The Warlord Read online

  But he made it clear to all concerned that once his vote was cast, he was out of the royalty business. The Milky Way Alliance, the Nobility and everyone else could take care of their own problems. In his mind, it was a reasonable attitude. And he had planned for that eventuality.

  Since the beginning Luke had conscientiously established a governing structure for the Alliance and its military arm that would function without his presence. All of that was now in place and from here on, he was determined that his only duty was to raise a bunch of kids with Annie. The first one was already in the oven.

  This vote on Japurnam Five was the last step in getting to that final solution. Luke had secretly hoped he could avoid the requisite pomp and circumstance. “Hey, George. Any chance I can just tell Jeff my vote and we can leave?”

  “Luke!” Annie rebuked him. “You need to do this right.”

  George agreed with Annie. “I apologize, Commander, but I have already inquired about that possibility with JF307. The local government requires your presence to verify the authenticity of your genetic bloodline.”

  “Figures,” Luke groused.

  “Besides,” Annie said. “Carrie wants a picture of you in the robes we designed. She thinks it’s only fair that you wear that getup at least once. She did a lot more than that for you.”

  Luke had seen the royal robes. They looked like something two women would design. Lots of red and gold silk with sleeves the size of tents. He shook his head in surrender.

  “We are cleared to land at the royal palace,” George announced. “ETA seventeen minutes.”

  “Time to change,” Annie said, tugging on his arm.

  *.*.*.*

  Once Lulubelle touched down, dozens of elegantly robed ministers gathered at the base of the boarding ramp. They began to applaud and cheer when Luke and Annie stepped from the warship. Annie, clad in her own royal attire that artfully matched her husband, held tightly to his arm and urged him forward. Luke took a deep breath and stopped trying to avoid the inevitable. His juvenile rebellious attitude was not becoming in a leader.

  A man at the front of the delegation, simply dressed but somehow looking a bit more aristocratic than the others, took a step forward and dropped to one knee.

  “Prince Lucas, welcome to Japurnam Five. We are honored by your royal presence.”

  George mentally briefed him on the man’s identity. This is the planetary Tolliver.

  Tolliver launched into a pledge of loyalty but Luke cut him off respectfully.

  “Thank you, Tolliver, but I’m not into a lot of formality.”

  “So noted, Highness.” Tolliver was not perturbed in the least by Luke’s refusal of pretension.

  With much bowing and swooshing of flowing robes, the entourage entered the palace and made its way to a large throne room. The ministers, clearly used to such formalities, oozed into their positions along each side of the long hall-like chamber. At one end, an elegantly carved throne rested on a raised dais.

  A medical technician appeared and took a sample of Luke’s blood via a pin prick on his index finger. The tech made a production of showing the blood on Luke’s finger and then smearing it on a glass slide. Every person in the room watched in rapt attention, witnesses to the royal protocol. The glass slide was then placed in microwave-sized machine.

  While the machine performed its analysis, the anticipation in the room grew palpable.

  Luke allowed himself a moment to appreciate what it meant for the people on this planet. At long last, for over a decade according to Carrie, the galaxy had been without its king. It was amazing that the fabric of society had held together during the extended period of uncertainty.

  And of all people in Milky Way, how did I wind up casting the deciding vote? Luke asked himself. The irony was beyond comprehension.

  George suddenly intruded into his thoughts. Commander, I just received an update from JF307 on the current situation regarding the royal family. I believe you want to hear this.

  “Not now, George,” Luke muttered inaudibly.

  Please forgive my interruption, Commander, but I think you need this information.

  “In a minute, George,” Luke whispered. “We’re almost done. Be quiet.”

  Seconds later Annie, still at Luke’s side, gasped in alarm. Her startled exclamation drew his attention. She looked at him with wide eyes and parted lips as though she urgently wanted to tell him something but she wasn’t sure how to say it.

  He raised his eyebrows, prompting her to speak but at that instant, Tolliver gave a sharp exclamation of approval and the assemblage erupted with exclamations of thanksgiving.

