The Star Warriors
Page 22
Xiaolang’s eyes widened in shock.
* * *
Sakura sighed with exhaustion as she stood before the Daidouji mansion. Her security detail, courtesy of Tomoyo’s mother, led her through the gates. Finally, she had some time away from interviews and meetings with the Japanese government. She had wanted to spend the night with Yukito, Touya, and Franklin, but Tomoyo had important news for her.
Kero floated beside her, though he flew near her shoulder, wary of the security guards from whom he was used to hiding.
“This is totally weird,” he muttered to her.
“Everything is,” replied Sakura.
The guards led her through the mansion until they reached Tomoyo’s room. Tomoyo dismissed the guards, and Sakura breathed a sigh of relief, as if to scream, “Freedom!” She regarded her friend, whose eyes were glimmering with excitement like nothing Sakura had seen before. Tomoyo grabbed her hand and dragged her into her workshop. Six sizing mannequins in different configurations lined one wall. The other wall was packed with large computer displays, presenting different designs and patterns.
“Now that I have all their measurements, I can commence my magnum opus!” exclaimed Tomoyo.
“All whose measurements?” asked Sakura nervously.
“Isn’t it obvious?” asked Tomoyo. “Your team! I’m gonna be the Star Warriors’ official costume designer!”
“What?!” screamed Sakura.
“Oi! Don’t forget Kerberus!” exclaimed Kero. “Next time, I’mma flyin’ into battle. Pah! That albino reckons he’s so cool. That Aussie wanna go? They’ll all bow to the awesomeness that is me!”
Tomoyo clapped her hands together and shrieked, “Oh, this is going to be delightful!”
Sakura withdrew into a corner and buried her face in her palms. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment. And yet, in the depths of her heart, she could not shake her own excitement.
Being a Star Warrior is awesome, she thought.
Epilogue
A faint wave rippled across the length and breadth of the universe.
In the gap between the tenth and eleventh dimensional membranes, that infinitesimal fluctuation awakened an entity. Its very being was instantly alert and it searched in panicked, almost manic fervour for the source of the signal. Yet the wave was too minor to isolate, even for an existence of such magnitude as it.
The entity trembled with disappointment and frustration. But it willed itself to return to slumber and conserve its strength. They would surely give it another chance to sniff them out.
Such was their nature.
About the Author
Craig Stephen Cooper grew up in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. At a young age, he quickly developed a flare for the dramatic, an obsession with various video games, and an aptitude for expressiveness.
In response to his desire to develop video games, his parents allowed him to study software engineering under a tutor while still in primary school. At the same time, he took dance lessons after school. He later decided drama was a path better suited to his love of storytelling, and studied speech and drama during high school.
While completing a Bachelor of Computer Engineering, he underwent practical and theory examinations for an Associate Diploma of Performance Art. During his Doctor of Philosophy in Telecommunications, he taught speech and drama to primary school children. As a member of the Fellowship of Australian Writers, he has presented workshops on storytelling and poetry, drawing on his speech and drama studies.
Cooper conceived of The AXOM Saga while on a train from Fukuoka to Nagasaki in Japan. Under encouragement from his friends, he wrote the stories with a passion to equal his first novel, Final Flight of the Ranegr.
He also dabbles in video game and mobile app development.
About the Illustrator
Tessa Eden grew up upon the shores of Australia's sunny beaches, frolicking in the sand and exploring the beautiful underwater world. Her father being a software engineer, and mother an illustrator, it was natural that she would grow to combine the two, becoming a digital artist. She now spends her days painting digitally, and creating 3D animations and CGI for animation studios in Sydney.
Other Works by this Author
Final Flight of the Ranegr
The AXOM Saga:
Book I – The Starlight Lancer
Book II – The Awakening
Book III – Path of a Hero
Book IV – The Cursed Jewel
Book V – Metanoia
Book VI – The Star Warriors
Find them online at
http://www.cscooper.com.au/books
How to Contact the Author
Personal website: http://www.cscooper.com.au/.
Favourite me on Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/TheSilvrAlchmst
Footnotes
ANZAC, Australia New Zealand Army Corps, was a branch of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in World War One. The biscuits named after them were invented during that time as a snack that would last a long time and were easy to make with the limited ingredients available at the time. They are still very popular today.
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, the Australian equivalent of the FBI.
Literally translated, “I receive.” This is similar to saying “Grace” before meals in Western cultures.
French: “I accuse!”
Author of The Divine Comedy, depicting a descent into Hell and then a journey to Heaven.
Italian: “So wonderful.”
A Japanese dagger.
An Australian slang word for Wollongong, Nathan’s hometown.
A hairstyle in Asia, in which hair is organised into balls.
Traditional Chinese dress.
This is a custom in Chinese culture. If she’d eaten the rice, she would have stated that the meal wasn’t enough. By leaving the rice, she is stating she is full, and the meal was good.
Witchese Language: “Absorb-Invert”
January 26 is Australia Day, celebrating the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove. It has similar significance to American Independency Day.