Star Minds Interregnum

by Barbara G. Tarn

  Waldo wondered if the new king had invited her to make her queen, but he was almost certain she'd refuse anyway. She wouldn't give up her starship and the freedom it gave her to live in a palace.

  An android took them to a sumptuous boudoir with two doors and a large window opening onto a terrace. Soon the other door opened and a young man with long brown hair and a long-sleeved shirt that left even Waldo breathless for a moment entered. He wasn't ugly, but if Camilla preferred Haje to him, he couldn't blame her.

  "Haje!" she greeted with a smile. "You're more handsome than ever! I'm very curious to know how you earned this throne!"

  "And not why I invited you here?" Haje smiled, ignoring Waldo completely.

  "You'd tell me that anyway," she replied. "I left you in the suburbs around the spaceport, anxious to conquer your spot in the New Town and here you are as the only king where there used to be a king and a queen. How did you manage?"

  "I... um... convinced my predecessor to give me his place," Haje answered with an impish smile. "Unfortunately the day I was crowned they found him with his throat cut. He was a gorgeous blond man named Chrystal..."

  "He'd just been elected when we met!" she marveled. "It's true that he was very young and very handsome, I was sure he could hold the post for this many years... But tell me, Haje, what did you threaten him with to convince him to give you his scepter?"

  "Of disfiguring him, of course," Haje answered. "And to show him I wasn't kidding, I cut his chest and his shoulder. When he abdicated, he had a long-sleeved shirt too because he was ashamed of the scars that made him imperfect."

  "And who cut his throat, Haje?" she insisted, mildly amused.

  "Telling you wouldn't change a thing," he answered with a half-smile. "It wasn't me, though. I was the king, no need to wash my hands in blood."

  "True. So what can I do for you?"

  Haje was serious as he stared at her. "You must go to the Lower Town. My queen refuses to join me. I could send all the automatic security beyond the wall, but they'd be destroyed. You're an adventurer, and you're a Humanoid. Find Smeralda and bring her back, whether she wants it or not."

  "Where do I find her?" Camilla asked business-like.

  "In my house, with Miri," he answered.

  "And how much will you give me?"

  Waldo held his breath, but Haje was unfazed.

  "What you want."

  "Even a Perfect for each of my men?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.

  "If that's what you want." He shrugged.

  No, Waldo thought. I don't want a Perfect, I want her!

  "Done deal," Camilla said. "I need two passes for Danold and Ty. They'll wait by the wall while I'll go with Waldo into the Lower Town.

  "Him?" Haje pointed at Waldo with his chin, obviously unhappy.

  "He's not Lonny," she replied.

  "Lonny has changed too." Haje sighed and averted his eyes. "But I want only Smeralda. Bring her back and you can choose whichever Perfect you want, excluding me."

  "Of course," she said with a bow. Not that she'd have the same man twice, according to Danold.

  Soon they left the palace.

  "Who's Lonny?" Waldo asked. He hadn't liked Haje's contempt towards him. They hated each other on sight.

  "He's a gorgeous young man who lives in the Lower Town," she answered, thoughtful. "Physically perfect, but mentally retarded..."

  ***

  The squalor of the Lower Town was obvious even to the two foreigners who walked the alleys, determined. Camilla knew where Haje used to live and went straight there – near the base of the wall that towered over the rotten buildings.

  They found Lonny and the others in the usual opening below the wall and Smeralda was with them – still beautiful even without the New City enhancements.

  "Hello, Miri." Camilla greeted Haje's sister. "Remember me?"

  "Of course, you spent some time with my brother a few years ago. What brings you back to Mirabilis?"

  "Haje." Camilla looked at Smeralda. "Seems like he's madly in love with a gorgeous blonde and wants her by his side as queen."

  "Smeralda doesn't want to be with Haje!" Lonny said with his childish pout. "Haje is mean and Smeralda doesn't love him anymore, so she stays with us and you go away now!"

  "Lonny, calm down," Camilla chided. "We used to be friends, remember? I taught you that game, Color Color, a few years ago. You loved it."

  Lonny was puzzled for a moment. "Oh, right, I forgot!" He hugged her. "You've been away for so long!"

