Chapter Thirty-Six: The Astorians' Arrival on Calmag
Magan, Capital of Planet Calmag, One Month Later

King Kitchator, the handsome warrior king of Calmag, stood next to
his lovely wife, Queen Kildara, an Astorian princess from the Clan of Chloe.
King Kitchator was seven feet and two inches tall, with reddish-brown hair,
beard and mustache. He was in his fifties, but still muscular and strong, one
of the strongest Calmagian men on the planet.

Queen Kildara, formerly Princess Kildara Chloe of Chloe, Astoria,
had been Princess Tika Chloe's sister. Golden blond, blue-eyed, slender Kildara
had favored her little sister, Tika, who later married Prince Mantros Chloe, the
heir to Astoria's throne. Kildara had not seen her sister and family for twenty
years, and the last time she had seen them was when she, her husband, and their
children had made a special trip to Astoria to visit several years after the
infamous Battle of Chloe. The Astorians had just been recovering from the
aftermath of that horrible war, and Tika and Mantros had only seventeen children
at the time, with Arlon having been just a baby. Tika had been pregnant with
Lukan, and neither Nieca nor Tayla had been born at the time. Kildara had been
particularly fond of Gracina, who had eight years old at the time, because
Gracina resembled her so strongly in appearance. Gracina would be twenty-eight
now, and her mother, Tika, would be sixty-one. Kildara herself was in her
eighties, but her hair color was not gray, for Astorian hair never turned gray.

Kildara and Kitchator had seven children between them of Calmagian
and Astorian blood. Kitchator had his eldest son, Amitar, from his first
marriage to Queen Saladora, a natural Calmagian, who had died in childbirth.
Amitar, a pureblooded Calmagian, had a firstborn son named Ridikar, who was
sixteen and heir to the Calmagian throne after his father. Ridikar, a handsome
lad with dark brown skin, hair and eyes, was as brash and arrogant as his father
and grandfather. Kitchator and Kildara favored Ridikar above all of Kitchator's
descendants. In their eyes, Ridikar could do no wrong.

The King and Queen of Calmag knew that the Astorians were coming,
for Superior Gran Shalila, Kildara's aunt-by-marriage, had sent a message
through radio from their ship that they were coming to Calmag. The Calmagian
royalty had prepared a warm, extravagant welcome for the Astorians, for the
Astorians were Queen Kildara's people, and therefore automatically welcome.
They knew that the Superior Gran wanted to create a formal alliance with them,
and to buy and learn of their superior warring technology, which was slightly
better than the Astorians' technology. The Calmagians were one of the most
technologically advanced planets in the Rosetta Galaxy, with the Astorians
following close behind. But however technologically advanced as the Calmagians
were, their medical resources and knowledge were far inferior to the Astorians',
so the rulers of Calmag had already agreed to exchange their warfare technology
for the Astorians' medical knowledge and wisdom.

The Calmagian capital, Magan, was a highly evolved, technical
society with shiny metal pod buildings, sky cars, and androids to do almost all
of the menial work, along with other space-age advancements. Almost all of the
Calmagian cities were like that, but the downfall of this was that the
Calmagians were building so fast that they were quickly depleting their natural
resources. Only ten percent of Calmag had any wilderness or forest left, and
weeks could go by with many Calmagians not seeing any greenery, shrubs, or
trees. The Calmagians were not as appreciative of their flora and fauna as they
should have been, and they were worst than the Humans of Planet Earth in
foolishly wasting their planets' resources. The Calmagians were just as
careless about their air quality, causing their planet to become one of the most
polluted planets in the universe. In fact, in many places of Calmag, including
Magan, the pollution had become so bad that smog was an everyday thing. Magan,
along with many Calmagian cities, had been forced to put up domes that blocked
the pollution and kept the city air purified, with filters and pipe steering
most of the pollution into the air outside of the city domes.

Calmagians were strongly encouraged to conserve their water sources,
and it was only recently that they had begun to take steps towards keeping what
remaining clean water that they had pure. Sixty percent of the planet's water
sources were unsafe to drink without filtration and purification. The
Calmagians were also hoping that the Astorians would have ideas on how to clean
up their planet before things became worst, for Astorians were known to be
strict environmentalists and conservationists.

King Kitchator and Queen Kildara heard a cracking noise on their
private throne room radio.

"King Kitchator?" One of the King's royal guardsmen was speaking
through the radio.

"Yes, Philpot?"

"The Astorians have landed at our spaceport, sire. They are
awaiting further instructions from you."

