Guardian Awakening

by C. Osborne Rapley

  One, do nothing. The war will continue for at least another year with many more deaths before it is over. Then there are the special ships the Sicceian’s built, where are they? What do I do with Aesia, she can’t stay with me, someone is bound to make an attempt on her life.

  Two, make a concerted thrust straight for Sicciea. Maybe end the war earlier, but at a cost of high causalities, and they could flank us or come in behind with those damn missing ships. And Aesia? “I must not let personal things get in the way or reduce my effectiveness.” He spoke out loud remonstrating with himself. But, I can’t help myself, he sighed. I’m bloody useless!

  Three, make use of the opportunity go to Sicceia, exploit their slave society and take out the hard liners then get support from the Sicceian moderates. Risky, but if it works the war will end, and thousands will be saved. If it doesn’t work and I’m killed? The alliance is strong enough to win now, so no loss to them; option one will still be valid. Aesia will be on her home world and she could disown a renegade slave if I’m careful not to implicate her.

  He took a deep breath. His decision made he pressed the intercom for the officer of the watch. “Can you send Admiral Da’ren my compliments and ask him to report to me at his earliest convenience please.” The officer saluted and turned to do as he was asked.

  Ten minutes later there was a knock at the door. Tristan looked up “Enter” Da’ren walked in. “Please shut the door, sit down and make yourself comfortable.” Tristan waited until Da’ren was seated before outlining his plan.

  “Da’ren, I believe an opportunity has presented itself that could well end the war and save hundreds of thousands of lives.” Da’ren shifted in his chair a slight frown on his face. Tristan laughed. “Don’t look so worried.”

  “Oh, I’m not worried, it’s just your plans usually involve our going through the gates of hell and facing almost insurmountable odds.”

  “We always come out the other side don’t we?”

  “Hum.. But, sometimes it’s touch and go.”

  “Well this time the only person at risk is me.”

  Da’ren’s frown depend. “This doesn’t involve your ‘Wife’ by any chance does it?”

  Tristan smiled wryly. “She will play a central role yes.”

  “Can you trust her Tristan? You’ve not seen her for four years, then she appears by chance and in less than two days she is central to a plan to end this war. Have you considered this might all be an elaborate plan to get to you?”

  “Da’ren, I would trust her with my life.”

  “I have the feeling that is what you are going to do, and I suppose I can’t talk you out of it?”

  “No Da’ren. I have weighed up all the practical alternatives, and this is the best option.”

  “OK, what’s your plan?”

  “First the fewer people who know about this the better.”

  “Right.” Daren settled back in his chair.

  “So, the detail. I want you to hold the line where it currently is. All the systems along the border are uninhabited, and the fleets are now capable of holding any attack the Sicceians may launch. If nothing changes, and nothing is leaked, they will be unsure of what is happening and hopefully hold off.

  “I intend to go to the Sicceian home world and flush out the ones behind the plot to sabotage the peace. Once the dissenters have been eliminated, it should allow the peace movement to gain control. Then there will be no danger for me. If I fail, the war will continue, but at least the League is strong enough to defeat the Sicceians without me. However, if things go wrong then many more lives will be lost before the end. I want to prevent that from happening; there has been far too much death and destruction.”

  “How do you intend to flush them out?”

  “When there is no news of my death and the fleets stay where they are; the perpetrators will grow curious. They knew who was in the delegation. When one of them returns.”

  “Your wife?”

  “Yes, she will be sought out. They will want to know what happened and whether the attack was a success or not. They will need to know if it’s safe to attack us. With me gone, they will assume that they can retake what they have lost. I am banking on them holding off a mass counter attack until they are certain I’m dead. That is why nothing must leak out. We cannot take any chances.”

  “So where do you come in?” Da’ren asked

  “Think about Sicceian society for a moment, Da’ren. What is the safest way to get around Sicceia without attracting any attention?” Da’ren shrugged and shook his head. “As a slave; of course! In their minds, slaves do not even exist! A personal slave can go anywhere his master, or mistress goes.”

