Shae pushed out his lips. “Her?”
“I dreamt she was a girl, and her name was Alison.”
Shae smiled. “A good name.” He leaned back, propping himself up with both hands behind him.
Helen leaned back against him. “You’ll be a good dad, too.”
“Did you dream that, too, Love?”
Love. Yes, that was the nickname he had called her shortly after they met and courted.
Shae rubbed the back of his head and blinked the blur out of his eyes, coming back to the present. After waiting for a few hours for the NMJ drives to recharge, they had finally jumped. Traveling across space and time always screwed with him, yet this time wasn’t so bad, especially since a memory of his wife came to the surface.
“We’re here,” said Kalista, her tone monotone, as if she couldn’t care less.
Shae, keeping his bad leg straight, scooted forward to the edge of the bench seat. There, through the window and out in the deep void of space, floated Starbase Matrona, a bright light shining off its apex.
Devon turned in his seat, a smile on his face. “We made it.” His upturning lips then dropped into a straight line. “Where are we exactly?”
Behind Matrona hovered a glowing orange, green, and blue planet. Two moons, one large and yellow with silver rings and the other plain and red in color, orbited the planet.
Kalista cleared her throat as if to get their attention away from the gorgeous scene in front of them. “We’re at the worst planet in the history of the galaxy.”
“The worst planet?” To Shae, this seemed like the most gorgeous. “Give me a little hint as to why.”
Kalista palmed her forehead, sighing loudly. “I can’t believe I’m here. I’m actually at this piece of Orion’s butt—”
“What is it?” interrupted Shae.
“Planet Aurora.” She grunted. “Home of the Space Templars.”
Devon leaned his head against his chair’s headrest. “The home of the Space Templars can’t be a bad place.”
“To you, yes. It’s a great place.” She bit her bottom lip, her cheeks flushing. “To me, no. Enki is a Templar leader, and although he’s an Anunnaki, he’ll want to kill me as soon as he sees me.” She grabbed the control stick. “I don't want to be here.”
Shae attempted to lift off the bench to stop her from moving the ship, then fell back in pain. “Don’t leave.”
“Try and stop me,” she growled.
“You piece of ebb,” yelled Shae. “You coward beyond—”
“Shut it.” Kalista sliced her arm across the air. “They’ll likely do worse than kill me.”
Devon tilted his head, shooting her an odd look. “What?”
“They’ll want me to join their stupid cult, their alliance to save the galaxy of scum like my race and Y’taul’s.”
Shae crossed his arms, pulling in a deep breath. “I promise you I’ll make sure you’ll leave safely after you drop us off. If they don’t, you have permission to shoot me on the spot.”
“I should shoot you now and just leave.”
“But you have no home,” said Devon. “Won’t Y’taul show that you sold white powder gold to—”
“We don’t know that for sure. It’s just speculation,” said Kalista. She dropped her hands to her lap and let out an exasperated breath. “But you’re right, and I hate to say that. If I go back to Nibiru, and Y’taul contacts them, they’ll throw me in prison for the rest of my life, or they’ll execute me.” She threw her hands up. “What about my family?”
Shae sat up. “Maybe that Enki fellow could send word to your family and get them here?”
She didn’t respond and pushed the throttle forward, steering away from Matrona.
“Where are you going?” shouted Devon, standing.
“Sit down, if you know what’s good for you.” She flicked her head toward planet Aurora. “I’m heading planet-side.”
Shae shook his head, pointing at his leg. “I need to get to Matrona. A doctor has to set my leg and then get me into a Suficell Pod.”
Kalista snorted. “You brainless twerp. The Space Templars could heal you much faster, and with more skill. We’re heading down there, not to your damn precious Matrona.”
Shae’s gut contracted, not liking the idea. He wanted to see his friends, his nephew, and maybe get word to his daughter. How were Manning and Louise faring after the fight with Payson? He wanted intel.
“What do they look like?” asked Devon, his tone serious, his expression like stone. “Do they have multiple legs?”
