Return of the Guardian King

by John E Bujanowski Jr

  Lorin said, “Boone, you need to go and find your father! If you find him, you’ll find the device!”

  Boone gazed at her then he studied everyone else. They were all mesmerized.

  Terra added, “Boone, I’m sorry about your dad but this is good news. Go find your father.”

  Chapter 19

  Sable knew the High Guard investigator was on to him. Lincoln was always just around the corner or, for some reason, in his work area. Nonetheless, Lincoln continued to stalk while Sable continued to elude him.

  Sable assumed Lincoln was watching his every move via the video cameras dispersed about the ship. Sable had a day off coming very soon and he realized the only way to search the decks below and not be seen on video by Lincoln, sitting in a monitoring room somewhere, would be to disappear when Lincoln was nearby - visually. It would be a dangerous move for him but it would guarantee not being seen by Lincoln on a video screen. Sable had to get down to the decks below, build a device as quickly as possible, and signal the queen.

  Behind a large container, a container filled with parts for the air machines, Sable had cut a hole in the floor to get to the deck below. He then slid the large heavy container over the hole to hide it. He was able to do this near the end of his third day. His most pressing problem now was not Lincoln catching him but how would he slide the container over the hole once he descended through it. The ceilings were high on each deck and he was in a quandary figuring out his disappearance.

  Sable scrounged through the maintenance section of the Exoteric and found some strong thin cable. The rough-cut escape hole was in the back of the maintenance section behind one of many tall containers. He slid the container of parts on top of the hole he cut in the decking. He lifted one end of the parts container and propped it up using a two-foot-tall pipe with the thin cable tied to it. He dropped the cable into the hole then slid under the container, through the hole and landed on the deck below. He pulled the cable, the pipe was pulled through the hole and the container fell, covering the hole and his escape.

  He was very proud of himself at that point, having evaded the Chief Investigator successfully. He assumed by the time they discovered his disappearance he would be in the small COM Center on one of the lower decks, signaling the queen the exact location of the Exoteric.

  …

  Boone gave his mom a big hug and ordered her to go home. He couldn’t have her involved in his escape or their plans to find the mole or in his search for the designation device. She objected but understood that she needed to let them go without her help. Her old friend would take her home.

  While Boone chatted with Pryce, Terra, and Mace, Lorin decided a little chat with Phia would be very appropriate. It was a much-needed chat.

  Lorin led her outside the barn for some privacy. “Phia, I need to talk to you.” Phia had a very disappointed look on her face. She knew a scolding was coming and she knew she deserved it. “I can tell you are very upset.”

  “Ma’am, I just have a lot on my mind. I know I’ve been very pushy and I wasn’t truthful before. I am trying to deal with it all!”

  “Phia, please calm down. I’m trying to help you. We can’t give excuses right now, too much is at stake and we might fail in what we are doing. We have to make sure everyone is working as a team. You are not part of this team, right now. You are very hostile toward Boone and I know why. Phia, please? Put your feelings for Boone aside! And put away this foolish animosity toward me aside, also!”

  Phia was stunned at the revelation. Somehow, the Lady of Obipherion, the Royal Princess and future ruler of a planet knew her thoughts. Phia stood in shock.

  “I know you love him and I know why you are upset with him and me. Phia, you are the worst person to go with him on this mission you two are going on! He doesn’t know how you feel. Right now, he’s oblivious to your affections for him and this childish behavior of yours!”

  “Ma’am,” she interrupted. “I’m sorry! But, in my defense, I’m just trying to deal with everything that’s happened. My father is in High Guard counseling sessions, my commander is most likely wondering when I’m returning to finish my training, and Boone is the one that hates me!” A tear formed in her eye as she explained her actions and emotions.

  “Phia, listen to me. Please? I can see every emotion you have. Right now, those things you told me are the least of your worries. Your only concern right now is that Boone truly hates you and despises you. Isn’t that the truth? Phia?”

  She bowed her head, guilty and ashamed. “How does she know?” She sighed deeply and looked at Lorin and said, “Ma’am, I said I wouldn’t lie. You are right. There’s a lot going on.”