  Da’ren’s eyes went wide. “Ah, so Aesia will be the returning aide, and they will want to question closely before they attack. She will always have her slave with her, you, and no one will notice! You can eliminate the ringleaders in your unique way and feed back any useful information to us.”

  “Exactly.”

  “There are many uncertainties and assumptions, not least putting your life in the hands of one damn Sicceian - sorry - but overall it seems a good plan. Especially knowing what you are capable off when dealing with Sicceians. But, how do we keep it secret?”

  “Well the month travel time to Sicceia is roughly the same as the travel time from here to Mylia. So any senior officers who need to know where I am, I can be travelling back for my interrupted R & R. That will get me to Sicceia without questions being asked. You can then say I took ill and need a couple of weeks rest. Not to be disturbed sort of thing. I’m sure you can sort that out without too much problem and ensure that as few people as possible know what is going on.”

  “Do you think a couple of weeks will be enough?” Da’ren asked.

  “I hope by the time we arrive the perpetrators will be eaten up with curiosity. They should make their move in days.”

  Da’ren was silent for a minute or so. Tristan sat watching his friend.“Right, Tristan, what do we need to do?”

  “The first thing we need to obtain is a small, fast Sicceian, ship to transport us to Sicceia. Then, the logs need to be falsified just in case they check. While everything is prepared, I will keep Aesia hidden in my quarters. Once we are ready to leave, I can get her to the hanger deck without anyone noticing.”

  “Oh, and please don’t inform the Emperor until I have left. Better not mention anything about Aesia either. Just say I have left on a secret mission or something.”

  Da’ren sighed. “Yes Sir.”

  The preparation went smoothly, the longest delay caused by the lack of a nearby serviceable Sicceian freighter that still had a functioning telepathic interface. One was eventually located and brought inside the flag ship hangar bay. Tristan ensured that tasks were kept separated so no one knew the whole picture.

  Aesia kept to Tristan’s cabin, remaining out of sight. For once he was grateful Elvath had remained on Mylia as housekeeper on his estate; peace talks were not exciting enough for her. The stewards were happy to leave Tristan to his own devices and asked no questions.

  Five days later, Tristan manoeuvred the small Sicceian freighter out of his flagship’s hanger. Once they were at a safe distance, he set the course for Sicceia and engaged the Star Drive.

  Aesia, sitting in the co-pilot’s chair, turned to him, sighed and held out her right hand. “On our own at last. I have hardly seen you since you came up with this plan.” She smiled. “Now we have four years catching up to do in only a month.” He took her hand in his, relaxing in the warm glow of her presence.

  Tristan set the auto pilot then turned towards her. “Aesia?”

  “Yes?”

  “We have a daughter.”

  She laughed softly. “Yes, Tristan we do. Wait ‘till you meet her; she is gorgeous.”

  He shifted position slightly in the chair. “I… I… um I have been so busy that I forgot to discuss this but, I don’t think we should risk another one at this stage of the war, it is too�
� too dangerous. What about birth control?” It all came out in a rush.

  She sat up straight, eyes wide. “Control? We have nothing like that!”

  “But this is an advanced society, surely you can control pregnancy? Um… Sorry, but I hadn’t thought about it before as I never…” He trailed off.

  Aesia shook her head “Why would we do that? That’s a shocking notion. Tristan you are strange.”

  “Yes maybe, but in our society it gives a woman freedom of choice.”

  “Why would she want that choice? Once the first child is born there is only ten to twelve years before a female’s reproductive cycle shuts down. Our families can only have a maximum of six children. The universe is vast, and we have been at war since our current history began. Every female has a duty to have as many children as she can, or our species will quickly go into decline.” She tilted her head to one side. “Isn’t it the same for your females?”

  “Um… no.” He paused for a moment. “Our females have, oh I don’t know, at least thirty years.”

