She needed the humour. She didn't want to think about what had happened. At least not yet. Then she remembered her strange dream about Mindscream.
“By the way, did any of you have strange dreams before we ended up here?” She spread her arms out wide, frowning. “Wherever here is!”
Aerl and Urana shook their heads. They looked at Azure who seemed frozen in thought.
“Deb?” Zane prompted, keen not to be alone in her freakishness.
Hazily, Azure recalled her dream of being with Novan, Classia and Elysius, and saving the Ribbon System from the Lore.
“Wow!” Zane digested the news. “I think you were really there,” Zane said. “Either that was me and my erratic new-found powers or whoever it is manipulating our timeline. I’ve obviously aged for a reason. Maybe I was somewhere else during that time then I was returned, for whatever reason. Spooky.” She shivered at the thought. Temporal-amnesia was not good.
The others thought about it in silence, but had no answers. They were as lost as Zane.
“You’re an Astral?” said a new voice from behind them.
The man with the sword had woken up. He sat up casually searching for his sword, located behind Sceptre against a small ledge. Holding out his hand, the sword flew into it. Startled, the Starguards braced defensively.
With a charming smile, the stranger mollified them. He rose to his feet, dusted himself off, and sheathed the sword.
“I mean no harm. I just wanted my sword back. It’s saved my life more than once.” He caressed the hilt with a practiced movement. “So, an Astral, and from the looks of you three, kin to Alpha Rion and the blackheart Decion.” He spat the last name out.
“And you are?” Sceptre politely demanded. He reminded Sceptre of someone, but he couldn't quite place it.
“A friend. I am Gordell Exmoor.” The young sharp-faced man had a mane of white hair tied back in a pony-tail with a thin leather strap. His chain mail, which had traces of blue dye was now returning to its original dull gray sheen. It bore wide leather buckled straps on his torso, arms, and thighs. They in turn were studded with small knives and other assorted tools. His wide blue belt was adorned with a dull-red coloured stylised 'H' for the buckle, his sword sheath attached hung from his left hip.
A splutter of surprise greeted his announcement, Azure recovering quickest. “Bastian Exmoor's grandfather! Alpha Rion thought you might be dead!”
“You know my grandson?” Gordell smiled. “How is he? And my son, Charles? Did they or Alpha Rion send you to rescue me?”
“Rescue. . .?”
Gordell's smile faded from his face as he glanced concerned between them not understanding their confusion.
“We're here by accident,” Zane explained. “Where are we?”
“Where?” Now it was Gordell's turn to look confused. “We’re on Earth still, but millions of years in the future.” He slumped against the ledge, looking like a defeated man. “I thought you were here to rescue me. Take me back to the past, no?” His disappointment seemed to weigh heavily upon each of them. It was almost overwhelming.
Fighting against the stupor, Zane voiced their thoughts. “What? Millions?” Zane scoffed. “No way!” She felt she would have noticed the time transition.
Suspicious, Sceptre added, “More to the point, Alpha Rion didn’t mention you had psychic abilities. None of the Exmoors we met exhibited such abilities,” he said, pointing to Gordell's sword.
Gordell actually laughed, like it was his own private joke. “I didn’t, not until I came here through the portal. It was a trap meant for Alpha Rion and Tera, but I came through by accident, escaped to these hills where I was, for want of a better explanation, mentally kidnapped by remnants of the Chryrians left behind when the human race disappeared millennia ago. Though I don’t like them being in my head, they have helped me to survive.” A mixture of pride and bitterness edged his tone. “And I can help you defeat Valtare, Decion, and their lord’s army.” He told them of the gathering forces of humans, Surge, and Devouts. “I also have crystalators for images and storage.”
“Devouts, here? They must have travelled time after the explosion,” Zane said.
“No,” Gordell corrected her, “these Devouts are from my time, sent by their Archwitch, the Lady Van Tager, Valtare’s wife. She had disappeared before I had infiltrated Valtare’s castle in the distant past.”
The name of Valtare's wife transfixed them.
“Van Tager? Wasn’t that the name of one of the scientists who created the E-Corps?” Zane pointed to the still prone Fusioneer. “She was Sagerhawk’s assistant; it makes sense now why she had the Lore Stone.”
