Author’s note: This is book two of my Jupiter series. While this story can stand alone, it draws upon context from book one, A Princess of Jupiter which is also posted on this site. I know I will get quite a few comments regarding the viability of life and gravity on Jupiter. I chose Jupiter as it is still one of the mystery planets in our solar system. That and we know far too much about Mars and Venus. My goal in writing this series of stories was to try and regain a little bit of lost science fantasy and wistfulness that Edgar Rice Burroughs so eloquently brought to us. Enjoy.

A Slave of Jupiter

Sitting in my home office, I leaned back in my inexpensive Office Depot desk chair and took a moment to re-read the last pages I had written. Writing stories has been an outlet of mine for years to control the never-ending onslaught of my brain and body’s contentious relationship.

The sun was beginning to set and an orange glow filtered through the thin beige curtains causing the room to be bathed in a warm coppery light. Today was one of those days when my writing didn’t feel inspired and I reached for the mouse to select and delete all that I had written in the past hour.

“Greetings, Casey Brooke.”

Startled by the sound of a woman’s voice coming from behind me, I swiveled so quickly that I almost spun myself out of the chair when the back hit the corner of my desk. Standing before me was a shimmering three-dimensional image of a beautiful blonde-haired woman wearing a sword and very little else.

“Who? Who are you? What are you? What are you doing in my home?”

“I would think you would recognize me, Casey. I’m Caelen Carter.”

“That’s not possible! Caelen Carter is a fictitious character from a story I wrote. Who are you? Is this some sort of joke?”

“I have little time to debate this, Casey. It’s taking a great amount of energy to transmit my image to you. The story you wrote was inspired by my sending you my thoughts from Jupiter. For years I have tried to find ways of communicating with Earth, and two years ago I had a breakthrough when I connected with your mind.”

“Even if what you say is true, you can’t still be alive after all these years.”

“I’m alive and well. Shortly after my arrival on Jupiter, our scientists discovered a longevity serum. I am still Queen with my wife, Aristea, and we have two daughters, the oldest being around fifty-four Earth years old.”

“I must be dreaming.”

“I can’t prove any of this to you and I’m unsure how long my connection will persist. Jupiter is in danger. We are experiencing gravitational fluctuations. I can pinpoint the source, but need quartz to finish my gravitometer. Quartz, as far as I can tell, doesn’t exist on Jupiter.”

“You want me to send you quartz? I’m pretty sure that is beyond my ability. I’m also quite positive that our postal system doesn’t have a stop on Jupiter.”

“On April 24, 2018, at precisely 3:52am Earth time at 34.854815 North and 111.78061 West, I can pull an object from Earth to Jupiter. I only need five pounds of quartz. You better write that down.”

“Oh… Yes!” I hastily scribbled down the time and location and confirmed it with Caelen. “Life on Jupiter is real? I’m not dreaming?”

“It is very real…” Caelen’s image became distorted. “Jupiter needs your help, Casey. Our lives depend on you.”

With that, her presence vanished and I sat back stunned. Was I just dreaming?

***

The next day I woke and rolled over to find my note that I had scribbled down the evening before. Certainly, this can’t be real. Someone is playing an elaborate hoax on me.

Picking up my phone, I called Nick Nordham, a long-time friend of mine.

“Hello, this is Nick.”

“Nick, Casey Brooke.”

“How’s my favorite author doing?”

“Clearly, you need to read more, Nick. I’m doing all right. Just the normal everyday signs of aging ungracefully.”

“I hear you and feel your pain. What’s up? You don’t normally call.”

“Remember my story, A Princess of Jupiter?”

“Of course. It’s one of my favorites.”

“You’re going to think I’m crazy.”

“Let me guess, you’re finally writing a sequel. That’s hardly crazy. I’ve been waiting for it for years.”

“Caelen Carter visited me last night.”

“Was she pretty?”

“You’re not taking this seriously. Caelen Carter appeared in my office as sort of a three-dimensional hologram. I wasn’t dreaming. She said she was real and that somehow she had developed a connection to me, even suggesting my previous story was inspired by her memories she transmitted to me from Jupiter.”

“Let me look at what day it is. Nope. It’s not April first. Come on Casey, you expect me to believe a character you created is real?”

“She told me Jupiter is in danger. Something to do with gravitational fluctuations and she needed quartz from earth to build her machine to isolate where the fluctuations were coming from.”

“Quartz actually makes some sense. It’s used in all kinds of scientific instruments. Listen, Casey. I’m sure you thought you saw this person but it was either too many margaritas or you were dreaming.”

“I swear I wasn’t dreaming, Nick. Caelen gave me a date, time, and some coordinates. She said she needed five pounds of quartz and she could somehow pull them to Jupiter. I know this sounds crazy. Maybe I’m just going nuts.”

“Coordinates?”

“Let me find my notes… Yes. Here they are. 34.854815 North and 111.78061 West.”

“Why are those coordinates familiar to me? Just a second… Oh my God. Do you know what these are?”

“I’m assuming someplace on earth.”

“These are the coordinates for the Sedona Airport energy vortex. I knew they sounded familiar.”

“Energy vortex?”

“Have you ever seen pictures of the sun? The ones where solar flares erupt and get sucked back in? Earth has similar spots where magnetic and other energies erupt and pull back into the earth. This is one of those locations. It makes some sense. It you were to somehow leverage the energy from the site to transmit an object through space… What I’m saying, Casey, is that maybe it’s not so far-fetched.”

“What are you doing the early morning hours of April 24^th?”

***

I arrived at the Las Vegas airport, pondering how stupid this all was. Ever since Caelen’s visit, my writing had been put aside. I spent the last month researching and gathering various forms of quartz that would be useful. They were carefully packed in a reinforced travel case. If nothing else, they would make pretty ornaments to collect dust on my shelves.

I wish I had asked Caelen more questions. Knowing that there was a slight chance I wasn’t completely insane, my mind focused intently on the possibility that a man had traveled to Jupiter and become a woman in the process. What a glorious thought. The likelihood that any of this was real, however, inflamed my despair.

“Casey!”

I glanced up to find Nick standing in the passenger arrivals area. “I wasn’t expecting you to come pick me up. It’s bad enough I’m dragging you across the desert on this foolishness.”

“What are friends for?”

“Thank you, Nick. They still serve good margaritas at that Mexican restaurant we last ate at?”

“Of course.” Nick looked down by small protected case and then to my backpack. “That’s it? No more luggage?”

“This is it. I’m not planning on staying long.”

“I’ve got the guest bedroom set up for you. You hungry? We can get something on the way home.”

“I am hungry, but the margarita is calling me by name. I need something to slightly deaden my brain from screaming at me.”

“You and me both. You do realize if that little cosmetic case your carrying there vanishes tomorrow night, neither of us will ever sleep again.”

“I’ve not slept well since the visit. I keep telling myself this is nonsense and someone will show up with a film crew and laugh at my folly.”

“Our folly. We’re in this together.”

***

The next day Nick and I drove his 1972 Chevy pickup the four and a half hours to Sedona, Arizona. It was a beautiful sunny day and the desert scenery was spectacular. After dinner we slowly made our way out to the energy vortex site at the north end of the Sedona airport. We arrived early, just as the sun was setting. The small hiker’s parking lot slowly emptied as we grabbed our things and hiked to the top of a red, rocky outcropping. Without flashlights the short hike would be treacherous. From the road, the outcropping rose steadily but once on top we could see the far side dropped off steeply into a small gorge below.

As dusk quickly descended, the gnarled and twisted pine tree trunks formed eerie silhouettes. Using the GPS, I located the exact spot and built a rickety platform of rocks to keep the case from slipping down off the edge of the outcropping. Stepping back some twenty feet, Nick and I sat down on the rocks.

The sound of a bottle opened and Nick handed me a beer as we sat back and admired the stars as they appeared.

“This is crazy, Nick.”

“Might be, but what a place to be wrong. This place is breathtaking. There’s an energy about it. People come here from all over the world to experience the healing energy of the vortex.”

“People will hype anything for a buck. Look at these trees. While they look healthy, they’re all twisted.”

“People need to believe in something, Casey. Even if they’re wrong, they need purpose.”

“I can’t fault them, but sometimes the simplest answer is the right one. I mean, look at me. I’m sitting on a rocky hill in the middle of the desert expecting a woman from Jupiter to suck up my case of quartz over there. Anyone in the world would say this is nonsense. The problem is, I want to believe. I want to know that life exists elsewhere and that maybe someday things will be set right.”

“As in things, you mean you?”

“We both suffer from the same thing. I know you’ll tell me that your Ute heritage would say otherwise, that we are blessed people.”

“Two-spirit. They call us two-spirit people. They believe being female in a male body is something to celebrate and honor. We have unique insights that other people don’t have.”

“It’s hard to live like this. Can you imagine what it would be really like, Nick? To be free of these shells we wear?”

“I imagine it all the time. Look over there, just at the horizon. That’s Jupiter.”

“Over the next few hours, it will make its way directly over top of us. When I wrote A Princess of Jupiter, I could almost feel the exact moment when Caelen was pulled from his body. I could hear in my mind the dripping water in the cenote.”

For a moment we stood and stretched our arms towards Jupiter as if pleading with it to take us before we laughed and sat back down.

The night stretched on and sounds of coyotes could be heard in the distance. Jupiter slowly made its way until it was directly overhead. I checked my watch; 3:50am.

“Nick. Two minutes to go. What if nothing happens?”

“What if it does?”

“I left a note in the case for Caelen to contact me again. Hoping that there might be a way to take us there in the future.”

We sat and waited another ten minutes. I was thoroughly dejected. Nothing had happened.

Sighing heavily, I stood and stretched. “Sorry, Nick.”

“It was too much to hope for anyways.”

I walked over to reach for the case when the ground began to shake. The little rock table I had set the case on rocked and the case started sliding towards the edge. I dove for it but just missed it.

“I’ll get it, Casey. You stay there and I’ll toss it up to you.”

“Be careful, it’s steep.”

The shaking ground came and went and then came once again. Nick was quite a way down the side of the outcropping when suddenly everything became quiet and the shaking stopped.

“Nick?”

His flashlight flicked up towards me. “I’ve almost got my hand on it.”

Looking down at my feet, my headlamp illuminated the ground. Small pebbles began floating upward around my feet. “Nick?”

“Got it!”

It was too late. I looked up into the night sky and felt my body rapidly pull away from the earth. There was intense darkness and cold and lights streamed like raindrops on a car window. I increased in speed. Faster and faster. What was once a small dot of light suddenly erupted before me in a massive sphere of swirling clouds. Then there was nothing. No sound. No feeling. No light.

***

I opened my eyes slowly as my senses returned to me. I could see fine pebbles resting on golden sand. I must have passed out. Lifting my head, I glanced around. I was no longer in Sedona. This place was flat and dry. It reminded me of the Salt Lake flats. My arms were at my side and I reach around to push myself up but as I did so, I could immediately tell that these were not the arms of a fifty-five-year-old man.

I moved very slowly and deliberately. Glancing upwards to the golden swirling clouds and back to my now feminine hand. Jupiter… Jupiter… With sudden realization, I leapt to my feet, my actions causing me to launch some five feet in the air. I landed on my backside, long copper hair fell in front of my face. I smiled as I pulled it away from my eyes and looked down upon my body. Two seemingly large breasts protruded from my chest. My skin was a medium color, perhaps a little lighter than when I would be tanned in summer. Carefully standing, I examined myself.

I’m a woman! My mind was finally at peace. I glanced down and around myself trying to see as much of me as possible. Pulling my hair in front of my eyes, it was gorgeous. Darker than blonde, but more of a coppery color. Ginger they call it. It had very slight curls in it and went all the way to the small of my back.

After a few minutes of being focused on myself, I reminded myself where I was. I’m on Jupiter. What of Nick? The quartz? I looked around in a full circle. There was not a living thing anywhere near me. No case of quartz, no Nick. I’m all alone.

I had a brief few minutes of panic before reminding myself of how Caelen handled herself. She got her directions, picked something on the horizon, and made her way there. Looking up I could see the clouds drifting from my left to my right. I’ll assume I must be facing north. In the north east, I could barely make out a rise of land. Straight north, was something that protruded from the desert floor.

This is where I would head first. With one more glance around and another at my beautiful, youthful and lean body, I smiled and took my first step.

Unlike Caelen, I didn’t launch myself ten feet in the air, but I did notice gravity was much less. I had little effort controlling my walking, but my muscles seemed anxious to move. At first, I walked at a steady pace, but soon my joy had me sprinting across the desert. I tested myself jumping and leaping, finding that I could jump only about seven or eight feet high, but my speed was impressive. Combining speed with leaping, I found I could cover a distance of nearly forty feet.

I had to remind myself that I was naked, on Jupiter with all kinds of ferocious beasts, had no food or water, and was in the middle of some vast desert. I needed to find water and shelter and preserve my energy the best I could. Naked and Afraid had new meaning to me now.

I slowed my pace considerably as I came closer to the protrusion. It appeared to be a giant skull and ribcage of some enormous creature. As I finally reached the first of the bones, I could tell they had been fossilized. Each rib rose in graceful arcs some thirty feet above my head and their width was as long as my forearm. Large vertebrae were still suspended in the air, while others had fallen and were partially buried in the sands. It took several minutes to walk the length of the skeleton to reach the skull. The skull alone was larger than a dump truck back on earth. Only the top half of the skull protruded from the sand, while large ten-foot bottom fangs extended outward. I would be no more than a nibble for a creature of this size.

I assumed, that this vast, lifeless desert must have once been an ocean of significant depth and size to house such a creature as this. As I wandered around the skull, I could now see evidence that I wasn’t the first person to have visited it. Closer examination revealed weathered ropes attached to some rib bones and there were paintings on the fangs.

Feeling suddenly acutely aware of my position being naked, unarmed, on Jupiter, I took a minute to look around me. What had appeared as a rise in the northeast now more closely resembled a large, black, glistening cliff that rose to impossible heights. It looked like a solid wall that extended hundreds of miles, curving off towards the horizon. To the south, nothing but vast emptiness. To the west… A wall of golden clouds was racing across the desert towards me. I could feel the first gentle puff of air blow my hair away from my eyes.

I’ve seen something like this before while taxiing at the Phoenix airport. We had been ordered to stop and shut down the engines while a dust storm rolled through the city. That storm had been frightening enough, but this one, looked far more menacing.

Shelter was definitely in order and the only thing for miles was the skull where I stood. I quickly squeezed through the painted teeth and entered the skull cavity. I had to push aside a heavy leather-like skin to get further inside. I was astonished to find the space inside large and furnished. Colorful carpets were spread on the floor and the eye sockets had been filled with some sort of clear glass-like material allowing light into the space. There were large comfortable looking pillows. Jars of dried items and amber liquid rested on shelves above a raised platform that reminded me of a countertop.

The entire scene could of been from the Arabian Nights, except for the metal rings and chains on the walls of the skull and the fact that I was far from the lands of Arabia. The heavy leather flap shifted behind me as the first of the strong winds hit the skull. The sound of the wind whistling through the skull’s teeth was a constant reminder that I had been very lucky to find this place. While I could easily stand inside the skull, I had to raise up on my tiptoes to look out the eye socket at the wall of golden sand about to hit.

I was shocked that the storm had seemed miles away and yet it had taken only minutes to arrive. With a forcefulness and noise that was frightening, the window took the brunt of the fierce storm sending me scrambling for cover. The great skull remained stoically unmovable against the strongest storm I had ever seen.

Since the windows didn’t blow out, I was feeling somewhat confident that I was safe for the moment, I turned my attention to a reflective surface on the wall. My reflection caught me off guard as I slowly moved towards the mirror. The face that looked back at me was stunning. Large, vibrant green eyes stared back at me. My copper hair fell in gentle waves around my flawless face. Touching my lips with my fingers, I could now feel their soft, sensitive fullness. I’m very beautiful.

As I considered my look, I resembled one of my Irish cousins. My skin was darker than hers leaving me with a healthy, if not glowing look. My smile exposed my perfect teeth. So perfect, I almost laughed out loud over the years of painful dentistry I had that ruined my smile. I could hear an ad in my head. ‘Come to Jupiter for the best smile of your life!’. Never in my wildest dreams would I ever believe this could be real. I’m now that which I have always wanted to be and I was certainly smiling.

I spent the next fifteen minutes staring at myself and taking steps back to take in my full, glorious body. I was indeed lean and yet I had ample breasts. My waist seemed so sleight which gave me an hourglass figure. With nothing to measure myself against, I guessed I was around five-foot eight.

It was the sound of the storm and the growl of my stomach that finally turned my gaze back to the shelter I found myself in. The amber liquid looked the most enticing as I pulled a large jar of it down from the shelf. A rather ingenious reusable seal was easy to break and I sniffed at the contents. It smelled sweet.

I weighed my odds. The scale of the furnishings would indicate this was made by someone my size. The colors and patterns expressed civilized culture. Since I must be on Jupiter, I could assume these items are from humans and thus safe to eat and drink.

Throwing caution to the wind, I took a sip of the amber liquid and promptly spat it out. My tongue was on fire and my lips felt greasy. It was with trepidation and a healthy respect for my stupidity that I reached for a jar of violet liquid. This one had no smell whatsoever, but my lips and tongue were burning worse than from a habanero salsa. My cautious sip was rewarded with a sweet and yet slightly tart taste of what I could only describe as wine. My tongue and lip’s fire was quickly put out and the violet liquid warmed my insides. I took another sip before resealing the jar.

“That was good.”

I paused as I realized this was the first I had spoken and my voice sounded so pleasant to my ears. It was melodic. I had always wanted to sing, but my voice was always painful to my own ears. While I have a good ear to hear even the tiniest fluctuations when someone would sing off key, I never felt I could sing myself without other people running from the room in terror. Glancing around the shelter, I realized I felt comfortable and safe. No one could survive the howling storm outside. I sang a few tentative lyrics. Emboldened by what I heard, I continued to sing as I rummaged around.

In one corner of the shelter, I came across some clothing. Most appeared too large for me, but there were some that reminded me a little of Caelen’s clothes, or lack thereof. There was a red harness that covered my bottom and womanhood, and a top that did the same for my breasts. I found no place for a dagger or sword like Caelen had, rather the clothes I wore had flowing light red streams of silky material. Checking myself out in the mirror, I looked like an Arabian princess, except that few, if any, Arabian women had copper hair.

Ginger, I had to remind myself. It wasn’t quite blonde, not quite golden, and not truly coppery in color. The solid, almost shiny red covering, and the silky flowing gown, set off my hair color and eye color. I spun happily before reminding myself I’m on Jupiter and danger lurks everywhere here.

Turning back to my searching, I found some sandals and strapped them on before continuing through the shelter looking for any kind of weapon.

Who am I fooling? I’m not like Caelen. I was in many fights growing up, but eventually I stopped fighting because it never accomplished anything. The other boys called me gay and bullied me. I was never a macho guy that could stroll into a ring of fighters, select the biggest one, and knock them to kingdom come. I used my brains to avoid fighting whenever I could.

I do remember buying a sword once. My roommate and I felt we could teach each other how to fight with a sword. We set our ground rules and began carefully, until he got carried away and thrusted the point of his sword right through my finger. I can still recall my shame in the emergency room as the doctor called for “Zorro”.

Give me a bow, though, and I will do well with it. I recalled a time in high school we all had to take turns in gym class shooting a recurve bow. The bullies all laughed at me as my first shot that fell far short, but they didn’t laugh after that when I hit the bullseye my next ten shots in a row. I’ve always been good with a bow.

Finding no knives, bows, swords, or weapons of any kind, I took another sip of the violet liquid and could feel a slight heated rush in my head.

“That has quite the kick. I better go easy on it especially on an empty stomach.”

Opening a jar of dried little green berries, I poured a couple into my hand, sniffed them, and nibbled one. It tasted like a freeze-dried blueberry. I ate a few before putting the jar away. I was feeling a little tired and pulled up a couple of pillows just as whatever hidden light from the storm vanished and plunged the shelter into darkness.

I laid there a long time reaching out to various parts of my body. I had immediately felt comfortable and graceful. It is as if everything was as it should be. Maybe it was the newness of everything and a slight fear of where I was, but I felt no incessant urge to fully explore my body.

Thinking back to Sedona, I wondered what happened to Nick. Did he get back to the top of the outcropping only to find my body paralyzed there, or, was I transported much like Caelen would have transported the quartz leaving nothing behind?

Why was Caelen not there to find me or the quartz? I had so many questions and sleep eluded me for some time. I didn’t want to wake up in case this had all been a dream.

***

As quickly as the storm had come, it seemed to blow itself out in the night. I woke as the first light entered the sand-battered windows in the skull shelter. I realized without water, this shelter, as comfortable as it was, wouldn’t be sustainable. Finding some cloth, I put some of the dried items and a jar of the violet liquid inside and fashioned a form of backpack from it.

Stepping outside into the open air, I looked back at my little shelter that had housed me for my first night’s sleep on Jupiter and as a woman. I will forever be grateful for this place. Having seen the quickness of the storm yesterday, I set out at a fast pace to head towards the cliffs, feeling they may offer the best chance at finding water and shelter for the night.

I had travelled about half a day when I spotted some dust rising in the east. It was a small amount of dust that indicated it might be either a dust devil or an animal of some kind. Not wanting to find out, I increased my speed to head towards the cliff which was still several hours away.

After thirty minutes, I noticed that the dust appeared to have changed direction. It was now heading more north. Whatever it is, it must have spotted me. Looking ahead towards the cliff, I could now tell that the cliff appeared to be leaning outward with large slotted shards of glass-like material. It looked a little like a frozen splash of black glass. At the base I could just make out places that I might be able to take cover in. With redoubled effort, I ran as fast as I could, which turned out to be very fast.

