JOURNEY OF A KNIGHT
CHAPTER VII. "Distance"
(DISCLAIMER: The Age of Apocalypse, The X-Men, Charles Xavier, and all related characters are copyrights of Marvel Comics. The Knight Eagle, in all his various iterations, as well as his teammates, is my own personal creations)
1976
"Knight to all crew. Flight readiness check."
Thousands were scattered across the broad countryside that surrounded the techno-castle home of the Round Table as steam billowed from the hyper- cooled rocket-craft on the launch pad. With a small assist from the Royal Air Force, the Round Table had succeeded in convincing Parliament to allow them to test the Guenivere prototype. She carried onboard her an experimental hyper drive that, if successful, would catapult her out of the solar system and into the depths of space. The entirety of the Round Table's roster was aboard, with their support personnel carrying out the duties of mission control.
GoldenBlade was the first to check in, his voice ringing clear from the copilot's station.
"All hatches are secure. Conventional propulsion is go. Hyper drive is secure and locked down." He turned and nodded to Jason. "GoldenBlade is go."
"Environmental systems are fully functional. Mystick is go."
Of all the crew, Mystick was the uneasiest in the Guenivere. She disliked technology as a whole, and mistrusted those who relied too heavily on it. She and Richard had been through many heated conversations on the subject. But even the resident sorceress wouldn't pass up the chance to journey to the stars.
"Navigational systems check out. We are synced with global navigation satellites, NASA systems, and RAF monitoring stations. Tallyho!"
Courtier managed, as always, to inject his personal brand of tension-relief into the situation. The cheery swashbuckler had, as yet, failed to wipe away the childlike grin that had been pasted to his face since he'd found out that the mission was going through.
"Radiation shielding and scientific instrumentation check out, Knight. I'm good to go."
The soft voice from aft was that of Marie "Motion" Vala, the newest member of the Round Table. She had joined only a year before the Guenivere mission had been approved, but her presence in the group had caused a remarkable change, most particularly in the demeanor of Knight. For nearly that entire year, Marie and Jason had been living together in his London apartments. There had been no official announcement yet, but the two planned to be married shortly after the Guenivere returned. The Queen had already assured Jason that Westminster Abbey was the least she could offer. For the last four years, since the recognition of the Round Table, a sense of magic and wonder had overtaken Britain. It seemed as if the nation were finally reclaiming a lost heritage, a piece of her history that many had thought vanished forever.
The last member of the group to check in was Chorus. She was seated in the rear, near Marie, in front of the communications station. Richard had expressed some concern about the abnormally increased silence of the reclusive woman. She had never been talkative, but since the announcement of the flight, she had become almost completely withdrawn from the rest of the team. Even now, all she mustered was a slight nod to Marie, who informed Jason that they were, at last, ready to fly.
"Guenivere to Excalibur Point Flight Control, all systems are go for launch."
"Copy Guenivere, we concur. All systems five by five. Commencing ignition sequence."
Outside, the crowd took a collective step back as a deep, low rumble began to emanate from the bowels of the launch pad. Smoke belched from the confinement of the launch gantry as the Guenivere's engines came to life.
"Guenivere is go for launch. Clearing moorings. Boosters firing in three. two. one. FIRE!"
Flames as bright as creation flared around the space craft as she shot skyward, climbing ever higher, until she vanished from the sight of those below
"All systems reading green. Detaching boosters now."
An audible thud echoed through the Guenivere's cabin as the large solid fuel boosters fell away from the craft, leaving her free to fly under her own power.
"Status report." Jason asked Richard.
"All systems read operational. We're clear of Earth's gravity and flying free."
"All right. Let's bring the jump engine online."
They ran through another set of checks, then headed into the rear section of the ship where their technical masterpiece was housed. In cooperation with Reed Richards, McElros International had funded the development of the first fully operational hyperspace jump drive. The Guenivere was to be the first ship to test it, carrying her heroic crew to the far reaches of space.
"Looks like we're ready to fire her up, Jason."
"All right. Recheck the power feeds and then lets do this."
