HIDING IN SHADOWS
It was a beautiful morning on Earth. The sky was a deep, cloudless blue and birds flew from tree to tree. A sprinkling of dew on the lush green grass gave everything a sparkle that Harlan had come to miss during his time in space. Harlan turned around, taking in everything around him and enjoying the warm sunshine on his skin.
"Harlan?" someone called from behind him.
Harlan turned and saw his father standing in the grass. He held in his hand a baseball mitt and ball. Commander Band pulled the brim of his hat down, placing it more securely on his head.
"Come on, son," he laughed. "Are you going to pay attention or what?"
Harlan smiled and turned to give his full attention to his father. Commander Band raised his arm and threw the ball - only to have it hit Harlan in the face.
**********
Harlan woke up with a snort of surprise as the ball of crumpled paper bounced off his forehead and onto the floor. He opened his eyes to find the stern face of Capt. Gregor staring at him. Clito was just in front of the infuriated teacher and was obviously the one who had thrown the ball to wake her friend up.
"Do you find spatial defense formations boring, Mr. Band?" Capt. Gregor demanded. "Do you find this class so useless that you think you could survive in space without it?"
Normally, Harlan would have sat there and taken the teacher's lecture without responding, but he was in a bad mood from being taken away from his perfect dream.
"As a matter of fact, sir, I have survived in space without your useless lessons," Harlan retorted.
Clito stared at him with a shocked expression on her face before closing her eyes and smacking the palm of her hand on her forehead. Harlan stared defiantly at Capt. Gregor.
"Whether or not you can manage being on a ship with a trained StarDog helping you and whether or not you can command your own ship are two different scenarios, Mr. Band," Gregor snapped.
"It was my own defense formations that got us out of a lot of tough scrapes, sir," Harlan said.
"It's a wonder you survived at all, then," Capt. Gregor stood up straight and headed back to the front of the classroom. "Because of Mr. Band's arrogance, you are all required to write a 600 word report on why and how regulation defense formations can save your life, your crew, and your ship."
The class groaned and several more paper balls were thrown at Harlan. The bell sounded and the classroom emptied.
"Way to go, Harlan," Clito said bitterly. "Now I've got so much work to do tonight, I won't be able to visit my garden."
"Sorry," Harlan muttered. "That guy was just really bugging me."
A student brushed up against Clito as he pushed his way through the halls. He elbowed Harlan in the ribs and disappeared into the crowd.
"Hey!" Harlan said. "Who was that guy? I don't think I've ever seen him before."
Clito didn't answer. Harlan turned to see if his friend was listening and saw that she was standing still, her eyes wide and her mouth open. Harlan rushed over to her side and caught her as her eyes rolled into her head and she fell to the ground.
**********
Harlan paced back and forth in front of the medlab. Radu and Catalina sat across the hall from the door and Rosie was inside helping the medic.
"Are you sure you didn't see the guys face?" Catalina asked.
"For the millionth time, I'm sure. All I know is that he had brown hair that was cut really short. I only saw the back of his head," Harlan replied. He touched his ribs and winced. "He is strong, though."
"I'm sure the security team will find him," Radu said softly.
Harlan stopped to peek through the small windows of the medlab before starting his pacing again.
"Someone's coming," Radu said after several minutes of silence.
Harlan paused and all three looked down the hallway as another cadet walked by. He had short, brown hair and green eyes and was obviously an Earther. He wore the customary Starcademy uniform and he looked at Harlan through the corner of his eye as he passed. Harlan kept watching him.
"That's him!" Harlan gasped.
The Earther cadet turned around in surprise and started to run when he saw Harlan running down the hall after him. Radu jumped to his feet to follow and Catalina took a deep breath in preparation of a sonic blast. Harlan got to the cadet first and took him down in a flying tackle.
"What did you do to Clito?" Harlan demanded, turning the cadet over to stare at his face.
The cadet was confused. "Who?"
Radu picked up the cadet and held him a few feet off the floor. The cadet's eyes widened and he began to kick. Radu looked up at his captive, then back at Harlan.
"W - what should I do with him?" Radu asked.
"Make him tell you what he did to Clito," Harlan said.
"I don't know any Clito!" the cadet said. "I swear it!"
Harlan stared at the cadet for a few seconds. Catalina came up behind her boyfriend and sighed.
"Put him down, Radu," she said.
Radu did and the boy retreated to behind Catalina.
"This is Ruben," Catalina said. "He's in my engineering class on the other side of the academy that's at the same time as your defense class, Harlan. He was with me the whole time."
Harlan hit his fist on the wall in frustration and went back to pacing in front of the door. Radu licked his lips nervously.
"Sorry about that," the Andromedan apologized.
"Don't worry about it," Ruben said. "Now, what's going on?"
As they walked back down the hallway, Catalina explained everything to Ruben and he joined them in their wait in front of the medlab. Finally, Rosie came out.
"She'll be fine," the Mercurian said. "That guy security is looking for injected her with a small quantity of solution that makes her gills stick shut."
"So, why did that make her pass out?" Harlan asked. "She uses her lungs to breathe when she's on land."
Rosie passed a weary hand over her face. "She wasn't using her gills to breathe, Harlan. She uses them to gather moisture from the air to keep herself together."
Harlan's mouth formed a silent "oh" and he sat down.
"So, it was a definite assassination attempt," Radu said.