“So you think she was sent to the twenty-first century by the Devout’s lord to create more Devouts, conquer the world, and rid it of Exmoors, the only ones who could stop them?” Gordell surmised.
Zane nodded. “Sounds reasonable.”
“Until the Starguards arrived and ruined their plans,” Sceptre finished their thoughts. “That seems to have been our mission, set by the other Astrals,” he added.
“But it backfired on all of us,” replied Zane, gloomily.
It was a lot to take in. In the sheltered cul de sac they filled Gordell in about what had happened on Earth and to Alpha Rion after he had been brought forward in time.
“Mon Dieu! So much has been endured on Earth. I wish the Exmoors had done more to safeguard Earth. Too many sacrifices have been made.” He looked around. “And it's led us here. And for what reason?”
“Where are all the humans?” Zane asked.
Gordell looked pained, whether from his memories or reply, it was hard to tell. “I don’t know, or rather the Chryrians don’t know. The humans had to escape an invasion and the Time Empress helped them,” the Exmoor answered.
“Okay, whoa, the Time Empress? I keep hearing of her,” Zane said.
“I did in my dream as well,” echoed Azure. “Who is she?”
“I don’t know,” repeated Gordell.
“So what do you know?” Sceptre asked, impatiently, his trust hard to give. “Who is their lord?”
“Ah, that I do know: his name is Archron, another Astral,” he replied, turning to Zane.
“Oh great, this makes so much bloody sense, now,” Zane huffed, rolling her eyes. “First Netherlord tries to re-arrange the universe and now his brother is playing God in the future. What are they up to?” she asked Gordell, who was about to say 'I don't know'.
But it was Urana who answered. “The Knights Destina. That’s who they are. The ancient and heretical Tomes of War stated that the Knights Destina will bring forth the ancient ones in the coming of the Storm, whatever that means. They will unmask the universe bringing war and begin again, so the Tomes say.” Her voice was low and respectful; a little scared.
“You know of the old Tomes, Rain?” Sceptre asked, his face tight and intrigued.
“Just what my father taught Cirrius and I. We grew up on the old legends.”
Sceptre nodded. He had never held much stock in the old tales, but an old Celestian Knight like Hyphon the Sky Warrior would have instilled such myths into his younglings.
There was a stirring on the ground beside them. The E-Corps leader was awake. He sat up, rubbed his head. His red mask covered his upper face, his brown hair ruffled above. His manoeuvre suit was dark brown with a red flared jacket, red gloves, and a black belt. His eyes widened like saucers as he saw who surrounded him. In fear, he tried to scramble away, but Sceptre stopped him.
“Hey,” he held his hands up in a plea of innocence. “We're not going to hurt you.”
“Yeah, right!” a sceptical Fusioneer shot back looking around at them all, his eyes falling upon Gordell and his medieval armour. But he had stopped moving away from them.
“Listen to us!” Sceptre pleaded. “We're friends now. We're a long way from New York and we'll have to work together to get back.”
Considering they were in the middle of a wasteland, Fusioneer relaxed a little
.
“I need a drink,” he aired aloud. “What the hell happened at Thane's?”
Patiently, the Starguards explained to him what had happened since the Starguards had originally arrived on twenty-first century Earth.
Half an hour later . . .
“You’re crazy! Aliens?” Fusioneer scoffed adding a nervous laugh. He backed away slightly.
“Distant kin from another galaxy,” replied Sceptre, calmly, not wanting spook the human any further.
“Well, I’m half human, at least,” smiled Zane. Her breeziness didn't sit well with Sceptre or Fusioneer, both of whom gave her a look of displeasure.
Fusioneer stared at them all for a long while, not knowing whether to believe them, run, or fight. But one thing was for sure, he was alone.
“I'm not saying I believe you or not, but I would like to know where’s the rest of my team: Flaunt, Venture, and Angelfire?” Fusioneer asked, still trying to digest the story he had been told.
“We don’t know. We’re missing a few members ourselves,” Sceptre confirmed. His crystalator had not picked up any signals from Alpha Rion, Altair or Chalant, still.
