Xonax grabbed a surprised Leg’olas and sent her flying through the air. He took aim and fired at her.
Kevin once more stopped the blast from hitting his pet spider.
Kevin, said Mira. Using time bubbles this fast and repeatedly is quickly depleting our energy.
Duly noted.
The yellow spider fell on the ground and tumbled. She wasn’t moving.
“Leg’olas!”
“Friends with a killer spider,” said Xonax. “I didn’t see that one coming, but since poison is the weapon of choice for a good coup, those with a claim to the throne are injected at birth and immune to these creatures’ bites. I have anti-venom running through my blood.”
“That won’t stop me from killing you.”
Kevin sent one more time bubble and trapped Xonax. Shortly after, Kevin collapsed to the ground. He was exhausted, running out of energy and aching everywhere. But he needed to finish the threat and make sure Xonax died here today.
Then something impossible happened. Xonax walked out of the time bubble as if he hadn’t been affected by it at all.
“What the hell?”
“You see, when you killed my father using this spell, I had a feeling it was something I needed to protect against. My best scientist found a way to counter this particular tech-spell.”
Kevin swallowed hard and shot a fireball at Xonax; it hit him fully in the front, but he didn’t see affected either and the fire died off quickly.
“I’m fireproof too,” said Xonax with a smirk.
The Emperor aimed and fired his blaster at Kevin who was still on the ground.
Kevin was too tired to try to accurately trap another shot with a time bubble so he raised a shield instead. But the blaster fire shot through the shield and lodged itself on the left side of Kevin’s stomach. It burned through his skin and hurt like hell.
Kevin spat blood.
“You must wonder what just happened here? I had 8-3-9-6 give me your shield frequency and had a weapon manufactured just for this purpose, I call it the Kevin gun.”
Xonax took two more steps and stopped not far from a downed Kevin who was holding his stomach, his face contorted by the intense pain.
“Call your sister, and I’ll end your suffering and promise I won’t kill your entire family or your girlfriend.
Ziron, listen to me—shoot us. I’m far away from the house and Lacuna, take us both out.
But there was no answer. Zee, fire, NOW!
“Go fuck yourself,” spat Kevin to Xonax.
“Very well, time to die then.”
Xonax aimed his blaster and squeezed the trigger.
The next thing Kevin felt was blood splatter on his face but no additional pain. A shadow covered the light from the sun, and Kevin realized he had closed his eyes by reflex. He opened them in time to see Ziron crash into his chest, bleeding heavily.
Zee threw a small round device toward Xonax with whatever energy he had left. Upon impact with the ground only a meter away from the Emperor, lightning blots shot and electrocuted Xonax, forcing him to drop his blaster. The device was sending waves of lightning bolts and electricity through the Emperor’s body, immobilizing him.
Kevin couldn’t believe his eyes. Ziron was in his arms, a large black hole in his chest. His Sphynx friend tried talking but blood bubbled on the corner of his mouth.
“Zee! No! Why? Why did you do this?” Kevin said, sobbing.
“Because…you’re my friend, and I didn’t want anything to happen to you.”
“Why didn’t you just blast us both like I asked?”
“I almost did, but it didn’t seem fair,” Ziron coughed up more blood. “You’ve given up so much, I thought someone else ought to sacrifice themselves for a change.”
Kevin screamed. “Leg’olas! Can you hear me, come here now!”
But nobody came.
“I don’t think she can do anything,” said Ziron, “Kevin, I’m cold, take…take this.”
Ziron handed Kevin a small sphere the size of a pea.
“I…” Ziron continued, “I didn’t have time to make another smart suit, but this is a smart weapon. Think of the weapon you want it to be, and Mira’s matrix will make it real. Goodbye, my friend. It has been both a pleasure and an honor. Thank y—”
“No! Zee! Stay with me!”
But Ziron had already stopped breathing.
