Among Bright Stars... (18 page)

Essuru sensed something amiss with the
servant girl. “Ninlil what has happened?”

“He did it again...” Ninlil whimpered.
Ninlil began to weep even harder. “I... I think... The god’s child
is in me...” Ninlil spoke overwhelmed.

The Princess’s mouth fell open, and she
placed a comforting arm onto her lover, the poet. “Be cautious
Essuru!” For his own safety, Ninkasi warned. “If you raise your arm
against Amelnakru we could all pay for it.”

Even Annunaki could die, Shura gasped as the
cyclorama morphed once more, and watched Essuru, with his khopesh
in hand and beside him a few rebels, came to assail Amelnakru’s
palace. Through a force of shear will, the human poet withstood the
Annunaki’s telekinetic powers. He hacked at the 'god' with his
sickle-blade, and the poet soon discovered that even an Annunaki
bled red just like the humans they spawned.

The image froze. “Wait.” Shura stepped into
the hologram. “Who is that there?” Pointed the archaeologist at a
tiny shrouded white figure who watched the battle. Perhaps it
looked to be a girl? It was too far off the periphery to be clearly
made out.

Ungal shook his head, said: “One of the
rebels I’d guess.”

It then became a well-lit hall again as the
hologram faded. Shura blinked, regained her sense of the now after
her history lesson. “The Princess, Ninkasi and the servant girl.
What became of them?”

“They were executed of course, for
conspiring with Essuru. Though this event lead to my kind’s
eventual complete abandonment of Earth.” Ungal-zaggisi boomed. “Not
before Ninlil birthed her child though.” He said oddly reflective
while god and Falcanian walked out into Nibiru’s great hallways and
headed for the center of the planetship.

“What became of the child?”

Ungal laughed, and placed a possessive hand
on Shura. “You stand right beside him.”

Shura gulped.

He longed to fly, yet the aliens had taken
that gift from him, stripped away his Garuda, an indignity, known
as Hatchiran among his people – a punishment inflicted on the
outcast, the wingless. That humiliation, among many others caused a
boiling fury for Krolev. The Colonel walked the city assaulted by a
barrage of languages. His captors had seen fit to at least implant
a neural translator in his head, after they had completed their
study of him of course. Gar supposed that in their fiddling with
his body, they could easily have vivisected him, yet chose not
to.

At an 'outdoor' stall (Gar long ago
ascertained this city to be at the center of a large, roughly disc
shaped ship, complete with an artificial blue sky. A Dyson Sphere
of some sort) the Falcanian placed himself on a bench beside a
group of humans. At first glance Krolev might pass for human, until
an oval-pointed ear popped out from under his longhair. Discovery
of none Terran humans amidst these aliens surprised him, not that
he ever got a good look at any of the luminous beings who clearly
were in charge around this place. The ruling Annunaki, for the most
part maintained an aloofness with their assorted subject species
aboard this gargantuan city-ship.

Across the city, the central Ziggurat shined
beneath a sun held in thrall by some unknown technology, and which
also served to help drive the planetship of Nibiru in its broad
'orbit' through the cosmos. A sparkling haze filled the atmosphere,
particulate gold, that helped sustain the life-giving ionosphere of
the planetship seemed to always leave a faint coat on just about
everything, providing beautiful sheen to all that it touched. No
wonder these slaves thought that they reside in a kind of
heaven.

“Gar!” The barkeep boomed.

“Good day Phobos.” Krolev pulled his tan
cloak tighter around his body.

“Farming seems to treat you well.” Phobos
noted, only half meaning it. He could see that the Falcanian wanted
to be someplace else. A lethality he was not accustomed to seeing
in Nibiru’s populace could be beheld in those sharp eyes.

Krolev shrugged, and leaned on the table
despondent. To descend from command of a vessel of the Falcanian
Imperial Navy, to than become a bean farmer had not been Colonel
Krolev Gar’s career goal. He had hoped to earn a commission
captaining Sharr’s great yacht. Instinctively Gar placed a hand
onto his Kraris. His captors had returned it to him after they had
completed their examination. It was a remnant of home, a connection
to his Falcanian heritage.

“Colonel.”

“Lirkaris, it’s good to see you my friend.”
Krolev greeted his former officer.

