Chapter Five: A New Enemy Emerges

He swung his staff low, trying to sweep her legs out.

Kate jumped up quickly to avoid the hit, but a small bolt of electricity shot out from his staff as he passed underneath, hitting the bottom of her feet. She lost control and fell to the floor.

William kept the momentum and swung around for another blow. She recovered and tumbled backwards to avoid the hit and regain her balance.

Kate counterattacked and stabbed at her father’s face. She wasn’t close enough to hit him; but, she was close enough to send a bright flash of light into his eyes and temporarily blind him.

Then she swung her staff around, hitting him hard on the side of his head and forcing him off balance.

He stumbled back a few steps trying to put some distance between them while he regained composure. Kate was on him, and pulled back her staff for a strong hit, hoping to finish him off.

That’s when the doors to the training room opened.

Both warriors stopped dead in their tracks and looked over to see what disturbed them.

Sun walked over. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I need to speak with your father,” she said.

“About what?” Kate questioned.

“There’s an urgent message from Shackleton Base.”

“From Io?” William asked.

“No. It’s Omari.”

William turned to Kate. “Same time tomorrow?”

“Fine,” Kate said.

As the doors to the training room closed William told Sun, “you should take my place tomorrow.”

“Take your place where?”

“Sparring with Kate.”

“You want me to spar with Kate?” Sun asked.

“I told her I would meet her at the same time tomorrow morning,” he said. “But I may have other things to attend to.”

“I had plans with Maria in the morning,” she said.

William stopped, turned to Sun and took her hands. “It would help you,” he told her.

Sun lowered her head, and let some tears slip down her cheek. William lifted her chin up and kissed her softly on the lips.

“I love you,” he said.

“I love you, too.”

“Whether you feel up to it or not,” he told her. “Get up in the morning, dress in your gear, grab your staff, and walk to the training room.”

“I don’t know if …,” she started.

“I do,” he said. “Sometimes we have to fight our way back. Let the fighter in you come out, and you will find your way.”

He put his arm around her, and the two continued down the corridor.

* * *

William sat down at the desk in his office and opened the communicator. Omari’s face appeared on the screen.

“You have something urgent to discuss with me,” William said.

“Yes, sir,” Omari told him. “The Machinists have sent a message to Io.”

“On the moon?”

“Yes. They had the correct address. It was sent directly to her quarters.”

“Does she know?”

“No. I’ve been checking deliveries since we arrived.”

“Don’t tell her,” William said. “Was it paper or digital?”

“Paper.”

“He’s the only one who still uses that medium. Show me,” William demanded.

Omari lifted up a piece of paper to the screen, and turned it around to show the entire document. He pointed to a small mark in the bottom right-hand corner. “This is his signature.”

“Are you certain?”

“Yes.”

“I suppose it could be copied,” William said. “But why would anyone want to?”

“Perhaps they think it will strike fear in our hearts,” Omari told him.

“We killed him. We have nothing to fear from that signature,” he said.

“Could it be his descendants? Trying to make a statement about what they are after.”

“Perhaps. We killed the parent, so they’ll kill the child.”

“It could just be posturing.” Omari said. “But I am not willing to take that chance when it comes to Io’s safety. I think we should return to the compound.”

“You cannot.”

“We know the Odyssey will not arrive.”

“We don’t know that,” William told him. “And the one thing that could come in its place is even more dangerous. I need you on Jupiter Station.”

“Another reason to send Io home,” Omari said. “Let me go on alone. I can be the family’s representative. The people will not assume the Odyssey is in trouble; they will believe the decision is a result of all the family has been through.”

“I will consider it. But for now, stay on schedule. You leave in a few days,” William said. “Have you confirmed the passenger list for the ship?”

“I have.”

“The ten I pointed out need to be watched, but not disturbed. Do you understand?”

“Of course.”

“I will send word once I have decided about Io. In the meantime, scan the document and send me the hologram. I want to see every detail.”

“Understood.”

“If the Machinists have returned, we may find ourselves fighting two battles at once.”

