by L M Lacee
Peyton held her hand up and made a pushing motion sending the male hundreds of yards backward through the air. He landed hard on the surface with a thumping sound that reverberated across the planet.
Screaming he picked himself up, then stared hard at her and ran, lunging straight toward her body and slammed up against a wall of light. He screamed again from rage as he fell to the surface.
She asked politely as she looked down at the young male. ‘Are you done yet?’
He got up, shook his head and flew straight up toward the trembling suns. Peyton put her hand up and mimed pulling him down; he fell and slammed into the surface creating a hole about three feet deep.
‘Are you done yet? She asked again and sighed as he shot back up so fast he was a blur. This time she shaped a hand and reached up grabbing him and jerking him to a stop. ‘Are you done yet?’ She again politely called up to the dangling figure.
I will never cease!
‘Yeah, that is what I thought. I ask you once more planet Inferr, will you cease your actions and become what you should be. A calm oasis for beings to grow and live on. Will you welcome life forms of all kinds to your surface and create life to wallow in your suns light and your moons reflections?’
I will not and you cannot make me. I am planet Inferr the greatest! Whoever touches my surface, I own and can do with as I will! Unlike you, Star Daughter, who has no surface under her feet? You cannot do anything because you are nothing. I am greater than you will ever be. I am Inferr! I am Inferr!
‘Well that seems mean.’ Peyton said as the sadness she was feeling enveloped her. Taking in a deep breath she cried out to the three suns above. ‘I as Star Daughter see no other course of action. What say you?’
The sunlight dimmed as the three suns sent her their answer. ‘So be it!’
With all the force that makes her the Star Daughter, Peyton slammed Inferr’s form through the crust of the surface and down through the planet into the center of the forming world. Where she dissolved his form and locked his essence to the sliver of Star Crystal, which lived in the center of the planet. Never would he be able to rise again. Never would he see the sunlight or feel the brush of the moons breath on his surface. She hung her head in grief and felt the touch of the suns as they caressed her mind.
Thank you Daughter. We were unable to do what you have. He weakened us with his anger and hatred. Now we will grow and regain our lustre and in time, many rotations from now we will move on.
Peyton said. I am sorry you had to suffer, and I am sorry he would not listen or understand. He was wrong, darkness had warped his thinking. I could find no good in him. I am truly sorry for taking away his ability of becoming sentient again.
Daughter, we understand. Something became twisted in his thinking while he was forming. Sometimes it happens, and the planet does not mature completely. Inferr grew and the more he grew, the more destructive and vile he became. It is very sad, but it happens. We waited for your coming, to see if he could be saved.
Peyton told them sadly. He could not!
The sun told her. We will mourn the possibility of what he could have been and as the world grows and blossoms, we will remember it was you who made this possible. We thank you Daughter. Please take with you our blessing for your new home. Know we are proud of who you are and the gentleness in you.
In her hands appeared a figurine standing around eighteen inches tall. It was of a female dressed in a flowing robe of midnight and a dress of greens and blues resembling the material Waetera. The face was a mirror image of her own, and on the females head was a crown of stars. Hair flowed down the statues back in a white cloud, just as her own did. It was so beautiful it brought tears to her eyes. Thank you, I welcome your blessing and will treasure it always.
Peyton walked back to the shuttle as sunlight weakly appeared over the horizon, as Nikolas landed on the quiet planet. She stepped in and requested. ‘Pilot Nikolas take us back, please?’
‘As you wish Madam.’
Within seconds they were off the planet and heading toward the Warship, halfway there Peyton remembered what Rose had called her. ‘Nikolas what is a poho?’
He grinned. ‘It is a ghost, Madam.’
‘Well, okay then!’
Rose remained quiet as she traveled next to her brother. She was unsure whether to be afraid or relieved with these strange and yet intriguing beings. Like everyone in her universe, she knew of the fierce Jenersar Warriors. Although she thought this Warrior was far from her imaging and yet he was a Warrior.
