Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2008 13:31:37 -0700 (PDT)
From: JMH <trandar2002@yahoo.com>
Subject: The Guild/The Son chapter 19

Saul watched from atop a hill as the last ofthe Sloth transports loaded
with food left for Earth.  Aegis, the world his family had ruled
forgenerations, ever since it had been colonized by the Guild, was now
barren,even stripped of its once beautiful forests.

"Brother?"

Adam said as he joined his brother on the hill.

"This is your fault.  You should have never come back here," Saulaccused as
he took off his Gold mask and dropped it on the ground, seeing nopoint in
wearing the emblem of his rank anymore.

"I'm sorry Saul.  I did what I had to do.  And since you want to place
blame, it was youwho pushed me into joining the Inquisitors in the first
place."

"I had to get you to do something.  You were willing to remain a nobody for
therest of your life."

"Maybe I was meant to be a nobody... did youever think about that.  If you
had beenwilling to let your slow dumb brother be a nobody none of this
would havehappened.

"You're correct... I should have let you be... adisgrace to your family's
name."

"I am glad we can agree on something," Adamchuckled.

The two remained on the hill as the sun setand the sky darkened until the
stars appeared, twinkling.  "Which one of those lights you think will beour
new home?"  Adam asked after a longsilence.

"Some place far from here... maybe even a darkworld free of the Guild, Star
Generals, and Prelates."  Saul replied.

"That is the first sensible thing you havesaid in a long time."

"See... we can agree on more than one thing,"Saul laughed.

Both men were soon on the ground laughingtheir faces off... so much so that
they did not notice at first the growinglights in the sky but when they
did, both men jumped back to their feet.  "What in the darkness is that?"
Adam asked,his eyes wide open.

In the sky above them was a giant black holeto the Void bordered by bright
blue flames which were in constant flux and outof that hole came ships that
neither Adam nor Saul recognized.  The ships came in all sizes each with
its ownshape, looking like a collection of strange fungi.  They entered the
atmosphere of Aegis but didnot land, instead filling the sky as far as the
two men could see.

"These are not Guild ships... are they?"  Adam asked his brother nervously.

"I do not think these ships are even human,"Saul replied, as thick
multicolor particles started falling from the sky.  I think we better get
back to the house."

"I think your right," Adam agreed, as theyboth started running down the
hill.

They were less than halfway back whenwhatever was falling from the sky
became so thick that they could not see morethan three feet in front of
them.

Breathing also became difficult as they took in the mysterious particles.

When Saul fell to the ground, gasping forair, Adam slumped down beside him.

Coughing constantly, they could not even talk to each other.  They took
each other's hands, however, andgave them a final squeeze before lack of
air sent both men intounconsciousness.

***************************************************

As the Santor and the rest of the ships inthe fleet passed through the
Void, Vard slept, knowing that once the armadaarrived in the Sol system
sleep would be a rare luxury.

His sleep was interrupted by the faint soundof a man's whispering voice
repeating his name over and over again.  "Vard... Vard?"

Vard, ever the light sleeper, rose quicklyout of bed and dived toward the
shadowy figure standing in the middle of hisroom only to pass through the
man as if he were made of mist.  He landed hard on the floor but was quick
torecover, jumping back onto his feet, fists swinging, but the shadowy man
waslike a ghost.

"Vard... have you gotten enough exercise orshall I just continue to stand
here."  Ahollow but familiar voice chuckled.

Vard lowered his fists and squinted at thedark man.  "Austin?"

"In the flesh...  Well not really," Austin chuckled.

"Lights."

Vard shouted, flooding his room with light, revealing the transparentshadow
of Austin.

"Hello Vard... sorry for the "in the flesh"comment.  Bad joke, I know."

"What is going on Austin... is this a new trick you havelearned?"

"No... no trick.  I am afraid this is all that is left of me."

"I don't understand," Vard half lied.  In truth he was afraid he understood
all toowell.

"I was captured and tortured.  I almost died... did die in fact in a
physicalsort of way."

"Are you a ghost?"

"In a simplistic sense... yes.  Falcon had me surrounded by Guild
Mistresses,cutting off my escape into the Void."

