“Sir, I detect faint life on the planet, however, I do not believe there are many people below,” Gregorical said.
Darbian’s eyes glazed over. “Gregorical, I want you to keep a constant scan on this system. If Halinkoy’s ships return then take the children to safety, assuming you can still find it.”
“You want us to leave you?” Micah grumbled.
“Yes, if they return, then you won’t have time to come back and get me. If those ships can bring so much carnage to Crystal Dawn, then there’s no telling what they could do to Gregorical if given a clean shot.” Darbian offered a salute. “Don’t worry about me, I’ll manage.”
Gregorical flew closer to the planet’s surface. “I’ll monitor your progress.”
“From a safe distance,” replied Darbian.
“Of course.” Gregorical engaged the teleporter.
Darbian disappeared, and the children were left alone aboard Gregorical.
“What can we do, Gregorical? How can we help?” asked Hannelore.
“Best to stay out of the way for now,” Gregorical replied as he flew back up into orbit.
Darbian appeared on the planet’s surface outside the Grand Hall of the Council, a massive glass structure that now featured a few holes in its otherwise elegant design. He walked inside the Hall and called for survivors.
“Is anyone here?” Darbian shouted. “This is Darbian of the Wardein! Who responded to my message?”
A faint voice echoed through the chamber. “For your own sake, you shouldn’t be here, but I’m glad someone came.”
Darbian looked up and around. “Who’s there?”
“Have you forgotten the voice of the Council? So soon?” spoke the voice.
“Show yourself,” said Darbian.
“I am Erevosa, Acting Chief of the Council,” said the voice. A woman walked out from behind a fallen rafter. She was dressed in a shining, bright blue gown as was the custom of the Council members. Her hands folded in front of her and although she had just endured an incredible trauma, she appeared to be at peace. She was humanoid, a member of the Grentchis race. One significant difference between humans and the Grentchis was the deep yellow skin. She was enchanting and graceful yet her yellowness might remind one of a sickness rather than a flower.
“The Chief of the Council is Xanabir. Where is he?” Darbian retorted.
“Xanabir was the first killed. I’m all that’s left of the Council. I’m afraid you must deal with me,” Erevosa replied.
“And why did they leave you alive?” Darbian asked.
“They didn’t. Those who survived are still alive because Halinkoy left to spring a trap. Fortune spared us in a manner of speaking.” Erevosa stood stoic.
“You speak of traps. So you’re the traitor?” Darbian lifted his arm and pointed it at Erevosa. He altered the setting to transform the stun weapon on his wrist into a deadly blaster instead.
“If I were the traitor, then I wouldn’t have told you about the trap, now would I?” Erevosa replied. “The trap is to corner the last Council member and the last Warden together and to kill them in one symbolic show of strength and brashness.”
“The last Warden? I’m not the last Warden. Aculpus Atronis survives.” Darbian said as he pursed his lips.
“By now, you know who the traitor is, Darbian. Aculpus has betrayed us all. Why? I don’t know, but he’s a part of the trap, not a survivor of it. You’re the last Warden, the last one sworn to protect this universe from the forces of evil,” Erevosa said.
Darbian squinted, looked around the room, and asked. “If that were true then why didn’t Aculpus kill me when he had the chance?”
“Because Halinkoy wanted to kill us in person rather than having a henchman do it. His arrogance knows no bounds. He’ll be back soon if he isn’t already. You’re all that’s left. The universe depends on you. All those who remain alive depend on you. And that’s why I haven’t attempted to flee. You must know the Secret of the Council,” Erevosa said.
Gregorical’s voice piped in over the communicator that Darbian carried with him. “Sir, several ships have just appeared above the surface of the planet. I believe they are hostile.”
Darbian wailed, but spoke back. “How did they get here so fast? Why didn’t you detect them earlier?”
“It appears they have a Wormhole Matrix. They entered the system undetected. Reckless, but they were able to calculate the precise position of the planet from a great distance.” Gregorical responded.
“Where did they get that technology? Only the Wardein have ships that ability!” Darbian clenched his fist.
“It’s clear now, isn’t it Darbian? Aculpus has betrayed us and aided our enemy from within. He’s even given them Wardein technology,” Erevosa said.
