Chapter Four.
Jon and Malcolm joined Triad, Zyan and Renald in the large dining hall which was adorned with comfortable chairs, plush decorations, and a magnificent buffet.
"Hey Z," Triad said, tossing a glass to his first officer. "Pour me another glass of wine."
"Pour it yourself!" Zyan said and threw the glass at Triad who ducked before it hit him, then crashed onto the wall behind him. Zyan burst into laughter.
"Saxon hound!" Triad said.
"Degenerate!" Zyan said back.
"Takes one to know one! Now try to act civilized in front of our guest will ya! They're supposed to be under the impression that I'm a ruthless killer!"
"Oh, we are most certainly under that impression," Malcolm replied. Zyan and Triad looked at one another then burst into laughter again.
Renald just sat either looking off into space or staring at the visitors. He seemed very uncomfortable in this setting, but said nothing. He just played with the drink in his hand. Malcolm kept him in his peripheral vision. He didn't trust this one.
"You two seem quite…different this evening," Jon said.
"Well Commodore, we work very hard protecting the realm," Triad said. "So when we get the chance, we play even harder. Zyan here is my "First" and he is as efficient and hellascious as they come. But he's also my friend. More like a brother; I trust him with my life."
"Here, here!" Zyan said. "Brothers to the end!"
"And what of me," Renald asked. "Am I simply chopped caladium?"
"For heaven's sake Renald, stop being jealous," Zyan said. "I am not interested in Triad."
"Go to hades!" Renald shouted, rising abruptly. "Maybe your tastes run toward ship's captains, but not mine." Zyan laughed and Triad just shook his head.
"Sit down Rey," he said. "He's just foolin' around and you know it." Renald sat with a scowl.
"I can't help it if our second officer is hopelessly in love with the captain," Zyan said. And as quick as he had said it, Renald reached across the table and grabbed him.
Jon and Malcolm just looked on, not really knowing what to do. "Hey, hey, guys stop it!" Triad shouted as Zyan continued laughing. "C'mon guys act civilized! That's an order! Now sit down and let's eat."
"I've lost my appetite!" Renald announced. "I think I'll be going, if I may be excused Captain."
"Oh c'mon Renald, you don't have to leave. Lighten up will ya? And Z, cut him some slack, I mean it."
"With all due respect Captain, I'd rather…just go," the green haired alien said. "I have intel of a possible Simeon sighting. I have to check it out at once."
Zyan put his hands in his hair and mockingly tore at it. "Not Simeon again!" he said as Triad hung his head, then put his hand to his forehead as if in distress.
"What is it with you and Simeon," Zyan continued. "Someone crash landed on Vallas II, oh it must be Simeon. Someone escaped from a prison on Marslan Alpha Zeta, oh it must be Simeon. Someone killed a cat, had to be Simeon!"
"Do not mock me brother!" Renald shouted. "Simeon is by far the most notorious criminal Colloure has ever produced! He tried to overthrow the kingdom! He spread lies about the Crown Prince and tried to kill him!"
"You are paranoid and suspicious of everything that moves! You're becoming irrational!" With that Renald went to grab Zyan again. But Triad stepped in this time.
"Stop it! Stop it, you two! That's an order!" The two men broke apart and Triad looked at each of them disapprovingly.
"May I take my leave now Captain?" Renald snarled. Triad blew out a long sigh.
"Alright, alright, if you must," he said. "Dismissed."
"Til kingdom comes," He said as he departed. Triad turned and gave Zyan a hard stare.
"What?" he asked.
"Why do you have to mess with him all the time? You know he can be rather …sensitive."
"Just having a little fun. Renald is simply wound too tight. And all that business about Simeon grows tiresome after a time," Zyan said. It is also a known fact that Renald is rather over protective and dogmatic when it comes to the Captain here," he explained to Jon and Malcolm.
"He's a fine tactical and security officer," Triad said. "And one of the few people I call friend. But, he is uptight, paranoid and suspicious to a fault. Nevertheless, we're not gonna let it spoil our evening. To Renald!" Triad said as he and Zyan leaned over and clinked glasses. "Now, let's eat!"
Several minutes passed as the men ate. "Captain Triad this meal is wonderful," Jon finally said.
"It's like nothing I've ever tasted before", Malcolm added. "These dishes are simply magnificent. What is this called again?"
"This is drumin, a fruit sautéed in Collourian wine. And this," Triad said picking up another dish, "is called Merrimac. It's a vegetable that only grows for two turns out of a life cycle. This is caladdium, it's a meat that is supposed to stimulate your higher brain function. Our dishes, are they to your liking?"
