BOOK 12 DESTINY
DERIVED
(THE ROYAL FOUR
RECLAIMED)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ PART
6 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ (3.15.23692) (Royal Palace) Rath went into NicaronÕs
office and slumped down into a chair, hanging one knee over the armrest. ÒSo what have you got for me to do
today? Baby sit some new recruits
or maybe take inventory of the palace tapestries?Ó Nicaron glanced at him and
turned back to his paperwork. ÒAre
you saying that youÕre not being challenged enough in your new position?Ó ÒIÕm saying you are giving
me a bunch of trivial jobs when I could be helping with the important
things. I should be learning how
to be a General. You are wasting
my abilities.Ó ÒNot wasting,Ó Nicaron
corrected, Òcultivating. We are
training you from the ground up, so you can learn every aspect of the job.Ó ÒYou must think IÕm pretty
stupid to try and sell me that line of crap,Ó Rath said. ÒItÕs not crap,Ó Nicaron
said. ÒYou have no memory of your
other life and no practical experience running an army. You offed your best friend, thatÕs the
only reference you have. YouÕre
not ready for more responsibility.Ó Rath put both feet on the
floor and leaned forward menacingly.
ÒI think you and Khivar are jerking me around. I went to a lot of trouble to get here and bring you Liz,
and I expect to live up to your end of the deal.Ó Nicaron put down his papers
and met RathÕs eyes. ÒWhat more do
you want? You have free run of the
palace, unlimited access to Liz and you have been given an honorary rank. After we get Max, you will be the third
most powerful man on Antar.Ó Rath sighed. ÒOkay. What duties do
you have for me today?Ó Nicaron handed him a data
disk and Rath left his office, walking quickly down the corridor. Khivar and Nicaron didnÕt trust him
completely and he had expected that, he just needed to prove his loyalty and
his abilities to them. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Khivar knocked before
entering LizÕs room and found her seated on the sofa, obviously out of
breath. ÒI hope you are well.Ó Liz nodded. ÒFine. I was just um, exercising.Ó KhivarÕs eyes narrowed as he
took a seat across from her. ÒYou
are a terrible liar,Ó he said.
ÒYou were attempting to escape.Ó Liz shrugged. ÒCould you blame me?Ó ÒNo,Ó he said, Òbut perhaps
I have a more productive use for you powers. A long-term plan, if you will.Ó ÒAnd what is that?Ó Liz
asked suspiciously. ÒI made a deal with Rath
when he brought you here,Ó Khivar said.
ÒHe agreed that I would hold you to lure Max into the open and when Max
was dead, I would give Rath certain rewards, including you as his wife.Ó ÒWhat?Ó Liz asked
incredulously. ÒI am not your
property. You canÕt just give me
to him like some toy you are tired of.Ó ÒI can,Ó Khivar assured
her. Liz remained silent and
Khivar continued. ÒI believe that
Rath desires you and wishes to make you his wife, but I question if that is his
only motive. He is of Royal blood,
and with the former Queen at his side, he could try to make a move for the
throne.Ó ÒEven if Max were dead, I
wouldnÕt marry Rath,Ó Liz said heatedly. Khivar smiled. ÒYour consent to the marriage is of no
matter. Once Max is dead, no one
will stand against me and I can do with you as I please.Ó He shrugged. ÒBut even if RathÕs only motive in wanting you is love, I
havenÕt yet decided if I will give you to him. You are very powerful and I think you could be useful to
me. So any deal I make with Rath
concerning you would have to include the use of your powers.Ó ÒYour own private oracle,Ó
Liz said, Òlocked away in a back room.Ó ÒSomething like that,Ó
Khivar said. ÒI can see now that I
was too hasty when I killed you in your last life. I was only thinking of securing my position and I hadnÕt
considered just how useful your talents could be.Ó Liz shook her head. ÒI would never help you.Ó Khivar smiled. ÒNever is a strong word, Liz. I know you arenÕt used to dealing with
people like me and I will only warn you once that you donÕt stand a chance. I am used to getting what I want and I
am willing to go past a polite request to get it. I can be extremely ruthless and cruel when the situation
calls for it. So before you answer
me again Liz, consider this. It
would be quite easy for me to have any memories of your friends and
family and Max erased from your mind. Then
you wouldnÕt remember hating me and would be quite willing to help.Ó A cold shiver of terror
raced through Liz and she shook her head furiously, rising from the sofa and
backing away from him with an outstretched hand. ÒYou wouldnÕt.
You canÕt take my memories of Max.
WeÕve just been reunited. HeÕs everything to me.Ó Using a burst of super
speed, Khivar was instantly beside her and roughly grabbed her upper arms,
lifting her off the floor. ÒIf
thatÕs what it takes,Ó he said softly, ÒI will have every precious memory of
Max ripped from your mind.Ó ÒPlease,Ó Liz begged
desperately. She could feel the veracity of his words, his unfeeling,
single-minded force of will.
