Heaven Saga 1: The Lost Hero

by Marcus Johnson

  Brian nodded. As the door closed he rolled on the bed and stared at the ceiling. What should I do? I’m not ready for this kind of thing. He rolled over and searched under the mattress. Out came the amulet of Kali Valis had given him earlier. He put his armor on and turned on the com.

  * * *

  Valis paced about the bridge as they waited for news from the Heimus. A light flared up on Zae’s console. “We’re getting a message from the Heimus.”

  “Put her through,” Valis ordered.

  Lena appeared on screen again while wearing a smug smile.

  “After thorough discussion with the other ships they’ve nominated you as their leader. Do you accept this duty?” Lena asked.

  Valis bit her lip. “Who would take command if I refuse?”

  Lena sighed. “Captain Ezra of the Daevoni, though she’s not very excited at the prospect. I wouldn’t worry about it too much Valis. You have the most battle experience within this fleet as a commander.”

  “Alright, I get it. I accept this assignment, but all of us require compensation Lena,” Valis said with a smile.

  “Don’t worry, the royal families’ coffers are still full of money if that‘s what you‘re wondering. I hereby promote you to Admiral Valis Kein of the twelfth Independent fleet,” Lena smiled. “Have fun Admiral Valis,” she said as the monitor turned off.

  Kivi stood up. “A field promotion hasn’t occurred in over a century captain. You should feel honored.”

  Valis shook her head. “That’s not funny. Didn’t tell you I had no desire to become an admiral?”

  Kivi smiled. “Many times captain, I mean admiral.”

  Valis shrugged in frustration. “The only difference between a captain and admiral is how many one commands. I’ll bet they won’t even give me a bigger cut of the bounty.”

  “You could always order them to their deaths admiral. That way there’s less ships to compensate after the battle,” Kivi said.

  “I’d never do such a thing,” Valis said. “Anyways, the rank’s only temporary.”

  “I know,” Kivi said, turning to Zae. “Zae, please make a compilation of all the ships within the twelfth Independent fleet. I’m sure Valis would like to make preparations.”

  “I’ll get right on it,” Zae said.

  * * *

  Celestia lied in her bed, half asleep in her night gown. As she turned to get up a message came through her communicator.

  “I’m sorry to disturb you my Queen,” Jabril said over the com, “but a priority message is coming through for you. It’s Brian on a secure channel.”

  She put on her circlet and went to the monitor at her desk. “Put him through.” Brian’s image appeared on screen. “Are you alright?”

  “Yes,” he answered.

  “My soldiers found a lot of your blood,” she turned her face away from the monitor, “I thought you may have died. I’m glad those fears didn’t come true.” She composed herself. “How’s my petulant daughter doing?”

  “She’s enjoying the sun outside,” he answered.

  “Tell me, were you the one who killed Delne Raekar?” Celestia asked.

  “No, Seles was the one who did it. I don’t think there was any other choice given the circumstances. But, the reason I’m contacting you is because I need to confess the truth to you, the real story.”

  “Why did you come here?” she asked.

  “Let me start at the beginning,” he said before taking a moment to gather his thoughts. “A little over a year ago, I was taken from my home world by the Greys. I escaped their mind effecting technologies and killed the crew. I was left stranded, clueless on how to control their ship. I fell unconscious and later found myself onboard the Avoni.”

  “Valis’s ship?” she asked.

  “Yes, I was saved by Valis and her crew. Once I woke up Celi injected me with nanomachines. I was guarded by Seles at the time. That’s when a Grey vessel attacked. It destroyed the captured Grey vessel and nearly killed us. The Avoni barely survived, while Seles and I were forced to flee using an escape shuttle. We landed on a frozen moon in the middle of nowhere. For twelve days, Seles and I survived together. She taught me the basics of your culture and language and in return I helped her cope with the situation. We narrowly escaped being captured by a group of Malcovin mercenaries, but we did. Afterwards, Valis took me in and trained me as a Rakna Maigar. As time passed, I grew to enjoy my time on the Avoni, especially with Seles. She’s the reason I live and I owe my life to her. I came to take her home, but it’s obvious my leaving would only cause more problems. I’m going to help you in my own way.”

