The rear door closed, breaking Gunthix’s line of sight on the enemy aircraft. He turned to the princess and dropped to one knee. She nudged him up and spoke gently, “Gunthix, you are my hero and champion.” A few members of the staff gasped, but all of them quickly took a knee. Gunthix stared at her through his visor and caught her as the lancer gained full power and raised to fly out of the atmosphere. She hugged him tightly.
IX
The shuttle landed in the hanger to a full assembly of every officer on board and every medical technician available. They emerged from the lancer as the medics rushed to insure the princess was fine. Charon was waiting in her full battle armor. Gunthix and Styx approached her and discovered she was smiling. “I pulled that little stunt you did, Gunthix. It wasn’t so hard,” she said laughing, “and I was told I did it with less drama.”
Captain Hurst and Major Leadly approached the trio. Captain Hurst spoke first, “Our orbital bombardment destroyed most of the palace. We overheard a report that we killed their king.”
Major Leadly continued, “We are already headed for home space. The raid has been reported and the majority of our battle groups will meet us part of the way and form a large armada to intercept anything they might send our way.”
Gunthix raised his visor and asked coldly, “We aren’t going to retrieve the bodies?”
The skipper turned away. Major Leadly paused for a moment and then answered, “If we stay, we risk the possibility of being engaged by a large group of nearby warships. There isn’t a possibility of remaining in orbit long enough to retrieve their bodies.”
Gunthix blinked slowly and then eyed the drop pods. The screams of the fallen haunted Gunthix as he imagined them being killed for nothing. They knew they were going to be brought home one way or another. It was all a dyeing Guntherian ever wants. “Then allow us to drop and retrieve their bodies, at the very least send me.”
Captain Hurst faced Gunthix, “Your mission on board this ship is to protect the princess. Your mission is not body retrieval.” He then pushed him as a show of his position.
Gunthix picked up the commander by his neck and held him against the wall. Captain Hurst clawed at his arm, gasping for breath. Gunthix held him while indoctrination and every muscle screamed for him to cease his insubordination. The low sound of everyone talking in the hanger suddenly stopped, startled by Gunthix. Captain Hurst reached for his pistol and raised it to his chest, but Gunthix knocked it away with his free hand. He roared, “I will squash you like the little spider in a uniform that you are, and then raze their planet until I have every body from that squad.”
The silence was interrupted by the footsteps of the princess approaching the confrontation. “My champion,” she whispered with reverence, “One spider may be small to a man, but enough spiders can swarm him and topple him.” He didn’t take his eyes off of Captain Hurst. She laid a hand on his shoulder in a show of remorse, “They will be honored and they will be brought home.”
He lowered his visor and lit up his H.U.D., showing the ship’s course and distance from the planet. The cruiser had already turned away from the planet and was moving quickly out of the system. He raised his visor and eyed his prisoner, anticipating how much longer he could hold his breath.
Gunthix released his grip on the superior officer, letting him drop to the floor. He eyed him a short time and then walked toward the exit. Styx quickly followed after him. Captain Hurst caught his breath and then stood up.
“Major,” he gasped, “I want a court martial for that commander as soon as we are in within shuttle distance of an admiral.” Major Leadly eyed him heavily and then ushered Charon to follow him out of the hanger.
“Didn’t you see?” yelled Captain Hurst, “He assaulted me.”
Major Leadly stopped and looked over his shoulder, “It was self-defense. Any court martial you attempt will only get you reprimanded.”
***
Charon found Bishop and King in the medical bay. Bishop was wounded, but would heal without any permanent damage. King, on the other hand, was unharmed but would never recover. Bishop was cradling King in her arms when Charon walked in. She eyed the technicians and motioned for the door, then sat on the bed next to them.
“He said he would see me in a little while,” King sobbed, “I watched helplessly while he blew up.” She hung her head against Bishop, crying endlessly.
