Chapter 1 pt 4
The Family
soundtrack
Even from Tsu Jinn City, the roar of the crowds and scores of Oahn people echoed for kilometers in any direction. The Nation of Oah was expecting the return of their Lioness
Amadora of Zahn House
The messages were displayed within every home in the Capitol City, Oahnaii as billions watched digital monitors of every size in awe of the Eleventh Knights Fleet of ships. Their presence so low in the atmosphere heralded the arrival of the only being to command the fleet, Amadora. The larger vessels remain hovering over the city while a private transport accompanied by one hundred of fighter craft surrounding the transport that carried Amadora. Seeming a brilliant access joyous occasion, the revelers on balconies and streets cheered, save a few watching from ZanhnHome. Sanna of Staihne House walks side by side with her Daughter, Theodora into the large Common Room and looks over as Amazon Commander Elizabeth Amadeus glares at the monitor in disgust instead of glee.
"Does something trouble you Commander? You seem distraught at the appearance of your Mother's fleet?"
She tilts her head only slightly never breaking her curious stare at her Commanding Officer, who speaks in assurance, though, breaking her gaze and after pondering quickly
"I was watching the flight patterns of her escorts. I dislike the way they flew. Nothing more Subordinate!"
Elizabeth walks quickly around Sanna and her daughter, into the main open common room.
Sanna turns to face the monitor as the display shows the private transport landing in front of ZahnHome. She smiles at the notion that she was watching something live that was occurring in front of the house she was now standing in. She rushes behind Ellie then slows to match her pace as does Theodora. Sanna looks to Ellie asking
"Commander? If I might ask? Where are your...."
Elizabeth freezes in her tracks, turning to face Sanna scolding her with her very eyes and grim visage
"You were going to ask about my children? They fell to their dreams Subordinate. I had their elder siblings take them to their rooms."
Sanna looks forward and stops smiling. The grand doors to the Common Room open and Amadora walks in with her wings spread, her armor glistening in the light of the Oahn Sun. Her white lower gown bristles and sways. Her own soldiers follow but as she enters the Eleventh Knights Centaurii stop and bow at the door. She descends a modest stair step and stands before her daughter.
"One is pleased to see you and be home fairchild. Have you finished assembling the gate atop the mountain?"
Elizabeth faces down and bends a knee to her Superior. She doesn't raise her eyes to meet her Mother's as Sanna and Her daughter, the Centaurii and Ellie's Husband Bo-Shawn kneel on one knee and rise. Elizabeth places one hand into her fist as a salute. Sanna smiles still looking down as Ellie does as Amadora now smiles speaking,
"Dearest Girl, come. Tell me about your time since my departure?"
Sanna brushes past Ellie rushing toward Amadora, ascending two steps, holding her hands toward her friend. Amadora grasps Sanna's hands in delight. Amadora looks about the common room tilting at each corner slightly and still smiling,
"Where are your children?"
She asks this of her daughter Elizabeth without directly asking her. Sanna answers in Ellie's place, looking back at Ellie with a smirk on her face and a raised eyebrow,
"They sleep."
She casts her gaze mockingly at Ellie who answers her Mother
"They had a long day.."
Amadora brushes off her daughters words turning away and clicking her teeth. Sanna stands steadily next to her Lioness. Ellie just glares at her Mother's back as Sanna walks hand in hand with her giggling and looking back at Ellie and silently scoffing. She looks left and down at Theodora, taking her hand and introducing her to the Amazon Lioness. Ellie continues watching as the three walked ahead of her. Ellie turns facing Bo-Shawn as the group reaches the stairwell leading to the upper rooms. She keeps her eyes fixed on him signaling him. Bo-Shawn stops the command troops that arrived with him to stop at the stairs. Ellie, her Mother and Sanna continue up. The Elder Children, Apollo, Aries, Dianna and Athena sit, awaiting their Mother's arrival. For Dianna this moment feels like her real family she remembers from her childhood, though of late, she has barely come home from her studies at the Forensic Science Center at the Spartan Academy. Unlike her Sister Athena, who was already a trained Amazon Cadet, Dianna was tested as non-combatant and therefore elected to be a Spartan Officer, something her Mother Elizabeth despised but accepted. Her Grandmother never spoke to her Mother with unkindness or malice in her voice, today seemed different though. The children of Zahn House were terrified for their younger siblings, having learned that Amadora wanted to take an ascendant child to her newly discovered planet.
As they ascend the stately staircase to the children's rooms above, Elizabeth waves over the Captain of her House Guard, not her son Apollo or Aries, but the regent of Zahn House who was loyal to Ellie and her Husband Bo-Shawn, Captain Elizar Macbeth. He briskly walks toward Ellie as she asks whispering,
"Did the transport I summoned arrive yet?"