  “If Valis trusts you, I know I can trust you,” Celestia said. “Is Terra Prime your home world?”

  He nodded. “Yes, that was my home. The Avoni is my home now and I’m glad to say I enjoy the company of your people greatly. Celestia, hold down the palace. I have a few places to visit before returning to you. Also, make sure all the ambassadors of the other Confederation member races are ready to attend the meeting.”

  She smiled. “I’ll drag every one of them out myself if I have to.”

  * * *

  Myden stepped out into the sunlight and pulled the hood tighter. He saw Seles and Mira standing in the stream nearby, splashing water at each other. I’m really happy I choose this world as my home. He thought to himself as he walked over to them. As he got approached, Seles turned to him.

  “Where’s Brian?” Seles asked. Mira caught her breath as she laughed.

  “He needed some time to think,” he said.

  “This is fun, but I’m sure we can’t avoid reality much longer,” Mira said. “The war isn’t going to end without intervention.”

  “If he makes the correct decision we’ll be visiting the place of rest for your father Lady Mira,” Myden said. “In that place is the secret needed to end the war.”

  “Now stop talking like that Myden. I’ll make my own decisions,” Brian said as he came from the Mjolnir armed and armored once again. As he went to them he stopped and looked to his side. “What the hell is that?!” He jumped away from the bush and ran to the Mjolnir. The other three ran to where he was looking.

  Myden scanned the area. “I don’t sense any soldiers around here.”

  Seles and Mira moved the bush, revealing a pair of large roach-like bugs. Seeing them, Seles looked at Mira. “Why would he run from these?”

  Mira laughed. “Long ago we purged ourselves of phobias, but obviously Brian hasn’t gotten over them.”

  Myden chuckled in the background.

  “So he’s willing to charge into battle against thirty Malcovin but he’ll run from insects?” Seles asked. “I admit they’re ugly, but these things couldn’t hurt him at all while he’s wearing that armor.”

  Mira continued laughing, while Myden headed back to the mobile suit. Seles put the bush back to the way it was before.

  Seles shook her head and laughed with Mira. “I can’t believe he’s scared of a bug.”

  Chapter 43 – Tombstone of Truth

  Myden, Seles, and Mira joined Brian in the Mjolnir. He was sitting in the pilot’s seat seemingly engrossed with something. “We’re heading to the tomb of Gaelic Kein,” he said. “Is everyone ready?”

  The others nodded. He activated the phase cloak and flew the Mjolnir north for a while. Passing over jungle, cities, rivers, lakes, and many smaller battles, they came to a mountain range far in the north. Brian landed the mobile suit in a small valley. To each side there were a number of caves. He flipped the door open and went down to the ground. Seles and Mira grabbed their equipment and went down after Brian. Myden came out last, sporting a jet black staff from under his robe.

  “Myden, which cave leads to his tomb?” Brian asked, glancing from cave to cave.

  Myden stepped forward and pointed to the cave a thirty five vetres away. “That cave leads to the tomb. It’s said Gaelic himself sealed the tomb from the inside.”

  “Why?” Seles asked as they headed to the cav
e.

  “Father was a proud man,” Mira said. “He never showed weakness, even to his family. Father would’ve done that rather dying in his bed at home.”

  “He desperately searched for the cure to the plague,” Myden said.

  “I can’t believe people like Delne would go to such extremes. How does murdering every male Kalaidian save our people?” Seles asked with anger etched in her voice.

  “The ends justify the means,” Myden said. “It was the seal in a deal with my people. We’ll give you stability and power. In return you kill off all the men in your population.” He paused for a moment. “But the truth is Kalaidia’s an excellent staging ground for my peoples’ military. If they control this system, it acts as gateway into Shandi, Dega, Odair, and even Malcov. The Confederation won’t be able to strike back in time to save your people.”

