Bright light surrounded the shuttle and they both felt a wave of energy ripple through the shuttle.  A brighter flash and they were gone, catapulted across thousands of kilometers into space.

“We have made it into Tash-Murkon Prime”, Ga’len spoke with the sound of relief in his voice, “We need dock at a station here and refuel.  Do you have any preferences?”

“The station at Planet II, Moon 1, the Kaalakiota Corporation Factory?” asked Leainati, “That should do well.  The computer shows that there is a very active market there.  We can get fuel and anything else we need.”

As Ga’len read the status panel on the navigation display, the shuttle lurched violently.  Sparks flew out from the control panel, fire sprang forth from another panel to his left and the cabin was filled with alarm sounds.

Ga’len could barely hear himself above the din as he yelled, “WE NEED TO GET INTO THE EVA SUITS, THE HULL IS BREAKING OPEN!!!”"

As the hull tore open, there was nothing but silence.  The peaceful quiet of deep vacuum was all around as the wreckage of the shuttle flew apart.

***

Beep…….Beep…….Beep…..Beep….., the sound pierces the darkness.  Slowly, Ga’len opened his eyes.  The blurry world that surrounded him was dark, but things were coming into focus.  He could see blackness all around him.  In the distance, the stars were beginning to pierce the blackness that surrounded him.  He moved his arm to rub his eyes, but his hand hit the face glass of his helmet.

I am floating in space…, Ga’len thought.  Quickly, he checked the datapad on his sleeve, his suit was working properly.  The emergency locator beacon was working, signaling for any rescue ships to come retrieve him.  The scanner showed that he was near the stargate, debris was all around him.

Thoughts were racing through his mind, What happened?  Where was Leainati? Opening the comms array on the suit he yelled, “Leainati!  Are you there?!?!”

All Ga’len could hear was static.  He was alone, alone in the black.  Alone waiting for the Amarr Navy rescue ship to close the distance and bring him to safety.

The coms on his EVA suit sprang to life, “Attention pilot, this is TMP patrol ship 265.  We are moving in to retrieve you.  Are you injured?”

“I don’t think so,” Ga’len replied, “Do you have the woman who was aboard the shuttle with me?”

Ga’len’s heart sunk as he listened to the response from TMP patrol ship 265, “We are sorry, we have picked up numerous emergency beacons as there are several ships that were destroyed by the pirate attack near the stargate.  We are a bit overwhelmed at the moment and doing what we can.  We will retrieve you shortly, standby.”

As Ga’len waited his turn to be rescued, he began to survey the carnage that lay before him.  Floating in the emptiness were pieces of wreckage, pieces of what could only be bodies and almost 300 ships with the DED banner on their hulls.  Something had happened at the stargate that CONCORD sent a large presence to the location.

What could have loosed such destruction in Empire space?, Ga’len’s thoughts continued to wander, Leainati, where are you? Are you safe?  Why don’t you answer?

***

The room was darker now, the light of the Otou star no longer filled the window.  Ga’len was still sitting in his chair, still reading the datapad and his disbelief was turning to joy.

She was alive, Ga’len thought to himself, Alive and well.

“So my sister,” Ga’len whispered as he looked out at the stars, “So, you are alive. I need to find you.”

Ga’len put down his datapad and activated the console on the desk.  He began looking through the database and reading all the Scope news reports about the incident in Yulai as well as the new war between the Minmater and the Amarr.  Empress Jamyl I had abolished slavery, but the atrocities continue against the Minmater people.

The Neo Spartans have been good to me, but perhaps it’s time for a change, Ga’len’s thoughts spring to and fro, Perhaps it’s time to strike out on my own again.  Throw caution to the wind and wander as I once did.  I need to find Leainati.  It’s time…”

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Cerah he was dreaming of Tanitel again.  Tanitel, the loyal ‘Minnie footman’, she thought as she dreamed.

It was over twenty years ago when she met Tan.  Cerah was learning, at the protest of her parents, all she could about the Minmatar people.  Tan was her guide in this journey into the forbidden knowledge of the slaves.  Nonetheless, Cerah pursued all she could learn and in turn, pursued her guide.  He was a strong man, proud with tradition and yet he treated her as if she was as close as kin.  Over time, Tan and Cerah did fell in love.  Such things happen when people spend time with one another.  In Amarrian, society ‘love relations’ do occur between the Amarr and their slaves, but it is not usually a mutual love, more of lustful abuse of the slaves.

Cerah and Tanitel had a different love.  A true love, one that you read about in the books of old.  Such ‘equal love’ had to be kept secret.  It had to remain hidden from the Amarrian world.  To allow their love to become known would have meant death for the both of them.