Unfortunately, the dust trail had also picked up speed and now that it was getting closer I could see there were twenty or so large beasts with reflective metal on them. On their backs appeared to be people. Knowing Jupiter wasn’t always the friendliest of places, I started running north to keep my distance from them. They were coming incredibly fast.

I had been doing well to keep ahead of them when the ground began to shake. This caused me to stumble and trip. By the time the ground stopped shaking and I got to my feet, I was surrounded; surrounded by beasts… and men. These men were strong, fit, and handsome and they were fully clothed which was more than I could say for myself. At least I wasn’t completely naked.

Men don’t exist on Jupiter! Maybe this isn’t Jupiter after all? I bit my lower lip in anxious fear.

The men dismounted and raised what could only be described as rifles at me. They were speaking angrily and indicating with their hands. I had no idea what they were saying.

“Hello? Am I on Jupiter? Who are you? Do you know Caelen Carter?”

Clearly, my words meant nothing to them. I felt rough, strong hands on my shoulders and they forced me to my knees. One man pulled my pack off and held up the jar of violet liquid. This caused them to be even angrier. The largest one stepped forward and grabbed a handful of my hair before throwing it back down. He was yelling at me.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what you’re saying.” I was incredibly frightened and worried for myself. Being an almost naked woman among many men didn’t bode well and I shook in fear.

The man shouted commands and two men held my shoulders and pried open my mouth. I struggled fiercely and managed to pull myself away from the two astonished men, but with one additional man, I was incapable of withstanding them. My mouth was once again pried open and the leader dropped a pill into my mouth followed by water from a flask.

The pill slipped down through my throat and I quickly became dizzy. My eyes were having difficulty focusing. Their commander was speaking and little by little my ears were picking out actual words. Suddenly, my eyes regained their focus and it was as if nothing had happened, except for when the man spoke again.

It wasn’t English, but I could understand it.

“Who are you and why have you stolen our Emperor’s wine?”

“I am…” My words weren’t English. “I’m Cassia Brooke.” I chose to use a more feminine sounding name.

“That tells me your name but not why you dare steal our Emperor’s wine.”

“What did you give me? How can I understand your language?”

He was clearly displeased with me and raised his hand to hit me, but I tore my hand away from the others and stopped his hand so quickly, it astonished me. I’m stronger than them, but not by much. The other men laughed at their leader’s lack of ability to reign me in.

“As you are unfamiliar with our customs, I will tell you the laws you have broken and the punishment that you are due. You are trespassing on the lands of the Empire of Glass.” He lifted his chin proudly. “We are the remnants of the scientific community of Ascalon. You have stolen from our great Emperor Neirus, trespassed on a sacred site, spoken back to a male, and failed to submit peacefully. You are hereby charged and will fulfill your life sentence as a slave.”

A slave! A slave for life! “That’s hardly fair! I took shelter from the storm in the giant skull. I only took what I needed to survive. There are no warning signs that this is the land of the Empire of Glass.” My heart pounded in my chest at the heavy ominous feeling that my life was no longer mine to live.

He looked like he wanted to hit me again. “Ignorance of the law is against the law. You have just acknowledged in front of your betters that you violated our laws.”

This can’t be! I can’t be a slave. “I’m sorry for violating your laws. Take your wine and let me go. I’ll leave your lands.”

“Your fate was sealed from the moment you stepped foot here. What manner of woman are you with that strange orange hair and green eyes? Where are you from?”

“Earth.”

They all burst into laughter.

“And just how did you get here?”

“That’s a good question, I…”

I wasn’t paying attention this time and his fist slammed into my face. I was stunned, but I must have some higher density muscle and bone than them as it didn’t hurt like it should have.

“Bind her with spider silk!”

My hands were quickly bound and I felt like a hog at a South Carolina BBQ. They tossed me onto the back of one of a six-legged beast where I rode behind one of the men. We turned and headed for the base of the cliff.

“You must forgive the actions of Weelo and the other men. It will not go well for you to resist.”

“Weelo? Is he your leader?”

“Our squad leader. You’re very beautiful and will garner a great price at the slave auction. I’ve yet to see any woman as beautiful as you and with your unique hair and eyes, and your speed and strength, many men will be pleased to own you.”

“I’m not an object to be bought or sold. I can’t be a slave.”

“All women in the Empire are objects to be bought and sold. You’re a criminal and whomever buys you must pay also for your crimes.”

“I’ll find a way to escape.”

“No one has ever escaped the Empire.”

“There’s always a way.”

“There is only one way in or out of the Valley of the Empire and it is heavily guarded and our technology won’t allow anyone without proper authority to leave. You will see as we enter.”

I thought a different tactic might help. I’m a woman, I can use my womanly charms, even if I’m unsure if I properly know how to use them. “Perhaps I misspoke. I could be happy with the right man. You seem honorable and your words are kind. Maybe you could buy me.”

His laugh was mirthless. “You stole the Emperor’s wine and trespassed on a sacred site. I could live ten lifetimes and not earn enough to pay for your crimes. Only the wealthiest can afford you. It’s a shame as you no doubt you would love me and serve me well. Your beauty would make me look wealthy and virile to others.”

“You have me at a disadvantage. I don’t know your name.”

“I’m Cantelliam.”

“What strange pill was I given to make me learn your speech?”

“We’re scientists. We thrive on knowledge. When we first migrated here after the great accident, we ran into some humans that couldn’t speak out language. We set about creating a pill that would enable anyone to speak it.”

“You’re very impressive, Cantelliam. You’re smart and handsome. Why are you in a squad like this?”

“You have seen in minutes what my superiors have not seen in my lifetime. I’m an agriculturist by trade, yet this field of study is looked down upon. The Valley of the Empire is lush and filled with every imaginable food.”

“I could imagine someone of your knowledge and skills could hybridize plants to produce higher quality food, or food that would provide better sustenance on long journeys. Many medicines come from plants as well. I fail to see why agriculture isn’t considered one of the most important of sciences. After all, without food, we perish.”

Cantelliam looked back at me. “You’re a remarkable woman, Cassia. You’re smart for a woman as well as beautiful.”

If I could sway this man, then I know I could escape him. “Could we not run away together, Cantelliam?”

He was so quick and with my wrists bound I had no way of blocking his elbow as he spun and knocked me from the great beast. “You beguiling witch! I see what you’re doing! You have just added to your crimes.”

I rolled several times in the dirt trying to avoid the heavy feet of the following beasts.

“Cantelliam! You’re aware that as a squad we share in the profit of this wench. If she is damaged in any way, it will come out of your share.”

Cantelliam ground his teeth as he looked at me. “Yes, Weelo.”

With help, Cantelliam placed me back up onto the beast and we started heading towards the cliff face once again. Try as I might, Cantelliam wouldn’t respond to any more questions so I sat back and observed in a disheveled, frightened way. I’m going to be enslaved and God only knows what will happen to me.

The closer we got to the cliff, the more fascinating it became. As far as I could see, the cliff curved like a giant arc. The black glass walls were like onyx crystals that rose up a thousand feet into the air. It was stunningly beautiful and deadly looking at the same time. I had so many questions.

“Cantelliam, please, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have tried to manipulate you like that. I’m afraid of what might happen to me. I’m alone in this strange place with people that I know nothing about. I need to learn and to understand this place and my fate. I’ve never seen anything like this cliff. Can you tell me anything about it? Please?”

I heard him sigh. “I won’t tolerate any more of your scheming. You’ve already got me in trouble once.”

“I’m sorry. You must believe me in that I’m afraid for myself. I’m going to be sold. Try putting yourself in my place and understand I did what I did to be free. I promise not to try to manipulate you again.”

“I’m too intelligent for you anyways. I would see through your ruse. We have a day of travel before we reach the City of the Empire. Conversation will make the journey less tedious.”

“Thank you, Cantelliam. Can you tell me how this cliff was formed?”

“Ten thousand years ago, a large meteor broke through the atmosphere of Jupiter and crashed into the sea. The heat of the impact melted the sea bottom turning it into molten glass and throwing it outward in a massive impact crater. However, the meteor had created a vacuum as it passed through the atmosphere and cold from space froze and crystalized the glass in place forming the walls of the Empire crater. The sea was instantly evaporated and fell as rain for five years. This created lakes and rivers and our own biosphere inside the cliff walls.”

“Fascinating. Why would water collect only on the inside of the crater and not out here in the desert?

“The sands are porous and in places near the crater great cracks in the foundation of the planet exist. Without maps, one would quickly be sucked into a crevasse. When it rains out here, the water filters through the sands and falls into the crevasses. The crater bottom is glass like the cliffs and it creates a natural bowl.”

“It’s incredible.”

After another hour we arrived at the cliff wall. Where I had expected caves and shelter locations, I was wrong. The base of the cliff appeared as solid as the rest. I watched as Weelo opened a small box that emitted a red light. It danced across the surface of the cliff until a deep rumble could be heard and a smaller crystal descended into the ground revealing a hidden tunnel.

Cantelliam seemed to be enjoying bragging about his Empire. “Our scientists had investigated this geologic feature for hundreds of years. One day, a team found a slight hole at this very spot. They spent the next seven years mapping the interior tunnel system until they found a path through to the other side of the wall. Until that day, they believed this was a single solid crystalline feature. When they discovered the crater valley beyond, they realized the significance of the find and began building a city here. That’s when the great accident happened and the remnant of our society came here and locked themselves away for five hundred years until they knew for sure the virus that was released was gone.”

“They created a virus to help mankind but instead it killed the men and transformed others.”

“How do you know this?”

“Doesn’t everyone know this?”

“Where are you from?”

“I told everyone before. I’m from Earth.”

“You lie. Life from Earth can’t come to Jupiter.”

This was the first time anyone had confirmed this was indeed Jupiter. “How do you know for certain that someone from Earth can’t come here?”

“Nothing can penetrate the vast emptiness of space.”

“And yet, here I am. Explain how I am here and my strange hair and eye color.”

“You are obviously from a distant part of Jupiter or suffer from a genetic ailment. Perhaps, like a plant, you were hybridized for your selective uniqueness. Regardless, you are not from Earth.”

We entered the cliff face and another red light was emitted to close the wall. For another four hours we rode through tunnels that twisted right and left. We passed through great caverns and near bottomless pits. Junctions crisscrossed our path. Without a detailed map, someone would be lost forever. We also passed through three checkpoints with more crystal moving walls. These were mantraps. Carefully designed to assure no unauthorized people passed through. Attempting to escape through here would be pointless.

Slowly, the crystal walls grew brighter until we passed through our final checkpoint and exited into the golden light of the Valley of the Empire. Being a crater, we were higher than most of the surrounding features and could look across the entire expanse. Barely discernable was the far side, possibly a hundred miles away. Lush green forests and grasses filled the crater. Waterfalls spilled down the crystal walls forming rivers that led to an enormous lake in the center. Crystal outcroppings rose to incredible heights like pieces of architectural wonders. Below and on the edge of the lake, a glistening city of crystal, stone, and glass radiated outward in a series of concentric circles.

“It’s beyond anything I’ve ever seen before. Absolutely beautiful.”

“Dismount!”

The men helped me down and I caught my first glimpse of other women here. They were all beautiful and scantily clad. What I was wearing was far more alluring than any of them. It made me wonder just whose clothes I found. The women were very submissive and did their best to avoid contact with the men. Some of the women looked at me sadly.

Women came and led the beasts away as others brought water and food for the men of the squad. One by one the men stripped from their clothing and stepped into a crystal-lined pool of water.

Weelo roughly grabbed one of the women’s arms. “Take her and clean her up. Wash her clothes and put them back on her. They’re evidence. We leave for the city in the morning.”

“Yes, Master.”

With her head bowed, she waved to two other women who came and escorted me to a private bath. There two of the women stripped me while one washed my clothes. They were gentle but they also didn’t seem to care where they touched me. In many ways they were clinical about bathing me. When we were done, they rubbed a red gel in my hair and stuck my head under a glass dome. Within seconds, my hair was dry and smooth. What the women on Earth wouldn’t give for technology like that.

A number of women came by to touch my hair and look at my eyes.

“I’ve never seen anything like you before. You’re so beautiful. What I would give for a woman like you back home.”

“I’m Cassia.”

“You’re Cassia for now until your new master renames you. I’m Latia. What are your crimes?”

My clothing had returned and Latia helped me back into them.

“Apparently, I trespassed, violated a sacred shrine, stole wine from the Emperor, stole these clothes, spoke back to the males, and resisted them.”

“Oh my! I’m afraid only the Emperor himself can afford you unless he chooses to waive your crime fees.”

“How are you here, Latia?”

“The Empire’s women were becoming sterile so that forced the scientists to leave this place in search of more females. They’ve been travelling further and further and ten years ago, they raided our village. My wife was killed. Their technology was far superior to ours and we had no chance. I’ve been a breeding slave since then.”

“I’m so sorry, Latia.”

“No, Cassia. I’m sorry for you. I’ve not seen anyone as beautiful as you before. That means your price will be very high. Only the richest in the city might afford you. While you will live in luxury, the richest men are the worst. I hear tales of horrible abuse.”

“I’ll find a way to escape this place.”

“The only escape is death. You have a wife?”

“No.”

Latia looked away as tears brimmed in her eyes. “Memories of my wife are the only things that keep me alive here. Without it…”

My hands were still bound, otherwise I would have reached to hug her. “I’m frightened, Latia. I have no desire to become a breeding slave.”

“Some slaves are not used for breeding if they can be of assistance to the scientists, however, you will still become a slave and that means you will be used sexually. Come, let me find you something to eat and get you rested before you head into the city.”

“What about the men in the squad? I have little desire to be near them.”

“They are resting, drinking, and recovering from their journey. It will be night soon and they will come get you in the morning.”

Latia led me through a building from the baths to a communal kitchen. The slave women were preparing food which they provided me. It was good to be fed and to have my thirst quenched.

“You may sleep here. There are guards everywhere. I don’t recommend you leave this building.”

“Thank you, Latia.”

I laid down on some pillows as darkness fell but I couldn’t sleep. Sooner or later I would be abused by men and I had no desire for that. When the other women appeared to be sleeping soundly, I got up and made my way into the kitchen. I held my breath and listened before searching for a knife. I found one and squeezed the handle between my knees so that I could cut through the spider silk wrapped around my wrists.

With my wrists finally free, I kept the knife and moved slowly up and through the building I was in until I could see outside through an open window. The night sky was a dark violet in color but still offered enough light to see. Stepping through the open window, I made my way across a lower roof until I could see the entrance to the cliffs on my right. It was heavily guarded. I would get no more than a hundred paces in that direction.

Straight ahead was a large open plaza with numerous guards walking about. Behind me was the face of the cliff leaving my only option of escape to the left. Below was what appeared to be a stable for the great beasts that brought us here. As I approached, the beasts stirred and began making noises. They grew more and more restless as I got closer.

The far edge of the corral was what I estimated to be fifty feet. With a full run, can I jump that far? Beyond the corral was forest. I had to try. Walking back as far on the roof as I could, I stood and considered my options. I’m already destined for a lifetime of slavery, if I escape, I might be able to hide out in the forest until I can sneak into an outgoing group.

Taking a deep breath, I ran for all I was worth and leaped over the beasts in the corral. What might have appeared as fifty feet in the nighttime twilight, was more like sixty and I soon found myself falling straight for the side of one of the restless beasts.

Thankfully, I managed to brace myself for impact, but smashing into the side of the beast caused it to kick and scream. I rolled to my feet but was now in the middle of a dozen very upset animals. Lights flooded the corral and men appeared from all sides.

“You!”

I turned to see Weelo with a rifle pointed at me. I froze in my tracks holding up the knife with shaking hands. “Let me go and I won’t hurt you.”

Weelo laughed. “Put the knife down, girl! You’re surrounded.”

“I don’t mean anyone harm, I just can’t stay here. I’m sorry for taking the wine and trespassing. Just let me go and no one will ever know I was here.”

Weelo changed a dial on his weapon and fired it at me. I watched in horror as a white light emitted from the weapon and struck me. I collapsed on the ground convulsing.

“Cantelliam, chain her to the plaza post for the night.”

“My pleasure.”

I was dragged over to the plaza and my wrists were bound with metal manacles. Chains were attached to them and then to a crystal post. There was just enough slack to sit, but my arms were stretched over my head.

Weelo stood over me. “You just added to your crimes. You will learn your place, girl. Disobedience is not tolerated.” He reached down and stroked my cheek. I twisted my face to get away from his vile touch. “It’s too bad I’m not the Emperor. I would take great pleasure in taking you. Enjoy the rest of your night.”

I watched as Weelo and the squad headed back into one of the buildings. As my muscles slowly began responding again, I struggled futilely against the metal chains. It was going to be a very long night.

***

When morning came I was surprised to find I had drifted off to sleep, but with waking, my arms screamed at me in pain. Latia was walking across the plaza but she didn’t look happy. It was clear her face and eye were swollen. Someone had hit her.

Latia leaned over me with keys to the manacles. “I hope you’re pleased with yourself. I was made responsible for your attempted escape. I was being kind to you, giving you a place to sleep without being chained and you see what I get for your selfishness?”

“I’m sorry, Latia. I didn’t know…”

“Girl! Get that wench to the transportation platform!”

“Yes, Master.”

Latia unlocked my chains but left my wrists bound together with the metal manacles. As I stood, my arms screamed in pain. I bit my lower lip, realizing I deserved the pain for my actions that led to the abuse of Latia.

Silently Latia led me to the transportation platform. The men took me from there and loaded me onto what could only be a train on some type of track. When the doors closed and we had taken our seats, the train accelerated rapidly. What should have taken an hour, took only ten minutes. Stepping from the train, I discovered we had arrived at the heart of the city.

Cantelliam grabbed my arm firmly and led me through the city’s main square. People stopped and stared at me. I took in as much as I could with the rapid pace the squad had set. Around the edges of the square were market stall and I could see women pushing strange floating carts from place to place.

“Where are you taking me?”

“As a woman, you shouldn’t speak unless you are first spoken to. We’re going to the palace where you must stand before the Emperor to confess your crimes.”

“And if I refuse to speak or confess my crimes?”

“You will be found guilty.”

“And if I tell the Emperor that I didn’t break any laws, that I was merely surviving?”

“As we told you before, ignorance of the law is against the law. You will be found guilty.”

“I’m guilty no matter what I say.”

“What other outcome would there be?”

We moved through into the palace and through lavish hallways and rooms until we came upon two massive gold-plated doors. They opened as we arrived and I was ushered into a glittering room of polished white stone floors, glass columns, and gold statues. On a throne at the end of the great room sat an obese, ugly man. He was busily speaking to a beautiful woman standing next to him when we were announced.

“Great Emperor, we bring you a trespasser and a thief.”

The Emperor’s face slowly turned towards us in a disinterested way, but he smiled as his eyes fell upon me. This seemed to irritate the woman standing next to him.

“Tell me, Lieutenant Weelo, where did you find this precious gem? She is very beautiful and unique.”

“We spotted her heading towards the cliff wall. She was found with your wine and food in her possession and these clothes on her. She had stolen the items from the sacred beast shrine. She then resisted her capture, tried to manipulate one of my squad, spoke out of turn, and attempted to escape.”

The woman hissed at me. “Those are my clothes!”

The Emperor laughed and grabbed the woman’s wrist, pulling her down to her knees. “You will remember your place, Sathera. Don’t you think this girl looks good in your outfit?”

“She’s a hideous bantha!”

“Jealousy doesn’t suit you. Leave us!”

Sathera bowed her head, gave me a look that was nothing short of murder, and slipped quietly from the room.

The Emperor stood, his fat belly dropping over his belted harness that covered his loins. He strode forward ponderously. His heavy, large, greasy hand grabbed my chin as he moved my head from side to side. “I’m tempted, Lieutenant Weelo, to keep this one for myself, but I’m afraid the commotion she would cause amongst my ladies would be too great to bear. And you, girl? What do you have to say for yourself?”

“I was lost in the great desert and a sand storm was bearing down upon me. I took shelter in the skull of a giant creature, finding needed food and drink. I wasn’t aware I was trespassing. Let me go and I will never return.”

The Emperor laughed. “No one ever leaves here. Once someone has seen the vast riches of the Empire, they would speak of them to the world and return to try to take them from us. No, girl. You’re here to stay. Her price is set at five thousand gold.”

The others in the room gasped. Weelo almost choked. “Great Emperor, certainly this is a low amount for one that has broken so many of your laws.”

“You dare question me?”

“No, Emperor.”

“Then take her to the auction block!”

I was desperate. “No! Please! I can be of great value but that value will go to waste if I’m a slave.”

“There is no choice other than to be a slave, girl. What could you possibly offer that would be worth more than your beautiful body?”

“Science.”

The men laughed.

“Science? What do you know about science?”

“Forgive me, I should have said innovation as I know a great deal about a lot of things, but I’m ignorant to many of the scientific wonders you have here.”

“Then you are of no use to us. Take her away!”

Weelo pulled on my arm as the Emperor turned to head back to his throne. I spun away which caused no small commotion.

“Flying transportation!”

A heavy hand covered my mouth as I was tackled by several men.

“Wait!” The Emperor turned back towards us. “What do you mean flying transportation?”

I was dragged to my feet and the hand removed so I could speak.

“You have devices that transport loads in the city square, they float above the ground. You have a shuttle that hovered over tracks and took us into the city from the edge of the crater. What if I could tell you that you could use those same technologies to fly?”

“We are not birds, we are men. Men were not meant to fly.”

He turned away again and that was a dismissal. I’m to be sold as a slave. Tears fell from my eyes as they dragged me from the throne room.

