by Saxon Andrew
Pixie nodded and thought, “Where are you, Mom?”
Jixie suddenly appeared on the small ship and rushed forward and hugged Pixie, “I thought you had been killed. I couldn’t see you anywhere.”
Pixie hugged Jixie and felt her mother read her thoughts. Jixie jerked back and stared at Pixie with shock on her face. Ken said, “We need to verify that the Hornet saw you.”
Jixie saw all that Pixie knew about the creatures and said, “How could it see me in the layer?”
“Those creatures can see any being that enters their domain no matter where they are. They are a unique creation and I’m certain one of them saw you.”
“What does that mean?”
“What ship did you use?”
Jixie looked at Ken and said, “I used the ship that was built by my people.”
Ken blew out a breath and said, “That will probably remove the Realm from attack but it only makes it more certain that your species is going to be a target.”
“How? We live in a different creation than this one.”
Ken shook his head, “Can your people see this creation?” Jixie stared at Ken and, after a moment, nodded. “They can see your creation as well.”
“What are you saying?”
“These creatures will kill every one of your species and destroy anything created by them.”
“Surely they won’t be able to defeat our weapons.”
Ken said, “You need to contact the Leader of your people and bring him in on this conversation.”
Jixie scowled and saw Ken was serious. She thought, “Senior, I need a few moments of your time.”
Jixie broadcast the Senior’s thoughts, “How may I assist you, child.”
Ken said, “I am going to send you all the recordings I’ve made of the attacks we’ve done recently and I want you to analyze them.”
The Senior paused and said, “Send them.”
Ken pressed his panel and the electronic recordings started. The Senior absorbed them and at the end he said, “This is not good.”
Jixie said, “We can defeat them, can’t we?”
“I’ve done an analysis of their last battle and the beams being used against them are actually stronger than the ones on our ships. If those beams didn’t stop them, we won’t be able to either.”
Jixie looked at Ken, “What can we do?”
Ken slowly shook his head and said, “First we need to make sure that creature scanned you.”
“How do we do that?”
“If it saw you, I’m reasonably certain that one of them will come to your civilization to scan for your presence. If one appears, then you are targeted for destruction.”
The Senior said, “Is there anything we can do to prevent it?”
“I would recommend that you have all of your people on your home world except for several thousand scattered around your creation. If the scout follows its normal pattern, and I’m almost certain it will, it will go to the largest concentration of your people first and then leave to scan the other locations. Once that scout leaves your creation, all of your people need to get in their ships and scatter. They need to stay on board and be prepared to run.”
The Senior paused and said, “They will eventually catch us.”
Ken nodded.
“Why would you have us do this if we can’t escape?”
“They cannot stay away from their star for long periods. If they do they will start to die. If you can run long enough, you can buy time.”
“For what?”
“I don’t know, yet.”
The Senior hesitated and said, “Let us pray it doesn’t come here.”
The Senior disappeared and Ken turned to Jixie, “You will also have to run.”
Jixie suddenly realized that she was also in danger. Pixie hugged her and she said, “Take me to Sam.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Ken teleported the ship into Sprigly’s landing bay and Jixie teleported out of the ship and ran into Sam’s arms. She was weeping and Sam said, “It’s my fault, Jixie. It’s my fault.”
Eyes looked at Ken and Ken nodded. The giant Cat shook its head and teleported away. Vremel stared at the couple and then said, “One of the things I have always found to be true is that when there is no hope; there is.” Vremel teleported away.
Pixie went to Ken and held on to him. She started shaking her head and Ken said, “Jixie, we need to take a ship away from the Realm.”
Jixie looked at Ken and nodded. Sam turned to go with her and she said, “You can’t go.”
Sam looked at Jixie and said, “Then tell me honestly that if our roles were reversed you would allow me to go alone and I’ll stay.” Jixie couldn’t bring herself to say it. “The only benefit of being able to live a million years is because I have you with me. Ten minutes would be too long to bear without you.”
Sam walked with Jixie to Ken’s ship. Ken went over and thanked Sprigly, “I couldn’t have done this without you.”
“Sprigly’s branches turned bright green and he put a limb on Ken’s shoulder, “I suspect you see that we are more alike than different.”
Ken smiled, “We are brothers.” Ken turned and entered the small ship. The ship disappeared from the landing bay and Sprigly knew the sorrow being carried on it. He thought about what could be done to save Jixie and didn’t see anything. He went to his desk and thought about the Hornets.
• • •
Sam held Jixie close and looked out the viewport at the millions of distant galaxies. They were beautiful and Sam marveled at the beauty of creation. Jixie looked at Ken, “How long will it be before we know if they’re coming?”
Ken looked at his display and said, “The Silver Civilization is being exterminated by the Hornets as we speak. The Silver Ships are putting up a huge resistance but they are losing. Thousands of them have fled and are being chased by Hornets across creation. I suspect the Hornets will finish this before they make a move on another civilization.”
