by Troy Dukart
I looked down at the dull hilt as I held it in my hand. The blade would pulse small amounts of white light every once and a while but was a shell of what its former self. At one time it carried endless power.
“And you used it to save that world,” she speculated as she folded her arms, “You helped bring them to find their way again.”
“So why has it faded? Strafe hasn't been able to use it once since we got back here.”
“My guess, is God is testing our faith in Him.”
“But, He loves all,” I challenged.
“Yes, but He does ask for acknowledgment. He asks that you stay true to your heart and do well for others. It doesn't matter how one views Him. God, Buddha, Allah, El-Shaddai, Brahman, they are all Him, in different shades. Without faith, the Dark One takes his place. He keeps us all divided.”
“They had their own deities back on Eternia,” I added.
“No, just a different shade.”
“So, Guardian, was, God?”
“You met him? That is why you are so lucky.”
“My question is, if we stopped the Venerates who opposed God there, why are the Slates here? They disappeared completely when we vanquished Nian.”
“It is because,” she paused, “You guys were not the only ones to return to Earth.”
CHAPTER 15
Yessa
Iovine lay motionless on a bed, hooked up to multiple machines.
Due to the Slate outbreak, and the need for our secrecy in the matter, he stayed in quarantine. Military scientist and doctors studied his blood and vitals constantly like they expected him to turn into one of those things at any moment.
My breath fogged the viewing window as I stood by watching him, “Hang in there, Astronaut.”
Some men entered the room and told me to follow them for a debrief with the commander.
This was going to be fun.
As we walked around, I noticed the entire base “busy.” This was a term we used when some sort of large-scale operation was being put together. Soldiers were loading weapons, bombs and chemical gear to be ready for use. They were preparing for something.
We arrived outside my commander's quarters and they said to standby until called in. Hurry up and wait. Anybody in the military got used to this really quick. Finally, after waiting for ten minutes, the door opened and I was escorted in.
Our Commander, Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Fabian, was a strong intelligent man. Short brown hair with some grey around the edges and a few scars near his temple. I admired him the most for his kindness and leadership ability. His presence invigorated his troops whenever he entered a room. The sign of a true leader.
He sat at a round table with a couple of other officers, one of them Parker. After walking in front of them, I stopped at attention and saluted, “Sir, First Lieutenant Urena reports as ordered.”
Lt Col Fabian and I were on good terms, but he didn't look happy. After returning the salute he said, “Take a seat.”
There was so much tension I swear it felt five degrees hotter in here than the hallway. The officers never took their eyes off me. The commander looked up after he finished reading a piece of paper, he then put it on the desk and slid it towards me.
“This is Captain Parker's report of the mission. In it, he detailed your insubordination which caused harm to an Astronaut and siding with hostiles. Do you agree?” Lt Col Fabian said as he put his fingers together and leaned forward on the table.
Flabbergasted, I said, “Sir, no, absolutely not!”
“Then why do we have Iovine in critical condition and escaped terrorists to worry about? You have never let any target escape in your career Urena. This puzzled me until Captain Parker reported your relation to the hostiles.”
“Sir, I can explain everything. They were. . . my old friends from back home. It surprised me as much as anyone else,” I confessed.
I told them the story of Eternia, and what had happened on the planet. I wanted to know if what Parker said about my parents to be true.
“Did you have any knowledge of their presence in Tibet?” a Major asked me.
With a shake of my head, I replied, “No sir. Last time I saw them was four years ago. Captain Parker told me the Salvators have my family. Can we confirm this?”
Ignoring my question, another officer asked, “Were you present or aware of any time these men contacted terrorist groups or created plans to attack the United States, European Union or any anywhere else?”
“No Ma'am,” I said while keeping my composure, “Strafe is a good person, and so is Zixin. They would never do anything like that.”
“Some pictures from the suit's cameras would tell otherwise,” Lt Col Fabian stated.
Photos taken from our helmet cams projected through a hologram in the middle of the table. It displayed Zixin, attacking us and the Slates with his new arm. Some of them showed Strafe holding the hilt of the God Blade and clashing with me and the others.
“You're saying you all found this man on a different world and brought him back? Along with these giant wolves that can fly? You need to start telling us the truth about these people's connection to the Salvators or you will be locked down until further notice.”
Holding back my anger, I continued, “Sir, the real terrorists are the Federation! These people are EVERYWHERE and in everything!” I emphasized, “I don't know who these Salvators are, but they are not these guys. Strafe wouldn't lie to me. They fought to save me from bad people. Not to become them.”
Parker got to his feet and turned on a presentation to our right. With each click, different pictures of people fighting with police officers and military from around the world. People in masks stood above bodies of politicians and civilians.
“The Salvators are not what their name claims. They do not bring salvation, they bring destruction. Similar to the terrorist we had encountered in the Middle East, but their history is longer and networks much stronger,” Parker informed the room.
