Celestial Love (3 page)

The window screen was deactivated and the real sunset faded into night as they roused.  Bryan remained asleep but now it was due to natural exhaustion from the trip and not a sedative. 

“Sorry we startled you.”  Edward said as the guards and Leo looked to one another for an explanation.  They turned their attention to Edward as he continued.  “The sound that startled you must have been one of the med lab techs in the next room.  Someone must have dropped something.”

Just then a downcast lab tech in a soiled uniform entered the room.  In a quiet voice he addressed Dr. Wingate and after a brief comment that sounded like a scolding the tech bowed and left.

Edward then explained.  “It seems I was partially right.  The lab tech did cause the disturbance but unfortunately he didn’t drop a tray he actually managed to overload a machine and it…uhmm…how do you say suddenly opened?”  Edward looked frustrated and waved his arms to try to explain.

“It exploded?” Leo asked.

“Yes, exploded, well not really but that idea on a smaller scale. It caused the loud sound and covered the tech in samples.  Unfortunately, it would seem that it was at least a week’s worth of work that was ruined.”  Heaving a great sigh Edward shook his head in disgust.

Nodding
, the men looked back to where Bryan lay sleeping.  Before Edward or Dr. Wingate could explain why the sound hadn’t roused him, Leo spoke.  “He always could sleep through anything.  I thought he was getting better but he must be more tired than I realized.  It’s probably all the stress.  I know he didn’t sleep well on the trip here.”  Shrugging he turned back to Edward.  “I am sorry to say that I will need an escort back to my quarters.  I don’t remember the way.”

“That’s not a problem; I will get someone to escort you.  However, because his Highness is sleeping so soundly, perhaps we should let him rest here and move him to his quarters when he awakens?” Edward suggested.

“Then the escort can return with the relief guard.  That will give me time to get his things put away.”  Leo nodded and turned to the closest guard and together they followed Edward to go for the escort.

Within thirty minutes the additional guards arrived with dinner.  They were left alone with the Crown Prince and the night passed without incident.

The dark of night gave way slowly to the dawn of a new day.  As the sunlight brightened the room Bryan awoke.  With a yawn and stretch he opened his eyes and then suddenly sat straight upright on the bed.

“You are secure, Sir.”  Nathan, the captain of the guard and Bryan’s longtime friend, spoke from the door as Bryan
’s head turned to find him as he spoke.

“Where are we?” Bryan asked as he looked around.

“Estar Beta, Sir, in the Med Lab.  Last night after the vaccinations you fell asleep on the exam table. Leo and Edward felt it was easier to let you sleep than to wake you.”  Nathan’s voice never changed but Bryan new the truth.  When he was awakened in the night his demeanor closely resembled all historical descriptions of a bear – an angry bear.

“Is Edward available?  I wish to go to my quarters and prepare for the day.”

“As you wish, Your Highness.  Just one moment.”  With that Nathan exited in search of Edward, and Bryan walked to the window to watch this new world greet the dawning of a new day.

Within moments Edward and Nathan returned and they were soon on their way.  E
dward, having noticed that the prince liked being outside, took the slightly longer route to the palace through the gardens instead of the shorter route back through the shuttle bay.

Bryan was fascinated by the sights and sounds of the gardens.  He didn’t recognize any of the birds or small animals
, although one furry little one, reminded him of a squirrel hologram that he had seen in school.  Much too soon for him, they reached the palace.

Again his thoughts focused on the reason that he was here.  A multitude of questions about what the day would bring flew across his mind
, like the birds he had just enjoyed outside.  If he had known that he wouldn’t see the princess until the wedding, he would have relaxed some but instead he was rather nervous.  Though his expression was relaxed, Nathan spotted the instant Prince Bryan slipped into his political facade.  After all, Nathan had helped him develop it.

Edward led the way up two grand flights of stairs from the main entrance and then down a long lightly decorated corridor to the right.  As they neared the end of the corridor Edward stopped before a door on the r
ight and turned to address the prince.

“Your Highness
, these are your chambers.  There are two entrances, one through Leo’s room and one from your private sitting room here at the end of the corridor, which you will share with Princess Kalea after the wedding.  Currently, that door is locked, so we must enter here,” he said gesturing to the door behind him. “If you would please follow me?”

Edward opened the door and stepped aside as Bryan and his guard entered.  Leo appeared from one of the adjacent doors and bowed.

“I have given your schedule for the weekend to Leo.  If you have any questions, please use this to contact me.” Edward explained as he held out an AVID wrist communicator specifically designed for the prince.

Bryan turned and then motioned Leo to accept it as he continued to take in the room.  It was much smaller than he would have anticipated.  With simple furnishings in warm
but masculine tones it was comfortable but didn’t seem quite right.  There were no windows. Just a cushioned bench along the far wall, a desk to the right and a small table and chairs to the left.  The dark colored rug under the table and the animal pictures on the walls were nice but simple.  Just as he was about to ask which of the two doors in the room lead to the bedroom, Leo spoke.

“Your rooms are through the door to your left, Your Highness.”

Bryan started in that direction when he remembered about his schedule.  Turning he addressed Leo. “What is on my schedule for today?” his voice was calm and smooth, too smooth.

“A tour of the palace
and grounds whenever you wish, Your Highness, and meals are available either in your chambers or in the garden.  It is, of course, your preference.” Leo answered, thankful to whoever made the schedule that the wedding wasn’t until the next evening.

“If you have anything else that you wish to do
, please let me know and I will see if we can accommodate you.” Edward added quickly when the prince didn’t respond immediately.

