Rom, Spaceknight and Star-Lord in…

BEDTIME STORIES

By Mitch Crane

For the Galadorian man known as Rom, life was good. He caught a glance at his flesh and blood face in the mirror, giving thanks everyday that he had been able to leave the life of a cyborg Spaceknight behind. It hadn’t been all bad of course; he had seen countless worlds and improved many lives, but whenever he held his son or touched his beautiful human wife Brandy he knew he would never go back to that life.

He had been a Spaceknight, and sacrificed his flesh to become mostly machine, all in the noble cause of ridding the universe of the Dire Wraiths. While after the crusade he had been able to return to his original form his fellow Spaceknights were not as lucky. Corrupt Spaceknights had taken over Galador in their absence, killing every citizen and destroying all the Spaceknight body parts. He and his children were the last continuation of the once mighty Galadorian race.

He entered his two-year-old son Balin’s room and sat on his bed, ready to tuck the boy in. Every time he looked upon his son he felt as if his heart would explode. Balin had inherited the best aspects from both his parents: his mother’s beauty, his father’s thick black hair, not to mention Brandy’s mischievous nature.

The child, who appeared to be sleeping, suddenly jumped up and went “Rraggh!” in an effort to scare his dad. Rom feigned surprise and tickled his son until he was red in the face with laughter.

“What are you still doing awake, young man?” he asked with mock sternness.

“Story daddy, story!”

Rom smiled, Balin loved to hear stories about his father’s adventures though Brandy thought he was too young to hear such tales.

“Okay, just one. And don’t tell your mother.”

“Yay!”

“Did I ever tell you about the time I met Star-Lord?”

The Spartoi Empire
Many Years Ago

Spartoi: the empire was a small cog in a universe full of much larger cogs, but was seen as the civilised. While Kree and Skrull made constant war upon each other, Shi’ar invaded world after world and the Badoon bred and devoured, Spartoi remained away from unnecessary warfare.

It was because of this that Rom found their declaration of war against the Rigellians as suspicious. Jason of Sparta, king of the Spartoi, had always been a man of peace. All worlds were welcomed into his empire through democracy and negotiations; often improving said world’s way of life.

A week ago his policy changed: he launched a savage attack against a Rigellian outpost, killing every officer present in a brutal display of power. The Rigellians, ever the logical race, had held off on a counter attack, seeing this move as out of character for the Spartoi and suspecting the attack was the work of rogue element.

Shortly after, a holovid of Jason was streamed throughout the Rigellian Empire dashing all thought the attack was not of his doing. The man’s abusive raving, comparing the Rigellians to animal faeces, was so out of character for the Emperor that all thought he had gone mad.

Rom, Spaceknight of Galador, thought otherwise. He was almost certain that Jason was literally not himself; that the emperor had been replaced by a Dire Wraith, a malevolent alien species dedicated to dominating the galaxy. The Wraith’s had many talents to help them in their foul quest, the most useful being their ability to shapeshift. Rom was sure a Dire Wraith was posing as Jason of Sparta, and was enacting a plot to devastate both Spartoi and Rigel so its race could conquer both.

For years members of his race had been hunting down Dire Wraith’s and ridding the universe of their existence. It was the prime duty of the Spaceknights. In a way he was responsible for the Wraith’s presence here in Spartoi, and everywhere else in the universe. Almost two hundred years ago, the Dire Wraiths had invaded the Golden Galaxy, home to Galador and many other friendly worlds. After driving the Wraiths back, he had lead the Spaceknights to their shadowy homeworld in retaliation. Rather than fight back, the foul shapeshifters fled, scattering throughout the galaxy. Now it was up to Rom and his comrades to track down every one and banish them all to Limbo.

It was often a thankless task, and often brought him into conflict with people whom mistakenly thought he was attacking innocents and loved ones. This was an eventuality he hoped to avoid but wasn’t confident. How do you attack an Emperor without the entire empire rising up against you? He decided he would have to work out a plan once he reached the planet.

Sparta, capital world of the Spartoi Empire, loomed before him. A lushly forested world, the people of Sparta had worked hard to keep their world as beautiful as possible. Many ships surrounded the plant, probably more than usual since this was a time of war, but he wasn’t worried about them. The cyborg travelled through the depths of space without the use of a ship. His cybernetics allowed him to travel as fast as any cruiser, even jumping to hyperspeed. And added bonus was he was too small for scanner to properly detect.

