They all cheered and launched out quickly like a herd of scampering cattle. Jak, Nell, and Janek remained behind.
Rena looked at Janek. “You’re not joining the search? You’re not convinced?”
“Oh, I’m joining the search alright. From right here.”
“Here,” Nell asked.
Janek sat down on a large rock. He looked around the cavern and started thinking.
“Oh,” Rena said. “I get it. You’re going to ‘figure out’ what he did.”
“Yes. You see, Trina, I say Trina because I have to call you something and you won’t tell me your name. Trina sounds better than ‘queen.’ Don’t you think?”
He watched her as she slowly pulled her light gray shawl to one side, revealing a hand-held laser. He noticed her anger.
“Look, don’t get mad. OK? I know Boone Nova and I know how he thinks. You’re going to tell me ‘everything’ that happened out here. Then maybe I can tell you where the device is.”
Her anger subsided slightly. “You think you can do that?”
“Yes, for a trade.”
“A trade!” Nell blared. She pulled her gun on him. It charged quickly. “I don’t like his tone.”
“Stop!” Rena said. “He’s just trying to get you to say my name.” Nell looked at her, angered. “Nice trick, Janek. I’ll trade you. If you find the device, and ‘give’ it to me…”
“Ha,” he uttered. “You’re good because every word means something.”
“I know. You’re not just finding it, you’re going to find it ‘and’ it’s mine. Then you can have this.”
She unhooked her hand-held laser from her gun belt.
“What is it?” Janek asked.
She looked around to make sure the workers were all gone. She put on her black gloves and held the device with both hands as if she were wielding a sword. Then she turned it on and a holographic beam extended from it approximately four feet long. It hummed slightly.
“Inside this beam, Janek, is a powerful laser.”
His eyes widened and he gaped at the display.
“Now,” she said. “Hold out your arm.” He glared with fear as she stepped closer to him. “I’m done playing games with you. Jak! Nell! Hold him!”
Jak and Nell quickly jumped on him. Jak held his arm out.
Rena said, “Janek, you wanted to know who I am. Actions are better than words! Now, you will find out who I am!”
She raised the hand-held laser above her head.
“Wait!” he shouted. “The device for my arm!”
“Janek, are those your exact words? Because every word means something. Is that the exact trade?”
“No! No! The device for my arm, attached! Deal?”
She stepped back and turned off her laser. Jak and Nell let go. Janek rubbed his arm, grateful it was still attached.
“Wow, lady. I’m not playing you!”
Angered, she turned away and started walking to her ship.
“Wait,” he said. “I need to know what happened here. I need to know what Boone did and… well, everything, if I’m going to figure this thing out.”
Rena looked at Jak and Nell. She just nodded to them. She left in her ship and Jak and Nell told Janek everything they knew about Cumi Bak’Suna, Dr. Zay'Geis Ven’dirKadn, the weapon, and Boone Nova.
…
Boone, fully dressed and very much wanting to leave his hospital room, was sitting on his bed. Lorin, Phia, Pryce, Mace, and Jona stood around him. The moment Terra left with Kola and Lincoln, Boone began explaining things to his friends.
“What did you think about the court’s apology?”
Jona folded his arms across his chest and grunted. Mace chuckled.
“Pryce?”
Pryce said, “It really sounded sincere. To me.”
Lorin said, “Pryce, I was reading… um… I mean listening carefully, trying to see if they were sincere. Know what I mean?”
Lorin’s ability was not known to Phia. Pryce, Boone, Jona, and Mace nodded, understanding that Lorin was reading the court.
“OK,” Pryce said. “That’s all I need. If Lorin thinks they were sincere then it was amazing!” he exclaimed.
“I know!” Boone said. “I couldn’t believe it! I still don’t! And now,” Boone glared at Phia, “now we have a real mission. And authorized! But,” he huffed and became sullen. “One big problem.”
“Huh?” Mace asked. “What now?
Boone looked at Phia and glared. Then everyone did. Lorin defended her.
“Boone, let me tell them. I…”
“No,” he interrupted. “It’s better if they hear it from me. They might not believe you.”