  Aesia gasped. “Thirty years! How is that possible? Every species we have found so far is the same. Why are you so different?”

  Tristan shrugged. “I don’t know.

  “She smiled. “Well come on then, we only have a month, let’s not waste it.”

  Much later, Tristan lay with his head supported on his elbow, watching Aesia as she slept beside him. Her white hair framed her face, and her breasts rose and fell with each breath. He traced a finger along and down her neck, her pulse under his slight touch slow and regular. His fingers continued down then up the gentle curve of her breast.

  Her eyes flicked open, she turned to him and smiled. “And what do you think you are doing?”

  Tristan smiled back and shrugged. She reached up and ran a hand along his arm, leaving a trail of fire on his skin, and his heart fluttered in his chest. “How do you do that?”

  “Do what? She asked her eyes wide, her expression innocent.

  “When you touch me it… it tingles”

  “You mean like this?” She touched his cheek. Her fingers almost crackled, leaving a trail of fire where they stroked his skin.

  “Yes.” His body trembled as she moved closer.

  “It’s the connection we have, where our minds are linked. The males of my species may be bigger, stronger, but it’s the females who have the control.” Her smile deepened, her eyes reflecting the bright starlight from the view port seemed to dance.

  “I think you’re a Witch.”

  Aesia laughed softly, moving her hand round to the back of his head she pulled him down to her breast. “Now my strange alien, it’s time you finished what you started.”

  After what seemed a very short month the ship dropped out of Star Drive just outside the Sicceian home world’s defensive perimeter. Aesia got them through the security checks without a hitch as he had hoped, and once Aesia had explained him away as an exotic new slave she had purchased he was ignored. After they had cleared planetary security, traffic control gave her clearance to land at her parents’ estate.

  As she manoeuvred the ship down to the surface, Tristan sat at the back of the cabin dressed in drab clothing commonly given to family and personal slaves. Aesia kept glancing back at him.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked as he caught her doing it for at least the tenth time.

  “You’re sitting right behind me and I can’t feel a thing. Even the non telepathic species have a presence. I got used to our connection, but now it’s as if you don’t exist.” She shuddered. “Not even a Sicceian Master can do that. I don’t like it, it’s unnerving.”

  Tristan smiled. “Don’t worry. It is only until everything is resolved. I don’t want anyone sensing my presence. I must be a real slave.”

  Aesia nodded. “I know, it’s just a bit difficult; it reminds me of the time I thought you were dead.”

  Chapter Seventeen: Sicceia

  Aesia landed the craft in a small flat area in front of the main house. She shut down the ships systems and opened the main hatch.

  Tristan walked behind Aesia as she had instructed him to and followed her to the house. Traditional slave garb included a hood that could be pulled forward to cover the eyes. A slave should not make eye contact with any of the masters. For Tristan, the outfit added to the anonymity and covered the differences between him and the known species.

  They had landed on a bright sunny afternoon. Well stocked flower boarders buzzed with insects, and exotic scents assailed his senses. Tristan glanced at the house from under his hood as they turned up a colonnade of trees leading to curved steps which in turn led to a double wooden door.

  It was a large two storey mansion, with delicate spires on each corner. White marble glinted in the sun. Tristan stifled a whistle. Aesia’s family were aristocracy, or very rich at least, compared to some of the buildings and villages they had flown over during their journey there.

  A few people were working in the manicured gardens surrounding the house. Aesia had told him, to keep up appearances, her parents had to have slaves; however, they were treated more like employees and even had time to themselves, something unheard-of in normal Sicceian households.

  Aesia walked up the steps, opened the door and walked in. Tristan followed her, the air cool in the marble lined hall after the warmth of outside. A maid cleaning the polished stone floor looked up when they entered, her eyes wide with surprise. She stood, wiped her hands on her apron and bowed.

  “Mistress Aesia, we weren’t expecting you.”

  “That’s all right, don’t worry about it. Where’s my mother?”

