Belinea Read online

  Malovex began to take off. The ship, ever so slowly, lifted itself from the concrete platform. The belly door was still open. Horrified that Malovex was leaving him, Orbo reached down to the silvery ring on his hip. Malovex steered the ship, with its belly door open, towards Orbo and the female officer in his grasp. Another officer in the belly of the cargo ship lowered a line with a hook on it. As they flew over Orbo, he held his silvery ring up as it expanded in diameter. The hook caught the ring, and quickly the officer on the ship reeled both Orbo and the female officer into the ship.

  Malovex, not having any idea what was going on in the ship’s belly entrance, accelerated quickly. The cargo ship clipped trees as it flew. The smoke was overwhelming, bombs and rockets repeatedly going off. Malovex’s refusal to gain altitude was perplexing to his co-pilot. “Sir, we have got to get higher!”

  Malovex, not looking at the co-pilot, responded sharply, “You are relieved.”

  “But sir ....”

  Malovex snapped back “Take your ass to the back of the ship, now!”

  The soldier unbuckled his harness and proceeded to the back. Malovex was alone now in the cockpit. His focus was everywhere, thinking about what to do, the explosion, what was going on above. After a couple of minutes, he got to the spot he was looking for. He quickly tapped some controls on the screen in front of him, and the ship now rapidly began to climb, ninety degrees vertical. The ship was making strange noises. It was clear it was being pushed to its breaking point as it had suffered damage from the explosions. As the ship climbed, Malovex could see out the window. Smoke was coming out of the engines of the cargo ship. Pure destruction could be seen for several hundred kilometers in every direction. The surface, mostly trees before, was almost entirely on fire, causing smoke to bellow everywhere. Everything had changed so quickly. He closed his eyes. The vision he had of the cockpit returned. In the reflection off the glass, he could see the eyes barely through the helmet. The ship vibrated, and he opened his eyes, leaving the vision.

  The ship was clearing the atmosphere. He could see the markers that lit his way to the giant space station above. A voice came over the speakers in the cockpit. “Cargo ship, please identify.”

  “This is Lord Malovex. I have a cargo ship with over a hundred wounded soldiers. Request a docking slip for immediate medical evacuation.”

  There was a pause. A tracer was scanning the ship for lifeforms. It would verify Malovex, but it was unclear what the rest of the scan would reveal. “Lord Malovex, can you please identify the wounded aboard your ship?”

  “I will not at this time, But you will do as I say!” he stated.

  The ship had now wholly cleared the atmosphere. Malovex could see the space station, markers lining a lighted path towards it. He continued to touch the control panels, now steering the ship directly towards the station. He unbuckled his straps from his seat and stood up. Malovex reached into the duffle bag and took out a grenade, attaching it to the door behind him. His hands scoured the duffle bag before finding the small plastic bag. As he ripped it open, the voice returned to the speakers. “Lord Malovex, proceed to slip B7. We will have a medical team waiting with security detail for safety precautions. “

  Malovex did not respond. He sat back down in the pilot seat. With one hand on the item in the bag, the other began to steer the cargo ship to slip B7. He slowed the thrusters to a point where the ship was less than 100 meters from the slip. Someone was knocking on the door behind him. “Malovex, what are you doing?!”

  The item in his hand looked like a large mouthpiece. He put it in his mouth, which had external vents on the outside. He bit down hard, then began to breathe. Malovex knew it was working. He reached into the duffle bag and grabbed another grenade. Planting it on the control panel in front of him, he put this one on a timer. He then stepped firmly on the bag. His foot wedged so the bag would go nowhere. The ship was now 25 meters from the slip doors and began slowing down even more. The self-guided computer docking systems were locked in.