Khivar would do as he said, of that she had no doubt. Tears welled up in her eyes and ran
down her cheeks as she trembled in KhivarÕs tight grip. Liz was more scared than she ever
remembered being; terrified that Khivar would take Max from her, and the worst
part was, after it was done she wouldnÕt even remember what sheÕd lost. ÒPlease, Khivar.Ó ÒThen I expect you to be in
a more corporative frame of mind, when I return,Ó Khivar said smoothly. He pushed her from him and she fell
roughly to the floor as he strode from the room. Still trembling, Liz
collapsed into sobs of anguish. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ (Secret Headquarters of the Resistance Loyal to the Tageonants) Max awoke as LizÕs
overwhelming fear burst through their bond and he grasped for the golden thread
of connection anxiously. Liz,
can you hear me? Are you okay? There was no response from
her but he felt her terror through the bond as if it were his own. And fury rose up in him to think of
what Khivar or his people could be doing to her. He had waited too long and Liz was paying the price for his
inaction. Liz, I donÕt know if you
can hear me, he sent through the
connection, but I am coming for you.
Just hold on a little longer. With a wave of his hand
Max dressed himself and left his room, pushing past the protectors. He burst into MichaelÕs room across the
hall without knocking, causing Michael to tumble out of bed and to his
feet. ÒKhivar is hurting Liz,Ó
Max said, his fury barely contained.
ÒI am going to get her.
Gather any troops you can and use that damned memory we recovered about
Nicholas, anything that will help.Ó Michael nodded. ÒOkay. It will take a little time to get everything coordinatedÉÓ Max cut him off. ÒDo it, but IÕm not waiting.Ó He turned to leave, but MichaelÕs hand
on his shoulder stopped him. ÒMax, you canÕt go out there
alone. You donÕt have any offensive
powers.Ó ÒDonÕt I?Ó Max asked. Without turning, Max used a small burst
of his shield to propel MichaelÕs hand off his shoulder. ÒI am going to save Liz. Follow as soon as you can. Khivar has gone too far this time. If he wants a war, weÕll give it to
him.Ó Maria watched the
interaction in silence but spoke when the door closed behind Max. ÒIÕve never seen Max like that.Ó Michael shook his head. ÒThat wasnÕt Max and it wasnÕt Zan,Ó
Michael said, understanding the bond between Max and Liz a little better
because he had experienced it in their connection. ÒIt was a man so deeply in love that heÕs willing to do
anything to save his wife.Ó ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Max went out the front door,
flanked by his guards, including Cuerena.
ÒFollow me,Ó he ordered, Òbut stay back, I donÕt want to hurt you.Ó The guards took a few steps
back and Max threw open his mind, automatically bypassing the energy of the
Granolith because of the warnings he remembered from his other life not to use
it as a weapon. Instead, he
reached for the power he had felt through the Granolith, the overwhelming power
of the planet itself. He had been
wary of it before, but now he allowed it enter him, welcomed it. Max gasped at the amount of energy
rushing through him, and for a moment he thought he might pass out, but his
fury came back full force at the thought of failing Liz and it helped him
control the awesome force. And the thought of Liz was
all it took to burst through the barrier Khivar had placed in her mind and
suddenly they had complete access to one another. Liz are you alright? Max, IÕm so scared, she sobbed through the connection. Khivar threatened to take all of my
memories of you if I didnÕt use my powers to help him. I canÕt bear the thought of losing
everything weÕve had. DonÕt worry, Liz, IÕll
never let that happen, he assured
her. IÕm coming for you now. You tapped into the
planetÕs energy, Liz said. I can feel it. But itÕs too dangerous, Max. I canÕt lose you. You wonÕt. Stay connected to me, let your power
combine with mine and you will help me control the energy. Together we are stronger. Together we can do anything. Max channeled the power into
his shield, raising it around him, a giant green, pulsing ball of energy that
lifted him off the ground and hovered a few feet above the street. And with a thought, he propelled the
ball forward toward the palace and Liz. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Michael sounded the alarm
waking the entire house and quickly told them what had happened. ÒWeÕve got to do anything we can to
help Max.Ó Michael looked at
Kranon. ÒGet that memory about
Nicholas ready to play on all the frequencies you can access, including
KhivarÕs secret ones. Broadcast
that Max is here to take back the planet and anyone interested in helping
should rise up against Khivar.Ó ÒYes Sir,Ó Kranon said. ÒIÕll help with that too,Ó
Alex said. Michael nodded. ÒAnd any orders you intercept from
Khivar to his troops, relay to Toaks, so we can have people in place to counter
them. This time weÕll take his
troops by surprise.Ó Michael turned to
Nedra. ÒYour Highness, you are
known to the people, perhaps you should record the message. Nedra nodded, ÒOf course.Ó Kranon, Nedra and Alex
hurried out of the room and Michael turned to Toaks. ÒGet any troops or allies you can find. Send a group toward the palace and use
the rest to take out KhivarÕs troops in the city.Ó Toaks bowed and hurried off. Michael nodded and turned to
Ryden. ÒItÕs time to get the
Michael worshippers involved. Show
them my memories or whatever it takes, but get them organized and send them
against Khivar.Ó Ryden nodded. ÒYouÕve got it.Ó ÒWhat about us?Ó Maria asked, motioning to herself and
Sean. ÒYou donÕt have powers,Ó
Michael said. ÒIt would be too
dangerous. YouÕre just going to
have to sit this one out, or maybe you can help Alex and Kranon. IÕve got to contact the other planets
to see if they will help.Ó Sean and Maria went in the
direction of the lab with Michael, leaving Kyle alone with Ava. Kyle motioned down the hall
where Sean and Maria had disappeared.
