gentleman I flew with would never allow me to come to harm. Their King gave his oath.”
Wesley spun around and looked at Scotty, “Are you a King?”
Scotty smiled, “Actually my title is Emperor. It appears that is the title I’ve been given.”
“Are you planning to take my throne?”
“That depends.”
“On what?”
“It’s my understanding that you’re brutal to your subjects. We don’t hold to that kind of treatment. However, that is an issue we will deal with at a later date.” Scotty turned to Bleath, “Is there a three year old mature enough to listen to others’ thoughts that can go and find the ones responsible for your deaths?”
Bleath looked at the edge of the clearing and a fifteen foot long Zord scampered up. “White hair, this is Kreej. He will go with you.”
Carrie watched the young Zord actually trembling at the opportunity to go with the blond haired archer. These creatures have emotions very similar to ours, she thought.
Scotty smiled at Kreej, “Thank you for coming with us. It could be dangerous, but we need to conceal your presence. A full grown Flyer would not fit in the throne room.”
“I am honored to work with you, White Hair. All of my brothers and sisters would give a wing for the opportunity. They’re going to be so jealous.”
Scotty laughed and smiled at the young Zord.
“So, you think you can just waltz into my throne room and take over?”
Scotty looked at Wesley, “If I were in your shoes, I would be begging for us to come.”
“Why is that?”
“It’s obvious to me that someone has been deliberately deceiving you about what was happening on this world. They have also collected fees that were not given to you. If it were me, I would really like to find out the truth of what those funds are being used for. Of course, that may not bother you.”
Wesley stared at Scotty and then looked at Carrie. Carrie nodded. Wesley looked back at Scotty, “I will agree for the moment that we will work together to get to the bottom of this. I will guarantee your safety while this is happening.”
Scotty shook his head, “We will handle our own safety. I’m not going to trust you have the control you think you do. However, I will not open hostilities with you during this investigation.”
Wesley looked at Scotty with a hard stare. Scotty continued, “You might be interested in knowing we have two Searcher Class vessels at my disposal. I really wouldn’t think it would be a good idea to see which of us has the biggest stick here.”
Wesley showed his shock and said, “We will discuss this after we find out who caused the Zord to be attacked. How do you want to do this?”
“We will all go back to your throne room and you will question anyone you might think knows about it. My brave friend here will hear their thoughts and tell us what they know.”
“Fair enough.”
“One more thing.”
“Yes?”
“No one comes in armed. We will protect you and your daughter from any harm. I’m not the trusting sort when it comes to blasters.”
Carrie looked at Scotty, “So you are guaranteeing my father’s safety now?”
Scotty smiled, “Until this issue is resolved, yes.”
Carrie looked at her father and said, “I believe they keep their promises, and he makes a good point about who is behind this.”
Wesley nodded and said, “Well, let’s do it.”
Scotty lifted his com, “BC, anything happening back at the farm?”
“As a matter of fact, there is. It seems the King’s wife has assumed the throne and is ordering the military not to come here for a rescue attempt. Her son is attempting to replace the King’s admiral.”
Scotty saw the anger on Wesley’s face and said, “Everyone turn on their Zecka. I suspect the Queen is using force to make the change. Anglo, send us back, but put each of us in a place where we can cover the room.”
“You will arrive in 5,4,3,2,1…”
The group teleported into the throne room, with Wesley and Carrie appearing ten yards in front of the throne. The woman on the throne almost fell off it when she saw them appear. Wesley looked at her and said, “I’m gone less than two hours and you’re attempting to replace me?”
The woman looked around the room at the guards and then leaned back on the throne and smiled, “Why no, Darling. I was just worried about you.”
“Is that why you ordered our fleet not to try a rescue attempt?”
The woman’s smile vanished.
Carrie looked at the black haired beauty and said, “What’s wrong, Maranda? Aren’t you happy we’ve returned?”
Wesley walked up and stood in front of Maranda. She slowly stood up and looked at the ten guards in the room. Wesley took his seat and hit his communication panel, “Admiral?”
The display came on and a very distraught officer looked at the King in relief. “Thank the Creator you’ve returned! Bixler is here attempting to take command of the fleet.”
“Put him on the panel.”
“A young, dark haired man with a very thin face appeared. He looked shocked to see the King. “Yes, uh Yes, Your Majesty?”
“I require your presence.”
The Admiral appeared on the display and said, “He will be there momentarily, Your Majesty.”
Wesley looked at his wife and said, “Why did you attempt to take power in my absence?”
“Well, someone had to step in and make sure everything remained stable. We were told by Admiral Redmit that you had been kidnapped by the ones that destroyed our tourist lodges. I assumed you were already dead.”
Carrie moved next to the throne and stood on her father’s right side. She glanced around the room and could not see the archers, even though she knew they were there. Wesley said, “Give me a moment.” He hit his panel and began asking the Kingdom’s nobility on the forty five planets if everything was under control. He noticed that eight of them were shocked when he appeared on their panels. All the others didn’t know anything was wrong. He looked at Carrie, noted that she had watched the display with him, and knew she would remember the ones that were surprised.
Jimmy Bixler entered the throne room and moved to his mother’s side. She gave him a hard look and he nodded. Wesley saw their communication and said, “I want to know who has been selling hunting permits on the planet of the giant flying creatures.”
Maranda looked at Wesley and said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She nudged Jimmy and he said, “Me, either.”
“I am going to go to the agency that issues them and I believe the one who sold them will tell the truth after gentle persuasion. I do not tolerate disobedience.”
Maranda asked, “What are you going to do with the ones responsible?”
“Find out what they have done with the funds collected and see if they were being used for treasonous actions. If they were, I’m going to execute the traitors.”
Maranda stared at Wesley, then turned to the guard standing next to the throne. She nodded and the guards in the room raised their blasters. “I was hoping to keep this simple, but you had to come back alive. Now you leave me no choice. You and that witch of a daughter are going to have to die.”
All ten guards were hit with an arrow in the middle of their foreheads. The one next to the throne was driven eight feet beyond the throne with the force of the arrow that hit him. Maranda and Jimmy looked at the guards and couldn’t move.
“You’ve found the ones responsible.”
Maranda looked around but couldn’t determine where the voice was originating. Scotty turned off his Zecka and appeared next to the throne with Wesley. “Kreej, tell us what you saw.”
