November 10, 2111

  James Stone

  After three days of journeying in Kalvin’s private starship, I was ready to reunite with my squad. One can take only so much of his overly complicated hypothesizing and inquiries. The erudite director didn’t know when to shut off his brain. Even at this moment, he was speculating over things I’d never even considered to wrap my mind around.

  I cut off Kalvin with, “I don’t mean to sound like a whiney kid when I say this, but when will we be back?”

  “Momentarily,” he responded. “As I was inquiring earlier: Why do so many of the species intelligent enough for interplanetary travel seem so similar?”

  “I’m sure you’ll pull some theory out of that blackhole mouth of yours,” I said, rolling my eyes.

  “Indulge me for a moment. Does it not seem anomalous to you? If evolution was the unabridged, unconditional truth, then intelligent species across the galaxy would have evolved to become immensely dissimilar from one another. Sure, outside traits between the many intelligent species across the galaxy can be different: Dytircs’ four arms; lycargans’ natural armor; maelkii’s size, just to mention a few illustrations. On the other hand, when taking a look inside, every known intelligent species have hearts, brains, stomachs, lungs, etcetera, etcetera. When carrying on deeper, all species carry emotions, expressionism, and either individuality or unity; sometimes both. Running the probability of such a coincidence generates a rather infinitesimal chance.”

  “So what, then?”

  “I stated the probability is infinitesimal if left to coincidence, but remove coincidence, and precipitously the probability increases. When one thinks of a brand, one associates similar traits, qualities, and consistency with each and every merchandise associated with said brand. Place all known intelligent species alongside each other, with all our correspondences, and it looks like that of a brand,” Kalvin ruminated.

  “You’re telling me you think one person crafted and stitched together every one of us? I thought you were a man of science, not religion? To me, you seem to imply a god.”

  “Part of science is perceiving the natural galaxy and interpreting what it communicates to you. This is merely a theory. And furthermore, I am not implying a god, but rather a collection of creators. I understand this is far-fetched; however, so were so many other theories before they became truth.”

  “This kind of thought is a bit over my head for my taste.”

  “I have come to understand that about you, James.” He stopped for a moment. “Come feast your eyes on this spectacle. You might appreciate it,” Kalvin told me.

  I walked from the comfortable seat and peered out the hard-glass window of the cockpit. It was a new star cruiser.

  “What’s the name?”

  “It’s called the Whispering Dragon, overseen by commander Dancing-Sky, your new commander.”

  I took in its remarkable, sleek design. The Whispering Dragon is about a third the size of the Tempest of Titans but looks almost as long in comparison. Crafted and designed for speed over strength, I could tell the non-anthropogenic Whispering Dragon was dor’o-inspired based on the cybernetic design and glow of the exterior. The same inspiration is applied to many dor’o technologies. It’s what makes them different. Just like human weaponry and structures have a blocky design, qwayk technology is sleek and beautiful, and maelkii designs are sharp, purple-shaded, and elegant.

  “Is my squad aboard already?”

  “Absolutely.” Kalvin piloted us inside the hangar of my newly assigned ship.

  Kalvin and I stepped out of the hatch and into the new hangar. Ships I’d never seen before were lined up in the tight hangar. Workers carried out tasks left and right; carrying, wielding, wiring, and much more. They were preparing for whatever fight was next, like a twisted daily routine.

  Kalvin nodded to a line of ships. “Those are V1 Zappers. The Order of Aegis just released them to the military. They are the fastest squad transport ships to date!”

  “You make me want to take a joyride in that metal-crafted beauty,” I joked.

  “You just might.” Kalvin headed off in the opposite direction. “I will proceed to inform Dancing-Sky about the situation and meet with my new apprentice. You should reunite with your squadron. Barracks room one hundred and two.”

  “Got it.” I memorized the room number and let my cyberwatch lead me.

  I got to the door and chuckled at the writing across it. “1112 Legionnaires,” the writing read. I guess our squad got promoted to the highest ranked legionnaire squad.

  Knock, knock.