  Tolliver stepped to Luke’s side, opposite Annie, and took Luke’s hand in his own, raising it into the air like the winner of a boxing match.

  “I introduce Lucas, Warlord of the Milky Way Alliance and certified as the youngest son of our Great and Royal King, Peyha the Second!”

  The court went wild with cheering.

  After several minutes of noisy celebration Luke tried to stem the tide by motioning for quiet. “Thank you, thank you,” he repeated continually until the room finally quieted. Luke turned to Tolliver. “Don’t we need to get the vote over with? That’s the main reason we’re here.”

  “Of course, Highness.”

  Annie tugged on his sleeve but he shook her off. He wanted to get this brief experience with the actual Nobility over and done with.

  “Let’s get on with it then. Do I need to go into a voting booth or something?”

  “No, Highness. You merely have to announce your vote for the next monarch.”

  “Okay. Then I vote for Princess Gimi.” Carrie had gone to great lengths to educate Luke on the lineage of the Royal Family. Jinbo was the oldest son, but wasn’t qualified to reign. Princess Soultang was next in line, but she had wed the firstborn of the Second Family who had since fallen into disrepute. Her seed was mixed with the now disgraced clan. The only option was Princess Gimi.

  Carrie spoke of the Princess with great respect and affection. Luke knew her only by that reputation but it was enough for him. If Carrie liked her, Gimi was welcome to rule the galaxy.

  “It is so recorded!” Tolliver exclaimed. “JF307, do you acknowledge the vote of Prince Lucas?”

  “The vote is recorded,” JF307 responded, his deep monotone voice amplified in the great hall. “The protocols for First Family line of succession have concluded.”

  Thank goodness for that, Luke thought. He hated ceremonial occasions himself, but understood that they were important for certain situations.

  “The monarchy is restored!” Tolliver shouted to the applause-filled room.

  As a military officer back on Earth, Luke had been dragged into a modicum of ceremony in the air force. And his role as Commander of the Milky Way Alliance had certainly kept him in front of crowds…far more than he desired. But he had to admit, he felt a tiny bit of amused gratitude for the small role he had played in bringing this particular question to a conclusion. Now he and Annie could concentrate on getting back to their home in Baggs.

  “Long live Lucas the First,” Tolliver said loudly. “I present to you Lucas the First, by the grace of God, Warlord of the Milky Way Alliance, most noble monarch of Japurnam Five, of the Jigu system, of the Nobility dominions beyond the stars, Defender of the Faith, Sovereign of the Ancient System of Sol, and King of the First Family, Monarch over all Families of the Nobility. Long live King Lucas the First!”

  The crowd picked up the full-throated refrain and repeated it over and over.

  “Long live King Lucas the First!”

  Luke nodded in respectful acknowledgment for the traditions of the Nobility. He had done his part in the process.

  “Long live King Lucas the First!”

  The words suddenly penetrated Luke’s consciousness.

  “What?” he said out loud. He turned to face Annie. Her expression was filled with concern for her husband.

  “What’s this?” he said. “What are th
ey saying?”

  Annie leaned close. “This is what George was trying to tell you. You’re the new King.”

  “No I’m not!” Luke hissed emphatically. He turned toward Tolliver, but Annie pulled him back.

  “It’s too late now,” she said. “It’s done.”

  “No it’s not!” Luke said forcefully, pulling away from her grip.

  But it was too late. Tolliver was no longer standing next to him. Instead the crowd of ministers surged forward in adoration, singing his name. Tears streamed down the faces of many of his new subjects.

  “Thanks. Wait please. No, hold on.” Luke tried to dampen their rising emotion but his words were drowned out by the adulation.

  Annie’s voice registered in his mind, relayed by George.

  Just accept it for now, she warned him. We’ll sort it out later but right now you have to be gracious.

  Luke reluctantly conceded that he didn’t have a choice at the moment. The crowd poured around both he and Annie, everyone wanted to touch his robes or shake his hand. Ladies of all ages kissed his cheek, men clapped him on the back, and a few kissed his hand.

