AWOL

by Traci Harding

  ‘He couldn’t be any more insane or unpleasant than our other patient,’ Valik had resolved, quite happy for the change of assignment.

  Back on the upper level of the hut, Khalid was awaiting Zeven’s return with Telmo and his monkey, and when Zeven showed, Telmo took a walk.

  ‘We have some business to attend to, you and I,’ Zeven opened the proceedings.

  ‘Finally! Death! Thank fuck!’ Khalid opened his arms wide in acceptance.

  ‘I’ve already told you, no one is going to kill you.’ Zeven stripped off his jacket and tossed it aside. ‘No one I know, anyway.’ He took a seat to make this discussion less confrontational.

  ‘The prophecy —’ Khalid contested.

  ‘— is about you ending the curse, not me ending you,’ Zeven voiced his belief. ‘I am hardly going to kill the greatest human psychic ever born.’

  ‘What?’ Khalid obviously thought he’d lost the conversation somewhere.

  ‘Your father is one of the Old Ones, Khalid,’ Zeven informed, and Khalid rolled his eyes in disbelief. ‘I know it is true, because I have met him.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘So if the Zagriata was a single magnificent being, that being would be you,’ Zeven stated with all sincerity.

  ‘Have you lost your fucking mind!’ Khalid roared, yet his tone lacked its usual venom.

  ‘No. I just asked the right question,’ Zeven asserted. ‘Why pick you to curse? Answer: because you are the most pure blood Phemorian psychic ever born, and you’re a man!’

  Clearly Khalid was processing a whole bunch of emotions he’d never experienced before — hope, insight, compassion, clarity, kinship — all overshadowed by a good serve of doubt and scepticism.

  ‘There is another prophecy, of Phemorian origin, that has been a secret so well guarded by the Phemorian Secret Service that not even the Phemoray know of it.’ Zeven added a little spice to the tale, and Khalid was intrigued enough to sink into a chair to listen.

  ‘Go on.’

  ‘The prophecy foretells that when the first prince of Phemoria returns to that planet, the rule of the Phemoray will end. It is my belief that someone on Phemoria really didn’t want you ever discovering your own power and origins, yet they did not wish you dead either. That someone must have been brave enough to go into Dead Man Downs and negotiate a deal with Chironjivi that would ensure this miracle baby never came to light.’

  ‘But why not kill me?’

  ‘Well, obviously whoever it was is keeping you as an insurance policy because you are the only thing they know of that will destroy the Phemoray,’ Zeven posed.

  ‘Fuck!’ Khalid stood and kicked the chair he’d been seated in with his sore foot and his monkey sprung up, alert, but did not attack. ‘I am sick to death of being used!’

  ‘I have a plan that will put a stop to it,’ Zeven advised.

  Khalid was seized with suspicion and pointed a finger at Zeven. ‘Why have you done this?’ he demanded. ‘What’s in it for you?’

  ‘Intergalactic peace,’ Zeven said simply. ‘But in truth, you died to save my life once upon another universe, and I am in your debt … in fact all the peoples of two universes are in your debt.’

  Khalid was frowning in disbelief, and was about to contest the story when Thurraya suddenly appeared before them both.

  ‘Daddy!’ Ray threw her arms up in the air and ran at her father for a crash cuddle.

  Zeven’s heart was pounding in his throat, having his daughter in sight of their one-time nemesis. If he showed this panic Khalid would see that distrust, and befriending him would be near impossible. ‘Good to see you, pumpkin, but I don’t think you are supposed to be here … Daddy’s working.’

  ‘Wow!’ Ray looked around at the hut and spotted the monkey. ‘She’s so cute!’

  ‘Don’t let appearances fool you,’ Khalid warned, keeping his distance as he pointed out the bite marks on his body. ‘But she only bites bad people.’

  Ray eyed over Khalid in a discerning fashion. ‘You don’t look so bad to me.’

  Zeven was amazed to see a sparkle of a tear in the corner of Khalid’s eye.

  ‘He is a very bad man,’ Satomi stated with thirty years of pent-up anger suddenly pumping through her veins.

  ‘Mother!’ Zeven was shocked to see her, and devastated by the situation that was way beyond awkward.

  ‘Is this the night of the living dead?’ Khalid was stunned to see another of his fatalities still living and breathing.