  Shadow-Walker smidged open the door, sticking his red-brown scalp through the crack to see who had knocked.

  “Sorry, don’t have a key on me.” I smiled as I walked inside our room.

  Our room was a bit larger than the one we had aboard the Tempest of Titans. There were three separate bunks on one side. On the other side, we had deep, bulky storage lockers and a desk with a hologram monitor on top. A few extra tables with drawers were placed around the room. We even had an additional privacy room connected to ours.

  “James, where did you go?” Shadow-Walker asked.

  Before I answered, Valiic added, “Yeah, we had a surprise party planned for your victory in the trial.”

  “Valiic!” Shadow-Walker gazed at him, upset.

  “I can always act surprised.” I laughed.

  “Yeah, well… we may or may not have a surprise party waiting for you,” Shadow-Walker said, playing coy.

  I walked over to the desk and sat in the chair. Valiic and Shadow-Walker stood near the door. Uslar sat upright in his bunk, while Narrisa and Brad lay in theirs.

  “So, James, where were you?” This time, Uslar asked me.

  “Kalvin and I took a detour to one of his covert facilities. He figured out why Landis was captured by Steion.”

  “Steion… I hate that guy,” Shadow-Walker added.

  “We all do, Shadow-Walker,” Narrisa said.

  I took the opportunity to explain all I knew, from the reason Landis was captured by Steion to the relics’ significance.

  “And now two new warlords have revealed themselves,” I finished. “They took the second artifact, which Kalvin and I believe to be some kind of key.”

  “Do I even want to know what they unlock?” Uslar asked.

  “Even if you did want to know, I wouldn’t have an answer lying around for you. But if the warlords are after them, I’d wager my life on the fact that they know what the keys unlock. And the keys are just a section in a bigger, grander picture. The Wersillian Legion have a new ally: The korkyra.”

  “Shivf!” Uslar cursed, understanding this bit of news. Valiic and Narrisa both had a look of worry in their eyes.

  “That could tip the scales of this war!” Valiic added.

  “Assuming they are like the stories make them out to be,” Narrisa countered.

  “Wait, wait, wait. Who the hell is the korkyra?” Shadow-Walker asked.

  “A species almost as strong as the maelkii, as agile as the dor’o, and as smart as the qwayks,” Uslar informed.

  “Damn, that does sound bad,” Shadow-Walker concluded. Worry didn’t overcome him, even with this realization.

  “Bitchez all die da same,” Brad jumped in with his dark-laced words. “Shot dem ‘nouff timez n’ pop… dey dead.”

  “And these new warlords, what kinds of abilities do these aces have?” Uslar asked.

  “Why don’t I just allow all your eyes to take it in?”

  I pulled up the hologram video of the two warlords breaking into the station and killing the guards. Most of my squad gathered around to get a better look. Even Brad tilted his helmet in my direction to see.

  The video ended. “And I thought bonies couldn’t get more ugly,” Shadow-Walker quipped, talking about the bark-skinned dytirc warlord.

  I laughed. “I thought the same thing. Bitch is so ugly, she’d turn any mahogany into redwood.”

  Shadow-Walker erupted in laughter. “That is so true yet just as hilarious. I might use that.”

  “Guys, come on. Warlords--” Uslar stepped in, “--can we get back on track?”

  “What else is there to talk about, Uslar?” I asked.

  Narrisa added, “I think it’s quite clear we have some highly capable, dangerous individuals here. Clearly, someone needs to deal with them if we are to win the war.”

  “And shivf… all we got is James,” Shadow-Walker jested. Now standing beside me, he bumped me on the shoulder.

  “I think that might have scratched at my feelings.” I can always make time to laugh at myself. “You’re right though. Those two are on another planet of power.”

  Shadow-Walker continued. “And they can do a lot cooler shivf than you, too.”

  “We were late to the whole ace thing, to be fair,” Uslar added. “James was the ARW’s first ace - known ace, anyway - yet the second Big Bang happened in 2036. There could be a lot older aces out there.”

