by C H Gideon
Reynolds needed to be stopped before that happened.
“I will follow their trail, Master,” the Voice promised. “And I will reach out to the other installations and prepare them before the SD Reynolds arrives. I’ll have them vacate and leave nothing behind for the scum to find.”
“I have already contacted the Suri and Hajh installations and warned them of Reynolds’ coming, but dependent upon which one they go to first, there is little we can do. Hajh is barely more than a forward operating outpost in the middle of a frostbitten planet. They will offer Reynolds no resistance.
“As such, I will travel there and hope to reach it before the Federation scum arrive. You travel to Suri and help prepare their evacuation. I want nothing left behind to further the Federation’s intelligence, is that clear?”
“It is, Master,” the Voice answered reverently.
“I had not expected to have to chase this android when I vowed to take the fight to him, but I will do what I must to tear his star from my sky,” Phraim-’Eh vowed. “Contact me once you’ve arrived on Suri.”
The connection died without another word, and the Voice let out the breath he’d been holding during the entire conversation. His shoulders slumped, and he groaned as the weight of what was transpiring settled over him.
The end was coming, one way or another.
He prayed to be on the winning side.
Chapter Thirteen
The planet Lariest appeared on the screen as the SD Reynolds Gated into Jiya’s home system.
It was Geroux, Takal, and Maddox’s home, too.
The brilliant blues and greens gave her pause as she looked down upon her former home, still amazed by how beautiful it looked from up here. It had been a long time since she’d been there last, or so it felt.
Geroux came over and took her hand as they stood at the viewport, and even Maddox seemed to shuffle about in his seat at the sight.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Geroux asked.
Jiya nodded. “From up here,” she replied, the realization of what they’d left behind washing over her then.
It hadn’t been a friendly or fond farewell when they’d left, and Jiya wondered what kind of reception they’d garner now that they had returned.
She wouldn’t have long to wonder.
“We’re being hailed by the planet, Captain,” Comm announced.
“Haven’t seen that happen before,” Maddox said from his station, the Pod-doc having already repaired his injured rib. Dr. Reynolds had signed off for him to return to his duty station.
Jiya agreed.
The Larians weren’t known for their strong orbital defense, and she was just as surprised by the greeting as Maddox was.
“Onscreen,” Reynolds ordered.
If he thought the message was strange, he didn’t show it.
A no-nonsense face appeared on the viewscreen. Her reddish skin glistened under the lights, and her dark hair was pulled into a tight tail behind her head. Black eyes stared across the void, and Jiya felt a sudden pang of homesickness at seeing someone contacting them from her former home.
“I am Paltrus Varl of the Lariest Space Defense Initiative. You are entering Lariest Provincial Space. Please identify yourself and your intent,” the soldier said in an officious voice.
Jiya glanced back at Maddox. “That’s new, too,” she mouthed.
The general nodded his agreement.
“I am Captain Reynolds of the Federation Superdreadnought Reynolds,” the AI replied. “For what nation do you speak: the Toller, Marianas, or Melowi?” he asked.
A sly smile cracked the face of the female before it disappeared. “I speak for all of them, Captain Reynolds. Much has changed since your departure from our world.”
“So it would seem,” Reynolds answered.
“Might I ask if Jiya Lemaire is still a member of your crew?” Paltrus went on. “Is she with you?”
“She is indeed,” the AI answered. He glanced at Jiya.
She shrugged, just as surprised as he was at the mention of her name.
At that, Paltrus smiled without hesitation. “Excellent. Her family will be glad to hear it. Please, follow our coordinate prompts to the Marianas Spaceport, and you will be met by transportation to the Provincial palace. We welcome you to Lariest.”
The female closed the link as the coordinates were fed to Ria for the ship’s landing.
“That was fucking weird,” Jiya muttered, looking at Geroux and Maddox.
“I expected a less hospitable welcome from Marianas, I have to admit,” Reynolds said.
