by Celeste Raye
"I saw something disturbing on the horizon this morning. At first, I thought it was a mist, yet it never moved or dissipated. Acer went with me to check it out. One of the volcanoes has died. It is nothing but a cold pile of ash. There is no fire, not even a warmth. The wind is blowing the ash into a cloud. It feels wrong, unnatural. Acer advised me to send the two of you to the falls. He swears you can get an answer for us," King Maxxus explained.
"We'll go now," Eveline replied. "You can do that, can't you Tae?"
"Practice is over soon anyway, and this is more important. I had no idea that the volcanoes could die. Is this the only one or could there be more?" Tae asked.
"I have no way of knowing. I will be sending scouts in all directions to look for more or any changes at all. I wanted the soldiers to have a normal practice without this concern hanging over their heads before I send them out. They will be gone for days, maybe even weeks in order to cover the whole planet. I want it studied inch by inch. I intend to give them some time to pack supplies and say farewell to their families; then they must go. I will take the perimeter of the city and cover it myself."
"Once we are done at the falls I will come to you for my assignment while Eveline gets my supplies," Tae announced.
"You are staying here, Tae. I need the pair of you to keep me updated on how the planet is reacting. Waiting for the soldiers to return with reports will be difficult to endure, and it may be too late to reverse problems by the time they get back. I am calling the council in right now to brief them, including Kelan. Join us as soon as you have visited the falls. I will leave word with the guards to let you in." He rushed away to gather the council.
The conference with Earth's leaders was about to end when the council began to arrive. The Talonians greeted the humans politely, but with a wariness. They had not become accustomed to being visible to the rest of the universe. Their lives had been spent in seclusion and peace, with the knowledge that they would remain hidden forever.
King Maxxus continued his talk with the U.S. President. "It is good to know that my weredragons are finding their niche in your society and humans are becoming less fearful, accepting them as citizens. How far have the other aliens come in assimilating?"
The president smiled and replied, "The Xycon are an asset. They're teaching us a lot about science that we had no understanding of and showing us simple solutions to problems that they learned from worlds who had no technology. The Savra are a different story. They're in camps controlled by the military. We've provided teachers and psychologists to aid in their assimilation, but an adolescent lizard that has seen nothing but hatred is difficult to teach. They're quickly picking up the languages from the countries they are confined in, and arguments are becoming all too common. We'll get through to them sooner or later. Their anger will subside someday. In the meantime, we keep the weredragons far away from them. They've learned of the destruction of their world and hatred for Talonians is an issue."
"It is a difficult burden for humans to carry. I wish we could help. However, as you said, their hatred would grow if a weredragon appeared in their midst. Do the Xycon believe their species will return and try to take Earth again?"
"No, they believe we're too large of a target with new friends they can't defeat. Having weredragons already here is a deterrent and the Xycon who have integrated are aiding in other ways to make us less desirable. Thanks again for coming to our aid. Remember, we are here if you need help. Alliances are meant to be two-way streets."
King Maxxus honestly did not think the humans could be of much help, but he had to allow them to think he trusted them or the alliance would not work. "I called a meeting of our council and other interested parties to discuss a problem with our planet. Stay and listen in. I am willing to accept any suggestions for a solution."
Addressing his council, the king began his explanation. "I accidentally discovered a problem earlier today. I survey as much of the land as I can on a daily basis and saw a disturbing phenomenon this morning. Acer and I flew through a thick haze that we saw from a vantage point outside the city. It was ash swirling in a high wind: cold, dry ash. In its center was a volcano without fire, embers, or heat of any kind. It was essentially dead and had been for a while. That, as you know, has never occurred on Talonia. Acer has gone to a nearby village to ask why it was not reported. I fear there may be others or similar changes in vegetation and water. I will be sending soldiers to scout the entire planet. The cause is not known."
"I believe it is," Acer interrupted from the doorway. He was covered in ash, sweaty, and obviously exhausted. "I questioned the village elder and learned the volcano had never fully recovered after the Savra attack with the nuclear weapon. It began to die within days of the deployment of Earth's cure. It lost power each day and had been completely gone for months. The elder was too lazy and unconcerned to fly in and report it. One of the women came forward and said the waterfall to the south of the village has lost color, and its life-forms are diminishing. She reported it to the elder, but he decided to wait for the meeting next week to let us in on it. He simply sent his villagers to the waterfall in the north. The solution we got from Earth is failing."
King Maxxus slammed his fist against the table. His fury could be felt throughout the room, and even those on the COM link jumped. "Months! The volcano has been gone for months, and he knew it was dying long before that? Is he a complete fool? His laziness may have destroyed Talonia. He will be severely punished for his disinterest. The scouting expedition is even more urgent now. What if others were as lazy as this elder and failed to report dying waterfalls or volcanoes? What if crops have failed? Kelan, do you have enough of the formula to try again? Might it work better a second time?"
"I have enough for several more tries, but I do not think it can be a permanent solution. It might buy us some time to discover something better, or it may not work at all. We knew this was a possibility since our atmosphere and Earth's are not an exact match. It saved us in the beginning, and I truly thought it was continuing to work. I failed," Kelan replied.
