by Saxon Andrew
Sam teleported in and yelled, “What are you doing!?!”
Jixie smiled, “My trial is complete, Sir. The new armor is stronger.”
Jennifer tried not to smile but Jixie’s innocent expression was too much. Sam looked at her and said, “What’s so funny, Captain?”
“I’ve never seen warriors disappear that fast, Sir.”
Sam glared at her and looked at Jixie who was humming and looking up in the sky. Sam said, “What was the force field set on?”
Jixie said, “Level nine, Sir.”
“Nine?”
“Yes Sir.”
Sam looked at the huge hole in the ground and said, “Make the changes.”
Jixie smiled, “You ought to see the projectile cannon, Sir.”
“I believe you; make the changes.”
“The hand blaster is amazing, Sir.”
Sam tried not to smile but gave up. He shook his head and teleported back to his office.
Jennifer looked at Jixie as she said, “The hand blaster really is impressive.”
Jennifer laughed all the way back to the armory.
• • •
Jixie was out on the hill in the middle of the training grounds looking up at the sky. “What do you see?”
Jixie gave a quick yelp and said, “You have got to stop sneaking up on me.”
Sam smiled, “You don’t mean to tell me that you can’t see me coming.”
“I can’t; so stop it. You just scared the crap out of me.”
Sam sat down and looked up at the sky, “What do you see?”
“Sam, do you really want to know?”
Sam looked Jixie in the eyes, “I do.”
Jixie sighed, “There’s a planet about two universes over that is about to be invaded by the Swarm. The inhabitants of the planet don’t even have a single warship to defend it. They’re peaceful creatures that have found harmony in their existence. They’re about to be exterminated in an agonizing death from the stings of the Swarm’s Warriors.” Jixie paused and said, “You were right.”
“About what?”
“This is not play.”
“Couldn’t you go and stop it?”
Jixie looked at Sam and shook her head, “I’m not allowed to play alone.”
Sam looked at the sky and said, “How would you stop them if someone went with you?”
“It’s not that simple. I have to use the toys…I mean weapons of the ones I’ve chosen to play with.”
“How long will it be before the Swarm attacks?”
“They’re moving in now. They’ll start dropping on the planet in four hours.”
Sam stared at Jixie and activated his wrist unit, “Admiral, I have a Swarm Fleet that will be dropping in on a peaceful civilization in four hours. Can you respond in time to stop them?”
Jixie stared at Sam and wondered what he was doing.
“Where is the planet?”
“Jixie, what is the coordinates?”
Jixie reached over and entered the numbers in Sam’s wrist unit. Sam pressed the send button and waited.
“I’ve just spoken with a Cat and we’re teleporting twenty forts around the planet in an hour to hold them off from landing to give us enough time to arrive. The forts will activate a jump suppression unit and Fleet will teleport in an hour later and remove the Swarm fleet.”
“Thank you, Admiral.”
“The Cats want to know how you know about the invasion.”
“I just asked the creature they’ve been searching for.”
Jixie’s eyes went wide and waited for the Admiral to respond. They both only heard silence. After a long silence they heard, “Do you want me to tell them that?”
“You probably should, but you need to let them know that if they come here with anything in mind other than staying out of our way, then they can just stay where they are.”
“You know they’ll go straight to the King.”
“Let them.”
“You know I’ll have to tell them.”
“I know. You have to be around them too often and they’ll see it in your mind.”
“Thank her for saving our warriors at the Grogat Planet. I wondered how she was able to do that.”
“I already have, Thom.”
Jixie looked at Sam, “Why did you do this?”
“I know you are not using some of your skills to prevent your discovery. Am I right?”
Jixie nodded.
Sam fell back on the ground and looked up at the stars overhead. “If you’re restricted, some of my warriors will die that might have been saved if you had more freedom to operate. I owe it to them.”
“Sam, I can’t use anything beyond the current technology you possess. I’m restricted anyway.”
“Jixie, you can see what we’re heading toward even when Fleet can’t. If only for that ability alone, I think it’s worth it. If they even think about doing anything to you, I’ll abdicate my title and commission.”
“Sam, you can’t do that. Your subjects love you and you’d be putting me ahead of them.”
“It’s because of them I’m doing it, Jixie. I need to use every tool in my tool box in this fight to save the Realm. You do not have to tell the Cats, the King, or anyone else anything you don’t want to reveal.”
Jixie looked back up at the sky. “Do you think you can win this fight? The Cats are a powerful force.”
“We’ll see.”
They stayed there looking at the sky and after a while Jixie said, “The forts have arrived.”
Sam smiled, “That peaceful civilization is another reason that this was worth it.”
Jixie looked at Sam, “Tomorrow should be an interesting day.”
“I imagine.”
“Do you want me to stay with you while this happens?”
“No, I want you to get my warriors ready to go out and make a difference in this war. I’ll handle this.”
“They’re ready, Sam.”
“Then go home and visit your mother.”
“How did you know about her?”
“Jennifer mentioned to Robby that you were going to visit; I saw it in his mind when we linked. Now would be a good time.”
