by Alex Guerra
“While you are not a prisoner, you will find that staying here is the safest option for you at this time,” said Lena.
“Safest?” asked the princess.
“Perhaps you will take a seat, make yourself more comfortable so we can speak for a while about the current state of affairs,” the woman gestured to a glass room with a table and seats at its center.
“If I’m not a prisoner, but I can’t leave…then what does that make me?” asked Ellia.
“A guest…please, take a seat with me,” asked Lena once again, turning to enter the barren glass room.
The princess looked to my group as I slowly gestured with my head, urging the princess to follow Lena and go inside. Her eyes momentarily shot daggers at the Darkkon woman beside me before resigning to the room. The rest of us cleared out to a nearby wing where we could observe the exchange, while two troopers remained inside the glass room for Lena’s safety.
Gathering around screens showing multiple views into the glass room, we watched in silence, not wanting to miss any subtleties.
“Princess Ellia, while you were on your trip, the conglomerate came across some very peculiar technology, one that involves wormhole use. We developed a skip drone that we sent back to Vallus to check on the planet’s status. What do you think we found?” asked Lena, folding her hands on the table.
“How should I know? I was still recovering from my injuries,” she asked with an annoyed frown.
“Take a guess. What do you think the response would be for kidnapping a princess?” asked Lena.
The Darkkon woman stared blankly at Lena momentarily, unsure where the line of questioning was heading. “A Darkkon fleet would most likely be sent in to blockade the planet,” she said, finally.
“You would think that, but no, there was no such response. If anything, you would find that the response time for such an event was quite abysmal,” said Lena. “While many ships were in Vallus space, a blockade was never formed around the planet. How do you think you were able to escape without any imperial vessels pursuing?”
The princess sat silently for a time, trying to figure out what was going on.
“The Darkkon Empire established an invasion force to enter the planet—the likes of which was never before seen. Certainly, you would not need so many soldiers to reclaim a single individual, even if that individual was a Darkkon princess,” said Lena. “The skip drone used this new wormhole technology to see the condition of Vallus. By the time it got there, nearly two weeks had passed on the planet. Do you know what we found?”
The princess slowly shook her head.
“Let me show you,” said Lena, turning on the large screen behind the princess.
Vallus’ final footage played, zooming forward until the planet’s fiery ball was in full view, dominating the screen. The fires raged with such intensity and malice, as if they wanted to reach out from the screen and engulf all of us in its hatred.
“What is this?” asked Ellia.
“This is Vallus today. A decimated planet, with all its inhabitants, wiped out. I’d bet that even a sizeable number of imperial soldiers were still on the planet,” said Lena, stoically lifting her chin. “Not to mention that you were never confirmed safely offworld before the planet’s destruction.”
The woman let the words sink in as the princess continued staring at the decimated planet.
“That can’t be. The empire cannot possibly possess a weapon that could do that much damage,” said Ellia in awe.
“And yet, there is the proof. The Galactic Conglomerate would never use such a weapon on any world, especially one of our own,” countered Lena. She leaned in over the table and in a quiet voice asked, “Tell me why your husband would destroy a planet you were on? He didn’t wait. He didn’t question why. We evacuated you because of the large-scale invasion and the risk that would come to you if you remained on the planet. We evacuated you, not him. So, why would Prince Ibram risk your life when Vallus was negotiating your safe return?”
The princess visibly flinched with every revelation as her eyes welled up with tears. “I—I don’t understand, Ibram would never do this. I’m his wife, he would never risk my life like this,” she said, her voice cracking.
“Our reports indicate that your husband is the regent when his parents are away, is that right?” asked Lena. “Were they away during this time?”
“Y-yes, I had been sent to observe the operations of the empire while the Emperor and his consort were off in Vael territory. They went to visit the Vael King, Jermar Kallent,” she said.
“Then no one else could have summoned the Darkkon forces to attack Vallus during this time. We believe your husband is acting on his own.” Lena narrowed her eyes at the woman.
Ellia stood up in a flash, knocking her chair over. “My husband would never do such a thing!” she shouted. The troopers reacted, taking a few steps towards Lena, who stopped them with a raised hand.
“We need to know about your husband more intimately, one not seen by the public eye,” said Lena.
“Why not ask his traitorous sister. She’s in the other room.” Ellia yelled as tears flowed down her cheeks uncontrollably.
“Seya left the Empire when Ibram was but a child. You know him as your husband…as a man and the father of your children. Please, sit down and tell me about him,” urged Lena.
A trooper walked over cautiously, resetting the fallen chair. The princess glanced down at the chair, then back to the woman across from her. After some hesitation, she pulled the chair in behind herself and sat down.
“My husband is not a murderer. Everything he does is to keep the order of imperial occupied planets. Your terrorist group is always disrupting the peace. Everything the empire has done to claim these regions, they did through legal means. Why would he suddenly destroy a planet with me—with people on it he swore to protect?” she asked, tightening her hands into fists.
