Dawn of a New Age

by Rick Bentsen

  “What’s the news, Mario?”

  “Kal, they’re sending a shuttle down now. Captain said that Jewel will treat Kit immediately,” Mario said.

  “I’ve got her stabilized enough to move her out of the shelter,” K’Alan grunted, tired from the effort he’d put in to save his wife. “But she’s in bad shape. We have to get her up to the White Knight quickly.”

  “Understood. We’ll get her there, buddy.” Mario clapped him on the shoulder. He helped K’Alan to his feet, giving his friend a shoulder to lean on.

  “All right everyone, listen up,” K’Alan shouted. “A shuttle is on its way to bring us all back up to the White Knight. I want a nice orderly exodus from this bunker. The stronger people should help the injured along. We’ll all make it through this.”

  “What about the High Gentlewoman?” a voice called from the back. “She’s our only hope.”

  “Mario and I will personally get her to the shuttle. Once she reaches the White Knight, she will receive care from the Chief Medtech herself.”

  “Why should we trust you to help her?” the same voice called. “You’re not known to any of us. We cannot risk the High Gentlewoman to just anyone.”

  “He is known to me. You can trust him,” S’Era stood next to K’Alan and stared down the voice in the back. “He is my brother. And he is the husband of the High Gentlewoman. And anyone with him can be trusted too.”

  “Thanks, S’Era,” K’Alan said quietly. “Right now, all I want to do is just save as many of our people as we can.”

  “Let’s move on out!” Mario called.

  1.30.2136

  2215

  SLS White Knight

  Medbay

  K’Alan hobbled into medbay on makeshift crutches ahead of the group of antigrav stretchers and other Duterians. He hobbled over to an empty chair out of the way and sat down. He winced as he landed in the chair.

  “What happened to you?” Jewel asked, coming over to him.

  “Rockslide. Snapped my shin in half,” K’Alan winced as she touched his leg. It’s set for now. No need to bother with me for the moment. Take care of the survivors first. I’ll still be here when they’re all treated.”

  “All right.” She turned away and headed towards the group of stretchers. “Which one is K’Itea Bryce?”

  S’Era walked over to the antigrav stretcher that K’Itea was lying on. She put her hand on the woman’s shoulder and closed her eyes.

  “This is she,” S’Era said quietly. She draped her arm around Elam. “The child and I will go to our quarters now. Please notify us when she wakes up.”

  “And you are?” the doctor asked.

  “My sister,” K’Alan croaked from where he was sitting. “And do as she asks, please. I have no desire to see S’Era angry.”

  “Very well, as soon as she wakes, I’ll inform you and the Commander.”

  “Thank you, Doctor,” S’Era smiled. She led Elam out of the medbay.

  “Doctor, would it be alright if I sat with her when you finished treating her?” K’Alan asked.

  “Of course. I’ll let you know. Having her loved ones by her side can only help her recover.”

  “Thank you. I’ll be in my quarters.”

  1.30.2136

  2245

  SLS White Knight

  K’Alan Bryce’s Quarters

  K’Alan winced as he turned on the lights in is quarters. He sat down at his vidterminal and flicked it on. He brought up his messages and selected the unread one that K’Itea had sent him earlier that day.

  “Decode and display message. Authorization: Bryce-one-one-oh-seven-gamma. Password: Braga.”

  “Decoding in process,” the computer droned. “Estimate display in two minutes.”

  K’Alan sighed as he waited. He fidgeted nervously as the computer noiselessly set to its task. He drummed his fingers on the edge of his desk. It seemed like it was taking far longer than two minutes to decode the message. Even though he knew what the message was about, he was impatient to get answers to some of his questions.

  “Message decoded,” the computer announced finally.

  “Play.”

  The screen shimmered and changed to show K’Itea’s face. He traced her cheek with his finger and had to fight tears, knowing she was lying in the medbay gravely injured.

