Chapter Fourteen: Exposed

Kate wanted to do some training in the base battle room. Just as she stepped outside her quarters Eric was waiting, standing guard outside.

“You know you just can’t take off,” he said.

“I know.”

“Where are you headed?” he asked.

“To the battle room,” she said.

“Would you like a sparring partner?” he asked.

“Why not?” she responded, knowing she couldn’t get rid of him anyway.

“I’ll let Omari know,” Eric told her. “He just left to speak with William.”

“Why is he speaking with my father?”

“Don’t worry,” he said, “it’s not about you.”

“I wasn’t,” she tried to say, but Eric cut her off.

“It’s about his investigation into Yori’s assassination.”

Kate paused for a moment, took a deep breath and swallowed her emotions. “Let’s go,” she said.

Eric contacted base security before they left to make sure the room was cleared and secure. He also had them turn off all the monitors and cameras in the room, so that Kate could have privacy while she worked out.

The battle room on Shackleton Base was simple. A few practice dummies were scattered throughout, but they did not sink into the floor like the ones in the Alexander compound. The floors were bamboo and the walls were made of the same polymer that covered the entire station.

Kate and Eric stepped to the center of the room with their staffs, faced each other and bowed. Then Kate took the first swing.

When the two sparred, Kate would often hold back. She did not always use the light feature of her staff because she felt it gave her an advantage. And she didn’t need it.

Only the Alexanders had specialized staffs. They were covered in the same intelligent skin that covered the box. Past engineers had adapted the technology, but it was not available to everyone. Sun’s grandmother had decided not to offer it people outside the family, giving the Alexanders an advantage against any enemy.

The troops and guards, which included Eric, were given staffs with sharp implements that would extend from either end like a lance or spear.

As the two fought, Kate began to get the upper hand. She pushed Eric toward the back wall with several stabs and kicks. Eventually Eric rolled away from her attacks and back into open space. Kate tried to cut him off, but just missed and slammed the floor with her staff.

Eric swung low as he came out of his roll, trying to take her out at the feet. She jumped out of the way and stabbed at his torso just as he was standing up. She hit him directly in the stomach and knocked him back off his feet. He used the momentum to roll back again stabbed at her as she came in for another shot. She pushed his staff to the side and came at him with both hands on her staff. The two clashed against each other until they came together, staff against staff and face to face. They both paused, breathing deeply. No one moved for a moment. Then slowly they began to come together.

Suddenly the door to the battle room opened. Eric quickly pushed Kate away and the two turned to see Omari standing at the entrance.

•••

After being named the next Curator of the Library, William was granted access to sections of the building he had never seen before, including the curator’s office. Although, Yori left behind a wife and two twin daughters, they had not been allowed to enter the office or collect any of his things. William would be the first to enter it since Yori’s death. The curator’s office was sacred and only a librarian was allowed to witness the secrets it held.

The office was underneath the library, deep underground at the end of a long hallway. Its entrance was a guarded by a large oak door. A detailed image of the Alexander tree was carved into the center and it had no handle, only a small glass pad on one side. William stepped up to the door and placed his hand on a glass pad. At once the door opened revealing a circular room with a large wooden desk in the center. Shelves lined the walls from floor to ceiling with large glass panels on opposite sides, approximately the size of doorways.

William stepped inside and the door closed behind him. At first, he walked slowly and methodically around the room. He scanned the shelves and all the objects they held. Stacks of books and tablets, crystals, stones and elements of all different shapes and sizes glinted in the lights. Models of buildings, marine ships, spaceships and stations were scattered throughout the shelves.

Then William walked around to the desk. Yori’s staff was leaning up against the chair. Several books were left open along with Yori’s personal journal, his pen still open and resting between the pages. Across the top of his desk several tablets displayed star maps.

William took the staff in his hand and sat down in the worn leather chair. He gripped the staff tightly and looked over it, smiling as he recalled some of the battles he had with the former curator. He leaned the staff against the shelves behind the desk and spun back around to examine the items on the desk.

