Daughter of Ethos

by L M Lacee

  ‘Yes, Madam.’

  ‘Darby, how long do the nanos stay in the system, what happens to them?’

  ‘Until the download is complete, anywhere up to an hour, then they breakdown into minerals and join with the body’s own system. I have designed two, one for the humans and one for the Warriors.’

  Hawk asked. ‘Why?’

  ‘Different physiology. I have to tell you; we are not sure it will work completely for the Warriors, so if you would like not to have them…’

  ‘No, we will try until you get it right. We trust you Lady Darby.’

  ‘Will the children receive the same one?’ Esther asked quickly, saving everyone listening to Darby say once again, her name was Darby, which he would ignore.

  Because none of the Warriors could decide what she was a specialist of, they collectively just called her Lady Darby, which irritated her but seemed to have stuck.

  ‘No they are too young. I have a contact transfer.’ She pulled it from her pocket and showed them the small device. It looked like one of the hand-held medical scanners but smaller.

  ‘Press this against their temple right here.’ She placed it beside her eye. ‘Then press this.’ She showed them the red button. ‘It will give them language and some protocols when meeting and addressing people. The rest they can learn in school or like we all did.’

  Brenda asked. ‘This is used up to what age?’

  ‘Ten, after that there is a modified adult one. We are still developing a better delivery system. This is the first generation.’

  ‘Great.’ Peyton said. ‘When can you roll them out?’

  ‘Immediately, I have enough for everyone on board the ships and more.’

  ‘Okay, secure the rest and Heather guess what you and Darby are doing?’

  ‘We will need help?’

  ‘Not a concern, show us what to do, and we can have it done today.’ Hawk told her.

  Melody said. ‘We can recruit some women with medical backgrounds as well.’

  Peyton asked. ‘Alright, any other business?’

  ‘Oh, doesn’t she sound all professional?’ Brenda smiled as she nudged Helen who smiled as Peyton grinned. ‘I am trying, enjoy it while it lasts.’

  Darby asked. ‘So do you need the download Peyton?’

  ‘No, thank you Darby. I will adapt, it’s all in here.’ She tapped her temple.

  ‘Oh right.’

  No one had anything else to discuss, so she announced. ‘Alright, I am calling this our morning meeting. So each morning about this time, bring whoever needs to be here and come if you can. Are we agreed?’

  They all agreed with her, then she said as they made to get up. ‘Oh, one more thing sisters, your gifts, shall we open them now?’

  Melody smiled as she agreed. ‘Good idea, we will go get them.’

  They all left together to retrieve the gifts Sunshoona had presented them with. Peyton had hers with her and when she lifted it onto the table. Helen said. ‘Oh, look at that, we each have one of those. They were on our beds when we arrived.’ She looked at Peyton. ‘I did mean to ask, why you had gifted us with them.’

  Peyton smiled as she told her. ‘It wasn’t me. Sunshoona gave each one of us these.’ She pointed to her gift. Surprised Helen asked. ‘And none of you have opened them, how is that possible?’

  ‘We agreed to wait.’

  Brenda told her. ‘We have not opened ours either.’

  ‘And for the life of me, I cannot think why?’ Esther murmured.

  Peyton told them gently. ‘I think our gifts are really from the Star Child, and they wished you to wait until we were all together. Esther your cakes will have to wait a little longer, I think this is important. Ladies please go get your gifts.’

  When they had gone. Peyton with Hawk, Kerol and Netta, who arrived shortly after the others had left swapped out the table with a larger rectangular one that would seat thirty.

  THIRTY-FOUR:

  Peyton sat sipping a fresh cup of coffee Netta had retrieved for her as the others started to come back.

  ‘Oh, by the way Netta, you have been promoted to Captain in the new Maikonia Military.’

  A little startled she said. ‘Thank you, I think!’

  Peyton nodded. ‘Now, if you would like and only if you consent. I was hoping you would be my personal assistant or Captain, which will help me out with military things and stuff like that.’