Charon idly studied Bishop’s wounds, thinking of something to say, “I’m sorry.” It was all she could manage.
King looked up, studied her, and then asked, “Is this the price of love? Is this the true cost of war? I don’t understand any of it.” Charon didn’t know. She was built for war, programmed to kill, and didn’t expect to ever know love. What she managed to learn on her own, she could never expect to explain.
“I don’t know,” answered Charon, “but I do know this: the love you felt and the love you shared will be with you forever. Nothing you ever experience will replace those feelings of love. The pain will fade, but it won’t let you forget. It won’t let you forget just how much you loved him.”
Bishop thought about losing Gunthix. She worried about the pain of losing him if she were too attached. She asked herself if she was already too attached. She knew she was attached to Charon, but how much she didn’t know. She already felt the pain of losing everyone else and the guilt of surviving.
King continued to sob over losing Rider. Bishop and Charon swore to stay with her until she would at least fall asleep. Eventually, she did fall asleep and Bishop stayed with her. She did it more for King than for the medical equipment she was hooked up to. Charon was forced away at the urging of Major Leadly, but only after King was sound asleep.
***
The Royal Eagle eventually met up with the fleet for escort and cover. Captain Hurst was true to his word and attempted a court martial; and just as Major Leadly said, he was reprimanded. High Admiral Volker considered assigning him to a smaller vessel, but at the urging of the major, was left to the Royal Eagle. He made it clear that he should consider any attempts into tactical planning outside of the ship-to-ship warfare that he was assigned to it would be assumed that he would prefer a demotion and be switched over to ground warfare. At the behest of Major Leadly, Bishop and King were to be transferred to a planet-based academy for an officer’s training as soon as feasible instead of being transferred to a new squad as custom. King was left on a high dose of anti-depressants and other drugs.
Gunthix was heralded as Princess Iris’s champion, inheriting all the duties within: her personal bodyguard, confidante, and future sire of her children. He was told he would be bestowed the rank of High General and given courtesy as such, forcing him to become accustomed to anyone kneeling before him and he grew tired of it quickly. The royal staff felt very uneasy about having an accomplished warrior with them at all times; most hadn’t even been near a weapon that had been fired, their military service spent deep in home space. The loss of the Praetor Guard was another matter that had to be dealt with. Major Leadly assured the royal staff that Gunthix was enough of a temporary guard and there was no rush for replacements.
“Tell me again, Gunthix,” begged Princess Iris, “What is it like to fall from the sky without wings?”
Gunthix hesitated for a moment and then spoke, “It’s like feeling completely helpless and in complete control at the same time: the intense fear of doing something unnatural is overridden by the love and thrill.”
A few members of staff were in awe while a designated member was recording every word said. Princess Iris laid her hand on his and gently fingered a small a small circle on it. A staff member spoke up, “And to kill?”
Gunthix looked at him with deep eyes. “It is quick. There is no emotion. The only detail that matters is when the heart stops.” Silence filled the table as he finished speaking.
Captain Hurst entered the dining hall and knelt before Princess Iris. “My princess,” he did his best not to see
Gunthix, “We are entering home space now. We expect to be in orbit within a few hours.”
She smiled and thanked him, “Please notify us on the astrogation deck.” She stood up, followed by the entire table, and then exited the room, flanked by Gunthix. She held is hand and looked into his eyes, “I love to see the stars. Don’t you?” He remained silent as they entered the room filled with stars. “We will be fine alone,” she calmly said to the staff, forcing them away from the couple.
Princess Iris stepped out on the pier and into the center of a globe of glass. She stared at the stars and tried to remember their names. Looking at Gunthix, she smiled and spoke, “Sometimes I can imagine that I can reach out and touch them. Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could hold a star in your hand?” Gunthix reached toward the control panel in the center, touched a few buttons, and the room was filled with shining little lights of different colors. She giggled and raced to one and held it in her hand. He stood silently, drifting his gaze between balls of light and her. After examining a tiny ball, she whispered quietly to Gunthix, “Can you turn the gravity off too?”
