For Duty (Antaran Legacy Book 1)

by Matthew C. Plourde

  Helena smiled. “I use this legend as an example of what not to do in a crisis,” she said. “The queen acted from her heart, with little regard for logic. The decision was full of unknowns. What if the sickness spread to the healthy people? How would the city-domes sustain the increase in population? Queen Galeria made the wrong decision.”

  “Did she?” Agreios said. “I know your mother taught you the value of balance between logic and emotion. Surely you haven’t forgotten? Not you…”

  “I remember the lessons,” Helena said. “But I believe you are making the same mistake as Galeria.”

  “Queen Galeria realized that all Antarans deserved a chance at life - together,” Emperor Agreios said. “Like her, I am choosing to build a better future for everyone, not just those lucky enough to avoid the destruction caused by the war. No, my daughter, my decision is the correct one.”

  Helena analyzed her father’s arguments and found her heart conflicted. She prepared to bombard him with her logic at allowing the war to continue in their skies. At least their race wouldn’t face extinction. However, she appreciated the finality of the plan. Neither the Humans nor Proxans could bring a war to their doorstep again. If they succeeded.

  Lowering her eyes, Helena said, “I apologize for doubting you, Father.”

  Agreios lifted Helena’s head with his finger under her chin. Smiling, he said, “You remind me of your mother in many ways.”

  “Father… I…”

  “I know,” he said. “Your thoughts are unusually readable today. You wish things were different. So do I.”

  On the brink of losing her composure, Helena calmed her emotions and reined in her fear. Her mother warned her that fear was the doorway to oblivion. For the first time in her life, Helena understood those words. If she feared the outcome, she would fail.

  “I’m sorry,” Helena said. “I should exhibit more control over my emotions. Rest assured my sisters will not see my weakness.”

  Agreios squeezed her shoulder and said, “Perhaps they should.”

  Chapter 7

  Helena emerged from the aircar to a row of praetorians extending into the landing strip and to the starship ramp. The media gathered behind the praetorians, attempting to snap the perfect picture of the Antaran Heir on her way to negotiate with the Human Confederation.

  Claudia and Terentia accompanied Helena on the trip to the star port. The three sisters hugged each other.

  “I’ll miss you,” Terentia said.

  “Me too,” Claudia said.

  Claudia and Terentia, the two most emotional of Helena’s sisters, wanted to be with their older sister until the last moment. Through the years, Helena marveled at Claudia’s ability to synch herself with other people’s emotions. Whenever Helena had a problem, she always consulted Claudia. Sometimes, Claudia could resolve things by simply revealing Helena’s own fault of action. Unlike Valeria, Claudia didn’t point her finger or twist an angle. Claudia, instead, was always concerned with the well-being of her sisters.

  “I packed some dried kilva bread for you,” Claudia said. “I’ve been saving it for a special occasion. So eat it when you are far from home and you’re thinking of us.”

  Helena smiled and kissed Claudia on the cheek. “You are always concerned for others,” Helena said. “Remember your training and think of your countrymen here on Antares when you fulfill your mission. We are all counting on you.”

  Claudia nodded. “I will be strong, my sister.”

  “And-” Helena paused, unsure how much emotion she could allow to show. She said, “And take care of father until I return. He will need you.”

  “I will look after him,” Claudia said.

  Helena’s thoughts drifted to the ceremony at the palace earlier that morning. Her father appeared so strong in front of the Antaran people, yet Helena sensed his despair. He feared sending his heir so far away to an uncertain fate. She thought maybe he doubted her ability, but then she remembered his words. When she had children, she’d understand why he was laden with guilt.

  “Me too,” Terentia said as she embraced Helena. “And I’ll study every hour until you return. I’ll prove my worth and you will be proud of me.”

  Helena looked into Terentia’s eyes and said, “I already am.”

