The com link crackled. “Overseer Chase Byrd. This is Shanraing of the Knights Templar and Kien Alliance. We are shuttling everyone off the starbase and to planet Aurora—the planet you see below. We do not authorize you to land on Matrona, but please escort yourselves planet-side. There you will be set on your next mission. Out.”
“Next mission? Please explain your meaning,” responded Chase.
No response.
Chase clicked off the com link. “What the Guild is she talking about?”
Kalista started giggling. “You poor saps. And don't worry—you're perfect for them. A perfect match. Love at first sight. Like birds twitting and—”
“So, everything is fine on Matrona?” questioned Devon.
“Yes, and like I said, you’re dealing with the Knights Templar. They wouldn’t harm your starbase or anyone on it,” replied Kalista. “You poor, poor saps. I ca—”
“Alright!” interrupted Chase. “What mission are they talking about?”
Kalista hesitated before answering. “Well, something must be up. They usually train you before a mission.”
“Something’s up?” asked Devon.
“I don't know the Knights Templar too well, but I do know they like to train a Being before they place him or her on a mission. That's for sure.”
“Okay, planet-side we go.” Chase diverted his course and pushed on the throttle, accelerating the Starhawk. He waved a goodbye to Matrona, not knowing it would be the last time he would ever be this close to Matrona again. “I can't wait to see my Uncle when he gets down there. Or maybe he's already been evacuated and will be awaiting our arrival.”
Devon scooted up in his chair. “And maybe my sister, my mom, and my dad are down there already, as well.”
Kalista faked a happy clap. “And maybe my mommy and daddy and sissy are there, too. You know?” She frowned. “Oh, please. You humans are far too emotional.”
Devon leaned against the armrest, peering at Kalista. “Naveya was the wisest person I have ever met, and her perspective on emotions was quite profound. She said that humans are unique compared to any other Being in the universe, because of our emotions. We can go from love to hate and back to love in a matter of seconds. I don't know why, but she said that when humans are in a positive state of well being, we can actually change the universe and send a wave of energy that can shift the very nature of an imbalanced society.”
“Huh?” responded Kalista. “Okay, but, you can also be whiny and cowardly. I've seen that the most.”
“But when we are not, we are very powerful,” declared Devon.
“Just about to enter the exosphere,” said Chase. “I can't wait to see my uncle. He's probably not planet-side yet, but who knows.”
∞
Debris dust filled Lien-L's office and the light of day saturated the room, creating a bright and hazy cloud. The roof was mostly gone. The walls were blown away with only a few feet rising from the foundation, as if someone had taken a giant hammer and shattered them all in one motion. A deep gash separated the middle of the office, exposing the Dwarves’ tunnel system below, pieces of ebb littered the ground and covered Dwarves—some unconscious, some lifeless.
A ball of light pierced the haze in the middle of the room and surrounded Nyx as she knelt on the ground with both fists raised toward the sky. Her eyes were closed and she seemed lost in trance while intoning ancient Fae words. The ball of light pulsed wider.
Daf and several Dwarves were crouching on the ground, covering their faces with their hands and arms. They too were within the light that Nyx was generating, and Daf observed that anyone within the light was untouched.
As the dust continued settling, more balls of lights could be seen throughout the room, being emitted from wristbands that the Fae and Sirians wore. Again, it was obvious that all who were within their light were unharmed. Still, not all who were outside the lights had perished.
King Bilrak lay on the ground, his eyes closed, breathing lightly. His body was limp but his arms were still clasped around his sons Thun and Harak. Debris and shattered glass were strewn all around them.
Harak coughed, waving the dust out of his face, then shook his head like a dog. He suddenly realized where he was and what had just happened. He quickly looked at his brother. Thun wasn't moving.
Harak pushed a medium-sized rock off his father, then sat up, lifting his father with him. He listened to his father's heartbeat and smiled with relief. He laid his father to the side, then listened to his brother's heartbeat. It was faint, but Thun was alive.
