Once past the ocean of orbs, Taush relaxed the fleet formation, but let the GM retain control. Seven rotations passed without incident. Wiznchour told us the last shift horizon was a mere twelve rotations away. Our hearts were glad. As the news spread, I could see joy and relief in the faces of my people.

My Generals were more restrained. We would exit the Esthos to find ourselves quite near the seed world. Taush and Zeas called me into endless meetings to voice their concerns. They were right to plan for the worst, for we simply did not know what danger we might face. Plans were made for a possible ambush. Emerging fleet formation was the most pressing concern. All my Generals gathered in the situation room; they argued and made concessions while I sat quietly missing Imabelai.

They were aggravated; their voices were hoarse, the meetings had wearied them. I stood in a lull and spoke. “You’ve covered every possibility,” I said. “Run simulations, and make your best decision. What more can you do?”

General Zeas stood and placed his cap on his head. He bowed to me, turned, and bowed to General Taush. “Your Majesty is right. Generals, with me.”

That said, Zeas and the Generals filed from the room. Taush remained seated. He looked thoughtful as he drummed the table with his fingers. I was well acquainted with the look on his face; something was on his mind. I seated myself and awaited his word.

“Morale,” he said.

“Excuse me?” I asked.

Taush ceased his drumming and leaned forward across the table. His eyes pierced me and made him appear closer than he was. “You must wed.” His words were quiet and solemn.

“Should we?” I asked. “I was hoping to wait out the current crisis.”

“The time is propitious,” he replied. “The future is uncertain. The present is favorable. Your people need a King and a Queen.”

I understood his words. The marriage of a King and Queen is not for the King and Queen, but for the people. The joy would be theirs; strength and resolve would be magnified. I understood my General, but my heart faltered. My insane brother posed the darkest of threats.

I pushed my chair from the table and stood. “I will speak with Imabelai,” I replied.

Taush stood and took his cap into his hand. He said, “Times are dire, but a soul must live each moment. Live and it will enlighten the people.”

He turned and walked from the room. Long after he left, I stood and reflected on his words. His wisdom refreshed my spirit. I felt bold. I would seek Imabelai, standing on ceremony. I would bow to her, and lift my hand. I would ask her ultimate favor and wait hopefully for her to take my hand in hers.

I shifted to her cabin and found her seated in front of her node. She looked up with a pretty smile, calling me to her side. “Come. Look at this,” she said.

I knelt beside her and looked at the screen. A bold header announced The Marriage Ceremony. I looked up into her happy face and saw her excitement.

“Read it to me,” I said.

How do Kings and Queens wed? In the most complicated and public of manners. A royal wedding requires special clothing, a special feast with special foods, servers, retainers, speakers, musicians, and performers. Needless to say, it would not be a royal wedding without a very large and noisy multitude. The logistics exhausted me.

Imabelai searched my eyes expectantly. I smiled. Seizing the opportunity, I said, “Will you accept this humble man as your husband? I may not set you before the people, but I promise that you will fill my heart like no other.” I bowed my head and lifted my right hand.

The pause between my proposal and the response I expected grew uncomfortably long. I began to worry. I dared not look up, but the waiting chafed my spirit with irrational fear. She finally responded. I heard her say, “Oh!” Then, she took my hand.

I looked up to find tears on her face. I asked, “Are you crying?”

Imabelai laughed. She wiped tears from her face. Then she joined me on her knees and hugged me passionately. “Yes,” she whispered into my ear. “Yes. Yes.”

On the following rotation, I placed a dozen skilled people under her hand. Together, they would craft the perfect wedding. I joined my Generals for a tour of our ships. We had finished with the military ships and had progressed to the tech ships. We filed through the transport tree to stand on board the Olipharean support ship, Viraat.

Stamping past, I saw blue Oliphareans with trunks and brown Oliphareans with horns. Then the shipmaster walked up to us, crossed his chest, and introduced himself. He affected the Huim form, like Bha Huda, and seemed effeminate like Crish.

“Your Majesty,” said he. “I am ship master, Aadir. Please follow me.”

Generals Mirza, Jobow, Malyer, and Parion walked ahead of me. Khamuel and Barachiel walked behind me. Aadir led us to ship navigation and stood beside me as the Generals made quick work of the inspection. In a quiet whisper, Aadir leaned close and said, “Congratulations on your marriage.”

I turned and smiled. The news had spread quickly. “Will you attend?” I asked.

He nodded, and answered, “With great joy.”

So many ships! So much smiling! The compliments were unending. Drained, I shifted to Imabelai’s cabin and sat on the corner of her bed. I felt like I could sleep for seven rotations. I fell back and massaged my eyes. I drifted off and was awakened by the shaking of the bed. I looked up to see Imabelai on her knees leaning over me.

I blinked and said, “The Generals have had their way with me. I need comfort.” Dark mode flew past us on rapturous wings.

Spent, I lay with Imabelai in my arms. Her head rested on my shoulder, and nothing else mattered as I looked steadfastly into her endearing face. The noise of her breathing was soft in my ear as she slept. I loved her so much. There was not a single noise from Hope. A dim orb floated near the ceiling barely illuminating the room.

Waiting was no burden, and finally, Imabelai rolled from my arm and into the pillows. I shifted to my apartment, washed and clothed myself. The counter in my node told me it would soon be light. I stood, stretched, and shifted to the fields. I looked up and drew the sweet air into my lungs. Joy was mine. Half the lights came on overhead, and I closed my eyes, allowing the warmth from them to wash over me.