He looked over the star maps and realized they were the most recent ones from the professor. Typically, the professor would bring the maps with him when he came to ask his next question. William wondered why he would have sent them to Yori early. After all, he was investigating his death as much as he was remembering his life. William continued to look over the open books. They included past reports from the Odyssey, blueprints of the ship and astronomical briefs on the Nekuian system.

Then he picked up Yori’s personal journal and leaned back into the chair as flipped back a couple of pages.

Slowly, as he read he began sitting back up. By the time he got to the end of the last entry, his chin had dropped along with the journal. He sat in silence for some time, wondering how to continue the preparations that Yori had been making without meeting the same fate.

Chapter Thirteen: Matters of Perception

Adoration is a funny thing. Secretly, Kate wanted it. She wanted something in return for giving up her life. Being an Alexander meant she couldn’t have her own life. The least she could get in return was some adoration. But when it came, she felt claustrophobic like she was being stalked.

Every time she walked through the corridors of Shackleton Base, people looked at her with adoration. Her speech was remarkable. She somehow conveyed to the people on the moon colonies that she could be both human and divine. It was not her intention. Her only goal was to explain what kind of person Yori was, to honor him. Instead, she revealed what kind of person she was.

After her eulogy, Eric pulled her aside at the first chance he got and held her tight. He whispered in her ear, “I love you.”

He had never said those words to her before and she had no idea how to react. She thought she had looked to him for solace, escape and love. But when the words flowed from his lips, she did not want to hear them. Or repeat them. All she could do was kiss him passionately, and then move on without saying a word.

At first, Kate returned to her room and read the updated reports on Jupiter Station. Like most of her life, work and duty would be her shield. Only this time, she sought it out.

It would take almost ninety days to reach the station, which was still under construction. The outer ring around Europa was complete, but only half was finished. One quarter of it was livable space. The gravity system, docking bays and drilling stations took up another quarter. The rest wouldn’t be finished for several years.

After a short time she became restless and decided to go to battle room on Shackleton Base to workout. She grabbed her staff and headed out the door.

•••

“Wait here,” Sun demanded and she headed inside the council chamber.

As the door closed behind her, James and William looked over at each other and smiled.

“I would have won eventually,” James said.

“Doubtful, my son,” William responded. “I did not even have the chance to warm up.”

“You were sweating,” James told him. William simply responded with a laugh. “Why are we here, father?”

William’s smile left his face at the question. “It’s not for me to say, son.”

The two turned toward the council doors, standing at attention as Maria appeared in the doorway.

“You may come in now,” she said.

William and James stepped into the chamber and kneeled before the members, facing Sun.

“Let us take a moment to remember Yori,” she said. Everyone bowed their heads for a few minutes without saying a word. Then, almost simultaneously, the group raised their heads again.

William and James stood and faced Sun. The calmness she showed during the prayer was gone and she furrowed her brow as she turned to look at the two warriors.

“I’ve made a decision about the library,” she announced to the council members. “William will be the keeper of the box and the curator of the library.”

Everyone in the room had a surprised look on their face, except William. Even James was not anticipating that response.

“It will be an honor to continue Yori’s work,” William said.

“James, you will assume your role as the Commander of our military forces.”

James calmly bowed, “Thank you mother. My first task will be to continue the hunt for Yori’s attackers.”

“Your first task should be to introduce yourself to your troops,” Sun told him. “William will continue to investigate.”

“But, it should be the commander’s duty to,” James tried to say, but Sun cut him off.

“I said William will continue to investigate.”

“I understand,” James said. “I will focus on the troops and security.”

“You will report to me daily,” Sun told James

“Yes, mother.”

“You may take your seats on the council,” she said.

With that, William walked around and took Yori’s seat next to Io, the Engineer, and James took the seat next to his mother. He looked over at her and, at that moment, realized the benefit of it. It was then he let a small smile escape as he glanced at Ceres. This seat was even better than the one he desired. 

Chapter Twelve: Fighting to Move On

“I would prefer it if you ate inside your quarters,” he said.

“I wouldn’t,” Kate responded. “But I don’t want the people to see me like this.”

