Chapter 4
Moving On
Ayslinn and Aerill had lived on this world for the first sixteen years of his life, they
had learned to make due with what they had and how to stay in anonymity. Since Malcolm's visit
things were never the same, Ayslinn always had this feeling that someone would come back for
them. Ayslinn's false sense of security had faded and she had realized that the boy and her
were vulnerable. The next time that Pentares would come for them he would make sure that he did
not fail. If Pentares had the boy then all of Etheria would be doomed, as the future king would
be destroyed under the clutches of a madman. Ayslinn's suspicions had always made her paranoid,
always made her wonder when he would come back for them. She then thought what if Malcolm did
not go back and tell Pentares about what happened. Malcolm was loyal though, he would go back
no matter what consequences that he faced, and then Pentares would come back with more men and
more power. His wrath would be costly and would destroy many people if he had to just to get
the boy, they would have to move on. Ayslinn felt as though they were always being watched;
there was no way they could stay, they had to leave. Malcolm knew they were here which meant
Pentares knew and soon he would be back for the boy. They had to flee as soon as possible or
everything that they had fought so hard to defend and protect would be lost. The boy was still
struggling and he had not yet completed his training, which meant he was not ready to take upon
him the burden that he was born into. Young Aerill would not be ready to confront Pentares
anytime soon and Ayslinn knew it, she feared that he would never be ready. She had to take the
boy somewhere else; somewhere they could hide where Pentares would look last for him. When she
had brought Aerill here, Ayslinn had picked this planet to live for several reasons. One, the
planet was so far away no one in their right mind would want to travel here. Two, the
population itself was primitive and was on the far side of the planet. These people didn't
even know what a spaceship was and Ayslinn had kept it that way masking her landing from the
native populace and keeping the place well hidden. Someone had wanted to find them and he had
succeeded, if it hadn't been for Ayslinn being prepared for that situation Pentares would have
won. Time was quickly running out to leave this old place behind and move into a new frontier,
an unknown chapter in the boy's continuously twisting story. A frontier filled with mysteries
of it's own, with new perils, and new fears to confront. They would have to travel into the
outer rim territories, to a backwater place named Tatooine. Tatooine was a desert wasteland
filled with riffraff and criminals of every kind. The area itself was ruled by a bunch of Lords
and Gangsters called the Hutts. It would be the safest place that they could hide because no
one on that planet would be looking for them. Pentares had no spies on this planet because it
was as far from civilization as possible. It had been said that Tatooine was in a universe
where the center was a bright spot and this planet was the farthest from it. Most people on
this planet had come to escape and hide in the diverse crowd of independent contractors. It
would certainly be the last place Pentares would ever dare to look at least for quite a while.
This planet would give Ayslinn enough time to raise the boy to the right age of ascension and
then have him ready for confronting Pentares. Ayslinn had finished packing the last of
everything she could take with her. Anything else that she was going to leave behind she would
make sure would be destroyed and taken back by the earth. Aerill had just finished packing up
all his things, clothing, necessities and his models, the models of a dreamer wishing to reach
the stars and grasp them. His destiny laid somewhere else he would understand it someday, but
for now they had to move. Ayslinn called Aerill over to her as she shut down the lights to the
house for the last time, a darkness descended over the house they had lived in for so long.
This was the last time she would see this place, she said goodbye to the reliable old place
before entering a passage behind a bookshelf. The bookshelf quickly closed after they entered
and Ayslinn and Aerill carefully made their way down the stairs carrying their boxes. Ayslinn
stopped in front of a brick wall and stood there for a second. She touched a few of the bricks
in a sequence and then the wall opened up revealing a large room. Ayslinn entered the large
room that Aerill never knew was beneath the house. Aerill followed Ayslinn then suddenly
stopped gaping in awe. He stared at the most beautiful sight he has ever seen, a ship he had
never seen but had more grace and beauty than any of the model ships that he had played with.
Ayslinn smiled at the sight of the Centurion, it had been years since she had flown this ship,
not since that fateful night that had brought them here. She raised a hand and the landing ramp
opened up slowly. Ayslinn then walked up the ramp into the ship, then she stopped turning
around and noticed Aerill still standing there.
"Aerill, you coming?" she asked getting his attention.