"I'll say," Jon replied. "I feel… almost euphoric, and I've only had one glass of wine." Triad and Zyan laughed a little.
"Careful Captain," Zyan said. "Many of our foods have specific purposes and effects. Euphoria is but one of them." Jon and Malcolm looked at one another. Zyan and Triad just laughed again.
"Captain Triad, I've been meaning to ask you, what are the turns and life cycles you speak of," Malcolm asked.
"Those are terms that refer to the way we measure time. A turn is as one of your days, and span is like your month. A life cycle is similar to your year. We are on the 4th span of this cycle, and 120 turns."
"How did you learn how we measure time," Jon asked.
"We downloaded information from your ship's computer," Triad replied. Both Jon and Malcolm stopped eating and looked up at the same time.
"Relax Commodore," Triad said. "I have no use for your ship's information. Can't use it, most of it is really dated."
"Dated?!" Malcolm said incredulously.
"Yes dated."
"That's a warp seven vessel," Jon replied. Triad and Zyan looked at one another, then burst into laughter again.
"Commodore," Zyan finally said. "Vigilance's top speed is warp 12."
"Oh," Jon and Malcolm said at the same time.
"Like I said Commodore, I'm not interested in your ship or its data base," Triad said. "But, I wouldn't be much of a protector if I didn't at least take a look. And tomorrow, I'll send a couple of my best engineers to help start patchin' it up. But right now, eat up, let's just enjoy the evenin', shall we?"
The men ate and drank sweet wine for about another hour, then Zyan begged his pardon and left them alone. Triad had instructed him to do so earlier. They were reclining in the living area when Malcolm decided to ask some questions.
"So Captain Triad," Malcolm began. "You are somewhat different from the other Collourians aren't you sir?'
"Commander Reed, may I call you Malcolm? Formalities are fine in front of the crew but we're alone and I feel like I've know you guys all my life." Malcolm and Jon looked at one another.
"By all means," the brit replied.
"And please call me Jon," Archer added.
"Alright, Jon. But only if you call me Roman," Triad replied.
"Roman?" Jon repeated.
"Yeah, that's my name, Triad is just a nick name of sorts. And yes Malcolm, guess it's pretty obvious, I'm not exactly like everyone else."
"Why is that, if I may be so bold," Jon said.
"It's a long story Commodore. Let's just say, I've been through a lot." Jon looked at his host curiously.
"Were you born different, or did something happen to you that caused you to become this way?'
Roman set his drink down and locked his fingers together in front of him. He looked down for a few moments then said, "I've seen pictures of myself from my childhood up until the time I was taken. From what I'm told I was one way before the abduction, but I came back different."
"The abduction?" Malcolm asked.
"Yeah. You see, I was uh, abducted by hostile aliens almost six life cycles ago. I was missing for more than nine months, presumed dead. When one day while traveling many light years away from here, one of our ships encountered a slave ship. I was imprisoned on it. Collourians are vehemently opposed to slavery, so our ship attacked the slave ship, defeated it and freed us all. I was ill…and I had no memory of my former life. I didn't know who I was, where I came from, nothing, didn't even know what species I was."
"That…that's an interesting story," Malcolm said.
"Yeah it is," Roman said. "I was fortunate. Once back on our planet, I recovered quickly and my family and the doctors went about trying to restore my memory and retrain me, or teach me how to be Collourian again. In the process I discovered that I had mad engineering skills and knowledge. I joined the military cause from what I was told, it was expected of me. I started out as Chief Engineer of this vessel, after one cycle, I was made Captain. Been in charge for almost three cycles now."
"And now you are the Commander of your planet's most powerful ship, the protector of the realm," Archer replied.
"Yes, I'm the protector of the realm. The Supreme Ruler trusts me with this responsibility," Roman replied. He and Malcolm continued to talk on and on about his planet and the Supreme Ruler of the planet, but Jon had drifted off. Who was this man sitting across from him, really? An amnesiac that had no memory of his former life. It was as if his life had started just five years ago. Around the same time Trip Tucker had died.
The Next Day.
Jon and Malcolm were taken down to the planet surface by their host. Colloure was a fascinating place, and very beautiful with water falls, beaches and forests. The main city was actually built around a waterfall and consisted of some of the most beautiful architecture and structures the humans had ever seen. The trees and plant life were magnificent purple, blue, green, gold and red in colors. The sky reflected a beautiful rainbow of colors changing every so many days. It had a temperature of about 70 degrees all the time.
