The fleet ship flies off New Earth’s atmosphere. Lathan, Jaden and Zenden spent most their times in space in blissful avoidance, space travel was a way of life, so they never really looked at the atmosphere and the unparalled beauty of New Earth from space. The continents that was so huge and the waters that so blue. That there were so many clouds in and around the skylines across the earth taking many shapes covering and revealing lands with equal measure. The three also noticed that there were so many ships coming and going from New Earth’s atmosphere, ships of varying sizes like the larger megaton cargo ships to the cruiser liners for holidays and fleet ships making their passes on their rounds across the planets.

  It made sense for the three to look at the Earth with longing, barring any personal tragedy they would not see their homes for eight months at the earliest.

  “It looks so beautiful.” Jaden said gazing. “Like Cynthia Masterson.”

  Both Zenden and Lathan knew who Cynthia Masterson was and nod silently in agreement.

  They were sitting near the cockpit watching Kayla fly the ship with ease. Captain Thernright looked on reading technical star maps near the other side to them in a small room right near the sleeping quarters. Lathan looked at him before walking up to and sitting next to Kayla. He looks at the starry blanket of space.

  “It is beautiful isn’t it?” Kayla said and Lathan nods. “I guess when you’re flying like this you can appreciate the beauty. It is different when you’re in battle I guess.”

  “I guess.” Lathan said like he knew what she was talking about and he thinks of something that his mind just referred to, something that he had thought of before. “I wanted to ask you something.”

  “Shoot Thorne.” Kayla said looking ahead and not blinking an eyelid.

  “When you killed that assassin, didn’t you feel any remorse? I mean you killed a guy. Two guys in fact.”

  Kayla looks at Lathan with incredulity, but now of awe. She presses a button and lets go of the steering controls. Auto-pilot initiated. “What?”

  “I mean you know doesn’t it feel..?”

  “I cannot believe you asked me that question? How fresh are you Thorne?”

  “Sorry I don’t,”

  “Those assassins were going to kill us; do you think they were going to show us any remorse? I’ll answer that for you. NO!” she said resoundingly. “I don’t know what they taught you or what the world is like where you come from, but where I come from, it is a dog eat dog world Thorne and if someone comes at you with the will for violence, you have to counteract it or you will die! You have to learn that! You have to be ruthless Thorne. You many not know that now, but when you train to be one of us; oh you’ll you know. You’ll know it I’ll tell that right now. You think they showed your uncle any remorse Thorne!” as soon as she says that she stops and Lathan looks at her with the mixture of shock and anger. “Oh no, no I’m sorry Thorne, I didn’t mean…” her calls fell on deaf ears. Lathan had already gone away from the cockpit by the second and guilt came over Ms Starbright. “It.”

  Lathan was about to walk over to his friend chatting amongst themselves when Captain Thernright comes out of his room. “Lathan. Do you mind if we talk? You know what it is about.”

  Lathan then remembered that he was not emotionally ready for this casting it back on his mind as soon as his boots came on the ship. Lathan was caught between wanting to know and having to know, but one conclusion came across his mind. The need to know. Lathan nods and walks into the room. The others all freeze knowing the significance of this. They all walk towards the door and try and listen in. “At ease.” Captain Thernright said from the other side of the room and they all disperse coughing and saying inane chatter.

  “Well,” Captain Thernright said sitting down, “This is it. I promised to tell you what I know and I will keep that promise. I want you to understand Lathan that if I really wanted to do it my choice, my way if fate did not guide us to this then I wouldn’t have met you at all. It is not of some discouragement to you, that I do not like you any way it is just the circumstances.” He pauses and looks Lathan who looks clenched in his chair unprepared for the news that was going to change his life. “Your parents’ names were Lucian and Diana Thorne. Your father was black and your mother was white. Both of them were my best friends. We all joined the fleet just over twenty years ago at around the same time. We got on almost immediately and we had a bond.” He pauses once again. “A couple of years after we joined, the war of the Falconen was coming to ahead. The end was near Lathan and it was poised to go one way or the other. We all had to fly; we all had to grow up fast.” Captain Thernright laughs. “Your father was ready for it though, he was ready since he got to Speciour. He was the best you know Lathan. The best pilot I’d ever seen fly. I was good, but your father was something else. It was like he was born to fly.”

  Lathan smiles.

  “It was like you were on the Quasarball field on the final game you played.”

  Lathan looks at him shocked. “You were there?”

  “Yeah. You did brilliantly Lathan you really did.”

  Lathan smiles again almost embarrassed.

  “Your father had a gift for flying and also his quality in his shooting, he was so accurate Lathan. You wouldn’t believe it until you saw him in action.” Another pause. “It was time for the war at the Falconen belt at the west. Everyone was down there except your mother who was taken in ill with something. She was left behind, even though she was an excellent pilot herself, at the time there was only a few female pilots and she was one of the best.”

  “As good as you…you know?”

  “Your father? She was his equal in more ways then one Lathan. She was ill and couldn’t fly. So we went off for war and I wasn’t scared because we had a secret weapon. Your father Lathan, Lucian ‘Dead-Eye’ Thorne. He was primed for this; it was his destiny Lathan to make his mark on this battle and in history of the fleet.” Thernright pauses and seems shaken like what he is seeing in his mind was a horror for him, a horror that never left. “It was the bloodiest battle on record Lathan, you could see limbs exploding, blood drifting off into darkness, matter turning into nothing. Skin ripped off by fire burning it off. The type of things you see in your nightmares, but worse because it was right in front of you and all round you. All you had was your ship and your concentration at the task at hand. To defeat the enemy. What we didn’t know was that the enemy had a secret weapon of their own. Their own captain. Their own leader to them he was their god, their saviour and was killing fleet members, Speciour knights like they were nothing killing them with accuracy we only though your father who was the best in the cosmos had Lathan, but his flying and his ruthlessness was unrelenting.”

  “Who?”

  “He has many names. Some call him Krodigan which maybe his birth name, but that has never been confirmed or denied, just some sort of speculation, officially he is known as the Encross of Encronians, but we know him, the ones who lived to tell this tale Lathan we know him as The Lord Knight.”

  “Why do you call him the Lord Knight?”

  “It was we he was saying during the battle. We could hear in our own communicators, that he was saying and I remember very clearly ‘I am you leader, your lord of all these knights and I will destroy all, like The Lord Knight should.’ Yes he said that and it sent chills down my spine. Then the battle spread onto the nearest planet Alrothia on the Falconen borders. I was being hunted by The Lord Knight as soon as the largest ship ever seen the Merge was coming into play, we had to take it out Lathan or we were all destroyed. Our star galleons were being swamped by enemy fire and we had to find a way…The Lord Knight was after me and I went into the planet’s surface and he chased me across the skies of Alrothia. Then I was targeted he got me. I was done for, my heart had resolved to it death, and then just at the last moments a pulsar blast came from high above shifting the Lord Knight’s ship and I wasn’t targeted anymore. He had changed his focus onto me to the shooter of the other ship. Your father Lathan, your father saved me from certain death. They had a battle, a personal battle, one on one between them which changed with every second. No one and this was according to legend had ever beaten the Lord Knight in a one on one. The two best facing off, good verses evil Lathan and the side of good won.

  Your father did this amazing move; I saw it and couldn’t believe it. He did a three sixty spin going right around and behind the Lord Knight and blasted him out of the sky. Your father killed him with all the skill that his training had taught him and the ruthlessness his talent gave him. The Lord Knight’s ship burned crashing down in the mountains below. It was changed the whole scope of things and not all for the better…” he pauses and sighs. Lathan excitement dimmed too with that action from Captain Thernright. “by the time we got back to the battle above the skies the merge was about to blast our ships and win the war, your father, Pearce Starzancer, Marken Manilstar, Annalyn Striker and I did a suicide run for one last shot.”

  “Suicide run?”

  “Yeah that’s when you go in to the devils mouth and face it without any cause for consequence. You just dive in knowing that death was an absolute certainty, but you would take down the one thing you were after with giving your life up for it. Sometimes you just get lucky and you live. We dived in going headlong amongst the heaviest pulsar fire imaginable taking out the weapons at hand, your father was in line for the shot at energy core which would destroy the merge, but he acted as cover for more gunfire and he let me have the shot at glory. He took out the Lord Knight, so he wanted me to have some claim to history.”

  Lathan just shakes his head in amazement taken in by Captain’s words.

  “The battle against all odds was won, but it came at a price. Something happened; something unreal….The Lord Knight was not dead. I don’t know how it happened, but he lived.”

  “I thought you said you saw his ship explode and fall to the ground?”

  “I did, but The Lord Knight is something else and it was no clone that flew in the battle. It was him…. He bled vengeance for your father. He wanted his blood. We tried to flee and we couldn’t go into New Earth because The Lord Knight had many agents on Earth, so we had to disappear away from our galaxy. As far as we possibly could Lathan. We had taken your mother; I had to break off the relationship I was in and leave my life. We all had to change. We got to a space station near the Nemcron borders to the northern west belt; we had found out that your mother was pregnant with you.”

  Lathan nods to himself, but hidden was pain as now he played an unwilling part of this story.

  “It was the day of you birth the tenth of December seventeen years ago. Something happened during your birth. The station started to shake like it was under attack, the lights flickered and we all held our nerve. It was strange because it happened when you came out of your mother Lathan. Just a few moments it lasted and then it was over. Funny thing was that you never cried. Not once.”

  Lathan smiled and Captain Thernright smiled too. “You were a beautiful baby Lathan. I watched your father hold you with loving care and happiness unbridled in his eyes. I knew from that moment on he would love you. Your mother gazed at you and your father as they sewed her up and gave her calming neutralisers. It was an honour to be there. For those moments the last couple of months were a blur. Everything was right. Then the alarms rang and it was him, we saw on the monitor a ship coming towards the station. Not a fleet ship, but an Encronian one. The Lord Knight came alone. He took out all defences and entered the station…He was coming along the corridors. All of us fled I stayed behind just to be the last line of defence.” Thernright paused his eyes rising, his face in fear, “I…I saw him.”

  “What does he look like?”

  “Tall, taller then any being I had ever seen. At least seven and a half feet tall, maybe eight, I don’t know. That silver mask, those green eyes and the red and black cloak around him. I fired, but he was protected by something a shield around him.”

  A Shield? Lathan thought.

  “I ran and closed all doors behind me and he blasted each of those doors away. We got to the docking bay, where I was handed you. The Lord Knight kept on screaming ‘LUCIAN THORNE!!! DIANA THORNE!!! I COME FOR YOUR BLOOD!!!!’ at first he yelled then as he got closer and then his voice cooled. Like he wanted us to be at peace for his coming, for our deaths .Your father then looked at me and then your mother. He said words I couldn’t no believe. ‘You have to take him.’ to me and I couldn’t believe it. The Lord Knight came closer and closer. ‘You have to take him please.’ He begged to me and I looked at your mother who was in tears and she kissed your forehead. She nodded and said ‘Take care of my son.’ to me, my heart dropped Lathan, but I knew what I had to do.” He paused. “Your mother and father left on one ship and I left with you one another. I never saw them again.” he pauses. “For the first couple months of your life you were with me. In the same time we tried to find your parents. Bloody rags, clothes were sent to the fleet. They were the blood of your parents Lathan. He found them and he slaughtered them. The Lord Knight killed them.”

