Temple of the Sphere: Chapter 12

The lifeless bodies scattered throughout on the wet field after the long fought battle. The moonlight shined for these weary soldiers. Some of the soldiers were packing the dwindling supplies. Jason and his team walked out into the field to make sure the slave traders were dead. He lifted up his hand to give an order to move out. 1

Five large men riding giant battle cats appeared in the moonlight. Three of the cats were male lions, a snow leopard and a black panther. Jason studied the cats, he conclude these men were taller by the size of the animals. 2

One of the warriors, who rode on the panther, appeared in the light. His long silver hair pulled back into a ponytail that sparkled in the light. He wore a gray sleeveless buttoned shirt, tan leather pants with matching boots that went up to his knees, which defined his huge bulging muscles.3

Jason’s men gripped their guns and waited for the next move. The warriors on the giant cats just laughed at them.4

The warrior petted his cat. “We’re hunters from the Moonrise Kingdom and we bring you no harm,” he said.5

Jason’s eyebrow went up. “We’re from the Galloway,” he said.6

“We’re looking for Throne and a redhead woman named Sonya. Have you seen them?”7

He gripped his gun. “Why are you looking for them?”8

The warrior leaned forward. “Stranger, that’s our business.”9

“No.”10

“Did you strangers kill these slave traders?”11

“Yes.” Jason stood there.12

“Why?”13

Jason stared into his eyes. “That’s our business,” he said.14

The warrior grinned. “Very good, then you outsiders might make it after all,” he said, as he and the others disappeared.15

Patch walked up to Jason. “What was that all about?”16

“I don’t know.” He turned to face the men. “Lets go to the caves for shelter, as of now, we are on our own for the next twelve hours.” 17

Jason turned around and the team followed him into the forest.18

~19

The children sat on the beds while Doctor Ann and her staff ran the medical tests on them. The temperature and the oxygen gradually being raised for the children’s bodies and their implants could adjust. The tan tower consoles collected the data from the tests and the screens displayed the readings and their vital signs.20

A small group of children began to play tag in the child area. Their laughter began to fill the Medic Bay as some of the staff joined in the fun.21

Star gazed out of the window from the medic bay. Her thoughts raced through her mind about Jason on the planet. Her fingers rubbed the steel window edge to keep her mind in the present.22

Dr. Ann dressed in a white lab coat with short blonde hair that was slowly turning white.23

“Star.” The woman asked.24

She turned around. “Yes, Ann?”25

“The children are fine. With some food and rest they’ll be back to normal.” Doctor Ann’s brown eyes watched the children.26

Star raised an eyebrow. “What about there implants?” 27

Dr. Ann put her hands in the pockets of her lab coat. “The implants must be low. They must have used them on the surface.”28

Star sat on the window edge. “That was my reading from holding Moonbeam.”29

“I’m truly amazed by you and these children.”30

“I’m worried about the other children that they don’t fall into the hands of the Masters.”31

“We are all in the Creator’s hands, my dear.” Dr. Ann placed her hand on Star’s shoulder.32

“True. Are the children ready to be release?”33

“Yes.”34

Star stood up. “Good. Contact their parents and have them to pick up their children here.”35

“I understand. What about your sister?”36

“Can she stay here with you?”37

She smiled. “She will be my little helper,” Ann said.38

Star watched Moonbeam as she sat on the bed and talked to her friends. The child smiled and giggled with her friends. She walked over to her little sister. 39

“Sissy!” she yelled as she grinned.40

Star stroke her long thick brown hair. “How are you feeling?”41

“Tired and hungry!”42

“Well, I need you to stay here while I go talk to the captain. Dr. Ann is going to keep on eye on you.”43

“Ok. Hurry back.”44

Star leaned over to kiss her on her head. “I will.”45

“Mediator…”46

Star turned around as a brunch of children that surrounded her. “Yes?”47

“What about us?” the child asked.48

She bent her knees to be at eye level with the children. “Dr. Ann and her staff are contacting your parents. They will be here soon.”49

“What about my brother?” 50

“And my cousin too?” another child asked. 51

Star raised her hands in the air to calm them down. “Children, we haven’t stopped looking for them. We’ve a second team on the surface searching for them now.”52

The children nodded theirs heads yes. Star rose. The children made a path for her. She walked by them, and squeezed their hands.53

~54

Commander Jason and his team walked through the dark and thick forest to reach the cliffs. They stumbled upon piles of dead bodies, puddles of blood, and pieces of flesh that were scattered everywhere and in the trees.55

“Who or what did this?” one of the men said.56

Patch walked over and whispered into Jason’s ear. “Do you think those warriors did this?”57

“Or maybe that Throne guy they asked about,” Jason said.58

He and his men searched for clues in the blood bath. Legs and arms lay throughout the tall grasses. Chest cavities cut in half with guts spilling out from the dead.59

“Commander, this is the same wagon that carried the children.”60

“You found a major clue, private.” He walked over to them trying to avoid the blood and the body parts.61

