A World of a Thousand Lights

Chapter 5

The soft hum of the city coming to life echoed up into the empress's chambers. The sounds slowly woke her as she stretched. Nobody was here to wake her up or to say good morning. It was a bit odd, but nothing to worry or complain over. Nova slowly made her way out of her bed, pushing the sheets away from her warm body. Her tail was the first off the bed, followed by the rest of her body. A cold feeling washed over her. She wanted to stay in bed.

Her nanio cleaned her flooring as she undressed her shirt, moving over to her closet. Dress of all colours and designs hanged with grace as they waited for their turn. A long purple and blue one drew Nova's attention as she reached for it. The smooth silk-like material ran between her fingers as she took it and placed it onto her bed. She swam over to a keypad beside the door and pressed a blue button. 

After a moment or two, Techa entered the room and bowed, commenting on how early Nova was awake. Techa grabbed the dress and unzipped the back as Nova swam still in front of the crystal mirror. Her handmaiden pulls the dress up Nova's tail and waist. They pause so that Nova can get her arms in. Once they got it on, Techa zipped it up and backed away to inspect the dress. 

It fitted her beautifully. The arms were tight around Nova's shoulders and arms, but the sleeves became long and reached down halfway to her tail. Her hands were still visible, which worked out well. The dress split near her waist with a gold ribbon wrapped around tightly.

 "This dress looks amazing on you, your greatness," Sang Techa as she fixed up Nova's hair. 

"I believe this was your mothers, was it not?" 

Nova nodded in agreement as she eyed herself, almost seeing her mother looking back at her. Her mother loved this dress and wanted to see one of her daughters in it. Avala was never able to get to try it. So many things happened that stopped her from doing so, death being the main reason.

"You seem distracted. Are you alright?"

 Nova nodded again, this time in a slower way. 

This did not sit well with Techa, but she didn't want to push anything just yet. "Well, we have some food ready in the lower dining room. Just come when you are ready," Techa conceded as she departed from Nova's chambers, shutting the door behind herself. 

Nova sighed, turning away from the mirror and swimming over to the balcony. The doors part as she approaches. She leaned against the railings, watching the city below her move on with their own lives. Unaware of the news that had been brought into the castle. News will start to come out soon, though. Families would tell families. Soon all the colonies would know and not through their empress. So, as any proper leader would do, she would let them know after she visited the other cities. Everything must go according to plan. 

The balcony doors closed as she made her way back inside. She turned to a black holo band or brace resting on her dresser, as the humans call it. She grabbed it and strapped it on. Tiny blue dots move around it. Nothing out of the ordinary, just checking to make sure it is her. It's been so long since she wore her brace, which is odd. These braces are like human phones, only they do so much more. One example is their currency. Their only money is on them.

 Their technology was their way of life. Nova didn't think that they would survive without it. Their technology has been with them since the beginning.

A gurgled sound erupted from her stomach. Nova smiled as she left her room to go to the lower dining room. It confused her why they had two rooms for eating. Both serve the same purpose. There are plans to develop it into another area for those who work in the castle. It hadn't been decided yet, though. 

"Hello, your greatness," A familiar voice spoke out from behind. Nova spun around to see the face of Vieri. 

"Hello again, Vieri," 

He smiled as he offered to escort her to the dining room, to which she accepted. They chatted on the way to the room, not noticing the little shadow that had been following them.

The halls extended far, and they had to go down a few floors before reaching the 

Nova silently took tiny bites from her food. She watched how the other reacted. Talina nudged her food, Stormflare took small bites, and her two siblings chose not to eat at all. It pained her to see them all like this. Nova focused on her own food. It looked delicious, but, she too, had lost her appetite. She got up, handing her plate to one of the cook's assistants and exited the room with everyone's eyes on her back.

The door slammed as Vieri tilted his head, worried. He never said anything as she passed, assuming what happened in the dining room, and he guessed right. He eyed her as she swam away from the dining room.

She continued swimming down the hall. Even in her own home, she felt no longer safe. It felt as if someone was watching her as she headed down the empty halls. 

Where are the guards? Shouldn't they be here? Why aren't they here? Is she overthinking this? 

She rounded a corner and, without thinking, entered a random room. It was dark, with only a few lights on the walls. Nova gazed up and froze as she stared at the three cryostasis pods on the wall. Each has a royal emblem painted on the front. Her gills swelled as she slowly backed away. She could feel her core tighten in her chest as she struggled to open the door. Just as her arm gave out due to numbness, the door swung open, and she crashed into someone.

"Nova?" Pharadox's voice rang in her ears as she tried to look up at him. Her sight was different. It seemed as if she were looking through a circular tube.

Everything around her started to spin. She didn't understand. Why is this happening? Her hands gripped onto her brother as he tried to comfort her and called out for help. She could vaguely see figures rush towards her as her vision blurred before everything went black.

***

Horrible pain stirred around in Nova's head as she began to see the light again. Only it was blinding, and it hurt her eyes, which hurt her head more. Slowly, Nova sat herself up. The room was white and had blue lights shining down. Everything in the room was white. There was absolutely no other colour. At all. This was one of the medical rooms.

