The Cobalt Princess

When I began my first novel, Super Humanity, I wanted to focus on the 3 main characters, rather than on the activities of Master Clyde. I also wanted to focus on their time in the US, rather than on Darfur, which I have planned for another book. This left a large gap in between their activities between the time Jamir met Master Clyde and when Clyde sent his first three students to the US at the behest of the US government.

This book occurs between chapter 2 and 3 of Super Humanity, covering the period after Clyde started collecting Sudanese superhumans. Reading the first book is not completely required to understand the novel. It would be helpful, but it is a tie-in novel and so it is only partially canon.

I also wanted to try writing a multi-path adventure story. These days, everyone talks about choice. Choice in cable TV channels, social media platforms, even in gaming paths. Why not in books? To completely encompass every path available to a book character, the book would have been too long. So, I decided to make the first part of her adventure a choice. You the reader will decide what path in life the main character will take. Will you choose the path of War or the path of Peace for her? I can’t wait to find out.

I’ll leave a poll somewhere on my website, and ask you to vote on the choice you made. I have a feeling I will be surprised. When you see the results, you might be surprised, too.

Thank you for reading my novel. I hope it doesn’t stink.

Author’s symbol guide

italics: thoughts. Underline: radio transmissions, text messages, electronic communications. {}: Telepathic communication between people. Bold: sound effects. <>: foreign language- perspective of character. *#: Alien/not understood language.

Chapter 1: I sing of a life with pride

One mark of a great soldier is that he fight on his own terms or fights not at all. ― Sun Tzu

Planet Ernatho, Western Hemisphere, Village of Katam’po

Mid-Spring, morning time.

Pilli-nina stirred the soup as she added another pinch of salt. Her father sat at the thick crusty wood table to her right. He tapped his calloused fingers against the table, as he always did. This time, it irritated his daughter Pilli-nina. She had much to think about and the tapping of his fingers to that old childhood song was not helping.

Father, be patient. It’s almost ready, she told him.

I wouldn’t have to be patient if you had woken up on time, he said, his deep voice echoing in the small house. Did you not get enough sleep?

Pilli-nina saw bubbles start to form in the thin, watery soup. A piece of orange vegetable called a ballap briefly floated to the top and then went back down. You know why I didn’t, father.

Daughter, please. Don’t be upset. It is time. You are well past your 15th birthday and-.

So what? I don’t want to marry him!

Don’t interrupt me! BAM! His large fist hit the table with so much force his ale spilled from his wooden mug. I want what’s best for you. When you marry Rano-Thigh, his family will provide you with a home and land. You can sell off this small plot and start a family of your own before I die.

But I don’t wanna marry him! screamed Pilli-nina. Clang! Her metal spoon bounced off the pot as she spun around. She spun back and took pot off the cooking frame. The soup was done, so she took the pot to the table. She set it on the table and put the mitt away. He’s...there’s something really off about him. It’s like he’s been stung with stupidity.

He took the lid off the pot and caught the ladle that Pilli-nina tossed to him. Yes, I have heard of his, well… head problems. He scooped the soup out of the pot as he talked to her. I’m sure that deep down inside he is a nice boy.

He throws gall-git bones at other boys! The Turol house employees say he still wets the bed! They also say he likes to rub snow on his forehead to scare off the head demons, complained Pilli-Nina.

LOOK! I don’t care even if he drinks his own pee! My boss can’t find anyone of noble blood in 100 hexs ( 161othing. 65 miles) to marry him! He is running out of options!

Why do I have to be the last resort?! she said as she quickly slurped some soup.

You have a good heart and you can certainly manage a...stung...man. Besides, his family will help you with him.

He doesn’t need a wife! He needs a babywatcher!

No more complaints! he shouted, then chugged the ale. Some of it spilled down his short, fuzzy beard. I’m heading off now. I’ll talk to the high Turol after work and let him know you’re excited to marry his third son. He got up, put on his wide-brimmed hat and opened the thick, heavy door. The glowing crystal in the middle of the ceiling flickered. Change the crystal before I get home. Clumk. He slammed it shut.

Pilli-nina’s fists shook from great anger. She took a deep breath, gathered the dishes and put them in the cleaning bucket. She poured some clean water and soap into the bucket, and as she cleaned the dishes, she considered her options.

When the dishes were done, she had made her plan. Least I forget, I’d better change the crystal, she thought. She walked over to the thin cable that ran into the ground by the corner of the wall, and detached a white colored crystal. Her house had four light emitting crystals, charged by a lightning rod attached to the roof. She noticed that the other two crystals were still dark gray. We haven’t had much lightning lately. She stood on a chair and took out the still bright crystal. The large room became very dark. She put the fresh crystal into the hanging black tray with a glass cone. When it was firmly attached, the crystal began to glow. Pilli-nina desperately wanted her future to glow brightly like this crystal.