“You and us both,” Maddox agreed, gesturing to indicate him and Jiya. “None of us exactly left on great terms.”
“Maybe your father has had a change of heart,” Geroux suggested.
Both Jiya and Maddox chuckled at that.
“When groths fly,” Jiya joked. “I can’t see my father welcoming me back unless he plans to snatch me up and stuff me in a cell for the rest of my days.”
“Right alongside me,” Maddox said. “This is strange.”
“Regardless,” Reynolds told them, “we’ll be prepared for anything stupid President Lemaire might attempt while we’re here. For now, let’s just go along with it and see how everything plays out. We saw some pretty amazing changes back on Grindlevik 3, so who knows what’s happened? The universe doesn’t stop trucking along while we’re off gallivanting.”
Jiya nodded her agreement. She wasn’t the same kid who’d run away from her father time after time, finally landing on the SD Reynolds and exploring space. She was herself now, her true self, and nothing her father could do could bring her down.
At least she’d get to see her sisters Reea and Lory again.
A thrill ran through her at that thought.
It had been forever since she’d seen the girls, and Jiya wondered what they’d been up to in her absence.
Worry briefly clouded her mind as she thought of their relationship with their father, but it passed quickly. Her father would never hurt the girls, even if he kept them locked in the palace.
They were safe and taken care of, even if they weren’t loved by him.
“Bringing the ship in now,” Ria announced as she angled the SD Reynolds in preparation to land.
The familiar port sat below them, and Jiya smiled as she recalled her first meeting with Reynolds.
“Hey, look, this is right where you kidnapped me and took me hostage,” Jiya said, grinning broadly.
“Hey!” Reynolds argued. “It all worked out in the end, so no harm, no foul.”
“For the record, I was against all that,” Tactical clarified. “He wanted a crew, but I tried to convince him it was a bad idea. We didn’t need any stinking meatbags.”
“You’d miss us if we were gone,” Jiya told the AI personality.
“You severely overestimate my ability to process fucks,” Tactical replied.
Jiya chuckled. “Yeah, I probably do. But if nothing else, I’d miss you,” she told him.
Tactical grunted.
“I’d miss you most of all, Scarecrow,” Reynolds told her, shooing her from the bridge. “Now get the fuck down to the hangar bay so we can find out what the hell has gone on here in our absence.”
Jiya grinned and fired a salute his way. “Yes, sir!”
Jiya grabbed Geroux’s hand and led her off the bridge. Maddox clopped along at their heels, while Reynolds called for Ka’nak and Takal to join them.
A hoverlimo met them at the ramp. It pulled up smoothly as they debarked, and the driver climbed out of his seat and opened the back doors for the crew to enter.
“This is a fancy ride to the gallows,” Maddox joked. “Classy.”
The crew climbed in and the driver started off, weaving and winding through the spaceport traffic on the way toward the palace.
Jiya leaned over the separator between them and the driver and asked, “Are you taking us to see President Lemaire?”
The driver chuckled. �
�I’m afraid I’m sworn to let the provincial representatives answer all your questions, Ms. Lemaire.”
“There’s that word again,” Maddox said, referring to “provincial.” “It seems a rather broad term for Marianas, I’m thinking.”
“I agree,” Jiya said, sitting back once she realized the driver intended to stay true to his word and not answer her questions.
Fortunately, it wasn’t a long ride to the palace.
They arrived a short while later and were let inside the gates without even having to stop. Not long after, they pulled up to the entryway to the presidential compound and the driver hopped out, opening their doors again.
The crew climbed out a bit hesitantly, still unsure of what was going on.
“All the tension might well drive me to drink,” Takal said with a grin, catching Geroux’s eyes as he spoke.
For once, she didn’t chastise him. “I just might join you, Uncle,” she replied with a laugh.
