Golden's Quest (The Two Moons of Rehnor, Book 6)

by J. Naomi Ay

  "Father," I interrupted before he made us all start taking notes.

  "Did you know the Empire uses fractional voting? Everyone who owns a parcel of land gets one vote. If you own two parcels you get two votes. If you don't own any land, you only get half a vote. The reason they do this is because…"

  "Yes, dear," Mother sighed. "Order your dinner. The waiter is waiting."

  "My usual protein milk shake," Father replied tossing the menu to the side. "Now where was I?"

  "I did like the dress the Empress was wearing," Marie interrupted ordering her own toast point with tea. "Did you like it, Mother? Do you think I can get a similar one made for me?"

  "There were about a billion and a half seed pearls in her dress," I replied, "and all that lace was made from spun gold thread. We don't have enough money in the entire treasury to pay for her outfit. I'll take the turkey pot pie with a side of mashed potatoes."

  "Elana!" Mother scolded. "Watch your waist line!"

  "I would but I haven't seen it in years." I looked down at my tummy just for the effect.

  Lord Garing laughed and then winking at me, ordered the turkey pot pie and mashed potatoes too. "I apologize, Ma'am," he turned his attention back to Mother, "but His Imperial Majesty's schedule is extremely tight. It is most difficult for anyone to speak with him alone. It was fortunate that Her Imperial Highness was able to spend a few moments with you and that my boss, Lord Berkan could accommodate you as well."

  "I should feel privileged for having spoken to Lord Berkan?" Mother sniffed. "I, the ruler of Cyganus?"

  "As impressive as Cyganus is to us, my dear," Father said, "it is a merely a blot on the map to those ruling Rehnor."

  "I can assure you, sir, we will treat Cyganus with utmost respect." Garing smiled diplomatically. "Your concerns about the illegal Red Alien invasion from Corganus have been duly noted and I am pleased to tell you that the Imperial StarShip Queen of Rozari has already been ordered to reposition her course so as to begin patrolling your sector."

  "What exactly will your ship do here?" Father asked. "Will it destroy the alien's ships before they land on our planet?"

  "We shall evaluate the situation and adjust our response accordingly. Our goal is to strongly encourage them to turn around and depart long before they ever get into your thermosphere."

  "But will you destroy them?" Mother demanded as the attendant returned and presented her with the toast point and tea. Mother picked up the toast point and nibbled a tiny corner. I unfolded my napkin and tucked it into my neck as a second attendant laid a steaming hot turkey pot pie in front of me. Marie glanced over at my pie and sniffed.

  "Do you want a bite?" I offered her my fork loaded with a healthy portion of crust doused in gravy. In the center of it was a single green pea.

  "I'll just try the pea," she said and with her long pink fingernails, she picked it off and tossed into her mouth.

  "No Ma'am," Garing continued as his own pie was set down next to him. "Our intention is not to kill the Corganians but rather to encourage a behavior modification, if you will."

  "What does that mean?" Mother asked while sipping her tea. Marie looked at her own cup and then again glanced at my pie. I offered her a piece of gravy soaked carrot. She opened her mouth and I stuck my fork in. Mother frowned and snapped her fingers, ordering the attendant to get Marie her own dish and fork.

  "Is that not the same method that the Alliance has used to no avail?" Father took a long gulp of his thick green protein shake. It left a green mustache above his lip which caused my mother to frown even more. She tossed a napkin at him and ordered him to wipe.

  "No wonder the Rehnorians consider us a blot," she muttered, "with you all acting like peasants."

  Garing lowered his eyes and cleared his throat. "The Alliance through their Spaceforce would indeed encourage rogue ships to alter course by threatening them with a boarding and vessel inspection," he explained. "The penalty for not complying was a fine which for the most part, never had to be paid. Our method is different." Garing stabbed his pie and then blew on his fork. "We will neither fine nor inspect them. We use other means to encourage them to return to their home."

  "But you're not going to kill them?" I reiterated while pushing my plate over to Marie. I had eaten more than half and left the rest for her.