“How long?”
“Four days. Please come back.”
Jixie looked at Sam and saw him staring at her. “I have to, Sam.”
“Why?”
“I’ve sworn to take care of Jennifer.” Sam smiled and nodded. “And you.”
Sam reached over and pulled Jixie into his arms and kissed her. He broke the kiss, stood, and walked down the hill.
Jixie was dazed and felt her heart beating wildly. She watched him walk away and felt something deep inside her heart. “Now I’m beginning to see what it is.”
Jixie called her ship, stepped inside, and stared at Sam as he entered the main building. She looked up and the small ship disappeared.
Sam went to his office and contacted Dort, Gon, Robby, and Jennifer. They immediately teleported in and he told them what he had done.
Dort looked at Sam and shook his head, “You know the Cats won’t allow this.”
“They’ll allow it or I’ll resign my commission and title.”
Robby shook his head, “You can’t do that, Sam.”
Sam looked at Robby with an expression that none of them had ever seen, “The Cats are out of touch with what’s happening. They’ll allow it or they’ll lose this war.”
Gon sat down and pulled off a boot and started rubbing the dirt off it. Sam looked at him and said, “What are you doing?”
“I’m getting all the dirt off. When I turn them in they should be clean.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ll not stay here without you, Sam and don’t even think about stopping me. You’re right. We’re losing.”
Dort sat and pulled off a boot. Jennifer sat and pulled a boot. Robby didn’t have a chair so he unlaced his boot and kicked it off. “Robby, your father will kill you if you even think about this.�
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“He’ll support it or he’ll not have a son, Sam.”
“Well, all of you should think about this and come back in the morning.”
Dort said, “I’m not going anywhere, Sam. This is where they’ll come and this is where I intend to wait on them.”
Sam shook his head and sighed. Jennifer said, “I’ll have some cots teleported to us.” She looked at Sam, “You know Jixie would do this for us.”
Sam nodded and smiled.
• • •
The next morning Sam’s wrist unit buzzed. Sam had not been able to sleep and he glanced at the frequency. He pressed the unit and said, “Good morning, Your Majesty.”
The others in the room heard Sam and started standing up.
“Sam, I understand an issue has arisen and we need to discuss it.”
“By we, do you mean just us?”
“No, the Cats and Zord will be part of the conversation.”
“Where would you like for this discussion to take place, Your Majesty?” Sam saw Jon flinch at his use of the honorific and Sam knew this was not going to be informal.
“The only room large enough for the ones attending is the Throne Room on Bristone.”
“When should we come?”
“We?”
“Yes, my officers will be coming with me.”
“Why?”
“Because if you allow the Cats to interfere in my unit’s structure, we will all resign our commissions and titles.” Jon stared at Sam. Sam said, “What time should we arrive, Your Majesty?”
“In two hours.”
“We’ll be there.”
The display went dark.
“Go get cleaned up. They’re not coming here. We’re going to them.”
Jennifer said, “Where would that be?”
“Bristone.”
“Oh boy! I’ve always wanted to see the Castle.”
“Be here in an hour and fifty minutes from now.”
• • •
Jon knew his brother and he saw that Sam was not bluffing. What was bothering him about the Cats? He decided to discuss this with Maranda.
• • •
Sam and his officers arrived in the throne room and waited in a side wing. Gon looked around and said, “I’ve never seen so many Cats in one place.”
Sam saw there were about thirty of the huge felines gathered against the wall in front of the two thrones. There were two Zord with them. Robby said, “Oh crap.”
Sam looked over and saw Robby’s father enter the room and sit down in a chair to the right of the King’s throne. “You don’t have to do this, Robby.”
“Sam, is this worth doing?”
“It is.”
“That’s all I need to know.”
The King and Queen entered and everyone stood and bowed. Jon and Maranda sat down and every one stood up. Jon looked at Sam and said, “Please come forward.”
The five walked forward and knelt to the King. “Please rise.” They stood and Jon looked at Sam, “I understand that you have issued a command that the Cats may not come and examine the creature they’ve been trying to find.”
“I have, Your Majesty.”
“Please tell me why you’ve done that?”
“I don’t want her to leave.”
Jon stared at Sam, looked at the Cats, and then looked at Sam, “Why not?’
“She is a critical part of our success as a unit and she’s here because of her decision to come and fight with us. She will not reveal any details about her origins and if forced, she’ll leave.”
Pride stood in the back, “Your Majesty, may I speak?”
Jon stared at the Cat and nodded.
Pride came forward and said, “You don’t know the danger that creature represents. It is the most dangerous force in this creation.”
Sam looked at the Cat, “Dangerous to whom?”
The Cat said, “We don’t know and we need to find out.”
Sam said, “In this instance, you won’t.”
Everyone in the room saw the Cat’s anger growing. The hair on the back of its shoulders stood up and the snarl was clear, “We will find out!”
Sam stared at the Cat and said, “Or what?”
Four of the Cats in back of the room snarled.
