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.

Chapter Nine: The Beginning

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.

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.”

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.

Chapter Six: Unexpected Answers

Kate fell asleep in the 19^th 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.