Lunara

Chapter One-Hundred: Musings of the Heart - Part One

Galactic Quadrant: Darna Quadrant

Ruling Government: Talum Merchant Federation

Solar System: D-447

Planet: Ora

Location: Tarvashal, middle residential district

"Luna…" Kalon says.

Him saying my name brings a flutter to me that is quickly squashed by the uneasiness of the scene before me. His attention now also taken in by the massive Imperium warship. I do not think he has seen one of its make before. An Imperium vessel. Frag. It must be hers.

"Come, we need to meet with Kotina," I say, grabbing Kalon's hand and pulling him with me.

"Who can command such a thing?" he asks, his eyes trained on the underside of the ship, his calculating gaze traverses each angle of it.

My eyes peer upwards at the Imperial Flagship, one of many under their domain. The one rank that it would carry, an inquisitor. None beneath them may command such a fearsome warship. Capable of launching campaigns on entire systems. Outfitted with the highest grade of Etheric shields and equipment. Every single last person aboard that vessel has trained their entire lives to be of service to it. Even the systems are higher functioning than the ones we are allowed, able to cripple our ships with ease.

"An Inquisitor," I say, though maybe I shouldn't have, he always has more questions, if it leads to Inquisitor Victoria, I won't be able to tell him more. My hand clenches his tighter, I don't want to see him upset again, not because of secrets I cannot help but keep.

"The Sage," he pauses, there is still some irritation in him that I did not tell him before, he pulls it back though for my sake, "Your Grandfather, he spoke of them before."

We round the next corner, heading to the transit terminals. Glancing at him, "What did he say?"

"That their strength is not just in skill," he says, looking skyward again at the colossal warship, "I think I understand his meaning now."

"Is that all he said?"

"He also said they are the blades of the Imperium, and that we, Arrum and me, should not seek to test their sharpness."

Swiping the new credentials that Kotina gave me, I open the glass pod, setting the destination to the governmental terminal.

"Why has an inquisitor come?" he asks me, watching me carefully as I put in commands for the system to follow. He is always observant, always watching me and trying to mimic my mannerisms.

"If I had to guess," my hand tightens on the thin railing that wraps the pod's interior, "Dallus and the potential war between our Governments that he caused."

Fragging hells, my hands are shaking again. Can't I just stop being such a… my eyes blink as I feel Kalon's warm calloused hands grip mine.

"Breathe deep and release yourself to the calm," he says, closing his eyes, breathing in slowly and exhaling slower. I have seen him do it a hundred times, always admiring this calm he speaks about. Yet this is the first time he has tried to show me, his steady hands calm me more than breathing ever could. Nevertheless, I do it, I don't want to spurn him when he shows me affection. Not when I desire it so deeply from him.

Surprisingly, after doing it a few times, I do feel calmer. Perhaps that is why Kotina always tried to get me to do breathing exercises more. Or why they are built into the Mana tracing training.

"Good," he says softly, giving me a smile.

My chest burns for him. He has been kinder, more soft, letting me in finally ever since we… since we laid together the first time. My thoughts race thinking on it, thinking on what stirs in me for him, so primal and all encompassing. My thoughts stray as I imagine that which will be our future. So much between us is changing, so quickly. I… I need to be like him and focus. Kotina said to meet her in the Governmental District where we left her before.

Less than ten minutes pass and we are there, still he holds my hand, such a small thing, yet such a welcome thing, especially from him. When we arrive at the building, I receive a message, making dread show its face.

A shuttle is coming for you, don't keep Kotina and me waiting.

My eyes widen, it's from her… Inquisitor Victoria. Frag. Fragging hells. She has Kotina up there already. This is good though, I've completed her mission, perhaps she can help… no, she wouldn't help Kalon out of kindness, she will use him against me. Another message chimes. My pulse thudding louder.

Bring him as well. There is much to discuss.

Frag. Frag. Frag.

"What is it?" Kalon asks, pulling my attention.

"The inquisitor, they want to meet with me."

His calm expression changes as he looks up toward the ship, uneasiness flutters across his face before it goes placid again. I wish I was that good at hiding how I feel.

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"Is that a bad thing?" he asks.

"Under the circumstances, it is potentially not," I begin, my nerves fraying even with his hand tightly wrapped around mine, "However, they want you to come as well."

He studies my face for a few moments.

"Do you have a choice?" he asks.

"No, but you do, you can leave right…" I begin, but he holds up a hand.

"I will go with you."

"But…"

"I will go."

I should be upset, I should tell him not to go, he may end up a hostage like Yekka if he goes, yet I feel so glad that he will come. Fearful that if I let him out of my sight, the world will swallow him up. He still has a bounty and is unfamiliar with the Arasha ways. It is probably less dangerous for him to come with me… probably. My hand is shaking again, even in his grasp.

***

Little was said with words between us on the flight up toward the hanger bay of the warship. I don't know if she is watching, I don't want to be affectionate in front of her. The regret for taking him peels at my nerves. This was foolish. Yet, I didn't have a choice, did I?

As we step out of our shuttle, I can see his face filled with wonder and a thousand questions as he looks at the thousands of people working on shuttles, doing maintenance. His gaze finds the statues of the Imperium's high gods and hangs there for a few moments, a sour expression before he turns to view more things. There is a curiousness in him, I find myself wondering what the world must look like through his eyes. Eyes that have seen the harshness of the bottom of the Imperium's boot. Yet somehow he still sees beauty, I admire this about him as well.

A squad of Knights in light armor move toward us. Kalon's look of wonder falls away, his now cold eyes peer through them, searching their flaws, tracing each step they make. It reminds me of how apex predators of Ravena Prime hunt in the wild. Every moment to them is precious in analyzing their prey, every breath weighed before drawn. Even how he stands is precise, leaving himself room to maneuver yet strike if needed. He will do well in my House, I can feel it in my bones, he was born to be a Raven.

