Return of the Guardian King

by John E Bujanowski Jr

  Liana grabbed Boone and Mace and hugged them tightly. “It’s finally over,” she sobbed as she hugged and kissed them. “Thank the Lord, thank the Lord,” she gasped.

  As everyone took turns hugging Boone and Mace, Finn stood watching. Liana gazed at him. His expression was one of shame and everyone noticed. The crowd started to slowly step away so Finn and Liana could talk. Clay softly rubbed Finn’s shoulder as a sign of encouragement then he stepped past him and started to leave with the others.

  “Wait, everyone,” Finn said. The small crowd turned and looked at him. “I want everyone to hear this.” They all returned and stood by Liana. Finn approached Liana who was crying. “I need to apologize for a lot of things and I need to apologize to everyone. I still think this was all my fault, somehow.”

  “No,” Liana replied.

  Finn held up his hand and she listened. “I was with Clay working on some stupid engine parts. He told me I had no family. I left my family.” He looked at Clay. “I was furious. I yelled at him but he was right.” Finn smiled at Clay; Clay was nodding. “I was very angry, Liana. I was angry at you because you were always right and I was always wrong. I couldn’t admit it. I was angry because of your faith, and I was angry at Boone because of his choices.” Finn wiped a tear. “Liana, I now see that you were the one who was right. Your ‘Father of the Heavens,’ your Lord is what brought back our son. Our son is home!” He smiled then everyone smiled. He placed his hands on her shoulders. The soft gentle touch was exactly how he remembered. Liana trembled and cried. “Your prayers, Liana, have brought back our son. They have brought back our family, that’s if you can forgive me.”

  Liana grabbed him and held him tight. She buried her face in his neck and replied but what she said could not be understood. Finn cried while hugging her. Boone stepped up and hugged them.

  He said, “Dad, that’s a yes. I’m sure of it.”

  Everyone chuckled. After many hugs, tears, and laughter, they ate a large meal, chatted and celebrated.

  …

  Rena gave the order, agreeing to let the Sim-Sa Gale rescue her crew aboard the Ambulas. She quickly left Kurros having activated the shadow panels that hid her ship from the scans of the High Guard. The Sim-Sa Gale teleported to the distressed Ambulas and began saving who they could. The Surge, the Storm, and the Rise converged on the Adjelon-Obipherion corridor solely because of the INTEL Aderian gave them. He told them Rena wanted Obipherion to pay for what it had done - unite the planets, initiate the High Guard Administration, and destroy her schemes and plans. According to Prime Ta'mian’s INTEL, she had plans to destroy Obipherion.

  The Court of Primes issued a high alert and ordered all fighting ships from the nearby planets to converge on the Adjelon-Obipherion corridor and search for a stealthy modified Galaxy Class 2 starliner called the Oberis. Prime Ta'mian feared the worst. His order was out of desperation.

  Captain Eisen, noting the horde of fighting ships Prime Ta'mian summoned were days away and the Oberis would be long-gone, issued orders of his own. While conducting a rescue mission on Kurros, he teleported to the Ellis Rise and brought them to Kurros to finish the rescue mission. He then started to hunt the Oberis. He teleported to the other two battlecruisers and brought them to the Adjelon-Obipherion corridor. He had them take up positions on his starboard and port wing. The Kensington Storm was on his starboard and the Dorian Surge was on his port. He patched both captains into his holographic COM and they watched an older captain, Captain Eisen, begin the hunt. They sailed through space in a standard V-formation.

  “Ms. Ellswood,” he said as Captain Devin Kapavon, Captain Wellen Coupe, Jona, Adere, Gunner, Chopak and his tech specialist Marshal Donaker looked on as advisers. “Bring up the NAV.”

  Ms. Ellswood brought up the navigation hologram and the bridge crew saw hundreds of ships head for the Adjelon-Obipherion corridor. There were High Guard ships of different sizes and types – Guard attack ships, speedy intergalactic runners, interplanetary Class 2 gunships, and transports all converging on the corridor and they were days away.

  “Ms. Ellswood, do some math, please? Plot a timeline for a Galaxy Class 2 Starliner leaving Kurros and heading to Obipherion.”

  Ms. Ellswood displayed her findings on the holographic NAV. Everyone saw a bright blue curved line stretching from the planet Kurros and ending at the planet Obipherion. Then they saw a blinking light estimating where a Galaxy Class 2 Starliner – the Oberis, would be and its progress in the timeline.