  “You will do what I say. Understood?” Lorin ordered. Phia gazed at her and nodded. “Put your affections for Boone away, for good!” Phia was shocked. “Boone and I love each other but we have different paths to follow, so stop your jealous behavior. Put your feelings away before you or someone gets killed. Focus on the mission, it’s Boone’s and Mace’s lives at stake. Be the appointed investigator you’re trained to be and you’re supposed to be. Stop thinking about you! Please? Can you do that?”

  Phia wiped a tear as Lorin boldly and sternly issued specific orders to her. Phia then nodded. “I will, Ma’am. I’ll do it.” She smirked and added, “You are right. I’m sorry.”

  Lorin stepped closer to her and gave her a tight hug. Phia accepted and embraced the wiser friend. Phia realized her actions were distracting her and the others and she finally began to focus on the mission.

  Lorin whispered, “Phia, protect Boone and yourself. That’s your new focus. We need both of you to come back to us.”

  They let go and Phia nodded. She wiped a final tear from her face and followed Lorin back into the barn.

  Jess relayed the plan to Leake’ and Ulius’ father and her friends in the High Guard that were searching for Boone. The town they were headed to was called, Wayland Town and it was known for its wide open spaces and a range in which air and spaceships often practiced strafing runs and fired small weapons into the ground. Mace, Jess, Ulius, and Leake left and headed for the small town. It was 300 miles from their present location.

  The range had a grungy pub and restaurant, a popular hangout nearby where Boone, along with his father, had some recognition awards mounted on the walls of the establishment. In a hangar next to the restaurant, Jess and her team would lay in wait. They fully believe a tidbit of misinformation would be relayed to a Pereon informant who would then believe Boone was hiding at his old favorite hangout.

  Pryce, Terra, and Lorin said goodbye to Boone and Phia. Pryce pulled something from his pocket and handed it to Boone. It was a small device attached to a wristband which had a small black screen mounted on it. Boone knew what it was and thanked him for hanging onto it. Once incarcerated, Boone thought he’d never see it again. Pryce also picked up and handed him another device, a signal dampener which also served as a signal enhancer. Boone knew exactly what to do with them. Pryce, Terra, and Lorin left for the Kovan Com Center located in the prestigious Peos Tower in the capital city of Tela Ka’Tura – the very place Boone just escaped from.

  Phia stood gazing at Boone. She had many mixed emotions. She was upset from hearing all of Boone’s family troubles, she was mad at him for being abrupt with her so often, she was curious about the relationship he had with Lorin, and she was dumbfounded that he even wanted her to go with him. She set it all aside and focused.

  “Boone? What now? Where do we find your father?”

  Boone took the signal enhancer and linked it to his small signaling device for the Night Star. He stepped outside and slowly swiped a circle on the device. It took several seconds but it finally lit up. It activated and he uttered, “Lila, pin my location, launch, come to me, initiate.”

  Several hundred miles away, one hour from dusk, the engines of the Night Star ignited. It slowly lifted from the Tela Ka’Tura High Guard flight deck and ascended into the air. It banked away and darted for Boone.
On the tiny screen, Boone saw his ship coming. He swiped his small device again and it lit up. He said, “Lila, initiate signal inhibitor.” The Night Star slowly and gracefully glided above the treetops until it reached a large farm where it set down directly in front of him.

  “Wow,” Phia said. “That is amazing. Why don’t our runners have that ability?”

  “Cost,” he answered. “I’ll bet the new ones all have it.”

  Boone worked under the Night Star as Phia retrieved a device inside the ship. They worked together replacing the designation device of the Night Star with the designation device of the cargo ship, Kenos Verisian.

  Boone smiled at her and said, “Now, we are just an old cargo ship.”

  Phia added, “The Kenos Verisian! As long as we don’t go any faster than a cargo ship. Right?”

  “That’s right. Let’s go. I need to contact an old friend.”

  They lifted off and Boone made a call.

