These warm feelings were instantly extinguished the moment Max saw the cloaked figure moving slowly behind them. He felt what little blood still remained inside of him drain rapidly from his face. He felt light headed as the outline of the old man in his dreams slinked behind his friends. The dread that was springing to life in him was almost unbearable.
“Ausiris,” Max whispered.
Almost panicking, Max slammed his eyes shut and pictured himself inside the tower, but when he opened them he was still standing outside in the snow. He looked up at them, and Ausiris seemed closer. Max swore loudly and pointed at them frantically, trying to warn them. Kennedy waved at him. Noah pointed back at him.
“Turn around!” Max shouted, but it was no use. He was too far away to be heard.
He closed his eyes again and pushed every thought that he could out of his mind. He pictured himself in the tower, standing behind his group of friends. He forced himself to concentrate on the minute details: the way the ancient wood smelled, the temperature of the stone wall that he had leaned against. He thought about Kennedy. He opened his eyes to find himself face to face with Emperor Ausiris, who had just picked the black duffel bag off the floor.
“Ausiris!” Max exclaimed, causing the other three to turn toward them. They all raised their weapons toward the hooded man.
“Hello, boy,” Ausiris hissed from under the hood.
“Drop the bag,” Max said.
“Who are you to give me such a command?” the old man hissed.
“I’m the guy who just wiped out your entire army,” Max said, lifting his hand in the direction of the old man. Hesitantly, Ausiris dropped the bag on the floor and lifted his arms, mirroring Max; his wrinkled palms illuminated with a bright orange light. He turned his scarred face, quickly scanning the battlefield before looking back to Max. “I’m the guy that killed Gorthon.”
“He was merely a pawn-”
“I’m the Guardian of the Ninth Sector,” Max said defiantly.
Ausiris waved his hand toward the group, but nothing seemed to happen. The motion had startled Max, who tried to send a ball of energy flying at the old man…but nothing happened for him either. His eyes met with Ausiris’s as the old man revealed a crooked, yellow smile.
“Your powers are useless against me,” Ausiris sneered. “Your friends are useless against me.”
Max quickly looked at his friends, who still had their guns fixed on Ausiris. But they looked strange. They were abnormally still, not even breathing. Through the window behind them, large snowflakes hung in the air…motionless. Ausiris had frozen time.
“Unfreeze them,” Max demanded.
“Or what?” Ausiris asked, still smiling. “You could not even begin to fathom the true power that these crystals possess.”
“I don’t care,” Max said. “The only thing I know is that you’re not walking out of here with them.”
“You are nothing, Max Baker. You’re not even the true Guardian.”
“You’re wrong,” Max seethed. He could feel his heart beating faster in his chest, and the blue light pulsating from his open hand grew brighter.
“Am I, boy? Your brother was the prophesized chosen one. He was the true Guardian. I saw the markings with my own eyes.”
“What markings?” Max asked.
“The symbol of Chronos,” Ausiris said. With an illuminated finger, he drew the outline of a circle. A tiny line of orange hung in the air, trailing Ausiris’s movements. When the circle was completed, Ausiris used a crooked finger to draw a line piercing the center of it. “The boy had the markings on the small of his back. I know because I was there the night that you were born. I know because I’m the reason you no longer have a brother.”
Max was fixated on the orange image still suspended in the air. The orange light was in the exact shape of the birthmark on Max’s stomach.
“You mean these markings,” Max said, lifting up his shirt.
The old man’s yellow eye grew wide as Max unveiled his birthmark. Ausiris screamed, and a ball of orange energy flew from his fingertips directed at the Guardian. Max poured all of his energy into his hand and waved it quickly from left to right. His lifeforce remained hanging in the air as the orange light deflected off of it. Max smiled at the old man, whose face was twisted in a furious snarl.
“You might think that you have won,” Ausiris’s voice came streaming into Max’s brain, “but don’t think for one moment that this is over boy.”
Ausiris lunged for the bag. Without hesitation, Max summoned for the crystals. The bag shot up from the floor and rocketed over to Max. In one fluid movement, he unzipped the bag and grabbed both of the crystals. The raw energy flowing inside of them exploded through his skin and into his body.
“You idiot!” Ausiris screamed.
Max could not control his body as the energy from the crystals engulfed him. It came shooting out of his eyes and ears. Max felt it expel from his mouth and then felt it radiating from his body. He dropped the crystals and, as if being controlled by a puppeteer, lifted his arms toward Ausiris.
“This isn’t over, boy!”
“Don’t call me boy,” Max heard himself say. A brilliant bolt of purple lightning burst from Max’s hands. Ausiris’s robes collapsed into a heap on the floor just before the burst of energy hit his body; he had disappeared into the unknown. The wall behind where he had stood exploded. The energy poured out uncontrollably until Max finally dropped to his knees. The energy that was flowing through him was still there, but he felt more in control of himself. He felt stronger. He felt alive.
He looked to his friends, who were waving their guns around frantically, looking for Ausiris.
“Where is he?” Donovan shouted.
“Why are you on the floor?” Noah asked.
“He’s gone,” Max assured them.