“What!” Jona belted. “You are scaring me right now. What has happened?”
Boone exhaled deeply and rubbed his face with both of his hands. He was trying to wipe away emotion. Lorin took his hand for support. Pryce, Mace, and Jona became concerned.
Phia said, “Boone. I should probably go wait outside. OK?”
She started to turn and Boone said, “No! Phia, you should stay. In case they have questions.”
“Tell me what’s going on,” Pryce exclaimed.
Jona sensed Phia was a problem. He quickly marched over to her side and stood right next to her. She became very worried as Jona’s six-foot, eight-inch frame towered over her five-foot, six-inch body.
“Speak! Boone!” Jona ordered.
“I spoke to my mom this morning.”
They looked shocked.
Pryce said, “What did she say? What did you tell her?”
“She’s doing great, I’m doing great. Guys, I can go over that later. Look, here’s what’s happened. My mom, Lorin, Terra, and Phia convinced me to go back to Kova.”
Jona was bewildered. Pryce and Mace became furious. The two glared at Lorin.
“What!” Mace said. “Boone, I am also wanted! That’s what she’s doing here?” he said as he pointed to Phia. “I’m just as involved in this as you are!”
Phia cowered, her mouth gaped, and a tear developed. She was very afraid.
“Mace, tell me something. Did we do anything wrong? That day?”
A tear rose in Boone's eye. Mace noticed it and his laughable childish humor turned into the kind gentle and mature man he really was. He bowed his head.
“No,” Boone softly said. “We didn’t. And…,”
“We can’t prove it,” Mace muttered with his eyes on the floor below him, ashamed to look up.
“Mace, look at me,” Boone said.
He finally did look up, feeling very much ashamed to show any emotion in front of his friends, especially Lorin and Phia.
“Terra said some things to me.” Pryce really perked up when Boone mentioned Terra. “She is going to help us, Mace.” A tear ran down Mace’s face as he, like Boone, thought about their long lost home. “Mace, I don’t know how, I don’t know just what it is, but we are going to go back and get our lives back. We are going to get our home back. She promised to do whatever we need to do to prove what we did was in defense. I trust her, Mace. And I trust Phia, too.”
Everyone looked at Phia. She had tears streaming down her face. She wiped them and said, “I promise. I do. I will help you. At first, when I apprehended Boone, I thought him and all of you to be the space bums I was told about. I can see the truth now. And I’ll help you. I promise.”
Pryce turned away from the conversation. He walked up to the large glass window and saw the city below. He wiped his face as well, to hide the tears.
“You know what happens if we fail,” Pryce uttered without looking at them. They all nodded.
Boone added, “I want you guys to trust us. Even this obnoxious investigator right here,” he said as he looked at Phia. Jona was still hovering next to her. “OK, Jona?”
He huffed. “Yeah.”
Lorin said, “Boone, I will need to go with you. You will…”
Boone cut her off, “Lorin, I…”
“No! You’re not i
nterrupting me. I’m a diplomat. You know? And if this accusation against you…”
“I was going to ask you to come, Lorin,” he said.
“Oh,” she replied. “Really?”
“Yes, that’s if we can stop this… what is it? Ambulas.” Boone stood up, “Where is the Night Star?”
Mace said, “Pad 1. The ground flight deck.”
“Are you OK, Mace?”
“I will be. I’d like to talk about this, with Terra and you, later. But, I do like the idea of going home.”
Boone nodded. He could tell Mace was still bewildered by his plan. He walked over to him and hugged him tightly. “OK, buddy. We’ll get through it. OK?”
Mace, again, shed another tear. He was speechless as Boone’s affection overwhelmed him. Pryce came and joined in on the hug. They patted each other on the backs and chuckled amongst themselves. Smiles broke out. Phia and Lorin wiped another tear.
“OK, everyone!” Boone slapped his hands together. “Time to get to work! Pryce, Mace, and Jona, go get your stuff from the ranch house. We have about fifty minutes. Meet up on the royal tarmac. OK? Any questions?”
“Uh, yes,” Mace answered. “Where are you going?”
“I have to go see a friend. A very important friend. OK? Now, go!”
