Star Guild: Episodes 1 - 3 (Star Guild Saga)

by Brandon Ellis

window, opposite the door leading to Mech Bay, they looked outside.

  Crystal widened her eyes. “What the...?”

  Daf shook her head. “I've never seen that before.”

  It was a perfect view of Mount Gabrielle, displayed like none other. Rays of blue light were shining through the caves and holes in the mountain, dotting the sky and land all around it.

  Crystal looked at Daf. “Has anyone ever reported blue lights coming from Mount Gabrielle?”

  “No, but everyone's on Matrona by this time of night.”

  Crystal did a big exhale. “It's probably the enemy. Let's get out of here. We can stop at Warehouse 13 next.”

  Crystal turned and hurried out of the office, entering Mech Bay. “Let's each grab a Mech with a full water tank. We'll split up the food. Two Mechs are always better than one.”

  Daf liked that idea. No more hanging on the HDC column wanting to drive. She nodded and Crystal and Daf separated, bags in hand, each looking for a Mech.

  Crystal climbed up one with the hatch already open, hopped down into the cockpit and turned it on. She dropped the bag of food, pushing it over to the side with her foot. She stared at the HDC. “Water systems check.” The HDC blinked on, showing a holographic display. To her surprise it was full. This is my lucky day. She nearly laughed at the irony. Shrugging, she climbed up and looked out of the hatch to see Daf running toward her, waiving her hands wildly.

  “There's a man in a Mech over there. He's hurt!”

  Crystal jumped down from her Mech as fast as she could. “Where? Is he conscious?”

  Daf grabbed Crystal by the elbow, hurriedly escorting her to a Mech across the warehouse.

  Crystal flared her nostrils, annoyed at Daf's inability to answer questions in a pressing situation. “Daf, is he conscious?”

  Daf nodded her head up and down. “Yes, yes.”

  Crystal's gut suddenly felt empty, wondering if the man was even well enough to live. Not only would he hold them up, but now she'd have to help him. Not because she'd want to, but because she'd feel guilty if she didn't.

  Reaching the Mech, Daf pointed at its open hatch. “In there.”

  Crystal climbed the steps and peered over the open hatch to see a man sitting on the cockpit floor with one shoe on and the other off, holding his ankle. He was looking up at her. “Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes.”

  She hopped down into the cockpit, making the man flinch. He was surprised by her athleticism.

  Crystal bent down, placing her hand on his shoulder. “Mister. Can you walk?”

  He shook his head no, his face pale. “I've broken my ankle. It’s painful, but it's nothing compared to the carnage outside.” Crystal noticed he was shaking a little. He must be in shock and Crystal saw that his ankle was swollen about the size of a grapefruit. “How long have you been here?”

  He massaged his ankle just above the swollen area. “About two hours, I think.”

  She placed her hand on his low back, rubbing it. “We need to set your ankle.”

  He shook his head. “The soft tissue damage is more what I'm worried about. It's a closed break and I don't need it set, but a splint would be nice.”

  Crystal saw no discoloration and that was a good sign—no major blood vessel was severed, no internal bleeding to worry about. “We should—”

  “Do you need any help?” asked Daf from above.

  Crystal looked up. Daf was peering down at them from the top of the hatch. “Yeah, get me some things to make a splint.”

  Daf gave a confused look. “Get what?”

  Crystal sighed. “Get me some thick tape from the Tech shop, and see if they have any pieces of wood about the length of your forearm. We’re going to make a splint.”

  Daf nodded and climbed down the Mech in a hurry, heading to the Tech shop.

  Crystal looked at the man. “How did this happen?”

  He stopped rubbing his lower leg and leaned back. “They shot at us and I stumbled over something. I don't know what it was that I trampled over, but I heard a snap the moment I tripped. I crawled up here, thinking I'd be followed but I was the lucky one, I guess.” He frowned and shook his head, pointing at the dome of the Mech. “I tried to close that thing, but it wouldn't budge.”

  Crystal smiled. “You have to press the hatch button over there.”

  He dropped his arm with a chuckle. “It's that easy? Of course.”

  Crystal raised her eyebrows. “It's that easy.” She stood up, placing her hands on her hips. “What's your name?”

  “Doctor Jerrod Simmons.”

