“You don’t have the full story yet… once I finish, I hope you will better understand where I am coming from… it is my hope that we can work together as brothers, as North and South factions combined as one… I agree in that we should not be enemies.”
“I will listen to what you have to say, my brother.”
“Within that chest there was a pure unaffected power crystal. It had been sealed inside a cylinder and was our only hope in battling the Rune infection.
Upon my being recalled to the council chamber, I saw you murder our father.”
“That is where you are wrong my brother…” Jhovahkan said as he stood and paced the floor. “I never murdered Qiaoshan, you saw him for yourself in the cavern. You never returned… you disappeared and no one could locate you. We sent search parties appointed by the council into the caverns but there was no trace of you… no evidence that you had even been there… we never knew what had happened. I could feel you through my master crystal, but you somehow blocked me from finding you.”
“Yes, our father was alive in the cavern, until you murdered him before me with your crystal.”
“Well… he was weak… and apparently I was not in control of my actions, so I should not be held accountable.”
“Not so fast my brother. There is much more.”
“Oh very well… keep going. This is actually starting to make sense to me.”
“As I was starting to say, it appeared that you murdered our father, or at least it appeared as you did… I actually found out later that it was your mother Ghaia who actually did it and was going to blame me. As I exited the vortex I broke the canister and removed the power crystal and held it out before me to block the powerful shock wave of energy that was aimed at Qiaoshan. My power crystal absorbed its energy and I was sent back in time to a different place… one thousand years earlier. I was deposited on Terra Firma, or Earth, as they call it. That was our ancestor’s planet. The crystal sent me back before the time of the crystal infection in hopes that I could prevent that from happening. Tamika apparently fled Ackturrian space shortly after I disappeared and the Telenian was sent out to track her down and bring her back before you. Is that also accurate?
“Yes. That is what happened: Panru was sent out to bring her back. We found out that she was working as a spy in the Southern Clan’s movement. She was going to be brought back to Ackturra to face execution for treason. We lost contact once they passed one of our jamming stations. Panru finally returned with the news that Tamika’s ship had been destroyed along with her mother Luanren and the entire crew.”
“This is one of the things that have been altered. Tamika fled because she didn’t want to support you after you murdered her father and taken over as council leader. The other main difference is that those jamming stations were constructed by the Zelinite and not by Ackturrian’s. We have been turned into the aggressors and not the Zelinite.”
“I do not see how that is possible… Ackturrian’s have always been a people of rule… we have always been the aggressor… that is why the
Karillian’s never signed a treaty with us. They blame us for the destruction of their home world by the Zelinite. I remember something about them assisting us in destroying a Zelinite ship that was en route to Ackturra. There was some representative from Ackturra that had finalized a pact to prevent Zelinites from approaching our home. That caused the Zelinite to launch an all-out war on them and they broke off relations with us and never dealt with us again.”
“The damage is more severe than I first had though. The destruction of Tamika’s core caused them to also be sent back one thousand years. The pull of my crystal and our blood bond is what caused them to come back to the time I had been sent to. Their presence and interaction in that same time caused the fracture of time. That is the catalyst that caused these changes… She found the ship that contained the Rune. The Zelinite ship was on their way to Ackturra for the first time to trade with us. That which was before is that we did not want them to obtain crystals. We knew that by doing so, they would rule the galaxy and use the crystal’s power for evil. There was a war that ensued and after that war, they sent the Rune to infect the crystals. Their thinking was that we would not want corrupted crystals so they thought we would give them up.
Instead, it backfired which made us stronger. We sought evil and not good, but it was slower to turn us to evil. Now, in this timeline, the Rune corruption has for some reason worked faster than before and we now seek to annihilate an entire race.”
“That is all very interesting… but how do I know that this timeline is really how it was going to be? Maybe the reality you talk about is what you want it to be changed to?”
“I have proof that the timeline has been altered.”
“Show me… let me out of here and show me.”
“I will still not let you out… not just yet.”
“Oh come on now…”
Jhahnahkan interrupted his brother once more, “I will bring them to you if need be.”
“Them?”
“Yes, the old woman and Tamika’s first officer Lanatek. In fact the entire crew of the Crytore is now on my new ship; this ship. This is the ship that I was led to by the entity within the power crystal back on Earth.”
“Who is this old woman? What entity?”
“The old woman… her name is Helen.”
“Helen? Why does that sound so familiar?” he asked as he cocked his head to one side. “Helen is our father’s mother… our grandmother. She was the High Priestess of the Council. She fled with her power crystal once the infection came to Ackturra. It was her crystal that was sealed in the cavern… it was her that wrote the scroll… it was her that led me to the chest. She was with me at the time that the time fracture occurred, that is why she, nor the rest of us, was altered by the time change.”
“Jhahnahkan, you have given me much to think about.”
