Ashes of the Realm - Juliette's Dream (3 page)

“Why did you not kill me?”

Scotty stopped dead still, shocked at the Zord’s question. He didn’t hear that question. It was in his mind. He slowly turned and looked at the Zord and said, “I couldn’t just let you die. You’re young and have your whole life in front of you. Killing a being that is defenseless is wrong. Not trying to help one that is injured is also wrong.”

“Were you not afraid I would kill you?”

“Yes, but I had to try. You would have warned me my efforts were doomed to failure if you tried to harm me when I lifted the branch.”

“What would you have done if I did?”

“Your injured wing wouldn’t allow you to move quickly enough to catch me. If I couldn’t help you, I would have ended your suffering with my weapon. I couldn’t let you die in a Torg’s jaws.”

The giant creature stared at Scotty and said, “I have always considered your kind no different than the Torg. You have given me things to consider. Maybe you aren’t as dangerous to my people as the Torg.”

“Are the Torg a real danger to you? Your natural weapons are formidable.”

“Yes, they are very dangerous. We must nest on the ground, and they cause massive loss of life.”

Scotty thought about that and said, “I can come and help you remove them from your nesting grounds. Our weapons are effective at killing them.”

“I’ve seen that demonstrated.” The Zord lowered its head and said, “I don’t think my leaders would accept your help.”

“Why not?”

“Your kind invade our territory and kill the food we prey on. We cannot see you as anything but invaders.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Our choice was simple, come here or die.” Scotty stared at the Zord as the silence continued and said, “I never knew your species were able to communicate.”

“We do not normally communicate with anyone but our people. You are the first since my ancestors were captured and imprisoned on this planet. It was your species that kidnapped us from our home world. I had to know why you saved me. If our roles were reversed I would have killed you.”

Scotty stared at the Zord and said, “I can understand your hatred. You are justified in feeling as you do. However, I wish you a long life and many hatchlings.” Scotty turned and walked up the hill.

The Zord watched him leave and didn’t want to believe what it had witnessed. The being he had just communicated with was a gentle spirit, and was not what he thought him to be. It had listened to Scotty’s thoughts and wondered why the small two-leg was helping. The Zord shook its head, flared its wings, and lifted into the afternoon sky. It was troubled for a long time after it returned home to his worried family. After six months, the communities noticed that they had not been attacked by Zord for weeks. Scotty didn’t offer a reason why that was happening, but guessed the one he helped must have had a wing in it.

Scotty had turned seventeen three weeks earlier and was stretched out on his favorite hill with Jingo staring at the stars. “Jingo, what do you think about the Zord?”

“I think the zookeeper that originally set all the animals free just before the Searcher destroyed his city should have been shot.”

“Jingo, he died with the city.”

“Then he should have been shot before he died. Releasing those fifty nesting pairs and the herd of Torg was unforgivable.”

“I’ve looked up information in the learning center and discovered that the Zord were captured on a planet that was not a member of the Holy Stars Realm. They were actually brought here illegally.”

“What does that matter? Those flying monstrosities should have never been released.”

“Jingo, we were the only planet to ever have any in captivity. The Duke wanted his planet to be the greatest in everything. The Holy Realm stopped all capture of the Zord after El Prado caged theirs.”

“So?”

“There had to be a reason.”

“They were too flipping dangerous to keep. That’s a no brainer.”

Suddenly, Scotty heard, “I wish to communicate.”

Scotty said, “Where?”

Jingo said, “Where what?”

“At the bottom of the hill you’re on.”

“I have a friend with me. May I bring him with me?”

“Scotty what are you talking about?”

“I am also bringing a friend. Your friend may come, but do not bring your weapons.”

Scotty turned to Jingo, “Jingo, I am going to talk with a friend. I would like you to come with me, but I need you to do one thing.”

Jingo looked at Scotty and said, “What?”

“Leave all your weapons here.”

“Are you out of your blooming Human mind?!”

“Jingo, you must do as I ask. This is important.” Scott began removing his quiver and swords, laying them on the ground next to his bowgun.

Jingo turned small circles as he called Scotty names. Finally he said, “You can’t do this.”

“Jingo, are you going with me?”

The small Cainth swore and began removing his belt, “Can I carry one sword?”

“No.”

Jingo put them down and Scotty said, “That includes the one in the scabbard on your back.”

Jingo swore louder, but pulled it out of his shirt and put it on the pile with his other weapons. “Are you satisfied?”

Scotty smiled and said, “Follow me.”

Scotty started walking down the hill and Jingo started a running commentary, “Who are you meeting down here. Is it a girl? Are you in love? Scotty’s in love! Wait a minute. Why would a female be here without weapons? This doesn’t make sense. Why would you ever leave your weapons behind? You know how dangerous it is without them. Are you losing your mind? You know I’ve been worried about you lately. All you do is stare at stars. Why do you do that?”

They reached the bottom of the hill and the Zord Scotty had helped was standing there on its back legs in the brush. Jingo never saw him until Scotty stopped.

Jingo slipped as he reached the bottom of the hill. Scotty gave him a hand and lifted him to his feet six feet from the waiting Zord. “I give up, why did you come here?” That’s when Jingo saw the Zord.

“Holy Mother of a Torg’s backside!” and Jingo fell over his feet as he tried to run back up the hill.

The Zord said, “Your friend talks a lot.”

