Flight of the Destiny

 Part 1

“Kyle stop!!! Come back” Terry yelled as another blast warped the ground beneath his feat. Running was almost impossible, but he tried anyway, grabbing for Kyle as he was slung backwards by another blast. Just before he fell a hand grabbed him and kept him on his feet.

“Come on we have to get him and get out of here.” Said the man the hand belonged to, Kyle’s father Hugh. The two raced to find Kyle, but he was already on his way back.

“What the hell were you thinking?” Terry yelled, “You could have been killed! We have to get out of here. In case you didn’t notice, the whole freaking world is falling apart around us!”

“I had to get my locket!” Kyle yelled back over the surrounding explosions, “ It means more to me than anything else on this world!”

Terry stopped in his tracks, Kyle had just risked his life for the locket he had given him a year ago. Terry had never seen him without it, just like he was never without the matching one he wore. They were the token of their relationship. They meant everything.

Before he could stand still a moment longer Hugh grabbed him and said, “Hey! Run we have to get off this planet now! This is no time to reminisce.” With a shove to get him going, Terry grabbed Kyle’s hand, and with Hugh close behind, ran full out for the ship.

They were almost to the flight deck when Hugh grabbed them and yelled, “That one there on the left, that’s our way out of here.”

Hugh turned them towards a large passenger craft, the likes of which Kyle and Terry had never seen before, the hull glowed with an unseen light, and it looked big enough to hold about thirty people comfortably. On the side of the hull the name of the ship stood out in flame red letters, “ AES Destiny.”

Kyle turned as they were nearing the ship, “We can’t take that ship, that’s the Destiny! They just finished her! This ship belongs to the Emperor himself! It’s the best ship in the fleet!”

“That’s just what we need then,” Hugh replied, “Besides, the emperor won’t be needing it anymore, you saw the news, the rebels killed him this morning before they started destroying everything else. Just get on, I helped plan this ship and helped build it, I’d say I have as much right to it as anyone else, and right now I see no one to argue with.” With that they ran for the Destiny. Kyle tripped but Terry kept him on his feet and on the move. A sudden deafening blast ahead of them saw to the destruction of 2 of the other ships on the platform, but the Destiny withstood it without a scratch. They were almost there; freedom was in reach, when suddenly a laser blast went right through the space between Kyle and Terry. The energy it threw of knocked them to either side as the air sizzled in its wake. As they pulled themselves off the ground, Kyle looked back at his father, who was standing there with a shocked look on his face, and a hole in his chest.

Kyle screamed, “No!” and he ran to his father’s side just in time to catch him a he fell. Terry ran to the other side and together they sat Hugh down on the ground.

“Daddy!” Kyle screamed, tears flowing down his face “You can’t stop now we have to get on the ship come on.”

Hugh looked up at his son with a look of calm on his face, “ Son I’ve gone as far as I can go with you, leave me here and get on that ship, you two are all that matter to me, you have to get out of here. Ajax is the Destiny’s Computer Intelligence program, tell him to take off and he can handle the rest, the ship is fully automated. Go now leave me here, I love you son but it’s to late for me.” With one last hug to his son and Terry Hugh lost consciousness. Kyle refused to leave him.

“Come on Terry, I always obey my father but I refuse to leave him here. If we get him to the ship maybe we can save him still.” With that Kyle grabbed one arm and terry grabbed the other. It was a lot for the two boys to handle but they managed to get him onto the ramp. As they closed the door another explosion ripped through the area. It wouldn’t be long before the planet was no more. Kyle ran to the closest terminal and yelled, “Ajax come online.” The entire ship lit up as systems never before activated began to turn on. A cold metallic voice rang out from the ship wide speakers. “This is Ajax online and standing by for commands.”

“Ajax we need a medical pod immediately!” Terry responded, “Were at the main ramp.” Terry realized that it had taken all of Kyle’s emotional strength to get them as far as he had come and he would have to handle things for a bit. “Also get the engines ready for takeoff as soon as the pod is secured.”

“As you wish.” Ajax responded, “ The pod is arriving now.” And with that a medical pod sprung to existence between Kyle and Terry. The light from the transport faded and they quickly loaded Hugh into the pod. As the casing on the pod closed, hundreds of mechanisms went to work trying to save Hugh’s life. The Pod vanished as quickly as it appeared and Ajax told the boy, “The pod is secure in sick bay, Please Secure yourselves and your belongings, we are about to launch.”

