Chapter 5: Returning Dizyntk

The Dizyntk Imperial Destroyer 214 was on its way back to its homeport, the planet whose name translated in English to Sapphire. It was the seat of Government for the Second Star Cluster. Because of this, the Queen's throne was known as the Sapphire Throne. It would take the ship two weeks to reach the planet. It would stop halfway there at a Dizyntk space station in order to send word of their arrival ahead via a fast messenger ship. Duke Ferkalum came to Feya's room shortly before the ships arrival at the station.

"I will be sending word of your survival to the Queen so that preparations may be made for your reception." the Duke told his grand niece. "Do you wish to send a message of your own to your grandmother?"

Feya nodded, "Yes, uncle." she said. "It would be best if I let her know of my family before our arrival."

Therefore, while Duke Ferkalum prepared an official message for Queen Kiasyphia, Feya recorded a more personal one for her. Their stay at the station lasted only a day. Just long enough to transfer the messages to the courier and to take on supplies. The messenger ship left twelve hours before the destroyer but would arrive three days before it.

Queen Kiasyphia was in her quarters, reviewing official documents with her personal secretary when the courier arrived with the messages. The young Dizyntk officer knelt before the Queen and presented the recordings.

"Your Majesty." he said. "I have brought to you two messages from His Grace, Duke Ferkalum."

"Thank you, Lieutenant, you may take your leave." she replied.

She looked at the two holocrystals and thought it odd that Ferkalum should send two. They were numbered, so the Queen had her secretary play the first one. Ferkalum's form sprung up from the crystal and his report began.

"My Queen, I have both sad and joyous news to report. Destroyer 214 has found the crashed remains of Princess Ariarisha's transport on a remote uninhabited planet spinward of the frontier. The remains of your daughter are being returned and we should arrive three days after you receive this."

The Queen had let out a sigh of relief as she heard the news. She had long ago accepted the fact that her only daughter was dead and had already mourned for her. She was relieved that the wreck had finally been found and that she would not have to send any more of her ships into harms way to search for it. Then she heard the rest of the report.

"The joyous news is that your granddaughter Feyalisa has been found alive."

The Queen rose rapidly to her feet at this and she loudly exclaimed, "WHAT! Alive?"

The report continued. "She is in good health and has sent you a more personal message on the second crystal. May we all rejoice at her safe recovery." the message ended.

Queen Kiasyphia quickly snatched the remaining crystal from her secretary. She realized her rudeness and apologized.

"No need, my Queen." her secretary said.

Kiasyphia looked at the crystal as her emotions got the better of her. "Feyalisa is alive." she whispered as tears rolled down her face. "My granddaughter is alive."

The secretary excused herself. She knew that her Queen would need this moment in private.

Kiasyphia gently set the crystal down and activated it. Feyalisa's image appeared before her. She immediately recognized her. Her eyes, her ears, even her body now that she was grown. She looked so much like her mother. Kiasyphia started crying even more before Feya began speaking.

"Hello, grandmother." she began. "I have missed you so much. I cannot wait to see you again. I had almost given up hope of ever returning home." In the recording Feya was starting to tear up a bit as her emotions came out. "There is much that has happened to me that I need to tell you before I get back."

The Queen became a little worried. "What could have happened?" she wondered.

"There was another ship that crashed at the same time that ours did. A Human ship. Its pilot also survived. His name is Michael. He found me in the wreckage of the transport and nursed me back to health. I would be dead as well if not for him."

Kiasyphia was listening in disbelief. "A Human has saved my granddaughter?" she thought.

Feya's recording continued. "I grew into a young woman under his care. When I reached my time of estrus, I, well..." Feya looked away for just a moment, gathering her courage, then looked straight ahead, her eyes practically blazing with conviction. "I took him as my mate."

The queen fell back into her chair, her hand covering her mouth. "Feya, what have you done?" she whispered. She knew that humans and dizyntk were genetically compatible. The dizyntk had learned this after Feyalisa had vanished.

Feya went on. "I, we, had no idea that humans and dizyntk could interbreed. So you can imagine our surprise when I became pregnant." Feya looked down slightly and smiled. "I have a daughter, grandmother. She is beautiful. I love her so much. And I love Michael. In my heart, I have bonded with him. I will not leave him, grandmother. Please understand. I know it is a shock but, please understand."

The message ended. Queen Kiasyphia was a jumble of mixed emotions. Relief at the ship having been found, sadness at her daughter's death being confirmed, joy at the unexpected survival of her granddaughter, and finally shock, disbelief, at the news that Feya had mated, and bred, with a human.

The Queen called her staff to her quarters. She first informed them of the impending return of the remains of her daughter. Some of her staff made to leave in order to prepare. The Queen had them wait. She told them all of her granddaughter's safe recovery, and that she would be arriving also. Her assorted staff erupted in a chorus of gasps, cheers, and crying. They left rapidly as they now had a lot of work to do. Preparations had to be made for many things. The official state funeral for the Crown Princess, coupled with an official celebration for the safe return of her daughter. The ceremony to officially recognize Feyalisa's succession to Crown Princess. Invitations had to be made, buildings prepared, news releases broadcast. It would be a busy three days.

