{"id":338,"date":"2015-07-11T12:37:29","date_gmt":"2015-07-11T12:37:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=338"},"modified":"2015-07-11T12:37:29","modified_gmt":"2015-07-11T12:37:29","slug":"legacy-of-the-guardians-part-9","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=338","title":{"rendered":"Legacy of the Guardians – Part 9"},"content":{"rendered":"

Legacy of the Guardians<\/span><\/h2>\n

by AJ Marks<\/span><\/p>\n

Part 9<\/span><\/p>\n

Ahmed thought back to the day he finally made it to the USA, and to the address on the now tattered card that the stranger had given him a year earlier. Hard work finally paid off, and now he stood in front of an ordinary building, which the cab driver insisted was the address, after demanding payment for the ride.<\/p>\n

Unsure of what else to do, he thought about turning around, but had nothing else to go to. Gathering some courage he stepped into the building, unsure what to do, and looking completely lost.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan I help you?\u201d a young woman asked, approaching him.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh,\u201d he said, trying to understand the words she said. He had taken some English, but not enough to converse well. He made out the word help, but knew too little of the language and instead handed her the card. He hoped it meant something to her, and the guy had not lied to her. She took the card and looked at it for a second, then back at him before scratching her ear.<\/p>\n

\u201cFollow me,\u201d she whispered in his ear, and in his language. Ahmed realized she also wore a transmitter very much like the stranger who gave her the cared.<\/p>\n

He followed her as they walked past the guards, which she said something to he did not catch, they merely nodded. Entering an elevator she pushed a button and he found himself higher in a building then he ever had been. He tried not to show any discomfort in front of the woman.<\/p>\n

Exiting the elevator they walked towards a desk, with another woman sitting there. He watched as the card was shown again, and the woman behind the desk looked over at him. She nodded and the woman who brought him up left, heading back into the elevator.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow did you get this card?\u201d the woman asked, and Ahmed realized he was hearing it in his language, and coming from a small speaker on the desk.<\/p>\n

\u201cA man gave it to me, he said I should say the shadow is our nature,\u201d Ahmed replied, relaying the expression he had given, something he remembered ever since the man spoke it to him. He watched as her face went from guarded to welcoming in a second.<\/p>\n

\u201cWelcome, go through the doors, the man on the other side will take you to where you need to go, and explain things a bit more to you,\u201d the woman said. He looked at her, then the door and making up his mind, walked through the door.<\/p>\n

The other side of the doors appeared a normal business. He saw people sitting at desks, one looked up and motioned for him to follow him. He followed him along until reaching a room, and was led inside. Inside stood another man who waved Ahmed to sit down.<\/p>\n

\u201cGreetings, my name is Gary,\u201d the man said in Ahmed\u2019s own language surprising Ahmed a bit as he sat down.<\/p>\n

He wondered what type of group this way. He had no idea how this group might be connected with space, only that he needed a job to stay in America.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, you\u2019re interested in space?\u201d Gary asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, have been since I was a kid and learned about the Apollo missions,\u201d Ahmed said. \u201cBut, I\u2019ll probably never make it there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps, but anything is possible,\u201d Gary replied, working on the computer a second. \u201cNow, what\u2019s your home country?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAfghanistan,\u201d Ahmed replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, here we go,\u201d he said, as the printer started up, and several pages were printed off. Here you go, fill this out, I hope its in the right language.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ahmed looked down nodding that it was. Gary handed him a pen and he set about to fill out the paperwork. The questions ranged from his family to \u2018what if\u2019 questions about space. He really had no idea about many, and answered as honestly as possible.<\/p>\n

After the paperwork he was led to a physical evaluation before getting something to eat. After what seemed like a long time, Gary returned looking over everything.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, welcome to the company,\u201d Gary told him, the best news he had all day.<\/p>\n

\u201cGreat, when do I start, and where can I arrange a place to stay?\u201d Ahmed asked, pleased he had a job, but now had other worries.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry about it, and you can start now if you wish,\u201d Gary replied back to him.<\/p>\n

Ahmed looked back at Gary unsure about everything.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are part of a secret organization that is worldwide,\u201d Gary replied. \u201cCome with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ahmed walked with Gary down the hallway to the last door, and he was not expecting to see another elevator, and a couple of armed guards.<\/p>\n

\u201cStand here,\u201d Gary said, as Ahmed moved automatically to a spot wondering what exactly he got himself into.<\/p>\n

A light went from the top of his head to his feet. The process was repeated on Gary he noticed. Gary produced a car and went through an eye scam. Ahmed was told to do the same, and reluctantly did so, feeling uncomfortable with the scan before they got on the elevator. Only second later the doors opened again and the room was very different, and they went through the scanning process once more. The guards nearby were even more heavily armed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWelcome to the Earth Defense Force, or EDF,\u201d Gary said. \u201cIt was created to fight the Skartians.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSkartians?\u201d Ahmed asked, as they walked along the corridor and down a flight of stairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cYep, we look for people all over, from the nice looking young women you met to a common soldier,\u201d Gary said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, what do you want of me?\u201d Ahmed asked, unsure about getting involved in a war.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, that will be up to you. We\u2019ll train you first, and then, well you can be anything from a soldier in the fleet, a fighter pilot, working on a space ship or someone who works as part of the company to camouflage what we do,\u201d Gary said.<\/p>\n

