The Mission

Chapter 2: A Past new Beginning

Charles Ricksome jerked awake; the after effect of the time slip still had him feeling groggy. Now THAT was a hell of a ride! Traveling through the waves of time was an experience he had dreamed of years ago, when he had been working on his own time slip device. Looking at the flame red haired, slender, emerald eyed beauty lying in his arms, he knew the pain he had endured was well worth it.

Giggling, Ally, the ship's AI spoke up, "We have departed the time slip Charles, we should be arriving at the Mioan capital world of Aztre within an hour."

"Thank you Ally, any news from the royal family chambers? You haven't informed them yet have you?" Charles asked a little worried about the reception he might receive when the Emperor found out the Princess was pregnant and HE was the father.

"No Charles, I haven't, they have picked us up on long range though. In order to carry out the plan, you will have to be in position when we land, so I can transfer you to the desired place," Ally replied.

A small door opened nearby Charles, "You uploaded all of Cici into this storage unit, with all the specifications I added?"

"Yes, Charles, Cici is all there and I have to say you are a genius, to make the modifications to him that you did in as little time as you have. It was breath taking," Ally stated.

"Yes Charles," came from his wrist com, "I dare say that the amount of data you added has made me much more efficient."

"I'm sorry Cici; I wasn't able to attach more than four brain cells. There wasn't enough time," Charles said wishing he'd could work on Cici more, the way he was now he only had maybe a fourth of what was needed for full emotions.

"It's ok," Cici responded, "at present I am twenty five percent faster than I was before, much better."

"I concur," Ally spoke up, "at present Cici is at a level higher than almost all AI's in the empire. I think he's sexy," this last spoken almost in hushed tones.

Charles shook his head, wow, AI love, smiling he looked again at Princess Alatem, he wondered just how long this sleep phase lasted, "Ally status!"

"We are receiving royal requests to answer as soon as the Princess awakens," Ally replied.

"Ally does the sleep always last this long? I have been up for half an hour," Charles asked a little worried about the baby and Alatem.

"Yes Charles, this is very normal, you on the other hand are what I would say is a special case. I have never seen any human recover as fast as you did. It may have something to do with the amount of energy I had to use to remove you from time." Ally said as she started to scan Charles to make sure.

A moment later Alatem stirred opening her eyes she smiled at the only man she had ever loved or could stand to be near.

"Hello my love," she sleepily said. "Again I see you are indeed as special as I knew you were. Your recovery time could be handy for future missions."

Charles smiled staring deeply into her eyes, damn if he didn't see the future and the past there in those emerald pools of love.

"We'll be arriving in Aztre in half an hour Alatem," Ally spoke up.

Groaning the Princess sat up looking at the readouts, "Kill joy." She said eliciting a giggle from the AI.

"Alright, we are arriving two hours after we left, with the information we acquired from our trip you will be placed in the only spot to save father," Alatem said. Charles nodded as the Princess explained who they were trying to stop.

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A beam of light flashed and a man appeared on the roof opposite and in front of where the Emperor and his family would be. The proclamation of the new laws would bolster the economy, strengthen the empire putting fear into its enemies and maybe give the Emperor more time to spend with his family. Sighing he re-read the dispatch he had just received, another death threat. Ever since he had started the empire back to its more powerful standing he seemed to get a new one every day.

Where the hell was Alatem? Damn girl taking off again in the time raider. Hell he hadn't had a chance to go onboard and she'd already had it out twice now! Sighing again he knew she was going to raise holy hell when she found out about her betrothal.

Gods, she was a wild one, maybe he shouldn't have appointed her to the time ship council. Just yesterday she had been mumbling about an attempt on the entire family's life, what an imagination! There was no way anyone could get near them let alone even try to kill them. The clock sounded the hour and they all stepped out through the curtains onto the balcony, a huge cheer going up from the multitude there below.

The man on the roof stiffened pulling a strange rifle looking weapon from behind him. Looking around he smiled and looked through the long range scope. Lining up on the Emperor, his finger tightened up on the trigger. Thinking he knew he had to time it just right or he was a dead man. The weapon could fire two homing charges at a time, with just enough charge to only kill what it hit. Digging into and exploding, killing instantly whoever was designated the target. Stepping forward the Emperor raised his arms to quiet the crowd.

"Citizens of the empire," he started while behind him four servants hurried to attend to the royal family. The Emperor finally finished with the opening speech, and was about to start the proclamations when there were two soft pops, a scream started through the crowd.

Rushing forward the Emperor's personal guard looked on in disbelief. There behind the Emperor and even closer to his family were four dead assassins! The Emperor's mouth hung open because there he saw his dead brother's son amongst those killed. A commotion across the street drew his gaze to the roof top. A lanky, brown haired, actually plain looking man saluted him and disappeared through the window. Looking back he felt the anger swell up in his chest ordering the guards to remove the traitors from his sight.

