They were almost finished their lunch when the surveillance system chimed. Immediately, the boys, got up. Beeves went to see the feeds and Boris to the front door. “Someone is coming to your door,” said Beeves, he picked up the device and held it out to Rota so she could identify the person.
“Oh No,” said Rota “Its my Uncle Octave, My Fathers brother. Oh I didn’t expect him here for at least another two days. He normally drags his feet when coming here.”
“Did you want us to turn him away?” asked Beeves
There was a knock on the door.
“I would like that but no its better to just get this over and done with”
Shimel got up at once and took all their unfinished plates from the table “Uncle Octave won’t think it proper, the help eating with a Princess” she said in a mocking tone and put them in the butlers pantry. She then hurried down the hall closing all the doors.
Lacy positioned herself at the door ready to open it. Beeves hid the security feeds.
“Look like guards on duty” the Princess said and settled herself in the middle of the lounge fluffing her skirts so no one would dare sit beside her.
By that stage Shimel was in the kitchen fixing a tea tray, Beeves was standing against a wall between the entry way and the Princess.
“Only make a small tray Shimel, I want him to know he shouldn’t stay long. Ready, Lacy” She then called softly. She then pulled out a tissue from the coffee table and put a sad frail look on her face.
Lacy was heard answering the door, “Oh, let me ask the Princess if she wishes to receive visitors, just a moment.” She closed the door and clopped down the entry room stopped, gave the Princess a look who said “absolutely not” in a dramatic voice, which made everyone smile and then take another moment to compose themselves. She clopped back to the door.
“she shall see you but please not for too long, she is very upset.” Said Lacy
“Oh, Oh Yes, I understand,” said a pompous voice
“Just wait Sir, for the princess’s protection please stand facing the wall with your arms out and feet apart”
“What?” said a now outraged voice.
“Oh yes,” said Lacy, “everyone must, its now required since yesterday’s awful, awful events”
“Oh but surly, I’m her uncle” said Octave dismissively
“Oh Yes, especially since you’re her uncle,” Said Lacy sweetly “If you kill her, you will inherit the throne.” Lacy said of matter factually.
Octave froze for a split second, it wasn’t long but Boris registered the action most concerning, he thought. Gosh Lacy is good.
With a sigh Octave stood facing the wall.
Boris patted him down and the removed a knife from his lower leg, “You can have this back when you leave” Boris said
When he turned around, Boris could tell he was only just holding on to his anger. His face was red and his fists were clenched tight and shaking.
Lacy not seaming to notice “This way Sir”
Boris took a detailed look at the knife he just confiscated, it was very elaborate but sharp, it also looked like it had blood in some of the engravings. He silently pulled out his comm and sent a message to lacy and shimel: I need a swab kit, small black bag in the crate on the left side, near the bench where the coffee maker is.
“Princess Rota” Octave said in a fake fondness
“Oh Octave” said Rota “I didn’t expect you for a few days yet. I suppose you came because of Fathers . . . condition”
“Oh yes, yes, tragic it is, how are you going, I suppose you must be devastated?”
Shimel got Boris’s message as she was about to take the tea tray over. She pretended to drop something as she searched in the crate.
“Well, he isn’t gone yet so there is hope still”, have you gone to visit him?”
“Yes, but only briefly”
There was a pause in the conversation, Shimel found the swap kit and took one out and tucked one down her front.
Lacy picked up the tea tray
“What I really, came here to talk to you”
“Refreshments Princess” Lacy said in a clear voice that cut Octave off
“Oh yes Lacy, Thankyou” Rota smiled.
“As I was saying, we, really need to talk about who will stand in for the King while he is . . . recovering”
“Isn’t that a bit insensitive,” Rota said a bit of outrage in her voice. “it only happened yesterday”
Octave tried to keep his voice even but it was obvious that he was affronted.
“Maybe but we have to have this discussion, sooner or later”
“Maybe,” The Princess said, she paused and wondered for a moment if she should actually cry. No, best take him head on. “What do you suggest” there was a strength and warning in her voice. Which put Octave on edge a bit.
“Well, I wasn’t sure if you were able . . . to make necessary decisions . . . while your father is . . .” he broke off.