ÒThey may not have powers,Ó he said, as he headed to the front door,
Òbut I do and IÕm going to help get Liz back.Ó Ava hurried after him. ÒSo am I.Ó ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Song Playing: Seven Nation Army by White Stripes Max traveled for almost ten
streets, in the sparse, early morning traffic, before he encountered any of
KhivarÕs troops. They spread out
in a line, with their blasters raised and ordered him to stop, but Max simply
spread out his hands, extending his shield as a solid wall on either side of
his sphere of protection. As he approached them, the
soldiers opened fire, but the shafts of red light simply bounced off his
shield. Some of the soldiers
attempted to run but the others held their ground as Max barreled toward them. His shield made contact with them and
Max could feel each soldierÕs life force and knew he had the power to
extinguish them all. His fury
consumed him and he wanted to crush every one of them, but he held back, only
using enough power to render them unconscious, and moved on. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ (Secret
Headquarters of the Resistance Loyal to the Tageonants) Kranon handed one of the
shape shifter guards a portable camera calibrated to work with their equipment
and sent him after Max. Then he
joined Alex to quickly connect the pendant and the chevron-shaped amplifier
into the broadcasting terminal.
Nedra recorded a message to be played with the memory they had recovered
from Raltos. Nedra finished her message
and turned to Kranon. ÒItÕs done.Ó Kranon nodded. ÒSo is this, your Highness.Ó Nedra raised her head
proudly. This was the day she had
been waiting for. ÒSend it,Ó she
ordered. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ (Royal Palace) Isabel slumped down onto the
sofa with a sigh. She really had
to talk to Khivar about something she could do during the day, when he was
working. She got so board just
wandering around the palace and the grounds. She didnÕt have any friends to do anything with, and because
he was concerned about her safety, Khivar wouldnÕt let her out of the palace
alone. With a wave of her hand,
Isabel turned on the device that resembled a TV. There was some woman talking and Isabel switched it to
another channel only to see the same woman again. Isabel figured it was a commercial and with a touch of
annoyance, flipped to a third channel but the woman was there again. Isabel sat forward looking
at her for the first time and was shocked to recognize her mother. She quickly turned up the sound to hear
what her mother was saying. Again I repeat, my son,
the reborn Zantor Tageonant and his wife Avalynd, the true King and Queen of
Antar have returned to take back the planet. They call for any who oppose KhivarÕs tyranny to come
forward and join in the fight to overthrow him. ÒMax!Ó Isabel gasped. ÒMax and Liz are on Antar!Ó ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Nicaron rushed into KhivarÕs
office where he was doing some paperwork and bowed formally. ÒYour Majesty, the Tageonants are
broadcasting a message that says Max has returned to take back the planet and
calls for the rebels to come forward to oppose you.Ó ÒWhat?Ó Khivar asked
incredulously. ÒWe also have reports of a
man floating down the main thoroughfare in a glowing green sphere, taking out
all of the troops he comes in contact with.Ó ÒMax!Ó Khivar growled. ÒThe message also contains a
memory recovered from Corporal Raltos, who you used on Earth as a
communicator. It shows a
conversation we had where I revealed that I was a shape shifter. Some of the troop commanders are
reporting rebellion in the ranks and even some blatant mutiny.Ó ÒRaltos,Ó Khivar said. ÒHow would theyÉÓ he trailed off as
realization struck. ÒRaltos must
have been on the ship when Max commandeered it.Ó ÒSend an order that any
mutineers will be shot on the spot and for all troops to hold their ground
against the pretender claiming to be Zan Tageonant. Activate all of the troops and reinforce the guard around
the palace.Ó ÒYes, Sir,Ó Nicaron said,
the light of battle lighting his eyes.
He quickly sent the orders and turned back to Khivar, who had a
thoughtful look on his face. ÒMax
has been on the planet a long time, I wonder why he acted today?Ó ÒI threatened her and
somehow he knew,Ó Khivar said with a touch of awe in his voice. ÒWhat?Ó Nicaron asked. ÒWho are you talking about, Sir?Ó Khivar focused on
Nicaron. ÒI threatened Liz, and
even though their connection is blocked, somehow Max must have known. He is coming for her.Ó Nicaron nodded. ÒThen IÕll be waiting when he gets
here.Ó ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Kyle and Ava ran along with
MaxÕs guards, who trailed behind him, mopping up any of KhivarÕs troops that he
had missed. Kyle grabbed blasters
off the fallen soldiers and he handed one to Ava. It was kind of crazy, Kyle
thought to himself, running down the middle of a deserted street, after a
floating green ball that contained Max.
