The Antillian Chronicles Book III
The Antillian Coming of Age
Philip Stansberry
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 1995, 2011
This book is dedicated to my children, Patricia and Christopher.
Prologue
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The Antillian Chronicles are records of the major events concerning the Antillian people and their royal family. The Chronicles compile the writings of the scribes, prophets, and members of the Antillian royal family, the Cantavias.
From Genesis to Exodus is the first book of the Antillian Chronicles. Book 1 covers the Antillian exodus from their home world and the emergence of the Cantavias as the Antillian royal family.
The Worlds of Promise is the second book of the Antillian Chronicles. Book 2 covers the Antillian exploration of the Antillian Galaxy, the alliance with Anderan worlds to form the Antillian Galactic Federation, the emergence of the evil Futuran Empire, and the origins of the curse carried out upon the Cantavia Monarchy by an immortal Anderan named Followa Tres Van.
The Antillian Coming of Age is the third book of the Antillian Chronicles. This endowment begins seven years after Followa’s vengeance has forced the surviving Cantavias into exile.
The Antillian Coming of Age is the time when Antillian and Anderan males enter into polygamous unions. Birth dates previously sealed are opened to create marriages. The exposed information and prophetic revelations creates the perfect opportunity for Followa and her allies to bring about the destruction of the Cantavias and the Antillian Federation.
Chapter One--School Imbalance
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Cindi Goldstar felt in his heart that something was very wrong when he reported to school. Cindi was from the race called the Ventoxians. He knew not to discount his empathic perceptions.
Cindi walked the white marble halls of his 33rd Century high school. Nothing appeared out of place. The transparent solar panels in the ceilings showed clear skies. The pattern of blessings seemed never ending beneath the rainbow rings that encompassed the blue marble world.
The planet Antillies was a planet-sized version of the Garden of Eden. All energy producing advancements contributed to the needs of the ecosystem. Vehicles of every size and function went about their daily routines.
If something was truly awry on the planet Antillies, there was nothing in nature and wealth to support Cindi’s concerns. The planet Antillies was the home world for the Antillian and Anderan cultures. The people had the best of everything. The balance made it the idea world for a Ventoxian to dwell.
The only issue causing an iota of concern for any Antillian or Anderan was the absence of the Cantavia monarchs. The royal family had gone missing in the past seven years. The hopeful prayed the Cantavias were in exile. The unhopeful did not care. Life was good and was on a course to get better.
Cindi was the Antillian Prince. His birth name was Christian Ivenusus Nova Demencia Ivan Cantavia. His exile name was Christian India Goldstar, but friends nicknamed him Cindi. The nickname was unusual for a boy, but considered cool by Cindi’s classmates. The king did realize there were correlations that could possibly jeopardize the exile. The king felt to change the nickname would bring about questions and tamper with the prince’s confidence of his true inner self. Cindi had worn the name with satisfying anonymity. There had never been a concern until Cindi arrived at school today.
Cindi was fourteen years old. He would be fifteen in another seven weeks. His skin tone was tan. His shoulder length hair was black. His eyes were a very deep shade of blue. Cindi was average in height. He was an athlete and a nerd.
Cindi’s life was fashioned to appear normal. Cindi had altered his external appearance to have few similarities to his pre-exile life. The Cantavias who were not Ventoxians had a bit of cosmetic surgery to obtain a new appearance. The Cantavia lives were happy, mundane, and typical. There were no reasons to consider leaving exile. The threat of Followa Tres Van was finally over. The Cantavias were doing very well by hiding in plain sight.
However, throughout the day, Cindi’s sensation of imbalance persisted. Cindi was aware nothing supported his perceptions and this seemed to aggravate him more. Things were so bad that at the beginning of history class Cindi had worried himself into a headache.
Cindi considered a trip to the school nurse’s office. He could use the isolation to obtain the inner peace Ventoxians easily imparted to other individuals. Cindi realized the problem would remain, so he decided to continue with his school schedule. Since there was no assigned seating, Cindi decided took up residence in the most distant seat from the front of the class.
History did prove to be different today, and that gave Cindi’s mind a little ease. There was a substitute teacher conducting the lesson. Cindi had never seen the maiden, but something about her was unusual. Cindi was able to sense the teacher’s biorhythms. The shell of the maiden’s skin was extremely out of balance with her interior essence.
Cindi studied the teacher more intently and began to smile. The discrepancy within the teacher’s inner being blossomed. Cindi’s headache lessened.
Chapter Two--The Substitute
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Cindi used the simple talent of vision to discover the teacher wore no wedding ring. This too was an abnormality. The absence of a ring was a definite sign the teacher was single. The woman was more than attractive enough to be considered for marriage. This increased Cindi’s curiosity of the teacher. Cindi felt his headache subside completely. He smiled at the sense of relief.
The reason Cindi was aware of the teacher’s marital status was known as the Antillian Propagation Protocols. Forty years in the past, the Queen of Antillia and Parliament instituted a new set of doctrines. One of the minor issues mandated that married women would always wear a ring on their left ring finger in public. Single women were prevented to wear anything that could be remotely construed as a ring on either ring finger.
Every sane single female in society would promote her eligibility. The economic and social rewards in marriage were overwhelming. Antillians and Anderans were aware of how important it was to increase the population. The Futurans were the enemies of the common society. The Futurans invaded worlds and abducted humans to sustain and repopulate their species. If the Antillians and Anderans increased their numbers in the fight, the Antillians and Anderans would increase their chances of preventing harvests.
Cindi continued to examine the teacher. The teacher’s marital status might be unusual, but Cindi did not feel it was the sole reason for his heightened perceptions. Every move she made, every breath she took, and even the slightest twitch of a muscle. Her body was off balance with her emotions.
The teacher became the mark for a fourteen-year-old Ventoxian stalker. Cindi began to fall for her unpredictability. He felt he could watch her all day. He cupped his chin in his hands. The focus of his attention seemed to be bordering on erotic.
The teacher spoke in a soft soprano voice to settle the class. She announced her name was Miss Hannah Baystrom. A teacher was not required to give students her first name, so the gesture meant Hannah was undoubtedly looking for a spouse.
