by Kyle Larson
“I’ve got a job to do,” Mara mocked Kelvin. Her job was to make sure the heir to the throne of Earth was still allowed to have something of a childhood. As much as Mara teased Kelvin, she felt herself a protector of his innocence. Her programming allowed her to predict where Kelvin’s future would lead him, and Mara alone knew it would be a difficult path for the prince.
Amelia tried to scan the Royal Palace of Venus, but all of her scans were blocked. The structure of the Royal Palace was impenetrable. She increased the power to the sensors, and even at the level they would be used for deep space scans, there was nothing Amelia could see. At this point, whatever they saw, it was because the Venusians wanted them to see it.
“I can’t see anything inside of there, Kelvin. They have our sensors completely blinded,” Amelia said, not yet giving up on it.
“No one’s ever seen inside of it, Millie,” Kelvin said. “Not unless they want us to. Looks like we are guests of the Gravity Warriors now.”
The shuttle sped ahead and into the unknown.
Unlike Mercury, there were not thousands of adoring fans or citizens looking to catch a glimpse at Kelvin Sellwood. The cheers and adulation seemed like a lifetime ago for Kelvin when he looked onto the landing platform their shuttle put down on. The Royal Palace of Venus was certainly more dramatic than his home and the one on Mercury, but there wasn’t a soul there to greet Kelvin and Amelia.
The empty platform became less important when Kelvin and Amelia unfastened their safety belts and stood up. Gravity was much different on Venus. All other eight planets had similar gravity, so people living and traveling between worlds were not affected and people who worked in space full-time didn’t have to worry about discomfort when they returned to normal gravity. Venus did not make those accommodations for interplanetary travelers.
There wasn’t anything painful about the gravity, but it definitely felt like more effort for Kelvin and Amelia to walk from their seats to the open door. They exchanged nervous glances, both worried how exactly they were going to be any use to Venus if it took that much work just to walk ten feet.
“I was worried about this, Kelvin,” Amelia said. She
“I hadn’t even thought about it,” Kelvin said. His body was already tired from the grueling training circuits he’d put it through the last couple days. He was a little embarrassed and annoyed with himself for having forgotten such an obvious detail about the planet he was on.
The two of them shuffled outside and onto the platform. The fresh air felt so good to breathe. The temperature was perfectly warm, like a nice spring day, with all the nearby plant life putting out a lush, floral smell. Kelvin and Amelia had become used to the stale air of the Monarch. It didn’t matter how good the filtration and recycling system was on the ship, nothing beat the fresh air. A breeze came in, as they realized how far they were off the ground. They hadn’t noticed the Royal Palace sat at the edge of a deep canyon that wrapped around the base of the mountain behind them. It wasn’t as apparent from when they’d flown in.
The door at the end of the platform began to part and with it the rest of the wall. An entire chamber, unlit, appeared from behind the doors and three figures emerged from it. The figures slowly came onto the platform and Kelvin immediately recognized them: it was the royal family. Queen Tendai and King Etho Dubak, along with their son Prince Teve. Once they were fully in the light they all stopped and stared silently at Kelvin and Amelia.
Both Amelia and Kelvin could not tell how old they were. Queen Tendai had lost track of her age, as well as King Etho, who were both well over six hundred years old but looked like they were in their twenties. Their minds went quickly to how old Prince Teve was. He looked like he might have been their age or a couple years older, but the chances were he could be nearly as old as his parents. It was considered impolite to ask a Venusian their age, especially a Gravity Warrior.
“Prince Kelvin Sellwood of Earth,” Queen Tendai began. Her voice thundered across the platform, powerful and confident. “You are welcome in the Palace of Dubak and we grant you refuge from those who would attack you and us. Though, my lord, I wish you would have contacted and consulted us before you brought more attention to our world. The Earth Navy insists on sending their fleet here to engage the Wanderers. We cannot allow that, my lord.”
