Mastery of the Stars

Chapter 3

Some time before.

They had decorated the Presidential Palace on Future to celebrate the inauguration of President Kirkland. They had prepared a sumptuous feast which included bite-sized catlan batons, preserved cat’zed chunks and bosnirs sloth steak.

Kirkland was in the great hall, overseeing preparations with his advisor, Kcokaep, when his partner approached.

“Ah, Ydna, my dear. Doesn’t everything look marvellous,” he said.

“Yes, it does. I thought you’d want to know that your co-beggotton and her partner have arrived. They’re on their way up now.”

“Good, our begetter would have been so proud to see his offspring leading two of the most important regions in the galaxy.”

“Yes, he would.”

“Sgniwef! How are you? Thanks for coming.” Kirkland said, seeing his co-beggotton enter the great hall. “You will be pleased to hear we are in the ultimate tests of the scorpion lizards.”

“I wouldn’t have missed your inauguration for the universe,” Sgniwef exclaimed.

“And Luap, you look as beautiful as ever. Possibly the most beautiful creature in the universe except for your co-beggoton,” Kirkland turned and smiled at Ydna, who brushed away his compliment.

“Co-beggoton!” she greeted Luap. “Why do we always have to wait for these stuffy occasions before we get together?”

“I agree. We should get together more often,” said Luap.

“You all know Kcokaep,” Kirkland said, gesturing towards his adviser

“You must introduce me to this delightful creature,” said a Zistreotovean, approaching them.

“This is Luap, co-beggoton of Ydna and partner of my co-beggoton, Sgniwef, who I am sure you know is the ruler of the Ao-Jun region.”

“Why, of course, please forgive me for not recognising you immediately,” said the Zistreotovean. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Enaud, Zistreotovean Ambassador to the Republic.”

“Charmed, I’m sure,” said Luap.

“Yes, well, when does this thing start?” asked Sgniwef.

“Soon,” said Kirkland. “As soon as all the guests have arrived and judging by the hall, I think they nearly all have.”

An impressive feast followed the tedious ceremony, after which servants took away the food so that the guests could enjoy music and dancing.

Kirkland first danced with his partner Ydna, then passed her to Kcokaep so he could dance with his offspring, Trebor, as was dictated by tradition. Luap danced his obligatory dance with Sgniwef and then escaped to the palace gardens for a break.

“You don’t like these occasions?” asked Enaud, as she approached him.

“You can tell?”

“I’m sorry, you don’t mind if I...”

“No, I don’t mind your company at all. It is everyone in there I am tired of.” he gestured to the great hall.

“You know, it’s true what they say, you are the most beautiful creature in the universe.”

“You are very brave to say that to the partner of the ruler of Ao-Jun.”

“I am not afraid of Sgniwef.”

“No?”

“No, I had a dream and in this dream they promised me the most beautiful creature in the universe.”

“Oh yes? Who made you this promise?”

“Cevemis, God of marriage.”

“Cevemis promised me to you?”

“She did.”

“And you believe this dream, do you?”

“I do. This is why I came here.”

“Would you like to come to my chambers?”

“But what about Sgniwef?”

“Don’t worry, she hasn’t visited my chambers for years. Not since Ybrad was born.”

“Ybrad?”

“Our offspring.”

“Of course, sorry.”

“I forgive you.”

He led Enaud through the gardens and the palace to his chambers, dismissing the attendants.

“Your partner is full of herself, isn’t she?” said Enaud.

“Why do you say that?

“Well, Kirkland was making a big deal about her being the ruler of Ao-Jun.”

“What of it?”

“Well, what I mean to say is that Ao-Jun is not much bigger than Zistreotov, is it?”

“If you say so.”

“Have you ever been to Zistreotov?”

“No.”

“You must come, it’s amazing. The wealthiest in the galaxy come to gamble.”

“On what?”

“On anything.”

“Sounds dull.”

“Oh, it’s anything but, the luxury of the accommodation, the food, the drinks, the music, the dancing. It makes Kirkland’s inauguration look like an Aukkon attempt to quantumdraft.”

“Don’t be so rude, it wasn’t that bad.”

“Then what are you doing here with me?”

“I’m wondering myself.”

“Here, let me, I’ll show you why we’re here.” Enaud closed the door.

After Enaud had shown Luap why they were in his rooms, she poured a glass of pish each.

“To us,” she said, proposing a toast.

They drank, and she refilled their glasses before going to stare out of the window at the city-planet of Future, whose towering buildings stretched out way past the palace gardens until the horizon.

“I mean, seriously,” said Enaud. “What is the point of you staying with Sgniwef?”

“I am her partner. She is the ruler of Ao-Jun and I am also the begetter of Ybrad, heir to the region of Ao-Jun.”

“What’s the point if you can’t enjoy yourself.”

“I have a responsibility to my offspring.”

“Ybrad is old enough to look after herself. Come with me to Zistreotov.”

“Sgniwef would never allow it.”

“Then don’t ask her.”

“Let’s leave now, without telling anyone. No-one would notice, they’re all too wrapped up in the inauguration.”

“I can’t.”

“Why not? Give me one reason.”

“Because... okay, I can, but I’m not going to.”

“Why not? Wouldn’t you like to come with me to the most luxuriant system in the galaxy?”

“Of course I would.”

“Well, then.”

“It’s just that...”

“What?”

“Well...”

“Come on, what’s the worst thing that can happen?”

“Okay, I’ll come.”

“Good, get ready, we’ll leave now.”

Luap got dressed and packed a few things before handing his bag to Enaud and following her out of his rooms and through the palace corridors to the hanger where her long-range shuttle was waiting for her.

