As the vehicle moved toward the main gates, Kate had no plans to turn around. Then she looked down at the hand guards her grandmother had given her. The leather was imprinted with the same intricate tree design that decorated the vestibule of the library and council chamber. Kate’s ancestor, Paul Alexander, was originally a tree farmer and no one except the Alexanders could open the box. That made their family tree the most sacred one on Earth.
She didn’t always wear them when she fought with her staff. She didn’t even wear them when she sparred. But these days, the Alexanders always traveled in something fit for defense. It wasn’t a choice; it was the uniform.
Eventually, Kate gave in and looked back. She turned to see her mother still standing there like a statue. She watched her fade away as the gates to the Alexander compound closed between them.
It was an unexpected and welcome final vision that stole the excitement from her trip. Instead, Kate was overwhelmed with a desire to cry. She felt her eyes well up, and was left wondering how to hide her tears.
If only Eric was at her side, she might have let them flow. But with Omari in the vehicle, she had no choice but to keep everything inside.
She decided to keep her focus on the road ahead. The trip to Shackelton Base was only a few hours and soon she wouldn’t even be on her home planet. It had been years since she left, and her father was probably right. The low gravity sickness would hit her hard. It was time to swallow her emotions and keep her eyes facing foward. Her life was only beginning.
•••
James followed Ceres into the council chamber and watched her circle Sun’s seat like a vulture. His aunt shared the disappointment of losing that seat. Sun was chosen over Ceres, and Kate was chosen over James.
And neither one deserved it.
Ceres was the youngest of her generation, and with five siblings it seemed unlikely she would be eligible for any seat on the council. Then she started a betting pool for the training room battles when she was still a novice. The matchups between Sun and William were her most successful bouts, and she eventually promoted them among the military ranks. Some officers felt William was noticed as a leader because of how Ceres spoke of him. She always complimented his strategy and physique.
Not only was she financially successful with all her endeavors, she also accrued a great deal of power. Her prowess was obvious and it didn’t take long for her superiors to see her potential.
James didn’t have as many siblings. Sun only had two children. He was even older than Kate. So he felt he should have been the one to lead the family. His downfall wasn’t age or competition. He felt it was because he was a man.
Ever since the massacre, the Alexanders turned to the women of the family as their leaders. Maybe it was about their ability to give birth; or maybe it was a way of honoring the few Alexanders who survived it.
Either way, James didn’t really care. He only knew the reason he wasn’t chosen to succeed Sun was not his fault. It was only because he had a sister.
If she was gone, the council would certainly turn to him to fill the void. Sun had no one else. For him, everything he had dreamed of was about to unfold. His life was only beginning.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Chapter Eight: Left Behind
James watched the farewell ceremony for Kate from the balcony of the chamber council. All the members were in attendance, except for Ceres, and they stood in a line before Kate like a procession of fools begging for a chance to see the box.
She seemed taller in her traveling clothes, holding her staff straight at her side. She wore the leather hand guards passed down from Sun’s grandmother, and a silk shirt floated underneath her hand-woven hemp vest with leather straps and a high collar. She carried a small leather bag across her chest and fitted leather boots. Nothing on her would get in the way of a good fight. James even recalled defeating her in those clothes one fall afternoon while they sparred on the grounds.
Sun approached her daughter first, offering her a gift and a small nod. William stepped up next, took Kate’s hands and held them while he spoke. Knowing his father, William was likely giving her advice on dealing with low gravity sickness.
Sun also offered something to each of Kate’s bodyguards, or chaperones as Kate called them. Each member of the council shook Kate’s hand and wished her well with a customary nod. He could almost hear them say, “Godspeed,” from the balcony. However, he noted that Yori and Maria were the only ones who hugged her.
Eventually, Kate and her bodyguards entered their vehicle and headed out of the compound. Sun stood motionless behind the closed gates for much longer than James anticipated. Finally, William approached his wife, took her by the hand, and led her back toward the main house.
James was watching them intently when Ceres stepped out onto the balcony with two glasses. She handed one to James and, as William and Sun disappeared into the house, they toasted.