Painful it was, honoring the wishes of her parents to marry Galen Grendalis the IV.  She had no choice.  An arranged marriage on their world was not something that one could simply walk away from or at least, walk away alive.  The Grendalis family was one of the most powerful on Oris.  Her parents would have thought it an honor to marry into that family.  It was her curse to be wed to such a man.  His cruelty towards the Minmatar was well known.  He was the slayer of slaves.

Through everything, Tan was still there and alive.  He had been picked as her loyal footman, to tend to her needs when she was venturing beyond the grounds of the manor.  Some thought it odd that an Amarrian woman would have such a trusted slave, but it was not unheard of in the Empire.  To allow such an Amarrian Lady to fall into harms way would result in the destruction of many Minmatar villages.  It was point of honor to protect those women, yet another stone of oppression to hold over the collective heads of the Minmatar people.

Slowly, she opened her eyes.  It was dark again; night had fallen as she slept through the day.  She felt weak, drained.  The news that her son Galen would face the whip in the morning brought tears to her eyes again.  Softly she sobbed as she lay in her bed.

A quiet whisper sneaked out from the darkness, “Do not be sad my love.  All is not lost.”  Tanitel’s words floated through the night and settled upon Cerah’s troubled mind like the warm rays of the springtime sun.

“Tan, oh my Tan.  You have snuck in here again.  I have missed you these past few months.”  Cerah’s voice was weak and filled with pain.

“My love, I have a wonderful gift for you, “Tanitel spoke softly as he placed the data pad into her cold hand, “Look at your son…and our daughter.”

Cerah’s eye opened widely.  She stared at Tanitel and with tears filling her blue eyes, “Daughter?  I can not know anything of her, if Galen was to learn what I knew, she would be in danger.”

Tanitel smiled and helped Cerah to sit upright.  As he put his arm around her, he took the data pad and held it so they could both see the picture.

“Cerah, the Five will leave the Eight, you remember those words, don’t you?”  Tanitel whispered gently, “Galen Grendalis the Fifth and his sister Leainati have left Oris.  So look at your family my love, they are free.”

Cerah looked at the picture, “Oh, she is so beautiful.  Galen and Leainati, they are gone?  They have left?”

“Yes my love,” continued Tanitel, “Leainati rescued Ga’len from the chapel and they took a shuttle off planet.  Soon they will be too far for danger to reach them.”

“Ga’len?” asked Cerah, “you called him Ga’len, why?”

“It is the name Seenan has given him.  His new life needed a new name and he seemed to like it,” Tanitel held Cerah closer.

Cerah smiled and closed her eyes, “They are free.  Free to live their lives.  At last…”

Her breathing grew shallow and her embrace grew weaker.  Slowly she drifted away into sleep in Tanitel’s arms.  Slower and slower, he weak breath escaped her lips until it was quiet.

The room seemed to grow darker as Tanitel realized that he was alone.  The Five had left the Eight and so had Cerah’s life too slipped away this night.

Tanitel lightly kissed her on the lips, “Sleep my love, and be free.  It has been too long.  Your wishes will be honored.”

***

Dawn came to Oris quietly.  The sun slowly crept up across the horizon, spreading its light over the mountains, down into the valley and across the fields.  The Minmatar slaves had already been working for hours in the dark and they were about to begin their morning meal break, but this morning would be different.

Galen Grendalis the Fourth had called an assembly at the chapel.  Here within the chapel and on view screens all over the installation, everyone would watch the wrath of Galen befall those who would attack and kill Amarrian guards.  They would all witness yet another beating but this time, it was another Amarr citizen, his son.  All was going according to plan, Galen Grendalis was much too happy with himself.  Soon he would show all those who had been disobedient that he was their ruler and his power was uncontestable.

The knock on the door shattered the serenity of his morning meal.  “WHY DO YOU DISTURB ME?!?!?  ENTER!”,  Galen shouted.

The door slowly opened and the standing in full armor was Nathorn, the head of the house guard.  He was a large man, broad shoulders.  His face was clean; his hair was always perfectly presentable.  He always stood tall and possessed an arrogant and commanding presence, but this morning, he stood in a half-bent over cower.  It was clear that he was very unsettled, something was very wrong on this morning.

“Milord, I am most sorry to bring you this sad news.”  Nathorn’s voice was trembling with fear.  The news must be severe for this man to be filled with fear.

“WELL, OUT WITH IT YOU FOOL!”  Galen grew impatient.  He hated to be disturbed in the morning.

Nathorn continued, “The doctor visited upon your wife, the Lady Cerah this morning and has discovered that she has passed.  I am so sorry milord; please accept the condolences of myself, my family, and the house guard.”

Galen Grendalis sat there in his chair.  He paused his chewing for a moment and looked up at Nathorn.  “This is why you have disturbed me?  To tell me that ungrateful bitch, that rotting corpse in my bed has finally succumbed to her laziness?  Tell me, “Galen’s voice was filled with contempt, “why I should not have you killed?  Sad news?  This is good news.  She is finally dead, good riddance!”

