EMPIRE
               Book Four
                  A’chon

          By Richard Allen Stotts




Copyright: 2000 All Rights Reserved By Author


Published by IndependentBook.com, May, 2001
EMPIRE book four                                               Richard Stotts



Table of Contents


Chapter One A Royal Marriage ........................................3
Chapter Two Gateway .....................................................32
Chapter Three Traveler ...................................................65
Chapter Four History Lesson ..........................................96
Chapter Five Most Wanted............................................144
Chapter Six The A’Chon ...............................................225
Chapter Seven Peace and Quiet ....................................249




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Chapter One
A Royal Marriage




       Daniel and Ellen were extremely anxious about
this meeting with the Archbishop of the Reformed
Church. Mankind’s Emperor and Miss Ellen Murphy
had been living under the same roof for almost eight
months now. Proper behavior had been observed
by both young people but it wasn’t easy to refrain
from what the two of them ached for. Despite
chaperons and separate living quarters there were
whispered speculations across the breadth of the
Empire. The Archbishop wasn’t told specifically why
he had been asked to the Summer Palace, he did
have a good idea about what request might be
forthcoming.
       “Thank you so very much for coming here, your
Grace. Please be quite at ease with no ceremony.”




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EMPIRE book four                                 Richard Stotts



Daniel began.
        “I am always honored to be at your service,
Your Majesty.” The elderly cleric had bowed deeply
and was indeed honored, despite past friction
between the Emperor and himself.
        “This is Miss Ellen Murphy, Sir Ian’s sister.”
Daniel introduced the pretty girl at his side.
        “I know, Sire. All of the Empire knows her
beauty. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Murphy.”
Ellen managed a passable blush at the old man’s
very large compliment and his kiss to her hand.
        “Come and sit and be comfortable, We have a
matter of some importance to discuss with you.”
Daniel motioned toward the sitting room just off the
formal reception area.


        The Emperor, Sir Ian Murphy and his twin
sister Ellen had all turned fifteen within a few weeks
of each other. In the Free Trader society that was
Daniel’s origin marriages were often arraigned and
took place as early as fourteen years of age. In the




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mainstream society of the New Empire such early
unions were generally frowned upon, the age of
twenty was considered more appropriate. There
were no laws concerning the age of marriage,
indeed there were few laws pertaining to any
matters of marriage. Incest and same sex unions
were forbidden, that was about it as far as the
Empire cared. Still, there were certain conventions,
especially when the marriage of an Emperor was
concerned.


       After taking a seat as requested the
Archbishop began the conversation.
       “Master Jeremy and Miss Alexandra, how are
they progressing Sire?”
       “Good. They are becoming more independent
of each another,” Daniel replied, “but We think that
perhaps they will always be a part of each other’s
lives. Thank you for asking.”
       “Let us arrive at the purpose for my being here,
Sire. With respect, I can see your discomfort and I




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EMPIRE book four                                    Richard Stotts



am an old man who prefers not to waste your time
or my own.”
Ellen and Daniel glanced at one another, here it
comes.
        “Miss Ellen and Our self intend to wed, soon.
To come directly to the point the two of us would
very much like the blessing of the church.”


        The Archbishop only nodded and remained
silent for a moment before responding.
        “You both are still so very young, Sire. There is
the matter of Miss Ellen’s parents and of their
approval.”
        “We have known each another for more than
four years now, we have been through a great deal,
both of us. Her parents are...they do not even want
us to be together at all. We will not be parted, we
intend a life together with or without the approval of
the Church or the Empire. We mean no disrespect
to Your Grace in any event.”
        “No offense is taken, Sire. It is still a difficult




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position that Your Majesty puts the Church in.”
       “Why? Ellen and Our self love each other and
always will.” Daniel knew that this would be a
difficult meeting, he was right.
       “There are... conventions.” The Archbishop
replied.
       “We are two humans who love and honor one
another. How would God look upon us?” Ellen could
see her hopes for a church wedding evaporating.
       “With favor, I think.” The Archbishop answered
simply.


       Daniel asked the big question.
       “And how do you look upon us?”
       “The church cannot sanction such a union until
a more acceptable age is attained. I pray that both
of you can understand this.”
       “We do not.” The Emperor’s eyes had
narrowed just a bit as he answered, the faint scar on
his face reddened, something that did not escape
the Archbishop’s attention.




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EMPIRE book four                                  Richard Stotts



        “May I be so bold as to ask what Your Majesty
now intends?”
        “If we are forced to there will be a civil or
maritime marriage.”
        “And Miss Ellen’s parent’s, if I may ask Sire?”
        “They... They do not even approve of Ellen or
Sir Ian being in Our presence, they will never
approve of our marriage.” It was a hard thing to say,
but there it was.
        “I am so very sorry, Your Majesty.”
        “Thank you for coming on such short notice,
your Grace.”
The Emperor stood abruptly, as did Ellen. The
Archbishop of the Reformed Church rose as quickly
as his age allowed. The cleric had hoped on this
visit to also bring up a possible funding contribution
for the new cathedral on Elysium, but not now. In
times long past certain English kings might have
asked for someone to rid them of this troublesome
priest, it crossed Daniel’s mind, but not seriously.
The audience was over, a complete failure.




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       While the meeting took place Ian was down at
the lake with Jeremy and Alex, both of the
youngsters greatly enjoyed messing about in the
antique rowboat. Alex became silent for a moment,
the smile gone from her face.
       “What’s wrong, Sweet pie?” Ian asked.
       “Daniel’s unhappy. The church man said no.”
Ian had by now come to accept the small girl’s
talent, the news was not unexpected. Ian’s
unspoken opinion of the Archbishop contained
multiple expletives.


       The evening meal was not very festive at all,
Ellen had her heart set on a real church wedding,
perhaps one with even her parents present.
Ian tried to lighten the mood some. “Why don’t the
five of us all climb up to the overlook and just hurl
ourselves off?”
       “Only if the Archbishop comes along,” Daniel
finally smiled a little.




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EMPIRE book four                                 Richard Stotts



        “It’s not like we were asking the Archbishop for
sainthood or something!” Ellen said with a little bite
in her voice.
        “What’s done is done,” Daniel concluded, “we
have a quiet civil ceremony or perhaps a shipboard
wedding, or we live in awful go to hell sin.”
Ellen finally added her own smile to the evening,
she would marry Daniel if they had to wear mud and
feathers and sacrifice a goat under a full moon.


        Ian shifted the conversation to another subject
altogether.
        “The work on N35467 is finally getting some
results, Professor Hyde really wants me to come
and have a look at the A’chon control complex, so
do the naval research people.”
        “No!” Daniel’s answer was short and to the
point. “It’s too damned dangerous there! I nearly
got vaporized by those ‘ruins’ the last time we were
there. Besides, the animals tried to eat everyone.”
        “Ease up,” Ian countered, “they have a




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complete powered perimeter around the place and
enough marines and Falcons to hold off the entire
Snake civilization! Starling is still there, his
nastiness will fend off anything.”
       “Why not set up a shield to keep out the local
beasties?” Ellen asked.
       “There might be some sort of interference
effects with the still functional A’chon devices.” Ian
prattled off into matters that would give a normal
intellect migraines for a week.
       “I need a best man to stand beside me,” Daniel
interrupted, “perhaps after the wedding you could
go. With a marine escort, maybe with all of the
marines.”
       “So when are you two going to work up the
nerve to be husband and boss?” Ian asked with a
wicked grin.
Daniel and Ellen looked at each another for a
moment before the Emperor came to a sudden
decision. Why wait any longer?
       “This Saturday, aboard the flagship of the Blue




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Fleet.” Daniel had the ability to reach quick and
certain decisions. Ellen’s eyes went to full wide at
this news.
        “So soon?” Ellen squeaked (the girl tended to
squeak in moments of stress).
        “Cold feet?” Daniel teased.
        “I have very warm feet,” Ellen replied in a mock
sulky voice, “which you will find out about after
Saturday.”
Daniel reddened a little, Ian nearly choked on his
pudding. Jeremy and Alex didn’t quite understand
but erupted into giggles anyway.


        “But what about Jacob and Stephanie?” Ellen
asked on a more serious note.
        “Their baby is due very soon, we could wait
another month or so if you want to.”
        “No. I’m tired of waiting, they’ll understand, I
know that Stephanie will anyway.”
        “So will Jacob,” Daniel agreed, “he hates
ceremonies anyway.”




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       Meanwhile......


              N35467


       “God damn this stinking ball of moldy green
shit!” Starling had thought that his first assignment
as a Senior Flight Lieutenant might be just a little
better than this overheated pest hole. Even the
things that passed for insects on this planet had
oversized teeth and an attitude problem, the one
that had just bitten Starling on his neck looked like a
miniature vampire bat. Starling vowed to put in yet
another request for a reassignment. Anywhere.




       The Summer Palace




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EMPIRE book four                                 Richard Stotts




        Daniel and company had just settled in the
sitting room after dinner when the security duty
officer entered the room and bowed.
        “Pardon my intrusion, Your Majesty.”
        “What is it, Major?” Daniel asked.
        “Sire, there is a chartered passenger shuttle
requesting permission to land, it is waiting just
outside the palace’s restricted zone.”
        “And...?” This didn’t seem to be a matter for the
Emperor.
        “Sire, the pilot says that Elizabeth Murphy and
her daughter Mary are aboard. Sir Ian and Miss
Ellen’s mother, apparently.”
There was a moment of silence in the room as
everyone tried to come to grips with this sudden turn
of events, then they all tried to speak at once.
Daniel finally called for quiet and spoke again to the
officer.
        “Grant permission to land at once.”
        “Yes Sire. Please, if you will, let our security




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people first verify who is aboard the shuttle when it
lands.”
       “Of course, you have their photos and such in
your security files.”
       “Yes Sire, we shall be as quick as possible.”
The marine bowed again and left quickly.


       “She never said she was coming, and where’s
father?” Ellen asked with some alarm.
Daniel looked down at Alex with an unspoken
question.
       “Donno,” Alex answered simply, she hadn’t a
clue. Even a Talent sometimes draws a blank.
       “Let’s go on down to the receiving area and
wait.” Ian’s suggestion stirred them all into action,
there were a thousand questions to be answered.


       The instant the small charter craft sat down on
the stone landing area it was surrounded by fifty
Alert Force marines, each had a beam rifle aimed at
the shuttle. Heavier weapons some distance away




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EMPIRE book four                                Richard Stotts



had also locked onto the unscheduled arrival.
Recent events had resulted in security measures
that left little to chance. The craft’s pilot was very
much regretting taking this fare and prayed that the
woman was who she said she was.
        “Jesus, lady! I sure hope you know these
people!”
        “I do,” Elizabeth Murphy answered with some
pride, “now please open the door.”
The pilot did as requested and was immediately
staring down the barrel of Lieutenant Baka’s very
impressive pistol.
        “Step outside, everyone! Do exactly as
instructed in all matters!”
        “No problem.” The pilot was the first to carefully
exit, then Elizabeth and Mary. Harsh lights bathed
the entire area as Baka held up photos of the
Murphy women to compare them with the
unexpected visitors. Fingerprints were next.
        “Please place your palm on the scanner,
ma’am.”




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The device beeped once and glowed green.
       “Welcome to the Summer Palace, ma’am. We
do apologize for the weapons and all.”
       “Thank you, no apology is needed. May I see
my children now?”


       Baka’s earpiece caused him to turn and
gesture toward the approaching group of people.
Elizabeth remembered to bow to the Emperor
before embracing her son and daughter. Daniel
stood back a little as tears flowed and hugs were
exchanged between the Murphy’s. Alex and Jeremy
stood very close to the Emperor, it seemed a
moment of both happiness and sadness.


       After a time Daniel moved forward to greet the
woman, it was awkward at first when he extended
his hand, unsure of how she felt toward him.
       “A handshake won’t do, come here.” Elizabeth
Murphy embraced mankind’s absolute ruler in a tight
hug, one that was returned in kind. When they




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EMPIRE book four                               Richard Stotts



stood apart, Daniel’s eyes were also leaking.
        “Where is Mister...?”
        “John is, well we had a parting of the ways
about you and our family, I wanted to see my
children. May we go inside and talk, it’s been a very
long day?”
        “Of course, I forget my manners.”
Daniel picked up little Mary (who was getting bigger)
and welcomed her with a hug before they all moved
inside. Alex and Jeremy had a new playmate.


        The shuttle’s pilot managed to unload the
luggage under the watchful eyes of the marines, he
promised himself several stiff drinks if he ever made
it home alive.


        Ellen (and several dozen of the palace staff)
helped her mother and little sister to settle into their
own rooms before everyone (the little ones were
packed off to bed) sat down for a very long and very
private talk. Where to begin?




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       “John was doing what he thought was best for
his family, for a time I thought he was right.”
Elizabeth Murphy looked close to tears.
       “Mother, we know that.” Ellen answered softly,
“no one feels badly toward either of you. We do feel
bad that Ian and I had to sneak away like we did.”
       “I knew from the very first that you and Daniel
were intended for one another,” Elizabeth continued,
“John can be so stubborn when he gets his mind
wrapped around something. We haven’t separated
or anything like that, I just needed to be with you all
for a while.”
       “We intend to marry,” Daniel said.
       “Of course, I knew that in time...”
       “Saturday.” Daniel added gently.
       “Oh.” The woman seemed taken very off guard,
who would not be?
       “The Archbishop won’t sanction our being
married,” Daniel continued, “he says that we are too
young. My mother was Ellen’s age when she
married my father. We need to be married, very




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EMPIRE book four                               Richard Stotts



much.”
        “Have you.... forgive me, but...?” The woman
tried to ask a most delicate question.
        “No mother,” Ellen replied, “we have behaved
ourselves.”
        “They are flesh and blood, mother!” Ian
interjected. “Flesh and blood has limits. I know my
flesh and blood does.”
        “What do...?” The woman looked at her son
with a question on her face.
        “It’s not important. Daniel and Ellen are going
to be married this Saturday, will you stand with
them?”
It did Elizabeth Murphy great credit that she could
finally gather her wits enough to answer her son.
        “Yes. I will be honored to.”


        There were uncounted arrangements to be
made in the next few days, one of the first was a
very private meeting between The Emperor, Ellen
and the Royal Physician.




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       “Are you well, Sire?” Doctor Flynn asked with
some concern, no announcement had been made
yet of the impending wedding.
       “We are fine, so is Ellen.” Daniel paused for a
moment, a little embarrassed. “Ellen and Myself are
to be wed, this Saturday. We need...”
       “Conception inoculations.” Ellen finished
Daniel’s awkward request.
Doctor Flynn wasn’t easily surprised, this day he
was. “I see. As your physician Sire, I must ask
some very personal questions, may I?”
       “Of course.”
       “Have you and Miss Ellen had sexu...”
       “No. We take a lot of very cold showers, that
can’t last much longer.” Daniel grinned slightly at his
own openness.
       “Indeed not, Sire.” It was Flynn’s turn to smile.
“How long do you wish to delay any chance of
conception?”
       “We thought for three years at least. We both
know that we are marrying very young, there is




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EMPIRE book four                                 Richard Stotts



plenty of time for children later.” Daniel looked at
Ellen, it was something that they had talked of in
private many times.
        “I think that is a very wise decision on both of
your parts,” Flynn replied. “I will calibrate the
injections for three years. If either of you have any
‘problems’ do not hesitate to consult with me. I am
a physician, there is no subject that you should ever
hesitate to ask me about.”
        “Thank you, Doctor.” Daniel and Ellen rose, as
did the doctor. One small ‘arrangement’ had been
taken care of.


        The wedding of an Emperor was never a state
occasion but was always a private affair. Ellen
would be receiving no official title other than the
courtesy of being addressed as “The Lady Ellen.”
This is not to say that when the official
announcement of the pending wedding was made
public that it was received with little comment or
excitement. The media went berserk. Public




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opinion was fairly evenly divided between approval
and disapproval. Everyone who had ever met
Daniel or Ellen were seen to be in an excessively
good mood. Even Starling managed a rather
crooked grin when he finally learned the news.


       Ellen’s father was best avoided by everyone on
the Murphy’s farm. Ellen’s older brother Freddie
went to stay with the neighbors for the time being
and was considering enlisting in the Imperial
Marines.




       HMS Triton


       James Evan Kincaid, Admiral of the Blue, had
never preformed any sort of wedding ceremony.
Now he had to officiate at the marriage of an
Emperor. Admiral Kincaid was not a happy man, he
was a very worried man.




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EMPIRE book four                                  Richard Stotts



        “They say that His Majesty is very informal and
easy to speak with, sir.” Captain Trevor offered his
encouragement to the Admiral.
        “All the same I would rather face the Snakes
with just a stick to poke at them.” Kincaid replied.
        “The ceremony is really quite simple, sir.”
Trevor continued, “The men will be well rehearsed,
Triton shall be gleaming from bow to stern.”
        “I still have the most awful feeling that I shall
forget the words to say.”
        “Crib notes, sir.” Trevor suggested.
        “What?”
        “In the Book of Prayers, sir. Paste in the words
you need to say.”
        “Good idea.”




        The Summer Palace


        Elizabeth Murphy had shifted into full Mother




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Mode. To save time Ellen and her mother made a
quick trip to Paris for a private fitting for the wedding
dress. The designer struck a balance between
simplicity and elegance, the small diamonds flowing
in a pattern down the silk gown were as real as they
appeared to be. Ellen fretted that the short train of
the snow white gown might get soiled on the deck of
the warship she was to wed in, not to worry though,
the deck would be suitable for performing surgery
on.


        Daniel took Ellen and her mother to the Sun
Palace and then down deep into the bowels of the
ancient castle. Where the Imperial jewels were
kept.
        “Pick out something nice for a necklace,”
Daniel suggested, “both of you.”
Ellen and her mother were wide eyed and open
mouthed at what they were looking at. In any
direction you cared to look everything glittered. The
wealth of an Empire was literally at their feet.




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EMPIRE book four                               Richard Stotts



        “Holy shit!” Ellen squeaked. Her mother did
not think to chide her daughter for her language.
        “The first time I was down here I kept having
the urge to stuff things into my pockets, then I
remembered that it all belonged to me anyway.”
Daniel explained.
In the end Ellen settled on a ‘modest’ necklace of
white diamonds with a pendant consisting of a
flawless blue diamond the size of....well it was very
big. Elizabeth Murphy dearly loved pearls, the
strand she selected was simply amazing.


        There was the matter of the rings. Both Daniel
and Ellen’s parents had wed with simple gold bands
and that was what their children easily decided
upon.


        Alex and Mary would be flower girls, Jeremy
would bear the rings. In times past the rings were
carried on a satin pillow, this tradition had changed
during the years of chaos. Jeremy would be




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carefully carrying the rings on the upright tip of a
very sharp stiletto, symbolizing that marriage was a
most serious undertaking that sometimes had sharp
edges. The children took their practice sessions
most serious, especially Jeremy who felt very grown
up and manly carrying the sinister looking ring knife.


       And then it was time to wed.




       HMS Triton Orbiting Earth


       Everything that could take a shine had been
polished, the crew included. Everyone, including
those at regular duty posts, wore their dress
uniforms. Admiral Kincaid stood with over one
thousand naval and marine personnel on the main
hanger deck, the Emperor would be the first to
arrive.
       “Attention on deck! Empire arriving!”




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        As Daniel stepped down from the Imperial
shuttle there was the sound of a thousand men
snapping to attention. The Emperor wore the formal
uniform of state, gold filigree on both black
shoulders, all of the medals so hard won in defense
of mankind. In Daniel’s right hand was the Imperial
scepter, an object seen in person by very few.


        Sir Ian was next to set foot on the deck, he
wore the dress uniform of a naval ensign (retired),
the silver filigree of an Imperial Knight was on his
right shoulder. Ian fell into step two paces to the
rear of the Emperor as they slowly made their way
between the ranks of marines and naval ratings.
Not a sound was heard until the Emperor and Sir
Ian reached the small altar where Admiral Kincaid
stood. Daniel turned and faced the ranks, a
thousand men bowed as one in respect to their
Emperor, Ian included.
        “Welcome aboard Triton on this best of days,




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Your Majesty.” Kincaid felt remarkably calm, all
things considered.
       “Thank you, Admiral. We do appreciate and
shall remember all of the effort you and your men
have put forth.”


       Precisely on time, the shuttle carrying the
Emperor’s bride to be touched down on Triton’s
deck. A thousand battle tested men failed to
suppress smiles as two little girls exited first and as
they had practiced and began dropping rose petals
from the baskets they carried. Three cheers of
welcome greeted Ellen as she carefully stepped
down to the deck, she seemed to glow with a white
light in the sea of blue and khaki.


       Jeremy was next, he was dressed in a
miniature rating’s naval dress uniform, the ring knife
held firmly and proudly upright in his small right
hand, two gold bands pierced by the keen tip of the
blade.




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        Arched dress swords sheltered Ellen on her
way to the altar, her mother followed behind Jeremy
with a pride only a mother could feel. At last they all
met before the altar where Daniel took his bride’s
hand as they knelt for the prayer. Ian took the
scepter into his left hand, no one but the Emperor
could hold it in the right hand. The ship had
members from all of mankind’s religions but they all
joined in the simple prayer for the two people who
were being wed this day. Then it was time to say
the ancient words.


        “Do you, Daniel Grayson of Gryphon, take
Ellen Wallace Murphy of New Albion to be.....”


        “Do you, Ellen Wallace Murphy.....”


They did.


        The rings were taken from the knife, Jeremy




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never so much as blinked.


       They kissed.


       Daniel Grayson and Ellen Murphy were made
man and wife.


       His Imperial Majesty and The Lady Ellen.




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Chapter Two
Gateway


        The Sun Palace


        “Thank you for this.” Daniel was having a final
word with Ian before departing on his honeymoon
with Ellen. The Lady Ellen. His wife.
        “I never thought I would want to set foot on that
place again, but what Professor Hyde has sent is
beyond amazing. I’ll content myself with studying
his recordings and notes until you two get back.” Ian
replied.
        “Two weeks. It means a lot to me that you’ll
stay with Alex and Jeremy, you and your mother.”
        “You be good to my sister,” Ian looked Daniel
square in the eye.
        “I have to, she’s the boss now.” How could he
not be good to her, he loved her.




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       Ellen and Daniel’s only wish for a honeymoon
was to be left the hell alone, away from everyone
and everything. The tiny atoll in the South Pacific fit
every part of the bill. No air or surface vessel would
be allowed within fifty miles, nothing short of the end
of mankind would interrupt their time together.




       They stood together on the white sand beach
watching the departing shuttle, the sun would be
down in another hour. The pilot and crew had been
unable to hide their grins as they transported the
very young newlyweds to this small piece of
paradise.
       “It’s quite warm here.” Ellen finally said.
       “I think we overdressed for this place,” Daniel
added.
They remedied that mistake and went for a swim in
the clear water of the lagoon. Then it was time to be
together.




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        Daniel was so very afraid that he might hurt his
dear Ellen, she so afraid that she might not please
her Emperor. They were very tentative at first,
awkward and unskilled in the ways of love.
They learned.
Very well indeed.


