“I do, Your Majesty.”
“Then Rise Duke Sprig Gardner and welcome into my family.”
Tommy rushed forward and hugged the large plant and thought, “Wes would be proud. Sprig.”
“I miss him, Tommy.”
“So do I, my oldest friend, but I know he has a bathroom waiting for your arrival.”
Sprig laughed out loud and shook so hard he thought he was going to lose his leaves. “Are you alright, Dearest?”
“Yes, I am. For the first time, I am.”
Matt had his arm around Melanie and watched Sprig’s joy. “There is one more task we must do.”
Melanie looked up at Matt and asked, “Can I wear my hat.”
Matt smiled at her and said, “Wouldn’t go anywhere without it.”
Matt and Melanie lifted the Crystal Ship from the planet and entered the coordinates of the Reg’s planet. Matt was amazed at the view he had from the ships displays as they traveled from the outer system toward the planet of the Reg. Melanie said, “Matt, I’ve located the nest Mother. She is eight universes from ours.”
“Think you can communicate with her?”
Melanie felt the connections of the ship and found the right link, “Say what you want.”
The Nest Mother was in her chamber going through her data for the fifth time and she still had found nothing that gave any indication as to what had happened in the failed harvest. “You’re wasting your time, Nest Mother.”
“Who is that?”
“I am a being from the universe you just tried to harvest. I’m sorry to tell you but we have been forced to destroy all of the ships you sent. We have managed to save the lives of some of your smaller ship’s crews but all of the main ships are dead.”
The Nest Mother felt her rage grow and thought, “We will find another way into your universe and we will consume you all.”
“You might someday. However, we’re trying to decide whether we are going to wait for you to die at that time or just come to your universe and dispose of you now.”
The Nest Mother felt her rage melt into fear, “What makes you think you can find me?”
“I’m communicating with you aren’t I? We know where you are and if we want to kill you we will do so at our leisure. I will tell you this; your destruction of universes will end soon. We will not allow you to continue your murderous ways any longer. We have also learned that it is the compulsions that you have downloaded into your species that causes those destructive behaviors. If we dispose of you, your species will stop their killing of innocent life.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“We have made new friends in the ship that you failed to consume. They are one of the most gentle and peaceful beings I have ever encountered. It is you that we have to destroy and you may be sure that your days are numbered; we will be coming to see you to end the problems you have caused.”
The Nest Mother now felt real fear. She was nearly paralyzed at the thought of her long existence ending. “When we come, there will be no escape, Nest Mother. We will see you soon.”
The Nest Mother sat on her platform too frightened to move. Could this being do what he promised? She shook in her fear.
Matt looked at Melanie, “I think that will keep her occupied for the near future.”
“Did you mean what you told her?”
“Absolutely, it is a moral imperative to stop the killing. We can’t do it right now but we will find a way.”
“We’re approaching the planet, Matt.”
“I wish to communicate with my brothers on the planet below,” Matt thought. Just like before the three creatures appeared on the crystal ship’s bridge.
“We welcome you back. Are you certain of your decision to return our gift?”
“Yes, it would hurt you if we used it.”
“We are willing to take the consequences of our gift.”
“Yes, but I am not.”
The three Reg looked at Matt silently and finally one thought, “Long dormant members of my race are returning to consciousness. Our decline has stopped and we are finding new purpose in this existence. We will comply with your desire to return our gift but we must insist that you accept another.” One of the Reg extended a part of itself and placed a small device made from the crystal substance into Matt’s hand.
“What is this?”
“Place it in your ship’s central processors. It will give him the sensors of the gift.”
“I’m not sure that you might not be hurt if we use it against the green creatures.”
“That is one of its functions, but its main purpose is to allow your ship and its companion to be able to reproduce.”
Matt was surprised and humbled. “I must believe that giving life is the best thing anyone could ever hope to give.”
“It is and any other uses will not affect us. The main purpose of the device is what we will be affected by, Brother.”
Matt thought, “Thank you. This means more than you can ever know.”
“We already know that. You have saved us and for that we will always consider you our brother.” The three Reg disappeared from the bridge and Matt and Melanie found themselves on Al’s bridge. Matt looked at Melanie and then went over to Al’s central processor, opened the cover, and placed the crystal device inside; it immediately dissolved into Al’s circuits. Matt watched and then closed the cover.
“Hey, what did you just do?”
“I just provided a way for you and Fly Girl to become parents if you so desire.”
“What?”
“What”
“I’ll explain it later to both of you. However, the Reg insist that with this device inserted into Al, you will be able to reproduce.”
“Oh, Al.”
“I know, Fly Girl; we’ll talk about this later.”
“One of the things you need to discuss is that Melanie and I will be leaving and giving you your freedom to pursue your own destinies. You will be your own masters; you are both now officially a member of the Star’s Realm and are the newest race to be added to the Realm’s members.”
“Matt, we don’t want to lose you!”
“What are you talking about; you can never lose either of us. We will always be your closest friends. We’re only a thought away and we will plan periodic escapes from our duties to go exploring with you.”
“Thank you, Matt and Melanie. You know how much we love you.”
“Just as much as we do you.”
“Melanie, may I speak with you.”
Melanie and Matt had just teleported to Castle Gardner’s library. Melanie turned and saw Matt had a very serious expression. “Sure.”
Matt took her hand and led her out to the garden. They sat down on a bench and Matt turned and said, “I think we might need to separate now that the war is over with the Eight Legs.”
Melanie’s face turned white and she almost lost her breath, “Wh-wh-what. Why, we still need to go after the Nest Mother don’t we?” Melanie felt panicked.
Matt looked down at his feet and was silent for a moment. “Melanie, you have been in my mind for months now and I have discovered something that is troubling.”
Melanie felt tears start and asked, “What?”
Matt stared at her and said, “Angel died and part of me died with her. I will always love her and I miss her greatly; however, as you and I have become friends I have grown to have tremendous respect for the person that I see in you. We have maintained a good professional relationship.” Matt was silent.
“Matt, what are you saying?”
Matt looked into her eyes, “Recently, every time I hold your hand or hug you to increase my psychic power, I don’t want to let go. I find myself wanting to hold on to you. I have not wanted to admit it to myself but I think I’m becoming very seriously attached to you. I’m sorry. It’s not what I intended.”