Center Worlds - Spark

Tara Orbit -3 BA

The three TGX ships boosted out of Michelab orbit, leaving behind the massive relief effort as they journeyed towards the primary system to formally announce the end of hostilities, the Clan War was over. Ryo was stolid, but inside, he was terrified. The military war was done, now it was time to face something he had left behind for more than fourteen cycles. A young daughter who had now fully grown up.

The three massive battlecruisers dropped into high orbit and pulled into stationkeeping. The first thing Ryo did was shuttle over to the TGX-6 to accept their formal surrender and to transfer command to his flag. This had to be done in Tara's orbit, as per tradition. Like the TGX-4, the 6′s crew had begun to fight against the sheer insanity of their senior officers, so it was much the same, just less damage this time.

Ryo contacted Captain Tokoma, who had been there from the beginning in a lot of ways, and he felt was in a good position to take command. The man was thrilled to be given this honor, and within a day he had assembled a new bridge team and they were working to begin a refit of the battlecruiser to fully make it Clan Camelin.

Gya remained in orbit, helping the new Commander to begin the refit of the TGX-6. She knew there would be a massive celebration on the planet, but did not need to celebrate. Not her style. She did allow for as many of her crew as wanted to travel down and enjoy though, Gya was not selfish.

Ryo and Kalen shuttled down to the planet’s surface around Zero Bright, quickly met with Tyo Masilec, and were informed of how the events would go so they knew what places to take, and what actions to do. In some ways, this was a staged performance, but only just barely.

Tyo refused any questions about young Aya, so Ryo felt somewhat frustrated, but he had left the girl in the Emperor’s care, and he knew she was fully healthy and grown. All that remained was the actual meeting.

Formally dressed, with her hair all in place, her outfit sitting perfectly on her small frame, Aya sat and waited. Kya hurried about, getting her drinks and food, much like the other palace staff were doing for all of the other dignitaries who had assembled. Aya noted that there was an air of excitement and that the Emperor was not present.

She reached up and tugged Kya’s arm. “Where’s Tyo?”

“I don’t know, my Lady. Do you wish me to find him?” came the reply.

Aya furrowed her brow, only to have Kya smooth it back with a gentle caress. “Can you do that?”

Kya smiled. “I’m not just a Lari’Sota, my Lady. I am yours, that gives me special benefits when we’re here. I’ll see where he is at.” Kya turned and vanished into the milling crowd, leaving Aya to sit, now alone, and feeling still very nervous.

Aya sipped at the glass of bubbly wine Kya had provided, and watched the crowds move. She noted a lot of people in military uniforms, some with the Camelin crest, some with another she did not recognize. A soft tap on her shoulder made her look up into the face of an older officer whose rank indicted he was a Captain of some sort.

“May I sit here, my Lady?” He asked in a soft yet firm voice.

Aya nodded and watched him sit. He was older, maybe twice Tyo’s age. He held himself with proper poise and formality. His uniform was crisp and the lines were straight. This was somebody who was in the higher ranks of the Clan. He wore the Camelin crest proudly, but also wore that other Crest.

He noticed her watching him and leaned over conspiratorially. “I’m not much of a conversation piece, my Lady. If you have any questions, feel free to bend my ear though.”

She blushed slightly. “May I ask your name, Sir?”

He smiled, laugh lines crinkling around his eyes. “Captain Viktor Kalen, at your service, my Lady.”

She nervously smiled back at him, then pressed forward. “I know the Camelin crest, what is the other, and why do you wear both? Most of the crew here only wear one or the other.”

Kalen put down his drink and got to his feet, then dropped down in front of her so she could see the crests more clearly. “A very good question, my Lady. The other crest is for Clan Desinlo. Which we first liberated Twenty-five cycles ago, and which was lost to all of us thirteen cycles past. As I am in overall command, I wear both to show my support for those who have fallen, so they will never be forgotten.”

Aya furrowed her brow, then made her face smooth again as she imagined Kya would gently relax her forehead. “I heard of Clan Desinlo. Wasn’t the planet bombarded?”

“Yes, it was. You were far too young to remember, Lady Aya.” She spun as she had not even noticed Emperor Tyo Masilec come up behind her, Kya trailing slightly after him.

Aya smiled as she saw him. Her feelings for Tyo grew stronger every day, and this was no exception. She watched as he came around, took her hand and kissed it, then kissed her cheek.

Captain Kalen had stood, then formally saluted the Emperor, but his eyes never left Aya. “This is the Lady Aya?”

