Chapter 5

Stinger looked at the hologram and checked the distance.

"That's right out on the fringes of our known part of the universe. Actually I know a little bit about it, it is usually sought out by royalty but they have a code that no one speaks of anyone else on the planet as they don't want it known if they have a place there. It's a contract between the owner of the planet and the people that pay for an exclusive part of the planet. They can't bring anyone that is not on their list nor are they able to buy any portion or tell anyone about the planet. People on the list have to make that same contract. There's also a limit to the amount of vacancies there are so you can imagine the waiting list."

"What if we can't get in?" Jupiter was flooded with panic. She was looking back and forth at Caine and Stinger waiting for an answer.

Caine answered in a soothing voice, the one that was soft and low and helped her immediately.

"Jupiter, all you have to do is show them your arm. They will scan it and know who you are immediately and will jump over themselves to help you."

He was looking at her with some amusement in his eyes, though he said nothing else. She felt calm almost immediately. She was also a bit piqued at him because now she felt foolish for overreacting.

"Oh yeah." she said, "I keep forgetting I have it." She pulled back the sleeve of her sweater to look at the holographic seal. She discovered that it could be deactivated and invisible to others if she looked at it a certain way. It had something to do with the seal recognizing and acting only with her eyes. That helped her because she 'd had to keep it hidden from her family.

"Once we get into orbit how will we know where her particular location was?" Stinger was not as unaffected as Caine about what they were doing but they had to be somewhere safe to plan for Kiza and the director's son's rescue. Jupiter's, or Seraphi's secret hideaway was still secret to anyone else but Jupiter.

"Somehow I think I will know," she replied.

"Either way," Caine said, "I am sure we will be stopped after entering the planet's orbit, they have planet-wide security I'll bet. They'd have to have a military grade defense system to keep people off the planet, if they wanted this place to remain unknown. I even think that they will be waiting for us no matter where we enter the planet's atmosphere."

Stinger shrugged, "It will be whatever it will be. Jupiter's got all that we'll really need."

This turned out to be true as well as Caine's knowing they would be waiting for them. It took a few minutes for them to scan and verify her as Seraphi's recurrence and had Caine and Stinger sign the contract of silence that everyone who came or went had to. But they did all they could to welcome her as Caine had indicated. The gentleman who seemed to be in charge hurried them to another room where he enclosed them and turned to the three but looked only at Jupiter.

"Your majesty it is so good to have you back. Everything here has been kept as requested until such time as your recurrence came along. The resemblance is astounding!"

Jupiter cocked her head sideways and asked, "Wait, did you know her?"

The gentleman smiled as he said, "Yes, I knew her well."

"I want to know so much more but right now we are short on time, so if you would be so kind to as to give me a map although I think I know where already but just to be safe I would like directions if you will."

"Certainly Excellency. My information is not of an immediate nature as you had already taken care of it, well before she was killed. It's quite hard to explain so let me give you your map and when you can spare the time come back and learn more about her and why you will always have this space, no pun intended."

Jupiter laughed. "Believe me I understand more than you know." She accepted the odd little circular gadget he gave her. She looked questioningly at it. Caine was beside her and took it from her. He seemed to touch it a certain way and than a holographic map projected out from it's half sphere.

"Ahhh," Jupiter responded and turned back to the gentleman to tell him that she would indeed be back and would love to talk with him. Caine nodded congenially at the gentleman and steered Jupiter towards the door.

Minutes later they were flying fast and furious towards the blinking green dot on the holographic map. They came upon a lush hillside with a manor house sitting amidst it. On the other side of the hill there was a lake that was fed with majestic waterfalls. Every color under the sun seemed to be in the foliage and hillside surrounding the lake. It was so beautiful it took Jupiter's breath away.

As they approached the house and landing pad just off from the house she noted this part of the hillside was green with a grass that actually waved and was the most beautiful emerald color she had ever seen. It was striking. They approached the house and were met by the apparent house bot. The bot would not let them pass until Jupiter figured out that the hologram on her arm might work so she put her arm up against what appeared to be a receptor that was circular and a bluish light emanated from it. Suddenly the unhelpful bot was ready to give them a tour though they didn't really want one. They just wanted a room and peace.

"Sim house bot could you please send us to the nearest salon and you may return to your normal routine."

Jupiter shrugged at Caine and Stinger and waited.

"Certainly your majesty," and she led them into a salon that was medium size but adorned beautifully with emerald green fabric on the furniture and drapes with a rug that changed color to match with any of the colors in the room. The bot turned to leave saying "Majesty, if you should need me please just push the button on this pendant and I will be but an instant in responding if the house has not already helped you as there are functions in the house that may help you."

She handed the filigreed gold pendant with a single emerald tear in the center. She recognized it and a flash of light blinded her for a second. She staggered into the wall and Caine once again swooped her up and asked the bot to show them to the mistress's room.

"That's it Jupiter you need to rest now!"

Jupiter felt like she knew where to go but her head was splitting and she couldn't open her eyes to the pain of the light. She turned her cheek into Caine's chest and watched things through half-lidded eyes but all she could see was a foggy curtain that got darker and darker. She vaguely heard Caine's voice but she noted he was using his growly tone before she succumbed to the darkness.