Celestial Love

by Juli Blood

  Kalea clenched her jaw to keep from saying what was on the tip of her tongue. She really didn’t want to know that she was carrying around some small explosive in her body, no matter what its primary purpose. Taking several slow deep breaths, she was finally able to calm her temper.

  “What is the likelihood that they will find Bryan’s tracking device?” Kalea asked in a calm voice that surprised even her.

  “It depends on how in-depth of an exam they run when he returns,” Dr. Wingate answered cautiously. “It will also depend on how quickly he heals. It’s only been five days since the device was implanted and, although all exterior signs of the implantation are undetectable, the internal ones have barely had a chance to heal.”

  “Where is it?” Kalea asked.

  “I can’t tell you,” Dr. Wingate answered automatically.

  Taking a deep breath Kalea again fought off her temper and said, “Yes, you can and you will.”

  All three men looked a bit surprised by the strong ring of unquestionable authority in her voice. Dr. Wingate looked to King Douglas and Randolph, but it was King Douglas’ nod that gave him permission to answer. “Our scans indicated that Crown Prince Bryan had broken a rib sometime in his youth. Using this to our advantage, we placed the tracking device in the knot of bone that formed when the break healed. As a result, the size of the mended bone area will be slightly larger than it was originally.”

  Sighing Dr. Wingate explained, “If they were to do a detailed scan and then compare it to previous ones, they just might notice the change.”

  Kalea was tempted to ask where hers was, but decided she would rather not know. However, the thought of a broken bone did raise another question. “Dr. Wingate, what if there was an accident and he somehow managed to break that same rib again. Would that trigger the self-destruct mechanism?”

  Hearing her question and seeing in her eyes the one she didn’t ask Dr. Wingate quickly answered. “No. The devices are specially designed to only go off if they are removed from the body. Broken bones or injuries of any kind, even if they dislodge the device, would not set it off unless it is completely separated from the body.”

  “It does more than just tracking doesn’t it?” Kalea asked, although it didn’t really sound like a question.

  “Oh, if only you had wanted to become a doctor.” Dr. Wingate said as he shifted in his seat. “With your intuition and intelligence, who knows how far you could have advanced the science of medicine.”

  Clearly skeptical, Kalea simply took a long drink of water and waited for the doctor to explain. “Of course, you’re right.” Dr. Wingate finally answered. “The device records all medical events that occur. Things like spikes in blood pressure or abnormal highs and lows with blood sugar levels. It even records the exact time and date of any accidents and the medicines used to treat any injuries. All this data is downloaded via a special scan at every yearly exam. This aids in the detection and treatment of any and all potential conditions.”

  Kalea saw several other possibilities as well but decided not to bring them up. Instead she decided to shift the conversation back to the problem at hand. “How long do you estimate it will take for the bone to heal enough to disguise the device?” she asked.

  “I’m just not sure,” Dr. Wingate answered. “Crown Prince Bryan was originally scheduled to remain on Estar Beta for at least a month before returning to Saxionias for his mother’s birthday celebration. That would definitely have been enough time, but now it looks like the longest we could possibly delay would be until late next week, which would only give us about half that time.”

  Hearing the rising level of stress in his voice, Kalea knew he really was worried. Placing her napkin on the table, beside her now empty plate, she stood and walked to the far end of the room and then back to gaze out the window. Several ideas came to mind but only two seemed realistic. Not wanting to rush this decision, she turned back to the others and said. “I have a few ideas but before I decide to try any of them, I need to know if there is anything…ANYTHING else that could affect this mission, my marriage, or my life!”

  “No Kalea,” King Douglas answered in his most soothing fatherly tone. “You were scheduled to be briefed on all, or at least most of this, prior to your inauguration into the Royal Council. The only reason we even told Randolph at all was because of this mission, and the implications should the devices be detected. Most royal family members go their entire lives without knowing any of this, and all it has ever done is to help them.”

