StarFlight: The Prism Baronies (Beyond the Outer Rim Book 2)

by Reiter

  “It was not offensive,” he quickly replied before stepping back from Jocasta. Dungias jumped off the back of his Dragon before it could reach the ground and it thanked him for the early departure. As the Traveler made his way over to his Captain, the young Dragons lifted their heads and spat small fireballs that traveled a meter before they fell back onto those that had spat them. The burst of flames triggered a spell and as the fire quickly burned itself out, the Dragons were once again in Terran form.

  “Dammit to every hell,” Jocasta cursed. “Does everybody get dressed faster than me?!”

  “There are thirty-seven,” Dungias stated as he walked to stand behind Jocasta. “That is three short of the forty that make up this brood, the fifth brood of this particular Queen.”

  “Three?” Jocasta inquired. “Did we–”

  “No, JoJo Starblazer, you did not kill them,” the voice spoke again, but without the echo as a slender form came away from the back of the chamber. Her hair was golden blonde, full of body, and it reached the knees of a statuesque frame that was both tall and toned. Fiery orange eyes looked on Jocasta who coughed at the sight of the woman. “I am Gexxur-Hahni Gemsoul, Brood Queen and Mistress of this fortification.”

  “Good gods, she’s an amazon!” Jocasta muttered.

  “You did not even kill the one you speared, though it may be a moon before he will fly again. And no, Captain, I am not an amazon.”

  “Yeah, that’s your book,” Jocasta remarked as she stepped forward. “Listen, I would apologize about your boy, except that he was trying to kill one of mine,” Jocasta explained. “My best, actually. We detected an unknown source of ThoughtWill energy. When we tried to investigate the source of our readings–”

  “You were brought here,” Gexxur-Hahni finished, cutting a very angry glare over to the Dragon JoJo and Dungias had first encountered. “On whose authority did you act, Blackwynd?” The dark-haired man looked around before looking down in shame.

  “My Sister-Princess, Gexxur-Indaysi,” he said softly.

  “The one who had a hold of Alpha,” Dungias thought. “And this is not the first time she has abused her authority. Most interesting.”

  One approached Jocasta, carrying her coat. It did not look any worse for wear. “My Lady,” he said.

  “Cloudscar?” she called as she received the coat and quickly put it on. “Is that you?”

  “Yes, my Lady,” he replied, flashing a genuine smile.

  “Daughter, come forward,” Gexxur-Hahni commanded. The attractive young female, mostly recovered from the massive electric shock she had received, stepped through the ranks and bowed.

  “My mother and Queen.”

  “Daughter, this is not our first occasion for such a discussion, so let us dispense with your normal denial of the truth. I have but one question, did they breach the veil?”

  “The blue one is no PsyondaR,” the young woman claimed. “His mind engaged with the Eye. I summoned them here to deal with them.”

  “And did the Eye put to you a request for these measures to be taken?” The young female slowly lowered her head, but she would not answer the question. Gexxur-Hahni sighed in frustration as she began to pace. “Child, do you know what you have done?! Yes, we guard the Eye for the Star-Wing, as is our pact, but it is not a weak and helpless child. Did it not occur to you that if it did not ask for your help that it might have been willing to allow this… forgive me, but what are you called among your kind?”

  Giving a slight head bow, Dungias spoke in a calm tone. “I call my people the Vin-Mal, and I am a Traveler. And forgive me, Your Majesty, but you mentioned this was not the first of these discussions. Has something like this happened among the Tonnogard?”

  The eyes of the Queen flared for a moment before they squinted at Dungias. She rolled her lips between her teeth and then cast her eyes to the floor, nodding as she reached a solution to her current predicament.

  “Very interesting,” Dungias thought. “But not as peculiar as your daughter’s reaction.”

  “You committed no crime,” Gexxur-Hahni stated. “But the veil has been breached. Blood outside of our own has set foot inside our lair. You cannot be permitted to leave. Ordinarily, I would allow you to live out your days in the caves. But the two of you are not the sort who would delight themselves with the treasures we could offer you.”

  “Who said that?!” Jocasta barked, looking at some of the male specimens. “No one said that!”