  Malovex reached down to his hip and grabbed his silvery ring. Gripping the handle tightly (he too had a blueish stone in his), he pointed his ring towards the window. With his mouth firmly biting the breathing mouthpiece, Malovex grabbed the four remaining grenades in the duffle bag. The two larger grenades he put on a fifteen-second timer, attaching it to the door. He then took a smaller grenade, activated it, and stuck it to the cockpit window, still gripping the handle of his ring as tightly as he could.The ship was a mere 15 meters from the space station, and the slip B7 doors. Malovex turned his back, now facing the slip of the space station. The grenade went off and immediately catapulted him through the windows of the cockpit out to space.

  His body burned, he could feel the flames on his back, as he floated aimlessly in space. The headless ship, with debris from the explosion going everywhere, was drifting away from him. The ship was also drifting slightly towards the space station, just missing its mark on the slip. He took a grenade and threw it directly into one of the engines on the cargo ship. It exploded, sending his body ten meters from the ship in a different direction. A couple of seconds went by. The grenades he planted on the cockpit door went off almost simultaneously.

  The entire cockpit area exploded off. Due to the explosions, the now ‘headless’ ship was spinning on fire away from the station. The grenade that had caught the engine split a section of the ship off. Some of the debris found Malovex’s legs and chest. It was small, hot, burning through his clothes and skin. He took his final grenade and threw it at the middle of the ship. The grenade sailed through space, slowly catching up with the spinning cargo ship. About ten seconds lapsed, and as it got to the ship, it exploded. The ship began breaking apart everywhere. It was mostly on fire, scattering through space in hundreds of pieces.

  Malovex, in excruciating pain, turned around. He was now a good fifteen meters from the space station slip and floating further away. He aimed his silvery ring, pointing it at the slip doors. A stream of liquid silver shot from it. The stream reached the doors, and then somehow connected itself to the metal just outside the gate. It morphed into the metal, so the line somehow looked like it was an extension of the spaceport. Rapidly, Malovex, arm extended, allowed the silvery expansion to shrink back into the ring, somehow ‘pulling’ him back to the station. When he got to the doors, he hit a red button on the side, and the door slid open. Malovex climbed in, and the doors closed behind him. Another pair of doors opened from the other side. A medical doctor sprinted towards him, while two security guards, rifles drawn, stayed still.

  An officer joined the doctor kneeling next to Malovex, treating his wounds from the debris. The officer asked, “Lord Malovex, are you alright? What happened?”

  Malovex removed his mouthpiece, breathing the air of the station. He grimaced from the Doctor treating the wounds and spoke softly, “I’m fine.”

  The officer turned to look directly at him. “Sir...the wounded?”

  Malovex took a deep breath and said, “The prisoners Lieutenant, the prisoners. I killed them.”

  Belinea 1.2

  Twenty years later….

  Space Port Earth

  Space Port Earth (SPE) is one of the largest space stations ever constructed by the Belineans. With over six years to go before completion, the station is home to a mix of eight thousand people, both civilian and military. SPE has one long narrow middle core, the main reactor that supplies the station’s energy. It is almost eight kilometers long. Two hundred and twenty elevator shafts spoke off from the core to the outer ring of the station. On the outer ring are docks for ships to link up to. On dock 11 lied a small ship, with two current passengers inside.

  Alexis Devanoe sat at a desk in the lavishly furnished living quarters of the ship. She continues to furiously touch the tablet in front of her, executing an endless list of tasks. Alexis is the Senior Advisor to the newest Earth Ambassador, Thomas Bird. At 22, she unde
rstands most view her as too young to hold such a prestigious & responsible position. In the background, a small, ten-year-old African American child was on the sofa, watching a video on her tablet. An image of a man giving a speech is lit up against the far wall. His audio is faint, but can undoubtedly be overheard.

  “Yes we share the same vision as the Belieneans, we must let these terrorists know....that there is no place in this galaxy dark enough for them to hide, that we will find them, and shine the light of justice upon them...And while we work together on that mission, we shall also not forget our primary vision of a better Earth. We cannot tolerate becoming prisoners to a plan that will lead us into an economic abyss, simply to remove an evil we must extinguish together. No more will these shackles constrict us. Earth must, AND WILL, do what is best for EARTH. Earth will choose our direction. And most important, Earth will fight for the right to protect its citizens...(applause).”