Chapter Four: Day by Day

These days, Kate walked around the Alexander compound dragging her feet. She always had heavy eyelids, but couldn't seem to get to sleep. Whenever someone asked how she was or commented on her tired face, she would simply say, “I’m just not used to Earth gravity yet.”

Just over a week had passed since Kate got back from the moon. It was normal for it to take some time to get used to the extra pressure. But something was still off.

She was carrying even more than the weight of Earth’s gravity.

She carried the burden of knowing how bad things really were, and the pressure of trying to find a way out. She decided to go to the training room where she could fight her invisible enemies. And, at least, pretend to win.

Every day she headed there to work out and release her frustrations. The last time she had been in that room before she left for the moon, she fought her brother, James. So, the first time she returned to it, the sweat and tears flowed equally.

But every time since was easier, and she started to turn it back into a room she could look forward to visiting. It was again becoming the one place she could find refuge.

The room was a perfect square with smooth, wooden floors made of bamboo that crept up the bottom half of the walls, and the staffs of her ancestors lined the top half. A river of natural elements flowed across the floor: river rocks, walnut, cherry, silver, and copper.

She used to enjoy going to the library, but lately it only reminded her of the Nekuia. Her mother was weakening, her father was consumed by his work, and the man she thought she loved she couldn’t be with.

The training room was a place untouched by the outside, a place where she could fight hard and conquer her surroundings.

When she got there, Eric dutifully took his place outside the doors. He watched over her while she fought the invisible enemy inside.

Kate rolled and tumbled on the floor, swinging her staff around for piercing blows at the practice dummies. She stabbed at their torsos and heads. She sliced at their shoulders, and hammered them at the knees. Then she started flashing, blinding and sending out bursts of lights like a strobe.

Every staff had a special property. Each member of the Alexander clan could earn a staff covered in the same skin that covered the box. The staff became an extension of the person that held it.

James could store energy and send shockwaves outward like ripples. William could store static electricity and send it out in bursts like controlled lightning.

Kate could light up a room with one thought. Each cell on her membrane was photoelectric. She could send out one bright flash of light in any direction or small, quick bursts. She could blind her opponent, disorientate them, or distract them long enough to strike a piercing blow.

Suddenly, the doors opened.

Her father entered with his staff in his hand. He slowly approached her, and without saying a word he stabbed at her torso. He wasn’t close enough, but a small bolt of electricity arced out from the end of the staff and struck Kate in the stomach. She jumped back from the shock, but quickly regained her composure and attacked.

The battle between father and daughter was on.

Chapter Three: The Way Forward

Sun took her seat as the council chair and opened the meeting.

“William would you like to go first?” she asked timidly.

“Yes,” he said, leaning forward in his seat. “There is too much to convey during this meeting, but I will tell you that the Odyssey has essentially gone missing.” The council members nodded. “We have reason to believe she has been attacked.”

Maria, Fernando, and Lucas suddenly looked concerned, but Sun and Kate remained stoic.

“I’m still looking into the latest findings, but in the meantime I’m taking the first steps to prepare the military.”

“Prepare the military for what?” Maria questioned.

“If the Odyssey has been attacked, we could be in danger by the same forces that ambushed her. We should be prepared.”

“I don’t understand,” Lucas added.

“I’m increasing the number of recruits we accept into the training program, intensifying our daily drills, and inventorying our troops and supplies. That is the best way to proceed while we continue our search for answers.”

“I still don’t understand,” Lucas repeated.

“He’s preparing for war,” Maria said.

“And how do you hope to pay for this war?” Fernando asked.

“The prudent thing to do is prepare for the worst and hope for best,” Kate suddenly interjected. “You can play your political games when we find out more.”

“It’s not just politics, Kate,” Fernando said. “Ceres left this place in worse shape than we previously thought. She was hording billions from the family, and it’s still all caught up in legal channels. This war may not be as easy to finance as you think.”

“You told me we would be fine,” Sun said.

“We were, but I didn’t know there would be additional needs so soon.”

“There are not,” William added. “All the changes I am making now are already supported. We are not gearing up for war. Not yet.”