  Lathan’s heart breaks. Something befalls him and the urge to cry is imminent. No there is more he thinks. There must be more.

  “It was a dark time for the fleet Lathan. We didn’t protect our own. For some it seemed like the fleet abandoned your parents, but it wasn’t as simple as that. Things were going on in the government and nobody could be trusted. The fallout from the war was not positive. People were damaged without any chance of repair; it was all because of The Lord Knight’s return, because if he cannot die, then how could we stop him. The war would not be over. Ever.” Captain Thernright sighs. “The Galactic Fleet had a lot of rebuilding to do internally. Others left and never came back, some…some were even captured. We had to rebuild the wall of strength and unity. Once we did that after many years the enemy stayed quiet. Before then I had to let you go Lathan. I couldn’t raise you, not at the time when I was going through…a lot of personal problems. I couldn’t be the support you needed. Your mother’s parents and family had dispersed and could not be tracked and most of their lives had passed and your only living relative was your father’s brother Julius. I never wanted to do it truly, but you had to be away from that Lathan. Then,”

  “But not now right?”

  “Right. Fate called you back. Now we just have to see where the destiny of Lathan Thorne takes all of us next.”

  Lathan looks at his hands like they were the finest things he’d ever seen. Captain moves closer.

  “I know this whole thing is happening very fast and your mind is going every where right now. You just have to understand that something’s in life is bigger then us and the only choice we have is how to react to it and what we do when those things happen.”

  Lathan just nods in silence as Captain places his hand on his right shoulder and walks out of the room leaving Lathan alone with his thoughts.

  Twin moons shine in navy blue light and a tall figure face covered in darkness walking towards Lathan in a desert with the two moons in the background shining of Lathan, but not on the individual whose red cloak billow with breeze that comes out of no where. The man whose right arm is raised keeps uttering I will find you Lathan Thorne, I will find you. Then he adds give it to me or she dies Lathan Thorne.

  Then a female voice wringing in pain writhing with agony can be heard. LATHAN!!!! DON’TGIVE IT TO HIM!!!HE’LL KILL YOU!!!HE’LL KILL US ALL!!!!

  Then he utters something else, something Lathan should not understand, but he has heard those words before; Thrase Mortalis and a red blast comes from his hand and heads towards Lathan weakened and unable to defend himself, but this time it is the scream of the female unseen that wraps around the mind of Lathan and a body falls in front of him….

  Lathan springs up sweat pouring like the last time he had that same dream though this one was expanded and was far more frightening. Lathan looked around with his breathes calming and anxiety fading. Zenden and Jaden both asleep near him on their own beds at the ship’s sleeping quarters. Soft dim of the ship travelling through space sooths Lathan slightly and Lathan gets up putting on his boots and walking out.

  He gets to the cockpit and sees Kayla sitting at the front looking at the stars. She taps at a cup next to her with some smoky mist coming out of it. “It’s the finest tea. New Vennesulan made. Relaxes you.” She said turning her swivel chair towards Lathan. “You should take a sip. See if it agrees with you.”

  Lathan smiles and goes over and sits next to her. He takes the cup still hot and takes a little sip. His eyes close as the flavour takes over his senses. His body feels more relaxed then before. “You knew I would be up?” he asked.

  “I heard you groaning in your sleep. Seemed like a pretty intense nightmare.”

  “Yeah,” Lathan said, “it was….um, pretty intense.”

  “Had it before?”

  Lathan nods while taking another sip.

  “Well just remember it’s only in your mind. It’s not real.” Kayla said taking a sip herself. She looks at Lathan for a couple of seconds and says “I wanted to say you know…I’m sorry for what I said before. I spoke out of turn and I apologise.”

  “It’s okay. I hold no grudges.”

  “Then that is a good thing.” She said and smiles at Lathan who smiles back as they both take a sip at the same time. There is a pause between the pair. “How was the talk between you and the captain?”

  Lathan stays silent, not of ignorance or the fact that he might of felt insulted by the ease of such a question, but he was truly trying to think of the right thing to say.

  “Oh, I did it again haven’t I? Spoken out of turn! That is your business! I’m sorry! I’m sorry again!” Kayla said, “You know I should leave you alone, I’m not liking the taste of foot in my mouth again.” she goes to leave and is stopped when Lathan grabs her forearm. She looks at him with a mix of sharpness and embarrassment.

  “No, don’t go. It’s okay really, no insulting really. I was just trying to think of the right words to say, but you didn’t do anything wrong I can assure you of that.” He said while letting go of her arm. Now he looks embarrassed. “Sorry about the grabbing there…please sit I will tell you what he told me.”

  Lathan tells Kayla everything about his parents, the fact that Captain Thernright had him in his care for several months and mostly about the Lord Knight. Lathan whilst talking realised that there was still much more he wanted to know, that there was blanks that needed to be filled. Kayla sat there engrossed with Lathan was saying. Parts of her wanted to hug him seeing the pain past his eyes when was describing the events of his painful past, while other parts filled her with horror about the Falconen wars.

  “I heard about Dead Eye Thorne, he was just one of the legends, those silent ones that superiors often talk about. I didn’t know that he was your father. Captain Thernright holding you as a baby. I don’t know even know how you feel right now? I don’t know how you are holding it all in.” she said with her legs crossed in her feet.

  “I guess,” Lathan said looking out at the stars of infinite space, “that I feel some sorrow. It’s just that I never knew them. I never knew them at all, but just from what the Captain told me about their deaths and how the Lord Knight sent them rags covered in blood. Just to make some sort of statement.” Lathan’s hands begin to shake with rage. “The fricking callousness of it. It was him who ended it all, and has tried to end me.” his hand begins to calm. “Maybe it will be end of me if we’re in the same space.”

  Kayla then grabs hold of his hand. “I don’t think so Thorne. After what you did for me saving my life. I think that the Lord Knight will have trouble with you.”

  “What did I do Miss Starbright?”

  “I don’t know, but I’m going to find out eventually. I mean you got into my head while I was falling. So I’m going to start from there.”

  Did I? He thinks. “I don’t get what you are trying to say. I was in your head?”

  “Yes. If I remember you said that you were not going to let me die, that you were going to save me. It was strange because as soon as you said that as soon as I heard your voice I knew that I was safe. I believed.”

  Lathan goes a bit red when both of them realise that they were still holding hands. Kayla lets go immediately and becomes embarrassed herself. She looks away and coughs. “Refill?” Lifting up her mug.

  “Yeah and thanks.” He replies.

  “For?” she says as she stands to get more tea.

  “I don’t know, I guess for listening.”

  They both exchange smiles and Kayla Starbright brushes her hair as she walks off. Lathan kept on looking at her realising that under her forceful demeanour at times was a very beautiful girl. He looked at her hips swaying and how she had such a nice form. Her legs and waist. Jeez he thought watching her.

  She comes back and passes him a cup and sits back down. Silence was there as after a few minutes they both fell asleep and didn’t realise the Captain watching them from his quarters. He smiles and shuts back the door.

  Lathan thinks in his subconscious about the figure of The Lord Knight, it’s a blurred thinking of his tones and shape, but more then anything picking up an idea of how evil this alien was. Lathan was at once scared and angered for this knowing that their paths may cross in the near future and at once became excited about training. He wanted to be as ruthless as Kayla was with a weapon and as ruthless on a Speciour Knight ship as his father was.

  “Wake up Thorne.” Kayla said gently pushing his shoulder and Lathan wakes stretching his arms almost immediately.

  “What?”

  “We’re home.” Kayla points as Lathan looks forward as the planet of Speciour was right in front of him.

  The plant was similar to New Earth like a distant cousin somewhat, round about the same size, but the continents were much more spread apart. Kayla explained to Lathan that the main Fleet area was the central part of Speciour which was called Fleeten Mearion which was home to the largest command centre and final out post of the Galactic Fleet the great towers of Elegan Ventura. This was also home to the largest docking area for all the ships and had many aero trains which could take from one side of the planet to the other in maximum time of just three hours.

  The rest of planet was split into areas used for training especially the south and east. The southern part of the planet was mainly used for infantry training where all the grunts trained with weapons and field work; the southern part had mainly mountainous terrain and sparse deserts conditions perfect for draining the will of a weak character or bringing out the strength of another. The eastern part was used for flight training with its high altitude clear skies in most months it was where after infantry training where the select few chosen fly for the Speciour Knights. The air base Kayla told Lathan was on top of mountains hundreds of feet off the ground and even under the mountains for necessary for attack.

  The western part of for reconnaissance and medical training, this as where the brains of the fleet were taught and nurtured with any ability counted on and exposed.

  The ship glided to the planet’s surface and the first thing Lathan realises is how un-crowded this space was; only a few ships around unlike the space borne traffic above New Earth, at Speciour ships came out from the western side near the darkened part of the planet.

  Captain Thernright comes up to the pair and rests both his hands on the two cockpit chairs. “Guide us in Corporal.” He said with a gentle tone.

  Lathan watched as Kayla guided the ship past the atmosphere, into thick clouds which passing through last several minutes. There was an eerie feeling as the clouds did not disperse and by the time Zenden and Jaden reached the cockpit, they both saw as the ship passed the clouds, lavish green fields.

  “This is Speciour.” Zenden said with amazement.

  “Yes Master Tenstraighter. This is it.” Captain Thernright said looking at the green fields and mountains in the distance.

  The ship passed overlooking the long fields and mountains. The clear blue sky made the view more extravagant, the beauty that more sumptuous. This part of Speciour felt like the planet Vennesula’s distant unknown cousin with similar long stretching hills and mountains in the far off distance looking more blue then green fitting a across the great lake spanning from the north. The young three had seen beauty only a matter of a day before with the celebration party at Vennesula, but their image of Speciour and the things they heard was very distant to what was in front of them.

  “These are the fields of Elegan. Many battles were fought here long before us humans got here. Some of those rocks from the ground were born there, they were thrown.” Captain said and the young men watched seeing some rocks sticking out of the grassy surface as they fly past. “This planet has seen many, many battles. Thankfully when we came this place was dormant when we bargained with the Andulans. The warrior races here had killed each other off. I would only hope that we are not or ever going warmongers like the old races were.”

  The ship glides along following the river which leads to a valley of mountains which the ship flies over and the young men see a sight they did not expect to fall for.

  A large castle with four large silver towers in front can be seen at the distance. A large wall goes around with large cannons around it. “That there is the last out post of the Galactic Fleet gentlemen. That is Elegan Ventura.” Captain said.

  Around Elegan Ventura were several buildings with smaller towers with reflective glass. They can see cars flying in between the buildings and the train tracks of the aero train spanning different directions to the east, west and south. At the southern side many ships were seen docking and also many other smaller ships were flying out flying high into the air. All three had their mouths open in amazement.

  The ship goes to the right and towards the southern side of Elegan Ventura. They start to drop and head towards a tunnel which is a slope downwards as they enters they see green, red and blue lights on each side. The tunnel is around a quarter of a mile long, the slope is gone and they were on level ground and as they reach the end the ship starts to vibrate and Kayla lets go the steering control.

  “What are you doing?” Lathan asked as they were still moving.

  “We’re being parked.” Kayla said confidently.

