The Lost Hero
By Marcus Johnson
Text Copyright © 2012 Marcus Johnson
All Rights Reserved
To my friends and family for all the support and inspiration they gave to me
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1 – Abduction
Chapter 2 – Encounter
Chapter 3 – A Battle
Chapter 4 – The Cave
Chapter 5 – Trust
Chapter 6 – Questions
Chapter 7 – Stories from Home
Chapter 8 – Rebirth
Chapter 9 – Good News, Bad News
Chapter 10 – Battle Plan
Chapter 11 – Battle Begins
Chapter 12 – One Man’s Fight
Chapter 13 – Healing Wounds
Chapter 14 – Brian’s Decision
Chapter 15 – Integration
Chapter 16 – Six Months in a Flash
Chapter 17 – Three Months of Music
Chapter 18 – Technical Difficulties
Chapter 19 – Mira’s Secret
Chapter 20 – Seles’s Confession
Chapter 21 – Personal Relations
Chapter 22 – Blade Dance
Chapter 23 – A Doctor’s Call
Chapter 24 – Dega Jul
Chapter 25 – First Mission
Chapter 26 – Surprise Attack
Chapter 27 – Berserker
Chapter 28 – Secret No More
Chapter 29 – Anniversary
Chapter 30 – Synchronized Blades
Chapter 31 – His Star Disappears
Chapter 32 – An Unwelcome Homecoming
Chapter 33 – A Companion
Chapter 34 – The First Maiden
Chapter 35 – The Greatest Lie Ever Told
Chapter 36 – The Festival
Chapter 37 – A Bad Night
Chapter 38 – The Maidens Awaken
Chapter 39 – Seles & Mira
Chapter 40 – Many Faces, Many Places
Chapter 41 – The First Wiseman
Chapter 42 – A Moment of Silence
Chapter 43 – Tombstone of Truth
Chapter 44 – Spread the Word of the Goddess
Chapter 45 – Save the Queen
Chapter 46 – An End in Sight
Chapter 47 – Gaelic’s Last Speech
Chapter 48 – Callun Kamiya
Epilogue
Prologue
A lone figure stood at prayer in the Grand Temple of Kali, goddess of the Kalaidian people. She stood shorter than a human by a third, with long silver hair and deep purple eyes. Her skin was pale and she wore the loose robes of a priestess, white and patterned with silver stars. She wore a silver circlet with three leaves on it, studded with emeralds. Through her hair pointed ears shown. She stood with her eyes and arms open, chanting in a melodic language at a high pitch. In front of her was a massive blue stone statue of a Kalaidian woman of exceptional beauty, naked with wings.
The main chamber stood nearly forty vetres, with a massive stained glass dome at the center. Around her, water fountains trickled between the massive hypostyle pillars. As the daylight faded to moonlight the lady ended her chant. She blinked, looking up to the statue of the goddess. She then knelt on one knee before the statue, bowing her head.
“Lady Kali, Director of the Great Story, please deliver the one who will save us. Your people are suffering, and even I cannot end this terror. Long ago, the Teacher came and showed us how to live. Now is the time when his guidance is needed the most. Kalaidia is on the verge of civil war and our population is declining rapidly. If you don’t answer soon, all will be lost. I fear we won’t be able to aid the Warrior when the time comes.”
She sat in prayer a while longer. As the night deepened a lone robed figure entered the temple in silence. It stood a little taller than the woman, keeping its face covered by a dark hood. It walked up next to the woman, standing stoically beside her. She turned to him, looking quite tired.
“Am I a fool for believing in the writings of Kali, Myden?” the woman asked.
“No my Queen, you are not a fool,” Myden said telepathically. “The one you seek will be here soon.” The cloaked figure pointed up to a stellar constellation resembling a dragon. “He who was born of the Great Dragon will come. The Warrior will unite the Five Maidens and the Three Wisemen, leading us into the future. As said by the one you call the Teacher, my Queen.”