Startled Aerill finally noticed Ayslinn had walked up the ramp, so he walked up into the
ship. Ayslinn walked through the ship to the cargo area and she put the box into the hold.
Aerill followed her example and did the same, Ayslinn then told Aerill to sit in the chair
alongside the droid copilot. The droid in the copilot's seat suddenly came to life responding
to Ayslinn's orders. Ayslinn sat down in the pilots chair and strapped herself in flicking a
few switches and powering up the powerful, beautiful ship. The droid stared at Aerill and
Aerill blinked. The droid slowly bowed to him.
"Greetings sir Aerill, I am Taurus-86 you can call me Taurus." the droid said.
Aerill stared in disbelief at the droid, confused at the actions of the droid before him.
Why did the droid just bow to him? Aerill didn't understand any part of it at all. What was
happening? Aerill decided just to go along with the droid and he replied back.
"Greetings Taurus." Aerill replied.
Taurus looked toward Ayslinn, awaiting his orders as to what to do.
"Good morning, my lady, what is your command?" the droid asked.
"Taurus we will be leaving this world so prepare the ship." Ayslinn said to the droid.
Ayslinn turned to look back at Aerill who was sitting in his chair still confused about
what the droid had did.
"You're going to want to strap yourself in, it's going to be a bumpy ride." Ayslinn told
the young king.
He takes the belt and then straps himself into the chair. Ayslinn looked back at him
and smiled, before she went back to the controls of the ship. She flicked a switch and
instantly the landing ramp closed with a soft whoosh. Aerill focused his eyes out the viewport,
ready to see what was out there in the distance, what was beyond this world. He was as anxious
as ever to enter the unknown, to know what was out there. She pushed a few more buttons and a
quiet roar of the engines was heard in the cockpit. They were ready everything had checked out
and now it was time to go. She looked over to Taurus and nodded her head. There was a hum
outside the ship as doors opened up from the ceiling. The ship slowly lifted off out the doors.
Gaining speed as the ship slowly headed up, Ayslinn and Aerill leaned back in their chairs as
they headed toward the sky. The doors below them closed as if they never opened, Ayslinn pushed
another switch on the Centurion and the house below destroyed itself descending back into the
earth. The Centurion headed out of the atmosphere and sometime later entered the blackness of
space outside the planet. Aerill looked out the cockpit down at the planet below, he stared at
all the colors the planet had. He saw the blues of the oceans, the greens and browns of the
land. He saw the clouds that covered the planet making up its atmosphere, Aerill never fully
realized the beauty of the planet he had lived on for as long as he could remember. Ayslinn
looked at Aerill holding off a jump to hyperspace as long as possible, giving him the chance to
see the home he had known since he was a babe. Aerill's eyes stayed focused on the beautiful
world below, he finally turned away after a few minutes.
"Okay I'm ready." Aerill said to Ayslinn.
Ayslinn turned toward Taurus and pointed at him. Aerill sat back in his seat, not
wanting any surprises. Immediately the ship lurched into hyperspace as the stars quickly shoot
past the ship.
*****************
Lysa looked around the dirty prison, she had been here for a long time and her age was
starting to show. After she was captured she was tortured and put into this prison like the
rest of the political prisoners of the time. She had been here to like and it was all starting
to show, there had to be some way to escape this place. She had to find a way out but there
were no secret panels that she could find, she had all her guards in the cell with her. The day
Williams was sent to capture her was the same day all her personal guards were rounded up and
thrown into this prison, that's if they weren't shot dead. They had served her well they didn't
deserve to be in here. She would find someway to get them all out and herself out as well.
Captain Williams failure to capture her the first time was now spending his life sentence in
this place, he had been in the same boat she was now in. After failing Pentares he was stripped
of his rank and beaten, his hope slowly dwindled day by day, his spirits crushed. It had been a
long time since Lysa had seen the outside world, even the light of day. Things were bad,
Pentares ruled this world with an iron fist and there was no one around to challenge him, no one
except the true king. She had not seen the true king since that night she given birth to him
and she quickly had to send him away. Everyday she prayed that her son made it safely away and
that he was being raised correctly. He was their last hope for redemption and luckily he had
gotten safely away. Under Pentares's evil rule this world that was once good and beautiful was
now dark and evil. The light was burning out and in time there would be no one left to rekindle
it.