  The ship goes past two large doors which open and in front was many other ships of other sizes. A docking bay. The ship goes straight and then goes to the right. Lathan, Jaden and Zenden looks at the other people at the bay stacking or clearing boxes from ships, loading weapons or fixing ships with sparks flying close by. The ship stops and Captain Thernright and Kayla both get up and start to unpack their things. The other three was still looking forward now knowing they were in amongst Galactic Fleet members.

  The three boys still couldn’t believe they were here. The shutter doors open and the three look at the docking bay which from the right to the left spanned for miles and seemed to go on forever. The ships were in the hundreds at both end and fleet support members wearing grease across their rough uniforms of dark green suits and black boots. Lathan looked at pilots coming from shoots above ships and landing in cockpits with ease. The three looked at ships being moved across the runways and then flying up the runways and into the air. All three could not hide their excitement. For a fleeting second they were truly young boys again.

  The five go to a lift which shoots upwards several levels. “The docking bays are all really several feet under the main stay of Elegan. It used to be further up by after the last attack by the Encronians years ago destroyed many ships and killed half the support staff. They moved the docking bays further down below for protection.” Thernright said as the lift comes to a halt. They arrive at a terminal were people sat or stood. It was the cleanest terminal the three of Lathan, Jaden and Zenden had ever seen, clear floors which a person could see their own reflection, see though interactive maps of Speciour with different colours for different areas of the planet navy blue was for Elegan Ventura, Red was for the barracks and infantry training for the south, green was for medical training and sky blue was for flight training centre at the east around at every points and clear and curved ennnair-plastic chairs made from a special plastic devised by Andulans which were far more comfortable and could accessorise heat settings for more comfort where around the platform. An aero train much like the ones of New Earth, but slightly less wide as the earth trains and the front nose was far more angular. It was also far faster with speeding passing a hundred eighty miles an hour and various routes to the south. The train parks and Kayla, Zenden and Jaden get on. Lathan is about to walk on when Captain Thernright’s large left hand stops him at his chest.

  “What is going…?” Lathan said quizzically looking at the hand across his chest.

  “You’re not going to the barracks yet Lathan.” Captain Thernright said, “You’re going to see the general of the fleet first. He means to talk to you.”

  Lathan looks at his friends as they are behind the shut doors of the train ahead. He can lip read Kayla telling the both of them to put on their seatbelts and they do. As the train starts to move both his friends give Lathan thumbs up and for some reason both of them looked worried. Then a worrying feeling crept onto Lathan and he did not like this feeling sticking around any longer. The aero train starts slows and then blasts down the track in a blink of any eye.

  Lathan turns to the captain. “Why does he want to see me? The general?”

  “You are Lathan Thorne. Son of the greatest pilot who ever lived. It is of the greatest importance that you see him.”

  They sit down on those comfy chairs which the automatic heat settings were on moderate chill which sent a chill up Lathan’s spine for the first couple of seconds. Lathan looks down at his boots and keeps looking. Captain then puts his arms on his legs and then sits up looking at the blue sky and the towers of Elegan Ventura in the far off distance.

  “You know Lathan; your name has been on the books of the fleet as soon as you were born.” Captain said. “I told you that before didn’t I?”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah cause of your name.” Thernright paused. “You would have gone onto college right?”

  Lathan nods.

  “What would you have studied?”

  Lathan laughs to himself “Art. It would have been art.”

  Captain laughs “Now you’re going to become a Speciour Knight.”

  “Could be worst right? I could be a starving artist with no will to live.”

  “How morose Lathan.”

  They both laugh and then stay silent hearing tannoy announcements and Specian birds’ crow.

  “Not all of the past events were in vain Lathan. I know that it was in your destiny to be here at some point.” Captain Thernright paused almost hesitant what to say next. “There was a part of me that was unsure of wanting to see you again and a part of me looks at you and sees that attack by the Lord Knight. It caused me great difficulty to ponder going through this again, but you master Thorne were worth the risk.” He laughs to himself. “I hadn’t even flown a ship or a sector knight jet for years before a couple days ago Lathan.”

  “You flew for me?”

  Captain Thernright nods. “I did. I knew I had to see you again. I knew that you were worth it.” he places his hand Lathan’s shoulder, “I think of you as that baby boy, but now alive and well you’re a sixteen year old young man who continues to grow and continues to learn and learn you will here.”

  Another aero train with a graphic that was going along the top of the train with running destination indicated. To Elegan Ventura Tower one.

  The doors open and Lathan and the Captain enter.

  By the time they reach the doors of General Venison Blake, he was already in there looking at pieces of paper. Captain Thernright and Lathan enter and as soon as he looks at Lathan he stands and salutes with a big smile across his face. Lathan surprised awkwardly salutes back. Venison Blake walks around his table and Lathan sees the height of the man, maybe a quarter inch shorter then Captain Thernright, but his muscular build was still impresses for a many in his sixtieth year of living. Lathan looked at his white beard and amount of gold and silver stars attached to his jacket. He went over and shook the right arm of Lathan who since dropped his hand from the salute. “He is finally here. Thank the lord you have made it here Master Thorne.” General Blake seems to study Lathan from a minute looking specifically at his face; the general’s eyes seemed to be taking a guided tour through Lathan’s zits which were dotted sporadically. “You look so much like him. Your father. You stand to attention like him too.” He smiles tapping Lathan’s back. “Tall, well not as tall as your father yet. How tall are you?”

  “I’m about five-eleven sir, nearly six foot even sir.”

  “And how old are you?”

  “Sixteen, but my seventeenth is on December tenth sir.”

  General Blake walks back around the table and sits. “I know of you birthday Master Thorne. Sit the both of you please.”

  Captain Thernright and Lathan sit.

  “I know Lathan Thorne that this, you being here and the beginning of your training is happening very fast. I know of your eventual plans to go to New Harvard and study art. We have contacted the school and have refunded the tuition fee back to your uncle’s account.” He pauses. “I am sorry about your uncle’s attack. I wish we could tell you that the four assassins were responsible for the attack, but it was another assassin called Myton who attempted to kill your uncle.”

  “What?” Lathan said shocked, “How do you know this? Is he dead? Have you…?”

  “It is unfortunate news Master Thorne, that Myton escaped a ship near the Andulan borders lightbroke out of out belt and into the eastern belt where the Encronians reside.”

  Lathan wanted to yell, he was angry that this Encronian bastard had gotten away and how could the fleet get this news so late? That he was gone and seemed to be untouchable. Both Lathan’s hands seemed to shake slightly with rage.

  “I know this is not the news that you needed to hear. Encronians have many ways of escape master Thorne.”

  Lathan nods with his bottom lips folding up as an indiscreet sign of agreement.

  “I just wanted to see you here Lathan face to face. I wanted to tell you that I admired your mother and father who both flew and fought with the Galactic Fleet with honour. I also wanted to apologise to you.” He stands up as does Lathan and the Captain. “We were not there for your parents. We should have protected one of our own. Two of our own in fact and all I have is regret master Thorne. I hope that you can forgive the fleet who have never made a mistake like the since and will never do that again with anyone on service to the four worlds of the seven planets system.” General Blake puts out a hand which Lathan shakes. “Accept this is a man apologising to a fellow man.”

  Lathan smiles and looks Captain Thernright who looks at contently serious as the General nodding to himself as the General continues.

  “I wish you the best of luck for your training Lathan, hoping that you carry on the legacy of your family’s great name.” General said smiling once again with the seriousness from seconds before evaporating from his face. He salutes the pair and they both leave when the general sits back down shifting his focus back to his papers on his desk.

  Captain Thernright shuts the doors behind them and looks at Lathan. “What was said by the General. His apology was for you and for you alone. Do you understand?”

  “Yeah I guess,”

  “You tell no one of this. Not to your best friends, not to Corporal Starbright. Only to yourself and to the almighty.”

  Lathan nodded as Captain Thernright walked ahead. Lathan had never seen the captain like that, but he guessed that the general’s apology was to Captain Thernright as much as it was him.

  Lathan reached the barracks which was underground a mountain range of Speciour. He looked behind and saw the towers of Elegan Ventura; those tall spires angelic in the smooth sunlight go off into the distance. The train ride was around the ninety minute mark and all Lathan though about then was the apology by the general of the fleet. Things must have been really bad then Lathan thought to himself on the train. He looked out to the mountains with the distant sun ahead, clouds scattered sparingly and the aero train gathering speed nearly every minute.

  The train reached the barracks after going under a tunnel which lasted more then twenty minutes to the whole journey in near darkness. The train stopped at an underground platform which was full of fleet members new and already enlisted. The newbies as they were called all had large duffle bags like Lathan and the booming sound of the tannoy spread orders like wildfire.

  Enlistees from England and America to Hall 4, New Europa enlistees go to hall 5 and New Asian to Hall seven, New African to Hall 8 and New Oceanic to Hall 9!!

  It could have all been very confusing for Lathan, who thankfully had Captain Thernright with or he would have been lost amongst the traffic. Lathan passed his enlistment papers which Kayla helped him with on the way to Speciour and identification card he went on and got his infantry training uniform which was a green t-shirt and camouflage with aggressive green and black with hidden yellow entrails mixed in with making the trousers look more traditional and it now dawned on Lathan what he was getting himself in for. He and the Captain walked along cavernous hallways which at time expanded into larger spaces like the wreck room and brig where a lot of the infantry knights hung out. Soft lights were dotted on the wall, three on a line with around five feet spacing between them.

  The walls were rock, but the ground further down to the rooms was concrete and the ceilings were hard plastered down with long electrical lights. Newbies were going past entering or exiting rooms. Captain Thernright and Lathan got to the room Lathan was assigned to, which was a moderate size with bunk beds, but the room was not inviting as Lathan thought it should and was rather shallow screaming out for a more positive design. The room was looking drab with two large wardrobes at the centre separating the two bunk beds and no windows at all.

  This was going to be hell. I was going to study art. I WAS GOING TO STUDY ART!! Lathan thinks then freaks out in his mind. Just calm he thinks as he sees Zenden unpacking, and his heart rises.

  “Lathan. You’re back how did it go?” Zenden said walking up to Lathan and Captain Thernright gave him sharp look.

  “It….It was okay. Cool, real cool.” Lathan said feeling the retinas of a superior officer burning him.

  “Well gentlemen and official enlistees, I advice you to get some rest. Impetus on the word rest. Because…” Captain Thernright pauses, “you will need it.” he smiles and exits.

  Lathan already doesn’t feel good about this whole idea, but his two friends being there should keep up the optimism.

  “Well you heard what the Captain said.” Zenden said.

  “Yeah, I heard it; don’t mean I have to listen to it. Guys the girls room are only minutes away! You want to peruse?” The unmistakable type of questioning by Jaden Sparrious.

  “I think we should chill here you know Jaden.” Lathan said. “Just resting is a good idea. I mean this isn’t a holiday resort or anything.”

  “My god. You guys will never cut yourselves loose. I’m going with freeing abandon!!” Jaden just went off out of the door. Lathan and Zenden both shake their heads.

  Lathan walks over at the bunk bed on the left. “I guess I got the top bunk.”

  “What makes you say that?” Zenden asked.

  “Cause you’re bigger then me and I don’t want you crashing down on me just in case you have any freaky dreams about Marcella okay?”

