Return of the Guardian King

by John E Bujanowski Jr

  “I’m proud of you,” she tenderly uttered. “And I have something that will help you, too.”

  In the dim glow of the cockpit console, the mood turned from despair to hope. He studied her eyes and her face and found himself admiring her fair complexion. Her soft brown hair was neatly brushed, her eyes seemed to peer right through him and she had a kind and loving expression on her face. Boone wanted to read her; he knew she was reading him. He waited for an explanation.

  She turned toward him and gently put his hand in hers and asked, “I want to know what’s next for you.”

  He gasped and tried to disguise it as a laugh. “What? Really? Let’s see, next is a cramped detention cell, no scenic holograms, no…”

  “Boone! I’m talking about when you get out!” she snapped.

  Phia stepped into the cockpit and quickly ascertained that Boone and Lorin were elsewhere. Mace had nodded off while watching the colorful planet grow in size. She became very anxious and jealous. She listened and heard a low chatter. She stepped toward the back of the ship and sat down on the deck of the corridor near the ladder to the shuttle and listened to them talk. She smirked and pouted over each affection word they spoke.

  “When I get out! I’m not getting out until I’m, I’m ninety! What are you thinking?”

  She gripped his hand tighter to get his attention. “You see? That’s exactly what I’m talking about. Please, will you have some faith? Don’t you know we ‘are’ going to find that evidence?” She softly demanded, “Boone, I need you to believe that! So, I’ll ask you again.” She gently put his other hand in hers, squeezed gently, and asked, “What are you going to do once you’re released?”

  Boone sat up straight and pulled his hands away. Her words shocked him. He never once considered he might be exonerated if evidence was found.

  “I don’t know.”

  His mind began to explore the possibilities. Freedom was something he never thought about and to roam the corridors without fear of the High Guard finding him was never a reality until just then. It would be a new and wonderful experience for him. He felt hope surging within him and he began to smile. Then another thought occurred to him. He realized Lorin was being overly affectionate toward him.

  “Lorin! Uh,” he gasped. “I think I know why you are asking!”

  She was smiling and reading him. “I was just wondering when you’re released or exonerated, what you might do next.”

  “Or?”

  She giggled, “Or, where you might go next. I’m just curious.”

  “And lying?”

  She shrugged her shoulders then leaned in closer to him. They were reading each other and they were both correct in their readings; they loved each other yet they would never be together.

  “Boone,” she gently gasped while taking his hand again. “I know you love me. You also know I love you. Right?”

  He nodded and answered, “Lorin, you know I do. I do love you.” He lowered his head and she, in turn, rested her forehead against his. “We’ve been through a lot together and, well, I know what I am and who I am. I also know what you are and someday, you’re going to rule a planet.” They chuckled then Lorin wiped a tear. She placed her hand behind his head and he, in turn, did the same. “I’m sorry. You know? I wish we could make it work somehow but it won’t.”

  “I know,” she said as she wiped away another small tear. “I wish it, too. But, Boone,” she tried to giggle but it was more like a crying whimper. “You will be free. I know it and then I know I’ll probably hardly ever see you again. I have to let you go.”

  He nodded. She pulled him closer and rubbed the back of his head, her thumbs tousling his dark brown hair. His light brown eyes were hypnotic to her as they were the most honest, caring, and loving eyes she had ever gazed into.

  “So, Boone, before you go, I want you to know, I love you.”

  He was speechless and torn by her words. Throughout the dangerous and stressful missions they shared together, they had finally spoken the deepest truth to each other. A truth they had avoided and ignored.

  He slid his arm around her and pulled her closer. She quickly did the same as he kissed her, softly at first. The gentle kiss turned into a much longer loving kiss. When it ended, she hugged him and held him tightly. She buried her tear-filled face into his neck.

  “I love you,” she whispered.

  “I love you, too,” he replied.

  “But?” she added.

  He interrupted her as he held her close, “I know, Lorin. We will go our separate ways. I think Zay'Geis will say, ‘the Father of the Heavens has a great and glorious plan for you’ and blah, blah, blah.”

  They laughed and slowly released each other. They studied each other for a moment while holding hands.

