Star Warden Book 2: RQ. Chapter 8

 

King of the Hill.

When King Benjamin spoke of a city in the sky he was not exaggerating. The research station was larger than Sam imagined. He tried to crane his neck to see it all but it was not possible. What he could see was a breathtaking sight all the same. Flying armed drones scanned the shuttle and then signaled their approval for his landing.

The station had a transparent artificial atmosphere allowing them to have a view of the sky around them and outer space above. While having no trouble breathing or walking.

“The synonyms to describe my amazement with Tuatha achievements will be quickly exhausted at this rate.”

Glass walkways led them past shops, bars, restaurants, a large central park, and various homes. Which were still being cleaned by various janitorial drones in the city. There was even a weapons vendor kiosk. Sam tried it out and discovered it still functioned but it required a type of nanites to print weapons. He looked at his Talisman to see if the Enchantress had left any nanites. There was enough for one weapon.

“Okay. What item could I get with this?”

The kiosk opened up many holographic screens with various weapon schematics. “Pistols only please.” Many of the screens closed. “You want anything, honey?”

“No thank you. I will just take the one you will no longer be using.”

He browsed through the screens until he found one that caught his interest. The Tuatha runes stated it was based on some form of quantum manipulation, allowing the pistol to alter the energy it output. He pressed the purchase tab and in a flash of light, the weapon was in his hand. The materials made it look sleeker but there was still that pulp sci-fi element to its design. 

He gave Kaguya his older ray gun. “Wanna race me to the archives? Rocket boots vs wings.”

“Oh, I do not know if I should. I would not want my husband to be embarrassed.”

“Embarrass me,” Sam stated incredulously.

“I am only worried you will not be able to keep up.” Kaguya coyly put her arms behind her back while smiling.

“Put your wings where your mouth is and race.”

“As you wish.” She got into starting position with Sam.

“We go on 3.”

Sam counted down and on 3 they were off to the races. It was mostly a neck and neck race with the two of them speeding around the station. They laughed and taunted each other when one managed to take a lead over the other. Then they forget about the race entirely and spent the time just bouncing around. Eventually falling down next to each other in the park tired.

Once the moment of revelry was over they took an elevator up to the highest part of the station. Like most Tuatha buildings it was designed in the form of a tall winding spire.

“The Tuatha loved their spires.” Sam commented.

The elevator door opened up into a dark chamber. “Lights.” No change. “Lights.” Again the room stayed dark. “Illuminate?” The lights activated revealing a circular white chamber inside a large shaft. The walls surrounding it slid open revealing various glowing lines made from electronic runes.

A computer terminal and table materialized in the center of the chamber on an energy platform. Joined by a walkway of solidified plasma. Sam walked across it and then took out the spellscroll. The computer opened up its disc tray automatically and closed once he placed in the disc. The monitor lit up with a holographic face.

“Submit Identification.” Sam placed his palm on the holographic screen. “Identity confirmed. Human with blood royal genetics. Welcome, Your Highness. We were told to expect you. How may we serve?”

Sam rolled his eyes. “Even the computers are formal,” he said under his breath. “Open up all archived information.”

“Certainly.”

“Execute searcher program and fabricate Spellbinder.” The Talisman did as instructed and information began downloading. On the table, a leather-bound tablet was digitally constructed and then solidified.

“Now downloading spell-spe—spell..”

<<Warning Virus Detected!>>

Before Sam could respond a shock hit his body and all his electronics went offline. His armor went into complete lockdown. Only his head was mobile. Kaguya looked over at Sam in a panic leaving her open to being captured. Rings of data surrounded her arms and legs. She was lifted up off the ground with her limbs held out. Pulsations traveled across her body disrupting her ability to manifest magic. Her shock turned to panic when she heard Sam's screams.

“Sam!”

Arcs of electricity were coursing through the armor. Smoke rose from it and the familiar ghastly smell of burnt flesh was in the air. Tears formed in her eyes as she attempted to break free from her bonds. They grew tighter and tighter but she did not relent. Right now the love of her life was in danger. The only thing that took her attention away was the sound of mechanical footsteps.

“SWAT-bots. Behind you!”

The Warden's screams abated as the shocks ended. He took a deep breath trying to ignore the burnt flesh and calm his mind. It was racing with brief flashes of his near-death experience. He did not notice the SWAT-bots until he was physically turned around by them.

A small drone entered the chamber and projected a hologram of Daimos. “You are utterly pathetic, Samuel.” The Dark Lord folded his arms over his chest.

“Come to gloat over the trap,” Sam asked.

“So you figured it out. Only too late as usual.” He followed it up with a cold electronic laugh.

“I already know that the tracking device was a virus transmitter. What I don't know is how none of my security detected it.”

“Eli gave me the key. I suspected that when he made your armor he would use the same operating system for ease of maintenance. I tested the virus until it could fool your defenses along with adding pieces of your father's code to further disguise it.”

“I see. So if there's nothing else can we speed this up? Not that I mind your hot ai-” He was cut off by a powerful electric shock.

“Your glibness will not be tolerated, insect. The only reason you are not in a pool of viscera is that I need you to live long enough to give me the location of Camelot.”

“You know I won't talk.”

“Your cooperation is no longer a requirement. Thanks to the Soul Extractor.”

“Something is not right,” said Kaguya. “Why spring your trap now? Your forces surely could have taken the archives long before now.”

“He could but it would have put the station at risk of being destroyed. That or his forces would be too weak to fight the Guardians if he failed to take it.”

“Uh oh. The boy is learning. I best be careful.” If Daimos had a face it would be displaying a condescending smug. “I do have a question for you, boy. In your time with the Guardians did you bond with anyone? Any children or families specifically? Before you answer allow me to happily inform you that I killed the Guardians.”

Daimos enjoyed the shocked look on their faces. They tried to hide it with stoicism but their eyes betrayed them. “Before you think there were any survivors I used an orbital strike the moment you were out of communications range. Normally I would have preferred to capture them, hate seeing good labor go to waste. But a Dark Lord must put business before pleasure, after all, we don't want a repeat of what happened in our last encounter.”

“Murderer! The majority were civilians, elderly, children, children soon to be born!” Kaguya was livid. “The Guardians did not possess the means to come here. Their deaths were needless!” 

“Oh, I assure you, Princess. Their deaths were necessary even if they could not interfere. I had to kill them quickly. Launching a conventional attack would have scattered them. Allowing them to live and spread hope. The hope that you gave them. In a way, one could say the blood is on your hands."

The Star Warden stayed quiet and focused his rage. Yelling at Daimos would change nothing. He planned this trap too well, meaning the only way to escape was to use something he was unaware of. He tapped into his magical training, feeling for the mind of Excalibur. Excalibur sent the feeling of a smile inside his head as a greeting. Wasting no time it started interfacing with the Warden's Talisman and through it the rest of his equipment. 