They entangled their arms and marched along the walkway toward the entrance. A suited male greeted them at the door. It wasn’t Gal Dorant, the head of Security and personal advisor to her father, whom Jiya had expected. She was pleasantly surprised to not see him.
The old head of security had always bothered her, appearing as though he were crafted from scorched, weathered matchsticks and threaded into an expensive suit.
Instead, there was a young male standing there, his short-cropped hair and brilliant crimson skin making Jiya’s look muted in comparison. His eyes were giant pools of obsidian.
He bowed to them. “I am Bal Huro, head of Security for the provincial palace. Please, come inside. Your presence is expected.”
Before Jiya could ask Huro anything, he spun on a heel and started off, leading the crew inside.
Memories washed over Jiya as they entered the palace and her eyes wandered everywhere, her head on a swivel.
The first thing that stood out to her was how…bright the place appeared.
She remembered it being dark and utilitarian, a reflection of her father’s attitude. No lights that weren’t absolutely necessary were ever allowed on, and there was no clutter or decorative nuances to make the palace seem like a home to three little girls.
No, it had always been a palace; a place of business for her father.
Now, however, there was a welcomeness to it that had never been there before. Art adorned the walls—historical pieces as well as banners.
It was nothing like the gaudy efforts of the Telluride in their original homes, but there was a comfortable, relaxed feel to the decorations. Whoever had hung them hadn’t meant the place to be for stuffy royals or executives only. They had meant for it to bring joy and happiness to those who spent more time there than a quick, formal meeting.
Jiya’s first thought was that her father must have died.
It was an awkward thought that she didn’t know how to process, but it faded as Bal Huro led them into the throne room.
Jiya’s eyes went wide at seeing her young sisters seated side by side in small, simple thrones atop the royal dais.
Despite the time between, she recognized them immediately.
It was Reea and Lory.
Jiya gasped and ran across the throne room. Security shifted around the room to deflect her, but the sisters waved them off and ran down the steps to greet their long-lost sibling.
The three collided in a mass of hugs and kisses and muffled greetings.
“I’m guessing that means we’re not here to be executed,” Ka’nak stated, grinning. He wiped the back of his hand across his brow. “Whew.”
Maddox chuckled. “It would have been just one more chance for you to get into a fight.”
The Melowi shrugged. “True.”
The sisters called Geroux over, and she joined the melee until the four of them had worn themselves out.
Finally, the two younger sisters composed themselves and returned to their thrones. Bal Huro gathered the crew all together and led them to the foot of the dais. There were smiles all around.
“While introductions are likely unnecessary, it is my duty, regardless,” Bal stated. “My ladies, Queens Reea and Lory Lemaire, may I introduce the Federation’s Captain Reynolds and his crew, Ka’nak, General Maddox, as I’m sure you remember, Geroux and Takal Durbin and, of course, your sister.”
“Queens?” Jiya asked, taken aback by the twin titles. She asked the question that had been nagging her since she realized her father was no longer in charge. “Is father…dead?”
Reea and Lory grinned.
“No, but he likely wishes he was,” Reea replied. “He’s been imprisoned and will probably spend the remainder of his life there.”
“It’s hardly a punishment, given how posh his quarters are, but I’m sure he doesn’t see it that way,” Lory added.
“What I wouldn’t have given for a posh jail when Lemaire imprisoned me,” Maddox opined, grinning.
“He’s been jailed?” Jiya asked. “Why?”
She realized the question was pretty stupid right after she asked it.
“I mean, besides him being an asshole,” she corrected.
“Good thing that’s not a jailable offense or I’d be fucked.” Reynolds laughed.
“Oh, it’s much more than that,” Reea assured. “He’d been poisoning the other countries against each other, working behind their backs to bring each of them to each other’s throats. War nearly broke out before it was determined what he’d done.”
“The war would have broken the whole planet,” Lory continued. “But when he was found out, members of the council loyal to our family helped us take control of Marianas. We staged a coup and deposed Father. Then, after we began talks with the Toller and Melowi nations, it was decided that all three of us should join forces for the betterment of the planet.”