Hannah was in her mid-twenties. She had red hair and a generous build in all the right places. She dressed to accentuate her curves. She received the responses from the males that she intended.
Miss Baystrom did not appear conservative. Her age had her considered an old maid in Antillian and Anderan society. Old maids were the victims of whispers and pity from married women. Single women did not like them either.
Single women included all the maidens in this particular history classroom. Every teenage girl in a chair was desperate to maintain or gain the attention of eligible males. The girls hated Miss Baystrom and her stacked figure. The boys loved every sensual curve and her healthy bosom.
Cindi appeared to be leading the charge in the student-teacher infatuation. Cindi was literally drooling over Miss Hannah Baystrom. Backwards and forwards, up and down, in and out.
Miss Baystrom appeared to be enjoying herself. She examined every male in the classroom individually. Hannah then looked on her computer pad for confirmation of their identity and family status.
Every male was at the age of eligibility as defined by the Antillian Propagation Accords. If there was ever a chance of Miss Baystrom finding a spouse, it was now. Teenage boys often had fantasies of their teachers.
Miss Baystrom hiked up her dress a bit. She sat on her desk and crossed her legs. Hannah smiled widely across the room of potential mates. She definitely had each boy captivated.
Miss Baystrom did not speak until her analysis of males was over.
The maidens in the class felt the woman was downright shameful. Miss Baystrom was supposed to be in class to teach, and not to shop. Over half the period was gone before the teacher spoke a single word.
When Miss Baystrom did speak, she appeared only interested in the students’ knowledge of Omega history. Since the class compliment was primarily Antillian, Hannah’s questions were the type any five year old could answer.
This made Cindi’s scrutiny of Miss Baystrom more intense. Her questions were adversarial. This was contrary to her prior behavior. Miss Baystrom was moving into an area that would definitely not woo a spouse. Cindi questioned it immediately and decided on a definitive course of action.
Cindi normally did not read a person’s mind. The procedure was considered invasive, and most people had a problem with it. The highly secure types wore termatri to keep their thoughts to themselves. Termatri were expensive if you were not a Vandorian. Vandorians received termatri free. Miss Baystrom did not appear to be of Vandorian descent. The cost of termatri were generally well beyond a teacher’s annual income.
Cindi tried to read Hannah’s mind, but something blocked his attempts. Termatri normally did not prevent Ventoxian mind readers, not even the expensive varieties. This added another layer of anomaly to Miss Baystrom in Cindi’s mind. Cindi was determined to learn as much as he could about Miss Baystrom. Cindi liked a challenge and Miss Baystrom was becoming the best challenge he had faced in his life.
There was however, an extremely significant problem in Cindi showing too much attention towards Miss Baystrom. The problem’s name was Frieda Jackson, and Frieda had been swapping seats since the class began. Frieda was now sitting right next to Cindi.
Chapter Three--The Wrath of Frieda
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Frieda was Cindi’s senior fiancée. She was growing more focused on Cindi than Cindi was this unusual teacher.
Frieda was a couple of inches taller than Cindi at 5’8”. Frieda’s height was above average for Antillians. Frieda had a slender, muscular build. She had a dark brown complexion and catlike amber eyes. She had thin lips and an oval face. She wore her white hair loosely and it extended to the middle of her back.
Frieda believed the length portrayed her well as a free spirit. Frieda was sixteen years old. She considered herself more attractive than Miss Baystrom. Frieda also spawned from a wealthy and prominent upbringing. She felt that would work in her favor in marrying the prince.
Frieda’s father was Admiral Jackson. Jackson was the highest-ranking officer in the Antillian Federation. The Federation defended Antillian and Anderan worlds with a strong intergalactic presence. The Antillian Federation set four fleets between Antillian and Anderan worlds and the Futuran fleets. Their efforts kept the Futurans well outside of Antillian space.
Frieda’s adoration of her father the Admiral and his lofty achievements were evident in her personality. Frieda could not sit by quietly and let some hussy in her mid-twenties steal her fiancée out from under her nose. Frieda felt she had to do something drastic to snap Cindi out of his flight of fantasy. The movement of playing a loud game of musical chairs was not working. The situation was fast becoming Frieda’s worst nightmare.
“Why aren’t you talking?” Frieda spoke in a volume well above a whisper. Her outburst attracted the attention of everyone in the room. “Is there something or s-o-m-e-o-n-e on your mind?”
Cindi did not need his talent for empathy to discern Frieda’s emotions. Jealousy was written all over her face. Cindi was aware this was a losing battle. He gave the room a quick glance to see how much attention Frieda’s outburst had attracted. Girls were waiting for his response. Boys kept their heads down. Cindi decided the boys were on the right track and quickly decided to join them.
The reason males in the class shared Cindi’s embarrassment was because each of them in one way or another was experiencing, “the curse of the sixteenth birthday,” stress. This psychological phenomenon was perhaps the sole reason why the substitute teacher had not intervened and restored order to the room.
War had decimated the Antillian and Anderan populations. The military was predominantly male a century earlier. Male losses on the front lines had produced a ratio between females and males at slightly above four to one on most worlds, with nine to one being the worst reported disparity. Some worlds were too afraid to give the true ratio numbers. The leaders of the worlds felt the truth might be an advertisement for a Futuran harvest.
Since cloning was immoral and illegal, for nearly a century, it had become mandatory for every male to wed a minimum of five maidens by his sixteenth birthday. He was required to expand the total to seven wives before he was twenty-one. Five years earlier, world governments began giving financial endowments at the birth of each male child. Induction into the military would also provide substantial wealth and benefits.
Why were most boys being introduced to marriage when they turned fifteen? It was simply a matter of choice. The Propagation Accords stated that as long as the boy had not reached his sixteenth birthday, he and his family could choose the maidens he would join. If the marriages were not arranged and conducted at some time during the fifteenth year, then before the lad turned sixteen, the Antillian/Anderan Propagation computer network would choose seven marital partners. The partners would be weighted heavily towards unmarried pure maidens and widows below thirty-five years of age. The nuptials would take place midday on his sixteenth birthday.
If there were other maidens who were ever engaged to the lad who had not married other males, the lad would have to marry them at that time as well. The previously “promised” maidens would not lose their place in seniority. Marital seniority would remain according to the dates of their engagements.