Ahmed remained silent, with so many paths laid out before him.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut first, we\u2019ll fit you with some translators, then you\u2019ll learn intergalac, the written language we all use,\u201d Gary said. \u201cThat\u2019s what the training is mostly for, while you learn what is going on, then after that, well, it can be up to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ahmed nodded.<\/p>\n

\u201cRemember, you\u2019ll be fighting for everyone you ever knew, every soul on the planet,\u201d Gary told him.<\/p>\n

It seemed incredible, but he would learn how much more it would be in the coming days.<\/p>\n

Ahmed had learned so much, and now, as he say someplace in Afghanistan, tied up, that knowledge of the bigger universe comforted him. He wondered what his captures would think if they knew the real truth.<\/p>\n

He knew, with a push of a button, he could be out of this prison they had him in. but as his life was not in danger yet, he would wait and see what occurred next.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Jack drummed his fingers on the desk. It had been several days now since the operatives had gone forth in Afghanistan and so far, no results. To make matters worse, nothing new came from the Skartians either. The fact everything seemed to peaceful and calm worried him even more.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, what do you think?\u201d Steve said, bringing Jack back into the conversation.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, what were you saying, wasn\u2019t paying attention,\u201d Jack replied, looking over at Steve.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know, I was asking about Ahmed\u2019s parents?\u201d Steve asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cHuh? Oh, yeah, got a report that he was worried about them before he left the base,\u201d Jack said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would be to, if they put the two together, might be able to use them against him,\u201d Steve said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a team ready to go, all that\u2019s required is the go ahead,\u201d Jack said. \u201cIf he find this Osama bin Laden, then they might be in trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about the others?\u201d Steve asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cProbably should get a fix on them as well, just in case,\u201d Jack answered. The last thing he wanted was family threatened during a mission.<\/p>\n

\u201cShouldn\u2019t be a problem,\u201d Steve answered, making a note.<\/p>\n

\u201cWish this waiting was over,\u201d Jack said finally. \u201cIt\u2019s making me nervous.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, I\u2019ll take it for now,\u201d Steve replied. \u201cAnyways, I\u2019m off for lunch.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jack watched him go and then went over the latest intel reports from the border with the Skartians Empire, looking for anything.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Ahmed began to wonder what happened to everyone. He had seen no one in a couple of hours. The room itself was completely ordinary, four walls, no window, a door, a mattress and small drain and nothing else. Overall it appeared in good condition, and probably what they normally used for prisoners or hostages.<\/p>\n

He thought about the mission, and how long he should wait before considering it a failure. Once he determined that he would have to contact the base for pick-up. However he did not want to admit defeat yet. He would wait a couple of more days for that to happen.<\/p>\n

The sound of the door opening caused him to turn, seeing his brother and another man walk into the room.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hear you have a message for our leader,\u201d the man said. The darkness of the room prevented Ahmed from gaining a good look at the man.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, and it\u2019s for him alone, not lackeys,\u201d Ahmed said, getting slapped by the man.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am one of his right hands of justice, I report directly to him, you will tell me,\u201d the man replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd why should I trust what you said?\u201d Ahmed asked, knowing he would have to be careful. Men like this could easily decide to kill him.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause, you unintelligent commoner, I could have you and your parents killed with a command,\u201d the man said. Ahmed looked over at his brother at the statement, who did not even flinch. So his brother was so far brainwashed by this group he did not care for his parents. \u201cI\u2019ll give you five minutes to decide.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ahmed watched the man leave and noticed at last in the light what he looked for. The man was Skartian.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell brother, looks like I was right,\u201d his brother said simple. \u201cI always told our parents that you would end up killing them because of your stubborn thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot true,\u201d Ahmed said, pressing a sequence on his nail. It would evacuate his parents from their house. \u201cYou see, you\u2019re not the only one who has powerful friends, my friends are very powerful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll see, when your parents are brought here, and then they\u2019ll see the traitor you are to our people, just like I always told them,\u201d he said, his smugness creeping back into his voice.<\/p>\n

Ahmed watched him walk out without saying anything else. He had some news, there were Skartians involved. If there was one, he knew there would be more. He had to get in closer, and only hoped that they got to his parents in time.<\/p>\n

End Part 9<\/p>\n

Continued in Part 10<\/a><\/p>\n

Comment below or send to AJMarks01@aol.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Legacy of the Guardians by AJ Marks Part 9 Ahmed thought back to the day he finally made it to the USA, and to the address on the now tattered card that the stranger had given him a year earlier. Hard work finally paid off, and now he stood in front of an ordinary building, […]
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