Gaia Rising: Earth Immortal, #1

GAIA RISING

C.L. Roman

Copyright © 2017 C.L. Roman

All rights reserved.

Cover art by Charles Cornell

Contents

GAIA RISING

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

GLOSSARY

A Note From the Author:

Author Bio

Other books by C.L. Roman

CHAPTER ONE

FROM THE RELATIVE SAFETY of an alcove, Gaia stared out over the assembled guests. Even though it was late and the king and queen had retired long before, the party showed no signs of winding down. A gala in Elara’s Star Hall was always well attended, but the five hundredth anniversary of the signing of the Wushe Treaty was even more crowded than usual. The hall was beautiful and, on the surface at least, things were going well.

The pentagonal room had five glass doors, one centered on each wall. Above each door was a teardrop shaped window, like an eye into the cosmos. The top of each tear vaulted upward into the glass ceiling. The high, clear arches let in the starlight, enhancing the glow of the luminorbs, multicolored spheres that shed soft illumination on the gathering. Tables of food and drink were set up along the walls, and the musicians kept the dance floor full.

Hundreds of Simoi from all five clans mingled in apparent friendship. Most had chosen to manifest in hominid bioforms. Silk gowns rustled, and crystal glasses shimmered with brightly colored intoxicants. Conversation was lively but cordial. No one shouted. No one frowned.

The tension was palpable.

What do you think, Princess? The familiar voice was deep, cultured and male. It sent tiny shivers dancing through her midsection. Will we manage to keep the peace that the Wushe Treaty created?

She turned to face him, accepting the glass he offered and smiling into his blue eyes. Bardan, second Prince of the Hingani, was supposed to be an enemy but he didn’t look like one. Noting that he’d chosen to manifest as a tall, broad-shouldered hominid with sable hair, Gaia smiled. She’d always found this bioform especially attractive, even though it made no difference to who he was underneath. Or maybe it was because it was always Bardan underneath. Idly, she wondered what color his astra was.

Realizing she’d been staring at him for several moments, she took a hasty sip of her wine. All five clans—Komisi, Hingani, Illara, Nisara and Mirosa—all of them agreed. Whether the treaty continues to stand depends on how well we all keep our agreements.

And the integration provision? He watched her carefully. This is its first test. What are your thoughts on marriages based on political convenience?

The integration provision promises a balance of power in the Simoi government. Having two thrones, each held by the prince or princess of a different clan, gives all five clans an equal stake in the monarchy, she said. The integration provision ensures that each generation admits another clan to the monarchy through marriage. Eventually, the thrones will be held by sovereigns who are descendants of all five clans.

You have a good memory for your civics texts. And a talent for neat evasions. His eyes gleamed with amusement. Yes, the treaty does ensure a balance of power in the long term. But, in the short term, tell me, do you think the Illara and Mirosa clans will be willing to wait their turn to marry into the crown?

Will the Hingani? A tense smile curved her lips. She went on without giving him a chance to reply. The council will fill the gap. Every clan has input, whether one of their own sits on a throne or not.

True. But that brings us back to my question. The provision states that as heir to the Black Throne, your brother Lukas must marry someone of another clan.

He lifted his glass toward the dance floor, and she followed his gaze. Lukas was dancing with a Mirosan girl, the burnished copper curls and black skin of his bioform contrasting sharply with her white-blond tresses and pale blue complexion. He laughed down at his partner as she sparkled up at him. Somehow, Gaia didn’t think Lukas was too worried about the idea of a marriage alliance. So long as he was allowed to choose.

Lukas has always been good at enjoying the moment, regardless of the situation. Her brow contracted, and she averted her gaze, staring down into the depths of her wine glass. But a prince must put the needs of his people first. Lukas understands this.

You are close? You and your brother?

She laughed. We are. Like all siblings, we’ve had our go-rounds, but he’s grown into a good person. And a wise one. He’ll make a good king one day.

