Thirty revolutions had flown by. I often wondered, where did they go? Being a King became second nature. I just had to be there. I was the image of authority with nothing in particular to do. The beginning chafed, but like Nimrod, I found freedom in my spirit. The shackles fell away, and I roamed further and further from my desk. Often, I visited my old friends the Kee. Lamet no longer hated me. We held fast to one another, and my pride in him only grew stronger. Often, I visited my new friend, Nimrod.

I sat waiting for my guards to change out of their wet clothing. We had just returned from the garden where we spent turns splashing like children in the cool water below the falls. I sat against a wall looking out across the first fourth. The fields were active. The overhead lights were warm, and I felt lazy. I waved at workers, Kee, Phlaecian, Huim, and Axerri. I closed my eyes but soon felt someone sit beside me. I looked up to see General Taush in field clothes.

“I see the benefit of a rotating schedule,” said Taush with a smile. “I am at ease with it, but not thrilled.”

I stifled a yawn and said, “There is nothing quite as lofty as dirt beneath one’s fingernails.”

“This rotation,” said Taush, “marks the thirty revolution anniversary of your banning of progression. All the trees have been repurposed, yet, here we all are. Your father said true.”

I answered, “How shall we celebrate? Another parade?”

Taush stood and dusted the dirt from his trousers. “I’ll leave that to you. I’ve got beans to pick.” He smiled and walked away just as my guards returned.

Barachiel grinned down at me while nodding toward the General. He said happily, “General farmhands. Who’d have thought?”

I held up my hands and let Khamuel and Barachiel pull me to my feet. I asked sleepily, “Shall we tree back? I am determined to sort my property room.”

“You are very close,” said Khamuel.

Barachiel said goadingly, “Perhaps if Zotha were not such a distraction, you could finish the work.”

Zotha was already there. We had become good friends. Her loving nature rivaled that of Rigil. I looked past all the work we had accomplished and spied Zotha in the unfinished back corner. As the lights hovered around her, they sent the pleasant shadow of her full form through the sheer white gown she had chosen to wear.

As I approached with a smile, I said her name. “Zotha.”

She turned to me and smiled. “Final chore,” she merrily said.

We had planned to undo my hiding place, a row of tall cabinets that hid a makeshift mat on the floor. I had spent many turns lying in my secret place reading father’s hand-written notes. My property room was wonderfully ordered. I had installed shelves and displays for most of father’s items. Records and personal communications had been sorted and filed in two central lines of cabinets. All that was left was the moving of cabinets from the corner and the removal of mat and pillows.

I answered Zotha’s cheery tone with my own. “I could not have done it without you.”

As I turned into the back corner and peered down at the mat, I saw that it had been straightened and the pillows arranged. In the center of the mat was a tray of food, a flask, and two goblets. I looked back into Zotha’s face and noticed a mischievous smile.

“Well,” she said. “We have to celebrate.”

“I agree,” was my reply. I took her hand and seated her at one end of the mat. Her white gown stood out against the dark red mat. I sat across from her and admired her beauty. “You are quite lovely,” I said.

Zotha opened the flask and poured the beverage. “I feel lovely,” she replied, raising her goblet.

I raised my goblet to hers and sipped. We set our goblets down, and I picked through the food on the tray without choosing. “It looks delicious,” I said.

“I thought you should be strong for your meeting.” She picked a grape from the tray and nibbled slowly.

I smiled at Zotha. Her smile, her expression, and her moves all seemed flirtatious. I knew she would bring it up again. I said what I said, knowing her response would follow. “You are a good friend.”

“Don’t you think we’ve been friends long enough?” she asked. “You know how I feel.”

I knew how she felt. I felt the same way. The fact remained, that every woman I had loved went away and left a hole in my chest. Recently, even father had suggested I should not be alone. Father was right, of course. Zotha was right, but I was still fearful. I had spent many revolutions guarding my heart; it was second nature, and I was uncertain I could change. Yet, there sat Zotha, the light of desire shining in her eyes.

