Once Upon a Star

by Anthea Sharp

  “There are much warmer layers packed in your trunks, Daughter,” Estrelle’s mother drawled. “Your great uncle tells me Kaul is months away from its warm season and that Yssa is a far less warm star than Staerra. I hope you do not freeze to death in your new home.”

  At least the smile Estrelle offered her indifferent mother was genuine. She had to be the only Parsan who detested the heat. In fact, she was looking forward to engaging in what Damryn had described as a game of clumping the fallen ice crystals together and hurling them at passersby. Estrelle would miss her home, and the tears streaking down her face proved as much as she kissed her siblings farewell, but she would do her duty and marry the prince who had charmed her heart far more than any other man ever had.

  The airfield was located a few miles from her family’s estate, but it didn’t take Estrelle and AIRA, her artificial intelligence robotic assistant, long to reach it. Commerce was slow that morning, but Estrelle imaged business would soon pick up once her marriage with Prince Damryn was official and the trade documents were signed. She smiled a little to herself. If she had not grown so fond of her erstwhile pen pal over the past months, the vast opportunities her marriage offered Parsa’s people would have convinced her.

  With a light heart, Estrelle exited the terrestrial transport and followed AIRA as the droid sped toward a solitary star cruiser awaiting its passengers. Not nearly as massive as a deep space vessel, the cruiser appeared sleek and swift, a shuttle meant to transport people and goods within the same solar system. A ramp descended from the rear of the ship, and AIRA quickly climbed the incline, her treads gripping the walkway and propelling her forward with a whir.

  “Welcome aboard the Hadron Five,” a giant of a man boomed from the entry.

  He had to duck in order to clear the low ceiling, but his smile was friendly if his visage suggested otherwise. At least eight feet in height, he was bare from the waist up and sported skin more closely resembling soft scales than smooth flesh. Two sets of canines flashed as he smiled again, and his eyes reminded Estrelle of one of the fierce desert lizards populating her planet. A Garsinian, if she guessed right. One of the famed warriors from the other side of the galaxy. Regardless of their reputation, she offered him her own cheerful grin. Garsinians were only dangerous when engaged in a fight and right now this one was as calm and placid as her sister’s sand tiger kitten.

  “I am called Farn. Sometimes Captain Niata carries precious cargo, and it is helpful to have me on board should we encounter any trouble. And you, Princess Estrelle, most definitely fall into that category.”

  For what he lacked in beauty, Farn made up for in charm, and Estrelle was immediately put at ease. Once their travel bags were stowed and both princess and the AIRA unit were settled comfortably in the passenger cabin, Captain Niata emerged from the cockpit and introduced herself. Her skin tone was not the rich bronze of Estrelle’s, and she kept her long, sleek black hair pulled up into a whip-like braid. The slant and vibrant violet color of her eyes hinted at a Kaantian heritage, but Estrelle guessed her ancestors, like Parsa’s, had descended from humans.

  “I’m Captain Dari Niata, and I will be transporting you to the capital city of Kaul. The journey will take about a week, and I hope you will find the trek both enjoyable and comfortable.”

  After introductions, the captain and her assistant disappeared onto the ship’s control deck, and Estrelle pulled out her Glasslight. She had uploaded several digital novels onto the device before leaving home, but she wanted first to read through Damryn’s letters one last time.

  “What,” AIRA asked in a sardonic tone, “you don’t have those letters memorized yet?”

  “Hush, you,” Estrelle chastised with a blush that darkened her sun-browned skin. “I’m checking to see if there are any new letters.”

  If droids could roll their eyes, AIRA would have done so.

