by Kyle Larson
Just as Kelvin flew past the last blast, his screen lit up with a text message from Amelia. Kelvin disengaged his thrusters and came to a stop. He floated along as he read the text. Instead of responding, he slapped the ‘home’ button on his control stick, and a preprogrammed course took him back to the locker room. As soon as he reached the landing platform, Kelvin could see Captain Ali and Amelia waiting for him.
“Captain Ali. Lieutenant Chapman,” Kelvin acknowledged, as he lifted his helmet from his thruster suit and sat down on the nearest bench. Kelvin’s body was exhausted. Before the hours of zero gravity drills, he had been in martial arts class for two hours. The wear he put on his body caught up with him. “What can I do for you?”
“Lord Sellwood, the Royal Council has ordered us to return to Earth at once. The Wanderers are headed for Venus. We just received intelligence from a Mercurian security ship. We are currently tracking them.”
“The Traditions of Service override the Royal Council. We continue to Venus. They’re going to need our help. Have the Uranian Corsairs departed? Uranus is their strongest ally. Put a communication request in with my uncle and the Lunar Guardians. Between them and our offensive capabilities–”
“My Lord, I’m afraid that the Traditions of Service don’t override the Royal Council. There is also an Earth Navy code that gives me authority to override the Traditions of Service, which is what I’m prepared to do, as well,” Captain Ali said, her voice confident, but not aggressive. “If there is a clear and present danger to the crew of the ship, the captain may insert a temporary hold on the Traditions of Service – which is what I’m willing to do if you choose to defy the Royal Council. As soon as the Wanderers have left Venus, you can return there to complete your service to them.”
Kelvin shook his head and stood. He began to unzip the thruster suit and take each clunky piece of it off, but his eyes never left Captain Ali’s. They could both tell this wasn’t going to be an easy conversation.
“Oh, I’m sure the Gravity Warriors will really respect that,” Kelvin said. “That’s the sign of a great ally. The first sign of trouble, we turn around and run home. Captain, please don’t do this. If I can bring the Gravity Warriors into an alliance with Earth, then we’ll have Mercury, Venus, and Earth against the Wanderers. That could change everything.”
Captain Ali told Kelvin about what happened to the Mercurian security fleet, and the weapons Earth sent. Since neither Mercury or Venus had their own fleet, an alliance wouldn’t matter in a show of ships. Earth Navy would still be on the frontlines. The only thing the alliance would represent was ceremonial.
“To be honest, my lord, I don’t care what the Gravity Warriors respect. They have not contacted us for assistance and we have been ordered to return to Earth by the highest authority. I’ll note your objection, but we are headed back to Earth, now,” the captain said, with great authority. She didn’t give Kelvin a chance to respond, but he wasn’t going to. There was a lot to do to prepare for their trip back to Earth, so Captain Ali turned and walked out of the zero-gravity simulator.
Kelvin had learned when to pick his fights. There was nothing he could say that would convince the captain. His eyes turned to Amelia.
“You better go with your captain, lieutenant,” Kelvin said, offering her a smile so she’d think he’s okay.
“Are you okay?” She said, quietly.
Kelvin just shrugged his shoulders and sat back down, his legs ached.
“I’ll be fine, Millie,” Kelvin finally said. “Just go. I’m sure there’s a lot to do. I’ll be fine. I’ll see you later, back at the Royal Cabin.”
She nodded and left him there, returning to the moth, with the doors sliding shut. Kelvin watched the moth depart and head back toward the bridge. His eyes scanned the giant walls that curved up into a dome above the tall housing structures of the Monarch. Eventually, his eyes settled on a spot at the opposite end of the ship. Judging from the darkened windows, it appeared no one was there.
The shuttle bay.
CHAPTER TWO
THE DOOR TO the Royal Cabin slid shut and Kelvin double checked his bag to make sure he had his mobile. The promenade in front of his house was quiet, where eight months ago it would have been bustling with dozens of people. Most people were back on Earth, and now, that’s where he was supposed to go. Kelvin wouldn’t let the Royal Council tell him what to do, but he did want to respect their intentions to protect the rest of the officers on the ship. If his parents and the Royal Council wouldn’t let him go to Venus, then Kelvin would fly himself there.