He pressed another switch and they began floating. She continued to giggle as she drifted around the room. “Is this our home?” she asked Gunthix as she carefully examined a slightly larger white ball.
“No,” he whispered quietly, “It is this one.” He gently launched himself off the floor and approached a blue light with two tiny dots circling it.
“Oh,” she giggled to herself, “I'm not the best at astrogation. The one in the palace has Guntha at the center.” Gunthix nodded and stared at the thousands of tiny lights filling the room. “Would you believe I will one day rule these stars?” she asked with a tinge of sadness. He closed his eyes and leaned back. “I'm scared, Gunthix,” she whispered to him.
“Why are you scared, my Princess?”
“Having billions of lives to look at me for guidance and protection.”
“You are destined for it. You are the very blood of the great Queen.”
“I am still scared.”
“Don't be scared, my Princess, and don't be scared in front of others,” he whispered as he turned toward the door.
The door opened, revealing Styx and Charon. They waited for a moment and then entered the man sized snow globe. Styx drifted toward the princess. “Oh,” gasped Princess Iris, “I didn’t know I had an audience. If you will excuse my infantile behavior.” She attempted a curtsy and did a complete flip instead. Styx smiled, half-attempted to kneel, and flipped in spectacular fashion.
Charon spoke from the entrance, “We came to inform you we will be entering orbit soon and the shuttle will launch promptly.” The smile on Princess Iris’s face faded as she was reminded of her imminent duties and forced exile within her palace. “We’re also here to inform you about that the armada engaged the Ikor fleet and captured the young king.” Gunthix also heard the hidden message: the Ikor flagship was the only remaining ship, the rest were slaughtered.
Princess Iris forced herself to the pier. “We should make our way to the hanger,” she said sadly, “I assume Captain Hurst will want to be prompt.” Gunthix returned gravity to the deck, forcing Styx to the floor without any grace. “How long will it take the young Ikor king to be in home space?” she asked intently.
“Within three cycles,” responded Gunthix. “Their flagship and our escort are gravity sling-shooting. The majority of the armada will remain within Ikor home space as a deterrent for anything else.” The group exited the room and walked to Princess Iris’s stateroom. Their assignment complete, Styx and Charon left the room in order to give them time to prepare to go planet side.
X
“Princess Iris!” screamed the jubilant voices of several children. Princess Iris smiled as she began to embrace several of the children. “We heard you were captured, “spoke one of the children, “Are you alright?”
Princess Iris picked one up and looked into her eyes, “I'm fine,” she cooed the youth, “My champion, Gunthix, rescued me.”
“You have a champion now?” responded several of the children in chorus, equally surprised and excited.
“Yes, I do,” she answered as she looked over her shoulder to the quiet Gunthix as he followed her and the group away from the entrance. “And this is him, Champion Gunthix.”
Several wide eyes transferred their gaze from Princess Iris to Gunthix.
“Does this mean we will have a young one with us soon?” asked a tiny voice as Princess Iris took up a seat on the edge of the garden's pool.
“No,” she answered him quietly, “but, your children's children will.” A moan of disappointment came over the group as another child approached Gunthix.
“Are you a great warrior?” he asked as he held Gunthix's gloved hand. Gunthix nodded his head simply. “Are you the best?” asked the insistent youth. Gunthix lowered himself to eye level with the tiny child and looked into his red eyes.
“He is the best,” answered a young girl, “He saved Princess Iris from the ugly Ikor.” A collective awe sounded from the group as they surrounded Gunthix, intent on touching him.
“Why are his eyes black?” asked a boy.
“Now children,” responded Princess Iris, “What kind of question is that?”
“I want to know,” insisted the boy.
“His eyes are black because he is the princess's champion,” answered the girl on Princess Iris's lap. Gunthix raised himself, towering over the collection of silver and blue hair, as he looked at Princess Iris with careful eyes.