Her packing complete, she stepped out of the house. The three suns did not warm the ernatho much in the spring. She held her hand over her forehead and barely made out the distant third sun, a tiny speck of red light. She then looked ahead and walked past the little family garden, opened the gate and stepped out into the dusty, slightly stinky road. Her town was not especially small, but it was now too small for her. She walked by the market, smelled the roasting fargat animal meat, the baking bread, and the poop. She knew many people in the market, maybe even everyone in town. Father will know where I go if he talks to anyone. I need to distract them. She looked around the dinky stalls, and found the farfut nut stand. She walked over to the stand and found an old friend wearing a long yellow dress, not much different from her own.

Hey Pilli! said the nut vendor. How you been?

The usual ups and downs, said Pilli-nina. And you, Vanaia?

Oh, same same, said Vanaia-nina.

Toss me some nuts, girl! asked Pilli-nina. I’m going mushroom picking.

All the ladies want my nuts. She filled a small wicker pouch with some of the local nuts about half the size of an Earth walnut and passed it to her. Pilli-nina passed her a few silver coins. The coins had the face of Queen Nina-Ganash on both sides. So much for ‘heads or tails’ on this world.

I can’t wait to see you in your wedding dress! cheered Vanaia. You’re gonna look so beautiful!

Yeah…sarcastically said Pilli-nina, I can’t wait…. She walked away from the booth, happy that she had covered her tracks. They’ll think I went east when I’m heading west.

The town’s buildings left her view after a hex of walking and she came to the crossroads. The flat terrain began to give way here, revealing thick forest in each direction. Her wicker backpack was slightly biting into her shoulders, but she was determined. She turned left, quickly headed west and towards the coast. She started humming her father’s childhood song, a life of pride, as she occasionally skipped down the dusty path. Once I’m at the docks, I’ll join a fishing crew or something. Anything is better than marrying the High Turol’s son.

Are you sure about that? Be careful what you wish for, Pilli-nina...

Chapter 2: Is this the only world for me?

Cherish those who seek the truth but beware of those who find it. ― Voltaire

10 hex from Katam’po village,

3 hours until sunset.

This looks like a good shortcut, thought Pilli-nina as she walked along less worn, but still decent, path. She felt this path would shave an hour off her hike, and get her that much closer to the coast and off of trails that the High Turol’s men would use to search for her. After 20 minutes of walking, the trail began to narrow and the thick green underbrush kept scraping against her ankles. Soon after, there was no more trail to take. The thick forest obscured her view of the suns. Still heading west...I don’t smell razorwrath stink so these woods are safe.

After another hour of slow walking, she came up to the T’alla’ha River. Barely larger than a stream, it stretched from the high valley around where she once lived to the coast where the boats would be. This is perfect; I can follow this down to the coast! She began walking along the soft, yellow mossy river. Soon she saw a thick stone arch and as she walked under it, she saw a strangely dressed man across the river.

The man was wearing clothing in a style she had not seen before. A long brown coat hung from his shoulders. As she got closer, she could what he was up to, though his back was to her. He was walking along the top of the bank, picking up rocks. He stopped and stood up, his tall and skinny frame reminding her of an older friend in the next village over. She walked up to his side, and then stared. She realized that he was much different from anyone around here. Her gaze then immediately fixed on the stones floating above his hand. A magic underlord? The stones stopped floating and he put two into a clear bag of some sort and knelt back down. Why is he so interested in the black stones?

Excuse, but what are you doing? Pilli-nina asked the man.

µ∑≥£*$&%#_!):::#^|, said the man, in a language Pilli-nina had never heard before.

Excuse, but I can’t understand you, she asked the man. Where are you from?

#(#$*@ (Taps his head with his hand) (*@{}|<<, said the man in his strange language. #()#*#$*::<<. The man stood up, then turned to his left and looked at her. #(&)(@&#$!*@_*. Then his eyes began to glow deep blue. She felt something in her head, as if something whispered in her mind. She closed her eyes briefly and held her head with her hands. The discomfort quickly ended.

Now, this is better. So what were you asking me? asked the man in a slightly deep and cheerful voice. Oh, right. Where I’m from? He scratched the thin bit of beard he had under his chin as he thought about the question. The light from his eyes faded.

You now speak my language? How? asked Pilli-nina.

Yes. You taught me, just a moment ago! This stream is quite loud. Come over here, so we can talk without yelling! He held up his left hand, and Pilli-nina began to float. Her stomach felt weird as she floated across the small river. She began breathing quickly, nervous from the whole experience. He set her down and her muscular legs almost didn’t respond to her weight. She knelt down quickly and stood back up.

