E:A Vol 3 Ch 1—August 25, 2119

The first week of the McGuire family trial was coming to a close. Sitting on the witness stand, Victoria thought about how tired she was of being asked about her past with Jason McGuire. The horror of those years had just started ebbing when she’d gone to the astrophysics lab on Terra 2 to meet up with friends. The terror of just being there, years after Jason’s death, shocked her system. The next day, after breaking down outside of the lab, she found out that Jason’s family had been arrested. Parents and brothers. That was good news, of course, but what didn’t make her happy was the fact that she would have to go to Earth to face them and give testimony. However, she was determined to see them pay for their crimes and would do whatever it took, exposing herself to the horror that was Jason all over again in retelling her story.

Arrested for bribing high officials, and primarily the Oversight Committee that allowed Jason McGuire to join the Expedition: Andromeda team, the McGuire family had managed to get past all of the top secret barriers in their way in order to get to Victoria. The number of men and women they threw money at in order to get to the doctor was staggering. The breach of classified information was treasonous. The family was being tried first. That was arranged by the team that would help her through the process. She’d been through enough pain, she shouldn’t have to wait years for everyone else to be tried before she could tell her tale to put those behind it all behind bars.

The bribed officials and secretaries and even the Oversight Committee could all be dealt with through the evidence, money deposits, recorded electronic messages and calls, testimony from coworkers and others, so that Victoria would not be needed. She was, after all, not privy to that end of things, she was only the recipient of the tragedy that followed their actions.

The president that took office in 2116, just months after Jason was killed by Zy’nayth, the Supreme Commander of the Raythian Spacefleet and Army was a friend of General Vince Cavanaugh’s. When Vince told Michael Stewart all that Victoria had told him, which was only the tip of the iceberg, Michael promised he’d put a good team on the case so that Victoria can see justice done.

Zy’nayth, shortly after killing Jason, became the High Chancellor of the Raythian Empire and Victoria’s husband. He had loved her from the moment he saw her bleeding to death in a forest. She was there helping a local villager who was injured. His people, only recently came in contact with Expedition: Andromeda, sent for a doctor. She went. Zy’nayth had come looking for traitors to his Empire. He found Gyhan rebels, humans aligned with traitorous Rayth. Those rebels shot her and was about to finish the job. Zy’nayth, at first not seeing the dying woman, knew only that the man in the drab gray uniform, had stolen a Raythian jet. He was summarily dealt with. Then the Rayth saw the green eyes of the woman on the ground. Though human, which to a Rayth, meant that they were a food source and an enemy, he saved her with his Raythian ability to heal wounds by pushing his energy into a body to speed its recovery.

During his search for rebels and traitors, his path crossed her a few more times over the year. And through various circumstances, the two became close friends. Then Jason arrived on Terra 2, disrupting Victoria’s life yet again. But this time, he wouldn’t escape punishment for his deeds. This time, the legendary Raythian warrior was there. A warrior over 10,000 years old. A warrior who saw himself as Victoria’s protector. A warrior that was also the leader of the strongest, most advanced race of people in the galaxy. A warrior feared by everyone in the galaxy. And when Jason made the mistake of brutally beating Victoria in the astrophysics lab that he locked down, Zy’nayth would not let him leave alive. He disabled the lockdown, walked in, Jason putting two dozen bullets in him, but Zy’nayth’s self-healing ability kept him alive. He killed Jason using his energy extraction, then he healed Victoria, once again saving her from death, and ending the nightmare life with Jason.

Now, almost exactly four years after Jason’s death, Victoria sat in a courtroom, her second day on the stand, telling her tale of terror as Jason’s wife.

Generals Vince Cavanaugh and Ken Price had been on the stand Wednesday. Both generals were called to give their statements regarding the Oversight Committee, the rules and regulations allowing people to travel to Terra 2, and the subsequent “kidnapping” of Victoria by the O.C. They were then dismissed. Ken returned to the Colorado Central Command and Vince returned to the Andromeda galaxy. It was then Victoria’s turn on the stand.

