Area-1, Vol. 2

Alak Rath

Alak Rath

I did not expect that that Alak Rath, the crown prince to the Capitol Regime, to come along with the envoys. He looks regal, dressed in silver elaborate robes according to Capitol’s traditional custom. His platinum blonde hair still look as long as the last time I saw it.

My father, High Commander of Area-1, has entrusted me in greeting the envoys and making sure that Sergeant Cato Ludwig is returned safely to his people. So here we are standing at the foreign bay as the crown prince himself steps out of his just as regal spaceship, tightly followed by a group of his people behind.

“Healer Lini, it is nice to finally see you again,” he flashes me a charming smile, the choice of words that girls often refer of my brother. He then takes my right hand and places a kiss on the back of it. The custom is considered strange in Area-1, but I grew quite used to it during my visit to Capitol a while back.

“Thank you, it is nice to see that you are still healthy, Crown Prince Alak, but it’s professor now.”

He gives me a confused look, soundlessly asking, “I beg your pardon?”

“I have been promoted ever since five years ago. My curing days are close to none. I am now the Department Head of Futurology.”

“Ah, I see. A congratulation is in order then? My, a department head. Your father must have been very proud, then?”

“Very.”

Five years ago, I was sent to Capitol as part of my healer training. Prince Alak had always been a sickly child. And even though a number of Capitol people believe in his skills of leadership, he had been unfortunately renounced because of his unpredictable health.

Back then, the relationship between Area-1 and Capitol was not as trustworthy as it was now. Part of my mission of being sent to Capitol is not merely curing a possible heir to the throne, but also to establish deeper trust between two powerful planets. The trip was not without its dangers, which make the mission even more valuable to be completed.

The prince’s sickness might had been a challenge to be cured by the Capitolians, but it was nothing compared to Area-1’s technology. That was also the first that that nano virus is introduced to Capitol.

Really, it could have been any Arean who was sent to cure him, but that did not stop Crown Prince Alak from feeling in-debt to me. It was like a miracle, he said. He felt like he was dying at times, but when I came and gave him the injection, it was like he had a salvation angel sent to him. Again, his choice of words.

He wanted to grant me a reward, as a thank you for curing him and restoring is position in line. So I simply told him to simply help establish between connections between our planets, like any other good diplomat. But he told me that he was planning to do that anyway, so he asked for a different request. I did not really need anything from him, but he insisted, so instead I told him to save up the reward for a later date.

“I see that Professor Lini is as beautiful as you described her to be. And here I thought you’re going to die alone,” a voice interrupts my recalling. I turn my gaze to the male standing on Crown Prince Alak’s right side—this might not be a mere coincidence. Just like the crown prince, he dressed elaborately, though his outfit consist mostly of black. He has his hair sleek back, but the spotted patterns on his tie makes him looks laid back and less menacing.

“Bass, you know that it’s not true!” Crown Prince Alak protests, a blush forming on his cheeks, which seems to fuel his friend even more.

“Oh? You don’t think that Professor Lini is beautiful? Well, I agree to disagree,” Bass says in a teasing tone.

“You know what I mean,” he tells his friend, before sparing a glance at me reassuringly. “Professor Lini, may I introduce you. This is Bass Westwick, my trusty advisor and friend.” The person in question steps closer to take my hand, and just like Alak, placed a kiss on it.

“Pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty,” he says politely, his eyes twinkling with delight.

“We are not a monarch. Professor Lini is fine.”

“Not Professor Dynasty? I thought titles are followed by family name at here, as far as I understanding goes.”

“My father was referred to as Professor Dynasty, before he ranked up to High Commander. I didn’t take the name because aside from me, I also have two family members who are in the scientific departments. I doesn’t feel fair to take it up as my own, so I settle for my own name.”

“That sounds very nobel of you. See, we have so many things in common already.”

“You go by your own name, too?”

“Yes, that. But I’m also a nobel.”

“Oh, you are making a joke,” I realize.

“A very uncommon trait in Area-1, I heard. Hopefully you’ll find that attractive.”

I have no reply to that, so I turn my attention back to Alak. “I’m sorry about my friend. He always reacts excitedly when he sees beautiful women,” he says, before realizing what he just said and blush. “And of course, ah-hem, I think that you are beautiful too, because you are… Uh well, this is Bartek Boroweic, an acquaintance of Bass, and a very famous model. His work has been well-known all across Capitol, and at some other planets across the galaxy.”