“Very well. I will leave you for now. I will check on our Fa…” Jhahnahkan stopped himself just before he revealed the truth about Qiaoshan.
“What about our father? Jhahnahkan, what are you holding back? I do not need a crystal to see you are keeping something from me… what is it… tell me now.” Jhovahkan said as he stood and approached the shield. Jhahnahkan ignored his brother’s request, turned his back and walked out of the holding cell to return to the others.
* * *
Leif Erikson Medical Bay
Year: 2983
Jhahnahkan returned to the medical bay and found his father propped upright on the medical table eating and talking with the others.
“Well,” Jhahnahkan said, “you are looking much better, my father. How do you feel?”
Qiaoshan turned to his son and addressed him with a smile. “I am feeling fine my son. Thank you for saving my life.” He said bowing to his son, “had you not been down in the caverns, I would have not made it. For that I am grateful.”
“Don’t thank me…” Jhahnahkan said turning to Helen, “you can thank your mother for her intuition to come to the caverns.”
“I need to return to the council at once,” Qiaoshan said lifting himself off the medical table.
“Hold on their, Sir,” Dr. Collins said as he came to his side, “I need to make sure you wounds have fully healed before I discharge you from my care.”
“Nonsense,” Qiaoshan said as he tried to push the doctor aside.
“Father, you need to listen to the doctor.”
“I feel fine. Really, I do,” Qiaoshan said. “Computer, run a full diagnostic on my injuries and provide analysis on returning to full activities.”
Sam tried to override his patient’s request but was too late.
“The patient’s injuries have been completely repaired… there are no significant risks in returning to normal activity… Doctor Collins, I recommend this patient be discharged immediately.”
“There, you see? I told you I was fine,” Qiaoshan said as he finished dressing. “My son, you will return
with me to the council… we shall leave at once.”
“Father… you must listen to me,” Jhahnahkan said as he put his hand on is father’s shoulder.
“What is it?” Qiaoshan asked, rather irritated with the delay.
“No one knows what has happened,” Jhahnahkan said. “We need a leader, not someone who hides behind lies and deceit.”
“I do not know what you are talking about. The people of Ackturra need their leader,” he said as he began to show outward signs of annoyance.
“The people of Ackturra need a leader that will tell them the truth.”
“You are delusional, just as Jhovahkan has said,” Qiaoshan said as he attempted to brush past his son.
“Father!” Jhahnahkan said with a strange commanding tone. His voice caused everyone in the room pause and take notice. “If you are willing to stand before your people and tell them that I am your fist born son, I will go with you… but if you continue to hide the truth that Luanren is my mother and Ghaia is not the High Priestess, I cannot and will not stand by your side.”
Qiaoshan sat once again on the medical table and held his head low.
“Yes, Father. I know the truth. There is much I have learned during my absence.
There is much I must tell you before we go before the people of Ackturra.”
“My son,” Qiaoshan began still hanging his head low. “I never expected you to discover the truth. I have done a great dishonor. I have dishonored Luanren… I have dishonored both of my sons… I have dishonored my daughter… I have dishonored myself. You are right, Jhahnahkan. The people of Ackturra deserve to know the truth. They deserve to have a leader that has integrity… something that is lacking in your brother.”
“Father, I understand why the truth was hidden about our birth. I do not hold any ill feelings, but we must make this right.”
“I know…” Qiaoshan said as he looked his son in the eye. “I am very proud of you my son…” he said as he stood before his son. He placed his hands on each of Jhahnahkan’s shoulders. “That is why I shall step down as leader and turn over the high council to you. Your time of succession has arrived.”
“Thank you, my father,” Jhahnahkan said. “Before we travel to the surface, I need you to see someone.”
“I already know,” Qiaoshan said, “I will tell Jhovahkan the truth… alone.”
“Very well, Father. I shall await you in the shuttle bay and instruct approach control of our entry.”
Jhahnahkan left the medical bay and began to make his way to the shuttle bay to prep the ship’s shuttle. He contacted the bridge to alert them of their schedule and would provide the security codes that would alert the control station of the High Council’s presence. The last thing they needed was a firefight upon reentry.
* * *
Leif Erikson Brig
Year: 2983
Qiaoshan entered the brig. The lights were dim and Jhovahkan didn’t recognize who had entered the room.
“Have you come to gloat more my brother or have you decided to finally come to your senses and join forces with me?”
“Neither,” Qiaoshan said as he commanded the lights to brighten.
“Father?”
“Yes, I am alive.”
“You have come to free me?… Good, shut down this field and we will make our way back to the council.”
“No”
“What then?”
“Are you mad? You nearly killed me down there!”
“It was the crystal infection… that… that took over my mind… I … I was not responsible.”
“Do not try to excuse your behavior. You have been trying to take over command of the High Council ever since Jhahnahkan’s disappearance.”
“Please father, listen to…”
Qiaoshan stopped Jhovahkan short. “No! You listen to me for once.”
