Francescan War Chronicles 1: Space Knight Denxeiter

by C. K. Pershing

  “So how does your connection with Kriemhilde equate to she and I making out before?” Aaltskog was saying. She glanced back at Kriemhilde and said, “Even now, the feeling ebbs and flows. One minute I’m fine, the next minute I want to be much…closer.”

  She blushed as she said the last part, which Feln found extremely fascinating since Aaltskog was normally so shameless. On the other hand, Kriemhilde was a very imposing presence despite being relatively small and in some ways, rather cute.

  Kriemhilde licked her lips slightly and said, “Yes, I feel the same.”

  “Well, who’s to say that some of that same programming in me didn’t find its way into Dr. Maass’ other creations?” Aalveus asked. “Perhaps it’s a safety feature to make sure Companions always remain loyal to the Household and it manifests in different ways for each Companion. That same signal I think I’m sending to Kriemhilde’s brain to think of me as a brother…you may be sending a different signal that is activating something more primal.”

  “Primal is a good way to describe it,” Aaltskog said. “The feelings aren’t romantic. Just, well, primal.” Kriemhilde nodded her agreement.

  “Unfortunately our creator is gone so we can’t ask him to fix it,” Aalveus said. “But maybe Kriemhilde can use her standing to find a high-power psionic that can look into this. It’s worth a try, especially if we’re going to spend any more time together in the future.”

  “Oh, I hope we do,” Kriemhilde said. “Since I didn't go to the Academy, I never had many friends other than Aalveus. I’m happy to have you two as friends if anything else, because I really don’t trust anybody my age from the Academy.”

  Feln blinked. “You don’t? Why not?”

  Aalveus chuckled, “I think it has to do with the Emperor’s views on the Academy. He complains they’re hiding things from the Household and Kriemhilde has taken up his suspicion as her own.”

  “The fact that they weren’t forthcoming in aiding Feln until the last possible moment doesn’t instill confidence in me,” Kriemhilde said.

  “Yes, but they did eventually help,” Aalveus said. “Who’s to say they’re acting with any malice?”

  “Well,” Feln said, “I did graduate from the Academy and I agree with Kriemhilde— and apparently the Emperor. They rub me the wrong way. If those Space Knights are any indication of what the Academy is putting out these days, I think I’ll stick with people my age and older. And the Duchess here, of course.”

  Kriemhilde nodded and turned to Aalveus. “It’s hard to argue with that opinion considering the source.”

  “Indeed it is,” Aalveus said. “I guess we’ll just have to watch our backs around any newer graduates.”

  Feln sighed heavily. “It breaks my heart that we’re talking like this about the Academy. But I’ve been in the field a long time. Half of my fellow graduates have been killed in action. Sometimes change is good, but I’m not so sure in this situation.”

  A somber mood fell over them before Feln said, “There is something else in all of this. What makes me so special? I’m definitely not a Royal. God knows I went through a battery of tests to be sure I wasn’t from some lost branch of the family. And yet, the two of us have been able to do some pretty near-impossible stuff together with Denxeiter. I get that Denxeiter is somehow special, and my little darling here definitely is. But what about me?”

  “Yeah, I still remember the day the rep took me to meet you,” Aaltskog said. “Your mom didn't think much of me and he said, and I quote, ‘Madam, it is my firm belief that this little girl could very well make your son one of the greatest Space Knights this galaxy has ever seen.’ That’s pretty solid stuff there. And on one hand it may have been just a bunch of marketing crap to sell your parents on, but I get the feeling that he was telling the truth. Or at least what he believed was the truth.”

  “Yeah, I feel the same way,” Feln said. “Hey what was that guy’s name? We never saw him again after that.”

  Aaltskog thought a moment and said, “Huh, I don’t know. And you know what’s crazy? I can remember every little part of that day as if it just happened. Everything. What you were wearing, what your mom was cooking, all of it.” She shook her head. “But no matter how hard I try, I can’t remember what that rep looked like or anything else about him. He’s just a complete blank to me. Like somebody came in and erased it from my memory.” She looked progressively more disturbed as she spoke.