  ‘I am no ghost any more, thanks to Maiara,’ Satomi seethed. ‘And you!’ Her rueful gaze shifted from Khalid to Zeven. Words failed her a moment. ‘Why do you sit in friendly conversation with this murderous animal?’

  Zeven sympathised with how this must look to his mother, but he was sick of the ignorance. ‘He is a human being —’

  ‘You dare to defend it to me?’

  The betrayal on her face thrust an emotional dagger into Zeven’s chest; choosing a side was impossible between these two people, for Satomi had also laid down her life protecting him.

  ‘And to expose your daughter to this foul creature!’ Satomi, incensed, manifested a dagger. ‘Get her out of here.’ Satomi commanded Zeven to take Thurraya and go.

  ‘No, Grandma!’ To the shock of all present, Ray took a stand in front of Khalid and pointed to the monkey that had positioned itself in the rafters above Satomi’s head. ‘You are the one being bad!’

  The desperate tears streaming down her granddaughter’s cheeks snapped Satomi out of her shock-induced psychosis and she allowed the knife to vanish.

  ‘Mother, you need to hear me out —’

  Satomi held up a finger, not prepared to listen at present and approaching Zeven, she eyed him over and slapped his face with all her human force. ‘You are not my son.’ She grabbed hold of Thurraya’s hand, of the mind to vanish with the child.

  ‘I don’t want to go with you.’ Ray pulled away and ran back to Zeven.

  Satomi’s anger was tinged by sorrow, until her eyes returned to Khalid. ‘I don’t know what evil trickery you’ve cast on my family, but I will end it, and you.’ She vanished, whereupon everyone present drew a deep breath in the wake of the tension.

  Zeven was quick to drop on one knee and address Ray. ‘You have to take yourself back to Mummy now. But you are not to tell anyone what happened here, besides the captain and the boss, you got that?’

  Ray nodded, obediently. ‘When are you coming home?’

  ‘Not for a while.’ Zeven was honest, and Ray was not happy. ‘But when I do come back, you’ll be the first person I come see. ’K?’

  With a smile of acceptance, Ray looked to Khalid. ‘I’m sorry my grandma said those awful things about you.’

  Khalid was quite placated by her view. ‘Awful accusations are not so hurtful when they are deserved.’

  ‘People change,’ Thurraya told him. ‘And no matter what others decide about you, only you know what is in your heart.’

  ‘I shall remember that,’ Khalid respectfully conceded.

  Zeven couldn’t believe that he was witnessing Khalid being gracious — it seemed this terrible turn of events had been of some benefit.

  ‘Off you go,’ Zeven prompted his daughter, and with another hug, she vanished.

  ‘I’ve never been defended by a kid before,’ Khalid joked. ‘I’ve never been defended by anyone … least of all, to their mother.’

  ‘It was not the reunion I imagined.’ Zeven touched the side of his face, still stinging from Satomi’s slap.

  ‘She’s right though,’ Khalid warranted. ‘Everything I touch turns to shit! That’s a bitchin’ kid you’ve got there —’

  ‘Her name is Thurraya,’ Zeven said.

  Khalid shook his head, seeming annoyed by the show of trust. ‘And I suspect you married that equally bitchin’ blonde you found singing in a band on Sermetica.’

  ‘I did,’ Zeven confirmed.

  Khalid was frustrated. ‘You’re an idiot to risk the p
erfect life you’ve built for yourself on my account!’ he warned.

  ‘I know.’ Zeven accepted that. ‘They used to say I was insanely brave, but I think I’ve turned that around — now I’m just bravely insane.’

  ‘This is no joking matter.’ Khalid almost cracked a smile, but he endeavoured to be serious. ‘Keep your precious things away from me! Already your doting mother despises you on my account; pretty soon that will be the case with your entire family!’

  Zeven took the very fact that Khalid cared at all as a promising sign. ‘Unfortunately my precious things have a mind and will all their own.’ He made light of the threat, though it was far more real than he cared to admit. Still, mutual trust needed a foundation and Khalid had no idea how to build one, so Zeven had to take some risks. ‘What I am more concerned about at this point is securing your safety, and I need your cooperation to do that.’

  ‘My safety!’ Khalid thought him joking, until Zeven conjured forth the coffer containing the amulet of Chironjivi.

  ‘We need to discuss Dead Man Downs.’

  When Satomi reappeared on board AMIE she was deeply distressed.

  ‘Satomi!’ Mythric was at her side in a heartbeat.