Sam said, “How long?”
Ken sighed, “About five days.” Sam put his head on top of Jixie’s and pulled her close.
Ken stared at the display and then turned around, “What did you mean by spending a million years with Jixie?”
Pixie said, “Dad’s life was extended by Atlas.”
“What?”
“It’s a long story. We convinced him to do it.”
“How?”
“Mom threatened to reveal a secret if he didn’t come discuss it with her.”
“Oh.” Pixie shook her head and stamped her foot. Ken looked at her, “What’s bothering you?”
“Sometimes the Creator just infuriates me. This is one of them.”
“Why?”
Pixie fell into the second command chair and said, “She’s just so inconsistent. She creates humans with psychic abilities to fight for her and then she takes those abilities away. She creates the strongest ships in Creation and then she removes the ability to fly them. She creates a species that can destroy any other civilization and she doesn’t provide a way to stop them. That is stupid.”
Sam said, “Why do you say that?”
“Those Hornets are old. They must be at least a million years old.”
Ken said, “More like a billion years.”
“Then that’s even more stupid.” Pixie saw the others staring at her and she said, “There is no way to know that that species would remain trapped in that galaxy. They could evolve where they could leave and then every species in civilization would be in just as much danger as the other three represented. It’s dumb.”
Ken listened and felt something happening. “It is dumb.”
“I said it was.”
“Yes, but the Creator isn’t dumb and she had billions of years to prepare.”
Jixie looked at Ken, “I’m not sure I understand what you’re saying.”
Ken held up his hand and thought about the energies being used by the forces the Hornets were fighting and the energy
used by the Hornets. He let his mind go and allowed the pattern to build. He followed it and finally the pieces slid into place. He smiled and said, “What secret did you have?”
“Mom said she wouldn’t reveal it.”
Ken smiled and said, “Pixie, call Atlas.”
“Why would he listen to me?”
Jixie looked at Ken, “How did you figure that out?”
“I know who he is. He would know you would need him again.”
Pixie looked at Ken and Jixie said, “Call him, Pixie.”
“Why?”
“Because even if I’m going to die with your father, you shouldn’t have to live without Ken.”
Ken said, “No one is going to die. Call him!”
Pixie looked out the viewport and thought, “Atlas, I need you.” Pixie looked at her mother and said, “What makes you think he’ll come?”
“Because he said he would.”
“And I keep my promises.”
The four jerked their heads toward the viewport and saw the Shiny silver ship next to them. “Is this the one?”
Pixie looked at Ken and nodded. Suddenly Ken felt a shock run through his body and he quickly thought, “Don’t leave, Atlas,” as he fell out of his chair.
Pixie rushed over and wrapped her arms around Ken. “The shock will wear off momentarily. You are not harmed.”
Ken struggled and then managed to think, “I need you to deliver a message.”
There was a long moment of silence and then they heard, “To whom?”
“You know who. The message is that I need help preventing the destruction of two gentle civilizations.”
“I don’t want to bother them.”
“They will never forgive you if you don’t.”
“You don’t know that?”
“Yes I do.”
The Silver Ship disappeared.
Sam looked at Ken and said, “What’s going on?”
Pixie helped Ken into the command chair and he said, “Mother isn’t stupid.” He pressed the panel and saw Jason on his display, “Admiral, I’ve just sent you a request for activation codes. Send those to me now.”
Jason looked at his board and said, “No one has the authority to receive those codes.”
Ken looked at Sam and Sam said, “Send the codes Admiral or face a trial for treason.”
“Are you authorizing this, Your Highness?”
“I am, now do it.”
“I will have to inform the Crown about this.”
“I don’t care who you inform. Carry out this order immediately.”
Jason turned to his control board and punched numerous buttons. Finally he looked at them on the display, “Are you sure about this?”
Ken said, “I am.”
Jason pressed a button and Ken saw the codes appear on his screen. “Thank you, Admiral.” Jason nodded and the display went dark.
Pixie shook her head, “What’s going on?”
“I’m following the most difficult pattern I’ve ever seen. We’ll know I’m right if we’re stopped before I can do it.”
“Do what?”
Ken smiled, “We’re going to activate the most powerful weapon in Creation. I believe we will be stopped before we can do it.”
The small ship jumped and the speakers on the wall started blaring, “YOU ARE ENTERING QUARANTINED SPACE. STOP OR YOU WILL BE DESTROYED.”
Ken sent the activation codes and the speakers stopped blaring. The three others looked out the viewport and were shocked at what they saw. Before they could proceed, Eyes entered their thoughts, “You are forbidden to go any closer.”
Ken thought, “You knew about this.”
“I was just told by Mother.”
“We will not stop.”
“Then you will be destroyed. Those ships will be used to kill you.”
Ken said, “I want you to ask Mother this question.” Ken heard silence and he said, “If humans had only chosen to fight for their species alone, where would Creation be now?” Again he heard only silence and he screamed, “ASK HER!”