  “Well now I feel so much better,” Feln said. “I mean, I can kind of remember him, but not really. Reddish hair. A short trimmed beard. I was a kid, so any sense of height or build is distorted for me because I was still kinda short myself.”

  “Well, I think it’s safe to say that he had some kind of device on him that removed him from Aaltskog’s long term memory,” Aalveus said. “And with you, he was probably betting on your childhood memory getting fuzzy with age. Eyewitness accounts from organic humans tend to lose accuracy over time, after all. But if both of you feel he was telling the truth about his belief that Feln was special, his opinion seems to have been confirmed by what you two have accomplished in Resonance and otherwise.

  “As for why Feln is special, I’m afraid that may be a mystery we’ll never solve. Along with why the man from the Academy made Aaltskog incapable of remembering him. The truth is likely hidden somewhere deep in the Academy’s inner sanctum. But if the Emperor’s suspicions about them are correct that they’re not even telling him the full truth, I’m not sure what we could possibly do.”

  “The imprints of Denxeiter’s previous pilots also said that I needed to find out the truth from the sanctum,” Feln said. “And I agree with you that I think that’s pretty much impossible. But someday I’ve gotta try. Me and Aaltskog are gonna have to go back to get Denxeiter— maybe we can find out something then. But it’s doubtful.”

  A disconcerted silence fell over them until Kriemhilde said, “Well, no matter what happens, I want you two to know that I’m on your side. We may never fully know what information the Academy is hiding on all of us here, but please remember that I’ll always stand with you.”

  Aalveus nodded. “Both of us.”

  Feln had to resist the urge to stand and bow, but he got the feeling Kriemhilde’s offer was genuinely given as a friend and not as a noble’s decree. Instead, he shook her hand. She smiled as that seemed exactly what she wanted. “Thanks,” he said. “And you know we’ve got your back.” He grinned and continued, “That is, if you ever need a couple of nobodies and a beat-up old Machine.”

  Kriemhilde laughed, “Don’t sell yourself short. You did much more with that ‘old Machine’ than I think anybody else could.”

  “Ah, don’t take his false modesty seriously,” Aaltskog said. “If he wasn’t a Space Knight, he’d probably be running some kind of carnival scam.”

  “Yeah, and you’d be right there next to me helping out.”

  “You know it.”

  Feln was glad to see the mood lightened again. “Hey, I just remembered, that rep said you were named after some kind of singer or something.”

  “Oh geez, here we go. Yes, my name is derived from a northern queen on the Ancients’ home world who was known for having a beautiful voice.”

  “Maybe that’s why you’re such a great singer.”

  “So you’re saying I have a good voice because of my name? That would be kinda weird.”

  “I think we’ve already established your creator was kind of a weird guy.”

  “Ehh,” Aaltskog made a dismissive noise.

  “You might be interested in knowing that I’m named for that northern queen’s husband,” Aalveus said.

  “You are?” asked Kriemhilde.

  “Yes, he also sang occasionally, but he mostly wrote the music that his queen sang.”

  “That’s awesome,” said Feln. “I want a duet.”

  “Me too,” said Kriemhilde.

  “Oh no!” Aaltskog wailed as she put her face into her hands.

  “She actu
ally was quite famous for singing duets with another queen,” Aalveus said helpfully. “And that queen’s husband was also a singer, but more often than not, helped the other king write songs for their queens to sing.”

  “You’re making that up,” Aaltskog said.

  “No, it’s true,” Aalveus said. “Or at least it’s true that that’s how the legend goes.”

  “Now he's gonna be even more of a pain about this!” Aaltskog said while pointing at Feln. “Why are you helping him?”

  “Because he knows it’s the right thing to do,” Feln said before lifting his own voice in an operatic crescendo. “You were meant to sing, dammit. And sing you shaaaall!”

  “Bah!” Aaltskog shouted and the other three broke into laughter.

  Just then there was another knock on the door.

  “Come in,” Kriemhilde called.

  Siegfried walked in and stopped when he saw the assembled group on the couch. “Kriemhilde. I was told you were at the party, but nobody bothered to tell me you were with two of the guests of honor. I’m glad you all are together.” As he spoke, they all leapt to their feet and bowed.

