by Jenn Nixon
His arms and wings drew her tight against him and he kissed her passionately. Adam carefully pulled the box up and chuckled nervously as their lips parted. Taking her hand, he placed the beautiful single diamond ring and silver band on her finger. “I know it’s not your tradition, but it holds the same meaning in any culture…”
“I care not about tradition, Adam. I have you, that is all I will ever need.”
The beeping of the console in the cockpit cut their celebration short. Adam grunted and picked her shirt up from the floor. She dressed, slightly disappointed that they had been interrupted, yet again. Frowning, she exited the hold and made her way to the console.
He followed closely behind and stood behind her as she activated the computer. Static and hissing sputtered though the air, then it cleared and Tiva glanced back looking at Adam, her markings showing her anxiety.
“Adjust the communications for audio only, the displayer is probably interfering with the signal,” he offered with a reassuring squeeze on her shoulder. She did as he suggested and waited a few long arduous minutes before something came though.
“Tiva? Can you hear me?” Neola’s voice resonated through the cockpit, in her native tongue.
“Yes, Neola I can. Are you receiving me?”
“Thank the spirits!” she rejoiced. “How are you able to communicate from such distances?”
“It is a long tale.” Tiva paused. “My friend, I am returning home.”
Neola gasped and shouted incoherently. A cheer rose up through the channel and Tiva glanced to Adam.
“Seems like they’re happy to hear you’re coming home?” he guessed.
“Yes, it seems…” she replied and the Vicar promptly cut her off.
“How soon until you bless us with your presence, Tiva?”
“We should arrive by nightfall, Neola. I must tell you though…”
“We? You have brought others to aid us?”
“I have made many friends among the stars, they have offered us assistance. Though I know not the numbers coming to support us, we have weapons and supplies with us.”
“Spirited blessings! I cannot wait to see you, my friend.” Neola sniffled. “You have lifted our hearts, Tiva. To know you have traversed the unknown universe alone to find a way to help and have come back to us with allies, is proof enough that you are truly our queen.”
Tiva closed her eyes. “I have done what I could, Neola…the struggle is far from over. We need a safe location to land two crafts, and shelter for twelve individuals. Others will come, in time.”
“We have several strong holds among the provinces…Captain Wirto and I…” she paused. “Lead the eastern sector, our camp is between your home and the Finto’s land. I assume you know the way?”
“Yes, my computer will find the coordinates.” Tiva glanced back at Adam. She squeezed his hand and smiled confidently. “Neola, the friends I bring are from different worlds as well. I know you and the Loyalists will make them feel comfortable, but be assured, they can be trusted. You have my word.”
“I have never once doubted you, Tiva. You have fulfilled your promise to return, and I know together, we will prevail.”
“We will arrive shortly, if there is any cause for concern, I will contact you.”
“Keep safe, my friend.”
“And you.” Tiva cut the comm and sat back in her chair. She turned to Adam who was fiddling with a phonics unit. Smiling, she rose from her seat. “Could not wait for me to tell you?”
“Figured I better get used to this thing again and make sure they worked for your language.” He grinned.
“The Major used the information from my escape module long ago to translate the more complicated aspects of my language, so those particular devices should work well now.”
“Indeed they do,” he nodded. “She sounded happy.”
“Yes, she did.” Tiva turned back to the console. “I must inform Harai of our plans…we are landing near my old home…”
“You okay?”
“I am nervous, Adam. What if the aliens are orbiting the planet? What if they see us arrive and use their vessels to attack? Am I doing the right thing, returning now?”
“Hey, listen…we can scan the planet to see how many of these buggers we’re dealing with. And if they wanted to attack they probably would have done so already…”
“Perhaps they are waiting for me.”
“I don’t know; anything is possible. But you are doing what you must do, Tiva. That is all anyone can ask of you.”
“I suppose.”
“Let’s scan the region and see what we’re dealing with, just relax and calm your mind. If you start thinking too much, you’ll drive yourself crazy.”
She nodded. “I will contact Harai while you begin the sweeps.”
