Lorin said, “I’m sure I know what this is.” Lorin looked at Jeody and Jeody knew as well. Everyone looked at Lorin.
Idal interrupted and mocked, “It was Dowey! He’s the one. I heard what he said! It’s Dowey! He’s an old traitor.”
“Idal!” Jeody exclaimed. “Stop it. We are all under stress, here.”
Lorin said, “Commander Dowey has been apprehended. I think he dispatched that shuttle.”
Mace said, “That shuttle was following us before we found the teleportation device and attacked the Ambulas.”
Lorin added, “Boone, my father doesn’t want you to worry about it. You have enough going on. OK? Don’t do anything. Please?”
Everyone looked at each other and agreed. The prime of Obipherion had it all under control. They breathed a sigh of relief.
Jeody said, “I will keep you updated. OK?”
Boone nodded. “Thanks, Jeody. I appreciate it. Let me know if you hear anything else from Jona.” They nodded to each other and ended their communication. Boone turned and looked at everyone. “Wonder who’s after us?”
…
Rena stood alone inside the luxurious and spacious quarters. She slowly strolled, admiring the few items her beloved had so abruptly left behind. She brushed away a tear and pondered, “I can’t believe he would leave this behind. He always treasured this very old weapon.” She picked up the small black gun, once smuggled aboard the massive ships by someone from the ancient colonies ages ago. She stepped over to a holographic image of Aderian, Jak, Nell, Kwelling, and herself. Though she stood next to Kwelling, she could see that Aderian was smiling and looking at her. He really did love her. “I can’t believe you would leave me! You can’t be gone, Adere! Are you? This is all just a big mistake. Right? Adere? You’re letting that brute go and coming back. To me. Right?”
The doors to Aderian’s room opened. Qwi'mae entered. “Ma’am, I’m sorry. They are headed toward Efferium. Both of them. I’m sorry.”
Rena passively nodded to her. “Thanks, Qwi'mae. I suppose targeting them with our lasers would be useless.”
Qwi'mae nodded. “Yes. Useless.”
Rena left Aderian’s room and Qwi'mae followed. They entered the bridge and launched 114 magnetic mines to destroy the High Guard ships following. She could not let them see her enter the Adjelon system, in case Adere and Rayne destroyed all the aft shadow panels.
Rena also ordered the Ambulas to execute a surge of speed with its remaining engines, shut them down then use its port thrusters to rotate the ship 180⁰ so the forward shadow panels would face Xeraxes and shield all scans from the High Guard ships that hunted her. The Ambulas was now traveling backward, its momentum still carrying it into the Adjelon system. Rena was furious because all those working to repair the elevators and COM systems had to be redirected to the aft shadow panels. Then she left the bridge, went to her quarters, and lay down on her bed. She covered her mouth with her hand and cried. She softly uttered, “Adere? You’re not coming back?” Then her crying turned into sobbing.
…
Sable was performing scheduled maintenance. He was working with a small team, diligently replacing important oxygen sensors and filtration devices on one of the many heavy duty air scrubbing machines. As Sable worked efficiently within his team, Lincoln became frustrated. For some reason, Lincoln suspected him above the others.
The old Peridian Defenders Corps officer had ties to the planet Ta’Jeon and he was Merrick’s best option for freeing his son-in-law, Ander Indrayel. That didn’t concern Sable, though, he had higher orders and those orders would not interfere with Merrick’s orders. Sable would soon become very rich if he could successfully carry out both Merrick’s and the queen’s desires.
His most urgent task was to collect a few key components and build a signaling device along with a handy undetectable close range weapon. Once the tracking signal was built, he would activate it and the queen would know the whereabouts of the Exoteric. Fortunately for Sable, and to his delight, the three key components were already aboard the ship. They were located many decks below in the vacated and unused sections of the ship. Old COM and monitoring stations still existed deep below the active prison cells and Sable only needed some free time.
Lincoln watched the monitor and could clearly see Sable knew everything about his job. He even demonstrated an ability to lead. Lincoln began to have doubts Sable was the one he was looking for but nonetheless, Lincoln decided to be thorough. Several conversations with each of the three suspected workers were next on his agenda.
