Chapter 9: Halcyon

The Slexi Moon orbited a barren planet deep in the Scorpious Sector. They had been on the run now for three months and had at times come close to being captured. Varna sat at the Navigation console moving randomly through the database. She was alone, attempting to forget the pull the casket in the hold had on her. When she was occupied or asleep she forgot about it, but when she had time on her hands, time to think the emotion bubbled to the surface.

She hated it because it was how Sisanna controlled her, controlled everything. She wished she could just say fuck it and blow the fucking thing up, but she couldn't. Could not do it, she could not even open the thing and find out why it had such a hold on her even if she wanted to, it would set off the charge and destroy it.

She kicked the console in frustration. "Ancestors, what a mess!" The map moved due to the vibration from the kick and a green indicator flashed. For a moment Varna didn't notice it, but as she leaned back in her chair she saw it flashing out of the corner of her eye. She sat up and moved the indicated planet to center screen and punched up the information display. She was looking at an ancient and long abandoned Grojan colony world. To think that the Grojan had reached this far millennia ago was astounding. Especially when they had shrunk back so far. The planet had not even been named, for Ancestor's sake.

Even if the colonists were long gone it would still have a breathable atmosphere and some water. She checked the coordinates; they could do it in two jumps easily. Varna set the Nav computer, plotting a jump, and activated the ship-wide intercom. "Ladies, I have just found a planet we could make our home for a while until the hunt for us diminishes."

She heard chairs scrape from down the corridor and shortly after Petara, Catana and Theasa walked in, followed almost immediately by a sweating Sisanna, who had been using the makeshift gym they had set up in the cargo hold.

"What have you found, Varna?" Theasa asked.

"Here." Varna indicated the planet floating in the center of the navigation display.

Theasa almost bounced on the balls of her feet as she examined the database entry. "Great, I'm going stir crazy locked in this ship. We can get out stretch our legs and do some exploring.

Petara put a hand on her shoulder. "Now don't get too excited. Other than it being an ancient colony world there is no information on it at all. It could be just a desert by now after such a long period of time."

Theasa frowned. "And it could just as easy be a paradise!"

Catana laughed. "Let's just wait and see shall we."

They sat in their respective places and broke orbit, taking the Slexi Moon away from the planet while they waited for the Nav unit to calculate the jump and for the jump engines to charge. It would take extra time as the database information was old and unreliable. They had to move away from the planet anyway because all jump points had to be a set distance from a planetary body to minimize the effect caused by the gravity well.

Two jumps later and they arrived at their destination. The system was unremarkable, a G-type yellow dwarf star with nine planets. The forth planet was the one they were interested in.

As they moved towards it Sisanna ran scans of the surface. "Everything appears to be within normal parameters, a breathable atmosphere and a climate spread that would sustain life even at the extreme temperatures of the poles. The equatorial regions would be rather warm without air conditioning though."

"What about the colony, any sign of technology?" Varna asked.

"No, nothing, although there are plenty of life signs."

"Right, let's move into orbit, but stay alert, everyone, we don't want to be taken by surprise."

Several hours later the Slexi Moon hung in geostationary orbit over a large northern landmass. "Well it seems like they have regressed to a pre-industrial society with no sign of any electrical devices, no radio, nothing." Sisanna smiled. "With our ship and weapons we could rule." She turned back to the scanner.

"It would be best if we arrived quietly and discretely, Sisanna, then we can live in peace."

Sisanna turned towards her and twisted the bracelet on her wrist. "No that is NOT going to happen, Varna, we are going to take over, live in luxury and rule." She smirked looking at each of the others in turn then back to Varna. "And I will be the power behind the throne. Then, if things go wrong you will be the figurehead who will take the blame."

"Sisanna, I swear..."

Sisanna held up the bracelet and waggled a finger at her. "Now, now, Varna, be nice."

Ancestors, that woman is unbelievable. Varna clenched her fists as she seethed inwardly. "I'm tempted to say fuck the casket, Sisanna." As soon as she had said it her heart leapt into her mouth, she really hadn't meant to say that. Sisanna must have seen the sudden fear reflected in her eyes.

"Oh do you mean that Varna?" she fingered the bracelet.

She had spoken hastily and she knew it. Varna swallowed then called Sisanna's bluff. "If you detonate that charge Sisanna, you no longer have any control over me and I will kill you."

"It seems we are at an impasse then. Perhaps I should just set it off and take my chances in a fight with you." Sisanna twisted the bracelet again.

Varna took a deep breath; she knew that the destruction of the casket would be too much for her to bear. "Enough Sisanna, just choose a landing place."