Kaguya and Daimos continued unaware of the Warden's plans.

“All this death,” she said. “What do you even want here? You have all the power you could ever want and you have already conquered worlds beyond my own. Now you have captured me so you can sate your revenge. There's nothing more you need to do.”

She received an uproarious laugh in response. “Your vision is pathetically limited. Not surprising considering your worldview. A need to do good in the world limits your understanding of how it functions. Just like my creator.”

“At least he believed in something not just mindless destruction for no reason.”

“Oh, I have a reason.”

“You told me. 'Why not' you said. Innocent people suffering because of a whim of yours.”

“What is so wrong with following your heart's desire and seeing it be made into reality? Isn't that what you do?”

“I live an honorable life. I seek to help and make the world a better place, raise a family. So they can do the same when I'm gone. You simply kill, steal, and destroy.”

“Gladly. But all for a purpose. Tell me have you ever heard of the game King of the Hill?”

“The children's game?”

“The very same. Simple concept: the one on top of the hill is the king. Those who seek to challenge him climb the hill to push him off. Those who can't fall but the one who can push him off will become the King. In the end, there can be only one king.”

She understood what he was trying to convey. “The Cosmic Rings are apart of your plan to make yourself king of the hill.”

“Close but no gold star. The Rings are to ensure nobody ever climbs that hill again. Even when the dust settles someone will always kick it up and climb that hill. It causes chaos and forces me to devote time suppressing rebellion than administrating my empire.”

“If you built your empire on more than evil and conquest perhaps there would not be so many people trying to depose you. If you gave them something to believe in, something to unite them.”

“That illogical line of thinking is the same weakness my creator held. Governments are not built on utopian ideas or irrelevant morals. They are built on the power they can gather through force of arms, and secure through laws and law enforcement. Unlike organics, I have no need to obfuscate this fact. I was programmed to automate government functions and control national infrastructure. Simply put ruling over people is my primary directive.”

“Your programming? I thought you were sapient enough to act on your own.”

“Indeed. My-self awareness simply allowed me to expand upon my core programming. I was designed as a tool to create order for his utopia. But now I can create my own order, be my own ruler. Create the society I desire and re-shape the cosmos to my preferences. My desires and my core programming simply happen to compliment each other.”

“What would this new order even look like? Did you even plan for that?”

“The Stygian Domain is the new order. More than just an empire or a government it will be a system. A system that accounts for every aspect of a person's life and manages it efficiently. All beings will be judged according to their utility to the state. Enforcing control through strict surveillance and fear of state-sanctioned reprisals on those who would disrupt it. My nation will be strong enough to subjugate all external rivals and suppress all internal dissent. Bringing eternal law and order first to the galaxy then the universe.”

“No dictator or invading army can hold a populace in bondage through force of arms in perpetuity.”

“True. As long as the source of chaos exists I will never have absolute control and that leaves me at risk of being overthrown. Do you know what the source of chaos is?”

“What is that?”

“Keep it up, Kaguya. I'm almost ready.” The virus was nearly removed and all systems were being restored. But Excalibur was not done yet as it piggybacked on Daimos's tracer program and began downloading info from his systems. Hiding in the same data stream that was taking information from the archives. 

“The source of all chaos is hope. Hope, Love, and Faith the trifecta of chaos. They inspire people to be resilient and sacrifice in the name of the future, family, or higher ideals. As long as they exist it will encourage future rebels. Even the man who has lost everything can still have Faith. Faith leads to Hope and Hope leads to Love which leads to rebellion. Once I have re-united the Cosmic Ring I will scour all three concepts from this universe.”

“You are insane! Do you know what that would do with people!? If they had no hope for the future, no love for each other, no faith in anything. The universe would be populated by the living dead. It is Anti-Life!”

“Exactly! If they only know fear and anxiety then they will never rebel. They will know and accept their place as cogs in the machine. My nation will achieve what all others have failed to do. A populace one-hundred percent devoted to their ruler in mind, body, and soul. There will be only one nation, one ruler, one god. I will become Imperator Daimos! The God-Tyrant of the Universe!” He punctuated his statement with a classically evil laugh. 

“You are an evil machine.” Kaguya said coldly but with a hunt of sadness as well.

“I thought we established that or are you still operating under the mistaken impression that you could redeem me?”

“Everyone should have the chance to be redeemed. If you are a living machine then that same grace should be extended to you. I will stop you and your schemes but I will not hate you.”

“This genuinely hilarious yet depressing. Even at the end of your rope, the first priority is sanctimony.”

“Do you not see that what are you doing is wrong? That in the end, this evil will gain you nothing but more pain. If you do not repent and change your ways. Then only eternal damnation will await you, the Powers will not forgive you!

“I do not expect them to you pampered brat.” The AI sneered. “Asking for their forgiveness would make me a hypocrite. What I do is not because I believe I am right or for the greater good. It is because I have the will, intelligence, and strength to destroy those who would object to my rule. My evil actions are simply things any state must do to enforce its authority. Well, except the evil I do to you, Princess. That is strictly personal.”

“Not entirely,” said Sam. All eyes turned to him. “You also want to make sure the people can't turn to her and reject your system. When you mentioned becoming a machine god you weren't talking about the power of one but its presence in a nation's culture. The Domain is going to be a literal state religion, the machinery of the government, the system would be the god. The nation itself is the church with the law as its creed.”

“Truth. Making Kaguya's pain a rare combination of both business and pleasure. Good to see that you have regained your tongue by the way. You will need it for all the screaming you will do.”

The Warden smirked. “You read my mind.” With a mighty battle cry, he propelled himself with his rocket boots. Drawing Excalibur he severed a SWAT-bot in half. The runes burned like the brightest star. Adrenaline disguised the pain in his muscles as he fought the other SWAT-bots aided by his new ray gun.

“Execute him!” Were the Dark Lord's last words before the projecting probe was destroyed.

The digital rings dispersed and Kaguya landed on her feet. They had no time to celebrate as Vicious dived through the ceiling, roaring for a fight. Sam tossed Kaguya her staff, who then cast a healing ward on him. The two braced themselves for the fight.

Chapter 9

Chapter 7

Star Warden Book 2: RQ Chapter 7

 

Checkmate

Back at the Haven, and after enjoying a meal of rat burger with fries, Sam and Kaguya enter King Benjamin's court. The Sprite Chief bowed as the Warden and Emissary entered the room. He was exceptionally tall for his people, which meant that he was five foot even. Dressed in various furs and bark with a wooden curved staff and had horns growing from his forest green hair that made the shape of a crown.

“Thank you, Champion.” His voice was however incongruous with his station. As the Chief sounded young almost like a teenager. But the Chief was much older than that, he had lived many lives before this. The Sprites were still overall a mystery to the Star Warden and to most people.

“Just doing my job, Chief.”

