On board the Arrogante, she sat relaxed in a reddish leather chair in her private rooms. His head was tilted to the side, looking out of the ship, without focusing his eyes on anything specific and just watching the infinite stars pass by as they moved. Her thoughts once again turned towards her home, in such a way that she could almost visualize her memories before her, as she remembered the Mirkwood woods, the Ossiriand lakes and the magnificence of the Royal Castle where the Solidors ruled for thousands of years those who lived on the surface of Kaikielius. It was curious to her that shortly afterwards she remembered JanFathal, the planet she made to become her home, her small domain in a vast galaxy. There was much to be done at home, more than she would like to admit or could even recite from memory.
The chamber doors opened, the sound of silence was filled by the steps of Gentiana's heels against the metal floor.
"Your Grace?", The android woman asked and Lunafreya just mumbled in response. "He is waiting for you."
Those words had weight to make her wake up from her youthful dream of glory, she slowly turned her head and shook her head in the direction of her maid.
"Pass him through and leave us.", Gentiana bowed briefly to his lady and did as ordered. When she left, Lunafreya rose from her seat, standing upright in front of the table to receive the holographic, immutable and perfect image of her father,
King Iedolas Solidor
, Grand Duke of Kaikielius and ruler of one of the Nine Royeaux of her people.
"My lord Father.", She spoke receptively to him. His scowl studied her meticulously for what seemed like an eternity, until his thin lips moved and he saluted her.
"Lunafreya ... You look as mighty as a queen. The New Empire has done well to you.", She tried to express a half smile but found she couldn't.
"It's New Imperial Order, father.", Iedolas was speechless about his daughter's correction and chose to change the subject.
"Still, from the corridors of Enfer to the Assembly of Irveric Tavlar himself. Your deeds will undoubtedly be celebrated for generations, but yet... I feel that this is not one of the occasions that we are here just to gloat... What torments you, my child?"
She started to walk around the chamber, an act that a hundred years ago would have called 'geriatric brooding' was now a recurring thing that she found herself doing without even realizing it. Soon, she came face to face with the painting of the previous victory of the New Imperial Order, done by some painter in search of the Imperator's graces, which showed him raising his faction's flag over a burning Sith building. Within herself she gathered the courage she still had and let her have a voice, murmuring almost in a whisper to her father, not because she feared being heard, that was impossible, but because she feared to justify her fears.
"Everything you foresaw has come to pass. Every word that was said to me before leaving Enfer behind, every victory that we would have, every defeat that we would face, everything was as I was told." The silence fell between them, Iedolas didn't even make a sound about it, he just stared at Lunafreya until she was done with her bravado and simply stated.
"And... what of it?" She turned like a dragon, fast and imposing.
"What of it? For years I thought you were insane, called your words daydreams caused by old age and wine. And now I find myself facing the reality of your words in every place I look, I meditate and reflect, I cast my mind up to Atar in search of the vision about the future and...", she abruptly fell silent. When the subject was speaking to her father and about her own feelings, Lunafreya was almost like a child, always trying to reach for words stuck in her throat.
"You see nothing, I presume?", This time Iedolas smiled when he asked her that. "Seeing the future is but a cheap trick performed by street wizards. One that can be found by any fool for that matter, or at the very least to be able to see one the most likely outcomes, those more tangible to look at. What I saw I judged, I analyzed, I thought and I meditated, reaching the conclusion that these were the most likely options to happen, but even I, with almost a thousand years alive in this galaxy, cannot see what is yet to pass, to that my eyes can only see an ocean, infinite and without any shape, because that future has not yet been written.", the hologram gestured like his father, he walked around the room and looked in the other direction where he was. "Before you left your home behind to fighting alongside these humans, I gave you my words and my insights. Now here you are, once again seeking for answers with that progeny touched by madness you used to resent. So, tell me what is it that haunts you?"
"Death.", She spoke immediately, "Death torments me. Following me like a hungry queen among stars, no matter how far I run, how high I lift my walls, she always finds me.", Lunafreya fell again sitting in your chair. "It's here again, isn't it? Lady Death."
