Excelsior

by George Sirois

  In just one moment, Matthew could feel the strength of Valertus and the leadership of Semminex within him. He knew he now could win in battle against anyone and lead any army to ultimate victory.

  He had become a god who had become a man.

  * * *

  Nocterar watched the surface of the Leap of Faith as the Denarian Elder’s body relaxed, her lifeforce slipping away. A black-and-white human figure beside the fallen Klierra was growing more detailed.

  Hodera felt a jolt of fear going up her spine as she looked at Nocterar. “It’s him,” she said with disbelief.

  “My great and worthy opponent,” Nocterar whispered.

  * * *

  Excelsior gently released Klierra’s hand then leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Good-bye, Mother,” he said. Her breathing had stopped; she was gone.

  Danaak felt his strength returning to him and he took a long breath as the holes in his chest closed, his slit throat sealing, all of the scars disappearing. The effect moved like a wave throughout his body, restoring organs to working order and then adding layer after layer of skin. Danaak’s eyes snapped open and his hands closed into fists.

  The Krunation leapt to his feet, back at full strength. He walked toward Excelsior, who met him with his sword in his hand. “Ready to die now, boy?” he taunted.

  “Are you?” Excelsior answered with a different voice than what he had moments ago. His voice was now deeper, mature, confident, inspiring. “I seem to recall giving you a lot of pain the last time we met.”

  Danaak was confused. He searched Excelsior’s eyes for fear. There was none. The look in his eyes was completely different, and frighteningly familiar.

  “Hello again,” Excelsior said.

  Danaak pointed an accusing finger. “No! You can't be back! You were dead! I watched you dissolve into nothing!”

  “Care to see if it will happen again?” Excelsior taunted.

  With his teeth clenched in rage, Danaak charged up both his hands with his jewel and fired as much energy as possible at his enemy. Excelsior deflected both blows with his sword, then leapt and raised his sword for a killing blow. Danaak moved out of the way and fired another blast that almost struck the Denarian savior, but the energy missed its mark.

  Before he could charge up his hands for another blast, Excelsior lashed out with his sword and struck Danaak right on his shoulder. He cried out with pain as he saw that the cut made from the sword not only took a chunk out of his body, but was also dangerously close to the jewel.

  In a last-ditch effort to blow Excelsior away for good, Danaak gathered all of his energy at his adversary. Excelsior held out his sword, allowing it to absorb all of the energy. The sword now started to glow, and Danaak was so weakened from sending so much power that he dropped down to one knee.

  Jason started to stir as he regained consciousness. He watched silently as the man who was more than just his nephew held up the sword that contained all of Danaak's energy. Excelsior slowly walked toward Danaak as he intoned, “Karini. Grannik. Radifen.”

  He reached back as he announced one more name. “Elder Klierra!” Before Danaak could get out of the way, Excelsior plunged the blade through the Krunation's body. With a flick of his wrist, the savior of Denab IV yanked the sword out and cut through the skin where the jewel was embedded in Danaak's chest. Danaak fumbled for the jewel, but it fell to the floor. Excelsior took a step back and watched his enemy slump to the floor and finally stop breathing. His scaly skin quickly grew cold.

  * * *

  “This is a great moment, Hodera,” Nocterar announced. “Danaak is destroyed, and I have my chance to rid the universe of Excelsior. We must ensure both Denarians are brought back here.”

  Hodera licked her lips once again in anticipation. “I already look forward to killing the Denarian that will come back with Excelsior.”

  “No!” he ordered his general. “We will keep him alive. I want every Denarian to see their savior return to this planet so they can all watch him die.” He smiled at Hodera. “THEN you can kill him.”

  CHAPTER 13

  The bright light of the sun felt like thousands of needles going into the eyes of every Denarian man and woman as they exited the cave. With their hands firmly on their weapons, they reflexively shut their eyes, holding them closed for a moment before reopening them to let them adjust to the bright sunlight. Everyone still kept a slow and steady pace, their weapons at the ready as Acerus had instructed them.

