Zen hurried to the boat but when she reached it, she gawked. Zen observed the sleek sailcraft she would be riding for nigh on eight days. It was a prism with three levels, two below deck. It had small portholes for windows on the sides. It was painted a magnificent cerulean blue with gold borders but being made of mostly glass, the sun would beam down on it making it a diamond of the sea. She walked up the gangplank and put her hand on the golden-painted mast. It felt cool to the skin. It wasn’t slippery with seafoam yet although it soon would be.

The smell of brine infused her nose as the boat’s rockets lit up and roared them out to sea. On deck, the floor was littered with rich, navy, cushions upon which sat the Guerreros as they chatted among themselves. Small tables painted in gold accompanied these ‘seats.’ They were littered with beverages and snacks for the Guerreros. Most drank water. In the very middle was hoisted a sail. Zen touched the fabric of it. Her eyes widened.

It’s like spider silk!

She had once worn a dress of that material when she was younger and richer. The ship felt warm and comfortable for all its strange appearance and Zen felt excitement course through her veins. I’m actually leaving Puerto Nuevo for a few days! I’m actually seeing the rest of the world! I can’t wait for this adventure to set off!

Gently the boat skimmed through clear waters, the silencers having been turned on and Zen grinned as she took in the view of the open ocean and enjoyed the Caribbean breeze frolicking like the waves, through her hair.

Later, the Guerreros were allowed to check out their rooms. A few were pale and teetered from side to side with the boat. Those few headed into the med bay. Zen followed the decor of the place to a grand ballroom where everyone was being hoarded. There she found her team.

Isaias, Marco, and Alejandro were taking in the finery of their surroundings. Unlike their last ballroom, this one was much smaller and painted a light shade of blue and gold, the boat colors. They were wearing official Guerrero uniforms. Cerulean coats, white shirts, coal gray pants, and black boots. The blue coats had the Guerrero emblem stitched to the right shoulder and reminded her of windbreakers. Only Alejandro had three prancing ponies where his pins went. Isaias and Marco had none showing their rank as trainees.

“Hey, hermanita! Looking good! Marie’s influence?” asked Isaias as he walked over to her. Marco faced her and Alejandro merely nodded, stashing his hands into his pockets and slouching against the wall.

“Yeah, Marie made these actually,” said Zen giving a twirl. “You like?”

“Yeah, but she could have done your hair too. It’s a mess,” replied Isaias, touching her sensitive scalp and getting zapped by the crystal.

“Ouch! Zen! What was that?” He cried sucking on his fingers.

“Sorry! Uncle and I had an altercation and the crystal went into zap mode to protect me.”

Alejandro rose a brow. “A crystal can do that?” he asked.

“This crystal can. I’m not sure what it is,” said Zen.

“May I take a look at it? I might be able to tell if it’s something dangerous,” said Alejandro.

Zen sighed.”You can try but it’s not very amicable right now. It’s downright vile.”

“I see. Can you hold it up to the light at least?”

“Sure! That I can do,” said Zen grasping the necklace and holding it towards the light where the golden etchings glowed slightly.

Alejandro’s eyes widened slightly from their near apathetic look which alerted Isaias.

“What is it, Alejandro?”

“An intergalactic crystal.”

“An Inter what?”

Marco’s eyes bulged. “There’s an Intergalactic crystal around your sister’s neck Isaias. The most powerful object in the galaxy is around your sister’s neck!

Is that bad?

There are strict ordinances against these things being on any planet to avoid war! How did one come to rest around your sister’s neck? And it protects her! These things only protect their guardians. Being a Crystal Guardian is a very taxing position to have.

Isaias panicked and reached for the necklace.

“Isaias! Don’t touch it!” Zen screamed too late and the crystal beamed Isaias to the wall.

Isaias crumpled into a heap unconscious as Bernado made his opening statements. Zen ignored them and with Marco and Alejandro’s help, carried Isaias to the med room where more Guerreros were coming in sick. They laid him on a cot and watched as the med bots tried to care for everyone. One began treating Isaias’s burns. They were slight and would heal within a few hours due to the ointment that smelled like mint.

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Why did you do that!

She wasn’t awaiting a reply but she got one anyway.

He touched me.

He’s my brother and would do nothing to hurt me!

That man from before was also family.

He’s a special case!

The crystal vibrated on her chest and heated then cooled. Zen wondered what that meant.

At dinner, Zen sat near the end. A slight from her uncle about her status she was sure. She and her team were served last. As she sipped the water, the crystal vibrated and heated up the cup. In the water a strange turquoise liquid made itself known. She glanced into her cup and gasped. She had seen a poison that color before. Zen quickly hit Marco before he could take a sip of water. She made discrete movements with her hands. (The water is poisoned! Get Alejandro!)