After Sable finished a long day of maintenance, Lincoln caught up to him at meal time. Lincoln sat down at his table with a few others.
“What’s an investigator doing out here?” Framer asked. Sable and two others looked on. Sable became concerned.
Lincoln wanted to provoke Sable. He exclaimed, “Huh! The usual!” He laughed. “Someone wants to confess. Everything!”
That comment didn’t sit well with Sable. He suspected the investigator was talking about Luweena, Indrayel, or Kwelling. Lincoln could see the concern on his face.
“Oh,” Wyckes replied. “They must be someone very important. Right?”
Framer stuffed his mouth and laughed. He chewed and answered, “No! It’s someone very bad!”
Everyone chuckled except Sable. He never said a word. Lincoln studied him and he believed he noticed apprehension on his face. Lincoln also believed Sable was concerned and upset about something.
“Where is everyone from?” Lincoln asked.
Framer and Wyckes answered but Sable was reluctant. They all looked at him and waited for an answer.
He chewed then answered, “From here and there. I’m trying to find my place.” He continued to eat and ignore them.
He picked up his tray, left the table, and headed for the showers and a quick nap. Exhaustion was now a problem for him because the morning shift would soon come and he would have to delay his plans. He felt very unsettled.
Lincoln shadowed his every move, mostly from the confines of a monitoring control room. He was becoming discouraged as Sable continued to do his work and demonstrate he was nothing but a maintenance worker. Lincoln also monitored Kwelling.
Kwelling again pounded on his display screen with his fist. He was lying on the floor, reaching up at the display screen, trying to reach Robot. His fist was bleeding and the blood smeared on the screen covered much of it. He screamed again.
“Robot! Robot!”
There was no answer. Kwelling studied the display screen, partially covered with a blood smear. He created some saliva to wipe some of the blood smear off the screen. He waited for an answer.
“Robot? Please?” he muttered.
There was no answer. His eyes were filled with tears and his mouth was opened wide, gasping for air as if he were out of breath. The pressure and stress of unanswered questions, the constant changing of the colors and hues on the walls and the fact there was absolutely nothing in his cell were taking its toll on his mind and psyche.
“I’ll answer one question, Robot. You answer one of mine. OK? Robot? Please?”
The display screen blinked as ASOP-1243 hovered just outside his door. It was slowly hovering from one cubicle to the next but when Kwelling asked a question, it came to his control panel. ASOP-1243 looked at Kwelling through the monitor. Data was flashing on its face-like display. It lifted one of its thin metal arms and punched a button. Inside Kwelling’s room, something came up on the display screen.
The display screen lit up: Accessing information… question for question protocol allowed.
Kwelling’s eyes lit up. He wiped his tears and what drool there was dripping from his mouth. He sat up with great anticipation. “Question for question! Alright!”
ASOP punched in a question; the display screen lit up: Did you steal air scrubbers from Bema-Pherion in the star system of Obipherion?
“Pfft! I don’t care if they know or not. Yes! Now, what is your name? Uh! Stupid!
Wait, how many days?”
ASOP answered and the display screen lit up: ASOP-1243.
The screen lit up again: Where were the scrubbers sent?
Kwelling gasped. “Tricky little ASOP! It wants the location of my base! Uh! I played right into their hands. I’ll give them something. I took them to Prevan. Now, how many days have I been here?”
The screen lit up: We know about Prevan. Where in the Southern Hemisphere did you take the scrubbers?”
Kwelling gasped again. “They know! Uh! What now? I have to know how many days! In the Amaran Deadlands. ASOP, how many days have I been here? The screen says, one. Please? It’s seventeen or eighteen! I know!”
The display screen lit up: 11.
Kwelling eyes lit up. He couldn’t believe it. He wiped his face and realized how slowly the time was actually passing for him. It made his confinement seem more treacherous. He cried.
The display screen lit up: Are you prepared to admit to your many crimes and confess to the Court of Primes all you have done?
