Heavenly Discovery: The Katran Legacy, #4

Chapter 1

Palmer’s Fate

The grand palace loomed in front of us like an enormous glittering jewelry box. It felt good to have Ryan back by my side. The irony that he had to die again to do it wasn’t lost on me. Besides, I had the splitting headache I always got when entering Junior Heaven to prove it. Ignoring the phantom pain, I was happy he was here so I could keep my promise to him. He wanted to make sure we found a new home for the Katran quickly, so we could return to Earth and start our relationship together.

I thought of Celery back home on Earth with her parents. She’d kill me all over again if she knew I’d let Ryan come with me and not her. Hopefully she’d gotten it all wrong about her parents and they were treating her the way she deserved. But I knew that was wishful thinking since her parents wouldn’t remember she had died. Once we finished the meeting with Father, I needed to hop on the looking glass and find out how she was doing.

Ryan’s curly blond hair tousled around his face as he continued to gawk at the palace splendor. You told me the place looked like Versailles, but I thought you had to be exaggerating.

I squeezed his hand. I see you still have more to learn about me. I never exaggerate about anything important.

Father greeted us wearing his standard uniform of a purple hoodie and matching yoga pants. He reached over and gave me a hug. My daughter, so good to see you.

It felt wonderful to be back in his arms. After eighteen years, I finally had a father who truly loved me. So when’s the big council tribunal about Palmer’s fate? Might be nice to rest up a bit. We’re still suffering from death lag.

The corners of his mouth turned up. Yes, I am aware. I hope the twelve hours of sleep you had yesterday has helped.

Busted! He knew I just wanted some alone time with Ryan.

Yes, but it still feels like I’ve been through a blender.

Ryan nodded. I second that. This living and dying thing is not for wimps.

My father placed his hand on Ryan’s shoulder. This will be the last time you have to visit Junior. Heaven for a long time.

Ryan’s eyes grew wider. You know when I actually die?

"No. I am not the One and Only, but I do have a sense about these things. Ryan, I think you will live a fairly long life but in your eighties, you…"

I needed to change the subject pronto. Father, when’s the tribunal?

In an hour. Father tossed back his hoodie, revealing his auburn hair that matched mine. Please be prompt, the council is not as forgiving as I.

I led Ryan down a series of cherub-covered hallways to my bedroom. Flinging open the door, I said, This is my home away from home in the palace.

Ryan sucked in a breath as he took in the enormous canopy bed made for a princess. He ran his hand along the layers of pale gold silk hanging down from the top like gossamer wings. This really looks like a bed that belongs in Heaven.

I smiled at him. So you’re saying it’s perfect for an angel like me?

He picked me up and tossed me on the bed. You are anything but an angel.

I sunk into the down-filled comforter enjoying its silky embrace as much as Ryan’s. Stroking his cheek, I gave him a deep kiss. I wish we could stay in here and lock the door.

He rolled onto his back. Don’t give me any ideas.

There’s only one problem.

He put his head down on the stack of silk pillows. What?

There are no locks in the palace or anywhere else in Junior Heaven.

His eyelids grew heavy. Except Schwartz’s house.

Exactly.

You mind if I take a nap? He gave me a weak smile. I can barely keep my eyes open.

No problem. Get some rest.

I gently stroked Ryan’s face as he fell asleep. Some girls would be mad at his lack of attention, but not me. We will have plenty of time together once we are back on Earth. Plus, I knew Mr. X watched the palace like a hawk.

Slowly getting up off the bed, I snuck across the room and into the bathroom. I opened the drawer next to the sink and I pulled out the looking glass nestled on a fluffy gold towel. It was about six o’clock in the evening in California; maybe I could catch Celery at home. I concentrated on her face framed by her shocking green hair as I ran my finger around the rim of the mirror. At first nothing popped up, but then I saw her sitting cross-legged on her bed madly typing away on her laptop. I hated to disturb her, but I missed her so much.

Hey, Cel, are you writing a love note to your boyfriend?

Hearing my disembodied voice, she jumped up off the bed and almost fell on her ass. T! You scared the crap out of me.

Sorry, you know they don’t have a ringer on the looking glass.

I always thought that was lame. Tell Mr. X he better make the modification like yesterday. She sat back down on the bed. How’s he doing anyway?

How far things had come. Mr. X used to be the facilitator of torture at the Temple of Truth. After our epic battle capturing Palmer and his men, Mr. X had become an ally and a friend. I haven’t had a chance to see him yet. But he’s got the humidity machine rockin’. Junior Heaven is beginning to sparkle again.

She smiled up at the ceiling where my voice was coming from. That’s good news. Means you can get back to Earth soon. I was just looking through all the two- bedroom rentals in Hollywood. There are a few good contenders.

Celery hadn’t forgotten the pledge we made back when we were sitting on top of the Hollywood sign during the Cloud Nine contest. Awesome, did you get a job?

I hit the computer the second I came home. My parents are just as awful as when I left. It’s still like I’m invisible. They’ll never miss me.

It made me sad to hear her worst fear had come true. No wonder dying her hair bright green hadn’t even gotten her parents’ attention. What kind of job did you get?

Promise you won’t laugh?

I promise.

I’m a security guard.

Celery didn’t need to worry about me laughing. Being a security guard made perfect sense. She had been an amazing warrior during the battles with Palmer. It kind of fits in a weird way.

Celery smiled. I’d really like to be a ninja spy, but you don’t see those opportunities listed very often.