Collourians aged very slowly and lived for about 400 years if not killed. The planet's air and plant life had healing properties and helped ward off disease and injuries healed quickly. The waters protected their skin and helped the people maintain a youthful appearance for a very long time. Off worlders claimed that the waters were a fountain of youth. The food also had the ability to sharpen one's mind and heighten senses.
Their mines contained many valuable minerals, gold, silver, and other precious stones, as well as dilithium, trellium and the like.
People primarily were very polite especially if they lived what they called "the kingdom life." All things were done for the kingdom.
Roman had insisted that Jon and Malcolm stay the night at his home, a lavish property inside a massive compound at the edge of the city. He wanted them to meet his father. As they walked through the corridors various members of the staff stopped whenever they approached and bowed.
"Sir Roman," two women said.
"Ladies," he replied.
"May the kingdom continue to bestow good will and long life upon you." Roman just nodded his head slightly as Zyan and Renald continued to walk just a few steps behind him. Archer and Reed trailed, taking in the scene.
"Sir Roman, a young male bowed. "Peace unto you, til kingdom comes." Roman just nodded. A man, a woman and two young boys met the travelers next.
"Dad! Dad!" The boys shouted and jumped up and down. "It's Prince Roman! Prince Roman!" They then broke free and ran up to the Captain and began pulling at him and touching him.
"My Prince!" the man and woman shouted and fell to the floor in front of him.
"Insolents!" Zyan shouted. "You know it is forbidden to touch the Prince!"
"Hands off!" Renald said as he tried to shove the children away from his Captain.
"Oh please forgive our young children My Lord!" The man said loudly from a bowed position on the ground. "They just not a few minutes ago saw video of you in the palace library while on tour. We got separated from the group and were lost. We were simply looking for a way to get back to the common grounds. We had no idea Prince Roman himself would greet us in the corridor!"
Zyan started to say something but Roman stopped him.
"Z, Rey! It's alright. Stop, just stop." Zyan frowned and backed away from the man and woman and took his place again behind his captain. Renald was slower to move. Roman gave him a hard look, and he moved away abruptly.
"You two get up," Roman said and went to help the woman up.
"Prince Roman," an older looking gentleman said approaching. "You really should refrain from touching the subjects."
"Oh blow it out your ear!" Roman replied. Then he laughed and picked up the smaller of the boys. Everyone gasped. "Hey, would you like to ride a stag?" he said to the little boy.
"Oh boy, would I," the child beamed.
"Well I might just let you visit my stable and take a ride; that is if you let your brother here help you."
"I will, I will!" the little boy beamed and jumped up and down.
"Chamberlain," Roman said to the elder gentleman. "Take care of it." Then he turned to the parents. "You two should have lunch in the garden while your kids go riding."
"Sir Roman!" the man said as the woman gasped.
"Chamberlain, take these fine people over to the west garden and have the kitchen serve them lunch. And I better hear that they were treated really, really, well, got that?"
"But of course My Prince," the chamberlain said and bowed. "Until kingdom comes."
"Until kingdom comes," they all said.
"Another thing," Roman said after the older gentleman. "I'm having guests for a few days, planning on taking them to meet the Elder. See to it."
"I am only but to serve My Lord. Oh and uh, Sir Roman," the old man said.
"Yes?"
"Do try to conduct yourself more…"princely" in the company of your father, yes?"
"Whatever!" Roman replied, waiving the older man off. Then he gestured for his guest to follow him.
Once inside a very large living area he threw down his gear and a young man ran out and gathered his things. There were several other large rooms adjacent to it and more even in the back.
"Marshon, how the hell are ya!?" Roman greeted him. The young man jumped as if startled.
"Sir?!" he asked as if he didn't understand the question.
"I asked how you were doing kid, geez!" Zyan and Renald exchanged glances and laughed a bit.
"Oh uh… I am well My Lord! But my wellbeing is of course of no consequence; uh, uh I mean…only in my service to you Sir!"
"Oh for cryin' out loud," Roman said as if exasperated.
"Sir!?" the young man said again.
"Never mind," he said rolling his eyes. "These men are guests of mine, Marshi. Set 'em up in guest quarters and make sure they have everything they need," he ordered.
"Yes, My Lord. Til' kingdom…"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah…get to it!" he said waiving the young man away. He motioned for Jon and Malcolm to sit, but Zyan and Renald remained standing.
"Captain," Jon started. "If you don't mind…what was all that about?"
"Oh you mean all the bowing, and all the other stuff?" Roman asked as he peeled off his jacket and tossed it to the side.
"Well, yes," Jon replied. "You're…a prince?"
