Defender of the Empire: Cadet #1

by Catherine Beery

  Jason stirred and I ducked down to check on him. “Jason? Can you hear me?” I called softly. His tri-colored eyes opened and focused on my face for a second. Something hit the console we were huddling behind and a shower of sparks rained around us. Those tri-colored eyes of green, purple, and crimson went wide and it seemed that one of those sparks had lit something behind those eyes. They glowed and, suddenly, Luna’s warning made a hell of a lot of sense.

  Some instinct took over and I scooted back from Jason. He grunted and curled into a ball. “What’s wrong with him?!” Westley shouted. I could only shake my head as I struggled to decide if I should fight my instinct or not.

  I didn’t get the chance to decide because suddenly Jason’s form melted away and all the fire power in the room experienced a change in trajectory. A ball of heat drew the blasts to itself and suddenly expanded. The shock wave knocked everyone down. For the Zar’dakens, the position was somewhat problematic with all those limbs.

  A rattling hiss drew my attention to a sight that my mind was having serious trouble understanding. In Jason’s place was a large serpent creature with feathered wings that were mostly crimson with purple and green highlights. It was coiled about the console and hissing at the enemy. Long fangs, roughly the size of my arm, dripped a neon green substance. I didn’t need to be told that I did not want it touching me. The serpent’s feathery crest was erect in a threatening manner. There was a moment of silence as we all stared. Then a Telmick made the mistake of moving and the serpent struck.

  Shots flashed into the creature and only seemed to piss it off more. It lashed out with its body, knocking down a few of the enemy who had made it too their feet back to the ground or slammed into the wall.

  “What the hell?!” I think the three of us rescuers said at the same time. We traded a glance before giving ourselves a shake and joining Jason in fighting the enemy. How did he do that? I mentally asked. I had never seen anything like that before. It was amazing. The only problem was that Serpent Jason was taking up all the available room and we risked hitting him with our weapons. The enemy was already doing a stellar job turning his brown-black scales red. Scrap that. I expect to know later, but, first, how do I get him back to human? I asked the Spectrals as I ducked to avoid the flailing feathered tail.

  IT’S HIS FIRST TIME. Scrae said thoughtfully. HE NEEDED A SHOCK OF SOME KIND TO AFFECT THE CHANGE. A CATALYST. I BELIEVE THE BEATING DID THAT. YOU GAVE HIM THE ENERGY HE NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE CHANGE.

  And that helps me how?!

  Scrae sighed. YOU NEED TO TELL HIM TO CONVERT THE MASS HE HAS GAINED BACK INTO ENERGY AND TO RELEASE IT BACK TO THE UNIVERSE. IT IS THE ONLY WAY HE WILL FIND HIS WAY BACK.

  HOW?! I demanded.

  REMIND HIM WHO HE IS. Scrae said like that was obvious and easy. I sighed. Was it possible that all Spectrals were made cryptic?

  “How long till help arrives?” I heard Marius ask. I have no idea how I could possibly hear him over the sounds of battle, but I did. Westley, who was closer to him, answered with a shrug.

  “Only God knows, but it can’t be too much longer if they truly mean to come.”

  ***

  Spectral Empire

  Avana System

  Captain Braeden Wingstar stared at the reports that his away team had brought back with a sense of growing helpless anger. Very little could be discovered from the Nem Beacon node because the very mountain it had been sitting on was now just a lot of rubble several thousand feet below where it had been. It was clear that someone had set a charge in the time after the Aurora brought the survivors back to the capital. The odd thing was that the crew who had been tasked to do preliminary recon had not seen the charge. The way Braeden saw it, they were either blind or they were part of the cover up.

  Whoever had set the second charge had been careful because no clues had yet turned up.

  It was at that moment that his internal com-link peeped. What is it, Gigit? He asked the intelligence running the link.

  “You have an incoming joint message from 5th Class Cadet Sinclair.”

  Braeden stilled for a moment in surprise before telling the com to lay it. Rylynn’s clear voice began with a decisive determination that bordered on disrespectful, but made him grin anyway. “Court martial me, or whatever you do to punish cadets who go against orders, later. We are going after Jason. Here are the coordinates on the edge of the N’avé System. We expect a fight and plead for assistance. Thanks, 5th Cadet Sinclair out.”

