Now, thought Stormy. She lashed out with the maneuver that her trainer said was the never-failing killer tactic only to have it blocked by Ril. In one swift movement, he shoved her behind him. Red Comet was suddenly silent and frozen to the spot. Both of his ray pistols were still pointed at Ril, but their terrible power was not loosened.
As Ril spoke death and finality saturated his every word. “You have delivered the ultimate insult to Stormy and to womanhood. You have taken the wealth of human beings and mercilessly murdered them. The solitary life of a prison asteroid is not for you. Only your death can help cleanse the wrongs you have done.”
Ril drew his ray pistol and blew Red Comet out of existence.
Shock from seeing Ril perform an execution was only temporary for Stormy. What was much more numbing to her was how Ril managed to get the advantage over Red Comet.
“I couldn’t let you kill him, Stormy. I think you know why.”
Stormy nodded. “Yes, you were afraid I would feel guilt afterward. I wouldn’t have. He had the drop on you. But he froze. Somehow he couldn’t squeeze the triggers of his weapons. You have the reputation of being the Phantom of the Spaceways. And you are. But just who are you, really?”
Ril stared at Stormy before speaking. “It is time to show you. Follow me please.”
Ril led her to the sword in the stone. He grasped the sword’s hilt with his right hand and pulled it from the stone, then held it up high, to where its glowing power touched her.
Shock made Stormy gasp. She felt the sword’s power and knew. “What little you told me about yourself is true.”
Ril nodded. He shoved Excalibur back into the stone and quickly adjusted two nearby chairs for comfort before saying, “Please be seated. I have much more to tell you and I will start at the beginning. It goes way back to King Arthur’s time. I was one of his knights, Sir Rilfred of the Loch. I am the one who has never been mentioned, or recorded in mythology for a very good reason. I had, and still have, a magical quest bestowed upon me that put fear in all those that knew me, and even those that were told about my many quests. Only good King Arthur looked upon me as a true friend.
“It began when he commanded that I journey forth on a final quest for the Holy Grail. Those knights that managed to return from previous failed quests declared the Grail to be located at the northern most end of the Earth. It would take many of my years to accomplish what King Arthur wished. I declared to him that I would accept the quest, gladly, but first I desired to journey to the magic weather lands of Mystia to spend a fortnight with my chosen one. I was granted the fortnight.”
“Mystia’s people have long delved into magic. Their spells and incantations never fail to work. My Chosen One’s father was the Grand Wizard, the most powerful Magician in all Mystia.
“When I told my lady, Princess Storm, She of the magic weather lands of Mystia, She, who at a young age would become Mystia’s chosen leader, how I must seek and find the Holy Grail for Noble King Arthur, she wept herself into hysteria as she declared I would never return. I would perish somewhere out there in the unknown and she would surely die of a broken heart.
“Stormy, if I had but heeded those words…Instead I journeyed. Years later, I did return to Mystia. It was then I discovered that Princess Storm had done the ultimate terrible thing. In her despair and fear of losing me forever, she had used an incantation that sent her searching for me. And not even her father, the Grand Wizard, with all his limitless knowledge of the magic arts could bring her back from such a journey. But he could do something else. He said this to me.
“By all the powers of darkness and light at my command, I vow that you shall come to the aid of needy people. You shall help others forever and ever, until you find Princess Storm and she holds you dear.”
“He said further how I would wear many different faces as I journeyed through time giving aid to the needy. The face you see, Stormy, is not how I truly look. None shall see my true appearance until the spell set upon me by the Grand Wizard is lifted by Princess Storm, who truly loves me still.
“And so I journeyed back to King Arthur with the information about what had befallen my very soul. He said to me something I had not realized, but once said by him, I knew it to be true.
“No one could ask for a nobler quest than that of saving ones fellow humans. Truly, Sir Rilfred of the Loch, in a way one could say the Grand Wizard did not put a terrible curse upon your head, he put a blessing. True, your personal journey shall be long, and mayhap forever. But take heart my friend, the most noble of all my knights. Go forth and accomplish the deeds that may never be set down for others to read.
“But alas, in my quest to save my fellow humans, I soon discovered that the incantation Princess Storm used had shattered her to where she is everywhere. I have met you many times, Stormy, as I have quested through history, which I have come to realize may be forever, or until…”
“You haven’t aged, Ril.”
“No, I have not. Something in my magic quest has given me immortality, or only perhaps until I have once again earned the undying love of Princess Storm.”
“I wish I could help you, Ril.”
“I know, Princess Storm. I have sensed that you do have love for me, but your heart truly belongs to someone else. That one has your undying love.”
Stormy nodded. “Yes, there is someone. I want to feel love for you, and I do. But…”
“That is the way it has been ever since my Princess Storm was lost to me. I must leave you now, for my quest at this very moment is informing me of many people and worlds in danger. It is a summons I cannot refuse. Red Comet’s escape capsule will return you safely to The Andromeda by simply reversing its thrusting rockets. You must not feel pity for me, Stormy. I shall continue my search for the Princess Storm that still has undying love for me.”