  The little girl, not taking her eyes off her tablet, spoke softly. “Alexis, what is taking my father so long?”

  Alexis did not stop what she was doing, either. She continued to look at her tablet while answering. “He is giving a significant speech, Savannah. He’s almost done.”

  “Why is it so important?” the little girl asked.

  Alexis, frustrated that babysitter was now part of her duties, answered in a slightly annoyed tone. “If you had been listening, you would know. He’s talking to all the people of Earth about the need to be independent.”

  Savannah now put her tablet down. “Why does that matter?”

  Alexis ran her hand through her long black hair. The child had managed to break her concentration. She stopped what she was doing to look at her. She spoke softly and slowly now, making sure she would understand. “Remember what I told you about the bad people? The terrorists? Your Dad, and other people on Earth, think we might be better off developing our own forces to fight the terrorists than only working with the Belineans. “

  Savannah was now curious. “Why is that better?”

  Alexis now stared directly at Savannah. “It may not be. The Council with the Belineans and other Ambassadors have their way. We are offering ours. They might just need more help. The problem is we disagree on how to do it.”

  Savannah replied, “Why can’t we just try all the ways? Somebody’s plan should work.”

  Alexis was trying to explain a very complicated answer in a straightforward way. “Savannah, these plans the Belineans came up with cost lots of money and resources.”

  Savannah was confused. “So? If it’s important?”

  Alexis answered, “It is important. But your father believes we can accomplish the same goals of eliminating the terrorists without having to contribute so many of Earth’s resources and workers to the Belineans. That’s money we can use for ourselves.”

  Savannah went back to the couch. “I don’t think it’s right. The Belineans care about us.”

  Alexis Devanoe smiled, charmed by the little girl’s childish behavior. “So, what does it matter?”

  Savannah continued. “I learned in school that almost twenty years ago when Earth had the pandemic that killed all those people, it was the Belinean who saved us. They are smart and our friends. We should help them if we can.”

  Alexis Devanoe was now actually proud the little girl had formed her own conclusion. “That is true. The Belineans came at a time when we didn’t understand all the other people and planets in the galaxy and saved us with a cure for the virus that caused the pandemic. Without them, everyone on Earth would have died, instead of the five billion that did.”

  Savannah, looking sad, asked Alexis, “Do you remember the pandemic?”

  For the first time, Alexis had a look of remorse on her face. She grabbed Savannah, giving her a half hug as if to help with the pain of the memory. “Barely, I was younger than you. My father caught the virus and died. It was awful. I will never forget what the Belineans did to help us.”

  The sound of a door opens. Savannah breaks away from Alexis, running towards the door. She said, “Father...”

  She runs headlong into a man dressed all in black. He is wearing a cloak that went just below his knees, with a hood over his head. Malovex looks down on the girl. The girl is now taken aback. Savannah, looking scared, said, “You are not my father....”

  The man removes his hood and reveals his facial scars along with his long jet black hair. He tilted his head, looking at the girl. Pondering at Savannah’s facial expression, he softly responds in a deep voice, “No, I am not.”

  Savannah asked, “Who are you?”

  Alexis, now seeing the weight of the situation, lunges up from her seat. She takes a few steps, grabbing Savannah’s wrist and forcing her to take a step back. Alexis bows her head slightly, before speaking, “Lord Malovex. My apologies. No one told me of your arrival.”

  Malovex kneeled and looked directly at the girl. “I am Sansigar Malovex. Who are you?”

  The girl was now a little nervous. “I am Savannah Bird. You have a funny name.”

  Alexis was speechless and furious. “Savannah, don’t be rude! Apologies, Lord Malovex.”

  Malovex, still looking at the girl, responded. “We don’t pick our names, the people who raise us do.”