Then there was the female, small pale and apparently the Star Daughter. Rose had read her histories and again this female was nothing like she had been led to believe, she was confused about everything. Eventually as they neared the Warship her tired brain just stopped trying to work it all out, and closed down.
It was not a happy company who greeted their small party after the shuttle docked. Peyton said to Nikolas. ‘Make a dash for it. You might be lucky and get away before they see you!’
Once more, Rose became bewildered as he said in a serious voice with a twinkle in his eyes. ‘It is not possible Madam. We have already been seen.’
‘Well, it was worth a try.’ She sighed as he released the door and unstrapped the floating bed and trunk from their restraints.
When they had stepped down from the shuttle, Peyton said. ‘Rose, welcome to the Warship heading to Maikonia. So in essence, trader Rose Leesungha from the trading family Leesungha. Welcome to Maikonia.’
‘Thank you, Peyton.’ She replied faintly as she looked around her.
Heather and Patty converged on the floating bed asking questions. ‘Who is this, what happened?’
Peyton replied. ‘Trader Rose, this is Healer Heather and Healer Patty, they are the best healers you will ever meet. Frand and you could not be in better hands. Heather, Patty, this is Rose Leesungha and her brother Frand from the trading family Leesungha. They crashed landed on the planet below. He was hurt, she was terrified for a long time, please check her and fix him.’
She addressed Rose again. ‘Rose, the healers will take care of you. If you need me, ask anyone they will comm` me, until then please make use of our facilities.’ She inclined her head, not giving the bewildered Rose time to speak and walked away.
Hawk, Melody, Darby, Netta and Kerol followed her as she made her way from the loading bay, she called back over her shoulder. ‘Pilot Nikolas you are off rotation for twenty-four hours, go sleep and thank you.’
Hawk looked at Kerol mind-sending. Get a report from him please.
He nodded. I will see to it.
He peeled off and went back to Nikolas who answered her as he watched Kerol walk toward him.
‘As you wish Madam.’
Together the rest walked with her to her cabin. She said as they all entered. ‘I am showering.’
She placed the statue on the center of her small table as Darby said. ‘I will order food and coffee.’
‘Love you Darby.’
Peyton entered her bedroom, stripped and then carried onto the cleansing room. Two sonic showers later, she felt better not about what she had done, just cleaner.
FIFTY-TWO:
Rose sat in medical and watched as the healers carried her brother into another room and then looked around and frowned thinking how outdated this Warship was. These people were using equipment that was at best second-hand at worse obsolete, there were things here she had not seen for many a yenta.
Heather approached her and said softly. ‘So, as you know I am Heather and you are Rose Leesungha. May I call you Rose?’
‘Please, Rose is good, my brother is he well?’
‘Yes, he is well we are treating him now for an infection, several grazes a few cuts and dehydration. He will sleep for a while, then he will wake and be hungry, if I know males.’
Rose smiled as Heather asked. ‘Rose, how are you?’
‘I am better now, I am off that cursed planet.’
‘Can you tell
me what happened?’
‘Yes, may I ask first, The Peyton? She is really the Star Daughter?’
‘Yes, she is.’
‘Oh, she is not... I do not wish to offend, but she is... she is very different... More different than I thought a Star Daughter would be?’
‘Yes she is, yet we still love her! What happened Rose?’
Heather and Rose spent an hour talking and when they were finished. Rose was exhausted. Heather handed her a tablet. ‘You can find out who we are and why we are on this Warship. When you wake.’ Heather laughingly said as Rose started to open the tablet.
‘Sleep now and read later, also on the tablet is a plan of the ship, it will show you the way to the shipteens. I suggest you find your way to the one marked Helen’s dining room, she has wonderful food, but only when you wake up.’
Rose agreed as she yawned, Heather had ensured she would have a good sleep with the aid of a strong sedative. It would be the first restful sleep Rose would enjoy for wekens.
