Interlude: Princess Elfiatra
"Sekhet Nefertiti Elfiatra the Precious, Princess to the Saran Empire, second daughter to her Majesty the Queen Cleotrix the second. Commandrix of the Saran Honor Legion, Holder of the sacred ankh. High priestess of Ra" The bald headed man with the strong mascara around his eyes said, adjusting his Kalima-Cat fur robe as he always did when he was annoyed. "These are your titles, young Princess and you better start acting like it!"
The beautiful black haired girl lounging on the upholstered couch in an almost completely transparent white dress extended one of her lissome tanned arms and with her long fingers carefully selected one of the honey glazed orange slices and nibbles a tiny corner of the fruit slice then threw the rest towards the man." Must you be so boring Amun? I know who I am and Sekhet means all powerful, does it not? I fancy your head on a platter might amuse me for a little longer than your endless lectures."
He sighed."Yes your grace that is what it means and you can indeed order the guards to cut my head. It would of course anger your mother and she would punish you and give you yet another instructor."
"You still won't be around to see my punishment, Amun. I had enough instructions for today. I desire a bath and then some leisure time in the garden. This is not up for discussion either, now leave!"
Amun threw his hands in the air and left.
She waited till he was gone and then waved at one of her hand maidens. "Quick, tell me if he is truly gone!"
"Yes your highness he has left."
She actually felt sorry for the head eunuch, who really tried hard to make a proper princess of the realm out of her, but she had other plans for her life.
She rushed over to her personal Auto Dresser and said. "Terran Civilian Female, clothing sequence two."
The machine removed the frivolous dress and her jewelry and replaced it with a pair of black skin tight leather pants, which were so en vogue on Terra right now and a screaming hot pink T-shirt with the logo and image of Mystery child, the teen mega star. She was hiding her beautiful helmet like page cut under a wild red curled wig and like every Terran she had to have sun glasses. The one she chose where huge, hiding much of her pretty face.
She knew almost every secret passage in this 15,000 year old monster of a Palace and after opening a secret door in a seemingly solid column she disappeared, leaving her poor hand maiden behind, dressed as the Princess.
The labyrinth of passages and corridors finally led her to a little used garden and from there it was just a few hundred meters to a small gate that led out into the City.
She had to leave. Her mother would never approve of her choice and she certainly did not want to head another royal reception or witness an execution or a public flogging. As the second daughter she was not directly in line for the Throne and she thanked the Gods for this. Her sister would make a great queen, in maybe a hundred years from now when Mother finally died or stepped down. As the second daughter she was doomed to lead a sheltered and boring life, perhaps choosing two or three husbands, having kids and attend any state function not important enough for the Queen or the first princess to be present but important enough for one member of the royal family to be present.
That was her fate and that was what Amun tried to prepare her for.
She almost made it, but then a cloaked person blocked her way through the gate and she hissed." Step aside, at once!"
The person in the hooded cloak said." Elfi, Elfi what are you doing and where are you going?"
There was only one person who addressed her this way and all color left her face."Mother?"
A light came on above the gate and the person removed the cloak and it was the Queen herself. Only now did she notice the almost invisible completely black dressed shadowy shapes of the queen's personal guard, the mysterious women of the ancient order of Seth's shadow. Warriors dedicated to the safety of the Queen for almost 12,000 years.
"Yes Elfi! Do you think you could book a Space bus passage and sneak out without me knowing? Your safety is as important as mine and the Shadows have told me everything."
The princess felt angry and helpless and knew she had lost. She would be punished and tomorrow she would once again listen to Amun and then attend some state function.
"Alright, what is my punishment?"
"I want you to tell me right here what this is all about? Forget that I am the queen and tell me as your mother. I am the queen but I do love you and I want to know why my daughter, dressed up like a Terran prostitute buys a Space Bus ticket and sneaks out at night fall."
Elfi removed her wig and the sunglasses."Alright I tell you, not that it will make a difference. You haven't listened to me in ages."
"I am listening now!"
"I do not want to be a princess. Cleo my sister is your oldest and there are three more after me for all the state functions and to guarantee the dynasty. I want to follow my dreams."
"What dreams could you have that you could not pursue as Princess of the realm? Your wishes are law if I make it so!'
"I want to prove that I don't need laws to fulfill my wishes, mother. I am signing up for the Union academy and I want to be a face among many, raise to challenges and problems out of my own merit not due to rank and high birth. I am not ashamed being your daughter or a princess but I want to proof to myself that I can do things with my own hands, with my own mind."
"The shadows have told me about your Virtu Choices and the calls to the Recruiting Office. I needed to hear it from you, Elfi. Have you any idea what awaits you? Do you know the Shadows cannot protect you there and you could be in danger every day?"
"That is the point mother. I don't know what awaits me. The shadows do not need to protect me. I want to do that myself and as officer in the Union Fleet I am doing my share to protect you and them and Sares and the realm and everything. I am not running away to join the circus, mother."
The queen nodded."It seems the spirit of your Great grandmother has resurfaced in you. She just had to marry that Terran marine and join the Fleet. Go then my daughter, but don't go like this without hugging and kissing your mother who will most likely get much gray hair hoping you are safe."
