The Guardian Host-Resurrection-Book one of The Guardian Host Series

My vision was clouded when I woke up.

Where am I?

The last thing I remembered was lying face down on the street.

It was much too bright to be the street. Wherever I was, it was cozy. I blinked several more times to clear my blurry vision. I glanced down.

I was lying on my back on the most relaxing bed I’d ever laid on. It conformed to my entire body like a glove. It wasn’t cold or hot; it was the ideal temperature.

All I could see was white.

I’m definitely not in the city.

My eyes finally adjusted, and the blurriness went away. I was in the middle of a circular chamber.

I couldn’t see where the walls ended and the floor or ceiling began. It was perfectly constructed. There were no visible seams at all.

The room radiated a bright white light that seemed to come out of nowhere like it was just there.

I’m probably dead, and this is a waiting room.

I sat up and swung my legs off the side of the bed.

I inspected the bed. It was nothing that I’d ever seen before. There were no pillows, sheets, or mattresses, just a puddle of black liquid.

I was sitting in it, but I didn’t feel wet. I ran my hand across the top, feeling the liquid enveloping it. It rippled like water, but it was slightly thicker.

I glanced at my hand, and it wasn’t wet.

The liquid appeared to be only a foot deep.

The bed was a large, oval-shaped, seamless, white bowl. The bed was just large enough to fit my body comfortably.

I peeked underneath the bowl and saw that nothing was fastened to it. It was levitating above the floor and was silent.

It was the ideal height for my body because my feet touched the floor as I sat on the edge of the bed.

I knew I was probably dead and must’ve been awaiting judgment. There was no sound coming from anywhere in the room. It was an eerie quiet.

I glanced down at my body to see I wore a skintight, white metallic bodysuit. I didn’t feel the fabric as it adhered like a part of me.

Then it hit me.

Where’s Volax? I’ve been waiting to hear from him this whole time.

“Volax, are you there, pal?”

There was no reply.

I began to panic as I tried to levitate, and I couldn’t. I stood up quickly and had the feeling that something wasn’t right.

“Volax! Are you there?”

My voice didn’t echo off the walls as I thought it would. Instead, it was as if my voice sank into the walls. The sound seemed to travel to the walls and vanish.

“Where am I,” I whispered as I stepped away from the bed.

I gradually rotated and surveyed the entire room.

The only thing in the room was the bed in the center.

I turned around again and saw Avlandrix standing in the room.

Where did he come from?

He was in front of the wall ahead of me, wearing his metallic suit. He was looking at me with his oversized eyes.

Although his face was expressionless, I felt solace in knowing he was there with me. I instantly smiled and started to step towards him.

I was excited to see my old friend after all these years.

Yep, it’s official. I’m dead.

I approached him.

“Avlandrix, I’m dead, aren’t I?”

I heard a voice telepathically reply, but it wasn’t the voice of Avlandrix. The male voice was higher pitched and nasally.

Either Avlandrix has changed, or this isn’t him.

“I apologize for your mistaken identity, Vincent Vandraken, but I am not Avlandrix. You are alive and healthy.”

“I’m not dead? Where am I?”

“You are aboard a Volistan space transport in the depths of space. We brought you here to receive the medical attention your earth technology could not provide you.”

I scratched my chin in bewilderment as I tried to put everything together.

What?

“What’s your name?”

“My name is Pyruviox. I brought you here after receiving a message from the earthling friend you call Jack.”

“What? Jack sent you to rescue me?”

“He sent me to apprehend Dryservious. However, when I arrived for that purpose, you were accidentally shot by the splitter beam.”

I was suddenly overcome with panic because I knew Volax and I had been detached from each other, making me mortal again.

This can’t be happening.

“So, I’ve been separated from Volax?”

“Yes.”

I found it odd that he was so calm.

I deduced that this race didn’t talk with their hands like humans. He was like a mannequin, except for the periodic natural body sway.

“When can we be merged again?”

“The Volistan Superior Council will determine that.”

What?

I became disheartened by his reply. I felt helpless again.

“What do you mean, determined by the council,” I asked angrily.

I pointed my finger at him.

“Avlandrix offered him to me for a reason, and you took him from me by accident! You can’t just take him away from me!”

“There are no accidents. We have concluded centuries ago that everything happens for a reason. You have ignored that Volax was ours and taken away to your planet because Avlandrix could not conceal him from the Dondravens. I can perceive your anger, but the council will decide. They are honest and just."

