*****
“Waging war won’t get you that respect.”
“It will if we win.”
“No. Sorry, it won’t. The vanquished never respect those that conquer them. Regardless, what form do you expect this respect to take? I still don’t understand why you feel it’s worth endangering the lives of billions of people? How did you guys even reach this point?”
“The three worlds of the Outer Reaches are home to trans-evolutionary species.”
Egg was about to ask what that was, but the answer seemed to pop into her head. “Unlike the humans, serpents and dragons of Aerianna, your kind have yet to fully evolve. I am originally from a planet called Earth. We believe we evolved from a lower species called Neanderthals. Had any world of the Federation met these less advanced primitives, they would have considered them unworthy of respect or at the very least, not their equals.”
“You do understand. Thank you.”
“But your kind are far more advanced then my Neanderthals. Do you have any idea what the end of your evolution might be like?”
The General smiled ruefully. “We are not that sophisticated. Our science is rudimentary compared to yours. We cannot envision our future.”
“Yet you have this disruptor weapon.”
“We traded for it. A passing fleet of deep space explorers were in need of supplies. The disruptor was the only thing of value to us.”
“And your spaceships?”
“We purchased them from the Federation. They insisted on a price greater than the ships are worth.”
“That brings us to this war. How have you been disrespected?”
“We have been ignored . . . spurned. We attempt to negotiate trade, and are treated like ignorant savages. We ask for help in creating the infrastructure so vital for the growth of any civilization . . . and are refused. We ask for help to train doctors and teachers to help our sick, our children . . . and are rebuffed. We asked for food supplies during a devastating drought . . . and were forced to pay a premium. We ask to be able to partake in their societies, too learn how to act with more advanced civilizations . . . and are laughed at. We ask to be respected for who we are in our evolutionary development . . . and are mocked. If we were not part of a Federation, then we would make do with what nature has afforded us. But we are part of the Federation. We demand to be treated as equals.”
Egg began to get angry. She just hated when those with the resources or the ability refused to help those in need. But there are always two sides to an argument and she had not heard what the Federation would say to these allegations. “Have you tried to negotiate with the President of the Federation instead of the individual planets?”
“No. It just seemed more logical to deal with those planets that were closest to us . . . our neighbors.”
“Then deputize me. I’ll speak to the President on your behalf.”
“Why would you do that? You don’t know us.”
“I know injustice. I know that everyone deserves a helping hand in times of need. You’re not asking for anything unreasonable. If you receive help, the planets of the Outer Reaches would become an asset to their neighbors as well as the entire Federation. Everyone wins. Keeping you from advancing more quickly is cruel, selfish, short-sighted and downright illogical.”
The General once again stared at Egg’s face . . . probably trying to discern the true intent behind the woman’s words. “Your goal is to avert this war,” she stated with great certainty.
“Well of course. War is a downright stupid way to settle disputes. You may think there is a winner, but that’s just an illusion. Both sides lose, one more so than the other.”
Egg was shocked when Zwam hung her head and tears fell from her face, making small splashes in the empty dish on the table. “Forgive me,” she mumbled.
The Queen-to-be stood and hurried over to the other woman and knelt before her. “Look at me,” she pleaded.
The General did as she was asked.
“I understand what you’re feeling.”
Zwam instantly turned angry. “How could you? You have no idea what is in my mind or in my heart.”
“How about – you’re feeling confused and overwhelmed. And maybe a little bit intimidated. You thought you had a simple answer to your problem – this rebellion. But now you’re beginning to understand that it was never the answer. Worse, you know that in this complex society we call the Federation, you are unprepared to fight the real battle – the one with diplomacy. And just to make it a little more painful, you feel that you’re letting your people down, and they will pay the price for your failure.”
The General’s big bug eyes grew even bigger. “How can you know this?”
“It’s what I would feel if the situation was reversed.” Egg couldn’t have given a better answer if she had been allowed a million tries.
The tall, blue-skinned woman stood up and waited for Egg to do the same. Then she went to one knee and bowed her head. “Queen Eloise, on behalf of all the citizens in the Outer Reaches, I beg for your help. My people suffer and that must end. I will do whatever you ask . . . even forgo war if that is your wish.”
Egg reached down and helped the woman to her feet. Then she hugged her. “Of course, I’ll help. And I promise you, that if diplomacy fails, I will personally lead your army and help you defeat the Federation.”
“You would war against your own?”
“If they don’t see the error of their ways, they’re going to understand that making Flying Girl mad was a big, big mistake.”
Chapter 4 – Vote your Conscience
Every politician on Earth – be they liberal, conservative, Democrat or Republican – would have been flabbergasted by the election process on Aerianna. It was far too logical.
From the moment the election was announced (in this case by Meggy abdicating) to the actually voting was a mere two weeks. That’s it – anyone who wished to be considered for office had fourteen days to convince the populace that they were the right choice.
