Lost Empire

Chapter 58

Derrick's eyes widened a moment then he said, "Great as if we don't have enough problems. What is wrong now?" Derrick's voice said sounding exasperated.

"As I said this is rather delicate, it has to do with Jitaku." Dempsy said visibly shaking.

Every bit of Derrick's annoyance was instantly gone, "Your home? Has something happened to your master or the clan?" Derrick breathed a sigh of relief when Dempsy shook his head no.

"No sire, this is far worse than that." Dempsy replied his face twisting into a more worried look.

"Far worse? My God, man what could be worse than those two things?" Derrick asked a perplexed look on his face.

"Do you remember when I first joined? I told you that one day I would have to return. That I had a duty there. After I created that monster Trianas, I felt I couldn't go home 'til that was corrected." Here Dempsy shook a bit.

"That has been amended I can allow you to go home almost any time you wish." Derrick advised Dempsy.

"Yes sir, I know this though, it may be that I HAVE to go home soon. If what I think is going to happen does, I may have no choice." Dempsy told Derrick with his head hung low.

"My god man what is going on," Derrick asked the worry apparent in his voice.

Here Dempsy whispered almost as if he spoke louder something bad would happen. "I got a message from Onai." Here Dempsy shuddered again.

"Are you sure?" Derrick asked, "Couldn't you have been wrong?"

"No sir, the message was for me specifically. She said the student is now a master and worthy. She also said that she will wait no longer, that she has come for me. This can only mean three things; she intends to unite with me as we were supposed to before the Trianas business. She will test my best student if he is worthy she will stay with me. If not she may kill him and force me back to Jitaku through traditions." Here Dempsy started to shake again as he looked at Derrick with a pained look.

Derrick's mouth was open in surprise could they really do this to the man? Thing is he still needed Dempsy. "Do you wish for me to talk to her? I still need you Dempsy; having you leave would seriously hamper a lot I have left to do."

Dempsy's head snapped up as he considered all that Derrick had said. "You can try Sire; she is a hard headed one. It might take quite a bit to convince her." There was a knock that moment as Dempsy told Greeson to come in.

Greeson opened the door looking at the sparely furnished room. Then he saw the hologram of Derrick, as he snapped to attention. "Sorry master I didn't know you were talking to the emperor, I'll wait in the hall."

"NO!" Dempsy almost shouted as his hand flashed out toward Dempsy. Reacting without thinking Greeson blocked all five hits that were thrown. Grunting Dempsy nodded as he pointed to a spot next to him. "You are a big part of this discussion. If you react that way when she challenges you, you might survive."

Greeson's face screwed up in puzzlement as he stared at Dempsy. "She? Who are you talking about? I thought we took care of that disgrace to the art form."

A weak smile came to Dempsy's face, "Yes we did, this time though I am afraid that you will be going against one that is far better."

Greeson's mouth dropped open as he stared harder at Dempsy. "Better? That would mean that she is on the same level as you are master. Just who is this female?"

Sighing Dempsy took out a small picture of a five foot three dark haired woman. She had oriental features that were more apparent than Dempsy's were. "This is Onai, my, as I heard Captain Callie say earlier, fiancé." Here Dempsy grimaced as he continued. "No one but the two of you and General Norman know of her, though I expect that all will soon."

Greeson was nodding wondering why he was being included in on this private matter of his master. It was then that Daniel Norman knocked and joined them.

"Alright I'm here you said this was urgent. The only things I can think of to cause this are your master, your clan, your home and your master's daughter." Norman was looking at Dempsy when Dempsy grimaced again. "Dear god man! She's on the way?" Norman started to laugh getting a look of almost death from Dempsy. "I told you years ago to go back and take care of this, you wouldn't listen."

Dempsy's head lowered as he nodded, then he asked all of them to help with the coming, as he called it apocalypse.

Captain Mara Callie had just finished checking through all of Tara's systems when Tara appeared. "Prime? I am receiving a priority message from the emperor for you."

Mara stopped what she was doing her head snapping around to stare at Tara, "A priority message?" Tara nodded as Mara clicked her communications open. "This is Captain Mara Callie. How may I assist you Sire?"

Derrick's holo-gram appeared, "I am afraid that your reunion with Tara will be cut short Captain. This is a matter that deals with Lieutenant Greeson. As I know, the two of you are engaged, it seems that his master is also. She will be challenging your fiancé. His master has suggested that you be present. This is voluntary, though I could make it an order. The woman is as good as Dempsy according to him; he says that it would be in the best interests of both you and Greeson, if you are there."

Mara was shocked then a bit angry when Derrick explained all that was doing to happen. "I could blow her out of space, though I am sure that wouldn't sit well with David's master. I will be there Sire just say when." Derrick smiled it was good that she was onboard now he hoped the Greeson was trained enough to survive.

