Heaven Saga 1: The Lost Hero (34 page)

* * *

“This thing isn’t like a Nova at all,” Seles said as
she struggled flying the Mjolnir into space. Each time it looked like she was
going to mess up, she figured it out and flew on. Mira hung on for dear life.

“Daes needs to put some straps or something in here,”
Mira said while clinging to a metal pole.

Seles was amazed at the giant’s maneuverability and
speed. She spun the craft and flew into open space.

“There she is,” Seles said as the Avoni appeared on the
monitor.

“I like being on a planet, but I’m really happy to be
home,” Mira said.

“I know how you feel. We’ve been gone for a little
over three weeks, but it feels like forever,” Seles said. “Get the vaccine
ready.”

Mira held up a little vial filled with liquid. “It’s
ready. I’m sure Celi can duplicate this with ease.”

* * *

Brian scanned the ambassadors again and then looked to
Celestia.

“I’ve said my piece,” he said. “The rest is in your
hands.”

As the ambassadors spoke amongst themselves, Jita of Mylor
floated down to Brian. He stepped back, surprised the Mylor ambassador moved so
close to him.

Jita turned to the others before speaking in his
robotic voice, “Please leave me alone with the Terran.”

The others looked surprised, but quickly exited the
chamber. Celestia nodded and left as well to leave Brian alone with the Mylor.
Jita turned to him and held up a hand. Brian didn’t know what was going on
until Jita fired a telekinetic pulse at him. He dodged and almost doubled over
in the process.

He clenched his fist. “What’s the meaning of this?”

Jita lowered his hand. “Tell me, why do you serve an
inferior breed of being? If you wished to the Kalaidian people would bow
themselves to you as a god.”

He lowered his fist. “Why would I want to rule over
others like that? What you speak of is tyranny. I don’t believe in such a
system.”

“But shouldn’t the strong rule the weak?” Jita asked.

He shook his head. “No. The strong exist to protect
and nurture the weak. By doing so the weak are empowered and eventually become
strong. But what we’re overlooking is the fact that I’m not a superior breed of
being.”

“Good,” Jita responded. “Such idealism is rare in the
Confederation. My people, the Mylor, have watched over and protected the
younger races for a long time now. From what I can tell you’re a trust worthy
young man, much like the Teacher who came before you.”

“The Teacher?” he asked.

“He was the first Terran to come to space, long ago.
While others feared and envied his abilities my people embraced him. He spoke
much like you do now. The others doubt you, I will not.”

“Why?”

“We also believe that the strong must protect the
weak,” Jita extended his metal clad hand forward. “Let us build that belief for
the others young Terran.”

Brian extended his hand. “Sure,” he said as they
shook.

Brian awoke the next morning covered in sweat as his
body ached with pain he couldn’t put into words. Sitting up, he put his head
into his hands. Sunshine filled the room as Myden stood in the corner.

“Now is not the time for weakness,”
he said telepathically.

Brian shook off the pain and stood up. “I know,” he
said as he looked at the twin
rakna
blades of Gaelic Kein. He unsheathed
and held the blades before Myden before clanging them three times. The image of
a large scroll appeared in the air.

“Is this his final speech?”
Myden asked.

Brian smiled. “Yes.”

“You could be King if you wish for it. The people of
Kalaidia would fall to your feet and worship you as a God. Why do you believe
this is the right way? Is it because of your homeland, or something else?”
Myden asked.

Brian sheathed the swords. “I came here to set one
girl free. It’s only fair I do the same for the rest.”

“Is that all?”

Brian put on his armor and set his sword on the belt.
Taking Gaelic’s blades and placing them on his back he turned to Myden.
“According to the laws enforced by the nobility, the commoners are considered
property to be owned and traded like any other commodity. Intelligent beings
can’t be owned. We’re born with free will and it’s only right we be allowed to
pursue that destiny. I will set them free Myden, even if I have to kill the
goddess herself.”

* * *

Brian stood before the nobles once again, this time
with many different faces representing the Kentus, Raekar, Abrus, and Bosar
families. The nobles all stood and murmured as they waited for him to make the
first move. Celestia decided to quiet them and turned to Brian afterwards.

“Seeing as you saved the royal house and ended our
civil war, the nobles have decided not to charge you with high treason
Rakna
Maigar
Brian Kein. What you’ve been called here for today is to discuss
future plans for the Kalaidian Queendom,” Celestia said.

“First, please don’t address me as Kein. I may have
inherited his burden, but I’ll not take his name. My proper name is Peterson,
something I hold dear to,” Brian responded.

“Very well,” Celestia said. The other nobles sounded
annoyance in their tone. “Our first demand is that you present the crown
Princess Seles and leave her in my custody.”

He laughed. “Seles’s life is not mine to give. I can’t
give her back to you because I don’t own her.”

“You would refuse a direct order from your Queen?”
Maya Obril asked. “That’s blasphemy!”

“The Queen granted you citizenship of our world
Brian,” Ryn Milriel added. “You can’t hold onto the laws of your primitive
world!”

Many other nobles shouted similar things as anger well
up within Brian with each insult. After a few minutes Celestia quieted them
again.

“Why do you defy me?” she asked.

“I do so because I don’t recognize this assembly as
the legitimate authority of Kalaidia,” he answered. The nobles began on their
tirades again as he stood firm. “I yield to no tyrant, monarch, noble, or
emperor. I live free nobles of Kalaidia, free of your system!”

The nobles rallied behind their queen.

“If you aren’t willing to take my orders, what are you
going to do?” Celestia asked.

