by Sahara Foley
Table of Contents
Glossary
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Epilogue
Book Three in the Excalibur Saga
The Revenge of Excalibur
Book Two of the Excalibur Saga
Sahara Foley
Copyright (C) 2016 Sahara Foley
Layout Copyright (C) 2016 by Creativia
Published 2016 by Creativia
eBook design by Creativia (www.creativia.org)
Cover art by http://www.thecovercollection.com/
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the author's permission.
I would like to dedicate this book to my older brother, and two younger sisters; Frank, Debbie, and Sue. Thank you for being my siblings, and I hope you don't mind, but I immortalized you in this story.
I also want to say a big Thank You to my editor, Heather Anne Osborne, and my proofreader, Julie Northrup. You helped turn this story into something so much better.
Glossary
Arthur Merlin – Father of Pamela Breckenridge. He disappeared twenty-seven years ago from a cavern under Lake George with an alien female called Daisy.
Bindkall Prison – A prison located on a remote part of Calen, run by Major Mayo, who is part of The Council of Twelve.
Calens – They have strong PSI (psychic) powers, have two arms and legs, and are hairless. Because of their powerful mental abilities, they feel superior to other life forms. They start breeding at 100 years-old, and live to 1,500 years.
Eilsels – They evolved from several ancient races that migrated to their planet after nuclear disasters. They have four arms and legs, and are hairless. They have no PSI abilities, and fear the Calens. They start breeding at 200 years-old, and live to 2,000 years.
Daisy / Queen Emeara - She is The Lady of the Lake and the keeper of Excalibur. She also controls the evil Shalit trapped in the sword. Her ancestors were the ruling family on Calen until they left for Earth looking for a man named Arthur.
Greg Breckenridge – Leader of Alpha Team at Lake George. He married Ruth after she discovered she was pregnant with Arthur's child.
Pamela Breckenridge – Daughter of Ruth and Arthur. She inherited all of her father's powers.
Patens – The offspring of Calen and Eilsel inter-breeding. They start breeding at 20 years-old, and live over 2,000 years.
Panth – A Tethian who shared a cell with Arthur. He is also one of the rulers of Teth.
Pohat – The youngest sister to Panth, and she shared a cell with Daisy.
Rems – The offspring of Calen/Eilsel and Paten inter-breeding. They are small-bodied, but very strong. They have no arms, but six dexterous legs. They have no verbal communication, but speak through grunts, whistles, and telepathy.
Ruth Breckenridge – Mother of Pamela Breckenridge. Ruth and Arthur Merlin discovered the cavern and the alien ships.
Shalit – An energy being that can transform into any shape it chooses. But for breeding purposes, they must revert back to their Rem bodies.
Tethians – The offspring of Calen/Eilsel and Paten inter-breeding. They have four heavily-muscled arms and legs, and are covered with fur. They have no PSI powers other than a strong telepathic connection with each other. They start breeding at 150 years-old, and live to 2,000 years.
The One – One of the original twelve Rem brains aboard the Weesa. It had been removed and used for torture in Bindkall Prison.
The Others / Planet Destroyers – Shalits who were subjected to radiation from a distant Universe that changed them into evil energy entities.
The Council of Twelve – They took over after Daisy's family abdicated the throne to chase after a prophecy on Earth.
Tigget – Sent to Earth from Calen when young to serve her Queen. She became Daisy's advisor, best friend, and head of her guard.
Tobah – Another female Calen sent to Earth to serve Daisy. She also became best friends with and advisor to her Queen.
Weesa - A living, silver ship powered by two brains.
Chapter One
Army boots: stomping, smashing the daisy with the blue center.
Arthur Merlin jerked his head back. He'd been so entranced with the fathomless, turquoise eyes of the breathtaking female before him he'd lost all track of time. He blinked several times, shaking his head, trying to clear his mind. The surrounding noises caught his attention, the dripping of water into the small, inner cavern lake, the shuffling of equipment being set-up, and the echoing of voices off the distant walls.