“That is what we are trying to find out. Prince Ibram now controls a substantial portion of the Empire’s frontline forces. We suspect a coup, but we can’t understand without more information about Ibram, including his thoughts, his plans, and his state of mind,” said Lena. He is an enormous threat, and now, with this hidden weapon capable of destroying planets…” Lena paused, studying the woman. “He is a threat to the entire galaxy, Ellia. To the conglomerate and the two empires. Think of your people.”
“I am thinking of my people. My two little boys…I—I can’t tell you,” said Ellia, breaking down once again at the thought of her children.
“Can’t—or won’t?” asked Lena, raising an eyebrow at the princess.
The Darkkon woman cast her eyes down to the table and sobbed.
“Ellia, please. Make this easy for all of us, tell me what you know. You are safe here, I promise,” said Lena, reaching across the table and placing a hand on Ellia’s in reassurance.
“My husband wouldn’t kill all those people or me. Not without a good reason…”
“Is there ever a good reason to kill so many people indiscriminately?”
“I can’t tell you because I don’t know…” she lifted a small, lilac hand to wipe the tears from her eyes. “Ibram was…distant in the past few months. He spent a lot of time alone and barely spent time with his children. Only the servant droids would accompany him, and he would rarely leave the palace anymore. Something was bothering him, but he would never tell me.”
We all gathered closely and observed the screens of the observation room.
“He sent me away at the same time his parents left for the Vael territories. I thought it would be a good idea to send the children away with their grandparents to see the inner systems. Ibram—he’s been alone all this time,” added Ellia.
“It was a good thing you went alone. Your children would have been in harm's way had they accompanied you. Is there anything else you can think of?” asked Lena, softly.
“No, the last few weeks before I left were hazy. I can’t remember,” she said, h
olding her head in her hands. “Why can’t I remember?”
Seya shifted next to me. “Hmm…” she pondered.
“What are you thinking about?” I asked quietly.
“She can’t remember those weeks but her recounting of the time prior and once again when her trip was already underway…I suspect something may have happened to her during the last few times she saw her husband. I think…” she paused.
“What is it?” I asked.
“I think something is interfering with that memory. I believe something is preventing her from remembering,” said Seya.
“How do you unblock a memory—or block one for that matter?” I asked, nearly scoffing at the absurd idea.
“The same way you would when using the interrogation device,” Kayton chimed in.
“Is that safe?” I asked.
“Yes,” said Seya, tapping on one of the technicians manning the booth and asking to speak to Lena. “Lena, may I have a word with you for just a moment?” she asked over the room’s speakers.
Lena looked at one of the cameras and nodded. She patted Ellia on the hand and excused herself.
When Lena arrived in the observation room, Seya proposed her plan to use the interrogation device.
“You think the memory is being blocked?” asked Lena and furrowed her brow.
“Think about it—it’s the only part of her trip she can’t remember well,” said Seya.
“And you think you can find out why with the device,” mused Lena. “We reserved this for if she was uncooperative. It seems she told me all she knows already. This would betray her trust.”
“I can understand how you would think that, but this is to help her remember. I know the palace, so I should be the one to peer into her mind. Maybe I’ll find the cause of the block. We need more information, Lena,” said Seya, pleading her case.
The council woman thought about the plan for a moment, tapping her pointed chin with a finger before giving in. “Okay,” she said. “Give me a moment to let her warm up to the idea first. I want her to be comfortable with this ahead of time.”
Lena stepped back into the glass room and sat across from the princess again.
“Princess Ellia, we would like to explore more of the weeks leading up to your departure from the palace. We believe someone did something to you to make you forget about that time. You say you can’t remember anything?” asked Lena.
The princess placed a hand to the side of her head as if to conjure up a single memory but shook her head.
“I want to thank you for your cooperation with us thus far. I would like to ask a favor of you,” said Lena, her voice soft but stern, like a mother goading a resistant child into a deal.
Ellia brought her face up and studied the woman for an ulterior motive. She sniffed her runny nose and wiped it gently with the back of her sleeve. “What is it?” she muttered, her voice strained and raspy from crying.
“We want to analyze your mind, looking at that specific time and the events leading up to it. We believe there is a reason why you cannot remember. Would you be so kind as to indulge us in the endeavor?” asked Lena.
The princess narrowed her eyes in near-accusation, but asked, “When you say peer into my mind, how do you plan on doing that?”
“With a special device. I will be honest, times are desperate. Had you not come forth with the information of your own accord, we would already be using this device on you to see for ourselves. I’m telling you this because I want to be upfront with our intentions and show no ill-will towards you or your wellbeing,” explained Lena.
The princess thought about it for a moment before asking, “So, this won’t hurt me then?”
“No, but it is easier with consent. Seya will be the one to administer the test,” said Lena.
Ellia frowned. “Why her?” she asked.
“She knows the palace as well as you do, it has to be her if we want to figure out what’s wrong,” said the councilor.