Bardan swallowed the last of his drink and held out his hand. I hope so. Shall we—

Hello, Gaia. Bardan. The newcomer was as tall and dark as Bardan but narrower in the shoulders and through the eyes.

Atoli, Gaia said. I thought you were entertaining Teresa.

The Illaran princess? Atoli asked. Trying to get away from her is more like it. Lesser clan royals are so clingy, don’t you think?

According to the council, all clans are equal, brother. Or hadn’t you heard? Bardan dropped his hand to his side.

The council can say anything they like, Atoli said with a smirk. We know the truth. Now, I’ve come to claim my dance, Gaia. And I won’t take no for an answer.

Someday you might have to, Gaia said. But she accepted the hand he held out to her and allowed him to lead her onto the floor. She met Bardan’s eyes over her shoulder and smiled an apology.

The pair stepped onto the dance floor and moved together in time to the music.

So, is she the one, then? Atoli asked, nodding toward Lukas and his partner.

I really couldn’t say, Gaia replied.

And wouldn’t even if you knew, he guessed. How very discreet of you.

I am sorry to disappoint you.

Atoli laughed. No, you aren’t. But that is one of the things I like about you, Gaia. So discreet and self-controlled, coupled with unparalleled diplomacy. You would do well on the Green Throne.

Thank you for your compliment, if that is what it was. Fortunately, we won’t have to find out, since Lukas is heir to the Black Throne, not I. She placed subtle emphasis on the word black.

Something shifted in Atoli’s eyes, but he only said, Of course. But I do hope that Lukas chooses his bride wisely.

She cast a quick glance into his face. I’m sure he will. My brother is very perceptive.

Atoli nodded. I agree. I cannot help but think that an alliance with the Hingani would be in the best interest of all the clans.

Are you so certain that there will not be one? Have you spoken with Lukas? Gaia widened her eyes, projecting innocence, and Atoli scowled at her.

You know Lukas would never agree to a match between us. And I prefer a more opposite temperament in a mate myself.

I see. Of course, when you marry, you will have children of your own. Perhaps you’ll be able to arrange an alliance in the next generation.

And wait millennia for— He broke off, and they danced in silence for several minutes. Of course, my father will be on the council. There is much to be gained from avoiding a war at this point. He spoke in a half murmur; as if he had forgotten she was there for a moment.

A war? she said. This ball celebrates five hundred years of peace between the five clans. Who is talking of war?

Recovering himself, Atoli smiled at her. No one, Princess. I am only saying that it is the responsibility of the larger, more influential clans such as the Komisi and the Hingani to prevent war.

Except that, under the treaty, each clan has an equal say. The whole point of having two thrones and a governing council was to keep peace and prevent inter-clan rivalries.

Yes, but you must admit, much of that is just lip service. We all know that the Komisi have the most power. How else did Cronos gain the Black Throne?

Well, there was that little incident involving your father... Gaia trailed off as Atoli’s face reddened. His grip on her hand tightened painfully, and she resisted the impulse to pull free. Atoli stopped dancing, pulling her to a halt with him.

Watch what you say, girl, Atoli said in a hoarse whisper.

A hand descended on Atoli’s shoulder.

May I cut in? Bardan asked.

Atoli didn’t reply but released Gaia and stalked away.

Thank you, Gaia said. I was getting tired of getting stepped on.

Yes, things were looking a bit tense at the end there. What did you say to him?

She sighed. More than Atoli wanted me to, I’m sure. My mouth has a tendency to get me in trouble.

His gaze settled on her lips, and he smiled. I can see why.

It’s only a bioform, Bardan. Control yourself. She smiled in spite of herself and glanced up at him through her lashes.

But a lovely one, all the same. You always create your forms with a certain artistry. His eyes gleamed appreciatively as he took in her long, blue and lavender curls and the slender shoulders rising above the gown of sea green and gold. The hair is an especially nice touch. Something behind her caught his attention, and a puzzled frown crossed his face. An instant later it was gone and he was smiling at her again.

