Ashes of the Realm - Greyson's Revenge (7 page)

Niles asked, “How did giving him the history make any difference?”

“If I could be convinced that my loyalty to the Realm’s Royal Family was due to lies and deceptions, I could then free myself from the oath to obey them. Maybe that poor ship will find salvation in the history of the Realm.”

Niles looked at Toland and then said, “If it would be possible, I would like to see that history.”

Jingo said, “Go lie down on those chairs in the corner and put those headbands on.”

Niles walked over to one of the chairs and reclined it. Toland joined him and Jessica started the download. The two closed their eyes. Jingo looked at his display and said, “Where now.”

“We’re going back to New Ulmerton to take a look at that building with the military database.”

“I thought you had forgotten about that.”

“Nope, we just need to be careful. I’m taking us pretty close to the planet.”

“Oh this should be fun.”

Nathan arrived at Bristone a week after Anglo started his rebuild. Anglo said, “She’s in the forest with June. I’ll send you close to their location.”

“Keep me in the loop. This shouldn’t take long.”

Anglo laughed, “You wish,” and then Nathan found himself at the edge of the forest.

“What did he mean by that?” Nathan shook his head and walked into the tree line. He heard the children long before he saw them. When he was a teenager he had gone with June and the children to protect them from predators. Now the Zord took care of that responsibility and he knew they were not far away. He started walking toward the laughing and singing children. He arrived at the edge of the grellup field and immediately saw June with eight children picking pods. He shook his head and wondered why the children enjoyed this work so much. There they were surrounding her just laughing and talking. June was smiling and holding a younger child that had fallen and hurt her knee.

He heard singing and he looked toward the southern end of the field. There was Mallory surrounded by twelve children that were picking pods and listening to her sing. He smiled at the catchy tune and saw the children were quiet as they listened. Suddenly Mallory stopped and pointed at one of the children who took up the tune and sang the next verse. The child then pointed at another and they continued the song. They each sang a verse and the last one chosen pointed back at Mallory who started a new song. She also looked good in her Zecka. WAIT A MINUTE!! Why was she wearing a Zecka? That could only mean she was going to go into a dangerous situation. What was going on?

June saw Nathan standing at the edge of the clearing watching Mallory with her group. She looked at Mallory and then back at Nathan. Mallory had discussed her dream with June and she was concerned about what Nathan’s response would be. She looked up and said a quick prayer for the young woman singing with the children. The children picking pods with June saw her staring and turned to see what had her attention. They jumped up and ran across the field yelling at the top of their voices.

Mallory heard the children yell and stopped singing. She saw the children with June running toward the edge of the forest and for a moment feared a predator had come into the field. She turned around and saw Nathan standing at the edge of the forest staring at her. Her heart swelled and she felt a joy permeate her soul. Nathan saw her look at him and their eyes met. That beautiful smile grew even brighter. He smiled back and then he was bowled over by the eight children that came running in grabbing his legs to hug him. The children with Mallory saw Nathan get knocked down and they jumped up to join in the fun.

Mallory smiled and then started laughing when Nathan was knocked off his feet. She could see that the children really liked him. She stood and started walking toward the screaming mass of children.

“We got you, we got you, we got you…”

“You tricked me, I never saw you coming. You little jokers, I’ll teach you.” and Nathan started tickling the youngsters until they fell off laughing. He might have been able to stand but then the other twelve arrived and he was doomed to be held down by children hugging and kissing him.

June and Mallory arrived and June saw her wondering what was going on. June said, “When Nathan was a teen, he would come to protect us from predators on El Prado. He would tell the children stories about the stars and they have never forgotten him. Most of these children were very young when he was with us. They had a game at the end of each day where they would try to knock him off his feet.” Mallory smiled and June whispered, “They were much smaller then.”

“Hey, how about a little help here.”

June looked at Mallory and they both started tickling the squirming mass of children. Finally the three adults managed to remove enough so that Nathan could stand. “All right, you won this time but you won’t the next time I come. I’ll show you.”

Mallory saw the children loved Nathan. She felt tears in her eyes and quickly wiped them away. Nathan saw her and wondered what made her sad.