Chapter 1 – Abduction
It was a nightmare plaguing Brian since his childhood, a nightmare that always came back. They came at night, beings with large black eyes and pale skin that always filled him with terror. They came when he least desired it and always took something, what it was Brian never remembered. All he ever remembered was their black eyes and unemotional stares. This night started as they always did with the Greys.
Brian was lying in bed, curled up in a thick blanket as he always did on a cold December night. It was well past midnight and he was still wide awake. Something inside him felt dread this night and he couldn’t stand it. Tossing the blanket aside, he sat up at the edge of the bed and stared out the window. The window was covered in frost; all he could see was snow outside. Living in northern Minnesota meant living through winter, an event lasting half the year. Every day was grey and it always snowed. He stood up and put on his clothes, a pair of jeans and a dark t-shirt with a dragon on the front. Not bothering to comb his long brown hair, he put it into a ponytail and went downstairs. He put on his boots and a black leather trench coat. He walked out the door and headed into an alley. He began walking as snow fell lightly around him. He sighed, looking up at the cloudy sky. It’s been three years since I last saw her. He closed his eyes and shook his head. I wish I could forget I ever met her.
A few minutes passed before he noticed a bright object glowing in the distance, a star on an overcast night. There’s something wrong with that. He thought to himself. The star moved down and flew towards him. Brian felt paralyzed by some unknown force as the object hovered above him. A bright light covered him. He felt a cold shiver and was filled with terror.
“Not again!”
The darkness of unconsciousness swept over him.
* * *
This is all just a bad dream, yeah, that’s what this is. Brian was lying on a table, cold, perhaps metal or plastic. A bright light shined down on him, he could tell he was naked. The air was thick and temperature cool, giving the atmosphere a cold, clammy feeling. Brian heard what sounded like people walking around him, muddled sounds and voices in his head. He tried to move but his body was still paralyzed. All he could do was look around with his eyes. That was the last thing he wanted to do.
He looked, seeing them. Popular culture on Earth called them the Greys, because that’s what they looked like. He saw the black eyes, eyes that haunted him in his waking hours. Those cold, uncaring eyes filled him with terror. They had small mouths, a tiny nose, and very small bodies with gray skin. Their hands had four digits, fingers with suction cups on them. They held macabre devices in those hands as they communicated amongst themselves. The room around him was small with the ceiling barely reaching six feet. The walls had numerous panels appearing to be computer monitors. The lighting was dim, except for the bright light on Brian. They stood about three to four feet tall, walking with an unnatural silence. To Brian, there was nothing human about these creatures. He sensed no warmth, no emotion. These beings are worse than the worst human psychopath, because at least the psychopath has feelings deep inside. These things had no pity, no sense of empathy.
Four of the Greys walked silently over to the table Brian was situated on. They began examining him.
He felt ice cold, looking into the nearest one’s eyes, thinking to himself. I hate you creatures, you cause me great pain and never compensate me; all I can feel is hate and rage lying here. All he wanted was to punch the ugly creature, to feel he had some control. They began poking him. They used their sharp and creepy instruments to remove blood, hair, and other samples from the helpless human. As time passed he felt the anger inside him swelling, reaching a crescendo. They silently walked away, leaving him alone.
I must escape, I must get free. I have to get the hell out of this nightmare. When Brian’s anger reached its peak he felt the numbness melt away. Primal instinct took over. He rolled onto the swamp-like floor that smelled terrible. He looked up, seeing the Greys running around frantically. One walked towards him holding a metal rod. He stood up slowly as a Grey stabbed him with the pole. A surge of electricity hit Brian, he didn’t care. He stood steadfast and grabbed the pole from the Grey. It stood there dumbly as he flipped the pole around and swung. He felt a surge of pleasure as its head caved in. The Grey was sent flying from his attack and smashed into the wall. He saw clear liquid spill, knowing it was the creature’s blood. Naked with a small metallic pole in one hand, he looked around the room. Three Greys remained in the room with many more running through the ship’s halls. Vengeance will be mine.
