“How did you get possession of the Convergence?” Darbian thrust his finger towards the floor.
“It doesn’t matter now. What’s done is done,” replied Aculpus.
Gregorical buzzed Darbian. “Sir, Halinkoy’s ships are in orbit. The same three we encountered above Crystal Dawn. We must enact the plan soon.”
“I guess we're taking you with us as our prisoner,” Darbian said. “Taurean, we’ll need you to get this ship back into orbit.”
“Right,” said Taurean.
Sounds of thunder echoed through the corridors of the ship.
Halinkoy’s forces had fired on the Earth far sooner than Darbian anticipated.
“That’s a bad sign,” said Darbian.
“What?” exclaimed Aculpus. He ran back inside his ship and initiated a communication with Halinkoy. “Supreme One, I’m still on Earth. Please don’t fire on it yet!”
Halinkoy responded. “Were you able to kill Darbian and the children?”
Aculpus grabbed one set of ears and rubbed them ever so gently. “No, my Supreme One, I haven’t been able to do that yet."
“Then you’re of no use to me,” replied Halinkoy. “I gave you the chance to have real power, Aculpus. I showed you a better way to bring order and peace, but you’ve repaid me with failure. You’ve proven yourself unworthy. We’ll continue with the destruction of the planet. So go all who defy me!”
The communication ended.
Aculpus exited his ship with sunk shoulders.
Darbian stared down Aculpus. “He doesn’t care does he? He wants to destroy the planet now, and he’s going to do it whether you, his alleged servant, are still here or not. Isn’t that right?”
“Please let me go before the Earth breaks up. Don’t force me to stay. Please remember my good deeds down through the years. Certainly they’re worth something?” Aculpus said.
“Your good deeds are worth nothing if not done for the right reasons. You did them for selfish reasons. It doesn’t matter though; you won’t die on this planet. We’re moving it with the Convergence and Taurean is going to take this ship away from here…with you in it,” Darbian said.
The blasts continued in the distance as Halinkoy fired upon the planet.
Darbian turned to walk away.
“I’ll bargain with you,” said Aculpus.
Darbian's eyes straightened. “Absolutely not,” he replied. “Gregorical, it’s time to move ahead with the plan. Go back to the surface and leave the Convergence to be activated. Micah and Hannelore will come with us. I will stay with Taurean for the moment. I’ll meet you in orbit to face Halinkoy."
“What about the people on this ship, the hostages?” Aculpus mumbled.
Darbian threw his hands up. “The hostages! Somehow I forgot them.” He beat the wall.
Meanwhile, more blasts impacted the Earth’s surface.
“Let me help you, Darbian. I’ll help you get the hostages out,” said Aculpus.
Darbian turned back to Aculpus. “Why would you do that?”
“It works perfectly, Darbian. The Rites of Morolith, you never gave me what I asked for. I’ve changed my mind; I want a trade. You give me my freedom and I’ll fly out into orbit and distract Halinkoy’s ship. He left me to die. I have no more loyalty to him,” Aculpus said.
“A trade? How do I know you’ll keep your word?” Darbian said.
“You wanted so badly to keep your honor, Darbian. I saw it in your eyes. You hated not granting my request. You refused because you think I’m evil. Well, you’re right; I am evil. This way, though, you get your honor, and I get my freedom. The people are safe and you’ll never see me again,” Aculpus said.
“You didn’t answer my question!” Darbian smacked the wall.
The blasts came again and again.
“I’ll give you information. You want me to show you I have no loyalty to Halinkoy? Then I’ll tell you this. The boy’s father is still alive. He’s in stasis aboard Halinkoy’s flagship. He’s not far from us right now as a matter of fact,” Aculpus said.
Darbian narrowed his eyes.
“Halinkoy is distracted every time he sees the boy. His mind plays with him because Micah’s father is a part of him now. There’s your proof, Darbian. That’s how you know I’ll keep my word because I’ve just given you the key to defeat Halinkoy,” Aculpus pounded the shielding.
“What? That’s not possible!” Micah rubbed his forehead.