“Mother?” Harak called out, looking wildly about the room.
Eden and Crystal were near Thomas, who looked as if he was meditating in a standing position. He was uttering words, just like Nyx, and a light generated from his palms casting a circle of light around all of them.
Crystal sheathed Soul's Eye into her baldric, observing the devastation. Dead dwarves were covered in rock and silt.
“Thun? Harak?” Crystal hurried toward them.
“We’re here,” Harak replied. Thun stirred, saying, “Hand me my axe.”
Crystal grabbed an axe lying next to him and placed it in his hands. He grunted as he got to his feet, using the axe handle for support.
He looked at his father’s limp body and fell to his knees. “Father?” He pressed his forehead against the floor and started to weep.
“Wipe the piss out of yours eyes, son.” Bilrak struggled to a sitting position. “I'm as alive as Berronar, the Truesilver, the revered mother; our mother Goddess.” He hacked a couple of times then spit on the floor. “Damned dust.”
Thun leapt at his father, embracing him. His father, laughing, returned the hug in kind.
“I thought the worst, father.”
“Death is not the worst. Being covered in this white crud is.” He let go from the embrace and patted himself, creating plumes of white clouds. Eden wondered how Crystal could understand them. Everything they were saying was in a foreign tongue to her.
“She has Soul's Eye, and because she is of the bloodline and connected to Soul's Eye, she can understand just about any language,” explained Thomas, who had ceased his chanting. “If you were around Crystal long enough you'd understand Dwarven too. It's a strange magic, how that works.” He then bowed to Eden saying softly, “You have no idea how happy I am that you are safe.”
Eden embraced Thomas with all of her might. She pulled back and gazed into his eyes, seeing the sparkle of the blue sky dancing in them.
“If you had your dragon crystal on you then you'd understand what the Dwarves are saying, by the way,” Thomas reminded her gently.
She felt her pockets, then held up her hands, perplexed. “Where is it?”
Thomas winked. “In Swift's bridge, on the captain's seat. Remember, keep it with you always.”
“I thought it was called the Admiral's chair?”
Thomas looked off in thought. “Okay, that's what we'll call it.”
“It doesn't have a name or rank, does it?”
“No. Knights Templar don't rank or label. Well, at least not in the same way or path that your people do.”
A loud cry filled the room and all the balls of lights faded. Everyone turned toward the ear-piercing sound.
It was Harak, peering into a large hole in the middle of the room. He raised his eyes up to the sky, arms wide, and tears dripped from his beard. “Mother!” he called out with anguish.
Jantu was the first to arrive. He hopped down into the opening and landed gracefully in the tunnel. He pushed large pieces of ebb off a small woman and felt for her pulse. There was none. He closed his eyes and placed both hands on her. Shaking his head sadly he looked up toward Harak. Her life force has left her body. She dwells with your ancestors now. She has a message for you...
Harak was in too much pain to hear Jantu. Thomas made his way to Harak's side, speaking in Dwarven tongue. “Your mother has a message for you...”
Harak looked away, his anger risin
g.
“She is on the other side and will not return. She wants you to know how beautiful and loving it is, but most importantly, she wants you to be kind to your brother. You may never love him like you do your mother and father, but she asks you to try.”
Harak scowled and gripped his hammer tightly, raising it in the air, and roared loudly. He then heaved the hammer below, aiming at Jantu.
It traveled fast, much faster than any human could throw, flipping end over end. His aim was accurate and true, but to Harak's surprise Jantu simply caught his hammer in one hand, then jumped from his crouched position and landed next to Harak. He handed the Dwarf his hammer and walked away.
“Harak!” yelled Crystal.
Thun grabbed her forearm, his lips quivering. “Let him cool.”
“I'm so sorry for your mother's death.”
Thun nodded. “Aye, I'm sorry too and I'm sorry for all who lost their mother, father, brother, and sister today.”
Crystal felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning, she saw Daf.
“Crystal, I—”
Nyx interrupted everyone. “No time. We return to our Starships now and get off the planet.”
