A Lost Kitten (36 page)

“Affirmative!”

As soon as Tai received the coordinates, he punched them in. The White Star dipped to one side and did an about-face. He pushed forward on the lever situated to the right of the control board, pushing the engines to maximum speed, which for the moment was warp speed ten.

“Survivors now?” said Dr. Moonstar. “After all these years…is it possible?”

Derek faced his chair forward. “We’ll find out soon enough.”

“How soon? We’re traveling at warp ten.”

Derek held his wife’s worried gaze. “Seacat Peyton, how far are we from the fleet?”

Peyton tweaked some knobs on his control panel. “Our long-range scanners detect an exceptionally large fleet of warships ahead of us. We missed it by a few miles during our first passing. ETA five minutes.”

Derek caressed his wife’s cheek with his left hand. “Take a seat, my love. And brace yourself.”

Sandra squeezed her husband’s hand and nodded. She climbed the four steps that divided the bridge into two levels and sat in the only available seat on the bridge, next to Peyton.

Several minutes later, Peyton alerted everyone to what the computers were detecting. “Commander, our scanners are showing another group of twenty-eight warships. Dominion ships. They are approaching the feline fleet from the front.”

“The Dominion is almost upon them. We won’t make it!” informed Tai, who maneuvered the ship.

“Cut through the fleet!” Derek ordered.

The seven White Stars gracefully weaved through the slower Oceanan vessels. The four undamaged ships flew ahead to hold off the Dominion ships.

Peyton used the ship’s scanners on the enemy ships. “They’re about to open fire!” he yelled from his post.

Before any of the faster White Stars could release a shot, an Oceanan vessel was lost.

“No!” several felines on the bridge yelled.

Everyone already detested the Dominion. This latest, unprovoked attack served to place all those on board the ships firmer in the danger zone.

Breaking free from the sea of Oceanan vessels, the three slower ships joined in the frenzied battle. The memory of Sea Base Ten and the loss of the Oceanan vessel fueled their rage. The Sea-anan warriors made certain no enemy vessel was left to harm again. Unfortunately, it cost them two more Oceanan ships.

Those of Oceanan descent on board the seven White Stars were left in tears. Derek clenched his fists. His lips thinned. His eyes crackled with energy.

Peyton’s voice boomed over the many growls, hisses, and whimpers. “Commander, I’m detecting another fleet of ships. Eighteen this time.”

“Dominion?” asked Derek with a sneer.

“No, this ship design isn’t in our database.”

“Find out who’s in charge, then patch me through to them.”

“Affirmative.”

Dr. Moonstar rushed over to stand beside the captain’s seat. She placed a hand on her husband’s forearm. “I wonder why the Oceanan Seacats didn’t return fire. They’re normally aggressive in battle.”

Sandra’s firm hand helped Derek rein in his rage. For her safety, he must remain levelheaded. Besides, he was a Mage. They were known for their patience, tolerance, and peacefulness. He must not forget that.

“So do I,” he replied more calmly.

Peyton spun his seat around. “Commander, I have a visual.”

“Make certain the other White Stars have a visual as well. I want them ready, just in case.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Let’s see it.” Derek sat taller in his seat. His wife stood by his side.

A holographic screen appeared at the front of the ship, in front of the large window. The visual image of an older man, dressed in a white uniform, was brought up on the screen. He sat in an oversized, gray metal chair. The man had a stern face, metallic-red hair, and matching metallic-red eyes with dark red flames surrounding the eyes. He wore a silver chain around his head.

In a flash, Derek sensed his equally dark gray aura. Did the man’s anger mean he was another foe? Derek had no doubt his fellow Mages detected the simmering aura and were discreetly preparing to react in case this new fleet opened fire on them.

“I am Seacat Ranger Superior Moonstar of the Sea-anan Empire. State your name and business here.” He did not worry if the man could speak Earthlish or not since the computers would automatically translate their conversation.

The man’s brows pulled closer together. “Sea Ranger?”

“
Seacat
Ranger Superior of the Sea-anan Empire,” repeated Derek, detecting a change in the man’s aura. “Please state your business here.”

“I was under the impression there were no White Stars left in this side of space.”

“Your name, stranger,” clipped Derek. He was not about to divulge information to someone he was unsure was friend or foe.