******************
Pentares stood looking out over the populace from his tower when he felt a presence
enter the room. Pentares knew who the presence was before the guest needed to speak. Somehow
Pentares felt mad about what he was going to hear, he knew that failure had happened in bringing
the boy back. The guest immediately fell on his knees and bowed his head, his look was that of
repentance.
"I'm sorry my lord, she beat me." the guest said.
Pentares looked down in disgust at the guest on the ground in front of him.
"Malcolm you have failed me, you let her get the best of you. Your feelings for her got
in the way." Pentares said while raising his hand.
"My lord she is a force to be reckoned with. She had the power of the light within her
and so does the boy." Malcolm said.
"I will give you another chance, but I will take care of the girl." Pentares ordered.
Suddenly the windows closed and a surge of light from his fingers emitted toward
Malcolm's face.
*****************
Ayslinn knew times had changed since she was once full of adventure. Watching Aerill
reminded her so much of the old days on the homeworld. Back when she was young and wanted to be
a hero. She had just left home a few years before and now was an extraordinary pilot and
fighter in the academy. It was a certain dark haired man that caught her attention, it was love
at first sight and she couldn't think straight. Her heart had raced when she was around him and
she knew that she had to get to know him. Suddenly she heard an announcement over the loud
speaker and heard her squad listing. She had been assigned to Defender Squadron, she was so
excited, Defender Squadron was the highest honor any pilot could receive. The famed Defender
Squadron flew personal missions assigned by the King and Queen. Then she heard her squad being
called to the main docking bay.
"Defender Squadron report to the main docking bay immediately." the voice said.
Several people in flight suits started running toward the main docking bay. She too ran
off in a hurry, ready for her training in the squad, she made her way through the crowd of the
docking bay and into the main part. She entered the main docking bay with an abrupt stop as she
noticed the vastness of a large ship crowding the docking bay. It towered over the puny
snubfighters and subconsciously she let her mouth drop open.
"Beautiful isn't she?" a voice from behind her said with an accent.
She turned around in surprise to see the dark haired man who caught her attention just a
while before.
The man smiled and continued. "The queen's own pride and joy, the Centurion. One of
the grandest personal transports ever made."
"It truly is beautiful." Ayslinn marveled. "I wish that someday I'd have the chance to
fly it."
"Aye and perhaps you will." a young woman from behind her said.
The woman herself was dressed in a flight suit; in her hand she held a standard flight
helmet. White gloves covered her hands and she wore boots. Somehow the ensemble seemed to
flatter the woman's figure. The woman herself was beautiful.
"What was she doing in the squad?" Ayslinn asked herself.
Ayslinn mocked the woman in her mind. Which beauty contest did she drop out of? Ayslinn
thought to herself, she then turned toward the woman and smiled. The woman held out a hand to
Ayslinn.
"My name is Kara Narisse." the woman said to Ayslinn.
Ayslinn accepted Kara's hand and shook it.
"My name is Ayslinn..." Ayslinn's started until she is cut off as everyone turned their
attention to a man walking into the hangar bay.
The man was dressed in a black suit and he walked in a regal fashion, standard of
high-ranking officers or nobility. He walked and stood amongst the group, everyone gave him
room as his appearance towered over the other pilots. Ayslinn looked closely and realized that
this was the king. Another man walked up to the king and bowed. The king reached down to the
man and helped him up, embracing him softly with a hug. Somehow Ayslinn felt that these two men
had been close friends. The man wore an officer's uniform; this must be Commander Dah'lin.
"William I told you many times you didn't have to bow." the king said.
"Sorry m'lord but I must you are the king." Commander Dah'lin replied.
"I was your friend before your king." the king answered.
"Stop being modest sir." Commander Dah'lin shot back.
"O.K. William well let's get started." the King said.
The king turned toward the group of pilots, mechanics, and officers assembled in the
hangar bay. Immediately everyone became quiet.
"You were picked because you are the best of the best. You are assembled here for the
personal protection of the royal way. Your commanding officers will report only to the queen
and I. You are not to discuss anything about your missions to anyone for the safety of those
involved. All of you are important for in a way you are royal yourselves. You are protecting
our way of life; you insure our survival, and the survival of the kingdom. Royalty is not
something you are born with it is based on your heart, your courage. Each of you is royalty in
my eyes, with that being said you are going out to start your first mission. You are to escort
the Centurion on a simulation of an emergency evacuation procedure. The Centurion itself will
contain the Queen. She will evaluate your performance, also watch for any surprises be prepared,
for anything can happen. Any questions?" the king said to all those assembled in the docking
bay.