I was so frustrated that I wanted to punch this alien in the face and find Volax myself, then somehow escape to Earth with him after I merged with him again.

I felt vulnerable and wanted this whole thing to be a dream. I ran my fingers through my hair in frustration.

“What about Volax? Doesn’t he get a say in this?”

“He will be permitted to voice his sentiment and his preference. His opinion will all be taken into consideration by the Superior Council. They must conclude the best interests of all races and individuals. Please, Vincent, remain calm and resolve this matter peacefully.”

“You don’t understand,” I said as I felt a lump in my throat. “Volax is a part of me, and if I lose him, I don’t know if I can go on living.”

“If that is the conclusion, you will resume your life. Even though it may not be the most suitable decision for you, it will be the best decision for many other races of beings. You must not act as if the judgment has concluded. Please, I implore you to leave this matter to the Superior Council. Let us go see Volaxion.”

I was still angry at the situation but decided to let it rest.

The council may see my perspective and decide to let me keep Volax. Then we’ll all live happily ever after.

Besides that, I wondered how I would see Volax as Pyruviox had suggested.

“What did you mean when you said I could see Volax?”

“You may see him and talk to him if you wish."

“You mean like talk to the pod or something?”

“No. Technology allows us to see the true Volaxion utilizing a hologram and interact with him like I am doing with you now.”

“Really? I want to do that.”

I was excited about seeing what Volaxian looked like as an alien being. I never asked him what he looked like before, so this would be a memory I would retain forever.

Pyruviox turned around to face the wall, pausing momentarily before stepping forward.

“Please, follow me.”

He took a step forward and walked into the wall that was right in front of him.

The wall acted as liquid as it rippled like a puddle after he stepped through it.

I took my hand and put it through the wall, and the liquid appeared to grip my arm, and more ripples emanated from my wrist to the corners of this liquid panel.

I couldn’t feel the liquid around my wrist. It was like it wasn’t even there.

My hand felt the same temperature as the rest of my body. I pulled it back and glanced at it to see if it was wet. It was completely dry.

This is cool.

“Please follow me, Vincent.”

I shrugged and walked into the wall with my eyes open.

I was sure the liquid would get in my eyes, but it didn’t. I saw the wall peel back to reveal a curved white hallway with several body-length windows.

The windows were about five feet apart, and there were three windows that I could see before the curve of the hallway.

I could see stars on the other side of the window to my right. They gradually went by the window, signifying we were traveling in space.

Like the room I woke up in, the light seemed to be coming from nowhere.

Pyruviox turned his head towards me as he motioned with his right hand for me to follow him. I walked forward as he continued to walk ahead of me. I was glancing out of the windows in amazement as I passed them.

I was amazed at the magnificence of the universe on the other side of the glass.

I saw a planet in the distance that was a bright purple color, encircled by a brilliant blue ring like Saturn.

There were various kinds of cosmic clouds with reds, purples, greens, and gold colors in multiple spots outside the window.

Once we rounded the corner, it looked like we hit a dead end because the hallway stopped at a wall in front of Pyruviox.

He walked through the wall, causing ripples at the end of the hallway.

I’ve got to get some doors like this.

I walked through it with my eyes closed to experience it all. When I opened my eyes, I could see a different room than the one before.

This circular room had a bright blue ceiling and a bright blue floor. It was like giant round panels with a light behind them were used to construct the enclosure.

I didn’t see any seams holding the two together. It was all one piece. The walls were a brilliant white color, like the ones I had seen throughout the ship.

The room was well-lit from the light coming out of nowhere.

Connected to the walls were shiny metallic frames that stood about three feet high. They protruded about four feet from the wall and went halfway around the room on each side.

Attached to those frames was a transparent glass-type material with various buttons or touchscreen technology.

After the frame on the left side of the room ended, there was a space of about 15 feet before the edge on the right-hand side began.

It was like an “O” split into two parts that covered each side of the room.

Each transparent panel was different, with various alien numbers and letters in different colors and markers on the displays.

In the center of the room was a translucent cylinder about 4 feet round that ran from the ceiling to the floor.

A clear box about three feet high was connected to the cylinder.

Several aliens similar to Pyruviox were sitting in front of several panels in the room. They were each sliding their fingers across screens and punching codes or typing.

It looked like the most sterile and technologically advanced room I’d ever seen. Pyruviox led me to the center of the room next to the cylinder.