But for some reason he felt he needed to be there. Ava suddenly tugged at his
sleeve and Kyle turned to where she was pointing. He had been so engrossed in keeping them alive that he
hadnÕt seen the enormous building in the distance. It rose up from the horizon, grey shining towers and spires,
and without anyone to tell him, Kyle knew it was where they were headed, the
palace. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ (Royal Palace) Liz paced back and forth in her room trying to dispel some of her
nervousness. She had a strange
feeling in her stomach that even the usually calming influence of the
connection with Max couldnÕt remove. Liz had never felt so vulnerable, so helpless. She was completely at KhivarÕs mercy
and there was nothing she could do to save herself. Her whole body shook with uncontrollable shivers, fearing
that at any moment Khivar would return and take everything from her before Max
could arrive. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ More people responded to MichaelÕs call for help than he had
anticipated. He sent the majority
of them to the palace but took an elite group of soldiers, who had fought
beside him in his other life, to the main city gate. KhivarÕs soldiers were trying to hold the gate against a group of MaxÕs
supporters attempting to enter the city.
They were so intent on their task that the didnÕt see Michael and his
troops until it was too late. MichaelÕs men quickly overpowered the soldiers guarding the gate
from behind. Several of KhivarÕs
soldiers turned on their comrades when they saw MichaelÕs men and then
surrendered to him. Michael opened the gate personally and greeted Ryden, who was
leading the former Michael worshippers.
ÒGlad you could join the party.Ó Ryden nodded. ÒI
wouldnÕt miss it.Ó He motioned to
the troops behind him. ÒWe have
people all over the planet who are sending in reports of KhivarÕs troops
mutinying and the common people and the nobles joining together to rise up
against Khivar.Ó He handed Michael a small device that resembled a TV. ÒHave you seen the coverage thatÕs
being broadcast?Ó Michael looked at the images on the screen of a glowing green
ball, with someone inside, floating ever closer to the palace. ÒWhat the hell is that?Ó ÒThat is Max,Ó Ryden said.
Michael turned to KhivarÕs men who had surrendered to them. He held up the screen, showing them the
images. ÒGive your oath to follow
Max as your true King, and you will receive a full pardon for supporting the
usurper Khivar.Ó The soldiers readily agreed and with a swipe of his hand, Michael
changed their uniforms from the black of KhivarÕs regime to the deep blue of
the Tageions livery. He motioned
to several of his men. ÒStay here
and keep the gate open to let in any of MaxÕs supporters.Ó Then he turned to the others. ÒLetÕs get to the palace.Ó Ryden motioned
to his transport and he and Michael hurried toward it. ÒWeÕll be there in a few minutes.Ó He climbed behind the controls with
Michael next to him. As they
drove, Ryden switched on the screen to check MaxÕs progress. ÒIÕve never seen or heard of powers
like Max has,Ó Ryden said to Michael.
ÒI certainly wouldnÕt want to make him mad.Ó Michael shook
his head. ÒKhivar already
did.Ó ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ (Royal Palace) Isabel had watched her motherÕs
repeating broadcast several times before she left her rooms to find
Khivar. The message had been
inter-cut with a live broadcast showing Max floating down the street in a green
sphere, obviously created by his shield.
He was headed toward the palace and KhivarÕs troops were crumbling
before him. Liz was nowhere in
sight but on the broadcast Isabel had caught a glimpse of Cuerena, Kyle and
Ava. So it wasnÕt a hoax, Max and
the others were on the planet. Isabel burst into KhivarÕs
huge, ornate office and found him sitting at his desk. ÒMax is on the planet and you didnÕt
tell me?Ó she asked furiously, as she crossed the large room to get to him. Khivar shrugged. ÒMax has few followers. It is only a matter of time until we
destroy him and I wanted to save you the pain of knowing your brother was
really dead.Ó ÒAnd what about the others?Ó
Isabel asked. ÒAre you just going
to kill all of them too?Ó ÒOnly your brother must
die,Ó he said softly. ÒI already
have Liz in my power and the others merely have to give me their oath and I
will spare them.Ó ÒYou have Liz,Ó Isabel said
with a shake of her head, realizing the extent of KhivarÕs lies. She stalked around the desk, stopping
just inches from him. ÒI wonÕt do
it again, Khivar. I wonÕt choose
between you and my family,Ó she said with a finger to his chest. ÒItÕs time for you to choose. You can choose me and do the right
thing, step down and end this war and accept whatever punishment is coming your
way. Or you can choose to continue
with this fight. But if you do, I
wonÕt be with you.Ó Khivar got to his feet with
a growl, taking her in his arms.
ÒI wonÕt give you up and I wonÕt give up the throne.Ó Isabel pushed against his
chest. ÒLet me go, Khivar.Ó ÒOnce your brother is
finally dead, there wonÕt be any more arguments,Ó he said arrogantly. ÒYou and Antar belong to me.Ó He lowered his head and
kissed her roughly, taking possession of her mouth, and against her will Isabel
felt herself respond. She kissed
him hungrily, fearing it would be the last time, and tears of regret welled up
in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. Khivar felt the moisture on
his cheeks and ended the kiss, taking her head gently in his hands and
smoothing away her tears with his thumbs.
ÒDonÕt cry,Ó he whispered.
