“But they didn’t expect the Shield to be activated… they didn’t anticipate that we could do it,” Diyra added.
“Everyone… gather together!” Jhahnahkan ordered. He held up his crystal sphere and opened a vortex. The maelstrom opened quickly and was large enough for everyone to pass through.
Once they exited the vortex inside the palace, the brothers ran down the corridor making their way to the communications array in the command center.
The doors flew open to a room full of Northern guards pointing their weapons at the two.
Jhovahkan staggered backward with surprise as he ordered his men to stand down.
The guards lowered their weapons and let them pass by.
Sam, Glenda and team weren’t far behind. Sam carried the quasiinducer beam, keeping the device as close as possible to the group’s leaders so they wouldn’t fall to the grip of the Runic that sill flowed through their veins.
Jhovahkan punched in the northern fleet’s frequencies, followed by Jhahnahkan’s fleet signals. “Channel open sirs… you are patched into both fleets.
Jhovahkan began first, “Attention… all fleet officers of the northern faction… this is Jhovahkan, son of Qiaoshan of the house of Sö… I am here with my brother… we have called a truce… cease all hostilities at once until further notice…”
Before anyone could respond, Jhahnahkan broke in, “Attention all ships in the southern fleet… This is Jhahnahkan, son of Qiaoshan of the house of Sö… it is true… as brother to brother… we have called a truce… cease all hostilities at once.”
The com channel returned crackles and static for a few uncomfortable moments and then Acoth broke in from the Griffin, “Sir… you won’t believe this…”
“What is it?” he asked his commander.
“It’s your son sir…”
Jhahnahkan turned and looked at his pregnant wife making sure she was sill alright.
“What do you mean… my son?”
“We have stopped all hostilities sir…”
“Explain”
“Your son has arrived at Ackturra… he brought an advanced device…”
The Kalentun broke in over the com system, “This is Driliari… your son brought a hundred small ships that have now surrounded Ackturra. They emit a strange field that prevents any of our weapons or shields from working. We were forced to stop all hostilities when we were about to take out the southern fleet once and for all.”
Acoth interrupted over the com channel, “Excuse me? We were about to destroy the northern faction once and for all.”
“Enough!” Jhahnahkan ordered with a shout.
“Father?” a voice echoed over the com channel, “You are still alive!”
“Who is this?” he inquired.
“I am your son, father… I am Uttarak, son of Jhahnahkan of the house of Sö. You sent me here from Earth’s past to stop this civil war… this is the only thing I could do to save you all… I know it’s complicated… but before you died on Earth, you sent me on this mission… we must not fail my father.”
# # #
Destiny Contents
Chapter 1 – Uttarak
Chapter 2 – Ruins
Chapter 3 – Birth Pangs
Chapter 4 – The Accord
Chapter 5 – Snatched
Chapter 6 – Time after Time
Chapter 7 – The Formula
Chapter 8 – The Prisoner
Chapter 9 – Revelations
Chapter 10 – Cold as Ice
Chapter 11 – Ambassador
Chapter 12 – Surprise Visit
Chapter 13 – The Runic Incursion
Chapter 14 – Deliverance
Chapter 15 – Face of the Runic
Chapter 16 – Final Confrontation
Epilog
Addendum
Lexicon
More Works
Sneak Peak
Back to the Top
Chapter 1
Uttarak
Ackturra
Year 2983.9
The civil war between the North and South factions came to an abrupt end as the earthen vessel exited the vortex that had opened in space around Ackturra, bringing with it a large cylindrical vessel. The tubular ship separated into a hundred smaller unmanned craft. Each fifty foot section contained a weapons and shield inhibitor causing the fighting factions to become powerless against each other.
The cylindrical objects entered orbit surrounding the entire planet and emitted a powerful field that rendered the planetary shields and its weapons useless. The Ackturrian defense platforms attempted to fire their weapons targeting the small craft with no success.
Jhahnahkan’s son, Uttarak, commanded the earth ship Destiny which had a similar design as his father’s ship the Leif Erikson. Uttarak was the sole occupant onboard and controlled the support cylinders automatically by the Destiny’s onboard computer.
Uttarak opened a channel to the Ackturrian fleets commanding them to cease all hostilities. This was not well received by either faction. Each side thought they would be the victors in the civil war, but in reality neither side would win, leaving the war as an impasse.
After hearing his father’s voice over the com channel, Uttarak was unable to contain himself any longer, “Father?” he exclaimed, “You are still alive!”
“Who is this?” Jhahnahkan inquired over the com system.
“I am your son, father…” he answered, “I am Uttarak, son of Jhahnahkan of the house of Sö’. You sent me here from Earth’s past to stop this civil war… this is the only thing I could do to save you all… I know it’s complicated… but before you died on Earth, you sent me on this mission… we must not fail my father.”
“This is not possible… you couldn’t be my son.” Jhahnahkan exclaimed in exacerbation.
“Yes my father, it is possible.” Uttarak said with confidence. “Search your mind father… use your crystal sphere… commune with the entity, he will confirm this.”
