Asa never expected her 17th birthday to be quite like this. It was like every other day at the orphanage, she wakes up shakes the dirt and grime of her clothes from the day before and heads down to the kitchen four flights down from her room. The only thing that might be different, is that she can look forward to some kind of desert today, birthdays are the only time the matron ever gives sweets out to the children.
She was thinking of her favorite stuffed pastry when she walked into the lobby, normally the sound of children running around and playing would fill her ears but today all was quiet. Taking the chance to get her mind off of desert what greeted Asa was not little Sam, Sammy, Samantha, and Seth playing around and chasing each other.
But three Telten Enforcers the police who keep order on Telten a moon orbiting a gas giant in the Telder system, standing behind them was a young Female officer looking in her 20s who was talking to the Matrion. She had an air of danger and gloom about her which was only amplified by the scars on her face. A plasma round seems to have burned a hole through the side of her Jaw with a long line scar connected running down the left side of her face. It seems whatever shot her fired at her from above. Her hawkish grey eyes gave her this sharp look that matched her narrow jaws and high cheekbones. The weird thing was that she kind of resembles me a bit.
I walked down the steps having taken their attention form whatever they were discussing. Our eyes meet and I could see a look of recognition fash through her eyes that showed excitement and affection I could not comprehend. Before I could even react she rushed past the Matrion and stood before me right in my face.
"Ahha" Startled I leaned back to much and lost my balance almost falling, grabbing my hand the woman swiftly pulled me up and at the same time pricked my palm with a scanner. "ouch" Then I heard a beep, looking down towards the sound that''s when I noticed the scanner and the woman looking intensely at it which made me nervous, I still had no clue what was going on.Seemingly happy with the results the woman smiled and looked at me, making me even more nervous her smile although beautiful was made disconcerting by the scars.
"Finally found you, my good Niece"..... "Niece?" was all I managed to say before I was yanked behind the woman claiming to be my Aunt as she was heading toward the exit. Looking for help I signaled to Matrion Natalie with my eyes for assistance. Seeming to have finally caught up to the unexpected events of the last minute Matrion Natalie bared the way of the woman pulling me.
"Major please hold a second I fail to follow the nature of your visit here are you trying to adopt Asa. Or are you kidnaping this young lady under my care." Coming to a halt the woman seemed to think about her next actions. With a look of slight clarity, she taped her arm tablet and pulled up a document I could not see, showing it to Matrion Natalie.
Looking shocked at the panel the matrion looked at her then me and was about to say something before being signaled by the Major to shut up. Totally not understanding the situation I keep my mouth closed. Looking toward me the woman seems to see my confusion. "Look little Niece ill give you all the answers you need, but this aunt of yours needs to get you out of this dirty squaller of a living block, and to a safer place before people realize where you are. I really have to get you back so I can finally redeem myself from the shame of that year."
Her words made even less sense to me I always assumed I had no family, I mean if I did they obviously did not care for me, or I would not be in an orphanage. "Ok ill play along with this game of yours, but I need to gather my things and say bye to the other kids before I go anywhere." She stared at me for half a second."Little girl, I think you did not understand me we are leaving now, your stuff will be collected later and you can visit at a later date but we are leaving now!"
Continuing to drag me toward the door she signaled one of her escorts to go and collect some of my stuff and for the others to head outside. Walking behind her I had no courage to argue anymore her aura completely changed I could feel the heaviness in the air. In the street, I was meet by the whole sector being locked down by tens of Telten Enforcers all protecting military transport I was heading toward. Picking up the pace my escort hurried to the transport and up the back ramp. Then strapping me in the most secure seat surrounded by Enforcers and the woman claiming to be my Aunt.
It took only seconds before I heard the spooling of the engines as we lifted from the streets and into the air. With much uncertainty, I could not figure out what was so important about me that all this was needed. Thinking about all the details the only thing I could do is ask, glancing at the right my ''Aunt'' was looking at me real hard with a look of guilt and happiness all in one."So are you really my Aunt, and if so who are you how do you have so much control of the Enforcers?"
"I am indeed truly your aunt as for the who, I''m Helena Tanoute leader of House Tonoute''s special response unit! And today my special task was to pick up a...... lost member of the family." "If that''s the case then why am I only now being ''found'' I''ve been an orphan for seventeen years I think it''s too late to be picking me up now." There was hurt I saw on Helena''s face at that comment but I could not scrounge up the pity to care. Till I realized what it was I just heard, House Tonoute the nominal owners and rulers of Telten a mercenary family turned simi-Nobles.
"Well, that''s a complicated story we won''t be talking about right this moment. Just understand that all will be clear and explained when we land at the family compound."