Elfi could not believe it at first then she hugged her mother and said."I will call as often as I can. "
"Just don't volunteer for the Marines again, my daughter!"
"I tried."
"I know."
"They said I would have the talents for a good communications officer."
"That doesn't sound so dangerous."
"It won't be Mother!"
"I suppose you don't want me to have the Royal Ark take you to your Academy, right?"
"No I really would like to travel incognito and on a space bus and be treated as any other cadet."
Interlude: Richard Stahl
Richard only wore swimming trunks and a Hawaii shirt and relaxed in a wooden chair underneath a colorful umbrella and held glass in his hand. The twin suns of Para Para shone warmly on the powdery white sand of Heaven's Shore. Tourists bathing in the azure blue lagoon or playing in the sand did not pay any attention to him. No one here really knew who he was. The Devi was still in dock on Arsenal IV and he actually started to enjoy his vacation. It was the first he had taken in at least twenty years. At first he didn't think he was the sun bathing, beach sitting type but he had taken Harris advice and tried it and he had to admit it grew on him.
A shadow fell on him that wasn't from the umbrella. At first he thought it was one of the Hotels stewards perhaps telling him it was time for dinner or asking him if he needed another drink. He blinked turned and a beautiful woman stood there. He knew the tall one with the silver hair who smiled at him from beneath large sun glasses.
Alyica laughed."You are the only person in the Universe who has his beer served with a cocktail umbrella."
Richard touched the controls of the chair and put in an upright position. Alyica wore a tight fitting black bathing suit and he remembered that he was, despite his immorta
lity and great age still a man."Well it's what they do with all the drinks here. I had a hard time telling them I do not want any mix drinks with fruits. It took seven beers before I got one without any fruits sticking on the glass!"
Then he got up, remembering his manners and said."What gives me the honor of your visit?"
A robot brought another chair and Alyica said." It is nice to see you take it easy for a chance. I am here on vacation as well, more or less and I wanted to talk to you so I thought this is as good as any place without disturbing your vacation too much."
"I actually enjoy it, can you believe that? This is a wonderful world and until you showed up I started to relax." He sat back down.
Alyica sat down as well, crossed her legs and leaned back." Yes it is, I come to Para Para quite often and I must say you are very handsome for an old geezer of 3000 years. There are quite a few ladies on this beach who would love to get to know you better."
"It doesn't take super Psionics like yours to guess what the guys over there think about you!" he smirked back."So why are you here? Don't tell me you just happened to be in the neighborhood. Is it official business?"
The PSI corps General shook her head." No it is not official business and I really was just in the neighborhood." She leaned forward to look at him."It took you about a thousand years to trust me and not call me the wicked witch of the Coven, even though you are the only man in the Universe I respect."
The Immortal General actually blushed a little." Well it isn't easy for a simple Pre Astro Marine to accept the existence of magic and witches."
"It isn't magic, Richard and you know that and there is nothing simple about you. My offer still stands and I take you to Coven and initiate you."
"I thought of Psionics as magic, Aly for the longest time. When I grew up my world didn't believe in life on other planets and I love you Aly but I am not going to that creepy place of yours and chant and dance around cauldrons. I managed all these years without Psionics and magic and I think I can manage for the rest of my life."
Alyica sighed."It isn't magic. It is a higher, a different form of Psionics. We are manipulating Trans dimensional energies. It's basically what Isah Drives, Trans Dim Shields and Translocator Cannons do. You don't call that magic."
Richard put his hand on hers for a moment."Sweetie to me it's magic when a girl that isn't a girl or human for that matter can do the things you do."
"Well you aren't exactly human anymore either and I might not fit the exact description of human or girl, but I am and always was all female and I am still dreaming that you might one day change your mind and ask me the question. Who knows I might even say yes!"
"I am too old to start a family and I am married to my Career and the Devi." He looked dreamingly across the water." I really like you and you know that, but I am old fashioned and I would want to wear the pants in the house and not be afraid the woman turns me into a frog or something."
She took his retracting hand and put it back on hers."You know I would not want it any other way, than you being in charge. You are an immortal and my life span is not measured in years or decades either. I take my position as General of the PSI corps as serious as you do yours. However there is no Career left for both of us. You could theoretically become Admiral of the Fleet, but that would not be you and old Mc Elligott is a way better administrator than you." She paused for a moment and then said." There are storm clouds on the horizon and neither of us can consider retirement just yet."
His face grew harder and he said." This is the real reason you came, isn't it? There is something going on? "
"It is not imminent or clear to me at this point, but the Rule has been broken."
"Alyica, for the last millennia you are trying to tell me about these mystical things. Despite all my Psionic shielding I know you can read my mind. You know I do not understand these things and I don't like to believe in predictions and predetermined events in the future."
"Richard I never read your mind unless you would ask me, like during that night in the Alps at your old house. I can't predict the future as it is fluid and shaped by our actions and decisions in the now, but there are certain mile stones on the road of time , that mark cosmic events that will happen. This, our Universe is only one of many. This time is only one of many time streams. Every time you go into Quasi Space you remove yourself from this Universe and this time. Due to the Isah field you are taking your own time with you but you are completely gone from this reality.