  Zenden doesn’t even answer. He just has a wry smile across his face and laughs to himself. Lathan starts to pack his things. Zenden stays silent. Lathan stops with his back turned. “Just ask me.” and Zenden asked him about what the Captain told him about his actual parents and the epic story about their plight and the war of the Falconen and the eminence of the Lord Knight. Zenden sat on a chair in front of Lathan sitting down on one of the bunks just captivated and horrified at the same time asking Lathan to repeat in detail about that attack with Lucian and Diana Thorne giving up Lathan as a baby.

  “They did that. They did for you.” Zenden said looking away shaking his head. “I wouldn’t know if I could do that.”

  “He slaughtered them. Sent the fleet bloody rags just to show that no one could get away from him.”

  “If he is so powerful why would he come down himself and find you and finish you?”

  Lathan thinks about that. That is true. For a being of such power then what could the fleet do against such an individual?

  “There is another thing which worries me.” Zenden said.

  “What?”

  “You said that the captain told you that he fired upon this Lord Knight, but a protective,”

  “Shield went around him.” Lathan finished.

  “He’s got the same thing you can do. You know that aint technology Lathan. If he can put a shield around himself then that is magic.”

  A chill appeared across Lathan’s spine. That was a thing he missed when Captain Thernright was telling him about the past. Magic was certainly part of the darkness. Lathan couldn’t shake the fact that he might be able to do what the Lord Knight could do. Before he could ponder any longer the door slides open and Hawken comes in with a disorientated Jaden clutching his stomach. Lathan and Zenden both stand up.

  “What happened to him?” Zenden asked as Hawken went past them and planted Jaden on his bunk.

  “I saw him sprawled out on the floor near the wreck room. He’s been in an altercation.” Hawken said dropping his bag.

  “That’s it!” Zenden said marching towards the door which opens automatically. “Who was it Jaden?” Zenden said with a clenched fist as Lathan was about to follow.

  “She had the nice lips I’d ever seen.” Jaden said is a dreamlike tone.

  Lathan and Zenden both stand by the door and turn round at the same time. “What?” they both said.

  “She was so beautiful I didn’t even see the hook coming to my chest. All I was doing was looking at hers.”

  “You got hit by a girl?” Lathan said.

  “A…A,” Jaden said sitting up grimacing in pain, “beautiful girl.”

  “Well he did say it was a challenge.” Zenden said laughing followed by the bellows of Hawken and Lathan.

  “Laugh it up, I bet you in a week that girl will be touching my chest and not in the aggressive way! More of stroking.”

  The guys laugh even harder. Jaden looks hurt and then frustrated.

  “MORE OF STROKING!!!!”

  Lathan lies on the top bunk in darkness. He cannot sleep he keeps thinking of what the Lord Knight could do and how much he wanted anyone close to his father dead. That Zenden’s words of not being able to give up family rung true in the mind of Lathan Thorne, could I do something like that? Could I let go someone I love to save them? Could I be selfish and let them die with me if my life was at cost?

  Lathan looks down at the bag at the end of his bed. He sits up and reaches the bag and takes out the Hidden History of the Old World’s Magic by Llewellyn Ariontas. He sits on the desk on the right hand side of the room and starts to read from the beginning of the book. He flicks through the pages of Olden realms of Magic and the mystical arts, about the different factions of good and evil.

  Such was a thing when the world was ruled by natural power, led by men of far reaching ability. Some men bled for the arts and other collected blood by using those same arts. That was the fundamental difference between those men, between the realms of good and evil.

  “The Lord Knight.” Lathan said to himself quietly. How could the mystical arts find its way to Encronia? Could they do magic too? And just like that he comes across a page.

  Many scholars have prophesied about The Mystical Arts and how it stretches so far. Those worlds from above have encountered and changed the way spells and commands are said and achieved. What we or I know is all of speculation, but what we do know is that before, in the olden world that most students and users who were called Magis had to use wands and staffs to harness and use the arts. When the foreigners of distant lands got hold of the mystical arts those instruments were not needed anymore. For some unknown reason they didn’t even need to utter commands. The arts were inside them.

  Lathan puts down the book. I don’t need any of those instruments. For some strange reason I know the commands. I don’t even know how. Lathan then has a horrifying thought. I could not be human. I mean I ripped that car door open like that. Am I human?

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Then alarms ring everywhere. Lathan looks around frantically, Zenden, Jaden and Hawken all rise up from their beds sharply rubbing their eyes. Banging comes from the front door. Lathan gets up and picks up his book.

  “Are we under attack?” Jaden said stepping from his bed.

  “What are all the alarms for?” Hawken said with some frustration.

  “Oh god, I don’t need this right now.” Zenden said still laying on his bunk.

  “YOU MAGGOTS BETTER GET YOUR UNIFORMS READY NOW!!!!” bellows a large voice from behind the door. “GET UP THIS ISNT PRE SCHOOL!!! GET UP NOW!!!!”

  “What the hell is that?” Jaden said covering his ears.

  “Don’t you mean who?” Hawken corrects.

  Lathan shakes his head before putting that book back in his bag with his eyes still firmly on the door which opens with a large man wearing green and brown and a large green hat on his head. He doesn’t look too impressed at three standing looking totally confused and one still lying down in bed. Behind the large man Lathan, Hawken and Jaden could see many other newbies just running past the hallway. “YOU MAGGOTS BETTER GET YOUR UNIFORMS READY NOW!!!!” he looks at Zenden still in bed. He walks over and stands near his bunk. “MOVE IT!!!! NOW!!!!”

  Zenden slams his head on the bottom of Lathan’s top bunk and rubs his head. “I’m up! I’m up!!”

  “GET MOVING TO THE FRONT OF THE BARRACKS IN FIVE MINUTES OR YOUR HEADS WILL BE MINE!!!!” the large man roared and stormed out of the room. The four then slowly get dressed not saying a word.

  “What was that about…” Zenden looks at his watch. “Four in the morning!!!”

  Around hundred newbies stood in front all in order and all straight as an arrow. Everyone boys and girls alike stood and waited. Lathan stood next to Zenden to his right and Jaden and Hawken to his left. The sky was still dark with some light starting to peek out. Lights were around huts on the barrack site. Lathan smelled the air which was as fresh as any summer morning on New Earth, with the lack of sleep catching up to him and his body feeling wary of its lack of strength for standing strong and still. Zenden had to hold him up from time to time.

  The large man appeared with another, a smaller individual who was stocky holding a compoboard a computerised clipboard. The large man walks along the long line of hundred male and female newbies and looked at each with a look of utter distain. Eyeball anyone who looked at him with equal distain or tiredness. He stops right near the middle of the line. He lifts his head up and sniffs the air.

  “I love that smell in the morning.” The large man said to the smaller man. He then looks to his right and then to the left of the line. He stands firm and straight both arms at the side in an almost self gratifying pose showing his superiority. “MY NAME,” he bellows to the morning sky, “IS DRILL SERGEANT SYKES. YOU WILL HATE ME FOR THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS!”

  I already do was the thought of most of the standing newbies.

  “I WILL TORTURE YOU AND BREAK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!!! SOME OF YOU WILL CRY HOME TO YOUR MOMMIES!!! SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE NIGHTMARES FOR YEARS, BUT I PROMISE YOU THIS; YOU WILL REMEMBER THIS TIME WITH ME HERE IN THE BARRACKS FOR THE REST OF YOUR NATURAL LIVES!!! MY TRAINING IF YOU’RE SUCCESSFUL YOU WILL GROW INTO A REAL MAN OR WOMAN. YOU WILL BE A GALACTIC FLEET SOLDIER! NOW SOME OF YOU WILL GO ON FOR FURTHER PILOT TRAINING TO BECOME A SPECIOUR KNIGHT. YOU BETTER HOLD ONTO THOSE DREAMS AND PRAY THAT YOU MAKE IT! YOU BETTER MAKE SURE THAT YOUR STRONG AND THAT YOU CAN MAKE IT!!! CAUSE INFANTRY TRAINING FOR YOU FLYBOYS AND GIRLS WILL MAKE OR BREAK YOU!!! I WILL MAKE OR BREAK YOU!!! NOW EVERYONE WERE GOING TO START A SIX MILE RUN….NOW!!!!!!”

  Every starts to sprint off with drill sergeant Sykes blasting tirades at the newbies all running in line. For the first mile running around the long grassy valley in front of the southern mountain ranges of Speciour everyone was keeping up at moderate speed, but by the fourth mile and when sunlight was starting to dominate the sky casualties of the run was starting to rack up, many had to be picked up others dropped to the ground, but had to be face by Sergeant Sykes “YOU WILL JUST LAY THERE? WHAT IF THERE WAS ENEMY FIRE? WOULD YOU JUST FRIKCING SIT THERE? GET UP! GET UP NOW!!! RUN! RUN LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDED ON IT!!!!”

  Some people regurgitated while running and almost fell on their own vomit. “VOMITING IS GOOD! YOU FAT PREENING ASS-MUNCHES WILL FINALLY LOSE SOME OVER DUE WEIGHT!!!”

  By the fifth mile Lathan was still moving strangely his deep inhaling breathes causing pain on his chest, but more critically kept him awake. Zenden’s large frame was not doing him any favours and his muscles started to bare down on him and slow him down. Hawken and Jaden both with slighter, but athletic frames meant that there bodies coped well with the run which was around the valley near the barracks going round them three times. By the time the sixth mile was completed the newbies all collapsed on the ground right where the run began. Sergeant Sykes barely losing breath or perspiring sprints of the group with fury in his eyes. “WHO SAID YOU CAN SIT DOWN? WHO SAID YOU CAN SIT DOWN? WHO SAID YOU CAN SIT DOWN?”

  Everyone springs to their feet.

  “IT CERTAINLY WASN’T ME! SO I DON’T KNOW WHY YOU DID THAT? PUNISHMENT IS CERTAINLY NECESSARY! ONE, NO TWO MORE LAPS NOW!!!!”

  Groans comes from all the newbies slowly making their way back to running again. “KEEPING MOVING! KEEPING MOVING!!! I’LL RUN YOU TILL I’LL KILL YOU FRICKING NEWBIES!!!”

  The four lie in their room in the evening. Pain rasping through their bodies. Everyone had an ice pack on some part of their bodies.

  “I did not sign up for this.” Jaden said with an ice pack on his head.

  “What did you sign for?” Hawken said resting the ice pack on his left shoulder with his eyes closed.

  “For the girls.” Jaden said laughing, but then pain covers his bodies stifling the laughs. This same thing happened to everyone.

  “Hawken?” Zenden asked with an ice pack on his torso, “Why are you eyes closed?”

  “Cause if I open them they are going to hurt.”

  “Lathan how about you?” Zenden asked as Lathan lay down flat on his top bunk with an ice pack on his left knee.

  “My whole body hurts. Jeez this is worse then Quasarball. I never thought that to be possible.” Lathan said grimacing after every second word.

  The room stays silent for a couple of seconds.

  “You see that girl with the blonde hair? You know the one at the left hand side with the nice backside? The one that stood out from the,”

  “SHUT UP!” is the call from the other three immediately followed by grimaces all in unison.

  Jaden mutters to himself. “Well I’m going to see her soon.”

  “I can still hear you.” Zenden said lying down himself on his bunk.

  “Well,” Jaden said with slight sneering, “you were supposed to.”

  “I heard that too.” Zenden said with some force.

  Jaden knows best to keep quiet.