  Before she exposed her feelings in her heart, Helena turned away from her sisters and walked between the columns of praetorians. Each guard stared through her as she advanced towards the looming Human starship.

  What else waited for her on this journey? Could they really succeed with so much uncertainty? Helena gazed with her mind’s eye at the precipice on which she stood. The fall was a long and dark one.

  As she approached the Humans, she caught Captain Connor’s eye. Her heart flared into life. She warned herself that she was experiencing an irrational crush and she pushed aside her excited feelings before they could gain any solid ground. Her mission was all that mattered.

  “Good afternoon, Lady Helena,” Captain Connor said.

  “Good afternoon, Captain, Ambassador,” Helena said, noticing the ambassador’s amusement as he studied her Gima facial tattoos.

  Ambassador Bergem faked a smile and said, “On behalf of the Human Government, we welcome you aboard the Venture.”

  Helena examined the massive vessel and said, “Indeed.”

  Larger than an Antaran sky-liner, Helena estimated the ship was meant for transporting cargo and passengers. She sensed between two and three hundred crew members before the ambassador interrupted her thoughts.

  “Your guards are already on board, but we couldn’t allow their weapons,” Bergem said.

  Helena again tried to pierce the ambassador’s mind, but she found only surface thoughts. Was he trained in the mental disciplines? If so, Helena decided she must be careful.

  “Very well,” Helena said. “I understand.”

  “Well,” Captain Connor said, simultaneously nervous and excited, “I have a ship to fly.”

  Ambassador Bergem motioned to the ramp and said, “Please, My Lady, let me show you to your quarters.”

  Helena’s heart skipped and flopped as she ascended the ramp. The fear of never seeing her home again threatened to overtake her serenity. However, Helena pushed the fear aside and quashed her swirling emotions. Now wasn’t the time to forget her training.

  Humans scurried through the wide corridors and interior rooms of the starship. A few of them stopped and gawked at the tattooed alien on their ship, but most kept their poise. Helena extended her thoughts throughout the ship and sensed her guards at the far end of the starboard corridor. She forced another small pocket of fear from her mind as they were so far away.

  “Have you ever been aboard a real starship, Lady Helena?” Ambassador Bergem said, mocking the Antaran’s lack of faster-than-light ships.

  Helena shook her head, “Nothing that can travel the stars at these speeds.”

  Bergem led her though a series of smaller corridors to a wider passage. “Well, the battleships travel the fastest,” Bergem said. “Much faster than this freighter. However, we cannot risk such a resource on a trivial mission.”

  Shocked at his rudeness, Helena decided to confront him. His closed mind frustrated her.

  “You think the Antarans trivial?” Helena asked.

  He shrugged. “I spend my time negotiating alliances and peace with other factions who have the technology to travel faster than light. Of course, they don’t have battleships, but they are at least politically relevant. No offense, but the Antarans are not.”

  “If you judge a race of people based solely on their ability to travel the stars,” Helena said, “then I take no offense from your shortsightedness.”

  Bergem grunted. “Your quarters.”

  Helena opened the door and her praetorians formed rank.

  The ambassador continued, “Use the intercom if you feel you must leave. However, everything you need is in there. Please do not bother the captain or crew. They are quite busy.”


  “We are confined?” Helena asked.

  “Yes.”

  “This is no way to treat diplomatic guests,” Helena said.

  Bergem sneered. “You may have beaten the captain, but you have little to offer. The Antarans are not as important as you think, little girl. The universe is a big place.”

  Helena leaned closer to him and he seemed surprised by her advance. “No, Ambassador, you listen to me. How you treat people reflects how you will be treated. Remember this, as I have no patience for insignificant men who think themselves better than they are.”

  “Do you even know who you are talking to?” Bergem said. “I can throw you off this ship right now.”

  Helena scanned his thoughts and found his bluff. He didn’t have the authority. Only the captain or Bergem’s superiors on Terra could make that decision.

  “Then do it, if you’re so important.”

