Excelsior (21 page)

“I also consider you injured. You okay?” Matthew offered him an open hand.

Radifen waved it away and tried to seem casual as he struggled to his feet. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. It looks like your muscle memory has returned. What do you think, Karini?”

Karini came over with a sensor and was frowning as he scanned. “You need a treatment and rest, Radifen. At 300 your body takes longer to heal, and we need you for the battle ahead.”

Radifen brushed him off. “Please, Mother Karini, I know if I’m well and I say that I’m well.” He turned to Matthew. “All that’s left is for you to remember how to use the sword.” Karini ignored Radifen’s protests and started shining the blue light on his almost comically swollen nose.

“That’s it? That’s all I have to do?”

“That will be easier said than done.” Radifen got to his feet, hiding a wince from Karini. He crossed the room to a long black case and took out two silver and black swords. He sighted down one blade then the other, and then spun both in intricate arcs. A crystalline note sang in the air.

“These will do. Have a training sword. It’s time to see what you’ve got.”

Klierra walked into the room with a bowl of salad and a platter of grilled chicken. The apron now off, Matthew could see she was dressed in a basic gray sweat suit and white sneakers. The clothes were almost skin-tight and the young man felt immediately distracted from everything that he had learned when he saw her slim figure.

“I will train him. You and Karini should eat. When Matthew and I are done, we’ll join you.”

Radifen handed Klierra the swords, and then looked over the food Klierra had prepared. “You prepared this, Elder Klierra?”

“I am a woman of many talents. The birds are cooked over the fire in the style of my clan. I’m sure you will find it to your liking."

Klierra had put together a very appetizing spread that included two side dishes of green vegetables and even though neither Denarian was familiar with the food on Earth – other than pizza, of course – they were tempted by the aroma. They grabbed fists full of salad, then unsheathed small, sharp knives and speared pieces of chicken and set them on their plates. “I did not have time to make our bread to eat with so I used a food indigenous to this continent called the tortilla. You will find it works very similarly.” Karini gingerly opened a steaming dishtowel and helped himself to two soft tortillas. He tore off a piece and took a bite.

“Umm, this is good, Elder Klierra!”

“Of course it is.” She turned to Matthew. “I am the sword mistress of my Clan. You are very fortunate to have me as your instructor. We'll start slowly."

Matthew nodded and Klierra began by showing him a series of holds and stances. As his muscles came alive, she increased the complexity and speed of her movements, swinging the sword in graceful arcs and parrying and thrusting.

As Klierra taught, Radifen and Karini sniffed curiously at the bowls and platters on the table. Karini even snuck out a device to try to decode the food before them. Finally, Radifen boldly shaved off some meat from the chicken thigh before him and lifted it to his mouth. They looked at each other and then Karini copied Radifen.

“Ready?” Karini asked his partner.

“Why not?” Radifen responded. They took big bites of their chicken and chewed for a moment.

“Not bad,” Radifen said after swallowing. “Much better than peet-za.” He inspected it for shrapnel or crushed bones. “It must be a domesticated fowl, there is no sign there was a struggle when you killed it, Elder Klierra.”

“It came already killed,” Klierra answered as she turned her attention to Matthew. “Now, block and counter,” she instructed.

Matthew kept his eyes on hers as he blocked an attack, and then swung his sword at her. Klierra blocked his swing and Matthew paused, awaiting instructions.

“Don’t stop. Keep trying to find ways to get through my defenses. Improvise.”

Matthew nodded, and then went back to his original position as Klierra swung at him, this time a little faster. Matthew blocked it and picked up his pace as he swung back at Klierra. That attack was blocked, so Matthew swung up his sword for another attack, and Klierra blocked that one as well. Matthew kept swinging this time, both to block and attack as Klierra’s pace started to increase, forcing Matthew to keep up with her.

“Go get ‘er, Matthew,” Radifen yelled out. Matthew looked over at him and Klierra quickly knocked his sword away and gently poked him in the chest. “Never lose your focus,” she instructed. “Now pick up the sword and we’ll try again.”