  Raj, Braeden’s raven Spectral, laughed dryly as Braeden asked who the other recipient of the message was.

  “Admiral L’Seral.” Gigit replied.

  Contact Admiral L’Seral, if you would. He instructed Gigit as he made his way to the bridge.

  “Evens, I have a new heading for you.” He said to the Hail Mary’s helmsman.

  “What is in the N’avé System, Captain?” Braeden’s second in command, Commander Race Quinn, asked.

  “Our missing cadet and his rescuers.” Braeden replied.

  “Pardon? His rescuers?” Race inquired.

  Braeden grinned causing his second’s brows to rise. “The rest of his team, of course.”

  “But they were just in Medical. Why would they go after the kid?”

  Braeden raised his own brow. “That is one hell of a question to come from you, my friend. You would have done the same in a heartbeat.”

  “I won’t deny it, but how do they know where to look when we haven’t found a clue?”

  Braeden shrugged. “We’ll ask them after we lend them assistance.” He managed to evade the question with practiced ease. He had a guess how the cadets knew. But it was, after all, only a guess.

  “Yes Captain?” Admiral L’Seral replied to his call

  Did you receive Rylynn’s message. He asked sitting in his chair.

  “Of course. Scrappy little thing.” L’Seral said, a grin in her tone. “We will have to advise her in how to send a request for aid in the future, though.”

  “True… You haven’t informed Admiral Knight about this yet, have you?” He asked. He had many reasons not to trust that man. And he knew that telling him about Rylynn’s message was the last thing they wanted to do.

  L’Seral made a sound of disgust. “Honestly, Braeden, I wonder what you think of me some days. You honestly think I would tell him what we are up to? My dear colleague would insist on waiting forever or going himself. Both courses steal my opportunity to have some fun. That man thinks I’m old!” She protested. Braeden bit his tongue from saying anything. L’Seral was the oldest of the currently serving admirals. No matter how true it might be, it was rude to say anything about a woman’s age. “Besides, I don’t want to miss seeing Rylynn’s latest exploits.” L’Seral continued.

  I don’t want to miss it either. So how would you like to proceed once we arrive? He asked.

  “Depends on what we are against. We know about the Telmicks. We only know that they are the ses-Ky clan but not who they were working for.”

  That is what I am worried about as well. How about this, The Hail Mary will enter the scene first. That way if it gets hot we have the advantage of surprise with the Terrenza and her SCF.

  “Very well.” She said and Braeden knew she didn’t like that the Hail Mary was going to play bait, but she understood his reasoning. The Terrenza, like most weapons, was much more devastating when she was unexpected.

  Braeden leaned back in his chair and began to pray that they would survive the darkness ahead of them. He also prayed that the cadets would still be alive by the time they arrived.

  ***

  Spectral Empire

  Edge of the N’avé System

  Jason had incapacitated most of the enemy before I could get through to him. I can tell you, it had been the most nerve wracking experience to have him round on me suddenly. In this winged serpent form he was easily big enough to make a snack out of me if he so chose. His lipless mouth had opened on a hiss. It had been wide enough for me to catch a g
limpse of those two gleaming neon green fangs. I had swallowed before meeting his eyes. I blinked in an effort not to get lost in the spinning, yet not mixing, colors. Green, purple, and crimson swirled around the black slit of his pupil in a fascinating way…

  CALL HIM. Luna whispered to me. Her urgent voice shook me from my daze and I blinked.

  “Jason. Come on. Remember who you are. You are a Cadet in the Legion Fleet Academy and we,” I said indicating myself and the older boys, “are your friends.” I kept my gaze on those swirling irises and plowed on. I knew it was only a matter of time before more enemies came. Even so, I focused on reminding Jason of who he was. “You need to return to human so you can help me with math some more.” I added jokingly, but I was serious too. I needed all the help I could get. I quickly told him of our adventures since we had met three weeks ago. Not a long time, but besides sleeping and some classes, we had been with each other every minute. I paused when Luna warned me that more Telmicks were on their way. My voice turned pleading because nothing seemed to be happening. “We have to go, Jason. And you are too big right now to go sneaking about. Hell, you are too big to fit in the LFA!” So apparently I get nonsensical when I’m anxious.

