Terran Knights: Chapter 14

“So you were successful yet again,” the celestial asked. “It seems your planet is in good hands.”

“Yeah except a few problems,” Seth said from his pillar of light. “For starters there’s gotta be a way to track those things without relying on Twitter or getting attacked directly.”

“A sort of early warning system,” Kathryn agreed. “So that we can intercept them before they cause trouble.”

“You already have the ability to do that,” the celestial raised its hand and each of their stones pulsed with light and then went dark again. “When one of the Taq-Law nears Earth space it will pulse. When you are close it will begin to glow. When you hold onto your stone you will know where to go.”

“That’s another thing,” Cal said. “How are they getting here? Space ship?  Just falling from the sky? Intergalactic teleportation?”  He threw in the last one laughing.

“Yes,” the celestial responded. “That is how they arrive in this sector.”

The celestial raised its hand and a box appeared flying through the air. A circle appeared in front of the box and it disappeared through one side of it Raising their other hand another circle appeared and out came the box. “They go from one end of the galaxy like this, appearing on the planet that they intend to cleanse.”

“Cleanse,” Sarah shuddered. “That’s an unpleasant word.”

“It is also an accurate one,” the celestial replied gravely. “And you all will need to be more alert. You’ve defeated four of their scouts. The Taq-Law will know now that Earth is defended and thus will send bigger threats.”

“Oh that sounds great,” Seth put his hand against his head and shook it.

“Come on chill out Seth,” Jack laughed. “We’ve got this. No worries. It’ll be a piece of cake.”

“Yeah until we run into one that’s too big and fucks us up,”

“Okay negative Nancy. Do you have actual ideas to give to the class?” Cal narrowed his eyes at him.  “Or are you just going to keep being a dick?”

Seth turned and glared at him and then looked at Jack, “Yeah stop treating this like it’s a game. People died when those things attacked.  These things are trying to eradicate all of humanity. Maybe we should at least pretend this is serious.”

No one responded to that. Either they hadn’t thought that far along those lines or had been doing their best to ignore that fact. But Seth forced it all to the forefront of their minds and they all fell into silence. Shaking his head Seth turned around and just looked to the sky ceiling.

“We didn’t ask for this but we’re the ones who’re gonna stop these things,” Jack said and for the first time his voice was serious. “Yeah you’re right people died. But we’re going to save as many people as we can from this point forward. Preferably that being everyone but realism, right?”

“So with that dreary note. Can I ask you something?” Sarah said turning to face the celestial.

“What is it Sarah?”

“You have a name? Something we can actually call you?”

“If you wish to address me, call me Ley.”

“Alright Ley,” Cal said. “I’ve got a question.”

“Go ahead and ask Cal,” the celestial said tilting its head to the side.

Pausing for a moment as he tried to work things together before getting to the point. “The party that we came from. Where we got these powers. What made it happen? How did we go from getting high to becoming super powered whatever we are.?”

Ley nodded and rested a hand against its face. “The way that you were chosen was what I think you would all call a coin flip.”

“A coin flip?” Kathryn repeated.

“Yes. The substance that you took was a type of crystal native to a planet in which I reside. It is infused with the power that makes me what I am. It allows me to imbue mortals of your planet with those abilities.”

Sarah held her hand up pausing the conversation, “Where you reside. I know you’re not actually in our dreams but where are you actually. Like right now?”

“A galaxy far away from yours. You are all very used to blackholes being the center of a galaxy, a large void that keeps the planets rotating. I take the place of those, maintaining the balance of the galaxy.”

They all stared at Ley trying to process the fact that the thing in front of them was the center of a galaxy. But rather than continue down that path Cal shook his head. “Okay. I’ll unpack that later. So you just sprinkled a lot of your energy crystals on earth and waited for something to happen?”

“Yes. The Taq-Law were going to come here and rather than allow them to continue their conquest I decided to give those to be invaded a fighting chance,” they pressed their hands together in front of their face and bowed their head forward. “I picked several locations before arriving at this city. Only you five reacted to the crystals.”

Jack crouched and leaned forward putting his hands on his head and groaned. “This feels way too complicated.”

“It is,” Seth agreed and pressed his hand to his forehead.  “In a nutshell, you lucked out with us to help us fight the Taq-Law.”

“Something like that.” Was the reply. “And I again I am impressed with the power of you humans. Your spirit reminds me of the Xanics. Perhaps there is latent psykik power within your people as well.”

“Xanics? Psykik powers?” Cal repeated excitement in his voice. “I guess those are more alien words and species.”

“Indeed. You seem greatly interested in the affairs of the galaxy Cal. Perhaps I will be able to properly answer your questions in the coming days. I believe that the threat of the Taq-Law is going to increase very soon. You have managed to defeat the few scouts that they have sent but I urge caution to you five. A greater threat may be approaching soon.”

“Human killing robots from space,” Seth shook his head. “And we’re the only ones who can stop it.”

Jack looked over at him and held out his fist, “We’ll be ready and we’ll take it down. We have to be.”