by K. L. Bone
“Simply that Setian’s cannot transfer themselves from one host to another without entering a pool. They would kill themselves and the host they are trying to possess if they did so. “
“I am a Setian,” Lord Kasar said as a terrible fear gripped my mind of what his proclamation might mean, “but you, my dear, are special. You are destined to be the only leader of the Empire who is not one of us. Yes, Chrissa, you will be one of us; the best of us,” he laughed. I was terrified. I should have fought with everything I had.
“Traitor!” A voice called. Eyes searched the courtroom, but no one took credit for the insult.
“I ask you,” I responded, “what was I supposed to have done? Fifteen years ago you did not even know that the Empire existed. I was a child a million miles from everything I had ever known. Men were killed before my eyes. Lives were destroyed over the briefest of insults. Horrifying creatures that should not have existed walked through my everyday life.” I paused, allowing silence to fill the room before I continued.
“I was only eleven years old. Your own court systems do not judge a child that young. I was told my fate on that day; not asked or given a choice, but told. I was terrified and the only piece of my life that even began to seem human was the man standing before me. This man, this creature, hated much of the world, yet for some reason that to this day I still do not understand, he loved me. He treated me like the Princess my father had always promised I would be; a daughter beloved above all else and I wanted the love he gave so freely. I wanted to be safe and loved and in that moment, as in many throughout my life, his love was my only lifeline in a world I was far too young to understand.
I continued my testimony, Lord Kasar’s next words echoing in my mind as though he has spoken them but a moment ago.
“Yes,” Lord Kasar whispered. “You will be mine.”
Chapter III
Several months later, I was sitting in my room at an elegant table covered with a pink satin cloth. My tutor sat directly across from me. He was human, a man in his mid-forties and was six feet tall with dirty-blond hair and dark brown eyes. I had spent ten hours a day everyday of the last few months in intense sessions with Mr. Indigo. That particular day, we were reviewing some of the basics on planets, species, and the Setian Empire.
“Now tell me,” Mr. Indigo said, “about the Hordes.”
I cleared my throat then answered, “The Hordes are a tall species that can be identified most easily by their black skin and wide mouths. On a scale of one to ten, their intelligence lies on a level four; a simple species at best. They unfortunately have an unsustainable hunger problem, resulting in fierce desires. When hordes smell blood in the air, they find themselves unable to stop themselves from eating anything, including each other. They were the first species the Setians ever conquered, and a major victory in the Setians becoming a galactic Empire.”
Mr. Indigo gave a nod. “And how does the Setian Empire play into this picture? What is the basic Setian History?” he asked.
“The first form of written Setian history is dated at nearly eight thousand years ago. It tells of a species called Nemora, who were a race of rather simplistic creatures. They stood five feet on average and had eight legs, three arms, nine multicolored eyes. They often sported fur of red, blue, and brown. These creatures formed a type of semiotic relationship with the more intelligent Setians and the two species worked together to form the beginnings of Setian society.
Nearly eight-hundred years after these first records, a form of printed writing became popular throughout the planet. The Setian form of books prevailed and were seen everywhere. Education, medical fields, and technology slowly began to take form over the next three-thousand years, when the Setian’s first version of computers appeared on the scene.
Two thousand years after that, huge cities covered the planet. The Setians began to unify and slowly move towards becoming an Empire. It was just under two thousand years ago that the first faster than light ships were created and life on other planets was discovered. They traveled the universe in peace for almost nine-hundred years before they came into contact with another powerful force.”
“And that force was?” Mr. Indigo asked.
“The Karmels.”
“And who were they?”
“The Karmels were a technologically advanced race who went from one planet to another, destroying basically every species in existence, and then repopulating the planet with members of their own race. Can I have some water?” I asked.
“Sure,” Mr. Indigo reached for the pitcher of water sitting between us, and proceeded to pour water into the glass on my right.
“Thank you,” I said as I took a large drink of the ice cold water. I had been talking for quite a while. The water soothed my dry throat. I took a refreshing breath and put the glass back down on the table.
“So what happened next,” my professor asked.
“The Karmels started heading towards Setianta, the Setian home-world, expecting an easy conquest. Though unified, technologically advanced, and skilled in the ways of war, the Setians had few actual defenses. The planet was divided into thirteen sections with thirteen different leaders who together, formed a ruling council for the planet. When it was discovered that the Karmels were coming, these leaders decided that it would be easier to defend themselves and their people if a single person was in charge for the duration of the battle to come.”
“Very good,” my instructor said. “Do you remember who they chose?”
“Dehartra,” I replied. “He created the first military force ever seen on the planet. Armed ships were created by the hundreds and over half the world’s factories began producing items intended only for war. There was a five week gap between the Setians learning that the Karmels were coming, and the Karmels actually arriving. In that short period of time, the Setian home-world became the equivalent of a military state.”
“Tell me, has your other tutor, Mr. Bariom, shown you a re-play of the battle yet?” Mr. Indigo asked.
“No.”
“Would you like to see it?”
“Yes,” I replied.