There is a total silence in the hangar bay; seeing that nobody is asking any questions
the king began to talk again.
"In that case man your fighters and let the light protect you." the king said.
The eleven other pilots that are in the hangar bay rush to their fighters, preparing for
the mission set before them. Ayslinn followed their lead and she finds her way to her fighter.
She reached the ladder to her fighter and she climbed up into the fighter. She then sat down in
her pilot's chair and strapped herself in. She put on her flight helmet and gave a "thumbs up"
sign to the mechanic outside. The cockpit in front of her closes. She does a check on all major
systems then powered up her repulsor lifts. Twelve fighters quickly head toward the sky in a
hurry, blazing out of the atmosphere. Once in the blackness of space the ships lined up in a
squadron around the Centurion. Ayslinn turned on her comm system and before speaking she looked
around the cockpit. Seeing a number two she awaits orders from the flight leader.
"This is Defender leader reporting in. All wings report in." Commander Dah'lin said.
"Defender two reporting in." Ayslinn says.
"Three standing by." a female's voice said.
Ayslinn heard the voice and knew it must have been Kara.
"Four up and running." a man's voice said.
"Five ready as usual." a distorted voice said.
"Six, armed to the teeth." another voice said.
The voices continued up to the count of twelve. Then finally the Centurion's pilot
acknowledged the pilot's. The start of the mission was going to begin, who knew what lay in
wait for them. The squad leader broke the silence.
"Prepare to jump to the specified coordinates on my mark." Commander Dah'lin ordered.
Ayslinn locked the coordinates into her nav-computer as she prepared to jump into
hyperspace. Through her comm system she heared the word "Mark." and she pushes the lever in
front of her forward as her ship lurches forward for a second as her ship breaks the speed of
light. The stars in front of her cockpit leap at the ship in straight white lines.
Moving On
Ayslinn and Aerill had lived on this world for the first sixteen years of his life, they
had learned to make due with what they had and how to stay in anonymity. Since Malcolm's visit
things were never the same, Ayslinn always had this feeling that someone would come back for
them. Ayslinn's false sense of security had faded and she had realized that the boy and her
were vulnerable. The next time that Pentares would come for them he would make sure that he did
not fail. If Pentares had the boy then all of Etheria would be doomed, as the future king would
be destroyed under the clutches of a madman. Ayslinn's suspicions had always made her paranoid,
always made her wonder when he would come back for them. She then thought what if Malcolm did
not go back and tell Pentares about what happened. Malcolm was loyal though, he would go back
no matter what consequences that he faced, and then Pentares would come back with more men and
more power. His wrath would be costly and would destroy many people if he had to just to get
the boy, they would have to move on. Ayslinn felt as though they were always being watched;
there was no way they could stay, they had to leave. Malcolm knew they were here which meant
Pentares knew and soon he would be back for the boy. They had to flee as soon as possible or
everything that they had fought so hard to defend and protect would be lost. The boy was still
struggling and he had not yet completed his training, which meant he was not ready to take upon
him the burden that he was born into. Young Aerill would not be ready to confront Pentares
anytime soon and Ayslinn knew it, she feared that he would never be ready. She had to take the
boy somewhere else; somewhere they could hide where Pentares would look last for him. When she
had brought Aerill here, Ayslinn had picked this planet to live for several reasons. One, the
planet was so far away no one in their right mind would want to travel here. Two, the
population itself was primitive and was on the far side of the planet. These people didn't
even know what a spaceship was and Ayslinn had kept it that way masking her landing from the
native populace and keeping the place well hidden. Someone had wanted to find them and he had
succeeded, if it hadn't been for Ayslinn being prepared for that situation Pentares would have
won. Time was quickly running out to leave this old place behind and move into a new frontier,
an unknown chapter in the boy's continuously twisting story. A frontier filled with mysteries
of it's own, with new perils, and new fears to confront. They would have to travel into the
outer rim territories, to a backwater place named Tatooine. Tatooine was a desert wasteland
filled with riffraff and criminals of every kind. The area itself was ruled by a bunch of Lords
and Gangsters called the Hutts. It would be the safest place that they could hide because no
one on that planet would be looking for them. Pentares had no spies on this planet because it
was as far from civilization as possible. It had been said that Tatooine was in a universe
where the center was a bright spot and this planet was the farthest from it. Most people on
this planet had come to escape and hide in the diverse crowd of independent contractors. It
would certainly be the last place Pentares would ever dare to look at least for quite a while.