A rumble came overhead. It was the sound of a ship descending, heading for the remains of the Grand Hall.
“It makes sense now,” Darbian said. “Why Aculpus didn’t follow us…why he was waiting for us at the Wardein base…why he was cloaked…why he survived at all to tell the tale. There’s only one explanation. A Warden has never turned before. Not until now.”
“I’m sorry, Darbian, but that’s the least of our worries. Halinkoy has returned. You can hear his ship overhead,” Erevosa said.
“He was my mentor. He was everyone’s friend. Why would he do this? How many people have died because of his treachery?” Darbian buried his face in his hands.
“You must leave now, Darbian, and take the Secret with you,” Erevosa said.
Darbian reached for his communicator. “Gregorical, it’s too late. Take the children and head for safety. Get as far away from this planet as you can. You’re their watchman now. Take good care of them. You’re all they have left.”
“Sir, there’s still time to teleport you and the Council Chief away from the surface.” Gregorical begged.
“No, my friend,” said Darbian. “I’ll stay here. I’ll face Halinkoy myself and put an end to this nightmare once and for all. Either that or I’ll die trying.”
Erevosa approached Darbian. “Darbian, you must leave this planet at once before Halinkoy arrives. You won’t survive his wrath. I’ll remain. I’ll be the bait. You must live. There’s no battle to be won here.”
“I have to face him,” Darbian said.
“You must preserve the Secret, Darbian." Erevosa opened her arms and peered around the room. "No one else is left.”
The sound of a battleship echoed in the sky overhead. Death was coming. Halinkoy had arrived and there was no time to make a plan, no time to decide. Instinct would prevail.
“I’ll go then. Tell me the secret,” said Darbian.
“No, not something to be told. It’s something to be protected. It is a thing, not a word.” Erevosa reached into her pocket and pulled out a disc. “This will grant you access to the Astrolabe.”
“The what?” Darbian flailed his arms.
The rumble in the sky grew deeper and louder. A shadow shrouded the whole structure.
“No time for talk. Are you listening, Darbian? It all depends on you. You have one chance. One chance to know the Secret. One chance to memorize the coordinates of the Astrolabe. I’ll be dead soon and the whereabouts will be lost to history unless you do your duty. Proceed to Alpha Kappa 102457739 Omicron 488. There you’ll find the Astrolabe. There you’ll find the Secret.” Erevosa handed the disc to Darbian.
Darbian took it with his hand shaking. “Say the coordinates one more time before he arrives.”
The Grand Hall rattled.
“No time. He’s here,” said Erevosa.
What was left of the roof exploded from the force of Halinkoy’s ship plunging itself into the building.
Erevosa and Darbian were blown backwards several meters while rock, glass, and metal were strewn all over the floor.
Halinkoy’s ship came to rest inside the Grand Hall. It was a silvery, saucer-like craft.
The door was oval-shaped, and it opened soon after the arrival. A
ramp stretched down to the floor of the Hall. Smoke emanated from the entrance while a bright, pulsating light shone out of the doorway and permeated the wrecked edifice.
Erevosa laid on the ground, but pulled herself up. “Run, Darbian. No more time.”
The blast stunned Darbian, and he was slow to get up.
Suddenly, a shadow blocked the light and a blight on the universe made its appearance.
The sound of clanking footsteps filled the room. Out of the doorway came a thing, a massive robotic form. It walked down the ramp and clanked with each step. It stood twice as tall as a normal person and featured laser cannons on either arm. A globe, a device made to give the creature a 360-degree view and yet allow its head to remain protected, topped its shoulders. Every inch of the mechanized creature was covered in armor but it bore no markings.
Erevosa stood up, raised her head toward the mechanized monster, and spoke. “Your doom is upon you.”
A voice like thunder grumbled and hawed. “Erevosa,” came from the thing and it sounded as though it were the voice of darkness itself. “Your doom is upon you!” With that, he stretched out his arm and fired his laser cannon.
The laser blast hit Erevosa, and she fell to the ground. “Long live the Timekeeper,” she said as a burning plasma consumed most of her body.
The mechanized form turned his gaze a few meters away toward Darbian. “What is your name, Warden?”