"You did not fail," the king admonished. "We are alive because you brought it to us. We have been given a chance to repair the damage that we would not have had otherwise. Perhaps a subtle change in the formula would make it more compatible with Talonia. We have to find a way."
Kelan was about to reply when Tae and Eveline arrived. The tears in Eveline's eyes stopped him from speaking.
"Tell me what you have learned," King Maxxus demanded gruffly. He knew the news was bad and felt a tremor run through him.
"Talonia is in pain," Tae announced. "As each small piece dies the pain grows worse. The poison from the nuclear explosion is slowly destroying life. The destruction will speed up as more of our resources disappear. It has not reached this area yet, but we cannot tell when it might. Send the scouts. They may find more devastation and return with refugees if the worst has happened."
"Kelan, apply the fix. We have to make it slow down," King Maxxus commanded.
"Let us help," the president interrupted. "If our scientists made the formula in the first place, they may be able to adjust it for your world."
"It was one scientist in particular," Kelan replied. "Can you find him? His name is George Leonard. I would like to speak with him."
"We'll look into it immediately. This is devastating news, and we won't allow Talonia to come to ruin. We'll send whatever supplies or help you need. Let us know what else you find." The leaders of Earth signed off.
"I have to tell the citizens. Food has to be rationed and extra vegetation planted while we still have time. We have no idea how many we will be feeding or for how long. The extra stored in the smaller cities and villages needs to be brought to the capital for distribution. I hate to do it, but the supplies will be guarded by the military. Our paradise is falling apart, and our treasures are disappearing. We must fight to save them and ourselves. Times will become difficult, and peace will be impossible. Fear changes people. They be
gin to do bad things they never would have before: stealing, looting, and murder. How do I do this? An announcement will bring panic."
"Do not tell them yet," Acer replied. "Wait until we have the reports from the scouts. Things may not be as bad as we imagine."
"We cannot wait, brother. Things may not be as bad as imagined, but there is the chance that they are far worse. We need to plan for the worst scenario in order to survive. We should have been doing it for months already and would have been if the elder had made the report or I had been more vigilant."
"It is my fault, not yours. I was the king, and I knew there was a possibility the repair would break down. We should have planned for this from the beginning," Acer admitted.
"Laying blame or having regrets over past mistakes won't help either of you or Talonia," Eveline concluded. "What's done from now on is where we have to concentrate our efforts. I volunteer to go to the gardens and ask that as many crops as the land can hold be planted."
"I will go to the farms and do the same. I will also gather the excess and bring it to the city," Tae added.
"I will prepare and deploy the formula for the atmosphere. It may not help, but it cannot hurt," Kelan put in.
"I will find Hesher and have him put soldiers in place all over the city before you make the announcement. They can calm the citizens and stop the panic," Acer offered.
"Have him send a hundred men directly to me," King Maxxus ordered. "They will be the scouts. I also need to have a serious discussion with Daer. Supplemental nutrient therapy may be necessary to keep sickness from appearing in the weredragons, and the humans we have added to Talonia may require oxygen supplies. It may be the one thing we need to ask of Earth."
"I'll be passing by the infirmary on my way to the gardens. I can stop and tell Daer you wish to see him," Eveline replied.
Momentarily alone, Maxxus let his emotions take over. He collapsed into a seat and laid his dark head on the cool surface of the conference table. For most of his life he had been jealous of Acer for being the king. All his hopes of becoming his successor had been dashed when Shara was born. Then, miraculously, Acer had decided to step down, and Shara had refused her birthright. All Maxxus's dreams had come true. To what end? Talonia needed a savior, and he was a poor substitute. The best he could accomplish was keeping the people alive a little longer.
Chapter 3
Josie
The scouts King Maxxus was sending out of his chambers were a solemn group. They were no longer laughing and joking as they had been when they entered. The king had made them vow not to tell their families what their assignment involved. He wanted them gone before the panic started and their loved ones begged them not to leave. It would be hardest on those who had young children. They would not be there to protect their little ones if there was a sudden shift in the atmosphere and those same children would wonder why not. Maxxus felt saddened and guilty, but it could not be helped. He needed scouts and it was impossible to find soldiers who did not have someone they loved to leave behind. Besides, it was not fair to always force the loners to take all the risks.
The COM link sounded an incoming call. It was the president. Maxxus answered with a weary voice, "Sir, do you have news of the scientist?"
"Yes, I do. I would like to introduce Josie Leonard, the daughter of George Leonard." A woman in a lab coat stood at his side. Her hair was raven black, but her eyes were a bright blue.
"I would rather speak to the man himself, please," King Maxxus stated.
"I'm afraid that's impossible, unless you can share conversations with ghosts," Josie sarcastically replied. "My father passed away six months ago. I took over his laboratory. I have all his notes and all the formulas he tested for the atmosphere, including the one stolen by your weredragon when he was pretending to be the head of Rankin World Defense."