        The atoll had one man made structure, it had
three rooms and a view that extended to the
horizon. Water was imported and stored below
ground in a huge cistern, power was a small
converter likewise out of sight. Food was simple
and easily prepared, stocked in an enormous cold
locker. A communications link was built into the
bedroom wall. Both Ellen and Daniel wore small
pendants around their necks in case of trouble,
open them and press the tiny stud and all of the
Empire would come charging over the horizon to the
rescue.
There would be no trouble, for at least this one time.




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Almost none, Ellen cut her right foot on some coral
on the fourth day.


       “Shit!” The girl had by now taken up some of
the language of Daniel and her brother.
       “What’s wrong?” Daniel was poking around for
shells in the shallow water as he looked up at his
new wife.
       “I cut my damn foot! Oww!”
Daniel was at her side in an instant, he knelt to
examine the injured appendage.
       “It needs sterilizing and a wound closure. A
doctor.”
       “No! There’s a first aid box in the bungalow.”
       “Sorry, this needs some actual doctoring,”
Daniel replied, “let’s get back and call for some
help.”
Ellen didn’t like the idea of an ‘intruder’ on their
island but Daniel picked her up anyway and carried
her to the small beach house, feeling very husband
like in the process.




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        “We should probably put some clothes on.”
Ellen suggested after Daniel had made the call to
Fleet Communications.
        “Oh! I think you’re right.” Daniel agreed.
Paradise made one forget about such things.


        The doctor was gone in fifteen minutes, Ellen’s
foot was slightly numb as she cuddled up next to her
hero and whispered to him. A soft late afternoon
rain had started falling outside, thunder murmured in
the far distance.
        “I do love you.”
        “Why?” Daniel asked gently.
        “I’m not sure, maybe it’s that little birthmark on
your cute butt.”
        “Just that?”
        “Pretty much, that and all of those jewels in the
palace basement.”
        “And I do love you.” Daniel responded in kind.
        “Why?”
        “Your mother taught you how to cook and I’m




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starved.”
Whack!
Dinner could wait for a while, there were other
matters at hand.




       The Sun Palace


       “Why so many smiles, Sweet Pie?” Ian asked.
       “EllenanDaniel arereallyhappy!”
       “Slow down! What are they up to?” Perhaps
not Ian’s best thought out question.
Alex just grinned all the more and ran off with
Jeremy and Mary to the play room, a trail of her
giggles in their wake.
       “Oh. Stupid question,” Ian decided. And it
was.




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        N35467


        Professor Hyde and the naval research team
knew that they were in the presence of enormous
power and a technology beyond their immediate
understanding. Perhaps it would always be beyond
their understanding.
        “It all centers around the disk,” Hyde began,
“but what does the disk actually do?”
The naval commander at his side said nothing, it
would have been a wild guess anyway. The ‘disk’
they were talking about sat shimmering in the
morning sunlight, it seemed to be a solid slab of iron
at least ten meters thick (eight meters of it
underground) with a diameter of over two hundred
meters. It’s surface was polished beyond mirror
bright and despite being pure iron it had never
rusted in the more than eight thousand years that it
had rested here.
        “Sir Ian will be here in another three weeks,
maybe that amazing brain of his can sort this out.”




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       The Atoll, Earth


       Daniel and Ellen had joked about building a raft
and sailing away to an island unknown to the
Empire. The two weeks were over, the young
couple had nothing to show for the time except very
dark and even tans, that and a love that could never
be ended.
       “Well, back to work,” Daniel sighed as the
shuttle appeared on the horizon.
       “We will always be together now,” Ellen
whispered, “that sounds so very good.”
       “Keep your wits about you, you are the
Emperor’s wife now, that too holds great power in
it’s own way.”
Ellen did know that, it frightened her some.


       The shuttle’s pilot was chosen for his skill, the




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craft barely disturbed the white sand as it landed.
The crew chief in dress tropical whites lowered the
ramp and stood to attention beside it as the
Emperor and the Lady Ellen approached.
        “At your service Your Majesty, My Lady Ellen.”
        “Is the Empire still in one piece?” Daniel asked
as they boarded.
        “It is indeed, Your Majesty.”
        “Then let’s go home.”




        The Summer Palace


        “My God, your father is here!” Daniel
whispered as they left the shuttle.
        “Oh shit!” Ellen held tighter to her Emperor,
what now?


        Prince Jacob (soon) and his wife (no longer
pregnant), Ellen’s mother and father, Mary, Jeremy




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and Alex and of course Ian all bowed in respect to
their ruler. It fell to Jacob to speak first, he stood
some distance in front of the group.
       “Welcome home Your Majesty, Lady Ellen.”
       “Thank you, it’s good to be back, I think.”
       “Mister Murphy arrived four days ago,” Jacob
said quietly, “there have been words between his
family, Sire.”
       “Words?” Daniel asked just as softly.
       “I believe it’s all been sorted out, peace if you
will, Sire.”
       “I see. And Stephanie?”
       “A baby girl, Sire. We named her Ashely, after
my grandmother.”
       “Outstanding! Let’s go face the music now.”


       John Murphy had finally yielded to the way that
things simply were. It had been a mistake to think
that he could in any way alter the course of history,
his family and the Empire were forever linked now.
Make the best of it and get on with life. He was the




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last to be greeted by the Emperor, Lady Ellen stood
at Daniel’s side as he spoke. Ian had given a quick
whisper of encouragement to the Emperor that all
was better now.
        “It’s good to see you again, sir.”
        “It’s good to see the both of you,” John Murphy
replied, “you both look so very good. Tanned too.”
Ellen couldn’t restrain herself any longer and moved
forward to hug her father. There was a spot of gray
at the man’s temple that Daniel hadn’t noticed
before.
        “I... Can the two of you forgive me?” John
Murphy asked.
        “Only if you can forgive us,” Daniel replied.
        “There is nothing to forgive, you belong
together.”
Daniel’s answer was to embrace the rough hewn
man of the land, so much time together had been
squandered on hurt feelings. The Emperor then
looked around at the small group of people.
        “Where’s Freddie?”




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         “He enlisted in the Imperial Marines, that’s
what finally made me see the light.”
         “I could cancel his...” Daniel began.
         “No. He really wanted to, let him have his own
life.”
Daniel nodded in agreement, there had been
enough of interference.


         That evening the Emperor and The Lady Ellen
sat at opposite ends of the polished ebony dining
table, as tradition dictated. All of the family were
present, save for baby Ashely. It was a very good
welcome back from a honeymoon. Daniel steered
the conversation away from the honeymoon (no
one’s business) and asked Jacob about his time
learning the trade.
         “I don’t think I made any major blunders,”
Jacob began, “I got a very good price for the
Imperial Jewels.”
         “Magic beans?” Daniel asked with a smile.
The ancient child’s story had survived history almost




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intact.
        “Five in fact, I am a little worried that the
beanstalk hasn’t sprouted yet.”
        “He’sfibbing!” Alex interjected with a giggle.
        “Indeed!” Daniel said in mock surprise.
        “And to think that these two are in charge of
humanity,” Ellen sighed.


        On a more serious note the soon to be Prince
brought up the subject that had been bothering him
now for almost a week.
        “The Minister for Military Procurement
submitted the contract for the new standard issue
beam rifle, the Brieling Ultra light.”
        “And?” Daniel had thought the issue was
already decided.
        “I have held off signing in your stead, the
weapon’s a piece of sh... junk in my opinion.
Something smells bad about the whole submission.”
        “It’s an enormous contract.” Daniel said.
        “If you could spare some time you should




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speak with the enlisted men in the test battalion,
away from any officers. Perhaps I am overstepping
my position on this.”
       “Not at all, you know more about marine
weapons than I ever will. We’ll zip over to Camp
Ferris tomorrow afternoon, unannounced.” Daniel
could see that Jacob Asher was a troubled man.


       John Murphy sat listening to Daniel and Jacob
as the dinner progressed. He had never until this
quiet moment fully realized the extent of power and
responsibility that resided in the boy who sat at the
head of the table. He did now. Ellen sat just as
quiet during the conversation between her new
husband and the Prince, her pride could not be
concealed.


       “So are you prepared for the coronation?”
Daniel finally asked.
       “Oh Lord!” Jacob paled visibly at that question.
No one was ever ready for that.




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        “At least I’ll be spared that!” Ian said with real
glee.
        “Why?” Daniel demanded.
        “The supply mission to ‘67 leaves in three
days, I’m to be part of the cargo.”
Daniel’s eyes narrowed a little, he didn’t like the idea
at all but he had said that Ian could go when the
honeymoon was over. The Empire did keep it’s
word, so did the Emperor.


        “They have the whole A’chon complex
completely secure now,” Ian explained, “there’s no
danger from the animals now.”
        “The ruins still have power, keep your wits
about you,” Daniel replied.
        “I intend to. Professor Hyde’s report on the
central control building seems to suggest that it’s
some sort of communications system or perhaps
even a transport center.”
        “Transport?” Ellen asked.
        “Maybe a way of shifting material objects or




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people even, across great distances.”
        “Is that possible?” Jacob asked.
        “It is if they did it, we haven’t a clue right now if
it can be done.”


        “There’s one thing about that place I have
never understood,” Daniel said.
        “What’s that?” Ian asked.
        “The animals. Why is the place swarming with
such nasty wildlife?”
        “It is pretty apparent that the A’chon did not
colonize the planet in the way we might. Professor
Hyde thinks they just used the planet for a sort of
way station, they probably had barriers to keep the
fauna out and then just ignored them.”


        “There is the one nasty thing that you will still
have to be very careful of,” Daniel warned.
        “What’s that?” Ian and everyone else were all
ears.
        “I believe that Starling is still there.”




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After the laughter had died down Ian suggested that
perhaps Lieutenant Starling had served long enough
on N35467 and could be rotated home.
        “But then he would be on this planet!” Daniel
argued.
        “Not if he is ‘assigned’ elsewhere.” Ian said.
        “I’ll contact Fleet tomorrow.” Daniel decided.


        John Murphy held his tongue about Ian’s trip to
N35467, he didn’t like the idea at all but had come
to realize that his son was now in charge of his own
life. A parent has to let go sooner or later, it had
come sooner to Ian’s father.




        Camp Ferris, Australian Continent


        “I think we just passed the headquarters
building,” Jacob Asher said.
        “I know, let’s set down over there at that firing




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range, there’s some marines using it right now.”
Daniel was piloting the Imperial shuttle, he always
did if the situation permitted. Camp Ferris had no
prior warning that the Emperor and the soon to be
Prince would be arriving this day. Surprise visits
always revealed more of the truth about any military
installation than formal, preplanned inspections.
       “Let’s talk with the non commissioned people
first, if need be you run interference for me.”
       “Understood.” Asher had grown to like Daniel
more as each day passed, today was no exception.
The two of them thought a great deal alike. There
were two escort shuttles in the Imperial flight,
security would never again be taken for granted no
matter what the situation.


       As it turned out there were no officers present
at the firing range, just four disgusted Gunnery
Sergeants and eighty of their charges.
       “The fucking brass ought to have these piece
of shit rifles shoved up their fat asses.” Sergeant




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Cruz was not a happy marine. The other marine
standing next to him interrupted Cruz’s opinion of
things in general and pointed to the area behind
where they stood. A polished black shuttle bearing
the gold Imperial crest had just settled silently to the
dusty ground.
        “I’ll be dipped in dog shit,” Cruz croaked. (This
expression has existed in one form or another for as
long as men have worn uniforms).
        “Yeah, me too,” Sergeant Sluzarski agreed.


        Imperial Marines of the royal security forces
fanned out from the other two shuttles as the
Emperor and Lieutenant Asher stepped out of the
black shuttle. Cruz bellowed for a cease fire on the
range and ordered all of the men to unload and
stand to attention at their firing positions. Daniel
was the first to speak as he reached the Gunnery
Sergeants.
        “Pardon our intrusion, Sergeant. We wanted to
get some honest opinions about the Brieling.”




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Cruz and Slusarski had snapped to attention and
saluted as the Emperor had approached, Cruz now
found himself shaking hands with the God Almighty
Emperor and wondering if he should have bowed
instead.
         “Your Majesty...” Cruz’s mouth seemed to be
jammed.
         “Be at ease, sergeant. We only need your
opinion, not your head.”
         “Yes Your... Sire.”
         “Is it any good?” Daniel asked.
         “Sire?” Cruz asked in a fog of confusion.
         “The rifle, Sergeant. Is the Brieling any good,
speak the truth.”
         “It’s a total piece of horse crap, Sire.” Cruz
couldn’t believe he had just said that to mankind’s
ruler.


         Daniel and Asher looked at one another, it
would seem that the official reports on the weapon
were less than candid.




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        “Explain.” Asher ordered.
        “Sir, the weapon is very light and easy to carry.
It’s light and easy to carry because it’s stock is
made out of too thin composites, it breaks. The
barrel is too small in overall diameter to dissipate
heat fast enough. The charging circuitry can’t
handle high G loading, it can stop firing if you drop it
on a hard surface. It won’t hold a pattern for crap,
throwing rocks is more accurate. I could go on all
day, sir.”
        Daniel and Asher looked at one another again,
they seemed to have found someone who had a
working acquaintance with the truth.


        “Let’s have a look at one, please put your men
at ease.” Daniel said to Cruz.
        “Stand easy!” Cruz had a voice that cut bend
steel. “Preston! Bring your weapon!” A very rattled
private did as ordered and fairly flew through the air
to comply.
        Daniel took the rifle from the open mouthed




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Preston and tested it’s heft and feel.
       “It doesn’t feel right,” was the Emperor’s first
opinion. Daniel wasn’t an expert on small arms but
the weapon just didn’t have the correct balance and
‘sense of purpose’ that it should. It felt cheap. It
was cheap.


       The Emperor, with Cruz’s coaching, fired the
rifle at the two hundred meter target. Daniel had an
inborn ability to fire anything at a target and hit what
he aimed at, the dead monsters on N35467 proved
that, so did countless deceased Snakes. Despite
careful aim and a steady hand Daniel was unable to
hold a proper pattern. Throwing rocks was indeed
just as accurate, more so.
       “You’re right, Sergeant. It is indeed a piece of
horse crap.”
Daniel had just made both Cruz and Slusarski very
happy men.


       A marine utility flyer landed as Daniel was




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speaking to Cruz and Slusarski, the base
commander had finally gotten wind about who had
stopped for a visit.
        “Men, if anyone asks you about what we talked
about here today we were discussing the quality of
new recruits,” Daniel explained, “this weapon will
never see service on Our watch.”
        “God bless you, Sire!” Cruz meant it, he had
seen men die in battle, he knew what an honest
weapon was and the one they had been training
with was a liar.


        Daniel explained to Brigadier General Wallace
that they had just stopped on an impulse and that
they had to be on their way to a meeting. Wallace
had no say in the choice of the new rifle and was an
honest officer. The Minister For Military
Procurement was not so honest and would soon be
standing before his Emperor to explain himself.




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       The Sun Palace


       It was time for Ellen’s parents to return home to
New Albion. A peace had been made between
them, a peace between everyone.
       “You will come to visit?” John Murphy asked as
they stood by the shuttle.
       “Soon, and often,” Daniel replied, “we are
family and always will be.”
       “When you do come I’ll put you all to honest
work, there’s new acreage to prepare for a first
planting.”
They parted on far better terms than the last time.


       Ian left two days later for N35467, Daniel had
lectured him endlessly about being careful.
       “I may be there for some time, there’s so much
to study and to try and understand,” Ian explained.
       “I want weekly reports from you and that is an
order!” Daniel looked his ‘brother’ in the eye, he




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meant what he said.
        “Yes, Your Sireness.” Ian could follow orders,
he always had.
        “Then get going before I change my mind.”
Daniel embraced the person who had been through
so very much with him, Ian’s sister did the same.
        “Brush your teeth on Sundays and put on clean
underwear at least every other week,” Ellen teased
as she hugged her brother.
        “If you insist,” Ian replied, “don’t boss the
Emperor around too much, he’s already henpecked
as it is.”
And then he too was gone.


        The coronation of Jacob Asher would be in one
week, in the meantime there was the matter of a
corrupt Imperial Minister to attend to.
        “Sums totaling eight million Imperial dollars
have been deposited into three separate accounts
held by Minister Watts. All of the deposits have
been traced to companies and accounts under the




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control of Brieling Industries.”
Daniel and Jacob were being briefed by Senior
Agent Mary Sethwasi.
       “There is no doubt in this matter?” Daniel
asked.
       “No Sire. The transfers were very well
shielded, but not well enough. It’s all documented in
the report.”
       “Arrest Minister Watts, bring him before Us.
Arrest the Chairman of Brieling Industries and do
the same.”
       “Yes Sire, at once.”


       “What would you do with them?” Daniel asked.
       “My first impulse would be to have them both
shot, with a Brieling.” Jacob replied. “In truth I don’t
really know what to do with them.”
       “But you do. You just said so.” The Emperor’s
answer chilled Asher. Watts was a dead man, so
was Brieling’s Chairman. Jacob came to realize that
the friendly boy who had named him a Prince of The




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Empire had another side altogether.




        “You placed your own personal gain before the
lives of good men who would die for the Empire if
need be. How do you answer this?”
Minister Watts and Brieling’s Chairman, Allen
Caruthers, stood in the Great Court of The Empire
facing their Emperor. Neither man could offer an
explanation to His Majesty that even a small child
would believe.
Ellen and Stephanie had wanted to be present to
watch these proceedings, they stood quietly out of
sight of the assembled Knights and dignitaries.
Both young women learned some more about whom
they had wed as a decision was offered. Jacob
read the Emperor’s simple, hand written verdict.


        “Your lives are forfeit, your property is
confiscated, your names are dishonored forever.”




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Thirty minutes later both men were executed. There
was no appeal process after being judged by the
Emperor.


       Fifteen foot tall pikes of oak and steel would be
placed in front of both the Ministry of Military
Procurement and the headquarters of Brieling
Industries. You know very well what would rest atop
those pikes. It was an example that greatly
discouraged those who would place personal gain
before the good of the Empire.


       A request for new submissions for a marine
service rifle was sent out by the new Minister For
Military Procurement.


       Sergeants Cruz and Slusarski were promoted
two grades.




       Jacob Asher was finally installed as a Prince of




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The New Empire, the ceremony was the greatest
ordeal the Lieutenant had ever faced (at least he
thought it was). Leaders of all of the major faiths
had read prayers at certain points in the rite, even
the Archbishop of The Reformed Church. No crown
is involved, indeed none existed for either the new
Prince or the Emperor. As the final vow is given the
Prince is allowed to hold the Imperial Scepter in his
right hand, but only for a moment and never again
until he himself becomes Emperor.


        Finally it was over and Prince Jacob stood
beside the Emperor as they overlooked the sea of
humanity filling the Great Plaza of The Empire. The
ceremony had been as it always was, in the
Assembly Forum of The Imperial Knights. The
Ladies Ellen and Stephanie stood proudly at each of
their sides.
        “How does it feel?” Daniel had to lean over
close to Jacob to make himself heard above the
cheering crowd.




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       “Numb. I feel numb.”
       “That must be the standard reaction, I felt the
same way. Maybe I still do.”




       N35467


       Ian and Lieutenant Starling met briefly while
the transport vessel HMS Paulson was off loading
it’s consignment. The vessel would also be taking
Starling back to more civilized parts of the Empire.
       “Watch out for the fucking bat bugs and wear a
sidearm.” Starling offered some good advice, for a
change.
       “Bat bugs?” Ian asked with total disbelief.
       “Yeah. They go for your neck mostly, they look
like little God damned bats. You’ll need lots of itch
cream if you’re lucky.”
       “And if I’m not lucky?”
       “A week in infirmary with a nasty infection.




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Have fun.”
With that Starling turned and boarded the Paulson,
as usual he had shown no respect, not even to an
Imperial Knight.
Ian hadn’t really expected any respect, it would have
altogether shattered his opinion of Starling.


        Ian had a few thousand questions for Professor
Hyde as they sat that evening having a simple
dinner in the portable shelter, a downpour outside
drummed on the thin roof. Both Ian and the
professor still wore small but rather nasty beam
pistols, from time to time some of the smaller of the
uniformly unpleasant fauna would make it over,
through, or under the powered perimeter fences.
Ian did have a special marine escort but it paid to be
careful on this planet.
        “The echo soundings indicate that the power
taps extend all the way down to the magma?”
        “Yes,” Hyde explained, “the whole complex can
draw a fantastic amount of power using the




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temperature differences between the planet’s core
and the surface.”
       “Yet so very little power seems to be in use?”
       “True. The disk is the key, at least in my
opinion,” Hyde concluded.
       “Pure iron?” Ian had no idea why the massive
artifact wasn’t a shapeless mound of rust by now.
       “Totally pure.”


       Ian changed the subject to a more delicate
matter.
       “How is Rebecca, sir?”
       “Apparently I am a great grandfather, a boy.”
Hyde displayed a small grin as he said this, Ian just
blushed.


       The morning would find Ian standing in front of
what had brought him back to this distant place.
The A’chon complex was only a way station, a
gateway used by travelers long departed. It held
great dangers for those who didn’t possess the




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instruction manual. Ian would be attempting to
write his own instruction manual, a dicey
undertaking at best.




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Chapter Three
Traveler



       N35467




       There was what could only be a control
console that overlooked the immense iron disk, it
was housed in a low structure with one entirely
transparent wall. Ian did a spectrographic reading
of the clear ‘wall’ and whistled softly at what the
readout on his hand held device said. The advance
team had just assumed it was glass of some sort.
       “What is it?” Hyde asked
       “Pure carbon.”
       “But.....?” Hyde didn’t understand.
       “Carbon crystal,” Ian explained, “it’s one solid
piece of diamond.”
The window was forty feet across and fifteen feet




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high. It was two feet thick.
        “Good God,” Hyde said quietly.
        “Indeed. It would seem that the A’chon were
rather advanced in the manufacturing of large
chunks of elemental substances.”
        “Rather advanced doesn’t quite seem to
describe them,” Hyde concluded.


        The control console itself was never designed
for the human form. In the middle of the semicircle
of low, flat panels was a circular raised platform, a
shallow depression on top probably once held a pad
or cushion of some sort. All of the ‘panels’ were a
gloss black and totally without so much as a button
to push. There was no dust on anything, somewhat
odd after eight thousand years or so. There had
been speculation before Ian had arrived that one
simply touched the panels at the appropriate places.
The panels had been touched everywhere to no
effect.
        “Perhaps our hands and fingers are too soft,”




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Ian said, “what we know of the A’chon was that they
had hard, pincer like ‘hands’. Let’s try a stylus or
something sharp.”
       “But where?” Hyde asked. “What activates it,
assuming it’s still functioning?”


