Beyond the Empyreal Stars

Part 02. - 12.

Part o2.

12.

Odette's body was on autopilot. She raced down the steps toward an exit that would lead her to the South Lawn. Once through the door, she kicked off her heels and bolted for the drive leading away from the White House and toward Padric's Jeep, but it was Nova driving.

"Padric, Bas, and Warin are already in position," she told her as Odette jumped in the backseat. She was already in her Guardian uniform, hair pulled back into perfection. Before Odette could close the door, though, she could hear people yelling and screaming as police sirens sounded in the distance. "We only have about ten minutes, so change and get ready."

Running her finger over the silver buttons of her Paragon uniform that was only worn when in council with other world leaders, Odette's heart was racing in her chest from nerves and anticipation. It was so strange, seeing it here on Earth and not on Terra. No one would know what the pendant indicating her Paragon status, or the four silver squares on the shoulders represented her number four ranking in the Guardianship, or that all her medals and stripes showed every conflict or alliance she'd been a part of.

Once she put it on, she would no longer be the human girl everyone had come to know on Earth, but Paragon Odette from the planet Terra, one of the most decorated and celebrated Terrian females who would someday be Prime One.

The starch white uniform fit her just like a glove as it always had before. Carefully, she took down her hair and pulled it into a low ponytail at the base of her neck. It was strange, but she didn't feel like the Odette who'd been on Earth for the past two months. Suddenly, she was Terrian once more, the control slipping back into place as she adjusted her medals, stripes, and her comm bracelet on her wrist.

Nova weaved her way around the stopped cars and people who circled the Ellipse. Police cars were blocking anyone from getting on the grass as the National Guard pulled up in their Humvees, somehow getting there within minutes. Padric had been right about them being called the moment the ship appeared. But with no immediate threat, no shots were fired, though their guns were still aimed up at it.

"Paragon Odette is back again," Nova commented after she pulled the Jeep onto the same side street by the Ellipse as before. There were dozens of people around them, some running toward and many running away from where the Navigator hovered above. "Are you ready for this?"

Odette nodded curtly once as she opened the back door. It was only then that she noticed their other one beside them. Padric, Bas, and Warin got out and met them at the back by the line of trees. Bas was dressed in the white Guardian uniform like Odette and Nova, but Padric and Warin were in their Agent uniforms in dark blues and grays.

Padric tugged at the collar of his jacket, shaking his head. "I forgot how stiff this thing was after not wearing it for over a year. Guess I'm going to have to get used to it again, huh? Anyone else a hell of a lot nervous?"

"You can say that again," Odette murmured. "We cannot be, though, because it is time."

She knew it was time, too, by the screams of the humans around them. It didn't take long to realize why either, because the Navigator began the rest of its slow descent to Earth. Several shots from the gun perched on a Humvee was fired, causing panic all around, but it was only reflected off the shield, causing the bullets to pepper the ground near the vehicle.

"Hold your fire!" a deep voice called out as the five of them started through the crowd of people.

She stepped forward onto the grass and made her way through all of the people. Nova and Bas flanked her, with Padric and Warin behind them. The humans who they passed stared in shock, realizing who – what – they were.