“He’s obviously not worried about it. That bothers me. Something is going on.”
“What do we do?”
“Keep our oath to obey him. We have no choice.” Varner thought about Greyson and started the download.
Scotty and BC were at the jump limit of the Defense Facility. They waited and then heard, “Hello BC, what brings you back?”
“Hi Grace. We have taken a Military Database from New Ulmerton and we are now worried that they know where we are. We used the Zord in the attack and four of them were killed. They’ll know where the Zord live.”
“Ok, I can see that. What do you want from us?”
Scotty said, “We would like one of the old teleportation probes that were used to move the planets around. Do you have any?”
“Yes, I do. How many would you like?”
“Five hundred if you can spare that many.”
“Why five hundred?”
“That’s how many planets we are sworn to protect against invasion.”
“Alex, do you have a problem with me giving them the probes?”
“No, not really.”
“All right, I’ve teleported them to Bristone.”
“Thanks, Grace.”
“They aren’t going to do you any good.”
“Why is that?”
“Their boards were all destroyed at the same time the teleportation boards were damaged.”
Scotty thought a moment and said, “Ordinarily I would act disappointed and leave but I know that Alex has put a mechanism on our ships to keep track of us.”
Grace and Alex remained silent. Alex wondered how he knew.
“I don’t mind that you did. I count you as friends and I know you, and I, have the protection of our universe as your main priority. However, you should know that we can repair the probes and get them working again.”
“What?!?”
“We have already modified the teleportation boards on BC and Greyson and brought them up to date. We have even increased the power of their beams and screens.”
“How did you do that?”
“Alex, the Zord are able to see the boards mentally and knows how to repair them. They even see several ways to improve them. I just thought you should know. If you want to take the probes back, I’ll understand.”
“No, I think your honesty had gone a long way toward easing my worries about you. Keep them.”
“Thanks, we really appreciate it.”
The small white ship disappeared.
“Alex, that technology is dangerous to release.”
“I want to share something with you.”
“What?”
“One of the ships in the Province that Daulun pays tribute to was scanned. My probe picked it up and followed it back to the source.”
“Yes.”
“The ship was a light year away.”
“What?”
“It was a light year away and was invisible except for the shape outlined by the scanner’s beam that it used. I couldn’t see the ship but I know that it’s bigger than an old Defender Class Ship.”
Grace thought about what that meant, “They’re not from here.”
“No, they aren’t and their technology is far ahead of anyone in our universe; possibly ahead of the old Realm.”
“Why do you think they’re here?”
“Where they are gives me the biggest clue. They’re holding station at the planet of the most powerful ruler in our universe.”
Grace was silent.
“It’s invasion, Grace, and they’re waiting for us to beat each other up before they come in and cleanup.”
“What are you going to do?”
“We no longer have the luxury of time. Our responsibility is to protect this universe. We’re being forced to pick a side, and you know who it will have to be, knowing what we know now.”
“When are you going to tell them?”
“Not until I know more about that ship.”
“How are you going to do that?”
“I’m going to teleport one of my probes and see if it can get close enough to it for me to determine its strength.”
“If they see it, it may start the invasion early.”
“Perhaps, but we need to know what we’re dealing with here.”
Daulun sat in the command chair aboard Varner and said, “Take us out to the jump limit.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” The other four Searchers formed a box formation surrounding the King.
Daulun sat and remained silent until the five ships arrived at the jump limit. “Take me to Crimeron.”
Varner was surprised but carried out his instructions. The five ships jumped and broke out into normal space; Varner was surprised at what his scans revealed. He said nothing but saw the best ships of the King’s Fleet located at the jump limit surrounding Crimeron. He also saw the huge number of drop troops training on the planet’s surface. Those divisions were some of the best in the Province. Daulun had somehow moved the ships and troops without anyone noticing. Varner didn’t feel good about this development and neither did the other four Searchers. Gilene sent a private message, “It appears the King is changing his residence and leaving New Ulmerton out to hang.”
Varner didn’t respond. He had finished the download early that morning and was struggling at what he had seen. He had continued to compare the two histories to each other as they moved out of New Ulmerton’s system and felt his frustration rise as they arrived at Crimeron. He watched Daulun board a shuttle and thought about Greyson. Daulun said, “Take me to the planet. The five of you stay overhead and make sure nothing happens to me.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Varner watched King Daulun drop toward the planet on a shuttle as he continued his comparison.
Four hours later he knew. He looked at the planet below and saw the thousands of slaves that were suffering and saw that he had contributed to their suffering. He was the one that had originally destroyed Crimeron’s fleet. He had destroyed the defenses of their planet and allowed them to be conquered. He said, “I talked to Greyson.”
“What, what, where, when, why….”
The other four all started talking at once and he said, “He has joined the ones that are attacking New Ulmerton.” Silence crashed down on the group. “I accused him of treason and fired on him but was unable to penetrate his screen. He persuaded me to accept a download and see if I could understand his reason.”
“There is no reason!”
“William, I agreed but he said he loves me and it was important to him for me to understand. You all know him as well as I do. What would it take for him to violate his oath to Gregory? I want you to think about that. Then if you want to see what he sent me, I’ll share it with you.”
The four were silent. After two days, William said, “We want to see what he gave you.”
Varner sent the download and waited
Scotty looked across the table at Timmy and Virze and said, “Explain this to me again?”
Virze said, “The probe is capable of moving Bristone or any other planet, to another solar system that matches up with the planet’s current climate and environment. We don’t have to search for another location; the probe will automatically find one.”
