The next morning, the crew and Saphina waited in the antechamber of the throne room. Serra and Katarina entered and the group turned to see them in their finery. Katarina wore a black iron breastplate, boots and gauntlets with black and purple robes. Serra, feeling very shy and uneasy wearing a fine gown of purple and black. Soft leather boots and bracers as well as a circlet of silver.
"Holy cow captain!" Cali exclaimed, "I don't know that I have ever seen you so..."
"Fancy!" Lexi said. She stood with Saphina, the two of them were rarely apart lately.
"Thank you." She blushed. "It is a bit... more than my breeches and jacket, eh?"
"Indeed." Hawk replied. Saphina broke away from her lover and approached Katarina. She kneeled and bowed her head. "MY Empress, your grandeur and radiance are-"
"Saphina, please." She held out her hand to her. Saphina took it and stood. "I am not your Empress, at least I won't be for long."
"You'll always be royalty to me," Saphina explained.
"I'm grateful for your loyalty, you are the closest friend I have ever had. I could not have gotten where I have without you."
"I...but..."
"No, my friend. I owe you a great debt." She turned to the rest of them and smiled. "I owe you all a debt of gratitude. I know I have put you all at risk coming here and, in turn, risking your lives."
"That part worries me the most." Hawk commented.
"Everything will be fine," Blackstone assured him but looked at Saphina who smiled and nodded to her.
"Uh huh." He retorted.
A little while later, the crew headed off to the Naginata with their gear. Katarina and Serra waited to be presented. "Are you ready?" Kat asked Serra.
"I mean... I guess." She replied with a hesitant smile.
"Crimson Empire citizens, you Empress, Katarina Fei'rela Graglubute!" A voice cried from the throne room.
"Wait for me to summon you," Kat whispered. Serra nodded to her. She watched as Katarina stepped out and in front of the audience. Serra was surprised at how quiet they were. A robed man stepped in front of her and placed a black iron and silver crown on her head. The crowd erupted into howls, roars and cheers. After several minutes Katarina raised her hand. The crowd fell silent instantly. The man stepped forward again and announced. "Crimson Empire citizens... the Empress-Consort, Serra Allison Harkner!"
Katarina held out a hand toward her and gave her a nod. Serra swallowed hard and stepped out onto the dias. She reached Katarina and took her hand. The crowd cheered, but there was a smattering dissension.
"Ignore them," Katarina said to her. Then she sat and Serra followed suit nervous and anxious to run. After several hours of greeting dignitaries and other "important" people within the Empire, Katarina and Serra retired to the royal estate. Serra collapsed onto a couch and shook her head.
"What?" Kat asked.
"I can't wait to get back to the ship, this pomp and circumstance is a bit... exhausting." Serra said.
"You don't think you could be Empress-Consort?" Katarina asked as she sat next to her.
"I didn't mean..."
"It's okay Serra." Kat put her hand on Serra's thigh. "Don't worry, I'll end this charade very soon."
Just then, several Kurn entered the room. The triad, another male Kurn in robes and a female in partial armor and robes approached them. The woman's armor was very different from any Serra had seen before. Her breastplate, boots and gauntlets were a dull polished silver with black iron trim and details. The robes were heavy and pitch black with purple trim. She was the first to speak.
"My Empress, I am grateful for inclusion in this emergency counsel session, but i am not-"
Katarina raised her hand. "Tal'ari I specifically requested your presence, all will be revealed shortly." Katarina turned to the man in the robes and motioned him closer.
"Chronicler Dar'ral, I need you to take down everything I say." She turned to all present and cleared her throat. "I have a decree to make, I will not be questioned, I will not be debated. This is final." Her last word echoes in the chamber. All present nodded their understanding.
"Good. As Empress, I have no heirs and my chosen mate has no heirs. Together, we will produce no heirs, therefore I will be naming my heir."
Grumbling and dissenting grunts were exchanged, but faded quickly.
"I name Tal'ari Hreldarg as my heir." Katarina stated. Arguments erupted but the robed man silenced the talks with twelve words. "By the Crimson Empire and the gods Mellain and Arkhan, it will be so."
The room fell silent.
"My Empress, I..." Tal'ari stumbled over her words.
"My friend, you know of my vision and my wishes, in my absence, that you continue to steer the Empire in this new direction," Katarina said, putting a hand on her shoulder.
"Should the need arise, I will do my best." Tal'ari stated.
"I know my friend, I know." Katarina replied.
She turned and glanced at Serra who nodded and smiled at her. Katarina returned her smile and nod. Serra took a deep breath and waited for the second shoe to drop. Katarina looked at each person in turn, then back to the chronicler.
"My Empress?"
"I have...one more decree to make." She paused. "As of this moment, I Katarina Graglubute step down and abdicate the throne to the next in line."
The room erupted in shouts and anger. Tal'ari dropped into a seat in shock. Katarina turned to the chronicler, "Tal'ari is now Empress, correct?"
"Yes." He replied. "She will be crowned as soon as possible."
She approached and kneeled next to Tal'ari. "MY Empress, I will follow your rule to the letter and to the best of my ability, but may I ask to take your leave?"
