A Lost Kitten (19 page)

The men nodded in unison.

“I thought I flew into your jurisdiction, but I wasn’t sure. You can get turned around easily when your equipment fails.”

Andros reached for the pitcher in the center of the table and refilled his cup with the pink liquid. “Bogdan told us why you have not sent out a mayday signal. We hate to tell you this, but your noble action was in vain.”

John tensed. “What do you mean?”

Bogdan explained, “After I left you yesterday, I went to my ship. Sirius was receiving an update from Space Control. The Dominion’s tyranny is spreading. Fast.”

John sat straighter in his seat, his mind spinning.

“Headquarters received their first mayday call on July twenty-fourth,” Sirius said.

“That was after your attack, correct?” Bogdan asked.

“Yeah. We were attacked on May fifteenth. Did your superiors respond?”

“Naturally,” replied Sirius. “Their first encounter with the Dominion was on the tropical planet Florid. The planet was destroyed. Civilians were either killed or enslaved.”

Andros swallowed his food, then spoke. “The Guardians were outnumbered and outmuscled. They were not expecting to be confronted by a trio of races bent on conquering the galaxies.”

“The last galaxy war was only twenty years ago against the Terrorshans,” Asher said, wiping his lips. “The end result was catastrophic. Too many races were lost. If it had not been for the Medlothians, this side of the galaxy would have become a dead zone.”

John stared at the young man. “The war against the Terrorshans was twenty years ago?”

Emtage spoke. “Yes, it was. I was there.” He pointed to his son, then to Asher’s father. “So were Gorwin and Kenner and their wives.”

John quickly glanced at the two Medlothian women with newfound respect. Because of their femininity and meekness, he never would have pegged them as warriors.

“It was an ugly battle,” said Emtage. “So many races were destroyed. So many more were left to suffer, like the Surrealans. I hate to think this Daehog has picked up where the Terrorshans left off.”

John read the sorrow in his eyes. He felt impelled to apologize. “I’m sorry.”

“Why? Are you at fault?”

John shrugged. “Maybe we are.”

“What do you mean?”

“If we hadn’t built Sea Base Ten on the borderline to your space, then perhaps the Dominion’s carnage wouldn’t have spread this way.”

“You don’t know that,” countered Asher. “Besides, Space Control agreed it was a great idea to have an intergalactic space station close by. And who better to run it than the Seacats and Sea Rangers?”

“We were honored to hear the Sea Rangers wanted to work alongside us Guardians,” Andros said. “None of you are to blame—only Daehog and his Dominion.”

They all nodded in agreement.

“I still feel responsible,” said John, looking at his empty plate.

Bogdan patted his shoulder. “Do not.”

“We do have some good news,” Andros said. “When Space Control sent word out for those Guardians who were on leave to return to duty, Guardian Bankin went to planet Azeroth to retrieve several of our warriors. He was surprised to find a stranded White Star with them.”

John’s brows drew together. “Is everyone all right? Who was her captain?”

“Bankin reported that one of the ship’s dual engines was destroyed in a confrontation with Dominion forces. He informed Space Control about the attack on Sea Base Ten. Many of the passengers on that White Star were badly injured during the emergency landing. The captain, Sea Ranger Superior Delen Pike—”

“Delen!” John jolted upright.

“You know her?” asked Bogdan.

John did not hear him. “Is she all right?” he anxiously asked Andros. “Answer me!”

Andros nodded. “Her hips were broken during the crash, but she’s alive.”

John covered his face. “Thank God.”

“Space Control spoke to Sea Ranger Superior Pike directly. They announced that the Space Guardians will fight alongside the Seacats and Sea Rangers against Daehog and the Dominion. Sea Ranger Superior Pike gave Space Control clearance to enter Seacat territory.”

“Of course.” John met each set of eyes at the table. “The Space Guardians fight for justice, truth, and peace. You’re our brethren. Your presence in our sector of space would honor us Seacats.”

