by DP Scott
“Anton, please hear me,” turning her thoughts inward, Saturna concentrated as hard as she could.
“Saturna, you’re safe, My Queen! There’s much to tell you. The kingdom has been taken by the Veectoreze. I don’t know where you are but…”
“I’m in the Vaulted Room and have communicated with Gondee through my auri and know of the siege. I’m coming to the barracks to release you so you can help me regain the kingdom.” Just hearing his thoughts made Saturna feel better in spite of her situation.
“Unless you have access to the prison’s computer, releasing us will be difficult. If you try to laser the locks, a loud alarm will sound. I don’t know how many Veectoreze sentries are guarding the barracks, but there is only one way in and out, and a female Zardite would be very noticeable. You should not enter the prison,” replied Anton, fearful she would take unnecessary risks to release the Zardites.
“Gondee tells me something must be done today before dark, as Detis arrives on Zard tomorrow. From the information you have given me, I’ll alter my plan somewhat, but expect me tonight,” said Saturna with determination.
Drawing several diagrams on a make shift desk, Saturna came up with one plan after another, but abandoned all of them. There were two big obstacles she couldn’t overcome: getting the Veectoreze guards together and away from the barracks, and getting into the prison unseen. Writing down idea after idea, Saturna crossed each out and cried out in dismay. “There must be a way. If only I had more help!”
At that exact moment, the concealed doorway opened and there stood a grinning Hete carefully holding a box wrapped in light brown burlap. Jumping up from her chair, Saturna ran to greet him.
“Hete, am I glad to see you! Did it go well?”
“It went incredibly well. You would have been proud of me. I have some food and clothing for you,” he said, placing his package gently on the table.
“And Peep? Were you able to get Peep?”
“I think I heard a funny noise coming out of here,” he replied, pointing to a pocket on the side of the bundle.
Lifting the flap, they saw a delicate hand, then an arm and then…
“Peep, how wonderful to see you!” cried Saturna, clapping her hands together as the Farilight climbed out of the pocket and onto the table.
“And you, Your Majesty,” replied Peep, bowing her head. Dressed in an aqua green outfit and matching hat, which covered her large and pointy ears, Peep looked well-groomed and healthy. “So this is the famous Vaulted Room Detis covets. I can see why, as it appears to hold many of the kingdoms treasures.” Scanning the huge room she saw the carved archway, the priceless crown of Zard, glass cases full of large and precious jewels, and boxes and boxes of gold.
“Do you think it’s the wealth of Zard Detis wants or the power to rule the Solar System?” asked Saturna attentively looking at all the treasures the room held.
“If I had to guess, I’d say both, My Queen.”
“You’re probably right,” said Saturna, extremely glad to have Peep with her again. “Tell me Peep, have you been safe these last few days?”
“Oh yes, my castle is quite self-contained and Maize checked on me when she could. Maize also brought me news of the siege and told me what was happening with the Veectoreze. I felt it would be wise to stay in your chambers, hoping you and I would reunite, but I did have plans to flee before Detis returned to Zard. You can imagine my happiness when Maize came to get me this morning. I’m full of joy that you were able to escape the space pod.”
“Hete and I are very lucky to be here today!”
“Yes,” said Hete, “We had a big adventure. Saturna, would you like something to eat? Maize packed your favorite foods.” He stood leaning against the table munching on a sirgap.
Peep was surprised at how casually Hete addressed the Queen, but Saturna appeared not to have noticed.
“Thank you yes, I’m famished. Let me dress quickly and then we’ll eat together and plot to retake the kingdom!” said Saturna, feeling very cheerful as she went to the dressing room with her clothes.
Walking about Saturna’s work station, Peep had a look at her written plans to regain the castle from the Veectoreze. Each plan was unique and interesting, but Peep wasn’t sure any of them would work. Two of the biggest obstacles were the number of Veectoreze and the infallible computer which ran the barracks. The prison’s computer was newer and different than the one running the castle. She knew she could override the castle’s computer, but the one in the barracks would take time, time they didn’t have.