The other members of the Round Table watched Jason and Richard head into the cockpit with great anticipation. Like their namesakes, they were about to head off on a great quest that could lead mankind into a new age of space exploration.
"All right everyone. Stand by for jump."
Jason unlocked the casing covering the hyperdrive's initiation controls.
"Hyperspace in five seconds."
A hum went through the ship as the jump engine powered up and suddenly they were awash in a maelstrom of color and energy, hurtling at unimaginable speeds.
"Navigation report!"
"The instruments are totally offline, I have no idea where we are or where we're going, but we're getting there damned fast."
They turned with a start as they saw a blotch in the color stream of hyperspace. A dark black cloud of some sort was moving toward them.
"What is it, Jason?"
"I don't know, but it doesn't look friendly."
"Can we turn to avoid it?"
"All flight controls are offline." Jason tightened his harness. "Everyone brace for impact!"
The ship hit the cloud and everything went black.
"Where."
The members of the Round Table slowly moved back into consciousness, realizing that the shifting colors of hyperspace were gone.
"Richard," Jason started. "See if you can get the navigational computer back up. I want to know where we are. Is everyone all right?"
There were assorted nods and groans from the crew deck, as everyone got re- oriented.
"Jason, this is unbelievable. We're over one hundred light years from Earth."
"Any idea where?"
"I'm still trying to get the star charts to line up."
Courtier had moved up to the flight deck.
"Maybe they know." He said as he pointed out the front view port.
Jason and Richard whirled and saw before them a massive spacecraft, moving toward them with a purpose.
"Send a greeting, all frequencies!"
Before they could send their message, another message boomed over the ship's loudspeakers.
"This is the Shi'Ar Imperial Vessel Crownbearer, you will disarm all weapons and prepare to be boarded."
"Dear." Said Courtier. "This can't be good."
"We don't have the weaponry to go head to head with them in a fight, and the hyperdrive is still offline." Richard said quietly.
"Then we play a different game." Jason said grimly.
Moments later there was a loud thud as a grappling beam took hold of the Guenivere. The heroes aboard her were already un-stowing their battle gear.
Jason looked out the front viewport and saw a swarm of armored soldiers taking position around the ship.
"All right, here's the plan." Knight Eagle snapped his helmet down into place as the ship slid into the Crownbearer's docking bay. "Split them down the middle, I'm on point, GoldenBlade is airborne if there's space, ramming maneuver to clear the path for the rest of us. Chorus, I want them disoriented. Mystick, see if you can't weave a non-aggression spell on the troops. Courtier, Motion, you'll hang back and keep trying to bring the hyperdrive back up. Everyone got it?"
There were nods all around and the team's heavy hitters assembled in a small wedge near the aft hatch. They could hear the troops attempting to open it from the outside.
"Almost got it."
The Shi'Ar were completely unprepared for what burst forth from the hatch as it opened. The roar of GoldenBlade's rockets startled the soldiers for the brief second that they had before the armored warrior shot forward, plowing through their ranks. Jason was on his heels, leaping into the fray, battle staff twirling at impossible speeds. Just as they began to draw their bearings, an incredibly high pitched shriek echoed through the bay, bringing soldiers to their knees. Those few soldiers that remained standing began dropping their weapons on the floor as the greenish glow of Mystick's spell washed over them. The Round Table stood amidst the carnage they had wrought and watched as the large cargo doors at the other end of the bay opened.
"Impressive, for aliens. But your fine efforts were wasted, I'm afraid. You will all surrender now or face the consequences."
Hundreds more troops spilled forth from the open door, but they weren't what had the Earthers in shock. Walking through the lane that the troops had left was one of the most physically intimidating forms any of them had ever seen. He was garbed in blue and red, with a crest of hair topping his head.
"I am Gladiator, and you are my prisoners, in the name of the Majestrix, Lillandra."
Knight Eagle stepped forward, blocking Gladiator from the rest of his team.
"We're no one's prisoners, Gladiator. We wanted only to go on our way in peace. You were the ones who instigated this conflict."
"I know. The Majestrix has great plans for you."