The logic behind this was exquisitely simple. If you wanted to hold public office (even as a Queen), you should already be well known to the populace. Talking to the people about their lives and challenges, performing charitable work to help improve their current conditions, discussing your vision of the future which includes listening to their points of view – this should already have been done. Waiting for a ‘position’ to open before you engage in public service would be deemed hypocritical. The whole point of public service was to serve the public. One didn’t need to be Empress of the Universe to do such work.
In the two weeks allotted until the voting, candidates had two objectives - remind the people of the service they have already rendered and their vision for the future.
There’s was no time nor need to ‘trash’ talk your opponents. The voting public would have been horrified had you done so.
*****
The Day After Egg Left for Peekaboo Prime
M-egg’Alynnia’s Abdication Speech
“To the people of Aerianna, the time has come for me, your Queen, to step down as Sovereign. I do not make this decision lightly. Ever since the end of the great contest between Dragon, Serpent and Human, my family has had the privilege of ruling this unique world.
As you well know, my grandfather, King M’earth, was awarded the Crystal Egg by the Old Ones. Instead of using its unlimited power to subjugate the other species, he created the Council of Equals giving Queen F’Aerianne and King E’ssss a seat at the table of government. Under his reign, this world knew peace, prosperity, and harmony. That is, until Mobius using his mind control powers, wrested the Crystal Egg from him. When my sister, Lady Eloise, with the help of the Hameggattic Sisterhood, my Mother Rose’Alynnia and the Shades of Night defeated that evil man, my grandfather resigned. He had been a great King but he took personal responsibility for the Reign of Terror that Mobius brought to Aerianna. It was not his fault – but his honor demanded he pay the ultimate price. He pa
ssed the Crown to my mother.
Under Rose’Alynnia, Aerianna rebuilt its society to what had existed before the dark times. Your freedoms were restored, your lives enriched by your own hard work, your children once again educated to make the most of their innate talents – all this she helped engineer and the result was what you enjoy today. When she resigned to lead the new Federation of Planets, she passed the Crown to me. But before doing so, she changed the law. No longer would an offspring from the House of M’earth automatically assume power. The next sovereign would be chosen by you, the people of Aerianna.
Under my reign, I tried to continue what Rose’Alynnia began. But during this period of prosperity – brought on by my grandfather and mother – I have done little other than maintain what they created. That is not enough.
A Sovereign must do more – she must lead her people into the future. I have not accomplished that . . . and I apologize to each one of you. To simply maintain the status quo, regardless of how comfortable it may seem, is to stagnate as a society. I failed to live up to the high standards set by my family. So, as my Grandfather did when he deemed his reign a failure, I, too, must step aside.
Now, it is time for the Citizens of Aerianna to exercise the franchise that my mother created for you. Over the next fortnight, consider all the candidates that step forward and offer themselves as the next Sovereign. And when it is time to cast your ballot – vote your conscience.”
*****
Rose chose to be alone in her bedroom to listen to her daughter’s abdication speech. Her forlorn expression when it began turned to sobs as she heard Meggy’s mea culpa to the people of Aerianna. The pain and anguish in the girl’s voice was too much for her to bear. Like so many mothers throughout the galaxy, they assumed that their child’s failure was a reflection of their failure as a parent. Even more agonizing was the realization that she had no way to right the wrong.
*****
Back in her office, Meggy put down the parchment from which she had just read. Leaning on her elbows, face cupped in her hands, she stared without seeing. Her emotions at the moment were conflicted, as you would expect. Equal parts of guilt and relief from abdicating conflicted with the joy that she would soon be free to live her life as she had always imagined.
A knock on the door intruded on her reveries. “Come,” she called.
The door opened and there was Lord Z’kkk. He walked over to his daughter, offered his hand and helped her to stand. Embracing her, he said, “I am so very proud of you.”
“For admitting failure?”
“Nonsense. Your assessment of your reign is distorted by the irresistible desire to follow your dreams. In truth, you have been a wonderful Queen. You had the unenviable task of following your mother while your dear sister Eloise stole everyone’s breath with her phenomenal exploits. Take away those two . . .”
“Please stop,” interrupted his daughter. “The point is mother and Egg are here. What might have been is stuff for children to contemplate. But I thank you Father,” and she hugged him again.
“Daughter, sometimes a civilization requires time to digest the vast changes such as those your mother wrought. You provided them that time. Nevertheless, she and I are very proud of you. Never doubt that for a moment.”
“How is she taking this?”
“As you would surmise. Your mother is devastated – believing your perceived failures are all her fault.”
Meggy managed a smile. “I take it that such reactions are normal maternal ones?”
“Indeed. Someday, you will know it firsthand.”
“Perhaps. Where is she?”
“In her bedroom. She could certainly use one of your famous Hameggattic Hugs.”
*****
“Mother.”
“Come in, M-egg’Alynnia.” Rose wiped the tears from her eyes and stood to greet her daughter.
Meggy entered the room. Her first words shocked her mother. “You are absolutely correct. It is all your fault.” Before the other woman could react, Meggy continued, “It is your fault that I have an inquisitive mind, an uncontrollable streak of wanderlust, the courage to follow my convictions, the intelligence to understand the world around me, an insatiable desire to push myself out of my comfort zone. I could go on but I do believe if I give you any more compliments, you will become intolerably self-satisfied.”
