The Accidental Astronaut

by Matthew K Wyers

  The children assisted by passing along tools and placing their hands into small spaces that Darbian couldn’t reach.

  The tubes outside were feeding Gregorical with the elements necessary to rebuild his Galacto drive and a new Chrono drive. Soon, Gregorical would be in prime shape again.

  “I feel brand new, sir. I don’t believe I had ever been in worse shape. Being inside the Distortion Detector might not have been any worse. My circuits severely needed revamping.” Gregorical commented.

  Darbian paused. “The Distortion Detector. The Distortion Detector!” He dropped his tools and ran outside the ship.

  Naturally, the children followed and barely got inside the elevator before Darbian closed the doors.

  “What’s a Distortion Detector?” Micah exclaimed.

  It rushed them back to the nerve center of the base.

  Upon departing the elevator, Darbian ran to the back of the room where he found a large green lever. He pulled it down and awaited the results.

  The silvery, shiny metal wall of the station slowly divided in half. Beyond the bounds of the wall stood a large cylinder. The cylinder was clear and one could see through to find a peculiar item. A translucent sphere floated inside the cylinder. It had a green tinge, resembling a planet with its bumpy features and mismatched layout, but it was a machine, nonetheless.

  “That’s a Distortion Detector,” said Darbian. He approached it slowly not wishing to disturb it. He put both hands on the cylinder and stared at the sphere within. “There’s something…something very wrong.”

  Hannelore gaped at the object. “What does it do?”

  Darbian looked back at the children. “This is a Distortion Detector. It doesn’t exist within space and time. We can see it, but we could never touch or examine it. At best, we would ruin the device. At worst, it could ruin us. It works because it’s not bound by time. It sees the changes, the movements. It detects shifts like a seismograph. We see the shifts and use that knowledge to fix what’s been broken.”

  Micah smirked. “Okay, that’s impressive.”

  Darbian stared. “It tells us times and places. Everything that happens in time and space leaves a fingerprint on this device. That’s how it’s supposed to work, but this isn’t like anything I’ve ever seen. What I’m about to tell you is the source of our present problems, I believe. Something unspeakable has happened and I’m not sure what it was yet. I do know someone has ripped open the space-time continuum like a bag of popcorn. And whatever events put this into motion began on Earth.”

  “Earth?” asked Micah.

  “Yes, and I’ve been suspecting that for a while. Taurean told me about a man named Ajax Halinkoy. You heard me say his name earlier, but you weren’t there when Taurean told me the story.” Darbian turned back to the children. “A human who had become a great enemy of the Armankouri people. I had never even heard of him, but Taurean said Halinkoy was a time traveler. Something odd had to have taken place on Earth for there to be a time traveler at all on such a planet. Something more odd yet for that time traveler to become a great menace to the most brilliant people in the universe. It took me a while to put two and two together, but I realized something a moment ago. The reason I have two sets of memories…”

  “What? What’s the reason?” shouted Hannelore.

  Darbian continued to examine the Distortion Detector. “This Halinkoy is more than a time traveler. He’s a villain like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Some way, somehow, he set off a Time Bomb.”

  “A time bomb? That doesn’t seem like a huge deal,” Micah retorted.

  “No, no, I don’t mean a simple explosive with a timer. I’m talking about a bomb that rips open time and space itself. They were rumored to exist during the ancient times, products of mad scientists. But no one knows. No good records of such events. The space-time continuum wasn’t understood then. It’s probably not completely understood now, but you get my point.” Darbian shuttered. “Somehow, this Halinkoy has come across such a device and he’s already used it.”

  “How do we stop this? How do we beat him?” Hannelore shouted.

  “I’m not sure, but I know who would. We have to go to the Council of Planets immediately. It’s not a short trip. We’ll have to use the wormhole generator. Children, help me get Aculpus to the ship. We’ll leave on Gregorical in the next few minutes. Hopefully, we’re not too late.” Darbian rushed back to the infirmary.

  The children followed.