  There is no need to waste your energy running to the destination, he told the Denarians. All that is required is for you to be there to rejoice in his return and strike back against the Krunations. These orders stayed in all of their minds, and despite being told not to rush, the Denarians in front of the pack started walking faster toward the area Acerus directed them. Their pace quickened even more to where they started to jog. As the Denarians all looked at each other, every single one of them was smiling, their destiny laid out before them. Whether they would all make it back alive was to be determined, but no one could doubt their chances for success.

  The group had an unlikely leader in front. With her wounds bandaged and properly treated, Niterra held on to a laser rifle that was almost as big as her. With everything she had already done for her Denarian brothers and sisters, the last thing she would do was sit in the cave with the Elders and wait for news of Excelsior’s return. She wanted to see that moment with her own eyes. Niterra looked over her shoulder and saw everyone with the same determined look as her, and it made her proud to share that drive for victory over the Krunations.

  * * *

  “Poor, poor Danaak,” Hodera said as she shook her head sarcastically.

  “He deserves no sympathy from me,” Nocterar spit out his words, still holding a deep contempt for his former lieutenant’s actions. “Such a waste of an excellent warrior.”

  “What can we do now?” she asked her master, glancing back at Lokris still lying motionless on the floor. “She is in no condition to help us.”

  “There is no need,” the emperor answered. “I am very aware of how the retrieve function works.” Nocterar walked back toward the computer console on the Leap of Faith and opened up a clear case to reveal a large red button.

  As Hodera continued to watch the screen, Nocterar closed his eyes and spoke silently to himself. “Let them pick you up. Do not resist them.” He then waited in silence for a moment, as if he was waiting for something to happen. Whatever it was, it quickly came to pass and as soon as it did, the Krunation leader smiled and opened his eyes.

  With a force nearly strong enough to smash the computer console, Nocterar slammed his hand on to the emergency retrieve button.

  * * *

  “Zorribis, wake up.” Excelsior knelt over his Denarian comrade and pushed away the last pieces of sheetrock, plaster and brick, then ran his hand over his head to check for any injuries. Thankfully, there were none.

  After a moment, Zorribis started to stir and when he opened his eyes, he was looking right at Matthew’s face. “Matty?” he asked.

  “And more," Excelsior responded with a smile. Zorribis sat up immediately and looked deeper into the young man’s eyes. He smiled as he said, “I knew you were in there somewhere.”

  Excelsior held out his hand and Zorribis took it, the two Denarians rising to their feet before checking on Jason. Matthew’s uncle definitely looked the worst out of everyone who was still alive, and Zorribis quickly tore off a piece of Jason’s shirt to cover the deep gash on his head.

  Jason struggled with his words. “I... you... you're Excelsior now?” Excelsior nodded in response. “And you... still know who I am, right?”

  “Of course. I still have all my memories, as well as Semminex’s and Valertus’ too. Just like what Elder Klierra said. Their lives are a part of mine.”

  "How do you feel?"

  Excelsior paused for a moment to find the right word. Godlike? Heroic? Invincible?

  "I feel fine," he said.

/>   “So what happens to you now?” Jason asked.

  “Zorribis and I have to go back to Denab IV. Acerus has sent our people to the Leap of Faith to bring us back, and there is no telling who is leading the Krunation Empire.” Excelsior paused as he smiled at Jason. “Thank you. For everything.”

  The Denarian savior held out his hand and Jason shook it. Suddenly, the room was lit up by a bright light that originated in Excelsior’s hand and found its way to Jason’s. Matthew’s uncle felt a cooling sensation going up his spine as he looked down at their still clasped hands.

  “I want you to continue the comic strip,” Excelsior told Jason.

  "What? No, the comics are yours."

  Excelsior shook his head. "They need to keep going here. I'll do my part to generate the stories. You just keep your mind open so you'll be able to get them. It'll be just like at the beginning when you helped me develop the comic."

  "But how can we do this? You'll be on another planet."

