Scotty said, I imagine you were somewhat angry with the Duke.
Words cant describe our anger. At that point one of the other two Searchers suggested we should remove the Duke from power. Charles agreed instantly. They decided to come to our ship and discuss how to make it happen. Once they arrived, they started making plans to divide the planet between us and assume a Royal title. It was clear they intended to rule with a heavy hand. Charles saw they were no different than the Duke. He shot them both and sent their bodies into space. I destroyed the other two ships. That was easy since they had their screens down for the shuttle to return.
The rest you know. Charles demanded the Duke abdicate his throne and submit to prosecution for treason. The Duke, of course, refused and the majority of those on the planet supported his refusal. Charles was possessed. The Duke had to pay for his sacrilege in attacking the Royal Family. They would probably still be arguing today, but the Duke made the mistake of opening fire on us. Charles did not desire power. He wanted justice. He burned the capital to bedrock. Then he left to get his family.
The Duke had them in the Capital as hostages.
No, he did not, Jingo. Charles arrived home and found his eleven month old daughter hanging by the neck in the entrance. Every bone in her arms and legs had been broken multiple times and her head bashed in. He found his wife on the living room floor where they left her when they finished assaulting her repeatedly. His son was burned by a blaster in the back yard and had traitor cut into his chest. Written on the walls in their blood was, Filthy Stars Realm traitors. The citizens had come in and murdered his entire family. His five year old daughter was found up stairs cut into many pieces where she had been hiding in a closet.
Charles returned and I saw he was calm. He was frightening. He told me the entire planet was a traitor to the Realm and had to be removed. The result is what youve seen. He finished the planet and went out into open space without a suit to join his family in death.
You were defending the Realm.
Julie said, The Realm was gone. He was extracting revenge.
No, he wasnt, Julie.
What other reason could there have been? The Realm was gone and the Duke could not harm it.
Scotty sighed, Julie, the Realm is more than a place. It is a collection of ideals that govern us. The Duke had a fleet of old mothballed ships that he could have converted to null drives. All of his factories were available to convert his remaining ships. He and his poison would have been released on the worlds around him with no force strong enough to stop him. Charles was right. The planet had to be blasted back to the Stone Age.
The Searcher said, I am amazed that you see what we had to do. It was the only way to stop the tyranny of the planet. Ive wondered if there was another way, but even today I havent thought of one.
Jessica said, You have nothing to fear from this Searcher, he was built by the Realm.
Timmy asked, Whats your name?
My name is Anglo.
Scotty said, What was the name of the Searcher who discovered El Prado with you?
You catch on quick; Anglo Gardner. I was one of the first Alpha Ships made by the Algeans. At that time we actually absorbed the electronic pathways of our pilots. He came to me right out of the Academy. Later he joined the Royal Family, but I was imprinted by him.
I thought those early Searcher Ships lost their imprinting if the pilot left.
They did. However, the Realm later discovered that if the pilot had a blue-colored aura, the imprinting was permanent. Anglo had a high level of psychic power.
Then you are him in electronics. He was one of the Realms great heroes.
He was a fine man.
Well, Anglo, how does it feel to have the only working teleport system in the galaxy?
The ship actually laughed out loud.
Jingo looked at Scotty, Are you serious?
The Algeans were not placing destruct circuits in the early Searchers. It was only after the Gardners disappeared, and they learned from Anglo and ships like him that the Realm was making a wrong turn, that they began installing those destruct circuits. Charles got his revenge by not leaving to save any of those traitors that attacked the Realm. Anglo stayed here because he was originally programmed to make sure this planet was not a threat.
Youre right. My system was never damaged. I meant what I said earlier. Im with you, Your Majesty, if youll accept me.
Welcome to our little band of Riders. Youll be a very welcome addition.
Tesa said, What do you mean?
You want to tell her, Anglo?
There will be no more raiders attacking your planet from this moment forward.
Anglo, please warn them first.
Of course, but do they ever listen?
Julie said, I hope not.
Chapter Ten
Two years had passed and Grang was still surviving. He had dug into the hill on one of the legs of the horseshoe and found a corridor that was still intact. As luck would have it, the machine shop was unharmed. He started making his arrows out of metal from the frame of the former bunker. He had set up a target at the end of the hall and practiced every day, sixteen hours a day, for the first year. He had difficulty reaching over his heavily muscled shoulder, so he wore the quiver at his belt. After the first year, the Torg avoided him.
The huge field was overgrown but there was an abundance of pods growing among the weeds. After a year and a half passed he started clearing an area of weeds close to the bunker. The hot work helped keep his mind off the boredom and loneliness that was his constant meal. He had saved a newborn Torg. It was left behind when its mother made the mistake of crossing into a huge males territory. The small Torg was weak, but he couldnt bring himself to kill it. He brought it back to the bunker and made a pen for it. He fed it grecks he killed in the forest, and it grew rather quickly. After three months he left the pen open for it to leave. The next morning, it was still there waiting for him.
The two became constant companions. Wherever Grang went, the Torg was right behind him. One day the giant Torg that had killed its mother charged out of the woods at Grang. The Torg jumped in its path and roared. The charging Giant pulled up to figure out what was happening, and Grang dropped it with an arrow. Grang walked up and rubbed the Torg behind its small ears. Looks like you earned a name. I will call you Bravo.
The Torg looked at Grang and shook its head at the forest.
More coming, huh? Lets go.
The two ran up the hill, and Grang turned to see a huge herd of Torg move through the field headed south. They were moving quickly. Something was spooking them. He ducked under the cover of a bush and waited. He pointed down the hill and Bravo loped to the bottom.
Theyre smarter than I thought. He turned back to the field and felt the hill begin to vibrate. Eight giant, grey-colored creatures came running through the field. They were the biggest animals Grang had ever seen. They made the Zord look small in comparison. They were broad in the front shoulders and the long body tapered back into two huge back legs. He could tell the animals were just running leisurely behind the herd, but they were gaining on the fleeing Torg. They had a wide maw and pointed ears on the top of their heads. There was no tail. It had to be two hundred feet long, and moved with a grace that belied its size. He looked closer and saw the grey color came from a tight coating of fur. One of the giant beasts stopped, put its nose up in the air, and looked directly at the bush he was hiding under. It took a step his way but heard the grey beast in front roar. It turned and chased after the other seven. The speed with which it caught up with the others was amazing.