Kelvin and Amelia both took a knee out of respect to the royal family. The queen and king were both emotionless, but Teve was clearly angry and glared at them both. Kelvin and Amelia both glanced nervously at one another after catching his glare. Suddenly, they both realized they’d made a lot of assumptions about how the Gravity Warriors would receive them. Kelvin remembered his uncle laughing and saying they wouldn’t need anyone’s help, but he assumed since they were warriors they’d have a sense of nobility. What Kelvin and Amelia did by coming to Venus they both felt to be something noble. Maybe the Gravity Warriors didn’t share that sentiment, and that crossed both of their minds as they waited for Queen Tendai to say more.
“Queen Tendai, King Etho, and Prince Teve,” Kelvin said, standing up from his knee. Amelia followed. “I present myself and Lieutenant Amelia Chapman of Earth Navy. We have come to stand with you against a common enemy. It was not about bringing Earth Navy to Venus. I will contact my parents and tell them to call off the navy.”
“We already have, my lord,” Tendai replied. “Venus will not allow war to breakout above our planet. We have kept out of the Nine Kingdom’s trouble for centuries, and we don’t intend to do anything different now. If the Wanderers come looking for a fight, they will get one, and the Uranian Corsairs have already departed to aid us. The Corsairs and Earth Navy are not known for working well together, so we stand with our allies. Your gesture is appreciated by the people of Venus and the Gravity Warriors, but I’m afraid you’ve just added one more problem for us to worry about.”
“What’s that?” Kelvin said.
“Keeping you and Lieutenant Chapman safe. The heir to the throne of Earth is now our responsibility as we prepare to face the largest attack on our planet since before the formation of the Nine Kingdoms. The only way to keep your mother and father from sending their fleet was to guarantee your safety. Luckily for us both, your father knows me well enough to trust the Gravity Warriors. After this attack has passed, the Monarch will return to collect you.”
“I offer you the Tradition of Service, as heir to the throne of Earth. You may make your request and I am bound to complete it. I am in your service.”
Prince Teve burst out laughing. Both the queen and king snapped their heads in his direction and shot him a scolding look. Teve contained himself, but then decided to get his feelings off his mind.
“You are a selfish, little prince,” Teve said.
“Teve!” Etho snapped, his deep voice echoed, only a little quieter than Tendai.
“Father, the Nine Kingdoms are on the brink of war and this child wants to come to us so he can be part of a silly tradition. He doesn’t even realize what’s headed for us. Doesn’t even know how lucky he is to have made it here,” Teve said, not taking his eyes of Kelvin as he spoke.
Kelvin returned the glare, and it was matched by Amelia. They had nothing to say and conceded in their heads that Teve made a valid point.
“The Sellwood Family have proven themselves strong and loyal to us and the Gravity Warriors. Though we are not allies, we are friends, and we would expect them to treat you with much more respect than you are showing Lord Sellwood and Lieutenant Chapman. Do not let her low rank fool you, she is the daughter of Benito and Taija Chapman, and one of the highest-noble families on Earth. The Chapman family have also proven themselves friends and we are honored by their presence,” King Etho said.
“Listen to your father and now you listen to me, boy,” Tendai started in. “Lord Sellwood and Lieutenant Chapman are now our guests and you will remain civil. You speak to them like that again and you will be banished from the Royal Palace during their stay. We have enough problems, Teve. Don’t giv
e us yet another.”
Teve let the scowl on his face rest and he turned his head from Kelvin and Amelia.
“With all due respect, Lord Sellwood, I do not necessarily disagree with my son’s feelings,” Tendai said, her tone quieting from the roar it had been toward Teve. “This is not a time for the ceremony. We appreciate you want to stand with us and the Tradition of Service is an honorable one –– but you should be with your people, Lord Sellwood. They need you and you need them.”
“What I’m doing is for my people,” Kelvin said, without hesitation. The Dubak family was imposing, but they were not intimidating. Kelvin didn’t feel the need to fear them. “I want to bring the Nine Kingdoms together, to face the Wanderers. The only way we are going to stop them is together.”
“You don’t know that,” King Etho said.
It was true. Over the months on the Monarch, Kelvin’s idealism had certainly gotten smaller. As he watched the Tube and different voices from around the Nine Kingdoms argue over what to do about the Wanderers, Kelvin realized how difficult it would be to unite them. Kelvin also realized that the job was bigger than one person. He’d have to build alliances, one kingdom at a time. That was all he could worry about.
