“That was fun,” he said. He gazed at the city. “I want more.” He walked to edge of the plateau and drew the Mjolnir’s pulse cannon. He pointed it at Vaelis with a very sick smile when his eyes starting glowing red.
“Brian, please stop this!” Seles cried.
He looked up when Seles fired a blast into the pulse cannon. It shattered before he could fire. He saw a Novaguard spiraling down towards him.
“Why!?” he shouted angrily. “If I destroy the government I can set your people free!?”
Seles flew the Nova in a circle. “How is killing twenty million innocent people going to save them? If you go on like this you‘ll end up dead! Please Brian, stop this. Your enemy’s dead, there‘s no reason to keep fighting!”
He paused. What am I doing? He looked at the Nova circling him. If she’s not on my side, she’s my enemy, right? He took his hands off the controls. No, this isn’t right. I can’t kill Seles. Not her. Brian’s eyes stopped glowing. “I’m sorry Seles,” he said as he stood up and moved towards the exit. It feels like my body is on fire. Brian thought as he opened the hatch. He fell outside and rolled onto his back. Thanks for saving me Seles.
* * *
Mira sat beside Brian’s bed, checking him again. She turned the Seles and Celestia, “He should be alright now.”
“I’m glad I stopped him when I did,” Seles said. As she gazed down at him, he reached out with his hand and opened his eyes.
“Thank you,” he said as he sat up.
“You shouldn’t move around too much,” Mira said. “Your wounds haven’t recovered.”
He grimaced, smiling weakly. “I’ll be alright.” He looked at the silent Celestia. “Celestia, please call for a meeting with all the ambassadors tomorrow. I need to make an official statement.”
“I’ll arrange for it right away,” Celestia said. She left the room flanked by a number of guards.
“You two need to leave as well,” he said.
“Are you sure?” Seles asked.
“I can take care of myself,” he said. “The two of you need to go back to the Avoni and distribute the vaccine. I’m sure Celi can duplicate the formula with ease.”
“Alright,” Mira said, checking to make sure she had a few vials on her.
“Take care,” Seles said before kissing him. “Once you’re better I’m going to visit your quarters.”
Chapter 46 – An End in Sight
Dressed in black clothes and matching cape, Brian walked towards the High Court. There was a flurry of activity about the palace. Gathering himself he sighed and walked inside. He went to the podium and called up his notes from earlier on the tablet he carried in with him. A moment passed before the lights came on and showed the collected ambassadors of the twenty six Confederation worlds surrounding him. Each one glared at him with a mix of fear, hate and awe. Celestia stood at the top level of the room, dressed in a white and silver dress. She stood up and quieted the crowd.
“Brian Peterson, by your request I’ve gathered the representatives of the Galactic Confederation residing on Kalaidia. In proxy of the Confederation’s High Council, we will act in their place,” she said while looking to the others and then back to Brian.
“Thank you Celestia,” he said respectfully. He scanned the court and looked each of the ambassadors in the eye. “As you heard from my announcement a few days ago I come from Earth. Given the situation I request sanctuary according to Galactic Law 407:223. As a member of a species incapable of joining the Confederation, I request to be assigned immediate citizenship to Dega Jul or any member world that will accept me.”
The ambassadors spoke amongst themselves for a minute before Celestia quieted them. The first to speak was the Odairan ambassador, a short and hairy rat man.
“May I ask why you wish to be a citizen of an unclear political state like Dega Jul?” he asked. A few of the other ambassadors whispered likewise.
Brian turned to him. “My preference stems from the fact that Dega Jul is a melting pot of peoples and culture. As I stated before, I’ll accept citizenship with any member race that will take me in.”
“Are you sure?” Celestia asked.
“I am.”
“Then as the proxy of the High Council, I hereby assign the Terran Brian Peterson legal citizenship of the Degan System,” Celestia paused, “But, only under the condition he accepts citizenship as per the laws of Kalaidia. Brian Peterson will take the inheritance he obtained from Gaelic Kein and be considered the Kein family‘s Rakna Jaersa.”
