Captain’s Log
Stardate 1368.18
I haven’t made a recording in a long time, so here we go.
Coming to the capital and seeing Lala’s homeworld for the first time wasn’t something that I ever dreamed of ever doing. The journey was so much fun, from start to finish, and I gained whole new perspective on how I truly lived in such a protective bubble. It makes me want to explore so much more!
Since our stay at the spaceport, however, I’ve got the impression that something big is brewing around my friends. Between the possible coup and the disappearance of Gid, I feel like we’ve landed in some hot water. Not to mention the way we were greeted at the palace entrance was highly unusual. We were so lucky to have Momo to protect us from that guard. If she wasn’t there, I would have surely been killed. Yami-san was quick to push me away, but even she could not have noticed when the guard pointed that weapon at us.
I should clarify what I mean.
When Zastin dropped us off in the palace courtyard, Momo and that other guard was there to greet us. Momo was dressed in armor, so at first we didn’t know it was her. We had to climb these steps to get to the entrance. I went up first, and Yami, Mikan and Sairenji―er―I mean Haruna came up behind me. Momo and the guard were behind all of us, so there was no way for us to know.
She hit the guard on the head just as he was about to shoot me. The bolt of lightning passed over my shoulder, and hit on the wall in front of me. Yami-san quickly pushed me away, and Mikan turned to shoot back. The guard had spun around and swung his weapon to deliver a savage blow. Momo ducked just in time, but her helmet got knocked off, revealing her flowing pink hair. Before the guard could react, she slammed into his gut, driving him away. Then, she aimed and fired, and the bolt of lightning hit him square in the chest.
Momo saved us. I don’t know what would have happened if she wasn’t there. I certainly would be around to talk about it. She sure scared Haruna, though. The dead guard landed on top her, and they both fell on the ground. Having Momo standing over her with that staff weapon still sparking was too much. It was the loudest scream I had ever heard Haruna scream. We all went down there to somehow calm her down. Mikan and Yami got to her first, and they held her tightly in their arms. I could hear Haruna sobbing, as her hands dug into Yami’s arms.
Momo could barely stand. Her whole body was shaking, and her eyes were wide and unfocused. “I-I-I n-never wanted…he-he was going to hurt you, and I didn’t think…”
The weapon fell from her hands and she collapsed onto the floor. She gripped the sides of her head and screamed.
“Oh my god! What have I done!”
Suddenly, her mouth was bulging out. Her arms wrapped around her waist, she doubled over and spat out globs of bile.
“How could I—noooo! He was gonna hurt you and I…”
And then she was crying. Fat rivulets fell from her eyes and dribbled onto the ground.
I couldn’t bear seeing her like this. I could only imagine how much she was suffering. I gathered her in my arms and held onto her tightly. I could feel the warm tears soaking into my shirt, but I didn’t care.
Momo stayed huddled in a ball, and she buried her head deeper into my arms. I waited as her sobs turned into quiet sniffles. I kept rocking back and forth, whispering things into her ear, like “It’s okay.” and “There, there.”
Looking over Momo’s shoulder, I could see Yami and Mikan comforting Haruna. She was starting to calm down, and her grip on Yami had loosened.
We stayed like that for a long time. I don’t even know how long it was before more guards showed up. Cold dread filled my heart, and I thought that they were going to kill us.
Fortunately, they were friendly to us, “Her royal highness commanded us to escort you. She got wind of touble brewing, and had sent us to get you.”
“Thank you,” I said to the guards, and I gathered Momo in my arms. I saw Haruna helped to her feet with Mikan and Yami.s support. Together, we hobbled over to the guards and then followed them up through the palace.
We were taken up to the foyer where two turbolifts waited for us. They were far more ornate than the little turbolift in our own ship, and they travelled much farther through many more floors. I would be remiss if I said that I didn’t enjoy the view, but the weight in my arms kept me rooted in reality. Something was clearly wrong with the palace. The attack at the entrance was a clear sign of that.
The guards around me showed clear signs of fear. Though they whispered to themselves, I could see the fear in them. Gid’s absence was weighing down on all of them, especially because of how unusually late it was. They all knew that the emperor routinely skipped his duties to go out and play, but this time, his disappearance was dragging on for too long. I didn’t get much else from the guards, because by then, we had arrived.
The two doors slid opened, and the guards led us out into a well-lit circular room with a glass dome that let in natural light. Sitting in the middle of that room was the Queen herself. Sephie Michaela, first Princess of Charmian and Queen of Deviluke greeted us with a smile. So beautiful was she that we all fell to our knees as soon we laid eyes on her.
“Rise my dears, there’s no need to be so formal. We are friends and equals.”
“Selphie-san,” I started to say, but she silenced me with a smile.
“I know what has happened to you. My daughter is experiencing the grief that comes when one kills for the first time.”
“She saved m-us.” I stammered as I laid Momo at her feet, “If it wasn’t for her, we surely would have died.”
“I am aware of that.” Said the Queen, turning to look on the others. “These are dark times for all of us. In the past, Gid’s power was what kept this empire together. Our enemies chafe under his control. They yearn for liberty but was stopped by fear.” She sighed, “Gid rules with his fist, yet he is not infallible. Sooner or later, they will succeed in defeating him.”
She let out another sigh, ragged and tired.
“But let’s not dwell in these things for now.” She stood and rang a bell. Two handmaidens appeared with their heads bowed.
“Take my daughter to her room,” Selphie said, “Let her be in the company of her friends.”
They bowed. One carried Momo in her arms while the other ushered the girls away.
“Where is Lala,” I asked when the others were gone. Selphie sat back down. “She is in the throne room attending to court.
“But you don’t look so well, yourself, young man.”
She rang the bell again, and another maid came in.
“This young man needs a wash. Please show him to the baths.”
“I’m fine,” I stammered back as I was led away, “I’m more worried about the others.”
“Don’t be,” said Selphie, “You are in safe company.”
That was two hours ago. Since then, I haven’t seen anyone yet. This bath feel so good, though! I haven’t had a decent soak in weeks. After everything that happened today, this is so relaxing!
Anyway, looks like I’ve rambled long enough, and it’s time to get out. I want to go see what Lala is up to.
Bye for now.