TIME : 6:00 P.M. (18:00)
PLACE : The playground
Lisa continued to teach the children first aid while the messengers returned in groups of two. So far fourteen messengers had returned leaving only four unaccounted. All seven mayors had agreed to come to the meeting and the other two weren't likely to be any different. With representatives from ten cities attending the meeting, M.W.G.D. would soon have all the information they needed to know about Yopela, at least that part of Yopela.
"The mayor is coming!" shouted one of the children.
Soon all three groups erupted in chaos. Lisa was glad to have a chance to rest. Her knowledge of first aid was rather limited. When she was on Earth she had servants to do that kind of work for her and when she was with M.W.G.D. one of the others usually offered first aid before she did, normally Hank.
"I see Shawn and Peter!" exclaimed Hank.
Hank, Linda, Lisa, and some of the children came running out to meet them. Shawn led the way followed by Zicon and the three children. Peter brought up the rear. He was going at a slower pace than the others because he had to carry Guatamire.
"You're rescued Guatamire!" one of the children sighed with relief. "Your mission was a success."
"We didn't exactly rescue her," corrected Shawn. "They gave her some sort of sedative and left her as close to the city as they could get without being seen. We spotted her on the way back. I'm not sure how long it will be before she wakes up but when she does she'll be as good as new. In the meantime we should keep an eye on her."
"What about the people in the lab?" demanded Lisa.
"They've been captured," Shawn smiled. "I left a small homing beacon inside their ship. As soon as they left the area, our soldiers surrounded them and forced them to surrender. They were captured on the other side of Yopela."
"Are there any more of them?" wondered Lisa.
"There were only five of them in that particular lab," Shawn told her. "and we captured all of them. I don't know if the Ruler has any more labs on Yopela, but if he does, we'll find them in a few days. Right now, the best thing we can do is get some rest. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day."
That was something all of them could agree on.
TIME : September 14, 2016 3:00 A.M.
PLACE : The mayor's office
Guatamire finally opened her eyes and looked around the room. For a few seconds she wasn't quite sure where she was, but she quickly recovered from her disorientation.
"How do you feel?" asked a friendly voice.
"I feel a bit dizzy," Guatamire replied slowly rising to her feet. "How about you, Zicon?"
"I'm feeling about as well as I can feel under the circumstances," answered Zicon. "I'm a little nervous about my meeting with the other mayors. The people from M.W.G.D. are going to help us and we need all the help we can get."
"Why are you so nervous?" Guatamire insisted anxiously awaiting an answer.
"I'm getting old," Zicon stated sadly. "The virus is already starting to take its toll on me. I can't do all the things I could do only a month ago. Soon it will be time for me to retire and let someone else be mayor."
"I'd be glad to take your place as mayor," Guatamire said eagerly.
"I think you're still too young to be mayor," laughed Zicon. "but then again the people on other planets would be saying the same thing about me."
"Who do you have in mind?" attacked Guatamire.
"You sure have plenty of questions to ask me," remarked Zicon. "To tell you the truth, I'm not sure who will take my place as mayor. I think I'll talk to all the messengers and decide which one is best suited for the job."
"Why don't you wait until I'm old enough to take your place," suggested Guatamire.
"I wish it were that easy," sighed Zicon.
Guatamire looked at Zicon. Ever since she was old enough to know what was happening to the adults on Yopela, she had avoided them. It wasn't that she didn't like them, it was the state of hopelessness that surrounded them wherever they went. Once puberty was reached, mental and physical deterioration was inevitable. It was a subject she tried to avoid.
Except for Zicon, none of her friends were anywhere near puberty. Until now, she had never been forced to deal with the virus she hated more than anything else in the universe. Zicon was exaggerating, but it was taking him longer to do certain things. In another year he would be no different than the other adults she was trying to avoid.
"What happened to me?" she asked trying to change the subject.
"After the adults for Altair 7 took you back to the lab, they gave you a sedative," Zicon explained. "You've been asleep for almost twelve hours."
"Altair 7? Where's that?" inquired Guatamire.
"I'll begin at the beginning," stated Zicon.
He began telling Guatamire all he knew about the Ruler and the Milky Way Galaxy Defense.
TIME : 6:30 A.M.
PLACE : Just outside the mayor's office
Nine other mayors showed up for the meeting. Each of them had brought some people for their city to accompany them. One of the mayors was clearly suffering from the virus, but the meeting was too important to miss. Her successor had come with her ready to take over at a moment's notice.
Some of the scientists were already working on a cure for the virus and the soldiers were providing greatly needed food, clothing, and medical supplies to the people of Yopela. It didn't matter whether they were children or adults, the soldiers helped them all.
Zicon looked at what was going on and smiled. Yopela was no longer a dying planet. The mayors would take back to their respective cities encouragement and hope for the future.
"I am not going to keep M.W.G.D. Headquarters in orbit around Yopela!" announced Shawn. "We will not leave until this planet is at least partially recovered."
"What about the Ruler?" protested Zicon. "Your mission is to stop him."
"Our mission is to protect the galaxy," corrected Shawn. "I am the leader of M.W.G.D. and I decide what is important. Yopela is part of the Milky Way Galaxy and I consider the virus to be a serious threat. Staying here does not jeprodize our mission it is our mission. Do you understand?"
"Yes," said Zicon. "As mayor I have to protect the people in this city no matter who they are. Do you think you can find a cure for the virus?"
"I can't promise you anything," admitted Shawn. "but I'll have some of the best scientists at M.W.G.D. working on it around the clock."
"Thank you for helping us," Guatamire stammered shyly. "You've done so much for us and we have so little to offer you in return."
"You can return the favor by helping people elsewhere on your planet," explained Shawn. "and when they ask what they can do for you, you can tell them to help others too. Only when we all work together will the galaxy be at peace."
"How can I help anybody?" wondered Guatamire.
"You helped me where you brought Peter and Lisa to my office," Zicon reminded her.
"Your short term memory seems to be working fine," remarked Peter. "It should be a long time before the virus effects you."
"As long as you are here, I believe you're right," smiled Zicon.
Yopela was on its way to recovery.
Copyright MCMXCIV, MCMXCIX
