Warlords Saga Read online

  Tall, lanky, thirty-five-year old Race Jennings was used to being on top of the world. He remained friends with Jed, even after he had washed out of the military academy. One night with a forgotten hottie and a line of cocaine was all that was needed to ruin his military aspirations. Luck would have it he was randomly selected for a drug screening the next morning, and that did it. The military wasn’t going to turn a blind eye to this, and he was lucky they didn’t insist on jail time. He had his run-in’s in the past, but never with drugs. This time, the military was not forgiving.

  The blond, blue eyed consultant was a real ladies man. He worked hard to keep his arms as muscle-bound as he could, but even after all his training, Captain Fit was stronger and outweighed him by fifty pounds.

  Turning to serve the scrambled eggs on two plates, he dashed a glance toward Jed. “Captain...Admiral Gilmore contacted me late last night. It was after that crazy news story about aliens making contact with Earth,” Race half laughed, “You don’t really believe that do you?”

  “I’m sorry, what?” Jed asked, his brain still throbbing from the whiskey.

  “The aliens? Do you believe the stories, or do you think it’s all a hoax?”

  “It’s a hoax! A bad nightmare, already!”

  “Well, they’re all talking about it on the morning shows. What’s just weird is that all the stations are giving so much time to this story. What they won’t do for ratings these days.”

  “I know, right? What a waste of time.”

  Jed picked up his plate, grabbed a cup of coffee before the pot finished brewing, and sat at his table.

  Race quickly joined him, handed him a fork and a paper towel for a napkin, “Still,” he turned, noticing two bullet holes in his wall, “Hey! When did you shoot your wall?”

  “Come again?”

  “The wall,” Race pointed, “Right there,” shaking his head, then he turned to address Jed directly, “I’m pretty sure those weren’t there the last time I was here.”

  Jed looked around Race and shrugged.

  “What? What was that shrug about! Come on, man. Tell me already? What’s going on?”

  “I thought it was a bad dream.”

  “Wait...wait a minute, you’re not saying...”

  “...It’s true.”

  “It’s true?! What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “It wasn’t a dream, Race.”

  “Come on,” Race said, leaning away from Jed, “Quit messin’ around, you’re starting to freak me out.”

  “I had a visitor last night.”

  “Not funny, man...”

  “Race, you and I go way back. Farther back than even the academy.”

  “Since high school, for cryin’ out loud! So stop it already.”

  “I shot my gun at a man I thought was an intruder. Turns out, he wasn’t really here, but in my head.”

  “Hey, that’s exactly what they’re saying on the news too! You’re serious, aren’t you?”

  “Yep. I wish I was kidding around,” Jed said, wiping any smile he may have had on his face.

  “Well?” Race asked, picking at the eggs on the plate, “What else did he tell you?”

  “He said a star exploded over six hundred years ago. He was telling me these things, apparently in my mind, just before the star’s light illuminated the night sky.”

  “Oh man,” Race exclaimed with wonder, “That must have been so freakin’ weird.”

  “To say the least.”

  “Ohhh, I get it...you got me, Cap’n’,” Race cocked his head and pointed at Jed, “Good one.”

  “Race, I’m not kidding. It’s all coming back to me now. He also told me that there’s these other people.”

  “Oh, this is just getting better and better, Cap’,” Race said, slapping his knee. “Not only is there one alien creature, there’s more? Keep going, this is only going to get...”

  Jeb dropped his fork and grabbed Race’s wrist, “I’m not kidding!” he slowly let go and picked his fork off the table. “Now that this star’s light has reached Earth, these others, the ‘not so friendly’ ones, have a way to find us.”

  Race, beginning to see the Captain was serious, sat his plate off to one side, “Who are these others, these ‘not so friendlies’, anyway?”

  “Malcom. That’s what he said his name was, or that’s how we’d understand his name, anyway, he told me the bad guys are from the star Antares. They call themselves the Warlords.”

  “Uhh, Cap’n’, I’m getting a bad feeling. You’re making my hair stand on end.”

