Alien Courage (Rise of the Empress) (8 page)

A hand gently rested on Brakin’s shoulder. He looked
up and saw his wife
Una
. Tears welled in his eyes. He
jumped up and hugged her. His relief was immense but quickly turned to horror.
She explained in sobs that their daughter, Deewa was missing, taken by the
Beclin.

In the confusion created by the surprise of
Url’s
counter attack, he had killed the Beclin leading the
raiding party and most of other Beclin panicked and ran. Those that stayed
died. Nearly all of the village’s men were out hunting and will not to be back
for some time. The Beclin had chosen their time well.

Brakin was a respected village elder and was regarded
by many as their new Chief. The prior Chief died a short time earlier, frozen
to death along with his two sons caught in a fierce storm while hunting.

Brakin led his wife into the back room in the meeting
hall and consoled her. Other villagers were gathering as more were coming out
of hiding. “Take two other women and see to
Url
,” he
told his wife, “Url would probably respond more to a woman at this moment. Then
come back to me,” he said greatly concerned over his daughter.

Brakin needed time to gather what men he could. He
walked outside to assess the village. He reasoned his daughter was taken not so
much as a female captive; she was too young but possibly as an object of ransom
or as bait to set an ambush for those that followed. His hate for the Beclin
grew inside him like a fever. He looked around him and saw many women, children
and the old. His anger now grew above his sadness.

Brakin quickly realised there was only a few men of
warrior age in the village and returned to meeting hall.

“
Una
!”
Brakin shouted.

His wife rushed to him. “What is it my husband,” she
said very concerned standing in front of him. “Settle my husband, it is I,
Una
” she said softly now hugging him. “Tell me.”

“I need to know if what I do is as it should be with
you,” Brakin told his wife concerned that to follow the Beclin often resulted in
walking into an ambush. It was a favoured tactic to lure the men out of a
village into a trap.

“Get Deewa back. I care not who dies, kill those who
took her”
Una
said but pleaded, “bring her back to
me.”

A woman rushed up to them, her eyes full of panic.
”It’s
Url
, he’s gone!”

Brakin rushed into the meeting hall, quickly looked,
and then rushed outside. He saw a fresh set of tracks heading north to Beclin
country. He felt a tug on his arm and turned. His wife handed him his travel
bag quickly packed with as much food and supplies as could be found. Two other
men who had just returned to the village ran to their lodges and quickly
returned with their travel bags filled with supplies.

“I will take care of everything here,”
Una
said comforting her husband. Brakin took off his glove
and placed his hand on her face. Her touch was warm and he felt the harshness
of his skin on her soft flesh. She reached up and pressed his hand against her
face and closed her eyes.

“I will return with our daughter,” he promised. She
opened her eyes and looked into his, a moment passed between them no words
could describe. He removed his hand softly, turned and ran following
Url’s
footprints. The two Warriors quickly followed him and
the three of them ran with avenging steps between the tall snow covered
conifers.

The Administrator sat uneasily. The chair might be a
priceless artefact but it was not comfortable. He looked around to see if more
appropriate seating was available when suddenly the door opposite him opened.
He jumped up and stood smartly to attention.

The door remained half open but no one came out. He
couldn’t help but think they sure do take their time here. His thought was
interrupted when the most stunningly beautiful woman he has ever seen
gracefully glided through the door and into the corridor. She stopped a short
distance from him. Her smile was completely captivating. He stood frozen to the
spot.

Empress Lacerta stood there motionless and held her
smile. Thousands of years of selective breeding and Trigealian permitted
genetic engineering went into not only her beauty and body but also her
demeanour. She knew the influence she had especially on males and had learned
well the lessons of female persuasion. She played her role in the Imperial
Court like a swordsman uses his blade.

The Administrator swallowed and found it difficult to
avert his eyes. Her long flowing ruby red hair fell perfectly around her
flawlessly copper toned skin. Her eyes were slightly almond shaped and blazed
deep emerald. Her dress of pure
Aldrecian
silk flowed
effortless over her perfectly shaped female form and matched the colour of her
eyes perfectly.

The Administrator tore his way out of his trance and
bowed.

“Thank you”, the Empress said with a voice as silky as
her dress.

“I am your servant, my Empress.”

“You have caused quite a commotion within the Palace,”
she said almost seductively. “The Mandates of Almogest have for many years been
regarded much like a parent regards fairy tales as truth for their children. No
one realised they still possessed the power of the Court. Even the Emperor has
had to recognise their magnitude and legal standing. You’ve had our scholars in
quite a spin trying to nullify the request. I’m sure they will eventually close
down their use to access to the Imperial Court, but at the moment, here you
are.” She allowed her smile to linger on her lips.

“I had no idea the Security Chief of Ennack would go
to such lengths, my Empress. The matter he empowered me with is one of
importance and the Emperor he believed should be informed.” He replied with a
bowed head.

“The Emperor is very busy as you would appreciate. I
manage certain affairs as part of my Imperial duties. This matter surely can be
diverted from the Emperor’s demanding schedule. You would surely grant him that
freedom? The Empress asked with the most persuasive voice the Administrator has
ever heard. His eyes flickered.