When Heather knew her patients were secure for the remainder of the night, she walked along to her office. If she was needed by Peyton, someone would comm` her or Peyton would herself.
Just as Heather was talking to Rose. Peyton was stepping from her bedroom, to find her small lounge area almost empty and her coffee table holding coffee and two plates of food. Darby said. ‘Melody kicked them all out, she said they did not need to be here, unless you wanted them?’
‘No, it is good, thanks for the food and coffee.’
‘Do you want to talk about it?’
‘No, I really don’t.’ Sighing at the look on her face, she relented and said. ‘I will send a report in.’
‘Okay, so I will leave you.’ She gave her a long look then asked. ‘Are you okay Peyton?’
‘Yeah, I am a little sad but not too bad. I will sleep and then I will be okay.’
‘I love the statue. It is a good likeness.’
‘I know, the suns from the planet gave it to me, it is a blessing for our new home. Darby I need you to do something for me?’
‘What do you need?’
‘The report on Willian. Who when, why and where? Can you find it?’
‘I can…’
‘But you do not want to?’
‘No, it is not that. I don’t want you to get angry!’
‘You think I will get angry, have you read it?’
‘No, it just seems you are angry a lot, now.’
‘Ahh! Is this about the Jenerika's?’
‘Hayda no, those asshitholes, deserved it.’ She stood there, her curly corkscrew hair all over the place with a worried frown on her face, as she shifted from foot to foot. Her voice a soft cry for understanding. ‘Your hair turned white Peyton… white!’
‘You think that because it went white when I was angry. I am angry all the time now. Is this what everyone thinks?’
‘As silly as it sounds, yes, everyone does!’
‘Oh! I did not know that. You need to tell me these things. Well, I guess we need another speech for the ships then?’
‘Good idea!’
‘Thought you hated the last one?’
‘No, it was funny and informative, everyone liked it.’
‘Okay, for tomorrow mid-morn. I want the report please, I promise no temper tantrums.’
Darby laughed. ‘Alright, I will send it to you.’
‘Oh, you have it?’
‘Sure, I found it just after we boarded.’
‘Have you read it?’
‘Nope!’
‘Alright, goodnight. Oh, Darby.’
‘Yes?’
Peyton was the one now that asked for understanding as she softly said. ‘It doesn’t make me angry, I know I changed, but the truth is. I am the same. They just changed the package not the contents, and I swear. I will fight every min of every day to remain the same inside.’
Darby nodded and gave her one of her rare smiles. ‘I know you will and do. It will be okay Peyton, goodnight and I love the new package.’
‘Go away, comp’ girl.’
FIFTY-THREE:
In the early morning hours, Peyton sat at her regular table in Helen’s dining room, re-reading the report Darby had sent her of Willian’s mission and subsequent injuries.
She felt the anger which seemed to be a living entity within her leech from her bones. Causing her heart to pound faster and harder, her eyes misted with a red haze. Without conscious thought the anger which Peyton had suppressed for years, the same anger that had driven her ten-year-old self to kill and cause so much destruction. Surged to the forefront of her mind, entwining itself around the anger of the Star Daughter. Together they pressed her to give free rein to the power she had been blessed with.
For a brief moment, Peyton wanted to relinquish control, just let go and allow the rage to engulf her senses and be unleashed. To deliver its form of justice on those that had hurt Willian.
Thankfully, the sane human side of herself as well as the deeper pit of compassion the Star Daughter possessed, remembered Darby’s eyes. Which had been filled with fear and her words when she had begged her to understand why she was afraid. With that picture of Darby in her mind, she wrestled with the molten fury that resided inside her. Clenching her hands, she drew in deep breaths chanting the words she had spoken hours earlier to Darby. ‘I will fight every min of every day to remain the same.’ And battled the dark unwanted emotions fighting for control.
She refused to allow herself to become the kind of Star Daughter who dictated without reason, who served death and ruled with an iron fist. She would not become the cold, calculating, terrifying figure from the histories that spread fear and destruction in her wake.
