[Princes XII] [Farewell] Si lay on the sand, the surf tickling his feet. The days had blended into weeks and the weeks into months. Today was his birthday and he was seven years old. The time spent on the beach had even more deeply tanned him than he had been when he arrived. His muscles were conditioned and toned in a way that the practice sand could never have made him. The daily mile swim to the sandbars south of the island had given Si a lethal appearance. Even the Carina children could see the powerful Over-Lord race in their Kitsune companions. The year hadn’t been perfectly idyllic. Several months ago the Kitsune boys for no other reason than following their species aggressive tendencies had used their new strength, to the horror of the Carinian children, to pull the Krat’ne from the ocean. Lord Black had rushed to intervene, the squid that had lived peaceable off the shores of Black Island for centuries was saved through the efforts of a team of ocean biologists. Tensions between the children had been high but Lord Black put the Kitsune boys through a full month of brutal punishment and the Carinian children not only forgave the Kitsune children, but begged Lord Black to end what they saw as torturous punishment. Lord Black had explained to the Carinian children that the punishment had to match the physical capabilities of such a strong species as the Kitsune, but peace was restored between the two groups of children and life continued. Si thought about the endless trips across the island from two hours before sunrise to two hours after sunset. They had carried sixty-four thousand tons of sand in buckets and increased the size of Black Island by three hundred feet. Si shivered thinking about it. Lord Black was not someone to cross, but Si admitted it was his fault. Lord Black had warned him on the first day not to use his strength against his children. Si just didn’t think that included a giant sea squid that had tried to eat him. A shadow passed over Si and he opened his eyes and looked up to find the Captain of the Guard looking down at Si. “Hi, Captain.” “Happy Birthday, Fox.” Si made a face at the name. The Captain sat down next to Si and looked out at the ocean. The sun was high in the sky and the water was calm, it was a perfect day. “Is something wrong?” asked Si. “It’s time to leave,” said the Captain. “Because of what we did to the Krat’ne?” asked Si. “We did our punishment.” “No, that was just a case of too many boys in one place,” said the Captain. “Something was bound to happen eventually.” “Why do we have to leave,” asked Si. “I love it here.” “Yes, many of the Kitsune do,” replied the Captain. Si sat up and looked at the Captain and understood what the Captain wasn’t saying. “How many?” asked Si. “Two Princes, twelve of the boys, fourteen of the servants, and three of Tolnor’s people,” said the Captain. “Which of my cousins?” said Si. “I want to talk to them.” “Prince Lacern and Prince Loginium, but all of them have been sent from Black Island this morning for their new homes somewhere else on Carina. You will not be permitted to see them again.” “Traitors,” Si nearly spit the word out. “What of the Black Guard?” “All of us swore an oath when we became Black Guards, we stay with you for life unless you release us.” Si lay back on the beach and closed his eyes. Two of his cousins had abandoned him. He felt a pain deep in his heart he could not describe. “I have a last command for you Captain,” said Si. “Tell my cousins, the boys, the servants, and Lord Tolnor they are all released from my service.” “I see,” said the Captain. “And what do you intend to do?” “If you could ask Lord Black to give me a Needle ship and someone to show me how to fly it, I’ll leave and everyone can live in peace.” “Even a Daraian child of seven only has a Class Five license,” replied the Captain. “What’s that mean?” asked Si. “Class Five means that with supervision they can move a Needle Ship around an empty airfield without running into something.” “I’ll take a Space Liner then,” said Si. The Captain bent over Si and tapped on his forehead. Si opened his eyes and stared at the man. Was there absolutely no respect for him being an Emperor? Marshal knocked him down. Carina poked him with a Trident. Lord Black made him carry sand for a month over some stupid sea squid he should have impaled on the nearest stick. “Sometimes you make me want to bend you over my knee,” said the Captain. “What did I do now?” asked Si. “You are feeling sorry for yourself,” replied the Captain. “I don’t feel like an Emperor,” said Si. “Everyone treats me like a little kid.” “Of course they have, and you should commend your people for their service, not reject them,” explained the Captain. “What?” said Si. “Your culture is a deep and rich ancient form of feudalism,” said the Captain, “it is what defines your people, and yet they have forced themselves to act the exact opposite of everything they hold dear in order to protect you.” “Why