  “I think the hairs on my arm actually stood up for a second.”

  Shadow-Walker pointed to his long, red-brown arm. I, too, felt like a tiny pebble had dropped in my stomach. Looking around, I sensed the unease from the majority of my unit, Brad excluded.

  “It is troubling, indeed. I believe, however, we will overcome them by the end.” Valiic’s warm words lifted away our discomfort.

  “Love the optimism, Valiic,” I cheered. “Now, if you all will grant me a moment, I need to buzz someone from our privacy room.” I pushed inside and was about to close the door, but Valiic blocked it and let himself in, followed by Narrisa. I closed the door when they were inside. “I guess that moment will have to wait.”

  “I apologize, James, but what we have to say should be said sooner rather than later,” Valiic started.

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  “What is it?”

  “Those dytirc children we rescued from Delkeedo, remember?”

  “How could I forget?”

  “Kalvin has them under his care in some adoption house, and… Narrisa and I think we are going to adopt them!” Valiic gleamed with jittering arms and brightened the room with his radiant joy.

  “Well… damn. That’s… well, that’s just over-the-moon news.” I patted him on the back.

  Narrisa, more content with her emotions, spoke this time. “James, I put in the paperwork for my retirement from the ARW’s military; effective immediately. Soon, I will be raising the children on Jaba-Qwayk.”

  “Oh… I see.” A rush of sadness flooded into my mind as I came to the harsh reality that I wouldn’t get to work with Narrisa any longer. She’d become family to me. “Why Jaba-Qwayk? Why that planet?”

  “Maelkiin’s atmosphere is far too toxic for most species to inhabit, including dytircs. I don’t want them growing up wearing a mask all their lives,” Narrisa informed me.

  “But you still have me for as long as you need me.” Valiic gave me a bro-tap on the chest.

  “And you two are all hunky-dory with being apart. I can’t help feeling like you two are a package deal,” I joked, half-sad, half-excited for the couple.

  “We’ve made our peace with the situation.”

  Valiic stared into his cohinla’s sparkling eyes. Those two had a bond like nothing I’d ever know.

  Before they left, Narrisa pulled me in-between the two of them for a group hug. Rare is it that two cohinlas would share a moment like this with a third party. It was, indeed, surreal.

  Narrisa whispered, “You still have my company for a few more days. We must make use of it.” With that, they left.

  I opened my cyberwatch and scrolled through my contacts before clicking on ‘Benjamin Cross’. The fond memory of the two of us hanging out rattled back to the front of my mind. One thing’s for sure: When I was alone in the world, he was the first friend I had after Kalvin kidnaped me. That fact will always stick with me.

  One ring, and he answered. “Yo, James Stone! I can’t believe you’re calling me! I heard you went rogue, bro. What happened, man?”

  I chuckled. “Funny story, actually… I went to save my captain after she got captured. Right?”

  “Landis got captured? When?”

  “Right after the mission on Juster. You were there.”

  “Yeah, but we were evacuated before you. They didn’t tell us. Is she good now?”

  My voice trembled a bit. “Sadly… no.”

  “Oh… sorry, man. Wha-what happened?”

  “Well, a warlord named Steion captured her, and I went to rescue her. My squad came along, and the ARW marked us as absent without leave. Unfortunately… unfortunately, we, ah... came up short, and Landis paid for it. And when we returned, I was put on trial.”

  “But you won?”

  “Haha, yeah. Kalvin pulled a berry out of his ass with this one. He won my acquittal, and all I got was a slap on the wrist. But it came with a new commander.”

  “Reassigned?” Benjamin asked.

  “Indeed.”

  “Where?”

  “A ship called the Whispering Dragon.”

  “Haven’t heard of it, but the name is pretty cool. I wish some of the simulation ships at the commander program had better names.”

  “Yeah, Kalvin told me you got accepted into the commander program--”

  “And he might be the reason I got accepted!”

  “What?”

  “Bro, it was insane! Kalvin called me up out of the blue! He told me any friend of James was a friend of his and asked me if I needed any kind of favor.”