  “K’Alan, if you’re watching this message, then you’re obviously on your way to Duterius Prime. Good. I can’t wait to see you.

  “But there’s something that you should know before you get here. Something that neither S’Era nor I have told you until now.

  “You have a son.

  “His name is Elam Jarron Bryce. He was born ten months after you were here last, eleven years ago.

  “I should have told you years ago. But I always felt that this was something best told to you in person. And I didn’t want you to leave the Defense Force because of me.

  “I hope you’re not too mad at me, although I’m afraid Elam might be more mad at you than you are at me. And that’s the worst part.

  “K’Alan, I love you. I never meant for this to be hidden from you for so long. I hope that you will forgive me.

  “I’m sorry, my love. I will talk to you when you land. All my love.”

  K’Alan shut off the vidterminal and slumped back in his chair, his breath escaping in a huff. The message hadn’t answered any questions. Now, he could only wait and get the answers he wanted from K’Itea.

  He could only pray that she would awaken.

  She was floating in a timeless, spaceless void. Up was down and down was up. She had no idea where she was, nor did she really care. All she knew was that she was cold. Why had K'Alan not come and saved her? Was he even still alive? For that matter, was she even still alive?

  All questions pushed themselves out of her head, and she forced herself to stay awake. She tried hard to keep herself calm, but it was not easy, because, as realization of what had happened set in, she became more and more afraid. She remembered ordering everyone to the shelter. She remembered the blast that set the ceiling crumbling, but after that, it was all black.

  “K’Alan!” her mind screamed frantically.

  It was a sunny day in the middle of the harvest season on Duterius Prime. Two fifteen year old children ran hand in hand across a dijarin field in the Braga Valley province. The boy had a picnic basket, and the girl carried a small blanket. They laughed and ran without any care in the world.

  “Kal, I’m so glad we were able to get away today,” the girl said to her companion. “I’m not sure I could take another day of learning how to become a Gentlewoman. It’s so boring.”

  “I know. J’Anai has been going nuts with both of our lessons lately. I don’t think I could take another combat class either. Tell you what. For today, let’s forget about all of them. Let’s just focus on us.”

  “Sounds good to me!” Kit said. “I’m hungry!”

  The boy laughed as he spread out the blanket and gently laid out the food. They ate and laughed for hours. Eventually, the suns set, and the two children found themselves lying on their backs in each other’s arms.

  “Someday, I wish I could travel among the stars,” Kit said, as the two watched the stars twinkle in the night sky.

  “Someday, Kit, we’ll travel the stars together,” Kal smiled.

  “I doubt it,” Kit sighed. “Once I become a Gentlewoman, all my hopes of getting off of Duterius Prime for any length of time are gone.”

  “Have faith, Kit. I believe.”

  “I hope you’re right, Kal.”

  The two stayed like that for the entire night.

  The Great Hall of Braga Valley was full of light from the large windows over looking the gardens. The newly ascended Gentlewoman, K’Itea Alana Bilso, sat on the throne with a bored expression on her face.

  “Your Excellency, there are two representatives from the Star League Defense Force here to see you,” J’Anai Sirrus said as he entered the main chamber.

 
“Show them in, J’Anai,” she whispered.

  “At once, Excellency,” he bowed and left.

  Moments later, he returned leading two men in uniform. One was wearing a flight helmet, the other, a man wearing the rank insignia of Captain, was not.

  “Ensign, I must ask you to remove your flight helmet,” K’Itea said. “It is a measure of disrespect for the court to hide one’s face in my presence.”

  “I’m sorry, Kit,” K’Alan said as he removed his helmet. “I did not mean to offend. I did mean to surprise you though.”

  “Kal!” she shrieked as she bolted across the room into his arms. “It’s so good to see you!”

  “K’Itea Bilso, may I introduce Captain Thane Starlos, my commanding officer. He refused to let me take leave unless he came with me.”

