{"id":437,"date":"2015-07-16T15:00:11","date_gmt":"2015-07-16T15:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=437"},"modified":"2015-07-16T15:00:11","modified_gmt":"2015-07-16T15:00:11","slug":"legacy-of-the-guardians-part-32","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=437","title":{"rendered":"Legacy of the Guardians – Part 32"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

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

Part 32 (Conclusion)<\/span><\/p>\n

Randall sat at the table along with Sam Ulthis and Kinser waiting to hear anything about what might be happening in Dedian space. So far even the Dedian had not been able to reach his homeworld. They looked up seeing Toncor walk into the room and sat down.<\/p>\n

\u201cThink I finally recalled that story,\u201d he said to them.<\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u2019 Randall stated, wondering what type of story it was.<\/p>\n

\u201cIts an old story, no longer even told by anyone except for a few. I had to get in touch with a lot of people before finding someone who knew it,\u201d Toncor said. \u201cIt is a long story, but the moral of the story is beware those shadows, for they are only there to harm you. The hero is a small boy who discovers he had the power to stop them. They kill his mother, try to kill him. They failed, and he grows up and comes back to overthrow them, and free the others.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cInteresting,\u201d Sam said, silent for a few seconds. \u201cSounds similar to something I saw. Except the boy was a baby, and buried by the shadows. Years went by as the shadows enslaved others. Then where they buried the baby the ground broke revealing a man, who dispatched the shadows, then kept watch over them under his protection.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSounds very similar,\u201d Toncor said. \u201cAt the end of the story the man is called the Guardian.\u201d<\/p>\n

Randall thought about that, unsure what to make of that. He looked over as the Dedian ambassador walked back into the room, his face mixed in emotions causing the rest to wonder what happened.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy people owe you a great debt,\u201d he said to Randall and the others indicating that they ha arrived in time. \u201cIt was close, and we did suffer losses, but nothing like that which happened to the Skartians. There were also reports of your people protecting mine with their lives, I never knew another race would do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Randall watched the Dedian look down, unable to meet Randall\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were civilians, we could do no less,\u2019 Sam said speaking up. \u201cWe are trained to protect those who cannot, the innocent.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut we were not innocent, we helped to destroy you, harm you, and anything else they asked. I know of no way we can apologize for our mistake,\u201d the Dedian said.<\/p>\n

Randall thought about what he said for a few seconds, knowing what he said next could determine future relations. \u201cWe all make mistakes, and you have suffered for it, we can move on, hopefully wiser this time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, you\u2019re right,\u201d the Dedian said turning to leave but paused at the door. \u201cFor such a young race, your people are wise.\u201d<\/p>\n

Randall thought about that for a few seconds. He only said what might be the truth. He felt no joy, or pride for what happened. He also knew he could have done a lot of things, demanded a payment, or something else from the Dedians, and probably knew the others would have expected it. Instead he swept it aside, pushing for the future. Perhaps there was hope for the future and humanity.<\/p>\n

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

Ahmed walked down the street after being dropped off by the bus, and towards his home. He knew his parents arrived safely, and adjusting to their new life in Canada. He knew he would have to drop in for a while, especially considering it was his house they were living in.<\/p>\n

Reports of his brother, Aziz, mentioned he had been the one to inform the EDF of what had happened between Pakistan and India. That information allowed them to intercept the incoming attack, and move as quickly as they had to safe countless lives across the universe. He heard something about Aziz wanting to leave Pakistan, but after that he heard nothing else.<\/p>\n

Looking up at his house, he realized it had a look of being lived in for the first time. He was not there often, so he had never put his personality into it. Now with someone there it had become a home again.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello? Anyone here?\u201d he called out, entering the house.<\/p>\n

\u201cAhmed? Is that you?\u201d his mom\u2019s voice called back, as a figure made its way from the kitchen.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, it\u2019s me, home for a few days,\u2019 he said to her, walking over and giving her a hug. He looked into the kitchen seeing supper being fixed.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour father should be home soon, went out golfing with a neighbor. He taught him a couple of days ago, and your father can\u2019t seem to get enough of it,\u201d she said, watching her move about the room. He noticed she looked better, almost as if she was freer and he commented on it. \u201cBack home we always had to be careful, but neither of us thought our religion should be so controlling. But with the government of the Taliban, it was difficult to know who you could trust.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad you two got out safely,\u201d Ahmed said to her. They heard the door open and close, and watched as his father entered the house.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook who is here,\u201d she said, watching as he looked up to see Ahmed standing there.<\/p>\n

\u201cAhmed, you\u2019re safe, that\u2019s one else worry I have to carry,\u201d he said to him. \u201cWith that secret group, I had no idea what was going on. I haven\u2019t told anyone about it, not sure they would believe me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThings should settle down a bit, at least of a while,\u201d Ahmed said, thinking about everything that happened.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd that report of Pakistan and India, horrible,\u201d he said to Ahmed. \u201cWere you involved?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t say father, top-secret,\u201d Ahmed stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd those aliens, the markets are still talking about it,\u201d his mom said. Ahmed had to think about that for a few seconds until he recalled the cover-up plan, and the Ilderian warship. If only they knew the truth, it would probably scare them.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, lucky for us,\u201d Ahmed said, meaning it. Few realized how close it had been to such destruction. Billions had lost their lives, but billions had been saved.<\/p>\n