It was three days later that a small, sleet craft exited hyper space heading toward the fleet. Onboard an Oriental woman looked out at the twelve massive ships her eyes wide, impressed with what she saw. Looking at the man at the controls she nodded.

"This is courier one of Jitaku requesting permission to dock." The man said then waited.

Celeste's voice came through as she answered. "Courier one, please move to the ship directly in front of you. We have been awaiting your arrival. I am opening bay one, please move within."

The man's face was surprised as he saw a huge opening at the side of the ship. Looking at the woman she nodded as he started in. Within minutes the ship was shutting down as the opening closed.

A large clang signaled that the opening was sealed. A moment later the woman moved to the doorway. Outside she was surprised to see five men waiting for her. A man with five stars on his shoulder stepped up. Behind him a man with three stars, two men with one star and last a man with a silver oak leaf.

Johnathon Hartwell bowed to the woman, "Welcome Miss Onai. I am Admiral Hartwell of the Imperial space forces. We all have been sent to welcome you aboard."

Onai bowed to Hartwell then to each man after they were introduced also bowing to her. She stopped before Daniel Norman as she looked intensely at his face.

"You sir, I seem to have a memory of." She said to Norman.

Norman nodded slightly, "Yes ma'am. I was with Kimon when he was home many years ago."

"Yes, you were very honorable to me and father. We both were greatly impressed." Turning to Hartwell she stated, "This one shall accompany us to where Kimon is. If the rest of you are as honorable as this one is then this trip will be very pleasant. That is after the business at hand is finished."

Hartwell was about to say something then snapped his mouth shut. Shaking his head he had all the others fall in behind Norman and Onai.

Norman was shocked when she stepped next to him as they made their way into the ship. "The emperor wished to apologize for being unable to be present. He has a wedding of his own to the empress. We also have problems with a possible invading race."

Onai waved off Norman's speech, "It is to be expected he has an empire to maintain. We are thrilled that he agreed to us coming aboard."

Norman nodded then bowed, "We should proceed to where Kimon is, as I am sure you are anxious to see him."

Onai's mouth gained a small thin smile then it was gone as fast. "Anxious? No my dear friend, I was anxious when he left. I was furious when he didn't return home again after the time the both of you were there. So anxious no, though I am expecting a full explanation from him." Here she turned to Norman, "I just hope it is satisfactory, dishonor is not a pretty thing as I am sure you know."

Norman nodded as he tried to keep everything to himself. No sense in upsetting her with unexpected news. The party moved through the ship 'til it reached the training hall. Onai looked in seeing Dempsy, her eyes got wide as her face showed momentary anger.

Walking in with a determined gait she stopped near Dempsy as she waited. Norman, Hartwell and the other men started moving people out as fast as possible no sense in getting everyone killed. Both Dempsy and Greeson stopped practicing noticing that everyone was departing the room.

"Kimon Dempsy, this one never thought that you would be as big a coward as you are." Onai said stopping Dempsy dead in his tracks.

"This one was not afraid as with you I had responsibilities. These I could not ignore, like..." Dempsy started.

"Responsibilities!" Onai almost shouted. "Yes, you did have, one of which was returning home!"

"I was..." Dempsy tried to start again.

"No, we will discuss after." Here she walked up to Greeson. "You are Kimon's best student, who I understand helped to restore his honor. For that I thank you, now according to traditions I must challenge you. I suggest you not go easy as I will not or I will kill you. Impress me, and then perhaps I won't kill you. Your name?"

"David Greeson, if you are going to challenge me, may I ask that my fiancé to be present?" Greeson asked.

When Onai nodded with an even bigger smile on her face Greeson turned to Celeste who nodded. A moment later Mara Callie appeared.

Turning back Greeson bowed and thanked Onai. A sly smile came to her lips as she stated. "You are challenged we begin in two minutes." Greeson nodded as he stretched. Onai removed her Yukata revealing she was in fighting attire.

Both met in the middle of the mat bowing to each other. Tentatively they fought gauging each other rapidly getting faster and faster. Suddenly Onai was thrown back almost to the wall a huge smile on her face a rip on the chest of her attire. Springing back she reentered the fray. They were soon moving far faster than anyone but Dempsy could follow.

Almost half an hour into the challenge Greeson suddenly gasp, he was flying back toward the wall at excessive speed. Springing back he was heading toward a startled Onai, spinning she caught him flinging him to the mat. Even as he rose she started a series of six rapid blows.

Avoiding and blocking the first five Greeson was a little over confident as she grazed him with the sixth blow. Almost crumbling Greeson continued to block almost everything she threw. Finally Onai stopped holding up a hand.

"I am impressed, you should get medically attended." She bowed again as she said, "It was an honor to fight one as strong as you. Kimon is the only one I have ever seen continue after the triple, triple move. He also was injured in his ribs. Ugh! Like him you are so stubborn." Here Onai pushed Greeson with a finger as he collapsed.

Onai nodded with a smile then anger showed on her face as she turned to face Kimon.