The king was scared but furious enough to override his fear. “You will not succeed. My guards have you cornered like the dogs you are.”
He was waving the pistol and screaming, “You have no right to be here. This temple is mine and has been for generations. You will not drive me from it!”
The king mistakenly believed the situation to be a stalemate. Because he was armed, he thought the odds were even. It was far from that. The angry king pointed his handgun in Elizabeth’s direction and fired, barely missing the ear of Al’s wife. The situation was deteriorating rapidly, and Al realized the threat needed to be eliminated—and quickly. He knew what he had to do. Al raised his laser pistol and shot him in the middle of the forehead.
The king’s face changed from anger to surprise, as the weapon slipped from his hand and clattered to the floor, followed by the man. He uttered one final “No,” with his last breath, and then died. The King was dead, and his dynasty along with him.
Almost immediately, the original titanium doors that the curtains replaced so many years ago slid closed, and Tiro materialized next to Al.
“We have control of the facility’s central computer Mister Clark,” he said, “The outpost is locked down. Do you wish for me to make the surrender announcement?”
Al’s reaction to the king’s aggression had been immediate, and without thought. The King was the first person he had to shoot in his new life, and in the aftermath, it made him sad—but not sorry.
“Yes, Tiro. Let them know their temple is under new management.”
“What sir?”
“You know what I mean, tell the people here there is no reason to fight for something that now belongs to everyone on the island. Let them know they are to gather in the chamber of the sacred cube, and I will fill them in on what happens now. Tell them today their lives just changed dramatically for the better.”
Tiro systematically opened the doors and herded the people occupying the facility to the meeting chamber, where Al and his team waited. There was no resistance.
Edward Florida, a skilled surgeon, treated Darius’ injuries, which looked worse than they were. Still, he would carry some scars in memory of his ordeal.
“I am still in shock that we succeeded. You are truly an extraordinary person Master Clark,” said Darius.
“I had a lot of help, and don’t call me Master. You are my equal in many ways, so please call me Al.”
Darius lie on a stretcher looking up. “I call you Master as a sign of respect, and cannot feel comfortable referring to you otherwise. Please allow me this courtesy.”
Al thought, Who am I to fight tradition?
In that first meeting with the subjects trapped inside the outpost, he told them little more than there was to be another meeting the following day, and they were to make residence in town until then. Al canceled work on the castle. Tomorrow would be a day of rest.
The research outpost inside Vision Peak was emptied and the doors locked to respond only to Al’s badge. The exhausted victors went to Darius’ house to rest and recover.
The next evening they returned to the sacred chamber, and Al stood before the clear teleporter to tell the people of Thera the real purpose of the temple, and what he knew of its history. He informed them there would be a security protocol established, and access would be limited, but all would be free to become involved with the exploration and use of the station’s facilities. It turned out that many of the townspeople were sympathetic to the cause and openly happy the king’s rule was over. Al’s reception was surprisingly favorable.
He used some of the captain’s tricks to provide information and leave the details fuzzy. Many years had gone into forming their current beliefs, and too much change, too fast, could cause more harm than good.
In the end, he asked for permission to relocate four hundred and fifty-two colonists, plus maybe twenty natives from Avalon to Thera.
“We will eventually be settling on the far side of the island,” he told them, “But we will need your help in the process. If anyone can give us temporary lodging, it will help immensely. In the meantime, we hope to assist in adapting the devices and machines inside the mountain to help everyone.”
The town was about to transform drastically, with a great many ready for a change and hopeful their lives would be improved. A little tentatively, they agreed to the new conditions.
The next few days blurred in Al’s memory. There was so much to do. Darius was settled in his house to recover, with Timothy there to help. Tiro changed all the instructions and digital indicators throughout the facility to the English language, as he had done at Overlook. There would be no need for scholars to interpret the wonders buried within the ancient writings.
Tiro tied all primary functions to security badges produced by the facility computer, and the badges assigned to specific personnel, with spares to be handed out as needed. The station was made secure, and a security protocol enacted.
A small victory party was held at the Forman home the night after the uprising, but the exhausted victors had little energy left to celebrate. They made plans for a more suitable occasion when things calmed down.
The king was buried, with a sparsely attended formal ceremony. The few that spoke at his funeral said kind things and referred to a man who cared about the people he was closest to. There were some that would miss him, and the special treatment they received during his reign. They felt attending his final assembly was the least they could do.
Chapter Nine
The victors returned from Thera to a hero’s welcome on Avalon. Within ten minutes of their appearance, the chamber containing the transport cube filled with hopeful colonists waiting eagerly to hear the outcome of the quest.
Falkor caused quite a stir when Al convinced him to become visible, and for the first time, he noticed the little lizard with wings was not quite so little. It seemed he got a little bigger each time Al saw him. Until the dragon came to know the new people and became more familiar with the strange surroundings, Falkor attached himself to Al’s leg.