Time slipped by as she fought her inner war, and finally when she knew she had conquered and won the battle. She released the hold on her hands and stretched each finger out, allowing the blood to circulate once more. When she could feel her fingers again, she picked up the jug of coffee and refilled her cup. Sipping at the hot brew while she watched the quiet green female enter the room.
Half-way across the room, Rose hesitated when she noticed Peyton and asked tentatively. ‘Greetings, am I disturbing you?’
‘Greetings Rose, I would enjoy your company. There is food and hot drinks over there.’ She pointed to the serving counter. ‘I have heard the tea is very nice.’
Rose looked to where she pointed and then walked over to serve herself a large bowl of rogu with fresh rolls and a large cup of tea. She sat opposite Peyton and asked. ‘You do not drink tea?’
‘No, I drink coffee.’
‘I do not know what that is.’
‘It is a drink from Earth?’
‘Oh, I know of Earth. I read the information healer Heather gave me.’
‘I see, and what conclusions have you reached trader Rose?’
‘You are all very brave people and slightly crazy. I think.’
‘Yep, that about sums us up.’
‘I would like for myself, my brother and sister to be the sole traders for Maikonia.’ She blurted out and then placed a spoon full of stew in her mouth. Closing her eyes as her taste buds started to sing a happy tune. She swallowed fast saying.
‘Oh my…this is the... oh my!’ She placed another spoonful in her mouth.
Peyton smiled. ‘That is Chef Helen’s favorite rogu, it gets better the longer it sits. The Warriors would eat it day and night if they could. She makes several large containers of it each night, it is usually gone by morn.’
Rose hummed then said. ‘I can see why. This is marvelous, she is a treasure. I could trade this rogu.’
Peyton laughed. ‘Yes she is, and you would have to discuss that with her. So you think we have something to trade?’
‘You are going to a Solar system that no one has seen for millions of yentas, reason dictates there has to be something there worth trading. Also, you are coming from a world in a universe we know nothing of.
Do not tell me you brought noth
ing to trade. I will not believe you. I have spoken to your Warriors they are not fools, no matter what is rumored throughout the universe.’
Peyton almost jumped up and down with joy, traders, Maikonia would have their very own traders. Hawk could not impress on her enough before they started this endeavor, how important traders were and how very secretive they were. He could not tell her how one enticed a trader to join with a world or enterprise. She knew he worried about it, she was so happy she could tell him you just had to rescue a trader to get them to take on your world.
Yiippee!! She mentally squealed as she did imaginary cartwheels, although outwardly she remained serene as she said. ‘I see, and how much would you charge Maikonia for the privilege of trading for us?’
‘I was thinking fifty percent sounded very fair.’ Rose stated as an opening gambit, which she delivered with an earnest look on her sweet open face.
Peyton sipped her coffee, her eyes laughing and her eyebrows raised in a disbelieving expression, as she returned. ‘Mmm, fifty percent. I think that may be a little on the high side. I was thinking ten percent would be reasonable.’
Rose feigned choking and grabbed her throat. ‘Madam that... that is very low, hardly worth mentioning, ten percent really. No! I am afraid we could not even look at anything less than say, forty percent.’ Her eyes had sharpened and the sweet Rose had gone, in her place was trader Rose.
Peyton nodded and replied. ‘Oh, I totally understand, one must hold to their standards. Which makes me think I have been unfair. So I will say fifteen percent!’
Rose took another bite of rogu and hummed in delight, then finally said. ‘Well, yes, that is a good offer, although you will have three traders from the same family working for Maikonia. I would think thirty-five percent is a good figure.’
It was Peyton’s turn to hum now, as she eyed the green female which surprisingly was a soothing color now Rose was not stressed. ‘It is a very nice offer, but you are still young and untried. Maybe twenty percent would be a reasonable offer.’
‘Well, you are right that we are young, although Frand can pilot just about any craft. So you would be getting two traders and a pilot for let us say… twenty-five percent!’