“Just a minute, Lieutenant Weelo.”

Weelo paused and turned back towards the Emperor. “Yes, Emperor.”

“Obviously, we can’t be too hasty. Give her to Kamron for one gold. If she displeases him, she will be sold after being publicly raped.”

“Kamron? But he has access to…”

“That is the second time you have questioned me, Captain Weelo.” The Emperor emphasized the word Captain.

Weelo blanched. He was just demoted. “I will take her straight to Kamron, Great Emperor.”

Weelo’s face was stern and silent as I was roughly dragged through the City. We passed a market and moved through another square. The square had dozens of cages lining the edges.

“This is where you should be, wench. You should be stripped and on that block for auction or in one of those cages awaiting your turn. Don’t think for a moment you’re getting off easy. Kamron is the oldest and most respected scientist in the Empire and he isn’t known for his kindness. Clearly, the Emperor took notice of you. Your crimes should have amounted to many thousands of gold, yet he set your price extremely low. As Emperor he can buy back any slave he wishes, but by law he must compensate the owner double. When he sets the price low, he intends to buy the slave back. This way he doesn’t have to waste his own money getting what he wants.”

My anger got the best of me. I was so happy to have arrived on Jupiter as a woman, now everything was being taken away from me. My fear coalesced into rebellious words. “My name is Cassia, not wench or girl. With all this wonderful technology and knowledge, you would think the Empire would be more advanced in their understanding when it comes to women. Why do you continue to belittle and frighten me? Isn’t it enough I will be enslaved the rest of my days, threatened with public rape, and paraded through the streets like a common criminal when I have done nothing wrong? Where I am from there are a few good men that respect and honor women. They do not abuse the very creatures that make life worthwhile.”

Weelo was bitter and angry himself. “You think my words are trying to frighten you?” He laughed. “You are insignificant in this world and women know there place here. You too will know your place and I wish I will be there to see your confidence eroded and you lying in your own filth, dejected and broken.”

I wanted so badly to slug him, yet it would have been futile. I learned long ago that fighting wasn’t the answer. I have a chance to become that which I always wished to be, even if that will be as a slave. I will bide my time, be polite and courteous, kind and gentle. It will go easier on me and more in tune with my own nature.

We continued to slowly move up from the main part of the city and onto a small rise where a very large building stood. We passed numerous guards as we entered and made our way to a sitting room. There we were told to wait for Kamron.

It wasn’t long before Kamron arrived. He strode in with an air of confidence and arrogance. His hair was white which was a distinct contrast to those in the city. “What’s all this about? I’m very busy and don’t like to be disturbed.”

“Kamron, it was the Emperor’s command that you purchase this newly captured slave girl for one gold.”

The man’s eyes drilled into mine. He raised an eyebrow as he looked me over. “What strange hair and eye coloring.” He turned back to Weelo. “My home and place of work is not a brothel. I don’t house slaves for the Emperor’s late-night rendezvous.”

“I believe, Karmon, that the Emperor’s thoughts were twofold. One, being as you surmise, but the other is that this girl believes she can be of use to you in your inventing. She mentioned something about flying transportation.”

“Flying? As in the air? Fine, I’ll take her, but that fat, pompous slob of an Emperor will pay far more for her than two gold if he wants her back. I’ll not keep his concubines just so he can hide his lewd acts from that wicked wench of his.” He turned and yelled out through a doorway. “Carena!”

A dark-haired woman entered the room and tipped her head. “Yes, Master.”

“See these men out and get this girl cleaned up. That outfit she’s wearing is hideous. When she is ready, bring her to me in the lab.”

“Yes, Master.”

Is this to be my life then? A slave forced to call this man master? I woman with no rights, no chance for love? Kamron had left the room, leaving me alone while Carena escorted Weelo and the other guards out of the home. I should try to escape. I should find a weapon. Instead, I was broken. I fell to my knees and sobbed.

Carena returned a few minutes later. “Get up off the floor, girl.” Here words were gentle, but a command nonetheless. I stood as she looked me over. “What’s your name?”

“Cassia.”

“This is your first time as a slave, isn’t it?”

I nodded.

“I was born a slave and have served in this household my entire life. Kamron is old. Very old. He will not put up with disobedience. He has no patience for it. You do what you’re told and you could live a decent life here. Now, let’s see about getting you into something more respectable than those sex clothes. Were you captured in a brothel?”

“I was caught in a sandstorm and took refuge inside a large skull. I found these clothes there.”

“Where are you from? Your hair and eyes are so odd.”

“I’m from very far away.”

I followed Carena into a room where there were three other women.

“Ladies, this is Cassia. She is new to this household. We must make her presentable to our master.”

“She’s so beautiful! How about the white gown, Carena?”

“Good choice, Leamay.”

The women stripped me and there were more than a few sighs from Leamay. The white gown proved to be sexy, yet elegant and covered up slightly more skin than before. I realized that while these women were beautiful and I was attracted to them physically, which was a relief to me, I wasn’t desiring a relationship with them. It pleased me to know my orientation hadn’t changed, but I have always been deeply devoted and loving. I wanted to find someone like Caelen had where she knew without a doubt that she was the right one for me.

“Gorgeous! The white makes you appear pure, Cassia.”

My nerves got the best of me. I bit my lower lip. “Will he…?”

The girls all giggled. “I’m sure if anyone could entice him it would be you, but our master very rarely takes anyone to bed anymore. It’s been years.”

“That’s a relief.”

Carena led me out and into the main lab area where we stood patiently waiting for acknowledgement from Kamron.

“Carena, there you are. What are we to call this new girl?”

“Her name is Cassia, Master.”

“Come with me, Cassia.”

“Yes… Master.” I almost choked on the words.

He spoke as we walked. The lab was huge and there were quite a few men working there. “What do you know of rays and waves?”

“Nothing, Master.”

He turned in anger towards me. “Then why do you think you’re capable of assisting me in any way?”

“I’m unfamiliar with your technology, Master, however, I’m familiar with other technologies that could leverage what you have created here.” There was a piece of paper on a table. “May I use this paper as an example, Master?”

Kamron wasn’t pleased and he shrugged.

“Alone, this paper can do very little, but if I curl the front edge and blow over it, the page rises. Air flowing over the top of the page must travel faster than the air beneath creating lift. It’s possible with your technologies to lift and propel a device through the air, Master.”

“You think you could create a flying device that could hold people?”

“I’ve seen women pushing floating carts and a shuttle that moved many people into the city. I believe you have all the technology at your fingertips. I would only need to understand how these work, Master.”

“Why? Of what benefit would it be to fly above the ground?”

“Speed and safety, exploration, and trade, Master.”

The ground shook and I reached out to the table to keep myself standing.

“Stupid imbeciles! They don’t know what they’re doing.”

“Excuse me, Master?”

“Never mind. This better not be a ploy, girl. I’ll give you one hundred days. Eldrich can teach you about rays and waves, however, your work in the lab must not interfere with your regular duties. Carena will assign you tasks that must be completed each day.”

“Thank you, Master.”

“By thanking me it is clear you don’t understand what will happen to you if you fail. Go back and see Carena.”

“Yes, Master.”

I tipped my head and stepped away from Kamron. I’m a little confused as I found it easy to fall into a submissive role. While I hate the concept and idea of being a slave, there’s a part of me that wishes to avoid pain and to feel protected.

“Carena?”

“Yes, Cassia?”

“Kamron, sorry, our master, has requested I be given daily tasks. Once I finish those each day he will allow me to work in the lab.”

“Really? No woman has ever been allowed to work in the lab, only to clean it.” She frowned. “Every morning and afternoon I need you to go into the city and pick up fresh food for our meals. You will be given an account and a list of items to get each day. You will also be responsible for cleaning the lab. These tasks alone should keep you very busy leaving you several hours each day to work in the lab. The ladies here all share a common space to eat and sleep. It’s time for me to go into the city to buy food for this evening. You can come with me and I will show you what to do.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me, you’re going to carry everything. Pick up those two large bags and follow me.”

We left the house and walked through the slave square and down into the market. If I wasn’t a slave, and the men weren’t all horrible arrogant people, I could see myself actually enjoying life here. The air was clean and warm, the sights, smells, and sounds, were an ever-present reminder that I was nowhere close to Earth. I used to love travelling to explore the cultures and geography of the world. The culture here is fascinating.

Carena introduced me to the stall owners and authorized me to pick up fresh food items. I was grateful for the list as I had no idea what any of these items were. There were meats and fish that were the strangest looking creatures I’ve ever seen. Fruits that wiggled and some had strange fur on them. Everything I touched was new.

“You little B’Darri!”

I was startled by Sathera yelling at me. Everyone turned and stared as she walked briskly up towards me. Carena looked puzzled.

“You made me look bad in front of the Emperor!” She pulled what appeared to be a whip from her side. “You will be lashed for my embarrassment!”

Before I knew what was fully going on, the end of the whip snapped across my wrist causing tremendous pain. I dropped one of our bags. People were anxious to witness the altercation and formed a circle around us.

“Defend yourself, Cassia!” Carena was looking at me anxiously.

“Sathera, I’m not aware I did anything to embarrass you. Please, I’m unarmed and don’t wish to fight you.”

“You sniveling piece of B’Darri dung!” She lashed out again with the whip, but this time I was ready and quickly stepped to the side and away from the snapping end of the whip. I picked up a squishy fruit from one of the stalls.

“Please, Sathera. I don’t wish to hurt you.”

The whip snapped again, but my hand moved like lightning and grabbed the end of it. I held it firmly as I tossed the squishy fruit towards her. With a resounding splat, her head snapped back and purple fruit juice splattered all over her gown. She wasn’t hurt, but she was finished as she heard the cheers of the crowd. She snuck away in silence.

“How long have you been here, Cassia?”

“I arrived this morning.”

“Sathera doesn’t like the Emperor paying any attention to another woman. You must have really caught his eye. She isn’t one to trifle with. How did you do that with the whip? I’ve never seen anyone move so fast.”

I looked at the red welt on my wrist and winced at the pain. “Obviously I wasn’t fast enough. I didn’t know I was allowed to defend myself.”

“You may against other women that threaten you. But to defend another woman in trouble, is another matter altogether. If you see an altercation between two women, it’s best to stay out of it for fear of repercussions.”

We turned to the stall owner of the squishy fruit. “I’m sorry I used your fruit. How should I pay for it?”

The woman at the stall laughed. “I got more entertainment seeing Sathera get hit with it than the fruit is worth. What’s your name, girl?”

“Cassia.”

“You sure know how to throw a cactrisium fruit, Cassia. Please, take another one for free.”

By the time we left the market, my two bags were heavy, but they weighed less than I thought they should. My Earthly muscles and the reduced gravity here helped greatly. Carena remarked how many women seemed interested in me.

“I’m a slave, Carena. What would they have of me?”

Carena laughed. “While all the women here are slaves, that doesn’t mean they don’t form bonds. There are times when women can be alone together but there is no marriage. We are all here at the whims of our male masters. These small relationships we women form make life here bearable.”

“You think those women want to sleep with me?”

“Oh, my… Not sleep. You’re incredibly beautiful and unique. Sleeping would be the last thing on their minds.”

I blushed brightly. “But I’ve shown no desire… Am I doing something that makes them think…?”

Carena laughed again. “Between your beauty, your naivete, and your besting Sathera, you might get many offers. The men here are brutal and rough. We receive no pleasure from them which is why women find solace and comfort in each other.”

“I would be happy to find love.”

“Then you will not be lacking.”

“That didn’t come out right. I only want one. I want to find my true love.”

“True love in the Empire doesn’t exist, Cassia.”

I was silent the rest of our walk back to the house.

***

It had been nearly a week and I was slowly getting into a routine. What I had feared the most, that I would be taken advantage of each night, proved to be nothing at all even though the thought weighed heavily upon me. I’ve been incredibly lucky to have been given to Kamron, but still I looked for ways of escape. I’m a slave and wish to be free and I worry that one day my luck will run out.

I began learning from Eldrich, who seemed not well pleased to stop his work to teach me about rays and waves. The major rays were the R-ray and the T-ray. The R-ray was the short bursts of white light that could stun or kill. Their rifles used R-rays. T-rays, could be formed and absorbed R-rays. The scientists found very little use for T-rays and tend to dismiss them and ignore them There were also G-waves that pulled and repelled, and G-rays that affected molecules by either agitating them or contracting them.

There were two waves, a Z-wave and an R-wave, not to be confused with the R-ray. The Z-wave is what was used to float objects above the ground. It worked by interfering with gravitational pull. The R-wave did the opposite and increased gravitational pull. My idea was starting to take shape, but I needed to perform some tests first. I needed something to block the effects of Z-waves and R-waves.

“Good morning, Cassia!” Leamay ran up, threw her arms around me, and hugged me. She was a bubbly girl that loved to gossip and I was beginning to wonder if she wanted something more from me.

“Good morning, Leamay.”

“I heard another woman was captured and they will be bringing her to the cells of slave square. I heard she fought like a kontico but was injured.”

“I feel badly for her.”

Leamay frowned. “Is your life here so bad, Cassia? It could be better if you just see what’s in front of you.”

“I’m a slave, Leamay. I yearn to be free.”

“You need to stop thinking like that. There is no escape from here. Maybe we can eat together tonight?”

There will be if I invent a flying machine. Looking at Leamay, I suddenly became sad. All my dreams have been dashed. While I loved being a woman, I just didn’t feel I could be who I am in this place. “Not tonight, Leamay. Thank you.”

“You’re missing your home… You have a wife?”

“No wife, but missing… I need to get on with my chores. See you later.”

“Absolutely!”

Grabbing my two bags I headed down to the market. As I reached the slave square, I could see many guards walking with a woman who could barely stand. They had heavy chains attached to each ankle, wrist, and around her neck. My heart lurched in my chest. She was spectacularly beautiful with long brunette hair and stunning eyes that were not quite blue or violet like everyone else’s. She was filthy and I could see a gash in her leg.

“Step aside, girl!”

I hadn’t realized I was in their way, so mesmerized I was. I moved aside and watched as they tossed the woman into one of the cells. She needed food and water and I could see her leg needed care.

Don’t do anything stupid, Cassia. Don’t do it.

I rushed to the market and used my favor with the women that ran the stalls to get some free food and water. By the time I got back to the slave square everything had settled down. Moving quietly to the back of the cells, I put my bags down and poked my head around the corner to stare at the woman chained inside. There was something about her that drew me to her. I was transfixed.

The woman stirred and opened her eyes. They pierced my very soul and I almost started to cry. They were wary, guarded. “Shhhh. Don’t say anything.” Reaching back, I grabbed a container of water and slipped it through the cell bars. I watched as she sipped the water slowly.

“Thank you.” She whispered. “Why are you helping me?”

“I’m a prisoner, like you.” I gave her some fruit and a little meat.

“You hardly look like a prisoner, but you also don’t look like you belong here.”

“I was captured a week ago. They weren’t happy with me that I stole wine from the Emperor’s sacred shrine. I’ve become a slave with threats of public rape and worse if I don’t deliver. At the moment, for a brief time, I have some freedom but it is very limited.”

“What are you to deliver?”

“My escape from here.”

“That doesn’t make any sense. There is no escape from the way we came in.”

“I believe I might be able to fly out.”

She laughed quietly and coughed. “You’re going to sprout wings then?”

“Turn so I can look at your leg.” She did and I bit my lower lip. There was a gash in her leg and it looked festered. “I’ll be back later this afternoon to bring you more water and food and see if I can steal something for your leg. It looks bad.”

“I’ll survive. Don’t put yourself in danger for me.”

“How can I not help you? You’re… I’ll be back.” I turned to go.

“Wait! My name is Dejah.”

“Cassia.”

“Thank you, Cassia.”

I rolled back and around behind the cells and sucked in a deep breath. You’re in so much trouble, Cassia.

***

Try as I might, I couldn’t get Dejah from my mind. I rushed through my chores and cut my hand on purpose. Wrapping a towel around my bleeding hand, I found Carena. “Carena? I cut my hand cleaning the food. Is there something I can use to help the cut?”

“You’re not to be using the knife.”

“I’m sorry. I was trying to help the other girls.”

“That’s not your job. Come with me.”

Carena led me to a small room where she opened a jar of salve. She spread it onto my cut and I watched as the cut knit itself together.

“It will remain damaged on the inside, but this will speed healing. No more knives. Stick to what tasks I’ve given you.”

“Yes. I’m sorry. Thank you, Carena.”

“Wrap this towel around it. You still must gather the afternoon food. This will help protect your hand while you bring the food back.”

“I’ll go right away.”

Carena left and I grabbed the jar of salve, sliding it into one of the bags. Once again, I rushed through my chore of gathering supplies before sneaking back to Dejah.

Poking my head around the corner, I stared into the sleeping face of the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. God, I’m in so much trouble. My heart is going to explode. I’ve never felt this way about anything before.

“Dejah?”

She moaned but didn’t open her eyes. I reached in and touched her forehead. She was feverish. Taking a cup of water, I put some to her lips but I could barely get any in. Her leg was against the bars so I used the salve liberally on it.

“What happened to your hand?” Her voice was barely a whisper and scratchy.

“Don’t talk, Dejah. Rest.”

“Your hand…”

“I cut it to gain access to the healing salve. I’m leaving some food and water behind you. Rest up and heal.”

I rushed back to the house in a fearful state. I was terribly worried about Dejah. I managed to get the salve back into the room without being seen and headed into the lab.

“Cassia!”

Startled, I turned around to see Karmon. “Yes, Master?”

“Eldrich tells me you’re no longer spending time with him. You’ve mastered all that you need?”

“No, Master. I needed time to learn about concentrations of Z-waves and I have been testing variations of the T-ray.”

“Show me.”

I had designed a small switch that would emit a tiny, one-inch disk of T-ray light. Turning it on, I heard Karmon grunt.

“While I am impressed by your knowledge, T-rays are useless. What have you done on the Z-waves?”

“I’ve been testing Z-waves through various substances to determine if a Z-wave can be blocked, Master.”

“Why would you want to block a Z-wave?”

“I could then utilize a concentrated set of Z-waves, and use a mechanical device to expose or block portions of the wave, Master.”

Karmon put his hand to his chin and walked off.

I breathed a sigh of relief. These little interruptions by Kamron always left me worried.

***

I waited patiently into the night, unable to sleep. I kept telling myself not to do anything rash, but my heart and mind were out of sync. I waited until everyone was asleep and snuck out the window, passed the guards, and headed back down to the slave cells.

“Dejah?”

“Cassia? What are you doing?”

“I came to check on you. How is your leg and fever?”

“Better. You shouldn’t be here.”

“I…” How do I explain I’m compelled to be here without sounding like a complete fool? “I brought you more food and water.”

“Cassia, forget about me. You risk too much.”

“But you’re injured. You need help. I might be able to get us…”

“Go! Get away from me! I don’t need your help!”

Tears welled up in my eyes. I sniffed, unable to control my emotions. I tried to speak a few words, but I turned and ran into the twilight.

As I climbed back into the window a light appeared.

“Where have you been?”

“I… I just needed some fresh air, Leamay.”

“The same fresh air you needed when you stole the salve? Who is she?”

Heat rushed to my face. I had been found out. “No one, Leamay.”

“Then why are you crying? Only another woman can cause that.”

“There’s no other woman. Are you going to tell on me?”

“No. She must be very special. You better get some sleep before I’m forced to do your chores tomorrow.”

“Leamay?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you.”

***

For the next four days life went back to normal except that my normal had been forever altered. Each morning and afternoon, I silently slipped food and water to Dejah, but said no word to her. I could see her staring at me as I walked across the square each time. Her eyes followed me. I wish I knew what she was thinking.

While I didn’t know what she was thinking, I knew what I was thinking. I’m a fool. A stupid fool to think I could have a life with Dejah. Something inexplicable drew my heart to her and every night and day my heart broke each time I saw her or thought about her.

On the fifth day after Dejah’s arrival, something happened. I was walking through the slave square to the market and saw a great commotion. Dejah was standing on the slave auction block. Her starting price was shouted out and wealthy men began their bidding in earnest.

Her eye caught mine and I stifled a cry and brought a hand to my mouth. Her eyes were apologetic and yet as she turned them back towards the men bidding on her, her look to them was defiant and strong. Never have I seen someone as poised as her in the face of such atrocities. I was frozen, unable to move.

“I thought I might find you here, little B’Darri.”

Turning, I saw Sathera with two other very large women. They all held whips in their hands. “Now isn’t t the time for your personal vendetta against me, Sathera.” I turned back to stare at Dejah and the proceedings.

“I see it. Our little B’Darri is in love.”

I ignored Sathera, hoping I might find out who would buy Dejah.

A guard shoved his way through the crowd to the auctioneer. The auctioneer looked back over my shoulder towards Sathera, shrugged, and issued orders. Dejah was pulled down and chained to a post. Sathera smiled as she pushed her way passed me with the two other women. Whatever was happening didn’t bode well.

The auctioneer shouted to everyone. “I’ve been told that this slave has been receiving help. Regardless if you know the law, it is forbidden to aid a slave. Only their master can authorize help. First slave of our great Emperor, Sathera, has willingly stepped forward to administer the punishment. Nine lashes.”

I looked at Sathera who merely grinned in victory as she stepped forward to face Dejah’s back. I watched in horror as she drew her arm back. Dropping my bags, I ran forward and wrapped myself around Dejah to protect her from the lashes.

I felt the pain before I heard the sound. I cried out as lash after lash bloodied my white gown. When it was all done, I collapsed to the ground. I looked up into Dejah’s eyes. She was crying.

“Why, Cassia?”

“I… I… lo… It… was my… fault.”