Nathorn remained motionless and stuck in is half-cowering stance.  “There is more milord,” his voice was very broken, and he was shaking in fear, “It would seem that your son has escaped from the chapel during the night.”

“WHAT!?!?!?!?!  WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE HAS ESCAPED!”, Galen flew up out of his chair and ran across the room.  He drew his knife that he always kept on his belt and slashed out at Nathorn’s throat.   The blade clanged against the neck armor and then fell to the floor.

“NATHORN, YOU WILL FIND MY SON AND BRING HIM TO THE CHAPEL NOW!  YOU HAVE TEN MINUTES AND IF YOU DO NOT BRING HIM, I WILL MAKE SURE I GET THROUGH YOUR ARMOR NEXT TIME!”, Galen’s voice was filled with rage enough to push Nathorn out of the room.

Nathorn called out, “GUARDS!  GUARDS!  FIND GALEN GRENDALIS THE FIFTH IMMEDIATLY!”

Galen stormed out of the room, stopping only to pick up his knife.  As he exited the doorway, the slashed out with his knife and killed the first man he saw.  The servant who was moving the body of Cerah Grendalis found his throat cut wide open, he fell to the ground with a gurgling choke, and blood sprayed everywhere.

The cleric escorting the body spoke, “Milord!  Please stop!  We understand you may be distraught with the passing of you wife, but…,” the servant’s voice was stopped short and the blade slashed out again, cutting his shoulder deeply.  He ran away down the hall, screaming in pain.

Galen Grendalis the ‘slayer of slaves’ was on a rampage and anyone who fell into his path would die.  The manor was going to become a bloody place again.

***

Hidden in the shadows in the hallway, Tanitel observed the carnage.

“How fortunate, his rage has helped me for once,” Tanitel thought, “With that dammed cleric gone tending his wounded shoulder and unfortunately the servant dead, Cerah has been left alone.  My love, as I promised, your wishes will be honored.”

Tanitel moved quickly, picked up Cerah in his arms, and ran down the east hall, ducked around the corner and headed into the secret passage he had come to depend on.  In another moment, he was out of the manor and safely heading into the woods.

Deeper into the woods, Tanitel tried to make his way as quietly as he could.  He would soon be missed the morning meal.  He had managed to elude being seen and unbeknownst him, missed as the first shift began its work in the fields.

Deeper and deeper Tanitel traveled, towards the old ruins.

It would be here, as Cerah had told him long ago, that he would build the pyre.  It would be here that Cerah Grendalis would finally see her freedom from this life.

“Soon my love, soon you will be free among the starts,” Tanitel’s thoughts drifted from Cerah’s last wish and their daughter, “This is so cruel Leainati.  You barely knew your mother and now she is gone.”

Further and further into the forest Tanitel silently moved.  Soon, soon it will all be over.

***

Seenan was gathered with many workers from the first shift.  She was standing in front of on of the man view screens that normally showed the current production numbers, which teams were behind and news bursts that usually showed her fellow slaves being beaten for simply not working as hard as their masters demanded.

This morning, there was supposed to be a special viewing of a disciplinary action in the chapel.  She chuckled quietly to herself, as she knew well; the poor soul that was bound in the chapel was now light-years away from Oris.

A low murmur began to spread through the crowd.  The guards were all talking into their communications gear; there were panicked looks on their faces.

“Something is not right…or was it?” Seenan thought to herself, “Lord Grendalis must be in a rage over  Ga’len’s escape.  That must be it.”

The guards began moving people into formation for a count.  They all seemed very frantic, their eyes filled with fear.  This Seenan expected however, one of the guards looked as if he had been crying.  He was so distraught that he dropped his weapon.

Seenan immediately fell to her knees and cowered away from the guard.  No slave was to ever stand if a guard was not armed.  The guard quickly picked up his weapon and spoke with a shaky voice, “On your feet, form up.”

“Yes sir…if I may speak?”  Seenan spoke boldly, “normally we do not care much for you guards, but something is bothering, is it not?”

The guard’s eyes narrowed and he looked as if he was about to strike Seenan, but he stopped himself and spoke, “No, this I will not do, not today,” his voice was filled with grief, “Yes, something is wrong.  Your Lady Grendalis has passed into the next life.  She died in her sleep last night and you will…”

Before the guard could finish her sentence, he saw that Seenan’s eyes were filling with tears.  She fell to her knees and sobbed softly.  Her ankle still ached with pain.  She put a hand on her ankle to try to hold back the pain.

As she looked up at the guard, she spoke warmly, “Dear sir, I can see that you morn her.  Know that you are not alone in your grief.  The Lady Grendalis was always kind to me and mine.  Her light will be missed in all our lives, “Seenan continued, “You honor her on this day by not striking me, by not showing me the violence that she hated with her entire being.  I shall honor your kindness by my submission.  Do with me as you will.”