As the planet drew closer his scanners detected something, and alerted him on his visor; the Emperor’s personal starship, a mighty Imperial Cruiser, was in orbit. He altered his course and approached the ship cautiously; if they detected him they would assume he was a small meteorite, but someone could still spot him visually. If “Jason” was on board, it would save him having to land on Sparta.

He quietly drifted along the hull of the ship, scanning the metal until he found what he was after; access to the ships computer network. Using his enhanced strength the Spaceknight rammed his fist through the hull and grasped the photonic network wires. Tiny wires of his own extended from his fingertips and jacked him into the system. Various programs blocked his entry but that was ok, he only wanted access to the cameras. Various images flashed through his computerised brain providing him with a layout of the ship, armed guard numbers, strategic ambush locations and finally confirmation that Jason of Sparta was onboard the vessel.

The man stood in what appeared to be a war room with his highest ranking generals, undoubtabley planning the next step in their invasion of Rigel. He certainly looked like the Spartoi Emperor but the sheer hatred that emanated from his facial features suggested otherwise. Rom had spent two hundred years fighting Dire Wraiths, and was confident in recognising them even without using his Analyser.

Now came the difficult part, infiltrating a ship full of armed guards, specially trained to defend their ruler. They wouldn’t understand his presence on board, and would assume he was there to assassinate the emperor. He hesitated for a moment, eliminating Dire Wraiths without hurting innocents was a difficult task, but he was sworn to protect them, never to harm.

Using his connection to the network once more he forced a nearby airlock to open and drifted inside. As the airlock doors were sliding shut he caught a glimpse of a gleaming silver ship, almost bird like in appearance, heading fast towards the imperial cruiser. While the presence of the ship made him wary, its elegance suggested it was one of Jason’s. Perhaps it was bringing his family on board? Later he would realise the irony of that thought.

Stealth was difficult for one made of metal and the weight of a small car, and as he walked down the metal halls of the ship his footsteps echoed loudly. What was left of his face underneath his visor cringed with each step.

“Wh…who’s that?” called a nervous voice from down the hall. A moment later a Spartoi Royal Guardsman walked hesitantly around the corner. He was very young, and clearly not experienced with combat, as evidenced by his nervous appearance and the awkward way he carried his weapon.

The guardsman gasped and trained his energy rifle on Rom immediately, “Stop where you are, robot!”

Before coming to violence, Rom always tried reason. “I am not here to harm you,” he said, trying his best to sound non-threatening, “I have reason to believe your royal family has been infiltrated by shapeshifting aliens,”

The young guard paused for a moment, clearly out of his depth. “I’ll have to call my captain,” he eventually said.

Almost immediately, a gun-shaped weapon materialised in Rom’s hand, summoned from a pocket of null-space. The guard reacted faster than the cyborg expected and fired off a blast of yellow energy. Thankfully it reflected harmlessly of his chest plate and burned a hole in a nearby wall. Rom whipped his own weapon up and fired upon the young man, who collapsed in a heap. His weapon, the Neutraliser, was designed to banish Dire Wraiths to Limbo, but handily shut down computer systems, machines, and people’s nervous systems.

“I apologise for this indignity,” he said to the man, who couldn’t hear.

He effortlessly lifted the guard, who would be unconscious for several hours, and placed him in the air lock through which he had entered. A moment later the alarms began to blare and an authoritative voice called from the guard’s communicator.

“All units to the engineering section, we have an intruder. Repeat, all units to the engineering section, intruder alert,”

Rom cursed silently, he had been found out somehow. A moment later he realised the voice had directed everyone to the engineering section, not the storage section, where he was. Were they mistaken, or was there a second intruder on the ship?

Whatever the reason, he wouldn’t let this opportunity go to waste. While the guards were heading towards the engineering section he made his way quickly towards the war room, where the Emperor was situated. As he rounded a corner though, he found himself face to face with a trio of imperial guards.

“Stop where you are!” cried one, as the three of them raised their weapons.

