Excelsior (29 page)

“Of course. I still have all my memories, as well as Semminex’s and Valertus’ too. Just like what Elder Klierra said. Their lives are a part of mine.”

"How do you feel?"

Excelsior paused for a moment to find the right word. Godlike? Heroic? Invincible?

"I feel fine," he said.

“So what happens to you now?” Jason asked.

“Zorribis and I have to go back to Denab IV. Acerus has sent our people to the Leap of Faith to bring us back, and there is no telling who is leading the Krunation Empire.” Excelsior paused as he smiled at Jason. “Thank you. For everything.”

The Denarian savior held out his hand and Jason shook it. Suddenly, the room was lit up by a bright light that originated in Excelsior’s hand and found its way to Jason’s. Matthew’s uncle felt a cooling sensation going up his spine as he looked down at their still clasped hands.

“I want you to continue the comic strip,” Excelsior told Jason.

"What? No, the comics are yours."

Excelsior shook his head. "They need to keep going here. I'll do my part to generate the stories. You just keep your mind open so you'll be able to get them. It'll be just like at the beginning when you helped me develop the comic."

"But how can we do this? You'll be on another planet."

"Like I said," Excelsior said as he looked down at their hands still clasped together. "I'll do my part. You just keep your mind open."

Jason slowly pulled his right hand away and examined it. He saw nothing different about it. "I trusted you for all those years. Now you get to trust me," Excelsior said.

Jason nodded and then asked, “Can I sell the movie rights? I always wanted to see Charlie Kessler direct it.”

Excelsior laughed. “We have the same taste in filmmakers.”

Zorribis stepped in and gave Jason a big hug, being careful not to worsen his injuries. “I will make sure our ancestors speak highly of you.”

“And I’ll… make sure to tell some kid around here about you too,” Jason replied in mid-embrace. Zorribis broke the hug and walked over to Danaak’s dead body. “I wonder what will happen to this,” he said to himself as his gaze fell upon the jewel lying on the floor beside him. The weapon that claimed the lives of his Denarian comrades was now perfectly still, the energy within it growing dimmer.

As Excelsior picked up his helmet, Zorribis knelt down and picked up the jewel. “We should bring this with--”

Suddenly, a bright flash of light filled the room. Jason shielded his eyes with his hands, and just as quickly as the light had appeared, it was gone.

And so were Excelsior and Zorribis. Jason looked around for any trace of them, but couldn't find it. “No group hug?” he asked as police officers ran into the lab.

The first officer in the room was a lovely young blonde woman who immediately caught Jason’s eye. He studied her fit body. Something about her seemed very familiar to him.

“Sir, are you all right? You’ve been injured.” She spoke into her radio and instructed “
EMT
to the south wing, stat,” then spoke to Jason again. “You should sit down. They’ll arrive shortly. Is anyone else here?”

“I’m the only survivor. Everyone else is gone. I’ll help you any way I can,” Jason said. He rambled on about how he was an eyewitness to the carnage that had been raging in the halls only a few moments earlier, when suddenly a vision came to him.

“You didn’t by chance go jogging around the Metropolitan Museum of Art today, did you?” Her flirtatious smile back was the only answer he needed.

*   *   *

The Denarians continued their march toward their destination. Despite the heat of the sun bearing down on them, no one slowed their pace, no one fell along the way and not a single complaint was heard.

Like a mirage appearing before their eyes, Niterra saw the Leap of Faith in the distance. She could hear the murmurs of excitement as they approached their objective.

*   *   *

Excelsior left the stratosphere of the Earth, heading out into the stars as he did when he wore the “Virtual Future” goggles. He looked back at where he was and saw the Earth fading away in the distance.

In mere seconds, Excelsior passed the moon, then Mars, and soon after, Jupiter, then Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and that little something that used to be a planet until Earth's scientists reneged on that declaration. Before he knew it, he had calmly left the Milky Way galaxy.