Matthew retrieved his sword. “Let’s try it one more time, only a little faster, and keep your focus. Don’t let anything distract you.”

“Maybe Radifen should just shut up,” Matthew grumbled.

“You don’t get that luxury in a real fight. No matter what goes on around you, all that matters is what is in front of you. Got it?” Matthew nodded, and Klierra held up her sword, ready for attack.

“Good, now let’s go. And remember to keep your feet planted firmly so you’re not off-balance and vulnerable to attack.” Klierra quickly brought her sword down, and Matthew blocked, then countered and was blocked in return. Matthew kept charging forward, making sure that his feet were planted firmly on the floor, and also kept himself mindful not to over-extend his attack.

“Very good,” Klierra said approvingly as she switched from being on the defensive to going on the offensive and forcing Matthew back. But as Klierra’s movements went faster and her sword came at the young man harder, Matthew started to see flashes of himself as Excelsior being attacked by Krunations. One of them had a sword and was swinging away, trying to get a piece of the Denarian savior while other Krunations were advancing on him. The distractions barely fazed Excelsior as he pushed away the Krunations around him and kept his eye squarely on his main attacker.

As these flashes became more and more visible to Matthew, his intensity increased as he sparred with Klierra. He started to feel another force guiding his hand and his sword as he continued blocking Klierra’s thrusts and then swiped at her, almost knocking her onto her back.

She held up her hand. “Good. Stop.” Matthew squeezed his eyes shut for a moment and then stepped back.

Klierra put her sword down and then placed her hands on her knees to catch her breath. Karini dropped a piece of chicken wrapped in a tortilla and dashed to her side. She made no move to stop him. “Good work, Matthew. For a moment there I felt as though I were taking on Excelsior himself.”

The words sunk into Matthew's brain: “…taking on Excelsior himself.” He dropped his sword and staggered back.

Klierra exchanged looks with Karini. “Matthew, what's wrong?”

“I, uh..... “ Matthew struggled to get the words out, but had no idea what to say. “I.... I'll..... be outside.” He abruptly yanked the front door open and ran outside. The door slammed shut with a violent shudder.

After a long awkward silence, Karini spoke up. “What was that all about?”

“I will go talk to him.” Klierra followed Matthew.

As she stepped outside, Klierra saw Matthew sitting on the bottom step, looking up at the sky. She slowly descended the concrete steps and sat down next to him. “Matthew?”

He didn’t look at her. “I… I had this dream last night. I was finishing up some sketches for an issue and I just started getting smaller and smaller, just shrinking into the size of… I don’t know, a coin or something. And I saw Excelsior standing over me and he was…” The words caught in his throat. “He was going to crush me.”

Klierra nodded. “Matthew, I know what you’re going through.”

“No you don’t!” he snapped at her. “I mean, it sounded great on paper, turning into this super hero from a distant planet, saving the universe and all that, but with every hour that passes, I feel like I’m… like I’m losing myself. Excelsior is taking over and when he’s done, Matthew Peters – I – won't exist anymore. I'll be as... as dead as my parents.” Matt’s voice and body began to tremble.

Klierra put an arm around the young man. “Matthew, please believe me when I say that I do know what you’re going through. You are aware of Valertus, the first Denarian to have Excelsior’s lifeforce?” Matthew nodded. “Valertus was my son. He grew up to be a strong young man and a formidable warrior that only wanted the best for our planet. And when he set off on his quest to find Excelsior’s sword, he allowed Excelsior to become a part of him.”

Matthew trembled silently beside her as he listened.

“When Valertus came back to us, he still remembered me. He still behaved like the great warrior he was, but he brought back with him the innovation and leadership that Excelsior provided. You see, Excelsior is not a parasite. He doesn’t wipe out your existence and take over your mind or anything like that. He provides the missing pieces you need to be the protector of an entire planet. While you may experience memories of Excelsior in battle, you’re not going to lose any of your own memories.”

