Triton, Chapter 1: Communication

         Light poured in from the window above Ladonno as the morning sun blazed directly into his eyes and forced him to get out of bed. The rays washed across the gray interior of his office and illuminated his metal desk with a blinding glare. He lept out of his rack and stretched.

         His second in command—Syllinado, slumbered on the rack above because a shadow loomed over the second bunk protecting him. 

         Ladonno yawned and headed for the window to pull the down the blinds. Instead he glanced out to the countryside below. From the thirty-two story location of his barracks he could see for miles across the surface. Trees and huts of the native species to planet Varnon dotted the landscape. The building rumbled as a spacecraft descended nearby. Ladonno pulled his head inside for a moment, but still took in a lungful of heated thruster exhaust. Off in the distance several aircraft circled the skyscraper compound and flew up toward the higher floors that towered over the land.

         Enough pondering over the view below, it was time to get up and ready for whatever challenges the day would throw his way. He glanced down at his computerized belt, and selected the Holographic Interface Control. A square transparent neon blue readout appeared before him and flashed, 43:41, the near end of a universal, fifty-hour, Triton day. 

         More sleep would have been helpful, but he had slept long enough. He took a seat at the desk and glanced through a window that separated his office from the rest of the barracks. Rows of bunks, lined the walls toward the back wall. The sunlight illuminated the large bay but all the men of his unit still slumbered. After the last three days they deserved it.

         He pressed two holographic stills that brought up small images of his mother and sister. A thud against the deck turned his attention toward his second in command and member of Triton's elite Aldan intelligence agency. His thick blonde hair, spread wild everywhere and those icy blue eyes did not seem to want to be awake.

         Syllinado sat across from him and hit a single holograph of his fiancée to brighten his mood.

         “No word of what we have planned for the day, but go and wake the men to prepare for whatever, or wherever General Ton decides to send us today.”

         Syllinado nodded. “I have a message from my superior, Aldan Overlord, Trea. I need to watch her correspondence in private, so I'll wake the men afterward.”

         Ladonno waved of his hand across the holographic interface and it took him to the main screen. He scrolled through in search of his clothes. His red boxers felt worn and in need of changing. The aroma from underneath his pits forced him to decide on a shower before getting dressed. The clothes remained inside the miniaturized storage compartment within his belt.

         Two messages glowed as unwatched in the bottom right corner of the interface. A quick tap on the message indicator and the interface changed. The first one came from Empress Tolia – his Mother. Ladonno had spoken to her only three days prior. Chances were she wanted to check up on him. Ladonno smirked. She could wait.

         The second message was from Vio, his younger sister. He crooked his brow. His relationship with Vio was shaky and they rarely spoke. What in the universe could she want?

         “Syllinado, Vio has sent me a message.”

         “Your sister—sent you a message?”

         “Do you mind, I would like the office to myself for a while.”

         Syllinado nodded and marched out of the room while slapping Ladonno on the shoulder. “Hope it's good news”

         Ladonno miniaturized the holograph before he selected it. With a twitch, and swipe it switched to reveal the little red head, standing in the palm of his hand. Her hair was pulled back tight and out of view. Ladonno knew her hair was quite long so figured it was balled up behind her head. Her clothes appeared to be work attire; black apron, thick gloves, in fact, he could barely see her through the garb. Something caused her to stop working to send the message.

         Ladonno thought for a moment and then smirked. He missed her birthday and now would hear her bellyache over it. “Happy seventeenth birthday lil-sis” He snickered. “Haven’t grown much”

         He selected play and watched her glance around before she began. “Ladonno!” There it was... her porcelain face blushed. Even from a distance Ladonno could get under her skin. Her face softened and fear reflected in her eyes. “Contact me. We have to talk.” Vio ended the message.

         A jolt of fear shot through Ladonno’s bones. What could have scared her? Vio remained focused on her research, and never allowed anyone or anything to bother her. The mere fact that she contacted him, without his mother present, was shocking.

         Ladonno caved. He had to find out what she wanted. A quick poke to Vio's name in the H.I.C. and he pressed send. Moments later, her face and upper body appeared in front of him. Long curly red locks dangled down across her body over a light pink sleeveless blouse.

         “Hey, sis” Ladonno smiled.

         She grinned wide. “Ladonno! Just a moment; I need to set the controls for departure.”

         “Where are you?”

         Her attention followed her arms and turned from one direction to another.

         A few seconds later her emerald eyes caught his again. “I just left the space-station where I work… ” She gave a proud smirk. “…in orbit of Gandorg. I'm heading to Vega to go shopping, and then I'm going home. Traffic in the Capital system is as heavy as ever.” Vio giggled.

         Too much information, Ladonno sighed. However, she stated that she worked on a space-station in orbit of Gandorg. Wait a minute! “You're working for Aldan Intelligence now?”

         Vio tilted her head. “I've been working for the Aldan for over a year now. I still live on Vandorn because of my connection to the high Coven, and...I'm dating Beldarey's son, Zeledy. But I have my own apartment in Anozia just outside the Palace gates.” She grinned.

         A sharp pain and embarrassment hit Ladonno's chest. He had been so busy fighting in the Eighth Galaxy that he had no clue what was going on at home. Her being in a relationship with the son of the Aldan leader was no surprise. Vio had liked that boy for as long as he could remember.

         Ladonno lowered his head. “Congratulations. I can see why the Aldan Council would hesitate on inviting you to Gandorg.”

         “Thank you, and yeah; the Council of Aldan Intelligence doesn't want me moving to or near Gandorg...yet. So far, I'm allowed to go to where I work and leave no side trips.” Vio's voice turned sarcastic. “Beware the witches of Vandorn!” Ladonno burst into laughter while Vio chuckled. “They're discussing moving me to one of the other space-stations though.”