  “You're a doctor?” She was a little shocked that a doctor would be on planet Lumus. They usually had therapists during work hours, and they knew the basics about injuries. “We need to get you to a Suficell Pod to heal your wound.” But, in exasperation, she threw her arms into the air. “But how?! We'll need a ride to Star Guild or Matrona somehow, if the shuttles haven't been blasted out of the stars already.”

  The doctor cocked his head to the right. “We can get to a Suficell Pod here on Lumus.”

  A Suficell Pod was used to extend life by a hundred and forty years or so. It had the ability to heal all wounds and disease by emitting high frequency sounds that matched the frequency and vibration of the disease, thus shattering the diseased cells, flushing them like waste from the body by simply drinking lots of water. It also worked wonders on broken bones, healing them within a day.

  Crystal peered at him. “A Pod on Lumus? Where?”

  “On Starship Sirona.”

  My mom's ship? “How...!” She shook her head. “That starship isn't here, sir.”

  “It's here, right now on Lumus. She came down here to save us.”

  The shock was now getting to the doctor, thought Crystal. There was no way Admiral Diana McCoy, her mom, would be down here. That didn't make sense. Her mom was the hero type, but Crystal knew she’d have to go against direct orders from Admiral Byrd in order to get here, unless…she had somehow convinced the good admiral to let her go on a rescue mission. But, even so, she didn't think her mom's starship could have survived the trip, based on what she’d already seen.

  The doctor continued. “Sirona tried to send help to this warehouse, but I don't know if their transports or starfighters ever made it.”

  My mom is here? Crystal slowly stood up. “Do you know the coordinates of Starship Sirona?”

  Jerrod nodded.

  “Then let's get you some help.” She said, hoping he wasn't just hallucinating scenarios more acceptable to his mind. She pulled herself up and over the hatch, glancing down at Daf who was on her way up the steps, carrying a bucket in her hand. “Daf!”

  Daf stopped, looking up at her chief. “I got your stuff...I think.”

  “Give me the bucket. And I need you to drive the Mech I was going to use. My food bags are in it and the Mech's water tank is full. We're heading to Starship Sirona.”

  Daf jerked her head back. “We're headed where?!”

  ∞

  The sweet smell of flowers permeated Eden’s nostrils and she heard the sound of rushing water nearby. Where was she? She was laying on something soft and delicate. It felt like sheets, but they were the softest, smoothest material she'd ever touched. They were cozy and comfortable and she could lay here forever.

  Her mouth curled into a smile and she took a deep breath, stretching her arms and yawning. Her mouth became lax, turning into a frown. But, she asked, where am I?

  She opened her eyes. She was in a room lit by the glowing light from a small flame shaped like a tear. It danced happily on a holder of some type that looked like it was melting, its shape and contents dripping down its own sides. She had never seen a candle before.

  She gazed around the room, noticing the enormity of it. Ship quarters were a fraction of its size, so she knew she couldn’t be on Brigantia. Plus, this place was elegant. There were ornate tapestries draped all around the room, some white in color, but most were mixed violet. They h
ung from the ceiling, the walls, and on the posts at each corner of her bed.

  A Bed?

  She was lying in a bed that was definitely not her bunk. She touched the sheets again, pinching and rubbing her fingers over them—so soft, so warm.

  She lifted herself up and sat cross legged, her eyes full of oversleep. She yawned and stretched, then put her hands on her heart, letting out a breath of air.

  Across from the foot of the bed were two large glass doors, framed with lavender colored curtains. Flowers grew out of pots near the foot of the door, although there was ample enough room to come and go through the door without tripping over them.

  She placed her feet on the ground and stood up, rubbing her low back, feeling soft fabric, smooth and light, against her hands and skin. She looked at her covered body. She was wearing a white robe. How did she get into this? She took a few steps forward and looked at the floor. It consisted of a living ground cover, something she'd never seen done before, but had wondered about. She leaned over and caressed a single blade of grass between her fingers, noticing tiny little meadow flowers mixed with moss and grass. The only thing she had to compare it with was the biosphere on Matrona, the place for forests, lakes and vegetable gardens, where she always took off her shoes to feel the life beneath her feet. This floor was just like that, but this, however, was the richest fauna and soil she'd ever experienced.

  Then she stood and shrugged, feeling drawn to go outside. She gave yet another yawn as she reached a glass door. The scene was spectacular, and explained the ever present mist in the air. Gazing