Guardian Stone 2: Stone and the T-Raptors

by Don Koch

  Chapter 15: Saark Revisited

  At Saark – November 7 – C Day 434

  The time had arrived. Franz said, “My friends, Today we expect to set Saark on a different path. The time for dictators is over. We must be able to encourage the people of this world that the future is in their hands not those of someone who is there because he was able to be so by power, intrigue, manipulation, murder and control. We must be able to rise above those things. By the end of this day, I expect to install Hans Pestal, my father as monarch. We will use a written constitution to place some limits on his authority and place those in the hands of our people. This will be a difficult transition but I believe it will work. In addition, a congress of representatives of the people will be formed. Persons in this congress will be elected by our people. The role of this congress is to devise the laws by which they will be governed and the restraints that will be applicable to the monarch. The members of the congress of representatives will serve for a five year term and allowed no more than two consecutive terms. That congress will meet for 120 days each year except for the first year which will run 180 days. The congress will develop the laws that govern this world. This way the people will have a say in how they are governed. The monarch will administer the governance of the people. Judges will settle conflicts and proper application of the laws as well as mete out punishments declared by those laws. The monarch will determine his or her successor.”

  “Each of you knows what you are to do. Let us now go out and retake our world. Do not disclose your identity for any reason or how you do what you do. You are the force that will enable this world to be free.” With that the teams entered into rapport and went to their assignments.

  Jon Margon, leader of the 20 teams surrounding the army walked through the army encampment toward the commanding generals tent. Each person that tried to stop him was hurled about 10 feet through the air away from the path he took. Several tried spears, arrows, swords. All failed. He arrived outside the general’s tent and waited. When the general came out he asked what the disturbance was about. Jon said, “General Sig Trasker, I have come to accept your surrender.”

  The General laughed and said incredulously, “You are making a joke and a very dangerous one for you. You think I would surrender this army to one man?”

  “No General Trasker, not to one man but twenty-one and the many you cannot see.”

  By this time six bowmen and four spearmen were standing by the General who said, “I have no time for this joke, arrest him.” The men attempted the arrest but were tossed through the air with mere gestures and left unconscious. Several fired their weapons at Jon and all shattered upon reaching him, even the steel on the steel tipped spears.

  Jon said, “General, that was a mistake. Now your army will be disarmed. Observe.” As he said this the twenty who were visible and the 1,980 who were invisible started forward and weapon upon weapon disintegrated as the advance continued. Men no longer armed were tossed aside as a wind going through confetti and rendered unconscious. The General tried to draw his sword but was paralyzed in place. As the unstoppable advance continued, Jon again said, “General are you ready to surrender now, before someone actually gets hurt.” There was no defense. The general could clearly see that his troops were unable to do anything. Half of the army had already been penetrated and he could see many of his men down but he could not tell if they were alive or dead.

  Finally the General said, “alright, alright, I surrender. Stop this.”

  Jon held up a fist and the advance halted. He said, “General, all of your men are alive, merely unconscious. Order the remainder of your men to discard their remaining weapons there in a pile. Personal knives or hereditary weapons may be retained but must remain sheathed. They are then to break camp and march in an orderly fashion back to the castle of your king. There you will set up your encampment in the field north of the castle. After the weapons were all gathered and camp had been broken, Jon had the formations turn to face the pile of weapons. He and the visible 20 approached the pile of weapons and shattered everything in the pile. The twenty-one then gestured about the grounds and every bit of the previously destroyed weapons floated in the air and deposited on the latest pile of destroyed weapons. Jon said to the General, “the metal in that pile is too valuable for you to lose. Please bring forth five wagons so that you may take the metal with you.” The General did as he was instructed. When the wagons arrived, the twenty-one again gestured and only the metal in the pile floated up and deposited itself in the wagons. This was then covered with hide and secured. Jon then said to the General, “General Trasker, thank you for your patience. You may now return to the castle. When you arrive there you will meet your new monarch.” One by one each of the visible twenty-one disappeared and broke rapport.

  Meanwhile, Franz was in rapport with his team at the castle. He projected to the throne room where Tomar was seated on the throne. On seeing him Tomar said in surprise, “I thought you were dead. I could no longer sense you. Since you are here, we will resolve that minor irritation once and for all. Guards, kill him.” None of the guards moved. They could not. Each was paralyzed and frozen in place. Tomar picked up a spear from beside the throne.”