Jhovahkan stood in his cell and looked back at his father with the usual sneer with his hands folded before him.
“I have to tell you things that have been held secret for hundreds of years.”
“If you are going to start saying that same mumbo jumbo that my brother was touting, then…”
Qiaoshan stopped his son once more. “This is hard enough without you taking an attitude. What I have to say is the truth… it is the truth that must be told to every Ackturrian… it is something that never should have been kept from you, your brother, your sister. Luanren is my true mate… Ghaia seduced me with the power of the infected crystal. We had a child, as did Luanren. Ghaia is your mother and Luanren is your brother and sister’s mother.”
Jhovahkan turned white as a ghost as he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He continued to stand, not showing any emotion.
“Ghaia wanted power… she convinced me that she should be the High Priestess of the Council. She persuaded me that it would be in the best interest of Ackturra to keep you and your brother’s heritage a secret. She wanted her son to be the one with the birthright; her son would be my successor.”
“You are telling me that I am really a bastard child… You really think I will take this sitting down? You are asking me to give up my heritage… my right to succession.”
“Yes”
“You do not have to do this father… keep this a secret… together we can rule the galaxy… you and me…”
“Enough Jhovahkan! I have dishonored my name and the people of Ackturra for over four hundred years.”
“You know that by telling our people this, it will likely cause a major civil war.”
“We are already facing a civil war. That is why I will be restoring my honor by stepping down as leader of the council.”
“What? Do not even tell me you are giving the right of succession as high council leader to my brother!”
“Yes… I know this may seem hard for you to understand… it is the best thing that we can do for the good of Ackturra.”
“No… I cannot believe what I am hearing… this is insane… you have groomed me for the leader seat my whole life… you lied to me this entire time…” Jhovahkan said, “We are heading down to the surface now where I will address the people of Ackturra… I will tell them the truth… I will step down as leader and will not have a seat on the council… I will only be involved as an advisor to Jhahnahkan.”
Jhovahkan clinched his fists and began pounding on the force field crying out, causing electrical shocks to flow through his entire body, but he didn’t care about the pain he inflicted upon his body; he was too mad to feel anything.
“The first act that your brother will perform as the new leader of Ackturra is to formally charge and try you for attempted murder.”
Jhovahkan continued to beat on the force field and cried out in anger, “You will pay for this… I will get my revenge… I will kill you and my brother… I will become the leader and one day you will pay!”
Qiaoshan dimmed the lights to the cell and left closing the cell entrance behind him. Qiaoshan didn’t say another word to his son as he left.
“You will see… I will get out of here… I will take my vengeance!!”
* * *
Chapter 2
Power Shift
Ackturra
Year: 2983
Lanatek stood on the bridge of the Leif Erikson as they approached Ackturra. He contacted approach control as instructed by Jhahnahkan. The approach control duty officer abruptly denied their entry into orbit stating that they do not support the Southern Clan movement and have flagged the Leif Erikson as hostile.
“Lanatek to Jhahnahkan, come in,” he said as he opened a com channel to his captain’s shuttle.
“This is Jhahnahkan. Go ahead.”
“The Ackturrian approach control center has denied our orbit entry and has indicated that they will open fire if we attempt to approach,” Lanatek said with a concerned voice.
“How far out are we before we make orbit?”
“We just passed the second moon and will make orbit in five minutes.”
�
��Let’s call their bluff…” Jhahnahkan said with affirmation. “You did provide them with the access authorization that we have the High Council leader on board.”
“Yes, we did transmit the code but they said the code was invalid. It seems as if Jhovahkan had Qiaoshan’s code changed.”
“Very well, keep on our current course. I will come up to the bridge with my father to see if we can negotiate a peaceful settlement.”
Jhahnahkan exited his shuttle and met his father who had nearly arrived at the launch bay. They quickly made their way to the conning tower in hopes that they could reason with the approach control officer, who was a Northern supporter.
The doors to the bridge opened and they entered the command center. Lanatek removed himself from the control chair and turned command over to his captain.
Out front, beyond the bow of the Leif Erikson was their home world in its full red glory. As the planet radiated on a starry background, they could see the distinct landmasses of their home through the sparse cloud cover; which was quite aesthetically pleasing to Jhahnahkan. In the distance they could see the giant approach control center in orbit that was one of several defense platforms surrounding the planet. This huge support platform was one of many platforms that made up the planetary shields that surrounded the entire planet from unwanted visitors from reaching the surface.
The air seemed unusually quiet on the bridge as they continued to approach orbit despite the directives by the Ackturrian duty officer.
The com system returned static as they continued to make their orbit.
“Alert approach control that we are entering orbit,” Jhahnahkan instructed
“We are receiving a message, audio only,” Glenda said.
“Put it on.”
“Foreign vessel… you are in violation of Ackturrian security order. Reverse course or we will open fire.”
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