Protector of Verron

Chapter 12: The Past is the Future

In front of me was a large sun. The wormhole I created must have been fixated on a sun for direction.

I searched for the battle taking place and was able to find it off to my left. I cloaked myself immediately and looked for details of the battle. I had to time everything just right.

I was able to zoom in on the battle. I could see Jun Kun's fleet and Admiral Faun's fleet battling but I didn't know if it was the beginning or the end. I wanted to be early so I hope it was the beginning. I tapped into Admiral Faun's communications to find out. I made sure it was one way so he couldn't hear me.

The admiral was doing his best to keep his fleet organized. Shooting orders to other captains and his crew. He was all over the place. I continued to listen to him waiting for him to call me; that is, the younger me. I looked over the other ships paying careful attention in staying cloaked and keeping my energy concealed from Ju Kun's surprise.

So far, I couldn't find anything or anyone able enough to deliver the surprise. I zoomed in on Ju Kun's ship and scanned it, but there was nothing out of the normal. I zoomed out to see if the person was hovering above the ship. I still couldn't find the surprise. I zoomed out a little more and kept an eye out for anything abnormal. I split the view screen to the zoomed-out view and a view of the other side of the side of the ship just-in-case.

Admiral Faun was still barking orders. He was asking for reinforcements on his left flank but kept getting negative replies. I muted him and had Jennifer listen and wait for him to contact me so I could listen to Ju Kun.

So far there was no mention of me or any other protector. Ju Kun seemed relaxed and wasn't giving any orders. I don't think he was doing anything at all but watching. I could still hear Admiral Faun talking and giving orders though.

I thought to myself, "How is that possible? Jennifer, I thought I muted Admiral Faun."

She started to talk out loud, "You...", but I stopped her.

I thought in my head, "Don't talk Jennifer. Message me. Keep the silence. I don't want to give us away"

She messaged me, "He is muted. Kun tapped Faun's fleet comms n data".

The protector that beat me must have helped him.

No reply from Jennifer. She didn't know the answer to that. The battle continued and Admiral Faun was loosing. It was only a matter of time before he would contact me. His left flank was deteriorating and his ship was getting attacked.

Jennifer announced the news with a message, "He has started to contact u. U have not replied. 5 minutes till your response, 30 to arrive".

She kept it short which I liked. Even spelling 'you' with just a 'u'. A count down appeared starting at 34:59:00.

I sat there patiently until I heard Kun tell his forces to back off the Admiral's ship. I made another view of Kun's ship and peered into his bridge. I could see him sitting there in the back. Behind him were four armed guards at attention with long rifles secured to the right side of their body from a sling. In front of Kun was four bridge officers with two to the right and two the left allowing Kun a clear view of the video screen ahead of him.

The junior officer closest to Kun on the left side spoke up after Kun had given his order to lay off Admiral Faun's ship, "Admiral it would be better to finish them now. We are winning. This is what our King wants".

Kun didn't say anything. He stood up, drew his sidearm, and shot the junior officer in the back of his head. The officer's blood and brain material splattered across the work station and the sidewall. The sound of the gunshot echoed as the crew flinched. The guards behind Kun sprang into action. They grabbed their rifles and brought them forward as they took one step forward all at once in a synchronized fashion. Their weapons were not pointed at Kun though. They were pointed at the other bridge officers. The other officers looked back to see the dead officer's hand dangling over the work station and the blood on the wall. When they saw the guards had already brought their weapons to the ready, they immediately looked back at their work stations. I didn't look to see if any of the officers were crying for their lost crew member but I could bet at least one of them was.