are they leaving?” asked Si sitting up. The tide was rising and was lapping up on his legs now. “The burden has been too great on a very small few,” said the Captain. “Is the burden too great for you as well?” Si didn’t feel like being scolded anymore tonight, he stood and walked back towards the boardwalk. “I have a birthday present for you,” said the Captain. Si couldn’t help himself and stopped. “Where?” “It’s in the gazebo, and put your body suit on, it’s almost dinner time, and there will be cake,” said the Captain. Si ran over to the gazebo and slipped into the body suit. Most of the suits were already gone, the other boys must already be up at the castle. Si looked around for his present, but all he saw was a Trident leaning against the wall, none of the children had a Trident. Who would leave a Trident laying around? “It’s for you,” said the Captain appearing at the gazebo. “A birthday gift from the Carinians.” “For me?” asked Si. “Seriously!” Tridents were a guarded weapon and very powerful, off-worlders just weren’t allowed to have them. Si knew the very basics of how to use one, his father had several partially functional practice Tridents the boys practiced with, but most of the secrets of the Trident were still hidden. Si moved his thumb in the correct control pattern on the Trident and one of the sharp barbs retracted. He moved his thumb again and the second barb retracted, it was now a spear. Si activated the controls again and the spear point retracted and Si was holding a long staff. “This is awesome,” said Si pressing the controls again and the shaft of the Trident reduced in size by half, then again by half, and again until Si was holding the Trident in the palm of his hand. He would need the belt case to store the Trident in it’s smallest configuration. Si pressed the control again and the Trident sprang out to it’s full size configuration with three barbs. “Really? Honest?” said Si. “It’s mine?” “Yes,” replied the Captain. “I will teach you the secret controls and how to fire it.” “Nobody has ever figured out how to fire it,” said Si. “My father had people trying but…” Si stopped talking. “It’s okay, we knew he was trying to figure it out,” said the Captain. “And maybe he would have if we would have given him fully operational ones.” Si looked at his Trident and then at the Captain. “Please, it’s okay, just tell me the truth,” said Si. “Is mine only a partial working one too?” “No, yours is a fully operational Trident,” replied the Captain. The Captain took Si out on the sand and placed Si’s hand in the necessary positions. The Trident worked by very carefully placing your hands on certain spots and twisting or moving your hands or thumbs in a very specific pattern. Si watched as his trident changed configuration again and it became the long Trident rifle. “Oh wow,” said Si. “How do I load it?” “Submerse it in water,” said the Captain. “It will load automatically.” “That’s it?” said Si surprised. “You wouldn’t believe all the things my father tried to get the ones we had to load, but what if you have no water.” The Captain tapped the compressed water canteen he carried on his belt then reduced his own Trident to its smallest configuration and snapped the Trident in place on top of it. “We thought those were for you to drink,” said Si. “They are dual purpose,” explained the Captain. “Can I have one of the water canteens?” asked Si. “Yes, I’ll get you one,” said the Captain. “Show me another secret configuration,” begged Si. The Captain helped Si get his hands in the correct position and the Trident changed. Si nearly dropped his Trident when he saw the new configuration. “This is the Carinian Dagger,” said Si. “But… but…” “No,” interrupted the Captain. “It is called the Trident Dagger.” “But… how, we thought,” Si shook his head. “This is the rarest dagger in the galaxy.” “I take it you are referring to the Trident Dagger your father had hidden away,” said the Captain. “Yes, we also knew he had it. The Kitsune picked up a Trident frozen in it’s dagger configuration from a dead Carinian, but they didn’t realize it was a Trident.” “Oh wow, oh wow, so all this time we’ve had a fully functional Trident and didn’t know it?” asked Si. “You’re sneaky.” The Captain grinned. “This is the best gift ever,” said Si. “There is one more configuration secret I have been told to give you,” said the Captain in a very serious tone. “With this secret we put all our faith in you to become the Emperor this galaxy needs.” “What?” asked Si. “Reduce the Trident to it’s smallest size,” ordered the Captain. Si did as he was instructed and then the Captain showed him how to move his thumb across the small palm sized piece of metal. The Trident changed configuration again and Si was holding a necklace with a small Trident hanging on the end. Si’s jaw dropped open. He knew what it meant immediately. The Captain took the necklace and put it over Si’s head and the chain reduced it’s size until it was small enough not to