“I object!” the Shandi ambassador bellowed has he slammed his fist into the stone desk in front of him. “Is this a ploy for you to gain more power?”
Celestia shot him a dirty look. Before she spoke, Brian walked over to the Shandi ambassador.
“I accept her decision,” he said, looking the snakeman in the eye. “Because I’m human, I have had no prior wars or long lived hatred of your people good sir. I may look Kalaidian, but I’m not Kalaidian. My blood is that of Earth and I hold no bias amongst any of your peoples.” Brian walked back to the podium and scanned his notes. “The real reason I came here is because of this,” he said while holding up a vial containing a yellow liquid. “A hundred and fifty years ago a terrible plague ravaged the people of Kalaidia. It was thought to be from within, but the late Gaelic Kein found the truth. In his last days he discovered true nature of the disease and who created it.”
On each of the ambassador’s monitors the image of the nanomachines came up. Knowing what it was they were looking at they began murmuring amongst themselves.
“As each of you can see the nanomachines were reprogrammed via an outside source. This level of precision is possible amongst only the Original Five member races,” Brian explained while looking to each of those ambassadors, clad in their exoskeletons. “But fortunately for them, the evidence points to a species that exists outside the laws of the Confederation.”
“Are you speaking of the Greys?” the Malcovin ambassador.
Brian nodded. “Yes. The evidence is the Grey vessel that attacked the royal palace. At Queen Celestia’s orders, the wreckage is being collected by a mixed group of member races. A hundred and fifty six years ago the Greys came to Kalaidia. They gave power to those who bowed to them and in return, the leaders of those noble families unleashed the plague. All it took was a single Grey’s telepathic command to start the disease.” He called up a holographic display of the Confederation. “As you can see here,” Brian pointed to the Kalaidian star systems, “Kalaidia is a prime staging ground for the Greys to invade.”
* * *
“This thing isn’t like a Nova at all,” Seles said as she struggled flying the Mjolnir into space. Each time it looked like she was going to mess up, she figured it out and flew on. Mira hung on for dear life.
“Daes needs to put some straps or something in here,” Mira said while clinging to a metal pole.
Seles was amazed at the giant’s maneuverability and speed. She spun the craft and flew into open space.
“There she is,” Seles said as the Avoni appeared on the monitor.
“I like being on a planet, but I’m really happy to be home,” Mira said.
“I know how you feel. We’ve been gone for a little over three weeks, but it feels like forever,” Seles said. “Get the vaccine ready.”
Mira held up a little vial filled with liquid. “It’s ready. I’m sure Celi can duplicate this with ease.”
* * *
Brian scanned the ambassadors again and then looked to Celestia.
“I’ve said my piece,” he said. “The rest is in your hands.”
As the ambassadors spoke amongst themselves, Jita of Mylor floated down to Brian. He stepped back, surprised the Mylor ambassador moved so close to him.
Jita turned to the others before speaking in his robotic voice, “Please leave me alone with the Terran.”
The others looked surprised, but quickly exited the chamber. Celestia nodded and left as well to leave
Brian alone with the Mylor. Jita turned to him and held up a hand. Brian didn’t know what was going on until Jita fired a telekinetic pulse at him. He dodged and almost doubled over in the process.
He clenched his fist. “What’s the meaning of this?”
Jita lowered his hand. “Tell me, why do you serve an inferior breed of being? If you wished to the Kalaidian people would bow themselves to you as a god.”
He lowered his fist. “Why would I want to rule over others like that? What you speak of is tyranny. I don’t believe in such a system.”
“But shouldn’t the strong rule the weak?” Jita asked.
He shook his head. “No. The strong exist to protect and nurture the weak. By doing so the weak are empowered and eventually become strong. But what we’re overlooking is the fact that I’m not a superior breed of being.”
“Good,” Jita responded. “Such idealism is rare in the Confederation. My people, the Mylor, have watched over and protected the younger races for a long time now. From what I can tell you’re a trust worthy young man, much like the Teacher who came before you.”
