Changing of the Glads

by Joy Spraycar

  “I want to be the Empress, and I have pull with Vitus. Leave me alone, and I promise to talk him into letting you go. However, there is a catch.”

  Max rushed the cage, causing Platy to scurry to the corner.

  “You do not have the right to ask for anything. Your pay is your life, here and now.”

  Platy ran a hand down her face. “I know, but if you promise to leave this world and take the child with you, Vitus will no longer have to worry about being overthrown. You see how that would work for everyone concerned? You’ll get Zalphia and your child. I’ll have Vitus and become Empress, and Vitus will keep this world for himself. Win–win all the way around.”

  Max’s eyes narrowed. The Elders would never agree to Platy’s terms, but she could not know that. “All right, but if you don’t live up to your end of the bargain, so help me... I will kill you.”

  She held her hand over her heart. “I swear an oath. I would never.”

  Max nodded. “Very well.”

  ***

  The side of the ship slid down, creating an opening. Zalphia paused, staring at where it had been. “How does that work?” she asked Karaticus.

  “I don’t know. Vitus says it’s sort of a molecular change, but I don’t understand it exactly. The ship we came to earth in had a mechanical door. But here, on this planet, Vitus is able to do things he couldn’t back on Selestia.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. Here, the elements seem to bend to his mind.” Karaticus took her hand and led her down the plank and onto the roof of the palace. A handful of guards dotted a stark, rounded landscape of dirt and a few boulders. No trees or flowers. It reminded Zalphia of an arena, just as barren and exposed to the sweltering heat.

  A solitary door nestled within an alcove of rock that rose above the level of the roof marked the entrance to a building. This building must be very tall, or they were not actually in the midst of a city. Zalphia wished she could look over the edge, but she knew if she made a wrong move, she’d probably be shot.

  Karaticus waved to the nearest guard. “There is a prisoner in the cargo compartment. I believe Vitus is awaiting her.”

  Turning to Zalphia, Karaticus continued, “We mustn’t speak anymore.” He glanced at the guards moving to the ship. “Vitus has great power here.”

  Zalphia followed Karaticus to the door at the edge of the roof. Two guards stood on either side and opened it to allow them entrance but didn’t follow.

  Karaticus paused just inside the door on the landing. Buzzing electric bulbs lit a stairway only wide enough for one person at a time. The gray walls seemed to close in on them, and the shiny concrete formed narrow steps.

  Zalphia waited until the door closed. “You mean he can’t hear what you are thinking?”

  “Yes, he can, most of the time. I have found that I can hide some of my thoughts from him, but only if there is more distance between us and his mind is taken with physically manipulating things. Distance makes it harder for him to find my thoughts among the many out there. When I’m at the palace, I have to be selective about where I allow my mind to go. That way I can hide simple things, but he usually gets what he needs from me. I’ll do what I can to help you, but I can’t promise anything.”

  The cracking overhead and flickering light distracted Zalphia from watching where she put her feet. One toe hit the edge of the stair, and only Karaticus’s quick reflexes saved her from a long tumble.

  “Thank you.”

  “The Emperor wants you in one piece. I’d hate to disappoint him.”

  When they reached the bottom of the staircase, they stood in a tiled circle. White halls stretched as far as she could see in five different directions. Each hallway held numerous white doors and seemed to get longer as Zalphia stared down them. She had never seen a building such as this. How could anyone hope to remember where they were or where they’d come from when everything looked the same?

  Karaticus motioned to the second hallway to the right. “My infirmary is this way.”

  Bright light seemed to be coming from the ceiling, but Zalphia knew that as many stairs as they descended, they were underground.

  “Where does the light come from,” she asked.