Her first day of questioning had been brutal. When she and the Alpha Team had returned to their hotel suite at the end of the day, she wanted nothing more than to spend the night crying. But her friends and family helped her through the evening. Now she just had one more day of testimony. She was ready to put it all behind her, though, she figured, there’d be appeal after appeal and she’d have to go through it all again and again. But she would handle it. She wanted them in jail, stripped of their money and power. With as corrupt as the system was, she doubted that would ever truly happen. They might end up in jail, but they had wealthy friends on the outside. But she hoped. If anything, people would be less likely to bribe their way to Terra 2. And now she was Zy’nayth’s wife, the mother of his children. He was more protective than ever.

Her final day of questions and accusations was half over when the doors to the courtroom opened. Victoria’s intuition told her something was wrong. Col. John Hagen, assigned to guard his friend used a simple hand gesture to signal his team. Major Chris Chapman and two Andromeda natives, Kaven Maneese and Be’atta Jollen, were in plain clothes, but fully armed and situated at various areas in the courtroom. Just as their hands settled on their weapons, shots rang out.

Victoria, with the best view of the doors that had opened, ducked behind the platform and John dove on top of her as the deafening sounds of guns firing filled the room. “Stay down, don’t move until I signal,” John said in her ear. He pulled the heavy leather chair down onto its side to provide her a little more protection. Attached to the bottom of the chair was a black helmet. Everything had been pre-arranged. The back and seat of the chair was also bullet proof. He slapped the bullet proof helmet on her head. “Don’t move,” he repeated.

Victoria managed a nod as John tapped his comlink. He peered around the edge. Kaven’s voice was booming, shouting, instructing the civilians to get down. “Sir, shots fired,” John said, “Too many witnesses, don’t recommend porting. Plan B. Leaving connection open.” He ducked back to Victoria, “Tracking device activated?”

She nodded and held it for him to see.

“She’s ready. Repeat, too many witnesses.”

“Understood,” came Zy’nayth’s reply. He was in his personal chambers of the Raythian flagship, in orbit around Earth. He looked at Lutia, the wife of his First Science Commander, Ja’val, and asked her to stay with his children. Ky’nayth and Mik’kenna had been born to Zy’nayth and Victoria nearly two years ago. Neither parent thought they could have children, and when they found out they were having twins, both were overjoyed. As Zy’nayth headed for the door, both kids ran up to him saying “Dada kiss! Dada kiss!” He obliged them and headed out, sending for his First Science Commander as he did so.

“John will get her to a safe location, away from the crowd, then you will need to lock onto her tracking device and teleport her up,” he told Ja’val.

“Safer to get her out now, sir,” Ja’val said, running to the bridge from his science lab on the ship.

“Too many questions for the Earth team. I promised I would only do this if absolutely necessary. John and his team know what to do. They know if they cannot keep her safe, they must signal me for immediate teleport.”

In less than a minute, both the High Chancellor and the First Science Commander were on the bridge. “I’ve got her signal,” Ja’val said, “Alpha Team, can you hear me?” He got an affirmative from everyone except Victoria who was not wearing a comlink due to being on the witness stand. “I’m scanning for weapons’ fire to try and isolate where the attackers are.”

With John’s comlink signal open, the Rayth heard everything going on. The screams, the gunshot blasts, everything.

“Be’atta, cover Becket, Mark’s down,” John said and fired off another round towards the door.

“Helmets and shields are bulletproof,” Chris said, “I’ll draw them out. Get a clear shot, and take it.”

“Hold!” John said, “Need to get the civilians…Chris! Three o’clock.”

The team turned to see a section of the wall turn bright red then disintegrate. “Chris, they’re yours. Kaven stay on the main door. Go for the legs until they show us something that’ll really hurt.”

Where the wall had once been stood another row of men with shields and helmets. Guns were tossed to the McGuire family who now had a clear shot at John. The patriarch of the family took aim, but Chris’ bullet was true and the man who didn’t have a bulletproof helmet fell dead to the floor. Chris took aim for his next shot, but from the back, a bullet took out his left shoulder.

“Chris is hit,” John said and took out one of the assailants coming through the new opening in the wall. Most of the civilians were now down on the ground either wounded or finally understanding that they were in danger and had to get down as Kaven had ordered.

John saw Chris being surrounded and began firing at the shielded assailants. Chris, despite his injury took down two more. Taking out shins and when the men toppled, got them in the neck or chest if they dropped their shields.

