En Garde!

By Sparky Goldman

What happenes when Cyrano, a Medieval warrior, wakes up in a futuristic world and doesn't recognize his enviornment?
He senses his "village" is in need of protection irregardless of the fact that he doesn't exactly know where he's at.
While Cyrano is hard at work doing what he does best, his two friends, D'vane and Gwenith desperately want to help him. They start assemblling an army to aid their gallant protector against the relentless forces of King Tiberion.
Not all is at it seems in this Steampunk tale of Chivalry. What these three brave people discover over time is so monsterous, that even Cyrano might not be able to save them from it.
Prepare for a fight to the finish. En Garde!
 

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sparky Goldman
• Release date: May 29, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393078821

Sparky Goldman

I'm a character that was created in one of my own stories. So who's writing this? That's what I'd like to know! I like to tell all kinds of stories. From space men to ghosts and many things in between, I have quite the interesting imagination! Seriously, I'm a former over the road trucker who loved trucking. I gave it up to care for my parents after my father had a massive stroke back in 2010. He used to look after mom because her health wasn't all that well. My health has started getting worse since becomeing my mother's caregiver back in 2017. She has dementia. I on the other hand have devoloped PTSD because she has fallen so much. Writing my stories are an escape to me. I hope they are a pleasure for you to read! I won't lie, I need the money too.  I live with my parents as their caregiver and due to being their caregiver I can't find work because I need to be here for them. My state doesn't pay family members to be caregivers. And due to my health, there's not a lot I can do anymore. So I'm trying to make some money with my stories. I have many of them to tell!  My biggest fear is becoming homeless. Mom's dementia has progressed far enough that she needs to be in a rest home. I'm not certain how long we'll (my father and I) will be able to keep up with the bills.  Here's to hoping my stories are good enough to help my situation!

Book preview

Table of Contents

~Invasion~

~Hasty Decision~

~By The River's Edge~

~Scouting The Territory~

~Got You Where I Want You~

~A Warriors Return~

~Daunting Challenges~

~The Cost of Failure~

~Rally Point A1-57~

~Inferno~

~Not Going Away~

~Innocence Lost~

~Never Gonna Stop~

~Burning and Learning~

~Revelations and Adoration~

~Last Stand~

~Crazy like a Fox~

~Going for Broke~

~Falling Short~

~Champion of Champions~

Postscript

~Invasion~

Explosions rocked the area around the warrior as he squared off with his opponent, a man that stood a full foot taller than him. He was the commander of an invading army. This man was older, heavily muscled under his armor and carried a sword that could cause twice as much damage as the warrior's if he landed a blow with it.

If I can defeat that man, lay him low, his passing will demoralize his troops. The warrior thought mid-step as he ran at his foe.

More explosions rocked the area around him.

When Cyrano made it to the enemy commander, he lashed out with his sword.

His foe was no slouch with his sword. It was twice as heavy as his. Even so, he wielded it masterfully. Had Cyrano not been so quick and agile, his foe would have slain him several times.

Occasionally, one of the soldiers of the army he was fighting against tried to aid the commander. Cyrano swiftly dealt with the interlopers.

More explosions rocked the area they fought in.

The battle he and his foe fought had been a protracted one. The warrior usually had been able to best any man with a sword within a matter of a few moments. This fight seem to drag out for several long minutes.

All around the two warriors, other soldiers were fighting madly.

Breathing heavily, Cyrano's resolve never faded as his body became fatigued from all the fighting.

I'll slay you yet, gallant warrior. Cyrano thought while clashing swords with his adversary.

Another explosion rocked the area he was in. This one was so close that the blast sent him flying.

Darkness.

The signal to rise and bear arms sounded. Without a moments hesitation, Cyrano woke up from the dream he'd been having.

Preparing himself to protect the inhabitants of the peaceful village, the warrior headed for the gate.

On his way, he passed citizens of the village that he was honor bound to protect. Some of them looked like they were sleeping on the ground. He saw a young man sitting down, leaning up against a wall. In his arms, he held a young woman.

Oh but to have time to be in love. Cyrano mused when he walked past the sleeping people.

With his very last breath he’d fight to keep them safe from the callous brigands that dared to attack their home.

The bloody fools will not live to rue the day they sought to invade our peaceful domain. He thought after exiting the village to stand in a wide hallway to meet the incoming invaders.

A glance to his left showed him a set of heavy duty steel doors. He got the feeling they were seldom used.