"Wait a minute yours from house Tonoute! You''re saying that I''m a member of that family!"
Looking at me like I just realized the obvious Helena had a smirk on her face and shook her head."Yes, you are do you think a main family member like me would just pick up a random girl off the street."
There was silence as I contemplate those words........how could the ruling family of this moon lose someone and just now find them, it makes no sense especially because I''ve been under there nose this whole time. I mean come on its ridiculous and sad.......now I''m a little depressed.
At that exact moment, the transport was slowing down and landing. leaving my thoughts behind I lifted my head to see what''s going on. The ramp lowered revealing to me a sight most stunning before I was a welcome of several dozen armored soldiers at attention. All wearing the colors black, dark blue, and Byzantium Purple of House Tonoute. Behind them, a huge Dome covered all I could see with parks and exotic plants on the inside and out. It was Tonoute Town the first settlement on Telten from over 300 years ago. The seat of power of the ruling House and home to all there family and relatives.
With a pat on my back, Helena ushered me forward toward the military entrance of the dome where a convoy was waiting to take us further in. Waiting for us was a luxury hover limo escorted by four armored vehicles I did not recognize. At the orphanage, I read all kinds of things about Telten and how it was founded and in all accounts mentions of the dome and the efforts taken to terraform the moon over the course of 300 years to a liveable standard. Which at the time was cutting edge technology that only a few corporations and governments had access too. Now terraforming is used more often, but still, only the rich powers can afford to use it. I can''t believe I''m here seeing it in person a poor orphan from the shady side of Telten.
The story goes that Celta and Rendal Tonoute at the time were a pair of brother and sister that were running a medium-small sized mercenary company. They were asked to protect a certain ship leaving for the Seltas Duchy a local stellar state in this part of the Galaxy, they were attacked along the way and in the end, almost lost half there staff in casualties to ''pirates''. Come to find out the ship they were protecting was delivering a princess to the Seltas Duchy for a marriage solidifying a merger between the Duchy and the close Deltras Kingdom thus forming the DelSeltas Empire of now.
The route and cargo were a secret but someone leaked it, the pirates were from a rival power trying to stop the merger but against both side''s expectations, the Tonoute siblings succeeded in their contract. And as a reward for there unexpected success against superior numbers they were both awarded the Status of a Baron and Baroness in the newly formed DelStelas Empire thus gaining joint ownership of the Telder System and all planets and moons found around its star.
The problem was that only Two planets/moons were a candidate for a terraforming colony and the empire was only willing to help with the smaller of the two Telten. These days it''s rumored that the Tonoute family has plans to start terraforming the other potential colony planet that''s closer than most as a perfect earth-like world. Its also rumored that Celta and Rendal are still living till today even though at the time they were in there late 400s in an age now they have to be about in their 900s. Only the rich can afford the kind of money it takes to rejuvenate the body for so long.
As I was recalling all this the limo was already moving towards the central zone of Tonoute Town. Driving through I see small kids playing and older kids training and relaxing all over the place. But as we drive I notice all eyes are drawn towards the convoy. It seems news of who is riding inside has spread to the youths of the family, even though I myself am still unsure of who I am. The drive drags on for 20min and as we approach the central Manor complex Helena seems to be getting slightly tenser. I can feel the tension shes releasing into the air.
screech!! Our Escorts come to a fast stop as we move into the manor courtyard, they stay at the entrance as we move up.
Waiting for us in front of the large manor spanning several Football fields is a team of maids and I''m guessing a member of the family. Right in the middle I spot a woman who looks very similar to Helena almost like twins the only difference is the eye color hers is an icy blue and she lacks the scars, she has a business management air about her but that strong frown on her face is telling me she might not be happy to see me.
Stepping out first is Helena, who I meekly follow I don''t want any part of the storm about to take place here. The woman yells "Helena!! what is going on here, are you bringing another decoy those bastards left behind, so you want to hurt me even more than you already have." Furry and hurt leak out of her tone.
"Selena this is not what this is, I found the real one this time there is no DNA degradation from her scan and that special marker came back as well shes the real one I promise this time." Pleading with guilt Helena handed over the scanner she pricked me with earlier.
Slowly reaching out Selena snatched it and got quiet as she looked it over...........................her face slowly relaxed. She looked up at Helena then shifted her focus to me. ".......Ok, you might be right this time, but if I''m to believe this girl who looks like she came out of a dust pile is my eldest daughter. Then more tests are needed."
With a shock, I stared back so this woman could be my Mom. My life could be heading in an amazing new direction.
If only at the time I realized that a life of blood and pain, luxury, and decadence was all that awaited me in the coming years.