“I did not expect Sun to send Omari,” Ceres admitted. “It could make things more difficult.”
“I believe it will work to our advantage,” James responded.
“How?”
“The lovers will likely take more risks to be alone,” James explained, turning toward his aunt and raising his glass. “Giving us the opportunity we need.”
Ceres cupped his cheek. “At every turn you demonstrate why you should be the council chair,” she said. “Have you spoken to your contact on Jupiter Station?”
“I have. He will be waiting for them.”
“This is our time, my nephew,” Ceres told him.
“Not yet,” he said. “We have much work to do on Earth.”
“I know,” she told him.
“Yori must be the first,” James said.
“I agree,” she added. “And Sun’s choice to replace him will determine the next move?”
“My mother will choose Maria.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because she will immediately become defensive, and turn to her closest allies.”
“Of which you will be a part,” she told him.
“We will see how observant a mother is truly willing to be,” he added. “But perhaps she has always kept me at a distance for a reason.”
She seemed taller in her traveling clothes, holding her staff straight at her side. She wore the leather hand guards passed down from Sun’s grandmother, and a silk shirt floated underneath her hand-woven hemp vest with leather straps and a high collar. She carried a small leather bag across her chest and fitted leather boots. Nothing on her would get in the way of a good fight. James even recalled defeating her in those clothes one fall afternoon while they sparred on the grounds.
Sun approached her daughter first, offering her a gift and a small nod. William stepped up next, took Kate’s hands and held them while he spoke. Knowing his father, William was likely giving her advice on dealing with low gravity sickness.
Sun also offered something to each of Kate’s bodyguards, or chaperones as Kate called them. Each member of the council shook Kate’s hand and wished her well with a customary nod. He could almost hear them say, “Godspeed,” from the balcony. However, he noted that Yori and Maria were the only ones who hugged her.
Eventually, Kate and her bodyguards entered their vehicle and headed out of the compound. Sun stood motionless behind the closed gates for much longer than James anticipated. Finally, William approached his wife, took her by the hand, and led her back toward the main house.
James was watching them intently when Ceres stepped out onto the balcony with two glasses. She handed one to James and, as William and Sun disappeared into the house, they toasted.
“I did not expect Sun to send Omari,” Ceres admitted. “It could make things more difficult.”
“I believe it will work to our advantage,” James responded.
“How?”
“The lovers will likely take more risks to be alone,” James explained, turning toward his aunt and raising his glass. “Giving us the opportunity we need.”
Ceres cupped his cheek. “At every turn you demonstrate why you should be the council chair,” she said. “Have you spoken to your contact on Jupiter Station?”
“I have. He will be waiting for them.”
“This is our time, my nephew,” Ceres told him.
“Not yet,” he said. “We have much work to do on Earth.”
“I know,” she told him.
“Yori must be the first,” James said.
“I agree,” she added. “And Sun’s choice to replace him will determine the next move?”
“My mother will choose Maria.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because she will immediately become defensive, and turn to her closest allies.”
“Of which you will be a part,” she told him.
“We will see how observant a mother is truly willing to be,” he added. “But perhaps she has always kept me at a distance for a reason.”
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Chapter Seven: No Time to Say Goodbye
Since the shuttle left that afternoon, Kate practically ran back to her room to pack her bag. She grabbed uniforms, training clothes, thermal gear, and all the necessities. Personal items were another matter. It was a luxury on any of the space stations. Even room to breathe was difficult to come by.
Kate would get as much room as possible because she was an Alexander. She didn’t like being different, but she knew who she was. And that also came at a price.
“I’ll take just a few,” she thought, looking up at her shelves. One wall of her quarters was covered with shelves, three of which stored only old books.
First, she grabbed Siddhartha. It was one of her favorites, and she thought the calming tone would be the right mood where she was headed. Then she grabbed Jake and the Empire Gem. She could always get lost in that one. She stared at them, trying to choose one more book when there was a knock at the door.
“Come in,” she said, thinking it would be James. Her mother and father would be there to see her from the grounds, but she would have to say goodbye to her brother before then.
