The Accidental Astronaut

by Matthew K Wyers

  “You’ll be given that immediately, Warden. Good fortune to you!” said the Asteroid City guard. “And, by the way, if you’d like 500 free units of Asteroidies to shop aboard the ship then feel free to take advantage of that at any time. I’ll make a record of your service. Just drop by the Bank and offer your identification.”

  “Thank you, that’s most generous,” replied Darbian.

  Darbian, Bau, and the children left the engine room and rushed back to the bay where Gregorical was docked. They boarded the ship and left Asteroid City.

  Micah glimpsed the City on the screen as it passed into the night. “So how much is 500 Asteroidies?”

  “I have no idea,” replied Darbian.

  “Maybe next time we can get a snack if we drop by,” said Hannelore.

  Darbian put his hand on Bau’s back. “At some point you must go back to Armankour, Bau, but are you coming with us for now?”

  “No, Darbian, I need you to return me to Armankour. I’ll face discipline, but I want you to promise me it won’t be in vain. I’ve risked my career and my family’s place for you. Don’t allow my trust to be misplaced,” said Bau.

  “It won’t be; I assure you." Darbian nodded. "My friend, you’ve helped us save a planet and maybe even more than that. I’ll be forever grateful to you."

  “Another thing, Darbian. You’ve never used the Convergence before. You must understand its secrets. Understand that wherever you plan to hide the Earth, you must ensure that Halinkoy cannot follow you,” Bau said.

  “Certainly, that’s the plan,” Darbian replied.

  “No, you don’t understand. When someone moves through time and space with the Convergence, a signature is left. Someone with ill intentions could use that signature to discover where the Convergence has taken you. You’ve noticed that Armankouri rarely leave their planet. The reason is that we fear capture by our enemies. If any of our enemies were to detain us, then they could discover the location of our planet. We have to be very careful when and where we go. But you Darbian, you need to be in space at all times. The universe is depending upon you to engage Halinkoy and defeat him. You can’t afford to be on the Earth when it is moved,” Bau said.

  “I understand now. I must leave the Earth behind before the device is activated. Thank you for telling me this,” said Darbian.

  “Not only that, but keep in mind that if you were to be captured by Halinkoy, then perhaps he could coax the location out of you. These things are possible,” said Bau.

  Darbian bowed his head. “How do the Armankouri keep from giving away the location of their planet in the event you’re captured?”

  “We’re never captured. The ability to morph into other creatures comes in handy. We hide ourselves when we leave Armankour. That and we have to be given permission to leave the planet. It’s very rare to encounter an Armankouri these days, unless they’re on official business,” said Bau.

  Darbian thought back to the capture of his friend Taurean. He dared not reveal that secret as it was a future event for Bau Gerean and his people. Darbian remembered that Taurean was all too willing to give up the Convergence to protect the people of Earth from destruction. Of course, the encounter with Vinitor worked out for the best, but Darbian also understood the fine line that must be walked when it came to the stakes of this game.

  “You’re right. I’ve only met a few Armankouri in my travels of the universe and the meetings were always brief,” replied Darbian.

  “That’s not an option for you, Darbian. Again, you must travel the stars and discover a way to bring back the Wardein and defeat Halinkoy. I wish you luck, but it rests on you to be wise. No one else can be that for you,” said Bau.

  “Halinkoy is cunning enough to put me in a position to reveal the location of Earth. I can see that coming,” said Darbian.

  “Be wise, Darbian,” replied Bau.

  Darbian looked at the main screen and gazed at the stars passing by. “I know what I must do. I must allow the Convergence to take Earth wherever it may and I can never know where. Once the Earth has been moved, it will be lost to me forever. There's no other way.”

  Chapter 18

  Gregorical passed through the Prohibition 17 shielding once more and returned to an orbit over Armankour.

  “Goodbye, my friends; I wish you the best of luck on your journey. I suppose I’ll never know if you are successful. The future is something I’ll never see. But the Timekeeper chooses well. Be safe,” said Bau.

  “Goodbye, Bau Gerean. Perhaps we’ll meet again,” replied Darbian.

