Gil'Da had sat Sasha down, lecturing on the proper decency expected of a noble lady as politely as possible. Sasha had blushed furiously the entire time while staring at the floor, looking more a child then the noble grand duchess she had started to become. The whole scene bordered on comical, and her and Vickie couldn't help snickering during the entire lecture.
Tiana noticed an understanding look pass between the two lovers, who both nodded, then turned to the table. Sasha placed her left arm upon its surface, showing clearly the bracelet Tiana had learned was called the Arm of the Emperor.
“Vin,” Sasha’s voice trembled with anticipation, “I have a question,” the anticipation shifting to fear. Vin’s rippling bronze sphere appeared above the bracelet.
“Yes, Grand Duchess Sasha Alutia,” Vin responded almost immediately.
“Trent and I have found that we share some sort of bond beyond...an emotional bond,” she glanced to Trent, who nodded for her to go on. “Is this something you created to force us to fall in love?” Tiana's jaw fell to the floor, unable to hide her shock at the question.
Sasha had basically just asked if Vin had manufactured her love. It wasn't possible...or was it? She had thought the same thing before Sasha had told her not to get involved, to trust her, to trust her love. But the worry and doubt began to seep once more into Tiana’s mind. Vin's sphere rippled, shifting color rapidly, finally settling back on its original bronze coloring.
“Grand Duchess Sasha Alutia, the bond you currently share was created by the Emperor's Jewelry, though the origin of said bond is from the Programs. Once this Program detected the mutual feeling of love between Grand Duchess Sasha Alutia and Sir Trent, a recondiverse based bond was formed between Grand Duchess Sasha Alutia's BC node and Sir Trent's BC node. This allowed for the Program to help expedite the process of the Grand Duchess Sasha Alutia and Sir Trent's meeting, fulfilling a task.” Everyone stared in astonishment at the Program. Tiana knew Vin was strange, but for a Program to actually get directly involved in the meeting of two individuals was completely extraordinary. “This bond would have laid dormant, but was reactivated and altered by the Emperor's Jewelry without our consent. Information about the Emperor's Jewelry is sealed, but this Program has been provided permission to share limited data. Do you, Grand Duchess Sasha Alutia, and you, Sir Trent, take responsibility that those of this room shall not disclose what is discussed?” Both Trent and Sasha looked around the room as everyone nodded in agreement. Of course they would agree...this was too interesting to miss!
“Yes,” they answered in unison.
“The Emperor's Jewelry is based on the same technology as the Programs. This is how a Program is able to be contained within, such as with this one in the Arm of the Emperor. Each piece of the Emperor's Jewelry is from a set and as such, would communicate when together on a single being. This ability is usually dormant when the Emperor's Jewelry is passed between different chosen. But in this instance, since a bond was already present, the Emperor's Jewelry utilized this to communicate; creating directly linked pathways that could also transmit certain strong emotions.” Trent and Sasha sighed, looking at each other with noticeable relief. Tiana too, felt her doubts fade. Vin may have forced Trent and Sasha to meet, but the love was already there and the bond they referred was caused by the Emperor's Jewelry.
“Thank you, Vin, can you tell us anything more about the abilities of the Emperor's Jewelry?” Sasha questioned. Vin’s sphere again started rippling and rapidly changing color.
“Information on the abilities of the Emperor's Jewelry is restricted and partially unknown. Owner's may, however, freely discuss abilities they have discovered through use.” Tiana frowned. Why not grant them an explanation so they could properly use the devices? She sighed, then smiled as a mischievous question popped into her mind.
“Vin, is there a way to forcibly seal the bond so the rest of us will be able to sleep at night?” she asked, unable to contain her expanding smile as she watched both Trent and Sasha blush with embarrassment, fire burning within their glares.
“Once a bond is established, the pathway will always exist, but can be put into dormancy. In this instance, that is impossible, since the Emperor's Jewelry altered the existing bond to be permanent for their own use and will not seal till the owners death.” Sasha stuck out her tongue at Tiana as Trent chuckled.
