by Saxon Andrew
Matt looked at her with tears in his eyes and then she said, “But even though I didn’t think about it, I gave you my heart. I knew that if I couldn’t have you, there would never be anyone else. I love you more than you know, Matt. That love began with respect for who you truly are but over our time together it grew into more than respect. However, you have to decide if you can accept my love. I couldn’t force it on you. I couldn’t even tell you about it. If you can’t accept my love, you still can’t just walk away from me; you can probably make it without me but I will die without you. If you can’t love me, please at least stay my friend. Don’t push me away.” She reached for him and hugged him tightly. “I’ll always be here for you, Matt,” then she turned and walked away toward the castle’s entrance.
Matt felt his heart come alive. He ran after Melanie and turned her to face him. He embraced her and then he kissed her deeply. When they came up for air, Matt looked in her eyes, “You are also a part of me I can’t live without. I do not want to be without you in my life, Melanie; please love me.”
Melanie wrapped her arms around his neck, kissed him, and thought to him, “I have secretly dreamed and prayed that this moment would someday happen. I am yours and I will love you forever.” They went up to the castle and closed the door to Melanie’s room.
Chapter 21
The Red Warriors were gathered on the huge field outside Castle Gardner. The King and Queen had declared this day for the Realm to recognize the brave warriors and what they had accomplished. The twenty divisions had teleported in and marched to their assigned positions. Brez marched in with his division that was considerably smaller than all the others. He was proud of his men and he remembered the ones that died as he moved to his assigned position. The twentieth division finally entered and marched to their position. Then the Wiseman Division appeared and marched to the position directly in front of the assembled divisions. All of the Red Warriors watched as the elite warriors marched in perfect cadence. The Wiseman’s sole duty was to protect Ross and the Royal Family. The other divisions knew that the Wiseman division could probably defeat them all together and they were proud of the division’s heritage and skill. Durk, the Division’s General finally turned and yelled over his external speaker, “Red Warriors, Atten-shun.”
The millions of red colored warriors all snapped to perfect attention. This ceremony was being broadcast to all members of the Stars Realm and every planet was watching to see the Realm’s rulers and warriors. For some of the millions of newest members, this was going to be the first time they would see the Royal Family. An announcer tried to estimate the number of beings watching the broadcast but said that the number was too big to even imagine. The eight hundred and twenty seven planets that had originally formed the original Stars Realm had places for their representatives to view the festivities from the Royal Stands. Their planets had a high standing among the millions of members and part of every child’s education was to learn the names of every planet that formed the original realm. Hours before the ceremony started the broadcast had played the history of the Stars Realm and now every viewer knew the importance being given to this day.
Melanie rose and walked forward to the public address system and said, “Red Warriors, Stand at, ease.” The mass of warriors moved simultaneously and assumed an at ease posture with their legs shoulder width and their arms behind their backs. Melanie turned and bowed to the King and Queen and announced, “All Warriors present and accounted for, Your Majesty.”
Melanie then turned and announced, “My first duty today before we honor our warriors is to announce a decision made by the Royal Family. Admiral Leonovitch Alexander Kosiev, please move forward.” Leo was sitting in the reviewing stand when he heard the announcement and wondered what was going on; he stood and marched directly in front of the Royal Viewing Stand. Melanie looked down at Leo and said to the silenced multitudes, “Admiral Kosiev commanded the Megaships during the invasion and it is due to his decisions in the use of his ships that we were able to win. He has performed brilliantly during this conflict exhibiting both insight and decisive use of his forces. He is hereby promoted to the Rank of Fleet Admiral and will assume command of all the Stars Realm’s military forces. His ancestor, the original Admiral Kosiev, I know is proud of him at this moment.” Melanie walked down from the stands and presented Leo with his new commission.
Leo smiled and said, “Thank You, Admiral. I’m stunned.”
“You deserve it, Leo. I feel safer with you in command.”
Leo smiled and saluted. Melanie returned his salute and moved back to the stands. She stood in front of Tag and bowed. Tag returned her bow and Melanie returned to her chair.
Tag walked forward and the Realm looked at this mythical being that had forged the Realm more than a millennium earlier. Tag looked out at the sea of millions of spectators and warriors in front of him and said, “The Stars Realm is safe from future invasions of the Eight Legs because of the closure of the entrance into our universe they used to invade. The entrance has been destroyed and our civilizations have survived because of the extraordinary actions of those that fought to protect us. The war is over and we are safe from the universe killers. Some of those invaders became our friends and helped us in immeasurable ways to defeat those intent on destroying us. We can never repay them for all they’ve done for us. They are welcomed into the Realm and we owe them a debt of gratitude.