  …

  Meanwhile, nearly 3000 miles away just outside a small mining town, two men tinkered and worked on old vintage spaceship parts while watching the latest news about Boone Nova and his friend, Mace Starling. They were in a workshop which lay inside one corner of an old very large hangar. The vintage parts they were working on belong to one of many long retired space flyers. They had restored many old spaceships, gunships, and racing class ships and turned it into a fairly lucrative business.

  Finn was very frustrated with his work. “Uh!” he blasted. He threw the hand-sized T-50 air converter across the workshop. It smashed into pieces as it bounced off a few other important parts essential to their business. “Stupid! I drilled the chamber too big! It was supposed to be 50mm… I drilled it 52! Ah!” he shouted again and pounded his fist on the sturdy workbench.

  Clay glared at him then he glared at the damage caused by Finn’s outrage. He pondered and said, “You’d be more focused if you weren’t watching that hologram. Are you still going to sit there and… and do nothing?”

  Finn slid off the stool he was sitting on, glared at his lifelong friend and asked, “What did you say? Say that again! I dare you!”

  Finn Nova was an average sized man but Clay was six inches taller and twenty-five pounds heavier and it was all muscle. Clay stepped closer to him, challenging him. Clay wanted a confrontation. He thought a good beating and a crack on the head might just bring Finn to his senses. Finn was stubborn beyond comprehension but Clay was determined to break him.

  Clay answered, “Come on, Finn!” Clay got in his face and gave him a little push. “I’m ready! You want to fight? Let’s fight! Because for the last few days you’ve done nothing but mope around, throw things, break things, yell at me, and complain about everything!”

  Finn smirked and turned away. He sat back down and looked at the hologram. ‘Boone Nova Escapes From Detention.’ Finn picked up the very expensive 52mm drill bit and thought about throwing it through a nearby window. Clay grabbed it from him and put it back in its case. He sat down next to him. Finn continued to gaze out the smudged glass window which overlooked a handful of very expensive restored flyers, sitting inside their hangar.

  “Look, Finn. I know what you’re thinking. You don’t want to go back, you don’t want to help, and you don’t want to get involved. Right?” Finn looked at him and stared, angered about the subject. “I can see it’s tearing you apart.”

  “Don’t talk to me about my family, I know…”

  “Family!” Clay yelled as he stood up and grabbed the collar of his shirt and pushed him against the workbench. “You got no right to say that! You hear me? I’m gonna say something, Finn, and if you want to hate me, hate the world, hate everybody, go ahead but I’ve been holding back for years. Not anymore! You’ve got no family! You left them!” Clay was furious and Finn was shocked by his anger. “You got no family, Finn. Not after what you did.” Clay let him go; Finn gazed at him. Clay straightened his shirt and tapped him on his chest. “I believe you still want one, though. Right?” Clay stepped away and picked up a part he was working on and studied it. “If that was my boy, and I had a wife that still loved me,” Clay looked at him sorrowfully, “I’d go get them back! You hear me? I’d be there!”

  Finn had no words. He stood up and gingerly walked to the back of the workshop and stood at the entrance to a storage room. He looked across the storage room and gazed at a big rusty metal door. The metal door seemed to speak to him. He glanced back at Clay who was sulking. Then Finn’s eyes fell on the hologram again. ‘High Guard Ships Converge on Boone Nova’s Location.’ “The whole world is after him! After my… my son!”

  …

  Pryce, Terra, and Lorin were in a small transport heading to Kova’s capital city, Tela Ka’Tura. They were determined to question certain personnel who worked in the COM Center in the renown, Peos Tower. Pryce and Terra were in the two cockpit seats, flying the transport. Lorin was seated several paces behind them, sitting on a bench near the side hatch. She was having issues. Terra heard a whimper and a gasp. Terra looked behind her.

  “Lorin? What’s wrong?” Lorin held her face in her hands and was bent over, gasping for air. “Pryce!” Terra shouted. “Help!” Terra jumped to her feet and quickly ran back to help her. Pryce spied an opened field and set down quickly.

  Terra tried to help Lorin up but she pushed her away, stood, and walked over to the hatch. The hatch opened and she saw a grassy field. She stepped out of the transport.