  "No, Ma'am." Garing shook his head. He had a nice smile and seemed like a half way decent guy. "We will not kill them. As I said, we will inspire them to turn around in such a way that they will choose not to attempt to venture to your planet again."

  "How is that possible?" Mother nibbled at her toast point though her eyes were focused on the small bit of turkey pot pie remaining.

  "Would you like the rest, Mother?" Marie asked and now pushed the plate in front of her.

  "Absolutely not!" Mother snapped and picked up her tea. Her eyes drifted back to the pie and after a moment when the dessert menus were presented and she thought no one was looking, she reached over and broke off a tiny bit of crust, quickly stuffing it in her mouth.

  "We have a method, Ma'am," Garing said while finishing his own pie and then leaning back in his chair. "I'll just ask you to trust us in this. We shall solve your problems with Corganians. You need not have any fear."

  "But what about the Corganians problems on their own planet?" I protested. "Can't you help them out as well? If the Empire helps them, maybe they won't need to leave their planet in the first place?"

  "Ah, that would most likely be true, Your Highness," Garing replied. "However, the Empire doesn't step in unless we are first invited. You have asked for assistance so our priority and efforts shall be primarily with you. In the meantime, I have almost forgotten." He reached back into his robe and pulled out an envelope from an inside pocket. It was made of white linen stationary and printed and embossed in gold lettering was the name Empress Katelina de Kudisha scrawled across the top.

  "What is it?" Marie screeched and dropped her fork. "Please may I, please?" She held out her hands.

  "It's mine," Mother snapped and reached for it instead. She slit open the top with the butter knife from her unbuttered toast point and pulled out another letter also printed in gold. "We are cordially invited to the Emperor's birthday party!" she declared. Marie let out another screech and fell over in a faint.

  "Well that's jolly nice," Father declared wiping all the green protein off of his mouth.

  "Do I have to go?" I groaned.

  "I don't understand," Mother puzzled and looked up a Garing. "It says we are to join them to watch the Mishnese Raven's lose."

  Garing smiled broadly. "That's Madame's idea of a little joke. It's a football match, Ma'am. The Mishnese Ravens will be hosting the Turko Tigers at the SdK stadium on August the first. There's no guarantee the Raven's are going to lose. They might actually win although that would be an oddity. Madame has reserved all the boxes in the top tier and is throwing quite a bash in honor of the Emperor turning fifty-seven."

  "A football game?" Marie snapped coming up from her faint. "We're invited to a football game? You have got to be kidding me."

  "At least we don't have to get dressed up for that," I commented while checking out the dessert menu. Since I had a pie for dinner, dessert should be a cake or a pudding. Crème Brulee didn't sound too bad but then again, the carrot cake sounded pretty good too. "I'll have the carrot cake," I decided prompting Mother to glare at me again. "Hey, it's vegetables. So we can wear jeans to the football game?"

  "I don't want to go to a football game," Mother spat and looked down her regal nose at Garing. "How crass can the Empress be to throw this kind of party?"

  "I bet they'll have football food like hot dogs, burgers, popcorn and beer," I mused. "Now that would be something. Mother and Father have never even tasted beer."

  "Shall I tell them you decline the invitation?" Garing offered and his expression seemed almost hopeful. "Though every member of the Royal Family will be attending as well as all the other royal families from all the l
esser planets. Apparently, they do not regard it as crass. Rather they may be considering it quite fun."

  "No, of course not, we'll absolutely attend," Father insisted. "How would it look, my dear, if only Cyganus was not there? Yes, we absolutely must attend and we will all dress and eat appropriately. The Queen and I and even the Princesses shall indulge in some beer and popcorn if we must."

  "Beer and popcorn?" Marie cried, her brow furrowing as if she was unsure what they were.

  "Beer and popcorn," Mother scowled.

  "Beer and popcorn," I nodded. "Count on me, I'll definitely be there."

  "We've got several months yet to go," Father continued. "I shall most intently study this game of football and learn all the rules so we can watch it and respond appropriately. We don't want to clap or yell at the wrong time, now do we Mr. Garing? Do you think at this event, I might get half a minute or two, to speak with Emperor?"

