I replied, “I too can read yours as well, sir.”
He looked at me with a puzzled look. “You are the woman of Dorn.”
“I am, sir,” I said.
Bas said, “Dorn will be here soon.” I told him hopefully two months.
Bas looked at all of us. “Two weeks, we picked him up on our sensor last night.”
Omega asked, “You have sensors that far out in space?”
Bas answered, “We do. If you don’t, you should.” Bas asked, “When did you pick us up?”
Mi had landed for the meeting. Answering, he said, “Yesterday when you entered the Spores galaxy.”
Bas said, “Let me tell you why I’m here.”
Kira said, “We have been waiting for this.”
I said to him, “My husband told us of your dealing with the Palatonians.”
Bas said with a grope in his voice, “I want that captain. Porta has caused us, me, several lives. We sent a ship from the Pegasus galaxy to rendezvous with them. Your man, Dorn, says he is not on the ship. I say he is.”
“King Bas, if my husband said he is not on the ship, he’s not on the ship. My husband does not lie. I will not sit here sir, listen to you talk about him.” Ellie stood, said the same. I could see he and I were on a different path. A path to where there was no end.
Bas said, “I apologize for the remark. Your husband said he would bring him to my brother, King Ba. You don’t know the captain as I do,” Bas said.
Ellie jumped in. “You don’t know Dorn as we do. If he gives you his word, he will bring this Porta to you.
Bas looked at Omega. “It is said, Porta comes from here. He is a shifter.”
Omega stood. “You have been told wrong, Porta is not from here.”
Kira stood, walked to the stoop. She never took her eyes from him. “How dare you come to my world, make such accusations of us? I assure you we do not know this person. I assure you, he is not from here. Where did you hear we were shifters?”
Bas said, “I do not wish to bring anyone else into this.”
Kira asked, “Did the Centaurians tell you this?”
“Of course, they did Kira,” I said. “Them or those stupid Palatonians.”
Omega stood, walked across the floor. Omega asked, “Are you friends with the Palatonians?”
Bas said, “We do some trading with them.”
Omega replied, “King Bas, leave here now, sir. Don’t ever come back.” Omega told Bas, “When Dorn arrives, if he has this Porta, I’ll have him come to your brother as planned.” Omega kept talking.
I told King Bas, “My husband said your brother was a respectable man. You come here calling us names, liars.” I was mad, Kira could see this; she knew my temper.
Kira said, “Bas, take your men onto you ship and leave here. Sir, don’t ever come back. If you do, I’ll kill you myself. You can tell your brother what I have said. Don’t make me come to you. Leave now, do not ever come back.”
Everyone sat watching him go. Kira started to walk away with Omega. Bas’ ship lifted off. “Mi,” I called, “go with them.”
Kira turned. “Leah, she said, “What are you doing?”
“I feel something, Kira,” I said. Candance and Ellie said the same.
Kira asked, “What did you say to Mi?”
“I told him to call the ships then take off, follow them. If they turn toward the planet, blow their ass out of space. If they are waiting in space, ask them if they need to be escorted back to the Pegasus galaxy. I also told him if they don’t respond to blast their ass.”
Omega said, “Leah, either way, they get blasted.”
I smiled. “What a wonderful world. He should not talk about my husband as he did.”
“Well, looks as if we have another planet we can add to our list,” Omega said.
Kira said, “I wish Ira was still here.”
I looked at her and smiled. “I wish my husband was here. I’ll go to the lab until I hear from Mi.”
I asked Mea, “Has Mi called?” She started to say when he called.
“Leah, Mi called.”
Mi said, “They have come to a stop just beyond the Moon of Spores.”
I asked him, “What were they doing?”
Mi replied, “Just sitting there.” I told him to call the outpost, bring all ships from the floor of the moon. Within minutes, eight fully armored ships left the moon. Within seconds, the Valorian ships went to hyperspace. I told him to follow them. I told him not to be gone long.