Brian walked from Grey to Grey and smashed them with his newfound weapon. The three left inside his room were dead, he wanted more. A high pitched alarm sounded. He smiled with satisfaction. All of his anger, frustration, and pain would be visited upon these beings tenfold. Time seemed to stop while he stalked the Greys down; killing them with a glee he had never known. He hunted the creatures who had tortured him for years.
“This is for sixteen years of hell!”
Brian walked the halls and bludgeoned each creature with the pole. He sensed their fear, if that’s what one could call it. They had underestimated this human’s resolve, now they were to pay the price. When he dispatched the last Grey, he felt a strange sense of satisfaction. But the dream didn’t end and he felt like he was beginning to wake up. The cold and humidity began feeling real as pain overcame him. He limped into a side room and found his clothes. Slipping them on, Brian felt the slimy, clear blood on his body. He wrapped his coat around him and went back into the foggy hallway.
It’s not a dream, this is real. Now how am I supposed to get home? He thought as he began searching the ship, confused. He couldn’t find a central control system. He went from room to room and found nothing of use. After a while he walked into a room with a window. He cautiously headed towards it and looked outside. All Brian could see was a vast sea of stars. He didn’t see the Earth. Looking to his right, he saw a large monitor on the wall with what appeared to be star map. He saw several colored points with names written in a strange hieroglyphic language. The star map resembled the Milky Way. He saw on a distant edge, a single blue point.
“That has to be Earth, but how do I fly this ship to get home?” Brian asked.
Looking closely at the map, he could make out nearly a hundred different points, most on the outer edge of the galaxy. Exhausted, Brian slid to the ground and fell unconscious once more, this time with the feeling of liberation.
Chapter 2 – Encounter
The Grey ship floated lifelessly in a distant solar system, dead because of Brian. A ship moved through the system, a heavy class Kalaidian warship named Avoni. The vessel was a kilometer long, cylinder shaped. On the back, four massive engines jutted out, the front and sides were spotted with pulse cannons. Its appearance was like a fluid bird and fish mixed together, with curves and fins covering the exterior.
“Captain, we’re picking up a small craft on the outer edge of the system, the third gas giant to be exact,” said Zae. She had long, forest green hair and blue eyes and sat at the front left console of the bridge. Baed sat to her right, with long, silver blonde hair and purple eyes. The front wall of the bridge was a massive viewing screen.
“Zae, bring us closer,” said the captain, a beautiful Kalaidian named Valis Kein. She had long, violet hair and blue eyes. Valis smiled. “Maybe this time we’ll get some money out of it.”
“Arm weapons systems and go to moderate alert. I think you would agree captain?” asked Kivi, the first officer. She stood much taller than others, a little less than five feet. She had dark tan skin, short black hair and crimson eyes like fire.
“Of course,” Valis said.
“The alien vessel is now in scanning range captain,” Zae reported.
“Check for life forms, power systems, and armaments,” Valis said. “Let’s make sure no one’s home this time.”
The image appeared on the front monitor on the bridge. A saucer shaped ship came up and looked to be working.
“Captain…that’s a Grey vessel,” Kivi said.
Valis turned, seeing the concern in her bridge crews’ eyes. “Daes, check for life signs. This could prove more profitable than I could have hoped for.”
Daes nodded at the command. She had long crimson hair and brown eyes. Daes checked, seeing no life signs onboard the Grey ship, except one minor blip. “Strange, there seems to be something alive on the Grey ship captain.”
“Is it one of the Greys, or something else?” Valis asked.
Daes carefully studied the readings. “It’s definitely not Grey, but something very different. Its shape is four limbed, bipedal, nearly identical to our physique. Whatever this being is, it’s not in our database.”
“Perhaps it’s a new species to space?” Kivi asked.
“A more detailed scan shows this being is over two vetres tall, almost three. It seems to have a mass twice ours. Also, this creature seems to be high warm blooded.”
