The Conspiracy of Hearts and Daggers

Chapter Eight

Zarek sat himself behind a large wooden crescent shaped desk after hanging his blue cape and beaked helm on two mounted hooks on the wall. A bright smile shown on Zarek's face as he gestured for Glenn to sit in a chair before her. As Glenn sat in the chair, she noticed the bold blue sky outside as shown through the window behind Zarek as he smiled at her.

Once seated in the firm chair Glenn saw Zarek's smile leave him as he sighed comfortably in his hair.

Glenn laughed to herself in amusement at the postcard like image she was getting of Zarek at his desk with the skyline behind him. Immediately, Glenn apologized to him," Please don't take offence...It is the image of you behind that desk...it brought back a memory."

"A good memory...from Earth.", Zarek stated almost as a question.

Glenn nodded in agreement with her hands clasped as they rested on her closed in legs.

"I am glad of it.", Zarek genuinely stated.

It felt good to laugh, Glenn thought to herself as she brought her head back up to meet with Zarek again.

"You impress me a great deal.", Zarek said without hesitation.

Glenn was speechless at Zarek's appraisal of her. She had been complimented on many occasions, but they were from back on Earth from teachers, friends as well as flight instructors when she was in the Airforce. When Zarek told Glenn that she impressed him it almost made Glenn want to cry.

Instead, Glenn gave a lite laugh, though she did not say anything...until she took a deep breath. After a slow drawn-out exhale, Glenn smoothed out her pants from thigh to knee with both her hands, she then gave a soft spoken thank you.

Now Glenn felt she was about to cry.

Glenn felt overwhelmed in the moment, it was not the realization that she was no longer on Earth away from her fiancé, it was something else...

So much had transpired since arriving on Eternia, the loss of her ship, of one of her crew, of being estranged by her other crew mates, the surrealness of her surroundings...

Then there was this moment, right now of being complimented by not just a native of this planet, but one of the highest order...one with military acumen. A Master in Arms in service of a King whose name was Miro.

Along with.... Glenn breathed in a little heavier...a prince...

Glenns eyes became wet before she could bring herself to say his name...

"...Randor...", Glenn brought herself to say his name outload.

Zarek in noting Glenns response gave pause.

As the room went silent, Glenn realized in the moment not just as a NASA Astronaut, or a Lieutenant in the United States Aireforce but as an Earth women, she was not immune to love. Her being on a new world, where a new civilization has taken it upon itself in welcoming her with open arms has humbled her.

Glenn in a way felt her eyes opening up to the realization that until she could conceive of a way back home, she might accept another's love if only to quench the loneliness of losing her fiancé. The reason that Glenn even became an astronaut was to explore as well as understand the world as well as universe around her. Glenn was about understanding as well as surviving and thriving. So, she would have to carry on in the ways of knowledge as well as the heart.

When Zarek asked, "What are you thinking about?"

"Enjoying the company that I keep?", Glenn emphatically answered.

"Also...", Glenn continued. "I was betrothed to another on Earth. A very supportive man who actually I was...", Glenn corrected herself, "I was supposed to wed upon my return to Earth."

Zarek raised his eyebrow as he leaned into what Glenn was confessing.

Glenn explained," Despite being on a new world...I... along with my crewmates have been taken in. Not in my wildest dreams would I have ever dreamt that this would have happened on any alien world. Though as my heart grieves at the thought of never seeing my betrothed again...the kindness of your prince has affected me. Randor has swayed me...perhaps even moved me...to the notion of finding a new love."

To Glenns surprise, Zarek asked, "To whom does your heart desire? My prince or your betrothed?"

Equally to Zareks surprise, Glenn answers back decisively," I... want desperately to love Prince Randor. Though equally I would return to Earth immediately if I could for the sole reason of marrying my true love. "

After Glenns pure, honest answer she felt guilt poor over her. She wanted to tell Zarek how the wedding was to take place before Glenns departure aboard the Rainbow Explorer. Glenn convinced her fiancé that the wedding had to wait until she returned from her mission of exploring the singularity which ended up bringing the crew of the Rainbow Explorer to Eternos.

Glenn expelled her regret at convincing her fiancé to wait until her space mission, " ...he always put me first..."

"I believe that fate has brought you to Eternos.", Zarek reasoned.

"Though as you stated, whatever the reason for you being on Eternos...whom you have left behind, along with everything else cannot easily be overcome."

"Though...it can be overcome...", Glenn concluded,"...in time."

"What about the idea of you being brought to Eternos by fate?", Zarek again proposed the archaic notion of determinism. An idea that Glenn gave little consideration towards.

"If you could prove fate brought me here then I would believe you. Otherwise, I believe in self-determinism, objective truth and scientific reasoning.", Glenn pantingly stated.

Instead of belaboring the point, Zarek changed the subject to perhaps something that they could both agree on," You should greatly appreciate the beginning of your tour of the Golden Islands. As the islands are revered throughout Eternia as not only a place of leisurely pursuits but of victory against an enemy called the Gar 'Shan. It was king Miro who helped to battle against the Gar 'Shan for the natives of the Golden Islands virtuousness. You will see many monuments dedicated to Eternia's struggle to overcome the Gar' Shan through your island tour as well as a great tribute hall in the Royal Architecture center. Though what I think will really help you along the way is to take in all the sights on each of the Golden Islands. As I make a slight alteration in the order as to which of the islands you will be visiting."

"I will confess to you that next to sailing the seas, it is recording in my journal that brings me much splendor.", Zarek proclaims.

Glenn adored the way in which Zarek put forth a therapeutic plan to help her cope with the stress that she was feeling. Furthermore, as an astronaut, Glenn's duty was researching new environments which included a lot of recording.