       Ian sat on the hard central platform (making a
mental note to bring a cushion the next time)
studying the layout of the thick, slab like panels.
Where was the ‘on’ switch? After some time Ian
opted for the smallest of the panels. It was directly
below the largest panel in the middle of the console
and was about three inches square.
Pressing once with the writing stylus did nothing.
Likewise pressing twice, three times and so on.
Tapping didn’t work either.
Ian rather absently slid the tip of the stylus across
the panel from left to right.
Every panel blinked on with a soft red glow
displaying the gibberish that was A’chon text, the
largest central panel held the crystal sharp image of




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a lush green planet.
        “Shit!” Ian nearly levitated off the platform.
Whatever it did, the console was very much
functional.
With a slightly shaky hand Ian slid the stylus across
the small panel in the reverse direction. Everything
went to black again.
        “Well, we have step one in the operation
manual,” Ian said.


“To activate unit, slide stylus from left to right on
panel designated as number one.”


        Ian wondered just how thick the operations
manual might finally be.




        Earth, The Sun Palace


        Prince Jacob and his wife had very much




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earned a vacation. It surprised no one that they
chose their own small cottage in the countryside of
what had been Bavaria for their time away from
everything. A more normal routine settled in for the
Emperor and his new wife, there were duties as
always but now there seemed the time to perform
them.


       Jeremy and Alex continued to progress in
returning to a life not surrounded by alien monsters
but instead by people who loved them dearly.
Jeremy’s musical talents went beyond just the
amazing singing voice he was blessed with. Piano
lessons had commenced in addition to his choir
practice and instructions. The boy’s music
instructors quickly determined that he had the
makings of a prodigy of the keyboard.


       The piano that Jeremy used for his lessons
and practiced on was unchanged from one that
Steinway and Sons had constructed so many




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centuries before. It was possible to build electronic
versions of the piano, scientific measurements of
the tonal qualities said that they were identical to the
real thing, the ear and heart knew better.


        As for Daniel and Alex’s musical talents, they
are best not remarked upon. Ellen had even asked
Daniel to refrain from ‘singing’ while in the shower,
which only encouraged him.


        Ellen and Daniel enjoyed the early morning air
and had begun a daily ritual of a jog around part of
the enormous palace grounds and a quick swim
before breakfast. Their route usually took them
within sight of the gated entrance, something caught
Ellen’s eye on one of their runs, she had seen it the
day before also.
        “Those people, the man and woman out past
the gate. They were standing there yesterday.”
        “I see them, they have a sign or something,”
Daniel replied.




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       “Yes. I wonder what they want?” The sign was
too small and far away to read.
       “I could get security to check them out,” Daniel
offered.
       “Just find out what it is they want, they don’t
look like nuts or anything.”
       “All right. Security probably knows about them
anyway, they’ve been pretty paranoid since you and
Ian were snatched.”


       The newlyweds were almost finished with
breakfast when a captain with the marine security
detail came to the shaded veranda and waited to be
noticed. Daniel motioned the officer to approach, he
bowed before speaking.
       “Your Majesty, Lady Ellen. You inquired about
the couple at the gate?”
       “Yes Captain Lewis,” the Emperor responded,
“what did you find out?”
       “They seek an audience of appeal, Sire. It
seems that their son has been found guilty by a




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naval court martial of a capital offense, murder in
fact. The execution has been set for tomorrow.”


        An audience of appeal was an ancient rite that
a vastly enlarged Empire had made impractical, no
Emperor could ever see all of the people who hoped
for an intervention. The Imperial courts as a matter
of routine denied further appeals to the Emperor.


        “Oh dear!” Ellen had a very soft heart, the
people standing at the gate wanted help.
        “But the courts...” Daniel’s knowledge of the
law in this matter was a bit sketchy.
        “They were denied an appeal, Sire. They
came anyway. They have been well behaved and
aren’t actually in violation of any law by standing
there. Perhaps we should have them leave, Sire?”
Ellen looked at Daniel, her eyes asking him all that
words could.
        “We have some time before the Governor of
Germania arrives, bring them to the outer sitting




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room.”
       “Sire, forgive me but is this perhaps a wise...”
       “Probably not. Do it anyway.” The small glint of
anger in the Emperor’s eyes told the officer that no
further argument was permitted.
       “At once, Sire.”


       “Thank you,” Ellen said after the officer had left.
       “This is going to be a hard thing you know, I
can’t just wave my hand willy nilly and say that the
law doesn’t apply to their son. You will meet them
with me.” Daniel seemed to be somewhat irked at
this unwanted complication.
       “Are you mad at me?” Ellen could see that he
was, perhaps just a little.
       “Not much, how can I be very mad at you for
wanting to help someone? I have all of the power in
the Empire, that doesn’t mean that I can always use
it.”
Ellen could see the position that she had put Daniel
in.




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        “I’m sorry.”
        “We’ll hear what they have to say,” Daniel
replied gently, “maybe there might be something I
can do. I think Alex might be useful to have nearby,
she always knows when people are speaking the
truth.”


        Mister and Misses Walter Krieg knew that there
was really no chance that the Emperor would see
them. They had to at least try, they knew in their
hearts that their son did not do what he was
convicted of. The couple prepared to leave as the
marine officer approached them, they were so very
tired and had no wish to be arrested.
        “His Majesty has agreed to see you. Please
come with me.”
The couple could find no words in reply and simply
did as the officer asked. It was a very long walk.




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                          A’chon



       N35467


       There was no Rosetta Stone to provide a key
to the A’chon written language, it had been studied
for years with little progress. The alphabet
consisted of forty three intricate characters, the
A’chon mathematics was based upon the simple
binary system of one and zero. It was possible to
easily decipher the A’chon numbers, but did they
refer to the number of light years to a destination or
to the local price of parsnips?


       Ian proceeded very slowly with the control
console. Four of the panels only seemed to display
information, the central view screen had many touch
controls around and on the image, none of them
marked in any way. The planet displayed was
N35467, in real time. Where was the image being
sent from?


       Ian was showing Professor Hyde some of what




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he had learned in the last four days,
        “Moving the stylus across the planet shifts the
point of view.” Ian demonstrated, the planet seemed
to rotate, in fact it was the viewpoint that changed.
        “Pressing on one place selects it as a spot to
zoom in on, that’s then controlled by moving the
stylus along the bottom edge of the screen. Start in
the middle and move left, the view zooms out, move
from the center and to the right, you zoom in.”
Way in.


        Working in steps, Ian soon had an overhead
view of the two perspiring marines who stood guard
just outside the control structure.
        “Extraordinary!” Hyde was beyond impressed.
“How far does it go in the opposite direction?”
        “Watch, this is even more mind bending,” Ian
replied.
The planet quickly receded to a small blue and
green dot and was then lost in a sea of stars, after a
while the entire galaxy filled the view screen.




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       “How is that possible, where is the image
coming from?” Hyde asked very softly.
       “It shouldn’t be possible, but there it is. I have
no clue as to what is generating that image, let
alone how.”


       During this small demonstration some of the
A’chon numbers on the far left information screen
had changed, Ian said that it probably indicated the
amount of power being used by the device. The
numbers had changed very little, they could change
a very great deal.




       The Sun Palace


       Daniel wanted his sister to be present, it was a
small test in a way. Could Alex see the truth in what
the condemned rating’s parents said? Could she
see even beyond that?




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        “We’re going to talk with some people, me and
Ellen,” Daniel explained, “their son is in some bad
trouble. Tell me what you can see, if you can. If you
can’t see anything that’s fine too.”
        “Kay.” Alex was calm and relaxed, even with
Jeremy off in his music room, away from her.


        Walter and Winifred Krieg had been through a
long ordeal, even before this day. Their only son,
Alfred, had been so very proud when he had
enlisted in the Imperial Navy. Their son had also
been found standing over the body of a dead officer,
a bloody cargo shifter in his hand. The Kriegs had
sold their home and small restaurant to make the
hurried trip to Earth, all to no use. So far.
By the time that they were ushered into the
presence of the Emperor and The Lady Ellen they
were both close to collapse.


        “Walter and Winifred Krieg, Your Majesty.”
Captain Lewis introduced the couple, both Ellen and




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Daniel stood to greet them. Alex stayed back a little
behind her big brother as the couple entered the
room and bowed.
       “Welcome. Come and sit, be at ease.” Daniel
motioned to the ancient love seat that was worth
more than the Kriegs could earn in a lifetime.
Walter Krieg finally found his voice.
       “We...Thank you for seeing us, Your Majesty.
We had no real hope that you could, we just had to
come here, there was no other hope.”
Daniel just nodded and remained silent for a
moment before speaking.
       “Tell Us about your son.”


       The man did, Daniel and Ellen found no trace
of a lie in anything he said. Alex moved next to the
Emperor and whispered in his ear after Walter Krieg
had made his plea.
       “Alfred didn’t hit Lieutenant Marsh, Smelly did
it.”
       “Smelly? Who’s that?” Daniel asked, also in a




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close whisper.
        “Theguy... The guy with the red hair.” Alex
didn’t know who ‘Smelly’ was, she did know what he
looked like. She did know that Alfred had never hurt
anyone. Was the word of a little girl enough to stay
an execution?
It was enough in the Emperor’s mind.


        The outer sitting room was often used for
meetings with visitors to the palace, as such it was
under constant unseen observation. Hidden auto
tracking beam weapons were always centered on
the visitors, the right (or wrong) hand signal by the
Emperor fired those weapons. If the security staff
saw danger to the Emperor they also had the
authority to fire the weapons. Security was very
tight after Sir Ian and The Lady Ellen’s kidnapping,
nothing was taken for granted anymore.
This time the Emperor’s small hand signal merely
summoned Captain Lewis. Daniel worried about
someday giving the wrong signal by mistake, two




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quickly clenched fists meant instant death for the
visitors.


       “Yes, Your Majesty?”
       “Contact the watch officer at Coldstone, We are
staying rating Krieg’s execution until further
investigations can be made. Coldstone will still
need a formal letter in my hand, tell them it will be
delivered later this day.”
       “At once Sire.”
As Lewis backed up and then turned to leave Walter
Krieg silently pitched forward onto the floor. Daniel
stood and shouted for a doctor as everyone else
tried to assist the man all at once. If there was a
hand signal for this situation Daniel couldn’t
remember it.


       Walter Krieg would recover nicely, it wasn’t a
heart attack or a stroke. Exhaustion and the words
temporarily sparing his son had caused him to pass
out, he had merely fainted. Both of the Kriegs would




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spend that night resting in their own rooms at the
palace. The couple’s home and small business on
Atlantis were ordered repurchased in their names,
Daniel’s way of saying to Ellen that she had been
right to want to help them.
How to pursue the investigation into the murder of
Lieutenant Marsh remained to be decided.




        N35467


        Ian had finally realized that the view screen in
the alien console could be used to navigate the
entire galaxy, perhaps even beyond that.
        “This isn’t just a glorified travel vid,” Ian
explained to Hyde and Commander Wilkes, “this
complex is a gateway of some sort, a means to
travel anywhere, possibly instantaneously.”
        “There’s still the one big question,” Wilkes said.
        “What’s that?” Ian asked.




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                          A’chon



       “What the hell happened to the A’chon?”
Ian had no answer but he would continue to study
the alien device, what he would discover next would
be more mind numbing than anything revealed so
far.




       Coldstone Naval Prison, Earth


       The Imperial Navy wasn’t all virtue and
decency. Like all of man’s large institutions the navy
had it’s share of lawbreakers, although it was a
much smaller share than in times past. The harsh
penalties accounted in some part for the low crime
rate. The mention of Coldstone in naval circles
would always cast a chill over the conversation, only
those sentenced to death or life without hope were
sent there. No one left the place alive unless freed
by the Emperor and that hadn’t happened in over
four hundred years. In Coldstone’s nine hundred




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and seventy six years as the navy’s prison of lost
souls no Emperor had ever actually visited the
place.
That record was broken when Daniel showed up
unannounced. The Emperor could have delegated
the task, he probably should have. Daniel didn’t like
letting go of something that wasn’t right once he had
it in his mind.


        “We wish to visit with Rating Krieg, if you
please.”
Daniel’s simple request to the watch officer snapped
the man out of his mind lock.
        “At... At once, Your Majesty. I shall send for
him.” Captain Hussein replied, still trying to get a
grip on reality.
        “Take Us to him. We would like to see some of
this place.”
Hussein did as ordered, it was a grim excursion for
Daniel.




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       “Is it always so cold here?”
       “It only seem that way, Your Majesty. In fact
the temperature is held at a constant sixty eight
degrees, the stonework and iron have an effect on
the senses of new visitors. This place was never
meant to be a comfort to anyone.”
       “How long have you been here, Captain?”
Daniel asked as they walked along, the armed
marine escort in front of and behind them.
       “Just four months, Your Majesty. A tour of duty
is only one year, any longer is thought to be bad for
the morale of the men assigned here.”
Daniel nodded in understanding. The prison was
clean and free of vermin, there were no screams
from tormented prisoners. It was still a damned
depressing place to be assigned, or even to visit. A
nameless rock of an islet off the coast of the tip of
South America, even the howling winds of the Cape
told you that all hope was lost here.


       Alfred Krieg was sitting quietly in his bare cell,




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the young rating had composed himself for the
coming execution. His priest had believed him
when he had proclaimed his innocence.
        “Stand to attention!” Captain Hussein
commanded.
Alfred did so instantly out of habit and training,
wondering why the prison’s commander was here
now. There was a young boy in his teens with the
officer, he wore a plain black officer’s uniform. After
a moment the condemned rating realized that the
Emperor was standing just outside of the cell’s bars.
        “Stand at ease,” Daniel softly ordered.
Alfred assumed the correct position, his mind failing
to understand what was occurring.


        Daniel would have preferred to simply sit alone
with the young man and talk as equals, to find out
just what the hell had happened. Out of deference
to the security detail the Emperor opted to talk with
the prisoner through the iron bars of the ancient
prison.




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       “Do you know a red haired person by the name
of Smelly?”
It took Alfred a moment to shift back into reality
before responding. “Smelly Wadsworth... Your
Majesty. My Cargo Crew Chief.”
       “What is his actual name?”
       “Uh.. Let me thi... Senior Rating Benson
Wadsworth, Your Majesty.”
       “Did he have any... bad feelings for Lieutenant
Marsh?”
       “Everyone did, Your Majesty.”
       “Marsh was unpopular?”
       “He was despised by the whole ship, Your
Majesty.”
Daniel and the young rating talked for almost an
hour, everything they said was being recorded by
the security detail. Smelly Wadsworth would soon
be having visitors.




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EMPIRE book four                                 Richard Stotts



        N35467


        Ian was reluctant to shift the point of focus off
of N35467, if he did could he find it again? A
recording of all of the data screens was made, it
might take a lot of searching but Ian was finally
confident that he could return to this place. Now
what to look at next?
Earth was the logical choice.


        It took most of eight hours of hunting and
guessing at the star fields on the view screen. Ian
was able to start in the general vicinity of Earth’s
solar system by beginning with the full view of the
galaxy. At last the blue green planet of mankind’s
birth lay in the center of the alien device. Something
was very wrong.
        “That’s San Francisco!” Ian had paid some
occasional attention in history classes, he knew
what the graceful old bridge looked like, he also
knew that the entire area had been obliterated in the




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war that had sent humanity into darkness. Ian was
looking at an Earth long past. Why was the view of
N35467 present time and the view of Earth almost
three thousand years old?
There was one other control on the view screen that
Ian had yet to discover, after a long while he found
it.
The time scale along the top of the screen. Moving
the stylus along caused a blurring of the image until
you stopped, then the image cleared again. Ian
could watch history unfold over a period of eight
thousand years or so up until the present. No
amount of fiddling revealed the future, only the past.
He could have spent a lifetime just watching history
occur.
       “Perhaps there’s a time shift that has to be
compensated for when using the transporter?” Ian
had taken to calling the massive disk a transporter,
what else could it be?




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EMPIRE book four                                     Richard Stotts




        HMS Wolf, in orbit around Sparta


        “But I testified fully at the court martial, sir!”
Wadsworth was perspiring heavily in the cool of the
Captain’s day cabin.
        “I have received an order directly from Fleet
Headquarters. You are to be subjected to
interrogation using Recall by the ship’s medical
personnel. It seems that the Emperor himself has
taken an interest in the case of Rating Krieg.” Ship’s
Captain Matsui explained.
        “But.. Using Recall in testimony is against
Imperial law, Sir! Everyone knows that!”
        “It’s not against the law if the Emperor has
ordered it done. Do you wish to say anything about
this matter before things progress any further?”


        Wadsworth’s shoulders sagged, he knew that
no one had ever been able to resist ‘recalling’
absolutely everything asked of them under the




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effects of the drug.
       “There’s no point in using the drug sir, Krieg
didn’t bash Lieutenant Marsh. I got fed up with his
bullshit and lost my mind, I killed him.”
In a way it was a great relief to Wadsworth, he
wouldn’t have to live out his days (just a few now)
knowing that some one else was executed in his
place.




       Coldstone Prison, Earth


       Captain Hussein broke the news to Krieg. It
was rare when any duty at Coldstone caused a
person to smile. Krieg stood to proper attention as
the prison commandant approached his cell.
       “Wadsworth has confessed to the murder of
Lieutenant Marsh. You are acquitted of all charges.
You are a free man.”
Krieg had a blank expression at first, then a smile




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and then some tears.
        “Thank you, sir.”
        “Thank your parents and thank your Emperor.
You’ve had the most incredible luck in this matter.”
The young rating could only nod in agreement as
the iron bars moved aside. Some thanks to the
Emperor’s wife and small sister might also be in
order, perhaps the most thanks of all.




        The Sun Palace


        Daniel and Ellen were having dinner with
Jeremy and Alex when an aide entered the room
with a dispatch form. The Emperor motioned the
woman to approach, he could see by her expression
that it must be good news.
        “It seems that Smelly has confessed,” Daniel
said as he read the form.
        “Oh My!” Ellen was all smiles, so was Alex.




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                           A’chon



       “Who’s Smelly?” Jeremy asked, out of the loop
on this matter.
       “Youarewhenyoueatbeans!” Alex giggled at her
own witty jibe.
Everyone thought it was hilarious except Jeremy, he
just blushed.
       “I seem to owe you some sort of apology. If
you hadn’t wanted me to help the Krieg’s their son
would have been executed for the crime.” Daniel
said to Ellen.
       “No apology. I’ll just go down to the vaults a
little later and pick out something nice,” Ellen smiled.
       “Too late. Jacob sold all of the jewels, don’t
you remember?”
       “I’ll just double check anyway.”


       Daniel found himself wondering how many
others in the past and in the future might die wrongly
convicted. Not very many, but then one was too
many.




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        N35467


        When Ian had centered the view screen on an
extreme close up of North America’s west coast
something new happened. A thin slot opened on
the console and a small ceramic looking disk rolled
out onto the flat area that formed sort of a narrow
desk in front of the panels. The disk was slightly
warm and had some of the intricate A’chon
characters on it. Ian studied the two inch disk and
compared the writing on it to the ‘data’ screens to
the left of the view screen. The characters matched
the bottom row of letters and numerals on the far
right screen.
        “Perhaps a cosmic tram token?” Ian said to
himself, he was alone in the control building.
Another idea came to him.
        “Maybe it’s a locator device or something, if
you want to make a return trip?”




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It was as likely as anything else might be. He
dictated some ideas into his small voice recorder
and left it on the desk.
Ian ‘switched off’ the console for the time being and
also left the ceramic disk on the console desk area.
He had wanted to take some readings on the
massive iron disk’s surface, something that he had
been putting off.
Ian had no idea at all that turning off the console did
not turn off the ‘transporter’. Indeed the alien device
was never off. The only reason that those who had
first inspected the disk hadn’t been whisked off to
elsewhere was because the device had been left
focused on it’s own location.


       Ian was going to take a very long trip.




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Chapter Four
History Lesson



        The Sun Palace


        Cedric Clarke had to intrude into the Emperor’s
sleeping quarters, a delicate matter at best but there
was no helping it.
        “Your Majesty, please Sire!” Clarke had turned
up the lighting, the Emperor and his wife were still
sound asleep in the huge and ornate bed. Finally
Ellen stirred and sat up a little.
        “Cedric?”
        “Forgive this unseemly intrusion, Lady Ellen.
Can you please wake His Majesty, I have urgent
news about Sir Ian.”
Ellen did wake His Majesty, she was not so tactful
as Cedric.
        “Daniel! Wake up dammit! There’s trouble!”




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                          A’chon



Pummeling was involved.


       Instinct was in charge as Daniel bolted upright,
the jeweled revolver that was so famous was
pointed at Cedric’s chest. Not even Ellen knew
where the weapon had been hidden.
       “What?” Daniel demanded, still not fully awake.
Cedric’s entire life was being quickly reviewed in his
mind as he looked down the barrel of the weapon.
There had to be a better way to wake up this
particular Emperor.
       “Mister Clarke! What is it?” Daniel came into
full focus and lowered the revolver.
       “I do apologize for the hour, Sire. There has
been a flash priority message from N35467, Sir Ian
is missing.” Clarke was himself in his dressing robe,
his own sleep also interrupted this night.


       Both Daniel and Ellen seemed to wilt as they
moved closer to one another on the bed, both of
them had been worried about Ian ever since he had




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left for that awful planet.
        “Explain.” Daniel finally asked.
        “Sire, the message is rather long, the gist of it
is that the alien device that Sir Ian was doing
research on somehow activated. They believe he
was ‘transported’ by the device.”
        “Transported? Where?”
        “To Earth, Sire. They believe so anyway.”
        “Then he’s here on Earth somewhere?” This
wasn’t making much sense to Daniel, or Ellen.


        Cedric Clarke steeled himself to explain further.
        “There seems to be some sort of time
displacement involved with the device, Sire. Some
sort of compensation is needed. It’s a bit beyond
me, I’m afraid.”
        “Time displacement? What are you saying?”
Ellen demanded.
        “With respect, Lady Ellen, I’m not sure.
Perhaps you should both read the message
yourselves.”




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                          A’chon



It was a very long communications form.




       N35467


       Ian had climbed the ramp up to the disk’s
polished surface. He intended to test for any sort of
shield that might explain the metal being unrusted
after so long of a time exposed to the elements.
The marine security detail remained deployed
around the edge of the disk, there seemed to be no
risk to Sir Ian as he puttered around on the inert
slab of iron. Things went very much to hell as Ian
neared the center of the transport.


       The guards reported later that as they watched
Ian seemed to slide directly away from them and
into the far distance. The guards were all around
the circumference of the disk and all reported the
same thing.




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Ian just slid away into the distance.




        North American Coast
        Saturday, June 4th, 11:32 AM
        2002


        Ian just stood blinking for a moment as he
looked at the ground around him. Where was the
disk? Why was he standing on grass? Why was it
suddenly so cool? Then he looked up.
        “Hey Gomer! Get the fuck out of the way!”
Ian was standing in the middle of a softball game,
the players took themselves a bit too serious. No
one had quite seen Ian’s arrival.
        “What the....?” Ian started to realize what might
have happened as he stood frozen in place staring
at a sight out of ancient history. The second
baseman finally had to shove Ian off the field, none
too gently either.




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Ian was in the middle of Golden Gate Park, the
jumble of a city around him was San Francisco.
San Francisco before the dark times.