The image flashed through his mind again, more forcefully. Army boots: squashing, grinding the daisy with the blue center into the cavern floor, until all that remained were small, unidentifiable pieces.
Oh, shit. Major Breckenridge and Alpha Team. He'd forgotten about them. Arthur had a lot of respect for the Major, especially after everything they'd gone through at Heathrow Airport and Lake George, but he couldn't let Daisy fall into their hands. If she did, who knew what would happen to the evil entity trapped inside the legendary Excalibur? Daisy was the only person who could control it. Just thinking about the Shalit escaping its prison made Arthur break out in a cold sweat. He'd already had his confrontation with the alien being, and lost. If it hadn't been for Daisy, he'd be dead. Arthur had to find a way to save Daisy, and keep the Shalit contained.
He glanced at the tunnel entrance where Major Breckenridge and Dr. Tober were striding purposefully toward him. He peered back down at Daisy. She gazed up at him with such love and trust. His breath caught as he found himself falling under her spell. He shook his head. No, I can't let myself get mesmerized again. She's in danger. I have to save her.
Gray eyes over daisy with blue center and then they disappeared.
*Yes, baby, I'm getting you out of here,* he mentally reassured her.
But, to where? Daisy needs medical treatment. Who can I trust? Ruth. Ruth will help us. She knew about the Shalit, and the need to keep it contained. Remembering Ruth fleeing the cavern, clutching her necklace, made his heart wrench. Arthur sighed. I hurt Ruth. I didn't mean to. He hadn't meant to fall in love either.
During Vietnam, too many of his friends died in his arms while bleeding to death, or he watched as they disappeared in showers of blood and gore. He learned the mantra of 'It don't mean nothin',' and hardened his heart to everyone, and everything. Even after the war, those walls stayed firmly in place. Until he met Ruth. She waltzed into his life, ripping through his shackled heart and liberating the man he'd hidden away. Because of her, he felt love again.
Arthur peered down at the alien woman in his arms. If I'd never met Ruth, would my heart be as open to Daisy? He shook his head. He had no way of knowing, but he was starting to feel like a pawn in a game of kismet. He gave a frustrated sigh. It didn't matter right now. He had to get Daisy to safety. I'll deal with the emotional side
of my heart later.
Arthur gathered the injured Daisy into his arms, focusing on Ruth's home in White Water and the beautiful garden behind the house. Locating the bench where Arthur had stolen his first kiss from Ruth, he BLIPPED!
With a startled cry, Arthur stumbled back a few steps, falling on his rear end, clutching Daisy tightly to his chest. A second later, a loud clattering drew his attention, an ornate, silver sword sliding from Daisy's limp hand. What the hell? Why am I sitting on a cold, metal floor instead of the stone bench? Where the hell are we? How did we get here?
His gaze fell on the sword. He tried scooching away from it, heart thundering in his chest, palms breaking out in sweat. Why is Excalibur here? He hadn't brought the sword with them. He had no reason to. Why would I bring something I'm terrified of?
Confused, Arthur peered down at Daisy. Her face paler than normal, she appeared to be unconscious and barely breathing. With concern, he lightly stroked her cheek. What happened to her? She was awake a few moments ago.
Hearing loud gasps from above him, Arthur looked up, seeing three women wearing matching silver uniforms with black piping. They were aiming weapons at him that looked like ray guns from sci-fi movies. He shook his head in disbelief. Did we end up on a movie set somewhere?
“So, who are you with?” Arthur asked jokingly, “Hans Solo, or Darth Vader?” He inspected the threesome further, noticing they had the same seashell ears Daisy did. Oh, shit. Are those guns real?
The pale women didn't seem amused as they frowned down at him. “Earthman, you hold our leader. Place her on the floor and back away, or we will fire and end your Human existence,” the tallest one demanded in accented English, her weapon pointed unwaveringly at Arthur's forehead.
