The king heard the exchange and quickly turned around in his chair, “Carrie, are you back there? Don’t be stupid. Do as they say.”
Carrie looked around and couldn’t see where the voice was coming from. She couldn’t let them harm her father. She was prepared to die, but then she heard. “I would really hate to kill your King, but I will if you don’t do as we ask.”
Carrie dropped the blaster and it rose in the air. A young man appeared two feet from her and said, “Thank you. The universe would not be as beautiful without you in it.”
She frowned and walked from behind the throne.
Wesley looked at her, “How many times have I told you not to sneak in here? Now you’re trapped and I can’t save you.”
Michael said, “She has nothing to fear from us. She is innocent and we will not harm her, except to defend ourselves.”
Scotty looked at the King and said, “You know why we’re here?”
Wesley replied, “You said something to my Admiral about those beasts being your citizens.”
Carrie saw, out of the corner of her eye, one of the King’s guards sneak in behind the throne from a hidden door. He raised a blaster. She saw the young man that had taken her blaster whip a short sword out of his belt and throw it at the guard. A second blade instantly followed the first. He moved faster than she could see. The first sword cut the blaster down the length of its barrel and the second caught the guards backpack and pinned him to the wall. The backpack was only an inch above the guard’s shoulder and the green clad archer had hit it perfectly. An arrow ripped by her face, and she felt it pass through several strands of her hair. The arrow hit the door the guard had entered on the edge of its opening, and slammed the door shut. She saw the arrow was embedded all the way to the fletching. No one was coming through that door now. She looked and saw a giant yellow-colored creature lower his bowgun. The King saw the shot and knew he was in imminent danger. That shot was impossible. He had never known of a Magrum using a weapon that fired arrows.
Carrie appeared calm but she still felt that arrow flying through her hair. She didn’t know if she lived because the creature had missed or if it had done it intentionally. She walked calmly around the throne and sat down beside her father. Her heart was beating incredibly fast, but she maintained her calm appearance.
Michael watched her and was amazed at the young woman’s composure. If the same shot had been made that close to him, he probably would have needed to change his uniform. He shook his head at her.
Carrie was flabbergasted by the two sword throws. Not only the amazing speed, but the accuracy was impossible. She watched the young man go back and pull his sword from the guard and bring him into the center of the room. “Can we count on you behaving yourself?”
The guard looked at Wesley and nodded. “Yes.”
“Then sit down.” The guard sat on the floor and saw the big yellow creature closely watching him.
Scotty smiled and said, “I’m sorry we were interrupted, but yes, those creatures are our citizens.”
“How can an animal be a citizen?”
“Meaning no disrespect, you are technically an animal yourself.”
Wesley paused and said, “Yes, but I’m intelligent.”
Scotty smiled, “Most of us here aren’t really sure of that. However, you are taking a trip with us to discuss your actions with those you’ve injured.”
Carrie said, “If you take him, I go, too.”
“No! You will stay here.”
“No, I won’t, Father. You promised mother never to leave me.”
“That promise doesn’t apply to this situation.”
“Yes, it does.”
Scotty smiled and tilted his head, “We take promises very seriously. She will go with us, and I give you my promise she will come to no harm.”
Carrie looked at Scotty defiantly and said, “Will you also promise my father his safety?”
Scotty shook his head, “No. His accusers will determine his fate. Anglo?”
The six disappeared from the throne room leaving the guard to contact the admiral.
The group appeared in a clearing where Wesley and Carrie found themselves surrounded by hundreds of the giant flying creatures. They were huge, and Carrie grabbed her father’s arm and held tight.
Scotty looked up and said so the King could hear, “This is the one that sent the hunters to your home.”
The largest flying creature looked at him, and Wesley heard in his mind, “Why have you been killing my family?”
Wesley was stunned. He looked at Scotty and his disbelief was obvious. Scotty said, “I believe you should answer his question.”
Wesley looked up at the Zord and said, “I didn’t.”
“White Hair, I thought you said this was the one that sent the murderers.”
Scotty turned to Wesley and said, “The lodges said you were paid to allow the hunters to come here.”
Wesley’s face turned red. Carrie looked at him and said, “Jimmy?”
Wesley nodded.
Bleath looked at Scotty, “This one did not know about the hunters. He thought they were only tourists visiting. He possesses no knowledge of how many of us have been killed.”
Scotty looked at Wesley, “Then why did you send ships to attack the planet?”
Wesley said, “My stepson told me that some of our tourists were being attacked. I sent the ships to protect them.”
Scotty looked up at Bleath and said, “Show them.”
Bleath showed them the visions of thousands of Zord being systematically hunted and killed. They heard the Zord tell a hunter that they were intelligent, then saw the hunter laugh and kill the messenger. They saw the giant heads mounted on trees outside the lodges and the revelry at every Zord killed. Carrie felt the sorrow of the giant creatures for the loved ones lost and the rage of being unable to stop the killing.
Wesley sat down on the ground. Bleath said, “Return them where you found them. We have no quarrel with them.”
Scotty looked at the King and said, “Let’s give him some time to collect himself.”
Carrie was angry. Then she saw the young man that had threatened her. She went up to him and said, “Thank you for not killing me.”
Michael smiled, “You’re quite welcome. We were blaming the wrong ones for what happened here.”
“These creatures are intelligent.”
“Yes, and they are honorable in their dealings with others.” A giant Zord swooped in and Michael started climbing its harness. “What are you doing?”
Michael looked down at the princess and smiled, “Give her a leg up, Vetah.” The giant Zord lowered his front leg and held it in front of Carrie. She looked up quizzically and Michael said, “Sit down.”
She looked at the giant claw, hesitated momentarily, then sat down on it. Vetah lifted her to his back and she sat behind Michael. “Hold on, my Lady.” Vetah lifted and Carrie grabbed Michael’s waist. The Zord rose quickly and flew out over the giant forest. Carrie closed her eyes, but slowly reopened them and saw the ground far below. She felt the wind blowing through her hair and the motion of the giant creature’s muscles under her. The forest and the light-colored smoke made the view below beautiful. She held on tight and felt the strength of the man in front of her. She looked up at the first stars as the Zord rose higher. This was unlike any experience she had ever had, and she lost herself in the moment. She heard, “Strong Bow, your companion’s father is waiting for her.”
“Take us back, Vetah.”
Carrie felt the big wings begin working, and the giant Zord flew like an arrow over the forest. Carrie felt the rush of the wind and the power of the giant flyer. All too soon she felt them descending to the mountain below. Michael dropped off and helped Carrie down.
Carrie looked up into the archer’s eyes and said, “That is an experience I will never forget. Thank you, again.”
Michael smiled and kissed her hand, “Please come back and we’ll do it again, my Lady.”
She smiled at his gallantry and walked over to her father.
He looked at the Zord she had just climbed off and shook his head at her. “I was perfectly safe. The
