Dallas Hyatt - Adventuress
Part 1 - Finding Balance
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Chapter 1 - A meeting of friends.
To the casual observer Major Dallas Hyatt stood looking out the window of the starliner Mara Lau's observation lounge, transfixed by the planet below. Those who knew Dallas may have thought she was a little tense as the liner's crew loaded her ship into one of the starliner's hangars. She wasn't, Dallas was looking at her reflection, wondering who the woman looking back was. It wasn't the first time Dallas had been injured badly enough to be thankful medical science was advanced enough to bring a person back from the dead or near death. She had been injured three times now, Doctors having to grow skin, muscle, bone and nerve to make her whole again. Each time physically healed, but left wondering if she was still the same woman her mother had given birth to. This time had been very bad. She had lost both legs, right arm and the right side of her face.
To the casual observer, Dallas looked the picture of health, 8 years in the Federation Marine Core had left her a fit, healthy looking young woman. A woman of medium height, fair skin, blond hair, blue eyes, she was 26.
The doctors had done a good job repairing her body, lab grown limbs and skin, cloned from her own tissue, seamlessly grafted, her face showed none of the horror she had gone through. Dallas had stepped on an antipersonnel mine, last thing she could recollect was a roaring white light, searing pain, then nothing, until she awoke in the Marine medical centre. Her skin was still new born pink in places, a few weeks on a beach somewhere would fix that.
She was on vacation, on her way home.
"Don't worry Major Hyatt, my people wont scratch your paint job."
It still amused Dallas she had been promoted for being blown up. Dallas had not noticed the starliners Captain, Jessica Ibanez, approach. Jessica was a smaller woman than Dallas, a little older, brunette, with gray eyes, she had been Dallas' commanding officer. Jessica radiated a calm authority that Dallas had always marveled at, when she gave an order, you knew it was the right choice, people under her command respected, admired and loved her. Not the sort of officer that led from behind, Jessica had always been first down the ramp, first through the door. When they left a world she made sure no one was left behind, even under fire, often at great danger to herself, that, in the end had been her undoing.
"They better not, my crew chief will have a fit, even if we do both outrank her".
They hugged, Dallas had not seen Jessica since the older woman had mustered out of the Marines four years ago.
"So how you doing, Dallas?", the Captain asked,
"Ask me again in a couple of months, Jess", she replied.
"Yeah, it's like that, those medics are real good at mending the body, but...", leaving the rest unsaid.
Captain Ibanez had been injured as badly as Dallas, had opted to leave the Marines, gotten a command on a starliner, Dallas had been promoted as her replacement.
"So how's civie street?"
"Great! Food's better, pay's better and I get my uniforms tailor made now.", both women laughed.
"Where you headed? Back home? See your Mum?"
"Yeah, I'm on extended sick leave, haven't seen my family for a while and I feel in need of a vacation",
Eight years in the service and Dallas had not taken more than a four day pass, she had managed to avoid any longer leave, now the psych girls and boys were making her take it all.
Whether or not she returned to the Marine Core was up to her.
Captain Ibanez gestured out the window, "OK, I gotta ask, why a Raptor? I know what you're like, you never spend money, I would have thought you'd have enough saved for a yacht by now.",
"Are you calling me frugal?"
"Actually, I would have said tight arsed!"
They both laughed again.
The ship in question was an ex-military assault ship, Raptor class, twenty metres long, ten metres wide. She had berths for fifteen, if you didn't mind sacrificing comfort and about half that if you did. This particular Raptor, 'Dragonfly 12', had been Dallas' first and only command. After her last tour it had been decommissioned, the Core was upgrading.
Raptors were legendary for the amount of abuse they could soak up and still remain space worthy. "Take you into hell and bring you back!", they used to say. Dallas' platoon had purchased it for her, repainted and refurbished, Dragonfly 12 looked almost new, but well used, a bit like the way Dallas felt. As Jessica glanced over Dallas' shoulder, her eyes grew wide in alarm, she swore softly,
"I have repeatedly told her to keep that, 'thing', in her apartment!",
Dallas turned, saw what the Captain did.
The woman was of small stature, well built, beautiful, with raven black hair and emerald green eyes, there was no mistaking her or her deadly, furry companion. Dallas recognised both of them at once, her heart raced, memories rushing in like the tide.
The woman's name was Kristen Karlston, Princess Kristen to some, Doctor Karlston to others. A genius of engineering, mathematics and computer science, she was also second in line to the throne of the Karlston Empire. They had been very close, at one time inseparable, Dallas had run afoul of the law, been given a last chance, she'd joined the Marines, it was that or jail. Dallas could not define the complex mix of emotions that welled up in her, she felt her eyes moisten, fought back tears.
At first glance it appeared she was talking to the large, fluffy stole wrapped around her neck and shoulders, pointing out details on the planet below.
Then the stole moved. Of the venomous creatures so far discovered in the galaxy, this one was in the top three. A Jrrr'le17, a big one. They were sentient, telepathic, practically immortal, could be utterly vicious, there was no antivenin, they could move too fast to see, were incredibly strong and could blend in anywhere, changing colour and pattern chameleon-like.
The other passengers had noticed as well and were moving quickly away.
"Don't worry Jess, she is a good friend, I like her."
"LIKE HER?!"
"Yeah, she saved my life.", said Dallas quietly.
Not for the first time Captain Ibanez wondered just who Dallas really was, all she knew for sure was that Dallas was a competent soldier, a decent person and above all a good, good friend. Jessica would have to rethink the way she felt about the Jrrr'le, even though it scared her in a way she couldn't describe. Jessica Ibanez didn't scare easily. The woman turned, saw Dallas, so did the Jrrr'le, who slithered off the woman's shoulders and sinuously made her way across the observation lounge to Dallas, her coat a riot of changing colours and patterns.
"Oh no, no, no, no.", gasped the Captain, groping for a sidearm that wasn't there.
"Calm down Jess", said Dallas, "you worry to much. These two are friends of mine. I haven't seen either of them since I joined up."
Dallas bent down, allowed the creature to flow into her arms and around her shoulders.
"Hello Celia, how have you been?", Dallas said as she stroked the Jrrr'le, the creature purred and trilled in response,
{Hello Dallas, nice to see you, I am well, you have been hurt again}, Dallas felt the reply form in her mind.
"This is Captain Jessica, Celia, she's a friend of mine, Jess this is Celia.", the creature trilled again.
"Uh, Hello Celia, I'm gonna let you two catch up, I, uh, got Captainy things to do, I'll see you for dinner. 1900.", the Captain walked away, as quickly as she could without breaking into a run.
The smaller woman walked over, a joyous expression spread across her face.
"Hello Dallas, long time no see", it had been 8 years, "you look so handsome in your uniform."
Dallas took the smaller woman in her arms and the Jrrr'le wrapped itself around them both, trilling happily.
"I didn't think I would ever see you again, What are you doing here?", they said together, both women smiling, their cheeks wet with tears.
"Dallas, what have done you done to yourself? You've been hurt again.", Kristen said.
With that Dallas began to cry in earnest and did not stop for some time. Kristen led Dallas back through the vast ship to the apartment where she, Celia and her older sister Ashlay lived.
Princess Ashlay Karlston, heir to the throne of the Karlston Empire, same height as Dallas, somewhat more slender, brunette, with sparkling blue eyes.
"Yo! Sis! Look who's come to stay with us!"
Ashlay could not believe who she was seeing, tears welled up in her eyes.
"Will you look at you both?", Kristen chided, "I'll have to get a bucket and mop! Why so many tears! This is great! The fantastic four, together again! Ta,raa! Ta,raa!"
"Dallas, sorry, Major Hyatt! You are a sight to behold! You look so handsome in your uniform, a Major no less. Living a life of adventure seems to have been good to you.", Ashlay declared.
"Thank you, your highness,", Dallas bowed formally, then hugged her, they were both still crying.
"Ah, Dallas, we're travelling incognito", Kristen told her, "We'd rather our royalness not be common knowledge. Sis, lighten up, it's Dallas, we're not at court anymore, remember? We came out here to get away from titles and formality. You'd think she was Queen already."
"I'm sorry Dallas, but that uniform does suit you, and I, we, have missed you so. You must tell us everything.", declared Ashlay. Dallas took off her jacket, Ashlay saw the telltale signs of reconstruction, patches of newborn pink skin against Dallas' fading tan.
"You've been hurt again,", Ashlay said worried, "are you well now?"
"I'm fine, good as new physically, just wondering who the woman in the mirror is.", Dallas said quietly.
"That is to be expected, physical trauma can be healed, the mind is somewhat more fragile. Don't worry, we will remind you of who and what you are."
"Yes, Ma'am!", Kristen told Dallas, saluting, "We may not share blood, but we are sisters, the four of us! Waa! Hoo! This is gonna be great! Dallas has her own assault ship! A Raptor!! We should go find some adventure, excitement and wild times.", Kristen was ecstatic.
"Kristen, please, Dallas has just arrived, calm down a little."
"It's OK, Ash, really, kind of what I had in mind, go to a world with no people, just sun, surf and sandy beaches. First, I want to go back to Earth and see my family, see my Mum."
"Excellent, that is were we are headed! You must stay with us.", Ashlay said, "I really have missed you."
To Dallas' eye she looked troubled, something was on her mind, not just her precocious younger sister. Dallas made a mental note to ask her about it.
"Have you news of your family?", Ashlay asked her, "We have not seen them for some time. Your mother and I write, she sounds well, but misses her daughters being around,."
"As you know, Mum is serving her third term as Federation President, my brother David is her chief of staff. Angelina is building bridges, dams and shopping malls somewhere in the central Federation. Monique is on the outer rim, on a dig, part of her post grad archeology studies, unearthing some ancient ruins, got a letter a couple of months back, she sounded excited at what they had found, something else as well."
"What was it?", Ashlay asked.
"I'm not sure, she was more than a little cryptic, you know what Monique is like.", Dallas replied, the youngest Hyatt sister had always been quiet, more so since the death of her father and older brother.
"We could go there! The outer rim, on edge of the great black! Does your ship have that range?", Kristen asked.
"We could, but it wouldn't be as comfortable as this.", Dallas looked out across the patio, they had an excellent view of one the Mara Lau's parks, "It's hard to believe we're on a ship."
"Yes, this is a big vessel, I like it here, I feel safe, secure.", Ashlay said.
"Pity you don't leave the apartment much, you need to get out more, Sis, we should go surfing or dancing or skating, so many things to do here!", Kristen said, "Best purchase I ever made."
"You bought this apartment?", Dallas asked, eyes wide.
"Uh, yeah, it was a surprise for Ash here."
"And a wonderful surprise it was.", Ashlay said as she hugged her sister.
"The genius business must pay well Kristen.", Dallas told her.
"You have no idea, my darling, not just that, it's fun and very satisfying.", was Kristen's reply.
Ashlay had that worried look again.
"Well, anyway", Dallas changed the subject, "we are having dinner with our Captain tonight, at 7 o'clock"
Ashlay was surprised, "You know her?"
"Captain Jessica is Dallas' old CO.", Kristen told her sister.
"How do you know that?", asked Dallas.
"Oh, You know, word gets around.", was all Kristen would say, "Hey Dallas, I have an idea, you need some retail therapy, LET'S SHOP!! CHAAARRRGGGE!! or cash, which ever you prefer!"
"OK, sounds good, first, let's go get my bags from the Dragonfly, I need to change, they should have her aboard by now. After you have a look around on board, the idea of a eight week voyage may not seem so glamorous.", Dallas told her.
"Don't be so sure, Dallas, remember the basic premise, she is crazy!", Ashlay said.