“My next good news,” continued Andros, “is that our friend, the Seacat King, is still alive.”

“We don’t have a king.”

“Lord Sev of Oceanica,” interrupted Bogdan. He quickly glanced at his family. “Remember what I told you. I met several feline Seacats with a different insignia. They are from planet Oceanica. The opposite direction you flew when you ended up on Cerko.”

“I know of an Oceana, but not an Oceanica.”

“Oceana was destroyed by the Terrorshans eleven years ago,” blurted Emtage.

John was taken aback by the old man’s words. He was slow to respond. “No. Oceana slipped out of her orbit and collided with her sun eleven years ago. I was there. That’s my mother’s homeworld.”

Gorwin and Kenner shook their heads.

“I regret to inform you that it was the Terrorshans.” Kenner explained. “You see, the Terrorshan leader believed he had this part of space under his rule, so he ordered several ships to travel to your part of space and begin their conquest. The first planet he ordered to be destroyed was Oceana.”

“Eleven years ago, most ships traveled below warp speed five,” Gorwin said. “There was no gateway linking our side of space to yours. It took eight years to travel to your sector on warp speed five. We believe the Terrorshans made the journey out of fear—they were too afraid to defy their leader.”

“When we learned of this order, a group of us Medlothians pursued them,” continued Kenner. “We tried to catch up to them, but they had too much of a lead. By the time we arrived, they had already used their molecular disruptor on Oceana, destroying its core and sending the planet spiraling toward its sun.”

John slowly digested his words. “You mean…the Seacats were attacked?”

“Yes,” answered Gorwin. “It seems the Terrorshan leader was aware of the Seacats’ reputation as fierce, tenacious, unbeatable fighters. He was unwilling to confront them head-on and chose instead to annihilate them while their guard was down so that Terrorshan progress would not be hindered.”

“Just like Daehog.” John covered his face. He could not believe what they were telling him.

“The gateway your warriors were given permission to use was not created until a year after,” inserted Andros. “That allowed the Medlothian ships on your side of space to return home in two years instead of eight.”

“I’m sorry,” said Kenner.

Gorwin added, “You would be pleased to know there are survivors. They are on their way to their new home, Oceanica. Sadly, their ships are traveling on warp speed three. They were well on their way to Oceanica by the time the gateway was opened, which is why it has taken them this long to make the journey. They have two years to go.”

John lowered his hands from his eyes, but kept his mouth covered. “Right,” he said through his fingers—as if Gorwin’s words made him feel better. He glanced at Bogdan. “When you said Sev, did you mean Lord Oren’s son Sev?”

Bogdan nodded. “Correct.”

“You’re joking.”

“Should I be?”

John mulled everything over. “Sev is alive,” he mumbled. “He did it.”

Bogdan frowned.

“Sev arrived on Oceanica well before the others.” Asher finished his drink. “I always wondered why his ship was the only one capable of warp speed five.”

“That was my Uncle Challen’s doing.” John’s fingers muffled his words. “Against his will, he had the Emerald Tiger’s engines upgraded two months before—”

“Against his will?” Asher interjected.

John lowered his hands. “Lord Oren ordered it. Challen didn’t feel the Emerald Tiger was capable of withstanding the power it took to make a ship travel that fast without a major overhaul of its electrical system. He feared the wires would short-circuit and cause a malfunction or fire.”

Asher dropped his napkin onto his empty plate. “And he was right. According to Sev, there was a malfunction, and the computers failed to wake everyone up from their suspension capsules. The ship crashed landed, nearly killing all on board.”

John was not surprised. His uncle was a very smart man.

Bogdan was still frowning at John. “Who did what?”

John regarded Bogdan for a moment, wondering what he was talking about. Then it occurred to him. “Oh!” He sat back in his seat. “On evacuation day, my uncles Challen and Jugar went after Sev and my sister Areo. Jugar brought Areo back to our ship. He told us that Challen was taking Sev to the royal ship, the Emerald Tiger. Jugar went after Challen. We never saw either of them again. We thought they didn’t make it off Oceana.”