  Melody said as she arrived back and sat down. ‘She needs someone to kick her ass when she gets out of line and I said you would be perfect for it.’

  ‘Well, I wouldn’t go that far, there should be no ass kicking she may gently tell me I am doing something not quite right.’ Peyton stipulated which brought copious amounts of laughter from the returning females. Hawk and Kerol looked a little confused as they listened, not understanding the reason for the laughter.

  ‘What… why is that worth laughing at?’ Peyton demanded of Melody, who was grinning in what Peyton considered an evil sister manner.

  ‘That is so not going to happen Star girl, our Netta does not know gentle.’

  ‘Well, then maybe…’

  ‘No… no, too late.’ Melody told her. ‘You wanted her. Do not say you didn’t, so if she agrees, she is all yours. I taught her well.’

  ‘Oh, that is… I am unsure what that is?’ Peyton looked worriedly around at the others who all smiled or snickered into their hands. She frowned at them all, while Melody looked at her with a challenge in her eyes. Peyton sniffed and looked at Netta who was eyeing them all as though they were crazy.

  She growled. ‘I am not a secretary?’

  Peyton blinked twice before she shook her head, ‘Good stars, no… that would be just… no… not a secretary. I was thinking a buffer, a military translator.’

  Netta smiled, and it reminded Peyton of the one Melody used when she was about to throw her on the mat again in training. ‘Okay then, yeah, that sounds fun.’

  Peyton swallowed her retort and smiled. ‘Right… so we should look at these gifts.’

  Helen declared. ‘We will go first.’

  Together the three women opened the flat boxes made from agar-wood, to reveal, nestled on a cloud of burgundy a flat length of gold. They all just stared at them and did not seem to know what to do.

  Adee! They had Adee! Hawk hissed out a breath in surprise, then with a swift look at an equally stunned Kerol he started to explain to the amazed females.

  ‘This looks like gold but is the furthest thing from what you know as gold and still look like it. This is called Adee. What it is made from no one knows, only the Stars, because they are the only ones to bestow Adee. Ladies, translated, Adee means living rope.’

  He picked it up and placed it on the palm of his hand as he said. ‘Adee will form to what the wearer desires but only if the wearer is the true recipient. As you can see it will not move for me, it stays the same.’

  They all could see it lay across his hand in the form of a golden rope, with a quiet voice he said. ‘Now when I place it in Lady Esther’s hand, it will become what she wishes for.’

  Esther whispered. ‘How do I know what I want?’

  Hawk placed the length of golden Adee on her palm. ‘That is the interesting thing about Adee; it senses what you wish for, watch!’

  They watched as the Adee seemed to wiggle then shift and within seconds it molded itself into a fine golden pendant on a fine chain. On one side of the pendant was a picture of a star with some written words. The other side held a depiction of Esther’s husband Harry. She blew out a puff of air as she said. ‘That is my Harry!’

  She looked into Peyton’s green eyes and saw love and flames in their depths. ‘Isn’t that amazing, they know my Harry?’

  ‘He was truly a giant among men.’ Peyton softly told her as Esther agreed. ‘He was, he really was, now can you tell me what it says?’

  Peyton gently took the pendant between her fingers and held it still as she smiled. ‘It says, heart of Maikonia.’r />
  She let it go, and it dangled spinning in the air, then the necklace moved up Esther’s arm and settled around her neck she grinned. ‘It feels warm.’

  ‘It is lovely.’ Brenda admired as Esther nodded and said. ‘Brenda, your turn.’

  She took her length of Adee in her hands and like Esther’s it warmed and wiggled. Then it too became a necklace, except hers became three finely entwined chains. Peyton told her. ‘On each link are the words, Soul of Maikonia.’

  ‘Really!’ Her eyes softened in thought as Helen picked hers up and they watched it become a hair net of fine lace. It shaped her hair into a sophisticated knot which was startling in its simplicity.

  Peyton told her. ‘Each link joins to read. Body of Maikonia.’

  Helen smiled. ‘I think, I find that comforting, as though we are on the right path.’

