by Kyle Larson
“I don’t agree with how you are saying it, but I agree with what you’re saying. You’re absolutely right. Human beings don’t need to rule. They need to lead. I’m not trying to be a king, I’m trying to be a leader. A leader like my mother is. A leader like my father used to be. A leader like my sister should have been. I’m sorry about what my father did to your people. There’s nothing I can say to change that. All I can tell you is that I will do better.”
The warmth and sincerity of Kelvin’s words touched Juda. Even if they were naive sentiments, Juda could tell Kelvin meant them. She looked up at him and saw the desperation in his face. He really didn’t want to fight her.
“You don’t need to fight me either, Kelvin. You can help me take the Venusian core sample. You can help me convince the Gravity Warriors. If you agree with me, that’s all I’d ask. The Colonel would have great things for you to do, Kelvin.” Juda chose her tone carefully. She almost convinced herself.
Kelvin didn’t consider it for a second.
“I won’t fight you, because this is over. Now, you can come with me or you can––”
Juda dealt a hard kick to his chest and knocked Kelvin back. It was all the time she needed to fly at the core and snatch it up. Since it was about the size of a basketball, she could pick it up, but it still felt heavy. The weight pulled her down for a second, but then she suddenly felt stronger and faster than she ever had. The core felt almost weightless in her hands. It made her more powerful from its intense gravitational properties.
Before Kelvin could catch her, Juda flew out of the chamber and vanished in the Venusian sky.
Kelvin flew out past the balcony and suddenly saw Queen Tendai taking out hundreds of Wanderers with no effort. There was no sign of Teve and the Colonel, but Kelvin didn’t look for them.
“Queen Tendai!” Kelvin said.
Tendai turned to him as she continued to knock Wanderers aside.
“Someone took the core! A girl! She just flew away.”
Tendai said nothing, turned, and flew away in pursuit of the core. Once again, she was so fast it looked as if she’d disappeared. The Wanderers all started to shake the beating off and then saw Kelvin, who was alone. Kelvin knew he was in trouble. Teve no doubt had his hands full with the Colonel and Tendai was rightly dealing with other things more important than him. Kelvin would have to face the Wanderers alone.
“Lord Sellwood!” A Wanderer called out in a mocking tone.
“Look at the little prince!”
“Let’s get him!”
Kelvin pushed whatever terror most would have out of his mind. He wasn’t going to run. It was best to keep them exactly where they were, far from any city where they could hurt more people. Kelvin knew he couldn’t go back to the Monarch to hide, because it would put Holloway and Captain Ali in danger. He raised his staff and prepared for the onslaught.
Just as the Wanderers were about to charge, Amelia flew in between him and the group with her staff raised. Before anyone could react, dozens of Gravity Warriors descended on the swarm. The battle between the real Gravity Warriors and the Wanderers had begun. Before Kelvin joined, he looked up into the sky and could see both Earth Navy and Uranian Corsair ships descending through the clouds, headed for the Royal Palace.
The battle wasn’t over yet.
Teve felt he was starting to wear down Justeph. It would still be a long time before he could take him, but the two of them had moved far away from the Royal Palace. They were deep in the surrounding forest. Teve managed a few hits on his old enemy, but Justeph was far from wounded. Trees smashed in their wake. The trunks exploded when the staffs smashed into them. Teve didn’t want to clear-cut the forest, so he sailed into the air and for the nearest mountaintop. Justeph followed.
Justeph landed far away from Teve, on a plateau on the highest peak above the Royal Palace. Both of them were exhausted and needed a few moments to catch their breath.
“I forgive you, Teve. I forgive you,” Justeph said.
Teve said nothing.
“I know Karna would forgive you, too,” Justeph said.
The break was over. Teve charged and smashed his staff into Justpeh’s. Their fight continued and showed no signs of slowing. Teve knew he couldn’t beat the Colonel alone. He just needed to hold him until his mother could finish the job.
Then Amelia landed behind them.
“Chapman!” Teve said. It was too late.