"I don't think we want to have any part in her plans, thanks."
"The choice is not yours, you will come with me now." Gladiator reached for Jason but his hand was swatted away by the battle staff. "Do not try my patience, human. I will deliver you to the Majestrix, either whole, or in pieces. The choice is yours."
The immediate response to Gladiator's threat was a vicious snap kick to his head, which seemed to be the starting bell for round two between the Shi'Ar soldiers and the Round Table. Motion and Courtier emerged from the ship and threw themselves into the fray against the soldiers, while Gladiator squared off against the Knight Eagle.
"You're no match for me, worm."
"Come on, is that second rate villain drivel the best you can come up with?"
Darts sprang from his gauntlets as he dodged a fierce punch from Gladiator, bouncing off his skin. They were only a distraction, though, as the punch had put him off balance, which Jason took advantage of, delivering a double legged kick which propelled him further from Gladiator, while sending the Shi'Ar warrior careening across the room.
Given a few seconds, Jason tapped the comm. link on his wrist.
"Knight Eagle to Guenivere, flight status."
"Tractor beam still engaged. Flight impossible."
Jason felt the compression of air behind him and ducked just in time to miss being pulped by Gladiator's fist. Jason let his power loose, and a wave of purple energy cascaded over him as he grabbed Gladiator's arm, absorbing the kinetic energy of the assault. He spun around with lightning speed and delivered a devastating right hook across the face of his opponent. In the moment that Gladiator was sent flying across the room, it seemed that the Round Table was about to emerge victorious. But only for that moment. The lights in the room suddenly took on a red tinge and they felt themselves slipping into unconsciousness as the oxygen was drawn from the room.
Shortly after, with the air back in the room, Lillandra looked out at the devastation these aliens had caused. She was quite mad, having been driven insane by the power of the Phoenix, which she had tried to tap when stopping her brother from using the M'kran crystal against her. She looked down at the unconscious form of the Knight Eagle and smiled.
"He'll do splendidly." She turned to her guards. "Put them in the cells, and take this one to the lab. We must hurry."
CHAPTER VII. "Distance"
(DISCLAIMER: The Age of Apocalypse, The X-Men, Charles Xavier, and all related characters are copyrights of Marvel Comics. The Knight Eagle, in all his various iterations, as well as his teammates, is my own personal creations)
1976
"Knight to all crew. Flight readiness check."
Thousands were scattered across the broad countryside that surrounded the techno-castle home of the Round Table as steam billowed from the hyper- cooled rocket-craft on the launch pad. With a small assist from the Royal Air Force, the Round Table had succeeded in convincing Parliament to allow them to test the Guenivere prototype. She carried onboard her an experimental hyper drive that, if successful, would catapult her out of the solar system and into the depths of space. The entirety of the Round Table's roster was aboard, with their support personnel carrying out the duties of mission control.
GoldenBlade was the first to check in, his voice ringing clear from the copilot's station.
"All hatches are secure. Conventional propulsion is go. Hyper drive is secure and locked down." He turned and nodded to Jason. "GoldenBlade is go."
"Environmental systems are fully functional. Mystick is go."
Of all the crew, Mystick was the uneasiest in the Guenivere. She disliked technology as a whole, and mistrusted those who relied too heavily on it. She and Richard had been through many heated conversations on the subject. But even the resident sorceress wouldn't pass up the chance to journey to the stars.
"Navigational systems check out. We are synced with global navigation satellites, NASA systems, and RAF monitoring stations. Tallyho!"
Courtier managed, as always, to inject his personal brand of tension-relief into the situation. The cheery swashbuckler had, as yet, failed to wipe away the childlike grin that had been pasted to his face since he'd found out that the mission was going through.
"Radiation shielding and scientific instrumentation check out, Knight. I'm good to go."
