"How do you know he spoke to Peter?" inquired Shrame.
"Peter and I come from the same planet so whenever Peter needs to identify himself he uses a name or expression that only a person from Earth would understand," Shawn explained. "Elvis is not his middle name. Elvis was a famous singer who died forty years ago. Some people claim he's still alive, but they're not taken very seriously."
"Sort of like King Jake XXVII on Triax," added Rynn. "People have trouble excepting the fact that even legends can die."
"Speaking of legends, I hope X has caught up with Peter, Hank, Linda, and Lisa," stated Shawn. "I'd feel much better knowing they were together."
"Maybe our guest can shed some light on the subject," suggested Shrame. "He should be landing any second."
"Then we shouldn't keep him waiting," declared Shawn.
TIME : 10:11 P.M. (22:11)
PLACE : The docking bay
Beng crawled out of a battered old ship that looked like it had seen better days (and better years for the matter). For the first time since the Ruler put a price on his head he felt free to move about in the open without having to worry about someone trying to shoot. A constant burden had been lifted enabling him to once again live in peace.
Then he noticed Shawn, Rynn, and Shrame at the edge of the docking bay extending their hands in friendship. He still had to get past them if he wanted to win his freedom. Beng shook their hands vigorously.
"You must be the top officials at M.W.G.D.," guessed Beng. "I didn't expect such an important welcoming committee."
"I am Shawn Cobalt, the leader of M.W.G.D.," Shawn began. "This is Rynn, my second in command, and Shrame, the commander of the M.W.G.D. base on Altair 3. We are not normally in the same place, but we have a crisis on our hands. Whether or not we grant you amnesty will depend on how well you cooperate. We need as much information about the Ruler as you can give us. You can start by telling us what happened after you left Triax People for the Ruler."
"When the Ruler lost the war on Triax he became enraged and started looking for people to blame," explained Beng. "Unfortunately, I was the first victim of the Ruler's restructuring. Since I was in charge of the Megaplexx branch of Triax People for the Ruler, I was held responsible for their defeat. The Ruler declared me to be a traitor and offered a reward to whoever brought him proof of my death."
"I fled from planet to planet finally winding up at Zhrook's Space Station. As a general rule the Ruler ignores Zhrook's Space Station, but there was always the chance of some bounty hunter recognizing me and terminating my life. I would like a chance to forget my past and start my life over again on Altair 3."
"If you'll protect me from the Ruler, I'll give you more information about Triax People for the Ruler than you'll know what to do with."
"You picked a strange planet to come to if you want protection from the Ruler," stated Shawn. "The Ruler is planning a massive attack on this planet. No one on this planet is safe from the Ruler."
"I know, but I'm tried of running," said Beng. "No matter where I go there will always be a price on my head. At least here I know I'm not in this alone. Millions of people are in the same situation I'm in and they're willing to fight and die as a unit. The least I can do is offer a small contribution to their effort."
"I have never set foot on Altair 7 so I can't tell you anything about the Ruler's planned attack, but I can tell something about the weapons his team of scientists was working on before I was forced to flee. Please, I'm begging you for help."
Shawn looked him over for a few seconds wondering what to do with him. This was not the same person he had met on Triax less than a year ago. The last six months had taken its toll on him. He had gone from hiding in the Ruler's shadow to hiding from the Ruler.
He felt sorry for Beng, but at the same time he knew he couldn't take him to M.W.G.D. Headquarters or even hide him inside of M.W.G.D. base on Altair 3. The only reason Beng had turned to M.W.G.D. was to get away from the Ruler. He would do anything to insure his survival and that included turning on M.W.G.D. to return to good standing with the Ruler. However, if they didn't protect him from the Ruler it would violate everything M.W.G.D. represented. Their primary duty was to protect the people in the Milky Way galaxy regardless of their past. Beng deserved their protection as much as anybody else.
"Rynn, take Beng to the nearest hotel and provide him with food and shelter for as long as he needs it," ordered Shawn. "I want at least two armed guards guarding him twenty-four hours a day. He is not to talk to anyone outside M.W.G.D. for his own safety as well as our own. I grant you amnesty provided you stay in the hotel until I say otherwise."
"Don't worry. I'm used to being confined to a small area," Beng replied.
Rynn called for two armed guards to accompany them and escorted Beng to the hotel. Shrame started to leave but Shawn called him back.
"I'll need your help," insisted Shawn. "Until Rynn returns I need you to keep track of our reinforcements. We need them to arrive in an organized manner so they can help us as soon as they arrive."
Shrame gave a quick salute and headed upstairs to monitor communications with their allies. Shawn followed at a slower pace wondering about the progress of his friends. The sooner he received information on the Ruler's plan of attack, the quicker he could report it to the others.
"I hope they return soon," Shawn muttered to himself.
TIME : 10:20 P.M. (22:20)
PLACE : The entrance to the Ruler's main base
X had run faster than most humans could ever dream of running, but he didn't show the slightest hint of getting tired. It was as if he had never run at all.
Looking carefully around him, X could only see two guards at the entrance. Moving quickly and quietly, he hid in the shadows until both guards were looking the other way and then dashed inside without leaving a trail behind him.
After careful observation X found the trail that Peter, Hank, Linda, and Lisa had taken and followed it. He wasted no time crossing the first two intersections stopping only when he reached the third one. Peter, Hank, Linda, and Lisa had been joined by about six others. He guessed that the one who had come from the opposite direction was an officer and had ordered the others to follow him. Since there was no sign of a struggle, the group must have joined him willingly.