The Colonel was on Amelia, but she’d defended the first few blows well. It only took a few seconds, though, for the Justeph to land a powerful blow to her stomach, knocking the wind out of Amelia. Teve needed her out of there. His student would be a liability he couldn’t protect. He was barely able to make it in time to deflect a blow that would’ve crushed her skull. Teve did what he could to move Justeph away from her.
As they continued to fight in circles, Teve could see the Uranian Corsairs and Earth Navy ships get closer to the Royal Palace. The Earth Navy ships were shaped like the ships that used to travel Earth’s oceans –– a narrow, angular bow with electro-cannons and hangars filled with star divers along the top of the hull. Each one was gray, with the blue stars of Earth’s insignia along each side of the bow. The Gravity Warriors had arrived as well, but Teve could tell from a glance their numbers were quite diminished.
“They aren’t going to save you. I trained my people for this. They’ve waited their whole lives to take on the Gravity Warriors. This is exactly what we wanted,” Justeph said.
Amelia jumped to her feet and moved to attack Justeph again. He was too fast for her and managed to land a blow on Teve just before he struck her again, in the shoulder. Amelia’s arm lit up with pain and she dropped her staff. Justeph didn’t hesitate and continued to land blow after blow on her until Teve could put his staff between them. It was as if the arrival of reinforcements reignited Justeph’s energy and his fighting was even more lethal.
Teve didn’t think he’d be able to hold him off.
Amelia crawled along the ground toward her staff. She felt like her body had been shattered from the blows. The gravity of Venus didn’t protect her from the pain. It consumed her like nothing else she’d felt, but it didn’t stop her.
“Chapman! As soon as you can stand, get out of here! I can’t protect you from him!” Teve said.
“Oh no, do stay, young lady. You’d make a fine student in the army we’ll build atop the ashes of the Gravity Warriors. You’ll want to learn from me. But first, let me teach your instructor a few lessons. He seems out of practice since we first met.”
Justeph broke off from the seemingly locked duel and then increased his speed. He and Teve were blurred to Amelia from how fast they moved, but Teve suddenly fell to the ground. Justeph continued to bring his staff down on Teve’s back, each blow was fierce. Teve tried to stand, but the staff just continued to fall on his back. Amelia charged at Justeph, but he swung his staff at her and struck her in the stomach again. The pain was too much for her.
“Enough!” King Etho said, overhead as he lowered himself to the ground, with two staffs drawn.
“Where’s your wife, Etho? Shouldn’t she be the one breaking this fight up?” Justpeh sneered.
Etho didn’t bother to answer. Amelia saw the flurry of staffs fly and the two fighting became a blur, once again. Her courage was not reduced, but she knew there was nothing she could do against the Colonel. She crawled over to Teve and tried to pick him up. The gravity of Venus was not healing her as it had before, so the pain still overwhelmed her. Once she was able to get Teve’s arm around her shoulder, she lifted him up and flew back towards the Royal Palace.
Juda didn’t realize Tendai was on her until it was too late. Tendai knew that the core would enhance Juda’s abilities, so she was more cautious than she would have been. For Juda’s experience, Tendai recognized the girl was very talented. Her skills were raw, but they were there. Tendai thought it was unfortunate a person as talented as Juda hadn’t been properly trained. She could te
ll that Justeph added more aggression to her training than the Gravity Warriors would have, which made Juda sloppy.
When Tendai came upon her, Juda struck out hard. Her staff came close to Tendai, but the queen was too fast. Tendai dove and then shot up at Juda from below, as if she were a shark coming up on prey at the surface. Tendai’s staff slammed into Juda and caused her to lose her grip on the core, which Tendai snapped up and bonded to her staff as if it were a magnet. Juda realized Tendai’s staff was made from the core, which was why she was so fast and why the piece she’d stolen bonded to it. In an instant, Tendai dealt Juda four more blows, the final one to the head, knocking her unconscious. Tendai took a hold of Juda and headed for the Archive in the canyon.