“It must be true,” Jhovahkan said turning to his brother. “Perhaps you should listen to him my brother… it seems that he has stopped the fighting factions with these devices he brings.”
“… and the fact that his ship has an eerie resemblance to the Leif,” Luanren added.
“Let me talk to him,” Kate said stepping close to the com channel, “A mother will always know.”
“Mother? Is that you?” Uttarak asked with anticipation.
Kate turned to her husband, “It is our son… I can feel it… and my baby just kicked, he jumped as soon as he spoke… it felt… weird.”
“I will come to you.” Jhahnahkan said pulling his crystal out, “I will listen to what you have to say.”
He opened a vortex and stepped through to the bridge of the Destiny closing it behind.
Standing on the bridge of Uttarak’s ship, Jhahnahkan faced the young man claiming to be his son. He was a handsome and strong looking lad and had Kate’s small eyes and color of hair. He sported a full dark colored beard and was dressed in twentieth century earth clothing.
Uttarak returned a smile and held out his arms ready to receive his father. He had the look about him that he hadn’t seen his father for years. Unable to stop himself, he rushed over and embraced his father hugging his neck and kissed him on the cheek. Tears poured down his face, but not from sadness; these were tears of joy and happiness in seeing his father alive and well.
Jhahnahkan still not completely satisfied resisted and pushed Uttarak back, “Computer,” he began, “State your point of origin.”
“Unable to comply.” The computer responded.
“Why?” he asked.
“Go on,” Uttarak ordered, “Tell him why you are not able to provide your point of origin.”
The voice of the computer came alive, “I have several points of origin that span several centuries of time. Some parts are from this time, others are from our future and some sections are from ancient earth.”
“You see f
ather… you must know I am telling you the truth.”
“There is only one way to be sure.” Jhahnahkan said looking into Uttarak’s eyes.
“I know,” Uttarak said stepping again closer to his father, “go ahead… do it…” Uttarak said pointing his head toward his father, “…do your memory transference.”
Jhahnahkan reached up and touched his son’s temple with the first two fingers of his right hand while holding his crystal sphere in his other. He began to concentrate and reached into the young man’s mind. Pictures began to flow between the two as he reached deep inside his mind searching for the truth.
* * *
Ackturrian Palace
Year: 2983.9
Kate gave Jhovahkan a stare as her husband stepped through the Vortex.
“Madam…” Jhovahkan said as he slowly and cautiously stepped back from her piercing look, “I assure you, I pose no threat to you or your team.”
“I have grown to understand that sheepish grin you display most of the time…” Kate said stepping toward him, “You are a liar, and a cheat, and I don’t trust you as far as I can throw you.” She sneered.
“Oh come now madam,” he said stepping backward, “You need to get to know me better…”
Jhovahkan then bowed slightly spreading his hands before him. Kate stood her ground in the Palace control center. “You keep your distance…” she said leaning slightly forward, “Your little display of attempted submission does not fool me!”
“What must I do, madam, to win you over,” Jhovahkan said maintaining his bowed posture before Kate, “Name it my sister-in-law…” he then looked up into her eyes and glared back as if trying to hypnotize Kate.
“Like a snake in the grass, aren’t you?” Kate spat back.
“Really madam…” Jhovahkan said now standing straight up but leaning on the bulkhead with one leg crossed behind him. “Name it… I dare you.”
Kate fixed her gaze on Jhovahkan and the two stared each other down. Neither one of them blinked or even the slightest twitch out of them to show the other they would stand down.
“Don’t do it Katie.” Luanren cautioned.
“Right ma’am,” Glenda commented, “Don’t trust him.”
“Kate, do what you feel is right,” Drakes said.
“What would Jhahnahkan do?” Diyra finished.
Kate continued to stare into Jhovahkan’s eyes and he gave her a wide grin as if tempting her to name her condition.
Kate thought about what everyone was saying and searched her heart for what she must do. After much deliberation within her own mind she gave Jhovahkan his answer.
“Confirm that Jhahnahkan is the rightful heir to the throne and acknowledge Ghaia is no longer the high priestess. Acknowledge that I am the high priestess of Ackturra, being the soul mate to your brother and by Ackturrian law, we will rule the house of Sö’ from this moment on.”
“That is two things madam,” Jhovahkan sneered back.
“I knew you couldn’t do it…” Kate argued.
Jhovahkan interrupted Kate from finishing her words, “However, my gracious one,” he said as he fell to one knee, “I will bow to your authority as high priestess and publicly acknowledge Jhahnahkan as the rightful heir to the throne.” He again spread his arms in a submissive posture.
“He’s lying madam,” Luanren said again trying to break the spell he seemed to be putting Kate under. “Do not trust him… step away before it is too late.”
Jhovahkan looked up and gave Kate another smile while no one noticed his power crystal glowing from within his cloak. He looked up and gazed into her eyes and whispered something that only Kate could hear.
The room Kate was in suddenly vanished and transformed into a red colored sphere and at the center stood Jhovahkan. Red colored fog permeated the floor and whisked around them as a gentle wind blew all around.
“What is this place?” Kate asked with wonder.