Sathera stepped up and kicked me hard in the stomach. Dejah seethed and strained against the chains. I could hear Sathera laughing. I don’t know what happened after that as everything went black.

***

“Cassia?”

I moaned. The pain on my back was easing, but it still hurt like hell. “Where am I?”

“At our master’s house. Lucky for you we still had lots of salve left. You won’t even be scarred but it will be a few days for you to fully heal and it will still hurt as it heals.”

“Leamay. Thank you.”

“How do you love someone so much without even knowing them?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You took that slave girl’s whipping. You intervened. It is the talk of the Empire. You declared your love for another slave girl in a way that has never been seen in history. I’m envious.”

“And I’m a fool. I don’t know why my heart is connected to her, but she doesn’t love me.”

“I’m not so sure about that. It took a dozen men to subdue her. She swore she would kill anyone that touched you.”

“I should see her.”

“Now that, would be utter foolishness. Do you know how angry Kamron is? He has threatened to have you publicly humiliated. You are to report directly to him. Sit up, drink some water, and get going.”

I winced as I sat up. Leamay must have changed me as I was wearing another white gown that was not in tatters or covered in blood.

“Thank you, Leamay.”

I stood weakly and headed into the sitting room where Kamron was waiting. I fell to my knees more from feeling weak than contriteness, but I lowered my head in shame nonetheless.

“What were you thinking, Cassia?”

“I’m sorry, Master.”

“You have put me in a difficult situation. Your actions reflect badly on this house. I’m forced to sell you.”

***

The next morning the ladies bathed me, combed out my hair so it shone as bright as polished copper, applied makeup to my lips and eyes, and dressed me in a very revealing gold gown. I was led down to the slave square where no small crowd had emerged. I looked over at the cells to find Dejah pulling at her chains and straining with the cell door.

I was paraded around before being ordered to stand on top of the auction block. A man that looked like an official walked up to me and slid his fingers up inside me. I cried from the humiliation. The man whispered something to the auctioneer.

“Gentlemen, we have a very rare prize indeed. A slave girl captured in the surrounding desert wastelands. She comes from faraway lands with her golden orange hair and green eyes. She is a remarkable beauty and has yet to be taken by any man.”

Karmon came and stood next to the auctioneer and whispered something to him.

“Whomever buys this girl, will also receive payment for her services while she works in Karmon’s lab.”

“The starting price for this slave is twenty-five thousand gold.”

The auctioneer coughed as he looked over at the Emperor. “Twenty-five thousand?”

“She is a perfect specimen, is she not? She also has a crime debt that needs to be paid. Not only did she trespass on the Empire lands, but she violated a sacred site, stole clothing and wine, fought back against our men, tried to escape, threw a fruit into the face of my first slave, and now recently has been caught aiding another captured slave. Twenty-five thousand is a bargain.”

“I’ll pay you fifty thousand for our freedom!”

I looked at Dejah and couldn’t fathom anyone having so much money.

The Emperor waddled over to Dejah. “What do you care about this woman? How do you know her?”

“We never met before I arrived. I’ll kill anyone that lays a hand on her.”

The Emperor laughed. “I was told such a story that this slave girl now up for auction was so in love with you, she sacrificed herself for your beating. Do you love her back?”

I wanted to hear what she had to say, but she looked me in the eyes before staring defiantly back at the Emperor.

“I can’t say that.”

“Really?”

The Emperor moved back to me and grabbed my breast and kissed me. It was horrible. His greasy lips tasted like rotting fish. I felt so violated that I collapsed to my knees afterwards.

Dejah was incensed. “How dare you touch her you filthy…”

Guards shot her with a stun level of R-ray. I watched as she slumped to the ground.

The Emperor looked at me. “You two are trouble. Fifty thousand gold for the two slave girls! They must stay together. Such endless fun.”

The auctioneer called out the price, not daring to argue with the Emperor. “Do I have a bid from anyone?”

After a minute of silence from the crowd, the Emperor made a statement. “Since no one can afford the crime debt or is willing to bid on these two slaves, and since the crimes were against me, I will take them both. Bring them to the palace!”

So much had transpired in the past hour it was hard to take in. I was now owned by a hideous and grotesque man that seemed to derive pleasure from setting people against each other. Sathera will be at the palace as well. I was publicly violated twice, and the one person that my heart tells me I can’t live without has publicly stated she doesn’t love me back. It was overwhelming.

Dejah and I were placed in a locked room together. She was still unconscious so I did my best to make her comfortable before crawling into the corner and weeping. Never in my wildest dreams would I get everything I ever desired only to be entrapped, violated, and spurned. This was the first moment I questioned if it had all been a huge mistake.

Staring at Dejah’s filthy but stunning form, I couldn’t help but weep uncontrollably. Having been put together in a room was the ultimate humiliation. I turned my head away and wept.

“Cassia? Are you hurt?”

I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder.

“Just leave me be. Ever since you came…”

“Let me see your back.”

I turned further away from Dejah and felt her fingers trace the red welts that were still there. The cuts had healed, but the muscles underneath were still very sore.

“Look at me, Cassia.”

I shook my head. “It hurts too much.”

“Your back?”

“Don’t you understand? From the moment I first saw you, my heart nearly stopped beating in my chest. I’ve never felt anything like it before; a yearning so strong that… I love you and I don’t even know you. I love you and I’ve been rejected by you time and again. I’m the biggest fool that has ever lived.”

“Cassia… Do you know who I am?”

My heart spoke for me before my brain could stop my thoughts. “I know that you are proud, defiant, and strong. Courageous in the face of the enemy, yet from the tears you’ve shed, still vulnerable. You are the most beautiful person I’ve ever laid my eyes upon.”

“You must know who I am.”

“I have no idea who you are and don’t care. You want nothing to do with me. I’ve bared my soul and exposed myself. My humiliation is complete. I don’t understand this connection I have to you, but I will leave you be to live your life without this strange horrible orange-haired woman getting in your way, all the while knowing I will never be the same again.”

“I haven’t rejected you.”

“You told me to leave you alone. You told everyone you have no love for me. That is the same.”

I could feel Dejah sit down next to me. There was silence for many minutes until I heard soft crying next to me. My heart went out to Dejah. It would always do so even though it was broken.

“Dejah. I know things are bleak here, but I have a plan to escape. All is not lost. I promise we will escape together and I will take you home, wherever that may be. Then you will be done with this place, the humiliations they heap upon us, and me.”

“You see, Cassia, but you’re blind. Yes, I spoke those words that I knew would hurt you. All my life women have vied for my hand. They sought only to better themselves through association with me. I believed you knew me and, at first, thought you were like them. But there was something stirring deep within me that wanted to protect you. I’ve hardened my heart to protect myself, for I have been hurt many times from women that spoke of love, but didn’t truly love me. You put yourself at risk for my sake. You took care of me. You gave me food and water even after I told you to go away, you persisted. Why?”

“Because my heart wouldn’t allow me to do otherwise.”

“Know this, Cassia, that you have touched my calloused and hardened heart in a way like no one else in this world has. When you put yourself between me and the whips, I felt every lash in the deepest part of my soul. I will never be worthy of your love or sacrifice.”

“Whatever compels me, Dejah, is something deeper than I’ve ever felt before. I know I will never be whole again, because my heart was given and I’m not sure I can take it back. Regardless of the situation, I could never see you come to harm. Even though you have spurned me, and rightfully so, for I am none other but a foolish girl of no pedigree or history, I would do it again without hesitation. I’ll get you home or die trying.”

“Cassia, I couldn’t publicly say I loved you because it would give those that wish to harm us leverage against us. That and there are other ramifications...”

“Dejah, I will say this once and never speak it again as long as you don’t wish to hear it. I don’t know how, or why, but I love you, Dejah.”

“Do you know what speaking those words mean?”

“Of course, I know. It means that my heart is yours and yours alone.”

“It is a declaration of commitment to marriage and if reciprocated forms an unbreakable covenant.”

“I have much to learn. I’m sorry that I offended you in this way. It wasn’t my intention…”

“Cassia, stop. Do you know who I am?”

I was getting angry. Angry at myself mostly. “You keep asking me that question. I don’t know you and don’t care who you are or where you come from. You could be the daughter of generations of slaves or the wealthiest person in the world. I wouldn’t care. Stop making this so bloody painful. Tell me you have no love for me and that I should get away from you, and I’ll do my best to stay away.”

“I’ve never wanted anything or anyone so much in my entire life as you, Cassia. I’m afraid for my own heart, and afraid that you will be taken from me. It is dangerous being near me.”

Now I was confused. “What are you trying to say? Every sentence from your perfect lips causes my heart to leap for joy one second and then be dashed upon the rocks the next. I don’t understand.”

“I’m saying, that I love you, Cassia. Like you, I don’t know how or why. I’ve never loved anything so much to the point I was afraid for them.”

“You said you love me?”

“With every fiber of my being.” She cupped my face with her hands and kissed me. My lips burned with desire and passion. Heat filled my body.

The door opened and the Emperor stood there laughing. Many guards stood ready with rifles behind him. “I wasn’t wrong about you two. You will be the best entertainment I’ve had in a long time. The only question now, is which of the two of you shall grace my bed first.”

Dejah started to move but the guards leveled their rifles at her.

The Emperor laughed again. “Guards, make sure Cassia is cleaned up and sent to Kamron for her daily duties. Get the ladies to clean up this other one and send her to the kitchens. Such fun… such fun, indeed.”

I was grabbed and pulled to a room where several ladies were waiting for me. I was changed, my hair cleaned again, and I was sent back to Kamron’s place. Knowing that Dejah loved me was a mixed blessing. Now I wanted to spend every second I could with her and being apart was torture. But if being apart allowed me to work on our escape, then we would persevere. What was bothering me the most was the Emperor’s threat to take one of us to his bed.

Upon arrival at Kamron’s lab, I was greeted by Kamron himself.

“I’m glad you’re still able to work here, Cassia. Your ideas are fresh and insightful. You would make a good man.”

“The women here are equally as capable as me. Why are they not treated better, Master?”

“You do not need to call me master any longer as I’m no longer your owner. A long time ago it was much different. Women and men worked side by side as equals. However, after the great accident, our women became sterile and we were forced to find women from outside in the world. Having heirs became the new currency and slowly as we found women, men began bidding on them so they could have someone to pass their legacy onto. Women became objects to be bought and sold which has brought us to the current state.”

“What are my tasks?”

“You no longer need to go into the city for food. Your primary task for the day is to work on your inventions. I wish to see a prototype in four weeks.”

“Four weeks? I still haven’t found a substance to block the Z-waves yet.”

“The crystal walls of the crater were caused by a melting of ocean bottom. While there is a high proportion of silica in them, there is also a mixture of heavier metals as well. The crystal is a surprisingly dense and reflective material that requires special cutting tools to shape. I can get Eldrich to fashion a box for you to test with. If my hunch is correct, then you might have your solution.”

“Thank you.”

***

My day had been spent working on some ideas I had with the T-ray and R-ray while I waited for Eldrich, who wasn’t pleased to once again interrupt his work to help facilitate mine. What I discovered, was that the T-ray could be shaped and it had tangible hardness to it with almost no weight. This got me thinking. One of the deadliest weapons available were R-ray weapons. T-rays could absorb the R-rays and it could be fashioned as a shield; a shield, that could be activated from a small wearable device.

I didn’t dare write anything down and when prompted from Kamron that I was to document my steps, I was forced to write out fake steps for what I was doing as I had no desire to leave these concepts with them.

Two other ideas I had with the T-ray were to test sharpness. Could the T-ray be formed into a sword, or better yet, an arrow?

Tomorrow I would begin building my two-seater aircraft frame but at the moment, I was very anxious to get back to the palace to find Dejah. As I entered the ladies slave area, there was much yelling going on and upon coming around the corner I saw Sathera cowering in the corner with Dejah hovering over her. Dejah had a welt on her shoulder and Sathera’s whip in her hand.

I rushed in between them. “Dejah, my love, let me take care of your shoulder. She’s not worth it.”

“She whipped you, Cassia!”

“For my own breaking of the laws.” I leaned close to Dejah’s ear and whispered. “One day she will get what she is due, but we must be cautious. She has the Emperor’s favor. Trust me, my beloved.”

Dejah gently stepped around me, tore the whip in half and tossed it at Sathera’s feet. “If you ever touch me or Cassia again, it will be the last thing you ever do. You should thank Cassia for intervening on your behalf.”

Sathera looked at me with such hatred, muttered an apology, and rushed from the room.

“Ladies, where do you store the healing salve?”

One of them got me a jar and I took Dejah to a private room. As soon as the door was closed, Dejah had her lips on mine. With her all cleaned up, I was hard pressed to stop and take care of her shoulder.

“You are a temptation of the likes I’ve never had before, Dejah. Let me take care of you.”

“I’ve thought of nothing but you from the minute you left, Cassia. It was the longest day of my life.”

“Shhhh. I’m here now. I’ll never intentionally leave you.”

“Cassia, I was a fool to confess my love for you before you know everything.”

“As long as you love me, I don’t care, and we don’t know who is listening to us. The less they know the better.”

The ground began to shake and I held onto Dejah. I was still weak and my back still very sore, but any excuse to touch her was a good excuse.

“The earthquakes are getting worse.”

“Just another thing to worry about. Sit back, let me get some salve on your wound.” Dejah sat down and I slowly pulled her gown away and over her shoulder. My fingers lingered on her soft, flawless skin. I was breathing quickly and knew I was blushing. “I’m horribly jealous.”

“Jealous?”

“Of the ladies that got to bathe you.”

“I kicked them all out. No woman will ever touch me but you, Cassia.”

I pulled her long brunette aside and exposed her neck. My lips gently brushed the spot just below her ear as my fingers smoothed some salve over her wound.

“If you don’t stop kissing me, Cassia, I might not be held liable for my actions.”

“Would that be so wrong?”

“We can’t… Not until we’re properly married. It’s the one tradition I must adhere to.”

“But we can kiss?”

“Absolutely!” She stood and pressed my back up against the wall and kissed me so passionately my knees almost buckled. “Do you know how beautiful you are, Cassia?”

It suddenly dawned on me that I had been keeping secrets. “You need to know about me, Dejah. About my history.”

“It doesn’t matter to me where you are from or whether you’re rich or poor. We can discuss these things when we escape from here. As you said before, the less anyone knows, even each other, the safer it is for both of us.”

My fingers entwined with hers. “I hope we get to sleep together. Every moment away from you is torture.”

***

The next day, I woke up next to Dejah and it was the most priceless moment I had ever had. We had snuggled up against each other, Dejah had her lips pressed into my neck all night and her arm was protectively around me. I rolled over and saw she seemed wide awake.

“You’ve been awake.”

“I was watching you sleep. You’re a pretty sleeper.”

“And you’re pretty anytime, even with prison sludge all over you and your hair all matted. Do you think we might one day get to sleep in together?”

“It will happen, Cassia.”

I got up after kissing Dejah. “Try to avoid Sathera and the Emperor. Do you know how to build things?”

“What kind of things?”

“A structure big enough for two people and a little storage.”

“I might. It would depend on the materials that were available. I’m more of a fighter. Give me a sword and I can take almost anything apart.”

“That can come in handy. I’ll miss you today, Dejah.”

“I’m sure I’ll miss you more.”

With another kiss, I headed over to Kamron’s lab for my work duty for the day.

***

Two weeks had passed and things fell into a daily rhythm. Sathera and the Emperor had left us alone and I was progressing rapidly on my airship design. Kamron had been correct in that Z-waves were blocked by the crystal. Working with Eldrich, I estimated how large a Z-wave sphere needed to be to lift an object of varying weight from the ground. Z-waves, gave my craft lift, whereas G-wave spheres gave my craft momentum by pushing and pulling depending upon their polarity.

The airship design was remarkably simple. An oblong shape, similar in style to a two-seater whitewater kayak, had eight Z-wave spheres attached to the bottom of the hull. G-wave spheres were attached to the front, front sides, rear sides, and rear of the craft. Crystal coverings would mechanically slide using a single lever for the Z-waves and a joystick for the G-waves. Using the lever for my left hand, I could expose the Z-wave spheres to create a gravitational repulsion from the planet creating lift. A dial was used to trim or level the craft if there was unequal weight distribution.

Moving the joystick forward would expose the pulling G-wave spheres at the front and repelling G-wave spheres at the rear of the craft creating propulsion. Pushing the joystick to the left would expose the G-wave spheres on the front-right and back-left of the craft to spin the craft to the left. With tweaks and adjustments, I could set the craft to stay level and straight. The most difficult task had been fashioning the crystal covers, levers, and trim devices.

As the hull was being finalized, I spent time on my R-ray and T-ray gadgets. I kept these well hidden from my other work. My first attempts at making a sword failed miserably, but as I learned how to manipulate the T-rays, I found that I could make an edge only molecules in thickness. In other words, the sword would always be razor sharp. Combining R-rays with the T-ray shape, gave me something that was completely unique, a sword with the ability to penetrate or stun with every hit.

My most ingenious invention was a switch that activated a T-ray in the shape of a bow. It would shoot T-ray arrows wrapped in R-rays. It was like having a hidden crossbow on my wrist. I could activate the bow, hold out my arms, aim, and use my fingers to shoot stun or penetrating arrows.

Finally, I created a shield that would stop any object or rifle R-ray shot. I made two wrist mounted shields that looked much like bracelets, and one to protect the craft. I made one sword wrist bracelet, and one bow wrist bracelet.

As I was testing, I noticed a strange anomaly. I had activated my shield and then the sword, only to have the sword penetrate the shield. Once I pulled the sword from the shield, I couldn’t get the sword to penetrate the shield any longer. There was something unique about the formation of the T-ray that allowed it to pass through the shield.

I had just hidden these devices when Kamron came around the corner.

“Cassia?”

“Yes, Kamron?”

“I see the craft taking shape. When will you be ready for testing?”

“I’ve performed ground testing of forward movement and turning, but I’m concerned that the lift mechanisms will require many days more work. If I get the trim settings wrong, the unbalanced craft will simply spin and roll over and over.”

“And what of speed?”

“If my calculations are correct, at top speed, the craft might be able to traverse the entire crater in under ten minutes.”

“Impressive.”

The ground shook once again, although this time it seemed to last longer than before.

“Eldrich! Those imbeciles are going to kill us all! I want to look at their plans again.”

“Yes, Kamron. I have them safely locked away.”

Kamron turned back to me. “We can’t wait days. I want to see this craft work tomorrow.”

“Yes, Kamron.”

Kamron headed over to see Eldrich and I watched carefully as they opened a locked safe and spent time reviewing plans. This was the second time Kamron reacted to an earthquake. Could what they be doing be related to the gravitational changes within Jupiter and causing the earthquakes?

Putting my wrist bow and shield on, I stowed the other two bracelets inside my clothing as I headed back to the palace. Luckily, the bracelets looked like jewelry that women normally wore, but still, I had not been wearing anything before and a good eye would catch that.

I made it safely to the palace and quickly pulled Dejah into a private room. “We have to escape tonight.”

“I thought you said the craft wasn’t ready?”

“It’s not… It is, mostly. I have no idea how it will fly and we risk our lives using it.”

“Better to risk our lives and die together than to stay here as slaves. Who gave you this jewelry?”

“Jealous?”

“No.”

“Liar. I made them myself.” I pulled the other two from my clothing and slipped them on Dejah’s wrists.

“Thank you. They’re crude, but nice.”

“You’re right handed?”

“Yes.”

I looked over my shoulder making sure we were still very much alone and safe. “Hold up your right hand.”

Dejah did as I asked. “Press the red stone and whatever you do, don’t flinch.”

Dejah pressed the red stone and a three-foot sword of light appeared in her hand. “A sword?”

“A sword that will stay hidden until needed. One that is always razor sharp. If you press the green stone, it will spread R-rays across the sword that will instantly stun, just like the rifles here. The purple stone activates a penetrating R-ray along the blade. Your left bracelet activates a shield that will absorb R-rays and stop any object.”

“By the gods, Cassia. You’re brilliant! We have a real chance! We’ll escape as soon as everyone is asleep.”

“Let’s hope I’m brilliant enough to make that thing fly and not crash us into the ground. Take my bracelets and hide them on you for now. I don’t want them to fall into anyone’s hands in case I get caught. I’ll go gather some food and water as we will need it.”

“I’ll see what clothing I can find. Hurry back to me, my love.”

With a kiss from Dejah, I slipped into the palace and worked my way to the kitchen. The palace was quiet as nightfall had just begun. I was grabbing a container of water when four guards surrounded be.

“You’re coming with us. The Emperor has decided you’re wanted tonight.”

Grabbing a metal pan, I flung it at the nearest guard and scampered around a cooking island trying to escape. “I’ll not go to the bed of that foul man!”

With rifles leveled at me the guards slowly forced me into a corner. I lashed out and fought, but it was no use against four guards. I simply wasn’t strong or fast enough. I fought them all the way to the Emperor’s room.

I was dragged kicking and screaming into a lavish bedroom. Chains were attached to my wrists and ankles and I was bound to the bed. The guards chuckled and slipped out as I pulled at the chains with everything I had. While the bed creaked and groaned, they wouldn’t give.

“There’s no use struggling, girl.”

The Emperor waddled into the bedroom wearing a robe. His exposed belly pushed through the opening. He reached for my foot and stroked it with his pudgy hand.

“Don’t touch me!”

Moving to my side, the Emperor slapped me hard across my face. “That is no way to speak to your Emperor and master. Call me master, girl.”

I spat at him. “Never! You’re a filthy B’Darri!”

His hand was at my throat choking the life from me. When he let go, I gasped for air.

“You will succumb to me, girl.”

“I’d rather die first!”