The leaders of the colony arrived as soon as they received word of his return, and they exchanged quick greetings. Al pulled Captain Effinger aside and filled him in so he could make the announcements. Al was not fond of the spotlight and knew the captain was much better at this kind of thing.
The captain was stunned, “You killed the king?”
“It was him or us Tobias, the guy was nuts, and waving a gun around.”
“Yea but….”
“He had a hostage, and he was shooting at Elizabeth.”
“Well, that helps to explain it.”
Al gave him some of the details and the outcome, and when he had the necessary information, the gray-haired leader gained the crowds attention by banging on a metal duct. The people settled down to hear what he had to say.
“Ladies and gentlemen. The search to find a new place to colonize has been successful. An island has been found that will fill our needs. However, it will not be an easy transition. The natives have consented to our coming, but we will be imposing on their hospitality. We must remember that we are the invaders on their island.
“We have gained control of the Caretaker facility located there, which is misunderstood and treated as a religious temple. In that regard, they will require assistance from us.”
He took a moment to collect his thoughts, and continued, “We will start by transporting essential supplies and coordinating with our benefactors as soon as we can make arrangements. We will have to limit the amount of materials sent to the new world, so please bring with you only the minimum. Above all, please be patient. When we are ready, we will begin transporting people five at a time, so this may take a while.
“We will be posting more details about the island called Thera, the planet, and our place there to your data pads, so keep them charged as best you can. That’s all for now.”
The captain walked out with the tired travelers following right behind him. They rode
the lift up to the library with cheers from the grateful settlers rebounding through the crowded cavern.
****
The returning explorers and friends gathered outside the sleeping compartments to wind down and exchange their thoughts. As the years passed, more and more people had been added to the circle, and the room became somewhat crowded. The people that stayed behind wanted to know everything about the mission and asked a thousand questions.
Falkor was introduced to each in turn and appeared happy to meet them. His wings were growing, and when he flapped them in excitement, his feet would leave the ground for a second. He would squeak and float for each new friend he met.
When he wasn’t following Al around, Falkor was with Kira. They were both from other worlds, away from home, and one-of-a-kind. Because of this, they had something in common and became fast friends. Before Al realized it, she had taken control of the dragon’s care, which left Al free to concentrate on more pressing matters.
“I would like to take the Watchers to survey the island right away. We can survey the area where we will be settling, and check for dangers at the same time,” Al suggested to the captain.
“That is a good idea. Without any form of transportation, it’s probably the best way to get a handle on the lay of the land.”
The Watchers are two autonomous drones about the size of a basketball designed to be silent and unseen surveillance devices. These flying spheres can be programmed to fly at specific heights and use various sensors to detect threats. Technology on the outer skin allowed it to blend into the background and become virtually invisible, with the information and images they gathered transmitted to the portable security devices carried by Al and his officers.
Ana wanted to know more about the Caretaker facility. “Is it like this one?”
Chris answered, “It has a lot of the same capabilities, but is arranged differently. There are no internal transporters, like on Avalon, so you have to walk everywhere you go. It is mostly on one level arranged in a broken circle with a long curving corridor along the outside.”
“Why didn’t the natives make better use of it?” asked Cody.
“They didn’t have the benefit of a guide like Tiro, and all the writings were in the Caretaker language. Darius told me the first king appointed scholars to study the controls and machines, and they have been studying ever since. The tech was so far over their heads they couldn’t make much sense of it. Eventually, they figured out how to make limited use of the station, but nowhere near what it’s capable of.”
“All that technology right there and they didn’t know how to use it,” mused Chris, “Their lives could have been so different.”
****
The captain wanted to talk to the Avalon natives, the Sansi, and give them the opportunity to come with them to Thera, but there were too many things that needed his attention. He assigned Jesse Alvarado to fly Kira home in the morning and present the proposal. Jesse was the man that interested her when staying with the Kuthra, while her childhood boyfriend, Toji, the man she was supposed to marry stayed with their people. She had chosen to spend her time with the people from Earth. During the attack on Camelot, Toji had given his life while coming to her rescue. His funeral was still fresh in her mind, and circumstances prevented her from speaking with Jesse since that dreadful day.
Al, Chris, and two additional security personnel accompanied them. Chris and Al had been friends with her almost since they landed, and it was Kira and Toji that had made first contact with the people from the roving star.
She was torn and thinking about what to say to her family on the long walk down the tunnel providing access to the Caretaker outpost at ground level. When they reached the shuttles, parked at the end, she saw it was Jesse that was to be their pilot, and her eyes clouded over.
“Hi Kira, how are you?” he asked as he helped her into the aircraft.
“I am well Jesse. How are you?”
“All things considered, I guess I’m doing okay.”
She smiled, while his smile faded.
“Kira, I am so sorry…about everything.”
“Why are you sorry? You have done nothing wrong.”
“I mean—.”
