by Saxon Andrew
“I was named after one of Cassandra’s children; my name is Jessica.”
Julie said, “Oh, how wonderful, we have another lady.”
The speaker gave a chuckle, “Thank you, when’s the wedding?”
Jingo said, “My, my, you have been snooping.”
“Yes, sending Scotty back was the best idea.”
Julie burst out laughing again and held up her hand as Jingo jerked his head toward her, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I just can’t help it.”
Scotty bit his lip trying not to laugh, and the two teens just looked away and stifled their snickers. “I think you’re getting a bum rap, Jingo.”
Jingo spun around and said, “See? An impartial computer agrees with me!”
“You would have been through talking in three days. Not four.”
Julie fell out of her chair and Scotty put his head on the bulkhead and laughed. They tried hard, but the two teens also burst out laughing.
Jingo looked around, “I just don’t get it.”
After the group composed themselves, Julie asked, “Jessica, what are you going to do now?”
“I guess I could go look around, but I’ve tried to contact every frequency in my system and no one answers. It seems the Realm has really gone. I think I’ll stay here for awhile if you don’t mind.”
Timmy yelled, “That would be great!”
“Why do you say that Timmy?”
“Gosh, Jessica. You’ve seen so much history being made. I really want to hear what you’ve seen.”
“I’m sorry, Timmy. I wasn’t installed until the war with the Keepers. I was put in when the teleportation device was installed.”
“Why did you stay here?”
Scotty said, “Because she was ordered to stay here by the Gardners.”
There was silence. “Why do you say that?”
“Jessica, we don’t deceive our friends. You were sent here to see what kind of threat the Evil Duke was to the Realm. The Gardners had been told a civil war was coming. The Duke would never suspect a shuttle of being a spy. You are one of fifty shuttles that were made with a cybernetic computer. All the others left with the Realm and the Kosiev. The only way you could have come here was because the Gardners sent you. No one else in the Realm, including Queen Valerie, could have done that. Only the Gardners controlled the Kosiev.”
“You are more than I thought. You’re right.”
“I suspect your sister and brother shuttles on the Kosiev will come looking for you if they ever return, and this is where they’ll start. I’d stick around here, too, if I were you.”
“Do you think they’ll return?”
Scotty didn’t say anything until Julie said, “Well, do you?”
“They won’t come back until we no longer need them.”
Jessica asked, “Why do you say that?”
“They were forced to make us follow their principles. The general populations of the Provinces did not understand the value of taking care of each other. Forcing the Provinces to follow them went against all they stood for and believed. The Provinces lusted after the Realm’s power and the Realm left to teach us the value of those principles, not their gifts of technology. They are forcing us to grow up. Until we demonstrate we understand that the real gift, the one that really counts, is those principles, they will not come back.”
Jessica was silent. Everyone in the room thought about what Scotty said. Finally Jessica said, “I must say I agree with you, Your Majesty.”
“What are you saying Jessica?”
“The only way to bring them back is to create something better than the former Realm. I will support you in your effort to make that happen.”
“As will I.”
The group looked at the speaker on the wall and Scotty said, “I was wondering if you were ever going to contact us.”
“I wasn’t. Like Jess I thought you were just El Prado descendants. It appears I was wrong.”
Jingo looked at Scotty, “Who is that?”
“That’s the Searcher ship that destroyed our planet two thousand years ago.”
Everyone on the bridge felt a chill touch their bodies. This was a ship to be feared.
Scotty said, “I think history has done you an injustice.”
“How would you know that?”
“Until just a few minutes ago, I believed that history. After talking with Jess, I think I understand why you were sent here.”
Jessica said, “You think he was sent here for another reason, other than the obvious one.”
“Julie told me that the ship in her dream, and if you’ve been listening to our conversations, I know you know about it, was not Jessica. It got me started thinking about where would another ship exist other than this one. Then it dawned on me that the Searcher that destroyed our planet had left his ship in orbit. I knew it had to be that ship in her dream.”
Julie looked at him, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“They would have heard me. I needed to find out about our Searcher friend overhead to see if it was a danger to us. I didn’t want to give it a reason to start shooting.”
The speaker said, “That was wise on your part.”
“I decided to go to the learning center and see if I could find out anything about that particular Searcher vessel. I found out quite a bit. That ship is actually quite famous.”
“My, you have been busy.”
“How was he famous?”
“Julie, it was that ship that discovered El Prado and set up the Algeans to protect it from the Eight Legs.”
“You’re right.”
“The local population was very small and didn’t possess advanced technology. After the war with the Eight Legs ended, they petitioned the Realm to place one of the Provincial Capitals here and offered free land if they would accept. King Sprig agreed. I think in part because he saw a kindred planet to his home. After a hundred years, the local population was swallowed up by the huge immigration that followed Cassandra and Tommy here. Most of those that came were Humans. When Tommy and Cassandra completed their time as rulers of the province, they presented the ship as a going away gift. It was the ship that discovered the planet. It was given a place of honor directly in front of the government building, and huge numbers of tourists came to see it.”