Scotty sighed and said, “Yes, but he’s a friend I trust with my life.”

Jingo heard the Zord, stopped dead in his tracks, and grew silent.

Scotty looked at Jingo and then said to the Zord, “It’s when he’s silent that he’s the most dangerous.” Scotty turned to Jingo and said, “Relax, he’s a friend.”

Jingo couldn’t speak.

The Zord said, “This is the reaction I expected from you when you found me.”

“Your people do frighten us.”

“I guess I know why.”

Jingo was hearing the conversation and he got up and walked to Scotty’s side, “It’s because you are killers extraordinaire and you’ve killed us for centuries.”

“Why, thank you. We do pride ourselves on our skills.”

Scotty touched Jingo on the arm, telling him to be silent, and said, “You invited me here for a reason?”

The Zord gave a whistle. Scotty and Jingo watched as a giant form came out of the twilight and landed in front of them. The Zord had to be twenty five feet tall on its back legs with a wingspan of more than two hundred feet. It was bigger than any Zord either of them had ever seen.

Scotty looked at Jingo and was amazed that he was not afraid. Jingo actually looked relaxed.

The smaller of the two Zord said, “This is my father. He wishes to communicate with you.”

Scotty looked up at the giant creature shifting colors to match the background and said, “Welcome, what is it you wish to talk about?”

The giant looked down on the two friends and said, “I see my son was right about your existence. I was concerned that he had lost his mind. He said you would talk without fear.”

“Our biggest fears are of things we don’t know. However, you do sense fear in me.”

The giant stared at Scotty for a long moment, “Why didn’t you kill my son when you had the opportunity?”

“It would have been wrong. I told him so at the time.”

“I saw that in his mind, but that is not the real answer. I want the real answer.”

Scotty looked up at the Zord and said, “My mother was killed seven years ago for simply running away from an invading starship. She was the kindest, gentlest, person I have ever known. An invader shot her down. She didn’t deserve it and would not have been able to harm them.” Scotty looked at the smaller Zord and said, “I asked myself what my mother would have done, and I knew she would have tried to help you. She insisted that all life was important and she lived that belief every day.” Scotty looked up at the huge father and said, “I had to try.”

“Now that you’ve had time to think about it, would you still do the same thing?”

“Yes, especially now.”

“What’s so special now?”

“I know you’re intelligent. You are more important as a result of that knowledge.”

“Why should that make a difference?”

“Because you can choose whether or not to save or take life; those Torg can only kill. They can’t make the choice. I took that risk not knowing if your son would realize I was attempting to help him.”

“My family has been arguing about you for two cycles. We didn’t learn about your actions until my son attacked another warrior after he had killed one of your species. I threatened to punish him for his behavior, and he threatened to leave our family if we killed any more of you. I made him show me his mind and I saw what you did. I showed it to my family and we have been unable to decide whether he is insane, and if not, what to do about you.”

“I think our leaders should talk with you about what should be done.”

The giant creature stared at Scotty and looked down at his son. He looked back at Scotty and said, “We will come to your community clearing in four days at midnight. We will see if you can be trusted.

The giant Zord lifted and flew into the night. The smaller one said, “I never thanked you for my life. Thank you.”

Scotty looked up at the Zord and said, “Make it count for something.”

The Zord flapped its wings and lifted. Just before it disappeared they heard, “I’ve started that process tonight.”

Jingo looked at Scotty and said, “How come you never told me about the Zord!?”

“What would you have thought if I had?”

“Like that Zord’s father, I wouldn’t have believed you. I probably would have thought it was just a dream.”

Scotty smiled, “It’s a dream within a dream, Jingo. First we must try to make it a reality. Let’s go talk with Samuel.”

“He’ll never believe you.”

“True, but he’ll believe you.”

Jingo sighed and said, “I might as well bring father with us.”

“We need to tell him first.” Scotty paused, “Why did you get so quiet and calm during the meeting with the Zord?”

Jingo shook his head, “That’s what happens to my race when we pump secretions out of our war gland.”

“War gland?”

“Yes, you have something similar called an adrenal something or other. When we find ourselves in a situation that demands combat, our war gland secretes a fluid that focuses us on the situation and attenuates our dexterity. Our four arms almost take on a life of their own. Needless to say, I became quite focused when I saw that Zord six feet away.”

“Ever had it happen before?”

“Nope, this was the first time, and I see why my species are natural warriors. I rather enjoyed the experience. I want to experience it again. Fear is good.”

Scotty looked up the hill and said, “I suspect you will, my brother. The journey begins tonight.”

“What journey?”

Scotty smiled, looked up, and said, “Why, my dream of course. Let’s go see your father.”

J
ing Dorg looked at Scotty and Jingo and said, “You did what?!?”

Scotty said, “We met two Zord tonight and set up a meeting with their leaders in four days at midnight. We’ve discovered they are intelligent creatures.”

Jing just stared at Scotty and said nothing. It was obvious he thought Scotty had gone insane.

Jingo looked at his father and said, “By the oath of Dorg-Ross, he’s telling the truth. I was there and witnessed it.”

Jing now knew something had happened. No Cainth would ever lie using that sacred name. His demeanor changed to anger, “You endangered my son by meeting with Zord?”

“He wouldn’t let me go alone, Clan Leader.”

Jing looked at his son and Jingo said, “Where he goes, I go. I promised his mother to always take care of him. I will not violate that oath.”