The Mission

Chapter Part 4 A Royal Pain

Charles eyes grew wide that was all? Hell bring on the tests!

"Now don't think it is all that simple. You have to prove you are royal material, undergo physical tests that can push a man to the brink. Also all this has to be done publicly," Mita watched as Charles face dropped.

Whispering Charles said, "I can't do that! It's impossible even with me being removed from time there are too many repercussions." Mita could see the pain and agony that Charles was going through, feeling for him she knew that there was nothing that she could do for him.

"Why is that? If you're removed from time as I understand it, no mention of you in the past could change the future." Mita said now perplexed about the situation. Sighing Charles wasn't sure how he could explain the whole time paradox of repeat changes.

"It's not the being mentioned it's the paradox of time correction and dilation." Charles could see by the confused look on the empress face that she didn't understand what he was talking about. Sighing Charles tried to wrap his own head around it in such a way that she might understand it. "Ok, although I have been removed from time I am still connected to it, everything I do affects everything past and future. I can only effect the past once publicly after that I have to be hidden, you've heard the theory two like objects cannot occupy the same space at the same time. It's somewhat like that if I were to run into myself the resulting destruction could destroy all time and space and personally I am not ready to go yet."

Mita shook her head almost getting the whole idea. "I would be so proud to call you son. You are beyond brilliant, so nothing public or you might not be able to time slip I see."

"Yes, that plus the fact I have met many of the royals of this time and I have to say that many are no better than common killers." Charles said almost afraid of how she might act.

Sighing she nodded, "Yes, what you've said is very true. Unfortunately too many of the royals are becoming power hungry and only want the power."

A moment later his wrist comp began to beep faintly, telling the empress he had to go. She nodded Charles blinked out, leaving the empress alone with her thoughts. Little did she know that there were a small pair of child like eyes that had been watching her in amazement the realization as the blocked memories flooded her mind. Quietly she left the back of the room she called her play room to look for her sister, she knew that she had been with their father but wasn't sure now.

Ali breathed a sigh of relief wiping all these memories was starting to wear her out. First her sister then her father at least his would stay permanent till the machine could reverse it. Her wrist comp softly beeped alerting her to the fact that Charles was back on board the ship. Pressing a button after she made sure she was alone she too blinked and was gone. Melina blinked hard what was her sister? An alien? She knew almost everything that was secret in the palace but this was something new she had to look into. Backing away she turned and started to run when she nearly collided with her father.

Oh darn! Now what Ah! She knew! "Whoa little one where are you off to?" her father asked.

"Oh hi papa, I thought I saw Alatem go this way, I wanted to show her my new dress I was thinking of having seamstress to make!" The little girl acted as excited as she could, hoping to convince her father.

"Ah! Another new dress and what pray tell is the occasion this time? Your birthday? No, that's months away. A ball coming up? No, I don't recall any. Your Mother's or my birthday, no we've already had ours." Melina was starting to panic what if papa guessed. She'd never be able to keep it a secret she couldn't lie to her father the only person she loved as much as her mama.

"No papa, I just want to look as pretty as I can for you and mama." Melina said hoping it would fool her father. Gee but the man had a way of ferreting out the truth from her, it was bad enough that her sister didn't trust her.