Excelsior (28 page)

“My friends! I bring you wonderful news!”

Acerus held his arms outstretched as he gazed upon the army of Denarian survivors that had gathered at the High Elder’s request. Men, women and children had stopped their work and had smiles on their faces. They just knew that anything Acerus told them would be cause to rejoice.

The High Elder wasted no time in validating that feeling to the freed Denarians. “You have been laboring tirelessly for a long time now, some of you taking over projects left by your parents. I am here to tell you that your work is about to be rewarded in ways greater than any of us have ever dreamed. Our savior Excelsior has alerted me of his presence, and he has told me he is on the cusp of returning to us.”

The stunned crowd let out a roar of joy and Acerus held up his arms again to quiet them. “The time has come, my brothers and sisters. There are legions of us still imprisoned by the Krunation Empire and the task has been given to us to free them all from their captors. With our savior preparing for his arrival on Denab IV, we must clear the path for him. So I say to you, take the weapons you have been devising, your pistols, your swords, your clubs, everything you have been building and perfecting. Prepare to use them to strike against our oppressors. Excelsior will return to us and he will return to a freed Denarian race.”

The Denarians cheered again and this time, Acerus did nothing to calm them down. He watched with pride as they began to file out of the cave excitedly. He then smiled as he looked up toward the ceiling.

“By our actions, it shall be done, Excelsior. We are ready.”

*   *   *

Tollund Laboratories were deathly silent as Matthew looked around the main hall. The echoes of the violence had died away. Zorribis’ body was still buried under pieces of wall. Jason wasn’t too far away, having been knocked unconscious twice. They had done their jobs well and Matthew felt proud of his uncle. He also felt remorse for putting Jason in the situation at all.

Matthew could see the ashes where Grannik and Radifen had disintegrated. It hurt so badly to know that they were gone after all they had sacrificed, for him as well as Semminex. They had given the ultimate sacrifice to ensure that the legend of Excelsior lived.

Lying only a few feet away from Matthew was Klierra. She had almost completed the mission that brought her to Earth. Almost.

It was so painful to him that he couldn’t do his part to fulfill Klierra’s mission. As he grieved, he saw a light growing brighter and noticed that the jewel in Danaak’s chest had started to glow. It would only be a matter of moments before the Krunation would revive, and there would be nobody protecting Matthew.

Matthew’s breathing became more erratic as he did the only thing that he could think of. He started to cry.

He’d had enough of everything. He had watched the only real friends he had ever known die in front of him. He had seen his uncle throw himself into mortal danger. And for what? So he could fail everyone who had counted on him? The tears started to flow faster as his crying became full-fledged sobbing. Everything that he had been feeling that day – all the doubt, all the pain, all the guilt – came rushing back to him in this one moment, and his howls became the only sound in the building.

Matthew was drawing in a shuddering breath when he heard a faint female voice. “Matthew…” Klierra moved her arm to attract his attention, and when he saw it, he scrambled to her.

“I’m sorry,” Matthew said in between gulping sobs. “I’m sorry… I couldn’t…”

Klierra did her best to calm him, even in her weakened state. “Shhh. It’s… okay. No… regrets. We all knew… we would give our lives… for this mission.” Klierra held up her arm again and Matthew took her hand, squeezing it. “The Denarian people… will always remember this day.”

As Matthew held her hand, he felt her blood mingling with the gash on his palm. His crying subsided and he started to feel a little dizzy, as if he were about to fall into another deep sleep. When Matthew spoke, he could hear the voice of another speaking simultaneously. “I promise you… as long as my blood flows through these veins… they will never be victorious.”

Klierra’s eyes widened. “Excelsior?” she asked, confused. Why was the Denab IV savior just emerging now?

Matthew was just as confused as she was. “How?” he asked, as he pulled his hand away. He looked at the wound on his palm and his eyes widened as he realized that Klierra’s blood was mingling with his own. “My blood…” he whispered. And suddenly, he looked at Klierra in shock. “Denarian blood!”

Klierra’s eyes widened, then she grabbed Matthew’s hand and thrust it into the open wound on her stomach. She shook as she felt her blood respond to Matthew’s presence and flow into him. A sudden rush of energy surged through his body and a bright light surrounded Matthew. Klierra’s Denarian blood had found his, and by doing so, the lifeforce of Excelsior had awakened.

Klierra held her hand over Matthew’s as the transformation took place. Matthew could feel the presence of Excelsior inside him, giving him energy that he had never felt before. His eyes snapped open and, for a moment, they were deep red, and then he blinked and they had changed to a crystalline blue.

He was still drinking in the unimaginable sensation when Klierra’s grip on his hand weakened. A whole new array of memories rushed into his mind and he remembered when he held the newborn planet in his hands.

In just one moment, Matthew could feel the strength of Valertus and the leadership of Semminex within him. He knew he now could win in battle against anyone and lead any army to ultimate victory.

He had become a god who had become a man.

*   *   *

Nocterar watched the surface of the Leap of Faith as the Denarian Elder’s body relaxed, her lifeforce slipping away. A black-and-white human figure beside the fallen Klierra was growing more detailed.

Hodera felt a jolt of fear going up her spine as she looked at Nocterar. “It’s him,” she said with disbelief.

“My great and worthy opponent,” Nocterar whispered.

*   *   *

Excelsior gently released Klierra’s hand then leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Good-bye, Mother,” he said. Her breathing had stopped; she was gone.

Danaak felt his strength returning to him and he took a long breath as the holes in his chest closed, his slit throat sealing, all of the scars disappearing. The effect moved like a wave throughout his body, restoring organs to working order and then adding layer after layer of skin. Danaak’s eyes snapped open and his hands closed into fists.