Thank you, she said. I mostly did it to poke at mother. She says only Ceruleans have naturally blue hair.

Bardan laughed. You little rebel you.

That’s me, always stirring up rebellion.

The steps of the dance turned them, the final chords of the song drifting through the crowd.

Thank you for the dance, Bardan said. I—

His words were cut off by a scream from across the room. Suddenly, the crowded ballroom was dead silent.

Gaia whipped around. Lukas staggered in through the glass doors, clutching his side. Bright red gushed from the wound, and Gaia ran, reaching him as he sank to the floor.

The edges of his bioform blurred, the dark green of his astra surfacing as he lost his hold on his chosen physical manifestation. Ugly gray streaks ate through the green, leeching the color away.

Get a physician, Gaia cried. Cradling Lukas’s head in her lap, she stared down at him. Help is coming. Hold on, Lukas.

No time, he gasped. Poison.

Who did this, Lukas? Did you see? Bardan knelt across from Gaia.

Lukas shook his head weakly. No. I stepped out for some air. He was cloaked, waiting for me. I felt the dagger and grabbed for it, but... Lukas gazed up at Gaia, sadness etched on his features. I don’t think this will end well, little sister.

Shut up. She forced a teasing smile through her tears. It’s just a scratch. The physician will come, and you’ll be fine.

You will be a good queen, he said. But you are a terrible liar.

I don’t want to be queen.

I’m sorry, Gaia. So sorry. His bioform dissolved, and the dark green of his astraform was almost completely hidden under jagged, gray bands. A few seconds later, even those dissipated, and he was gone.

Bardan pulled her to her feet, and she gripped his hand, hardly aware of his touch but needing something to steady her. Soft fabric crumpled in her other hand, and she looked down, realizing dully that she held Lukas’s empty tunic.

Release my daughter at once. The cold, authoritarian voice snapped over them, and Bardan tensed. Gaia turned her head so she could look at the speaker, but she knew who it was. Her mother’s voice was unmistakable.

Queen Rhea managed to look regal, even when pulled from her rest by tragedy. Her long, brown hair was bound with scarlet cord to match the loose-fitting caftan she wore. Her green eyes widened.

Where is Lukas? Her eyes fixed on the tunic hanging from Gaia’s fingertips.

Gaia, what is happening here? King Cronos stood next to his wife. Gaia stared at him, unsure what to say.

Lukas is— There has been an attack, Bardan said.

Atoli strode toward them. I’ve already sent guards to search for the culprit. Please accept my condolences, Your Majesties, on the loss of your son. His eyes glinted with something that was not sympathy.

Loss of my... Gaia, where is Lukas? Rhea’s lips trembled as she asked the question.

Releasing Bardan’s hand, Gaia held up the tunic. He is gone, Mother. They murdered him.

The reality of her brother’s loss crashed in on her, and Gaia broke, tears streaming as she fell into her father’s arms.

CHAPTER TWO

Five Years Later

GEL-CHAIRS LINED EITHER side of the long, narrow table. Glow-stone sconces cast sparse shadows on the council chamber floor as the members came in. Rhea and Cronos were already seated on the separate dais at the head of the oval room. To their left, Gaia observed the proceedings from a lower chair. A crysoscreen took up the entire left wall, but on the other side were five evenly spaced paintings, each representing a different clan.

Rhea’s father, Prince Aidan of Clan Nisara, took his seat, observing the various bioforms chosen by the council members. Prince Tevan chose the powerful form of a Torosian, blue-skinned and white-maned with a pair of small horns at his temples. He took his seat opposite Princess Corrina of Mirosa, who appeared in a Faesian body, complete with lavender skin and a pair of amethyst wings sweeping from her shoulders to the floor.

Prince Sirius adopted a Werosian form, his lightly furred skin in a striped pattern of black and gray. He attended the council as the Komisi representative.