“Children,” her voice gathered everyone attention instantly, “Are you telling me nothing happened in my absence?” A girl quickly began jumping up and down as she answered her, “Oh,” she exclaimed, “Your flower bloomed.”
“Yes,” another voice added, “And it's beautiful.”
“Let's go get it,” sounded a rallying call from another youth.
“Yes, Princess Iris needs to see it.” called a boy.
The group stampeded away from Princess Iris and Gunthix toward a row of colorful hedges and disappeared as the rounded the corner. The sound of rampant footsteps slowly quieted, leaving Gunthix and Princess Iris alone.
“Welcome to my garden,” spoke Princess Iris quietly, “My home and my prison.” She stood up and approached Gunthix, wrapping her arms around him as she sighed.
“It is nice,” he commented, unsure of what to say and dazed by the children.
“It is horrible,” she corrected him, “I don't understand why a princess must be hidden away from her people.”
To prevent you from being tainted by the public,” he answered her instinctively. It was tradition that the princess must be hidden away, only called out on very special circumstances and the recent incident only proved the reason behind it.
“I hate it,” she spoke sharply. Gunthix remained quiet as she continued to breathe into his neck.
“Would you rescue me?” she asked him after a long silence.
“I already have, my princess,” he answered quickly.
She sighed and spoke again, “Will you rescue me?” she asked again.”
“I don't understand,” he responded.
“Rescue me. Remove me from danger. Prevent my harm. Would you?”
Gunthix waited for a moment, attempting to understand her question. “I will, my princess,” he answered, “As it is my duty as a soldier of the empire and your champion.” He hoped this answered her question; it was beginning to make him strangely uncomfortable.
“Would you rescue me for you?” she continued to press a hidden question.
“I would rescue you,” he responded, “As I am a soldier of the--”
“Of the empire,” she cut him off, “and my champion. I know that. Would you rescue me for you? Would you rescue me for me? Would you rescue me for love?”
Gunthix breathed deeply for a moment as he questioned himself. He began to recall his latest encounter with Scientist Cylos and w
hat she said. Images drifted in his mind as he remembered their conversation and her insistence to know about Bishop. She suddenly appeared in his mind, her gaze puncturing him as he meditated in the shower. The voice of the Scientist Cylos spoke the question again, “Would you save the Empire?”
“I would,” he spoke reverently.
“You would?” squealed Princess Iris as she kissed him, “You would! I knew you would.” She began jumping up and down as she hugged him. “Oh, Gunthix,” she sighed as she calmed down, “I knew there was a reason why you rescued me.”
Gunthix looked into the sky, seeing the massive blue ball of Guntha rising over the wall, filling the garden in blue. It strengthened him with its rays. The low roar of footsteps began to sound and they turned to see the children rushing to them, the leader was covering his hands over something.
“Here it is, princess,” sounded the child as he stopped. He opened his hands, revealing a blue and red rose. “It's the King's Gift,” they exclaimed in unison, “It finally bloomed and it is beautiful.”
Princess Iris smiled as she shifted her eyes back to Gunthix. “Yes,” she continued to smile, “It is beautiful.”
***
A grand assembly was called before the Empress. There were fewer civilians than the coronation, but they were replaced by additional military members. Word had spread that the Empress was intended to give a speech after receiving Princess Iris back to the palace and heralds stood at intervals among the mix of officers. A powerful sense of foreboding filled the room and reflected the emotion among the pillars and beautiful, golden chandeliers.
The large doors opened slowly to the fanfare of instruments. Princess Iris strolled through the doors, flanked by Gunthix, and followed by her staff. She approached the Empress and embraced her as she stood up. “It is amazing that you are safe,” whispered Empress Kerrigan, “We will gain revenge and compensation.” She eyed Gunthix, who had followed her past the staff and had knelt before them.