  “From what he says, these Warlords find and conquer less capable races.”

  “So, this Malcom, he’s telling us that they’re coming?”

  “He didn’t say they were on their way. What he did say, was that it’s only a matter of time before they discover this new conduit that was created by the Betelgeuse supernova.”

  “You can’t make this stuff up, Cap’n’. So why is he now talking to us about them? Why’d they wait? We could have been told a little sooner, you know!”

  “They must have had reasons.” Jed thought for a moment, “Yeah, he said they waited for two reasons. We would ask for proof; that was the light from the star. He also said we needed to reach a certain technological state.”

  “Did he happen to mention if we had reached that state?”

  “No, he never said that. But he did say he was here to help us.”

  “How can he help?”

  “I don’t know,” Jed answered. He finished his eggs, and picked up his coffee, “But I suppose that’s what we’re going to find out from Admiral Gilmore.”

  “Right, Admiral Gilmore!” Race checked his watch, “Oh crap! We’re going to be late if we don’t get on the road soon.”

  “I know, traffic’s a bitch these days. Too bad they can’t help us with that.”

  “Who knows,” Race smirked, “Maybe they can.”

  Race took the dishes and tossed them into the sink, turned on the faucet and ran some water over them, “You ready, Cap’n’?”

  “Gotta pee first.”

  Race shook his head as he made a show of looking at his watch, “I don’t know, Cap’n’.”

  “Can it, Race,” Jed grinned. He reached inside his pocket and tossed him some keys, “You’re driving.”

  Grabbing the keys in midair, Race turned for the exit, “You’re letting me drive the ‘stang’? Wow, not a problem, I’ll go warm her up.”

  Jed nodded, and then turned for the bathroom, “I’ll be right down.”

  “You got it Cap’n’.”

  Race got off the elevator at the parking level and nearly ran to unlock Jed’s prize 2010 Red Mustang GT. He anxiously opened the door and slid into the driver’s seat. “Oh man! It’s like sitting in a fighter’s cockpit! This is such a GOOD day!”

  Turning the key in the ignition unleashed the roar of the 380 horsepower engine from the dual exhausts. This car was designed for speed, and Race loved to go fast.

  A few minutes went by before Jed opened the passenger side door and got in. Race was ready to head out.

  “We’re lucky you live so close to the Base, Cap’.”

  Jed fastened his seatbelt, “Yeah, I’m a real lucky pup. Now just get us to the Base....and wipe that grin off your face!”

  “What?”

  “You know.”

  “Okay-okay, you can trust me with your baby.”

  “Yeah. Right. I must be crazy.”

  “I’m right there with ya, Cap’n’,” Race smiled. He shifted into reverse, let the clutch out, and backed up. He slid the shifter into first, turned the wheel toward the exit, let out the clutch again and squealed the tires, “I hate these parking garages.”

  “Just drive, already.”

  Race followed the route up several floors, making him dizzy from circling around and around to each level, “I’ll be glad to get us out of here.”

  “Yeah. Me too.”

  “Oh, hey, how’s the head?”r />
  “Still reeling.”

  “Well, you shouldn’t have taken so many shots, my friend.”

  “Yeah, now he reminds me...thanks.”

  Race pulled out of the garage and accelerated onto the parkway, beeping the car’s horn as he cut off several cars in an attempt at getting ahead of the rush.

  “Hey-hey-hey,” Jed exclaimed, grabbing his arm rest, “Easy does it now, she’s not paid for yet!”

  “Relax!” Race snickered, “I won’t hurt her.”

  “You better not!”

  “So, can I ask you somethin’?”

  “Sure, Race.”

  “Why’d you take a drink?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Come on, man. It’s Race you’re talkin’ to. Your main man over here.”

  Race down-shifted and gunned the engine, swerving around a couple of cars who didn’t hesitate to blear their horns in return.

  Jed ducked to the right as the car zigged left around another car, “WOW! That’s a little close, slow it down already!”

  “Did I say it’s ol’ Race here you’re talkin’ to? I got this. ‘Sides,” Race dropped the Mustang into high gear, threading the car like a madman through the morning traffic on the parkway, “Someone’s got to get us there on time.”