Looking to his right, he saw a long wide corridor with doors spaced at various intervals along the walls. The walls were made of a curious looking gray metal.

A strange looking battleground indeed, but soon to be a battleground non the less. He thought when he strode along the hallway toward the T-junction.

When the first invader walked around the far corner of the hall into view, Cyrano’s battle instincts kicked in. Twenty feet away from the brigand, he stopped his advance.

Drawing his plasma sword and activating it, he spoke. Sir, I advise you and any miscreant brigand to rethink your endeavors about invading my peaceful hamlet. Otherwise, you will wind up tasting my sword.

The attacker, halting his progress the same time Cyrano did, replied, Lay down your weapon and surrender peacefully. Reinforcements are on the way. Pointing his laser rifle at the gallant warrior for emphasis.

Well, I hope they take time to smell the roses before they get here. They’ll not be smelling them any longer after facing me! Cyrano said as he advanced on his attacker.

This is your last warning, lay down your weapon and surrender, or I’ll open fire. The invader said.

You must be ignorant of your own inferiority to bare arms against me. Cyrano said before springing at his attacker, narrowly avoiding blasts from the laser rifle.

When he was close enough, he sliced the weapon in two, rendering it useless.

Letting the blaster fall to the ground, the attacker took up a bare handed fighting stance.

Eh, what's this, are you seriously attempting to carry on this attack weaponless? I give you points for bravado but not enough to spare your life, unless you retreat now. Cyrano said while closing in on his foe.

Further resistance will result in your immediate destruction. Lay down your weapon and surrender immediately. The brigand advised.

The gallant warrior moved in to dispatch his aggressor.

His aggressor was on the defensive, gauging every move Cyrano made.

Swinging his plasma sword at the barbarian, he was caught off guard when the  cur dodged the strike by ducking under the searing hot blade of the plasma Sabre. When the brigand stood up straight, he held an arm out at the warrior.

Good show my fellow, but if that's all you have, you're all but defeated. Cyrano said.

A beam of light shot out from under the attackers arm, it hit Cyrano squarely in the chest knocking him to his back.

I did not see that one coming. He said while his foe quickly closed in on him.

Seeing his foe advance on him quickly, Cyrano was certain the ruffian sensed victory.

Sitting up, the gallant warrior saw the device under his attacker's arm.

Now that's a sneaky place to hide a weapon. He thought while rolling off to one side, dodging another blast that flew out from under his attacker‘s arm.

Getting to a knee, he spied his foe preparing to let loose with another attack.

Cyrano sprang at him, swinging his plasma sword, catching his attacker at the elbow. The offending arm fell to the ground with a clanking sound.

Let that be a lesson to you! Now that I've disarmed you, twice, I suggest you claim rout by a superior force and make a hasty retreat. Cyrano said, noting that his attacker was raising the other arm.

Surrender is not an option now, your destruction is assured. His foe replied.

Are you seriously that daft, even after losing an arm? Well, so be it I suppose. Cyrano said.

Footsteps, he could hear several footsteps from the corner of the hallway where it branched off in two directions.

It sounded like the footsteps were coming from the hallway that branched to the right.

Figuring the footsteps were his attackers comrades, he knew time was running short. If they rounded the corner before he finished off this lout, the battle would get way more intense.

At the sound of the footsteps, his attacker took a few steps back in an attempt to buy more time.

A stall? You dare attempt to stall me by retreating back like a cowardly dog waiting for the rest of the pack to arrive?

The forces of Tiberion will occupy this area and secure Bio-Weapons engineering. His aggressor said.

Nay, you and your comrades will not win the day. Cyrano replied.

With blazing speed, he came at his attacker swinging his plasma sword down on the remaining arm before lopping his head off for good measure. 

Without a glance, Cyrano ran past his defeated adversary to the junction of the hallway staying close to the wall.

Crouching down just out of sight of the hallway branching off to the right, he waited. His body was tensing while preparing for a brutal close quarters attack.

He let two of the soldiers march into view before attacking them.

Cyrano tore into them so fast that they didn’t have a chance to defend themselves before he’d impaled one through the chest. The other one caught a fatal blow to the neck.

Both of his doomed foes hit the ground writhing.

It was the four soldiers behind them that only had seconds left before he was upon them thrusting and slashing with his plasma sword.

His first attack was a fatal blow that dropped one of the soldiers instantly.  Before the other soldiers could react, he shoved one of the brigands at his two remaining friends.