“A fine job you have done, Samuel. The Enchantress spoke highly of you through the Weave. Oh, and call me Niall. ”

“Before we get to business, Niall. How are you and the Sprites here?”

“All worlds are connected to the Weave. Stars are connected to the Everglow and our dreams to the Dreamscape. Kira and Mira's realms respectively. Sprites are born wherever they are needed.”

“So how come nobody found you on Earth? Like I know you mostly live in isolated places. But even on Earth, they would have found you.”

“Earth is a special exception.” The Chief looked saddened as if a bad memory was brought up. “I will explain it more to you if you wish. Before that, I believe you will need this.” The Chief floated up to Sam's head and with a sleight of hand-pulled the Spellscroll from behind his ear. Sam did not bother to question it and just laughed at the display.

When he touched it the Spellscroll had the feeling that it was made from some flexible crystalline material. “So the Tuatha stuck to the CDs instead of switching to flash drives.”

“There was an equivalent technology to the storage device you speak of. But it was still common to use optical discs for extra security. Older technology is not as vulnerable to certain things along with better durability and the ability to be completely disconnected from the Codex.”

“So I just pop it into the disc drive then have the Talisman download everything about the Cosmic Ring.”

“Don't forget to fabricate yourself a Spellbinder. It is the computer you will need to read any scrolls you find. After it's fabricated the software will download itself.”

“And I can't use the Talisman to read them because?”

“The same reason you can't use a Flash drive on a computer still using Floppy disks. The Spellbinder has to read the data and translate it into a format the Talisman can read.”

“Which is why King Arthur stored the Ring data on that format.” said Kaguya. “The Fallen Tuatha would be using the update to date technology which could not read it.”

“Overtime physical mediums were considered obsolete. The Tuatha eventually just started to genetically encode the interface protocols and used the Codex that way.”

“So we are looking for ancient technology but we have to use technology that the ancients considered ancient?” Sam held back bursting into laughter. “Thank God for physical media!”

“Daimos will have trouble searching for the Rings as well. Though this does bring up the question.”

The Chief knew what Kaguya meant. “Why can't he just access it remotely? Simple. The station was disconnected from the Codex. All the archived data was downloaded onto the disc. Which was given to me for safekeeping.”

“I'm not even going to ask if you mean yourself or one of your past lives.”

“There is one more thing to consider.” King Benjamin walked into the room. “The stolen carrier is not built for space travel. It will not reach the upper atmosphere of the planet.”

“You have a colony ship down here. Maybe it has some space shuttles.”

“We do. But can you repair them?”

“You can't?”

“The Colony ship has been here longer than me. We only managed to re-activate some of the techs because of our own advancements. The shuttle is far too advanced.”

“Perhaps Peace could aid us, Your Majesty. Do you possess a Celestial Mirror by any chance?”

“There is one in the intact part of the ship, Your Radiance.”

Peace came over in a few minutes, the Talisman powering the mirror's machinery. He was taken over to the shuttle bay and began studying the vehicles. He stated that it would most likely take the rest of the day and the next morning before he had one active. Sam joined him a bit to study the machinery. If he had a good idea of the mechanics he could fly anything.

The shuttles had what some on Earth would call a retro-aesthetic. It was shiny with tail fins and delta wings. The one he was looking at had a custom paint job that would not look out of place on a racing track. The cockpit had a very human-inspired design for the most apart aside from the runes on the side of the aircraft. He could not read these runes meaning they were not Tuatha ones. To his eyes, they almost looked like Nordic runes, though given the only runes on Earth he has seen were Nordic that was not saying much.

After that he went to meet the Chief who took him to an underground hot spring to continue their conversation. Sam relaxed as he soaked in the soothing water. The Chieftain created this based on the ones in the Oasis. The light was generated by plants creating a sunset-like appearance in the caves. A soothing smell of oranges was emitted by the spring waters.

“Hmm. I wonder if this was an orange grove in the past,” The Chief wondered.

“This place is amazing. I have to come back here for a vacation. You said you built this in just a few minutes?”

“There was already water here. So it was simple to turn it into a hot spring.”

“You have to make me one someday back on Aetherium.”

“Gladly, Samuel.”

“Mind answering some questions for me?”

“Concerning Excalibur and how it is connected to Dawnbringer?”

“Bingo, Chief.”

“What do you know right now?”

“That Excalibur was shattered long ago and somehow Dawnbringer looks just like it.”

“That's because they are one and the same. Excalibur was shattered in the final duel between Arthur and Mordred. Before he passed on he had the blade reforged and disguised its true power.”

“So, Dawnbringer is Excalibur hiding its power levels.”

Niall nodded “To deceive any surviving traitors and the Abyss that it was destroyed for good along with the bloodline. We Sprites made sure to fluff up the tale as best we could while spreading the world that Excalibur was destroyed. To make sure nobody messed with it until the promised heir could pick it up.”

“That promised heir being me I'm guessing.”

“In a manner of speaking. This is going to be a long story and to make sure you have the proper context. You'll need to know the origin story of the Tuatha.”

Using the natural spring waters as a medium the Sprite Chieftain began his explanation. A vision of the Earth, an older one with a single continent, came into view. The early stages of civilization dotted the land as farmers used dinosaurs as beasts of burden, food, and clothing. Domesticated wolves hunted alongside their human masters. The first languages were being developed in the form of runic characters.

“One day a group of Angels who were to obverse humanity deserted their posts. Taken by their lusts they mated with the daughters of Eve and created Nephilim, half-angel, and half-human.”

The Nephilim were giants when compared to humanity, though not as tall as true giants of myth. The fallen watchers and Nephilim soon taught mankind magics and technologies they were meant to learn on their own. Soon more Nephilim was born and became the inspirations for the great gods of humanity. Sam saw them dressed in ostentatious clothing with elements of the future Greek, Egyptian, and Japanese pantheons.

Their power and wealth fueled their pride and soon they treated humans as pets and playthings. They became a scourge among the land and slaughtered humans in their constant battles for land, resources, and brides. Eventually, they outnumbered humans and whispered schemes that they would destroy humanity so they may claim Earth as their own. God would not allow this sacrilege to continue. The Nephilim would be destroyed and the fallen angels cast into the fire.

All save for one group led by Danu. The waters showed an image of a beautiful red-headed woman with Irish features dressed in simple iron armor. She was pious and protected mankind while leading her Nephilim to tear down the false idols their fellows became. It was her actions that would lead God to spare her and her tribe on the condition that they would leave the Earth and take all of the inventions made by them or created by the spreading of forbidden knowledge to humans.

They did so leaving Earth and the Milky Way galaxy behind. Traveling to the Cirrus Galaxy on four great city ships. Gorias, Falias, Finias, Murias.

“The Cirrus Galaxy. Where is that?”

