Guardian of Empire

by Kylie Chan

  The uproar started again and we went through the doors, which closed behind us. The humans celebrated, patting me, Haruka and Miko.

  The Ambassador stood to one side, holding back a smile. ‘Don’t ever take up a career in politics, Choumali,’ she said.

  ‘I never intend to, ma’am,’ I said. I looked up at Haruka. ‘You can put me down now.’

  ‘You aren’t strong enough, Jian,’ he said. ‘I’ll carry you to your quarters.’

  ‘Can you do it?’ I said. ‘You’re awfully thin, Haruka.’

  ‘I’m a dragonscales. I can manage.’

  ‘I’ll take the rest of you humans to your quarters; you’ve had enough excitement,’ Marque said. ‘Some of you should go back into the table . . .’

  ‘Not me,’ I said.

  ‘Let me help you home,’ Marque said, and guided the rest of the humans away.

  ‘No movement from inside,’ Maxwell said. ‘I’ll take that as positive. They need to work out what they’ll do.’ She touched Miko’s shoulder. ‘You’re a natural leader, Miko, and I think they’ll turn to you to guide them once they get over the fact that they’re not worthless after all, and they’re free.’

  ‘I hope we can work towards something good,’ Miko said.

  Maxwell nodded to us and walked away.

  ‘Graf, please stand guard on the door and call Six and Three to escort the Empress when she emerges,’ I said.

  ‘Ma’am.’ It hesitated. ‘You’ll stay as Captain of the Guard? Please say yes,’ it added under its breath.

  ‘Damn straight,’ I said. ‘Someone needs to make sure that those assholes keep their word and the goldenscales are freed.’

  Graf nearly collapsed with relief.

  ‘Come on, Miko, we need to work out where we’re going to live,’ Haruka said. ‘I don’t want to go back to Masako’s apartment.’

  ‘You can share with me,’ I said.

  He smiled down at me. ‘I may just take you up on that.’

  ‘The three of you are moving in together?’ Mum said.

  ‘We’ve been through a lot,’ I said. ‘We care for each other. It makes sense.’

  ‘Leave her with us, ma’am,’ Haruka said. ‘We’ll look after her. Right now, all of us need to rest. Marque can bring you and Oliver to visit when she wakes up.’

  ‘And Bartlett!’ I said.

  Mum kissed me on the forehead where I lay in Haruka’s arms and squeezed his hand. She bent to give Miko a hug as well. ‘I understand. Go rest. I’ll see you later.’

  Haruka hefted me and carried me down the corridor towards the Empress’ tower.

  ‘Marque, extend my quarters so that Haruka has space there,’ I said.

  ‘I’m adding to your quarters right now,’ Marque said. ‘I’m not sure what sleeping arrangements you want . . .’

  Haruka and I shared a horrified glance.

  ‘Separate bedrooms and sitting rooms for each of us,’ I said. ‘We’ll work it out as we go along.’ I grinned at Miko from Haruka’s arms. ‘I hope my lovely goldenscales will spend every night in my bed.’

  Miko smiled back, then glanced up at Haruka. ‘What about you, my Prince?’

  ‘I’m not your Prince, Miko,’ he said. ‘We’ve been through a lot, and the wounds are still raw. Let’s recover first, and then work out where we want to be.’

  She nodded, satisfied.

  ‘Ugh, I’m sick of this body already, it’s so small.’ Marque’s android body dissolved. ‘That’s better.’

  ‘Did you mean it about the . . .’ She nearly whispered it. ‘Baby?’

  ‘Damn straight! I want to attune a new soulstone first – but as soon as that is done, we’re starting a family.’

  Haruka carried me into my quarters, which now had a large shared living room, kitchen and dining area with three doors leading from it. One of the doors lit up.

  ‘This way,’ Marque said.

  Haruka took me through with Miko following, and we were in the living room of my original apartment with the windows overlooking the square. Haruka placed me to sit in the middle of the bed, then sat on the edge and put his head between his knees, gasping for air.

  Miko crouched in front of him and rested her claw on his thigh. ‘You haven’t recovered either,’ she said. She touched his cheek and they gazed into each other’s eyes; she had obviously cared deeply for him for a long time, and he was clearly humbled that he’d known her for years without recognising her brilliance.