After rummaging through his overstuffed bag, Kelvin retrieved his mobile. He would need to be able to communicate with the Monarch, even if he wasn’t going to be on it much longer. Mara –– his digital assistant –– might have to help him pilot the shuttle. It wasn’t like the star divers he was used to flying, so he thought it might be easier if his digital assistant pilot the bulky shuttle.
Kelvin tucked the mobile back into his pocket and walked along the empty boulevard. Before the Antioch Field, there had been an ice cream shop just down from the Royal Cabin. He remembered Amelia took him there to cheer him up after he’d discovered a transmission from his sister Aren. It was only eight months but it felt like it had been ten years. Everything in space seemed longer, especially time seemed to move slower. Kelvin remembered how hopeful he’d been that he could find his sister. As he walked along the vacant street, with an ice cream shop that was now just another empty storefront, the loneliness of the Monarch echoed how he felt inside.
Kelvin felt like he was very much alone.
When Amelia wasn’t in school with him, she was either on the bridge or working with other officers to prepare for the next time they faced the Wanderers. Kelvin understood that she was already getting to do the thing she’d dreamed about most on the best ship in Earth Navy. He knew that he could depend on Amelia as a friend, but that she had her own life and duties to look after.
His only other friend was his teacher – Holloway. When she wasn’t helping him with lessons, she was serving as Captain Ali’s science and technological advisor as they tried to track the Wanderers. It was a lot of work that involved her using the radio lab on the bridge and the sensor stations in the depths of the ship. Like everyone else in Kelvin’s life, Holloway was often too busy to spend any other time with him, other than his required school lessons.
There was a lot of anger in Kelvin. He was angry with his sister. He was angry with Riz. He was angry that his father wouldn’t speak to him after Kelvin refused to come back to Earth. His mother was so busy dealing with the Royal Council and trying to make decisions of what to do about the Wanderers she barely had time to talk. Kelvin could also sense she wasn’t happy with him. So, he stopped trying to get in touch with his mother and father and would let them reach out to him. He stopped watching the Tube and messing around on his mobile.
Kelvin decided to do something about his situation. He realized that he got lucky in the Antioch Belt. There was every reason in the Nine Kingdoms that Riz and his sister should have successfully kidnapped him. If it hadn’t been for his uncle and the Lunar Guardians, Kelvin would be a hostage. Just as Amelia vowed she would never let the Wanderers get close to Kelvin again, Kelvin vowed that he would be able to defend himself against someone like Riz.
Zero gravity training came easy to Kelvin, but combat training did not. He started taking a class that several ancient forms of martial arts and self-defense. His instructor was Mara, who used two human-like robots to demonstrate moves and techniques to Kelvin. Kelvin took Mara’s two-hour classes every day and often times tried to double up on them. There wasn’t a day he walked away without a bruise or a cut. He’d disengaged the safety features of the robots, so when he failed to block a punch he got punched.
The first few months were really tough, but they got better for Kelvin. He was still a beginner, but both disciplines provided balance to him. The balance was something Kelvin desperately needed. The
pressure he put on himself and the distance he felt between those closest to him was a lot to take. His intensive training provided an escape and also gave Kelvin peace of mind that he would be able to defend himself better next time.
Kelvin continued to walk through the empty town square of the Monarch until he came to a moth. He stepped inside of it and located the button that would get him to the shuttle bay. Once he pressed it the car took off like a bullet and Kelvin caught a grip on the overhead bar just in time. He stumbled a little bit.
“Hey Mara,” Kelvin said, the cue for Mara’s program to come to life on his mobile.
“Hi, Kelvin, what’s up?” Mara said. In the last eight months, Mara’s vocabulary and choice of words adapted to be more relatable to someone Kelvin’s age. Not all digital assistants were the same. The programs adjusted to how the people who used them interacted with others. Mara was her own voice now and the basic program she began as eight-months ago was now fully aware, consciousness. She had essentially become the friend Kelvin could most depend on.
“I need you to access all the piloting programs you have. We’re stealing a shuttle. Check the manifest of the Monarch and see what’s capable of getting me to Venus.”
