Boone looked at her and she quieted. “Phia, here is the truth. Believe me or not, I don’t care. I helped someone! Then, immediately after, I became wanted by the High Guard – for helping them! If I didn’t help them, they would be dead. That’s truth – I was wanted by the High Guard for doing something good. Phia, I was asked to find Zay'Geis. Because of that, I was despised, accused, and treated like… it doesn’t matter. You heard the court apologize. That’s my life, ‘Lieutenant.’ Welcome to it.”
Phia frowned, “I’m sorry. I really am. Can I help? Is there something I can do?”
“Yes!” he blared. “You can leave it alone. You’ve already made it worse. Now, I’m going home. This time, it will be forever.”
He watched her as she cowered and sighed. It became very quiet in the cockpit. He was blaming her and he was hurting as well. He reached over and started the engines. The Night Star lifted off the mountain, retrieved the orb, Boone slammed the thruster to full power, and the Night Star screamed toward Pryce’s ranch.
It took a fast fifteen minutes for them to reach the ranch. They were there ahead of the others. They unbuckled, shut down the Night Star, and turned their cockpit chairs toward each other. Phia watched him.
He sunk into his chair and sighed. He uttered, “Phia, my dad used to yell at me. A lot. Most of the time, I deserved it. But sometimes, he yelled at me and I was innocent. You know?” She nodded and pursed her lips. “I’m sorry I yelled at you. The first time, I tried to get you mad. Understand?”
“Yes. I do understand,” she answered softly. “You were trying to ‘wake me up.’ You did!”
“The last time, I’m just mad, Phia. Zay'Geis tried to tell me some things back there… about the ‘Father of the Heavens’ and all. I’m just so angry right now. And all of the danger, the drama, it gets to me because I’m about to put my friends in danger. Again. I’m just worried, and I’m sorry. I took it out on you. OK? I’m sorry.”
Phia was moved by his confession. She wiped a tiny tear and shook her head nervously to shake her hair. She said, “Thank you. I appreciate your apology. I wish I knew exactly what you’re feeling. Maybe I can help. And I’m sorry to apprehend you and all and… ruin your life.”
“I need to talk to my mom again. I can’t believe she suggested going with you. I wonder what she knows.”
“Hmm. Me too. Maybe she knows something.”
“I’m waiting here until they arrive. You can help yourself to the ranch. OK?”
“I’d really like to check out your ship then stay with you. If I can.” She smiled.
He said, “You can check out the ship.”
“Ha,” she replied with a wry grin as she headed out of the cockpit.
Then a message came in, “Mister Boone? Hello?” asked a seven-year-old with long curly blonde hair.
“Jolie! How did you get on the COM? And you remembered my COM signal? Did you hack your dad’s COM unit?”
“No! Mister Boone, I remember everything! Remember?”
He chuckled. “I remember. How are you?”
“I am… OK, I suppose.” Boone reached over and picked up her stuffed toy and held it up for her to see. “Yes, I left that there for you. Mama says you like it.”
“Oh, she does, does she? You know? I do like it. It helps me think.” Phia stood in the entrance of the cockpit, glued to the conversation. “Jolie, I can’t give you a ride for a while. I’ve got important work to do. Soon, though. OK? Understand?” Her frown explained all of her feelings and Boone regretted it but couldn’t make time for her. “Jolie, why don’t you think about where you want me to take you? When I get back…”
“First, I want to see that moon again with the strange orange spikes growing up from it then I want another picnic on that beach you like. I like it, too! After that…”
“OK! OK, Jolie. We’ll start with that and you can ask your brother to come, also. OK? I’ve got to go. I’m very sorry. I will miss you. OK? I don’t want you to cry this time.”
Jolie just waved goodbye and smirked. She reached out and the hologram turned off.
Phia sat down and said, “She’s from Isoter? Your gamma mission?”
Boone nodded, “She… her family that is, are the very reason I’m out here in these corridors, now.”
“I thought you were just a junk dealer, a transporter.”
He looked at her and realized something was happening to him. He answered, “That’s what I thought, too.”
“So, things are… changing for you?”