  Savannah was still frightened, but slightly warming up. “I was born in Savannah, Georgia. I wasn’t supposed to be, but I was. My mother gave birth early, so my father named me Savannah.”

  Malovex showed no emotion. He said in a very soft but serious voice, “I was named for a town that was wiped out by some evil men.”

  Savannah, now genuinely terrified, whispered, “Just like the terrorists?”

  Malovex paused. He took a small deep breath before whispering back, “Worse than the Terrorists.”

  Savannah’s eyes grew big. She was scared. She almost did not want to ask the question, but somehow it just came right out. “Are the bad men still out there?”

  Alexis still had her head bowed. She had no idea what to do. “My Lord, I’m sorry, the girl is a child and does not know any better.....”

  Malovex waved his hand up in the air. He silently brushed away Alexis’ remarks, mainly because he was okay with answering the question. But the girl was scared now, looking down the whole time, she finally looked up into Malovex’s eyes. Malovex spoke softly but clearly, “No. I killed them all.”

  Savannah was terrified. Who was this guy? Her eyes were watery. Alexis did not know what to say. Finally, the sound of the door opened, and Ambassador Bird walked in. Savannah ran to her father and hugged his legs just as he entered the room.

  Ambassador Bird first looked down at his daughter before surveying the room. “Savannah, are you alright? Lord Malovex, no one told me of your arrival.”

  Malovex stood back up. “That is because no one knows I am here.”

  Ambassador Bird was first looking at Alexis as if upset that no one told him Malovex would be here. He then grabbed his daughter’s shoulders and kneeled to talk to her. “Savannah, what is wrong?”

  With a tear in her eye and a whimpering voice, Savannah said, “Did you do something bad, father?”

  The Ambassador was now as confused as ever. “ I don’t think so.”

  Savannah was unconvinced. “Then why is this man Malava here? Is he here to kill you?”

  The Ambassador now smiled. “It’s Lord Malovex, and I don’t know why he is here. But he and many other brave soldiers are sworn to protect me, you, and Alexis. Lord Malovex is the head of the BRG.”

  Savannah now wiped the tears away. “What is that?”

  Alexis had now walked up to the two of them. “It stands for Belinean Rosash Guraan. They protect The Council’s two hundred and ninety-six Ambassadors that were elected by the planet’s delegates. The Ambassadors elect a leader, currently Chairman Hassara, Lord Malovex’s uncle.”

  Savannah, now
turning to Malovex. “So, you are trying to catch the bad guys?”

  Malovex was emotionless in his answer. “No, I am going to kill the bad guys.”

  There was an awkward silence in the room. Savannah was back to looking scared. Alexis looked solemn. Even Ambassador Bird knew the conversation had somehow taken a dark undertone. It was clear it was not appropriate for his ten-year-old daughter. “Savannah, why don’t you go with Alexis to the front of the ship and let the officers show you the cockpit again.”

  Malovex interrupted. “Miss Devanoe stays, she will be useful in this conversation. I’m sure the child can find her way to the cockpit.”

  Alexis looked curious. Ambassador Bird, never taking his eyes off Malovex, shoed his daughter off. “Go along, Savannah. Lord Malovex and I need to speak.”

  Savannah walked away to the front of the craft. Bird waited until he heard the door close before speaking to Malovex. “Please, have a seat.”

  Lord Malovex was not into extending pleasantries. “I will stand. This will not take long. I heard your speech. Very interesting.”

  Ambassador Bird was concerned this was going to turn into an awkward conversation. “I felt I was speaking on behalf of all my constituents.”

  Malovex showed no emotion. “If you say. Ambassador, I am here on behalf of Chairman Hassara and my cousin, Defense Minister Tempest Hassara. Are you familiar with the Emmetts Rule?”

  Ambassador Bird was not quite sure but vaguely knew. “It is a security measure passed by the Council years ago, correct?”