After having a good talk with herself about what was right and what was wrong, Maria floated up onto the station bridge, determined to turn everything around after she was crowned queen. Letticus saw her first. The captain nodded in her direction and Truvia turned toward her. Maria pushed off, turned in midflight, and landed to push her feet into foot restraints beside Truvia. “I’ve been thinking over your offer,” Maria said, “and I accept.”
Truvia beckoned her to foot restraints away from the others. Her green eyes narrowed and her expression was dubious. “Please convince me of your sincerity.”
Maria took a deep breath. “You said the asteroid you sent will hit the Earth and it can’t be stopped.”
“That’s true,” Truvia said.
“Therefore, the moon will be all that’s left of humanity.”
“Nearly true. Some people will survive on Earth, but they will be marooned on the planet. So much dust will be in the air, their scramjets won’t work. Even if they did, they will be trying to survive, not fly into space. According to my analysis, existence for the remaining humans on Earth will be similar to medieval life in the fourteenth century.”
“That’s about what I thought,” Maria replied. “And here is why I agree to be your queen. After the Earth is damaged, the Lunar Council will likely get organized to establish a central government on the moon. When they discover it was the Colonel who established the asteroid horde at L5, they will assume he also sent the asteroid crashing into Earth. After that, the Medaris family will be arrested and most of us will be put to death. Those remaining will be reduced to paupers. I have no option other than to join you.”
Truvia’s eyes sparkled. “You please me. Your father still hasn’t figured this out.”
“I’m a fast learner.” Maria made a fist, then opened and closed it. “Iron fist, pretend to be benevolent, then destroy my enemies. Got it covered. So when do I get my crown?”
Truvia clasped her hands to her breast. “We will have a coronation! It will be glorious!”
“Can we do it fairly soon?” Maria asked. “I’d like to get used to being royally in charge.”
Truvia’s delighted expression faded. “In charge? Oh dear, I think you’ve misunderstood. There’s really very little for you to do. Even our beloved King Raleigh and Queen Porella were figureheads, as you will be. In our world, the Trainers make all the decisions.”
Maria could not disguise her disappointment. “But didn’t you say you were designed to be subservient?”
“Yes, but our subservience doesn’t lessen our intellect or our tendency to make the necessary decisions for our society. Certainly, we will honor you with all possible pomp and circumstance. You will be fed, clothed, housed in a royal palace, your every wish granted as it has to do with your royal person, and pampered beyond your wildest imagination.”
Maria’s deflation was complete. “In other words, I will be in a royal cage.”
“Your great-uncle and aunt had no complaints. They became quite fat. Obese, actually. We worried for their health. Now, of course, we can keep your figure perpetually youthful.” She peered at Maria. “Are you sure you want to be our queen?”
Maria’s acting ability was being stretched, but she did her best. “Of course I do!”
Truvia continued to study her, doubt written on her white face.
“Trainer Truvia,” Letticus interrupted, “we have CC2241 on the pulsdar.”
“Come, my future queen,” Truvia said, taking Maria by her hand. “Come see this magnificent sight.”
Maria allowed Truvia to pull her to the pulsdar station, where its sweep showed a glowing blob. “The asteroid is passing over the farside,” Letticus explained.
“It’s how we’ve hidden it,” Truvia explained. “Earthside telescopes couldn’t see it in the shadow of the moon. When it pops out, it will be too late for anyone to do anything.”
“How many days until it gets there?” Maria asked, her stomach churning.
“Three days, a little less.”
Maria looked longingly at the communications console. If she could have just a few seconds on it, she could warn Earth. Maybe it wasn’t too late. Maybe something could be done.
Truvia was not oblivious to where Maria was looking. “Perhaps it is best for you to leave the bridge,” she said. “I sense you are still not being entirely honest with me.”
Maria shrugged. “Do you really expect me to be thrilled that you’re murdering billions of people and destroying my family? But that doesn’t change my decision to be your queen. As I said, I really have no choice.”
“Of course you don’t,” Truvia replied, arching an eyebrow. “By the way, could you tell me more about that heel-3 miner who you said is coming to rescue you? If he’s really coming, you can help us stop him.”
“I was just blowing smoke,” Maria said with a dismissive gesture. “There is no such person.”
“Crater Trueblood is not a person? Please, don’t take me as a fool, Maria. Don’t look so startled. We are capable of research. Mr. Trueblood saved you when the crowhoppers tried to kidnap you during the war.”
“That was then, and it was on the moon. Crater has no way to get out here. How could he?”
“From all I’ve read, he seems quite inventive. It also appears he was once very much in love with you.” Truvia stroked Maria’s cheek while she did her best not to flinch. “I can understand why. Love can sometimes make a person do amazing things. If he comes for you, how will he do it?”
“He is not coming.”
Truvia dropped her hand away. “We have resources on the moon, Maria. Trueblood lives in Cleomedes, but he is not there and no one seems to know where he is. Do you know?”
“Honestly, Truvia, I have no idea.” Maria felt a spark of hope light in her chest.
Truvia reached out to touch Maria’s face again. This time Maria couldn’t help but flinch. Truvia’s hand hung in midair before she slowly lowered it. “I think you should go below now. We will speak of this and many other things at a later time.”
Maria, throwing up a prayer that Crater was really coming, fled the bridge.