       Ian was dressed in khaki shorts and a light
pullover shirt of the same color. Sandals and a
floppy sun hat completed his hot weather attire, his
small beam pistol was hidden at his waist under the
loose shirt. In his right hand was the book sized
spectrum analyzer, it’s display screen indicated
nothing but a hash of simple radio frequency energy
in all directions.
       “Well now you’ve really gone and done it!” Ian
finally said to himself. The young genius had to sit
down for a long while on the grass, eventually his
trembling ceased. The ever present fog was
starting to roll in from the sea and it was getting
much colder. It is frequently colder in San Francisco
in the summer than during the winter.




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        The Sun Palace


        The Commandant of The Imperial Marines and
the Admiral of The Fleet were being asked some
very pointed questions by the Emperor. Lady Ellen
was at his side in the meeting room, it was apparent
that she had been crying.
        “What was Sir Ian’s security detail doing when
this happened?”
        “Sire, the men were deployed all around the
outer edge of the disk,” began General Peltzer.
“They are good marines Sire, not scientists or
engineers, they were guarding against possible
threats from the native wildlife.”
Daniel could clearly see that the marines had no
possible way to know about the disk’s capabilities,
still he was angry that Ian had just vanished without
warning.
        “And what were Commander Wilkes and
Professor Hyde doing when this happened?”




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       “That is uncertain at the moment, Sire. We do
know that there were other places at the site that
were being studied by them, perhaps they were at
one of them.” Peltzer didn’t feel that anyone was
really to blame, he hoped that the Emperor would
conclude the same.


       Daniel was silent for a time. Ian was believed
to have somehow been transported here, to Earth.
But to an Earth of the past. Were his dear friend’s
bones now dust on this very planet? The whole
concept of moving across time seemed absurd to
Daniel, the paradoxes were infinite.


       A decision was quickly made.
       “Admiral, prepare the flagship and suitable
escort vessels for an immediate departure for
N35467. We are going to see for Our self what
happened and what might be done to get Sir Ian
back.”
       “But Your Majesty, the risk.....” Admiral Harker




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started to argue, something no Emperor
appreciated.
        “Damn the risk! Departure in six hours,
Admiral.”
        “But...”
Daniel just glared at the Admiral, the officer had only
recently been appointed Fleet Admiral and could
see that he was now very close to being sacked.
        “Then with your leave Sire, I shall make haste
to obey.” Harker bowed at Daniel’s curt nod and did
indeed make haste.


        Alex knew that Ian was gone, she had
screamed when she felt it. The small girl could not
see where he was though, perhaps because it was
not a ‘where’ but a ‘when’.


        Prince Jacob would have a shortened vacation,
once more called upon to mind the store while the
owner was away.




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       San Francisco, 2002


       Ian was freezing his butt off and he was
hungry. He had to find some sort of shelter,
preferably shelter with food. Ian had no money, if he
had it wouldn’t be any good here anyway. He had
been walking for several hours and was at once
fascinated and horrified by the place he found
himself in, sensory overload would best describe it.
The city seemed endless, the choking mass of
ground cars were a constant stream on almost any
street he ventured on.


       The people here at least spoke English, but
with a very odd accent. Ian finally decided that he
was probably the one with the odd accent. At last
Ian came upon a line of rather seedy looking people,
fragrant even. The modest looking place where the
line formed read “Saint Anthony’s.” Perhaps it was a




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place of charity, Ian hoped so anyway. He asked
the disheveled and hairy gentleman waiting at the
end of the line.
        “Sir, is there food here?”
        “Yup. You hungry, kid?”
        “Yes, I have no money I’m afraid,” Ian replied.
        “Where you from, you sure talk funny? You a
Russian or sumthin?”
        “Uh, no sir. I’m from New Albion.”
        “Never heard of such a place. Anyway they’ll
feed you here, they’re good people.”
        “Thank you.” Ian would at least be indoors for
a time and have something to eat.
        “What’s your name, kid?” Asked the hairy guy.
        “Ian, Ian Murphy. And you, sir?”
        “Moose. People call me Moose. You look
cold. Watcha doin wearing stuff like that in this
crazy city? The fuckin’ weather here changes about
every hour! You’ll freeze your nuts off!”
        “I sort of arrived here in a rush, this is all I have
right now.”




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       “I got some clothes stashed around the block,
there’s a coat you can use.”
       “Thank you, sir. A coat does sound good.”
       “What’s that thing you got there, a TV or
sumthin?”
       “Sort of.” The spectrum analyzer did have a
view screen.
Apparently Ian had found a new friend, if a
somewhat aromatic one.


       The food was not haute cuisine but it was
nourishing and there was plenty of it, hunger makes
the best of all sauces. Ian looked out of place in the
charity dinning hall but everyone left him to eat in
peace. As they left Moose coached him to put a
couple of the hard rolls in his pockets for later.


       Moose was rather prone to ignore traffic lights
and crosswalks. Ian attempted to follow and do as
his new acquaintance did and was of course struck
by a city bus.




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        The Sun Palace


        “He’s my brother and I’m coming!” Ellen was,
as the saying goes, in Daniel’s face.
        “It’s a dangerous place, there’s nothing you can
really do there!”
Not the right thing to say.
        “Perhaps I could cook and do your laundry!”
Ellen did indeed have a temper when provoked.
“I’m going if I have to hock the jewels and hire a
private vessel!”


        Ellen won. Alex and Jeremy would be coming
also, although they would not be allowed on the
planet’s surface. Alex had a temper also, being
related to the Emperor and all. Perhaps Alex might
get some feel for where or when Ian was.




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       It was mutually agreed to delay notifying Ian’s
parents of this latest calamity. They would first at
least find out if Ian could be rescued.




       San Francisco, 2002


       In a contest between a bus and a human the
bus will always win. Ian was very lucky and was
only bounced about fifteen feet while sustaining a
mild concussion and what is referred to as a ‘road
rash’. Ian had only a vague recollection of lying in
the street with Moose and a lot of concerned faces
peering down at him. The spectrum analyzer was
made of tougher stuff and survived intact, it wasn’t
even stolen.


       When Ian woke up again he was being
wheeled from the ambulance into the emergency
room. Then the questions began.




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        “Can you remember your name, son?” Doctor
Hake began.
        “Ian. Ian Murphy.”
        “Good. And do you know what city you are
in?”
        “San Francisco, sir.”
        “Who’s the President?”
        “Of what, sir?”
        “The United States.”
        “I haven’t a clue, sir.”
        “Well two out of three isn’t bad, you seem to
have kept your wits. Where are you hurting?”
        “Everywhere, sir.”


        While Ian was being questioned the nurses
were removing his clothing, the first order of
business in any emergency room is to embarrass
the patient. Ian was racking his aching brain trying
to remember if they had discovered anesthetics at
this point in history.




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       “We’ve got a gun here!” Nurse Waters’
discovery brought a policeman instantly from the
adjoining hallway, Ian’s beam pistol had been
discovered. The EMT’s had missed the compact
weapon, Ian’s impact with the bus had pushed the
pistol down into the back of his underpants, no
wonder his butt hurt. Ian found his arms pinned by
the doctor and nurses as patrolman Jones retrieved
the odd looking gun.
       “Be careful of the....” Ian tried to warn the
policeman.
       “What the hell is this, kid?” Jones had backed
away from the exam table and was doing his own
exam of the pistol. It’s weight and intricate
construction told the cop that it was no toy, but
where and how did you load it? The opening in the
end of the short fat barrel was square.
       “What is...?” Is all the officer managed to say
next as he fiddled with a button on the side of the
gun and tested the pull of the trigger (not smart). At
least it was pointed at the floor.




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        Concrete always has a certain amount of
moisture in it, no matter how long it has cured.
Concrete does not take kindly to rapid and extreme
heating, it will explode from the steam pressure
within. This is why molten metal is not worked with
over concrete floors, dirt or sand is preferred. All of
this aside, the floor where the beam of coherent
protons struck exploded with a deafening bang, bits
of concrete and floor tile spraying the room and the
people in it. Then the yelling and cursing started.


        Ian got off easy with only a small bit of gravel
buried in his left calf, Nurse Waters got the worst
injury, a thumb size piece of the floor had to be
removed from her ample left buttock. It was some
time before order and reason once more prevailed.
The FBI was eventually called in to have a look at
the odd weapon and the odd boy that it belonged to.




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       HMS Thunder, Enroute to N35467


       Daniel and Ellen’s harsh words didn’t last very
long. The thought of losing Ian had been almost too
much for them to cope with, you say things you
don’t mean when you are frightened.
       “What if we’ve lost him?” Ellen whispered, the
two of them stood just holding onto one another in
the main Imperial cabin.
       “Don’t say that. We’ll get him back if it takes
the rest of our lives.” Daniel was indeed fully
prepared to make Ian’s rescue his life’s work.


       It would be an eight day crossing to N35467,
that too would seem like a lifetime.




       San Francisco, 2002




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        Ian was deep in the middle of the Federal
Building that housed the FBI’s San Francisco office.
His headache had departed but he was still sore
and stiff, his left calf still bandaged. More suitable
clothing had been provided for him, the shoes were
a little too big. Ian didn’t have any answers that the
agents seemed to want.


        “Let’s start once more, from the beginning.
Where did you get that weapon?” Agent Morse
didn’t have a feeling that the polite boy was any sort
of criminal, but what was he then?
        “It’s marine issue sir, it was on loan to me.”
There had been an odd, flowing inscription stamped
on the side of the pistol, it read “Proporty Imperal
Marins.”
        “Please son, tell the truth. Imperial Marines? It
isn’t even spelled right!”
        “Well, yes as a matter of fact sir, the Imperial
Marines!”
        “Who’s “Imperial Marines” are you referring




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to?”
Ian was losing patience, they had been asking the
same stupid questions all morning. “This is
hopeless sir, just tell me what you want to hear and I
will say it!”
       “When did you get it then, can you tell us that
much?”
       “Yes. April of this year, 4947.”
       “4947?”
       “Yes. On the survey planet N35467, for
personal protection. There’s some nasty animal life
there.”
       “It’s 2002, son.”
       “I know. It is here, not there or then.”
       “You are at least a creative liar, son.”
       “Well agent Bad Breath, perhaps you have
some other explanation for a Masterson Arms Model
Twelve beam pistol with enhanced proton stream
focus and dual amplification circuits?” Ian had lost
all patience by now.




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        Morse had no real answer for Ian’s question.
The agents had test fired the gun down in the
building’s basement, it had caused some
considerable excitement (again). There was also
the matter of the spectrum analyzer that no one in
technical services could make any sense out of.
Ian would be put on a flight to Washington later that
day. Morse was very happy to let the spooks at CIA
try and sort it all out.




        N35467


        Professor Hyde and Commander Wilkes had
made the very correct decision to change none of
the settings on the alien console, they did turn it on.
A grassy area filled the view screen, people could
be seen moving about. People out of history.


        Ian’s voice recorder told both men what had




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happened to Sir Ian and where and when he
probably was now. Was there some way to retrieve
him?
       “Put the ceramic disk on one of the small
surveillance crawlers, then send it out onto the
transporter.” Wilkes explained.
       “And then?” Hyde was skeptical.
       “We see what happens. Perhaps the ceramic
disk will appear on the screen as some sort of
marker or something.”
       Hyde nodded in agreement, but they both also
agreed that any experiments should wait for the
arrival of the Emperor and proceed only with his
approval. Neither man wanted to do anything that
might possibly jeopardize getting Sir Ian back and
then to have to explain that to his best friend.




       San Francisco, 2002




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        Ian didn’t want to leave the area where he had
arrived, there was just the slimmest chance that
someone might try and rescue him. Also the idea of
traveling in an ‘aircraft’ that depended on actual
wings to stay aloft scared him witless. Needless to
say his protests fell on deaf ears. The drive to the
airport did nothing for Ian’s nerves either, all of the
fast moving ground cars on the freeway were being
individually controlled by only their drivers!
        “Look out!” Ian yelled as the driver braked for a
fool in a blue Porsche.
        “Ease up, kid. You act like you’ve never been
in a car before.” Morse could see that Ian was as
nervous as a mouse in a trap factory.


        When Ian finally climbed out of the government
sedan at the non commercial section of the city’s
airport he totally balked.
        “No!”
The twin engine business jet was actually quite new
and well maintained, to Ian it looked like a polished




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exhibit from a museum of ancient deathtraps. Up
until now Ian had never offered any physical
resistance to his captors, indeed he had tried to
remain polite and cooperative (mostly).


       Ian was a good quarter of a mile away by the
time they finally cornered him at the intersection of
two security fences. The agents (by now they were
CIA) put him in handcuffs and ankle cuffs until they
were somewhere high over Kansas. He was
unlocked when it was deemed that he was unlikely
to run again at thirty five thousand feet. The beam
pistol and spectrum analyzer were in locked travel
cases, they remained handcuffed to two of the
agents.


       The reluctant passenger kept looking out at the
wings during the entire flight. Some mild air
turbulence over Kentucky did nothing to change his
mind about this method of transport, he had seen
the wings actually flex a little. Only the fact that the




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agent sitting next to him had actually dozed off and
then slept through the bit of turbulence prevented
Ian from jumping up to search for some sort of
escape pod.
Ian just closed his eyes and composed himself for
death during the night landing, in the rain.




        HMS Thunder


        Partly to make the awful waiting go faster and
because he had been meaning to do it anyway,
Daniel decided it was time that Ellen became
proficient with small arms. Also because of the
nasty planet they would soon be on. The hanger
deck made a good practice range, light target
settings on the weapons made it safe for bystanders
and the vessel’s hull.


        Ellen was handed over to Marine Gunnery




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Sergeant N’kwasi as the Emperor stood by and
quietly observed the lesson. Daniel had at first
thought to instruct her himself but decided it was
best to let a professional do a proper job of it.
       “You have Our permission to yell at her if need
be, sergeant.” Daniel’s words and smile told the
marine not to worry too much about protocol for the
time being.
       “I shall Sire, if need be.”


       Ellen gave Daniel a wide eyed look before
turning to the giant marine holding the lethal rail rifle.
As things turned out she didn’t need yelling at,
within the hour she was putting all of the rounds in
the black, her only failing was a tendency to keep
her finger on the trigger while off target. Sergeant
N’Kwasi’s calm voice like distant thunder soon cured
her of that bad habit. As for the beam pistol she
was almost as good as Daniel by the time the day
ended. Ellen also tried the simple revolver that
Daniel preferred, she didn’t care much for the nasty




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report or recoil but could still put the rounds mostly
on target.


        Daniel was slightly miffed, with more practice
Ellen could be giving him a close run for Best Shot
In The Imperial Family. Maybe he should start
Jeremy on a beginners target rifle, a guy could
always shoot better than a little kid. Hopefully.


        The Emperor had a few quiet words with
Sergeant N’Kwasi as the lessons ended.
        “Thank you for your patience today, sergeant.”
        “It has been a rare day, Sire. Lady Ellen was a
very good pupil.”
        “She does seem to have some talent for
putting rounds on target.”
        “Indeed Sire, I pray she is always on our side.”
Daniel's grin mirrored the marine’s. Sergeant
N’Kwasi dined with the Imperial Family that evening.
If any sort of rescue effort could be mounted for Ian
the good sergeant would be one of those




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volunteering for the attempt.




       Southwest of Langley Virginia, 2002


       The Rolling Hills Clinic was very small and
never had many patients, at present there was only
just the one. The secluded retreat had very strict
admission protocols, the CIA decided who was
admitted and what ‘treatment’ was required. Ian
wasn’t being mistreated, indeed he had never been
hurt or even physically threatened. All the same he
knew he was in a prison of sorts, even if the sign at
the entrance called this place a ‘clinic’. He also
knew that he had to get away from this place, he
had the brains to do just that, some luck might be of
use also.


       The thought of being stranded forever in a
place out of time and forever apart from everyone




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he knew and loved weighed heavily upon Ian. Even
if he did manage to get back to the area he arrived
at there was only a small chance that he might be
rescued. In sixteen years this civilization would end
and the world would be plunged into darkness. Ian
did not want to be around to witness what was
coming. Could he do something to alter history?
Current theories on time and space said that even
his just arriving at this place in history had created a
‘fork’ in the time line and a new history. The other
future he had come from would remain the same.
At least that was the theory. It made even Ian’s
considerable brain ache.


        There was a new round of questioning the
morning after Ian arrived at the ‘clinic’, it seemed to
be just more of the same thing.
        “Explain again what the small object in your
shoulder is.” This time Ian was being videotaped
and was wired to a lie detector machine. A
language specialist would analyze his accent and




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speech patterns. Jason Burns was asking the
questions, if you asked him his profession he would
tell you that he was in advertising.
       “It’s just an identification chip, it has my name,
serial number, rank, medical records. That sort of
thing.” Ian replied. X rays in the emergency room
had revealed the rice grain sized implant.
       “Military?”
       “Yes. Imperial Navy, everyone gets an
implant.” Ian could see no purpose in lying. Why
bother?
       “You say that you’re only fifteen, sort of young
for military service?”
       “If you want to be an officer you have the
chance to enter naval academy at age ten, if you
can pass the tests. After one year in academy you
are enlisted as a midshipman for apprentice training.
Later on if you can hack it you are commissioned as
an ensign.”
Burns wasn’t buying any of this but it was a
fascinating story anyway.




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        “And your rank?”
        “I made ensign, then later I resigned my
commission.”
        “Why?”
        “I was better at applied physics than at being
an officer.”
        “What sort of physics?”
        “Defensive shield applications”
        “Shield applications?”
        “Yes, physical mass and wide spectrum
radiation mirror fields phased and polarized as
vessel and planetary defenses.”
        “Could you construct such a device?”
        “Here?” Ian didn’t like the turn that the
questioning was taking.
        “Yes.” Burns could almost believe Ian’s easy
answers, almost.
        “No. It takes specialized equipment and
technology.”
The lie detector indicated that this last question was
the only time the boy had not told the truth. Burns




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decided that questioning with one’s normal
inhibitions eliminated by certain drugs was next on
the agenda.


       Ian’s beam pistol had been subjected to every
manner of test short of actually taking it apart. Then
they took it apart. Three technicians and two
scientists died during the ignorant attempt to cut
open the power supply in the grip of the weapon. All
that remained of the pistol was a piece of the barrel.
A good part of the building at Sandia Labs where
the pistol had been finally taken to would have to be
completely rebuilt. This was one of the reasons that
the Emperor (like his father) preferred the simplicity
of a chemically powered revolver.


       It would be some time before disassembling
the spectrum analyzer might be considered, even
though the device was about as dangerous as a
door mat. Some thought was being given to
removing the chip in Ian’s shoulder, that too could




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wait. There was plenty of time.




        HMS Thunder, three days out from N35467


        “Tell them to proceed with the test using the
surveillance crawler, it will save time and if it doesn’t
work perhaps we can try something else.” Daniel
had studied Professor Hyde’s latest message
carefully, the test seemed the logical thing to
attempt first.




        N35467


        “The crawler’s recorders are running.” Wilkes
said.
        “Then let’s proceed.” Hyde responded. There
was nothing else on the checklist.




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       The tracked crawler was small, only about two
feet by three feet and a foot high. Tiny sensor
probes and optical pickups bristled over it’s surface.
The device had been programmed to stop all motion
when the data link had been severed, it wouldn’t go
exploring Golden Gate Park on it’s own. The
ceramic disc was firmly fixed to the inner surface of
the crawler’s top cover.


       Moving at a slow walk the crawler edged out
onto the massive iron disk, it seemed like hours had
passed before it neared the center of the disk, then
something happened.
       “Data lost!” Wilkes reported, he didn’t need to
shout.
       “Look!” Hyde was pointing out the window to
where the crawler was, or rather to where it wasn’t.
Then both men looked to the alien display screen.
Brilliant yellow crosshairs had centered on the grass
in the image, in the center of the crosshairs was the




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crawler. A small girl of perhaps six years of age was
standing just a few feet away from the device, there
was no sound of course but it was obvious that the
child was calling for her parent(s).


        “Now what?” Hyde asked.
        “Try touching the stylus to the crawler,” Wilkes
suggested.
Hyde did so, the crawler vanished from the screen
as did the crosshairs. So did the small female child.
Both were now back on the iron disk. The crawler
was continuing it’s mindless forward progress, the
girl was just standing there while wailing at the top
limit of her volume control.
        “We’ve just abducted a child,” Hyde croaked.
        “Yes, but now we know how to return her.”
Wilkes added.




        HMS Thunder




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       “Good Lord!” Daniel couldn’t believe that an
innocent child had just been snatched from her play
and deposited six thousand light years away in what
was to her a far future. Apparently anything within a
certain radius of the ceramic disk was automatically
transported.
       “It seems that the child is in good health, aside
from being very frightened and confused.” Admiral
Harker had read the message also and was no less
dumbfounded than the Emperor by this latest
development.
       “Hyde wants to try sending her back, what do
you think, Admiral?” Daniel asked.
       “Perhaps with a volunteer to escort her, Sire?”
       “A day will have passed on Earth, she can’t be
just dumped alone there. Send a message
authorizing her return if a volunteer steps forward to
see her safely there.”
       “Yes Sire, at once.”




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        The Clinic, 2002


        Ian was being allowed outside for a little
morning sun and fresh air, he had been trying to
convey the impression that he was no risk to flee
and had mostly succeeded. There were still two
‘government employees’ watching him. A question
and answer session involving drugs was next on the
agenda. A preliminary report on Ian and the beam
pistol would be given to the President that
afternoon.




        N35467


        Amanda Sykes didn’t like the hot place and the
nasty bugs, she just wanted to go home. After a
long night of fitful sleep she was finally getting her




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wish. Corporal Amos Watts was going to be her
escort, he had been part of Ian’s marine bodyguard
detail and felt some serious guilt that they had lost
the Emperor’s best friend. The ceramic disk was
taped to his chest under his shirt.


       “Ready to go home?” Watts asked the little girl.
       “Yes! I don’t like this place!” Amanda’s opinion
of the planet was widely held.
       “Then let’s go.”
Watts picked up the small girl and moved off at a
easy pace toward the center of the massive Iron
slab. At several points along the way he had
second thoughts about volunteering for this trip.




       San Francisco, Golden Gate Park, 2002


       Officer James Bradford had actually witnessed
Corporal Watts and Amanda’s arrival, they blinked




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into existence fifty yards in front of Marvin and
himself. Marvin was Bradford’s horse, they were on
mounted patrol in the park.
        “What the fuck?” Bradford’s reaction was
perfectly normal, Marvin just snorted.


        Watts knew a uniform when he saw one and
headed straight for the mounted officer. Amanda
had started to cry again, can you blame her? Watts
stopped a short distance from the confused police
officer and Marvin, gently setting Amanda down on
the grass.
        “Sir, this is Amanda Sykes. She was
transported in error from this location yesterday.
You have the Empire’s apologies for any distress
her absence may have caused.” Watts had
memorized what he was supposed to say, it seemed
a little silly to him. With that the marine turned and
walked back to where he had appeared.