“Halinkoy didn’t tell me how he did it. He only told me never to tell you the truth. In fact, he wanted me to kill all of you, and because I failed, he has betrayed me,” Aculpus said.
Micah rushed up to the shielding. “You’re just lying to save yourself!”
“I don’t think he is, Micah. No, I don’t think he is,” said Darbian. “A little faith in time of trouble.”
“I thought you didn’t believe in faith,” said Micah.
The blasts continued to rain down upon the Earth. The rumbles of earthquakes were heard in the distance.
“Time to move, Aculpus. I’m going to let you out, and you’ll distract Halinkoy long enough for us to get these people to safety,” Darbian said.
“You can’t be serious,” said Micah. “I don’t believe him!”
“We have to take the chance, my child. Justice will have to wait,” said Darbian as he released the shielding. “Go now, Aculpus. Do one last good thing.”
Aculpus ran back into his ship and took off.
“Darbian, what if it’s not true? What if my dad is dead and Aculpus is lying just to save his own skin?” Micah said with tears in his eyes.
“My boy, I never told you my suspicion, but remember when Halinkoy was so unsettled when he saw you on Crystal Dawn. Do you remember? Do you remember that he recognized you? This is the only way that was possible. Someone you know is inside Halinkoy’s head and somehow, I don’t understand how it could have happened, but somehow your father survived and is there inside Halinkoy’s mind,” Darbian said. “I need you to trust me, my boy.”
Taurean piped back in. “Master Darbian, where shall I take the ship once it’s in orbit? Where will we meet?”
“Taurean, we should meet at the Belt of Orion, our old stomping grounds. But that has to wait because we need to get the people off the ship,” Darbian spoke into his communicator.
“Oh dear, you’re correct! How could I have been so clumsy?” Taurean responded.
Aculpus’ ship exited Earth’s atmosphere and came face to face with Halinkoy’s flagship.
“This is Aculpus Atronis, calling the Supreme One. Please respond,” said Aculpus.
Halinkoy opened a new communication with Aculpus. “My servant, you’ve escaped. Good for you. Perhaps I was too quick to pronounce you unworthy. Now bask in the glory of the destruction of this planet.”
“Wait, my Supreme One. Cease fire, please. There’s something you don’t know. The Convergence is on Earth and Darbian plans to use it to move the planet to a secure location,” Aculpus replied.
“What?” Halinkoy recoiled. “Cease fire on the planet. I want an expeditionary force to go down to the surface immediately. Zero in on Garden City and find the Convergence. We must recover the device!”
The ships stopped firing and, for now, the planet Earth was safe from destruction.
Tammeder soldiers left the bridge of Halinkoy’s flagship just as they were commanded.
“Thank you, Aculpus. You’ve served me well and for that you’ll be rewarded,” Halinkoy said.
“A reward? That sounds wonderful!” Aculpus said.
“I plan on making you the chief of my new security force. You already have so much experience in war from your time as a Warden. I suspect you would enjoy enforcing my law, good law for a change,” Halinkoy said.
“Excellent, I’ll go back to my work of destroying the old Wardein bases and return to you when I’m finished,” Aculpus said.
“No, I want you to stay here. I’ll need your help to destroy Darbian if the Tammede
r soldiers aren’t effective,” Halinkoy replied.
“Yes, I would enjoy that,” replied Aculpus.
Chapter 21
“The ships stopped firing!” Darbian said. He clasped his hands as if to say thanks.
Taurean piped back in. “Darbian, where should I set the ship? The city sprawls for miles all around. Do we have time to move it to the countryside?”
“Taurean, can we reverse the tractor beam and set the people in the middle of the city?” Darbian replied.
“Yes, brilliant! That’s exactly what we’ll do,” Taurean adjusted the controls of the tractor beam.
Darbian and Micah ran for the cargo bay where the hostages were.
Darbian burst through the door. “Attention! Attention everyone! You’re about to go back home!”
The crowd of hundreds cheered.
