by R.E. Rowe
Chapter 28
The viewport filled with a blue and yellow gas cloud littered with pinpoints of stars when the intergalactic transport punched out of the space between the space into the middle of the Milky Way’s Sagittarius Arm of stars. Jayden was getting nervous. The masons had started the raids as planned, and Leader Nuk’ana’s briefing was only six hours away. They were cutting it close.
Jayden and Parker quickly transferred to a smaller galactic transport that waited for them at a secret mason base in the gigantic gas cloud hidden from Space Command sensors.
Altair5 piloted the transport. The kid was a miniature version of Altair3, with a similar silver chain woven around the outline of his ear. Silver stud piercings the size of pinheads were fixed all over his cheeks in geometric patterns, with some pierced through his dark green eyebrows. The only difference between Altair3 and Altair5 was that Altair5’s face appeared to be a lighter lime green, and he didn’t mess up his words nearly as often. Jayden was also pretty sure this was Altair5’s first real mission.
Jayden's new comm device beeped. “Hello?”
“Zeekmo here, you read me?”
Yeah! “I got you. Can you hear me?” He gave Parker a thumbs-up and mouthed, “It’s your sister.”
Parker rolled his eyes. “I hear her too, duh. The earplugs are all entangled.”
“We’re in position,” she said.
“Good,” replied Jayden. “Do you have news?”
“I hacked Nuk’ana’s database and figured out where his briefing will be.”
“Awesome,” Parker said.
“Where?” Jayden asked.
“A Space Command base on the second moon of a star located near the molecular cloud SH2-136 in the constellation of Cepheus. Are you ready for the coordinates?”
“Go ahead,” Jayden said.
Jayden and Parker listened to the sequence of numbers. Parker relayed them to Altair5, who in turn called the emperor and transmitted the coordinates.
“Where the heck is SH2-136 located?” Jayden asked Nora.
“It’s about twelve hundred light years from Earth,” she said. “The location is near what they call the Ghost of Cepheus, also known as Flying Bat Nebula.”
“Sounds creepy,” Jayden said. “Are you guys ready to take the UFO to Earth and pick up everyone?”
“We’re ready,” Nora replied. “Don’t worry about us, we’ll get them to a safe place and hide out as planned.”
“So the transporter booby trap is set?” he asked.
“Ready,” Nora said. “All wired up and ready to explode. Altair3 is making some last minute adjustments. He’ll activate the trigger’s timer just before we leave.”
“When?” Jayden asked.
“We’re headed to Earth in ten minutes,” she said.
“Okay. I’ll call you when we punch out into the Flying Bat Nebula.” He sucked in a long, deep breath. “I—”
“Don’t worry,” Nora said. “We can do this while you deal with the alien leader jerk.”
“Right,” Jayden said, a little too quickly. He watched Parker give a reluctant thumbs-up. “Don’t forget to pick up Rosa and Rox too.”
“Don’t worry,” she said. “I’ll pick-up everyone, including BBgun and Cleo’s families. Just kick that bully’s butt.”
“Roger that,” said Parker. “Good luck, sis.”
“Be careful, Zeekmo. Killgeek and G-striker out.” Jayden wanted to be with her on the rescue, but he was on a mission with Parker just like old times.
“Get us moving,” Jayden told Altair5.
Altair5 worked the controls of the galactic transport. It wasn’t long before they saw nothing but black in the viewport.
“How long will it take us to arrive?” Parker asked.
“Do not worry,” Altair5 said. “I will get you both there before the meeting with time to spare.”
Jayden groaned. He realized by the time they entered normal space again, Nora and Altair3 would have all the families safe, or he would need a bigger rescue plan. He crossed his fingers, arms, legs, and toes, and hoped for the best.
Time to settle the score with Leader Nuk’ana and end his Space Command reign of terror, Jayden thought. He imagined the look on his mom and dad’s faces when they learned what he had been doing since his disappearance. He knew a joyful reunion wouldn’t happen unless he could stop Nuk’ana.
But at that moment he had no clue what he was going to do.