“Forgive me.” The man bowed his head. “I am Space Guardian Gorwin Starsun. Space Control sent us to protect the Oceanan fleet.”

Derek took a long breath. “You…are…late.”

“We came as soon as we received orders from Space Control,” Gorwin continued. “A Seacat by the name of Bob McCall informed them of the sleeping felines on board those ships.”

“Sleeping felines?” repeated Sandra.

Those on the bridge halted their activities to listen to the Guardian speak.

“It’s our understanding these Oceanans have been traveling space in suspension capsules since the destruction of their homeworld thirteen years ago.”

Sandra and Derek shared a shocked expression.

“You mean to tell us they have been sleeping for thirteen years?” asked Tai from his post.

“Exactly.”

“Are they flying aimlessly?” asked Sandra.

“No,” answered Gorwin. “They are headed to their new homeworld several miles from here. Their leader, who arrived before them, has named the planet Oceanica.”

“Their leader? You mean King Oren,” stated Derek.

“No. Their new leader. Oren’s son, Sev,” announced Gorwin.

At his words, all went quiet on board the seven White Star bridges.

“We have orders to escort the Oceanan fleet to Oceanica.”

Derek nodded his understanding. “Since it was one of our own who gave the orders to protect this fleet, we would like to assist you in making certain they arrive intact.”

Gorwin inclined his head. “We would appreciate any aid you give us.”

“May we have the coordinates to this planet?”

“Of course. I will have it sent to you immediately. We will speak more on the planet’s surface. Space Guardian Starsun out.” The holographic monitor went blank.

Peyton clicked away on his small keyboard. The holographic monitor disappeared. “Commander, I am receiving the coordinates you requested.”

“Relay them to all the White Stars. Seacat Tai?”

“Yes, Commander?”

“Take us to Oceanica.”

“Yes sir.” The ship accelerated.

“Seacat Peyton?”

“Yes, Commander?”

“Scan those ships. I want that design stored in our database. I want every White Star familiar with that ship design.”

“I’m already on it, sir.”

.

Chapter 19

John jumped into the elevator and pressed button one. The door closed. He leaned against the back wall and covered his mouth with both hands. He could not believe it. The time had come. He was going home.

Two hours ago, the security cameras positioned around the planet had sounded an alarm that blared throughout the castle. It had woken a sleeping Jasira with a start. Once John calmed her, he had rushed to the Control Room to investigate.

He had met a fully armed Asher exiting the elevator. Asher swiftly handed John two loaded, handheld laser blasters in their casings. John quickly strapped them around his hips as he continued toward the Control Room.

Asher’s sister, Kahilee, was monitoring the Control Room. The moment they rushed in, she informed John and Asher of the ships entering Oceanica’s gravisphere. John and Asher had believed it was the Dominion. When the ships were close enough, Kahilee activated the main monitor. There were two completely different-looking ships traveling side by side, heading straight for Oceanica.

Asher and Kahilee immediately recognized the first ship as a Guardian warship. They had never seen the second ship. Tears had entered John’s eyes at seeing the black, aerodynamic warship traveling with the Guardian vessel. John told them he recognized the black ship. It was a White Star.

John could not tear his sights away from the beautiful warship. Seconds after the ships had entered the atmosphere, they turned toward the castle. John had bolted out of the Control Room.

A small bell rang. The elevator came to a full stop. Feeling impatient, John tried to get out before the door opened. He ran all the way to the front doors and out onto the front landing.

He searched the blue skies for that blessed sight. “Come on. Come on. What’s taking you so long?” He started to pace. “You should have been here by now.” John instinctively knew something was wrong. He might have been away for over two years, but he remembered the speed of the White Stars.

Unable to wait any longer, John faced the jungle ahead and concentrated. He reached as far as he could with his preternatural senses to find them. They were still twenty minutes away. He knew then the White Star was crippled. He would not be going home on it. He could not subject Jasira to another slow ship.

John dragged a hand down his face. “It’s never going to be easy, is it?” He walked up to the top step, stepped down one, then plopped his bottom on the hot surface. He raked his fingers though his hair. “I just want to go home.”

“John?”

John sighed. He glanced over his shoulder. “It’s crippled. It won’t be here for another twenty minutes.”