ÒIt will all be over soon, my love.Ó Suddenly the lights flared,
blinking brightly a few times, before they extinguished completely, and only
the light of the emergency back-up system illuminated the room. Isabel gazed up at KhivarÕs
handsome face, bathed in the soft yellow glow. ÒYouÕre right,Ó she said softly,
Òit will all be over soon.Ó Max had arrived. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The legions of guards around
the palace were merely a minor annoyance for Max and they fell before him like
the others, but the shield protecting the palace caused him to stop. Max remembered in his other
life how he had desperately used his powers to reinforce the shield to keep
KhivarÕs forces out of the palace.
But today, he felt none of that fear or desperation, only a certain
knowledge that he would get to Liz. He reached through his
protective shield and placed a hand on the palace shield, and using only a
fraction of his newfound energy, he overloaded and then disabled the power
throughout the palace. He made a
hole in the wall and floated through the grounds and up the ornate
staircase. With a negligent wave
of his hand, Max threw open the heavy palace doors and continued inside. IÕm here, he sent to Liz, even though through the connection
she already knew. It was more to
reassure her than anything because he could still feel her fear and her
trembling body as if he were holding her.
Briefly he let their souls touch to calm her. Only a few minutes longer, my love. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ After Max went through the palace gates, KhivarÕs guards started
to mount a defense, and by the time Kyle and Ava arrived with the shape
shifters, there was no entrance. The shape shifters joined the battle with KhivarÕs troops and Ava
and Kyle took up positions with them.
For several minutes the two groups traded shots through the main gate
but they werenÕt making progress fast enough for Kyle. For some reason he had a sense of
urgency and he turned to Ava.
ÒThereÕs a big hole in the wall at the side of the gate. Can you use your powers to hide us from
KhivarÕs men while we sneak in there?Ó Ava nodded and started the mind warp and the two of them skirted
the line of fire and walked right past KhivarÕs men at the gate. They hurried across the stark front
garden and up the grand steps, into the broken doors of the palace. Once they were inside they ducked into a hallway and when they saw
it was empty, Ava dropped her mind warp. Kyle looked around for more troops but there was no one in any of
the hallways he could see. The
palace seemed to be deserted. They
hurried down the hallway, to the end, and peered around the corner, again
seeing no one. ÒI think we should
go this way. I can feel Liz,
through the connection I guess, and I think sheÕs down here.Ó Ava nodded. ÒOkay,
you lead the way.Ó They ran through several more hallways and with each passing
minute, KyleÕs sense of Liz grew stronger. He stopped at the next corner. ÒI donÕt think itÕs too much farther now,Ó he said turning
to Ava. But the hallway behind him
was empty. Ava was gone. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Song Playing: The Dolphin's Cry by Live Finally Max arrived outside
the door where Liz was being held.
IÕm here, he told Liz
unnecessarily. How are you going to get
the door open? Liz asked. There is some kind of code on the
lock. Get away from the door, Max said.
Take cover. Liz got behind the sofa
and when she was safe, Max used his shield like a battering ram, slamming it
repeatedly into the door. The whole room shook with
each blow, but after a few minutes, the door was knocked from the frame and
fell onto the floor. A cloud of
dust filled the dark room and Max moved slowly forward through the door. He couldnÕt see anything but he knew
Liz was there. As the dust slowly
settled, he watched Liz rise from behind the sofa, bathed in the soft green
light cast by his shield, the only light in the room. She was coated with dust and her hair was sticking out at
strange angles but he thought she had never looked more beautiful. For long moments they simply
stood looking at one another and then Liz ran to him. MaxÕs shield parted automatically to allow her to enter and
closed behind her, sealing them inside. They instantly opened the
connection between them as Max gathered Liz into his embrace and she threw her
arms around him. YouÕre safe now, Max assured her through their bond. I would never let anything happen to
you. I know, Liz said.
I was just so sacred, but I shouldnÕt have doubted you. I should have known you would find a
way. I couldnÕt save us in
our last life, Max said sadly, but
there was no way I was going to lose you again in this one. You fill up so much of my heart that
there would be nothing left if you were gone. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ One of the hallways she and
Kyle had passed looked familiar to Ava, and as Kyle went on ahead, she had gone
back to check it out. She hurried
down the corridor and turned into another. And a flash of memory stopped her in front of one of the
doors. Without opening the door Ava
knew what the rooms inside looked like.
