Prologue

"There's nothing else I can do," said the Cometine physician as he pulled a white sheet over the body. The life-monitor shrilled as a flat line replaced rhythmic blips. He washed the blood from his olive-green hands and reset the surgical suite.

"It was… a hope," said Prince Zordar from the observation loft. "Jettison the remains."

The physician bowed. "Yes, lord."

"See to it no one discovers this." Zordar furrowed snowy brows. "Better the universe believes this man died months ago."

"I will be… discreet."

Zordar severed the audio link to the operating theatre below.

"Such mediocrity. Gatlantis deserves better, Father." Princess Invidia scoffed at the physician's failure.

"Miracles are not ours to make," said Zordar.

"But they should be," Invidia bit back. "Isn't that why we search the universe?" She swept her long, black hair over her shoulder and perched a hand on one hip. Her pale, white skin contrasted with her father's green hue, and her steely black eyes bored into the man working below as he cleared the last of his instruments.

"Do not utter such untoward ambitions outside my chambers, child," Zordar growled with a cautious glance toward the door.

"But Sabera–"

"–is the Prime Minister," Zordar said.

"And your consort," Invidia snorted.

"Sabera is my second-in-command, and she may do as she sees fit." Zordar grabbed Invidia's arm. "You, however, will do as I say."

Invidia twisted out of his grip. "Sabera abuses your trust, Father. Even now, she takes us to the Diviner's door."

"Your mother's stories cankered your will," he snapped. "The Diviner's art is a myth."

"But the evidence–"

"–is less than circumstantial." Zordar checked the closed door again.

Invidia crossed her arms and watched the man below steer the corpse out into the hall. "You once feared her too."

"But now I understand." When the physician disappeared, Zordar continued, "To seek power is to seek conflict. We seek the ultimate power—creation. Even if the Diviner stands in our way, we will prevail. We are unstoppable."

"You sound like Grandfather." Invidia rolled her eyes.

"He is right," Zordar retorted. "Gatlantis will conquer the universe. We've taken hundreds of worlds, daughter. Now, we take the crowning gem."

Invidia stared into the empty suite. A trail of blood still stained the table. "Origin…" she whispered. "How do you know its location?"

"Our dead charge brought information. Among his ship's records, we found it…"

"But... will the Diviner not intervene?" said Invidia as a tech scrubbed the bloody table until it shone.

"Those stories," Zordar scoffed. "The conjurings of terror-muddled minds. None have dared breathe the Diviner's name in a century. No woman—no matter her power—can hinder us! That superstition should have died long ago." Zordar raised a fist. "You will not stop us!" he bellowed. "Our ancestors wandered the stars. Now, we take back our birth-world—our rightful inheritance!"

Invidia took a step back.

"Know this, Diviner," Zordar snarled and approached the glass pane, one hand clenched around the other. "I will take what is mine, and if any oppose me, I will destroy them… Even you, Trelaina of Telezart."

Notes:

Editing pass seven completed on 8/15/2022