Return of the Guardian King

by John E Bujanowski Jr

  Kova Command: This is Kova Defense! Guardian King? Where is the Amity?

  Boone: I told you! It was firing upon us! It’s… it’s gone! Destroyed! Can’t you verify? Lucas, do you still have inertial dampeners?

  Taurus 7: Yes.

  Boone: Turn off the port ones.

  Taurus 7: What? Boone, that will only make us spin! Are you sure?

  Boone: Yes, we want you to spin like a leaf falling from the sky. Keep your eyes on the console.

  The Taurus fell from the ionosphere into the high sky. Hot flames engulfed it as it fell toward the stratosphere.

  Boone: OK, now, see if those engines will start.

  After several attempts, one of the three engines started.

  Taurus 7: I got one to start!

  Boone: It’s a miracle, Lucas. Now, pull the nose up! You’re crash-landing in the ocean but we are right here to pull you out!

  Boone ordered Mace to go to the cargo bay, lower the ramp, and talk him through the rescue. The Guardian King brushed the top of the waves as Lucas, Blake, and eighteen-year-old, Jess, a good friend of Mace and Boone, climbed onto the ramp. Boone dropped them off at their home and warned them to leave immediately – other Pereon officers or officials wanted them dead for some reason. Lucas didn’t have much time to explain but he told them why and who he suspected. Boone then called home.

  “Mom! Where’s dad?”

  “I don’t know, son.” She wiped several tears. Boone explained everything that happened. “Come here, immediately,” she ordered.

  Boone ended his explanation and looked at everyone. He was sad and ashamed. They also had sad looks on their faces.

  “When I got home, my mom told me the Kovan Defense Force was coming. She tried to talk me into staying but I told her they wouldn’t listen to me over the COM, why would they listen now? I had to leave! Mace and I left, for Nava Kova.”

  Everyone sat quietly for several moments. Terra asked, “Do you know why they never answered your COM? That is very unusual.”

  “I know! And I tried to explain that to my mom. Something was very wrong!” Mace had his head bowed and everyone noticed.

  Lorin asked, “So, what did you do next?”

  Boone answered, “They were hunting us, the Guardian King. So, we left the planet.”

  Phia asked, “They didn’t follow you? The Kovan Defense Force? Or was it the High Guard, then?”

  “It was the High Guard by then.”

  “And?” Phia asked again.

  Everyone recognized Boone had not answered the question. Pryce nodded to Boone to tell them and trust them. Lorin slid to the front of her chair and took Boone’s hands in hers. Phia watched intently, wondering what she was going to do. It was clear to Lorin, Boone was holding back part of the truth.

  “Do you know who it is you’re talking to?”

  Boone sighed and smirked. “Fine! There’s more.” He let go of her hands, leaned back in his chair and blew out a loud disgusting sigh. “I knew it was just a matter of time before they tracked us and found us. We went to what we call, Pillage Field. It’s an enormous pile of scrap ships.”

  Terra began to glare then she smirked, knowing how tricky Boone was.

  “We found an older model Zenith Class 2 gunship like my dad’s.” Lorin, Phia, and Terra began to gaze and gape at him. “I bought it, removed the designation device for it, installed it in the Guardian King, and left for Nava Kova. Mace’s flyer fit inside the Guardian King’s cargo bay, so we had that. I knew they would track the King, and I knew they would never suspect an older model Zenith Class 2 gunship called the Night Star.”

  Lorin, Phia, and Terra sat stunned. Then Terra glared as an idea came to her.

  “Boone, you… you… uh! The terms for that stupid act, I can’t say! Where’s the designation for the Guardian King? It has the INTEL for that skirmish. It could prove your innocence!” she exclaimed with a glare. “Where is it?”

  Boone, sorrowful, glanced at Mace and said, “We buried it. Deep! Inside a shielded piece of scrap armor.”

  Phia stood, “Then if we find it, we can clear your names! Right?”

  “Impossible,” Mace muttered. “That stuff was gathered and transported into space. It’s either drifted into Ko’as, the Kovan sun, or its listing, drifting in space close by it. Forget about it. Besides, Kova Defense wasn’t listening to anything we were saying.”