“Forgive me Empress,” the Administrator said now
feeling a little more at ease but fully aware of the power of this woman. He
knew his next statement would not be appreciated but played his hand. “I do not
understand the complexities of Imperial procedures and doctrines but I am conversant
with security and the Confederacy’s desire to minimise all threats. I have
already been scanned once over this matter and expect Trigealian intervention
of some degree to result, pending their investigation of course.”

The smile vanished from the Empress’s face. She
remained outwardly composed but seethed with anger at the possibly of being
involved with anything to do with the Trigeals and their terrible scans, the
immunity from scans for the Imperial family had been questioned many times. Her
life was hers and even at the mere suggestion someone might learn what she had
in her memories shocked her. Her mind worked as it always did and she
immediately saw danger in the man in front of her. Her curiosity had gotten the
better of her. The best way to handle this matter is to have it processed
quickly she decided, let the Emperor deal with this problem. She was now
annoyed with herself for becoming involved at all, something she did rarely –
miscalculate. The Captain was right after all, she thought.

“I can appreciate and sympathise with your
circumstances. You must be confused with all these Imperial procedures. I will
have my maid see to your comfort. Your matter will be dealt with directly as
the Mandates require. Thank you for your duty to the Confederacy,” the Empress
said smoothly.

The Administrator felt relief, “Thank you Empress, my
humble duty is to serve and protect the Confederacy.” The Administrator bowed
and when he straightened he noticed an android maid against the wall looking at
him. He suddenly realised it had been there the whole time. The android had the
ability to camouflage and blend itself into any surrounding.

The Empress turned and disappeared through the door.
It was then he noticed the subtle fragrance of exquisite perfume.  The
android approached and motioned the Administrator to follow her. They walked
down the corridor and around the corner. They went through a single door into a
small but well appointed room. There were electronic communication devices of
many kinds as well as adjoining sleeping quarters. Food and beverage dispensers
lined one of the walls.

“Please wait and be comfortable here. Is there
anything you desire?” The android asked.

“No thank you,” the Administrator replied.

“If there is anything you find that you do desire,
please activate this switch,” the android said pointing to a switch on the wall
beside the door.  The android had been programmed to leave as it had
learned earlier this man was uncomfortable having a female android around him.
The android left the room.

The Administrator made himself some hot tea and sat in
one of the comfortable chairs in front of a communication console. He knew
everything he transmitted and received would be monitored but this did not
trouble him. He set to work handling the logistical day to day affairs of
running the Academy. The work kept his mind busy but like all Norfians he left
no incomplete tasks.

He checked the Academy duty log and activity report.
There was no reply from the Galactic Command except that they had received his
report. The Priests had not done a T334 Robot Pilot check or any administrative
or maintenance actions. They were probably due at the end of the next two time
frames. They did not do their work on any set or predictable schedule which
annoyed the Administrator.

He brought up a report concerning the Security Chief.
He was admitted to Ennack’s security medical facility. His memory was missing,
he could not be scanned. The Administrator knew that most of his memory would
return eventually and was content that his actions drugging his tea may have
actually saved the man’s life. Once the Priests and Trigeals learned of the
Security Chief’s men’s action of entering the Academy area armed and
unauthorised within the vicinity of the T334s he was certain to be negatively
intervened, the same fate that may well befall
himself
.
He concentrated on his present course of action. Not having his arm console at
this moment denied him access to the vast database stored in the calcium of his
skeletal system. 

There was a light tap on the door and the
administrator stood and activated the door opening device. He expected the
android maid. Suddenly he stood before the Emperor.

The Emperor smiled a greeting.

“I thought you might enjoy using these facilities. We
have business to discuss regarding the Mandates of Almogest. Is that correct?”
The Emperor said plainly in a matter of fact voice.

The Administrator was more than surprised as before
him stood the most powerful man in the Confederacy. He was dressed simply in a
Space Command uniform with no rank insignia. His features were as he expected
per the images broadcast in the media, a tall lean framed man with deep set
blue eyes and strong chin. He had a look of true dignity. The Administrator
immediately liked him. He also saw a man whose life was not his own. Duty and
protocol consumed the very essence of his existence.

“Sir,” the Administrator said saluting. “I have been
requested by…”

“Please,” the Emperor said walking past the
Administrator into the room and going straight to the beverage dispenser. “You
are the first person in the history of the Confederacy to ever gain an audience
with the Emperor in such a short period of time,” the Emperor chuckled. “Well
not exactly, a few enemies have been a little quicker. However, Empress Lacerta
insisted I conclude your visit to the palace. That is quite a feat you have
achieved.”

“Sir’ I wish no disrespect but the method by which I
am here is quite a surprise to me as well,” the Administrator answered.

The Emperor made himself a hot beverage and sipped it.
He looked at the Administrator and recalled his briefing of his man. There was
nothing special he
could see
nor wished to see. He was
simply a military man running a high level training facility.