“Really?” Matthew asked, skeptical. He rubbed angrily at one eye that was beginning to betray him. Some savior.

“You haven’t forgotten anything since we’ve begun your training, have you?” Matthew shook his head. “So you see, there really is nothing to worry about. Both Valertus and Semminex remained very much alive as with the guidance of Excelsior, they saved Denab IV from the threat of the Krunation Empire.”

Matthew felt his trembling subside. “By becoming Excelsior, I’ll have to leave everything here behind, won’t I? I mean, granted, there’s not much to leave behind since all I’ve had here is Jason and my comic strip. You don’t think it’s been destiny or something that I would be in this situation? Is that why my life hasn’t really been much until now?”

“Matthew, so few humans achieve their destiny before leaving this world. You have that chance. You’ve been given a wonderful gift, two different planets you can call your home and the ability to save them both.”

Matthew swallowed. “Really?”

“You are so much more than what you know,” Klierra said. The two of them remained silent for several moments before Matthew nodded and stood up. He held his hand out to Klierra to help her on her feet.

“One more round?” he asked.

Klierra smiled. “If you start to feel those memories coming back to you, let them come. Don’t fight them, but also remember not to try to kill me, all right?”

CHAPTER 10

“Where am I?” Danaak examined his hands and arms, noticing he still wore the ethereal glow that had enveloped him in the lab. He looked down and saw nothing underneath his feet but an endless starry void with a large, blue Earth practically overwhelming his senses.

Flailing desperately in the vacuum, Danaak steadied himself. How was he here, alive? His lips moved soundlessly, “Where are you, my Lord?”

A disembodied voice hissed in his ears, “Traitor.” The sound of Nocterar’s voice echoed all around him and inside him.

“I am no traitor, Nocterar! I have never betrayed the ways of our master!”

“You have betrayed me, Danaak. For eons, I waited for my powers to return but they did not. And do you know why?”

“Because I hold the jewel,” replied Danaak, terror and anger making him bold.

“You stole the jewel from my hand. Thief! Traitor! It was not your place to assume leadership of the Krunation Empire.” Nocterar’s usually icy tones were growing combative.

“You were defeated! The new Excelsior vanquished you in his very first battle. You were a relic! You were of no use to the Krunation Empire then and you’re of no use now! I have the jewel! I alone have the source of our master’s power!” Danaak’s words flew on the wings of rage.

“Danaak, you know nothing. That jewel is the purest essence of our master that exists in this universe. Do you really think you will be permitted to continue with it? Are you really such a fool?” Nocterar had regained his sense of command. The icy, slithering voice was back.

“I have taken the Empire places you could never dream of, Nocterar. I was the one who thought to use Denarian slaves to fashion a blade that could pierce Excelsior’s armor. I was the one who imprisoned Excelsior’s lifeforce in a useless body. I was the one who restored the Krunation Empire to greater glory. I am the rightful leader, not you.”

“That kind of power cannot be taken, Danaak, it must be given, and it was given to ME.” Suddenly, Danaak felt a powerful grasp on his throat. The jewel’s glow increased in brilliance as his neck was painfully constricted. Although it made no sense – how could he be breathing in the vacuum of space? – he labored to draw in a lungful of air. Danaak clawed desperately at his throat, tearing bloody scales from his neck.

Defiantly, he fought the oncoming blackness. “I am here because Excelsior led me here. He was wounded and saw the Leap of Faith as his only means of escape. He would have been destroyed forever if I had been just a little closer to him.”

The grip on Danaak’s neck eased, and he gasped. Nocterar’s voice slithered across his mind. “So it seems you have failed. Where are you now?”

Danaak opened his mouth to answer, then quickly shut it as a sudden realization came to him. He smiled as he responded. “Why do you not use your precious Leap of Faith to find me? Surely the information was stored in its memory.”