“You don’t look troubled,” Omari told her. “You’re very much like your mother.”

“Stoic?”

“Strong.”

Kate closed her eyes for a moment. She didn’t feel strong, especially at this moment.

“I’ve never spoken to such a large crowd,” she admitted, “and I’ve never given a eulogy. Lucas’s father was the closest loss I’ve known, before today. This will not be easy.”

Omari stood still near the entrance to the door. He did not know what to say. He felt the loss in a very different way. For him, the focus was on Sun.

He was assigned to protect her for many years, and she was almost lost. However, here on this moon base Kate was his charge. It was his job to protect her, not to be her confidant, or her friend.

“I will have your meal brought to your quarters,” he told her, bowed and left abruptly.

When Kate first considered what her duties would be as the representative for the return of the Odyssey, she realized she would have to speak to large crowds. This was different. Millions of people would be listening to her.

The Martian colonies, moon colonies and Jupiter Station would join Earth in a service for Yori that stretched across the solar system. Since Kate was at Shackleton Base, she would be speaking to the millions of people across the five moon colonies and the hundreds of smaller bases scattered across its surface.

Kate stared at the tablet in her hand, wondering how she could explain to all those strangers that he was more than just a librarian. He was more than just the keeper of the box. Even she didn’t understand at first.

The first time she really spoke to Yori was when her father took her to The Library. It was right after her mother had decided that Kate would be the next Alexander to serve as the council chair. She didn’t really understand what that meant back then, but she knew she had to start studying for a very important job.

She and her father met Yori in the very atrium where he was killed only days ago. They took her inside the vault where the box was kept. She thought it was beautiful. The metal box with intricate markings rose up from the table in the center of the room like magic.

Her father told her to place her hand inside. The markings lit up and she could feel something happening. Then her father placed his hand on top of the box. He closed his eyes and Kate could see a question flash before her eyes. How many galaxies were there in the universe?

Moments later she could almost feel the information flow from one side of her hand to other. Her father opened his eyes and took his hand off the box. He repeated the answer to her out loud and it was the same one she had felt. When she took her hand away from the box, the markings grew dark.

Kate thought it was the most amazing thing she had ever experienced. She asked her father if she could be a librarian when she grew up, but he reminded her that she already had a very important job.

At first, Kate was upset but Yori told her that every time someone asked a question, they would write it down and add it to the library. She could always come visit him and read all the questions and answers. She showed up early the next morning and kept returning until the day she left for Shackleton Base.

•••

James spent time in the training room everyday. He practiced forms, meditated or worked out. It was his favorite place in the compound, the place he felt most comfortable. Everyone knew where to find him, including his father.

William arrived with his staff in his hand. He believed James still needed to earn his place on the council. And defeating his father in a fight would be one way to do that.

James stopped training when the doors opened and immediately turned to face his father. The sweat dripped from his brow as he bowed before him. William walked straight up to James, faced him and bowed in return. The two immediately fell back into fighting stances and the battle began.

James attacked first with a swift swing of his staff. William simply leaned back to avoid the blow, as a small bolt of electricity stretched out from the end of his staff. It hit James at the waist, pushing him back and almost knocking him off his feet.

With his opponent unsteady, William stabbed his staff at James’ gut and struck him with another small bolt. He then swung his staff around and hit his left bicep. None of the moves were fatal, but like bee stings each bite made James more and more uncomfortable.

For a moment, James wanted to start swinging widely at his father. Something had to hit the old man. Instead, he braced himself for the next blow. William had quickly swung his staff around for another sting at the right bicep.

James took the hit, using that moment to gain his composure. He considered the chessboard before him, planning rather than reacting. He grasped the staff with both hands, taking a defensive posture.

William did the same and the two clashed their staffs, end to end for several strikes. Eventually, James knelt down and slammed his staff to the ground. A strong shockwave swept across the floor. James looked up to see his father jump over it like rope.

He quickly swung his staff around, trying to take out his father’s footing as he landed back on the ground. But William slammed his staff down directly in front of his ankle, halting the attack. He swung his staff upward and continued it around to strike at James’ head, but James somersaulted backward and stood upright, ready to take on his father again.

