Sky Fighters: Haret

By M.J. Taylor

Connor Mason lived a life of privilege like no other. He was wealthy, handsome, intelligent, and for thrill and glory became the masked vigilante known as the Glider, soaring across Bulwark City on a high-tech flying machine called the hover-glider. His world was flipped upside down as he was "drafted" by a team of intergalactic peacemaking aliens called the Sky Fighters. They needed his help to take down Lord Kohl von Raumon, an intergalactic terrorist of the planet Thera, bent on conquering all four populated planets: Haret, Tareh, Thera, and Earth. When Raumon cleverly repels the super-powered Tarians, the strong weaponized Therians, and the battle-strategic Haretians, it will take the creative genius and skill of an Earthian to push him back, and only the combined forces of a Sky Fighter from each planet and the powerful Everlaster, Roivas, can bring down Raumon and his army of mutated Therians. But Raumon is not their only enemy. Natas, an evil Everlaster, is a strong force with many powers and minions under his control. When Connor is poisoned by Natas, he must conquer his own pride and face the mysteries of the past he fears or else perish at the hands of the universe's deadliest enemy. With the power of Roivas to strengthen them and his wisdom to guide them, not even Raumon will stand in the Sky Fighters' path to victory.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 25, 2019
• ISBN: 9781644587898

Book preview

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Sky Fighters

Haret

M.J. Taylor

Copyright © 2019 by M.J. Taylor

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

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Special thanks to Ryan Steiger for his hard work in using his God given talent to illustrate characters for this novel.

Glory be to God for working in the project. Apart from Him I can do nothing. (John 15:5)

1

It was a peaceful day in Bulwark City. People were busily walking about, minding their own business. Children laughed and played in the alleys. Businessmen were at work in their offices, chefs at work in their kitchens, and servicemen completing their duties. All was well and normal until…boom! A small bomb exploded in the backroom of a jewelry store. The occupants of the store screamed and ran out in terror because following the bomb came a dense cloud of gas. Bystanders looked on with curiosity and tried to help the terrified jewelers.

It’s a robbery! someone shouted.

A policeman nearby heard the screams and commotion and called for backup. He hurried to the scene of the crime to stop the robbers whom no one could see because of the gas. The policeman drew his gun, but one of the jewelers grabbed his arm.

Please, don’t fire! begged the man. My daughter is still in there. She may be a hostage. If you fire, you might hit her!

Then how do you expect me to help? asked the policeman. If I walk in there without backup and my arms down, they’ll shoot me. I don’t have the equipment to go in alone.

I do, said someone from behind the officer.

The policeman and the jeweler looked behind them, and their faces lit up like light bulbs. Before them was a man in a forest green and white costume, standing on an arrow-shaped floating device hovering about a foot off the ground. The man wore a mask and a shallow hood.

Glider! exclaimed the policeman. Am I glad to see you! We have a robbery in progress, and it may be a hostage situation.

I’ll handle it, said Glider.

Instantly, Glider flew toward the broken window of the jewelry store. He opened a flap on his costume on his right arm revealing a small touch screen control panel. He typed in a code then pulled a short stick from the belt around his waist. The stick expanded into a full-length staff of the same color as Glider’s costume. He slipped a gas filter over his nose and mouth and jumped from his hovering glider into the jewelry store. As soon as Glider’s feet left the top pad, a grate opened up in the front of the hover-glider. It then began to suck in the gas from the jewelry store.

While the gas still filled the store, the onlookers, including the policeman and the jeweler, heard loud noises but could see nothing. Sounds of furniture being tossed about, glass breaking, men grunting, and a few yips of pain blared from the small shop. The onlookers held their breath in anticipation.

When the gas finally cleared, the crowd froze in astonishment. Three masked men lay unconscious on the floor. The jewelry was intact and set neatly on top of the only glass that was not broken. Walking out of the last remnants of the cloud of gas came Glider carrying the jeweler’s frightened daughter in his arms. The crowd broke the silence with a burst of cheers and excitement. The jeweler ran to Glider and gently took his little daughter from Glider’s arms.

Thank you, Glider, thank you, cried the jeweler hugging his daughter.

You’re welcome, sir, said Glider. You can always count on me.