The soft voice from aft was that of Marie "Motion" Vala, the newest member of the Round Table. She had joined only a year before the Guenivere mission had been approved, but her presence in the group had caused a remarkable change, most particularly in the demeanor of Knight. For nearly that entire year, Marie and Jason had been living together in his London apartments. There had been no official announcement yet, but the two planned to be married shortly after the Guenivere returned. The Queen had already assured Jason that Westminster Abbey was the least she could offer. For the last four years, since the recognition of the Round Table, a sense of magic and wonder had overtaken Britain. It seemed as if the nation were finally reclaiming a lost heritage, a piece of her history that many had thought vanished forever.
The last member of the group to check in was Chorus. She was seated in the rear, near Marie, in front of the communications station. Richard had expressed some concern about the abnormally increased silence of the reclusive woman. She had never been talkative, but since the announcement of the flight, she had become almost completely withdrawn from the rest of the team. Even now, all she mustered was a slight nod to Marie, who informed Jason that they were, at last, ready to fly.
"Guenivere to Excalibur Point Flight Control, all systems are go for launch."
"Copy Guenivere, we concur. All systems five by five. Commencing ignition sequence."
Outside, the crowd took a collective step back as a deep, low rumble began to emanate from the bowels of the launch pad. Smoke belched from the confinement of the launch gantry as the Guenivere's engines came to life.
"Guenivere is go for launch. Clearing moorings. Boosters firing in three. two. one. FIRE!"
Flames as bright as creation flared around the space craft as she shot skyward, climbing ever higher, until she vanished from the sight of those below
"All systems reading green. Detaching boosters now."
An audible thud echoed through the Guenivere's cabin as the large solid fuel boosters fell away from the craft, leaving her free to fly under her own power.
"Status report." Jason asked Richard.
"All systems read operational. We're clear of Earth's gravity and flying free."
"All right. Let's bring the jump engine online."
They ran through another set of checks, then headed into the rear section of the ship where their technical masterpiece was housed. In cooperation with Reed Richards, McElros International had funded the development of the first fully operational hyperspace jump drive. The Guenivere was to be the first ship to test it, carrying her heroic crew to the far reaches of space.
"Looks like we're ready to fire her up, Jason."
"All right. Recheck the power feeds and then lets do this."
The other members of the Round Table watched Jason and Richard head into the cockpit with great anticipation. Like their namesakes, they were about to head off on a great quest that could lead mankind into a new age of space exploration.
"All right everyone. Stand by for jump."
Jason unlocked the casing covering the hyperdrive's initiation controls.
"Hyperspace in five seconds."
A hum went through the ship as the jump engine powered up and suddenly they were awash in a maelstrom of color and energy, hurtling at unimaginable speeds.
"Navigation report!"
"The instruments are totally offline, I have no idea where we are or where we're going, but we're getting there damned fast."
They turned with a start as they saw a blotch in the color stream of hyperspace. A dark black cloud of some sort was moving toward them.
"What is it, Jason?"
"I don't know, but it doesn't look friendly."
"Can we turn to avoid it?"
"All flight controls are offline." Jason tightened his harness. "Everyone brace for impact!"
The ship hit the cloud and everything went black.
"Where."
The members of the Round Table slowly moved back into consciousness, realizing that the shifting colors of hyperspace were gone.
"Richard," Jason started. "See if you can get the navigational computer back up. I want to know where we are. Is everyone all right?"
There were assorted nods and groans from the crew deck, as everyone got re- oriented.
"Jason, this is unbelievable. We're over one hundred light years from Earth."
"Any idea where?"
"I'm still trying to get the star charts to line up."
Courtier had moved up to the flight deck.
"Maybe they know." He said as he pointed out the front view port.
Jason and Richard whirled and saw before them a massive spacecraft, moving toward them with a purpose.
"Send a greeting, all frequencies!"
Before they could send their message, another message boomed over the ship's loudspeakers.
"This is the Shi'Ar Imperial Vessel Crownbearer, you will disarm all weapons and prepare to be boarded."
"Dear." Said Courtier. "This can't be good."
"We don't have the weaponry to go head to head with them in a fight, and the hyperdrive is still offline." Richard said quietly.
"Then we play a different game." Jason said grimly.
Moments later there was a loud thud as a grappling beam took hold of the Guenivere. The heroes aboard her were already un-stowing their battle gear.
