Editing Story:ROAD TRIP! (Warhammer High)/Part Two (section)

==Arrival==

===A Pit Stop===


As the trip continued, the little group felt their anticipation grow.  The routines stayed largely the same, the people never changed, of course, but the travel leg of the journey was drawing to a close.  As the ship slid through the Warp for Nocturne, Jake and Alex found themselves spending more of their time together.  Alex tried to teach Jake proper gym technique, while Jake attempted to teach his friend how to not suck at darts.  In the seven days from Venus’ bout with Isaac to their arrival in the Nocturne system, they both found themselves making progress.  But far too slowly for both their liking, the trip came to an abrupt end.

Venus was reclining in the chair in the corner of the suite watching a holo on her dataslate when the ship’s PA system buzzed to life.  “All hands, we are departing the Warp.  Please brace for breach.”  Venus scooted over to the bed and lay down, as Jake hurriedly gripped the armrests of his own chair.  The ship shuddered briefly, and both felt their skin crawl as the Warp parted and spat them out.

“Warp departure successful.  All engine crews, to your stations,” the voice overhead commanded.  Venus stood up and cracked her knuckles, dispelling the Warp Shivers.

“Uugh,” Jake groaned from the chair.  “Forget Kines, that will never be more pleasant.”

“Heh.  If you made a career out of it, maybe,” Venus quipped.  She pulled a nicer shirt on and slid the hatch open, catching a glimpse of Freya bounding down the hall.  “Where you headed?” she called.

“I’m going to go find out how long before we have to get off,” Freya called over her shoulder.

The group assembled in the Captain’s Hall.  Roemer himself wasn’t there, of course, since he was needed on the bridge, but the ship’s mate was.  “We emerged right on target, my Lords and Ladies.  The burn is good, we’ll arrive on Prometheus in six hours,” he explained.

“Awesome!” Freya proclaimed, beaming.  “Oh man…what local time will it be when we’re boots-down?”

“Prometheus time is synched to Hesiod, my Lady, so it will be about 0378 local.  Nocturne has a twenty six hour day, so it will be late night locally.”

Venus smiled, eyes closed, already picturing her arrival.  “Home…I didn’t realize how badly I wanted this until we’re nearly there.”

Jake slid an arm around her waist and squeezed.  “I know.  I can’t wait to see all the things you’ve talked about.”

“Which entices you more, the walls of fire or the ash deserts the size of continents?” she asked drily.

“Weather that isn’t something a machine farts out,” Jake replied in the same tone.

The hatch swung open, and Haarlan and Roemer walked in, pausing to acknowledge the salutes of the ship’s mate.  “My Lords and Ladies Primarch, we are en route,” Roemer said.

“Superb,” Venus said.  “ETA of six hours?”

“Possibly, though you may take one of the Aquila shuttles if you wish, and arrive a few hours sooner,” Roemer said.  “We will be transporting a few other things that way.”

“Oh…guys?” Venus asked.

“I’m happy with either.  I’ll be in no mood for sleep when I arrive either way,” Jake said.  Alex nodded his agreement.

“I’ll wait,” Freya said dismissively.

“Me too, I want to have another meal before we go,” Remilia said.

“All right.  Looks like we’re waiting, Captain, thanks,” Venus said.

“Very well then, my Lady,” Roemer said.  “I would be honored to host you for a final meal before you go.”

“Oh, thanks, Captain,” Venus said, sitting at the table.  The rest of the group did so as well, as did the officers, save Remilia.

“Actually, Venus, I’ll be back later, all right?  There’s something I want to do before we go pack,” she said.

“You don’t need my permission,” Venus said, divining her cousins’ intent.  Remilia smiled nervously.

Far below, the O-Club drained as officers made for their duty stations.  Remilia walked into the room and made straight for the bar.  Kines was busily cleaning it up and packing it in for dock when he saw her.  “Remilia.  One for the road?” he asked.

“No thanks, Lieutenant.”  Remilia paused, suddenly apprehensive.  “I wanted to say thanks.”

“For what?” Kines asked.

“For being the only officer aboard who actually talked to us,” Remilia said.  “Everyone else is still too scared.  Or worshipful,” she said with disgust.

Kines waved her thanks away.  “No problem, Remilia,” he said, still clearly trying to attach an honorific to the name.  “And this is hardly goodbye.”
“Huh?” Remilia blinked.