  This time, Darbian didn’t communicate with the Ruling Council or the President. He didn’t seek permission to land, but gave Gregorical the order to make as swift a trip to the surface as possible.

  Gregorical dove to the planet and landed in a park in the middle of the capital city.

  Bau Gerean departed the craft with haste as he waved goodbye.

  Gregorical took off again before any security ships could seize him. He sped through the atmosphere and away from Armankour.

  Darbian sat down for the first time in quite a while. “Gregorical, it’s time we went to Earth. Is the Chrono drive ready to time travel?”

  “Yes, sir. Shall I engage it now?” Gregorical replied.

  “Yes. After we’ve traveled back to the correct time, please generate a wormhole to get back to Earth as soon as you can. I’m about to enter the battle of my life. Might as well get it over with,” Darbian said.

  “You were talking with Bau about leaving the Earth behind forever. We can’t leave Earth,” said Micah. “It has to be protected.”

  “And we have to see our parents again,” said Hannelore.

  “We’ll talk about it later, children,” replied Darbian.

  “We should talk about it now. Come up with another way. We can’t leave the Earth,” said Micah.

  “No, children, you’re not coming with me. I've had no chance to bring you back home safely, but soon I’ll be able to do that. I’m a Warden, and that’s no life for a child. It’s far too dangerous and I’ve taken too many risks as it is. You’re getting the chance to go back home. Be happy,” Darbian said.

  “We’re not children,” said Hannelore.

  “What?” quipped Darbian.

  “We’re in middle school. We’re teenagers, not children,” replied Hannelore.

  Darbian looked down at Hannelore. “My dear—”

  She interrupted. “I’m not your dear. You keep calling us children even though we’ve helped you an awful lot the last few days. You wouldn’t have made it this far without us.”

  “I suppose you’re right, my…my girl,” Darbian corrected himself.

  “And the Timekeeper said you needed us,” Micah said.

  “The Timekeeper said I needed to bring you to Earth to help me hide it.” Darbian turned his face away from the children. “He never said you shouldn’t go back home.”

  “What he said is that we had to be tested,” replied Hannelore. “How do you think we’re supposed to do that back home?”

  “I don’t know, Hannelore, but don’t you understand what’s happening?” Darbian raised his voice. “I will probably die soon, one way or the other. I have to save the Earth here and now because it’s the only thing I can do…one small victory, but it’s a victory, nonetheless. Protect it and protect you; that’s what I’ve got to do because that’s what I’ve sworn to do. Someone else will have to take up the fight when I’m gone though. One man against an army, it’s not going to work.”

  “Show me how to be a Warden,” said Micah.

  “What?” replied Darbian.

  Micah stood up straight as if at attention. “I want to be a Warden. You don’t have to be alone.”

  “Me too,” said Hannelore. “The more the merrier.”

  Darbian smacked the arms of his chair. “And who will train you? The Wardein are gone…no more drill sergeants…no more junior training camps. Morolith itself might be gone by now. Who knows how far Halinkoy h
as come.”

  “You could train us,” said Micah.

  “Haven’t you heard? The last Warden is the weakest Warden. For me to train you wouldn’t do any good.” Darbian’s eyes gravitated to the floor.

  “Where do you think Micah learns to be a Warden if not from you?” The Timekeeper appeared, seated on the other side of the central workstation.

  Darbian looked up. “Where did you come from?” Moving his head from side to side, he noticed that everything and everyone around him had frozen except for the Timekeeper.

  Micah and Hannelore were standing like statues. Not a muscle moved.

  The ship's sounds of power were gone.

  There were normally a few flashing buttons spread about the bridge, but all fell still.

  Darbian jerked up out of his chair. “How did you do that?”

  The Timekeeper waved his finger back and forth. “Time…keeper, still not paying attention, eh?”

  “What do you want with us now?” Darbian said.

  “I don’t want anything. I’m here to help you,” the Timekeeper replied.

  Darbian put his hands on his hips. “We have the Convergence. We’re going to Earth and to move it like you said.”

