As the two of them shook hands, Peter noticed the remnants of a chain that once enslaved him. Peter examined his scars and bruises. His new friend obviously had had a bad encounter with the Ruler's troops.
Peter discovered he still had a piece of candy in his pocket and offered it too him. He removed the wrapper and divided it in half eating his half and giving the other half to the bruised and battered stranger. The man hesitantly put the piece of candy in his mouth and began to chew. He began to smile as he enjoyed something much sweeter than anything he had eaten in his life.
After finishing the candy, he started to leave and motioned for Peter to come with him. Peter hoped he was going to take him to his village. He wouldn't be able to last very long without food and shelter. Perhaps, with their help, he could even attack the enemy camp and rescue his friends. They had a common foe to fight which he thought would enable him to form some kind of alliance. Neither one of them could speak the other's language, but there other ways of communicating as the candy had just proven beyond the slightest doubt. They shared an unspoken language that was bound to grow stronger as they got to know each other better.
TIME : 7:14 P.M. (19:14)
PLACE : Inside the Ruler's camp
Hank was the first to recover. He immediate looked around to see where he was. The homing beacon they had been trying to reach was clearly in sight, surrounded by about twenty of the Ruler's soldiers. He wondered around to see where he could go and found out that he was in some sort of invisible force field limiting his movements to a circular area with a radius of about five meters.
Sharing his new home were Lisa, Linda, and Detrina. Only Peter remained unaccounted for. He tried to revive the others with mixed success. Eventually, all three of them began to stir.
"Where are we?" demanded Hank to anyone who could hear him.
"Safe, for the moment," replied a voice Hank knew all too well.
"What are you doing so far away for home?" Hank inquired.
"It was the most distant planet I could find that would serve our purposes," began the Ruler to his literally captive audience. "We came all the way out here just to capture the four of you."
"Why are we so important to you?" interrupted Lisa who was just starting to come to her senses.
"You have some very powerful friend who owe you something," continued the Ruler. "They would do anything to see you returned safely. For example, King Jake XXVIII and Queen Lynn I of Triax, Farlos Ristochae of Terni, and, of course, X my long time nemesis. Any one of them would be willing to pay whatever ransom I demand."
"What about Peter?" insisted Detrina.
"Peter alone can't do anything," the Ruler bellowed angrily. "It is only a matter of time before we catch him and, even if we don't, the four of you will suffice."
The Ruler turned his attention to Vondwin and the rest of the soldiers.
"Double your efforts," he ordered. "Search every possible location. Peter is to be brought back alive if at all possible."
After the soldiers had dispersed, he turned to his prisoners once more.
"As you can clearly see, your friend doesn't stand a chance," he stated coldly. "My soldiers have been this planet longer, are more rested and better prepared, and outnumber him almost one hundred to one. He will be joining you shortly, then we'll all take a little trip to Altair 7 where escape is impossible. Enjoy your stay."
When the Ruler finally left, all four of them were on their feet searching for a way out. It was no use. The force field had no obvious flaws. It was solid all the way around.
"Now what?" sighed Lisa.
"Pray that Peter know what he's up against," Hank answered grimly.
TIME : 7:16 P.M. (19:16)
PLACE : The native's village
Peter was impressed by how much the natives had accomplished with their limited technology. They had a series of huts connected together giving them not only warmth, but also protection from the elements. It was like a primitive apartment complex.
He was surprised when the villagers welcomed him without the slightest hesitation. They led him to one of the huts and motioned for him to go inside. When he did, he found an even bigger surprise. Inside the hut were two members of the scouting party that had been missing since they sent their emergency message to M.W.G.D. Headquarters.
One of them was lying on a bed of grass in the far corner of the hut. Peter didn't need to get closer to see that she was badly wounded. As long as there was someone else to talk to, waking her would do more harm than good. What she needed was sleep.
Peter looked at the other one. He was having trouble walking and needed a large stick, which he used as a crutch, to support his weight. Peter guessed it was nothing more serious than a badly sprained ankle.
"What happened?" asked Peter.
"My name is Enrick and hers is Raya," he began easing himself into a sitting position. "We were members of the scouting party you were sent here to find. Once there were sixteen of us, now we're the only ones left."
"We were betrayed by our youngest member. He told the Ruler exactly where to find us and, when he did, he showed no mercy. I was fortunate enough to stumble upon the village. Raya wasn't so lucky. She was shot in the back and left to die in the wilderness, but the natives found her and brought her back to the village where she is relatively safe."
"The Ruler really didn't care about us one way or the other. It is you that he is after."
"Why is he after me?" wondered Peter.
"You've built up quite a reputation for yourself," declared Enrick. "You and your friends are known throughout the galaxy as heroes, especially you. They wanted to hold the four of you for ransom, but, as long as you're still loose, he can't bargain with what he doesn't have. Do you know what happened to the other members of your party?"
"Two of them have been captured," Peter answered gravely. "and the other two I'm not sure about, but I think they were captured too."
"I hope you're wrong, but if you're not, you're going to have to do something fairly quickly," warned Enrick. "Tomorrow, he may give up on you and take the others to Altair 7 where you'll never see them again. If you're going to do something, you'll have to act now."
"I'd like to help you, but I'm in no condition to be running about and I have to look after Raya."
"How is she?" asked Peter sympathetically.
"She's fine for the moment, but if she doesn't get medical attention she'll die in a few days," Enrick replied. "I've been doing all I can for her, but it doesn't seem to be enough."
"We have some medicine in our ship," Peter told him. "If I can get to it I might be able to help her."
"Maybe the natives can help you," suggested Enrick.
"Can you communicate with them?" Peter inquired hopefully.
"I think they'll be able to understand the basic idea," said Enrick. "The Ruler and his soldiers have been treating the natives cruelly ever since they got here. They'll be glad to have a chance for revenge."
"The Ruler has made a careless oversight," agreed Peter. "The Glunzet natives will make valuable allies."
Copyright MCMXCI, MCMXCIX
