Determinant -Guardians of Vesturon [3] (34 page)

“I’ll stay,” she said.

“No! I want you out of here. Rayn, teleport her now!”

I watched as she disappeared and did not breathe until the commander on Vesturon informed us she had arrived safely and was in his care.

Rayn bellowed, “Brace yourself, incoming annihilator beams!”

The blast hit the ship and I crashed against the main console, wrenching my shoulder and snapping my forearm. I screamed with the initial break, but forced myself to go to that place in my mind where I could control the pain.

“Are you okay?” Rayn shouted.

“No! I broke my bloody arm! Just get us out of here!”

“Impossible. They are all over us. There are five of them and they have us covered like icing on a cake. How much longer before the strip is complete?”

“Soon! Can you do anything at all?”

“Incoming!” he shouted.

This time we took multiple hits that sent me airborne. I collided with the main screen, bones crunching and flesh tearing. The impact left me dazed. My ribs were broken; of that I had no doubt. Breathing was sheer hell. My midsection quickly became saturated with what I could only assume was blood. My head throbbed as the back of it had also slammed into the screen. My leg was awkwardly contorted, but I couldn’t stop. If I did, we would die.

“Rayn!”

No response. I heaved myself upwards and saw Rayn slumped in his chair. The whole of it had been torn from its bolts and it was lying sideways in the aft of the ship. Using my good arm and leg, I pitched myself toward him. Tapping our destination into the teleporter, I got us out of there.

We materialized at the space dock and then everything faded to black.

I heard faint voices in the background and a constant whirring. My eyelids felt glued together. Every muscle felt leaden and when I tried to lift my head, it was locked in place. Where was I? What in the world happened?

I dug into the recesses of my mind and I recalled boarding the Space Transporter, but then...nothing. I engaged my senses in an attempt to understand what was happening.

The voices became clearer, but not enough to interpret their meaning.

Then it hit me like lightening. The Space Transporter...the Xanthians...taking multiple blasts...getting injured...Rayn! How was Rayn?

I was instantly assailed with her scent as it penetrated my soul...citrus with a crisp freshness to it. It reminded me of floating on a warm sea. I could taste the tanginess of the citrus mixed with the salt in the air. Oh how it soothed me. I inhaled deeply, letting it infuse and permeate throughout my body.

At first, her touch was so light, I barely felt it. Then I felt cool, soft fingers weaving their way through my hair, beginning at my forehead and moving back to the crown. Oh it felt so nice, that soft massaging motion.

Why couldn’t I open my eyes? I wanted to see her. I opened my mind instead. Her anguish engulfed me. I wanted to hold her in my arms. I willed her to put her face next to mine. It wasn’t that I wanted her there—I
needed
her there. We spoke through our minds...she telling me how worried she was and I telling her I was glad she was here. Her love washed over me like a cooling rain...a balm to my torn and battered body.

“Why can I not move?”

“You were badly injured Rykerian.”

“How is Rayn?

“In about the same shape as you, but he’s going to be fine too.”

“What happened?”

“You mean on the ship?”

“No...me. What happened to me?”

“Only a broken arm, a broken leg, fractured neck vertebra, crushed ribs, punctured and collapsed lung...not to mention the countless lacerations.”

“Are you trying to be humorous?”

“No...I’m totally serious here. Like I said, you were injured...critically, in fact. Luckily, you got here in time and they did a decent job of patching you up.”

“Lay next to me.”

“There isn’t room.”

“Please!”

“I’ll hurt you. I don’t want to cause you any more pain Rykerian.”

“You are causing me a great deal of pain by
refusing
to lay with me. Please...I
need
to feel you...all of you January.”

“Okay...but will you let me know if this makes your pain worse?”

“It won’t. Trust me.”

The bed moved slightly as she climbed on it.

She gently rested her hand on my chest, being so very careful not to apply any pressure. Then she moved it up to my neck and then my cheek, and finally my lips. She traced the outline of them and I felt the bed move a bit. Her lips touched mine ever so briefly. I moaned in the back of my throat, wanting more, but knowing I could not.

“Take my hand in yours January,” I barely croaked out.

The soft yet firm fingers laced with mine and I felt a peace descend over me, as sleep reclaimed my body.

Time passed. I knew not how much, nor did I care. I was healing and that was all I focused upon. The day finally came when I could open my eyes and move my arms. Julian had kept my body in a semi-unconscious state for several days. Knowing me well, he understood I would not be willing to lay quietly, hence the major sedation.

January stayed by my side continuously, refusing to leave for anything. She slept next to me every night, holding my hand and murmuring words of love to me. She had lightened up my life and my love for her rooted itself deeply within my soul and spread throughout every part of me. I was madly in love with her, bound by heart, mind and soul, and could not ever part from her again.

It took January a bit of time to get over her shock of her first view of our home. My family resided in a palace of sorts, as we were much like royalty on Earth. It had been built over a thousand years ago and looked similar to the Biltmore House in Asheville, North Carolina, albeit much more grand and ancient. It was constructed mostly of a variety of stone and had weathered beautifully over the ages.

The interior was luxurious by any standards. Masterful oil paintings and hand woven tapestries graced the walls while the polished marble floors gleamed.

The palace consisted of five levels. The main level contained all the formal areas...the grand dining room, greeting rooms, music room, ballroom, and so forth. It was where all high level entertaining took place.

The kitchens were all located on this level as well. The lower level beneath the palace housed the laundry facilities, and all the other working areas of the palace.

The second floor was where the family resided for the most part. The informal living areas, kitchen, dining room, entertainment room, exercise area, and the like were all located here.

All the bedroom suites were located on the third floor, other than my parent’s. Theirs was on the fourth floor, where they each had an expansive office, along with their own private living quarters. Their personal staff was located on that level as well.