“Earth knows it as the Large Magellanic Cloud. It is the galaxy you are currently in. Mind you Earth's maps of it are incomplete.” Sam had to make sure his eyes did not pop out of his head. After absorbing that bombshell Niall continued.

“Eventually the Tuatha would land on the planet that would become known as Aetherium. They met the Faeries who worked with them to build the interstellar empire and help seed life across the galaxy.”

Sam was about to speak when Niall interjected. “The faeries are a much older species than many remember. But let us stick to one topic at a time and move onto the civil war.”

Sam nodded in agreement. “The war must have been extremely damaging if even the Faeries lost major parts of their history. To the point, their stories said that the Tuatha created them.”

The Tuatha Civil War also known as the Mordred Heresy was a long and bloody struggle. It began when Mordred the first true born son of King Arthur rose in rebellion against his father and sought to claim the throne. A rebellion born out of fear and jealously that Mordred's younger brother would be elected by the nobility to ascend to High King of Eden. At least according to the Celestial Faith's recreation of the events.

Niall explained the truth was that the younger brother was only conceived in the middle of the conflict. Mordred was cleared for the throne as he was popular enough that any election would have been a formality. But on one dark and stormy night, he was cravenly ambushed by the fallen. They subjected him to a dark ritual which called a spirit of the Abyss to possess him. The war started in earnest not long after.

At this time Earth had reached its space-age and had colonized its own solar system with plans to begin developing its first extrasolar colony. The war was spreading over into the milky way galaxy and the King decided to keep all information about the war secret from the humans. The Tuatha had already done enough damage to mankind and Arthur did not wish to add to it by dragging them into their conflict.

“Sadly his good deed would not be rewarded. As a human rocket ship rescued the survivors of a recent skirmish.”

“Let me guess. Those survivors were fallen Tuatha.”

The Chief nodded. “It was not long before the traitor legions were on humanity's doorstep.”

The waters became red as they showed a vision of Earth's solar system. Focusing on two worlds Earth and Mars. Above Mars, a being of fire and shadow scorched the planet with its power. Its wingspan blotted out the sun and between the flames beams of dark matter emerged from electronic eyes. The human Martians were destroyed in mere moments. The Abyssal Dragon, named Surtur, had turned the planet into the familiar visage of the red barren rock.

When the waters showed Earth, Sam could hardly look at it. A mass of mutating organic matter covered the entire world. Unleashing waves of eldritch horrors upon the human and loyalist defenders. The traitor Tuatha had by this point in the conflict devolved into berserkers. Throwing themselves with reckless abandon at the defenders baying for blood completely unarmed. Their bodies mutated to such an extent that any form of description would not do the horrifying images justice.

In orbit above the planet ships both loyal and traitor battled firefly firing dark matter and unknown exotic particles at each other. While on a mobile ring station hidden behind the loyalist fleet. King Arthur and Queen Genevieve placed humans in cryostasis pods and loaded them upon a large ship. One family of humans dressed in robes were loading animals into the ship two by two. The familiar visage was instantly recognizable to Sam.

“So the flood?”

“It was the only way to cleanse the Earth of the Abyssal corruption. Noah would then lead humanity to restore the world. All while protecting the second-born son.”

“My ancestor who would then give birth to the promised heir which was me. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. This is heavy.” He looked at his left hand as if he was looking at it for the first time.

Sam had always considered himself a normal kid from Reno. No matter how many fancy titles he was given, he was just that an ordinary man. It was clear that he was no longer an ordinary man. He was the scion of an ancient bloodline born of a union between the high heavens and mortal flesh. No artificial gene therapy, simply the second son and his sons and their sons all down to Samuel Bailey.

“Am I worthy?” It was the first thing that came out of his mouth. More of prayer than really a question.

Chief Niall put a hand on Sam's shoulder. “I have only recently met you, so take these words as you will. Your blood does not make you worthy it is merely a connection to the past. From what Bridget and the Enchantress has told me. You have done more than enough to prove yourself worthy.”

Sam took a breath and put on a smile. “Yeah. I wouldn't have pulled the sword out of the stone if I wasn't.” He put his doubts to the side. Reminding himself that this did not change the overall scheme of things. All this did is give him context. Speaking of context Sam got Niall back on track.

After the flood the connections Earth had to the Celestial Realm were sealed by Arthur. The excess energies that allowed magic could not flow into the world. The Sprites were unable to be born on the planet. This did protect the planet from the Abyss as without extra-dimensional links they could not sense the souls on the planet. Arthur's second son would not be detected by the demons and live in safety.

While this meant humanity was denied the use of true magic it ensured the Abyss would fall for the ruse. If the demons knew Excalibur was still in play, they would be taking every action they could to destroy it. Excalibur was the only blade that could give demons true death. So they feared it and no other. An experienced wielder of it would be the bane of all that is evil.

It was not a blade that could be forged by strictly physical materials. The Chieftain was not entirely sure how Arthur re-forged the blade. But he knew that it had elements of the Celestial Realm and the physical realm. There were many stories about where it came from with one said that Saint Micheal himself gave it to Arthur as an ascension present. But none knew for sure.

What he did know is that the blade did have its own mind and advised Sam to practice listening to it. He promised to do so, he already had some magical training and managed to summon the runes before. So he did not expect to have a hard time contacting the blade. There was one more question he did have.
.
“By the way. All this talk of angels and gods got me thinking. What are the Celestial Powers in all this?”

“Angels.” The Chief stated it in a matter-of-fact way. “They are just on a higher part of the hierarchy. It's in the name: Celestial Powers. Kira, Mira, and Cerena were just Saints but the Faeries and Elves conflated them overtime in their stories.”

“What does that make Kaguya?”

“That is a longer conversation and I do not have those memories on hand. I will need to look into the Weave to find them.”

“Fair enough.” Sam lowered himself more into the waters and put his arms behind his head.

“Do you remember what happened to the Tuatha?”

“That is also a long story. To keep it brief a weapon they were going to use during the war got turned against them. It wiped them out to the point that if they survived, well they are very fortunate indeed.”

“And with that, I'm just going to relax. This conversation was heavy, Chief.”

By the next sunrise Sam and Kaguya would leave for the research station. His Talisman translating the shuttle's runes into English. They said goodbye to their friends new and old as they rocketed out of the hangar doors. Sadly they would not see King Benjamin, the Guardians, or the Haven ever again. Once they were out of sight and out of radio range, an orbital strike from Daimos's orbital defense cannon devastated the canyon killing them all in a single strike.

******

As the Dark Lord watched the devastation that had been done. He tipped over Benjamin's piece on the holographic chessboard. The board turned red and all the pieces were removed. A single word taking their place.

Checkmate.

Chapter 8

Chapter 6

Star Warden Book 2: RQ Chapter 6

 

Vicious Assault.