“Pleasant to meet you, Professor Lini.” This one places a palm on his heart and bends for a bow, his face remains stoic the entire time. His fiery red hair is what stands out the most, braided tightly across his shoulder. Although his clothes are in a little bit of a different style, he also wears black like Bass. Pre-agreement?

The other four people behind them are guards, which I notice recognized Cato. He might be the reason we gather here today, but I seem to get more attention from the higher ranks. I step aside so that Cato can greet his crown prince properly.

“Crown Prince Alak Rath, this Sergeant Cato Ludwig pays his utmost respect to you,” Cato bows the same manner as Bartek, but his mannerism looks much firmer.

Alak nods in acknowledgement. “It’s good to see you are now well, Sergeant Ludwig. I have heard of your unfortunate accident. You are lucky that you landed on this planet. They seem to have taken good care of you.” Then he turns to me slightly, “It seems that I am once again in-debt to you, mon salut ange.”

“No problem,” I flash him a polite smile. “I’m happy to help those who are in need.”

Just when Alak is about to say something, someone interrupts him.

“Yep, that’s great. You got what you came here for. I think you should wrap it up and leave.” I am surprise to see Mark so rudely dismisses the crown prince as he is approaching us. Before he can say anything else, I quickly pull him out of the way, briefly turning to Alak with a silent apology. He does not seem to be easily offended by Mark’s unwelcomeness, thank Origin.

“Mark, what do you think you are doing?” I whisper-yell. “This is an important delegation. You could have jeopardized our peace treaty!”

“Oh please, that wuss won’t do anything here. Well, at least not when you’re around. That does not mean that I can’t properly express my dislike.” I gape at his crude words.

I quickly pull him aside, excusing ourselves from our respective guests, before Mark can make the situation any worse.

“What has gotten into you? You’re not usually like this,” I question him. Area-1 is not one hundred percent free of conflict. Some people still carries old hatred for what the Capitol had cost us. Most people see the bigger picture, while the rest is clouded with judgement.

His chest rise up and down fast as he takes heavy, angry breaths. “What has gotten into me? Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten what those people did to my parents—to your mother. I had almost lost my sister because of the war!”

Back when I have cured Prince Alak, the cold war between Area-1 and Capitol was still ongoing. My assignment to be sent there was one of the attempts to discourage a bigger battle to erupt.

My aunt was positioned in the military sector back then. Due to continuous stress during her pregnancy, we were forced to make her give birth of Cara prematurely. It proofed to be a wise decision, because Cara was successfully incubated and we were able to lift some stress from my aunt’s shoulders. We just did not know how fortunate that decided was.

Barely a month later, a military spaceship was send out to patrol when it was suddenly disintegrated. The piece of machinery was one of ours. We didn’t know how the Capitol managed to get their hands on it, but it killed every last one of the passengers, including his parents and my Mom.

No technology can bring them back, no matter how advanced we are. No one can revive nothing, as there was nothing left of them to be revived for once disintegrated completely.

It took everything for us to not let a war broke out. People grief for a long time, but know that life must go on. But some, especially who had lost their family from the attack, never did. We have our own way to conquer our feelings. Using the same technology we have, we utilize our emotions, better, stronger, and more and more, so that it will not control us and do something we might regret even more.

Tears start to threaten from the corner of my eyes. Mark sees that and he can’t help but mirror my own, anger forgotten. I quickly pull him into a tight hug, wanting to shoulder his burden, but also want him to do the same. He clings to me desperately, it makes me kinda afraid that he might disappear.

“We, Areans, are beings of logic before emotions, and we must remember that always,” I remind him. “Hatred will do nothing but more damage to us, and I love you too much to let you drown in it. Take the EC test, Mark. Please, for me. For your sister.”

“I can’t. I don’t want to forget this feeling. I’m afraid that if I do, I’ll also forget my parents along the way.”

“You won’t, Mark. I took the test too and I still hold it dearly in my heart. The memories of my mother . . . I can never forget them.”

“Then promise me! Promise me that you’ll stay by my side. Forever. So that I won’t given in to my feelings. Fill up the hole in my heart.”

“I will,” I answer dutifully.