The guard was taken aback by this display.  How could a lowly slave touch his heart?  His eyes began to fill with tears.  He hid his face with his hand and shouted, “You two there, help this woman, her leg is injured.  Take her to the infirmary at once.  Lord Grendalis will want all his slaves to be able to work double hard after this delay today.”

The guard, after wiping his face clean, looks at Seenan through mournful eyes and mouthed two words, Thank you.

***

When Seenan arrived at the infirmary, her ankle had begun to stop its protest of pain.  Regardless, she administered a pain reliever and put on a brace.  She had to hurry; Tanitel would be making his way to the old ruins.  There was much work to do.

She returned to her barracks and gather what she would need, including the urn she had kept hidden for Tanitel.

“Seenan, is it true?  Has Lady Cerah died?” asked one of the infirmary’s attendants.

“Yes, her light has left us my friend.  Pass the word, at dusk we meet at the old ruins deep in the forest,” Seenan’s eyes began to fill with tears again, “Tonight we honor her memory.”

Continued

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Questions or comments should be directed here, and if you are interested in signing up to participate go here.  Anyone can submit source materials, to do so email them to us here.  And don’t forget to read the other EVE Blog Challenge posts that will be listed at the bottom of this post.

This months source materials were submitted up by AnMiTh from EVE Guru.

The sun glistens off the side of the Blade of Truth as she slowly glides through space towards the station orbiting Amarr. This has been the end of a long journey, Leaianti had to go through the fire and brimstone of hell, but you made it in one piece. Those Sansha pirates were right when they said it would be tough, they were also right when they said she would be rich.

The ship glides to a stop as the station’s docking computer takes over control of  Blade of Truth.  Before Leainati is even ready to exit her pod the request is sent to her computer… “They” are ready for you in the meeting hall, they are anxious to hear about the journey and the status of the mission that she was on.

Those Sansha pirates were supposed to meet with both her and Ga’len to finalize the payments for ‘stolen loot’.

Ga’len, it had been so long since she had seen her half-brother Ga’len.  Years had gone by and their paths always seemed to not be able to cross.  There was the time in Hek when the Minmatar gate police were chasing around Ga’len or that time when she had recently castrated an Amarr bishop who was molesting those little boys.

There was always something getting in the way.

The shower was a blessing.  It had been four months in space without a break.  Leaianti did not mind spending time suspended in that Jovian goo, but it is always nice to get out and move about using your legs instead of a ship’s thrusters.  The warm water flowed over her body, caressing away the stress of the past four months.  If only all things in life we filled with the brief, bittersweet joys of cleaning one’s skin.  If only all the troubles in life could simply be washed away into the drain in the floor.

Trogon was standing in the meeting hall.  He was a short man, twisted back and grotesque features from years of abusing those narcotics that the Serpentis pirates sold him each week.  He thought himself a giant, a gift to the women of the universe.  Most people thought otherwise.  He saw her and yelled, “Leaianti!  It is good to see you again!  That uniform does you no justice, take it off and I will show you…” He stopped short.  A knife was at his throat and an evil smile was on Leaianti’s face.

“Don’t test me little man.  I am not interested in you showing me your delusions of adequacy.  I am not a plaything for you to fret about with your little tools.  I have dropped off the last of the cargo into your storage area.  I expect to be paid now.  Pay me and answer my question, where is everyone?”  Leaianti’s commanding voice made Trogon cower like the troll that he was.

“Don’t think that a free ‘Minnie-bitch’ can cut a man’s throat on an Amarr station,” he hissed.  His eyes glaring at her body as if she was a piece of meat, “Now, where shall I put….” his voice seized in his throat as the knife pressed harder into his skin.

“You can put whatever trifles you are thinking about back into you dreams.  I am not your toy; do not even try to play with me.  Now give me my money and answer my question, where is everyone?” Leainati’s patience was wearing thin.  This Sansha pirate needed to die but it would have to wait.  She needed the money she was owed.

“Calm yourself, I meant no harm.  If you would be so kind to put your knife away, we can conclude our business,” Trogan’s eyes were wide with fear.  As Leainati sheathed her knife, he quickly typed away on his data pad.  A sharp trilling from her data pad confirmed that the money had been transferred, “Now that our business is concluded, what is your price?  You are simply too beautiful to not have me.  Many a woman has wanted to lay with me.  I can be your greatest adventure!  How much to ride you like the ‘Minnie-bitch’ that you are!”

Silence.

There was just silence in the air.  It hung thick as Trogon stopped talking.  The silence held him upright as he stood in complete shock.  It held him there as a spot of blood formed at the center of his neck and slowly spread in a thin horizontal line around his neck.  The silence continued to hold his body firm as his head slowly tilted to the left and fell from his neck.  His hands twitched slightly and then the whole of his frame slowly, silently, collapsed to the floor.  The silence was only broken as the sound of blood dripping from Leainati’s knife slowly, patted upon the floor.