Kyle and Terry Ran for the bridge. As they rounded the corner the doors opened upon the most amazing sight either of the boys had ever seen. Had it been a more opportune time this would of made them giddy as anything to be aboard the most technologically advanced ship in their entire fleet. As it was they simply grabbed seats next to each other and, holding hands, told the ship to launch.

The next few seconds were a dizzying event for the two boys. It felt as if the whole world had fallen out from under them. Had they been a few seconds later it would have. They watched on the monitor as the planet they had always called home fell away beneath them. Just as they reached the outer atmosphere, the largest explosion yet ripped through the planet, a tiny flash appeared on the horizon, but it grew. The explosion spread out and bloomed across the planets surface in a matter of seconds. The boys watched as Anderon, their home, exploded into dust.

The first shockwave took them by surprise, and had they not been strapped in, it would have launched them across the bridge. Ajax’s voice calmly told them, “we are experiencing some turbulence, please remain seated I will engage evasive counter measures.” The ship began to smooth out and the boys looked at the devastated remains of their planet on the view screen.

Terry told Ajax, “please turn off the view screen Ajax, I can’t take it anymore.”

“As you wish.” Ajax replied, and the viewer winked off. The ship had stabilized and Ajax informed them that they could remove their harnesses, and move about the ship.

“I will show you to your cabins,” Ajax said. “ If you follow the blue lights on the floor they will guide you to the designated captains cabins. If I can make your stay more comfortable simply ask, I am programmed to be of assistance.”

“I want to see my dad how is he?” Kyle immediately demanded. “Is he going to be alright?”

“I’m afraid the outlook is not good at the moment, his vital signs are failing and there is little we can do to repair the damage to his chest. I do not believe he will survive.” The cold mechanical voice of Ajax informed them. Kyle punched the wall.

“I can’t accept that there must be a way to save him. You have to save him.”

“I’m sorry but there is little we can do. If there was a doctor on board perhaps they could help but as it stands, your father is going to die. You may go see him if you wish. We can make him conscious for one last minute. Simply follow the pink lights on the floor to sick bay.”

With that Kyle and terry ran in the direction the pink lights guided them. As they reached the doors of sickbay, they stopped. Terry grabbed Kyle and hugged him. “Remember, no mater what happens, I’m here with you. I love you and always will.” With that said the two entered the sick bay to say goodbye to Kyle’s father.

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Part 2

Kyle and Terry approached the pod. As they reached the sides, Hugh’s eyes began to open. He looked up in confusion. “ Where am I? What happened? I thought I was a goner.” He then looked around and saw the boy’s faces, “ I am a goner aren’t I? What did you two do? I told you to run and leave me! You two could have been killed!”

“I’m sorry dad! Please don’t be mad at me, I just did what you would do if it were me. No men left behind remember. You promised me, when mom died, that we would always be together, you, Terry, and me, and no matter what I wasn’t going to leave you behind.” Tears fell down his face in a flood as he looked at his dad. He was dying and nothing could fix it. He and Terry would be alone, without even a planet to call their own. “Dad, listen. We only have a few minutes before the end,” This statement made him shiver and sob but he pulled himself together, “Anderon is gone, where are we supposed to go? Ajax can fly the ship but we have to tell it a place. Where were you going to take us?”

Hugh looked up at his son for a moment and then began, “ millions of light years from here, there is a small blue planet. It is similar to Anderon in most ways. I’ve been studying it for our archives. It’s not as advanced technologically as home, but they are on their way. They have recently developed warp travel capabilities, and have begun interaction with other races. The amazing thing is that, with a few minor differences, they could pass for Anderonians. That world will be safe for you, if you can reach it. It’s a very long trip even at our top speeds. But it is where you must go. The planet is called Earth, it’s in a different quadrant, Travel will be tough and you will have to stop along the way at several other planets for supplies but I already programmed a course in for Ajax. All you have to do is tell him to initiate escape route Barkley.”

“How long did you know this was going to happen,” Terry asked.