The Emperor was nonchalant as I squirmed and pulled at the chains. The manacles cut into my wrists, but I didn’t care.

I watched in horror as he pulled a dagger from a night table next to the bed. He ran the blade under my clothing and against my skin. “I know ways to make you cooperate, but it leaves a terrible mess. Give me what I want willingly and I will set your girlfriend free. I’m bored with Sathera. You can live in luxury with no responsibilities at my side as my first slave. If you fail to cooperate, I will take you anyways, then do the same to your girlfriend, only I’ll force you to watch.”

Tears were streaming down my cheeks. “How do I know you’re not lying; that you will set Dejah free?”

“You doubt the word of your Emperor?”

“If… If what you say is true, that you will free Dejah and allow her safe passage home, then I will give you what you want. But I need time and evidence she is free.”

“I don’t bargain, girl.”

His hand came to my breast and I twisted away from him.

“Get your filthy hands off my betrothed!”

Standing in the open balcony doorway, Dejah inspired courage in me. Her beautiful face was contorted in pure controlled rage. The T-ray sword danced with R-rays and the white light gleamed across her features.

“Guards!”

In two steps Dejah was at the Emperor’s side, her sword inches from his heart. “Drop the dagger!”

“What is that? A sword of light? Useless. Guards!”

The door flew open and half a dozen guards burst into the room. Dejah activated her shield just as R-rays flew towards her. The shield worked perfectly, absorbing the R-rays and dissipating them. The guards looked at their rifles as a grin spread on Dejah’s face. She leapt towards them and I never could have imagined anyone fighting so fiercely. In moments the guards were all down, precious moments that the Emperor took advantage of. By the time Dejah had turned back towards us, the Emperor’s dagger was at my throat.

“Listen to me, girl. If you want Cassia to live, you will surrender.”

Timing couldn’t have been better as an earthquake shook the city. I twisted away from the blade just as Dejah dove forward. I could feel the dagger slice through my shoulder, but as I turned back, I was just in time to see the Emperor’s head slip from his body. Dejah threw the fat body of the man aside, cut through the manacles, and pulled me to her.

“I thought I lost you forever, Cassia. You would have given up your life so I could be free?”

“I was hoping to buy time, but yes, Dejah, I would do anything to protect you even if it meant I would be enslaved forever. Better you be free than me.”

“We committed our lives to each other, did we not?”

“I did, with all my heart.”

“Then no more self-sacrifice. We are bound together. We live free, as slaves, or die together. I could never live with the thought of you enslaved by such a foul creature while I went free.” Dejah tore the sheets and wrapped a strip around my shoulder. It stung, but it wasn’t too deep. “We need to leave before the entire place is hunting us. Put your bracelets on.”

After attaching my bracelets, I grabbed Dejah’s hand as we rushed through the palace hallways. We were nearly to the outside gate when Sathera and four guards blocked our path.

“The Emperor is dead, Sathera. Let us go in peace.”

“If I were to capture the murderers of our beloved Emperor, I could be freed. You won’t get away from me this time. When I get through with you, little B’Darri, you won’t look so pretty.”

Dejah stepped in front of me protectively and drew her sword and shield. I activated my weapon and shield as well, stepping next to her side. Dejah looked at me proudly before leaping the distance between us and the guards in one large leap. I stood and was amazed, wondering for a moment who this beautiful woman really was before getting into the action myself.

Seeing one of the guards circle around behind Dejah as she was slicing through the others, I opened fire with my bow. The guard slumped to the ground just as Dejah dispatched the last of the others. In moments, Sathera was left standing all alone.

“Who are you two? You have destroyed everything!”

My heart went out to her and I didn’t want to hurt her even though she deserved it, but we shouldn’t leave her to alert the city. “Step aside, Sathera.”

In some ways I was thankful that she helped us make up our minds as to what to do with her. She lashed out at me and Dejah punched her, knocking her out cold.

We stuck to the shadows as we headed for Kamron’s lab, but it was clear the palace was abuzz with activity as lights came on and alarms sounded behind us. Soon the whole city would be actively seeking us.

“I’m so proud of you, Cassia. You don’t flee from danger.”

“You might be surprised to hear I was bullied as a child and I’m not much of a fighter. It’s why I have a ranged weapon. I’m terrible with a sword or anything else.”

We managed to reach Kamron’s lab undetected, but that wouldn’t last long as to get the little airship out we would need to open the large double doors that were guarded at all times. Getting inside was easy enough through an open window.

I uncovered the airship and began tossing tools into its storage area.

“We’re escaping in that?”

“I know it’s not much to look at right now, but it should get the job done.”

“What do you need me to do?”

“We need to get it closer to the double doors so as soon as we open them, we can launch.”

“What about the guards?”

“We should be protected once we’re in the airship. I need you to help me get into this locked case.”

“We should be leaving.”

“We will, Dejah, but there is something important that I think we should take with us.”

“What’s more important than our lives?”

“The planet. Use your sword with penetrating R-rays to cut through the lock.”

Dejah looked at me strangely but quickly sliced through the lock. Inside I found plans. Many plans and a box of spheres inside of crystal. I grabbed everything I could and put it into the airship. We were almost ready to launch when I froze in my tracks.

“We could have done so well together, Cassia.”

I turned to see Kamron standing not too far from us. Dejah drew her sword instantly. I saw no guards so I put my hand up to hold her back.

“Please don’t try to stop us. Kamron.”

“I’ve sent my guards away but that doesn’t mean others won’t be here soon. Take what you need. I just want to see if it works.”

“I don’t understand? Why would you help us?”

“Because there was a day when I was younger and might have caught your eye, that I would have liked to work alongside you as an equal. The Empire has failed. You being here has rekindled something in me that I thought had been long lost. To see your work and your inventions, how you think and process things, makes me realize we have lost the better half of who we should be.”

“What will they do to you if they find out?”

“Don’t worry about me. I’m like an oracle to them, even if they refuse to listen to me.”

“Get yourselves strapped in. I’ll open the double doors for you. I wish you well, Cassia.”

We didn’t waste any more time. I made sure Dejah was strapped into the seat next to mine, and I pulled the Z-lever very slowly until we were a foot from the ground. I adjusted the trim to balance us, and pushed the joystick forward. It was working!

We passed by Kamron and through the open doors. He was watching us like a child on Christmas morning.

Everything was working fine until guards poured out from the street before us. They raised their rifles and began shooting. Frantically, I scrambled to activate the T-ray shield, but in my haste of designing the aircraft, I only created a shield on the bottom of the craft and the guards were not aiming there.

“Hang on!”

Dejah was already looking a little queasy as I yanked the Z-wave lever. We rose rapidly, so rapidly that I lost grip on the lever for a moment and when I finally grabbed it again, I closed it too much and we plunged back towards the street. Don’t panic, Cassia. Slow movements.

I had just regained control of our vertical movement when Dejah pointed out guards aiming at us from the tops of buildings. Slamming the joystick forward, the aircraft rocketed down the street, almost knocking over several guards. R-rays were zipping past our heads as I increased our altitude and turned left.

Unfortunately, I instantly recognized a major design flaw in the aircraft. Instead of banking, the craft did a flat turn and Dejah was nearly flung from the craft. It was only my quick reactions of grabbing her arm that kept her from falling out.

Dejah was stoically quiet as I regained control and rose higher and higher above the city. Soon we were racing across the lake towards the western wall of the crater and leaving the guards and city behind.

Once my heart had settled, I found the flying exhilarating! I pulled back on the joystick as we approached the crystal walls and elevated us higher and higher. The crater fell away beneath us. We rose swiftly in altitude until some several thousand feet above the crater floor we found the top of the crystal wall. I kept things slow as we passed over the sharp crystal peaks making sure in the twilight I wouldn’t crash into one.

When the edge of the cliff wall dropped away, I flew west and moved closer to the ground until I spotted the silhouette of great beast carcass. I carefully maneuvered our little craft until we landed.

Dejah had been silent the entire time, her knuckles were white from squeezing the arm rests of her seat. She stayed inside until I got out and offered her a hand.

“We’re free, my love.”

We flew like a bird in a machine that you built and designed. Why did we stop here so close to the Empire?”

“My first night on Jupiter, I slept here. There is some food and refreshments here, and we need to have a plan.”

“What do you mean by your first night on Jupiter?”

“Do you know of Caelen Carter?”

Dejah stepped away from me, her face full of mixed emotions. “I know of her. How do you know of her?”

“You may find this strange, but she contacted me on Earth, requesting very specific minerals that are not found here on Jupiter. She feared for the planet as it was experiencing gravitational fluctuations. She provided me with a time and place on Earth to put the minerals so that she could somehow bring them to Jupiter.”

Dejah’s face darkened. “What happened?”

“There was a delay. My friend and I waited many minutes past the specified time. We were about to give up when we suffered an earthquake. The case of minerals fell over a ledge and I rushed to the spot where it once was hoping my friend could pass it to me in time. The next thing I knew, I was lying south of here, having been transported to Jupiter. I know this sounds crazy.”

“You lied to me! You told me you didn’t know who I am.”

“Dejah… I would never lie to you. I don’t care who you are just as long as we’re together.”

“You knew I was Caelen and Aristea’s daughter all along.”

“No…” What is this all about? Why is Dejah acting this way? I can see I’m losing Dejah and I wasn’t sure why I was losing her. “Dejah, I never knew. How would I know?”

Dejah was fuming mad. She turned away from me, which broke my heart. “I trusted you! I gave my heart to you!”

“Dejah? What’s wrong? Please tell me!”

She turned back towards me with anger boiling away in her eyes. “I should have known all along. You were just acting to get close to me.”

Weeping heavily, I fell to my knees and reached for her hand. “I haven’t wronged you, Dejah!” I put my fingers on her bracelet and pulled her hand to point at my chest. “Nothing in my life makes sense except for you. I would sooner die than be without you. Press it. Please! If you can’t see that I love you, press it and end my miserable life and I pray that you will find everything that you ever desired. I can’t live without you.”

She pulled her hand away as if I had shot her. I collapsed on the desert floor as she started walking away. Her footsteps became quieter and quieter until they were no more. Everything ended for me in that moment. Slipping my bracelet off, I turned it to face my heart. I’ve never felt anything so painful in my entire life. My wracking sobs made it hard to activate the bow.

“Cassia! No!”

I heard Dejah’s steps as she ran towards me. She pulled the bracelet from my hand and fell down next to me.

I pleased with her. “Please, Dejah. You’re the only thing in my life worth living for. I’ve not lived a good life and ever since I came here I’ve been beaten, enslaved, violated, and the only thing that kept me alive was knowing I would see your face each day. And yet I’ve been selfish, loathsome, and uncaring. I promise to take you safely home to your family and then I will leave you and you will never have to think about me or see me again.”

“I’m sorry, Cassia. I assumed much. I thought for certain you must have known who I was and had carefully manipulated my heart to gain favor with our family and find a life of comfort. Each step I took away from you was like a knife in my own heart. I could only get nine steps away from you. No one would put themselves through what you did to gain my favor. Nine steps for nine lashes and every step away was killing my soul. I don’t deserve you, Cassia. Forgive me, please. For I can’t live without you.”

I looked up through tear sodden eyes to find Dejah’s face inches away from mine. “I forgive you, my love.”

Her lips were on mine as she held me tightly in her arms. “I’m so sorry, Cassia. You have been nothing but giving, kind, sacrificial, and loving to me and I’ve let my own fears and doubts control me. Because of who I am, women have come from far and wide to seek my hand in marriage. Time and again some falsehood or lie was found, some deceit that would cause me to isolate myself. For years I have all but given up hope to find love.”

I was still crying, but I stood and Dejah wrapped her arms around my waist while she stayed on her knees. I pulled her up against me and held her tight. “Our hearts are such fragile things. Let’s move inside where it is more comfortable.”

Dejah paused and picked up my bracelet. “I’m not perfect, Cassia. I’ve walked away with a broken heart before, but I’ve never felt so lost as when I walked away from you. Is that true love; when you know you can’t live without your mate?”

“If someone would have told me such love existed before I met you, I would have laughed at them. But from the moment I saw you, my heart all but shattered in my chest for loss. How can it be that I can live a life on another planet, to find my soulmate here?”

I took Dejah’s hand and led her inside the skull where things all began for me. Her eyes went wide at the sight, much like mine did the first time I saw this place. I guided Dejah to a cushion to sit on and then I found another jar of the purple wine. “Drink, my love.”

“I should be serving you.”

“We have a lifetime to serve each other.”

Dejah sipped the wine and smiled at the taste. She pulled me down and wrapped her arms around me.

“What now, Cassia? In some ways, I’m afraid to go home and back to palace life. I could live in a place like this as long as you were with me.”

“When morning comes and we have more light, we need to examine the plans we took from Kamron. Several times, he yelled at the lab workers after an earthquake saying that those imbeciles would kill us all. The last time he felt a need to examine those plans. I believe the Empire is using some new technology that is having an adverse effect on the gravity of Jupiter.”

“You’re right, we must investigate.”

“How did you get captured by the Empire, Dejah?”

“I came to find the minerals from Earth. We had a delay using our transportation technology. The device was sabotaged. It took us several minutes to figure out what was wrong and to initiate the sequence, but as we did, an earthquake struck our city. The delay, combined with the earthquake throwing off the alignment of the device, caused the delivery location to shift nearly a thousand miles. Right here in the ancient seabed. Right where you were transported to.”

“A thousand miles?”

“It took me almost a week of travel with the fastest mounts available to get here. While I was travelling here to recover the minerals, my mother, Caelen was trying to contact you. I was sure I had overheard her call you Casey though.”

I bit my lip wondering if she knew I had been a man on Earth. “And I was, of course, not home… So, when you arrived, how did the Empire capture you?”

“I began searching the area when my mount and I were swallowed by the sands. The fall killed my mount and badly injured my leg. I was trapped there for a day before the Empire found me. I was weak and dehydrated and unable to fight back. When I first saw you in the city, I thought I was hallucinating. You were so beautiful and the look you gave me stirred my heart. You saved my life, Cassia. How did you know my mother?”

“On Earth, I had a career in technology, but I was also an author. Two years ago, I wrote a story. I thought I had made it up, so fanciful it was that I thought it merely my imagination. The story began with Caelen’s arrival on Jupiter and how she met Aristea and their adventures together. It felt strange to write it, almost as if I could see the entire thing in my mind, but I thought nothing of it because I knew no life existed here. When Caelen contacted me a few months ago, I couldn’t believe she was standing in my home. I thought for certain that I was losing my mind and yet I felt oddly compelled to do what I could to prove to myself if I were sane or not. When the day came for the transport and suddenly I was here, I certainly believed then.”

“You arrived much like my mother and yet you don’t have her strength. I wonder why that would be.”

“I’m stronger than when I was on Earth, perhaps twice as strong, but I’m faster. Far faster than ever before. For a while I thought maybe I was on a different planet with different gravity. I believe, I arrived at a time of gravitational fluctuation, or, the transportation of a human from Earth to Jupiter effects each person uniquely. You’re strong and fast. Did you inherit that from Caelen?”

“Yes. I have only about two thirds of her strength. My younger sister, barely has any enhanced strength. It is why I became so popular. The people believed I was as good as Caelen. Sadly, I’ll never be as good as she is. I’m a disappointment to my mothers. Kylia, my sister, is already married and has had several children. I took after Caelen and strove to be like her in every way. I honed my fighting skills while my sister focused on science. We’ve lived in peace for many years and my skills aren’t as valuable anymore.”

I rolled over so our noses touched each other. “This is Jupiter, my love. If I know anything about Jupiter, fighting and war are inevitable. I fear when the Empire realizes what we have taken they will stop at nothing to regain their technology or for us to pay for our crimes. The Empire has been expanding their control and your home may yet be impacted by them.”

“Look at what you have accomplished, Cassia. Using the Empire’s own technology, you fashioned weapons and shields and an amazing flying machine. That is a skill worthy of Carter-Thoris heritage.”

“It’s very crude and I must adjust the aircraft. I was stupid in its design. It makes turns flat, not banked. You were almost tossed out and my little bow is no better than a ray rifle except I can make it shoot T-rays that are solid and penetrate objects further.”

“But you accomplished these things in weeks, Cassia. Think if you had years what you could create. Maybe I could learn to fly your machine? Maybe my mothers would be proud of me then.”

“How can they not be proud of you, Dejah? You’re incredible in every way. I’ve seen Caelen fight in my mind, but you… by the gods, Dejah, you’re faster and more agile than she will ever be. You have an air of dignity, confidence, and poise I’ve never witnessed before. And you’re the most beautiful woman on two planets.”

“Where have you been all my life, Cassia?”

“Waiting for a telephone call from your mother on another planet millions of miles away.”

“What’s a telephone?”

***

Daylight sprung upon us in the normal Jupiter way. Twilight vanished and golden light streamed through the eye sockets of the giant skull.

Both of us had been drifting in and out of sleep. Dejah got up and rummaged through the jars of dried bits of things. I saw her grab for the amber liquid.

“Dejah, no! That’s horrible stuff! It burns.”

Dejah smiled as she looked at me. “I learned about this liquid while working in the Empire’s kitchens. It’s a restorative catalyst. The Empire uses their technology to take the essence out of other liquids and foods. By combining this catalyst with, let’s say, this dried item…” Dejah put a dried item into a container and poured a few drops of the amber liquid and soon the container filled with what looked to be clear water. “…we get water. It truly is an incredible invention capable of reducing carried food and water on a journey to something very light and manageable.”

I sniffed the water a few times and did a careful sip not trusting the fowl yellow liquid to not taint anything it touched. After getting our fill of water and some food, I headed out to the aircraft and did a sweep of the area making sure there were no signs of danger. Seeing none, I grabbed the plans and brought them back inside. There I laid them out on the floor and reviewed them. After about an hour, I found what I was looking for.

“Dejah, look at this. The Empire appears to have created a transmutation device. It uses G-rays in combination with Z-rays to alter the molecular makeup of matter, and possibly turns it into something else or destroys it. Back on Earth, we called this alchemy, but it was always mythical.”

“What would they need this for?”

“Maybe the intent is to turn everyday items into gold or fuel. Perhaps it could be used as a weapon by dissolving an entire army into dust. The scale of this device is frightening.”

“Why? What purpose does the Empire have for such a thing?”

“I spoke with one slave that said for years the Empire has been expanding their search for women. What if they want more than that? What if they’re getting ready to expand from their crater? They might need gold to buy armies.”

“You think they might want to expand even further.”

“I have no doubts about it.”

“What is this document?”

“It appears to be a map. This looks to be the crater of the Empire. I assume this point on the map with the skull is where we are now. We can see evidences of mapped fissures. And then we see this; a point on the far side of the crater that appears to be inside a large fissure. Could it be they’re using this device inside the fissure, deep under the surface of the planet? Is this device and that location the source of the gravitational fluctuations and the earthquakes?”

“It would be wise to find out.”

“Let me make a few adjustments to the aircraft and maybe you can fly us over there.”

“Me? Cassia, I know nothing about flying.”

“Would it make you feel any better if I told you I’ve never flown anything either?”

“Not really.”

“We might be the first humans to fly on Jupiter. Isn’t that something to put on your resume?”

“What’s a resume?”

“Come on, my love. Give me a hand.”

***

I spent a good hour describing the basics of the aircraft to Dejah and integrating the trim mechanism into the turning mechanism. I explained the different waves which lifted, pulled, or pushed and Dejah proved to be an incredibly fast learner. I added one new feature that would extend the T-ray shield from the bottom of the aircraft to warp around the front forming a sort of convertible windshield to protect us from wind and other dangers at eye level.

“Let’s gather the items we might need, Cassia, but I hope we can return here for another night.”

I climbed into the passenger seat and tapped the pilot’s seat for Dejah. “Hop on in Captain Carter-Thoris. Make sure your tray tables are stowed, your seatbelt is on, and your seatback is in the upright position.”

“I have no idea what you just said.”

“Just some Earth humor.”

Dejah climbed in and we buckled ourselves into the seats.

“Start by raising us off the ground by a few feet and then adjust the trim so we are level.”

“That seemed pretty easy.”

“You’re a natural. Now let’s test our turning. Using the joystick, push us forward, and then turn us to the left. If all goes well, depending on our speed, we should bank into the corner instead of having a flat turn.”

Dejah pushed the stick forward, then turned us in a circle around the giant skeleton.

“Great job! Something I learned yesterday is that we need to be careful with our movements. Not too much too quickly.”

Dejah set the aircraft down gently and kissed me. “That was amazing! How fast or high do you think we can go?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Let’s switch places. I’d rather have you at the controls if something happens. Let’s see what it can do.”

After switching places, I slowly exposed more and more Z-wave until we were miles above the surface and the air seemed to be getting thin and cold.

“Without protection or breathing support, I’m afraid we can’t go much higher, even though it’s possible we could. What’s that down to our west?”

Dejah looked down and towards the horizon. She pointed out something and we could see dust rising into the air. “Too small for a storm. Too large for a single creature. Let’s investigate.”

“Hang on tight!”

I pushed the joystick as far forward as it could go and the airship raced ahead at an incredible speed. I began lowering us slowly so we could get a better view. In minutes we had covered what might have been ten miles.

“It’s an army, Dejah.”

“Bring it down more so we can see their colors.”

I brought us a thousand feet above the army, which eventually caught the eye of someone below us. Soon a thousand pairs of eyes were staring up at us.

“That’s Ch’Zathua’s army, Cassia! Circle around and land in front of them.”

“Ch’Zathua? Your home city?”

“The very same.”

I circled several times and landed a few hundred feet in front of the army. Two riders road out to meet us. I was stunned to see one of the riders leap from the back of their beast to land in front of me with her sword drawn. I was more surprised to see her press the point of her sword against my throat.