Zyan laughed. "Yes," he answered before Roman could speak. "Sir, if I may?"
"By all means," Roman said leaning back into the large comfortable sofa.
"He is known by many names," Zyan started. "In space he is known as Captain Triad, or The Triad. He is the protector of the realm or fleet captain of the military. Here on Colloure, he is Sir Roman or more appropriately, Prince Roman of the House of Imperius, heir to the throne of Colloure."
Jon and Malcolm looked at each other. "So, since we are obviously in the palace," Malcolm said looking around. "What do we call you? We wouldn't want to offend anyone."
"Sir Roman or Prince Roman," Renald replied, "is appropriate."
"It's just Roman," the man before them said. "Look, I'm sorry. I know this is probably a bit confusin' for you guys since you don't know our ways. But like I told you before, Triad is just a nick name; it's the only name off worlders or enemies, if you will, knows. They don't know me by Roman."
"That's because our enemies do not know that the fleet Captain is the Crown Prince of our world," Zyan said taking on a serious tone. "This knowledge could be detrimental to us. Assassins would come from out of the wood work. Our enemies would certainly attempt to abduct him as they did before, either for ransom, or an attempt to invade our world. Hostiles in this system as well as those who have merely heard of us would love to invade us in an attempt to discover our planet's secrets, to plunder our mines and harvest our crops."
"We have been blessed to dwell on a world that gives more to the people than it takes," Renald added. "We have only to care for it and it allows us to live poverty free, at peace, with vibrant health and strength, and for a long time. We buy and trade with other worlds, we allow off worlders to visit and settle here, to come here to take advantage of what she offers. However, we do not allow hostiles or those who seek to use it for evil to come and take what they want or to destroy what we have been given."
"That's why people risk going through that nebula to get here, "Roman said. "A lot of folks don't know about the vortex though, so even if they somehow make it through the nebula, they can't get through the vortex. Those who do, gotta come through me!"
"And that my good people, is not easy," Zyan said.
"You think you know me, or that you've met me before, don't you," Roman said out of the blue. "What is it about me that makes you think that?" Jon and Malcolm looked at one another, then back at the man sitting across from them.
"Well," Jon started. "You bear a striking resemblance to someone we used to know. Same height and build, hair color, same eyes."
"You really could be his twin," Malcolm said as he and Jon kept staring at him.
"How did you come to be called "Triad?" Jon asked.
"As I told you before, when I came here, I had no memory of my former life. The only thing I remembered was the number three, more specifically, the term Trip or Triple. I didn't even know what it meant. Was it my name, my species, the name of my home world? Since I didn't remember my own name, people just started calling me Trip or the Triad. It stuck." Jon and Malcolm looked stunned but did not say anything.
"Those slavers had no idea that they had captured and enslaved the Crown Prince, Roman Imperius, II," Renald added.
"No one knows my real identity out there," Roman said, "And we wanna keep it that way."
"So in space, you're Triad," Jon replied. "But at home you're Roman."
"Until kingdom comes," Zyan said and bowed his head slightly. The young man who was there earlier came and brought them drinks.
Suddenly Roman received a communication from his ship. He relayed the information to Jon. "Seems your little ship is more resilient than we thought," he grinned.
"Little?!" Jon and Malcolm said at the same time.
"Just kidding," Roman said as Zyan and Renald laughed. "Wan't trying to be insultin' or nothin'. But my people report that they've been attempting to scan Vigilance every hour or so. Probably looking for you guys. The scans are weak, but they've been consistent."
"I wonder how they managed that?" Malcolm asked.
"Or the ship's not in as bad shape as we thought," Jon added.
"Oh it's a wreck," Zyan said. "You must have a very competent Science Officer and Engineer up there to have pulled that off. Congratulations." Malcolm and Jon looked at one another. They knew Hess was top of the line, after all she'd been trained by Trip. But Cann was more mouth and attitude, a fair Science Officer, but she would never have had the diligence or patience to conduct scans for over 24 hours.
"You don't suppose Cann had a little help do you Sir?" he asked Jon.
"Anything's possible," he replied.
"Well, why don't you give 'em a call," Roman said, "they'll probably send down a shuttle craft next and start scanning for you down here. Wouldn't want one of my ships to blast 'em out of the sky," he said grinning. Archer raised both of his eye brows at that. Roman seemed to have a wicked sense of humor. Then Zyan handed him a communicator and he called the ship. The crew was elated to find out they were okay and that their scans had been successful.
Suddenly there were other voices coming from the back of the house, one of which sounded like a small child. Moments later, a little girl ran into the room and jumped on Roman. An older Collourian woman with light brown hair, eyes, etc. chased behind her.
