The Murdered Sun - Christie Golden [95]
We--the warriors--have known since the beginning, hundreds of years ago. We deliberately misled Akeras. The military was reluctant to give up the power we obtained from Blessing. It was wrong. I knew it.
I am sorrier than I can say."
"You... you betrayed us! Betrayed your people!"
"That is in a sense truer than you know, Your Grace," interjected Chakotay. "The Akerians and the Verunans are the same race."
"Impossible!" cried Viha Nata, clearly offended.
"Not impossible. The evidence is almost incontrovertible.
Empress, your people have lived for millennia on a desert planet.
You have, over that time, developed protective, cooler, lighter-hued fur for that environment. Viha, your people are jungle dwellers.
Hence, your mottled fur and your duller teeth, better suited for eating plants. There are many other differences, but without question, you are the same race."
"But..." began Nata, then stopped. "The colony ship... Was Akeras then another colony?"
"Colony?" repeated Riva, bristling. "We are the founders of the empire, not mere colonists!"
Janeway held up a placating hand. "This must be very unsettling for you both, I understand. But we've been working hard to put together the pieces of your history and the history of the concavity. Commander Chakotay tells me that your people, Viha Nata, keep history in the form of storytelling. I believe this is true also for the Akerians, isn't it, Empress?"
The little empress, her composure returning slowly, nodded regally.
"We are the lady of the Faith and the keeper of the Word," she replied, reminding Janeway of two of her titles. "But all of our people know the great tales."
"Then Chakotay and I would like to present our findings to you in that manner--as a tale," said Janeway. She was pleased to see the looks of interest that crossed the aliens' faces--faces so similar, yet so different. "This room is a holodeck. We can use holographic images to help illustrate our story. Is this an acceptable means of communication for you?"
Nata glanced over at the empress. The younger female nodded, and Nata, more reluctantly, nodded as well.
"Then," said Janeway, feeling the butterflies in her stomach, "let's begin. Computer, begin program Kim Seven."
At once the room was plunged into darkness. Janeway heard the swift intake of breath from the young empress, heard the quick, heavy steps of Garai as he moved protectively nearer his liege.
She hoped she was doing the right thing.
As they had rehearsed, Chakotay began first. His deep, rich voice filled the silent room.
"Long ago, before even your recorded time, the K'shikkaa dwelt on their planet, a world far away from this place."
A form began to materialize. Janeway knew it was a copy of the holographic Sentinal from the colony ship Chakotay and Nata had explored on Veruna Four. The figure had a combination of both races in its features, though it was much taller than even Garai and had a more reptilian cast to its visage. A ridge of spiny horns crowded atop its head and ran partway down its back. It was obvious to Janeway that this was the common ancestor.
"But all things must end, and so too did the world of the K'shikkaa," Chakotay continued. A sphere manifested about four feet above Nata's head. A few feet away glowed a large red star.
As the attention of the spectators was drawn to the star and planet, the life-sized image of the K'shikkaa faded away.
"The K'shikkaa knew that their sun would soon die. They set about preparing for the eventuality. In their wisdom, they sent colony ships to every habitable planet they could reach." The "planet" launched ships, and as they moved past the viewers, Janeway heard both Nata and Empress Riva gasp in recognition.
"The First Place!" exclaimed Nata.
At the same moment, Riva whispered, "The Great Palace!"
Janeway had seen both the "soul" of the Verunans and the palace that served as the seat of government on Akeras. Both were colony