  The serpent’s mouth snapped shut. Even more reliving to me was that his eyes were slowing their entrancing spin. And to my surprise the serpent spoke. “Are you sssaying I’m fat in thisss form?” He asked. The tri-colored eyes stopped spinning and settled in their original pattern.

  I got over my surprise quickly, (but really? Who would have thought he could speak like this?) and shrugged. “An LFA would burst at the seams and you wouldn’t be halfway in it.”

  “That isss jussst mean.” Serpent Jason pouted. He closed his eyes for an uneasily long moment.

  My skin started to itch and my temperature seemed to rise uncomfortably. HE IS RELEASING THE EXTRA ENERGY HE NEEDED FOR THIS FORM. Scrae observed answering my not yet formed question.

  WHICH MEANS YOU ARE ABSORBING IT. Luna clarified. Oh shit. I thought. It seemed that I had already replaced what I had given to him. This wasn’t going to be good. A glance at Marius had him picking his way over Jason’s disintegrating tail. The large serpent was no longer black, green, red, and purple. It was a luminescent white instead. Trickles of it were fleeing from the mass. Marius was halfway to me when Jason released the excess all at once…

  “Rylynn! Wake up! This is no time for sleeping.” I was told. Quick, successive taps on my cheek made me realize that my eyes were closed. I opened them to find that I was sitting on the metal floor with Marius supporting my shoulders. Westley and Jason were both looking down at me in concern.

  “What the hell happened?” I asked.

  “Jason went all nova-like and you hit the deck, out cold.” Marius explained in a joking voice, but I could see the concern in his eyes.

  MARIUS DRAINED THE ENERGY BEFORE ITCOULD FRY YOU. Scrae informed me.

  Thanks for putting that beautiful image in my head. I thought caustically.

  YOU’RE WELCOME. The mouse squeaked. But I could tell that he was relieved that I was okay.

  “Well, I’m done with time out. Let’s get out of here.” I said struggling to my feet. Jason looked apologetic. I patted his shoulder as we slipped out of the room where he had been held. “I’m okay. How are you?” I asked in a hushed whisper.

  “I feel amazing.” He said. “Though I would love to get off this ship.”

  “You and me both.” I replied.

  “I think it’s the same for all of us.” Westley added.

  We ran as quickly as we dared. I kept thinking that we would have company any second… The hair on the back of my neck rose. I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being watched. The sensation was so strong that I kept throwing glances behind us. But the hall was always empty of enemies. No one came at us from any side corridors. I was getting more and more anxious. And I wasn’t the only one.

  “Where is everybody?” Westley asked. “I would have thought we would have been fighting the entire way to the LFA.”

  “I agree.” Marius said grimly. “This is too easy.”

  The uneasy feeling increased. “Did anyone see the Telmick leader when we left the room?” I asked.

  “You mean the guy who came in just before the Zar’daken?” Westley asked glancing back at me. I nodded and he frowned. “I don’t think so… I don’t remember. I was too busy trying to avoid getting shot and knocked over by a serpent Jason.”

  Jason ducked his head. “Sorry.”

  Westley grunted. “Too easy, lad. It isn’t fun when it’s too easy.”

  “Huh?” Jason asked looking him.

  Westley sighed. “You took out most of them. I don’t care if I had to avoid your feathered tail since you were dispatching the guys trying to kill us.”

  Jason smiled slightly at the praise lurking in Westley’s tone.

  “The question is, where are the rest of the guys trying to kill us?” Marius asked. We still couldn’t answer that when we reached the hatch where our LFA was waiting for us. We scampered inside, Westley and Marius taking the helm. The ship’s consoles were lighting up when I gripped Westley’s shoulder and pointed speechlessly out the window.

