Emergency lighting flooded the bridge as guards took up positions around Jon, Deatra and Sa'oliq. In a flash of light sixteen kneeling figures dressed in pitch black armor appeared in multiple places on the bridge of Atlantis. The guards on the bridge immediately cycled up their gun and pointed them at the intruders.
As if they were of one mind and body the slapped their chests and said, "We are to serve."
"Who the hell are you and what are you doing on my ship," Jon said. He had pushed Deatra back behind him and was trying to look around the guards in front of him.
The figures all stood up at once and bowed their heads.
"Evacuate the bridge," Jon said. Personnel quickly made their way to the transport tubes.
"Rerouting power from my personal supply to transport tubes one through twelve," Atlantis said.
"I know this race," Sa'oliq said. "Jon, do not trust them. They always have some other motive for the things they do. Most times it doesn't end well for the people they're involved with."
Jon nodded as he started to speak but was cut off by a crystal clear female voice.
"Why thank you for the introduction Sa'oliq of the Castanian people," the voice said.
Jon watched one of the armored intruders step forward and remove her helmet. Gold and silver hair fell down to her shoulders as her gold eyes took in the room. Her skin was almost as black as her armor and as she grinned her gold colored lips parted to show a set of perfect golden teeth. She knelt and placed her helmet on the floor as she bowed her head to Jon.
"Who are you?" Jon said.
"I'm Nefeit," Nefeit said without picking her head up. "I'm the High Priestess of the Drovasian people."
"Why are you on my ship?" Jon said. Jon glanced at the other fifteen figures as if waiting for them to make some move. Each was like a statue as if waiting for a command to be allowed to move.
More guns cycled to ready behind Jon as Mark spoke, "Atlantis said you needed help on the bridge. Are you ok?"
"I'm fine," Jon said as he raised a hand. He reached out and pushed through the guards in front of him so he could see Nefeit clearly. The guards shifted nervously as Jon exposed himself. "Care to answer my question Nefeit and please no sudden moves. My guards are very nervous right now."
"Of course," Nefeit said. She still hadn't looked up the entire time. "We're here to swear allegiance to you the ADF."
"What kind of trick is this?!" Sa'oliq said. "The Drovasian people haven't sworn allegiance to anyone ever. The last time they even entered an agreement of any kind was when the Ga'sahde Treaty was signed. Even that they did so grudgingly and only so they could hide behind the Ga'sahde when they pulled one of their little schemes. Funny how that all ended when the Ga'sahde disappeared and how you suddenly show up when they make an appearance." She turned to Jon as she continued to speak. "Don't trust them they're up to something. I don't know what, but they're."
"Yes, this was true hundreds of years ago," Nefeit said. She was still staring at the floor and it was starting to agitate Jon because he couldn't see her face and expressions.
Jon interrupted her and said, "Please stand up so I can see your face. I think the top of your head is pretty and all but I think your face is much prettier."
"Of course," Nefeit said as she picked up her helmet and stood.
"Sorry for the interruption, please continue," Jon said.
"While, what Sa'oliq has said is true," Nefeit said. "In the past one hundred years we have changed. Since I have taken up the mantle of High Priestess, I have prepared for your arrival according to the prophecies."
"Oh boy," Jon said. He closed his eyes and put two fingers on the bridge of his nose. He rubbed slightly as if he was trying to fight off a headache. "Here it comes."
Deatra chuckled slightly as Nefeit locked Jon with her gold eyes.
"In the time of need the darkness shall be lit by him you have never seen, from a place far removed. Releasing a ghost from slumber and arriving in special armor. He shall move to protect those he knows less. Shades from ancient times shall arrive by his side. A great dying tree he shall prune bringing life yet again to its branches. Mantle and title forgotten he shall lead all but yet lead none. In jeopardy his life will be in the place of the tree. His armor is breeched by slight unseeing he shall be. Black and gold shall arrive to keep him alive. Fall upon a knee as ruler he shall be," Nefeit said. "So, my people and I are here to give our allegiance to you and the ADF. I'll be stepping down as the first High Priest in thousands of years takes his rightful place."