        Officer Bradford also knew a uniform when he




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saw one. Some sort of soldier wearing an oversized
pistol had just returned the little girl reported missing
the day before.
       “Hey! Hold it right there!” Bradford had finally
snapped out of his brain lock.
Watts didn’t stop, he simply vanished.


       Back on N35467 Watts was offered a shot of
navy brandy, he declined and grabbed the bottle
instead, no one felt any need to object.




       The Clinic, 2002


       “Shit!” Ian’s reaction to having an ancient
hypodermic shoved into his arm was
understandable, especially considering that he was
now strapped to the chair he was sitting in.
       “Sorry, kid. Just relax and go with the flow.”
Burns didn’t like doing this to the boy but he had his




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orders.
        “Kiss my......” Ian didn’t finish his reply, he
suddenly felt so warm and fuzzy.
        “Tell me your real name,” Burns began.
        “Ian Murphy.”
        “Where were you born?”
        “Freehold, New Albion.”
        “Where is that?”
        “Sector Nine of The New Empire.” Ian liked
answering questions now, it felt so very good to be
helpful.
The questions went on for another two hours, they
did find out that Ian could indeed build a shield
device given enough time. High temperature super
conducting wire would be needed but Ian knew how
that was made also. General questions about the
near future left Burns and the others with a cold and
empty feeling in their guts.


        Ian woke up that evening with a splitting
headache and the dry heaves from the effects of the




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drugs, he vowed not to spend another day in this
place.




       The White House, 2002


       “Is this some sort of stupid joke?” Asked the
President with a frown, he was normally a very easy
going sort of person.
       “No sir,” explained the Director of CIA, “the
weapon was all too real, five men died trying to
open it’s power supply. The boy is telling the truth,
the new drugs have been one hundred percent
effective in past cases and now in this one. The
speech experts cannot identify his accent and
speech pattern, they say it is not possible to
perfectly fake such things. There is the matter of
the clothing he was wearing when he was struck by
the bus. The fabric is only cotton but there are no
seams, no sewn parts. No one has yet figured out




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how it is possible to weave fabric in that manner.”
        “What did you learn about the pistol before the
accident?”
        “Sir, the best description is that it is, or was,
some sort of ‘proton laser’. It could punch through
four inches of steel. When aimed at a pig carcass
the animal fairly exploded from rapid heating, so did
the hospital’s emergency room floor in San
Francisco.”
        “And this other device?”
        “Mister President, it appears to be some type
of multi function scientific instrument. There is some
reluctance to try and open it at this time, the case is
sealed and x rays don’t show anything that we can
recognize.”


        The President could see that the Director was
completely serious, he still wasn’t convinced
himself.
        “What else did he reveal while he was
drugged? And by the way, doing that to a fifteen




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year old boy is beyond my limits!”
         “I agree sir, it was a nasty business. The boy
described how to make high temperature super
conducting wire. A consultant on our staff from
Sandia nearly broke into tears when he read the
description of the process. The boy also described
in detail the theory behind generating defensive
force shields, that too had the consultant doing back
flips even though he said he only understood a
small part of it.”
         “Truly?” The President was starting to see the
light.
         “There’s more, sir.”
         “Go on.”
         “There will be a nuclear war with China in
2017, no one will win. Two hundred years later the
New Empire will be formed by the survivors of that
war. Democracy as a political institution will have
ended.”




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        The Clinic, 2002


        Ian’s escape plan was by necessity simple to
the point of being stupid. Fabricating a beam pistol
out of his room’s television remote control didn’t
seem to be a viable option, fashioning a club out of
one of his bed’s legs did. A furtive examination of
the bed leg revealed that it unscrewed from the
frame, a towel could be wrapped around it to avoid
totally ending the guard’s days. Ian was under
constant observation from the low light capable
video camera over the door, he could use that to his
advantage. Beyond whacking the guard and taking
his door access card Ian would have to rely on a lot
of luck and the small number (2) of people on the
night staff. No point in waiting, the sun would be up
in another three hours.


        After hanging a plastic bed pan over the
camera, Ian hurriedly unscrewed the bed leg and




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dashed into the small bathroom. Turn on the water
in the sink to make some noise, wrap the bed leg,
dash back and smash the wall light switch. Stand to
one side of the door. It worked.
       “Kid! What’s going on in here?” The night
orderly tried to turn on the light in the darkened
room, there was the sound of water running in the
john. The man started to look up to see what was
wrong with the camera when Ian whacked him.
Thud!


       “Sorry,” Ian whispered as the orderly became
one with the floor. A hurried search of the man’s
pockets produced the door access card, a wallet
and some sort of keys. Ian checked the man’s
pulse and breathing, he at least hadn’t committed
murder. Poking his head out the door he could see
the other night orderly down at the security station,
the man was sitting with his back toward him. Ian
simply tiptoed down the hall and whacked his
second victim, this netted him more keys and




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another wallet plus a .40 caliber Glock. Then he
was outside.


        There were two cars in the small parking area,
now came the hard part. Could he drive one of
these mobile deathtraps? Could he even get one
started? One vehicle was a ‘93 Corvette with a
manual transmission, the other was a ‘97 Volvo
station wagon with an automatic. Ian had observed
enough during his auto trips to know how the
automatic transmission was operated and opted for
the Volvo.
        “I must be out of my fucking mind,” Ian
muttered as he tried the first key in the locked car
door. The third key he tried worked.
        “Now what?” Ian finally located the ignition
switch. On the first click some small lights came on,
on the second click more lights, third click started
the engine.
        “Shit!” Ian naturally had selected ‘D’ on the
transmission indicator and then gently rammed the




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side of the building that the car was facing. Restart,
try ‘R’ this time. Now how do the headlights work?


       With all of the speed and recklessness of an
eighty five year old spinster on her way to church
Ian finally maneuvered the station wagon out onto
the deserted two lane road. Twenty five miles per
hour seemed a safe speed, Ian calculated that at
this rate he would be in San Francisco just in time
for the war with China in fifteen years.
Also the sun would soon be up and a lot of people
would want to have words with him.




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Chapter Five
Most Wanted



        HMS Thunder, Orbiting N35467


        “No! You two will stay right here until we have
Ian!” Daniel was laying down the law to Alex and
Jeremy, or at least he was trying to.
        “But...howwillyou find him?” Alex pleaded.
Daniel didn’t have a good answer for that, how
indeed would they find him?
        “I need you to do as I say for now? Will you
obey me?”
Both children nodded yes, disobedience was
something that did not come easy to them, nor
would it ever. Daniel had the awful feeling that they
may indeed have to rely on Alex’s talent to find Ian,
but that had to be a very last and final resort.




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       Ellen was coming, not even the Emperor was
so powerful as to try and deny her that right. Ian
was after all her bother.
       “You look very deadly today,” Daniel observed
as Ellen presented herself for departure to the
surface. Ellen had opted for a beam pistol and a
small rail carbine. Her tan marine combat uniform
and boots completed the fashion statement.
       “Thank you. You look a bit grim yourself. Let’s
go.”


       Daniel piloted the marine assault craft down to
the surface. Twenty fully equipped marines sat
behind Daniel, Ellen was in the jump seat behind the
craft’s co pilot. Lieutenant Hawkes was in command
of the marines and sat with his men, all of them
seemed to be watching Ellen. The Emperor’s young
wife had the entire Imperial Navy and Marines
hopelessly in love with her. Gunnery Sergeant
N’Kwasi felt very protective toward The Lady Ellen
and would of course break the neck of any person




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on the shuttle who was even slightly out of line with
her.


        Eight Falcon’s flew in escort with the shuttle,
not that there were any threats other than those on
the surface.


        Commander Wilkes and Professor Hyde
bowed properly in greeting to their Emperor as
Daniel and The Lady Ellen strode down the assault
craft’s lowered ramp.
        “Welcome, Your Majesty. I do so very much
apologize for what has happened.” Professor Hyde’s
words were heartfelt, he did indeed care a very
great deal for both Ian and Daniel, the three of them
had somewhat of a history together.
        “Thank you, Professor. There is no fault in this,
Ian would tell you the same. Say hello to Ellen, I’ve
told her a lot about you.”




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       Virginia, 2002


       The sun was up. Ian had to increase his speed
and that seemed very unsafe. People had been
honking and gesturing at him with their middle
fingers.
       “I need a place to hide,” Ian had been saying
this to himself for the last twenty miles. A rutted
side road and an ancient looking barn seemed like
the only option.


       The half collapsed barn no longer had a door,
Ian eased the mobile deathtrap inside and switched
off the ignition with a sigh of relief. He was hidden
from view from the road, no passing vehicle could
see anything but the old barn. Two near collisions
with large trucks and several trees had taken it’s toll,
Ian needed some sleep. He opted for curling up in
the back seat of the Volvo, he was too tired to
bother with any inspection of the barn.




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Ian was asleep in seconds, the Glock rested on the
seat next to him.
Someone had watched as all of this occurred.




        N35467


        “There is just the one marker disk?” Daniel did
not like that at all.
        “Yes Sire, apparently there is only one disk
dispensed for each location.” Hyde explained.
        “What if the location is shifted just a little, to
one side of the original site. Will that dispense
another disk?”
Hyde didn’t know, it had never occurred to him or
anyone else.
        “Perhaps we should try that, Sire.”
        “Do so.”


        With painstaking care the field of view in the




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alien device was moved perhaps fifty yards to the
right of the original site. Another ceramic disk then
popped out of the console.
       “Another marker, Sire.” Hyde stated the
obvious
       “Can a shuttle or Falcon be transported?”
Daniel asked next.
       “We think so, Sire. A test is the only way to
know for sure.”
       “Give me thirty minutes.” Daniel turned and
went off to where the Falcons had grounded, he
would be the test. How could he ask someone else
to try such a thing? Ellen bit her lip and refrained
from stopping him, it was one of the hardest things
she ever had to do.




       San Francisco, Golden Gate Park, 2002


       There was a small gathering of the local




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Ukrainian community underway, the park was as
always a place to meet for celebrations and holiday
events. An Imperial M Class Falcon hovering just
over the picnic area had not been in the plans for
the day.
        “Holy shit (translated)!” Ivan Nachinko had
seen many odd things in his life, this was moved to
the top of the list. Several people managed to take
photos of the nasty looking aircraft before it shot off
to the east.


        “Holy shit!” Daniel found himself staring out at
a city out of time, only instinct and training had
caused him to accelerate the Falcon forward and up
into the blue sky. On N35467 the crosshairs shifted
and followed his progress as he moved out over the
inner bay area. A United 737 departing from SFO
caught a quick glance of the menacing looking craft
as it flashed in front of the airliner.


        Daniel called on all of his self control and




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turned in a sweeping arc toward his arrival point. In
five minutes he was once more hovering over the
assembly of Ukrainian immigrants. It had been
agreed upon that his return to this spot would signal
his wish to be returned.
       “Holy shit! (translated).” Ivan Nachinko once
more remarked. Two people managed to get video
footage this time. The images would be on the
networks within two hours with the predictable
consequences.


       Then Daniel was again over the great iron disk
on N35467.




       Virginia, 2002


       “Hey, geek boy! Wake up!”
       “Huh?” Ian bolted upright in the back seat of
the Volvo, his blurry eyes finally fixing on who was




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yelling and banging on the car’s roof.
Helen O’Connor backed up when she spotted the
large black automatic in Ian’s right hand. Helen was
fourteen and on the lam herself, the barn had been
her hiding place for two days now.


        Ian carefully opened the door and stepped out,
looking around for other people or threats, he found
none and lowered the gun to his side.
        “Who are you?” Ian asked quietly.
        “No one! Don’t shoot for chrissakes!”
        “I’m not going to shoot, you startled me is all.
Sorry.”
        “Cool. My name is Helen, Helen O’Connor.
How about you?”
        “Ian Murphy.”
        “I guess we’re a couple of Micks then. What’s
your story? You have a weird accent for a Mick.”
        “I have to get to San Francisco, I sort of
escaped from a ‘clinic’ place and took this vehicle.”
        “Did you shoot anyone?”




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       “No. I knocked them out with a padded bed
leg, they’ll be all right (he hoped).”


       Helen was pretty, fair skinned and had hair as
red as it is possible to be without artificial dyes. The
girl was about Ian’s height and looked a bit thin in
her jeans and T shirt. She also had problems of her
own.
       “What are you doing here?” Ian asked.
       “I got tired of foster homes and the creeps
running them.”
       “What’s a foster home?”
       “A place for losers like me. You sure act
ignorant!”
       “Sorry.” Ian didn’t know what else to say.
       “Life’s a bitch,” Helen observed. “You have any
money? I’m broke.”
       “No. Wait a minute, I have two wallets in the
vehicle.”
Ian retrieved the wallets he had taken off the clinic’s
night staff and handed them to Helen.




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        “Pickpocket, huh?” Helen teased.
        “What?”
        “Nothing. Let’s see what’s in these.”


        Wallet number one had twenty seven dollars in
cash and four credit cards. Wallet number two had
one hundred and fifty three dollars and three credit
cards.
        “This will buy gas and some food, we can’t use
the plastic. We’ll need another car, the cops will be
looking for this one. You did steal it didn’t you?”
        “Yes, from the clinic parking area,” Ian replied
with some embarrassment.
        “What kind of clinic, are you some sort of
druggie or head case?”
        ‘I don’t think so. I had some information the
government wanted, they got it.”
        “What kind of information?” Helen asked.
        “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. Let’s just
say a lot of people will probably be looking for me.”
        “Wonderful.” Helen wondered if she should just




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take the money and run. But there was something
about the awkward boy that told her he needed her
help, someone’s help. Besides, she sort of liked
him, goofy as he was.


       “We’ll stay here till dark,” Helen explained,
“then we stop in the next town and swipe some new
wheels and get some food.”
Ian peered down at the Volvo’s tires and asked,
“What’s wrong with the wheels on this vehicle?”
Helen looked at him like he was making a bad joke,
but she could tell he wasn’t.
       “Where are you from, anyway? You sure talk
funny for an Irishman.”
       “New Albion.”
       “Where the hell is that?”
       “It’s sort of a long ways off.”
       “I guess. I have some peanut butter and some
bread left, let’s finish it off and rest up till dark. No
hanky panky!”
       “What’s “hanky panky?”




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        “Never mind. Let’s just eat something.”
        “Fine.” Ian was starved, whatever peanut butter
was it sounded good.




        The White House, 2002


        The President had quietly called an emergency
meeting of his cabinet and the JCS. Half of the
country was in a near panic about the UFO footage
running nonstop on every network. CIA was in a
near panic over Ian’s easy escape from the clinic.


        “That site in Golden Gate Park seems to be the
key to this whole mess,” began the President’s
National Security Advisor. “The boy turned up in
San Francisco, that little girl disappeared and then
was returned in the park, now this.”
        “Could that have been some sort of
experimental aircraft, some ‘black project’?” Asked




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the Attorney General.
       “No sir.” Replied the Chairman of the JCS.
“We have nothing remotely like that thing. It just
hovered there for a time with no jet blast to support
it. Witnesses say it only made an odd moaning
sound, or a low rumble depending on who you
talked to.”
       “And the markings on it?” Asked the President.
       “Misspelled English, like was on that pistol.
The number six on the tail, “HMS Thundor” just
below that. “Flyt Lutenunt Hobbs” under the
canopy.” The CIA director explained.


       “So why was that ‘thing’ doing just a quick
circuit of the bay and then back to where it
appeared?”
       “It’s only conjecture, Mister President, but it
may have been a test of some sort.”
       “A test of what, General?”
       “Possibly an armed invasion. If that thing
wasn’t some sort of war craft then I’m in the wrong




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business.”


        The President looked pointedly at CIA and told
him to either find that boy or to go look for
employment elsewhere. The Director of the FBI
also got the message.




        N35467


        There was a growing confidence in using the
alien transporter, it had worked without harm to
anyone or any device, including a Falcon fighter.
The tracking crosshairs shifted along with the
movement of the ceramic disks. A better landing
site on Earth was definitely in order.
        “Why don’t we shift the focus point to some
remote location, away from any population areas,”
Daniel suggested.
        “That would seem a logical move, Sire,”




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Agreed Commander Wilkes. “Perhaps the desert
area to the southeast?”
       “Agreed.” The Emperor and everyone else had
been avoiding the next subject, except Ellen.
       “How do we find Ian?” She asked.
       “Could we not just go directly to the
government there and ask for their assistance?”
Asked Professor Hyde.
       “They may already have him, perhaps he
contacted them when he arrived.” Offered Admiral
Harker.
There seemed no other course of action for the
present short of taking Alex along, Daniel didn’t
want his little sister put in harm’s way if it could at all
be avoided.
       “All right then, we try to make contact. Any
suggestions as to who or where we begin with?”
Daniel looked around the table, Ellen had a
suggestion.
       “Why not their capitol city, where their
President is?”




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        “Start right at the top, so to speak?” Hyde
asked.
        “Yes. What better place?” Ellen replied
It did seem like a very sensible idea.
At the time.




        Virginia, 2002


        “Wake up! It’s getting dark!” Helen shook Ian’s
shoulder, he’d been catching up on lost sleep.
        “Where do we go?” Ian asked, still half asleep.
        “West, dummy. We stop at the first town and
ditch the car, then we find another one they aren’t
looking for.”
        “How...keys are required to start a vehicle.”
        “Well duh! Idiots are always leaving cars
unlocked with the keys in them. Fast food stores
are a good place to hang out at, we should get
lucky.”




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       “What’s fast food?”
Helen just gave her dopey new friend an
exasperated look. Where was this funny geek from,
anyway?


       It took another ten minutes to get organized
and to use the ‘facilities’, then it was time to go.
       “Can you drive a vehicle?” Ian asked as they
approached the Volvo. His last excursion had left
him a nervous wreck.
       “Yes. I don’t have a license or anything, why?”
       “I had my first lesson last night when I stole this
thing.”
       “Oh. Then maybe I’d better do the driving.”
Helen replied.
       “Good.”


       “Fasten your seat belt,” Helen said. Ian
watched as she did so and learned something else
about cars.
       “The restraint feels loose, is it faulty?”




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        “Nitwit, it locks up if we crash!”
        “Oh. How clever!”
        “Christ Almighty!” Helen started the car, she
was much better at it then Ian was. They were out
on the main road and doing sixty before Ian would
have made it out of the barn.


        “Do we have to go this fast?” Ian asked
through tight lips.
        “If we go too slow it will attract attention,
besides were not even doing the speed limit. You
act like haven’t done much driving.”
        “Actually I’ve done a lot of traveling, just not in
one of these things.”
        “Well, relax! You’re making me crazy!”
        “Sorry.”




        N35467




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       A review of some history texts and ancient
maps was in order. Professor Hyde gave a short
lesson to the Emperor, Ellen and the assembled
pilots and marines.
       “The large Capitol Building is not where the
President resided or even visited very often. The
real seat of power was the White House, as you can
see in this restored photograph it was indeed a large
white house.” Hyde pointed to the image on the
large view screen. The lecture was taking place in a
temporary hanger structure.
       “Can we land there?” Daniel asked.
       “I believe so, Your Majesty. All of the
photographs and records indicate that large grassy
areas surrounded the building.”
       “Will it be defended, sir?” This from Flight
Lieutenant Pak.
This caught Hyde unprepared.
       “I honestly don’t know. I haven’t found any
records or indications of defensive weapons. I
should imagine that some sort of security force will




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be present.”


        The subject changed to military forces of the
time. Commander Wilkes was a military history buff
and gave this part of the briefing.
        “As you may already know, there were aircraft
in large numbers during this time period, mostly
civilian transports and such. Military aircraft with
speeds of perhaps twice that of sound existed, they
had conventional rapid fire cannons and various
types of chemically propelled missiles.”
        “Do you know how high they could fly?” Daniel
asked.
        “It is believed that the more advanced gas
turbine powered craft of this era could reach
perhaps seventy thousand feet in an all out climb,
Sire. Combat was normally engaged at much lower
altitudes.”
Lieutenant Pak had a direct question for the
Emperor.
        “Your Majesty, if we are attacked what is our




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response?”
       “As you know, the shuttles and Falcons are
now shield equipped. We are not out to initiate some
sort of war with our ancestors, We just want to get
Sir Ian back. If fired upon there is no need to
respond. If things get out of hand on the ground we
will proceed on to the rendezvous point over the
Atlantic ocean for transport back here.”


       There would be no communications with this
expedition, only the shifting crosshairs on the alien
console would indicate progress. If the crosshairs
moved on to a point off of what had once been
called Cape Charles it would signal that transport
back was requested.




       Lynchburg, Virginia, 2002


       The roadblocks went up behind them one hour




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after Ian and Helen coasted to an out of gas stop in
the MacDonald’s parking lot.
        “Come on, let’s get away from this heap!”
Helen didn’t have to ask twice, Ian was all too glad
to have his feet doing the traveling for a while.
        “Where...?”
        “That Zippy Mart up the street, maybe we can
get lucky.”
By mutual consent they had left the Glock on the
floor in the back of the Volvo, the girl had explained
how nervous cops became when they spotted a
gun. Besides, Ian wasn’t too sure how the damned
thing worked and he certainly didn’t want to shoot
anyone.


        “I’m starving to death,” Ian complained.
        “Me too, geek boy. We’ll snag something in the
Zippy Mart while we check things out.”
        “Why do you keep calling me that? What’s a
‘geek’ anyway?”
        “A geek is a valiant and heroic warrior,” Helen




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lied, not too successfully.
       “Why don’t I believe that?” Ian grinned.
       “Maybe you’re smarter than you look.”
Both of them were starting to like each other, a lot.


       Alice Kies was a ditz. She had as always
stopped at the Zippy Mart for a lottery ticket and a
cup of bad coffee. She as always just left the motor
running in her pride and joy Mustang.
       “Move it!” Helen was dashing from where they
had been standing beside the outside phone booth.
Ian obeyed and they were inside the blue Mustang
in an instant. Blue smoke from the rear tires was all
that Alice saw as her not paid for steed disappeared
from sight.
       “Yeeeeehaw!” Helen seemed to be enjoying
this sort of thing far too much.
       “Slow down!” Ian was having his first ride in a
‘performance’ vehicle. He didn’t care for it at all.




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        N35467


        There would be three craft in this mission.
Daniel would be at the controls of the marine assault
shuttle, an escort of two Falcons would fly cover.
The focus point of the transporter had been shifted
to a remote desert area as agreed. Two slight shifts
after the initial transport had been made would
provide each craft with its own ceramic marker disk.


        “Shuttle One is ready,” Daniel spoke into the
com link while giving Ellen a final glance before
departure. The two Falcons had already made the
trip and would be standing watch when the shuttle
arrived. A marine dashed out of the control
structure and handed the final disk to Sergeant
N’kwasi who stood waiting on the shuttle’s ramp.
The huge black marine closed the ramp and
delivered the precious disk to his Emperor, without it
they would not be returning.




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       “Thank you, Sergeant. Strap in.”
Daniel sealed the disk into it’s own special container
that had been welded to the instrument panel. Time
to go.