"You betcha, who wants to be sane, Ta,raa!, Ta,raa!, To the hangar!"
Dallas, Kristen and Celia entered one of the smaller hangers where Dragonfly 12 was parked, a couple of the Mara Lau's crew were admiring the recently refurbished assault ship,
"Nice boat Major Hyatt, we've not hooked her up to the ships power or data systems yet, do you want us to Ma'am?", one of the engineering staff asked.
"No, that's alright, I don't think that will be necessary. Not like I'm allowed to fly her in or out, and I wont be using her until we get to Earth.", Dallas told them.
"Very well Ma'am, you have exclusive use of this hangar, as per the Captain's orders. No one else besides yourself or engineering staff have authorization. If that's all, we'll leave you to it. If there is anything you need, just ask."
"Very well ensign, thank you.", Dallas replied.
"This is so cool Dallas, most of the people we know that own ships have poncy space yachts that look like they would break in a stiff breeze.", Kristen told her, she walked around the assault ship, running her hands over the new paintwork, examining the sensor arrays, weapon ports and empty stores pylons.
Dallas laughed, "Space yachts are actually pretty robust, they have to be, but yes, a Raptor does look all business, no frills. I love the camouflage job my crew chief did, not very regulation, but she will be hard to spot on the ground."
"What sort of range does she have?", Kristen asked.
"Well, with just the four of us, it's pretty open ended, life support will recycle air and water indefinitely. The generators are good for about twenty years and this is a brand new one. Marissa, my crew chief made all the modifications she'd been dying to do, but the regulations wouldn't allow.", Dallas said wryly.
"Like what?", asked Kristen, being technically minded she wanted to know the in's and out's of all the ships systems.
"Well, she has a new over-rated warp field generator, military grade inertial dampers, so we can jump straight to max warp, top speed is faster than most larger ships. The shield generators are over-rated like all assault ships, that's so we can go from orbit to ground as fast as possible, to avoid anti-aircraft fire, triple A and the like. Marissa added a lot of creature comforts, a bathtub! The bunks have been removed and replaced with two cabins, she added a real galley and a lounge area. The computer capacity has been uprated, we have a huge selection of music, movies, books and reference material. Stuff like that."
Dallas lowered the main ramp at the rear of the ship, waiting for them was a six wheel all terrain vehicle that could take seven Marines, normally there were two, instead of the second ATV there was a small power boat on a trailer, four metres long. Stored along one wall was a three and a half metre outrigger canoe. On the other side of the bay were a couple of surfboards and sailboards. Dallas had always loved the sea and water sports. Behind the boat were two fuel-cell powered dirt-bikes.
"Wow!!", exclaimed Kristen, "do we have diving gear?"
"Oh yeah, and I bought water ski's, wave boards and a couple of para-foils. And Jessica says I don't like to spend money.", Dallas told her, laughing. Because she had not taken any substantial leave, Dallas had saved a tidy sum of money in the eight years she had been a Marine.
"So you really are serious about hitting the beach for a while.", Kristen said, she was poking about in the equipment lockers, mentally noting what was where.
"Yes Ma'am, I would much rather be in the wild than a big city, you know that.", Dallas replied quietly, she had never really liked the public attention that came with being the President's daughter. Less so after the death of her father and brother.
"I have some camping gear and other stuff on board Dallas. This is going to be great!!", Kristen was excited about really getting away from civilization.
"Dallas,", Kristen asked, suddenly sombre, "are you, I don't know how to put this, you know, OK, about how things turned out?"
"Which part? Getting hurt, getting in trouble, getting the choice of the Marines or jail?", Dallas asked.
"All of it, I mean, I helped you get busted, remember?", Kristen replied, "I just don't know what to say..."
"Look, it's OK, really, it all turned out for the best, I mean that, honestly, don't go upsetting yourself.", Dallas told her, she hugged her friend, "I really have missed you, Celia and Ashlay."
{so have we, Dallas, so have we}, Celia's reply formed in her mind.
"Come on, I'll show you the rest of the ship", Dallas told them.
They left the rear vehicle bay and walked into the crew quarters section, "As you can see the internal layout has change quite a bit, over here to the right is a bathroom, with a BATH!!", Dallas still couldn't believe how much the interior of her ship had changed, compared to how it was previously, Dragonfly 12 was almost luxurious. There were two cabins, the galley area had been enlarged, with a dinning table, seating bench's along the right wall and forward bulkhead.
"This is like a dream Kristen, we used to cram fifteen troops in here! We had bunks along the port side, three high, five deep. Now there are the two cabins, look at this galley, It's great!! Now we can have sit down meals! We used to just heat prepackaged meals and eat in the vehicle bay or outside if we were on the ground."
"What did you all do in flight?", asked Kristen, "How did you fit fifteen people in here?"
"Well, we usually didn't fly longer than a day or so, normally we were ferried in a larger ship. The Raptors were deployed when we got to the area of operations. The longest flight we ever took in her was a week, that was hell, the only thing that got us through that was a good supply of reading material.", Dallas shuddered at the memory. Kristen went to the combined galley and commons area, activated the library computer terminal, "Looks like I need to upgrade a few software systems here.", Kristen told Dallas, "Nothing major, just a few improvements. I'll get on it straight away."
"What sort of things have you been doing? Was it all combat?", Kristen asked.
"No, I only saw combat four times, mostly we were doing disaster relief, helping rebuild after natural disasters, cyclone's, earthquake's, tsunami's, some new colony development, building spaceports, roads, dams, canals, engineer stuff, we were all really glad of that. The Federation hasn't fought a real war in over a hundred and fifty years.", Dallas told here.
"Wow, not like the Empire, some of our world's are always fighting someone, usually another of our world's. I hate it, so does Ashlay and our parents. Dad spends most of his time keeping our subject princes from ripping each others throats out. Ashlay dreads the idea of becoming Queen and I wouldn't have the job no matter what the perks. Not very loyal to my people I'm afraid."
"I don't blame you, I wouldn't be President for anything, come to think of it, I wouldn't want to rise much higher than the rank of major.", Dallas replied.
"I often think we were born to the wrong parents. Maybe gypsies swapped us at birth.", said Kristen.
"Maybe", laughed Dallas, "I'll show you the cockpit, we'll have to give you some flight training."
"I already have my ticket Dallas.", Kristen told her, "I've been busy while you've been away. Your Mum taught me to fly. I have my own runabout in a hangar on the other side of the ship, where my workshop is."
"Did she? She taught me to fly sailplanes when I was about six years old. Mum loves to fly, I wonder how much time she gets these days.", Dallas mused.
"Your Mum goes flying at least once a week, she says it clears her mind, helps her stay focused.", Kristen told Dallas. Kristen and Ashlay had stayed with the Hyatt's for six years after Dallas had 'enlisted' in the Marines.
"I'm glad Mum had you, Celia and Ashlay to help her through all the strife I caused.", Dallas told her, "Do you think she has forgiven me?"
"What do you mean?", asked Kristen, "You do realise your mother knows what we did."
"What?", Dallas was horrified, her well publicised descent into crime and subsequent trial, to the outside world would have looked like a teenage girl acting out after her father and brother had been murdered. In reality, Dallas and Kristen had plotted and schemed to avenge the deaths of their loved ones. They had conducted their own investigation, using methods that were in no way legal, against people who had distanced themselves from the heinous crime they had payed others to do, all for the sake of power and money.
Most of them were dead, Dallas had seen to it personally, with Kristen's help. Afterwards Dallas and Kristen had not spoken of what they had done to anybody, or so Dallas had thought.
"Well she is the President, Fleet Intelligence kept her informed of what were doing the whole time, Carla my not have approved of our methods, but she certainly didn't mind the outcome." Dallas didn't know what to think, she had been carrying the guilt and shame of her descent into crime for eight years. It was what had driven her to perform as well as she could as a Marine, to go the extra yard, forgoing leave, taking on extra duties, volunteering for the hardest, nastiest duties, reenlisting for a second four year hitch. "So you're telling me my mother knew? All this time?", Dallas was floored, "I knew Fleet Intel was aware, they tried to recruit me in basic training. I said no."
"Yeah, I know, I'm glad you didn't, it made things way simpler.", Kristen told her.
They sat in the cockpit for some time, Kristen checking the Raptors software systems, Dallas staring out through the canopy at the hangar doors, she had spent eight years thinking she had shamed and embarrassed her mother and family, now it seemed as though a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders, the tears came again. Celia flowed off Kristen's shoulders and onto Dallas'.
{Dallas, don't be upset, you did what you had to}, Celia told her, the words forming in her mind, {most people thought you were reacting to your grief and anger}
"I was Celia, I was."
"Well I've done all I can here for now, I've linked up with the Mara Lau's main computer, downloaded some software upgrades and other stuff, new music, movies, updated the star charts, upgraded the security software. So Dallas where are we going? Which planet did you have in mind?", Kristen asked.
"Well, there are quite a few M class planets we could go to, places that had mining colonies, abandoned after the ore ran out. Couple of places spring to mind, lots of water, not much land, so the weather is very mild.", Dallas said.
"Mining worlds that had to import everything?"
"Yes, they will have plants and animals, nothing dangerous, plenty to eat for the four of us, but not for any substantial population." Dallas started calling up geographical data on a dozen or so worlds from the ships data base.
"Why don't we go visit Monique at her dig? I haven't seen her since your sister Angelina graduated."
"Kristen, that's almost a three month trip from here! I could cope, I don't doubt that you could as well, but what about Ashlay? Do you really want to subject your sister to a trip like that in this ship? It would be a better if we went to Earth, saw Mum and then get the Mara Lau to drop us a little closer."
"I guess you're right, Ashlay isn't as stoic as we are.", Kristen said.
"Nutter, maybe you should have enlisted with me.", Dallas replied, laughing.
"We should collect your luggage and get you that retail therapy!", Kristen told Dallas.
"OK, I need some colour and movement, get my mind off things."
With that they collected Dallas' bags and headed back to the apartment. On the way Dallas started thinking about the first time she had met Kristen, Ashlay and Celia, twelve years had passed, suddenly it seemed like only yesterday they had met.
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Chapter 2 - Turn back the clock
12 years earlier.
"Dallas, you have visitors", said her mother, Carla Hyatt, vice President of the Federation, "they are here to study and will be staying with us for a while." Dallas had been badly injured a year ago, racing with her older brother, Michael, along forest a track on snowmobiles, she had hit a logging truck, at speed. The fuel cell ruptured, caught fire as she lay trapped beneath the truck. Dallas had broken both legs, her arm, her back. She had massive head trauma and third degree burns. It had taken over a year to recover. Although the physical damage had been repaired, leaving no outward signs of injury, she was still learning to walk, talk and eat by herself again.
"Dallas, this their royal highness' Princess Kristen and Princess Ashlay, from the Empire",
"Oh, PLEASE!, Madame Vice President! no titles!",said the younger girl Kristen, who was the same age as Dallas.
"I agree Madame Vice President", said the other girl Ashlay, older by a year, "We get enough of that at home! I assure you, we can title with the best of them!"
"OK, OK!", replied Carla, "we'll forgo the formalities around the house." Her mother hoped that two real life princess' would be a morale boost, both girls were very beautiful and Dallas' eyes were wide with awe.
"ar,are y,you b,both r,r,really p,princess's,ss?",
"Yep, we surely are, ain't we sis?", replied Kristen
"Heck yeah, all eli-gance and reef-inement!"
Dallas could tell she was going to like these two.
"wha, what's th,tha,that?", Dallas asked, trying to point at the furry creature the younger girl had draped around her shoulders, barely able to lift her arm with anything resembling coordination.
"She's a Jrrr'le, her name is Celia."