Victoria screamed out John’s name as Jason’s two brothers got to her. They ripped off her helmet and replaced with a gun pointed at her temple. Becket, the nearest in range, found himself in the same predicament. Both were dragged into the deliberation room.

“Victoria and Becket have been taken. They’re in a closed room. Your turn, Chancellor,” John said calmly then went back to firing at the other attackers.

Victoria, held by Jason’s brothers, appeared on the bridge of the Raythian flagship. Becket on his knees beside her had blood running down his right temple. One had Victoria in a chokehold, gun at her temple. Becket was being held by the back collar of his shirt, a gun also at his head.

“You send us back, and we won’t hurt her too much,” one of Jason’s brothers said. “But you try anything, she’ll die before I will.”

“I believe that statement is inaccurate,” said Kol’non from behind them. With one quick move, the neck was snapped, while the Second Commander snapped the next of the second brother. Victoria ran to Zy’nayth who ordered that the men be teleported back down to their previous location.

“John, Victoria and Becket area safe,” Zy’nayth said. “I will send her back down when you have the situation under control.”

“Roger that. Going for Chris,” John said to his team, “Be’atta, cover me.”

“I’m fine,” Chris said, clearly not fine, “just need to get my breath.”

“There are fifteen left,” Ja’val said, “I just picked up their communications. They’re being instructed to not leave anyone alive. The one giving orders is to your north. All of their comlink signals are locked. I’ll make sure none get away.”

“We can’t fight them off in here, too many civilians. We need to get out into the open,” John said and began to reposition his team. “I’ll draw their fire. Get them through the main doors. When they come after me, you take them down, and take them down fast.”

“I’ll get their attention,” Chris said, “I’m already hit, you’ll be a better shot. I’ve lost too much blood. Shaky hands.”

“Chris get to Becket,” John said, forgetting Becket was on the flagship in orbit.

“I’m closer to the exit,” Chris replied, “makes sense for me to draw them out. On three… two… one…” he gathered all his strength, stood and ran, tackling the two men in the doorway, his speed and strength toppling them over. Kaven and John, with the assailants’ backs now to them, took aim and fired. Kaven grabbed a bullet proof shield and made his way to Chris. He covered Chris as well as he could.

Out in the open foyer, the team was able to move into better positions, away from the civilians inside, and one by one take out the remaining attackers.

“Last one,” Ja’val said, “they’re all down.”

“Victoria, Becket, get ready,” Zy’nayth said.

Though shaking and scared, she moved away from her husband, gripped Becket’s hand, and was teleported back to the room where Jason’s two brothers were slumped on the floor, dead. Both of them ran into the courtroom and began tending to the injured. Kaven and John were dragging Chris’s limp body back into the deliberation room.

John said over the comlink, “Chris is nearly dead. Headed to Victoria and Becket’s location, could use a little help, if you guys don’t mind.”

Becket, hearing the conversation over his comlink hurried to them, helping to get him into the deliberation room. He told Victoria to help the others. She frowned, wanting to help Chris, but tended to the other injured as the sound of sirens approached, getting louder as they raced to the courthouse.

When Becket came back out, he told her he was simply knocked out and was fine. Victoria knew that was a cover story. Her husband, undoubtedly, was tending to Chris. Finally, she couldn’t resist the urge any longer, and walked over to where Jason’s parents were and reached down to make sure they were dead. Though the gunshot wounds to the heads clearly indicated that they were, she had to know for sure.

“I already checked,” Becket said.

“I know. I…until I knew for myself, I’d probably have nightmares.” She checked for pulses on both of them three times before tending to others.

“The judge is missing,” Kaven said after checking the area, “anyone see where he went? He’s not in the room and no one left through that door but us.” He pointed, “Hole in the wall, anyone watching that?”

“Dammit,” John said. “Science, any chance…”

“Already seeing what I can do,” the First Science Commander said.

Chris opened his eyes and grabbed the arm of the High Chancellor. He looked around. Deliberation room. He was on a table. The conference table. His eyes finally focused. Zy’nayth. He was being healed. He settled and sighed in relief. “Thanks, big guy. Thought I was a gonner.”

“I assume that means dead. I would not let that happen,” Zy’nayth said, “almost done. You took quite a few hits.”

“Had to be the hero,” Be’atta said.

Chris smiled, “That’s me.”