This planet would give Ayslinn enough time to raise the boy to the right age of ascension and
then have him ready for confronting Pentares. Ayslinn had finished packing the last of
everything she could take with her. Anything else that she was going to leave behind she would
make sure would be destroyed and taken back by the earth. Aerill had just finished packing up
all his things, clothing, necessities and his models, the models of a dreamer wishing to reach
the stars and grasp them. His destiny laid somewhere else he would understand it someday, but
for now they had to move. Ayslinn called Aerill over to her as she shut down the lights to the
house for the last time, a darkness descended over the house they had lived in for so long.
This was the last time she would see this place, she said goodbye to the reliable old place
before entering a passage behind a bookshelf. The bookshelf quickly closed after they entered
and Ayslinn and Aerill carefully made their way down the stairs carrying their boxes. Ayslinn
stopped in front of a brick wall and stood there for a second. She touched a few of the bricks
in a sequence and then the wall opened up revealing a large room. Ayslinn entered the large
room that Aerill never knew was beneath the house. Aerill followed Ayslinn then suddenly
stopped gaping in awe. He stared at the most beautiful sight he has ever seen, a ship he had
never seen but had more grace and beauty than any of the model ships that he had played with.
Ayslinn smiled at the sight of the Centurion, it had been years since she had flown this ship,
not since that fateful night that had brought them here. She raised a hand and the landing ramp
opened up slowly. Ayslinn then walked up the ramp into the ship, then she stopped turning
around and noticed Aerill still standing there.
"Aerill, you coming?" she asked getting his attention.
Startled Aerill finally noticed Ayslinn had walked up the ramp, so he walked up into the
ship. Ayslinn walked through the ship to the cargo area and she put the box into the hold.
Aerill followed her example and did the same, Ayslinn then told Aerill to sit in the chair
alongside the droid copilot. The droid in the copilot's seat suddenly came to life responding
to Ayslinn's orders. Ayslinn sat down in the pilots chair and strapped herself in flicking a
few switches and powering up the powerful, beautiful ship. The droid stared at Aerill and
Aerill blinked. The droid slowly bowed to him.
"Greetings sir Aerill, I am Taurus-86 you can call me Taurus." the droid said.
Aerill stared in disbelief at the droid, confused at the actions of the droid before him.
Why did the droid just bow to him? Aerill didn't understand any part of it at all. What was
happening? Aerill decided just to go along with the droid and he replied back.
"Greetings Taurus." Aerill replied.
Taurus looked toward Ayslinn, awaiting his orders as to what to do.
"Good morning, my lady, what is your command?" the droid asked.
"Taurus we will be leaving this world so prepare the ship." Ayslinn said to the droid.
Ayslinn turned to look back at Aerill who was sitting in his chair still confused about
what the droid had did.
"You're going to want to strap yourself in, it's going to be a bumpy ride." Ayslinn told
the young king.
He takes the belt and then straps himself into the chair. Ayslinn looked back at him
and smiled, before she went back to the controls of the ship. She flicked a switch and
instantly the landing ramp closed with a soft whoosh. Aerill focused his eyes out the viewport,
ready to see what was out there in the distance, what was beyond this world. He was as anxious
as ever to enter the unknown, to know what was out there. She pushed a few more buttons and a
quiet roar of the engines was heard in the cockpit. They were ready everything had checked out
and now it was time to go. She looked over to Taurus and nodded her head. There was a hum
outside the ship as doors opened up from the ceiling. The ship slowly lifted off out the doors.