“I know that Riz Aker is a dangerous man, and so is my sister,” Kelvin said. “I want to do what I can to stop them. If you won’t let me complete the Tradition of Service, then let me stay here until I can. I don’t want to leave Venus, and I can’t continue on to other kingdoms until I’ve finished here.”
The queen and king met eyes and a concerned look. Neither one of them knew what to do about Kelvin and his request. They’d participated in the ritual with past heirs, but that was in a more peaceful context. Something came into Tendai’s head, an idea, and a way she could help Kelvin while preparing him for what was to come.
“What do you know about the Gravity Warriors, Lord Sellwood?” Tendai said.
“Nothing, your grace. I know you are their leader, but that’s all. I couldn’t find any information about them. There are legends they fought in the wars before the Nine Kingdoms.”
“Legends?” Tendai said, trying to hide her amusement. “Yes, I know no one likes talking about the old wars, but that doesn’t change the fact that they happened. Aside from the Jovians, sometimes I think we’re the only ones who remember them. Maybe your uncle Earlos, too.”
“You overthrew the Saturn Conquerors, in 2350. They were the most powerful military at the time, and the Gravity Warriors conquered them with no weapons. It’s said you used staffs, made of stone. No one lost their life, but you damaged the ships of the Saturn Conquerors so bad they never had the courage to enter your atmosphere again. It’s a legend that you lead the charge, your majesty,” Amelia said.
“Not a legend,” Teve snapped. “That’s my mother’s courage. She saved this planet herself. Everything the Gravity Warriors are and everything this planet has become is thanks to her.”
Amelia raised her eyebrow at Teve’s tone and chose to ignore him.
“You know your history, lieutenant, or whoever told you that does,” Tendai said.
“My father, your majesty.”
Amelia remembered her father tell her that story. Her family’s role in the old wars had been recorded and passed down through the generations. The Gravity Warriors of Venus were only briefly mentioned in the story Amelia shared, but she remembered it was her favorite. Queen Tendai lead the army and brought down dozens of ships that were used against her people. There were even parts of the story where Tendai was described to have the ability to fly, but Amelia always assumed they were made up.
“Your family helped us, too, lieutenant, but those old stories are for another day. Right now, we need to discuss what to do with the both of you. One thing about those old wars, I knew both your ancestors. They were good people, and they always wanted to be trained as Gravity Warriors. When peace came, there was no reason for them to learn our ways,” Tendai stopped herself.
The queen remembered the day Venus was finally free of the Saturn Conquerors. Tendai and her instructor, Egodd Adall, created the Gravity Warriors from Thalosi, Adall’s style of hand-to-hand combat. Thalosi evolved into something stronger than they ever imagined, and the defeat over Saturn was proof to them. It was long ago, but Tendai could remember everything clearly. She wasn’t sure the Nine Kingdoms had the strength to defend against a threat like that or the current one that faced them.
They would need protectors like the Gravity Warriors, but she could never ask her people to leave Venus and be soldiers in a war. None of them would. Tendai had an option though, and it could also serve Kelvin’s purpose.
“Lord Sellwood, I call on you and Lieutenant Chapman to become Gravity Warriors,” Queen Tendai pronounced.
“Mother,” Teve hissed. Kelvin and Amelia could see that King Etho was also uncomfortable with this proposal.
“If you truly want to unite the Nine Kingdoms, then you must be able to protect them. Lord Sellwood and Lieutenant Chapman, with the training you will receive there will never be a challenge you cannot face. To complete the Tradition of Service, you will take on this training and it could last for months.”
“Thank you, your majesty,” Amelia said excitedly. She knew what an honor it was to be trained as a Gravity Warrior.
“Yes, thank you,” Kelvin said. “How far away are the Wanderers?”
“It doesn’t matter. That won’t be your concern. I want you to train with Teve, he is a master of the staff and my greatest student,” Tendai said.