accidentally come off. Si lifted the tiny Trident on the chain and looked at it. This was the necklace that every single Carinian he had ever seen wore. “You didn’t invent the Trident, did you?” said Si. “I know Carina is some kind of advanced species from somewhere else. This was the weapon of his people, wasn’t it?” “Yes,” admitted the Captain. “We didn’t really conquer you did we,” asked Si, “why pretend?” “We do as the Ocean God commands,” said the Captain. “But why?” asked Si. “The Kitsune did not come up with the idea of Enlightenment,” explained the Captain. “Carina did, and he wants you to carry the pursuit of Enlightenment foreword.” “I… but… why?” “What better way to bring Enlightenment to the galaxy than give it to the species determined to conquer the universe.” Si’s mind was reeling at the ramifications of what this meant. Si looked in the Captain’s eyes and knew the truth and knew why the Captain was chosen to give him this information and not Lord Black. The Captain was sworn to be with and protect Si for life. If Si betrayed the Ocean God, the Captain would kill him. The Captain stared into the eyes of the small boy, the boy’s mind was so nimble and quick and the Captain knew Si had already figured it out. “I don’t know if I could do it,” said the Captain. “So, you’re just going to follow me around my whole life?” asked Si. “No, you will still be very young when I am an old man,” said the Captain. “But by then we should know whether you are the true Prophet of Enlightenment.” Si made a face, “Another title to add to my list of Imperial titles?” asked Si. The Captain laughed, “Come on ‘Oh Light of a Thousand Stars’ it’s time for your birthday party, act surprised when we get there.” The next several weeks was a flurry of activity on the island. Cargo ships came and went with supplies and massive piles of crates full of every possible thing needed to colonize a new world were stacked around the island’s landing field. By the end of the third week there was almost no room left on the island. Three Colony ships were lined up across the island, five Cargo ships, twenty needle ships, and Si’s refitted Kurnezi Class Battleships. Si’s Battleships were lined up on the new section of beach that Si and the other Kitsune boys had built for punishment. Si had a suspicion Lord Black knew exactly what he was doing when he had them build the new beach; he needed the room for the Battleships to park. Si stood on a balcony watching the activity with Lord Black. The rooms of the castle were full with people Si had never met before and many of them were down on the landing field working around the ships. “Why so many ships?” asked Si. “You’re colonizing a new world,” explained Lord Black. “I’m sending you with a full First Colonization Wave.” “But you said it’s a desert world, how?” asked Si. “The Carinians will die.” “You will be colonizing the mountains, there are streams, lakes, and creeks,” said Lord Black, “and you will need Carinians to build the dam.” “Why do I need a dam?” “Electricity, water supply, fish spawning grounds for food,” said Lord Black. “Where did all these people come from?” asked Si. “Your army, your Princes, House Tolnor,” replied Lord Black. “Huh?” “That’s Marshal down there next to that girl,” Lord Black pointed at the two young people.” “Yea?” “In the entire time you’ve been here has Marshal and that girl ever been further than arm’s reach from each other?” “No, it’s weird, I think they are glued to each other,” said Si. “Why would he spend so much time with a girl, it’s just weird.” Lord Black glanced sideways at Si but didn’t bother explaining. Let the boy figure it out for himself in time. “Many of your people have found… let’s say, companions,” replied Lord Black. “They want to stay together and you can’t colonize a planet with all boys, the girls are going and each girl comes with their own families, parents and siblings. Then there are the many people that have been taking care of the boys and want to stay with them. I believe of the two-hundred plus people you brought, minus the ones that decided to stay, somewhere around one-hundred forty have found companions, and when you add the families, extended families, friends, and adventurous souls that want a new world, you will be leaving with around six-thousand colonists.” “How do I feed them?” whispered Si. “Scared? asked Lord Black. “Yes,” said Si. “When you are Emperor you will be responsible for trillions of lives,” said Lord Black. “But it won’t matter, Seph, Akio, Marshal, and Lord Tolnor will be in charge of the new planet, you won’t be staying long.” “What?” Si almost immediately went into a panic. “I’m sorry, the decision isn’t entirely mine,” explained Lord Black. “Many House’s are still loyal to you and it has been decided you must begin preparation for the day you will take back the throne.” “I won’t go,” said Si. “At least not without Seph.” “Lord Wolf knows you’re alive,” said Lord Black. “He’s looking for you.” “How?” “Emperor