By now, the police and firefighters had arrived. The police backed up the crowd while the firefighters went right to work putting out the fire in the back of the jewelry store. Before anyone else could reach him, Glider hopped on his hover-glider and took to the skies. Once he was high above some of the tallest buildings in the city, Glider halted his flight making his hover-glider suspend him hovering in the air. He typed in a command on his touch screen control panel and, instantly, long panels extended from the left and right wings of the hover-glider. They connected together to form a triangle. Glider knelt down, placing his knees and the tips of his boots on the extended panels, and stretched his body across the main part of the hover-glider. This was his manual flight position.

He commanded the hover-glider out of automatic hover mode and into manual flight mode. Suddenly, the hover-glider tipped forward and began to fall! Glider reached forward and grabbed hold of the control levers at the front and pulled back hard. The nose of the hover-glider pointed skyward and it flew at an incredible speed through the sky!

Glider flew across the city. He had personally appointed himself guardian of his home city, Bulwark; and as guardian, he would often scout the city for signs of crime. From the skies, he had quite a nice view. After an hour of searching, with no sign of criminal activity, Glider headed home toward the business district of the city. He tipped the nose downward and dove toward a tall business building with the words Mason Industries built on the outside of it.

When Glider got close enough, he commanded the hover-glider back into automatic hover mode. He then commanded it to fly off where it would land inside a secured hangar cleverly camouflaged on the roof of the Mason Industries building. As the hover-glider flew off in its appointed direction, Glider leapt from it and dove toward the side of the building. Down below was a balcony, which was his target. Midair, he unlatched a small spring under his suit, and instantly, glider wings popped open from under his arms and legs. He glided safely down and, at the last moment, pulled back and landed feet first on the balcony. He passed through the drapes into a luxurious penthouse. A tall, skinny middle-aged man dressed in a suave black suit stood erect in front of Glider, holding a silver platter with a hot towel on it. He nodded his head.

Good evening, Master Connor, said the gentleman. I much enjoyed seeing your victory against those jewelry thieves on the television, sir. Are you in any need of medical attention?

Before answering, Glider took off his mask and pulled back his hood. Underneath the mask and hood was revealed a soft-faced man with sandy blonde hair and dark green eyes that matched his suit. He smiled at the old gentleman, his butler, and took the towel from the platter. He put it on his neck and let out a relieving sigh.

Thank you, James, said Connor. No, I don’t need any medical attention this time. I just need a hot shower and some popcorn.

Popcorn, sir?

Yes, I intend to cancel all festivities for this evening and spend the evening watching TV and chillaxing.

I’m afraid you can’t, sir. Tonight is Miss Magnolia Kaylin’s charity party. All the money collected is being donated to the children’s hospital. You gave Miss Kaylin your personal promise that you would attend. And if you don’t mind my saying so, sir, since you intend to marry the woman, you should not cancel the engagement this evening.

I wasn’t planning to propose to her tonight.

That is not what I meant by ‘engagement,’ sir.

I know. I was just trying to give myself some sort of good reason to skip out on another one of those high society shindigs. I am always a man out of place at those things.

I understand. Surely you would prefer to soar the skies stopping robbers, fighting villains, and catching colds. But you must decide what life to devote to if you still plan to marry Miss Kaylin. Will you be a devoted crime fighter or a devoted husband?

I believe Maggie is the kind of woman with whom I can have the best of both worlds, James. The night before our wedding, I’ll tell her everything. She’ll support me. I know it. I mean, Glider is highly respected in this city.

And what is Miss Kaylin’s opinion of Glider?

Connor got very quiet and turned his head away from James as he began to change out of his Glider suit.

Well, I haven’t actually talked about him…me to her, but I will. I have to go tonight, anyway. I’ll tell her when the moment is right.

Connor tossed the towel to James.

Prepare my tux, James. I’m hopping in the shower.

Very well, sir.

Connor took an extremely quick shower and readied himself for the party. After he finished putting on his tuxedo, he had James fix his tie. After James had finished with the tie, Connor looked himself over in the mirror, stroking the wrinkles out of his suit. His face became stern as though he were agitated. James noticed.

What’s wrong, sir? he asked.

I look just like my father, said Connor bluntly.

Your father was a distinguished, handsome man. You should be complimented to look like him.

I would rather have nothing to do with him. My face and my wealth is all I have in connection with him. As you know, he and I were not on the best of terms before I left for my world tour. When I came home, he and my mother were dead. Now I run an industrial empire. I could probably own two if I patented my inventions, but then I’d have to give up my life as the Glider since everyone would be able connect me to him. I need to be Glider. The people need me.

Are you certain it isn’t the other way around, sir?

