Star Chaser- The Traveler

by Reiter

  “I do not recognize the symbols at the bottom,” SonBa admitted.

  “It is the language of the Founders,” Dungias reported. “This statue is dedicated to someone called Geentra.”

  “Geentra?” SonBa repeated and Dungias nodded to the affirmative. “He was as close as the Vinthur came to having royalty.”

  “I can see why you would know that,” Dungias said as he looked around.

  “His rule was troubled and fatally brief,” SonBa continued. “It was from his ineptitude that the word enots-egam was made.”

  “I see,” Dungias said as he turned to resume their tracking of Sryla. But Dungias’ right foot would not come up from the ground. He looked at his boot and started to pull on it when he saw a very soft glow coming from Alpha. He put his hand on Alpha and his body shuddered as images were thrust into the forefront of his mind. He no longer had the presence of mind to remain standing, but SonBa moved quickly enough to keep the young Traveler from hitting the ground.

  “Dungias!” the First Prince whispered before the entire area was suddenly illuminated.

  “That was a very good catch, Vu-Prin,” Sryla said as she emerged from the darkness behind SonBa. “I don’t know what’s happened to your friend there, but it is just as well. At least this way he will not feel his long overdue destruction!”

  The distinction between the past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.

  Albert Einstein

  “Feet! Push hard, now!”

  Stripped from the moment, Dungias found himself in the back of a classroom where he stood next to BJ, still hearing the echo of the strange voice barking commands at him.

  “Welcome to the yesterday that even yesterday forgot,” BJ announced, gesturing toward the classroom.

  The class had only five students, but for some reason it did not feel like the class was undersized. Beta-Arrjeeh was the instructor, and his five students were very eager young minds who were anxious for class to start. When the chimes sounded, each of the students quickly turned their heads to Arrjeeh who bowed to the class. He had chuckled at the excitement he felt coming from his very anxious students.

  “Alright, let’s all take a breath and calm down,” Arrjeeh had said, holding up his hands to try to ease the growing tension. “What teacher does not look forward to an eager and engaged class? I take it that we all finished our scepters, yes?” Dungias’ eyes opened wide as the five students all produced power rods that looked somewhat familiar to Dungias.

  “BJ, what is this?!” Dungias whispered.

  “We finished them, Master Arrjeeh,” one student had spoken up with pride. He was the smallest, and being the only Vinthur, Dungias was not surprised. What did surprise him was that it seemed the response had been pre-arranged and the four Malgovi, two of whom were male, were fine with the Vinthur speaking for the group. “I know we aren’t all the same type of caster, but we decided to do it as a collective. Is that acceptable?”

  “A bit of truth, big guy,” BJ replied before sucking on his teeth. “Old truth at that. And you might want to grab that silver chain on your right. It’s the only thing holding you here.” Dungias moved quickly to reach and grab the chain. “One thing about The Campus is that it too is a Beta Form, and it is a major stickler for the rules.”

  “And you are not?” Dungias asked.

  “That is fine, Geentra,” Beta-Arrjeeh had replied.

  “Geentra?!” Dungias thought, coming to a quick conclusion as to why BJ had brought him to this memory.

  “That sort of thinking is encouraged,” Beta-Arrjeeh had advised. “… but that does not mean it always it works. If you cannot maintain yourself in the grouping, that group is probably not for you. Friendship does not mean you must always agree, it just means you maintain love and respect for one another.”

  “Too bad the little shit wasn’t really listening,” BJ said, shaking his head. “Not the way he could have or should have.

  “But to answer your question, each of the master molds was given the chance to make their corresponding Beta Forms,” BJ explained. “Now, some of them didn’t have the first clue of how to even begin. Possessing god-stomping powers and abilities doesn’t necessarily go hand-in-hand with genius scientific capability. But, like the man said, the group did not require that from everyone.”

  “Let’s try some of the basics with our new power scepters,” Beta-Arrjeeh had said, making a gesture with a white stone in hand. The desks and chairs of the students had faded out of sight and the students moved to give each other ample room.