  Lathan limped towards the videophone room across the main barracks. Past the brig and wreck rooms and right near the canteen. The room was large with seven rows of booths going across with loads of people in those booths, which were small with see through doors and adjoined by the sides. Lathan entered an empty booth and shut the door. Once shut the booths were soundproof from the inside and had no camera which was according to fleet rules a place of absolute privacy. Lathan had been thinking about his uncle for the last few weeks it has been three weeks since the first run, but hadn’t picked up the nerve to ring the doctors either fearing the worse news or still harbouring some ill advised rage towards the man who lied to him all his life. Lathan had also thought about the few sparingly good times he had with his uncle who was the man in his life. Little speeches here and there throughout the young life of Lathan Thorne about being a man and being responsible about taking charge of his your own life. A thing to say to an eight year old Lathan thought.

  Inside the booth was a video screen and in front of that was a dialler like a phone. Lathan pressed the call button and the screen switched on with the symbol of the galactic fleet which was four starts vertically going across to the right with two streaking comets at either side of the stars coming up on the screen. Registration code please comes up in prominence ahead of the symbol which looks faded when any other font comes on screen. Lathan types in 101281 which was his own id number. then dial in number including area code comes up on the screen and Lathan takes out a piece of paper and types in the number 00208 2351 4560 of the Hospital in New Angel where is uncle was. The screen keeps on the number which blinks showing that its dialling and then number vanishes and the symbols goes and the young receptionist that Lathan asked at the day of the attack appears on screen.

  “Yes sir how I can help you?” she asked looking into the screen before looking closely at who was on the other side. “Oh Mr Thorne. I will transfer you right now to doctor Nelson. Please hold.”

  Dr Nelson who is the same doctor who spoke to Lathan when he reached the floor where his uncle was appeared on the screen. He smiles and takes off glasses Lathan never knew he had on. “Lathan how are you?” he asked Lathan.

  “I’m fine doctor Nelson.”

  “How is the fleet treating you?”

  “Fine doctor.” Why doesn’t he just come out with it? Lathan thought. This is making it so much worse.

  “It has certainly been a while Lathan, well your father is still in a coma, but his wounds are starting to heal, but there is still some internal damage, but we hope that he can heal. In this case with him being in a comatose state may help him.”

  Lathan’s heart dropped. Internal damage. “So they’re still a chance…”

  “There is still a chance Lathan. He is though slowly, but surely healing. He’s a fighter Lathan and right now he is winning this fight.”

  The doctor’s encouraging words give little encouragement to Lathan who just nods to doctor.

  “Lathan listen to these words. Your father is going against something, but his will is not overawed. He is coming back from this. You understand me?”

  Lathan smiles and nods. “Thank you doctor.”

  “Remember you can call us at any time Lathan. At any time. I’ll give you my own personal extension number so you don’t have to call into reception all the time.”

  Lathan wrote down on the piece of paper the doctor’s number and they said their goodbyes. He had to keep calling him my father Lathan said as he exited the booth and limped on.

  Despite it being a few weeks since that first run Lathan was still limping thanks to the further excesses of Drill Sergeant Sykes, first were the runs which he would add on a mile each day and every one who dropped and didn’t vomit put on an extra mile. One girl Susie Carmichael got the brunt of it one day; “SO BECAUSE YOU’RE A WOMAN YOU THINK I’M GOING TO GIVE YOU SPECIAL TREATMENT? I SHOULD BECAUSE YOU WOMAN ARE IN NO DOUBT TO MY MIND THE WEAKER SEX! YOU COULDN’T DO WHAT A MAN COULD DO? US MEN ARE THE SUPERIOR IN TERMS OF physicality!!! IN FACT I don’t KNOW WHY THE LOT OF YOU ARE EVEN HERE!!!”

  Lathan could notice the other girls on the line looking, hoping for Susie slumped on the ground clearly tired incapable of moving, but they willed her to stand up to Sykes the classic misogynist and dominator.

  “WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO MISS CARMICHAEL? RUN BACK HOME AND KISS YOUR FUTURE HUSBAND’S ASS!!!! OR ARE YOU GOING TO GET GROOMED TO DO SO? YOU BETTER BE LIMBER BECAUSE YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO A LOT OF,”

  Then Susan Carmichael stood up she looked at Sergeant Sykes shaking, not of pain, but of fury and resolution in her heart. “NO SIR!!!!” she screamed.

  “THEN WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE?”

  “A FLEET SOLDIER SIR!”

  “WHY?”

  “BECAUSE I WANT TO PROTECT THE WORLD AND OUR GALAXY AND I WANT TO PROVE THAT A WOMAN CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, NOT JUST BY BIRTHING THE NEXT CHAMPION OR MAKING SOME STATEMENT ON A COURT, BUT BEING ON A BATTLEFIELD WITH MY SOLDIERS NEXT TO ME AND MY WEPAON IN MY HAND SIR!”

  “THEN THAT’S GOOD SOLDIER! WE MIGHT MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF YOU YET!” Sykes shouted and saluted Miss Carmichael who saluted back and everyone clapped. Sykes went close to her and whispered. “That is what it is to be part of the fleet, part of this army Miss Carmichael. Well done.”

  There was the running then the weapons training making sure that most of the newbies knew how to reload standard issue weaponry which was the firewall 200 a multi pulsar round gun capable of firing 200 rounds in a minute. The firewall 200 was far longer then most guns, but heavy at the grip just to make sure you knew it was there. There was also the shotgauge 250 which was for the larger individual a gun with a pump gauge action which made the hits much more powerful as being hit with the shotgauge could send even the biggest individual twenty feet back, while the final gun was the for the more accurate shooters the Snipus 2050 which the longest gun which also weighed the lightest, but whose pulsar could snap hit a target several miles away as the pulsars travelled faster in the air then other weapons on the fleet. Lathan, Hawken, Zenden and Jaden all did weapons training shooting at targets far away and then close, running with the weapons which got the usual abuse from Sykes. “YOU THINK YOU’RE AN ACTION HERO THORNE? I’LL TELL YOU WHAT YOU ARE AND YOU WILL LIKE THE PLAY ON WORDS THAT I’M ABOUT TO DO, BUT YOU THAT MEANS YOU LATHAN THORNE ARE A THORNE IN MY ASS AND I HAVE TO GET RID YOU!”

  The assault courses were looming as winter was coming ever closer, the wind chilled and days was getting shorter. Weeks turned into months as Lathan and the rest carried on the same routine over and over, run, shoot, learn formations, weight training and fight training, in that time Lathan grew an inch to six feet tall exact it was good for him as he had to face off every time against Zenden who had also grown an inch at time passing to six foot three and a half inches. Zenden himself had changed too; much of his bulk had since disappeared and became leaner more toned muscle. Drill sergeant Sykes liked Zenden never insulting him once always calling Zenden to lead the runs and praising him when the days were done. “YOU ALL SHOULD LOOK AT ZENDEN TENSTRAIGHTER! HE IS THE BENCHMARK! APPRECIATE THAT YOU ARE IN THE PRESENCE OF SUCH AN INDIVDUAL!” was Sykes usual yelling and some grew resentful of Zenden and Lathan had to keep an eye. Lathan also saw a lot less of Zenden who every other day to the aero train up to the west of Speciour to see Marcella. She never came to see him Lathan always thought.

  The same aspect came to Jaden who always went around Speciour looking for new girls to chat to, he worked his magic talking to a few girls making them laugh and smile. Even here Jaden Sparrious can get play. Is there anywhere he cannot get any play? Lathan thought as he sees Jaden walking with two girls on both sides of him walking into the wreck room were most people met up.

  Lathan himself kept alone, thinking of his uncle still in a coma, still asleep to the world, his thoughts on how some small part of him was still angry at him for lying, but that part was starting to subside, that his anger was relenting. It was here that Lathan thought of the good parts of his character when he was younger and when Lathan did fall that his uncle did indeed pick him up how could I not remember that? That he watched him read and draw when he was a child it was then Lathan felt alone. Each time he would have those thoughts it felt like those last days of summer missing those days and wanting to go back and relive them, even changing them. Lathan did have Hawken around excited that flight training was coming up ever so faster.

  “I personally cannot wait.” Hawken said looking at the flight training manual he managed to steal when Jaden and he went on their many excursions to the east. “I mean this,” pointing to the manual, “is what it’s all about Lathan. Getting your own sector knight fighter jet flying into battle at speeds you have never even felt.”

  “You’re really excited about this? It’s another month and a half away Hawken.”

  “Yeah so, I can’t get excited Lathan? Come on, after all these months you’ve still not changed. I mean when we won the national cup you weren’t excited and if my mind serves me weren’t you late for that?”

  “I apologised.”

  “I don’t mean anything by that example, what I’m trying to say is that you’ve got to get excited about something. For all the time I’ve known you, you’ve been in a shell; you can be more alive you know? I mean look we graduate a week after your birthday. You should be excited right?”

  “I guess.” Lathan answered with that nonchalant way exuding little excitement.

  “One day Thorne, I’m going to see you happy you know that, you’re going to cut loose. I’ll tell you that now.” Hawken said as he got up from his bunk and left the room. Again Lathan under his own devices was left alone.

  Most nights Lathan could not sleep, eerie voices in his head playing around with his subconscious, most times it was questions flirting around in his own voice I hope my uncle will be okay? Was it my fault he was in this situation? Does the Lord Knight know I’m alive? What would I do if ever encountered him? Could I kill? What were my parents like? Did they truly love me enough to let me go? Am I really meant for this? Am I really human? That’s a stupid one. I think…

  Lathan also relented from reading the book of magic given to him by Mr Casey I wonder who he is trying to inspire next. Most nights he hoped that he didn’t think of the dream that has haunted his nights since the summer. That same voice appears in my head asking me for what? Who is that girl? Is it her body that falls from the fricking sky? So by the early morning calls Lathan was lethargic enough surviving only barely three to four hours sleep in the afternoon and let evenings.

  “YOU WILL RUN WITH FURY AIM HARD AT THOSE TARGETS! DON’T MISS OR I’LL SHOOT YOU!!” Drill sergeant Sykes shouted with the newbies all kitted in the battle uniforms with silver protective armour under darkened green uniforms and helmets. They had guns strapped and packs with health kits, extra ammunition with food and water and radio communication which all added up weighed a ton. This is what that extra weight training was for Lathan thought as he stood there in the rain, the grey days dousing any sort of rousing feeling for the brutal assault training. Others laughed when Sykes made that threat, Sykes himself didn’t look impressed. He took out his gun and fire at a newbie standing to Lathan’s right and went down clutching his chest. No one moved. Every one knew that it was dead serious. That Sykes was dead serious.

  “YOU NEWBIES DON’T GET IT! THIS ISNT PLAY TIME! THIS IS REAL! NOW I HIT THAT GENTLEMEN WITH A SHOT SET TO STUN! THOSE GUNS IN THIS ASSAULT COURSE AND IN YOUR FINAL TEST ARE SET TO KILL! DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT? DO YOU GET WHAT I AM TRYING TO TELL YOU! THIS IS REAL NOW!! I KNOW WHAT YOUR MUMMIES AND DADDIES ARE SAYING ABOUT THE WORLD THAT IT’S SAFE! WELL I’M FRICKING SORRY TO BURST THE BUBBLE IN YOUR SHELTERED LIVES, BUT THE ENEMY IS STILL OUT THERE AND THEY WILL NOT STOP! UNTIL WE ARE DEAD!!! ALL OF US!!!” he walks straight in front of Lathan getting right in front of Lathan’s face. “Some of us more then others.” He walked back to the front and then walked to the man he shot. He picks him up as others along the line look at Lathan, including Jaden and Hawken.

