Killian Tain stood on the bridge of the Absolution watching the spot where the Sunrise Eclipse disappeared. He had the Unrelenting flying along the same course, but it hadn’t vanished at all. The Domination didn’t report that the ship had left the nebula; they couldn’t find any trace of the Sunrise Eclipse. It had been fleeing, some kind of rift opened and the ship was simply gone.

He didn’t believe the rumors that this nebula swallowed ships that were never seen again but he couldn't deny what his Captains claimed. He trusted them to do their jobs and they had never failed him. They had spent hours trying to follow Luke Malachite. Arun had confirmed the princess was in that odd, duel wielding mecha. He’d identified the fighting style of the princess both with two blades and the shield and then made a visual confirmation when he’d attacked her.

“Sir, we’re receiving a message from Admiral Jaxion Skorv,” his communications crewman said.

“Well don’t ignore it, the last thing we need is to piss him off, or do you not know who built almost every ship in the guild!” Tain snapped back.

Skorv’s image appeared on the viewscreen. It was hard to gauge the man’s, if he could even be called that anymore, mood. His expression never changed and his voice was a grating monotone. “Admiral Skorv, this is a surprise. What can I help you with?”

“Killian. Tain.” Skorv said, steam hissing from his mouth, “You. Attacked. My. Captain. Why.”

“We had suspicion that he was in possession of the Astrian Princess we have been contracted to kidnap. I am making my bid to be the Waxing Crescent. He’s vanished somewhere, but I intend to pursue him,” Tain said, putting his hands behind his back and lifting his chin.

“That. Nebula. Is. Mine.” Skorv hissed, somehow emphasizing his last word, “Leave. Or die.”

Tain scowled. It was a death sentence to not obey Jaxion Skorv. Just because they didn't see any orbital cannons didn't mean there weren't any. Skorv greedily and violently guarded anything he considered to be his territory.

“Very well, Admiral Skorv. We’ll leave this nebula. But I will not be denied my prize. Luke Malachite has the Astrian Princess on his ship. I’ll have both his head and her.” He signaled for his communications crewmen to end the transmission. Showing that kind of disrespect was dangerous, but he wasn’t worried. He would only have to wait a month until he was given the vacant seat. Lupin had told him as much. “Open a channel to Admiral Lupin. I’m getting that Princess. One way or another.”

=+=

"Why?" Amadeus Astria asked.

He stood in front of Balthazar Snowden staring at the man with his blind eyes. Amadeus had a powerful, intimidating presence when he wanted. There was no use in refusing to answer his questions, no use in trying to lie. He possessed the power of the stars and wielded masterfully.

"Lupin threatened to expose me if I didn't accept the contracts. I arranged everything but I had my High Captain carry out the work. If I had refused Lupin would have harmed my family."

"So instead, you harm mine."

"Yes," Snowden said. "If I had reported it then I would have revealed myself as a Red Moon Admiral. Either way, I expect that I would be sent to Tartarus. So I chose the option that kept Lupin away from my family."

Amadeus narrowed his eyes, "You chose poorly. You should have never involved your sons in your criminal undertakings."

Snowden just shrugged, "They both floundered out of the military. I did the Empire a favor by sending them to the Moon. I expect for my wife and daughters to be protected."

"They will receive the same protection that every citizen in the Empire enjoys. No more, no less." Amadeus turned and began to walk away.

"Lupin will come after them. They need to be protected! Felicity does not know much magic and neither do the girls! He knows they are at the Academy! He knows where I live on Polaris!" Balthazar shouted.

There wasn't a response. The door closed behind the Emperor.

Balthazar struggled against his manacles. He couldn't get his hands out from under them, and couldn't move his feet. He was bound to a chair that would be placed in a drop pod and he would be sent to Tartarus. There would be no trial, no wait in a prison. He had been taken from his office to this ship and manacled to the chair. The Emperor arrived many hours later. The conversation they had lasted only a few brief minutes. He had to get a last request!

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He didn't know how much longer he sat in that chair when the door opened again. The Emperor once more stepped into the room. He was dressed differently. Gone was the smoking jacket, replaced by an Astrian Military uniform. His beard was neatly trimmed, and green eyes stared at Balthazar with undisguised hatred. It wasn't Amadeus. It was his son Tiberius. The Crown Prince slowly approached the chair. He tapped a button on a PUC and brought up the image of a pretty dark haired half-eladrin woman. She had blue eyes and wore a Danelar Naval Officer Academy uniform with the symbol of the starighter branch on it. Just like his daughters.