  “...and in one piece, please,” Jed added, with a look of panic.

  “You never answered my question, Cap’n’. Why this year? What was different?”

  “I said, I don’t know!” Jed snapped, “Sorry...this whole ‘alien’ thing’s made me a little edgy.”

  “A little?”

  “I said I was sorry, already.”

  “So?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it was intuition that the aliens were coming?”

  “It’s just weird that you took a drink five years after, AND, it’s the night the aliens show up.”

  “Yeah, real strange.”

  “Well, maybe this hangover will remind you next time.”

  “I won’t have a headache next time...and wait a minute! There’s not going to be any ‘next time,’ that’s for certain,” Jed answered, holding his head.

  “Does it hurt that bad, Cap’n’?”

  “Yes! But not from the whiskey, it’s your driving! You’re going to miss our exit!”

  “No, I’m not,” Race swerved right, cutting off more cars. This time, he held his horn button down.

  Veering off the NASA Parkway, they headed over the bridge. Soon they turned up the street to the John F. Kennedy Space Center.

  “Home sweet home!” Race exclaimed.

  “Oh boy, I can hardly wait.”

  “Relax already!”

  “The gate’s coming up...slow it...slow down!”

  Race screeched to a halt and rolled down his window to greet the man, motioning with his hand, “Good morning, Sirs...oh, Hi Captain Fitz. Who’s your buddy? And might I suggest you slow it down out here?”

  “You can suggest,” Race returned, with smugness.

  “That wasn’t a request!” the guard protested, “Show me your ID badge.”

  Race dug in his jacket pocket and held out his ID, “See? I’m a high level military consultant. Ya happy now?”

  The guard leaned down to see Captain Fitz, “You here to see Admiral Gilmore?”

  “Yep, that’s where we’re going alright.”

  “You guys are sooo lucky! Down the street and to the left. The meeting’s about to begin.”

  “Thank you, son.” Jed replied.

  “Good day, Sir,” the guard saluted.

  Jed returned a lazy salute, and then looked over at Race as he pressed the gas on the muscle car, “Why do you insist on speed anyway?”

  “It’s my name; I race here, and I race there..haa haa haa.”

  “Just keep it under the limit for once?”

  “You don’t want to miss anything do you? I’m sure the Admiral will bring us up to speed.” Screeching one more time into a parking stall, Race gunned the engine and turned off the key, “God, I love your car, man.”

  “I can see that.”

  Race grinned ear to ear, “I’ll drive you anywhere you wish, Cap’n’.”

  “Just give me my keys back...I’ve had enough of your driving for a while.”

  Race reluctantly tossed them in the air to Jed who caught them and stuck them into his pocket, “Come on, now. Let’s see what the Admiral has to say.”

  “I’m all over it, Cap’n’.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  ________________________

  Antares System

  Warlord’s Home World

  Third Gas Giant Lebencha

  Third Moon Serintin

  ________________________

  “Yes? What is it?” Emperor Dumakas demanded. A large, hairy hand plucked a drumstick from the platter. His crooked teeth sank into the mostly cooked flesh, the juices and rendered fat running down his chin as he tore a chunk off of the bone.

  “Sorry to interrupt your nourishment period, my Lord.” The Antarian spoke from one knee, “I am Thelix of the second house and moon of Gornash of the rising star Antares, my Lord and Emperor.”

  “Well,” Dumakas answered, bits of blood and flesh spraying out with his words, “Thelix of the second moon, Gornash of our rising star Antares, tell me what it is that I can do for you? What is so important that you feel a need to burst into my nourishment chamber? Did you bring new recruits for the games?”

  “Yes, my Lord. Emperor Dumakas, son of Thumakas, son of Gorax the Great.” Thelix stood and bowed, and then knelt once more before his master. In this position, his matted hair covering his bone-studded scalp appropriately displayed his submission. “I offer the spoils from our last raid on Sigma Draconis.”