  Peyton told them simply. ‘I think that was the point, these gifts tell everyone how important you are to us all, each of you feed the people of Maikonia. Esther their hearts, Brenda their souls and Helen their bodies. Between the three of you, there is not one part of the whole you do not care for.’

  All three of them had tears in their eyes by the time she was finished. Esther asked. ‘What of their minds, who feeds them?’

  Peyton grinned. ‘Someone will come to do that for us.’

  Hawk finally explained. ‘It was always supposed that Adee was a gift from the Stars. Now we see that is so. I know of no one in the universe who wears Adee and yet we all recognize it when we see it. I have only ever seen pics of it or read about it in the histories. I should tell you that many royalty may wear the metals you know as gold, silver or bronze but Adee never. It is an amazing gift.’

  Kerol said. ‘I have seen pics as well but also never in life. Adee is as beautiful as stated and it proves what we all know, you are worthy Ladies.’

  Darby asked. ‘How does one know the difference?’

  Kerol told her. ‘We know because we recognize the hum.’

  ‘There is a hum?’ Helen asked as she touched her Adee.

  Hawk nodded. ‘Yes, Adee has a signature hum. I am sure in time you will hear it. Until then, Lady Esther if you will remove the Adee please.’

  She did and passed it back to Hawk once it was in his hands again, it became a plain rope of gold.

  ‘Oh, it has gone.’ Esther cried as she looked at Hawk, sadness etching lines on her face.

  ‘Oh my!’ Brenda cried as Hawk placed it back on Esther’s out stretched hand and it once again formed the same necklace.

  ‘I apologize Lady Esther.’ He said softly upset he, had caused her to become sad.

  She waved his apology away. ‘No, do not be, I overreacted.’

  Hawk inclined his head in acceptance of her words and said. ‘You should know it is said you can ask your Adee to take on another form, it may or may not.’

  ‘Well, that is a little disconcerting.’ Helen said. Brenda smiled. ‘It’s like a pet, really.’

  Helen grimaced. ‘Do not say that, please!’

  At her expression Hawk hurriedly explained. ‘Ladies, you realize gold denotes rank in most royal courts.’

  ‘It does?’ They said together not understanding what he was trying to tell them.

  Heather looked at Melody and Darby with a sparkle in her eyes. ‘Should we?’

  Together they opened their boxes, snuggled within the folds of a cloud of royal blue material was the exact same rope. Except these looked like Palladium. Hawk breathed out on a sigh, knowing he would have to tell them that by wearing the Adee, they were declaring themselves royalty of Maikonia.

  He sent to Kerol. What do I do? Tell them others will see them as our royals. We know them well enough to know they will be mortified to think people see them this way!

  Kerol laughed silently. We do not tell them anything. It will be better for them to find it out for themselves, we will just make sure they are treated as they are now, with respect. It is all we can do.

  For now! Hawk agreed and tried once more to explain to the females what people would assume. He was left with the same impression that they either did not understand or did not care.

  ‘This substance looks and feels like the precious metal Palladium that is prized so much on Earth. Even though it may look like Palladium, it is in fact Luslian. In our universe it is a rare precious metal, and it denotes the highest rank of royalty. Empresses, and Emperors wear Luslian, as do some rulers of very wealthy worlds.’

  They all nodded their heads but did not say anything and as he and the others watched. Melody lifted the Adee from her box, again this Adee seemed to warm and then wiggle for a second or two. Everyone held their breaths waiting to see what it was going to form into. Then it flattened into a long band that split into two. Slowly the bands wrapped each of her forearms from wrists to elbows and as they watched script appeared.

  Peyton softly said. ‘As with the others the words are in star script, the left one reads. Together we are stronger. The right reads. Home is Maikonia.’

  Heather was next, hers became a necklace, unlike Esther’s and Brenda’s it was more of a flat half inch wide choker. With amazingly enough a form of the Hippocratic Oath etched on it, as well as the words.

  For Maikonia.