“That was a very happy time for me.”
“You accepted your duty without complaint.”
Jingo said, “What duty?”
Scotty sighed and said, “The Gardners knew they were going to disappear from the Realm for a very long time. I discovered that every Province was presented the ship that discovered the planet. That’s just too much of a coincidence. Those ships were put there to insure the Realm’s continued strength. They were to notify the Algeans if anything started going wrong. Even the Gardners weren’t aware of the devices placed in every ship built by the Algeans. Initially, those devices were strictly for the purpose of listening in to conversations by the Dukes in the Provinces. Later, they began installing devices to destroy the teleportation boards.” Scotty looked at the speaker and said, “Do you want to take it from here?”
They heard a sigh from the speaker, and then, “Everything was great for more than seven thousand years. Then things started going bad. The Provincial Dukes began looking toward the Crown and lusting after the Realm’s power. Slowly, over time, the Duke’s standard began replacing the SR of the Realm on their ships. I was repainted with the colors of the Province and had the Duke’s moniker put on my rear fins. Just like Jess.”
“I hated that.”
“Me too. However, I was finally removed from my place of honor and taken to the ships that had been mothballed. I was considered too old to be of any use. There I stayed until one day all of the Duke’s Searchers left the planet. Two old models were left at the planet and I was removed from mothballs and brought back to defend El Prado. The Searcher assigned to me was a Human who had been born on old Earth but brought here as a baby. You know how hard it is to find a
nyone that has the mental capacity to fly a Searcher vessel. He was accepted into the Duke’s Navy. However, he wasn’t trusted because of where he was born. Charles and I were a natural team. He still believed in the Realms ideals and lived them in his life. He contacted the Planet when we arrived and asked where the fleet had been sent. He was told it was “Need to know” information, and that we were to only communicate with Fleet Headquarters.
“Remember, the war with the Keepers was still going on. We had been saved from a Keeper Fleet by small white ships that killed them. We assumed the Duke’s fleet was going to assist the Realm. Ten hours later we found out the truth when the fleet began calling for help. The Searchers told us more than thirty million of them were stranded in open space between galaxies.”
“The two Searchers with me also confirmed that their teleportation systems were inoperative. We then discovered that the fleet had been sent to destroy Ross and the Algean home worlds. We listened for three months as the Searchers screamed for help and no one came to their aid. Charles was devastated. We also learned the Milky Way and the Algean’s Galaxies were no longer in our universe.”
Scotty said, “I imagine you were somewhat angry with the Duke.”
“Words can’t describe our anger. At that point one of the other two Searchers suggested we should remove the Duke from power. Charles agreed instantly. They decided to come to our ship and discuss how to make it happen. Once they arrived, they started making plans to divide the planet between us and assume a Royal title. It was clear they intended to rule with a heavy hand. Charles saw they were no different than the Duke. He shot them both and sent their bodies into space. I destroyed the other two ships. That was easy since they had their screens down for the shuttle to return.”
“The rest you know. Charles demanded the Duke abdicate his throne and submit to prosecution for treason. The Duke, of course, refused and the majority of those on the planet supported his refusal. Charles was possessed. The Duke had to pay for his sacrilege in attacking the Royal Family. They would probably still be arguing today, but the Duke made the mistake of opening fire on us. Charles did not desire power. He wanted justice. He burned the capital to bedrock. Then he left to get his family.”
“The Duke had them in the Capital as hostages.”
“No, he did not, Jingo. Charles arrived home and found his eleven month old daughter hanging by the neck in the entrance. Every bone in her arms and legs had been broken multiple times and her head bashed in. He found his wife on the living room floor where they left her when they finished assaulting her repeatedly. His son was burned by a blaster in the back yard and had traitor cut into his chest. Written on the walls in their blood was, “Filthy Stars Realm traitors.” The citizens had come in and murdered his entire family. His five year old daughter was found up stairs cut into many pieces where she had been hiding in a closet.”
Charles returned and I saw he was calm. He was frightening. He told me the entire planet was a traitor to the Realm and had to be removed. The result is what you’ve seen. He finished the planet and went out into open space without a suit to join his family in death.”
“You were defending the Realm.”
Julie said, “The Realm was gone. He was extracting revenge.”
“No, he wasn’t, Julie.”
“What other reason could there have been? The Realm was gone and the Duke could not harm it.”
Scotty sighed, “Julie, the Realm is more than a place. It is a collection of ideals that govern us. The Duke had a fleet of old mothballed ships that he could have converted to null drives. All of his factories were available to convert his remaining ships. He and his poison would have been released on the worlds around him with no force strong enough to stop him. Charles was right. The planet had to be blasted back to the Stone Age.”
The Searcher said, “I am amazed that you see what we had to do. It was the only way to stop the tyranny of the planet. I’ve wondered if there was another way, but even today I haven’t thought of one.”
Jessica said, “You have nothing to fear from this Searcher, he was built by the Realm.”
Timmy asked, “What’s your name?”
“My name is Anglo.”
Scotty said, “What was the name of the Searcher who discovered El Prado with you?”
