The Kavakian Empire

A Space Opera by Dawn Ross

Part Two – The Emperor

Chapter 14b

(I hope you all had a Merry Christmas. I actually spent some time writing my book. This part of the story that you’re about to read, though, was actually written during National Novel Writing Month, or NaNo. During this month, people who sign up for NaNo do so in order to spur themselves to write 50,000 words during that month. Some people are serious writers while others are new to writing and would like to finally have a chance to write the novel they’ve always wanted to write. I did it because although I do write, I don’t do it often enough. I signed up for NaNo for the challenge of it and to see if it would help me. It did. Even though I wrote the rest of part two of my science fiction really fast, it actually came out pretty good. Because it was written so fast, though, it needs some work. So please check it out and be sure to comment below with any helpful tips or errors you found.)

Instead of going back to work on the laser, Jori stormed out. He didn’t tell anyone where he was going or why. His emotions were all in a jumble. He wanted to scream. How dare Jako threaten me! His face felt hot. He wanted to cry, but in shame, not fear. The petty little bastard actually had the gall to blackmail him. He couldn’t believe it.

Jori knew men only did what he ordered them to because Terk would back him up. He had very little authority of his own. Still, it was rare that someone would outright disrespect him. And Jako had gone way over that line.

Jori wasn’t just angry and ashamed. He was afraid. Jako held something very dangerous over his head. He could ask Jori anything and Jori would have to comply. If he didn’t, it meant the worst beating and torture he had ever experienced. It could even mean his death. There was no way his father would let his betrayal slide with anything less.

Jori didn’t want to go to Terk except as a last resort. If he didn’t learn to handle things himself, who was to say if someone else wouldn’t try to manipulate him in the future.

He considered going to Master Jetser, but Jetser was in the laser room guarding the prisoners right now. Jori couldn’t risk calling him out for a private meeting. He was walking a thin line as it was and he didn’t want Jetser to be implicated.

But he needed to talk to someone right now. And he knew just who to talk to. She didn’t have any power to do anything, but she was someone he could vent to. And if he was lucky, she’d give him some savvy advice.

Jori walked purposefully to a highly guarded and restricted area of the ship. It wasn’t guarded by men, for his father didn’t trust them. He put his hand on the scanning device and stood in front of the retinal scanner.

The machine beeped and the heavy double-doors slid open to reveal another security room. Jori went inside and tapped his foot anxiously as the biometric body scanner verified who he was.

Jori had lived in this area when he was younger. He wasn’t supposed to be in here anymore unless his father ordered him to retrieve someone, but Jori still came to visit from time to time.

When the second set of doors opened, Jori was met with a scene that looked like nowhere else on the entire ship. The cold steel walls were covered with colorful tapestries. Elegant furniture stood in place of the austere desks, beds, and shelves that resided in the soldiers’ quarters.

It was the smell, though, that made the place stand apart the most. While the solders’ quarters smelled musty and dirty, the harem smelled clean and fresh. There was no hint of any odor of electronics or chemicals, which was prevalent in other parts of the ship.

Jori sighed out a breath of relief. His heart still pounded, but it was more like a light tapping than a hard punch. This was the only place on the ship where Jori felt like he could be himself. It was the only place he felt truly safe.

The room he had entered was just the welcoming chamber. Sevana, a girl only just a little older than Terk greeted him warmly. “Hi Jori,” she said. “You here to see your mother?”

“Yes,” Jori said. He was surprised his tone had sounded so calm. His thoughts were still a jumble, but the thought of being able to spill it all out to his mother made him less anxious.

She waved her hand down the hall and Jori went straight to his mother’s room. Sevana didn’t need to call his mother on the comm to let her know he was coming. He could sense that she already knew.

As soon as her door opened, she was standing there with her arms open. Jori rushed into them and let her embrace him. She felt so warm. Her perfume was soft but sweet and reminded him of the botanical garden on the ___________ space station.

His mother caressed his head as she held him. “What’s happened?” she asked. Her voice was soothing. “Are you okay?”

“Jako,” Jori said. His voice sounded muffled thought the crook of her arm. He pulled himself away so she could hear him.

His mother held up her finger, then waved her hand to one of the plush upholstered chairs. He didn’t like this chair much. It always felt like he was falling into a cloud. But it was comfortable and it helped him relax.

She sat in the chair across from him and leaned forward. Her chair was close enough that she could touch his hand. “Tell me everything,” she said.

Jori told her everything about Jako’s blackmail.

“Oh no, Jori. I’m so sorry. I wondered what had put you in such a state,” she said. Jori could see the pained look on her face, and feel it too.

“I don’t know what to do,” he said. His mother bit her lip. She understood the seriousness of the situation and it frightened her. It frightened him too. “I should kill him,” he added.

She frowned at him. “Killing isn’t the answer to everything. I think you know that.”