“You’re kidding me, right?” replied Kalista, moving the ship past Matrona and closer to Aurora. “Most sentient beings walk on two legs.” She shrugged. “The Templars are mostly human with some Anunnaki, Sirian, Arcturian, and even a few Plearian members.”
A beep sounded, and an orb-like spacecraft materialized on the holodisplay. It headed toward them, then took a sharp turn, moving closer to Starbase Matrona.
“That’s a Space Templar frigate, probably picking up humans and dropping them off planetside,” explained Kalista. “Maybe they’re evacuating the starbase and getting people on a planet where they belong. Maybe your race has a new home.” The holodisplay zoomed out and shifted its focus to Aurora again. A dozen more ships, similar class, flew toward Matrona.
Devon shook his head. “I think things have drastically changed. I saw none of this in my visions, nor did Naveya. Maybe my visions and paintings were warnings instead of prophecies? Maybe if we didn’t change our ways or if we lost the battle, my paintings would’ve been correct.”
Both Kalista and Shae shot Devon a look.
Devon leaned away. “Forget I said anything.”
“Gladly,” muttered Kalista.
The Starhawk flew onward and entered the planet’s exosphere. The commlink crackled online. “Fleet Admiral Shae Lutz, this is Sabra of the Space Templars.”
Shae cocked his head to the side. “How would she know I’m on this ship?”
“It’s the Space Templars. They seem to know…things,” said Kalista.
Devon pressed the com. “Yes, we’re here.”
“Welcome to Aurora,” greeted Sabra. “We’re shuttling everyone off the starbase and to my planet. You have free passage to your new home. You’ll find it more pleasing than the starbase. On planet-side, we’ll set you on your next mission.”
“Next mission? Please explain your meaning,” responded Shae, hoping Sabra could hear him from the cabin.
The comm went silent.
Devon leaned closer to the com. “Sabra, do you read? Sabra?”
No response.
Devon clicked off the commlink and leaned back, shrugging. “I don’t know.”
Shae furrowed his brow. “What the Guild is she talking about?”
Kalista giggled. “You poor saps. Don't worry, you're a perfect match for them. Love at first sight. Like birds twitting and—”
“A perfect match?” said Shae.
“You both have a desire to help humanity, and ultimately, every Being that exists in the galaxy.” She snorted. “You know, the hero complex.”
“So, everything is fine on Matrona?” questioned Devon.
“Yes, and like I said, you’re dealing with the Space Templars. They wouldn’t harm your starbase or anyone on it.”
Devon looked off, fidgeting with the side of the flight console. “Then what exactly is this mission?”
“Yeah, that’s odd. I’d think they’d let your race rest before they sent you on another mission. Something must be up.” She pushed on the throttle, speeding up the Starhawk.
Devon scooted forward in his chair. “Maybe my sister, mom, and dad are down there.”
Kalista faked a happy clap. “Maybe my mommy and daddy and sissy are there, too.” She shook her head. “Oh, please. You humans are far too emotional.” She slapped Devon’s forearm. “Sit back. We’re heading into the upper atmosphere soon.”
Devon sat against the backrest, adjusting th
e shoulder and waist restraints. “Naveya said humans are unique compared to any other Being in the galaxy because of our emotions. We can go from love to hate and back to love in a matter of seconds. I don't know why, but she said when humans are in a positive state of wellbeing, we can change the balance of the galaxy and send a wave of energy that can shift the very nature of an imbalanced society.”
“Huh?” responded Kalista. “Okay, whoever this Naveya is, I imagine she’s smoking some drugs. You humans whine and cower in fear too much for my taste.”
“But when we aren’t, we’re powerful,” said Shae. “I’d think you’d change your stance after you witnessed my race band together and stand up to yours.”
Kalista adjusted the ship’s trajectory, heading into the planet’s upper atmosphere. “You have a point, Fleet Admiral.” She pressed several holographic buttons. “Now, hang on. We’ll be planet side soon.”
43
Ali
Eos
Debris and dust filled the hallway and Enlil’s study. The morning sunlight saturated the room through the torn apart ceiling.
“No roof,” Ali said to herself, waving her hand about, pushing away the hazy dust cloud. She coughed several times. “And no walls.” A deep gash separated the study, exposing the Bawns’ tunnel system below. Pieces of ebb and marble littered the ground and covered dozens of unconscious and lifeless Bawn.
