Beyond Orion

by Laura D. Bastian

  I didn’t want to test it, but I doubted the glass panels would accept the scan of my own hand. I was a prisoner in my own palace, and there was nothing I could do about it until I learned the reason for my stay.

  Movements in the other rooms let me know Marcus and the two guards were still there. They spoke in hushed voices, and if I’d tried, I probably could have figured out what they were saying. But I held on to my pride and turned on the computer.

  Accessing my personal files was easy enough with my passwords. I looked through the lists of things I still needed to do. Most of them could be taken care of here. It wasn’t like I was being prevented from working, but knowing I wasn’t free irritated me.

  A message from Delilah with a request from Dr. Nye and Dr. Salb to meet and discuss the formula caught my attention.

  Preliminary results are promising. What you told me is highly possible. Can you meet today?

  I exhaled in frustration. I had no idea when I’d be free to act on this, so didn’t respond to the message.

  We couldn’t let anyone know about the ability to Travel. Especially if it didn’t have to be limited to only two trips like the report in my safe indicated. If the results of that experiment could be duplicated, then Traveling at the speed and ease of thought would be accessible to anyone with the formula. I could not let that happen. After going to Earth myself and seeing how easy it was to be there, and how unprepared they would be for visitors from another galaxy, I couldn’t let this get into the hands of those who would abuse it.

  Earth had so many treasures. Not the least of them being their own precious metals. They had quartz in excess, and that would easily power our spaceships for ages. Once they learned how to use it, they’d be an unstoppable force. And according to Delilah’s report while on Earth, tungsten could be used to change our future completely. It was even stronger than any of our metals.

  Though I longed to be able to return and visit with Holly and Jai, it could never happen. We couldn’t risk having anyone find out what they had, or that Traveling was even possible.

  After working for some time, the sound of footsteps in my room brought my head up. Marcus stood at the doorway, his hand dropped from the doorframe he looked about to knock on.

  “I am here for your hourly report.”

  I clasped my hands together on the top of the desk and looked up at him expectantly.

  “There is still no news to share.”

  I narrowed my eyes at Marcus. “Thank you for your promptness in reporting. You are excused.”

  Marcus blinked, his mouth opened as if he wanted to speak, then he nodded and did an about face before marching out of the room. I smiled to myself. I’d have fun tormenting him if he continued to act this way.

  I turned my attention back to the tasks on my list and couldn’t wait for the next hour to pass. If he didn’t come up with something better to report, I’d have to think of something else to get under his skin. If he was going to torture me by keeping me hidden away, it was only fair I returned the favor.

  My eyes burned from staring at the screen so long. Leaning back in my chair, I closed my eyes to rest them a moment. Slow breaths in and out helped me relax enough I soon found myself on the edge of sleep.

  I debated on getting up and moving around to energize myself, or letting sleep overtake me, but was soon surrounded by a vision. I allowed it to take over, hoping it would bring good news.

  Fire. Flames licking the walls, devouring everything in its path. Chemicals exploding, spreading the destruction.

  Alarms blaring. Extinguishers useless against the onslaught.

  People in lab coats running frantically. Men and women tripping over each other in their panic.

  A knock on my door brought me out of my vision. Marcus once again stood at my doorway. “There is nothing to report.”

  I scrubbed my face, trying to wake fully from the dream. “There is a fire in the labs,” I said.

  “What labs? How do you know?” Marcus asked.

  “Call Ryad. Now!”

  Marcus blanched at my tone, but turned on the communicator on his wrist. “Ryad.”

  I opened up my computer and typed in commands to show me the palace security system. A blueprint of the palace showed up, yet nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

  I slid my finger across the screen and zoomed into the lower levels. A secret lab where the scientists had developed the original formula for the Traveling medallions was situated a few levels down from the main floor. The blueprints showed a few other rooms. In the back of my mind, I wondered which one I was in right now.

  “There is a fire in the secret lab. I saw it in a vision.” I stared at the screen, confused why it wasn’t showing up on the security system that there was a problem.

  “Perhaps it hasn’t happened yet?”

  “My visions have never predicted the future before. Only shown what has happened.”

  Marcus moved around behind the desk and looked at the monitor with me. He typed in a few commands, bringing the screen to the security control center. “Nothing looks wrong.” He looked at me a moment, but his eyes seemed to be focused on something only he could see. “Maybe the mantle of authority has altered your gift. There have been cases of rulers’ gifts changing.”

  Ryad’s voice crackled through the communicator, interrupting us. “Ryad here. What do you need?”

  “Amira says there’s a fire.”

  “Where?”

  “She said in the secret labs.”

  “I’ll look into it.” Ryad’s connection disappeared and I was left there staring at Marcus.

  “We have to go back up. If there is danger of a fire, we’ve got to get everyone to safety. All of my father’s things need to be removed from danger.”

  “You’ve got people up there to take care of those things. You must stay out of the way or everyone will have to worry about you instead of doing their jobs. You will stay put.” Marcus placed his hand on my arm. “Besides, you don’t even know for sure if there is a fire.”