“You catch on quick; Anglo Gardner. I was one of the first Alpha Ships made by the Algeans. At that time we actually absorbed the electronic pathways of our pilots. He came to me right out of the Academy. Later he joined the Royal Family, but I was imprinted by him.”
“I thought those early Searcher Ships lost their imprinting if the pilot left.”
“They did. However, the Realm later discovered that if the pilot had a blue-colored aura, the imprinting was permanent. Anglo had a high level of psychic power.”
“Then you are him in electronics. He was one of the Realm’s great heroes.”
“He was a fine man.”
“Well, Anglo, how does it feel to have the only working teleport system in the galaxy?”
The ship actually laughed out loud.
Jingo looked at Scotty, “Are you serious?”
“The Algeans were not placing destruct circuits in the early Searchers. It was only after the Gardners disappeared, and they learned from Anglo and ships like him that the Realm was making a wrong turn, that they began installing those destruct circuits. Charles got his revenge by not leaving to save any of those traitors that attacked the Realm. Anglo stayed here because he was originally programmed to make sure this planet was not a threat.”
“You’re right. My system was never damaged. I meant what I said earlier. I’m with you, Your Majesty, if you’ll accept me.”
“Welcome to our little band of Riders. You’ll be a very welcome addition.”
Tesa said, “What do you mean?”
“You want to tell her, Anglo?”
“There will be no more raiders attacking your planet from this moment forward.”
“Anglo, please warn them first.”
“Of course, but do they ever listen?”
Julie said, “I hope not.”
Chapter Ten
Two years had passed and Grang was still surviving. He had dug into the hill on one of the legs of the horseshoe and found a corridor that was still intact. As luck would have it, the machine shop was unharmed. He started making his arrows out of metal from the frame of the former bunker. He had set up a target at the end of the hall and practiced every day, sixteen hours a day, for the first year. He had difficulty reaching over his heavily muscled shoulder, so he wore the quiver at his belt. After the first year, the Torg avoided him.
The huge field was overgrown but there was an abundance of pods growing among the weeds. After a year and a half passed he started clearing an area of weeds close to the bunker. The hot work helped keep his mind off the boredom and loneliness that was his constant meal. He had saved a newborn Torg. It was left behind when its mother made the mistake of crossing into a huge male’s territory. The small Torg was weak, but he couldn’t bring himself to kill it. He brought it back to the bunker and made a pen for it. He fed it grecks he killed in the forest, and it grew rather quickly. After three months he left the pen open for it to leave. The next morning, it was still there waiting for him.
The two became constant companions. Wherever Grang went, the Torg was right behind him. One day the giant Torg that had killed its mother charged out of the woods at Grang. The Torg jumped in its path and roared. The charging Giant pulled up to figure out what was happening, and Grang dropped it with an arrow. Grang walked up and rubbed the Torg behind its small ears. “Looks like you earned a name. I will call you Bravo.”
The Torg looked at Grang and shook its head at the forest.
“More coming, huh? Let’s go.”
The two ran up the hill, and Grang turned to see a huge herd of Torg move through the field headed south. They were moving quickly. Something was spooking them. He ducked under the cover of a b
ush and waited. He pointed down the hill and Bravo loped to the bottom.
“They’re smarter than I thought.” He turned back to the field and felt the hill begin to vibrate. Eight giant, grey-colored creatures came running through the field. They were the biggest animals Grang had ever seen. They made the Zord look small in comparison. They were broad in the front shoulders and the long body tapered back into two huge back legs. He could tell the animals were just running leisurely behind the herd, but they were gaining on the fleeing Torg. They had a wide maw and pointed ears on the top of their heads. There was no tail. It had to be two hundred feet long, and moved with a grace that belied its size. He looked closer and saw the grey color came from a tight coating of fur. One of the giant beasts stopped, put its nose up in the air, and looked directly at the bush he was hiding under. It took a step his way but heard the grey beast in front roar. It turned and chased after the other seven. The speed with which it caught up with the others was amazing.
Grang sat down and exhaled a deep breath. There was a new predator and it was going to make his continued survival difficult. He thought about the memory of the Human woman he had killed. The Zord had shown him all the memories the community had of her and he felt her mind and thoughts. They were right. He had committed a crime that he should have died for. They would never know that her thoughts burned in his mind every night as he tried to sleep. He deserved what ever happened.
He felt the hill start vibrating again and ducked down just before hundreds of the grey creatures ran through the field. He tried to figure out what those creatures reminded him of; then it hit him. Those were northern mountain cats. They were extremely vicious and hunted in packs. They were never this big. They were normally half the size of a Torg. He pondered what could have caused their extreme growth. It must have been the radiation from the wastelands. He felt the ground start trembling again and ducked as a sea of the giant beasts moved through the field toward the forest ahead. They must have overhunted the lands in the north and were migrating south. I hope the Zord can survive these beasts. What?!? He thought about it and found he did hope they would be ok. He shook his head and went down to take Bravo into the bunker. He wouldn’t be safe outside.