"Philpot, send my best ship to the spaceport and have the Astorians
brought to our palace at once."

"Yes, sire, right away."




The exhausted Astorians were relieved to be on solid ground
again-almost.

King Kitchator had sent his silver and blue ship to the Royal
Spaceport of Calmag, and it was warm and cozy inside with enough room for all of
the Astorian travelers. Tayla and Riccan were in the front of the ship, which
was like a flying bus, arm-wrestling when they noticed the thick gray, smoggy
air outside of the Magan city dome.

"The air looks so dirty outside of this city," Tayla observed. "I
wonder why." Riccan was puzzled as well, for he and Tayla had never seen real
air pollution of any kind before.

"It looks yucky outside," Riccan said, nearly gagging at the sight.
He called to Shalila, who was two seats behind them, "Great-Nama, why does the
air outside of the city look so dirty and gray?"

Shalila sighed, "Because the air is polluted and smoggy." The air
quality of Calmag reminded Shalila unpleasantly of Earth's more polluted cities.
She was concerned now for the children, as she was uncertain how the air
quality would affect their health. She and Dirkan both mutually agreed that
none of their people would go outside of the city dome during their entire time
on Calmag.

"Why is it like that, Nama?" Tayla asked. "We've never seen
anything like this back home."

Shalila grew quiet for a few moments. Finally she told Tayla the
truth, "Someone is not taking care of things here like they should." She looked
sadly at the smoking factories of Calmag, sending their smoke out through pipes
into Calmag's already filthy air.

Kekron was frowning, as he noticed the litter-strewn streets of
Magan, with its trashcans overflowing. "Can't all of this pollution affect our
health, Great-Nama?"

"Yes, Kekron, it can," Shalila told him honestly, "And that is why I
do not want anyone leaving the Calmagian palace without permission from me or
Dirkan. I want to know first exactly what is in that air."

"Whatever it is," Dirkan spoke, "it can't be good."

Cletos, quiet and morose, stared into space at the gray, smoky air
outside of the Magan city dome. Petalia, sitting besides him, was desperately
trying to get her father's attention, but he was only half-listening to her.
Dedron had given up on his father several years ago, and he had not been
listening or obeying his father for some time now. Dedron was starting to
become more wild and troublesome than ever, but Cletos had made no effort to
discipline him. Dedron barely spoke or noticed his father unless he wanted
something from him.

Cletos had tried for about a week or two to follow his grandmother's
suggestions about spending more time with his children, but his depression
swiftly returned, and he began to neglect the children once more. He knew that
Dedron had been in major trouble several times, with Shalila having to
discipline him by herself, since his father wouldn't do so. Shalila had come
down on Cletos a few times in the past for not correcting his son or spending
time with him, but Cletos had only tried off and on to appease his grandmother.

Petalia was deeply hurt by her father's indifference, and she blamed
herself for it still, despite both Shalila and Tayla's assurances that she had
done nothing wrong. Petalia was no closer to her father, but she no longer felt
that she was alone, for she and Tayla had finally become true friends. Petalia
no longer snubbed Tayla, and she herself had stood up to Dedron and Rojal and
chastised them for being hard on her youngest aunt. Dedron and Rojal were still
chilly to Tayla, but they no longer outwardly sought to destroy her or belittle
her-at least not to anyone's knowledge.

Petalia knew that Tayla could do nothing to make Cletos be a father
to her, but Tayla did what she could by being there for her. Petalia was now
closer to Tayla than she was to Fayra, for Fayra had not the emotional maturity,
wisdom or strength that Tayla had.

Tayla and Riccan watched Petalia try to gain her father's attention,
and they both noticed that Cletos was still paying her no mind. Finally Petalia
gave up, and she left her father's side to join the other children. She took an
empty seat across from Tayla and Riccan.

"Are you okay?" Tayla asked her in a whisper.

Petalia, her Clan of Chloe pride fully intact, nodded, but Tayla and
Riccan noticed a tear glistening in the corner of her left blue eye. Petalia
turned away from both of them, so that they could not see her cry. She then
swiftly ran to the ship's lavatory, slammed the door and locked it.

Tayla knocked on the lavatory door. "Are you okay? Do you want to
talk?"

Petalia snapped, "No, go away! Don't let anyone bother me! And I
mean it, Tayla! No one disturbs me, and that includes you!"

Tayla sighed, but she decided to leave Petalia alone awhile to let
her calm down. She pitied her niece more than ever. Reluctantly, she walked
back to her and Riccan's seat and sat down.