Saritza of Clan Illara was the last to arrive, sweeping in with a rustle of silk and the sweet smell of prangi blossoms. Her pale green skin and the tilted oval of her eyes reflected a personal choice. The Saracien body she wore was modeled after the guardians she had created for her own terra.

I am sorry if I have delayed the proceedings, she said as she took her seat.

Not at all, Saritza, Aidan said. We hadn’t even started yet. He turned to the dais, nodding first to the king and queen and then to Gaia, the heir to the Black Throne. Now that everyone is here, we can begin. The first item on our agenda is the ongoing investigation into Prince Lukas’s death. The briefing I read this morning says there are still no leads in the case. Is there anything new that was not included in the report?

Rhea drew a sharp breath in, her green eyes sparking as she opened her mouth to speak, but Cronos put a hand on her arm.

There have been no new developments, and at this point, I don’t think there will be. Whoever the culprits were, they’ve covered their tracks exceedingly well, the king said. However, it has been my experience that justice has a way of finding those who perpetrate such crimes. His voice broke, and he paused to gather himself. Let us trust to that truth and attend to the other items on the agenda.

As you wish, Your Grace, Aidan bowed slightly and turned to the rest of the council.

The next item on the agenda is an important one. Rhea steadied her voice with an effort. We must come to a final decision about Andromeda.

Have the Medeans caused any further damage to her terra? Saritza asked.

No, but that doesn’t mean they won’t, Tevan stated. She must be commanded to remain in myalo with her terra, Astaria, indefinitely. Unless, of course, she chooses to reabsorb them.

Confining her to her terra will not solve the problem, Corrina said. They are, by all accounts, progressing rapidly toward star travel capabilities. No doubt she has assisted them in this, against the council’s wishes. They are a volatile race, avaricious and willfully independent. Once they can travel off Astaria, they will be a danger to other terras. Andromeda must be required to reabsorb them.

Is that even possible? Sirius asked. Their auras are a combination of Perseus and Andromeda. If she tries to reabsorb them, his astral code may damage hers. It might even kill her.

Every life is precious. We must not risk harm if we do not have to, Saritza said.

Every Simoi life is precious, Tevan said. I agree with Corrina. The damage they might do to Simoi terras if the Medeans are allowed to gain the stars must be our paramount concern.

But Andromeda is Simoi. Sirius is right to be concerned with her wellbeing, Aidan said. He had chosen a hominid bioform with brown skin and tightly curled black hair. Also, there is no evidence that they are avaricious, as Corrina contends. Only that they are intelligent and curious. Surely these attributes are not criminal.

The fact remains that she broke Simoi law in their creation, Rhea said. And by doing so, she put all Simoi at risk. Need I remind the council of our history? Every sub-species created with a combination of astras from two Simoi has resulted in tragedy.

With all due respect, it has only happened once before, and there were extenuating circumstances to that incident, Saritza said. There is no evidence to suggest that the outside influences that contributed to the destruction of Ursulam and his terra are at play here.

Rhea gave her a flint-edged smile. Be that as it may, the Sula destroyed Ursulam, terra and astra. After that, they tried to migrate to his wife, Dacia’s, terra. If she had allowed it, they would have destroyed her as well. As it was, when she rejected them, they attacked her, and she barely managed to stop the plague before they infested her children’s terras. Rhea leaned forward in her chair.

You are forgetting what destroying the Sula cost Dacia, Your Majesty, Aidan said. Recall that her astra was bound into the Sula’s aura as well as Ursulam’s. Destroying them nearly killed her.

She was foolish to eradicate an entire bioform all at once, Rhea acknowledged. All the more reason to fix the problem before the species grows too numerous. The entire incident was dangerous.

Sirius frowned. As is this one. If I remember my history, Dacia never fully recovered, and her lifespan was significantly diminished. We should consider the cost to Andromeda if she is forced to terminate the Medeans. We have little hope that a similar situation will not develop in her case.