“Mother! Lower your sword!” Dejah had stepped between us, pushing the blade aside with her hand.

“Who are you and why have you entrapped our daughter, the first princess of Ch’Zathua, in that strange device!”

The beast and second rider arrived. She dismounted and rushed to wrap Dejah in her arms.

Dejah spoke for me. “Mothers, this is Cassia Brooke. My rescuer and my betrothed.”

Caelen Carter walked around me and touched my hair. “Cassia, is it?”

“It’s a rather long story.”

“I’m sure it is.”

Aristea was still carefully looking over Dejah when another beautiful woman arrived from the front line of the army. She rushed into Dejah’s arms and kissed her. “My love! You’re safe.”

My heart was crushed. Under the scrutiny of Caelen and the words of love from this other woman, I slowly stepped back. I could feel the tears well up in my eyes. “I… Obviously I’m not needed here. It’s not safe for any of you so close to the Empire. Take Dejah home so she can be safe.” I took a few more steps back and towards the aircraft.

“Cassia!” Dejah was at my side and took my hand in hers. “Zorathie, I’ve told you a hundred times I don’t reciprocate your love for me. I’m betrothed to Cassia Brooke and there is no one, absolutely no one that will stop me from marrying her.”

I leaned into Dejah’s side, fearful of the murderous eyes of Zorathie and the probing stares of Ceealen Carter and Aristea Thoris.

Aristea stepped forward, looked at Dejah and then hugged me. “Welcome future princess of Ch’Zathua. Forgive us, as we mobilized our army to find our beloved daughter, Dejah. We feared the worse and seeing you fly in this strange machine caused us no end of grief.”

Zorathie fumed in anger and skulked back to the privacy of the army.

Caelen looked me over and seemed more hesitant than Aristea. “I need to understand what happened. Walk with me, Cassia.”

Aristea gave Caelen an exasperated look, but turned back to Dejah as Caelen led me away from everyone.

“I asked for quartz crystals, not you, Casey.”

I told Caelen what had transpired in Sedona and my arrival and subsequent capture by the Empire. I told her about how I was enslaved and how I fell in love with Dejah, not knowing who she was.

Caelen’s eyes softened. “I felt the same way when I met Aristea. Perhaps there is more to the transfer of a body from Earth to Jupiter than meets the eye. Dejah would not have chosen you as her mate if she didn’t truly love you.”

“I’d give my life for her. What of Zorathie?”

“I can see the fear in your eyes, Cassia. Zorathie has been trying to win Dejah’s hand for years. Dejah is too much like me, I’m afraid. She loves you. I can see that in her protectiveness over you. I assume your transformation was like mine?”

“How so?”

“In that you are the same person, just now a female.”

“Yes.”

“Then no more needs to be said. You are a fighter? Where is your sword? You have my strength?”

“I’m not as strong as you. I believe the gravitational fluctuation was what caused this. I’m very fast though. I’m not much of a fighter, I’m afraid, but I can shoot.”

“Shoot?”

“My bow.”

“You don’t have a bow.”

I held up my arm and activated my wrist bow. “I’m pretty good with this. It shoots T-rays and R-rays.”

“I would love to see that in action. Come back with me. I’m sure Aristea and Dejah are fretting.”

We walked back to Aristea and Dejah. Aristea came and hugged me tightly. “Dejah told me how you sacrificed yourself for her and helped her escape the Empire.”

Caelen looked at me and smiled. “You didn’t tell me any of this.”

“You’re not going to put me in the arena with a bayliath to prove my love for Dejah, are you?”

Caelen laughed. “Only if you hurt her in any way.”

“Mother!”

Aristea took Dejah and my arm in hers and walked us back towards the army. Their army had waited patiently and as we moved through the ranks I witnessed much love and respect for Dejah. I remembered how Caelen felt and found her next to me when Dejah had been dragged away by her friends for a few minutes.

“It gets easier, Cassia.”

“The feeling of unworthiness?”

“Yes. That and royal life. You keep looking for her in the crowd.”

“I’m embarrassed to say that I don’t feel complete without her.”

“It appears she feels the same way about you.”

Dejah broke away from her adoring friends and family and came to my side, wrapped her arms around me, and kissed me for all to see. I blushed at the show of public affection.

“Dejah, tell me about the threats to our people.”

“The Empire is close and they have incredible technology, far superior to our own. Our army can’t stand against their ray rifles. I’m afraid we’re outmatched.”

“And yet they should pay for their capture and treatment of you.”

“Now isn’t the time, Mother. Cassia has also discovered plans and believes the gravitational fluctuations are being caused by the Empire.”

“I’d like to see those plans.”

“They’re back at the skull where we stayed last night.”

“This is your army, Dejah, and I trust you know what’s best. Why don’t you prepare them to camp and to return and I’ll spend time with Cassia to scout the Empire and to see what this contraption she built is all about.”

Dejah frowned. “I don’t want to be away from Cassia, Mother.”

“A few hours at most. I need to see the threat first hand.”

“Not without your approval first.”

“You are too much like me, Dejah, and I doubt I could stop you anyways. I learned many years ago I never wanted to treat my future daughter-in-law as I was first treated. You have my approval to marry Cassia.”

“Tonight?”

“There are many things I control as Queen, Dejah, but setting the timing of a royal wedding is out of my control.”

Dejah smiled and kissed me twenty times in a row. For a moment I almost forgot I was standing next to his mothers. “Be careful, my betrothed.”

I reached up and caressed Dejah’s cheek and held my forehead against hers. “I will, my love.”

Dejah watched me depart with Caelen before turning back to set her army in motion to camp for the night.

Caelen grabbed the armrests as we took off and headed back to the skull. In minutes we had traversed the distance from the army and landed. Taking her inside the skull, I showed her the plans.

“Explain to me the rays and waves and how they work.”

“For the next hour I shared what I knew before we loaded up the aircraft and took off once again. This time we headed towards the crater of the Empire. We flew up the side and into the crater, however, what we saw wasn’t comforting. Thousands of men and beasts were preparing to leave the crater. They all had rifles and looked to be well armed.

“That’s no scouting mission.”

“You’re familiar with the ray rifles, Caelen?”

“Very much. I was shot once. I almost lost my life.”

“That was Sanra that shot you. I remember it from the memories you sent me.”

“You and Dejah were right. Why do you think they’re mobilizing now?”

I bit my lower lip. “I built this aircraft, stole their technology, and we sort of killed their Emperor. I suspect they want revenge.”

“We need to warn the others and get our army heading home. This flying technology, why isn’t the Empire using them?”

“They had never thought of it. I built this one so Dejah and I could escape.”

“Can you build more? Larger ones?”

“I could start, but mechanically, I’m not the best. If we had Nick here with us we would have a better chance as he’s an engineer.”

“Nick?”

“Nick Nordham. My friend that helped me with the quartz crystal.”

“Back on Earth.”

“Yes.”

“We might be able to arrange that.”

“He would love it and I know with his help, we can revolutionize your army.”

“Dejah’s army, and now yours as well.”

“Mine?”

“Marrying my daughter comes with a price. You will have duties and she can use the help.”

“You realize you’re talking to someone that never won a fight in their life? Except for Sathera. I did throw a fruit in her face.”

Caelen laughed. “Let’s get back.”

We raced back to the army and Aristea ran out to greet us. People were frantically running around and the scene was chaotic.

“Caelen! Dejah was taken!”

I felt an urge to vomit.

I could see the anger in Caelen’s face and knew I never wished to be on her bad side. “Who? Where?”

“Zorathie took her. Witnesses said they headed northeast and overheard Zorathie saying Dejah was hers. She took our fastest beasts. Dejah was unconscious.”

“I’ll go after her.”

“Caelen, wait! I have the aircraft and can travel much faster than you. You need to turn the army around to get it out of harm’s way. Let me go after Dejah.”

Caelen fumed but saw the logic in my idea. “Fine. Bring our daughter back to us.”

“I will, or die trying. Take the items with you from my aircraft. The maps, plans, and devices. They’re your military’s future.”

We scrambled to get everything unloaded and I took off towards the northeast. I flew full speed but was suddenly hindered by the falling of night. I was forced to slow down and descend closer to the ground to gain visibility. I was frantic and struggled to keep my beating heart from racing out of control.

Somehow, I had lost them. I spent hours crisscrossing the golden sands illuminated only by the violet twilight. I had lost the love of my life.

***

By morning I had covered vast distances and I still had spotted no sign of Dejah. Circling back around, I came closer to the entrance of the Empire’s crater. There were hundreds of guards there and from my elevated and hidden position, I could see Dejah. She appeared lifeless and Zorathie was there as well speaking with the guards. I was about to open fire when I saw Dejah stir. Zorathie was there in an instant and covered Dejah’s mouth with something. Dejah lapsed back into unconsciousness.

If I attack now, there is no telling how many guards are just inside. As much as it pained me to wait and be patient, I knew my best chance was to look for a better opportunity. Strangely, Zorathie wasn’t taken captive, but allowed to take the beast and Dejah in through the wall.

I silently rose the aircraft above the crystal walls, and flew towards the interior of the crater, setting down on a flat piece of crystal that looked down upon the crater and near where Dejah should be exiting. There I waited through most of the day, lying on my stomach and looking down upon the square where I had been chained overnight after my attempted escape.

It was early afternoon when I spotted activity and I wished I had a pair of binoculars. All I could make out from the height I was at was the vague shapes of a beast and two women. They were met by more guards and put onto the train-like shuttle to take them into the city.

I rolled over and silently screamed in frustration. Dejah would be taken to the palace, but what would they do to her?

The next few hours were the longest of my entire life as I waited for nightfall. When it finally came, I flew down to the west of the palace and landed in a forest, hiding the aircraft as best I could amongst the foliage. From there I crept slowly towards the palace. The city was remarkably quiet and I spotted only a few guards. Either most were with their army or they just never expected an attack. Either way, it made my life much easier.

I relied on stealth and slow deliberate steps to work my way into the palace unhindered. My time as a slave here had provided me some knowledge as to where the main passageways and rooms were. As I approached the main throne room, I began to hear voices. Keeping to the shadows, I moved towards an upper balcony to get some visibility on what was happening.

Peering down from the balcony, I could see four armed guards stationed at each corner of the throne room. Zorathie was in the center of the room with Dejah, obviously groggy and bound with spider silk and forced to her knees. Next to the throne stood Sathera with a very dark and bruised eye. On the throne, was Cantelliam.

Sathera was clearly agitated, but I was confused as to how or why Cantelliam was now Emperor. “Let me slice this girl’s throat, mighty Emperor. She killed our previous Emperor and attacked me while I was defending him.”

“Enough, Sathera! I’ll remind you as a new Emperor, I choose my first slave and this one is far more beautiful than you. However, she isn’t the one I want and from the look in her eyes, I doubt she can be tamed.”

“Might I suggest a plan, mighty Emperor?”

I watched as Cantelliam’s eyes moved to Zorathie. “I know that you have found favor with the Empire for years, Sanra. We provided you the technology to alter your looks so that you could infiltrate our enemies. Over the many years of your service, you have brought us many women and we have paid you handsomely for it, offering you autonomy like no other woman before you. I’m not Emperor Neirus and I don’t share his belief that some women should be free. What you offer must be worth my time or I will have our scientists turn you into a docile slave with no self-will.”

Zorathie is Sanra?

“Mighty Emperor, tell me what you desire the most before I offer you my suggestion.”

“I want Cassia, the orange-haired slave girl. She understands me like no other woman ever has. She will be my first slave. My armies are already mobilizing to find and capture her.”

How did Cantelliam become Emperor? Why is he looking for me?

“Mighty Emperor, this beautiful slave girl at my feet is none other than Dejah Carter-Thoris.”

“I grow tired of you, Sanra. That means nothing to me.”

“Dejah Carter-Thoris is the first princess of Ch’Zathua, daughter of Caelen Carter, the women that stole my rightful mate from me and is now Queen of the largest and most modern city on Jupiter. Ch’Zathua is the Empire’s greatest threat to your reign. However, their army is outmatched by your weapons. I might add that their citizens are the most beautiful women on Jupiter.”

“Still, Sanra, you offer me nothing.”

“I can deliver Cassia to you, mighty Emperor. I can deliver the army of Ch’Zathua into your hands. Your reign would become historic, your Empire vastly expanded, and your people will enslave the most beautiful of all women.”

“I’m listening.”

“This petulant slave girl at my feet has publicly pronounced her love for Cassia. They’re betrothed.”

“Again, I tire of this, Sanra. I’ve told you what I want and you speak of nothing of how I will obtain it.”

“Please bear with me, mighty Emperor, as I only wish to inform you of what will transpire. This girl is well loved by her people and especially her mothers. Ch’Zathua will send an entire army to find and rescue her. I have heard of the stories of how Cassia sacrificed herself for this girl and I have no doubt, where this worthless slave girl is, Cassia will be as well.”

“You’re saying that if I have this girl, then Cassia will come to me. What is it that you wish to gain from this, Sanra?”

“I wish to see the look in Caelen Carter’s face as her cherished daughter’s mind is washed by your technology and becomes my devoted sex slave.”

I hadn’t realized I was holding my breath, but I took a shaky breath to steady myself. I reminded myself I’m not a fighter, but my heart overtook my mind. My body was moving before I knew what I was doing. All I knew was that I couldn’t let this happen. I promised Caelen I would get Dejah back or die trying. I jumped down from the balcony and fired my wrist bow four times in rapid succession. My enhanced speed and reflexes served me well and the four guards slumped to the throne room floor.

I spun to face Sanra, but she laughed, clicked something on her wrist, and vanished before my eyes only to reappear at the throne room doors with more than two dozen guards. More guards poured in from all sides. Dejah still looked dazed, but looked me in the eyes and held up her wrists. Using a dagger Caelen had given me, I sliced through the spider silk.

“I love you, Cassia.”

I watched as Dejah stood, activated her shield and sword, and leapt into the middle of the guards near Sanra. Dejah vanished in a sea of bodies even as more guards surrounded me. Sanra stepped forward and laughed once again.

“I have never failed to deliver, mighty Emperor.”

Cantelliam stood as the guards stripped me of my weapons and forced me to my knees in front of him. I watched as he walked slowly forward and lifted my chin with his hand. “Spectacular.” He turned to Sanra. “You will get what you wished for, Sanra. Guards, send word to the army to hold position. We will attack Ch’Zathua but you will need Sanra to lead you to their city. I want Cassia and Dejah thrown into the dungeon under heavy guard until I can arrange for the first slave ceremony to take place in the main square. Once that happens, I will join the army and we will march to Ch’Zathua.”

“Yes, Emperor!”

Cantelliam smiled as his eyes disrobed me. I was dragged from the throne room and led down into the basement. It was dark and damp and I was chained with both my wrist and ankle before they closed and locked the cell door.

There I collapsed on the floor and wept. In my blind haste to free my love, I had ruined everything.

***

It had been at least a day that I had been left in the dungeon with nothing but guards who had been commanded not to speak or approach me. I heard nothing of Dejah and feared the worse; that she had been killed. I feared for Ch’Zathua and how every step I took since I landed on Jupiter sealed their fate. It was my fault I was captured and enslaved the first time, my fault Dejah is now missing or dead, my fault that the aircraft and weapons are now likely back in the hands of the Empire, and my fault that Ch’Zathua will be attacked by the Empire. I’ve singlehandedly destroyed thousands of lives.

I never thought I could cry so much as I did in the past day. I deserve whatever punishment that comes my way. While my transformation into a woman has put my mind at ease and I have loved every second of the peace that has brought, I could never have known how frail and vulnerable I would ultimately feel.

I could hear noises coming from the entrance to the dungeon and the guards all snapped to attention. “Open the cell door and bring me a chair.”

“Yes, Emperor!”

A moment later Cantelliam sat a few feet from me. “I apologize for the accommodations, but you have proven to be a high risk of flight. I find myself torn with you. On one hand, I like your spirit, on the other, I can’t have anyone witness defiance from my first slave.”

“How are you Emperor?”

“When an Emperor dies, there is a lottery of sorts. This prevents family reign or only one scientific discipline from ruling the Empire. It was fate that I was chosen. The gods knew that I would get everything I deserved.”

“What happened to Dejah?”

“Dejah? Oh, the brown-haired girl that Sanra had brought to me? She is dead. She fought well while trying to escape, but she was overcome by my guards.”

My heart shattered and I fell to the floor in wracking sobs.

“I believe this is for the best, Cassia. You would never have fully appreciated me as long as she was alive. Tomorrow, you will become my first slave. The ritual is rather public. You will be cleaned and dressed in the finest clothes. You will then be taken to the main city square where you will be strapped down for me to take you in front of all the citizens. After that, I will have my scientists remove your rebellious spirit. It was a hard decision, but I believe you will be happier not remembering anything about who you once were. You will be completely devoted to me and tend to my every need.”

I could hear him stand and the cell door close and lock, but I couldn’t even lift my head. My mind was numb with the pain of my loss.

***

There was no need for spider silk to bind my wrists, but they used it anyways. I was a walking zombie, just going through the motions. I was dead inside and deserved every ounce of humiliation and suffering. I was bathed, and clothed in a spectacular ensemble with glittering jewels from head to toe. It was revealing and functional, but also designed to be removed easily. The slave girls stood me before a mirror and even the reflection of who I was barely registered with my wounded heart and spirit.

On one level, I looked forward to the erasing of my mind, on the other, I just wanted to die. I deserved death, but that would be too easy for me.

I was paraded out through the palace and into the main city plaza. The citizens in attendance were few, but I only barely recognized that. I was seeing without focusing or mentally grasping what I saw. Guards bound each of my wrists and ankles and I was laid back on a cool crystal platform. I didn’t fight. I was completely broken. I didn’t think I had any more tears in me, but they once again began to flow freely as Cantelliam began to speak to the crowd.

“In the great tradition of the Emperors before me, I have chosen my first slave. I feel honored to have been selected as your new Emperor and to publicly take this girl. Her beauty and exotic looks will be a fine compliment to me and she will serve me with respect and devotion, being a perfect example for all women.”

Something about what and how he spoke broke through the fog in my mind. An example. I’m going to be an example for women. Dejah had been my example. She would never willingly give in. I felt Cantelliam’s hand on my bare thigh and I snapped. Dejah’s death had broken me completely, but I still had fire inside me. With a mighty scream of rage, I gripped the chains with my hands and pulled with every ounce of my strength.

The chains attached to my wrists sheared off with a loud crack. I stood as a stunned Emperor backed away from me and called for the guards to subdue me. With both hands I snapped one of the ankle chains and as guards rushed forwards to hold me, I lashed out with the chains still attached to my wrists.

“Women of the Empire! You’re stronger than you think! Rise up against your masters! You’re not slaves to be abused and owned, you can be free!”

Chaos erupted. And soon rays were being shot in all directions. I was momentarily ignored and try as I might, I couldn’t free myself from the last chain. I expected death or at least being stunned at any moment, but suddenly the guards fell back and turned to flee. I strained to see what was causing them to run, and then I saw her. Dejah! She’s alive, and she’s pissed!

To the final day of my life, I doubt I will ever see such a magnificent display of fighting. She had her sword drawn and wore my bow bracelet and fired and slashed her way to my side. She was breathtaking and awe inspiring. She was a force to be reckoned with and I saw the women picking up rifles and attacking the guards as well.

“Sorry I’m late, my betrothed. Let’s get out of here!” With a slash of her sword my final chain broke free and I was picked up by Dejah and in several leaps and bounds, we were into the temporary safety of the forest.

I fell into Dejah’s arms. “I thought you were dead! Cantelliam told me you were dead!”

Quickly and silently Dejah cut the manacles off me before putting my bracelets on me. “Never again, my love. I’ll never leave your side.” Dejah grabbed my hand and pulled but I held fast. “We need to get out of here. We’re not safe, Cassia.”

“Hopefully they haven’t found the aircraft. I landed it in the forest behind the palace. Follow me!”

We turned and ran deeper into the forest, finding the aircraft still hidden there. In my rush to get us out of there I forgot to activate the shield. I raced over the city and out towards the lake, but a stray shot hit the craft and I lost all steering. “I’m so stupid!” I activated the shield and quickly rose in elevation, I could fly forward but I couldn’t turn. We flew southeast over the crater wall and into the vast ocean desert.

***

When we felt we were safe, I landed the craft and threw myself into Dejah’s arms. “What happened, Dejah?”

“I battled through the entrance of the throne room and when I realized you weren’t next to me, I turned to go back, but the guards were everywhere. My only escape was to flee the palace. Each night I would enter the palace and search for you. Last night I found your weapons and overheard that Cantelliam would take you as his first slave today. I headed to the slave quarters and forced one of the girls to tell me how this event would take place. I’ve waited hidden in the forest, watching in horror what he was about to do to you. I was about to attack when you created the perfect distraction for me. I hit the guards from the side and they didn’t even see me coming.”

“When Cantelliam told me you were killed, I lost all hope. I blamed myself for your death. Cantelliam was going to rape me and them wipe my mind to make me a compliant subservient slave. I looked forward to it for my shame of having failed you. When he touched me…” I shivered and Dejah wrapped me in her arms. “…I exploded. I wanted to make you proud of me.”

“How could I ever fail to be proud of you, Cassia? You came for me against all odds.”

“I might never be a great fighter, Dejah. I’m ashamed I gave up. Do you still want to marry me?”

“You don’t need to be a fighter, but from what I’ve seen, you’re better at it than you think. I believe we’re perfectly matched. What I lack, you make up for. As for marrying you, the sooner the better, because I can barely control myself around you. This outfit you’re wearing is stunning on you.”