  “Please, it’s meant to be a time for relaxation. You can stop bowing,” he said. As they stood up straight, he looked at Aalveus standing next to Aaltskog. “It’s wonderful to see the two of you finally meet. The two last known Maass siblings together again.”

  “‘Last known’?” Aaltskog asked. “But the others killed themselves when our creator committed suicide.”

  Siegfried glanced at Aalveus before saying, “That’s… may not necessarily be true.” As Aaltskog stiffened, Siegfried continued, “We think that Aalveus might not have been Dr. Maass’ only unofficial creation. There are clues that there may have been another that came around the same time. But those clues are so scant, that we don’t have anything truly concrete to go on.

  “No matter how hard we’ve tried to find this ‘extra Companion’, we’ve turned up nothing. And believe me, we’ve put a lot into finding him. Maybe he’s dead— if he ever truly existed in the first place. But if he’s real and isn’t dead, he’s done an amazing job of hiding.”

  Feln looked at Aaltskog’s face as she processed this information. Finally, she said, “Well if he he’s real, I’d like to meet him someday, but if not, it’s okay. At least I’ve met Aalveus here and that’s pretty good.”

  “Indeed it is,” Siegfried said with a smile. He turned to Kriemhilde. “You’ve been exceptionally quiet. Is everything alright?”

  “Yes, very much so,” Kriemhilde said happily. “Seeing these two dear people meet has made this a truly wonderful day."

  As she spoke, Feln saw Siegfried’s smile grow warmer as he said, “Well then, I’m very glad to hear it. You currently have an aspect about you that reminds me of how you were before your Blessing. It’s refreshing to see and it warms my heart.”

  “The Emperor told me you were coming,” he continued. “He felt it was time that Aaltskog and Aalveus met. I very much agree. Although I imagine he wasn’t happy having to discuss your rather unexpected debut in battle.”

  “Yes, he was none too pleased with my sudden baptism of fire. But your father’s always been kind to me ever since my parents died. And he couldn’t argue with my results. I’d say my first battle went rather well and he agrees. When I heard you were having this party for my friends, I begged him to let me come. I thought he allowed it because I charmed him, when it seems he wanted me to come anyway.” She laughed and said, “How sly of him.”

  “And he made a point to not let me come in a warship with my Machine. I didn’t even bring up the issue of having these two meet. It was a happy surprise when just before we left, the Emperor basically commanded me to bring them together. Now I understand why. Such a kind man.”

  Siegfried chuckled and shook his head. “He is always putty in your hands, my dear. Probably from only having all boys. And I think that no matter what kind of…interesting things you do in battle, he still sees you as that little girl running in the fields with butterflies before your Blessing.”

  “I still am that little girl deep down,” Kriemhilde said sadly. Feln was feeling more and more awkward as he felt he was intruding on intimate family feelings.

  Perhaps sensing that, Siegfried said, “Well, at any rate it’s good to see you here. You too, Aalveus. And may I say congratulations on the outcome of your first true battle. Without your help, we wouldn’t have those monstrous creatures in our possession.”

  Kriemhilde’s eyes sparkled as he spoke and Feln got the feeling that Siegfried wasn’t always forthcoming with words of support for his cousin. “Now if you don’t mind,” the Prince continued, “I’d like to have a private conversation with Captain Koenig and his Companion. Of course, you’re welcome to stay at the party.” He seemed to consider something for a moment before he said, “In fact, I want you to stay at the party. When it’s over, I was going to show our guests something, and I think you’ve more than earned the right to come along.”

  The four of them exchanged glances at Siegfried’s words before he said, “But until then, please leave us.” Kriemhilde and Aalveus bowed to Siegfried, Feln and Aaltskog then bowed to Kriemhilde as she left the room with her Companion.

  The Crown Prince indicated for the two of them to sit back down on the couch as he sat on the chair that Aalveus had pulled over. “Now, please tell me about Resonance,” he said.