“This is our science station. We monitor our surroundings from this location.”

I looked around the room in amazement.

“This is awesome.”

Pyruviox motioned toward the large cylinder in the center of the room.

“This is where we will speak to Volaxion."

“Is he here now,” I asked as I studied the cylinder more closely.

“No, he will be here momentarily.”

I watched as Pyruviox stepped over to a panel, slid his finger across several locations, and typed in a few things.

After he finished, he turned around and gestured towards the box on the side of the cylinder.

“He will be here in a few seconds.”

I noticed a small section of the floor open below the transparent box. It resembled plastic dissolving away from itself.

Something floated out of the hole, like a metallic plate carrying the pod that held Volaxion in it. The hole in the floor closed as the vessel entered the box.

The walls of the box lit up with various alien writing and symbols.

The cylinder started to flicker inside like a television does when trying to get a good signal. As soon as the flickering ceased, I saw something inside the cylinder that began to take shape.

My heart raced as I saw it take the shape of a being.

I knew it was Volaxion.

The being stood about 8 feet tall and was extremely thin.

His head was enormous, much larger than the aliens in the room. The shape of his head was very different than I’d imagined it. His head was like an upside-down triangle, his chin pointed and curved towards his body.

The two points at the top were elongated, and they curved around to the back of the head and curled slightly until they almost touched the back of his head.

His large eyes were a bright green color outlined with a black design that looked like the shape of a lightning bolt.

He had two small slits for a nose, and his mouth was like the letter ‘V’ with sharp corners. His entire face looked like a tent because of a crease that ran down the center.

His neck was longer than average and extremely thin, probably no thicker than a water bottle.

His arms were equally thin, with hands that had long fingers with an extra joint in them. His torso was like a skinny “V,” stretched very thin. His chest had no muscle, and he had no belly button.

His legs were also skinny, and he had knees like a human.

His feet were human in shape except for the very long toes that were flat. I walked to the side of him and was shocked to see that he was only about 2 inches thick.

He was flat.

His skin was metallic gray, shining like a polished metal, but he was almost transparent.

He is nothing like I’d pictured in my mind at all.

“Greetings, Vincent.”

His voice was like an angel because I’d wanted to hear it since I woke up on the ship. I pressed my hands against the glass to get as close as possible to him.

“Hey, pal,” I said as my eyes watered. “I could say you’ve looked better, but how would I know.”

“Are you surprised at my appearance?”

“Well, you’re no supermodel by Earth standards, but I’m sure where you come from, you’re a Brad Pitt.”

“I will take that as a compliment, Vincent. I assume you know there may be a possibility that we may never merge again.”

A tear ran down my cheek as I thought about what that meant for us.

It was like my best friend or my brother that was about to die, and I’d never see them again.

“Yes,” I said as I choked back another tear.

“I have already spoken to the Superior Council, and they have considered my recommendation.”

“What did you recommend?”

“To merge with you, of course.”

“Really?”

“Affirmative. I have enjoyed our merger the most out of any being I have ever participated in. We will know a decision very soon.”

“Don’t they want to hear from me?”

“They have already read your thoughts on the matter and are also considering that.”

“So, what’s next? We wait, or what?”

“Affirmative. The council is currently deliberating on this matter and will request your presence momentarily.”

I wanted to snatch the pod out of the box and merge with it so badly.

I wondered what could prevent me from doing it.

I could grab it and run. They couldn’t stop me.

I heard the voice of Pyruviox in my mind after I thought about taking the pod.

“Attempting to remove the pod would only result in your instantaneous disintegration, Vincent. Please wait for the outcome of the deliberation.

I turned slightly to glance at Pyruviox.

“I didn’t intend on taking it. I was just curious about what would happen if I attempted to.”

I turned around and rested my forehead on the cylinder, closing my eyes as I thought about not hearing Volax’s voice again.

This sucks.

“Vincent, the Superior Council has requested your presence in their chambers.”

“That was fast,” I said as I rested my head on the cylinder but opened my eyes.

“Vincent, no matter the outcome, I would like you to know I will remember our adventures together forever. You will be the most outstanding host I have ever had the honor of merging with.”

I lifted my forehead off the cylinder and looked at the skinny, transparent creature before me, realizing he was my best friend, someone who knew me better than anyone could.

He knew my thoughts, hopes, dreams, and fears.

I hope I see you again, pal.

