Return of the Guardian King Read online

Gunner explained, “Sirs, Ma’am, we destroyed one of them. She’ll be a little slower, now.”

  They all nodded and smiled.

  Giban asked, “Boone? What can be done about those deflector things?”

  Boone frowned and shrugged his shoulders. He looked at the commander and the captain. Moments of silence passed.

  Boone added, “Sirs, I also have sent someone to infiltrate the queen and find her base, hopefully.”

  The primes, again, became astonished. Pryce and Mace silently fumed. They had chatted about the foolishness of it while waiting for the captain and the commander. They were still very upset by it.

  “I’ve sent my good friend, Jona Kozak, toward the Adjelon system in hopes to learn some things about her.”

  “Adjelon?” the captain asked. “I’d like to talk about this, Boone. Why Adjelon?”

  “I think that is where her base of operations is. Maybe Jona can find out. Primes, he’s been given a code word in case he needs to contact you or us. The code word is WILDFIRE. That was ‘his’ code word. We also put a tracker on his ship. I’d like to be kept informed, Captain.”

  The captain nodded as the primes were now abreast concerning everything happening. The briefing was over for the most part. Next, the Court would issue its desires.

  The commander’s personal COM lit up. He glanced at it and was happy that Zayne was ready.

  The bridge was tracking the Ambulas, a chime sounded from the COM panel. It was Officer Somers. Everyone listened as Captain Eisen answered the COM.

  “Captain! We are tracking the Ambulas! She is headed toward the Gorledeon system. She’s not running, Sir. She’s taking her time.”

  “She thinks she is hidden. That’s why.”

  The court was glued to the conversation as the captain made plans to hunt the Ambulas. Everyone enjoyed the exchange.

  Somers asked, “Should I set a course to pursue?”

  “No!” the captain declared. “Let her go. It will take her three or four days to get to Gorledeon. Now that we have the teleportation device, we have the upper hand, for once.” He looked at the court and asked, “It is ours? Correct? Prime Ta’mian?”

  Prime Ta’mian nodded and answered, “Absolutely! This was our initial intent before its theft.”

  “Very well,” the captain continued. “We have time to kill for once. We will test the teleportation device further, return the royal guards to Prime Ta’mian, return here to Xeraxes, and transport to Gorledeon just before the Ambulas arrives there. Any questions?”

  The court glanced at one another thinking about the question and trying to comprehend the implications of the teleportation device. The Gale could make a dozen trips back and forth from Xeraxes to O'bipherion and have time left over. Terra, Phia, and Lincoln had a few questions as well as the 5th prime.

  Prime Jaku suggested, “Captain, we would like to hear about your attack plan upon the Ambulas before you initiate. Understand?” The captain nodded.

  Then Jok ordered, “Captain Eisen, I will also need Investigator Lincoln, Boone Nova, and his team. Also, I must address everyone here concerning an important matter, a matter that Mr. Nova has already mentioned - infiltration. As you all know, my city, Karkavon, seems to be ‘overrun’ with spies and infiltration. I even have High Guard officers loyal to this queen! I am taking drastic measures to find these… these spies and traitors. I urge everyone take extreme caution as we do not know how deep or how high these insurrectionists have infiltrated us.”

  “How high?” Commander J'Dar asked. “Prime? What are you implying? Are you now accusing me and other high-ranking officers of… of being involved in all of this deceit?”

  Prime Ta'mian raised his hand to quiet him. “Commander, Captain, Primes, everyone, I now believe that my palace, my COM Center, my personnel have plotted against us for several years. In order to accomplish such a calamity, someone of high rank must have coordinated all of this, someone here in my ranks at this present moment. Understand? I am having a difficult time trusting anyone.”

  Everyone became very concerned and agreed with the prime.

  The commander asked, “So, you are trusting Investigator Lincoln? He will find out what’s happening?”

  Prime Ta'mian nodded. “I trust him. I have to! Who else is there?”

  The commander looked at Boone and sneered. “I know that bum can’t be trusted. Now, to change the subject! Prime Ta’mian? Giban? Hasn’t Boone Nova been apprehended?”

