HUMANITY: A Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Novel (18 page)

No
, he thought. He was not just a chickenshit.
No
, he thought. He was not a piece of shit. His flame grew brighter. He was Mich Sandstone, and he had made a damn good life on Earth and was about to make an even better one in his new world. Suddenly, his flame was burning brighter than ever before, and he pushed it towards his hands.

Snake observed the dying human curiously. His face had grown purple, and his arms were limp, but the dragon on the side of his face had mysteriously started to glow. What was going on?

Suddenly, Mich snapped his eyes opened, and he could feel the power roaring through his hands. He reached them back quickly, then lashed out, striking with enough force that his fingers crushed through Snake’s ribcage and into the soft, warm goo of human internals.

Blood spurt out of Snakes mouth, and he released Mich immediately, gasping for air and clutching at the massive wounds Mich’s hands had made.

Mich tilted his neck with a crack, suddenly feeling relatively unharmed from the choke. He walked towards his sword with a confidence in his step that he had never felt before. With sword in hand, he returned to Snake, who was writhing on the ground, trying desperately to find air but chocking on his own blood. “I didn’t want to kill you, Snake. But I guess in rare instances, someone has to die for the greater good of humanity.”

Energy crackled through Mich’s sword, and he felled and single, heavy blow towards Snake’s neck, cutting it cleanly and ending the man’s pain.

Mich wiped the blood from his blade and slid it under the linens on his back, and then left the control room to join his friends on the surface. He was so anxious to make sure Lena and Tristyn were okay, he didn’t even notice Snake’s transmission device was still on and that the Council had witnessed the whole ordeal.

“
Y
our highness
,” one of the short, stubby servants with an uneven head said to the Queen, “the royal feast is ready.”

“Thank you.” The Queen smiled and walked happily towards the banquet hall with a slight bounce in her step. When she turned the final corner, a guard was already waiting with the door open. She smiled at the guard, and he smiled back.

When she stepped inside the room, she was shocked. Lena was wrapped in a towel, clearly having just finished a bath, and she was being restrained by two guards with her hands behind her back. The dining table was empty–no feast in sight. The guard who was holding the door stepped inside and locked the door behind him so there was no escape. Two additional guards stepped behind the Queen and grabbed each of her arms.

“How dare you lay hands on the Queen. I will have you all executed for this!”

Salil and the real Queen stepped from behind a blind corner. “I don’t think so,” the real Queen said. “I could have you hanged for what you’ve done, but I’ll probably just let you rot in the prisons.”

“Who is this impostor?!” the other Queen barked.

Salil nodded apologetically towards the real Queen. “I’m sorry, but I have to check.”

“Go ahead…” the Queen replied and opened her eye. Salil pulled out a small vile with a dropper and squeezed a droplet of liquid into her eye.

Nothing happened.

The other Queen squirmed in the guard’s grip, and Salil had to hold her eyelid open in order to put a droplet in her eye. When he did, her pupil changed to a yellow, crescent moon.

“Well, that’s that,” Salil muttered.

“Take them to prison, and don’t let them touch anyone on the way,” the Queen ordered.

“It’s concerning that shapeshifters have made their way into our galaxy. They are partially to blame for the last Galactic War,” Salil cautioned.

“Only two as far as we know,” the Queen said. “And they were mercenaries.”

“Let’s hope it stays at only two.”

A
day later
, Mich found himself standing in the Queen’s hall with Walter, Tristyn, Scraggs, and Stryker. Gathered on each side were all seven council members and a host of the Queen’s court. Standing beside the Queen was Lena, and sitting in a wheelchair was Tamor, his body covered in bandages.

“There are many things that we need to cover here,” the Queen said. “Walter St. James, you stand accused of leading a rebellion against the galaxy and have been charged with the murder of Misharishindaril and her guard.”

Walter’s leg was set in a cast, and a boxy metal frame was encircling the cast, allowing him to stand with a broken leg. “I haven’t murdered any–”

“Your charges are dismissed,” the Queen interrupted. “We have video surveillance of Misharishindaril walking into Carl Smithy’s room prior to the murders, and he has since gone missing. Further, I have now seen the conditions on Rashada, and I can understand the reasons for your actions.”

The tension in Walter’s body relaxed, and he gave a bow of gratitude.

“You all risked your lives to save me, and I’m awarding you each a medal in honor for your deeds. The crown will pay for both of your ships to be restored, and you’ll be given a sum of credits as a token of my gratitude.”

Everyone bowed in thanks, and Walter spoke, “Your Majesty, the people of Rashada are–“

“Payment for work in the mines and the factory will be raised substantially to make sure that everyone on Rashada can make a living wage, and safety equipment will be provided. Kontra,” The Queen turned towards the council seats. “Please make sure that all workers are provided back payment for any days that they’ve worked under the old pay system based on the new pay scale.”

Kontra nodded.

Walter and Mich smiled wide, and Tristyn could barely hold in her squeal.

