Heaven Saga 2: Sands of Aquarius (25 page)

“What
others?”
Valis asked.

“As
you can see, I’m the only one of the three wise ones here at the moment,” Myden
answered. “There are two others who may show themselves as of yet.”

Before
them a vortex started to clear away a path, seeming to go on for eternity.

Myden
pointed to the path. “Now go Brian, and see why you’re coming wasn’t by chance.”

Brian
started down the path tentatively before looking back at the whole group. “I’ll
be back in a little while,” he said as the vortex disappeared around him.

“Why
can only he go?”
Kivi asked.

“Worry
not Maiden of War. If he should die in battle or elsewhere it will likely fall
next to you,”
Myden turned to Seles, “Or maybe you Lady Seles.”

“What
do you mean by that?”
Valis asked.

Myden
closed his eyes. “Should the Warrior fall another must take his place. If no
Terran is present then it naturally falls to a Kalaidian, and Commander Kivi or
Lady Seles have the proper qualifications. The message the Teacher left to us
was the path to eternal happiness.”

“How
is that possible?”
Celestia asked.

“Unification,”
Valis said. “The
only way I can think of is for the Confederation of Alden to unify, thus ending
disputes between peoples.”

“That’s
part of it Lady Valis.”
Myden paced about in a circle around the group. “The other goals are prosperity
for everyone and demilitarization. We’re entering stage five of the Teacher’s
original plan, the creation of the Degan State.”

* * *

As
Brian walked forward through the strange ocean the sea began to get darker and
darker around him. Suddenly, a bright orb floated towards him. As the orb
closed he saw images of Earth, Kalaidia, Shandi, and Malcov. He reached his
hand up to block the light.

“I
have waited for so long,”
said a strange voice from the orb.

“Who
are you?”
Brian asked.

The
orb shifted into the rough outline of a man. “I’m the one who’s carried the
burden of light for so long, the remaining thoughts of the Teacher. I know what
his wishes for us all were. And now…” The glowing image moved forward and
embraced Brian tightly, “It’s time to pass on the knowledge I carry to you.
When the time comes you’ll do the same for the Goddess, the lady who’ll open
the path to Eden once and for all.”

* * *

“What
is happening to them?” Trai Gor asked.

Shiken
looked closely at Brian and Mira. “Other than their eyes it appears nothing.”

“Are
they communing with the spirit of the Teacher?” Miv Daek asked.

Shiken
shook Brian violently and noticed the blue glow turning red. After a moment
Brian began convulsing and fell to the floor unconscious. Mira fell to the
floor asleep a moment later.  After a minute she sat up and rubbed her eyes.

“Where
am I?” she asked weakly before looking over at Brian. “Brian!” She shouted as
she moved over to wake him up. Another minute passed before Brian began to wake.

“What
happened?” he asked, looking at everyone as he stood up.

“You
and Mira stood still and gazed at the statue as your eyes glowed blue,” Shiken
said.

“I
remember seeing a lot of others, like Seles, Valis, Kivi, and a few more,” Mira
said. She turned to the statue.

“What
did you see Brian?” Shiken asked.

“I
remember a bright light, a strange voice, and meeting the others like Mira
said. What the voice told me I can’t recall, but I know it was something
important.” Brian turned to the other Shandi nobles. “I can’t give you the
answer you seek. But I can offer you this.” He dropped his
rakna
blade
to the ground and deactivated his armor before walking forward, kneeling on one
knee. He bowed his head. “If you truly believe I’m a threat, then I give you
this.”

“You’re
offering us your life?” Trai Gor asked.

“Even
if I die another will take my place,” Brian said. “Each being is special,
unique, but none of us are irreplaceable. The one you seek, the Knight of
Aquarius could be I or anyone else capable of leading your people into the new
era.”

Miv
Daek drew her sword. “You’ve bled with our kind and are the brother of Shiken
Ka. Even if I should be proven wrong in the end I choose to believe in you
Brian Peterson.” Miv placed her sword on the ground and joined Shiken.

Trai
Gor smiled. “For a hundred years our kind has warred with the people of Kali,”
he looked at Mira, “I believe it’s time we finally end it. Brian may not be the
knight you spoke of but I can see he has a power we thought impossible.” Trai
Gor threw his sword to the ground. “Your power is the ability to bring others
together.” Trai Gor moved behind Brian and turned to the five others. “Choose
what path you may my friends but I choose the path of peace. I’ve lived a long
life and all I’ve seen is sorrow, bitterness, and hatred. It’s time we end it.”

The
others nodded and one by one each did the same, surrendering their blade and
moving behind Brian.

The
combined fleets of Malcovin and Ick-Tckt surrounded a Kalaidian asteroid base
orbiting Dega Six. Dreka stood by in his Talon. Waiting for the order to launch
the black bird closed his eyes, thinking.
What the hell was that place? And
why did I see those Kalaidians and that strange being? And why did I hear
grandfather’s voice telling me to follow him?
He opened his eyes and looked
angrily at the monitor. He banged his fist against the arm of the chair.

“I’ll
never trust a thief like that Terran,” he said.

Captain
Riga appeared on his monitor. “Is everything ready to go Dreka?”

“Yes
captain,” he answered. He activated his com between Talons. “Alright men, it’s
time to get going.”

“Take
formation Z-11,” Riga commanded.

“Looks
like you’re really relying on me,” Dreka said sarcastically.

“Our
enemy is outnumbered four to one. I’m counting on you because if we don’t beat
them quickly.”

“I
understand,” Dreka said. He flew his Talon outside and took formation with the
other Talons and Claws. They moved into a cone shaped formation with his suit
at the tip. Flipping the switch to go to full power, Dreka’s mobile suit gave
off an eerie red glow. A mass of Novaguards and a quartet of Avoni class ships
launched from the base. With a blazing charge Dreka’s Talon cut down six
Novaguards in an instant.