He nods and she whispers again just out of earshot of her mother who never trained to use her meta-hearing.
"When I signal you to do so, You'll remove what I command and fly directly to Mount Zahadume with me and my Daughter later lest I commands otherwise, make certain there's no pilot other than yourself."
Again, he nods speaking into his wrist-bound communicator. After arriving at the foot of the second floor hall, Amadora points to the first door, careful to remind Sanna to be quiet so as not to disturb the children sleeping. No sooner does her subordinate and best friend open the first door than does Amadora raise her hand and close her eyes, aiming her open hand at the child in bed. She waivers slightly seeing that the boy is not levitating. A sign that he slept like a mortal Oahn and therefore not ascended.
"Pity, he may have been a fine officer. Are all of your children civilian and non ascendant Child?"
She looks to Ellie
"Save one. Rianna. She is an ascendant child Mother."
Her plan was working and as Amadora continued walking she aimed her hand at each door opened by Sanna. Finally arriving at Riri's door where she felt the arc energies within the child.
"Her Aurii is powerful, as mine. Subordinate, dress my granddaughter and have her moved downstairs. I would speak with her Mother."
Elizabeth stands before her Mother as Amadora begins describing her plans, though, Ellie already knew them.
"I shall have my Centaurii Eleventh Knights travel to my new world where I will build a new seat for the Oahn Government, my Subordinate will remain here on Oah with you Elizabeth. She is not an Ascendant Being. When we arrive I'm certain she'll insure everything goes as I will it to and you will carry out her commands as HER subordinate Officer."
Ellie turns immediately and glaring to Sanna of Staihne House, as she stands smiling proudly. Without actually saying anything, she remembers the laws written for her Amazon and Centaurii Academies. You must be an Ascendant being to train in either the Male or Female armed services. Now, everything was perfect for as the law clearly dictates, she has every right to her plan. Ellie faces her mother,
"Yes my beloved Commander. It will be done."
The day passes normal for Oah, as celebrations all round gather note among the noble houses. Through an interface broadcast and holographic projection, Amadora tells the senior and Elder leaders of the noble houses of what she is going to do.
"Oah, the nation I guided to rebuild itself, hear me. One will away to the twin planet I have discovered with my Eleventh Knights Fleet. My daughter has outfitted and had built on each of my ships a means to travel faster and farther. Though, I myself do not understand the engineering or technical aspects of it all, I trust that the Child of Zahn House will provide as she was commanded. Further, I leave you in the capable hands of the Centaurii Senate and It's new Commander. In my travel to this new world, I have asked my child to build a robotic work force to build a city so that when I come to land, We will have a home there. In time after settling this twin world, we will return and many of Oahs Noble families will enjoy travel there. My child will send the one ascendant being from her house with me, her Daughter Rianna. As Oahn Law has defined I do under articles of protection of the Lioness. I will see this twin planet now. Fare thee well, Oah."
The broadcast cuts off access Amadoras Apothis Unit stops glowing, settling down and hovering next to the Lioness.
Elizabeth watches and taps a message to her own Apothis Unit
"Command my Mothers Apothis Unit to take control of her fleets network the moment they leave Oahn orbit."
Apothis responds with one word
"Compliance"
With her voice heard by the elders and her family, Amadora boards her transport. Ellie and Rianna walk hand in hand towards the transport that brought Amadora. She looks about and to her mother.
"I can hear your mind."
Ellie thinks harder so that her daughter can hear, but no other can,
("Don't let my Mother know you can hear thoughts or see great distances. I'll bring you back as soon as your brothers and sisters are reborn. It will be a few days but I'll find you.")
Through the walk and as the world watched, Ellie never spoke a word but to her and her daughter Rianna, they've spoken volumes. Rianna replies to her mother's thoughts, "Yes Mother."
Amadora waves to Rianna as one of the Soldiers accompanying them to the transport walks down a ramp and grasps Riri by her arm. He walks hurriedly towards Amadora who ignores her presence altogether as the soldier and Riri rush past. Amadora smiles at Sanna and never once makes eye contact with Elizabeth, who simply looks down.
After all this time, building and forming the Amazon Academies, the Centaurii Academies, the ships she's built access technological advancements she's made for her world, her own Mother ignores her and never once bothered to learn the science behind the technology Elizabeth and her Husband created.
It was perfect. The House Guard and Elizabeth along with her Husband Bo-Shawn watch the transport leave. Smaller and smaller until Ellie is certain they're gone. She turns her attention to Sanna who smiles looking at her and speaks softly
"What a wonderful turn of events Elizabeth. You are now my subordinate and I command. Isn't that delightful?"
Ellie balls her fists waving to her husband.