  Pryce said, “We can at least look for it. Right? I mean, we shouldn’t just give up.”

  Boone nodded but didn’t believe it would help. He frowned, as did Mace.

  Then a chime sounded from the COM. Terra hit a button. “Boone? Investigator Je’en?”

  Terra stood and exclaimed, “Prime Pierce!”

  The 1st prime nodded to them; he saw everyone standing. “I’ve spoken to the 5th prime, Jok Ta’mian. Ms. Ta’mian,” the prime said, acknowledging her. “I have Prime Jale here with me. Mr. Nova, we are waiting for you. We are glad you are coming after all these years. We are also reviewing your case, Prime Jale and I. Boone, you will meet with us in our Kovan Council. Understand?”

  Boone could only nod to him. He was speechless and very apprehensive. The COM ended and Boone glared at everyone.

  “Lorin, please tell me you read something?”

  Phia asked, “What? Read what?”

  “Not now, Phia. Please? Lorin?” Lorin looked at Boone and didn’t answer. It meant Boone’s assumptions about the communication were correct. He was in trouble.

  Terra said, “We need to come up with a plan! A plan to find some evidence. Boone, we are going over this until we figure out what we can do.”

  Lorin added, “I realize some things we can do right now. Doesn’t the Kovan Defense Force have the flight paths of what happened? It doesn’t make any sense they would believe what the Amity was broadcasting while the monitors displayed, uh, something else.”

  “Yeah!” Mace blared. “That has still baffled us to this day! We were shouting to them what was really happening but they were oblivious to it.”

  Pryce said, “It’s like they ignored what you were saying. Something is going on with that.”

  Everyone had concerned looks on their faces as they all thought about why Kova Defense ignored Boone’s, the Guardian King’s, and the Taurus 7’s pleas while it believed the Amity’s plea.

  Lorin said, “I think I know.” Everyone stared at her. “The same thing that has been going on for years on Obipherion – infiltration.”

  They all nodded. Terra said, “That makes sense. Of course, we don’t know for sure but if the dispatch officer was against the declaration then maybe he, hmm? What?”

  Pryce answered, “They, Terra. They. They wanted to start something.”

  Boone said, “Or, they were working for that Pereon diplomat. That would make sense to me. I never thought about that possibility. But, after everything we’ve all been through, we should know we can’t assume anything.”

  Terra said, “I would like to investigate that when we get there. That’s something I can do.”

  Lorin replied, “I can do that with you since a diplomat was involved. I can use my resources and my status to help.”

  Everyone nodded and thought about the possibility of infiltration. Terra had more to suggest. “Boone, you said two other things about the Pereon diplomat.”

  Boone answered, “Yulee Braconna.”

  “Yes,” she said. “He must have reasons for wanting to kill your friends. We can investigate that.”

  Phia said, “That’s on Pereon. Right? Someone would have to go there to find that out. Right?”

  Lorin nodded and replied, “I think someone should go to Pereon and see what can be found but that doesn’t sound easy nor does it sound safe.”

  They all nodded. Pryce looked at Terra and said, “I can go to Pereon. Do some digging and see what I can find on Braconna. I think Boone and Mace will be confined. Terra and Lorin can investigate the Kovan Defense Force.”

  Phia asked, “So,
should I go with Pryce? Or is there something else I can do?”

  Boone and Mace had no suggestions. They were totally preoccupied with their upcoming incarceration. Terra added more to the discussion.

  “I have another thought,” she said.

  Boone and Mace let out loud sighs as plans and schemes were invented. The stress was mounting, ideas were being discussed, but they didn’t bring any sense of hope for them.

  “Boone, let’s talk about those designation devices. There’s three of them and any one of them can help us.”

  Phia blared, “They can give us proof! If we had one, we wouldn’t need to do anything else! Where are they, Boone, exactly?”

  Boone smirked and glared. Disappointment washed over his face. “I can’t believe how stupid I was! I should have gone straight to my commander. Zay’Geis was right, I’m paying now for a very stupid mistake eight years ago.” With disgust, he shook his head back and forth, grimacing while remembering the careless act. “I was so afraid of Kova Command and what they said over the COM, I didn’t think.”