The Queen had bade her closest two advisors to stay. They were, of course, her bonded mates. The father of her daughter, Westralen, and her oldest friend, Liracalia. In private as they were now, they hugged each other for several minutes. After they finished, Kiasyphia showed them the holorecording from Feyalisa. They shared the Queen's shock at what had happened. Westralen was as unsure of what they should do as his mate was. He loved his granddaughter, but, a Human? Liracalia was calmer than her bond mates. Among her other duties to the Queen, she was also the Head Priestess of the Temple of the Goddess for the Second Star Cluster. Only the Empress' Priestess was of higher station in the Dizyntk religious orders. After a minute of quiet contemplation, she spoke softly to her mates.

"We of the Orders have discussed this possibility since it was learned that humans could breed with our race." she said calmly. "The Goddess has presented us with a test. Do we reject these humans simply because they are from another star than we? Or, do we accept them since they can produce that most precious of things with us, Life, Children?"

Both Kiasyphia and Westralen were calmed, as they usually were, by Liracalia's soft and gentle voice.

She continued, "Do we succumb to our own prejudices and pettiness? Or, do we embrace this new gift that the Goddess has offered us? If this human, Michael, truly loves Feyalisa and will bond with her, then I will support them. She already has a daughter by him. A daughter of the royal line. It will be hard, my loves, I know. Many of our people will oppose the union. But if we stand firm and stress that the Goddess herself has given us this new source for creating life, then I believe that, in the end, the people will come to accept and celebrate it."

Liracalia's voice had never risen above its normal, gentle, tone. However, it held all of the force and conviction that only someone of complete faith could have. Kiasyphia walked up to her love and embraced her.

"Thank you, Lira." she said, her emotions now soothed. "You always know how to calm me in times of distress."

Lira returned the hug and softly said, "Of course, my love."

Then the Queen made her decision. She stepped back and said, "Very well then, we shall prepare the bonding rite for one week after their arrival. Lira, my love, will you perform the ceremony?"

Lira bowed her head and said, "Of course, my Queen, it will be an honor."

After Liracalia left to prepare, Kiasyphia turned to Westralen. "We too must prepare." she said. "We must become reacquainted with our grandchild. And we must also get to know this human and the daughter."

Westralen nodded and replied, "Of course we do. We will welcome them. It is as Lira has said. Despite any personal misgivings, we must learn to embrace this new gift."

Destroyer 214 arrived at the planet Sapphire amid great fanfare. A full squadron of fighters, from the Queen's personal guard, escorted it to the planet. Imperial ships smaller than cruisers did not receive names unless earned during service. Destroyer 214 was informed, as it had entered the system, that it would from now on be called the "Feyalisa Zerleen" in honor of the new Princess that they had rescued. The ship would also be allowed to carry the Royal Crest of the Sapphire Throne. Again, this was something usually reserved for large cruisers or battleships. After landing at the Royal Palace, Duke Ferkalum and Captain Lefarsa walked down the ramp to Queen Kiasyphia, waiting at the bottom.

They kneeled before her and she said, "Welcome home, brother and thank you for finding my grandchild."

He stood and shook his head. "It was but luck, my sister. I am just happy that I have returned with good news."

She smiled and said, "Luck or not, as the Queen I must show proper gratitude." She looked down at Captain Lefarsa. "And since my brother here has everything he could possibly need, I must direct that gratitude towards you and your crew, Captain."

Lefarsa kept his head bowed and said, "Thank you, my Queen, it is our honor to serve."

The Queen smiled. "That may be, Captain, however something more tangible is in order." Then in a more formal tone, "Rise, Captain Lefarsa."

He did so and Queen Kiasyphia put her hands on his shoulders and lightly kissed his cheek.

"You and your crew and your ship will, from this day hence, be part of my Royal Guard force. You will escort my family's transports wherever they go." She said. She held out a belt with a slender curved sword attached and handed it to the Captain. "This is a weapon from my family's armory. Wear it with honor, Captain."

The Captain bowed deeply and said, "Thank you, my Queen, I am truly humbled. I and my crew will serve with pride."

The Queen nodded to both of them. "Now, Ferkalum, Captain, I would like to talk with my granddaughter."

Ferkalum nodded, "I shall bring her to your quarters, my Queen."

All understood. Such emotional reunions were best done in private.

Feya was nervous as she followed her uncle. It had been so long since she had been here. She had missed her grandmother more than she had realized as they approached her quarters. In what seemed like no time at all, they were there. Feya's emotions were stronger than she had thought. At the sight of her grandmother and grandfather and Lira all smiling at her, she ran into their collective arms and cried. After a couple of minutes she, and they, composed themselves. For the next hour, they all listened as Feya told them about all that had happened to her. Lira was the first to speak after Feya was finished.