by Mike Smith
“My Lord, we are receiving an incoming message from the Warspite,” at this the officer looked up in surprise. “They seem to already be in orbit around Callas Prime.”
With their abrupt departure from Sirius, following the receipt of the message, Jon had completely forgotten about the Warspite, with Jason and Miranda on-board. Perhaps they could shed more light on the contents of the message that he had received? “Acknowledge it,” he ordered briskly.
“My Lord,” Captain Vickers insisted with a smirk, and an ornate bow that would have made any sycophant proud. “We didn’t expect your arrival. And may I say what a spectacular arrival it was.”
Jon had to consciously not roll his eyes at the absurd introduction, for it seemed like Vickers had changed very little over the past ten years. “You can skip the flattery,” he insisted. “It doesn’t become you. Now where are Jason and Miranda and, more importantly, Robert Calis? He and I have some unfinished business.”
“I am unsure of the location of Lieutenant Edgar, but Miss Sun and Mr Calis are both here, on the bridge with me,” Vickers replied curiously.
“Put them on.”
A moment later, Robert Calis stepped into view, his expression furious. “What is the meaning of this? The Callas Star Cluster is an independent Republic within the Confederation. You have no right to enter our borders without express written permission, which I refuse by the way, and then to open-fire without any provocation—”
“Shut it,” Jon snapped, halting him. “I am placing you under arrest on charges of assault, kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment and treason. You don’t need to say anything. It won’t make any damn difference anyway, as I’ve already determined that you’re guilty. Furthermore, you will have absolutely no need for any legal representation, as they can’t help you when you meet your Maker. But I might make a Pastor available to you to put in a good word on your behalf.” Jon practically spat the words at him. “On the condition you hand over my wife to me, alive and unharmed, this very instant.”
Everybody on the bridge froze at his words, looking from one man to the other, the shock clearly visible on all their faces.
*****
“Jon,” Miranda replied hesitantly, looking first at him, then Robert. “I know that you’ve been under a lot of pressure and are still grieving over Sofia and Marcus, but this is crazy. Robert doesn’t have—”
“Jason suggested otherwise,” Jon interrupted her, continuing to fix Robert Calis with such a searing gaze that anybody caught between the two was likely to be incinerated on the spot.
“What?”
“Ask him,” Jon spat out. “Ask him what he has done with Sofia,” he demanded, not breaking his gaze for an instant.
“She doesn’t belong to you. She never has. She should be allowed to make her own choices, but you’ve never given her the chance.” The words came not from Miranda, but Robert Calis. His feet were planted firmly on the deck, his expression unwavering, as a battle of silent wills seemed to take place between the two men. Although still separated by hundreds of kilometres, the distance did not seem nearly enough.
“Give her to me,” Jon ground out each word, as if he was pounding each to dust. “If you don’t it will not just be your death on your conscience, but many others—for I will start with the orbiting docking station. Once I have reduced that to scrap, I will start on the cities below. I will destroy them one by one, while you watch on helplessly. Maybe then you will start to understand just how deadly serious that I am.”
“I’ll kill her first,” Robert Calis insisted hastily.
Jon looked like he was about to have an epileptic fit, as first he went a bright red, then purple, before he finally closed his eyes, trying to rein in his rampant temper. Even the bridge crew looked on in shock, taking a step away from Robert Calis, on the off chance Jon tried to leap through the view-screen and strangle him on the spot. Vickers shook his head in disbelief, unable to comprehend such stupidity, while Miranda just stared, wondering if she really ever truly knew the man.
Finally Jon seemed to manage to get his temper under control, opening his eyes once again. “Fine,” he waved his hands, motioning for Robert to proceed. “Go ahead. Kill her.”
Robert Calis just stood there, mouth agape, speechless.
“You haven’t changed,” Jon sighed. “You are still the starry-eyed, idealistic youth that you were back on the Imperial Star. Always quick to jump feet-first into a situation without thinking it through first. You’re so in love with the idea of being in love with her, that you wouldn’t have the first idea of what to do if that love was ever reciprocated. You’re in love with a dream. A boyhood fantasy, for that person doesn’t exist.”
