Chapter 1
Vivi watched excitedly from the window of their transport as it glided slowly above Cruestace after descending through their atmosphere. The views she’d been able to get so far were drastically different from any she’d expected. Though it had been described to her many times, words just didn’t do it justice. Cruestace was like something out of a dream, its appearance almost the opposite of anything she’d ever seen on Earth, or anywhere else. And it was spectacular!
The fields below them swayed in the winds created by their airship; their tall, thin, opalescent white grasses imitating the flow of soft waves on a calm ocean. The waters of Cruestace’s oceans and lakes glistened like mirrors as their multi-shaded green waters reflected the soft yellow and orange hues of the sky, creating the illusion of a rainbow on the ocean’s green surface.
Vivi’s face was pressed to the window, her hand flattened against the surface of it as well, her soft gasps and exclamations filling the room as she was able to see more and more of the planet’s surface as they cruised above it, making Quin smile. He stepped forward, slipping a hand around her thickening waist from behind and rested his hand on her rounded belly. “What do you think, my Ehlealah?”
She quickly glanced away from the window to look up at his face. “It’s stunning, Quin. I could never have imagined it!”
He gazed out of the window, trying to see his world through her eyes.
As she turned back to the window, he pressed his lips to her temple without taking his eyes off the landscapes below their transport. “I am pleased that you like it. This is our home now. This is where we’ll raise our younglings. Where we’ll lead our people and live our lives, side by side. ”
“You sound more ominous than excited,” Vivian said, turning in his arms to look into his eyes.
Quin smiled down at her with just a hint of hesitation. “It is a drastic change. I know it is what I must do, but it is very daunting.”
“Daunting? To you? There’s nothing you can’t do!” she exclaimed.
He looked away briefly before meeting her gaze again. “I know I can fulfill the duties required of me, my whole life has prepared me for it. I’m worried that it may be too much for you. I’m worried that you will not be happy here. And though I hesitate to voice it to any others, I will speak the words to you, now. This is my vow to you, Vivi. If you become unhappy here, we will return to Command Warship 1. I will not live any life that causes my Ehlealah misery. Know that you will not be forced to live here with no alternative.”
Vivian tried to lift up on tiptoe to kiss Quin, who quickly caught her as she became unbalanced and toppled into him.
He obediently lowered his head as she reached up to him again, and eagerly accepted her kiss.
“I love you. And I love that you are so worried about me adapting to life here. But it’ll be fine. I have you. I’ll have our baby, and I’ll have your parents to help me, along with Au'revele. Some of our security force is arriving with us, and though some of our friends are still aboard Command Warship 1, some are here, too and others can come and go for visits. It’ll be okay.”
“Are you sure?”
“Why all this doubt? We spoke about this in detail before making the decision.”
“I suppose it’s knowing that responsibility can often intrude in the lives of those who represent our people. I’ve seen it first hand with my parents, and my grandparents before them, and our family before them. I don’t want that to happen to us.”
“We won’t let it happen.”
“You will speak to me if it does.”
“Loudly!” she said animatedly .
Quin kissed her, then supported her as she slowly turned her body to look out of the window again.
“Are you alright?” he asked, when he saw her lift her hand to press against her lower back and stretch a bit.
“Just really tired. It’s hard to move around comfortably lately.”
“I have noticed. I will make sure that you rest more than needed.”
“I’m okay. Just tired. Thank you, though,” she said. She looked up at him over her shoulder gratefully, but the dark circles under her eyes, and the tightness around her lips told him of the strain she tried to hide from him.
“I will make sure you are well,” he said replacing her hand with his own and beginning to massage the spot on her lower back she’d been pressing on.
They looked out over the planet as they approached until he exclaimed excitedly. “There, Vivi! There’s the palace. That’s our home.”
Vivian gasped again. “Oh, my God! It looks like the Taj Mahal!”
“It’s much more than a hall. It’s an entire palace,” Quin said, concerned that she was not understanding.
Vivian laughed. “Not a hall, the Taj Mahal. It’s a magnificent palace built by one man for the woman he loved.”
“This hall is magnificent you say?” he asked.
“It is one of the most beautiful buildings ever built.”
Quin nodded, looking out of the window again. “This is good, then. You will like it.”
“I love it already,” she said, knowing how important it was to him that she like his childhood home; now her home, too.
“Sovereign, we’re approaching the landing pad. Our forces are in place.”
Quin turned to look at Zahn. “Sovereign? I am not Sovereign. I have not taken the oath yet.”
“Of course, Sire. ”
“Confirm once more that all communication implants are operable, now that we’ve broken through the atmosphere,” Quin ordered.
Zahn raised a hand and used a fingertip to run lightly over the communications device that had been implanted just behind his ear to activate it. “K1 to team A. Comm check required. Count off now.”
Zahn listened as all members of security who volunteered to accompany them planet side responded with their assigned number. Each member had consented to the implant of a communications device that not only allowed them to hear any communications sent out to them and or their teams, it allowed them to respond. A slender, almost invisible wire of just a few inches in length had been inserted along their upper jawline just below their ear so that their voices could be transmitted along the communication implants back to whomever may be waiting on a reply. It was a simple thing to implant these devices, equating to little more than the momentary discomfort of an ear-piercing on Earth, the entire team of security for both Quin and Vivi had been successfully implanted in under an hour.