“Wait!” demanded Crystal. “We go nowhere until we evacuate Starship Sirona.”
“Already done, Darlin',” replied Nyx, walking by her without even a glance. “I suggest you follow us. Or, better yet, wait to see if another explosion takes you to another land.”
Crystal hurried after Nyx. “What do you mean you evacuated them? Where are they?”
“In Starship Swift, just outside.” She halted abruptly and snorted with mild contempt, folding her arms across her chest and tapping her foot. She stood tall and proud. “I'm Fae, different than your race. As a Fae woman, and leader, I rarely make mistakes. When I say we need to go, I mean it. I don't do things willy-nilly like your race. I don't question any and all intuitive thoughts that enter my body, nor do I question the universe when it speaks to me. I listen and act accordingly.”
“What does that have to do with my people being evacuated?” asked Crystal.
“Do you not feel your own mother and where she is?”
Crystal didn't know how to reply to that.
Nyx pointed to her heart. “I can feel my mother now, even though she is millions of miles away. That is my connection and one that your race fails to understand. You ignore your own deeper feelings.” Nyx turned on her heels and hurried on, admonishing over her shoulder, “I would have felt and known that my people were evacuated without even seeing the evacuation take place.”
Eden stood close to Crystal and whispered, “She's hard to chew. Make no mistake though, Nyx would give her life for yours.”
“So, my mother is on your ship?”
Eden nodded. “Yes. She was unconscious when I last saw her. Do you want to see her?”
Crystal shook her head. “She has a lot to explain. I might slap her if I see her now.” She paused. “Who are you, anyway? You seem familiar.”
“I'm Eden. I was Starship Brigantia's commanding officer of Starfighter Division and Ranks. Admiral Byrd was my admiral.”
“I'm Crys—”
“Yes, I know who you are.” Eden smiled, then sprinted out of the building and toward Starship Swift.
Crystal took Eden's lead and made her way quickly to her own starship. Stepping on the elevator platform she was met by Harak, Bilrak, and Thun.
Oh great, she thought. I not only have Harak to control, now I have Bilrak.
“Where is Shan?” she asked.
Thun pointed over his shoulder. Shan was helping Dwarves up the ramp, leading them into Tranquil's launch bay.
For a moment Crystal thought she had seen a human she hadn't seen in almost a week making his way up the ramp. Was that Jerrod? Tapping her fingers together, she pursed her lips, doubt creeping in.
“We go up when Daf gets here,” grumbled Harak, still teary-eyed.
“What about the rest of our nice little crew?” asked Crystal.
Harak looked down. “I couldn't find a few of them, and I think the rest are dead.”
“We aint!” said a gruff voice. It was Magil, supposedly the strongest Dwarf of all—according to Bilrak. Next to Magil stood Thodion and Algona.
“But—the others are dead?” asked Crystal.
Thun shook his head sadly. “Don't mind Harak. He isn't in the best mood. He probably wishes everyone would be dead if it could save our mother. Ramira—my sister—is aboard already, on the bridge and being looked at by Chief Medicine Woman Bavila. Ramira got a little banged up but she’ll be okay.”
A strong wind swirled around Crystal and a light hum sounded. Starship Swift had lifted off and was hovering in wait for Crystal's crew to board Tranquil.
“We're following them, right?” said Daf, her hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath. She then stood straight at attention as if she'd attended a few too many Star Guild Academy classes. “I'm at your service, Captain McCoy—or whatever you're called.”
Crystal grinned. “Took you long enough.” She stomped onto the platform. “Step on board and we'll head up.”
“She ain't captain,” gruffed Harak.
“She has Soul's Eye. She's Captain,” Bilrak disagreed.
The elevator rose and Crystal put her hands on her hips, thinking there should be another crew member with them. “Are we missing someone?”
Thodion nodded. “Dilgor. He's on the bridge already. We'll see him in a moment. He has eyes for Ramira.” Thodion elbowed Thun and laughed. Thun rolled his eyes, and for a second, Crystal saw a sliver of mirth through his melancholy.
