Return of the Guardian King

by John E Bujanowski Jr

  The ship landed and Prime Pierce, prime of the Kovan star system, and Prime Jale, prime of the Pereon star system, were escorted by an investigator and a dozen guardsmen. Boone’s crew slowly walked down the cargo ramp.

  Then the prime abruptly asked, “Boone Nova? Mace Starling?”

  Boone and Mace raised their hands gingerly then were immediately apprehended and cuffed with the standard metal magnetic braces.

  Lorin spoke to the prime, “Sir. You will find you have no need for restraints. He is here of his own free will and I am speaking as his advocate and counsel.”

  Prime Pierce gave her a glare and a scowl. He blared, “Regulations! Ms. Ta’mian! Or don’t you believe in them or follow them? We know who you are.”

  Prime Pierce quickly glanced at Prime Jale and saw that he was pleased. Lorin, knowing the primes personally and fully aware of her surroundings began her read of them the moment she first saw them.

  She studied the concern on the face of Prime Pierce. She also saw the contempt on the face of Prime Jale. When Prime Pierce spoke to her, she understood his tone – sadness with a hint of a lie. She immediately recognized Prime Pierce objected to the cuffs and regulations. She surmised he was putting on a show. The glance Prime Pierce gave Prime Jale was solely to prove to the Pereon leader that Kova would abide by the laws of the High Guard establishment.

  “Let’s go,” Prime Pierce ordered. “This place is filled with sympathizers. We need to get them inside. Now!”

  Lorin watched as Prime Jale smiled at the orders. He was pleased with Prime Pierce’s conduct.

  Once inside the corridor, Prime Pierce stopped everyone. He yelled, “Mr. Nova! What’s this about some evidence? You can prove you weren’t culpable when you shot down the Amity and killed Yulee Braconna? He was a diplomat! You know that? You bum!”

  As Lorin watched the prime, she saw more lies and more deceit. She now fully believed Prime Pierce was putting on a show for Prime Jale. She carefully stepped behind the two primes and stared at Boone to get his attention. Boone was upset about the hateful incarceration procedure until he saw Lorin smile at him and gently nodded her head. He understood. “Huh!” he thought. “I can read her! Prime Pierce is putting on a show? What? It’s true, Sir. If I had some time, I’m sure I can prove it, Sirs. Right, Lord? I’m trusting! I’m pleading! Let the truth come out! Please? Did I say thank you for Jona?”

  “Don’t answer that! I don’t think I want to know. You’re expected in session first thing in the morning!” He glanced at a few High Guardsmen. “Take him away!”

  Then Lorin, Terra, and Pryce were immediately summoned away by an old officer. He was an old friend of Boone’s family and he quickly led them away. They didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye or plead on Boone’s behalf.

  Boone and Mace were shoved and escorted into a long corridor. They were processed then a handful of High Guardsmen forcefully grabbed their arms and escorted them toward the detention cells. Prime Jale was pleased by the rough treatment of the two murderers. The two primes exited the Detention Center and left.

  Moments later a power failure occurred and everything went dark. Dim flashing emergency lights activated and the Guardsmen stopped part way down the corridor and let go of Boone and Mace. There were four of them. It made Boone recall the four that beat him and nearly killed him. Boone and Mace were ready and expecting a brutal beating.

  One guard stepped up to him and said, “Hey! Where are you two going?”

  The guards led them down a narrow hallway, around a corner, and to another shorter hallway with a door at the end. Boone and Mace were very suspicious. Suddenly, the three guards behind Boone fell to the floor and faked unconsciousness. They peeked at what was going on. The fourth guard opened a pouch on his belt that revealed a magnetic key. He looked at it and made sure Boone saw it.

  “Stop,” the guard muttered. “Come back here,” he smiled. Then the guard studied the door at the end of the hallway. He said, “You idiot. Time is wasting.”

  Then he fell to the floor and faked unconsciousness. Boone grabbed the key and strolled toward the door. He unlocked Mace’s braces and Mace unlocked his.

  Boone looked back and said, “Want me to hit you? In the face or something?”

  The guards waved their hands at him indicating he should leave immediately. One muttered, “Find your evidence, Boone. Find the mole.”

  They ran to the door not knowing what or who awaited. The door burst open and a small ship was idling. It was a small two-seater, a jet flyer and it was dark blue with yellow pinstriping. It had a sleek oval shape with two small wings under it.