We are here today to honor those that gave the greatest sacrifice possible to protect the Stars Realm and ensure its survival. There are so many things that the Searchers, Sailors, and Red Warriors have done in the war we have just fought that to try and tell you about all of them is just not possible. However, there is one action that epitomizes all our forces have done to save us from destruction. I want to share it with you.” Tag nodded and the displays throughout the Realm began showing Brez and his five hundred warriors as they fought off the first wave of green invaders. The viewers then heard the Megaship captain warning about the coming swarms and ask them to hold out for two minutes to keep the mass in the open until the ships could arrive. Then they all witnessed the five hundred warriors as they were swarmed by more than a million invaders. The citizens of the Realm saw the savagery of the fight and watched as the Red Warriors held their ground against a tsunami of swarming Eight Legs.
At the conclusion of the recording Tag said, “These warriors could have teleported to safety and saved themselves. If they had done so the invaders would have scattered and millions of the local population would have been killed. They fought and held their ground against more than a fourteen hundred thousand of those green creatures. They gave their lives to save the lives they knew would be lost if they saved themselves. It made no difference that this planet was not a member of the Realm; those brave Warriors were there to protect life.” Tag paused and watched as the mass of Red Warriors all looked at the small Third Division. Most of them had not seen what had happened in the city’s square. Brez could still feel the pain of the death of his fallen warriors. Tag continued, “The one hundred and fifty survivors of this action will come forward.”
Brez came to attention and faced his warriors, “Those survivors, Atten-shun.” The survivors all snapped to attention. Brez watched them and then ordered, “Assemble in squads.”
They moved forward and formed ranks in front of his division. “Forward, March.”
The one hundred and fifty marched around the Wiseman division and moved forward toward the reviewing stand. Every warrior began quietly chanting, “Third Division, Third Division, Third Division,” over and over until they stopped directly in front of the Royal Stands. Brez stopped and ordered, “Halt. Right face.” The one hundred and fifty survivors turned and faced the reviewing stands. Brez then turned and bowed to the King of the Stars Realm. Silence then fell on the field. “Before I continue, there is one who wishes to speak about your sacrifice.” Tag stepped aside and a tall black furred being approached the podium.
“My na
me is Gholas and I am the leader of the world that you came to defend. We witnessed your bravery and watched as your fellow warriors all over our planet gave their lives to save my people. We cannot express how much that sacrifice means to us. We would all be dead now except for your intervention. My people are a testament to your bravery and we have made the square where you fought and died a planetary memorial to those of you that faced the green horde. The monument constructed there has every name of the five hundred that faced the horde that day and we will be teaching our descendants of your bravery; our children will learn the names of my planets saviors. We have also constructed a hundred and fifty beautiful structures at the finest locations on our world for you to live should you choose to come and live with us. My planet will care for you, your families and descendents for the rest of your life. They and my people will be waiting for you when you complete your service and we hope you will come. We promise to make your lives as pleasant as possible as befitting your sacrifice that saved us all.”
The millions of Ross citizens that had gathered around the field watching the proceedings on monitors immediately cheered the announcement. The roar was deafening. The tall being bowed to the Red Warriors and then stepped back.
Tag moved forward, waited for silence; he then announced, “Some of our member planets learned about what the Dafer were doing for these brave warriors and I have been notified that every Red Warrior present today will be given a residence on the planet of their choice. We have more than ten million requests for you to come and live on these worlds that respect and admire your accomplishment and they will be waiting for you when you are ready. They all know their worlds will be safer with you living among them.”
The assembled divisions held their heads higher. They welcomed the gifts but knowing the Realm respected their actions meant more than the actual gift.
Tag then looked down at the survivors and said, “Those of your brothers that died in the square that day have been moved to a fitting burial site. They along with all of you are hereby awarded the Crimson Crown our Realm’s highest award for bravery and upon your death you will join your fellow Red Warriors in Colony Park here on Ross to be interred with Dorg-Ross and the other heroes of the Realm.”
The Red Warriors erupted into cheers and were joined by the citizens of Ross as Danielle assisted by Admiral Grace stepped down and moved down the line of survivors and presented each of them with the Realm’s highest award for bravery. Each of them bowed to the queen and felt proud of the recognition for them and their fallen comrades.
Finally, Danielle returned to the stand and Tag raised his arms; the noise abated and then there was silence. Tag nodded at the Wiseman division and General Durk turned and ordered, “Third Division, move forward.”
Juck turned and moved back in front of the regiment he had just been promoted to command. He then moved forward to assume Brez’s place in front of Third Division. He turned and faced the division and ordered, “Third Division, Atten-shun. Forward, march.” Each of the units echoed his order in their turn to march and Third Division marched out of the ranks of the assembled divisions and moved in front of the Royal Stands. General Durk then ordered, “First and Second Divisions, Close ranks left.”
