Heaven Saga 2: Sands of Aquarius (8 page)

He
noticed that they were staring at him. “I think that’s the queue for a story. But
first, I should go get my armor.” He left the room for a moment then returned
with his armor on. With the snap of his fingers holograms started appearing. “For
my first story for you afternoon is actually a pair called the Iliad and the
Odyssey. Later tonight, I think the Arthurian Legends will do fine.”

“What
stories are these?” Seles asked.

“All
of these are fictional in nature, but you’ll notice many moral questions and
tests. These are two of the ancient stories of fantasy from my world. I hope
they don’t bore you.”

Valis
stood outside the Avoni, stopping to gaze up at her ship.
I’ll be back in a
few days girl.
She thought as she walked over to a transport ship. Zae sat
in the front programming their flight route. Valis sat next to Zae and sighed
with resignation.

“You
look tired,” Zae remarked as she flew the transport off the ground.

Valis
stared out at the city. “I hate leaving my ship. By the way, why are you my
pilot?”

Zae
flew the craft towards the Kein estate. “You probably don’t know this Valis,
but I have no family on Dega Jul. Nor do I have many friends. Since I have
nothing else to do I thought I’d fly you home.”

“You
never were the type to have many friends,” Valis said.

Zae
shrugged her shoulders. “It’s the same with you. But that may have changed
lately with the addition of a certain second officer on the Avoni.”

“You’re
talking about Brian,” Valis said. “You should get to know him better, I’m sure
you’d like him a lot.”

“I
know him well enough,” Zae said. “He said I could play around on the Mjolnir
while he’s on leave. I figured that would be a good way to spend my time off.”

“Sounds
better than what I have to do,” Valis said, shrugging her shoulders. “Not only
do I have to line up our next job but I have to meet with my incorrigible
grandmother.”

“You’ve
never spoken of Veda in an endearing way.”

Valis
stared out the window. “Tell me, have you ever gotten angry about Brian taking
your position on the Avoni?”

“In
the beginning I was. But after seeing him in battle I can tell why you took him
in. My plans for the future will be put off for a few years, but not many. Kivi
will have enough money in a few years to buy her own ship. When the time comes
Brian and I will slide into first and second officer roles respectively.” Zae
flew the transport towards a set of white palatial estates with greenery all
around it.

“Looks
like after six years everything’s completed,” Valis said.

Zae
landed the shuttle in an open field near the palace. Around them were many
servants as well as a number of guards. Valis noticed the finely dressed matron
heading towards the transport. Veda was of similar build to Valis, with long
dark blue hair and aquamarine eyes. Her face showed a little bit of age. She
wore a blue dress that lightly covered her near perfect figure.

“Zae,
take care of the ship while I’m gone,” Valis said as she got up to go outside.

“I
will,” Zae said as the door closed behind Valis.

Veda
walked slowly to her granddaughter, smiling at the sight of Valis. When she got
close she hugged Valis.

“It’s
been far too long since we last saw each other Valis,” Veda said, clasping
Valis’s hands and looking into her eyes.

“Two
years. Being the captain of a star ship tends to take up most of one’s time,”
Valis said as the two broke hands and started walking towards the palace. The
guards left the area as the transport took off, leaving the two alone.

“I
remember,” Veda said. “I was once an admiral myself.”

Valis
looked around at the gardens, fountains, and buildings. “It looks like the
estate is complete.”

“Indeed,”
Veda said. “It’s taken us six years but now it’s finished.” The pair stopped in
a garden, surrounded by palm trees and flowers, with a large white water
fountain at the center. “So tell me Valis, what’s he like?”

“Are
you talking about Brian?”

Veda
laughed. “Who else would I be speaking of? Unless you’ve taken to liking Minans
or Malcovin what else would I be talking about?”

Valis
picked a crimson flower with thorns. “He’s a good man. Far better than I thought
a Terran ever would be. He’s taken to the role of
Rakna Maigar
to honor
our people.”

“But
he’s not a true
Maigar
Valis. Being Terran he could never play that
role,” Veda said with prejudice dripping in every word.

“What
do you mean by that?” Valis asked. “He completed the ritual and was confirmed
by a
Reiniere
. Why would being Terran bar him in your eyes?”

“His
heart is Terran.” Veda stared down Valis. “His heart is savage, vile. Terrans
are war crazed brutes incapable of civilization. If you’re not careful, he’ll
kill you and take your ship.” She laughed to herself. “Of course, being a male,
he’s probably not smart enough to do that.”

Valis
gritted her teeth, holding back on anger. “Gaelic Kein would be sickened by
those words.”

Veda
looked at her angrily. “Never use my brother’s name so lightly Valis! Gaelic
was a fool who died because he was weak.”

“When
he spoke of freedom he was speaking of all Kalaidians, not just the women.”

“That’s
what we disagreed upon. He believed males were equal to females, a foolish
notion.” Veda laughed. “Of course, your mind would be clouded after you slept
with the creature.”

Valis
slapped Veda across the face, knocking her to the ground. “Brian’s a man of
honor, and I’ll not have you speaking of him in such a way! He alone did what
we couldn’t by freeing the serfs. You speak of concepts like freedom and
equality, but not because you believe it. He believes in freedom and equality,
not just in words but in action. You think he’s being of war and hate, but he’s
anything but that! He’s chosen to give his life up for my crew without
hesitation.” She pointed a finger at her grandmother. “Or is it that you’re
jealous of what he did? Is the fact that he freed our people and not our family!?”

Veda
sat up and wiped the blood from her lip, staring up at Valis. She stood up,
resigned. “You really are too much like my brother.”

“Are
you saying I’m a weak fool?” Valis asked angrily.