Kennedy dropped her weapon and ran over to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed so tightly that he was unable to breath. He had to tap her on the shoulder twice before she loosened her grip.
“Is he dead, Max?” Donovan asked.
“No,” Max said. “He’ll be back, but not anytime soon.”
Donovan stood their silently for a moment, examining the aftermath until his eyes grew wide. He had noticed the red and blue crystals sitting on the floor, outside of the duffel bag.
“The crystals!” Donovan exclaimed.
Max smiled and then flicked his wrist. His hand exploded in purple flames of energy. They burned brighter than they ever had before. He flicked his wrist again, and the flames disappeared into thin air.
Chapter 34
Debriefing
Max had transported everyone back to the old building in East Atlanta. They had taken the crystals with them and destroyed any important information that the castle had contained. They all climbed into the portal and took the journey to Sidus Refugium.
The foursome walked down the corridor, Noah babbling the entire time about the battle they had just been through. Donovan led the way.
“We all know, Noah.” Kennedy said. “We were there.”
“What happens now?” Max asked Donovan.
“Now,” Donovan began, “we go talk to the Council and recount the events that took place. We get a good night’s sleep here, and then we get your friends back to Earth in the morning.”
“And then what?” Max asked. They had reached the waiting area. All four of them took a seat on the couch. They all looked out into the vast expanse in front of them.
“I suspect that Ausiris will not stay quiet for too long,” Donovan said. “We will have to train and get all of you prepared for the next battle.”
“Wait,” Kennedy said, “no one said anything about a next battle.”
“Well, I’m in,” Noah said. “This is the most fun I’ve had since we snuck into the neighbors’ houses and took their candy.”
“You two were the candy bandits?” Kennedy asked. She laughed loudly as Max and Noah looked back at her in confu
sion. “I’m in too, I guess. I can’t sit around and watch you two idiots get your heads ripped off. I would feel guilty.”
“Max, it’s time to go talk to the Council,” Donovan said, getting up from his seat.
“See you guys in a few,” Max said as the two of them headed into the Council’s chambers.
The Elders sat in their seats, looking down at them as they entered the room.
“Please be seated gentlemen,” Elder Myrth said, motioning for the two to sit at the desk facing them. Donovan and Max sat down.
“Melotta,” Myrth said, “please note the time and date for the Council’s records.”
Max glanced over to the silver skinned woman, but she immediately diverted her attention to her computer. She looked angry, but relieved.
“We are gathered here today to speak to the Guardian and the Protector, concerning the events that have transpired between themselves and Emperor Ausiris. Melotta, also please note for the Council’s records that Elder Darthoor, representative of Harowadur and Arressnia, has resigned from his position and will not be present for these proceedings.”
Melotta typed away at her keyboard, looking up at Max every so often.
“A woman’s scorn,” Donovan whispered to Max. “That is universal.”
“Now,” Myrth continued, “please share with us the events that transpired in Romania.”
Donovan told the Elders about the guards of the castle and how they had been working for Ausiris. He told them how Max had rescued them from their captors and had defeated an army almost single handedly. He told them of the esphynalor, and he spoke highly of Noah and Kennedy’s heroic actions. He told them about the battle of Max and Gorthon, and the final standoff between Max and Ausiris. The Council sat in silence as Donovan recounted the events. As Max listened to him, he pinched himself under the table to make sure that he was not dreaming. All of it seemed so surreal now. All of it seemed so distant.
“It seems that you have lived up to your namesake,” Elder Myrth said, looking down over them. “Do you have anything that you would like to add, Mr. Baker?”
“Ausiris spoke of the Fallen One,” Max said, causing murmurs to break out amongst the Elders. “I know that the Council wishes that I know not of the specifics of the prophecy, but I fear that Ausiris will attack again soon, and when he does it’s possible that this Fallen One will be with him.”
“As of this moment,” Elder Myrth began, “the Council has no information of the Fallen One. In all honesty Max, we are not entirely sold that Ausiris is the Dark Bringer. We suspect he may just be a twisted old man bent on ruling the galaxy.” Max began to object, but Elder Myrth was quick to hold a hand up.
“However,” he continued, “if we do gain access to any information pertaining to such, or if we hear of Ausiris’s next move, then I assure you will be the first to know. Our fate, Earth’s fate, and the entire fate of the Ninth Sector are in your hands.” Max offered up a genuine smile at this comment; for once in his life, he felt like he had a purpose.
“The Council does request that you and your team gather up any belongings that you may need and begin your training here on Sidus immediately,” Myrth said.
“No,” Max said.
“Mr. Baker,” Myrth said, adjusting in his seat, “please know that we only wish to provide you with the most well-equipped and optimal training conditions available. We only-”
“I’m only 16 years old,” Max interrupted. “What you are suggesting is that I abandon my family and my friends – abandon my life, so that I can come here and train for a battle that may not occur for months, or years.”
“Mr. Baker, we feel-”
“No offense, but I don’t care how you feel, sir. When Ausiris attacks, it will be me putting my life on the line, not you. I might be the Guardian of the Ninth Sector, but I’m also a kid. I’ve still got homework to do and girls to date. Saving the universe for you is only one of my priorities.”