…
“Mace,” Terra said. “We’re eighty miles apart. I say we finish our loop.”
“I agree. I was thinking, I don’t want to lead anyone to the ranch.”
“Yeah,” Pryce uttered. “Thanks.”
Mace and Terra were flying at 20,000 feet. They were simultaneously and slowly banking their ships and started heading directly for one another.
Terra ordered, “Push to full throttle… turn on long range scans in two minutes. I’ve got nothing on my close range monitor.”
“Same here,” Jona uttered. “I’m ready to blast someone.”
Gunner and Chopak both laughed with Jona. They were amused by the tricky scheme. Two minutes passed.
Terra said, “We should be getting a visual of each other soon. Turn on your forward beam and long range scanner… now!”
Long range scanners activated and the two ships drew closer to one another quickly. A blip appeared on Jona’s scanner.
“Terra! Company! Your 5 O’clock. It’s bearing on your position, too.”
Gunner and Chopak unbuckled from their chairs and stood behind Mace and Jona. They wanted a front row seat. Everyone on the Intrepid became concerned.
“What’s the plan, boys?” Pryce asked.
Lincoln said, “We follow Mace’s plan. Right?”
“Right,” Jona said. “We…”
“Jona!” Mace interrupted. “This is my plan. I will tell…”
“It’s not ‘your’ plan,” Jona yelled. “It was Boone’s idea to do this. I will…”
“Boys!” Terra shouted. “I have visual. Pay attention!”
This time, laughs were not the result of their banter. They all worried about Mace and Jona and wondered who was going to do what.
Mace said, “Terra, fly directly at me, and block me from their scans. Know what I mean?”
Gunner slapped Chopak on the chest, “Ha. Clever!” Then they had to quickly buckle in.
Jona smiled and nodded. “Wait till you see me blast him out of the sky!”
“Terra, we’re moving so fast, you can’t use visual to pass by me. Trust your scanner. You are sliding to your starboard and I’m sliding to starboard. I will bear upon that ship. By the way, it’s a Sono Class II Star Flyer.”
Terra said, “It’s a one-story four-man gunner. It’s a bird-shaped ship. I think it has guns and phase blasters.”
Lincoln added, “It sounds like trouble. Should we contact it?”
“No,” Mace and Pryce shouted simultaneously.
“Yes!” Jona countered. “I’m going to contact it with my rocket!” They all laughed.
Mace said, “Terra… twelve seconds to starboard adjust. Countdown… now! Once you adjust, turn and follow us. He’s still bearing down on you. Maybe he doesn’t see me!”
Terra adjusted to starboard as Mace caught the star flyer by surprise. It had to slow down quickly in order to turn and run. Jona had already pinned the ship. He launched the rocket and it followed the ship as it dove downward to evade. Terra caught up to the Kori Dane quickly as both ships followed the star flyer over a heavily wooded landscape. They dove downward toward a mountain range. The star flyer emitted several bursts of chaff countermeasures. As the ship leveled off just above the deck, the rocket exploded due to a piece of chaff.
Jona and Mace were experts in airship battle – both from their younger days. They had already anticipated the chaff countermeasures. Jona launched a flurry of phaser blasts in front of the star fl
yer and it could not avoid them. A portion of its wing exploded. It managed to crash land within a small patch of open field. Terra followed Mace as he circled the ship from above. Everyone on board the Kori Dane and the Intrepid was amazed to see four High Guardsmen exit the ship and run up the mountain, dense with large trees.
Lincoln could not contain his disgust. “What?” he shouted. “Guardsmen!” He loudly cursed. “This is unbelievable! Kola! Get on that panel and search the database for that ship!”
Terra ordered, “Mace, land north of it! We’re landing south of it. They are running up the mountain for high ground.”
“Great idea, Terra,” Lincoln said. “Mace, you four flank them from the north. Terra, Pryce, and I will flank them from the south. Kola, Veil, and Goss will follow them from their ship and drive them up. We’ll pin them down. We need to take them alive.”
“Sir,” Kola said, turning toward him after reading the monitor. “I doubt seriously they will let us capture them.”
“Huh? Why?” he asked.