  Estrelle glanced back at her Glasslight and swiped across the screen, opening her inbox. She had only been teasing AIRA about checking her mail, but when she opened the files a new message alert popped up. Heart leaping into her throat, she tapped on the letter emblem and quickly read the short message:

  Dearest Estrelle,

  You may or may not already be on your way to Kaul, but I wanted to send you one last message in case you are able to read it before passing into the wormhole field. I wish you safe travels and am so very eager to meet you, in person, in a week’s time. Once you have had a chance to rest from your travels, I will show you the grand forest park that surrounds my home. The walking trails are beautiful, and there is such a variety of plant and animal life to view, even when the snowdrifts surpass us in height. No one else in my family, or among the nobility for that matter, enjoys the natural beauty of my world as I do, and the fact that you have an appreciation for such things makes me happy beyond measure. Until then, I will watch your star rise in the east each evening and thank the many gods of Kaul that they thought to bring us together.

  Yours truly,

  – Damryn

  Estrelle read the letter three more times, euphoria coursing through her veins with each pass. She wondered if Damryn was correct in his comment about being gods-blessed, for she agreed with him completely. She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes, trying to imagine what the vast wilderness park might look like. Not dry and barren like her home world, but lush and cool and green.

  “Thinking about your handsome prince?” AIRA buzzed as the rumble of the airship’s engines lifted them off the ground.

  “No,” she replied, “I was thinking about trees.”

  That statement gave the droid plenty to puzzle over, and as the ship sped away from her home, Estrelle dreamed and thanked the stars for this new and most welcome adventure.

  It took the Hadron Five three days to reach the wormhole field, a few minutes to pass through the proper galactic corridor, and then another two days to reach the outer atmosphere of Kaul. As the cruiser drew closer to the planet and its pale blue star, it was everything AIRA could do to keep Estrelle buckled into her seat.

  “Princess,” the AI unit intoned, voice surprisingly clear for a mechanical being, “atmospheric entry can be tumultuous at best and quite turbulent at worst. Please secure yourself properly.”

  Estrelle bit her lip and gave AIRA a mischievous glance. The droid had been her lady’s maid since Estrelle’s tenth birthday. Tackling every task from fetching tea to accessing the galaxy-wide network for information on a school project, the robot had been a doting and loyal companion for the past twelve years.

  Knowing AIRA might very well report back to her mother and great uncle, Estrelle complied and strapped herself in, then eyed the droid pensively. “Perhaps, we should trade out your all-terrain treads for some snowshoes. Kaul is covered in ice most of the year.”

  AIRA beeped in agitation. “What do you think all-terrain means, my lady?”

  That made Estrelle laugh and only a sudden jolt of the starship had her clutching the armrests and gasping in surprise.

  “Just now entering the outer reaches of the atmosphere, Princess,” Niata grunted into the speaker system. “Make sure you’re buckled in.”

  Although her seatbelt was fastened, Estrelle tugged on the straps just in case. For several minutes, the ship rocked and rattled as they hurtled through Kaul’s thick atmosphere, the brilliant flare of orange light filling the window offering a narrow view of the icy planet below.

  Just when Estrelle didn’t think she could handle the clatter of her teeth any longer, the rough passage smoothed out, the flare of entering the atmosphere dissipated, and a vast, curved sphere of blue and white filled the round window beside her seat.

  Estrelle’s mouth hung open. It was far more beautiful than the images she’d perused on her Glasslight. Towering mountains rose above the vast white plains, and deep blue pools of water – cold oceans teaming with the exotic seafood her people loved to import – spotted the globe like dark welts.

  Captain Niata’s voice cr
ackled through the speakers once more, “We’ve made it through the worst of it. Another hour or so of cruising and we should arrive at our final destination. Welcome to Kaul, Princess Estrelle.”

  “That wasn’t so bad,” AIRA commented, rotating her head to gaze at Estrelle with large, metallic eyes. “I thought it would be much wor–”

  The droid’s words halted as the ship suddenly lurched to the side. Estrelle, who had been in the process of removing her seatbelt, cried out and tightened her grip on the shoulder strap as she was nearly thrown from her seat.

  A siren screeched through the passenger cabin, and the captain’s frantic voice grated, “Remain seated and fasten your seatbelts! We’ve encountered some mechanical issues!”

  The small vessel careened to the side, then straightened. Estrelle’s heart plummeted into her stomach, and she flicked her eyes to AIRA.

  “My sensors tell me we’re descending swiftly!” the droid intoned. “Brace yourself, Princess!”