Rosie nodded. Radu licked his lips and began to pace. Catalina rolled her eyes and sat down next to Harlan and Ruben.
"When will she be recovered?" Catalina asked.
"I already am," Clito said from the doorway.
The Neptunian definitely looked more pale than usual, but seemed to be herself. Harlan rushed over to where she stood his face full of concern. Clito smiled at him and gratefully accepted the arm he offered her. Ruben stood when he saw the Neptunian.
"You must be Clito," he said. "Principal Ravenshire asked me to find you. You're to report to her office as soon as you're able."
Harlan looked confused. "If you were delivering a message, why did you walk by the medlab?"
Ruben blushed. "I - I'm new here. I didn't know where the medlab was, so I walked right past it. Having you chase me down the hall didn't help either."
Harlan coughed uncomfortably and Catalina laughed.
"Shall we go to the Principal's office?" Clito asked.
"If you think you're up to it," Harlan said.
Clito smiled. "I'm sure one of you could carry me if I suffered a relapse."
**********
Principal Ravenshire looked at the six cadets standing in front of her. She had only asked for one, but the loyalty of the others had brought them as well. She sighed. At least it would save her some time since she wouldn't have to summon the others later.
"Clito," Ravenshire began. "I assume you are aware of the trouble on your home planet?"
"I have been kept up to date," Clito replied, sitting in the chair in front of the principal's desk.
The green haired principal nodded and made a scene of shuffling through the papers on her desk while she studied the faces of Clito's friends. The confused expressions on their faces indicated that Clito had not told them anything.
"I have contacted your father about the recent attempt on your life," Ravenshire continued. "He and I have decided that you will be kept under guard at all times until the situation had been solved. He also asked if you would return home."
Clito stiffened in her seat. "Return home? Why?"
"He thought you would be safer."
Clito relaxed slightly after a quick glance over her shoulder at her friends. Both Harlan and Radu looked confused, while Catalina and Rosie had concerned and sympathetic expressions on their faces. The Earther Ruben stood off to one side, staring at his shoes.
"I do not wish to return to Neptune," Clito decided. "I can protect myself and I do not need my father's help."
"Nevertheless," Ravenshire said, "I think you should have some kind of guard."
"We'll do it," Harlan volunteered.
Radu looked at him sharply and Harlan nudged him in the ribs.
"Y - Yeah," Radu said. "Harlan and I would be happy to watch out for Clito."
Catalina shot them both dirty looks and Clito sighed. Principal Ravenshire, however, seemed pleased. She smiled gratefully at the two boys and clapped her hands in delight.
"Wonderful!" she said. "An Andromedan and a martial artist. What better bodyguards could you ask for?"
Clito said nothing.
"Harlan Band and Radu," Ravenshire said to herself as she scanned through the computer for their respective schedules. "Mr. Band, you have a class with Clito already and Mr. Radu is in the class next to hers on three occasions. You all have lunch together as well. Wonderful!"
She gave the two newly appointed bodyguards their revised schedules and allowed the group to leave.
"Harlan, you jerk," Catalina said, hitting her boyfriend in the arm.
"What?" Harlan asked in an injured tone.
"Clito doesn't want to be protected. She doesn't want people following her around."
"So? It's just Radu and me. It'll be like always, except now Radu will walk her all the way to class instead of partway there."
"And I have to listen to the other class during my class to make sure there aren't any strange noises," Radu added, reading his assignment off the compupad. "Isn't that eavesdropping?"
"With those ears, how can you help it?" Harlan muttered softly, under his breath.
"I heard that!"
"I know."
Clito said nothing, but walked a little faster than usual. Rosie, who had remained silent throughout the interview, caught up to her patient.
"Are you okay?" the Mercurian asked.
"Yeah, I'll be fine when this all blows over," Clito replied.
"It won't just blow over," Ruben spoke up. "I don't think the Neptunians will stop until they get what they want."
Clito turned sharply to stare at the newest member of the group. "What do you know about this?"
Ruben looked uncomfortable. "I've been studying it in my Planetary Issues class. Neptune's politics are interesting."
Clito seemed wary of the Earther, but let it pass. "Just keep your thoughts to yourself," she said as they continued walking. "You don't know what's going on there."
"Neither do we," Harlan spoke up.
"Yeah, Clito," Catalina said. "What's this all about."
The group was passing the biosphere as they talked and Clito stopped in front of the doors. They opened before her, sensing her presence.
"We'd all better sit down for this," Clito said, gesturing to the park-like environment inside the doors. "This is a long story."
"Not too long, I hope," Ruben said. "Lights out is in two hours and I'm tired."
"You sound like Bova," Harlan laughed. "Always thinking of sleep."
Rosie seemed pained by the mention of the Uranusian and Radu took a step towards her. Instead of welcoming the Andromedan's support, Rosie turned and followed Clito into the biosphere.
"Who's Bova?" Ruben asked.
**********
Clito sat them all down in front of their favourite tree. Harlan and Radu leaned against the trunk, with Catalina to Harlan's left and Rosie to Radu's right. Ruben remained standing behind Catalina. Clito sat in front of them and started her story.
"The trouble on Neptune started a few years after I was born. My father and our neighbour were fighting as they have been for generations, but this time it involved more people. War broke out when I was about ten and it lasted until I was fourteen. After four long years of war, the people who had been fighting were sick of the feud between my family and our neighbours, so they begged my father to stop and negotiate peace. My father is a stubborn man and refused. The people took this as a personal insult and began to plan a revolution.
