by John Short
Information on the attempt on Prince Zeprik's life was given showing that it was the Regent who had paid to have the Prince killed. When Jon gave his data to the court recorder to be put up on the large screen at the head of the room, the entire crowd gasped in disbelief when they read the details of payments to not only the King family, but also to the Palace Healers who had been giving the Prince the drugs that were slowly killing him.
When Healer Hukor came forward and presented his scans showing poison in both the King and the Prince Zeprik's systems, the crowd shouted out for the Regent's death! It became so rowdy that the security officers stationed around the room had to place several members of the audience in restraints and remove them from the assembly. Each of the security team were members of Leviathan's grub troops and as such were more than prepared to handle the situation without resorting to using their pistols. The King over ruled every attempt by the Defense to object or to have evidence thrown out. It became clear to all that the evidence being presented was not only the truth, but thoroughly researched and provable by anyone who bothered to look for it. Nightly News Commentators did exactly that every night after the trial recessed for the day. Every bit of the evidence was examined and found to be an exact description of the events that had taken place. The repercussions went as far as the news rooms on Haven were more than one corrupt department head was tried and sent to the prison planet to live out the rest of their lives.
The destruction of Sanctuary had proven to be a mistake and had never been a part of the Regent's plans. Helios King was solely to blame for that and he would face those charges alone. Tiaz had found evidence of the Regent's plans to arrange the marriage of Satrina to the very same comptroller who Jon had discovered stealing from his company back in Haven space! The thief was a distant relative of the Regent's second cousin, and the Regent had promised the man would have Satrina as mate provided he would always push her to do the Regent's bidding. When the plot to have both Gala and Satrina delivered to the Regent's private pleasure house already addicted to the Lustor Drug was presented, Jon had to bite back his anger that they could ever plan to use two females that he loved in such a way.
When it came time for the defense to present its rebuttal evidence, the General assigned to defend the three accused males whispered to the other General assigned to the case then he simply stood with his head hung low and muttered. “We're finished U'Lanto. We are all dead men.” The smug look on the face of the Regent turned to one of abject horror when the General who was the lead Defender said to the assembly, “In light of the data presented, there is no defense possible Sire.” before sitting back down.
The King issued arrest orders for the three Generals who were not at the trial and any of the Palace personnel who had a willing hand in the plots of his brother. He demanded the death penalty for all three defendants and the Generals who had acted in support of the Regent's plans, to be carried out immediately. A troop of armored Palace Guards marched into the room and took the males into custody. They were marched from the room in restraints and taken to an empty bay and left there. Within a few minutes, lights flashed and alarms started wailing. Then the outer door slid down exposing the bay to the hard vacuum of space and sucking the males out to float among the stars forever, or until they fell into the gravity well of Lexon II and burned up in the atmosphere during reentry. The news vid cameras recorded every second of the trial and the execution for everyone to see. Over the next few days the vid of the guilty men being sucked into space played over and over to every home on Lexon II and across the central planets including Haven along with the message that plotting the murder of the King or his family still carried the death penalty.
Jon had stationed members of his Special Troops near to the other Generals who were absent from the hearing and the Palace Healers who had aided in the affair. The Generals were easy to move troopers close to. Each of them was assigned a new personal aide who was responsible for fulfilling the job of a Butler, which gave the Troopers almost total privacy during the hours from last meal until bedtime. The Palace Healers were much more difficult to get close to. In the end, the Troopers assigned found it easiest to simply follow the Healers and wait until they could make the Healer’s death appear to be just another mugging in the poorer sections of the city. The King had found each one of the males guilty and sentenced them all to death.
Within just a few hours of sentencing, each of those males were quietly killed by the Troopers assigned to carry out the King's judgment. Pinned to the tunic of each dead General and Healer was a message stating the reason why they had been killed. Once the messages were read, the investigators looking into the deaths closed the matter. When the reporters started asking the usual questions that followed the death of a high ranking member of society the only answer any of them got was that the death was legally handled by agents of the King while carrying out the King's orders. The investigators even showed the news stations the messages that were found with each body. The reporters turned in their stories simply telling their newsrooms that the deaths were only the King's justice being carried out on the guilty parties.
As for the computer controlled cargo ship that had been sent to destroy the Palace, it had a new mission now. It had been given a new course and a new direction. Its engines were pushing it along at its top sub light speed, directly into the sun of Lexon II. It would be nothing but burnt ash long before it reached its final destination. Some said a small flash could be seen as it burned up, others said there was nothing to see because the sun was too bright, still others didn't believe that the King would order a perfectly good ship to be destroyed. This last group convinced themselves that the ship had been claimed by BITTFTL. Co. and was secretly hauling supplies to some far away hiding spot for the King to use in the event of a successful overthrow of his rule.