As the empress left the room, someone grasped her right arm tightly. She turned to face the one who grabbed her and became face to face to her third in command.

"And just where do you think you are going?" Talina asked. She looked more concerned than anything, but Nova could see a bit of anger on her face.

"Talina," Nova was almost a bit taken back by this as she struggled to find words, "I was just going to go look for... someone. I guess,"

Her third in command rolled her eyes. "They all went to rest. You passed out for almost the entire light cycle, and we had to move our trip till tomorrow. Not only that, Mercedies said that you had this thing that humans call a panic attack," 

Talina went on, but Nova wasn't listening. She didn't understand what was happening, nor could she comprehend what was being said to her. It was all very fuzzy and sounded odd.

"Ay, I am sorry. You must be tired," Talina looked down at Nova and smiled softly. "Come on, let's get you to bed."

Nova trailed behind Talina slowly, though Talina was able to be slow. It was a bit harder to swim slowly for those who have long tails. In Talina's case, long fins. Even though she didn't have a very long tail, her fin made up for it. Unlike most senilorians, Talina had one big fin that started from her waist. It went down from there and connected past the tip of her tail in two parts.

"Are you going to explain to me what happened?"

Nova looked up at Talina, who had pulled her out of her thoughts.

"I... I don't know what happened. When it did, I felt as if something had... I don't know how to describe it,"

All she gained from Talina was a muffled grunt. They stayed silent for the rest of the swim to Nova's chambers.

"Thank you, Talina,"

"ay, don't mention it. Mercedies said that sleeping should help ya. Also, try eating something too,"

"I will. Thank you again,"

With that, Talina left Nova at the door. Nova watched as she turned left and turned herself towards her door. She activated her brace and tapped a small button as her doors opened. Nova didn't feel like sleeping. She didn't feel like doing anything, but she was tired. Very tired. More tired than she should have been. So, to make things easier on herself, she laid down on her bed. It didn't take long before she fell into a deep slumber.

***

A large Luna hummed to life as the empress prepared to leave with Elara, Leporis, Sagan, and Talina. Stormflare wasn't coming, as she had decided to stay back and take over for Nova. Several guards were also departing with them. They were not a need as there aren't any threats that are living. The only reason is because of Nova's attack that happened the previous light cycle. Perhaps an engine failure too, but nothing else. Besides, there were also guards stationed all over the colonies.

Echo and Pharadox approached Nova. Echo bowed and smiled at Nova, who caressed Echo's cheek. "I will be back in a few cycles,"

 "I know, but why do you have to leave right now?" 

"Because I will end up not leaving if I stay any longer," She pulled Echo closer and pressed her head to hers. They both closed their eyes and stayed like that for a few seconds. Nova drew away and repeated her actions with Pharadox. He leaned in close to her, staring down.

 "Please come back," He spoke softly, so Echo couldn't hear his voice shake. It hurt to hear that come from him. To hear how scared that she may not return to him. 

She took his hand, squeezing it as she whispered back to him. "You know I will," 

The others bid their goodbyes as the three in charge boarded the ship with the guards.

The interior was a dark purple, and the walls were just a one-sided window. Seats lined the siding, allowing anyone to swim through the middle. In the back, stairs headed up. That is where the rooms were located. It all looked the same. Black bed and sheets, purple walls and ceilings. 

Nova took her seat with Talina, Elara, and Leporis. Sagan chose to guard the exits at the back of the ship. None of them said a word. It wasn't long before the Luna took off from the docking bay. The lights on the wall passed until the outside came into view. They don't head towards the city as they make their way to a tunnel. A tunnel that did not lead to Acata.

At first, Nova didn't think anything of it. Perhaps they were taking the trip a different way. That was what she had considered until she looked over to Sagan, who was nowhere to be found. Which was odd, as he never leaves her side on trips. Even in the transport Luna's.

Talina and Elara caught on as Nova got up and turned to a guard. 

"Where is general Sagan?" 

He didn't respond.

Talina rose and swam up to him with a glare. "She asked you a question, guard,"

Still, no answer and this time, Elara got up, but Nova stopped them. Her eyes glowed once again as the guard yelled out and collapsed.

"What did ya do, Nova?" Talina asked as she felt the guards back.

"I tried to get him to speak,"

Leporis hummed and swam over to the piloting deck doors. They opened as he entered, only to call for everyone. They all swam in, and much to their shock, found that there was absolutely no one in there.

"What is the meaning of this?" Talina asked. The other shook their heads as they rushed to the computers. They typed on the computers, but nothing worked.

"The systems have been compromised! This Luna is being hijacked!" Elara shouted out to alert other guards who were not in the room, "I need two guards on communications, three on nav, and four stationed with the other computers in case something comes up,"

Talina frowned as she looked over to Nova. "We should find Sagan. We haven't seen him,"

Nova nodded as they left the room to Elara. They didn't realize that Leporis had also gone missing.