The fighter entered the planet’s upper atmosphere. Adam found two Bujeni ships in the western part of Abennelp near Hentor province. Luckily, there were no ships in orbit, and no sign of the Syndicate. The flight path Adam had coordinated with Harai hid their approach to the landing point from the alien vessels on the ground. Tiva used the time to scan other parts of the planet. She found no pockets of mass energy, so they had not advanced their technology much since she’d left. The population was smaller, slightly more than two million people were still alive. Somewhere between two and three hundred thousand spirits had passed on to the Eternal Lands, and though the majority of them were a combination of rebels and protectors lost during the war, many others had died in the interim.
She wanted to send a message to Captain Maar and her friends, but could not risk the communication now that she was here. If the aliens had others en route, the message would be easily traceable and could cause more harm than good. All she could do now was to meet with Neola and the others, assess the situation, and wait for the rest of her allies to arrive.
As Adam guided the fighter through the clouds, Tiva caught her first glimpse of the land below. The two suns were dipping below the horizon casting a deep crimson hue upon the sky. Her heart stopped seeing the Finto family home in shambles as the craft began to slow. Next to the home, however, was a large building, newly constructed. Surrounding it was hovercrafts, carts, various pieces of equipment and perhaps weapons as well as five hundred or so people.
Adam landed the craft and started shutting it down, before Tiva got up from her seat to gather her belongings a loud banging echoed through the hull. Moving to the door, she opened it and Harai tackled her to the ground.
“Greetings, my friend,” Tiva chuckled and hugged her. “It is good to see you.”
The young girl squeezed tight, then sat back smiling. “I probably shouldn’t have done that, being that you’re the queen and all.”
“I am the still the same person I was before, Harai.”
“Well, no, you’re not…but yes, you have the same spirit.” She smiled and tucked a lock of her glowing orange hair behind her ears. No longer did she look like a child, she too had changed and grown. “I just wanted to see you before you met your subjects…”
“Harai!” Tiva snorted. Adam walked over and glanced down at them. She looked up and took his extended hand, Harai doing the same. “This is Sir Adam Cooper, my…betrothed.”
“Blessings and good fortune!” She grinned fully. “I am honored to meet you, Sir Cooper.”
“Please, just call me Coop.”
“As you wish, Coop. I would like you to meet my crew, shall I bring them in?”
Tiva nodded and Harai waved to her men standing outside the door. One by one, she introduced them to Tiva and Adam, citing their specialties within the Uucor military. Pleased, yet surprised the Major allowed such skilled men to leave during the current conflict, Tiva thanked them for supporting her cause. All of them were overjoyed to help; she sensed a strong bond between them and Harai.
Out of the front window, Tiva noticed a group slowly nearing the craft. It was only natural they were curious. A Vexillum fighter and an Uucorian escort vessel had never been see
n by anyone on her world before, save the few who had hunted her on Pethor’s ship.
Adam gently took her hand and motioned to the door. “I think it’s time you say hello.”
Nodding, she moved to the exit and slowly descended the steps. The group of people stopped in their tracks, a few gasps and sighs followed. Tiva turned back and Adam motioned for her to go. When both feet were once again back on the land she called home, a tear slid down her cheek.
“Tiva!” The group began to part and Neola ran through at lightning speeds. “You made it!”
“Spirited greetings, my friend.” Tiva walked toward her and stopped when Neola slowed. The Vicar no longer held the sweet innocence Tiva remembered. War had crushed her spirit and stripped from her the love of family and friends. Jex’s words filled her mind instantly. Neola stood but a few feet from Tiva, put her fist to her heart and bowed her head. Tiva pleaded, “Please, do not…”
Everyone standing behind Neola repeated the gesture, hundreds of heads bowing together for her. The Vicar looked up finally and smiled. “Welcome home, my friend.” She threw her arms around Tiva and hugged tightly, tears spilling down her cheeks. “I have not the words to say how grateful I am. Your presence here will do more wonders for our cause than you could possibly imagine. All here know your birthright, they too can be trusted.” Neola leaned back wiping her cheeks. “We are all glad you’ve returned, your majesty…”
“Neola, please,” Tiva replied nervously. “I do not wish to push my status on anyone, not until I have proven myself worthy to lead.”