The two divisions turned and moved left to remove the space between second and fourth divisions. Durk then ordered, “Wiseman Division, Atten-shun. Right face. Forward March.” The Wiseman division then marched and assumed the position the First Division had formerly occupied.”
Brez was facing his warriors and wondered what was happening. He looked at Juck and the Cainth gave him a small shrug indicating he didn’t know.
The announcers were telling the viewers that this was unheard of and that they had no idea what was taking place. Tag looked down at the Third Division and said, “Colonel Juck, step forward.”
Juck flinched and marched forward and stood at rigid attention.
Tag looked out at the Red Warriors, “One of the benefits of our Red Warrior’s armor is that all of their actions are recorded. General Brez asked that we review the actions of Colonel Juck and we reviewed his contributions during the conflict. I can say without any doubt that we would have lost all five hundred in the square but for the fighting skill of this fine warrior. Colonel Juck, you are hereby promoted to the rank of General and you will assume command of the Wiseman Division immediately. The Wiseman division is being moved to the ranks of our Red Warriors and Third Division, which from this day forward will be named Brez’s Division, will assume the task of defending Ross and the Royal Family. Only our finest warriors will be allowed to fill the positions of the Warriors that died protecting life on Dafer. Richard Wiseman was one of my closest friends and he would demand that this be done. The Brez Division has set a standard for all of our future Red Warriors to follow.” There was no holding them back, the Red Warriors broke ranks and rushed forward to embrace the chosen defenders of the Realm. Every member of the Third Division was lifted to the shoulders of Red Warriors and carried around the field’s perimeter for the assembled crowds to cheer them. The cheering continued for hours afterward. Juck stood in shock and Brez said, “You deserve it my long time protector. Make me proud.”
Juck embraced Brez just as General Durk arrived and stood in front of Juck. Durk snapped to attention and saluted the small Cainth; Juck looked at him and said, “I relieve you, Sir,” and returned his salute. Durk dropped his salute and grabbed the small Cainth’s hand and said, “You have a good team, General.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Why retire and pick a house, Red Warrior. It’s time for me to enjoy what life remains.”
“Thank you for your confidence, General.”
“I couldn’t be leaving my Warriors in better hands. Besides, we need them to fight. They want to go to war.”
Juck remembered the savage battle and said, “Be careful what you wish for.”
“They’ll handle themselves well. They deserve the chance.”
After ten hours the announcers began broadcasting a warning for an important announcement from the Royal Family in fifty minutes. Twenty minutes before the announced time the Red Warriors received the order to assume ranks and they immediately teleported to their formations. On millions of worlds everyone wondered what was happening.
Danielle approached the podium and said, “My husband and I have ruled the Realm since its founding except for the brief period when Rose was Queen of the Realm. We initially refused to take the positions but the Realm insisted. We reluctantly agreed to do so until someone better qualified could replace us. Cassandra Gardner had a vision more than twelve hundred years ago of one of her descendents being born with higher psychic abilities than any of us in the Royal Family. Tag and I agreed to rule until that child was born and grew of age. That child is Matthew Anglo Gardner who led our fight against the Green Invaders. We are abdicating our thrones and Prince Gardner will be the new King of the Stars Realm. We are leaving the Realm in very capable hands.”
The crowd erupted into cheering. Everyone knew the role Matt had played in the war. Danielle held up her arms and the crowd slowly became silent. “We will continue to support him in any way he deems necessary. May I present to you King Matthew Gardner.
The roar was deafening not only on Ross but on every member planet of the Realm. Melanie stood next to Matt on the viewing stand with her ever present hat, which had become famous in the Realm, and waved at the cheering millions. The Realm began celebrating.
Melanie looked up at Matt and smiled. Her pride of him was obvious. Matt looked at Melanie and said, “Make sure you clean your hat.”
Melanie looked at the cheering crowd and said, “I’m giving my hat away.”
Matt furrowed his brow and Melanie said, “I am going to place it in Angels Tomb to thank her for what she sacrificed to save us.”
Matt embraced her and felt the tears. He closed his eyes and heard Angel say, “Love her, Magic. I can rest now.” Matt felt her go and knew
she would always be in his heart. He looked at Melanie and knew he was going to marry her soon.
She said, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, My Love; I’m finally happy again.”
Melanie held him tight and felt him in her heart.
Epilogue
Edison and Newton watched a rebroadcast of the final battle and felt the excitement of the moment. Finally Edison looked at Newton and said, “Did you tell him?”
“Yeah, I told him.”
Edison continued staring at Newton and the small spider squirmed and said, “Well, I kinda told him.”
“What did you say?”
“I gave him the device and told him that I wanted him to live to see me grow up.”
“That’s not telling him!”
“He knows I’ll live millions of years, Edison.”
Edison thought a moment and asked, “What about his mate?”
“She was in the ship the first time he used it so she was also affected.”