Gaining speed as the ship slowly headed up, Ayslinn and Aerill leaned back in their chairs as
they headed toward the sky. The doors below them closed as if they never opened, Ayslinn pushed
another switch on the Centurion and the house below destroyed itself descending back into the
earth. The Centurion headed out of the atmosphere and sometime later entered the blackness of
space outside the planet. Aerill looked out the cockpit down at the planet below, he stared at
all the colors the planet had. He saw the blues of the oceans, the greens and browns of the
land. He saw the clouds that covered the planet making up its atmosphere, Aerill never fully
realized the beauty of the planet he had lived on for as long as he could remember. Ayslinn
looked at Aerill holding off a jump to hyperspace as long as possible, giving him the chance to
see the home he had known since he was a babe. Aerill's eyes stayed focused on the beautiful
world below, he finally turned away after a few minutes.
"Okay I'm ready." Aerill said to Ayslinn.
Ayslinn turned toward Taurus and pointed at him. Aerill sat back in his seat, not
wanting any surprises. Immediately the ship lurched into hyperspace as the stars quickly shoot
past the ship.
*****************
Lysa looked around the dirty prison, she had been here for a long time and her age was
starting to show. After she was captured she was tortured and put into this prison like the
rest of the political prisoners of the time. She had been here to like and it was all starting
to show, there had to be some way to escape this place. She had to find a way out but there
were no secret panels that she could find, she had all her guards in the cell with her. The day
Williams was sent to capture her was the same day all her personal guards were rounded up and
thrown into this prison, that's if they weren't shot dead. They had served her well they didn't
deserve to be in here. She would find someway to get them all out and herself out as well.
Captain Williams failure to capture her the first time was now spending his life sentence in
this place, he had been in the same boat she was now in. After failing Pentares he was stripped
of his rank and beaten, his hope slowly dwindled day by day, his spirits crushed. It had been a
long time since Lysa had seen the outside world, even the light of day. Things were bad,
Pentares ruled this world with an iron fist and there was no one around to challenge him, no one
except the true king. She had not seen the true king since that night she given birth to him
and she quickly had to send him away. Everyday she prayed that her son made it safely away and
that he was being raised correctly. He was their last hope for redemption and luckily he had
gotten safely away. Under Pentares's evil rule this world that was once good and beautiful was
now dark and evil. The light was burning out and in time there would be no one left to rekindle
it.
******************
Pentares stood looking out over the populace from his tower when he felt a presence
enter the room. Pentares knew who the presence was before the guest needed to speak. Somehow
Pentares felt mad about what he was going to hear, he knew that failure had happened in bringing
the boy back. The guest immediately fell on his knees and bowed his head, his look was that of
repentance.
"I'm sorry my lord, she beat me." the guest said.
Pentares looked down in disgust at the guest on the ground in front of him.
"Malcolm you have failed me, you let her get the best of you. Your feelings for her got
in the way." Pentares said while raising his hand.
"My lord she is a force to be reckoned with. She had the power of the light within her
and so does the boy." Malcolm said.
"I will give you another chance, but I will take care of the girl." Pentares ordered.
Suddenly the windows closed and a surge of light from his fingers emitted toward
Malcolm's face.
*****************
Ayslinn knew times had changed since she was once full of adventure. Watching Aerill
reminded her so much of the old days on the homeworld. Back when she was young and wanted to be
a hero. She had just left home a few years before and now was an extraordinary pilot and
fighter in the academy. It was a certain dark haired man that caught her attention, it was love
at first sight and she couldn't think straight. Her heart had raced when she was around him and
she knew that she had to get to know him. Suddenly she heard an announcement over the loud
speaker and heard her squad listing. She had been assigned to Defender Squadron, she was so
excited, Defender Squadron was the highest honor any pilot could receive. The famed Defender
Squadron flew personal missions assigned by the King and Queen. Then she heard her squad being
called to the main docking bay.
"Defender Squadron report to the main docking bay immediately." the voice said.
Several people in flight suits started running toward the main docking bay. She too ran
off in a hurry, ready for her training in the squad, she made her way through the crowd of the
docking bay and into the main part. She entered the main docking bay with an abrupt stop as she
noticed the vastness of a large ship crowding the docking bay. It towered over the puny
snubfighters and subconsciously she let her mouth drop open.
"Beautiful isn't she?" a voice from behind her said with an accent.
She turned around in surprise to see the dark haired man who caught her attention just a
while before.
The man smiled and continued. "The queen's own pride and joy, the Centurion. One of
the grandest personal transports ever made."
