You have given me things to consider. Maybe you aren’t as dangerous to my people as the Torg.”
“Are the Torg a real danger to you? Your natural weapons are formidable.”
“Yes, they are very dangerous. We must nest on the ground, and they cause massive loss of life.”
Scotty thought about that and said, “I can come and help you remove them from your nesting grounds. Our weapons are effective at killing them.”
“I’ve seen that demonstrated.” The Zord lowered its head and said, “I don’t think my leaders would accept your help.”
“Why not?”
“Your kind invade our territory and kill the food we prey on. We cannot see you as anything but invaders.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Our choice was simple, come here or die.” Scotty stared at the Zord as the silence continued and said, “I never knew your species were able to communicate.”
“We do not normally communicate with anyone but our people. You are the first since my ancestors were captured and imprisoned on this planet. It was your species that kidnapped us from our home world. I had to know why you saved me. If our roles were reversed I would have killed you.”
Scotty stared at the Zord and said, “I can understand your hatred. You are justified in feeling as you do. However, I wish you a long life and many hatchlings.” Scotty turned and walked up the hill.
The Zord watched him leave and didn’t want to believe what it had witnessed. The being he had just communicated with was a gentle spirit, and was not what he thought him to be. It had listened to Scotty’s thoughts and wondered why the small two-leg was helping. The Zord shook its head, flared its wings, and lifted into the afternoon sky. It was troubled for a long time after it returned home to his worried family. After six months, the communities noticed that they had not been attacked by Zord for weeks. Scotty didn’t offer a reason why that was happening, but guessed the one he helped must have had a wing in it.
Scotty had turned seventeen three weeks earlier and was stretched out on his favorite hill with Jingo staring at the stars. “Jingo, what do you think about the Zord?”
“I think the zookeeper that originally set all the animals free just before the Searcher destroyed his city should have been shot.”
“Jingo, he died with the city.”
“Then he should have been shot before he died. Releasing those fifty nesting pairs and the herd of Torg was unforgivable.”
“I’ve looked up information in the learning center and discovered that the Zord were captured on a planet that was not a member of the Holy Stars Realm. They were actually brought here illegally.”
“What does that matter? Those flying monstrosities should have never been released.”
“Jingo, we were the only planet to ever have any in captivity. The Duke wanted his planet to be the greatest in everything. The Holy Realm stopped all capture of the Zord after El Prado caged theirs.”
“So?”
“There had to be a reason.”
“They were too flipping dangerous to keep. That’s a no brainer.”
Suddenly, Scotty heard, “I wish to communicate.”
Scotty said, “Where?”
Jingo said, “Where what?”
“At the bottom of the hill you’re on.”
“I have a friend with me. May I bring him with me?”
“Scotty what are you talking about?”
“I am also bringing a friend. Your friend may come, but do not bring your weapons.”
Scotty turned to Jingo, “Jingo, I am going to talk with a friend. I would like you to come with me, but I need you to do one thing.”
Jingo looked at Scotty and said, “What?”
“Leave all your weapons here.”
“Are you out of your blooming Human mind?!”
“Jingo, you must do as I ask. This is important.” Scott began removing his quiver and swords, laying them on the ground next to his bowgun.
Jingo turned small circles as he called Scotty names. Finally he said, “You can’t do this.”
“Jingo, are you going with me?”
The small Cainth swore and began removing his belt, “Can I carry one sword?”
“No.”
Jingo put them down and Scotty said, “That includes the one in the scabbard on your back.”
Jingo swore louder, but pulled it out of his shirt and put it on the pile with his other weapons. “Are you satisfied?”
Scotty smiled and said, “Follow me.”
Scotty started walking down the hill and Jingo started a running commentary, “Who are you meeting down here. Is it a girl? Are you in love? Scotty’s in love! Wait a minute. Why would a female be here without weapons? This doesn’t make sense. Why would you ever leave your weapons behind? You know how dangerous it is without them. Are you losing your mind? You know I’ve been worried about you lately. All you do is stare at stars. Why do you do that?”
They reached the bottom of the hill and the Zord Scotty had helped was standing there on its back legs in the brush. Jingo never saw him until Scotty stopped.
Jingo slipped as he reached the bottom of the hill. Scotty gave him a hand and lifted him to his feet six feet from the waiting Zord. “I give up, why did you come here?” That’s when Jingo saw the Zord.
“Holy Mother of a Torg’s backside!” and Jingo fell over his feet as he tried to run back up the hill.
The Zord said, “Your friend talks a lot.”
Scotty sighed and said, “Yes, but he’s a friend I trust with my life.”
Jingo heard the Zord, stopped dead in his tracks, and grew silent.
Scotty looked at Jingo and then said to the Zord, “It’s when he’s silent that he’s the most dangerous.” Scotty turned to Jingo and said, “Relax, he’s a friend.”
Jingo couldn’t speak.
The Zord said, “This is the reaction I expected from you when you found me.”
“Your people do frighten us.”
“I guess I know why.”
Jingo was hearing the conversation and he got up and walked to Scotty’s side, “It’s because you are killers extraordinaire and you’ve killed us for centuries.”
“Why, thank you. We do pride ourselves on our skills.”
Scotty touched Jingo on the arm, telling him to be silent, and said, “You invited me here for a reason?”
The Zord gave a whistle. Scotty and Jingo watched as a giant form came out of the twilight and landed in front of them. The Zord had to be twenty five feet tall on its back legs with a wingspan of more than two hundred feet. It was bigger than any Zord either of them had ever seen.
Scotty looked at Jingo and was amazed that he was not afraid. Jingo actually looked relaxed.
The smaller of the two Zord said, “This is my father. He wishes to communicate with you.”
Scotty looked up at the giant creature shifting colors to match the background and said, “Welcome, what is it you wish to talk about?”
The giant looked down on the two friends and said, “I see my son was right about your existence. I was concerned that he had lost his mind. He said you would talk without fear.”
“Our biggest fears are of things we don’t know. However, you do sense fear in me.”
The giant stared at Scotty for a long moment, “Why didn’t you kill my son when you had the opportunity?”
“It would have been wrong. I told him so at the time.”
“I saw that in his mind, but that is not the real answer. I want the real answer.”
Scotty looked up at the Zord and said, “My mother was killed seven years ago for simply running away from an invading starship. She was the kindest, gentlest, person I have ever known. An invader shot her down. She didn’t