  “Sir, by estimation, it would be just now leaving the orbital path of Kurros. Fifty-seven minutes ahead!”

  Captain Eisen looked around the bridge and ascertained the morale of his crew. Marshel was smiling and giving him a thumbs up. Captain Devon Kapavon and Captain Wellen Coupe watched and waited for instructions.

  “Mr. Grainer, engines full. Initiate. Copy Storm and Surge?”

  “Aye, Captain,” Mr. Grainer replied. “Storm and Surge copy. We are all full speed ahead!”

  “Ms. Ellswood, recalculate time to intercept.”

  Ms. Ellswood obliged and replied, “We will overtake her in twenty-nine minutes!”

  The captain nodded. “Mr. Jamison, open COM.” The COM opened and the captain hailed the Oberis. “Oberis, Ms. Koshenasen. You have nowhere to go. Surrender, or I’ll have to stop you myself.”

  Rena glared at the COM. She gazed out the large forward cockpit window of the bridge. She studied a large star – the planet, Obipherion. She had plans for it and they were plans of destruction. She responded.

  “Who is this?”

  “Captain Eisen, of the Sim-Sa Gale.”

  “Ha! Captain Eisen. I have targeted you and there is nothing you can do. I’d stay away if I were you.” Rena nodded to Qwi'mae and said, “Stall them! I’ll be right back.”

  Jak and Nell followed Rena down a short corridor and entered the back of the ship. She led them to a four-foot square, solid white cargo crate. She removed the lid and the three of them studied a large orb with fins on two sides of it. The orb was a shiny black color with a small panel which was lit up. She smiled. As Jak and Nell wondered what it was, Rena unlatched the corners of the cargo crate and let the four sides fall to the deck.

  “Help me pick it up. We’re putting it inside the side hatch.”

  Reluctantly, Jak and Nell nodded then tried to help her pick it up. It was too heavy. They retrieved a gravity sled and slid it onto the sled so it could hover above the deck. They guided it into the corridor then turned down a narrower corridor and came to a side hatch. They gently placed the device in the depressurization chamber between the inner and outer hatch.

  “What is it?” Nell asked.

  “You have to ask?” she blared. “It’s my final message to the primes! My last gamma bomb and it’s going to Obipherion! I ‘will’ get my revenge!” Rena knelt down, opened a small panel, and began programming it.

  Jak and Nell glared at each other. They were astonished she would send a gamma bomb to a habitable planet.

  “Uh,” Jak muttered. “Is this as powerful as the one you sent to Capseon?”

  Rena, angered at his question looked up at him. “What do you think? What do you want me to say? Yes, or no?” She stopped the programming process and slowly stood. She placed her hand on her hand-held laser.

  Nell answered, “We want to know what you’re doing? Are you going to, uh, blow the planet apart?”

  Jak added, “Or, are you just destroying some cities?”

  Rena answered, “You two are getting soft. Just like Adere. I need to know, are you with me or not?”

  Jak and Nell noticed her hand was on her laser. They played along with her. They both nodded, yes, and watched her. She knelt down again and continued the programming process.

  “Go check on Qwi'mae!”

  They left for the bridge. Once there, they stood behind Qwi'mae and talked to her. Rena immediately ran to her quarters, took off her shirt, and donned a protective vest. She put her shirt back on a
nd headed for the bridge. She was passionate about sending the bomb.

  “Oberis?” Jak and Nell heard through the COM. “You have one minute to respond.”

  Jak asked, “Qwi'mae, did you know she’s sending a gamma bomb to Obipherion?” She nodded and smirked, not approving of it. She glanced at them; they were all very concerned.

  Nell asked, “Do you know how powerful it is?”

  Qwi'mae nodded and answered, “It will most likely destroy a small portion of a continent. That will affect all life. I’d say 50% of life will die. Maybe more.” She studied their faces. “Do you think she’s lost it? You want to stop her?”

  Nell asked, “Are you with us?”

  Qwi'mae didn’t have a chance to answer. She gasped in horror as Jak stiffened and began to shake violently. From behind, a holographic beam shot through his belly and penetrated through his body. The burning laser immobilized him.

  Rena shouted, “You think I’m stupid! I knew you would do this!”