“You have been captivated madam.” He replied with his usual snarl.
“Why have you brought me here?”
“I desired a moment of your time… too bad you will not remember this.”
“What do you want of me? The others will know you have taken me here.”
“This is where you are wrong madam,” he sneered close to her face. “They only see you as listening to me acknowledging you as the high priestess… you see, time moves a might different in here… I am relaying this to you in a split second… you will not even notice that you left them at all.”
“I will not let you get away with this.” Kate snapped back.
“This is my time… stop wasting it for me and allow me to continue.”
“Get on with it then… I knew you couldn’t be trusted… I will never trust you.”
“Very well then, we have established who I am.” He said placing his finger under her chin, “I need to know who you really are.”
Kate peered at him with disgust, “Is that all? I am just an Earth woman who fell in love with an alien.”
“No, I think not…” Jhovahkan said stroking his goatee. “I think you are more than a country bumpkin who’s fallen head over heels for a handsome man… I will figure this out… trust me madam… I will figure this out.”
“You didn’t bring me here to interrogate me… get on with it.” she said leaning into his face.
“Quite right madam,” he replied, “Just wanted to let you know how much this high council seat means to me… Though I detest having to confess that my brother is the high council leader, I intend to still run the council.”
“How’s that?”
“Simple madam, I am programming a command to you and you will carry out my orders.” He said hypnotically.
“Yes… yes… I will carry out… orders… yes…” she said fully hypnotized by Jhovahkan.
“Good… now,” he said, “You will recommend to the council that I take over… I will allow my brother to rule for a very short time… only to build up his trust in me and mum… you know how it is, don’t you?”
“Yes…know… how it is… yes…”
“Good… now you will only follow my command when I give you the coded phrase…”
“Yes… coded phrase… yes…”
Jhovahkan leaned close to Kate’s ear and whispered a few inaudible words and then leaned back smiling at her eyes. “Now my dear Kate…” he said placing his first two fingers on her left temple, “You won’t remember any of this ‘conversation’ now will we…”
“No… remember… no…” Kate struggled to say.
The room returned in the blink of an eye as Jhovahkan completed giving them his open Allegiance to his brother from the south.
“He’s lying madam,” Luanren said again trying to break the spell he seemed to be putting Kate under. “Do not trust him… step away before it is too late.”
“No… I will take him at his word…” Kate said hesitantly, “Yes, that is what we must do… as a good faith gesture… this war between the two brothers ends here… ends now.”
“But ma’am,” Glenda tried to say.
“… Enough!” Kate almost shouted, “I am the high priestess… it is written… so shall it be done!”
“Very well then madam Kate,” Jhovahkan said standing to his feet.
He bowed out and off into a corner with Ghaia where the two whispered to each other. The two looked at Kate intently as they spoke silently, Ghaia not able to withstand showing a crooked smile.
“Hey!” Luanren barked, “No secrets now… you two move in closer… Kate may trust you and take you at your word, but I do not.”
The two moved closer to the rest of the group and waited for news from their leader as they looked at each other and nodded.
* * *
The Destiny
Year: 2983.9
Jhahnahkan winced at the flood of images that typically accompanied such large memory transferences. The two stood on the bridge of the Destiny and held onto each other, keeping the other f
rom falling to the ground and breaking the connection.
Uttarak held his hand up to his father contacting his first two fingers on Jhahnahkan’s temple to complete the transference. Uttarak’s eyes turned bright silver and glowed as the exchange of energy passed between them. Swirls of bright colored light enveloped the two and Jhahnahkan found himself inside very familiar surroundings.
The white colored sphere Jhahnahkan stood in was filled with silver colored lights beaming and darting about the white fog that permeated the sphere. His son stood at the center of the sphere as his grandfather did in all his other experiences within this sphere.
“Father,” Uttarak said holding his arms out wide.
“Yes my son?”
“You see… I am your son… you know this now.”
“Yes, I understand…” Jhahnahkan said struggling to figure out the flood of images.
“It does take some time to sort out all those memories before they begin to make any sense,” Uttarak said, “Give it a little more time. Meanwhile, someone once told me, simple questions get simple answers,” he grinned.
“How are you doing this without a power crystal, and who is it you speak of?” Jhahnahkan said staring at his son in the eyes, studying his every move, “And why the name, Uttarak? I can think of many fine names Kate and I could have chosen over this.”
“Don’t insult your only son, father.” Uttarak said in a joking way, “I have been trained in the use of our ‘power’ by you, father.”
“I meant no disrespect my son; I just do not understand all these things.” Jhahnahkan explained, “First my grandmother tells me she won’t be born unless Kate bears my child… now here you are… my son…” he said scratching his head in dismay, “… before you were even born, you stand here before me… it’s enough to make a man go Mad… and you have abilities without the use of a crystal.”
“Father,” Uttarak began, “I will try my best to explain, and then the memories will begin to make sense.”
“Go on,” Jhahnahkan answered, “I’m listening.”
“It does get complicated from here on out… Our grandmother was right father… if I wasn’t born, she would not have been born, and you would not be here standing before me today.”
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