Tendai carried Juda into the Archive, down through the spire and into a narrow corridor. At the end was a barred door that parted for Tendai. Just outside the entry, Tendai laid down her staff and the piece of the core. Inside was a basic bed, sink, and bathroom. Tendai laid Juda onto the bed. As her head fell back against the pillow, Juda opened her eyes.
“I wish your circumstances would have been better, child,” Tendai said. Her face held remorse when she looked at a youth that once had hope. “You will answer for your crimes, but one day, I hope you change your path.”
“Please,” Juda said. Her voice choked. The confidence she had shattered with Tendai’s gaze. Suddenly, Juda realized the queen did not have to be her enemy. Maybe the rest of the Nine Kingdoms were, but this person was not. “I don’t want to hurt anyone else. I never wanted those people to die. This wasn’t part of the plan.”
“Maybe not, child, but you fought for those that did. What you and your people want is something many want, but it cannot be forced. If the people of the Nine Kingdoms one day decide to leave them, it will be on their terms, not because of the Wanderers. I have no more time for you. Rest now, child. Tomorrow you answer for what you’ve done.”
Juda tried to fly but she could not. She felt completely cut-off from the Venusian gravity.
“These walls have taken your strength. They are made from a rare mineral that hinders Venusian gravity. Until your fate is decided, you will not leave them. When this is over, there will be guards that attend to you.”
Tendai stepped out of the cell and it closed behind her. She took flight without looking back. In seconds she was above the canyon and back at the Royal Palace. She spotted Amelia, who carried Teve in her arms. Tendai went to her.
“How is he?” Tendai said.
“He took a couple of big blows from the Colonel. I’m not sure,” Amelia said.
Very slowly, Tendai examined her son. When she touched him, she could still sense the Venusian gravity in him. It was restoring him, but Teve had taken a vicious attack. Justeph had not lost his strength. There was nothing she could do for Teve. It would just take time and Tendai knew she needed to deal with Justeph.
“Just keep him away from the battle until he wakes up. He’ll be fine. Tell everyone to stay away from Justeph. I will be the only one dealing with him,” Tendai said. “Also, take this back to the Royal Palace. The guards will know what to do with it. It will a good place for you to keep Teve.” Tendai pulled a harness from her armor and fastened the Venusian core to it. She handed it off to Amelia. When Amelia took it, she felt its weight, but after a few seconds it became light
“Justeph?” Amelia said. She still didn’t know who the Colonel was. She lifted the rock and examined it. “And, what is this?”
“You call him the Colonel. What this rock is, well, it is very special and that is for another conversation. The guards will take it from you. They will understand. Now go, Lieutenant Chapman.”
Amelia started to leave.
“Thank you. Thank you for helping him.”
She smiled at the queen and flew away. Tendai turned, determined and focused, and flew to join Etho in the battle. Justeph clearly had the advantage when Tendai arrived. He and Etho both stopped and turned to face her.
“Etho, go. Help the Gravity Warriors. I will deal with the traitor,” Tendai said.
“Your majesty, I’m honored,” Justeph said. “I’ve been awaiting your arrival.”
Etho knew to listen to his partner. Justeph would be no match for Tendai. No one was, and she’d trained him. She’d know Justeph’s every move and was many times faster than he was. Etho looked her in the eyes and tried to convey caution. Justeph seemed especially dangerous, more so than Etho remembered.
“Right now I give you one chance and one chance only. You surrender yourself and your people and I will not kill you. You try to fight me now, you die. This is the end for you, traitor.”
“Oh, you’re not even going to say my name. That’s just rude.”
“You are no one to Venus. When you fled, like the coward you are, your name was erased from the history books. Children only know there was a traitor and they will never know your name. Whether you die here today or spend the rest of your life in a prison, the name Justeph Leray ends today.”
Justeph felt his anger creep up on him and that was not good. Like he taught his students, it was not good to fight angry. Justeph tried to control his rage, but Tendai continued. She knew exactly what she was doing. They didn’t even have to cross staffs and she was already winning the battle.
“If Karna were here today, he’d be fighting with me,” Justeph said. He knew anything that invoked Karna would sting.
