Queen of the Savages - Complete (21 page)

Tracy looked out of the viewports and saw many ships, but the pirate vessels were conspicuously absent. Rev looked over her shoulder.

"What did we miss?" she said.

"I guess we were too busy with our own fireworks to watch what was going on around us."

Though she didn't feel anything, they moved progressively closer to the Equal Measure. Rev pulled his pants back on and Tracy buttoned up her robe. Their escape pod was soon surrounded by the Equal Measure's landing bay. Gravity tugged at Tracy once again, and she felt heavy. She was sad to lose the feeling of floating and weightlessness the zero gravity environment gave her.

Hands reached in to help them out of the escape pod, and with their assistance both Tracy and Rev were quickly standing on the deck with several aliens bowing down to them. Tev and Carol stood at the head of the group.

"Stand, please," said Rev.

"Welcome aboard," said S'den. "We were very worried."

"Yes," said Carol. "We've been looking for you for what seems like forever."

"Well," said Tev, "More like a couple of hours."

Tev walked forward to clasp his brother's shoulder, and then his nostrils flared wide.

"You didn't," he said in a low voice.

"Yes, we did," said Rev with a smile. "Did we beat you out?"

Tev made a huffing noise. "We didn't have time."

"What is this about?" said Carol, moving closer to Tracy.

"I'll tell you later. But these guys love to compete."

Carol rolled her eyes. "Oh boy."

"We are honored to have you aboard. Quargan's flagship and his fleet have retreated. We believe they took heavy casualties." said S'den.

"We have some things to discuss with you, S'den. Is there a private place here?" said Rev.

S'den took them to a conference room that had space for all of them to sit around a table. Rev looked at S'den, his face showing no emotion.

"You have some problems on the ship we were on. The officer that escorted us to the life pods tried to kidnap Tracy."

"Who?"

"He didn't give his name, and so many things were happening that we didn't think to ask. Perhaps the captain will know who he sent to take us to the pods."

"Thank you, your Highness, for informing me. I take care of it."

"One other thing is that D'gar was going to get me information from your contacts on Kerdos. He said they may be able to find out who on the council supports my family."

"Let me get D'gar on the communications channel."

D'gar's holographic image shimmered above the table. He appeared disheveled and tired.

S'den filled in D'gar with the problem of traitors in the resistance. He appeared shocked and apologized profusely.

"Tracy handled him and we made our escape," rumbled Rev. "Were you able to get the information we discussed?

"Yes, your Highness. We received it before the attack. I am sending it now."

"D'gar," said S'den. "I want that officer found, and I want a report on him."

"Yes, commander." The communication blinked off.

The information D'gar collected displayed over the conference table where everyone could see it. Rev stared at it, and Tev pursed his lips.

"This is good. Pa-Kregan and Se-Margen appear to be the bulk of the opposition," said Rev. "There are a few additional dissidents, but overall there doesn't seem to be anyone we don't know about."

"Yes, I agree. It's good that this hasn't spread to other corners of the empire. If we wait, it may." said Tev. "Carol and I will go to Kerdos and take care of this rebellion."

"Me?" said Carol.

"Of course. You are my mate. We will stand together and take back our empire."

Carol didn't say anything. She looked stressed. Tracy thought she would too if she had to take all this information in at once.

"There are one hundred and ten planets in the Kerdos Empire." Tracy said helpfully.

Carol leaned over to Tracy. "What have I gotten myself into?" she whispered worriedly.

"If you play your cards right, you'll be a queen of Kerdos. Can I show you a good time or what?"

Carol groaned.

"And you," said S'den looking at Tracy intently, "are you going to sit on the Vacant Throne."

"I thought about it, and as much as I don't want to be queen of a galactic empire, I think I might have to give it a go."

"Give it a go?" asked S'den. She was confused.

"She means she's going to do it," said Rev.

"Yes," said Tracy. "Ja-Idin Du won't stop coming after me so I have to put myself in a different position. Once I sit on the Vacant Throne, he won't be able to touch me or my friends."