“I also found pieces of long blonde hair and according to the mini-computer. They’re from a woman.”62

“Leave to the private to find a dead woman,” Patch said.63

The men laughed.64

“Very funny, you guys. Least I found a woman,” the private said.65

“It must be that blonde with Sonya. And there is blood on the wagon, private, get a reading on that too.”66

“Yes, sir,” the private said as he started typing on the mini-computer on his wrist and scanned the blood.67

“What’s your thinking, sir?”68

Jason looked around to see all his men’s eyes on him. “These were the slave traders and someone killed them out of rage.”69

“That person had helped from a large animal with very sharp claws too, Commander,” Patch said.70

“You’re right,” Jason said.71

“Sir, is it true that the captain wants to make this planet our new home?”72

“If we can find a place where the Masters won’t detect us,” Jason said.73

“The land of milk and honey… maybe we should remodel?” Patch laughed.74

The men chuckled.75

“Take that up with the captain. Let’s move on men and let the buzzards of this world have their unsatisfied meal.”76

Jason and his men walked out of the field and headed the cliffs.77

~78

Star stepped off the lift as she heard hum of the engines fill her ears. She carefully reviewed the information that she had collected over the past several hours in her mind as she walked to the War Room.79

She reached the steel door and it slid open for her. Captain Babcock sat at the end of the long brown table. He was dressed in a plain blue shirt with gray jacket, his black pants and boots that defined his firm body. She stepped into the room as her heart pounded a bit faster.80

On the left side of the table was Commander Homes a short man and did not let his height stopped him. Next, to him was the Chief of Security Lt. Commander Brook a stunning and a muscular woman with a huge bosom, who played by the rules. 81

On the right side was the Mayor of La Porte, who became a heavy man since joining the ship with his people. Next to him was Lt. Bowers from Transports systems. 82

Star walked over to Lt. Bowers to take her chair. “Hello Lady and gentlemen.” She sat down in the leather chairs. Everybody gave her a nod.83

“We are all here, so let’s begin,” Captain Babcock said.84

The Mayor held up his plump finger. “Where is Commander Jason?”85

“He is on the surface and that’s why we are here, mayor.”86

“Oh, I see. I’ve a lot of townspeople who are worried.”87

“We know. Your people have been blocking the corridors and trying to break into the consoles!” Lt. Commander yelled as she stared him down.88

The mayor pulled at his collar on his tight white shirt. “They don’t like being kept in the dark.”89

Lt. Commander Brook dressed her gray uniform slammed down her hand on the table. “I don’t like having extra work for my staff!”90

Mayor stared at her. “My people and I don’t like feeling unwanted guests!” He rose to his feet. He looked around. “Forgive me, captain.” He pinned his arms to his side and bowed. Then he sat in the chair.91

The captain leaned back in his chair. “Star, is this true?”92

She turned her head towards the captain. “Yes. There is a lack of understanding on both sides, sir.”93

“No, sir. That is untrue!” Brook stated.94

The mayor stared at Brook again. “I’ll agree with that statement, Lt. Commander. Will you?”95

Lt. Commander’s face turned red as Commander Homes tried to hide his grin. 96

Lt. Bowers leaned into Star’s ear. “You’re causing a war. Tsk. Tsk.” He smiled.97

“It is going to take time and patience for our two societies to emerge as one,” Commander Homes said.98

“Captain, I’ve submitted a plan that might help everyone to become one unit. However, that’s for another meeting. Our main worried are the missing children and bring the two field teams home,” Star said.99

The Mayor looked at the captain. “She’s right. The townspeople and myself are the caretakers of the Na-See children. Those children mustn’t fall into the hands of the Masters!”100

Commander Homes sat up straighter to make himself to appear taller. “We understand the situation. If we lose the children, we have lost the war before it begins.”101

“I’m worried the parents of the missing children and what they might do,” the mayor said.102

“I’ve an idea to calm their fears,” Star said.103

“Good,” the captain said.104

“Captain, the transports system is down. My crew and I are working on them, but we need those parts,” Lt. Bowers said.105

“I know. We’ve not heard anything from the convoy over six hours.” Captain Babcock paused. “What we need is a docking area to fix this ship before the Masters find us.” He rubbed his hands together.106

Commander Homes tugged on his shirt. “Sir, we’re starting to run low on supplies as well.” He turned his head. “Star, what about the garden centers?”107

“Like everything lest, they need parts. We have the seed to produce the food…”108

The captain raised his hand. “What we need is a safe place to dock or land. Since the Masters have wiped out all of our safe havens. We are running out of time.”109

Silent gripped the room as everybody looked at each other.110

Captain Babcock looked at his team. “As long as we are alive there is hope! We will find a way to live and battle the Masters. They fear us because of our desire for freedom. Let our freedom drive us to find solutions to our problems!”111

“Yeah!” everyone said.112

“Dismiss,” the captain said.113

Star got up from her chair and headed for the door. 114