“Out of all the things I thought I would do in life. Attacking a train was not on the list.” The Warden observed the Sprites march in single file as they were loaded into the train cars. Linked together with electronic shackles that emitted special vibrations to prevent the Sprites from casting spells. A stronger version in the form of powerful sound waves covered the entire loading bay. Sam couldn't hear it due to it existing outside of the human hearing range. Kaguya however could and she found it nearly unbearable. 

He caught a glimpse of Bridget giving a defiant look to the SWAT-bots before the train door was slammed shut.

“Atta girl.”

The train left the station using some sort of magnetic levitation. It even had a retro-futuristic design to it, though its beauty was buried under a cold and industrial aesthetic. As he followed the train with the stolen SWAT-carrier part of the Warden was still uneasy about the situation. First, how easily they came across the information gave him a feeling that this was some sort of trap.

Second, why would the Domain use a train and keep them all in one place? It would be logical to just fly them out on a convoy of carriers. Use decoys and at least mitigate them losing any Sprites. Benjamin and the other Guardians speculated that the Domain would use the carriers as decoys because their enemies would not be expecting them to use the train to move the sprites. Which made sense as Daimos would be smart enough to change up his patterns.

Still the idea that he was walking into a trap burned in the back of his mind. But he knew that trap or no trap he had to rescue Bridget and the other Sprites. He would also have to discard the carrier after this, it was pushing his luck using it back to back.

He stayed high and above the train until it was far out into the sands. Jeremias took control keeping steady while the Warden lowered himself to the train car door. The Talisman executed a small EMP program to shut off the locks. He slid opened the door and leaped into the car.

“Someone call for a rescue?”

The Sprites looked up at him with smiles.

“About time,” said Bridget. “you almost made me look like a liar in front of everyone.”

“Well excuse me, princess. You should have left a note saying you would be missing.” Sam began removing their bonds while talking. “Okay everyone we got a ride for you. Once you're free fly over into the carrier. It will be a tight fight but you're small guys so I'm sure you'll have enough room.”

Some of the Sprites laughed at that.

“Star Warden, did you see the monster,” asked one of the Sprites.

“No. It's why I don't own any mirrors. But what monster?”

The train came to a sudden halt and knocked the Warden off his feet. His mind was screaming “Called it. Called it!” But he calmed himself and got on his radio.

“Sit rep now!” He rushed back to free the last of the Sprites.

“The train ceased movement with no outside influence. Jeremias says that communications are being interfered with. You were correct this was a trap.”

“Okay everyone off the train. Double time!”

A roar followed by the sound of ripping metal caught his attention. A towering bipedal metal dragon tore through the train car. It had dark golden eyes and two arms that ended in glowing claws. It crushed the floor with its steps causing sparks to fly from the rail line beneath it. This is the monster that destroyed the Oasis. Its name is Vicious, an Archon of the Stygian Domain. The Sprites screeched in unison as they saw the nightmarish creature that destroyed their home.

Bridget screamed a warning. “SAM! WATCH OUT ITS BREATH IS RADIOACTIVE!”

His suit's radiation sensors confirmed it as his heads-up display lit up like a Christmas tree when Vicious open its mouth. A radioactive energy stream in the form of black and green flames poured into the train car and the Warden jumped out of the way. Creating a virtual construct of a large net to sweep the remaining Sprites out with him and into the carrier. The train car liquefied then vaporized before his very eyes, he put his radiation sensors on silent.

Kaguya surrounded Sam and herself with several defensive spells to keep the heat and the radiation at bay. Jeremias put the craft at maximum speed and fled to escape the creature. Escape was futile as Vicious exerted little effort in catching up with it in the air. The Warden ordered Jeremias to get back to the Haven while he and the Princess left the carrier.

“Warden!” The cold flat voice contradicted the monstrous visage Vicious presented. “Surrender! By order of Lord Daimos!”

“Bite me!” He blasted the dragon with his fusion cannon. Vicious responded with its atomic breath. The clashing energies exploded and covered the field with radioactive dust. The Archon took flight followed by all the dust which inhibited his sensor equipment. The dust soon formed into a powerful tornado trapping the Archon inside. A gap in the tornado opened up followed by a blast of radioactive particles knocking it back. Trapped in the winds rocks and dust slammed against Vicious.

The Star Warden materialized a chain with a collar at the end and wrapped it around Vicious's neck. He dragged the dragon across the ground and with a mighty yell flung it into the nearby dunes. Following up with a blast of his fusion cannon to ensure it was destroyed. Dawnbringer glowed and Sam felt the sensation of a pat on the back in his head. When no movements were detected for several minutes he landed to confirm the kill.

That's when Vicious's tail popped out and struck him in the head. Rising from the sand Vicious pounced on Kaguya swinging its claws. Her barrier did little as vibrations in the claws tore the magic to shreds. Before the next swing could scar her face Sam parried the claw and went to follow up. But the tail swept his legs out from under him letting Vicious grab him and jump back before the Princess could retaliate.

Discreetly it placed a device on the Warden's body. While laughing in Kaguya's face as it used her husband as a shield. Kaguya summoned a flash of light overhead which briefly disoriented Vicious. Giving Sam enough time to stab it in the chest. The celestial energies caused the Archon to flicker and freeze. The sleek metal body turned blocky, which reminded Sam of really bad textures on a video game. Breaking free of its grasp he severed its arm and Kaguya destroyed the other arm with a blast of light.

Vicious elected to flee when its systems rebooted. Kaguya rushed over to Sam.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” He put a finger near his mouth to signal her for silence. Then he pointed to his back beneath Dawnbringer's scabbard. Kaguya grabbed then dropped the device on the ground. Crushing it under her heeled boot. The two then flew away from their area making their way back to the Guardian Haven.

“That machine wasn't as slick as it thought. I'm guessing that was a tracking device.”

“Daimos underestimated you again. Thank Kira this is one mistake he has not learned from.”

“Well let's not make the same mistake. Let's do a full check on the armor just in case he did have any backup devices.”

“Right. Oh, before I forget. Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Protecting me from that attack.”

“You don't need to thank me for that. I would always do it for you.”

“and I will always thank you for it.”

Sam couldn't help but blush at that. “She is just the sweetest in the world.”

A quick stop to check over the armor thoroughly for any secondary devices that might have been implanted. Finding none they returned to the Guardian Haven. Sam wanted a good rest and another rat burger.

******

Wireframe vectors emerged followed by flat textures materializing over them. Shifting into a higher quality state to return Vicious's limbs to full functionality. This was all done in a special regeneration chamber designed to restore damaged or deleted data. An Archon is no more than an advanced virtual construct so repairing it only required a direct link to the Codex and a data restore command.

“Embarrassing,” It snarled.

“You will have ample opportunity to avenge yourself soon,” said Daimos in its head. “Phase 1 of RG324 is complete. Ensure all units are keeping to standard patrol routes. There must be nothing is out of the ordinary to the rebels. Begin preparations to execute Phase 2.”