"No," Jon said.
"No?" Nefeit said the surprise on her face showed. For the first time the fifteen black armored figured shifted uneasily.
"I don't want to be you're High Priest. I don't want to command your people," Jon said.
Nefeit frowned as she tried to figure out what was going on and why. "But the prophecy says you shall. It can be no other way."
"Are you sure the prophecy is speaking about me?" Jon said. "What if it's talking about someone else that hasn't showed up?"
"You brought Ghost Station online, right?" Nefeit said.
"Out of necessity, but yes," Jon said. He didn't like where this was going.
"You arrived in Atlantis a ship far before its time," Nefeit said.
"Again, I had little choice," Jon said.
"The Ga'sahde was brought back because of you and your actions," Nefeit said.
"No, the actions of my sister, I had very little to do with that," Jon said.
"You used her status to gain the trust of the Castanian people, did you not," Nefeit said.
"She has you there," Sa'oliq said as she smiled.
"Hush you you're not helping here," Jon said.
"That event caused you to go explore the Ga'sahde space. Again it was your choice to do so," Nefeit said.
"Again, something I had little choice about at the time," Jon said.
"Because of that, you are now the House Primus and you sister is the Matriarch," Nefeit said.
"Again something I didn't choose," Jon said.
"You arrived here at Euthara to try to stop their decline," Nefeit said. "You have even set in motion plans to restore their outside contacts and ability to resume their manufacturing and mining plants back up. During these current events Atlantis lost power due to some type of engineering failure."
"Yes that is correct," Jon said.
"We arrived to protect you, our High Priest, during your restoration of Euthara," Nefeit said. "The dying tree is Euthara and you're preparing to do some "pruning" while breathing life back into it."
"I guess," Jon said. He knew he was losing this battle and wasn't pleased.
"You don't care for any title you have now," Nefeit said. "Yet you still lead those around you, even if you don't realize it."
Jon held up his hands in surrender as he spoke, "Ok, you win. I fit most of this prophecy of yours. I still don't want to lead your people. No offense meant. I really don't want to lead anyone. I just want to go home, which right now is impossible. Euthara is the closest thing to a home I have now and I'm not going to let it die out."
"That is why you make a good leader," Deatra said. Sa'oliq and Nefeit both nodded in unison as they agreed."
"Oh?" Jon said.
"You do what's right, not what is politically right or what would move you higher in rank. You care about everyone around you and those associated with you," Deatra said.
"Yes," Sa'oliq said. "It makes people want to help you as they can see better times coming. You rally people to you even though you're not trying to do it."
"We've been watching you," Nefeit said. "To make sure you were the one spoken about, the Strider of Life and Harmony. Have you not seen how people are drawn to you and want to help you?"
"All too much, it seems like almost everyone is falling over themselves to help me," Jon said. "It gets a bit tiring."
"People know when they see a good leader," Nefeit said. "They will move to protect that person and help him move his cause along. You haven't done much but help those around you."
"The Invaru and Buranis don't seem to feel that way," Jon said.
"In time they will come to see the light," Sa'oliq said. "They have a prophecy to and from my limited understand of it you are mentioned in it."
"Oh, great," Jon said. "I don't like the feeling that I'm not in control of my life and what I'm doing."
"Oh but you are," Deatra said. "Prophecies are more of a guide to be used to see certain events. That way we can prepare ourselves for them. Think of the prophecies this way if it helps."
"The prophets, as far as I know, of every race were someone who had high mental powers and was able to see events before they unfolded. The strongest of these could see far into the future," Nefeit said. "They're very rare and there hasn't been one, as far as I know, named for ages. Most of the time what they saw was up to a broad interpretation by whoever read it. Sometimes, as in these prophecies, they're pretty clear."
"I'll make you the same deal as I made Sa'oliq and her people," Jon said. "You retain control over your people, I'll ask you if I need something specific done. It's then your choice as to if you do it or not."
Nefeit looked at Deatra and then Sa'oliq, and then settled her gaze back on Jon as she spoke, "That can't work."