“I know, pal,” I said as I fought off a wave of emotions.

“I feel the same way.”

Pyruviox turned around, slid his finger on the transparent panel, and typed in a few codes, causing the image of Volaxion to vanish.

The plate under the pod sank back into the floor.

I turned around to look at Pyruviox as he finished with the panel he was typing on.

“So, are they here on the ship?”

“No. They are in a council chamber closer to your planet than Volistan.”

“So how do we get there?”

" We will teleport to their location using a teleportation device. Please, follow me, Vincent.”

I followed Pyruviox as he walked towards the wall on the opposite side of the room. He walked through the wall just as he had done before, without even slowing down.

Given his little legs, I was surprised at how fast he could walk. I walked through the wall, watching it peel back and slide across my face until I was through it.

The room we stepped into differed from the science room we just walked out of.

This one was circular, just like all the rest. Two alien beings that looked similar to Pyruviox were inside. They stood directly in the center, facing us.

The only distinction between Pyruviox and the alien beings was that the two aliens had purplish-colored body suits with some unfamiliar writing on the entire length of their sleeves.

I saw bizarre symbols and letters I’d never seen before hovering in front of them, with triangles, squares, and circles in various colors next to them.

The walls were a brilliant white color, and so was the ceiling. The only exception was about ten dark metallic circles on the ceiling that looked like they were part of the structure.

In the middle of each one of the circles was a dark liquid, like the bed I woke up in. I saw the fluid moving in small waves as we walked beneath one of them. I could see symbols and writing on the metallic circles as well.

The room’s floor was a purplish red color, and the whole floor was glossy enough that I could see the reflection of the ceiling in it.

Pyruviox stopped near the center of the room, about five feet from the aliens. The aliens were typing in the air and sliding their fingers on invisible screens.

Shapes and symbols materialized before them as they touched the air. Pyruviox turned around to face me as the aliens were typing incredibly fast.

“This is our teleportation chamber. The technicians are preparing our teleportation sequence so we arrive at the appropriate destination without being dissolved into dark matter.”

“Dissolve into dark matter?”

That’s concerning.

“Yes. Our technological advancements have permitted our species to manipulate dark matter to bypass time and space, making it possible to travel from one spot to another instantaneously. However, dark matter is so delicate, the slightest miscalculation can cause your molecular structure to be absorbed into it, thus dissolving your living form into dark matter.”

“That sounds painful,” I said while cringing.

“So, can you teleport anywhere?”

“The transition from living matter into dark matter is immediate, so it would be too fast to feel pain. No, we cannot teleport to a location that does not have a teleportation device.”

“Okay,” I said as I glanced around the room. ”

So what happens now?”

“The sequence is nearly complete. We will teleport momentarily.”

After Pyruviox spoke to me telepathically, one of the dark metallic disks disconnected from the ceiling, the disk drifted until it was directly above him.

The circular apparatus was about six inches thick, and I could see the dark matter in the middle, creating small waves on either side of the disk.

When it hovered, it made no noise, and I could see the symbols and letters lit up in a bright blue color.

I observed as the disk slowly descended towards Pyruviox. First, I saw his head enter the disk. I expected his head to emerge on the top half of the disk, but that didn’t happen.

Instead, he vanished into the disk like a magic trick.

Slowly, the disk lowered to the floor, making his body completely disappear before my eyes. Once the disk landed on the floor, it hovered toward me.

Once the disk was above my head, I noticed the dark matter vibrating inside it.

There was no reflection in the dark liquid. It was like gazing into a dark abyss with no end. The disk started to descend towards my head, and I kept looking up as it lowered onto my face.

My face felt warmer as the liquid enveloped it. I saw nothing at first but darkness. Once my body felt warm, I knew I was entirely submerged.

Suddenly, I could see an outline of a tunnel that had walls of soothing, transparent light. As I glanced past the tunnel’s walls, I could see the depths of space outside it.

Stars and lights were whipping by the tunnel at an astonishing speed, and I could see various planets off in the distance going past me at an incredible pace.

Everything looked so close and far away at the same time. I looked directly into the tunnel, and it was as if I wasn’t moving.

The colors of the tunnel altered from white to shades of various colors after a few seconds.

Suddenly, everything went black again, and I could feel my body cooling from my feet and gradually moving to my head.

When I could feel the coolness on my face, I saw the disk rising from my face, and the vibrating liquid instantly went still.