56.240.17
Edric and Kare arrived at Port Bastion and were treated very well, because the starship they were traveling in was so new it received priority. Once through customs, they departed to the palace to look for Helen.
“Where should we look?”
“I’m not sure. You probably know her far better than me. Where would she go?”
They were standing outside the Imperial Palace. Kare said, “I just can’t see her walking in the front door. She would have arrived with no money, no clothes to match this new world.”
“Okay, then what?”
“She would have come here and realized it wouldn’t work. She would have been sad and decided to walk. Let’s go down this street beside the wall. Okay, she would have walked for a while, maybe a few hours, until she got hungry. So, let’s walk until we get hungry.”
They walked for nearly three hours, when they came upon a small park built right up to the walls, with some trees and a garden. They went inside and sat on the bench located there. Kare pulled out a couple of protein bars and they snacked, Edric pulled out a bottle of water for them.
“You think she came here?”
“You know, I don’t know why I feel this, but yes, I do. This is just the type of place to relax, away from the hubbub of the streets, a quiet park and a beautiful garden. This is where she would go.”
Suddenly, a voice came from behind them. “Really? Am I that easy to find?”
“Helen!” “Kare, Edric!”
They hugged all round for a few moments. Then Kare said, “Any luck getting in to see the Emperor?”
“No, although I now live and work inside the palace.” She told them all about her experience and said they had to meet her friend, Donna.
“Have you seen the Emperor at all?”
She laughed. “First of all, the Empire does not have an Emperor, but an Empress. And no, it is very hard to get anywhere inside the palace. Plus, I understand to see her during her court sessions you have to petition weeks or months in advance. There simply is no way we can get to her.”
“Really? An Empress? Interesting. Well, have you heard from Solon?”
“No, I was hoping you had word.”
“No, nothing. We can’t seem to connect to him. I’m not sure if our new system even works.”
“Well, until we figure out what to do you have to come meet my new friend Donna. She is wonderful. I invited her for dinner tonight, so you can come and meet her. There is room in my apartment for you to stay.”
“Sure, lead on.”
She led them through the corridors and alleyways of the palace until they came to her apartment. It was not glorious, but it was very nice, with three bedrooms.
“What are you planning on cooking?”
“Oh, they have this contraption that can cook your food for you, so you just select something, and it spits out what you want.”
Kare looked at her. “No. If we are to have a meal, we will cook it ourselves. Let me see your kitchen.”
After some review, she had a list of things they needed, so they left on a shopping expedition. They returned at eighteen and Kare began cooking.
At nineteen, the door rang, and Helen answered. “Hi Donna. I hope you don’t mind, but two of my friends from my home planet are here and we are cooking a home-made meal.”
Donna knew these two had joined Helen. She also knew they arrived in a very expensive starship. She was curious about who they were and had an emergency crash crew standing by outside each wall, just in case. “Not at all, friends of a friend. Good evening to you, my name is Donna, Helen’s friend.”
Edric responded, “Hi, Donna. This is Kare, my wife and I’m Edric. We only recently arrived. I hope you don’t mind that we seem to be crashing your dinner with Helen.”
“Not to worry. If you are friends with Helen, that says a lot.”
“Thanks. Have you had any home cooked meals lately?”
“No, most of what we have is pre-processed.”
“Well, I hope you like seafood, because Kare is a very good cook. However, we don’t have a good wine. Can you recommend something?”
“As a matter of fact, I brought two bottles of a very good chardonnay with me. They should go well with fish.”
“Perfect. Then let’s get the table set and we can begin.”
Over dinner, they talked about Helen and her job, and then started talking about their lives.
“Donna, I hope what we are talking about isn’t depressing. But you see, Kare is the sister to King Solon, of Outer Sea. She is the Princess of Immoria. I am Prince of Azulon, and Helen is Princess of Shirfalla.”
“Yes, and we all are sad because we may lose our world.”
“How so?” Donna asked.
“It seems our star system contains about forty planets with water, and water is very necessary to the central planets of the galaxy. So, the Empress has ordered that the Empire take control of these planets and take the water.”
“Really? And that is bad?”
“Yes! It is bad if our people have to move off our islands, so the water can be taken. It is bad if we lose all that we were building, just to be pushed aside and ground into the dirt of the Empire’s hunger.”
“What have you done to prevent this?”
“Kare and I traveled to many star systems and talked to a lot of traders. There is no one who will consider standing up to the Empire. They all say the power of the Empire is too much and it is suicide to fight.”
“Yes, and I have tried to get in to see the Empress, but they say you must petition months in advance, and that won’t work.”
“We fear the decision to take the water will happen soon.”
“And knowing my brother, he will choose to fight, which means he will die.”
Edric and Helen both leaned over and held her as she cried. Donna watched this and felt a longing and a care, that was as unexpected as feeling something for Helen.