  "Like I said," Excelsior said as he looked down at their hands still clasped together. "I'll do my part. You just keep your mind open."

  Jason slowly pulled his right hand away and examined it. He saw nothing different about it. "I trusted you for all those years. Now you get to trust me," Excelsior said.

  Jason nodded and then asked, “Can I sell the movie rights? I always wanted to see Charlie Kessler direct it.”

  Excelsior laughed. “We have the same taste in filmmakers.”

  Zorribis stepped in and gave Jason a big hug, being careful not to worsen his injuries. “I will make sure our ancestors speak highly of you.”

  “And I’ll… make sure to tell some kid around here about you too,” Jason replied in mid-embrace. Zorribis broke the hug and walked over to Danaak’s dead body. “I wonder what will happen to this,” he said to himself as his gaze fell upon the jewel lying on the floor beside him. The weapon that claimed the lives of his Denarian comrades was now perfectly still, the energy within it growing dimmer.

  As Excelsior picked up his helmet, Zorribis knelt down and picked up the jewel. “We should bring this with--”

  Suddenly, a bright flash of light filled the room. Jason shielded his eyes with his hands, and just as quickly as the light had appeared, it was gone.

  And so were Excelsior and Zorribis. Jason looked around for any trace of them, but couldn't find it. “No group hug?” he asked as police officers ran into the lab.

  The first officer in the room was a lovely young blonde woman who immediately caught Jason’s eye. He studied her fit body. Something about her seemed very familiar to him.

  “Sir, are you all right? You’ve been injured.” She spoke into her radio and instructed “EMT to the south wing, stat,” then spoke to Jason again. “You should sit down. They’ll arrive shortly. Is anyone else here?”

  “I’m the only survivor. Everyone else is gone. I’ll help you any way I can,” Jason said. He rambled on about how he was an eyewitness to the carnage that had been raging in the halls only a few moments earlier, when suddenly a vision came to him.

  “You didn’t by chance go jogging around the Metropolitan Museum of Art today, did you?” Her flirtatious smile back was the only answer he needed.

  * * *

  The Denarians continued their march toward their destination. Despite the heat of the sun bearing down on them, no one slowed their pace, no one fell along the way and not a single complaint was heard.

  Like a mirage appearing before their eyes, Niterra saw the Leap of Faith in the distance. She could hear the murmurs of excitement as they approached their objective.

  * * *

  Excelsior left the stratosphere of the Earth, heading out into the stars as he did when he wore the “Virtual Future” goggles. He looked back at where he was and saw the Earth fading away in the distance.

  In mere seconds, Excelsior passed the moon, then Mars, and soon after, Jupiter, then Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and that little something that used to be a planet until Earth's scientists reneged on that declaration. Before he knew it, he had calmly left the Milky Way galaxy.

  Finally, Excelsior passed into another solar system. They looked similar to each other, with the exception of one, the fourth farthest from the system's sun. This planet had a radiant glow, a diamond among a pile of coals, and it was pulling Excelsior closer.

  Excelsior looked to his right and saw a bright light speeding right beside him, the same kind of light that had bathed his own body. He smiled at the neighboring light, immediately recognizing it as Zorribis.

  This must have been the Elders calling them home, he thought as he saw the planet he had created with a new set of eyes. Excelsior braced himself as he sped into the planet's atmosphere...

  * * *

  The Leap of Faith doorway slowly opened and Nocterar stood at attention, waiting for the moment he had pictured in his mind ever since he was revived. A small battalion of guards stood ready, their guns pointed at the doorway. Two bursts of white light shot from the doorway and struck the floor, the lights shifting their shapes into humanoid forms.

  When the glow died down, Excelsior and Zorribis were standing in their place. The guards cocked their guns and aimed them at the Denarians. They looked around, Excelsior quietly assessing his situation. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw an elderly Denarian woman lying in a heap.

  The guards moved to the side, their guns still aimed at Excelsior, to allow a very familiar face to lay eyes on his enemy for the first time in over thousands of Earth years. “Well, well, well,” he said with a satisfied grin.