“Well,” she forced a frown, “I guess I'll just get earplugs,” she muttered to the grinning Vickie at her side. This brought forth a round of merry laughter as the conversation turned to much more mundane things, like how Tiana would need to start teaching Regalia the tricks she'd learned from Sasha to avoid her personal guards. She swore she caught a smirk cross Sir Seb'Losh's lips as he overheard her words, accepting her challenge.
*********
The judgment was official.
Trent squeezed Sasha's hand, wishing he could have announced the verdict in her place. He could sense her pain, born from her latest declaration, but he knew it was the right choice...the only choice.
Sir Simwa stared at Sasha with a face of contorted rage, foaming at the mouth as he struggled against his restraints. Two red uniformed ABF Battleguards forced him to his feet and escorted him from the temporary Alutia Court, to the awaiting shuttle. The thought of the punishment pronounced made Trent's skin crawl.
Sir Simwa would be banished to an unknown part of dark space, the massive areas of nothing that filled the voids between galaxies. The engineless starship he would be provided contained a small air, water, and food production facility, that would be able to sustain him for the rest of his life.
From what Vickie had explained, with much pleasure, was that an SJS Gate would be programmed to a random part of dark space. Then, after the shuttle was sent through, the gate would be closed and the destination code removed from all data banks. It was literally, a fate worse than death, and Trent knew most people would probably take their own lives during the first few years.
“Even if he is an evil man, I still do not like the idea, my duke,” Sasha whispered, turning to him, running her fingers up his arm to the now fading line that marked the location of one of Sir Simwa's crimes.
“I understand, my love, but it is better then you dirtying your hands.” He stared deep into her emerald eyes. “Remember, I am here for you and I am already dirty. Let me take the filth and allow you to stay clean.” he spoke, the words not feeling like his own. But he knew they came from his heart. Sasha smiled, leaning close, grasping his chin and planting an unexpected kiss on his lips. More than a few in the court’s audience of nobles and officers gasped in surprise.
“My dear duke, we share everything, if you are dirty, I am dirty, if I am pure, you are pure, there is no I, only we,” Sasha responded, her words striking his heart. He leaned forward this time, stealing a kiss. Terra leapt from Sasha’s bosom, landing on his head as he pulled away. It turned to the crowd, perching high for all to see, using his curly brown locks like a lectern, letting out squawks and squeaks, as if announcing something of great importance. Sasha grinned, her eyes twinkling, a mischievous smirk crossing her luscious lips like she understood what Terra was saying. She shot to her feet, her stare passing over the assembled Tidelia nobles and officers of the Alutia Battle Fleet.
“Now that the last of the official business of the Battle of Earth is concluded, I would like to adjourn the first Alutia Court with a more joyful announcement.” She glanced down at Trent, then to her ladies who sat in the corner, stopping on Countess Liana, her adopted mother. “I am pleased to announce that Sir Trent has asked for my hand in marriage and I have graciously accepted. Please let me introduce, the holder of the Star of Terra and bearer of the Eye of the Emperor, Duke Trent Alutia!” Silence responded, before a shocked roar broke through the crowd. Trent, dazed by the sudden announcement, stood, grasping Sasha’s outstretched hand.
Tears flowed from Countess Liana as she babbled to the young servant at her side. Tiana, Regalia, and Vickie stood on thei
r chairs, cheering the loudest. Trent blushed his embarrassment, then a thought occurred to him, a thought of revenge. He turned to Sasha, embracing her while planting a kiss the likes the universe had never before seen. The crowd whistled, bellowing even louder as Sasha didn’t resist, kissing him back with just as much exuberance.
When he finally released her, she studied him with girlish delight, a sensual smile on her tender lips that made his heart beat like an innocent little boy. She turned back to the crowd that fell silent, light whispers still echoing throughout as she raised her left hand.
