The Nathan Daniels Saga: Part 1

by Sam Lippert

When Jesus and the remaining apostles entered the structure, Nathan found a convenient place to sit down. He motioned to the others to do the same.

  “Ever been to a Seder?” Nathan asked Remi.

  “What's that?” the Princess asked.

  “It's the Passover meal commemorating the night that God slayed the first born sons of Egypt, while sparing the children of the Jews. That's the meal they are having inside right now.”

  “No, I haven't,” she replied.

  “A very ceremonial meal. Everything that is consumed has relevance to the Jew’s flight from Egypt. We can plan to be here for a couple of hours at least. It is interesting that given the importance of this meal in Jewish tradition, no better description of it is given in any of the Gospels. Not even those written for the non-Jews

  “Judas will be the first to leave. Near the end of the meal, Jesus sends him off, knowing he will bring the pharisees to Gethsemane later this evening.”

  “That's something that always troubled me about the Christian faith,” Remini pondered. “Why is Judas so reviled, if he was only doing God's will?”

  “Most Christian traditions believe that individuals have 'free-will' and while the universe may move forward according to the grand plan of God, each individual is responsible for their own actions, therefore Judas assumes personal responsibility for betraying his teacher, even though the betrayal was part of God's plan. Judas didn't have to do it, just as Adam didn't have to eat the forbidden fruit.” Nathan nodded at Omany's explanation.

  “Just about any religion can rationalize just about anything," Nathan said, chuckling. Omany just shook his head.

  The philosophical discussions continued through their wait. All three were well versed in the religions of known space. Omany being the teacher, was the most knowledgeable, with Nathan only so-so due to his occupation and travels. Remi was the least worldly on the subject, but it was obvious she was well educated for her young age.

  “Do you seriously expect me to believe,” she said, interrupting one of Nathan's stories. “That there is an intelligent race in our galaxy that worships a giant rock?” She laughed obviously not taking him seriously.

  “This is no ordinary rock!” Nathan explained. “It is the remains of a meteor that wiped out most of the Pathi nearly two millennia ago! As they rebuilt their civilization, stories were passed on verbally for the first one hundred years or so about the arrival of the 'The Great Destroyer.' Everyone on the planet knew where the impact crater was, and it was commonplace at the time to go and visit the site and the rock formations at the center. Eventually these stories became religious in nature and the trips became pilgrimages. The church of the destroyer swept over the planet, displacing religions that were many times older.

  “A good story, Captain.” Omany complimented. “But, I have never heard of the Pathi or this church. While I do not completely deny the plausibility, I am inclined to agree with Remi.

  “In that case, I will be on the lookout for a cargo to sell there so I can prove it to you!”

  At this point further discussion was abandoned as the group spotted a lone figure leaving the house.

  “Dinner is just about over,” Nathan said. "At the end of the meal, Jesus sent Judas away, presumably to fetch the Pharisees. Shortly thereafter, Jesus and the remaining apostles departed for Gethsemane. In fact, here they come now.” A large group could now be seen emerging from the house.

  “You two follow the group,” Nathan said. “I'll pick up the grail and take it back to the ship.” He was able to do this without incident.

  Over the next 24 hours, the crew collected the Apostle Peter's sword (the one that severed the ear of one of the Pharisee's servants), the bowl in which Pontius Pilate washed his hands before the crowd, several of the whips that were used upon Jesus, as well as the crown of thorns and the purple robes he was mocked in. They were even able to purchase his tunic from the guards that cast lots for it. Finally, after witnessing the brutality of the crucifixion, they carried the cross itself back to the Nola.

  After seeing to it that everything was stowed, Nathan pondered what to do with the remaining denari, which would be useless on any other world. Finally deciding, he kept a few of the coins as mementos, then took the remainder, along with the donkey, back to the farm on the road to Jerusalem. Once he had returned, they were ready to lift.

  After returning to the ship and sealing it up, Nathan went to the control room, where he found the Princess strapped into the copilot's seat.