Rom stopped in his tracks and they approached warily. While the first guard he had met appeared green, these three walked with the confidence of elite soldiers. He dared not test their weapons skills unless he could avoid it.

“Trust those Rigellians to send a robot to do a man’s work,” sneered the leftmost guard.

The third guard began to say something in reply but all three were suddenly blasted against a wall by a jet of water, which immediately froze, pinning them against the wall. A man in a tight fitting blue costume stood nearby, having stealthily dropped from an air vent.

He could have been a Spartoi, pink skinned Kree, or even a human (though Rom had not met any humans at this point), it was difficult to say. Most of his face was covered by a blue, swept back helmet and large black goggles, leaving only his nose and mouth visible. His helmet was adorned with an interesting star symbol. In his hand he held an ornate golden pistol, which he twirled like a cowboy before blowing water droplets from its barrel and placing it back in his hip holster.

“You’re welcome,” he said, grinning.

“Thank you,” he replied, warily. This man had saved him, but had also broken onto a royal vessel, and could be a rogue. The thought hadn’t occurred to him that this man was there for the same reason.

“Pleasure to make your acquaintance,” said the man. “You can call me Star-Lord. What brings you to this neck of the woods?”

Star-Lord, a presumptuous name, but his tone didn’t convey the arrogance one would expect from someone who carried such a title. He didn’t understand the man’s strange phrasing but it was obvious what he was trying to ask.

“My name is Rom, a Spaceknight of Galador. I believe Jason of Sparta has been replaced by a vile shapeshifting creature known as a Dire Wraith,”

“Can’t say I’ve ever heard of them, but I’ve faced Skrulls before, so I know shapeshifters can be wily buggers,” he began to pace, appearing to be deep in thought. “it makes sense. I thought da…Jason had gone insane but he could be someone else entirely,”

“I’m sorry but what is your purpose here?” he knew nothing about this man, and he was beginning to eat up valuable time.

He stopped pacing, looking slightly surprised, “You haven’t heard of me? I need to fire my PR guy. I’m Star-Lord. I’m…an adventurer I guess. I travel the stars righting wrongs, helping the helpless, etcetera,” he waved his hand nonchalantly.

“You’re a hero?” asked Rom. He had encountered many superpowered individuals in his travels, often being forced to battle them to get to his Dire Wraith targets.

“I wouldn’t go that far, I do what needs to be done,” he said modestly, then changed the subject. “So tell me about these Dire Wraiths. How do we recognise them?”

“The Wraiths are foul creatures, dedicated to dominating all other races, or killing whoever they can’t. My people have been hunting them for hundreds of years and have come to know them well,” what looked like a pistol appeared in his left hand, “we recognise them with these, an Analyser,” he aimed the device at Star-Lord and he was bathed in glowing red light, revealing he was not a creature in disguise.

“Hmm, I thought it’d tickle,” he smiled, “So basically we just have to shine that on the Emperor?”

“Yes, and the rest of his inner circle, to be safe.”

“Excellent. So all we need to do is get through them,” he pointed behind Rom and jumped through and open door. Down the hall at least a dozen guards were charging towards them weapons blazing. These guys meant business, shooting first and not bothering to ask questions later.

Many energy pulses bounced off his armour, but several left significant scorch marks or burned through to the circuitry below. He returned fire with his Nullifier, his robotic eyes providing pinpoint accuracy, and knocked out a single guard, but there was no way he would take them all out before they reached them. Star-Lord leaned out the door he had jumped through and fired his golden pistol. Surprisingly a large gust of wind burst from it, blowing the guards back.

Not wasting time wondering about his new comrade’s bizarre weapon, the Spaceknight dismissed his weapon and plunged his hands into the metal panelling of the wall. His servos strained as he ripped the panel from the wall, bending it around to block the hallway.

Star-Lord stepped out examining Rom’s effort, “Not too bad,” he pointed his weapon at the wall and fire spewed forth, welding it shut.

“Elemental weapon,” he explained when he noticed Rom eying it.

He led the Spaceknight down the hall, around a corner and into a room filled with dozens of large pipes. Before Rom could ask what they were doing there he shot fire at the ceiling, which eventually melted a sizeable hole.