“The Endless, the ship that was supposed to carry you to Fenris, was dispatched to the greenskin fronts.  We’ll be carrying you on the next leg of your trip too,” Kines explained.  “News came in just when we entered the system.  We’ll put in at Nocturne and stay long enough to get the test data for the new tank, then head out.  We’ll be there about a month, so you’ll just be coming with us to Fenris since it’s along the route.”

Remilia absorbed that news.  “Great!  I’m glad to hear it.”  She smiled at the young officer.  “So…then I guess I will have one for the road.”

Kines reached under the bar and handed her a bottle of sparkling water, and after a covert look around the lounge, grabbed one for himself.  Twisting the caps off, both raised their drinks.  “To old acquaintance soon forgot?” Kines asked.

Remilia hefted her bottle with a grin.  “Too formal.  How about ‘goodbye, and I hope to see you soon?’” she asked.

“That works.”  Kines and Dorn downed their drinks, and Kines swept them under the bar.  “And it’s true.  We’ll be having some leave on Nocturne.  Not much, since it’s basically hell.  I’ve been here dozens of times.”

“Cool.  Maybe we’ll see each other,” Remilia said.

Kines smiled.  “I would like that.”

Remilia flushed from ears to navel.  “Well.  Goodbye, Lieutenant.  I’ll see you around,” she said, turning away before he could see.

“Goodbye, Lady Remilia,” he called after her.  As soon as she was out of sight, he pulled his elbows into his sides in total, absolute triumph.

Venus grabbed the last of her bags and arranged them on the cargo carrier in the Iron Tide’s hangar.  A few seconds of hydraulic groaning later, and they were loaded into the lander by the oversized servitor.  She stood back and rejoined the others in the bay, and noted with some amusement that Freya was already wearing extreme environment gear.

“Hot already, Freya?” she asked.

Freya gaped.  “Look at your bloody planet!” she said, gesturing out the void-sealed hangar at the planet growing in their vision.  The entire globe – all of it – was one giant maze of lava, black oceans, grey sands, white and black ash deserts, and craggy obsidian mountains.  “Your planet is made of fire!  I’m burning just thinking about it!”

“Your planet has extreme environments too, Freya,” Venus giggled.

“My planet has glaciers and snowfields!  Your planet has walls of fire and volcanoes the size of continents!” Freya exclaimed.

“Fenris has wolves the size of small trucks,” Venus pointed out.

“Nocturne has drakes the size of LARGE trucks!” Freya shot back.

Alex held up his hands.  “Ladies, ladies, please, your planets are both terrifying.  Let’s save judgment until after we reach them both, huh?”

“I guess so,” Freya said grudgingly.  “Do you think I won’t need this?” she asked, poking at her heat gear.

“We’re docking with the space station first, Freya.  Go change,” Venus instructed.

“…Oh.  Right.  Durr,” Freya muttered, running off for the head.

Venus shook her head and sighed.  “Anyway!  I should tell you guys now what to expect.  First things first, there will be a small ceremony when we dock.  The serfs there will want to hose down the shuttle with flamers.  Trust me, it’ll be fine,” she said, noting Jake’s and Alex’s shock.  “It’s just ritual, they’re not going to attack anyone.  Next, they’ll open the hatches and we’ll come out.  I’ll be in the lead, of course, and there will be a few Librarians there, to perform a Ceremony of Officiation, since I’m the reigning member of the Royal Family here in the system.  Which is a trifle annoying since I’m sure they’ll barrage me with the administrative stuff, and fucked if I know how to do it,” she grumbled under her breath.

“Well, you can take your time with that since we have a month, right?” Jake asked.

“I think so, yeah.”  Venus watched as Freya sprinted back to them.  “Much better.”

“Yeah,” Freya panted.  She slid back into line.  “All right.  I have the rest here,” she said, shoving her discarded hot gear into its bag.  “When do we dock?”

“Fifteen minutes, for us, two hours for the rest of the ship.  We’re going to go ahead on a lander,” Venus said.  A thrill of excitement chased itself through her belly as she said it.

Fifteen years.  She hadn’t set foot on her homeworld for fifteen years.  She could already smell the air.

The hydraulics behind her groaned again, as the passenger compartment of the lander swung open.  Venus hefted her day bag.  “All right, we’re off.”

A few of the ship’s officers were accompanying them, she noticed, as the group wedged into the compartment.  Aside from Haarlan, who had said that he would be joining them only as they docked to liaise with the Salamander Fleetmaster, the ship’s cargomaster was the only guest.