  "My starship was calling me," she replied. "Now go to play, I need to talk to Smeralda, alone."

  Miri grabbed Lonny's hand and dragged him away, followed by the others.

  "Do not treat Lonny like a child, he's growing up fast," Smeralda said.

  "And he starts looking at you like Haje did?" Camilla scoffed. "Did you do the miracle? You're really perfect, then!"

  "No, and I do not wish to be the queen of perfection ever again," Smeralda replied bluntly. "Haje has changed, and I don't want to see him. His ambition will be his undoing. I don't care if he killed Chrystal only to give me back my throne, I didn't ask him to."

  "I'm sorry, but he wants you and I'll take you there whether you want it or not," Camilla replied coldly, grabbing her wrists while Waldo put his gun on "stun".

  Smeralda struggled briefly, then collapsed unconscious in Waldo's arms.

  Camilla looked up towards the top of the wall. Two heads were looking down and had already sent down a long rope. Waldo and Camilla tied it around Smeralda's body, and the other two started pulling her up.

  "Let's split," Camilla ordered. "Soon the alarm will go off. See you at the gates of the New Town."

  ***

  Waldo didn't object to Camilla's order. He tried to go as straight as he could, keeping an eye on the looming wall, but the alleys and streets of the slums were never straight or parallel, so he got lost.

  The Lower Town dwellers had discovered their queen had been abducted and were on the hunt for the culprits. I should have stayed with Ty and Cams should have come with Danold, Waldo thought, trying not to get lost in the labyrinth, where even his GPS didn't work. He never understood why she'd named him first mate instead of Danold or Ty who had been with her for longer. Maybe – but really maybe, Waldo had no illusions – she felt something for him too.

  "Where are you going, friend?" A colossus blocked his way.

  "I'm trying to reach the spaceport, but I'm afraid I'm lost," he said innocently. It wasn't a complete lie, he was lost.

  "Bullshit!" the colossus roared. "Only two foreigners entered this city today, and they stole our queen!"

  "I have no idea what you're talking about," he insisted, backing away. "I was only..."

  The colossus didn't let him finish. He grabbed him by his shirt and threw him against a wall. Waldo lost consciousness.

  ***

  "Where's Waldo?" Camilla asked, worried.

  "I thought he was with you," Danold replied.

  "We split to get out of the Lower Town."

  "Not very smart. You know it's a labyrinth."

  Camilla pursed her lips. "Smeralda?"

  "She's at the palace."

  "Hey," Ty called. He was leaning over the low wall to look at the Lower Town. "Were you looking for Waldo?"

  Camilla and Danold rushed to lean next to him. Voices were calling them from down there. Waldo was on the ground, motionless.

  "Give back Smeralda or we kill him!" the colossus shouted, shaking his fist.

  "Shit," Camilla whispered.

  "What can we do?" Danold asked.

  "Ask for Haje's help."

  "He won't help."

  "He still has to pay us!"

  "As you wish..."

  ***

  Waldo slowly came back to his senses. He could hear the voices and threats around him, but his eyes opened on darkness. Maybe he'd hurt his optical nerve, but he wasn't expecting his captors to take him to the hospital. Quite the opposite –
they sounded determined to hurt him even more.

  They hadn't realized he'd gone blind. They told him they'd break his leg to prevent him from running away, and they did it in the most painful way. He passed out again.

  He felt a cool hand over his forehead and opened his eyes again, but he still didn't see anything. He didn't dare saying anything. He felt soft lips kissing his and imagined it was Camilla – although he knew it wasn't her. She didn't smell like his captain.

  Again, he said nothing. He felt powerless and his broken leg hurt like hell.

  ***

  Miri stared at the wounded foreigner without daring to speak. In her life she'd seen only two gorgeous men, Lonny and her brother. Her secret passion for Lonny had melted through the years and the sight of the young man with chestnut brown hair and a handsome, clean-shaven face made her blood run wild.

  He tasted good, and she decided to protect him as much as she could. She had realized he was at least temporarily blind and felt happy. She wouldn't have to endure any expression of disgust on his face...

