Chapter 248: The Treaty and the Ball

Friday, August 20, 1971

“Good morning, my Prince!” Kalani called out happily as she emerged from the bathroom, shedding her dressing gown as she began to get dressed for the day. “Today is a big day for our tiny nation. And it’s all because of you!”

“I missed you!” I told her with longing in my voice. I was a little sad that we hadn’t had the chance to make love last night, but I never even heard her come in. I must have been more tired than I thought.

“I must leave you now,” Kalani said as she emerged from her oversized closet/dressing area, stopping momentarily to study herself in the large mirror next to the door and adjusting her crown. “I have a very busy day. We’ll talk more this evening. I love you my Prince!”

And with that, she was gone.

After showering and shaving, I donned the clothes that had been laid out for me and made my way down to the dining room. It was obvious that many had already eaten and left for whatever they were doing in preparation for the days events.

I grabbed a cup of coffee and headed out to the veranda that overlooked the southern bay. I immediately noticed the USS Providence occupying Tapato’s only pier and the other three large naval ships that were stationed just off the coast. The USS Chicago (CA-136/CG-11), a Baltimore-class heavy cruiser; the USS Dealey (DE-1006), a destroyer escort; and the USS Wichita (AOR-1), a replenishment oiler.

It appeared that the US State Department and the US Navy were rolling out the red carpet in welcoming Tapato to their list of recognized nations.

“Would you care to join me for a cup of tea?” I asked Catherine when she came down for breakfast. She became slightly withdrawn when she saw me and I saw she had her primitive shield in place, so I respected her wishes and did not try to scan her.

“Thank you, Michael,” she replied as she took the chair I was holding for her. I got her tea and refilled my coffee cup and then settled in across the small table from her as I tried to figure out why she was acting so weird.

“So, you are now the most powerful man in the world, I guess,” she said quickly. “Does that mean that my shield can no longer hold you at bay?”

I’m certain she had no idea of the irony her statement held. I was quickly learning that vast power did not equate to an equal amount of wisdom. Especially where women were involved.

“Catherine, your shield hasn’t been able to deter me since before we left Colorado the first time,” I told her. “However, you know that I will always honor your request to stay away if you ask.”

“I’m sorry. I stated myself poorly. That was not what I meant,” she said. “Well, maybe I was a little worried about my privacy with my new husband.”

“So you married David while I was gone?”

“Yes. Kalani did it in a private ceremony with only Mikeya, Beth, and Anna as witnesses. Are you angry with me?”

“Will you share your memory of the wedding with me?” I asked.

“If you will promise to leave the memories of our ... er, private times, private,” Catherine warned. Then she reached out and placed her hand on my arm, leaving it for a moment and then withdrawing it.

“It was beautiful, Catherine. I’m just sorry I wasn’t there,” I told her. “Will you allow me to share this with Nicky? And Grace?”

“I told them about it last night, but I am sure they would love it if you did,” Catherine said. “And I find myself feeling slightly adrift, not having gone with you and sharing in all your adventures. Vickie shared some of them with me, but they were missing much of the details I normally get from you.”

“I would be pleased to share everything with you,” I told her. “Maybe on the flight home.”

“Thank you, Michael. I sense that you have changed greatly, but I am not sure exactly what has changed. I look forward to being close to you once more.”

Catherine was right. We hadn’t been as close lately, since she chose to be with David. And I missed that closeness. I decided that I would make the effort to regain that closeness somehow.

“That’s interesting that you say that,” I told her. “Thesan said that if I secured the fourth piece of the Te’trad that I would be... ‘greatly changed’. However, I still feel like the same person I have always been.”

“Michael?” she asked me hesitantly. “Would you open your heart to me one more time?”

“Of course!” I replied as I laid my hand on hers and opened my heart to her. Catherine was my greatest love, and it was for that reason that I had let her go. But I still felt that love and I shared it with her now.

“Thank you, Michael. I suppose we will be hearing about what you just did from all the others now,” she said.

I just smiled. One of the changes I had immediately discovered was that I now had much greater control over what I shared and with whom.

“Good morning, sweetheart,” David said as he joined us on the veranda. “Have you told him?”

“She did. And may I offer my congratulations, grandfather,” I said with a smirk.

“Okay. I guess I asked for that!” David smiled as he pretended to slug my shoulder. “But don’t get carried away with that particular salutation.”

Then he asked me about our adventures. He was particularly absorbed with the ship flying out of the water and then later the magic gate and the golden dragon. And as we talked, the rest of my family gathered on the veranda with us, listening to my version of events.

“I noticed you brought back a couple of strays,” he said when Rie’ka, still half-asleep, came and settled into my lap.

“Since they will be traveling back to New York with us, I hope that you will take the time to get to know them better. And just so you know...” I leaned closer to him, “If Aiziel, the girl with the silver hair, comes to you and says that something is going to come to pass ... well, I’d listen to her, if I were you.”

Anna came out on the veranda and reminded everyone that we would have to be leaving in less than an hour. Immediately, the girls began a mass exodus to get dressed.

“Any idea where we’re going and what we’re going to be doing?” I asked Anna.

“All I know is I am supposed to roundup everyone and herd them over to the area beyond the hotel where they set up all the big tents for the reception. The Official Treaty signing will be at the Government Building at noon. Since the seating is limited, everyone except you and Mikeya and Kalani is going straight to the reception,” Anna explained. “And speaking of the Treaty Signing, you should probably start heading that way.”

“Great!” I thought as I headed out across the gardens towards the Government House. “How come I get stuck with listening to all the boring speeches?”

“With great power... “ Hanna’s giggle came to my mind. Then it was all of them laughing.

“Be brave, my Prince!” Kalani thought to me. ” ... And somehow, we will get through this!”

I did get my revenge ... sort of. It turns out that the treaty signing was just that. A dozen or so people from the State Department and Kalani, Mikeya, and myself, all signing multiple copies of the treaty.

Then we all crossed the street to the tents that had been set up next to the hotel for the reception. After the normal receiving line and a quick trip to the bathroom, EVERYONE had to sit through the boring speeches. I thought the one by Secretary of State Rogers was the best. That may have been because it was the shortest. Kalani’s was also very good, but slightly long because she had so many people to thank.