The flight was loud, but mercifully short.  The lander shook as it entered the atmosphere of the station, and the volume inside increased as there was suddenly an atmosphere to carry the noises.  The noise suddenly died away as the lander’s pilot cut the engines, and the passenger compartment rumbled as the outside of the ship was caked in flames.

“It’s ritual.  Honoring the flame and reverence to the Machine Spirits,” Venus explained to her nervous companions.  Even as she said it, the flames ceased.  After a minute, the compartment creaked open, admitting the stifling fumes of promethium.

Venus immediately stood, stilling her nerves.  These were her people.  More than just a figurative statement of belonging, it was literal.  She was made of the same geneseed as them.  She was probably safer here than she had been in her own home on Terra.

She climbed out of the compartment, brushing her layered leather and fiber shirt off.  A quintet of armored Marines awaited her at the base of the ramp.  Three were helmetless, two wore Psychic Hoods.


===Dear Old Friends===

[[Image:Arrival_on_Nocturne_WHH.jpg|thumb|right|Welcome to Nocturne]]

One of the three helmetless Marines stepped forth.  White heat scars crisscrossed his face, forming the shape of animal wings.  He closed his eyes and slowly inclined his head in reverence.  “My Princess Venus, Forgedaughter.  Welcome home.”

“Thank you, Brother-Captain,” Venus said solemnly.  She mirrored his gesture.  Behind her, Jake started to dismount the ship as well, but Haarlan caught his wrist, staying him.  Jake shot him a questioning look, and Haarlan shook his head, eyes wide.

“Be silent, please.  He’s greeting his Princess.  This is not our place,” he whispered.

Venus raised her head, and held out one hand, palm up.  The two Librarians drew their Power Glaives and ignited them, tapping their pommels against the ground.  The two remaining, helmetless Marines knelt, eyes raised to meet hers.  She nodded to each in turn, letting them stand or lower their weapons.  Silently, all five did.  The one in the middle, with the complex tattoos, hefted a tiny green key, and passed it to her.  She accepted it, and deftly strung it on the cord that held today’s necklace together.  It clanked against the little metal eye she had sculpted.

Suddenly, the scarred Marine beamed.  “Venus, my dear girl, it’s been entirely too long!” he proclaimed, holding his arms wide.

“Ir’Sem!  I’m so happy to see you!” she squealed, throwing herself into his arms.  He lifted her clean off the ground, hugging her with force that would have paralyzed a Kasrkin.  “How did you know which lander I would be on?” she asked, eagerly returning the hug.

“Why do you even need to ask?” he said rhetorically, jerking his thumb at the Librarians behind him.  “We just had them look for the ship with the little inferno aboard.”

“Oh hush,” she said, playfully smacking his armor as he set her down.  “Wow.  Well I’m very glad to see you.  Oh, you know these guys,” she said, as Haarlan released Jake, and the group climbed down.  “You’ve met everyone at parties and such, I think.  Jake Seager, Alex Carlin, Freya Russ, Remilia Dorn.  Then, the Iron Tide’s representatives, Political Officer Wilhelm Haarlan and Cargomaster Davis Jeorne,” she said, gesturing to them all in turn.  “Guys, this is Fourth Company Captain Ir’Sem, one of my father’s oldest friends.”

“An honor, Lord,” Haarlan said, bowing low.  Jeorne did as well, and Alex and Jake hastily followed suit.  Remilia and Freya, both technically royalty in their own right, simply nodded politely.  Haarlan straightened.  “It was a delight to ferry Lady Primarch Venus and her guests to you.  And that that, I believe, our role here concludes until a month from today, yes?”

“Correct, Officer Haarlan.  Thank you for bringing our Princess back to us,” Ir’Sem said with a smile down at the compact girl who was standing beside him.  She barely came up to his stomach in his massive suit of armor.

“And you, Lord Seager,” he added, turning to the man he dwarfed.  “It’s been a while.”

“It has, my Lord,” Jake said, inclining his head.  “I think we met at Venus’ cousin’s birthday party and haven’t seen each other since.”

“Right,” Ir’Sem said.  Jeorne stepped up to one of the other helmetless Salamanders and passed him a dataslate, muttering something.  The Marine nodded and the two walked off to where the frigate was moving to dock.  “Come this way, please,” he said, gesturing to his guests.  Haarlan followed the Cargomaster to where the Iron Tide was approaching, while the Librarians and the other Marine followed the teens into the station.  “I don’t know if you’ve been informed, yet, Venus, but the people love you, perhaps a bit too much.”