  Mace answered, “We were ‘so’ mad! I was so frustrated with that COM officer, I wanted to, uh! We didn’t think.”

  Phia nodded and added, “Should have called someone. Talked to someone. Boone, doesn’t your mom or dad have ideas?”

  Terra ordered, “We need to get back to the devices. Where are they, Boone? Exactly?”

  Mace answered, “Somewhere over the Tahonic Ocean!”

  Boone said, “The Amity broke apart. So, if the device survived the descent from space then it’s somewhere at the bottom of the ocean. So is the Taurus 7.”

  Lorin asked, “Then, do you know the coordinates? We could search the ocean floor!”

  With frustration, Boone ran his hands over his face and head. He grabbed a handful of his short brown hair and pulled. Lorin reached over and grabbed his hand. He gazed at her. Her soft smile calmed his anger.

  “Yes, I have the coordinates,” he answered with deep frustration. “They’re recorded in the designation device for the Guardian King!”

  Mace added, “And that device is either in a deep hole in Pillage Field or it’s been burned up by the Kovan sun.”

  Everyone sunk into their chairs as a sense of despair overcame them. They all sat silent for a few moments.

  Boone said, “I wish Jona were here. I made a big mistake.” They all saw a tear fall down his face. He stood and wiped it away. Then he walked out of the cockpit alone. Everyone sighed.

  Lorin said, “Look, everyone, we are not going to let doubt or fear or anger stop us! Agreed? We’re going to find something! Right?” she asked as she studied them all. They nodded. “I have faith! Now, I say we investigate the Kovan Com officer, look for that device from the Guardian King, and search that ocean floor. That’s our plan! Or, we can sit and mope! What do you say?”

  They all nodded. Pryce said, “We will need help. I’d like to look for the device. Someone needs to go to Pereon. Right? We’re short-manned!”

  Terra added, “I agree. We need some help. Do Boone or you, Mace, have any friends?”

  Chapter 14

  Jona, left unattended for a short time, attempted to pry the wrist brace from the metal wall, unsuccessfully though. He studied the metal brace that tightly gripped his wrist; the brace wasn’t meant for a man his size. The bolts that fastened the wrist brace to the metal wall were round-headed bolts with no chance of turning them loose. If he were going to break free from it, he would have to separate the wrist brace from its sturdy mount. It was a feat he was determined to do.

  He decided to focus his attention to the brace on his right, his strongest arm, he thought. He pulled with all his strength, he moaned, he tried twisting it, turning it, and yanking on it. He imagined his arm was a strong lever, as one would use to move something heavy. He pushed his arm and shoulder away from the wall as much as he could in an attempt to break the brace from its mount. As he worked, pain burst from the wound in his abdomen and traveled throughout his body. He moaned. He thought he made some progress when a sound was heard near the door.

  “You can’t break that,” he said.

  Jona huffed, “Huh! Everything breaks!”

  Aderian walked over to him and studied the now bare-chested beast. The long braids that ran down the left side of his head were bloodstained from the large hole in his left ear. Blood had pooled on the floor. Jona had a bloodied hole on the lower left side of his abdomen, bruises on his face, belly, arms, and his chest, beaten by the attendant of the brig and a few of his friends.

  Aderian glanced across the cold darkened room. He studied a man and a woman who hung together on the wall, side by side. They were stretched and fastened to the metal wall just as Jona was – metal braces tightly attached to the wall which held their legs, their waste, and their arms. They both had been brutally beaten. The attendant had inserted some of his tools into their bodies and left them in place for all to see. He immediately thought the two to be a family. It ignited his spirit and angered him deeply. “What are we doing? To these families? I can’t do this anymore.” It was a matter of time before they would die a painful death. Aderian had never seen such torture before.

  Jona moaned, “I can’t believe how cold-blooded and evil you people are. I am going to make you pay!”

  Aderian softly answered, “I know.” He sighed and stepped away from him. He looked at the many tools and devices used to convert those that opposed her.

  Jona thought he heard Aderian agree with him. “I don’t know how people get to be like you, and her. It’s disgusting,” he mumbled.