"Kalon, whatever you do, please do not fight them," I warn him quietly, "Their master is far stronger than both of us."

The corner of his eye catches mine, challenging my words, yet he loosens his shoulders. His hands are always ready to find the daggers he stashes on his body. The way he holds himself reminds me of how my father is, always cautious, always preparing for the worst. Yet unlike my father, beneath the cold gaze is a heart that burns deeply for those lucky few he cares about. A smile finds my mouth as I look at him, despite the situation, I am glad he is here. And above all, I am glad to have carved out a place in his beautiful heart. A place I shall never relinquish willingly.

As we follow the Knights towards the main terminal lifts, my mind wanders past the worries of the present. There are some lingering regrets that our time together in the future will be sparse when I return to Knight Commander training. Perhaps if… no, when he impresses father then the House of Ravena will sponsor him as a Knight, then after two years he can try to join me before I finish. If he became a Knight Commander with me, father would surely approve of us… of us being together properly.

My eyes blink, yes, that should be the plan, that would be a momentous step in my father's eyes. I suddenly feel excited, I want to tell Kalon now… should I though? If I tell him the path he must walk, would it be his choice? Doubt finds me. It will be a perilous path, being Kuwathi, he will face so much more resistance than any others. He would be the first in a thousand years. I know he could do it, the Imperium respects strength above all, and he's broken the boundaries so quickly and with little instruction, he is beyond the status of prodigy. In ten years I cannot even imagine his strength. My brow furrows, his entire life has been under the influence of others wants, I do not want to be just another person that forces him. Though I do hope he finds the path, there are few others which would allow him to rise in station. Yet, whatever he chooses, my eyes glance at him, I will support him.

The lift takes us more than ten minutes to reach a speed rail hub. From there we reach the diplomatic area of the ship. Victoria's ship, it is much larger than my father's ship the Hyperion. Turning to Kalon, I see he is engrossed in the holopad Kotina gave him, swiping through it more expertly than a day ago. He is a quick learner, another thing I can admire about him.

"The inquisitor is ready for you," one of the Knights says, using an arm to motion to a large doorway in front of us.

Letting out a deep sigh of frustrated air, I look at Kalon, his face placid again. Stepping forward, I say "We are ready, lead the way."

"Apologies," he begins, straightening himself, "I should have been more specific, Kalon, the Inquisitor is ready for you."

"I think you're mistaken, we are supposed to go together," I say, my chest throbs with worry, I should have left him at the Terrarium until I knew it was safe. No, she could have reached him there too. My heart thumps faster, why did I bring him? Selfishness to be around him? I have endangered him. How could I be so foolish? Did I not learn my lesson with Yekka? My heart sinks. I knew better. I should have insisted he stay just in case… even if it was folly, better he has a chance to escape then be here. If she separates us, I may not see him again. If I show that bothers me… she may use it against me. Thankfully we didn't hold hands on the shuttle or after, though she… she could pull footage. She must know he is important to me. My mind races.

"There is no mistake," the Knight says, sticking his nose up at me, "He's to deliver his report for his mission on Planet Ora."

My eyes blink not once but twice… mission… report? My heart twists for a moment before the trust I have for him shines past the slag.

"What are you talking about?"

"He is under the employ of our Inquisitor," the Knight says plainly, "As I said, he is to…"

"What is the meaning of this blatant lie?" I interrupt.

"It is not a lie," Kalon says, my heart slams in my chest, instantly I peel my gaze toward him, but his eyes do not meet mine as he moves toward the doorway.

"Not a… what…" I say, did I hear him right?

"Not a lie," Kalon says, turning to me finally, his eyes are cold like when I first met him, "Goodbye, Lunara."

The door slides closed behind him. My eyes blink, my legs feel weak, my stomach in a knot as I replay the memory. No… there is no way. I move toward the door, trying to open it, forcefully. It groans but it does not budge. Veranthian Steel. Frag.

I send a message to his holopad.

Kalon?

My eyes widen as I see a notification saying that he has read it. I send another message, then another.

What is going on?

Why are you playing along with them?

Come back, we can face this together.

He stops reading them after the fourth. My breathing feels out of control. Why isn't he responding? Can he not?

My heart pounds replaying his words, but the words themselves cannot be true, this is a trick. He… he wouldn't betray me. He would never, he… Kotina's words creep into my mind. About how convenient it was for him to show up after the crash. No… I trust him. There is a reason he is acting this way, did he get a message on his holopad? Someone is manipulating him, someone is using him to get at me. It must be that. Kotina's words bite into my faith of him. No, I trust him. He trusts me too. There is trust between us.

My mind tortures me now replaying the words he spoke on trust. On the words he said he learned from my Grandfather.

Truth is the foundation of trust.

There were so many signs, so many times that he showed he didn't trust me, so many times that I couldn't tell him… no, I do trust him. We got past that together. This is a sick game… Inquisitor Victoria, this is her doing no doubt.

The way Kalon said my name. Calling me Lunara, he's never done that before. It's always been Luna… no, I trust him. Do not let that… that horrible woman change my beliefs.

My legs pace back and forth, losing track of time as thousands of scenarios play in my head, torturing me with the possibilities. That he will be captive to her, or that he…

The door slides open, I move toward it furiously quick, a hand grabs me as I approach, a black and purple gauntlet with silver accents. My eyes look up… Kotina.

"Don't," she says softly, "She will say when she is ready for you."

"But, Kalon, he…"

"Don't, not here, not now. Head held high, shoulders straight, just like I taught you."

Her expression is mixed yet firm. There is something in it that I don't recognize at first… pity.

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