She groaned.  “Oh for goodness’ sake, they want me to do the damn speech in public?” Venus asked, instantly catching his meaning.

“They do.  Soon.”

“Well…damn it, I can’t say no, can I?” Venus grumped.  “So much for my vacation.”

Ir’Sem shrugged, something to see in Power Armor.  “It’s only one day.  And you DO have a choice, just not one you should even consider,” he said, his voice free of reproach.  This was advice, not recrimination.

“I know,” she said contritely.  “But I’ll have to rewrite it.”

“Why?”

“Because I thought I would be giving it to the Council of Masters alone, and nobody else,” she grumped.  “Now I’ll be addressing a crowd instead.”

“You’ll do fine,” Ir’Sem said dismissively.  “Now…you’ll be here for one day, and spend the rest planetside, right?”

“Yep.  Do you have a place for us, or should we stay on the ship?” Venus asked, as she followed her guide through the corridors of the station.

“Does the Princess of Nocturne have a place to stay on Nocturne’s control station,” Ir’Sem deadpanned.  “Nope, it’s bare corridors for you.”  He paused outside an unmarked hatchway.  “Here you are.”  The hatch swung open, revealing another corridor.  The corridor was appointed differently, with overhead lights instead of braziers on the walls for illumination, and the hatches had locks next to them.  “You’ll be here overnight.  Well.  It’s night shift now, or there would have been an even bigger reception,” he explained, gesturing to rooms.  “If you wish, and I don’t recommend it, you could just fly down now, stay up all day, and then just rest tomorrow night.”

“No, we’ll stay here,” Venus said, directing her friends down the corridor.  “It’s got the better view,” she said cheerfully.

“It does.  Your ceiling, in the flesh?” Ir’Sem joked.

“I can’t wait.  We DO have a view, right?” she asked, as Jake and Alex picked rooms out.

“Well…no, it would be a structural weakness.  But you can see the planet through a holocam,” Ir’Sem admitted.  “Now…I will see you all in the morning.  Sleep well, Princess,” he said, bowing out of the little side-corridor.

The group dispersed into their rooms, finding them vastly more utilitarian than the rooms aboard the ship had been.  Jake dropped his stuff on the floor and fell into the bed, trying to let his tension fade.  Venus stared at the hatch to the little corridor, before turning to her lover with a grin that spread from ear to ear.  Jake spotted her expression and smiled back.  “All fired up?” he asked.

Venus walked over to him and slid her hands under his back, letting the warmth seep into his skin.  “As you can plainly see,” she said.

Jake grabbed her shoulders and playfully tossed her onto the bed, rising from it as he did.  “Well…I’m not tired, but I could nap before we get up.  When do you want to go dirtside?” he asked.

“Ashside,” she corrected.  “And…around 0900.  So, five hours.”  She rose and flicked her finger at the holo control in the corner, wondering if she could bring up a view of the planet.

The room went dark.  She scoffed as she tried to reverse it, assuming that she had just triggered the lights instead.

The room lit up, deep red.  She turned to see that the entire bulkhead opposite the wall had filled with an image of Nocturne, far below.  Venus’ arms fell.  She was enchanted.

Jake propped himself up on one arm, staring at the view.  “Incredible.”

“It’s beautiful,” Venus whispered.

Jake sat up and watched the projection.  “It’s terrifying.”  He looked to his side and saw Venus watching the hologram, enraptured.  “Nostalgic?”

“I was too young to remember it,” she said quietly.  “I wish I did.”  She sat next to him on the bed, and he wrapped an arm around her waist.  “I will never…ever get tired of that view.”

Jake didn’t reply.  He didn’t feel the need.  After nearly five minutes of watching the black, grey, red, and white ball spin, she stood, shrugging off her clothes.  “I’m going to rest.”

“Me too,” he said, grabbing clean clothes and setting them aside on his day bag, then making for the bathroom.  Venus slid under the sheets of the tiny bed and propped herself up to stare at the planet on the far wall.

When Jake emerged, changed and clean, she was still staring.  He slid into the bed and moved to wave off the holo.

“No.”  He looked up at her.  She was still watching the hologram, eyes unmoving.

“Baby, I’m trying to sleep,” he said.

