Saxon Andrew: Escape to Earth-Living Legends

“We must do something about those High Energy Beings.”

“By all means, go right ahead!”

“You know I can’t do it alone.”

“You didn’t join us when we attacked them?”

“That’s just it, you didn’t attack them; you fled so fast you nearly overloaded your reactors.”

The two beings were in different galaxies and appeared to be two light blue colored mists that flashed as they sent their thoughts across the vast distances between, “Easy for you to sit in judgment. You weren’t there listening to millions of them taunting us to keep coming. There were only twenty of us.”

“I understand why you fled but you could have left your newest ships with your tools to take them on?”

“And what would we have to defend us at our planets if they were all destroyed? You know if they were, those monsters would be coming after us. The ships protecting the Adolescents were all eliminated and they had a million of the newest models.”

“If those beings hadn’t killed them, I would have done it myself.”

“Why!?”

“Those idiots only screamed their fear. They told us nothing about the ships that attacked them or how many they were facing. They gave us nothing on what we might be facing. How are your tools coming along?”

“As you might expect. Even after twenty years we’re hundreds of years from them reproducing enough to build up the numbers we lost. We’re fortunate those beings haven’t attacked us since. I’ve needed the twenty years to try and build up my forces. The number of tools I currently have is less than pitiful. I’m forced to send my personal ships out to handle the rebellions that have sprung up.”

“The ones you took didn’t even fire on their attackers. They were wasted.”

The Legend Elder sighed, “That was our fault. We fled without ordering them to attack. They felt our fear and ran. After the fact, we should have at least began the attack and waited to see what would come of it.”

“I didn’t want to point that out; I’m glad you see it. I agree that all of us are glad they’ve not moved on us. We’re all building up our defenses.”

“We won’t be much help if you choose to launch another attack against that giant galaxy.”

“You could send your advanced ships to support it.”

“There are thousands of us close by that still have all their ships and their tools. It’s my opinion that it is now their turn to take on that enemy. We’ve paid our dues in attacking first.”

“Do we know where those High Energy Beings came from?”

“No!”

“Didn’t the Adolescents say one of them was in the Spiral Galaxy?”

“Yes. They said there was only one of them there.”

“Just one?”

“They insisted they searched the entire galaxy and only found a single being there. They wrongly insisted they killed it. It was that being that killed them.”

“Then the others came from somewhere else.”

“You’re stating the obvious. Before I’d go anywhere near the large galaxy again, I’d find out where they came from.”

“Unfortunately, that is where we’ll have to start the search. I listened to the Adolescents’ broadcasts during the attack of their planet and it appears that all of their ground based disruptors were taken out before that single being went down to their residence and killed them. That has to mean our disruptor beams can kill them.”

“Does it?”

“What do you mean?”

“Perhaps that being sat out and watched its tools do the dirty work and lost its patience and went in. That is how we often do it.”

“Ummmm. You could be right. But why did it wait so long?”

“I suggest you go and ask it.”

“Don’t get cute.”

“I apologize Elder. It’s like you said earlier, the Adolescents didn’t tell us what we needed to know. The only way to find out is to go back and see if our disruptors will kill them and you must be aware the disruptors on our ships are not as powerful as the ground based ones.”

“I have to believe taking out the disruptors first was significant. Why would it waste those ships if it could have gone in and done it? Those beings must be afraid of our disruptors. And you’re right about the disruptors, they weren’t as powerful in the past.”

“What?”

“I’ve had my scientists working on that issue and the newest model’s disruptors are as powerful as our planet based disruptors.”

“I haven’t heard anything about that.”

“The new ship is nearly as large as my personal vessel. I’m not going to start building them until my newest personal vessel is more powerful than that new model.”

“You better make sure it’s a lot more powerful!”

“I know. Rebellion is not something we can allow. I’ll send you the plans and perhaps you will have suggestions for improving my new design.”

“Just make sure your Emotion Broadcaster is operating at full power. Any of your tools considering a revolt will be scared out of it.”

“I’m not going to depend on that alone. My vessel will be beyond anything the new model could do.”

“It sounds like you won’t be leading an attack anytime soon.”

“It might not be as long as you think. I’ve got my new ship moving along. I’ll keep you informed on how it’s progressing.”

“Send me the plans!”

“You’ll have them later today.”

“Good!”

“Fleet!”

“Go ahead, Scout.”

“I’m sending you a copy of a conversation I just intercepted. You need to pass it on to Fleet Operations.”

Averel received the mental message and shook her head, “It appears the stalemate is ending.”

“That Elder is the one that will push them.”

“I’ll pass the message on. What’s the chance of your going to that Elder’s location and taking a look around?”

“I suspect his fleets are as thick as flies on a corpse.”

“Now, Hengel; you’re starting to use human metaphors.”

“Some of them are just so appropriate, Averel. How much longer are you going to keep your job?”

“I really like it here and I started when I was just a child. Earth feels more like home than Goran.”

“You were not a child!”

“I wasn’t an adult.”

“Well, ok. But it’s time you went back and started a family.”

“Are you available?”

“Uhhhh…”

“See. You don’t want to leave the excitement either.”

“I’m just shocked you suggested it. I’m nowhere near your lofty status.”

“Operations have ranked you the number one scout.”

“Get out here!”

“There you go again with a human phrase. I’ve been watching you for a while. I think we’d make a good couple. Think about it.”

“I’m really flattered, Averel. But I’m not ready to retire. I guess you’re right about missing all the excitement working with the Humans. Besides, you’re way out of my league.”

“Why would you retire? We can formalize our union and continue what we’re doing right here. It would be a win-win for both of us.”

Hengel smiled, “Now who’s using a human term? Are you serious?”

“Do you think I’d joke about something like this? I’m serious about your being the one I want to spend my life with.”

Hengel smiled, “I’ll go take a look at the Legends’ planet and then contact the High Leader and see if he’ll approve it.”

“Approve what?”

“Our union?”

“What union? You haven’t asked me?”

Hengel closed his eyes and shook his head. He took a breath, blew it out, and looked up, “Averel, will you accept me in a formal union of our families?”