Bo-Shawn immediately signals the House Guard as they surround Sanna as her smile vanishes, replaced instantly by confusion. Ellie smiles, Looking to the Romajii Commander at her Husband's side, Elizar Macbeth,
"This woman has broken Amazon law, I'm going to arrest her. See to it that she doesn't leave this common room, I will return soon."
The Centaurii Captain obeys as his soldiers quickly raise arms at Sanna. She still looks confused and glares at Ellie. As Elizabeth walks for the Dining Hall, she spots the frail girl with fire red hair, Theodora. She approaches her gently seating next to her.
"Are you proud to be an Oahn beloved?"
The little girl looks up in wonder having heard all of the amazing tales of Amazon warriors such as Ellie.
"Oh yes oh yes Lady Amadeus, I am!"
Ellie smiles and gracefully speaks to the girl
"Wonderful fairchild, and what would you do if someone in your house betrayed the Amazon way?"
The little girl frowns at the words knotting her brow in retort
"As Lady Amadeus says, treason has no place in the Amazon Way. I would tell you oh so quickly dear lady, yes."
Elizabeth again smiles standing then speaking,
"Apothis, broadcast planet wide please. Relay holographic interface so all of Oah can see."
Apothis carries out is command instantly, as every city and home on Oah suddenly displays the image if Elizabeth Amadeus walking and speaking.
"Dearest child, there is a traitor in your house. Would you like to see this person?"
Theodora jumps from her seat and takes Ellie by her hand. Exclaiming her disbelief
"In my house? A member of my family?"
Her soft voice filling the halls of ZahnHome as her image displays, then Ellie's.
"Yes beloved. I will take you to this traitor myself."
Every eye watching, Ellie walks the girl into the common room of her home, facing Sanna. As Ellie gracefully walks, she holds Theodora's hand up, as if to let anyone watching know, Theodora can leave her hand at anytime. Though, throughout the walk, Theodora never releases her grip and sights her Mother, Sanna surrounded by House Guards.
Theodora tugs at Elizabeth's hand,
"Is that the traitor Lady Amadeus?"
Ellie looks down to the girl and nods. Theodora looks away from her Mother. Elizabeth looks at Sanna and freezes with Theodora in hand addressing everyone watching,
"This Soldier, is no soldier. She is not an Ascendant being and has no right to command the Amazon."
Sanna moves forward, heading for Ellie but is cut off quickly by Athena, Ellie's daughter, who has no problem aiming a gun at her head. Sanna withdraws looking down as Elizabeth addresses her now,
"You never trained to be an Amazon. You never ascended nor have you graduated from Amazon Academy. Your title is not earned, you have betrayed the Amazon Angelus way. You are in defiance of the Law, what say you?"
Sanna looks up at Ellie,
"I was granted this title by the Lioness.."
Ellie stops her mid sentence
"My Mother is gone! She's not coming back! Ever! You will never see command here or anywhere else! I'll never be your subordinate."
She levels off and raises Theodora's hand with her own. The two turn away and walk as Elizabeth orders Athena, her daughter,
"Execute the traitor. Once you have, remove Sanna's corpse from my home. I have a transport outside awaiting. Pilot it to the Tithus moon and leave her body there. Far away from us."
Athena whispers under her breath
"It will be done Mother."
Sanna looks on in disbelief as her own daughter walks away holding hands with Ellie. She never looks back. Sanna's eyes well up as Athena stands before her blocking her view of Theodora. She drops to her knees as Atty tells her,
"Don't worry, my Mother will train her to be the Amazon you never could be."
She takes aim at Sanna's, forehead and fires off one round watching the shell fly through her skull, entering and exiting through causing Sanna's, hair to raise from the back due the force exerted.
Sanna drops dead as her lifeless eyes cast a gaze out to the beyond. Athena carries out her order as Apollo carries the body behind her.
Meanwhile, Ellie summons her daughter Dianna and informs her
"The children will awaken soon and their wounds inflicted will heal, when that happens we will prepare for their rebirth."
Dianna asks her Mother
"What about Grandmother? Amadora will surely return upon discovering her friends death?"
Ellie smiles and places her hand upon her daughters shoulder,
"You don't understand. She can't come back. I designed those ships to break down after one venture. Their power supply will diminish to nothing the moment they arrive at the twin planet. The planet itself will die as soon as the farthest sun goes supernova. One half of the twin planet will be destroyed. My mother can never return as the gate I designed is controlled solely by me. From here. I've doomed her to remain on a lifeless rock for all her days because she never took the time to learn about mechanics, technology or science. She took her powers for granted assuming I'd be loyal to her forever. But I didn't betray her, she betrayed Oah. She allowed laws to be written that she herself broke with.
I must go to Mount Zahadume and bring Rianna home. I'll be back before the children are reborn."
(Tbc)