Eyes said, “The Hornets are innocent.”
“And they are her children where Jixie’s people are not.”
“She is determined to protect her children.”
“If you care to check, we’ve been doing the protecting around here. She needs to answer my question. What if we had followed the example she’s setting now?”
Eyes said, “They are innocent.”
“They are what they’ve been created to be. It is that creation that makes them dangerous. Our Mother should know that accidents can happen and allowing the consequences of her mistake to happen is not right when they can be stopped. She didn’t allow for accidents and she is to blame for that; not the Hornets.” Eyes was silent and Ken said, “Tell her that I know she did provide for accidents and the failsafe must be used or this event will do her more damage.”
“Why?”
“Because those people were created by her sister and she is related to them. They are family.”
Jixie suddenly heard music at an extremely high volume and she put her hands over her ears and yelled, “Make it stop!” Suddenly, it did.
Eyes said, “She wasn’t aware of the relationship. She had to look at Jixie to make sure.”
“Even if the relationship didn’t exist, she should do this. She still hasn’t given me an answer.”
Eyes said, “You may proceed.”
The speaker on the wall came on and they heard, “Since everyone is in the mood for asking questions, I have one of my own. Why do you need us?”
Ken stared at the speaker and said, “I wasn’t sure you’d come.”
“As you said a moment ago, that’s not an answer.”
“I hope to save two civilizations from destruction. I need you to help me do it.”
“And just what do you think we can do that no one else could?”
“You are the only ones that the Alexander Kosiev will listen to.”
There was a moment of silence and then they heard, “Good answer…good answer.” Two people suddenly appeared on the small ship’s bridge and Sam was shocked speechless. Jixie said, “If I look as good as you do, I am impressed.”
Danielle Gardner looked at Jixie, showed her surprise, and laughed, “We are a pair, aren’t we?”
Thomas Gardner looked at Ken and said, “I was starting to get bored so I hope this proves to at least be interesting.”
Ken stood and stuck out his hand, “Of that I am sure, Your Highness.”
The Realm’s Ultimate Warrior took Ken’s hand and shook it.
Jixie shouted, “The Hornet scout has arrived in my creation.”
Ken said, “Tell the Senior to keep all the people there until I tell him otherwise. When the scout leaves, bring the rest of your people to your home world.” Ken started the small ship moving toward the three giant ships in front of them and said, “Your Highness, now would be a good time for you to say something.”
Tag looked out at the giant ship as its systems began coming on line and its massive beams start powering up. He looked at the ship and said, “It’s been a long time, my old friend.”
There was a long period of silence and the beam ports grew brighter. “Have you been as bored as I’ve been?”
Tag smiled, “Probably not but maybe I can make up for some of it. Grace, are you still in charge?”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
“What do you mean you’re in charge?”
“You know I am.”
“Are not!”
The four heard a sign and heard, “Male egos; they never change.”
The four burst out laughing and Ken said, “Will you notify the other two ships that we are going to need them to assist us?”
“Grace?”
“See, I told you I was in charge. They’ll start powering up momentarily.”
Tag said, “Why do you need three ships?”
“That’s the only way to completely cover a pl
anet.” Tag tilted his head and nodded. Ken said, “Jixie, give the Gardners everything that’s happened and I need you and Sam to take one ship and Pixie and I will take the other.”
Sam and Jixie stared at Ken and he said, “We don’t have much time, get moving!”
“How do you know we can power these ships?”
“Because Sam was given psychic ability before the attacks began on the three species. Mother is not dumb.”
Ken and Pixie teleported on board the second ship and sat down in the two chairs. Pixie said, “I’m not psychic. How am I going to provide power for this ship?”
“Pixie, you define psychic using the descriptions of that talent by those that had those powers in the Realm. Trust me on this one; you and Jixie are probably the two most powerful psychics these ships have ever had on board.”
“Welcome aboard.”
“Thank you. Who are you?”
“I’m BC. I’m the only computer on this ship so I’ll try to make up for the lack of conversation. Are you ready to power the main banks?”
“What do we need to do?”
“Hopefully, nothing. Let’s see if you have the necessary psychic field.” They hear a rapid screech and heard, “Whoa boy!”
“What’s wrong?”
“The power was accelerating and I was losing control of it. I’ve sent the excess into the reserve banks but we still have more than we can control.”
Ken said, “Is it possible to send the excess to the Kosiev’s reserves?”
There was a pause and they heard, “The other ship also sent their excess to the Kosiev. It is now at full power.”
Ken said, “Jixie, I need you to extend your jump field around us and take us to your home world.”
The three ships moved closer together and then disappeared.
They appeared above a beautiful planet and they heard, “Jixie, what’s going on. I thought you wanted us to scatter and run.”
Ken said, “We want to try and stop them first. If we fail, then run as fast as you can. Are all your people on the planet?”
“The last ten just arrived.”
Ken said, “Alexander, can you get the three ships to place a psychic field around the planet?”