"This is my daughter Liandra. Or rather, was my daughter. She was determined, tenacious, bright, and most importantly, happy. She was doing well in her studies, had many friends and even had a guy she considered her boyfriend. They went to the winter formal together last year. You killed her. She was seventeen years old. I don't get to walk her down the aisle. I don't get to hear her talk about her life at the Academy and her friends. I don't get to see her spar with her brother or sew with her mother. You took her away from me." He shut off the image.

Balthazar met that hateful gaze. "And by sending me to Tartarus you deny me the same things. At least I didn't deny your child her father."

"No, you just killed her. You drove my sister to join the Red Moon mercenaries. Her and her friends. They needed to know who hired you to kill them. Needed to bring you to justice for what you did. You killed one hundred and twenty-five cadets. You maimed my sister and several others. Be very, very fortunate that I cannot send you into the Void, Balthazar."

Tiberius was more like his father than just appearance. He had the same controlled poise, the same intimidating presence. He didn't have the incredible power that Amadeus did, but he, too, was a man not to be trifled with. From what Balthazar knew of his son, Percival, he was taken from the same mold. Still, Balthazar would not be cowed.

"Just Tartarus."

"Tartarus?" Tiberius said, "Who said anything about Tartarus?"

Color drained from Balthazar's face. There was no other place in the Empire that they would imprison him. What was the Crown Prince talking about? His own thoughts came back to him: 'No other place in the Empire.'

"Where are we?" Balthazar demanded.

"The Alliance."

"Damn you, Tiberius! Tell me—" Balthazar was silenced by a look. It held the promise of death, demanded obedience and commanded silence. The man was truly a force of nature to be able to do that to Balthazar Snowden. Tiberius pressed another button on his PUC. Balthazar's chair rose an inch off the ground. Tiberius pushed it into the drop pod.

"My Aunt Jai'zida says this is where they send their criminals. A place where magic doesn't function. Unlike Tartarus, this place is pitch black and utterly silent. There are beasts here that will feed off your emotions. All you'll feel is fear and dread. You'll experience growing anxiety and flashes of light if you discover the only edible plant on the planet. It's bioluminescent. All you'll have are the clothes on your back, and no one knows where you are. Everyone will think that you are on Tartarus, and I'm going to let them."

"You can't do this," Balthazar whispered.

"I believe that I can," Tiberius said. "Of course, there is one way to avoid this fate. One way that I take you to Tartarus instead. Who hired the Red Moon Mercenary Guild to attack my family?"

"His name is Belial. I don't know anything other than that!" Balthazar shouted.

Belial. It was the same name as one of Amadeus' enemies before he became the Exalt of Stars. It was an interesting coincidence Unless it wasn't. "How did Lupin get in touch with this Belial?"

"I don't know, the Red Moon has specific channels where clients or prospective members can contact us. I don't have access to those channels, but I can give you the coordinates to Sangria Luna, our headquarters. What more do you want, Tiberius?"

"We have those, courtesy of my sister who is the one who is responsible for your capture. Well, her and her crew. I was hoping that you had more information than that. All you've done is confirm what we have. Your daughters are no longer part of the Astrian Military, they and your wife are going to be in protective custody in the Alliance."

"You said you would take me to Tartarus!" Balthazar shouted.

"My father also told you that your family wouldn't be protected. Think of knowing your family is safe from the Red Moon to be your compensation for confirming what we know. My daughter and one hundred and twenty-five cadets are still dead. The dreams of the surviving sixty-two are still ruined, and eighteen of them have dirtied their hands. Good bye, Balthazar."

He pressed a button on his PUC and the door closed. Tiberius stood in the room for hours when the door opened. Amadeus quietly walked in and stood next to his son, putting his hand on Tiberius' shoulder. Neither man spoke for several minutes. The silence wasn't uneasy, and they had spent hundreds of hours being in the same room without a word passing between them.

"I knew it wouldn't help anything. But it's what he deserved," Tiberius said.

"He deserved the Void," Amadeus said. "But the Pit of Despair is close."

"I think what will help is seeing Kiera home and safe," Tiberius said. "She and Lindy are the same age."

"It will do me good as well. You do not need to worry about your sisters or your niece. Chelsea is guarded by the Knights of the Comet. Kiera will be home soon, as will Tamariel and Chalice once they have their baby and take their maternity leave. I received part of a plan to break into Orlan, highlighting the few holes in our defenses. I believe I know who it is from."

"It will be good to see them," Tiberius said, "and better to know that they are finally safe."