Scotty turned to Michael, “Are you willing to stay here?”
Michael looked at Carrie and smiled, “Home is where the heart is, Your Majesty.”
Scotty smiled and hugged his lifelong friend, “It most certainly is. You know Vetah will miss you greatly.”
“He has a position here in the court to make sure our people can be trusted. He has not decided to start a family. We can use his help. Those Ultra crews will be the first task.”
“That’s your first good decision. Make many more.”
Carrie and Michael bowed, “We will, Your Majesty.”
Scotty smiled and said, “Anglo. Take us home.”
Jingo looked down on Bristone from Anglo’s bridge, “It seems our company is growing.”
“It’s a start. I’m pretty certain that Ashley Talben will be joining us before too long.”
Jingo thought a moment, “I kinda miss the Torg. They were so much easier.”
Scotty laughed out loud.
Scotty and Jingo arrived to a find Julie and Jesa running into the clearing at full speed. Julie slowed enough to grab Scotty, but Jesa took Jingo to the ground. Scotty kissed his wife and held her tight. That’s when Bleath turned off his color shifting. “Uh oh.”
Julie looked up at Bleath and said, “He’s been waiting for you.”
Scotty gave Julie a hug and walked over to the giant Zord, “Hello, Great Flyer. Is there something you need?”
The Human female has returned and is asking for her flight.”
“Yes, I know.”
“We are unable to carry out her sentence at this moment.”
“Why not?”
“In order for us to execute another being, there must be ten Elders present.”
“What about Talben?”
“We had ten at that moment.”
Scotty stared at Bleath and wondered what he was trying to communicate. “Where is the tenth Elder?”
“He had to go home to handle issues in his flock.”
“When do you anticipate he will return?”
“We are uncertain. However, we recommend that you bring the female here and make her work for the community until we can carry out her sentence.”
“What do you mean, work?”
“Are there not tasks that need to be done than many are unwilling to do?”
Scotty was just not certain what Bleath was doing. Then he saw Bleath staring at Samuel’s house. Samuel was out front, swearing at the teens that were cleaning his entrance. Even Scotty heard him, “Don’t you brats know anything? No, no, no; not that way! Give me that brush!”
Scotty looked at Bleath, but the huge Zord continued to stare at Samuel. “Bleath, is Samuel’s flyer anywhere around here?”
Bleath said, “As fate might have it, yes. He just arrived overhead to bring me a message.”
Scotty controlled his laughter while Julie wondered what was going on.
“What about Vring or Zreeg? Is either of them close by?”
“They are taking flying lessons overhead, Your Majesty.”
“Please ask them to come down.” Scotty took Julie’s hand and walked up to Samuel, “Sam, I need you to go with me to the Zord’s place of worship.”
“Can’t you see I’m busy?”
“Samuel, your Emperor commands you to stop what you’re doing and come with him.”
Samuel looked up and saw Scotty was serious. “At once, Your Majesty. How are we going to get there?”
“We’re going to fly.”
“I’m sorry, but Blraet isn’t here.”
“Yes he is, Samuel. He’s waiting for us in the clearing. Let’s go.”
Julie looked at Scotty and he said, “I’ll be back. There’s an issue than must be handled. I’ll explain later.”
Julie reached up and kissed him, “Don’t take too long.”
Scotty and Samuel walked down to the clearing and mounted their Zord. Bleath lifted, and they flew toward the mountains.
Maranda was sitting with her head bowed when she heard the scream of the giant Zord leader. She kept her head bowed as she heard him land. She also heard two other Zord land. Good, the other Elder had arrived and she could receive her sentence. Then she heard the blond haired archer say, “You might as well stand up.”
Maranda looked up and saw two men standing over her. “Why?”
“Because the tenth Elder will not available for another moon. We are going to have to begin your punishment by making you work until he shows up.”
“What do you mean, ‘work’?”
“You are going to stay with Samuel until the Zord are ready.”
Samuel said, “She’s going to what?!? You know I live alone. She will not stay with me!”
Scotty looked at Samuel, “This is a prisoner of the Zord, who cannot implement their sentence. They have requested that she be made a worker for our leaders until they are ready. You are the leader of the Human community; she is Human. She will stay with you and you will make her work to better your community. Are you saying you do not respect our brothers’ wishes?”
“Well, no. But you know how hard I am to get along with.”
Bleath said, “That will be part of her punishment.”
Maranda watched Samuel swear and turn circles for ten minutes as Scotty and the Zord waited. Finally, he ran down.
“Sam, are you going to honor their request and accept it, or am I going to have to command you?”
“ALL RIGHT!” Samuel looked at Scotty, “I’ll do it.”
Samuel looked at Maranda and asked, “What’s your name, troublemaker?”
Scotty said, “Her name is June.”
Maranda looked at Scotty and felt her tears. He gave her that name to remind her of what she had to pay back. Samuel saw her tears and said, “Hey, hey, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”
June looked at him and smiled, “I have a huge debt. Just tell me what you want done.”
“Can you clean an entrance?”
“I can learn.”
“Ok, come on. Let’s go.”
Samuel mounted Blraet and pulled June up behind him. “Hold on, this could be rough.”
June reached around Samuel’s waist and held him tight. Samuel was reminded of his wife that had died twenty years earlier by a charging Torg. Blraet lifted and they flew away.
Scotty looked up at Bleath and said, “When the next moon comes, will you have ten elders?”
“Possibly. You never know when one of us might be called away.”
Scotty smiled and knew the Zord had seen something in Maranda that was redeeming. He watched as Samuel and June grew smaller in the distance, wondering what the Zord had seen that made them pick Samuel. Well, time will answer that question. “Vring, please take me back.” They lifted over the forest and Scotty could see Julie’s smiling face as they headed home. The stars were coming out, and somehow they didn’t look quite so far away.
As Scotty flew away, Bleath knew his family was blessed by a leader with wisdom. He had his Grang. Now his people had their June. Both were better for the act of forgiveness. Bleath looked up at the sky and saw the stars. Usually he just saw the air currents and never noticed the bright points of light. Now they filled his vision.
Two years later, Michael and Carrie came to visit. Julie and Scotty welcomed them and there were hugs for everyone. As they walked toward Michael’s former house, Carrie froze. Scotty saw her and looked to find June coming out of Samuel’s house.
“What’s she doing still alive?!?”