“Thank you, thank you. The official elevation ceremony shall take place on the new capital of the Alutia duchy, a newly discovered paradise planet that we will call, in honor of those lost during the Battle of Earth...Alutia'Earth!” Cries of astonishment and cheers of joy broke through the temporary Alutia Court and Trent, tears in his eyes, turned to Sasha, the woman he loved beyond words could ever describe.
*********
Sasha lay in bed beside Trent, breathing heavy while resting her head upon his heaving chest.
It was amazing, the first time together without the drug.
She’d found herself stressing over how she would react, a concern growing that maybe, just maybe, her wound hadn’t healed, and she would again fall into debilitating terror when Trent removed her clothes. But there was no longer an issue...she was officially cured.
The experience was even more intense that the first. The bond they shared seemed to have grown, allowing her to feel like they shared a single body. She ran her fingers down his sweat soaked chest and found the bond was still active, allowing her to experience the pleasure of her own touch on his skin. Trent gently turned her to face him, nibbling her lips, again sliding atop her. Sasha, once again, found herself drowning in pleasure divine.
A persistent beep from her wrist brought her awake. She gently, and reluctantly, removed Trent's arms from her waist, sitting cross legged on the bed. Vin appeared above her wrist.
“You have a level one message, Your Grace,” Vin whispered. She nodded her thanks, accessing the local BAP with her BC node. She found two messages waiting, queuing the first.
“Sasha, quiet down! You seem to have forgotten Gil'Da's warning! She swears she will move Regalia to the far side of the starship in the morning. Your best friend, Tiana,” Sasha giggled quietly. She now knew she was loud. But even when she tried not to be, she couldn't help it, the bond, and the irresistible desire to scream her pleasure, just too strong. She queued up the second message and frowned.
“My dearest daughter, Your actions have far outstripped my expectations and I am sorry for everything you have been forced to endure. I am gravely wounded by the loss of Earth and I know it pains you deeply. The discussion I had with Prince Kohan on this matter was long and I learned a very many things.
“Without his knowledge, Princess Xeros, his wife, assigned her brother, Knight High-Admiral Baric, to head the battle groups Prince Kohan had gifted you. At first glance, this would seem harmless, but my information has proven otherwise. Princess Xeros had been found to be in constant communication with her brother during the Battle of Earth. The exact contents of the conversations have yet to be discovered, but it appears she may have been manipulating him to some degree. It was, without a doubt, Princess Xeros who provided the illegal order to destroy Earth.
“Punishment has already been pronounced by hereditary Emperor Yuloo, that Princess Xeros shall be banished with her husband, Prince Kohan, to a noble penal planet, where they shall live until the time of my death. This news may be of little consolation to you, but considering Princess Xeros is the daughter of the king of galaxy 2, a line of kings with direct relation to the emperor and the Blood of Yu, little else could be done.
“Now, let me congratulate you on your betrothal, my dear daughter. Your mother and I will be journeying with a force of the King’s Fleet to Alutia'Earth to oversee the official elevation ceremony. I hope he is all that I have heard and lives up to the records I have seen.
“In celebration of this event, I have provided you use of the Vn'Oco Royal Biological Engineering and Architectural Core, and an additional Vn’Oco Construction Fleet, to start growth of the colony on Alutia'Earth, and your mother has insisted on designing your new palace, which should be ready upon your arrival.
“My dear princess, ruling within this galaxy is a cruel reality, but remember this, you are strong and one of its greatest treasures. Your Father, King Johan Vn'Oco.” Sasha held back tears, tiptoeing across the cool floor, pressing an icon on the wall that made it appear transparent, showing the stars streaking through the distant darkness of space. Powerful arms embraced her from behind and a light kiss fell upon her exposed nape.
“What's wrong?” Trent asked softly.
“My parents are coming to our wedding.” Trent kissed her neck again, moving to her side.
“That's not all, is it?” His tone was as kind as his touch.