  “It’s harnessed power of the atoms. Vitus used this same technology to stop the wars. This light is a byproduct of nuclear fusion. It produces a great amount of energy, and in doing so also produces the light you see here. The reaction takes place between the rooftop and the ceiling of this building. It deters anyone from attacking the palace. Inside this part of the building, we are protected by an element Vitus discovered somewhere else in the solar system. But if someone tried to attack, well, let’s just say they would be responsible for ending life as they know it on this planet. Vitus has made sure everyone knows what the ramifications would be, so no one dares to try.”

  “Oh my.” Zalphia stared at the ceiling for a moment, shaking her head. “He really has thought of everything, hasn’t he?”

  Karaticus nodded. “Now you know why I am still here. I can’t fight someone with powers like his. No one can.”

  Nodding, Zalphia followed in silence. They passed multiple doors before Karaticus stopped. This door was tall enough that she, for once, would not have to duck to avoid hitting her head.

  “Well, here we are. I’m sorry, but we must get right to it. The Emperor will be waiting to hear my report.”

  A tear slipped down Zalphia’s cheek, but she brushed it aside with her palm, lifted her chin, and nodded. “Well then, let’s get to it.”

  CHAPTER 20

  Karaticus opened the door and waved Zalphia through. She scanned the room as she entered, and he shut the door behind them. Pale blue walls lent a calm feeling to the room, and all the beds had mattresses covered in sheets of varied pastels. Even the machines placed sporadically around the room sported the colors of spring flowers.

  If she hadn’t been a prisoner, Zalphia might find this infirmary inviting.

  “This is home to me,” Karaticus said. “I hate the stark white Vitus insists on. The lighter colors fit my tastes and remind me of the home I once shared with my wife.

  His eyes took on a faraway look. Then a moment later, he again focused on Zalphia. “This is the one room that’s all mine. Vitus never comes down here, and I never do his bidding in here. This is a room of healing and peace. The one place where I feel my true purpose is accomplished.”

  “And what purpose is that?”

  “Healing, of course. I do care for the palace guards and all those close to Vitus. It’s here I feel like I’m accomplishing what we were sent to do, save mankind.”

  Zalphia nodded. “I see. You cure disease and treat injuries, right?”

  That is exactly right. Now...” He motioned to a bed beneath a lavender machine. “If you would lie down here, we’ll take care of the chips Platy has planted inside you.”

  A chill visibly shook Zalphia. “How bad will it hurt?”

  Karaticus tipped his head in the same fashion that he had as a boy, and immediately Zalphia laughed. “Oh, I do remember that look from when you were young.”

  He smiled. “I’m glad you have glimpses of memory. That’s a good thing. Now, as far as this thing goes...” He patted the machine like it was a faithful dog. “This baby takes a tiny beam of light and dissolves the chips. There is no barbaric cutting like Platy did. Absolutely no pain, I promise.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. A laser, that’s a beam of light, will penetrate your body and break apart the chips. You shouldn’t feel a thing.”

  “Thank goodness.” Zalphia put a hand protectively over her stomach. “I was dreading this part. Thank you, Karaticus.”

  “It’s the least I could do.” He again patted the mattress. “Come, lie down. At least this part of your trip should make you feel better.” His eyes dropped to the ground. “I can’t promise what Vitus will do after confirming that you are with child. It might be more painful that anything you’ve been subjected to t
hus far.”

  Zalphia walked over and took his face in her hands. “I know this isn’t your fault. Please, don’t feel bad. You’re a good man, and I trust when the time comes, you’ll be rewarded for keeping your heart pure and doing what you could to save this world. You and I are simply pawns in a game being played by those who wield more power than we do.”

  He nodded as Zalphia reclined on the comfortable bed. He positioned the machine over her chest.

  “I thought the chips were in my head?”

  “There’s one inside your heart. I suspect that’s how your trainer retrieved you when you escaped. She could stop your heart from two or three miles away. Father would have had no choice but to let them take you back. Only Platy could restart your heart.”

  Zalphia nodded. “Would that be why I don’t remember being recaptured?”

  “Yes, that would explain it. You would have been unconscious for who knows how long. Once she restarted your heart, it would have taken time for your brain to acclimate and for you to regain consciousness.”