  “You have returned the spoils from Sigma Draconis? Excellent. How many containers have you delivered, and what were their contents?”

  “We have two-hundred standard shipping containers full of gold, silver, and jewels from their home world.”

  “Survivors?”

  “Yes, my Lord. We have delivered several Draconian for the arena. We did not destroy them all, and we left enough for them to rebuild so we can raid them again in the future.”

  “Draconian? Most excellent,” Dumakas smiled as he picked at a string of meat from between his teeth.

  “Thank you, my Lord.”

  “However, how are these spoils of Draconia of greater importance than my feeding? Spoils from a raid are required, are they not? I sense there’s more you have yet to tell me?”

  “Yes, my Lord...”

  “Then I suggest you STOP wasting MY time and tell me what it is you think is worthy of interrupting ME!” Dumakas leaned to his left and expectorated into a metal bowl next to his chair.

  “Yes, my Lord...”

  “...and stand on your feet when you address me! You look weak, kneeling like that.”

  Thelix stood and returned the gaze of his Emperor, “It is much better than the blood lust of the arena, my Lord.”

  Dumakas paused in mid bite, the chunk of flesh dropped from his teeth hanging from the bone, “What could possibly be better than fulfilling our desire for the blood spilled in the games?”

  “My Lord, my fleet picked up a signal...”

  Dumakas stood from his table, drew his sword and placed it at the neck of the man who dared to interrupt his nourishment session, “You have thirty seconds to prove to me that this signal is of greater importance than my dinner!”

  Thelix instinctively drew his sabre simultaneously, and poked the tip at his Emperor’s plate armor, “You will NOT be disappointed, but if you kill me, I will kill you before I fall to the floor. So, you may serve that fatal blow your blood boils so eagerly to feed me, but then you would die without knowing what it is I have to offer the house of Serintin, my Lord.”

  “You have fifteen seconds remaining, and I doubt your sabre will penetrate my armor.”

  “Don’t be too sure of that, my Lord...”

 
“Five seconds remain!”

  “Eridonian!” Thelix exclaimed, jabbing the tip of his carbon steel blade through Dumakas’ breastplate.

  Dumakas’ thick eyebrows rose, “Eridonian?”

  “What’s the matter, my Lord? Is my cold steel blade sharp enough for you? Withdraw your sword and I will reveal the rest, my Lord.”

  Dumakas looked deep into Thelix’s eyes, “I shall withdraw my sword, but you must remove your sabre first...then I will hear you!”

  “...and if I refuse to withdraw?”

  “Then it is apparent that we both will satiate our blood lust today. Perhaps you should push harder, as you only pierced my adornment, and not my armor.”

  Thelix withdrew his sabre from the Emperor’s armor, and then Dumakas drew his sword across the man’s neck.

  Thelix recoiled and grabbed his wound with his free hand, “What is the meaning of this!”

  “Be thankful you will live long enough for that to scar over, Thelix of the second moon, Gornash of the rising star Antares! Never draw your weapon on me again!” Dumakas’ sword pointed at Thelix’s face, “I will kill you the next time that you do!”

  “My Lord, you must hear me.”

  “Very well,” Dumakas answered, returning to his seat, he spread his arm across the table, “Sit. Eat. Tell me.”

  Thelix hesitated, and then nodded. He pulled out a chair, “It has been some time since my last feast.”

  “We can go without nourishment for six weeks. How long has it been for you?”

  “It has been eight, my Lord.”

  Dumakas shoved a platter in front of him, “Then partake of my feast before you expire, lest you are not able to share with me your amazing story of this…signal.”

  Thelix greedily grabbed a handful of flesh from the platter and shoved it into this mouth, chomping the gamy meat with enthusiasm.

  “Now, tell me about this Eridonian signal. If I recall, we haven’t seen, or heard, from any Eridonians for several centuries.”

  “Yes, my Lord. It has been six-hundred and forty years to be exact.”

  “My Lord,” Thelix said, chomping his food, “This Eridonian ship appeared near the old star Betelgeuse, and then vanished.”

  “Vanished?”