She had been inside many times and she had a warm, comforting feeling
associated with the rooms, almost like home. Ava pushed open the door and
went inside. The room looked
exactly like she remembered, the colors, the furniture, the accessories, down
to the last detail. She crossed to
the window and looked down into the garden as she expected. ÒTess?Ó a soft voice asked
from an adjoining doorway. Ava spun around, surprised
by the intrusion. ÒYouÕre not Tess,Ó the lady
said. Ava shook her head,
surprised that the ladyÕs face brought a flash of instant recognition. ÒUdac!Ó she squealed and launched
herself across the room, into the shape shifterÕs arms. Udac hugged her back. ÒChanya, my beloved Chanya.Ó Ava pulled back to look at
the older woman. ÒMy name is Ava
now.Ó ÒLike the former Queen,Ó
Udac said. ÒBecause thatÕs who everyone
thought I was. ThatÕs who I
thought I was until a few months ago.Ó Udac nodded. ÒThat was your plan. You replaced the QueenÕs genetic
material with your own to be sent to Earth.Ó ÒI donÕt remember,Ó Ava
said. ÒAnd I donÕtÕ want to. Chanya wasnÕt a good person and I donÕt
want to be her. I donÕt want to be
anything like her or Tess. She
betrayed her friends and worked with Khivar to get what she wanted, just like
Chanya.Ó Udac nodded. ÒAnd now sheÕs using her son to bargain
with Khivar. I warned her to be
careful but she doesnÕt remember me, doesnÕt trust me.Ó Ava took UdacÕs hand. ÒI remember you and I love you. Come with me, Udac.Ó Udac squeezed her hand and
smiled. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Tess had watched the footage
being broadcast of MaxÕs progress toward the palace with great interest. She knew he was coming to rescue Liz
and it would give her a perfect opportunity. And when she saw Max reach
the palace gates, the power had gone out, and Tess knew that it was time. She used a swipe of her hand
to change her outfit and fix her makeup and then she went into the other room
to get the baby. Tess hurried with
her son, down the corridors to the room where Liz was being held. The door into the secret
part of the palace had been ripped off its hinges and the guards were lying on
the floor next to it. Tess stepped
carefully over the debris and hurried down the hall just in time to see a large
glowing sphere, emerge from what was left of the doorway of the room where Liz
had been held. Max and Liz were
inside the hovering sphere, and it stopped when they saw her. Tess took a few steps
forward, holding the baby out.
ÒMax, do you want to meet your son?Ó The green sphere lowered to
the floor and it dissolved into nothing.
Max glanced at Liz and she nodded and he walked forward a few
steps. He couldnÕt take his eyes
off the small blond-haired, blue-eyed boy. ÒWhat did you name him?Ó Max asked softly. Tess smiled. ÒHis name is Zantas, after your
ancestor, the first King of Antar.Ó
She took a few steps closer.
ÒWeÕre finally all together.
We can be a family now, just like we wanted, and everything will be
perfect.Ó ÒCan I hold him?Ó Max asked. ÒOf course,Ó Tess said. ÒHe is your son.Ó Max looked at her for the
first time and reached for the baby. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Cuerena had seen Ava and
Kyle sneak into the palace and she feared for their safety. Neither of them had experience in
combat. It had taken Cuerena several
anxious minutes to coordinate the other shape shifters into a diversion so she
could sneak inside to find them.
Once she was through the gate Cuerena had taken the appearance of one of
KhivarÕs personal guards to give herself free roam of the palace. And she ran through the halls, doing a
systematic search but curiously found no one. Cuerena had just reached the
corridor where the guest apartments were located, when she heard voices coming
from one of the rooms. She
approached the room slowly, attempting to hear the words. With a hint of confusion
Cuerena realized that two women were talking and suddenly she recognized one of
the voices. She morphed into the
form she usually wore and called out as she entered. ÒAva.Ó The older woman with Ava
stepped in front of her protectively but Cuerena didnÕt recognize her. Ava placed a hand on the older womanÕs
hand. ÒItÕs okay, Udac. She is
Cuerena, one of MaxÕs protectors.Ó Cuerena stepped into the
room and Ava made the introductions.
ÒCuerena, this is Udac, my handmaid and protector.Ó Cuerena nodded. ÒWhere is Kyle?Ó ÒWe got separated,Ó Ava
said. ÒBut he was going to
Liz. He could feel her through
their connection.Ó ÒLiz,Ó Udac asked. ÒWho is that?Ó ÒShe is the true Queen,Ó Ava
said, Òthe reincarnation of Ava.
ItÕs a long story, but Khivar is holding her prisoner in the palace.Ó Udac nodded. ÒI think I know where she is. I followed Tess yesterday, as she
followed General Nicaron. I feared
for her safety and thought I might be able to help but she used her powers to
go into a part of the palace that was highly guarded and I could not
follow. And then a few minutes
later the General escorted her out, neither of them looking pleased. When I asked her about it, she told me
she was mad at the General because he had stopped her from settling an old
score.Ó ÒThat must be Liz,Ó Ava
said. ÒUdac, can you show us
where?Ó Udac nodded. ÒItÕs not far.Ó ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Ryden stopped the transport
near the palace gates and he and Michael jumped out and joined in the
fight. But even with the shield
down, KhivarÕs elite palace guards were successfully holding the gate against
MaxÕs troops. Michael positioned his
troops, using the battle experience from his other life, grimacing at the irony
that now he was breaking into the palace instead of defending it. He called Ryden to him and made a rough
map of the palace and surrounding area, with a swipe of his hand. ÒThere are secret entrances to the
palace, here, here and here,Ó he said, indicating the map. ÒKhivar might not have found all of the
secret passages. Get a couple of
squads together and try to get into the palace and you can take KhivarÕs troops
from behind.Ó Ryden nodded. ÒYouÕve got it, General.Ó He motioned to a few men and they
disappeared into the surrounding buildings. A soft hum of an engine was
followed by a sudden series of explosions among his troops and Michael looked
up into the air to see KhivarÕs air forces circling around for another
strike. ÒTake cover!Ó Michael shouted. As the ships came into range
again, Michael targeted the nearest one with his blaster and fired a series of
shots that bounced off its shield.