Yori stepped through the door instead. Kate felt a sense of relief, and walked directly up to him and hugged him.
Yori cleared his throat, “I will miss you.”
“I will miss you, too,” Kate told him.
“I brought a couple of books for you,” he said, holding out the Art of War and Foundation. “I thought you might want to take them with you.”
“This one is James’ favorite book,” she said, handing back the Art of War.
“I know,” he said. “But you should know it, too. It’s better to learn these lessons on the page, instead of in life.”
“Understood.” With that, she took both books and placed them in her bag.
“But don’t forget, I have two chaperones going with me,” she added.
“You should still be cautious. They may not always be by your side.”
Yori paused for a moment, and then told her he saw James in the training room on his way there. Without missing a beat Kate grabbed her staff, said goodbye to Yori, and was out the door.
•••
The glass doors to the training room opened and Kate saw James stab one of the training dummies. He slowly pulled his staff back and bowed as if he had faced a real person. Then he turned to Kate, covered in sweat, and bowed.
“Congratulations,” he said.
“You’ve heard then.”
“I think everyone has.”
“I’ve come to say goodbye,” she told him with her staff in hand.
“Be careful, my sister.”
“On my journey?” she asked with a smile. “Or are you ready to spar?”
“Both,” he said.
The two immediately swung at each other clashing staffs like swords, swinging with power and intensity. Then James let his staff slip through his fingers and hit the floor, sending out a shockwave.
It knocked Kate back, but she used the momentum to push herself into a back hand spring. She put distance between them before James’ came around for another swinging attack.
As she completed the spring, she pulled the staff up to her chest and sent out a pulse of blinding light in all directions. James blinked and instinctively slammed his staff to the ground in a counter-offensive.
The shockwave rushed across the floor as Kate used her staff to vault her off the ground and stung James with a double kick. He stumbled back, but noticed the circle inlay on the floor signaling a practice dummy in the floor.
He tapped upon the marker and the cylindrical wooden barrier rose up, stopping Kate in her tracks. He quickly twisted around the left side of the obstruction and caught Kate in the side of neck, stopping less than a centimeter from her trachea. Both stopped fighting.
“Well played, brother,” Kate said. “You remembered this time.”
“I try to learn from my mistakes.”
“I thought you didn’t make any?” she said. James grinned.
The two warriors faced each other and bowed.
“Godspeed on your journey, sister.”
“Take care of the family, brother.”
“I will.”
As she walked away from the training room, she wondered why he was so quick to admit he made a mistake. It wasn’t like James.
Like apologies, admissions of wrongdoing were only signs of weakness. It was one of many things the two disagreed on. Kate thought admitting mistakes was a sign of strength and wisdom. James would argue that mistakes only showed ignorance and weakness. And James was not ignorant or weak.
Kate would get as much room as possible because she was an Alexander. She didn’t like being different, but she knew who she was. And that also came at a price.
“I’ll take just a few,” she thought, looking up at her shelves. One wall of her quarters was covered with shelves, three of which stored only old books.
First, she grabbed Siddhartha. It was one of her favorites, and she thought the calming tone would be the right mood where she was headed. Then she grabbed Jake and the Empire Gem. She could always get lost in that one. She stared at them, trying to choose one more book when there was a knock at the door.
“Come in,” she said, thinking it would be James. Her mother and father would be there to see her from the grounds, but she would have to say goodbye to her brother before then.
Yori stepped through the door instead. Kate felt a sense of relief, and walked directly up to him and hugged him.
Yori cleared his throat, “I will miss you.”
“I will miss you, too,” Kate told him.
“I brought a couple of books for you,” he said, holding out the Art of War and Foundation. “I thought you might want to take them with you.”
“This one is James’ favorite book,” she said, handing back the Art of War.
“I know,” he said. “But you should know it, too. It’s better to learn these lessons on the page, instead of in life.”
“Understood.” With that, she took both books and placed them in her bag.
“But don’t forget, I have two chaperones going with me,” she added.
“You should still be cautious. They may not always be by your side.”