  “Don’t force my hand.” Anger boiled in Bergem’s mind and he said, “Stay in your quarters and we won’t have a problem.”

  After he stalked away, the praetorian captain, Duronius, said, “Is everything well, My Lady?”

  Helena nodded and entered. She recognized Duronius as one of her father’s most trusted guard commanders. Yet another sign of how much the emperor valued his heir. “Yes, the ambassador and I are not watching the same sun at the moment,” Helena said.

  “We’ll keep an eye on him when he’s around,” Duronius said.

  “Thank you, Centurion,” Helena said.

  “We prepared a private room for you near the back,” Duronius said. “The only entrance and exit from that room leads to our main area here so nobody can get to you without first dealing with us.”

  “Very good.”

  “All your provisions are there as well, My Lady,” Duronius said. “They confiscated our weapons. However I picked this group because of their proficiency at hand-to-hand combat. You are well-protected, My Lady.”

  Helena broke protocol and used the guard’s name. “Centurion Duronius, you have done well. Thank you for your protection.”

  Duronius bowed and said, “It is an honor to serve, My Lady. Do you require anything else at the moment?”

  “No, thank you Centurion.”

  Helena nodded her approval when she entered her private room. Her overnight bag was on the bed, within easy reach. The other luggage rested near the corner in an open crate. The praetorians hung fabric over her area to give her the semblance of privacy, but she could hear them as they moved around in the next room.

  After a quick change into more functional robes, Helena examined the rest of their passenger quarters. Though simple, the accommodations served their purpose. Unlike Marcella, Helena was accustomed to “roughing it” from time to time. After finding the communication intercom, Helena pressed the button and waited. A female voice crackled through the speaker.

  “Hello?” the voice said.

  “Hello? This is Lady Helena. With whom am I speaking?”

  “Uhh, uhh… Lieutenant Sandra Rhom. I, uhh… hold on one sec.”

  The intercom fell silent and Helena turned to Duronius. “Apparently, they aren’t too organized.”

  Duronius shook his head. “Not from what I’ve seen.”

  The intercom buzzed to life. “Lady Helena, this is Captain Connor. How can I be of service?”

  “Captain Connor,” Helena said. “Ambassador Bergem implied that we are confined to these spartan quarters. Is that correct?”

  “I’m-No, check the repulsors first, then flood those lines,” Captain Connor said, though Helena realized he was speaking to his crew. “Sorry, I need to take care of a few things here on the bridge. May I visit you in an hour?”

  “Will you make some changes to our situation?” Helena asked, not ready to let him go without a plan of action.

  “Yes, you have my word.”

  Helena sensed truth in the tone of his voice and said, “That is fine, Captain.”

  After a few hours, and the launch into space, the captain arrived at her quarters. Duronius eyed the Human, but Helena didn’t fear him. They shared a moment during their chess match and Helena was curious to explore what that moment meant. He was clearly attracted to her and his thoughts confirmed her outward observations.

  “I’m sorry,” Captain Connor said, “but my orders were clear until we reached space. Now, I have a little more leeway.”

  “So, are we still confined to these quarters?” Helena said.

  “No,” Captain Connor said as he glanced at Duronius. “You and your guards are allowed access throughout the starboard corridor, including the lounge. Nobody, including the ambassador, should give you any trouble.”

  “That is more acceptable. Thank you, Captain.”

  Captain Connor nodded. “Please accept my apology this time. This ship was the closest to your planet, but it’s not really rigged for diplomatic transport.”

  “The conditions do not bother me,” Helena said.

  “Oh, I thought-”

  “Listen, Captain,” Helena said, “diplomacy cannot blossom without trust. Your Ambassador seems to care as much for us as he does the bottom of his shoes. I hope all Humans are not like him or these negotiations will be fruitless. The Antarans have treated you and your wounded crew with nothing but the utmost respect, even though you were responsible for many deaths. All we ask is you treat us in kind.”

