| Chapter 27 Nick walked down the hall toward his room. It was early morning, and he was just returning from his workout with Rowland. He passed Brian's door, and as he did, it opened. Nick ducked into a dark corner as Marie and Brian stepped out into the hall, both glancing around to make sure no one was there. He watched as they spoke softly to each other. Then Brian pulled her close and they shared one last kiss before Marie headed down to her quarters. Brian stood in the hall watching her go, until she turned the corner out of sight, then he turned and went back into his room. Nick stood in the corner for several moments, shocked. His emotions played through him. He was happy for Brian. Happy that he'd found someone to fill the emptiness he'd had for so long. Marie did that. She completed Brian, like no one else ever did. Anyone that looked at the two could see it. They were both so in love, that it seemed to flow from them, filling the room. But mixed with the happiness was a longing. He wanted that with Ana, and he knew that it would never happen for them. The only way for it to would be to sneak around, and he just couldn't live like that. Always looking over his shoulder, praying they didn't get caught. He couldn't do that to himself, and he sure couldn't do it to Ana. For him the consequence of getting caught was nil. For Ana, it was a death sentence. Nick took a deep breath, forcing the hurtful thoughts from his mind. He stepped out of the corner and walked over to Brian's door, knocking. It took Brian a few minutes to come to the door. Nick had to bite his lip to keep from laughing. Brian looked as if he'd just been woken up, and had the �I'm half asleep' look on his face. "Hey Nick," he said, complete with yawn. Nick cleared his throat, "Hey, did I wake you up?" Brian nodded, "Yeah, what time is it?" "It's still early," Nick said, "Listen, can you meet me in about twenty minutes?" "I guess, what's up?" Brian asked. "I need to go over some things with you before the ship arrives," he said. "Oh man, that's today?" Brian asked. Nick nodded, "Meet me in the stables, OK?" "OK," Brian said, turning into his room. "Oh Bri," Nick said. Brian stuck his head back out the door, "Yeah?" "Make sure you wash the lipstick off your face before you come. I don't want the unicorns falling over laughing at you," Nick smiled. Brian's eyes widened and he touched his cheek with his hand. Busted. Nick started laughing, then turned and went into his room, leaving Brian alone in his embarrassment. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian walked into the stable, seeing Nick with two unicorns. He seemed to be talking to them, and they were bobbing their heads, like they understood him. "Nick?" He turned around, "Hey, come on over. I want to introduce you." Brian walked over standing in front of the two majestic creatures. "Brian, this is Thomas and this is Kena," Nick said. "Wow, they're beautiful," Brian said, looking at the jet black and blood bay creatures. "You feel up to taking a ride?" Nick asked. "Man, it's been ages since I rode a horse," Brian said. "Kena will be gentle, she already promised," Nick prodded. Brian stared at his friend, "She promised?" "One of my abilities is that I can understand what they're thinking," Nick explained. "Wow that's cool," Brian said. "So, we going or not?" Nick asked. Brian looked over at the blood bay unicorn, then back at Nick, "I guess." A few minutes later the two friends were riding down one of the trails, leading up into the mountains. Nick was explaining what he needed Brian to do, once the ship arrived. "Nick, you know they're gonna freak," he said. "I know, but I can't help it. We can explain everything after the fact, but it has to be this way," Nick said. "But why?" Brian asked. "This is my first decision as king. The council and the entire planet are gonna be seeing this. I have to show complete unity to Celeste, otherwise everything I do will be questioned," he said. Brian sighed, "Man, that sucks." "Yeah, it does, but I can't do anything about it," Nick replied, "So, can I count on ya?" "Of course, you know I'd do anything to help you out," Brian said. Nick nodded, "I know, thanks." "No problem," Brian said, reaching up and holding his side. Nick noticed, "Come on, lets go back." "I'm OK," Brian said. "Naw, we need to go back anyway. Breakfast is soon and mom hates it when I'm late," he said, turning Thomas around. Kena followed without Brian having to move the reins. They rode for a moment before Brian spoke, "Nick, um about this morning." "I won't tell if you don't want me to," Nick said, smiling at him, "It just kinda shocked me." Brian laughed, "Me too. I mean, you know me. I've never done anything like that before. I just ...... we were dancing and ....." "Listen man, I understand OK? You love her, anyone that looks at you can see it. Who cares if you've only known each other for a few days?" Nick said. Brian nodded, "I just ... I don't want to do something that will reflect bad on you, ya know?" Nick laughed, "It's fine man, really. I saw everyone's reaction to you at the dance. They like you two together. It's really OK, you don't have to sneak around, unless you want