  “I see. So there was nothing Max could have done to keep me from being recaptured?”

  Karaticus shook his head. “Nothing. If Platy didn’t restart your heart, nothing he did would have saved you. Although I suspect that Father did everything he could to keep you alive. He has a lot of knowledge, but without the controller for the chip... well, you would have died.”

  Zalphia sighed. “I see.”

  Had she been too hard on Max that night in the dungeon? What would she have done in his place? Would she have let him go back to save his life? She knew she would. And with a chip inside that could kill her, she could see why he didn’t risk her running again.

  While the laser dissolved the chip, the pieces of her broken heart melded back together. Max had done all he could at the time to keep her alive. What must it have been like for him to stand by and watch Platy drag her away? Poor Max. It would have killed her to be in his place. But what choice did he have?

  When the machine stopped, Karaticus leaned over her. “How do you feel? Anything?”

  She shook her head. “I feel very warm, but no pain. Is that bad?”

  “No, that’s good. No ill effects. Now, I must address the chips inside your brain. This will be more intense. I want to give you something to relax you. Then I have to strap your head down so that the beam only hits the chip. Is that all right? Any movement on your part and you could suffer permanent brain damage.”

  “Brain damage?”

  “You could lose the ability to function. And we don’t want that.”

  “No, certainly not.” Zalphia swallowed hard as memories of Platy and her own physician’s barbarism flashed through her mind.

  Karaticus laid a hand on her arm. “I promise it won’t be anything like what your trainer put you through. I’ll be extremely careful, and you shouldn’t feel anything. I just want to be certain we only hit the chip, nothing else.”

  “Okay.” She nodded.

  Karaticus retrieved a syringe and small bottle of liquid from a cabinet against the wall. “This will just relax you, but you’ll be aware of everything going on.” He drew some liquid into the syringe then shot it into her arm. “Let me know when you feel a little light-headed.”

  “Okaaaay.” Her eyes closed.

  “Mother?” He shook her, and her eyes popped back open.

  “Wwwhhaat?”

  “Stay with me. Don’t go to sleep.”

  “Oookkkkaaayyy.”

  Karaticus laughed. “I guess your trainer never did this to you, did she?”

  “Nnnnoooo.”

  “Okay.” He brought a strap up from under the bed and tightened it across her forehead. “Can you hear me?”

  She tried to nod, but the strap prevented it.

  “I want you to hold your thumb facing the ceiling for yes and toward the floor for no. Do you understand?”

  She stuck her thumb up.

  “All right.” He positioned the machine over her head. “Keep your eyes open. Okay?”

  Another thumbs up.

  “If you feel a burning or anything tingling, fingers, toes, anything, I want you to give a thumb down. Understand?”

  She indicated a yes.

  The machine hummed, and Zalphia fought with her eyelids as they tried to slide shut. Over and over she forced them back open. It seemed like hours that she struggled before Karaticus finally looked into her face.

  “You did really well. Now, just let your eyes close. You can sleep while I do the rest.”

  She sucked in a deep breath and forced her eyelids to stay open. “Dooonn’t harrmm.”

  He patted her arm. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to do anything to the baby. Just confirm what I already know. That he exists.” He loosened the strap over her forehead. “Sleep now. Vitus will have to wait to see you. Don’t worry, I’ll watch over you until then.”

  She nodded then let the overwhelming urge to close her eyes take over.

  ***

  Max scooted into the far corner and waited, reaching out with his mind to shadow his presence from those on the rooftop. He heard murmuring outside, but the door to the cargo hold remained closed. Muscles tense and ready, he prepared to escape. If nothing else, he could remain shadowed and follow Zalphia, but not if the door didn’t open soon.

  Platy remained seated in her cage. “Max, where are you. What have you done?”

  “I am still here. Never mind what I have done.”