  “Good, but that’s not why I’m here,” replied the Timekeeper.

  “What else do we need to do?” Darbian said.

  “Not quit,” the Timekeeper said.

  “I didn’t come this far to quit.” Darbian turned around and sat back down.

  “Really? Then why are you planning on laying down and dying?” The Timekeeper scratched his chin.

  “I’m not quitting. When we move the Earth, I will engage Halinkoy and probably die in the process. I’m a realist,” said Darbian.

  The Timekeeper pointed at the children with his staff. “What was it I asked you earlier? Where do you think Micah learns how to be a Warden if not from you?”

  “I have no idea. He’s too young to fight. They both are. I can't teach them or wait for them to grow. There's no time! And you’re missing the obvious, there’s only one of me.” Darbian pointed to his own chest.

  The Timekeeper set his staff down and leaned on it. “Darbian, what’s the definition of a Warden? What does the word mean?”

  Darbian took a deep breath. “The Wardein were tasked with protecting the known universe from the threat of…”

  “No, no. I’m not talking about all that. I’m talking about the word.” The Timekeeper pounded his staff on the floor. “What about the word itself?”

  “I’ve never thought of it any other way,” replied Darbian.

  “A person who has been entrusted with the oversight of something important. That’s what it means,” said the Timekeeper.

  “Yes, I suppose so,” replied Darbian.

  The Timekeeper pointed to the children again. “Don’t you think they’re important?”

  “Of course, that’s why I’m taking them back home so they won’t be in any more danger,” Darbian said.

  The Timekeeper shook his head. “You must face Halinkoy today. That is true, but the danger doesn't end there…for them or for anyone else. Stop feeling sorry for yourself and use your head, Darbian.”

  Darbian gritted his teeth.

  “I’ve been doing some investigating. This doesn’t begin or end with Halinkoy. He can wait. There’s no reason to go charging after him,” said the Timekeeper.

  “What are you talking about?” Darbian said.

  “An ancient enemy is at work, a timeless evil. I can’t say much more about it now, but the point is that you are needed and those children are needed,” said the Timekeeper.

  “I’m weak, Timekeeper. It’s dumb luck I’m even still alive,” replied Darbian.

  “Oh, did you listen to all that nonsense from Halinkoy?” The Timekeeper pounded the floor again. “You’re chosen, but not by him and not by Aculpus and not by any other arrogant jerk that's plaguing the universe.”

  “I can’t fight evil by myself,” said Darbian.

  “You’re not supposed to,” replied the Timekeeper. “Yes, it’s true. You’re weak, but you’re a person. You’re supposed to be weak. You are strong are in so many other ways. And that’s what you have to teach them…how to overcome the weakness.”

  “You want me to take them with me?” Darbian said.

  “Yes, Darbian. They need you and just as important, you need them. I already told you that, but you weren’t listening. I can’t blame you though. Perhaps your brain is a little too scrambled.”

  “What’s that?” said Darbian.

  “Two sets of memories? You should get that looked at,” said the Timekeeper.

  “Well, we can’t just go back to Earth and do nothing,” said Hannelore.

  Darbian realized in that instant that the Timekeeper had disappeared and that everyone else was unfrozen. “Did I dream that?”

  “Sir, are you ok?” Gregorical said.

  “I’m fine, Gregorical.” Darbian walked around the bridge for a moment.

  “We have to go with you, Darbian. You need our help,” said Micah.

  Darbian massaged his eyes. “Gregorical, it’s time to go.”

  “You’re ignoring us,” said Hannelore.

  “I’m not ignoring you. I’m thinking,” replied Darbian.

  Gregorical engaged the Chrono drive and time traveled three hundred years into the future.

  “Armankour isn’t there anymore. They’ve moved it since we left. It looks like they get the Convergence back after all,” said Darbian.

  “Well, that means we don’t leave the Earth behind. Doesn’t it?” Micah said.

  “What do you mean?” replied Darbian.

  “If the Convergence was used to move Earth, then we must have gone with it. Otherwise, how would they get the Convergence back?” Micah shrugged.