What was...that? Magic?

he said in his own language. Then he switched back to hers. That was not magic. That was...uh...well it’s complicated, the man said. Your language doesn’t have the proper words to describe it?

So, it was magic.

No, it wasn’t magic! the man put his hands on his hips. Magic power and my power have different roots. Magic comes from outside this and my power comes from within this .

? Pilli-nina struggled with the foreign word.

Yes, it’s complicated. We’ll skip that for now. You wanted to know where I’m from, yes?

Yes, I asked you that earlier.

OK, the man looked up briefly, as if in thought, then looked back at her. What do you call this world?

My people call it Ernatho. The next kingdom over calls it Gallado.

Well, as you can tell from my clothes and skin tone, I’m not from around here. I’m from a different world entirely. My homeworld is called . It’s in a different universe than yours.

Pilli-nina smiled at the idea of a place where no one would force her to marry. Why did you come here? For those stones? she said, pointing to the bag in his hand. He knelt down and picked up one more dark grey stone.

See these stones? asked the man. They are full of a metal that has a very high along with a higher than average melting point-

Uh, I don’t understand any of that, complained Pilli-nina. The man tapped himself on the head.

Right. You’re probably barely out of . So, long story short, I’m looking for special stones that can help me do wonderful things. Make sense now?

Pilli-nina crossed her arms. You should’ve said that the first time.

Well anyway, I don’t need many of the stones. The stones here are very good for my purpose, and I can repli….copy them when I get home. He put the stone in the bag and the bag made a noise she felt sounded like crumpled grass.

Is your home far away from here? asked Pilli-nina.

The man looked at her with a puzzled look, and then looked up. As far as the above. But it doesn’t take long for me to get home. Why? he answered.

Take me with you, she quickly asked him.

Interesting. And why should I do that? You have a family, I presume?

My father wants me to marry a village stupid. I’m running away from home so I can be free! She spun around, her arms open wide. I want to live a life I can be proud of!

There are plenty of places on this world you can live like that. My world is probably more... interesting. The man looked around the woods. You would be as out of place there as I would be here.

Your world sounds amazing if people like you can come here.

Amazing, yes. Also, very dangerous. My work is dangerous.

I don’t care. I want to leave this place and see what is like.

The man took a step back and laughed. It echoed in the woods.

What? What’s so funny? asked Pilli-nina. She grabbed the straps of her backpack tightly.

Oh, many things, Pilli-nina. Many things!

How’d you get your...magic? And how do you know my name?

It is not magic. See, I’m what people call a . I’m different from other in that I learned how to get other powers, said the man, his voice becoming serious again.

Pilli-nina looked down and kicked a gray stone. It fell into the lake. I want powers like yours. Her voice had a hint of sadness in it. The man knelt down and picked up a handful of dirt.

Let me explain something to you, first. Listen carefully. He held his arm out straight. Being a is the same as being a monster. Regular people’s lives, if we become careless, blow away like dust in the wind. He let go of the dirt. It fell straight down onto the edge of the riverbank. He looked down and sighed slightly. This lesson works better in the . He looked at her.

As you become stronger, you will hold their lives in your hands. If you fail, they die. Are you prepared to accept that level of responsibility?

Yes, quickly responded Pilli-nina. The speed of her answer caught him off-guard. He stood up.

As you get stronger, other and others will seek you out. They may want to fight you, have you fight others for them, or use you to get what they want. A few may even want you to lead them like some sort of figure. Can you handle that kind of life?

Yes, again answered Pilli-nina with little hesitation.

Good. Let us be off. The sun is setting.

He turned to his left and aimed his right hand straight. Four light blue balls appeared above his fingertips, each about the size of his stubby fingertips. He pinched the ones floating above his index and middle finger, and spun them forty degrees left. He moved his left hand away. A flat circle appeared, black as night in the middle, about five feet in front of them. It expanded in size until it was nine feet in diameter.

I can promise you danger, lessons, and friendship. I’ve got many students who are kids your age.

I’m not a kid! I’m a grown woman! protested Pilli-nina. She took a step towards the frightening looking hole in space-time.

A grown woman wouldn’t run away from her family, and certainly wouldn’t run away with the most dangerous man in the universe.

Wait...what? Pilli-nina stopped walking towards the portal.

Too late!’ said the man. He shoved her hard in the back and she stumbled into the portal. " he joked in his earthy language, laughed and stepped into the portal. It closed behind him as the sound of footsteps approached from the bridge.

Chapter 3: I have no regrets

It is well that war is so terrible, or we should grow too fond of it. ― Robert E. Lee

Underground base between South Darfur and South Sudan province, 0.3km from Radam National Biopreserve.