Ho, ho, ho! Is this all you can muster against me? I am Cyrano, the mightiest warrior of all! I am invincible against anything you try against me. He shouted, pointing a finger at the stumbling trio as they fell to the ground.

Quickly getting back to their feet, the soldiers raised their laser rifles.

Just you try. Cyrano said, waving his plasma sword at them.

And try they did. It wasn’t the smartest thing they had ever done. It was what they had to do.

When they opened fire, he rushed at them, dodging the blasts before deflecting one searing hot round with his plasma sword back at the trio, catching an unlucky soldier in the leg, crippling him.

When he was close enough to his attackers, he dodged off to the side and under some blasts. 

As Cyrano stood up straight, he swung his plasma sword at two of the rogues, catching one in the chest, wounding it grievously. The other one lost part of its head at a forty-five degree angle.

Before the soldier with the wounded leg could react, Cyrano spun around to catch him right between the eyes with a solid punch that sent him sprawling to the floor.

Turning to look at his two fallen foes, he saw the one with a chest wound struggling to aim his laser rifle.

When the brigand saw Cyrano turn to face him, he fired a blast from his weapon. The blast hit the steel wall beside the warrior, burning a small hole in it.

Nay. Your battle is over, cur! Cyrano said, lashing out with his plasma sword to dispatch his attacker.

Turning his attention back to the soldier with the wounded leg that was merely knocked silly from being punched, Cyrano approached him.

Pointing his plasma sword at the soldier's face when he started to stir, Cyrano said, "Now cur, you go tell this king of Tiberion to leave the peaceful hamlet of-

Now that he thought of it, he couldn't remember the name of the hamlet he was honor bound to protect.

Recalling what one of his attackers said earlier, something about securing this area and a place called, Bio-Weapons engineering, he continued.

You tell your commanding officer to tell this, King Tiberion to leave the village of Bio-Weapons engineering alone! Do you understand me, oaf? This is the only reason I am letting you live. Now go! Cyrano shouted at the ungainly soldier who scooted backwards,  from the tip of his sword until he was able stand up.

Cyrano watched his wounded foe limp away before looking at the dropped weapons his attackers had used. At the moment they were owner-less. Something about the devices were strange to him. At the same time their use did make sense. He found the conflicting thoughts, odd.

Casting a glance over his shoulder, he saw his routed foe going through a silver colored door that opened sideways.

The weapons laying on the floor didn't seem familiar to him after all when he thought of his past. They weren't meant for close quarters.

Something is afoul here, I think.

Taking another look down the long hallway he noticed it was wide with a high ceiling. He noticed flashing lights on the walls. There were strange devices that hung from the ceiling. They seemed to be pointing right at him. The warrior didn't detect any obvious threat coming from the devices hanging from ceiling.

Something started nagging at him. A feeling that he needed to return to the village of, Bio-Weapons Engineering.

Before picking up the weapons, Cyrano took one more look around.

Interesting. He thought as he started walking back to his peaceful hamlet past the corpses of now fallen enemies that shot sparks from their bodies.

When he walked through the sliding doors, a blonde slip of a woman stared at him.

Cyrano? She asked warily. A wiry, red-haired young man stepped in front of her.

Why yes, milady. I am Cyrano, and you are? He replied, noting how the young man stiffened up briefly when he confirmed his name to the young lady.

Gwenith Hollister. She said cautiously, performing a curtsy after she spoke.

A pleasure to meet you, milady. And who is this dashing whip of a man? He asked, locking eyes with him.

D’vane Sperling. He answered, looking at the warrior who stood before him holding strange devices in his hands.

It’s good to meet you, young sir. Cyrano said before walking past them to lay the blasters on a silver, metallic table.

I have captured some of the enemies armaments. I'm quite unfamiliar with them. Hopefully you will be able to get some good out of the devilish devices."

D’vane stared at him saying nothing for a moment.

Say something. Gwenith whispered.

Uh- very good. Good work, Cyrano. D’vane said.

Thank you sir! Cyrano said, snapping a salute for emphasis.

Are you hurt, Cyrano? Your armor looks a little damaged. Gwenith said.

Think nothing of it, milady, it is but a scratch. He replied.

Seeing the large burn marks on the chest plate of his armor along with other small scratches and burns dotting his body, D’vane didn’t think they were ‘just scratches’ as the warrior known as, Cyrano, put it."

Cyrano noticed how the young woman studied him. The look she gave him was something of