Tyo nodded. “This is the lady. She has grown into a fine woman, I am so proud to have her as a part of my court.”

Ryo Camelin was refreshed and then suited up in his formal tunic, refusing the help of an assistant who fluttered all around him, irritating him to the point he wanted to drive the man’s head through the wall. Ryo finally stood up, tunic half-buttoned, as he heard the swell of music, and walked out. Ignoring the man and buttoning his vest as he went. Walking into the main hall, even Ryo was impressed by the sheer size of it. This hall was as large as the TGX docking hanger, able to house more than five thousand citizens, and it was full.

“I am fine as I have dressed. Now leave me be.” He said to the assistant, who looked at the Emperor in desperation, then vanished into the crowd with a slight nod. Ryo strode up to the main dais, where Captain Kalen was already standing, along with Tyo and some others, sitting and standing. Ryo walked up to where Tyo was standing and held out his hands, Tyo grasped them as the entire crowd grew silent.

“Lord Emperor Masilec, I bring you news of the long-standing war between the Clan Camelin and Clan Michelab. The War is over. Let peace reign through the Confederacy, and may you rule the Thousand Worlds with no more conflict.”

Aya blinked, and swallowed hard, then felt the steady reassurance of Kya’s hand on her shoulder. This was the leader of Clan Camelin, this Military Man was her Father.

Tyo bowed his head, then looked at the Fleet Commander and lord of Clan Camelin. “Well met, Fleet Commander and Lord Camelin. I am pleased to hear that the battle has been finished so that peace may prevail. The news has been spreading through the Thousand Worlds since the first report this morning. People are in celebration across the realms.” He finished as he shook Ryo’s hands, then released them.

Ryo smiled and then looked at Kalen, noting where his XO was looking, he turned and saw the young woman sitting in a chair very close to Tyo’s own space. He walked over and got to one knee in front of her. Ryo silently held out a hand, and the young woman who seemed so small as to be almost lost in the chair nervously put her small hand in his. It was tiny, her hand vanished in his large one.

“You are?” Ryo asked in a very soft voice.

“I am Ayanaris Camelin, My Lord.” She replied nervously, in a soft voice that had elements of Lya’s tone in it. Aya could feel Kya’s strong calming presence as she now had both hands on her mistress’s shoulders. Kya was focusing so much on pushing calm into Aya that she could feel herself trembling internally, then with a gentle caress on her shoulder from Mistress Tya, she drew additional strength and regained her focus.

Ryo felt an emotion he had not felt for a long time as he looked into his daughter’s azure eyes, so much like her mother. Now was not the place for thoughts like that. He was back, the war was over, and this could wait a little longer.

“You have your mother’s eyes, Aya. And her fine stature. I am very pleased to meet you again, after such a long time.” Ryo said, then he kissed her hand, and placed it back in her lap, before rising to face the crowd, who was silent with expectation.

“Clan Michelab has sworn fealty to the Confederacy. The conflict has ended. The fleet has returned, and peace shall be our reward. We Are Home!” He finished as he raised his hands in a victory wave while the crowd roared and cheered.

The massive drums beat out a tattoo of sound, then the accompaniment of music swelled as the rest of the band tuned in and the music flowed across the entire hall. A celebration that became a traditional Camelin dance tune.

Aya turned as she felt another someone by her and saw Tyo leaning right down so his lips were almost touching her ear. “Ryo Camelin is a strong presence, my Lady. I am so very glad to count him as an ally. If I was on the wrong side of him, I don’t think I’d still be Emperor.” He said, then kissed her cheek and was gone before Aya could utter anything back.

A wave of music flowed over the entire ballroom, and suddenly everybody was up and dancing. Aya looked around frantically but was swept up and joined Captain Kalen for a fast dance around the floor. She was then literally swept off her feet by her Father, who danced with her with a laughing gleam in his eye before Tyo took hold of her for the third orbit.

Ryo found himself in the arms of a lovely lady who had been standing close to where his Aya had been sitting. No names were passed, but she was full of life and joy, and as she spun herself out of his arms, Kalen handed young Aya over to him for a fast spin around the dance floor. Ryo laughed at his daughter’s confusion, and spun her as they danced so that she smiled and laughed with him, then she was taken by the Emperor for another jaunt as Ryo was entwined in the long arms of the young lady who had been standing behind his Aya, not much older than her, but also full of life and happiness. He began to enjoy himself.