“you want the crown” it was a firm statement
“Oh no, no, no,” he started bumbling “I, ahh just want what’s best for you, I wouldn’t dream . .”
“You wouldn’t dream of what?
Octave started to go red again.
“Yes, I suppose you are right, I should meet with the Governors to discuss, what happens next. Thank you for bring it to my attention.
Shimel, made her way confidently but quietly towards the entrance room, she pulled the swab kit from the front of her dress and handed it to Boris. He swabbed the knife where the blood was put it in the bag and stowed it in his pocket. Shimel walked purposely but quietly back into the sitting room.
Octave had taken a seat and was drinking his drink quickly.
“So how was your trip?” Rota asked
“Oh yes, there was only one mishap, easily sorted though”
“Did you come straight from Cobalt on the other side of the planet, you made remarkable time if you did”
“No actually, I have just purchased an estate 30mins north of here. I moved in a week ago. Still trying to get everything settled. It was in an awful dis-repair when I purchased it.”
“Oh Father, didn’t tell me”
“Oh that’s because he didn’t know”
“I see. What is the name of the estate, I might know it?”
“It is the Villa Laron, on the River”
“Oh yes I have heard of it, it has a very rich history in smuggling does it not.”
“Yes it does actually, I wasn’t even aware of that until I moved in”
“Really”
There was silence again
“Anyway, I must be going I just wanted to check on you”.
“Why, how very selfless of you” Rota said with too much emphasis on selfless.
“Lacy, do you mind showing Octave out”
“Oh, it would be my pleasure” Lacy said leading Octave to the door
Boris gave Octave back his knife and he left without another word. Beeves pulled out his Comm and checked the room for bugs just in case Octave was up to more than trying to get Rota to back away from the crown. All clear.
“Flip” said Beeves when they all returned to the sitting room “I thought the battle field was tense”
“I think you women just made an enemy” Boris said amused “We really will have to be on our guard now”
“What did you want the swab kit for” asked Lacy
“There was some blood on Octaves knife, I will get this to the lab and see what it tells us. First lesson Ladies, If your going to carry and use a knife, make sure it’s an plain knife with no engravings. . . they are easier to clean.” Boris said
“Ok” Shimel said with a smile” Plain knife, got it. Is anyone still hungry, we were in the middle of our lunch.”
“Oh yeah” the boys said in unison, and they planted themselves back in their seats waiting for their plates.
Kat awoke at 5pm after a restful sleep. Oh how she needed that. She checked her comm, there were a couple of messages but none urgent. So she ordered some dinner to be sent over and hit the shower while she waited. Refreshed, dressed and hot meal in front of her she decided to check her messages. There was one from Boris about Rota being visited by her uncle Octave, who was by all accounts trying to get Rota to step away from the crown so he could rule while her Father recovered. He also mentioned his reaction to Lacy’s comment about him next in line to the throne if anything happened to her. Octave also carried an ornate knife on his lower left leg, which had blood on it. There were photos of the knife too. It was swabbed and will be sent to the lab.There was a couple of replies and thoughts on the note she had put up about the trajectory of the Kings shooter.Then she came across a message from her superior giving her a heads up about Octave’s request fo
Day 3Jay was woken up at 4am in the morning by an alarm on his comm. Report to cockpit. Was all it saidHe jumped up and dressed in a hurry and met Tilly heading in the same direction. Benny, and Ryder were already there."What's going on?" said JayRyder started to explain "I have been watching another ship going in the same direction that we are. It appears to be a newer ship with a much higher speed that what his old girl can hold. I have been making our course look like we could have been heading to two other planets at once but this ship ever since I noticed it has been heading directly to Planet S610""I don't have a good feeling about this" said bunny as she entered the room with a tray containing coffee for everyone."Oh Bunny" said Benny almost groaning in delight "you do know the way to a man's heart. . . Jay can we keep her""Careful Benny, she is a wild thing that can't be tamed" Jay warned