The Jrrr'le slithered onto the bed and into Dallas' lap, Celia began to purr.
"She likes you, she says your brain has been hurt, but it's on the mend, she'll help you get better", Kristen declared.
"Y,y,you can share m,my r,room if you, w,want to", Dallas could feel something inside her mind shift, it was like a morning breeze blowing away a thick fog.
"Mum, would that be OK?", asked Dallas, quite clearly, without stuttering. Carla was amazed, some of the best doctors in the Federation had said it would take many more months for Dallas to regain her full mental and motor skills.
"Absolutely, would you like that Kristen?"
"Heck yeah, I can teach Dallas the finer points o' be'in' a princess, reef-inement and eli-gance and such like"
With that Kristen and Celia moved into Dallas' room. Dallas' recovery progressed at a rate which had her doctors wondering what was going on until they learned who she was sharing her bed with. Jrrr'le's are both telepathic and empathic, but there was more, much more. Jrrr'le's emit a biogenic field, part of their empathic ability, just being near one made a person healthier, sleeping with one had a far more pronounced effect, which was why Dallas' recovery was so abrupt. Jrrr'le's have the ability to selectively change the nature of the venom they produce. The compounds produced can eat through most materials, kill or heal. They were sentient.
"Why didn't you just ask us?", Kristen said. Dallas' father, President David Hyatt, organised Celia her own passport and Federation citizenship, which as a sentient being she was legally entitled to. It also quashed any moves to study Celia without her consent. Even so, when Celia thanked the President herself, it still surprised him,
{I wish to thank you President David, I will always remember your kindness}
"Not at all Celia, thank you, my wife and I will always be grateful to you. Dallas was miserable, you've made her whole again.", the President told her.
{I will watch over your family and protect them with my life}, Celia told him.
Michael, Dallas' older brother, had been feeling guilty over his sisters accident, was relieved that she was going to be alright, in far less time than what the doctors had said initially. By the second week of their stay Dallas was able to dress, eat and walk unaided.
King William V and his wife Queen Margarette, who had never been to Earth, stayed for several months, glad to be away from the constant intrigues of court. The king showed his wife the sights, with their daughters safe with the Hyatt's, they travelled to every corner of the globe, taking in the rich culture of Old Earth, wishing that their own realm was as enlightened.
Back in New York, life settled into a pleasant routine, Ashlay enrolled in the local high school to finish her final year, attending with Dallas and her older sister Angelina and brother David. Dallas' sisters and brothers got along well with their royal guests, it was hard not to, everyone who met them found them articulate, intelligent and polite. Michael, who was in his final year of university was a little taken aback when Kristen enrolled at Columbia University where he attended, as they had common fields of interest they got along well and he found her to be a more than able study partner, even if she was eight years younger. Ashlay and Kristen saw to it that Dallas' younger sister Monique did not feel left out, at 12 she had already decided that to be an archaeologist was a fine thing to aim for. Kristen built her a ground penetrating radar unit and they spent hours scanning the grounds of the Presidential residence together, finding shards of broken crockery, hoping against all reason to unearth native american arrowheads or other artifacts. Kristen, at 14 was a genuine, one of a kind genius, she studied mathematics, computer science and electronics. Some people found her intellect somewhat intimidating. Within the first week of living in the Presidential residence, Kristen found and disabled over two dozen audio and video bugging devices.
"You definitely are a handy girl to have around", President Hyatt told her at dinner.
"Why thank you mister President, Oh and by the way, I've reconfigured all the network firewalls, both here and in your office."
"How did you do that?", asked the President, after a significant pause.
"The firewall configuration had so many back doors and security holes big enough to fly a star freighter through, if I were you, I'd start looking for moles, in your official and personal security,"
"Why do you say that, Kristen?", asked the President.
"Well, quite a few people are very interested in what you, the lady vice President and your government are doing."
"Are you sure?", he asked.
"Quite, I have the evidence if you would like to review it, could you pass the salt please?"
The evidence that Kristen showed him was a powder keg, with the fuse already lit. The Federation Justice Department began it's own investigation and began issuing warrants.
Fleet Command began it's own parallel investigation, uncovering disturbing evidence and passing it along to the Justice Department. Kristen unveiled her pride and joy, 'Sentinel', a sophisticated computer security, anti virus and counter surveillance program. The Federation Government and Fleet Command put it into service straight away. But the damage had been done, within a month Dallas' father and brother Michael would be dead.
"I have to tell you Will, Kristen has been a huge help here. What she has uncovered so far, will have far reaching consequences, both here and in the Empire.", President David told King William.
"I know, I want them to stay here, where it's safe, Ashlay is next in line to the throne, but has no desire to rule over the snake-pit the Empire has become.", the King confided, "What a mess, if the Empire were a society like the Federation, I wouldn't worry, as things are, she see's a very bleak future. Poor girl just wants to be an artist, she has great talent for art and music, but no interest in politics."
"It must be hard, to not have any say in your own destiny. Ashlay and Kristen are welcome to stay as long as they want, whenever they want.", President David told him.
"Thanks, You certainly have come along way since we graduated, I'm not sure your association with me is seen as a good thing.", replied the King.
"Yes, people just can't get it into their heads that we are just friends who went to Uni together. This crazy talk of amalgamation is absurd! Where do they get these ideas?", the President was more than a little worried.
"In principle it sounds good", King William replied, "but think of the logistics! Reforming 180 worlds, how would we do it? Most of my subject Prince's would be in open revolt at the very idea. Some of them don't let their people attend school, let alone vote. I dread going back."
"I bet, your visit is coming to an end all to soon my friend, Carla and I have enjoyed your company.", President David told him.
"Margarette and I will miss the girls, but knowing they are safe here is well worth it.", the reluctant King said.
All to soon the King and Queen of the Karlston Empire had to leave, King William was afraid of what mischief was unfolding in his absence.
"Come along girls, the motorcade will leave without you!", Dallas' mother told them.
"Mum, can I ride with the King and Queen?", asked Dallas.
"I don't see why not.", her mother replied.
Ashlay had already said her goodbye's and was not going to the spaceport with her parents, she was sad at their leaving and didn't want to be teary at the departure gate, Dallas' brother Michael was going to ride with his father, he liked the media attention that being part of the first family got him. It helped his college romances no end. The other Hyatt offspring had commitments, as did Vice President Carla.
"Don't worry, we will look after your girls as if they were our own.", Carla told the Queen.
"I think they want you to adopt them, Carla. Ashlay thinks that would get her off the hook secession wise.", Queen Margarette said.
"I'm glad Will has you Margarette, he needs someone like you by his side, he's a good man, but you already know that. Be safe.", Carla told the queen, a vague feeling of foreboding she could not define swept over her.
The motorcade left the Presidential residence in Manhattan, they went by road, in two limousines, mainly to prolong the journey to the John F. Kennedy spaceport. The official escort was more tradition than something that was felt necessary. Both cars were flanked by antique Harley-Davidson police motorcycles, with a lightly armed Secret Service car in the rear. Both limousines were flying Federation flags,
"Sorry, Will, we don't have any Empire flags.", President Hyatt told the King sheepishly.
"Don't worry about it! I really don't care, besides this is not a state visit. We're on vacation, remember!", was the Kings reply.
The President and his son were in the lead car, with the King and Queen following, the two girls, Kristen and Dallas chattering all the way, pointing out the sights, oohing and aah'ing at everything they saw.
"New York is the greatest city in the world!", declared Dallas.
"Absolutely, there is so much to see and do! I hope Ashlay has fun at the Guggenheim.", replied Kristen.
"I'm sure she will, it was marvelous, we went last week.", the Queen said. It was a journey of about an hour normally, but a detour due to construction, through Brooklyn added another half hour to their travel time. They drove along Linden Boulevard, as they approached the suburb of Ozone Park, Celia let out a strange noise,
{Something is about to happen, something bad, an attack}, Celia told them.
Two anti-tank rockets streaked out of nowhere, hitting the limousine carrying the President and his son, then two more. The car disintegrated in ball of fire and smoke. The police escort was down, all of them lying on the road, they were not moving. The car carrying the King, Queen and the two girls slid to a halt.
{Everyone out, NOW!}, Celia urged them.
The King had the door open and was propelling his wife and the two girls out onto the street, the secret service car raced up to them, just as they were clear of the limousine, it was hit by a rocket, it too went up in a flash and roar, the driver not making it out. The secret service car was hit next, one of the agents was down, the King grabbed his carbine and dragged him off the street with the help of the remaining two agents, they herded the Queen and the two girls into the dubious safety of a restaurant entrance.
"CODE RED, CODE RED, WE ARE TAKING FIRE, REPEAT, WE ARE TAKING FIRE!", screamed one of the agents into a handset, he gave their location and was hit by rifle fire, he went down. Kristen ran to him, grabbed his weapon and dragged him to cover, firing at someone on the rooftop across the street, he was hit and fell over the parapet onto the sidewalk below. She took aim at a man who was aiming a rocket launcher at them from another rooftop across the street, she fired, he fell. Another man ran around the corner of the restaurant, Celia hit him with a jet of venom, he screamed, dropping his handgun and staggered onto the road, his clothes smoking, his face dissolving into bloody ruin, he took three steps and fell, dead. Then seemed to melt into the roadway.
Celia took on the colour and texture of her surroundings and disappeared, a few moments later they heard screaming from the other rooftop where rockets had come from. Another two men exited the alley across the street, Kristen shot them both. All Dallas could do was watch, as what was left of the car that had carried her father and brother burned.
Celia was back.
{That was all of them, I killed both men on the rooftop, we are safe now}.
Queen Margarette went to Dallas and held her close, "Don't look, Dallas, it's over now.", she didn't know what else to say.
{King William they were after you and the Queen}
"Are you sure Celia", He asked her.
{Yes, I went into their minds before they died, they thought we were in the lead car}
"But Why, Why?", asked the King.
{Something to do with ''amalgamation'}
"Oh, no, no.", was all he could say.
Backup for the Secret Service agents arrived, as did local police. Overhead a news telecast hover had filmed the whole action, billions of people across the Federation had seen their President killed over an unfounded rumour, seen a fourteen year old girl drag a grown man to safety, then shoot dead four assassins, one at distance of 200 metres. She was hailed a hero, as was Celia.
It was small comfort.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->
Chapter 3 - Journey begins
back to the present
The starliner Mara Lau broke orbit and made for the next system on her route. A truly beautiful ship, both inside and out, over eight kilometres long, four kilometers across at her widest and two kilometers high. She had theatres, cinemas, shopping malls, quite a few parks, many gardens, an artificial surf break, skate park, a huge ice rink, plus all the amenities that people expect on a cruise liner. Mara Lau could carry over a million people, not all tourists, some were permanent residents, retirees and students mainly. The ship had a regular route, visiting around forty systems, it took around a two years to complete, so that her permanent residents could have regular contact with their loved ones and friends. Travel between the ship and the planets they were orbiting was free for the families of permanent residents.
Many people saved their whole lives just so they could retire to a ship like the Mara Lau. She carried general cargo and in the event of an emergency, functioned as a hospital ship, there were two hospitals on board, all with excellent facilities. There were day care centres, kindergartens, primary and secondary schools. In addition she had a well equipped and staffed university, students from all over the Federation and beyond came aboard to study. The previous owners had let the ship decline, the new owners had refurbished, renovated and updated all her systems and once again she was state of the art. Travel aboard a ship like her was not just for the very wealthy, Mara Lau catered to all walks of life, from backpackers to five star accommodation. Less like a spaceship and more like a small to medium resort town, living was easy and comfortable for her passengers, residents and crew.
Dallas moved into the large apartment that Ashlay, Kristen and Celia lived in.