“You must rest now,” Zy’nayth said, “you have lost a lot of blood. Follow the doctor’s orders when he has a chance to get to you. Just stay here for the moment.”

“How do we explain his healing?” Be’atta said.

“The blood is everyone else’s. He simply got knocked out.”

“I must leave before someone comes in,” Zy’nayth said.

“Thanks again,” Chris said.

Zy’nayth gave them a nod then teleported back up to the flagship.

“Got a shuttle signature,” Ja’val said to John, “registered to the judge. Can you get transportation?”

“Be’atta, you’re with me,” John yelled as she came out of the deliberation room, “Kaven, don’t let anyone else get hurt.” They ran out and found a police shuttle. John commandeered it and called for the military police.

***

“A little rude, don’t you think, to shoot up a courtroom full of people,” John said as the judge stepped out of his shuttle. “Ah, ah, ah, don’t move. My associate there, pretty as she is, is one helluva good shot, and she doesn’t take too kindly to being shot at. She’s kinda ticked off right now. So, while we wait for the police to show up, you wanna tell me why you sold out to the McGuires?”

“I did no such thing. I was running for my life.”

“From people who weren’t even shooting at you. Got the whole thing recorded, you know.”

“There were no recording devices in the room.”

“None that you could see.”

“The place is scanned before each session, there was nothing.”

“Oh, trust me, your honor, we have ways to bypass your scans. And we did. The files are in the hands of the lawyers. You should have had those lawyers taken out first instead of trying to get to us. Big mistake.”

“All this recording will show, if indeed you have one, is a scared old man running for his life.”

“See, sir, no one was shooting at you. There are bullet holes in the panel and wall where Victoria had been seated, but not at your big desk. Not one bullet hole in that massive front panel or in the wall behind where you were sitting. Weird, don’t ya think?” He stopped and smiled, “And there’s the police. Military police, my friend. They’re going to take good care of you. They always do when you try to kill some of their own.”

“Colonel,” one of the MPs said as he got out of the shuttle.

John gave the man a salute, “He’s all yours. Keep him nice and locked up.”

“Will do, sir,” the man replied with a return salute as his associate cuffed the judge and put him into their shuttle.

“Make sure you’re tracking them,” John said to Ja’val over the intercom, “just in case.”

“Got the energy signal of the shuttle and…tracking.”

“Thanks for the help today. Be’atta, we’d better get back. By the way, that was a mighty fierce look you gave the judge.”

“As you said, I was ticked.”

***

Mark West, lead counsel for Victoria’s side of the trial, was still on the floor. Don Sanders and Glenna Dumont, the other lawyers, sat beside him. “You’ll be on the next ambulance out,” Becket said, walking up to them after having tended to several other injured people. “Mark, hang in there, you’re going to be fine. Keep pressure on that,” he said to Glenna.

“He wants me to ease up,” Glenna replied, “hurts too much.”

“I don’t care what he wants,” Becket said, “keep pressure on it.”

“What’s the count?” John asked as he and Be’atta walked into the bloody courtroom.

“The four members of the McGuire family and all of the hitmen are dead; four other casualties,” Becket said as he tended to Kaven’s injured shoulder. “A dozen in critical condition, already at the hospital, but I expect them to pull through if the doctors are on their toes; seven in serious condition, I expect them to fully recover as well, if…” he sighed, “Victoria, dear, please…” he pointed to Glenna and her reluctance to apply more pressure to Mark’s stomach wound, “let him grimace all he wants. You have to keep pressure on that.”

Victoria walked over and knelt beside the lawyer. “I got it, Glenna, you did a good job. Thanks for helping out while we tended to everyone else.” Glenna moved aside, and Victoria put the appropriate pressure on the wound despite Mark’s pleas to ease up.

“And everyone else seems to be okay,” Becket continued. “They’ll be taken to another hospital and checked over, just to make sure.”

John let out a sigh, “I knew I should have had one of you patrolling the hallway. I blew this big time.”

“Not your fault,” Chris said. “We did a perimeter check every day. The big guy was scanning. With all the cops in and out of this building, we all agreed it wouldn’t be necessary. Plus we were told there’d be extra security out there.”

“Yeah, told by that judge,” Kaven sneered. “Those extra plain clothes security men were all bought and paid for by the McGuires. I should have just gone outside regardless. I could have dealt with a couple of them before they got in.”