"I know you accept physical laws as a given. All these multi verses, these different time streams and Dimensions can only exist because all follows physical mathematical laws. Some of them are simply not discovered or understood by humans and some are not understood or discovered by anyone, but they still exist. "
"Yes I am learning that all my life. I thought nothing could move faster than light, yet I made a career out of traveling all across this Galaxy. I never believed someone could read my mind, move objects with the force of will or live 3000 years, but I must believe that I can do something about it, that what we do has a purpose."
"I am sure it has or the Guardian would not have picked you to be the warrior. I am not human as you so meanly pointed out, and I can feel and sense things and conditions., but I don't know what the Rule is, but it has to do with the Y'All and those who sent them. The Coven says that the Y'All have been sent to search for something and they haven't found it the last times they were here. They have been called again and something or someone is coming to search again."
Stahl's hand cramped around the arm rest," It cost us a lot of lives and sorrow the last time they came. How long do you think we have?"
She shrugged." I can't say, but it took the Y'All about 50 years to respond to the last call. So I think we have about that much time."
"Do you know who keeps calling them and how? "
"Yes this is why I actually came by the way. The First among the Saresii send us an Intelligence report about the Grand Wizards making that call. Cherubim had the TSI follow up on this and we got informed that the Grand Wizard of the Kermac just returned from a long journey claiming they had made the Call. Currently we don't know how the Call is made, or where. The Grand Wizard has executed everyone that was with him on that journey including two fellow wizards."
"I should have known and kept going. We would fight the Kermac and the Nul now but that is a known enemy and not the Y'All or something worse and unknown."
"This time you are not alone. It seems the Narth know something is coming, and that is why they are more active and the Hidden Coven is considering revealing itself and asking for membership. Till now you are still the only one knowing about us."
"I would still be in exile and the Union a forgotten memory if it wasn't for you showing me where to find the Devastator and how to make her accept me."
"If it wasn't for you Richard, I still be the horrible monster you said I was and not the woman I am now. You don't believe in predestination but I think some force meant that we meet each other and learning about the meaning of love, Richard made it all worthwhile!"
He got up." I would love to know what I have to do to prepare ourselves, but guess I do it as always and play by ear. Now it is my turn to predict something. I see a pretty silver haired monster having dinner with an Old Geezer and perhaps even a dance after that?"
"If it takes bad news for you to invite me to dinner and a dance, old Geezer, I find bad news every day!"
Chapter 18: First Days
After a day of class room instructions there was another dinner. Instead of China and silverware there were rectangular stone slaps and long thin hook like utensils. The Nogoll Instructor mounted his floating disc and said." As I mentioned yesterday, we will teach you to use the utensils of other cultures as well. While there are Fleet standard procedures for everything and Fleet Standard equipment we want you to learn as much as possible about other cultures. If you can use the sum of your cultural knowledge in some future event by not in
sulting members of a new species and thus prevent war, then you might think back on your Academy Dinners and thank us for trying to educate you.
"Today we are learning how the Attikan Culture eats at a formal event. The hooks represent the claws and are used to tear your food into smaller manageable bits. The food we serve today is also Attikan style. Those of you who can't eat this will be presented with lookalike substitute food tailored to your metabolism."
Two-Three who had found a seat next to me snickered." I wonder what they will serve me then, as I can't eat anything."
The Nogoll instructor turned on his platform responding to the Non Corp's question, proofing they somehow monitored our conversations." You will still learn how to use the utensils and pretend to eat. Your suit is equipped with a lock mechanism and the food will simply disintegrate. Many Non Corps went through the Academy before you."
They served the food that looked and smelled like slightly cooked carrion.
The Nogoll said." It is imperative that you understand that you will be ambassadors of the Union when you meet other civilizations. Eating and the sharing of food is an important part of many cultures and can break down barriers. We want you to learn to accept what you might find disgusting without showing it. Now we don't want you to eat poison or something harmful and you can in such cases decline partaking, but never show disgust or any other negative emotion when you are served foreign foods."
The Nogoll suddenly gagged and almost threw up, and more and more cadets started to look sick, those who had noses tried to hold them close . Before I could ask what was going on I too got a whiff of the most horrible stench I had ever smelled. It was so bad my stomach turned and it took all my will power to keep the heaves down.
The Nogoll finally managed to say." What in the Holy Mountains rocks is that?"
The Cadet who had introduced himself as Elly earlier on said proudly." Gelatinous Pulse stink maggots. I wanted to celebrate the safety of my family and surprise you all with a wonderful delight!" The Elly had a wrinkled gray skin, a long triangular shaped head and two large triangular ears. Along with the deep set yellow eyes he almost looked like a furless Nubhir Wolf, except he did not have a teeth filled snout but an underarm long hose like trunk and his voice sounded just like mine would have if I talked through a long hose or pipe.
Eric Olafson Series Boxed Set: Books 1 - 6 (The Galactic Chronicles Series) Page 240