"It's the only option I'm giving you," Jon said. "I really don't want to have to deal with ten different races all wanting me to decide matters of their state. You want to call me a balance between the races fine that I can do. I can work to keep everyone functioning as one group. You want me to have military jurisdiction over your forces I can do that. I don't want the politics though. I'm going to have my hands full with Euthara as it is. Because of my soon to be wife I'll do it and deal with it. It's something I've come to terms with and have accepted as part of my soon to be life."
"I think you misunderstand me," Nefeit said. Jon thought it was impossible but the woman blushed slightly, a light red filled her cheeks as she spoke. "I can't do it and even if I stepped down and appointed another in my place they can't do it. For a High Priest and a High Priestess to rule as one they have to be a mated pair. It's part of our laws and is the only way my people will accept such a thing."
Jon was floored and glanced at Deatra who wasn't showing any emotion a slight grin on her face. Sa'oliq snickered quietly behind him. "Well, I, uh," Jon stammered.
"I'm sorry," Nefeit said. "You must take the mantle alone. There is no other way. See when you become High Priest of my people I'll become an Arch Priestess, one step below you."
"Good then you can rule as that," Jon said. "I'm not interested in marrying anyone but Deatra."
"An Arch Priest or Priestess has no authority in our society," Nefeit said.
"Fine I'll change that," Jon said. "I'll appoint you as regent."
"I'm afraid it's not something that can be changed," Nefeit said. "You yourself said you didn't want to interfere with our politics. Yet you're ready to change the most basic principle of our ruling caste."
"Then we're at an impasse," Jon said. "I'm not going to be supreme rule of any race except maybe Euthara if the cards fall that way. Only then because it's part of whom I am now."
Deatra laughed as she stepped forward and spoke, "We accept you proposal."
Do what?" Jon said.
Deatra turned to Jon and smiled as she leaned in and gave him a peck on the cheek. She pulled back as she spoke, "My dear I knew where this was headed the second she said you're to be the High Priest. I know their race and how you would react. I've seen it two times before. The Eutharan society allows multiple marriages as long as all parties agree to it. It's how we strengthen our ties with other races; nobles often took other wives and husbands."
"But, I," Jon said.
Deatra reached up and put a finger on his lips as she spoke, "Hear me out and then decide." Jon nodded as Deatra continued. "Drovasian people have the same social rules of conduct. They allow multiple marriages with races beside their own within the ranks of the nobles."
"That is true," Nefeit said. "But, it hasn't been practiced in a thousand years or more."
"The laws are still there and it's a simple solution to the current situation," Deatra said. "I have no qualms about it." She tapped the side of her head. "I know you love me and how much you love me. One of the reasons it's easy to allow this for my people. I also know you think she's very beautiful."
It was Jon's turn to blush as he spoke, "No fair."
"I feel what you feel," Deatra said. "I wasn't spying on you just so you know."
"I know," Jon said. He looked at Nefeit and gave her the once over. She was rather startling and even easy on the eyes. He shook his head as if trying to wake from a dream.
"Nefeit, do you approve?" Deatra said.
"Now wait just a second," Jon said. "Am I some piece of meat to be passed around to every person we meet? What if I don't approve of this?"
"Then there is resolution and we can sit here and debate for the next fifty years and get nowhere," Deatra said.
"You have to do it," Terri's voice said behind Jon.
Jon spun around and stared at Terri. He didn't know when she had arrived but he was glad to see her.
"Their rules are very specific," Terri said. Every Drovasian suddenly knelt in unison as Terri stepped around the guards behind Jon. "The Drovasian society takes its laws very seriously. This is not something you can just ignore. The coming of the prophecy has been something they have been waiting for a long time. If Nefeit fails this she will be removed and destroyed." Jon's eyes widened as his sister said the last, Terri continued. "Yes, as in killed, not that it matters in the greater scheme of things. Another will replace her and come to you again and request the same thing. This will continue until you accept or every member of their race is dead. You have two choices if you want to avoid this. You either accept the title and all duties connected to it or you marry her and share the ruling of the Drovasian people."
"Is this true?" Jon said as he turned to look at Nefeit.