  One elderly gentleman suddenly drew a decorative sword and waved it over his head, causing the crowd to draw away. For a second Luke considered pulling his hidden revolver, securely holstered under his robes. The senior citizen didn’t appear threatening though.

  “Your Majesty,” the old man wheezed. “My life, my sword, all that I own are yours!” With that, he threw his sword at Luke’s feet and kneeled, swearing fealty to the new king. In seconds, the single blade grew into a pile of hardware with swords, daggers, and not a few silken scarves from various females.

  The palace guard is arriving, George’s mental voice announced discreetly. Tolliver is concerned for your safety.

  As George said, the guard arrived and gently but firmly established a protective cordon around the new king.

  Tolliver reappeared and announced it was time to move into the banquet hall for planned festivities and that the new king would join everyone later. While Tolliver herded the assemblage of ministers, deputies and other distinguished guests toward the door, royal attendants arrived to guide Luke and Annie to their own quarters.

  “I’d rather go back to Lulubelle,” Luke whispered to Annie.

  “We can do that later,” she said. “We need to get through this initial coronation process. The news is already being sent all through Nobility space. For now, you need to talk to JF307, I mean Jeff, and get up to speed on what just happened.”

  “I thought there had to be a majority vote,” Luke complained. “How do I rate a majority among five siblings when they don’t even know I exist?”

  The attendants led them through a labyrinthian maze of marble-floored corridors, the walls decorated with murals of pastoral scenery. Twice they strode outdoors under covered walkways lined with carefully sculptured gardens and cascading fountains. On the horizon, distant mountains resembled the murals they had just passed. Luke sensed they were approaching the back of the palace.

  At the end of the last hallway waiting guards threw open mammoth wooden doors to an opulent living area. The main space was huge, furnished with several seating areas, and on the left, tall curved doorways led to a wide balcony with panoramic views of a rural countryside that was a patchwork of cultivated fields dotted with copses of carefully maintained trees.

  Annie shooed out the attendants and collapsed on a delicately embroidered chaise lounge. She looked at the ceiling. “Jeff, tell us what you know.”

  The AI’s monotone voice filled the room without being overbearing.

  “Yes, Highness. To answer His Majesty’s question, we recently confirmed that Prince Jinbo and Princess Soultang perished during the last days of the Second Family’s retribution against their father, King Peyha.”

  Luke didn’t buy it. “Are you telling me that Carrie voted for me without telling me? That’s hard to believe.”

  “No, Majesty. Princess Carrie gave her proxy to Princess Gimi. The elder princess was not herself interested in taking over the monarchy, especially after the death of her siblings. She has a genteel character and did not believe she had the capability to rule. On the other hand, she was impressed with your many achievements as related by Princess Carrie. When Princess Gimi returned to this planet, she registered her vote, and by proxy, Princess Carrie’s vote, for you.”

  Luke glared at Annie, expecting her to protest the situation but she only shook her head and turned away.

  Although he wasn’t happy about it, the pieces of the puzzle now made sense. “So, you couldn’t say this before we landed? You and Gimi set this us as a fait accompli?”

  “That is not true, Majesty,” JF307 countered. “Until all the royal siblings had voted, Princess Gimi’s vote meant nothing. Royal protocols require the vote of all siblings for any to count. In any event, the votes of Prince Jinbo and Princess Soultang were disqualified because they were made under the duress of the Second Family. Although Princess Gimi’s and Carrie’s votes for you made a majority of the three remaining votes, your vote was still needed to complete the legal requirements. Now, all required votes are registered. The formalities are complete. By law, you are the sovereign monarch of the Nobility’s First Family, ruling family of the known galaxy.”

  Luke was furious with the cavalier way he and Annie were being treated. He had very specific plans for their future and it did not include babysitting a planet full of simpering ministers. “Yeah, we’ll see about that,” he said. “Where’s Gimi? I need to have a little talk with my so-called big sister.”

  “She is not on this planet, Majesty,” JF307 informed Luke. “After recording her vote months ago, she returned to her home on Ebene Three. Her most recent communication was from there.”