to." "What about you and Ana?" Brian asked. Nick sighed and looked at the mountains, "That's complicated." "Why? I'm sure the look you're seeing on my face, matches the one on your own when you look at her. You love her don't you?" Brian asked. "Bri, it's... there's a lot of things that you don't understand. We can't ... it's not allowed," Nick said. "Not allowed?" he asked. Nick nodded, "A member of the royal family cannot have a relationship with someone who's not a member of the high class. Ana's not .... so we can't be together." "That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard," Brian said, "Who came up with that rule?" "King Leo the third," Nick replied, "He was the forth king. He made the rule so the royal blood line would stay pure." "Well King Leo was an idiot," Brian said. Nick laughed, looking over at his friend, "It's worked very well until now." "So, you're the king, change the rule," Brian offered. Nick sighed, "I can't. I vowed to rule for the people. If I do that, everyone would see that it was for my benefit alone. I can't do it." Brian sighed as they neared the stables, "I guess sometimes it's not so good to be the king, huh?" Nick nodded, "Yeah." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kevin paced in the hanger, ready to go. Howie and A.J. watched as Tamara and Tom instructed a team of soldiers on what to do. A.J. leaned over to Howie, "I dunno about this plan. What if they find out about the second team? Then what?" Howie shrugged his shoulders, "I dunno." They watched as the second team got into a transport and took off. Tamara and Tom came over. "Alright, I want each of you to take one," Tom said, passing out a small caliber hand gun. "What's this for?" Kevin asked. "Just in case things turn ugly," Tamara said. The guys looked at each other for a moment, then took the guns. "But aren't we going in as a diplomatic team?" Howie asked. "Yes," she answered. "Then why the guns? Diplomats don't carry guns," he said. "When they are going into hostile territory they do," she said. "Now you understand your role in this, right?" Tom asked. All three nodded. "Alright, let's get going," he said, turning and walking up the ramp into their transport. Once inside, Andrew started the engines and pulled the transport out of the hanger. Their ship had landed in a docking field outside the city. Their's was the only one there, which Andrew thought was quite odd. He flew towards the city, ready to get the mission over with and get back to their ship. He just hoped Brian made it here in one piece. He missed his new friend, and wanted nothing more than to get him and Nick and high tail it back to earth. He glanced down at his radar, the hair on the back of his neck standing up. "Um guys, we got a big problem," he called. "What is it?" Tamara asked. "We've got three B-class fighters coming up fast," he said, flipping the switches for the shields and arming the small laser. Tamara walked up to the cockpit, "Whatever you do, don't shoot first." "I'm not planning on it, just getting ready in case they wanna play. You better go buckle up, this could get bumpy," Andrew said. Tamara quickly went back to her seat, "Buckle up guys." "What's going on?" Kevin asked, seeing the fighters out his window. "Either this is our escort, or things are about to get ugly," she said. Just then the ship rocked with the blast from one of the fighters. "Shit, things are ugly!" Andrew yelled, doing his best to stay out of the ships target locks. "They knew we were coming, why do this?" Howie asked. "I dunno. Normally they receive diplomats no matter what the circumstances are. Then if they can't work things out that way, they attack. This is new," Tom said. Everyone grabbed their chairs as Andrew banked hard to the right, then almost immediately back to the left. "I can't shake them!" he yelled, as the ship rocked again, "Shit! They hit the engine, hang on we're going down!" Kevin looked at A.J. and Howie, seeing the fear in their eyes, wondering what exactly they got themselves into. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick and Brian watched the monitors from the control room in the palace. Nick cringed when the transport went down, praying everyone inside was OK. Brian looked at him with worry in his eyes, "You think they're OK?" "I hope so," Nick answered, then turned to the tech in front of them, "Make sure they aren't hurt, then have the soldiers bring them here." "Yes, your highness," the tech said, calling the orders over the communication system. Brian breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the guys climb out of the transport. They had a few cuts, but looked alright otherwise. Nick pointed to the three on the screen, "Do not hurt them. I don't care how much they struggle. Make sure everyone knows it. The soldier that disobeys that order will regret it dearly." The tech nodded, a tinge of fear in his eyes, then relayed that message as well. "Come on Bri, we need to go get ready," Nick said, turning and leaving the room. Brian looked back at the guys on the screen. They had their hands up, being patted down for weapons by several Celestian soldiers. "I hope this works," he muttered, turning to catch up with Nick. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kevin glanced over at Tamara as the soldiers bound his hands in front of him. "Just do as they tell you," she said. The soldiers lead the group to a large horse drawn wagon. The only thing was, it wasn't horses pulling it, it was unicorns. And the wagon was caged, with a door at the back. The soldiers motioned for them to climb in, so they did. A.J. watched as several soldiers mounted their unicorns and followed behind the wagon. "They have unicorns?" Howie asked, still in shock. Tom nodded. "Why are we traveling like this?" A.J asked, "They have transports." "It's not allowed in the city. The only transports that run into the city are those of the royal family," Tamara said. "And something bad has happened," Tom added. "How do you know that?" Kevin asked, rubbing the bump on his head. "See the dark marks down all their faces. Those are grief marks. Something horrible has happened," he explained. "Oh great, now we're caught in the middle of it," A.J. said. "I'm afraid so," Tamara said. As the wagon made its way through the city a crowd started to gather. The guys watched as they followed them, talking excitedly in a language they didn't understand. Tamara laughed. "What's so funny?" Kevin asked. "They know who you are. That's why they are following us," she said. "You understand them?" A.J. asked. "Yes," she said. "Then why haven't you tried to talk to them?" Kevin asked, angry. "Because they are taking us to the person I need to talk to," she said. "And who's that?" Howie asked. "The king," she answered. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick placed his crown on his head and looked around, "Everyone ready?" Brian, Ana, Marie, and Rowland nodded. They were all dressed in military style jumpsuits, and all had weapons at their sides. Nick was in a more elaborate jumpsuit, and carried no weapon. He didn't need one. The guys had been brought into the throne room, and made to kneel. Nick could see them from where he was standing. They looked frightened. He hated that, but it was something that couldn't be helped. The council entered the room and took their places. Now it was time for Nick to go in. "Alright guys, let's go," he said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "What's going on?" Kevin asked, as three men walked into the room and took their places behind a large table near the thrones. "That's the council. The King and Queen will come in next," she whispered. All the soldiers in the room dropped to one knee as a group came through a side door. The guys watched as two girls came in, followed by a large military looking man, then Brian. "Oh my God, Brian!" Kevin said, trying to get up. He was forced back down to his knees. Brian didn't even look in their direction, he just kept staring back into the door he came out of. A.J. leaned closer to Kevin, "Look at Brian's wrist." Kevin looked, seeing his mark for the first time, "Oh God, what did they do to him?" Howie looked at them both, "I gotta bad feeling about this." One of the guards smacked him in the back of the head, "Shhh." Brian and the group he was with knelt as an older woman stepped through the door, followed by Nick. Everyone's mouths were on the floor by now. Nick sat down on the throne, then motioned for everyone to stand. The guards stood up, but left Kevin and the rest of his group on their knees. Nick glared at Tom and Tamara, "You lied to me." "I don't understand," Tamara said, "What's going on here?" "You told me that I was part of the royal family. You neglected to tell me that I was the prince!" Nick yelled. Everyone one in the room cringed. "Nick, I didn't know," Tamara said. "You will address me in the proper manner!" Nick spat. Tamara bowed her head, "I'm sorry, your highness. Forgive me." A.J. looked at Nick, "Your highness? What the hell is going on here?" Nick ignored him, "How dare you come here trying to take me back, and how dare you bring them with you. You've denied me my entire heritage. You held me hostage all these years to gain what you are not equipped enough to handle. How many others have you done this to?" Tamara looked at him in shock, "Please, you have to believe me. I didn't know!" "What the fuck is he saying?!" A.J. asked. Tamara turned to tell him when she was interrupted by a group coming into the room. It was their second team. Tom and Tamara glanced at each other, wondering just how they were gonna get outta this one. Kevin glared at the two, "I told you this was a bad idea." Nick stepped down off his throne and walked toward the group. He looked down at the two agents, studying them. "This offense could be a death sentence for you," he said, "But I believe you didn't know." Tamara sighed in relief, "Thank you." "But that's not to say you won't be punished," Nick said, turning and looking at the new group of soldiers that had been brought in. He scanned their faces, looking for something. He almost smiled when he found it. "Bring him here," he said, pointing to one of the soldiers. The man was brought forward, Nick stared at him, scenes flashing through his mind of the man's true identity. The scenes shocked him so much he slipped, speaking