“Computer,” Mr. Indigo said, “show us the battle of Karmel vs. Setianta. The table will be fine.” This command was followed by a shimmer of light just above the table between my professor and myself. The lights in the room dimmed and as I watched, the light took shape. A hologram of the Setian world suddenly appeared. I watched in fascination as ships slowly appeared around the small planet before me. I jumped in surprise as the computer voice said, “For your convenience, the Karmel ships are in green and the Setian ships are in red.” The talking computers were something I still needed to get used to. I shook my head and watched the battle play out before me.
The green ships raced toward the planet and the red ships rose up to meet them. Shots were fired, and ships disappeared from the screen. The Karmels were clearly better shots, as they were far more experienced, but the Setians had more guns. Expecting an easy victory of a peaceful planet, the Karmels had only sent fifty ships. The Setians, realizing exactly what was at risk, managed to assemble almost two-hundred. The Karmels were clearly the better fighters, but lost the battle by sheer numbers.
It was nearly six months before the Karmels tried again. This time they came with a much larger force. However the Setians were ready with not only numbers, but skilled fighters as well. The Setian victory over the Karmels turned the Setians into a major force on the universal stage. Within the next hundred and fifty years, the Setians had been challenged by and defeated both the Rotes and the Sliths.
As I sat in the dark room, these battles played on the table in brilliant, three dimensional colors. On occasion, the story would pause, and the computer would pause the simulation to analyze the battles, pointing out what was done well, and what was done wrong. Battle strategy would become an important part of my training.
“And what happened to those species once they were defeated?” Mr. Indigo continued the quiz as the hologram faded and the lights
brightened once again.
“They were assimilated into Setian society, which in the next two-hundred years became known as the Setian Empire,” I replied, blinking in the sudden brightness of the room.
“What exactly do you mean by, Empire?”
“Well,” I leaned back in the chair, my eyes finally adjusted. “The thirteen leaders still ruled, but one of them always ruled above the others. This person was referred to as either the Emperor or the Empress. Those skilled in war became more and more important as time went by and battles became more frequent and intense. A few hundred years after the Setians won their first major victory, they became a military society. Everyone, men and women alike, were required to join the military and held equal opportunity for advancement.”
“And how was that military divided?”
“When a Setian is born, they are born from one of thirteen different provinces in which the planet is divided. Each Setian takes the name of their province and a number. At one time, the highest ranking member of each province was placed upon the council. However over time, provinces have become more of a ceremonial title. Instead, once a Setian reaches the highest rank of their province, they are given the title of sub-harars, and the opportunity for advancement becomes equal for all.”
“There are fifty-two sub-harars and above that, twenty-six Harars. Then there are ten top ranking military commanders, each of which is given their own ship. Those of lower rank are divided among the top ten leaders with the better ships, weaponry, and soldiers going to those of upper ranks. Those fortunate enough to advance beyond a military rank are invited to sit upon the council. Of the thirteen members of the council, one leader is chosen to serve as Emperor or Empress. The identity of this chosen leader is revealed only to those of the highest ranks within the Empire, so the Empire’s enemies are never sure which Councilor ranks above the others.”
“Yes, good, good,” my instructor interrupted me. “You have learned faster than I expected. Lord Kasar did well in choosing you as his protégée. We have done more than enough for one day. Why don’t you go freshen up for dinner? I must report your progress to my Lord.”
Chapter IV
When I was twelve, Lord Kasar was asked to supervise one of the upcoming battles in a nearby system. Since he was going as a consult and no additional forces were needed, he took only five ships, leaving most of the fleet, and myself, behind. My studies continued. I found that I had a hunger for knowledge and spent many hours in the archive room watching past battles. I spent time studying the various strategies used in these battles, searching for both successes and failures.
Walking back from the room one evening, I was surprised to see a usually locked door to my left standing wide open. Curious, I approached the large open door and glanced inside. A long, dark red table stood inside and at one end, sat a woman I had never seen before. She looked human. Her skin pale, her cheeks holding a healthy touch of color. She had long, dirty blond hair. She wore a V-neck black sweater that looked soft and a simple gold chain encircled her slender neck, resting just above her breasts. From the angel of her position, I could only see above her waist. She was staring intently at a deck of cards, which she placed in front of her before turning to glance my way. Her eyes were a beautiful sky blue and her ruby lips offered a warm smile. “Hello, Chrissalynn,” she said in a pleasant voice.
“How do you know my name?” the first question that came to mind.
“Why, you are Lord Kasar’s protégée, are you not? Everyone knows who you are.”
I took a step into the room. “I’ve never seen you before. Who are you?”
“My name is Lysalie,” she said. “And I work on the computer side of the ship, so I’m not surprised you have never seen me before.”
“Oh. What are you doing in here?”
“Playing cards,” came the reply.
I had walked to the table without realizing it. “Which game?”
“Hyst,” she replied. “However if you would like to play, I am well versed in a variety of games native to your home planet. Poker, spades, rummy, hearts, almost anything you want.”
“Blackjack?” I asked.
“Sure,” she smiled. “Please, sit down.” I took a seat across from her and waited for her to deal the cards. To my surprise, the cards magically appeared before me; out of thin air!
“Wow!” I exclaimed to her amused laughter. “How?”