We spent a few minutes hugging and kissing before we examined the aircraft. Luckily, the damaged was easily repaired even though it was challenging to repair with one hand as I wouldn’t let go of Dejah.

“How long will the Empire take to get to Ch’Zathua, Dejah?”

“Assuming they left two days ago, then a week.”

“Your mother was leading the army back to Ch’Zathua while I searched for you. She couldn’t risk the Empire attacking them while they’re so outgunned. They’re likely a day or two ahead of the Empire.”

“We could reach Ch’Zathua very fast with the aircraft.”

“We could, but we need something to stop the Empire.”

“What are you thinking, Cassia?”

“We must be near the fissure. We headed southeast from the crater. The plans showed their device to be a prototype. It’s long and narrow, about the length of the aircraft. They may be using it to rearrange molecules, but that would mean it could be used as a weapon. We can’t hope to believe we can defeat the Empire’s army with nothing more than your T-ray sword and my bow. Regular swords will be of little use.”

“You think we can take it and race back in time to protect Ch’Zathua?”

“What other choice do we have?”

“If we headed back now, no doubt you and I would die fighting the Empire. Seeing you in that dress, I don’t want to go to my death without making love to you.”

I blushed at the thought, but the image warmed my entire body. “All right then, my betrothed. Let’s save the planet and save Ch’Zathua so we can make sure that happens sooner rather than later, for I am tempted to take you back to the skull and…”

Dejah silenced me with a kiss. “We won’t be very useful if we keep talking like this. Let’s go get ourselves a transmutation device.”

***

We waited for darkness to fly in the general direction of the fissure and we were glad we did as roaming Empire squads were camped all around it. Finding the fissure was easy as it was nearly a hundred miles long and dozens of miles wide. We circled around the southern end of the fissure where there were no Empire guards and descended slowly into the great crack in the planet.

At first, only the violet twilight lit the waterfalls of golden sand that spilled into the depths. As we dropped lower and lower, light began to appear and the waterfalls of sand were replaced by real crystal-clear waterfalls. Bioluminescence allowed us to see quite well and the relatively narrow fissure opened up into a vast underground, lush, almost tropical landscape. It was as if a world existed within a world.

We had descended over a mile in depth before we reached the bottom. Great oceans of water that appeared to team with life gave way to forests of thick vegetation. Birds flew in great flocks.

Moving forward towards the northern end of the fissure where the Empire seemed to be focusing their activities, we decided to land when we first glimpsed people.

“It was said that before the ocean vanished, great jungles grew at its edges. It must be that the fissure was created by the meteor and when it opened, it pulled life down into it. These are the likely living ancestors of what existed before. It’s beautiful.”

“No beauty compares to you, Dejah.”

Dejah grabbed my hand as we made our way further north. As we rounded a bend, a city of gold appeared before us. It glistened in the light of the glowing rocks.

“You don’t see that every day. On Earth, there were tales of a lost city called Atlantis. It was said to have sunk into the ocean.”

“We have a similar story. The city of Cameleon. Before the time of the scientists, it was said that a highly evolved human race existed. The story goes that a vast library of knowledge was lost to mankind forever.”

Dejah pulled me into the city but we kept to the outskirts. I was fascinated by the architecture and the artistic works on the walls. Working our way closer to the center of the city, Dejah suddenly pulled me into a building just as guards walked by outside. The light inside the building was darker and it took my eyes time to adjust. Inside we could see skeletons of people on the floor. Exquisite jewelry was still attached to their bodies. It was as if they died instantly.

Dejah put a finger to her lips and led me up through the building until we crept out onto an open veranda. We crawled to the edge and looked down on a large central plaza. To our right stood a large square building. Huge chunks of golden walls appeared to have been vaporized. There were large holes in the roof and on the plaza stone at the foot of the building. However, while the building was exposed, what appeared as a T-ray shield extended across the openings. I pulled Dejah back inside the building.

I whispered to her. “We know the Empire thrives on knowledge. They found the city and believe they found the library. What if they’re using the transmutation device to try to find a way past the walls and shields into the library? I suspect each time they use it, there is some form of gravitational effect that is causing the earthquakes.”

“That makes sense. Legend tells us that unlimited knowledge and power would be found here.”

“Did you see the device?”

“Yes. It looks like they were repositioning it.”

“Kamron told me that I shouldn’t play around with T-rays. He said they were useless. For some reason, I could see potential in them. From what I learned and know, T-rays radiate outward from a central source. They can be shaped, but they still radiate outward. The Empire can’t get inside because I believe the entire building might be shielded by T-rays. It’s like a massive cubed shield. If I’m right, where would the radiation point be?”

“In the center of the building?”

“To make a shield that size, you need a lot of power. Yes… If I wanted to protect something, I would do the same. Stick a massive shield generator in the middle of the building.”

“They can’t get in then.”

“Not without knowing more about T-rays. That building is riddled with holes and the T-ray shield is the only thing holding most of it together. If you were an advanced civilization and you wished to protect something valuable, it would make sense to use T-rays in such a fashion. The problem is eventually the Empire will figure it out. When I was building our shields, I accidently activated your sword when the shield was working. The sword passed through the shield. But when I tested them independently, they were solid and couldn’t pass through each other. Something happened when the sword was being formed that allowed it to pass through the T-ray shield. It gives me an idea.”

“I thought we were here for the device.”

“Dejah, if we could get inside and find the source of power that is generating the shield, we can protect the entire army.”

“What are you thinking?”

After tweaking my shield, we had moved into position on the far side of the library. No guards or Empire citizens were near this location and there were holes in the building and the shield was accessible.

“Here goes nothing…” Moving close to the building, I activated my shield. Instead of a disc shape, it formed a cylinder and cut a hole in the building shield much like a glass cutting tool would. We both looked in through the hole to see a large, vast, empty building except for two stone pillars of gold in the center. This was something we couldn’t see from the outside looking through the building shield. “Shall we?”

“Only if you think we can get out again.”

Dejah stepped through first, then I followed. Sure enough, once I was inside the building shield closed again. Before we went any further I activated my shield again and the once again it formed a hole to the outside. Knowing we were safe, we moved towards the center of the building.

“I didn’t see this before, look at all the skeletons, Cassia.”

“It reminds me of Pompeii on Earth. A volcano erupted burying the city and everyone in it with burning ash. The ash was so thick, that it preserved the city but the people had been vaporized leaving body-shaped holes. When archeologists found the holes, they filled them in with cement and after excavation you could now see the exact positions of everyone that died. It must have been a terrible catastrophe.”

As we approached the gold pillars, we could see each one had a large fist-sized gem. These stones were unlike anything I had ever seen before.

“The building is empty except for these stones, Cassia. I don’t understand how this can be a library.”

Dejah reached for one of the gems before I could stop her. As her hand clasped the gem, light poured out from between her fingers. Unfazed, Dejah turned her hand over and opened her fingers. Holographic like images appeared as floating pages.

“Put the stone back down, Dejah.” She did and the stone’s glow vanished. “A library in a stone?”

“We need to take this back to Ch’Zathua. Who knows what secrets it holds.”

“I’ll get the other one.” As I reached for the second stone, I didn’t get a warm fuzzy feeling. It didn’t light up but rather it dissolved and formed into a glove around my hand. At the same time, the building shield vanished and in portions where there were more holes than building, the roof began collapsing.

“That’s not good, Cassia!”

Glancing down at the glove, I tried to pull it off, but it wouldn’t budge. There were five smaller glowing stones on it. Red, blue, green, yellow, and white. I couldn’t spend much time as I saw Dejah’s shield activate as she stepped in front of me. R-rays from guard’s rifles were being shot at us. We were in big trouble.

Guards were streaming in from the south and Dejah reached behind me for my hand. “Let’s go, Cassia!”

A strange calm came over me. “No. Wait.” I stepped out from behind Dejah’s shield and pressed the blue button. A T-ray shield formed around us both. With a thrust of my hand, the shield rapidly expanded literally shoving the guards away from us like rag dolls in a tornado.

Dejah looked at me questioningly.

“It’s speaking to me, Dejah. Knowledge and power. Your gem holds the knowledge of this civilization, this one is the power. Whomever yields it controls everything. Come on… We need to leave here so we can save Ch’Zathua.”

Shrinking the shield again to be just around us, we ran from the building and into the main plaza.

“Hold up a second, Dejah.” I pointed my fist towards the transmutation device and pressed the red button. A beam of R-rays flashed from my hand blasting the transmutation device into small fragments. Turning, I grabbed Dejah’s hand and we ran back to the aircraft. Dejah jumped into the pilot seat and piloted us out of the fissure and towards the northwest.

When we were stable and well away from danger, Dejah touched my left hand tentatively. “Can you take it off, Cassia?”

I closed my eyes and listened to the device. Pressing the white button reformed the gemstone in my hand. I breathed a sigh of relief as I stared at the gem. “This is too much power, Dejah. We should destroy it.”

“We can’t. Not until Ch’Zathua is safe.”

“I kept hearing the word keeper in my mind.”

“Keeper?”

“Yes. Keeper.”

“I thought I heard the same in my mind when I held the other stone.”

“Put us down where it’s safe.”

Dejah landed us at the skull a short time later. I placed the power stone on the aircraft. “Take the stone, Dejah.”

As Dejah reached for the stone, a spark shot towards her hand and she pulled her hand back in obvious pain. Dejah placed the knowledge stone on the aircraft and I reach for it with the same result. I sighed and picked up the power stone and the glove formed around my hand. I closed my eyes to listen to the stone before pushing the white button and putting it back down.

I walked away from the aircraft and sat down. Dejah looked concerned.

“Pick up your stone, Dejah and then open your hand. In your mind, ask your stone about what it means to be a keeper.”

I watched as Dejah did as I requested. When she put the stone down on the aircraft, she came and sat down next to me.

“There are always two keepers. One of knowledge and one of power. The stones can’t be used by anyone else as long as the keepers are alive. No one person can yield both stones. By being the first to touch the stones since the death of the previous keepers, we became the new keepers.”

I nodded. “I pray, Dejah, that you will end my life if I ever use this stone to do what isn’t right. The power stone has four modes. Destruction, protection, healing, and creation.”

“Creation?”

I stood and picked up the stone and pressed the yellow button. I imagined a wall of sand in front of me and the golden sands swirled and formed a small wall. “Creation.” Pressing the white button, I placed the stone back on the aircraft and headed into the skull. There I cut open two small pillows and removed the stuffing. This allowed me to fashion two small carrying bags that could wrap around our waists for the stones.

I felt an enormous burden until Dejah came and kissed my neck. “My betrothed, we have been entrusted with something beyond the likes of which anyone has witnessed before. I trust you with all my heart. You’re a woman of honesty and integrity. You care about others. Who better to yield such power than you? You’ll make a fine Queen and mother one day.”

“And here all I wanted was to be your wife.”

“We should get to Ch’Zathua. Can I fly the aircraft?”

***

What had taken Dejah a week of fast travel took us half a day to cover. We spotted the Empire’s army about two days journey from Ch’Zathua. As we arrived at the city, we could see the fortifications being erected and the guards on the walls. They were preparing for a siege.

Dejah landed us in the palace courtyard and it took only minutes for the guards to escort us to the throne room. I wished I had time to explore all the sights and sounds of a place I had only imagined before. Ch’Zathua was a magnificent city, but with a war about to begin time was a precious commodity.

Caelen and Aristea had been reviewing troop placements, fortifications, and maps but upon our arrival they rushed to hug Dejah. Once again, I felt a little out of place until Caelen turned to me and hugged me close.

“You brought our beloved daughter back to us. No reward would ever be enough to repay you. You’re strangely dressed.”

Dejah slipped her hand around my waist. “It’s a rather long story, Mother. We flew over the Empire’s army. They’re two days out.”

“We only arrived back at the city yesterday. We pushed hard, travelling through the nights. We have much to prepare yet.”

“Cassia and I found something that will help. We think we can turn the Empire’s army around.”

“Then come with us.”

I followed Caelen, Aristea, and Dejah into a large sitting room. After waiting a few minutes, we were greeted by Mina, Queen of Ao-Kuang and her wife and Aristea’s sister, Kiera, and a large bear-like male named Lars. In a way I felt like I knew these people. A few minutes later, a pretty dark-haired girl ran in and tackled Dejah.

“Sister!”

I watched them laugh and roll around before Dejah pulled them both up to their feet. “Kylia, I want you to meet someone very special. This is Cassia, my betrothed. Cassia, this is my sister, Kylia.”

Kylia looked me over, then back to Dejah before turning back to me. “You must be very special to have won my sister’s heart, Cassia. Your beauty is otherworldly. Women’s hearts will shatter across Jupiter when they hear the news.”

Before I could say a word, Dejah interrupted. “Cassia is from Earth, sis. And yes, she is spectacular.”

Caelen got everyone settled as extended reunions would have to wait. “Dejah, please tell us how you think we can avoid this battle.”

“After escaping from the Empire, Cassia and I were forced southeast. Cassia believed we were close to a great fissure in the land and near the source of the gravitational fluctuations. She felt if we could steal the Empires device, we might be able to use it as a weapon.”

“You managed to get the device?”

“We destroyed it.”

“I’m not fully comprehending, Dejah. You destroyed the device you thought might save us?”

I took Dejah’s hand in mine and spoke for the both of us. “We descended deep into the fissure to find another world. A world of lush tropical vegetation and a city of gold. Cameleon. The Empire had discovered the city and was attempting to use their transmutation device to break into the library. Fortunately for us, we found a way into the library before they did.”

Aristea stood and paced. “Cameleon is a myth. A legend only.”

Dejah reached into her pouch and pulled out the glowing gem. Turning it over in her hand, images of pages floated into the air for all to see. “Myths don’t have entire libraries of knowledge in a stone. This stone holds the cumulative knowledge of the civilization that created Cameleon.”

“Knowledge is key to everything, my daughter, but knowledge is a long-term solution and we need short-term salvation.”

“What did the legend of Cameleon say would be found in the library, Mother?”

Kylia chimed in. “Unlimited knowledge and power.”

Reaching in to my bag I pulled out my stone which began turning itself into a glove around my hand. “This is the source of Cameleon’s power. It offers the bearer virtually unlimited power to create, protect, and destroy. With it, we can repel the advancing army, but it also means whomever controls it will always be hunted. Perhaps we can use the stone of knowledge to see if this stone can be destroyed, but for now, they’re bound to Dejah and me until we die.”

Caelen frowned. “I’m sure there is much to that last sentence that we need to talk more about. How do you think this glove can help us?”

“A show of force. I don’t wish to kill anyone, but I’m sure they’ll see reason with a healthy display of power.”

“There’s another thing you should know, Mother. Zorathie is leading the Empire’s army here.”

“Zorathie?”

“Zorathie has been working with the Empire for years. She used the Empire’s technology to give herself a new appearance and identity. You will remember her as Sanra.”

The room gasped. Caelen paced the room. “This all makes sense now. We hunted Sanra for years until we finally lost track of her. She had been heading south towards the Empire. Many years later, Zorathie appeared in the city claiming to be from the south. She was welcomed as any travelers were. She became involved in our search to help the planet with the gravitational changes. It must have been her that sabotaged the transmission of the quartz crystals.”

“She wanted to use the Empire’s technology to turn Dejah into her mindless, devoted sex slave as punishment for you and Aristea.”

“Cassia, saved me from that fate, Mother.”

“No words can describe our indebtedness to Cassia. Sanra, it seems, will forever be a thorn in our side.”

“What would you do with her if you had her, Caelen?”

“That’s a tough choice between what I would like to do and what is socially acceptable. Having her fight a bayliath might take care of things. Perhaps we can imprison her until we find the technology to erase the core of who she is. The Empire seems to have that ability if they were going to use it on Dejah.”

Dejah gave a little shudder at the thought. “She is an enemy of Ch’Zathua and I doubt the Empire will be very forthcoming with assistance since Cassia and I took both technology to build the aircraft as well as what the Empire had been hunting for in Cameleon.”

“What if we drugged her and flew her thousands of miles away, dropping her off in an unfamiliar place? It’s humane and gets rid of the problem for a while.”

Caelen wrapped up the meeting. “We will continue fortifying our defenses on the chance things don’t work as expected. We should plan to meet their army sometime later tomorrow. That will be before they arrive at the city, but still gives us time to rest and regroup. I’m sure you both could use a good meal and time to get cleaned up. We will arrange a room for Cassia.”

“Cassia can stay in my room, Mother. Every time we’re apart something happens to one or the other of us and I don’t want to leave her side.” Aristea gave us a stern look but Dejah defended the decision. “We haven’t and will not break with tradition, Mother. I just don’t trust our staff to keep their hands off Cassia and we need to be together.”

Kylia laughed. “I see the way you look at Cassia, sis. I think it’s you who can’t keep your hands off her. Not that I blame you.”

“I can see this is causing grief to Caelen and Aristea, Dejah. I don’t wish to be away from you for a moment, but perhaps we can adhere to this one wish of your mothers. We have our entire lives to spend together. Assuming we can get rid of the Empire, how long must we wait until we can be married?”

“The minimum time, Cassia, is fifty days.”

“Fifty days!” Everyone started laughing. “Oh, I get it… Harass the newcomer. I seem to recall Caelen and Aristea had to wait five days.”

“Five days is the minimum from the moment a public announcement is made introducing you to the citizens of Ch’Zathua. There are many preparations for a royal wedding and we must defer to the planning committee.”

Dejah grabbed my hand. “Great! Let’s go make an announcement!”

Aristea coughed and shook her head. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. As Queen I must remember what is at stake here and our city must stay focused on preparing for war. If we can avoid war with the Empire, then at the earliest we can announce your wedding tomorrow night.”

Dejah looked at her mothers. “I guess eloping is out of the question?”

With a nod from Aristea, staff entered and were directed to guide me to a room where I could wash and change. It tore at my soul to be away from Dejah, but here, at least, I knew we should both be safe.

The ladies did a few quick measurements of me and asked if I needed help in the bath. I politely rejected their assistance and stood safe and alone for the first time since my arrival. The room I was provided was large and luxurious, rivalling any five-star hotel suite on Earth. A balcony overlooked the city below. Truly this was a city of wonderous beauty.

Moving into the private bath, I disrobed from the fancy first slave gown I still wore and stepped into a hot bath the size of my king-sized bed back on Earth. As I sank beneath the hot water, I moaned audibly. Washing myself, my thoughts drifted to Dejah and I fought the urge to explore my female body in its fullness as I wanted my first experience to be with my wife; to imprint myself with her touch.

By the time I left the bath and had fully combed and dried my hair, I found the ladies must have returned briefly as there were three gowns to choose from on the bed. Running my fingers over each one, I smiled as I picked a stunning gold sequined gown. As with all attire on Jupiter, it left little to the imagination.

I slipped into the dress and checked the door making sure it wasn’t locked from the outside like Caelen’s first visit. On one hand I wasn’t expecting the harsh treatment she had received, but I also know I have little to offer the first princess of Ch’Zathua.

As I turned back into the room, I heard a soft sound come from the balcony. Dejah stepped into my room and smiled. “Doors are watched too much.”

I took in Dejah’s incredible beauty. For the first time I saw her in all her regal splendor and it took my breath away. “You’re the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen. I hope I won’t be thrown in a dungeon for my thoughts.”

“Then we would both be there right now for you look stunning, Cassia. I have something for you.”

From behind her back, Dejah produced a jewel encrusted gold dagger and a necklace.

“They’re beautiful!”

“The dagger will demonstrate to all that you’re a member of the royal household. The necklace is something I picked up in Cameleon.”

“I don’t have anything for you…”

“A kiss will be a perfect gift.”

Wrapping my arms around Dejah’s neck, I kissed her long and passionately. “When this is all over and I get to finally marry you, I look forward to meeting your every desire.”

“You have no idea how many desires I have.”

“If they are half as many as I have right now, then I’m sure I would be busy for a lifetime. What happens now?”

“We pray to the gods we can turn the Empire’s army around, but even if we can’t, I’ll fight them if only so we can be married.”

“You’re certain you want to marry me? I have so little to offer.”

“I’ve listened to my mother’s stories for years. Perhaps I’ve become enamored with the romance of them, but you remind me a great deal of what my mother, Aristea, would have been like had she come from Earth. Over the years, our nation has shifted and your skills and knowledge will be greatly received. Undoubtedly, I’m the luckiest woman on the planet, for I’m sure had I not taken you off the market, you would have been sought by all the prettiest and finest women on Jupiter.”

“How could I even consider anyone but you, my love? Do we need to be anywhere this evening?”

“Everyone is retiring early to get as much rest as possible. Why do you ask?”

“If I promise to keep my hands to myself, would you stay with me tonight?”

“I’d like that, Cassia. We will both likely be having staff knock on our doors at first light though, so we must be careful to demonstrate good intentions or my mothers will have my hide.”

I smiled and kissed Dejah. “I have only the best intentions.”

***

Sure enough, Dejah was right and at the first light of dawn a knock sounded at the door, rousing us from our slumber. Dejah kissed me, smiled, and left through the balcony before I could even whisper a good morning.

We had slept in each other’s arms in the very clothes we had worn the night before. I rolled out of the bed and opened the door to find no fewer than three ladies in waiting and Caelen. Caelen’s presence can be pretty intimidating. The ladies brought in a new outfit for me and laid it out on the bed. Caelen took my arm in hers and walked me out to the balcony.

She stood silent for a number of minutes as she looked out over the city and to the horizon. “What’s Earth like, Cassia? How has it changed?”