  “To be fair,” Captain Connor said, “we were confined while we recovered in your hospital.”

  “Consider the circumstances, Captain,” Helena said. “Your ship had just crashed and the peace talks had not been initiated. You must see now that things have changed?”

  “I understand and I’m sorry. You see, Lady Helena, I’m not usually in command on these sorts of missions,” Captain Connor said. “However, I do appreciate all the Antarans have done for us.”

  “A life is a life, Captain, no matter how alien or familiar. We Antarans respect all life, even the lives of our enemies,” Helena said.

  “Are we enemies?”

  Helena evened the tone of her voice to deliver her lie with clarity and credibility. “I certainly hope to change the state of affairs,” Helena said. “My people do not wish to be enemies with the Human Confederation.”

  Captain Connor eyed Helena, a crime punishable by lifelong imprisonment on Antares. Did he detect the subterfuge in her voice? Helena couldn’t afford to underestimate these Humans.

  “There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you,” Captain Connor said, glancing at the praetorians.

  Helena seized the chance to further obscure her intentions by changing scenery. “If you wish to speak in private,” Helena said, “you may request my company in the lounge.”

  Captain Connor smiled. “Okay. Lady Helena, will you accompany me to the lounge?”

  Helena nodded and said, “It would be my pleasure, Captain.”

  She scolded herself for allowing the off-worlder to talk so casually with her. Captain Connor seemed pleased to have her company, but she reminded herself about the truth of her mission. The Humans were her enemy.

  Duronius followed them to the lounge and Helena suppressed a gasp as the entire front wall was transparent revealing a breathtaking view of her planet.

  “Welcome to the forward lounge,” Captain Connor said. “I’m not too familiar with this ship, but I see the view is as impressive as I’ve been told.”

  The off-duty crew members turned and stared at the alien in their lounge. Helena smiled as she accepted greetings from some of the Humans. The captain led her to a table near the forward window. Duronius, dressed in the grey-blue uniform of a praetorian, took a position at the door.

  “What would you like to eat?” Captain Connor said. “They’ll make pretty much anything.”

  Helena said, “Can they make a cheeseburger? I read about them in my studies and I’d like to sample this Human staple food.”

  Chuckling, Captain Connor said, “I wouldn’t call it a ‘staple’ food
, but I guess I can see why you’d think that.”

  After ordering her meal Helena said, “You wanted to ask me something?”

  Captain Connor’s mind was alive with activity. He also seemed genuinely interested in spending time with her. Yet his thoughts focused on Marcella from time to time and his intentions weren’t pure.

  “When it comes to politics, I’m not very involved,” Captain Connor said. “Which is probably why I haven’t been given a battleship command. But that’s not relevant. I don’t care if the entire Antaran people are chess experts and you lied to the Human Council. That’s fine. I just need to know how you beat me.”

  “I already told you how I defeated you,” Helena said. “We Antarans are masters of math and logic. Your game is a simple one.”

  “Well, I don’t know if I agree with you there.”

  “You played well,” Helena said. “A few of your moves showed intelligence.”

  Captain Connor smiled. “You’re too kind.”

  Helena nodded, though she realized the Human was using sarcasm. She considered playing along but she needed to maintain her credibility. As much as she enjoyed the captain’s company, she wasn’t there for herself. Her people needed their future empress to focus entirely on her deception with the Human Confederation. Helena realized this mission would require the full spectrum of her talent and energy.

  “Anyway,” Captain Connor said, “I was impressed. If you’re not too busy after we land on Terra, I have a few academy buddies I’d like to introduce you to. Watching them lose a chess match would pretty much make my decade.”

  Helena allowed a smile to cross her lips. “I think I’ll be quite busy on your homeworld,” she said. “In all seriousness, Captain, thank you for fixing things for me and my guards. It would have been a long trip if we were forced to remain in the same room.”