“You are one to speak, as you’ve never truly loved her. Simply using her as a means unto an end,” Robert insisted.
“You’re quite right,” Jon said. “I’ve no love for the Princess, never had.”
“So I was right,” Robert gloated. “All you cared about was the wealth and power.”
“No,” Jon disagreed. “I never cared for that either. She can have it all back with my blessing.”
For the first time Robert Calis seemed dumbstruck, unsure. Miranda looked on with pity, for he had never truly understood what she had been trying to tell him. Now he would have to learn it first hand, from a man that understood it, all too well. “Then what is it that you want?” he finally asked, confused.
“I want my wife, Sofia, who I had thought taken from me forever, back safely. Not the Imperial Princess, or even the Confederation President, as I never particularly cared for either, but, instead, the woman I love. The one who promised to stand by me no matter how difficult things were. A woman who I held in my arms as she was dying, and all she cared for was that her father and I were safe. A woman who refused to leave my side, knowing it would be certain death for her, yet insisting she would rather die than live without me. That is who I want.”
The silence was so deep nobody dared breathe, fearing they might shatter it, while Robert looked on helplessly, not knowing what to say. Sparing him a glance filled with sympathy, Miranda stepped forward, offering a way out for him.
“Robert, you said that Sofia should be allowed to make her own decisions. Then let her decide. I assume she is on Callas Prime, at your personal residence?” Robert just nodded wordlessly. “Then Jon, we’ll meet you there, and let her decide. Is that acceptable to you?”
Jon just nodded before the view screen went blank. Sighing, Miranda turned to face Robert, but he would not meet her gaze.
“I’m sorry. I tried so many times to tell you, but I didn’t know how to say the words. I promise you that she is safe. I would never have harmed her.”
Miranda just shook her head, brushing past him, leaving the bridge in the direction of the shuttle bay.
As Robert turned to follow her, Vickers caught him by his arm, staring at him for several seconds. “I cannot figure you out, son. You either have balls of steel, or you’re as stupid as stupid comes. I think perhaps both.”
*****
Standing outside of his personal residence, in the late afternoon sun, waiting for the arrival of Jon Radec, Robert felt a cold chill pass over him. Looking up in surprise, as the sky was a bright golden colour with not a cloud visible, he shielded his eyes with his hand and simply stared, and then cursed loudly. Miranda, standing next to him—as the two of them had arrived together in her personal ship—simply laughed.
“I don’t see what you find so funny,” Robert spat out. “This was never part of the deal.”
“Actually, we never specified just how many people could accompany him,” Miranda pointed out. “Although I must admit I never thought he would bring along quite so many.” The two of them watched on wordlessly as the sun was blotted out by ship after ship descending from the upper atmosphere. The glow caused by the heat of re-entry seemed to surround them all with a halo. At a rough count she guessed at least fifty ships were descending towards them. The assault shuttle
s, clearly visible by their much larger size, the numerous smaller fighters in close escort formation—at least three squadrons of them.
“He’s brought an entire brigade with him,” Robert cursed. “I’m going to—”
“Do absolutely nothing,” Miranda insisted calmly. “I don’t need to remind you that it was you who kidnapped his wife and locked her away for so long? Anyway, you are exaggerating, I would suggest it is a reinforced company, a battalion at most,” she suggested with upturned lips.
“You find this amusing?” Robert replied, looking at her aghast. “He’s invading my planet. A sovereign Republic.”
“I’m sure he will return it to you later,” Miranda smirked, taking a step forward towards the group of shuttles that had just landed and were busy spewing out squad upon squad of heavily armed marines. Recognising Jon she took a step forward, the marines melting out of her way at his rapid-fire orders. “Hi Jon, we weren't expecting quite so many of you.”