  “MOVE!!!!!”

  Pulsar fire lashed the air cutting through the falling rain. Mud hit the face of the newbies crawling through the flesh slicing laser wires. They had to keep low to the ground; horror stories spoke before of a young woman three years before who got pricked by something on the ground and raised her head and it got cut right off and rolled across the mud. Her lifeless body they said hit by the rain with blood spilling from her neck. Her head with her eyes still open staring upwards stood still being covered by blood and water. So everyone kept low and they crawled for about a mile. At the end they had to run and hit firing targets in front of them. Destroying target machines with pulsar cannons for arms and no heads and legs just stationary machines with waist that turned reading movement from the front.

  Lathan came out sprinting from the crawl, so did Zenden who pumped his gauge gun fired upon the machines ducking and diving avoiding shots. Lathan fires and reloaded at fast and equal measure, Sykes looked and nodded from the side far off from the exercise. Lathan hit one machine while another two were taken out by two shots fired from the same gun. The gun of Jaden Sparrious as he stood confidently in the rain firing across hitting another two of the machine with another two shots. Sykes’s smaller assistant marked this down and both nodded just by the slightest look.

  A pulsar fire from the right heads towards Jaden firing upon two his left on the slope. Zenden reacts and leaps up spiriting clattering into Jaden moving him from the pulsar’s path. They crash on the wet mud.

  “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” Jaden yelled shocked as well as hurt from the collision.

  “SAVING YOUR LIFE HERO!” Zenden yelled as gunfire bleated the air.

  Lathan ran across and gave covering fire and covering the pair as they went behind some rocks with other newbies. Lathan ran dives, flipped and avoided pulsar fire with great athleticism and went to the other side. Again Sykes looked hard at Lathan Thorne with some silent interest. The newbies fires from their protective stations hitting the machines destroying them with every other shot.

  Sykes raised his hand and bellowed “HALT FIRE! STOP PROGRAM!” both human and machines stop fire and silence apart from rain hitting whatever it fell on was now around. Sykes stood up. “DOWN TO THE GYM HAND TO HAND COMBAT TWENTY MINUTES!”

  Everyone go up and ran to the right which was the quickest way to the barracks. Sykes just looked on and looked like an intimidating figure silhouetted in the rain covered by black water-resistant cloak.

  The newbies practiced several arts of hand to hand combat, including boxing to Krav Maga to kendo and sword fighting. Much was made of judo and jeet kwon do with woman flipping men and disabling them with ease which was more points for the ladies. Lathan and Zenden who fighting with Kendo and every strike by Lathan was easily blocked and dismissed by Zenden, but at the same time his strikes despite staggering Lathan back did little damage, but Lathan and Zenden both kept up their attacks as Sykes walked past watching the pair.

  Then they used Krav Maga and every blow was blocked as this tussle was more of Zenden’s strength against Lathan’s speed. This was a tie with Lathan getting the brunt of the hits by trying to match Zenden in strength and received easy blows and holds which flung him down. Lathan got up and used his speed more to counter act Zenden’s strength counter hits and fast hooks and throws taking down his friend, by the end there was no animosity, a general effect appeared between the pair both knowing that both could kick each other’s butts. Sykes again looked on as walked to the lockers together sweaty, bruised, but laughing amongst themselves.

  Later on Lathan walked to the videophone room and went into the booth. He typed in his registration code and dialled a number that wasn’t doctor Nelson’s. Lately he had been thinking about Kayla at lot, the one shining light in this situation, thinking how they got close during that night and that she saved his life and then he saved hers. That when he told her about his past he didn’t hesitate to tell her about it and talked for that long being for the first time in a long time being comfortable with a girl. He takes a deep breath and waits for the phone to dial.

  Then Kayla’s face comes up on screen. She looks real good. Real different more like a girl he thinks with her hair tied back he can barely seen what she was wearing waist down, but it looked like it was a white shirt and navy blue tie.

  Hi I’m Kayla Starbright. If you know me I’m sorry for the introduction, but you know you have to do it like this and if you don’t know me then I’m sorry if I’m not here to take your call, but if you leave your name and number I can get back to you as soon as possible. Thanks.

  It was a video message as the fleet symbol comes up on the screen and a computerised voice telling leave your message after the beep. Beep!

  “Hi, uh Kayla it’s me, oh you don’t know who me is? Not saying…not saying that you’re stupid or anything….No I didn’t mean that I’m sorry, uh….this is Lathan, Lathan Thorne and I, you know was just wondering how you and the Captain were. The guys and I are okay. Just got the final assault course to do and um, my birthday is coming up so I you know just seeing if you’re okay. Well I’m you can leave me a message on booth 1291114. Okay see ya!” and pressed the hang up red button to end the message. He slaps his forehead hard. Real smooth Lathan. Such a ladies man you are. Well done. He thinks as he leaves the booth in disgust of his own self.

  Drill sergeant Sykes is in his office to someone. The office small and cluttered with files and awards with medals of honour and commendation are around the walls and tables and shelves. He looks at the screen leaning on his chair. He thumbs a pen in his hand twirling it across with easy efficiency. “Lathan Thorne is special. He moves very fast and his reflexes are the best of the newbies. His accuracy is good, but not the best. That falls to Jaden Sparrious, he reminds me of Starzancer. Very cocky and very good. This thing you were telling me though I don’t think, well I don’t know if he is…he is very strong, but he is not the strongest. That falls to his friend Zenden Tenstraighter. He is very strong and the longer I train him he gets far stronger. What does that mean?”

  It was a week before Lathan’s seventeenth birthday and he wasn’t really thinking about it, it had been just over six months in Lathan’s stay in Speciour he had never left the compounds of the infantry barracks. Lathan had many questions flirting through his mind in those months, but recently with news that his uncle was showing great signs of improvement, he was focusing on one thing. The lack of news from Kayla’s side. Well not as promising Three weeks ago he left her a bad message asking how she was and messing up his speech entirely, but even so three weeks is long enough to get over the laughter. He at once thought maybe she was at a mission or something? Or maybe she was just embarrassed at how Lathan spent over five months trying to get in contact with her. That it showed that he didn’t care, but he did.

  Lathan was sprinting down the long valleys of the run the group did in the early morning, even before Lathan looked slightly older less fresh face then before and his running gaining with that extra one inch in his height made him look more like a young man then a sixteen year old transferring to seventeen year old. He ran slowly up the hill far head of the pack as he usually did as his endurance was improving with every waking days and his leg muscles were too proving to be impressive. The valleys stretched for many miles, but the run was just going up and around the valley nearest to the valleys and round down the two thousand metres back to the barracks. He always got there first and always looked like he could run for far more. Sykes in with the last week of training before the newbies were going to be split from Speciour Knight Flight training here in Speciour and moving to infantry sections on other fleet protected planets was being less insulting then before.

  “THAT’S GOOD! THAT’S GOOD!!” he said as people were running in for the long run, “MY MOTHER WITH A BUSTED HIP COULD DO BETTER!!! YOU HEAR THAT MY MOTHER WITH A BUSTED HIP COULD DO BETTER LANGLEY!!! LANGELY WHAT DID I SAY?”

  “YOUR MOTHER SIR!”

  “WHAT?” Sykes said charges towards Langley who was keeling over, but then stands straight.

  “YOUR MOTHER WITH A BUSTED HIP COULD DO BETTER SIR!!!”

  “GOOD! GIVE MY A HUNDRED PUSH UPS FOR THAT STUPID PAUSE!”

  I guess that was the sergeant’s way of saying that he was going to miss us Lathan thought oh my god how gullible do I sound?

  Zenden had popped away to see Marcella again, Hawken was talking to his parents at the videophone booth and Jaden was talking to Lathan about Kayla in their room.

  “Women are confusing bro…they are like a maths problem. You want to know what the answer is, but you have to work real hard to figure it out.” Jaden said lying back on his buck with both hands behind his head.

  “Maybe and I cannot believe I’m saying this, but maybe you are right. What was I even thinking ringing her? Like after five months.”

  “Should have been six bro. half a year makes a girl worry about you.”

  “I shouldn’t have rung her.” Lathan said sadly.

  Jaden sits up and looks at his friend. “No bro, you were right to ring and major kudos for doing that. It was just…your execution of the convo from what you told me was,”

  “Flawed?”

  “No, my friend just plain terrible. You should have told me and I would have written something down for you.”

  “I don’t know. If you did that it would have been something scripted, I don’t want that. I would want it to be something natural you know?” Lathan said.

  “Yeah, but now right now you’re sitting here alone. Thinking about negative stuff. If you told me I would guarantee you that you would be at hers right now.”

  “Doing what?” Lathan asked and Jaden just raised his eyebrows and smiled. He knew what his friend was on about. “Stupid question.”

  “Yes it was Lathan. Yes it was.” Jaden pauses. “Why are you so interested in her now? After all these months.”

  “I don’t know, it’s just I haven’t really been talking to girls since I got here.”

  “Yeah keeping up consistency.” Jaden laughs.

  Lathan gives Jaden a stern look. Jaden mouths “sorry.”

  “It’s just…I for some reason unbeknownst to me have been recently thinking about her. She’s pretty and she tough. I mean real tough Jay; but she’s easy to talk to, unlike some of these vacant broads around here. I’ve just been thinking about her.” he pauses with a dreamlike gaze looking up at the ceiling. He faces changes to a sadder gaze now looking down at his black boots. “What was I thinking? She’s 17 and I’m not even 17 yet. Girls date up not down.”

  “That’s not true my friend. The majority of girls I go for are all older. Hey that may change when I pull the grey hairs from my scalp, but thankfully that is a long time from now and until then I reaching for the top of the peak or the highest of the furthest stars!” Jaden said enthused and stands after a knock from the door. He presses the open button at the side and the doors slide open and on the other side is Kayla Starbright herself.

  Lathan stands up in shock as she looks at him and smiles awkwardly. “Hi Thorne, Jaden. It’s been a while.”

  Lathan Thorne looked upon Kayla Starbright with the type embarrassing look of awe you would associate with the boys of his age. The nervous type. The time for coolness had dropped as fast as the moment came. She was standing right there in front of him.

  “Wow Kayla, uh corporal hi, it’s…it’s of a great surprise that you are here.” Lathan said nervously mumbling some of his words.

  Jaden leans in close to him. “Stop the new age Shakespeare.” Then to Kayla “Miss Starbright it is very good to see you it has been a long time.”

  Kayla looks at Jaden for the first time since she entered their room. She smiles at him, but every so often looking at Lathan. “Yes it is good to see you guys again….how is,”

  “You know,” Jaden said, “I’ve actually got a couple things to do. So I’m just going to leave you two alone. Lathan can show you around.”

  “I am?” Lathan said surprised like a knee-jerk reaction to Jaden’s actions.

  “Yes you are.” Jaden said to Lathan almost sternly. “Kayla I hope to see you soon, maybe later. I hope you enjoy the company of master Thorne.” Then just like that Jaden Sparrious just left and Lathan Thorne was alone with a girl he had been thinking about a lot lately and wondered certain things about her.