“Mich Sandstone,” the Queen turned to Mich. “It’s my understanding that you are responsible for Tamor being here with us today. You also risked your life against our captor, and the Council was moved by your words and your abilities.”

“Thank you,” Mich said with a humble grin. He felt honored although a little shy.

“There was a recent dismissal from the Council, and perhaps it’s time that humans are represented properly in the galaxy. I’d like to extend that offer to you.”

Mich perked up. The sudden invitation seemed nice, but after learning so much from Vishi and Stryker, he knew that he had another destiny that he needed to follow through with first. “I’m grateful for the offer, but I’m afraid I’ll have to decline. There’s much I still have to learn about the universe, and I’m not sure if I’m cut out for politics.”

The Queen frowned and gave a nod.

“But, there is someone who I think would represent the humans well,” Mich added and turned to his side. “Walter St. James is wise and would look after the human’s–
and
the galaxy’s best interests.”

The other council members began grumbling at the idea.

After a brief pause, the Queen said, “Very well. Do you accept a seat on the Council, Walter St. James?”

“It would be an honor,” he replied.

“Are there any objections from the other council members?”

There was a brief paused and a few whispers before Salil stood from his seat. “The Council does not object. While it may take some adjusting for some, we’re happy to welcome him on board.”

“Done,” the Queen bellowed. “Rashada will also need a new ambassador. Is that a job that you think you can handle, Tristyn St. James?”

Tristyn smiled. “Absolutely…” Walter placed an encouraging hand on her back, and Tristyn gave a deep bow.

“Again, I can’t thank you all enough for what you’ve all done. You’re all welcome in Nerria at any time, and I think that this moment will be a turning point for the future of humanity.”

The humans all bowed and began to file out of the Queen’s Hall.

“Looks like you finally did it,” Stryker said, throwing a slap on Walter’s shoulders. His other arm was set in a white cast. “Never thought I’d see the day that humans were on the Council.”

Walter smiled. “Thank you for everything Stryker. We’d all be dead if it weren’t for you.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll get a cool medal to hang on my wall. I’m sure it’ll impress the ladies.”

“Mich!” a voice cried out from behind. Mich spun around to see Lena jogging towards towards him. “I’m glad I was wrong when I thought I’d never see you again.” She stared at him deeply in the eyes. “I hope you’ll return to Nerria soon.”

“I’m sure I’ll be back sooner than later.” Mich smiled.

“Make sure to come by the palace if you do.” Lena leaned in and gave Mich a tight hug and a kiss on the cheek before pulling back. “Thank you for everything.”

Mich nodded and watched as Lena spun and walked back towards the Queen.

When Mich turned around, he found Tristyn glaring at him with dark eyes and arms crossed. “So you have a girlfriend already, huh?”

Mich chuckled. “No, I told you Lena is just a friend.”

“But that Lena girl is smoking hot. Did I tell you how wild neander girls are in bed?” Stryker asked, purposely adding to Tristyn’s irritation. When he saw her face had turned red, he leaned in and whispered. “Looks like you’re already getting popular with the ladies.”

Mich scratched the back of his head with his hand, not sure what to say. He gave a slight snicker to break the uncomfortable silence.

“You’re welcome to come back to Atlantos with me, Mich. We can finish your training and set out on some adventures. Perhaps you’ll turn out to be the second human Keeper in history.”

“I’d like that, but first I’d like to stop by Rashada to see some friends.” He missed Vishi and the other miholo people. He also wanted to tell them that everything had worked out okay.

“Alright. I’ll bring my starship by Rashada as soon as she’s repaired. I’m sure you can find me.”

Mich walked away from the Queen’s palace, feeling like he was on a cloud. He thought that he had been a wealthy man when he was on Earth, and financially he was; he had built a successful business and earned a lot of money. But now with all that taken away from him, he had gained a far greater wealth. He had accomplished something that actually meant something, learned things that he never thought possible, and most of all, he was surrounded by people who felt like real family and friends to him.

He felt a small, warm hand grasp on to his and glanced over to see Tristyn by his side–there were other emotions he was experiencing that he had never felt as well.

Taking a chance on the Vpoint Cryogenics program turned out to be the best investment of his life.

K
ryle Yago’s
hands trembled with anger as he closed his communications device. He squeezed it in his hands and flung it towards a wall, shattering it into a thousand tiny pieces.

If his informant was right, everything he did was for nothing. The Keeper he had working for him was dead, Carl was dead, and he had lost his seat on the Council. Worst of all, the human from E-17 had somehow survived, was being celebrated, and Walter St. James had taken his council seat.

“Damn the Queen, damn the Council, damn the humans,” he muttered to himself. He shuffled towards a glass cabinet and opened it, pulling a blaster pistol out and holstering it on his belt. He slammed the cabinet shut and stormed directly for one of his starships.

He would not be humiliated by the humans or the government. If the information he received was accurate, the Queen had two shapeshifters sitting in her prison whom which the Lexxicorians would surely want to retrieve.

Why wait around for the humans to send the galaxy into turmoil? No one was better suited than a former council member to lead Lexxicore into another Intergalactic War.