“They are holographic,” she explained.
“Then how do I pick them up?”
“Just like regular cards. Go ahead, try.” I reached for the card tentatively and was further surprised as I was able to pick up the card as though it was real. I held it up in front of me, then let go to find that though my hand no longer held the card, it remained floating in mid-air. I tilted my head and grabbed the card. Once again, it moved in my hand as though it was real, though I felt nothing. I did this several times while Lysalie continued to laugh. “So curious,” she commented. “It is hard to realize that you have not always been one of us. How the most common of things could be so magical to you.” I turned my eyes to her and offered an embarrassed smile before laughing myself. “Shall we play?”
“Sure,” I replied. “Hit me.” Another card appeared and the game began. We played for about two hours that night. We talked about everything from how I was adapting to life in space, to the kind of music she liked. Before I knew it, the time had passed and it was getting late. Lysalie said she needed to go, but would play with me the next night as well if I wished.
The next day I slept in as usual, then went to my studies. I read over some history between the Lorids and Setians. This was my favorite area of study leaving me in a wonderful mood as I slipped inside the blue walled room as I had the day before. Lysalie was waiting. “Would you like to learn a few types of poker?” she asked.
“Sure,” I said, still a little shy. Seven cards, five cards, Texas hold-em…she knew them all. We began playing on a regular basis. She taught me rummy, poker, and called on computer players to teach me spades and hearts. After learning the basics, she turned to games such as Hyst, Krenton, Jevrea and numerous others from all over the galaxy. The letters and numbers changed from one game to the next, but the basic concept of cards stayed the same.
This went on for about two months when it was announced that Lord Kasar was returning victorious from his latest battle. My maid, Monica, came to announce his long awaited return. “He’s returning with a fellow commander,” she informed me that morning. “He requests your presence at dinner. There is someone he wants you to meet.”
I hurried through my studies that day, excited about the upcoming dinner. Lord Kasar had never brought home another commander. I was curious to see what the other military leaders, who I had been learning about in my studies, would actually be like in person.
When I returned to my room, I found a wondrous surprise. On the bed was a dress of deep scarlet. It had long satin sleeves that shimmered in the light and were cut in a diamond shape that hung low around my wrists. The gown was low cut with dark jewels around the neckline, fitted at the waist with a full skirt. Roses covered the gown’s bosom and the petticoats held the gown out, turning it into a sea of ruffles surrounding me and lightly dragging as though roses followed my every step. As Monica buttoned the gown behind me, I couldn’t believe how beautiful it was.
I was seated carefully before a large mirror as Monica curled my hair into a sea of ringlets that framed my face. To perfect the work, she added a few scattered jewels in my hair. The light of the candles and fireplace caused the jewels to sparkle. “Lord Kasar also sent this,” Monica said as she handed me a small black bag. I opened it and withdrew a note that read, “I missed you. Here is a special gift for a special night.” Signed with simply an elegant, “K.”
I reached in further and withdrew a necklace. It was gold, lined with jewels of blood. As Monica secured it around my neck, the smile upon my young face was never-ending. The eyes staring at the golden rimmed
mirror were those of a child, but the face staring back, was that of a woman I had never met. With a touch of rouge, mascara, and ruby lipstick the transformation was complete.
I walked slowly down the hallway, my gown trialing behind me, roses crawling up my body. The banquet room had been set. The fireplace on the back wall was lit, and a crystal chandelier was hanging from the center of the room. Rainbows danced across the walls. A large table stood in the center of the room covered in a silver cloth inlaid with lines of gold in elaborate designs of the rose. Crystal glasses were set beside white china plates with silver roses around the edges. The plates matched the tablecloth. It was exquisite.
As I approached the table, two men rose to meet me. Lord Kasar stood in a black suit with a crimson shirt proving a perfect match to my elaborate gown. His shoulder length black hair was pulled tightly behind him with a silver band, highlighting his dark blue eyes. I returned his smile as he stepped forward and slowly brought my hand to his lips. Never losing his mesmerizing stare, “I missed you,” he whispered. Then he swung me gently around to his left in a swirl of ruffles and roses.
The second man was similarly dressed in a black suit, the only difference being a white shirt instead of red. His hair was as blond as Lord Kasar’s was black and his eyes were the light blue of a clear earth sky. I would have said he was about twenty years younger than Lord Kasar, however with the Setians it was almost impossible to tell. “Chrissalynn, may I introduce my friend, Lord Kavra; ninth ranking commander in the Setian Empire and a former protégée. I taught him everything he knows.”
“Or so he thinks,” came the mischievous reply. I was surprised. I had never seen anyone tease Lord Kasar so. I took a step forward and lowered myself into a curtsey before the new Lord when Kavra’s hand suddenly touched my left shoulder.
“My Lady,” he addressed me. “You are the daughter of my most esteemed Lord. If anyone should be bowing to a position of servitude, it should be me for rest assured that from this moment on, that is what I am. At your service, my Lady, for whatever your heart may desire.” Then he, much as Lord Kasar had, stole my gaze and placed a gentle kiss upon the back of my hand. I could feel the heat creeping up the back of my neck, painting my cheeks and burning my skin.