Day 25

“You heard her we are a go for launching. Daniel, Anna, Rose if you can read me stay back. We’ll rondevu with you after we’re safely away from the blast.”

“I’m bringing her around for the attack.”

“Arming weapon and preparing to fire.”

“Whenever you're ready.”

John took hold of the trigger. Everyone quieted while he concentrated. Rodger did his best to keep the AstroShip steady as they came closer to the missile. The glow of the new level of strength from the force field could just be seen. John too aim of the missile and counted under his breath. If he missed or fired at the wrong time this could all be disastrous. He fired and closed his eyes taking a deep breath as he felt Rodger pull them up out of the blast range.

When he opened his eyes he felt like his heart had stopped. Rodger had pulled the AstroShip around so they could see how they’d done. The whole planet seemed to be engulfed in flame. John swallowed hard. Everyone was holding their breath.

Suddenly the fire began to fade away and for one millisecond the Earth could be seen crisp and clear as ever until it was suddenly shrouded in a light blue glimmer from the force field.

Everyone was cheering and crying at the same time. They’d done it!

“Communication from Earth. King ShaHarn says thanks and good hunting.”

“Alright Rodger lets find our shipmates and get this ship on the road. We have a long way to go before this mission is over.”

“No!” He screamed on top of his lungs.

“There is always next time, sir.”

His eyes narrowed to slits. “Get out unless you want to die.”

They scurried like mice leaving the cloaked man in the room to himself. Even his pretty lady didn’t remain to accompany his mood. The man brooded as he gazed into his fire place. He’d come here to think to enact his plan in one of the farther reaches of the galaxy. The fire reminded him or how bitterly cold and desolate it was here. It reminded him of why he hated this place so much, why it was the perfect place to destroy the shobby nosey Earthlings. They had everything that he wanted everything he could have if only King ShaHarn wasn’t always out to stop him. Who were these new people he had under his command? What kind of kids could destroy his plan so easily? Maybe there was more to them then met the eye. He’d needed information on them. More than he was getting from the reports or the researchers. The fools were saying that the people coming to get him were from the past. That their last known locations where ages before humans had began roaming the galaxy. That was absurd. Unless of course one was to believe in legends but he was more likely to believe that King ShaHarn was trying to  pull wool over his eyes, before he was willing to believe in legends or destiny.

Space was a thing of beauty and wonder but it was also pretty boring. After exploring the ship and learning all one felt their brain could handle for a day there was only the smooth rhythm of the ships engines. The Rangers talked a lot about things back home, what they thought would happen if they actually tracked down the man behind the Earth attacks. Most importantly to all of them was how the thought they might be able to get back home. Everyone had told them it was up to themselves as a group to be able to return home but that didn’t explain how that was supposed to work. None of them had an idea of how to actually go about returning home when the time came. Not even Rodger knew, which worried some more than others.

There was a section of the ship that was like a giant greenhouse. It wasn’t necessarily for the plants and food that grew there or even for the enjoyment of the people that were stuck living on the ship. The greenhouse had been put in place like many of the other things on the ship. It was there to help run the ship. Something about having the greenhouse effect was something that only Rodger and maybe JoAnna could go about explaining. Then again they’d probably be the only ones to understand.

The AstroShip ran mostly by itself. With a little help from the computers once they were set on a course. It wasn’t as though there was nothing to do. James ran drills everyday. Someone at some point could be seen running or jogging down the halls. Some of them even found common interests in music. Peter on a guitar, John wasn’t half bad with a harmonica, Rose could manage a violin, and JoAnna turned out to be quite the pianist.

Each of them found their own favorite places on the ship. The greenhouse was popular and contained quite a number of hidden corners in which one could if they wished disappear for several hours. Rodger had fashioned a pin that could be used to contact someone from anywhere in the ship. JoAnna helped him work on them and made them so they resembled something that they would be ashamed to wear. Unfortunately it had one flaw... It required one to actually pin it to their outfit. Which didn’t always happen.

“Where are they?”

“One of the traders spotted them on their way toward the Allykein from where the missiles were launched. We suspect that they are more resourceful than has previously been presumed. They may have found a way to track from where the missiles came. Not that there is any doubt that they can figure out they came from you, sir.”

“Why would we want it any other way?” His laugh was cruel. “I’m headed to Vaspilnard. I’m going to conjure up a castle. They are so readily available there.” A wicked smile darkened his face.”Be sure my men leave word for the younglings. I want them to come to me. Don’t make it too direct I don’t want them knowing that I want them. They will have a new master soon enough.” He laughed again letting the sound echo behind him as he left the three men there.

They watched as he disappeared around a corner. “Too bad for them. Once he has his eye on something...”

“He does whatever it takes to get it.”

“Why does he want them though?”

“I’m sure we’ll know soon enough.”

A meeting was called and everyone gathered in the bridge. “After the destruction of the missiles Rodger told us he had an idea of how to track down the scoundrels that sent them. Seems he has finally figured it out and wants to share with us what he thinks should be our next move.”

“I was able to track where the missiles came from. The computers did most of the work for me. Anyway we are currently on a direct course to the planet that sent the missiles. My guess is that we will be able to figure out exactly who and why once we reach the planet.”

“What does everyone else think?”

“W-w-won’t-t-t they kn-n-now-w-w w-w-we’re com-m-ming?”

“I’m sure they will John and I’m sure they’ll be able to guess why. We’ll just have to wait and see what they are like.”

“Can’t we look it up on the computer?”

“Well, of course we could and we should. So we spend the next couple days researching what were coming into. We meet back here to talk about it. Although I think we’re going to find that we’ll learn more from the people on the planet than we will from the computer.”

“What are we going to do if he is on this planet? Rodger what is the name of this place anyway?”

“Allykein according to the report. Said to be know for trade and exports. Apparently they had a high end mechanical station there. Other than that I didn’t bother to look into. Finding the place was chore enough.”

“Doesn’t sound so bad.” James said up beatedly.

Daniel just shook his head, “You haven’t watched very much Sci Fi have you?” He didn’t bother waiting for an answer. “That spells trouble. I suspect that this planet is pretty rogue. Probably full of pirates and the like.”

Science fiction really hadn’t been his thing. It was more something that was up his brother’s ally. Thinking back on what he remembered he guessed that Daniel might be right. “We’ll see what we can find out from the computer. Then we’ll make a decision before we are too close to the planet.”