  “But what can the Council do if there are no Wardein?” Micah said.

  “They can call for help…to anyone who’s listening,” Darbian replied.

  Chapter 10

  “Aculpus, my friend, we have to leave immediately!” Darbian shouted as he entered the room.

  Aculpus tried lifting himself up on his elbows. “To where? What are you going on about?”

  Darbian walked over to a counter and pulled out a syringe. “Stellar City. We need the advice of the Council. I suspect that our enemy has set off a Time Bomb. That’s how he beat the Wardein so easily. He made it so they never existed. It makes sense now. I have two sets of memories and the only explanation is that I’ve lived two different lives, one in service to the Wardein and the other in a universe devoid of their presence. These two universes are tangled up together like fishing nets. Some way we have to put everything right again, but we need help. The science is out of our league.” Darbian took the syringe and filled it with a healing serum called Meticulo.

  “I think it will take more than a miracle drug to heal my wounds. If I am to enter any battles soon, then I’ll need complete restoration and that means time under the Regenerative Shield…perhaps even a couple of days,” Aculpus said.

  “This may be a temporary solution, but it’s the best we can do. We have to speak with the Council and we must prepare to engage Halinkoy.” Darbian took the syringe and injected Aculpus with the Meticulo. “With any luck, we can leave you with the Council doctors and it shouldn’t take them long to restore you.”

  Aculpus breathed in. “I do feel better now. Are we taking the children with us?”

  “Yes, their planet isn’t safe. That’s a long story.” Darbian put away the medicine.

  “I must fly my own ship. We may need extra firepower if a battle commences.” Aculpus stood up.

  Darbian turned around and looked at his old friend. “Are you up to it? You’re certainly welcome to come aboard Gregorical.”

  “Yes, I believe it is necessary. If need be, I can help protect the children if you and Gregorical need to engage in a fight.” Aculpus walked to the closet to retrieve his armor.

  “That’s a good point. I hadn’t thought of that. If there is a battle though, we'll need a lot more than two ships,” Darbian said.

  Aculpus put on his armor. “I don’t think attacking Halinkoy head on with numbers would be in our favor as it stands. Remember, he defeated nearly the entire corps of Wardein. We must be smart rather. Strength alone won't win the day. This foe is like no other we’ve faced before.”

  “You’re right. Brains, not brawn. Not exactly my style, I have to admit.” Darbian stood at attention.

  Aculpus raised his chin. “What’s all that?”

  Darbian cleared his throat. “My weapons are ready. My heart is prepared. I’m glad I have a friend like you by my side. No one should go into battle alone and if I am to die, I could choose no better ally.”

  Aculpus placed his hand on Darbian’s shoulder. “Thank you, Darbian, but let’s not speak of death just yet.”

  Darbian smiled. “When I board Gregorical, I’ll send word ahead to the Council we’ll be arriving soon,” he said as he turned to leave the room.

  Aculpus straightened his back. “Good. I’ve been looking forward to seeing the Stellar City again for a long time, although I wish it were under different circumstances. Let us be on our way.”

  With that, the two walked out of the infirmary, gathered the children, and boarded their respective ships.

&n
bsp; Darbian took his place in front of the main screen. “Gregorical, are you ready to fly?”

  “Absolutely sir,” Gregorical replied.

  “Move out when you’re ready and send a message to the Council that we require their assistance,” Darbian said.

  “The Council has been notified.” Gregorical lowered himself away from the docking station and left Base 401.

  Aculpus’ ship followed.

  “Gregorical, open a wormhole. We’re going to Stellar City.” Darbian folded his hands behind his back.

  Micah spoke up, “So you can just create wormholes whenever you want?”

  “Yes, it’s how we travel such great distances with relative speed,” Darbian replied.

  “You mean without blowing up the engines?” Hannelore added.

  Darbian paused, turned back around, looked at her, and said, “Yes, without blowing up the engines.”

  “Work your magic Gregorical!” Hannelore shouted.