  “We get them at birth don’t we?” Kalea again made the question more like a statement.

  “Yes,” Dr. Wingate answered gently.

  “You’re sure there isn’t anything else, in any area that you’re not telling me?” Kalea asked with her eyes glued to her father.

  “There are some planetary security measures that you don’t know about, and some other defense research projects, but none of that should cause a problem. It might actually be safer if you don’t know,” King Douglas answered.

  Kalea nodded and took another deep breath. “I will pray about all this and speak to Bryan about his world, and what I should expect when we arrive. I may have a solution, or at least something that might help by morning. I’ll let you know.”

  Starting for the door she stopped and turned back with one last comment. “I will need the rest of today and probably tomorrow morning to work this out, so please try to give me the time. Oh, and Dr. Wingate, whichever female doctor you send to be my “med tech”, won’t need to serve as my maid. If she has an interest in being my personal assistant that’s fine, otherwise come up with a different cover for her.” With that, she opened the door and left to the sound of Randolph and King Douglas’ laughter at the look of shock on Dr. Wingate’s face.

  9

  Walking back toward her suite Kalea stopped. So many people and things clamored for her attention, but only One could really help her sort everything out. Turning to the nearest exit, Kalea headed back out into the garden.

  The sturdy bench under the ancient oak looked inviting. Kalea sighed as she leaned back and stared up into the leafy branches above her. “Holy One this is all so…frustrating. I so wanted to have an open and honest relationship with Bryan. Oh, I always knew there would be some things that I wouldn’t be able to share, but I never imagined it would be something like this.”

  Her voice was little more than a whisper carried away on the breeze, but it felt so good to lay out this burden before the Holy One who knew all and cared even more. “I know You have a plan but I don’t see it. Please, Holy One, open my eyes, guide my heart that I may follow where You lead.”

  Silence as found only in nature surrounded her. The breeze shifted and the leaves fluttered as the branches of the ancient oak swayed. Peace replaced the burden in her heart and mind even though no answer seemed to come. Confident that the answer would come in due time, Kalea relaxed and let herself enjoy the moment.

  With a flick of her wrist she activated her AVID and was pleased to see that Randolph had sent the information on the Environmental Restoration teams that she had requested. She then set to work learning the names and skills of each member of the teams. She had a lot of information to familiarize herself with so she could lead the teams efficiently.

  Leaning her head back after a while, she mentally grouped the information she had been learning into categories to help her remember.

  ‘Kalea,’ Bryan called softly over the link.

  ‘Yes Bryan,’ she answered wondering why he seemed to be trying to whisper via the link.

  ‘Did I wake you?’ Bryan asked.

  ‘No. I’m in the garden. Are you free now?’ Kalea asked smiling as she realized that he had thought she was sleeping.

  ‘Yes. You just seemed so calm and at peace that I thought maybe you were asleep,’ Bryan explained as he walked out of the palace and glanced around the garden, remembering again just how large an area it was. ‘Where exactly are you?’ he asked.

&n
bsp; ‘I’m on the bench under the ancient oak,’ Kalea answered automatically, forgetting that Bryan might not know the difference between an oak and a rose bush.

  ‘Since you said ancient I am going to assume that you mean the largest tree in the garden,’ Bryan said as he headed toward the bench he had enjoyed just a few days ago.

  ‘Oh, I’m sorry, Bryan, I forgot you aren’t that familiar with the garden. Yes, I’m…’ Kalea stopped as a shadow fell across her face. Opening her eyes she smiled. “Right here,” she finished out loud.

  “So you are,” Bryan replied as he slipped onto the bench beside her. “You don’t seem to be stressed about all that’s happened.”

  “Oh, I was,” Kalea answered as she gave him a soft smile and then let her eyes roam out over the garden again. “Today was full of surprises and most of them are going to require a lot of work, in a very short amount of time. That’s why I came out here. I needed to lay it all on The Way and let Him show me His path.”