“Captain, this being could be a danger to us,” Kivi said.
Valis looked at Kivi. “I understand your concern Kivi, but we really need to turn a profit for once. We have a working Grey ship, which should fetch us a fortune from the Confederation, and a new species to study. This is a haul if I ever saw one.” She turned to Daes. “Prepare a boarding party to recover the alien. Once you return, we’ll use the anchors to tow the ship back to Confederation territory.”
* * *
Seles lay on her bed, staring up at the ceiling, wondering what was happening. She had purple eyes and long silver blue hair. Her skin was pearly white, glowing in the darkness. Looking to her side, she noticed a yellow light blinking, moderate alert. She sat up and put on her clothes, hearing a beep come from the room’s monitor. She walked over to the monitor and pressed the receive button, see Zae’s face.
“Seles please head to shuttle bay three and join the boarding party,” Zae said.
“What’s going on?” Seles asked.
“We’ve come across a Grey ship. All of the Greys are dead, but there seems to be an unusual life form left alive. Bring your pulse rifle. Good luck Seles,” Zae said. The monitor went black again.
Seles turned towards her foot locker. Pressing in the number combination, she opened it and grabbed her pulse rifle. She threw the rifle over her shoulder using the strap and went out the door.
The Avoni was a large ship. The halls were well lit and wide to give those onboard a sense of space. Seles resided on the lower crew deck, where the ensigns quartered. The rooms on the level above were officer’s quarters. She entered an elevator and pressed the button for shuttle bay three. The first thing she saw when she reached the shuttle bay was grey plastic boxes holding the ship’s supplies. A large shuttle sat in the middle of the room. Next to the shuttle stood Daes, seven other security officers, and Celi, chief medical officer of the Avoni. She had long dark blue hair and green eyes, wearing a white sash signifying her role as a medical officer. Seles ran over and saluted. After a nod of acknowledgement, Daes ordered everyone onto the shuttle. Daes took the front seat and fired up the shuttle’s systems. Once everyone was seated, the back of the door closed. The bay doors opened. Daes flew the shuttle into space.
The shuttle ca
me to a stop on the bottom of the Grey ship. The shuttle shot four anchors and latched on. Daes pressed a couple buttons, causing the shuttle’s entry drill to slice into the ship. The perfectly round entry hole was finished in less than a minute. Before descending into the other ship, Celi addressed everyone.
“The Greys prefer a cooler temperature than us, so we’ll have to rely on our nanomachines to keep warm. The energy used to power our nanomachines will only last about an hour, so we’ll have to hurry and see what’s become of the ship, check for any damage, and recover the unknown life form onboard.”
“Yes commander,” the others said in unison.
“I would also like each of you to wear one of these,” Celi said, pulling out a white thermal cloak from under her seat. “These will provide protection from the cooler temperature, as well as against energy blasts should any of them still be alive.”
Seles and the other seven security ensigns put on the thermal cloaks and readied their pulse rifles before climbing into the Grey ship. It was cold and clammy with fog in the air. Daes and Celi climbed in last as everyone split up to search the ship. What they saw was terrifying, the battered and bludgeoned bodies of the entire Grey crew. They had all been killed by one of their stun poles, which lay covered in blood. Searching each room, they found all the ships systems were functioning.
Seles walked into the observatory where the Grey’s kept their stellar map. There, she saw the unknown life form, lying unconscious and covered in Grey blood. She stepped closer, noting that the creature was similar to her species. It was much larger, about one and a half times her height. It wore unusual looking clothes and a black cloak, seemingly alright at this temperature. Seles knelt, lightly touched its body and noticed its skin radiated heat.
“Have you found the alien?” Daes asked over the com.
Seles pressed a button on her wristband. “It looks a lot like our species, but much larger, with round ears. It isn’t suffering hypothermia at this temperature. I’m going to need some help getting the alien out of here.”
Heaven Saga 1: The Lost Hero Page 1