English for the first time, "You knew." "Knew what?" A.J. asked angrily, "What the hell is he saying?!" Nick glanced over to Brian, "Shut him up." Brian nodded, stepping towards the group. He knew this might happen, so he was prepared for it. He took a deep breath and pulled his weapon, aiming it at A.J. A.J. threw his bound hands up, "Bri, don't! It's us man, don't do this!" Brian pulled the trigger. The room lit up with the golden waves as they engulfed A.J. for a moment, before he fell to the floor unconscious. Kevin looked at his cousin in horror, "What the hell are you doing?! We came here to get you!" Brian glanced at Nick, then moved his aim to Kevin and fired. Howie stayed quiet as Kevin collapsed in a heap. He stared at Brian with tears in his eyes, trembling with fear. Brian turned and motioned to Marie to come with him. He walked over and took Howie by the cuffs he had on, pulling him to his feet. "Bring them," Marie instructed, as she and Brian left the room with Howie in tow. Several guards picked Kevin and A.J. up and followed them. Nick turned his attention back to the soldier, "Who are you?" The man said nothing, staring straight ahead. Nick turned back to Tamara and Tom, "He knows the truth, which means there are others in your agency that do. I will spare your lives, but you must work for me." "Work for you? How?" she asked. Nick moved back up to his throne and sat down, speaking English so they would all understand him, "I want you to investigate your agency. I know there have to be others like me on earth. Others that have been lied to, and are being held hostage so your world can get what it wants." "And if we don't?" Tom asked. "I could have you killed, but I don't think that would change anything. How bout this? Our entire fleet, along with several of the outlying worlds ships show up above every major city on earth, uncloaked," Nick said. "You can't! The entire world would be tossed into chaos," Tom said. "Then you work for me," Nick said. "What would you have us do?" Tamara asked. "You will be escorted back to earth. Once there you will work with our team in your agency. To make sure you don't go back on your word, your ships will be rendered useless while our people are there," Nick said. "Rendered useless? How?" Andrew asked. "You don't think we gave you the plans for the ships without keeping a way for us to shut them down do you? We aren't that stupid," Nick laughed, "Once you complete your investigation, my people will return any aliens that need to be, back to their home planets. Then all ties between Earth and Celeste are over. Your planet has held mine in its grasp for long enough." "My king, aren't you being a little harsh?" Mason asked. Nick glared at his uncle, "No, I'm not. Do not question what I'm doing here uncle. Unless there is some reason you want open ties with Earth? The planet that robbed this world of their dignity. That made us give them technology they aren't ready for, in hopes they would return me? If you have a reason, I'm sure the planet would love to hear it," Nick said, gesturing towards the cameras in the room. Mason lowered his head, knowing he couldn't voice any reason. The people of Celeste hated Earth for what they'd done, and if he voiced any reason, he would be looked upon as a sympathizer. He glared at Nick for a moment. His nephew was on his toes, that was for sure. "Your highness, please reconsider. Don't cut ties between our worlds because of what a few did," Tamara pleaded. "I have no choice. You can't be trusted, and even if you could redeem yourselves, the people of this planet would never believe you are sincere. Go and do as I ask, you know it's the right thing to do," Nick said. "We know that, and we will find who was behind this," Tom said. "Start with him," Nick said, pointing to the soldier he singled out, "He knows the truth about me. He'll know who was behind it." All eyes fell on the man. He looked around for a moment, then lunged at one of the soldiers near him. He managed to pull the man's weapon, then turned aiming it at Nick. "Stop!" Nick called to the soldiers in the room. Most of them already had their weapons trained on the man, ready to shoot. The man looked around frantically. "You don't want to do this," Nick said, "You can't hurt me." "You bleed just like anyone else," the man spat. Nick reached out with his hand, and in an instant the weapon was yanked out of the man's hand and flew across the room into Nicks. "Like I said, you can't hurt me," Nick said, as several guards grabbed the man. Tamara and Tom stared at Nick in shock. They knew the Angels possessed extra abilities, but they had never seen them displayed. Nick motioned to the guards, "Take them back to their ship." "Wait! What about the guys?" Tamara asked. "They will stay here," Nick said. "But how do we explain the biggest pop group in the world suddenly disappearing?" Tom asked. Nick shrugged his shoulders, "That's your problem. I expect a daily report once you get back. My team will keep you in contact with me." And that was it. The guards pulled them from the room, taking them back to their ship. "Well, that didn't go well," Tom said. "No, no it didn't," Tamara agreed. Chapter 28 |