  I mustered a wry laugh. “That old man never ceases to amaze me.”

  “I was just as surprised as you are right now. I told him I wanted to join the commander program, and he sent the trainers a glowing letter of recommendation. I seriously think he is the reason I got accepted!”

  “I’m glad to hear you are headed toward your dream. And-- Hold on.”

  I muted the chat. Uslar had popped his head through the crack of the door.

  “James, the signal light above our door is lit. Commander Dancing-Sky wants to see you in the strategy room.”

  “This ship has a strategy room?” I asked, with my cyberwatch muted.

  “Every ship since 2109,” he answered.

  “Alright, I’ll head out in a holler.”

  I unmuted my cyberwatch. “Hey, Ben.”

  “Yeah?”

  “I’ve gotta go, but do me a favor and make that dad of yours proud.”

  “Bro, you already know I will,” he said, then hung up.

  I stepped outside the private room and headed for the strategy room. After leaving our new quarters, I took a left and headed into an elevator, following the directions from my cyberwatch. The hallways were lit by brightstone from the ceilings. Every few seconds, a beam of orange light would travel the cybernetic walls like an electric current.

  “I’ve got to learn this ship,” I said out loud to myself. The elevator doors beeped open, and to my surprise, Geariic and Alabon were inside. “You two again?” Last time I saw them was on the same mission Captain Landis got captured.

  Geariic smiled a slightly crooked metal smile. “Kalvin had us transferred here the moment you were.”

  Geariic shuffled around and fiddled with his exploding warhammer. I remember how much fun that creation was to use, despite its heavy weight.

  Alabon leaned against the corner with his two war-glaives strapped to his back, tapping a beat into the wall to kill time. “Aces should stick together.”

  Their metallic, vastly durable skin reflected the brightstone lights above us into my eyes. The twins were aces like me, but easily more powerful.

  “Why would the old man bring you here because of me?” I questioned, sensing something amiss with this ordeal.

  “Should we tell him?” Alabon wondered.

  “Why in Sam-Hell not?” Geariic retorted.

  “Kalvin may not want us to--”

  “I am literally a meter away, guys,” I interrupted.

  Geariic beckoned into his untempoed, discomfiting laugh. I cringed as my stomach turned under the sensation the two of them gave me, the same feeling I had when I first met them. I just had to remember they were on my side.

  “Ah… we get carried away sometimes, James. Sorry.”

  “Not a problem. But you two still haven’t answered my previous question.”

  “To tell you the truth, I have noda clue. You were always the bee’s knees to Kalvin. I expect he had us transferred here with you in mind.”

  “I don’t want to be the bee’s knees. I thought I would have made it clear to him by now. I want to be a normal soldier, fighting in a normal squad, with normal knees.”

  “I see what you did there.” Alabon chuckled, mostly to himself.

  “Then tell him yourself. He’ll be in the strategy room,” Geariic suggested as the elevator door slid open and all three of us walked to the strategy room.

  The strategy room door was beside the door to the bridge, where all ship controls and operations run through. I entered, with Geariic and Alabon behind me. We were the last inside. Dancing-Sky was at the head of a large holographic strategy table placed in the center of the room. Lining the walls were two other hologram monitors showing additional angles of the strategy table. Other than the door we entered from the hall, there was only one other door in the room. It was at the far corner of the room, leading to the adjacent bridge. I took my place at the side of another captain. Geariic and Alabon finished off the circle of people by taking positions to my left.

  Commander Dancing-Sky, a female dor’o, stood, with a calm demeanor surrounding her. She was more relaxed than Sizar and seemed more pleasant to be around. She took her long, deep-red arm and covered her mouth to clear her throat.