Darbian lifted himself to his knees. “My name is Darbian, Warden of Sector 401.”
“No, you’re the only Warden! It doesn’t matter what Sector you came from,” the mechanized form said. “I like you on your knees, Warden. It befits a slave. Stay there and prepare to worship me. I’m your new king after all.”
Darbian placed his hand on the floor and it appeared as though he bowed. His knees were weak and his expression had fallen. His fingers trembled under the weight of his body, but he pressed down and pushed himself up from the ground. He stood. “I worship no man.”
"Ajax Halinkoy is no mere man," the form said.
Darbian lifted his arm and prepared to fire his weapon. “Gregorical, can you hear me? I think there’s a sufficient hole in the roof now that you can teleport me out. Come quickly,” Darbian whispered.
“That puny blaster?” Halinkoy laughed.
Gregorical sent back a sequence of beeping sounds over the communicator.
It was two beeps and one short blip. This was a coded message as Gregorical understood that a vocal response would expose their plan to the enemy. The signal indicated that the teleportation device wasn’t working.
Darbian fired and the energy of the blast was scattered all over Halinkoy’s mechanized suit. Darbian fired again and again with the same result.
Halinkoy continued walking towards Darbian. “Warden, you amuse me. Perhaps I'll let you live for a while longer.” He reached out for Darbian’s throat, grabbed him, and lifted him off the ground.
Darbian struggled, fired his blaster several more times, but could barely breathe. With a muffled voice, he spoke, “Halinkoy, I’ll never bow to the likes of you. Kill me if you wish.”
“By the way, I’m now familiar with your coded messaging system. Your old friend Aculpus gave us that information. If you’re wondering why your teleportation device isn’t working, it’s because I’m not stupid enough to think you arrived on this planet without a ship! The entire system is being flooded with a certain energy signature. It interferes with teleporters and I’m afraid you won’t be going anywhere.” Halinkoy squeezed Darbian’s throat.
“Death it is then,” said Darbian.
“No, no, Warden. I don’t want to kill you yet. I want you to suffer. After I’ve had my fun with you, well, then I’ll kill you.” Halinkoy dropped Darbian to the ground.
At that moment, several soldiers marched out of Halinkoy’s craft. They were of a race familiar to Darbian, at least in appearance.
“Do you recognize their form, Warden? You’ve never seen them in the flesh, but I know you’ve seen images. They’re Tammeder soldiers. Yes, they’ve returned from a long slumber to accomplish what they set out to do millions of years ago, to conquer this universe and rid it of self-righteous do-gooders such as yourself.” Halinkoy laughed. “Tie him up and prepare the broadcast. It’s time to show everyone that today is a holiday. Today is the day the Wardein are defeated once and for all.”
The Tammeder soldiers brought chains and tied up Darbian to one of the remaining pillars in the Grand Hall.
“I failed you, Erevosa,” said Darbian.
Chapter 12
Three large battleships had positioned themselves in orbit over Crystal Dawn. These were Halinkoy’s flagships and the most powerful in his fleet.
Millions of miles away, however, Gregorical had hidden himself behind one of Crystal Dawn’s moons. He followed Darbian’s instructions only so far as to remove himself from detection.
Micah fell to the floor and cried. “What are we going to do, Gregorical?”
Gregorical had monitored the exchange on the planet. He and the children heard everything.
Hannelore stared at the main screen and watched Halinkoy’s battleships. “What if we go down to the planet and rescue Darbian?”
Gregorical found himself in the role of the children’s guardian. “No, my children, putting you in harm’s way is not an option. I will protect you as Darbian commanded me to. We will find a safe place.”
Micah stopped crying long enough to ask, “Is there a safe place now with the Wardein gone?”
Gregorical’s tone of voice changed for the first time in front of the children. A worried sound from a being with no real emotions was quite an unusual thing to hear.
“Young one, that’s hard to answer, but I have a duty to see you to safety. I’ll return you to your home planet and stand guard above it. It’s unlikely that Halinkoy will seek to rule every planet directly, especially one whose people lack the ability to traverse the stars," Gregorical said.
“We can’t leave Darbian here. He’ll die,” said Hannelore.