"By the time I left Neptune for Starcademy at the age of sixteen, the people had been planning a revolt for quite some time. My father and our neighbour had managed to keep it under control, but two year ago; the people managed to organize enough of a resistance to tumble the entire planet into war. Things were in a kind of stalemate until now, when the people decided the best way to end the feud was to kill all the members of the two families - including me."
The group was silent for a moment as they absorbed the full extent of what Clito was telling them.
"Is your father some kind of wealthy merchant or something?" Harlan asked.
"You could call him that," Clito replied vaguely.
"Why doesn't your father just negotiate peace?" Catalina asked.
"It's too late now," Clito answered. "Our neighbours are too stubborn to listen to peace talks and the people are already out of control. All we can do is fight."
"And your father thinks you'll be safer at home?" Ruben said.
Clito nodded. "He wants to be able to keep an eye on me. I'm not sure why, since I've always been the least important in my family. That's why they let me go to Starcademy in the first place."
"That's not a nice thing to say about yourself," Rosie chided. "You're very important."
"It's nice of you to say that, Rosie," Clito said with a smile, "but it's not true. I'm far down the line of inheritance since I have two older brothers and an older sister."
"Inheritance isn't everything," Rosie said. "I'm sure your parents love you just as much as your brothers and sister."
Clito smiled. "They do, which is why they're so worried about me right now. We have to find out who the assassin is and get rid of them before they strike again."
"How do we do that?" Radu asked.
"Simple," Harlan said. "We lay a trap."
**********
Three days later, the students of Starcademy were given a free day, so the space cases could put together their trap. There had been no other attempts on Clito's life, nor had there been any clues as to who the assassin was. Harlan and Radu had taken their guarding duties very seriously and Clito always had one of them beside her, except when she slept. Catalina and Rosie kept their ears open during the night to keep their Neptunian friend safe.
Clito sat in the biosphere, strumming her harp and singing a melodious ballad. Her friends were no where to be seen. Ruben saw her and hurried over.
"Hi, Clito," he greeted her, his green eyes shining in the light. "Where are your guards?"
"I told them to go away for a few hours," Clito replied. "I was getting tired of them always hanging around and I wanted time to practice my harp by myself."
"In that case, I'll leave you alone," Ruben said.
He turned and left. A few meters away, hiding behind some bushes, Harlan and Radu watched the entire scene. As Ruben walked away, they sat back and sighed.
"No attack yet," Harlan said. "This is getting boring."
"You're the one who volunteered us," Radu reminded him. "Get ready to watch, I hear someone coming."
This time Clito's visitors were Catalina and Rosie. They sat down with Clito and the three of them began to chat. Harlan sat back again and began to play with the dirt on the ground. Radu, however, cocked his head and listened.
"Are there any woodpeckers in the biosphere?" he asked.
"Not that I know of," Harlan replied, "but I rarely look at the birds when I come here."
Harlan's sentence trailed off as Radu stood and turned his attention to the tree. A bird flew down from one of the branches and landed on the path in front of Radu. The Andromedan shivered involuntarily as the woodpecker stared at him with deep green eyes. Suddenly, there was a faint crack that only Radu could hear and he charged forward, sweeping up all three of the girls in his arms. The large, heavy branch under which Clito, Catalina, and Rosie had been sitting fell with an earth-shattering thud. Radu, Clito, Catalina, and Rosie lay on the ground, staring at the place where seconds ago they had been sitting. The three girls turned to Radu.
"Thank you," Clito said simply.
Rosie, however, was not that controlled. She threw her arms around Radu's neck and began to sob. Catalina simply stared in shock at the massive tree branch. Harlan ran over, his own eyes widened with fear.
"Is everyone okay?" he asked, kneeling next to Catalina.
Catalina hugged him tightly. "That was really spooky," she said.
"No, what did this was spooky," Radu spoke up, gently untangling Rosie from around his neck. "It was a woodpecker with green eyes."
"Birds don't have green eyes, Radu," Clito said.
"This one did. It landed in front of me and looked right at me. Then, the branch cracked. I almost didn't hear it."
"We'd better solve this thing fast," Catalina observed. "If the assassin can trick an Andromedan into not hearing something, I think we're all in serious trouble."
**********
Clito wandered about her garden, watering her plants and adjusting their light. Radu stood in the corner, watching her every movement but respecting her privacy. Clito had asked him not to bother her while she was in her garden because it was the only place she felt safe and comfortable. Radu had understood, but had also stubbornly refused to leave the room. Clito ignored him the best he could.
The doors slid open and Peter Corwell walked in. The arrogant Earther had been careful to leave Radu and his friend alone after the incident on the planetary moon. He no longer insulted the space cases to their face and would hide whenever Radu came near him. Fortunately, he didn't see the Andromedan in the corner of the room.
"Professor Oakly told me to come and see you," Peter said. "I need some plant specimens for my organic chemistry class and he said you were the person to talk to."
Radu listened in surprise. Peter was actually being civil to Clito. The Andromedan could sense the tension in Peter's voice, however.
"Let me see your assignment," Clito said.