  Giban asked, “Apprehended? Boone? You’ve been apprehended? For what?”

  The commander was gleaming. Phia, Terra, and Boone’s friends were grimacing. Boone sat silent, knowing Prime Pierce of Kova and Prime Jale of Pereon were watching and listening carefully. Everything was about to turn horrifically wrong for him.

  Phia was compelled to speak up. Terra was about to speak up as well but Phia, in her impulsiveness, beat her to it. She was very reluctant and very nervous.

  “Sirs, Primes, I was appointed to investigate certain things regarding Boone. I had to travel to Kova in order to do so.”

  Boone sunk deep into his chair, his mind recalling the day it all happened. All he could do is stare at the conference table. Mace was stupefied by the conversation as well. His head was bowed in shame.

  She continued, “And in my searching, I came across a warrant for questioning. Boone has agreed to comply and I will escort him to Kova to do so.”

  Prime Pierce and Prime Jale looked at Boone and Phia with surprise. They weren’t aware of any such warrant.

  The commander wasn’t satisfied. “He must be locked up for this! I would not trust him to comply!”

  Jok became irate, watching the commander attack him. Many others cowered at the commanders’ scolding. Some had no idea what was happening but they became concerned, especially Giban.

  Giban asked, “Commander, what do you mean? Do you know what this is about?”

  He replied, “I don’t know but how long ago was this warrant issued? If it’s that long ago then this bum, this space junky has deceived a lot of people for a long time and, well, I’ve said it. Lock him up!”

  Lorin saw the lie in his statement. She could hardly contain her anger.

  Prime Pierce stood. Everyone looked. “Officer Sa’vo? When was that warrant issued?”

  Phia sighed and answered, “Prime, about the same day of the Emancipation Declaration.”

  Boone sighed and bowed his head. His crimes were being discussed in front of the court, his friends, and the High Guard officers. He felt very supplanted and anxious.

  Giban asked, “Then, was it over something that was forgiven?”

  The commander stood and shouted, “It’s not been forgiven!”

  Terra intervened, “Prime, this is a matter between Boone and Kova. I don’t think it pertains to this briefing. I’d like to assist Investigator Sa’vo, as I have already agreed to it! We should discuss this in a private setting.”

  The members of the court nodded but the commander insisted otherwise. He would not let it go. His anger greatly intensified.

  He ordered, “I will take Mr. Nova into custody and we can interrogate him here! I can also…” Phia stood, outraged by his request and his meddlesome accusations.

  “Primes,” she interrupted. “I am the investigator on this issue and I will not release him.”

  The commander glared and shouted again and argued, “You were APPOINTED to this investigation! I am now UN-APPOINTING you! You will stand down, Lieutenant!”

  Phia boldly replied, “SIR! YOU are the one who had me investigate! ‘I’ investigated! And ‘my’ investigation is not completed!”

  Boone and the others were shocked by the heated debate and new revelations.

  “Officers!” Giban shouted. They looked at him. He asked, “Investigator Sa’vo. You were the one to initially apprehend Mr. Nova?”

  “Yes, Sir,” she answered.

  The captain stood and raised his hands in the air, quieting them both as they fough
t for Boone.

  “And who appointed you? Who called for the investigation?”

  She glared at the commander, “Sir! Commander J'Dar!”

  Phia sat down and everyone looked at the commander in shock. Boone, as well as his friends, turned toward Phia, gazing with amazement. They had assumed it was the High Guard that ordered the investigation. Phia looked at Boone with compassion, very much wanting to explain it all. She now believed she had been duped by the commander and she had only served to fester his ill feelings and accusations against him.

  The commander stood his ground and replied. “I know who this man is and I know what he has done. No one has made him pay! Now, is the time! I am now ordering…”

  “Excuse me,” a voice came from the hologram and cut him off. Lorin Ta’mian interrupted. “Primes, if I may?” she asked. “I have informed Investigator Sa’vo and Investigator Je’en that I will oversee this matter concerning Kova and Prime Pierce’s laws. Commander, you may not intervene any longer. That is not your place. Am I correct? Mr. Giban? Prime Pierce?”