Jemadar Lirkaris Shan had suffered also the
same degradations as his commander, a loss of wings to whatever
experiments the Annunaki thought to subject them to. Neither
understood why they were spared the fate of the rest of the crew.
Perhaps there might still be hope? Nibiru was yet vast, and they
had not completely explored what it offered. Maybe more of the crew
lived?

The barkeep poured another draft of sweet
beer for Gar and his comrade.

“What have you learned Lirkaris? Are the
rumors true, is she among them?”

“See for yourself my Lord.” Lirkaris
motioned in the direction of the surprisingly modernly constructed
pyramid that dominated everything. Though ornate, the ziggurat
appeared to be fashioned from more than mere blocks of stone like
its long ago counterparts to be found on Earth. “She’s supposed to
be at the ziggurat this afternoon.”

“We shall attend the ritual.” Krolev told
his friend. Not that either man had much choice in the matter.
Prostration before the Annunaki was compulsory.

A crowd formed at the temple’s gargantuan
steps. From under his hood Krolev glanced up, he and the only other
survivor of
Shiertar’s Dirge
pushed through the throng of
mostly humans, however a few none Homo Sapiens could be seen on the
planetship. Creatures out of myth, satyrs, sphinxes, and the fierce
scorpion guards: Half-human, half-scorpion. Not to forget the
omnipresent reptilian Grall, Annunaki foot soldiers. All offshoots
which came out of the same experiment in creation that had born
humanity. Everyone rightfully could consider Earth to be their
cradle.

Of course, that common foundation explained
the general humanoid form which these 'aliens' that were not really
alien held in common. All were brothers of mankind. Curious in the
midst of this bizarre collection of beings were humanoids with
cerulean skin and green hair, called Hraic. Though the translator
in Krolev’s head peculiarly rendered it as 'Morlock'. Had that been
on purpose? A joke at the Hraic’s expense? Gar learned that they
were intended to be bodyguards. Moreover, he learned that these
Hraic up until relatively recently used to be Maori tribesmen
abducted centuries ago and transformed into these tattooed
juggernauts.

It was then that she appeared. Arms
outstretched, to call to her adoration from the slaves. Translucent
bluejay-wings caught the light of the enthralled star, gave the
young woman a nimbus, and a fierce look of a scorned angel. On
either side of the winged-woman stood illuminated Annunaki, they
were vested in gold robes, and crowned with horned-headdresses
which produced halos above their heads. At a sign from the horned
priests, the gathered multitude dropped to worship before Shura
Naidu. The crowd became a living wave as it lowered itself at the
base of the colossal steps. Lirkaris looked to his Commander and
followed his lead as he bent to one knee along with the others.
“It’s too late. She’s one of them.”

“We will get her back!” Krolev swore.

[Vorkrür: Evening, Imperial Palace]

“I can see, you’re your usual cheerful
self.” Shalimar delicately touched Sharr on his goateed chin. The
Shotar had gone into one of his broods.

At the head of the table, Sharr Khan waited
for his family. The evening repast would be served within the hour,
he and Shalimar had arrived early. She’d clung to him almost since
her return. Aria on the other hand hadn’t been seen since she had
argued with Sharr in the hallway. Neither mentioned Krada, and both
maintained the illusion that there wasn’t a problem. Though Sharr
could see it clearly in Shalimar’s eyes. Memories of playing with
her son in this very room dug at, and caused great torment for the
Kajra Re.

“Shikar, he’s very mature.” Ventured the
Kajra Re.

The Shotar nodded, Shalimar sighed, just
then Kvaltar Vron entered.

Sharr looked up glad to see Vron.

“Shali... --” Kvaltar hadn't expected to see
her. “Wow, how are things?”

“The same.” She bit off.

“The same? Somehow I doubt that.” Vron could
sense the tension between Shalimar and Sharr.

As explanation, Shalimar said: “I returned
to Vorkrür, as Zataki Tokugawa plans on attending the peace summit.
I thought I would precede the Shogun in his sojourn.” She
pleasantly smiled. “My place is here, beside my family.

At that Kvaltar Vron nodded in
agreement.”

“Evening.” Talik Kreis greeted when he
entered the family room, Aria and Tiberius in tow.

Not long after the one-eyed Talik had
arrived, Nadia, her own son holding her hand came into the family
recreation suite. Shikar chattered on about Kievron, who they had
just visited in Nadia’s lab. “No,” Nadia spoke firmly. “He needs to
stay in his playroom for now. Soon enough Kievron will come to
dinner with us.” She intended the Chitraka to one day become her
son's personal bodyguard.