  “I’ve always wanted to see Duterius Prime,” the captain bowed. “I’ve head time and again of its endless beauty, and I’ve wanted to see for myself if what I have heard is true.”

  “And what do you think, Captain?” K’Itea asked, a light smile playing across her face.

  “I think that what certain people have told me about how beautiful this planet is can’t come close to the reality of its beauty,” Starlos smiled. “It rivals my home planet of Earth as the most beautiful planet I’ve seen.”

  “Well, I’m glad you approve,” K’Itea smiled. “There is a dinner tonight. I would like you to join us. As a guest of K’Alan, you will be accorded the utmost respect.”

  “I understand that you two are to be married,” Starlos said. “I wish you both the best.”

  “You are, of course, welcome to attend the wedding,” K’Itea smiled. “A friend of K’Alan’s is a friend of mine.”

  “Thank you, good lady. I am honored.”

  “I think I will take the rest of the day off. J’Anai, see that Captain Starlos is given the best accommodations available. When they have settled in, I think we four shall go on a picnic.”

  “Would the Gentlewoman allow me the honor of a kiss?” K’Alan said formally, trying hard not to grin.

  “Would the Ensign like a boot in the butt for being so formal with me?” K’Itea grinned.

  K’Alan smiled and took Kit in his arms. He held her tight and kissed her gently.

  “I’ve missed you so much, Kit,” he whispered.

  “And I’ve missed you. Now go get settled. I want to go on a picnic!”

  The Great Hall was decorated with all manners of colors and banners. Crowds of well wishers lined both sides of the main aisle and smiled as the two officers walked down the aisle in full dress uniform.

  “I’ve never been to a Duterian wedding before,” Captain Starlos noted.

  “They’re not too much different from an Earth wedding. Well, there are some minor differences, of course. But it’s not too different.”

  “Fair enough.”

  The two officers stood before the priest. The priest wore long, elegant white robes. He was very plain, his pale skin almost as white as his robes.

  “Which one of you is the intended?” he intoned.

  “I have that honor,” K’Alan said boldly.

  “Have you proven yourself?” the priest asked.

  “I have walked through fire and flood. I have breathed where no air exists. Through it all, my love remains. I have conquered great giants. I have helped the simple lion. Through it all, my love remains,” K’Alan recited. The words came easy to him.

  “Then walk where there is light, my child. Take comfort in the one you shall share your life with. Become one with her.”

  “This I would gladly do,” K’Alan bowed.

  “I see. Where is this man’s betrothed?”

  “I am here,” K’Itea called from the end of the aisle.

  “And has he proven himself to you?

  “He has won my heart with kind words and with fierce battles. He has roped the moon for my chariot and the stars for my steeds. He has built my castle and torn down the mountains that upset my view.”

  “Then join him here and take comfort in he whom you shall share your life with.”

  K’Itea walked down the aisle and stood next to K’Alan. She did not look at him. She looked straight at the priest and stood straight, her hands clasped in front of her.

  “These two come before the gods of Duterius to be bonded for life and beyond. They have proven their worth to each other and to the gods. They are about to embark on a journey that only they can go on. Should anyone disapprove of this bonding, speak now or forever hold your peace.” The priest waited a few minutes before continuing. “K’Alan Ilan Bryce, will you honor and protect this woman? Will you walk through fire for her? Will you walk through darkness for her? Will you stay with her through all time?”

  “I will,” K’Alan said, looking at the woman he loved.

  “K’Itea Alana Bilso, will you honor and obey this man? Will you follow him though fire? Will you follow him through darkness? Will you stay with him through all time?”

  “I will,” K’Itea smiled.

  “Take each other’s hand.” He waited until they had complied. He took a blue and red scarf from the altar and began to slowly bind their hands together “Through all time, these two shall be bonded. They shall be able to feel each other across the vastnesses of space and time. They shall be together for all time. This is witnessed by the gods. Let their love be a beacon for all Duterians for years to come. This ceremony is concluded. Go in peace.”