Wordlessly, Peter handed over a compupad. Clito read the screen and her face paled. Radu heard her heartbeat speed up and he came out of the dark corner and caught Peter by the arm. Clito let the compupad drop to the ground and she sank to her knees, her eyes wide. Without letting go of the struggling Earther, Radu picked up the compupad.
You're a tricky one, daughter of Atlantica. Perhaps murder isn't the best way to drown this fish. Hope your friends agree, don't you?
"Did you write this?" Radu demanded, shaking Peter.
"N - no, honestly," Peter said, his fear evident in his shaking voice. "I - it was my chemistry assignment!"
Radu let the Earther go and Peter scrambled out of the garden at a run. The Andromedan sat down across from Clito and she looked up at him.
"The assassin is going after my friends," she said. "I've put you all in danger."
"We can take care of ourselves," Radu said gently.
Clito shook her head. "No, I've got to leave. You're all too important for me to let you die. I'm going back to Neptune."
"Then we're going with you," Radu told her. "Harlan and I are sworn to protect you and I'm sure Rosie and Catalina won't let us leave them behind."
Clito smiled at him. "It's nice of you to say that, Radu, but I can't allow it. Neptune is a water world and it will be too easy for the assassins to target air-breathers. Besides, do you know how to swim?"
Radu blushed. "Um, Andromedan's can't swim. We're to heavy."
"Exactly. You have to stay here."
**********
As Radu and Clito walked down the hall from the garden, they saw Catalina running towards them. Her face was pale and her features revealed her fear. She was out of breath as she stopped her two friends.
"What's wrong?" Radu asked.
"Harlan," Catalina gasped. "He . . . was . . . attacked . . "
"By who?" Clito demanded. "Is he all right?"
Catalina nodded. "He fought . . the guy off, but he couldn't see who it was. He said it was an Andromedan."
"Impossible," Radu said. "I think I would have known if another Andromedan was here."
"All Harlan saw was the attackers long hair and green eyes," Catalina said. "Rosie is with him now. He's more shocked than anything else."
"The assassin doesn't waste any time, does he?" Clito remarked dryly.
Catalina shot her a quizzical look and Radu explained the note Clito had received. Cat's eyes widened.
"This is definitely going too far," she said.
**********
"Welcome to UPP Report. Tonight's top stories: Space Pirates - will the UPP ever take action against this growing force? In the wake of the Spung Invasion - how the members of the UPP are recovering from the scare, and War Under Water - Neptune's continuing crisis."
The holo player began its nightly recap of the new in the UPP. Harlan, Radu, Catalina, Rosie, Clito, and Ruben all sat in the leisure room with about ten other cadets watching. Clito still had her mind set on returning to Neptune, especially after Harlan's attack, but Principal Ravenshire had advised against it since the war had taken a turn for the worst. Fearing for her family, Clito had persuaded her friends to watch the news instead of their usual free time activity of relaxing in the biosphere.
"Neptune; the seventh planet in the sol system and until recently, one of the most peaceful places in the UPP. The war to overthrow the monarchy in the two kingdoms had taken on epic proportions as the people fight in the streets to rid their planet of this unwanted rule."
"Monarchy?" Harlan asked.
"Shhh!" Clito said.
"To date," the holo player continued, "there have been many casualties on both sides, yet the power of the kingdoms seemed secure, until now. It was two standard days ago when members of the rebellion in Poseidonae broke into the palace of the royal family and murdered King Decalion and Queen Pryia. There have been reports that the Crown Prince Protus as well as Prince Bran have been kidnapped and are being held for ransom. The location of the last member of the Poseidonae royal family, Princess Atalanta, is unknown."
"Bran?" Catalina asked. "Isn't that the name of Clito's - "
"Quiet!" someone behind the Saturnian snapped.
Radu turned to look at Clito and saw that a tear was rolling down her cheek.
"In the rival kingdom of Atlantica, rebels have been looting and rioting in the streets. The capital of Scylla has been sealed off to all people to protect the royal family. Prince Nerus was murdered in a recent invasion of the palace, and Princess Amphitrite has fled the planet to an unknown location, leaving only King Oceanus, Queen Tethys, and Crown Prince Leander in the palace. There is no information on the youngest member of the Atlantican royal family, Princess - "
Clito switched off the holo player, to the groans of everyone in the leisure room. She abruptly turned and left the room, followed closely by Harlan and the others.
Clito walked quickly, forcing Harlan to run to catch up with her. He touched her arm and she turned to reveal her tear-stained face.
"What's with all the water works?" Harlan asked.
Clito wiped her cheek and forced herself to smile. "Nothing, except that my family is in danger and there's nothing I can do about it."
Radu, who stood behind everyone, thought he saw a look of grim satisfaction on Ruben's face. Before he could ask the Earther what he found so happy about Clito's situation, he heard the rumble of several people coming down the hall. He looked up and saw four armed Neptunians heading for them. They all wore deep purple uniforms and carried blaster weapons.
"Uh oh," Harlan said.
The armed men stopped in front of the little group and saluted. Clito faced them, her shoulders back and her head raised. She stared at the leader of the guard.
"You're to come with us," the leader said.
"Why should I do that, Captain?" Clito asked.
"Highness, it's by order of your father. You're to join your sister in exile."
"I am in exile, Captain," Clito said. "Don't you listen to the news? No one know where I am."
"Except the assassin," Ruben muttered.
Clito shot him a dirty look.