Brian drew the pair of swords on his back. The nobles
went for their weapons.

“I’m not here to kill any of you, at least, not
today,” he said as he clanged the blades three times. A holographic image of a
scroll appeared in midair before them.

“What’s that?” Kae Zaegan asked.

Celestia gasped. “The lost speech of Gaelic?” she
asked.

“Yes,” he answered. “A hundred and fifty six years ago
Gaelic was to be called before this court. These are the words that should’ve
been heard long ago, but the plague destroyed that and shattered any hope for
Kalaidia’s future.”

* * *

Brian’s image appeared on every monitor in Kalaidian
space once more, this time standing before the nobles. All stopped to hear his
words.

“As Gaelic Kein can’t deliver this speech, I’ll do so
in his place,” Brian said before looking to the holographic scroll. “According
to the laws of our fair goddess, Kali, each Kalaidian is born to fulfill the
role of the previous generation. Thus, I’m the inheritor of my father’s name
and legacy. But in all the time I’ve studied the laws of Kali, I’ve never seen
proof that Kali herself actually came to us and commanded such. For a thousand
years the peoples of the Southlands have been wrongly treated and forced to
worship a goddess they don’t believe in. What I speak of is the blasphemy, the
teachings of the great Raulno. It’s because above all else a follower of Raulno
is devoted to the free spirit. Greatness isn’t maintained through bloodline or
title. Greatness comes from the spontaneous heart of the commoner working the
fields dreaming of the future. It’s these dreams that are crushed by the
oppressive laws we’ve put into place. Since that day the last of the noble
families of the south conceded to the worship of Kali, the free spirit has been
shut out. This was the time when the nobles believed they knew what was best
for the commoners and thus, enacted the Codes of Inheritance. Nobles maintained
their status, but those without title, those without privilege, were stripped
of their freedom.

For a thousand years the people of Kali have lived
under the conditions of serfdom. Each of us is told that our life’s goal is to
fulfill the role of the previous generation, but is this truly so? Are we
blinded to the fact that each of us is born with a free mind, one without
restrictions or orders? The caste system has locked each of us into place
societal wise, but it can’t lock up our dreams, ambitions, and desire for
freedom. I see those who work the fields and factories and they’re still here.
The nobility treats them as property and yet, that’s exactly what they aren’t.
Nobles believe that they are superior, when this is false. Those down below are
just as capable as any of us here in the palaces, but we’ve lost sight of this.
The greatest tragedy of this system is that the ambitious are destroyed in the
name of the complacent. The dreams of the many are swallowed up by the power of
a few, all in the name of the goddess.

But by far, the greatest tyranny is that of serfdom.
Call it what you want my fellow nobles, but it’s nothing more than slavery! It
doesn’t matter how good of conditions they live, a prison is still a prison and
I will see this matter ended. With the unanimous endorsement of the all the
Rakna
Maigars
of the worlds of Kalaidia, we demand the era of forced labor be
ended. We also call for the immediate dismissal of the monopolies allowed
amongst our merchants. And finally, we call for immediate concessions by the
nobility. Should any of these conditions not be met, I, Gaelic Kein and the
Rakna
Maigars
of Kali will free the serfs by force.”

Looking at the stunned nobles, Brian smiled. “As
Gaelic’s inheritor, I’ll lead the fight in his stead. In place of the now dead
Maigars
,
I call upon each of you in the lands of Kali. You’re free, now be ready to
fight for it. No longer will I see you enslaved.”

* * *

Seles and Valis watched the broadcast together. Seles
wiped away her tears and turned to Valis. “I need to go to him.”

Valis smiled and hugged Seles. “Then go, we can finish
this later.”

Seles nodded and ran out the door. She ran back to the
Mjolnir in the cargo bay. Daes was about to begin repairs when Seles ran in and
headed up to the cockpit.

“What are you doing?” Daes asked.

“I have to borrow this for a little while Daes,” she
said as she stepped inside the mobile suit. She noticed Mira was waiting at the
controls. “What are you doing here?” she asked.

Mira grinned and left the pilot’s seat. “I had a
feeling you’d do something like this, so I’m going with just in case something
happens.” She motioned for Seles to pilot. “I trust your flying skills to my
own any day.”

“Thanks Mira,” she said, activating the Mjolnir.

* * *

The nobles angrily protested Brian’s demands. Celestia
quieted them while staring him down.

“Why?” she asked.

He put the blades away. “Haven’t you listened to those
on the streets? The commoners who walk the city streets, work the factories and
farms? When I first set foot on your world I sensed it as I looked into their
eyes. What I saw when they looked at me wasn’t fear or oppression, but hope.
The present system’s not only an illegitimate form of government, it’s unjust.
Injustice is what breeds revolution, something my people know all too well.
Before I came I read the reports of commoners readying for battle. Their day
was not today, but within the next ten years, your government would fall.”

“What’s he talking about?” Maya Obril asked, looking
to Celestia. Others followed, asking similar questions.

“Is he speaking the truth?” Daes Rilmai asked.

Celestia turned to her fellow nobles. “What the
Rakna
Maigar
speaks is the truth. I’ve been receiving reports for the last five
years on this subject. The commoners’ feelings on this matter are clear. If we
don’t change something, our economy will fall apart and that in turn will
spread chaos.”

“Such insolence!” the nobles shouted.

“We’ve never experienced anything like this before,”
Ryn Milriel said.

Celestia turned to Brian. “What can we do to stop a
revolution?”

“Begin with the immediate emancipation of the
commoners,” he answered.