Chapter 50: Chapter 50

SILIAN

“And what do you intend to do, boy?” Bakron asked.

“I want to make you hurt. Make you suffer so much that you will beg me to kill you. That is what I ~want~ to do. But it is not what I am going to do. I am not the weak young man you tortured all those years ago.

“Now I am the Doge. For years I have let your actions dictate my emotions, and I cannot let my life be ruled by emotions like this anymore. So, I thought I would simply kill you,” Silian said as he slowly stepped closer to him.

Bakron dropped the bag he had on his back and pulled out a long knife from his belt.

“You would kill your own father? The only family you have?”

“You are no family of mine. I have a family. Their names are Amy, Mikhlas, Izzy, James, Lucas and Iry, and you are not a part of it.”

“They are not blood. I am your blood. Good or bad, we will always have that bond.”

“I feel no bond to you. I feel nothing for you except pity.”

“I only did what Kasana demanded from me. She convinced everyone that the human you brought back was an impostor. The whole court believed her, not just me,” he said.

“And they will be dealt with, but I am not going to kill you for that. I need my own mind put at rest. To close the page on a part of my life that has directed my actions for so long.

“I cannot be that person anymore. I need to rise to the challenge that lies before me now.”

“I can help you. I have many friends all over the Realm. My contacts will serve you well in the court.” Bakron dropped the knife and began to beg.

Silian moved toward him, taking one small step after another. “Yes, perhaps they will. I know you have always had your whispers in the Realm. But that is not how things will be. Not under the new rule.”

“I have information. I know things about Kasana’s operation. I know who else is involved in all this.”

“You may choose to tell me or not, but neither will spare your life.”

“You don’t have to do this. We can work together, son,” Bakron begged as he backed away.

Silian couldn’t help but feel good every time Bakron begged or tried to bargain for his life. He remembered being on his knees in front of this man begging, many years ago. The feeling of weakness and helplessness.

Silian stopped and stared at Bakron. It would be so easy to reach out and snatch away Bakron’s life with his knives. His hand twitched, urging him to lunge forward.

~No, that is the old way. What was it Izzy said? Start as you mean to continue.~

Hate and fear bred hate and fear. The old rule of the Realm. The rule he hated for so long.~ If I am ever to see the change I have hoped and dreamed for, it must start here, with me.~

“Prime, bind him,” Silian muttered, and watched as restraints formed on his wrists and then snapped together.

“Bakron. As Lord Doge, I charge you with treason, conspiracy to kill the lawful Queen, and attacking a Fleet ship and its crew and for the unlawful use of the Crown’s manpower and resources.

“Your crimes weigh heavy on the scale of justice, and therefore you will be imprisoned until the Queen can sentence you according to the new laws,” Silian said.

“No. Rather kill me. Do not let me be lost in the pit never to see the light of day. Please, kill me, and let me die with some dignity,” Bakron begged, pulling at his restraints.

“Death is too good for you,” Silian said and turned away from him.

He felt a weight lift off his chest. He pulled in a deep breath and let the freedom of it take over him. He was no longer bound by his past. He would no longer have to live with that fear and shame.

“Are you sure about this?” Prime asked via communicator. “There is a chance that Izzy will not order his death.”

“I know,” Silian said, “but we cannot continue to live like we have done before. If the Realm is ever going to change for the better, then we will need to change who we are.”

“Well done, Silian. Didn’t I say you were coming along very nicely? I will throw him in the containment cells with Kasana. Those two will have a great deal to talk about, I imagine.”

“Very well. Prime, throw him in the brig with Kasana, and take me to Amy,” Silian said.

“No. Not with her! Please, no!” Bakron began to shout, but Prime took him in a quick flash of light.

He blinked his eyes and as he looked around, he saw he stood in the recovery room, surrounded by his family.

Mikhlas uncurled his arms from around Izzy and Lucas, sitting vigil beside James inside a regen tube and came over to him. “Did you?”

“No. He’s in the brig,” he said, his eyes turning to a pale-skinned Amy.

“She will return to you. I’m sure of it,” Mikhlas said.

“What will she be when she comes back? I have never heard of anyone bonding with Morkai.”

“Neither have I. But above all else, I know she will want to see you when she wakes up.”

“I fear if I lose her, it will drive me into madness.”

“She is not lost yet. Have hope, brother,” Mikhlas said.

At a sound from within the regen tube, Mikhlas turned. Silian saw James stir, and Queen Izzy and Prince Lucas called out to him. He opened his eyes and smiled at them.

