Chapter 4

The Observatory

"Here we are: the Queen's personal observatory." We entered the pitch black room and my overly pleasant chaperon commanded, "Lights!" causing me to squint a little as they flickered on. Turning to the other guard, who had remained silent the entire time; Seetra instructed, "You can leave us now."

The other one motioned in my direction when the overly confident Awoken glanced back at me and stated, "I think I can handle one guardian on my own."

Under my breathe I muttered, "Little does she know how much damage one little guardian can do on their own. Just ask...oh wait, you can't. You're dead."

"What was that?"

"Oh nothing," I returned.

A bit louder than me she huffed, "Guardians."

Before I had a chance to further engage the warrior, my attention was dragged to my left. "Wow" was about all I could muster as my eyes were drawn to one side of the room. From floor to ceiling was an enormous glass window that had one of the most spectacular views I had ever seen; at least in this lifetime. Stretching the length of the large rectangular room was a bird's eye view of the massive space surrounding the reef. Never before had it looked so beautiful, so harmonic, so remarkable. Clusters of ship wreckage floated harmoniously with the stars, who's light danced upon the metallic structures.

I was awestruck for some time before my survival skills kicked in. I speculated the curved glass was the original design of a mammoth ship long gone and that from this one room, the Awoken could see a potential attack very far in advance; even days perhaps. With that much notice, I suddenly realized why the Awoken had successfully survived for so long.

"It feels like it could go on for eternity."

Seetra seemed more startled than I was at the sudden response of my ghost. It was a nice change to be the one snickering this time.

"Your Ghost appears without being summoned?"

Barely shrugging my shoulders I replied, "Sometimes."

Standing a good distance away, with a hand on her dagger's hilt, the cautious guard questioned, "It said, feel. I didn't think Ghosts could experience emotions."

Allowing a large smirk to tug at the corners of my mouth I snickered, "I presume he feels about as much as you can Seetra."

It took a few seconds for the near insult to register within the warrior's head before she snapped, "Guess that means it can die too when you plunge a dagger straight through its heart."

"Uh oh," muttered Ghost before he disappeared.

Squaring off, shoulder to shoulder with my escort I proclaimed, "That wasn't funny."

In a flash I felt my blood boiling as our staring game went on. Whipping out her dagger, Seetra tossed it to her other hand and slowly shuffled away with a laugh. "I don't want to get any guardian blood on the queen's carpet. I would hate for it to leave a stain."

All I could do was sneer at her. I did not take very kindly to someone threatening my Ghost.

Slumping lazily in one of the high back chairs, Seetra crossed her legs over the arm and mentioned, "I see you have been interacting with our dear friend Petra Venj more than most these last few weeks."

"What does that matter?"

Excitedly sitting forward in the chair, the arrogant guard twiddled with the dagger between her fingertips. "Nothing is all. I just thought you would want to know she is practically an outcast."

"An outcast?" I said with a huff. "She's handing orders out to the guardian's on the queen's behalf. I'd hardly call that an outcast. What did she do?" I pointed my gaze down upon her.

Languidly placing one leg back on the arm of the throne looking chair, the outspoken guard continued, "Exactly my point. She is being forced to deal with you outsiders on a daily basis. I can't imagine a worse punishment."

"You mean us outsiders who your Queen explicitly requested." The royal guard sneered. "You mean the same Queen who singled me out to grace my presence with?"

"That is enough!" barked the angry warrior reaching her feet.

"That is enough indeed."

Both our heads turned away from the magnificent view to the voice that came from behind us. The sharp comment was much softer and pleasant than our tones had become. Barely flicking her wrist in the direction of the chair the royal guard had been sitting in, the new comer warned, "I wonder what the Queen would think Lieutenant Seetra if she knew of your…" She paused, choosing her words wisely. "…relaxed position in one of her chairs?"

The confident guard's head immediately bowed to the floor. "I'm sorry Patriarch."

"You don't want to suffer the same fate as your sister now, do you?"

Seetra glanced in my direction before responding to the newcomer. "No Patriarch." The embarrassment was plastered all over her face.

"Good because I am sure that it would only take a whisper in the Queen's ear and Petra would have a lovely assistant at her side by the day's end."

Dumbfounded by this new information, I spoke out of turn. "Petra is your sister?"

Equally out of place, Seetra snapped, "She is not my big sister. She is a derelict! How dare she speak out against the Queen!"

Firmly but not as loud, the one Seetra referred to as Patriarch countered, "How dare you Royal Guard raise your voice in my presence?"

Again the intolerant escort's eyes shot to floor. "Forgive me Patriarch. I did not mean to…"

The calmer woman conveyed in a soothing tone, "…you did not mean to disrespect the uniform you wear?"

"No ma'am."

Flicking her wrist lazily at the hardened warrior, the Patriarch declared, "I want to hear nothing else from your mouth. You are dismissed."

"As you wish Patriarch," replied the newly dethroned royal guard right before she shot me the worst glare yet.

Not that Seetra and I were anything close to friends, but even I thought, Damn, that was harsh. Wary of my new hostess, I stood back and wondered. Who was this person called Patriarch and why did she seem to have the Queen's ear at a whisper?

A/N 1: I want to thank FF writer Candle in the Night – Author of Right to Rule for lending me her observatory room and the breathless view.

A/N 2: As some of you might or might not know, glimpses of the video game Mass Effect can be seen throughout the story.