“You should be proud, Sir Rilfred. All the people you have helped will always be grateful and indebted to you.”
“Yes, I am proud. I remember well the words of King Arthur. To this day they spur me on. Goodbye, Stormy.”
Stormy watched as the Avenger blasted away from the Red Comet’s space capsule. Then tears filled her eyes as she said, “I do truly love you, Sir Rilfred of the Loch. But I couldn’t tell you so. You have been the savior to countless people throughout time and you will continue to do so forever, until a Princess Storm finds you dear, and ends your quest. I couldn’t be that heartless. We need a guardian, a protector of the human race. We need you, Sir Rilfred. Go now, go with my heart, go…”
As the recording ended Stormy heard her own voice saying, “I love you, Sir Rilfred, I love you, Sir Rilfred…” and then she jumped, shook her head for several seconds, before looking at her father. She saw tears in his eyes.
For several moments, neither knew what to say. She finally sighed deeply and said, “I entered one of your machines. How many of me are out there in time and space?”
“Lass, try to understand…”
“I understand nothing. How many of me are out there?”
“So far my research has told me that you’re all through written history and perhaps elsewhere.”
“Elsewhere…”
Stephen Weathers shrugged his shoulders. “Yes…maybe back to cave man times, or other planets, other star systems, other universes. From what I have been able to ascertain each Stormy has no memory accumulation from all the other Stormys, and each Stormy could be a different age, from newborn to centuries old.”
“Good Lord! Are you certain about anything you just told me?”
“No. Unfortunately my analysis of what happened to you ceased forever when that machine became inoperable mere seconds after you stepped from it. I fail to know why. However, I do know that you were the second one to enter that machine. Your startled face stares at the first one. Who knows, we might bump into each other out there, somewhere in the universe. I do sincerely hope none of us become the evildoers Ril is bringing to justice.”
They couldn’t help but
laugh at that comment. Her father finally said, “I would like to think that one Stormy finally ends Sir Rilfred of the Loch’s quest.”
“Why end it?”
“Why? Lass, you can’t be serious. Sir Rilfred has been bound to that quest for many centuries. He deserves to rest, to be at peace.”
“Granted, he does. But the Stormy I viewed is right in her thinking about Ril. He must continue being the Spaceways Phantom. Think of all the people through history that he has rescued, Father. They would have all perished had he not been there to help them. No, Ril must continue being what he is.”
Stephen Weathers sighed. “Yes…I suppose you’re right. For the human race’s sake his quest must continue. Still, I can’t help feeling sorry for the poor soul.”
“I more than feel sorry for him, Father.”
Stephen Weathers looked closely at the sudden paleness of his daughter’s face. She looked as if tears were mere seconds away. “You’re just like the Stormy onboard the Andromeda. Do you love somebody?”
“Yes. His name is Lance.”
“And yet I can tell you also love Ril. You mentioned your love for him twice. Do you remember saying so?”
“Yes.”
“Two loves, Stormy lass, and which do you love the most? Exactly when did you fall in love with our Phantom Spaceman?”
Stormy blushed. “The moment I saw him, Father.”
“Well, he’s still out there, somewhere in the galaxy, and in some time period that at the moment I fail to know.”
“I will find him, Father.”
“Yes, I’m sure you will. But for now there is another legend that you must see.”
“Is one of me in it, Father?”
Stephen Weathers nodded.
Chapter Five
The star was going to Nova. Earth’s Star Systems had been watching the solar body for many decades through powerful space telescopes. Now that time was infinitely short for the star, the nearest Earth settled star system sent an investigating team out to inspect the star’s three planets. Their goal: to find out if they were populated with human life. If so an attempt was to be made to rescue them.
The assignment seemed routine and certainly safer than many handled by Commander Marlo. However, as his battle cruiser, The Intrepid, approached the star system, the ship’s powerful telescopes detected an Earth-like planet.
Uneasiness became a fist that battered mercilessly at the Commander’s curiosity. He was aware such a planet could and quite often did spawn some form of intelligent life. He reached for a communication’s system.
“Attention, all crewmembers. We are going to investigate this solar system’s third planet. All hands standby for further orders.”
At a hundred miles above the planet’s surface, Commander Marlo tensed himself for action. He spotted cities.
“Commander!” shouted his second in command. “Our detection gear is picking up a signal.”
“Give me the exact position, Mr. Jenkins.”
“Fifty miles, steady as she goes, sir.”
The miles dragged, until there in the desert was a crashed spaceship.
“Stand by to land.”
The Intrepid touched planet soil. Commander Marlo passed out more orders. “Attention all crewmembers, fall out and prepare for investigation of the crashed ship. Look for survivors. Half of you will investigate the nearby cities using scoutships. If there are any people, they must be evacuated. That is all for now.”
The crewmembers were given their specific assignments. The search started. Commander Marlo and Lieutenant Jenkins entered the crashed ship.
After a few minutes inspection the ship’s condition was obvious. It would never lift off. “Even the engines are beyond repair, sir,” said the lieutenant.