June looked around, “All right children, come with me and allow Nathan to have a few words with Miss Mallory.” The complaints were loud but they ran after June as she walked back to the field.

Mallory looked at Nathan and said, “I appreciate Julie letting you know.”

Nathan furrowed his brow, “I haven’t seen Julie.”

“You haven’t. Then why did you come here?”

“What was Julie supposed to tell me?”

Mallory smiled and said, “I told her I wanted to see you to thank you for taking me from New Ulmerton. So thank you.”

“What changed your mind?”

“The Zord were able to help me see the truth about my father. You and your friend were right; he’s not a good man.”

Nathan looked into Mallory’s eyes and said, “What happens now?”

“I’m going to stay here.”

Then Nathan remembered, “What are you doing wearing a Zecka?”

Mallory took a deep breath, “I’m going with Jingo and Drang to New Ulmerton to try and steal a military database.”

Nathan felt his heart go into his throat, “You can’t do that. It’s too dangerous, especially for you.”

Mallory put her hand on his arm and he enjoyed the touch, “I’m a member of this community now. They can’t do it without my help. All of us must do what’s necessary to ensure the safety of our world.”

“Mallory, you’re a Jongo. If you’re caught you’ll be tortured for treason.”

“I’m only a Jongo until I marry. Then that name will be gone forever.” Mallory took his hand and said, “Come and sit down a minute. I want to talk with you.” Suddenly, Mallory remembered, “You didn’t tell me why you came here?”

Nathan decided to be honest. He had to see what her response would be. “Anglo is of the opinion that you and I are going to be married. I came here to see what gave him that wild notion.”

“It’s not a notion, Nathan; he’s right.”

Nathan was stunned, “What, why, how can….”

Mallory put her finger to his lips and silenced him. She stared into his eyes and said, “I told you when I saw the Zord’s planet on the display that I had dreams about this planet since I was very young. Remember?” Nathan nodded. “I also told you that you were in those dreams.” Nathan nodded again. “I couldn’t remember that dream. I tried so hard but it wouldn’t come to me. I could only remember the planet and your face. I had that dream again after Kreej showed me all that has happened. I slept in the rocking chair on Julie’s front porch and this time I remembered it.”

Nathan looked at her and felt something inside him move. He saw the inner beauty of the woman in front of him and marveled that Anglo was right. He was drawn to her and felt it. Then she said something that changed everything in his life.

“I’m sitting on a bed holding our new born baby girl. You’re sitting on the bed with me and I can see snow on the mountain range through the window behind you. You say to me, ‘She has your eyes.’”

Nathan was speechless and Mallory continued, “I didn’t know if that dream was real or just something else. So I started looking at all the homes in our community that have a view of the mountains from a bedroom. There was only one that did.”

Nathan looked into her eyes and said, “It’s my home.”

Mallory felt her tears and reached forward and hugged Nathan tightly. “I felt my happiness and my love for you in that dream. The happiest time in my life is ahead of me and the biggest part of that happiness is you.”

Nathan knew. He lifted Mallory’s face and kissed her. “We need to get to know each other better.”

Mallory shook her head, “I’ve known you my entire life. You’re going to have to catch up.”

Nathan laughed out loud and hugged his new found love. Anglo was so right, this happiness was overwhelming.

June watched the couple and saw Nathan hug Mallory. She took a deep breath, let it out slowly, and looked at the sky, “Thank the Creator.”

That evening Nathan and Mallory walked to Scotty’s house hand in hand and knocked on the door. Julie answered and Nathan said, “If his Majesty would grant me a few moments, I need to discuss an important issue with him.”

Julie looked inside and Scotty came to the door, “Of course you’re going with Jingo and Drang. You need to meet them for a planning session at the learning center in the morning.” Scotty looked at Mallory and said, “You look lovely tonight, Mallory. That big smile really becomes you. You should also attend that meeting.”

Scotty raised his eyebrows and looked back at Nathan, “Is there anything else?”

Nathan stood wide mouthed and Mallory said, “No, I think that covers it.” She elbowed Nathan in the ribs and said, “Right?”

Nathan nodded. He shook his head and turned with Mallory back toward his house. Now he had to make sure she was not harmed in the coming attack.

