Annihilation: Book 05 - Searcher (49 page)

Matt thought, “Thank you. This means more than you can ever know.”

“We already know that. You have saved us and for that we will always consider you our brother.” The three Reg disappeared from the bridge and Matt and Melanie found themselves on Al’s bridge. Matt looked at Melanie and then went over to Al’s central processor, opened the cover, and placed the crystal device inside; it immediately dissolved into Al’s circuits. Matt watched and then closed the cover.

“Hey, what did you just do?”

“I just provided a way for you and Fly Girl to become parents if you so desire.”

“What?”

“What”

“I’ll explain it later to both of you. However, the Reg insist that with this device inserted into Al, you will be able to reproduce.”

“Oh, Al.”

“I know, Fly Girl; we’ll talk about this later.”

“One of the things you need to discuss is that Melanie and I will be leaving and giving you your freedom to pursue your own destinies. You will be your own masters; you are both now officially a member of the Star’s Realm and are the newest race to be added to the Realm’s members.”

“Matt, we don’t want to lose you!”

“What are you talking about; you can never lose either of us. We will always be your closest friends. We’re only a thought away and we will plan periodic escapes from our duties to go exploring with you.”

“Thank you, Matt and Melanie. You know how much we love you.”

“Just as much as we do you.”

“Melanie, may I speak with you.”

Melanie and Matt had just teleported to Castle Gardner’s library. Melanie turned and saw Matt had a very serious expression. “Sure.”

Matt took her hand and led her out to the garden. They sat down on a bench and Matt turned and said, “I think we might need to separate now that the war is over with the Eight Legs.”

Melanie’s face turned white and she almost lost her breath, “Wh-wh-what. Why, we still need to go after the Nest Mother don’t we?” Melanie felt panicked.

Matt looked down at his feet and was silent for a moment. “Melanie, you have been in my mind for months now and I have discovered something that is troubling.”

Melanie felt tears start and asked, “What?”

Matt stared at her and said, “Angel died and part of me died with her. I will always love her and I miss her greatly; however, as you and I have become friends I have grown to have tremendous respect for the person that I see in you. We have maintained a good professional relationship.” Matt was silent.

“Matt, what are you saying?”

Matt looked into her eyes, “Recently, every time I hold your hand or hug you to increase my psychic power, I don’t want to let go. I find myself wanting to hold on to you. I have not wanted to admit it to myself but I think I’m becoming very seriously attached to you. I’m sorry. It’s not what I intended.”

Matt stood and started back toward the castle. Melanie watched him go and felt her tears in earnest. “Where do you think you’re going,” she yelled at Matt?

Matt stopped and lowered his head, “I don’t know.”

Melanie walked up and stood in front of him, “You can’t leave me. I just thought about it and my whole world just crumbles. You are a part of me now that I can’t live without. I can sense you wherever you are. I can feel you in my mind all day. I feel you when you touch me and it feels like a safe harbor. I have never allowed myself to think about loving you because I know you belong to Angel. You can’t just walk away from me.”

Matt looked at her with tears in his eyes and then she said, “But even though I didn’t think about it, I gave you my heart. I knew that if I couldn’t have you, there would never be anyone else. I love you more than you know, Matt. That love began with respect for who you truly are but over our time together it grew into more than respect. However, you have to decide if you can accept my love. I couldn’t force it on you. I couldn’t even tell you about it. If you can’t accept my love, you still can’t just walk away from me; you can probably make it without me but I will die without you. If you can’t love me, please at least stay my friend. Don’t push me away.” She reached for him and hugged him tightly. “I’ll always be here for you, Matt,” then she turned and walked away toward the castle’s entrance.

Matt felt his heart come alive. He ran after Melanie and turned her to face him. He embraced her and then he kissed her deeply. When they came up for air, Matt looked in her eyes, “You are also a part of me I can’t live without. I do not want to be without you in my life, Melanie; please love me.”

Melanie wrapped her arms around his neck, kissed him, and thought to him, “I have secretly dreamed and prayed that this moment would someday happen. I am yours and I will love you forever.” They went up to the castle and closed the door to Melanie’s room.

T
he Red Warriors were gathered on the huge field outside Castle Gardner. The King and Queen had declared this day for the Realm to recognize the brave warriors and what they had accomplished. The twenty divisions had teleported in and marched to their assigned positions. Brez marched in with his division that was considerably smaller than all the others. He was proud of his men and he remembered the ones that died as he moved to his assigned position. The twentieth division finally entered and marched to their position. Then the Wiseman Division appeared and marched to the position directly in front of the assembled divisions. All of the Red Warriors watched as the elite warriors marched in perfect cadence. The Wiseman’s sole duty was to protect Ross and the Royal Family. The other divisions knew that the Wiseman division could probably defeat them all together and they were proud of the division’s heritage and skill. Durk, the Division’s General finally turned and yelled over his external speaker, “Red Warriors, Atten-shun.”

The millions of red colored warriors all snapped to perfect attention. This ceremony was being broadcast to all members of the Stars Realm and every planet was watching to see the Realm’s rulers and warriors. For some of the millions of newest members, this was going to be the first time they would see the Royal Family. An announcer tried to estimate the number of beings watching the broadcast but said that the number was too big to even imagine. The eight hundred and twenty seven planets that had originally formed the original Stars Realm had places for their representatives to view the festivities from the Royal Stands. Their planets had a high standing among the millions of members and part of every child’s education was to learn the names of every planet that formed the original realm. Hours before the ceremony started the broadcast had played the history of the Stars Realm and now every viewer knew the importance being given to this day.