The Krunation leapt to his feet, back at full strength. He walked toward Excelsior, who met him with his sword in his hand. “Ready to die now, boy?” he taunted.

“Are you?” Excelsior answered with a different voice than what he had moments ago. His voice was now deeper, mature, confident, inspiring. “I seem to recall giving you a lot of pain the last time we met.”

Danaak was confused. He searched Excelsior’s eyes for fear. There was none. The look in his eyes was completely different, and frighteningly familiar.

“Hello again,” Excelsior said.

Danaak pointed an accusing finger. “No! You can't be back! You were dead! I watched you dissolve into nothing!”

“Care to see if it will happen again?” Excelsior taunted.

With his teeth clenched in rage, Danaak charged up both his hands with his jewel and fired as much energy as possible at his enemy. Excelsior deflected both blows with his sword, then leapt and raised his sword for a killing blow. Danaak moved out of the way and fired another blast that almost struck the Denarian savior, but the energy missed its mark.

Before he could charge up his hands for another blast, Excelsior lashed out with his sword and struck Danaak right on his shoulder. He cried out with pain as he saw that the cut made from the sword not only took a chunk out of his body, but was also dangerously close to the jewel.

In a last-ditch effort to blow Excelsior away for good, Danaak gathered all of his energy at his adversary. Excelsior held out his sword, allowing it to absorb all of the energy. The sword now started to glow, and Danaak was so weakened from sending so much power that he dropped down to one knee.

Jason started to stir as he regained consciousness. He watched silently as the man who was more than just his nephew held up the sword that contained all of Danaak's energy. Excelsior slowly walked toward Danaak as he intoned, “Karini. Grannik. Radifen.”

He reached back as he announced one more name. “Elder Klierra!” Before Danaak could get out of the way, Excelsior plunged the blade through the Krunation's body. With a flick of his wrist, the savior of Denab IV yanked the sword out and cut through the skin where the jewel was embedded in Danaak's chest. Danaak fumbled for the jewel, but it fell to the floor. Excelsior took a step back and watched his enemy slump to the floor and finally stop breathing. His scaly skin quickly grew cold.

*   *   *

“This is a great moment, Hodera,” Nocterar announced. “Danaak is destroyed, and I have my chance to rid the universe of Excelsior. We must ensure both Denarians are brought back here.”

Hodera licked her lips once again in anticipation. “I already look forward to killing the Denarian that will come back with Excelsior.”

“No!” he ordered his general. “We will keep him alive. I want every Denarian to see their savior return to this planet so they can all watch him die.” He smiled at Hodera. “THEN you can kill him.”

CHAPTER 13

The bright light of the sun felt like thousands of needles going into the eyes of every Denarian man and woman as they exited the cave. With their hands firmly on their weapons, they reflexively shut their eyes, holding them closed for a moment before reopening them to let them adjust to the bright sunlight. Everyone still kept a slow and steady pace, their weapons at the ready as Acerus had instructed them.

There is no need to waste your energy running to the destination, he told the Denarians. All that is required is for you to be there to rejoice in his return and strike back against the Krunations. These orders stayed in all of their minds, and despite being told not to rush, the Denarians in front of the pack started walking faster toward the area Acerus directed them. Their pace quickened even more to where they started to jog. As the Denarians all looked at each other, every single one of them was smiling, their destiny laid out before them. Whether they would all make it back alive was to be determined, but no one could doubt their chances for success.

The group had an unlikely leader in front. With her wounds bandaged and properly treated, Niterra held on to a laser rifle that was almost as big as her. With everything she had already done for her Denarian brothers and sisters, the last thing she would do was sit in the cave with the Elders and wait for news of Excelsior’s return. She wanted to see that moment with her own eyes. Niterra looked over her shoulder and saw everyone with the same determined look as her, and it made her proud to share that drive for victory over the Krunations.

*   *   *

“Poor, poor Danaak,” Hodera said as she shook her head sarcastically.

“He deserves no sympathy from me,” Nocterar spit out his words, still holding a deep contempt for his former lieutenant’s actions. “Such a waste of an excellent warrior.”

“What can we do now?” she asked her master, glancing back at Lokris still lying motionless on the floor. “She is in no condition to help us.”

“There is no need,” the emperor answered. “I am very aware of how the retrieve function works.” Nocterar walked back toward the computer console on the Leap of Faith and opened up a clear case to reveal a large red button.

As Hodera continued to watch the screen, Nocterar closed his eyes and spoke silently to himself. “Let them pick you up. Do not resist them.” He then waited in silence for a moment, as if he was waiting for something to happen. Whatever it was, it quickly came to pass and as soon as it did, the Krunation leader smiled and opened his eyes.

With a force nearly strong enough to smash the computer console, Nocterar slammed his hand on to the emergency retrieve button.

*   *   *

“Zorribis, wake up.” Excelsior knelt over his Denarian comrade and pushed away the last pieces of sheetrock, plaster and brick, then ran his hand over his head to check for any injuries. Thankfully, there were none.

After a moment, Zorribis started to stir and when he opened his eyes, he was looking right at Matthew’s face. “Matty?” he asked.

“And more," Excelsior responded with a smile. Zorribis sat up immediately and looked deeper into the young man’s eyes. He smiled as he said, “I knew you were in there somewhere.”

Excelsior held out his hand and Zorribis took it, the two Denarians rising to their feet before checking on Jason. Matthew’s uncle definitely looked the worst out of everyone who was still alive, and Zorribis quickly tore off a piece of Jason’s shirt to cover the deep gash on his head.

Jason struggled with his words. “I... you... you're Excelsior now?” Excelsior nodded in response. “And you... still know who I am, right?”