  “You are to be executed,” Gexxur-Hahni declared as older men teleported in formation around their Queen and her captives. “It would serve you to not resist.”

  “Let me guess, you can make it painless,” Jocasta snorted, shaking her head. “Where have I heard that Kot before?”

  Dungias released the guards on his voice and boomed out, “In the honor and the blood of Gexxur-Guzadra, your mother and Queen before you, I demand a trial!”

  “Damn if that blue mountain range doesn’t have a set of lungs!” Jocasta whispered, wincing as she rubbed her ears.

  “How would you even know–”

  “It matters not how he knows, my Sister,” a young male voice called out as he made his way through the ranks. Dungias looked at the gathered figures as they moved. The population was overwhelmingly male with the females holding positions of power; a handful of males attaining ruling seats or positions of power through conquest and demonstration of ability. It was a male voice that was speaking. Jocasta and Dungias turned see the speaker.

  “Nut-crunchers!” Jocasta gasped. “We know that Dragon!”

  “By your own admission, no crime has been perpetrated,” the figure continued, finally reaching a place where he could be seen by the Queen. “In order to take the most sacred gift under the stars, that of life, just cause must be given.” The figure finally stepped into the light, slightly taller than Dungias remembered him, and he allowed himself a smile.

  “Hey Goldie,” Jocasta said, giving a head’s up movement. “Howya doin’, kid?”

  Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.

  Oprah Winfrey

  (Rims Time: XII-4203.29)

  “I am well, Captain,” Goldie said with a slight bow. “I can see things haven’t changed much since I left you.”

  “You mean since you abandoned ship,” Jocasta corrected. “I’ve still got decks that need cleaning, slacker.”

  “Perhaps we should focus on the Dragons that mean to kill us, Captain,” Dungias suggested.

  “Good point, Z,” Goldie agreed as he turned to face his sister.

  “You know these people, V’Dalthian?” Gexxur-Hahni asked.

  “I served as a member of this woman’s crew,” he replied, pointing at Jocasta. “I would serve her still had I not been humbled, embarrassed, by the most selfless act of bravery this soul has ever witnessed. I speak of the Light of Death over NayFall!” Goldie said in a very loud and declarative tone, sticking out his chest and squaring his shoulders as he spoke. Jocasta was about to remark that there was no need to talk in such a fashion, but the murmurs that started among the human-looking dragons distracted her.

  The Queen frowned as she looked at Goldie. “It is known, great Abettor, you were present at the event. You know the Terran responsible for the delivery of the Jeelah and three of our own kind?”

  “Such love,” one in attendance commented.

  “How noble,” another remarked. Jocasta looked around the room, thoroughly confused.

  “Wait a second, Jo,” she whispered, calming herself. “Use what you feel, not what you see!”

  “Well done, Jocasta,” Dungias thought as he prepared himself for the next challenge.

  “Cutter,” Jocasta thought, seeing an image of Annsura in her mind.

  “To inspire such love and devotion is a trait we hold dearly, young Terran,” Gexxur-Hahni shared. “It is a trait we prize, a very strong mark of distinction, setting you apart from what is commonly known of your kind! Such a person
is one that can be trusted with the secrets of the Dragons. You and your… compatriot may go in peace.”

  “Yes!” Jocasta smiled before quickly turning to face her former crewman. “Goldie? The way out, if you please!”

  “Nay!” Dungias boomed. “We were accused of breaching the veil, trial was lawfully requested.”

  “Uh, Z, they’re letting us go,” Jocasta whispered. “In some places that’s called a win!”

  “And in the place of my Captain, it is an affront to her honor!” Dungias replied, speaking still to everyone in the chamber as he spoke. “What says the Queen to our trial?”

  “The Queen has spoken and speaks again,” Gexxur-Hahni said in a louder tone, stepping forward toward Dungias. “You spoke the words truthfully, and it was a lawful request, but the trial is not necessary.”

  “We committed no crime then?” Dungias asked, frowning at the woman as he spoke. His tone implied disbelief.

  “No crime,” she returned.

  “Are you certain?” Dungias pressed.

