Danielle shook her head and said, “I don’t mean any disrespect, but I can’t help but think he is not telling us everything.”
Valerie sighed heavily and Danielle thought, “Here it comes.”
“He’s probably upset with your manners.”
Danielle was thrown back with that remark. “What do you mean?”
“How would you react if you were still the chosen Queen ruling the Realm and a group of strangers appeared and took control away from you? They don’t bow or show you the courtesy your position deserves; they issue orders to your staff without consulting you, and just assume that they are now ruling the Realm. How would that make you feel and what would you have done, Danielle? I’m sure Jake is biting his tongue because of who you are, but he has noticed your total disregard and lack of respect of my position in the Realm.”
Danielle immediately felt remorse. Valerie was right. They had just barged in and taken over as if they were in charge. “Your Majesty, I apologize for our behavior. I hope you understand that the Realm’s safety is what is foremost in our mind, and is part of why we are not being good guests.”
Valerie smiled and said, “I think we have refrained from being impolite to you because we do recognize your importance. It bother’s Jake a lot more than me.”
Danielle thought about it and wondered if that was it, but she knew that if roles were reversed she would have straightened it out and it would have bothered her…a lot. That’s probably what it was. She remembered that Jake introduced her as the current Queen of the Realm and her family had not responded appropriately. It’s surprising that he didn’t say anything. “Let’s start over, Your Majesty.”
“Oh, call me Valerie, Danielle, especially when we’re not in public. I do count you as a friend, and I really have questions about what the Realm was like when you became Queen.”
Danielle saw Valerie’s wide-eyed innocence and put the problem of Jake aside. “I was shocked when I was chosen to be Queen, Valerie.”
“Really, why?”
The two began talking as only two people who have shared a common experience could.
The Alexander Kosiev broke out into the former universe of the Eight Legs. They immediately saw that the billions of white ships were no longer present. Matt felt a surge of anger, “That last Red Demon was quite busy before we came after him. It knew that without his knowledge the Keepers would defeat our ships. He also destroyed every installation on his planet before we arrived so we couldn’t find out what he put in the new tool’s ships. He was right, I regret having killed him. If I had it to do over, I’d kill him slowly.”
Jake said, “It was the last evil thing he could do, and I suspect he made you kill him.”
Matt looked at Jake, “You’re right. He said he wouldn’t be able to resist creating another tool to attack us. What I thought was a genuine sacrifice was actually another act of evil.”
Tag stared at the scanners’ displays and said, “Alexander, do you see anything remaining in this universe that could help us?”
“No, it even destroyed the bodies that were floating in open space.”
Newton looked at Edison and said, “Is there any way we can lengthen the cutting beam to make it an effective weapon?”
“We have been unable to do it so far.”
Jake said, “What about putting one of the devices inside the Kosiev’s outer skin and see if it could make it effective.”
Tag turned to Jake, “It looks like that is the only thing left to try. I was so certain that the weapon would be here.”
Cassandra said, “Take us back, Alex.”
Jake said, “As soon as we return, I need to check up on my ship. He’s with his parents and I must make sure the effort to save the civilizations in the Keepers’ universe is on schedule. I’ll meet you at the Castle Gardner when I finish.”
Tag nodded his head absently as he stared at the displays one more time.
As soon as the Kosiev broke back into the Realm’s universe, Cassandra said, “I want to take a crack at one of those Keepers Fleets with Alex.”
The Gardners all wanted to see what happened. The three spiders looked at each other and Edison said, “We are going to get the latest energy blade and bring it to Ross. We’ll teleport out and see you when you return.” The spiders touched their bracelets and teleported out.
Jake nodded and looked at the Gardners, “That’s a good idea. I’ll try to get back before you trial it.” Jake looked around and thought so everyone could hear, “Junior, I need you to come get me. We need to make sure the rescue is on schedule.”
“I’ll just bring you to me, Jake.”
A silver screen appeared on the Kosiev’s bridge and Jake stepped into it.
Matt looked at Melanie, “Well?”
“Something is bothering him, Matt. I’m not sure what it is. Perhaps Danielle will have success finding out with the Queen.”
Tag nodded at them and said, “Let’s go stir up some Keepers. Alex, keep your distance. We don’t want to lose you.”
The huge ship laughed, “Caution is my middle name.”
Cassandra smiled, “Just like the battle with the Demons.”
“You’ll never let me live that down, will you?”
“No way.”
The Alexander Kosiev disappeared.
Jake walked out of the screen on Junior’s bridge and said, “We need to make a quick trip to the Keepers’ universe.”
Al asked, “Why?”
“We are going to move more than twenty million civilizations shortly, and I need to see what the status of the Keepers Fleet. We won’t be very long.” Jake then thought, “Twig, I know you’re working on a project here, but is one of your larger ships available to go with us?”
“What do you need it for, Jake?”
“I want to go take that Keepers’ ship we killed on the moon of the first rescue and see if we can’t find something to defeat their hulls.”
Twig was silent for a moment and said, “I’ll have one join you momentarily.”
Junior was silent and waited.
Fly Girl said, “Be careful, Son.”
“You know I will, Mom. I’ll hurry back.”
A two-mile-long Algean transport appeared next to Junior and the Ship Leader said, “We’re at your disposal, Sir.”
Junior said, “Please jump to the following coordinates.” Junior sent them and jumped away.
The two ships appeared in open space far from the nearest Keepers Galaxy. “Jake, what are you talking about retrieving that Keepers’ ship? You know we towed that into the sun and destroyed it.”
Jake said, “Are you listening in Twig?”
“Sprig was right. You know us better than we ever thought possible.”
“I shocked you about your project and it doesn’t take a psychic to know you would come on this trip. I have no intention of staying here. Please jump to the following coordinates and I’ll tell you what’s going on when we arrive.”
The two ships jumped and emerged ten miles from the former Nest Mother’s giant ship.
Junior looked around and said, “Where are all the white ships?”
“The Demon came and disintegrated them. It knew those ships were the only weapon that could kill the Keepers’ fleets. We just left here less than an hour ago.”
Twig thought, “Then why did you come back?”
Jake paused and pushed a button on his command chair, “I downloaded the original destruction of the white creatures and watched it from the moment they emerged into this universe. They were here for about four hours before the Demon had them killed, and most everyone who has ever viewed the recording started watching it at the moment of that destruction.”
Junior asked, “What does that have to do with you coming back?”
Jake pushed a button and sent a feed to Twig, “I want you to watch this portion of the playback.”
Junior and Twig watched as one of the huge white ships approached the Nest Mother’s ship and stopped. A small white craft exited the ship and flew toward the giant green ship. As it approached a bright white beam hit the green hull and blew a hole big enough for the small craft to enter.”