  She sighed and rose to get some food. She met Lonny's glare, but the gorgeous young man swiftly ran away. Miri gasped. Lonny was changing – she wondered if he was jealous as a child or as a man of the two women who had taken care of him more than others. And Smeralda was gone.

  ***

  "You have Smeralda, but the price has changed," Camilla said, determined, while Haje stared at Smeralda's artificial sleep. "One of my men is stuck in the Lower Town and I need your help to take him out of that hellhole."

  "I already told you automatic security can't help in the slums," Haje answered without looking at her. "You'll have the Perfects as promised, but I can't send anyone beyond the wall. Leave now."

  I'll remember this, Camilla thought, furious. Danold's expression clearly said "Told you!"

  "You want me to go?" Ty offered as they walked towards the gates of the New Town. "They don't know me, and I could reach Waldo without being noticed. I'll keep in touch with the secret radio and will try to free him."

  "Phones don't work down there, but radio might," Camilla muttered. "I guess it's the only way. Danold is well known in the slums, so... You go. I trust you."

  Danold nodded his approval and Ty left. He was short and dark-haired, on the plump side and he could vanish in the Lower Town better than tall and skinny Waldo. He could look like a rejected inhabitant of Mirabilis.

  "He can do it," Danold said as she followed Ty with her eyes. "Don't tell me you're worried for Waldo."

  "I am because he's a very good element in my crew," she snapped.

  Danold's scoff got on her nerves. She was very fond of all her crew members, and Waldo was the youngest and most handsome. He hadn't even tried to get into her bed yet, which might be another reason not to lose him so soon...

  ***

  Ty quickly found the way to the wall, although he stopped to talk with every passer-by, chatting about the weather or the latest gadget or simple gossip as if he belonged. He was outgoing and never had problems in making new friends.

  "Hey guys!" he greeted joining the group of people that included Lonny, whom he had seen from high above but was clearly recognizable from up close for his height and beauty. "I'm looking for a place to rest, anyone have a spare bed for tonight?"

  "Yes," a disfigured young woman answered. "There's my brother's room. Haje doesn't live here anymore." That must be Miri.

  "Oh, thank god! I've been looking for something since morning, I was afraid I'd have to go back to that lurid spaceport!"

  "Where are you from?" Lonny asked.

  Ty mentioned the farthest point of Lower Town. "Bad people down there," he added, disgusted. "I fought with everyone, so I decided to move away."

  "Well done," said a youth too tall and skinny. "What's your name?"

  That night Ty saw Waldo. He lay in a corner of a common room, apparently blind and slightly feverish.

  "Who's that?" Ty feigned surprise.

  "A foreigner," the Skinny One answered with contempt. "We punished him."

  "I can see that! He's pretty bruised!"

  "Serves him right," Lonny said, pouting. "Teaches him to kidnap Smeralda."

  Ty was too worried for Waldo to ask who Smeralda was. Besides, everybody in Lower Town probably knew a Perfect lived among them. Miri was taking care of the wounded prisoner who seemed to come back to his senses, but kept sparing into space.

  "Is he blind or what?" Ty asked.

  "Hit his head," Colossus grumbled.

  Waldo had gasped at the sound of Ty's voice, but didn't say anything.

  Before going to sleep, Ty managed to squeeze his hand to reassure him. Waldo nodded. He had understood and would wait patiently.

  ***

  There was a forgotten smell in the air. Smeralda opened her eyes, still dazed, and found herself in her room. Not the dirty and dark room she'd shared with Haje, but the one she'd been given when she'd been elected Queen of the Perfects.

  She remembered the female adventurer and her partner, and understood Haje had won. He had taken her back to the New Town. But I won't be the Queen of Perfection ever again!

  A curtain moved and Haje came in, more handsome than ever, perfectly clean and groomed by the facilities of the new town, his shoulder hidden under the shirt. The new king of the Perfects never wore sleeveless clothes, but nobody dared challenge his predecessor's choice.

  "Good morning, gorgeous," Haje greeted tenderly. "We're together again at last. I missed you."

  "I didn't miss you," she snapped.

  "Nice," he commented with a hint of sarcasm, sitting on the bed. "But I want you by my side, Queen of Perfection, because I love you, now and forever."