“His blood was simply not worth spilling, but alas, the deed is done.  Good thing too, I wanted to shoot him.  He should be nicer to my sister,” Ga’len’s voice rang out from the shadows as he slowly stepped into the light of the meeting hall.

“BROTHER,” Leainati yelled as she ran towards him.  They embraced each other as she spoke, “I have missed you so much.  Did you loose another Capsule?  You have no hair!”

Ga’len smiled, “No.  Being the pirate that I am, I cannot simply fly into the Amarr system.  The gate police will shoot me on site.  Fortunately, I still had a jump clone here.  It was the easiest way to get into the station.  As long as I behave myself, the police on the station will take no notice of me being here.  Of course, still having my identification documents for Galen Grendalis the Fifth.  That helps to distract their attention from my ‘Yarr-ish’ lifestyle.”

“So, since you always behave like yourself, I would guess you can answer my question as to where are all the other Sansha pirates I was supposed to meet,” Leainati grinned as she spoke.  She knew her brother well.

Ga’len chuckled and smiled, “Over here, in the trash chute.  The Fedoes are enjoying themselves.  It’s a good thing they don’t care what they eat.”

Leainati and Ga’len worked quickly to clean up the mess that was left of Trogon and headed out of the meeting hall.  Across the promenade they walked, towards a quiet bar.  After ordering drinks and some food, they headed to a booth in the back where they could talk in private.

“So tell me ‘blue-eyes’, how the hell you managed to steal all that stuff and make it back from Venal,” Ga’len was looking at her with much interest.

Leainati smiled and spoke, “It took several trips as my Reaper’s cargo hold is not the largest in New Eden.  I learned a lot about Warp Disruption bubbles and how to avoid them.  I guess being blown up several times with an empty hold made the pirates think twice about shooting me.  No point in trying to loot an empty wreck.  After that, it was just a matter of making the trips to and from Empire Space,” she paused to take a drink of her ale, “So tell me, how is life in the Neo Spartans?  Otou is a nice system I hear.”

“Life is good and yes, I like living in Otou,.  It is a nice system with a lot to see.  As for the Neo Spartans, their style of honorable pirating suits me well, but I feel the urge to wander about the universe more and more.  I must say I was happy and shocked to receive your message.  I thought you had been killed without a clone in Venal,” a tear forms in his eye and his voice breaks, “I thought you were gone.”

Leainati holds his hand, “Dear brother, we are bound to each other by more than this life.  We will never loose each other.  We are free, alive, and immortal Capsuleers.  So, while we are here in Amarr, did you want to go down to Oris and see our old home?  Perhaps visit our mother?”

Ga’len eyes closed for a moment as he collected himself.  It had been years since they both had set foot on Oris and much had changed.  “The manor is gone.  My father’s rage and open rebellion against Empress Jamyl’s emancipation decree destroyed that great house.  He would not free his slaves so the Amarr authorities seized the property.  They killed him when the marines stormed the manor house.”

Leainati sat in shock, “Well, he was an evil man to the end.  What about mother?  I never learned what happened to her after we left.”

Ga’len continued sadly, “She passed away shortly after we left.  Tanitel sent us both a message; I guess yours got lost while you were in Venal.  She saw the pictures Seenan took of us on Tanitel’s data pad, smiled, fell into a deep sleep, and quietly passed away.  Our mother’s ashes were spread among the stars.  Tanitel and Seenan said it was her last wish, to travel among the stars with her children.  It was the last thing they did before they headed to Rens.”

They both sat in silence for a long time.  Leainati was the first to speak again, “So, that history is all that is left.  I guess there is nothing left for us there.”

“No, it’s the past,” Ga’len affirmed, “Now, enough of sadness.  We have our futures to see to.  Let us eat, I am hungry.  Tell me, what is this I hear about some ruffian in Tash-Murkon you have been flirting with.  I hear stories….”

Read more of the EVE Blog Challenge:

• A Mule In EvE, Been a long way back home
• Declarations of War, Internal Unrest
• Into the unknown with a gun and camera, Evie
• Symptom of a greater cure, Sleeping with Sleepers
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Continued from part I…

Seenan’s eyes were wide but her voice was steady and strong.  “My dear, what are you doing?  This man tended to my ankle and has helped me get this far.  Put your knife down!”

Seenan’s daughter could not believe what she was hearing, “Nanna, he’s Amarr, he could not have helped you! This is a trick!!!”

“Oh my dear, he is not the only kind one among those dreadful Amarr heathens.  Put your knife away and help me home.  I will tell you everything.”