  Chapter Twelve

  Feln didn’t know how much time had passed as he and Aaltskog told Siegfried everything they knew and experienced during Resonance, but he figured it was a couple hours. The Prince asked very detailed questions, right down to specifics on what the imprints left by Denxeiter’s previous pilots were wearing, facial features, and other points of interest. Feln’s official report had been very detailed, but he had to admit that the Siegfried made him remember things he hadn’t thought about until now.

  When he and Aaltskog finished, the Prince smiled. “Thank you both very much for your time and bearing with me during what likely seemed to be an interminable amount of questions.”

  “It was our honor to do so, Your Highness,” Feln said.

  “I’ve always found Hyper Battle Machines, Space Knights, and Companions fascinating,” Siegfried said. “Particularly, the aspects where the scientific and supernatural come together. Resonance is one of those instances. Since nobody has ever returned from Resonance before, I feel privileged to have spoken to two people who were there and returned.”

  “Even though I was asleep during my time there,” Aaltskog said softly.

  “True, but it was your presence that allowed Captain Koenig to return. And your ability to keep Denxeiter in its time shifted state twice to victory.” He kissed her hand. “Dear lady, you are truly a wonder.”

  Aaltskog was speechless at this and just reddened, so Feln said, “Your Highness, this is hard to say… But if I and my Companion are never heard from again after we go to the Academy, can I beg of you that you make our story known?”

  Siegfried’s gaze dropped and said, “Thank you for phrasing your request in such a way. I think you would be a fine statesman. As you know, Space Knights are only ultimately answerable to the Imperial Household. But the Academy itself has always had a level of autonomy in its inner workings since it was first established under Gustav II as part of the Treaty of Eintra.

  “If I could, I would keep you out of their hands forever, but if the Empire is going to maintain its Space Knight Corps and the Hyper Battle Machines themselves, we need the Academy. They know this and they can afford to be patient. Until then, however, Denxeiter won’t receive the crucial repairs it needs, or any other Machines for that matter. So while I’m glad to order you to have a vacation, ultimately my hands are tied and I have to let you go for the sake of the other Space Knights currently serving who will need those important services only the Academy can provide.”

  “We understand,” said Feln. “And I would never dream of asking the Househol
d to break a treaty established by the founder of the Star Empire.”

  Siegfried shook Feln’s hand and then Aaltskog’s. “You are truly two of the most honorable individuals I have ever had the pleasure to know. And so to answer your request, yes, please be at ease in the knowledge that your story won’t be forgotten come what may.” His expression became very serious. “I have also made it known to the Commandant that while the Household can’t control what happens at the Academy, our displeasure would be manifest should something happen to the two of you. I don’t mind telling you that the Emperor and I are of a single mind on this issue.”

  Feln blinked before leaping to his feet and bowing. Aaltskog followed. “The Crown Prince and The Emperor are entirely too kind,” Feln said. “These subjects do not deserve such treatment.”

  Siegfried stood up and to Feln’s shock, returned their bow. “The Francescan Star Empire is only as strong as its citizens and soldiers. Without you, we are nothing. And I will gladly do anything in my power to keep two exceptional individuals such as yourselves from coming to harm.”

  Feln said, “But Your Highness, I’ve still committed a grave crime.”

  “The friendly fire incident,” Siegfried said.

  “Yes, Your Highness.”

  “Even before I had a chance to review the records, Admiral Kesh told me about it.” Siegfried put a hand on Feln’s shoulder. “It is my ardent belief that you did nothing wrong. There was absolutely no way you could possibly know that another fleet would have been pulled into this system behind yours. Working from the information you had at the time, your order was completely valid. I’m sure I’m not the only person who would have done the same thing.”

  Feln slowly nodded. Katashka herself had said she would have also given the order were she in Feln’s position.

  “Indeed, considering the conditions of the system at the time and how they affected sensors, communications, and navigation, I wouldn’t have believed you in the wrong if you’d accidentally shot at your own fleet. But to punish you for firing in those conditions at a fleet that you couldn’t have possibly even known was there? Absolutely not. No, this incident was not a crime in any capacity, other than the crime committed by the enemy to put you in that position in the first place.”