  “You know,” Kayla said walking up to Lathan clearly a nervous soul, “I know my way around here. Only last year I was here.”

  “Oh okay.” Lathan said nervously. What is wrong with you? Why are so nervous? God I hope I’m not sweating he thinks as he passes his hand across his brow.

  Kayla recognising that he was indeed nervous laughs. “Let’s take a walk.”

  The cold evening sky brought up a few glimpses of light. Other newbies were seen walking around and Fleet cars passed the pair in a hurry.

  “It seems like such a long time ago since I joined here. You know I never got until recently why most pilots have to go through infantry training. You ever wondered that?” she asked.

  “I guess, sometimes. I never really thought about it. I just thought it was the normal procedure.”

  “It is. If you’re a pilot and you crash land onto enemy territory then this training helps. I never really realised that. The training here makes you stronger.” Can you please stop talking about training you’re boring the crap out of him. Oh my god what am I saying? Do I care about…no don’t say it... Frick I do care.

  “You sound excited by the fleet.” That’s good talk about the stuff she likes “you’ve always thought that you’d be here.”

  “You can tell?”

  “Well you know I can see it when you talk about the fleet.”

  Kayla laughs. “Tried to give it away I guess. I cannot help it Thorne. I always knew I was going to be here. My mother was in the fleet for many years. I have a family history here. I always knew.”

  “It’s a good thing to feel that way. Seventeen and thinking far ahead. You never went to school though.”

  “I had some schooling where I came from.”

  “New Chicago right?” Lathan said it was New Chicago I hope.

  “Yeah, right.” She smiles, “but I was on a monitoring list. The fleet took kept tabs on me and when I was sixteen I left to join the fleet. Got my high school diploma and the fleet can give you collegic education.”

  “You ever regret leaving school early?”

  Kayla stays silent pondering that last question. “No I don’t think so. No, No I don’t. I knew that this was one of those moments Thorne. You know where you realise your life would never be the same again and you know what? I wanted to take that moment and just go with it. Take a risk. Plus I was in school dreaming of flying across the cosmos.” Oh that was tacky Kayla. Real smooth.

  Lathan smiles. “I could imagine you in class drifting off.”

  “What!” Kayla said before nudging Lathan in the arm pushing him to the side. They both laugh and she looks up at him. “You’ve grown.”

  “Only by an inch or so.”

  “What’s it like up there?”

  “At this time of the year? Windy.”

  They laugh again. Then both stay silent as a ship flies past in the air. This does not bother the pair.

  “I wanted to thank you for the message. It….it was,”

  “Weird?”

  “Yes it was, clearly weird. You’ve never left a girl a message before.”

  “Wait.” Lathan said and he stopped walking. Kayla stopped as well looking round confused. “You’re a girl?” that’s risky.

  She smiles and laughs nudging him again. “Where did that sense humour come from Thorne?”

  “I can pull it out the hat sometimes.” Lathan said phew thank god she laughed he thought and they carried on walking going towards the long valley near the mountains surrounding the barracks. Wow, keep it going. I never knew I had it in me. Far more important to Lathan was a fact that he had talked to her about his past and the ease of the conversations with Kayla became very apparent. It was like talking to an old friend. It is so easy talking to her. Lathan Thorne fell for her even more as he listened to her words delicately making sure that he got everything and reciprocated with the right sort of response.

  They sit up on a hill looking over the barracks. The hill which was near the bottom of the mountains, but high enough to see the complete compound including the platform of the aerotrain which went under the ground and the tunnel can clearly be seen.

  “How is your uncle?” Kayla asked.

  “He’s pulling through. He’s still in a coma, but they tell me he’s getting better and that he may wake any day now.”

  “That’s good.” She pauses. “Are you okay?”

  Lathan looks at her and raises his knees up putting his hand to the ground for support. “I’m okay. I just…I just hope he gets better.”

  “He will.”

  They stay silent again watching the fading sun fall down across to the north. “You have any plans for your birthday?” Kayla asked.

  “To stay alive.” Lathan laughed. Kayla looked confused. “The final assault course is tomorrow. Explosions, pulsar fire everywhere, full weighted uniform. Much fun.”

  Kayla surprisingly looked concerned. “Are you ready for it?”

  “I’m going to have to be.”

  Both stay silent once again, both look forward at the light fading in the distant sky. A chill comes across from the tops of mountains and passes the pair. Kayla shivers and rubs her arms. Lathan takes off his jacket and drapes it over her. Kayla looks over at Lathan and smiles. “Thanks.” She said clutching onto the coat.

  “You’re welcome.”

  “You know you will be cold by the time we get down.”

  “I know,” Lathan said with confidence, “but it would be worth it.”

  Kayla smiles and goes red, “Lathan I wanted to…” but again with clear shyness turns her face away hoping Lathan does not see her embarrassment.

  “Yeah?”

  “Nothing...” Kayla keeps going red. What is wrong with you?

  Kayla drops Lathan back to the front of his room. There were awkward silences between the pair on the way back down to the barracks, but both were happy to be in each other’s company.

  “I’m staying with a friend. So I’ll be here for your final training and…for your birthday. I mean if you want?” She said nervously looking down at her boots.

  “I would um, would like that. Very much so.”

  Kayla looks up and smiles. Lathan looks at her falling for her brown eyes and the curvature of his lips when she smiles. She is beautiful he thinks to himself.

  “I’ll see you later then.” She said.

  “Yeah you will.” Lathan replied as Kayla starts to walk away smiling. “Kayla wait.” She stops and turns round. “Thanks for coming down you know to see me.”

  She smiles and takes a deep breath. “Thank you for the message.”

  He slaps his forehead and she laughs and waves goodbye. He waves back and looks at her walk off. Kayla in the other hand slaps her hand on her forehead looking quite annoyed what was the waving for? That’s what little girls do or the prissy girls do. I’m not a prissy girl. Great move. Just great.

  Lathan watches her go down the hallway and turn to the right. He smiles and the door slides open and Hawken, Jaden and Zenden are sitting in looking at him all of them smiling. “What’s going on?” Lathan asked confused.

  “Oh Lathan, “ Hawken said putting on an effeminate voice, “I came all the way to see wearing little or nothing else.”

  “Oh baby,” Jaden said deepening his voice, “I know or knew you would come, that’s why I put on special briefs for you.” Tapping his trousers.

  “I love you Lathan Thorne!!!!”

  “I love you Kayla Starbright!!!”

  “Come on my ship!” Hawken said with his arms spread aloft.

  “Oh baby,” Jaden said pulling up his pants comically, “I intend to.”

  The three burst out laughing like little boys and Lathan walked mockingly and went to his bunk and got one of his pillows and started to attack his friends getting the funny side.

  It was another couple of days struck by the harsh force of rain. Lathan stood of in front of the beginning of the assault course being unfortunately the last one left. Everyone in his group had completed the assault course. Some looked like they truly went through hell and back. Drill sergeant Sykes looked at Lathan Thorne standing to the right hand side while all of the other newbies stood behind all on one knee an exercise they had to do until their entire group had completed the task. Lathan had full uniform with heavier then usual pack behind his back. Lathan looked behind looking at his three friends all giving nods and thumbs and mouthing “you can do this.” He then looked to a hut located on the left hand side where Kayla and Captain Thernright stood. Both smiled at Lathan with Kayla giving thumbs up before screwing up her face for some reason that confused Lathan. She is looking at her thumb like she wants to bite it off.

  “Lathan I am sure you have heard this already, but I will tell you the same as I told the others in your group before going through the assault course. You have to go over these hills and avoiding gunfire and landmines. You have to take out as much gun machines as much as you can before planting your communication device on the top of that hill,” Sykes points to a hall to the far off right along the hills “and then come back in the fastest time possible! You understand Thorne?”

  Lathan nods.

  “Okay Thorne,” Sykes points his handgun in the air as his smaller colleague has his hand on a stopwatch. “Go!!!” he fires in the air.

  Lathan sprints over and leaps over log perched up first time and then lands and rolls under one in one graceful movement, he sprints and climbs up a rope pulling, stretching really working those muscles up to another platform running then along a wet log with little or no grip, Lathan leaps off the log and gun fire comes from his right, a gun machine from behind some rocks and opens fire Lathan dives to his left and fires destroying and hitting the machine, but then he hears beep…beep…beep he swivels away and dives to his right as a landmine explodes moving him with force twenty metres to his right another gun machine this time appears from his left and he fires at it running sprinting with speed tripping over, but just barely avoiding another landmine.

  He fires and destroys the gun machine on his left and runs up a small hill, and then slides down the muddy surface to the bottom of the hill where another two gun machines opened fire. Lathan rolled away firing as he avoided one shot hitting and he slides across the floor shooting at both gun machines switching his gun from hand to hand with quick and efficient skill. That Quasarball training certainly coming in handy Lathan thinks as he gets up and runs down a long path with explosions around him sending mud and dirt around him which covers his helmet and some hit his face which he wipes in mid run covering his eyes for a couple of seconds before a pulsar comes right towards him, before with the grace of another power he manages to avoid diving to the ground and then getting up grunting, but hoping my god let me live through this one…

  Lathan sees the hill in sight as more pulsar fire comes from on top of peaks Lathan sprints firing as true as he possibly could in this type of situation and hits one then the second before leaping up and trying to climb up the muddy surface, Lathan having to call on extra reserve energy slowly climbs up to the top of the hill where he sees so many indents on the ground where everyone else put their communication devices on. Explosions and gunfire were still rattling around and Lathan took out the communication device a small metal rod which when stuck on the ground at the same time a button would have to be pressed and blue light which would indicate when it was on.

  Lathan takes out the communication device and looks at it with rain hitting it and sound being dimmed by the relentlessness of the explosions. He nods to himself thinking that according to his own plans that he should have been at art school looking florescent colours in the evening sky basking in beauty, instead he was here in blood, sweat, mud and attempted and much wanted glory. Plans change he thinks as he slams it into the ground pressing the button at same time and the blue light flashes. He then gets up and slides down the other side of the hill rolling and springing to his feet as he reaches the bottom and sprints down an open path with range of mountains on the both sides. Lathan stops as he hears a buzzing sound he looks to his left and then his right. Then he looks up three mini gun machines with wings and attached to those machines… pulsar fire comes and Lathan sprints away, but still shooting looking backwards. He fires and hits one, but another fires and triggers off and landmine in front of Lathan inadvertently saving his life. Lathan rolls to his left and fires at the two remaining airborne gun machines one swoops right past him big mistake he thinks and shoots it down with ease. He gets up and dives a few feet forward watching the other gun machine soaring then diving great had to leave the best for last. Lathan watches it and it swoops shooting the ground in front of him blasting up the ground and mud flying everywhere, but Lathan stands in firm just with his gun raised standing at the machine switching trajectory from right to left and Lathan stood very still. One shot is all I need. His eyes follow then machines not the mud in the air or the pulsar fire coming towards him right then left, right then left then… he fires dead centre and destroys the machine. YES!!!!! Lathan then sprints off with renewed vigour as the chorus can cheers can be heard as he goes round the path and sees the long stretch of land and ahead was Sykes, the newbies and he could see Kayla and Captain Thernright cheering him on and smile hits Lathan’s face. I’m going to do it.