“Mi,” Ellie said, “hurry back, she said she had something for you when you return.”
Mi asked me, “What does she have?” I told him it was a night thing.
Mi replied, “Leah, I don’t understand you.” Ellie and I laughed out loud.
Kira asked, “Are you returning to the archives?” I told her not today.
As we walked back to the palace Kira asked me, “What have you read?” I told her I would inform her on the third day. I’ve only been there for two days.
“When I’m through tomorrow, I’ll come to you give you my report.”
Kira said, “I should do this myself.” I told her she should. I excused myself to feed Shasta. I went to my sleeping room, laid on the bed. She found her way to my breast. They were full as always. Her little body moved as she pulled and nudged until she was full. I thought of her father, what would he think, then looked at my beautiful child lying beside me fast asleep. I think he will love her. Somewhere in the late afternoon, I fell asleep.
I ‘m not sure how long I had been asleep. I woke up, walked to the window, looking across the staging area to the lab. I realized I wasn’t awake. I turned to see my body in bed with Shasta. I found myself floating over the Valley of the Unicorn to the Marder-to- go’s on top of the Great Wall that I’ve seen before, yet no one believes. A small breeze blew my silk gown. My long, dark hair moved as a gust of wind hit me. I truly was a princess in the eyes of Kayla.
A voice called, “I’m here, dear.”
I turned to see a being I’ve never seen before. From the time I arrived here on this planet, I was afraid. I fell to my knees. “Please don’t hurt me,” I said.
The being said to me, “Leah, rise. I could never hurt you. From the streets of Ratio, from the palace to the Moon of Spores, you are known, Leah. Rise Leah, take my hand.” The being lifted me, as I was on the air.
“Ira and Kayla took my place long ago,” he said. “Kayla waited for Ira for several hundred years. Now they are the keepers.”
“I don’t understand, who are you?” I asked.
The being said, “I have watched you go to the archives.”
“There has been no one watching me, I would have seen,” I replied to him.
“Come with me Leah, someone wants to see you.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you until you tell me who you are,” I said.
“Ah yes, the rebel. Kayla said you were quite the girl, no none since about you. Just as the prophecy came true of Kira. I also knew you would come. I did not know at the time how strong you would be. Just as your son Zin, born too early in life.”
I asked, “What do you know about my son?”
“Oh Leah, do you not know who I am?”
I asked, “How could I? I’ve never seen you before.”
“This is true Leah, yet you have read of me.”
“You were the last living breathing relative of Destiny.” I told him it was my belief there are others on Earth that will live long, waiting for someone to come. “I have a sister, I dream of her often. I feel with my heart she calls to me somewhere. I feel she is alive.”
“I feel that power also inside you. You are strong, Leah.” I told him I knew the stories of the Earth family.
“Leah,” he said, “Believe me, your presence here is not by accident. Mekon knew w
hat he was doing long ago when he went to Earth. I instructed him to find your mother, she was in a small cabin when he found her. She knew him, she knew Mekon was coming back. Mekon transferred the DNA on Earth, she gladly received it. She did not want to come back to Boldlygo. Month after, you were born. We never knew of the other child.
Your destiny was written long ago. The timekeepers found you in your world. It was too late for your sister, for that, I am sorry. Have you read that far in the archives?”
“I know who you are, you are Maoke, the beginning,” I said.
Replying, “Yes, princess, I am.”
“Why did you come to me? I’m not the queen. I am the wife of Dorn.”
“Yes, you are Leah, the one that should have been king. We had to rewrite so much because he never fullfilled his destiny.”
I told Maoke, “Dorn is a leader, not a king.”
“Yes, his father was a king. The only reason Omega is King is Kira, the white-haired girl.” I told Maoke there is no other as good as Kira when it comes to the people of Boldlygo. Maoke talked on for a while.
I asked him, “Who wants to see me?”
Maoke answered, “Your son, Zin.”
I asked Maoke, “Before you take me to my son, I would ask one question.”