Marco tried to tell him but was too late as Alejandro had already drunk his water. Marco made the signal for poison and water and Alejandro sighed and shrugged. At least now they knew why there were so many sick Guerreros. Their water supply was poisoned. Zen ate and excused herself to check on Isaias. The med bots could have given him poisoned water at any moment. She ran to his side as the med bot was bringing some water for him. She smiled and picked the cup up.

“Thank you. I’ll take this to him,” she said walking over to a groggy Isaias. He was awakening. The med bot left her to it and went back to tend to a sick Guerrero.

“I feel as if a Roller backed up on me...repeatedly,” he muttered, sitting up and popping his spine.

“Gross, you know I hate it when you do that!”

He pointed to the water.” Is that for me,” he asked hopefully.

“No, it’s poisoned. All the water on the ship is poisoned. That’s why there are so many sick Guerreros and after tonight it’ll only increase. I stopped Marco but couldn’t stop Alejandro or myself. He’d already finished drinking a cup before I could reach him, and I had a few sips before the crystal warned me.” she said, dumping the water on a nearby plant.

“What! Poison? Are you feeling ok?” asked Isaias..

“I’m fine for now,” she said.

Isaias sighed and cracked his neck.”Well, I brought my own water but it won’t last for eight days especially with four people drinking it.”

“I also brought my own water and food. I wouldn’t have put it past uncle not to feed me for eight days due to my status.”

“The jerk. The altercation from before...did it have anything to do with the crystal?”

“He tried to take it from me and he had help. He arrested me, Isaias! Right in front of the boat where anyone could see! Those men harassed me in a bid to get the crystal! It was degrading and uncle held me down by my hair for them to do it too,” she cried, shaking her head from side to side and crossing her arms trying to warm herself.

Isaias patted the bunk he was on. “Come here, Zen.”

She sat at the edge of the bunk and leaned on his shoulder while he ran a hand down her back.

“Uncle is a bastard and nothing is going to change that. He gave you an Intergalactic crystal to hold on to and it's probably made you its guardian. That’s a lot of responsibility, Zen. Uncle has no idea what he’s done and that’s going to bite him in the butt sooner or later.”

Zen relaxed. “I wish I could pay him back somehow.”

Your wish has been granted.

What do you mean?

A great crash came from the other end of the boat as well as a roar and Isaias and Zen laughed. Whatever happened to their uncle, he deserved it.

Bernado was lying on his king-size bed. He wasn’t feeling so well, probably the bug that had been circling the boat, when in one fell swoop his bed disappeared from under him. At the same time it reappeared above him trapping him under the bed. He let out a roar as he tried to shift himself from under the bed. His only way of safely removing the bed was to call for some Guerreros. He roared again. What a disgrace! Ugh I have to use the bathroom...urgently! I think I’m going to hurl!

The Guerreros who were tasked with helping him out were not happy with the mess of vomit they had to take Bernado out of, and clean like a Brownie. And Bernado was not happy with the indignity of it all.

###

Several days passed and more Guerreros kept falling to the poison. Bernado, himself, had to be treated and Zen wondered who would bother poisoning a cargo ship. No one knew that the Don would ride in it until this morning so who? Only she, Isaias, Marco, and surprisingly Alejandro were not sick from the five hundred Guerreros on the boat. Today she was exploring the boat since everyone was sick and the ballroom had become the new med bay. She got a lot of glares from the sick Guerreros. She tried to warn them but they ignored her because of her status so screw them!

“I wonder where this hall leads to,” she muttered walking down a bare blue hall. She did notice she was walking downhill and further into the boat. It opened to a large room with shelf upon shelf of tiny bead-like buttons. Instant dimensional pockets! I haven’t seen one of these in ages!

Each was labeled. There were clothes, toys, furniture, and jewelry, among many other things.

She coughed. The dust was so thick she could taste it on her tongue. Below her feet, the distant roar of the rockets battled with the crashing of the waves. She took a step towards the room and the lights beamed on instantly blinding her where she stood. She leaned against the cool glass-like wall of the room, her hands rubbing at her eyes a bit before she started to move forward again.

At the very end of the row, the light glinted off something shiny. Wait…is that?

She walked closer to a fine crystal necklace. It was a beautiful necklace but what caught her attention was the small crystal pendant. It was no longer than her hand and shone brilliantly. A little too brilliant. I wonder why this is out?

It had a line of gold etchings down one side that made her eyes widen. So this is the fake Intergalactic crystal then? Put on display?

She reached out and touched the crystal.

It was as cold as the room. It was a fake. A great fake but a fake nonetheless. She wore the real thing for better or for worse. A loud crash caught her attention. There was running and shouting. Another crash. The boat tilted sideways. She struggled to hold on to a shelf and remain upright. The dimensional pockets had shifted under her weight. Loud footsteps were heard coming her way.