Tayla whispered to Riccan, "This has gone far enough. Cletos is
hurting Petalia-and Dedron-by the way he ignores them so much. I'm going to
talk to him, as soon as we reach the Calmagian palace."

Kekron, sitting behind them, heard Tayla's words. He jumped in the
conversation and whispered to Tayla, "It's not going to work, Tayla. Nama, Aunt
Gracina, Uncle Lektron, and my parents have already tried talking to him. He
won't listen. Even Dirkan and Aunt Gorna have tried."

"You should have heard Aunt Gorna yesterday yelling at him," Riccan
whispered, with a bit of glee in his voice. "She told Uncle Cletos that he had
mourned Aunt Farla long enough, and that it was time for him to move on, get a
divorce, and look after his children. She told Uncle Cletos that he was
disgracing the Clan of Chloe name by not raising his children properly. Cletos
yelled back at her and told her to shut up and mind her own business, that his
children were his own concern. Aunt Gorna told him that he had shown as much
concern in them, as he did in a broken toenail. She also told him that she
wasn't going to have any of her siblings bring shame to the Clan of Chloe name
by raising his children improperly. She even threatened to take the custody of
Dedron and Petalia from him, if he didn't start doing right by them. You should
have been there, Tayla, seeing Aunt Gorna and Uncle Cletos yell at each other
like that. She wants to take Dedron and Petalia away from Uncle Cletos, if he
doesn't start taking care of them."

"Can she do that?" Tayla wondered in a whisper.

Kekron answered, still whispering, "She can, and so can Great-Nama.
They have that authority to put Clan of Chloe children under their own care, as
their own wards, if the children are orphaned or being treated improperly.
Great-Nama made you, Arlon and Lukan her wards after your parents died, and she
could make Petalia and Dedron her wards, as well."

Tayla excused herself from Riccan and Kekron and went to sit next to
her Aunt Toria, the High Priestess of Astoria. "Aunt Toria, can I ask you
something?"

Toria smoothed her white and gold sash and caftan and leaned down
towards her niece. "Yes, my child?"

"Do you think there's a way to find Farla and Jaypros? Maybe, if we
could find them, it might help Cletos, Dedron and Petalia."

Toria shook her head. "It would only make things worse, my dear."
She debated on whether to tell Tayla of a nightmare that she had a month ago
about Jaypros, Farla and their family. Toria knew deep in her heart that
Jaypros was gone for ever; the ancestors and good spirits would not tell her the
full story yet of what happened to Jaypros and Farla, but they had told her that
Jaypros and Jaypros' son by Farla had passed on to the next dimension. Toria
tried to get a vision of Farla and her surviving child, but all that the spirits
and ancestors would reveal was that Farla and her child, a daughter, resembling
her mother, were still alive. Toria had told Shalila of her visions, and
Shalila had contacted Intergalacticpol, who was currently trying to track mother
and child down to bring them home. Toria believed in her heart that Farla had
not much longer to live, that Farla was without hope.

Shalila and Dirkan had discussed sending a rescue party to find
Farla and her surviving child, but Prince Gohan, the chief of Intergalacticpol,
advised them against it. He was sending his best officers to find them now, and
he told his mother that she'd only be sending any rescuers to their graves by
sending them out into the unknown. If they needed any of the Astorian fighters
to join the Intergalacticpol officers, Gohan would let his mother know. Gohan
was certain that Farla and her daughter were in Frieza's hands, but until he was
certain, there was no point in his mother risking her people's lives just yet.

Toria stroked Tayla's hair and told her to leave such things in the
hands of the good spirits, but Tayla told Toria of her plan to speak to Cletos.

"No, Tayla," Toria told her firmly. "That is not your place to
intervene. Cletos must see what he is doing for himself."

"But Aunt Toria, most of the adults have tried talking to him, but
he won't listen to them, so maybe he'll-"

"Listen to you?" Toria finished, thinking that Tayla was like her
mother, Tika, in some ways. Toria could see the Tika coming out in Tayla, the
Tika part wanting to make things right between those that she loved. Toria
remembered her youngest sibling, Tika, always playing peacemaker, and sometimes
Tika's efforts worked, and sometimes they didn't. Toria was about to tell Tayla
that Cletos would not take her seriously because she was still a child, but then
a strange peace came over her, a message from the spirits, telling her to let
Tayla do as she planned.

But don't let her talk to her brother now, the spirits said to her,
for he will not listen to her at this time. When the proper time comes, Tayla
may speak to him, and he will take what his youngest sibling says seriously,
even though he will rebuke her like the others. After she talks to him, an
event will happen to open Cletos' eyes to the neglect of his children.