  “Fine. Whatever.” Platy frowned in the direction of his voice. “Just follow me when the guards come to take me into the palace. Take the third hallway to the right, then the fourth door on the left. That’s my friend’s office. He will be in the throne room now, so you should be safe there.”

  “Very well.”

  “As soon as I’ve talked with Vitus, I’ll come for you.”

  “I’ll be waiting.”

  Max doubted Platy’s sincerity, but he had no choice but to trust her at the moment. The minutes ticked slowly by, and still no one opened the hold where Max and Platy waited. After a while, Max slid into a sitting position. Fatigue dragged at his mind. For the last two days, he hadn’t slept, and with the heat building inside the craft, he had to fight to remain alert.

  Finally, the door slid open. Two guards entered and opened Platy’s cage. She nodded to them, and they followed her across the rocked roof with Max shadowed and right behind them.

  He slipped through the door with them, but remained at the top of the stairs while they continued.

  When Platy and the guards disappeared, Max unshadowed himself. He mentally searched the complex for Karaticus and Zalphia, but there was something strange in this building, something that kept him from finding anyone else’s mind. Vitus found a way to protect himself from detection by anyone from Selestia.

  Clever boy.

  Max snuck down the stairs and paused, searching each hallway. It would take forever to find Zalphia in the maze before him. He had only two options. He could shadow and search each and every room, or he could wait where Platy offered. Doubting Platy would stand up to her part of the bargain, he considered searching when a third option approached from the second hallway. A palace guard.

  Scrunching against the wall, Max shadowed and waited. The guard turned the corner, and Max shot his elbow into the man’s chin, knocking him out cold. Max then dragged the man to the office of Platy’s friend. There, he shed the Armor’s robe and replaced it with the guard’s. Using some twine and tape he found in the desk, Max tied the man up, gagged him, and shoved him into a closet.

  “Sorry.” Max whispered to the unconscious man. “It was necessary.”

  Max re-entered the hallway and hurried back to the stairs, determined to find Platy. He needed to ascertain all he could about what was going on in the palace. What did Vitus really plan on doing with Zalphia and his child?

  As he reached the bottom of the stairs to the roof, he saw another man coming from the left.

 
; “Hello, guard, I need your services.”

  Max nodded and followed the man down the hall, turned into another hall, and then followed him into an office.

  The man shut the door behind them then turned. “Father, what are you doing here?”

  Max stiffened. “What?”

  “It’s me, Father. Karaticus.”

  “Karaticus?” Max threw his arms around his son. “Oh, it is good to see you.”

  His son slapped him on the back. “It’s good to see you, too. But you shouldn’t be here. If Vitus finds you...”

  Max released Karaticus and stepped back. “I am here for Zalphia. How did you know it was me?”

  “Your projected images don’t work in here. You’ll be lucky if Vitus didn’t detect your presence already. However, I think his mind is otherwise occupied at the moment.”

  Max studied his son’s face. “How could he know of my presence? I have reached out for other minds here, but I sense nothing.”

  “I know. Vitus is the only one who can reach others inside this building. I’m not sure how he does it. His mind is stronger than it used to be, and he is almost always connected to me. You’re not safe here. I should be able to block him from these memories at least for a little while, but eventually he’ll discover this exchange.”

  “But you can hide it for a bit?”

  Karaticus ran a hand down the side of his face. “Yes, but not for long.”

  “Long enough for me to get Zalphia out of here?”

  “I wish that were the case. But, no. You can’t take her with you.”

  “I cannot leave her. Not again.” Max laid a hand on his son’s shoulder. “I know what Vitus wants. To kill our child. Zalphia would die before she allows that.”

  “I know how you feel. But your being here endangers all our lives. Vitus won’t do anything to Zalphia or the child until he’s captured you. So you see, you have to leave. Give me time to figure something out.”

  “Vitus won’t kill them both, now that he has them?”

  “I can protect them for a while. But if Vitus finds you here, there will be nothing I can do.”