The spherical device near Xonax was still electro-shocking him and preventing him from moving a single muscle. The lightning reflecting off his metal jaw and gritted teeth made him look more machine than man.
Sadness filled Kevin’s heart, but soon the emotion was replaced by hatred and a desire for revenge, the likes he had never experienced before. Kevin delicately laid his dead furry friend to the side, wiped his tears, and got back to his feet, with the metallic pea in his right hand and deadly fire in his eyes.
My time has come too. We’ve used too much energy already, said Mira. Choose your weapon by speaking its name, and don’t forget your promise.
I won’t. Thank you for everything, Mira. We’ll miss you.
I’ll miss you too. Now destroy our common enemy, and accomplish both your and my destiny. Goodbye, Kevin.
Goodbye, Mira.
Kevin raised his right fist forward and spoke.
“BFG-9000,” said Kevin.
He thought he heard Mira’s distant voice in his mind but wasn’t sure if it was his imagination. The voice said only two words: Good choice.
The plasma-discharging weapon morphed in Kevin’s hand, and he aimed dead center at the Emperor, still being assailed by multiple paralyzing thunderbolts.
Xonax screamed loudly. “NOOOOOO!”
“Die, motherfucker.”
Kevin squeezed the trigger, and the large plasma bolt impacted with the Emperor’s chest and vaporized him.
The weapon disappeared from Kevin’s hands, and he fell back to his knees, sobbing uncontrollably.
When he heard a whimpering sound, he looked to the side and saw Boomer licking Ziron’s face and slighting pushing him with his snout.
“Wake up, Zee,” said a crying Boomer. “Wake up.”
Tears kept flowing down Kevin’s face. “He’s gone.”
Boomer looked at Kevin “What happened?”
“He sacrificed himself for us. Without him, we would have lost.”
A limping Leg’olas came by their side, joined by a beat-up Lacuna. Lacuna was softly crying, and she fell to her knees next to Ziron, gently running her hand through his bloodied fur.
Kevin went to her side and embraced her.
27
Kevin’s home looked on the inside just like how Kevin felt—broken, injured, and roughed up.
Kevin lied down next to his father, who was still out of it, and gently slapped him until he regained consciousness.
His father groaned and opened his eyes slowly.
“Kevin? Is that really you?”
Kevin nodded. “It’s me, Father. How do you feel?”
“Like I was in a fight with a bulldozer. And lost.”
Kevin could relate. It was taking all his energy not to burst into more tears thinking of the loss of Ziron. But right now, he needed to reassure his family.
Kevin helped his father get back up.
“Thank you, son. Where are your mom and sister?”
“Mom! Sonja! You can come downstairs. It’s safe now.”
Kevin’s mom was the first to emerge, jumping the stairs two by two. Before he knew it, she had thrown herself in his arms.
“Kevin, oh my Kevin, you’re okay. Thank god.”
Sonja joined in the family hug. It felt good to hold his family close. There had been so many times he thought he’d never see them again.
Eventually, Boomer broke up the congregation with a sharp bark.
Sonja was the first to run to him and grab him in her arms.
“Boomer! You’re injured.”
“I’ll live,” he answered.
Sonja dropped Boomer and fell back on her bottom, her eyes blinking uncontrollably. Kevin’s mom helped Sonja back up, but Kevin could tell she was equally surprised.
“Right…they don’t know I can speak,” said Boomer.
“Yeah, there’s a lot they don’t know,” added Kevin. “We’ll have plenty of time recounting our adventures over dinner.”
“I hope I’m invited,” said Lacuna.
Kevin thought her timing was perfect, diffusing the surprise created by Boomer.
“Mom, this is Lacuna. She helped me save all of you, and well, Earth as well. Hope it’s cool if she joins us for dinner?”
Angela smiled. “Of course. Any friend of my boy is a friend of ours.”
Then Leg’olas emerged from Lacuna’s hair.
“Does that mean I can come too?”
Sonja screamed, and Kevin’s dad caught Angela when she fainted.
