“There!” she exclaimed. “Now, if I could make it orange.”
Boone left and returned with a green liquid. He slowly and carefully added the green liquid until the spire turned dark green.
“You did it!” she said as she jumped up and down. She picked up her recorder and started recording.
Boone said, “You know? On Arkitrosis, there are towering spires much taller and bigger than the ones in the royal city.
“Really!” she replied, wide-eyed and amazed.
“Yep, and there are six of them. A dark-brown, a blue, a yellow, a green…”
“Oh, uh, Mister Boone! Can we go there?”
“Oh, brother. What did I just do? I don’t know. Why don’t you do a study on them first? OK?” She nodded. “Hey, we have to go. OK? Don’t be mad. OK?”
She walked around her green spire and gave him a hug. She didn’t ask again. She knew he had to go.
“Mama says to pray for you. You’re in trouble.”
He nodded. “Trouble comes now and then. Right? You know that. Huh?”
She nodded. “I pray for you, Mister Boone, so you can keep coming over.” She let go of him and gazed into his eyes. “And someday, I’m gonna go on space trips with you and we can see them.”
“OK, OK, I know. Someday. Maybe.”
…
Mace added, “We just might not come back. Once we get there, they are locking us up. Boone knows that.”
The prime asked, “I’d like to hear the story, Mace? Pryce? The whole story. Perhaps once you start your journey? After all, your trip will take about a week. Unless the Sim-Sa Gale is available to take you there.”
Lorin said, “I truly hope we can find a solution. We will be leaving in a few hours.”
“Yeah,” Mace added. “I have a few hours of freedom left, and so does Boone. When we get to Kova, thanks to Commander J’Dar, our lives just might be over.”
They all looked at Phia; she immediately started crying. “I’m sorry! I guess I’ve ruined everyone’s life. I didn’t know!”
Mace motioned to her with his hand and said, “Phia, calm down. I really hate to admit this and boy, I hated that you started all of this but down in my heart,” he brushed a little tear. “I knew this day would come. I knew we couldn’t hide from it forever.”
Pryce nodded and said, “Me, too. And one other thing. This thing about Boone and Mace, about the Guardian King, and Kova, it’s been eating me up for a long time. I also think Boone is really suffering from what happened and it’s all coming to a boiling point.” Terra grabbed his hand as he looked at her. “We have to go and settle this thing once and for all.”
Phia gingerly asked, “Pryce? You said ‘Guarding King?’ His father’s ship? Why did you say that?”
Pryce glanced at Mace; Mace cowered. “Boone flew his father’s ship a lot. His father hated that, too.” He chuckled and Mace stared at the floor nodding his head in agreement. Kola’s COM sounded a tone.
“Yes,” he answered. He pointed to Lorin and nodded his head - it was about Boone. “What!” he exclaimed. “Uh!” They all became concerned. Kola closed the COM device and glared. “He dropped them off then left the city! He’s not coming here!”
…
Boone lay on a large towel under the Night Star enjoying the shade. He returned to the beach, wanting some alone time. He desperately wanted to sleep and his body craved it. Jolie had worn him out. She and Ricen kept him very active the moment he picked them up at their housing complex. Jolie was a handful and her questions never ended.
As he lay, the angle of the setting sun cast a bright sunbeam upon him. He had to move because it disturbed his sleep. That wasn’t the only thing disturbing his sleep - many things were on his mind. He closed his eyes and listened to the gentle sound of waves coming ashore. It did wonders for his psyche but as he tried to sleep, his mind kept drifting back to that dreadful day eight years ago. He assumed he would have to tell it several times and to several different people and officials.
“I am not joining that coalition farce! It will never be a force, and you, son, are not joining either! Understood?” he shouted.
“Finn,” Liana softly interrupted. “Stop yelling at him and listen to what he is saying.”
Finn was always yelling and in his mind, the louder he yelled, the more Boone would listen. But, it never worked out that way. In fact, the more he yelled, the further Boone distanced himself from his father.