Then Kwelling saw the screen display a small group of men eating in a small room. ASOP displayed a chow line where they chose their meals, men reading in their cells, and a few other amenities offered. Kwelling gasped.
“ASOP? When can I do that?”
The display screen lit up: Are you prepared to admit to your many crimes and confess to the Court of Primes all you have done?”
Kwelling sunk to the floor and sulked.
Chapter 17
The Ambulas was approaching the planet Kurros in the Adjelon system while two star runners were approaching a squadron of High Guard runners in the Efferium-Adjelon corridor.
“Rayne, I’m picking up those High Guard runners. Dead ahead! What do we do?”
“I know, in fact, long-range scanners show hundreds of them all throughout the system.”
“Yeah. I saw them in the Star Lab. Rena, I said her name! Uh,” Aderian retracted. “I know they are searching for the Ambulas. Any ideas?”
Jona chuckled, “Yeah, I got an idea but you’re not gonna like it.”
“Oh? Because?”
“Because, yes, it’s true the High Guard has been after me and my friends for a long time.”
Jona paused and the silence was very unsettling for Aderian. Aderian understood Jona was not who he thought he was.
Aderian exclaimed, “Uh! You’re taking me to the Sim-Sa Gale. Aren’t you? You ‘did’ try to infiltrate us! Huh?”
“Well, haven’t you and ‘Rena’ infiltrated everyone else? Can’t we do it, too? That’s only fair, Aderian. And, if you follow me, I will take care of you.”
“This is Star 3 Leader. I am tracking you, Gunner Class 1, B3-Q702. Do you copy? This is Star 3 Leader. This is an order. Reply, B3-Q702.”
Jona adjusted his headband, still moist from his wounded left ear. He opened his COM to answer the High Guard’s request. Aderian listened with bated breath.
“This is the Firestorm. Who’s this?”
Gunner and Chopak immediately recognized the voice. Gunner replied, “Is that really you, Jona? You’re alive?”
“Yes, it’s me. I am alive thanks to my wingman here. He’s with me.”
“This is Star 3 Leader, Jona. Glad you made it back. I’ll need that code word to verify.”
“Wildfire. And I am in need of some pain meds. As soon as I can get them!” Everyone chuckled.
Everyone knew what had happened to him because the pirate queen had sent the video to every High Guard outpost including her many COM stations scattered throughout the constellation. Her request for Jurias Kwelling as well as her other demands was sent out to every communications hub in the constellation.
The queen desperately wanted the people of the constellation to know she meant business and she was indeed flaunting her power over the High Guard establishment. She was at war and she had high hopes of stirring rebellion within the seven planetary systems and in the corridors of the constellation.
“Copy, that,” Star 3 Leader acknowledged. “We’ll follow this corridor and find the Ambulas. You and your wingman will follow Gunner and Chopak. Set a new course to the Sim-Sa Gale.”
“Uh, wait just a second,” Aderian echoed through the COM. Jona expected him to make an escape. He thought it would be a big mistake because there were hundreds of High Guard ships scattered throughout the Xeraxes star system.
Jona interrupted him, “Aderian, you need to take a look at your long-range scanner. I’d rethink leaving me. I can take care of you on the Sim-Sa Gale. I’ll promise.”
Aderian answered, “It’s not that, Rayne. What did they call you?”
“I’m Jona. Sorry.”
Aderian explained, “Jona, Star 3, I can’t say for sure but I know their next move would be to lay some explosive mines out for you. If I can make a deal with you, hmm. I need some time to think. But, I wouldn’t travel any further in this corridor.”
“I Copy,” Star 3 Leader acknowledged. “Follow us.”
Star 3 Leader led everyone back to Efferium. He also opened a channel to Captain Eisen and instructed him to recall all of his ships. The Ambulas had been found.
…
The Night Star had successfully passed the Arkitrosis system and was now edging past the Pereon system. The Kovan system was less than a day away and for Boone and Mace, their anxiety was overwhelming.
Once again, Boone lay in his room nearly distraught from his pending incarceration. The sparring activities with Pryce and Lorin, the meals the team had together, and the encouragement he received from them did not prevent him from falling deeper into despair. He was fighting depression.