“I…understand.” She let out a sigh. “Okay then, you have my permission to use the device.”
“Thank you,” said Lena. “Please come in, Seya.”
Before Seya left, she placed a receiver on the screen we were watching. Through the monitors, Seya entered the glass room holding a sturdy case. Carefully setting the case on the table and opening it, she spun it around to show Ellia its contents. Inside, the device had two white, webbed helmets impregnated with a multitude of sensors attached to thick, black and silver cables running into a mutual box in the center.
Ellia stared daggers through her sister-in-law while she worked, explaining how the device operated before taking a seat across from her. Seya donned the helmet, and after some hesitation, Ellia followed suit. Once finished, Ellia pored over the box and cables sitting on the center of the table in a small nest between them, as if expecting something nefarious hidden within.
“This won’t hurt. Keep your mind clear, and when I ask you to remember something, I want you to only focus on that. I may say a word occasionally if the image is not strong enough. Think about the word when I say it. This will help me move through your memories. I will start off with some basic instructions to make sure we have a stable connection before diving in,” explained Seya, “and…thank you.”
The other woman didn’t bother saying anything, just merely nodded and followed instructions.
“Lena, if you would please,” said Seya, nodding to the box in the center. Lena reached in and turned on the device.
The two Darkkon women winced but did not appear to be in any pain. I imagined it was more uncomfortable than anything else.
“It will subside,” said Seya and another moment passed before the two relaxed, “There, I’m in. I want you to breathe normally, feeling comfortable in your seat.”
Through the screen, Ellia touched the arms of the chair and adjusted herself in it. The box between them enabled Seya to see inside Ellia’s mind with ease and also sent a signal to the screen we watched in the observation room. The screen lit up with images of what Seya saw, projected from the mind of Ellia. It was like magic.
“I want you to look at me and the room around you now,” said Seya in a slow and deliberately calm voice. Ellia followed the instruction, looking around. The screen showed us a blurry image of the princess’ view. A lilac face across from her, focused increasingly until Seya became clear, as did Lena and the two troopers in the room. “Think about the outside of this building,” instructed Seya, “describe its features as you see them.”
The image switched with ease to the outside of the fort we were in. Small video clips streamed in chronological order, starting from when she stepped out of the transport and saw us. Waves in the distance grew to an audible level, as did Ellia’s own voice when she said, “Gods, not you two again.” The memory device was all-encompassing with both visual and audio—simply incredible. I speculated with Seya connected directly to her that she possibly even felt some of the memories.
“What do you remember being aboard the ship you were on the conglomerate ship, Farsal?” asked Seya.
Again, the image transferred to the inside of the conglomerate ship. She spent a lot of time reading a restricted dataslate, so there was no way she could communicate with anyone whenever the ship dropped out of the starlane. Whenever she looked over her shoulder—or around her immediate area—two troopers followed or watched at a discreet distance. She could come and go as she pleased, and the crew was pleasant to her as she stated earlier, but she was like a child with restrictions. Choosing to sit alone in the galley or in her assigned room, the crew granted her space. They most likely didn’t want to impose or possibly incur the wrath of a spiteful princess, regardless of them being the only reason she didn’t die on Vallus.
“Did you wake up on Farsal or were you awake before you left Vallus?” asked Seya.
“It…must have been on the ship. I don’t remember much of Vallus,” answered Ellia.
“Please, show me,” said Seya.
The link was good, and the details appeared to all be correct from what Seya and I had seen for ourselves
Not wanting to break her concentration, Seya looked up at one of the cameras and nodded to us. “We’re ready. Ellia, I want you to think about the last time you saw your husband.”
TEN
The princess was standing on a landing platform somewhere within the palace walls. Autonomous servants with the help of a few aides, loaded luggage and additional items into the nearby transport. She leaned down to hug and kiss each of her children, who were no older than five or six years old. An older couple stood before her, dressed in a manner unlike those around them, marking them as the Emperor and his consort—the children’s grandparents. The two hid their age well, save for the crow’s feet and small laugh lines adorning their faces. Both had kind, golden eyes, glowing with the bioluminescence of Darkkon biology and angular faces like Seya’s. These were her parents.
This would be the first time Seya saw them since leaving the empire. Growing up, her parents were always away, and they were not close. Drawing my gaze to a monitor still settled on the glass room, I noted no change in Seya’s demeanor.
The boys ran over and grabbed their grandparents’ hands. An unsmiling man came out from behind them and strode over to the princess. He hugged her and placed a small kiss on her cheek, then he pulled back as they looked at one another briefly. Ibram’s face was like Seya’s. Their structure had an almost identical delicate look with high and sharp cheekbones flanking somewhat aggressive eyebrows. And yet, his eyes contained flecks of emerald amid their glowing golden color. The corners of his mouth twitched as if fighting a smile, he dared not show before his wife. As quick as he arrived, he turned and went back inside the palace, running his hand briefly over his children’s snowy crowns of hair.