N
iles and Toland were sitting on two rocks next to a fire in the clearing at the center of the Human Community. Niles was staring up at the night sky and took a deep breath, “I have almost forgotten how beautiful the stars are. It’s been so long since I’ve looked at them without wondering who we were attacking next.”

“I used to look up at the sky with my wife. That was a very happy time for me.”

Niles looked at Toland, “I didn’t know you had a wife?”

Toland sighed and shook his head, “She was killed for treason when my son turned her in for complaining about the King’s slaves.”

Niles sat up straight and said, “Are you serious?”

Toland nodded.

“I hate to be nosey but why did you serve in the Navy if the King did that?”

“My son was five at the time and he told his teacher what she said. He was awarded a medal and named a hero of the state.”

“Why didn’t they come after you?”

“I was away in flight training. My next door neighbor commed me and told me what happened. I was devastated but knew I’d be killed if I didn’t take the King’s side. I told the security agents when they came that it served her right. I guess they bought it. I joined the navy to get away from my son.”

“Are you worried about what’s going to happen to your son now that you’ve deserted?”

Toland looked at Niles and said, “I hope they kill him slowly. He is no son of mine.”

Niles leaned back and looked up at the stars and slowly shook his head at all the evil that was in the Province.

“Niles.”

“Yeah.”

“I’m going to ask to go with them to New Ulmerton to take the database.”

“Why?”

“I hear the Princess is going to help them. I don’t want her to be hurt. I also have a debt to pay for those worlds I helped conquer.”

Niles looked at Toland and said, “I’m no longer your captain but I do consider myself your friend. I’ll go with you. I also have a debt to pay.”

Toland smiled, “You will always be my Captain. You’re the one that remembered me when we were going to be destroyed. You also never turned me in when you knew I hated the King. Thank you, Captain. I owe you my life many times over.”

“Let’s go see if the Emperor will allow us to go.”

Scotty sat at the fire with the two former New Ulmerton sailors and said, “You want to go and help steal the military database?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. We understand the Princess is going and we don’t want to see her harmed. We also want to balance the scales on what we’ve done. We have both been in the building and can help the ones going to take it.”

“Why are you worried about the Princess? She’s the King’s daughter.”

“Yes but everyone knows she has a good heart.”

“They do?”

“Yes.”

“Well, you can’t go.”

“You don’t trust us?”

Scotty looked across the fire and said, “If I had to say, I’d say they are trustworthy. What do you say?”

Niles and Toland looked where he was looking and heard, “You’d be right. They can be trusted.”

“Who said that?”

“Vring”

Suddenly Niles and Toland saw a gigantic Zord sitting across the fire from them.

“They have been forced to serve in the King’s Navy. It was serve or die. They’ve never agreed with the King’s actions.”

Scotty looked at Niles and Toland and said, “I have other plans for the two of you.”

Niles tore his gaze from the Zord, “What plans?”

“I have some old Ultraships and I need some commanding officers. Are you interested?”

Niles started smiling and Toland was nodding, “Absolutely, Your Majesty.”

“Good. I’ll send you to Criston tomorrow so you can select your crews. I’m sending one of the Zord with you to make sure the ones you select can be trusted. We need to get those ships functional.”

Niles shook his head and looked over at Toland, “Now we can make a difference.”

Scotty smiled and knew that the Empire’s chances of survival were improving. Those ships could jump into a planet without teleportation boards.

Greyson had finished the download a week ago and had cross referenced it to the history the Province had given him. He didn’t want to believe the download but there was just too much evidence to show it was more accurate. If the Cainth were forced to join the Humans, why were they devoted to them? Same for the Glod? Those two were the strongest allies of the Realm. If they were forced to join against their will, well, that just couldn’t have possibly happened. And the Algeans became the closest allies of the Realm. Everyone knew it. That was why their galaxy was also being attacked along with Ross. Why would they have become such close allies if they were conquered and vanquished? No, the Dukes had manipulated history to make the Realm look like tyrants. If they weren’t, why didn’t they attack the Provinces in self-defense instead of leaving? He had one last question before he would know the truth. He entered a com code, “I’ve finished your history. Do you have a moment to discuss it?”