Prologue

"There's nothing else I can do," said the Cometine physician as he pulled a white sheet over the body. The life-monitor shrilled as a flat line replaced rhythmic blips. He washed the blood from his olive-green hands and reset the surgical suite.

"It was… a hope," said Prince Zordar from the observation loft. "Jettison the remains."

The physician bowed. "Yes, lord."

"See to it no one discovers this." Zordar furrowed snowy eyebrows. "Better the universe believes this man died months ago."

"I will be… discreet."

Zordar shut off the link to the operating theatre.

"Such mediocrity. Gatlantis deserves better." His daughter, Invidia raised a disdainful brow.

"Miracles are not ours to make," said Zordar.

"But they should be," Invidia bit back. "Isn't that why we search the universe?" She swept her long, black hair over her shoulder and perched a hand on one hip. Her pale, white skin contrasted with her father's green hue, and her steely black eyes bored into the man working below.

"Speak nothing of such things outside my chambers, child," Zordar chided with a cautious look toward the door.

"But Sabera–"

"–is the Prime Minister," Zordar said.

"And your consort," Invidia snorted.

"Sabera is my second-in-command, and she may do as she sees fit." Zordar grabbed her arm and growled, "You, however, will do as I say."

Invidia twisted out of his grip and matched his intense stare. "Sabera abuses your trust, Father. Even now, she takes us to the Diviner's door."

"Your mother's stories cankered your will," he snapped. "The Diviner's art is a myth. No one can manipulate the universe as legend says, not even her."

"But the evidence–"

"–is less than circumstantial."

Invidia crossed her arms as the physician steered the corpse into the hall. "You once feared her too."

"But now I understand." When the physician disappeared, Zordar continued, "To seek power is to seek conflict. We seek the ultimate power—creation. Even if the Diviner stands in our way, we will prevail. We are unstoppable."

"You sound like Grandfather." Invidia rolled her eyes.

"He is right," Zordar retorted. "Gatlantis will conquer the universe. We've taken hundreds of worlds, daughter. Now, we take the crowning jewel."

Invidia stared into the empty suite. A trail of blood still stained the table. "Origin…" she whispered. "How do you know its location?"

"Our dead charge brought with him something valuable—information. Among his ship's records, we found it…"

"But… will the Diviner not intervene?" said Invidia as a tech scrubbed the bloody table.

"Those stories," Zordar scoffed. "The conjurings of terror-muddled minds. None have dared breathe the Diviner's name in a century. No woman—no matter her power—can hinder us! That superstition should have died long ago." Zordar raised a fist. "You will not stop us!" he bellowed. "Our ancestors wandered the stars. Now, we take back our birth-world as our rightful inheritance!"

Invidia took a step back.

"Know this, Diviner," Zordar said. "I will take what is mine, and if any stand in my way, I will destroy them… Trelaina of Telezart."

Notes:

Editing pass four completed on 3/28/2019