“He’s basically threatened to kill me, Mother. I can’t let him get away with that.”

She shook her head. “No. No you can’t. But what if there’s another solution?” He leaned forward and looked at her expectantly. She tilted her head and turned down her lips in thought. “Do you know of anything you can use against him?”

“You mean other than the fact that he’s trying to blackmail me?” Jori quirked his lips. “No,” he told her. He fell back against the chair in a huff. “He’s not just a snake. He’s a coward, too.”

“Hmm. I’ll think about it. You too, but don’t worry too much.” His mother clasped her hand around his and gave a slight smile. “You’re an intelligent young man. I’m sure you can think of some way to be rid of Jako without killing him.” Jori said nothing and looked up at the ceiling in despair. “You’re not like your father, Jori,” she said. “Rely on your strengths.”

Jori frowned. He had hoped to find the answers here. Perhaps even a small part of him hoped she would tell him it was okay to kill Jako.

But he did feel better. His heart was no longer pounding. Jori was still worried, but his head was clearer. He met her eyes. “I’ll think of something.”

She grasped his hand tighter and gave him an approving smile. They sat in silence for a few minutes when something J.T. had said made him think of something.

“Could you use your power on Jako? Make him forget what he found?”

His mother took her hand away. Her frown was real now. Jori sensed a spike of annoyance from her. “You know I don’t like doing that.”

Jori’s cheeks burned and he looked away in shame. “Sorry.”

Her frown melted away and she took his hand again. “Besides, I don’t even know which one is Jako. There is no way I can get to him. The only time I’m allowed to leave here is with your father.” Her tone was even when she spoke but Jori sensed a stab of sadness from her.

Jori knew she had tried to escape once, and suspected there were many other attempts besides the one that nearly got her killed. Terk had brought the subject up to her again a half year ago. They were older and were in a better position to get her to safety, but she had declined. She told them she wanted to stay with her handsome boys. Jori’s heart melted when she said it. But at the same time, he felt guilty for being her reason for remaining a slave.

The two sat for a while longer, holding hands, talking about mundane things. She smiled warmly at times and nodded her head in understanding. He could tell her anything without fear or judgement. He had already told her about J.T. and she fully understood why he was risking so much to help them.

Suddenly, Jori felt an emotional disturbance. There was a stab of fear, then a jolt of anger. The anger spread and there was a chaotic tremor felt from a multiple persons.

Jori abruptly sat up straight. “Something’s happening.”

“I feel it too. You’d better go.”

Jori gave his mother a quick kiss and rushed out.

Please comment below to tell me what you thought of this chapter. I’m an amateur writer and am in desperate need of constructive criticism.

(This sci-fi saga is protected by copyright) Copyright November, 2015 by Dawn Ross

You may share this sci-fi novella so long as you link back to this website and mention, The Kavakian Empire by Dawn Ross.

The Kavakian Empire

A Space Opera by Dawn Ross

Part Two – The Emperor

Chapter 14a

(I wrote this during National Novel Writing Month, aka NaNo, so all of part two is written. It’s written, but it’s not edited and it needs beta readers. If you would like to read all of part two of this science fiction novella, please find my contact information on the About Dawn page. Although I personally think this story is really good, it needs some work before it gets formally published into a book. Of course, you can always continue to stop by this blog weekly and post constructive criticism here.)

Jori’s father hadn’t stopped by the laser room once today. The Tredon men who worked on the laser spoke more freely. Pelax and Biskol were actually giggling over something while they worked. The Alliance prisoners didn’t talk, but Jori could tell they weren’t as tense.

Jori’s ability to sense emotions from others was more of a curse than an asset. He felt his father’s suspicion and anger very acutely, even if it wasn’t directed at him. Although the prisoners didn’t have this ability, the man’s presence put them on edge. And Jori had been feeling their stress weighing down on them.

He wished he could think of a plan. But with his father watching him so closely, he felt like he was fighting to keep a ship straight in a solar storm. Even now when his father wasn’t in the room, Jori knew he was being watched.

A warrior named Hagar stood with the guards along the wall. He had long straggly black hair and whiskers on his face that could only barely be considered a beard. He was Trevine’s man, through and through. And being Trevine’s man meant he was also his father’s man.

Trevine was as brutal as they came. And he expected his men to be the same. Most Tredon warriors emulated him because they had to. But some, like Hagar, emulated him because they wanted to.

Jori hated both men, but there was little he could do about them. So he worked or pretended to work and kept from interacting with the prisoners as much as possible.

Jori analyzed the data J.T. had gathered. The numbers were exactly where he had expected them to be. Now it was a matter of determining which setting was best for the task at hand.

He was doing the math in his head when he got the sense of a highly pompous attitude. Jori didn’t need to look to see who it was coming from. Only one person on the ship lately had emanated this emotion.