  ‘Where is Thurraya?’ Aurora was alarmed to see the princess returned alone.

  ‘Still with her father.’ Satomi’s bitter tone surprised everyone bar Taren and the captain. ‘Do you know what he has done?’ She put the question to her husband and everyone.

  ‘That information is classified,’ Taren was quick to butt in. ‘Divulging classified information will put you in breach of USS security and I will have to arrest you and everyone here.’

  ‘You are worse than both your parents put together!’ Satomi confronted Taren. ‘Why would you condone such a crime?’

  ‘Crime?’ Mythric queried the choice of word, the implication of which spread like a virus to unnerve the rest of the crew. ‘What is she talking about?’

  ‘She doesn’t know what she is talking about,’ Taren countered. ‘No one but Telmo and Zeven know the whole truth of the matter.’

  ‘Telmo?’ Both Kalayna and Yasper’s interest were piqued.

  ‘Ha! Then even you cannot say what the truth is!’ Satomi challenged.

  ‘I have Zeven’s word.’ Taren was really struggling to remain civil. ‘That is all I need.’

  ‘Hear, hear,’ Lucian seconded that motion, as did everyone on the crew, until the round stopped at Mythric, and Satomi looked to him for a modicum of support.

  Taren felt for him, caught between his son and his wife, when he had no idea what they were arguing about.

  ‘Our boy is no fool,’ Mythric gently appealed to her sense of reason.

  She slapped his face. ‘You are a fool,’ she told him, and backed away to distance herself from everyone. ‘All of you be damned!’ She vanished from their midst, just as Ray reappeared and embraced her mother.

  ‘Thank heaven!’ Aurora squeezed Ray, and kissed her cheeks. ‘Never do that again! Are you all right?’

  Ray began whispering in her mother’s ear.

  ‘Ray,’ Lucian cautioned his youngest crew member. ‘You are not allowed to speak about your daddy’s work to anyone.’

  Aurora comforted Ray, and looked to the captain. ‘She didn’t say anything about Zeven, she’s just scared that Grandma has turned bad.’ Aurora looked to Mythric, who was now completely bemused.

  The questioning looks on the faces of the crew were all aimed at Taren and begging for answers.

  ‘What the hell have you got Zeven doing?’ Mythric demanded.

  ‘If we couldn’t tell you that twenty seconds ago, we cannot tell you now either.’ The captain was as tired of questions about Zeven’s doings as Taren was. ‘I need Ray to come to my office for a little debrief.’ Lucian held a hand out to the child.

  ‘Must you do that now,’ Aurora entreated him. ‘She’s been through something traumatic —’

  ‘No, Mum,’ Ray shot in. ‘Daddy said I had to tell the captain some things.’ She left her mother to go with Lucian to his office.

  ‘I’m on damage control,’ Taren announced, but when she focused on her subject she had no success pursuing her. ‘Damn! Satomi has cast another shield in her wake.’ Taren mused about her aunt’s options. ‘There’s only one other place that I’m aware of that Satomi would go for support … I’d best get to my mother before she does.’

  ‘Let me track her down,’ Mythric waylaid her to petition.

  ‘Don’t you start! That will only widen the breech.’ Taren refused his request, which frustrated Mythric. ‘I’m sorry —’

  ‘You’re sorry!’ Mythric bit out. ‘No sooner do I finally get my family back together than some USS fucking secret service agenda is tearing them apart. We’ve changed nothing!’

  ‘If the princess had followed my directive —’ Taren bit her tongue; seeking to place blame was a waste of time, and Mythric was storming from the room in any case.

  ‘Well, this has been quite a bash,’ Swithin broke the tension. ‘It’s like one of those “whodunnit” parties, only in this case we have to guess “what’s he fuckin’ done this time?”’

  ‘He is saving our arses, as usual!’ Taren made her view known. ‘Unless his mother throws a spanner in the works.’

  ‘She seemed pretty distraught.’ Aurora was looking a little that way herself. ‘And whatever upset her, Thurraya was privy to as well.’

  ‘Thurraya seemed to think that Satomi was in the wrong in this case, and so do I.’ Taren ended the discussion. ‘This project has had a dream run thus far and you all are the best damn crew in the known universe! But lose faith now, at the first sign of bad weather, and there is little hope for freedom for those with the Powers in the future of the United Star Systems.’