Maoke said, “Only one, Leah. You only have to ask.”
“I was told long ago you see all, you do all.”
“This is true.”
“Why do you let the outside planets come bully us? Someday if they keep coming, and they will, they will destroy everything that has been built.”
Maoke thought for several seconds, then said, “Sit here, Leah. Thousands of years ago when timekeepers were writing, then and now. You saw it with Kayla as she talked to the Busie to change the time of Tressa.”
I said to him, “Yes, I remember.”
“I wrote most of it, time I’m saying. Ject, Tudo, Bota, Ren, Angie, Tomeka, and Kia. We all wrote in the archives all the way to Mya. Oh yes, she too has also asked to see you.”
“Where is Mya? I have read of her,” I said. “I believe the last entry was of Ject when he ascends then nothing.”
Maoke said, “Leah, her time, her destiny, had been filled; her time was up. She wanted her brother here in the ancient city, a city no human has seen except Tomeka and Kayla. Now you will see, give me your hands.” Maoke took me to the far valley in the back of the city.
I asked him, “Why are you showing me this?”
“This is your final resting place,” Maoke said. My eyes started to tear.
Maoke asked, “Leah, why are your eyes filling with tears?”
“Is it my time. What about my child?” I asked.
Maoke said, “Leah, it’s not your time. You will be at the palace for a very long time. I died on Earth, you too must die to come here. Only a few have come to the city that has not died. Bota, Kia, Tar, Tudo, there are others, they will always be here. Kira and Omega will someday come.”
Maoke said, “Come walk with me.” We walked over an arch bridge where a small native female sat with a native man. Looking up, the female ran to me as if she knew me a thousand years.
“Leah, Leah, I’m so glad you’re here.” I looked at her as she said her name. “I’m Mya,” she said, “My brother Ject. Leah, I want to show you Zin. We spend several hours a day together.”
Ject took my hand. “My lady, you handled the war games very well yesterday.”
I looked at him. “Ject, if I had not called their bluff, there would have been an awful mess on the moon.”
Ject said, “We were watching. We can’t interfere.” I told them I have heard this before. I told Maoke someday everything will be destroyed.
“We won’t let that happen,” Ject said.
“You just said you couldn’t interfere,” I reminded him.
We continued over the bridge up a small hill. At the crest, I saw a city. I could not believe a city where a thousand beings were. My hands went to my face.
“I want to see, let me go.”
“Leah,” Mya said, “If you enter, you can never go back.”
“What? What do you mean? My child is there.” I said.
A voice spoke, “You have one here too.” Turning, I stared into the eyes of a young man standing before me. “Zin,” I said. I fell to my knees. My son caught me as I went to the ground.
Zin said, “Mother, come sit here.”
“Zin, my son. I can’t believe how you have grown. You look like your father when I met him.”
Zin said, “Mother, we brought you here to tell you father will be here soon. There is trouble coming soon, you will know when it comes before it arrives. Keep all ships in orbit, they will be victorious. They will be coming soon. I hope I can finish what Ira and Kayla have planned for me. Maoke has placed the power of the Staff to Omega. Tell him to use it wisely. Mya has given Tressa so much power. If she learns to use it, you won’t need the staff.” I listened to Zin talk. He spoke as if he was a leader.
I told my son, “I have missed all your childhood.” I told him of his sister, she is so beautiful.
Zin said, “Mother, I see her every day through the portal.”
“I tell her of you every day. When she is beside me in bed, I tell her about her big brother Zin.” My son took me in his arms, whispered in my ear, “I’ll be home soon.” Crossing over the bridge I told Mya and Ject goodbye.
They both said, “Leah, we will walk with you.” I had to look over my shoulder once more. This beautiful city I wanted to see, I left behind.
Walking away, Mya said to me, “Did you know your DNA and mine are the same?”
“Mya,” I said, “I’m from Destiny.”