Rose smiled for the first time in approximately forever. “I do love you so, my dearest daughter.”
“As I do you,” and she hurried to her mother and gave her The Hug.
And once again, all was well in the universe.
*****
“I have an idea.”
“That pleases me,” replied her husband.
“You didn’t even ask what it is,” said Tee’ka as she gave the big man a playful whack on the arm.
“No matter. Many philosophers have considered ideas to be a fundamental ontological category of being, so such formulations are to be held in high regard.”
“What?”
Waldo smiled. “Not important. I would be pleased if you shared your idea with me.”
“Okay,” and she did. “What do you think?”
“I am awed by your thoughtfulness. Truly, you and I are much greater than the sum of the parts.”
“Is that good?” asked the simple girl.
“Indeed. It is very good.”
“Okay.”
*****
Storm had refused Aeri’elle’s request to ‘visit’ dragons and endorse Egg. “It would be wrong.”
“I don’t understand. Don’t you support Egg’s nomination?”
“Most assuredly I do. No one is more qualified. That isn’t the issue.”
“Grandfather, please help me understand.”
“When it comes to politics, everyone has the right, and the obligation, to be informed on the candidates and the issues. They may turn to whomever they trust to get the information they seek. But no one has the right to use their notoriety to unduly influence how an individual will vote.”
“Are you suggesting that my sisters and I should not talk to the populace about the merits of Egg’s candidacy?”
“Not at all. With all due respect, none of you wield that kind of influence. At the moment, only three do . . . myself, Rose’Alynnia and the Myst Tree. Sorry to sound immodest.”
“So each of you would cause someone to vote for your choice and not their own. Correct?”
“Exactly.”
“Well, that’s disappointing.”
“Cheer up. The people are usually intelligent enough to choose the most qualified person and ignore the demagoguery of candidates that pander to our basest instincts.”
“Usually?”
“Goodnight, Granddaughter.”
*****
After the Queen’s abdication speech, a few competent individuals did step forward as candidates. However, after it became obvious that the Sisterhood was encouraging everyone who would listen to vote for their illustrious leader, all but one bowed out. After all, who in their right mind would want anyone other than Egg as their next Monarch?
The one person that did was none other than Kru-Ella. She was still on Zynn-Zaz’zia but when the young woman came to her office to ask for permission, Aeri’elle was forced to grant her leave to campaign.
“Why would you want to challenge Lady Eloise? She is by far the most qualified individual in the history of Aerianna.”
“So you say,” was the nasty reply. “You conveniently left out a few salient facts. First, she is not from Aerianna – she’s an outsider. Second, she is not of noble birth which is quite obvious from her misguided ideas. Third, I have heard rumors that she doesn’t even know her name is being put forward. Fourth, she is not well liked by those that matter . . .”
“Like who?” interrupted Aeri’elle.
“My friends – the noble class of young males and females who will rally around me and that which I stand for. And before you ask, I am referring to the tradit
ions and societal norms that have brought this world to the great state of being we now all share.”
“So you like the idea of the haves and the have nots . . . as long as you and your friends are in the former category.”
“It is our rightful place.”
Arguing would only make Professor Big Bird angry . . . and there’s nothing worse than an angry bird. “You are granted a two week leave of absence to attend to your campaign. You are dismissed.”
The girl stood up straight and tall. “When I am queen, this university will be off-limits to Aeriannians. The non-noble class has no need for such education. Instead, they should learn a trade and not waste valuable resources filling their minds with mathematical and scientific nonsense.”
Aeri’elle also stood up – raising herself to her full height, towering over the woman on the other side of the desk. “You, my dear, are an idiot.”
*****
Kru-Ella wasn’t an idiot. Pompous, self-absorbed, mean-spirited coupled with a lack of empathy and class bigotry made for an unpleasant person. But not necessarily a stupid one.
The young woman knew three critical pieces of information that made her candidacy for Monarch not that farfetched.
First, according to law, if the individual who won the vote could not serve for any reason, the candidate who came in second would then be next in line to the Crown.
Second, the Lady Eloise was on a diplomatic mission to Peekaboo Prime. She was traveling without military escort on the royal yacht – a fast, but ill-armed vessel. She, and it, would be vulnerable to attack.
The third bit of information was fortuitous. The planets of the Outer Reaches were planning to rebel. Those repulsive creatures that inhabited them absurdly thought that they should be considered as equals. Not very likely. The thought of such cretins mingling with the people of the civilized worlds sent a shiver of disgust down her spine.
On the other hand, these aberrations of nature would serve her interests very well. Through her many connections, she had sent word of Egg’s itinerary along with a suggestion of the value to the rebellion of capturing the famous Leader of the Hameggattic Sisterhood.
Gracie - Box Set #6, Part 2 of Ever After [an Egg and the Hameggattic Sisterhood novel] Page 24