“Very well,” Fernando replied.

“You may need to prepare for it sooner than you think, William,” Maria told him.

“Why is that?”

“I have word that the Machinists have resurfaced,” she said.

“What?” Io called out from the other side of the room. She was not there, but her best friend was.

Sitting in Io’s chair was Hermes. She built him from scratch herself.

Hermes was an android, a metallic figure with two arms, two legs, and a torso. The head was oval-shaped with a smaller oval within, just where a face should be.

Smooth, chrome metal covered the entire surface expect the smaller oval, which was a matte white. His presence was intriguing and mysterious. He was not meant to look human, but familiar.

Almost a decade ago, Io’s parents were kidnapped and killed by the Machinists. After that she turned to technology for comfort. It was a distraction, and she thought she wouldn’t have to get emotionally attached. She could get through the day without having to build a relationship with someone she could lose.

Io spent almost a decade perfecting him. His circuitry was unmatched; his programming thought to be impossible. Everything learned from the box was a part of Hermes: skin technology, neural circuitry, holographic communications, and advanced nano programming.

But somewhere along the way she did get attached. Today, he was her best friend, her confidant, and at the council proceedings he was her representative.

Hermes had the ability to project her holographic image during the meeting. He would hold out his silvery, thin hand and an image of Io sitting at her desk on Shackleton Base appeared.

The image projected was shocked and silent.

Finally, Kate spoke up. “What specifically have you heard, Maria?”

“Members of the Northern Alliance told me the group has been revived,” Maria said.

“I want to come back,” Io suddenly demanded.

“I can’t confirm this information,” Maria added.

“It doesn’t matter,” Io told her.

“I understand you want to come back,” Kate said. “I truly understand. But, I still believe it’s best if you continue to Jupiter Station.”

“Why?”

“I’d prefer to discuss this in private.”

“No, say it now,” Io pleaded.

“I think she’s concerned you could be a target,” Maria told her.

“Why would I be a target?”

“Because your parents were,” Maria said.

“Everyone with the Alexander name is a potential target,” William interjected. “And, that is a fact we live with everyday. We are all trained in combat for a reason.”

Lucas slowly raised his hand. “I would like to add something,” he told the other members.

It was unusual for Lucas to add anything to the meetings. He was the Historian, and often kept quiet during council conversations.

“Go ahead,” Sun told him. “Tell us what you are thinking.”

“Some facts surrounding the death of Io’s parents do not add up,” he said. “There is more to this story.”

Chapter Two: The Understudy

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.”

Chapter One: Settling In

The walls of the Curator’s office were lined with shelves, packed full of objects. Some of them Kate recognized; some she did not.

She slowly walked around the room, stopping only once. Sitting in the back of the fourth shelf down was a small, wooden carving of a tree with one branch broken off. As she reached in and picked it up, Kate began to cry.

It wasn’t a very good tree, but it was something she had given Yori over a decade ago.

Every Alexander had to take a wood class, learning how to carve it, how to build with it, how to distinguish different types, and how to cultivate it. The first Alexander, Paul, was a tree farmer. Trees were a part of Alexander history, and Paul believed keeping his own family tree together was an important part of their future. So, he taught every one of his children and grandchildren the trade.

Kate took the tree back to her desk, and placed it front and center. A reminder of her relationship with Yori, and the unfinished business she had with her brother.

On one corner of the desk sat Yori’s journal and his notebooks. Her father suggested she start by reading those. But, Kate had other plans.

She opened the communicator. First, she contacted the librarian at Shackleton Base to request he collect some data. Then, she contacted Io.

“Greetings, cousin,” she said.

“Greetings. How is the family?” Io asked.

“Wounded, but strong,” Kate told her.

“And yourself?”

“The same.”

“Are we still bound for Jupiter Station?”

“Yes. But, I have another mission for you.”

“What is it?”

“I’ve spoken to the librarian on Shackleton Base,” Kate told her. “He’s gathering together all the data we have on the Odyssey. I want you to turn your Engineer’s eye to it.”

“What am I looking for?”

