Greyson moved to a huge port in on the top of the ship and flew inside. He forgot his worries as he marveled at the giant ship that had once been a killer of universes. Soon they began seeing millions of dried up carcasses of Eight Legs that had been consumed by their leaders. Trey quietly said, “This is what compulsions lead toward. The Realm saving this species was one of the noblest things they ever did.”
“It makes it even more depressing to see how they lost their way.”
Trey nodded, “There is that.” Trey looked at his display and said, “Let’s go home.”
Greyson exited the ship and teleported out of the ancient, dead, monument to a species that had been forced to slavery.
“Carter!”
“Yes, Jenna.”
I need you to come home now.”
“Why, what’s going on?”
“Cassie had formally requested a meeting with Mom and has asked us to be present.”
“Did she tell you why?”
“No, and she’s being evasive about answering.”
Carter took a deep breath and Jenna said, “You know something!”
“No, I don’t but I’m afraid we’re about to lose our little girl.”
“What do you mean?”
“She just turned eighteen and I know she has been studying for as long as I can remember to prepare her for becoming an adult. I know she’s told you that before.”
“She had but I didn’t put any weight into that remark.”
“Jenna, when has she ever said something she didn’t mean? She was preparing herself for something and I’ve always wondered what it was. I suspect she is going to tell us today.”
Jenna thought about what Carter was saying and began to see where Cassie was headed, “She’s found something.”
“Or someone.”
“She’s never mentioned being attracted to anyone.”
“Did you when you left to join the Searchers?”
“That’s because there wasn’t anyone at that moment. I met you years later.” Jenna paused, “Do you think this has something to do with her psychic abilities?”
“You know it does.”
“Come home now. The meeting is in two hours and I need you here.”
Carter was watching the current class of Naval Academy Graduates take one of their final ship trials. He looked over and Maddy and said, “I have to go. I’ll look at the recordings later.”
Maddy nodded as Carter activated his armor and teleported home.
Queen Ashley Talben sat on her throne and looked over at Glen beside her, “Do you know what this is about?”
“No, I don’t.”
They looked up as Jenna and Carter teleported in and turned off their armor. Ashley stood and rushed forward to hug her daughter, “Welcome home, it’s been too long.”
“I know, Mother. There’s just so much happening.”
“Do you know what this is about?”
“No, I was hoping you did.”
“She didn’t tell me. She formally requested a meeting to discuss her Royal responsibilities. Beyond that, I don’t know anything.”
Before they could say anything else, Cassandra was standing in the Middle of the room. Ashley turned and Cassie bowed. Ashley was going to rush forward to hug her Granddaughter but stopped and returned to the throne and faced the room. Carter and Jenna bowed with Cassie and Ashley said, “Please rise and tell me what brings you here today.”
Cassie looked at her parents and nodded toward some chairs to the right of the throne. Cater took Jenna’s hand and pulled her over and sat down. Jenna remained standing until he reached up and grabbed her by the shoulder and pulled her down. Cassie smiled and turned to her Grandmother, “Your Majesty, I am abdicating my place on the list of succession today.”
Jenna jumped up but Carter pulled her back down and whispered, “Sit down and be quiet! Hear her out before you do something outrageous.”
Jenna gave him a stern expression but saw he was more serious than she had ever seen him. She usually got her way but she saw that this was not going to be one of those moments, “And if I don’t?”
“I’ll spank your bottom here in front of the Queen.”
Jenna was shocked and she saw Carter wasn’t smiling. She sat back and fumed.
Cassie watched her Mother and smiled. She turned back to the Queen as Ashley was trying to restrain herself from laughing at Jenna. Ashley looked at Cassie, “Why are you asking for that Princess Cassandra Reese?”
“Because I will never be available to fulfill that obligation, Your Majesty.”
Carter took Jenna’s hand and squeezed it. She looked at him and he shook his head, “Wait.”
“Tell me what is going to happen to prevent you?”
“I am going to be leaving in twelve hours to join my husband in protecting the Empire.”
Ashley glanced at Jenna and Carter and said, “Husband, I didn’t know you were married.”
“I’m not. You’re going to perform the ceremony momentarily.”
Jenna jumped up from her Chair yelling as Carter looked at the ceiling and shook his head. “You are out of your mind! Just who do you think you are coming in here and telling us what we’re going to do?”
Ashley looked at Jenna and said, “That’s what I felt when you did the same thing at age twelve telling me you were going to be a Searcher.”
Jenna looked at her Mother and suddenly knew what she had felt those many years ago. Her fear for Cassie was overwhelming and she looked back and forth between Cassie and her Mother, “Mom, I can’t.”
“Neither could I. Now sit down, behave, and listen.” Ashley turned back to Cassie, “Tell us what’s going on?”
Cassie looked at her Mother and slowly shook her head, “Mom, you’ve known this was coming. Don’t tell me you didn’t know. Look inside and see.” Cassie turned back to the Queen and said, “I am the end product of an evolutionary chain of events. I am a direct Female descendent from Danielle Gardner. Every one of the couples in my family’s history had a daughter and I am the last of the chain. The psychic power has been growing with each generation and it has now reached the absolute maximum level and must be released. I’ve known this day was coming since before I was born. I have been preparing for this moment my entire life and I am so excited and anxious for it to happen.”
“What do you mean by being released?”
““I am going to touch my husband and we will both be released.”
Ashley looked at Glen and said, “Who is the one that will release you?”
“Scotty Robbins.”
Jenna looked at Carter and he nodded, “You knew?”
“I suspected but never knew for certain.”
“Just what does Mr. Robbins have to say about this?”
“He doesn’t know we’re going to be married momentarily but I’ve been communicating with him since the night he became telepathic.”
“When was that?”
“The night his parents died and Bristone was destroyed. We have been in each other’s mind pretty much every moment since then.”
“Why didn’t you tell us?”
“Because we both knew that we could not come together until this moment. He had to prepare himself and I