  "It's possible though I cannot say for certain," Garing replied. "Half time is a very short duration and the Emperor does not like to be interrupted whilst the game is going on. Afterwards, perhaps they'll stay and visit for a while. Most importantly though, you don't want to annoy him. While he has certainly calmed down in the last few years, he still loses his temper on occasion." Garing shuddered and tossing aside the dessert menu, he told the waiter he would have whatever I was having.

  "What does that mean?" Marie asked a bit fearfully.

  Garing blew out between his teeth. "Bad, very bad things can happen."

  Marie glanced at Mother and they both grew even more pale. The waiter set down the carrot cakes and for a brief second, I saw Garing wink at me.

  I smiled at my cake and lifted off the marzipan carrot on the top.

  "I need my vegetables too," Garing added while popping his own marzipan into this mouth.

  Father began to practice what he would say to the Emperor in a minute or less should he be so fortunate as to be allotted this time. He practiced a speech of sorts, speaking very quickly and looking at Garing as if to gauge the annoyance level.

  Mother chewed her toast point and debated whether or not she could sit through a football game and how many kernels of popcorn would be allowed and what she should do in the event one or more pieces got stuck in her teeth.

  Marie planned exactly what she would wear and how to style her hair, and whether or her daily caloric allowance would allow her to drink some beer.

  "They have light beer," I told her. "If you eat nothing else, you might be able to have sip or two."

  "Oh yes, one thing I have forgotten to mention." Garing set down his fork on his empty dessert plate. "I know this is of interest to you, young ladies. I have been told from an authority who knows of these things that His Royal Highness, the Imperial Prince Shika shall be in attendance at his father's birthday party."

  Marie squealed yet again and then sighed ecstatically. "Oh my!" she cried. "I shall have to plan this well. I'll have to wear the right thing and fix my hair just so. I'll shan't eat another bite for the next two months and I shall run twelve miles every day and swim another ten and I shall stay out of the sun and never again touch chocolate and I'll get five new dresses sewn and four new coats and…"

  "I'm going to bed," I sighed and got up to retire to the plane's back cabin. With all this planning and all this excitement nobody seemed concerned about the Red Aliens from Corganus. I hoped Garing was right and the Empire in the fancy starship wasn't about to exterminate them like they were mere pests or bugs.

  Chapter 6

  Steven

  I was cleaning tables in the Deck 12 cafeteria and Sam was following me because he was bored. He was chattering away about this new game he liked to play in the simulator game room on the Rec Deck right below.

  "You have to fight dragons and wizards and all sorts of creatures like tree nymphs and lizards and even stuff that's totally made up."

  "That's all totally made up, Sam," I said. "There's no such thing as dragons and wizards."

  "How do you know, Stevie?" he replied. "Just because you've never met any doesn't mean they don't exist. This game is so cool; you can create your own character to fight all these guys. Or you can select an existing character and you get to be him. That's what I did, Stevie and you'll never guess who I am."

  "You're right, Sammy. I'll never guess." I wiped off the last table and then picking up the dirty trays to take down to the kitchen, I loaded up my cart and headed toward the lifts.

  "I am the Emperor," Sam declared. "In this game, I mean. You could select from the Emperor or the Empress or made up people like Superman. I was debating, I mean, the Empress might be cool because she's can do ninja fighting and is really good with guns but the Emperor can do anything so I had to choose him. The only thing is, if you choose him, you can't see. Everything is dark so when you're in the Sim Center you have to rely on only your ears and your nose. But the coolest part is you can blast stuff with your fingers." Sammy pointed his finger and made blasting noises, then spat into the air and yelled "Score!"

  "He doesn't really do it like that, that finger pointing kind of thing. That's just an urban myth."

  "Yeah? How do you know? My Uncle Zem said…"

  "Whatever," I shrugged and pushed the down button on the wall.

  "Anyway, you can also make it rain or snow or even launch a tornado. So far I've advanced to level three but if you want to play, we could have a competition. I'll reset my scores and we can start all over. What do you think, Stevie?"

  "No thanks, Sam. I'm not really into Sim games." Who needed games when my life was like that? "Do they have a character for Prince Shika?" I asked just out of curiosity.