  Lorin said, “I wanted to do this before your release; it would be awkward to do this after the fact.” She wiped a tear.

  “You mean, do this in front of everyone?”

  She nodded her head up and down and chuckled. “Yes!”

  Then she gazed at him again and pulled him close one last time. She kissed him again then she held his face with her hand and stroked his cheek with her thumb.

  Phia was now standing by the ladder, not believing what she was hearing. She wanted to storm away in disgust but she was compelled to listen. Her anger and animosity toward Lorin were very high.

  Boone and Lorin turned away from each other and looked out the cockpit window. They finally understood each other for the first time in their relationship. They loved each other but had totally different paths to follow and they both accepted it as factual. They actually felt relieved after the discussion.

  “So,” Lorin asked. “What will you do? Any ideas?”

  “Yeah,” he nodded. “I want to get reacquainted with my mom and dad.”

  “And what about Phia? You know she likes you.”

  “Uh, uh! No thanks! Phia? Really? Have you had a conversation with her lately? I can’t even have one with her. And besides, she’s way too nosey. And bossy!”

  Phia, overhearing every word spoken, immediately came to tears. She could not understand the disgust and animosity she was hearing from him. Her heart sank, her mouth gaped, and she slowly walked away, silently, wiping many tears. She made her way down the circular staircase without disturbing Mace’s slumber and reached her bunk room - the bunk room she shared with Lorin. She laid down on her bed, covered her face, and quietly sobbed. The love she had for Boone was now shattered.

  “Boone, it sounds to me like you really didn’t forgive her. Now, did you? Or not?”

  “I did! But, I can’t trust her, right now. Can you?” Lorin looked at him and wondered. He added, “Just because I forgave her, doesn’t mean I can start trusting her. Right? Doesn’t she have to earn that? Again?”

  “I don’t know,” she answered. “But, I believe if you really forgive someone, you actually forget what they’ve done. So, in my mind, I would ‘choose’ to trust her. You can choose to trust her, Boone. I think you should.”

  Boone smirked and nodded. He didn’t fully accept it or believe it but he at least thought about it. They continued to chat and watch the planet Kova grow in size. Moments passed as they chatted. Suddenly, a soft chime echoed throughout the ship. Someone in the cockpit was summoning everyone to the cockpit due to a message coming in. Boone immediately thought about his beloved friend, Jona.

  Phia, Pryce, and Terra exited their bunk rooms and scurried to the cockpit. Boone and Lorin were making their way down the thin metal ladder. Phia, Pryce, and Terra waited for them at the entrance to the cockpit. They let Boone enter and answer the call. Everyone was very concerned. Mace slid over to the seat on the right, giving Boone his left seat.

  “I haven’t answered it, yet. I couldn’t! I’m too… too,” Mace couldn’t finish the sentence.

  “Scared,” Boone muttered. “I know.” Boone said, “Lila, open COM!” The COM opened and they saw Captain Eisen. They thought the worse.

  �
�Boone! Everyone,” he acknowledged as he saw everyone through the hologram. “I’ve got some good news for you all. Jona is safe. He wanted me to notify you, immediately. He’s headed toward me right now.”

  Boone jumped to his feet and covered his face with his hand as tears flooded down his cheeks. He could not contain his emotions. He stepped away from the console, walked toward the back of the cockpit while wiping his tears. Everyone was in tears. Pryce and Mace immediately hugged him. Then he hugged Terra, Lorin, and Phia.

  Phia was also in tears and she was very surprised Boone hugged her. She was filled with animosity and disgust over his words earlier but as he hugged her she saw his true emotions. She could not resist the opportunity to hold him tight.

  Boone released her and turned toward Captain Eisen. “Thank you, Sir. I made a big mistake ordering him to do that.”

  “Boone,” he replied. “That was a stroke of genius! I know how you feel, son. The hardest thing people like us have to do is send people we love into battle. Believe me, it’s my life! I’m sorry they tortured him. We are preparing a MED UNIT for him right now. We’ll try to put a new ear on him and examine that wound in his belly. Oh, he has someone with him. We don’t know who he is but the Ambulas is headed toward Adjelon. The Ambulas dropped a lot of mines in the corridor, so we can’t chase her right now. I’ve got to go. OK?”