Gregorical didn’t wish to scare the children, but he realized they were naive. “Children, if I do not take you away from here, you may die as well.”
Hannelore walked to her chair and slunk over the back. “Then why haven’t we already left, Gregorical? What are we still doing here?”
“Hope,” responded Gregorical. “I suppose I still have some left.”
“Oh, Darbian, you’re privileged. You're the first outsider who will hear the story of how this universe came to be conquered.” Halinkoy paced back and forth across the room.
Meanwhile, the Tammeder soldiers scurried about the room. This was no illusion or grand deception. Each one was a genuine member of the ancient Tammeder Clan. They were green, scaly creatures. It would be incorrect to label them as reptiles, however, as reptiles were native to Earth. The Tammeder were tall and strong. They each wore armor that exposed their muscles but protected their vital and most vulnerable parts. Focused and unrelenting in their goals, they didn't pay much attention to the world around them. There was a deadness in their eyes, however. The Tammeder weren't known to enjoy anything.
“Did you know, Darbian, that the Tammeder saved me?” Halinkoy looked into Darbian’s eyes.
Darbian’s mouth opened. There was a question on his lips, but he wasn’t sure how to ask.
“Oh yes. They saved me from a meaningless existence.” Halinkoy turned his back. “I’m from Earth, you know. I suppose you’ve already guessed that.”
Darbian flared his nose. “I had an inkling you might be."
“But what you don’t know is how I came to be their master. They saved me, yes, and then I returned the favor. They were lost, and I gave them purpose. After their defeat at the hands of the Wardein, they needed a reason to go on. Revenge would have been a great motivator, no doubt, but most of their brethren were dead and even their supreme leader was killed in battle. They needed a new leader, and I needed followers.”
Halinkoy remained with his back to Darbian.
“Followers? Why would they follow you?” Darbian asked.
Halinkoy laughed. “How stupid you are, Warden. They follow me because I'm a god in the making.”
Darbian tried to respond, but couldn’t muster up any words.
“Yes, that’s right.” Halinkoy turned around and stared at Darbian. He opened his globe helmet and revealed his face, a steel-blue-eyed man with blonde hair. He had a face that wasn't at all unusual, a gaze that wasn't at all haunting for such a villainous man. Now, his voice sounded like that of a normal human. He was a calm speaker. “I’m human for now, but soon a god. This universe and its peoples will bend to my will. Everyone who stands in my way will be destroyed.”
“What gives you the right to proclaim yourself a god?” Darbian fired back.
Halinkoy twitched his eye. “What right do I need? It’s what needs to be done.” He closed his globe helmet once more.
“That’s no reason. That’s a maniacal ambition,” Darbian said.
“It’s not maniacal. It’s destiny. I may be from Earth, but that pale blue dot was always too small for me. It was never enough. Those pathetic people who occupy that planet, they were never worthy of my presence.” Halinkoy walked around once more. “As pointless as that little blue rock is, that’s precisely where the Tammeder ended up after their odyssey.”
“How is that possible?” Darbian asked.
“Oh yes, you’ve always been taught that the Tammeder simply disappeared. That they were in the midst of battle and vanished into nothingness.” Halinkoy laughed again. “How stupid can you be? You never even imagined that their technology was far beyond that of your own. You never took the time to ask why, not the slightest spark of curiosity. That’s why you’re not worthy, Warden. No ability to see anything other than what’s right in front of your face.”
Darbian hung his head as he understood there was truth to what Halinkoy was saying.
“The Tammeder didn’t disappear. They fled to fight another day. They engaged their greatest technology, a hyperspace drive that would instantly fling them to another part of the universe in the event of an emergency. Their craft, damaged and weakened by the immense energy needed to make such a journey, crashed on a rocky, barren Earth. Repairing their ship was impossible in that environment. They were stranded. There was no civilization to speak of, no energy source to tap. So they hibernated until they could find a more suitable energy source. They would wait and build a new world. Something went wrong though. Their hibernation chambers never woke them up. They slept for three million years until one fateful day.” Halinkoy called out to one of his soldiers. “Is the equipment almost ready? I tire of this Warden. He’s too stupid for an interesting conversation.”
The Accidental Astronaut Page 9