“The
rest of you work on the smaller ships, I’m going after the base itself,” Dreka
commanded. He flew past the other ships as he charged the main dock while
cutting down Novaguards with ease. Behind Dreka the heavier ships started
exchanging fire. Pulling out the pulse rifle, he aimed at the dock entrance and
shot a beam of red energy, smashing through everything. Flying the Talon in
quickly, Dreka aimed the rifle and fired in every direction, blasting the base
apart from the inside. Looking to his side, he saw two of the Kalaidian ships
explode. Over the com came a message of surrender. The Kalaidians stopped
firing. As Dreka flew back to his ship he noticed the Ick-Tckt open fire on
those surrendering.

“No!”
Dreka shouted. He turned his Talon to intercept the incoming Ick-Tckt forces.
“I will not be a part of something so cruel!” He aimed his weapon at the front
Jckta class ship. A number of Talons closed in to restrain him.

“What
are you doing!?” Dreka shouted. “This isn’t war, its murder!”

Riga
appeared on Dreka’s monitor. “I’m sorry, but our orders are to eliminate all
our enemies. The Duchess ordered no surrender and no mercy.”

“I
don’t care what her orders were,” Dreka said before his eyes starting glowing
blue. “All I know is this isn’t justice.” He turned off Riga and opened a com
line with the Ick-Tckt. With a motion swifter than the eye could see the
birdman freed his mobile suit and flew towards the Ick-Tckt ship. With a single
shot he blasted the shields off the front ship and damaged its weapons system.
“Are you listening to me now? The Kein forces have surrendered and under
interstellar law what you are engaging in is unlawful mass murder. Should you
fire upon another Kalaidian that’s surrendered I will consider you my enemy.” The
Ick-Tckt stopped firing. Dreka turned his Talon back towards his ship. “Please
take on all the Kalaidian prisoners; I don’t trust those vicious bugs.”

* * *

After
Mjolnir landed on the Avoni Brian and Mira took the elevator cord down once
more. They noticed the Phase Raknas were almost finished. Jesela and Daes,
along with all the other engineers were hard at work on both the interiors and
exteriors of the mobile suits. They left the cargo bay and quickly made their
way towards the bridge.

“What
happened to us?” Mira asked.

“I’m
not sure,” Brian said as the door opened to the bridge of the Avoni. In a
circle at the bottom of the bridge stood Valis, along with Kivi, Seles, Baed,
Zae, and Celi.

“Brian,
what happened on Shandi Prime?” Valis asked.

“Yes,
please tell us,” Kivi and the others echoed.

“What
did you see at the end of the path?” Seles asked.

“To
be honest I don’t remember that part,” he answered. “The only thing I know is
the ancient ruins are what caused this.”

“What
sort of ruins?” Valis asked.

Brian
stood in thought for a moment. “Shiken Ka spoke of a sealed ancient temple he
got lost inside of when he was young. There were pictures of archaic Shandi
culture, but what was most amazing was the area inside the innermost parts of
the temple.”

“What
was there?” Valis asked.

Mira
stepped in. “Shiken Ka brought us inside of a large chamber and at center of it
was an accurate statue of Brian, left behind with a message about the Teacher.
When Brian and I touched the statue our eyes began glowing.”

“The
same thing happened to all of us,” Kivi said.

“But
how is that possible?” Zae asked. “We were separated by light years.”

“If
what Myden said was true then distance wouldn’t matter in that place,” Baed
said.

“I
wish there was more that I could tell all of you, but I honestly don’t recall
what happened after I went down that strange path,” Brian said.

“I
believe you,” Valis said. “It may take us awhile to figure out what happened,
but for now we can worry about it later.”

“Agreed,”
Kivi said.

“Agreed,”
the others said.

Seles
walked over to Brian. “Is everything alright?”

“Do
you mean me, or what’s happening right now?” he asked.

“You,”
she said before closing her eyes and sighing with frustration.

“We
should talk in my quarters,” Brian said.

When
they went for the elevator a panicked image of Veda Kein appeared on the main
monitor.

“Valis!”
she shouted. “Our base at Dega Six has fallen.”

“Are
you sure?” Valis asked.

“Yes.
It fell in less than an hour,” Veda said.

“How
could they have done that in less than an hour?” she asked as she turned to
Brian.

“It
means Dreka’s with them.” Brian looked at Seles, “Let’s get everything ready
with our mobile suits.

“Yes,”
Seles answered as they ran into the elevator.

“What
did he mean?” Veda asked.

“How
long will it be before Shiken Ka and his allies arrive?” Veda asked.

“Tomorrow,”
Valis answered. “I’ll begin planning the mission immediately. Even with this
alliance our forces are outnumbered.”

“I
trust you with this Valis,” Veda said before ending the message.

“The
start of another war,” Valis said. “When will fighting like this ever end?”

“When
the last enemy is dead,” Kivi answered grimly. “Or when everyone realizes how
wasteful and stupid war really is.”

Seles
sat in the cockpit of her Zero.

“Is
everything working properly?” Brian asked over the com.

“Everything’s
green,” she said after checking the diagnostics, “How about yours Brian?”

They
gravity jumped to Dega Six a few moments later and turned the phase cloaks on
afterwards. They headed in the direction of the asteroid now conquered by the
forces of the Duchess.

“Do
you think it was a wise decision for Valis to send us both out for this?” Seles
asked.

“She
sent both of us in case the enemy forces were weak. If that’s the situation
we’re to strike them down ourselves,” Brian said. A strange smile crossed his
face. A light began flashing on each of their monitors.  “Looks like a distress
signal.”