       Mojave Desert northeast of Barstow California,
dusk 2002


       Mildred Hooper and her group of fellow rock
collectors thought that the damned Air Force was off
it’s reservation again. Fred Naughton put them
straight.
       “Those things don’t belong to our Air Force!
The fucking things are just floating there!” Fred was
retired from the Air Force.
Mildred was shocked at the man’s language, she
was even more shocked when a much larger ‘thing’
blinked into existence off to the side of the two
hovering Falcons.




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        It took a few seconds for Daniel to adjust to the
new reality around him, just as it had for the Falcon
pilots. Ellen would have squeaked if she could have
found her voice.
        “Take up formation and activate shields,”
Daniel finally ordered, “follow my departure.”
        “We have an audience, Sire.” Lieutenant Pak
observed, pointing to the small group of people off
to the south.
        “Shit!” Daniel hadn’t needed another
complication at this point.




        NORAD, Cheyenne Mountain, 2002


        Red lights were starting to blink, alarm klaxon’s
activated. The heightened alert status caused a
faster than normal reaction to unknown radar tracks
over the continental United States.




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       “Three Fast Walkers tracking to the east.
Launch strip alert aircraft at sites east of Nevada.
Notify Alamo (the White House) and CINCUSAF.”




       Over southern Nevada, 2002


       Daniel had opted for a fast sub orbital arc, it
would save time but not Ellen’s stomach. A motion
sickness candy still dissolving in her mouth kept
things from getting messy. The acceleration was
crushing the poor girl into her seat, the marines in
the back were used to this sort of thing.
       “How are you doing?” Daniel’s question
seemed entirely too casual to Ellen, didn’t he feel
like an elephant was sitting on him?
       “Shut up!” Ellen was focusing on the control
readouts, the view outside only made things worse.
Daniel just smiled.




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        The White House, 2002


        The Red Phone was ringing, something every
President had nightmares about.
        “Cold Wood.” The President replied while
wondering again who dreamed up these stupid
authentication code words.
        “Mister President, this is Cheyenne Mountain.
We have three unknowns tracking from California to
the east. Performance parameters are beyond
known aircraft, altitude is presently fifty miles and
increasing, speed is in excess of five thousand
knots.”
        “Christ! Where are they headed?”
        “On the present track and speed they could be
over your location in twenty minutes, sir.”
        “Fuck!”
        “Yes sir.”
        “Keep me informed.” With that the President




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hung up the phone. Now what? Nothing the Air
Force had could touch them.




       Wytheville, Virginia, 2002


       “Just give the guy this twenty, he looks like he
just crossed the border anyway.” Helen’s
instructions were a bit confusing but Ian did as
directed. The immigrant in the cash booth was
indeed only interested in the color of the money. Ian
returned and watched fascinated as the girl started
gassing up the car.
       “Refined hydrocarbons?” Ian sniffed at the
fumes.
       “What?”
       “The fuel. Refined hydrocarbons.”
       “It’s gas, hair brain!”
       “Sorry.”
       “And stop apologizing all of the time!”




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        “Sorry.”
        “Jesus Christ!”


        A stop at an all night drive through burger
dispenser was next in order, Ian was getting a quick
education in early twenty first century history. He
didn’t care too much for the watery cola but drank it
without complaint as they sat parked on a dark side
street.
        “Thank you,” Ian said quietly.
        “For what?” Helen looked over at her odd
friend.
        “For helping me.”
        “No problem. I still haven’t figured you out.”
        “I am...I’m not supposed to be here, it was a
mistake.”
        “What are you talking about?” Helen stopped
ingesting french fries and looked closely at Ian.
        “Never mind. It’s too weird to even try and
explain. Perhaps we should be moving along now.”
Helen said nothing as she started the car but she




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was troubled by what Ian had tried to say. What
was his real story?


       A nation wide alert had been put out on Ian.
He was described as dangerous, having escaped
from a mental institution. He was not to be
approached, call the cops. The fact that Helen and
Ian had got as far as they had was due to the fact
that law enforcement’s ability to track and
apprehend fugitives is highly exaggerated.




       Over Virginia, 2002


       A good portion of the state had their windows
rattled as the shuttle and it’s Falcon escort
descended and decelerated into the lower
atmosphere. By the time the formation had gone
subsonic they were over the nation’s capitol. So
were two formations of Air National Guard F 16’s.




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        “We have possible military craft closing on us
from the west, Sire.” Lieutenant Pak was known for
being cool under pressure, he may as well have
been reporting the time of day.
        “Very well. Let’s make it easy for them, turn on
all anti collision lights and the forward search
beams. Notify the escort.”
        “Yes, Sire.”
Daniel double checked the indicators on the shield
control, it was indeed on and functioning.
        “Apparent missile launch’s from the closing
targets, Sire.” Pak simply could not be rattled. Ellen
could but she managed to keep her panic to herself.
        “Let’s just ignore them, there’s no point in
killing good men who are trying to defend their
country.” Daniel hoped that their welcome on the
ground might be just a little more civilized.


        The F 16 flight leaders reported multiple
missile impacts and then watched in amazement as
nothing but missile fragments fell out of the sky.




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Indeed the formation of the three unknowns flew on
as if nothing had happened. This did nothing to
settle the nerves at the White House.




       The White House Situation Room, 2002


       “I see. Where are they now?” The President
was once more on the Red Phone, after a moment
he softly hung up and turned to his Cabinet.
       “Ladies and gentlemen, we have visitors. I for
one am going to go up and see what they want.
Care to come along?”




       Washington, D.C. 2002


       “Follow Us down, the grassy area at the rear of
the building.” Daniel could see what had to be an




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actual ‘helicopter’, something laughed at when
records of them were shown to new cadets. There
was room on the grassy expanse for three more
aircraft, of sorts.


        The entire area was bathed in brilliant light
from the shuttle and Falcon’s anti collision beacons.
The Shuttle’s forward search beams lit up the entire
White House. People were already firing small arms
and shoulder fired projectiles at them, to no effect of
course. It was very, very noisy.
        “This is not good.” Daniel observed calmly.
        “No, Sire.” Pak agreed.
        “Let’s wait, perhaps they’ll quit after a while.”
Daniel suggested.


        The President had some limited military
experience and ordered the Secret Service to cease
firing.
        “It’s like throwing rocks at a tank!” Observed
the President’s Chief of Staff.




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       “Whoever they are they seem to have some
remarkable self restraint.”
       “Yes, Mister President, they do.”


       “They seemed to have calmed down some,
now how do we communicate with them?” Daniel
had no intentions of dropping the shield. Pak had a
solution.
       “Perhaps we could resize the shield, Sire. To
put a few of them on the inside with us?”
       “I like the way you think, Captain.” Daniel had
at that moment just promoted Pak.
       “Thank you, Sire. I do try.”


       “We need to send someone forward, perhaps
with a flag of truce or something,” suggested the
COS. In response the President took out his white
handkerchief and handed it to the man.
       “Go for it, Dave. History will remember your
bravery.”
       “But I didn’t mean.....”




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        “If they had meant to do us harm I do believe
they would have already done so.” Replied the
President.
        “Cripes!” Dave Chatsworth just shook his head
and opened the door, he always did have a big
mouth.


        “Someone is approaching, Sire.”
        “I see him, let him get close to the shield and
then reestablish it another twenty yards or so further
on.”
        “Yes, Sire.”


        The COS could sense something had just
happened, it seemed suddenly much quieter. He
stopped waving the silly God damned handkerchief
and just stood waiting, concentrating on not wetting
himself.


        “Lieutenant Hawkes!” Daniel called the
marine’s commanding officer forward.




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       “Sire?”
       “We intend to speak with that fellow with the
white cloth. Lower the main ramp and deploy your
men in a perimeter. Search that person.”
       “At once, Sire.”
Daniel turned to Ellen as the marines started to
deploy. “Are you up to some diplomacy?”
       “Now that I’m on solid ground, yes.”


       The President’s COS almost bolted when
twenty or so Imperial Assault Marines in combat
armor charged out of the rear of the shuttle and took
up a ring perimeter around the wingless craft. The
weapons they were carrying looked suitable for
hunting dinosaurs. Lieutenant Hawkes and
Sergeant N’Kwasi walked calmly up to the
frightened (very) COS. Hawkes even saluted before
speaking.
       “Sir, are you the President of The United
States?”
       “No....I..I’m his Chief of Staff. My name is




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David Chatsworth.”
Hawkes nodded and then spoke to his sergeant.
        “Search him for weapons, gently.”
        “Yes, sir.” N’Kwasi rumbled.
Chatsworth had the feeling that the huge black
‘soldier’ would have preferred to tear his head off,
there was something about the look in his eyes.
        “I detect no weapons, sir.” N’Kwasi seemed a
little disappointed. Hawkes then spoke quietly into
his headset.
        “It appears safe, Your Majesty.”
The COS heard that. Chatsworth wondered just
who the hell was in that fucking UFO?


        “Let’s go, act dignified.” Daniel said.
        “Your fly’s open,” Ellen replied in a whisper.
        “Very funny.” Daniel checked anyway.


        There was something about the teenaged boy
who was walking toward the COS that conveyed a
sense of power, a sense of royalty. There was no




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doubt in the man’s mind that the boy was the one in
charge. And what about that beautiful blonde mini
amazon at the boy’s side?
Lieutenant Hawkes made the introductions to
Chatsworth.


       “Sir, His Most Imperial Majesty and The Lady
Ellen.” And then, “Your Majesty, I present Mister
David Chatsworth, Chief of Staff to the President of
The United States.”
Daniel offered his hand, it was taken.
       “I’m afraid that I...I’m are at a loss here,”
Chatsworth began, “what do you...?”
       “We owe an apology for this intrusion, We
mean no harm at all. We are here to ask your
assistance in locating a person who was transported
to this time and place through an accident. His
name is Sir Ian Murphy.”


       At this point Chatsworth decided that he would
be resigning very soon, if he survived this




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nightmare.




        Morehead, Kentucky, 2002


        “Look out!” Ian screamed.
        “I’m awake!” Helen also screamed. In truth she
had fallen asleep at the wheel, only the oncoming
semi’s air horn had saved them.
At least they were both now completely awake.
        “We need to stop and rest!” Ian correctly
observed.
        “No shit!
The sun would be up in another two hours. Where
to hide?


        Boskin’s Motor Inn had seen far better days. A
trio of two chickens and a mule could have rented a
unit if they had the cash. Helen had the cash.
        “My brother has the flu, we need a place for




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him to rest.”
Cash on the counter stopped any questions about
the girl’s age or relations.
       “Number six, check out is in twenty four hours.
Leave the key in the door.”
       “Thanks.”


       There was only the one bed. At least the
sheets and towels were clean.
       “What are you doing?” Helen demanded.
       “Going to bed, I’m tired.” Ian had started to
undress, sleep was all he had in mind.
       “Then keep your underwear on!”
       “Sorry.” Ian had stopped trying to understand
this place in time.
Helen had started to make further objections but
Ian’s soft snoring told her that she was perfectly
safe with this odd boy. After a while both of them
were asleep back to back. Helen woke up a couple
of times, it was sort of nice to have a warm friend so
close. For the first time in too long she didn’t feel




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alone.




          The White House, 2002


          “How was Ian injured?” Ellen demanded.
Chatsworth was getting in deeper by the minute.
          “Apparently he was struck by a city bus in San
Francisco, an accident. He wasn’t seriously hurt, he
was released from the hospital the next morning.”
          “Then where is he?” Daniel also demanded.
          “Well, this is awkward. The weapon he was
carrying apparently discharged at the hospital, the
authorities were called in.”
          “And?” Daniel’s eye’s were starting to narrow a
little.
          “The FBI undertook an investigation, it involved
an interrogation of Ian...Sir Ian.”
          “What is the FBI”? Ellen asked.
          “The Federal Bureau of Investigation. It’s a law




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enforcement organization. Then CIA took over the
case.”
       “CIA?” Daniel asked rather sharply. These
acronyms were getting tiresome.
       “Central Intelligence Agency.”
Daniel had finally had enough.
       “Where is he right now?”
       “We don’t actually know at the present, he
escaped from the facility where he was
being....detained.” Chatsworth was wondering if
these refugees from a Star Wars movie would now
simply vaporize him.
       “Why would he feel any need to escape? And
why was he being held against his will?” Daniel’s
very quite questions told the man that this was the
moment of truth.
       “Err...We aren’t entirely sure at the...?”
       “Are you at least attempting to locate him?”
Daniel hissed.
       “Of course, we...”
Daniel interrupted the perspiring bureaucrat.




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        “We’ll be back.”




        Morehead Kentucky, 2002


        Helen was awake and watching the fuzzy
image on the motel television, Ian was just starting
to come to life. What Helen saw unfold on the
network news broadcast raised her pulse and
caused her to dash to the window for a peak
through the shabby drapes.
        “Get up!” Helen wanted to shout but only
managed a loud whisper.
        “Huh?”
        “You’re on the news, dammit! We both are!”
        “What?” Ian finally sat up while rubbing his
eyes.
        “The whole damn country is looking for us!”


        The whole damn country was indeed looking




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for them. The fact that the mustang was parked out
of sight of the street was the only thing that had kept
them from having uniformed visitors. The motel
clerk being at least partially brain dead was also
helping. The television told them more than they
really wanted to know, at first.


       The stolen Volvo had been found. Burger
flippers at the Macdonald’s where the Volvo had
been left had remembered seeing a blond boy and a
red haired girl get out of the car. A blue Mustang
was reported stolen, the same two kids were seen
loitering around the Zippy Mart. More UFO’s were
reported over the nation’s capitol and the Mojave
Desert, described as being similar to those seen
over San Francisco. This last item was of the most
interest to Ian.
       “Daniel!”
       “What?” The girl turned to look Ian, now what?
       “I think he’s found a way to get here, to look for
me!” Ian was almost floating above the mattress.




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        “What the hell are you talking about?”
        “I’ll tell you everything, then if you want me to
leave I will.” Ian said.
        “Why would I want you to leave, after all the
shit we’ve been through?”
        “Because you’ll think I’m insane.”
        “Try me.”
Ian told her. Everything.


        “It does explain why you’re such a hopeless
geek.” Helen did believe her weird friend. They
were still in all of the trouble that there was.




        HMS Thunder, in orbit at N35467


        “Pest, I need your help.” Daniel could see no
other way, was he right to even think of doing this.
        “I know. Let’s go get Ian.” Alex’s simple
answer was all that Daniel needed.




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       East of Lexington Kentucky, 2002


       How they had gotten this far was beyond
explanation. The flashing red lights behind them in
the early evening dark told them that good luck had
it’s limits.
       “Oh shit! Oh shit!” Helen shoved the
accelerator all the way to the floor, Ian reacted as
expected.
       “What is it? Slow down!”
       “Cops!”
Ian finally looked behind them, apparently
everything in Kentucky that had red lights on the
roof was following them.
       “Oh shit!” Ian was getting into the spirit of
things.
       “What do we do?” Helen had started to lose all
of her former bravado and was moving into panic. A




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wall of red lights in the far distance ahead of them
didn’t help any.
        “We have to stop! Daniel will find us, but we
have to be alive when he does!”
The girl eased off the gas, the pursuing state
troopers pulled up close and then alongside them.
Before they finally stopped Ian had a very important
question for Helen.


        “Do you want to come with me?”
        “What?”
        “Daniel will find me sooner or later, he won’t
leave without me. Do you want to come? I want
you to!”
The Mustang finally halted as the girl looked at the
boy she had come to care a great deal for. There
was nothing more she wanted than to stay with him.
        “Yes. Hell yes!” Her kiss sealed the deal.


        “Driver! Step out of the car with your hands
behind your head!”




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       You know the rest of that routine.




       The White House, 2002


       “They have them, Mister President! In
Kentucky!”
       “Are they all right?”
       “Yes, they stopped without much of a fuss.
They’re taking them to the police station in
Lexington.” Chatsworth decided he might not resign,
not just yet anyway.
       “So now what the hell do we do?”
The President’s question went unanswered by
everyone in the Situation Room. The next move
was up to the ‘visitors’.




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        N35467


        “It’shothere!”
        “Slow down, Pest.” Daniel knew his sister was
excited, her speech always gave her away.
        “It’s hot.” She repeated, slower this time.
        “Yes it is, but we won’t be here very long.”
        “What’s that?” Jeremy was along too, parting
the two children was not even considered. The boy
was pointing at a small, four legged blur running
across the stone plaza, it looked like a hairless
rabbit that had been dipped in acid. Daniel had
started to pull his revolver out, one of the marine
sentries beat him to it and the ‘rabbit’ exploded into
a reddish cloud.
        “Some sort of local nasty that made it through
the fence. This isn’t a very nice place.”
Daniel’s explanation wasn’t really needed, both
Jeremy and Alex had already figured that out.


        There would be four Falcons escorting the




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shuttle this time, perhaps they weren’t really needed
but it felt right. Daniel ordered two surveillance
drones attached to weapon racks on the shuttle,
they might make communications with whoever had
Ian easier. Extra jump seats were installed for Alex
and Jeremy, Daniel would hold down any heavy
accelerations during this trip. The shuttle would
have Ian’s invincible shield, they should be safe.
But was Ian safe?




       Lexington Kentucky, 2002


       “I don’t know what you’ve done kid, but I’ve
never seen such a shit storm in my entire life!”
Detective Lieutenant Walsford was having the first
‘sit down’ with Ian. At least they had taken off the
handcuffs, Ian could never look very menacing even
if he tried.
       “What have you done with Helen?” Ian was




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worried silly over his feisty companion, he cared
about her in a way that was new to him.
        “She’s in the women’s section, she’s fine. That
is if being charged with grand theft auto and aiding a
federal fugitive is fine. Can you tell me why the FBI
and CIA are interested in you?”
        “I could but you wouldn’t believe any of it,
what’s the point?”
Walsford tried another approach.
        “Where are you from, anyway, I can’t place that
accent of yours?”
        “It’s a long way from here, light years even.”


        At this point another detective called Walsford
out into the hall.
        “What is it?”
        “The White House just got off the phone with
the watch commander, they say to treat the boy with
kid gloves.” Sergeant Wallace was obviously
impressed.
        “Are you shitting me?”




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       “Not this time.”
       “Christ! What about the girl?”
       “Same thing. Smile and be nice, and stand by.”
       “For what?”
       “They didn’t say that.”
       “What about the fucking TV idiots outside?”
       “No comments to the press, no access to the
kids.”
What the hell was going on?


       Walsford shook his head and went back in to
resume his seat across from Ian.
       “You can tell me now, I think I’ll believe it.”
       “No, you won’t. Can I see Helen now?”
       “Sorry, it’s against the rules. She isn’t being
harmed. No one is going to hurt either of you.”
       “A very good friend of mine is looking for me.”
       “Who’s that, kid?”
       “You wouldn’t believe that either but things
might get very exciting around here if I’m still here
when he does find me.”




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        “What are you saying, kid?”
        “When he gets really mad about something it’s
better to be someplace else.”
With that Ian stopped talking altogether.




        East of Cape Charles, 2002


        “Are you two all right?” Daniel looked over his
shoulder at Alex and Jeremy, they seemed to be
enjoying things a very great deal.
        “We’refine!” Alex grinned. “Ianisthat way, he’s
sort of mad. He’s worriedabout Helen!” Alex was
pointing in a generally westerly direction.
        “Talk slowly! Who’s Helen?” Daniel and Ellen
exchanged questioning looks at this revelation.
        “Ian’sgirl. Theylike...they like each other a lot.”
Neither the Emperor, The Lady Ellen nor Captain
Pak could think of a response to that. It was time to
follow Alex’s directions.




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       The White House, morning 2002


       “I understand. No response is authorized
unless they initiate hostilities.” The President was
starting to really hate the Red Phone.
       “They’re back?” Asked Chatsworth.
       “Yes. Five radar contacts this time, coming in
fast from the east.”
       “What do we...?”
       “Nothing for now. What can we do?”




       Over Washington, D.C. 2002


       The glass merchants would honor this day.
Fourteen hundred knots at an altitude of only three
thousand feet broke windows and shattered nerves




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in a four mile wide swath across the nation’s capitol.
Inland the poultry population would cease laying for
three days.
        “It’slot’sfartherthatway!”
        “Alex! You have to speak slowly!” Daniel’s
harsh tone had the right effect.
        “I’m sorry. Ian is a long ways, ahead of us.
Please don't be mad.”
Daniel almost dissolved at the shuttle’s controls, he
could never be mad at her.
        “I’m not mad at you Pest, I love you. Just
remember to talk slowly, it’s important. What you
are doing is very important.”
        “Okay. I love you too.”




        Lexington Kentucky, 2002


        “What have you done with Ian?” Helen had
gone ballistic some time ago.




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       “Cool it, missy! You are in a world of trouble
already, don't you make me get physical!” Officer
Clarissa Brown was not a person to be antagonized,
she weighed one eighty in just her underwear and
you really didn’t want to see her in her underwear.


       Outside of the police building there were news
media satellite trucks and hair sprayed reporters for
a half block in either direction. Some of the more
intelligent reporters had finally put two and two
together after the usual leak from a White House
staffer. The boy inside the police building was
somehow tied into the UFO panic, but how?




       Over Eastern Virginia, 2002


       “Are we getting close, Pest?” Daniel and
everyone else were starting to have doubts about
the small girl’s abilities.




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        “We’remore...we’re more than halfway. I don’t
know how may miles that is.”
        “That’s okay, Pest. What can you tell about
how they are?”
        “They’re still mad at the people there, it’s a jail
place. There’s lots of people there.”
The mention of a “jail place” infuriated the Emperor,
The Lady Ellen didn’t take the news too well either.




        Lexington Kentucky, 2002


        Detective Walsford had given up trying to get
anything else out of Ian, his counterpart had about
the same success with Helen, even with Officer
Brown in the room looking menacing. The crowd of
local citizens outside the police building had
continued to swell, all of the news trucks signaled
that something very important was going on but no
one seemed to know just what is was.




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       The watch commander, Captain Jack Donant
(‘Donuts’ behind his back), received another call
from the White House.
       “They say that radar is tracking five high speed
‘objects’ heading our way. They say to give the boy
to them if and when they get here.”
       “Who the fuck is “them” and “they”?” Walsford
was getting a very queasy feeling in his stomach.
       “The White House said that they weren’t
entirely sure.”
       “Well that’s a big fucking help! Are they God
damned Martians or something?”
       “I sort of got that impression that they might
be,” Donuts replied.


       Outside there was a lot of jockeying for position
among the news types. Patricia Wilkins worked for
one of the local stations, she had a reputation for
being able to get past police lines and had a nasty
left elbow to get her to the front of anything. She




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was also ‘perky’. News producers liked ‘perky’.
        “Just stay with me for Chrissakes!” Patricia
went through a lot of cameramen.
        “Bend over and you’ll see how close this Sony
can get.” The cameraman muttered to himself.
        “What was that?” She made a mental note to
get this latest moron fired.
        “Nothing. I’m right with you.”