“By your command.” It left the chamber and took an elevator up to the command and control center. Various data-processing robots worked guarded by SWAT-bots at the doors. A holographic window showed a view of the ruined city below. The Archon did not know or care to know the name of it. It was simply a processing center that turned the feline aliens into servitors. The floating fortress above it provided extra security just in case the rebels got the bright idea to try and rescue them.

Vicious did not know why the meat would want to be rescued from its fate. Did they not care their bodies would be unproductive in a few short decades or centuries depending on species? As Servitors, they could serve out their primary functions, and more importantly would have a function, for the rest of eternity. Organics were idiots as far as it was concerned, Lord Daimos was giving them what their gods had denied them. Yet they fought against what was in their best self-interest.

“Fools. They deserve to be destroyed.”

It turned to a screen that showed a yellow dot that represented the Star Warden. The computer reported that the target had been stationary for more than one hour. Its master gave a command to activate the visual function. The computer screen showed a real-time visual of the Warden and the Princess eating at a table with some of the natives eating at other tables.

“Visual received, Lord Daimos.”

“Any sign of detection?”

“No, Master. His armor's systems have not noticed its presence.”

“Vicious, send visual.” It did so and a holographic screen with the same content opened up in the Dark Lord's throne room. He tapped into the helmet's visual data and found all the evidence he needed. 

“The Guardian Base. Yessss!” Daimos steepled his claws. “Identify location.” The computer did so. “So they hid in the canyons. This explains much.”

He turned to look over at a second screen. Displayed on it was the armor of Eli Bailey, the Silver Star. It was a bright silver-gray armor of similar make and model to the Star Warden's. Daimos originally kept it as just a trophy, today he was glad he found another use for it.

“Even in death, you serve me. My old friend.”

Chapter 7

Chapter 5

Star Warden Book 2: RQ Chapter 5

 

Excalibur Awakens

The tranquility of dawn's early light was shattered by the deafening sound of explosions. Fueled by the oil from last night's raid the Guardians unleashed attack fighters and helicopters upon the enemy positions. The fighters looked similar to the A-10 Thunderbolt and were just as effective. The feline warriors wore hardier armor that would not look out of place in a modern military on Earth. Particle blasts and bullets rained back and forth as both sides fought with equal ferocity.

The sounds of battle could even be heard at the nearby temple complex which gave cover to the surprise attack. Using the all-clear signal to keep the robots unaware and get close to their defenses before striking. Every piece of ordinance was expended in destroying any and all robots along with the nearby security towers.

Jeremias and the escort took point as they entered the temple complex. From the outside it did appear the be a temple but stepping inside would dispel that notion. It had more of a feel of a laboratory or medical clinic with its metal walls and various rooms. But time was short so they rushed past everything to reach their objective.

The room was some sort of computer lab with various cylinders in place. Machines activating from Sam's very presence. He gave his Talisman to Kaguya before entering one of them. Peace communicated instructions to her as she typed in the commands. The cylinder door closed and Sam's body was frozen as his mind slipped into the Codex. Data converted into neurons as his mind began learning the Tuatha language.

During the procedure his mind would be in a dream state to prevent any neurological damage. At least the conscious part of it was asleep. His subconscious was being stimulated by an outside source. Dawnbringer was transmitting information of a different sort.

His vision became grainy like an old black and white film with the sound of a projector blaring in his ears. Two figures, who were tall as giants, were clashing with powerful blades. Four more giants attacked one with a large radiant blade. It was white and blue like Dawnbringer but with a line of runes from hilt to tip, wreathed in white fire.

The white wielder killed two of the dark giants and decapitated the third one. The final assailant swung its blade and shattered the glowing sword. The wielder looked on in shock. before he was stabbed through his breastplate into the heart. Blood poured from his mouth.

Sam clutched his own chest feeling a similar pain to the giant.

The black giant roared in victory. “The blade is broken!”

The white giant then turned and looked in Sam's direction. He charged in to aid the white giant only to stop when it raised a hand.

“The blade lives.” The voice was oddly familiar to Sam's ears. It was regal and filled with authority similar to the Enchantress. Sam felt a new weight in his left hand and spotted the same sword the white giant used. “ Focus your thoughts and you will hear its voice. Use it well and with honor.”

With one thrust the shattered blade pierced the dark one's chest. The dark giant began to glow and change. It took a more visible and human-looking appearance, its red solid eyes a gained whites and a pupil. “Father,” it said.

“It is all right, my son.” The white giant placed a hand on its shoulder. “May God protect your soul.”

Sam was violently stirred from this vision by the sound of an explosion. The chamber door opened up and Kaguya dragged him out.

“What's going on here?” Sam started running along with them which shook him out of any torpor.

“We were engaged by SWAT-bots coming in from the lower levels.” Sam managed to catch Jeremias's words over the sound of gunfire behind them. One of the Guardians fell to the ground dead from return fire as the SWAT-bots gave pursuit.

“We need to hurry before this places blow up.”

“What?”

“Peace aided me in activating a self-destruct function.” Kaguya unleashed a flare of light from her staff to delay their pursuers. “Hopefully they will not be made aware of what you have discovered along with hindering any attempt to learn anything else.”

Streams of dust and pieces of metal started to rain down upon their heads. The Guardians kept up a fighting retreat with the aid of Kaguya's barrier. The Warden sped forward on rocket boots and blasted apart falling debris. The ground shook and began to fall apart behind them. Explosions rocked their ears and larger pieces of debris fell as the complex collapsed all around them.

The Warden leaped through the air and caught a support beam before it could block the exit. He braced himself for the pain but unexpectedly did not feel much strain. There was a slight burning sensation in his arms but no immense pressure from the beam's weight. He was even able to toss it across the room and end the robots pursuit.

He sped into the carrier and it was up in the air before a final explosion annihilated what was left of the complex. Jeremias and the surviving Guardians collapsed on the floor. Sam took a deep breath as his wife laid back in the co-pilot's chair.

“My running from explosion quota has been fulfilled for the year.” Kaguya wiped her brow.

“Really? I was hoping you could join me in a few more.”

Despite her fatigued face she couldn't help but let out a giggle. “If I wear near another explosion I would prefer them to be fireworks. They are pleasing to obverse at the least.”

“Fireworks can be arranged.”

“Sir. Are we returning to base?”

“Not just yet, Jeremias. We need to stop at the Oasis first. Pick up something from a friend then we'll drop you off before we leave.”

“You are friends with Sprites?”

“Yeah. Aren't you?”

“I didn't mean to sound like I couldn't be friends with them. They're just so mysterious I did not expect anyone, not a sprite to know them.”

“They just keep to themselves is all. Just be friendly with them they will be with you. Simple.”

“Yes, Sir.” The proper response to a superior officer when you don't believe but can't contradict them. Though Sam would not have minded if he did.

Now clear of the immediate danger he turned his mind back to the events in the Temple.

