Jupiter Eclipsing

by amandamayclair

Jupiter Jones once dreamed of escaping her life of drudgery for the lure of excitement and wealth. Having received those in overwhelming abundance, she wouldn't mind dealing with a few simple troubles for a change. But her destiny isn't resting, and when it comes hunting, she must rise to the challenge that, for better or worse, can change a world, or a universe.

5. Chapter 5

Aleska's wide eyes soak in the opulence around her, the deep wood paneling with its gleaming gold inlay, the broad cream colored floor, the high arched roof. She realizes she has been clutching her sister for some time now, and was being clutched rather painfully in return. Yet it is Nino, Nino who had led Aleksa through the city and the tangle of bribes and warren of the hulking gray port, while Aleksa herself was still wrapped within the shroud of her own grief, Nino who had held her hand and her heart while she struggled through the pain as she birthed her only child in the dirty and dank of a crate abroad at sea all those years ago, Nino, her rock, with her quiet inner strength, with her own reasons to escape the regime that had claimed Aleksa's husband and upheaved her existence, it is Nino who recovers first.

"My umerli (Did we die?)? My na nebesakh (Are we in heaven)?" Nino whispers, then her gaze falls on the ring of brightly colored robots which Jupe had recently collected, and finally to the greenish gray hulk of the sargon crouching just beyond them, "ili vi adu (or hell)?" Aleksa finds no words to reply. Rather, she is mesmerized by the view like a movie screen, the black of space slowing filling with a turbulent, multi-hued orb. She quickly recognizes the roiling clouds of her husband's favored planet, her daughter's namesake.

Jupiter.

Hanging before her like a long forgotten promise.

A calm voice interrupts her revery, and a form rises from the chair framed by that glorious, impossible view.

"Ladies," Stinger Apizi steps around the hair and offers a respectful nod to herself and Nino, even sparing one for the sargon. "Jupiter and Caine are aboard the Aegis cruiser."

"You, you know my daughter?" Aleksa stutters.

"Oh, yes," he breathes. "She saved my life." Aleksa's eyes flutter with surprise. Her daughter had many more secrets to explain than she ever dreamed.

"You are the queen mother," he says moving forward and bowing deeply before Aleksa. Mostly from reflex, she accepts his proffered hand. When he rises to look full into her face, Aleksa blushes like a school girl in response to the glimmer in the man's eyes.

"I'm Stinger. Stinger Apini."

"Well, Stinger," Aleksa works at regaining her composure with some difficulty. "I want to know what's going on."

"I will answer any question," he smiles.

"Good. I want to know everything."