Nefeit just nodded her head.
"So, I'm trapped again," Jon said.
"You have a choice," Nefeit said. "My people and I will accept whatever you say."
"No, he has no choice in this," Terri said. "Jon, did you know the Ga'sahde have a prophecy too?"
"Oh boy," Jon said.
"It's long winded and a lot of it applies to only the Ga'sahde. But, there is a part or two about you in it," Terri said as she grinned. "I know how much you hate prophecy and all it means."
"Yeah, yeah," Jon said. "Spill it already."
"It's rather simple," Terri said. "The Lord of All shall arrive with light on his left arm and dark on his right. Fire shall precede him as cold shall cool his steps as he passes before all."
"That makes no sense to me," Jon said.
Terri pointed at Deatra as she spoke, "Light." She pointed to Nefeit. "Dark."
"Yeah, well if you think that's what it means," Jon said. "Then what is the fire and cold?"
"That has yet to be revealed," Terri said. "I know you and I know you will not let someone die to save you a bit of comfort. Deatra has already given her permission and you need to stop acting like you're not going to do it. We need to move on and quit wasting time here."
"You're seriously telling me to take another wife?" Jon said.
"Like you're not going to do it just to save her," Terri said. "Everyone knows you well enough to know you won't stand by while someone dies for no reason. It's one of the reasons people follow you and even rely on you. You stand for something this universe has lacked for a long time, truth, justice and peace for all."
Jon sighed and looked at Deatra she nodded as she smiled. Two wives, Jon wasn't sure he liked the idea. He knew about the nobles of Euthara having other wives from other races to seal agreements and such. It wasn't something he entertained himself.
"It will only tie you closer to the Drovasian people," Sa'oliq said. "It's common place even among my people."
Jon eyed Sa'oliq and gave her a look like you're not serious.
Sa'oliq chuckled as she read his face and said, "My race will only allow outside marriages if the two parties are compatible. We're not and that is why the agreement you made with me was acceptable. If we had been compatible it would have been different."
"Is this going to end with me having forty wives," Jon said.
"Certainly not," Deatra said. "Once we start having children they will have arranged marriages as has been our way."
Jon had never thought about children. Now if he has any they will be paired to people they probably don't even know. He didn't like the idea one bit; it was bad enough that he had to do this, but his children?
Jon looked up at Nefeit. She stood there stock still waiting for his judgment. To find out if her life was forfeit or if Jon would save her the only way he could. Terri was right he couldn't let an innocent die because he was uncomfortable. He would marry her and then find a way out of it at a later date. He really only wanted to be with one person and that one person was standing next to him.
He reached over and took Deatra's hand and said, "Are you sure?"
Deatra reached her hand up and laid it in the center of his chest as she spoke, "You have a kind heart and you care about those around you. Sometimes, your caring drives you mad and it makes you act crazy. While that isn't the best thing sometimes, it isn't the worst reaction to have. In the short time I have known you I have seen your love for those around you, even the Invaru. You don't like what they do but you don't hate them either. You will take the time to listen to them and even invite them to your ship when you could have easily had them marked as outlaws."
That is a sign of a great ruler and while I had my reservations at first, even though I bonded with you. You have removed all those reservations from me and I would gladly follow you to my death." Deatra looked at Nefeit and smiled as she continued. "I would gladly call Nefeit my sister. I have seen into her soul and know she has nothing but good intentions. It's as she says, she has reformed the Drovasian people. So, I have no problem agreeing to this addition to our family. I have prepared for this ever since I bonded with you and knew it was a very real possibility. The choice, however, is yours to make and yours alone. I'll accept your decision whatever it might be."
Jon looked up at Nefeit again as he spoke, "I agree to marry Nefeit. I'm not happy about it but I agree."
Terri looked at Nefeit as she spoke, "Do you agree to this?"
Nefeit looked at Deatra and then Jon. Then she settled her gaze back on Deatra who nodded in her direction. "Yes, I agree," Nefeit said.
"Then I herby announce your engagement to Jonathan Hunter-C'loth and his appointment as High Priest of the Drovasian people," Terri said. "Congratulations."
