Order of the Light

"And then I-"

"You killed the monster I presume." Rebecca interrupted Parker.

He set down his giant mug of beer and waved a hand through his long, silky blonde hair. "Well, yes."

Suddenly, he pushed the table, got up and swung his laser sword at Rebecca. She dodged it but just barely. She hadn't even noticed him activating the sword.

She turned on her yellow laser sword and took on a fighting stance. She was shocked to see the color of Parker's laser sword. She knew Grandmaster Oren said such a light existed but she never thought she would see it in her lifetime.

"Wait." Parker suddenly deactivated his laser sword. "You're not a Red Swordfighter?"

Rebecca deactivated her own sword. "I'm assuming that's obvious."

The people in the tavern started cheering and clapping.

"A Yellow Swordfighter!" One of them exclaimed.

"Now we won't have to face the Rebels alone." Another one said.

"The Rebels?" Rebecca asked Parker walking closer to him.

***

"I'm assuming you all were Juniors?" Hollander said deactivating his laser sword and returning it to its holster.

"Yes, that's right." Frank said.

"Kneel."

The three friends looked at each other.

"What?" Mason asked.

"Kneel. I said." Hollander told them.

They got on one knew as had been instructed. Hollander drew his laser sword, activated it, and held it against their shoulders one by one.

"You are now Knights." He said.

They immediately got up when he removed his sword. All of them felt a familiar force. They took hold of the handles of their laser swords. They clicked the button and all three of the laser swords shone blue.

"How did you..." George was lost for words.

"That's another power that a Green Swordfighter possesses besides a knack for a blaster." Master Hollander winked. "Now do you believe we can take on the Empire?"

The trio laughed and waved their swords in delight. They never thought their crystals would activate again.

***

"The Rebels are a group of Purple Swordfighters." Parker explained.

Master Rebecca was taken aback. "A group of rebel Swordfighters?! I've never heard of such a thing."

"Well, believe me they exist."

Both of them were in the same tavern but it was only them and the bartender who was busy cleaning glasses. They sat at the bar and were having a serious conversation. They were even whispering as if the Empire had wiretapped the place.

"So why haven't you defeated them?" Rebecca asked. "Surely someone with your light can defeat Purple Swordfighters."

"They are too many of them." Parker explained. "We are lucky they leave us alone after we pay them their tax."

"And I've heard that you're a hunter?"

"That's right. I travel the galaxy to bring back ornaments. That's how the villagers always pay back their taxes."

Rebecca stood up. "If the Order of the Light still existed they wouldn't let this slavery stand."

Parker also got up from his seat. "But the Order doesn't exist anymore. And I am but one Swordfighter."

Rebecca gently took ahold of his hand. "Now you are two."

***

Princess Athena was at the tomb of her beloved. Junior Harry was killed on Cantt, and though his body had never been recovered, he was officially buried in the largest graveyard on Taboo.

Athena knelt down and touched her fallen lover's headstone. "I miss you with all my heart."

"Princess Athena, we should be leaving now." One of the Palace guards who had accompanied her said from behind.

Athena closed her eyes for a moment of silence. Then stood up. The Palace Guard was right. But how she didn't even want to go back to her castle. Athena came from a long line of princesses. Her family tree stretched for generations. As a courtesy, and also out of forcefulness, her kingdom was aligned with the Empire.

This meant the citizens of Taboo were not subject to torture as the inhabitants of other planets. It also mean that Taboo had to pay a large sum of tax to the Empire.

She knew, like everybody in the galaxy, that Emperor Arthur was the cause of the Temple's demise. She wanted to strangle him with her own hands. But for the sake of her parents and the citizens of Taboo she could not risk such a foolish endeavor.

She was flown to her castle in the sky. Her maids got her ready in her bedroom for the Emperor's grand arrival.

"Dear, you look so beautiful." Queen Caprice said with a smile.

But her daughter who looking at the mirror did not return a smile.

Her heart yearned for the touch of her beloved Harry. He was soon to become a Knight and they would have gotten married. But alas, such is the fate of starcrossed lovers.

***

Taboo had dark areas well. In the underground, in a futuristic bar, sat a stranger on his fourth drink.

"Another!" He called out.

"I think you've had enough, pal." The bartender told him.

The stranger banged the empty glass against the bar. "I said. Another!"

The bouncer of the club appeared from behind. He placed a hand on the stranger's shoulder.

"You can get out or I can make you go out." The bouncer warned.

In a flash the bouncer's hand was cut off. The Purple Swordfighter raised the tip of his sword to the bouncer's throat who was screaming in agony.

Not only the bouncer but the whole bar cleaned out at the sight of a purple laser sword.

"Come to me." An unknown voice whispered.

"Who said that?" Ray asked waving his purple laser sword.

There was nobody left in the club.

***

There was a royal banquet being thrown for the Emperor. The Emperor entered the hall and walked with a smirk on his face towards the table.

A royal servant helped him get seated. He was served an appetiser. The Emperor started eating the food served to him.

On the table were also seated King Keanu, Queen Caprice and Princess Athena. They all exchanged pleasantries. Arthur smiled at Athena who didn't return the smile. Even though she was furious she couldn't help register the purple-haired young man as handsome. If only he weren't the most evil scum in the galaxy.

"Princess." Arthur said.

It felt like she was forced out of her thoughts. "Yes, my Emperor."

Arthur took the last bite of his appetiser and the royal servant replaced it with the final dinner.

"Have you thought of marriage lately?" Arthur asked.

The Princess was taken aback. She hadn't predicted this question. "Not recently."

"I believe she is still too young, my Emperor." King Keanu said.

The Emperor raised a hand to silence the King. "What do you say to that, Princess Athena?"