Unfortunately, since Missy wasn’t installed in the palace, and none of the ships or transports assigned to Command Warship 1 would be coming to the planet permanently, they would have not the use of their standard communicators. For a communicator to work properly, it had to have access to the mainframe its software ran on. Without the ability to run ‘Missy’ or a ship connected to her full time, the communicators from the ship just wouldn’t work. They’d have to connect the old fashioned way, through vidcoms.
And that was the whole reason those accompanying Quin and Vivi to the planet had consented to implants. It was imperative for them to be able to communicate at all times.
Zahn stared ahead, mentally keeping track of all the voices that counted off their number when their turn came. When the last number was spoken, he nodded then ran his finger over the implant once more to change the frequency. “K1 to team K. Count off. ”
“K2”, Rel said.
“K3”, Asl said.
“K4”, Kail rounded out.
“Sire. The entire team, as well as Team K have confirmed. Please test Team Q.”
As the leader of his own security team, Quin lifted his finger and ran it across the implant he’d insisted he get as well. “Team Q. Proceed with comm check.”
Quin listened as those of his personal guard checked in by voicing their own numbers in numerical order, with him listing his own at the end.
“All is in order. Continue,” Quin said.
“We’ve received word that all forces are in place below. All security has been confirmed and is at the ready for our arrival,” Zahn reported.
“Excellent. We’ll only tarry as long as necessary. I want to get Vivi to the palace so she can rest.”
“Absolutely, Sire,” Zahn said. “I’ll double check the preparations to be sure that all is at the ready.”
Quin nodded and watched as Zahn left their private room aboard the transport to oversee the many individuals in their entourage that had chosen to transfer to Cruestace to continue their service to Quin and Vivian, and all the personal effects they’d brought with them for the next chapter of their lives.
“Forces are in place?” Vivi asked.
“On Command Warship 1, I had complete control. Here, planet-side, there are so many more threats that must be considered. Security is a much greater endeavor here. There will always be security forces present. Military guards stationed on the palace grounds. Certain regiments are rotated in and out of service at the palace so that all have a chance to experience any position they may be interested in. Once they’ve decided which they prefer they can request to be permanently assigned. We’ve got stations in many places on Cruestace as well as orbiting our planet and on several others. Do not forget that we have always been a military people first and foremost. ”
“I feel like I’m part of something really important,” Vivian said, grinning happily.
Quin regarded her briefly, his expression one of confusion. “You are part of the royal family. Do not forget, my Vivi, you are Sirena. You will be Sovereigna.”
“ You are royal, I’m just a girl from Earth,” she said smiling softly.
“Do you know any other who can calm me when I’m about to lose control? Any other who can make me feel. Any other who can send my soul from destruction to elation in a matter of moments?”
“And the reverse… from elation to destruction,” she said, laughing.
“There is truth there,” he said, grinning at her.
“I suppose not,” Vivi answered, with just a hint of a smile.
“You hold more power than any other living being in my world. I bow to you, my Ehlealah,” he said, stepping back to execute a perfect bow, only to reach out, snarling, as he caught himself on the interior wall of the transport when knocked off balance as Kitty shoved past both of them to get a view through the window.
“He should have stayed on the ship!” Quin grouched.
“I’d have missed him. He’s my Kitty,” Vivian said.
Quin scowled. “Yes, I’m aware. It is the only reason he is allowed to remain with us.”
“He’s my friend. And I know you really don’t mind him so much.”
Both Kitty and Quin snarled softly.
Vivian started laughing, both of them too stubborn to admit they even slightly liked each other.
~~~
Eula lifted the edge of the heavy emerald green and silver brocade comforter and flapped it into the air, causing it to float momentarily above the large, luxurious bed she’d had moved into Vivian and Quin’s quarters. As it glided down she tugged on it just enough to have it land perfectly centered across the mattress. Eula moved to the head of the bed and ran her hand across the exposed top edge of the soft, cool sheets before plumping the pillows waiting there for the couple who would soon rest their heads on them.
Assured that everything was as she wanted it, she moved across the room to the ornate double doors leading to the nursery. Stepping inside, she smiled, her eyes misting a little as she double checked the baby bed and the bassinet that also stood waiting for her soon to arrive grandchild.
“Eula! Eula, are you here?!” Zha Tahl called from the doorway of the main bedroom.
“I am!” she said, moving back into the bedroom to answer her husband’s call.
“They’re here! The transport will begin its approach momentarily.”
Eula hurried across the bedroom and took her husband’s hand, allowing him to lead her from the bedroom, through the private living room and out of the suite. As they hurried down the hallways of the palace they’d always called home, they held hands and laughed in their rush to reach the charis that would take them to welcome their son and daughter-in-law home. His return, and that of his heavily pregnant mate, had been long awaited. They, along with their people, were eager to celebrate the couple’s return home to finally take their places in the history, as leaders of their people.