She finally blinked, looking down at him.  “Uh…right.  Well.  It’ll be there tomorrow.”  She settled down on the bed and waved the holo off.  Even as Jake drifted into a catnap, however, she stayed wide awake, her heartbeat pounding in her ears.


The next morning, Freya wandered out of her room, yawning.  With a bleary look around the corridor, she knocked on Remilia’s hatch.  In moments, the taller girl was out of the room, gym clothes on.  “Morning.  Venus up?”

“Dunno.  Wasn’t she supposed to be out here?” Freya asked.  Remilia nodded.  Freya padded up to Venus’ hatch and knocked, just quiet enough that only Venus would have heard it, if she was up.

Silence.  Freya cocked her eyebrow.  She pushed on the hatch, nudging it open.  She peeked into the crack of the hatch, and saw Jake lying alone in the bed.  She searched the tiny room, but her cousin wasn’t there.

“Where is she?” Remilia asked as Freya closed the hatch.

“Not here.  Let’s go, maybe she went ahead,” Freya replied.  Both girls walked out into the corridor, looking around for a deck map.  Pausing a passing serf, they found directions to the serfs’ gym, and headed off.

Venus wasn’t there.  She was, at that moment, kneeling in the center of the Pantheon Chamber.  The beautiful girl was clad in layered leather under large ceramite disks, each decorated with one of the symbols of a Legionary Company.

Ir’Sem, four other Company Commanders, and the Regent of Nocturne, Lord No’dan, were sitting around the room, along with nearly ten other senior members of the Legion.  To an outsider, it probably looked like a trial.  It was anything but.

“Daughter of the Forge, I am pleased to see you well,” No’dan said.  The ancient Marine leaned forward on his throne, extending an open hand.  “My Princess, I understand that you do not come to us to bring leadership…but it still does my heart good to finally meet you.”  Venus, still facing the floor and with eyes shut, smiled faintly, feeling tears leak from her eyes.

“You as well, faithful Regent.  I am…overjoyed to be home.”

“You think of our world as your home?  You live on Terra.  You will return there,” No’dan pointed out.

Venus shook her head.  Her long black hair swept across her armored back.  “Terra is where my house is.  Terra is where my mother and father live.  Terra is where I was schooled, and where I grew up, and…where I hope to start a family.  But Nocturne is my blood and future.  I am home,” she said.  The tear worked its way down her face, splashing on the bare floor.  “I am overwhelmed.  I do not know why,” she whispered.

No’dan smiled paternally.  “Forgedaughter…this is a homecoming.  It is to be expected.”  Lengthier explanations of geneseed traits and spirituality were unnecessary.  If Vulkan had not seen fit to explain, neither would he.

Venus nodded silently.  Her smile never faltered.  “I feel that I should say outright that the assumptions I am told so many will reach regarding my companions are largely incorrect.”

“Oh?  Well…that is to be expected.  Terran and Nocturnean civil law are quite different,” one of the other Company Captains said.  He leaned forward, gesturing to the girl on her knees.  “If you wish to return your icon to us, Princess, now would be the right time.”

Venus rose to her feet, clutching the tiny metal key in one armor-padded hand.  She passed it to No’dan, bowing as she did.  As he lifted it, however, it clinked against the little metal half-eye on the chain.  “You have given,” he began.

“Keep it.  Call it a gift,” Venus interrupted.  She was beaming from ear to ear.  “I may return for the key, though.  Some day.  And…I hope to do so blessed with a family that can deserve it.”

No’dan nodded, touched by the gesture.  “I see.  The fellow who accompanied you?”

“I will outlive him by a million years if I outlive him by a day.  I care not,” she said, the Old Nocturnean language rolling off her tongue like she was born speaking it.  All of them were speaking the language of the Old Shamans, as befitted the gravity of the assemblage.

Ir’Sem rose as well.  “There will be more time for ceremonies later, Forgedaughter.  For now…your people await you.”

Venus slowly tilted her head down.  Another tear escaped her endless red eyes.  “And I await them.”

===A Quick Snack===

Jake stirred in his bed.  It was ice cold, which meant Venus was long gone.  He struggled to sit up, looking around for a clock.  The green LEDs on the corner of his table caught his eye.  It was 0720 exactly.  He swore and vaulted out of bed, hustling over to the bathroom to get started.

By the time he was finished, Venus was back, and they quickly switched places in the little suite.  As he held the hatch open for her, though, her clothing gave him pause.  “Wow.  What’s with the uniform?” he asked.