Tarin passed the Imperial title and all the command codes to you,” explained Lord Black. “Lord Wolf can’t access the Imperial Bank, the space stations, exploration probes, weapon’s arsenals, even the Imperial Fleet has to be manually commanded without the Imperial Command Codes. You will be hidden somewhere no one will ever find you.” “I don’t care what you say,” said Si. “I’m not going.” “I argued with many people to give you even the few months you will get to see your people settled,” said Lord Black. “Argue with me and I will take you there right now.” Si sulked but knew better than to argue with Lord Black, he didn’t bluff. “Where are you sending me?” asked Si. “You’ll find out when you get there,” said Lord Black. “I can’t take the chance of you accidentally, or on purpose, telling someone where you will be.” “Will I ever see Seph again?” Si started crying. “If you behave and do everything you are supposed to do,” Lord Black promised, “I will bring you once every year to spend several weeks with Seph.” “I hate you,” said Si. “Why don’t you just attack Lord Wolf and kill him.” “Look at this world, Fox,” said Lord Black. “This is a simple tropical world of peaceful people, most of whom study medicine, science, art, and philosophy. Of the two-billion Carinians that live here, I have only two-hundred thousand Black Guard. Our culture does not foster an aggressive species.” Si held up his Trident necklace. “But everyone has the Trident,” insisted Si. “We gave the Kitsune one island to put your garrison on and let you claim you conquered us,” said Lord Black. “And as long as the Over-Lords stay on that island, my people will never touch their Tridents. They are content to run and play on their beaches and pursue a peaceful life.” Si knew it was true, he just didn’t want to leave Carina. Life here was simple and good, he would be content to live forever on these beaches. A week later Sionnach’s Eighty were dressed in their blue body suits and lined up on the beach for one last swim out to the sandbars. The water was pleasant and calm and the boys swam with strong purposeful strokes through the water. The Carinians were at the sandbar waiting and swam back with the boys. Si reached the beach and walked with Marshal and Seph towards the waiting ships. Lord Black was there to see his people off to their new lives. The landing field was a bustle of activity. Forklifts, cranes, and ground crews hurried around the ships making last minute preparations. Si saw the horses that had been brought from Corvus being loaded into one of the cargo ships while groups of Carinians gathered around each other hugging and saying tearful goodbyes. “You ready?” asked Lord Black. “I was thinking,” said Si. “This isn’t right, we should tell these people who we are, it’s not fair to take them from their home and not know.” “I’ve been meaning to talk with you about that” said Marshal. “Everyone knows already.” “You told them?” asked Lord Black angrily. “They already knew,” said Marshal. Taina’Sar, the girl that was always with Marshal held up a handful of coins; the coins the Princes had given away every morning at the gates of the Imperial Palace. “Damn those things,” cursed Lord Black. “You should have told me, it is only luck that Lord Wolf has not found you yet.” “We’re leaving now so it’s okay, right?” asked Si. “Perhaps, let us hope,” said Lord Black. “Get on your ships, and good luck, I’ll see you in a couple months.” Si and Seph had a small cabin, but then so did everyone else. The ships were packed with crates and some of the passageways were nearly impossible to walk through. Si had to crawl over several large crates of seeds to get to his cabin. The Captain of his Colony ship announced departure in five minutes and for everyone to strap into the launch seats located in the cabins. Si had no idea who the Captain was, the entire adventure seemed to have been taken over by someone else and he was just an incidental passenger. The boys strapped themselves in and talked excitedly about the trip. They didn’t really know what to expect on the new planet and Si put it out of his mind that he would only be there for a few months. Si and Seph watched out the small view ports next to their seats as other ships launched. The Needle ships went first followed by the cargo ships and then it was their turn. The powerful engines ignited and the ship rose into the air. They could see the island and then the ocean around the island, the castle, and then they were too high and the island disappeared. The home they had come to love receded away and they saw the vast oceans of Carina. Then they were above the clouds and the stars appeared, the planet grew smaller and they passed the moons and headed into space. Seph waved at the planet as they jumped to light speed and the envelop of nothingness enclosed the ship for the long journey. Si held the Trident on his necklace between his fingers and wondered if he would ever see Carina again.