“Captain Jay of the Palace guard of Ziion, me and my team are on an undercover mission in relation to the Kings recent assignation attempt. We are on our way to your planet, when we noticed another ship also heading there. We are unsure of its purpose but if its in connection to our case it could be to harm or kidnap one of you trainees.“Can you release the person’s identity”There was a pause“Where you the person who knew our code”“Yes I served in the Ziion Military, and still call Ziion home and King Levis my King”“Ok that’s good enough for me. We have only one source but we believe on your Planet, you have a missing princess, she is a twin to Princess Rota”“Mia” said Alex looking to Dora, Dora’s eyes widened. As they both thought through her circumstances it made sense, she even had similar featured to the king”“Yes it does make se
Dora watched as the smaller ship landed in the docking area. Four men got out in completely black armoured gear with as many weapons as would fit on a body. They confidently strode up to the door.Dora gave an update. “Four men, full battle armour, completely black with lots of weapons”“What is your business on Planet S610,” Dora askedOne of the men with a confident smile took a step closer, he opened his mouth then the smile faded as Dora’s gift started to pull words he didn’t intend to use towards his mouth.“We are here to kill the Princess” The man replied, his men looked at him shocked.“How many men do you have?”He was starting to sweat now “15 plus a pilot”“What is your plan of attack?” One of the men pushed him out of the way and stood in his way, only to answer the question instead. “We have sent two other ships to the north exit and
With his left hand holding his rifle wrapped around her waist and his right hand over her mouth, he leaned his back against the inside of the cupboard for stability. The cupboard door on his left. He froze, trying to hear how far away the other team was. It was pitch black it there. Mia started to struggle, he just realised she didn’t know who he was. “Shhh,” he whispered, straight into her ear, I won’t hurt you. Her body shivered involuntary, then she tried to elbow him in the ribs, but lucky for him it was only half a blow because of the tight confines of the cupboard. He then felt her hand move down his leg to where his hand gun was. Oh that would not end well, “Mia” he whispered, he could feel her body tense. Oh yes it was Mia alright. “Its Jay, from the second” He whispered into her ear again, her body shivered again, “can I remove my hand” She nodded, “Another team came in behind me” he took his right hand from her mouth slowly. “Do you trust me?” Jay asked, th
They exited the cupboard slowly, allowing their eyes to adjust to the light again. They headed back down the corridor they had just come from. They passed the man Mia had taken out with a kick and elbow, her gun was on the ground near him. She must have dropped it in the attack. He was still alive but wouldn’t be coming around anytime soon. She had got him good. Jay kicked the weapons from him, “did you want your gun, or will you use mine.”Mia thought “yours” Jay nodded and they continued.They stopped at the next man, or the lead man. He had been shot straight between the eyes. Jay removed his vest. “Take your vest off. This will offer you more protection, not to mention more weapons.” Mia did it quickly. “Crack shot” he said to her. She was trying not to look at the man, she blushed. He helped her tighten the straps so it wasn’t too loose on her. “Ok?” he asked“Ok” she replie
“Yes” she replied. He let out a breath and helped her up with his free hand and then he made a direct line to the control panel. He tapped his stud a couple of times. “Ryder, do you have a copy”“Yes Jay” replied Ryder“I’m on the other ship. Can you configure its system so we have control? There’s still a Pilot on here somewhere.”“Yes” Ryder said. “Open a line to me.”Jay tapped his stud again to turn it off and opened a line between both the ships. His voice came through the ships speakers. “If you can find the override key, I can do it remotely, that would be quickest.”“Where do we look for the override key,” Jay asked“It’s a long shot but it comes in the manual, but most people change it.”“Manual,” Mia said stepping up beside him with a think book in her hand. On the first page t
“I have to go get him” she said, she grabbed Jays gun, ran to the door and held the switch down for 3 seconds like she had seen Jay do. As soon as the doors were open, she ran straight for the engine room. She took a big breath before the last door opened, she could see them both trying to stagger to their feet. She charged and the Pilot and kicking his feet out from under him and following through with an elbow in the ribs. She then ducked under Jays big arm and tried to force him to walk back to the door.He got in six steps before his knees started to buckle, with all her might she held him up against the wall. She moved in front of him and getting both his arms over her shoulders she lent forward taking all his weight on her back and started walking forward, his feet dragging behind. Her lungs were burning screaming out for air but she couldn’t take a breath yet or they wouldn’t make it. She had to get further from the fumes. Four steps away, 3, 2,