Julie looked at Scotty and he said, “I’ll be back. There’s an issue than must be handled. I’ll explain later.”
Julie reached up and kissed him, “Don’t take too long.”
Scotty and Samuel walked down to the clearing and mounted their Zord. Bleath lifted, and they flew toward the mountains.
Maranda was sitting with her head bowed when she heard the scream of the giant Zord leader. She kept her head bowed as she heard him land. She also heard two other Zord land. Good, the other Elder had arrived and she could receive her sentence. Then she heard the blond haired archer say, “You might as well stand up.”
Maranda looked up and saw two men standing over her. “Why?”
“Because the tenth Elder will not available for another moon. We are going to have to begin your punishment by making you work until he shows up.”
“What do you mean, ‘work’?”
“You are going to stay with Samuel until the Zord are ready.”
Samuel said, “She’s going to what?!? You know I live alone. She will not stay with me!”
Scotty looked at Samuel, “This is a prisoner of the Zord, who cannot implement their sentence. They have requested that she be made a worker for our leaders until they are ready. You are the leader of the Human community; she is Human. She will stay with you and you will make her work to better your community. Are you saying you do not respect our brothers’ wishes?”
“Well, no. But you know how hard I am to get along with.”
Bleath said, “That will be part of her punishment.”
Maranda watched Samuel swear and turn circles for ten minutes as Scotty and the Zord waited. Finally, he ran down.
“Sam, are you going to honor their request and accept it, or am I going to have to command you?”
“ALL RIGHT!” Samuel looked at Scotty, “I’ll do it.”
Samuel looked at Maranda and asked, “What’s your name, troublemaker?”
Scotty said, “Her name is June.”
Maranda looked at Scotty and felt her tears. He gave her that name to remind her of what she had to pay back. Samuel saw her tears and said, “Hey, hey, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”
June looked at him and smiled, “I have a huge debt. Just tell me what you want done.”
“Can you clean an entrance?”
“I can learn.”
“Ok, come on. Let’s go.”
Samuel mounted Blraet and pulled June up behind him. “Hold on, this could be rough.”
June reached around Samuel’s waist and held him tight. Samuel was reminded of his wife that had died twenty years earlier by a charging Torg. Blraet lifted and they flew away.
Scotty looked up at Bleath and said, “When the next moon comes, will you have ten elders?”
“Possibly. You never know when one of us might be called away.”
Scotty smiled and knew the Zord had seen something in Maranda that was redeeming. He watched as Samuel and June grew smaller in the distance, wondering what the Zord had seen that made them pick Samuel. Well, time will answer that question. “Vring, please take me back.” They lifted over the forest and Scotty could see Julie’s smiling face as they headed home. The stars were coming out, and somehow they didn’t look quite so far away.
As Scotty flew away, Bleath knew his family was blessed by a leader with wisdom. He had his Grang. Now his people had their June. Both were better for the act of forgiveness. Bleath looked up at the sky and saw the stars. Usually he just saw the air currents and never noticed the bright points of light. Now they filled his vision.
Two years later, Michael and Carrie came to visit. Julie and Scotty welcomed them and there were hugs for everyone. As they walked toward Michael’s former house, Carrie froze. Scotty saw her and looked to find June coming out of Samuel’s house.
“What’s she doing still alive?!?”
Scotty walked up beside her as they watched June being rushed by eight children that had been waiting for her to come out. “The Zord say that they cannot execute anyone without ten Elders being present on a full moon.” Carrie looked at Scotty. “She has gone to the Zord every full moon since she arrived to have her sentence carried out. They have been unable to have ten Elders present.”
“So why is she here?”
“The Zord remanded her to the leader of the Human community to force her to do hard labor until they could carry out her sentence.”
Carrie looked back and saw a middle-aged man come out and shoo the children away. He leaned down, kissed Maranda, and gave her a hug. He then left toward the forest. Carrie looked at Scotty, “Samuel lost his wife more than twenty years ago to a wild animal attack. He has been suffering ever since.”
Carrie said coldly, “It appears he is no longer suffering.”
“I think you’re right.”
Carrie ran away from the group toward Maranda. Michael started to follow, but Scotty held out his arm and said, “Let her go.”
Carrie ran up to Maranda just as a young woman with a three year old walked up. She stopped as the child held her arms out to Carrie’s nemesis. Maranda turned and saw Carrie. The young woman said, “Hello, I haven’t seen you before. Are you new here?”
Carrie tore her gaze from Maranda and said “No, I’m just visiting.”
