Kate stepped past the threshold and into the council chamber.
The oval room had vaulted ceilings with seven skylights, the beams shining down on each member. At the center of the room was an intricate, wooden inlay on the floor. A mix of cherry, oak, ash and willow that flowed together to create the image of a tree with roots as prominent as the branches that seemed to reach out to each member of the council.
Kate’s mother, Sun Alexander, was the council chair. She was a tall, thin woman with strong features. Her long brown hair was always in place, never left to blow in the wind or fall into her eyes. Today it was braided and pinned up, just like Kate’s.
To her right was Kate’s father, William. He commanded the military and the family. He was the only man Kate had known to never bow to her mother. He was the greatest warrior in the Alexander clan, and he taught Kate how to fight.
To Sun’s left sat the family ambassador, Maria. She was Sun’s cousin and her most-cherished adviser.
Kate walked up to the base of the tree and kneeled. “Thank you for seeing me,” she said.
“You may stand and speak,” her father told her.
Kate stood slowly and scanned the entire council. Finally, she looked into her mother’s emerald green eyes and made her announcement.
“I will represent the family for the return of the Odyssey,” she said.
“James has already been selected,” her mother responded.
“James and I chose to spar for the seat,” Kate said. “I won.”
“Your future is not yours alone,” her mother reminded her. “You are in line for my seat on the council.”
“I will not take your seat for decades to come.” Kate straightened her back and clasped her hands behind her back. “I believe the experience I gain at Jupiter Station will benefit the council, and I will represent our family with honor and strength.”
“The journey to Jupiter Station will take time. You will not be able to return quickly if something unexpected happens.”
“Our family does not want for wise and humble leaders,” Kate responded. Like her mother, she was a natural statesman.
“I understand your personal desires, but the trails have been cut.”
“Allow me cut my own trail, mother.”
Every branch of the family had a duty. Kate’s branch was in charge of security and training. Maria’s was in charge of communicating with the people. Lucas was now the historian, given the task of recording and keeping the family history. Ceres was the administrator, in charge of all the family’s finances. Io, the engineer, kept watch over technological advances and artificial intelligence.
And Yori was the curator of the library and the keeper of the box. Kate felt his was the most important duty. If she was in line for the library, she would not be so eager to leave.
“Permission to speak?” Maria asked.
“Granted,” Sun said.
“The return of the Odyssey was to be the most important event in centuries, but now … we need to consider the possibility that something has gone wrong,” Maria explained. “I believe it would benefit the people to have our next council chair at Jupiter Station for its return home, if it returns home. We may need a leader on site.”
“We must also honor the choice to spar,” William said. “It is never taken lightly. James knew the risk.”
“It was not his risk to take, William.”
“Permission to speak?” Lucas asked with his hand raised. He was the newest member of the council after the unexpected passing of his father.
“Granted.”
“I just wanted to say I see the benefit of sending Kate, but it also concerns me,” Lucas said. He kept his eyes on Sun, trying to avoid Kate’s glare. “The people are unaware of the missing communications. If Kate goes, it would help to disguise that fact. But, the truth is, I’m afraid and not sure that I want to see her go. She could be in danger.”
Sun never looked over at Lucas, but kept her eyes on Kate.
“I will let you know what I decide,” her mother said. “You may leave.”
“Yes, mother."
Kate bowed before the council, then turned and left. She could never tell what her mother would choose, only that she would choose for her.
The oval room had vaulted ceilings with seven skylights, the beams shining down on each member. At the center of the room was an intricate, wooden inlay on the floor. A mix of cherry, oak, ash and willow that flowed together to create the image of a tree with roots as prominent as the branches that seemed to reach out to each member of the council.
Kate’s mother, Sun Alexander, was the council chair. She was a tall, thin woman with strong features. Her long brown hair was always in place, never left to blow in the wind or fall into her eyes. Today it was braided and pinned up, just like Kate’s.
To her right was Kate’s father, William. He commanded the military and the family. He was the only man Kate had known to never bow to her mother. He was the greatest warrior in the Alexander clan, and he taught Kate how to fight.
To Sun’s left sat the family ambassador, Maria. She was Sun’s cousin and her most-cherished adviser.
Kate walked up to the base of the tree and kneeled. “Thank you for seeing me,” she said.
“You may stand and speak,” her father told her.
Kate stood slowly and scanned the entire council. Finally, she looked into her mother’s emerald green eyes and made her announcement.
“I will represent the family for the return of the Odyssey,” she said.
“James has already been selected,” her mother responded.
“James and I chose to spar for the seat,” Kate said. “I won.”
“Your future is not yours alone,” her mother reminded her. “You are in line for my seat on the council.”
“I will not take your seat for decades to come.” Kate straightened her back and clasped her hands behind her back. “I believe the experience I gain at Jupiter Station will benefit the council, and I will represent our family with honor and strength.”
“The journey to Jupiter Station will take time. You will not be able to return quickly if something unexpected happens.”
“Our family does not want for wise and humble leaders,” Kate responded. Like her mother, she was a natural statesman.
“I understand your personal desires, but the trails have been cut.”
“Allow me cut my own trail, mother.”
Every branch of the family had a duty. Kate’s branch was in charge of security and training. Maria’s was in charge of communicating with the people. Lucas was now the historian, given the task of recording and keeping the family history. Ceres was the administrator, in charge of all the family’s finances. Io, the engineer, kept watch over technological advances and artificial intelligence.
And Yori was the curator of the library and the keeper of the box. Kate felt his was the most important duty. If she was in line for the library, she would not be so eager to leave.
“Permission to speak?” Maria asked.
“Granted,” Sun said.
“The return of the Odyssey was to be the most important event in centuries, but now … we need to consider the possibility that something has gone wrong,” Maria explained. “I believe it would benefit the people to have our next council chair at Jupiter Station for its return home, if it returns home. We may need a leader on site.”
“We must also honor the choice to spar,” William said. “It is never taken lightly. James knew the risk.”
“It was not his risk to take, William.”
“Permission to speak?” Lucas asked with his hand raised. He was the newest member of the council after the unexpected passing of his father.
“Granted.”
“I just wanted to say I see the benefit of sending Kate, but it also concerns me,” Lucas said. He kept his eyes on Sun, trying to avoid Kate’s glare. “The people are unaware of the missing communications. If Kate goes, it would help to disguise that fact. But, the truth is, I’m afraid and not sure that I want to see her go. She could be in danger.”
Sun never looked over at Lucas, but kept her eyes on Kate.
“I will let you know what I decide,” her mother said. “You may leave.”
“Yes, mother."
Kate bowed before the council, then turned and left. She could never tell what her mother would choose, only that she would choose for her.
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