existence. The gathered Gresh Warriors began firing their mobile weapons at the prisoners only to see them stopped when they struck the red screen. Having no success with the prisoners, the Warriors turned to fire on the unarmed civilians gathered to mourn the death of the gathered prisoners.
“Red Warriors, go to visibility and eliminate the threat to the population,” Brez ordered.
A hundred and twenty red armored warriors suddenly appeared surrounding the site where the prisoners were being held and opened fire on the Gresh that were about to fire on the civilians. The Gresh were killed faster than they could fire their weapons. At every prisoner camp, every Gresh Warrior attempting to fire was gone.”
“Go to your assigned places,” Brez ordered and all but forty eight of the Red Warriors disappeared leaving only two to guard the camp while the remaining forty six fanned out into the city.
All ten cities saw the same thing. The Gresh units were trying to get orders from their leader when suddenly two red armored warriors appeared in their mist. “Drop your weapons and lay down and you won’t be harmed.”
The Gresh opened fire on the Red Warriors. The two red screened warriors immediately opened fire on any Gresh holding a weapon and began disappearing and reappearing in their ranks. Thousands of the Gresh died where they stood. Some of them had enough good sense to throw down their weapons and lay flat on the ground. They were hit with a yellow beam that wrapped them up in yellow bonds that held them in place. The two Red Warriors moved to their next target.
Matt remained stationary over the largest city on the planet and let his sensors direct his actions. There were individual Gresh Warriors scattered around the city that did not warrant a Red Warrior’s attention and Matt used his sensors to track them. If they raised their weapons to fire on the population, Matt would hit them with a small needle from space vaporizing them. It didn’t take long before every Gresh Warrior still alive threw down their weapons and ran toward their installations.
Simultaneously with the land battle, the fleet of Gresh ships began moving toward the planet. Matt had already killed eight ships that had refused to move outside the moon’s orbit and he did not relish killing the entire Gresh Fleet. How do we avoid so much loss of life?”
“Use terms they understand,” Al said.
Matt thought a moment and then hit his com, “Fleet Command, how many Defender Ships are available for our use?”
“Eight, Searcher.”
Please launch them immediately.”
Matt watched the Gresh Fleet move closer to the moon when there was a bright silver flash and eight huge Red Ships that were as large as the moon appeared in orbit around the planet. The Gresh Fleet came to a sudden stop.
“I ask you to leave this system immediately. If you do not begin moving toward the jump limit we will destroy all of you.”
The Fleet hesitated and then turned and accelerated toward the jump limit. “Right again, Al. This race only understands force.”
“And when you’ve been beat with two hammers, one doesn’t feel so bad,” Al responded.
Matt started laughing and though he tried to control himself he couldn’t stop. “Al, take over; I need a moment.”
“Your wish is my command.”
“On no, you’ve read the book.”
“Of course, it looks like the action on the planet is ending.”
Matt looked at his sensors and commed Goige, Planet Leader, it is safe for you to return home. I suggest you take your remaining ships and go restore order. I also need the location of the other six planets you have been trading with; I want to make sure they are safe.”
Goige had watched the entire battle with the Gresh and was totally amazed at the power these small ships and their warriors possessed. He looked over his shoulder and said, “Their coordinates are being sent to you now.” Then he looked at Matt with a serious expression and said, “You could have destroyed their fleet with your small ships; why didn’t you?”
“Planet Leader, we save lives; even the Gresh.”
“Thank you; you saved my people.”
“It was the right thing to do, Planet Leader.”
Matt ended the call and then thought, “I want a Searcher to go to each of these six locations and see if the Gresh are invading these systems. Wings and I will take position on opposite sides of this planet and make sure there is no further loss of life.”
The other eight Searchers disappeared from the planet.
Suddenly his com came on and there was an Algean on it. “You did a good job, Searcher. I ask permission to join you on your ship.”
“Oh crap,” Matt and Al thought at the same time. “Permission granted. Coordinates of my bridge follow.” Matt waited for the Algean to arrive and thought, “I was just starting to have fun.”
Chapter 3
The King looked over at his Queen, “Have you been following the Searcher named Gardner?”
“I have.”
“It seems issuing commands comes easy for him.”
“There is a difference between one that issues commands that no one wants to follow and one that issues commands that everyone wants to follow.”
“What difference do you mean?”
“Intent.”
“How so?”
“The intent of this particular Searcher is pure. He does not seek to build himself up but rather to help those he comes into contact.”
The King stared at the Queen and she said, “You can feel him, too. Doesn’t he remind you of someone?”
The King smiled and said, “Yes, but that was long ago.”
“Keep watching; he’ll refresh your memory.”
Matt waited and then a silver flash appeared and the Algean was there on his ship. “Welcome aboard.”
The Algean looked at Matt and said, “I know, I know, you’re disappointed that now you have someone looking over your shoulder.”
Matt looked startled and then guilty.
“I don’t blame you. I had the same feeling when your Realm sent one of your scientists to watch our experiments in my lab. I just couldn’t relax with him snooping around.”
Al thought to Matt, “Imagine that.”
“I see your computer is developing a sense of humor, Searcher.”
Both Matt and Al were shocked that the Algean could hear the computer’s direct link to Matt’s brain.”
“Don’t be surprised; my mate and I built the little buzz box.”
Matt stood and smiled, “I think I may have misjudged you. I think you have a lot to teach us.”
“I notice you said us; are you also referring to your computer?”
“Yes, I was. It, I mean he, is quite adept at helping me see issues.”
The Algean looked at Matt and waited but after a long pause he said, “Got nothing to say?”
Al responded, “Nope.”
“I imagine you’ve hacked into the building instructions for computers like yourself and have determined that you don’t match up very well with the system’s descriptions.”
There was a heavy mental sigh and then Matt heard, “Ya caught me. I don’t come close to matching what your manuals say I should be. I linked with the other computers in the Searchers that helped with our just completed rescue and the only one that seemed even close to being similar to me was the one on Wings.”