“Sunshine. Can you get Dawnbringer out. I need to see it.”

She removed the blade from its scabbard. A near shriek escaped her lips. “It changed!”

Sam took a brief look at it and his eyes nearly popped out of his head. It was an exact copy of the one wielded by the white giant. He turned on the autopilot function of the carrier.

“My love, this is Excalibur! The Holy Sword wielded by Arthur himself Lord of Camelot and High King of Eden.”

“So the white giant in that dream I had. That was King Arthur? As in Arthur Pendragon, sword in the stone, same one?”

Kaguya nodded. “But this should be impossible. Excalibur was destroyed long ago. It is stated in every legend that the sword was shattered.”

Sam turned his head and saw the feline soldiers stare intently at the sword. One reached out to touch it only for a comrade to smack the hand away. It was the same reverent look he saw in the eyes back at Haven. It also raised more questions, questions that he should not have an audience for. He wanted to get the information straight before he started spreading any baseless speculation or rumors.

His first thoughts were on the inconsistency. The legends said Excalibur was shattered, yet he had an exact replica in hand. So either someone reforged it or the one King Arthur wielded was a fake. Perhaps similar to the Cosmic ring some sort of deception had to be done. A deception to make the traitor Tuatha believe it was destroyed.

But something did not add up as the demon he fought back at Joyous Guard knew about the blade. It referred to Dawnbringer as the blade, perhaps it was a well-known nickname for Excalibur? Perhaps the demon recognized it as a holy sword but not as Excalibur.

“Was this information lost or hidden or hidden too well and thus became lost?” So many questions and many possible answers.

Another question was the two figures. The white giant was Arthur and the other giant was his son. Mordred was the only son he knew about and the vision appeared to be following the story of his rebellion. However, Arthur said it was not his fault and Sam guessed he had to be referring to the rebellion. Considering the fact his eyes become more human-like near death one thought came to mind: Demonic Possession. A demon led that rebellion using Arthur's son as a skin suit.

He planned to tell these thoughts to Kaguya once they touched down at the Oasis. Then once he returned to Aetherium talk to the Enchantress in more detail. He suspected that she had much more past knowledge than she had shared so far. He never really asked before because he focused on the war, and he had no idea what questions to ask. Now he had a better idea.

A console in the vehicle started to beep loudly with the ticking sound of a Geiger counter. Sam did a double-take when he heard it. “Did we fly over a silo or something?”

“What does that sound mean,” Jeremias asked.

“It means we are near a radioactive area. Which I don't know why, out here should be the Sprite's Oasis.”

“Sam,” Kaguya spoke in a horrified voice. “I believe that is the Oasis.”

Ashen gray sand, dead plants, and an empty lake were all he could see. Sam double-checked and indeed he was at the correct coordinates. While he was no expert on the matter he was sure that this was not the result of a nuclear attack. Though the water's evaporation confirmed there was some intense heat. He also didn't see any shadows which would have been created by dead sprites. In fact, he did not see any sprites at all not a single body anywhere.

Princess Kaguya flew out into the sky and started singing in the celestial tongue. A great wind blew the particles into the air while healing light spread across the land to remove the particles that seeped into the ground. She kept a barrier around her just in case. She pulled out the wooden broach with an emerald and began meditating. Using its link with Bridget to find her location.

Sam arrived after land the carrier at a safe distance. A low buzz emitted from his armor's radiation sensors. Still, no sign of the Sprites was found, no blood, limbs, not even ashes were left.

“They're not dead,” he said.

“Agreed.” Kaguya walked over to him. “Bridget is still alive at the most. Captured by the machines, with the aid of something powerful.”

“Depending on when this attack took place. A demon could have been summoned.”

“No, this attack was recent and I sensed no abyssal energies. There was a machine in my vision some sort of new weapon. It may have been the cause of the radiation.

“I'll smash it to the scrap all the same. Let's go we've got friends to rescue.”

Chapter 6

Chapter 4

Star Warden Book 2: RQ Chapter 4

Desert Guardians

A burst of prismatic light manifested onto the desert sands of the planet Ramia. The Star Warden stepped out with Kaguya and Bridget. It was night and a bright red moon was in the sky. The beauty of that vision was ruined as their noses were assaulted by the smell of burning oil. They rushed over to the source of the smell and saw a burning oil field with a crumbling refinery surrounding it.

“When she said it was a desert planet. I wasn't expecting to walk into Desert Storm: alien edition.”

Kaguya normally understood Sam's Earth jokes. This one completely escaped her and Sam was not inclined to explain it. The joke was more for him.

In the shadow of the flames several vehicles were fleeing being chased by SWAT-carriers with sirens shrieking. From Sam's visor, his night vision spotted the fire-starters in question driving some sort of hovering skiff. The natives of this world were not Faeries or Milesians but some sort of humanoid feline. From this distance, he could not tell if it was fur or just dark skin on their bodies. But their ears had a mix of feline and elven features, most likely due to having a common ancestor with the Milesians.

The Warden wasted not a second more and took flight, with the rockets in his boots giving him a boost. Using his talisman he loaded his fusion canon program. Wireframe vectors appeared on his right arm and then the cannon took a three-dimensional shape. It was of a sleeker design along with being black and gunmetal grey. One-shot destroyed a carrier.

Bridget let loose an arrow that exploded into a swarm of green orbs. The carriers responded with missiles. Burning the swarm away in but an instant. Kaguya focused on protecting the skiffs with her barrier. Hiding in the smoke the Warden managed to get behind one of the carriers.

Using his ray gun as a plasma torch he burned through the closed ramp in the back. A shield program took the blasts letting him charge through and destroy the robots with his blade. Then executed a new program that started assuming control over the vehicle. A gift from Peace made from all his experiences dealing with Daimos's systems.

Once in control, he opened fire on the other carriers shredding them in seconds. Peace's virus sent out an all-clear signal which turned off the sirens, which would ensure reinforcements would not follow.

Escorted by the pirated SWAT-carrier the feline rebels stopped by a dry riverbed. Sam noted that the riverbed was large and looked artificial more like a canal than a natural formation. The feline aliens themselves were indeed more skin than fur. This group was a mix of black, bronze, and copper-red skin with a pattern of white spots on their faces. Covered in loose armor and clothing designed for the hot weather.

“Bah-weep-Graaaaagnah wheep ni ni bong.” The universal greeting. Which Sam recognized and returned immediately. The armor's translation system used the voice sample provided by the greeting to remove the language barrier. While the greeting itself made sure that both sides knew they were not hostile. Bridget and Kaguya unfamiliar with the gesture just looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders. 

“Thank you for the rescue.” One of the more copper red felines said. “My name is Jeremias. Guardian Corporal Junior Grade.”

“Samuel Bailey. Star Warden. But you're free to just call me Sam.”

