Aeris - Guardian Force - 11. Tales of the Guardian Force: The Gift

No one knew his real name, he was only known by his title: Guardian One. While not the leader of the Human Race, he was a Military Leader, and one trying to hold the Sol Federation together. While his Guardian Force brothers, and sisters, were scattered across the Federation, assisting the Military in the war with the Thorian Empire, he was on a diplomatic mission; One to try and establish a war treaty with a race known as the Proxima. So far, things had been going well, and they wanted a face to face meeting with him.

Guardian One stood on the flight deck of the EX-03a-Icarus a sister ship to the Prometheus who fought in the battle of Gilese Prime. The magical tech blended into the ship, forcing the shipyard to retrofit it shortly after it was completed, making it a variant of the original design. He was deck out in his Dress Blacks, with all the brass shined to perfection. An Honor Guard of six squads stood at attention, and the red carpet was in place, waiting for the visiting dignitaries from the Proxima warship that was in parallel formation. “Do we know how much longer for the ship to dock?”

“Not much longer now, Guardian,” his liaison stated, as she looked over her tablet. “They are cycling the hanger locks now, and the ship will be elevated up soon.”

“You’d think R&D with this entire magical tech we now have, would make those air shields like they have in the movies. So we can have an easy in and out into space.”

She stifled a laugh, “I think that would be useful.”

“Ding-Ding, Ding-Ding… Now arriving, the Proxima Ambassador.” The ship’s A.I. announced across the vessel.

“Here we go,” Guardian one said softly, then commanded, “Attention on Deck.”

The Honor Guard and all other personnel went to attention, as the ambassador’s ship was raised into the flight deck from below. It was very similar in design to earth ships, a small shuttle, but had an organic look to it. As the elevator settled into its restraints, the main hatch on the ship and the cargo hatch opened. The Proxima people looked like a cross between humans and bears. The closest Earth resemblance was the fictional Werebears from fantasy games.

The ambassador stepped forward from the hatch of the ship and walked over. He wore splendid clothing, of flowing silk robes, of red and gold. This enhanced his natural white fur, and he looked like a Polar bear humanoid. Guardian one smiled, as he stepped forward in greeting, and they both bowed to each other. “Greetings Ambassador, and welcome to the Sol Federation vessel, the Icarus.” Since the addition of magical tech, one of the greatest inventions was a language translator. While the wearer spoke his native language, all those within range would hear it in their language.

“I thank you, for your hospitality, Guardian One, but I cannot stay. I’ve been recalled back to the Proxima Empire, as the Thorians are now attacking us, on our spire-ward front. We will honor the treaty that our representatives have formed together, and in that process, we offer you a gift.” The ambassador motioned for a large crate to be brought out of the cargo area of the shuttle. “This is a stasis pod, and inside, you will find one of our contributions. He is yours Guardian One. While he will look like a Human Youth, he is synthetic and has been programmed with information and technology to aid you. As an effort to keep him, secure, he will only respond to you Guardian One, and who you designate.”

“I thank you for this incredible gift, Ambassador, and hopefully we can spend more time together.”

“Indeed. I must be off.” With a simple bow, the Proxima Ambassador withdrew to his shuttle, as the tech left the stasis pod for humans. Soon the shuttle was sealed and was being lowered into the hanger deck.

“Well, that was sudden. Honor Guard Dismissed, and TechOps, take the stasis pod to medical. Inform me when it’s been determined if it’s safe to open.” With that, the ceremony was over, and all personnel was headed back to their normal duties.

~.~

Four days had passed, as the Icarus made its way back to the Federation Space. Guardian One sat at his desk, in the office portion of the stateroom he was assigned. While outside the normal military chain of command, being of his station, he was awarded certain privileges reserved for the Fleet Admiral, or the President of the Sol Federation. His liaison was currently working with his aide-de-camp, in preparing his schedule for the day. In addition to greeting shipboard departments, he had meetings via the FTL communication system that Earth had developed with the aid of Zirsi. He sat reading over a report from the medical staff about the being inside the stasis pod.