  A woman with long light brown hair sat in the forward cockpit seat. Boone recognized her but he remembered her as a skinny timid girl with long flexible straight hair that was always getting in her face. Her face, back then, had a slightly pointed nose and narrow cheeks that sat on a tall skinny neck.

  Looking at her now, he saw a grown woman with rich wavy hair, full and tender cheeks, and her nose wasn’t her dominant feature; her hazel eyes and soft lips were. Boone gaped at her.

  “Get in!” she ordered.

  The canopy was up, the aft seat was empty and awaiting a passenger and a small cargo space was behind the aft seat. She waved hurriedly at them.

  Mace jumped on the wing and blared, “Jess!”

  “Get in, Star King! C’mon!”

  Mace muttered, “You’re still gonna call me that? It’s Star‘ling’! Star‘ling’! Uh,” he grunted.

  Mace climbed into the storage and Boone jumped into the aft seat. Jess lowered the canopy and blasted off. She headed south and out of the city.

  Boone cried, “Jess! I can’t believe it’s you!”

  Jess pushed the dark blue flyer over the city then dove down to the deck. “Ha! Well, I’m the one who can’t believe it’s you!” Then she reached the cities’ outer edge. They came to a large ocean which bordered the massive city. “And Boone, I can see you’re still causing a lot of trouble! I’d love to talk, you know? I’ve got a lot to say to you but now is not the time. We’re all gonna help you guys. We have a plan.”

  “We?” Mace asked from the hole he was stashed in.

  “Yeah, in a minute. Hang on! I’m waiting for clearance!”

  When she reached the ocean shore, she flew along a row of tall trees which towered over a rocky coastline.

  Boone said, “Clearance? Who’s gonna give you clearance? You just rescued us! They’ll be after us in a few seconds!”

  “Uh, Boone? Can I please have a moment? You know? You were always the risky one, daring, defying, so, do that now and give me a few seconds. Scan for people. Now!”

  Boone checked the scanner and said, “None. Why?”

  She lowered the jet flyer down onto the surface of the ocean and let it sink to the bottom. She turned on her COM and listened.

  “Starlight Leader! Report! Do you have it? It’s a big brown Galaxy Class 2 gunship. It was seen leaving the west side of the Detention Center. Report!”

  Mace muttered, “What? We’re not in a gunship. Who is that?”

  Jess chuckled. “Just wait. Will you? There’s more. We’ve been planning this for days.”

  “Kova Command, this is Starlight Leader responding. I am coordinating a search pattern. Which direction was it heading?”

  “West, Starlight 1.”

  “Jess,” Boone said. “It is so good to see you. How are you?”

  She sighed. “I’ve been better. You know? You left so quickly that day. We didn’t talk, no goodbye, nothing, Boone.”

  She studied her NAV panel as fish swarmed around the newfound contraption sitting twenty feet below the surface.

  “Jess, back then we never really said anything to each other. I wasn’t sure how you felt. I don’t think you know how I felt, either. I’m sorry.”

  “Boone! Really? Why do you think we always hung out together? Why do you think I went on all of those trips to Abdom Center and followed you around? You… you�
�”

  “Copy that. Starlight 1 to Starlight 2-7-J. Make your altitude 1.0.0.0 and box it in from the west. I will pursue. Copy?”

  “Uh, Boone,” Mace muttered. “She’s mad at you.”

  “Mace!” she blared. “I’m not mad.” She wiped a tear.

  “You’re hurt, Jess,” Boone said. “And it’s because of me.”

  “I’m mad because of what happened,” she softly answered. “I’m also mad because you didn’t know how I felt. You’re, uh! You’re…”

  “I’m an idiot?” he asked.

  “Yes!” she chuckled and wiped another tear.

  “You know, Jess? I’ve learned that people need to speak up. I know I didn’t back then, I’m sorry, but right now, I hate everything that’s happened to me lately. I hate liars! Lies, white lies, and black lies!”

  “What?” She chuckled at his rant.

  “Starlight 1, I’m not picking them up. Will head west and pursue.”

  “I hate the little lies! The big lies! Lies have ruined my life, Jess. I’m so sick of it. I’m speaking the truth all the time from now on so if you want to know something about me, just ask.”