“Examine the ship’s transmissions for any irregularities. See if you can back track them; find out where they were sent from. I’m not sure they were sent from the ship. Also, check the coding, the wording, anything and everything.”

“You want me to do this on the journey to Jupiter Station?”

“You’ve got more than three months. It might even make the trip bearable.”

“This is true.” Io even cracked a smile at this, but noticed that Kate never did. “Do you know something you’re not telling me, Kate?”

“We have reason to believe the transmissions could be originating in the Nekuian system,” she said.

“But that’s practically on the other side of the galaxy.”

“I know,” Kate admitted. “But, when you’re looking, you should start with that system.”

“Tell me what’s going on,” Io demanded.

“I’m not certain myself. Besides, it would be best if you just examined the data objectively. Tell me what you find, if anything.”

“I will.”

“And, just one more thing,” Kate said. “It’s about the box.”

“Have you discovered something new?”

“No. But, if you think of any questions that might help you understand what’s going, or narrow your search, send word right away,” she said. “Father and I can ask for you.”

“But, the questioner is supposed to come from outside the family,” Io told her.

“Father is not part of the Alexander bloodline.”

“I realize that you and William can ask questions, but I’m wondering whether or not you should.”

“We have no choice,” Kate said.

“There is always a choice.”

“You don’t have to ask a single question.”

“If I didn’t know you, I’d think you were trying to avoid the people. And, that’s not like you, Kate.”

“The only thing I’m hoping to avoid is unnecessary panic.”

“Don’t you think our ancestors had the same concerns when they first got the box?”

“How do we know they always made their revelations public?”

“You’re right. We don’t.”

“Io, I believe that during your analysis you might find gaps that can only be filled by consulting the box. If you do, know that you contact me immediately,” Kate said. “You probably won’t understand what I’m saying until you find yourself asking the question.”

“Very well. I’ll trust you,” Io said. “For now.”

“I’d like updates as often as possible.”

“I understand.”

“I’m not trying to keep anything from the people, Io. I’m just trying to understand what to tell them,” Kate said. “You and I both know that misinformation can be even more deadly than no information at all.”

Io smiled, “you know, you’re already starting to sound like your mother.”

For the first time in days, Kate let a smile escape. “And, you sound like yours,” she told Io.

“I guess I do.”

“Take care and be safe, cousin.”

“I will. And Kate,” she said, “I’m glad you let him live.”

Kate quickly ended the communication.

She knew that Io was talking about her brother, James. But she did not let him live. The fact was that she was too much of a coward to kill him. At least, that’s what she believed.

Summary for Book One: The Twins

Perhaps you are new to The Librarians, and the thought of reading Book One just to begin Book Two is daunting. Or, you simply want a recap of the events from the first book. Well, here’s the story behind Book One: The Twins.

It begins with a battle between brother and sister. Kate and James Alexander duel to decide who will represent the family at a welcoming ceremony on Jupiter Station, which orbits the Jovian satellite Europa.

The ceremony marks the arrival of the multi-generational spaceship, the Odyssey. A ship that has been traveling the galaxy for over 150 years in search of what is thought to be the closet humanoid neighbors to Earth.

The duel is not sanctioned by the family’s rulers, a council made up of seven members. And although Kate wins the battle, it is up to them to decide whether or not she will be allowed to go on the journey.

Kate’s mother, Sun Alexander, is the council chair and matriarch of the family. Her father, William, is the Commander of the military. Sun’s sister, Ceres, is the Administrator; and, her cousin, Maria, is the Ambassador. The other members include Lucas the Historian, Io the Engineer, and Yori the Curator of the Library and Keeper of the Box.

This box is at the heart of the family’s authority on Earth. It holds a universe of information; however, the family cannot access that information. They can only open it. And, no one but a member of the Alexander bloodline can open the box.

Kate has always wanted to be the Curator, but she is in line to be the council chair. Her life is strict and planned, so she was desperate to leave the family behind and start her own adventure on Jupiter Station.

The council was reluctant, but decided to let her go. She left for the moon colonies to acclimate to low-gravity before leaving for Europa.