"So you did die."

"My body did," Austin nodded.

"You are not making any sense... how can youstill be around if your body is
gone?"

"Because the moment I died and before my soulpassed on, the Guild
Mistresses released their hold over me.  I was weak... terribly weak but I
did not wantto pass on.  I could not accept that Iwould never see you
again.  So... I did theonly thing I could think of doing... I passed my
soul into the Void."

"Why did you not come to me sooner?"

"In a way I am trapped Vard.  The Void is timeless... even for a used up
soullike me.  It is why I have not passed onto wherever our souls go after
we die.  If I were to ever leave the Void, however, back into real
space..."

"You would be gone forever."  Vard said, tears running down his face.

"Yes."

Austinnodded.

"What is it like... cold and alone I imagine."

"It was at first then I found the others... theWatchers."

"Is that what you call them or what they callthemselves?"

"It is what they do... they watch and thereforeknow everything that happens
in the Void."

"Was it them that we mistakenly attack?"

"No... those were the Fungi.  You better hope they don't learn it was
youwho destroyed three of their colony ships.

They are not the most pleasant species around."

"Can the Watchers explain to the Fungi thatit was an accident?"

"No... the Watchers watch... they do notinterfere."

"Did they not interfere with you?"

"They made an exception in my case. TheWatchers are beings of living
energy, without physical form and therefore seethemselves as pure.  They
hate thephysical world...they believe it is the source of all evil and
corruption.  Finding me...a bodiless soul floating aimlesslythrough the
Void peaked their curiosity.  So they took me in, and taught me a few
tricks such as appearing to youas I am now."

Vard reached over and let his fingers passthrough Austin'scheek.  "I am
glad you are notalone."

"The Watchers are nice enough I guess... but Ihave missed you Vard."

"I have missed you too, oath brother.  I have so many questions I want to
ask you,but something tells me I don't have that time."

"And you would be right... the Watchers havetaught me only a fraction of
their knowledge of the Void... its history and howit works.  You see they
have never hadsomeone with whom to share their knowledge ... it is a new
experience forthem.  The truth is they did not want meto come here and
`associate' myself with physical beings such as you.  I had to threaten to
leave them before theywould agree to let me see you but I can only stay for
a short time."

"Then tell me what I must know."

"That I love you Vard... more than any other personin my life, but I think
you have always known that."

"Yes," Vard nodded.

"Now that that is out of the way, it's timefor the less important matter.
TheWatchers have observed the Void for a very long time so they know when
troubleis coming."

"What sort of trouble?"

"War Vard... and not just your fight with theGuild."

"The Fungi?"

"Yes... and another race called theChimera.  Both are older and
thereforemore advanced then humanity.  Both willsee humanity as either a
prize to be claimed, or a race to be wiped out ofexistence.  You are a
warrior Vard; youwill not give up without a fight, but this is not a war
humanity can win... notby itself at least."

"Are their allies we can turn to?  Can you convince the Watchers to help
us?"

"As I said, the Watchers do not believe insullying themselves with matters
of the physical world, but I will try toconvince them otherwise.  There are
otherraces that travel through the Void... I do not know how I will
convince them tocome to humanity's aid, but I will do my best."

"That is all I can ask.  How soon till this war begins?"

"It already has... The Fungi have alreadyattacked Aegis.  As for the
Chimera...their fleet will reach the edge of Assembly space in a matter of
months."

"Felix was right... is should call off theattack on Earth."

"No... if humanity is going to have a chance tosurvive it needs a single
leader to follow.  You are the one and true Prelate.  It is you who must
lead mankind," Austinsaid as he began to fade away.

Vard reached out, passing his hands through Austin's body.  "Austin,don't
leave me."

"I will always be here Vard... watching you."

"I love you."

"I love you too," Austin whispered as he faded into nothingness.

***************************************************

Robert watched the man he loved sleeping inthe arms of another.  It
frustrated himthat Drake did not see his loyalty to the Prelate as an
admirable quality.  Robert knew what he had to do to fix thingsbetween the
two of them.  It was only aday ago that one of his scout ships had come out
of the Void reporting that therebel fleet was approaching Earth.

