Graylee sensed her silent battle and dropped Galborae’s arm. She extended her arms to take in the three from Tranxte, saying, “My world will be full of surprises. Might I suggest you focus more on the people and our lifestyles than the technology?”
Atiana stepped forward and took her arm, nodding as she replied, “Well said, Graylee. What’s next?”
“We call this area the lobby. You can’t go any further without permission. Ordinarily we’d go to the visitors’ station and check in, but since you’re armed, I think we’ll wait here. Someone will come to us.”
She strolled with them through the lobby, pointing out that the windows were not windows, they were similar to the screens on ships, then she pointed to the many doors lining the interior wall of the lobby.
“To get around inside a gziekolt, we use olands, small rooms that can travel to any point inside the building. We rarely know or care where we are exactly within the gziekolt, we just code our olands to take us to the right place. Most residents don’t want to know where they are, so we have not numbered the floors. Each apartment simply has a code.”
“I’m surprised we haven’t been noticed yet,” Atiana said.
“Oh, we have. There’s no real hurry for security to get here since you can’t get past the lobby without authorization. They’re probably checking other resources before confronting us.”
“We can’t just follow you into an oland?”
“No, Your Majesty. The door won’t let you by. Each of you has to be assigned a visitor status first. A priority visitor status I hope.”
Just then six security men approached them from across the lobby on the left and six more from the right, accompanied by a man in civilian clothes. On close inspection, the security men carried holstered stunners but not blasters.
Their leader reached Atiana and went to a knee with his head bowed. “We’re honored to have you as our guest, Your Majesty.” He stood up, essentially ignoring everyone else. “I’m Inspector Loren, head of security here. We have a few formalities to observe.”
“By all means,” she managed to eek out with the help of her Rider. Hawke stepped forward with an outstretched hand holding a translator device. Atiana waited until Loren had attached it to his ear, then added more sweetly in her own language, “Ms. Rodjiks has offered to give us a tour of your amazing home. May we?”
“Of course, Your Majesty, but we frown on weapons here.”
She nodded. “I understand and applaud your rules, sir. Since you know who we are, you know where we come from. All of us are warriors, and though we stand in the midst of your Empire and are probably safe, we are still at war. My associates are senior counselors, all of them, and they are my security. Two of them are Imperial Marines, part of my official escort. I ask you to make an exception in our case.”
Loren turned to Galborae. “May I see your weapon?”
Galborae did not hesitate, handing his blaster over handle first.
Loren took the weapon, but looking toward the sword, he said, “Uh . . . I meant the other one, Sire.”
“Sorry. No,” Galborae said, brooking no argument.
Loren stared into Galborae’s eyes, then his lips firmed and he nodded. “It must be the one.”
Graylee spoke up before things got out of hand. “Inspector, they’re not here to attack the gzeikolt. I’m taking the opportunity to show them how we live, what their world might one day become, nothing more.”
Loren nodded. His eyes moved from the sword to the blaster Galborae had handed to him. “Unusual,” he said, studying it.
Galborae nodded. “Do you know our prey?”
“Not intimately. Until a few days ago, I had thought them imaginary creatures of folklore. After seeing you in action, I now know better.”
“The weapon in your hand is specifically designed to kill gleasons,” Galborae said. “It has killed many a gleason, sir, and it will kill many more. As for the sword, it’s far too dangerous to everyone around me. Neither it or I am a threat to you. You have my word as a knight on that.”
“Tell me,” Atiana said, stepping forward, “do you know why we are forced to fight gleasons?”
Loren lowered his eyes for a moment, then brought his gaze back to her. “I do, Your Majesty. An apology is a small thing for such a great matter, but you have my apology.” He turned back to Galborae and handed the blaster back. “You may keep your weapons, and you have complete freedom to explore our home.” He turned back to Atiana. “If you don’t mind, Your Majesty, I will accompany you along with two of my men.”
A smile lit her face. “A balanced solution, Inspector. I accept, and I’m honored.” She turned to Graylee. “What’s first?”
“I told you it would be best to focus on people here, Your Majesty. By that, I mean our lives. Would you like to visit my home?”
The smile broadened on Atiana’s face. “I would!”
All eight of them crowded into an oland, Graylee spoke a destination, and the room smoothly accelerated while Kori handed out translator devices to the two additional security men.
When the door opened, Graylee led them down a padded corridor lined with identically sized doors. However, identical ended with size. Every door had been decorated by its owners, making it unnecessary to look at coded designators to find the right room. Corridor walls held colorful decorations, as well, which Graylee informed them changed from time to time so that residents did not get bored with their surroundings.
They passed a number of people headed in the opposite direction, probably toward the oland foyer. Most froze at the sight of the strangely dressed group, and some went to a knee when they recognized Atiana and Galborae. She touched each of them on a shoulder as she passed by.
Hawke and Kori had been inside gzeikolts before, so they stayed out in the corridor with two of the security people when Graylee invited the group into her home. She led her visitors through a comfortable living/dining area and showed them her separate master bedroom and two more visitor’s bedrooms.