I chuckled. Being a security guard is just a stepping stone.

The door flew open and a striking woman with blonde hair and a scowl on her face said, Celery, who are you talking to?

Without hesitating she pointed to the ceiling. An angel.

The tribunal was in a room in the palace I’d never seen before. Unlike the over-the-top decorated cherub-filled rooms I’d seen, this room was plain and utilitarian. The walls were painted a drab, khaki-green and the large conference table, set in the middle of the room, had no elaborate carvings; just simple, sturdy, metal legs.

To complete the somber mood. Father’s men sat around the table dressed in their official Katran uniforms. The only thing that fit the glitz of Heaven was the shiny gold insignia flashing against the black background of their suits.

Father entered the room not wearing his Katran uniform. Instead, he wore his usual purple hoodie and matching yoga pants. Ryan’s eyebrows rose at the sight of my father wearing in such an inappropriate outfit. Yet, I understood why Father chose to make such a statement. Palmer was so insignificant he felt no need to dress up.

Father sat at one end of the table and signaled the officer nearest the door. Bring the prisoner in to face his fate.

Yes, sir. The officer sprung to his feet and marched to the door.

Ryan squeezed my hand. You sure it’s okay if I’m here?

Of course. I walked toward two green leather chairs nestled in an alcove behind the table. Father put these out just for us.

We sat down just as the door swung wide open. Standing between two muscle-bound guards was someone I barely recognized. Except for his notorious pompadour sticking out of his blindfold, the usually flamboyant Palmer looked just like any other short, middle-aged man. His flashy suit was replaced by an olive-green jumpsuit. The humiliation of wearing something so plain must be eating him alive. Nothing could make me happier.

The guards tossed him into the chair at the opposite end of the table and tied him down. They removed the blindfold and something from his mouth. He stuck his tongue out at my father like a five-year-old. This tribunal is a farce. Where is my defender?

Interesting. The Katran must have lawyers, too.

Father glared at Palmer. Your men are in hibernation. There is no one left to defend you.

Palmer swiveled his head toward me. It’s all her fault. This never would have happened if your daughter knew the code.

Thank goodness I didn’t. If I’d followed the Katran code, his men wouldn’t be safely asleep, but raring to break him free. My father gave me a signal with his eyes telling me not to respond. Ryan shifted in his chair waiting for me to blast Palmer, but I sat quietly as my father had requested. Plus, I knew nothing drove Palmer crazier than being ignored.

The second-in-command snapped his fingers and a screen popped down out of the ceiling just like in Schwartz’s classroom. An image slowly appeared of a small planet covered by sand. The planet’s surface had a strange orange tint like Mars, except it didn’t have polar icecaps. In fact, there wasn’t a drop of water in sight. This is the location we have chosen for the prisoner’s exile. The second-in- command snapped his fingers again and the camera zoomed in on a domed glass structure. This is where the prisoner will live out his days.

A smile crossed my face. It’s not the asteroid I suggested, but it was just as unlivable. The desert planet must have virtually no humidity. If Palmer tried to escape his glass enclosure, he would be dead in minutes. To top it off, with the Katrans’ lifespan of several hundred years, Palmer was going to suffer alone on the desolate planet for a very long time.

Palmer’s face turned bright red. You cannot exile me to such a place. It’s not the Katran way.

Father pushed back his hoodie. You have the audacity to lecture this council when you have broken every Katran code of ethics ever written? Not to mention championing a mutiny.

Palmer threw out his chest. It was my duty to overthrow you. The whole notion of building a new home in Heaven was ludicrous. It’s been an abject failure.

Father’s second-in-command pounded his fist on the table. It is not your position to question the council’s decision—only to obey.

Enough of your insubordination. Father could barely hold his temper. The decision about your fate has been made. The sound of a chair screeching across the marble floor echoed against the walls as Father stood up. That is the end of this tribunal.

Father and the council headed for the door, but I stayed put. I had to get one long, last look at the greatest enemy I’d ever faced.

Palmer glared back at me. It’s all your fault. I know you came up with the idea. He shook his bound fist at me so hard his pompadour collapsed onto his forehead. Palmer tried to brush it back, but the guards picked him up by the shoulders.

As they dragged him away, Palmer shouted, You haven’t won, Taylor Anderson. I have a whole team of men waiting for my signal. When I escape I’m going to kill you once and for all!

Chapter 2

Planet Smorgasbord

Acherub flew into my room and dropped a note on my forehead—so much for sleeping in. In Mr. X’s familiar scrawl it read : Taylor, I need you to join me in the lab after breakfast. There is something I need you to do for me before your journey.

Not exactly the way I planned to spend my morning. I’d better warn Ryan I wouldn’t be joining him for brunch at La Orleans restaurant. While I got dressed, I mentally sent a message to my guardian angel Sabrina. She was my mind-reading message courier, taxi ride around Junior Heaven, and so much more. I would miss her so much when I permanently returned to Earth. But I took comfort in knowing when my time finally came I’d have Sabrina waiting for me.

My stomach growled, and I raced out the door toward the dining room. I pulled out one of the velvet throne chairs and took in the walls lined with huge gold pier mirrors that almost touched the twenty-foot ceilings. The piercing light of Heaven cast a glow over the gold damask drapes that framed a huge bay window. The ceiling had an enormous mural of cherubs and angels that flew across a cloud-dotted sky. Two enormous chandeliers dripping in crystals