“I’ve had my suspicions for a few months, but that doesn’t matter, the important thing is you made it. I don’t have much time left so let me just tell you that you two boys mean everything to me. I love you both from the bottom of my heart. Kyle look after Terry, make sure he doesn’t get into to much trouble,” even in the pain he was in Hugh couldn’t help but smile, “ And Terry take care of my little boy. The day he found you was the best day of his life. You know I always approved of your relationship and remember you are my son as much as he is. He’s going to need you now as badly as you needed him when we found you. Make sure he doesn’t grieve for me too much. I died saving the most important things on that planet, you two. I have and always will love you both, goodbye boys.”

“Goodbye dad I love you to.” Kyle’s tears flowed freely down his face.

“Goodbye Mr. Barkley,” Terry said between sobs, “I’ll keep him safe no matter what, I promise. You were the best dad I ever had and I’m proud to be your son in law. Go find peace sir.” With that Hugh slid back down in the pod. His breathing became shallow and the alarms began to go off. One flat beep and it was over. Hugh Barkley passed into darkness.

“Ajax is there no way to save him? Bring him back please!” Kyle cried.

“It’s over babe, he’s gone. I know it hurts but at least we got to say goodbye, that’s more than most people get.”

“I don’t care what most people get, I want my Daddy!” Kyle screamed. Terry grabbed him in a hug and held him as he sobbed; they sat on the floor for hours letting out their pain at the loss of the father they loved.

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Part 3

The boys had eventually made it back to their quarters. Kyle had passed out on the bed as soon as he hit it. Terry on the other hand, had too much to think about. As he watched his boyfriend’s fitful sleep he got up and headed to the bathroom. As he looked in the mirror he took stock of what he saw. Here was a 12-year-old boy who had known more grief than most adults ever saw and it showed on him tonight. His long black hair was unkempt from the hours he had spent on the floor trying to comfort his lover. His green eyes showed the pain he had felt more times in his life than cared to count. He was skinny but he had a toughness about him that kept trouble at bay. In most ways he was the exact opposite of his boyfriend. He would never forget the day fate, or perhaps destiny, had brought the two together.

It was a spring day 4 years ago when he had met his angel. His parents had been killed a month before when a rebel bombing went wrong. They had been targeting a guard station, but somehow the bomb found it’s way to the school down the street. His parents got every child out of that school before it exploded, killing them and the janitor they had ran back in to save. They died heroes, but in the chaos of the rebellion no one noticed, and no one came for him. He stayed at home for a week before he ran out of food. He took all the money at the house and went to buy more, but rebels caught him before he could get there. He had never told anyone but Kyle the things they had done to him, and he loved Kyle all the more for loving him anyways. While he was their prisoner, they beat him, and made him a slave. The first night a man came into his cell and made him do things, bad things. By the end of the first week, half of the men there were raping him every night. He was forced to do so many things he never wanted to think of again. After three weeks he had made up his mind. He had just decided to kill himself when an explosion rocked the building. A hole was blown in the wall of his cell and he saw freedom. He ran for it, one of the guards tried to grab him but he kicked them man in the groin and heard a satisfying pop. It had been the man from the first night. Terry saw a laser sitting on the table and he decided to grab it. No one but Kyle knows what he did to that man in his pain. As he ran from the building, he saw troops everywhere; somehow he managed to avoid them and fled down the street.

He ran for what seemed like hours, never stopping, never looking back. He ran until he collapsed. He gathered the strength and pulled himself into a park. He fell on the first bench he found and swore he would never move again. He let the darkness take him.

He didn’t know how long he had slept, whether it was hours, days, or years, but an insistent nudging brought him back to the world of the living. His first thought was that he had been found; the laser was in his hand in a flash as he jumped to his feet, only to fall on his face.

A voice from above him began to speak, “hey are you ok? You look really hurt you need help! My names Kyle and I’m gonna take care of you just relax.” The voice left little choice in the matter. Terry passed back into the welcome darkness.

“Mom, come here quick! I found a boy and he needs your help he looks bad,” Kyle’s shout rang through the park and brought his mother and father sprinting to his side.

“What is it Kyle? What’s wrong?” his dad asked him.