  He took her claw from his face and held it. ‘I’ll live.’

  ‘You need to rest,’ she said.

  He rose halfway, and fell to sit again. ‘Oomph. Give me a moment.’ He put his head between his knees again. I wanted to help him, but I could barely move myself.

  ‘I’ve already transferred all your possessions into an identical room I set up here,’ Marque said. ‘I’ll help you inside.’

  Haruka looked up. ‘Identical?’

  ‘To what you had with Masako. Oh.’ Marque sounded chagrined. ‘Sorry. Tell me how you want it.’

  Haruka fell backwards and his head was in my lap. ‘Leave it for now. Why is the ceiling moving?’ He focused on me. ‘You’re spinning.’

  ‘Put him in the bed with me,’ I said to Miko.

  ‘But you two wanted to . . . you know,’ he said. He raised his head slightly. ‘And I don’t . . . well. Not right now. Not with . . .’ He dropped his head. ‘Everything is spinning.’

  ‘It can wait, my Prince . . . dear Haruka,’ she said. ‘Jian and I have our whole lives.’ She lowered her voice and spoke with wonder. ‘A baby . . . a family.’

  ‘Marque, help him into the bed,’ I said.

  Haruka’s kimono lifted from him. He wore plain white cotton shorts underneath, and his once impressive physique was pale skin stretched over prominent bones. Miko lifted the covers, and Marque shifted Haruka so that he was next to me. Miko put the covers back and ran her claw over his face, then reached to do the same for mine. ‘I’m so glad you’re both safe.’

  I waved one hand at her. ‘In.’

  ‘I don’t want . . .’ Haruka began. ‘If you’re going to . . .’

  ‘Sleep,’ I said. ‘Rest. Nothing more.’ I yawned widely and wiggled down under the covers. ‘I can barely stay awake.’

  ‘Oh.’ He turned over and wrapped one arm around me, spooning into my side. ‘That works.’ He raised his head. ‘Miko? Hugs here if you want them.’

  The mattress shifted as Miko joined us on the other side of me. She wrapped her claws around me and took Haruka’s hand with one of them.

  Marque dimmed the lights. ‘I’ll put you on “do not disturb” for a few hours.’

  ‘Monitor their life signs; they’re still very weak,’ Miko said.

  ‘I am.’

  ‘Marque, when we wake up, have some pork belly in soy, chicken katsu, toro, rice and steamed greens waiting for us,’ I said.

  ‘And a big fat steak,’ Haruka said sleepily into my shoulder. ‘Huge plate of assorted sushi. Did you say toro?’

  ‘Lots of toro,’ I said.

  ‘Neither of you can handle more than rice broth right now,’ Marque said.

  ‘Then I’ll have the same,’ Miko said. She lowered her voice. ‘I can’t believe I’m doing this. Like an equal. With both of you.’

  ‘Get used to it,’ Haruka said. ‘You remember when you said it was enough?’

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘It is only just beginning,’ I said sleepily.

  26

  ‘Just like old times, eh, Colonel?’ Leckie said as we waited on Tomoyo’s ship for the cat flagship to drop out of warp.

  ‘We must go for a beer when this is done,’ I said, and grinned at Haruka’s reaction.

  ‘We’re all in very different places now from where we were back then,’ Leckie said, eyeing Haruka. He bowed to Miko. ‘And here’s the goldenscales Princess that everybody’s been talking about. I can’t wait to see this gating skill; it sounds really special.’


  Miko’s eyes were wide and she’d opened her mouth to object to being called a Princess, then closed it again and smiled. ‘Thank you. Jian’s told me much about her terrific team when she was in the service. I look forward to working with you.’

  He nodded to her. ‘Likewise.’

  ‘Weapons check,’ I said and ensured that my own laser gun was charged and ready.

  ‘It feels good to have something lethal to fight back with,’ Haruka said, checking his own. ‘But only use lethal force if absolutely necessary. We still have hope that we can work out a truce with them.’

  My team looked to me for confirmation.

  ‘What he said, he’s the diplomat,’ I said, and they nodded.

  Haruka popped his faceplate to reveal his perfectly made-up face. ‘Are you sure you don’t want armour like mine? Marque has some . . .’