        A few people in the crowd caught just a
glimpse of something flashing overhead, three
seconds later the sonic shock wave arrived. Five
seconds after that the panic set in. Inside the rattled
police building Ian had a very large grin on his face.




        “Turnaroundturnaround!” Alex yelled.
        “What is it?” Daniel demanded, not quite as
loud as his sister.
        “Ian’sdownthere! Wewen...we went past!”




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Daniel alerted the escort Falcons that they had
arrived and then commenced a wide turn while
slowing to subsonic.
       “Come up here beside me, Pest.”
Strong hands unbelted the small girl and soon had
her safely standing beside the shuttle’s command
seat. Lieutenant Hawkes had a firm grip on both a
grab bar and Alex.
       “Slow down!” Alex was pointing at a distant
building, there seemed to be a large number of
people and vehicles surrounding the place.
       “Ian’s in there!”
They had indeed arrived.


       On the ground people were starting to run in all
directions, the media included.
       “Come on, let’s get the hell out of here!”
Perky’s cameraman was ready to bolt.
       “You stay right here with me you fat sack of
shit! Whatever the fuck those things are they’re
coming here! Signal for a network live feed! How




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does my hair look?”


        There was a wide lawn area between the street
and the police building, Daniel decided to land there
and have the Falcons orbit overhead. Patricia
Wilkins and her cameraman were of course closest
to the shuttle when it touched down.
        “Sweet jumping Jesus!” Were Perky’s first and
last words to the network.


        “Extend the shield past those two people,”
Daniel gestured to the woman and the man near her
who was holding something on his shoulder.
        “Yes Sire. Is that a weapon he has?” Pak
asked.
        “It’sa.. It takes pictures,” Alex said.
        “I believe they had some sort of vid apparatus
then, or rather now, Sire.” Hawkes explained.
        “Ah. I see. Perhaps they can be of some help
then. Deploy your men, Lieutenant.”




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       The shield had blocked the wireless link from
the camera to the station’s van, the camera’s
internal tape continued to record.
       “We are outside of police headquarters....this is
the most incredible sight.” Perky was as close to a
loss for words as she ever had been, that is to say
not very close at all. “Some sort of aircraft has just
landed on the lawn here, it just hovered for a
moment making a low rumbling noise. I can’t see
any jets or whatever propels it.... It’s as big as a city
bus. There are some smaller aircraft circling
overhead, they seem to have only very small wings
and you can just hear a sort of howling sound from
them.”


       Inside the police building events had not stood
still. Detective Walsford had taken one long look out
of the shattered windows of the second floor and
then went to get Ian.
       “I believe that your ride is here.”
Ian just nodded, he knew what a sonic shock wave




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sounded like.
        “Helen’s coming too, where is she?”
        “Kid, I have the word to turn you over to
whoever or whatever is out there, not your friend.”
        “I’m not leaving without Helen!”
        “Yes you are.”
With that the six foot three Walsford simply grabbed
up Ian and slung him over his shoulder. Walsford
had no wish to keep the people (if they were people)
outside waiting any longer than needed.
        “Hellllennnn!” Ian’s scream was lost in the
general uproar in the police headquarters.


        “Identify yourselves!” Lieutenant Hawkes and
Sergeant N’Kwasi had done this sort of thing once
before.
        “Pa..Patricia Wilkins. I’m with Fox News Lex...”
        “And him?” Hawkes interrupted, pointing at the
camera man.
        “Manny. Manny Garcia.”
        “The device he carries?”




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       “It’s our news camera.”
       “Vid?”
       “Video, yes.”
Hawkes spoke once more into his headset, it
seemed to be safe. Once more the Lieutenant had
to make proper introductions as the Emperor and
The Lady Ellen approached.


       “Your Majesty, this is Patricia Wilks..”
       “Wilkins,” Perky corrected.
       “Patricia Wilkins, Your Majesty. The gentleman
is a Mister Manny Garcia.”
Even the pain in the ass reporter had to pause when
the title “Your Majesty” finally registered. But he
was just a boy! Was he royalty?
       “Your Majesty?” Perky asked with some
sarcasm.
       “His Most Imperial Majesty, Emperor of The
New Empire, Protector of Mankind,” answered
Hawkes. “Do not be impertinent, Madame!”




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        Daniel finally asked the important question.
        “We are only here to collect Sir Ian Murphy, it is
believed that he is in that building. Will you assist
Us in this matter?”
This confusing meeting was interrupted as Detective
Walsford carried a protesting Ian out of the front
entrance to the building.
        “Ian!” Daniel and Ellen both shouted.
Hawkes spoke into his headset, the shield was
pushed out further and Ian and his captor were also
inside the barrier.


        A good portion of 2002’s humanity was
watching this all unfold, for every reporter there was
a different version of what was occurring. A young
Emperor from a distant future dashed to embrace
his lost friend, a sister ran to embrace her lost
brother.
An enormous black Imperial Marine Sergeant
shoved a cannon in Detective Walsford’s ashen
face.




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Perky finally just shut up.


       “Ian, you nitwit!” Daniel had his friend in a rib
cracking embrace.
       “God, I am so sorry for this mess! I never
meant....”
       “Are you all right?” Ellen demanded.
       “Yes... They have Helen, they won’t let her
come!”
       “Alex mentioned Helen, who is she?” Daniel
asked in a quieter tone.
       “She helped me, she doesn’t have any family.
We...”
       “Love each other?” Daniel finished what Ian
was unused to saying.
       “Yes.”
       “Then we will not leave without her.”


       Daniel looked around for a moment, settling on
Detective Walsford.
       “Who is he?”




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        “A constable of some sort,” Ian answered, “he
isn’t really a bad guy, just sort of thick skulled.”
Daniel motioned for Sergeant N’Kwasi to bring the
petrified man over to them.
        “Move,” rumbled N’Kwasi, “and be respectful to
His Majesty.”
        “His Majesty?” Walsford, like everyone else,
was having some trouble adjusting to this.
Especially with a howitzer of some sort poking him
in the middle of his back.


        The Emperor studied the detective for a
moment before speaking.
        “You are detaining a girl, Helen...”
        “O’Connor.” Ian prompted.
        “Helen O’Connor,” Daniel continued, “release
her immediately.”
        “I don’t have the authority to do that,” Walsford
tried to explain, “she has broken the law, several
times.”
        “What laws?” Daniel asked.




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       “Stealing a car, that’s grand theft. Aiding and
harboring a federal fugitive. Several other minor
counts.”
       “She was merely helping Sir Ian.” Daniel was
starting to lose what patience he might once have
had.
       “Sir Ian?” Walsford asked, his smirk didn’t help
matters any.
       “Yes. Sir Ian is an Imperial Knight and should
be shown some respect, not treated as a common
criminal.” This didn’t seem to register with the man.
       “She is a minor and a felon. Like I said, I have
no authority to release her to you or anyone else.”
       “I see.” Daniel’s eye’s had narrowed once
again, never a good sign. “You have five minutes to
release her, if you fail to do so We shall use force to
take her.”
Before Walsford could protest Daniel motioned Ellen
and Ian to follow him back to the shuttle. The
detective found himself under close guard, any
thought of escape was ridiculous .




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        Once inside the shuttle there was another
reunion as Alex and Jeremy wrapped themselves
around Ian.
        “IanIanIan!” Alex squealed with joy.
        “Hi Sweet pie, Hi Jeremy.”
        “Alex led us to you,” Ellen explained, “she told
us about Helen.”
Ian nodded in understanding as he knelt to embrace
both children.
        “Let’sgetHelen!” Alex said in a blur.
        “How?” Ian looked at Daniel.
        “Perhaps one of the surveillance drones, Sire?”
Captain Pak offered.
        “Agreed. Let’s locate her exactly, maybe they’ll
decide to release her by then.”


        By now the city’s mayor and police chief were
on hand to second guess every decision. No one
seemed to want to take the responsibility for turning
the girl over to these ‘people’, indeed they had no




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authority to do so. The heated argument in the
chief’s office was interrupted by shouts and a
crashing noise. The drone had arrived.


       A standard armored surveillance drone was
tubular in shape, three feet long and one foot in
diameter. Both ends of the device tapered to
diamond hard points, it’s small but powerful drive
unit could push it through a foot of concrete.
       “She’s up higher!” Alex said as Corporal Li
controlled the probe from it’s portable command unit
in the shuttle. Li was the squad’s expert on the
device and was very good at his job.


       The device floated down the ground floor
hallway, a low humming noise made it seem all the
more menacing. People got out of the way.




       The White House, 2002




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        “They have demanded that the girl be turned
over to them, Mister President. They threaten force
if she isn’t given up.” Chatsworth reported with some
resignation in his voice as he hung up the phone.
        “They have no authority to do that, no one
does without at least a court hearing.” Added the
Attorney General.
        “No,” agreed the President, “but I rather think
they have the force to do so.”




        Lexington, 2002


        “A dead end, Sire.” Corporal Li reported. The
drone had reached the end of the hall, there were
no stairs or means to proceed upward.
        “Punch through the floor, we’re wasting time!”
Daniel ordered.
        “Yes, Sire.”




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Li pointed the nose of the drone straight up and as
the expression goes, punched it. Concrete and floor
tiles shattered and flew in all directions as the
device erupted from the floor below. Officer Clarisa
Brown was heard to shout “Oh Lordy” several times
as she fled down the hall to the stairwell.
       “That door!Thatdoor!” Alex was pointing at one
of the small detention rooms, it had a metal door
with small window in it. Helen’s face appeared in
the tiny window.
       “That’s Helen!” Ian added to the excitement.
       “Warn her away from the door, Ian. Use the
loud talker.” Daniel said.
Li handed the voice pickup to Ian and pressed a
small button on the control unit.
       “Helen! This is Ian! Move back away from the
door as far as you can!”
Helen heard that, so did most of the building. Li
moved the drone slowly up to the door and began
pushing. The metal door creaked and groaned for a
moment and then snapped it’s lock bolt, slamming




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open. Helen was visible against the far wall,
unharmed.
        “Don’t be afraid of the drone, Helen!” Ian told
the petrified girl.
        “O....okay. If you say so.” Her voice seemed
small and tinny as the drone’s audio pickup relayed
it back to the shuttle.


        “How do we get her out?” Daniel asked, “The
drone can’t do too much to protect her.”
        “Sire, let me and my men do it, it’s what we get
paid for.” Lieutenant Hawkes requested.
The Emperor nodded in agreement, he wanted to go
himself but knew that he must remain safe for now
and let others take the risk.
        “All right. Ask for volunteers, do your best not
to harm anyone in the process.”
        “Of course, Sire!”
Ian told the girl to stay put, the menacing looking
drone humming softly in the doorway made that an
easy instruction to obey.




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       Lieutenant Hawkes had his pick of men, they
all had volunteered. Sergeant N’Kwasi would be on
point, or rather right behind Detective Walsford
       “Take us to the girl,” N’Kwasi ordered, “any
trouble and you will cease to exist.”
Walsford took the giant marine at his word and
nodded quickly in agreement. The detective and the
ten marines moved easily through the polarized
shield (you can leave, returning is a lot harder). The
Chief of Police and five officers decided to try and
block their way and stood in the doorway to the
building.


       “Halt right there!” The Chief and his men had
so far not drawn their weapons, lucky for them.
       “Stand aside, we have no wish to harm you.”
Hawkes replied calmly.
By now the chief and his men were beginning to
question the wisdom of their decision to not release
the girl. The weapons these space pirates were




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carrying were altogether too large.


        “A small demonstration, sir.” Hawkes looked
around for a moment before speaking to his
sergeant.
        “That unoccupied silver vehicle, fire your beam
rifle at it.”
        “Yes sir!” N’Kwasi had hoped for something to
shoot at (or someone).
Chief Harmon’s pride and joy was his new silver
Mercedes, he had made a very good ‘deal’ on it in
return for some awkward legal problems the dealer
had being made to disappear. The jewel of German
auto engineering exploded in a fearsome blast as
the energy from the beam rifle found it’s gas tank.
The car’s trunk lid landed a half block away.


        Hawkes turned to the stunned peace officers.
“I suggest that you reconsider. The same thing can
easily be done to this city.”
        “F..follow me.” The Chief had indeed




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reconsidered.


       Helen was sitting crouched on the small bunk
in the detention room when they reached her, the
drone still standing guard in the doorway.
       “Miss O’Connor, my name is Lieutenant
Hawkes. My men and I are her to escort you to Sir
Ian.” Hawkes was rewarded with a crushing hug
from the terrified girl, she was crying.
       “Come along Miss, time is critical.”
       “Thank you,” Helen whispered, “thank you so
much!”


       Outside the renewed panic over the exploding
Mercedes had subsided, media crews were once
more edging towards the police building. Daniel
finally had Patricia Wilkins and her cameraman
summarily ejected from the shielded area.


       Lieutenant Hawkes wasted no time, Helen had
to trot to keep up with the marines that surrounded




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her on all sides. There were no incidents during the
trip out of the building, people with badges tend not
to be total fools. As soon as Hawkes and his men
along with the bewildered Helen were aboard the
shuttle Daniel ordered the ramp closed. Ian and the
girl were reunited while a smiling Emperor looked
on, Ellen had a few tears in her eyes at the sight of
her brother’s joy.


        “Is everyone accounted for, Lieutenant?”
Daniel asked Hawkes.
        “Yes Sire, no casualties, all present.”
        “Very good, ‘Captain’. Let’s get the hell out of
here.”
        “Indeed, Sire.” Hawkes smiled, newly
promoted.




        The White House, 2002




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       “They’ve taken the girl, Mister President.”
Chatsworth reported.
       “Was anyone hurt?”
       “Apparently not sir, they did fire some sort of
weapon at an unoccupied car as a demonstration of
their intent.”
       “And?”
       “They threatened to do the same to Lexington
if the girl was not handed over.”
       “Where are they now?”
       “NORAD has reported that they are on a
reverse course at the present, only much faster and
climbing.”
       “So they seem to be leaving, then?”
       “Yes Mister President, it would seem so.”
       “Thank God.”




       N35467




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        Helen O’Connor had spent the return flight to
the Cape Charles area tightly in the arms of Ian.
The girl was almost in shock from the events of the
day, that and finding herself in a spacecraft of some
sort surrounded by nasty looking soldiers. The little
girl who held onto her free hand seemed to have a
calming effect on Helen, until the shuttle suddenly
found itself light years away in the dark of an alien
night. And in a distant time.




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Chapter Six
The A’Chon




       The marines had disembarked into the warm
and humid darkness, only the Emperor and his
family remained aboard. Helen was having a hard
time of it.
       “Where the f..where are we?” Helen was
trembling as Ian held onto her.
       “It’s sort of hard to explain,” Ian tried to anyway,
“this is the planet I told you about, the time I told you
about. We’ll be going home to Earth very soon, you
are safe. We are together.”
       “C’monHelen. It’s okay.” Alex’s words helped
the most.
       “All right kid, I’m sorry to be such a pain.”
       “If Ian approves of you Helen, then so do we,”
Daniel explained, “you’re with family now, a weird




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family but a family indeed.”


        A guard of honor had assembled quietly
outside the shuttle, Professor Hyde and
Commander Wilkes stood at the foot of the ramp to
greet the Emperor. Helen stood holding onto Ian,
wondering just who the black haired boy with the
green eyes really was.
        “Why are those two men bowing to him?”
        “Because he is mankind’s Emperor,” Ian
explained, “he is my best friend and the absolute
ruler of the New Empire. In private he will be like a
brother to you, in public you must show him the
proper respect and address him as ‘Your Majesty’.”
        “But he’s just a kid, like us.” Helen whispered.
        “Yes he is just a kid, but not like us.”


        Helen and Ian needed baths and clean clothes,
everyone did. That could wait a little while until they
were on board Thunder. The sooner they were off
this nightmare of a planet the better. Before they left




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for the flagship the Emperor had some words with
Professor Hyde and Commander Wilkes.
       “You are to close down your research
operations here. This planet is under embargo until
what has been discovered here can better be
understood.”
       “But Your Majesty, so much has yet..” Hyde
didn’t get to finish.
       “We are sorry, Professor. There is too much
power here and you, Sir Ian and everyone else do
not know how to control it. Study what you have
learned, in time perhaps you will better know what to
do with this place.”
Hyde knew in is heart that the Emperor was right.
They still had no real idea about what forces were at
work here.


       Aboard HMS Thunder Helen was still in cultural
shock, the vessel’s chief medical officer had finally
been consulted. After a long hot bath, food and
clean clothes the girl was put to bed with a light




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sedative. So was Ian (in a different bed).


        The Imperial Flagship was preparing to leave
orbit for Earth when the A’chon starship blinked in
from non space.
It was a spherical vessel, dull blue in appearance
with no visible markings or features.
It was forty miles in diameter.
The propulsion systems on Thunder shut down and
refused to respond.
A message then appeared on Thunder’s main
tactical screen.


        “Explain your presence on this world.”




        “Get His Majesty to the bridge, now!” Admiral
Harker barked.
        “He’s asleep sir, what..?”
        “Then drag him out of bed by his heels if need




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be! Get him here!”


       The Emperor was not amused. He did
manage not to shoot the ensign who had been sent
to fetch him.
       “Your Majesty, forgive me but you are needed
at once on the bridge!”
Daniel, by reflex, had his pistol in the ensign’s face.
       “Explain!”
Ellen was awake by now and trying to make sense
of what was happening.
       “Daniel, what..?”
       “Your Majesty, there is an unidentified vessel
now in orbit, it is enormous. Our propulsion systems
have been frozen. Please Sire, you must come to
the bridge!”
Daniel shook of the effects of a deep sleep and
started to pull on some clothes.
Now what was happening?


       Once on the bridge Daniel took one look at the




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main view screen and the message on the tactical
screen.
        “Get Sir Ian up here, now!”
        “Yes Sire, at once.” Admiral Harker replied.
The same ensign who had fetched the Emperor
then took off to rouse Ian.
        “Is that the only communication from them, or
it?”
        “Yes Sire, they seem to be able to control our
systems at will. We can find nothing amiss in
propulsion or here on the bridge, systems just are
not responding to any control inputs.”
        “Good God,” Daniel said softly, “then they have
us at their mercy. What about the shield?”
        “It’s down and will also not respond, Sire.”


        Ian arrived bleary eyed and with mussed hair,
he too soon became fully awake.
        “Shit.” Ian’s comment pretty well covered
everything. “They know English,” Ian also observed.
        “We must respond to the message,” Daniel




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decided. “Any ideas as to how we can and what to
say?”
       “Try the normal com links,” Ian suggested, “if
that doesn’t work then perhaps flashing lights or
smoke signals.”
       “All right, but what to say?” Daniel looked
around the bridge for advice, Admiral Harker offered
his opinion.
       “Do as the message asks, Sire. Simply tell
them why we are here.”
       “Okay, open a channel and We will do just
that.”


       At a signal from the communications officer,
Daniel answered the alien vessel’s message.
       “Greetings, this is His Majesty’s Starship
Thunder in orbit above the survey planet designated
as N35467. We are engaged in peaceful
exploration and research and mean no harm.”
Nothing seemed to be happening, Ian asked if
perhaps they might have different communications




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systems. Then the message on the tactical screen
changed.


        “This world is Ai’kon. You trespass here.”


        Daniel paused before replying, perhaps an
apology was in order.
        “We thought this world abandoned, We
apologize for our trespass, it was in ignorance and
not ill intentioned.”
That seemed reasonable.


        “Is the human speaking a being of authority?”


        Daniel looked at Ian before answering, as if not
knowing what to say next.
        “Yes?”
Ian was standing very close to the Emperor when
they both simply vanished from Thunder’s bridge.




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       “Shit!” Daniel and Ian swore as one person. It
was very dark wherever they were, only a polished
ebony floor could be discerned. In all directions
there seemed to be only more darkness. The air
was cool and dry and had a very faint musky odor.
       “Well, here’s another fine mess we’re in,” Ian
whispered.
       “You have a talent for understatement.”


       A very faint clicking sound spun them around
to look in the same direction.
       “What the fuck was that?” Daniel asked softly.
       “Dunno, it seemed to be moving.”
       “This is not good.”
       “No shit.”
More clicking sounds, this time closer and behind
them again. Then the level of light started to
increase, Daniel and Ian could now make out the
source of the clicking. It was an A’Chon (or more
properly an Ai’kon).




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        “Oh my!” Ian did indeed have a talent for
understatement.


        The alien had six walking legs, each ending in
a hard shiny point on the polished floor, that
explained the clicking. The Ai’kon was about three
feet high and perhaps eight feet across (it was
mostly legs). Small jointed manipulating ‘arms’
extended in front, what had to be eyes were on four
constantly moving stalks extending above the center
of the alien’s back. Gratefully there was no mouth
visible. A fine gray fur seemed to cover it’s entire
body.
It looked like some sort of overgrown
crab/tarantula/mouse.


        The creature was holding a small, box like
object in it’s hands claws fingers.
        “Remain still....please.” The box the alien was
holding was the source of the almost human voice, it




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sounded like a little girl actually. The alien seemed
rather nervous, or at least it seemed that way to Ian
and Daniel. Maybe they always acted this way?


       Daniel finally found his voice.
       “Hello.”
So what would you have said?
       “Hello, human.” The little girl voice sounded
sort of silly by now.
       “Why have you brought us here?”
       “For examination.”
That didn’t sound too good.


       “It is considered very...impolite to take a person
against their will.” Daniel had to search for the right
words.
       “You have violated an Ai’kon possession. You
are denied politeness.”
Daniel took a short step toward the alien as he
started to speak again. The creature skittered
backwards perhaps twenty feet, it seemed




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frightened.
        “Remain still...please.”
        “Sorry. I did not mean to alarm you.”
        “What is your designation?”
        “Do you mean my name or title?”
        “Yes. Both.”
        “I am Daniel Grayson, Emperor.”
        “What is your companion’s designation?”
        “His name is Sir Ian Murphy, he is my advisor
and friend.”
        “We have observed humans before, you are
few in years?”
        “We are young, yes.”


        The alien said nothing further and moved back
another ten feet. In a blink Daniel and Ian were
suddenly in another place, it was a blinding white
circular room of some sort. There seemed to be no
doors or features of any sort. Even the floor was
snow white.
        “Shit!” They both said it again.




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       “How are they doing that?” Daniel demanded,
his eyes aching at the change in light levels.
       “Someone once said that any sufficiently
advanced technology will be perceived as being
magic. Or words to that effect.” Ian replied.
       “Then they must be very advanced.” Daniel
decided.




       When Daniel and Ian vanished from Thunder’s
bridge Alex had snapped awake and then started to
scream.
       “IananDanielIananDaniel!”
Ellen was second to her side, Jeremy was already
holding on to her.
       “What is it? What’s the matter?”
       “TheytookIanandDaniel!”
       “Who did? Slow down!”
       “The spider people!”