“The Teacher?” he asked.
“He was the first Terran to come to space, long ago. While others feared and envied his abilities my people embraced him. He spoke much like you do now. The others doubt you, I will not.”
“Why?”
“We also believe that the strong must protect the weak,” Jita extended his metal clad hand forward. “Let us build that belief for the others young Terran.”
Brian extended his hand. “Sure,” he said as they shook.
Chapter 47 – Gaelic’s Last Speech
Brian awoke the next morning covered in sweat as his body ached with pain he couldn’t put into words. Sitting up, he put his head into his hands. Sunshine filled the room as Myden stood in the corner.
“Now is not the time for weakness,” he said telepathically.
Brian shook off the pain and stood up. “I know,” he said as he looked at the twin rakna blades of Gaelic Kein. He unsheathed and held the blades before Myden before clanging them three times. The image of a large scroll appeared in the air.
“Is this his final speech?” Myden asked.
Brian smiled. “Yes.”
“You could be King if you wish for it. The people of Kalaidia would fall to your feet and worship you as a God. Why do you believe this is the right way? Is it because of your homeland, or something else?” Myden asked.
Brian sheathed the swords. “I came here to set one girl free. It’s only fair I do the same for the rest.”
“Is that all?”
Brian put on his armor and set his sword on the belt. Taking Gaelic’s blades and placing them on his back he turned to Myden. “According to the laws enforced by the nobility, the commoners are considered property to be owned and traded like any other commodity. Intelligent beings can’t be owned. We’re born with free will and it’s only right we be allowed to pursue that destiny. I will set them free Myden, even if I have to kill the goddess herself.”
* * *
Brian stood before the nobles once again, this time with many different faces representing the Kentus, Raekar, Abrus, and Bosar families. The nobles all stood and murmured as they waited for him to make the first move. Celestia decided to quiet them and turned to Brian afterwards.
“Seeing as you saved the royal house and ended our civil war, the nobles have decided not to charge you with high treason Rakna Maigar Brian Kein. What you’ve been called here for today is to discuss future plans for the Kalaidian Queendom,” Celestia said.
“First, please don’t address me as Kein. I may have inherited his burden, but I’ll not take his name. My proper name is Peterson, something I hold dear to,” Brian responded.
“Very well,” Celestia said. The other nobles sounded annoyance in their tone. “Our first demand is that you present the crown Princess Seles and leave her in my custody.”
He laughed. “Seles’s life is not mine to give. I can’t give her back to you because I don’t own her.”
“You would refuse a direct order from your Queen?” Maya Obril asked. “That’s blasphemy!”
“The Queen granted you citizenship of our world Brian,” Ryn Milriel added. “You can’t hold onto the laws of your primitive world!”
Many other nobles shouted similar things as anger well up within Brian with each insult. After a few minutes Celestia quieted them again.
“Why do you defy me?” she asked.
“I do so because I don’t recognize this assembly as the legitimate authority of Kalaidia,” he answered. The nobles began on their tirades again as he stood firm. “I yield to no tyrant, monarch, noble, or emperor. I live free nobles of Kalaidia, free of your system!”
The nobles rallied behind their queen.
“If you aren’t willing to take my orders, what are you going to do?” Celestia asked.
Brian drew the pair of swords on his back. The nobles went for their weapons.
“I’m not here to kill any of you, at least, not today,” he said as he clanged the blades three times. A holographic image of a scroll appeared in midair before them.
“What’s that?” Kae Zaegan asked.
Celestia gasped. “The lost speech of Gaelic?” she asked.
“Yes,” he answered. “A hundred and fifty six years ago Gaelic was to be called before this court. These are the words that should’ve been heard long ago, but the plague destroyed that and shattered any hope for Kalaidia’s future.”
* * *
Brian’s image appeared on every monitor in Kalaidian space once more, this time standing before the nobles. All stopped to hear his words.