Her sarcasm raised the king's ire. He was too tired and worried to be confronted with foolish accusations. Gritting his teeth to maintain control, he answered, "Kelan was not pretending to be head of the company. It was his concept, and he made all the designs personally. Earth owes him a lot for the weapons he invented and manufactured. We are thankful for the formula he was able to find in all his research. It has allowed us to survive until now. I do not consider it stolen."
"I'm not here to argue semantics or anger you. I was just letting you know that I have the information required to begin finding a solution to your problem."
"Are you aware of the combination he used for the formula? Can I trust you to tell me the truth and change it for our needs, or should I worry you will retaliate for the misconception you have of thievery?" King Maxxus inquired.
"My father's notes are extremely detailed. Every drop he added to the formula, the order in which they were added, and the time in between each addition were meticulously logged in his journals. He was a very thorough man. As to trusting me, you don't really have a choice. However, I will reassure you that I have no plans to retaliate. Even if I did, it wouldn't be through scientific means. Science is my life, and it's not intended for evil. Besides, Talonia's fate doesn't rest in one person's hands. I'll be working with the greatest scientific minds in every country to save your planet," Josie retorted.
Somewhat mollified, Maxxus replied in a calmer tone, "I apologize for my quick temper. It has been a rather trying and long day. Many lives are at stake, and they depend on me to find a way to save them. The things I have seen and heard today are hard to process, and I must still inform the citizens. Tonight, we will be bombarded by fearful families and possible riots. No one will be sleeping. I do appreciate you coming to our aid so quickly. It was unexpected."
"Let your citizens know that Earth is involved and between all the time zones we will be working around the clock for a solution. It may aid in retaining order. My father's formulas will prove to be a valuable start. One of those that didn't work for Earth may work for Talonia. We need some information from you to begin. The elements your atmosphere is made up of are necessary for our help," Josie answered.
"I will have to get back to you with that information. Kelan is the closest thing to a scientist we have. He will answer your questions to the best of his ability. At the moment, he is deploying the original formula once again. We are hoping it will slow the breakdown of the atmosphere and give us the time we so greatly need."
"It won't work for long, if at all," Josie explained. "It's already been rejected by your world, and it will be recognized as the improper solution very quickly. But, I would have tried it as well. Whatever time he's available, I'll answer the call."
Maxxus
The sun had gone down, and families had returned to their homes for the night. King Maxxus chose this time to make the announcement. He reasoned that mothers and fathers would comfort each other and their children. Anger and panic would be less likely when most citizens were relaxed and eating a meal. Fewer people would leave their homes to cause trouble. Soldiers had quietly spread throughout the city and villages just in case anyone got rowdy.
Communication screens lit up all over Talonia. King Maxxus sat at a desk, appearing calm and authoritative, though his hands were clasped in front of him to keep them from shaking. Would they blame him for the breakdown since everything had been fine when Acer turned over the throne? Would they demand his resignation?
Taking a calming breath, he began his heartfelt speech. "I am sorry to disturb your family time. I thought it best to speak with all of you when you were in a relaxed and loving environment. Talonia has a problem, and I need your help to correct it. Our species has always worked together for the good of everyone and done so in a peaceful manner. I expect no less of you at this time. Without complete cooperation from all its citizens, the efforts made for Talonia will fail. Remain calm and listen carefully. This morning I discovered a volcano that had died, not become dormant. It was completely cold with ash swirling in a cloud. Later, I was informed that a waterfall was failing as well. Its waters are losing color, and life-forms
are disappearing. This has never occurred on Talonia. It came close to happening after the nuclear explosion above us, but we held the devastation back with Earth's repair. We now believe it was just a temporary slowing of the effects. The repair is failing. Kelan has deployed the formula once again in hopes of containing the destruction until a permanent solution is found. I have spoken with a scientist on Earth, and she is gathering the most intelligent of the humans to aid us in this matter. They have agreed to work around the clock to save Talonia."
He paused and took a drink, giving the citizens a moment to let the news sink in. Then, he continued, "I do not know yet whether this is widespread throughout the planet or just beginning. In an effort to learn more, scouts have been sent out to cover our home inch by inch. It may take weeks or longer before we have all the facts. In the meantime, I need your help. Panic, riots, and anger will not save us. They will destroy our home and force us to leave it behind. That is not an option! There is a definite likelihood that the devastation will grow before the solution is found, so we must make changes to keep everyone safe and healthy. The gardens and farms are being planted to capacity. The extra will be held back for more difficult times. All excess in the capital and villages will be rounded up and saved as well. Food will be rationed in an endeavor to make it last. Daer is formulating supplements to keep our bodies strong. Our human citizens have not been forgotten. I will be asking Earth to send oxygen and supplements for them. I know you are scared, but I assure you everything possible is being done. Do not let Talonia down by inciting trouble. I would hate to see anyone harmed or feel the need to punish a fellow Talonian due to greed. No one will go hungry. Work, school, and military practice will continue as usual. Be the peaceful, caring citizens that you have always been. I am counting on you all. Good night, and peace be with you."