Finally, Excelsior passed into another solar system. They looked similar to each other, with the exception of one, the fourth farthest from the system's sun. This planet had a radiant glow, a diamond among a pile of coals, and it was pulling Excelsior closer.

Excelsior looked to his right and saw a bright light speeding right beside him, the same kind of light that had bathed his own body. He smiled at the neighboring light, immediately recognizing it as Zorribis.

This must have been the Elders calling them home, he thought as he saw the planet he had created with a new set of eyes. Excelsior braced himself as he sped into the planet's atmosphere...

*   *   *

The Leap of Faith doorway slowly opened and Nocterar stood at attention, waiting for the moment he had pictured in his mind ever since he was revived. A small battalion of guards stood ready, their guns pointed at the doorway. Two bursts of white light shot from the doorway and struck the floor, the lights shifting their shapes into humanoid forms.

When the glow died down, Excelsior and Zorribis were standing in their place. The guards cocked their guns and aimed them at the Denarians. They looked around, Excelsior quietly assessing his situation. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw an elderly Denarian woman lying in a heap.

The guards moved to the side, their guns still aimed at Excelsior, to allow a very familiar face to lay eyes on his enemy for the first time in over thousands of Earth years. “Well, well, well,” he said with a satisfied grin.

The cloak barely fit over the Krunation Emperor’s body anymore, and when he stood before his enemy, it looked more like a cape. He pulled down the hood to reveal a short but thick head of silver hair, burning yellow eyes and razor sharp pointed teeth. His scales ran up his neck and down his large muscular arms and his chest, which was partly exposed by the black chest piece attached to him. His proportionately large hands were weapons in and of themselves, able to easily snap a typical Denarian’s neck in half. This was barely a man anymore standing in front of Excelsior and Zorribis. This was a force that thrived on devastation and had the desire and ability to make it a reality.

Excelsior’s eyes widened inside his helmet. “Nocterar.”

“I see you have yourself a new shell,” Nocterar observed as he looked at both Denarians. “But you still have your memories.” He stepped forward, casting a dark shadow in front of Zorribis. “And I see that YOU have something that belongs to me.” He pointed to the gem that was still in Zorribis’ hand. “Give me the jewel.”

The guards all took one step closer, ready at a word from their leader to open fire. As Zorribis moved his hand holding the jewel, he glanced to his right and saw Hodera standing there. He glared at her and clenched his fists, ready at a moment’s notice to strike her down. He then looked to his right at Excelsior, who made no motion.

Excelsior’s eyes focused on Zorribis’ hand as the jewel began to glow with life once again. As Zorribis held up his hand to get a better look, a sudden charge of fierce energy shot from the jewel into his arm. Gritting his teeth with pain, the young Denarian concentrated all of his strength into tossing the jewel away. It flew threw the air and landed in Nocterar’s hand as though it were magnetized.

Nocterar sneered at Zorribis as he spoke. “Did you truly believe that the very heart of our Krunation Empire could be handled so effortlessly by a pathetic Denarian such as yourself?”

“Oh, I would not call him pathetic, my Lord,” Hodera interjected as she sauntered up to Zorribis. “If he is who I think he is, then we should thank him for the gift his family created.” Hodera licked her lips as she glared at him like a predator. “Am I correct, Zorribis?”

Zorribis closed his eyes as a flood of memories rushed back. Hodera smiled with satisfaction and took a step away.

Nocterar walked up to Excelsior and stared him in the eye, causing the savior of Denab IV to tighten his grip on his sword. Excelsior wanted nothing less than to swing that sword with all of his might and cut down every armed Krunation soldier. He forced his mind to relax. “What would I have done before?” he wondered.

His mind drifted through the memories of both Valertus and Semminex. He saw the original Denarian host of Excelsior try to fight the Krunations by himself and pay the price with his life. He saw the second one depend too heavily on the power that never revealed itself.

But then he saw himself as Matthew Peters, before Elder Klierra appeared to her, before he was made aware of Denab IV's existence. He was...

... in his History class.

He saw his black-and-white image of an old man who had appeared defeated, a defiant warrior who had seemed to be silenced. But then he looked at Semminex. And smiled.

Excelsior wrenched his mind back to the present and studied Nocterar. His eyes narrowed as he looked down at the sword, and then he handed it to his enemy. Zorribis gave a visible jerk as he watched the latest heir to Excelsior’s lifeforce concede to Nocterar without throwing a single punch. His agitation calmed a bit when Excelsior met him with a level gaze and nodded.

Nocterar licked his lips as he studied Excelsior’s sword, admiring every inch of its spectacular craftsmanship. “Forged from the perfect combination of the finest elements that make up this planet. I am confident it was a comfortable home for your lifeforce for all these eons. But you and I know that you were not alone in here.” The Krunation smiled at his adversary as he took a step back and motioned to Hodera. “And now, my sword.”

Hodera reached for the sheath on her belt and pulled out a black and silver sword that glistened in the light. The blade was the same cold obsidian black as the castle with a silver handle, and at the end of the handle was a space designed to fit an object the size of Nocterar’s jewel.

Nocterar continued on as he looked admiringly at the sword. “I am also confident that you know there were two swords created when you were sent down, not just one. Of course, this is not the same sword since you saw fit to destroy that work of art, but this one… this one…”

Hodera smiled at Zorribis as she added, “Your family was very useful in getting the metal for this sword just right. It is such a shame they never saw the finished product.” His mother’s shrieks filled his head and Zorribis felt himself explode with fury. He was about to lunge at Hodera, but Excelsior placed a hand on his shoulder and shook his head.

Nocterar walked to Hodera, handed her Excelsior’s sword and took the sword she was holding. He placed the jewel against the end of his sword’s grip and, like a magnet, the jewel fastened itself to the handle. The gem began to hum as Nocterar held the sword and strolled with false calm around his enemies, who stood still, watching the Krunation leader carefully.

“Now, let’s see. How shall I finally be rid of you?” Nocterar mused aloud as his eyes fixed upon Excelsior. Hodera eyes were fixed upon the sword that once held the lifeforce of Excelsior. Such exquisite beauty and power, and here it was in their possession.

Nocterar’s perfect moment was interrupted by a guard. “We have a problem, my Lord.”

“What is it?” Nocterar asked.

“The Denarians, sir. A group of escapees is outside.”

“How many?”

The guard looked back outside and then answered. “All of them, sir. Everyone who was our prisoner.”

Nocterar showed all of his razor-sharp teeth. “Even better. Open the doors and keep the crowd at bay. They will get to see their savior cut down in front of them.” He motioned to Lokris‘ limp body lying on the floor. “And bring her.”

*   *   *

Niterra stood ready, her fellow Denarians behind her. They were finally going to get the signal that they had waited for as the Leap of Faith chamber doors opened and the Krunation guards moved to the side of the stairway. Their guns were aimed at the crowd, ready to shoot down anyone who dared to get out of line.

Nocterar walked out first to address the Denarians. “People of Denab IV, I must admit I am disappointed in you. I offer you your lives, I give you work to do that is mentally stimulating and morally uplifting, and this is how you repay me?” Nocterar motioned for the guard holding Lokris to come forward.

The guard walked up to Nocterar and dropped the woman at the feet of the Denarians as if she were a load of garbage. “Here is your precious Quarteran,” Nocterar declared before motioning for the guards holding back Excelsior to bring him forward.

As they walked into the crowd’s sight, they released a collective gasp as they saw the legend walking before them. “And for your treasonous acts, you will now see your one great hope cut down in front of you!” Nocterar grabbed Excelsior by the front of his armor and forced him down to one knee. Two guards aimed their pistols at Excelsior’s head.