Shortly after she left, Yori was assassinated in an explosion outside the library. The tragedy shook the family, but nothing was more shattering than the eventual revelation of the culprits. James and Ceres had been working together for years.

When Kate was named the next council chair as a child, James was furious. He felt the position should be his, and Ceres took advantage of his jealousy. She worked on him his entire life, feeding the anger. Eventually, the two formulated a plan to take over the family.

Behind the curtain, though, Ceres always planned to rule as the council chair and blame everything on James. But before she could complete her plans, James had a change of heart. He revealed the plot and his own part in it to the entire council, including his parents.

Ceres and James were both sentenced to death for their treason. But the day before their sentences were to be carried out, William helped his son escape. He believed there was something worth saving and gave him a shot at redemption.

James escaped the Alexander compound, and hid on a shuttle bound for the Moon colonies. The same colonies Kate staged her own escape on.

But her escape was not to save a life. It was to take one. She planned on heading back to Earth, and avenging Yori’s death by killing her brother.

Kate was trying to slip onto a shuttle bound for Earth, just as James was walking off of it. And the two battled. Kate defeated her brother, again. But as she held the blade to his throat, she failed to strike the final blow. She chose to let him live.

He escaped wounded and bloody to a nearby shuttle, and headed for an unknown destination in the solar system.

William contacted his daughter and asked her to return to Earth to help the family heal and rebuild. She took over as the Curator of the Library; and, Maria’s son, Fernando, became the new Administrator.

But no matter how ruthless Ceres had been, or how misguided James had been, a greater danger was lying in wait.

During Kate’s time on the moon colonies, she was investigating logs from the Odyssey. The ship had been sending reports back to Earth each year. But, it had been several years since word had been sent. The Alexanders were one of the few people on Earth privy to the information, and began an inquiry into the possible fate of the ship and its crew.

Kate discovered anomalies and soon realized that the ship had been transmitting the same logs for years. Reports sent over the past several decades were identical to ones sent a hundred years earlier. At the same time, William discovered Yori’s journal after his passing. It revealed even more clues about the Odyssey and its fate.

Now, no one else in the solar system knows what only a few members of the Alexander family do. That a storm is brewing on the far side of the galaxy. And they must find a way to rebuild trust, while preparing for the war ahead. This is where Book Two begins.

Chapter Thirty: The Road Ahead

Word travels fast in the vacuum of space. Kate called for a shuttle after her battle with James, but before she even set foot on Shackleton Base everyone knew what had happened.

Omari and Io were waiting for her in the arrival bay, and William was expecting her communication as soon as she arrived. Kate did not change out of the Lab Reclamations uniform she stole for her escape. Nor did she attempt to wipe the blood away. She quickly returned to quarters and contacted her father.

“You are being recalled to Earth,” he told her.

“Did you help him escape?” she asked.

“Yes.”

William waited for a response, but Kate did not say a word. Nor did she change her facial expression. She knew the answer and did not have to fight off surprise.

“We are sending Io and Omari as our representatives to Jupiter Station. We need you to come back and help.” William paused. “We need you to help rebuild here.”

“Very well,” she said, then immediately ended the communication and began packing. 

Kate moved quickly around the room. Still her face did not change. Somewhere inside the emotions were brewing, but they were weeks, perhaps even months away from surfacing.

She took the first shuttle back to Earth with a small security force. She no longer needed a large contingent. Her reputation around the system had already changed.

Kate was now the fighter. She could not kill her brother, which meant she had heart, but she defeated him. She found a way to escape her own forces and leave the leader of the Alexander military lying on the floor like a wounded animal. Weeks ago when she gave a touching eulogy for Yori, she was the darling of the system. Now the people saw her as something else. She was too bloody to be adorable.

Io was told to stay on the moon until she was acclimated enough for deep space travel. Then, she and Omari were going to Jupiter Station for the arrival of the Odyssey, if it was going to arrive at all.

As for James, the family decided not to pursue him for the time being. They chose to meet later and decide what to do about the “exile,” as they called him.

