“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Melanie looked up at Matt, “What are you doing?”
“Rounding up the usual suspects to see if they are some of the chosen.”
“Matt, I don’t want to leave our child without parents.”
“Melanie, if we lose this next round, none of us will be around. We owe it to our child to make sure we do all we can to protect her.”
“You’re right. I just love her so much and worry about her future.”
“I know.”
“How are the spiders adapting to living on a planet?”
Matt smiled broadly, “They’ve taken to it like a fish to water. Some of them have even discovered that they still have web making capability. Those webs are huge. I believe they could catch a dinosaur in them.”
“I’m glad; they deserve a time of peace.”
“We’re also protecting them as well.”
“Maybe they can help us.”
“We can only hope.”
Matt sat in the Map Room looking at all the systems that were members of the Stars Realm and was amazed at how fast the Realm had grown. Governing that vast a Realm was proving to be a big problem and something had to be done to make it work or the Realm would fall apart because of the weight of members. Perhaps his idea might work if what he suspected was true. Anglo Gardner walked in and bowed, “Your Majesty.”
“Please come in and sit down.”
Cassandra, Tommy, Life, Grena, Sprig and Twig all arrived within a second of each other and bowed. “Please sit down. We have two more attendees and then we will begin.”
The group made small talk for ten minutes and then Tag and Danielle appeared. “Sorry we’re late. You caught us out in the open and we had to walk in to our teleporters.”
Cassandra looked at them with a sly look, “I thought you always kept them on.”
Danielle smiled, “We don’t keep anything on at all times.”
Tag turned red and Cassandra laughed out loud.
“Well thank you for coming. I had a meeting with the Reg a few weeks ago and they are going to assist us in our struggle against the Red Demons. I’m going to call them that because that seems to be the common thread of how they are viewed.” Tag started to speak but Matt held up his hand. “Let me finish and then I will answer any questions you might have. The Reg are going to build ships for us to use against them and we have to provide the crews for the ships they build. We already have one ship that Melanie and I have been fitted to use. I asked them to help me find the other crews and they told me that they had no idea who they are; the ships would select their crews. I questioned them quite closely on this subject and it seems that the ships are almost like a life form and will only accept the ones chosen by it. Remember we flew our entire fleet of Searchers by the first one before we determined Melanie was one of the two chosen by the ship. The Reg will not fight outside their planet’s system so we are given the task of defending our universe. I have been given the quest of finding the warriors to crew the ships. I’ll entertain your questions now.”
“Why have you brought us to this meeting?”
“I know that these ships are powered by psychic forces. I believe I have the strongest psychics in the Realm in this room.”
“So you intend to see if we are some of the chosen?”
“Yes Danielle; or eliminate you so you can go on whatever path you choose to take.”
“How many ships are being built?”
“I honestly don’t know, Anglo. I also don’t know if they will require two man crews or single pilots. I asked but the answer was the same; the ships will decide.”
“How will you make the determination?”
“I am going to take all of us out to the first ships that have arrived and let Al take each of you close by to see if the ships respond to you. I’m hoping they will show us. Does that answer your question, Tommy?”
“Yes, it does.”
“Why did you bring Twig and I here?”
“Because I’m not certain about the psychic part of this equation; I want to know if you might be one of the chosen. I’m not assuming anything; any more questions?”
The group was silent. “Good, Cassandra if you will take us to the Kosiev, we will leave immediately.”
Everyone started talking at once. Matt held up his hand and everyone quieted, “The Reg told me there wasn’t much time to find the chosen. We need to know now.”
Everyone looked at Matt and then Cassandra turned her com over and punched in the necessary coordinates. The group disappeared from the library and arrived in the Kosievs’ conference room. “Matt, what are the coordinates for our jump?”
Matt gave them to Cassandra mentally. Cassandra pressed the ships intercom, “Attention all hands; we will be teleporting in twenty seconds. Move to your stations immediately.” Cassandra grabbed Tommy’s hand and said to the group, “Meet me on the bridge upon arrival.” She pushed her bracelet and they disappeared.
Matt looked at Tag and he had a concerned look on his face. “You’re not telling us something.”
“Now is not the time. Please be patient.”
Tag looked at Danielle, “Do you know what it is?”
“Yes.”
Tag stared at her. “You’re not going to tell me are you?”
Danielle smiled, “Nope.”
Matt smiled and Danielle laughed. “I bet she does know,” Matt thought and then the universe turned and they were in the Reg’s outer system.
The group teleported to the bridge and saw five glowing crystal lumps on the Kosievs main display. “That is exactly what your ship looked like when we uncovered it.”
Matt looked at the group and said, “This is how we are going to do this. Al, are you listening in?”
“Of course.”
“I want you take each person and move slowly by the crystals to see if they change. Please make a record of what happens.”
“Anyone want to go first?”
“I do.”
“Danielle it is.” Danielle disappeared and Al moved toward the five crystals. As Al passed in front of the crystals the first turned dark, as did the second and third, but the fourth crystal had a golden glow coming from inside. The fifth turned dark.
“Tag, will you go second?”
Tag shrugged and Danielle appeared on the bridge and Tag disappeared. The fourth ship gave off the golden glow as Al approached with Tag. The others turned dark.
“Anglo, it’s your turn.”
Anglo disappeared as Tag appeared on the bridge. Matt watched and the first four ships turned dark and he started to eliminate Anglo but the fifth ship glowed gold through its outer surface.
“Sprig.” Sprig disappeared and all of the ships stayed dark.
“Twig.” Again all of the ships stayed dark.
“Cassandra.” The first ship glowed golden.
“Tommy.” Once again the first ship turned gold.
“Life, you’ve been very quiet during all of this.”
“That’s because the second ship belongs to me.”
Matt stared at the Gresh, “How do you know that?”
“I have an affinity for ships. That one loves me.”
Grena smiled, “He’s right. I can feel it, too.”
“Then both of you go together and let’s see what happens.”
The two disappeared and as they approached the second ship the golden glow broke through the surface and was almost blinding. The crystal began to change shape and Matt recognized the bow starting to form. “Looks like he knew what he was talking about.” Matt thought a moment and then turned to Sprig, “Where is Stem right now?”
“He’s at one of the ship building facilities spending time with his mate. Why do you ask?”
Matt punched his com, “Stem, I’m sending you some coordinates; please teleport to them immediately and please bring your mate with you.”
A silver field appeared and Stem stepped out with Petal at his side. They were immediately teleported to Al as Life and Grena appeared. “Let me tell him, Matt?”
“Go ahead.”