  Franz taunted him saying, “What do you intend to do with that toy?” Tomar hurled the spear and Franz gestured at the spear. The spear arced high in the air and came back down embedding itself in the stone step between Tomar’s feet. The stone was not cracked or broken yet the steel tip of spear had penetrated the stone to a depth of five inches. Tomar turned white as a sheet and tried to pull the spear from the step. It would not budge. Franz continued, “Well brother, I see that you continue with your futile efforts. Know that you may no longer use the telepathic gift you have seen fit to abuse. Also know that you are today exiled to the island of Cordaa on the other side of this world along with your supporters. Leaving the island will not be permitted for you or for any of your supporters. Your families may leave if they have no intent to support your evil. They may make that decision at any time and their intent will be heard and considered. Brother, you have made a serious mistake. You have moved this world from the course it was intended to take, to one that is for your own benefit and not for that of your people. I think you have made a lonely choice. You will be provided with shelter and the means to survive but you will have to work for your food. It will not be provided through the labor of someone else. That will be your penalty. None may approach the island and none may leave it without the permission of the King.”

  "Oh and who is that to be, you?”

  “No brother, it is to be our father. You know that he is most disappointed in you, particularly since you tried to have him killed. Do not expect a sympathetic ear. Our mother is also aware of your intent. Well brother are you ready for your journey?”

  “You can not make me leave here.”

  “Sadly brother, you still do not learn.” At that Franz gestured and Tomar found himself strapped to the embedded spear. “Happily brother, you never married so you have no kin to suffer with you. None of the others will be able to approach within 50 feet of you. You will live out your life on a farm on the island that is sufficient in size to sustain you if you work, If not you will starve but that is your choice. You know how to farm for that is how you grew up. Any animal on that farm that you abuse will be removed from the farm and not replaced. I think you will do evil even so but none will suffer for it except you. Goodbye brother,” Franz then said to Barana,

 

  Franz went to the door and said “remove them fro
m paralysis.” He then went on, “Soldiers, today you have witnessed a historical event. One or more members of my team will interview each of you. You will not be able to see them. Every person in this castle will likewise be interviewed. Some will end up exiled to the same island to which Tomar and his known associates have been sent. Others will return to the life from whence they came. Some will be able to work for the new king here. A word of caution, do not be circumspect with your responses. It is not possible to lie to the interviewers without their knowing you have lied. Lying is the quickest path to Cordaa.”

  One soldier raised his hand and asked, “Sir, I am Lan Frost, are you our new monarch?”

  Franz gasped, “Good Lord, No. I have not the wisdom to be a good King. I would need much more maturity. The new King will be Hans Pestal, my Father.” Then Franz noticed the expressions on the various guards, some clearly expressing relief, most expressing smiles of happiness. “Alright, what am I missing.”

  “Sir, most of us served with King Polk Fisen. He was good hearted and always looked after the welfare of others including his guard. One of his frequent visitors was your father who the King often called upon in secret for advice. These two were of like mind and mold. Your father is well liked and those of us permitted to remain will protect him with our lives. We have always found it difficult to believe that Tomar was kin to your family. It saddened us to see where he was headed. That you have stopped him so readily amazes us. It is hard to accept what we have seen today but we do so gladly."

  Franz said to the soldiers standing in their guard positions, "Lan and soldiers of the guard. What you have seen today is not evil or magic. I am a mind talker and that provides me with some unusual abilities that non-mind talkers do not have. Mine have been trained in a particular way and I intend that the abilities I have will be used for the good of our people. I know that Lan has just made a true statement in all respects. I have presently in this room 99 others whom you cannot see and they will remain unseen because I do not want their identities known. This is because if there is a repeat of what has happened to King Polk, we will again find it necessary to act and we will not want the perpetrators to know from whence the arrow comes. You are soldiers, so I think this reasoning is something you will understand. To clear up another point, Tomar Pestal is my adopted brother, not brother by blood. My parents adopted him when he was orphaned at age 4. I am not sure what caused him to act as he has done with others but it is a point of sadness for our family."

  "Lan will you accompany me please, I have some additional questions for you that are for your ears only."

  "I would be honored." And followed Franz out of the room into a sitting room with doors closed.

  "You startled me when you spoke up in there, because I think I know you. Are you the husband of Roz and father of Liam?"

  Now it was Lan's turn to be startled, "Yes I am, are they alright. I have not seen them in over a week and am becoming frantic with worry."

  "Be at peace Lan, they are well. Barana, would you please transport Roz and Liam here." An instant later Lan was joined by his family. After Lan was assured that his family was indeed OK, he calmed down. Franz then continued, "Lan, how would you characterize what you saw in the throne room today. Feel free to let your mind wander over the things you saw and your reaction to them."

  "I think all of us were frightened. Except for my eyes, I could not move, I could see and hear quite clearly. That brought on surprise. The things that you were doing were impossible. I thought I must be dreaming. It dawned on me that was not the case. I guess the thing that most impressed me was your restraint. I had the impression that you were trying to teach the guards. I know that sounds silly but that is was my impression."

  Barana interjected,

  Lan said, "who is that?"

  "I assume by your interjection that he does pass muster."

