“I was there the day your mother was killed. I saw what happened as I ran into the forest and climbed one of the gings.”
Scotty furrowed his brow, “What are you saying?”
“Scotty, that ship the Zord showed us is the same ship that landed here fifteen years ago. The one that fired that weapon and killed that poor slave is the one that killed your mother!”
Scotty was stunned beyond words.
Jingo looked at Jesa, “Are you sure?”
“Jingo, I will never forget that moment. The ship had the evil Duke’s symbol on the back, and part of it was slightly burned on the “E”. I’m certain it was the same ship, and I will never forget the one that killed Madeline.”
Scotty felt his rage grow. His eyes narrowed, and the two Cainth saw his anger.
“Scotty, don’t do something stupid.”
Scotty looked at Jingo, “We leave in two days to scout their lands. I want the Zord Riders ready to go as quickly as possible. Jesa, try to make the seamstress’ get their uniforms ready quickly.”
“What are you thinking, Brother?”
“I was just going to try and save the slaves. Now I know those creatures. We will not allow them to harm anyone else.”
Jingo looked at Jesa, “You know he’s right.”
“Jingo, if they came once, they’ll come again. Go and protect our daughter.”
Scotty looked at the vision of the Zord again and focused on the one with the blaster. His rage continued to grow.
Circling high overhead, Vring listened to Jesa’s revelation. He felt Scotty’s rage and when he looked at Jesa’s memory of his mother’s death he felt an anger that threatened to overwhelm him. He went back to the gathering just as his father finished sharing what had happened at the two-leg communities. Vring landed and shared what he had learned from Jesa. Bleath felt the rage of the warriors. Now this quest was a holy war for the Zord. The warriors lifted to practice their flying. The flock was preparing for war. Nothing on the planet was more dangerous that a Zord warrior. Bleath knew the yellow skins were going to pay a heavy price for their treachery.
Scotty and Jingo were asked to come to Jing’s home. As they approached his house they saw all of the surviving archers sitting outside waiting. “What’s going on, Jingo?”
“I don’t know.”
As they walked up to the doorway Michael Blake stood and opened the door for them and lowered his head. Scotty and Jingo went in and found Jing with two seamstresses. Jing said, “Gres and Kess have something for you.” Jing then stepped outside and left them with the two Cainth females. “Take off your clothes.”
Jingo immediately started stripping, but Scotty was shy. “What’s wrong?”
Scotty looked at a naked Jingo, sighed, and took off his clothes.
Gres gave Jingo a light green-colored shirt and he put it on. Scotty was also given a shirt; he took it and pulled it over his head. It was incredibly light and the material was soft on his skin. It felt wonderful. He put on the pants, then took the socks and boots. The boot’s sole was thick but made from the same material as the shirt and pants. Then Kess looked Scotty over and pulled and tugged on a sleeve. “Try to fire a bowgun.”
Scotty put an imaginary bowgun in his left hand and lifted it to his cheek. He felt no resistance. He noticed Jingo going through several gyrations shooting from different positions so he did the same. “Well?”
“This is amazing. It feels like a second skin.”
“We are also amazed at the material. We had to remove two inches of thickness from it to get to the soft material, but it is extremely flexible. Put the gloves on.”
Scotty took the gloves and slipped them on. They fit perfectly and seemed to mold to his joints. “These are remarkable.”
“Now pull the hood up.”
Scotty reached over his shoulder and pulled the hood up over his head. It covered every inch, and fit tightly to his skull.
Kess nodded in satisfaction, then said, “Now, take it off, pull the lining out, and put it back on.”
Scotty furrowed his brow and pulled the hood off. He felt inside it and found a lightweight piece of material. He pulled it out and put the hood back on. The material fell over his face but he found he could see through it. There were hundreds of small holes that allowed him to see clearly.
“Are you able to see all right?”
“Yes, how did you do this?”
“This is magical stuff, Scotty. The color blending will cover the holes.”
“Why did you make a cape?”
“Why, to cover your quiver. We refuse to cover arrows with it, so we had to find a way to hide them. The oversized quiver is made into the cape, and only the end of the shafts will be at the edge. Shrug your left shoulder and the arrows can be reached.”
Scotty looked over at Jingo and saw him reaching over both shoulders. He tried it and found that she was exactly right. The quiver in the cape was positioned perfectly. Kess then handed him his bowgun, which was covered in the green material. Even the soft stock cover was made from the Zecka. He pulled it to test the weight and was shocked to find it was actually no heavier than it was before the addition of the Zecka covering.
Kess said, “Want to see something we discovered by accident?”
Jingo looked up and Scotty said, “Sure.”
Kess touched the material and it started shifting color.
“What the..?”
“This material will shift color when the one touching it thinks about shifting color. Try it.”
Scotty saw the colors stop shifting when Kess removed her hand. He thought, “Change color.” And the colors began shifting on his new clothing.
Kess said, ‘It appears the Zord were right and wrong. This material will shift color if anyone alive touches it.”
“How do I get it to stop?”
“Just tell it to stop.”
Scotty thought, “Stop shifting,” and it did.
Jingo said, “I’m going to miss my swords.”
Gres said, “Not so fast.” She turned around and handed him a belt with the four short swords. The handles and the scabbards were covered in the green material. Kess handed Scotty his belt. He put it on and it was a perfect fit.
Scotty said, “You have done a remarkable thing here. Thank you.”
The two came up and hugged both of them. Kess said, “Just honor them as much as we did making them.”
Scotty knelt and said, “You know we will.”
Gres said, “Your brothers are waiting outside to see you.”
Scotty nodded at Jingo and they opened the door and stepped outside.
The Riders stood, then knelt in front of them. Michael Blake said, “We give honor and respect to the first Zeckas of our brothers. May they bring honor to you through great deeds.”
Scotty said, “Please rise, my brothers, and enter to begin the making of your Zeckas.”
Michael Blake was the first to enter to be measured for his Zecka.
Jing came forward and hugged Jingo, “You have always made me proud to be your father.”
Jingo hugged him and lowered his head. Jing then hugged Scotty, “And you are also my son. We are all proud of the great young man you have become. Please come with me.”
They followed him to the clearing and found the entire community waiting with blossoms from the giant trees. As they entered the clearing, the assembly threw flowers along their path. When they reached the center, Samuel raised his hands and everyone bowed to them.
“Great creator, we give honor to the Zeckas that adorn our sons. We vow to give honor and only perform honorable actions while you are with us. Thank you for your gift of protection.”
The community all rose and rushed forward to congratulate the two archers. Scotty and Jingo were both