  “Let’s do this, gents and ladies,” Dancing-Sky announced. “Kalvin has brought to my attention a dire situation… one we need to act on immediately. A few days ago, the Order of Aegis breached a station that doesn’t exist… according to Kalvin. Despite this place not existing,” Dancing-Sky air quoted that statement, “something was stolen. A bomb - and not just any bomb - this bomb is made from technology far more advanced than our own, making it a massive threat. This is where each of you comes in. We need a response team willing to head into action days before the Whispering Dragon can arrive. To make matters worse, the individuals who stole the bomb are two warlords! Given the level of danger this operation will bring, I am giving each captain here a chance to back out. If I am not looking at the brave soldiers I think I am, please step back, and I will find someone else to take your place.”

  I looked around. Everyone remained still. The brave faces that stood in this room brought a smile to my face.

  Dancing-Sky beamed, “This is the type of bravery I want to see in my comrades.” Dancing-Sky pulled up a hologram map of Idor and zoomed onto a city on the planet. “This is Garatopia, otherwise known as the floating city. We have traced the trackers left on the objects stolen by the warlords to Garatopia. They are gathered near the head of the city, close to the main bridge that leads into the city.” A flashing light showed us their location. “This massive bridge is the only official entrance to the city. Captain Yundor, leader of the 15661 Infiltrators, you will work with Captain Wild-Heart, leader of the 24434 Commandos. Both of your squads will be dropped at the end of the bridge, near the docking bays. I will send the 20010 through 20013 Rangers, along with two MULR War Machines to aid in your attack. Captain Waseem, leader of the 0920 Legionnaire. We will place your squad, along with Alabon and Geariic, across the ocean, forty-five degrees from the center of the city.”

  Geariic raised his warhammer to grab Dancing-Sky’s attention and interrupted, “Ma’am, Alabon and I would like to aid the 1112 Legionnaires instead.”

  “First, don’t call me ‘ma’am’. Second, that request is denied,” she responded, with mild anger.

  Geariic and Alabon looked at each other and grunted. I could see their eyes flare with a hint of madness. I couldn’t understand why they would rather be with me and my squad.

  Dancing-Sky continued. “As I was saying, Waseem, your legionnaires will cross the lake and enter the floating city from the water. With the enemy’s attention focused on the infiltrators and commandos, you will attack them from behind and be the unofficial reinforcements. Captain Stone, leader of the 1112 Legionnaires.” She was talking to me now. “Your squad, along with Kalvin’s apprentice, will be dropped at the other end of the lake, three hundred and fifteen degrees from the center of the city. Your task will be the same as the 0920 Legionnaires. We will supply you and the 0920 legionnaires with underwater travel kits. Furthermore, our brand new V1 Zappers will be prepared for each of you in an hour. Have your squads on those ships within that timeframe. After takeoff, you will be there in a day. However, the Whispering Dragon will arrive three days later than you. Keep that in mind, and good luck.” She signaled for us to leave.

  I waited in the hall for Kalvin, who walked through the door, with his new apprentice behind him. I stopped him and said, “An apprentice? Didn’t think you were serious.”

  Kalvin laughed. “My age is well past its prime, James. I need to commence passing my knowledge to somebody else so the Order of Aegis can have a director after I am gone.”

  Kalvin motioned for his apprentice to introduce himself. The apprentice walked up, and I was stunned by the color of his eyes. They were animated with smoky-gray clouds, like nothing I’d ever seen. His skin was a light shade of caramel, similar to Brad Swift. Athletic build, he wore swagger as clothes; white fedora with a wine-colored cloth tied to it, wine-colored durag under the fedora, massive cross chain over his neck, golden watch on his left wrist, along with additional wrist accessories, tattoo sleeves on both arms, white undershirt, and stylistic jeans with a chain going from his waist to back pocket. With an enthusiastic shine, he reached out and gripped my hand for a handshake. One moment his hand was warm, the next it was ice cold.

  “Hey uzzo, I’m Jay Bridges, but I’d prefer you call me Frost.”

  I let go of his hand. “Who the hell are you calling an ‘uzzo’?” I spoke with a firm tone, unsure if he was insulting me.

  He held up his hands. “James. Hold on, my man. Uzzo means ‘dude’…‘bro’…‘friend’. It’s one of those generational terms, but I guess you missed all that. See, I was in project ace after you. I know what you’ve been through, baby.”