"This is the most beautiful ship I have ever seen,", proclaimed Dallas, "small wonder Jessica is so happy in her new command."
Dallas, Kristen and Celia were together constantly. Dallas spent as much time with her friend and old CO as the Captain's duties would allow. Eventually Captain Ibanez warmed to Celia.
"You know, as a sentient being, Celia has the same rights as a Federation citizen that we do.", Dallas told the Captain.
"You're kidding me."
"Nope, has her own passport and citizenship, she really is very nice, telepathic as well."
"Oh no, that's all I needed to hear", but afterwards, the Captain asked Kristen if Celia had any special needs that needed to be met.
"No,", Kristen replied, "but she does like hunting the vermin that get on board, rats and the like."
"That's a bonus, get a few for me, Celia", the Captain told her, Celia trilled in reply. They dinned at the Captain's table most evenings, slept late and generally enjoyed themselves.
"Celia says this trip is exactly what you needed Dallas.", Kristen told her.
Dallas couldn't agree more.
After about two months and four star systems, Dallas noticed that Ashlay was very subdued, spending most of her time in their apartment, painting and drawing.
Dallas decided to ask what was wrong.
"It's Kristen, she's been, well, doing things back home."
"Like what, 'things'?"
"Well, at first I didn't notice, you know how secretive she can be."
"Ashlay, what things? Is she in trouble?"
"Lots, we both are, I think, I am not sure, not just from our fathers enemies, maybe from the law as well."
"What?! Has Kristen turned to a life of crime?", Dallas asked jokingly, as the colour drained from Ashlay's face she knew she had struck a cord.
"Tell me, what is it?"
"Kristen crashed a few planet wide computer networks, left a more than a few of our fathers enemies without a credit to their name."
Dallas' eyebrows went up, "Anything else?"
"Prince Mason, our fathers greatest threat, has been building capitol ships, well, several have suffered inexplicable catastrophic failures, resulting in the loss of the ship and all crew."
Dallas swallowed hard, "Anything else?", she asked quietly.
"Half a dozen, eight museums have been burgled, She wont tell me the exact amount, but it could run into tens, maybe hundreds of millions of credits."
Just then Kristen returned with Celia, they had been shopping at one of the malls, she took one look at them and started laughing.
"What's so funny?", asked Dallas.
"Ooh!, tens, maybe hundreds of millions, Ha! Try billions, around one hundred and forty three billion!", she said triumphantly, Celia trilled.
Dallas and Ashley were thunderstruck, "How much?", they whispered together, looking nervously around the suite.
"Oh, don't worry there are no bugs in here, I sweep every other day and I've upgraded the apartment's security. In round numbers it's about one hundred and forty three billion, give or take a few hundred million, from around a hundred and twenty worlds. We dinning with the Captain tonight?"
Kristen sat down and started flicking through the vid channels with the sound off.
"Besides,", she said over her shoulder, "the less money they have, the fewer ships they can build, the less trouble they can cause."
Finally, Dallas found her voice, "How...",
"How have I hidden that much money? Well, in the Federation of course, trusts, stocks, bonds, a few companies, bank accounts, you know, stuff."
"Like what, 'stuff'?"
"You know, like this ship, we own the company that owns this ship."
"You are kidding aren't you?", they both asked her, she shook her head and smiled broadly.
"Well, now the cats out of the bag, so to speak, Dallas, there is something I need to ask you."
"What's that?", Dallas asked.
Kristen came over to Dallas, got down on one knee, took her left hand, slipped a ring on her finger, Dallas looked down at a diamond the size of a robins egg.
"Dallas, will you marry me?", she asked very solemnly, Dallas could tell she was serious,
"You don't have to answer straight away, just think about it for a while."
"OK, I will, think about it, seriously, you know I love you, really, but, I gotta say, You are FREAKIN' CRAZY!"
"And your point was?"
Dallas laughed and hauled the smaller woman onto the couch where she and Ashlay sat, they both hugged her.
"Hey, if we get married, does that mean I get to be a princess as well?", mused Dallas, "Hmm, Princess Dallas, has a nice ring to it."
"Sounds like a boat.", replied Kristen, they all laughed.
They dinned that night, as they usually did, at the Captain's table,
"Whoa, that's a big rock Dal', you gettin' hitched?", asked the Captain.
"She hasn't said 'yes' yet,", Kristen said, "on other hand she didn't say 'no' either, don't worry Captain, if Dallas comes to her senses, you will be the first to know. There will be a ceremony to perform."
"If I new you were batting for the all girl team, I'd have hit on you years ago.", declared the Captain.
"Don't be silly, you were my superior officer, that would have been fraternisation, they court marshal you for that, shoot you at dawn!", replied Dallas.
Celia was right, this trip was turning out to be more fun than she had had in ten years. The woman that looked back at Dallas from mirrors didn't look as unfamiliar as she did a month ago. After dinner the four of them went to one of the many nightclubs on the ship. They were watching Kristen dancing with Lieutenant Commander Stan Riley, the senior engineering officer. Celia was asleep in the booth, between Dallas and Jessica.
"Does Kristen ever go anywhere without Celia?", asked the Captain.
"No,", replied Ashlay, "and that's a good thing, you wouldn't like her without Celia."
"What do you mean?"
"Kristen is schizophrenic,", replied Dallas, "Celia keeps her sane."
"What?"
"When we were younger Kristen was a handful, she claimed everyone and everything were plotting against her, she was often violent, abusive, even with medication. When she found Celia it was a godsend.", said Ashlay.
"Are you serious?"
"I'm afraid so, when the medication worked, it made her little more than an animated vegetable."
"Is Celia's effect on her permanent?"
"I'm not sure, hey! Celia!,", Dallas said poking the Jrrr'le, who had changed her coat to match the upholstery of the booth they were sitting in making her almost impossible to see unless you looked very closely. Celia opened one eye, her coat changing to an abstract tortoise shell pattern,
"This effect you have, is it permanent for Kristen like it was for me?", Dallas felt the reply form in her mind,
{Up to a point, mine and Kristen's interaction is mutually beneficial, but we need regular contact}
"Celia says they need to make regular contact."
"Whoa, can you talk to Celia as well?", asked the Captain, "hang on, what do you mean like it was for you?", Captain Ibanez had stopped referring to Celia as 'it' and 'that thing' weeks ago.
"Celia has ears Jess, anyone can talk to her. I had a brain injury when I first met these three, Celia healed me."
"The snow mobile accident?", the Captain asked, "I was your CO, I read your file.", she parenthesized.
Dallas nodded.
"I remember seeing that other Jrrr'le on the news when, um, anyway, scared the crap outa me,", said the Captain, "that's why Celia spooked me so much. I saw what a Jrrr'le can do. Those thugs dissolving into the street and rooftop."
Dallas almost choked on her drink, Ashlay looked surprised, even Celia took notice.
"What?"
"That was Celia, Jess."
"really?"
"Really."
Celia winked at Captain Ibanez who took a long pull on her drink, then it dawned on her just who these two svelte young woman were.
"Please keep it to yourself Captain, we are travelling incognito.", Ashlay said and then, "Captain, who owns the Mara Lau?"
"A company called Ashkris Leisure bought the shipping line that owns her and three others, plus a couple of star freighters."
Dallas gagged on her drink again, Ashlay looked surprised, again.
"You developing a drinking problem soldier?", asked the Captain.
"No, but I think I will be getting married.", replied Dallas, Ashlay laughed, Celia trilled.
"Hey Ash, do you think you could cope with having me as a sister in law?", Dallas asked, looking at the huge sparkling diamond on her finger.
Ashlay laughed, and replied, "Gold digger!"
It dawned on the Captain just who exactly she worked for, "Ash - Kris", she said slowly, nodded and took another long pull on her drink.
"Don't worry Captain, Dallas and I only found out a few hours ago ourselves."
"Ashlay, please, call me Jessica", said the Captain smiling, then taking Ashlay's hand, "Tell me, do you have anyone special in your life?".
Ashlay laughed, "Are all Marines gold diggers?!"
"Hypothetically speaking, if we got married, would I get to be a princess?", asked the Captain.
"At least Princess Jessica doesn't sound like a boat.", said Dallas. They all laughed. Kristen came back from the dance floor with Lieutenant Commander Riley, he was about to sit down when his pager chimed,
"Please excuse me ladies, duty calls", he bowed and left.
"Looks like Dallas is going to say yes, Kristen.", her sister joked.
"If I did, and your Dad locks me up in a tower or throws me in a dungeon, you will bust me out wont you?", asked Dallas.
"Yes darlink, of course I would.", Kristen hugged her, adding, "He wouldn't lock you up, he likes you."
"Kristen, how did Jessica get this job?", asked Dallas.
"I myself ponder that at times", Captain Ibanez said, "'coz I originally applied for a position on a freighter, as first officer"
"Easy answer there, I looked at your service record and you were the best woman for the job, being Dallas' old CO helped a bit."
"Really?", asked the Captain.
"To right! The other applicants were fat, old, piss pots, that I wouldn't have given a bath duck to command."
"Really?", asked the Captain again.
"YES!!, it wasn't just the capital outlay, if I'm going to live on a ship, I want someone competent in charge."
Dallas had to ask, "How much did this shipping line cost?"
"Well the original company was about to go belly up and I got it cheap, around a eighty billion credits."
It was the Captain's turn to gag on her drink, "What do you do, rob banks?"
"How did you know that?", Kristen replied, smiling broadly.
"She's kidding right?"
The other two women looked more than a trifle uncomfortable.
"...not kidding, OK"
"Don't worry", said Kristen, "none of them were in the Federation, and the Empire has no extradition treaty with the Federation, besides, I have friends and contacts in the government and Fleet Command."
Lieutenant Riley returned to their table, trying to not look concerned, failing miserably.
"Captain, we have a problem in engineering, we need you on the bridge."
"What is it Stan?"
"We should talk elsewhere.", glancing significantly to the other women at the table.
"It's OK Stan, keep it to yourself, but these lady's are the ships owners."
Lieutenant Riley looked as though a large polar bear had entered the nightclub wearing a tuxedo. He recovered his composure and said,
"We have just found evidence of a sabotage attempt, both physical and in some software systems, the virus detection and security software just alerted us."
Kristen took a small portable terminal from her handbag and opened it, looking at the screen she pursed her lips and frowned,
"Looks like it's in more than one system, helm, navigation and comms are affected, engineering is unaffected, 'Sentinel V' has isolated the virus code and is eradicating it."
"How do you know about 'Sentinel V'?", Riley asked, "I mean, I was surprised that we had it, I was under the impression it was military only before I got this job.", Commander Riley, like most of the crew was ex Fleet Command or Marine Core.
"I wrote it for Fleet Command when I was fourteen, that's why we have the latest version, Fleet are only up to version four.", Kristen replied distantly as she navigated her way through system after system.
"Hey! You shouldn't have access to any of those systems!"
"I'm the owner remember?, besides, I wrote most of the software on this ship, Captain?"
"Yes, Ma'am?"
"I need access to central engineering.", Kristen looked concerned.
"OK, Commander give the lady what ever assistance she needs, Dallas go with her."
"Aye Captain", both officers replied. Captain Ibanez took a com unit from her belt, "This is the Captain, go to alert status orange."
"Aye Captain.", came the reply.
"Let's leave discreetly, and Stan,", the Captain said, smiling happily.
"Yes Captain?"
"Smile, Let's not alarm the punters, OK?"
"Aye Captain."
They left the club, the Captain smiling and returning greetings and waves to the few passengers who noticed them.
"See, Captain Jessica,", said Kristen, "this is why I hired you. You radiate confidence and charm."