Charles was running as fast as he could, it wouldn't do to be caught not right now.

"Cici, any pursuit yet?" He asked

"Not yet but I wouldn't count on that for long, we still have a kilometer to go for the rendezvous," Cici replied a hint of urgency in its voice.

An hour later Charles walked into the small meeting hall at the outskirts of the city. Alatem rushed forward throwing her arms around him kissing him deeply, the few others in the room gasp and stared wide eyed,

"Princess," an older man spoke up, "shall we dispatch him? He has touched your royal personage!"

"NO!" she shouted. "If anyone CAN or does touch him, if you survive, will be flogged till your bones are bare."

Shocked the others only stared and backed away while Alatem continued to kiss Charles.

"Did you like how I did it? I had to wait till they were about to strike. I think it will be enough to convince your father of their intentions," Charles said.

"I believe he does now, what was that you used? It was so quiet and I have never seen a configuration like it before," Alatem asked

"It's a rifle I designed years ago," Charles started, "It fires a small charged bullet that explodes in the body, not very big but enough to cause death instantly."

The others behind the Princess could only stare at Charles, finally the older man spoke up. "I apologize to you sir, you are obviously someone close to the royal family and deserve respect. I am Trok the Princess' head body guard."

"No, not the family, just to the Princess," Charles stated matter of factly. With that many of the men in the men reached for weapons. Charles pressed a device on his side and all the men froze, the shocked and pissed off looks on their faces were priceless.

"Now as the Princess said, if you can touch me then you'd have her to deal with. Believe me you'd rather deal with me. I've seen her temper and it's not pretty, OW! s**t!"

Charles looked at Alatem holding the side she had just elbowed him in. Though they couldn't help it many of the men tried their best to hold back their snickering.

"Alright we have stopped the first attempt on my family's lives. Charles and I have received information on a second tonight." Alatem hoped this spurred them into action, she also hoped it would make her father take her more serious from now on. "Ok Charles let them go." Sighing Charles flicked a switch on the same device, shutting it down.

The men in the room could only glare at Charles; touching of a royal by anyone other than a royal was the biggest taboo in the empire. The penalty for it was an instant death as fast and as painful as possible.

"Now then, before we discuss further let me introduce you to the man who saved my family." The Princess said. "This is Charles Ricksome and though you may not believe this, he is from the future." Alatem paused as the collective gasp from around the room rose.

"How can we take just his word for that?" asked Trok.

"Because I brought him back with me, the mission we discussed last week was a success," Alatem replied again drawing a collective gasp. "Charles is a former soldier, turned inventor suffice it to say I wouldn't mess with him if I were you."

"Just how far in the future?" asked Trok trying not to be rude.

"Let's just say that, when I was born your family would have many, many, many, more generations added to it." Charles snapped back at the man, "to me you were just dust."

Alatem could see the hostility building and defused it, "We have to return to the palace, Charles you have the details and the location please be there."

Filing out many looked at Charles with awe and fear, only the older ones glared at him before they left. Kissing him deeply again, Alatem whispered in his ear before she too departed. Looking back she mouthed the words to be careful then turned and rejoined her personal guard.

The Emperor was still pissed, it had been a perfect plan. Had it not been for the man on the roof with his strange weapon he and the family would probably be dead now.

No one had suspected his servants having been with the royal family for decades. He had a multitude of people looking for the mystery man. He still hadn't decided on what reward to grant the man, that is when they found him. Looking over the plans for tonight he had checked many times to insure this didn't happen again.

"Ah Trok! I take it this means Alatem is back with us?"

Bowing low Trok replied, "Yes my Emperor. She plans to attend tonight's ball."

The Emperor's eyebrows rose at this, "Oh really? What has brought on this sudden urge by her to appear tonight? She usually begs off or has something more important than family functions to even show her face even a second."

Trok was hard pressed not to say anything, he wanted desperately to tell the Emperor everything he knew. The Princess had sworn him to secrecy. As she had put it, the less who knew, the fewer there were to leak the plans she had in place trying to protect her family. "I believe it was the near fatal events of today that have sparked her behavior. She does love you my Emperor though she shows it in her own way." God he hated lying to the Emperor but his punishment was tame compared to what his daughter could do.

The Emperor shook his head, he was glad he had chosen Trok to protect his daughter.

Such fierce loyalty was hard to come by these days especially to one as young as his daughter. He could clearly see Trok was lying, gaining a new respect for the man he knew he had chosen well, very well indeed.

Alatem dressed in her best gown, descended the long stair case to the ball room.

Taking a huge gulp of air she entered the hall and proceeded to sit near her father.

Looking around the room she hoped Charles was in place, she also knew that like before his timing would have to be near perfect. After an hour of eating and discussion, her father asked her for a dance. At once she felt a little girl again dancing with her father. It was clear he was more than pleased that she was here tonight. Not speaking a word trying to make the moment last as long as possible, Alatem just smiled and glided across the floor. Feeling free almost floating as her father danced her around the room. The dance ended and they went their separate ways to sit.