Jon's head was spinning. He felt trapped as if there was no way out. Everyone was pulling his strings or wanting something from him. Now his sister was even on their side and doing the same thing.
The lights on the bridge flared back to life as the various stations came back to life. Jon watched as the room started to spin and he stumbled a bit as he tried to stay on his feet.
"Jon?" Deatra said. Her voice carried worry as she tried to stead him.
"The Invaru ships," Jon said as he regained his footing.
"They were warned off by me and the Drovasian ship. They have resumed their orbit of the gas giant," Terri said. "Are you sure you're ok? You look a little pale."
"I'm fine," Jon said. He took Deatra's hand and kissed it. "Thanks for the support."
"Are you sure?" Deatra said.
"Yeah, I think the power returning and the flash of lights just made me dizzy," Jon said. "I'm tired and haven't eaten in about twelve hours."
Jon sat down in his chair as the guard on the bridge spread out. Nefeit walked over and stood opposite of Deatra on his right hand side. Her guard spread out and mixed with the other guards. The irony didn't pass him as he remembered the prophecy his sister quoted.
"Jon to Carla," Jon said.
"Carla here sir," Carla's voice said.
"Power is restored," Jon said. His vision swam a bit as the room seemed to take one last spin. "You have control until I get the bridge crew back."
"Aye sir," Carla's voice said. "Engineering here reports that the cause of the power failure was two small explosives timed to go off at the same time. It cut both the primary and secondary power conduits and caused a cascade failure. They have the primary conduit repaired and are currently working to restore secondary power conduits."
"I thought there were secondary systems in case of something like this happening," Jon said.
"There are," Carla's voice said. "Those systems were disabled and engineering is still working to get them back online."
"Thanks Carla," Jon said. "Could you contact the bridge crew and have them return to the bridge?"
"Yes sir," Carla's voice said. "Will that be all?"
"Yes," Jon said. "Contact me if you get any new news, thanks."
"Carla out," Carla's voice said.
"So, it seems we have a saboteur," Jon said. "Mark, I want you to increase patrols in all vital areas."
"We'll do," Mark said.
As the first of the Bridge crew began to arrive Jon stood up. His head pounded and caused him to grunt in pain, almost doubling him over. People around him reacted as Jon collapsed into a heap on the floor.
Jon opened his eyes to the beeping of machines. He heard Andy speaking, "Stress, lack of rest and food. That appears to be the only thing I can see affecting him."
"Don't talk about me as if I'm not here," Jon said.
Sam was the first to react and ran to him as she spoke, "Are you ok daddy?"
Daddy, when did she start calling him daddy? "I'm fine," Jon said as he started to sit up.
Oojoung sat watching him carefully across the room. Jon almost chuckled as he realized the Oojoung was very close to where Terri was standing. A hand shoved him back down.
"Oh, no you don't," Andie said. "You need to eat something before I let you go. You can't go missing meals and sleep or you'll kill yourself. Then where will we be?" She turned and walked away. "I'll be right back."
Jon relaxed as someone push some pillows under him to help sit partially up. He glanced over to find Nefeit adjusting the pillows. He skin shimmered in a golden hue almost as if her dark skin had trapped stars. He didn't remember seeing that before.
The worry on her face eased as he smiled at her. "I'm happy you're ok," Nefeit said. He sensed her relaxing and her worry fading.
Jon scrunched his forehead as he tried to figure it out. Deatra took one of his hands as she spoke, "You had us all worried there." She watched him staring at Nefeit and realized what the problem was. "Yes, Nefeit is bonded to us. Sometimes it happens when these agreements are reached. We don't know why just that it happens."
Nefeit gave him a half smile and Jon returned is then turned his attention to Deatra. He eyes were red as if she had been crying. "Are you ok?" Jon said as he reached up and pushed a strand of hair back.
"You scared me to death," Deatra said. "I thought I had lost you."
"I'm just exhausted," Jon said. "I haven't had much of a break in the past few weeks."
"I know," Deatra said. "That's why I have ordered the Atlantis back into orbit on Euthara. We're going to my home in the northern province so you can relax for a while."