Frustrated he dropped the blaster as it passed overhead, and raised his
hand building a tremendous amount of power before aiming it at the ship. The blast hit the ship on
the underside, burning a hole through the shield. A small explosion rocked the ship and it wobbled in the air
for a moment, before diving uncontrollably to the ground and exploding. A cheer went through MaxÕs
troops and Michael raised his hand to fire again but hesitated when he saw two
more squadrons of KhivarÕs ships streaking through the air toward them. Another series of explosions rocked
through MichaelÕs troops as the new ships joined the melee. Michael took aim at another ship but
his shot was wide and he shook his head frustratedly. ÒThis is going to take forever.Ó ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Kyle had looked
for Ava for some time without success but had finally decided to go find Max and
Liz to get their help in locating her.
He followed his
senses toward Liz, moving quickly through the halls until he reached a door
that had been ripped from itÕs hinges, and knew he was on the right track. Kyle continued on, but stopped when he
saw Max with Tess and the baby and Liz standing a little way behind Max. Max had just
taken the child from Tess and he cradled the baby gently in his arms, a bemused
grin lighting his face. Kyle
unexpectedly felt a slash of jealously as he watched the scene before him and
wondered if it was his own, or LizÕs feelings he was picking up on. But before he could decide, Kyle
started to sense that something was terribly wrong. And as Max continued to look at the baby, Kyle saw his smile
slowly fade, as he started shaking his head. Max looked at
Tess. ÒThis isnÕt my son.Ó ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Ryden took fifteen men and
divided them into three groups sending two of them to the secret entrances
Michael had indicated, while leading his own group to the third. There was no one guarding
the entrance and Ryden left his men under cover while he went alone to open the
door. A wave of his hand
illuminated the glowing handprint that activated the door and he pressed his
hand onto it. From inside, a low
click sounded, and the door swung easily open. Ryden glanced quickly inside
but it was too dark to see and he used his powers to make a ball of light and
propelled it inside. Taking
another quick look, Ryden could see that the tunnel had long been unused and he
signed his men to come forward. They moved quickly but
carefully through the passageway, checking for traps or alarms but they found
none, and in only a matter of minutes they reached the door leading into the
palace. Ryden disarmed the hidden
alarm, as Michael had showed him, and pushed open the heavy door. They emerged from the dark
tunnel into a dimly lit hallway in the palace, and Ryden relaxed when they
found it empty. But his moment of relaxation
was short-lived as a familiar voice greeted them. ÒHow nice to see you again,
Ryden,Ó Rath said. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Captain Naire
rushed into KhivarÕs office but stopped when he saw Khivar and his fiancŽe in
an embrace. ÒExcuse me, your
Majesty,Ó he apologized, dropping to his knees. Khivar kept one
arm around Isabel but turned to the Captain. ÒWhat is it?Ó he bellowed across the room. Naire glanced at
Isabel and then rose and hurried to stand before KhivarÕs desk to make his
report. ÒThe gate shield is down
and the man claiming to be the former King has entered the palace.Ó Khivar
nodded. ÒI know.Ó ÒBut your
Majesty,Ó Naire continued, Òwe are unable to find General Nicaron and the
rebels are gaining ground. There
are reports from all over Antar that the people are rising up against you.Ó Khivar put Isabel
aside and with a growl, turned to the communications panel and started to
manipulate the controls. Naire followed
him, passing close to Isabel and at the last moment he reached out, pricking
her with a needle he had concealed in his hand. Isabel barely had time to realize what had happened before
she slid to the ground, completely paralyzed. But she could
still see what was happening and watched in horror as Naire steadily approached
Khivar from behind, with a large dagger in his hand. Khivar barked orders into the communicator, oblivious to
what was happening and Isabel struggled to warn him. Naire raised the
dagger and plunged in downward into KhivarÕs back, but at the last moment, his
arm stopped. NaireÕs surprise was
evident, as he struggled against the force holding him in place, but as Khivar
turned toward him, his surprise turned to horror. Khivar causally
reached out and took the dagger from the CaptainÕs hand. ÒI have suspected for some time that
there was a Tageonant spy in our midst but I had ruled you out,Ó he said with a
shrug. Then he turned the dagger
and with a flip of his hand sent it through the air and embedded it deep into
NaireÕs chest. Khivar didnÕt
even wait for the Captain to hit the ground before turning his back on him and
going to Isabel. ÒDonÕt worry, it
is only a paralyzing agent.Ó He
laid his hands on her and pushed his power into her and suddenly IsabelÕs
muscles eased and she could move again. She wrapped her
arms around him and he lifted her to her feet. ÒHow did you know he wanted to kill you?Ó she asked. Khivar motioned
to a small device near his ear. ÒI
am in constant communication with my commanders. Everything he said was lies, designed to throw me off guard. And just to be sure, I turned my back
to give him an opportunity.Ó Isabel shook her
head. ÒAnd how did you know he
wouldnÕt kill me too?Ó ÒHe was your
brotherÕs spy,Ó Khivar said. ÒHe
wouldnÕt have harmed you.Ó She looked past
him to where the Captain was laying.