  The commander fumed as Giban and Prime Pierce nodded.

  Giban replied, “Investigators, Ms. Ta’mian, you are correct. It is not a matter for the commander. He has many other things to do.”

  Prime Jaku stood and issued orders for the court. He said, “Captain Eisen, Commander, here are your orders.” He looked at the other court members for concurrence. They nodded their approval. “Captain, you will return Prime Ta’mian’s royal guardsmen and Investigator DeKator to O'bipherion. You will release Boone Nova, Investigator Sa’vo, and Investigator Je’en to Ms. Ta’mian then you will return and hunt down that Ambulas before she kills again. Ms. Ta'mian, you will report regularly to Primes Pierce and Jale.”

  Lorin nodded and no other word was spoken concerning the matter. Commander J’Dar was fuming and continually showed his displeasure with loud exhales. He continued to glare at Investigators Sa’vo, Je’en, and Boone.

  “Captain Eisen?” Giban asked. “Are there any other issues to discuss which pertain to the Ambulas and the destruction on Nepa’pa?”

  “No, Sir,” he replied. “We are presently assisting the city. We need to remain here at least one more day. Then we will jump to O'bipherion and return. We will not lose the Ambulas. Count on it.”

  Giban nodded to the captain then looked at Prime Manias Rosen, prime of the 4th system, Peridius, and gave him the floor.

  Prime Rosen stood and addressed Boone. “Boone, I owe you and Investigator Je’en, as well as you, Prime Ta’mian, my deepest apologies,” he said as he glanced at the hologram of Prime Ta’mian. The commander nearly jumped out of his seat.

  “As you have expressed your concern in our past court sessions, we have discovered many questionable deeds and actions occurring within the compound you attacked in Ta’Jeon. I admit, at first we were very angry with your actions. Now, we have confirmed there are some very concerning violations regarding that compound. We are preparing to seize the compound. We wanted you to know we regret our assumptions about you were misleading.”

  Boone answered, “Thank you, Prime. I do appreciate that.”

  Boone looked at the commander to ascertain his demeanor. He was very shocked and saddened that Boone received the praise of the court. The commander’s gaze was upon the conference table in front of him, fuming and disturbed concerning what he was hearing. Everyone noticed his rude behavior.

  Giban nodded and said, “Captain, this concludes our briefing? I assume?”

  The captain nodded in agreement. He reached and touched the holo-emitter then the hologram ended. Everyone stood and happily started exiting the large room. Once the small crowd moved to the large corridor, the captain instructed the guards where to take the civilians and officers then he quickly left for the bridge to see where the Ambulas was.

  Investigator Lincoln headed for the bridge to report to the 5th prime. Commander J'Dar and Investigator Sa’vo gingerly approached each other as guards led the small group slowly down the corridor to their temporary quarters. Neither the commander nor Phia wanted anyone to hear their discussion.

  But, Terra lingered within earshot then Pryce, wanting to walk with her, lingered also. Boone noticed what was happening behind him and lingered as well. Everyone stopped and watched. The commander and Phia noticed they weren’t going to have a private conversation. Phia didn’t care at this point. She was tired of the commanders’ attitude and knew why he was upset.

  She muttered softly to keep her voice down, “Sir. I know why you are angry with me. I could not report to you because I did not have all the information. I don’t like speculation.”

  “Lieutenant!” he said. “An order is an order.”

  “Your orders were to find something. I didn’t have all the truth!” she answered. By now, everyone started drawing closer. “I will talk to you later, Sir! I have a lot to say to you.”

  “Lieutenant, you ‘will’ treat me with respect.” He looked up and saw the small crowd trying to listen. He ended his conversation. “Carry on,” he waved to the guards.

  The commander once again looked at his COM and saw the results he was looking for. He followed the crowd from a short distance, down the very long corridor. Along the way, three guards led officers and civilians to their rooms in pairs. Most just stood in the doorway of their rooms, watching to see where one another would be staying for the time being and perhaps the next day. Relaxation was on everyone’s mind. The commander watched as he had a lot invested in supplanting Boone. Phia, on the other hand, would be a whole other matter.

