We just wrapped up a full meeting between the thirteen of us. It’s the first chance we’ve all had to be in the same place for more than a few moments since movie night. Even during the announcement last night, I didn’t really get to spend any time with all of them.
I briefed them on my grandmother’s story, and to say there were some shocked expressions is an understatement, then Saxon did as he promised and filled me in on the plan. I am highly impressed with it and can’t wait to execute it. There were a few half-hearted arguments against me assuming my Madovian form, but they were quickly shot down. Brannock sentthe message to the Syndicate posing as the Madovian, telling them she had a lead on the orb and should have it in her hands by the time we get to Earth, which should be in about a week.
After the meeting, I take a seat in the captain’s chair on the flight deck, just wanting a moment to really absorb the fact that I am now the boss, but the adrenaline running through my system at the thought of what we have to do is exhilarating, and I’m restless, so I get up and start pacing. Bubby watches me, a silent beacon of support I am grateful for. I know if I wanted to talk, he would listen, but for now, I’m good.
My biggest focus at the moment is the keystone of the plan—the orb, or it’s actual location to be precise. When the guys asked me exactly where the orb of power was, I didn’t have an answer for them. My grandpas told me they would let me know when the time was right, which is not yet, apparently, but I can’t help speculating where. There are so many possible hiding places on the ship, it could take forever to find it, and it also gives me an excuse to ignore the fact that I am essentially going to become the goddess of death when we do deal with the Syndicate. I really don’t want that, and I have kept that little bit of information to myself. Zeydan is the only one who knows. I asked him not to say anything yet, and he has respected my wishes for now.
At the moment, he is meditating on the bio level. We cleared it out of any crew, and he’s going to try to draw some power and put out a galaxy-wide call for his siblings. Apparently he can send a burst of power that works like a beacon, which should get their attention, or that’s what we hope anyway. It turns out I was right, and Aarin is his long-lost brother. He made his home on Celestia and was content to be normal when his own search for Lilessa and Vivax failed. He said he did look for the others a few times over the past hundreds of years, but he could never get past Zeydan’s plant and animal defenses. He figured he hadn’t wanted to be found, so he let him be.
I suggested he help send the beacon, but Aarin needs air to boost his power, and artificial air from a ship doesn’t really cut it. His powers are limited like Zeydan’s after Vivax drained them. Before, neither of them needed to be around their element, but after, it’s the only thing that will power their magic, but at least they had that.
“Lila.” I stop my pacing at the sound of Bubby’s voice and look at him. I’d been so focused on putting one foot in front of the other that I had completely zoned out. I look around the flight deck and notice everyone is staring at me with curious faces.
Crap, not the best impression on my first day as captain of this hunk of junk. Yikes, Bubby would probably kill me for calling his precious a hunk of junk despite the coolStar Warsreference.
“Sorry, I have a lot on my mind,” I explain. “We reworked the show during our meeting, and Ghosie was going to send out a ship-wide rehearsal schedule. I’m just nervous to see what everyone thinks.” I’m probably oversharing, but I don’t care.
Everyone seems appeased by my explanation, and the scrutiny eases. “We’re being hailed by an Aquilian bird of prey, so we’ve dropped out of warp speed to answer it,” Bubby tells me, and I groan.
“Really? Fuck! Seriously, what does that evil hag want now? She made it perfectly clear that Nikos and our children were not wanted. When Nikos tried to contact his friend about her evil plans and his help in saving Nixie, he got no response.” Saving Nixie has been added to our to-do list, but not before we take care of everything else. She will be alright in the dungeon until we can get to her. Her mother won’t risk assassinating her, otherwise, she could start a civil war, and she doesn’t need any extra turmoil.
“One of my contacts tells me Aquilia is on the brink of civil war. The citizens have not taken kindly to the new queen’s rule. They say she is no better than her husband, and there are grumbles of a possible uprising,” Saxon says from the doorway to the bridge. Standing behind him are Brannock and Tirrian.
All three men join us as Bubby brings up the image of the Aquilian spaceship on the screen.
“We got the alert you sent out. Nikos is also on his way. He was swimming with the children. Link and Ghosie hurried down to help Caspian with them, so he won’t be long.”
Suddenly, Zeydan and Xavier appear in front of us, Zeydan’s hand on the warlock who stumbles slightly.
“Shit, warn a guy, will you?” he mutters as Zeydan releases him and steps forward, staring at the Aquilian ship.
“Who is on the ship?” Zeydan demands, and I roll my eyes.
“We haven’t quite gotten to that yet due to all the dramatic entrances.” I don’t hide the sarcasm. My men can be such drama queens. “But if it’s the sea snake, how much trouble would we be in if we blasted her out of the sky?”
“Probably not a lot if the rumors have credibility, but how would Nikos feel about you killing his mother?” Xavier asks dryly, and I arch an unamused eyebrow at him.
“Probably the same way he feels about the fact that you killed his dad,” I snarl, and he raises his hands in defense.
“Hey, that wasn’t me, that was my parents.”
“Same, same.” I turn my back on him and study the ship. “They aren’t being particularly aggressive, and they seem to be keeping pace. They hailed us?”
“Yes, but I haven’t accepted the message yet. Shall I wait for Prince Nikos?” the communications officer asks.
Just at that moment, Nikos arrives on deck. He’s wearing a vest and pants of what looks like black fish scales, making his skin and hair appear vibrant against the dark colors. It kind oflooks like armor, and he must have had it stashed in his little house in the Aquilian habitat to be able to have put it on so quickly. He’s also carrying his large shiny trident in his left hand.
He pushes his wet hair back from his face and glares at the screen. “Hail them,” he instructs, the perfect picture of royal arrogance. You wouldn’t think he enjoyed being milked by his mates last night. I squirm at the memory and sit down, crossing my legs and nodding to the communications officer who looked to me for confirmation.
“Aquilian warbird, state your business. We have weapons locked on you and will fire unless you comply,” Bubby demands, and an image pops onto the screen. It’s Nixie.
“Stop, please, don’t! I’m requesting asylum,” she says quietly, not looking at us but off to the side of the screen.
“How do we know you are telling the truth, sister? For all we know, you are on a mission for our mother,” Nikos retorts sharply, and that finally has her raising her head. One of her eyes is puffy and swollen with a large, dark bruise around it.
“I’d rather get thrown into the Molstoy Trench than do anything for that sea witch,” she declares as another person moves into view. He has long, sky blue hair and matching eyes, with whirls of blue on his chest and neck that look like waves. He has a tattoo of a ferocious sea creature with huge teeth and spines on his right bicep, and he’s wearing the same kind of outfit as Nikos. It looks like scale-covered armor, but his is a deep ocean blue.
“Hurricane.” Nikos nods his head at the man who I know is his friend, the one Nikos was trying to contact to warn him about his mother’s plans and ask him for help.