  Mira walked up to Myden and looked closely at his face. “No wonder you hide yourself under a hood. If anyone saw you they’d run or attack immediately.”

  Seles did the same. “But Myden, you’re different, aren’t you?” she asked.

  “I’m quite different. Those creatures now traveling in space aren’t the proud and powerful race I once belonged to. My people have given in to madness and I’m afraid your world is on the verge of it. What can reveal the truth is hidden deep within that tomb.” Myden pointed at Brian. “Only the Warrior may enter.” He turned to Seles and Mira. “The Maidens must stay out here.”

  Seles and Mira ran over to him with worried looks on their faces. “Now stop looking like that you two,” he said as he turned to go inside. “I hope Gaelic’s test doesn’t include a giant bug, otherwise I might be leaving quickly.”

  * * *

  Morning passed into afternoon as Seles, Mira and Myden waited outside. Myden meditated, while Mira practiced a song. Seles closed her eyes and enjoyed Mira’s voice. I really wish I could do that sometimes, I couldn’t sing if my life depended on it. Seles thought to herself as she stared at the clouds.

  “That‘s not your role,” Myden said telepathically. “As the Maiden of Passion, your role is to ignite the fire within the Warrior’s heart.”

  Mira finished her song and walked back to the other two. She saw Seles giving Myden a funny look. “What? I missed something good didn’t I?”

  “Myden, what exactly do you mean when you call us the Maidens?” Seles asked as he stood up and stretched.

  “Long ago the Maidens ancestors were marked by the Teacher. Your families have passed down the mark, though it only manifests in the females.” He went to Mira. “You have a mark just behind your ear, do you not?”

  She touched the mark with her hand. “You mean this?”

  “Yes,” he said. “Both of you bear the mark of Maidens.”

  “So, are we to be servants to Brian?” Seles asked.

  He shook his head. “No. The Maidens are not subjects to the Warrior, but his equals.”

  “If we’re not his servants than what are we supposed to do?” Seles asked.

  “Stay close to him. His youth and inexperience will work against him. There will come a day long from now when I will tell both of you what you’re supposed to do. But before then, let’s make sure he lives to see those days.” Myden paused. “And should he go down the wrong path it’s your duty to destroy him.”

  * * *

  Brian walked through the cavern while ducking in a lot of spots and squeezing through in others. After a half an hour of descending through pitch black he came to a strange metal door. Finding it sealed, he could only make out a carving at the center of the door. He drew his rakna blade and commanded it to light up. He saw some writings on the door, written in Kalaidian:

  This Sealed Chamber is the Laboratory/Tomb of Gaelic Kein. To Intruders: Leave now or die trying to move forward. To the Warrior: Prepare to Open the Door of Truth.

  Looking below the writings, Brian saw a specially carved slot. He pulled out the Amulet of Kali and placed it inside the slot. The door rumbled as scan ran over his body. As the door opened, the Amulet popped out onto the floor. He quickly picked it up. Inside was a well-lit tunnel, carved and winding. He held his sword defensively and began his way down the hallway. After another fifty feet Brian came into a well-lit room filled with computers and chemical testing equipment. As he moved into the room a number of secret doors open up. A score of Keinien androids emerged equipped with rakna blades. They stopped and scanned him. One stepped forward.

  “Sorry for the disturbance Sir Warrior,” it said. “We’ll resume guard mode.”

  The Keinien androids moved back inside the secret doors and left him alone.

  “Strange,” Brian said to himself. “It makes sense he’d leave guards behind.”

  He left the laboratory for the next room. Shelves of old books lined the walls, but what caught Brian’s attention the most was the display in the center of the room. There was a set of exoskeleton armor sized for a Kalaidian. It was dark blue, marking it as the armor of the sea serpent. Behind the armor was a pair of old rakna blades displayed in the air. He saw the name etched on all of the equipment: Gaelic Kein. Brian turned to the desk on the far side of the room, seeing nothing but shelves of books and papers. On the desk there was a note covered in dust. He cleared away the dust and read the note:

  To You Who Have Come Here,

  This is the last writing I will ever make. The disease has taken its toll, and I’m near death. My calculations show I have only a few hours left to live, so I wanted to leave behind my last request. But before that, I must tell someone the truth.