  "I don't." She lowered her eyes as a lump climbed in her throat. "I don't love you anymore. You changed. The Haje I fell in love with is dead and I don't want to spend my life with you."

  "You have no choice," he replied before leaning to kiss her.

  Being with him was both pleasant and sad. Pleasant because it reminded her of so many happy moments, sad because in spite of everything she felt he was different now.

  Silent tears ran down her cheeks and Haje drank them with his lips.

  ***

  "If you don't take him to a hospital, he might die," Ty said. "Is that what you want? Are you murderers? Besides, when he's dead, you won't have any leverage left..."

  Miri gasped, frightened, as the more belligerent muttered and grumbled among themselves. Waldo burned with fever. Eventually Ty managed to convince them and they took Waldo to the hospital just outside of the Old Town.

  ***

  Smeralda tried to free herself from Haje's possessive arms. He was losing all tenderness as he tried to force himself on her. Desperate to get rid of him, Smeralda scratched his cheek.

  Haje pulled back and touched his cheek, then stared at the blood on his hand. His eyes filled with blind fury.

  "You... disfigured me!" He hissed and grabbed her neck.

  Smeralda moaned, terrified. Haje's madness was dangerous.

  Choking, she tried again to free herself, but Haje was much stronger. Her violent struggling was useless against his chokehold. The airway compression by Haje's finger squeezed the life out of her.

  ***

  "A sickness she caught in the Lower Town," Camilla muttered as the body of the Queen of the Perfects was paraded in a glass coffin in her silken clothes and precious jewelry. "That bastard Haje won't fool me! He's good at pretending a sorrow he doesn't feel!"

  "You think he killed her?" Danold asked.

  "Yes, because she kept rejecting him." Camilla wasn't sure, but when she managed to get a little closer, she noticed some red traces on Smeralda's neck, carefully hidden by rows of pearls that wrapped it like a turtleneck. "See?" she whispered. Danold nodded.

  "None of our business," he grumbled. "Waldo has been released, we should get away from here."

  "Good idea." Camilla stopped staring at the coffin and its content, and t
urned her back to the whole procession. "Tomorrow morning we'll leave."

  "Do you want me to prepare the ship?"

  "No, you can do it tomorrow when I go pick up Waldo at the hospital. By the way, how was your Perfect partner?"

  "Bah." Danold shrugged.

  "Exactly." She smiled briefly. "I'll go shower, today it's so hot... I wonder if the king of Mirabilis is sweating!"

  "Probably, but he'd never take his shirt off." He scoffed. "See you later. I'll get Ty and send him to Waldo."

  ***

  The funeral was over. Camilla was at the palace, taking a shower, oblivious to the cameras spying on her.

  Haje stared at the monitors and slowly smiled. The king of Mirabilis had found a new queen of perfection.

  ***

  "You're alone?" Waldo asked, surprised.

  "Glad to see you're back on your feet," Danold said. It was a euphemism, since Waldo had an exoskeleton supporting his legs – the broken one was still quite messed up – and his eyesight was temporarily substituted by glasses that sent impulses to his brain. But that was all the assistance they could get on Mirabilis, they'd have to take Waldo back to his home planet of Alahairo for him to be healed completely.

  "Where's Cams," Waldo insisted, rising from the hospital bed.

  "I'm afraid she vanished," Danold answered.

  "What do you mean?" Waldo protested. "Just say it, what the hell happened?"

  Danold sighed. "Smeralda is dead. Fever and illness, they say. Haje must have decided Cams was the perfect substitute."

  "What?"

  "Calm down, Cams is too independent to fall for someone like Haje."

  "Then he could kill her like he did with Smeralda," Waldo retorted. He'd figured out quickly enough that Smeralda's death wasn't natural.

  "She's a tough gal," Danold replied. "Smeralda wasn't an adventurer, Cams is."

  Ty watched them discuss. The young and rash Waldo wanted to go looking for their captain immediately. Danold knew it was useless – their Mirabilis passes had expired and Haje would never renew them.

  Out of the corner of his eye, Ty saw Lonny leaving quietly as he'd come. None of them had noticed him and Ty wondered what went through the deranged mind of the handsome young man.