“It’s far more space than I need,” she said, “but if I ever get around to having a family, I won’t have to change rooms. That’s the general plan for the gzeikolt. Once here, you do your best to stay where you are.”
“So you spend most of your life here?” Atiana asked.
“My at-home life, yes. Most of us have lives outside our homes, myself included. I’m a student, so I have plenty of leisure time for socializing. I sometimes take my meals here, but I usually connect with friends within the community.”
Atiana walked over to a window that encompassed an entire wall and looked out at a stunning view of the city. Galborae and Milae joined her. Nearby, frail seeming bridges dotted with people connected neighboring gzeikolts at several levels above and below them. Graylee stood behind them and pointed out a number of things, including the spaceport which rolled for miles all the way to the horizon and Governor Seeton’s sector headquarters just in front of the port, a building which occupied several square blocks.
Atiana remembered—gzeikolts did not have windows. “Is this view real?” she asked.
“Yes. I like the outdoors, so in my home I tend to enjoy distant vistas. Most of my friends are more comfortable with smaller views.” She spoke a command and the wall view changed, becoming a smaller window in the middle of the wall. “Others prefer to ignore the outside.” She spoke another command, and the screen became a solid wall. She spoke another command, and the screen returned to its original setting. “It tends to reflect the actual time of day . . .”
Just then a commotion sounded from the entrance. Graylee left them to find Hawke and Kori blocking the doorway in front of a portly, older gentleman who was insisting they move aside. The security people appeared to be siding with the gentleman.
Graylee blanched when she saw the visitor. She touched Hawke on the arm. “It’s okay, Teacher. Let him pass.”
Hawke stood his ground. “Him I understand. What about them?” he asked pointing down the c
orridor.
Graylee leaned through the doorway and looked to her left. People jammed the corridor from wall to wall, not all of them human. Many of them held recorders as high as appendages could reach. All of them focused on the door to her apartment, and all of them clamored politely for attention.
Inspector Loren pushed through and came to Hawke’s rescue. “I’ll take it from here, Teacher. Mr. Mayor, please come in.” Hawke moved aside just enough to let the mayor through, then Loren joined him back out in the corridor, standing in front of Hawke and facing the crowd. He pointed to two reporters, one specializing in local gzeikolt news and the other in planetary news. “You two may enter. The rest of you will get your chance later. No crowding please.”
He turned back to Hawke. “I think I see where this is going. I’ll stay out here.”
Hawke looked at him in surprise. “Isn’t your place in there with the important people?”
“They don’t need me. I intend to keep the people out here safe from you and that sword.” He smiled to take the sting out of his words, but Hawke appreciated the undercurrent to his meaning. “Do me a favor,” Loren asked. “Go inside and ask Ms. Rodjiks where she’s going next.”
Hawke grinned. “I like your style, sir. Uh, I don’t have enough translators for everyone.”
“Not an issue. Just give me one I can give to the media. They’ll take it from there.”
Graylee next led them through one of many shopping areas in which almost anything could be purchased. By then a real crowd had gathered around them and more council members had joined the group. She was just leaving there when she heard a commotion among the crowd. People, all of them, peeled aside in alarm, clearing a path through which three Great Cats sauntered.
Atiana moved to the front and greeted them. “Borg? What’s going on?”
“Your Majesty, your presence here has become an Imperial matter. The Queen sends her regards and asks that you accept our services for the duration of your stay.”
She blinked in surprise. “I thought she was leaving.”
“Not immediately.”
“I appreciate her concern, but is any of this optional?”
“No, Your Majesty.”
“Then I accept your services. What can I do to make your task easier?”
“Just be yourself and keep us informed of your plans.”
“Did she leave . . . instructions?”
“She did.” He spoke up, making certain the news media picked up his next words. “The Queen asked me to remind you of three things: matters relating to Imperial Secrets have been so identified to you, Tranxte’s plight is open to public scrutiny and debate, and she trusts implicitly in your judgement.”
He turned to face the media directly. “Governor Havlock, the Queen’s personal representative to Tranxte, is on his way. He and Queen Atiana have been tasked by the Queen not only to rid Tranxte of gleasons but to lead Empire efforts to assist Tranxte as it grows from an emerging world to full membership within the Empire.”
“If and when we so choose,” Atiana added instantly.
Borg’s great head nodded. “If and when.”
* * * * *
When the three Great Cats appeared, Graylee’s eyes widened in alarm. She was already operating on overdrive, but the appearance of real Protectors, so incredibly rare in the Empire, pushed her over the edge. Hawke suspected what might be going on in her mind and stepped to her side, touching her lightly on the arm to let her know he was there.
She turned wide eyes to him, then grasped his upper arm and leaned into his face. Whispering so none of the press could hear, she asked, “What’s happening?”
He wanted to brush stray hairs back from her forehead and take her into his arms, but he knew that touching her would send the wrong message. Instead, he leaned closer. “We’ve been staying with the Queen and some of her Knights. She must be watching us via the media here and decided to elevate the importance of what we’re doing. We’ve become an Imperial matter.”
Her eyes widened even farther. “You’ve met the Queen? The real Queen? This is her doing?”