“Technology has vastly increased at a scale beyond comprehension. We have travelled to the moon and are currently seeking to put people on Mars. Communication is so prevalent that nearly seven billion people carry handheld devices that can share live images from one to the other from anywhere in the world. For all of that ability to be in touch with one another, the world is falling apart. Disinformation spreads at a rapid pace and everyone’s motives are questioned. We’ve become a connected world that has lost the very essence of what relationships are anymore. Do you miss it, Caelen?”

“There was a simplicity to life back on Earth when I was there, but it feels like a lifetime ago. I never would have expected how much I would love being a woman, a wife, a mother, and a Queen. I’ve never shared with Aristea that I was a man before, not that it would even matter after so many years. I won’t share with Dejah that you were either. I’ve learned to accept that was another life. I’m sorry my actions have brought you here against your will, but I want you to know you will learn to love it.”

“I always thought this place was just a figment of my own imagination and yet I dreamed of being here. I wished every day I could be like Caelen Carter, whisked away to another world and another life. What happened back on Earth was an accident, but for me it is a blessing.”

“You love my daughter very much. I can see it in your eyes and in your actions. I gave birth to Dejah and Aristea gave birth to Kylia. There is something uniquely incredible about giving birth to a new life and Dejah is… I would give everything up to protect her.”

“She admires and respects you so much, Caelen. She is very much your daughter. She desires your praise more than anything.”

“She has struggled to find her place here amidst many years of peace. We’re entering a new era on Jupiter and I can tell her skills will be needed more than ever before. Look out over the city and to the horizon, Cassia. All this will be given to Dejah and you to protect and care for.”

“I’m not worthy, Caelen. I have nothing to give in return. I know nothing about being a member of a royal family.”

“Neither did I. You have won Dejah’s heart and have committed your lives to each other. That life includes all of this. These are your people now to protect and care for.”

“Please don’t tell me you and Aristea are giving up your Queenly roles.”

Caelen laughed. “I’ve waited many years for Dejah to find a mate worthy of her love. She will make a wonderful Queen, as I believe you will as well. But no, Aristea and I have no immediate plans on relinquishing the reigns. However, you and Dejah are the future Queens of Ch’Zathua. It’s the price you pay for marrying my daughter.”

“You sound like you’re trying to scare me off.”

“Forgive me, Cassia, as that isn’t my intent. I understand before you even knew who Dejah was you had professed your love for her. Had you known, would it have made any difference to you?”

“My heart had been given from the moment I saw her. My brain would have thought different, but I’ve always been ruled by my heart.”

“You will make a fine Queen one day, Cassia.” Caelen turned to leave but paused at the door. “The ladies have brought you battle clothing worthy of a princess of Ch’Zathua. We will meet together in the courtyard in less than an hour. I trust that you’re upholding our tradition of waiting until marriage even though I see two pillows have been recently been used.”

I blushed furiously. “I… We didn’t…”

Caelen smiled knowing she had caught us. “Best to get ready, Cassia Brooke, princess of Ch’Zathua.”

With that she left, leaving me to bite my lower lip from nerves. I still can’t believe I’m here on Jupiter having conversations with Cealen Carter, my future mother-in-law.

I was pretty nervous and could barely eat anything as I changed into my battle clothing, or rather lack thereof. With the stone at my hip, my dagger, necklace, and bracelets I had made, I looked quite the sight.

A knock at my door sounded and I found Dejah waiting for me in her battle gear. She looked sexy and formidable at the same time.

“You have no idea who came into my room this morning, Dejah.”

“It could only have been my mother, Caelen.”

“It was. We had an interesting chat. I’m scared to death I’m going to let everyone down. I have no idea how to be a princess and I’ve never been front and center in a war before. I’ve never been anywhere near a war before.”

“If it makes you feel any better, neither have I. I still don’t know how to be a princess either. Just be yourself and you’ll do fine.”

“She knew you slept here last night.”

“I’m not surprised. She and Aristea did the same thing before they were married, but I doubt she would recall that at the moment. Come on. Let’s not keep everyone waiting.”

We moved through the palace and it was pretty clear that rumors had spread about Dejah’s betrothed as guards and workers tipped their head’s deferentially towards me. It was strange and somewhat frightening.

We entered the plaza and Caelen, looking ultimately Queenly, began to speak. “Today we march to meet the biggest threat to Ch’Zathua’s existence in hundreds of years. After conferring with our esteemed leader of our military, Dejah, we believe it is best not to show our full force. Aristea with remain in the city with half our military while I march with Dejah and Cassia to confront the Empire. Under no circumstances are we to engage the enemy without Dejah’s command. Understood?”

Suddenly alarms sounded throughout the city and R-rays zipped past the parapets. A scout ran in to the plaza. “Our advance scouts never reported in. The Empire is here and is attacking!”

Dejah turned to me and held me close. “Stay back, my love. We’ve lost the opportunity to negotiate before a battle. We’ll be moving to hand-to-hand combat.”

“But I…”

“I’m sorry, Cassia. This is something I’ve trained for all my life. Please, I can’t fight well knowing you are at risk.”

Kylia came and took my arm, holding me back.

“Caelen, wait!” I rushed to my future mother-in-law and put my shield on her wrist. “Push this button to activate a shield. It will protect you from the R-ray rifles.”

With a nod of thanks, Caelen ran through the streets towards the city bridge. Dejah moved quickly and yelled out commands before disappearing into the city as well.

“Cassia, please. Come inside where it’s safe.”

“I can’t, Kylia.” Reaching into my pouch, I took hold of the stone and raced to the aircraft. Taking a deep breath, I moved over the palace and activated the shield. To the north, the Empire’s army was swarming over the bridge into the City.

I flew the aircraft over the thick of the battle and I opened fire with my bow. This attracted much return fire and I could no longer lean past the shields to shoot for fear of being hit myself. I watched in horror as dozens of Ch’Zathua fighters were mowed down before the R-ray rifles.

In a golden blur, I watched Caelen leap into the middle of the Empire army and The Empire’s army fell away from her onslaught. I spotted Dejah leap into the middle of a dozen Empire fighters on the bridge, clearing the space so the bridge could be raised.

Near the back of the Empire army, I spotted Zorathie and Cantelliam. Dropping down behind them, I exited the aircraft and walked forward.

“Cantelliam! Withdraw your army now!”

Cantelliam turned and fired and a dozen fighters turned towards me, a new threat. I raised my fist and activated my shield before the first R-rays came close. Pressing the red button on the glove, I sliced through the earth sending dust and debris shooting up into the sky. I stopped it just shy of the Empire fighters who had now all turned to face me.

Pressing the yellow button, I created a wall on either side of the Empire army effectively penning them in. I could hear a cheer rise from within the city. In two leaps, Dejah and Caelen and landed next to me. I shielded them in case any of the Empire got trigger happy.

Dejah held her sword of light and shield up protectively near me. “I thought you were supposed to stay inside the palace?”

“You told me I was a better fighter than I thought.”

“I was only trying to give you encouragement.”

“Now you tell me.”

Refocusing on Cantelliam, I shouted out to him. “Stand down your army!”

Cantelliam smiled and called out a command. His fighters lowered their weapons and another man stepped through the army to stand next to him. It was Weelo. Weelo, Cantelliam, and Zorathie stepped forward after a few choice whispered words from Cantelliam to his army. They were now twenty feet from us. I lowered my shield.

Zorathie sneered as she looked at me. “How dare you wear the dagger of a princess of Ch’Zathua! That’s mine!”

Cantelliam shushed her with an angry word. “I assume you remember my newest general, Weelo.”

The glove on my hand gave me a boldness I wouldn’t normally have. “I’m sure he is thrilled to be reporting to you now. You should be addressing Queen Caelen Carter and not me.”

“It is all immaterial, Cassia. I realized I wronged you so I made some changes in the Empire. As Emperor, I have chosen to take a wife rather than a first slave.”

“I’m sure Zorathie has gratefully accepted. Or, should I call her Sanra instead?”

“Sanra isn’t my chosen wife, Cassia. You are. If you willingly come with me now, I will spare Ch’Zathua.”

Sanra smiled as she stepped forward. “And as we discussed, mighty Emperor, I get Dejah as my sex slave.”

Caelen’s lean muscles twitched like a panther ready to strike.

Dejah took the lead. “As leader of the army of Ch’Zathua, I request that we negotiate the terms of the Empire’s surrender. The Empire will immediately turn around and retreat home, leaving Sanra with us to pay for her myriad of crimes against Ch’Zathua.”

Cantelliam laughed. “No army can stand against us. Even with your stolen power stone from Caleleon, Cassia. Our technology is too great. Give me Cassia, and we will leave in peace. I will even give you Sanra in exchange for you to do with as you please.”

Sanra seethed in anger.

“Cassia is my betrothed and I will personally take on an entire army to see her safe.”

“Then your wish is granted. Fire!”

It all happened so fast. The Empire’s army raised their rifles, took aim, and fired. At least twenty had their rifles trained on Caelen and Dejah. I moved faster than I thought possible, raised my arm and pressed the shield button. A shield formed around us Cantelliam, Sanra, and Weelo. The R-rays simply absorbed into the shield. With an angry yell, I thrust my fist forward and the shield extended like a tsunami, knocking the Empire’s army back. Cantelliam, Weelo, and Sanra who were inside my shield were visibly shaken.

“That power belongs to the Empire!”

Dejah activated her sword and leapt forward. Her hand closed around Cantelliam’s throat and lifted him off the ground while her sword held steady pointed at Weelo. Caelen jumped to Sanra’s side and placed a dagger to her throat.

“Dejah?”

Dejah looked back at me and tossed Cantelliam to the ground.

“Cantelliam, I could wipe out your entire army. You know this if you’ve been searching for Cameleon’s power and knowledge source. Caelen, it’s your nation. What terms will you give the Empire?”

“First, send Weelo back to have your army stand down. They should be warned that any move on their part to attack even a single citizen of Ch’Zathua will be met with deadly force. I’ll wait until that is done.”

Cantelliam picked himself up and looked at Weelo. “Go! Tell them to stand down!”

I removed the shield to allow Weelo to confer with the Empire’s army. Moments later the shaken military might of the Empire started backing away from the city and from us.

“Cassia, please. You can join me as my Queen. The Empire can use your skills and together we can rule Jupiter.”

“The decision isn’t mine to make, Cantelliam. I’m betrothed to Dejah Carter-Thoris and thus, I put my allegiance under Ch’Zathua. Even if I had a choice, I’d never choose you or the Empire for my heart has been given to Dejah and it will remain with her forever.”

Caelen dragged Sanra to stand before Cantelliam. “You and your army will immediately return back to the Empire. I should extract vengeance upon you for capturing and harming my daughter and Cassia. Dejah or Cassia, do you have any additional terms?”

“I can’t speak for Ch’Zathua, Caelen, but I always have believed it is best to achieve mutual cooperation and trade than to remain enemies. Assuming the women of the Empire are freed, then perhaps Ch’Zathua could entertain the possibility of a trade agreement.”

Cantelliam’s face turned red with anger. “The women have been revolting since your words during your first slave initiation! I’ve ordered any civil disobedience to be dealt with most severely.”

Caelen frowned. “It sounds to me, Cassia, that Cantelliam has chosen his path. As long as women remained enslaved by the Empire, then Ch’Zathua will remain at odds with the Empire. Know that Ch’Zathua will not sit back idle and wait for the Empire to change. We will come and set things right.”

“And your army will be destroyed. Even now our greatest scientist has been tasked with outfitting new machines and weapons of war for my military. You may have won the battle today, but you will not win the war. And you, Cassia. When one day the Empire returns, you will be my greatest spoil of war.”

Cantelliam turned and walked back to his army. I restrained Dejah from leaping after him and cutting him down.

“I swear I don’t know what I did to make him want me so badly.”

Dejah pulled me to her side and kissed me, all the while keeping a watchful eye on the retreating Empire army. “In some ways, I know exactly how he feels.” She turned to Caelen. “Shall we?”

“With pleasure. Cassia, well done. For all they have done to you, and I’m sure it was worse than I know, you could have destroyed them. I’m glad it is you and not the Empire that controls the stone.”

Slipping the stone back into my pouch at my hip, I was grateful it didn’t control me. “The power it holds is beyond anything I can imagine. It’s seductive. I hope I never have to use it again.”

Dejah and I flew slowly next to Caelen as she turned and walked back to an eager and anxious city. She dragged Sanra and tossed her down in the middle of the army. “Bind her carefully. Zorathie is Sanra and she will be put on trial for her crimes against Ch’Zathua and your Queen. We have much to celebrate. Send a runner to Aristea to tell her the Empire has withdrawn thanks to Cassia Brooke.”

A cheer rose and we continued to fly slow keeping pace with Caelen as we moved through the streets. At one point near the far end of the bridge nearly one hundred of Ch’Zathua’s finest fighters were dying from R-ray wounds.

Leaping out of the aircraft, I pulled the stone from my pouch and pressed the green button, washing the dying and injured with a wave of healing energy. Having never seen the full power of the stone, I was amazed to see women standing up and looking perfectly healed.

By the time we arrived back at the palace plaza, word had spread and the citizens lined the streets to greet us. Amidst the cheers for Caelen and Dejah, I heard my name shouted numerous times and I was given flowers from women along the way. By the time we arrived back at the palace plaza, I had an armload of flowers.

Caelen met Aristea with a kiss and they moved to a platform as citizens crammed into the plaza.

Caelen spoke first. “Citizens od Ch’Zathua. It is with great relief that I tell you the Empire has retreated. For now, we can rest safely in our beds for they will not return anytime soon, but they will return and we must be prepared. As you’re well aware, Jupiter had been under threat with gravitational fluctuations. We reached out to Earth for help and that help came in the form of Cassia Brooke. She had arrived and was captured by the Empire and enslaved as our very own daughter and princess of Ch’Zathua raced to find that which we teleported from Earth only to find nothing. After being injured in a fall, Dejah was also captured by the Empire and there, a slave girl named Cassia found her and took care of her, ultimately escaping but not without destroying the very device that was harming Jupiter.”

Aristea then took the podium. “As you’re well aware, our first princess, Dejah, has led our military and headed off at great risk to herself to save us and the planet. We all love her and respect her strength, beauty, and courage. I give you Dejah Carter-Thoris, first princess of Ch’Zathua.”

The crowd shouted out. “We love you, Dejah!

Dejah released my hand from hers and moved to the podium. “Citizens of Ch’Zathua, you know me well. You know that I have rejected every offer for marriage and brought shame upon the royal household too many times to count.”

Caelen interrupted. “We’ve always been proud of you, Dejah. We’re grateful you followed your heart. You have our full blessing and permission.”

Dejah looked me straight in the eyes as she spoke again. “What you don’t know about me, is that I never believed I would find true love. No matter where I went I was always in my mothers’ shadow and my heart had been broken too many times by women who wanted nothing more than to marry me for position and fame. I was a broken woman. Then, while I was enslaved by the Empire, wounded, and left without food or water, a vision of pure loveliness this planet has never seen before came to me. She knew naught who I was, yet she cared for me at great peril to herself. Even after I rejected her time and again, she came and took care of me. I’m alive today because of Cassia Brooke.”

Dejah’s emotional words brought tears to my eyes. I barely heard the words of the crowd as they cheered my name.

“After I had healed, I was to be auctioned off as a slave, but it was made known that someone had been helping me. For this crime, I was to be punished by nine lashes. Before the first strike of the whip, Cassia covered my back and protected me with her own body. Even though I had rejected her, she took the beating I deserved. Never in my life have I witnessed or heard of love of this magnitude before. Each strike of the whip shattered my walled-up heart. I saw this beautiful slave girl collapse at my feet bloodied and badly injured for my sake; my heart would never be the same.”

“Cassia and I were taken by the Emperor of the Empire, Cassia persisted and was determined to help me escape. She used the Empire’s own technology against them, inventing a flying machine and weapons that miraculously formed out of air. Together we escaped the Empire in her flying machine and it was then that I knew I had lost my battle. My heart had been given to this slave girl long before she first gave me water, food, or tended to my injuries. That I loved this woman was without a doubt.”

“We then found Ch’Zathua’s army coming to rescue me, but we had been betrayed by Zorathie. Zorathie, as it turns out is Sanra.” Dejah paused to let that sink in with the crowd. “While I was organizing the army, Zorathie drugged me and took me back to the Empire. My mothers took the Ch’Zathua army home while Cassia attempted to rescue me. That Cassia did, but not without sacrificing her own life in return. Believing me to be dead, she was to be enslaved by the new Emperor of the Empire. It was during a ritual ceremony, that I watched her fight against all odds to be free. No army could have kept me from her side at that moment and together we fought our way to freedom.”

“While escaping the Empire, we discovered the source of the gravitational fluctuations. The Empire had found the lost city of Cameleon and had been attempting to use a device that altered gravity and molecules to get inside the protected library that housed the collective knowledge and power of the hidden, long-lost society. Cassia was the one that discovered the way into the library allowing us access to the knowledge and power of a lost civilization. She is the one we are to thank for our victory today.”

“I tell you these things because I believe no one short of Caelen Carter herself has done more to protect me and Ch’Zathua than Cassia Brooke. I introduce to you, Cassia. An Earthling. A slave of Jupiter. Hero of Ch’Zathua!”

Dejah waved me up to the podium amongst the cheering of the crowd. Cealen had slipped Dejah her sword. As I reached the platform, Dejah knelt at my feet and placed Caelen’s sword on the ground before me.

“My sword and my heart are yours forever, Cassia. You would do me a great honor to be my wife.”

I pulled Dejah up and kissed her. “You had my heart from the moment I first saw you.”

Aristea moved to the podium. “Please welcome the newest princess of Ch’Zathua, Cassia Brooke!”

***

Five very long days had passed and while Dejah and I found time to sleep together each night, preparations for a wedding were brutal. Elder scientists gave me the longevity serum meaning my body would virtually stop aging and I could live several hundred Jupiter years old. I was fitted and refitted with gowns for every occasion and event of the wedding and I had been bequeathed with a new title of chief science officer for the city. Every day I had to teach other scientists how the aircraft and weapons were made. We were at war with the Empire and we needed to begin making weapons, shields, and aircraft to fight them. Protection of the citizens couldn’t wait except for a slight pause to hold a royal wedding.

I paced anxiously in my bedroom with no fewer than a dozen ladies in waiting tweaking everything about my wedding gown and hair. The wait was killing me. A gentle knock sounded and Aristea stepped into my room and dismissed the ladies.

“Never has Jupiter seen a vision of such pure loveliness as you, my daughter to be. Come, sit with me a moment.”

She sat down on the bed and tapped her hand next to her. I sat down next to Aristea and she wrapped her arms around me.

“Thank you for accepting me, Aristea.”

“Please, call me mother if you feel so inclined. I admit, I was skeptical at first. After all, no woman could be good enough for my daughter. I’ve had a chance to hear more details from Dejah about your time together. You were treated so badly at Dejah’s expense. True love still exists.”

“I’m sure Dejah greatly exaggerates my deeds.”

“She told me you would say that.”

“How could I not put myself at risk for her? I can’t live without her.”

“And she can’t live without you. You have no one on Jupiter to give you away. As your mother to be, I’d be honored to walk you down the aisle.”

“Shouldn’t you be with Dejah?”

“She’s always been a little more connected to Caelen and she didn’t want you to face the crowds alone. The citizens love and adore you. Your orange hair and beauty and how you stole Dejah’s heart is the talk of the nation.”

“Then, in that case, it would be my honor to have you give me away.”

“If you’re like me, then you’re more than ready to get this over with. Let’s go.”

I tried to take it all in and memorize everything. As Aristea and I walked from the palace, through the city streets lined with people all cheering and wishing me the best, through lush gardens and finally back to the throne room in the palace, I could probably only tell someone fragments of what I had seen. For once I saw Dejah standing at the end of the throne room, I instantly forgot everything. No words could describe her beauty and poise. I forced myself to remain on Aristea’s arm instead of rushing down the hall to meet Dejah.

When Aristea slipped her arm from mine and I finally stood next to Dejah. I couldn’t suppress the tears of joy. I have everything I always wanted.

Dejah leaned over and whispered to me. “When I saw you coming up the aisle, I swore there must be someone else up here that you were being married off to. For you look so beautiful I consider myself unworthy of such a gift as you.”

“I love you Dejah Carter-Thoris.”

***

The ceremony had lasted nearly an hour, and that was followed by public displays of the newly married couple, a dinner, and a dance. When everything we were to do was done, we slipped away to Dejah’s royal suite. There she carried me the bed and made love to me until sunrise.

For the next two days, we made our obligatory public shows of ourselves before quickly slipping back to our bedroom to find each other’s embrace.

In all my wildest dreams, I would have never believed that which I was missing so much. While I had been afraid for my life and felt vulnerable at times, I know life as a woman was the life I was always intended to have. Everything was perfect.

***

A week later, Caelen and Dejah led me to a building in the scientific wing of the city.

“You have the date, time, and the coordinates?”

“I do.”

“And you truly believe your friend from Earth can assist us.”

“Without a doubt.”

“When you step into the room, you will have a connection to your friend’s mind.”

“I’m ready.”

Dejah pulled me aside and kissed me. “Good luck, my love.”

“I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Dejah smiled. “Longest few minutes of my life. I hear our bedroom calling.”

I smiled back and stepped into the room and closed the door behind me. Caelen had told me to focus on my friend back on Earth and the room would help me make the connection. I watched in amazement as the walls shifted and I found myself in a living room back on Earth.

“Hello, Nick. You may not recognize me. I’m Casey Brooke. We need your help on Jupiter.”

***

***

For all those that had requested a sequel to A Princess of Jupiter, I know the wait was long. Obviously I left this open to a third book in the series and promise it won’t take quite so long to write as this one.

Please take a few seconds to leave a comment.

Casey Brooke (now living vicariously through Cassia on Jupiter)