“No, but the rest can wait for another day.”
Leaning in, she kissed him, letting his presence fill her and forgetting for a time the universe, and its endless struggles.
Epilogue
AH-Zec, the standing leader of the Anti-Sapien Unification ruling matrix, floated within the antigravity data sphere, scanning the latest infiltration report to begin the analysis of the data contained within. Two ASU Schnac’lasis operatives were able to successfully infiltrate the world the humans called Earth, and escape with the precious samples that were hidden below its surface. It appeared that even the current emperor of the New Universal Empirical Human Alliance had known little of the actual secret of that world.
The stream of reports and messages that AH-Zec was constantly sorting were based on a new initiative created by his predecessor. All messages transmitted in normal space continue to travel through the universe, no matter how much time passed. To take advantage of this, the ASU had constructed trillions of listening platforms outside the galaxy, in dark space, beyond the range of the NHA gate capture nets. The farther out these platforms from a galaxy, the older the transmissions they could intercept. The one that provided the information about the Human Devolution Phenomenon was about 25,000 years old, 15,000 years before the cranillium's even left the safety of the Donlak system, as well as the earliest NHA signal detected from this galaxy.
The ASU's top minds were currently analyzing the samples and attempting to integrate them into a weapon, but initial signs were not as promising as his previous analysis lead him to believe. The HDP spores were not easily transportable and perished quickly outside a perfect environment, not suited for space based combat. But other uses were already decided by the ruling matrix and AH-Zec had chosen a group of human border colonies along the Frontier as test beds for the new planetary weapon in development.
The idea of destroying planets of innocents went against the peaceful nature of his race, but the Schnac'lasis were adamant that total annihilation was the only way to rid the universe of the human menace. AH-Zec had to agree that humans were a menace, but his extreme intellect told that there must be another way to end this conflict without resorting to the human methodology of genocide. For the time being, as his search for information continued unsated, he would go along with the ruling matrix recommendations placed before him. They would continue to monitor and probe the Frontier, while silently attacking human colonies with the new HDP weapon in development.
AH-Zec noted a new victory equation, after adding the newly developed HDP weapon, had left a remainder. Frowning, AH-Zec continued scanning the million's of messages and reports for the one that would allow them, once and for all, to become victorious.
*********
Emperor Yuloo scuffled through his majestic personal garden with his daughter on his arm, listening to Zing, the Program, finish his report about the Human Devolution Phenomenon. The fact that this information had been sealed and only passed down by word of mouth disturbed him greatly. What other information had his pre
decessors deemed too dangerous to leave accessible to even future emperors? He sighed.
“Father, why not take the technology that allowed Sir Trent and Lady Sasha to survive and distribute it to the masses?” Future Empress Yukie asked in an innocent tone he knew would not last much longer. He had thought the same thing himself, but the technology was part of the Emperor's Jewelry and as such...was sealed.
When an emperor ascended to the throne, a set of four pieces of Emperor's Jewelry were created by the Program's to help the newly appointed emperor protect himself and rule effectively. The Eye of the Emperor, a chocker adorned with three mysterious jewels, gave the ability to see through lies and into the true meaning of one's heart. The Arms of the Emperor, which adorned each wrist, provided two different abilities. One, to seek friends and allies, while the other, to seek ones enemies. The Heart of the Emperor, the necklace that hung around his neck, healed him from the physical attacks of his enemies. All the jewelry contained protocols that allowed for the removal of toxic substances from the body, mainly developed to counter poison or biological assassination attempts, but these protocols could be just as toxic as the poison itself, which is why the Heart of the Emperor was paramount.
A deceased emperor's set of Emperor's Jewelry was reclaimed by the Programs, then used as gifts to be provided to those who received future emperor’s blessings, the chosen, becoming Agents of the Emperor, such as Lady Sasha and Sir Trent. This allowed his agents, even if they didn't realize this fact, to successfully complete his bidding.
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