"Highness, you must come with us. Scylla has fallen and your brother Leander is dead. The Queen has fled, and your father had been taken."
Clito paled. "What are you saying, Captain?"
"I'm saying, Highness, that your sister, Princess Amphitrite, is now the next in line for the throne and you after her."
**********
Clito sat on the transport. On either side of her were two large Neptunian guards who neither spoke, nor moved. They held their blasters ready and Clito stared at her hands. Sitting across from her, Radu looked worried. Rosie sat next to him with Harlan and Catalina behind them. Ruben sat across from Harlan and Catalina.
By order of the Neptunian government, they were all forced to leave Starcademy for the safety of Princess Clito. They knew her true identity, which made them likely to talk, according to the Captain of Clito's guards. Principal Ravenshire had made it a big deal to spread rumor around school that Harlan was rejoining the Air Strikers with Catalina, and that Radu and Rosie were going home to visit their families. Ruben hardly had any friends, so his disappearance would not be missed and Clito said she was leaving for Neptune to help the rebellion. If anyone at Starcademy doubted the rumors, they did nothing about it since the transport encountered no resistance on the flight.
The transport landed on an isolated island in the vast sea that made up ninety percent of the planet's surface. When the ice caps of Earth had begun to melt, the Earthers set up an artificial atmosphere and gravity device on Neptune, which made the planet, seem very much like Earth in most respects. The Earthers then transported their excess water to Neptune and flooded it. Those few settlers of Neptune slowly began to evolve to adapt to their new environment. Numerous experiments combining fish DNA with human DNA provided the Neptunians with gills and webbed fingers and toes. For trade and for the comfort of visitors, Neptune also had extensive networks of tubing that connected all the domed cities together. Most Neptunians preferred swimming to walking and the tubes were rarely used.
Harlan, Catalina, Radu, Rosie, Ruben, and Clito stepped down from the transport and into the spaceport of Neptune. It was strangely deserted - an effect of the sealing of the city. The guards led Clito quickly through the empty building, towards a large pool of water.
"We're not going to have to swim, are we?" Rosie asked, eyeing the water.
Clito turned. "Of course not. These guards will escort you through the tubing to the palace. My escort and I will swim and meet you there."
Both Rosie and Radu looked relieved. Clito waved good bye and followed the guards into the pool. The remaining guards led the way to the glass tubes. As they walked, they could see the fish-like inhabitants of Neptune swimming around them. Several curious children watched the air-breathers pass until their mothers dragged them away. Harlan began to feel like he was on display until the guards opened two enormous doors that led into the palace.
**********
The air-breathers found Clito waiting for them in the main entrance of the enormous palace. The room itself was in a state of disarray, having been looted recently by the angry mobs. Harlan whistled in awe as he looked around the giant room.
"Your Highness," a new voice said.
Everyone in the room turned and saw an elderly Neptunian standing in the doorway just outside the tunnel entrance. The guards that had been escorting them immediately snapped to attention and Clito smiled warmly.
"Fenton," she said, running over to the old man. "What's going on?"
"I'm afraid your father is dead, child," Fenton said sadly. "He was captured only a few weeks ago, and the guards found his body yesterday."
"How did he die?" Clito asked as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Bravely, I'm told," Fenton replied. "He was wounded in several places before the finally blow through the heart. I'm sure he went down fighting."
"Just like he would have wanted," Clito replied softly. "Have the body brought to the mausoleum. We'll have a state funeral for my father and two brothers when this revolution is settled."
"Yes, your Highness," Fenton said with a bow. "It is good to see you again, Clito."
"Wonderful to see you as well, Uncle."
**********
The next morning, the space cases met with Clito in the throne room, where Clito had taken charge of her crumbling kingdom. She sat on her mother's throne, reviewing the positions of the army and the inventory of the palace.
"Good morning," she greeted her friends.
"Good?" Harlan laughed. "Last night was the first time I was ever kept up by an angry mob."
"Are you sure the defenses around the palace are secure?" Rosie asked.
"The best," Clito replied. "They can't afford to loose me yet; with my mother and sister in exile, I'm their last hope for peace."
"So, what's the deal?" Harlan said, sitting on the steps near the throne and looking at Clito's plans. "Do we attack them or what?"
"We control their food and fresh water supplies," Clito said. "We also still have control over most of the tubing. If we infest the waters with sharks or man-fish, we can probably force everyone into the domed cities."
"And then, you'll have them all under control," Catalina said with a smile.
"But they still won't be happy," Radu reminded them. "You can't keep them cooped up forever."
"You're right," Clito sighed. "Perhaps I should see about setting up a meeting with their leader."
"Hammer out peace?" Rosie grinned. "Perfect! I'm sure they'll agree to peace if you give them the chance."
Ruben, who was standing in a corner, shook his head. Clito raised her eyes to look over her other friends and observed Ruben's subtle gesture. She frowned at him.
"What do you think, Ruben?" she asked.
"A peace treaty will never work," the Earther replied. "The people are too angry now to go back to how things were. The only way to please them is to abolish the monarchy completely."
"You got all that from your class?" Harlan demanded, his distaste apparent in his voice.
Ruben nodded. Radu though he heard the Earther's heart speed up a bit. Clito sighed and sat back into her chair. Absently, she drummed her fingers against the arm and thought.
"What do you suggest, Ruben?" she asked.