By the time she managed to return to her seat, Aya was covered in a fine sheen of sweat, glowing cheeks, and almost out of breath. She managed to sit down and was handed a glass of bubbly wine by a laughing Kya who grinned at Aya’s exhaustion and leaned down “You better get a second wind, this is going to go on all night, my Lady.”

Aya gulped down some of the wine, then covered her mouth with a polite burp. “I have danced, with Seven Captains, including Kalen, the Commander himself, The Emperor, three times, I think six lieutenants, and I don’t know who else. Kya, save me!” She laughed as one of the other Captains came swinging by and deftly scooped her up for another round of dancing.

Kya finally did rescue her, as she continued to observe her Lady, herself dancing with Officers as they asked, but not fully giving in to the jubilant mood, so she could remain focused on her Lady. She saw Aya stumble a dance move that the little Lady knew in pitch blackness, and then stumbled again, Kya deftly weaved her way through the crowd and slipped in between the officer who was dancing with her Lady with a very polite interruption, then was guiding Aya back to her seat and lifting her onto it as the younger Lady nearly collapsed.

“Drink this, don’t argue,” Kya said, holding a glass to Aya’s lips. Aya swallowed it all down, then looked at Kya. “Water?”

Kya nodded with a smile. “You’ve been drinking wine all evening, you’re all dry and bubbly, my Aya.”

Aya giggled, then felt dizzy. “Just like that wine, Kya. I think I’ve had too much...”

Kya smiled at her. “Too much of what?”

Aya laughed and kept watching the crowd, the conversation already forgotten as Kya settled down beside her to keep her from any other dance partners until her Mistress caught a breath.

Ryo finally found his way to a chair after an indeterminate number of dances with all manner of lovely women and downed a glass of bubbly wine with a grimace. Then asked for and was handed a cup of icy Isk, which he also drank, which was much preferred.

As he sat there, enjoying the festivities, he sensed a presence, and the same woman whom he had first danced with was beside him, sitting down and handed him a plate full of spiced rolls from his homeworld.

“We had the cooks flown in from your citadel, my Lord. That way we knew these would be made the right way for your celebration.” She said with a sing-song lilt to her voice and a laugh.

Ryo took one and bit into it. After fourteen cycles of ship-based food, to eat something like this was wonderful. He did not normally indulge in luxuries, but tonight was an exception. He enjoyed a few of the rolls with the woman, then she rose and held out her hand, Ryo took her hand in his and they twined their way around the dance floor a few more times.

Aya was watching everybody still dancing on the main floor, searching, then she saw him, and as she watched with a widening smile, Emperor Masilec came over to sit down beside her with a great heave of his chest.

“Why thank you, Kya.” He said as he was handed a glass of wine. He took a sip, then leaned over and whispered in her ear. Kya smiled at him and switched the wine for a flagon of water, which Tyo downed in a single long gulp.

With Tyo and Kya flanking her, nobody approached Aya for more dancing, and they enjoyed another hour of festivities in relative peace, until Tyo looked over, then signaled to Kya. Aya was asleep, lying back in her chair, totally zoned out.

Kya deftly lifted Aya, and Aya dutifully wrapped her arms around Kya’s neck, then Tyo led them out of the festivities hall and down the corridors back into the main palace. Tyo opened the door to his chambers, and he turned the lights up, dimly, as Kya carried Aya in to lay her down on the large bed.

“You both sleep here, Kya. I’ll go and rejoin the festivities. We can’t have the Emperor leaving a party in his own house, can we now?” He said with a wriggle of his eyebrows. Kya walked over to him and to his surprise, she gave him a warm hug, and then a kiss on his cheek.

“You are good to her, and good for her, my Lord. Thank you.” She murmured, then went back to begin getting Aya undressed for comfortable sleep. Tyo stepped out of his room and closed the door.

Looking at one of the guards he said “See nobody disturbs them, even me. Remind me if I come rolling back with a Lari’Sota on my arm, that the Lady Aya is sleeping.”

Kya knelt on the bed and undid the straps to Aya’s dress, then gently rolled the other girl over, undid the side ties, and quickly stripped her. She deftly lifted Aya so she could get her under the warm covers and then dropping the ties on her dress and quickly folding both garments to lay over a chair, slid in beside Aya in the biggest bed she had ever seen.

Kya lay back, feeling the bed like a floating cloud underneath her. She was lying on a mattress, but it almost wasn’t there. The covers also were nearly weightless, but so warm she could feel every fibre of her body warm and cozy. Aya was a soundly sleeping rock beside her and was also warm. Kya closed her eyes and rested.