  “Where to, captain?” Remi asked as he entered.

  “Parking orbit right now, since we all need sleep and Nola can practically get us there on her own.” Nathan strapped himself in. “Then it's your job to figure out where we are taking this stuff.”

  “I've been thinking about that'” the Princess said, working through the pre-flight checks. “I can think of nearly a dozen worlds, all power seats of various Christian sects, that would be interested in these items.”

  “After we get a good 8 hours sleep,” Nathan responded. “Cross reference those with the amount of fuel and supplies we have remaining. You should find there is only one that we can make it to.”

  Remini eased the Nola off the ground and into orbit with her usual skill. Ten hours later they were all in the galley, refreshed, awake and discussing where they were off to next.

  “Based on our fuel and other supplies, I have eliminated ten of my prospect worlds,” the Princess explained. “That leaves two possibles. Both planets were settled by believers after the religious wars of the late twenty-first century forced the religious factions of Earth off planet. The first is Salt Lake, the home planet of the Mormons. Upon settling there, the people went back to the original tenets of their religion, and polygamy is common. Salt Lake is at the extreme of our range, but still within reach, especially if I calculate the route.” Remi looked at Nathan, but his face was blank, refusing to betray his plan.

  “The second, and in my opinion, more likely planet is New Rome, current seat of the Catholic church. Not only is it closer, but with the usual rumors of how much money they have available it would not be surprising that you would have made a deal like the one you explained. The Catholics are also notorious for obtaining and sequestering artifacts like the ones in the hold. That was one of the many factors that touched off the religious wars.”

  “Good deduction, Princess,” Nathan complimented her. “We need to calculate an FTL course for New Rome, where we will have an audience with His Holiness John Paul XXVI.”

  “What bothers me,” the Princess said as they began to get up from the table, “Is that I have absolutely no clue what we are going to pick up there for cargo.”

  “That's okay, Princess,” Nathan replied, “Neither do I!” With that they both went to the control room and began the calculations.

  CHAPTER V

  The trip to New Rome was uneventful, taking just under a week.

  Remi was noticeably excited as they made their way down to Vatican City spaceport.

  “I have never had the occasion to visit New Rome,” she confessed. “My mother attended the funeral of the previous Pope, but I was too young at the time to be allowed to attend off-planet State functions.”

  Flying over the city on the approach, Remi saw a huge plaza, extending north to south, east to west through the whole of the city in the shape of a cross.

  “As you can see, the plaza divides the city into four quadrants. At the north end of the plaza is Saint Peter's Basilica, from Rome, Earth. At the south end is Notre Dame, from Paris, Earth. At the east is Kölner Dom from Cologne, Earth and at the west Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception from Washington, Earth.”

  “You mean replicas of those famous churches, right?” Queried the Princess.

  “No,” Nathan corrected her. “Those are actually the churches, disassembled and ferried stone by stone from Old Earth, and reassembled here by the best engineers the Church could hire. Which, incidentally, were the best eng
ineers in the galaxy.

  “Where, in most cities, a plaza like that would be utilized as a market, here on New Rome, only pedestrian traffic and religious devotions are allowed on the plaza.

  “The southern most section of the plaza contains shrines for each of the Stations of the Cross. The eastern section for the Joyous Mysteries, the western for the Sorrowful Mysteries, and the Northern for the Glorious Mysteries. The central portion of the plaza Contains the Luminous Mysteries.”

  “What do you mean?” The Princess asked.

  “We're going to be here for at least three days. I should have the chance to show you.” Nathan busied himself with the Nola's final approach.

  Once the Nola was grounded and tied into the spaceport's systems, Captain Daniels sent a prearranged coded message to the Apostolic See. “Nothing to do now but sit and wait,” he said, when the message was complete.

  “You mean we don't get to just dash off and see His Eminence?” The Princess looked perplexed.