  With AIRA’s warning still ringing in her ears, the star cruiser slammed against the unforgiving surface of Kaul. Estrelle’s scream came out as a gasp, and the ship was suddenly airborne again. The jostling continued, and Estrelle’s quick glance out the window informed her they were skidding across a vast, white space.

  All around them the warning sirens blared, but only when the star cruiser finally came to a shuddering stop did Estrelle register the racket. With shaking hands, she unfastened her seatbelt and stumbled over to AIRA.

  “Are you alright?” she managed through trembling lips.

  “I am a robotic device. I am incapable of feeling pain,” the AIRA replied blandly.

  Estrelle clenched her teeth. “Are any of your parts damaged?”

  The droid turned her multi-faceted insect eyes toward her mistress. “I believe I am entirely intact. Considering the speed at which we were traveling, my initial calculations tell me we are very lucky the star cruiser did not shatter to bits when we made contact.”

  That didn’t comfort Estrelle much, but before she could contemplate it any further, the door leading to the captain’s cabin hissed open and Farn stumbled through. A cut on his forehead bled orange, but other than that, the Garsinian giant looked no worse for wear. Estrelle expected him to ask after her wellbeing, but, to her surprise, he turned and barked into the pilot’s quarters, “She’s fine.”

  Inside the cockpit, Farn and Niata exchanged heated words in a language Estrelle didn’t recognize. Confused, she stood on wobbly knees, scraped several loose locks of hair from her face, and asked, “What is going on?”

  Farn glanced over his shoulder, the friendly demeanor from earlier gone. He stared at her with fierce reptilian eyes, his mouth downturned at the corners. If there had been more space in the cabin, she would have stepped away. Niata pushed past him, snarling in that odd language again. She spied Estrelle, and the sternness from earlier hardened into something bordering malice. Estrelle’s stomach churned.

  “Secure her and the AIRA unit and take them outside.”

  Before Estrelle could protest, Farn darted forward, surprisingly swift for someone so big, and shackled her wrists with his fingers. She shouted in protest and struggled to break free, but he was just too large. The back hatch of the star cruiser slid open, and a blast of frigid air forced a gasp of shock from Estrelle. It took every ounce of energy to draw breath after Farn threw her into the snow, the cold and the impact of the fall seizing her lungs. AIRA followed, sailing through the air and landing on her side.

  “AIRA!” Estrelle cried, reaching out with trembling fingers.

  A gust of wind forced her to curl into a ball. She had longed for the cooler weather, but had not expected to be tossed into a snow bank with nothing but her leggings and sleeveless vest to protect her. Her hooded robe might have offered some comfort, but it was still in the passenger cabin.

  The crunch of boots over the ice snagged Estrelle’s attention away from her misery, and she blinked up to find cool lavender eyes assessing her.

  “The temptation to kill you with my bare hands is almost unbearable, but I think letting the elements take care of you is more fitting.”

  Estrelle’s teeth chattered as she ground out, “What are you doing?”

  “My master has wished to control this corner of the galaxy since the wormhole field was discovered, and your great uncle’s trade agreement has given him the perfect opportunity to act.”

  Estrelle pushed past the pain in her fogged brain. “What in the universe are you talking about?”

  Niata snorted and inclined her head at Farn, who disappeared back into the cruiser.

  “Oh, the marriage and the treaty will go forward as planned. We’re just switching out the players.”

  Niata grinned as a trembling ripple crawled down her face, her skin darkening, her hair growing shorter and gathering into thick locks. Estrelle watched in horror as the captain grew taller in stature, her lavender eyes growing more round and taking on a golden hue. In a matter of moments, Estrelle was staring at herself. Niata’s hand whipped up to reveal a plasma stunner. She aimed it at Estrelle, her finger applying slight pressure to the trigger, and drawled, “I’ll take good care of your prince.”

  Estrelle opened her mouth to scream her outrage, but a flash of green light, followed by head-splitting pain, stole the words from her throat. She collapsed into the frosty embrace of the snow as the world went black.