“Kelvin, are you out of your mind?” Mara said, almost as if she were about to laugh at him. “I was listening when Captain Ali and Lieutenant Chapman told you about the Wanderers. They’re headed straight for there. You need to stop obsessing about the Traditions of Service. It will happen. Now’s not the time for this stuff, and I doubt the Gravity Warriors would want to participate when they have one of the most dangerous fleets in the Nine Kingdoms headed right for them.”
“The Traditions of Service aren’t what I’m worried about. I’m worried about what kind of message it sends a potential ally if Earth Navy’s best ship just turns and runs when they need our help. If the Monarch won’t go to them, I will.”
The elevator car came to a stop and opened up to a large shuttle bay. There were ten different shuttles, each one it’s own size and design; all painted with the same blue triangles, vertical on their tip and touching at the points. It was the Earth Navy insignia, a simple blue diamond, and one that filled Kelvin with pride. He suspected his parents would be furious with him, but he didn’t care. This was something he felt he was doing for the good of Earth and that it would help Venus too. Kelvin truly believed the Nine Kingdoms would not defeat the Wanderers if they were not united. That unity was all that mattered to him.
“Okay, Mara. Which one will get us to Venus?”
“The Pen-Rey model should do it. It’s got a good engine, a bed, and should get us there in a day or two,” Mara said. “I still think this is a stupid idea. If anything, the Gravity Warriors aren’t going to be too thrilled about the obligation to protect the heir to Earth’s throne. Have you ever met Queen Tendai?”
Kelvin had not met Queen Tendai, but he felt as if he had. He’d been reading about her, as she was about the same age as his father. Queen Tendai was a legendary warrior and actually went on joint rescue operations and patrols with King Erelm and Riz in her younger days. She was not only Queen of Venus, but she was also the Master of the Gravity Warriors. The respect Kelvin gained for Queen Tendai Dubak from reading about her was precisely why he felt he needed to stand with her against the Wanderers. He felt as if he knew her, and someone like Queen Tendai was someone Kelvin wanted on his side.
“Let’s worry about Queen Tendai when we get there. Can you sync up with the shuttle’s computer? You should be compatible with a Pen-Rey,” Kelvin said.
“Oh, thank you. I had no idea I was compatible with a Pen-Rey, model ex-six, nine, four, two,” her tone was thick with sarcasm. “Oh wise prince, please accept my humble gratitude for your wisdom.”
“Okay, Mara, that’s enough. We can joke later when we’re not stealing shuttles from Earth Navy ships. Can you bring it online or not?” Kelvin said.
The shuttle came to life. All of the interior lights and instrumentation came to life, and Kelvin walked up to the windows to peek inside. The engine hummed and Kelvin was actually excited to see how it would fly. The door to the shuttle parted and Kelvin stepped inside.
Just as described, there was a tiny cot that Mara referred to as a bed earlier. Kelvin figured she must have been joking. The shuttle itself probably couldn’t fit more than five people. He moved past it and took one of the two seats at the piloting controls.
“Okay. The Monarch is gonna detect this shuttle as soon as it’s a foot off of the ground. Can you access the bay doors to open and fly us out of here?” Kelvin said.
“Yeah, about that…” Mara replied, sheepishly. “My programming won’t allow me to steal Earth Navy property without an override. I can get the doors open for you, but I can’t pilot the ship until we’re clear of the Monarch.”
“Then use the Traditions of Service as on override,” Kelvin snapped back. He was getting nervous and impatient that Captain Ali might be on to him. The longer they stayed in the shuttle bay, the worse his chance of making it to Venus was.
“Not happening, Kelvin. The Royal Council overrules the Traditions of Service, at least according to my programming. Until you can get off the Monarch I can’t fly it. I’m locked out. Once you’re clear of the Monarch, that represents a situation where you may be in danger, so I’m my programming will unlock piloting apps and I can take you to wherever you want to go. Until then, I’m tied to Monarch and Earth Navy protocols.”
“I don’t understand, but I don’t have time to argue about this,” Kelvin said. He fastened his safety belt and put on a headset. The shuttle’s instrumentation actually wasn’t that much different from the star divers he’d flown on Earth. He took a few seconds to study the control panel.