“We need you to proceed in a line to the central holding room. From there, a tractor beam will take you in groups back down to the planet. Just as you came into the ship, you’ll go back down to Earth,” Darbian said.
“Who are you?” one man asked.
“I’m no one special,” said Darbian. “I’m just a person trying to help.”
“A hero is what you are,” said a woman nearby.
“Well, don’t get ahead of yourself ma’am. There’s still a lot of trouble ahead,” said Darbian.
“Well, I feel better knowing you’re here to protect us,” said the woman.
“No time for weakness here. These people need me,” Darbian said under his breath.
The hostages left the cargo bay.
Darbian and Micah led the crowds down the corridors to the main holding room in the center of the ship. From there, they herded the people into groups of ten and, group by group, used the tractor beam to levitate them back down to the planet
“This is what it’s normally like being a Warden, my boy,” said Darbian.
“I could get used to that,” said Micah.
“Micah, you did set the Convergence to go off remotely, didn’t you? How much time did you allow?” Darbian said.
“It’s okay, Darbian. My mother’s going to do it when we give her the signal,” replied Micah.
Darbian gulped. “Does she know how to activate it?”
“She told me she did. I mean, she was a teacher at the Star Force Academy. She should be able to figure it out,” said Micah.
Darbian smiled. “Okay then. That should work. Aculpus won’t be able to stall much longer though. We have to put the plan into place soon,” he said. “Gregorical, have you brought the Convergence back down to Earth?”
“Yes, sir, I landed a moment ago, but I’m having trouble getting Hannelore’s father to leave. He wants to be by his daughter’s side,” Gregorical responded.
“I can understand that. Come back up and get me Gregorical. I’ll speak to him. Be quick about it, friend; we don’t have much time,” Darbian said.
“We have another issue, sir. There appear to be raiding ships coming in from orbit. It's likely they’re Tammeder soldiers. If my strategic programming is working correctly, I would say they’re coming here to obtain the Convergence,” Gregorical said.
Darbian paused and closed his eyes for a moment. “And so this is how it ends…where it began and for the very reason it began. We’ve come full circle, Micah. The fight for the Convergence decides it all. We must protect Earth at all costs and we must not allow the Convergence to fall into Halinkoy’s hands,” he said.
“What do we do this time, Darbian?” Micah said.
“We finish this once and for all,” replied Darbian.
Gregorical sat on the ground and opened his bay door to allow Elizabeth to leave with the Convergence.
“Elizabeth, my dear lady, take one of the communicators. They're hanging up on my wall,” said Gregorical.
“Thank you, spaceship, or whatever you’re called,” said Elizabeth. She grabbed one of the communicators and strapped it around her wrist.
“When Darbian gives you the signal, then you are to push the blue button on the side. He won’t give you the signal until all the starships have left the planet. Please be patient and don’t be tempted to push the button if there's conflict in the air. Now, hide yourself and wait for the signal,” Gregorical said.
“You don’t have to worry about me, spaceship. I come from good stock!” Elizabeth said.
“Yes, ma’am,” replied Gregorical.
Elizabeth looked back at Brendan. “Are you coming? I’m sorry, we’ve been neighbors all this time and I don’t even know your name.”
“My name is Brendan,” said Hannelore’s father. “And no, I’m not coming until she’s well. I don’t care what happens to me.”
“Let these people do their work. They will take care of Hannelore,” said Elizabeth.
Brendan turned around and his lip quivered. “I can’t leave her.”
“Sir, I assure you we will get your daughter the best medical care that the universe can provide. For now, she must come with us,” said Gregorical.
“So you’ll bring her back to me then? Good as new?” asked Brendan.
“I cannot promise we will be back, sir. We are going to move the planet Earth and it is possible we may never return,” Gregorical said.
“Then I won’t leave her,” said Brendan. “I can’t bear the thought of never seeing my little girl again.”
“Sir, you have a family here to take care of, do you not?” Gregorical implored.
“No, my wife left a long time ago. Hannelore is all I have,” said Brendan.
Gregorical was silent for a moment. “I promise you I will lay my life down to protect your daughter. She will never leave my sensors.”