In all my travels alone, I learned one thing. I don’t need anyone. Everything I’ve done, I did on my own by my own strength and intelligence. There was no support from my friends, from the government, and definitely not from my parents—especially my father. I stand alone.

Connor looked at the clock. He was late.

James, have my car brought around. I’ll be down in a few minutes. Oh, and give the hover-glider a power-up. This is a social party, and a lot of rich people are going to be there. You never know when some yahoo might come in to rob the place. I may need the hover-glider tonight. Please, have it ready.

Yes, sir, said James as he turned to leave.

After James left the room, Connor stared into the eyes of his reflection as the memories of his parents returned to the forefront of his mind. He smacked the mirror in an angry fit. He kept his hand there on the mirror for a few seconds. His anger quickly subsided and turned to sorrow.

On the outside, he appeared angry with his late parents, but deep inside, he missed them and would give anything to have them back. Of course, it was too late. He straightened up, sprayed on some expensive cologne, and went down the private elevator to the lobby. He went outside where his silver black-trimmed Lamborghini sat waiting. The valet handed Connor the keys. He revved up the sports car and drove out of sight.

Connor reached the Kaylin mansion by 9:30 p.m. The party had already started. Connor handed his car keys to a valet then proceeded up the white marble steps to the open doors of the mansion. Once at the top of the stairs, Connor’s eyes settled on a beautiful brunette in a white gown with sparkling dark blue sashes. Her blue eyes matched her dress and the eloquent sapphire necklace around her neck.

Connor Mason, where have you been? she asked. My cousin, Elliot, has been following me around all night playing Romeo. I just got rid of him a little while ago. Had you arrived a few minutes later, I would have locked you out just to spite you.

Well, it’s not like that would have kept me from getting inside to save you from your evil cousin, Elliot, said Connor with a smile. You look beautiful, Maggie.

Shush! My father is here, said Magnolia, turning to her right. He’d throw you out if he heard you call me Maggie. He prefers that I be called Magnolia. He says it’s a ‘prestigious womanly name.’ But you, handsome, can call me whatever you like.

Well then, pretty lady, care to dance?

Yes, I believe I do. Connor, you sure know how to sweep a woman off her feet.

Connor took Maggie’s hand and led her to the dance floor where several other couples were ballroom dancing. Slowly and romantically, Connor and Maggie waltzed. They swayed to and fro for quite a long time saying nothing, but intently staring into each other’s eyes. When the music finished, Connor and Maggie stopped dancing, their eyes still fixed on each other. Slowly, their lips drew near for a kiss.

Before their lips could reach, a huge explosion went off at the front door of the mansion. Connor, acting now more like Glider than Prince Charming, raced off in the direction of the explosion. Maggie followed close behind. Red and pink smoke filled the hall. Everyone backed away from the smoke and the doors except Connor.

In the next moment, four armed men in bright red leather jackets with ruby red hearts on their backs rampaged into the mansion and began demanding everyone to hand over their jewelry and cash. Connor wanted to rip into them and beat them all back, but he kept himself from doing so in order to protect the innocent people around him, like Maggie, and to preserve his secret.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, came a gentleman-like voice from inside the cloud of smoke. Simply hand over the gems and the cash and no one will be harmed…much. Ha, ha, ha!

Quickly, the sinister figure emerged from the smoke. He was tall and slender, though not apparently weak-looking. He wore a dark ruby-red velvet two-piece suit. He also wore reddish pink gloves and a fedora that matched his suit. He held a gold cane with a heart-shaped ruby settled on its top in his left hand. His eyes peered through red tinted spectacles and landed on Connor and Maggie, who were not standing too far away.

Valentine! mumbled Connor angrily.

Who? asked Maggie.

He’s known as Mr. Valentine. He’s a murderer and a thief. Though he may seem like a gentleman on the outside, inside he’s a madman obsessed with precious gems and beautiful women. The Glider has been on his trail for months.

Oh, I wish Glider were here now.

Ah, but he is not, which is an advantage for me, said Valentine, interrupting the conversation. You see, if he is not here, Miss Kaylin, then there is no one to stop me from taking you, he said with an evil smile.

With a wave of his cane, Valentine motioned two of his men to grab Maggie and force her toward the door. Connor protested and rushed forward to grab hold of the men trying to carry Maggie off. Valentine moved swiftly and hit Connor with his cane. Connor fell back but recovered quickly. Before he could move, though, Valentine pinned him down with his cane.

I wouldn’t move if I were you, sir, said Valentine. "With one touch of a button, I