X followed the new trail. He had almost reached the next intersection when he spotted two guards approaching. They hadn't spotted him yet, but it wouldn't be long before they did unless he could find some place to hide. X quickly slipped into the intersection and hid in the darkness.
The two guards passed him without noticing a figure dressed entirely in black except a big, white X across his chest which he was smart enough to keep out of sight. If they had looked more closely they might have been able to see him, but they didn't have time to closely examine every intersection they came across. They had to get to their posts or face the wrath of the Ruler.
X waited until they had turned the corner before continuing his search.
TIME : 10:22 P.M. (22:22)
PLACE : The Ruler's office
Once again a low ranking soldier descended to the bottom floor to tell the Ruler something he wouldn't be eager to hear. It was his first day on the job and he wasn't even eighteen yet, but the Ruler didn't care about such thing. All he wanted were results.
At last he reached the door to the Ruler's office, the place where the Ruler spent most of his time. The Ruler made it clear that no one was allowed on the bottom floor unless they had something to report. The rule applied to soldiers and officers alike. Even his second in command was forbidden to see him unless he was called by the Ruler himself. No one who violated this rule was ever seen again. It was believed that their deaths were even more painful than the deaths of traitors.
The young soldiers took a good look around him wondering what kinds of secrets the Ruler was hiding down there. He took a few deep breath to pull himself together and knocked on the Ruler's door.
Without a word being said, the door slowly opened allowing him to see the Ruler. Like X, the Ruler was dressed entirely in black expect for a purple visor covering his face. Unlike X who let his eyes show through his mask, the Ruler was completely covered. People could only guess what he looked like.
"About half an hour ago an unmarked ship landed about ten kilometers north of here," stammered the young soldier. "We have searched diligently for the owner or owners of the ship, but so far we haven't found anybody."
"Why didn't you tell me this sooner?" demanded the Ruler.
"My commanding officer thought we could handle the situation on our own," explained the soldier. "He thought we could find the owner of the ship in a matter of minutes, unfortunately he was wrong."
"Unfortunately for me or for you?" attacked the Ruler.
"Unfortunately for all of us," gasped the soldier.
"Correct," snapped the Ruler. "Because of your delay we could have spies inside the base itself. Tell your commanding officer I'd like to speak to him. You will soon be working under someone else's supervision."
"Yes, sir," smiled the soldier. He never liked his commanding officer anyway, especially after being forced to go to the Ruler himself for someone else's mistake. It was nice to see that the Ruler agreed with him.
"Request permission to leave," stated the soldier eager to leave but knowing better than to leave without the Ruler's permission.
"You may leave," declared the Ruler. "but consider this a warning. If your commanding officer opposes my will report it to me immediately or I will hold both of you responsible. Since you're new here I'll let you go, but I'll remember this if you ever make another mistake. Next time you will be disciplined."
"Thank you for your mercy," stuttered the soldier leaving quickly before the Ruler changed his mind.
As soon as the soldier was gone the Ruler broadcasted a general alert.
"Attention all units," announced the Ruler. "Be on the lookout for anyone or anything out of the ordinary. Recently an unidentified ship landed near the base. The owner or owners are still at large. I have reason to believe a team of spies is hiding somewhere inside the base. They are extremely dangerous. Stop them at all costs!"
TIME : 10:23 P.M. (22:23)
PLACE : Inside the laboratory
The two officers were about to ask Lisa why she had been so clumsy when they heard the Ruler' s announcement.
"You seem to be slightly out of place here," accused the senior officer. "Perhaps the Ruler should have a talk with you."
Lisa kept quiet not wanting to get in any more trouble. Suddenly there was a loud knock on the door to the wearhouse.
"Who'd knock on the door?" wondered the junior officer. "Everyone knows you can't come in here without entering the proper security access code."
"Maybe whoever it is doesn't know that," reasoned the senior officer.
"Should I see who it is?" asked the junior officer realizing they had found another spy.
"I don't think so," advised the senior officer. "You heard the Ruler say that they are extremely dangerous. "I think most of the spies are in this very room. If we take them to the Ruler they might help us capture the few who remain."
While the two officers were talking, Peter slowly made his way toward the door. He knew who was knocking. X was the only one who could help them. All he had to do was let him inside and X would do the rest.
He had almost reached the door when one of the guards asked, "What are you doing?"
"He's a spy!" shouted another guard. "He's trying to escape. He was with the other spy when we first met them. All four of them are spies!"
Before the guards could decide what to do with him, Peter opened the door. X had heard everything that had been said since the Ruler's announcement. He shot the first two guards before they could even pull out their weapons. A third guard removed his weapon and aimed for X's head, but X was too quick for him. Only two guards and the two officers remained.
The senior officer heard the sounds of a phaser being fired in the other room and knew that he was doomed, unless he used his head. As soon as X entered the room he grabbed Lisa and held the gun to her head.
"Drop your gun or I'll kill her," he threatened.
X did as he said.
"The mighty X isn't invincible after all," he sneered.
"Let her go and I'll do as you say," pleaded X.
"Do you think I'm a fool?" wondered the senior officer. "As soon as I let go of her there will nothing stopping you from attacking me. As long as I have her I have power over you. Remove your mask. I want to see who you really are."
"You won't like what you see," X explained.
"Why?" demanded the officer. "Is your face repulsive? Do you come from a planet unknown to us? I don't care if I like what I see. Take off your mask."
X hesitated.
"If you don't take it off I'll kill her," he warned.
Slowly X started to remove his mask.
Copyright MCMXCII, MCMXCIX