"I knew you would see reason Varna." She turned back to the console with a smile. Varna would dearly have loved to smash off her face. She brought up a map and zoomed in to a small city then changed the view to real time. "I think here, it looks very pleasant with a palace, gardens, parks everything. We can kill the current rulers, take over the palace and rule ourselves. It would be like playing one of those stupid computer games Theasa likes to play, only in real life."

Varna shrugged. "Whatever Sisanna." She looked at the other three of her crew. Petara was glaring at Sisanna. Catana and Theasa just looked shocked.

"All right everyone, let's get the ship down shall we? And intimidate the natives." They flew low over the city Sisanna had picked. A crowded market square full of stalls was in front of the palace. Frightened faces looked up at them. "We should land in the square and crush some of their stalls, Varna, start as we mean to go on."

With a glare Varna nodded. "If you say so, it seems you are the captain now."

"Oh no, I prefer to stay in the background, I already told you that." She laughed. "This is going to be fun girls, now come on enjoy."

The ship landed and settled in the middle of the square. The stalls it crushed beneath it, people ran screaming from the square scattering in all directions. Varna and her crew buckled on their pistols. Petara and Sisanna grabbed a rifle each and they descended the ramp. "Did you notice all the people looked like they were Grojani." Theasa said as they stood and surveyed the now deserted market. "It looks pretty primitive," she continued.

"Yes it does, as do the guards at the palace gates," Varna added. They turned to look at the frightened looking men standing to attention, and they walked towards them. "Ancestors, they are wearing metal armor and carrying swords and spears." As Theasa spoke she walked up to one of the guards, who was trying to stand to attention, but the fact he was shaking with fear made her smile. She turned back to the others "Do you think they speak Grojan?"

"Just ask him, Theasa!" Patara laughed.

Theasa turned back to the nervous guard. "Do you speak Grojan?"

"I ... I can u-understand you, but I don't know what G-Grojan is," he stammered.

Varna's brows knitted together. "They have fallen a long way if they don't know what language they speak."

Patara stepped up to him. "Take us to your leader, soldier." She turned back to the others with a smile on her face. "I always wanted to say that."

"Yes Madam, please follow me, Lady Min ... um ... I mean the queen is in the throne room waiting for you."

"Is she now, you had better take us to her then hadn't you?"

The guard led them across the palace courtyard and up the main steps. With obvious relief he passed them over to an official dressed in elaborate clothes with a crest embroidered on the chest, obviously a coat of arms or something similar Varna thought.

They were led up to a pair of double doors. Sisanna pushed him out of the way and he fell back, sliding across the marble floor on his back side. She pushed open the doors and led them through into an elaborate chamber with brightly painted walls. Crystal chandeliers hung from a heavily gilded ceiling. At the end of the chamber was a raised platform with two guilt thrones mounted on it. A woman sat on one of the thrones. As they pushed their way past the guards one guard started to draw his sword. The woman on the throne rose and raised her hand then in a commanding voice that filled the room she told the guards to sheathe their weapons.

Varna stopped and gasped. "Minara! What the fuck are you doing here?"

"Hello Varna, welcome to my little kingdom."

"We thought you were dead after you disappeared, Minara."

"Well as you see I'm quite well. But it was touch and go for a little while, that few human ships we were looking for turned out to be a full fucking battle fleet."

Varna blinked at her for a moment, then remembered her mouth had dropped open in shock so she closed it and gulped. "By the fucking Ancestors, Minara, are you pregnant?"

"As you see."

"How the fuck did that happen?"

"Varna, I think you are a little old for me to have to explain that to you."

Varna laughed. "You know what I mean, you sarky bitch! Rogue males are like dragon's teeth, they don't exist!"

"It would seem I found one though." Minara smiled a smile that did not reach her eyes.

Varna looked round the room. "Where is the handsome stranger then? We all want a piece of him! You must learn to share you know, Minara."

"He's dead." Varna noticed a shadow cross her face.

"Ah, so you sucked him dry before we got here then?" Varna tilted her head to one side watching Minara. A smile started to play on her lips as she saw the shadow of sadness turn to a flash of anger. She decided to rub the point in. "Don't tell me you had feelings for him?" Minara sat silent, glaring at them. "You did, didn't you? Well who would have believed it, little Minara - who only loved herself - fell for a rogue male than sucked him dry. I hope he died with a smile on his face." Varna noticed Minara clench her fists on her lap. They walked to the edge of the platform and Varna put her foot up and rested her hands on her knee. "Well Minara, as it's you, we won't kill you, but I hope you have somewhere nice to retire to because you have just abdicated. I'm sure in your condition you will appreciate the rest." Varna fingered the gun at her hip. "Now get out of here!"

Minara rose. "Before I go, Varna, please tell me no one else knows about this place?"