On the third floor, the spacious bedroom suites were divided by the main staircase. All of my siblings stayed on one side, leaving the other side for guests.

Each floor had a gallery that contained artwork and marble busts of Vesturon’s past rulers, my ancestors.

My mother, being the perceptive individual that she was had given January the room next to mine. I showed her where she would be staying and during the brief tour, she barely spoke a word.

“Why didn’t you tell me about all of this?”

“Would it have mattered?”

She looked pensive then blurted out, “Nope. I don’t think anything could keep me away from you. It’s just insane to me when I think about it all. I mean how long ago was it when I was scrounging around for change to buy a hot dog? And now this! It’s a bit over the top and all, but it’s not gonna run me off if that’s what you’re thinking.”

I must have been looking at her oddly for she asked quietly, “Was that the wrong answer?”

“It could not have been more right. I was thinking that most females would flock to this lifestyle and you were thinking the opposite.”

“Well, I’m glad you finally figured that one out! I’m not most females!” she winked. “Don’t you think it would be a good idea if you took it easy...you know, chilled for a bit. You still have some major recovering to do.”

“I am tired, but I should like to talk with my family first. Come.”

“Geez, always the demanding one, aren’t you?”

“Me? I’m the most mild-mannered one in the family. Wait until you’ve spent more time around Rayn and my father!”

*****

We joined my family in the den. Rayn, Maddie, Tesslar and my parents were present. I quickly made the necessary introductions and we launched into the status of the Xanthian situation.

“They’re demanding the release of Counselor Druaha. They are also demanding control of Earth,” my father began.

“What?” I was shocked.

“All space travel is suspended unless you are part of an armada. No Space Transporters are allowed to go unescorted. That was a blatant attack on you and Rayn. They knew you would be heading to Vesturon. They were tracking all space traffic to and from the Milky Way.”

“What will happen to Earth?” January asked.

“We will do what we can but we make no promises. It is the beginning of a terrible time for our universe. The Xanthians are trying to garner support from other planets. There are enough unsavory ones out there that they are sure to gain numbers.”

“Father, what of Xarrid, Therron and Sharra?” I wondered.

“Sharra should be here soon. She is coming back with a team of fighters and she will be training others here until we can build up our forces again. Therron and Xarrid are the ones I fear for the most. Xarrid will not leave Xanthus until he locates Saylan. We finally heard from Therron a few days ago. A Xanthian spy posing as a Guardian compromised his position. Therron has no idea how much information the spy had passed to the Xanthians before he was caught and dealt with. Therron’s shadars both malfunctioned, so he was trapped for a time. Therron will not leave Xanthus without Xarrid.” My father rose and began pacing. The creases around his eyes and mouth and deepened since that last time I saw him.

“What about Zulietta?” I asked.

“She arrived safely here and other than being shaken up, she was fine,” Father explained.

I lifted my eyes to Rayn and his look matched my father’s.

“Rayn, how are you feeling?” I asked.

“About the same as you. Glad to be here, thanks to you,” he grinned ruefully.

“So what can we do?” I wanted to know.

“You two need to rest up because you are going to need your strength in the days and months ahead,” my mother suggested.

“I assume the Herdekian claimed his sister?” Rayn questioned.

“Yes, and all went as we expected. I think we should engage him as an ally. January could help us, could you not January?”

Anger diffused through my body at the mention of his name and I said, my voice tinged with menace, “I do not want January within one hundred light years from him.”

“Rykerian, you are taking this the wrong way. Anyone could see they have formed a friendship of sorts and he will not harm her. It would help our cause if she was there.”

“I could not care less about our cause or any cause for that matter. I do not want January near Jurek Herdekian!” I bounded to my feet and began pacing.

My father looked at me intently and then asked, “January, how do you feel about him?”

“He is my friend,” she said softly.

“Elucidate,” he demanded.

“We’ve faced a lot of the same issues during our lives and I think it’s kind of thrown us into a friendship type of thing. It sounds strange and convoluted and all but there is nothing between us but friendship. I could ask him whatever you want. And I wouldn’t feel unsafe around him. I’m sorry Rykerian.”

My father stared at me and I felt the fingers of his mind probe, making their way into my head. There was no use in denying him for he was extremely powerful and would find a way to accomplish this. I granted him entry and waited for him to finish.

He sat back and gave me a look that I recognized. His eyes softened as he spoke. “You have no reason to fear this if it is as she says. I know this is something you do not desire, but the greater good of the people is at stake here. I am sorry my son, but we must have January contact him. His kind may be the key to keeping the Xanthians from wreaking havoc on the universe.”

The muscle in my jaw twitched furiously as my anger intensified. My family was betraying me.

“No, we are not betraying you Rykerian. We would not be doing this if we were putting anyone in harm’s way,” my father stated, tersely.

I jerked my head in mimicking a nod, and headed up to my room.

The situation continued to deteriorate on Xanthus. Xarrid teleported to the Guardian Command Center for a briefing on the situation. He only agreed to come because we dangled the proverbial carrot of our potential alliance with Jurek Herdekian.

I could not contain my shock at his haggard yet hewn appearance. He had lost weight and his skin was stretched tightly across his taut muscles. His face was now chiseled, having lost all his youthful appearance. The light had been extinguished from his eyes, but in its place burned an intense fire that alarmed me. His usually neatly trimmed hair was now long and scruffy, as was the beard on his face. Although he had never had much interest in fashion, he was always smartly attired. The Xarrid of old seemed to have been replaced by one that dressed with purpose. He not only wore his shadars, he also carried daggers attached to his belt and had one strapped to his thigh. There were all sorts of deadly throwing devices attached to various parts of his clothing. An air of danger surrounded him. He no longer bore any resemblance to the brother and Guardian I knew from a short time ago.