“As Gaelic Kein can’t deliver this speech, I’ll do so in his place,” Brian said before looking to the holographic scroll. “According to the laws of our fair goddess, Kali, each Kalaidian is born to fulfill the role of the previous generation. Thus, I’m the inheritor of my father’s name and legacy. But in all the time I’ve studied the laws of Kali, I’ve never seen proof that Kali herself actually came to us and commanded such. For a thousand years the peoples of the Southlands have been wrongly treated and forced to worship a goddess they don’t believe in. What I speak of is the blasphemy, the teachings of the great Raulno. It’s because above all else a follower of Raulno is devoted to the free spirit. Greatness isn’t maintained through bloodline or title. Greatness comes from the spontaneous heart of the commoner working the fields dreaming of the future. It’s these dreams that are crushed by the oppressive laws we’ve put into place. Since that day the last of the noble families of the south conceded to the worship of Kali, the free spirit has been shut out. This was the time when the nobles believed they knew what was best for the commoners and thus, enacted the Codes of Inheritance. Nobles maintained their status, but those without title, those without privilege, were stripped of their freedom.
For a thousand years the people of Kali have lived under the conditions of serfdom. Each of us is told that our life’s goal is to fulfill the role of the previous generation, but is this truly so? Are we blinded to the fact that each of us is born with a free mind, one without restrictions or orders? The caste system has locked each of us into place societal wise, but it can’t lock up our dreams, ambitions, and desire for freedom. I see those who work the fields and factories and they’re still here. The nobility treats them as property and yet, that’s exactly what they aren’t. Nobles believe that they are superior, when this is false. Those down below are just as capable as any of us here in the palaces, but we’ve lost sight of this. The greatest tragedy of this system is that the ambitious are destroyed in the name of the complacent. The dreams of the many are swallowed up by the power of a few, all in the name of the goddess.
But by far, the greatest tyranny is that of serfdom. Call it what you want my fellow nobles, but it’s nothing more than slavery! It doesn’t matter how good of conditions they live, a prison is still a prison and I will see this matter ended. With the unanimous e
ndorsement of the all the Rakna Maigars of the worlds of Kalaidia, we demand the era of forced labor be ended. We also call for the immediate dismissal of the monopolies allowed amongst our merchants. And finally, we call for immediate concessions by the nobility. Should any of these conditions not be met, I, Gaelic Kein and the Rakna Maigars of Kali will free the serfs by force.”
Looking at the stunned nobles, Brian smiled. “As Gaelic’s inheritor, I’ll lead the fight in his stead. In place of the now dead Maigars, I call upon each of you in the lands of Kali. You’re free, now be ready to fight for it. No longer will I see you enslaved.”
* * *
Seles and Valis watched the broadcast together. Seles wiped away her tears and turned to Valis. “I need to go to him.”
Valis smiled and hugged Seles. “Then go, we can finish this later.”
Seles nodded and ran out the door. She ran back to the Mjolnir in the cargo bay. Daes was about to begin repairs when Seles ran in and headed up to the cockpit.
“What are you doing?” Daes asked.
“I have to borrow this for a little while Daes,” she said as she stepped inside the mobile suit. She noticed Mira was waiting at the controls. “What are you doing here?” she asked.
Mira grinned and left the pilot’s seat. “I had a feeling you’d do something like this, so I’m going with just in case something happens.” She motioned for Seles to pilot. “I trust your flying skills to my own any day.”
“Thanks Mira,” she said, activating the Mjolnir.
* * *
The nobles angrily protested Brian’s demands. Celestia quieted them while staring him down.
“Why?” she asked.
He put the blades away. “Haven’t you listened to those on the streets? The commoners who walk the city streets, work the factories and farms? When I first set foot on your world I sensed it as I looked into their eyes. What I saw when they looked at me wasn’t fear or oppression, but hope. The present system’s not only an illegitimate form of government, it’s unjust. Injustice is what breeds revolution, something my people know all too well. Before I came I read the reports of commoners readying for battle. Their day was not today, but within the next ten years, your government would fall.”
Heaven Saga 1: The Lost Hero Page 24