  “Maybe they built another one,” Hannelore said.

  “Yes, they probably just built another one,” replied Darbian. “Bau said there were more of them out there. Come now, there's work to do. Gregorical, take us out of the Prohibited Sector.”

  Gregorical engaged light speed and left Prohibition 17.

  “Earth is next Gregorical, but before you go, I want to give some final instructions to the children…teenagers,” said Darbian.

  Hannelore turned her back.

  “You were right. I never would have made it this far without your help, and I want to thank you for that. But I need you to be brave now…maybe braver than you’ve ever been.” Darbian paused. “I’m about to fight my mentor. He’s probably already on Earth waiting for me. In a few moments, I will drop you back in your city where I found you and I need your help to prepare the Convergence. Gregorical will help you with that.”

  Micah clasped his hands together. “And?”

  Darbian threw his hands up. “And after that, I’m not sure. I will not quit, but I don’t know what’s going to happen next. It’s possible that Aculpus will kill me and I’ll never see you again.”

  Micah cried.

  “Come now, my boy; teenagers don’t cry,” Darbian said.

  “Yes, they do,” said Hannelore as she turned around with tears in her eyes. “My dad told me so.”

  Darbian turned away. “Gregorical, are you ready to go back to Earth?”

  “Yes, sir. I am ready for whatever comes,” replied Gregorical.

  Darbian straightened his back. “Let’s go then, my friend, to whatever fate awaits us.”

  Gregorical engaged the Chrono drive once again and generated a wormhole back to Earth.

  Within a couple of minutes, they were in Earth’s orbit.

  In the distance, Aculpus Atronis’ ship was also orbiting the planet.

  “We’re receiving a message, Darbian,” said Gregorical.

  “I imagine it’s from Aculpus. Gregorical, put it through,” replied Darbian.

  Aculpus appeared on Gregorical’s main screen.

  “Darbian, I was beginning to think you wouldn’t come, that perhaps you had beco
me a coward,” Aculpus said.

  “The only coward here is you, Aculpus. You betrayed your brotherhood and your entire life’s work. And you did it for what? To serve a madman?” Darbian said.

  “I betrayed no one. I realized how hollow and weak the Wardein were. They had no ability to make the universe what it should be. I found a better way. I found the Halinkoy Cult, and I’m all the happier for it,” Aculpus retorted.

  “Making the universe what it should be? What exactly should the universe be, Aculpus? And how does helping a madman destroy innocent lives achieve it?” Darbian’s yelled.

  “Ha! The Wardein were useless. After millions of years of their existence, the universe was still a chaotic place. Hypocrites! They said they stood for decency and justice, but they accomplished nothing. There was no great order, no peace, and no freedom from war. Soon, those things will be a reality because Halinkoy will simply destroy whoever doesn’t submit,” Aculpus said.

  Darbian shook his head. “Your mind has been twisted, Aculpus. How could you have done the things you’ve done? You betrayed us all. How could you have betrayed me, your friend?”

  “You try to appeal with friendship? You’re a pathetic, sentimental creature. I will enjoy destroying you. Yes, I think I will. I’ll bask in the glory of killing the last Warden!” Aculpus said.

  “So be it, old friend. If I must destroy you to protect the innocent people of Earth, then I must do my duty,” replied Darbian.

  “Good. I challenge you to a battle in the tradition of the Rites of Morolith,” said Aculpus.

  “You have no right to challenge me to such a fight. You’ve forsaken your office of Warden. The Rites of Morolith are for those who have honor,” responded Darbian.

  “Ah, but you have an obligation to accept, you miserable peon. You are honor-bound to fight me in such a way,” said Aculpus.

  “Meet me in Garden City,” said Darbian. “Follow me down if you’re not sure where it is.”

  “I can’t wait. To the death!” Aculpus cut off the communication.

  “What are the Rites of Morolith?” asked Micah.

  “It’s an ancient tradition among the Wardein. You meet one of your fellow Wardein in battle, hand to hand combat…no weapons. Whoever wins the battle has the right to demand anything he wishes of the loser,” replied Darbian.