“Enough!”

Both men turned around to see Sun standing in the doorway of the training room. They pulled their staffs to their sides and bowed at each other.

“I do not need the two greatest warriors in the family destroying each other,” she said. “Both of you will follow me now.”

As she stepped outside the doors, father and son looked at each other and smiled. Then they turned and exited behind her.  

Chapter Eleven: A New Dawn, A New Day

Kate learned of Yori’s demise the moment she landed at Shackleton Base. She wasn’t sure if the nausea was from the low gravity sickness or the news from the compound, but everything inside was hurting. 

It wasn’t supposed to be this way. This should have been a time to celebrate being away from the family, but instead all she could think of was returning. Sun had already sent word for Kate to continue with her mission. She was not to come home. Kate wanted to, partly because she wanted to mourn with her family and partly because she wanted to take over the library, but either way she knew that the family’s next move sent a message to the attackers.

A group of officers stood waiting outside the arrival gates to escort Kate to her room. Base security was not taking any chances. Some were in plain clothes, others in uniform, but all considered her high risk after the attack.

They led her through the corridors of Shackleton Base. As she passed strangers, she actually started to feel better. She couldn’t help but smile at them. Of course, everyone knew who she was and no one looked surprised to see her. Word spreads fast on the moon colonies.

Kate had planned on spending time around the base, meeting new people. Instead, she would be under lock and key until they left for Jupiter Station in a couple of weeks.

The group then reached the main corridor where large windows stretched across the entire northern face of the building, offering passersby a stunning view of Malapert Mountain.

The base was built on the rim of a twenty-one kilometer wide crater. It’s location near the South Pole allowed for continual exposure to the sun and access to a wealth of resources trapped at its base. Malapert crater, however, was almost seventy kilometers wide and its mountain stretched five kilometers above the moon’s surface.

It was the sight of the first radio transmitters astronauts used to communicate with Earth.

Kate didn’t even realize she had stopped walking when Omari touched her arm and motioned for her to continue. When the group arrived at her room, he stepped inside to check it. He did not even look at her, but instead kept his eyes moving as he told her to stay inside at all times. He would be outside for a while confirming plans with base security. Then he asked Eric to wait with her.

As the door closed behind them, Kate walked up to Eric, took his cheeks and kissed him.

So many frustrations flushed across her mind and she let a single tear fall down her cheek. Eric felt it touch his. He pulled back to look her in the eyes, then held her tight and let her weep. For just a moment.

•••

Sun stood motionless on the chamber balcony, overlooking the grounds of the Alexander compound. Everything was in place and untouched. The library was on the backside, so she could not see the damage. But, it never left her mind.

William stepped out onto the balcony, walked up behind her, lightly placed his hands on her arms and squeezed. She lowered her chin for a moment and closed her eyes.

Quickly, though, she straightened her posture and raised her head again.

“I love you,” he told her.

She placed her hand on his. “I love you, too.”

Both of them knew how many steps away Sun was from being caught in the blast. Yori was standing with the professor in the atrium when the bomb exploded. Sun was only steps away inside the library, hurrying to join them.

“No one will get inside those gates again without my approval,” he told her.

“I know you will find out what happened,” Sun said.

“I will,” William responded.

It could have been an attack planned for Yori or Sun. Or, it could have simply been an attack planned not on one person, but on the entire family.

She turned around to William, “I would like you to take over The Library.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“Who will command the military?” he asked.

“I’m considering James,” Sun said.

“Really?”

“I know I haven’t always spoken well of him, but he has trained his entire life to take over,” she told him. “Perhaps it is the right time.”

“I fear his confidence was shaken when he lost to Kate,” William stated. “I’m not sure he’s ready.”

“You lost to me several times, and you did not always take it well,” she reminded him.

“This is true,” he said.

Her duty was to choose another librarian as quickly as possible. Yori was a reliable and trusted friend. He could not be replaced, but someone had to watch over the box.