  As planned, Boone and Kola were the last to be escorted to their quarters. Kola went into the room then curiously, a fourth officer from another section of the ship came and inquired of Boone and the three officers. J'Dar smiled. Everyone, especially Phia, watched the four officers lead Boone away from the personal quarters, further down the corridor and toward a hallway. Kola stepped into the corridor and wondered what was happening.

  The four officers acted suspiciously. Phia instantly surmised what was happening. She quickly pranced toward them; her hand on her phase pistol. Boone and the officers approached the hallway and made a quick turn, leaving the corridor.

  “Boone!” Phia shouted. She ran toward the hallway; others were now looking on and became concerned. The hallway was narrower than the spacious corridor yet easily accommodated Boone and the four guards. They had Boone’s arms behind his back and were trying to force him into an alcove just a few paces ahead of them.

  Boone resisted, though futility. One guard, gun in hand, landed a blow to his head that would knock most men down and unconscious. Boone groaned. He heard a shout from a distance.

  “Stop! Stop!” Phia shouted.

  As she ran, her boots created a clacking sound. Boone recognized the approaching clatter and it gave him a surge of strength as he struggled against the four of them. She turned from the corridor into the hallway.

  “Stop!” the guards heard.

  But they continued. Boone focused on the two men in front of him as they punched and beat him while attempting to pull him into the alcove. Another guard shoved him from behind as another blow came upon his neck. The fourth guard watched from a distance and did not participate in the beating. Boone saw a knife, followed by a quick swing, followed by a high-pitched noise in his head and a burning sensation bursting throughout his body. He reached for the knife.

  “Hey!” Phia shouted as she ran toward the fight.

  While closing in on their position, she saw something shiny. She gasped in horror, “Knife! What? STOP!” she screamed. She immediately fired. A guard was hit and flew through the air.

  Others behind her were now turning the corner from the corridor. A guard who was holding Boone slowly stood up when he saw his comrade take the full force of the blast and land several feet away. Phia did not hesitate. He took a blast to the upper body. He immediately flew into the wall behind him and slid to the floor. The last guard held up his hands a
s Boone lay in a small pool of blood.

  Phia kept a close watch on the fourth guard. She shouted to him, “You! Get over there!” She motioned to him and he went and stood a short distance from her.

  “One move and I WILL shoot you.” She knelt down, her gun fell to the floor, and she applied pressure to the wound, leaving the knife in him. Tears erupted and flowed down her cheeks.

  “Help!” she screamed. Terra and Pryce were the first to kneel by her side. They took over caring for him. Phia grabbed her gun, stood, and ran to a nearby COM.

  “MED TEAM!” she ordered. “EMERGENCY!”

  She glared at the two guards and pointed. She ordered, “Both of you, sit down over there!” She used her pistol to direct them.

  By now, everyone was crowding the hallway. They all gazed at Terra and Pryce as they slid Boone from the alcove into the hallway. Kola joined them and recommended to leave the knife in him. Commander J'Dar could not resist pushing his way through the small crowd to see what had happened. Phia was standing behind Terra and Pryce as they continued to apply pressure to his wound.

  The knife was still resting in his belly. Phia’s hands were bloodied, her tears flowed, and she was on the verge of sobbing as she gasped for breath. Mace pushed his way through the crowd and glared but it was Commander J'Dar she noticed.

  She turned toward him, “I hope you are happy, now! Look!”

  The commander glared and tried his best not to smile. He did care about her, though. His plain look told her all the truth she needed to know. Boone could barely lift his head to see the crowd in front of him. He heard Phia’s shouting even though his head throbbed a loud pounding noise. His eyes became heavy; darkness began to close in around him. He saw another man, short and black. Mace was unmistakable. The commander, however, was harder to make out but noticeable to him as well.

  “You have nothing to say? I know you are behind this!”

  He stepped closer; Mace watched. “There are a lot of people on this ship that know him and his kind!” He glanced around at the civilians – Mace, Pryce, and Boone and shouted, “You can’t blame this on me!”