A swift calculation of the pitfalls meant a male moving slowly into marriage could end up with twelve wives as he turned sixteen years old. Since widows likely had children, the slow moving sixteen-year-old male would become a father. Since most maidens found a spouse when they were fifteen, the slow moving male could even have grand and great grand children he obtained through the former widows. The shocking probability kept all Antillian and Anderan males from moving, “too slowly.”
Antillians and Anderans relied on computers for things like flying vehicles, interior and exterior home maintenance. Computers also prepared meals. They made Antillian and Anderan lives more comfortable in many other ways. Antillians and Anderans were not so dependent that they wanted computers to choose their life-long mates. For a mother or a doting father, selecting their child’s spouses was the last imprints they could place in the lives of their children. Children turning sixteen or younger children who married had the same rights as adults.
A lot of effort went into prearranging the best parings possible. Cindi and Frieda’s engagement had been planned since they were seven.
With less than two months to go, Frieda was determined nothing was going to mess up her becoming Cindi’s senior wife. Frieda had read the statistics. She understood how common it was for an older woman to swoop in and become senior wife at the last minute.
Frieda knew the Propagation laws inside and out. Frieda felt Miss Baystrom was aware of a clause. The clause stated that if sexual contact between two unmarried persons were discovered, those persons would have to marry immediately. Frieda’s wedding to Cindi was still a few weeks away. If Miss Baystrom surrendered her virtues or seduced Cindi, then Miss Baystrom would become Cindi’s senior wife.
Frieda thought a woman doing such a thing was low down and dirty. She didn’t want this woman to become a sister in her marriage at all, let alone senior wife. Frieda cracked her knuckles in the teacher’s direction.
Hannah Baystrom noticed the gesture and smiled. The battle was on.
“So what kind of garment would you like to see me in at the beginning of our wedding night?” Frieda asked Cindi.
For Cindi, this was far beyond embarrassing. Frieda’s voice was not at a whisper. A few boys nearby were no longer holding their heads in shared shame. They were beginning to snigger along with the girls.
“Would you like me to wear something with veils, or do you just want to experience my natural beauty?” Frieda batted her eyes. “Would you like to see me in different colors of silk, satin, or maybe something that would melt in your mouth? Dark chocolate is your favorite dessert. It is good for your heart. It matches my smooth sultry complexion.”
God please let this end! Cindi said within his mind. Though admittedly, the image of Frieda nude did quiet the silent voice in his head for a moment. Cindi had reached puberty, so the curiosity was there. The curiosity however, was much stronger towards why he could not read the substitute teacher’s mind. Once again, Cindi moved to stare in Miss Baystrom’s direction.
Frieda’s jealousy and desperation peaked. She was about to add a comment about wearing something similar to Miss Baystrom’s current apparel on the wedding night, but Cindi became fully aware of her emotions.
With a quick thought, Cindi gave Frieda knowledge of his perceptions and her jealousy faded.
A smile and a wink later, Frieda relayed mentally that she would help him. Frieda waited for the chance to distract Miss Baystrom. It came immediately.
Chapter Four--The Antillian Exodus
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“Can someone tell me, what really started the war between the Futurans and the Antillians?” Miss Baystrom asked. She had been examining a pad. She seemed to focus on Cindi.
Frieda’s buzzer was the only one to sound.
Miss Baystrom continued to stare at Cindi. She appeared to be eyeing him intently as if only he was asked the question.
Frieda answered aloud to intrude on the teacher-student stare down. “The war climate had been present since the beginning of time. It is essentially a religious conflict. It reached new heights just before the Antillians fled Omega.”
“And why did the Antillians flee?” The substitute teacher looked towards Cindi.
Frieda answered again. “Well, months before the exodus, the Futurans launched a nuclear strike against Jasarah, which was the holy city and capital of the Antillian culture. They followed that attack by destroying Lourdes. Futuran intelligence believed Lourdes was the most populated and modern of all Antillian cities.”
“Why did the Futurans attack those locations?” Miss Baystrom asked. Her focus was shifting from Cindi to the self-proclaimed know it all sitting beside him.
“The Futurans were just a group of pagan nations all before. A leader named Calen Futura rose up overnight. After conquering the other pagan countries nearby, Calen changed their religious practices. He proceeded to conquer continents and eventually had ambitions of total world domination.”
“Why didn’t the Antillians help the other cultures before Emperor Calen rose to such power?”
“Antillians of that era did not like to interfere in the struggles of other cultures. They believed in the Antillian god and tried to stay focused on pleasing him.”
Miss Baystrom nodded. “Still, after the first attack on Jasarah, they could have retaliated. I understand the Antillians of that era had superior weapons capability to Emperor Calen, the father of the Futurans. The Antillians could have defeated the dictator and his armies.”
“Well,” Frieda explained. “The first attack took out most of our royal family and parliament. No one remaining had the authority or desire to make such an important decision.”
Miss Baystrom frowned. She seemed to indicate she knew there was more.
“Retaliation with the nuclear weapons of that era may have decimated the planet of all life forms.” Frieda said. “Every Antillian child of the era knew that. It was obviously the prime expectation of the Futuran leader. It was almost as if he wanted to kill us all.”
The classmates who listened agreed with Frieda’s take on history.
“The Antillians of that time saw Calen Futura as the actual physical form of the dark prince, you know, the devil. The Antillians felt Calen wanted to end the world to become a master over lost souls he brought to hell for destroying Omega. The Futuran mantra after all is that every Antillian or Anderan they kill in this life will serve them in the next life.”
Miss Baystrom did not seem to buy that answer.
“Well if you didn’t have that belief, then in Antillian Society the general opinion was that the Futuran attack was god’s judgment on a sinful regime.”
“Is that so,” Miss Baystrom barked. Her interest was now solely on Frieda.
“Well you would have to view telecasts of that time.” Frieda said. “But suffice to say, Antillian King Saul the 3rd was considered very close to the epitome of wickedness himself. His unspeakable acts became so notorious that prophets came to his court daily. The prophets demanded him to repent from his ways or suffer god’s wrath.”