“My son would be laughing at you today. The spectacle of your failure here will be the only thing anyone remembers. Now, I’m done. You have a choice. Surrender or die fighting?”
Justeph threw his staff on the ground and put his hands up. Tendai didn’t trust it. The expression on his face was still anger and determination. She moved slowly toward him and unsheathed her staff. As she got within a few steps from him, Justeph dove for the staff and swung for her. Tendai blocked it, but he was much faster than she anticipated. This was a fight was not going to be as easy as she thought.
The two of them shot up into the air, clashing staffs every meter of their climb into the Venusian sky. A flurry of dark clouds had rolled in. Tendai and Justeph disappeared into them, the sparks from their staffs light up the darkness like an electrical storm. Tendai was still more skilled than Justeph, but she was surprised how deadly he’d become. Tendai did not relish the idea of taking a life. She’d not been forced to kill since she helped banish the Saturn Conquerors centuries earlier. Tendai didn’t feel like she had a choice –– it would be too dangerous to leave Justeph alive.
Tendai let him continue to attack as she anticipated her move. She was not interested in prolonging what she had to do, and if she was to kill him, she wanted it to be quick. It was not easy to kill someone bonded to Venusian gravity, but Tendai knew how. As Justeph swung violently at her, she observed points of his attack when he was vulnerable. Like any good Gravity Warrior, she used her defensive parrying to plot a strategy against him. When she felt like she had a good grasp on him, Tendai went in for her attack.
The Queen's staff smashed hard into Justeph’s head. For a few seconds, all of his senses were lost, and Tendai knocked his staff from his hand. She didn’t stop there and continued to pummel him as he fell to toward the ground. His bones broke and because of the frequency of Tendai’s strikes, the Venusian gravity could not repair him. When Tendai was sure she’d done the most damage she could, she put her staff against his chest. Before Justeph could try to escape, Tendai dove toward the ground, with him pinned helplessly under her staff. Within seconds, Justeph was slammed to the ground and felt everything in him shatter.
Tendai withdrew her staff and stood above him. She looked down on him.
“You had a choice and you forced me to do this, traitor.”
Justeph, with the little remaining strength he had, reached into his pocket and pulled out a mobile. As soon as the screen came to life, he quickly tapped in a code, just as Tendai knocked it from his hand.
“What did you do, traitor?”
> Justeph chuckled to himself, each laugh was a surge of pain, but worth everything to see the terror of uncertainty in Tendai’s eyes.
“Today, you die,” Justeph growled. “You, the Gravity Warriors, and everything on this planet. It’s not me who will be forgotten, it’s Venus and the Gravity Warriors. After what I just activated has finished, Venus will be a floating rock in space. Earth Navy loses its fleet and there are a few less Uranian Corsairs. Riz will finish what we started. He’s building an armada in the Antioch Belt.”
Tendai picked Justpeh up by the neck.
“What did you do, traitor?”
Justeph only smiled at her. Whatever he’d done, she couldn’t kill him until she found out. Tendai tossed his body aside and picked up the mobile. She turned it on and scrolled through the applications. When she came to the most recently used ones, she saw Justeph activated the propulsion systems of the Empress and its self-destructing sequence. If the Empress detonated in the atmosphere of Venus from a self-destruct explosion, it would poison the planet with radiation. The blast itself would ignite half the planet. As Justeph said, everything would die.
Tendai tried to override it, but it Justeph had it encrypted. The only way to disable the self-destruct sequence would be a manual override, on the Empress. Tendai grabbed Justeph by his shattered arm and took flight. The Empress was already in the upper atmosphere, so she didn’t need a space suit. Tendai flew toward what she thought was the bridge and smashed her way in through a nearby airlock, with Justeph still in tow. There wasn’t much time. They had only minutes before the Empress would be in a position to detonate.
Tendai flew onto the bridge. It looked like the crew had been evacuated. She found the single workstation that appeared to be functional. She tried to access the self-destruct protocols, but she was locked out.
“Justeph, stop this now. This is senseless. There is no reason for anyone else to die. You’ll be killing your people and mine.”
“You did this,” Justeph said.