I walked to the pond and sat on a rock among the reeds. Dragonflies skimmed the water and frogs croaked. I could hear the distant sounds of ranch animals as I inhaled life. If it had been up to me, I would have remained on my rock by the pond. I would have left pressing issues to others. But, of course, it wasn’t up to me. The rotation ahead of me was crammed with meetings. Generals, Judges, and a plethora of committees all wanted a piece of me.

I sighed and stood upon the rock to stretch. I really wanted to stay, but I hopped from the rock. I did not turn first, then hop; I hopped first, then turned. When I turned, stepping from the reeds, I found myself face to face with my brother LUC. My heart froze in my chest. The one responsible for so much death and destruction stood before me smiling wickedly, and suddenly, I was fearful.

Yet, for a brief moment, I looked at my enemy and saw my brother. His skin was black with a heat burning beneath. His Huim eyes were black on gray with a ring of green encircling each iris. His nose was

long and bony, and his lips were the darkest red. The points of his ears protruded from thick, coiled indigo hair. The long hairs on his upper lip and chin were bound with metal rings.

His image would have been perfect but for the damaged E suit he wore. The metal collar was gapped and scratched. The orange fabric was scuffed and soiled, but as I said, the moment was brief. His black hand reached out, took me by my throat, and lifted me off my feet; I gagged and thrashed as LUC looked intently into my eyes, amused.

“Father is not here to help you,” said LUC.

I shifted to my redundant control and fell to my knees gasping, massaging my abused throat. Tears in my eyes, I reached for the node, but I did not get to call for help. LUC gripped my wrist and spun me around to face him.

“Learned a trick, did we?” His voice was angry.

I shifted back to the field, stumbled, and fell on my back. All the overheads were on. LUC appeared and stood over me, placing a boot on my chest. If I appeared afraid to him, I was.

“Stop,” said my brother. “Anywhere you shift, I can follow.”

I shifted to my feet and stood an arm’s distance from him. He nodded as he put his foot down. There was so much in me I wanted to say. So many questions came to mind, but I could only ask one.

“Why?” I asked.

“I saved you,” he answered. “I was your savior, and you turned from me.”

Suddenly, LUC stepped forward and slapped my face. I fell to a knee and hand as I rubbed my stinging face. I looked up through tears.

“You were mine!” said LUC, yelling.

Then he fell on me. He struck my face with angry fists; I could feel the bone in my nose snap. He took my throat in his hands and squeezed. I could not believe the strength in my brother’s hands. I could clearly see the insane rage in his smoldering gray eyes. His eyes were the last thing I saw before the darkness overtook me.

I awoke in a private room. 43S7 was there. Khamuel and Barachiel stood by the door. Imabelai rushed to my side, tears in her eyes, and pulled me into her arms. She sobbed loudly. I struggled to a sitting position and held her until she sniffed back the last tear. She sat back and touched me here and there to make sure I was whole.

I coughed and asked, “What happened?”

Imabelai moved to a chair as Khamuel stepped to the end of the bed, crossed his chest, and spoke.

“The enemy had you in a stranglehold,” said Khamuel. “I put a large hole in his back, but instead of falling, he stood and screamed. Then, he disappeared. I rushed you here,” Khamuel shook his head slowly and added, “I really thought we had them all.”

Khamuel normally did not talk so much. I blinked up into his face, reaching for a memory. Then it came; they all came. A flood of memories overwhelmed me. I touched my face and felt my throat as the memories washed over me.

“It was LUC,” I said.

The military presence was unmistakable throughout the fleet. The air itself was tense. One could not turn without bumping into a titan or an angel. Yet, the rotations passed without further incident. The fleet shifted, and we found the new expanse of Esthos much thinner. I say thin because the new realm seemed spectral and forsaken.

The blood reds were gone. Gone, too, were the storm columns. Only the occasional orb spun past as we raced to the seed world shift horizon. I stood in Command aboard the Virgule; Taush to my right and Zeas to my left. We stared at the large green orb in the overhead screen. It was the size and shape of the moon ship that, doubtless,

orbited the new world.

Zeas asked, “Should we harvest?”

Taush answered. “We have enough, I think. Let us pursue the shift.”

I took a deep breath and spoke broadcast. “I’m nervous.”

Taush turned to me. “Oh?”

“Imabelai has everything so perfectly in place,” I said. “She has such high expectations. Now, I must stand and be dressed up while she decides what I’m to wear.”

My Generals laughed. I was not amused that they found my predicament amusing. I expected sympathy at least from Taush. I felt like I was whining, but I couldn’t help it. I chafed under Imabelai’s command.

I said, “I’m afraid to speak my mind or move. I might deflate her.” 

Taush said, “Then you best not be late.”

I sighed and shifted to Imabelai’s cabin. Standing just outside, I could hear the laughter among her female helpers. I would stand awkwardly in their midst as Imabelai dressed me over and over until my spirit bled. The prospect reminded me of the time I stood in the midst of another group of women; Otoallo, Zotha, Soranda, Aejis, and

Someliey. I thought it a good thing I was not being bathed again.

The news of LUC had spread, but I alone had looked into those black eyes of insanity. I jumped at the slightest noise and saw shadows at the edge of my vision. I’m sure it was on everyone’s mind, but hope buoyed us, and no one spoke of LUC. It seemed that everyone in the fleet was more excited about the pending ceremony than I was, but then again, none of them were as nervous as I. None of them were more on edge.

The door opened and six women filed past me with abashed laughter. I entered and found my love standing at the foot of her bed. She considered three choices of clothing folded neatly before her. I kissed her cheek and took her hand in mine.

“You sent the women away,” I said quietly. “I’m relieved.”

Imabelai turned to me with a straight face, only her eyes smiled. “For this,” she said, “no one sees you but me.”