Yori paused for a moment, and then told her he saw James in the training room on his way there. Without missing a beat Kate grabbed her staff, said goodbye to Yori, and was out the door.
•••
The glass doors to the training room opened and Kate saw James stab one of the training dummies. He slowly pulled his staff back and bowed as if he had faced a real person. Then he turned to Kate, covered in sweat, and bowed.
“Congratulations,” he said.
“You’ve heard then.”
“I think everyone has.”
“I’ve come to say goodbye,” she told him with her staff in hand.
“Be careful, my sister.”
“On my journey?” she asked with a smile. “Or are you ready to spar?”
“Both,” he said.
The two immediately swung at each other clashing staffs like swords, swinging with power and intensity. Then James let his staff slip through his fingers and hit the floor, sending out a shockwave.
It knocked Kate back, but she used the momentum to push herself into a back hand spring. She put distance between them before James’ came around for another swinging attack.
As she completed the spring, she pulled the staff up to her chest and sent out a pulse of blinding light in all directions. James blinked and instinctively slammed his staff to the ground in a counter-offensive.
The shockwave rushed across the floor as Kate used her staff to vault her off the ground and stung James with a double kick. He stumbled back, but noticed the circle inlay on the floor signaling a practice dummy in the floor.
He tapped upon the marker and the cylindrical wooden barrier rose up, stopping Kate in her tracks. He quickly twisted around the left side of the obstruction and caught Kate in the side of neck, stopping less than a centimeter from her trachea. Both stopped fighting.
“Well played, brother,” Kate said. “You remembered this time.”
“I try to learn from my mistakes.”
“I thought you didn’t make any?” she said. James grinned.
The two warriors faced each other and bowed.
“Godspeed on your journey, sister.”
“Take care of the family, brother.”
“I will.”
As she walked away from the training room, she wondered why he was so quick to admit he made a mistake. It wasn’t like James.
Like apologies, admissions of wrongdoing were only signs of weakness. It was one of many things the two disagreed on. Kate thought admitting mistakes was a sign of strength and wisdom. James would argue that mistakes only showed ignorance and weakness. And James was not ignorant or weak.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Chapter Six: Unexpected Answers
Kate fell asleep in the 19th century reading room of the Alexander Library. She hadn’t been sleeping well the past couple of nights, waiting for word from the council. Late last night she returned to the two-story room looking for some solace and one of her favorite books.
A small, spiral staircase crawled up one corner of the room and an old leather chair sat in the other. She lay in the chair with a blanket over her legs and a bound copy of Pride and Prejudice still open across her chest.
Slowly the door to the room opened and a guard crept inside. He placed his hand on her shoulder.
“Kate,” he said as he shook her lightly. “Kate, wake up.”
She opened her eyes to a familiar face.
“Good morning,” she said.
He smiled and caressed her shoulder. She finally began to sit up, letting the book slide. The guard grabbed the book, closed it and set it on the table next to the chair.
Kate looked at the blanket. “Did you put this here?” she asked.
“No,” he told her. “I think it was Yori.”
Kate smiled, knowing how many times she had fallen asleep in that chair and how many times the Curator of the Library came to check on her. Yori always made sure she was warm.
“I’ve come to tell you that the council has requested your presence,” the guard said.
“They’ve called for me?” she questioned in disbelief.
“They have.”
Kate immediately stood up. She paused for just a moment, reached out and touched the guard’s shoulder. Then she quickly turned and headed out the door.
•••
The curtains were open and the morning sun flooded the council chamber with unexpected light. All seven members sat before Kate with stoic faces. She feared the news was not what she had been hoping for.
“I have decided to allow you to attend the return of the Odyssey,” Sun announced.
A smile crept out from the corners of Kate’s mouth. She tried to keep her excitement to herself, but she thought everyone could hear her heart racing.
“Thank you, mother.”
“Do not be so swift to hand out gratitude,” Sun responded. “This mission is not without danger.”
Kate quickly buried her smile.
“The Odyssey has not sent regular communications for more than two years,” Sun continued.
