Epilogue

Epilogue

 

AFTER COUNT DALENWALD’S flagship finished its repairs in the Kormat System, we made it to the neighboring Dexar System without any major problems. I expected as much; the usurper Balthazar had already been captured, and the count had dealt with Balthazar’s co-conspirators himself.

I don’t know how they forced Balthazar to spill the beans, but in a universe this advanced, no doubt there were ways to make people talk. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn about truth serums or ways to extract info directly from the brain.

“We decided to head to the Vlad System. We’ll be starting the trip there tomorrow,” I said to the person on the other end of the holo-display in my bedroom.

“I see… You don’t want to take things a little slower, then?” Chris frowned slightly in disappointment.

“Well, we don’t wanna stay too long. The Dexar System is under the careful protection of the count, so there isn’t much work for us mercenaries.”

“Oh…” Chris looked down sadly. I wanted to just leave without saying goodbye, but I had ended up calling her because it felt too irresponsible to do otherwise.

“So, er, yeah. I guess that’s farewe—”

“I’ll see you again,” she interrupted before I could finish. I looked back to the screen, where Chris was smiling. She looked just a little more mature than usual. “I mean that. Make sure you come back to see me, okay? Once a month would be nice.”

“Uh… Once a month probably won’t happen. How about twice a year?”

“If that’s how it must be, then twice a year will work. I’ll be waiting for you, my dear knight.”

“Um, our contract is up, so you don’t have to—”

“I haven’t released you from your duty yet. You’re still my knight, even now.” Chris gave me a big smile. She seemed more forceful than usual, a trait I hadn’t noticed in her before now.

“Ha ha… Someone’s gotten a little pushy, huh?”

“I am heiress to Count Dalenwald, after all. I cannot continue to be a weak little princess.” Chris puffed out her chest as she answered, as if proud of her status. True. Can’t be a weak little princess forever. “Let’s meet again, Hiro. I’ll be waiting.”

“I’ll do what I can.”

“If you don’t come, then I’ll come and capture you. Even if it takes all my authority as countess.”

“Now that’s scary. I’ll try to come and see you. Promise.” After our journey together, the dozing princess of the cold sleep pod had become just a little tougher. Mei’s teachings must have worked a bit too well. “See ya.”

“Okay.”

We exchanged smiles and hung up. No regrets now.

 

***

 

“Okay, time for launch!” I announced as I took the main pilot’s seat in the cockpit. “Everyone, make your checks.”

“Systems all green. Ammunition’s good, fuel’s good. We can launch whenever!” Elma worked her console in the co-pilot’s seat next to me, checking each of her items.

The Krishna’s self-diagnosis systems showed all systems green, but I was thinking it might be best to get the ship an overall tune-up soon. The only issue there was that no other ship like it existed anywhere. The parts might end up being special ordered, but as long as we could find the manufacturer, they could probably remake them for us.

“Our food, water, and medical goods are topped up, as well!” Mei informed us after double-checking our cargo. Replenishing and managing the ship’s storage was her job now. I had originally left it to Mimi, but Mei was strangely insistent that it was a maid’s job.

“All right. Mimi, make a departure request.”

“Aye aye!” Mimi worked her own console to send a departure request to Dexar Prime’s Port Authority.

Before long, we were given permission. I released docking to the hangar and slowly flew the Krishna out.

“The excitement of a launch never goes away, no matter how many times I do it.”

“Agreed. I’m excited, too!”

“I get that.”

We talked as we proceeded through the port and leapt out into the endless expanse of space.

“Okay. Mimi, prepare navigation.”

“Aye aye. Preparing navigation!” Mimi used her operator console to lock onto the target star system on our HUD. I turned the ship in that direction and accelerated.

“Begin charging the FTL drive.”

“Understood. Charging faster-than-light drive. Beginning countdown.” Following my orders, Elma began the charge. “Five…four…three…two…one… Activating FTL drive.”

Then came its trademark boom as the Krishna began to move faster than light. Stars in the distance began to draw lines behind them. It was a strange sight, no matter how many times I saw it.

“Successfully connected to hyperlane,” Elma continued. “Hyperdrive charging. Counting down: Five, four, three, two, one. Hyperdrive activated!” Space warped, and light distorted. In the next instant, an endless rainbow filled our field of vision as the Krishna plunged into hyperspace.

“Okay. Let’s hope the next assignment ends peacefully.”

“I certainly hope so…” Mimi shuddered alongside me.

“Not gonna happen,” Elma groaned.

“Don’t just give up like that!” I retorted at the already-resigned elf as the Krishna soared through the strange, multicolored space.

Our next destination was the Vlad System, a manufacturing system where Space Zwerg’s factory awaited us.

 

***

 

And they were gone.

There was a boom as Hiro and his black battleship turned into a disappearing arrow of light. He was off to a place I could never reach him, but I had no choice in the matter. He was a bird, born to spread his wings throughout the great expanse of space.

If I were to force such a free bird into a cage, what would happen? I can only imagine he would stop being who he was. If I wished to be with him, then there was one—no, perhaps there were two ways.

The first would be to become a bird myself, to call all of space my home like he does. The second would be to make a place where that bird could rest his wings.

I couldn’t fly with him. The burden on my wings was simply too heavy for me to soar alongside him. Perhaps I could if I cast off the burden of duty… but I couldn’t. It was left to me by my own late mother and father, after all.

“Have they departed?” My grandfather was standing behind me. His eyes were drawn to the holo-display where the man had been onscreen moments ago. His expression was stern. “Christina, I think you know this, but…”

“I do, Grandfather.” Either way, I was a powerless little girl. So powerless that I couldn’t even make the cage needed to trap that man. How could someone like me make a home for such a free bird to rest his wings? “An heiress to the Count Dalenwald name cannot be powerless forever.”

“That’s the spirit. Let us remain hard at work.”

“Yes, Grandfather.” I was powerless now, but what about a year from now? Two years from now? Or perhaps even three, when I reached adulthood? That would likely mark a true turning point. I had to gain the power to be recognized not as a powerless little girl, but the capable Countess Dalenwald.

My grandfather would help me, too. I had the backing of all of Count Dalenwald’s authority. Nothing would be impossible. To borrow Mei’s words, “There’s nothing stronger than a maiden in love.”