Even though the ray guns looked like toys to Arthur, he had no idea what they might do to his force-field. Just my luck. I jumped from the frying pan into the fire. He gently lifted Daisy from his lap, and laid her on the cold floor. He scowled at the space women as he slowly stood with raised arms, then backed up a few steps. He glanced over the round, metal room, and his mouth dropped open. Holy shit! We're in one of the spaceships that escaped from the cavern.
Loud alarms started blaring, and orange lights were flashing from the domed ceiling. A woman sitting at a console swiveled around in her chair, yelling, “Attack! Seven Calen ships have surrounded us. They demand our surrender, and the release of Emeara and the Earthman to them, or they will open fire. What shall we do, Commander Tigget?”
The tall space woman's pale lips tightened as she peered down at her leader, lying helpless on the floor.
Daisy's eyelids fluttered as she slowly opened them to regard her best friend. She'd used most of her mental energy to redirect Arthur's teleportation to this Calen ship. She could not allow the Humans to capture her, or the Excalibur/Shalit would've endangered the whole universe. She looked up at her Gray Eyes, the only man powerful enough to save them from the seven Calen ships.
*Tig, you must trust this Human,* she said, in a weak mental voice, reaching out to Tigget and Arthur. *He is the one foretold by our ancestors.*
Commander Tigget glanced back and forth from her leader, and friend, to the Human male, but she never lowered her weapon.
*Tig, if we wish to survive, you must turn the battle over to him,* Daisy said telepathically. *Arthur, we cannot allow ourselves to be taken. We will die before we surrender. You two must join forces, to protect and save us.*
With a slight nod to her leader, Tig holstered her gun, and then strode to a row of screens. She punched a button, and they turned on, displaying seven ships.
These are the aliens that have been watching Earth, Arthur thought, as he stared open-mouthed at the classic style of UFOs, seen for centuries all over his planet. Since there were still two women, with guns aimed at him, Arthur carefully lowered his arms then knelt next to Daisy, cradling her head in his lap. He wiped the sweat from her brow with a trembling hand. What do they expect me to do?
Tig looked at the two space women holding ray guns. “Holster your weapons. Upon our leader's request, we must trust this Human.” As they complied, she spoke to the woman at the console, “Inform the Commander of the Calen ships that we will never surrender. If they wish to die in battle, we shall accommodate them.” While her message was being relayed to the commander of the opposing fleet, Tig turned to Arthur, looking him up and down with cold, blue eyes. “I know not what you can do, if anything, to save us, but you must act fast. If they fire upon us, we are dead.”
Arthur tried swallowing the lump growing in his throat. I'm so out of my element here. Using his powers on Earth was one thing, but trying to take down seven spaceships was an entirely different matter. There's no way my powers are strong enough. Hell, nobody's would be. He rubbed his forehead, feeling overwhelmed. Everything was happening too fast for him to keep up. We're supposed to be in Ruth's garden, not in the middle of a stupid space battle. Arthur knelt there, unmoving, not knowing what to do.
Daisy weakly raised her arm, pointing toward the silver sword. *Arthur, all you need do is touch the tip of Excalibur, and you shall destroy the ships. You must hurry.*
Arthur recoiled back in fear. Touch Excalibur? Is she nuts? He still hadn't fully recovered from the mental contact he'd had with the Shalit in the cavern. Heaven knows what would happen if I actually touched the damn thing. No way. In his mind came an image: a white daisy with a blue center, and over the middle of the flower, a pair of gray eyes floated down. The picture infused Arthur with such warmth and joy, tears of happiness welled in his eyes. A white beam flashed out, touching the daisy, leaving it burnt and wilted. Okay. Okay. I get the picture. If he didn't try, Daisy would die. They all would.
Peering down at Daisy, he said, “I have no idea what's going on, or how we got here, but I trust you, baby. I'll destroy the ships for you.”
