The Young Prince

RATAROT - This is one of the planets at the defined edge of the galaxy. Like Arimhada (King Lyham's Planet) it revolves around a red star. Most of its citizens depend on the ruling priest, rather than a ruling secular leader. It is a manifestation of their belief in the metaphysical realm.

Imperial Prince Emmer Xai and his assistant Leeh Xamai finished inspecting the Northern Steeple of the planet. After a few minutes of thorough inspection, they declared that the Northern Steeple and Southern Steeple are in good state of repair.

The control room of the Steeple is almost two kilometers up from the surface of the planet.

"The automatic controls respond quite well after a few diagnostic tests. Do you think we can spend enough time tinkering with the controls?" Emmer looked at Leeh Xamai.

"Unless you want to experiment whether dropping rain in desert areas might damage the region's ecosystem."

Emmer thought for a moment.

"I don't think that is good. There are intelligent beings here. Besides, they have developed much of their culture. They might question the Emperor as to why unusual things happen. Trouble always starts when creatures begin questioning their Leader. It is like sending hail in the Sahara Desert, or withdrawing rain from tropical rain-forests."

"The Sahara? The Earth? " Xamai asked

"The mother planet of the Xai. It is our planet of origin. The Sahara is its biggest desert, about as large as Sadareepo Plateau."

"Your father told you that?"

"He did. He said if I assume the Onyx Throne, he'll give me more about that planet. It is at the edge of a Galaxy called Milky Way." Emmer lifted his hand, pointing to the direction of Milky Way Galaxy. Even if the room has a ceiling, Xamai found himself looking at that direction.

"He told me that our human ancestors were at the mercy of the planet's tectonic actions, volcanic eruptions, climatic and weather changes. In some cases, astronomical events, like comets and meteors pose dangers to their human population. A slight change there brought much destruction. They later found out that they can tame the planet's destructive behavior. The technology they used is similar to this one. Two very high towers at the polar regions monitoring the planet's weather and geologic movements."

Although Leeh knows little of the technical aspects of the Xai, he likes Emmer's tendency to lecture while doing his work.

"But Xaven has only one structure that looks like this and it is not even in the polar area. Does that mean Xaven will experience those dangers?"

"You mean the Obelisk? That's one thing I do not yet know about our planet. It is in the Equatorial Area, very far from the Tetrahedral Palace. My father never told me anything about the workings of the Obelisk. He said he will reveal it to me but on a later time. There are no archive records about it."

Emmer stooped and studied the geologic activity, displayed in graph form on the control screen.

"There will be a major Ratarot-quake within two earth-years. It will happen in the Mezzegga Basin. Estimated damage is almost 85 percent."

"That's a densely populated area." Xamai commented

"Can we do something about it? Can we stop it?" Emmer asked

"You can, you either stop it or let it happen."

"I think it would be better for the inhabitants to experience some hardships. It would strengthen their character. I think apathy is worse than conflict."

"But it is the job for the Star Sailors, not the Prince."

"It is also my job, I am the Prince. Besides, we're already here."

"But the inhabitants might be suspicious of our presence here."

"We do not have to show ourselves there. That is the reason why I would rather let them evacuate rather than stop the impending disaster. Anyway, they might get too afraid if the sky suddenly darkens over them, complete with thunder and lightning, and then seeing us in their midst. You have forgotten that there are prophets and seers in the planet. Most people will believe. As long as beings believe in the prophets and seers, they won't get suspicious. We can begin by checking the peace level there."

They analyzed the data transmitted by the Peace Sensor satellite.

"That area is prosperous enough and the inhabitants are content with their lives. We should warn them of an impending disaster," observed Xamai

The shuttle brought them down to the surface of the planet. "How many thousands more of these will be inspected?" Emmer asked.

"Your father rules around a billion inhabited planets throughout the Andromeda Galaxy. It will take us your lifetime if we all inspect them. Emperor Egher told me that we can only visit few of them. It is all part of your training."

"Training? My father never told me anything about any training. He only told me to accompany you here."

"He does not have to say that. You are already in the proper age for training. He might delegate to you more important tasks later on, but right now, we begin at the bottom."

"It means everyone is under my command, except my mother and my father."

"That is very true, your highness."

Emmer used his worm-transmitter to send a message to a nearby wormhole. In a few minutes, two Couriers arrived.

"Greetings, Prince Emmer."

"Greetings. Lah Ribheg sent you?"

The two winged creatures nodded.