         Ladonno recovered from his bout and faced his sister. “If things turn serious between you and Zeledy, they'll cave in and move you to Gandorg.”

         Vio blushed. “Yeah, but that's not why I contacted you. I was wondering if you know anything about why the Army has been called back to Triton.”

         Ladonno crooked his brow. “Only the Fleet and Atmo-Corp are out here. As far as the Army is concerned, they’re supposed to work with the Aldan and protect the Imperial trade routes. Other than that, I know nothing about what the Army's up to.”

         Vio shook her head. “Today, while I was at my research station, I watched wave after wave of Army cruisers, destroyers and transport vessels cross through the Asteroid Reef. Even now, more are heading this way from the far reaches of the fourth, fifth, and sixth galaxies. It scares me. My aid stated that the Aldan have no idea of what's going on. If our soldiers leave their posts, the Aldan will have to protect the Empire by themselves. They're not going to be able to do that.”

         Ladonno frowned. “General Vidary could not call the entire Army back from their duty stations by himself. It would take an order from the Emperor to undertake such a massive movement. You and dad get along well, why don't you ask him?”

         Her eyes glossed over and she looked away. “Ever since the Aldan classified my research as top secret, and took me on to work for them, Dad has been acting strange around me. He acts like he doesn't trust me anymore.”

         Vio had to be the most brilliant idiot he knew. If she ever took her head out of her research long enough, maybe she would stop being so naïve.

         “Of course, Vio! He's jealous of King Beldarey. You remember my last fight with dad? He thinks the office of the Emperor gives him ultimate authority, but it doesn't. He has to work with King Beldarey and Ambassador Kellon. If he can't, he should be removed, and we need to elect a new Emperor.”

         “Ladonno, stop! Dad has some great ideas for Triton. He's just going about it all wrong. Anyways, that's all I wanted to ask.”

         “Going about it wrong? Vio, he's been trying to figure out how to depose of the Aldan structure from the moment he was elected. I remember. That's why we got into a fight seven years ago. He doesn't like sharing power, especially not with King Beldarey.”

         Vio moved and selected something in front of her. “You told him that Beldarey was a better leader! Ladonno, you screamed it in his face.” Vio tightened her brow and gazed out away from the holographic capture. “I'm nearing Vega. Once I prepare to break atmosphere I'll need to let you go. You remember Illonnia’s traffic don't you?”

         “It's the worst in all of Triton.” Ladonno chuckled. “I remember Vega's capital well.”

         Ladonno narrowed his eyes. She was trying to find a way to end the conversation.          “Vio listen to me. Even though you're Daddy's little princess, he won't hesitate to shove you aside for his ambition. And how will he react if he learns that you're dating Zeledy? That'll go beyond distrust. He'll take it as betrayal.”

         She sighed. “I know. He can never learn about me and Zeledy...until I move closer to Gandorg. Besides, he's been taking my research modules then replacing them when he thinks I don't know. I can get into big trouble, and so can he if the Aldan ever find out.”

         Fear rippled throughout Ladonno's bones. “Vio, they'll prosecute you for treason!”

         “I know—I know! I'm sneaking into the Palace tonight to retake my equipment, and I'm going to do a little spy work on what dad and General Vidary are up to.”

         “What!” Ladonno's heart skipped a beat. His hands began to shake and his skin flushed. “Are you insane? Vio no, I forbid you!”

         Vio's expression turned rebellious. “How dare you forbid me of anything? When is the last time you contacted me? What in the universe gives you the right?”

         Ladonno cringed. This argument was his fault. “Vio…”

         “Oh no; the great Ladonno, mighty warrior of the Eighth Galaxy, forbids his sister of retaking what rightfully belongs to her? I think not!”

         “Vio, I’m sorry. I don’t have the right”

         “No, you don’t. What’re you going to do Ladonno, contact Mom? She's very busy with her work in the Coven.”

         “I’ve no intention contacting Mom, but you’re…”

         “I’m able to take care of myself. Mom’s attention has been devoted to locating a secret group that has been illegally practicing strange and unknown magical elements. She thinks Dad and General Vidary are amongst them. ”

         There she went trying to change the subject. “So Dad’s stealing your research for something, and you can only guess why. And Mom’s investigating a group that she suspects to be practicing unsanctioned magic. Do you put it past Dad?”

         Vio’s shoulders lowered. “No”

         “It’s obvious that he’s involved in secret activities, so does spying on him sound smart? No. It sounds dangerous. Vio you’re brilliant, but sometimes—I swear that you don’t have any common sense.”

         Her eyes narrowed and her mouth went straight. “I’m finished with this conversation.”

         She had better not end the holograph. “Vio, please hear me out. I know that you work for the Aldan now, but that doesn’t mean that you’re a spy. Those people spent their childhoods in rigorous training before they were able to graduate and become Aldan.”

         “I know far more about the Aldan’s organization than you”

         “Then you know that you’re not trained to do what they can. Please, just wait for Dad to return your module, and then keep all of your equipment at the space-station where you work. Vio, I don't want you to get hurt.”

         She glanced away. “I won't get hurt” When her eyes returned they appeared soft and pleading. “Don’t worry about me Ladonno. Like you said, I'm Dad's little princess. At worst he'll force me to move back into the Palace where he can keep an eye on me. I’ll just stick close to Mom and the Coven.”

         “Vio, you're playing a dangerous game.”

         “I'm preparing to make my descent into Vega. Illonnia is beneath me now and traffic is starting to get bad. Ladonno, I don’t want to argue with you. Don’t worry about me.”

         “If I have to come home to save you, I'm gonna be—,”

         Vio ended the holograph.

         Ladonno growled, and then took in a deep breath. He could not allow it to bother him. This was why he did not contact his sister.

         He had to let it go.