“It is all right Jesse, the path of life sometimes makes unexpected changes, and there is nothing to be gained by dwelling on the past. We must follow the path given us. I will be okay in time.”
They flew over Camelot on the way to the Sansi caves and found the place the Kuthra called home a shambles. All the sonic fence posts were down, and it was evident the Riktors, and the scavengers that followed them, had enjoyed tearing the place apart. It crossed Al’s mind to stop and try to salvage some items, but the destruction was so complete it appeared there was nothing left to recover.
When they landed outside the cave entrance, two members of her tribe came out to escort them in. Inside the main chamber, covered in handmade rugs and the furs of successful hunts, the entire tribe waited to hear the decisions made on this important day. There were not that many of them left, with a grand total of only twenty-two individuals. The loss of six young warriors during the attack had been hard on them all, and they worried for their futures.
Many discussions were taking place as the newcomers entered. When they reached the center of the chamber, the natives quieted. Kira’s father, chief of the Sansi, sat in his allocated chair with a regal composure and watched the visitors as they entered. Kira ran to her father who quickly rose for a hug.
“It is good to see you, daughter,” he said in their language. Glancing down at her legs, he added, “I see you are becoming accustomed to the gift the Kuthra have given you.”
She followed his gaze and replied, “Yes father. Sometimes I even forget they are not mine.”
“How are you, my child? We have thought of you often. Are you and the Kuthra still hiding in the mountain?”
Yes, we are, as you are hiding here. But Father, I have been to another world! There is a beautiful island, where people very like us are willing to give us refuge. I have come to ask you to go with us.”
“Is it a world where we can live in peace—without fear?”
Kira smiled as she recalled what she had seen on Thera.
“It is wonderful Father, with a mountain on one end, and a village at the bottom where it is safe to be whether it is dark or light. There are no Riktors or Devil Dogs! We would be truly free at last.”
He slowly grinned, but his eyes held a touch of sadness. “Our decision was made before you came. We agreed that if you came to us with hope for a better future, and a safe place to live, we would accept. The Riktors now hunt during the day, and their numbers are increasing. The Devil Dogs are growing much bolder, and now even the Flyers are hunting us. Avalon is no longer our home; it belongs to the beasts.”
“What did he say, Kira,” asked Al.
She turned to Al, her face alight, and said, “The Sansi are going with us. My people are going to come with the Kuthra to Thera.”
****
Three civilizations and their resources combined to become one. Human, Sansi, and Therans joined forces to assist in the migration from Avalon to the island.
The very first trip included Al, Chris, Liz, and Falkor. Around them, the inside of the transporter was packed with food packages and the necessary equipment to prepare and consume them. The organic replicator machines in the sleeping quarters at Lookout Mountain were kept busy producing the meal packets that did not require refrigeration, while the shop machines poured out a variety of needed tools, devices, and materials. Also included were the two surveillance drones.
The time difference between worlds forced the need to accomplish the shipments quickly. The settlers reloaded the transport cube on Avalon as quickly as possible between trips, for at their fastest pace, the cube on Thera would receive a shipment about every three days. A matter of minutes on one planet warped to three days on the other.
For the refugees on Avalon, it all happened pretty fast
. For those on Thera, it felt like forever.
Elizabeth threw herself into organizing the unloading and transfer of materials from the transporter to an empty home close to the temple designated for temporary storage. Darius insisted that his house should be their headquarters, and Falkor found this quite satisfactory. Dusty made him a little bed in the corner, and the dragon settled in as if this had always been home. As long as he was close to Al, he was happy.
Al and Chris helped move the supplies and spent the day working with the townspeople. Many were willing to take in some of the travelers for a few days until other arrangements were made, and Al found them to be open, curious, and mostly friendly. They worked hard that first day, and after the sun had been down for hours, they retired to the Forman home.
The six of them and Falkor relaxed in the comfort of Darius’ simple house and talked while they ate. “How many shipments of supplies do you think…before they start sending people?” Chris asked Al.
“I don’t think the captain is going to be allowed to hold off for long; those people are ready to leave. I expect on the second or third transport; they’ll add some people to the mix.”
The colonists on Avalon were anxious to leave and lined up to help reload the cube. Once things got rolling, they could repack the transporter in a matter of minutes, and send it on its way. When enough supplies had been sent through, they began sending people—five at a time.
****
The next morning, Elizabeth accompanied Darius and Timothy to continue preparations for the coming influx of people, and Chris and Al went to begin restoring the outpost. Al brought with him the cube containing Tiro. With the hologram’s help, the process would be a lot easier.
Tiro explained earlier how he could assist them. “The natives have occupied the Theran outpost for some time and have made significant changes, both inside and outside. I will have to go through every area of the facility and restore them to design configurations. There are vital components covered with floor mats, and maintenance doors blocked by unnecessary embellishments. The last inhabitants did not use the outpost as intended, and in their ignorance have done a lot of damage.”
Thera Page 7