  “Yes. Thank you, Sir. Thank you.”

  The COM ended and everyone took a seat and breathed a sigh of relief. They quietly looked at one another and wondered about Jona. They chatted, speculated, and wiped a lot of tears.

  Chapter 18

  The COM sounded again. Boone glared at everyone as he let it chime. He was afraid to answer it.

  Pryce uttered, “Lila, open COM.”

  Boone glared at him but Pryce was smirking. They had to answer. Through the holographic COM, a woman in a High Guard uniform appeared. She was sitting comfortably in the captain’s chair aboard the Edsen Tide, one of the High Guard’s five battlecruisers.

  Her neatly combed long blond hair was resting on her shoulders and she had one leg resting on her other. She sat very casually and though she spoke softly, she spoke with authority. She was the only female battlecruiser captain and her name was Poleene Koine.

  “Mr. Nova? Night Star?”

  “Uh, yes?” Boone answered.

  “I am Captain Koine, of the Edsen Tide. I’ve been tracking you and following your approach. I’m here to assist.”

  Boone gaped at her and the information. The others had concerned looks on their faces. Pryce stepped forward.

  “Assist us? To Kova?”

  Captain Koine looked at Terra and Lorin. “Investigator, Ms. Ta’mian,” she said as she nodded. “Yes. I have some information for you. You’re not going to like it, either.”

  “Oh?” Boone asked. “What’s going on?”

  “A lot, Mr. Nova.” She glanced up from the holographic COM and checked the status of her bridge crew. “The Stellar Class II transport shuttle was our main concern. I’m sure you see it. Right?”

  “Yes, Ma’am. We do and we know the 5th prime has runners after it.”

  “Yes, we were working with them to box it in. We would have taken it aboard and investigated but there is another issue, now. Are you tracking a luxury starliner, an attack ship, two space gunners, and a small cargo ship?”

  Boone glanced at Mace. Mace blared, “No! Sorry. I was sleeping!”

  “The starliner can easily catch up to you but she can’t hurt you. The attack ship, however, is a problem.”

  “Ma’am?” Boone asked. “You think they are after us? Why? Maybe they’re headed to Kova.”

  “No, Mr. Nova. And by the way, everyone is headed to Kova because of you. They were sitting on a small moon at the outer edge of the Pereon system. That is suspect, alone. Understand?” Boone nodded. “Mr. Nova, you may not realize this but all of Kova and Pereon and every other battlecruiser, ship, and planet are watching what you are doing. All eyes are on you. Do you understand?” Boone just gaped. He was speechless. “A large fleet of ships await your arrival to Kova. People are lining the streets and smaller ships are flooding the corridor, Mr. Nova, because of you. I’m here to escort you in but we believe these five ships are not following you to, let’s say, join the party. Understand?”

  “Yes, Ma’am. What do you want us to do?”

  She shot a glance at her NAV officer. “Mr. Nova, make your course this,” she sent him a new heading. “It will distance you from them until you get to us. It will also test the group to see if they are indeed after you or not. You’re going to be a little late to your council meeting but I’ve informed them. Do it now, Mr. Nova.”

  Boone changed his heading and all eyes were on the holographic NAV to see if the five ships changed course or speed.

  Boone said, “They are over an hour behind us and they are not matching our speed. I don’t see a problem.”

  Captain Koine ran her hand through her bright long silky blond hair. She pursed her lips and waited. Then all eyes watched the group of ships match their course and drastically change speed. The increase of speed indicated contact in thirty-seven minutes. They listened to the captain calmly mutter orders through the COM.

  “Kasha, please change our heading 2⁰ starboard, go full burn, Mr. Normans, alert flight and put a squad on full alert. I want them ready to deploy in minutes.” Captain Koine turned to the crew of the Night Star. “Mr. Nova, please don’t do anything. Can I have your word? I hear that’s all I need from you. Is that true?” Boone winced in frustration. He nodded to her. “Good. Now, I will be there in, Kasha?” she asked her helmsman. “Eighteen minutes, Mr. Nova.”