“They were of course ignored.” Miss Baystrom said matter of fact.
“Yes, the King was a pompous ass. In time, those daily interruptions began to annoy the king. He warned over television channels that any further prophecies would not be tolerated. That only seemed to fuel the fire and more prophets came after he cut down their predecessors. In the end, Saul started mocking the prophets to the laughter of his court for their words. He would execute them in front of a televised audience that all Antillians could see. Saul always gave them the chance to repent.”
“That was thoughtful of him.” Miss Baystrom said.
Cindi heard sarcasm in Miss Baystrom’s voice, but it did not match with the teacher’s emotional patterns. She seemed to be baiting Frieda into an emotional response.
Frieda continued, “The words spoken at the prophet’s executions warned of the nuclear strike. It told the survivors whom they should anoint leader. It told how they should proceed if they wanted to avoid genocide.”
“I see,” the substitute said. “But you said those attacks destroyed the government. All members of the royal family should have been lost. Was King Cantavia really from the lineage of King Solomon the 1st, or just some child who could be manipulated?”
Cindi wanted to chime in. The direction of the conversation beckoned his sovereign pride, but he was sensing Baystrom’s guile, even if he could not read her mind. This was the first true discernable expression of any kind the teacher was exhibiting. Cindi wondered if he could use Miss Baystrom’s emotions to extrapolate her thoughts.
At this point in the conversation, Frieda explained, “King Cantavia was of the royal lineage. His mother Sarah was the last Antillian born woman to wed the king. Sarah’s father was the final prophet to speak out against the king’s wickedness. The prophet Zedekiah moved his daughter Sarah and her son before he made his decree to the king. He was told of the outcome by god. It made sense to take proper precautions.”
“Zedekiah’s methods would seem selfish.” Miss Baystrom said while pacing.
The class began to view Miss Baystrom as a prosecutor, trying to implicate Antillian ancestry. She was becoming gradually unattractive to all previously interested males.
“Zedekiah saved his daughter and made a way for his grandson to inherit a kingdom, but saved no one else.” Miss Baystrom answered in raised tones. “How did your people know they were not following a lie?”
Frieda felt pricked by the word “your.” She was emotional when she raised her voice to match Miss Baystrom. “The people of the city of Jasarah had been warned by many prophets before Zedekiah. Those who did not leave the city were responsible for their own lives!”
“That still does not condole leaving the planet Omega as the proper course of action!” Miss Baystrom said.
“Well, King Cantavia was only sixteen years old, but he had been having visions.” Frieda said. “Each of his insights was confirmed by other children of slain prophets. The signs and events foretold were of such detail and accuracy, they could not be denied. Their predictions saved the inhabitants of Lourdes. The city was evacuated just before the Futuran bombing.”
Miss Baystrom nodded.
“Since sixteen year olds were being used of god, the Accords state sixteen is the age Antillians and Anderans must wed.” A girl in the class suddenly interested in the conversation put in.
“That’s insane.” Miss Baystrom said.
Cindi wondered if Miss Baystrom’s objection was because she was not married and needed to defend her marital position.
“Maybe to Anderan upbringing, “but you can’t argue the results,” Frieda continued. “Antillia is now the supreme force in the galaxy, and occupies six quadrants of space we share alongside the Anderans. We have grown too mighty for the Futurans to destroy, and their attacks have virtually ceased. That is why Sovereign Adsissas signed the peace treaty seven years ago. It turns out the Futuran leader’s desire for our complete annihilation is second nature to his desire for preservation of his species.”
Miss Baystrom flinched with anger. She immediately adjusted her emotions.
Chapter Five--Miss Baystrom Anyone?
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The entire class observed Miss Baystrom with great curiosity over her views concerning the Antillian exodus from the planet Omega.
Cindi’s mind was filled with red flares.
“I know you are all wondering why I am not married.” Miss Baystrom looked around the room. “I am Anderan. I lived on the borders of the Copillion Galaxy. Since the time of my arranged marriage, I have been travelling to reach my intended family. When I got here, they were gone. Any of you fellows looking for a twenty five year old virgin mate?”
“Not with your mouth,” one of the maidens said.
One of the boys liked the banter of Miss Baystrom. He was about to raise his hand. The boy caught the glare from a nearby girl who just happened to be one of his fiancées. The boy decided a better move was to lower his head towards his desk.
The lad’s fiancée nodded to him that he had made the correct decision.
Other boys remained quiet while girls scrutinized their behaviors. Would there be any takers? This woman was definitely not the submissive type.
Miss Baystrom would have to be a first wife. This would make her senior to all other wives. No Antillian maiden in the class would want an Antillian hater at the top spot in their marriage.
Chapter Six--The Exodus Decision
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Cindi listened to Miss Baystrom’s explanation, but did not buy the story. Frieda shared his belief. They would be talking to their parents.
“Now, let us get back to my discussion.” Miss Baystrom said. “Your ancestors could have warned the Futurans. The atmosphere of hostility could have been prevented.”
“The Futurans thought they had destroyed Lourdes and its inhabitants. They gave us no warning. If they knew we were planning to leave, they would have killed us all rather than let us leave in peace.” A student said.
“That is merely an assumption and has no merit.” Miss Baystrom said.
“Well,” another classmate spoke up, “when the Antillians were led from slavery by the first anointed deliverer thousands of years earlier, they were pursued and would have been slaughtered if not for the opening of the Sea of Red. The sea swallowed our ancestors’ enemies when the enemy pursued them. That deliverance from the Antillian god was remembered, and it helped the people turn their focus towards the construction of transports. The Antillians alive on Omega at that time did as they were told by the young prophets. They prepared to venture into space in search of the new promised lands we occupy today. The people moved in a unified act of faith. The worlds you now can live in are a result of Antillian faith.”
Miss Baystrom nodded. “Why are there different takes on what happened to the Futurans? The Futurans say you launched weapons as you left the planet. You Antillians say the Futurans must have seen your exodus into space as retaliation and deployed every weapon in their cache at your vacated continents.”
No one in the class responded.
“I understand the result is the same. The nuclear weapons detonated and the subsequent fallout blocked the sun and caused the planet Omega to undergo a severe nuclear winter. The Futurans had to flee the world. They blamed the Antillians for what happened. They pursued you. They have decimated the Anderan worlds that took you in, and even those worlds you simply passed by.”