  “My mind and this moment are both clear to me, Terran,” Gexxur-Hahni asserted.

  “I am Malgovi,” Dungias corrected.

  “Still, you have been given leave to pass.”

  “If no crime was perpetrated, why were we attacked?!” Dungias yelled as he began to pace around Jocasta. “Why would the claw, the bone, the scale, the skill, and the fire of the Dragon be brought to bear on this one?!” Dungias asked, gesturing toward his Captain. Many low and muttering voices repeated the word ‘fire’. “Why would one of her honor need to stand her ground against you?!”

  “We do not attack those of honor!” the Queen declared. “That is not the way of the Dragon!”

  “Then the Sister-Princess and the six of her sect are no longer Dragons!” Dungias declared. “I claim, in the name of my Captain, their hides and their blood!” Those unrelated to the event stepped away from Gexxur-Indaysi and the five that stood with her. “My Captain and I, students of Spade, were taken from our lodgings at Sky Stone and attacked. The pact has been violated and honor demands retribution!” Many gasped at the mentioning of Spade and the Queen cast her eyes on Jocasta as MannA passed through her gaze. The image of the Beta Form appeared between Jocasta and Dungias, embracing them both. Not only were they both students of Beta-Alphexeous, they were cherished by him.

  “I cannot say which of the two impresses me more!” Goldie thought as he folded his arms. He knew exactly where the Traveler was going with this, but he could not say as to how Dungias knew how to trek that path.

  “We are truthful to the Dragon,” Dungias continued. “Do we appear to be ready to engage in combat?! I put this to you, Queen of this nest.”

  “I am the Queen of this nest,” Gexxur-Hahni shouted, giving a sharp waving swipe with her hand. “I am. But, I am also Mother here. Have you ever parented a child, Traveler?”

  Dungias lowered his hands to his sides as he looked at the floor. “I seeded a womb,” he said softly and Jocasta could see the gathering reacting to the change in his voice and the feelings they were now receiving. “My unborn son and my mate perished in a time of great conflict and warring peoples.”

  “Stand forth and testify,” Gexxur-Hahni commanded. Dungias drew Alpha as he walked. He extended one end to the Queen who took hold of the Osamu. The flow of ThoughtWill fed first into the Queen and then into the other Dragons present. Jocasta could see the energy and noticed it was not flowing into Goldie.

  “Are they not sharing with you?” she asked.

  “Oh, I’ve seen this episode,” he replied, smirking at the Traveler. “I’m just wondering what your First Mate is going to do next.”

  Releasing Alpha, the eyes of the Queen opened wide in wonder before they closed in pain. Others in the chamber recovered in the same fashion with a handful of the males clawing themselves over the heart as they wept, whispering the words ‘shay-spawn’, ‘deliverer’, and ‘Dungias’. Jocasta looked at the Queen who steadied herself before speaking.

  “Yes! There is no riddle… all has been made clear. The Mother Queen of the Xara-Mansura and the First Seed did forge and yield flyers of love, pride, and honor.”

  “Whatever I possess has only swelled in my service to my Captain,” Dungias returned as his face suddenly frowned. “Bah, it is a tedious point, Your Majesty,” Dungias said, turning to face Jocasta. “If we have your leave to depart, and my Captain wishes it, we will do so.” Keeping the confusion from her eyes, Jocasta nodded ‘yes’ before looking again at Goldie to take the lead. The three started for the mouth of the chamber when Gexxur-Hahni called out to them.

  “First honor and love, then courage and skill, and now this mercy,” she remarked as her eyes started to glow. “Captain JoJo Starblazer, I add your name to the Fire of our lives and every Dragon will know it. There can be no question of your place in this stride of life. Dragon’s blood will be added to your effort to see that this stride continues.

  “You may take your leave, but only after you receive honor for dishonor. Brother Abettor, take them to the lowest deck of the rookery. Seven of our kind have wronged those of honor, seven will they take to answer for that crime. Let us fly, my people and my children,” she said softly but it soon became clear that everyone had heard her. The fledglings cried out before changing, but the older subjects moved in a more graceful form, not requiring the fire to make the change in form from hominoid to dracotine.