“Sir, this High Guard force is not a farce. It’s gonna be made up of officers from all the systems. Just think, we won’t have to make those patrols anymore because…”
‘Ha!” he bellowed. “You think a bunch of planetary leaders signing a silly document will stop pirates, looters… thieves! I forbid you to join! That’s the end of it!”
Boone stood dumbfounded. He glanced at his mother then his face turned red. Boone was eighteen years old, just weeks from his nineteenth birthday and well capable of making his own decisions.
“Uh,” he muttered. His glancing about the room, at the ceiling, back and forth from his mother to his father indicated Boone had already made up his mind.
“What did you do? Boone?” he yelled.
“Sir, yell at me, get mad at me but I’m doing what I believe is right. You’ve always taught me to do what’s right.” He glanced at his mom. “Especially mom. I’m my own man, now.”
“Boone!” his father blared.
“I’ve already joined! I’m not sorry! Tomorrow, I will be a Class 1 junior officer in the High Guard.”
Boone picked up a small travel pack, flung the carrying strap over his shoulder, walked over to his mom and hugged her. Then he walked out the door. He turned and saw an astonished father.
“Goodbye, Sir.”
Boone jumped into his small jet flyer with tears streaming down his face. He refused to wipe them for fear his father was watching. They stepped out of the house and watched the flyer slowly lift off and ascend into a darkening sky.
Liana looked at Finn. She cried, “Finn, what have you just done?”
Though Boone lay trying to sleep, his eyes firmly closed, tears flowed. He sat up, giving up trying to sleep. He rolled onto his belly and buried his face in his hands and cried. As he thought about his past mistakes, his angry and estranged father and his loving mother, he felt very alone and he missed them deeply. He wept bitterly.
…
“Mr. Grainer, execute, initiate jump!”
From the Xeraxes star system, the Sim-Sa Gale teleported .68 parsecs. It appeared exactly where they estimated it would – just outside the outer rim of the Xeraxes system and 3000 miles off the starboard shoulder of the Ambulas, they thought.
The Gale’s NAV Officer, Ms. Ellswood, immediately jumped to her feet in dismay. She was glaring at her hologram.
“Report!” Captain Eisen exclaimed.
“Sir! We’ve been,” she turned toward him. “It’s not here! We’ve been duped, Sir. I’m tracking two space gunners!”
He jumped to his feet and approached the hologram to see for himself. Other officers left their stations and approached as well.
“Ah!” the captain moaned. He turned toward Officer Somers. “Go get them! Shoot them if you have to.”
“Aye, Sir,” he replied as he walked over to the COM and barked some orders to the docking bay.
Soon afterward, Star Squadron exited the egress bay and retrieved the two space gunners. They found the trackers and reported back to the bridge. Captain Eisen informed the Court of Primes and waited for orders. They conducted extensive scans but assumed the Ambulas was cloaked and hiding.
…
Jeody made a special delivery to the well-protected High Guard officer’s complex. Idal played the role of a deactivated robot awaiting pick up from an officer named, Emiel Benderman. Idal was left sitting on a cart with a holo-placard attached to her torso which read, ‘Deactivated. For Officer Emiel Benderman.’
Of course, Officer Benderman was on assignm
ent and would not return for several weeks. It was all part of Jeody’s plan. Though Idal was labeled deactivated, she was far from disconnected from her surroundings. Her plan was to record every communiqué, personal and official.
The covert operation was sanctioned by the Court of Primes due to the rise of infiltration within the High Guard Administration. According to Prime Ta'mian, someone besides a low-ranking officer may have infiltrated his royal center. He suspected more infiltrators and perhaps a high-ranking official.
Idal sat motionless and quiet while she scanned. During the late hours and when the main entrance was left unattended, she would roam the hallways of the complex, scanning. She found some very disturbing communiqués. As programmed, she immediately notified her superior, Jeody.
…
Jona followed the short line of workers as they made their way closer to the food station. The Ambulas only had two cooks and they scurried to keep the handful of food stations stocked. As he drew closer, he glanced at the several meals being offered for that day.
“What is that?” he asked a much shorter man in front of him.