No one responded. The class was aware Antillians and Futurans held opposing views of history.
“Why didn’t the Antillians turn and attack the Futurans, rather than leave worlds with less technology to their pillages?” Miss Baystrom asked.
“We didn’t have advanced sensors back then. We were unaware the Futurans had bombed themselves. We did not know they were pursuing us until one of our scouting parties revisited a world and found it to be a radioactive wasteland. It was then that we discovered that the Futurans were abducting the strong inhabitants of the Anderan worlds.”
“You sound as if you think the Futurans just enslave Anderans.” Another student said. “The Futurans take Anderan and Antillian females for breeding purposes because their females are infertile due to radiation sickness. The Futurans abduct Anderan and Antillian males to use as donors for when the Futurans vital organs and limbs fail them. You can’t compare Antillian treatment of Anderans to that.”
“Do you truly think your people would be different if you were in the Futurans' shoes?” Miss Baystrom asked.
“I think if we Antillians had bombed ourselves, we would have accepted the consequences of our actions and found cures or died in our sins. We would have asked our god for help. The Futurans just did what was selfish and took what they wanted from the Anderan worlds.”
Another teen had a comment. “And yes, we did have more advanced weapons technology before the exodus, but when our ancestors fled into space, their transports were unarmed. When the Futurans gave chase, they were armed to the teeth. It took us a while to re-develop technologies to engage them in battle. We visited Anderan worlds willing to share their resources for our technologies to protect them and us. That is how the Antillian Federation came into existence.”
Miss Baystrom paused. “Still, when you could not defeat the Futurans on Omega, you brought the Anderan worlds into your struggle. You are just as responsible as the Futurans for Anderan turmoil. My grandparents chose to follow you, rather than suffer the Futurans wrath. We are treated better by Antillians, but we are still slaves. If we don’t follow your laws, we become outcasts for the Futurans to use.”
“The Futurans brought the Anderans into the war when they invaded their worlds. You can live on any world you choose. There are worlds that are primarily Anderan in the Antillian Federation.” A teenage girl said. “You certainly don’t have to marry an Antillian, especially with your views.”
“But Anderans without Antillian spouses don’t have the same opportunities to join the Antillian Academy and make a decent living. We both know Anderans are kept poor to promote them marrying into wealthy Antillian families.” Miss Baystrom smiled. She felt that remark would shut the rich Antillian kids up.
“Money shouldn’t override your principle beliefs.” Frieda said. “But if you compromise your beliefs for money, then maybe your beliefs aren’t your main priority.”
Miss Baystrom was hot now. “We Anderans are taught to honor your god and follow your laws. I followed your laws, and all I have to show for it is the loneliness of space for ten years. The family marrying me could have at least placed me in stasis to suspend my aging process, but they wanted me to be the same age as the other maidens in the marriage. I lost ten years of my life in space, and should be part of a family. My Antillian based family clearly had no respect for my Anderan status. They did not make provisions for me.”
No one answered. The love affair with Miss Hannah Baystrom was over. Thank god, class would be over soon as well.
Chapter Seven--The Wrath of Frieda
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Miss Baystrom had not had enough. She asked the class another question. “Okay then, tell me what is it that makes the Antillians abuse of Anderans any different from the abuse from the Futurans? Futurans make Anderans into breeding slaves. Antillians are doing the same thing with the Accords.”
“That’s absurd,” Frieda said. “Anderan males are not allowed to breed at all when they are conquered by Futurans. They become unwilling donors of limbs and organs.”
“Anderan males may have greater privileges, but Anderan females are treated the same.” Miss Baystrom countered. “They have no choice. Antillian females can choose the male they will wed. We cannot.”
“That’s a lie!” A girl answered. “I have a very pretty Anderan cousin and she chose her husband and is his senior wife.”
“She is a diamond in the rough.” Miss Baystrom said.
“Your parents could have arranged your marriage to an Anderan male.” Another classmate put in. “There is no Anderan male or female treated as a slave in a marriage. Anderan men are the heads of their families and choose Antillian wives as well as Anderan wives. Anderan wives may be senior to Antillian wives.”
Miss Baystrom nodded. “Anderan females are also used for stacking in Antillian based homes.”
“I grant that,” a maiden said. “That is an ability Antillians do not have, but we admire. Anderans also see abilities in Antillians they desire and join us in marriage. It is always fair to consider what marriage will give you. We do not consider ourselves as supreme beings, and we don’t promote it.”
“Anderan males are very scarce on my world.” Miss Baystrom retaliated. “Too many of them went to fight in your never ending war. The ratio between Anderan females and males on our world is nearly ten to one. The males on my former world have to marry fifty females when they reach sixteen.”
The boys mouths dropped open. Five maidens didn’t sound so bad anymore.
Miss Baystrom continued. “The computer chose my path. My parents were honored to have their child join a more evolutionary advanced Antillian family. They are perhaps dead now, because Antillian forces are not defending Anderan worlds near our location inside the Futuran border.”
No one spoke.
“I know my questions might seem unusual, but I am bitter. This was my first teaching assignment. I originally took a correspondence course in Antillian History while in space, hoping to learn more about the background of my Antillian husband and family, but the training I received was vague. It left me with questions. I wanted to show submission to his wives and hoped to broaden the cultural development in the children of the family I was to join. Today, I didn’t want to come in here and embarrass myself, so I asked you questions I wanted answers to. When you students complain to your parents of my questions and bitterness, this will likely be my last teaching assignment.”
The class remained silent.
“I know at my age it is nearly impossible, but maybe I will have another arranged marriage by a computer. Maybe this time things will turn out better. I will still be a slave. I have no choice but to marry and follow the law.”
Frieda did not buy her story, and did not feel the need to show pity. “Your grandparents made a choice to join us, just as the Futurans made a choice to level Jasarah, and then ask for our unconditional surrender. They destroyed Lourdes, hoping to hurry our unconditional surrender into slavery, and then they destroyed themselves, trying to destroy us first. You seem to want to blame us for you having to leave your world. What would you have us do? Do you want us to go back in time and become their slaves?”