  Jocasta waited for everyone to leave before turning to her First Mate. “Z, what are you doing?!”

  “I’ll tell you what he’s doing on,” Goldie said with a giggling smile. “Your precious Z just maneuvered his way into seven dragon’s eggs!”

  “I can’t take you anywhere!” Jocasta exclaimed, slapping Dungias’ arm. “What the hell are we going to do with dragon eggs? Make an omelet?!” Goldie smothered his laughter as he walked.

  “Hardly, Captain,” Dungias said, following Goldie out of the chamber.

  “I don’t think I can stand this anymore,” Goldie said, watching Dungias bring the second egg to the mouth of the chamber.

  “Took you that long?” Jocasta asked, leaning against an archway opposite of Goldie.

  “How do you not take a bow after that performance?!” Goldie continued. “When I think of the number of Terrans that know we can change shape… that list, with you two on it, is in double digits.”

  “And you call that keeping a secret?!” Jocasta asked.

  “The first digit is a one, and Nexeous Dragonne is ninth on that list,” Goldie shot back.

  “YIKES!” Jocasta exclaimed, coming away from the wall. “Okay, see now I have some perspective on the matter,” she said, looking down at the ground. “Crapstacks! Wait! How do you know someone with the info hasn’t told someone else?”

  “When one is trusted with the truth, they make their sign in a writ with their blood. The moment they tell someone, that person’s name is added to the list. They are then investigated and judged. If they are found wanting, the person who told them is held accountable. And yes, all of this is explained once the truth is shared. Z, was it Gexxur-Indaysi? She is young and relatively weak-minded.”

  “Relatively, but no, I was able to read only her recent thoughts,” Dungias announced after setting down the egg. “Captain?”

  Jocasta started back inside the chamber and Goldie walked with them. “So, what gives with the bottom deck of this place?”

  “These eggs have not long been outside of their mother,” Goldie answered. “From the scent of things… I’d say three months at the most. The shells have just taken their color but they’re still rock hard. Your blaster couldn’t fire into one and hope to crack it!”

  “Okay,” Jocasta sang. “That’s good to know.”

  “Z, I beg of you, tell me how you know of any of this without your name being on the list?!”

  “Nexeous,” Dungias replied. “It would seem that your MajiK was unable to keep up with science. When the Founders cloned themse
lves, the current knowledge of the original passed into the Beta-Form. In essence, Nexeous didn’t tell Beta-Nexeous anything; he simply knew. That Beta-Form wrote a book about the Dragons of the Rims. That is where I came into the knowledge.”

  “Can you get this book for me?” Goldie asked after taking hold of Dungias’ arm. The Traveler looked at the creature and then at Jocasta.

  “Hmmm? Oh, sure, sure,” she said, waving them off. “He can have it if it’s no sweat to you.”

  “It is of little consequence,” Dungias replied. “Though it would be simpler for me to request that the tome be destroyed.”

  “And you trust that your request would be answered?” Goldie pressed.

  “I trust the caretakers of The Campus more than I trust you,” Dungias said. “If the word is given, it will be done.”

  Nothing else was said as the three continued to walk back to the lowest floor of the rookery. Jocasta slapped her hands together as they approached the small gathering of eggs. “Okay, is it my turn again?”

  “Actually, Captain, we will both lay our hands on the remaining five and I will use Alpha to carry them.”

  “So the first trip was mine, the second trip was yours, and these are…”

  “Awaiting our choices,” Dungias replied. Jocasta looked at Goldie who simply shrugged his shoulders before gesturing for her to hurry.

  “You do know this kind of thing gets old really fast with me, right?” she asked in a very soft voice.

  “I doubt there is a level of voice you could use that he could not hear,” Dungias advised. “I will simply say that it is not you that I am not answering.”

  “’Nuff said,” Jocasta said as she watched her First Mate look over the eggs. “Can you comment on how it looks to me like you’re on the verge of running in place and yelling, ‘goodie, goodie, goodie’?”

  “I am very anxious at the moment, Captain. Forgive me.”

  “It’s okay for you to be excited, Z! It’s hu-… natural!”