"You're on your way to Bastion, aren't you?", She just nodded at her father's question. His words became something else entirely, done, as she could notice, in a cautious and almost zealous way. "Beware, Nabaat. The Sith are relentless, but humans are even worse as they wander towards destruction and ruin in their short passages in this life, burning everything and everyone around them. Yes, death is coming. I would love to tell you no, but she is on her way, and I will tell you more... he is going to die because he needs to die and you, my daughter, my sweet and beloved daughter ... ", she raised her head when she was called by her father, centuries since the last time he had spoken to her like that. When he did, he noticed how close he was to her, and his mind can tell that if that meeting was in person, she would surely be far enough away to smell the mint exhaled by the scent of Iedolas. "Don't dwell in the past. For I am guilty for what has came to pass, and I am sorry for Akabane's death... I lament everyday that I had to kill him, but with his death became another brick to that paved path you would take in your life. Don't blame yourself for that, or even Larsa's death, neither of those things was your fault. Both are my own burden to carry, to bear on my shoulders until the day of my judgment in the Palace of the Eternals.”
She had no words, nothing to say, nothing to declare. Something that many, especially some bastards who shared the Assembly table with her, would say is impressive.
"Destiny is ineffable.", Her lips murmured almost like a mantra and Iedolas bent so that she looked at him. His hard eyes were now endowed with a brilliance that the poorly represented holographic shape.
"No.", he stated calmly and the surprise of his words gave a new expression to her face. "When I was young and had returned from my training, I went towards our Motherland, there, consulted with Eneagon and cried out for his wisdom to satiate what most interested me, as it was appropriated for someone of my position. I asked 'When am I going to die?', And the Eneagon in all his infinite wisdom replied 'When he who he is blind gaze upon you.', I bowed and thanked him for it because it was customary to do this for someone of our lineage, but secretly I thought to myself what would happen if I took my pistol right out of my holster and fried my brains out? Or even if an inattentive navigator crashed my ship into an abyss? Or found myself in a cage full of vornskrs? That's when I realized, my daughter... Destiny is but a lie. Erroneous, devious and always used to justify our mistakes in order to cover up the truth; There is no such thing as destiny, at least not one that we are obliged to follow, just as there is no future, we follow our own path. We created our own path, and for you, Lunafreya van Solidor, Princess of the People, I will tell you what I know..." Again Iedolas stood before her. "Trust yourself not your feelings, Lunafreya... for they will betray you. Trust the wonderful woman you have become."
Almost forcing herself, she rose from her seat, tall and proud.
"Blood will be spilled, like a red river he will run through the streets of Ravelin. In his palace, the Emperor begins to have uncertain doubts about the future, his will weakens and those around him crawl like maggots, his court of sycophants, beginning to feel the old scent of fear coming from that shell, The Imperator continues resounding on its journey, laying the foundations for the New Galactic Empire to take over the systems of this galaxy. The night is churning in Enfer, I feel the icy winds stirring and hear murmuring in the darkness that difficult choices will come your way, daughter of mine. Be bold, bloody and resolute. Laugh to scorn the powers of man, for none of woman born shall harm Lunafreya. And if you fall, learn to stand up again. Rise, and rise again until lizards become dragons!"
CHAPTER I
She stood in a chair in front of thousands of soldiers, faces adorned in black masks and weapons in her hands. Sharing the stage with her were Diabolico, the Deadly Twins, Generals Villar, Mesogog, Aslam, Belias the Squire and his brother, Daedalos. All eyes were focused on her, on her gestures, on her words, on her actions, on every expression her face could have, if she wanted to there and now turn her coat over to the Sith, she could do it, if she wanted to return to JanFathal and deal with whoever wins, she could do it. Only she was an elzeri, princess of House Solidor, Duchess in her own right, she lived by her own code of morality, however doubtful and flexible he was.
Carefully she walked to the end, dispensing with the microphone that Gentiana had offered her, as Lunafreya had no need for it. She opened her lips and spoke with the most crystalline voice ever heard by any living being on that planet, putting all the power of her being and her willpower into those words.
“This is the moment of truth, no... “, the index finger of her hand shook negatively, “This is the reason you have been born. Tonight is the night ... It's not the past, it's not the future, it's the now! You must not stand as men, but as a legion! And let me feel the roaring fire of determination and sacrifice, SACRIFICE, beating as one heart!“ her voice put emphasis on that word before he went on to go on. “For you have the strength and will of lions and tonight... you don't fight as soldiers, for tonight you are titans! For what can stand between lions and titans? You will be legends and this choice is not yours for history has already seized your hands and chosen all of you to carry it’s will… for when the trumpet of destiny blows in your ears you must respond with glory... And nothing, I say nothing, nothing can stop you now. No matter who stands in your way, no matter what stands in your way. NO MATTER WHAT! This is our night, because tonight we shall bring down an empire! Don’t do it for Irveric Tavlar, don’t do it for me, do it for all of you! For your sons, for your daughters, for brothers and sisters, for mothers and fathers. For heart and home!”
