Chapter 157: Learning About Guardians

Thomas moved into the military base. We gave him a room. Space. Time to adjust.

It was awkward. Strange. Uncomfortable.

“Good morning.” Thomas said at breakfast. Polite. Careful.

“Morning.” I responded. Short. Distant.

We were strangers. Related by blood but not by experience. Not by time. Not by trust.

“This is weird. Really weird.” Luna whispered to me. “Having a grandfather suddenly appear. After thinking he was dead.”

“I know. But we try. We give him a chance. We see what happens.” I was trying to be fair. Trying to be open.

Thomas offered to train Thomas. To teach him Guardian techniques. To help him recover his power.

“I can show you how to rebuild. How to channel differently. How to work with diminished power.” Thomas senior explained to Thomas junior. “I’ve trained many beings. I can help.”

“Okay. I’ll try. Thank you.” Young Thomas was polite but cautious.

They trained together. Daily. Building relationship. Building trust. Building connection.

It was good for both of them. Grandfather and grandson. Guardian and hybrid. Two generations learning from each other.

“Tell me about Guardians. About what you are. About your history.” I asked one evening. We sat together. Tea. Quiet. Talking.

“Guardians are ancient. Created by the first supernatural beings. To maintain balance. To prevent extinction. To ensure survival.” Thomas explained. “There are only twelve of us alive at any time. When one dies another is chosen. Born. Created. We don’t know how. It just happens.”

“Twelve? That’s all? For the entire world?” Sarah was shocked. She joined us. Curious. Interested.

“Twelve is enough. We’re powerful. We’re strategic. We work smart not hard.” Thomas smiled. “Each Guardian is assigned a region. A territory. A responsibility. Mine was California. North America’s West Coast. Everything supernatural here was my watch.”

“And you watched me? My whole life?” I asked.

“Yes. From the moment you were born. I knew you’d be special. Knew you’d be powerful. Knew you’d be important.” Thomas looked at me. Proud. Loving. “I watched you survive Brian. Become Luna. Defeat Claire. Stop Richard. End the Covenant. Every battle. Every victory. Every moment. I watched. I helped when I could. I guided when possible.”

“Why didn’t the other Guardians help? Why just you?” Maya asked. She came too. Couldn’t resist learning more.

“Guardian law. We don’t interfere directly. We don’t take sides. We don’t fight battles for others.” Thomas looked uncomfortable. “I broke the rules. Many times. For you. For Lita. For family. The other Guardians weren’t happy. But they allowed it. Because the threats were real. The dangers were massive. The stakes were too high.”

“And now? Are you still breaking rules? Still helping?” I asked.

“No. I’m retired. Officially. My replacement was chosen two years ago. A young Guardian. Named Kai. He watches California now. I’m free. Free to be family. Free to live. Free to finally be your father.” Thomas smiled. “For five years. Then I’m gone.”

“Can’t you extend it? Use Guardian power to live longer?” Luna asked. She’d grown attached. To her grandfather. To learning from him. To having him around.

“No. Guardian immortality is limited. Designed that way. So we don’t become too powerful. Too attached. Too corrupted. We serve. We protect. We pass on. That’s the cycle.” Thomas accepted it. Calm. Peaceful.

“I hate it. I just found you. I don’t want to lose you again.” I admitted. Vulnerable. Honest.

“Then we make these five years count. We build memories. We create connection. We be family. Really be family.” Thomas took my hand. “I wasted thirty four years. I won’t waste five more.”

We did make them count. Thomas became part of the pack. Part of the family. Part of everything.

He taught. He trained. He shared. He loved.

Young Thomas recovered faster with his grandfather’s help. His power returned. Different but strong. Stable. Controlled.

“I can teleport again. Short distances. But clean. Precise. Better than before.” Young Thomas demonstrated. Disappeared. Reappeared. Perfect.

“Excellent. You’re learning. Adapting. Improving.” Thomas senior was proud. “You’ll be stronger than you were. Eventually. Just different.”

They bonded. Deeply. Beautifully. Grandfather and grandson. Guardian and hybrid.

It was healing. For everyone. For me. For Luna. For Thomas. For the whole family.

But peace never lasted long.

One year into Thomas’s five years a new threat emerged.

“Reports coming in. Guardians are being killed. All over the world. Someone is hunting them. Eliminating them. One by one.” Andres showed the data. “Five dead in the last month. Seven left including Thomas.”

“Who? Who would hunt Guardians? Who could kill them?” Cole asked.

“I don’t know. But we need to find out. Fast. Before they come for Thomas. Before they kill my father.” I stood. Ready to fight. Ready to protect.

“They won’t come for me. I’m retired. I’m not a threat. I’m not active.” Thomas tried to reassure me.

“Doesn’t matter. You’re still a Guardian. Still powerful. Still a target.” I was firm. “We protect you. We find who’s doing this. We stop them.”

Through the bond Sarah and Maya agreed. United. Determined.

My father was alive. After thirty four years. I wasn’t losing him again. Not to death. Not to assassins. Not to anything.

We’d fight. We’d protect. We’d save him.

Just like he’d saved me. My whole life. From shadows.

Now it was my turn. To be the protector. To be the guardian. To save my father.