  ‘You know what?’ I said. ‘On second thought, yeah. It looks badass.’

  I held my arms out and Marque removed my Barracks armour and fitted me with black armour similar to Haruka’s. I swung my shoulders. ‘This is so light and flexible.’

  Haruka holstered his gun and tightened the silk belt holding his two swords. ‘When we Japanese do something, we do it right.’

  I smiled sadly, thinking of Aki, then brightened because Aki was happy with a loving family. ‘Yep.’ I saw my breastplate; it was embossed with royal chrysanthemums and waves in gold. ‘Hey, I don’t get chrysanthemums.’

  ‘You definitely do,’ he said. ‘The matter is not up for negotiation.’ He flipped his faceplate closed, giving him an inhumanly beautiful carved black visage with what appeared to be four lit eyes, and spoke to me privately through comms. ‘We regularly share a bed, madam, and that is enough to make you part of the royal family.’

  ‘But we never—’

  ‘We need to deal with that as well. You and Miko are planning to have a baby together, and we will have to explain to everybody how our relationship works before people start asking me difficult questions.’

  ‘If you don’t mind me asking, Prince Haruka?’ MacAuley said, and both of us jumped. ‘How do you manage to wear mascara inside the faceplate without it going everywhere?’

  ‘Not mascara,’ Haruka said, glancing at me and probably smiling inside the armour. ‘They’re lash extensions. I can show you when we’re home, if you like. They’re a bit fiddly, but much less irritating than tints, easily removable, and as you said – mascara just goes everywhere.’

  ‘Thank you. I’d like to see.’

  ‘They’re out of warp, I’m leaving,’ Marque said. ‘I’ll reconnect when you’re back in Empire space and away from those damn nanos.’

  ‘Let’s do this,’ Griffith said with menace.

  ‘On your mark, Captain,’ Tomoyo said.

  I flipped my faceplate closed and the heads-up display appeared, similar to the one in the standard Barracks armour but with much more detail. An option appeared for basic, advanced and technical mode, and I flipped it from basic to advanced. The display swung to fill all the space around me, giving me details on everybody nearby. The cat ship was a three-dimensional wireframe outside the wall of our ship, the planet was clearly visible, and I could even see the names and locations of nearby stars.

  ‘If I know you, you just went up to advanced mode and you’re fiddling with the settings,’ Haruka said, and he flashed green in time with his voice. ‘People are waiting to head out, Captain.’

  ‘Oh, yeah. Sorry. Good to fold, Tomoyo,’ I said.

  The heads-up display changed as we folded to give me a view of the enormous cat ship, now out of warp and in orbit around the cat colony planet. It had been in warp for nine months since leaving the treaty signing, with only a couple of short visits to normal space for staff transfers that were too quick for us to connect with. Six weeks of dilated time had passed inside the ship, and I hoped the octopuses were still alive.

  I contacted the octopuses telepathically. Hello? I’m back. I’m sorry I went away, but I’d like to take you somewhere safe.

  The telepathic response was a series of confused emotions, but no words.

  Do you remember me? I said. We talked a while ago. I’ve come to take you home . . . if you remember where it is. If you don’t, we can give you somewhere safe and comfortable to stay while we find it.

  I remember you, one of them said. Can you take our children? The cats are eating us!

  Yes, of course. Where are you on the ship?

  I received a jumbled mess of watery images combined with the feeling of hard floor beneath suckers and unpleasant gravity.

  ‘I’ve found them,’ Miko said. ‘I can see them.’

  Tomoyo took out her soulstone and placed it into its cushioned container, in case the octopus weapon was used against her and killed her. ‘Gate me in, sister,’ she said.

  Miko created a gate and Tomoyo stepped into it.

  ‘That is fucking incredible,’ Leckie said with wonder. He nodded to Miko. ‘Excuse the language, Princess.’

  ‘I’ve been with Jian for a year now,’ Miko said. ‘I’m used to it.’

  ‘The gating and folding dragons complement each other,’ Haruka said. ‘Miko can see space around us and accurately send a folding dragon to scout.’

  Tomoyo returned. ‘I have the location to fold to, but I think the cats have eaten nearly all of them.’ She hesitated. ‘The one I saw doesn’t look well.’

  ‘Let’s get them out,’ I said.