Some people throughout the system decided he had run away to the slums on Mars. Others thought he joined one of the political enemies of the Alexanders on Earth. There were even rumors he was working with members of the Machinists who went underground after Io’s parents were assassinated. He was said to be trying to return them to some kind of former glory.

Most people knew if someone wanted to hide out, Earth was not the place to do it.

Neither was the moon. It was home to the first extraterrestrial colony, but the plan was to construct it as a launching point for other bases across the system.

Mars followed soon after and became the most popular destination. After all, it was the first planet humans colonized. People waited for years for a trip to the Martian colonies.

Then came Jupiter Station.

Once humans made it past the asteroid belt, Mars lost its draw. Everyone interested in venturing beyond their home planet wanted to go as far as possible. Several of the remote Martian colonies deteriorated and fell into ruin. It became a place for those looking to hide, like James.

Kate did not think of James, or talk about the fight between them. When someone asked she would only say, “He got away.”

She thought when she arrived on Earth; James would be the first thing discussed. But, no one asked her about it. She was brought to the council chamber where new appointments were made to the council. A meeting was planned for the following day, and she was sent off to settle in and get something to eat. Walking down the hallway to her quarters, she started to feel a flicker of warmth in her stomach.

She was the new Curator of the Library, something she had wanted her whole life. Of course, this was not the way she wanted it, but a small piece of happiness started to grow inside anyway.

William returned to his former post as the Commander of the military, and Maria’s son Fernando became the new Administrator. Like his mother, Fernando was an attractive and social creature. He understood people, and was very clever.

After a good meal and long bath, Kate decided to head for the Curator’s office in the depths of the Library.

William was waiting for her in the vestibule. “I knew you would visit the office first,” he said.

“What do you want, father?”

“I know I have lost some of your trust because I helped James,” he told her. With that, she turned away and looked at the tree engraved on the wall. He asked her to go with him to the vault, while she pretended not to listen and scanned the room around her.

Unknowingly, her eyes glossed over the family tree and landed on Yori’s name. She had not been in that room since his death date was added. She looked back at her father.

“Why should I take you to the vault?” she demanded.

“You were the one who discovered the problem with the Odyssey’s logs. It signals a larger threat that can only be understood through the box.”

“You know why the logs were tampered with?” she asked.

“I believe I do,” he said. “And I know why we were given the box all those years ago.”

“Why?”

“It’s best if you and I visit the vault together. You turn it on, and I’ll ask the question.”

Kate started to walk towards the library, “Then let’s go.”

“I must warn you,” he said. “The truth is not easy to live with.”

“Remember that when you look at Yori’s family.” She walked past him and into the library. 

The two headed downstairs, crossed the atrium where Yori was killed and entered the vault.

Once inside, Kate placed her hand on the table in the center of the room and the box rose up. She put her hand on the top, and the hieroglyphics began to glow. William put his hand inside and closed his eyes. It took only moments for the answer to his question to flow through Kate and into William.

She stepped back, almost falling back into one of the seats encircling the wall of the room, and looked up at her father.

“It can’t be,” she said.

“It is.” He walked over and took the seat beside her. He lightly placed his hand on her shoulder, fearing she would toss it away. But she did nothing.

“Why didn’t they just tell us about the Nekuia?”

“How would we have handled that news hundreds of years ago?” he said. “We might have killed ourselves with panic. Instead, we have been able to use the information in the box to slowly prepare for our defense. We just might have a chance.”

“Do you think the Odyssey has already been destroyed?”

“I do.”

“Then why send Io and Omari to greet her?”

“Nobody else knows, and it is best to keep it that way,” he said. “For the time being.”

“Who does know?”

“You, me and your mother. Io knows some of the story, but not everything.”

“Did James know?”

“He only knew there was a problem with the Odyssey, but he did not know about the Nekuia.”

“Do you have a plan?”

“Not yet.”

William and Kate left the vault with heavier hearts than they had entered it with. The Alexander family would have to try and heal from the events of the past few months, while preparing for the road ahead.

Something dark was stirring in the far reaches of the galaxy and it was headed their way.