“Hold on.” Gordell closed his eyes and quick psi-scanned the area. He had been getting quite adept at tracking Valtare’s troop movements from miles away. He didn’t sense anyone. “All I can sense is us here and Valtare’s group at Silver City. There’s nothing, unless . . .” he scowled.
“They’re not dead! They can’t be!” Urana countered. “Why should we have been spared the explosion? We were grouped together.”
Zane replied, “Well, maybe if we’re being manipulated by this Time Empress, maybe the others are, too.” She turned to Fusioneer with some good news. “But I know Kellis and Starshina aren't dead, at least. I met them in the twenty-third century. We were good friends,” she added fondly.
“Hell's bells, the twenty-third century!” Fusioneer rubbed his head, making his hair comically stand on end. “So my team were thrown into another time and I’m stuck with you? Great!” Fusioneer bitterly mock her as he shook his head. He sat on a rock and threw his hands up in frustration.
“Sorry,” muttered Zane. “I only know of Kellis and Starshina. Not the rest.
Azure snapped, “I don’t understand why we’re being flung around space and time. What is there to be gained?”
Zane looked at Sceptre. He caught her eyes and Urana's. Their collective pensive mood creating an awkward silence.
“What?” Azure asked, looking around agitated. “What aren't you telling me?”
Zane was suddenly interested in the ground. Urana hugged herself casting a sideways at Sceptre.
Finding himself with the unwanted responsibility, he sighed noisily. She had to know.
“We lost the first time around,” Sceptre's quiet voice said.
“What!” Azure said, not sure she had heard him correctly.
“Deb,” Sceptre addressed her by birth name, “when your Fath. . . ” He corrected himself, “When the Traitor Synther and the Lore, attacked Magna Aura, we all died. All of us. It was only due to Phasia’s intervention and the arrival of the Astrals that saved us by re-making the past, which included you. The first time you knew about your powers and your Loremaiden ancestry. It didn't save us. But the second time around it was the nature of your finding out about your father in battle which made the difference.”
He smiled kindly at her, which she didn't return. She had her arms wrapped around herself.
“You used me,” she said quietly, angrily. Her eyes burned into all of them.
“No,” Sceptre replied gently.
Urana tried to back him up with a comforting arm on Azure's shoulder. Azure nudged it away, glaring at Sceptre.
“Without you, we would still be dead. But now I think we are re-fighting wars already lost and this . . . Time Empress is trying to prevent the Knights Destina from winning. We’re all being used as cosmic chess pieces, and piece by piece, move by move, we’re saving the universe.”
“You are kidding me,” Fusioneer drawled sarcastically. “What would they want me for?”
Urana said, “You, human, carry the genes of our kin who crashed and survived on Earth thousands of years ago. Your powers were activated by the Lore Stone via those genes.”
“You’re practically one of us,” Zane said, feeling a little sorry for Fusioneer and all the information dumped on him.
“Dieu, I thought I had problems!” a fascinated Gordell quipped.
Fusioneer thought better at scoffing at this latest piece of news, realising the full impact of the situation. “I’m part alien.” He closed his eyes, rubbing his hands over his temples as a dull ache began to throb.
Uncaring of Fusioneer’s anguish, Urana added, “But surely with her powers the Time Empress could have defeated the Lore and Knights Destina by herself and be done with these games?”
Sceptre thought about this. “Then maybe it’s not just the Lore and Knights Destina that we’re dealing with and everyone has their part to play, even you Fusioneer.”
The E-Corps leader stopped nurturing his migraine in time to shrug, resigned to his fate. “So now what?” he asked, depressed about his less-than all-American heritage.
“Well for one, we shouldn’t stay out here for too long,” Gordell urged. “The sun isn’t fully up and it’ll get really hot then. I’ve got a cave hideaway up in those ridges,” he pointed over to his far left. “You’re quite welcome to stay in there and we can make plans. I’m afraid there’s not much food and what there is, is either small and furry, or a bitter green weed. Let’s go.” He started off up the track he had initially come down.
The Starguards looked to Sceptre. Would he trust another on their word? Would he follow someone else's lead?