“Go,” Silian said, and Mikhlas stepped across the space and joined in the excitement.

He dipped his head when Izzy looked up at him, and she gave him a weak smile. He went to Amy’s side and took her hand. Her skin looked so pale, like purest snow.

He sat down on the edge of the bed and waited. His head dipped low and his eyes closed.

~Give her back to me, please, Morkai. I just found her. We still have so much to learn together,~ he prayed to Morkai. ~I beg of you. Give her back to me.~ He repeated this chant over and over, holding her pale hand as his tears fell.

MIKHLAS

Mikhlas sat in the chair Prime made for him in Izzy’s room. Asleep on the massive bed, Isabelle lay curled up with both her sons.

~Our sons now,~ he thought to himself and smiled. ~They both made me proud today, but they’ve suffered a terrible shock. I hope I can help them return to the confident young men they were before this journey started.~

Lucas whimpered in his dreams and called out for his brother. Without waking, James extended his arm over Izzy’s chest and took his brother’s hand. Mikhlas smiled at the sight. ~They have a strong bond~, he thought.

After James woke, the stress and relief he could see in Isabelle meant he almost carried her and the boys to bed. The two of them had no chance to speak about anything.

He felt tired too, but his mind would not shut down. Processing everything that happened.

He looked at the glass of water next to the bed and gestured. Like an obedient gimku, the water floated over to him and formed a ball above his hand.

“Can’t sleep, King Mikhlas?” Prime asked in his ear.

“Why did the Sentinels do it, Prime? Why do I have Aquaria’s gift and not Isabelle?” he asked sub-audibly.

“Because of what Kasana did to her,” Prime replied.

“I don’t understand.”

“Kasana infused her body with foreign nanites. Infernia and myself were already inside, but the difference between my sister and I is with the Monarchs to me it is just another extension.

“Not so for the others. I could never be caught, but the others could. So, we decided that in order to protect ourselves, we needed to distribute our abilities.

“Garia, Aquaria, and Morkai only infused Izzy with the barest amount of their power necessary for ascension and stored the rest in other vessels.”

“So, is she fully ascended?”

“Yes. She will always have a link to Garia, Aquaria, and Morkai, but by far her strongest linkage is with Infernia.

“It’s so strong, in fact, that despite the limiting effect of the nanites within her, she can still use Infernia’s gift, and it will get stronger over time as I purge the nanites from her body. But that process could take years.”

“So, Aquaria chose me.”

“Yes. Water to balance fire,” Prime said. “You will be stronger than her at first because your connection is not tainted.”

~I will? I didn’t expect that. ~“So where did Morkai and Garia hide their powers?”

“Can’t you guess, King Mikhlas?”

“Morkai bonded with Amy.” He sat forward as he realized. “So Garia hid her powers inside ~Silian~? Life balancing death.”

“Very good, King Mikhlas, but neither of them knows it yet. It might take some time for them to figure it out. Don’t spoil the surprise.”

“So, these foreign nanites that Kasana acquired,” he said. “Where did they come from? And you said her ships were unique. What’s that about?”

“Hmmm. I think I’m going to reserve judgment on that. I have some theories, but for now, that is all they are. When I know more, I’ll let you know.”

Mikhlas frowned at that. ~She’ll tell you when she’s ready. You’ll just have to trust her. ~“What about Alianat and Haark? Did you transfer them to Hemkon?”

“I did, as well as the nanite seed I promised them.”

“You know, I think Isabelle will love that idea.”

“I know,” Prime said in a smug tone. “Will there be anything else I can help with, King Mikhlas?”

“Just one last question, Prime. When I took command of this ship, I thought you were different from the other Prime extensions I’d seen on other vessels. Why have you been on this ship for all that time and not told us?”

“That’s another question I’m afraid you’ll have to wait for an answer to, King Mikhlas. Will there be anything else?”

He shook his head. “No, thank you, Prime.”

“Try and get some rest, King Mikhlas. It’s not every day you ascend to King and almost die.”

Mikhlas chuckled, and the sound disturbed James.

“Hey,” James’s groggy voice came from the bed.

“Prince James, I’m sorry, did I wake you? How are you feeling?” he asked.

“I’m okay,” James whispered, looking at his mom and brother still sound asleep on the bed. He moved carefully, so as not to wake them, and climbed off the bed.

“Is Aunt Amy awake yet?”

“No. Silian is still with her. If she wakes, he will tell us.”

“Is she going to be okay?” James asked, a sadness filling his eyes.