  “Wow! Boone! I guess you have changed. I agree somewhat because this lie, planted somewhere in the Kovan Command Center not only ruined your life, Boone, I had plans also. And they just might have included you.” She softly added, “So, Boone, those lies ruined my life, too.”

  “I’m sorry, Jess.” He reached forward and rubbed her shoulder. “You know, Jess? You were right about me, back then. I think I loved you.”

  “Pfft!” she gasped and giggled. “Should have said that eight years ago.”

  A few moments passed. Boone said, “You have them all going west of here? How did you do that?”

  She wiped a tear. “We have a few friends in high places. Even the prime is in on it. We’ve got to get moving. They’re waiting.”

  “Who?” Mace asked.

  Jess cranked up the engines and the jet flyer lifted from the ocean floor. Once she let most of the water drain off her ship, she banked to her starboard and headed south, flying just above the gentle ocean waves. She entered a narrow opening wherein a river flowed and followed it for several miles. Then she flew above the treetops until she reached a tall mountain range. She flew in and around scenic mountain tops and came to a lush valley. She descended upon a small ranch and edged her flyer into a large barn, for cover.

  They saw a group of people standing to one side as Jess opened the canopy. Boone immediately recognized the pleasant-faced woman with light brown hair nearly touching her shoulders - Liana Nova. He and Mace climbed out of the cockpit, jumped and bounced off the narrow wing of the flyer, and ran to her.

  “Mom,” Boone exclaimed. He immediately hugged her tight. Tears streamed down his face and he made no effort to wipe them. Everyone was crying. Lorin, Phia, Pryce, and Terra were standing next to them. Boone let go and Mace hugged her.

  While still hugging Mace, she reached out and pulled Boone back and said, “My boys. My two boys!” She hugged them both and cried. Mace had spent so much time with Boone, she considered him as a son.

  Jess stood behind them waiting for her turn. She had been waiting to hug Boone since the day he left. Liana let them go and Jess immediately hugged them both.

  Boone whispered, “Jess, I’m sorry.” She nodded.

  Then Jess introduced two other people standing next to Boone’s team. “Everyone, this is Leake and Ulius.”

  Leake was a young man, about the same age as Boone, Mace, and Jess. He was a strong man with short black hair and Ulius was his younger brother. Ulius was about fourteen years old and also had short black hair. He was a child genius.

  Boone asked, “This is your team, Jess?”

  “No,” Leake answered. “We’re with my dad and a few of his friends. They are waiting to rendezvous with us right now several miles from here. They are High Guard officers. Jess,” he said as he looked at her. “We need to get to the plan if we’re going to do this.”

  Jess said, “Ms. Ta’mian, Boone, as I said, we have a plan and we need to go, now.”

  “Well,” Mace replied. “We have a plan, too, Jess. What’s your plan?”

  “I understand, Mace, but our plan is going to be wasted if we don’t move in the next few minutes!”

  Everyone looked at Boone and Jess, wondering about her plan. Liana said, “Jess, tell them. Quickly. We’ll all figure this out.”

  Jess nodded. “We ‘know’ someone in the High Guard lied that day and someone is still there planting lies.”

  “Infiltration,” Lorin added.

  “Yes, Ma’am,” Leake replied. “So, my dad, Commander Bridges, is searching right now. One of his friends in the COM Center sent the search squadron west of the city.”

  Boone said, “On a wild goose chase. Yes, we know. Thanks. And?”

  “Any second now, he will tell them to give up the search. You’ve disappeared! We are going to send a message and let the Pereon liaison overhear it. We think whoever is behind all of this lying and infiltration will, in turn, send a message to whoever is behind it all. Boone, Mace, we intend to trap them when they come for you.” Everyone pondered quickly and processed the plan in their minds.

  “Sir!” Ulius exclaimed. “Quickly tell us your plan.”

  Boone looked at the kid and smirked. “OK. Lorin?”

  Lorin stepped forward and said, “Investigator Terra and I are going to the COM Center and investigate the records from that day. I am going to interview the people who were there.”

  Ulius asked, “Interview? You think that will help?”

  Terra answered, “Look, let me explain something about a prime.”

  Ulius interrupted, “They are highly gifted, fluent in many dialects, extremely knowledgeable in matters of law and customs, and extensively trained. They are the wisest of all peoples. That is why they are called primes.”