Two days after the execution of the Regent and his accomplices, the King ordered another gathering of all the visitors and news reporters back in the makeshift courtroom. By now nearly the entire Royal Court had come up to tour Leviathan and the room seemed over crowded. Jon and Satrina where present as was Gala and Zeprik. Satrina looked absolutely stunning in her own version of the House Connell colors that created a spiral around her body making her appear to be the center of a whirlwind. Gala wore her favorite gown that displayed the House Connell colors in narrow bands that wound around her small body.
Prince Zeprik wore the armor that had been given to him on the mission to capture the cargo ship that had targeted the Palace. It was the same silver and black as Jon's house colors. The only indication of his Royal standing was a scarlet sash with gold braids he wore over the armor. Jelio stood beside the Prince in her own armor trying desperately to hide her smiles and the Prince's hand tightly holding her own.
Jon had been instructed to wear his Umin battle armor and to bring is Dragon's Breath sword. He was to wait at the back of the room with his own team surrounding him. Each team member was dressed in their battle armor and carried their swords also. A team of Royal Guards had politely asked them to wait outside until they were called.
It wasn't long before the double doors were flung open and a guard called out, “Jon Connell, the King requests you and your team members to come forward!” before he turned back into the room and lead them all down to a ramp that had been constructed so they could simply walk up onto the stage. On the walk to the stage where the King sat, Jon looked around the room and saw mostly news vid reporters, Royal House members and then in a special section closest to the front sat members of his own crew. Phillie stood as he made his way to the stage and Jon noticed the tears in her eyes and the huge smile on her face. Jarrieal walked at Jon's right side while Mopie was on his left. Tiaz stood beside the Data Master as he stood with his arm loosely wrapped around her waist. Those two had become more than teammates in the short time they had worked together. They were mates now and the happiness was apparent on them both.
When Jon reached the platform where the K
ing sat, he stopped and gave a fist salute with a deep bow before he said, “Your majesty, I am Jon Connell. You requested that I attend this meeting.”
“Yes Warrior Connell I did. I have been made aware that my daughter, Crown Princess Satrina, has claimed you as her mate. Princess Satrina, is this the male you have claimed?” King Le'puix asked loud enough for everyone to hear.
“It is my King. I have claimed him, given him of my essence and I shall never claim another.”
“What say you Jon Connell? Do you accept the claim of my daughter?”
“Yes your Majesty and I also claim her as my mate for all time.” Jon said.
“Daughter, He has accepted your claim, and made his own claim on you. Do you accept his claim?”
“Yes Father. I gladly accept his claim upon me and will offer him all that I am. I shall present him with many strong offspring and love him forever.”
“Then let it be so. May the Goddess bless you both.” the King declared. The ancient practice of announcing the planting of the male’s seed had been stopped many cycles ago. The act of the planting was now one of those things that everyone assumed would happen at the newly mated couple's earliest opportunity. Most people in this day never waited for the formal ceremony anyway.
King Le'puix wasn't yet finished though, “Draw your sword Jon Connell and give it to me.” Jon slowly drew the Dragon's Breath intending to carefully hand the sword to the King. Instead he was so nervous that he accidentally activated the plasma flame before the King gripped the hilt and raised the flaming sword high in the air for all to see its flame.
Not one to be startled by unexpected events at official ceremonies, the King acted as if flaming swords were a common thing as he called out, “Everyone hear now the claim of your King. I claim the Warrior, Jon Connell, who kneels before me this day, as the mate of my beloved daughter. I bestow upon him all the rights and privileges of a Prince, for as my daughter's husband he is nothing less. I also bestow the rank of Admiral-General and the position of the Royal Representative to the rim worlds. I command him to continue the work he has already begun. His first duty as my Representative to the rim worlds will be to destroy the Lustor Drug farms on Canari Prime, using whatever means he sees fit. Be it known to all, that on the rim, he carries the same authority as the King. His word is my word. He answers only to me, and of course to his mate.” King Le'puix smiled and waited as the muffled laughter died down before continuing, “Can you be my right arm to the Lexonian people of the rim? Can you offer them fair judgments and faithfully see to their needs just as any King should care for his people? Will you accept my claim Jon Connell?”
Before he realized the full extent of what the King had just done Jon said, ”I accept your claim Sire. May the Goddess strike me down if I ever forget my duty is first to my wife, then to the throne and lastly, but never least importantly, the people you have given into my hands.” He followed that speech by bowing his head and keeping it bowed.
With the flaming sword still held high over his head, King Le'puix continued as he brought the sword down to touch lightly to Jon's back as the warrior knelt, “Arise then Admiral-General Jon Connell, Warrior, Dragon Flier, and Prince of the realm.”
Jon stood and smiled when the King handed him his sword with the hushed admonishment, “Turn that thing off before it hurts someone!” Jon turned and held out his hand to Satrina who came over to stand beside him where together they faced the crowd. Jon wrapped his free arm around her tiny form and held the still flaming sword so that it appeared later that evening as a protective barrier to any who would try to harm either of them. Suddenly a loud roar could be heard from the side of the stage and Talga came out of hiding to walk across the stage and sit beside Satrina before letting out another loud roar. For her part, Satrina reached over and scratched the big cat’s ears, which made him purr loudly and nuzzle against her. It was as if they were making the statement that the three of them would always protect each other. At least that is how some of the more romantic female announcers on the news channels told the tale. Then there was one reporter who still was astounded that a wild animal was allowed to roam freely on a ship full of civilized people. That cat had ruined his most expensive belt!