  From the base of Gregorical’s bow came a beam of energy. It was orange and looked thick as a liquid. In fact, the beam swirled through space as though it were liquid. A few meters from the ship, however, the beam stopped in mid-space. It amassed into a ball of light that throbbed backward and forward and then upward as though it were breathing.

  Suddenly the ball exploded and in its wake was a portal to another region of the universe, many billions of light years away. The edges of the portal were transparent, but it appeared as though space itself was flowing in two different directions. Inside the portal, one could see an entirely different set of stars. Outside the portal, it appeared as though space had been reduced to a pool of water running off the edges of a cliff.

  “The wormhole is open, sir,” said Gregorical.

  Gregorical and all those aboard went through the wormhole and instantly traveled to a faraway galaxy, Crystal Dwelling.

  It was a galaxy filled to the brim with blue stars, but few habitable worlds.

  Darbian gazed at the blue hue of the galaxy. “It’s beautiful.”

  “Wow, it really is,” said Micah.

  “Set a course for Crystal Dawn,” Darbian said.

  “I thought we were going to Stellar City?” asked Hannelore.

  “Yes, but Stellar City is found on the planet of Crystal Dawn. Do you know why they call it that?” Darbian raised his eyebrows.

  “I don’t have any idea,” responded Hannelore.

  Darbian cracked a smile. “You’ll see soon enough. In the center of the galaxy, the stars are so close together that the light prevails over everything. There is no deep, dark void of space there.”

  Hannelore looked off to the side and then back at Darbian with a glimmer in her eye. “I can’t wait to see it.”

  Gregorical flew with immense speed toward the center of the galaxy.

  Gregorical spoke up, “Sir, was Aculpus Atronis not following us?”

  “He didn’t follow us through the wormhole? Something’s wrong. We have to get to Stellar City!” Darbian sat down, put his hands together, and placed them under his chin.

  “We will arrive soon, sir,” Gregorical stated.

  “What’s wrong? Why didn’t Aculpus follow us?” Micah asked.

  “I’m not sure why, but we need the help of the Council more than ever.” Darbian walked out of the room.

  “You said Aculpus was your friend. Is he a good man?” Micah pondered aloud.

  Darbian whipped back around. “Of course he’s a good man. There’s no such thing as a bad Warden. Aculpus is a hero among the Wardein.”

  “It is weird he wouldn’t follow us when he said he would,” Hannelore said.

  “Perhaps there’s a good reason for that,” Darbian replied.

  Gregorical spoke. “Sir, we’ve received no communication from Aculpus Atronis stating the reason he did not follow.”

  Darbian straightened his back. “The Battle of Klimopira.”

  “I remember it well,” said Gregorical.

  “Well, you have to tell us the story,” Micah said.

  Darbian shifted back to the center of the room. “Many years ago, the planet of Klimopira was under attack by the Vengals, a warrior race that spent most of their history conquering planets for natural resources. The Klimopirans were a peaceful people, so they dispatched a squadron of Wardein to repel the Vengals. I had never been in battle before, not true battle. I had always faced off against a single foe or a roving gang of marauders. This was different. The Vengals spent much of their life learning the arts of war and hand-to-hand combat. I was inexperienced, but had the task of defending the capital city. This was the last hope of the Klimopirans. Their city would have to stand or their planet would fall.”

  “What happened next?” Hannelore implored.

  Somber in his speech as he recounted the details of the battle, Darbian continued, “I was to defend the city alongside seven other Wardein. We were outmatched though. Thousands of Vengal warriors landed on the outskirts of the city. They were protected from above by several dozen starships, which attacked from the air while troops on the ground armed with cannons would plow their way to the president’s quarters. Vengal starships decimated most of the city’s defenses. The only line of defense left was us…the Wardein.”

  The children looked on.