“Mother,” Teve repeated, very annoyed. Anything he had been doing to hide his anger a few moments ago had stopped. “We have to prepare.”
“We are prepared and don’t question your mother,” King Etho said. Kelvin could relate to Teve and kind of felt bad for him. He knew it was not easy being the only child of a queen and king.
“Your majesty, I don’t want to inconvenience or take away from the defense of Venus,” Kelvin said.
“My son is one person in dozens of Gravity Warriors. This planet has always been prepared to defend itself, Lord Sellwood. What we give to you and the lieutenant is for the Nine Kingdoms. My son has trained the best of the Gravity Warriors.”
Teve took a deep breath and shook his head in confusion. He felt his whole life would lead to a chance to defend his planet and now he was being asked to do what he’d always done, which was teaching. Venusians waited decades for the chance to train as Gravity Warriors. Now, this prince and this noble from Earth were going to be let in on a sacred part of his culture. It didn’t seem right to him, but his mother had made her decision, and she was his leader.
“I will take them to the archives in the canyon. I assume you will call for me when the Wanderers arrive,” Teve said.
Tendai knew what she asked of her son. Following her orders was also a test of a Gravity Warrior, and she hoped she didn’t have to remind him of that.
“I hope the two of you know what a gift it is the queen has given you. This is a big step for the Gravity Warriors. We have never taught our ways to other kingdoms. Our son is one of the greatest teachers,” Etho said, not hiding his reluctance about Tendai’s decision very well.
“We do, your majesty,” Kelvin bowed.
“We will inform your parents, Lord Sellwood. Yours as well, Lieutenant Chapman,” Tendai said.
Kelvin and Amelia both thanked her. The queen and king both bowed their heads in respect and then slowly started to walk away from them. As they did, Teve stepped forward and the walls behind him slowly started to come to a close once the queen and king entered the dark chamber. They mysteries of the Royal Palace would remain.
“I assume you both can pilot that shuttle well,” he said as he walked past them. The anger seemed to be gone from him, but his tone was cold. There was no mistaking happiness or excitement about his new assignment.
“I’ll handle it, prince,” Mara’s voice said through Kelvin’s mobile.
Teve paused and turned f
or a second. He scoffed once he realized it was Kelvin’s digital assistant.
“Tell your computer to take the ship five hundred feet down directly from this platform. I’ll wait for you there and then guide you the rest of the way,” Teve said, as he continued to walk to the edge of the platform.
“How are you going to get there? Are you flying yourself down there? Wouldn’t it just be easier if you came from us?” Amelia said.
Teve shook his head and offered her a bemused smile.
“Flying is what birds do, lieutenant. What we do is something else entirely,” Teve said.
Without another word, Teve stepped off of the platform and vanished.
CHAPTER FIVE
KELVIN AND AMELIA ran to the edge of the platform, terrified at what they’d just witnessed. Just as they reached the edge, Teve floated back up and stopped right in front of them. Vertigo hit them immediately, with the added depth of the canyon below them giving height new meaning. Teve calmly floated in mid-air, as if it were totally normal. Everything around them seemed immense and alien.
“What in the moons of Neptune are you doing?” Amelia said.
“We don’t have a lot of time. Get in your shuttle and follow me. I’ll lead you to the archive in the canyon below. You will both understand soon enough,” Teve said. “You better hurry. I’m not fond of waiting up for people.”
Kelvin knew exactly what Teve showing off. He wished he had a thruster suit and was confident that if he did he’d give Teve a run for his money. Amelia was just stupefied, from a combination of lack of sleep and the added stress of the gravity, everything seemed surreal. Now, a floating prince that was going to teach them an ancient fighting style just seemed to scream that she was dreaming. When the challenge was to keep up with Teve, Amelia instinctively grabbed Kelvin’s arm and pulled him toward the shuttle.
Just as quickly as they arrived at the Royal Palace, Amelia and Kelvin were back onboard the shuttles, with Mara getting it airborne. After a few seconds, the shuttle dove quickly toward the canyon, catching up with Teve. The shuttle didn’t have too much trouble catching up with him, but they were both amazed at how quickly Teve moved through the air.