  My temper flared, and I peeked across each side of the hall. “Did they experiment on you?”

  Frost tilted his head sideways, shocked by the words dripping out of my mouth. “And jack up this beautiful face? Definitely not.”

  “Then you don’t know shivf about shivf of what I’ve been through. Don’t you do that… don’t you bring my past into this. That part of my life is done and gone.” I almost felt awkward talking about my past next to Kalvin, the man who was responsible for most of its negatives.

  He held up his hands again, hoping to repairman this situation. “Don’t go haywire on Big Daddy. I didn’t know.” Frost looked at Kalvin with quizzical confusion. “You experimented on my uzzo here?”

  “Before you, James was the subject of our theories to understand what traits made an ace, well, an ace. After him, the project was converted and overhauled into an atmosphere to assist aces in controlling and living with their abilities.”

  “But you still took me and the others at a young age,” Frost inserted.

  “For the protection and well-being of civilians, Frost,” Kalvin defended his decisions, with a sharp, sour tone.

  I calmed my nerves and let the heat in my face cool off. I wanted to try and make a better first impression.

  “Others?” I asked.

  Frost blurted out, “Oh, hell yeah, James! You missed the party of aces. After you, there was Geariic and Alabon, the twins. Later there was me, and over time a few others came in for overtime.” He pulled out a thin pen, popped it into his mouth, and began to chew. It was a bit distracting.

  “So, how many aces we got in the deck?”

  Kalvin answered this time. “Subjects over the age of eighteen, including you two, four humans. Moreover, there are three maelkii, one dor’o, and one qwayk. Additional individuals are under eighteen, and probably others unidentified to the Order of Aegis.”

  “So Frost, what’s your ability? What kind of magic do you bestow?”

  Frost smirked with a blithe flash in his smoky eyes. “I love an opportunity to show off.” He lifted his hand, and ice crystals formed inside. “I can freeze the moisture in the air, then control it. That’s why they call me Frost.”

  “An ice man with a hot sauce attitude. That’s quite a combination. We can definitely use you for this operation,” I welcomed him to the mission.

  “I won’t disappoint. Oh, and Kalvin had me bring this for you.” Frost handed me a brand new stasis shield for my arm. “He noticed your last one was broken.”

  “I appreciate this. Thanks, both of you.”

  “Ain’t no big thing, baby,” Frost answered.

  “You are welcome. It certainly will assist you in your undertaking,” Kalvin added.

  “You’re gonna miss the fun, Kalvin,” I jested.

  “Unfortunately, a new project requires my oversight.” Kalvin took my joke seriously.

  “Does it involve aces? Geariic and Alabon seem to think you’re gathering them here on this starship because of me.” I pushed for info.

  “Not in the sense that you contemplate, James.”

  “Just don’t involve me. Are those old ears of yours hearing me?”

  “If you request to remain uninvolved, I will honor your request. In the meantime, there is something troubling you should know.”

  “Troubling?”

  “While I was commencing a standard systems checkup after the breach at Station 9, I found some outside source has taken a deep interest in you. All files on you - your past, Project Ace - all of them have been copied from an external source. You must understand, this is not an elementary feat. Our technology is amongst the most advanced in the galaxy, our files protected by an AI - and despite all that, someone hacked in.”

  “Great. I got a cutting-edge cyberpunk sticking their nose in my business.”

  “Just be vigilant, James.”

  “You know me. Caution is my number one priority.”

  Kalvin put on a serious, scornful expression. “That is an untruth.”

  “Nonetheless, I will keep my eyes peeled and ears on red alert. Anyways, I got shivf to take care of before the mission.”

  After their goodbyes, I headed off, and they headed in the opposite direction. Down the elevator I went, alone. When the doors opened, I strolled back to our quarters and opened the door.

  “Surprise!” came a loud cheer. Inside, my squad had prepared a trial victory party. Shadow-Walker welcomed me, “We threw you a small party for your trial victory.”

  Wide-eyed, I replied, “Thanks, guys.”