  “Princess,” Nathan explained. “Much like with your mother, one does not get to see the Pope until one is called for by the Pope. With his schedule that could be a day or two if we are lucky, a week or two if we aren't.” Nathan powered down all but essential systems and unstrapped himself, rising to leave the control room.

  “So, where do we wait?” Remi asked. “The local tavern?” She unstrapped herself as well.

  “Princess!” Nathan scolded. “This is a pious and religious community! Surely you don't think there is a tavern out there in plain view for low-lifes like us?”

  “Not at all, Captain,” she said tugging him towards the hatch. “But, I’m sure you already know where to find one!”

  The captain smiled and followed. Of course he did! The establishment that Nathan preferred was actually several miles from the spaceport. The building that housed it gave no indication, from the outside, the nature of the business on the inside. Such businesses, while not illegal on New Rome, were not exactly held in high regard by most of the locals, even though it was not uncommon to find one of the clergy (especially if he was of Irish descent) having a drink or two.

  Once inside, the tavern had a marked similarity to nearly every other such business venture in the galaxy, with one notable exception. One that Princess Remini picked up on immediately.

  “Where are the prostitutes?” She whispered to Nathan as they sat down in an empty booth.

  “Prostitutes?” Nathan replied in mock indignation. “My good lady, prostitution is illegal on New Rome!"

  “Don't get all high and mighty, Captain.” The Princess responded. “It is illegal in Kurufet as well, but there were still, noticeably, prostitutes in the tavern where we met you!”

  “That is true, but your mother, through the local constabulary, only fines the offender, correct?”

  “Yes, she does not see it as a crime worthy of more than that, as many of the girls who engage in it are victims of circumstance.”

  “An attitude I wholeheartedly agree with,” Nathan smiled. “However, the penalty for prostitution, and just about every other crime here on New Rome is Excommunication.”

  “O.K., so they get kicked out of the Catholic church. Are you seriously expecting to convince me that is a harsh enough punishment to put an end to the 'Oldest Profession?'”

  “That is precisely it, Remi.” The captain explained. “New Rome is practically crime free, precisely because the penalty for most crimes is excommunication. This is true for a couple of reasons. First, the population of the planet has been raised in the teaching of the Catholic church and excommunication is pretty much a one-way ticket to Hell. Second, non-Catholics are not allowed to be citizens, so excommunication is a revocation of citizenship. At any point in time a non-citizen can be told to leave the planet within twenty-four hours. This happens often enough to get rid of most of the criminal element.”

  Nathan easily got the attention of the young attractive barmaid and ordered two beers. He could feel the temperature drop a couple of degrees as the two women glared at each other.

  “Still,” the Princess said coyly, “Not having any practitioners here of 'the oldest profession' has got to make this one of your least favorite stops.” Her face broke out in an evil smile.

  Nathan was glad their drinks hadn't been delivered yet, because he knew he would have spattered beer all over the place at that comment.

  “What makes you think I have to pay to have the pleasurable company of a woman?” He asked. With excellent timing the barmaid arrived with their beers, a sexy smile for Nathan and another icy glare for Remi. The captain paid for the drinks, tipping generously as was his custom.

  “Oh, its not about you personally.” The Princess said, taking a drink of her beer. “I mean, you have the roguish looks that women generally go for, and your personality is more than pleasant.” She took another drink.

  “Then why is it you think I might have a problem getting women?" Nathan inquired.

  “The life you lead,” Remi explained, “here one day, gone the next. Women generally like stability when it comes to men.”

  “Shows how little you know about your half of the species, Princess!” Nathan punctuated with a drink. “My lifestyle is one of the things that makes me attractive to women. Every one of them wants to be either the one who finally gets me to settle down, or at the very least, the one 'he takes with him.'” He took another drink, and motioned around the room with his eyes.

  “Did you happen to notice those icy looks you're getting from all the women in here?" He asked, motioning around the room.

  “What about them?” Remi replied.