“Peep, have you had a chance to look at my ideas?” asked Saturna, returning to the room dressed in a fitted metallic white and blue jumpsuit. When Peep nodded in affirmation because she was still deep in thought, Saturna added, “Then shall we brain-storm those ideas with Hete?”
Saturna glanced at the document Peep was reading and then reached out to pull two sturdy stools she had found in an old storage closet towards the table. Placing one on either side of her work station, she encouraged Hete to hike himself up on one stool while she plopped down on the other. They quickly fell into a discussion about what the three of them could do to get the castle back.
Peep paced back and forth, walking over and around the plans as they discussed issues and problems. She eventually found her way towards a hard covered book, oddly named ‘Maintaining the Kingdom’ and sat down upon it.
“If we can somehow get all of the Veectoreze in one location, perhaps we could use sleeping gas. I don’t know where it is, but I do know there’s sleeping gas on Zard,” said Saturna, polishing a whipal on her sleeve.
“I know where the sleeping gas is! Detis makes it. She has cans and cans in her chambers!” yelled Hete in excitement.
Saturna was astonished. “Detis makes sleeping gas? I wonder how she learned to do that. Do you think there would be enough to knock out, let’s say three hundred sentries?”
“There may be,” said Hete, scratching his head. “I’ll go to her chambers and find out. But I’ll need assistance to carry the gas containers especially if I have to bring them here. I’ll go and see Uncle Tete today. He’ll help us!”
Saturna silently wondered how they would transport the gas containers through the castle. Even if they used the secret passageways, they’d need a distraction to get from the Vaulted Room through the kitchen and into the secret tunnel. She would have to enlist help from the kitchen Urites. Picking up a jeweled pencil, she made a note.
“How will we get the Veectoreze together, My Queen?” asked Peep.
“That’s the biggest problem. We have to get all the sentries together in one room, put them asleep and sneak into the barracks to release the Zardites,” replied Saturna with a deep sigh.
“What if we had some sort of feast in the Grand Dining Hall. Didn’t I see a balcony running along the top of the room? We could dispense the gas from there,” said Peep, envisioning the plan.
They all paused to think about the idea of a feast when Hete leaped off his stool and started jumping up and down.
“I know, I know! We could have a celebration for getting the castle. All the Veectoreze I saw today seem pretty happy and proud of themselves for taking the castle from us. I could order them to have a feast tonight!” said Hete enthusiastically.
“Order them, Hete?” questioned Saturna.
“Well, I didn’t get a chance to tell you, but I told all the Veectoreze I saw today that I was in charge until Detis returned,” replied Hete, cringing slightly. He was afraid Saturna would get angry. “I had to do it because I thought they were going to throw me out of the castle. Anyway, they listened to me and one of them even called me Diplomat Hete.”
“How clever of you, Hete!” exclaimed Saturna. “If you could organize the celebration saying there is to be a surprise speaker, they may all come thinking the surprise speaker is Detis. Then we could put them to sleep and storm the barracks.”
They all sat quietly
playing out the action in their minds, Hete beaming at the compliment.
“What about the Urites serving the Veectoreze at the feast, Your Majesty? We don’t want to put them to sleep or they might get hurt when the Veectoreze wake up. And how will Hete exit the room? I imagine he’ll have to make some sort of formal announcement to keep the group together as a unit,” said Peep.
“Good point. How can the Urite servants leave the room unnoticed? We’ll definitely need their help at the barracks because the three of us can’t do everything. Hmm, there’ll have to be some sort of distraction. Oh my, it’s too much to accomplish and we only have seven hours until nightfall.”
Now feeling discouraged, the three of them looked at each other, silently worried they couldn’t deal with the situation in the short time frame. Saturna drummed her fingers on the table, Peep drew a diagram of the Grand Dining Hall with its entrances and exits, and Hete hummed a little tune.
Suddenly a huge smile appeared on Saturna’s face. She looked at them and said, “I have an amazing idea!”