  “Elder had the easiest time of anyone,” BJ continued. “He just reached into his chest, removed a chunk of his ethereal energy and Arrjeeh fitted it with stones to govern its capability and perspective. Guys like Alphexeous just went to Chiaro and said, ‘make me a body’,” BJ emulated Beta-Alphexeous. “… ‘I’ll handle the rest when I get a sec.’ Six hours before pulling out he goes to the brig, yanks the soul-force out of a prisoner, basically spits himself into it, and just pops it into Beta-Al.” BJ folded his arms and shook his head in disgust. “And you can’t even get mad at him – Al is just that kind of an asshole… to everyone!

  “And here comes the school,” BJ said as he bent slightly at the knees. “Spin with me!” The wall was no longer solid and Dungias spun through it, emerging on the far side… that somehow was still in the classroom. He looked to his left and BJ was still there, sucking on his teeth. “Second best defense: don’t be there when it gets there… whatever that it might be. First best defense: lead your opponent to think you are where you are not!”

  “I will try to remember that,” Dungias said. “So why are we still in the same spot?”

  “Cuz the school hasn’t figured me out yet. Thinks I’m on the run, cuz that was my master mold’s M.O., sorry, modus operandi or method of operation.”

  “Now remember,” Beta-Arrjeeh continued. “… when we’re bonding with the power scepter, try to think of it in its best potential light. Don’t see what you can create today, consider what it can and will become when your skill to alter reality becomes even stronger.”

  “Should we give them names?” Geentra asked.

  “It’s a power scepter, not a pet!” one of the Malgovi students asserted before the others laughed.

  “It is by your sight that you must proceed, Geentra,” Beta-Arrjeeh had projected, but Dungias could hear it. “Your path may not be the same as the others, still it may be the proper path for you.”

  “Then I will give mine a name,” the young Vinthur thought. “I will call it Osamu!”

  “By the Light of the Stars!” Dungias whispered before blinking his eyes and returning his attention to BJ. “You are not like your master mold?” Dungias asked.

  “Dude, if he could have had it his way, I wouldn’t even look like him!” BJ replied before sucking his teeth again. “He made me from scratch, borrowing and stealing from all of the others. Told me that there was only one thing he wanted me to copy from him: the ability to find and exploit opportunity. Which is why we needed to have to this little pow-wow. Sorry, that’s Old Earth for having a meeting, but that probably misses the mark, knowing humans!”

  “A meeting regarding what?”

  “That stone I gave you was meant to be a short term boost,” BJ explained.

  “And thusly, you want it back,” Dungias stated. “Because the… term has expired?”

  “Bingo!”

  Dungias nodded and came away from the wall. “Tell Beta-Arrjeeh that if he needs to discuss the matter that he should come and talk to me when we both have the time. “Now, if you do not mind, I was in the middle of something very important when you initiated this… pow-wow of yours. To be sure, more than the cultural reference is missing here!”

  BJ flashed a smile before sucking his teeth. He nodded at Dungias. “One thing I’ve always loved about you. Damn if you’re not consistent!

  “Low bridge!” BJ shouted before ducking low. Dungias dropped to hi
s knee, but nothing passed over his head. He looked at BJ who lifted his eyebrows several times before fading out of sight. “Man you are a pretty thing to watch when you move!”

  “Stop it,” Dungias said, standing up and tilting his head. “You are going to make me blush!”

  “Whoa, was that a joke?!” BJ asked as he reappeared and Dungias stood up. “Wow, that Saru must be–” the glare of anger building behind Dungias’ eyes was enough to convey the danger of completing the statement. “Like I said, consistency! ‘Course, there are times when that’s a bad thing too.

  “So, I think we’re done here,” BJ said as he smiled up at Dungias.

  “And the so-called attack of The Campus is really you manipulating my body in the waking realm, isn’t it?”

  “If I answer that aloud, I will be admitting to breaking the rules,” BJ smiled his reply. “And since you’re so freakin’ smart, do you give a damn about the outcome of the royal guards hangin’ with Sryla?”

  “Only slightly more than I care for the outcome of the First Princess herself,” Dungias replied.