“You were born to lead, Tiva. Come, we have much to discuss.”
“Wait,” Tiva said softly. “I wish for you to meet my friends….we brought translation technology so we can all communicate.”
“Fascinating!” Neola turned to the group, holding a hand up. Tiva led her back to the craft. Harai, her men, and Adam all decorated with the translation units, stepped out. Neola’s eyes went wide when she saw the Uucorians, but she bowed regardless. Tiva attached a phonics unit on her clothing. “Welcome friends of Tiva.”
As they exchanged greetings, Tiva pulled Adam over. “Neola…I wish for you to meet my potential, Sir Adam Cooper, a protector from a planet named Earth.”
“Your potential?” she asked and Tiva nodded. She studied him for a moment then dipped her head. “We humbly thank you for bringing our queen back safely.”
“My pleasure,” he said with a smile.
“Neola, I would like to gather everyone together so we may discuss the current situation. We must strategize and assess our defenses.”
The Vicar glanced back and nodded her head, the man Tiva remembered as Captain Wirto moved through the crowd. Neola introduced him then Wirto led the Uucorians and Loyalists toward the large building. Harai followed behind carrying the units for everyone else while Tiva and Adam walked with Neola.
“The last Rebel attack was several days ago in Cenii province. Other skirmishes have been few and far between this past cycle. We have maps and communications inside the complex, along with some weapons and other supplies.”
“We brought you weapons as well. Your army will have to be trained, but from what Tiva has told me, some have skill with advanced weapons,” Adam remarked.
“Yes, during the last few cycles the Loyalists have become comfortable with both types,” she answered. “I see you too are a sword wielder.”
“I am,” he replied.
“Adam and I are willing to work with your men and women in regards to the weapons. We have medical supplies and food as well. I was not sure what you needed, so I purchased what I could.”
“Everything will help.” She sighed. “We are still outnumbered, Tiva. The Rebel forces have grown considerably. The entire city of Degort is infested with the traitors. We have agents embedded within the walls of the capital, but we only have estimates of their true numbers.”
“As I mentioned earlier, I have another group of friends coming to help and if all goes well with the Union, my former shipmates have agreed to lend us their support.”
“Union? The group with whom you sought refuge?”
“Yes, they are in the midst of their own conflict at the moment…we fear it may have something to do with the aliens who have landed here, but we are uncertain as yet. We must learn the identity of these intruders and their purpose for being here as well as uncover the traitorous leeches behind the Rebel rule.”
“That will prove most difficult, Tiva. It has been our goal since Wirto took control of the Legionnaires, and we have yet to find them. They have taken residence within the Palace of Kinchar and none of our group has ever seen them. Oh…” she stopped and turned. “I have something I must give you. Please, follow me.” Neola took off for the Finto house, while the others obediently followed Wirto into the complex. Tiva grabbed Adam’s hand and followed Neola.
The people were shielded, and though tensions were high, Tiva reveled in the quiet within her mind. Not completely sensing the worry of the others around her was a comfort, for her own thoughts were running wild inside.
Climbing over the crumbled debris of the west wall, they entered the home, and she followed the Vicar into what once was the living area. “I should inform you, Tiva, once I heard you were returning I had some of the tyro’s clean up your home. I had not the time to do the housekeeping recently…”
“What of the other Guardian homes, are they tended to as well?”
“For the most part, yes. We use many of them as operation bases, but out of respect for you, we just kept your home tidy,” Neola answered and motioned to the staircase. Once on the second floor, Tiva and Adam followed her into a smaller room on the far end of the hallway. “Wirto was able to recover this after the king’s ship fled, I hope it brings you some comfort.” She moved to a chest near the window, pulled out a long soft blanket, and laid it on the bed mat.
Curious, Tiva neared and unwrapped the cloth. A short gasp escaped her lips upon seeing its contents.