"Good," said S'den with a satisfied smile. "I knew in my heart that you would take up this challenge. Rev, what are you going to do?"

"Wherever my mate goes, I go," said Rev. "I will do everything I can to help Tracy sit on the Vacant Throne. As she says, that is the only way to keep Ja-Idin Du off our backs."

"Good. I will help you both get ready for your journeys."

Tracy paused. "With respect, S'den, when you put it that way, it sounds like it will take forever. Is there any reason why we can't go directly to the throne right now?" she asked.

Rev frowned. "Well, there is the paperwork to consider...and we definitely need witnesses, otherwise people will accuse us of lying..."

S'den's eyes were lighting up. "My queen, if you are ready now, there is no reason not to go. We have waited a long time for this moment. All we need to do is get there in one piece. We won't be short of witnesses. As news leaked out that you exist, many people have made a pilgrimage to the Vacant Throne, hoping to get a glimpse of you."

Tracy smiled. "Screw the paperwork. Let's go right to the throne."

They were unprepared for the amount of living beings writhing around the throne and spaceport. The crowd was like a living creature, moving with a life of its own. They didn't need to worry about witnesses, but they did need to worry about security. As soon as their ship touched down, they were swarmed with people wanting to catch a glimpse of the alien girl who might be the queen.

"We need to protect Tracy," said S'den. "Get security to form a protective ring around her. Once Tracy is secure, we can start moving her towards the throne."

"Do you think everyone on your security team can be trusted?" Rev didn't trust anyone after the problems they had getting into an escape pod.

"The men on this ship have all been personally selected by me," said S'den. "They will not let us down."

Rev snorted. "I'm staying right next to Tracy until she sits down."

"I hope I'll get back up again," Tracy said nervously.

When the security personnel arrived and the ship opened up, the roar from the crowd was deafening. They tried to rush Tracy immediately, but they were held at bay. S'den made an announcement that they would never have a queen if they didn't let Tracy approach the throne. Although it was difficult to communicate with a mob, eventually they got the message, and started backing away.

A path appeared through the sea of people, as if by magic. At the end of the path was a small chair. It didn't look like a grand ceremonial throne for ruling, but seemed practical. It was something that you wouldn't mind sitting in all day.

The ring of people inched its way towards the throne. Around them were thousands of faces, bobbing and weaving, smiling and laughing. Tracy couldn't keep track of all of them. All she was concentrating on was putting one foot in front of the other, and Rev was focused on helping her stay upright.

Later Rev would say that putting his complete attention on Tracy was why he didn't see Ja-Idin Du in the crowd. Du wasn't smiling and laughing. He had an angry look on his face, and pointed a weapon at Tracy.

Ja-Idin Du knew this was his last chance to stop her. Tracy would never know what hit her. The shot could have come from anywhere. She was vulnerable.

One thing was different from before, when Tracy was abducted and alone on an alien planet. She was still vulnerable, but she was not alone, and she had allies. The people around Ja-Idin Du saw his gun and jumped on him immediately. He was able to get one shot off, but it hit the dirt harmlessly. His weapon was taken away, and he was immobilized.

It would take Tracy and Rev months to learn what happened to Ja-Idin Du, but his final attempt to eliminate Tracy had failed.

The party finally reached the throne. Tracy stared at it for a moment. Up close, it looked dusty. Everyone was probably terrified to touch it.

"Why is a thing you talk about with such reverence left out and exposed to the elements?" Tracy asked quietly.

Rev thought for a moment before he replied. "It is important for everyone to see a symbol that reminds us of what was."

"It is equally important for us to have a symbol of what is going to be." S'den gave Tracy a meaningful glance.

Tracy and Rev looked at each other. The crowd had gone silent. Everyone wanted to remember this moment forever.

With a deep breath, Tracy closed her eyes and sat down.

Nothing happened. She opened her eyes.

The silence was broken by a woman screaming for joy. They were joined by everyone around them, until the noise seemed to be coming from everywhere. Tracy stood up, laughed, and Rev caught her in a warm embrace.

