Space Legend: Resistance - Serial Story I: Saviors In The Shadows

Space Legend

  - Resistance -

  Serial Stories

  I

  Saviors In The Shadows

  First Draft

  Written By

  Brandon J. Wysocki

  Copyright 2016 All Rights Reserved

  Cover Art By

  Vadin Sadovski

  With some elements furnished by NASA

  In loving memory of David A. Kowalczyk and John C. Wysocki

  You both helped shape me to be the person that I am today, and I will be forever grateful for that. Losing each of you, in very different ways and at different times, was among the toughest experiences of my life. It felt and still feels wrong that life continued on after yours ended. There is a special place in my heart composed of all that was between us and the emptiness of what might have been. I will forever cling to the memories, even as they fade, and proudly keep those spots in my heart for both of you. You live on in our hearts and minds; I refuse to let it be any other way.

  For My Love and For My Blood

  You completed me and my life. I’d give anything and everything to you, but it would never be as much as you have given me. I love you all eternally and unconditionally.

  Prologue

  “I’m not ready to die,” Zaeleth confided his deepest thoughts and fears to his older friend, as he often had. The two began taking in a view of the city of Southview through the large window within the abandoned factory. The smaller city once thrived on industry, it’s terrain lent itself to that use. Its often-raised shoreline overlooked the vast freshwater lake to its north, with a large river that split into two diverging tributaries before reaching the lake flowing through the heart of the city. But its best days were behind it well before the invasion. Now all that remained was the fusion of culture and architecture from when many kinds of people migrated to the city while it was still on the rise. They took in what might be the last peaceful moment in their lives as they stood by the large window overlooking the city that they knew was mere hours from becoming a warzone.

  “It is written that ‘death is the first step to immortality,” Johvad paused, “not of the flesh, but of the spirit.’” Zaeleth nodded half-heartedly in agreement as he slowly made eye contact with Johvad.

  “I think I’d rather live on in a more conventional way,” he said, beginning to grin and chuckle a bit before he could get the last two words out. Johvad returned the grin as both of their grins evolved into a light laughter. Their sense of humors had few boundaries, a laugh at inopportune moments was not uncommon. He placed his hand on Zaeleth’s shoulder as he shook his head and tried to restrain his laughter.

  “I would too,” he said to Zaeleth.

  “Yeah, let’s work on that for now,” Zaeleth said in response as the two continued to share a welcome, if not out of place, smile together.

  It had come to this. More than twenty thousand feet in the air, Zaeleth clutched desperately onto the handle of the hatch with both hands as he dangled in the service chute of the enemy space vessel. His adversary approached, clearly intent to finish him off. Though even with both hands he was struggling to hold on, Zaeleth released one hand in order to grab the detonator from the pouch on his belt. In his precarious position it did not cooperate, but he managed to retrieve it and flick the trigger guard up. And so it was in the power of his hand; with the squeeze of a trigger he could deal a crippling blow to the oppressors, but it would cost his life, as well as the lives of those who were fighting alongside him aboard the enemy ship. In that dreadful decision, through that ultimate sacrifice, though it might be the end for him and those with him, many who he loved as brothers, countless lives might be saved. He was overwhelmed physically and emotionally.