I smiled a brave smile, but then I said, “I’m afraid.”

Zotha stood and removed the simple ribbon that held her gown in at the waist. She knelt on the pillows behind me and tied back my hair. “It’s only natural to be afraid,” she said. “I’m afraid.”

“You are?” I asked.

Zotha leaned against my back, draped her arms around me, and kissed the top of my head. The sweet smell of her filled me. The warmth of her flesh pressed into my back was difficult to bear. She had used that ploy before, and I had remained strong. Just then, I feared my resolve was slipping.

Zotha spoke softly into my hair. “How can one commit their heart without some fear? I will give my heart to you. I will commit everything, shamelessly, hopefully, thankfully. I will be brave as I tremble.”

I listened as if I was paralyzed. The moment was too big for me; it asked too much. What could I possibly say in response? I had put her off so often that it seemed the natural response. Laugh it off and carry on. Yet, Zotha’s plea was different that time, earnest, desperate. I cowered at her advance until she turned me loose. I discovered I had been holding my breath. Guardedly, I reached for the drink and swallowed it in a gulp.

Zotha positioned herself to face me. She leaned close and looked into my eyes. I relished her sweet breath as she spoke. “I will do everything in my power to make it easy for you.”

I tried to look bravely back at her. She withdrew with a smile and spread her arms. I could see her nipples and looked nervously at my empty goblet. Zotha shook her ample breasts from side to side in a playful manner. She said with a laugh in her voice, “I wear nothing beneath my gown. How easy is that?”

I was tense. Zotha knew how to trouble me; I was on fire inside. In all honesty, it had always been difficult to resist her. My love for her, my desire, warred in me against my natural trepidation.

Rigil had told me, “You deserve to be loved.”

Nimrod said, “Take her. Be a man.”

I looked up. Zotha looked away. “I see I’ve made you tense.” She flashed a smile at me and began moving items from the mat. “Tell you what,” she said. “You stretch out on the mat and close your eyes. I’ll feed you grapes and massage your temples. Come on.”

Zotha pulled me down. I stretched out on my back and closed my eyes. I enjoyed it when she massaged my temples. All my tensions fled. All my worries disappeared. I felt her hand on my lips and accepted a grape. I chewed and felt her hand on my chest.

“That’s better,” she said, kneeling beside me. “Right?”

I took a deep breath and exhaled. I said, “You always know what to do.”

Slipping another grape into my mouth, Zotha said, “I’m good for you. Let me massage your temples.”

Normally, Zotha sat by my head. I looked up in surprise as she straddled me. She placed her hands on my eyes and made a shushing sound. Her fingers turned on my temples rhythmically. My breathing calmed. Zotha hummed a sweet, relaxing melody. I did not notice at first, but the weight of her, the heat of her on my lap soon embarrassed me with my swelling. Zotha giggled, then I felt her lips on mine, and I broke. I shattered helplessly into a thousand shards.

I was a beaten man; conquered yet breathlessly pleased. We lay on the mat naked, her head on my shoulder, her leg across my waist. Our breathing was ragged, and our skins moved easily because of the sweat. It had finally happened, what I had longed for and dreaded. I looked down into her face. She seemed at peace.

I whispered a confession. “I have loved you for so long.” I fell silent, not knowing where my rambling admission would go.

Zotha placed a finger on my lips. “I know,” she said.

The meeting was routine; we planned another parade. How the soldiers love to march! I have nothing against the company of Generals, but as I entered Rigil’s ferry and left the military ship, I felt as though I could breathe again. There is nothing wrong with military ships, but I suddenly felt free and at ease. I sat in the seat beside Rigil with a broad smile on my face.

“Spill it,” he said, returning my smile.

“I’m just happy,” I said.

He answered, “If I have to guess, my words will make you blush.”

I turned my smile to the instrument panel and avoided my friend’s discerning eyes. “I should ask her,” I said.