ONE YEAR LATER

Rev and Tracy were sprawled nude on a bed, parts of them covered in sheets, other parts left uncovered. Tracy opened her eyes and looked around the room, wondering where she was.

Then she remembered. She was in a palace.

Not much had changed in a year, she thought. The adjustment from being an Earth girl to an alien queen came easily to some people.

The sun shone brightly into the room, making it glow white. There were many windows in the royal bedroom of the palace, and the light illuminated incredible treasures: fine art, paintings on the wall, and exotic furs. Everything was new, rare and different. Even now, packages arrived each day from citizens wanting to pay tribute to the queen.

Yup, not much had changed.

Why had she woken up again?

The scream of a baby interrupted her daydreams.

Becoming a mother was one adjustment that had changed her life more than anything she could remember. She rose up from her bed, ready to rush in and comfort her child.

"Mate, you always forget," Rev said sleepily. "Being a queen does have its advantages, remember?"

The crying stopped, and Tracy heard cooing from another room. In a few minutes, a servant walked in, carrying a smiling, clean infant.

"Here you are, my queen. The prince is freshly changed and ready for his mother and father."

Tracy gave her a look.

"Excuse me. Here you are, Tracy. He is happy today. It's going to be a good day."

Tracy's story is complete for now. Enjoy this sneak peak from Warriors of Surtu, landing August 14, 2015!

TERRA

They were out there. The Surtu.

I could see their ships from my tiny window in the kitchen where I worked as a porter on the Fortuna space station.

I thought their ships would be more hostile looking. Intimidating or depraved perhaps, like the Surtu themselves. But as I took a rag from over my shoulder to dry a glass, I couldn't help but think that the ships looked like glow flies out in the distance.

The view would have been romantic if we weren't worried that the Surtu were going to kill us all.

We knew the Surtu were going to come. It was a war Earth had sixty years to prepare for. Now, that war was about to begin, and I was part of Earth's first line of defense.

Well, to be honest, my home the Fortuna was. It was one of many military space stations constructed after Earth learned that the Surtu were out there and we had to be ready. Unlike the other space stations, it was disguised as a spiritual sanctuary. We looked like a sisterhood, where women of the cloth were ready to welcome alien visitors into the gardens and marble halls under the pretense of peace.

Setting the glass down, I snickered at my own thoughts, more out of tension than any humor.

Nothing about the Fortuna was peaceful. Every woman on board was as lethal as a cobra. From one generation to the next, the women chosen for the Fortuna were taught the art of warfare with precision, as if it were a school subject like algebra or English. Earth never knew when the Surtu would come, but we knew what the Fortuna was built for. We were the furthest station away from Earth. Fortuna was a deathtrap, meant to lure the enemy in, learn its weaknesses, then eliminate them.

Our time was now.

"Gallia wants to see you," Lucina announced brightly as she bounded into the kitchen, grabbing an apple from a nearby bowl. Lucina Whitmore was my best friend. Like me, the petite blonde had been primed to join the Fortuna since she was little. Our mothers were once sisters here before they returned to Earth to marry and have children.

All women assigned to the Fortuna were given the name of a Roman goddess, which was used proudly like a badge. Lucina and I were different. We had been given Roman names since birth, our destiny already decided by our mothers.

I'd known Lucina since I first beat half the boys in our kindergarten class at arm wrestling. We knew more about each other than our own families back on Earth. I didn't know one thing, though. How she managed to stay so bubbly and upbeat, even with danger looming close to us, was beyond me.

"Did Gallia say what for?" I asked, deciding whether or not I should finish my duties in the kitchen before heading to our Commander's office. Lucina twirled the apple on her finger before taking a huge bite. "No," she said, her mouth full, "but I'm assuming it has something to do with the alien race that's about to attack. The ones with the big fangs and hollow eyes."

I was surprised. "Is that really what you think they look like?"

"We grew up listening to stories about the monsters in space. It's hard to know what to expect." Lucina shrugged.

"Those who escaped the attack on the colony all those years ago said the Surtu were humanoid."