Elder Myrth sat back in his chair and rubbed the temples of his head. “May we please suggest that the Protector relocates to continue your training on Earth then?”
“Well, that would be up to Donovan, wouldn’t it?” Max asked, looking in Donovan’s direction.
“I will watch over him from Earth,” Donovan said to the Elders. He turned to Max. “Max, do you mind if I have a moment alone with the Council?”
“No,” Max said, feeling as if he had overstepped his boundaries He was worried that now Donovan would have to apologize for his actions. He slowly got up and walked out of the room.
Back in the waiting area, Noah had fallen asleep on the couch, his head cocked awkwardly to the side. He snored lightly.
“He passed out right when you two went in,” Kennedy said. She was sitting next to Noah, looking out into the astral space in front of them. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
“It is,” Max said, sitting down next to her. She moved over, put her head on his shoulder and yawned.
“What happened in there?” she asked.
“Boring bureaucratic stuff,” Max said, moving his arm around her shoulder. She moved her head to his chest and nuzzled in deeper. Max could still smell her shampoo – quite the miracle, considering everything that they had been through.
“Kennedy, can I ask you a question?” Max said. She didn’t respond. “Kennedy, are you asleep?” he asked. Again she answered with silence.
Max smiled and leaned his head back onto the couch. For the first time in the last forty-eight hours, he felt comfortable. He was warm. Slowly he nodded off and fell into a very peaceful slumber.
Chapter 35
First Day Back
The trio returned to Earth late Sunday afternoon. As they arrived through the gateway, they met Jakob and Mikael’s replacements. They all piled into Donovan’s car, which was still parked in front of the building. They rode in silence for most of the trip – Noah interrupting on occasion to remind them about how they had defeated an esphynalor or how Max had turned into some freak of nature when he had grabbed the crystals.
Donovan dropped each one of them off at their respective houses, Noah first and then Kennedy. Donovan put the car into park when he reached Max’s house. They sat in silence for a moment with nothing more than the car’s idling engine as their only soundtrack.
After a few moments, Max broke the silence, “Does the Council know where my father is?”
“I don’t think so,” Donovan said, looking over at the boy. “But I’m sure if Elder Baxter has anything to do with it, there will be a full investigation.”
“Do you think that it’s possible for him to still be alive?”
“Max, anything is possible,” Donovan said. “You of all people should be able to testify to that after this weekend.”
Max turned his head toward his house. The light in the living room was on. Through the curtains, Max could see his mother sitting in her recliner and watching television. A bottle of scotch sat next to her on the end table.
“Where are you going now?” Max asked.
“The Council has been gracious enough to set me up with living quarters a couple of blocks away from here,” Donovan said. “Tomorrow, after school, I would like for you to come over so we can begin your formal training. Is alright with you?”
Max nodded silently as he watched his mother fill the empty cup in her hand.
“If your father is still alive, I will help you find him.”
“Thanks,” Max said as he continued to watch his mother. He almost regretted choosing to come back home. He sighed deeply.
“You fought well today,” Donovan said. “I’m really proud of you.”
Max didn’t know why, but these words made him feel warm inside. He couldn’t help but smile a little as he opened the car door.
“I’ll see you tomorrow Donovan.”
* * *
The next morning, Max opened his front door to find Noah waiting on his front porch. He sat on the swing with his feet propped up on his own skateb
oard. In his lap he held Max’s skateboard, which was wrapped with a bright red ribbon. “I found your board.” Max took a long look at him. The two laughed.
“It’s absurd that we are going to school today, you know?” Noah said as the two skated down Elm Street. “Today should be a national holiday.”
“I know,” Max said. “I feel like any moment Donovan’s going to come rushing down the street, telling us that Ausiris has plans to destroy the universe and we need to stop him.”
“Or that at any moment,” Noah said, “an esphynalor is just going to come bursting through those trees, and I’m going to blast it in the face like I did that other esphynalor. And then it would turn tail and run back to its planet like a little baby.”
“You’re not going to let that go, are you?” Max asked.
“Not any time soon,” Noah said.
The two skated in silence for a while before turning the corner and seeing the school on the horizon.
“How do you think Kennedy will act?” Noah asked.
“Like none of this ever happened,” Max said. “She’ll probably be sitting on the back of Corey’s stupid truck.”
“You don’t like her at all, do you?” Noah said.
Max hesitated for a moment before they went any further. “What happened between you two?” he asked. “Up on Sidus, you said you couldn’t blame her for being mad.”
“That…is a story for another day,” Noah said, wearing an uncomfortable smile. “Preferably a day when you are in a good mood, and I am carrying a weapon.” Noah turned and continued on. Max knew that eventually Noah would spill the beans, but decided not to pursue it any further. He was already nervous about seeing Kennedy; he didn’t want to add an argument with Noah to his already full plate.
He looked at the parking lot where the group of jocks and cheerleaders were hanging out. Corey Peterson was tossing a football around with a few other football players. A couple of the cheerleaders sat on the back of his tailgate. Kennedy was not one of them.
Max Baker: Guardian of the Ninth Sector Page 22