  Luke fumed at the situation. “Well, isn’t that just great?” He looked for Annie. She had wandered off during JF307’s explanation and was standing in the doorway onto the balcony, her wistful gaze cast toward the lovely countryside and the distant mountains beyond. Luke put his hands on her shoulders. “Let’s get packed, babe. We’re going to Ebene Three and sort this out.

  She gave him a mournful gaze. “But we just got here. We’ve been cooped up on the ship for months. I need some fresh air.”

  “George?” Luke said, “How long a trip to Ebene Three?”

  Two weeks your Majesty.

  “It’s only a two-week trip,” Luke said. “The longer we wait, the more difficult it will be to unravel this mess.”

  Annie was unconvinced. “Jeff, does Ebene Three have a planetary AI like you? I recall that Carrie said the AI on that planet was destroyed quite a while back.”

  “That is true, Your Highness,” JF307 confirmed. “To register any change to the ruling family, His Majesty would have to escort Princess Gimi to the nearest planet with a registered high-level artificial intelligence. The closest such entity would be here on Japurnam Five.”

  Annie’s expression was filled with pleading eyes. “That’s another month onboard. Can’t I just wait here? You can hurry there and come straight back.”

  Luke could tell he was on the verge of losing the argument. He had one last chance to put his foot down. “Babe, there is no way I am going to leave you behind while I go off to play king on a planet that no one has even heard of. We go together.”

  Annie put the back of her hand against her forehead as though feeling faint. “Honey, I just don’t think I’m up to it.” She played her trump card and patted her tummy in that familiar way when she wanted something. “Not with the baby coming and all.”

  Luke’s heart sank. This was not an argument he would win.

  At that instant, a commotion sounded in the hall outside. It was Tolliver. He burst into the room, staring excitedly at Annie. “My Queen! JF307 just informed me you are pregnant! Is this true?”

  A bit startled by the intrusion, Annie nevertheless gave the man a bemused smile. “Yes, it is. Almost three months now. That’s why…”


  Tolliver approached Luke, grasping his hand in congratulations. “Your Majesty, what great news! What wonderful tidings! This is cause for great rejoicing! Not only do we have a king, you have already given the galaxy the first fruits of your royal loins! Your Majesty, I will have the royal surgeon attend the queen and we shall begin preparations for the royal nursery. And the citizens must be told!”

  Tolliver hurried out leaving Annie to give Luke a royal glower. “Don’t let that go to your head,” she warned. “You still get to change the royal diapers.”

  *.*.*.*

  Two weeks later Luke stood at the base of Lulubelle’s boarding ramp, holding Annie in a gentle embrace. “I hate leaving you behind,” he said softly. “I know I’m being selfish, but I don’t like it when we’re apart. I worry about you.”

  “Then hurry back,” Annie urged. “But I’ll be fine. You’re leaving Sadie with me and I’ve got attendants hanging from the rafters. Just don’t get caught up in some emergency and be late for the big event. Promise me that.”

  “I promise. Give me two days at the other end, and I’ll head back even if I have to kidnap her.”

  “Don’t do that,” Annie said. “If you can’t convince her on this trip, then just come on back and we’ll talk about it. Everything doesn’t have to be solved right this minute. I want you here so we can enjoy some time together and then have our baby in the palace. That’s all I care about.”

  “You wanted Rosa to be born on Earth,” Luke reminded her, using the name that Annie had chosen.

  “That was then,” Annie waved away his comment. “A lot of my ideas are changing the more pregnant I get. Now, I just want you and me to be together in a peaceful and beautiful place; and this palace is beautiful. Even Moonbase doesn’t have anything this nice. And everyone loves us for a change. I got so tired of the politics on Earth. But here, on Japurnam Five, it’s like we can do no wrong. And I’m getting used to Jeff. He and Sadie go way back; I mean like centuries. It’s been interesting hearing their stories.” Sadie was Annie’s personal yacht, a Level-One AI and armed to the teeth.