This Minmatar youth’s face becomes a classic expression of surprise.  She sheaths her knife and backs away from this curious Amarrian youth.  This simply could not be.  An Amarrian who is kind and caring?  She had not heard of such a thing.  He’s staring at me.  Why is he staring at me?  Too bad he is Amarr, his face is not unpleasant.

Galen could not help himself.  This woman, although apparently deadly, was beautiful.  Her blue eyes just seemed to glow like the morning sky, her face was filled with the beauty of youth.  There was something very familiar about her eyes, but he dismissed it as a fleeting attraction for a beautiful face.

“Nanna, he is Amarr.  They can not be trusted.  They will lie at the drop of a stone.  Look how he stares at me now.  He’s thinking how he can take me to his bed chamber!”  Her hand was now again, holding her knife.

Seenan raised a hand to her daughter and gave Galen a sideways look, winking a subtle wink with one eye before she spoke.  “Oh my, where are my manners.  Leainati, this is Ga’len.  He is a forester for the manor.  He was out to collect the produce from the mushroom growers.  We have crossed paths before and I must tell you, he is not like any Amarr you have met before.  Put away your knife, he is unarmed and he’s just a bit smitten with you.  You know how all the boys like to chase you around.”

Guh len, Ga’len?  That was not my name.  She know who I am but why hide my identity?  Perhaps Leainati would kill me if she knew who I was.  I should play along he thought.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Leainati.  I must admit, I need to head back to the harvesters as soon as possible.  They will be looking for their mushroom shipment at the manor.  Ladies, I believe this is where I take my leave.  I should be heading back.”

“Ga’len, I do not trust you.  You are Amarr, how do I know that you won’t call the guards to kill me?  I threatened your life.”

“Believe me, you can trust me.  If I wanted you dead, you would be lying on the ground by now.  Please understand….”

Suddenly, from down the path, two guards spotted the three of them.

“HALT!!!!  YOU THERE, ON THE GROUND NOW!!!”

Galen turned to his two new friends and yelled, “RUN, RUN!!  GET OUT OF HERE.”

The two guards began to raise their weapons.  Galen ran towards them as fast as he could.  He tackled one of the guards, knocking him to the ground, smashing his head with a deep, resonating thump.

The second guard however, was untouched and smacked Galen against his head with the butt of his rifle.  Everything went dark.

Galen awoke, his head was throbbing as the a nurse standing over him was changing the dressing for the wound on his head.

“M’Lord, it is good to see you awake.  You are in the medbay and you will be fine.  You took a nasty blow to your head.  It’s a good thing that guard recognized you or you would be dead now.  Of course, he would be still be dead for striking a member of the ruling family.  Your father commands your presence immediately.”

Slowly, Galen raised himself from the bed.  The whole room seemed to bounce in his eyes.  Each heartbeat made his head throb more and more.  Breathing only increased the throbbing and hence the wobble of the room.  Slowly, he walked out of the medbay and headed for the throne room.

When Galen arrived, his father was no where to be seen.  The local enforcement magistrate was standing just inside the hall.

“Ah, the rebel has arrived.  It is fortunate you are the son of Galen Grendalis the IV, otherwise you would be dead now.  Fucking ‘Minnie’ lover!!”

Galen stood there and glared at the magistrate.  “You have no right to speak to me with such tone.  Leave my sight now or I will have you removed.”

“Will all due respect M’Lord, you have no right to remove me.  You are under arrest for aiding in the escape of two Minmatar slaves and killing a guard who was in pursuit.  You may be spared severe punishment if you tell us who it was you helped to escape.”

Galen stood as silent as the stone pillars that surrounded the throne room.

“Very well, then you shall be subject to the most severe punishment under the law.  GUARDS, take this traitor to his quarters, he is under house arrest.”

Galen was hung on a toture rack that had been brought into the chapel.  He hung there, his face twisted from the pain of his head and the deep thought, I shall be beaten by my father, the coward.

“So, you did lie to me after all,” the words pierced the darkness of the room.

Galen raises his head slightly and tried to look around.  It was dark in the chapel, but he could make out a familiar face.  Those blue eyes that reflected the moonlight, glowed slightly in the darkness.

“Are you here to kill me with your knife now that you know I lied to you?” Galen asked.

Leainati smiled and looked him square in the eyes.  “Seenan told me everything.  It would seem that not all Amarr are bastards.  It would also seem that you do not want the mantle that was born upon your shoulders.  So tell me, who is this Ga’len person?”

“Seenan made that up, “ she chuckled quietly, “well….Ga’len, Galen.  Not very original, but if I am to free you and we manage to escape, you will need to change your name.  They will hunt you down.”

“Leainati, you are here to free me?  A Minmatar girl freeing an Amarr boy.”

“Yes, well, Seenan said this to me, ‘Together you will both be free and in time, so will we all’, or something like that.”

Leainati took her knife and soon he was free of the rack.

“What now blue eyes?”