“I wanted to discourage him from suddenly changing his mind,” Jon frowned, looking around at the imposing buildings, interconnecting halls and atriums that comprised Robert Calis’ residential complex. “Major Thompson,” he addressed one of the imposing marines standing next to him. “Order a company of marines to secure the perimeter. Nobody enters or leaves without my express permission. Then come with me.”
At a nod from the Major a large body of marines peeled away from the shuttles, heading towards the various entrances and exits of the compound.
So engrossed with the departing marines and the heavy weaponry they were toting, Miranda almost didn’t notice Jon striding forward, coming to a halt a few steps away from Robert Calis. The two men eyed each other warily.
“Take me to her,” Jon insisted, breaking the silent battle of wills.
“I don’t remember saying anything about allowing you to bring all these troops?” Robert replied angrily, pointedly ignoring his edict.
“I don’t remember you saying that I couldn’t.” Jon responded dismissively, fingering the sword at this side suggestively. “Shall we go?” He stepped around the younger man, heading into the complex, the marines fanning out, forming an impenetrable barrier around him.
“I really hate that guy,” Robert swore, as Miranda fell in step besides him.
“Don’t be silly,” she disagreed. “Jon likes you—after all, you’re still alive aren't you?”
*****
“Through there,” Robert said bitterly, motioning down the corridor, past the door he had just opened. “My personal quarters. You will find her there.”
“Very well,” Jon acknowledged, taking a step forward, frowning as Robert Calis, along with the rest of their entourage, moved to follow him. Turning to face Major Thompson Jon ordered, “Major, you and your team will remain here with Mr Calis and Miss Sun. I want to speak with my wife. Alone.” At the outraged expression on the Major’s face, Jon insisted. “That is an order. Wait here and guard the entrance. I’ll call if I need you.”
As Jon stepped through the portal, the door slid shut behind him, he was unable to hear as Robert pounded on the wall in frustration. “That’s the second time I have been kicked out my own home.”
Walking cautiously down the corridor, fingering the sword at his waist, not really expecting any trouble but remaining vigilant nonetheless, he stepped into a wide enclosed atrium. It was brightly lit with the golden rays of the late afternoon sun streaming through the transparent overhead panels. Glancing quickly around he observed a number of statues on illuminated pedestals; quickly dismissing them as unimportant, he stepped around them before coming to a sudden halt.
Cocking his head slightly to one side, he could just about hear the quiet gurgling of flowing water, but it was not that which had drawn his attention, but the soft singing coming from ahead. A voice and melody he was intimately familiar with. The last time he had heard that song his head had been resting in her lap, as her soft fingers trailed through his hair, soothing away a headache that had developed from trailing her father around for most of the day.
Moving quietly so as not to disturb her, he stepped around the pillar, and the breath caught in his throat at the sight of her. For Sofia, his wife, alive and well was sitting next to a bubbling fountain. Her hair had grown much longer during his absence and the strands were now reaching down most of her back, spreading across the edge of the fountain, almost touching the surface of the flowing water. Her knees were drawn up to her chest, and she was sheathed in some flimsy white silk slip, which had risen up almost to her thighs. She was trailing one hand idly through the water in the fountain, while she continued singing softly, obviously having failed to notice his arrival. The late afternoon sun shone down upon her, illuminating her, making her auburn hair glow a fiery red. She looked like an angel in her white dress, a halo surrounding her glowing brightly, and Jon had to suck in a deep breath, reminded once again of her beauty, both inside and out.
Leaning against a pillar to help support his weight, he felt like he had stepped into a dream. He never thought that he would see her again and yet, here she was, sitting but a few feet away from him.
As if feeling another’s presence her voice fell silent, and the hand that she had been trailing through the water stilled. Her eyes flickering open, glancing around and then stopping as their gazes met across the length of the room.
