Edison looked up, “Just got word the Royal Family wants a meeting in two days to see what we know. Get to work, and link the Algeans in to your computer.” Edison was worried; a Gamma had been destroyed.
Valerie got a faraway look and put her cup down on the table. She appeared to be listening to something for a moment, then looked at Jake and Cynthia, “Well, it looks like it’s starting. Cynthia, take us to Ross. We are going to attend a meeting at Castle Gardner that will be held in two days. While we’re waiting, report to fleet command and have them go over your ship’s systems.” Valerie looked at Jake, walked up and gave him a hug, and kissed his cheek. “I know you doubt that you can help us, but I know in my heart that you will make the difference in our survival. I am so thankful I’ve had this time with you. Please don’t forget me.”
Jake was astounded. What did she mean? He was a nobody and this woman child was one day going to rule the Realm. He looked at her and said, “You’re too beautiful to ever forget.”
Valerie smiled and Cynthia felt a pang of jealously. Then she said, “Why am I going to this meeting?”
Valerie looked at Cynthia and said, “Because wherever Jake has to go, you are going to take him.”
“Why?”
“Because his psychic self led him to you. You captured him because you were selected to do so; at least that’s what we think. Either way, the two of you will be traveling partners for the foreseeable future.”
Cynthia didn’t know what to think about that. She just knew that it couldn’t be good.
Einstein entered the command chamber and thought to Newton, “I’ve found that universe in our data banks.”
Newton looked up, “And?”
“The information was suppressed by the Demons. A family was sent to harvest it about twenty million years ago and was destroyed by the creatures there. We sent a follow up family and they were also decimated by those creatures. We never went back. It seems the Demons implemented a compulsion for us to stay away.”
Newton leaned a little lower and said, “Then my belief that we were undefeated until the war with the Realm is not accurate.”
“It appears that way. The records from the survivors of the failed follow up show the creatures using a kind of invisible beam that destroyed anything it hit, including the green substance used on our ships. We don’t know what produces that beam, but it is not energy as we know it.”
“Take what you know to the Algeans and see what they can determine. I’m doing an analysis of their ships. They do not show up on our scans. I’ll let you know what I find out.”
“Better hurry; we only have forty five hours left to get ready for the meeting.”
“I know; now get out of here so I can concentrate.”
Jake and Valerie teleported down to the castle and Valerie took him to a room on the eighth floor. “This is where you will be staying until the meeting. You might want to visit the library and catch up on the actual facts about the Stars Realm while you’re waiting. The meeting is scheduled for the day after tomorrow.”
“How do I get to the library?”
Valerie smiled, “Right here beside your door is a panel with all of the main rooms in the castle. Simply press where you want to go and walk through your doorway. To come back here, just press the button that says living quarters on any panel in the castle. The system has recorded you and will send you back to this room.”
Jake shook his head, “This is some place you live in.”
Valerie nodded, “It grows on you, and can really spoil you when you travel. See you later, Jake.”
Jake nodded as Valerie pressed a button, walked through the silver screen in the doorway, and disappeared. Jake thought a moment, then pressed the library button, stepped through the silver screen, and emerged into a huge room. He saw that there were headsets on many of the tables and he walked over to one and put it on. He immediately heard a voice, “What would you like to view?”
Jake thought, then said, “The early history of the Stars Realm before Sprig was king.”
The headset responded, “Would you like the information downloaded or simply read?”
Jake wasn’t sure what downloaded was, but he figured it would have to be faster than having it read. “Downloaded.”
“Please sit down in one of the chairs to commence download.”
Jake sat down in a chair at the table. It immediately moved to a reclining position, then his brain came alive with images and information at a rate that was incredible. He lost track of time.
Upstairs the King of the Stars Realm thought to Valerie, “You have removed the protocols on the library?”
“Only for him, Father.”
“That is information that may not be a good thing to have known.”
“He is going to need every advantage we can give him, and he needs to know what he’ll be fighting for in the upcoming confrontation. He needs to know what we are.”
“You still see us being attacked, Daughter?”
“Yes, and it won’t be long before it starts.”
“Then the death of our Searcher is the opening of hostilities?”
Valerie sighed, “Yes, and there are going to be many more that die.”
“And you think this young lad is going to make a difference?”
“Without him we are lost, Father. He is our only hope, and if he fails then the Stars Realm is doomed.”
“I’m having extreme difficulty believing that. Our military is quite strong and we have millions of ships.”
“Listen to what information comes out in the meeting and then tell me you don’t believe it. We stand no better chance than that dead Searcher did.”
The King reflected a moment and said, “We’ll see.”
Meanwhile Jake remained motionless on the chair downstairs.
Einstein teleported in to Edison’s command center and said, “I have uncovered some disturbing news.”
Edison looked up from his terminal, “What is that?”
“These creatures are a product of our invasion. They are much more dangerous to intelligent life than we ever hoped to be. It appears we caused it to happen.”
Edison lowered his body and said, “Give me what you’ve discovered.”
Einstein pressed a button on a device on one of his legs, “You have it. I hope you know how to present this.”
Edison hoped so, too.
Cynthia said, “Ouch, that hurts!”
The Algean working on a device on her head said, “Oh, be still. These connections are absolutely critical if this is going to work.”
“Just what is this device?”
“It is a direct link to a ship’s computer.”
“Why do I need a link? I’ll just use telepathy to link.”
The Algean made another adjustment, “That’s the other thing; it blocks telepathy.”
Cynthia looked at the Algean and thought that this was not going to be good, “Are you changing my ship’s interface?”
“No, you are going to take command of a new ship. Now be quiet so I can finish,”
Cynthia thought, “Oh, this is not good.”
Jake opened his eyes and saw Valerie sitting in a chair next to him. “How long have you been here?”
Valerie smiled, “Only fifteen minutes. The library notified me when you were about to complete your download.”
“How long have I been here?”
“About thirty six hours. You need to start getting ready for the meeting that will be starting in four hours.”
Jake sat up and felt dizzy, so he laid back down. “That was some history lesson. I only asked for the early history, but it seems I have been given everything up to the present.”
Valerie smiled, “That’s my fault. I changed the protocol after you started.”
“Why did you do that?”
“Why do you think, Jake?”
Jake sighed, “It changed me, Your Highness. I’m not the same after seeing all that has happened.”