“They ideologize destabilizing governments to push forth their own agenda of a free society,” Lt Col Fabian added, “Our sister branches had been tracking the Salvators, along with our coalition partners, for many years. The government kept this operation in the shadows, taking down cells and locking away any Salvator we find.”
I shook my head, “Sir, we can track them. I'm one hundred percent behind that mission. But I'm telling you, the brothers are not terrorists. If these people know where my family is, I will capture them. Strafe and Zixin are not involved though, I'm sure of it. They attacked us because we... I attacked them.”
“Then why were they living in a Salvator hideout for so long? You think they just moved there for the scenery, not training or converting to become Salvators?” Lt Col Fabian asked.
“Sir, Zixin's left arm was shot off. Something or someone helped him receive another one. That must be the reason.”
The female officer slammed her hand down to shake the table and shouted at me, “Don't give us that possessed-demon crap Urena!”
I didn't want to tell them about Walker, or the Sky Water tribe. They did nothing wrong to me.
“We had the FBI interrogate Chief Walker from Strafe's reservation, but he wouldn't say anything. He's going to be charged with conspiracy unless you tell us the truth,” Parker rubbed in. Every time he spoke it made my blood boil.
My eyes snapped to Lt Col Fabian, and I said loudly, “Sir, Captain Parker should be questioned himself. I find it strange that when we show up, this mountain explodes with that ooze crap under his command. Also, I believe he is responsible for the death of Second Lieutenant Gallow back in Tracker school. He left him to die in the forest and probably killed him in his sleep before Gallow could report on him!”
The eyes in the room widened, and they looked towards Parker. He was prepared for this moment though, and fired back, “Lieutenant Urena may be suffering from Slate poisoning, as her spacesuit was damaged during our operatio
n. The Chinese and UN authorities reported a common symptom is memory loss and distortion. I recommend she be evaluated and her statement about this, Eternia, be taken with a grain of salt.”
“Sir, I took no damage and I'm telling. . .” I was stopped by Lt Col Fabian.
“How come I wasn't made aware of anybody else besides Astronaut Iovine who took damage until now?”
Parker leaned towards him with an elbow on the table, “It's because she had manipulated her software to delete damages and self-repair without notification.”
My suit's schematic displayed on the screen for the officers to analyze. It showed a program that would hinder suit diagnostics and analysis.
Whenever we would finish a mission, we would return our suits for repair, but to also be examined. The highest-ranking member was always in charge of making sure each suit to be accounted for. This whole operation was a set up all along.
I stood out of my chair and pointed at him, “Sir, he is LYING! I never put that program in! He is the one to not be trusted!”
“You miss your old boyfriend?” Parker taunted.
I ran over to him and attempted to grab him but was stopped by the military police. The other officers all stood up and Lt Col Fabian got between us.
“Stand DOWN! That's an order!”
Everyone separated us but I still had my fist clenched. He winked at me while blowing a kiss.
“Sir, lock this coward up! He's working for someone, and is going to get people killed!” I warned between angry breaths.
“Captain, go to your quarters,” he said, “You, sit, down.”
My blood fumed but I obeyed.
Parker stared at me with anger in his eyes on his way out. Being called a coward irritated him. I knew a weakness now.
After some small discussion with his peers, he looked back at me with calm eyes, “You are to be put on inactive status until our investigation into your recent mission is complete. You are to not leave base or to use a space suit without my written consent. Your actions have warranted this, and you are also to not form any outside communication. Disobeying these orders will result in an Article 92. Do you understand?”
I took a deep breath in and out before replying, “Yes sir.”
Nothing feels worse than being completely betrayed and defeated.
I never had any problems in my time in the military, and now they threatened me with an Article 92. One of the military's strictest punishments for disobeying an order or being derelict in the performance of duties. Possible outcomes could lead to dishonorable discharge, loss of pay, and two years in jail.
Lt Col Fabian and the officers left the room and some policemen entered. They escorted me to my room, where I had to stay until told otherwise. My friend Amy was listening to music, but I just wanted to go to sleep. After taking my uniform off, I jumped into bed. This was so wrong.
“You okay hun?” she asked knocking on my door.
My head turned in the pillow and I said to her, “Yeah, just need some time alone.”
She was still dating Parker. I had to be careful what I told her.
“Alright, I'll see you later,” she said as she left for the gym.
After the door closed, I put my forearm on my head. Tears formed in my eyes as I gazed out the window, “Well, there goes my reputation.”
CHAPTER 16
Strafe
Karma led us into a new room full of machinery. In the center stood an old Chinese propeller plane. She walked out in front and said, “We need to get you out of here. The government will more than likely detain you if you stay. We listened to chatter on US lines, and they're pissed at what happened. We must take you to our headquarters.”
“Where's that?” my brother asked.
“For everyone's safety, we are not going to say exactly. All we can offer is a means to the truth. The world needs your help.”
Why me, again?
I stopped and examined Zixin. His arm was almost fully healed, with only his hand and fingers still missing.