  Explosion rattles and he avoids them with the ease he has done so far in the course the greys of the sky and brown freshness of the mud being lifted is replaced by blue what? What is going.. Lathan is suddenly in a canyon in his hand was a golden orb flashing white into the blue sky what is this? Where am I? He then sees the same man in a red cloak which billows in faint wind.

  “Where is it Lathan Thorne? Give it to me.”

  What? Lathan thinks as realises that his hand right hand is holding the golden orb behind his back.

  “Don’t give it to him Lathan! Don’t he will kill us all! Don’t give it to him!!!” that same female voice says. Why does that voice sound so familiar?

  The man in the red cloak raises his hand and Lathan feels great pain in his chest. “If you don’t give it to me. I will kill her then kill you. Give me the Analyan now.”

  “Don’t!!! Lathan don’t!!” comes the female voice again and Lathan looks around and the looks up and sees a girl held up in the air. What?

  “So you will not give me the Analyan Thorne? Then she dies.”

  No!!!!!

  A red blast hits the girl and she screams and then falls to the ground. Lathan looks at her face. He looks very closely as he face moves rests in front of his view. It is Kayla.

  No, no it can’t be. No you son of a…

  “THRASE MORTALIS!!!!” the man in red shouts and a red blast hits Lathan who hears his own screams and then darkness which turns to grey skies and thick rain and Lathan’s right foot touches something hard. He looks down beep…beep…beep No. then the ground under him explodes and Lathan is thrown high into the air with searing pain across his back and right leg he says “Shelian nearious” with his voice fading and light giving away to darkness.

  The body of Lathan Thorne landed hard on the wet muddy ground. Kayla sprinted off towards him as did Zenden, Jaden, Hawken and Captain Thernright.

  “STOP THE PROGRAM!!! STOP IT NOW!!!” Thernright yells to his right as all the newbies run down to Lathan. Kayla runs faster then everyone and reaches Lathan first clutching his head with his eyes closed not breathing, not moving.

  “LATHAN!!!” she screams, “SOMEONE PLEASE HELP HIM!!! SOMEONE PLEASE!!!”

  Lathan calls out to her in his mind as he can hear her sobs. “Kayla…Kayla…I’m sorry.” Then the mind of Lathan Thorne relinquishes any more thoughts and no feeling comes across his mind and body.

  The Medical centre at the west of Speciour is where Lathan Thorne lay. Silent, peaceful with a heart rate monitor next to him for all he knew and cared for him the beeping sound coming from the monitor gave them fateful solace that Lathan was indeed still part of this world. Still part of life.

  The doctor came out of the room with see through glass and everyone stood up. “We can speak alone Captain.” He said to Captain Thernright. He also looked quite agitated.

  “No these are his friends,” Thernright said pointing to Zenden, Jaden, Hawken and Kayla, “they need to know doctor.” He paused looking at the flustered face of the doctor brushing his jet black hair up on his head.

  The doctor looked at Lathan and then at Captain Thernright. “I have never seen anything like it Captain. An actual miracle. Lathan Thorne should be dead. He should have least lost his right leg and have scarring on his right side, but there is no scratches on him. He is unblemished from the blast.”

  “What?” Captain Thernright said sharing everyone else inner thoughts of confusion, “I don’t understand, nothing is wrong with him?”

  “He has some head trauma hence why it seems he’s in a comatose state, but physically apart from what maybe some ruptured muscles on his right leg he is fine. I mean by the lord himself I have never seen anything like that before. I used to such a cynic, but what happened to Lathan Thorne I would believe it Captain to be divine intervention. Someone up there is looking out for Master Thorne.”

  “What about the head trauma?” Captain Thernright asked and everyone then averts their eyes from the sleeping Lathan to the doctor who checks his chart.

  “Well it seems that he’s it lost in his subconscious. For some reason his mind has locked onto something, something we cannot wake him from, if we do it would have dire consequences.”

  Kayla then walked up to the doctor and said “What in his subconscious could be keeping him unconscious?”

  “It could be anything, a suppressed memory from his past, usually memory from a young age is always revealed or it could be regular dream his mind could be trapped in, it all depends on his mind state. He is sedated so I would rule out any nightmarish dreams.”

  “What can you do to wake him?” Kayla asked with more urgency.

  “I cannot. The only thing we can do is to keep waiting for him to wake.”

  “What if he doesn’t wake from this state?”

  “I don’t think corporal you would want to know my answer.”

  Kayla nods as he hands touch the glass on Lathan’s room. Zenden walks over and places his hand on her shoulder. She clutches it and rubs it keeping her emotions in check. What is he thinking of? What is trapping him inside his own mind?

  A baby crying is the sound that comes across the mind of Lathan, his eyes feel a piercing glare of light am I being raised? What is this? He thinks as the crying becomes louder all he can see is the light anything else any other figure is blurred his vision not focused.

  It’s a boy!!! It’s a boy Lucian! You’re a father…you’re a mother Diana….look at your baby boy…

  I recognise that voice Lathan thought that is the Captain’s voice a hands picks him up the colour of the hands was brown. My father Lathan thought as the light turns to darkness. No I need to see more. I need to know….

  Lathan recognised where he was next. The darkness did not last long this time as the cries faded. It was his front room where he was next. The room looked different as he was closed to the ground playing with action figures and his favourite cartoon hero spaceman Joe was on the television. The room seemed larger and many of the newer appliances around the room such as portable microwave and the fridge that came from the ceiling were not there. This was when I was six or seven I think. Why am I here?

  “I CANNOT TAKE THIS ANYMORE JULIUS!!!! I DON’T WANT TO BE HERE!!!” A woman yelled. That voice sounds so familiar Jesus who is that? A young black woman, pretty with long hair wearing a sundress comes out of the hallway dragging her suitcase into the room. A young black male follows after her trying to hold her hand, but pushes her away. Uncle Julius and Janice his ex-wife.

  “BABY PLEASE IF YOU LISTEN TO ME!” he yells and pleads at the same time. “WE CAN WORK THIS OUT!”

  “HOW CAN WE? WE ARE LOOKING AFTER A CHILD THAT YOU DON’T EVEN LIKE! YOU NEVER CARED FOR HIS FATHER AND NOW WE HAVE TO LOOK AFTER HIM! JULIUS WE ARE TRYING FOR A FAMILY OURSELVES AND THIS FRICKS THINGS UP FOR US.”

  “WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO? HE IS FAMILY FOR CHRIST’S SAKE! HE IS MY RESPONSIBILITY!”

  “WHAT ABOUT ME JULIUS? WHAT ABOUT US? YOU AND I? ARE YOU GOING TO LET THIS BOY COME BETWEEN US? REMEMBER HOW YOU FOUGHT LONG AND HARD TO GET ME!” she calms her voice moving closer taking his hand, “and now you have me. You and I, just you and I together for life.”

  “Janice. Are you asking me to dump family? To choose between my eight-year old, my son and you?”

  “Yes.” Janice said crossing her arms.

  Julius thinks for a second and then shakes his head. “Don’t let the door hit on the way out.” he said with coldness.

  “You know you blew it Julius Thorne! I was the best you ever had and the best you ever will have! Let you rot in your own isolated shell!” she said slamming the door.

  “Frick.” He said to himself. He sits down and puts his head on his hands. Lathan could hear crying and walked over and hugged his uncle who wrapped his arms around Lathan. I remember that. I’m so sorry dad.

  Darkness hits again before Lathan feels the sun hit his face. He looks at grassy field with other kids playing. I remember I’m ten here. I asked him something. Lathan looked over to his left and his uncle was reading a paper. Lathan again was playing with his spaceman Joe action figure a muscular figure with a rocket on his back wearing all white and red across his sides. His pulsar weapon always on his right hand.

  “Dad?”

  “Yes Lathan.”

  “Did mum leave because of me?”

  Julius looked at him and put down his paper he sighed and lifted Lathan on the bench. “Firstly you never call her your mother, because she is not your mother. Secondly she left because…she left because she was never in love with me. We were having trouble Lathan and sometimes love plays tricks on you.”

  “What kind of tricks?”

  “Terrible tricks Lathan. Terrible ones. You’re not too young to hear this and you may as well hear this from me. When you find the right girl son, you’ll know when she is the right one, you’ll have this feeling right here,” he points to his gut, “that’ll tell you if she is the one. With that woman, the woman you once knew, the woman who left. Down here,” he points to his gut once again, “I didn’t get a feeling from there; I got a feeling from somewhere else.”

  “Where?”

  “I’ll tell you in three years. Now because I got that feeling I didn’t think and I thought I was in love, I thought she loved me,” he paused for a couple of seconds, “she did not. She was a selfish person and for years I didn’t realised, but she poisoned me Lathan. She made me into a fool. I could have been with another girl, but I was stupid. My mind son, was clouded, love played a trick on me. I thought she defined me Lathan, but I realise now that a woman cannot define you as a man, like a man cannot define a woman. You are the only who can define yourself. With decisions and your responsibility to yourself and the ones you love. I am responsible for you and I take that job very seriously. When you grow up you may have the responsibility of taking care of someone. Being there for someone and protecting someone. I can only hope that I give you the right tools to be that man.”

  “I think you are. I helped Jaden out once. Zenden and I we protected him from this boy who was pushing him around. So we chased him away from Jaden.”

  “You did?” Julius said with a smile.

  Lathan nodded. I did then he said…

  “You keep an eye on that Jaden boy; he’s always chasing girls running around like a headless chicken. That type of boy has only one thing on his mind. You make sure that you are there for him and Zenden, that boy is one true friend. When you tried to run away and scared me sick he brought you back to me. You keep him as a friend Lathan, you understand? Friends like that are hard to come by.”

  Lathan nodded again. I did dad. I did

  “That woman she asked me to choose between you and her. It was then I knew I didn’t love her. That she didn’t love me. I made the right choice in the end.” Julius said kissing Lathan on the forehead. You looked at me like you were proud of me. I always wanted those looks, but in the later years you never gave them to me Lathan thought he hears beep. Beep….

  Lathan opened his eyes. He sees a ceiling spotless and clean. He then looks to his right. A window with nurses walking with trolleys and robots carrying boxes and charts in their hand. He looks down and sees his hand and the rest of his body covered in clear white duvet cover. He looks to his left.

  “Hey bud.” Zenden said smiling.

  “Hey.” Lathan said smiling, but tired. “How long have I been out for?”

  “Well let’s just say you were sixteen was you went out of consciousness and you’re nearly three weeks into your seventeenth year so you can guess the length.”

  Lathan looks up at the ceiling once again and sighs. “I missed my birthday.”

  “Yep.”

  “Anything else I’ve missed in three weeks?” Lathan said in a sort of nonchalant way with a hint of frustration.

  “Your dad, Uncle Julius he’s awoken Lathan. He came out of his coma as you as you went into your slumber.”

  Lathan stays silent. He smiles with warmth in his heart. Thank god news that I needed to hear.

  “When can I speak to him?”

  “Soon from what the doctors on Earth told everyone they’re still doing checks on him.” Zenden said.

  Lathan just nods with the good news still filtering around in his head. Zenden then looks at him with concern.

  “Lathan, what was it?”

  “What was what?”

  “They said, the doctors that you were trapped in your mind, hence why you couldn’t wake for three weeks.”

  “You need to promise to keep your mouth shut about what I’m about to tell you.” Lathan said with caution.

  “Of course.” Zenden said moving closer and Lathan told him about the dream he had, the dream that had Kayla dying.