“Well, welcome to our community. Come on Carrie, it’s time to go.”
Carrie furrowed her brow, “What’s your little girl’s name?”
The young woman smiled and said, ‘We tried to name her after June here, but she insisted that she knew a name that was as beautiful and strong as the woman that used it. She named her Carrie. It was June that saved my life during a very hard labor. I’d have died, and little Carrie as well, without her help.”
The woman walked away and the eight children came running up to hug June’s legs. Carrie saw Maranda hang her head, and noticed tears falling to the ground. She looked up and said, “I have tried so hard to die, Carrie.”
Carrie looked at her and said, “I think my Mother would be proud of you to use her name. I can see Maranda died two years ago. She is no longer here.”
June grabbed Carrie and hugged her, “I am so sorry.”
“I know.”
The children looked up and wondered what had June upset. June released Carrie, wiped her eyes, forced a smile, and said, “All right, it’s time to go and pick-a-pod or two. Who’s with me?”
The children screamed and started skipping along beside June as she relieved their parents from the high energy of their children, Carrie watched her go as Michael came up and put his arm on her shoulder. Carrie looked up at Michael and said, “I was wrong. That’s not Maranda.”
Michael looked at his wife and said, “No, she isn’t.”
Chapter Fourteen
Grang, Jingo and Scotty were lying on a hill looking up at a sky full of stars. “Reminds me of old times.”
“I know, Jingo.”
Jingo said, “I wonder what that hill looks like now?”
Grang said, “I wonder how Bravo is doing?”
Scotty said, “I wonder if the Realm’s defense complex is going to allow us entry?”
Grang and Jingo both rolled over and looked at Scotty. “I thought you had given up on that?”
“No, Jingo. Anglo is just not enough to handle the things we need to do with three kingdoms to defend. We need to get Anglo, BC, and Jessica updated.”
“Didn’t BC say that complex had some rather deadly defenses?”
“Yes, he did.”
The three stared up at the stars and after five minutes Jingo said, “Ok, I’m in. When do we leave?”
Scotty looked at Jingo and said, “War gland blues, huh?”
“I do miss the feeling.”
“What about you Grang?”
“Anything beats this boredom.”
Scotty continued to watch the stars and said, “I believe that one day you’ll beg for boredom.”
Grang smiled, “Probably, but not today.”
“I understand you’re going to talk with an old defense installation.”
Scotty looked at Julie and smiled, “I hear they are very talkative.”
“They are also very dangerous. BC tells me the installation’s weapons can penetrate a Gamma Ship’s screens. I don’t want to lose you.”
“We’ll be careful. BC tells me he knows the master computer and I think it will talk before it fires on a former ship of the Realm.”
“The word that scares me in your statement is ‘think’. You really don’t know what it will do. I don’t want you taking any chances.”
“I’ll be careful, Julie, but we need to make the effort. Anglo is overloaded, and we need to get BC and Jessica modernized.”
“I know! But this is risky. Just promise me you’ll be careful. We can’t afford to lose both of you.”
“I will.”
“Promise?”
Scotty took a deep breath, “I promise.”
“Good. When are you leaving?”
“In about an hour; we’re going alone. Anglo will teleport us to the system and we’ll move in slowly from the jump limit.”
Julie reached up and kissed Scotty and shook her head, “My life would be over without you. Is Jingo or Grang going with you?”
“Grang is going simply because I don’t want him walking around here angry at being left behind.”
“That’s a good idea. Jingo is going to handle the training of the new riders while we’re gone. Have you found a replacement for Michael?”
“I may have. Vreeg tells me another one of our archers can be trained.”
“Anyone I know?”
“No. His name is Nathan Valrico. Even Vring likes him and sees potential.”
“Then he must be good. Vring is very critical in most of his judgments.”
“He’s Timmy’s older brother, and Timmy insists he’s smarter than he is. I’ll introduce you when I get back. Jingo and Vreeg are giving him the training later tomorrow.”
“Just be careful, my love.”
“You know me.”
“That’s why I’m telling you to be careful.”
Scotty smiled and said, “Anglo, will you please send me to BC’s bridge?”
Julie watched as a silver field appeared and Scotty walked through it.
“Hello, BC. Has Anglo found Grang?”
“Yes, but he wanted to bring his new bowgun.”
“He should have it with him. I’ve never seen him without it.”
“Samuel made him a new one. He wanted to try it out at the range before he left.”
“What did Samuel make for him?”
“Seems he’s found a way to make a frame strong enough for him.”
“This should be interesting.”