“Samantha, can I ask you for a favor?”

“You don’t need to ask Sir, what can I do for you?”

“Can you carve out some time, in my schedule, so I can visit the medical wing? I want to check in on the boy in stasis.”

“Yes, Sir. Is he safe to visit yet?”

“So far, so good. Nothing has been reported. I want him out of that pod. Synthetic or not, he’s a person.”

“Yes, Sir.”

~.~

Deck 6 of the Icarus was just over seventy feet from floor to ceiling. This gave room to a city like a grid of buildings that stretched across the deck. The Medical Center on Deck 6 was a sprawling multi-story complex of interlocking buildings and integrated green space. Guardian One walked in and proceeded to the wing housing the stasis pod. It was a short trip, and soon he stood outside the holding area. “Give me an update, Doctor.”

“Yes, Sir,” the Doctor said and cleared his throat. “We’re finishing up the second round of testing. So, far everything looks safe. We can tell that the being is artificially created, and appears to be a clone. DNA matching shows, as you’ve been made aware, it’s 90% identical to you, Guardian One. The other 10%, we’re assuming is what they used to grow it.

“From what we can tell, he’ll eat, breathe, sleep, use the bathroom, just like you and I. The only major difference is two-fold. One, his neural makeup is an organic circuitry, we’ve never seen before, and two, he doesn’t have any of the inhibitor genes a normal human does. Simply, he’ll never grow old, and I suspect he will never age past his current standing.”

“And what age is that Doctor?”

“We’re estimating he’ll have the physical structure, and prowess of a sixteen-year-old, Sir. Though we won’t know for sure, until he’s woken up, and we have more interactive testing.”

Guardian One, stood there, listening, and looked out at the pod. “Do it. Go ahead and wake him up. Let me know when you have Doctor, and when he’s awake, have him transferred to regular quarters. I’ll evaluate him personally.”

“Yes, Sir.”

~.~

It took the youth two days to wake from stasis, after becoming acuminated to the ship's environment. Guardian One had received word that he was ready for visitors, and was moved to a regular guest stateroom. He pressed the call button on the door and was rewarded with it opening shortly after. “Please come in,” the Youth said after he opened the door.

“Thank you. Do you know who I am?” Guardian One asked as he walked in. He moved to sit on the couch and motioned for the youth to do the same. As he sat, he looked the young one over. He was a typical teenager look, semi-athletic, shaved head, but would have brown hair when it grew out, and hazel eyes. He looked coordinated and graceful as he moved.

“You’re Guardian One, the leader of the Guardian Force of the Sol Federation, under the control of the President, and a semi-autonomous law enforcement agency. Your jurisdiction covers both civilian and military.”

“Very good. The Ambassador for the Proxima said you were an intelligent person. But he never said what your name was. Do you have a name?”

“I do not Sir.”

“Do you have a preference for one?”

The youth shook his head no. “I’ll be happy with whatever you call me, Sir.”

“How does Mark, sound to you?”

“Sounds good, Sir. Why that name?”

“It was my brother’s name before he was killed in a car accident. He was around your age.”

“I’ll be honored then, to have his name,” Mark said with a grin.

The two of them sat and talked for several hours, each getting to know the other one. Eventually, Guardian One had other business to attend to, and to make arrangements for Mark.

~.~

Message to Commander Aeris, Guardian Force – From Guardian One

Aeris,

We have the opportunity to learn more from one of our contacted Alien races. The Proxima sent us an emissary, a young clone whose name is Mark. We’ve tested him, and he is fully combat capable and possess extensive knowledge of the Proxima’s technology. I’ve given Mark a directive to follow yours and Zirsi’s orders and instructions. I’m assigning him to both of you so that we can further our progress in the war with the Thorians. Keep him safe, he’s like a little brother to me.

Guardian One.