“Pull up periphery view,” said Chase.
A wide shot of space around them filled the screen. At Ascension's stern was Gaia, and although still some distance away, it seemed like they could easily touch her.
Chase eyed the Drakonis armada, easily anticipating their strategy. They were coming in slowly and surrounding all three Knights Templar starships from above and below, and at the edges.
The Oberums, on the other hand, were having their way with armada, elusive and skilled, playing hide and seek—evading, falling back, firing shots, and most importantly, hitting their targets with an accuracy that Chase believed only Knights Templar could achieve.
An Oberum exploded and disappeared from the screen.
Chase hung his head. I guess even the Knights Templar aren't perfect, he thought.
Not in the slightest, though they are elite to even the elite. However, Chase, replied Ascension, that wasn't a Knights Templar who had perished. It was a Dwarf, who was a member of Tranquil's crew.
A Dwarf? questioned Chase.
Yes, under Crystal McCoy. She is the lead on Tranquil.
Chase about fell over, and if the restraints weren't secure enough, he may have done that. You're telling me Crystal is on that ship?
Indeed. She is of the bloodline.
Crystal McCoy? The red-haired, blue-eyed, strong as an ox, and even more stubborn, Crystal McCoy?
I don't kn—
She would rather die than lead a starship. Trust me, I know this better than anyone.
Chase. Please focus. Tell Kalista weapons are now online. I can fire when ready.
Chase wanted to smile, Crystal McCoy—his old sweetheart, though they were as toxic to each other as could be—was alive.
Chase, get back in there now and let Kalista know. Thank you.
Right. Chase started to speak, but Devon interrupted him.
“Kalista, Asension wants you to know that weapons are online. Fire when ready.”
Chase gave a thumbs up and Devon returned the gesture.
“Fire at will, Ascension!” Kalista barked, then watched as the vid screen lit up with brilliant lasers, ions, and photons. Fire ignited on the dragon ship in puffs, extinguishing a moment later, but Chase could tell one of Ascension's shots hit something vital. The ship dropped and its exterior lights blinked off and on until it regained equilibrium.
A moment later the dragon ship lit up in a rainbow of colors and then vanished before their eyes.
Chase gasped. “What the Guild?”
“Bring up ten-mile radius around us,” ordered Kalista.
Ascension did so and on the vid screen they saw one by one, enemy ship after enemy ship, blipping off the screen and jumping out of Gaia's coordinates.
“Why are they leaving?” asked Devon.
I'll widen the radius, and you'll see, replied Ascension.
The vid screen brought up a larger view of the space around them, and on either side of Gaia, ships had amassed and were closing in.
“Is that a good thing, or a bad thing?” questioned Chase.
“Good for us, bad for the Drakonis Alliance,” replied Kalista. “That's an armada of Knights Templar. And it’s about damn time!”
The Drakonis Alliance would have needed a lot more ships to stave off this Knights Templar Armada,” noted Ascension. That's why the armada retreated.
The vid screen view split in half: Crystal on one screen, Eden on the other. Crystal's eyes narrowed, her mouth gaping. “Chase?”
Chase gave a sideways grin. “Hi Crystal. I heard you were piloting one of these things.” His grin faded as his adrenaline suddenly plummeted, and he felt strangely tired all over, his muscles sore as if he'd been clenching tightly for his very life, which he realized he had been doing. He unconsciously touched his hair, wondering if it was in disarray. I still have the politician in me. Gotta act the part, I guess. He managed a slight smile. “And, you're welcome.”
Crystal’s face tightened, then released, as if she couldn't even muster the energy to get mad. Flatly, she asked, “You're welcome for what?”
“For coming and saving you guys.”
“You came and saved us?” she pointed to her chest. “Really? It looks like we came and got you out of a bind. I don't know if you would have survived that, Chase.”
Wow, she looks just like her mother right now. Chase bit his tongue to keep from saying so out loud. “Well?” Chase looked at Kalista, then at Devon, silently asking for some back-up with his assertion that they had played hero. They didn't take the bait. “I hope we helped a little.”