“Better you than the hundreds of worlds both your civilizations have raped and pillaged.” Mrs. Baystrom said hotly. “All Anderan worlds could have been left in peace, and maybe things would have been better if both you and the Futurans had been destroyed on Omega.
“Yeah maybe so,” Frieda said. “But we didn’t know then what we know now. If I was alive during that time and knew what I know now, then I would have personally taken out Calen Futura, and my people might never have left Omega. But I was not born then, and had no voice in the actions from nearly four hundred years ago.”
Miss Baystrom’s face flushed.
“You have no way of knowing if they had enslaved us that they would not have entered into space and did the same thing to your planets. If we retaliated and there had been nuclear devastation on Omega and the Futurans had won, then we would have been infertile slaves. The Futurans would have the technology to venture into space. They would have come to harvest Anderan worlds and there would have not been any defense.”
“That may be true,” Miss Baystrom said.
“Even after leaving Omega, the Futurans could have chosen to remain on any world they subjugated. In a few generations, the Futurans could have become human again. The Futurans keep chasing us with ships made of radioactive materials. They choose to be Futuran. They actually take pride in their identity.”
“Maybe,” Miss Baystrom said. “Or maybe the Antillians could have defeated the Futurans and remained on Omega.”
“We will never know.” Frieda sighed with exasperation. “Look, I am sorry for what happened to your world, but I can’t do anything about it. You want to get on the front lines and fight Futurans, be my guest. I plan to. You want to blame the Antillians of that time, or me personally, well then I won’t flee as my ancestors did. We can step to it right now.”
With those words, Frieda arose from her seat.
Miss Baystrom took a few steps towards her.
The class gasped.
Miss Baystrom may have been nine years older, but Frieda was slightly more developed. Frieda was one of the gifted members of the Vandorian species of the Antillian race. This meant if Miss Baystrom was a mere Anderan, then Frieda at two years old could have overpowered her.
Miss Baystrom’s conversation proved her awareness that Antillians possessed extraordinary talents. Strangely, Miss Baystrom had not backed down.
Cindi sensed the heightened emotion and tension in both females. Frieda’s mind conveyed she was near tears over the mounting conflict, while Miss Baystrom’s mind showed joy. The disparity was impossible. Cindi realized when mind reading could not be accomplished, it was best to rely on reversed emotions. How was it impossible to mask a person’s mind? Cindi felt his mother would certainly have the answer. She joined him as the last two living members of the nearly extinct Ventoxian race.
With a sigh within his mind, Cindi sent out waves of calm to Frieda and the unusual substitute teacher. Both females felt the need to return to their seats. Miss Baystrom’s mind now showed hostility. Something was definitely going on with her.
Chapter Eight--Empathy
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Frieda sat after her heated exchange with Miss Baystrom. Frieda was now calm, but Cindi sensed her agitation.
Cindi concentrated and sent waves of empathy into Frieda’s body.
Frieda felt the flow and smiled. It removed her stress and melted away the anger and hostility she felt. Frieda spoke to Cindi from her mind. “You see soul mate. This is why I was so jealous. There are only two people on this plane in the universe able to do what you can do. I am humbled to be joined to the best of them, more than I am to you being the prince.”
Cindi smiled. He considered the years growing up since the beginning of the exile. Frieda never complained about being kept from marriage to wed a younger male. Frieda even went as far as to arrange to be detained a year in school just to share classes with Cindi.
Cindi felt a sense of warmth knowing Frieda was soon to be his senior wife. Frieda was proud to have the honor. Frieda had proven unparalleled loyalty and devotion in helping with Miss Baystrom. It was as if she realized the intense need in a Ventoxian for balance. Frieda was his protector, but the sacrifice had taken a lot out of her.
In gratitude, Cindi sent a blossoming blast of empathy into Frieda. Cindi added the way he felt that very moment. Cindi considered it a nice way to say thanks.
The parted empathy had Frieda’s skin instantly riddled with goose bumps. A few seconds more and Frieda tensed, holding back the need to squeak. A few seconds later and Frieda gasped aloud before closing her eyes and slumping in her chair.
Cindi saw where things were going once he departed the empathy. Cindi meditated quickly and cast and illusion over the entire class. To anyone looking towards Frieda, Frieda would appear to be sitting quietly. Her words and expressions would not be heard or viewed.
A minute passed and Frieda began to recover. When Frieda opened her eyes, she turned towards Cindi with an expression of awe and extreme pleasure.
Cindi removed the illusion he placed on the class. “I like the red satin idea,” Cindi imparted mentally to Frieda.
Frieda wiped cool sweat from her forehead and winked. “My dad said he would give me a wedding present.” Frieda meditated. “I think I would like for him to buy me a lingerie store.”
Cindi offered a brief smile.
The bell to end history class rang.
Cindi turned to look for Miss Baystrom, but the teacher had left the room.
Cindi felt the immediate need to pursue.
Frieda summoned her strength and followed. By the time Cindi and Frieda had reached the door and examined the lengthy corridor, Miss Baystrom had disappeared.
Chapter Nine--The Identity Transfer
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Miss Baystrom dashed from the classroom. The pad remained in her hand. She was down the hall just as the bell rang for students to move to their next classrooms. Hannah’s quick movements had her down two corridors before any other classroom doors opened. Her destination was a rarely used closet with a small table and chair. Hannah locked the door and yawned. She then moved to a table and sat in the chair. She placed her head down as if ready to take a quick nap.
Hannah kept her eyes closed and pressed a switch on her right earring. Hannah opened her eyes, stood, and examined her surroundings. Hannah moved quickly. She could not afford the locked door to appear suspicious. She did not want the room to be investigated.
Hannah blinked for a long second and exhaled deeply. When her eyes completed the blink, a white vortex had formed in front of her.
Hannah Baystrom stepped into the spiral and appeared aboard the bridge of an extremely advanced cruiser.
A pale green complexioned man and a woman in a purple smock waited expectantly while sitting at bridge stations. The main viewer displayed the ship in deep space. The vessel was nowhere near the planet Antillies.
“How did it go, Miss Baystrom?” The woman asked with a sinister smile.