Mya replied, “Well, where do you think they come from? Leah, you need to go back to the archives.” I told her I would. I told her there was a lot of writing.
Mya said, “Leah, you need to write there also.” Ject agreed.
I closed my eyes, yawned, opening my eyes, I was lying in the bed; Shasta by my side. Looking through the window I thought, what a dream. Easing from my bed to walk to the window, then I knew it was no dream. I had sand and leaves on my feet. What was I to do now? who should I tell? Walking back to the bed looking at my beautiful child; she was sleeping so sound. I wonder sometimes what she dreams of.
Ellie said sometimes Charlie goo’s and smiles in his sleep, so does Shasta. Maybe they’re together somewhere. Walking to the great room, the girls were talking to Kira.
I asked Kira, “Where is Omega?”
“Leah, he is with his son. Why do you ask?”
“Kira, could you send for him and Mekon?” I asked. I told them I would return. Walking to the chambers, I told the sentry to bring the staff to the great room.
Taking the staff, he said, “As you wish, Leah.” Mekon and Omega arrived at the same time.
Mekon asked, “What is wrong, Leah?” I told them I have been to the ancient city; Maoke I have met.
“Why is it Leah, that it’s always you that goes?” Candance asked. I looked at Kira.
Kira said, “She is not the only one. I too have been there. It has been a while.”
“Candance, this is not a council, it is a talk between family,” I said.
“First,” I said, “Omega, Kira, Maoke is pleased with the way you have taken care of your people. Omega, he has placed great trust in you. I told the guardian to take the staff to Omega. Maoke has given great power to the staff, he said to use it wisely.”
I told Kira her daughter will be home soon. “Mya has given great power to her, the power that was hers now belongs to Tressa. I was told we must teach her to use it. Tressa must use the power wisely. There is a war coming. I was told the ships would be victorious. Mi will carry us to the ships; I will not tell this on the radio.”
I asked, “Will you come with me?�
� I told Kira the ships we have on the moon should stay there for the last run. They need to be cloaked in orbit. They will be there not only to protect the moon but help us if needed.
Omega asked, “Did Maoke tell you when this would be?”
I only can say, “It will happen soon after Dorn arrives. I was told after the wave there would be a great surprise.”
Standing with Ellie in the chambers, Mi said to me, “Leah, the shuttle is ready for departure. Kira and Omega will come along with us.”
Ellie said, “I could never get enough of this.”
Candance said, “I just want to have my baby.” I told her she was such a bitch. Everyone laughed. Lifting from the pad to space, we were about to dock with the Xonian ship when a ship appeared on the scope.
A call from the chief justice. “Mi, hurry! We have a ship closing fast.” Mi took the shuttle inside. We entered the bay. The ship had to move to avoid impact. The chief had to bring the ship from cloak to board. That’s when they picked us up.
“How did they get here without us picking them up on sensors?” I asked. The pilot moved quickly. We had no idea who it was. The ship comes from stealth.
Omega said, “I’ve never seen this ship before. It was old, very old.”
The ship came from stealth as a voice called, “I mean you no harm; I fly the Boldlygo crown.” Everyone looked at me.
“Mi,” I said, “have him come to the ship, tell him we will not fire.”
“Leah,” he said, “He has no shuttle. The ship was built before a shuttle was made.”
Mi asked, “Can you receive a shuttle?”
The man replied, “Yes.” Mi went for the captain.
Wil said, “He was standing by.” Returning to the ship, the man came from the shuttle.
“Greeting, my friends.” Everyone could see he was a Palatonian.
I called, “Sentries!”
“Wait,” he said, “I’m not who you think I am.”
“You are Palatonian, that’s enough,” I said.
“I am a Palatonian, I mean you no harm. I am Ozo, son of Cam. Cam was captain of Bota’s ship. My ship belongs to Bota. Maoke gave it to my father for faithful service. I told Omega and Kira I had read of Cam in the archives.”
The Staff of Ira Page 27