  “Yes,” Terra replied. “Ms. Ta’mian is highly trained in the physical aspects of battle and as a member of the prime family, she is highly skilled in mathematics, languages, and sciences. She is also a highly skilled interrogator and lexicologist. She has a ‘way of getting to the truth.’ We will find something in that COM Center. I, as an investigator and she as a diplomat will have free reign to investigate and question them. We ‘will’ find the lies.”

  Pryce added, “That’s what they are doing. Boone, I think I should go with them. To watch their backs. You know?”

  Boone nodded and added, “So, now that I’m free, I can search for the device.” He looked at Jess, Leake, and Ulius. “That was our plan.”

  Liana stepped forward and was going to say something but Jess spoke up.

  “Device?” Jess asked.

  Ulius added, “The device for the Guardian King? Yes, now, as I was processing your ideas, I discovered they are excellent plans. Jess, Leake, I believe we can initiate our plan, still, even if Boone isn’t there. We simply need ‘them,’ whoever they are to believe Boone will be there. We ‘can’ do our plan without him. But, hmm.”

  Mace said, “I can go with you! I’m not Boone but they are still after me, too. Right?”

  Ulius exclaimed, “Yes! Excellent! Jess, send the message! We will leave immediately and take Mace. We will see who shows up for them. Ms. Ta'mian and Investigator Je’en, you go to the COM Center and Pryce, you watch their backs. I’m sure they will need your protection and more. You’ll need help.”

  Phia asked, “Want me to go?”

  “No,” Boone answered.

  Phia immediately sulked and despised his answer and assumed he hated her and didn’t want her to be involved, whatsoever. She knew he didn’t trust her anymore. Lorin saw her emotions and reaction. She planned on talking to her about it.

  Boone continued, “I’ll need Phia to go with me. Everyone has a job to do, now. Lorin, Terra, and Pryce – COM Center in the High Guard Command Center. Mace is with Jess, Leake, and Ulius. Phia and I will go for the device. Ques
tions?”

  Liana asked, “Boone, this device? What are you talking about?”

  “Mom, when I left that day, I removed the designation device for the Guardian King so I could escape the planet. I buried it. If I can find it, I will get the coordinates for the Taurus 7 and maybe even the Amity. Their devices and data chips will prove what really happened up there. Right now, they are at the bottom of the Tahonic Ocean. That’s my plan.”

  Liana covered her mouth with her right hand and placed her left hand on her chest. Everyone wondered.

  Jess said, “Boone, that’s genius!”

  Ulius added, “And, it can prove everything. If you can find it.”

  “Uh, mom? You OK?”

  She gasped and asked, “The designation device? From your father’s ship?”

  Boone then glanced around and started to worry. His gaze fell upon his mom again. “Mom? Where’s dad?”

  Liana quickly wiped a tear. He looked at Jess and her head was bowed and she frowned. Liana looked at her son, lovingly but Boone and everyone saw the despair on her face.

  “Mom!” he stepped closer. “Where’s dad?”

  She lowered her hands and let the tears fall. “Boone, I’m sorry, son. The Colonel, your father, he’s gone. I don’t know where he is.” She wiped more falling tears.

  “What?” Boone asked, softly while tears fell down his face. “Gone where? Where is he?”

  Liana shook her head from side to side, “I don’t know where he went, Boone. The day you left was the day he left… me.”

  Boone immediately went and hugged her. Liana buried her face in his chest and wept. Everyone had tears upon hearing the disheartening news. Boone cried. Lorin went to them and hugged them, trying to comfort them.

  Boone stepped back. “I wish I knew that, Mom. I would have come back.”

  “No,” Liana said. “You were right to leave. He is the one in the wrong.”

  Boone wiped the tears from his eyes then he said, sorrowfully, “Mom, you must have some idea where he is.”

  She shook her head no and wiped tears. “But,” she added. “Before he left, he came and got some of his things. He told me he gave you the Guardian King. He was very disgusted about losing the ship, Boone. I don’t think he was upset about you leaving. He was very upset about that ship and the fact that he was no longer in the Kovan Defense Force. He fumed over the dissolution of his ‘precious force.’ He said he didn’t need the ship and the stupid new High Guard was not going to get it, either.” She wiped more tears. “Boone, everyone, listen. He also said he was going back to get that device and he was going to take it. I only know he didn’t want them to find you.”