“But Maa!”

“Quiet now.” Nadia hushed her son.

Sharr got up, to acknowledge his Queen, and
leaned in to kiss Nadia’s offered cheek as she took her traditional
spot at his right hand, such had always been custom between them.
Her son beside her, the Maharani smiled in Shalimar’s
direction.

“Thank you for the truffles Sharr.” Aria
said.

“I hope you enjoy them.” Sharr lovingly told
her.

“Excuse me,” Aria, said put out. “That’s my
spot.”

Shalimar glared, crossed her arms over her
ample bosom. “This is my place, for a long while now.”

Aria looked toward Sharr, hoped for his
intervention.

“My son and I –“

“Do not mistake me for a common courtesan.”
Her tone threatening, Shalimar demanded the respect that she
thought to be rightfully her own. “I am the Shotar’s Kajra Re.
Mother of his first born son. No clone is going to claim my status
for herself.”

“Shalimar,” Sharr commanded. “Sit beside
Nadia and Shikar.”

The Kajra Re shot a hateful glance Aria, but
did not say anymore. Relenting she went over and put herself beside
Shikar, who she gently smiled at.

Deep trencher dishes soon were set on the
table. Tairjof sausage. A hunter’s wurst made of pig’s blood,
rabbit and bird meat, fried and served on a bed of caramelized
onions over roasted yams were soon placed before each member of the
Imperial Household. The side dish of egg dumplings, drenched in a
thick brown pork gravy happened to be a favorite of Sharr's.

“I’m sorry I’m late everyone.” Arshira
exclaimed as she came in, and leaned over to whisper in Koori’s
ear, then sat beside Aria and Tiberius. “There were matters of
security which needed attending to aboard the
Mayura
Khaihir
.”

“Commodore Talos is ready for the cruise
then?” Sharr asked.

“On his end, yes my Lord.” Arshira gave her
mate a big bright smile.

“Alira,” Sharr glanced over at his daughter,
her own mother, Kitana in the chair beside her. “Where’s Sitara
at?”

“I think she and Kulcarin wanted um,” Alira
blushed thinking how best to put it. “A private evening together,
they’ve not seen one another since the attack on the Imperium. I
know Sitara is trying to work some stuff between she and
Kulcarin.”

From her spot, Nadia sighed. It broke her
heart, she blamed herself for Sitara's rocky relationship. Perhaps
she shouldn't have lobbied for the mating? At the time however it
seemed to her the correct course of action.

“Speaking of absent family members.” Asked
Shalimar. “What’s become of Tanusri?”

“Tanu moved to Kuras. She now resides in the
Vralis's temple, so that she could watch over Kheira.” Nadia
informed her friend. “Given how things are with the D'Har-Ziral, I
thinks it’s proven for the best.”

“Yes, an interesting religion.” Shalimar
laconically remarked. “I had heard Kheira turned into something of
a religious figure.” The Kajra Re spoke carefully, aware that it
was a sensitive topic. “Her priests have spread throughout the
Khanate, even to Japan. This new faith seems to be out of step with
my love Sharr’s Tarik way.”

Aria groaned.

“An understatement, Lady Shalimar.” Talik
interjected, intent to manage the discussion. Talik’s next words
were calculated, and he resisted being ironic. “Kheira, und this
Fafnir T’Skarin hedge dangerously close to insurrection.” His words
conveyed that he took the cult of D’Har-Ziral to be a personal
affront toward his beloved half-brother. If only those at this
table understood his role in D’Har-Ziral formation. Nadia would
have personally killed him for it. “There have been many protests,”
said the one-eyed man. “Spurred by these D’Har-Ziral, our people
rail against Sharr.” Talik glanced over at Aria, almost as if he
had not been the man who brought her to Vanguard Island. “They
blame Aria, though there is no truth to it.” He said firmly. “I
understand the girl who attacked her aboard the FX-24 was a member
of this cult.” He coughed. “This schism exists only to undermine
Sharr’s rule, you would be better off to silence your daughter
Sharr.”

Sharr slammed the table. “Under my rule
there will be no religious censorship!”

“Of course my brother.” Talik lifted his
goblet in salute. “I mean only to preserve your best interests.
These D'Har-Ziral want to exploit your good nature.”