  The priest turned around and walked out. K’Alan and K’Itea started towards their quarters when the scene misted out into blackness.

  1.31.2136

  0012

  SLS White Knight

  The Medbay

  K’Alan hobbled in on his crutches and sat down in a spare chair. Medbay had calmed down quite a bit from when he had been there earlier. The medtechs had cleared out all the casualties. Their work had been good; they’d only lost one patient. So far.

  “Good. You’re here, Hopalong,” Jewel said as she walked up to where he was sitting. “I was just about to send Security to go get you.”

  “How is she?” K’Alan asked as he looked over at the closed door to K’Itea’s isoroom.

  “She’s in a coma, K’Alan,” Jewel said as she ran the bone fuser over his leg. When she was done fusing his leg, she put the fuser down and sat next to him. “At this point, all we can do is wait. If she wakes up, she’ll be ok. But the body is a funny thing. She may just give up.”

  “I hope she doesn’t. I don’t know what I would do without her.”

  “Me too. I promise that I’ll do everything I can for her. In reality, though, there isn’t much other than keeping her comfortable. She is at a point where she is the only one who can help her.”

  “You’re doing all any of us can ask of you, Doctor,” K’Alan flashed a weak smile. “But you need to get some sleep too.”

  “I know, and I will,” Jewel nodded. She patted his leg. “Your leg should be just fine. You’ll still have a little pain for a couple days, but you should be just fine.”

  “I won’t be just fine until she’s back, Jewel.” K’Alan stood and stretched his leg. “Now, I need to go check on my sister and my son.”

  “Your son?” Jewel asked.

  “It’s a long story. But that boy that was with my sister was my son.”

  “I didn’t know.”

  “Neither did I,” K’Alan said as he walked out of the medbay.

  She was back in the timeless spaceless void.

  “Where am I?” K’Itea called to no one.

  “You are here,” a male voice called.

  “I don’t think I understand,” K’Itea looked around. There was no one that she could see, just darkness.

  “We are here too,” the same voice called as two grey robed figures appeared out of nowhere.

  “We have been watching,” the other figure said. “We know all that has happened.”

  “What is this place? And why am I here?” K’Itea asked.


  “This is here. You are here by accident,” the first voice said.

  “Well that makes sense,” K’Itea snorted.

  “You are not alive, yet you are not dead,” the second voice said. “You are stuck in the middle.”

  “How do I get unstuck?” she grumbled.

  “You must choose,” the first man said.

  “So, I choose to live. What’s so hard about this?” she asked.

  “Why do you choose to live?” the second man asked.

  “My son needs me.”

  “It’s funny that you focus on your son, yet your thoughts are only for your husband.”

  “How…”

  “Like we said, we’ve been watching for a long time,” the first man said. “We know quite a bit.”

  “I’m a little confused,” K’Itea said.

  “I imagine you are,” one of the men said as he lowered his hood. “My name is Alan. We are here to watch. And to help.”

  “Help with what?” K’Itea furrowed her brow.

  “There is a great darkness ahead. This war with the Brentax is only a distraction from the upcoming issues.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You will all know soon enough.” Alan waved his head in front of her eyes. “You won’t remember any of this when you awaken.”

  “But…..” She fell asleep.

  2.1.2136

  1000

  SLS White Knight

  The Medbay

  A nurse was checking over the equipment in K’Itea’s isoroom. She noted all of K’Itea’s current vitals in the chart. The nurse looked sadly at the woman in the bed. Everything that could be done was being done, and the nurse knew it. Still, nurses tended to hurt a little when they saw someone else hurting. But there was nothing else she could do for K’Itea other than just make a note of her condition.

  This was one fight that could only be fought by the patient.

  The nurse started to turn and leave the room, but she was startled by a noise. She wasn’t sure what had brought her up short. She turned back to the bead and frowned. Had her patient moved slightly in bed?