The law is clear, Tevan said. Andromeda knew that what she was doing was illegal and chose to do it anyway. The stars alone know why.

We all know why, Saritza said. Andromeda is a scientist. She was experimenting with hybrid lifeforms.

She must take responsibility for her actions. Corrina’s lips flattened into a thin, merciless line. And do what she can to prevent further consequences.

Sirius leveled his gaze at the older Simoi. Even if it kills her?

Tevan shook his horns. A necessary risk.

No. This is wrong. Gaia had been listening to the conversation with mounting concern. You cannot force Andromeda to murder her own children.

The Medeans are not her children, Tevan said.

They are. She created them, Gaia said. She has nurtured them to their present level. Her methods may have been wrong, but all life is precious. We have no right —

We have every right. And you will remember that your place here is as an observer. Rhea fixed her daughter with a stern look. Andromeda broke the law. She must bear the consequences regardless of the cost.

Gaia opened her mouth to speak, but caught the warning glint in her father’s eye and subsided, waiting to hear what he would say.

I disagree. Cronos spoke for the first time. His words fell into the momentary silence like a stone into a small pond. No one could escape the ripples. The Simoi are too few to risk losing one by too rigid an application of the law. Andromeda’s only Simoi child circles Astaria now. She is too young yet to take her mother’s place. What happens to her if Andromeda dies? Not to mention the havoc the death of Astaria will create in that system. He met the eyes of each council member in turn, finishing with Tevan. We must always consider what is best for the Simoi as a whole rather than rushing into a decision which may have unintended consequences.

Tevan returned the king’s gaze steadily. The alternative is to restrict her to myalo until it can be proved that her Medeans pose no threat. He glanced around the room. Something which may never happen. Are you prepared to consign her to such isolation?

Unity with one’s terra is not a prison, Rhea said. In fact, many choose to live in myalo permanently rather than separate from their terra in order to participate in Simoi society. They believe it to be our most natural state. Not that I would expect you to feel that way, Tevan. She shot him a cynical look. But as you so ably pointed out, Andromeda knew the consequences of her little experiment before she undertook it. If she is dissatisfied with her sentence, she has no one to blame but herself.

Shall we vote then? Corrina asked.

Aidan stood. Clan Mirosa calls for a vote. Clan Nisara joins the call. Are there objections?

Gaia looked around the room. Shouldn’t Andromeda have a voice in this? She is the one who will be most affected. Shouldn’t she at least be allowed to speak for herself?

Rhea glared at her daughter, but Cronos gave her an approving smile. Andromeda has already spoken before the council. Her defense has been heard and discussed. This is a sentencing, not a trial.

A small silence spread over the room. Finally, Aidan cleared his throat. The choices before us are forced Medean destruction or restricting Andromeda to Astaria so that she may monitor and control them. All in favor of destruction?

Tevan and Corrina raised their hands.

All in favor of Andromeda’s restriction?

Saritza, Sirius and Aidan raised their hands.

Restriction is selected. Does the Black Throne concur? Aidan asked.

It does, Cronos said.

Does the Green Throne agree? Aidan asked.

Rhea nodded stiffly. With reservations, yes.

It is so noted, Aidan said, marking the vote down in his lithoscrib tablet. The council’s decision shall be communicated to Andromeda shortly. Sitting down, Aidan consulted his tablet. The next item on the agenda is the proposed union between Clan Hingani and Clan Komisi.

Cronos frowned. The betrothal has not been finalized.

That is just a formality. Tevan’s hands clenched tight on the arms of his chair.

Eyes brightening, Saritza leaned forward in her seat. The council was under the impression that the match had been accepted. All that remained was the signing of the contract.

There are still some details to be decided, Cronos said.

Minor details only, Rhea interjected. We will, of course, be bringing the contract to the council for final approval at our next meeting. She cast a conciliatory glance at Tevan, but he would not be placated.

What ‘minor details’?