The elevator reached the bridge, clicking in place. Daf gasped. “This place is breathtaking.”
“Take a seat somewhere, Daf,” ordered Crystal, making her way to the command chair. “Where's Shan?”
“I'm on board, but in Tranquil's engine room,” came Shan's voice over the intercom. “All are aboard. You can give the order to take Tranquil skyward whenever you are ready.”
Are you ready, Crystal? asked Tranquil.
“We are ready. Follow Starship Swift.”
Aye, my friend.
Tranquil lifted off the ground. The vid screen surrounding the bridge came to life and they could see Swift quickly traveling high into the Lumus clouds.
Tranquil? asked Crystal. Are we following them?
Yes, unless you wish to change course.
No, but, where are we following them to?
On another mission.
Crystal slouched in her chair. “Another mission? Please tell me you're kidding.”
“Who are you talking to?” asked Daf from across the bridge.
“To the starship.”
“Oh, right.” She remembered that Crystal had mentioned she could communicate with the ship. It was still weird. “Uh, carry on.” She waved a dismissive hand.
Thun, who was in the seat next to Crystal leaned over and whispered, “We are going on a mission?”
“Yes.” She closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath. Tranquil, where does our mission take place?
Gaia.
∞
Eden looked incredulously at Thomas and her shoulders drooped. “On another mission?”
Thomas nodded. “We are going to defend Gaia. She needs our help.”
“From who?” asked Eden, eying the vid screen, watching planet Lumus shrink smaller and smaller in the distance.
Nyx held a glass of water in her hand. “Drink up.”
Eden accepted the water and took some sips as Thomas explained.
“Lien-L, the person whose office we were just inside, and the Draconis race, and a portion of the Gray race, and the Lizzies—an offshoot of a mix of human and reptilian, are en route to Gaia. What they plan on doing we don't know. They like to nab humans from Gaia when they feel the need, but we have never seen an armada this large assembled and on course for Gaia.” He nervously swallowed as if remembering something. “At least, we haven't seen one this big i
n long, long time.”
Eden took a swig of water and swished it around in her mouth before gulping it down. “What are we going to do when we get there?” A surge of energy suddenly sprinted through her body. She glanced at the half-full glass, wondering what the heck was in it.
It tasted like water, she thought.
“Persuade them to leave,” said Nyx.
“Is it that easy?” asked Eden.
“No,” replied Nyx.
“What if they refuse to leave?” Eden took another sip, again looking at the glass as her vision became less blurry, which was strange to her because she didn't know her vision was blurry at all.
Thomas looked up at the view screen. “Then we know they are up for a fight.”
“Just our Swift and Crystal's starship? Aren't they full of novices?” asked Eden.
Thomas shrugged, casting his gaze upon Eden. “Well, how do we make their crew more experienced?”
Eden pushed out her lips. “I don't know.”
“And if you did know, what would be your answer?” said Thomas.
Eden bit her lip, thinking. “Well, we have a lot of Starship Sirona's crew, so what say we put some of them in a few Oberums and fly them over to Crystal's starship?”
“Crystal's starship is named Starship Tranquil,” said Nyx.
“Who would you suggest we send over to Tranquil?” asked Thomas.
“As many as we can.”
“Okay, then we'll figure it out,” said Thomas. “We'll get a few of Sirona's crew together and send them to Tranquil tomorrow. Does that sound good, Eden?”
Everyone at their stations seemed to stop what they were doing and lean in, the Fae and the Sirians—including Jantu—as if her answer was the single most important answer in the universe.
“Yes, it sounds...good, I guess.”
“Swift,” said Thomas. “Guide us where we need to go.” He looked at Eden. “And for right now, Nyx will show you to your sleeping quarters.” Thomas bowed. “For me, I bid you all a goodnight.” He turned and walked out of the bridge, the door vertically shutting behind him.
Star Guild Episodes 10 - 18 (Star Guild Saga) Page 28
