Chapter 3: Destiny

The inky blackness of space closed in on the small transport ship, as it traveled to Earth. On board
are the two most influential people in the system, the President of the Earth Sphere Alliance, and the
Empress of Andel, the new independent colony cluster. A small, oddly shaped asteroid floated by the
window as President Retsu Cofan watched; as it went out of view, Cofan thought he saw something about it
change and took a second look, only to dismiss it as an illusion. He had been under a lot of stress lately, and
was waiting patiently to catch up on sleep from the past three weeks. He turned to his attendant, and asked
her to summon Empress Jade Kobayashi to the lounge.
"Excuse me, Your Highness?" Knocking on the door of Kobayashi's quarters, the attendant was
quite surprised when the Empress herself answered the door. "Hello, Your Highness. President Cofan
requests your presence in the lounge area."
"Alright, tell him I'll be there in a few minutes. Also, tell him that next time, I would appreciate
him coming personally, instead of sending an aide, no offense, mind you."
"None taken. Thank you, Your Highness."
As Kobayashi glided into the room, the underlying murmur of conversation stopped short. She
was dressed in a stunning, strapless silver dress that fell only to mid-thigh. It was very unusual for her to be
so immodest, and that drew attention. "No doubt this will be in the press by next week," thought the
Empress, "I can see it now, 'Empress Kobayashi, Undressed', 'The REAL Jade Kobayashi', 'Andel's
Empress Struts Her Stuff!' This should be good. God, I hate the media."
"Empress! So good of you to join us! Please, sit down, relax."
"Thank you, Mister President, and please, call me Jade. What is it you wanted to see me about?"
"Very well. The reason I sent for you is one of a morbid nature, I'm afraid. We just received word
that Head Dedicate Moonsong has been killed." The Empress' head snapped around so quickly that she
spilled her drink. "Wh-what?"
"I regret to give you the news in such a manner, but I felt that you should know as soon as
possible."
"Yes, ... thank you. I ... must go back to my quarters now," she said, in a very small, weak voice.
Cofan looked at her face, and instantly understood. He asked his assistant to guard Kobayashi's door, so
she would not be disturbed. Cofan alone knew why the news had hurt the Empress of the most powerful
monarchy in the history of Earth. He alone knew what even the Empress' most trusted aides did not, that
Moonsong, Head Dedicate of the Temple of the Stars, was Kobayashi's sister/mother.