  The woman shot a puzzled glance at Tristan standing in the shadows. “Um… she is in the garden with Tristain.”

  “Thank you Nesia.” Aesia looked back at Tristan with a nonchalant expression on her face. “You will attend me.” Tristan bowed his head slightly. He followed her through to the back of the house. He tried to ignore the thousand butterflies that had launched themselves in his stomach. He was about to meet his daughter and Aesia’s mother for the first time. They had agreed during their journey that Tristan should not be identified to the child just in case she said something to someone and put all of them in danger.

  They stepped out of glass doors into the beautiful sunlit ornamental garden. A woman watching a small child draw pictures sat at a low table. The child and the woman turned as they approached.

  As soon as Tristain saw her mother, she jumped up and ran to her, shouting, “Mummy, you’re back!”

  Aesia knelt down and opened her arms to catch the running child. With subtle differences to her ears, she was almost a small version of her mother. Aesia hugged the child, “Were you good for your grandmother while I was gone, my darling?”

  The child pulled away slightly and nodded. “Oh Yes.” She paused. “Did you bring me a present, Mummy?”

  Aesia shook her head. “I’m afraid I didn’t have time, Tristain.”

  A frown momentarily passed across the child’s face before the smile returned. “Oh well, it doesn’t matter. At least you’re home safe.” When Tristain stood back he saw her eyes. They were comparatively smaller than her mother’s eyes, with round pupils. They were human eyes.

  The older woman had stood up and was walking towards them. The child turned and started jumping up and down, “Grandmother! My Mummy is home!”

  The woman nodded. “Yes dear, I can see.” Tristan turned his attention to the older woman. There were lines on her face and around her eyes with streaks of grey in her fair hair that she wore pulled back in a clip. She was still, nonetheless, a very attractive woman.

  Aesia kissed her mother on the cheek. “Hello Mother.”

  “Well, what has happened, Aesia? No one has heard anything since you left.” She glanced at Tristan, a slight frown on her face “Where is your father?”

  Aesia stepped back. “We can’t talk here, Mother. I will tell you later.” The older woman nodded. She turned to Tristan.

 
“And what is that?” she asked. Tristan noted she had a hard edge to her voice now. The child noticed Tristan for the first time and clung to her mother’s leg, hiding in the folds of her dress.

  “Mother, it is a slave I found on my way back. It is apparently very rare, and I could not resist getting it.”

  The older woman’s frown deepened. “Have you not learned anything since you returned to us? You know what your father thinks about slavery. He would not want your returning to the old ways you learned in school.”

  “No, Mother,” Aesia said. “But I have my reasons. Can we leave it until we are alone, please?”

  Her mother’s eyes narrowed, staring at her. “Hum, yes, it seems that you do have a lot to tell me, Aesia. Would you like something to eat or drink?”

  Aesia nodded. “Yes please.” The two women walked back to the house, holding the child’s hands between them. Tristain dragged her feet so they would swing her between them.

  Tristan followed behind, as he was required to do. In the house, the child ran off to play. Aesia and her mother sat down together in one of the reception rooms.

  Aesia’s mother spoke with a maid as they entered. “Shariah, can you get the cook to prepare some lunch for us please?” The maid nodded and ran off to organise some food. Tristan stood in the shadows at the back of the room.

  Aesia turned to him. “You, get me a stool.” Tristan looked round, saw a stool, and carried it over to her. As he bent down to place the stool under her feet, he shot her a furtive glance. Don’t get too comfortable with this mistress and slave thing. A faint smile played on the edge of her mouth.

  “Aesia, I don’t like this,” her mother said.

  Aesia spoke again to Tristan. “Shut the door and the windows and then return to your place.” Tristan bowed his head and dutifully did as he was told. She’s enjoying this.

  There was a knock on the door, and the maid brought in a tray of food. She placed it on a small table between the two women. She cast a glance at Tristan in the corner before leaving the room and shutting the door. Aesia waited for a few moments then rose and checked the door making sure no one was eaves dropping.