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        “Remove your coverings.” The little girl voice
seemed to be coming from all directions.
        “What?” Daniel asked with some indignation.
        “Remove your coverings.”
        “No!”
        “You must comply.”
        “And if we don’t?”
        “You will be compelled to obey.”
Daniel and Ian exchanged glances and started to
comply.
        “I feel like a fucking lab rat,” Daniel whispered.
        “Me too,” agreed Ian, “this is getting very
scary.”
They dropped their clothes and boots in untidy piles
on the mirror smooth floor, the clothes simply
vanished.
        “Shit!” They both felt far more naked than just
the mere absence of clothing could account for.




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       Two floating processions of tiny silver spheres,
perhaps as big as peas, emerged from the far wall.
One stream was moving sedately toward Ian, the
other toward Daniel


       “Remain still.”


       “Like hell!” Both boys started to back up but
then something very soft and invisible grabbed
them. It was impossible to move, breathing was all
that either of them could do.
That and scream.


       The hundreds of tiny balls seemed to roll over
their bodies aimlessly at first, like metallic ants.
After a moment they dispersed equally from head to
toe. Daniel and Ian only started screaming when
the mirror bright balls began sinking beneath their
skin. It should have hurt like all of hell but it didn’t.
It didn’t hurt at all. There was no blood.
       “Are you...are you all right?” Daniel panted, his




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fear subsiding a tiny fraction.
        “Yes..no..I don’t know! What’s happening?” Ian
had never been so rattled in his entire life.


        “Remain calm.” The little girl voice was back.


        “What are you doing to us?” Daniel yelled.


        “You are being examined.”


        “Well, stop it!”


        There was no further response from the small
voice. After about another three minutes the
spheres began emerging from Daniel and Ian’s
bodies, this wasn’t quite as bad as their entry had
been. When all of the tiny orbs had disappeared
back into the wall the soft force that was gripping the
boys relented, both of them collapsed in shivering
heaps to the floor. They moved to hold on to one
another, as if to reassure each other that they were




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still alive. Then their clothes reappeared.


       “You may apply your coverings.”
       “Fuck you.” Daniel muttered as he slowly
started to pull on his clothes, Ian seemed in a fog
but managed to do the same. After some time they
even managed to stand up.


       Blink.


       “Oh, God! Now what?” Daniel was getting
really tired of all of this.
They were in yet another place. It was like a small
coliseum, the ‘Romans’ were a thousand or so
Ai’kon staring down at them. The lighting was dim
once more. Maybe the aliens had evolved as
nocturnal beings?


       “Explain your presence on this Ai’kon world.”


       There was no way to tell who (or what) was




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speaking, not that it mattered.
        “We have explained before, We thought that
this planet was abandoned. You should have
placed a beacon, a warning of some sort that this
was your world. We have rules of conduct, if this
was thought to be a possession of other people we
would not have presumed to intrude here.” Daniel
decided that this cosmic finger pointing could work
both ways. Perhaps his words had some effect,
there was a very long pause before the little girl
voice resumed.


        “That is truth. Remove your presence from this
world. A warning will be placed here.”


Daniel and Ian started breathing again, maybe they
would survive this place. Maybe humanity would
also.
        “We will move with all haste to do as you wish,
no human will trespass again on this world.”




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       “The Ai’kon will observe your departure.”


       “May we use this misunderstanding to open
peaceful contact between us?” Daniel thought that
perhaps it would be better to be friends with these
people than enemies.


       “No contact is desired.”


       That was rather rude.


       And then Daniel and Ian were standing on
HMS Thunder’s bridge. It took all of Daniel’s self
control to remain coherent as he gave his orders to
the vessel’s stunned officers.
       “Evacuate everyone from the planet, at once!”
       “Sire, what has...?” Admiral Harker started to
ask a thousand questions.
       “Get everyone off of that planet within the hour,
don’t bother with the equipment! Do it now!”
Daniel’s voice and eyes moved everyone to action.




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        Ian seemed to be in shock, perhaps they both
were. Thunder’s chief medical officer was
summoned and decided that a physical exam was in
order. On the way to the medical section there was
a family reunion, including Helen.
        “Where have you been.” Was the most asked
question.
        “We...we were being examined,” Daniel finally
answered while holding onto Ellen.
        “What? Did they hurt you?”
        “No. They just scared the shit out of us.”
        “Alex called them “spider people, “what were
they like?”
        “Like big spiders.”


        The medical officer tactfully interrupted the
hugging session and asked that they all move along
to the medical section. More tact was used as the
doctor then asked everyone to leave for a while so
his two patients could be properly examined (again).




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Daniel explained the episode with the metallic
spheres, the doctor gave him a look of disbelief.
          “No, We haven’t been drinking.”
          “Forgive me, Your Majesty. It just seems so
very improbable.”
          “Imagine how We felt.”
          “Indeed, Sire. And there was no discomfort
during this?”
          “No, maybe that was the most frightening part
of it.”


          A body scan revealed nothing added to nor
subtracted from Daniel and Ian’s anatomy, nothing
at all seemed amiss. Ian seemed to be coming out
of his dazed state, perhaps the prescribed shot of
brandy had something to do with that. Ellen and the
rest of the family were then readmitted to the room.


          Thunder’s Executive Officer entered the
treatment area with a progress report.
          “Sire, the last shuttles are departing the




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surface. Propulsion has come back on line, we
have no idea at all why it wasn’t responding.”
        “And the Ai’kon vessel?”
        “It’s still in the same orbit, Sire. No
communications or activity.”
        “Tell the Admiral and your captain that the
instant everyone is aboard and accounted for all
vessels are to leave orbit for Earth.”
        “Yes, Sire. Everyone is very curious about
what happened.”
        “Tell them that We will hold a briefing when We
have rested and collected Our wits. The Ai’kon very
much want us to leave, We think it best not to
antagonize them any further.”
        “Yes, Sire.




        The Ai’kon did indeed observe the Imperial
vessel’s departure. All of the abandoned human
equipment and temporary structures simply




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vanished. The beasts of N35467 once more ruled
the planet. Mankind got off lightly, the Ai’kon were a
far older race, their technology had indeed
advanced to the point of being magic.


       The diverging track in the history of Earth that
Sir Ian’s mishap had created did not avoid a final
calamity. The United States did make a peace of
sorts with China, all to no purpose in the end. In
2011 a genetically engineered virus and a few
madmen erased all of humanity and most of it’s
close relatives in the space of just four months.
Three years later the last primate died in the year
2014.
Intelligent life would take another twenty seven
million years to evolve again on the blue green
planet.


The octopus is an extremely clever creature.




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                          A’chon




Chapter Seven
Peace and Quiet



       Ian and Helen were of opposite temperaments,
there is some truth that opposites tend to attract one
another. The girl was making a good adjustment to
her new reality, although she was still overwhelmed
at times by her surroundings and the power that she
was so close to. She had also had found a friend
and confidant in Ellen.
       “You and Daniel were married just six months
ago. Ian is the same age as you, I’m just three
months younger, could we get married?”
Ellen knew that this question was coming, her
brother and Helen seemed to be in hopeless love.
       “You can, there is no law to say no.” Ellen
replied.
       “But you don’t think we should?” Helen could
sense the hesitation in her new friend’s voice.




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        “I knew Daniel for four years before we
married, even so we have married very young,
without the Church’s blessing or even my fathers
permission. You have only known Ian for two
months now.”
        “So you think we should wait?” Helen seemed
on the edge of anger, something that came quickly
to the red haired girl.
        “I think it would be a good idea, don't be mad at
me.”
        “No, I’m not mad, not really. It’s just that...”
        “You love Ian so much,” Ellen finished.
        “Yes.”


        Sir Ian and the Emperor were having a similar
discussion, Helen and Ian had promised one
another that they both would bring up the subject of
marriage this day.
        “Helen and... We want to marry!” Ian
awkwardly blurted out what he had so carefully
rehearsed so many times in his mind.




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Daniel put down the light target rifle he had been
testing, he wanted to start Jeremy’s small arms
training with it soon.
       “Are you sure?”
       “Yes, we are. Will you give us your permission,
your blessing?”
Daniel felt very ill at ease, Ian seemed so very
vulnerable at this moment.
       “Ian, you do not need my permission or
blessing, you know that.”
       “I know, but it’s important to me to have it, can
you understand that?”
Daniel nodded, he felt humbled that someone so
close to him would ask such a thing.
       “I do give you my permission and blessing,
but...”
       “But?” Ian interrupted, an edge in his voice.
       “Ian, you know that all that I have to give is
yours for the asking, there is nothing I could ever
deny you.”
Ian considered these words, he knew in his heart




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that it was true. Daniel had risked everything to
rescue him from a distant time.
         “You don’t think we should marry?”
         “I think that you and Helen should wait for a
little while, learn more about each other first. That’s
just my own opinion, I owe you the truth about how I
feel.”
         “I do love her,” Ian said quietly.
         “Then wait for a little while, Ellen waited for me
when she could have had her pick of anyone.”
Ian did understand, it was very hard all the same.
He squinted down range at the target and spoke to
relieve the tension.
         “You put two rounds in the white, are you losing
your touch?”
Daniel looked at the distant target and shook his
head.
         “No. I had my eyes closed.”


         Helen had finally grown used to the casual
nudity of the beach but her skin still needed a lot of




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protection. Have you ever seen a tanned redhead?
The informality of the seashore was so very much in
contrast with the ceremony of the royal court. You
are perhaps wondering about Helen’s past, her
family? It’s a common tale, a single mother, a father
who never looked back. A sudden loss of that
single mother. Life is hard.


       The red haired girl had been so very
overwhelmed at first, who would not be? She had
her own rooms in the palace of course, like other
newcomers she was almost afraid to touch anything.
And the clothes! The jewels! But most of all she
was so very happy to still be with Ian, the boy who
had been so awkward and weird was an honored
Imperial Knight in this time and place.


       “I think that you and Helen should go to New
Albion, visit with your folks. Let Helen and your
parents get acquainted.” Daniel spoke quietly while
sitting with Ian, the rest of the beach party splashed




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in the light surf.
        “Come with us.” Ian urged.
        “Not this time. Teach Helen how to plow or
something. Get your mother to give her cooking
lessons, that’s most useful in a wife.”
        “I don’t think she’s cut out for farming or
cooking.” Ian laughed.
        “No one’s perfect.” Daniel concluded.
        “True.”


        Daniel changed the subject.
        “I’ve been keeping secret tabs on Freddie, he
survived basic training. He’s at Camp Ferris now for
advanced arms training.”
        “Great!” Ian’s face lit up at the news of his older
brother. “Could we go visit with him?”
        “I think the marines will accommodate us, we’ll
pop in unannounced so they won’t have a big flap
about the Emperor coming to visit. Let’s just you
and me go tomorrow, when he has some time off he
can come here and have a good visit. ”




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       “Do you know what unit he’ll be in?” Ian should
have known better.
       “Of course, I’m all powerful you know.”
       “The Ai’kon didn’t think so,” Ian countered.
       “Don’t remind me.”


       Jeremy retreated from the warm surf and ran to
plop down on the sand between his two young
‘fathers’.
       “They keep dunking me!”
       “You have to watch out for females, Jer. They’ll
always gang up on you.” Ian advised.
       “That’s the truth!” Jeremy agreed. The small
boy had practically become an amphibian, his hair
sun bleached and his skin tanned a dark brown.
Both children had blossomed into noisy and happy
youngsters, the memories of the “bad place” were
fading now but were never to be forgotten.
       “We are going to visit with Ian’s older brother
tomorrow, he’s a marine now. Would you like to
come? Just you?” Daniel thought it would be a




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good test of the boy’s growing independence from
Alex.
        “Can’t Alex come too?”
        “Not this time, this trip is just for us men.”
        “Well...” Jeremy wasn’t sure about this at all.
        “It’s just for the day,” Ian added.
        “All right.” Jeremy’s unsure answer was a very
big step. How would Alex handle it?


        The three females were suitably miffed when
Daniel told them about the all male excursion set for
the next day.
        “He’s my brother too!” Ellen objected.
        “He’s in the middle of a training course, there
won’t be much time to visit.” Daniel explained.
“Later, when he has some leave time he can come
here to the palace for a proper visit.”
        “This is just for us men!” Jeremy added with a
grin.
        “You’re going too?” Ellen could see she was
losing this small battle.




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       “Uh huh!” Jeremy seemed very smug about it
now.
Alex was just smiling, she already knew. She
always did. Everyone was now looking at the little
girl. How was she going to take this separation?
       “Have fun, Jermy!” with that she leaned over
and kissed the boy on his cheek, the boy who had
lived through hell with her.
This turn of events made everyone very happy.




       Camp Ferris, Australian Continent


       “Training Squadron five charlie. They’re
supposed to be on the target designation course
right now.” Daniel explained to Ian as the unmarked
shuttle came whistling in over the sprawling base.
Escorting Falcons orbited the installation, the local
traffic control wanted to know why.
       “Empire arriving.” Daniel’s copilot, Captain Pak




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(yes) gave traffic control the news that always
panicked every base commander.


        A base chart and some data link searching by
Ian located Freddie’s unit, Daniel sat the shuttle
down some distance from the training area.
        “How are you doing?” Daniel asked Jeremy.
        “I’m okay.” Indeed the boy did seem okay.
Daniel had outfitted him in a civilian flight suit of the
proper size, Ian wore one also. The Emperor as
always wore a black naval flight uniform devoid of
rank insignia. Daniel did wear his pilot wings and
that very famous pistol.
        “Then let’s go find Freddie!”


        There was no need for much in the way of
security here, the elite detail that was along for this
trip fanned out and kept a good distance from the
Emperor. The weather was as always hot, still it felt
good to Ian to be out of the shuttle and walking on
firm ground. Master Gunnery Sergeant Houghton




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didn’t feel as pleased, then he never did.
       “Center the marker beam properly on the
corner of the building, that’s it’s weak point!
Collapse a corner of a beam or column supported
structure and the place is on it’s way to being
rubble!”
Marking targets for tactical fighter support was a
part of every marine’s training. Houghton had a
talent for terrifying his students, he also had a talent
for turning out well trained marines.


       “Now who the fuck is that?” Houghton could
see that one of the distant figures wore a naval
uniform. Even at this distance they all looked like
kids, one of them for sure. “Probably some navy
pukes who can’t find a place to piss!” Houghton’s
unspoken opinion didn’t prove to be true.


       “Squadron! Form ranks and stand to attention!
Now!” Houghton was as close to panic as he ever
permitted himself to be. The holy shit, God




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Almighty, in the living flesh Emperor was walking
toward the sergeant and the marines now
scrambling to form proper ranks. What in the world
was he doing here?


        At Ian’s touch to his shoulder Jeremy slowed to
allow the Emperor to proceed ahead of them.
Sergeant Houghton and the squad bowed as one,
then the marine snapped to attention and saluted,
he held it until the Emperor returned the sign of
respect.
        “Good morning, Sergeant. Please have your
men stand at ease.”
        “Squad! Stand easy!” Houghton, like all of
those in his trade, had a voice that could shatter
windows.
        “Marine Training Squadron Five Charlie is at
your service, Your Majesty.” Houghton knew the
proper protocol, he could recite rules and
regulations for hours on end if need be.
        “Thank you, Sergeant. We apologize for this




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interruption, may We ask for the loan of Private
Frederick Murphy for a few hours?”
       “Of course, Your Majesty.” Houghton didn’t stop
to analyze why the Emperor wanted Murphy, plenty
of time for that later. “Murphy! Front and center!”


       Freddie couldn’t suppress his grin, he did
manage to behave properly as a marine was
expected to.
       “Hi, Freddie!” Daniel smiled as he extended his
hand to Ian’s brother. Freddie decided that a
handshake took precedent over bowing to the
Emperor. Besides, it was Daniel!
       “Hello, Your Majesty.”
       “Let’s wander off a ways and talk,” Daniel said,
“the Imperial Marines can spare you for a little
while.”


       It took some time for Sergeant Houghton to
realize that the Emperor had also shook his hand
too before walking off with Private Murphy. A little




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while later Houghton realized that Private Murphy
was Sir Ian Murphy’s older brother. Freddie had
never told anyone about his brother or the fact that
the Emperor was married to his sister, he had
wanted to make the grade on his own merits.
Eventually Houghton remembered to get on with the
training of his squad, the newly minted marines had
a lot of questions for the sergeant about Private
Murphy.
        “It seems that Murphy is a friend of the
Emperor, ask him about it! Now shut the fuck up and
get back to your positions!”


        Everyone got hugs, the Emperor included.
Jeremy was picked up and almost crushed, Freddie
had put on weight and all of it looked like muscles.
        “So how was basic?” Ian asked.
        “I kept hoping that I would just get it over with
and die. Somehow I made it in one piece.”
Freddie’s thoughts were shared by most marine
recruits, usually within hours of enlistment. Most did




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make it, though.
       “You’ve expanded,” Daniel observed.
       “The food isn’t bad, there’s lots of it. What
have you two been up to?”
Daniel and Ian just looked at one another and
smiled, then Ian answered.
       “Freddie, let’s just say that messing around
with alien technology isn’t always a good idea.”
       “The A’Chon?”
       “Yes. By the way they are still around and very
alive, we met some of them.”
       “No shit? There was nothing on the vids.”
       “Maybe the events on N35467 will be made
public someday,” Daniel explained, “but not for now.”
       “Bad, huh?” Freddie could see that they were
reluctant to discuss it.
       “Weird is the word. We’ll tell you all about it
when there’s more time.”


       “How is the good sergeant over there treating
you?” Ian asked, changing the subject.




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        “Old Grenade Balls? He’s okay if you do
everything perfect the first time, not too many of us
do.”
        “Grenade Balls?” Jeremy giggled.
        “Don’t ask, kid.” Freddie then inquired about
Ellen and Alex.


        “There’s also Helen,” Daniel explained.
        “Helen?”
        “Ian’s girl. He’s loopy in love with her.”
        “All right, Ian!” Freddie slapped his brother on
the back, nearly knocking the eyeballs out of Ian’s
head. “Where did you meet her?”
        “On Earth, a long time ago.” Ian replied
        “Really, how long? You’ve never said anything
about her.”
        “About three thousand years, actually.
Courtesy of the Ai’Kon.”
        “That sounds too silly to be a joke.”
        “It does, doesn’t it? Daniel as usual had to
come and rescue my butt, Helen wanted to come




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with me, I wanted her to come also.”
Freddie wasn’t buying this and looked to Daniel.
         “It is true, the device that Ian was researching
transported him there by accident. It’s a very long
tale.”
Freddie still seemed unconvinced, still he was
happy for his brother that he had found someone to
love.


         “I’m hungry!” Jeremy, like all boys, had his own
priorities.
         “There should be an MFM (Mobile Field Mess,
often referred to as a Mother F.. Mess) arriving here
pretty soon, if you all aren’t too picky about what you
eat.” Freddie explained.
         “I’ll eat with anyone, even marines!” Daniel
quipped.
         “For that you have to sit next to Grenade
Balls!” Freddie countered.
As if on cue a utility flyer hummed overhead and sat
down in an open space next to the training course.




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        “Come on or they’ll eat it all before we get
there!” Freddie didn’t have to ask Jeremy twice.


        Sergeant Houghton and the squad of two
dozen marines soon found themselves having their
noon meal with the Emperor. Seating was on the
ground, at least it was dry. It was a singular and
rare occasion for a bunch of lowly enlisted ground
pounders to sit in the dirt and rub elbows with
mankind’s ruler. Daniel put them at ease as best he
could with small talk and questions about what
exactly he was eating. Jeremy put them on their
backs with laughter, he was sitting to one side of the
fierce looking Sergeant Houghton.
        “Sergeant, sir?”
        “Yes, son?”
        “Why do they call you “Grenade Balls?”
It was so very, very quiet for a moment as Houghton
turned a beet red, then everyone erupted into
howling laughter. Including the Emperor. Houghton
finally managed a broad grin and some restrained




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chuckles of his own.
Jeremy never did get his question properly
answered.


       The base commander had finally ascertained
the Emperor’s location on the sprawling installation,
his runabout landed near the Imperial shuttle. Most
of the marine general’s senior staff was with him.
       “Can anyone please tell me why he’s here?”
General Coates had already asked that question
about five times during the short flight.
       “His Majesty is well known for showing up
unannounced, sir.” Colonel Strahan offered.
       “Well, come on then, let’s go see what he
wants. I hope he isn’t wearing that damned pistol!”




       The Sun Palace


       “HelenanEllen” as Alex called them had not




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been idle during the men folk’s absence, both girls
had been working on getting their small craft tickets,
Ellen the longest. Ellen took the plunge and
decided it was time for her to take the tests. Helen
and Alex of course went along for moral support.


        It was an age old process dating back to
wheeled vehicles. Ellen stood dutifully in line at the
government facility, she was as incognito as her
plainclothes escort allowed and so far she had not
been recognized.
        “Fill this out then place the form in the test
module. If it says you passed the oral exam it will
return the sheet. Bring it back here.” The bored
clerk said the same thing dozens of times every day.
        “Thank you.” Ellen was as nervous as you
might expect.


        Ellen waved to Alex and Helen before entering
the test booth. After properly filling out the
information sheet she did as instructed and pushed




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the form into the slot below the vid screen.
       “Question number one: What is the maximum
speed allowed over uncontrolled areas?”
Ellen knew that one.
       “Subsonic.”
       “Correct.”
And so it went. There were one hundred and nine
questions, Ellen missed four and passed easily.
Now came the hard part.


       The clerk did a double take as she read the
application sheet and the tests results the machine
had printed on it.
       “Ellen Grayson?”
       “Yes, ma’am. That’s me.”
       “Are you...?” The clerk could see who the girl
was now that she paid attention, Ellen’s face was to
say the least rather well known.
       “Yes. I’m hoping to surprise His Majesty if I
pass today. He’s away for the day.”
The clerk stood and curtsied a bit awkwardly.




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        “It’s a very great honor to serve you, Lady
Ellen. I will arrange for a special...”
        “Please, thank you. Let me wait my turn and
don’t make a special fuss. I would take it as a
personal favor.” Like her older brother, Ellen wanted
to make it on her own merits.
        “Very well, My Lady. If you would take a seat
over there you will be called in turn for the practical
exam. Good luck to you.”
        “Thank you.”


        Ellen’s flyer was a practical four seat model,
one of the security staff had flown it to the exam
station. As the wife of the Emperor she could have
had the fastest and most luxurious flyer made.
Practical was easier to control and didn’t attract
attention.


        The flight test examiner did recognize Ellen
even before he took her application sheet. He
would have passed her if she had flown into a




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mountain. As it turned out Ellen did very well, thank
you! She did not share her twin brother’s lack of
piloting aptitude, this would do little for Ian’s self
esteem.
       “How was Freddie?” Ellen hugged ‘her man’ as
he stepped down from the shuttle.
       “He’s good, more than good!”
       “Great! How does he look?”
       “Bigger. Lots of muscles. He ate a tree for
lunch.”
       “When can he get some time off?”
       “Four weeks, then he has ten days off. What
have you three been up to?”
       “Oh, not much. I did get this today.” Ellen held
her ‘ticket’ under Daniel’s nose.
       “OhmyGod! Was anyone hurt?”
Whack!
       “Shit!”




                                                 The End



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