“There were no problems.” Hannah placed the pad she carried onto a counter next to an empty bridge chair. “I need to download Miss Baystrom with the new memories. I also need to get her into a closet and get myself out of this skin. Can I give you my full report once that is done?”
“Proceed,” Followa said with a nod.
Hannah nodded curtly. She moved toward the elevator at the rear of the room. Hanna stepped inside and the elevator doors closed behind her. Hannah mentally informed the entry device that she wanted the lab. The door opened instantly and Hannah was at the entrance of her desired location.
The anteroom and lab were so white, it was almost blinding. Hannah understood she would have to bear the intensity. The energy assured complete sterility.
Hannah stepped into the antechamber where a large computer waited in standby. The computer came to life as Hannah’s foot crossed the threshold from the elevator. Hannah moved to the center terminal and quickly typed a few controls. The lab was sealed and the elevator would not allow access to the area.
A spotlight formed in the lab. The beam shined upon a similarly clothed replica of Hannah housed in a transparent cylindrical tube. The double of Hannah in the cylinder was unconscious.
The version of Hannah at the computer entered commands and pressed a control on her right earring. Red energy beams flowed over the version of Hannah floating vertically in the tube.
Hannah examined the file she would download into her twin. Hannah realized the need to slow her departure from the last class. Hannah viewed and verified the file at high speed. The talents of a Pandaline were no longer found in the data stream. Hannah set the computer to add the desired memories to the subject in the tube. When the computer announced the procedure was complete, the version of Hannah in the tube shared the recent experiences of her doppelganger minus the Pandaline speed.
The conscious version of Hannah pressed several controls. A pod formed next to the lab specimen. The conscious Hannah moved through a barrier separating the antechamber from the lab. She stepped onto a pod and a cylindrical tube formed around her.
The conscious Hannah felt a wisp of air, then the cylinder around her vanished. Hannah no longer looked like her unconscious twin. Her complexion was now pale blue. She was a few inches taller than her previous appearance. Her hair was platinum blonde and worn in a pixie style. The appearance of a conservative young homemaker was gone. The former Hannah was now a slender, energetic woman. She was now Merribah Colbain. The clothes she wore were the same as the unconscious woman floating in the adjacent tube. They were disgusting to Merribah, and they no longer fit tightly.
Merribah adjusted her clothes enough to complete the emergent task. Merribah performed a short blink and a deep breath. A portal formed next to her position.
Merribah signaled the computer vocally to remove the chamber holding the unconscious Hannah. Merribah moved quickly and caught Hannah before she slumped to the floor. Merribah carried Hannah into the portal. The locked closet was just as she left it.
Merribah lowered Hannah into a chair in the position she feigned sleep moments earlier. Merribah then stepped through the portal. The portal closed without incident. Her spy mission was now complete.
Chapter Ten--Prophecy
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Merribah’s returned to the lab by entering the portal. She moved to the antechamber and released the lock on the lab. The elevator was now accessible.
Merribah imparted a thought to inform the elevator that she wanted to go to her cabin. Merribah entered her cabin and dressed into clothes on her bed. The clothes were much more to her liking. She tossed the removed items into a wall bin. She returned to the elevator and exited onto the main bridge.
Followa observed Merribah once she stepped away from the elevator. Followa’s expression demanded details of the recent rouse.
“I got everything you requested.” Merribah said. Merribah approached the counter where she had placed the pad. She efficiently examined the data. “There are ten males in Westeria High School with the birth date of the Antillian Prince. On the planet Antillies, there are 16,238 males with the same birth date. If we went down to the actual second the Antillian Prince crowned his mother’s womb, there are 87 individuals.”
“87 individuals is a gracious number.” Followa said. “I can live with killing that many potential heirs and their wedding party members.”
“That could be several thousand people if you consider the maidens in waiting and their families.” Merribah’s tone conveyed pain.
“You feel that number is unacceptable?” Followa said.
Merribah nodded with apprehension.
“Then it is your task to narrow it down.”
Merribah nodded. She paused for a moment of internal conflict. She decided and asked, “You have not told me many things while I have been in your service these last seventeen years. I have done everything you have asked and never betrayed you in the slightest. I pray you at least tell me how can you be so certain the Antillian Prince is on Antillies?”
“Birth dates cannot be forged. The aging of cells makes certain we are on the right track.”
Merribah feared death if she failed. She offered her employer, “What if the Cantavias reside on another world? There are 238 habitable worlds in the Antillian Provinces, not including moons and asteroids. There are also luxury vessels where many wealthy maintain their existence.”
Followa nodded. “In my four hundred and thirty six years of existence, I have acquired the talents of the Vandorian species. You are half Vandorian, and you have the ability of great physical strength. You seem to lack the gift of clairvoyance, otherwise you might be able to see what I know will soon happen.”
“One of my mothers had the gift of clairvoyance,” Merribah said. “A lot of good it did her.”
Followa nodded. “At any rate, I have seen in a vision that I have killed the last Cantavia. She is the Princess Alicia. After her death is completed, I remove her head. I then move outside of her dwelling place. It is the residence of a wealthy family. I gazed into the night sky and beheld a great army in the heavens. I knew they were Futurans, and I knew they served me. I also discerned the rainbow rings of a world in chaos. In the sky, there were three moons. How many worlds meet that description?”
“There is only one,” Merribah said. “It is the planet Antillies.”
“If the exiled princess announced her vision, then it would have to be recorded. It would not matter if she were in exile, telling the prophecy is her sacred duty.”
Merribah knew the laws of the prophets. She agreed with Followa’s deduction.
“The princess is a teenager. She undoubtedly has insecurities. She is about to marry the Antillian Prince.”
Merribah agreed.
“The things she is going through keep her from telling aloud the vision we share. I know from my memory that the maiden had the greenest of eyes, almond skin, blond hair, and was very beautiful, even to me, the most beautiful woman ever born.”
Merribah felt Followa was a bit vain in regards to how others viewed her appearance. Merribah realized it could be fatal to argue.
Followa continued to speak with confidence. She said with great power, “the maiden has a thought in her mind as I kill her. It is the actual prophecy. The words I hear tell me that the Antillian Prince is coming of age. The words also say that at the dance of three moons, the family of power will be destroyed in generations of two, and there will not be spared one heir.”