“I shouldn’t do this, but I am going to tell you a secret. Listen carefully. If you want to see the Empress, you must do exactly as I say. The key to seeing the Empress, without petitioning months in advance, is to enter the third gate from the east at seven A.M. precisely. You then take the first left door. This will take you to a set of stairs that will bring you to the main throne room. If you get there by eight, you will be able to see the Empress, but you cannot be late.”
“How do you know this?”
“Trust me, I have lived here for a very long time and know the ways of the palace. This is the first I heard of your desire to see the Empress, Helen. If I would have known, I would have told you sooner.”
Helen hugged her. “Thank you so much, Donna. I don’t know how I can ever repay you.”
“You can repay me by being on time and seeing if the Empress can solve your problem.”
After more conversation, Donna said she needed to leave. After she left, they talked for a while, but then agreed to get up early and follow the instructions to see the Empress.
56.240.20
“Thank you, Landon, for the shuttle and the time.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. Good Night.”
As they were walking, he said to Tabitha, “The Archduke made it clear, there is no solution at this time other than them taking the water. It really bothers me, because he is such a likeable person, but I believe this experience seals our fate.”
“What are your orders, Sire?”
“We will have to execute our original plan and have everything we have prepared to assault their flagship simultaneously.”
“Sire, you know we will be destroyed if we take this action.”
“Yes, Tabitha, but at least we go down fighting. Please provide directives to the fleet to execute at ten in the morning tomorrow.”
“Yes, Sire.”
Solon then went into his cabin and tried, yet again, to contact his sister, to no avail.
Tabitha felt torn. She knew she had to support the King, but she felt such hope and a future with Landon. She decided she would send word to the fleet to prepare to execute the plan tomorrow, then she would use her discreet frequency to contact Landon.
Landon was having a conversation with his mother when he received the call on his personal communication unit.
“Hello?”
“Landon, this is Tabitha. I need to speak with your Fleet Admiral.”
“Why, what’s up?”
“Dear, I don’t have time, Please.”
“Very well, hang on.”
He walked over to where Jeffrey was sitting and handed him the communication unit. “It’s Tabitha and she needs to speak with you.”
“Hello, Tabitha. How can I help you?”
Tabitha was beside herself as she felt she was betraying her King, but she also believed she was doing what was necessary to save the kingdom. She explained to Jeffrey what was happening and her fears.
“Tabitha, you did the right thing. We no more want to destroy your fleet than you want us to. I can promise you this, if it comes to it, we will make sure whatever we do does not simply destroy your people but uplifts them. You have my word.”
Tabitha thanked him and hung up. She prayed she had done the right thing.
56.240.23
“Jeffrey, what is going on out there?”
“Hi Stephanie. Well, we seem to be at an impasse regarding getting this young King to drop his resistance and give us access to the water of these worlds.”
“Have you met this King?”
“Yes, I have. We had a wonderful lunch, as a matter of fact, my favorite meal, a crab stuffed filet mignon cooked to perfection.”
She laughed, saying, “Really, Jeffrey? You are concerned about your meal at a time like this?”
“Well, dear, I am not sure what that means.”
“It means I have met three people. A Princess Helen, Princess Kare, and Prince Edric. They are subjects to King Solon. They are here and will be in my court tomorrow morning.”
“Are you taking a special interest in this case?”
“Yes, I am. Tell me, what is this Solon like? These three seem to love him very much.”
“He is a very likeable young man. He looks about the age we look right now, he is eloquent, compassionate, and is driven to protect his people. I suppose he is similar to but different from you.”
“Similar but different? How so?”
“Well, he is a he and you are not. He isn’t nearly as cute as you are.” He started laughing.
“Jeffrey,” she said while also laughing, “Can we not be serious for even a moment?”
“Yes, we can. I like him, Steph. He is a good man in a difficult situation. Plus, he plans to attack us tomorrow at point ten. I am afraid his desire to protect and defend his people will cause his death, and I wish it was not so.”
“Do you have a solution?”
“I have a recommendation, but as with all recommendations, this is only an idea. You should probably talk with Heather to see what she thinks, but at the end of the day, you are the Empress and must decide.”
“Very well, let’s hear it.”
When they finished talking, she said, “You are right, I need to talk with Heather. However, I like the general direction of your idea. Let me see what I can do. Please stand by for an urgent contact from Heather tomorrow.”
“Will do.”
56.241.07
At seven in the morning, Helen, Kare and Edric entered the third gate and took the first stairs.
“You are sure this is the one?”
“Well, it is the third gate, so yes, I am sure. Now, we are to take the first left door, right?”
“That’s what she said.”
“I wonder what the Imperial Throne Room looks like.”
“I don’t know, but I suspect it will be huge.”
“Okay, here are the stairs. No turning back now.”