Ruben shrugged. "Give in to the people. Accept their changes."
"And allow my planet to continue the revolution?" Clito said. "Are you mad? Without a government, who will lead them?"
Again, Ruben shrugged. "Maybe they can lead themselves."
Clito dismissed the thought with a wave of her hand. "Forget it. I will conduct peace talks with the people's leader. I'm sure we'll be able to find a median."
"What about the other kingdom, your Highness?" Fenton asked from where he had been quietly standing by Clito's chair.
"Who is in charge there now?"
"Princes Protus and Bran have been taken by the rebels, the king and queen are both dead, and Princess Atalanta is missing, your Highness. I believe their First Minister is ruling."
"What is his name, Fenton?"
"Drenn, your Highness."
**********
While Clito began writing a letter to First Minister Drenn of Poseidonae, the space cases took advantage of their momentary freedom to explore the palace. A detachment of guards was sent with them, but Harlan and the others soon lost them among the many halls and doors.
"How beautiful!" Catalina gasped.
They had been walking down a closed in corridor that had suddenly erupted into a clear dome. The walls of the room, as well as the ceiling and floor, were made of thick glass and all around them were corrals, fish, algae, and other sea life.
"So this is what under water is like," Radu breathed, standing in the middle of the room and slowly spinning around.
A sea turtle swam lazily by one of the walls, looking as surprised at Radu when the blue eyes of Radu met the black eyes of the turtle. It quickly turned and disappeared in a storm of bubbles. Radu stepped backwards in surprise and almost ran into Rosie.
"Amazing, isn't it?" she said. "I've never seen a place with so much life! On Mercury, the water is so hot that nothing can live in it."
"Where's Ruben?" Harlan asked suddenly.
The others turned around, searching every corner of the glass room for their missing friend. He was no where to be seen.
"He was with us in the last room," Catalina said.
"Maybe he got lost," Radu suggested. "I'll go look for him."
Before anyone could object, Radu had walked out of the room and back the way they had come.
**********
Radu headed down one of the tubes that connected the eastern wings of the palace to the central area located in the city. He hurried, not pausing to admire the beautiful ocean landscape around him. His only thoughts were of Ruben and his safety.
Suddenly, he heard a tapping on the tube above him. He looked up and saw a sea turtle, like the one he had seen before. The turtle looked at him with intense green eyes that bore into Radu's soul until the Andromedan found he could not look away. The sea turtle held Radu's gaze until the glass tubing behind him cracked and a torrent of seawater came splashing into the tube.
**********
Radu's eyes opened and slowly came into focus. He blinked as the salt from the water began to sting and he quickly clenched his eyes shut again. Tears ran down his cheeks as his eyes washed out the last of the seawater and Radu opened his eyes again. The first things he saw were green eyes.
Reflexively, Radu gasped in air and found himself choking. He coughed and spat up water, feeling his head being turned so he wouldn't swallow the water again.
"Is he okay?" Harlan asked.
"Give him a moment," Rosie replied. "I don't think he's ever been in that much water before."
"Judging by the amount of water he's already spat up, I'd say you were right," Catalina added.
Radu finally got control of his breathing again and turned his head. He saw the green eyes once more, but also the face they belonged to. It was Ruben. Radu sighed in relief.
"What happened?" Clito asked.
Radu found himself lying on the floor of a small room. His clothes were wet, as well as his hair, and he assumed he was in a puddle. Behind him, he could hear something being sealed mechanically.
"I was going to ask you the same thing," Radu said. He found his throat was very sore and his voice came out sounding scratchy.
"He's probably dehydrated," Rosie said. "Do you have some fresh water?"
Clito nodded and motioned for one of her guards to get some. All eyes returned to Radu.
"After you didn't come back, we went looking for you," Catalina said. "We found you outside one of the connecting tubes. Harlan jumped in and got you while I sealed the tube off so no one else would drown."
Radu looked over and saw that Harlan's clothes were soaking wet as well. He smiled thankfully at his best friend.
"I was looking for Ruben," Radu said slowly, ignoring the pain in this throat. "I was walking through the tube, when I saw a sea turtle. For some reason, I couldn't look away from it. The next thing I knew, I was surrounded by water and sinking fast. I tried to swim like Harlan had described it to me, but I was too heavy."
"Tell me about it," Harlan said. "I thought I'd never drag you to the palace. You weigh a ton!"
"Can you move?" Rosie asked. "Nothing broken or dislocated?"
Gingerly, Radu sat up. His vision wavered in and out of focus for a second, but he found he could move. Leaning on Harlan, he made it to his feet.
"Where did you go, Ruben?" Radu asked.
The guard returned with some water, which Radu drank greedily. Rosie finally had to take it away from him.
"Don't over do it," she chided gently.
"I — I found some interesting relics I wanted to look at," Ruben said. "I only thought I'd be gone a second, so I didn't mention it to anyone. When I turned around again, you were all gone."
Radu said nothing, but was sure he heard Ruben's heart speed up, almost as if he were hiding something.
"No serious harm done," Clito said. "I made contact with Minister Drenn. He'll be joining us shortly. I've also contacted the rebel leader, Tanya. She's agreed to meet as well."
"Great," Catalina replied. "Let's get this war over with as soon as possible!"