Toria nodded to the thin air, to the unseen spirits. She turned to
Tayla, "He will listen to no one now, child. Leave him in the hands of the good
spirits; they will know how to handle this."

"When are they going to handle it then?" Tayla asked, a bit
impatiently.

"In their own time," Toria told her bold niece firmly. "Do not say
a word about what you were going to say to Cletos, and I mean it."

"Yes, Aunt Toria," Tayla answered her solemnly and respectfully, as
she would Shalila.






The Astorians were immediately escorted to the palace dining room
upon the arrival at the Calmagian palace. The Calmagian royalty had rolled out
the red carpet for them, treating them as important foreign dignitaries. The
dining hall was space age, with dozens of fine mahogany tables covered with
damask tablecloths, and many succulent dishes of Calmagian foods were set upon
the tables. King Kitchator and Queen Kildara were in front of their Astorian
guests, showing them to their tables.

"We are pleased to have you here," King Kitchator told his guests
graciously. "I hope that you enjoy your stay on Calmag. My wife's family is
welcome any time. Would anyone care for wine?"

Everyone graciously declined, even Hazel, who would have loved some.

Ridikar joined his grandfather by then and stood at his side. "My
guests," the King announced, "I would like all of you to meet my grandson,
Prince Ridikar, the future heir to the Calmagian throne."

Prince Ridikar politely introduced himself to the guests, but his
eyes fell upon Tayla and stayed there. Tayla was the last person out of the
group that he introduced himself to.

Ridikar flashed Tayla with a devilish smile. "Well, greetings,
little lady. May I inquire as to who you are?"

Tayla blushed slightly and whispered shyly, for Ridikar was very
suave and handsome, "I am Princess Tayla Tika Shalila Tayla Rosynthia Chloe, of
Chloe, Astoria, but you may just call me Tayla."

"Well, welcome, Tayla," Ridikar laughed, grinning. "Such a long
name you have; my name is nowhere near as long, but it seems to suit you. Would
you care to sit besides me?"

Tayla nodded shyly. "Um…sure. Why not?"

Riccan scowled at Ridikar; he thought that Ridikar was too slick,
and there was something that the boy did not like about Calmag's heir. He
whispered to Kekron, who was standing besides him, "I don't like him one bit."

Kekron said nothing, but Bendros heard Riccan's whisper, and he
secretly agreed with Tayla's rambunctious nephew. There was just something not
right about Ridikar, or about the way Ridikar seemed so fascinated with Tayla.
Bendros tried to push the niggling feelings aside, but he couldn't. He frowned
at Ridikar and swore to keep one eye on him whenever the Calmagian prince was
around little Tayla.




Dinner was delicious, the Calmagian ways of cooking agreeing with
the Astorians well, if their air quality didn't. Ridikar occupied most of
Tayla's attention for the entire evening, and Tayla was as charming and
delightful as always. Ridikar was stunned to learn that Tayla was a warrior
like himself, but he remembered then that the Astorians, unlike the Calmagians,
allowed their women to fight.

"With me around," Ridikar had declared arrogantly to Tayla, who was
still sitting besides him at his father's table, "you wouldn't need to worry
about protecting yourself from Saiyans. I'd bat those Saiyans away from you
with just a wave of my hand."

"Have you ever fought against a Saiyan?" Tayla asked dubiously,
although she was awestruck by the way that Ridikar had taken to her so quickly.

Ridikar had never encountered a real pureblooded Saiyan, but he
laughed, as if Tayla's question was ridiculous. "How do you think that I became
so strong? Why I could fight Saiyans with both hands tied behind my back! How
many Astorian males can claim that?"

"Quite a few, actually," Tayla told him boldly, looking him in his
eyes, something that no proper Calmagian female would ever do. "My brothers and
father fought many Saiyans in their lifetimes. And Dirkan, my guardian and
grandfather-by-marriage killed a whole bunch of them in his lifetime. He's one
of the greatest warriors in the universe, stronger than most Astorians even.
And then Bendros, who worked on Intergalacticpol for a while, fought the-"

"That's interesting, Tayla," Ridikar told her quickly, wanting her
attention focused on him, and not those other males that she found so
ridiculously fascinating. "Did I tell you that I once defended my planet
against the Hycanese men from planet Hycan almost single-handedly, when I was
just your age?"

"You didn't," Tayla told him, suddenly fascinated. Her story could
wait. She was too enthralled now with Ridikar's story. Ridikar embellished his
following tale, adding Saiyans into the story where there was none to begin
with.