  The cloak barely fit over the Krunation Emperor’s body anymore, and when he stood before his enemy, it looked more like a cape. He pulled down the hood to reveal a short but thick head of silver hair, burning yellow eyes and razor sharp pointed teeth. His scales ran up his neck and down his large muscular arms and his chest, which was partly exposed by the black chest piece attached to him. His proportionately large hands were weapons in and of themselves, able to easily snap a typical Denarian’s neck in half. This was barely a man anymore standing in front of Excelsior and Zorribis. This was a force that thrived on devastation and had the desire and ability to make it a reality.

  Excelsior’s eyes widened inside his helmet. “Nocterar.”

  “I see you have yourself a new shell,” Nocterar observed as he looked at both Denarians. “But you still have your memories.” He stepped forward, casting a dark shadow in front of Zorribis. “And I see that YOU have something that belongs to me.” He pointed to the gem that was still in Zorribis’ hand. “Give me the jewel.”

  The guards all took one step closer, ready at a word from their leader to open fire. As Zorribis moved his hand holding the jewel, he glanced to his right and saw Hodera standing there. He glared at her and clenched his fists, ready at a moment’s notice to strike her down. He then looked to his right at Excelsior, who made no motion.

  Excelsior’s eyes focused on Zorribis’ hand as the jewel began to glow with life once again. As Zorribis held up his hand to get a better look, a sudden charge of fierce energy shot from the jewel into his arm. Gritting his teeth with pain, the young Denarian concentrated all of his strength into tossing the jewel away. It flew threw the air and landed in Nocterar’s hand as though it were magnetized.

  Nocterar sneered at Zorribis as he spoke. “Did you truly believe that the very heart of our Krunation Empire could be handled so effortlessly by a pathetic Denarian such as yourself?”

  “Oh, I would not call him pathetic, my Lord,” Hodera interjected as she sauntered up to Zorribis. “If he is who I think he is, then we should thank him for the gift his family created.” Hodera licked her lips as she glared at him like a predator. “Am I correct, Zorribis?”

  Zorribis closed his eyes as a flood of memories rushed back. Hodera smiled with satisfaction and took a step away.

  Nocterar walked up to Excelsior and stared him in the eye, causing the savior of Denab IV to tighten his grip on his sword. Excelsior
wanted nothing less than to swing that sword with all of his might and cut down every armed Krunation soldier. He forced his mind to relax. “What would I have done before?” he wondered.

  His mind drifted through the memories of both Valertus and Semminex. He saw the original Denarian host of Excelsior try to fight the Krunations by himself and pay the price with his life. He saw the second one depend too heavily on the power that never revealed itself.

  But then he saw himself as Matthew Peters, before Elder Klierra appeared to her, before he was made aware of Denab IV's existence. He was...

  ... in his History class.

  He saw his black-and-white image of an old man who had appeared defeated, a defiant warrior who had seemed to be silenced. But then he looked at Semminex. And smiled.

  Excelsior wrenched his mind back to the present and studied Nocterar. His eyes narrowed as he looked down at the sword, and then he handed it to his enemy. Zorribis gave a visible jerk as he watched the latest heir to Excelsior’s lifeforce concede to Nocterar without throwing a single punch. His agitation calmed a bit when Excelsior met him with a level gaze and nodded.

  Nocterar licked his lips as he studied Excelsior’s sword, admiring every inch of its spectacular craftsmanship. “Forged from the perfect combination of the finest elements that make up this planet. I am confident it was a comfortable home for your lifeforce for all these eons. But you and I know that you were not alone in here.” The Krunation smiled at his adversary as he took a step back and motioned to Hodera. “And now, my sword.”

  Hodera reached for the sheath on her belt and pulled out a black and silver sword that glistened in the light. The blade was the same cold obsidian black as the castle with a silver handle, and at the end of the handle was a space designed to fit an object the size of Nocterar’s jewel.