“Graylee, I was Named by a Knight. So was Kori. Governor Havlock was Named by the Queen herself.”
Her eyes lost focus, so he threw propriety to the winds and steadied her with a hand on each of her shoulders. “I know how overwhelming this can be, Graylee, but think about how Atiana feels. She a queen, but she’s also a person just like you and me, and she doesn’t know our world. Everything here is new to her. She needs someone to stand with her and be strong. I think you’re the one to do it. Will you be that person? Will you represent our Empire to an emerging world?”
Dark brown eyes that he wanted to fall into stared into his, shifting back and forth between his eyes. Hawke took half a step back to give her a little room and said, “This is important, Graylee. Show her what her world might one day become. I’ve been doing it in small ways for the past year, but you’re making giant strides today. Do your best to forget the rest of these people and focus just on Atiana.” He smiled, his gaze never leaving hers.
An uncertain hint of dimples responded to his smile. “I . . .” She took a couple of deep breaths, then nodded. “Yes, but not just her. Sir Galborae and Milae deserve the same attention.”
She continued staring into his eyes with her forehead furrowed, her gaze shifting back and forth between his eyes, questioning. What she was thinking he did not know, but he got the impression it was more than just about people from Tranxte, Great Cats, and crowds.
He squeezed her shoulders again, keeping the smile in place. “Just focus on them. I’m real proud of you.”
Graylee’s gaze sobered, and he sensed her sucking it up like a marine, almost like she was pulling strength from him to help her through an ordeal. He nodded and let her go.
Before turning toward Atiana, she stared into his eyes for one more brief moment, saying, “The Knight who Named you chose well.”
Chapter Twenty-six
Graylee stepped back to Atiana’s side and touched her arm to let her know she was back. She received a flash of gratitude in return. She spread her arms to include Galborae and Milae and stepped out, leading them to one of four universities in the gzeikolt, this particular university the one she herself attended. She did not take time to introduce them to the university’s net where significant portions of learning took place in the virtual world, but she described it.
Atiana nodded her understanding. “Governor Havlock introduced me to the net, telling me it was like a dream. I was afraid, but I’m afraid no longer.”
“Your children will one day play within the net without fear of any kind,” Graylee said with a smile.
“His exact words. How amazing! What’s next?”
“I had thought to show you one of our arenas, a place for games, but it’s growing late. I’m told the media wants a little private time with you before you leave, Your Majesty.”
“What exactly do you mean?”
“The crowd has questions, lots of questions. Your answers to those questions will be heard all over the world. Are you willing to speak to them?”
“We can start right here.”
“No. This is important to us, and I’m beginning to get a sense of how important it could be to Tranxte. Let’s do it right. We have a room that’s perfect. I’ll sit you on an elevated platform in the front, and the media will sit before you.”
“Oh, is that all? You’re describing a normal audience with the queen.”
Hawke stepped up to Graylee’s side. “These people, some of them, excel at asking hostile questions, Your Majesty. Just stick to the truth and you’ll be fine.”
“Why would they be hostile? Tranxte is the one who’s been wronged.”
“Feel free to remind them of that. Keep reminding them, and let them know you appreciate the Empire’s efforts to rectify the situation. Gar will meet you there.”
She brightened. “In that case, lead on.”
* * * * *<
br />
Ellie and her Knights watched the interview from the lounge on Resolve. Amazingly, Atiana held her composure, smiling continually and graciously, allowing a world to fall in love with their latest heroin. As well, the world had a new hero. During a break, the media inserted a recording of the final minutes of the battle for Tricor. Galborae’s sword flashed repeatedly in the video until the weight of dead gleasons overwhelmed him, then the clip closed with Atiana sitting in a pool of blood with his head in her lap.
When the intermission ended, Graylee moved to his side and leaned in close to speak privately with him. Galborae stared long at her, then grudgingly stood up and stepped behind his friends at the table. He drew his sword and brought the shimmering blade high. He cut the air a few times, then he returned the sword to its scabbard. The world now knew without any doubt that their hero had survived the battle.
When the interviewer asked about the ultimate plan for the gleasons, Atiana deferred the answer to Havlock. He didn’t mince his words, staring directly into the pickup as he spoke.
“I set out to eliminate the gleasons from Tranxte, but your queen and mine, the Last of the Chosen, ruled otherwise. She reminded me that, even in our darkest hours, the most fundamental purpose of our Empire is to protect civilizations from each other. She has ruled that the gleasons are an intelligent, alien civilization, and after fighting them, I concur. The fact that we share nothing in common with them does not change the fact that we must, in accordance with our heritage, allow them to exist as a civilization. To that end, we continue our efforts to protect the people of Tranxte while we search for a new home for the gleasons. Finding that new home is proving to be a challenge—we’re looking for a world that needs the gleasons as much as the gleasons need that new world. If any of you know of such a place, please let me know.”
Ellie had been sitting on the edge of the couch. When the program ended, she settled back, deep in contemplation. Mike, sitting beside her, stood up, looked around at his friends, and spread his arms wide.
Spirit of Empire 4: Sky Knights Page 39