Merribah mumbled, “The dance of three moons?”
“I have had Nephick to perform a search.” Followa explained. “There are twenty-five habitable worlds in this entire galaxy with rings around their perimeter. Since the Antillian Federation does not leave the Antillian quadrants of the galaxy, that number goes down to five worlds. If you consider that the ringed world will also have three moons, the only planet remaining is once again the planet Antillies. If you consider the prophecy says the moons will dance, then you can determine the actual night of the prophecy. It is the eve of the prince’s birthday.”
“Have you ever seen the dance of the moons?” Nephick asked Merribah. “I have to admit, it is an incredible phenomenon. The moons of the planet Antillies become so close together that they orbit one another as they orbit the planet. It is the closest thing in the universe to moons engaging in what could be considered a dance.”
“All you say of prophecy may be true,” Merribah said, “but how can you be certain in your vision you do not slay the wrong family? How can we be certain the Prince is living on Antillies?”
Followa spoke with assurance, “We have narrowed down the place, the date, and the time. You will narrow down the list of candidates. I will kill all 87 candidates if I have to. I will seemingly get the right family on that night.”
“But-”
Followa’s expression changed. “I know the Cantavias are on Antillies. The date and dream are not coincidences. The Dance of the Moons also occurs on the eve of the Prince’s fifteenth birthday. That is sufficient information for me, and it will be enough for you to proceed doubting nothing.”
Followa’s eyes flared. “And you wonder why I do not tell you things. You have no faith. That attribute can make you a liability more than an asset.”
The tone of Followa’s voice was a clear warning. Merribah decided to alter her conversation. “If we follow your faith closely, then I would like to mention there was one candidate in the classroom I attended. I was not able to question him because a girl kept answering the questions I asked. It kept me from getting a lock with the adapted termatri so I could read his mind.”
“Couldn’t you shut her up?” The man asked in a demanding tone. His name was Alcorn Nephick. He was an half Futuran half Antillian ally of Followa.
“The only apparent way would have been to kill her,” Merribah shot back, “but that might have drawn too much attention and ended any chance of trying to question the lad, don’t you think?”
“Why didn’t you try to read the maiden’s mind?” Nephick shot back. “If the boy was the prince, then she would have knowledge of his identity.”
“I tried that, but the maiden was Vandorian. I could not get a good read on her.”
“Why not,” Nephick said. “The analyzer I gave you should be able to defeat any termatri.”
“Males and females think differently. You would know that if your relationships did begin and end with rape.” Merribah said.
“Touché,” Nephick said, but you have never been in a relationship either.” Nephick pondered a moment of thought. “You are correct however. The sensor is not calibrated on a female’s brain patterns.”
“It would also not work correctly on a Ventoxian or a person evolved from two different enhanced species,” Merribah added. “Whether or not the boy was the prince, we would not have gotten a definitive read unless the boy spoke clearly that he was the prince. We could have assumed he was the prince and killed him, but it would guarantee us nothing.”
“Still, a child of two evolved species would have made him a leading candidate,” Nephick said.
“Not on the planet Antillies. It is the Eden for the most evolved.” Merribah sighed. She could not believe Nephick was considered an Ingarien genius. He had no common sense, tact, subtlety, or social skills. Perhaps the animosity he generated was how he disarmed his enemies.
Followa was nodding approvingly of Nephick’s point of view.
Merribah felt the hairs prickle on her skin. She was in a dangerous place. “I entered that classroom as an unmarried woman in her mid twenties,” she offered in a plea. “The Antillian propagation initiatives makes that almost impossible. Nephick’s cover story was weak and the holes were drawing attention. Some of those kids in that class are Ingariens and a few might have thought it unusual that they could not read my mind. I was supposed to be an Anderan. Any Ingarien should be able to read an Anderan’s mind.”
Followa considered Merribah’s words. “Any candidate you cannot rule out will be beheaded along with his family, his fiancées, and their families. That is my final word on it. Eighty-seven plus the family is a lot of heads to collect, but you are a Pandaline. You will get your chance to finally kill for our cause.”
“I am not much of a murderer,” Merribah said.
“I am not with my hands either.” Nephick said. “I found it was much easier to perform the task by pressing a control.”
Merribah looked at Nephick hotly.
“You will do as you are told.” Followa ended the debate. “Narrow down the number before the 23rd of Arie Geretan, and I will do the beheading. You have only a few weeks. You are the fastest of us and the only one who can move freely on Antillies.”
“I don’t want anyone to die but the Cantavias,” Merribah said. “I will get on it right away. The Admiral’s daughter is in the marriage party of the boy I wanted to question. I would not find it terrible if she were of those slain.”
“Then you had better be willing to use body, mind, and soul to find them.” Followa said.
Merribah understood.
Followa turned towards Nephick. “Well with that matter taken care of, I believe it is time we made our proposal to the Futuran Sovereign.”
Nephick nodded.
“I don’t want to be near any Futurans,” Merribah said. She was looking at Nephick when she made her statement. “I will set up camp on Antillies immediately. I will begin minimization of the list of candidates.” Merribah blinked and breathed deeply. A portal formed next to her. Merribah entered the vortex and vanished.
Chapter Eleven--The Ventoxians
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Cindi and Frieda’s pursuit of Miss Baystrom was thorough. There was no door in the corridor the teacher could have reached so quickly if she was a normal citizen. Cindi and Frieda were left with only one conclusion. Miss Baystrom was not an Anderan. She was a member of the Pandaline species of Antillians.
The talent Pandalines possessed gave them incredible speed. Pandalines could perform tasks in seconds that would take common Anderans hours. Pandalines were so fast, they had to await computer response. Waiting on a computer was a rarity in the 33rd Century.
Cindi not being able to read Miss Baystrom’s mind was one matter. Learning Miss Baystrom was a Pandaline when she stated she was an Anderan was another. An investigation needed to be launched. Miss Baystrom or her impostor was mere feet from the exiled prince. That was unacceptable. Cindi and Frieda would do their part of the investigation. Their parents would assure intense follow-ups were performed if normal protocols were followed.