Part 1 - Finding Balance
<---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->
Chapter 1 - A meeting of friends.
To the casual observer Major Dallas Hyatt stood looking out the window of the starliner Mara Lau's observation lounge, transfixed by the planet below. Those who knew Dallas may have thought she was a little tense as the liner's crew loaded her ship into one of the starliner's hangars. She wasn't, Dallas was looking at her reflection, wondering who the woman looking back was. It wasn't the first time Dallas had been injured badly enough to be thankful medical science was advanced enough to bring a person back from the dead or near death. She had been injured three times now, Doctors having to grow skin, muscle, bone and nerve to make her whole again. Each time physically healed, but left wondering if she was still the same woman her mother had given birth to. This time had been very bad. She had lost both legs, right arm and the right side of her face.
To the casual observer, Dallas looked the picture of health, 8 years in the Federation Marine Core had left her a fit, healthy looking young woman. A woman of medium height, fair skin, blond hair, blue eyes, she was 26.
The doctors had done a good job repairing her body, lab grown limbs and skin, cloned from her own tissue, seamlessly grafted, her face showed none of the horror she had gone through. Dallas had stepped on an antipersonnel mine, last thing she could recollect was a roaring white light, searing pain, then nothing, until she awoke in the Marine medical centre. Her skin was still new born pink in places, a few weeks on a beach somewhere would fix that.
She was on vacation, on her way home.
"Don't worry Major Hyatt, my people wont scratch your paint job."
It still amused Dallas she had been promoted for being blown up. Dallas had not noticed the starliners Captain, Jessica Ibanez, approach. Jessica was a smaller woman than Dallas, a little older, brunette, with gray eyes, she had been Dallas' commanding officer. Jessica radiated a calm authority that Dallas had always marveled at, when she gave an order, you knew it was the right choice, people under her command respected, admired and loved her. Not the sort of officer that led from behind, Jessica had always been first down the ramp, first through the door. When they left a world she made sure no one was left behind, even under fire, often at great danger to herself, that, in the end had been her undoing.
"They better not, my crew chief will have a fit, even if we do both outrank her".
They hugged, Dallas had not seen Jessica since the older woman had mustered out of the Marines four years ago.
"So how you doing, Dallas?", the Captain asked,
"Ask me again in a couple of months, Jess", she replied.
"Yeah, it's like that, those medics are real good at mending the body, but...", leaving the rest unsaid.
Captain Ibanez had been injured as badly as Dallas, had opted to leave the Marines, gotten a command on a starliner, Dallas had been promoted as her replacement.
"So how's civie street?"
"Great! Food's better, pay's better and I get my uniforms tailor made now.", both women laughed.
"Where you headed? Back home? See your Mum?"
"Yeah, I'm on extended sick leave, haven't seen my family for a while and I feel in need of a vacation",
Eight years in the service and Dallas had not taken more than a four day pass, she had managed to avoid any longer leave, now the psych girls and boys were making her take it all.
Whether or not she returned to the Marine Core was up to her.
Captain Ibanez gestured out the window, "OK, I gotta ask, why a Raptor? I know what you're like, you never spend money, I would have thought you'd have enough saved for a yacht by now.",
"Are you calling me frugal?"
"Actually, I would have said tight arsed!"
They both laughed again.
The ship in question was an ex-military assault ship, Raptor class, twenty metres long, ten metres wide. She had berths for fifteen, if you didn't mind sacrificing comfort and about half that if you did. This particular Raptor, 'Dragonfly 12', had been Dallas' first and only command. After her last tour it had been decommissioned, the Core was upgrading.
Raptors were legendary for the amount of abuse they could soak up and still remain space worthy. "Take you into hell and bring you back!", they used to say. Dallas' platoon had purchased it for her, repainted and refurbished, Dragonfly 12 looked almost new, but well used, a bit like the way Dallas felt. As Jessica glanced over Dallas' shoulder, her eyes grew wide in alarm, she swore softly,
"I have repeatedly told her to keep that, 'thing', in her apartment!",
Dallas turned, saw what the Captain did.
The woman was of small stature, well built, beautiful, with raven black hair and emerald green eyes, there was no mistaking her or her deadly, furry companion. Dallas recognised both of them at once, her heart raced, memories rushing in like the tide.
The woman's name was Kristen Karlston, Princess Kristen to some, Doctor Karlston to others. A genius of engineering, mathematics and computer science, she was also second in line to the throne of the Karlston Empire. They had been very close, at one time inseparable, Dallas had run afoul of the law, been given a last chance, she'd joined the Marines, it was that or jail. Dallas could not define the complex mix of emotions that welled up in her, she felt her eyes moisten, fought back tears.
At first glance it appeared she was talking to the large, fluffy stole wrapped around her neck and shoulders, pointing out details on the planet below.
Then the stole moved. Of the venomous creatures so far discovered in the galaxy, this one was in the top three. A Jrrr'le17, a big one. They were sentient, telepathic, practically immortal, could be utterly vicious, there was no antivenin, they could move too fast to see, were incredibly strong and could blend in anywhere, changing colour and pattern chameleon-like.
The other passengers had noticed as well and were moving quickly away.
"Don't worry Jess, she is a good friend, I like her."
"LIKE HER?!"
"Yeah, she saved my life.", said Dallas quietly.
Not for the first time Captain Ibanez wondered just who Dallas really was, all she knew for sure was that Dallas was a competent soldier, a decent person and above all a good, good friend. Jessica would have to rethink the way she felt about the Jrrr'le, even though it scared her in a way she couldn't describe. Jessica Ibanez didn't scare easily. The woman turned, saw Dallas, so did the Jrrr'le, who slithered off the woman's shoulders and sinuously made her way across the observation lounge to Dallas, her coat a riot of changing colours and patterns.
"Oh no, no, no, no.", gasped the Captain, groping for a sidearm that wasn't there.
"Calm down Jess", said Dallas, "you worry to much. These two are friends of mine. I haven't seen either of them since I joined up."
Dallas bent down, allowed the creature to flow into her arms and around her shoulders.
"Hello Celia, how have you been?", Dallas said as she stroked the Jrrr'le, the creature purred and trilled in response,
{Hello Dallas, nice to see you, I am well, you have been hurt again}, Dallas felt the reply form in her mind.
"This is Captain Jessica, Celia, she's a friend of mine, Jess this is Celia.", the creature trilled again.
"Uh, Hello Celia, I'm gonna let you two catch up, I, uh, got Captainy things to do, I'll see you for dinner. 1900.", the Captain walked away, as quickly as she could without breaking into a run.
The smaller woman walked over, a joyous expression spread across her face.
"Hello Dallas, long time no see", it had been 8 years, "you look so handsome in your uniform."
Dallas took the smaller woman in her arms and the Jrrr'le wrapped itself around them both, trilling happily.
"I didn't think I would ever see you again, What are you doing here?", they said together, both women smiling, their cheeks wet with tears.
"Dallas, what have done you done to yourself? You've been hurt again.", Kristen said.
With that Dallas began to cry in earnest and did not stop for some time. Kristen led Dallas back through the vast ship to the apartment where she, Celia and her older sister Ashlay lived.
Princess Ashlay Karlston, heir to the throne of the Karlston Empire, same height as Dallas, somewhat more slender, brunette, with sparkling blue eyes.
"Yo! Sis! Look who's come to stay with us!"
Ashlay could not believe who she was seeing, tears welled up in her eyes.
"Will you look at you both?", Kristen chided, "I'll have to get a bucket and mop! Why so many tears! This is great! The fantastic four, together again! Ta,raa! Ta,raa!"
"Dallas, sorry, Major Hyatt! You are a sight to behold! You look so handsome in your uniform, a Major no less. Living a life of adventure seems to have been good to you.", Ashlay declared.
"Thank you, your highness,", Dallas bowed formally, then hugged her, they were both still crying.
"Ah, Dallas, we're travelling incognito", Kristen told her, "We'd rather our royalness not be common knowledge. Sis, lighten up, it's Dallas, we're not at court anymore, remember? We came out here to get away from titles and formality. You'd think she was Queen already."
"I'm sorry Dallas, but that uniform does suit you, and I, we, have missed you so. You must tell us everything.", declared Ashlay. Dallas took off her jacket, Ashlay saw the telltale signs of reconstruction, patches of newborn pink skin against Dallas' fading tan.
"You've been hurt again,", Ashlay said worried, "are you well now?"
"I'm fine, good as new physically, just wondering who the woman in the mirror is.", Dallas said quietly.
"That is to be expected, physical trauma can be healed, the mind is somewhat more fragile. Don't worry, we will remind you of who and what you are."
"Yes, Ma'am!", Kristen told Dallas, saluting, "We may not share blood, but we are sisters, the four of us! Waa! Hoo! This is gonna be great! Dallas has her own assault ship! A Raptor!! We should go find some adventure, excitement and wild times.", Kristen was ecstatic.
"Kristen, please, Dallas has just arrived, calm down a little."
"It's OK, Ash, really, kind of what I had in mind, go to a world with no people, just sun, surf and sandy beaches. First, I want to go back to Earth and see my family, see my Mum."
"Excellent, that is were we are headed! You must stay with us.", Ashlay said, "I really have missed you."
To Dallas' eye she looked troubled, something was on her mind, not just her precocious younger sister. Dallas made a mental note to ask her about it.
"Have you news of your family?", Ashlay asked her, "We have not seen them for some time. Your mother and I write, she sounds well, but misses her daughters being around,."
"As you know, Mum is serving her third term as Federation President, my brother David is her chief of staff. Angelina is building bridges, dams and shopping malls somewhere in the central Federation. Monique is on the outer rim, on a dig, part of her post grad archeology studies, unearthing some ancient ruins, got a letter a couple of months back, she sounded excited at what they had found, something else as well."
"What was it?", Ashlay asked.
"I'm not sure, she was more than a little cryptic, you know what Monique is like.", Dallas replied, the youngest Hyatt sister had always been quiet, more so since the death of her father and older brother.
"We could go there! The outer rim, on edge of the great black! Does your ship have that range?", Kristen asked.
"We could, but it wouldn't be as comfortable as this.", Dallas looked out across the patio, they had an excellent view of one the Mara Lau's parks, "It's hard to believe we're on a ship."
"Yes, this is a big vessel, I like it here, I feel safe, secure.", Ashlay said.
"Pity you don't leave the apartment much, you need to get out more, Sis, we should go surfing or dancing or skating, so many things to do here!", Kristen said, "Best purchase I ever made."
"You bought this apartment?", Dallas asked, eyes wide.
"Uh, yeah, it was a surprise for Ash here."
"And a wonderful surprise it was.", Ashlay said as she hugged her sister.
"The genius business must pay well Kristen.", Dallas told her.
"You have no idea, my darling, not just that, it's fun and very satisfying.", was Kristen's reply.
Ashlay had that worried look again.
"Well, anyway", Dallas changed the subject, "we are having dinner with our Captain tonight, at 7 o'clock"
Ashlay was surprised, "You know her?"
"Captain Jessica is Dallas' old CO.", Kristen told her sister.
"How do you know that?", asked Dallas.
"Oh, You know, word gets around.", was all Kristen would say, "Hey Dallas, I have an idea, you need some retail therapy, LET'S SHOP!! CHAAARRRGGGE!! or cash, which ever you prefer!"
"OK, sounds good, first, let's go get my bags from the Dragonfly, I need to change, they should have her aboard by now. After you have a look around on board, the idea of a eight week voyage may not seem so glamorous.", Dallas told her.
"Don't be so sure, Dallas, remember the basic premise, she is crazy!", Ashlay said.
