Star Raiders and the Lost Expidition (20 page)

“
Tygla had to pay for it from her allowance,” Mike replied.

Justin looked to her and said, “Thanks.”

“
You’re welcome Justin. It was the least I could do,” she said smiling to him as Justin took a bag and went back to work. They both sat down on the couch tired from shopping. She looked to Mike and smiled then she saw his injury and said, “Let me check your wound.”

“
I’m fine,” Mike said friendly, looking to her as he moved his shoulder away when she tried to touch it.

She looked at him unsurely and said, “I might have to change your bandage hon.”

“
I said I was fine!” He repeated irately.

“
Is this what is going to be when we get married?” She asked.

“
Married?”

“
Yes, I do wanna get married,” she said hopefully, “And I hope it’d be to you.”

He looked at her deeply and asked, “What about your dad?”

“
He’ll understand. As I said before,” she replied as she came closer to his face. He could just smell her faint flowery perfume as she said softly, “He’s a gentle as a cub.”

Her black lips was about to touch his when they heard an ‘ahem’. They jumped and turned to see that Xman has returned. As much as he mined Tygla falling in love with Mike, he did not like to see them kiss in front of him.

“
Xman,” she said uncomfortably. Tygla got up, walked over to her brother, and asked him, “What did father say?”

“
He said he was a bit disappointed in you as was I,” Xman replied as Tygla frowned. She did not like what was coming next. “He said was going to ground you for a month.”

“
A month?!” She cried rejecting his statement, “That’s not fair!”

“
Let me finish,” he said calmly, “but I convinced him about your bravery for trying to save me, he said he’ll reduce it for two days after the battle.”

“
Battle?” She wondered.

“
Battle? What battle?” Mike inquired too.

“
When father learned that I had escaped safely with Drax’s android”, he said as he gestured to CRIAG, “He’d knew that they may have a chance to destroy the Hades. So he’s organizing every trooper he could spare and they’re coming here to pick us up, so we can plan for a battle against Drax’s starship.”

“
How long will that take?” Mike asked.

“
A day and a half,” Xman answered.

Mike said, “They’ll be too late. I was planning to leave tomorrow morning.”

“
Why don’t you do that,” Xman suggested. “Scout them out and report back us.”

Mike nodded knowing that was a good idea. Xman looked towards the old
Star Hawk
and started laughed heartily. Justin peeked down the ramp and saw Xman laughing.

He looked to Mike and said, “Told ya!”

“
I don’t believe it,” Xman said smiling, “Is this an old
Star Hawk
? Where in the galaxy did you get it? I thought they were all destroyed during the Great War.”

Morgan came down the ramp after he told Justin to finish repairing the Hyper Flight system. He walked over to Xman wiping his hands on an old rag.

“
Ya like it?” He said as he turned to admire the craft. “I had her here since the war. Buet ain’t she?” Xman nodded, “Let me show ya around.”

He guided Xman closer to the ship, as Xman was enjoying the tour. Tygla turned back to Mike as he was still sitting on the couch. She walked back over and sat next to him. She looked at him lovingly and placed her gentle hand on his rugged face.

“
Now, where were we?” Tygla asked gently.

Mike came close to her face once more and replied, “I think we were about here.”

He kissed her extensively, as she fell deeper in love with him, and so did he. They broke their kiss and gazed at each other for a bit, holding hands. Tygla then remembered her love’s wound and wanted to make sure it wasn’t infected.

“
Let me check your wound ok?” Tygla asked once more.

Mike nodded to her smiling and replied, “Sure, why not.”

As she unwrap his bandage, she inquired about what Drax was doing. Mike thought about Uno, than about his father. Energy is in the heart. Once she took the bandage off, they saw that the slave worked. The skin has healed, but he still felt a bruise.

“
Well, I think this has to do about Uno Pu’Do’s expedition.” Mike replied, “Too bad the
Condor
is gone I could of gotten more information from my report I did.”

She frowned slightly feeling sorry for him, about the
stolen
Condor
. He then remembered that Flash Stick his father gave him just before he left. He dug through his pocket and took it out. He wondered if his father put something on the Flash Stick that would help. Then he remembered what he said and wondered if it pertain whatever was on the memory stick.

“
What’s that?” Tygla inquired.

“
Something my dad gave me before he died,” Mike replied. “He said ‘when the time is right, use it. Energy is in the heart.’ For a long time I thought he meant it as metaphor, as if you have to be good to your heart and your soul. I didn’t realize it until now that he was trying to tell me that there might be an energy source in the center of our galaxy.” He sighed and continued, “I didn’t’ really know what my dad did back on Earth. An old friend of the family’s told me he was a science engineer that worked for NASA. God I miss them.”

“
I’m so sorry Michael, I didn’t know,” Tygla said looking deep in his eyes.

Mike looked back and replied, “It’s ok. I did find another family, yours and Justin.”

Tygla blushed somewhat as Mike kissed her tenderly. They said nothing for a moment then Tygla said, “So what’s on that stick?”

“
I don’t know really, I never had the heart to find out,” Mike replied.

He looked at the memory stick for a moment the he decided to find out. He got up and walked over to the Entertable as Tygla followed. He placed the stick in the USB slot as he and Tygla sat down next to him, not knowing what would happen. Then suddenly a video file started to run. He saw his father face on the screen, as he was perplexed.

“
Hello son, if you are viewing this then I am dead, and you are old enough now to understand this file.” For twenty years, he never realized that it was his father on that stick and wished that he opened the file earlier. His father continued, “On this video I will try to explain to you my life’s work. For about fifteen years, I have been trying to find a permanent energy source that will not diminish. One of our deep space probes finally returned from the center of the galaxy, reporting that there was an immense energy surge. NASA approved a one-man expedition to discover origin of the energy source, he never returned. On this stick, you will find the information you need to rediscover the origin of this energy source. I am hoping that one day you will find it before the Xatu does. It may bring peace to this endless war. Remember Michael no matter where you are, I’m always with you. In here.” He tapped his chest. “I love you son.”

“
I love you too dad,” Mike said softly as tear rolled down his cheek.

“
This is the end of my transmission. Good luck my boy, I’m counting on you.” Mike realized now that his father made that video just before the Xatu attacked the Earth. The screen went black and schematics of the expedition appeared.

“
What’s this?” Tygla inquired.

“
I’m not sure, but I think this is Uno’s flight plan.” Mike replied as he wiped the tear off his face.

“
Your father seems like nice man Mike. I wish I could have met him.”

“
I know,” he said softly.

Tygla held him in comfort then asked, “Mike, I was wondering, how do you think my father is going to destroy the
Hades
? That ship is indestructible to any fire power.”

CRAIG was listing to their conversation and wandered over to them, “You are right your highness,” CRAIG said, “The ship’s hull as made entirely out of Xrylium the hardest Substance known to human or Animun kind.”

“
Then why the force shield?” Mike asked as Xman came back out and joined them.

CRAIG replied, “The only thing that might destroy it is melting it in a temperature of thirty thousand degrees Fahrenheit.”

“
Or equal to very powerful nuclear explosion,” Mike added. “Like when use their super plasma drill to destroy a planet.”

“
Precisely,” said CRAIG.

Xman then asked, “Is there any way to destroy it from the inside?”

“
Well, there two possible ways your highness,” CRAIG explained.

Xman nodded and said, “Well why don’t you save it until the
Rebirth
arrives?”

“
Rebirth
?” Mike inquired.

Tygla replied “Father’s command ship.”

Mike nodded. Mike could not believe that he was going to war with the Colonials. When they notified him first was about joining the colonial army a long time ago, he disregarded it. He did not think that it was right for him. Of course, the Xatu Empire killed his parents, but he did not like the idea of revenge. He hated them, but he also disliked war, now he was going in battle soon.

Hours passed and it was getting late as Justin just finished adding the Ghost Shield device on the Star Hawk. Morgan was very impressed on his skills and knowledge of star ship repairs. He had told him that he would be a shoe-in on the Colonial motor pool position.

Mike looked at his chronowatch, yawned, and suggested, “We better get some rest.”

Xman asked, “What are the sleeping arrangements?”

“
There couple of extra airbeds in the storage closet over thar,” Morgan informed them as he pointed to a door near the elevator. “Whelp I’m gonna hit the hay m’self. Night y’all.”

“
Night sheriff,” Mike said as they waved to him good-bye, “And thanks for everything.” He waved back and left the room by elevator. Mike looked to Xman and said, “Ok Tygla and I will take the airbeds, you can take the couch and Justin, I’m sure there is a fold out cot on the
Hawk
, right?”

“
Hold on,” Xman said sternly, “I don’t like that arrangement, and since I am older and higher in rank than all of you, I think I’ll make the decisions for now on. Tygla takes the Cot on the ship, and you and Justin get the air beds.” Mike was a bit uncomfortable as Xman eyed him. “Does that seem better?”

“
Yeah, ok,” he said uneasily, “That does seem better.”

Xman nodded in agreement, “Good, now let’s hit beds ladies.”

“
Ladies?” Justin questioned as Xman went to his bag to get his nightclothes.

“
Don’t mind him,” Tygla said, “He’s in one of his military moods.” She then whispered in Mike’s ear, “Come to my cot when everyone’s asleep.”

Mike looked to her not knowing why, but she just smiled cunningly.

Late that night, while everyone was asleep, Mike got out of his airbed and quietly crept over to the
Star Hawk
. He then slowly walked up the ramp. It was a bit dark inside and Mike could not see. That was until Tygla lit a glow lamp. The lamp was dim so it would not disturb anyone outside. Inside, Mike found Tygla lying on the small bed, looking affectionately up at him. She had taken off her pants and shirt as Mike partially saw her in her underwear with a cotton blanket wrapped around her body. He walked over and sat with her on the small cot.

“
You wanted to see me?” Mike asked quietly.

“
I just wanted for us to be alone,” Tylga replied softly, “I didn’t want anybody disturb us, especially my brother.”

“
Yeah, he’s kind of over protective of you isn’t he?”

She nodded, “That’s just his nature. I think he and Justin have a lot in common.”

Mike looked deeply in her eyes and asked, “Is it true what Justin said about your kind?”