“We became the Lariest Provincial as a whole, and Lory and I were placed in charge of it all,” Reea told them. “Well, sort of.” She laughed. “We represent Marianas and the other two nations to visitors to our world, but the Toller and Melowi nations largely manage their own internal issues, as we do with Marianas.”
“Still, it is a world away from where the politics of the planet stood when you left to join Captain Reynolds here,” Reea said, smiling at her sister.
“And though Father never wanted you to return, know that you are always welcome here, sister. We’ve missed you,” Lory told her.
“And Captain Reynolds and the crew of the SD Reynolds are also always welcome here. The terms agreed upon by President Alac Sumor of the Melowi and President Corrh V’ariat of the Toller regarding your safe passage and supplies anytime you are in the system are in place here in Marianas, too,” Reea assured.
“Good to know,” Reynolds replied. “We thank you.”
The sisters rose and came down the stairs to stand among the crew.
“Now, we know you didn’t come all this way simply to catch up, so is there something we can help you with?” Reea asked.
Jiya grinned. “You always were smart girls,” she told her sisters. “Better suited for all this than I would ever be.”
“A life of adventure suits you, Jiya,” Lory told her, smiling pleasantly. “But yes, please tell us what we can do for you.”
“We’re actually on a mission,” Jiya explained. “We needed someplace to bide our time and effect minor repairs to our ship. We only need a place to stay for tonight, where we can catch our breath far from the trials of our mission. We’ll be gone again tomorrow.”
“Ohh, I wish you could stay longer, Jiya,” Reea said, “but we understand. Of course, we have plenty of room for all of you. We can feed you and give you comfortable quarters for the night, or for however long you stay.”
“You had me at food, Your Majesties,” Ka’nak said with a grin.
Reea and Lory smiled back at him.
“Bal, show our guests to comfortable quarters and provide them with every luxury while they’re here,” Reea said, waving the he
ad of Security over.
The sisters turned back to Jiya and hugged her.
“We’ll let you go about your work, but we’ll stop by later and reminisce, if you’re okay with that?” Lory asked.
“Of course,” Jiya replied. “I want to spend as much time as possible with you. Then, maybe when all this is over, I can come back for a real visit.”
“That would be delightful,” Reea and Lory said in unison.
The crew said their farewells, and Bal Huro led them out of the throne room and back into the familiar palace. He took them to quarters Jiya remembered as being stuffy and cold, and she realized they had been revamped, much like the rest of the palace.
The suite of rooms was warm and welcoming, and every convenience was made available to them. Bal Huro left them to their own devices shortly after he made sure they were fed appropriately.
The crew sat around eating until they were full.
No matter how great the food the aggro-printers provided was, it was always great to have a home-cooked meal made by someone else.
Reynolds set Jora’nal’s stolen computer on the table once it had been cleared. The thump of it nudged Jiya out of her pleasant reverie.
“We’ve got a decision to make,” the AI stated. “The information we obtained from the cruiser’s databases confirm the locations and nature of the other two places we learned of from Jora’nal’s intel. Plus, it hints at several other locations of underground cult activity across the universe. However, none of it points directly to Phraim-’Eh.”
“What do we have?” Maddox asked.
“I think we can discount the other locations we’ve dug up for now, since intel informs us that they are all on densely populated planets not under the cult’s control. I find it hard to believe that Phraim-’Eh could hide his flamboyant need to call himself a god without there being some sort of uproar regarding it. Recent news from these locations shows nothing of that sort.”
“So, what do we know about the other two spots?” Maddox asked.
“Both locations are military outposts, from what I can garner. One’s seriously remote, some frozen planet that goes by the designation of Hajh. There’s little information regarding it, beyond that it appears to be some kind of staging outpost. It’s intentionally way the hell out there, from the looks of it.”