“I had to speak with the Council, and they kept a duty version of my formal uniform around,” Venus said hurriedly, closing the hatch with no further explanation.  Jake shrugged and pulled the nicest clothes he had brought with him on, and hastily checked his hair in the mirror.

Outside, Remilia leaned against the bulkhead, tapping her foot.  Alex and Freya wandered out of their own room, dressed and ready.  “We just waiting on Their Majesties?” Freya quipped.

“I think so,” Remilia said.  “Unless you guys want to go get something to eat first?”

“Nah, we’ll go together,” Freya replied.  Jake opened his hatch, stepping into the corridor.

“Morning, guys.  Venus will be out in a sec,” he said.  “We all ready to roll?”

Venus clipped her earrings into place in the restroom, and gave herself a quick once-over.  Satisfied that nothing was out of place, she grabbed the last of their bags and followed Jake into the corridor.  “All right, we travel,” she announced.

A Salamander serf arrived at the entrance to the corridor, right on time.  “Princess, are you and your companions ready to go?” he asked respectfully.
“We are, but I think we have time for a quick meal before we go down to the planet,” Venus said.

“Then please come with me, your Highness,” the serf said, bowing shortly.  He lead the group, baggage and all, down the corridors of the station, deeper into the massive structure.  The corridors were lit with a mixture of socketed lights overhead, and flickering fires in braziers on the walls, but as they entered the more utilitarian portions of the structure, they gave way to brighter, artificial lights set into the corners of the ceilings.  They entered a large, open room, with great rows of seats and tables.  Clearly a cafeteria or dining hall.  A few Salamanders were busily moving about at the far end, clearly finishing their own breakfasts.  The tables themselves were surrounded by serfs, all munching away.  Their guide lead them to the head of the room, and seated them with the Space Marines, to Alex and Jake’s distinct discomfort.

“Princess Venus, I’m honored you could join us before you departed,” one said, starting to rise before Venus waved him back to his seat.

“Just stopping for a bite before we head down, Brother,” Venus said, sitting at the table.  Jake and the other guests sat beside her, with a few apprehensive looks at the Power Armored giants around them.  “And thanks for getting my armor sent up so fast.  I appreciate that.”

“It was an honor,” one of the Marines said.  “Did it function properly?”

“It did.  Thank you,” Venus said, snagging a sauroch skewer from a plate.  She and the others dug in, finding the rough fare to their taste.  “If I may, Brother, which companies are stationed on-planet right now?” she asked.

“Some of each company are here now, but nearly all of Fourth and Sixth,” the Marine explained.  “Most of the other companies are out dealing with the recent resurgence in greenskins on the fringes.”

“Should I make mention of it in the speech?” she asked.

“If you wish, Princess, then of course you may,” the Marine said.

“All right…then I think I will.”  Venus downed some filtered water and looked over the crowd below.  The serfs were filing out to begin their daily duties, with a few reverent glances her way.  It was funny, really, she realized.  She resented it when Terrans treated her like royalty.  Even though a few Terrans were serfs here, she actually enjoyed their respectful glances.  How funny that the respect of her father’s servants and warriors was less repulsive.

Remilia was watching from her seat.  Venus was barely eating.  She was spending more time reading the people around her.  The quiet, obedient respect of the Marines was alien to Remilia, whose surprisingly few interactions with Imperial Fists Marines had been largely ceremonial and private.

She turned to her own food and finished it.  She wasn’t going to make an issue out of it.  Certainly her cousin had always been the one who had had the most trouble fitting in outside of school, save their psyker cousins of course.  She deserved to feel at home.

Venus polished off her own food and returned her attention to her party.  Remilia and Freya were ready to go, and Alex and Jake were…holding back a spate of the giggles.  She tuned into their conversation with half an ear.

“‘What do you want with diamonds?’” Alex asked, in a voice that suggested he was caricaturizing someone.  Jake pursed his lips, trying not to laugh in front of a row of Space Marines.  “‘Why, I wish to be immensely rich!’” Alex finished.  Jake gripped the edge of the table with one hand, clearly exerting a great deal of effort not to erupt in giggles.

“What in the world are you two giggling about?” Venus asked.

“Nothing,” Jake squeaked.  Alex leaned over, smiling wanly.

“I’m seeing how many rumors about my father’s partners I can prove accurate, apparently,” Alex said.

Venus stared, but decided not to ask.  “…Okay.  Well, anyway, shall we went?”