“You did, thank you Chase and crew.” Crystal pursed her lips and blinked, but held the blink a little long. “I'm sorry guys. I'm tired. I guess we go back home?” She looked around her bridge, waiting for an answer.
Eden chimed in. “Yes, we go home. And Chase, I've learned that Thomas Berard is on your ship.” She looked hopeful.
“He left in an Oberum when we entered the fight. I haven't heard from him—” He held a hand up, listening to Ascension.
Thomas has been ordered to leave the system and pursue another mission. Sadly, he won't be back for some time.
“Eden, Thomas has—”
“Yes, I know,” interrupted Eden, her shoulders sagging. “I heard.”
“Enough of all of the chatter, everyone.” Nyx came into view on the vid screen, slightly nudging Eden to the side. “If it weren't for my Knights Templars showing up behind us, we would still be exchanging fire with the Drakonis Alliance. No need for hero worship or desire here, please.”
Chase gasped. “Nyx?”
“Nice to see you again, Chase,” responded Nyx.
“Nyx?” Chase repeated, unable to hide the wonder and joy in his voice.
“What is it with you humans repeating everything?” She folded her hands like a teacher in front of a pupil. “Our first interaction, Chase, was a faux. I'm sorry to have deceived you, but it was my duty to protect you as best as I could. I'm glad I did my job.”
“Did your job?” He tilted his head. “What job?”
“The saving your life job.”
“But,” he remembered the feeling they shared, the touch they had, the most assuredly iridescent glow surrounding him as he walked down the sidewalk on that fateful day they had met. And then he was almost shot to death. “Wait a minute. Your job was to save my life, but I was practically killed by multiple phaser fire.”
“Are you alive?” she said with a gleam in her eyes. “You weren't supposed to be. Zim wanted you taken out and if I hadn't done what I did, you would have died on that day.” She waved off the discussion. “We can talk on this later. Now we go to planet Aurora. Out.” The vid screen switched from a split screen back to Crystal alone.
“Chase, it's good to see you. And, I must thank you and your crew for your gallant effort. It's been a long day, long week.” She shook her head. “I'll see you—”
“Effort?” remonstrated Kalista.
The screen blinked off and the remnants of the battle lay before them—torn metal and burnt objects floating aimlessly in space.
“Y'taul will probably be here after we leave,” said Kalista, wringing her hands, as if she wanted to stay in wait for him.
“Another time,” said Chase. “And, thank you Kalista, we definitely could not have done this without you.”
“I just like saving your asses, I guess.”
“I hope you stay with us. This ship needs you.” Kalista didn't respond. Chase hoped that was a good thing. He folded his hands, turning to the vid screen. “Ascension, take us to Aurora.”
I hope my feelings for Nyx wasn’t just a faux.
∞
The sky was a silvery purple as the sun settled across the horizon. Two large planets—one ringed, one not—glowed above, surrounded by stars. Crystal sniffed the Aurora air, smelling the fresh flowers from a nearby forest. A cool breeze ruffled her collar as she took out her vial full of white powdered gold, uncorked it, and dabbled a small
amount on her tongue. It was tasteless, but immediately brought focus, and apparently long life—if she was able to stay away from space battles and men.
In front of her was a large crystalline dome with two large doors and a roof arched over the entrance. Three starships—Ascension, Swift, and Tranquil—were perched like birds on a grassy hill overlooking the dome. It was a beautiful sight to behold, almost as beautiful as the nature she'd seen so far on this planet.
She absently rubbed her aching arms. It will be a long time before someone will get me in one of those things again. “I can't wait for rest and relaxation. A lot of relaxation,” she said out loud.
She walked toward the dome feeling the soft moss beneath her bare feet and the sweet energy it brought to her body. It had been several days since the victory against the Drakonis Alliance—who were now forbidden by the higher energies to ever set forth in Gaia's solar system ever again.
She chuckled, glancing up at the sky, Thanks for keeping me alive, higher energies... whatever and whoever you are.
Twenty minutes earlier, when she had been lying on her bed in a small dome thinking of Chase and their old relationship, she noticed that her thoughts of Chase kept turning to Jerrod, and as they did her heart would flutter.