They left. Boone looked at Phia and Lorin.
“I guess this is it,” Lorin uttered. “You’re coming back? To see me?”
“Lorin, look. I will but…”
“That’s good enough for me.” She hugged him and kissed the side of his face. What she really wanted was a kiss in return but it never came. The moment was identical to the time she said goodbye to him on the cargo ramp of the Night Star when she left Isoter with Dr. Zay'Geis. She understood. She let go of Boone and looked at Phia.
She said to Phia, “I wish we had more time to talk. Maybe soon?”
“Yes, Ma’am. I’d like that. And I still have a lot of questions for you.”
“Oh,” she replied. “I know what your questions are, Lieutenant. Boone and I are just,” Lorin looked at Boone, “the very best of friends. Right, Boone? Unless things have changed for you?”
“Friends, Lorin,” he chuckled as he started to lead them out of the room and into the hallway. “Just friends.”
Lorin left. Boone hurriedly headed toward the elevators. Phia quickly followed. Her black boots were clacking as she tried to keep up and her long blond hair was bouncing back and forth as she strutted. It was as if Boone was trying to lose her and she seemed like a child trying to keep up with its parent.
“Wait!” she cried.
He addressed her while scampering. “You need to return your ship.”
“Then what? Where are you going?” she asked as she scampered behind him. “I’m going with you!”
“No! Now, Phia, please take your ship and return it. You can meet up with us at the royal tarmac.”
They reached the fast-moving glass elevators.
“So, you’re letting me go on the mission? This is not a trick? You’re not trying to get rid of me?”
“You can’t go with me right now! You need to get your stuff, return your ship, and meet up later.”
“Boone, that takes two minutes! My stuff is on the ship. And I can leave it at the royal tarmac. It’s just a little Jet Flyer. I want to go with you. Why can’t I?”
“Uh!” he groaned, annoyed by her stubborn persistence.
They stepped into the tubular-shaped elevator. He looked at her and frowned. Phia smiled. Seconds later they were walking toward Pad 1 on the ground floor.
He saw the Night Star from a short distance. He couldn’t wait to step onto the cargo ramp, glance at his cargo hold and feel the cold steel deck below his boots.
He walked up the cargo ramp, paused, and mumbled, “Hey, girl. How’s my lady?” Though the Night Star didn’t respond through the usual automated COM system known as, Lila, he thought he heard her respond.
She answered, “I’m so glad you’re back! Pryce and Jona… uh!”
Boone replied, “I know, I know! I’m sorry about that!” he chuckled. “Pryce and Jona don’t love you like I do. Do they?”
Once again he heard Lila say, “No, they don’t. And they don’t need me like you do.”
“Boone?” Phia asked, thinking he was being ridiculous. “Are you talking to Lila?”
A glare was his answer. As he checked out the cargo bay, the foremost tasks on his mind were to check out all of Lila’s systems, take his place in the sturdy comfortable cockpit chair on the left, check his messages, and launch out of there. He also couldn’t wait to make his next stop.
Chapter 13
“Captain Eisen,” Captain Kapavon said as he addressed everyone in the hologram while on board their battlecruisers. He was speaking to Captain Koine aboard the Edsen Tide, Captain Eisen, and Commander J'Dar aboard the Sim-Sa Gale.
“I found a frame-mounted laser torch with a PLT condensing chamber. It belongs to InterCon. It’s a corporation on O'bipherion. Someone is going to rendezvous with us just after we enter your solar system, Captain Eisen. They can combine the two parts.”
Commander J'Dar asked, “When?”
“We are just a few hours from Indis [a planet in the outer rim of the O'bipherion solar system]. We are heading toward you, Commander. The laser will meet up with us by the time we cross the other side of the system.”
“Good, I’m sure the pods will be aboard by then but I’m uncertain what to do about the Ambulas, should she come at us, directly. That’s why I’ve summoned you all. She may take the liberty to advance against us. If she does, our only option is to flee! I don’t like that option! I need options!”
Devin nodded and understood his concern. Everyone felt the despair should the Ambulas move against them. Devin had news for Commander J'Dar, though.
