Sun stood on the balcony outside the council chamber, looking out at the Alexander compound. It was her place to think, to get away from the drama of family life and the politics of the box.
But, this time it was different. She looked over the edge of the balcony and wondered what would happen if she fell. If she simply slipped and tumbled over the edge, so many worries would no longer be hers.
Sun had always been strong. Even before she was born. Decades ago the Alexander family was attacked, and only five members of the family survived. One of those five was not a member of the Alexander bloodline, but she was carrying one.
It was Sun’s grandmother.
Because her bravery and courage during the attack kept her and her unborn child alive, she was asked to be the council chair. She ruled the family from that day until she passed the duty to her daughter, Sun’s mother.
It was in her blood. Sun should have let the tragedy strengthen her like the old oak left standing after the storm.
Instead, she stood on that balcony feeling like a coward, staring at the railing and looking over the edge.
That’s when Kate stepped outside.
“Mother,” she called out. Sun turned to her. “I need to speak with you.”
Sun still said nothing. She just stared blankly at her daughter.
“I need answers from you,” Kate demanded.
Finally, Sun spoke up. “Answers you shall have.”
“Did you help James escape?”
Sun hesitated. “Not directly.”
“You knew that father was helping him escape.”
“I did,” Sun admitted. “And, I did nothing to stop it.”
“Were you expecting me to kill him?”
“No,” she said, stepping forward and reaching out to her daughter. “Please, believe me. I did not think you would meet up with him. At least not for some time to come.”
Kate stared straight into her eyes, trying to determine if anything she said was the truth. “Not for some time?” she asked.
Sun glanced over at the edge of the balcony railing. “We are all looking for peace,” she said, looking back at Kate. “Did you find it when you faced him, or are you still looking?”
“I did not find it,” Kate admitted.
“Neither did I,” Sun said.
“What about the Nekuia?” Kate asked.
“They are coming.”
“Are you certain?”
“Your father and I asked the same question the two of you did,” she told her. “I’m as certain as you are.”
“Then what are your plans?”
The only thing Kate did not want to hear was that her mother did not know what to do. Sun Alexander was the strongest, most intelligent member of the family. But, as Kate looked at her, she could tell something had happened. This was not the same woman.
“Well, I have a plan mother.”
“You do?”
“We need information and an army.”
“Information?”
“We can’t tell the people about a danger we don’t understand ourselves. And, we can’t fight an enemy that way either.”
“I agree.”
“We need an army. If the Nekuian are as powerful as we think, we don’t have the capability of defending ourselves. They will annihilate us. We need build our forces, weapons, and strategy.”
“I agree.”
“Is that all you have to say? I agree?”
“What else should I say?”
“Tell me what you are going to do,” Kate demanded.
“Your father is taking stock of our assets. He will tell us where to begin.”
“It frightens me that you need someone else to tell you where to begin.”
Sun dropped her chin. “It frightens me, too.”
Kate said nothing. She simply walked away and left her mother staring at the balcony railing.
She headed back to the library, wondering how to prepare for the battle alone. Kate went to the Curator’s office deep within the library and opened her communicator. She requested Eric Riis.
He appeared surprised, but pleased to see her again. Even if it was not in person.
“It’s good to see you, Kate,” he said.
“You too, Eric,” she said reluctantly.
“I heard you had returned to Earth.”
“Yes.”
“I know this is not how you wanted to get the job, but I was happy to hear you were appointed the new Curator of the Library.”
“Thank you.”
“I would like to see you,” he said.
“I understand, but that is not why I’m contacting you,” she told him. “I want you to be in charge of my personal security again.”
“Has it been approved by Omari?”
“My security no longer requires Omari’s approval. Only mine.”
“Very well. Of course, I will always watch over you.”
“I don’t need someone to watch over me,” Kate said. “I need someone I can trust.”
“You know you can trust me,” Eric told her.
“But, we can’t be together,” she said. Eric started to speak, but she cut him off. “I can’t be worried about your feelings right now. Or mine. I just need the person in charge of my personal security to be someone I can trust without question.”
“I understand.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, m’am.”
“Good. You start in the morning. We’ll go over plans, and I’ll let you know exactly what I expect of you.”
“Understood, m’am.”
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