  “Nah, big guy, you need her… for the moment,” BJ warned. “Draw and fire for the doorknob of the right door.” Dungias did as he was told though his gun did not fire. “Nice shot!” BJ clapped as he and the classroom started to fade. “Remember what you’ve seen here, Star Chaser. You’re going to need it. And back roll, please,” he said, sucking his teeth and looking disgusted.

  Dungias opened his eyes as his body completed a back roll that knocked SonBa to the ground just as a photon passed over the head of the First Prince. “A pow-wow indeed!” Dungias thought, feeling his gun in his hand. Taking a slender moment to engage his senses, Dungias rolled and fired. The Royal Guardsman who was his target had some sort of Iro-Barrier erected that the projectile passed through before it ripped through the guard’s neck.

  “He is not even conscious!” Sryla shouted as she deflected a heat beam sent by her Vu-Prin. It hit the stone floor before SonBa discontinued the feed. “There are two of you left. Kill him!” Sryla smiled as she stepped on the glass SonBa’s burst had formed. “I will handle the First Prince.

  “You really should have worn a helmet, Vu-Prin,” she said, placing her fists on her hips. “So much power and yet you can’t quite focus your thoughts to bring that power to bear, can you?”

  “Switch!” Dungias commanded as he kicked up to his feet and turned to face the First Princess.

  “Traveler!” SonBa called out.

  “Forgive me, my Prince, but are you or are you not part of my army?!” Dungias snapped without taking his eyes off of Sryla. He holstered his pistol and drew Alpha. The First Princess watched as her Vu-Prin moved off to contend with the last of her lackeys. She shook her head as she gazed upon Dungias. He took in a deep breath and looked her over.

  “A damn shay-spawn manages to command the royal personage,” Sryla remarked. “We have fallen so far.

  “And if you and the First Prince are here, I can presume that you managed to save the Queen as well,” Sryla applauded. “Well, good for you, shay-spawn!”

  “Simple-minded fool,” Dungias said softly as he started his march forward. “Before you die, I will return to you the gift you gave to me in that cell.”

  “And what gift was that?” Sryla said as she started walking toward Dungias.

  “Despair!”

  Sryla threw her head back, laughing. “That’s right! You were supposed to either be killed or put to work in the mines. I should have seen to the delivery myself.”

  “But if you had, neither of us would be where we are,” Dungias concluded. “I am about to complete the quest of knowledge given to me by the Stars and you are about to join the Stars for your Final Judgment!”

  “Wretched shay-spawn!” Sryla hissed as she hurled a bolt of electricity. Dungias deflected it into the ground. He took another step forward and screamed out in pain as the current returned to his body. “Perhaps you didn’t notice that my Status Name is Thuuna! I have mastered four different iro-forms. Your little deflection trick was discovered on your last visit to my home! But that’s right; you think your mind is impenetrable!

  “What outrageous arrogance!” Sryla cried, slashing across Dungias’ chest with a wave of Force Energy. Dungias was lifted from the ground by the impact as he dropped Alpha. His body carried over a fallen statue and hammered against the far wall. Sryla put her hand to her mouth as she suppressed laughter. “Oh my. I did not think your body would carry that far.” Sryla looked down on the dropped Osamu and kicked it as she moved to finish off Dungias. “You do everything exceedingly well, Dungias. Let us see how well you die!”

  Sryla came around the statue to see where Dungias had landed, but there was no sign of him. “Argh!” Sryla cried, spinning around, slashing with waves of Force and electricity. She hit nothing, but she could see the last of her men fall to the onslaught if her capable Vu-Prin. She pressed her lips together and shook her head. “That fool’s always had the constitution of a starlight collector panel on a clear star-term!” She started walking toward him and stretched her arms out from the side of her body. She extended her perceptions, seeking out his mind.

  Too late did SonBa see her approaching. He had made two strides toward one of the downed guards, planning to make use of the helmet. He grabbed his head and screamed, but the pain was short-lived as his mind was suddenly clear with the sharp sounds of impact and ricochet echoing through the chamber. He looked over to see Sryla looking around, searching for something. A projectile ricocheted near where the First Princess stood and she jumped.

