This is a free sci fi flash fiction. In The Darkness We Shall Live © 2023 by Jeff Walker. All rights reserved.
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“Move the fleet in and destroy the rest of the ships in our path, General Baltarus.”
“Aye, Lord Jaden…”
The two men sat side by side in their command chairs that overlooked the main bridge. It cascaded row upon row, sinking downward into the opulently golden technical marvel as officers of every rank and stature dutifully did their tasks. Through a communications channel in his armrest, the rotund elderly General stroked his crafted mustache and beard before giving the orders.
From where they sat, the ship’s large domed window presented a spectacular view of the battle occurring out in deep space. Ships of every size and shape were moving about at various speeds as plumes of explosions littered the melee like celebratory fireworks. The planet of Corvana Six was within the main window’s view, a beautiful world of green and blue, with swirls of large white clouds surrounding it like a veil. Two dual rings of asteroids orbited the world like shimmering string of white pearls, giving a faint glow of the light refracting from the planet itself.
Jaden stood up from his chair and glared at the battle ensuing.
“The princess needs our help, General.”
“As is all of Corvana, my young lord.” He came back. “The fleet is doing its best to break through the enemy’s blockade.”
Jaden nodded and brushed his short red hair back in frustration.
“I promised her father, King Yassar, that I would not fail in my duty. Yet, here I am, late to the battle and breaking my promise, both to him and her.”
“We will succeed.” The man smirked at him. “You must have patience. The lines are already thinning out, we may yet get a shuttle down there and…”
“Excellent idea, General,” Jaden remarked back. “I shall lead the way with my best troops to secure the castle.”
“That’s not what I…”
“Hail the landing bay, and have them prepare for my arrival.”
Before the Baltarus could grab the young man’s arm, stopping him from such a foolish tactic, Jaden activated the platform in front of his chair, and lowered downward, hovering over the heads of all the busy officers. He was heading for the main floor below. From there, he would take the main tube and continue riding down to the landing bay. The old general grumbled with a roll of his eyes. He tapped the communicator again and begrudgingly gave the order.
“Lord Jaden commands his shuttle be prepared, all guards to their stations, weapons and armour at the ready.”
“Aye, sir…” A male voice responded back. “Shall we deploy the decoy shuttles as a diversion?”
Baltarus poised in thought for a moment. It was a good idea, and he almost seemed bothered he didn’t think of it first. He glared over to the battle ensuing beyond the ship and nodded in agreement.
“A wise precaution, make sure those decoy pilots make it look convincing.”
“Aye-aye, sir…”
* * *
Jaden’s shuttle hastily launched away from the massive flagship, as too did the other decoys close behind, and then took off in opposite directions. It fooled the enemy fighters, as they quickly tried to engage each one. Jaden’s shuttle avoided all of them, as it fired and destroyed the few that came within the shuttle’s perimeter. Once they were gone, the shuttle broke through the planet’s atmosphere and descended to the large opulent palace that sat on a lone island in the middle of a large, deep blue lake.
Before the doors could finish opening up upon landing, Jaden leapt out with his gun blazing toward the awaiting enemy combatants, they desperately tried to stop him from setting foot on the ground, but were unsuccessful. Jaden then scurried to the main palace door and was surprised as the young Princess came rushing out to greet him.
“Jaden!” She proclaimed.
“Shanta!” He responded, gripping her tight as she lovingly embraced him.
“Oh, thank the stars you have come You kept your promise! I love you…” She kissed him.
While he wished that moment to go on forever, Jaden pulled away and aimed his weapon towards the door.
“We’re not safe yet. I’ve got to free your father as well.”
“He’s dead…” She stated.
“Dead?” Jaden glared. “No… that can’t be.”
“He’s dead Jaden.” She wept. “I’m sorry… but, it’s too late. For all of us…”
“What do do you mean?”
She glared back at the palace and pointed.
“They activated the Graviton Collider. It’s on a build up to overload. They started it the minute your ship entered our space. They killed my father, and all who served him. They kept me alive… for bait.”
“I’ll go in there and..”
“You can’t Jaden.” She pressed her hand to his chest, keeping him in place. “Those few guards were all that were left. To keep me and to trick you. Now… now this place will be swallowed into the infinite void. The entire planet, you, me… and anything in orbit.”
Jaden saw the truth of it in her eyes. The Graviton Collider was a terrible machine that could tear the fabric of space and time into a pocket of unknown reality. An awful weapon that the enemy had threatened to use if they did not give in to their demands. Jaden dropped his blaster and held his face in defeat. Princess Shanta embraced him again. The two kissed and held each other.
“Into the darkness we shall live my love…” She said. “Forever and together… always…”
“So be it…” He nodded, giving her one more kiss.
Abruptly a large energy bolt shout out of the palace, streaking to the very sky and then absorbing the entire world in a massive sphere of light. The surrounding orbiting ships exploded into balls of fire. The shining world pulsated for a few moments, and then, like a snap of a finger, the planet shot away into a large black hole, which then collapsed inward, and was gone.