“This is going to be one interesting dinner party,” said Kevin’s dad.
“You have no idea,” said Kevin.
* * *
Kevin stood outside the house, looking at the setting sun when Lacuna joined him.
“You’re folks are nice.”
Kevin wanted to voice that he agreed about only one parent, but now was not the time. His heart was still having trouble adjusting to the idea of a world without his friend Ziron in it.
“I’m glad you think so. They seem to like you.”
“That might change when we tell them how we initially met.”
“I think it would be best to avoid telling them that story.”
Kevin kissed Lacuna for the longest time.
“After all,” continued Kevin, “that story is just for the two of us.”
“Three of us,” said Boomer.
“How long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough,” said Boomer with a chuckle.
“Feeling better?” asked Lacuna.
“Yeah, Leg’olas finally had enough energy to heal my leg.”
“Sorry, apparently she used a fair amount of strength healing our wounds first,” said Kevin.
“That’s okay, I’m just glad we’re all okay.”
“Not all…” Kevin said absently, gazing at the red sun setting in the distance.
“Right…wrong choice of words.”
Lacuna bent down and grabbed Boomer in her arms.
“What are you doing?” asked Boomer. “You’re his girlfriend, you know?”
“Yeah, but he’s too heavy for me too do this.”
Kevin raised an eyebrow. “Too heavy?”
Lacuna smiled. “Wrong choice of words.”
“I hear there’s a lot of that going on around here tonight,” said Kevin.
* * *
Kevin’s mom cooked all his favorite foods, and he had to admit, he had missed his mom’s cooking. Food on his adventures hadn’t been all that. The family dinner felt like the most delicious meal of his life.
There had been laughter and tears as he recounted some of his adventures. Though Kevin did wonder why the place hadn’t been flooded with government suits and other officials. Something was fishy, but part of him was glad how the evening had unfolded.
“I hope you’re all hungry for dessert,” said Angela.
“I’m stuffed,” said Leon.
“I’ll have some,” said Boomer.
“Now why I am not surprised,” said Lacuna.
The family laughed.
“Kevin,” asked Angela. “Dessert?”
“I’m good. Maybe save me a piece for later.”
“Is everything okay?” asked Sonja.
“I’m good, sis, I…I just need a moment alone, so if you don’t mind, I’m going for a walk.”
Kevin’s mom nodded, and Kevin left.
He strolled along the street for about twenty minutes when he noticed an approaching light in the sky. At first, he was worried, but soon he recognized the shape of the Osiris.
The ship landed in a nearby clearing, and Kevin ran toward it. When he arrived, the ramp lowered and he walked in. With each step his heart ached. Ziron’s presence felt even stronger here than any other memory that Kevin had brought back into his mind since his friend sacrificed his life.
Kevin stopped in front of the bridge doors and hesitated. Part of him didn’t feel ready to enter that room just yet. But the ship had come here for a reason so Kevin had to face his fear. After a minute, he found the courage to step in.
The bridge was empty, something Kevin didn’t expect.
“Anyone here?” asked Kevin.
To Kevin’s surprise, a hologram of Mira appeared.
“Mira? I don’t understand, I thought you were…gone.”
“I am, this is just a recording.”
“I see. You left some interactive hologram to deliver a final message. I guess in your position I would have done the same.”
“You’re correct, but not only that. Mira programmed me to take care of the aftermath of the battle with your government. So I apologize for not coming down sooner. Your president and his senior staff were not easy to convince that we mean them no harm.”
Kevin chuckled. “That’s what you get for saving the world.”
“I think I managed to convince them, and they’ll be delivering you a medal.”
“That won’t bring back Ziron.”
Mira’s hologram looked down. “I know. About that.”
“I can’t believe he’s gone. I would have gladly given my life in order to avoid losing him.”
“I know you would, and so did Ziron. It was his choice, and I know that won’t make you feel any better, but you should respect his sacrifice.”