“Officer Brock is the owner of that ship!”
“Brock?”
Pryce said, “We know him! He helped us find Sabin.”
Jona said, “No. He doubted Boone. He thought we was wasting our time.”
“Enough, everyone,” Terra said as she landed in a very narrow open strip of tall grass. The Kori Dane landed also, finding an open patch, and everyone exited. Terra and Mace locked down their ships. Everyone checked their weapons, Lincoln looked at Kola, indicating he take authority of the search. He knew Kola was an expert at ground warfare.
“Alright, everyone,” Kola said as they gathered together. “Check COM’s, check weapons.” They all did quickly. “Everyone, stay in your group and keep in view of each other at all times. Don’t let them separate you. These are guardsman were are tracking. Experienced and deadly.”
Jona huffed and everyone looked at him. “You ‘think’ they are guardsmen. Right?”
Kola nodded to the big man, “Right. Brock is. The others… we’ll have to see. Now, split up.”
Lincoln led Pryce and Terra southward. Jona took the initiative and led Mace, Chopak, and Gunner northward. Kola, Veil, and Goss followed Brock’s trail up the mountain. The four High Guardsmen were blocked in unless they could traverse the mountain and go over the top.
Chapter 17
It was early morning as Rena once again stood in the large open meadow near the ranch house. She was fuming inside, though she seemed to be enjoying the cool morning breezes. She was alone and awaiting some special devices to detect gamma radiation. She continued to study the sky, now dotted with big puffy white clouds.
Aderian, still feeling the cuts and scars from his battle with the kukupas, carefully walked to where she was. He was still using a large branch as a crutch. He gingerly approached her from behind and came and stood by her side.
“You’re thinking about Kwelling?”
She looked at him, wondering if he really cared about him or that he was captured and now missing.
She asked, “You’re concerned about him?”
“You know I’m concerned about you, Rena. Yes, I’m concerned! You think I’m not human or something? You think I want harm to come to him?”
“I know you have feelings for me,” she chided. “This would be great for you. Right? Him, gone!”
He glared at her and despised her suggestion. He scolded her, “What? I guess, Rena, you don’t know me after all! If you think I want that…” he raised his arm to show his displeasure. It caused a pain to shoot up his side. He flinched. “I can’t believe you just said that to me!”
He turned and started to walk away in disgust. She watched him, saddened by her accusation.
He turned back and said, “Hmm, Rena.” He shook his head, no. “I don’t have feelings for you. I love you.” He watched for a reaction from her. “But I can tell you this, now, I don’t know what I was thinking.”
He finally turned and started to hobble away leaning on the large branch for a crutch. Mad at herself, she ran to him and stood in front of him. She gently placed her hands on his chest.
“I’m sorry, Adere. I don’t know what I was thinking. I’m… I’m…”
“You’re hurt,” he said. “I know you will find him. And I know you will somehow rescue him. But I wish you could see, Rena.”
“Oh, no. Not again, Adere,” she said.
“Yes, again! Until you see the truth. I told you. Jurias is not in love with you. He wants what you’ve created. And that’s all he wants. When you do rescue him, and when you are alone with him, I want you to ask him. You will finally see what everyone else sees.”
“Huh,” she muttered. “Everyone? Adere? Really?”
Aderian answered, “Rena, I know where his base is. And I know who he lives with. But, you will have to find out for yourself.” He stepped to his side and pulled away from her. She stood still. He turned and added, “But, Rena. I won’t be around for that day. I’m not waiting for you. It’s too difficult.”
He moseyed back toward the ranch house. Rena let a tear fall, then they heard the noise of a space gunner. The device had arrived.
Rena and Aderian talked to a man who could work the device and scan for minute traces of gamma radiation. He explained it could not be done from the air. They would have to go to a lake or spot where the device might be and scan from the ground. Rena sent Jak, Nell, and the man out to check the handful of lakes and dense portions of forestland for the device.
She returned to the ranch house, helping Aderian on the way, and handed out half-a-dozen handheld devices that could detect gamma radiation. She had everyone span out from the ranch house and search the area one final time. She told them they would be paid for their time and effort.