“We’re eating good today!” he answered. “They just sacked the Ganes Trek! Now, we will eat like kings for a change.”
Jona kept his fury and rage bottled up for the moment. He was also worried the meal in front of him would not suffice his appetite.
“You’re not familiar,” the short man said. “I haven’t seen you before. I’m Robi.”
“I’m Rayne. I just landed an hour ago. My ship got hurt. Robi, huh?”
“Yeah. Robi, for Robot! ‘Cause they say I can fix anything. You name it, I can fix it.”
“Oh,” Jona muttered. “OK, Robi, how many are on board? That’s not a lot of food.”
“They cook all day long. Believe me, everyone eats. And to answer your question, 233.”
Jona nodded. He said, “This is a very big ship! I’d like to see the engines! And more food!” he chuckled. The short man chuckled as well and he led Jona to a table where they chatted for a while.
As Jona sat in the mess hall aboard the Ambulas, he had high hopes he could figure out how to destroy the ship. With that plan, he could take care of the Ambulas and its queen in one blast. He ate, avoided conversations about himself, studied everything he saw on board, and schemed. He had one problem, though. Nell came and sat down beside him. She had taken a liking to him. She started doting after him, sending subtle hints concerning her affection and continued to meet him at meal times, though she did help him with one important thing – she found a job for him. Jona was starting to fit in and for the time being, he was unsuspecting. He did have another concern besides Nell. One very old man who Jona thought was a maintenance worker, seemed to stare and study Jona’s every move. Jona felt uneasy about him and tried to avoid his presence.
Chapter 9
The sun had set, a cool breeze kicked up, and Boone still slept. Boone was always one to recognize noises and stay alerted to the sounds of the sky, even in a deep sleep. Things were quite different for him after Phia Sa’vo and his short stay on the Sim-Sa Gale.
The small High Guard transport didn’t disturb him in the least. Terra kept the engines low and the thrusters high thus creating a much quieter landing. She and Lorin climbed down the small ladder which extended from the underside of the cockpit. They parked over a hundred yards away as not to spook Boone in case he had plans to bolt away again. Terra and Lorin also thought the task at hand was best left to the two of them.
Boone still lay on his belly with his head turned away from them. They assumed he was still sleeping.
“Lorin,” he muttered knowing it had to be her. He didn’t know for sure but if it was anyone else, one of his friends perhaps, they would never creep up on him that way. It was either Terra or Lorin. He knew Lorin wanted to talk to him – alone, if possible.
“No,” Terra said. “It’s me, Boone.”
He turned over and sat up. He buttoned his shirt and grimaced. He didn’t look at them. He gazed at the ocean and wondered if he would ever see something as beautiful again. He sighed. Lorin sat down next to him.
“Boone. Can we talk? Terra and Pryce told me everything that happened to you on the Sim-Sa Gale.”
She held her long blond hair off her face as the breeze kicked up. He saw a small smile. She noticed he tried to cover his newest scar. His mind relived the stabbing.
“Lila,” he shouted. “Exterior lights.” The exterior lights came on. He looked at Terra. “I suppose you’re here in case she can’t convince me?”
Terra didn’t answer. She folded her arms across her chest and sighed. She watched him.
Boone stood up and waited for Lorin to do the same. He wanted to pick up his towel, shake the sand from it, and head into the Night Star. Lorin finally stood, though Boone didn’t offer to help her up. He picked up the towel with disgust and immediately felt discomfort in his wound. He grimaced and placed his hand on his wound to comfort it. Lorin and Terra gazed at him with concern. He stepped aside and shook the towel with force, preventing the sand from blowing onto them. He headed for the cargo ramp.
“Well, let’s get this over with. Right?” he asked with anguish in his voice.
Lorin caught up to him, grabbed his arm and prevented him. He glared at her. She gently placed her hand on his face.
“No, Boone. We’re not just here to ‘make’ you go or take you to Kova. We’re here to help you.”
He gently pushed her hand away and grimaced. His emotions rose and Lorin recognized it. It caused her emotions to rise. He walked up to the top of the cargo ramp. She ran in front of him and wrapped her arms around him. He stood, motionless.