  We put our hands on Tomoyo and she folded us onto the cat ship. We arrived in a room ten metres to a side that held a black rectangular pool for the octopuses. Pumps and filters worked on the side to keep the water clean. I climbed up the steps to where there was a net sitting on the edge, and looked in. One of the octopuses looked back at me – and it seemed to be the only one in the tank. It had only four tentacles remaining and it was pale blue with skin hanging off it in flaps that swayed in the water.

  I popped the faceplate. Hello, it’s me, I said. I’m so sorry – are you the only one left?

  We had babies, it said, and moved back from the edge. The side of the tank was covered in white floating spheres, the size of hen eggs, on stalks. We weren’t sure if it was the right thing to do, but you said you’d come back and take us home. I am talekeeper: I refrained from having babies so I could stay and tell them who we are. Everybody else is gone.

  We can take you to a safe place away from the cats, but I need your permission.

  Can you take the babies?

  Yes.

  Thank you! Yes! Please . . . save us!

  ‘Cats coming,’ Miko said. ‘Three of them. We’ve activated a movement sensor that tells them when the octopuses leave the tank.’

  Do you know where your home planet is? I said.

  What’s a planet?

  Can you show us what the stars look like at your home?

  What are stars? You keep saying things I don’t understand! Can we just go, please?

  The cats opened the door and my colleagues took them down without killing them, leaving them stunned on the deck.

  I stepped back from the tank. ‘Tomoyo, can you put the whole thing on your ship? We’ll work out where they’re from later.’

  ‘Sure thing, Captain.’

  The rest of the team guarded the door while Tomoyo put her claw on the tank and folded it out. Miko created a gate, we all stepped into it, and we were back on Tomoyo’s ship. She folded us back into Empire space.

  I went to the edge of the tank and the remaining octopus looked up at me with its huge intelligent eyes.

  We’re away from them, you’re safe, I said. What do you eat? There wasn’t any food near the tank.

  I am in non-food stage, it said. I will live long enough to teach the babies, then stop living.

  ‘It’s dying. It will teach the babies when they hatch, then die.’ I looked up. ‘Marque, can you nourish it and keep it alive past the eggs hatching? Extend its lifespan?’

  ‘It’s dying of old
age,’ Marque said. ‘I can’t extend its life without attuning a soulstone, and I don’t think these people live long enough to do it. Perhaps I can extend the lives of future generations.’

  ‘I see.’ I turned back to the tank and leaned on it. We will find your homeworld, I said. We will return these babies to their families, and make sure the cats never harm you again.

  I don’t understand what families are, but it would be good to see them home. The octopus gracefully flowed over the eggs, using its tentacles to groom them clean. They will hatch soon, it said. I am glad they will be safe.

  ‘Will you be able to provide food for the babies when they hatch?’ I asked Marque.

  ‘I shouldn’t have much trouble working back from their biochemistry,’ it said.

  Show me a picture of what you eat, I said to the octopus.

  Its reply was slow. They will hatch soon. It showed me four-legged crabs with green shells, and flowing sea slugs in rainbow colours. The creatures swam through shallow water with shifting sunlight rippling through it. The octopuses lived in gathered rock villages, and I saw them cultivating crabs and clams in rocky enclosures.

  Your home is beautiful, I said.

  The octopus didn’t reply, but the air around me filled with deep, grey grief.

  ‘Oh, I felt that,’ Tomoyo said.

  ‘I felt it too,’ Griffith said. ‘And I’m not an empath.’

  ‘The water in the tank is very similar to Pacifica’s; I’m telling the Pacificans about the octopuses,’ Marque said. ‘The people of Pacifica offer them asylum.’

  A blue-skinned Aquatic man folded onto the ship with a dragon I didn’t know. He had a similar curvy body shape to Merry, long purple hair, and a neat purple goatee. He wore a Pacifica swimming bodysuit with the breathing tube in his throat.

  He smiled around at us. ‘Hello, I’m Rin Merrysson. This is my dragonspouse, Umeko.’ He nodded to me. ‘Captain.’ He turned to the tank. ‘Marque, can you lift me in carefully so I don’t disturb the eggs?’

  ‘You’re too big,’ Marque said. ‘You’d damage them.’