Jon looked at Sam, “They have the right to examine that being, Sam.”
“If you allow them to do so, I will resign my commission and title, Your Majesty.”
Robby stepped forward and said, “I will as well.”
Robby’s father stood and said, “YOU WILL NOT!”
Robby looked at his father, “You are going to have to make a decision right now, Father. Either you have done a proper job of preparing me to make good decisions and keep the welfare of the Realm as my highest priority, or you have failed. I will do this and I would have hoped you would support me on something I take this serious.”
• • •
In a side wing, Admiral Gardner and his daughter sat and watched the proceedings. Lyla looked at her father, “Why did you bring me here?”
“To show you what you aren’t.”
Lyla looked forward and watched Sam stand in front of the Giant Cat unafraid of the giant beast. She would have run.
• • •
“You think this is that serious?”
“I know Duke Robbins does and I know the one that’s in question here. The safety of the Realm is my duty. I will resign and abdicate.”
Robert stared at his son and saw he meant it. He also saw something else. He saw his character coming through. Robert stepped down from his chair and went and stood by Robby. “Your Majesty, I will also resign my title.”
Jon saw things were getting out of hand. This was a confrontation he knew the Cats would not back away from.
Pride looked at the Duke and raised his head. After a moment, he looked at Sam and said, “You will allow our examination or…”
Sam went up to within inches of Pride’s face and said, “Or what! You’ll refuse to guide us. What else do you have to threaten us with?”
Jon said, “Duke Robbins, why are you so against this?”
Sam continued to stare into Pride’s face and said, “Because the Cats have lost their way.”
Silence slammed down on the room. Pride raised his head and roared; the volume vibrated the room. Vremel rushed forward and came between Pride and Sam, “Why would you ever say such a horrible thing about our Mother’s representatives?”
“Because our Mother is not well and she is also not seeing everything.”
Pride roared, “I SHOULD KILL YOU!”
Sam walked around the Zord and stood in Pride’s face, “Before you do that, ask our Mother what she thinks about the civilization we just saved from the Swarm.” Pride stared at him and Sam yelled, “ASK HER!”
Pride raised his head for a moment and then looked at Sam. He didn’t say anything. Sam said, “What did she say?”
Pride remained silent. Jon said, “You will answer that question!”
Pride looked at Jon and then turned back to Sam, “She says the civilization is one of the most beautiful things she has ever brought into existence.”
Sam glared at the Cat and said, “Now ask her why she and you did not see they were going to be destroyed. If they’re one of her most beautiful creations, how could she allow them to be eradicated by the Swarm?”
The Cat raised his head and after a long pause he looked down. “She doesn’t know. She didn’t see it.”
Everyone in the room was stunned speechless. Even Vremel fell to all fours.
• • •
Lyla saw Sam stare the Cat down and was amazed at his bravery. She looked at Thom and he said, “You can go now.”
“I want to see what happens.”
Thom looked at her and said, “You walked away from that young man to chase shallow and superficial men that have no depth. You’re an idiot. You’ve lost him and you need to know that you’re just like the ones you’re chasing. I w
anted you to see what real Royalty looks like. Maybe you’ll learn something. Now go!”
• • •
Sam looked at Pride and said, “The being you’re so anxious to interrogate saw that civilization was going to be attacked and felt great sorrow at what was going to happen. She saw what you couldn’t. You are no longer seeing the entire view of what’s happening in creation and evil is growing, not decreasing. I know this being. She will leave if you push her and she’s making a difference in this fight. You stand here and roar at me because you think you know it all. You have all the answers and everyone else is wrong.” Sam sighed and said, “I really wish you did have all the answers. But this time you need to ask yourself one question before you pursue your desire to question my Warrior.”
Pride looked at Sam and said, “What question?”
“Why didn’t you see that gentle, beautiful civilization was going to be destroyed? When you can answer that, I’ll consider allowing you to question her.”
The thirty Cats in the room all lifted their heads at once and then fell to the floor. Sam saw their sorrow. Pride looked at Jon and said, “We withdraw our request, Your Majesty.”
“Why?”
“Because Duke Robbins is right; we’re not in touch with all that is happening and we need to examine that first. Perhaps when we find an answer to that issue we won’t need to question her.”
Sam said, “That’s how I understand it, Pride.”
Pride rose on all fours and said, “Not many would face an angry Cat.”
Sam smiled, “Only someone that was angrier.”
Jon stood, “Pride, you will send any future request for an interrogation through the Crown.”
“We will do it respectfully, Your Majesty. Thank you for granting us this meeting.” Jon nodded and the Cats disappeared from the throne room.
Vremel looked at Sam and said, “Does that also mean we cannot communicate with this being?”
“No, it doesn’t. I think the one that invited us here should come and thank her for accepting the invitation.”
“Why couldn’t the Cats have done that?”
Sam shook his head, “They didn’t want to thank her.”
Vremel shook his head, “They are somewhat pushy.”
“And a blaster is somewhat warm. She’ll be back in three days, Vremel.”
“Where did she go?”
“To visit her family.”