She barely knew Jerrod, but of all things, she wished he would come and see her, holding a bouquet of hand-picked flowers.
And when a knock disturbed her fantasy, she leapt from her bed, ready to embrace the inevitable. Jerrod had answered her silent beckoning, but her face quickly frowned when she opened the door only to find a note on her patio. It said simply, “Please meet us at Assembly Hall. Arrive as soon as possible.”
Who is 'us' and where is Assembly Hall?
After asking directions from a couple of hooded Beings mingling and walking on a path near her dome, she was now approaching the Assembly Hall's majestic doors.
She paused just before pushing them open, wondering of all things, how it was possible she was still alive. She had escaped so much, too much. 'S' had given her directions and she followed them, risking her life and Daf's life. And on and on it went in reverse: the Armada battle; the tunnels within Forever Mountain; the attacks on Sirona; the starfighters on her way to Sirona; and the initial attack, which killed Hendricks, and nearly herself.
She had survived the unsurvivable. She had seen magic. She had seen other races, alien. She was a slave, and never knew it. She was now a member of a mythological brotherhood, one she had thought only existed in fairy tales.
She habitually touched her sword's hilt—Soul's Eye—still unsheathed in her baldric attached to her back. There was a time I thought all of this was bullshit, she remembered. Now, I am this bullshit. Magic is real. Extraterrestrials are real. The Knights Templar are bad asses. I'm a bad ass.
She let go of the hilt of her sword just before pushing open the doors, wondering why she was called here in the first place. Was it to watch her mom being punished? If so, she didn't want to see that, though it may be necessary. She shook away the thought, knowing the Knights Templar weren't that uncivilized. But how uncivilized is killing your own race like my mom did?
Opening the door, all eyes in the hall turned toward her.
Thun gave her a nod and a wink. Shan Ru was by his side, standing as polite as could be. Daf was smiling, twirling a curl in her black hair, and a flute whistled rhythmically throughout the Assembly Hall.
“What's this?” she asked.
Glancing around she saw Eden, Bilrak, Harak, Hank's wobbly belly, and Jerrod, whose white pearly teeth greeted her almost as if asking for a kiss.
Guild, he looks tempting.
Chase, that Star Guild jock she used to hold so tightly each night, stood next to a skinny young man who, for some reason, looked smarter than anyone she had ever met. And there was Nyx, as calm as could be, radiating as all the Fae did.
Why is Chase looking at Nyx like that?
“Stay calm my friend,” said a giant man. “My name is Kien, and to my side is Shanraing.”
Crystal stopped in front of him, placing her arms behind her back. “I'm Crystal.”
The giant man had red hair and a red beard. His blue eyes sparkled and everything about his facial features were perfect, strong, and healthy. He was a Nankuani—another Drag.
“I know you don't like my kind and if I was in your position, I'd feel the same,” said Kien. “I hope Shan Ru showed you the side of our race that is good.”
Crystal unconsciously touched her heart. “Shan is one of the most pure, loving, and incredible Beings that I have ever met.” She looked at Shan and gave him a nod. He bowed back.
Kien continued, “I'm against what Lien-L stands for. They call me, and those who fight and heal the wrongs that Lien-L has committed, the Kien Alliance. But that is not who we truly are. We are the Knights Templar of the Brotherhood of Light, and the 8th Order of the Melchizedek. I don't pretend that you know much of what that means, but what we do is in service to others. We watch races evolve, assist when asked, sometimes on a large scale, but mostly in smaller ways.”
Shanraing nodded. “And you're of the bloodline.”
Crystal tilted her head. “What's your name again?”
“Shanraing, sister to Kien and sister to Lien-L.” An odd expression appeared on her face. “You stepped up when I asked you to find your way to Forever Mountain. And we ask you to step up again for us.”
“When you asked me to find my way to Forever Mountain?” questioned Crystal.
“Do you remember when I told you how old I was?”
Crystal looked off to the distance, then her face suddenly brightened. “Are you 'S'?”
“Indeed, I am.”