“Hey, the bad guys are dead,” Becket said, “And for all of the bullets that entered this room, only four civilian casualties, I’d rather have none, but it could have been a whole lot worse.”

“Not sure about me,” Chris said, stretched out on the floor, weak from the loss of blood. “Could use some pizza.”

“You could use a couple pints of blood,” Becket said and looked at John. “He wouldn’t go to the hospital.”

“Don’t trust ‘em. Only trust Doc and Doc,” Chris said, pointing to Becket and Victoria.

“No,” Victoria said to Chris as he tried to get up, “you just stay there. John, don’t let him get up.”

“You’re going on the next ambulance too,” Becket said.

“No.”

“Chris, you’re too weak. You need a transfusion.”

“Becket, if this next load is the last of the serious injuries, why don’t you go with him?” John suggested, “Give him some peace of mind. Victoria will be here if something goes haywire.”

“I’ll go if Doc goes,” Chris said, “otherwise, just bring me a pizza for my last meal. Deep dish. The works. Pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions, extra cheese. Definitely extra cheese. Garlic. Love ones with garlic. None of that butter crust stuff. Too sweet. Got that?”

“You are not going to die,” Becket said.

“But just in case…”

August 26, 2119

It was well past midnight when the group, minus Becket and Chris, entered their hotel suite. “I don’t understand why it takes so long for them to take a statement,” Victoria complained as they walked into their room.

“They had to be thorough. Local plus the feds. Always tricky,” John said. “Shower one order: me, Kaven, then Be’atta. Shower two: Victoria. No argument. We’ll be fast. Be’atta, we’ll be done before Victoria, so you two can take your time. Kaven, keep an eye out, I’ll take over when I’m done…the way this day has been going…”

“On it,” the tall warrior said and went to check the balconies.

John tapped his earpiece, “We’re safe and alone if you want to come down. But we’re all still in bloodied clothes, might want to wait to bring the kids.” He nodded then turned to Victoria, “He’ll come down once we’ve cleaned up.”

She nodded and went to the bedroom and pulled out a clean set of clothes. Once everyone had showered and changed, John sent for Zy’nayth.

“The children are sleeping, I thought it might be best to leave them that way,” the High Chancellor said as he drew his wife into his arms. “How is Christopher?”

“In the hospital. Wouldn’t go without me or Becket with him.”

“Do any of you need healing?” he looked at Kaven’s bandaged arm.

“Nah, I’m fine. Just a scrape,” the warrior said.

Zy’nayth ignored him and put a hand on his chest, allowing his energy to heal the graze of the gunshot wound.

“Guys, we all need to get some rest,” Victoria said. “I’m gonna go back to the ship. I want to see my kids, even if they are sleeping. I’ll be back at the usual time in the morning. I’ll bring the kids so they can cheer Chris up.” She gave them all hugs, “I love you guys.”

***

It was 10:00 in the morning when Victoria and the others arrived with the twins to visit Chris and check on Becket who hadn’t returned to the hotel that night.

“Look at that spiffy new hat,” Chris said as Ky’nayth sat on the bed. “Do you like it?”

The boy nodded, “Geen. Bay ball hat. New sirt,” he said pulling at the bottom of it as he looked down. “Geen.”

“Very nice. Mik’kenna can I see your new outfit?”

John picked her up out of the stroller and set her on the other side of the bed. “What color is your baseball hat?” Chris asked.

“Wed.”

“Yup, so it is. And a pretty white dress.”

She nodded then pointed at the belt of the dress, “Wed too.”

Becket came into the room, looking exhausted, but smiled when he saw the kids. “Hey you two, it’s so good to see you. Oh and don’t you look cute! Is that what Mommy bought for you the other day?”

The kids both nodded and got hugs and kisses from the doctor. Kaven offered Becket the chair he’d been sitting in but Becket refused and began checking Chris’ chart.

“Have you even slept?” John asked.

“No. Just got done giving my statement. I wanted to see how Chris was doing before I went back to the hotel room.”

“I’m hoping to be released, Doc. Can’t you get me out of here? I feel fine now. They gave me the blood. I’m just hungry. I feel fine.”