As the dust settled, Ali’s eyes widened. The light in the room wasn’t sunlight cascading through the soot and grime like she originally thought. It came from inside the room and pierced the haze like a sharp knife through cloth.
Nyx knelt on the floor, her fist in the air. Light from her wrist band expanded and connected like a grid to other light sources, looking much like an umbrella. Ali followed the light sources to dozens of Space Templars, all mimicking Nyx, their arms toward the sky.
Eden stood next to Ali. “I think we saved most.”
“How?” asked Ali.
Eden gestured with her head toward the nearest Space Templar. “Energy shields.”
Rocks crumbled and fell a short distance to the floor. Coughing penetrated the room. Thun pushed debris off of him and stood, dusting himself off. The lights blinked off and the Space Templars’ arms, almost in unison, dropped to their sides. The morning dawn held a glint of light from the rising sun, but nothing like the light from the shields.
“Ali?”
Ali knew that voice. “Daf?”
Daf coughed. “Over here.” She crouched next to a Bawn. He lay face down, his arms lifeless and wrapped around someone. Dust covered his face, his eyes closed. Daf waved Ali over. “It’s King Bilrak.”
Ali sidestepped and walked over several unconscious Bawn. She stopped and crouched by Daf’s side, touching her back. “I’m glad you made it safely.” She eyed Bilrak and saw that he breathed lightly.
Daf dipped her head. “I don’t know about safely, but I’m alive.”
“You know what I mean.”
Daf winked. “Love you too.” She put her hand on Bilrak’s shoulder and shook. “Yo, buddy. You want to wake up for us anytime soon?”
Thun came to Ali’s side, his stare empty. “My father?” His face went pale, and he took his father’s arm, moving it away from someone’s face. Thun stepped back. “My brother?”
Harak lay underneath Bilrak and spit out dust. As if suddenly realizing the situation, he furiously wiggled out from under his father, shoving more rock and ceiling debris out of the way.
“Help me, brother,” said Thun, bending down to move slabs of rock off Bilrak. They cleaned their father from debris and moved him on his side. Thun held on to his father. “Harak, find mother.”
Harak stood immediately, looking wildly about. “Mother?”
Bawn moved about the room, helping their fellow kinsmen while Harak rushed around like a chicken with his head cut off.
“How many do you think are dead?” Daf said in a soft hush.
Ali glanced around the room. Many lay on the ground, not moving. She didn’t know if they’d died or were unconscious. Some began to stir, pushing pieces of ceiling off of them.
Harak hurried back to Thun, tears welling in his eyes. “I can’t find mother.”
“Wipe the piss out of your eyes, son.” Bilrak struggled to a sitting position. He hacked several coughs, spitting on the floor. “Death is nothing to cry over. Being covered in this white crud, that’s another story.” He stared blankly at his hands and clapped them together, puffing out a small white cloud in front of him.
“Let’s get out of here,” said Ali. “We don’t know if another—”
A loud cry filled the room. “Mother,” yelled Harak, peering into a large hole in the floor. He raised his eyes to the heavens, arms wide, tears dripping from his beard.
A blue furred giant, Jantu, rushed past Ali, his arm brushing against hers. He hopped down into the opening and pushed rubble off Harak’s mother. He felt for her pulse and then shook his head, his chin falling to his chest. “Her life force has left her body. She dwells with her ancestors now.” He shifted his gaze to Harak. “She has a message for you…”
Ali wiggled her ears back and forth with her finger. How did he talk without moving his lips?
Harak and several more Bawn, including Thun and Bilrak came closer to the blue creature. Thun’s lower lip was quivering. Bilrak went to his knees at the edge of the opening, his hands together, his shoulders lowered.
“I don’t know how,” said Bilrak, “But I hear you, blue furred…friend.” He bowed, touching his hands to his forehead. “I would like to hear what my wife has to say.”