"You betcha, who wants to be sane, Ta,raa!, Ta,raa!, To the hangar!"
Dallas, Kristen and Celia entered one of the smaller hangers where Dragonfly 12 was parked, a couple of the Mara Lau's crew were admiring the recently refurbished assault ship,
"Nice boat Major Hyatt, we've not hooked her up to the ships power or data systems yet, do you want us to Ma'am?", one of the engineering staff asked.
"No, that's alright, I don't think that will be necessary. Not like I'm allowed to fly her in or out, and I wont be using her until we get to Earth.", Dallas told them.
"Very well Ma'am, you have exclusive use of this hangar, as per the Captain's orders. No one else besides yourself or engineering staff have authorization. If that's all, we'll leave you to it. If there is anything you need, just ask."
"Very well ensign, thank you.", Dallas replied.
"This is so cool Dallas, most of the people we know that own ships have poncy space yachts that look like they would break in a stiff breeze.", Kristen told her, she walked around the assault ship, running her hands over the new paintwork, examining the sensor arrays, weapon ports and empty stores pylons.
Dallas laughed, "Space yachts are actually pretty robust, they have to be, but yes, a Raptor does look all business, no frills. I love the camouflage job my crew chief did, not very regulation, but she will be hard to spot on the ground."
"What sort of range does she have?", Kristen asked.
"Well, with just the four of us, it's pretty open ended, life support will recycle air and water indefinitely. The generators are good for about twenty years and this is a brand new one. Marissa, my crew chief made all the modifications she'd been dying to do, but the regulations wouldn't allow.", Dallas said wryly.
"Like what?", asked Kristen, being technically minded she wanted to know the in's and out's of all the ships systems.
"Well, she has a new over-rated warp field generator, military grade inertial dampers, so we can jump straight to max warp, top speed is faster than most larger ships. The shield generators are over-rated like all assault ships, that's so we can go from orbit to ground as fast as possible, to avoid anti-aircraft fire, triple A and the like. Marissa added a lot of creature comforts, a bathtub! The bunks have been removed and replaced with two cabins, she added a real galley and a lounge area. The computer capacity has been uprated, we have a huge selection of music, movies, books and reference material. Stuff like that."
Dallas lowered the main ramp at the rear of the ship, waiting for them was a six wheel all terrain vehicle that could take seven Marines, normally there were two, instead of the second ATV there was a small power boat on a trailer, four metres long. Stored along one wall was a three and a half metre outrigger canoe. On the other side of the bay were a couple of surfboards and sailboards. Dallas had always loved the sea and water sports. Behind the boat were two fuel-cell powered dirt-bikes.
"Wow!!", exclaimed Kristen, "do we have diving gear?"
"Oh yeah, and I bought water ski's, wave boards and a couple of para-foils. And Jessica says I don't like to spend money.", Dallas told her, laughing. Because she had not taken any substantial leave, Dallas had saved a tidy sum of money in the eight years she had been a Marine.
"So you really are serious about hitting the beach for a while.", Kristen said, she was poking about in the equipment lockers, mentally noting what was where.
"Yes Ma'am, I would much rather be in the wild than a big city, you know that.", Dallas replied quietly, she had never really liked the public attention that came with being the President's daughter. Less so after the death of her father and brother.
"I have some camping gear and other stuff on board Dallas. This is going to be great!!", Kristen was excited about really getting away from civilization.
"Dallas,", Kristen asked, suddenly sombre, "are you, I don't know how to put this, you know, OK, about how things turned out?"
"Which part? Getting hurt, getting in trouble, getting the choice of the Marines or jail?", Dallas asked.
"All of it, I mean, I helped you get busted, remember?", Kristen replied, "I just don't know what to say..."
"Look, it's OK, really, it all turned out for the best, I mean that, honestly, don't go upsetting yourself.", Dallas told her, she hugged her friend, "I really have missed you, Celia and Ashlay."
{so have we, Dallas, so have we}, Celia's reply formed in her mind.
"Come on, I'll show you the rest of the ship", Dallas told them.
They left the rear vehicle bay and walked into the crew quarters section, "As you can see the internal layout has change quite a bit, over here to the right is a bathroom, with a BATH!!", Dallas still couldn't believe how much the interior of her ship had changed, compared to how it was previously, Dragonfly 12 was almost luxurious. There were two cabins, the galley area had been enlarged, with a dinning table, seating bench's along the right wall and forward bulkhead.
"This is like a dream Kristen, we used to cram fifteen troops in here! We had bunks along the port side, three high, five deep. Now there are the two cabins, look at this galley, It's great!! Now we can have sit down meals! We used to just heat prepackaged meals and eat in the vehicle bay or outside if we were on the ground."
"What did you all do in flight?", asked Kristen, "How did you fit fifteen people in here?"
"Well, we usually didn't fly longer than a day or so, normally we were ferried in a larger ship. The Raptors were deployed when we got to the area of operations. The longest flight we ever took in her was a week, that was hell, the only thing that got us through that was a good supply of reading material.", Dallas shuddered at the memory. Kristen went to the combined galley and commons area, activated the library computer terminal, "Looks like I need to upgrade a few software systems here.", Kristen told Dallas, "Nothing major, just a few improvements. I'll get on it straight away."
"What sort of things have you been doing? Was it all combat?", Kristen asked.
"No, I only saw combat four times, mostly we were doing disaster relief, helping rebuild after natural disasters, cyclone's, earthquake's, tsunami's, some new colony development, building spaceports, roads, dams, canals, engineer stuff, we were all really glad of that. The Federation hasn't fought a real war in over a hundred and fifty years.", Dallas told here.
"Wow, not like the Empire, some of our world's are always fighting someone, usually another of our world's. I hate it, so does Ashlay and our parents. Dad spends most of his time keeping our subject princes from ripping each others throats out. Ashlay dreads the idea of becoming Queen and I wouldn't have the job no matter what the perks. Not very loyal to my people I'm afraid."
"I don't blame you, I wouldn't be President for anything, come to think of it, I wouldn't want to rise much higher than the rank of major.", Dallas replied.
"I often think we were born to the wrong parents. Maybe gypsies swapped us at birth.", said Kristen.
"Maybe", laughed Dallas, "I'll show you the cockpit, we'll have to give you some flight training."
"I already have my ticket Dallas.", Kristen told her, "I've been busy while you've been away. Your Mum taught me to fly. I have my own runabout in a hangar on the other side of the ship, where my workshop is."
"Did she? She taught me to fly sailplanes when I was about six years old. Mum loves to fly, I wonder how much time she gets these days.", Dallas mused.
"Your Mum goes flying at least once a week, she says it clears her mind, helps her stay focused.", Kristen told Dallas. Kristen and Ashlay had stayed with the Hyatt's for six years after Dallas had 'enlisted' in the Marines.
"I'm glad Mum had you, Celia and Ashlay to help her through all the strife I caused.", Dallas told her, "Do you think she has forgiven me?"
"What do you mean?", asked Kristen, "You do realise your mother knows what we did."
"What?", Dallas was horrified, her well publicised descent into crime and subsequent trial, to the outside world would have looked like a teenage girl acting out after her father and brother had been murdered. In reality, Dallas and Kristen had plotted and schemed to avenge the deaths of their loved ones. They had conducted their own investigation, using methods that were in no way legal, against people who had distanced themselves from the heinous crime they had payed others to do, all for the sake of power and money.
Most of them were dead, Dallas had seen to it personally, with Kristen's help. Afterwards Dallas and Kristen had not spoken of what they had done to anybody, or so Dallas had thought.
"Well she is the President, Fleet Intelligence kept her informed of what were doing the whole time, Carla my not have approved of our methods, but she certainly didn't mind the outcome." Dallas didn't know what to think, she had been carrying the guilt and shame of her descent into crime for eight years. It was what had driven her to perform as well as she could as a Marine, to go the extra yard, forgoing leave, taking on extra duties, volunteering for the hardest, nastiest duties, reenlisting for a second four year hitch. "So you're telling me my mother knew? All this time?", Dallas was floored, "I knew Fleet Intel was aware, they tried to recruit me in basic training. I said no."
"Yeah, I know, I'm glad you didn't, it made things way simpler.", Kristen told her.
They sat in the cockpit for some time, Kristen checking the Raptors software systems, Dallas staring out through the canopy at the hangar doors, she had spent eight years thinking she had shamed and embarrassed her mother and family, now it seemed as though a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders, the tears came again. Celia flowed off Kristen's shoulders and onto Dallas'.
{Dallas, don't be upset, you did what you had to}, Celia told her, the words forming in her mind, {most people thought you were reacting to your grief and anger}
"I was Celia, I was."
"Well I've done all I can here for now, I've linked up with the Mara Lau's main computer, downloaded some software upgrades and other stuff, new music, movies, updated the star charts, upgraded the security software. So Dallas where are we going? Which planet did you have in mind?", Kristen asked.
"Well, there are quite a few M class planets we could go to, places that had mining colonies, abandoned after the ore ran out. Couple of places spring to mind, lots of water, not much land, so the weather is very mild.", Dallas said.
"Mining worlds that had to import everything?"
"Yes, they will have plants and animals, nothing dangerous, plenty to eat for the four of us, but not for any substantial population." Dallas started calling up geographical data on a dozen or so worlds from the ships data base.
"Why don't we go visit Monique at her dig? I haven't seen her since your sister Angelina graduated."
"Kristen, that's almost a three month trip from here! I could cope, I don't doubt that you could as well, but what about Ashlay? Do you really want to subject your sister to a trip like that in this ship? It would be a better if we went to Earth, saw Mum and then get the Mara Lau to drop us a little closer."
"I guess you're right, Ashlay isn't as stoic as we are.", Kristen said.
"Nutter, maybe you should have enlisted with me.", Dallas replied, laughing.
"We should collect your luggage and get you that retail therapy!", Kristen told Dallas.
"OK, I need some colour and movement, get my mind off things."
With that they collected Dallas' bags and headed back to the apartment. On the way Dallas started thinking about the first time she had met Kristen, Ashlay and Celia, twelve years had passed, suddenly it seemed like only yesterday they had met.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->
Chapter 2 - Turn back the clock
12 years earlier.
"Dallas, you have visitors", said her mother, Carla Hyatt, vice President of the Federation, "they are here to study and will be staying with us for a while." Dallas had been badly injured a year ago, racing with her older brother, Michael, along forest a track on snowmobiles, she had hit a logging truck, at speed. The fuel cell ruptured, caught fire as she lay trapped beneath the truck. Dallas had broken both legs, her arm, her back. She had massive head trauma and third degree burns. It had taken over a year to recover. Although the physical damage had been repaired, leaving no outward signs of injury, she was still learning to walk, talk and eat by herself again.
"Dallas, this their royal highness' Princess Kristen and Princess Ashlay, from the Empire",
"Oh, PLEASE!, Madame Vice President! no titles!",said the younger girl Kristen, who was the same age as Dallas.
"I agree Madame Vice President", said the other girl Ashlay, older by a year, "We get enough of that at home! I assure you, we can title with the best of them!"
"OK, OK!", replied Carla, "we'll forgo the formalities around the house." Her mother hoped that two real life princess' would be a morale boost, both girls were very beautiful and Dallas' eyes were wide with awe.
"ar,are y,you b,both r,r,really p,princess's,ss?",
"Yep, we surely are, ain't we sis?", replied Kristen
"Heck yeah, all eli-gance and reef-inement!"
Dallas could tell she was going to like these two.
"wha, what's th,tha,that?", Dallas asked, trying to point at the furry creature the younger girl had draped around her shoulders, barely able to lift her arm with anything resembling coordination.
"She's a Jrrr'le, her name is Celia."