“What’s wrong?” Adam questioned, rushing to her side. “Ah, is that what I think it is?”
Nodding, Tiva curled her fingers around the grip, and slowly removed her sword from its tattered sheath. Her smile reflected back from the blade as she moved away from the others to give it a good hard swing. Throwing her head back, she laughed and swung it a few more times before lowering it to her side. “Thank you, Neola.”
“You and your friends have given us hope, Tiva. Though we always believed peace would return, many did not think we’d see it in our lifetime. I…” She paused and moved to a beaten down dresser and opened a small box resting on top. “When we learned you were still alive, I had to tell someone. I confided in only a few, Wirto, Millan—another Legionnaire captain—and my father. He was shocked to know you’d survived, and shortly after I told him, he confessed the truth of your birth. He gave me your original records and the medallion my grandfather made signifying your place in the royal family. From what he said, Harer ordered my grandfather never to tell a soul. He took his duty as High Healer very seriously, and he didn’t reveal what he knew until he was dying and told my father. It was a heavy burden, and he wanted his spirit free from guilt when he passed to the Eternal Lands.”
Tiva moved next to her placing a hand on her shoulder. Neola smiled slightly and handed her parchment records and a small silver disc attached to a long leather strap. Engraved on the back was the surname Delos as well as the date and time of her birth, the front held the crest of the Delos name and Tiva etched underneath. “Harer did not name you himself, but when your parents did, grandfather took the liberty of adding it afterward.”
“What did your grandfather say about the king’s mistress?”
“He didn’t mention her,” she said. “Harer agonized over his decision, but knew the only people he trusted enough to raise you as their own was the Boon family.”
“Did they know the truth?” Tiva asked.
“I don’t know. My grandfather’s ties to t
he incident were mainly secret, occasionally he would update the king of your wellbeing as a child, but that stopped once you became an inductee.”
“I see…”
“I wish I had more answers for you, my friend. I cannot imagine how frustrating this has been for you.”
“Yes, it has, but we have other matters to attend to at the moment,” Tiva answered, gathered the records and medallion then attached her belt and sheath around her waist, slipping her sword to her side where it belonged. Glancing out the second story window, she saw the last of the group enter the complex. She couldn’t allow her personal issues to become the focus of her time here; her duty was to the people of this world now. Grabbing the hilt of her sword, she turned and smiled at both of them. “It is time to make right this wrong done to our people, Neola.”
Chapter Twenty-four
The aliens and Tiva sat quietly to the side as Neola and Wirto talked of recent events and their status here, and around the planet. Slightly pleased at what she heard, Tiva’s anxieties about returning home without proper help were slowly dissipating. The eastern provinces had recorded and logged a few skirmishes, as Neola had mentioned. The statistics, however, were staggering. The Loyalists were outnumbered three to one it seemed. With a group of only seventy thousand, it was hard to gain any ground against the Rebels. They had more than ten percent of the population under their command. Rebel forces were in every province and town, the capital Degort, and of course the Palace of Kinchar.
This group, the Yann Loyalists, approximately three thousand strong, was comprised of several former Legionnaire captains and residents from the surrounding two provinces. The major Loyalist cells kept bases in Cenii, Hentor, Whettland and Yann provinces, covering the four points of land.
Feeling no deception from anyone around her, Tiva turned to Adam and covertly took his hand, squeezing tightly. The corners of his mouth upturned, but he kept his attention on the speakers. Neola moved to the foreground and motioned toward her.
“All of you here have been fighting alongside Wirto and me since the beginning. Many of you know Lady Tiva Boon, her family or those she served with as a Royal Guardian. I have revealed to you a secret, long since kept by our beloved King Delos for her protection, knowing it will remain within these walls. She is the heir to our late king. Lady Boon holds true to his ideals and beliefs. She too wishes a return to our peaceful society. But in order for peace to be achieved, we must accept change.” Neola moved toward her, raising a hand. “Wirto and I, as well as all present here, shall follow your command from this point forward, my queen.” The group around her stood and everyone saluted her.