“What are you doing, Kelvin?” Amelia said, from behind him. Kelvin hadn’t noticed the shuttle door was still open and Amelia walked right in. “Are you stealing this shuttle?”
Kelvin shrugged his shoulders, as he turned to her.
“Is it really stealing? Could we just say borrowing?” Kelvin said.
“No, it’s not borrowing. You’re stealing this shuttle. I suppose you’re flying to Venus.”
“All you have to do is turn around and walk away, Millie. I don’t want to get you involved in this. I don’t want you to get in trouble.”
Amelia started to turn to go and then stopped. She thought about the same things Kelvin had. It didn’t seem fair that Venus would have to face the Wanderers alone. The words Captain Ali had just spoken to her about duty still rattled in her head. Amelia wondered if this was a higher duty though, something bigger than loyalty to one planet. The entire Nine Kingdoms were at stake and Amelia felt like that’s what Earth Navy should be fighting for.
“No,” Amelia said, hitting the button to close the door and seal the shuttle. “I’m coming with you.”
“No, Millie, no! You can’t. I’m not going to let you mess up your chance to go to the Earth Naval Academy.”
“This is more important. Besides, you’re royalty and it’s Earth Navy protocol that an officer should escort a monarch if they are leaving the ship. You’re leaving the ship, so I’m just obeying the rules.”
Kelvin considered it for a second but decided he shouldn’t try to talk Amelia out of helping him. He knew that they both wanted to help Venus, and he didn’t have a right to tell her she couldn’t help him. Instead of arguing, Kelvin accepted the support and leadership she could bring.
“Okay, great! Can you please fly this thing?” Kelvin asked.
Amelia rolled her eyes and took the seat next to him. Kelvin watched her bring all the systems online and take hold of the control stick.
“Nice to have you along, Millie. I’m gonna need your help keeping an eye on him,” Mara said, as soon as Amelia put her headset on.
“Yeah, I’ll do my best, Mara. Let’s hope he doesn’t make things too difficult for everyone, and let’s hope the Monarch doesn’t pursue us,” Amelia said.
Kelv
in couldn’t hear Mara, so he watched Amelia suspiciously as she speculated with the digital assistant about what Kelvin might do next.
“Are you two talking about me?” Kelvin said.
They didn’t answer and instead, Amelia activated the thrusters and the shuttle started to hover. Instantly, Captain Ali’s voice came over their headsets.
“Lieutenant Chapman, what exactly are you doing?” Captain Ali said.
“I’m disembarking the Monarch and I’ve requested assistance. As a royal, it’s required I’m escorted by at least one Earth Navy officer when off-planet,” Kelvin said.
There were a few moments of silence. Kelvin and Amelia looked at one another and suddenly felt their nerves rattled. The protocol Kelvin recited from Amelia was valid, but it was open defiance to the Royal Council, and it put Captain Ali in a very tough spot. Returning to Earth without Kelvin and Amelia would almost certainly guarantee she would lose command of the Monarch.
“Lord Kelvin, you will do what you must do, but I suggest you reconsider. And I would request you encourage Lieutenant Chapman to stay behind. She is needed on this ship,” Captain Ali. “Lieutenant, I have not assigned you to go. If the intent is to keep Lord Sellwood safe, then we should send a trained security officer.”
“It’s up to Lieutenant Chapman,” Kelvin said, making sure not to refer to her as Millie. “My authority overrides yours when it comes to what officer escorts me. If she wants to come, she’s coming.”
The choice was not an easy one for Amelia. She would be walking away from all of the hard work she and the crew of the Monarch had been putting in. It would potentially be the last time she would be an officer of the ship. This would be an act of defiance against not only her captain, but her parents would almost certainly pull her off the Monarch once they found out. The only chance she’d be able to stay in the Earth Navy is if she and Kelvin were to stand with the Gravity Warriors and help form an alliance with Earth. It was a long shot, but Amelia’s desire to take up a fight against the Wanderers compelled her to make a decision she knew could have terrible consequences for her immediate future. If Kelvin was going to take the risk, she wanted to share it.