Harak threw a fist in the air. “I told you, father. That heathen, Ali, her presence killed our mother. The prophecy was right.” He pulled at his hair, spinning around. “My poor mother.” He raised his voice. “I curse you, Anunnaki. I will give you all a slow, painful death.” He turned and glared at Ali. “I’ll give you a slow death as well.”
Jantu stood. “This message isn’t for the King. It’s for her son, whom she calls Harak.”
Harak paused and faced Jantu, wiping the tears off his face, grimacing like a mad man. “Then speak.”
Jantu bowed deeply. “As you wish. She tells me she won’t return to life but will remain on the other side where your ancestors’ dwell.” He paused as if hearing more. “It’s beautiful there, so beautiful. But the beauty doesn’t dwell in you, Harak. You push it away, you cut it in half like it’s an enemy, when in fact, it’s your guide.”
Harak rushed to the edge, his fist raised. “You speak lies.”
Jantu held up his hand. “Don’t interrupt. You do again, I’ll hold you down in front of every man and woman in here, and you’ll hear all that she has to say.”
Harak looked around, huffing. He grabbed an axe off the floor and lay it on his shoulder. “Try it, blue freak.”
Bilrak ran at his son and tackled him. “I’ll hold him down for you…in front of the men and women here.” Harak struggled as Bilrak held him down, clearly stronger than his son.
“Thank you.” Jantu nodded. “She wants Harak to be kind to his brother. He may never love…Thun…more than his mother and father, but he needs to get along. If he doesn’t and continues to disobey, he’ll surely die and enter the realm his mother has.” He bowed again. “That’s all.”
Bilrak slowly stood and released his grip on Harak, who grunted and scowled, pushing to a standing position. He gripped his axe tightly, roaring loudly.
“No,” yelled Bilrak.
Thun reached out, diving for his brother a moment too late. Harak heaved the weapon at Jantu, the axe flipping end over end.
Jantu stood his ground and caught the axe. He crouched and jumped, landing near Harak. “Your axe.” He handed him his weapon and walked toward Skye.
Harak lifted his axe again, ready to throw. Ali thrust her sword in front of her, purple flames dazzling off the edges. “Harak, that’s enough.”
Harak pursed his lips, eyeing he
r sword, and dropped the axe.
Thun grabbed her arm, his eyes wet and dull. “Let him cool.”
“Fine.” She sheathed her sword and swiped her hands together. Thun was probably right. She could teach Harak a lesson another time. “We need to get out of here.”
“Yes,” said Nyx. She looked Ali up and down. “I like your style, woman.” She held up her bow. “We return to our starships immediately and get off the planet. Follow us.”
Ali followed Nyx and Eden, along with the rest of the Templars, as they made their way down the hallway and into the palace lobby. They exited the building and moved quickly down the steps toward their ships parked on the field.
Thun pointed ahead, grunting. “Chan.”
Chan stood at one of Tranquil’s launch bay ramps, pointing and guiding Bawn into the ship.
Ali headed toward the platform on the ground at the ship’s bow. “Where’s the rest of the crew?”
Thun threw a thumb over his shoulder. “Harak is behind us, but the rest of the crew…I don’t know.” He looked down. “I couldn’t find them. Maybe they’re dead.”
“We ain’t,” said a gruff voice. Magil, supposedly the strongest Bawn, rushed to Thun’s side. “Thodion, Algona, and yours and Harak’s sister, Ramira, are already on the big flying thing.”
Thun’s eyebrows rose, his lips curling upward. “And our Chief Medicine Woman, Bavila?”
Magil slapped Thun on the back, laughing. “Stop your worrying. Bawns don’t whimper, you sun-lover.” He guffawed loudly. “Bavila is a little banged up, but okay.”
A hum filled the air and a strong wind picked up. The ground rumbled and the other starship hovered off the ground, moving to the side as if waiting for the rest of Ali’s crew and Bawn to board Tranquil.
“We're following them, right?” said Daf.
“That’s the plan,” said Ali.
Daf turned and walked backward in front of Ali, saluting her. “I’m at your service, Captain Alison Johnson.” She dropped her hand. “Oh, Guild, I’ll have to get used to that.”
“She ain’t our captain,” huffed Harak.
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