Saxon Andrew: Death of an Empire

The First yelled, “Go and kill that ship. Number Four, take over his board and bring that place in view.”

The new Distributor pressed a button and he fell into his ship. He thought the coordinates and enabled the drive. The bright Orange Ship disappeared.

The Fourth Council Member arrived at the Distributor’s console, entered the coordinates into the main scanner, and pressed the enable button. The view suddenly appeared and they saw the Orange ship appear… among thousands of planet sized green ships. The Orange ship hung in space for one long moment and disappeared. “Shut it down, shut it down.”

The Fourth killed the power to the entire console and sat there trembling in his chair. The Three Council members were also trembling from fear and couldn’t move or speak. The new Distributor sat on his ship and couldn’t raise his hand to send him up to his console. All of them waited to be killed. The first three Council Members dropped into their ships and jumped to a vacant dimension to hide. Soon Orange Ships were disappearing at an ever increasing rate. As alarms sounded warning of accidental contact with the former family, fear drove a mass exodus that emptied the planet of those that made it their home for a billion years.

“Well, he didn’t stay long.”

“I suspect he is cleaning up his chair right now.”

“Why do you say that, Greyson?”

“I detected an active scan just before it arrived and it cut off faster than I’ve ever seen.”

“Let’s hang around a little while and see if they show up. Did you get a scan of that Orange Ship?”

“Yes and it matches up with the ships used by the Red Demons. I don’t believe we can stand up to that ship.”

“I was afraid of that.”

“Reflecting energy back at it will do no good. It would just replace energy used. That energy can’t be increased to a higher level so our current reflective weapons systems will be ineffective.”

“While we’re waiting, move over to one of the Green Ships and let’s take a look at it.”

“Trey, have you been listening?”

“Worrying about it won’t change it. These ships are historic and I want to see one up close.”

Greyson sighed and teleported over to one of the giant vessels. This thing was huge. Greyson was amazed by a ship as big as a planet. “Do you want to take a look inside?”

“Absolutely.”

Greyson moved to a huge port in on the top of the ship and flew inside. He forgot his worries as he marveled at the giant ship that had once been a killer of universes. Soon they began seeing millions of dried up carcasses of Eight Legs that had been consumed by their leaders. Trey quietly said, “This is what compulsions lead toward. The Realm saving this species was one of the noblest things they ever did.”

“It makes it even more depressing to see how they lost their way.”

Trey nodded, “There is that.” Trey looked at his display and said, “Let’s go home.”

Greyson exited the ship and teleported out of the ancient, dead, monument to a species that had been forced to slavery.

“Carter!”

“Yes, Jenna.”

I need you to come home now.”

“Why, what’s going on?”

“Cassie had formally requested a meeting with Mom and has asked us to be present.”

“Did she tell you why?”

“No, and she’s being evasive about answering.”

Carter took a deep breath and Jenna said, “You know something!”

“No, I don’t but I’m afraid we’re about to lose our little girl.”

“What do you mean?”

“She just turned eighteen and I know she has been studying for as long as I can remember to prepare her for becoming an adult. I know she’s told you that before.”

“She had but I didn’t put any weight into that remark.”

“Jenna, when has she ever said something she didn’t mean? She was preparing herself for something and I’ve always wondered what it was. I suspect she is going to tell us today.”

Jenna thought about what Carter was saying and began to see where Cassie was headed, “She’s found something.”

“Or someone.”

“She’s never mentioned being attracted to anyone.”

“Did you when you left to join the Searchers?”

“That’s because there wasn’t anyone at that moment. I met you years later.” Jenna paused, “Do you think this has something to do with her psychic abilities?”

“You know it does.”

“Come home now. The meeting is in two hours and I need you here.”

Carter was watching the current class of Naval Academy Graduates take one of their final ship trials. He looked over and Maddy and said, “I have to go. I’ll look at the recordings later.”

Maddy nodded as Carter activated his armor and teleported home.

Queen Ashley Talben sat on her throne and looked over at Glen beside her, “Do you know what this is about?”

“No, I don’t.”

They looked up as Jenna and Carter teleported in and turned off their armor. Ashley stood and rushed forward to hug her daughter, “Welcome home, it’s been too long.”

“I know, Mother. There’s just so much happening.”

“Do you know what this is about?”

“No, I was hoping you did.”

“She didn’t tell me. She formally requested a meeting to discuss her Royal responsibilities. Beyond that, I don’t know anything.”

Before they could say anything else, Cassandra was standing in the Middle of the room. Ashley turned and Cassie bowed. Ashley was going to rush forward to hug her Granddaughter but stopped and returned to the throne and faced the room. Carter and Jenna bowed with Cassie and Ashley said, “Please rise and tell me what brings you here today.”

Cassie looked at her parents and nodded toward some chairs to the right of the throne. Cater took Jenna’s hand and pulled her over and sat down. Jenna remained standing until he reached up and grabbed her by the shoulder and pulled her down. Cassie smiled and turned to her Grandmother, “Your Majesty, I am abdicating my place on the list of succession today.”

Jenna jumped up but Carter pulled her back down and whispered, “Sit down and be quiet! Hear her out before you do something outrageous.”

Jenna gave him a stern expression but saw he was more serious than she had ever seen him. She usually got her way but she saw that this was not going to be one of those moments, “And if I don’t?”

“I’ll spank your bottom here in front of the Queen.”

Jenna was shocked and she saw Carter wasn’t smiling. She sat back and fumed.

Cassie watched her Mother and smiled. She turned back to the Queen as Ashley was trying to restrain herself from laughing at Jenna. Ashley looked at Cassie, “Why are you asking for that Princess Cassandra Reese?”

“Because I will never be available to fulfill that obligation, Your Majesty.”

Carter took Jenna’s hand and squeezed it. She looked at him and he shook his head, “Wait.”

“Tell me what is going to happen to prevent you?”

“I am going to be leaving in twelve hours to join my husband in protecting the Empire.”

Ashley glanced at Jenna and Carter and said, “Husband, I didn’t know you were married.”

“I’m not. You’re going to perform the ceremony momentarily.”

Jenna jumped up from her Chair yelling as Carter looked at the ceiling and shook his head. “You are out of your mind! Just who do you think you are coming in here and telling us what we’re going to do?”

Ashley looked at Jenna and said, “That’s what I felt when you did the same thing at age twelve telling me you were going to be a Searcher.”

Jenna looked at her Mother and suddenly knew what she had felt those many years ago. Her fear for Cassie was overwhelming and she looked back and forth between Cassie and her Mother, “Mom, I can’t.”