  Four years ago, a mysterious disease began taking the lives of our male populace. No matter how we tried to isolate them, they continued dying. I myself have resisted the disease for nearly three years, but I’m losing the battle. No matter how many different treatments I try, nothing works. I thought it was as new type of cancer. That was wrong. I thought it was an advanced virus. That was wrong. After a year of solitude I’ve found what the plague really is, and it’s something far more sinister than I could’ve imagined.

  Right after birth each Kalaidian is injected with nanomachines for enhancement purposes. Nanomachines normally protect our immune systems and allow for many other small miracles. But there’s a dark side to the technology, one that can inflict a terrible price. The plague wasn’t caused by any natural disease, but an advanced rewriting of the fundamental nanotechnology itself. In a sense, the nanomachines programming was rewritten. Slowly, the nanomachines change programming, fighting a battle within our bodies. Eventually the protectors are outnumbered by the invaders and death is the result. Such an insidious thing cannot be natural and from what I’ve found, it isn’t.

  What many of the Maigars feared for a long time has happened. Our home world will fall to the outer power, whose identity has escaped my research. With the loss of the Maigars, our military is weak. We’re open to invasion, and if a cure isn’t found our people will die out. This is because I’ve found something else about this terrible plague.

  With a minimal command the plague can be unleashed on the now vulnerable females of our people. The outside force that made it can activate this at any time, and I worry that it’ll happen sooner than later. For you who read this, I have my final request.

  Inside the laboratory are thousands of test vials. Inside each of them is a cure to the plague. Unfortunately for me, it only functions on the dormant female version afflicting our population. Please, help my people. Save them before it’s too late. This is my last and final wish. If the one reading this is the Warrior, I salute you. Take my rakna as a symbol of my inheritance. What I was, what I wanted, only you can finish. Clang the blades three times and my final speech will be yours. I truly hope that one day you find my final song and set her free.

  Gaelic Kein

  Brian looked up from the note and noticed a door to another room. He slowly walked in and found a small cot with a clothed skeleton on it. Moving closer, he noticed that it was a male Kalaidian. In his ri
ght hand he held a golden ring with emeralds studding it. Brian took the ring and read the inscription inside: Only for the one I love, Delne. I forgive you. He placed the ring back. A tear fell from Brian’s eye as an image of a smiling Delne appeared, this one beautiful and young, not vicious and broken like he saw.

  “At least now she can see you again,” he said, smiling. With a final salute he looked down at the skeleton. “You’ll be glad to know your song has been set free. She’s a wonderful girl, one any man could fall for. I will do as you ask Gaelic.” Brian saluted one more time before leaving the room.

  On the floor was a large woven sack. Brian picked it up and began putting the marked vials into the bag. He stopped in front the armor and rakna blades. He drew the blades from their sheaths and clanged the blades three times, causing an image to appear. A long written document floated in the air in front of him. After reading it he sheathed the blades and headed out. The door sealed behind Brian as he left. Goodbye Gaelic, I wish I could have met you when you were alive. I will take these words and free your people.

  Chapter 44 – Spread the Word of the Goddess

  Brian landed the Mjolnir in the courtyard of the royal palace. He looked at the other three. “Go to Celestia and show her the future of her people.”

  Seles turned to him. “What’re you going to do?”

  He looked at the monitors while watching all the battles in space and on the surface. “It’s time that I take responsibility for this mess. My arrival triggered this. It’s time I end it.”

  Mira took the data tablets and vials. “I hope to see you soon.”

  Myden bowed. “I’ll protect the Maidens in your stead. Do what you can to help them. We’ll do our part.” Myden and Mira dropped onto the balcony outside Seles’s room. Brian stood up from the seat and hugged Seles.