"Our people will be providing the security force and escorts along with your normal guards," Nefeit said.
"We'll be coming along too," Terri said. "We've been officially invited by the Princess to visit her for an undisclosed amount of time."
Jon laughed and then said, "You know this will rile you father right?"
Deatra shrugged as she spoke, "I own the land and I can invite who I want. Plus it was kind of my point. You know he's still trying to contact you. Carla has been telling him you're indisposed. She's taken command in your absence and appointed someone named Janus to command the secondary bridge."
"Yeah, I think I know him," Jon said. "He's a Eutharan, right?"
Deatra nodded.
"Yeah, I know him," Jon said. "He's been training with us for the past couple months. Gilas suggested him as an officer candidate and I can't say that I'm disappointed. Speaking of Gilas..."
"Safely returned to Ghost Station," Terri said. "I've stationed the Odarius and her escorts at the station for defense under the command of Carex. The Earth's Revenge and Titan are on their way here with Admiral Gabriel. You need to deal with him, as I need him or I need to dismiss him from his current post and replace him."
"I can do that as soon as they arrive," Jon said.
"The shares have been transferred and we can begin whenever," Deatra said.
"No, we can't," Jon said. "I still need to iron out the few last hurdles. I don't want to do anything that is outside the law. That's not what we're about. We need to get the King and his court to want to allow import and export. They have to want to get the stations and factories running again."
"You kind of ignored that when you had Brad and Mike start working on the shipyard," Deatra said.
"No I didn't. Technically it's not a shipyard. It's more of a space station that specializes in building ships," Jon said.
"Really," Deatra said. "I never knew that."
"It has a whole city in its belly," Jon said. "Everything from parks to markets and many other things a city needs to survive."
"I read the laws pertaining to that piece of hardware floating in space. The Ga'sahde own forty percent of it and the rest is split up between other races. The Ga'sahde commissioned it to be built as a mid point for passing ships and travelers. The Eutharan Government gave them the space to build it and it was created as an international station. The Eutharan people had primary use of it and primarily ran it through the years. But, it was a hub for everyone and peoples from all over helped keep it in repair. According to Eutharan law, anyone can come to the station and work as its open for everyone."
"Pretty smooth," Deatra said.
"Yeah, it even had an international police force that at one time was over two thousand people from various races," Jon said. "They worked together to keep the peace on the station and to make sure everyone was punished according to their races' laws."
"So, anyone can go to the station and bring it back online," Deatra said.
"That is correct," Jon said. "I plan on restoring it to its former glory in time. For now I'm going to use it to repair the ships in the graveyard and construct new ships. That is once I get permission to touch the ships in the graveyard. I'm also going to turn it into a training ground for Navy personnel and Marines. Something it could have done if the Combined Training Treaty had been signed. They even had the section that was going to be used for that completed before the station as shut down."
"Why was it shutdown?" Nefeit said.
"A question I was about to ask," Deatra said.
"As far as I can see the Eutharan Government decided to close its boarders to all outsiders. So they shut it down, unlawfully I might add," Jon said.
"Ok, enough shop talk he needs to eat and then rest," Andy said. She put a tray with different food on it in front of Jon and shooed everyone away after they said they would see him later.
Just as Jon had finished the last of his food and was dropping into sleep his com went off as Carla called him.
"Jon here, go ahead," Jon said. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Andy look up from her office, a frown on her face. "Better make it quick."
"Sir, a Eutharan vessel is refusing us orbiting status," Carla said. "They say if we settle into orbit they have been ordered to open fire."
"Carla, handle it," Andy said as she stepped from her office door. "I've given orders the Jon isn't to be disturbed. If you have to, contact Deatra and have her deal with it."
"Hold on a second," Jon said as he sat up. "Carla..."
"Computer, disengage all coms except for my office. Reroute all incoming call through there," Andy said. Andy pushed Jon back down and slapped a patch on his arm.
"Now wait just a minute," Jon said.
"I'm sorry Jon but you need your rest," Andy said.
It was the last thing he heard as he faded into sleep.