“Can you give me a boost?” asked the man. The Spaceknight complied, tossing his ally through the hole with little effort. He followed a moment later, using the thrusters attached to his back.

They found themselves in someone’s living quarters. They weren’t fancy enough to belong to the Emperor and his family, but were still quite nice. Rom surmised they must be for the Emperor’s guests. Star-Lord walked towards the door. He seemed to know exactly where they were going, which made him realise something.

“How did you get on board the ship?” he asked the costumed man.

“I had the access codes of course,” he replied, as if it was obvious, before smiling. “I’m connected. The Emperor’s war room is one level up.”

The halls were deserted outside the guest quarters and the pair made their way quickly to a set of metal stairs. At the top stood two guardsmen, who had remained behind at their posts while everyone else chased after the intruders. They reacted immediately, but Rom was quicker, shooting both with his Nullifier in quick succession. Unlike the other guards though, two screamed and disappeared in a flash of light.

“What—?” Star-Lord looked angry.

“They were Dire Wraiths,” replied Rom grimly, his fears had been confirmed. “My Nullifier only has that effect on Wraiths, banishing them to Limbo.”

His mysterious ally looked relieved. “That means it’s not Jason.” Then his features twisted into concern. “But what’s happened to him?”

“More often than not, the Wraiths kill their victims in order to steal their memories and better replicate their life.” Star-Lord’s mouth twisted into a grimace. “But in this situation, I suspect they’ll keep Jason alive. He’d make a powerful hostage should their plans get discovered.”

“Let’s hope so,” he held his elemental weapon aloft and gestured towards the top of the stairs.

The Wraith guard’s screams, as well as the alarm earlier, would have the occupants of the war room on alert, so the pair didn’t bother to move quietly. Star-Lord raised his weapon, as if to blast it with fire, but then changed his mind. Instead he typed the codeword PETER into a small pad beside the door.

“Welcome Emperor,” said a pleasant digital voice from a speaker above, as the doors slid open.

In case of attack, Rom went in first, his armoured bulk providing a shield for his comrade. Within was a circular room; screens covered each wall and a large dias stood in the centre, projecting a holograph of the Rigel Empire. Seven men were within the room and each one stood calmly, eying the Spaceknight with disgust.

Jason of Sparta stood directly opposite them, though the dias stood between them. If they went around it they would have to go through the other men, who may or may not be Dire Wraith’s as well. He needed to know for sure, and so the Analyser appeared in his hand.

Jason waved his hand indifferently, “There’s no need for that, Spaceknight. You already know what I am,” he smiled smugly.

Rom ignored him, shining the red light upon everyone in the room. His worst fears were confirmed when it all the Emperor’s generals present were Dire Wraiths.

“They’re all the enemy,” stated Rom to Star-Lord, as the cyborg was the only one able to witness the effects of the Analyser.

Star-Lord pointed his golden weapon at the false emperor, “Where’s Jason?”

The Wraith posing as Jason smiled cruelly, “I’m Jason now.”

“Not for much longer,” he pulled the trigger and a stream of razer sharp stones fired from the gun. Jason dodged aside with uncanny speed and the rocks smashed a screen behind him.

“Stupid whelp!” spat Jason, “you don’t even know who you’re dealing with!”

Each of the generals began to change, shifting from distinguished men in elegant uniforms, to massive orange beasts. Each beast, possessed arms like pillars, ending in three fingered hands, and a beaklike mouth.

Rom’s Neutraliser was in his hand immediately, and in one quick shot a Wraith was banished. Unfortunately, despite their bulk, Dire Wraiths could move extremely quickly, and the others rushed the outnumbered duo. A couple leapt high into the air, morphing their arms into wings, but being the easiest targets the Spaceknight took these ones out.

Star-Lord backed him up, setting one Wraith ablaze and freezing another, but they were quickly upon them. Rom punched one down but another grabbed him by the arm, forming tentacles to ensnare him. A moment later the things arm was separated from its body as a blast of rocks ripped it off. Star-Lord was beset then by two of Wraiths who knocked him to the ground and began to kick and punch him. He seemed to show superhuman resilience though, and the Spaceknight was impressed. Elbowing a Wraith in the face, he broke free and banished one of the villains attacking Star-Lord.