Since that time, not a few of Robert's squadcommanders had approached him
asking for his counsel.  They did not say it outright, but Robertunderstood
the nature of their questions.

None in the Guild armada loved the present Prelate; their loyalty hadnever
been to the man but to the position.

Many in the Guild blamed the present chaos within the Assembly of Worldson
the actions taken by Falcon and his predecessor.  Many in the fleet
resented having to risktheir lives for such men.

Robert had never aspired to the role of kingmaker but that was the position
in which he now found himself.  With the arrival of the rebel ships
onlyhours away, Robert had the power to end the civil war... all he had to
do wasorder his ships to stand down... letting Vard win without a fight.

Going over to the bed, Robert stroked Drake'sdark brown hair, watching as
the man slowly opened his eyes and looked athim.  "We need to talk."

Drake nodded his head and disentangledhimself from Tidal, putting on a soft
white robe as he followed Robert out ofthe room to a hallway.  "What is
going onRobert?"

Robert turned around and cornered Drakeagainst the wall.  "Time is running
outfor us Drake.  There are few options leftto me, and all of them are
bad."

"You should make the best choice you canthen," Drake said, the calm in his
voice in deep contract to the panic inRobert's.

"That's the problem... I don't know what to doany more.  That is why I
brought you outhere.  I need to ask you some questions,and I need you to
tell me the truth."

Drake nodded his head.  "Alright."

"Do you love me?"

Drake reached over and brushed Robert's rightear with his hand.  "Not the
same way youfeel about me."

"I know... that was a test.  Now here is the real important
question... canyou come to love me the way I love you?"

"I don't know Robert... I really don'tknow.  It is not that I don't
likeyou.  You and I just value differentthings.  For me, it is my friends
andfamily.  For you, it is your sense ofduty. "

"I am a soldier Drake."

"You can still choose who to fight for."

"Are you saying I should fight for you?"

Drake placed a hand on Robert's chest.  "I am saying you need to think with
yourheart as much as your mind."

Robert leaned down and rested his head onDrake's forehead.  "If I follow my
heartit might cost me my life.  Is that whatyou want... my life?"

"No... I want you to be happy."

Robert let out a sigh.  "None of my choices will give me happiness."

"When I feel sad I go talk to papa... it alwaysmakes me feel better."

"You want me to talk with the counterpart?"

"Yes... but don't call him counterpart.  He doesn't really like that name;
it makeshim feel like a piece of machinery."

******************************************************

Turning a corner, Robert was immediatelyconfronted with the grinning face
of a ruby masked man.  "Legate Harper," the Star General bowed.

"Star General."  A tenor voice chuckled.  "Love troubles?"

"That is none of your concern my lord."  Robert said as he tried to walk
past theLegate.

"Drake might be the son of the Prelate but heis not a man worthy of you
general."

"And you are?"  Robert asked.  This was not the first time Harper had tried
to force himself upon him.

"I think you would find an alliance betweenour two families of benefit, not
just to each other but to the Guild as well."

"And how did you come to that conclusion?"

"One way or another, the balance of power isabout to change.  Either Falcon
willreplace us all with clones, or the rebels will win.  Like any
structure, the foundation of theGuild needs to be strengthened to withstand
the coming storm."

"And me giving in to your desires wouldachieve this?"  Robert asked.

Harper took off his mask to reveal hishandsome face.  "Do I not trigger
anydesires from you?"

"No matter how beautiful you look, I know thekind of soul that rests inside
you," Robert said, as he pushed past the Legate.

"I will have you one day Robert... it is only amatter of finding your
price," Harper laughed as he watched the general hurrydown the hallway.

******************************************************************************

A new series: The Children of Mir, is now being posted on the yahoo group.
You'll also find in the links section links to other gay scifi and fantasy
stories including two novels I've managed to get published, The Centurion
and The Academy.  I hope you'll take the time to join and enjoy the other
stories offered.  Take care.

				    JMH
			   trandar2002@yahoo.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/adultwritingworkshop/