He took a deep breath, preparing himself for the worst kind of pain imaginable. Concentrating hard on the seven Calen ships, with creases around his mouth and forehead, he reached out and grabbed the tip of the sword. His eyes widened in surprise; all he felt was the chill of the steel blade.
“Cigsbah!” Tigget yelled, pointing at the screens. “They have fired upon us, my leader.”
The room became deathly silent as all eyes followed the white beam heading toward their ship. Abruptly, the screens lit up as the seven ships exploded into bright, molten balls of fire. Arthur threw up his arm to shield his eyes from the sudden glare.
Cheering and yelling broke out in the small, round room as the crew celebrated their victory. Arthur wasn't cheering, as he watched that thin, white line continue to advance toward them. He had no idea what it was, but he knew it meant trouble. He shook his head. How did I destroy those ships? I'm not powerful enough. At least, I don't think I am.
Arthur watched the displays, as the menacing white line crept closer and closer, until it was too close to their ship to be seen on the screens anymore. Bracing for he knew not what, he watched the beam breach the hull and enter the room.
Arthur stared, speechless, as the beam traveled soundlessly across the room, hitting his hand where it still gripped the tip of Excalibur. Upon impact, a flash of light shot out from the end of the sword. As Arthur stared open-mouthed at the deep gouge on the back of his hand, the beam passed through the opposite wall, penetrating the adjacent side of the ship's hull.
What the hell was that? Arthur wondered, terrified. It had infiltrated his force-field. His stomach clenched in fear, and his hand throbbed in pain. I'm no longer invincible, at least, not in space.
Daisy's voice screamed into his mind, *Remove us from here, Arthur, before we implode!*
Arthur didn't need to be told twice. Once again, he focused on Ruth's garden, wanting to get back home where he knew he was safe. Concentrating on everyone in the room, he BLIPPED!
Chapter Two
In cell 425, at the clanging of the small, metal door announcing the arrival of that day's meager substance, a young Te
thian female slowly swung her four legs over the edge of the narrow cot. With her two right arms, she weakly pushed herself up into a sitting position, gripping the other side of the cot with her left hands. The room spun around, as she became dizzy from the exertion. Holding her head with her upper arms, she waited until the dismal, gray room came back into focus. She didn't know how much longer she could hold on, her stomachs spasming with hunger.
Pushing herself up onto wobbly legs, she waited again for the room to stop spinning, then slowly shuffled over to the waiting bowls. One bowl held water, insects, and an oily scum floating on the surface. The other bowl held a piece of rotting meat, maggots crawling over it. She could no longer smell the rancid meat because her matted, red-streaked, black fur stunk far worse than their so-called food. With her lower arms, she picked up the bowl of water and carefully teetered a few steps to the other cot in the room, where a female Calen lay, unconscious.
Transferring the bowl to her upper arms, she used the lower ones to brace herself, slowly kneeling on the filthy, hard, cold floor next to the cot. “My Queen, 'tis I, Pohat,” she said in a deep, musical voice. Receiving no response, she gently shook the Calen female. Her eyelids fluttered open, revealing the brightest blue eyes Pohat had ever seen. They were a sharp contrast to her pallid skin.
“Pohat?” her cellmate asked in a weak, raspy voice. She struggled to rise. “Where am I? Where is Arthur? Where are my children?”
Pohat gently restrained her. A process she'd gone through several times since the Queen's arrival in this death hole. “You must drink, my Queen, if you are to survive, and see them again.”
Holding the bowl in her upper left hand, she dipped fingers from her upper right hand into the water, dripping the moisture onto the distraught woman's cracked lips. She greedily lapped at the liquid, opening her mouth for more. As Pohat repeated the process, she examined the Calen before her. Her once beautiful, flawless, pale skin was a mottled gray and bruised, with weeping open sores, and her long, bright, red hair was tangled, with the same mites crawling around that were nesting in Pohat's fur. Once her roommate's thirst was quenched, Pohat drank the remaining water in one gulp, then flung the wooden bowl against the cell door, where it landed with a clatter.