Sitting down he listened in as his father talked about golf. It felt strange for him to be talking about such a game, but relieved that his father and mother appeared to be settling in with a new life. They looked younger than before and realized the social pressures were a huge strain on them.<\/p>\n

He helped clean up, despite his mother\u2019s protest, only saying it was how he had been trained since leaving Afghanistan. The doorbell interrupted them. Opening the door he felt a bit shocked by who stood there.<\/p>\n

\u201cHello brother,\u201d Aziz said, looking nervous. \u201cMay I come in?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, of course,\u201d Ahmed said to his brother. \u201cActually I\u2019m relieved to see you alive,\u201d he said, before leaning in closer to him. \u201cDon\u2019t say anything about the Skartians or anything like that to mom and dad, they don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n

He watched Aziz nod before his father walked up, standing in front of Aziz.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have a lot of nerve showing up here,\u201d he finally said. Ahmed recalled one of the last times they ahd talked, it had not been pleasant.<\/p>\n

\u201cDad, he saved my life later on, he came around to understand who was telling the truth,\u201d Ahmed said, knowing that only he and his brother knew the truth, even his father did not know. To his credit his brother remained quiet.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter clubbing you over the head, and putting you in that position,\u201d his father said.<\/p>\n

\u201cA position I wanted to be in, the reason I was there. I knew my presence so soon after the attacks would attract some attention. I hoped to get capture,\u201d Ahmed told them both. It was the first time he admitted such a thing.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know?\u201d Aziz blurted out.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I had to find out quickly who was responsible,\u201d Ahmed said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know there are still some there,\u201d Aziz sad.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, but they are no longer a threat, things have changed since we last talked,\u201d Ahmed said, looking over at his parents. \u201cHowever, being information I can\u2019t talk about, we should change the conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n

He would inform his brother of the events that happened but not in front of his parents.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am waiting to join up,\u201d he told Ahmed.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a good organization,\u201d Ahmed finally said. He knew his brother would learn a lot. His parents might be confused but maybe one day they could tell them, and everything that happened.<\/p>\n

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

Jack looked up at Steve as he made his way into his office.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou about ready to head down?\u201d Steve asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, finishing up a few reports,\u201d Jack replied back to him. \u201cNothing\u2019s happened since that last engagement in the Dedian Empire. Been quiet, not sure if that\u2019s good or bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIntelligence is still going over the wreckage and other things that they alien race used. They are not much more advanced than us, which was weird,\u201d Steve said. \u201cYou think a race so advanced would be beyond anything we had.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, that disturbs me,\u201d Jack replied honestly. If that shadow race had been so advanced, they should have easily defeated them.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ilderians said they felt something if they got too far from a human ship, An overwhelming fear,\u201d Steve said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSam Uliki mentioned something about that. They use fear and intimidation to win a battle,\u201d Jack said back. \u201cSomehow we\u2019re immune to the effect.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAny thought they are related to the destruction of that system?\u201d Steve said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, but Sam doesn\u2019t think so. He is convinced it means that the guardian had changed, whatever that means,\u201d Jack said.<\/p>\n

Since Sam had gone to Egypt he had become different, more focused on their mission. It reminded him of Marcus Johnson. Both seemed to see something larger when they looked at the universe. They saw where humanity would sit, though Jack felt unsure about that.<\/p>\n

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

He closed the report and decided to let the future take care of itself.<\/p>\n

Viewscreen off. <\/em>The command came from a yellow energy being. He looked around the room at the others, the last of their race.<\/p>\n

We survived, and made it.<\/em> Another one said.<\/p>\n

It is time for us to leave now as well, as the others before us. The younger guardian is spreading its wings.<\/em>The first one said to the others.<\/p>\n

The darkness is coming again, we should help.<\/em> A second said, unknowingly echoing a similar debate an eon ago.<\/p>\n

That is why we leave now, leaving in peace they will never learn their role. It must be in conflict, as we had.<\/em> The first one said again. He watched them for several seconds before one replied.<\/p>\n

Very well, let us go, but where?\u201d<\/em> the question was very much important.<\/p>\n

We will go where the others went. <\/em>A third one said, indicating a file on the computer which had unsealed itself for the first time. The last mysterious file.<\/p>\n

Looking at it they understood their final mission in the universe. Heading back out to the ship, they boarded the ship, Seydlitz and left the barren surface of Earth for the last time.<\/p>\n

Long since abandoned by life as the temperatures of the sun shifted. The ship stood for a moment in orbit of the planet, before its weapon systems lashed out, obliterating the planet followed by the sun, other planets and everything else in the system.<\/p>\n

The ship then left the system, making a stop in another system. They found what they were looking for quickly and easily, a sphinx-like building which indicated the next guardian.<\/p>\n

The inhabitants of the planet watched in shock and awe as another ship of unknown configuration stopped above one of their oldest and mysterious structures. After a few seconds the ship left the atmosphere, and disappeared.<\/p>\n

Deep beneath the building a computer came to life, the data transfer complete,\u00a0it waited for a special person to find it and complete the circle.<\/p>\n

In another corner the Shadows registered the destruction of Earth, and knew the humans had left. They moved to try and take over once more.<\/p>\n

The End<\/p>\n

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

Legacy of the Guardians by AJ Marks Part 32 (Conclusion) Randall sat at the table along with Sam Ulthis and Kinser waiting to hear anything about what might be happening in Dedian space. So far even the Dedian had not been able to reach his homeworld. They looked up seeing Toncor walk into the room […]
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