Page 41 of Guardian's Legacy
XYREK
Rottvan was verydifferent from what I had imagined. When I heard about the new colonization project, I expected some remote, desolate planet. Well, it was remote but not even remotely desolate—no pun intended.
The landscape before me was unlike anything I had ever seen. Nestled among winding rivers and towering rock formations, the settlement looked like it had grown organically from the land itself rather than being built. The structures were rounded, smooth, and gleamed with a metallic sheen, yet somehow, they didn’t clash with their surroundings—they blended, reflecting the golden light of the setting sun in a way that made them look almost alive.
Circular and unevenly placed windows glowed warmly from within, casting light across the water’s surface. The domed dwellings stretched across the valley, each connected by thin, winding, soft earth and vegetation paths.
It was… peaceful—a stark contrast to the worlds I was used to.
No towering metal cities, oppressive neon lights, stale recycled air, or bustling of many feet. Just water, rock, and golden-hued homes that pulsed with life.
It was strangely idyllic… a word I would have never thought to use. A small pain pierced my heart because it reminded me of… something… home? It didn't resemble the town in my dreams at all, and yet it did. Not in the looks but in the atmosphere of it. Idyllic. Again, that word.
I disembarked my ship and was welcomed by eight Imperial Forces soldiers pointing their blasters at me. Forming behind them was a small but growing group of spectators.
"State your business," one of the soldiers demanded.
"I'm looking for someone," I declared.
"Not here, Space Guardian. There are no criminals here." The same Pandraxian informed me.
"I don't want any trouble." I narrowed my eyes at him since he seemed to be the leader.
"Then be on your way." He snarled.
My hackles rose. I could have disarmed and dispatched him and his ten soldiers in less than a few ticks. The only reason he was still breathing was because he was a member of the Imperial Forces, and I was reluctant to start a war. But if he knew what was healthy for him, he would get the frygg out of my way.
"You have no jurisdiction here," he continued, oblivious to the danger he was in.
"I'm not here on business. I'm looking for a human female, Alice," I pointed out.
"Take it up with Lord Protector Garth," he recommended, stretching my already thin patience to the breaking point.
I was about to show him how easily I could break his neck when I heard a voice.Hervoice. "Xyrek?"
And there she was. Looking even more beautiful than I remembered. The last rays of the sun highlighted her blonde curls, dazzling me. She wore one of the old-school Pandraxian preferred dresses, and damn, she looked hot. The material flowed around her as she walked by the Imperial Forces without giving them so much as a glance.
I did, though. "Lower your frygging blasters," I snarled, not liking how Alice walked right into their line of sight. "Before I take them from you."
"What are you doing here?" Alice asked; her green eyes sparkled, and a smile tugged around the corners of her lips.
I pushed her behind me to shield her body. "Now!" I yelled at the soldiers.
"You have no rights here. Lady Alice, please come over here."
That was it. With a snarl, I jumped forward. I heard Alice call out my name in fright but didn't allow it to distract me. Within ticks, I had all eight males disarmed and on the ground. Two had broken arms, and one had a broken leg. All of them glared at the blaster I was pointing at them.
Alice rushed forward and grabbed my arm. "Xyrek, what the hell are you doing?"
"They wouldn't let me come visit you." I shrugged as if this was the most normal thing in the universe.
Shouts rang out as more Imperial Forces ran forward, blasters drawn. But they hesitated to shoot, probably because I was holding a blaster at their friends and because I was a Space Guardian. One didn't simply shoot at a Space Guardian.
"What is the meaning of this?" An older officer walked forward toward me. Once again, I pushed Alice behind me.
"These males of yours demanded I leave before they even asked what business I had here," I explained. He seemed like a reasonable male.
"So you broke my soldiers' bones?" He asked, exasperated.
