The Noble Petty, Complete Edition (Alutia Rising Series, Book 2) Page 69