Leainati held the knife to his throat.  “Let’s get this straight.  I am proud of my name, it’s Leainati.  Seenan gave me my name and I will always carry it.  Just because it means ‘blue eyed warrior’ in some ancient language does not mean you can jokingly toss it’s around, got it?”

“So, what does Ga’len mean then?”

“You will have to ask Seenan when you see her, come on, we must get out of here quickly.”

Continue to part III

More of The Bleeding Rose

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• A Blade of Truth, part I (2)

As this blog post states, part II will go live on Monday, May 11th.  You will be able to see it in your RSS reader (insert shameless plug for the EVE Player Blogs OPML Download) with your morning updates as well as on the site at 5:10 am EDT.

To be honest, this back story for my character Ga’len is something that I have been toying around with in my head for some time.  I am truly glad I decided to finally write it out and share it with you all.  I am even more happy that so many of you enjoyed part I.

Part III is mostly finished, just some editing to do.  I plan to release part III for your enjoyment by June 1.  I have  part IV already in the works and it is coming along nicely.

Again, I want to thank everyone for their feedback on this little project of mine and again, thank you for reading!!!

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It was a calm, warm, beautiful spring day.  The windows were open and the light breeze from the sea was gently blowing across the room.  Galen Grendalis the Fifth was sitting in his room, holding his head, wishing the room to be still.  The wound still ached, even with the large amount of painkillers that he had taken.  He just sat there, waiting for his father to award him his punishment.

“Damn him.  Why must my father insist that I act without honor.  Those ‘Minnies’ in the fields, they are humans too, why should I punish them?  What crime have they committed?  They work hard to feed us all.  They are the lifeblood of the Empire,” Galen exclaimed passionately,” Why does he insist that I still beat them?  She was hurt and needed help.  She welcomed my help.  Those guards were going to kill them, I had to do what I did.  Curse them.”

The door to his room opened and in barged his father, Lord Galen Grendalis the Fourth.  His robes furiously flowed into the room, his malice ever present in his glaring eyes and his hands were with anger and his usual self righteous fury.

“GALEN!!!  WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!?!?!,” Lord Grendalis bellowed, ”BY THE LORD ALMIGHTY I WILL BEAT YOU WITH HIS WRATH FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!!!!”

Galen stared with cold eyes at his father, he was not going to back down.

“Father, I shall reap what I have sown.  I will not dishonor myself with cowardice.  I acted with honor as our Lord Almighty demands and if you can not see this, then I have nothing but pity for father,” Galen stands tall and resolute against his father’s fury,” Do not live as a dishonorable coward that tradition demands of…”

“My son, I am trying to understand why you have done this, but I simply can not accept it.” Lord Grendalis signals to the guard outside, ”GUARDS!!!  TAKE HIM TO THE CHAPEL AND BIND HIM THERE.  20 LASHES AS THE LAW DEMANDS!!!”

The guards struck Galen in the gut, doubling him over as he fell to the floor.  They dragged him out of his room and to the chapel, binding him on the rack that was set before the altar.  There he would remain until the morning where he would feel the Enforcer’s wrath.  Twenty lashes his father ordered and no less than twenty lashes would he receive.

Galen drifted in and out of sleep while he was bound to this torture rack, waiting for the painful morning to arrive.  Soon he would be punished for his acts of honor.

What had led him to this?  Ah yes, it was becoming clear again as his head began to stop throbbing with pain.  The morning, yes, it was this past morning.

Most mornings, Galen would complete his lessons early and head out into the forest.  It was the one place he could go to find peace from the screams of the Minmatar slaves as they were ‘beaten into productivity’.  Being a member of the ruling family of this region, it was not permitted for him to travel without an escort, but this was not much of a problem for Galen.  Some well placed isk always had the guards eyes occupied as he slipped past them.

He had been hiking through the forest when he came upon an old Minmatar woman.  She was lying on the ground writhing in great pain.  She saw Galen approaching and tried to cower before him, but her broken ankle made movement almost impossible.  He never felt comfortable with such reverence bestowed upon him simply from his birth line.  Respect is earned by an individual, not given for simply being born to an Amarrian family.

Seenan was in shock when Galen knelt on the ground next to her.  “Ma’am, please do not cower before me, you are hurt.  I mean you no harm.  May I help you?”

Never before had she seen an Amarrian show care for one of the slaves, but this one seemed a bit familiar.  “No m’lord, I am fine, I can still work, “she waved him off, “I beg of you, do not beat me.”

“Ma’am, as I said, I mean you no harm,” Galen knelt down next to the old woman, “  You are hurt and if you are willing to accept my help, I promise you, no harm will come to you,” Galen pleaded, “Let me help you, please.”