“Promise me you’ll bring her back to me! Promise me that,” said Brendan.
“I cannot promise you that, sir. I am just a spaceship, and I have to take orders. There are still battles yet to fight in the cosmos. I am not sure if we will ever be able to return,” Gregorical replied.
“You’re more than a spaceship. You’re a mind. You’re an incredible thing and you can promise me anything you want to, but I want you to promise me what is right. Bring back my little girl,” Brendan said.
“Okay then, I promise to search for this planet and bring Hannelore back. You will see each other again,” Gregorical said.
“Thank you.” With that, Brendan left the ship and helped Elizabeth return to her home.
Gregorical took off to meet Darbian and Micah once again.
The Tammeder ships were inbound and brought with them new terrors. They were oval shaped pods and looked bulky, but glided through the air with ease.
Darbian looked out and saw the ships approaching.
Just then, Gregorical arrived at the docking bay of Vinitor’s ship.
“I was fearing we wouldn't see each other for a while,” said Darbian. “Where’s Hannelore’s father?”
“We were able to talk him into leaving. I may or may not have made promises I can’t keep,” Gregorical replied.
“I don’t suppose it matters. Whatever you told him, it was for his own good,” Darbian replied.
Gregorical responded, “I’m still programmed with a conscience. I didn’t lie. Perhaps one day I will be capable of fulfilling my word.”
Micah popped back around the corner and into the docking bay. “Gregorical, did you give my mother a communicator?”
“Of course,” replied the machine.
“Great. It’s not as though I’ll never see her again, but I wanted to tell her goodbye this time,” Micah said.
Darbian and Micah boarded Gregorical, and they took off from Vinitor’s ship.
Darbian looked down at Micah. “My boy, it’s possible you may never see your mother again.”
“I know we said we would never come back, and that it was too dangerous to know where the Earth was, but we have to bring my father back. Now that we know he’s out there. We have to rescue him and bring him back to my mother. They need each other,”
said Micah. “We will do that, won’t we?”
“You humans are sentimental creatures. Yes, we’re going to rescue your father and everyone else Halinkoy has captured,” said Darbian.
“Promise me we’ll look for the Earth. Promise me we’ll find it again,” said Micah.
“I can’t promise that, Micah. We must keep the Earth safe and if that means staying away from it, then that’s what it means. Be wise, my boy, be wise,” said Darbian.
Taurean piped in from his new position on the bridge of Vinitor’s ship. “Master Darbian, shall we take off and meet Halinkoy?
“Yes, we shall,” replied Darbian. “I'm ready to ruin his day.”
Taurean, piloting the mammoth ship, left the skies above Garden City.
Gregorical and Taurean arrived in orbit one after the other. Within a matter of seconds, the Tammeder ships were upon them and opened fire.
“Taurean, I know your people are pacifist so I give you full permission to abandon us and head for safety. We’ll be safe. Gregorical’s evasive maneuvers are better than any other living thing in the universe…at least in my estimation,” Darbian said.
“Are you sure about that, Darbian? I don’t want to leave you in trouble,” said Taurean.
“Trust me,” said Darbian. “We’ll be fine.”
Taurean stiffened his back. “May we meet again.” He set a course for the Belt of Orion and left the system.
The Tammeder ships didn’t follow.
“Alright then, time to mess with Halinkoy’s head!” Darbian said. He contacted Halinkoy’s ship and requested a communication.
Halinkoy responded and looked Darbian in the eye for the first time since their meeting on Crystal Dawn.
“Halinkoy, you sorry excuse for a supreme being. Do your worst!” said Darbian.
“I would, but I will get Aculpus Atronis to do it for me,” replied Halinkoy. “Aculpus, you have your second chance to destroy Darbian and his young protege. My Tammeder soldiers haven’t been able to catch the Warden. His ship is too evasive, however, your ship can catch him and engage in a winning fight. Do your duty.”
Aculpus appeared on the communication. “Yes Supreme One, I’ll do my duty.”
The Accidental Astronaut Page 19