ÒIs he dead?Ó ÒOf course,Ó
Khivar said. ÒIt was a poisoned
dagger. He would have killed me if
he could.Ó ÒI canÕt believe
I nearly lost you,Ó Isabel said, wrapping her arms tightly around him, Ònot
like that. She shook her
head. ÒThis is crazy, Khivar, a
war, spies, assassination attempts, a rebel uprising. YouÕve got the power to stop it all now.Ó ÒEven If I
wanted to stop it, I donÕt think I could,Ó Khivar said. ÒYour brother has seen to that. His troops at the palace gate led by
Michael, will soon be wiped out.
Kathana is sending reinforcements to help crush the peopleÕs
rebellion. Rath and his men are
waiting for the soldiers Michael sent through the tunnels, and Nicaron is
dealing with Max.Ó Isabel shook her
head, struggling against him.
ÒIÕve got to go. IÕve got to
warn them, help them.Ó ÒItÕs too late
for that,Ó Khivar said softly, as he kept a firm grip on her. ÒYou donÕt remember, but that is how I
lost you last time. It is too
dangerous for you to be in the hallways.
You might be accidentally killed by either side.Ó He motioned with his hand, closing the
door and the lock clicked shut automatically. ÒI wonÕt let you out of my sight this time. ÒSo youÕre just
locking us in here?Ó She asked incredulously. ÒAs the planet is falling apart around us?Ó ÒLike your Earth
saying,Ó Khivar nodded, Òas Rome burns.Ó
He reached up to touch her face.
ÒToday we will finally have an end to this, one way or another.Ó ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Another and another squadron of KhivarÕs ships joined the battle
and MichaelÕs troops were being rapidly defeated. He was taking out as many of the ships as he could, but the
constant use of his powers was exhausting him and there seemed to be a
never-ending supply of ships and troops.
KhivarÕs forces had outflanked them and now they were pinned down on two
sides and from the air. Michael shook his head, they needed reinforcements badly or this
battle would be over, practically before it had started. The part of him that remembered his
past life, didnÕt mind dying in the service of his King, but the part of him
that was Michael, didnÕt want to leave Maria. And he didnÕt want to disappoint Max either. Max was depending on him and he just
had to hold on a little longer until reinforcements arrived. Ryden had said that more former Michael
worshippers were coming and he had ordered them to go straight to the palace. Michael suddenly heard a sound he didnÕt recognize, a low hum of
many engines, and he looked down the road, hoping the reinforcements had
finally arrived, but he was disappointed to see nothing. He looked around puzzled, for a minute
until he realized the hum was coming from above. With a gasp of dismay, Michael watched as several more squadrons
of ships approached. He shook his
head, there had to be more than a hundred. ÒIt will take a miracle to save us now,Ó he said
softly. ÒIÕm sorry Maria.Ó ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ When he heard
RathÕs voice, Ryden yelled, ÒScatter.Ó But with a swipe
of his hand, Rath threw the five of them against the wall, instantly killing
RydenÕs men. RydenÕs blaster
flew out of his grasp when he hit the wall and for a moment he was
stunned. He raised his hand,
aiming at Rath, but nothing happened.
Rath held up a
chevron-shaped amplifier. ÒWorking
with the skins for so long, IÕm sure you know what this is and what it does. Ryden nodded. ÒOf
course. YouÕve blocked my
powers.Ó He looked around at the dead men littering the floor,
four of his own and another half dozen who were wearing KhivarÕs livery who he
assumed had been with Rath. ÒWhat
about these guys?Ó Rath
shrugged. ÔThey would have gotten
in the way of our conversation.Ó ÒWhat conversation?Ó Ryden
asked. ÒYou know,
instead of fighting each other, we could work together,Ó Rath said
smoothly. ÒI know your group has
been working to put Rath on the throne.
Well guess what? I am
Rath.Ó RydenÕs eyes
narrowed suspiciously. ÒHow do you
know about that?Ó Rath shook his
head. ÒYou really should be more
careful when you are having private conversations. Anyone could be listening. I learned about that remarkable power of yours the same
way. All of MaxÕs people talk way
too much.Ó He shrugged. ÒI figure after today, Max and Michael
will be dead, so that only leaves Khivar between me and the throne. And I will have the former Queen, Liz
on one side, and the Princess Isabel on the other.Ó ÒYou want me to
get my people to support you,Ó Ryden said. ÒWith your help
it would be a simple matter to eliminate Khivar and then I would be in a
position to reward all of those who supported me.Ó Ryden
nodded and sat up straighter.
ÒMaybe we can make a deal.Ó ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ TBC
|
BOOK 12 - DESTINY DERIVED Part 7 Book 12 Main Book 12 Timeline | |||||
Alpha & Omega Main | ![]() |
Back to Main
|
Contact
|
| |