“Yes, Jenkins, and it appears that the survivors have either been rescued or they walked to the city a few miles to the north of us. Well, let’s keep searching, maybe we can find some form of records.”
Thirty minutes later Commander Marlo found what he was looking for, records, and best of all they were the familiar tri-dimensional-mind link type.
“This mechanism is enough like ours for me to see if it works. There must be records of some kind in this machine that we can analyze.”
“Perhaps we should wait for a thorough examination of the mechanism before trying it out, sir.”
“We don’t have the time, lieutenant. The planet’s soon to nova star has seen to that. As commander I’ll wear the helmet.”
Marlo adjusted straps on the mind link helmet, fitted it to his head, and pressed a stud. Instantly a breathtakingly beautiful woman appeared before his eyes. Her carefully combed hair cascaded down her shoulders like a fiery waterfall. Her complexion was alabaster white, flawless except for freckles spaced sensuously about her face. Sky blue eyes pierced the commander to his very soul. Flashing white teeth revealed themselves through a lovely compelling smile. She was a Venus, a goddess of beauty that made Commander Marlo gasp and pray that he would meet her face to face. Her clothing was composed of ordinary cloth molded especially for her superb figure; a black, close fitting short tunic tied at her waist with a golden belt was all she wore, aside from the golden sandals on her dainty feet. She began to speak and her voice was the siren call of a Lorelei.
“My name is Stormy Weathers. This is a recording of what has happened to this world, and what will inevitably come to pass. For in a matter of weeks this ship and the whole planet will be burned into a darkened cinder when our star explodes. But Ril has encouraged me to pass the time by making this brief record until our distress signals bring a rescue ship.
“To begin with it is necessary to go back into time, before the arrival of Ril.”
At those words, the scene in the helmet shifted and Stormy was no longer there. Instead of talking, she was now thinking and Commander Marlo was suddenly seeing how life had been on the planet. How far back in time the helmet was showing him there was no way of knowing. He listened and watched carefully as the planet’s final existence started unfolding for him.
* * * *
Stephen Weathers, the Leader of Planet Ybarra sat alone in the huge outer chamber waiting for the Seven Head Delegates. Worry had carved itself deeply onto his time bludgeoned face. Not all of the Seven would make an appearance. Things were going badly. There was not enough time, not enough ships. Countless years of preparation and still they were not ready for a complete evacuation. But then who could be? Moving millions of people to another star system was next to impossible. Still there was no other choice, and time was their enemy.
The outer chambers hatchway opened to admit two young people. Stephen Weathers was very proud of his son and daughter. Thank the lucky stars they had been chosen to be among the last starships to leave planet Ybarra. Others would have to remain on the doomed world and face the fiery death that would leave no human survivors or any type of life after its visit.
Weathers smiled at his son. David was his double, minus thirty years. Stormy closely resembled her dead mother. It was a terrible shame Mia had passed away so untimely.
“Father, are the Seven due to arrive soon?” Stormy asked.
Weathers’ frown depicted his anger and concern. “Yes, they were scheduled to be here at this hour. I know not where they are.”
David’s frown matched his father’s before asking, “Are you expecting trouble? Your face shows you are worried.”
Weathers shook his head. “I feel there will be no trouble. Rather I expect poor attendance caused by unconcern. Some of the delegates I feel will not come. They have little faith in an evacuation.”
“But that’s madness,” said Stormy. “They will perish with our planet.”
“I know, my daughter. I know. But an attempt at convincing them that such a terrible ending will happen to those that remain behind has not been totally successful with two members of the Seven. Now you and David must leave. The front hatch signal tells me that some of the Seven are arriving.”
&nb
sp; Five delegates appeared. Their faces and body attitudes were appalling to view. They shuffled forward, taking uncertain steps, talking and looking to no one; the leaders of their people wanting to know how to survive a disaster no one could prevent from happening.
Minutes passed as Stephen Weathers waited for everyone to be seated, waited for their haunted eyes to begin staring at him instead of elsewhere and nowhere.
Finally, after shattering the silence with the clearing of his throat, he said, “Gentlemen, I wish to thank you all for coming. It is a pity that two of our Seven have chosen not to attend. Since the Tarels from the purple mist section of our world and the Green people from the quagmire section are not here, I am assuming that they have made the terrible decision to remain on Ybarra regardless of the certainty of their extinction. So, we have no other alternative but to count them out of our plans.”
“What you are planning is madness!” shouted a delegate.
“I recognize the delegate from the Air Section,” Weathers replied. “And I feel I must, to a certain degree, agree with you in that evacuating a world is, one could speculate, near to madness. Unfortunately we must steep ourselves in that unsavory cauldron, for we have only two alternatives. We evacuate, or we die with Ybarra. Do you have more to say, Theodore?”
“I most certainly do. In our present plight we do not have enough spaceships to transport many of our people to another star system. So, unless we can rapidly produce the needed amount, you have openly declared to the entire world population that only the most intelligent among us will be allowed to take the long journey. Do you realize what an impossible task picking these people will be?”
Stormy Page 4