With the utmost sincerity, Glenn thanked Zarek as well as asked if she could begin doing some recording for admittedly, she needed to catch up on all the events that she had been put through.

"I will bestow you as much time as you need. Despite being on a schedule, Randor is still lade up in Taliva Tay for which the prince should be notifying his father of this day. Miro does not like to interfere in his son's education and make no mistake this tour is as much about you as it is his current responsibilities.", Zarek summarily answered.

"Understood, some consideration has to be made for Randors condition.", Glenn emphasized Randors condition concernedly.

"Though what will I record on?", Glenn asked before departing the room.

No sooner had Glenn asked did Zarek pull ut for a drawer in his desk a little palm sized gray box. Glenn looked at the box in her hand once Zarek handed it over to her. On the face of the gadget in her hand was a small screen. On the side of the mechanism in Glenns palm were three buttons.

"Press the first at the top and the recorder will prepare itself to receive your communication with it. The second button next to that one will cause the recorder to repeat all that you told it. When a recording has been erased it is sent to a backup file that can be retrieved through recalling it with the third button. To stop recording, simply push the first button again.", Zarek explained

"This little device may be just what I need right now. Thank you oh so much.", Glenn told Zarek before exiting his quarters.

Where it was still daylight on the Majestic as it sailed towards Goshua so also was it on Kaliva Tay.

It was fortunate that Duncan could still see in the platform bay after Mensa had sealed the door. The Saucer Sled lay at the center of the room on its launch platform. Although Duncan as well as the Mensa who lay asleep beside him could not leave out the front door, there was another way out. Duncan knew that the Saucer Sled flew out the top of the ceiling once it was opened up. In frustration Duncan fought against the tightness of his solidified seaweed bonds. It was of no use...his bonds were just too rigid to break.

Upstairs in the living room, Powers was using the telescope that was set up on the back terrace to observe the island of Moa Toa.

Powers rejoiced in how the direction of the telescope was always set in Moa Toa's direction even when not in use.

"Ari is making this game far too easy for us.", Powers openly stated in reference to the consul's fixation on the passionate island of Moa Toa.

Scopes, who's appearance was still cast in the illusory appearance of Mensa quipped, " Let me bring Prince Randor back from the Aqua-Life-Terrace, so we can ride out to Moa Toa on Aris boat."

"You can leave the seduction of Prince Randor to me.", Powers scoffed as she walked back into the living room.

After standing near the semi-circle of couches at the center of the room she raised her hands to declare," When you get back from visiting the Aqua-Life-Terrace, I will have you destroy this seating area. Actually, I will conduct my first part of Randors seduction with a bonfire down below...on the beach."

"Yes...", Powers said knowingly to herself and no one else," Be sure to bring back a picture of the prince...a portrait or photograph of him. As I will need it to create my effigy of the prince...to boost my power over him."

"Is that all you require?", Scopes asks.

"Do not converse with Randor, just observe him from afar. Now go!", Powers commanded.

Without question Scopes left for the Saucer Sled to fly once again to the Aqua-life-Terrace.

Consul Ari lay sound asleep in his bedroom chamber with a once again caged falcon inside a re-assembled wooden cage tied together with seaweed.

The falcon reached out her mind to detect the one who tried to save her earlier in the morning.

In the launching room where Scopes made his way towards, Duncan was fiddling with Mensas ropes that tied his hands behind him. The ropes were as well tied as they were tight.

Then Duncan heard the familiar female voice of the falcon once more in his head.

"Beware, your abductor is on the loose and may be heading towards to your location.", the voice of the falcon states.

Duncan stops fiddling with Mensa's binds just in case the false Mensa is returning."

The gold metal doors slide open once more in order to reveal Mensa. Just as the falcon had warned.

The soundproof door prevented Duncan from hearing Mensa's bird cane as it was most likely being tapped along the stone walkway. Duncan was grateful for the falcons warning to him.

Duncan watched the false Mensa methodically climb a built-in ladder on the platform that the saucer was locked into.

An emboldened Duncan shouted at Mensa," Why don't you reveal your real face to me, coward?"

Unironically, the false Mensa without turning around answer back," I do not have the time, perhaps when I return."

Duncan then notices as Mensa enters onto the Saucer Sled that the gold tip of the ignition key was left in the saucer. Though as Mensa reaches for the key in order to turn the ignition on to start his flight, Duncan shouts at him again," Tell me where you are flying off to!"

The false Mensa does not respond as he turns on the powerful engine of the Saucer Sled.

A high-pitched humming is heard inside the platform room.

The high pitch from the saucer stirs the sleeping Mensa beside of Duncan.

The false Mensa turns the ignition all the way right until it is facing left. The hanger doors above slide open to reveal the natural light form the daytime sky.

Once again, the sleeping Mensa stirs.

The hydraulic platform rises above towards the sky it is opening on a shaft rod.

Duncan notes the roof hatch being opened by frequency sonics from the saucer itself.

The open hatch is once again closed by the platform itself once it locks into place.

Duncan grumbles to himself as the saucer no doubts silently departs towards its destination.

The no doubt real Mensa finally wakes up, groggily asking," Where...is Counsil Ari?"

"Do you have anything that can be used as a weapon inside the saucer bay?", Duncan eagerly asks.

"I do not keep hold of weapons...anywhere on the compound...only tools.", Mensa responds.

"We will need to be ready for your evil twin when he returns.", Duncan affirmed.

"I...am sorry...even if I had a weapon, it would be of no use.", Mensa admits.

"Why is that?", Duncan gruffly asks.

"I only practice unarmed self-defense as a pacifist.", Mensa relates to a frustrated Duncan who grumbles to himself.