"Visit personally a local seer at the Mezzegga basin. Tell them, Xai has a message for the nation."

The two couriers listened to Emmer's instructions.

"Use the Mensag. Set the detection on the Faith level. Anyone who is influential is good enough. They have two earth-years to prepare. Tell the chosen one that Xai picked him or her to warn the people of a disaster. Make sure that the one you selected visits a local priest or leader. Do it secretly."

The two nodded again, walked away after taking a bow before flying.

"Look at the way they fly! So majestic. Did you ever wish you could fly like them, Xamai?"

"I like their way of navigation, but they seem so weak."

"Not as strong as you?"

"Not as fast either, in land at least. Flight is their main advantage over the Guardians. Any damage to their wings renders them vulnerable. It is no wonder Emperor Egher assigned them as Couriers and Star Sailors."

"It is also no wonder why the Emperor chose the Oinoghreu Kersians over the Star Sailors as the police and armed forces of the Empire, even if there are no wars since my grandfather Kowes's reign. He trusts the Oinoghreus as my personal bodyguards as well."

"I am honored to do that to you, Mighty Prince."

"We can fly back to the WormRider if that is what you want."

Xamai shook his head. "I am sorry, but I do not want to fly like the Star Sailors. I do not have wings."

"I have an extra backpack. Your backpack can carry you for long-distances."

"I prefer flying if we are in a vehicle."

"Even if I order you?"

Xamai fell silent. He cannot disobey an order of the Prince.

But Emmer relented, since he would rather let the bodyguard feel his friendship rather than indifference.

Emmer walked toward their Wormrider. Leeh followed.

"Where is our next mission then?" Emmer was amused by Xamai's question.

"I thought my father has a special training program for me."

"Your Highness, I merely obeyed the Emperor. But as for me, I can only watch over you, I have no power to train somebody higher than me."

Emmer mused for a while then looked at Xamai, his eyes gleaming. The huge Guardian merely waited before he said something.

"I think I know. My training is merely performing what Emperor Egher may do in times like this."

"It means you are the Emperor when he is not around?"

"No. It means I'll decide what to do, and be responsible for its consequences. Only at that time will the Emperor decide what to do."

"Where then should we go? Emperor only told me to visit Ratarot."

"Well, since we are here, we might as well visit Hammada."

"That's the newest planet of the Xavenian Empire." Xamai commented.

"Well, it is actually the oldest one, at least on Mekholian timescale. But something happened to it during Emperor Kowes's reign. You were not yet around, and I was too young at that time."

"What happened to it?"

"I am not quite sure what happened. Emperor Egher said nothing about what happened to it. It is the favorite planet of Emperor Kowes since the creatures there resemble the species of the Xai Family closely."

"They are humans?"

Emmer looked at Xamai and with forceful voice, corrected him.

"The Xai Family are not just humans. We are . . ." Emmer tried to find the proper word. But he does not want to say Mekholi. Yes they are humans, Homo Sapiens, but they are not just Homo Sapiens. They are Homo Sapiens Mekholensis. A species of human with bigger brain capacity, greater physical ability and mental prowess. They are humans with smaller and less functional base reptilian brain and bigger, more powerful cerebral brain. However, there is no other word for them. "We are Mekholis - humans who have transcended the pettiness of skin color, religion, culture, language, sex and war."

Leeh silently agreed. Somehow, the prince did not like being compared to a human.

"Going back to that Hammada, Emperor Kowes decided to terraform or refashion the planet."

"With all of its inhabitants?"

"A large meteor plunged in the planet, causing a lot of trouble for the inhabitants there. Much of the inhabitants died. The assigned Star Sailors failed to report earlier an impending disaster. It was not the Sailor's fault either. With many planets to oversee, the Emperor nor the legions of Star Sailors and Guardians cannot do everything. I think we should go there. My father is not too interested with them anymore."

"Star Sailors failed?"

"That is true. But knowing the Couriers, I cannot reconcile, the thought of Star Sailors failing to report on time. Star Sailors can even anticipate my possible orders. I am actually amazed by their uncanny ability to do almost half of my command before I command them. I understand your disbelief, but why would Emperor Kowes say something that is not true? That is even more unbelievable."

Ratarot is a hot and dusty planet but in the Polar region, where it is cold and dark, Emmer could easily see the looming presence of their WormRider. "We could reach Hammada in a few minutes. Are you ready to go with me?"

"Whatever you want, sir."