“Morkai is the Sentinel of death. He cannot give life to someone, but he can choose not to take it away. We will know how she is when she returns to us.”

“Yeah,” James said. “You’re the King now, aren’t you?” James asked.

“Yes,” Mikhlas said.

“Are you going to marry my mom?” he asked.

“Forgive me, James, I do not know what that is.”

“Prime, can you explain?” James said.

“The bond of marriage on Earth is the same as bonding on Homeworld. It is a monogamous relationship between two people. Marriage is a legal bond that usually results in the creation of a family unit,” Prime said.

“I see. I would like nothing more. But it is up to your mother, what she wants,” he said.

“My mom’s awesome, and the strongest person I know. But this is a whole new world we’re in now. She needs you. She is too good to survive stuff like this,” James said.

“She’s had me at her side from the moment I met her. As do you and your brother.”

“I know. And I’m really grateful for that. You’d make a pretty cool stepdad,” James said and walked into the open kitchen area.

Mikhlas stood anchored in his spot. ~Where is the young man who called me freak? Am I finally seeing the real James that Isabelle talked about?~

“Your mother needs you and Lucas more than you know. She is lost without you. I saw it in her eyes when Kasana almost killed you.

“A part of her died, and I finally understood the depth of the bond you have with her, and she has to you. A love like that is rare, especially in my world.

“Hold onto it, and do not let the challenges still to come ever tear that apart.”

“Thanks, Mikhlas. For everything,” James said.

Mikhlas lowered his head and let out a long breath.

“Don’t do that,” James said. “I recognize that. Don’t blame yourself for the stuff that happened. It’s not your fault. You didn’t do this to us. She did.”

“I was the one who came to retrieve you from your home. I was the one who put your mother in danger…”

“No, you didn’t. You risked your life for us. You saved us when you jumped from the building. You fought for us, and you almost died for us. Where I come from, that’s major,” James said.

“I broke so many rules. So many laws that would have kept you all safe.”

“You broke them because you know they shouldn’t exist in the first place. We were in danger from the moment the Sentinels chose my mom. Even before you came to get us.

“Kasana would have found her sooner or later, or someone else would have come for us. We are all here and alive, and that to me is a win.”

“You are wise for your age, young Prince. I look forward to training you for the command. You must rest. We will be home soon,” Mikhlas said and left the room.

He was speechless from what the young man said. He did have a point, though. Sooner or later, someone would have found Izzy.

Mikhlas watched his feet as he walked down the dim hall toward the bridge. It was the only place he could think of to go. His mind raced at the thought of what life would hold for him now.

~I have lived on a ship most of my adult life, only ever spending a few days on the ground once in a long while.~

What of his crew? What would happen to all of them? The only thought that brought him any kind of reassurance was that Silian was in this with him.

As the Doge, he would, technically, be his second-in-command, again, only this time with the full force of the Realm’s army behind him.

He thought of Silian, and his mind pulled him to Amy. What would become of her?

“My King, you are needed on the bridge,” Prime said, and Mikhlas shook his head to clear his thoughts.

He picked up his pace and when his boots hit the bridge, a rush of feet on the floor made him stop. Everyone on the bridge was up and their heads dipped to him. All of them standing at attention and waiting.

“Return to your duties,” he said with a smile and they all sat down and continued with what they were doing.

~“My King,”~ Miran said in his head. When he looked at her, he saw the faint scar across one eye as she dipped her head.

~“Miran. It is good to see you are well. I see your eye has healed,” ~he thought to her. But she didn’t move. She waited there, and he realized. ~I am royalty now, my thoughts are private.~ She couldn’t hear him anymore.

“Miran,” he said out loud, and she looked up at him.

“How is my ship?” he asked.

“Forgive me, my King, but this is not your ship anymore,” Miran said.

“It’s not?” he asked, raising an eyebrow at her. “Whose ship is it?”

“Mine, for the moment. Until Iry is assessed and deemed fit to command. Then it will be her ship. She is the next ranking officer on board after you and Lord Silian,” she said.

Mikhlas didn’t say anything. He looked at her for a moment and then around the bridge.

“I was summoned to the bridge,” he said after a moment, not wanting to dive into that thought tonight.

“Yes. We are ready to make the final jump to Homeworld. I thought you might want to be on the bridge for this,” Miran said and walked away from him.

He stood in his usual spot, on the platform in the center of the bridge next to his chair and looked out. As the screen changed, and he felt the familiar pull of the worm hole, he knew nothing would ever be the same again.