  Darby’s Adee became a hair band and when she placed it on her head. It moved her hair away from hanging in her eyes and seemed to tame her wild curls. ‘Well that saves me getting it cut.’ She grinned as she touched the warm metal.

  Peyton read the words etched on the band. ‘Trust. Hope, Faith, Achievement.’

  Darby nodded as she said. ‘That about sums it up.’

  They all looked at Peyton as she opened hers and nestled on material so black it was like looking into an abyss, lay a thick wide rope.

  Melody asked. ‘What is that?’

  Heather said. ‘It is not white gold or platinum but it sort of looks like both.’

  Awed Helen said. ‘When I was young, my father showed me a picture of the rarest and most valuable metal on our world called Rhodium. This looks a little like that.’

  Hawk’s voice was filled with shock as was the look in his and Kerol’s eyes as he claimed. ‘That is not Adee. Adee cannot take on the texture and color of this substance.’

  They all looked at him as his tone became filled with reverence. ‘If it is what I think it is. I have only ever read of this substance. It is said that many millions of yentas before our universe was formed or maybe any universe. The Star Child created one single planet from Star Crystal.’

  He reverently touched the rope lying in the box and felt the warmth and maybe it was wishful thinking, but he was sure he felt, star fire. He drew in a breath saying. ‘Our histories do not say what happened to the planet. As far as I know it has never been seen or walked upon. Although it is searched for constantly, whole worlds and guilds have been created just to study the universe for proof of its existence. It is called the Star Crystal planet, it has always been considered a legend, based in hope.’

  Kerol told them reverently. ‘Legend says that all planets at their core have a sliver of Star Crystal. I guess we must conclude it is not a myth. The planet exists and all planets at their core are Star Crystal.’

  Peyton said. ‘Or the Star Child can produce Star Crystal, because they are the creator of all.’

  He looked at Peyton and smiled slightly. ‘Maybe that could be so. What I do know is there is no worthier gift for our Star Daughter.’

  Peyton thanked him and placed her fingers on the rope of Star Crystal. It hummed loudly then tied itself into a knot and when seconds later it unravelled it was to reveal a beautiful rope studded with stars. The rope seemed to disappear and then reappear in her hair and went about forming a pony tail. Darby asked with curiosity vying with awe in her tone. ‘Is it crystal or metal?’

  Peyton shrugged, ‘It feels like neither.’

  She did not want to tell them it felt like the Star Child when they spoke in her mind.

  Net
ta asked. ‘What does it say?’

  Smiling Peyton told them what was etched on the rope. ‘In Our Daughter We Trust.’

  Ladies! The Star Child addressed them, making them all come to attention. We wished you to have these mementos to denote your status as precious family to our Daughter. In some cultures Commander Hawk will advise you the Adee represents royalty. We are not held responsible for what others think, so be on your guard. Commander Hawk and all the Warriors will have their rank which garners them the respect they deserve. Sister Netta has her gift already. Sister Melody you are so doubly blessed, soon you will have to make a choice, but that is for another day. We have bequeathed our Daughter with the heart of the universes. Captain Kerol know that not all histories are legend, some are truth.

  They departed and Peyton said. ‘Well, are you all suitably impressed? I sure am?’

  Hawk bowed his head, again he was shown he had made the wisest choice for him and his Warriors. Within his needar the tiny spark of hope grew brighter.

  Netta asked. ‘So, anyone want to tell me what gift I have?’

  No one spoke as they all looked toward Peyton who shrugged as she said. ‘No idea.’

  Netta grimaced. ‘Well, that is disconcerting. If you don’t know and I don’t know.’

  Melody said thoughtfully. ‘Maybe it is your knives.’

  ‘Huh! I never thought of them as gifts.’

  ‘It could be the ability you have with them.’ Darby offered.

  ‘Could be, weird gift, though.’

  Peyton said with a small smile. ‘I guess we will find out, eventually.’

  Netta shrugged and decided not to worry about it, if Peyton did not know maybe it was not worth worrying over. She joined in on the conversations but a part of her mind turned over the question of what her gift could be.

  THIRTY-FIVE: