for them, all guns blazing. However, with the added fire power from the Council members’ discs, they managed to punch a way through to the solitary ship, which must have seemed like heaven for Wesker, who was shaking like a leaf all the while.
Still, they were not on board yet. As swarms of new former Drones began arriving on the scene, it was touch and go. Then the Council members decided the issue with their trump card. They all in unison detonated a self-destruct device which was housed in their discs. The heat from the shockwave blew Wesker over, so, like the King of Spain at Cadiz, it really did singe Wesker’s whiskers as well as his hair, eyebrows and eyelashes. Two of his close protection guards picked him up.
“Get me on board and close that door immediately,” Wesker ordered, “and then make an emergency take-off.”
Before Wesker had even reached the bridge, the engines had been fired up, the hangar doors opened and away they sped. They were just starting to clear Tyros atmosphere when Wesker arrived on the bridge and took his command seat position.
An officer then asked him, “What are you orders, sir?”
Wesker replied, “Set a course for the Nacratic asteroid fields. Once we are in there, we will be safe. The Solarans would never risk an engagement; it’s hard enough surviving in there without having to fight a battle at the same time. Start to make contact with as many of our ships as you can that we have retained control of. Order them to meet us there so that they will be able to provide me close personnel protection. As for our forces in the outer systems, tell them to survive as best they can, even if it means making alliances with local pirates… rubbish of the Galaxy. Still, needs must when the Devil drives. Oh, and make sure they obtain a fifty percent proceeds deal for any booty they obtain. We have to start amassing a war chest so that we can start paying bribes for our long term survival.”
Another officer then said, “We have just cleared the atmosphere, sir.”
Wesker replied, “Now crash dive into Translight speed.”
The ship then sped off with Wesker slumped in the chair, breathing a sigh of relief in the knowledge that he had assured his immediate survival.
Twenty-seven
On Tyros, Crixas and I with my little band of heroes, had made our way out of the former Drone Command Bunker. As we emerged into the Citadel proper, Crixas formed his men into an outer and inner defence perimeter with us positioned in the middle. It was all a very different scene that confronted us from when we had first entered the Citadel. Buildings were partially demolished with blast-charred, damaged walls and many dead from both sides littering the scene. Even the artificial sky was no more. All that was left was the white light from the emergency backup system.
Then at last we were out of the Citadel. I noticed that the guard who had allowed us entry into the Citadel was lying dead, slumped over his pass verification system. I suppose you could say at least he died at his post doing his duty. It looked like he had also been knifed in the back. As we emerged into the clearing proper, Transport ships were already gathering and starting to take freemen on board for the long journey home. Priority was being given to the wounded, some of whom were in a very bad condition. What a price they had paid to gain their freedom! I remembered what Commander Vadoran had told me about the Kayton Empire imploding from within, but I think what he failed to tell me was that it would be these freemen who would be doing most of the fighting. In effect, they would be doing most of the Solarans’ and Hellertrons’ dirty work for them with minimum losses to themselves. Still, I suppose that’s war for you – very indiscriminate and never very fair to those caught up in it.
As we boarded our Transport I took one last look back and said to myself, good riddance to bad rubbish but it was also now time to start looking forward, not back, and to begin contemplating the future. After taking our seats, we were soon away, the preflight preliminaries not taking long. I thought, oh well, it can move fast for a Transport ship. As we cleared the atmosphere I could see dozens of other ships making the same journey as ourselves. This scene must have been playing itself out throughout the former Kayton empire… millions of people in thousands of ships, all endeavouring to make their way back to their respective home planets.
Kev then spoke to me. “John, we have now cleared the Transdamping barrier. I can now Transport you again as normal.”
“Thank you, Kev,” I replied, “but I am going to make the journey to Tau Seti and make sure these guys make it home safely.”
Then we made the jump to Translight speed. Oh, what a sight as I sat back and literally watched the Stars go by in quick succession. At last we were on our way. How glad I was to be off that hell that was called Tyros, but I would retain memories of my experiences that of course I would never forget for the rest of my life. I must have eventually nodded off. As Crixas ever so gently woke me up, my eyes opened and we smiled at each other. But I could tell from the look on his face he had something important to ask me. I just knew it.
“John,” he said, “there is a young man on board who has been badly wounded. He knows he hasn’t much time left and that he will not make it back to Tau Seti. He is aware you are on board and is asking if he can speak with you. I know it is a big ask; I can tell from the expression on your face that you have seen and experienced enough death and destruction to last you a lifetime. But if you could find it in your heart to speak with him, even for a short while, we would all be eternally grateful to you.”
“Of course,” I agreed, leaving my seat and making my way with Crixas to the makeshift sick bay.
We approached the young man very slowly. What on earth was I going to say to him?
Crixas said to the young man, “This is John.”
Then I remembered how Kronos had interacted with the crew of the ship on New Canada. I took a leaf out of his book and said, “What is your name, young man? And what part of Tau Seti are you from?”
He smiled. “My name is Nostaw. I am from the town of Beckatovar in the province of Andermar. Before I die, I want to meet one of the men who freed my people from slavery.”
“No,” I replied. “I won’t hear of such talk. We will have you back on Tau Seti and better before you know it.”
He gave me a cheeky look. “Now John, I will not take those well-meaning lies even from you, a Guardian. I was in the resistance on Tau Seti and on the team that assassinated the Kayton Governor of our planet. We made them so fearful that they were afraid to go to sleep at night for fear they would never wake up. They would look underneath their beds every night just to make sure a bomb had not been planted.”
I said I had only been on Sontral for a very short time but I had been told about that assassination and how the Kaytons were living in fear. “You were a beacon to all the other resistance movements in the Galaxy fighting the Kaytons.”
“The Solarans supplied us with weapons, ammunitions and medical supplies,” Nostaw replied. They also sent us a liaison officer called Marcus, who fought side by side with us against the Kaytons. He was a very brave and fearless man, but he was also a man of very deep faith. He used to tell us stories around the camp fire at night. He told us all about the Solaran Commonwealth and how he hoped all planets like ours would join and work together in peace once the war was over. He also told us fantastic stories about the great Kultarn, who were the custodians of the Galaxy thousands of years ago and about the ancient Kultarn Prophecies. Marcus, who had been an archaeologist before the war, had seen certain texts that had not been seen by the general public. He said that in his opinion, the prophecies clearly stated the forces of good would fight in a war against evil. The forces of good would go low, almost to the bottom and virtually to the point of defeat. Then, very shortly after the arrival of a second Guardian, the Kultarn miracle would occur. Sadly, Marcus was killed in the operation that resulted in the capture of most of my group. He did not live to see his prediction come true, but how right he was. Thank you, John.”
“I think you and your people have been far br
aver than I and deserve the credit,” I told him. “I just happened to be in a certain place at a certain time when I was chosen to be a Guardian, but I can tell you I was glad to be by your people’s side throughout.”
“Now John,” Nostaw replied, “I have a very big favour to ask you.”
“Go on then,” I said, “you have talked me into it.”
He produced a letter and pushed it into my left hand. “Give this letter to my family on Tau Seti, but not now while emotions are still raw. Say in one year’s time, when the edge may have been taken off the hurt and pain. Will you do this one thing for me, please John?”
“Of course. I regard it as an honour and a privilege that you trust me with something so important.”
“Thank you.”
As he smiled and grabbed my right hand very tightly, we just looked at each other for what seemed an age as his grip on my hand and on life ever so slowly loosened and slipped away, until they were no more. After which I just sat there, staring into the void, not knowing what to think or say until some time later when Crixas informed me they had been in touch with a Solaran battle carrier that was on our flight path. They had given us permission to board as they possessed the best available off-planet medical facilities