Crystal almost erupted in excitement, something she wasn't used to feeling. But this woman had saved her on many occasions and was the most true and honest ally she had. Suddenly all of her worries whittled down to one thing: she was right to follow S's advice. S was real and didn't pose any threat, and her mother was wrong. S had Crystal's best interests at heart, the opposite of her mother.
“Why is everyone here?” asked Crystal. “Do I get a parade or a medal or...what?”
“Is that what you would like?” Kien questioned.
“I want a nice bath and some mead. Then sleep would be perfect.” She had a hard time not looking at Jerrod. She wanted all of that with him.
Why am I so damned aroused?
Kien giggled. “Be careful of your desires after taking White Powder Gold. You have not yet mastered your impulses.” He pulled a scroll from the inside of his long white robe. “This is why you're here.” He handed the scroll to her.
Crystal eyed it, seeing the gorgeous letters printed on the face of the scroll. She read it and her face slowly contorted, her lips curling in anger and her face flushed red. “Guild, no!” She wanted to throw the scroll on the floor and smash it under her foot. “I'm done with anything to do with those starships. It's time I rested, and fight never again.”
“It's not fighting that we are asking. It's exploring,” responded Shanraing. “I'll be going along too, though not on your ship.” She gave a quick glance in Chase’s direction.
“Are you kidding me? Am I still dreaming and will this nightmare never end?” asked Crystal.
No response, except for a calm yet blank stare from both Kien and Shanraing as they patiently waited.
She grunted, her shoulders slumping. “Are all starships going on this voyage, as well?”
“Yes, and you will have a crew on Tranquil.” Kien gestured toward Eden. “Eden will have a crew on Swift. And Chase will have a crew on Ascension. We have been beckoned and we will be following that call. We are to assist the universe in whatever way is needed.”
“No. I'm not assisting this time or ever again. I'm sorry.” She took off her baldric and let it slip from her fingertips to the floor. “Someone else can wear this.”
There was a hush in the hall, though not from Chase or Daf. To them, this was a usual Crystal momen
t, a temperament they were used to. Chase was surprised she even came to the Assembly Hall at all.
“I will,” said a sheepish young man. He didn’t look at Crystal and his lips quivered as he spoke. “I'm of the bloodline. I can hear Ascension when she speaks. I could probably hear Tranquil, too.”
“Thank you, Devon. But only one can wield Soul's Eye, and that one has just given it up,” replied Kien. “You are of the bloodline, which is very rare, but Crystal is of an even rarer line. Without her we may not accomplish our feat.”
Crystal sighed and her shoulders drooped further, as if ten people had suddenly jumped on her back. “Can you possibly make me feel worse or more needed?” She picked up her sword and baldric, holding it in one hand. “Is that all? Just a trip to some unknown galaxy?”
Shanraing slowly shook her head. “Lien-L is still out there and more starbases are forming. You—”
“More starbases are forming?” Crystal clenched her free fist. “With humans?”
Shanrain nodded. “Let me explain.” She walked closer to Crystal, eyeing her intently. “There are fifty that we know of, but perhaps hundreds circling the universe, orbiting planets. We could free them, but it is up to the leaders of the new Star Guild—Chase, Eden, and you—to step in on their behalf. The Nankuani are not allowed to assist anymore, but we are here to answer questions and give advice.”
“So we're on our own?” asked Crystal.
“In a way, yes, as requested and ordered by another in human form.”
Crystal looked around the hall at her friends, wondering if their minds were spinning as much as hers. Instead, she saw a concern on their faces. She turned back to Shanraing, who remained patient, unmoving. “Can you stop talking in riddles?”
“Brigger,” answered Shanraing.
“Okay,” replied Crystal. “What about Brigger? He was in the Star Guild star fleet, which is apparently the old Star Guild, since we now have the New Star Guild.” She almost laughed at the absurdity of it all.
“Yes, he cautioned the Nankuani from intervening in human activities from this point forward. He is of the higher energies. We are to assist in any way the higher energies ask, and we are now only to help the humans with advice, either on a starship or away.”
Star Guild Episodes 10 - 18 (Star Guild Saga) Page 33