“MY KING!” Prince Zeprik called out. “I would make my own claim on this day of claims.” He announced as he pulled Jelio's hand up for all to see. She wore the Prince's own signet ring on her fourth finger. It signified that he had taken the female warrior as his bride. “As is the custom among her people, I claim her. Here before you all stands my mate. Warrior Jelio III, once valued member of General-Admiral Jon Connell's flight team, now and forever more my mate and Lexon II's future Queen!” As the mated couple smiled at the gathered crowd, the people began to cheer loudly and the applause became deafening in the room. Even the king joined in the applause signifying his agreement with his son’s choice of a mate and welcoming her into the Royal family.
With their part in the proceedings finished, Jon, Satrina, Talga, and Jon's personal guard walked back through the crowd and out of the room to be surrounded by reporters waiting for them outside in the corridor. They ignored most of the reporters questions until one female asked, “What are your plans for the rim now Prince Connell?”
Stopping to search for her in the crowd, Jon finally saw that it was not a reporter who had asked the question. It was Phillie standing in the middle of a large group of reporters with Jackal at her side. Jon didn't miss a single one of her tricks or the sound of her voice, as he smiled at his long time friend.
“To be honest, I'll need to take some time to consider what the rim needs most. It’s been under the heels of criminals and thugs for far too long. So my first duty will be to clean up that mess and rid the planets of the criminals.” Jon told the group. “While seeing to that, I hope to let the good people tell me what they need most. I'll be calling for a gathering of leaders from each planet to sit together and decide what is best. If such a thing is possible I’d like to have meetings once each cycle with the planets sending representatives to discuss what needs to be done. I do not like, nor do I trust politicians. I never have. I hope to create something new for our people.” Then he glanced over to Satrina who was looking up at him in complete agreement before continuing down the corridor toward the crew only section and away from the cameras and the questions being hurled at him wanting the details of his plans.
Once behind the sealed hatch and away from the prying eyes of the public, Satrina knelt down to give Talga a tight hug. “You were magnificent today my beautiful Talga. Thank you for being my protector. Run off and play now, I have need of my husband.” Standing to wrap her arms around her giant, Satrina melted into him. “You know, that was a very spectacular official public announcement of a mating, my Lord Prince.”
“It certainly wasn't what I expected. I was expecting a one-line thing in the news. 'The King announced today that his beautiful daughter has mated with some back world giant who nobody has ever heard of'.” Jon half joked.
“Well they have certainly heard of you now. Come my back world giant, catch me if you can!” She excitedly challenged him as she ran toward their stateroom laughing the entire way. For his part, Jon let her win the race and once inside their stateroom he even let her have her way with him.
Despite her own promise to herself not to open her womb until the King was back on Lexon II, she opened herself to his seed that day and while it was still too soon to tell, not one, but two new lives had begun. She would bear her giant twins. The male would be tall, strong and handsome, like his father. The female would be tiny, filled with love, and very beautiful, like her mother.
Back in the areas that had been declared to be Public areas for the occasion, people roamed the corridors, enjoyed the food that had been specially prepared by Jinkly, and marveled at the sheer size of Leviathan. Some corridors were as wide as entire passenger liners! In fact, many noted that an entire liner could be parked in some of them with room left for several shutt
les. As it turned out, these weren't corridors, but hanger bays where indeed passenger liners could be easily berthed inside the ship.
The news reports had almost as many questions for the Prince's new mate as they had for the Prince. It was only when Zeprik saw that his mate was beginning to get upset that he ordered them to stop. Guiding Jelio back to their quarters he pulled her down to kiss her. “You did very well with those reporters my beautiful Warrior.”
“If one of them asked me just one more time about how we managed to make love with you being so much shorter than I am, I would have been forced to strip off our tunics and show them!” Jelio told her Prince.
“Nothing is stopping you from doing exactly that right now.” Zeprik suggested with a glint in his eyes. Jelico agreed and proceeded to remove their tunics and make love to her mate for the next few hours.
The members of the Royal Houses who had remained loyal to the King, and select members from each of the news networks, enjoyed the privilege of a guided tour of the ship, including interviews with members of the crew who wished to be interviewed starting with the command bridge and ending at the engineering section.
Phillie was frightened as she hurriedly tried to dress to meet with the people who would be touring her sections today. With every passing minute she became more and more frustrated as she tried to brush her long silky hair only to have it refuse to behave. Finally she threw her brush on the counter and screamed.
“What's wrong Furball?” Jarrieal asked as he stepped into their bathing chamber and wrapped her in his arms.
“I can't do this.” she sniffled through her tears. “I'm no good around people. They make me too nervous.”