Moving quickly through the hallways and corridors from the East wing of the palace to the main part of the structure, they burst into the main great hall, headed toward the vestibule between the great hall and the front entryway of the palace. As they approached, laughing like children with the pure joy of their son finally returning home, their head of guard stepped forward from his post just inside the vestibule.
“Your chari is waiting just outside.”
“Thank you, Ban Lo,” Eula answered happily .
Ban Lo bowed ceremoniously, then gestured toward the door where another of the security forces assigned to protect the royal family waited for the signal to escort them out of the palace and to the waiting vehicles. Eula and Zha Tahl quickly boarded the larger of the chari, which actually looked more like an enhanced form of Roman chariot — less the horses — and operating on the same principles as a hover craft. It was outfitted for approximately a dozen people. Several places for members of the royal family to sit, one driver, and at least four places for accompanying security to protect and escort them while also allowing them to be visible to the general public who may wish to catch a glimpse of them or even to wave or bow to them as they went about whatever business led them from the palace. In addition to the main chari were multiple of the same craft, but smaller, for only single occupants, or two at the very most. These were for armed guards. These would normally accompany the royal chari as it moved through the city.
But today, as Zha Tahl and Eula went to greet their returning son, several other larger charis followed to be sure that all of their son’s personal guards and servants would have transport back to the palace as well. As they left the palace and moved into the public lanes of travel, Zha Tahl smiled, nodding to himself as their people crowded the sides of the travel lanes. “They are as happy Zha Quin returns as we are.”
Eula glanced out at the throngs of people lining the roads. “He has done much for them over the years. Especially recently. Our entire populace is greater respected throughout the multiverse.”
“That is true. In years prior, we were always feared, but now, now they value us for more than simply our might. I tried for years to gain acceptance for our people at bargaining tables. It was a hard-fought struggle, but Quin has managed to succeed.”
“It is partially because of his Vivi. Her people have helped in the way in which we are viewed.”
“That is true. But it’s a much calmer Quin who takes a seat among the others when negotiations are required. I believe that helps as well. ”
“I think so, too.” Eula cast her gaze up toward the soft sage-colored greens, yellows, and whites of the skies above them and started fidgeting impatiently as the telltale streak of orange light streamed overhead. “That’s them! That’s them! Hurry!”
Zha Tahl patted her hand affectionately. “You heard her Ban Lo, hurry!” he said good naturedly.
“Yes, Sovereign,” Ban Lo said, gesturing to the driver, who picked up speed.
~~~
The moment the charis left the palace, and had cleared the armed gates, one of those assigned to the gate left his post.
“Warrior!” the Sergeant shouted, stopping the retreating warrior in his tracks.
“I’ve been ordered to the Steward’s office,” the warrior explained quickly.
“By whom?” the Sergeant demanded, striding right up to the warrior to question him nose-to-nose.
“The Steward, sir. He ordered me to report the moment the royal family had vacated the palace, sir.”
“For what reason?” the Sargent asked.
“I’m not sure, Sir. Should I get back to my station?”
The Sargent considered it momentarily, ultimately deciding against it. He didn’t want to have to answer any questions about why he prevented the warrior from carrying out his orders. “No. Go. But you better be back before I complete my perimeter check.”
“Yes, Sir!” the warrior answered, breaking into a full run. It didn’t take long for him to reach the garrison and make his way down to the Steward’s office. Breathing heavily he didn’t even bother to knock, instead just pushing the door open and stepping inside. “They’re gone,” he said, his words dripping with disgust.
“Why are you here?!” Steward Mir’ Ahn demanded .
“You said to advise you the moment they’d left the palace. I’m advising you! They make my stomach turn. Celebration over the golden child returning to take his place as Sovereign among our people.”
“Those who celebrate him will be wiped from history along with his bloodline. He has made a mockery of all our culture has represented for millenia.”
“I wait for that day!”
“As do I. I cannot believe that there are those of our people who think he’s good for our planet! He’s ruined the reputation of our people. We’re now considered diplomatic. Allies. What self-respecting Cruestaci warrior dreams of diplomacy? He’s made us nothing more than politicians, giving favors to get favors. Supporting the Consortium and all its weakened masses. They should be bowing to us, pleading for our protection, not the other way around.”
“You are correct, Steward Mir’ Ahn. And when you are leading our people, we will once again be restored to greatness.”
Steward Mir’ ahn was sitting at his desk with his feet resting upon it, He laughed darkly, then crossed his arms across his stomach in a relaxed position. “In the meantime, let them have their little celebrations. It lulls them further into a sense of security. They will not be prepared for those of us who miss the old ways of our people. Only the strong survive. You don’t survive by making deals with those weaker than we are. And you don’t preserve our people by bringing humans in to pollute our bloodlines!” he snarled.
The warrior nodded and spat on the ground at his feet. “We will save our people.”
“Without a doubt. He won’t long be in a position to destroy the rest of our culture. We will see to that. And when we’re successful… we will insure that none of the Tel Mo’ Kok line remains to even consider retaking the Sovereigncy from us and our more capable hands.”