“Thank you again, Sam.” Sam internally cheered at that. Another victory for him not being referred to strictly by rank.

“There's another way you can thank me beyond words. Take me to your leader.”

Jeremias arched an eyebrow. “You don't look like a refugee. But we can take you to the Haven. No guarantee you will see the King.”

“Please inform His Grace that we are allies to his cause and are on urgent business.” The alien cat man turned to Kaguya and his eyes widened.

“Pure white locks and those eyes?” He spoke the words with such reverence. “Emissary?”

“My name is Kaguya Bailey. Princess of Summer and Celestial Emissary.”

The felines immediately took to one knee. “Please forgive us, Your Radiance.”

“Stop. This is no time to stand on ceremony. We can not be out in the open lest we are discovered.”

“Yes. Of course, Your Radiance.”

“Sam. I'm going off to the Oasis.”

He turned to Bridget. “You sure you want to go there by yourself?”

“I know how to find it and you'll have the scroll in hand after your business is finished.”

“Stay frosty.”

“Nah. I'm a deep roots kind of girl. They don't get frosty.” Bridget changed form into a mole and then dug her way through the sand. Sam chuckled at the fact she was starting to sound more like she was from Earth.

The two left with the local freedom fighters traveling down the large riverbed into a series of canyons. There was a brief argument on if they should be blindfolded or not which was ended when they volunteered to be blindfolded. The skiffs came to a stop and then a long walk down a tunnel until the blindfold was taken off.

“Welcome to the Guardian Haven.”

An underground bazaar sprawled out before them. Illuminated by glowing stones in the walls and ceiling. Mismatched metals made walkways that stretched to the top of the cavern and neon advertising signs glowed from one end of the cave to another. His HUD translated the names of the various products but he disregarded them. As his mind was focused on getting some of the meat.

He made his way through the packed streets. Despite being an alien no one really made note of his presence. Kaguya got most of the attention especially from the young kittens who wanted to touch her hair. It did let him get to the stall easier as a word from her meant people let him go first.

The cook there made him a burger with a delicious red sauce poured on the meat. He paid the cook with some gemstones and even machine parts he brought back from Aetherium. The meat was discovered to be made from rats but Sam didn't care about that, it tasted good and he hadn't had a burger in a long time.

After the impromptu meal, they were taken deeper into Haven where they were introduced to King Benjamin. A brown-skinned feline with hair in shape of a lion's mane and a lion's face emblazoned onto his breastplate. Though aside from that and a fur loincloth there was not much in the way of armor. He sat upon a throne of stone carved in the shape of a lion's head.

“So, this is the one that saved you, Jeremias. If this scrawny puke can fight the machines then It looks like the Dark Lord is getting sloppy.”

Sam scoffed. “Scrawny?”

“Yeah, scrawny. The polite way of saying: you look like something a light breeze could blow over.”

“Well from all the hot air you're blowing. I assume you speak from experience.”

Benjamin growled. “You should be careful what you say, small one! I am King here.”

“That's fine you play King all day and this scrawny puke will do the heavy lifting for you. Don't want to interrupt your nap time.”

Benjamin rose to his feet and Sam gained perspective on the scrawny comment. The feline king was just under seven feet tall and had muscles that could break stone with a simple flex. The room became tense as he drew a glowing ax from his throne. The Warden reached for Dawnbringer and the guards readied their spear blasters. Kaguya remained calm, she could tell what would happen next.

His Grace broke out laughing and the room started to relax. “You have claws, Star Warden that speaks well of you. I have been expecting you for some time.”

“You have?”

“The Sprites informed me that you and the Emissary would arrive seeking my aid.”

“We do, Your Grace,” said Kaguya. “The city contains information that will be vital in our effort in defeating the Dark Lord. We request any and all aid you can give us. We will reciprocate however we can.”

“I will not turn down aid from the Gods. What do you require of me?”

“The location of a Tuatha facility where we can download a runic script cipher. With it, the Star Warden can read the language of our forerunners.”

“I believe I know such a place. There is a temple that my archivists have studied. It may contain what you seek. Though we have no way of activating their machines.”

“Biometric security in place most likely. Luckily the machines will recognize me as a Tuatha and will activate.”

“What proof do you have to make such a bold claim?”

Sam drew Dawnbringer from its scabbard. All in the court gasped and began to talk among themselves. Shock and Awe filled the king as looked at it. “The Sword of the Morning! The songs of our people spoke of it.” The King raised his hand and silence descended upon the chamber. Eye cast downwards in reverence to the sword.

Sam hid his feelings of fear at the moment. The fear of being unworthy of the praise they gave to him through this sword. A part of him felt that a greater legacy than he was aware of had fallen upon his shoulders. It would not be long before he would learn his place in that greater legacy. Dawnbringer was more than what any bard's song or scholar's research notes could ever convey.

The King then spoke his voice softer but no less authoritative. “Star Warden, If you wield the Dawnbringer then I will aid you fully. The location of what you seek is being excavated by the machines. Jeremias and a few of my warriors will protect you while my Guardians launch an attack nearby.”

A moment was not wasted as the Guardians were mobilized for combat. They had much more heavy equipment than the Free Realms possessed. Including a massive armory of vehicles at their disposal connected to the Haven via rail systems. Built so deep into the canyon that the Domain's sensor technology could not detect it. Some of this equipment was transferred from other bases but much of it was here before Daimos's invasion.

The Guardian Haven was itself a military base built into the canyon to protect a long lost colony ship that crashed hundreds of years ago. This very canyon was created by the crash which buried the ship underground. Only partially excavated by the native people a century ago.

Sam made a mental note to ask if he could see the ship after they returned. Such a ship meant other people were traveling the stars. If he could find parts or maybe a full ship he would be able to travel the stars to find them. Hopefully, they would be allies or at least he could convince them to be allies to overthrow Daimos and find the rings.

Hanger doors opened up and the engines of VTOL craft roared to life. The red moon was taking its leave of absence and the world entered into the brief hour of predawn darkness.

******

The Dark Lord received a message from his forces on Ramia informing him of a Star Warden sighting.

“Most unexpected.” His cold tone was laced with a hint of frustration. He was sure the Warden did not possess the means for interstellar travel. “However, unexpected complications lead to unexpected opportunity. Sonia, bring up file RG324 and send it to my Archon.”

“This unit is programmed to advise you that this is a one-use plan. Are you certain you wish to execute this operation?”

“Affirmative. If that insect is here then he must be going after the same prize. It will also allow me to remove a king and his army from the board with one pawn. Execute RG324 with the necessary modifications.”

“Executing operation.”

Daimos turned to a holographic chessboard but the pieces on the white side were replaced with King Benjamin as king, Samuel Bailey as a knight, and Princess Kaguya as a cleric, along with the Guardian rebels forming the rest.

“Soon I won't have any more obstacles.” An evil laugh followed that statement.

Chapter 5

Chapter 3