Never Underestimate Destiny

Part 1

(New York City, NY)

(Tuesday, October 17th)

Zan was nervous, edgy.  He was glad there was no one to see him pace back and forth in their underground home.  Waiting.

He had watched the clock all day long.  Each tick seeming to take twice as long as the last until he was sure time would stop completely and the event would never come.

Again he glanced at the red, digital numbers on the small clock.

Ten seconds.

He found himself holding his breath as he continued to pace.

His eyes darted away.  How could it be so hard to look at the damn clock?

Adrenaline pumped through him, and he shook his arms as he walked, balling his hands into fists.  He wanted to run, to fight, to do anything to combat the ever – growing feeling of dread and excitement.

Again his eyes found the clock.

3

2

1

And even though he knew it was coming, the burst of light that emitted from the communication orb, high on a dusty shelf, scared the shit out of him, made him feel like he'd practically jumped out of his skin.

He admitted to himself that he'd had slight doubts about the information, but now he knew everything his informant had told him was the absolute truth.  He didn't even have to listen to the message to know what it said, and it was proof that his sister Lonnie and his best friend Rath were plotting with his enemies to kill him.

A feeling of numbness spread though his body as he crossed the room, reaching for the orb.

Somewhere inside he knew it was true when the informant had told him of Lonnie and Rath's treachery, but he hadn't wanted to believe it. They were family, the only four of their kind...

Well, that wasn't true either. His informant had also told him there were four others, identical to them in fact. And now he would have to warn them of what was to come.

With a deep breath, Zan blew the dust off the orb. He had never known its purpose until the informer had told him. Their protector hadn't mentioned that vital facet to them, only telling them it was an artifact from their home world and to keep it safe.

Using a small push of power Zan activated the orb to hear the message.

Several balls of light burst from the familiar swirl shape on the top of the silvery orb and rose spinning into the air above him. The individual lights resolved into the shape of a 'V' and the bottom light flared briefly before they all disappeared.

Then a solemn voice filled the room.

"This is an official invitation from the Antarian system counsel requesting the presence of the Royal Four at a peace summit."

"After years of war and treachery we hope to put an end to the hostilities that have plagued our planets and discover a way for the Royal Four to return so we can once again live together in peace and harmony."

"To accommodate the Royal Four, the summit will take place on Earth in the city of New York, New York and is tentatively scheduled for the day of November twenty – seventh. Please contact the counsel as soon as possible with your answer. If we don't hear from you in an Earth week's time, we will issue the invitation again."

With a sigh Zan put the orb on a table. The invitation was exactly as his informant had told him, and it was a trap. Kivar had pressured influential council members to set up the summit to discredit and hopefully murder the rightful rulers.