The Raspite Prince

"Now back to the matter at hand. Princess, you are a living being but from the standpoint of the enemy will see you as nothing more than a weapon. They will use any way they can to obtain you for their use." I look at Maggie as she has a point, but so long as I am alone anyone who even attempts to sway me would be deemed a threat. It would still be ten times safer than placing me in their custody.

"She is doing what she believes is the safest path. I have seen her powers of destruction up close. Had it not been for Lieutenant Wolf I would not be present now." The captain just had to bring it back up. I take a deep breath in and wait for the responses. I already know what is coming.

"That brings us back to the question of what is really going on between the princess and lieutenant Wolf." She is very persistent. I can't see why this matters to them so much. I guess the only way to put an end to this discussion is to own up to it.

"Yes council if you are curious as to this matter. Yes, there is more than a friendship between Patrick and myself. Regardless how he or I feel it is not as simple as that. There are many complicating factors that still point to my isolation as the best solution." I say and hope that this would put the issue to rest so that we could move on.

"It is my opinion that if Lieutenant Wolf has some control over you then he could be reassigned as a personal guard to be at your side constantly." The suggestion makes me cringe because that would mean he would die by my hand if something went wrong. I try as hard as I can to bite back on my anger.

"No his heart is here in space and I will not be responsible for putting him in a cage beside me." I say as I see him look down at the table then over at me. I cannot tell what he is thinking. I don't really have an opportunity to even guess.

"A cage Princess is for animals you would have your own facilities as you are or were accustom to on your home." I look at them with a look of distain as they do not know what they speak of, but how can I make them understand.

"A cage made of gold is still a cage. I do not blame my parents for what they felt they had to do, but even my home was a cage since birth. And from my experience no one can ever become accustom to a cage even being born into one. Nor do I fell that anyone should be forced into one and that would be what you would be doing to Patrick." I look at the captain and then at Patrick. Patrick is looking back at me I guess he can't believe that I have just admitted to the relationship in front of his father. I watch his gaze turn to his father then back to me.

"The fact of the matter is she must learn control in order for any real relationships to work." Patrick says. I see how his father's smirk grows with each defense Patrick and I put up to protect the other. "And she is right my heart is here in this ship exploring new worlds. I think that if she feels the need to be alone then she should be allowed to be."

"Your judgment is clouded by your feelings toward her my son." His father says and everyone again gets silent. I am amazed by the control he seems to have over everyone else.

"No Sir it is not." Patrick looks down at his hands instead of at his father. I am not sure why he behaves so strangely. He did say that his father is ill maybe he is trying not to get his father to upset.

"I am the eldest member of the council and if not for my illness I would be in Maggie's position as I was for many years. As the eldest here I feel the need to speak what wisdom remains. I understand your fears of hurting people princess, but the fact remains the Raspites are a determined group of people. If they want to find you they will find away. They will stop at nothing to find a way to you my dear, to gain control over you. It is my opinion that you should be placed under lock and key. The less contact with other people the better. However, isolation is a not good idea. I think it should be done on the old prison planet that has been converted into a training camp. We can use other facilities for training keep highly trained guards around you, including my son, and it would solve both issues. You would not be danger to many and you would have a way to learn to control your powers with the help of Patrick." the rest of the council, the captain, and Patrick are all silent.

"Now you speak of sending me to what amounts to a real prison and placing guards there, that puts them in danger. What is to prevent them from sending in their own people to pretend to be my guards? Even with highly trained men and women. What you suggest puts me in the position to kill everyone around me at any moment. Simply send me to a planet alone." I say with tears starting to come out. "Patrick shouldn't be anywhere near me even with what little control he helps me with it is not enough to guarantee his safety and if I was responsible for his death it would be the death of me. You can simply monitor who knows about the isolated planet and leave me to my own means of survival. I wish no more deaths on my conscience." I cannot hold it back as the tears slowly make its way down my cheek. I think of all the faces of those who perished because of me. I want desperately to avoid this.

"I have said my piece. It is late and I am exhausted my dear princess." He says as everyone just listens without hearing my pleas. It seems that nothing I am saying is getting through to the council. I don't wish for any more destruction at my hands. I sit in my chair staring at them.

"I am calling this meeting adjourned for this evening to give a chance to think on the discussion today. Everyone should get rest we will reconvene at nine in the morning. Good evening everyone see you tomorrow." Maggie says as her screen goes black and so do the screens of all the rest except for Patrick's father.

"No please you cannot do this to me." I beg him. I can see that nothing I say is going to get through to them any of them as now that this man has spoken. I can see a lot of the people changing to his opinion. I am not completely sure what has just happened or why my voice seems not to be heard but it is beginning to fill me with a mixture of rage and sadness.

"Captain I would like a word with my son and the Princess alone please." He says as his face now swallows the entire screen. I look at him whipping the tears from my face.

"As you wish." the captain leaves and we are alone in the room with Patrick's farther and my heart jumps in my chest as a confusion of anger and sympathy of the fact he is ill. There is also the fact that he is Patrick's father but I just want him to listen to me as he could not possible understand what I felt at this moment.

"I am sorry that this is not going your way Princess but from what I have heard from all the other members. It is not likely that you will get complete isolation." He doesn't seem too sincere in his words as they break right through me. I wish he could see the truth of what he has done.

"Father you should listen to her, she is the only one who knows the true destructive properties of her powers." Patrick says. He is trying so hard to keep his promise to support me.

"Patrick I knew when I first saw you sitting next to her that you had feelings for her." He looks with a scolding glare at his son. Patrick reacts like a scared child to this.

"Why do you not see that being alone is the only way to protect everyone?" I interrupt. I might seem a bit pushy, yet I know this is for the best.

"Is it princess or is it away to hide from something you are not use to having?" he raises one eyebrow as he speaks to me.

"I do not understand what you mean." I really don't as I am focused on one thing and one thing only, getting away from everyone.

"When the men of my family give away our hearts it is for a good reason. If the council does see your side, it will not be easy for my son to let go." I look over at Patrick who is looking at the desk in front of him. Is it true? Are Patrick's feelings for me so strong that it would hurt him more this way?

"Yes father I will let her go." He says not looking at me.

"Patrick I..." he turns and smiles with pain in his eyes.

"If you wonder if I will find another love, no, I will never feel as I do now. But I will be fine." He says placing his hand on mine.

"I don't have a choice I have to do this. I can't handle being the cause of your death." I look into his eyes I know he understands my point of view but he wants more than anything for me to stay.

"I will go with the majority. The option I offered is the best way to meet both ends. I will go now and I suggest if there is any way for you to find another solution that you come up with it by tomorrow. Goodnight son, Princess." with that Patrick's father goes off the screen. We sit there for a moment after we are actually alone. I go deep into my thoughts to try to convince the council as Patrick sit beside me quietly. It hit me, I know what I have to do but the idea of it chills me to the bone. Patrick will most definitely not approve but what choice do I have left?

I just sit there after Patrick's father closes out his screen and drum my fingers on the desk. Patrick reaches up and grabs my hand as I look over at him. I can't tell Patrick the realization I have come to as I know he won't approve of my plans for tomorrow. The silence goes on for several minutes as I look at Patrick and asked, "What do you think they will do Patrick?" it is weighing heavily on my mind.

"They will probably go by what my father suggested." he says still trying to avoid looking at me as much as possible. I can see now how much it hurt him that I want to leave and be alone, but I don't have many choices. I kill my father despite Patrick's attempts to make me feel as though it wasn't my fault I knew the truth. I have to give my idea a try before I turn to the alternative if I give in to the conditions of the prophecy I would no longer be me.