**********
Although everyone else had dismissed Radu's attempted murder as an accident', the Andromedan kept himself on his guard, often scanning with his hearing every room within range. He decided not to tell anyone about his eavesdropping; he knew they would understand, but he felt like he was invading the privacy of everyone in the palace and for that, he felt ashamed.
Tanya, the leader of the rebellion, arrived at the palace a few days later under heavy guard. She insisted that her escorts remain with her at all times or else she would not negotiate. Clito had no choice but to agree. Minister Drenn of Poseidonae came shortly after Tanya with his own small army of guards. They were both assigned rooms as far away from each other as possible as the negotiations got down to business.
During this time, Clito was busy all day, leaving the space cases free to wander around as they pleased. Rosie contacted Principle Ravenshire at Starcademy to inform her of the hesitant meetings between the three leaders. Ravenshire was pleased that they were all doing such excellent work. Harlan hung around with Clito's personal guards and helped with palace security while Catalina flirted outrageously with all the soldiers. Ruben disappeared without a trace, and Radu continued his silent watch over Clito and all his friends.
"Why is she still alive?"
The comment made Radu snap his head up from the compupad he had been reading. He was alone in the room Clito had given him for their stay. Quickly, he switched the compupad to a typing program and focused all his attention on the conversation.
"She is not as easy to kill as I had expected. My price has just doubled."
"Doubled? For that price, I can hire someone else to kill her."
"But I'm already here, and I'm already close to her."
There was a faint sigh. Radu paused in his typing to try and identify the voices. One sounded familiar, but the other he was sure he had never heard before.
"You're right, of course," the strange voice said. "I must speak with the Council before agreeing to anything."
"Then I might miss my chance," the familiar voice replied. "No more attempts on her life until I get your word that my price will be doubled."
"Attempts on her life? What about the alien in the air tubes? What was that?"
"A friend of hers. It hurts her to hurt them, so I thought I'd make her suffer before she dies."
"I'm not paying you to kill air-breathing aliens. Do what you're paid to do and nothing more."
"As you wish."
The conversation died off and Radu was left sitting in his room. He knew he had just heard a conversation between the assassin and his employer. Now the question remained, how did the assassin know they had left Starcademy and come here?
**********
Clito sat on her mother's throne, patiently listening to her two guests bicker. Minister Drenn sat to her left, yelling across the small table to Tanya. It had been three days into the peace talks and they had not yet identified the conflict. All they had established was that no one was happy with the current situation.
"That's enough!" Clito yelled. "I haven't invited you here to listen to you call each other childish names. We have a planet that needs to be united as one and we're the only three people who can do that without bloodshed. Now, do you want peace or not?"
Drenn and Tanya stared at their hostess. They both nodded wordlessly. Clito exhaled the breath she hadn't realized she had been holding and sat back in her chair.
"Now then," Clito began. "Tanya, why don't you start by telling us why the people are so angry?"
"We're poor, your Highness," Tanya said. "We haven't enough jobs and the silly feud between the two kingdoms has killed most of our able bodied youth. We want peace, jobs, and wealth."
As Tanya finished speaking, Radu and Harlan walked into the room. They had been talking quietly to each other, but Radu had broken off in mid-sentence when he heard Tanya's voice. He stared at her for a second and she turned around in her chair to stare back at him.
"Excuse me," Radu mumbled, turning around and leaving the room.
"What's wrong with your friend?" Tanya asked.
Harlan shrugged. "Be right back," he said, hurrying after his friend.
**********
"Radu, what's wrong?" Harlan asked.
The Earther had finally found his friend in the glass room, surrounded by marine life. Catalina and Rosie had also seen Radu rush by and had followed him as well.
"That voice," Radu said, pacing on the glass floor. "I know that voice!"
"Are you okay?" Rosie asked.
Radu stopped his nervous pacing and turned to his friends.
"A few days ago, I was listening to the various conversations in the palace."
"Radu!" Catalina gasped, suddenly turning red. "You didn't hear anything from me, did you?"
Radu smiled. "Nothing harmful, Cat. Anyway, I stumbled across a conversation between our assassin and his employer. I thought I recognized the assassin's voice, but I'm not sure who it is. The employer is Tanya."
"Are you sure?" Catalina asked.
Radu nodded and licked his lips nervously. "I wrote down the entire conversation. The compupad is in my room. The assassin admitted to trying to kill me and Clito and Harlan. He knows we're here."
"That's impossible," Rosie said. "No one followed us from Starcademy or knew we came here."
"If Tanya's the employer," Cat said, "then I guess she had spies in the palace that knew Clito was coming. We're really not that important to Neptune's lasting peace."
"Then why try to kill us?" Harlan asked.
"The assassin said he was trying to kill us to hurt Clito. That's why he destroyed the tube I was walking through and attacked you at Starcademy. It's also why he broke that branch in the biosphere," Radu said.
"We have to tell Clito," Rosie said.
Catalina shook her head. "It'll just worry her. We should get to the bottom of this as soon as possible."
The others agreed. They turned to leave the glass room, completely ignoring the eel that swam around the room, staring at them with his green eyes.
**********
Clito was a wreck. Almost two weeks had passed and they were not any closer to peace than they had been when her guests had first arrived. Drenn and Tanya simply refused to meet part way. To make matters worse, Clito couldn't understand the recent behaviour of her friends. Harlan never left Tanya alone, following her every minute of the day, and Catalina hovered protectively over Clito.