  I stepped back, anger rising deep from my soul. Of course he wouldn’t believe me about my visions. Not even Jai had believed them to be true or completely accurate. But this one was much more vivid than the ones before. I knew it was only a matter of time before it happened.

  I pushed past Marcus and marched over to the door we’d come in. I pressed my hand against the panel. A blue light scanned my palm, then flashed red and beeped at me.

  “Let me out this instant.”

  “No.”

  The desire to throw a massive fit almost won over my rational side that told me it wouldn’t help. I dropped my hand from the panel. “If you don’t let me act on this, then people will die.”

  Marcus blinked. Through the oath bond, I could feel his indecision. A stubborn streak of his own built within him and he shook his head. “I must keep you safe. Let Ryad sort things out up there.”

  I grabbed Marcus’s wrist and pressed the button. “Ryad. This is Amira. The vision was real. You have to make sure everyone is out of that lab. Save them!”

  I dropped Marcus’s hand and turned away from him. I hated being this helpless.

  At my desk, I sent Delilah a message. I’m in a safe house and can’t do my job. There is or will be a fire in the secret labs. Go do what you can to evacuate it. Ryad has said he’ll go, but he may be too busy with other things. I don’t think he understands the importance of my visions.

  I pressed send and within moments Delilah replied. On it.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Another Vision

  When Ryad finally entered my prison’s front room, I had been pacing for more than thirty minutes. I crossed my arms over my chest and stared him down.

  “Speak.” I worried if I said more I’d start chewing him out.

  Instead of answering my unasked questions, he looked to Marcus. I could feel the buzz of telepathy and bristled at the affront. Why speak to Marcus privately, and not to me?

  I bit
my cheek to keep from shouting. I had to maintain calm. Ryad finally turned to me and I raised an eyebrow at him. He ducked his head as if in quick apology, then moved closer and motioned for me to sit down.

  “You were right about the fire. There was nothing to indicate it on any of the security systems or sensors when I looked after Marcus called me.”

  “Did you go to the labs?” I asked.

  Ryad shook his head. “Not at first. Not till after you called me. I sent some runners to see what was up and to report back. They said the lab was an inferno when they arrived, but the sensors still said nothing had happened.”

  Anger bubbled inside me. I knew it was happening yet they hadn’t believed me at all. I wanted to shout at them. Only the remorse and anger I felt through the oath bond kept me from tearing into them.

  “How many injured?” I asked, struggling to keep my voice calm.

  “It’s too early to tell. The lab is completely destroyed.”

  Marcus stood and took a step forward. At one look from me, he froze then turned to Ryad. “How much damage to the surrounding rooms?”

  “Very little. The lab was lined with etuip. Short of an explosion, nothing could penetrate that wall.”

  “Who is seeing to the lab technicians?” I asked. “I want to speak to someone who knows something. Where are Dr. Salb and Dr. Nye?”

  “Salb is still unaccounted for, and Dr. Nye is in the hospital in critical condition,” Ryad said.

  I turned back to my desk to see if Delilah had responded to my message. There was nothing yet.

  I pressed the communicator on my wrist. “Delilah, I need a report. Contact me as soon as you can.”

  I turned to Marcus and Ryad. “Let me out of here now. I will see to this myself.”

  Ryad shook his head. “There is nothing you can do. Stay here where you are safe.”

  “I was in no danger. Being here is unnecessary.”

  “You are in danger,” Ryad insisted.

  “From whom?” I asked.

  “That is still unclear. But given the fact your secret lab has been destroyed, we can safely assume there is something going on.”

  “If you would have listened to me, we could have put a stop to it. You have to let me do my job.”

  “If there is another instance of you dreaming something, I’ll listen to you. But you will stay here.” Ryad did an about face and marched to the door. He turned and met Marcus’s eye. “Do not let her leave. Things aren’t safe yet.”

  Marcus nodded his agreement, and refused to look at me as Ryad left. He hung his head as if defeated and left me in my office alone.

  I pressed the button on my communicator again. “Delilah, I need to speak with you.” It wasn’t like her to not answer. I hoped she was helping with the investigation of the fire.

  I tried to distract myself with work, but every sound pulled my focus away. I paced my office for more than an hour, checking my communicator and messages hoping to hear from Delilah. The more time that passed, the more my concern built.

  Out of habit, I turned away from the desk with the intent to look out my window and was disappointed when I realized it was just a painting of a landscape. I moved myself over to the small sofa that was in the place Marcus’s couch would be in my father’s office. It was comfortable enough, but not long enough to lay on. I leaned against the arm rest and massaged my temples.

  I longed for Jai’s healing from another developing headache. I could have called in one of my guards since a Healer was on duty at all times, but I didn’t want to be seen like this. Tears of frustration, anger, and loneliness overflowed and ran down my cheeks. I scrubbed them away with the sleeve of my dress and leaned my head back, breathing slow and deep. I lifted my legs onto the cushions and reclined as much as possible.

  Soon, sleep overtook me and I dreamed of my time on Earth. The ease and comfort of my time there was a happy relief and I enjoyed it. The sound of the door closing pulled me out of my dream and I wondered if Marcus had just checked up on me. I debated on heading to my bed to sleep the remainder of the night in comfort.