Kenner and Gorwin shared a look.

“I believe one of your uncles made it off Oceana,” said Kenner. “Jugar.”

“If he’s the same Jugar, that is,” Gorwin said. “He arrived on Oceanica with Sev.”

John raked his hand through his hair, disbelieving.

“You’ve paled. Are you all right?”

“Did they ever mention anything about Challen?”

Gorwin shook his head. “He is not with Sev. I didn’t know about Challen to ask his fate.”

John reached for his cup to take a drink.

Gorwin continued. “Sev has become a good friend to the Space Guardians since his arrival to Oceanica.”

“When we depart Surreal, you can come with us,” Kenner said.

“Asher and I are heading to the ship for more updates. We’ll return Fluffy for you,” informed Andros, cleaning up his mess.

Asher kissed his wife on the cheek and rose from the table. “Thanks for lunch. I’ll see you tonight.”

“Be careful.”

“I will.”

John lowered his cup. “What about me?”

“You’ll be staying with us,” said Bogdan, matter-of-factly.

“I am?”

“Of course. You were freezing back at the castle. You’ll be more comfortable staying with us.”

The others left the dining room, leaving Bogdan and John alone.

John thought about Bogdan’s offer. He would be more comfortable staying at Bogdan’s home, but that would mean he would not be near Jasira.

“I can’t,” he blurted.

Bogdan stood from his seat. “Cannot what?” He placed his plate in the sink.

“Stay. I can’t stay.”

“Of course you can. You have all your things, and we have the room.”

“No.”

“There are several rooms—”

“It’s not that.” John grew anxious. Could he tell Bogdan about his feelings for a ghost? Would Bogdan understand? Had this happened to anyone else before him? John placed his face in his hands. “God, help me. I don’t know what to do.”

Bogdan returned to the table and pulled a chair closer to John. He spoke softly. “We are alone, John. I can see there is something more on your mind. Talk to me, my friend.”

John stayed silent.

“I give you my word not to repeat anything you say.”

Thoughts of not being near Jasira made John desperate for help. “Your word?”

“Yes.”

John lowered his hands. After a long breath, he began. “I spoke to King Yudit. He told me about the Terrorshans…the Medlothians…the people of the mist.”

“Then you know everything you need to know.”

“Not really,” mumbled John. “I neglected to ask him a crucial question that you guys answered for me.”

“What question is that?”

“When did it happen?” John looked Bogdan in the eyes. “Was Jasira born then?”

Bogdan’s eyes hinted that he understood where John headed. “Jasira is my sister’s age, twenty-three.”

John softly repeated, “Twenty-three.”

An image of the claw marks on Jasira’s chair flashed in his head. He felt his blood pressure drop further. It felt like someone punched him in the stomach. John covered his face and gasped for breath.

“Seacat?”

“She’s dead…because of the Terrorshans?”

“She is mist because of the Terrorshans.”

John was unable to speak. Tears filled his eyes. He had hoped Jasira had died before the war, preferably a century ago, erasing all possibilities of her being his soulmate. Alas, the Terrorshans had killed her when she was only three.

He thought about how Jasira made him feel cared for. How she made his soul feel like it was on fire when she touched him. It was because she held the other half to his soul. Jasira was his soulmate. He would never hold his truelove in his arms. He would never have children with her. He would never be complete. His tears fell.

Bogdan grasped his shoulder. “Are you all right?”

John shoved back his seat and hurried out of the house. He did not want to talk to anyone. He did not want to be near anyone. His life had begun as a nightmare. He had believed it could only get better now that he was an adult. He was wrong. Dead wrong.

His life had become a living hell. His empire was under attack. He knew nothing about his family’s fate, but he feared the worst. A great war awaited him in Sea-anan space, and he had to face it without hope of ever sharing his unknown future with his truelove.

Defeated, John stopped running in the middle of the field and dropped to his knees. He raised his fists and cried in anguish.