  “Lorin,” Pryce exclaimed. “What’s wrong?”

  Lorin fell to her knees and cried. “Ah!” she gasped as air finally entered her lungs. She placed her hands on her temples and grimaced. She began moaning. Pryce knew what to do. He knelt down and grabbed her then shook her as Terra stood and watched.

  “Lorin! Snap out of it! Hear me?” Lorin looked at him; distantly. Pryce shook her again. “Lorin! C’mon! Breathe!” She gasped again and drew in a deep breath. She placed a hand on his chest.

  “I’m OK. I think.” She started breathing freely and sulked.

  Pryce said, “Terra, this is what Boone tried to explain to us that day with those two Axeons. Remember?”

  “Yes,” she answered. “Lorin? What happened?”

  She looked up and said, “I’m very stressed right now. I have been trying to prepare my questions, in my mind, once we get inside the COM Center. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t apologize,” Pryce replied. “But, we’ve got to fix this before we get there.”

  “Pryce!” Terra objected as she slapped his shoulder. “Don’t say that to her!”

  “No, Terra,” Lorin said. “It’s true. I’ve got to settle down. I desperately want to question them and I desperately want to begin reading them the moment we see them. I believe that is crucial and I already know this, Prime Pierce does not believe Boone is culpable. I read him and Prime Jale and I believe Prime Pierce was putting on a show – for Prime Jale. Understand?”

  Pryce said, “I think being ‘desperate’ is what got you all upset. Don’t be so desperate. OK? Can you do that?”

  “Yes, but I feel it is up to us to find the person who did this.”

  “No, Lorin,” Terra interrupted. “Everyone is doing something. Right? So, we are all working together. Don’t put all of that pressure on yourself.”

  She nodded. “OK. I’ll try but I’m ready to go. I already have a plan and perhaps,” she giggled just so she could gain some self-confidence and also encourage them to trust her. “A plan to intimidate them even before I meet them.”

  “Oh?” Pryce asked. “What plan?”

  …

  Boone and Phia, aboard the Kenos Verisian, were heading for a large city a few hundred miles south of Wayland Town. Boone had an idea for finding his father. He wiped a tear. Phia saw it.

  “You’re thinking about your mom. Aren’t you?” He nodded and smirked. “Look,” she added. “I know we need to hurry but we can take a few minutes. Can’t you go and see her. You only got to spend ten minutes with her.”
r />   “And it was mostly discussing ‘my’ problems! I know, Phia. I was thinking about the same thing.”

  “Let’s go see her. I think you need to know what she’s been doing with her life. Don’t you?”

  “Yes, but I know she is very busy right now. I’m sure she is praying for us all and we need it. Trust me. Besides, we need to make a call. Well, you need to make it. I’m going to hide.”

  “Huh?” she asked.

  “Yes. Now, Phia, don’t activate the hologram and I’ll whisper to you what to say. OK?”

  “OK,” she answered.

  Boone whispered and Phia said, “Lila, open COM, Bridgefield, Silo Blackman.”

  Moments later a man answered, “Uh, Kenos? Lila? Who’s this? Open your hologram.”

  Boone smirked and hid behind his cockpit seat. “Phia,” he whispered. “Don’t look at me, look at him.”

  The hologram opened, “Sir. I am a friend of Liana Nova.”

  “Oh,” the old man replied. “Yes, how is she? Has she seen Boone? Do you know what’s going on?”

  “Well, Sir, I’m trying to locate, uh, Finn. Finn Nova. She thought you might know his last whereabouts?”

  “Oh,” he muttered. “I told her Finn would have my head! But, now that Boone is back she must think Finn will have a change of heart?”

  “You never know, Sir.”

  “Ah, call me Silo. Now, we heard Boone escaped and I can see you’re not in some Kenos cargo ship. That’s the Guardian King’s cockpit. I’d recognize it anywhere. I also know Finn gave it to Boone and it’s the Night Star, now. Right? Boone? You there?” Boone rolled his eyes and grimaced. He popped his head up. “In trouble again! Just like your father!”