Rigil replied. “That has been my advice for revolutions. You deserve to be happy. Both of you.”

I felt like a giddy child. I wanted to tell everything, yet, I feared revealing too much. My mind brimmed, and thoughts raced. “We,” I said and stopped to consider how best to phrase my news.

“No need to say it,” said Rigil, smiling broadly. “Your face speaks volumes.”

I looked into my friend’s eyes. I hid my cheeks behind my hands and felt the heat of my blushing. How could he know? Was I that obvious? He laughed merrily, and I could not resist. I laughed with him.

Rigil changed the subject. “Where to?” he asked. “Throne Ship? Seed Ship?”

I calmed myself and answered. “I’ve an appointment with Olol on the Light.”

Rigil dropped me at the Light and went his way. I found Olol in the central chamber. With only the two of us there, the room seemed empty and quiet. He sat on a Phlaecian stool watching the main screen; alpha-numeric hash scrolled from bottom to top. I formed an atomic seat and sat beside him. After a moment, Olol waved away the hash and turned to me.

“Your Majesty,” he said. “It is good to see you again.”

“You seemed busy with,” I waved my hand idly toward the screen and finished for want of anything specific to say, “whatever.”

“As we approach the new seed world,” he said, standing, “I thought it well to refresh the King on protocol.”

I followed Olol to my feet and followed him to a bank of controls beneath another screen. I said, “There is not much information in my father’s memories. I am in the dark.”

Olol passed tentacles above pads of various colors and the image of a blue planet appeared on the screen. He said, “We seed new planets with life. We guide the dominant species with periodic advances in their societies and technologies. We quell conflict, and at the proper time, induct the advanced species into our collective.”

I turned from the image to face Olol with my hands behind my back authoritatively. “Sounds easy enough,” I said casually.

Olol continued. “I Protocol governs all primitive societies under a system of gods and worship. A Protocol governs a system of animal sacrifices to their gods, insuring the overstock of our GUFs. G Protocol gathers into our physical archives the seeds and embryonic DNA of indigenous species.”

I quipped, “Sounds like a lot of work.”

Olol replied, “In times past, the greater majority of our citizenry would wait out the eons in Esthos. Now, I fear, we must revise E Protocol. Since the banning of Atomic Progression, our time in E-realm will become problematic.”

I looked between Olol and the image of a blue planet feeling lost. I did not wish to seem like an ignorant King, but Esthos was a word I had never heard.  I lowered my head and massaged my brows. I had to ask. I had to confess my inexperience.

“I am unfamiliar with Esthos,” I said. “I must have missed that class. Can you walk me through it?”

“Gladly, Your Majesty.” Olol brought up a confusing diagram on the screen. “This is Esthos. It is a fissure in space and time; a portal into a nether realm that some call E Space. Esthos is the official name.”

I tried to appear as if I could understand the diagram. “Go on,” I said.

“It simply does not require that many of us,” said Olol, “to guide the primitives into advanced societies. In the early eras, we send guides and watchers. We may also send in the angels under certain circumstances. The rest of us are left to maintain the armada. We hide the armada in the Esthos.”

“Have I ever been in the Esthos?” I asked.

“No,” said Olol. “The last time we were in Esthos was before you arrived.  As your planet was in the throes of your final war, your father walked through the fires. That is when he found you and your brother.”

A chime sounded and Olol answered. A voice said to him, “There is a breach in the third array.”

Olol said in response, “Scrub, and I will come personally to the redundant frame.” He turned to me and said, “Please forgive your servant. With the King’s permission, I will forward all the necessary information to your personal node.”

That ended our meeting. I watched him leave the chamber and was left alone beneath the diagram of the Esthos. I considered whether I wanted to see Zotha or return to the white room. I chose the latter and shifted. As my guards were busy with training exercises, I decided to sit before the GUF. I placed my belt on the bench and seated myself on the floor, removing my sandals and crossing my legs. I felt at home in my solitude.