  Before I could get my legs off the cushions of the sofa, another vision hit me.

  Blade glinting in the darkness.

  A spray of blood.

  A greenish hand dropping lifeless to the side.

  I stood up and bolted across the room. I threw open the door and ran into Marcus, knocking him to the floor and falling on top of him. His arms wrapped around me instinctively and as he held me close I felt his heart pounding under my own.

  “Someone’s been murdered.” I managed to say as I tried to push myself away from him. Marcus let go of me as I struggled and rolled to the side in an attempt to help me, but instead my dress was pinned under his legs.

  He blushed and stood up, then reached down and lifted me off the floor.

  “A murder?” he asked, rubbing his chest where I must have hurt him as we fell.

  “Another vision. A knife is the weapon. I saw a green hand. It must be someone from Nexleen. We have to go now!”

  He hesitated a moment before striding over to the wall and placing his hand on the sensor. The door slid open with a whoosh and Marcus offered me his hand.

  “You have to stay close to me. Don’t do anything stupid.” His eyes met mine and when I nodded my agreement, he led the way through the door. The guards surrounded us immediately as we entered the elevator.

  Inside, Marcus sent a message to Ryad. “Another vision. A murder of a Nexleen. Meet us in their quarters.”

  The elevator door opened on the main level and three more guards joined our ranks. I wanted to run, but with this many soldiers surrounding us, we had to move at a fast walk. The guards looked alert and capable, but I wished I could leave them behind.

  I hoped the vision hadn’t happened yet, like Marcus suggested might be a possibility.

  Though it took only minutes to make our way to the wing where the Nexleen were housed, it seemed like forever. As we arrived in the hallway, a commotion just inside the door of the apartments forced my guards to stop and position themselves around me in a protective barrier.

  “Find out what happened,” I ordered. “One of you go now.”

  The guard to my left ordered another guard to approach the Nexleen’s door. A servant of one of the dignitaries from Nexleen rushed out, shouting for help. When she saw the guard and then our group, she started screaming about a murder.

  We were too late.

  ****

  Ryad burst through the hallway and headed straight to me. I stood in front of the door to Dignitary Itury’s room.

  What happened? Ryad asked, looking around the room at the chaos that continued to reign, despite our best efforts at calming the situation.

  I shook my head, too frustrated, heartbroken, and angry to speak.

  Marcus moved to my side, reaching for my hand but I pulled back, not willing to be comforted. Itury was my friend. The only one of the visiting dignitaries I could remotely tolerate. We had just met yesterday to discuss the continued trade agreement between our planets. I had promised them more Healers in exchange for double the amount of exotic matter.

  How could this happen in my palace? I asked.

  Did anyone see anything? Ryad asked.

  Marcus shook his head. He was in his rooms. His throat had been slit. There was no sign of a struggle. It appears he was come upon from behind and killed by either someone he knew, or it happened so fast he had no time to react.

  What of his attendants? Ryad looked around at all the other visitors from Nexleen.

  They are all accounted for. None of them have been harmed. And they are all being questioned even as we speak.

  Do you think one of them did it? Ryad asked.

  I don’t know. Marcus shook his head. They seem as shocked as we did, but it’s hard to tell. They are each being questioned, though they are highly offended we have implied any of them could be responsible. They want answers just as badly as we do.

&nbs
p; What will we do? I asked. Nexleen will be furious with us to discover their dignitary died while in our care. We could have a war on our hands on top of all the other issues.

  Until we find out who did it, we will keep it quiet, Ryad said.

  Quiet? I shook my head. Don’t you think this will be spoken of by everyone? I’m sure once the visitors from Nexleen learn why they are being detained and questioned, they will contact Nexleen the moment they can.

  Ryad cleared his throat. I’ve already taken care of that. All communications outside our planet have been shut down.

  I clenched my eyes tight. Another thing to add to the list of grievances against us.

  I turned to Ryad. What was the threat against me? And are you sure it was against me or could it have been a warning for danger toward Itury?

  Ryad shook his head. Itury was the one who warned me.

  I looked at the door to Itury’s room. Investigators were combing the area looking for clues. What did he say?

  Ryad paused a moment as if debating with himself on what to tell me. We need to return you to the safe house. The threat is still out there. And now that Itury is dead, there is no way to discover what he meant. He offered me his arm, but I shook my head.

  I must do damage control. If I speak to the Nexleen visitors, or send a message to Nexleen myself with our condolences, we could stave off a lot of damage. I have to be able to act. I cannot save my kingdom if I am hidden away in the dungeons below it.

  Is that what you think we’re doing? Hiding you in a dungeon?

  I rolled my eyes. You tell me if you think I’m not being kept prisoner when I’m in a room I can’t leave of my own free will.

  Marcus had the decency to blush.

  Ryad crossed his arms over his chest and stared me down. You are in danger.

  I planted my fists on my hips. Everyone is. And if I can’t do something about it, it will only get worse. We have to get to the bottom of this. That dungeon is not the place to do it.