Looking at them Bryan noticed the
AVID communicator that Leo was holding. Walking toward them he said, “No. The schedule seems fine for today.  Leo and I will discuss the rest later and let you know.  How does this work?” he asked.

Edward raised his arm and displayed his own
AVID as he explained.  “Each AVID, which is an acronym for Audio Visual Information Device, is coded to each users DNA.  Therefore it will not work unless it is on.  Simply attach it like so.”  Edward removed his and then replaced it.  When the band around his wrist was secure a small blue light glowed from the center of the device.

“You can reach either myself or Princess Kalea at this time.  We are the only ones that speak your language and so we had your communicator programmed appropriately. 
Should you wish your staff to use our system we can have them available by tomorrow afternoon.

“Admittedly these are severely limited in their function at the moment.  However, since it was our understanding that you do not read our language we strove for simplicity.

“To reach me simply…well here if you would be so kind as to put it on you will see it more clearly.”  Adjusting the band on Bryan’s arm Edward watched as the small blue light showed it was active.  “To activate the AVID simply use this gesture.” Edward said as he flicked his wrist to activate his as an example.

“There, see the green light?  Just press that and you will reach me anytime day or
night.”  Edward smiled as the prince’s eyes focused on the pink light.  “Yes, as you must have guessed the pink light is for Princess Kalea.  However she has asked that you not communicate with her until after the wedding tomorrow night.  Please understand, she is very busy with wedding preparations and guests at the moment.”  Lowering his voice a little he added.  “And I do believe she is also a bit nervous.”  Edward smiled and then continued in his normal tone.

“Anyway
, due to her request, should you accidentally press her button, it will also reach me, until tomorrow after the wedding.”  Edward shrugged, conveying that he had no control of this and hoped that it wouldn’t be a problem.

“Thank you Edward and yes I do believe these devices would be helpful for my staff as well.  I am not sure how you will get enough lights on them but I am sure you have a solution.”  Bryan’s voice showed that he was not offended by the simplicity of his
AVID but that he expected an upgrade very soon.

“Very good,
Sir.  We will get on it first thing this evening.  The others, as well as your current one, can also be voice activated, but the system is not fully programmed for your language.  My apologies.  However, I was assured that it would be ready by tomorrow evening.”

“Good, now
, I don’t believe we will need your services for about an hour or so.  Should something come up we will call you.  Good day.” Bryan gave a slight nod and then turned back toward the door that Leo had indicated earlier.

Edward bowed and then left as
he flicked his wrist and activated his AVID communicator. Leo noticed the holographic image that appeared above Edwards hand as he began tapping rapidly on the bottom of the image as he exited. Realizing the communicators did far more than they had been told but deciding to worry about it later, Leo closed the door and smiled.  Crown Prince Bryan was in fine form today. Turning, Leo followed after Prince Bryan hoping the prince liked his rooms better than he had his own.

Bryan was pleased to find that his rooms were much more to his liking.  His main b
ed chamber was at the end of a short hall-type closet that connected his room to Leo’s.  With room for clothing on either side it was rather large for a closet but short for a hallway.

The bed was large and looked comfortable
.  There was a cushioned bench at the foot of the bed which he suspected was also a storage unit.  The bed rested against a wall with a door on the far side.  Glancing around, he saw another door.  Located beside the closet, it was clearly the bathroom with a deep tub and other normal bath fixtures.  Two draped walls began where the wall to the bathroom ended and extended to the corner and then back toward the wall the bed and door were on.

Walking around the bed he found the door locked
. Thinking this door led to Princess Kalea’s room or sitting room, Bryan left it alone.  Turning back toward the bed he noticed yet another door, this one at an angle between the closet and the wall that the bed was on.  After testing it he discovered that it too was locked.  Thinking that it must lead to the sitting room and the other directly to her bed chamber, Bryan took a deep breath and turned back toward Leo’s room.

Leo was standing in the doorway
, and seeing the look on Bryan’s face he simply waited.  Bryan didn’t say or do anything right away he just stared at some imaginary point on the wall beside Leo.

Shaking himself mentally back to the moment, Bryan looked around and noticed the draped walls again.  Pointing he asked, “Why
did they decorate the walls like that, I wonder?”

“
They are windows, Your Highness,” Leo explained as he walked toward the small table beside the bed.  He bent slightly and pushed a button.  The textured green floor to ceiling curtains began to open and the sight drew their attention like a magnet.

Bryan stepped closer to the window at the foot of the bed as the curtains parted revealing a panoramic view that seem
ed to go forever to the horizon.  There were no cross frames or bars to obstruct the view; it was just one giant sheet of clear glass.  Reaching out his hand Bryan jumped back when he felt the bite of the energy field.

“Sorry
, Your Highness.  I forgot to explain. The window is reinforced with an energy field so that it cannot be broken.  It is a safety feature, please forgive me.” Leo apologized.

“No need Leo
, I should have known.  My, what an amazing view!” Bryan replied still taking in the lush garden with flowers, trees and fountains.  Looking farther out, the gentle rolling slope disappeared into dense forest for as far as the eye could see.  Light danced on the blue surface of a distant pond.  Slowly walking over to the other window he saw a deep ravine, and then a distant valley. Looking down, Bryan saw that the Palace was located only a few meters from the edge of a steep cliff.  His room, on the third level, added to the distance but also increased the view.  Suddenly a shuttle appeared below and like a flash it turned to the left and darted up and over the valley walls in the distance and was gone.

“There must be an entrance to the shuttle bay in the
cliff below.” Bryan murmured as he watched the shuttle disappear.

“Yes Sir.” Leo answered softly.
“But I was informed that access is restricted and defenses are in place to protect the palace.”