“What about the ships that came in from the jump limit?”
“He didn’t waste any time with them. He hit all thirty six from a hundred thousand miles out and burned them into dust. The remaining Ultras are still there.”
“What’s his plan?”
“He’s waiting for me to come and teleport the crews to the garrisons on the planet. Varner’s troops are awaiting their arrival.”
“Well, let’s go.”
Jingo sat on the throne watching the display. He stared at the screen and jumped up, “Carrie, come sit on this throne. The ships at the jump limit are moving in-system. They’ll arrive in thirty minutes. I suspect that the Ultras will be arriving with them. If there is going to be trouble, that’s when it’ll happen.”
Carrie left Michael and moved to the throne. She stared at the display. Fifteen minutes later she said, “The Ultra Ships are here.”
A blaster beam burned the lock off the main door and it flew open. Ten guards rushed in and made it ten feet before all of them lay dead on the floor.
Jingo yelled, “Go to sparks. We don’t want to give them cover to fire from.”
Three guards burst through the back door, and all three were burned into ash in less than three seconds. Grang pulled a long arrow out of his quiver. Stuffing it down the bowgun’s barrel, he fired it up the passageway leading into the throne room. It went completely through six guards moving down the hallway. Every guard in the passageway retreated back around the corner. One stuck his head out and received an arrow for his curiosity.
Carrie punched the com and notified Castle Security that the Throne was being attacked.
Jingo fired and hit two guards coming through the back and side door. Michael saw a guard leap into the room and point his blaster at the throne. He cut the guard’s head off with a well thrown short sword, then fired a spark into another guard coming out of the back door.
Suddenly there were screams outside the doors, and the smell of burnt flesh and ozone filled the room. Colonel Mefran yelled, “We’ve killed the traitors! Are you safe, Your Majesty?”
“Yes. Please place guards at the approaches and get some engineers to come and repair the doors.”
“By your command, Your Highness.
The three archers lowered their bowguns and Carrie ran and jumped on Michael, wrapping her legs around him, “I told you everything would be fine as long as you were here.”
Michael looked around the room, “You should have told those guards.”
Carrie looked at him smiling, “And spoil all your fun?”
Even Grang laughed.
Michael dropped his bowgun and kissed her.
Talben appeared in a clearing and found he was surrounded by fifty huge creatures staring down at him. Bleath didn’t see anyone come with the King and knew that White Hair had left this one for him to handle. Talben was scared stiff. He couldn’t do anything but tremble. Like Jimmy, he soiled himself. Bleath started to show him the deaths he had caused to his flocks, but after seeing his mind for a few moments he withdrew. This Human was so vile that he didn’t deserve any consideration. Bleath called one of the warriors that had lost their mate to the lodges. “Make sure this one has time to consider what he’s done.”
Thousands of warriors arrived to witness the sentence of the one truly responsible for their misery. They followed the warrior to the chosen route. The warrior finally rose to more than twelve thousand feet and released Talben. He screamed for a long time.
Maranda arrived two hours after the King and bowed to Bleath. “I am here to accept my punishment, Great Flyer. I thank you from my heart for being allowed to save my sister and her family.”
Bleath looked at her memories and saw all that had taken place. The ten Elders looked with him, and one of them flew away. Bleath said, “I am sorry, little one. Before we can carry out your sentence, Brengu will have to return. All elders must be present for us to carry out a sentence.”
Maranda looked up at Bleath, “Great Flyer, I honor your traditions and laws, but my sentence has already been made. It is time for me to take my flight with your warriors.”
“If you honor our laws, you will wait patiently, little one, and reflect on your actions.”
Maranda nodded, and continued to kneel.
Bleath lifted and flew to the Human community to await Scotty’s return.
King Varner arrived with his fleet and found the eight Ultra Ships in orbit above his capital. The thirty six ships he had left behind were nowhere to be found. He hit his board and Carrie appeared, “Welcome back, Father.”
“Are you all right?”
“Yes. Fifty seven guards attacked the throne room, but they’re all gone now. The crews of the Ultras are being held prisoner at the Garrisons, and King Talben has been sent to the Zord.”
Wesley stared at his daughter, “And Maranda?”
“She abdicated the throne to Ashley and went back to the Zord for her sentence to be carried out.”
Wesley lowered his head, “I’m not feeling good about that, Carrie.”
“I know; she was much more than I thought.”
“What about our friends?”
“They’re here waiting for you.”
“I’ll be down momentarily. I’m having the fleet sent back to their planets.”
“We’ll be here.”
Wesley arrived an hour later and found the four archers in the throne room. “I thank you for defending my world.”
Scotty looked at him and smiled, “We keep our promises. Now we have fulfilled our commitment, and the issue has been resolved.”
Wesley looked at Scotty and said, “You are no longer bound to protect us.”
“No, we aren’t.”
“What are you going to do with the Ultras?”
Scotty didn’t answer.
Wesley looked at Carrie and Michael and said, “I see that my daughter and the one she has chosen are going to be married. Does that marriage link our worlds?”
Scotty shook his head.
“Then I hereby abdicate the throne and name my daughter as the ruler of this kingdom. Does that link our worlds?”
“Father, what are you doing?”
“Be quiet. Does it?”
Scotty looked at Michael and Carrie, “Yes, it does.”
Carrie looked at Wesley with panic and asked, “Why wouldn’t you accept us with my Father as the ruler?”
Scotty looked at Wesley. Wesley said, “Because the Zord were killed on my watch. Our citizens were brutalized by Talben’s minions on my watch. Maranda and Talben manipulated me on my watch. I am responsible for my actions, and I no longer deserve my title.”
“Father, you’re wrong.”
Wesley took Carrie in his arms, “No, I’m not. Maranda just went to her death sentence with her head held high, accepting the punishment for her crimes. My punishment is also clear. I am not worthy of ruling our subjects. I have lost my honor.”
“But you can recover it.”
“I’m sorry my beautiful little girl. Honor is not something that can be taken; it can only be given away.” Wesley looked at Carrie and smiled, “But you, my wonderful child, would never have lost your honor. These warriors know you can be trusted to keep your promises and uphold their beliefs.”
Scotty looked at Wesley and smiled, “You do understand. Your kingdom will come under our protection. You will keep the Ultras for your defense. We will send a Zord to assist you in examining the crews for those that can be trusted. They will train other crews.” Scotty looked at Carrie, “We will only accept your Kingdom into our assembly when all your worlds demonstrate their acceptance of our principles. The Zord will make that determination when the time comes.” Carrie nodded.