The gold-clad Starguard made a quick internal decision, pursed his lips, and glided over to Gordell.
A little surprised, Urana and Azure glanced sideways at each other with sly grins. Zane followed. Fusioneer brought up the rear, a rather sullen figure.
Gordell regarded the newly arrived human. He sensed a great loss within him. Fusioneer hadn’t been given a warm welcome and hardly felt part of this team, but if they were going to survive they would have to be more than a team, they would have to be a family. Electing himself as the paternal mentor, he decided to get the ball rolling.
Shouting back over his shoulder, he asked: “So what’s your real name then, Fusioneer?”
Fusioneer seemed startled by the question. He’d been in secret-identity mode for years and now someone had asked the question outright. The others stopped, crouching low, along a rocky ridge and glanced back in expectation.
Fusioneer grinned and then laughed. He felt like he was being outed and among fellow superbeings at that. He shook his head in resigned disbelief as he put his hands up to his head and grudgingly removed his mask. He ruffled his brown hair, revealing a handsome thirty-something face with a five-o'clock shadow and piercing brown eyes. He felt naked, but also liberated, able to finally say in public, such as it was:
“My name is Jay Jupiter Lundy, but my friends call me J.J. I am. . . I was the leader of the E-Corps. I manipulate matter, I'm formerly of the U.S. Airforce, and I love seafood.” He shrugged, feeling silly, waiting for any response.
Gordell laughed. “Enchante, J.J.” He walked over and gave J.J. a bear hug, shaking his hand after. “I’m Gordell Exmoor. I, like you, have special genes in me and my family is very long-lived. The Astrals, Zane’s people, used us as agents to battle the Devouts. I used to live in the twelfth century, but was unceremoniously dumped here almost two years ago where I now share my mind with psi-creatures called Chryrians who helped me to survive.”
J.J. wasn’t sure of his story, but couldn’t doubt it. “Nice to meet you,” was all he could say, stepping forth to shake his hand.
Zane came up to him and put out her hand, which he shook. “I’m Zane, time traveller and one-time advisor to a great mutual friend called Lynn Kellis, who miss
ed you very much, J.J. We’ll find her again, I’m sure. Starshina is safe; she’s going out with my brother.”
J.J. smiled, visibly moved. Then he looked closer at Zane as if remembering something. “You’re, no . . . ” he second-guessed himself. “Are you the speedy girl I saw Kellis with at Thane’s?”
Zane smiled back. “That was me! Younger and blonder.”
J.J. shook his head. “Man, this time travel shit is hurting my head. The others laughed then gathered around for their introductions.
“I’m Aerl, the Sceptre, though you knew that. We’re going to get out of here and make the people responsible pay for their actions. And we’ll need your help.”
Aerl also put out his hand, J.J. shaking it enthusiastically.
“Welcome to the Starguards, J.J.”
Azure and Urana also introduced themselves, not knowing they had almost met Kellis and Starshina while out clubbing in New York all those aeons ago.
Gordell let the mutual respect and relaxed air sift through them, helped on by a bit of psionic pushing here and there. He let it naturally die down, before announcing they should move on.
The new team trampled onwards and upwards with renewed vigour, any lingering doubts about each other firmly in the back of their minds.
As they neared Gordell’s cave, Sceptre devised a new plan. “We need to go on the offensive and demand answers from Archron and Decion. There are enough of us to take them on and see what we can learn.”
“It’s a risky idea, they’ll surely try to kill us,” Gordell added with some hint of humour.
“Well then, we’ll know where we stand. We’ll know where Decion stands, too. He’s a traitor for turning on his own brother and the Starguards. He will die with them if he fights against us.” Sceptre looked each of them in the eye, doubt in their faces, before adding, “Besides, they might have some food . . .” That at least got him a few nervous laughs.
>Such a bad idea< Gordell heard J.J.’s lamented thought. He patted him on the shoulder.
“Don’t worry, we’ll be okay. I’ve got friends in these hills and caves who will help us.”
The Destinia Apocalypse (The Starguards - Of Humans, Heroes, and Demigods Book 4) Page 2
