Chapter Twenty-Six

Safrec

“What do you mean, you cannot find him. Did he not board a shuttle destined for the fleet?”

“Yes, my Kronan. The shuttle was experiencing some problems and was unable to clear the shields. We have heard nothing since.”

“Did the shuttle not land? Is she still in the air?”

“We don’t know as yet?”

“Then find out!”

This was not a good day. His meeting with Tulan, the commercial attaché to the ECG was important. He needed to know where he was and for that matter where the other nine hundred Kryl were, who had disappeared over the last week. There was a pattern here and if Alpha was involved, then heads would roll.

For now, he had more important matters to attend to. He had an audience with Trieste and he was ready to force the issue of their relationship. He was the “chosen one” and it was time they cemented their relationship. He entered the Queen’s sanctuary and walked purposefully towards the throne.

“You are late, Safrec. I trust there is a good reason?”

“Issues of State, my Queen. You look radiant today.”

“I look the same as I always look, my Kronan. Please refrain from polite conversation. This is a formal meeting.”

“Of course it is, my Queen. There is the matter of our relationship. It is time we formalized it.”

“Ah, the reason for the insincere compliments. Safrec, you are the Kronan, but you are not my “chosen one”.”

Safrec was concerned but tried not to let it show.

“Surely that is mine by right. As your Kronan, I am also your “chosen one”. You have gone too long without a partner, Trieste.”

“You must understand, Safrec; there is no divine right to become my “chosen one”. If I choose you, then you will know. Let us move on to more formal matters. Do you have any news on the missing drones?”

“If I may, Trieste—I would like to discuss our relationship a little further. There are two aspects, you have failed to consider. The first is I am told, I am a great lover. The second is the historical obligation of the Queen to choose a Kronan as her mate…I am ready now. My governor obligations are reducing as the Earth relationship develops.”

“Your modesty will be your undoing, Safrec. Let me be quite clear. Only I have the right to pick and choose my chosen one and there is no obligation on me whatsoever, historical precedence or otherwise. You will never be my chosen one”

The Queen stepped forward as if to demonstrate this was her domain and she was in charge. Safrec could tell he had ruffled her feathers and elected to soften the tone.

“Trieste…in time, I am sure you will appreciate me. I can be patient. Let me return to your original question. There are now over nine hundred missing Kryl. Their numbers include our Commercial Attached, Tulan. We are still carrying out an investigation to find out what or who is responsible. It is likely Alpha will be involved.”

“Tulan would have had a tracer installed. Has the location beacon been activated?”

“We will find out shortly my Queen. I think we have to consider the humans have taken the Kryl for laboratory purposes.”

“Why?”

“By now, they will have carried out death examinations and reasoned why many of our kind our stricken with the same diseased cells. They will seek to exploit this. I think we can assume that they are working on a means to foster the disease and thus bring about an end to our time here.”

“Their technologies will not bring them to the cause; will they?”

“We must be cautious. We are monitoring the situation and when we determine who has carried this out. There will be swift and severe retribution.”

“See that there is. What of the human supplies? Are our people benefitting from the first batch of people?”

“Yes, relief is still widely available but we need it to be. The instances of the disease appear to be on the increase. We may have to increase numbers rather than decrease.”

“That contradicts what we have told them. We may well have to extinguish the human race to pacify our needs.”

“Yes, my Queen. It is a real possibility.”

“Go now. Find the missing Kryl and the perpetrators of this crime against us.”

Safrec turned to leave, but the Queen had not finished.

“Safrec…I am aware that our colony would flourish, if I choose to conceive. I am not ready. That is all.”

Safrec left and headed back towards his shuttle. Trieste had been coy and evasive, but in time she would see him differently and then he would assume his rightful place beside her. The humans would be long gone by then.