  Pleased with her explanation and slightly jealous that she had been so successful in laying her burdens down at the feet of Jesus, he simply nodded and let his gaze roam as well.

  ‘Lord, you have given me a wife that challenges me at every turn and I have only known her a few days. She is so strong and capable. Yet so willing to let You be Lord of her life. Please help me to see these differences as the blessings they really are,’ Bryan prayed as he too tried to lay his burdens aside.

  ‘Thank you Lord for this glimpse of what my world used to look like and what it can look like again if it be Your will. Please help Princess Kalea and her team to find a way to make it possible, for You know how desperately Saxionias needs it. There are so many things, Lord that I want to do and we seem to have so little time. Help me to find a way Lord. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.’

  Kalea could feel Bryan pray and it fascinated her. She didn’t know what he was saying but she could feel the nearness of the Voice even though He wasn’t speaking to her. ‘Thank You Holy One for this gift of unity. Please bless us with a double portion, and even more, as it seems that evil is trying to drive us apart already. May we truly be as one, in You. Amen.’

  Time passed with small talk about their respective days and plans for tomorrow. The sun caused the shadows to lengthen. Miraculously neither of their AVIDs went off. It was only when Bryan’s stomach rumbled and they both burst out laughing, that the moment was broken.

  Looking a little embarrassed Bryan said, “I guess the little bit of breakfast you gave me earlier wasn’t enough.”

  “What?” Kalea asked in shock. “You mean you haven’t eaten anything else all day?”

  “Well, no,” Bryan answered a bit surprised himself. “With all that happened I was so busy trying to make arrangements and smooth things over with various people that I forgot.” With a shrug of his shoulders he let it go as no big deal.

  “How would you like dinner on the balcony?” Kalea asked as she pointed to the large balcony above them on the right.

  “Sounds lovely,” Bryan answered and watched as Kalea activated her AVID and quickly gave instructions. When she had finished he said, “Kalea, I was thinking that there has to be a better way to make this adjustment. What would you say to a change of plans and a bit more time to work with?”

  “Like what?” Kalea asked.

  “Well, I was thinking that instead of just returning to Saxionias directly, I could send a message letting them know what’s happened. Then I could explain that due to all the changes that need to be made, I will need another week here before I’ll be able to escort you and your teams back to Saxionias. I will also strongly suggest that you and I will need to take a roundabout course making several stops along the way. We’ll call it a honeymoon, of sorts. What do you think?” Bryan asked, and then paused to watch for a reaction.

  ‘Thank You, Holy One,’ Kalea prayed as she let a small smile touch her lips. “I think it sounds wonderful,” Kalea answered. “But these stops…will they be space ports, planets or both?”

  “I was thinking we could visit two of your favorite space ports and then two of my favorite space stations on the way. We’d still arrive a week earlier than I was originally scheduled to return and we’ll have had some fun together,” Bryan suggested.

  “Well I see two small problems with that plan. First, what will we do with all of my teams? And second, I don’t have a favorite space port much less two,” Kalea replied.

  “You don’t? Why? Are they all the same?” Bryan asked.

  “No, I think they differ, but I haven’t ever been to any of them. I feel quite comfortable here and have never felt the need to visit them. I guess I could ask Gilbert which two he would recommend. He has been to all of our space ports at least once.”

  “Umm. Then I guess we will ask Gilbert. I must admit I’m surprised you haven’t ever been off planet but then again…” Bryan said as he gestured at the garden, “…I guess you do have everything you need right here.”

  “Yes I do. Oh, but I have been off planet. I just didn’t go to a space port. I was part of a delegation to Romtec Prime when I was seventeen. The flight was long but the experience was fascinating. I was very glad to get home though. I never really was overly fond of freezing temperatures and wearing so many layers of clothing it made moving difficult.”