  Qwi'mae and Nell quickly stepped away as Rena pulled the laser from his back. Jak fell to the floor moaning and convulsing. Nell pulled her gun but Rena was quicker. A quick slice separated Nell’s hand from her arm. She screamed in horror as her hand and gun fell to the deck. Qwi'mae simply held up her hands in defense.

  “I’m with you!” she exclaimed.

  But, she was lying. As Nell attended to her severed wound, Rena stepped over to her. Rena saw her pain and agony as she tried to stop the bleeding.

  “Nell,” Rena uttered. “Don’t bother.”

  Rena pushed her laser into Nell’s chest. Rena seemed to smile as she did it. Qwi'mae could not allow it. Qwi'mae fired a stunning blast at her. The blast landed on her back and knocked her back several feet. She fell to the deck; her laser rolled across the floor. Qwi'mae checked on Nell but Nell was gone. She checked on Jak and discovered he was struggling for breath. She quickly retrieved an oxygen mask, knelt down, and placed it over his mouth. She assumed Rena was knocked out. It was a costly mistake.

  “Oberis?” the COM echoed. We know your location. We are going to destroy you if you don’t comply.”

  Rena thrust Qwi'mae through her back with her laser. Qwi'mae screamed in horror as she stiffened and struggled against the burning sensation that shot through her body.

  “You failed me, Qwi'mae.”

  Rena stood over her as she fell to the deck. She quickly used the COM and mocked the Sim-Sa Gale then ran back to the device. She finished the programming process and stepped out of the depressurization chamber. She closed the inner hatch, punched the outer hatch release, and the device was sucked out into space. Moments later, it activated and began its trek toward Obipherion. Rena returned to the bridge.

  “Sim-Sa Gale,” she laughed. “This is your last chance. Release Jurias, bring me Boone Nova, or else. What’s your answer?”

  “Sir!” Ms. Ellswood barked. “I’m picking up something. It was just released from the side hatch of the Oberis. I’m trying to pinpoint its location.”

  Aderian said, “Captain, that’s a bomb! I’m sure of it.”

  Disgusted, the captain ordered, “Weapons, destroy it! Now!”

  “Sir,” Ms. Ellswood replied. “Too late. It’s gone dark. It must have shadow capability. I can’t see it!”

  Captain Eisen looked at Aderian. Aderian replied, “I don’t know how to detect it.”

  “Ideas?” Captain Eisen asked.

  Aderian answered, “Sir, disable the Oberis. We can board it and disable the bomb from there. It may be the only way.”

  Captain Eisen asked, “And how do we target her? She’s cloaked!” The captain looked at the wiser younger Captain Devin Kapavon on the Dorian Surge.

  “Captain,” he said. “We will be on top of her very soon. She may have to fire upon us. If she does, one of us will take a hit; perhaps a laser strike. But, when she fires, we will have her position.”

  Captain Eisen looked at his bridge crew. Most were nodding their heads. He looked at Aderian. Aderian answered, “I do believe she will fire at you. There’s nothing else she ‘can’ do. I’d be ready.”

  Captain Eisen ordered, “Storm? Surge? We will all prepare to fire upon the Oberis the moment she fires. We should overtake her in, Ms. Ellswood?”

  “Eleven minutes, Sir. We should be able to see her visually whether she’s shadowing or not. Everyone needs to scan intensely.”

  “Do it!” Captain Eisen ordered. “If she fires at one of us or if someone detects the slightest anomaly, shoot it.”

  Moments later, the Oberis fired upon the Sim-Sa Gale. The laser strike hit the massive towering pyramid-like structure one hundred feet below the bridge. The Dorian Surge, the Sim-Sa Gale, and the Kensington Storm fired its forward laser, guns, and pulses from their phase cannons. The weapons blast from the three ships was a massive widespread display of firepower. The Oberis was hit.

  Ms. Ellswood exclaimed, “We hit her! I have her location!”

  “We have a gift for you, Gale!” Captain Kapavon exclaimed. “I suggest the Storm and myself pursue that bomb. We will project an estimated path and try to detect it. With your permission!”

  “Carry on!” Captain Eisen answered as he nodded to them.

  The captain also realized they were embarking on a very risky mission – a costly one if they were going to destroy the bomb before its arrival at Obipherion. He looked at Jona, Gunner, Chopak, and Donaker.