To make matters worse, Ruben seemed to have disappeared without a trace, and the people who patiently waited for peace seemed to be on the verge of destroying the palace. Whatever was going on, Clito had faith in her friends and knew that she could trust them. With a sigh, Clito went back to reading over the recent agreement between the three leaders.
**********
Catalina left Clito alone in her room. There had been no more attempts on anyone's life since Radu had overheard the assassin's conversation and the increased security around both Clito and Tanya seemed to have scared him off. As Catalina rounded a corner, she bumped into Radu.
"Radu, what are you wearing?" Catalina asked.
"Sunglasses," Radu said. "Harlan gave them to me."
"Why? We're underwater. All the light is artificial down here and you can adjust it if it's hurting your eyes."
"It's not hurting my eyes," Radu replied. "I just felt like wearing sunglasses. Stop bothering me!"
Radu pushed by Catalina and kept walking down the hall. Cat watched him go, wondering what she had said to make him react so harshly.
**********
"Have you noticed that Radu's been acting really weird lately?" Cat remarked when she had found Harlan.
"I haven't seen him in a while," Harlan answered. "What did he do?"
"I asked him why he was wearing the sunglasses you gave him and he practically yelled at me."
"Sunglasses?" Harlan asked. "I didn't give him any sunglasses. Why would I?"
Catalina sat back in her chair. "If you didn't give him the sunglasses, why was he wearing them?"
"Maybe we should find him and ask him," Harlan decided.
**********
Catalina, Harlan, and Rosie searched the halls of Clito's palace for Radu. Cat had filled Rosie in on Radu's strange behaviour and Rosie couldn't help but wonder if perhaps he was sick again, like the time on the Christa. Before she could pursue the thought any farther, she heard a scream from down the hall.
"That sounds like it's from Clito's room," Harlan gasped. "Let's go!"
The trio took off at a run down the halls. They burst into Clito's room and saw Radu holding her by the neck.
"Radu!" Rosie gasped.
The Andromedan turned around and hissed angrily at them. He was still wearing the sunglasses and he seemed to be consumed with rage. He tossed Clito to one side and faced the new batch of enemies.
Harlan attacked first, trying to knock Radu off his feet. The Earther caught Radu in a flying tackle, but the Andromedan didn't fall. Instead, he dodged out of the way at the last moment, sending Harlan crashing into the wall.
"This will bring him to his knees," Catalina said.
The Saturnian released a sonic blast, but Radu didn't even wince. Instead he turned on Catalina, advancing slowly. Rosie blocked his path, slowly heating herself up. Radu had no choice but to back away.
"Why didn't your blast work?" Rosie asked.
Catalina shrugged. "It was loud enough to bring an Andromedan to his knees."
Harlan jumped onto Radu's back, sending the Andromedan crashing to the floor. The sunglasses came off and Radu turned over to stare at his attacker. He had piercing green eyes.
"You're not Radu," Harlan cried. "Who are you?"
The Andromedan laughed and his form suddenly blurred. Harlan found himself wresting with Commander Goddard, yet the green eyed didn't change. The alien shifted through several other forms as the struggle grew until finally, he became Ruben.
"Ruben!" Rosie gasped. "You're the assassin?"
Ruben smiled and pinned Harlan down on the ground.
"Just doing what I'm paid to do, Rosie," Ruben said with an evil smile. "Nothing personal."
Suddenly, a vase came crashing down on Ruben's head. The shape shifter's eyes rolled into his head and he fell unconscious. Harlan pushed the assassin off of him and looked up at Clito, who still held the broken vase in her hand.
"I never really liked him that much anyway," Clito remarked.
"If Ruben was Radu, then . . . " Rosie began.
"Oh no!" Catalina gasped. "We have to find Radu!"
Clito called her guards and ordered a full-scale search of the palace. Ruben was taken to the dungeon in chains and Tanya was informed that Ruben had been discovered.
**********
Harlan led his group of Neptunian guards through the east wing of the palace, toward the glass room. The found the glass doors sealed when they arrived and Harlan peered through them. He found Radu standing in the center of the room, up to his neck in water the slowly leaked from a hole in the floor of the room.
"We'll have to go around the outside," Harlan ordered the guards. "Bring an oxygen tank for Radu and remember he's heavy and can't swim."
The Neptunian guards nodded and went to get Radu. Minutes later, they brought him inside, soaking wet but unhurt.
"Are you okay, buddy?" Harlan asked.
"I really don't like water," Radu remarked. "When are we going back to space, where it's safe?"
Harlan laughed and helped his friend back to the throne room.
**********
"It's good to be home," Rosie said from her usual place under the tree in the biosphere.
"No kidding," Radu agreed as he leaned against the tree.
"When's Clito coming home?" Catalina asked.
"In a few weeks," Harlan replied. "Now that they've reached a peace agreement, Clito's mother is coming home to rule Atlantica with Clito's sister and word it being sent to Prince Protus, Princess Atalanta, and Prince Bran of Poseidonae. Protus is going to be crowned King in a few days."
"What happened to Tanya?" Radu asked.
"She's probably sharing a cozy little cell with Ruben," Catalina replied. "I think her days of planning assassinations are done."
"And everything can finally return to normal," Rosie replied.
"If you can consider everything we've done since joining Starcademy normal," Catalina added.
Harlan stretched and lay back against the tree. "You get used to it."