"…And with only myself and a few good men, those few Saiyans and
Hycanese were wiped out almost instantly, Tayla! I killed hundreds and hundreds
of Hycanese and Saiyans alone! Incredible, huh? I was only twelve years old at
the time, and yet I saved my planet, with almost no help!"

Ridikar stopped his extravagant tale of heroics, and he placed his
large hand on Tayla's tiny one. "How would you like to join a true warrior for
a private dinner two nights from now, just you and me."

Tayla flushed uncomfortably. "I-I will have to ask Nama and Dirkan
first. I am a very young girl, Ridikar, and I am not allowed to be alone with
any males that are not servants or of my own family without their permission. I
must have a chaperone; I know that Nama will insist on it."

"Your grandmother sure keeps you under lock and key," Ridikar told
her intimately, in a private whisper. "Does she even let you sneeze without her
permission? You are a beautiful young lady, Tayla, and you should not have to
seek your grandmother's permission for everything, you know. You are growing
up, and you need to get yourself cut from your grandmother's sash once in a
while."

Tayla blushed. "You really think that I am beautiful?"

Ridikar chuckled, "Of course, I do, my sweet Tayla. Join me at
dinner then?"

"I'll still have to ask first," Tayla told him firmly.

Ridikar sighed, "Ah, very well."




Dirkan, with his excellent Namek hearing, overheard the conversation
from two tables away, and he scowled. Like Riccan and Bendros, he already did
not like Ridikar.

He glared darkly at the arrogant, suave Prince Ridikar and said in a fierce
whisper, "If you lay one improper hand on Tayla, boy, both of your hands will
come off at your wrists, whether you are the heir to Calmag's throne or not."

Shalila heard Dirkan and commented, "So you don't like him, either?"

"I'll kill him, if he tries anything on your granddaughter," Dirkan
vowed angrily.

Shalila's scowl mirrored Dirkan's. She already a bad feeling about
the boy herself, but she had nothing concrete to back up her suspicions. She
decided then it was time to have a talk with her granddaughter about handling
young men like Ridikar tonight.

Dirkan told her about Ridikar's invitation, and Shalila already
vowed not to allow Tayla to go without a chaperone. She didn't want Tayla alone
with Ridikar, at least not until Shalila knew him better.

"I'll chaperone her myself," Dirkan swore, "and if that boy so much
as looks at her the wrong way, I'll-"

"Dirkan, please," Shalila told him softly, "We only suspect that
Ridikar may be no good, and until we are certain, we cannot prejudge him. Keep
a close eye on the Calmagian heir, but don't do anything to embarrass Tayla in
front of him, please. She's at a very sensitive age; twelve is a difficult time
for young ladies."

"I will keep one eye on him," Dirkan said firmly, "and one hand on
my blade, but I promise that I will not do anything to cause trouble until we
are certain of Ridikar's intentions."




Three hours later. The Calmagian Palace Library


"Father and Grandfather," Ridikar told King Kitchator and Prince
Amitar excitedly. "I believe that I have chosen my bride." He told them of his
instant interest in Tayla.

Prince Amitar nodded approvingly, not alarmed at all by his son's swift
decision. "Good for you, my son. Princess Tayla is from a good family and a
good race. She will make a perfect bride for you, and she is just the right
age." Tayla's young age was considered marriageable for the Calmagians, for
Calmagian females could marry at age eleven and up.

"I am sure," King Kitchator said boldly, "that my wife's Aunt
Shalila will agree to such a wondrous union. Her granddaughter will become
Queen of Calmag someday; no ruler in his or her right mind would turn such a
marriage for his or her ward down.

"I don't know, Kitchator," Kildara told him worriedly, "Tayla is
only twelve, and Astorian women do not have their marriages arranged for them
anymore. Astorian women can choose their own mates now. I doubt that Aunt
Shalila will agree to let Tayla marry so young, assuming that Tayla would even
want to marry Ridikar."

"Of course the girl would want to," Kitchator declared arrogantly,
"Princess Tayla is no fool; she should know what such a marriage would mean,
Kildara. Really, dear, you can be so ridiculous at times, even though you knew
what you were getting when you married me. Now because you are my wife, you are
Queen of Calmag, and your niece, if she and her grandmother are as wise I
suspect, will follow in your footsteps. Her young age is nothing; why we just
married off Ridikar's eleven-year-old sister, Caline, just last month."

"I suppose you are right," Kildara said finally, "I just want things
to go smoothly; that is all."

"Princess Tayla would be marrying my grandson; how could things not
go smoothly?" Kitchator demanded to know.