  “It's because they all saw you walk in with me, and they know you are going to walk out with me. They all believe that you 'tamed' me, and they hate you for it.” Nathan drained his mug. “In fact, if you were to storm out of here right now, the line of lovely ladies wanting to comfort me would extend out the door!” He almost smiled at the thought.

  “Would you like me to do that?” Remi asked.

  Nathan looked into her beautiful eyes. He knew that if there was anyone who could tame him it was Princess Remini, and he was at least reasonably sure that he felt that way not just because she was forbidden fruit.

  “No Remi,” he said smiling. “Even here on New Rome, I’d be worried about you heading back to the ship alone.” Nathan signaled for two more beers.

  “So,” Nathan said when their fresh drinks arrived. “Enough about my love life. Tell me about the Crown Prince of Rathshelliam.”

  “What do you want to know?” was Remi's response.

  “Well, you could start with his name so I don't have to keep saying 'the Crown Prince of Rathshelliam.' That's quite a mouthful.” Nathan smiled again.

  “Dimitri Antonio Saberhagen, the Fourteenth.” Remi even smiled as she said it.

  “That's worse than his title!” Nathan was aghast. “How about we just refer to him as Dimitri?” The princess nodded. “So, what is Dmitri like? How did you meet him? How long have you been betrothed? Come on, Remi. 'Dish the dirt' as they used to say.”

  The Princess' face fell. The features that generally shone with the light of a thousand suns were suddenly plunged into the shadow of a massive black hole. “Dimitri is twelve years old.”

  Nathan was ready with a sarcastic comment, but when he saw the pain in the Princess's face, he could not deliver it.

  “We've been betrothed since before either of us was born. The peace treaty after the last conflict between Kalifet and Rathshelliam specified that the heirs of both Empires would be betrothed to seal the peace, providing, of course, they were of suitable genders.

  “The king and queen of Rathshelliam had their first son 35 years ago. Before the child reached one year of age, he was kidnapped by his nanny. From what has been pieced together since, the nanny was a member of an underground group that opposed the peace treaty. She was apparently ordered to kill the child, but was unable to do that and kidnapped him instead. They both disappear
ed.

  “The Kingdom of Rathshelliam has been searching for Prince Phillip ever since.” The Princess paused to drink deeply of her beer.

  “That explains it!” Nathan was thunderstruck.

  “Explains what?” The Princess asked.

  “Why everyone landing on a Rathshelliam world has to submit to a DNA test! As I understand it, the entire population of the Kingdom has similarly been subjected to genetic fingerprinting.”

  “Well, with Prince Phillip missing and unlikely to be found, after thirteen years of searching the king and queen had another child, actually quite near the time that I was born. Glenda grew up to be quite a capable young woman, and would have been the crown princess, thereby freeing me of the betrothal...”

  “Except at the age of twenty, she ran off and married a Haversnack! I remember the scandal! Haversnack and humans are sexually and emotionally compatible, but are infertile together. In fact, even the best modern genetic technologies can't manage to make a cross work. I've heard it said that it would be easier to cross a human and a Rhadasian.” Nathan had nearly finished his beer.

  “Exactly.” Remi continued. “Since she would not be able to produce an heir, Glenda was no longer in the line of succession, reactivating my betrothal, except now to Prince Dimitri, whom I have never met!”

  “Okay, but why the big rush to get married?” Nathan signaled for two more beers. “Why not wait until Dmitri is a little older, like at least through puberty?”

  “The Kalifet constitution,” the Princess explained. “In order to inherit the crown, I must be married before my twenty-fourth birthday. In fact, it goes even further than that, if the heir apparent isn't married by the time she is twenty-four, the legislature is required to pick a new ruling family. So, not only do I not get to be Empress, my mother stops being Empress as well.”

  “Damn!” Nathan said, paying for the new beers. “So I am to deliver you to an arranged marriage with a twelve year old prince you have never met. Are you sure you don't want me to get lost along the way?” Nathan gave her a wink and noticed her mood lighten a little.