The man eliminated the third Wraith by firing a bolt of lightning directly into the creature’s face, and leapt back to his feet. Firing a second bolt of lightning into the last remaining Dire Wraiths distracted them long enough to banish the last of the surviving monsters.

A slow mocking clap drew their attention to the fake Jason of Sparta, who had remained in his disguised form. “Congratulations to the great honourable Spaceknight. Tell me which makes you feel more like a hero; killing my kind or banishing them to a lifetime of torment?”

“Your people seed misery and chaos,” replied Rom sternly. “If your race stopped their never ending quest to dominate and enslave we would cease our persecution.”

The Dire Wraith barked out a laugh. “What purpose would the great and mighty Spaceknights have if not to destroy my people? No cyborg, I refuse to change my ways for you.” He spat upon the ground.

Rom raised the Neutraliser, ready to blast the impostor to Limbo, when Star-Lord cried “No wait!”

He raised his own weapon, “Where’s Jason of Sparta? Is he alive?”

The Dire Wraith posing as Jason smirked. “Oh you mean my bargaining chip?”

He reached within the holographic galaxy a pulled forth a bound and gagged Jason of Sparta. The man looked weak, but was otherwise unharmed, and seemed to be staring intently at Star-Lord. The Dire Wraith held taloned fingers against the Emperor’s throat and locked eyes with Rom.

“You’re going to let me live Spaceknight, or I’ll rip his throat out,” his voice dripped with venom. “This empire loves its ruler, how do you think they’ll react when they find he’s been killed?”

“Let him go, Rom,” said Star-Lord.

The Wraith began to edge around the holoprojector, never taking his eyes off the pair. Watching the Spaceknight, he didn’t see the corpse of his companion lying on the ground. He stumbled over the leg and the pair seized their opportunity. Star-Lord fired off a gust of wind from his pistol, blowing the Wraith backwards a Rom shot him with the Neutraliser.

“Curse you Spaceknight!” he screetched as he was ripped into Limbo.

Star-Lord rushed to the Emperor’s side and burned his iron shackles off, he hesitated a moment before removing the gag.

“Are you injured…highness?” he asked.

“No son of mine needs to use such formal tones,” said Jason gruffly as he pulled himself to his feet. Star-Lord made no reply, instead looking everywhere but at the emperor.

So Star-Lord was Jason of Sparta’s son? thought Rom. That explained how he had the access codes for the ship. As well as how he knew his way around so easily.

“Thank you for the rescue Peter; you don’t know how happy it makes me feel to know you came back to Spartoi.”

“I’m sorry father, but I only came back because I knew something was wrong,”

“Peter, you’re my first born son,” Jason pleaded. “There’ll always be a place for you here,”

“I know father, but it’s not a place I want,” replied Star-Lord sadly.

Rom couldn’t help but feel awkward with this family reunion, as well as a little sad. It had been two hundred years since he left Galador; all his friends and family would be dead by now. He knew what he was sacrificing when he signed up for the cybernesis, but it still pained him sometimes.

Emperor Jason turned to Rom. “Spaceknight, you have my eternal gratitude, you have saved two empires this day.”

The spaceknight had received his share of praise of the years, but never from an Emperor. Nontheless he remained modest, he didn’t do this for the accolades.

“I was only doing my duty, highness,”

“Nonsense, you shall receive the highest reward in the Spartoi Empire—the Platinum Star.”

“Thank your highness…” he suddenly realised Star-Lord was gone.

“Peter?” asked the Emperor, barely concealing the loss in his voice.

From a nearby window they could clearly see a bird shaped silver ship streaking away from the Emperor’s vessel.

Present Day

Rom held the Platinum Star of the Spartoi, its sparkling light dancing across Balin’s face. His little eyelids were getting heavy but he had hung on for the end of the story.

“Just a few months after that I found myself on Earth where I met your mummy,” he smiled. The little one made a cute little groan in reply as his eyes finally closed.

Rom kissed him on the forehead and shut off the lights. He stood in the doorway for several minutes, watching his pride and joy sleep. Behind him, through another doorway he could see his pregnant wife asleep in their bed a book spread across her chest.

He smiled again; life was good.