Asher sat beside him. “How do you know that?”

“Because if she wasn’t crippled, she would have been here fifteen minutes after setting off that prehistoric security system, not two-and-half-hours later.”

“Are your ships really that fast?”

Moaning, John leaned back on the floor.

Asher laughed. “You know, since we arrived here, all you have been doing is complaining about the castel’s lack of decoration and comfort, the prehistoric computer system, and the cildisc security system.”

“It’s all true.” John whimpered. “I want to go home.”

“I get that. And the second this war is over, I’m returning to Surreal to get Audra. Together, we are going to make a trip to your empire. I have to see all this advanced technology for myself.”

John shielded his eyes from the sun and looked at Asher. “We would love to have you. But be warned,” he smiled, “it’s easy going forward not backward.”

Asher rolled his eyes and shook his head.

John sat up and patted him on the back. “Thanks for staying with me.”

Asher shrugged one shoulder. “I had to. I promised Audra I would keep Jasira safe.” He looked at John, up and down. “If I left Jasira to your pride, heaven knows what would have happened to her.”

John patted Asher harder. “You’re a pal.”

Asher smiled.

John and Asher remained seated at the top of the long stairs, waiting for the ships to appear. John’s head jerked upward. His senses had been following the ships’ progression through the sky and he now knew the ships should be within sight.

“There they are.” John stood from his seat.

Asher shielded his eyes and stood up. “I don’t see them.”

“You will in just a minute.” John pointed to a spot in the sky. “Right over there.” He caught a glimpse of a black speck in the air. His heart jumped in his chest. “There! Here they come.” The speck gradually grew bigger.

“I see them. I wonder who they are. I wonder how they bumped into each other.”

“We’ll soon find out.”

John and Asher watched in silence as the two warships grew in size. They could not believe their eyes. For different reasons, each man admired the sleek black White Star that landed quietly next to the bulkier, noisier Guardian vessel in the front courtyard. In John’s opinion, there had never been a more beautiful ship than the White Star.

He could no longer stand still. He started descending the long flight of stairs with Asher two steps behind him. To the left side of the ship, John spotted a glimmer of light on the smooth, dark exterior of the White Star. A door opened. The black platform smoothly extended, then lowered.

John smiled from ear to ear. His entire focus was on the two black-hooded beings who appeared at the doorway. They made their way down the White Star’s plank. He did not notice the lone figure exiting the Guardian ship. At the base of the stairs, John paused. Asher passed him to greet his fellow Guardian.

The two Sea-anan warriors halted in their steps. Both warriors removed their hoods. “John!” they jointly shouted.

John could not believe who was running toward him. “Derek! Gian!” He hurried forward. The younger of the two men reached John first. John held him tight. “I thought I’d never see you guys again.”

“Same here,” said Gian, laughing.

The older man embraced John next. “Let me look at you.” Derek stepped back to scan John’s form from head to toe.

John knew Derek also scanned his aura. Mages could never resist reading a person’s energy patterns. Auras revealed the truth.

“You’ve lost some weight,” stated Derek. “But otherwise, you seem to be all right.”

“I could’ve told you that,” replied John, smiling broadly.

Derek’s smile widened. “Sorry, but I had to make sure.” He embraced John again. “I’m relieved to see you’re alive.” Derek patted John on the back. “Wait till Sandy sees you.”

John quickly grew serious. “Is she on board?”

“She is.”

John closed his eyes and looked heavenward. “Thank you, God.” For once, the fates were being merciful. “I have someone I want her to examine for me.”

Gian placed a hand on John’s shoulder. “Who’s that?”

John met their eyes and blurted, “My wife.”

The smiles fell from Derek’s and Gian’s faces. John glanced over Derek’s left shoulder and saw Asher approaching them with Gorwin.

“Your what?” asked Gian.

“My wife,” repeated John.

Derek shared a stunned expression with his son.

“Gorwin, did you meet my friends?” He gestured to Derek, then to Gian. “This is Seacat Ranger Superior Derek Moonstar and his son Seacat Ranger Superior Gian.” John pointed to each Guardian in turn. “These are good friends of mine, Space Guardian Gorwin Starsun and Space Guardian Asher Starr. I was living with their family for a while before arriving here.”