“Sir, have you spoken to the prime? Prime Ta’mian? There is news from the court.”
“Oh? I’ve not heard anything. They contacted you?”
“Yes, as the Dorian Surge is the official dispatch for the court, they informed me of some developments. Developments you may or may not like. We needed a miracle, Sir. We may have one!”
“What are you getting at, Devin? You’re patronizing me and I don’t like it. Doesn’t the fleet commander command the fleet?” he grumbled.
“Yes, Commander, but the fleet commander is opposed to many of the court’s decisions. They are treading lightly concerning you. You know this, don’t you, Sir?”
Commander J'Dar huffed. “Yes, that is true,” he admitted. “What is the news?”
“Boone Nova, Sir.”
“What! Ah! I hate Boone… N… Boone N…”
“Commander, they are asking you not to be upset with this decision, Sir.”
“I see,” he complained. “Now, I know why you are so coy with me. That is why they did not contact me. Yes, I am very upset! But, I need the information, Captain Kapavon. What about Boone N…?”
“Sir, they explained to me that Boone Nova is going to retrieve some kind of device and bring it to you. That is all…”
“The device! He has finally listened! That is a miracle. I wonder what they offered him.”
“I don’t know that but he is in charge of a mission of some sort to retrieve this device. Investigator DeKator, Investigator Je'en, Investigator Sa’vo, a squad from the royal guard, and his friends are retrieving it. Sir, what is this device? They wouldn’t tell me.”
“Nova! Uh! Phia? Not on the COM Devin but when we meet, I’ll fill you in.”
“Sir,” Captain Koine asked. “What is my part in all of this? And what does that device imply?
Commander J'Dar replied to her, “Poleene, rendezvous with us once we get those pods aboard. We will all have a long discussion about Boone Nova and this device. But in short, that device is our miracle!”
…
Boone quickly scurried up the cargo ramp of the Night Star. He hit the control button as he passed by and the ramp started t
o close.
“Boone? I don’t know what the device is. I’m the only one, also.”
“No, you’re not.”
She pouted and Boone smirked.
“What about Kova? Tell me, truthfully,” she asked as she followed him up the circular set of metal stairs that led to the cockpit. “Do you still intend on following through on my plan. I mean, if what you said back there is true, I’ll sleep much better!” They reached the large cockpit and Boone stopped at the entrance. “What about these questions coming to an end? Huh? You’re driving me nuts!” He scurried to the pilot’s seat on the left and Phia took the one on the right. She noticed a small furry strange creature that served as a toy. It was resting in one of the other four aft cockpit seats.
“A toy? Who’s?”
He flipped a switch and the engines of the Night Star came to life. He looked behind him and saw the stuffed toy.
“That’s Jolie’s. I give her rides from time to time. Long story, Phia. Now, I already told you. Yes,” he glared at her. “I’ll go back to Kova! Happy! And then we’ll not find any evidence, I’ll be indicted by Prime Pierce and Prime Jale then I’ll live out the rest of my life in a floating barge on the outskirts of the Pereon System!”
She cowered and gasped at his harsh tone. “You just told your friends you were going to get your life back! Were you lying to them?”
“No! I’m just… I’m just really mad by all these questions and I’d like some time to think. Some alone time.”
He glanced at her. She wondered if she had done the right thing in apprehending him and following Commander J'Dar instructions. She sunk deeper into her chair.
“The Kovan Court will try to put me away. So, I am going to ‘trust’ someone when we head toward Kova. It’s not a sure thing, though.”
“Oh. Who are you going to trust?”
“My mom.” He quickly answered. Then he immediately thought about what his mom would say, “Boone! Trust in the Lord with all thine heart! Lean not unto thine own understanding.” Boone added, “And of course, the One in whom she puts all of her trust in… the Lord.”
Phia stared at him and wondered. She had never heard him talk like that. It did give her a sense of hope.
He added, “The device allows a ship to travel a complete parsec in two seconds.” She gaped and gave him a wide-eyed glare. “Keep it to yourself. And I’m trying to trust you here. OK?” She nodded. “Good, no more questions.”
BOONE NOVA AND THEPIRATE QUEEN Page 12