  “Where are you?!” she screamed as the gun fired a third shot. Her body quivered before she dropped to her knees. Dungias dropped his stealth field, lying right where he had landed from her earlier attack.

  “You are quick to call someone an idiot,” Dungias said, reloading the projectile clip in his gun. He holstered the weapon and held out his hand for Alpha. It flew to his hand, making a bright spark of light when it made contact. “Did you think I needed my Osamu to engage my stealth field? Could it be that when I dropped it you assumed too much? Could it be that I led your feeble mind to the moment of your passing?

  “Let me show you what I need Alpha for,” he said, fanfaring the rod as he glared at the bleeding Princess.

  “No!” Sryla screamed, holding her hand out toward the third statue. Her eyes and mouth gaped wide in shock when nothing happened.

  “Clever,” Dungias remarked. “Setting up power batteries because you were expecting to face the Queen or the First Prince, perhaps even both of them. The batteries would have allowed you to hurl massive iro-forms without the normal hindrances. I think you still would have fallen short of besting BaKedia. The first shot that did not hit you destroyed the emitter plate on the battery. The second shot did the same on the smaller unit on the far side of the chamber. You are spent, Sryla, and there are no feeds for you to draw from! The Savanté did not choose as well as you thought they had when they named you the recipient of the knowledge.”

  “A knowledge that dies with me, shay-spawn,” Sryla snapped. “And without it, the Grenbi will destroy the Queen!”

  “The Queen?!” SonBa asked.

  “The Grenbi are drawn to energy, your Majesty,” Dungias explained. “Your Vi-Zai is a beacon in a dark sky to them. They will not be able to see anything else.

  “But in mentioning the knowledge I need,” Dungias smiled coldly as he approached Sryla. “… you thought about it, and the only thing that Alpha needs to read it is a simple touch.” Dungias struck Sryla across the side of her head. She fell to the ground, moaning in pain. “… just like the one you provided when you kicked it! How else could I have known about the batteries?”

  “Was that necessary?!” SonBa shouted.

  “Not in the least, Your Majesty,” Dungias replied coldly. But it was incredibly satisfying!”

  “There are limits, Traveler,” SonBa argued, running to his Vi-Prin’s side. Before he could reach
her, Alpha was glowing and pointed at Sryla.

  “Take one more step in her direction and I will see to it that you clutch at nothing save her ashes!” Dungias said, glaring that the First Prince. “Do try to recall that she left you and your Vi-Zai in the throne room, thinking and hoping that you were both dead!” Sryla rolled over on her back and started to laugh. The Prince backed away from her, eventually turning away from her altogether. Dungias could not remain angry with SonBa. The way he acted towards his sibling was too much like the way Dungias reacted to Gantee. He put his thoughts on Alpha and started reviewing the extracted thoughts and memories. He paced for a moment before he stopped and turned quickly to look at Sryla who started cackling. The First Prince looked at the young Traveler in confusion, and prayed that the feeling he had in his gut was just fear. When Dungias dropped to his knees, SonBa knew that the instincts that had seen him through his training, the Iro-Games, and his service to the throne in the Mal-Vin had not abandoned him. The most the First Prince could hope for was that the sensation would see him through this new conflict as well.

  “What is it?!” he asked, urging Dungias to speak. “What did she do?!”

  “Nothing,” Dungias answered. “The ones to pay for this crime were dead before the Queen’s father was born!” Sryla’s laughter shook Dungias from the shock of his newly acquired knowledge. He stood up, picking up a loose stone as he did. Sryla did not deserve his hand, his gun, or Alpha… she did, however, rate the pain of an impacted skull!

  “Traveler!” SonBa called out, moving to intercept Dungias. He knew when he started for his young savior he would be too late to prevent the first blow. Dungias stopped as he looked down on the woman, dropping the stone. SonBa relaxed until Dungias kicked Sryla. Her laughter stopped as she rolled away from the young Traveler. The First Prince noticed that Dungias’ eyes did not follow his Vi-Prin as she rolled away. He had not kicked Sryla per se; he had moved something that was impeding his view.