"It truly is beautiful." Ayslinn marveled. "I wish that someday I'd have the chance to
fly it."
"Aye and perhaps you will." a young woman from behind her said.
The woman herself was dressed in a flight suit; in her hand she held a standard flight
helmet. White gloves covered her hands and she wore boots. Somehow the ensemble seemed to
flatter the woman's figure. The woman herself was beautiful.
"What was she doing in the squad?" Ayslinn asked herself.
Ayslinn mocked the woman in her mind. Which beauty contest did she drop out of? Ayslinn
thought to herself, she then turned toward the woman and smiled. The woman held out a hand to
Ayslinn.
"My name is Kara Narisse." the woman said to Ayslinn.
Ayslinn accepted Kara's hand and shook it.
"My name is Ayslinn..." Ayslinn's started until she is cut off as everyone turned their
attention to a man walking into the hangar bay.
The man was dressed in a black suit and he walked in a regal fashion, standard of
high-ranking officers or nobility. He walked and stood amongst the group, everyone gave him
room as his appearance towered over the other pilots. Ayslinn looked closely and realized that
this was the king. Another man walked up to the king and bowed. The king reached down to the
man and helped him up, embracing him softly with a hug. Somehow Ayslinn felt that these two men
had been close friends. The man wore an officer's uniform; this must be Commander Dah'lin.
"William I told you many times you didn't have to bow." the king said.
"Sorry m'lord but I must you are the king." Commander Dah'lin replied.
"I was your friend before your king." the king answered.
"Stop being modest sir." Commander Dah'lin shot back.
"O.K. William well let's get started." the King said.
The king turned toward the group of pilots, mechanics, and officers assembled in the
hangar bay. Immediately everyone became quiet.
"You were picked because you are the best of the best. You are assembled here for the
personal protection of the royal way. Your commanding officers will report only to the queen
and I. You are not to discuss anything about your missions to anyone for the safety of those
involved. All of you are important for in a way you are royal yourselves. You are protecting
our way of life; you insure our survival, and the survival of the kingdom. Royalty is not
something you are born with it is based on your heart, your courage. Each of you is royalty in
my eyes, with that being said you are going out to start your first mission. You are to escort
the Centurion on a simulation of an emergency evacuation procedure. The Centurion itself will
contain the Queen. She will evaluate your performance, also watch for any surprises be prepared,
for anything can happen. Any questions?" the king said to all those assembled in the docking
bay.
There is a total silence in the hangar bay; seeing that nobody is asking any questions
the king began to talk again.
"In that case man your fighters and let the light protect you." the king said.
The eleven other pilots that are in the hangar bay rush to their fighters, preparing for
the mission set before them. Ayslinn followed their lead and she finds her way to her fighter.
She reached the ladder to her fighter and she climbed up into the fighter. She then sat down in
her pilot's chair and strapped herself in. She put on her flight helmet and gave a "thumbs up"
sign to the mechanic outside. The cockpit in front of her closes. She does a check on all major
systems then powered up her repulsor lifts. Twelve fighters quickly head toward the sky in a
hurry, blazing out of the atmosphere. Once in the blackness of space the ships lined up in a
squadron around the Centurion. Ayslinn turned on her comm system and before speaking she looked
around the cockpit. Seeing a number two she awaits orders from the flight leader.
"This is Defender leader reporting in. All wings report in." Commander Dah'lin said.
"Defender two reporting in." Ayslinn says.
"Three standing by." a female's voice said.
Ayslinn heard the voice and knew it must have been Kara.
"Four up and running." a man's voice said.
"Five ready as usual." a distorted voice said.
"Six, armed to the teeth." another voice said.
The voices continued up to the count of twelve. Then finally the Centurion's pilot
acknowledged the pilot's. The start of the mission was going to begin, who knew what lay in
wait for them. The squad leader broke the silence.
"Prepare to jump to the specified coordinates on my mark." Commander Dah'lin ordered.
Ayslinn locked the coordinates into her nav-computer as she prepared to jump into
hyperspace. Through her comm system she heared the word "Mark." and she pushes the lever in
front of her forward as her ship lurches forward for a second as her ship breaks the speed of
light. The stars in front of her cockpit leap at the ship in straight white lines.