The shuttle was the perfect reflection of Zistreotovean value. Every detail spoke of opulence. It was decorated and upholstered with only the finest materials.

“Don’t let the appearance fool you,” said Enaud. “This shuttle can outrun most vessels and has a formidable weapons system. You’ll be perfectly safe on board.”

“I wasn’t worried. Should I be?”

Enaud laughed.

“These will be your quarters,” she said, leading him into an apartment that put his palace accommodation to shame. In the centre was a large pool, facing a huge observation window which, for the moment, was opaque.

“That will de-frost,” said Enaud. “Once we are free of the atmosphere, the views are spectacular and it will heat the water to your preference.”

“How does it know?”

“The accommodation reads your cerebral waves to determine preferences and moods, adjusting the ambience without you having to ask for it. Come on, I’ll show you the bridge.”

She left his bag in his apartment and showed him to the most extravagantly decorated bridge he had ever seen. The seats were luxurious, the controls elaborately decorated, and elegantly curved frames housed the observation windows.

“Where is your crew?” he asked.

“I don’t have a crew. I like to do all the flying myself. With a little help from the ship’s computer, Mada. Say hello Mada.”

“Hello Mada,” a voice echoed around the bridge.

“She can be annoyingly literal sometimes.”

“Pleased to meet you, Mada,” Luap laughed, making himself comfortable in a luxurious chair. “Don’t you get lonely on this big ship all by yourself?”

“I won’t, now that you’re here.”

“I bet I’m not the first. What about pirates?”

“They don’t bother me, they know we have Zistreotovean patrols which operate between here and Zistreotov.”

“You run Zistreotovean patrols in Republic space? I bet Kirkland doesn’t know about that.”

“He doesn’t. We are well protected, don’t worry.”

“The Zistreotoveans take good care of their ambassadors.”

“Do you not know? I am the offspring of Ttivert and Nomis.”

“The rulers of Zistreotov?”

“The same.”

Enaud prepared the ship for takeoff. Then they lifted off, high above the city-planet, and turned to the Zistreotov system portal’s direction.

“President Kirkland?” Kcokaep approached the president, who was still dancing with Trebor in the Great Hall. “Ambassador Enaud has left in her ship.”

“So what?” said the President. “There’s no need to bother me with such trivialities.”

“With Luap.”

“What?” The President stopped dancing. “Excuse, me Trebor.”

“Should I inform Sgniwef?” Kcokaep asked.

“No, come with me.”

In the presidential control room, Kirkland asked Kcokaep to communicate with Enaud’s ship.

On Enaud’s ship, an indicator light began flashing on one of the control panels. Enaud switched it off.

“Send for Sgniwef,” said Kirkland.

“I will take a patrol,” said Trebor, entering the control room.

“Trebor? What are you doing here?”

“I overheard. Let me lead a patrol to get him back.”

“No, I forbid it. I will not let you go,” said Ydna, entering the room.

“Ydna?” Kirkland exclaimed. “Is anyone left at the party?”

“Don’t let Trebor go. It’s too dangerous.”

“It’s not dangerous,” Trebor protested.

“Trebor is one of our best pilots and a very good patrol commander,” said Kirkland.

“What? This is outrageous,” Sgniwef fumed, when she arrived. “They have kidn*pped my partner. You must do something.”

“I have already sent communications to Zistreotov and we will despatch patrol ships to intercept Enaud’s ship. My offspring, Trebor, is commanding the patrol.”

Ydna shot Kirkland an angry look.

“I am glad you are taking this seriously, President.”

On Enaud’s ship, another indicator light flashed.

“Why don’t you take a swim,” she suggested to Luap. “I’ll just set the course and then I’ll join you.”

“Sure, why not?” he left the bridge for his apartment.

“Enaud, here,” she said after pressing the indicator light. “Yes, he’s here. No, he chose to come. They’re just trying to draw us into a war. Our patrol will take care of them. Okay, I will.”

She pressed the light again, then followed Luap to his apartment.

“The Zistreotoveans are saying Luap went of his own free will,” said Kcokaep.

“That’s Galxuts Pronghorn!” exclaimed Sgniwef. “They’ve kidn*pped him. No doubt about it. Has that patrol left yet?”

“Yes,” said Kirkland. “They are in pursuit. I’ve already had a report from Trebor, they are catching Enaud’s ship.”

“Do you think she can handle it?”

“Trebor is my bravest pilot.”

On the bridge of the lead Republic patrol ship, Trebor focused on the screen in front of her.

“Will we catch them before they reach the portal?” she asked.

“Yes, we are on course to intercept before the jump point,” said the ship’s computer.

“Good. Ready weapons systems.”

“Weapons systems initiated. I’m picking up signals of several ships on a course to intercept us.”

“Tenuils pirates?”

“No, my sensors detect they are Zistreotovean patrol ships.”

“What are they doing on this side of the portal? They are in Republic territory. Full alert,” Trebor announced to her patrol. “We have incoming hostiles.”

Before her patrol had time to prepare, Trebor’s ships came under heavy fire.

“Enaud’s ship is approaching the portal,” said the computer.

“Never mind that,” said Trebor. “We have to defend ourselves.”

“Weapons systems compromised.”

“Fire whatever we have.”

The ship tipped and rocked. Flames shot out of a bank of controls on the wall.

“Life support systems compromised.”

“Abandon ship,” Trebor shouted.

There was another colossal explosion.

“Escape pods compromised.”

“Can we land anywhere?”

“The nearest planet is Future.”

“Return to Future, let’s try to outrun them.”

Another explosion.

“Losing power.”

“For the love of Thynas, God of the Insane, we’re going to be sitting drevvaks!”

One by one, the Zistreotovean ships picked off the Republic ships until there were none left.