The Jrrr'le slithered onto the bed and into Dallas' lap, Celia began to purr.
"She likes you, she says your brain has been hurt, but it's on the mend, she'll help you get better", Kristen declared.
"Y,y,you can share m,my r,room if you, w,want to", Dallas could feel something inside her mind shift, it was like a morning breeze blowing away a thick fog.
"Mum, would that be OK?", asked Dallas, quite clearly, without stuttering. Carla was amazed, some of the best doctors in the Federation had said it would take many more months for Dallas to regain her full mental and motor skills.
"Absolutely, would you like that Kristen?"
"Heck yeah, I can teach Dallas the finer points o' be'in' a princess, reef-inement and eli-gance and such like"
With that Kristen and Celia moved into Dallas' room. Dallas' recovery progressed at a rate which had her doctors wondering what was going on until they learned who she was sharing her bed with. Jrrr'le's are both telepathic and empathic, but there was more, much more. Jrrr'le's emit a biogenic field, part of their empathic ability, just being near one made a person healthier, sleeping with one had a far more pronounced effect, which was why Dallas' recovery was so abrupt. Jrrr'le's have the ability to selectively change the nature of the venom they produce. The compounds produced can eat through most materials, kill or heal. They were sentient.
"Why didn't you just ask us?", Kristen said. Dallas' father, President David Hyatt, organised Celia her own passport and Federation citizenship, which as a sentient being she was legally entitled to. It also quashed any moves to study Celia without her consent. Even so, when Celia thanked the President herself, it still surprised him,
{I wish to thank you President David, I will always remember your kindness}
"Not at all Celia, thank you, my wife and I will always be grateful to you. Dallas was miserable, you've made her whole again.", the President told her.
{I will watch over your family and protect them with my life}, Celia told him.
Michael, Dallas' older brother, had been feeling guilty over his sisters accident, was relieved that she was going to be alright, in far less time than what the doctors had said initially. By the second week of their stay Dallas was able to dress, eat and walk unaided.
King William V and his wife Queen Margarette, who had never been to Earth, stayed for several months, glad to be away from the constant intrigues of court. The king showed his wife the sights, with their daughters safe with the Hyatt's, they travelled to every corner of the globe, taking in the rich culture of Old Earth, wishing that their own realm was as enlightened.
Back in New York, life settled into a pleasant routine, Ashlay enrolled in the local high school to finish her final year, attending with Dallas and her older sister Angelina and brother David. Dallas' sisters and brothers got along well with their royal guests, it was hard not to, everyone who met them found them articulate, intelligent and polite. Michael, who was in his final year of university was a little taken aback when Kristen enrolled at Columbia University where he attended, as they had common fields of interest they got along well and he found her to be a more than able study partner, even if she was eight years younger. Ashlay and Kristen saw to it that Dallas' younger sister Monique did not feel left out, at 12 she had already decided that to be an archaeologist was a fine thing to aim for. Kristen built her a ground penetrating radar unit and they spent hours scanning the grounds of the Presidential residence together, finding shards of broken crockery, hoping against all reason to unearth native american arrowheads or other artifacts. Kristen, at 14 was a genuine, one of a kind genius, she studied mathematics, computer science and electronics. Some people found her intellect somewhat intimidating. Within the first week of living in the Presidential residence, Kristen found and disabled over two dozen audio and video bugging devices.
"You definitely are a handy girl to have around", President Hyatt told her at dinner.
"Why thank you mister President, Oh and by the way, I've reconfigured all the network firewalls, both here and in your office."
"How did you do that?", asked the President, after a significant pause.
"The firewall configuration had so many back doors and security holes big enough to fly a star freighter through, if I were you, I'd start looking for moles, in your official and personal security,"
"Why do you say that, Kristen?", asked the President.
"Well, quite a few people are very interested in what you, the lady vice President and your government are doing."
"Are you sure?", he asked.
"Quite, I have the evidence if you would like to review it, could you pass the salt please?"
The evidence that Kristen showed him was a powder keg, with the fuse already lit. The Federation Justice Department began it's own investigation and began issuing warrants.
Fleet Command began it's own parallel investigation, uncovering disturbing evidence and passing it along to the Justice Department. Kristen unveiled her pride and joy, 'Sentinel', a sophisticated computer security, anti virus and counter surveillance program. The Federation Government and Fleet Command put it into service straight away. But the damage had been done, within a month Dallas' father and brother Michael would be dead.
"I have to tell you Will, Kristen has been a huge help here. What she has uncovered so far, will have far reaching consequences, both here and in the Empire.", President David told King William.
"I know, I want them to stay here, where it's safe, Ashlay is next in line to the throne, but has no desire to rule over the snake-pit the Empire has become.", the King confided, "What a mess, if the Empire were a society like the Federation, I wouldn't worry, as things are, she see's a very bleak future. Poor girl just wants to be an artist, she has great talent for art and music, but no interest in politics."
"It must be hard, to not have any say in your own destiny. Ashlay and Kristen are welcome to stay as long as they want, whenever they want.", President David told him.
"Thanks, You certainly have come along way since we graduated, I'm not sure your association with me is seen as a good thing.", replied the King.
"Yes, people just can't get it into their heads that we are just friends who went to Uni together. This crazy talk of amalgamation is absurd! Where do they get these ideas?", the President was more than a little worried.
"In principle it sounds good", King William replied, "but think of the logistics! Reforming 180 worlds, how would we do it? Most of my subject Prince's would be in open revolt at the very idea. Some of them don't let their people attend school, let alone vote. I dread going back."
"I bet, your visit is coming to an end all to soon my friend, Carla and I have enjoyed your company.", President David told him.
"Margarette and I will miss the girls, but knowing they are safe here is well worth it.", the reluctant King said.
All to soon the King and Queen of the Karlston Empire had to leave, King William was afraid of what mischief was unfolding in his absence.
"Come along girls, the motorcade will leave without you!", Dallas' mother told them.
"Mum, can I ride with the King and Queen?", asked Dallas.
"I don't see why not.", her mother replied.
Ashlay had already said her goodbye's and was not going to the spaceport with her parents, she was sad at their leaving and didn't want to be teary at the departure gate, Dallas' brother Michael was going to ride with his father, he liked the media attention that being part of the first family got him. It helped his college romances no end. The other Hyatt offspring had commitments, as did Vice President Carla.
"Don't worry, we will look after your girls as if they were our own.", Carla told the Queen.
"I think they want you to adopt them, Carla. Ashlay thinks that would get her off the hook secession wise.", Queen Margarette said.
"I'm glad Will has you Margarette, he needs someone like you by his side, he's a good man, but you already know that. Be safe.", Carla told the queen, a vague feeling of foreboding she could not define swept over her.
The motorcade left the Presidential residence in Manhattan, they went by road, in two limousines, mainly to prolong the journey to the John F. Kennedy spaceport. The official escort was more tradition than something that was felt necessary. Both cars were flanked by antique Harley-Davidson police motorcycles, with a lightly armed Secret Service car in the rear. Both limousines were flying Federation flags,
"Sorry, Will, we don't have any Empire flags.", President Hyatt told the King sheepishly.
"Don't worry about it! I really don't care, besides this is not a state visit. We're on vacation, remember!", was the Kings reply.
The President and his son were in the lead car, with the King and Queen following, the two girls, Kristen and Dallas chattering all the way, pointing out the sights, oohing and aah'ing at everything they saw.
"New York is the greatest city in the world!", declared Dallas.
"Absolutely, there is so much to see and do! I hope Ashlay has fun at the Guggenheim.", replied Kristen.
"I'm sure she will, it was marvelous, we went last week.", the Queen said. It was a journey of about an hour normally, but a detour due to construction, through Brooklyn added another half hour to their travel time. They drove along Linden Boulevard, as they approached the suburb of Ozone Park, Celia let out a strange noise,
{Something is about to happen, something bad, an attack}, Celia told them.
Two anti-tank rockets streaked out of nowhere, hitting the limousine carrying the President and his son, then two more. The car disintegrated in ball of fire and smoke. The police escort was down, all of them lying on the road, they were not moving. The car carrying the King, Queen and the two girls slid to a halt.
{Everyone out, NOW!}, Celia urged them.
The King had the door open and was propelling his wife and the two girls out onto the street, the secret service car raced up to them, just as they were clear of the limousine, it was hit by a rocket, it too went up in a flash and roar, the driver not making it out. The secret service car was hit next, one of the agents was down, the King grabbed his carbine and dragged him off the street with the help of the remaining two agents, they herded the Queen and the two girls into the dubious safety of a restaurant entrance.
"CODE RED, CODE RED, WE ARE TAKING FIRE, REPEAT, WE ARE TAKING FIRE!", screamed one of the agents into a handset, he gave their location and was hit by rifle fire, he went down. Kristen ran to him, grabbed his weapon and dragged him to cover, firing at someone on the rooftop across the street, he was hit and fell over the parapet onto the sidewalk below. She took aim at a man who was aiming a rocket launcher at them from another rooftop across the street, she fired, he fell. Another man ran around the corner of the restaurant, Celia hit him with a jet of venom, he screamed, dropping his handgun and staggered onto the road, his clothes smoking, his face dissolving into bloody ruin, he took three steps and fell, dead. Then seemed to melt into the roadway.
Celia took on the colour and texture of her surroundings and disappeared, a few moments later they heard screaming from the other rooftop where rockets had come from. Another two men exited the alley across the street, Kristen shot them both. All Dallas could do was watch, as what was left of the car that had carried her father and brother burned.
Celia was back.
{That was all of them, I killed both men on the rooftop, we are safe now}.
Queen Margarette went to Dallas and held her close, "Don't look, Dallas, it's over now.", she didn't know what else to say.
{King William they were after you and the Queen}
"Are you sure Celia", He asked her.
{Yes, I went into their minds before they died, they thought we were in the lead car}
"But Why, Why?", asked the King.
{Something to do with ''amalgamation'}
"Oh, no, no.", was all he could say.
Backup for the Secret Service agents arrived, as did local police. Overhead a news telecast hover had filmed the whole action, billions of people across the Federation had seen their President killed over an unfounded rumour, seen a fourteen year old girl drag a grown man to safety, then shoot dead four assassins, one at distance of 200 metres. She was hailed a hero, as was Celia.
It was small comfort.
<---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->
Chapter 3 - Journey begins
back to the present
The starliner Mara Lau broke orbit and made for the next system on her route. A truly beautiful ship, both inside and out, over eight kilometres long, four kilometers across at her widest and two kilometers high. She had theatres, cinemas, shopping malls, quite a few parks, many gardens, an artificial surf break, skate park, a huge ice rink, plus all the amenities that people expect on a cruise liner. Mara Lau could carry over a million people, not all tourists, some were permanent residents, retirees and students mainly. The ship had a regular route, visiting around forty systems, it took around a two years to complete, so that her permanent residents could have regular contact with their loved ones and friends. Travel between the ship and the planets they were orbiting was free for the families of permanent residents.
Many people saved their whole lives just so they could retire to a ship like the Mara Lau. She carried general cargo and in the event of an emergency, functioned as a hospital ship, there were two hospitals on board, all with excellent facilities. There were day care centres, kindergartens, primary and secondary schools. In addition she had a well equipped and staffed university, students from all over the Federation and beyond came aboard to study. The previous owners had let the ship decline, the new owners had refurbished, renovated and updated all her systems and once again she was state of the art. Travel aboard a ship like her was not just for the very wealthy, Mara Lau catered to all walks of life, from backpackers to five star accommodation. Less like a spaceship and more like a small to medium resort town, living was easy and comfortable for her passengers, residents and crew.
Dallas moved into the large apartment that Ashlay, Kristen and Celia lived in.