“How are you doing that?” I asked.
Holding it up to his eye level, he explained, “I dreamed that it would heal, and it did. With more practice, I could learn to regenerate my limb even faster. The ability is not Slate or demon power, but something else.”
Pulling him to the side, I confessed to him, “Bro, before we continue, I can tell you. . . there will be fighting. You will witness people do awful things, but if we don't stop these guys, we may never save mom.”
He put his hand on my shoulder, “You've saved my life so many times. I now understand why. To help you rescue her. After this is all over, we can finally be a family again.”
“I'd love that,” I smiled as we hugged.
“So it's settled,” Karma cheered.
“What will we be doing after we land?”
She folded her arms and said, “We believe we found a Federation stronghold, possibly their HQ. You might be able to find a lead to your mother's location. Together, you will help us take them down.”
“Will our wolves fit on that plane?” I asked.
“Absolutely,” she replied.
“Then let's blow this joint,” Zixin said as he stepped foot inside.
I worried about what that guy said to Yessa. Did the Salvators really have her parents? That would be my first question to ask their leadership. If so, for what reason? Were both sides manipulating us?
Karma's friends opened up the hanger bay and she started the engine. The Whiteclouds entered and we got ready for take-off. There was a new sense of purpose in this mission. It was personal.
The stars began to fill the sky and I started to get tired. Exhausted, I quickly fell asleep.
I woke up in the morning, and found Karma piloting at the flight stick. “Good morning,” she whispered to me.
With a big morning stretch, I yawned, “Ahhhh, morning.”
“Sleep well?”
“I really do on planes. Used to be a pilot myself. They're like my second home.”
“Good,” she winked at me.
“Karma.”
“Yes, Strafe,” she said, looking over her shoulder.
I walked over and sat in the third pilot's seat and said, “When we were at the palace, you said we weren't the only ones to return to Earth. Do you know who else might've?”
She cringed a little when I asked. While looking out the window, she searched for a way to describe it to me, “To be honest, I not sure. We don't have much time before they find us.”
“Who? A person, a monster? Maybe I can identify them for you. What has you so frightened?”
Karma concentrated her attention on the landing. As we hit the tarmac, the sound of the wheels hitting the ground scared the Whiteclouds and jolted them awake. Zixin also woke up but then fell back asleep.
“They say he kills indiscriminately. Whenever he finds one of our hideouts, all of the Salvators are slaughtered. He's not military either. They're calling him the Scarlet Killer because his victims end up in a pool of blood,” she quivered.
She showed me a picture via hologram from the plane's dashboard.
I gasped, “No way. . .”
“Do you recognize this man?”
“Yes,” I paused.
“What's his name?”
Although a bit blurry, I knew exactly who. A man was cutting another man's throat with a knife, mid-slice. Seemed to be a security camera's still shot. Same slicked-back blonde hair, evil eyes, and smirk.
“The man who started this whole war. Tiras.”
CHAPTER 17
Strafe
How did he follow us?
If this was true, that he had become a complete maniac and slaughtered entire Salvator hideouts, then I knew he would be tracking us. But why? Revenge? Was he still working for the Federation?
With a shrug, I put it out my mind for the time being. We needed to focus on the moment at hand.
The
water and sky remained calm on this cloudy day. The plains were of the most beautiful green grass I'd ever seen. So bright and colorful. We rolled up to a small grassy mound. Karma pushed a button on the control panel and a mechanical door opened wide enough for the plane to enter. It blended in perfectly with the field. The door closed behind us.
The tunnel was lit by dim yellow lights and we soon reached an opening. It was a large man-made cave and full of Salvators. They worked on all sorts of equipment, bombs, and vehicles. She parked and we all got out. The Whiteclouds were happy and began running around to stretch. They hadn't had much space the whole flight.
“Welcome to Dublin, Salvator HQ,” she said.
“Not what I quite imagined,” Zixin commented while looking around.
“Come, let me take you to see our leader,” she said.
As we walked through, we caught a lot of eyes. Mostly my brother, unfortunately. His white arm stuck out like a flamingo. He covered it with his coat jacket.
At the very back of the cave were multiple heavy-duty elevators. Karma directed us to enter the one on the far left and we began our ascent. Once we reached the top, we entered some sort of old church. The entire building was made of old Irish stone and brick.
Being here calmed me. Gentle winds blew across the grasslands. The smell of roses and the ocean fusing in the air delighted my senses. We had to be outside of Dublin, in the country. Karma walked us out to the patio, where an older man sat in a chair, looking out at the water. She motioned for us to sit down next to him and took her leave.
The man read a newspaper while drinking some brew. He noticed us, set down the paper, and turned over his shoulder. Seemed to be around sixty years old. Some scars dotted his face but he had the brightest blue eyes I had ever seen. He wore silk pajamas and slippers.
“Nice to meet you, boys. Heard much about ya,” he greeted in an Irish accent.
“Hi,” we both replied.