“FOR HEART AND HOME!” They roared like an armada made of dragons and Lunafreya turned away from their chanting, back to her favored ones. The troops behind her started to move, each finding their job and beginning the slow march to the Sith capital, and when Jonni Aslam noticed she was about to join them, he looked at her as if she was crazy.
“Fortune favors the bold, gentleman, and I bear a charmed life.”, she turned to her minions once again, “General Villar, I leave you in charge of the command center. Provide me with air support, troops and walkers as I request them.” Immediately the Vahla officer bowed to her but kept a stern expression in his face, one that he thought she didn’t saw that in his face, and she didn’t said a word about it after he left her sight to carry out the plans, now being forced to include her own safety on his tactics. “General Aslam, take our droid army and the Deadly Twins, lead them well and roar at their backdoor. Draw all fire to your position and proceed as you see fit.” She didn’t even care about looking to all three of them, she was already turning towards the others. “I’m leaving the Science Sector to you,
Daedalos Solidor
and to you, General Mesosog, and I will be so kind right now as to ask for the both of you: do not disappoint me. As for the rest... Follow me.”
The look on her brother’s face was enough to make her laugh, but she had little time for that. Lunafreya got in the tank and both of them drove towards the Royal Academy. Her head turned up to gaze at the sky, the evening was fresh, the night was young and the city was lighten in all directions from the myriad of colors produced by thousands of different weapons on both sides. General Jonni Aslam would probably take the Malras to lead his troops, those being five thousand Southstar-class droids, a thousand Aegrus Super Battle Droids, two HMP-60s and two TXTs, and off course, Sor Aelirenn and Sor Riordain by his side. Just so he could storm his way through that damned academy, while under her command, were Belias, Diabolico, Zozoped, Morticon, Palescales, Elgar, Ecliptor and Darkonda, her two Maalraas, four LK War-X, ten thousand Xerxikeen Warriors, loyal dogs in her service, eight WKR-01 and five hundred Stryder Drones.
She was created for that moment, trained hard by her family to live this occasion. Today would be the day that the tyranny of the Sith would end in the galaxy, that order and balance in the Force would be restored as a new force rose from the pinnacle of the galactic stage to restore balance.
"Command Crown, what is the status of the Academy?", His indicator asked the communicator and then Villar's voice came as polite as ever.
"Your Highness, it is right to assume the Sith have fortified their position inside the Academy. Anything can be expected from this and a direct assault is not recommended, but from what we have been able to ascertain from the reports of troops traveling through the city, a small force is in the square in front of the Academy. Would you like a suggestion on how to proceed?"
She didn't respond to the General's comment, Lunafreya just thought about how that bait in the square seemed too easy for her and her strength. From the communicator, General Villar's voice echoed again.
"Attack hard, move your forces carefully and gain every inch of land. Force the Sith to retreat into the Academy, or of course, we can blow up the entire building below."
"That is out of the question, General Thyssen. Focus all your will on destroying things to reinforce the rear of Prince Daedalos on his sector."
"As you wish, my Duc-...", she hung up on the officer. Violet eyes now saw the academy growing on the horizon, and Lunafreya adorned his head with the helmet of his armor still sitting on the military vehicle.
"This is the Duchess to all troops. Stand by and wait to proceed, Darkonda lead two hundred soldiers and move to the center of the square. I want the WKRs to open fire on the forces that defend the area, the distance that they go shooting should be enough to protect them from surprises. But in the face of any movement coming from the temple, I want two other WKRs to aim directly at their doors and prepare to shoot if anything moves, otherwise, hold your fire.", the goal was to force the soldiers back to the temple, trap the rats inside the box and force their entry with blood.
Little did Lunafreya even know that Aslam had already begun the advance with his troops from the back of the academy, marching in rows while he defended his rear. In a single break without stopping towards the lion's mouth, which would be almost comical to think considering that he was a cathar.
"Order the troops to keep marching. Straight to the Academy. Any sign of the enemy and you can open fire but don't use explosives, not yet.", The white lion snarled at the officers of the war machines. Beside him were two elzeri, richly dressed as defenders of nobility and Aslam did not intend to use them yet.