  “Ma’am,” Terra interrupted. “We’ve been planning Boone’s defense. He’s innocent. Someone on Kova has lied and it’s someone in Command. Maybe these ships know something about it. We’d like to capture them! Please? It could prove his innocence.”

  “Ah, investigator, I have heard a lot about you and I’ve read your reports. I’m impressed. But I can’t have you and the Night Star, what?” she asked her NAV officer.

  They all watched the five ships quickly change course and head toward Kova. The chase had ended.

  “Ma’am!” Terra exclaimed. “Permission to pursue?”

  Everyone on the Night Star waited as the captain of the Edsen Tide chatted with her crew. They all thought the ships should be apprehended. It could be the big break they were all hoping for.

  “I’m sorry. Kova will have to deal with them. I’ll send a message. Mr. Nova, turn toward Kova. I’ll catch up to you in a few minutes. Tide out.”

  The hologram ended and Boone checked his NAV. He feared what was about to happen. All of Kova awaited him and his crew. He looked at the time stamp.

  “Sixty-five minutes, everybody. Get ready, I’m going to sit here and watch the planet. I may never see it again like this.”

  “Boone!” Lorin argued. “We just talked about this.”

  “Oh,” he replied. “I mean, get ready everyone, for our ‘visit’ to Kova.”

  He looked at her and everyone smiled. They all took a seat and watched together. The Edsen Tide rendezvoused with them and escorted them into Kovan space. Upon reaching the planet, they witnessed an extraordinary sight. Two rows of ships lay before them, each row consisting of nearly two hundred ships. The two rows were facing one another and created a large corridor between them through which the Night Star and the Edsen Tide could travel.

  Each ship was pitched downward at a slight angle. The purpose of the downward pitch was to signify a soldier had fallen in battle and was coming home. The Kovan High Guard was honoring the flight officer Boone and Jona retrieve from the wreckage in the debris field between Obipherion, Xeraxes, and Gorledeon.

  Stationed behind the High Guard salute, hundreds of ships of various sizes and types watched the procession. The event was broadcast all throughout Kova and to every planet in the constellation. The many High Guard ships created a very long
procession. At the end of the procession, the commander of the fleet waited.

  “Night Star, this is Starlight Leader. Do you read?”

  Boone answered, “Yes, Starlight Leader.”

  “I am Commander Bridges. Welcome home, Night Star. Glad to have you back.”

  Boone and Mace turned around and looked at everyone. They had smirks on their faces. They couldn’t believe the warm welcome.

  “Night Star,” Starlight Leader said. “This procession is in honor of our fallen brother. Please join me after your procession. You may proceed.”

  Boone edged the Night Star through the wide corridor created by two rows of several hundred ships. It was an awe-inspiring sight. Boone and his crew were humbled by the gesture.

  Starlight Leader said, “Captain Gann, we welcome you home.”

  As the Night Star glided, escorted by the Edsen Tide, many of the ships responded in like manner, welcoming the fallen captain home. The Night Star reached the end and followed Starlight Leader down to the planet and into the capital city called, Tela-Ka’Tura.

  Boone and Mace saw the towering structures of the city and one massive tower, Peos Tower. Somewhere within that tower was the High Guard Detention Center and the profound Kovan Council. Boone and Mace glanced at each other. Pryce and Terra stood and placed their hands on them to calm them. It didn’t help. Lorin stood and said a prayer while Boone glided his ship to a designated flight deck.

  They saw the streets and avenues crowded with hundreds of people. Many had holographic emitters and they were calling for Boone’s freedom. Many of the colorful holograms within the business district were displaying video of the Night Star guarding the now famous Karkavon Medical Building. It was the only video of the Night Star available at the time. Some holographic videos were created to depict the Night Star blowing up the queen’s battleship, Ambulas.

  When the people on the streets below saw the slow descent of the Night Star, they cheered. As the Night Star edged down toward the flight deck, they saw civilians and High Guard officials. Boone looked for his parents. The flight deck was filled with nearly a hundred High Guardsmen.