“I believe it is the right choice,” she said. “I’ll announce it tomorrow. Send for James now, I’ll inform him first.”

“I will,” he said.

William kissed his wife, then left the balcony and headed for the training room.

Chapter Ten: Knight Takes Pawn

Kate was in the first row on the shuttle with Omari at her side. Eric was in the seat directly behind them, but all the surrounding seats and rows were left empty.

Omari had spoken to shuttle security the evening before and made sure that no one could sit within earshot of his charge. That’s what he called Kate, his charge.

It was his duty to protect her, and he took his duties very seriously. Eric had earned his respect over years, keeping watch over Kate. He was always close to her, always at her side. Omari believed he should be, but this was not the compound. It was the outside world and it was different. He had no intention of letting her out of his sight.

He knew that she would have preferred more space and, knowing Kate, she would have preferred meeting new people. But he didn’t believe Kate understood what was really at stake. She was not alive the last time the Alexanders met new people.

About sixty years ago the family was very different. They had no training room. They had no army, just a small militia that kept watch over the grounds.

The world outside the compound either worshiped the Alexanders or kept their distance. Everyone knew without that family, the vast knowledge locked inside the box was worthless. Throughout their reign only a few individuals had tried to kidnap or harm members of the family, but no group or gang attacked them.

Then one morning a convoy of vehicles approached the compound gates. As the first guard approached, they began firing. The group entered the grounds and killed everyone in sight. They were not discriminate.

Later it was discovered that the group had no plans to steal to the box or kidnap the family. They simply felt the box was evil, and the only way to destroy it was to destroy the Alexanders.

Hundreds of people died, including one hundred and fifty-seven members of the family. Only five members survived, and one was still in the womb. It was known as The Massacre and it changed them.

Omari looked over at Kate. He understood. Sun had told him all about her grandmother and how she had survived that day. She knew what was at stake. That’s why she chose him to protect her only daughter. He turned away and began reviewing security plans for the shuttle departure and entrance onto Shackleton Base. As he continued to contemplate the potential dangers, Kate thought of only one thing – how she and Eric could escape him to find time alone.

•••

James and Ceres left the council chamber before anyone returned. She stayed in the alcove outside and waited for Sun to return from Kate’s farewell ceremony, while James headed for the training room. It was like Ceres to hover around, waiting for the latest gossip.

When Sun arrived with the other members, Ceres quickly approached her and requested a moment alone. Sun had planned on heading directly to the library with Yori. The professor had returned to begin mapping the Nekuian system. He needed to see the box and ask another question.

“I’ll meet you in the atrium,” Sun told Yori. He nodded and headed into the library.

The two ladies sat down on a wooden bench. It was a cool day, and their silk robes fluttered in the breeze.

“Thank you for speaking with me, sister,” Ceres said.

“Of course, what’s on your mind?” Sun asked her.

“I’m concerned about James,” Ceres told her. “After losing the fight with Kate and being left behind, I’m afraid it may be affecting him more than we anticipated. Have you spoken to him about it?”

“No,” Sun said. “The two of you have always been so close; I thought he may have turned to you for solace.”

“He has not come to me,” Ceres said, turning away. “I would never tell you how to act, but I would request that you speak to him.”

“Why?” Sun asked.

Ceres slowly turned back and looked directly into Sun’s eyes. “He’s always admired and honored you, sister, as both a leader and his mother. It would mean a great deal to him if you would let him into your confidence.”

Sun stayed silent for a moment. “I will consider your council, Ceres,” she said. “Is there anything else that concerns you?”

“No, sister,” Ceres told her. “Thank you for your time.”

“Of course,” Sun said, standing up. “I must return to my duties.”

Ceres bowed her head, but did not stand up. She watched Sun pass through the oak doors, leading to the library then headed for the training room to meet James.

He had finished practicing with his staff and sat in the center of the room meditating when an explosion rocked the compound.

He remained still and tried to feel the shockwave echo through the corridors. When the vibrations swept down the hallway outside the training room, James slowly ended his meditation and grabbed his staff. He met Ceres in the hallway and two headed toward the library.