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part of my family.”
    “On Tarchein?” Tommy asked, surprised.
    “Sure.” Remus was pleased to see the light in the young man’s eyes. “There are a number of Humans on Tarchein, so much to see and do, and you’ll get the best education in the galaxy.”
    Tommy turned away. He had lived most of his life in space with his own kind, and though he felt no ill will toward the Tarchein, he had never imagined living on their world. “I’m not sure, sir, my parents…”
    “I can never replace your parents, Tommy, but I believe they would have wanted me to help in any way I could. After all, you did save my life—twice,” Remus said, bending his large head a little, trying to catch Tommy’s eye.
    “It was nothing, sir,” Tommy replied softly.
    “The galaxy is a big place, Tommy, you said it yourself. Together we can see some of it.” Remus let the statement hang.
    Tommy continued to stare at his food. For the first time since hearing about the fate of his parents, he was not feeling quite so alone. “I think I would like to see Tarchein, Mr. Remus.”
    “That sounds wonderful Tommy,” Remus said, putting both hands on Tommy’s shoulders.
    Tommy, relieved of a burden he hadn’t been fully conscious of, stood and hugged Remus. “Thank you, sir.”
    Remus patted the boy’s back and sighed in relief. “You’re welcome, my young friend…you’re welcome.”

    The Planetary Defense Force, or PDF, is an outdated organization, commissioned, as on other Imperial planets, to simply appease local governments—giving them a false sense of security and a perception of self-determination. Underfunded, using outdated hardware and ill-trained personnel, the PDF would be no match for any alien incursions. I cite the growing number of Jayram raids as proof positive. This force is, in fact, used primarily to contain and or curtail local malcontents. Just one more form of control, albeit benevolently sinister, in the Tarchein grand scheme of giving systems a false sense of partnership, when in fact we are clearly subservient to the will of the imperious Queen Mother!
     
    - Terran Today Article -

CHAPTER FIVE

The Dark Queen
    Empress Darvona stood in front of the glowing communication orb, seemingly in a trance. Her hands waved before the great object as if caressing a loved one before, apparently satisfied with the images, abruptly throwing her head and glided from the seclusion of her dimly lit meditation chamber to an adjacent terrace. Her shimmering black gown, dusted with red jewels, clung to her long shapely body and draped into luxurious folds that slid across the cold, dark, polished tile, before she paused to admire the view afforded by the clear steel of her balcony.
    Thousands of lights shone up from the brightly illuminated, densely populated capital city below. The sight filled the queen’s dark heart with pride and caused her full red lips to curl into a broad, rather disturbing smile as she shifted her gaze upward to the star-filled night sky.
    I wonder how many of those bright points of lights are mine? “The mighty Tarchein Empire indeed,” she snarled, the thought producing a sinister grin on her beautifully featured face as she whirled and headed back into her chamber. She paused, only for a moment, at the milky-white sphere, clutched at both ends by chrome-red stars, their evenly spaced points laid flat against a full third of the ball. Then she casually waved a hand, flooding the eerie space with soft blue light as she nodded toward one of her massive royal Couragian guards; who in turn, commanded a pair of gigantic doors, adorned with grotesque carvings of tortured aliens, to unlatch and slowly swing open.
    “Come in, my dear,” Darvona said. Her hands, almost completely covered by the gown’s long tapered sleeves, were now spread wide in a welcoming gesture.
    As the girl entered, the massive doors slid closed in silence, only to latch with a deep heavy tone, like that of a great vault being