The smile was gone for good with those words. Kate had thought it had only been a few months. Now she understood why the council was so concerned. The Odyssey had been sending regular communications back to Earth since it left on its mission more than a century ago. To be missing those messages for years signaled the worst.
“I thought it had only been months,” Kate said.
“Your assumptions are wrong again,” Sun told her. “Io and the council have utilized all our resources to ascertain the status of the Odyssey. But we have discovered nothing so far.”
“I will be vigilant and guarded” Kate said.
“You will be,” Sun responded. “We have assigned two guards to accompany you on your mission to Jupiter Station.”
Kate was silent for a moment, considering her words carefully. Saying the wrong thing was almost as undesirable as having chaperones on her journey.
“It’s doubtful two guards can protect me from the dangers you imagine,” Kate said. “I am a strong fighter and capable of defending myself.”
“I do not doubt your fighting skills,” Sun said. “However, there will be no discussion. The three of you leave for Shackleton Base this afternoon. You only have time to gather your belongings.”
Then she looked at William and nodded.
He walked over to the council doors and called out to someone waiting in the alcove.
Two guards stepped into the council chamber. One of the guards was Omari, one of Sun’s personal guards. The other was Eric, Kate’s personal guard and the man who had awoken her that morning.
A small, spiral staircase crawled up one corner of the room and an old leather chair sat in the other. She lay in the chair with a blanket over her legs and a bound copy of Pride and Prejudice still open across her chest.
Slowly the door to the room opened and a guard crept inside. He placed his hand on her shoulder.
“Kate,” he said as he shook her lightly. “Kate, wake up.”
She opened her eyes to a familiar face.
“Good morning,” she said.
He smiled and caressed her shoulder. She finally began to sit up, letting the book slide. The guard grabbed the book, closed it and set it on the table next to the chair.
Kate looked at the blanket. “Did you put this here?” she asked.
“No,” he told her. “I think it was Yori.”
Kate smiled, knowing how many times she had fallen asleep in that chair and how many times the Curator of the Library came to check on her. Yori always made sure she was warm.
“I’ve come to tell you that the council has requested your presence,” the guard said.
“They’ve called for me?” she questioned in disbelief.
“They have.”
Kate immediately stood up. She paused for just a moment, reached out and touched the guard’s shoulder. Then she quickly turned and headed out the door.
•••
The curtains were open and the morning sun flooded the council chamber with unexpected light. All seven members sat before Kate with stoic faces. She feared the news was not what she had been hoping for.
“I have decided to allow you to attend the return of the Odyssey,” Sun announced.
A smile crept out from the corners of Kate’s mouth. She tried to keep her excitement to herself, but she thought everyone could hear her heart racing.
“Thank you, mother.”
“Do not be so swift to hand out gratitude,” Sun responded. “This mission is not without danger.”
Kate quickly buried her smile.
“The Odyssey has not sent regular communications for more than two years,” Sun continued.
The smile was gone for good with those words. Kate had thought it had only been a few months. Now she understood why the council was so concerned. The Odyssey had been sending regular communications back to Earth since it left on its mission more than a century ago. To be missing those messages for years signaled the worst.
“I thought it had only been months,” Kate said.
“Your assumptions are wrong again,” Sun told her. “Io and the council have utilized all our resources to ascertain the status of the Odyssey. But we have discovered nothing so far.”
“I will be vigilant and guarded” Kate said.
“You will be,” Sun responded. “We have assigned two guards to accompany you on your mission to Jupiter Station.”
Kate was silent for a moment, considering her words carefully. Saying the wrong thing was almost as undesirable as having chaperones on her journey.
“It’s doubtful two guards can protect me from the dangers you imagine,” Kate said. “I am a strong fighter and capable of defending myself.”
“I do not doubt your fighting skills,” Sun said. “However, there will be no discussion. The three of you leave for Shackleton Base this afternoon. You only have time to gather your belongings.”
Then she looked at William and nodded.
He walked over to the council doors and called out to someone waiting in the alcove.
Two guards stepped into the council chamber. One of the guards was Omari, one of Sun’s personal guards. The other was Eric, Kate’s personal guard and the man who had awoken her that morning.
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