 

  "Ok, here goes, correct me if I get any of this messed up. Lan, where do we start. What do you do when someone lies to you?"

  "I confront them until I am satisfied that I have the truth unless their lies are dangerous at which point I will pretend to believe them to see where their falsehoods take them."

  "So how do you know they are lying?"

  "I just know, anyone can do that."

  "Now you are lying to yourself. This is a somewhat rare talent. It is associated with the ability to mind talk. Your talent just has not been trained as has mine or for that matter, as has your wife's. You, your wife and your son, all three of you are mind talkers, also called telepaths. The ability to detect lies and distinguish truth is but one piece of the talent. Telepaths tend to find other telepaths for a mate and their children also have the ability. Now knowing this do you feel any different than you did yesterday? Do you feel like you have become something you do not want to be?"

  "Well, no. I do not, just curious. Where is this going?

  "Lan, up until today, Tomar Pestal was a severe threat to the future well being of this world. Tomar was intent on identifying and murdering every telepath on our world. He wanted to be the only one left with the talent. Without that talent present in the world our people would never reach their full potential. His talent would have been sufficient for him to make that identification and carry out that plan. Fortunately, we have some friends that responded to a desperate plea I made just a few weeks ago." He went on to explain the events of the past few weeks and to describe the training of the telepaths inherent abilities. He described the locating of most telepaths on Saark, their protection and the training of their talents. He explained why this was kept secret. He noted that both his wife and child had been trained. He described Barana and let her explain herself to Lan. "Lan, there are currently about 19,000 telepaths on Saark and we need leaders to assure that when we are needed we can mobilize quickly and effectively. We want you to be one of those leaders. Our job will be to lead and guide our people in a way that we can join our friends in the stars when we are ready. We will have access to resources from the station or stations in orbit. They will provide assistance that does not reveal their presence. You would continue to work in the castle at a position of authority or elsewhere if that is what your wish, but you will essentially have two jobs, one secret and the other public. You will have access to training on the station and be able to confer with experts there. You will also live to see your many times great grandchildren arrive and thrive. My family also has this talent and have been trained. Will you join us."

  Lan looked at his wife, Roz and said, "this is something I would like to do but not without your approval. What do you say?"

  Roz said, "Let us do this together. It feels like this is what we were born to do."

  Lan turned to Franz and said, "We very much wish to join you in this endeavor."

  "We are going to send you up to a station for training and enhancements. I think you will find the experience better than a vacation. Welcome Lan, It will be a pleasure working with you."

  ### At the Saark Royal Castle –

  November 10 – C Day 437 ###

  Franz walked up to General Trasker's tent and met no resistance. He waited until the General came out to meet him. The General stood stiffly and nervously before Franz and said "I am here as I have been instructed by the demon of three days ago. I have some questions to ask if that is permitted."

  "Certainly General, but would you ask some of your soldiers to bring some chairs a table and a hot beverage so we can chat in reasonable comfort. The castle cooks are preparing a meal for your men that should be ready in about another ten minutes. In fact, yes, I see the first of the wagons coming now. In addition my commander sent to you three days ago is not a demon and we will chat a bit about that event. Would you please let your staff know what is coming so the troops can have the food whil
e it is still hot."

  The General did as instructed but was clearly shaken. The General said, "I do not understand any of this. Why this treatment, you defeated us."

  "General, are we not all citizens of the same kingdom? Is not the welfare of its citizens a joint responsibility? Did we injure or kill anyone? If there had been animosity between us, the outcome would likely have been different. My commander and I bear you no ill will, in fact the contrary. The problem I had was with King Tomar. He was a danger to our citizens. He thought only of his own desires. A good monarch does what is best for the people he governs. Was this not the way with King Polk?"

  "Aye" the General admitted, "and are you the new King?"

  "No General, I am not. Your new monarch comes across the field now."

  The General looked and then said, "Can this truly be so, that is Hans Pestal, he is a friend and a very good and honorable man. You are not teasing me please, that would be great cruelty."

  "General, you do not recognize me do you?" The General nodded no. "General, I have the honor to be the son of Hans Pestal. Perhaps this begins to make sense." At this the General went down on one knee and said, "forgive me." Franz brought him back to his feet and said "General there is nothing to forgive. You were doing your duty. You should not be kneeling in front of me. I am not entitled to such. My sense is that you will find duty with my father far more pleasant than that for my stepbrother. He has been exiled to the island of Cordaa along with his supporters and will not be heard from again. He is alive and healthy but we will not see him again. A variation of the method used to stop your army will assure the truth of my statement. By the way, your army was stopped by 2001 men but only 21 of them were visible. But it is difficult to stop what you can't see. Should this kingdom need your military abilities, know that my special troops may be available to assist you. None will know who those special troops may be but they are here to protect the people of Saark. The job in our immediate future is to unite this world and then work to improve the lot of all."