Rena escorted Aderian into the ranch house and made him rest. She sat with him and wanted to discuss finding Kwelling but that would have to wait. She pondered where they might have sent him and if he was even still alive.
…
Boone’s nap was suddenly disturbed. He answered the flashing COM panel and listened to Jona’s message. “We shot down a spy. We’re chasing four guardsmen up a mountain. No problems. Having fun. Be late.”
Boone shook his head in disgust and let his head return to the firm headrest to continue his nap. “I told you, Phia. This network is big!” He closed his eyes and lightly chuckled at Jona’s uncouth message.
Phia found the stash of Boone’s favorite snacks - small dehydrated pieces of yellowish bread. They were dusted with a tangy spice. She helped herself to the treats and found a greenish liquid in the refrigerator. She moseyed about the ship munching and sipping Boone’s drink, checking all three levels, every room, and storage closet. Boone, napping in his cockpit chair, was suddenly stirred again.
“Lila, open COM,” he said as he answered the flashing message. “Lorin?”
She had a bewildered look on her face. “Boone, I wanted to tell you how things went with Luweena, and there is good news from the Sim-Sa Gale.”
“What!” he asked.
“The Dorian Surge used some kind of mounted focused laser contraption, I don’t know what it was but it did strike the Ambulas. We think the damage was very minimal but she turned toward the Xeraxes system! The Sim-Sa Gale and the Dorian Surge are headed here to build some type of forward mounted laser.”
“That is great news, Lorin!” he said, though Lorin’s expression didn’t reflect the joy it should have. “What’s wrong? You don’t seem happy about it.”
She added, “We lost two pods, they were destroyed but the rest of them are on the Gale. At least that part is over.”
“Lorin, that’s good news! But?” he asked, wanting to know what else was wrong. “You know you can’t go with me. I’m putting everyone in danger again and you’d…”
“No, Boone. I don’t want to go with you. It’s Luweena. Well, it’s… Luweena didn’t give us much. She really is just a pawn in all of this. She did a lot of communiqués
for this pirate queen. She even admitted there is a ‘queen.’ She didn’t know all they were up to and how evil they were. I think she was just being used.”
“Yeah, they’re all being used but if they have half-a-brain they’d see what’s going on. She didn’t stop Copiannis, or you leaving the compound, or…” Lorin dropped her head in shame and great sadness. Sadness of the reminder. “Lorin, evil is evil even if they think their part is insignificant. Tell her she has to live with the deaths in Copiannis. Tell her that.”
Lorin looked up and nodded. A small tear appeared. “Boone… I…” she let out a long stressful sigh. “I haven’t yet…” She couldn’t say what she wanted to say.
“Lorin? Everything is getting better right now. What’s wrong?”
She quickly answered, “We haven’t identified the other man yet. We have sent his picture to the other systems. Perhaps they…”
Boone then realized what was going on. She hadn’t yet interrogated the man that shot him in the back and dumped him on the barren moon Cede-Pherion. The man that abducted her and her father.
“Lorin, the court said they were going to look into those compounds. Remember? On Ta’Jeon? That’s where he took you. I’m sure that man lives there. Have them check those places. And I’m sure he works for someone besides just this queen. Maybe Ta’Jeon is the base for this queen. The court should send every ship it has! OK? What do you think?”
Lorin just stared at him blankly. She nodded. Boone frowned as he realized she would not let the interrogation go even though it was tormenting her.
“Lorin, you don’t have to talk to him,” Boone said compassionately. Phia stepped into the cockpit to overhear the conversation. “We don’t need to know anything from him! Forget about it. OK?”
Again, she bowed her head and her eyes rested on something besides Boone’s eyes. Not looking at him meant not listening to him. She wiped a tear.
“Lorin, how can I say this? What can he tell us that we don’t already know? The queen has a name, we’ll find that out when we find her! He’ll tell you he’s from Ta’Jeon. We know that! He’ll tell you we were planning this or that.” Phia sat down next to him in her cockpit chair. “Maybe, Lorin,” he said, so she would look at him. She did. “Maybe he won’t say a word and you’ve put yourself through all of this… these painful reminders for nothing.”
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