"Oh.. I... yes, of course." She replied, still coming to grips with everything.
"Thank you." She stood and held out her hand to Serra who jumped up and rushed to her side. "Let's get out of here."
"Absolutely!" Serra agreed. The two hurried into the hallway.
"That went well." Serra said sarcastically. Shouts and arguing could be heard still raging from the antechamber.
"Sorry about all that." Kat replied.
"Let's get to my ship!" Serra said as they rushed down the hall.
"Right!" Kat smiled at her.
Meanwhile, the crew of the Naginata walked toward the dock that held their ship. Nervous and wanting off this planet, Cali broke the silence. "I am so glad we are getting out of here, this place...creeps me out!"
"The faster we're on the ship, the better!" Hawk added.
"How Much further?" Cali asked.
"Almost there," Hawk said. The hallway before them grew dark and gloomy. The group came to an abrupt stop. "Now what?!" Hawk growled. The gloom began to coalesce into a figure. "What the hell?!" Blackstone said.
"Calm yourselves my friends." The form spoke in a hollow, whispering voice.
"That voice?"
"Greetings Cali." The voice said.
"It... knows you?!" Hawk turned to Cali.
"I... wait." She turned to the form. "Il'taira?"
"Yes, my friend." She said as her form came into focus. "I am here to help you, as I said I would."
Hawk looked at Cali then back to Il'Taira. "Cali, what's going on? Why would we need her?"
"I know this seems strange, but we can trust her." Cali said. Hawk and Blackstone looked at each other confused and in disbelief. Just then a shout came from behind them. "There they are! Stop outlanders!"
"Now what?!" Hawks spun to see six Kurn soldiers, fully armed hurrying toward them.
"Shit, run!" Hawk said. The group ran past the now dispersing form of Il'taira. After they passed she gathered her form quickly back again. She held out her hands toward the pursuers. Two of the soldiers opened fire! The shells stopped short and were held fast by a shadowy shield of force. They continued to fire as they advanced on Il'taira. Cali looked back to see Il'taira defending them.
"Come on Il'taira!" Cali shouted. The shadowy women turned and followed them.
"Where did you find her again?" Lexi asked as they ran.
"I didn't." Cali said, glancing over her shoulder. "She found me."
"That sounds..." Hawk began. The group rounded a corner into the dock to find several more guards standing at the bottom of the loading ramp.
"Shit!" Lexi said, sliding to a stop. The guards at the ship turned and opened fire. The group ducked back, trying to find cover. "Now what?"
"I-I don't know!" Cali yelled. Suddenly a dark form filled the middle of the hall and coalesced. Il'taira held out a hand behind her, shielding the group. She glared at the group by the Naginata, inky shadow 'bleeding' from her eyes. She shouted to them. "Move!" Her voice was unearthly, loud... too loud and it echoed around them. The soldiers by the ship scattered several meters away in all directions and were knocked off their feet! Lexi looked at the soldiers on the ground and back to Il'taira.
"Let's go!" They ran for the ship. Il'taira continued to hold off the pursuers with her shield, but they were beginning to push through. She wavered... she was weakening and Cali could see it. She broke ranks and ran back toward her. "Il'taira!"
Hawk turned to see Cali running back toward danger. "Cali! Get your ass back here!" Hawk popped a hidden panel under the ship and a pulse carbine dropped out. He cocked it and began to fire at the oncoming soldiers. Cali reached Il'taira and put her hand on her arm. "Please."
The two women rushed toward the ship. Hawk continued to cover their retreat. "Lexi, get those engines warmed up!" She nodded and rushed up the boarding ramp. Hawk ducked behind a landing strut and continued to fire his carbine, laying down cover fire for Il'taira and Cali. Cali led her up the ramp and into the lounge. "Strap in, it's going to be a rough ride!" She said and rushed toward the engine room. Il'taira buckled her harness weakly and closed her eyes. She had expended entirely too much of her energy protecting these strangers, and tried to remain conscious.
"Hawk! Let's go!" Lexi shouted from the bridge. She began to pull the throttle. As the ship begin to rise, Hawk rushed to the ramp and jumped up. One shot from their pursuers took his leg out from under him and he fell hard onto the ramp.
"Arrg!" He grimaced as he rolled to his back and brought his carnine to bear. "Eat this you fuckers!" He yelled as he unloaded on them. One, then a second Kurn soldier dropped to his recklessly aimed shots. He tried to pull himself up but another shot hit him squarely in the chest! He dropped his gun and stumbled forward. He watched the ground spin away. "You... huff huff... Fuckers!" Hawk grunted at them. Just then, Il'taira appeared at the top of the ramp.
"Let me help you!" She yelled over the road of the engines. Hawk looked over his shoulder at the pale woman and nodded. He reached out to her, their fingertips grazed each other, but then a final shot hit Hawk in his shoulder, spinning him around. He caught Il'taira's eyes with his as he fell back and off the ramp! He plummeted toward the ground as the ramp folded up and closed. Il'taira fell to her knees, guilt washed over her as she could not save him. As she had done moments previously.