  Estrelle woke slowly, blinking several times to clear the grit from her eyes. A dark cavern roof rose far above her, and the crackle and pop of a fire tickled her ears. She gasped, moving to sit up, but an elderly voice, rough yet kind, chided, “Hush now, child. No sudden movements. We’ve just managed to thaw you out.”

  Estrelle blinked again, groaning a little when the low throb in her head became a drumbeat. The face hovering above her own was unfamiliar. Nearly-white hair fell in wisps around a wrinkled face of the palest blue, while giant azure eyes regarded her from behind a pair of thick glasses.

  “Oh, my,” the elderly woman clucked. “We get all kinds here, being located on the edge of the galaxy, but I don’t think either Izar or myself have seen anything like you!”

  She reached out a shaking hand, arthritic and just as wrinkled as her face, to finger the thick locks of Estrelle’s hair and stroke her cheek.

  “Look at this beautiful skin tone, Izar! Like freshly brewed coffee and cream! And her hair is softer than Grundal’s wool.”

  A light shuffling sound, some banging pots, and a string of what might have been grumbled curses floated from somewhere beyond Estrelle’s vision. A minute later and another wizened face, this one with pale hair much shorter than the woman’s, peered down at her.

  The man’s eyes widened as well, not as magnified as the woman’s, but also made large by glasses.

  “I do say that is lovely!” he squeaked. “Couldn’t see it earlier, could we Imai, under all that frost! You are lucky we came along when we did.”

  Estrelle struggled again to sit up, this time succeeding. She ran stiff fingers down her forearm, the action bringing a chill to her skin.

  “Ah! There go those little bumps again. It must be in response to the temperature.”

  Noticing Estrelle’s puzzled look, the woman, Imai, held out her own arms and shoved up the sleeves. “Our own skin doesn’t react that way.”

  Estrelle bit her lip. The woman’s skin was so wrinkled it was no wonder it did not react to the cold.

  “We’ve been calling you Goose Girl,” Izar stated, “because of those strange bumps, since it brings to mind a plucked goose.”

  Estrelle blinked. She wasn’t sure what a goose was, but she had a feeling their nickname wasn’t a flattering one.

  “Hush!” Imai snapped out, smacking her companion on the shoulder. “We agreed not to tell her that!” The woman sighed and grinned broadly, showing a mouth missing most of its teeth. “I am Imai, and this is my husband, Izar. We are simple scrappers living out on the fringes of society.
”

  At Estrelle’s confused look, Imai elaborated, “We make our living from gathering scrap materials discarded by those living in the capital city. That is how we came upon you. We were out scavenging after the storm.”

  “What were you doing out on the lake, child?”

  The prompt, coming from Izar this time, finally encouraged Estrelle to speak. She opened her mouth to explain, only to realize her mind was utterly blank. Her brow furrowed as she frantically searched her memory for answers.

  Eventually, she breathed, “I don’t know. I have no recollection of what happened to me. How I got here. I don’t even know where I am, really. All I know for certain is my name.”

  Izar and Imai exchanged looks.

  “And what should we call you, then?” Izar asked.

  “Estrelle.”

  “Don’t you worry, Estrelle,” Imai said eventually. “We don’t have much, but we are willing to share it with you. You look like a fine young woman, and clearly you aren’t from around here. Someone is bound to come looking for you eventually.”

  Estrelle nodded, but some deeply imbedded instinct told her that, despite her hosts’ optimistic outlook, she was all alone in this strange, unfamiliar place.

  “Imai!”

  The sudden shout from Izar made Estrelle jump, and she almost overturned her tray of tools.

  “Imai, look what I found out on the lake!”

  The door slammed shut behind him, cutting off the sound of an approaching storm. He was out of breath, his pale eyes wild as he stumbled into the main living area, dragging in snowdrifts behind him.

  Imai, who had been busy all morning painstakingly piecing together some of the scraps she and Estrelle had salvaged from the dump area the day before, blinked up at him and rolled her eyes.

  “Are you trying to frighten us to death with your squawking?”