  "Yeah," Sam nodded, "but he can't do anything cool."

  "Nope," I agreed as the lift door hissed open. "That dude is just ordinary."

  Sammy laughed. "And you thought we had problems."

  A guy stood in the lift dressed in uniform duds but his were untucked and his pale hair was greasy looking and sloppy. His skin was pasty grey and covered in big pimples and the guy himself was so wide, he seemed to take up half the lift.

  "The cafeteria closed already?" he asked in a nasally voice that seemed at odds with his huge body.

  "Yeah, we closed half an hour ago." I rolled into the lift with my cart full of trays. Sam followed.

  "Damn," the guy mumbled as the lift headed down. "I missed breakfast and lunch again."

  "Don't worry, bro," I replied glancing at him. "You've got a ways to go before you waste away."

  "I know," he frowned and scratched some dandruff flakes off his head. "I'm really hungry though. Do you think the pizza parlor is open yet?"

  "Not until 1500." I moved away from his drifting flakes while wondering how many demerits this guy had racked up. The way Korelesk dinged me for just breathing; this guy ought to have thousands in the bank.

  "So what do you think, Stevie?" Sam continued. "Are you game?"

  "What deck is the pizza parlor on?" the guy interrupted. "I forgot."

  "Eleven," I replied, "next to the Rec Center."

  "You'll play at eleven?" Sam asked.

  "No, the pizza parlor is on eleven. The dude forgot."

  "What game are you playing?" the greasy guy asked.

  "Imperial Quest," Sam replied.

  "Oh, I love that game. I'll play at eleven with you. Oh no, wait, I've got to finish my tasks first. If I do, I'll meet you there. What deck is the Rec Center?"

  "Eleven," I said for the third time.

  "What level are you on?" Sam asked moving closer to the guy and holding out his hand. "I'm Sam and I play Senya but I'm only on level three."

  "I'm Xorex," he replied, "and I play Katie and I've stalled out on level sixteen."

  "Sixteen?" Sam gasped. "That's incredible, dude. I would fricking love to play you. Would you share your cheat codes with me?"

  "Sure," Xorex smiled, "but I really need food. If you're off duty now, you can come down to the Lair and I'll show you what I've got."


  "Maybe Stevie can get you some food from the kitchen," Sammy suggested brightly. "Can you make Xorex some sandwiches? Why are you holding your head like that, Steve?"

  "You're playing Senya and you're playing Katie." I pointed at the guys. "I think I'm going to be sick."

  "If you play, you can be either of them too," Sam offered. "It doesn't matter if there's more than one."

  "No thanks." I shook my head emphatically. "It does matter actually. One of each of them in this Universe is more than plenty enough. Has anyone ever played Shika?"

  "No," both of those guys replied. "That dude is totally lame."

  "Right. Totally lame." I left those guys chatting about how cool it was to be my mother and father while I returned my dish cart and made Xorex a couple of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Then because I was looking for an excuse not to go study my flight training, I followed them down to the bowels of the ship to the secret department which Xorex called the Lair.

  "Wow!' Sam gasped as the lift doors swished open to reveal a high tech center of multi-paneled vid screens and consoles. There were several officers milling about the room while others were working at the various stations. A Commander was talking to a hologram of the Captain so I ducked back into the lift, hoping that no one saw me. If the Captain reported to Korelesk that I was down here instead of studying my flight training exercises, I'm sure he'd come snatch me away and hand out at least four more demerits.

  "Stand right here," Xorex said and started to walk into the room but stopped right in the middle and held up his hand.

  A portal door opened and behind it was all darkness. Xorex entered and the portal quickly shut, but he was nowhere to be seen in the room. I poked my head out of the lift and quickly surveyed the stations but I couldn't see Xorex anywhere. Something strange was going on because that dude was so broad, he'd be awfully hard to miss.

  Just then, the Commander turned and saw me, so I ducked back inside the lift until the portal opened again and Xorex came back out.

  "I had to quickly override the system to give you access because the Lair is secured. Come on, guys, you can follow me now."