“Yes
Valis, but aren’t we all?” Veda composed herself. “We can discuss this further
at dinner. I have a number of business deals that must be dealt with this
afternoon.”

She
watched her grandmother leave before turning to the garden and walking down the
stone tiled path.
Veda is stuck in the past.
She looked up at the bright
blue sky.
Mother would have loved this place.
After a few strides Valis
entered a small white stone building with numerous works of art. But one caught
her attention more than any other. She walked up to the picture, stunned at
what it showed. The pictured showed Mira Kein, dressed in a purple dress
similar to the white one Mira wore when performing with Brian. She stood on a
stage with light shining on her and crowds of fans surrounding the stage.  At
the bottom of the picture was written: MIRA KEIN, THE ETNERAL SONG OF GAELIC.
Valis reached up to brush the picture’s face.

“No
wonder you wouldn’t tell me,” Valis said.

* * *

Valis
walked into the dining room, a massive open aired room with white walls and
columns. The table at the center was sparse with a small set of dishes near the
head. The only one sitting at the table was her grandmother. Some servants
shuffled in and escorted Valis to her seat.

Valis
sat down, noting the empty chairs. “I hope I’m not the only one here.”

Veda
laughed. “No my dear, the others will be here shortly. Our family is busy all
the time. You’d know that if you didn’t run to your star ship all the time.”

Valis
smiled. “I don’t run away, I prefer business that includes travel. Coming home
is nice once in a while though.”

“I’m
sorry for what I said to you earlier,” Veda said with reconciliation in her
voice. “I was out of place.”

“Why
the sudden change in attitude? After all, you referred to him like he was a
monster.”

“A
reference I regret, I assure you. As for the real reason,” Veda paused to take
sip of wine from her glass, “I received a message from Celestia just an hour
ago. I may have thought Celestia was a puppet and fool in the past, but the
woman’s changed.”

“Changed,
how so?”

Veda
swirled her wine. “Happiness, for the first time in my life I saw happiness in
her eyes. I also learned he declared the
Callun Kamiya
with Seles.” Veda
looked at Valis with a grin. “He had every chance to grab for power and yet
didn’t. Why?”

“I
told you before, he believes in freedom and equality. When he left for Kalaidia
Prime, I asked him what he was going to do. He showed me a copy of a document
from his homeworld, from when his country, the United States, declared their
independence. I could see in his eyes that he lived those beliefs and would do
right when he went to Kalaidia. Unlike what we’ve been told for centuries by
the older races, Terrans aren’t evil.”

“Maybe
he’s an exception.”

Valis
shook her head. “No. I’m sure Terra Prime is the home to many good people.” She
leaned forward and took a sip from her wine. “Did Celestia say anything else?”

“She
mentioned that the House of Commons will be up and running by the end of next
month. Her goal is to have a prime minister in place by the one year
anniversary.” Veda narrowed her eyes. “The man has courage Valis, I’ll give him
that. He stood before the nobles and told them what they didn’t want to hear.”

“Gaelic
would be proud. Did you know he received Gaelic’s blessing and title while on
Kalaidia?”

“Celestia
mentioned that in her message. To think my brother left behind a message for someone
he didn’t know. How could he have known Brian would appear a hundred and fifty
years after his death to succeed him?”

“I’ve
studied the works of Kali extensively and I have a theory about Brian.”

“Go
on.”

“A
little over two thousand years ago the Teacher came to our world,” Valis said. “He
said that one day he would return to us. Now, if you look at the reports of the
Original Five, the Teacher stated that the Warrior would follow him.”

“Are
you saying Brian’s the Warrior?”

Valis
took another sip of wine. “The reason I believe it is because the Five Maidens
are members of my crew.”

“What?”
Veda asked. “You and Seles, I know, but who are the others?”

Valis
felt for the mark on her inner right thigh. “As you know, I bear the mark of
the Maiden of Wisdom. Seles bears the mark as the Maiden of Passion. My
Commander, Kivi doesn’t know it, but she bears the mark of the Maiden of War.
My head medical officer, Celi, bears the mark of the Maiden of Life. I’m not
sure about the fifth, so I’ll have to check into it, but I’m confident she’s
onboard as well.”

Veda
closed her eyes. “That isn’t possible Valis. The only one of our family to bear
that mark was my brother’s only daughter, Mira Kein. She died long ago and was
far too young to have born any children.”

“What
was Mira like?”

Veda
smiled with nostalgia in her eyes. “Never before have I seen a girl so born to
sing. Her voice echoed like the goddess herself and her beauty was unmatched. If
she had lived her name would be legendary. Mira was a once in a thousand years
talent, combining the best of all things.” She sipped her drink. “I remember how
my brother was after her death. Sadness beyond despair, it was like an ocean of
tears.”  Valis sat with her grandmother in silence for a moment, hearing
nothing by the wind.  “The past is the past and nothing can change it.” She
shook away the tears before turning to Valis. “I’d better change the subject or
I’m going to cry my heart out.”

“Alright,
I have a way. Tell me what the job is.”

“Always
the businesswoman,” Veda said. “Don’t you ever find the time to relax?”

Valis
leaned forward and whispered into Veda’s ear. “The last night before I leave
Dega Jul I have an appointment alone with Brian. I should feel nice and relaxed
after that.”

Veda
sat back, shocked. “That’s disgusting!”

“You
wouldn’t say that after you spent a night with him.”

Brian
stood up and stretched. “I think it’s about time for me to get some sleep,” he
said as he stepped out of his armor.

The
four girls each took a turn to say, “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight
ladies,” he said as the door close behind him, leaving the girls to themselves.