“Indeed, let’s went,” Alex replied, cutting his eyes sideways at their hosts.

Venus took the hint.  She stood, brushing crumbs on a napkin.  “Brothers, thank you for your hospitality.  We are going to depart,” she said, in Old Nocturnean.

The Marines stood, bowing to their Princess.  “It was our pleasure, Princess,” one said.  “Have a safe journey.”

Venus inclined her head as the party stood up, and began making their way out.  On their way through the room, Jake leaned over to her.  “What language was that?” he whispered.

“Old Nocturnean.  The language of the Earth Shamans, the spiritual guides of the people before the Emperor arrived,” Venus replied.  “It’s an incredibly easy language to learn, but only Salamanders and scholars really bother to learn it.”

“Cool.”  Jake suddenly frowned.  “Will I be expected to know it?”

“No, of course not,” Venus said.  “Don’t worry, I’ll let you know what’s expected of you.”

Jake nodded in relief.  “Good.”

The group carried their bags back to the massive, sprawling hangar complex, where a small group of Space Marines were waiting for them.  Venus walked straight up to one and acknowledged his bow.  “Brother.  Is the shuttle ready?”

“It is, Princess.  An Aquila-class passenger shuttle has been prepared,” the Marine said.  “Your cargo is aboard.  The tank prototype has also been transported to the surface for testing.”

“Very well.  Let’s go,” she said over her shoulder, in Gothic.  The group moved up to the ship, and filed aboard.  To Venus’ surprise, the Marines didn’t follow them.  Instead, they formed rank at the base of the ramp, saluting their Princess until the rising ramp closed off their view.

Freya settled into a cushion on the nicely-appointed little ship, awaiting a long and boring flight.  Alex immediately claimed the seat next to her, as Remilia wandered the ship, taking in the details.  She had never been in one before, after all.  Venus and Jake settled in on a crash couch and buckled in, dropping their day bags on the seats beside them.  Jake noticed the earrings Venus was wearing and didn’t recognize them.

“Those new, baby?” he asked, peering at the little gold studs.

“No, but I’ve never worn them in front of you,” Venus said, removing one for him to see.  He took it and examined it.

“Hmm…I don’t recognize the little symbol in the middle,” he said.

“It’s the city icon for the city we’re going to visit first, Hesiod,” Venus explained.  “They’re probably the only pieces of jewelry I own that I didn’t make myself.  Dad made them.”

“Nice,” Jake said, passing it back.  “What’s this city like?”

“It was one of the tribal meeting places way back when, and it’s the center of governance on the planet,” Venus said.  “It’s also the place with the second largest spaceport.”  Venus reinserted the little earring, and settled back against the cushion.  “I think you’ll like it.  I hope so.”

The ship shook as it lifted off, then rumbled as it passed through the atmospheric shield of the vessel and dropped towards the planet.  The inertial compensators kicked in, and all five teens relaxed as the g-forces faded.  Freya pulled a ration bar she had secreted somewhere from the folds of her clothes and ripped into it, while Alex and Remilia flipped open personal dataslates to watch holos on the one-hour flight.

Jake leaned back against the cushion to relax.  His world turned red as Venus glanced over at him, clearly a little nervous.  “What’s wrong?” he asked as he caught her expression.

“Just…I don’t want you guys to go into this blind.  Nocturne is a terrifying place.  Even in the middle of the cities, I can’t guarantee your safety, from criminals or the environment or animal attack.  Entire townships get swallowed up by lava every fifteen years, if they’re outside the void shield generators,” she confessed.

Jake squeezed her hand.  “I’m not scared.”

“Maybe you should be.”  She grimaced.  “Now I’m nervous.  I’m wondering if we should have gone to a resort or something like Miranda and Petra, instead of flying into hell.”

Jake looked at her askance.  “You’re not…ashamed of your own planet, are you?”

“No, but I’d never forgive myself if something went wrong while we were here,” Venus admitted.

Jake shrugged.  “We’ll deal with it when it happens.  So,” he said, trying to change the subject, “what’s this speech of yours?”

“Well…I’m the first member of the Royal family on the planet in a very long time,” she said.  “And…I’ll be expected to make a Royal address.  Nothing…TOO ornate, but it’ll be uncomfortable for you and the others.  I’d recommend you stay at the castle, actually,” she said.  “Three hours outdoors in Nocturne heat, starting the moment you arrive?  You’d drop from heatstroke.”