"Wo-man," the little girl said. "Want Wo-man."
"No, no," the woman said. "come child," and tried to pry the little girl off of him.
"Want Wo-man," the child said clinging to Roman's shirt.
"It's alright Kimorra," Roman said. "She can stay. Hey baby!" he then said as he lifted the child in the air and tossed her. For a few moments he kissed her all over her face as she giggled loudly.
"Enough. Enough now My Lord," the woman said. "The child got out of bed when she awakened and sensed you in the house. It is late, she can visit in the morning."
"I said she could stay," Roman replied as he continued to play with the little girl.
"But it is past bed time and I will retire soon. I would like to get the child situated before that time Your Grace."
"It's okay Kimorra, she can sleep with me tonight."
"Master!"
"Kimorra give it a rest. I haven't seen her in a month. Now she's stayin' with me tonight and that's that."
"My Lord, with all due respect," Kimorra continued. "The last time when you returned home, you allowed the child to sleep in your bed the entire time you were home, for two months. When you left, she cried for many nights and did not want to sleep in her own chamber, let alone her own bed. I had to retrain her all over again."
"She's stayin' Kimmy," he said firmly, "that's it and that's all!"
"Yes, My Prince; til kingdom comes," Kimorra said, bowed and turned to go muttering something about spoiling.
"Wait," Roman said to her before she exited the room. "Jon and Malcolm, this is Kimorra, the Keeper of my House. Kimorra, these men are Captain Jonathan Archer and Commander Malcolm Reed of the Star Ship Enterprise. They are my personal guests. Make sure they're well taken care of as they'll be here a few days. And this little munchkin," he said as he tickled her a bit while the child squirmed and laughed, "is Sienna, my daughter."
"Your daughter?" Jon asked.
"Yes," Roman replied. "She would be almost two of your years or 20 months."
"She is the spitting image of you," Malcolm said as they watched the small child with two blonde pigtails and strikingly blue eyes.
"It's good to meet you Kimorra. You have a beautiful daughter," Jon smiled. Renald and Zyan laughed a little, but Kimorra just stood glaring at Jon.
"No," Roman said. "When I said Kimorra was the Keeper of my House, I meant that she is Sienna's care giver and mine too for that matter. Aliyra, Sienna's mother, is deceased."
They talked more that evening and Sienna fell asleep in her father's arms. Zyan and Renald excused themselves and left Roman alone with his guest as they continued talking into the night.
"Jon, I'm gonna put Sienna to bed now, but before I go, I have something to tell you guys," Roman said.
"Oh," Jon said, "and that would be?"
"You're not gonna be able to leave here…"
"What?!" he and Malcolm said together. The baby shifted in Roman's arms and he rocked her slightly to soothe her. When she had settled back down, he continued.
"You didn't let me finish," he said. "You're not prisoners, I already told you that. It's just that this area of space is unique. That vortex you entered when you came here, it only opens at certain times. We've been able to determine when it will open, so we monitor it. We try to keep hostiles from coming here if possible, and we look out for those who are just traveling through or come here by accident like you."
"So, when is it scheduled to re-open?" Jon asked concerned.
"In about 45 days."
"Forty-five days!" Malcolm repeated.
"Yes, 45 days."
"And there's no way to re-open it?' Jon asked. Roman hesitated for a moment.
"I could re-open it," he said, "but I won't." Before either of them could protest Roman continued. "Look, the vortex has become very unstable because of people like Visseral, remember him, opening and closing it at will. If that continues, it's gonna collapse one day, and that nebula that you were caught in, will slide right through it. The radiation from it would be devastating to our planet and our people. Not to mention the fact that anyone could just come and go as they please. It's not safe to open that vortex and I won't do it. But what I will do is safely guide you through it when the time comes. Until then Jon, I suggest you treat this time as an adventure. Let your crew have shore leave while we repair your ship. You won't regret it."
Jon and Malcolm exchanged glances. "Alright," Jon finally said. "I guess we don't have much of a choice. We'll just have to trust you. I'll contact the ship tomorrow."
"Great," Roman said. "I'll have someone arrange living space for your crew, tour guides, entertainment. This'll be the best shore leave they've ever had, I promise you that. But first, you have to meet the Elder."
"The Elder?" Jon asked.
"Yes, the Supreme Ruler of Colloure. It's all been arranged, goodnight gentlemen." Before they could ask any more questions, Roman had risen and taken the baby away. They saw themselves out and headed to the living space that had been provided for them.
"I guess we're going to see the king," Jon said.