“We have to see her if we want to save our people.”
“Yes, there is no turning back, for many reasons. The door behind us is locked as well.”
“Oh. Well, upwards we go.”
Once at the top there was a door. Edric opened it and was immediately surrounded by guards. He was about to resist, when the guard captain said, “You are in no danger. Please, come with us, you are safe and expected.”
They were then escorted to the waiting line of people there to see the Empress, but to their surprise they were unexpectedly taken to the front of the line.
56.241.08
Solon stood on the bridge of his flagship and looked across the table at Tabitha.
“Two hours until we attack. Any changes to the plan you think we should consider?”
“No, Sire. It is all we can do.”
“I wonder whatever happened with Kare, Edric and Helen? I thought they would be the ones in the most danger, yet here we are, about to engage an Imperial fleet.”
He felt so empty. He sighed, and they went over the plan once again.
56.241.09
They were led to the base of the stairs, from where they could clearly see the Empress sitting on her throne. However, she had her head turned away, so they couldn’t make out her face.
Then the Herald said: “State your name and business for the Empress.”
Helen spoke up. “I am Princess Helen of Shirfalla. I demand to see the Empress on urgent business that could avoid a war.”
At this time, the Empress stood, then turned and looked at her, and walked down to the bottom step.
“Your Majesty.” Helen immediately dropped to her knees and lowered her eyes.
“Please rise and come forward.”
She stood up and walked to the base of the stairs.
Stephanie says quietly, “Hello, Helen. I apologize for the charade, but I do not let people I meet randomly know who I really am.”
“I understand, Your Majesty.”
“Now, what is it you expect me to do?”
“Your Majesty, I came to try and stop a war that would hurt my friends. I hope you can help and do that.”
“Perhaps.” Stephanie then turned to Heather, who was standing close by, and said, “What is the current status?”
“Your Majesty, there are five hundred tanker ships enroute to the planets to gather water and begin distribution around the Empire. Additionally, right now King Solon of Outer Sea is preparing to fire upon the Imperial Navy.”
Helen gasped and Kare fell to her knees. “I beg you, Your Majesty, please do not kill my brother King Solon, and our people.”
Stephanie said, “Please rise, Kare. I have no wish to harm anyone. My Empire is built on goodwill, fair trade, and enforcement of a level playing field, so everyone has a fair opportunity. Answer me this, do you believe your King and brother would negotiate with me, in good faith, to avoid this war?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Very well.” Stephanie turned and nodded at Heather, who informed Jeffrey to halt operations and withdraw immediately.
Solon was standing on the bridge of his ship and counting down the minutes when suddenly, without any warning, all the Imperial Navy ships disappeared!
“What happened?”
“Sire, all of the Imperial fleet vanished!”
“I understand that, but why?”
Tabitha responded, “I have no idea.”
“Okay, well cancel the plan and stand down all ships. Absent an intruder we don’t seem to need a plan.”
“Sire, a single ship has reappeared and is maneuvering towards us.”
“Open hailing frequencies, on screen. Who are you approaching our planet?”
; Landon appeared on screen. “Your Majesty, there has been a turn of events. I was sent to request you accompany me to Meladeran to meet with Empress Stephanie in person to make your case. Also, no action will be taken until you either succeed, or you are returned here, safely.”
“Directly to the Empress?”
“Yes.”
“Very well, we will accompany you. Tabitha will join me.”
They transferred to his ship and departed, only to arrive at a location where the Imperial ships who just left their space had traveled. Landon said, “Don’t worry. We will meet the Archduke and travel with him.”
Once they transferred to the GSS Defiant, they sped towards Meladeran.
“Your Majesty, please join me for dinner.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
Jeffrey invited Landon to join them, while Solon invited Tabitha. They met in the Admiral’s private quarters. Once they were seated, Jeffrey began.
“So, tell me, Solon, what do you want to know?”
Solon bowed his head slightly, then looked up at him, and said, “What is the Empress like?”
Jeffrey chuckled, saying, “Well, she is compassionate, intelligent, and decisive, which is why you are alive, and we are going to see her.”
Solon smiled, “I will thank her for that, but I don’t mean the Empress as Empress, but the person behind the title.”
“Ah, that is a good question. I think it is safe to say the Empress does have a personality that matches but is different from, her public persona. However, it is also safe to say it is up to each person, who, when given the opportunity, to take the time to discover her personality for themselves.”
“Very well. But if you could give me one piece of advice, what would it be?”
“Be open to the unlimited possibility that is in front of you. Don’t be stubborn. Don’t be afraid. Relax, and allow yourself to hope. Remember, your people are the Empire’s people as well.”
Landon then said, “I have known the Empress my entire life. I agree completely with grandfather. You have nothing to fear, but you also must accept the changes coming your way.”
Andromeda Page 11