Becket looked over the various readouts and nodded, “I’ll find Dr. Kimmel and get you released. But you need to stay in bed the rest of the day.”

“Deal.”

“Chris, I’ll see you back at the hotel,” Be’atta said, “I want to make sure the doctor gets there safely.” She kissed Chris’s forehead, “And thank you for risking your life yesterday.”

He gave her a smile, “Go help Doc.”

It took an hour to get Chris released and by the time the rest of group arrived back at the hotel, Becket was sound asleep. Be’atta was in the kitchen putting the delivered food onto the counter so everyone could easily get at it. “I was going to get pizza, but I wasn’t sure if Chris would be here for lunch,” Be’atta said. “So I got fried chicken, mac and cheese, and mashed potatoes. Glenna was kind enough to order it for us since I’m clueless as to how to do that.”

“Taytoes!” Mik’kenna exclaimed. “Ma! Taytoes!”

“Ssh, sweetie, Uncle Becket is sleeping,” Victoria said.

“The door is shut, and I think it’ll take more than that to wake him up,” Be’atta said.

Ky’nayth and Mik’kenna were taken out of their stroller while John sent for the High Chancellor, letting him know that the room was safe for him to teleport down. When everything was ready, Victoria went and woke Becket. Though he needed to sleep, she knew he probably hadn’t eaten at all. He gave her a warm smile then sniffed the air, “Fried chicken?”

“Yup. All sorts of artery clogging goodness out there. I see you at least managed a shower before you collapsed.”

“Yeah. Just took a quick one and changed into scrubs once I got to the hospital. Oh, I didn’t throw my clothes in the washer…”

“I’ll get it later,” she said, “I miss the Mythican machines. So much easier. Earth needs to invent those.”

Mik’kenna went running up to Becket and took his hand, “Taytoes! See?”

“I do.”

“I duv taytoes.”

“I know you do, sweetheart.”

“No high chairs,” Victoria said, “who wants to hold a kid?”

“I’ll take Mik’kenna,” Becket smiled.

“I’ll take my main man, Ky’nayth,” Kaven said as he sat down and held out his hands for the little boy.

Zy’nayth prayed over the meal then someone knocked at the door.

John and Be’atta were both up, guns in hand. Zy’nayth grabbed a child in each arm and headed down the hallway into the bedroom.

“Detective,” John said, “what can we do for you?”

“Seems I came at a bad time. I’ll be quick. We don’t need to detain you any longer. The judge committed suicide after his confession, and Candice McGuire made a full confession after she found out about her family. Everyone’s statements, those able to give us one, all match up. After consulting with the lawyers on both sides, there’s no reason to detain you. So when you and your team are ready to leave, you may do so. If we do need you to return, I’m told that Mark West knows how to contact you.”

“He does.”

“Then you guys enjoy your lunch, and your trip back to your expedition down in Antarctica. Never imagined it would take so much wrangling to go to the South Pole. I’d rather be in Florida.”

“Too humid,” John smiled, “and alligators. Thanks, Detective.” John shut the door then returned to the table.

“Antarctica?” Zy’nayth asked as he and the kids returned to the table.

“Where our expedition is located,” Chris said, “One of the few places still hard to get to on this planet, and one where most people don’t want to go.”

“Ah. Then we can all return to Terra 2 now, correct?”

“After lunch,” Chris said, “I’m too hungry to leave now.”

“I will have to take the children with me,” Zy’nayth said. “It would be difficult to explain how your children got to Earth when you return to the bridge portal at Central Command.”

“I know,” Victoria said, “but it won’t take you long to get back home.”

“I thought, at some point long ago, that you were going to look for other bridges on this planet.” John said.

“I was,” Zy’nayth replied. “However, I could not do that this trip since we have had to stay in geosynchronous orbit above this city.”

“How long would it take?” Chris asked.

“Two days or two weeks. It depends on how deep we have to search.”

“Well, couldn’t you just take a couple more days to run your scans? I think it’d be worth it.”

Zy’nayth looked at his wife who smiled at him. “Might as well,” she said. “It’s not like you get to this galaxy very often.”

“But that would mean two days or more away from your children.”

“Taytoes!” Mik’kenna pointed to the bowl, having eaten all of hers. “Peez!”

“Two days. If it means helping us in the future, I think it’s worth it.”