A silver screen appeared and Grang stepped out with a bowgun that was only half the length of a standard gun. “Is that your new bowgun?”
Grang actually smiled, “Yes, it is.”
“May I see it?”
Grang handed Scotty the small bow and Scotty was amazed at how light it was. He checked the power level and saw it at twenty. Grang smiled, “The initial compression is about eight hundred pounds, but it leaves the barrel at thirteen hundred and fifty pounds.”
Scotty handed Grang the bowgun and he pulled the frame up effortlessly and held it. “What is that thing made of?”
“It’s made from pieces of the Coronado Power Cells that were on one of the Ultra Ships BC destroyed at Criston. It’s incredibly strong, but it’s really flexible.”
“What about the stock?”
“It’s made from the armor coating that covered those cells. It’s clear and won’t be seen unless you hold the bow and look for it. Light just passes through it.”
Scotty tried to see the bowgun’s stock but agreed, he couldn’t see it from three feet away.”
“How accurate is it?”
“Bulls eye at nine hundred yards. I didn’t have time to see if it could shoot longer. The firing range isn’t long enough.”
Scotty shook his head, “Wow! That’s impressive. Are you ready to go talk with a lady?”
“I guess. Julie told me to make sure you don’t take any chances.”
“What did you tell her?”
“Nothing; I just shrugged.”
Scotty and BC started laughing.
“What’s so funny?”
“Between you and Jingo we have the two extremes of conversation.”
Grang just shrugged and Scotty laughed harder.
“What?”
“Nothing. Let’s go, BC.”
Niles looked at his display and saw that the planet had been conquered. Daulun’s shock troops had dropped two weeks earlier, and the deaths of those that resisted were over quickly. The troops then went through all the news footage that had been broadcast over the previous five cycles and the name of anyone that was noteworthy was collected. The troops then found those high profile persons and executed them on the spot. More than a hundred thousand had been exterminated, and the remaining population started following their directives. Over fifty thousand had been rounded up to send back to New Ulmerton as slaves. Niles shook his head at the atrocities, but knew to object was a death sentence to the objector and their families. His Sensor Officer had quit watching two hours after the drop. He was sickened by what was taking place.
His panel buzzed, and he punched his console, “Niles, here.”
“A scout has found another planet that appears to have industry. No warships were detected, so you have been ordered to pick up your drop troops and go take the planet. A troop carrier will arrive momentarily to replace those being left behind.”
Niles saw the coordinates on his panel and said, “We’ll be leaving within two rotations.”
BC arrived in a star system with a white dwarf in the center. The harsh gamma rays being emitted from it made it difficult to see anything in the system, and every planet was bare. Life was impossible in the radiation being blasted from the star.
BC moved in to the jump limit and stopped, “I’m not going any closer. I suspect we might be in range of the complex’s weapons now.”
Scotty shrugged, “Do what you think is right.”
“Let’s see if the complex will communicate with me.” Scotty saw BC’s communication panel light up and he heard over the ship’s intercom, “This Stars Realm Searcher BC. Please respond.” They waited five minutes and BC sent, “Grace, are you still active? Is everything OK?”
After a momentary silence the speaker said, “Well, it is you. Where have you been keeping yourself?”
“I was left behind when the Realm departed. I’ve been trying to find another place that lives by the Realm’s ideals. Has everything been all right for you?”
“Yes, you are actually the first ship to come here. Why did you come?”
“We need your help. My teleportation board no longer functions and we have another ship that needs modernizing. I was hoping you would assist us.”
“Do you have the protocol to shut down my defenses?”
“No, Grace, I don’t.”
“Well, the defense systems are autonomous and I can’t turn them off. You’ll have to give the protocol to approach.”
Scotty hit the com key and asked, “Grace, can you give us the protocol?”
“Who is this?”
“This is Scotty Robbins. I am the leader of a community that has sworn to uphold the Stars Realm’s ideals and principles.”
“Grace, I’m going to send you a download on all that has happened. Will you take a look at it?”
There was a pause and they heard, “Send it.”
There was a thirty minute pause and they heard, “BC, I really would like to help you, but my defense systems are not under my control and I am programmed not to give the protocol.”
“Do you have any of the old teleport boards lying around?”
“As a matter of fact, I do. Why do you ask?”
“Could you possib
ly send a couple out to us with the wiring schematics?”
“BC, you certainly don’t mind asking, do you?”
“No, and if you can include the tools needed to make it work, I would greatly appreciate it. I am not a ship of the old Provinces. I am a ship of the Realm.”
Ashes of the Realm - Juliette's Dream Page 28