“That boy there by the bench, I think he’s dying! Be careful though I think he has a gun.” Kyle’s father pulled him back a safe distance as his mother went to check the boy out; She was a doctor at the local clinic and knew what to do. From what she could see the boy indeed needed help. “Hugh grab the stretcher from the transport and get it over here, we need to get this boy home fast.” With that they took him home and the work began to save him. Hours later he awoke, he was hungry, thirsty and needed to pee, but he felt better than he had in weeks. He tried to set up but realized he was strapped down, he began to struggle and then heard the voice from a corner, “ don’t do that! You’ll rip open everything my mom just fixed.” With that statement Kyle walked into Terry’s line of sight for the first time. Terry couldn’t believe what he saw! It really was an angel. There was a halo around his head and eyes as blue as heaven itself. He shook his head to clear his mind and when he looked again he saw the halo was just the medical lights shining off the blondest hair he had ever seen, it was almost white. It was cut short and spiked and looked just right on the boy. He was pleasant and chubby, the most adorable cherub imaginable. Terry’s 8-year-old heart was captured immediately; he knew he was now whole. A giggle from the other boy brought him back to his senses. “Take a holo it will last longer.” And the grin that split the angels face made Terry grin back.

“Hey can you let me up? I need to pee really really bad!”

“Yeah mom said you might say that, she said you couldn’t get up though, they don’t want to risk you springing a leak, and I don’t mean pee.” That grin again and Terry’s heart melted, “ She did tell me if you had to go I could help you. So if your not shy, I have a thing right here for you to go in and I can set it up for you, just so you know I’ve already seen it when we were examining you so it’s not like you should worry or anything, it’s not that unsightly, and most of it survived the amputation,”

Terry’s heart dropped, they had amputated part of his penis? No! he couldn’t believe it he squirmed as hard as he could to try to see what they had done and he heard that giggle again.

“Got ya” Kyle’s grin was infectious, “ Your fine I’m only teasing you, as a matter of fact, mom said for as much trauma as you had you were remarkably well off, you’ll be back on your feet tomorrow at the earliest, and next week at the latest. Now about peeing, the device is all set up, just let me put you in,” As Kyle’s hand grabbed Terry’s penis it began to grow, he blushed every color red imaginable but Kyle just grinned, “ I think it likes me he said, and reaching down again he grabbed it gently and shook it, “ pleased to meet you,” he joked, “ I don’t know his name yet but I’ll call you dick.” Kyle laughed as Terry blushed again. Kyle got him all set up to go and told him he could let loose. Terry had never felt so good in his life. The dam had broken and he let it all go. When he was done Kyle took the machine back off and tucked dick back in his hidey-hole. “There that must be better, now back to business, My names Kyle, this is my house, my parents decided to treat you here instead of the clinic because they thought you might be in trouble. I think they are right so why don’t you tell me about it, start with your name.”

Terry didn’t even have to think about it he immediately told Kyle everything. He trusted him from the moment he laid eyes on him. As Terry told his story, Kyle never judged, he was amazed at the story of Terry’s parents’ heroism, and terrified at the ordeal the rebels had put Terry through. When Terry was done, Kyle hugged him for a long time, In that time all the fear in Terry melted away. As Kyle pulled back Terry grabbed him and kissed him on the lips, Kyle was surprised at first but then with a grin he grabbed Terry and kissed him back. Both boys had found their other half.

Three years later the boys made it official, they married each other on Terry’s 11^th birthday. The law said you had to be at least 11 to get married, and they could wait no longer. They exchanged lockets with their vows in each was a picture of the other and they never left home without them.

A week after the ceremony, Kyle’s mom was killed at the clinic, two armed rebels came in demanding treatment immediately, she was operating on someone else and refused to quit, they shot her in the head, she was killed instantly. After that the war really got out of hand, resulting in the trip they were now on. Terry had lost everyone who meant anything to him in his life, and he refused to loose Kyle. He would protect him no matter what. He checked on his lover, who was still sleeping. He crawled into bed beside him snuggling up for a long sleep. He felt at peace with the idea that he would protect Kyle from anything that came their way. Before he drifted off he told Ajax to dim the lights.

Ajax cold mechanical voice responded, “As you wish” As Terry drifted off he could swear he heard Mr. Barkley’s voice over the speakers saying, “ I love you boys, sleep tight.”

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To Be Continued...