  ‘I got faith.’ Jazmay held up her shot glass to Taren in a show of support, and everyone present followed suit, although Swithin — ever the sceptic — was the last to do so.

  Although Taren was grateful for the sentiment, she knew that if they discovered what Zeven was up to she’d have a full-scale rebellion on her hands. Just about everyone here had cause to detest Khalid — including herself. It had been a battle for Taren to wrap her head and heart around Zeven’s compassionate stance in this matter; it demonstrated a spiritual mastery that surpassed that of anyone she’d ever known. She was proud of her cousin, and was looking forward to remembering the journey into the universe parallel that had awarded Zeven and Telmo such great insight. It was now all too clear why Zeven had endeavoured to keep his movements secret; he was truly risking everything he held dear in an attempt to redeem his worst enemy. But if Satomi shared what she knew with anyone, this profound act of mercy was liable to turn round and bite them all in the arse.

  All her adult life Satomi had known no home.

  Her childhood as a young Phemorian princess had been happy enough. Heir to the throne, she’d been given everything she desired, while being kept blissfully unaware of the heavy price she would pay for that privilege upon being crowned Qusay of Phemoria. At age ten her life took a dark turn as she bore witness to her mother’s decline into insanity following the shameful conception and birth of a son. It was Phemorian law that no male of royal birth was permitted to live, and the guilt of having the child killed only compounded the fragility of her mother’s mind. The prince’s execution was also revenge, aimed at its father and his people — whoever they were. Satomi had never learned those details, nor even who her own father was. Phemorians were considered fatherless. In the years that followed, Satomi’s own psychic powers developed and she came to see the curse lurking behind the crown her mother wore. This mysterious force, known as the Phemoray, had been assembled from the tortured spirits of her great foremothers and gathered unto the service of the Phemorian crown by the mighty Thurraya. Thurraya was considered the first true Qusay of Phemoria, as she was the first female to rule in her own right, having banished all the men from their planet. Her first act in office was to slay
her husband the king, before she banished her only son, Chironjivi, to a slow death en route to Sermetica — hence earning this Qusay the name Thurraya the Slayer. The fleet of vessels that had carried the last men from Phemoria had crash landed at Dead Man Downs and created the most feared and avoided location in the whole of the United Star Systems — for no one who went to investigate the crash ever returned. Yet despite her history lessons and being assured that the Phemoray were there to serve the Qusay, Satomi observed her mother’s own disdain of the force. In her increasingly abstruse moments towards the end of their association, the Qusay would accuse the Phemoray of controlling her and she seemed to revel in the abandon that overtook her during those moments of madness when she forgot to fear her demons. For eight years Phemoria suffered at the hands of a schizophrenic ruler, and Satomi knew that the Phemoray were only waiting for her to come of age so they could do away with her mother’s unpredictable services and replace her with a younger, saner woman who was easier to manipulate. Fortunately Satomi had found sympathisers among Qusay’s close advisors, those who knew the truth about the crown and its curse. They had conspired to aid the young princess to escape her sad destiny that, four years later, was regrettably passed on to her younger sister, Clarona, as soon as she came of age.

  After fleeing Phemoria, Satomi had spent many years on the run, learning to protect herself, cover her tracks and stay one step ahead of the Phemoray and the queen’s Valoureans, who never gave up their pursuit of her. In Spyridon Vidor, Satomi found a haven for a short while — just long enough to fall in love, start a family and have it all torn away. The moment she fell pregnant, Satomi knew that it was only a matter of time before her past caught up to her. For this was not just any baby, but one of the first children born of both the Phemorian and Sermetic royal lines in a thousand years. And the child was male. Despite Spyridon’s complete dedication to the protection of his family, and as powerful as their combined psychic powers were, it was never going to be enough to keep every secret service agent in the USS at bay. If not for Maiara’s prophecy, they may have had more respite to bond as a family. Had retribution come in some expected form, Satomi would have had a fighting chance. But Khalid Mansur, who had been raised as a member of the Sermetic royal family, had caught her off-guard. No male living should have been her psychic equal, for she was of the Phemorian royal line. Their psychic powers ran stronger than those belonging to any of the Sermetic royal houses, whose inherent psychic ability had been diluted in the ages since their banishment from Phemoria. How could Khalid have overpowered her? There was only one answer, which dawned upon her as she’d breathed her last — the son that her mother had grieved had somehow escaped his execution.