Sighing, she sat happier than she had been at home in a long time. Another hour had Alatem starting to grow bored and tense, the time was nearing. A few minutes later several servers proceeded toward the royal family. Alatem's heart was beating faster, then, just as they reached the table, there were a series of short hiccup like coughs.

Each server fell beside the table several still alive but unable to move. Looking around the Emperor and Alatem looked up to the far side of the hall on a balcony. There the same man from earlier that had saved them, carrying an even odder looking rifle saluted them and again vanished through the open window. Looking at his daughter the Emperor saw the small smile on her face and began to wonder if she might actually know who this man was.

Saving the royal family not once but twice was something that the Emperor couldn't imagine. He still intended to find out who the man was.

The guards were rushing to capture the man. The Emperor knew that they wouldn't be able to find him, much like earlier today. Rising he looked at each of the men still alive surprised again to find another of his dead brother's children among those.

"So, do you wish to talk here before we execute you, or is the torture chamber more to your liking." The Emperor snarled into the face of his nephew.

Spitting into the Emperor's face the young man snarled back, "Go ahead you putrid old f**k! This empire was once the most feared, the most powerful. Your pathetic excuse for policies has turned it into an empire of whimpering old women. You deserve to die! You don't have the balls to torture me nor the stomach; you're just a little b***h pretending to rule!"

Enraged Alatem kicked her cousin in the ribs, "See? a b***h he sends his b***h daughter to entice me!." Spreading his legs Alatem saw his eyes grow large as she stomped, putting her whole weight into it on his scrotum. Smiling the whole time she enjoyed the sickening crunching sound as she reduced them to bloody pieces of mangled meat. The howls and screams he let out would be remembered for years by those present. Just before he passed out Alatem leaned over him, "I might be a b***h but at least I still have all of my equipment." Laughing in his face, she watched him pass out from the too severe pain as she then walked away.

The Emperor enraged by this second attempt upon his family ordered the man taken to the torture chamber. When the guards hesitated the Emperor told them the man had forfeited all of his rights as a royal and therefore wasn't anymore. Roughly grabbing him eliciting a groan they carried him off. Walking after his daughter he was surprised when he found her waiting for him.

"Father, maybe now you'll take me serious?" she started.

"My dearest Alatem," his shaky voice echoed in the hall. "I don't know how you knew but I will take anything you have to tell me, serious, from now on."

"Good, I have had help," she started

"The mysterious man, yes he deserves a huge reward. Maybe a high post in the court. What do you think?" the Emperor asked.

"No father, he wants nothing like that, in a way he has already been rewarded. I know for a fact that he has everything he wants." At this a wry smile crossed her lips alerting the Emperor's concern.

"I must go change father, I will see you tomorrow," she tossed over her shoulder and hurried up the steps out of sight. The lines on his face furrowed deeper as he tried to think of what his daughter might be into now. Walking into his bed chambers he was preparing for bed when his wife entered the room. "Ah! my dear there you are, are the children alright?" she asked.

"Yes Mita, but I am concerned about Alatem, I can't put my finger on it but..." He started.

"It's obvious my love," Mita replied.

"It is?" the emperor was confused something he wasn't used to.

"Why yes my love, she has the same look in her eyes that I do when I look at you." Mita hesitated, "she's in love and quite deeply I must say."

"WHAT!!!??" The Emperor shouted not sure to be happy or enraged. Dashing from his room only half dressed a dozen people following him, he took the stairs two at a time. Throwing open her bedroom door he found that once again she was gone, god knows where.

Damn it to hell! She was going to kill him! Returning to his bedroom he laid down already forming plans to find the mystery man and who his man hating daughter was in love with.

Alatem raced through the alleys to the meeting hall, throwing herself at Charles the moment she caught sight of him.

"You know your father is trying to find me, right?" He asked.

"Yes, but though he would reward you, it's going to take a lot more before he doesn't kill you on sight." She said not noticing the small shadow near the door.

Charles held Alatem close and slowly moved her close to the wall. Releasing her he leapt for the door. Outside there was a high pitched scream as Charles pulled a young girl inside. "Stop! Let me go you can't touch me!" She screamed, Charles held the knife closer to her throat as she quieted.

"Charles wait!" Alatem yelled, "Don't hurt her please! She's my sister!" Releasing her the little girl ran to Alatem crying, "shhh it's alright he didn't mean to scare you, he's just protecting me."

The little girl's eyes got huge, "He's so fast! No one has ever seen or heard me before! Sister! He touched me! I don't want him to die! I like him now!"

Alatem laughed a moment then thought s**t now what? Her sister couldn't keep a secret or her mouth shut! Sighing she knew that Charles and her had their work cut out for them now.