He had eaten very little at meal times and what little he ate was strictly because of the camaraderie he felt. It only made him sick to his stomach, afterward. He tried to sleep but often lay awake, worrying. Tears came often and for most of them, he wondered why he even had them.
It was very quiet aboard as he lay in his bunk room behind the cockpit. Lorin and Mace had the cockpit duties during the late hour. They chatted together and opened up to each other as never before. Mace discovered a great deal about the Lady of Obipherion and he learned nearly everything she and Boone went through on the mountain and at the ranch house on Isoter during Dr. Zay’Geis’ rescue. Mace was amazed by it all.
Boone slowly and quietly slipped out of his room and walked toward the back of the ship. He gripped the thin metal ladder that led to the shuttle and quietly climbed. He opened the hatch and climbed inside the small dark cockpit.
Once inside, he grabbed the lever that would close the hatch and separate him from the Night Star. He paused, gripping the lever and wondered. He glanced forward and looked at another lever – the Shuttle Detach lever. He realized a gentle pull of that lever would separate the shuttle from the Night Star. He could escape from it all and be gone.
While pondering, he looked down through the hatch and studied the ladder and the quiet corridor of the ship. He let go of the lever and decided to leave the hatch open. The temptation to bolt would be too great if he closed the hatch. He squeezed between the two cockpit seats and took his favorite – the one on the left.
His gaze immediately fell upon a bluish purplish haze just left of a planet, a planet growing larger in size with each passing hour. “The Kovan gas cloud! Wow! It’s really sparkling tonight.” He looked to his left expecting to find another bright star amongst the backdrop of a dim starry host. The starry host was a great further distance away from the bright star. “Abdom Center. I see you, too.”
Then his gaze fell upon Kova. It was directly in front of him. It was surrounded by a group of smaller lights – the Kovan star system. He let out a soft disgusted sigh.
“I don’t think I can do this, Lord. Can I? They have to let me see my mom and dad. Right? Can you work that out for me? I wonder what the detention rooms look like. Bet they’re all small, no windows, no scenic holograms, no people.” Tears fell and he wiped them quickly. “I wish I had listened to my m
om better when she tried to explain You to me. I’m sorry, mom, and You. Please, help Jona?”
Boone immediately put his face in his hands and gently quietly wept for his friend. The images in his head from the queen’s torture overwhelmed him. He realized he had made a costly mistake. “I’m so stupid! Please, help him in spite of me?”
He wiped a few final tears and wondered what he could do to help him. A thought entered his mind. “She would trade him for me, I’ll bet! If I can make sure she doesn’t do any more torture to him, I can trade!” He continued to scheme but his thoughts were constantly interrupted by the words of his friend Zay'Geis.
“You didn’t do the right thing that day and I think you have been paying for it all this time. This whole matter is about your integrity. Don’t you think the Father wants you to do what’s right? Don’t you think the Father has been calling you to go back there and make things right? Boone, do you hear Him calling you back?”
His thoughts were suddenly interrupted. He quickly turned his head and looked behind him; Lorin was climbing the narrow ladder. She entered the small opening and sat down on the deck of the small shuttle. She glanced down through the hatch and studied the quiet corridor below then she looked at Boone.
“I’m so glad you left this hatch open,” she chuckled.
“Because?” he asked. She folded her arms across her chest and glared at him. “Oh, you thought I still might, uh, take off on everyone?”
She cocked her head to one side, smiled, and furrowed her brow. She stood up, slipped between the narrow space between the two seats, and sat down on his right.
“It crossed your mind,” she giggled. “I know it.” She studied him. “You’ve been crying?”
He nodded and exclaimed, “Huh! Sobbing! But, I’m still here and I think everyone has convinced me to go through with it. Zay'Geis, my mom, the Prime, and,” he sighed, “you too, Lorin. I hate it.”
He checked the time and saw they were less than nine hours away. He sighed again. She was gazing at him and it made him feel even more anxious.
Return of the Guardian King Page 20