  “Wha….oh.” His question died as he followed my gaze. I am pretty sure that everyone stopped breathing. Looming out of the blackness of space was the most ominous thing I had ever seen so far. It looked like an anemone. But instead of being about the size of my fist, it was easily the size of the moon that circled the nearby planet. Its spiky hull was made of a black material that seemed to absorb all light.

  “A Zar’daken warship,” Jason muttered breathlessly. “We are so screwed.” I really wished that people would stop saying stuff like that because the Universe loves playing with me and always wants to say ‘oh yeah? What about now?’ when something else happens that makes things worse.

  Like now.

  Chapter 27 - The Universe’s Joke

  “Let’s get out of here before that ship decides to show the Telmicks their displeasure.” Westley said.

  “Mhmm.” Marius voiced with a nod. The two of them tapped in their instructions and the ship responded. I sat back in my seat, glad that we were getting out of here. The LFA jerked and I had to grip the arm rests to keep from flying off the seat. Right, need to strap in. a thought muttered inanely.

  “What happened?!” Jason asked.

  “I thought you released the lock.” Westley turned to Marius.

  Marius stared at his console. “So did I.” He replied. He tapped his command into the console again. Westley tried once more… with the same results. “What the hell!” Marius cursed and tried something else. “Shit. Well, now I know why we didn’t see anybody on the way. They were waiting for us to trap ourselves.”

  “They locked us out of hatch, didn’t they?” Westley asked wearily.

  “You got it.” Marius smiled humorously.

  “Damn.”

  The ship’s com peeped and Jason swallowed. “It’s the Telmicks.” He said. “Should I answer it?”

  The rest of us traded a glance before Westley said. “Why not? It’s not like this can get any worse.”

  “Shh!” I hissed at him, knowing all too well that the Universe was listening and could take up his challenge. I really didn’t want to see what could possibly be worse. My imagination was bad enough, thank you. Westley glanced at me in bewilderment just as the view of the Zar’daken ship was replaced by the visage of the Telmick mercenary leader.

  His yellow eyes were cold as he eyed the four of us. “Children of the Fleet, I demand that you return to us our property.”

  Before Westley could reply I leaned forward, saying “I’m not sure what you are talking about. We haven’t taken anything of yours. We were retrieving a friend you had stolen.”

  His eyes narrowed at me. It made me wish that the view screen didn’t automatically make the person larger than they really were. I mean, honestly, he was a Telmick. They were already big and didn
’t need any help from view screens in that department. I just knew I was going to have nightmares of this tattooed mercenary after this. “Possession is nine-tenths of the law.” He replied.

  I snorted. I have no idea how I kept my outward appearance calm during this conversation. I just knew I was grateful for it. “But you don’t have him.”

  “I disagree. I have all of you.” He pointed out sitting back in his chair.

  I was silent for a moment. Westley met my gaze. The mercenary has a point his expression said clearly. I frowned and met the smug yellow eyes again. “And the Zar’daken’s own you.” I stated.

  It was his turn to frown. “The ses-Ky are free. We are owned by no one.”

  My brows rose. “But they are the ones you were selling to, yes? They own you by contract.”

  “We both own the contract.” He corrected stiffly.

  “But you don’t get paid if you cannot deliver on it. And it’s worse if…” I trailed off and actually smiled at him. “I’m curious. Did they already pay you? Because if they did then I would have to say that yes, they do own you.”

  He actually growled. “And we will deliver what they are owed. Give us back the boy and we will let you leave.”

  “Like to the vacuum of space, right?” I guessed because there was no way they were going to let us live after the insult we had just dealt them.

  “That’s a risk you face.” The tattooed leader said. “You either give us the boy and have the chance to live or we kill you all.”

  I shook my head. “I don’t believe you.” I said flatly. His eyes widened. I could feel my companions look at me in a similar manner. “We both know that you won’t be paid if the boy is dead. That is the only reason you haven’t maimed him in the day you have had him in your custody. It’s the only reason why you’ve only beaten him to show him who is boss.” I said coldly. His eyes widened again. Before I could continue pushing him or he could cut in we heard alarm klaxons sound from his end. “What is happening?” I asked looking at Westley.