Jason looked out the front viewport and saw a swarm of armored soldiers taking position around the ship.
"All right, here's the plan." Knight Eagle snapped his helmet down into place as the ship slid into the Crownbearer's docking bay. "Split them down the middle, I'm on point, GoldenBlade is airborne if there's space, ramming maneuver to clear the path for the rest of us. Chorus, I want them disoriented. Mystick, see if you can't weave a non-aggression spell on the troops. Courtier, Motion, you'll hang back and keep trying to bring the hyperdrive back up. Everyone got it?"
There were nods all around and the team's heavy hitters assembled in a small wedge near the aft hatch. They could hear the troops attempting to open it from the outside.
"Almost got it."
The Shi'Ar were completely unprepared for what burst forth from the hatch as it opened. The roar of GoldenBlade's rockets startled the soldiers for the brief second that they had before the armored warrior shot forward, plowing through their ranks. Jason was on his heels, leaping into the fray, battle staff twirling at impossible speeds. Just as they began to draw their bearings, an incredibly high pitched shriek echoed through the bay, bringing soldiers to their knees. Those few soldiers that remained standing began dropping their weapons on the floor as the greenish glow of Mystick's spell washed over them. The Round Table stood amidst the carnage they had wrought and watched as the large cargo doors at the other end of the bay opened.
"Impressive, for aliens. But your fine efforts were wasted, I'm afraid. You will all surrender now or face the consequences."
Hundreds more troops spilled forth from the open door, but they weren't what had the Earthers in shock. Walking through the lane that the troops had left was one of the most physically intimidating forms any of them had ever seen. He was garbed in blue and red, with a crest of hair topping his head.
"I am Gladiator, and you are my prisoners, in the name of the Majestrix, Lillandra."
Knight Eagle stepped forward, blocking Gladiator from the rest of his team.
"We're no one's prisoners, Gladiator. We wanted only to go on our way in peace. You were the ones who instigated this conflict."
"I know. The Majestrix has great plans for you."
"I don't think we want to have any part in her plans, thanks."
"The choice is not yours, you will come with me now." Gladiator reached for Jason but his hand was swatted away by the battle staff. "Do not try my patience, human. I will deliver you to the Majestrix, either whole, or in pieces. The choice is yours."
The immediate response to Gladiator's threat was a vicious snap kick to his head, which seemed to be the starting bell for round two between the Shi'Ar soldiers and the Round Table. Motion and Courtier emerged from the ship and threw themselves into the fray against the soldiers, while Gladiator squared off against the Knight Eagle.
"You're no match for me, worm."
"Come on, is that second rate villain drivel the best you can come up with?"
Darts sprang from his gauntlets as he dodged a fierce punch from Gladiator, bouncing off his skin. They were only a distraction, though, as the punch had put him off balance, which Jason took advantage of, delivering a double legged kick which propelled him further from Gladiator, while sending the Shi'Ar warrior careening across the room.
Given a few seconds, Jason tapped the comm. link on his wrist.
"Knight Eagle to Guenivere, flight status."
"Tractor beam still engaged. Flight impossible."
Jason felt the compression of air behind him and ducked just in time to miss being pulped by Gladiator's fist. Jason let his power loose, and a wave of purple energy cascaded over him as he grabbed Gladiator's arm, absorbing the kinetic energy of the assault. He spun around with lightning speed and delivered a devastating right hook across the face of his opponent. In the moment that Gladiator was sent flying across the room, it seemed that the Round Table was about to emerge victorious. But only for that moment. The lights in the room suddenly took on a red tinge and they felt themselves slipping into unconsciousness as the oxygen was drawn from the room.
Shortly after, with the air back in the room, Lillandra looked out at the devastation these aliens had caused. She was quite mad, having been driven insane by the power of the Phoenix, which she had tried to tap when stopping her brother from using the M'kran crystal against her. She looked down at the unconscious form of the Knight Eagle and smiled.
"He'll do splendidly." She turned to her guards. "Put them in the cells, and take this one to the lab. We must hurry."