10:50am, October 20, 2009

Her vision spun around and she stumbled to the floor while taking her first steps on the unfamiliar planet. The colorful light of the portal reflected off the shiny dark brown surface of the floor, then disappeared as it closed. She was quite a bit dizzy and her capricious companion lifted her off the floor. She looked around from left to right. She was in a large, somewhat dark room with no windows anywhere. The air tasted a bit stale. There were brown patches of floor surrounded by black surface, brown islands in a sea of black.

Flash! Someone appeared in one of the brown squares in front of her. It was a man with black skin, darker than the man who had brought her here. He was wearing what appeared to be a white robe with a small hat on top. He smiled.

he said in Arabic, a language Pilli-nina could not understand.

replied the man next to her. Pilli-Nina, come with me.

They started walking out of the room. Other people appeared suddenly on the brown squares. The door slid open into the walls and Pilli-nina almost jumped back from the sight of it.

It’s okay. It’s only an automatic door. You probably don’t have those where you’re from, he told her.

What is this place? Where is the sky? Where are the suns? she asked as they walked into the hallway.

All will be revealed, eventually. Anyway, this is my home ‘base’ if you will, said the man as they walked down the hallway. She looked around the large hallway. They passed by a few doors. One slid open and two kids ran out, moving faster than she ever saw any kid on her world move. They quickly ran into another room. They passed by one door made out of iron and painted dark red. She heard someone crying in the distance. All along the white walls were weird drawings. They looked like animals, very skinny men, things with tiny darts flying out of them, and things that looked like they were flying. The drawings made Pilli-nina smile a bit.

After walking past a few more doors, they went inside one room to the left. The room was dark. The man reached to his left and turned something on the wall. The lights, made up of many spots of green on the ceiling, began to glow dark green, then light green, and finally all white. There were some tubes on tables in the middle and lots of weird things along the walls, with shelves in between them. Flash! A man appeared, kneeling down, in the middle of the floor. He stood up, revealing a white coat with something in the pocket around his chest.

said the man in another strange language.

said the man, pointing at a person-sized tube on wheels in the middle of the floor. The man walked over to the rear of the tube and started pushing buttons. The lid spun open from its left to its right.

Get in the tube, bid the man to Pilli-nina.

Why? What’s going to happen? asked Pilli-nina as she set down her wicker carrying bag.

We must study you to make sure you can live in our world. After that, we’ll give you the ability to control power. You will become a like me.

There’s something strange about this.

You’re telling me? Lady, I do strange every day. Welcome to my world. Now get in the damn tube, he complained as he pointed at the tube.

Why are you in such a hurry? What is this place? she asked as she looked at him with worried eyes. The man frowned at her.

> said the man at the controls.

I admit this doesn’t look like the safest thing in the world. But, if you want answers to your questions, I suggest you get in, said the man in the long brown coat.

Well, I came this far. What could possibly go wrong? thought Pilli-nina as she climbed into the open tube. The man stepped forward and stood by her head.

I’ll tell you what you want to know, including my name, if you survive.

The lid quickly closed. Wait! What you mean if I survive??? asked Pilli-nina loudly. She tapped the lid and wiggled around in fear.

Yeah, I kinda forgot to mention that this process has killed everyone other than the first person I used it on. But don’t worry! I’m sure he’s got it right this time! .

<60% odds,> replied the man at the controls.

An ominous, soft humming came from the tube. Pilli-nina moved around as bars of light flashed in the tube above her.

noted the man at the controls.

said the man in the long brown coat.

Shunk!Shunk! Dozens of metal spikes pierced her body from the bed of the tube. To her, it felt like a million needles went into her body. It was the worst pain she ever felt in her life. She gasped and tried to scream, but words were impossible to form.

said the man at the controls. He pressed another button.

replied the man in the long brown coat.

CRIKKK! The tubes began releasing wires into her body, slicing up delicate tissue. EEERRKK!!! screamed Pilli-nina. This was now the worst pain she ever felt in her life.

said the man in the long brown coat.

explained the man at the controls. He looked at the data, then at Pilli-nina’s twitching body.

The man leaned over the tube. Stay strong, girl. The worst is past you.

said the man at the controls.

Nope, it’s coming now. Hope you live. He looked at the other man, then back at her. But if not, nice knowing ya! He laughed as he walked away. KRAK! SCRRIP! A few spikes went through her skull, sending waves of pain through her body. She could hear the sound of energy wires cutting and shifting brain tissue around. She passed out soon after, the whole world turned black and silent at the same time.

Chapter 4: Welcome to the battlefield

Master Clyde’s underground training facility for superhumans,

October 30, 2009, 10:00am Juba Time.

She is awake, Master, said the tall teenage boy standing next to her. The man she met by the river walked to the side of the bed she was sleeping in. He took off his sunglasses and looked down. His eyes glowed bright red for four seconds, then returned to normal.

Excellent! Finally, a success, he said. He clapped his hands once and looked at the boy. "Help her get to the