As if pulled by some invisible force, the two of them slowly gravitated towards one another, until they stood face to face, only a hair’s breadth separating them. With a trembling hand Sofia reached up, gently pushing back the dark hood from his face, the cloak slipping from his shoulders until it fell to the floor, pooling at his feet. Her other hand trailed down his chest, pausing to stroke reverently the white uniform, before reversing direction, heading upwards along his shoulder, skimming his throat and jaw, until it finally came to a rest hovering millimetres above his cheek, as if unsure whether to proceed.
He reached up, catching hold of her hand in a firm grasp, pressing it against his rough cheek, leaning into her touch.
“Jon is it really you?” she whispered, not wanting to break the magic of the moment, but desperately seeking his reassurance, needing to know he was real.
“Yes, it’s me, love. I’m really here.” He gave her the reassurance she needed, his other hand snaking out to reach around her narrow waist, pulling her closer, into his embrace.
Sofia leaned into him, but hesitantly, as if still unsure. “But how do I know that this is real? Not just another dream?”
Leaning forward until his lips hovered just above hers, he replied, “Like this love, with a kiss.” With those words he let his lips brush gently against hers, warm, soft and reassuring. Sofia’s eyes fluttered shut, her arms instinctively encircled his neck, pulling him closer, almost desperately, not wanting to ever let him go.
Time seemed to stand still, as the two of them stood together, entwined. As the late afternoon sun shone down on them, it seemed to encompass them both, glowing a bright golden colour. The two were so closely melded together that it was impossible to see where one ended and the other began.
Eventually the two had to separate, if only for oxygen, but even then they did not move far apart, as Sofia rested her cheek on Jon’s chest, reassured by the regular beating of his heart. She didn’t even realise she was crying until the first tears started to stain his white uniform. “My father,” she cried. “Jon, my father is dead.”
Lending her his strength, he effortlessly picked her up into his arms and was surprised at how light she felt, as she seemed practically ethereal. Looking around but unable to find anywhere to sit, he carried her to the edge of the fountain where she had been seated earlier, lowering them both to the side, with his arms still firmly wrapped around her, as if he could protect her from all the ills of the world with his touch alone.
Rocking her in his arms, as one might do a baby, until he started to feel her tremors subside, he then tenderly touched her cheek until she looked up i
nto his eyes. “I am so sorry, my love. I tried everything to reach him, but there was just not enough time. There is never enough time.” His own eyes were dark with shared pain. For he had spent hours questioning his own actions on that day, but each and every time, whatever different course of action he took the outcome was still the same. There was nothing that he could have done.
“When I finally reached his side,” Jon continued on softly, “I found the most amazing sight, as far from an expression of fear or horror on his face, instead I found the most wondrous smile. I would like to think that in the last few seconds of his life, when he realised that he was dying, he finally found peace. For he realised that very shortly he was going to be reunited with his wife, your mother. He spent many hours telling me how much he missed her and longed for the day they would be reunited, for he loved you both so very much. So don’t grieve for him love, for they are both together now, at peace.”
“How can you be so sure?” Sofia asked, amazed at the strength of conviction in his voice.
“Because I felt the same,” Jon said. “In those days, weeks, months apart from you, when I thought that you were dead, it was the only thing that kept me sane. The knowledge that one day, no matter how long it might take, we would be finally reunited, together once again, forever.”
“How did you become so wise?” she asked in wonder.
“I had the most amazing teacher. Your father,” he said with a sad smile. “I will never forget him, as he gave me a chance when nobody else would. He took me in and gave me a home when I had no other, but, more than that, he gave me you, and for that alone I will thank him until the end of my days.”
“As will I,” she replied with tears in her eyes, but this time they were of joy. For while she had now lost both her parents she would never be alone, as she still had Jon, her father’s parting gift to her. Not wanting to spend the time that they had alone together discussing such melancholy topics, Sofia leaned forward, pressing her lips firmly against his. But unlike their first kiss, this was not a tentative one, filled with hope, but full of months of pent up longing and desire. Jon’s mouth opened beneath her questing tongue, and she swept into his mouth, igniting a mounting passion between the two of them.