“Oh my God Professor Strauss and Professor Nussbaum,” Alexander exclaimed when he saw the pale faces of the two former terrorists. They were dropped in the middle of a clearing and it was obvious that they were terrified.
Strauss looked up at Bob, and cried out, “This is a mistake, this is a mistake, the Admiral promised I wouldn’t get sent here! He promised me!”
“My oh my, he does carry on doesn’t he,” Bob asked with no obvious sympathy.
Alexander reached for his phone. “I have to call James; Strauss killed his mom!”
Dad stopped him, saying, “There’s no need; I told them myself after Augesburcke called me.”
Alexander swallowed hard. “You talked to the Admiral?”
Dad held up a finger, “Tell you in a bit, this shouldn’t take long. Rex 11 usually arrives first on the scene. He’s the eleventh son of Alexander Galaxus’ pet ‘Attila’ from his adventures.”
“You ever been on Pantrixnia Dad?”
“Sure, all part of Special Operations training, I got to meet this Tyrannosaurus when he was a pup! His folks were something else, I’ll tell you—smart and mean, but in a cool way! Wait, here he goes!”
Alexander jumped in his seat as the enormous bulk of a real live Tyrannosaurus Rex plowed through the trees and into the clearing. Sixty-five million years ago the Chem couldn’t help but transplant a healthy population of dinosaurs to Pantrixnia. The planet was the home of the most dangerous and fantastic beasts from all over the galaxy. The Tyrannosaurus population soon took the role as pre-eminent carnivores and became galactic stars.
The intent of Pantrixnia was to honorably execute the most recalcitrant criminals in the Chem Empire. The Chem loved the spectacle of Pantrixnia as much ancient Romans loved the Coliseum, and they weren’t opposed to having guest criminals from other cultures. Terrans were especially welcome because they were the strongest, fastest and most barbaric of the sentient species. That is why the announcer Bob, warned the audience the two contestants were ‘academics.’ He didn’t want to get the audiences hopes up.
As expected, both Professors dropped their rifles and ran for the trees. “Terrorists are always cowards,” Dad said. He winced when Rex 11 simply stomped on Professor Nussbaum, but not because it was violent or grotesque. He shook his head. “He didn’t even fire a shot—disgraceful!”
Rex 11 let Professor Strauss get to a large tree. Laboriously the Professor climbed, dropping his blaster pistol when he tried to draw it. It was the most effective move he could have made. The pistol spun to the forest floor and discharged. The blaster beam hit a branch near Rex’s head and distracted the dinosaur king long enough for the terrorist to climb above his jaws. Bob followed the Professor all the way into the canopy. It took the Professor a long time and he was sweating profusely by the time he got there. Despite the many questions Bob asked, Strauss wasn’t very forthcoming, he simply sat there in the seeming safety of the canopy catching his breath. He didn’t get to wait long.
“Sorry, Professor Strauss but the canopy is not a haven even for Terrans. It is the home of the Remvalix, a carnivorous insect of low intelligence, but one that you should feel right at home with!”
Strauss glanced at Bob and then looked around and saw the Remvalix, mantis-like beasts that appeared from all sides out of the foliage. They were about three quarters the Professors height and maybe a third his weight, but there were dozens of them. Strauss screamed and tried to get away, but it was too late. The insects grappled him and dragged him back through the trees.
“You see Professor the Remvalix operate in a collective, just as your fellow Gaians do,” Bob said cheerfully. When they got the professor to a level area in the canopy many more Remvalix joined the hunting party. With great dexterity they stripped the Professor of his armor and clothes. Alexander cringed, but he couldn’t look away. There was a lot of chatter between the insects, and eight of them held him down against a thick branch. The rest sorted themselves out in a line. The first clattered with glee as it reached out with its sharp mandibles and snipped a small bit of flesh off the Professor’s calf.
“Ouch, what are you doing? We can talk, what do you want, what do you want?” The professor screamed, his terror finally finding his voice.
Bob floated up and down, ensuring he got the best images possible as one after another of the Remvalix stepped forward and took their turn. “Come now Professor, this is your specialty. The Remvalix live as a collective and everyone in the collective gets exactly what everyone else does. Individuals subvert themselves for the good of the collective, and right now Professor Strauss, traitor of Terra; you are what’s good for the collective!”
“Nooooo!” the Professor wailed, and Alexander couldn’t believe how long he listened to it.
When it was over, he said, “Dad why did you make me watch that?”
Dad looked serious. “You became a man at the Academy son, but you came out of it pretty clean. Part of that is due to your ingenuity and part of it to Commandant Augesburcke. He convinced Khandar to keep an eye on you—to be your big best friend if you needed one.”
“Khandar,” Alexander exclaimed. “He was a strange best friend!”
“He’s a Golkos remember,” his Dad said. “Augesburcke told him all about the death’s-head order and what I did. After that Khandar kept close tabs on you; he kept Augesburcke informed.” He sighed and put his hand on Alexander’s shoulder. “Many of our people lost a lot. James lost his Mom. He may not have known her well, but he lost her all the same and I lost some good friends.” Patted Alexander on the back. “This business isn’t over. These people do not play fair. They wouldn’t think twice about putting a kid like you where Professor Strauss was today. This is for real, and there’s no turning back.”
“I know; I understand now.”
“Understand this as well son,” Dad said, and his expression softened. “I couldn’t be more proud of you. It’s not for everything you accomplished; it’s because you were brave enough to try. Whatever life throws at you, so long as you try your best and don’t give up, you have a chance and that’s all any of us can ask for. That’s why I’m proud of you, and hey—” he punched Alexander playfully in the shoulder. “Alexander thanks for being my son!”
The Methuselan Circuit Page 28