His words seemed to flow like a stream in the mountains, pure and bold, yet soft and caring.  Seenan looked up and could not believe her eyes.  Standing above her was Galen Grendalis the V.  She had heard that this heir to the manor was a bit rebellious and wondered if the rumors of his ‘untraditional’ behavior were true.  She nodded in acknowledgment to accept his help.

Galen took his outer robe, tore off the sleeves and wrapped her ankle.  From his satchel, he pulled a pain reliever and gave some to himself to show Seenan that is was not poison.  She smiled and happily took the medicine.  Her pain in her ankle began subside.

Galen sat down on the ground and crossed his legs.  “Ma’am, if I may ask, what should I call you?”

“My name is Seenan, M’lord Grendalis,” she bowed her head humbly.

Galen froze.  She had recognized him.

“Ma’am, I am sorry, I believe you have me confused with…”  Seenan held up her hand.

“M’Lord, I am grateful for your kindness but to subject an old women to lies does not become a noble heir.“ Seenan winks, “An Heir who hides himself from the world to enjoy the beauty and solitude of the forest and offers aide to the slaves his people oppress.  I would be willing to bet my life that you long for something, to be free of tradition that does not allow your honor to see the sky.”

Galen was shocked.  First this woman begs to not be beaten and then dares to speak to him with such familiarity as if she was his mother.  A Minmatar who would dare speak with such audacity would be killed for simply meeting an Amarr noble’s eyes when they spoke.

“It would seem that you have won your bet as you are still alive and I for one have no desire to take your life.  Am I that transparent?” Galen smiled.

“Not at all M’Lord.  I have heard rumors of your ‘untraditional’ transgressions to Amarr society.  Some have seen you in these woods and about the barracks.  It would seem that you are curious about our culture.  I for one am glad to see that the rumors appear to be true.  An Amarr with honor.  I thought I had seen much of what the universe had to offer, obviously I was wrong,” she chuckles.

Galen finished tending to her ankle, helped her up and together they walked towards the barracks.

“Seenan, I must confess.  I am ashamed of what I am for my people mistreat you and yours.  We are oppressive, horrible masters.  We preach the teachings of our God and then smite the Minmatar people for simply not being born Amarr.”

Seenan begins,”If I may be so bold M’Lord, the Amarr people are a good, noble people who have been led astray,” her eyes were becoming sad, “Do not be ashamed of who and what you are, have pity for the path that your people have traveled.  One day we will be free of the is oppression.”

Galen looked at Seenan, with a tear in his eye.  “My mother used to speak as you do, before she fell very ill.  She used to hold me close and tell me that this horror would all come to an end one day, that both our peoples would be free from this oppression.”

A few moments later, they came closer to the guard posts and stopped for a moment.

“Dear sir, thank you for your help.  You should not let the guards see you helping me, they will punish you for helping me.”

“Seenan, I can not leave you here, how will you get inside?  You can barely walk.”

“M’lord, my daughter was to meet me here.  In fact, she is here now, behind us.  Do not be alarmed, she may be a bit ‘rough’ as her trust for your kind is as small as the pebbles beneath our feet.”

Galen did not hear her daughter creep up behind them.  He did not hear her unsheathe the blade nor notice the tip until it was stuck firmly beneath his chin.  He stood as still as a stone pillar as if pinned by the knife.

“Seenan, “ her daughter growled, “ what has this festering pile of shit done to you?”
Continue to part II…

More of The Bleeding Rose

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I like to read things that engage my mind as well as my imagination. I also like to write.  Well duh, I have a blog, it’s obvious that I like to write!!

Playing EVE Online provides me with inspiration from time to time to write fiction.  The immersion in the EVE universe of the game just lends itself to storytelling.

The Bleeding Rose is a name for my ship I came up with one afternoon. It’s a good name for a ship being flown by a pirate. Below are links to each of the episodes in the order they were released.  Enjoy!

• Out Again Seeking Adventure
• The Trip Back Home, part I
• The Trip Back Home, part II
• Routine Patrol
• There are bold pirates and there are old pirates…
• Terr Quan’s Failing Crusade
• Pink Bunny Slippers of DOOM
• “…We’re rascals, scoundrels, villans, and knaves,…”
• “…time passes on as time does…”
• “Who the hell are they?”
• “Absolution is at hand….”
• A Blade of Truth, part I
• A Blade of Truth, part II
• A Blade of Truth, part III
• “An Emancipated Return”
• A Blade of Truth, part IV
• A Blade of Truth, Part V
• “Come friends, let’s away…”
• “Really, that’s not rust?  Wow, I never realized that…”
• “Blood was spilled this night…”
• “…On the wings of Angels…”
• “A Reunion at Freedom’s Forge…”
• “Why the tree?…”
• It’s been five days…
• “At long last we come…”
• “Reunions and farewells…”
• “…where do we go from here?…”, Part I
• “…where do we go from here?…”, Part II
• “…where do we go from here?…”, Part III
• More to come!!!!

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