Jako hadn’t been to the laser room in the last couple of days. Terk had said he set him straight, but Jako could be a sneaky bastard. What the hell is that man up to now?

Jori gave Jako a dark look when the man came up to him. Jako’s eyes twinkled and he had a smug smile on his face. “I have something you’ll want to see,” he said.

Jori narrowed his eyes and glowered. “What?” he asked.

Jako jutted his chin and raised his eyebrows. “Oh, I think you’ll want to keep this private.”

Jori pursed his lips and ground his teeth. “This had better be good,” he said. His heart was beginning to race.

“Oh, it is good. Just wait and see.”

Jori stood from his work. He noticed Jako didn’t address him by title and it worried him. He didn’t let it show, though. He let his face go blank and purposefully led Jako to a private room where they could talk.

As soon as the door closed behind them, Jako handed Jori a scanner. Jori gave the man a dark scowl and Jako replied by widening his smile. Jori’s heart pounded faster.

He scrolled through the scanner and immediately picked up on the information Jako had given him. Jori felt blood drain from his face. Oh crap. His ruse had been discovered, and by Jako the weasel, no less. Jor’s chest tightened. Nothing good will come of this.

Jori may have let the shock show up on his face because Jako made a small laugh. “I thought it was rather suspicious that all the Alliance crew members had skills with laser technology.” Jako spoke with an irritating smirk on his face. “So I decided to do some research on my own.”

Jori’s stomach knotted tightly. His heart was pounding now, but he’d be damned if he was going to give Jako the satisfaction of seeing fear in him. Jori set his jaw and gave Jako a menacing stare.

Jako ignored the look. He even seemed to find it amusing. “I realized Terk couldn’t have done this. He doesn’t know how and there is only one person on the ship who does.” Jori clenched his teeth and held the glower on his face. Jako continued, “If your brother finds out you’ve used him…”

For once, it was good that Jako thought Jori and Terk were rivals. The weasel seemed to have no idea that his brother was in on this.

Jori still didn’t speak. His heart was pounding so hard, he was sure it would burst. He clenched his fists and tried to keep his breathing even.

Jako held up his finger. “Oh, but it would be so much worse if your father found out.” The triumphant smile on the man’s face made Jori want to stab his dagger into it.

Jako might as well have made a death threat. Jori seriously considered killing Jako right then and there. But then he thought about the sensation that came along with death. Jori had seen other men relish it when they killed. But they didn’t sense what Jori sensed. Of all the emotions that Jori had ever felt from others, the feeling of dying was the worst. Jori endured it when he had to act in defense, but he knew that if he killed in cold blood, the resulting nightmares would make him live their death over and over again. This would be self-defense, wouldn’t it? But Jori couldn’t bring himself to act.

“What do you want,” he said in a quiet tone. If Jako meant to turn his discovery in to his father, he would have done it already.

Jako held up his fingers. “Two things. The first one is easy,” he said. He clasped his hands behind his back and puffed out his chest. “I want assurances that if the laser doesn’t work, the Alliance crew will be blamed.”

It was easy, but Jori didn’t so much as nod. He didn’t want them to be killed.

Jako took his silence to mean that Jori didn’t understand. So he explained. “I don’t want to be put at fault in any way. If your father does try to blame me, I expect you to tell him that I did everything I could.” Jako’s face hardened for a moment.

Jako waited a few moments but when Jori still didn’t speak, he went on. “Secondly, I want money, and a lot of it.”

Jori’s face darkened. The bastard’s blackmailing me for money? The insolence of the man was almost unbearable. But what could he do? If he stabbed Jako right here and now, his father would wonder why. An investigation might ensue.

“Oh, don’t worry,” Jako said. His tone was condescending. “You don’t have to pay me all at once. Just a little bit at a time. Not enough for anyone to notice it missing, but enough for me to buy a few high-class whores whenever we go planet-side.”

Jori’s dark look didn’t leave his face. He clenched his fists at his sides. His fear and anger were jumbled together so tightly that Jori’s stomach felt like a raging storm. He was at a loss because there was no way he’d do what Jako wanted. His pride wouldn’t let him. But he couldn’t let his father find out either.

Jori knew he should kill Jako, but still couldn’t bring himself to do it. He could tell Terk later, but he might as well kill Jako himself because telling Terk meant Terk would kill him.

He couldn’t see any way out, at least not at the moment. He had think of something, but Jako was waiting.

After a long moment of silence, Jori finally nodded his head in agreement. “You’ll have your money soon,” he said through clenched teeth.

Please comment below to tell me what you thought of this chapter. I’m an amateur writer and am in desperate need of constructive criticism.

(This sci-fi saga is protected by copyright) Copyright November, 2015 by Dawn Ross

You may share this sci-fi novella so long as you link back to this website and mention, The Kavakian Empire by Dawn Ross.