  “Up for a mission?” They eagerly nodded. “Go board that ship! Marshel, disable that bomb device. Ms. Ellswood? Do you have an estimated time that bomb will reach Obipherion?”

  “Sir, two days, seven hours, and fourteen minutes if it travels at our speed.”

  The captain looked at Aderian but he didn’t know its speed. He just shrugged his shoulders. Jona led the mission over to the Oberis. Their attack ship attempted to dock with the large listing stealthy modified Galaxy Class 2 Starliner. The starliner was much larger than the High Guard attach ship. The Oberis was spiraling slightly and it made the docking process very difficult. The gunship fired at the aft engines of the Oberis and forced it to change and slow its rotation. After several attempts, they docked.

  Jona was very angry as he looked at Gunner and Chopak. He blared, “She’s gonna fire at us once we open this hatch! I want you all to stay here and guard this hatch! I’m doing this by myself!”

  Jona started to open the hatch but Gunner placed his hand on the hatch to stop him. Jona grabbed his arm and they struggled with each other. Jona pushed Gunner up against the steel wall of the corridor. Chopak grabbed Jona’s arm and pulled. Marshel hid.

  “Stop it!” Chopak ordered.

  Jona glared at him. “I am gonna go in there alone! No one is stopping me! You don’t want to see what I’m about to do to her!”

  Gunner grunted as Jona held him against the wall. He gently and kindly said, “Jona, let me go. Listen to us.” Jona finally released him and stepped over to the hatch release. “We want first-crack at her too, but someone would not be very happy with you right now if you did.”

  “Huh? Who?”

  “Boone. Don’t you think he would want you to take her in – for INTEL?”

  “Ah!” he blared. “Don’t say that! I have to finish her! Now! I don’t care!”

  Chopak added, “Jona, please? Listen, you’d kill her. Right?” Jona smirked and nodded. “This is a mission, Jona! Right? Buddy? We’re on a mission!”

  “Pfft! I wish you didn’t say all that.” He sighed and grunted.

  Marshel remained behind a bulkhead for safety. With phase rifles pointed forward, Jona opened the rear hatch of the Oberis. No one was in sight. They slowly proceeded, Jona signaling to Gunner, Gunner advancing as point then signaling to Chopak. They continued to advance slowly, taking turns as point man. There was no opposition.

  “Something’s not right,” Chopak muttered.

  “Yeah,” Jona agreed. Jona lowered his gun and strutted past his point man. “Let’s go.”

 
They followed Jona as he bravely strolled through the corridor, checking each smaller side corridor. Rena was not there. They reached the bridge and saw Rena seated in a cockpit chair, leaning forward, and laying on the instrumentation consoles, unconscious. They notice a burned blast on her shoulder.

  Jak was face up, laying on the floor; his phase pistol in his hand.

  “I could only stun her,” he gasped. He tried to point to her hand-held laser. It was on the floor next to her. “Better get that,” he gasped again. He started coughing.

  Gunner knelt down and looked at him. “Huh. Jona, those were his last words.” He looked up at him.

  Chopak picked up the hand-held laser and admired it. Jona slung his rifle over his shoulder, leaned over the cockpit chair Rena sat in, and picked her up. She mumbled something. Jona carried her to the gunship with Gunner behind him. Marshel sat down and attempted to deactivate the bomb.

  “Oberis to Sim-Sa Gale,” he said over the COM. “We have the ship!” The bridge crew of the Gale exploded with applause and cheers. They listened.

  “I am attempting to disable the device. It appears to be… Captain, it’s a gamma bomb.”

  “Capseon!” he exclaimed, with disgust in his voice. “I knew that was her.”

  “Yes! Now, uh, problem, Sir. I can’t deactivate it from here. No controls for that on this ship.”

  The Surge, the Storm, and the Gale listened to Marshel’s voice over the COM. He had everyone’s attention. A feeling of despair started to set in.

  “Wait a second, uh, Sir. I do not have any control of its shadowing controls whatsoever but,” everyone waited anxiously, “she, Rena, was able to ‘track’ the device from this navigation panel. I am attempting to ping it. If I can ping it, we should be able to detect it. That’s the best I can do from here.”

  Captain Eisen ordered, “Surge, Storm, break off! Return to me! I will teleport you out of this corridor. We don’t know how powerful that bomb is. We’ll have to clear the corridor and set it off midway. Someone divert that horde of ships entering the corridor! Copy?”