"This is the most beautiful ship I have ever seen,", proclaimed Dallas, "small wonder Jessica is so happy in her new command."
Dallas, Kristen and Celia were together constantly. Dallas spent as much time with her friend and old CO as the Captain's duties would allow. Eventually Captain Ibanez warmed to Celia.
"You know, as a sentient being, Celia has the same rights as a Federation citizen that we do.", Dallas told the Captain.
"You're kidding me."
"Nope, has her own passport and citizenship, she really is very nice, telepathic as well."
"Oh no, that's all I needed to hear", but afterwards, the Captain asked Kristen if Celia had any special needs that needed to be met.
"No,", Kristen replied, "but she does like hunting the vermin that get on board, rats and the like."
"That's a bonus, get a few for me, Celia", the Captain told her, Celia trilled in reply. They dinned at the Captain's table most evenings, slept late and generally enjoyed themselves.
"Celia says this trip is exactly what you needed Dallas.", Kristen told her.
Dallas couldn't agree more.
After about two months and four star systems, Dallas noticed that Ashlay was very subdued, spending most of her time in their apartment, painting and drawing.
Dallas decided to ask what was wrong.
"It's Kristen, she's been, well, doing things back home."
"Like what, 'things'?"
"Well, at first I didn't notice, you know how secretive she can be."
"Ashlay, what things? Is she in trouble?"
"Lots, we both are, I think, I am not sure, not just from our fathers enemies, maybe from the law as well."
"What?! Has Kristen turned to a life of crime?", Dallas asked jokingly, as the colour drained from Ashlay's face she knew she had struck a cord.
"Tell me, what is it?"
"Kristen crashed a few planet wide computer networks, left a more than a few of our fathers enemies without a credit to their name."
Dallas' eyebrows went up, "Anything else?"
"Prince Mason, our fathers greatest threat, has been building capitol ships, well, several have suffered inexplicable catastrophic failures, resulting in the loss of the ship and all crew."
Dallas swallowed hard, "Anything else?", she asked quietly.
"Half a dozen, eight museums have been burgled, She wont tell me the exact amount, but it could run into tens, maybe hundreds of millions of credits."
Just then Kristen returned with Celia, they had been shopping at one of the malls, she took one look at them and started laughing.
"What's so funny?", asked Dallas.
"Ooh!, tens, maybe hundreds of millions, Ha! Try billions, around one hundred and forty three billion!", she said triumphantly, Celia trilled.
Dallas and Ashley were thunderstruck, "How much?", they whispered together, looking nervously around the suite.
"Oh, don't worry there are no bugs in here, I sweep every other day and I've upgraded the apartment's security. In round numbers it's about one hundred and forty three billion, give or take a few hundred million, from around a hundred and twenty worlds. We dinning with the Captain tonight?"
Kristen sat down and started flicking through the vid channels with the sound off.
"Besides,", she said over her shoulder, "the less money they have, the fewer ships they can build, the less trouble they can cause."
Finally, Dallas found her voice, "How...",
"How have I hidden that much money? Well, in the Federation of course, trusts, stocks, bonds, a few companies, bank accounts, you know, stuff."
"Like what, 'stuff'?"
"You know, like this ship, we own the company that owns this ship."
"You are kidding aren't you?", they both asked her, she shook her head and smiled broadly.
"Well, now the cats out of the bag, so to speak, Dallas, there is something I need to ask you."
"What's that?", Dallas asked.
Kristen came over to Dallas, got down on one knee, took her left hand, slipped a ring on her finger, Dallas looked down at a diamond the size of a robins egg.
"Dallas, will you marry me?", she asked very solemnly, Dallas could tell she was serious,
"You don't have to answer straight away, just think about it for a while."
"OK, I will, think about it, seriously, you know I love you, really, but, I gotta say, You are FREAKIN' CRAZY!"
"And your point was?"
Dallas laughed and hauled the smaller woman onto the couch where she and Ashlay sat, they both hugged her.
"Hey, if we get married, does that mean I get to be a princess as well?", mused Dallas, "Hmm, Princess Dallas, has a nice ring to it."
"Sounds like a boat.", replied Kristen, they all laughed.
They dinned that night, as they usually did, at the Captain's table,
"Whoa, that's a big rock Dal', you gettin' hitched?", asked the Captain.
"She hasn't said 'yes' yet,", Kristen said, "on other hand she didn't say 'no' either, don't worry Captain, if Dallas comes to her senses, you will be the first to know. There will be a ceremony to perform."
"If I new you were batting for the all girl team, I'd have hit on you years ago.", declared the Captain.
"Don't be silly, you were my superior officer, that would have been fraternisation, they court marshal you for that, shoot you at dawn!", replied Dallas.
Celia was right, this trip was turning out to be more fun than she had had in ten years. The woman that looked back at Dallas from mirrors didn't look as unfamiliar as she did a month ago. After dinner the four of them went to one of the many nightclubs on the ship. They were watching Kristen dancing with Lieutenant Commander Stan Riley, the senior engineering officer. Celia was asleep in the booth, between Dallas and Jessica.
"Does Kristen ever go anywhere without Celia?", asked the Captain.
"No,", replied Ashlay, "and that's a good thing, you wouldn't like her without Celia."
"What do you mean?"
"Kristen is schizophrenic,", replied Dallas, "Celia keeps her sane."
"What?"
"When we were younger Kristen was a handful, she claimed everyone and everything were plotting against her, she was often violent, abusive, even with medication. When she found Celia it was a godsend.", said Ashlay.
"Are you serious?"
"I'm afraid so, when the medication worked, it made her little more than an animated vegetable."
"Is Celia's effect on her permanent?"
"I'm not sure, hey! Celia!,", Dallas said poking the Jrrr'le, who had changed her coat to match the upholstery of the booth they were sitting in making her almost impossible to see unless you looked very closely. Celia opened one eye, her coat changing to an abstract tortoise shell pattern,
"This effect you have, is it permanent for Kristen like it was for me?", Dallas felt the reply form in her mind,
{Up to a point, mine and Kristen's interaction is mutually beneficial, but we need regular contact}
"Celia says they need to make regular contact."
"Whoa, can you talk to Celia as well?", asked the Captain, "hang on, what do you mean like it was for you?", Captain Ibanez had stopped referring to Celia as 'it' and 'that thing' weeks ago.
"Celia has ears Jess, anyone can talk to her. I had a brain injury when I first met these three, Celia healed me."
"The snow mobile accident?", the Captain asked, "I was your CO, I read your file.", she parenthesized.
Dallas nodded.
"I remember seeing that other Jrrr'le on the news when, um, anyway, scared the crap outa me,", said the Captain, "that's why Celia spooked me so much. I saw what a Jrrr'le can do. Those thugs dissolving into the street and rooftop."
Dallas almost choked on her drink, Ashlay looked surprised, even Celia took notice.
"What?"
"That was Celia, Jess."
"really?"
"Really."
Celia winked at Captain Ibanez who took a long pull on her drink, then it dawned on her just who these two svelte young woman were.
"Please keep it to yourself Captain, we are travelling incognito.", Ashlay said and then, "Captain, who owns the Mara Lau?"
"A company called Ashkris Leisure bought the shipping line that owns her and three others, plus a couple of star freighters."
Dallas gagged on her drink again, Ashlay looked surprised, again.
"You developing a drinking problem soldier?", asked the Captain.
"No, but I think I will be getting married.", replied Dallas, Ashlay laughed, Celia trilled.
"Hey Ash, do you think you could cope with having me as a sister in law?", Dallas asked, looking at the huge sparkling diamond on her finger.
Ashlay laughed, and replied, "Gold digger!"
It dawned on the Captain just who exactly she worked for, "Ash - Kris", she said slowly, nodded and took another long pull on her drink.
"Don't worry Captain, Dallas and I only found out a few hours ago ourselves."
"Ashlay, please, call me Jessica", said the Captain smiling, then taking Ashlay's hand, "Tell me, do you have anyone special in your life?".
Ashlay laughed, "Are all Marines gold diggers?!"
"Hypothetically speaking, if we got married, would I get to be a princess?", asked the Captain.
"At least Princess Jessica doesn't sound like a boat.", said Dallas. They all laughed. Kristen came back from the dance floor with Lieutenant Commander Riley, he was about to sit down when his pager chimed,
"Please excuse me ladies, duty calls", he bowed and left.
"Looks like Dallas is going to say yes, Kristen.", her sister joked.
"If I did, and your Dad locks me up in a tower or throws me in a dungeon, you will bust me out wont you?", asked Dallas.
"Yes darlink, of course I would.", Kristen hugged her, adding, "He wouldn't lock you up, he likes you."
"Kristen, how did Jessica get this job?", asked Dallas.
"I myself ponder that at times", Captain Ibanez said, "'coz I originally applied for a position on a freighter, as first officer"
"Easy answer there, I looked at your service record and you were the best woman for the job, being Dallas' old CO helped a bit."
"Really?", asked the Captain.
"To right! The other applicants were fat, old, piss pots, that I wouldn't have given a bath duck to command."
"Really?", asked the Captain again.
"YES!!, it wasn't just the capital outlay, if I'm going to live on a ship, I want someone competent in charge."
Dallas had to ask, "How much did this shipping line cost?"
"Well the original company was about to go belly up and I got it cheap, around a eighty billion credits."
It was the Captain's turn to gag on her drink, "What do you do, rob banks?"
"How did you know that?", Kristen replied, smiling broadly.
"She's kidding right?"
The other two women looked more than a trifle uncomfortable.
"...not kidding, OK"
"Don't worry", said Kristen, "none of them were in the Federation, and the Empire has no extradition treaty with the Federation, besides, I have friends and contacts in the government and Fleet Command."
Lieutenant Riley returned to their table, trying to not look concerned, failing miserably.
"Captain, we have a problem in engineering, we need you on the bridge."
"What is it Stan?"
"We should talk elsewhere.", glancing significantly to the other women at the table.
"It's OK Stan, keep it to yourself, but these lady's are the ships owners."
Lieutenant Riley looked as though a large polar bear had entered the nightclub wearing a tuxedo. He recovered his composure and said,
"We have just found evidence of a sabotage attempt, both physical and in some software systems, the virus detection and security software just alerted us."
Kristen took a small portable terminal from her handbag and opened it, looking at the screen she pursed her lips and frowned,
"Looks like it's in more than one system, helm, navigation and comms are affected, engineering is unaffected, 'Sentinel V' has isolated the virus code and is eradicating it."
"How do you know about 'Sentinel V'?", Riley asked, "I mean, I was surprised that we had it, I was under the impression it was military only before I got this job.", Commander Riley, like most of the crew was ex Fleet Command or Marine Core.
"I wrote it for Fleet Command when I was fourteen, that's why we have the latest version, Fleet are only up to version four.", Kristen replied distantly as she navigated her way through system after system.
"Hey! You shouldn't have access to any of those systems!"
"I'm the owner remember?, besides, I wrote most of the software on this ship, Captain?"
"Yes, Ma'am?"
"I need access to central engineering.", Kristen looked concerned.
"OK, Commander give the lady what ever assistance she needs, Dallas go with her."
"Aye Captain", both officers replied. Captain Ibanez took a com unit from her belt, "This is the Captain, go to alert status orange."
"Aye Captain.", came the reply.
"Let's leave discreetly, and Stan,", the Captain said, smiling happily.
"Yes Captain?"
"Smile, Let's not alarm the punters, OK?"
"Aye Captain."
They left the club, the Captain smiling and returning greetings and waves to the few passengers who noticed them.
"See, Captain Jessica,", said Kristen, "this is why I hired you. You radiate confidence and charm."
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