  Bryan laughed and just then Kalea’s AVID buzzed. He had taken the time to retrieve his updated AVID from his room earlier so he didn’t need her to translate that their meal was ready as the small patch behind his ear did it for her.

  Rising, he offered his hand and together they made their way to the balcony. Before them was nothing short of a feast. The round table was nicely set for two and a second rectangular table off to the side was covered with mouth-watering food. Fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and dark breads gave way to a few small meat dishes that he didn’t recognize.

  “Everything looks delicious. Thank you for arranging this,” Bryan said as he pulled out her chair.

  “You’re welcome. As you know, I simply made the request. It is the kitchen staff that deserves our thanks.” Kalea took her seat and smiled at the servers behind the buffet table.

  “Yes, of course,” Bryan said, surprised that she would complement the staff so readily.

  “Would you like to ask the blessing?” Kalea asked.

  “It would be my pleasure,” Bryan answered as he offered her his hand. It took Kalea a moment but then she reached out and accepted his hand and bowed her head in prayer. “Gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for the bounty set before us. May it nourish us to Your name's honor and glory. In the name of Your Son Jesus, Amen.”

  “Thank you. That was lovely,” Kalea said as she let her hand slip from his. With a nod to the staff they began to serve. As each dish was offered and Bryan so readily took from each she remembered the concerns about nutrition on Saxionias. That reminder lead to other concerns regarding Saxionias and she was soon lost in thought.

  Bryan was also lost, but in flavor! Every bite was a new and wonderful experience to savor. It wasn’t until he realized that he was being a poor dinner companion that he noticed the silence. Glancing over at Kalea he could tell she hadn’t noticed. ‘Are you okay?’ he asked via the link.

  Somewhat startled from her thoughts Kalea looked up and smiled. “I’m sorry, I was thinking about Saxionias and all that needs to be done. You seem to be enjoying the food.” Kalea commented, not wanting to discuss Saxionias in public.

  Catching the hint Bryan simply answered her question with gusto. “Yes. This is delicious. Everything is wonderful. I’m not even sure what everything is, but it’s great!”

  Kalea laughed at his enthusiasm. “What dish don’t you know?”

  “Well I think I have identified all the fruits and vegetables. The nuts I know a few but I don’t know this one at all.” Bryan picked one up from the edge of his plate.

  “That is a cashew. It is a delicacy here as there is only one nut per fruit and we don’t have tha
t many trees,” Kalea answered.

  “Fascinating. I guess that’s why I have never had any. We don’t have the resources for something so rare. Mmm. They are delicious though.” Bryan ate his last one.

  “What else?” Kalea prompted.

  “All right, I must admit I can’t seem to identify the meat dishes at all. They are wonderful! I have never had such tender and flavorful meat,” Bryan said as he again eyed each of the three dishes on the buffet.

  Without a word each dish was again brought to the table and Kalea explained them. “This first dish is a fresh water fish that we call a Bass. It has a large mouth and grows rather large when in a healthy lake.”

  Bryan nodded that he understood as he was already eating another serving. Kalea smiled and continued, “This is a small open land bird. It thrives in the tall grasses that cover several areas of the planet. We call it a prairie hen.”

  “Mmm.” Bryan mumbled as he accepted another small portion of the game hen as well. Kalea smiled and gave him a moment to swallow before she asked. “Would you like me to continue or wait until you have more room on your plate?”

  “I’m truly full,” Bryan said as he cut another bite free from the bone. “I won’t be adding any more to my plate so feel free to continue.”

  “Very well this last dish is a rather large land animal that requires large areas of grassland on which to graze. We have several large herds all over the planet so this is one of the primary meats for all our people. We call it buffalo.”

  “Ah yes, beef,” Bryan said as he finished his last bite. “We have a simulated protein that is supposed to taste ‘just like the real thing.’ After tasting this I can say they were completely inaccurate. I fear you will be greatly disappointed in the food on Saxionias. Even on the space stations where it is better, I must admit that nothing truly comes close to this.”