“I do. But it will take a while for me to truly accept it, I guess. I’m not trying to be disrespectful in any way, I just wish he were here.”
“Then on some level, I can grant you part of your wish.”
“I’m not sure I understand.”
A hologram of Ziron appeared next to Mira, and Kevin’s eyes watered.
“Zee?”
“Hey, Kevin, how’s that Earth saying go: If you’re seeing this, I must have died.”
The lighthearted joke didn’t have the effect Ziron went for, instead, it unleashed more tears.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t joke about these matters,” said Ziron’s hologram.
Kevin wiped his tears with the back of his hand. “That’s okay. So…you’re a holographic recording as well?”
“I suppose I am. When you were training on battling the superior fleet, I thought I should record something in case of my demise. It took a lot of time for me to do so. Imagining I could no longer be here made me so anxious I couldn’t record any message.”
Kevin nodded with a faint smile.
“I’m glad you’re okay, that’s all that mattered to me,” said Ziron. “I hope you know that?”
“I do, thank you for saving me, well, saving us all, in fact.”
“You did that yourself. I only played my part, even though I don’t really know what I did, but I take it it was some sort of uncharacteristically courageous act.”
Kevin chuckled, his eyes watering again. “It sure was courageous.”
“I’m glad.”
“If I may,” interrupted Mira. “I can help you with,” she said pointing at Ziron’s hologram, “in remembering a little better.”
“I’m not sure I understand,” said Ziron’s hologram.
“I’m with Zee on this one,” added Kevin.
“Before morphing her matrix with you, I, well, the real me, created an emergency program to run in case this particular scenario played out. I think she had a feeling that Ziron might act the way he did if necessary.”
“What are you talking about?” said Kevin and Ziron in unison.
“Hang on,” said Mira. “Executing Z-plus function.”
Ziron’s hologram flickered for a second, then vanished and reappeared, this time with a more solid appearance.
“What the he
ll did you do?” asked Ziron. “What is this? Where am I?”
“What’s going on?” asked Kevin.
“I’ve transferred a copy of Ziron’s consciousness to this holographic avatar. For all intents and purposes, this is Ziron with a holographic body.”
“What?” Ziron and Kevin said in unison again.
“Zee?” asked Kevin.
“Hey, I had no idea she would do this. This is weird. . .though I do feel like myself.”
“Well, I for one am glad Mira brought you back.”
“Of sorts.”
“Yeah, of sorts. I’m so sorry you had to sacrifice yourself for me.”
“It was damn time someone else took all the risks, don’t you think?”
Kevin nodded. “I suppose. Why didn’t you just shoot as I asked?”
“I don’t know why I remember this, but I do. I almost did, Mira gave me quite the earful last time I disobeyed one of your orders.”
“I did,” said Mira, “and the reason why you remember is that your brain pattern was being scanned until the last second, right before you beamed down to the planet.”
“I see,” said Ziron.
“As for myself,” said Mira, “my program has run its course. So it’s time I’m put to rest. Mira wanted you to know, Ziron, that she’s transferred all controls of the Osiris back to this holographic avatar of yours. So from now on, you’ll have full control of the ship.”
Ziron nodded.
“Also,” added Mira, “she wanted you two to know how proud and privileged she felt calling the both of you friends.”
“The feeling is mutual,” said Kevin.
“Same here,” added Ziron.
“It’s now time for goodbyes. And, Ziron, she wanted to remind you to remember what’s in your quarters.”
“Right. Goodbye, Mira.”
“Goodbye, Mira,” added Kevin, “and thanks for everything.”
Mira’s holographic message vanished.
28
“What did Mira mean about your quarters?” asked Kevin.
“Let’s discuss that a little later, if you don’t mind?”
“You have something else you’d like to discuss first?”
“You could say that.”
Across the Galactic Pond - Box Set: The Complete FAR BEYOND Space Opera Series Page 55