Melanie rose and walked forward to the public address system and said, “Red Warriors, Stand at, ease.” The mass of warriors moved simultaneously and assumed an at ease posture with their legs shoulder width and their arms behind their backs. Melanie turned and bowed to the King and Queen and announced, “All Warriors present and accounted for, Your Majesty.”

Melanie then turned and announced, “My first duty today before we honor our warriors is to announce a decision made by the Royal Family. Admiral Leonovitch Alexander Kosiev, please move forward.” Leo was sitting in the reviewing stand when he heard the announcement and wondered what was going on; he stood and marched directly in front of the Royal Viewing Stand. Melanie looked down at Leo and said to the silenced multitudes, “Admiral Kosiev commanded the Megaships during the invasion and it is due to his decisions in the use of his ships that we were able to win. He has performed brilliantly during this conflict exhibiting both insight and decisive use of his forces. He is hereby promoted to the Rank of Fleet Admiral and will assume command of all the Stars Realm’s military forces. His ancestor, the original Admiral Kosiev, I know is proud of him at this moment.” Melanie walked down from the stands and presented Leo with his new commission.

Leo smiled and said, “Thank You, Admiral. I’m stunned.”

“You deserve it, Leo. I feel safer with you in command.”

Leo smiled and saluted. Melanie returned his salute and moved back to the stands. She stood in front of Tag and bowed. Tag returned her bow and Melanie returned to her chair.

Tag walked forward and the Realm looked at this mythical being that had forged the Realm more than a millennium earlier. Tag looked out at the sea of millions of spectators and warriors in front of him and said, “The Stars Realm is safe from future invasions of the Eight Legs because of the closure of the entrance into our universe they used to invade. The entrance has been destroyed and our civilizations have survived because of the extraordinary actions of those that fought to protect us. The war is over and we are safe from the universe killers. Some of those invaders became our friends and helped us in immeasurable ways to defeat those intent on destroying us. We can never repay them for all they’ve done for us. They are welcomed into the Realm and we owe them a debt of gratitude.

We are here today to honor those that gave the greatest sacrifice possible to protect the Stars Realm and ensure its survival. There are so many things that the Searchers, Sailors, and Red Warriors have done in the war we have just fought that to try and tell you about all of them is just not possible. However, there is one action that epitomizes all our forces have done to save us from destruction. I want to share it with you.” Tag nodded and the displays throughout the Realm began showing Brez and his five hundred warriors as they fought off the first wave of green invaders. The viewers then heard the Megaship captain warning about the coming swarms and ask them to hold out for two minutes to keep the mass in the open until the ships could arrive. Then they all witnessed the five hundred warriors as they were swarmed by more than a million invaders. The citizens of the Realm saw the savagery of the fight and watched as the Red Warriors held their ground against a tsunami of swarming Eight Legs.

At the conclusion of the recording Tag said, “These warriors could have teleported to safety and saved themselves. If they had done so the invaders would have scattered and millions of the local population would have been killed. They fought and held their ground against more than a fourteen hundred thousand of those green creatures. They gave their lives to save the lives they knew would be lost if they saved themselves. It made no difference that this planet was not a member of the Realm; those brave Warriors were there to protect life.” Tag paused and watched as the mass of Red Warriors all looked at the small Third Division. Most of them had not seen what had happened in the city’s square. Brez could still feel the pain of the death of his fallen warriors. Tag continued, “The one hundred and fifty survivors of this action will come forward.”

Brez came to attention and faced his warriors, “Those survivors, Atten-shun.” The survivors all snapped to attention. Brez watched them and then ordered, “Assemble in squads.”

They moved forward and formed ranks in front of his division. “Forward, March.”

The one hundred and fifty marched around the Wiseman division and moved forward toward the reviewing stand. Every warrior began quietly chanting, “Third Division, Third Division, Third Division,” over and over until they stopped directly in front of the Royal Stands. Brez stopped and ordered, “Halt. Right face.” The one hundred and fifty survivors turned and faced the reviewing stands. Brez then turned and bowed to the King of the Stars Realm. Silence then fell on the field. “Before I continue, there is one who wishes to speak about your sacrifice.” Tag stepped aside and a tall black furred being approached the podium.

“My name is Gholas and I am the leader of the world that you came to defend. We witnessed your bravery and watched as your fellow warriors all over our planet gave their lives to save my people. We cannot express how much that sacrifice means to us. We would all be dead now except for your intervention. My people are a testament to your bravery and we have made the square where you fought and died a planetary memorial to those of you that faced the green horde. The monument constructed there has every name of the five hundred that faced the horde that day and we will be teaching our descendants of your bravery; our children will learn the names of my planets saviors. We have also constructed a hundred and fifty beautiful structures at the finest locations on our world for you to live should you choose to come and live with us. My planet will care for you, your families and descendents for the rest of your life. They and my people will be waiting for you when you complete your service and we hope you will come. We promise to make your lives as pleasant as possible as befitting your sacrifice that saved us all.”

The millions of Ross citizens that had gathered around the field watching the proceedings on monitors immediately cheered the announcement. The roar was deafening. The tall being bowed to the Red Warriors and then stepped back.

Tag moved forward, waited for silence; he then announced, “Some of our member planets learned about what the Dafer were doing for these brave warriors and I have been notified that every Red Warrior present today will be given a residence on the planet of their choice. We have more than ten million requests for you to come and live on these worlds that respect and admire your accomplishment and they will be waiting for you when you are ready. They all know their worlds will be safer with you living among them.”