“Boone, please? Let us help you. Let’s talk about this. Please?”
Terra followed them but lingered at the bottom of the cargo ramp. She watched. Boone carefully pushed Lorin away but he held onto her arms. He bowed his head in shame – shame because of his emotions.
“Lorin, I can’t do this, now. I’m not talking about it.” She saw a tear fall. He added, “Please? Don’t make me.”
She answered, “That’s fine. You don’t have to talk.”
She wiped a few tears of her own. She entered her read, paying close attention to every minute motion of his eyes, his lips, and his breathing. She delved into his emotional state, wanting to know his deepest hurt and pain.
“So, I want you to just listen.” He looked at her. “You think you are leaving and facing this alone. You’re not! Boone,” she exclaimed as she extended her arm as a show of sincerity. “We are going with you. We will help you but you have to let us. You have to open up to us. We’re waiting and listening but you won’t share.”
Another tear fell as he watched her beg for his cooperation. During her read, she saw his deepest pains – separation, anger, deep frustration, guilt, shame. She felt them as well.
She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face into his neck. “Boone? Please?” He stood motionless, not wanting to yield because yielding would mean confessing. She softly added, “You help everyone. You give yourself to everyone I know. Let us give back. Let us help you. Boone, let us love you.”
He could not hold back his tears – tears of regret and deep frustration. He finally wrapped his arms around her and nodded. He placed his hand on her head as if to consent. Terra walked up the ramp and placed her arms around both of them. She cried with them and had high hopes of exonerating Boone. Then Boone and Lorin launched from the beach as Terra followed. Boone opened up his COM.
“Zay'Geis, I’m glad you’re there. I’m headed to see you, as I promised.”
Boone glanced to his right; Lorin sat in the co-pilot’s seat and understood he needed to make one last stop before picking up Pryce, Mace, and Phia. Then they would all make the long trek to Kova. Terra followed close behind the Night Star in the small High Guard transport. She sighed, rolled her eyes, and smirked as Boone made a course correction – the opposite direction from the royal city of Kark
avon. She also understood Boone needed one last stop before leaving, though she didn’t know where he was going. Lorin conveniently opened the COM and Terra listened in.
“No, no, no. No need to come. I know what’s happening. You’ve got your hands full right now. Correct?” he asked as he smiled at him.
Zay'Geis saw the despondent look on his face. Lorin and Terra saw it as well. They saw a man, discouraged, afraid, and on the verge of tears. His reddened face turned part scowl, part distressed. He sank deeper into his cockpit chair.
“But I have to return the, uh,” he glanced at Lorin and Terra then cocked his head and gazed at Zay'Geis. “The teleportation device! Lorin doesn’t know about it and I can’t let her ever know. I said I would bring back your equipment.”
“No, Boone. No need. It’s yours for the time being. Besides, I’ve nowhere to go. I’ve got a large garden to tend to, my family is safe thanks to you, and I still have an invention to keep me occupied. Boone, it’s all yours right now. And I know no one else in the universe will keep it safe and use it for good more than you.”
Boone listened and as he listened his emotions piqued again. A tear slowly rolled down his cheek. “Doc, you don’t understand. I won’t be going anywhere, either. I am making my final run – my Night Star and I. Convicted and confined for who knows how long? I have to tell you something, Doc, and I apologize for this.”
“I already know about it. I know ‘all’ about it. The prime and I, we talk to each other. A lot!” he chuckled. “We talk a lot about you, too, Boone and I want to tell you something.”
Boone’s eyes drifted to the floor then to a group of glowing clouds, lit up by the setting sun. He knew Zay'Geis had some words of wisdom, words of encouragement but Boone didn’t want to hear them. His faith was failing.
“My family and I will be praying for you. We want you to be strong and trust Him.” Zay'Geis paused. Boone was looking down again, becoming more discouraged by the moment. Zay'Geis sighed deeply. Lorin reached over and took Boone’s hand. She had a small smile on her face. It was an expression of hope.
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