  Darbian continued with his story. “We each took to our ships to attack the Vengal spacecraft, but one by one each Warden was downed or destroyed until only I was left. Gregorical and I were preparing ourselves to be destroyed. We barely made a dent in the Vengal forces. People were dying in the streets at the hands of the ground troops while only a few starships had been destroyed. I decided to try something risky. I teleported down to the surface while Gregorical hid among the towers of the city. My plan was to negotiate a peace with the Vengals to save lives while reinforcements arrived. The Vengals had no interest in talking, however, and they took aim at me with their cannons. They struck me with a blast. I fell, and I was certain I would die.”

  The children were literally on the edge of their seats.

  “As I laid there on my back with one of the Vengal warriors standing over me and ready to strike the deathblow, I looked toward the sky and saw one of the Vengal ships straying from the others. It opened fire on the ground troops and chased them away from my location. Miraculously, I was safe, but how I wondered.” Darbian’s eyes peered down. “Soon the light of the star was dimmed from my view and standing over me was Aculpus Atronis, one of the most highly regarded Wardein of our age. He took me by the hand and lifted me up. We transported aboard his ship and there he tended to my wounds. He showed me how he was able to commandeer one of the Vengal ships. He discovered a weakness in their software, hacked the most powerful ship in the group, and used it to knock the others out of the sky from behind. They never saw it coming. When that was done, he used it to fire on the Vengal ground troops and defeat them.”

  “That was brilliant,” said Micah.

  “Aculpus Atronis saved my life that day. More than that, he saved an entire planet from being conquered by oppressors. I owe him my life and good people throughout the universe owe him their freedom, for he has fought many wicked villains over the years, not just that day.” Darbian paused. “I won’t entertain the notion that Aculpus would ever turn to the ranks of evil.”

  Soon the planet of Crystal Dawn appeared in view. The planet was like a jewel in the sand. It had bright blue skies on the light side of the planet and deep blue on the dimmer side. There was no such thing as night on the planet Crystal Dawn. It was close enough to the center of the galaxy to be rid of true darkness.

  As Gregorical approached, Stellar City shone from the surface like a beacon on the Northern hemisphere of the planet. The city took up a quarter of the surface and was laid out in the pattern of a starburst, thus the origin of the name.

  Darbian placed his hand on the control panel and sent a message to the planet below. “This is Darbian of the Wardein aboard the sentient ship Gregorical. I am requesting a
n emergency meeting with the Council on the whereabouts of the Wardein and an imminent threat facing our peace. Please respond.” Darbian removed his hand and waited.

  They received back mostly static. The words were muffled, but they could make out one phrase. “There’s a traitor in our midst!”

  Darbian froze.

  Gregorical broke the silence. "Sir, what action do we take?"

  Darbian looked at the children and glared down at the planet. “Gregorical, get closer so I can teleport down. I have to meet the Council alone.”

  Chapter 11

  Gregorical shot through the atmosphere of Crystal Dawn and surveyed Stellar City. “Sir, it appears the city has sustained significant damage.”

  “They’ve already been here,” Darbian said under his breath.

  Micah wrung his hands. “What do we do, Darbian?”

  Darbian whipped himself up out of his captain’s chair. “Gregorical, do you detect any vessels in the area? Anything that might not be Council friendly?”

  “No, sir. The system appears to be clear of vessels,” Gregorical replied.

  “What do you mean? No vessels? There should be cleanup crews, Council guards, traders…there has to be someone moving through this system after what’s happened.” Darbian stared at the view of Stellar City from above.

  “Analysis of the surface would suggest they attacked from orbit,” Gregorical said.

  “All that damage from orbit? What sort of machines could do that?” Darbian rubbed his jaw. “Is anyone left?”

  Hannelore spoke up. “Darbian! Who sent that signal?”

  Darbian looked around. “Who indeed? Gregorical, teleport me down to the surface. I want you to place me outside the Grand Hall of the Council.”

  “Yes, sir,” Gregorical replied.

  “Children, you’ll stay here. I don’t know what I’m walking into and I will not put you in danger.” Darbian nodded.

  “When are you coming back?” asked Hannelore.

  Darbian paused for a moment. “Soon my child.”