“Oh.  Well…what will you talk about?” Jake asked.

Venus shrugged uncomfortably.  “Well…I’ll speak first of how proud I am to see the people Nocturne overcoming the trials their own world supplies, and the pride they should feel for it.  I’ll make mention of how the bond between the Salamanders and Nocturneans is rare and valuable, and that I count myself amongst both without hesitation.”

“Sounds good.”

“Then…probably mention that the Salamanders and the rest of the Imperial military are the bulwark between our population and the alien menace, just for the cameras,” she continued.  “I’ll wrap it up by saying that while I may have spent my childhood away from Nocturne, I will always think of it as home.”

“Is that true?” Jake asked.  “You were a tiny kid when you were here last.”

“It is, Jake.  I know it sounds hokey, but…this is home for me, and I suspect it always will be,” she said quietly.  “I love Terra, the cities, the Palace, the art, but Nocturne…Nocturne is my blood.”  She looked up at him with a little smile of contentment.  “I’ve looked up at it on my ceiling for ten years and wanted it.”

Jake slid his arm across her shoulders and hugged her gently.  She snuggled into his shoulder and stared at the deck of the shuttle.  “I was wrong.  I’m glad I picked to come here.”  She glanced up at him again.  Her eyes were dim, but from happiness, not sadness.  “Thanks for coming with me.”

“Nowhere else I’d rather be,” Jake said truthfully.  He leaded down and brushed his lips against hers, held her there for a moment.  “If I weren’t, I’d just be home right now, watching holos, jacking off, and wondering if it was too early to ask my boss for a promotion so I could work better hours,” he whispered against her lips.  She giggled.

“Wise words.”  She pulled back and looked at him curiously.  “So…what exactly WAS your old job, anyway?  Somehow I don’t think we’ve EVER talked about it.”

“Well…I resigned the day before we left.  Part of me still instinctively tries to put on the uniform when I get up,” he ruefully said.  “I worked at a corner store in my hab.”

“Right…what did you do?  I know you hated it,” she said.

Jake grimaced.  “I did hate it.  My job was basically the lifting servitor role.  Pick up boxes, stock shelves, tell the Slide dealer out front to fuck off every so often so the Praetors didn’t raid us…I hated it.  Not my boss’ fault,” he said reluctantly.  “He was just a little old man, he couldn’t do any of that himself.  But man…talk about a waste of time.  I’m pretty sure he was actually paying me LESS than minimum wage, too.”

“Wow.  You had drug dealers right outside your workplace?” she asked, eyes wide.

“Yep.  Three of them.  They’d do shifts, too, completely open.  Like clockwork,” he grumbled.

Venus shook her head.  “Must have been scary.”

“It was.  At first.  They openly ignored me after a while.  Assholes.  Scared off a bunch of customers.”  Jake crossed his arms over his chest, remembering the subtle fear that had filled him every time he had gone to work.  “I’ll never miss it.”

“How did your boss take you leaving?” she asked.

“Well, I gave him two weeks’ notice, but he was pretty indifferent.  When I told him I was going on summer vacation with a girlfriend, though, he flipped out.”

“What?  Why?” Venus asked.

“‘What?  You’ll never get anywhere with that attitude!’” Jake said, trying to imitate his boss’ voice.

“He was wrong,” Venus said smugly.  “You’re a noble, now.”

“Well…not officially, right?” Jake shrugged.

Venus looked to the side for a moment.  “Right.”  Jake cocked his head, but she pressed before he could ask.  “So, did you ever actually tell him that we were an item?” she asked quickly.

Jake nodded.  “Yeah, I did.”

“What did he say?”

“Well, this was after he found out I was leaving on vacation.  I just sort of mentioned it, indirectly.  When I mentioned that bloody tabloid.  Remember?” Jake asked.

Venus immediately laughed, leaning away from him and throwing her head back.  “You didn’t!”

“I did,” Jake said.  “‘Mystery Consort.’”

“Ah ha ha ha ha, I love it!  Then what?”

“He grabbed the holomag and opened it, all grumbly and mad.  When he got to the right page, he froze.”  Jake grinned as he recalled the look of stupefaction on the man’s face.  “He just sort of looked at me.”

“Hah!  Did he even say anything?”

“Yeah.  ‘Jake…what the hell, man?’” Jake recalled.  “Then he just turns GREEN with envy.”

“Well, who can blame him?” Venus said airily, flicking her gorgeous hair over her shoulders.