  “Shut up! I said I know!” he blared as he turned and looked at him. “I don’t need you to remind me! I see what she’s done. I don’t,” he paused, carefully contemplating what his next thought or word would be.

  “She’s in charge? Ha!” Jona chuckled. “There’s the problem. You men can’t fight your own battles like real men. Face to face. One on one. You have to hide behind someone who wants to fight from the shadows. You can’t fight the High Guard, so you find the weak, the unprotected.”

  “Will you shut up,” Aderian muttered. “I’m thinking.”

  Jona then suspected his presence there was not to harm him. He suspected Aderian came to stop her. He was amazed. He felt some hope.

  “I would not be mad at you if you freed me. I’d let you live.”

  Aderian listened but his mind was elsewhere. He looked at Jona then the tools of torture then the couple that hung on the opposite wall and then he looked at Jona again. Then there was a noise at the door. A man entered the room. He was the attendant of the brig.

  “Ah, Sir,” he said. “You came to have some fun, also?” Aderian didn’t answer. “Quite a few have come down here. I let some of them beat him. I thought that would please the queen. Yes?”

  Aderian gazed at the man with amazement. The man thought Aderian’s amazement was a sign of commendation. Aderian, though, was amazed by the cruelty and horror taking place on the Ambulas. He considered himself to have been blind to the evil and hatred surrounding him. He made another decision.

  “Do you know the plan for him,” Aderian asked the attendant.

  “I want to insert this!” he answered as he picked up a twelve-inch chrome tool with several tiny blades spiraling outward from its tip. He laughed as he studied Jona. Jona was grimacing. The man slowly set the tool down. “But, she wants me to wait, I don’t know for what but she says he will talk when she gets to Kurros. I suppose.” He chuckled.

  Aderian spied the key to Jona’s braces. It was on a counter a few yards away. It would be awkward for him to stroll over to it. Aderian turned the man’s attention elsewhere.

  “Tell me about these two.”

  The man walked over to the couple, Aderian stepped toward the key, Jona watched and the man didn’t notice.

  “Oh, these two!” he chuckled. “They have been naughty!” He grabbed the man’s head and checked for life – he was dead. “Oh, too bad! I was
gonna loose him.” He glanced back to look at Aderian. Aderian was standing in the same place he stood before, yet with a key in his hand. The man grabbed the face of the woman and said, “These two argued with her. That’s a no-no! She doesn’t tolerate sympathizers. She said, ‘We can’t tolerate compassion when we are in battle!’” He chuckled again. “They didn’t like what we did to that cargo ship. I guess they were new, here.”

  The man turned and headed for the key. He was going to release the dead man from his braces. He walked over to the table and looked for it. He searched among the items, desperately. “Oh, no!” he muttered.

  “Looking for this?” Aderian said.

  He had already released several of Jona’s braces. He handed the key to Jona and ran and grabbed the man. They struggled but Aderian overpowered him. He dragged him to Jona and together they mounted him on the wall.

  Jona made some rags and tied them around his head and waist to prevent his wounds from bleeding further. Then Jona gagged the old man so he wouldn’t scream. He watched Aderian fasten the man’s feet to the wall’s metal braces.

  “You’re a traitor, now. Know that?”

  Aderian finished the man’s foot brace, stood, and nodded remorsefully. “I know. And now, I’m probably a dead man, too. But, I agree, this senseless killing, these cruel attacks, I’ve had it. I can’t take it anymore.”

  Jona nodded, picked up a small chrome torture tool – the same that was used on him, and jabbed it into the old man. The man glared in pain yet never uttered a word.

  “I can’t let you torture anyone else. That would just be wrong. OK? Understand?” The old man stared at him. “I think the Father of the Heavens would want me to put a stop to this.”

  Jona released the half-dead woman attached to the wall and gently placed her on the cold steel floor.

  Aderian said, “Come on! We’ve got to go!”

  Jona looked at him. “This is wrong. You know?” Jona looked at her and she slowly opened her eyes and saw him. She gave him a soft understanding smile. Then her eyes closed. She passed away; Jona shed a tear.

  …

  Meanwhile, in the 2nd star system, called Pereon, on the planet, Pereon, a message came in over the COM in Pereon’s Command Center. It was encoded and it was urgent.