Stricklen was at a loss for words. Even the Captain was smiling. Finally, Doug explained, “Nobody could decide on an appropriate location for the signing of the peace treaty. The Alliance wanted to have it on one of their worlds and the Chroniech wanted to do it on one of theirs. Neither side would budge. The Kyrra offered to host the signing on the worldship. So here we are, meeting it at the border between the Chroniech and the Alliance.”
The cruiser shuddered slightly as the Kyrra tractor beams grabbed hold and started to pull the ship toward the still invisible worldship. As this happened, the image on the screen said, “Tractor beams engaged. The Chroniech representatives have already arrived. The signing ceremony can begin as soon as your ship has been docked. Worldship out.”
The image on the screen vanished as the
Dragon
was brought through the gigantic docking hatch which had seemingly appeared out of nowhere and into the Kyrra worldship. Doug turned to Ken and said, “Meet me on the hanger deck in 20 minutes.”
Without waiting for a reply, Scarboro spun around and left the bridge. Ken quickly followed. Twenty minutes later, Ken walked through the hatch onto the hanger deck. It was Scarboro’s turn to be surprised.
Ken had changed out of his civilian clothes and into his Alliance space force dress uniform. Seeing Scarboro’s surprised look, Stricklen said, “I am retired so technically I am still allowed to wear the uniform.”
Scarboro’s look of surprise was replaced with a smile. “Indeed you are.”
A Kyrra transport floated into the hanger bay and the the Alliance representatives climbed aboard. For all but two this was the first time they had seen the inside the worldship. The transport lifted and left the hanger bay. As had happened over 15 years ago, the transport took them through the vast hanger bay, through a short metallic tunnel and into the worldship’s interior.
There were gasps of surprise and a buzz of conversation as the distinguished Alliance representatives, one from every member of the Alliance, gazed at the awesome beauty and technological achievement of the worldship. To Ken and Doug, it brought back many memories. As far as the occupants could tell, they had been magically transported to the surface of a lush and wonderfully beautiful world.
Their destination was a large clearing in the middle of a wooded area. As they descended, Ken could see a large circular table sitting several meters from another group of tables. These held a variety of foods and refreshments. There were a large number of people milling around including at least 30 Chroniech. It was an amazing sight seeing Chroniech and Kyrra freely and peacefully talking together.
Ken stepped off the transport, took a few steps and stopped as a familiar figure appeared out of the crowd. “Trel’mara!” he shouted barely able to contain his joy.
As soon as the pair were within arm’s length, Ken placed a hand on the shoulder of his alien friend. “It is good to see you again Ken Stricklen,” Trel’mara said. “You are looking well.”
“And you as well,” Ken replied. “Are the others here?”
“We are all here and anxious to meet you. But before you meet them, I have been asked to take you to meet another friend. Please, follow me.”
Ken followed Trel’mara as he led him toward a group of Chroniech standing off to one side apparently awaiting his arrival. As they approached, one of them stepped forward. “Captain Zatch!” Stricklen said smiling without showing his teeth. “I am very glad to see you again.”
The Captain extended his hand in the Human custom and the two shook. “All this,” Zatch said waving his arm in the air, “is a direct result of what you did when you saved my family. You will be remembered by both our peoples for a very long time.”
“As will you,” Stricklen replied. “If you had not risked your life and career to find me none of this would be happening. We are both responsible.”
While they had talked, another Chroniech had approached. Zatch reached over and wrapped his arm around the other. “This is my wife Tochiack. She was aboard the passenger liner that you rendered assistance to.”
Tochiack extended her arms, forearms up, toward Stricklen and uttered that ancient Chroniech word. Stricklen placed his hands on her arms and lightly pulled them toward her fingers. He replied as he had remembered although he didn’t quite get the pronunciation correct. Tochiack chuckled and whispered something into Zatch’s ear.
Zatch smiled and said, “She said you don’t have any claws to extend.”
Ken was introduced to the rest of Zatch’s entire family including his second wife and eight children. He then met with all the other Kyrra whom he had rescued from stasis over 15 years ago. After spending time with his old friends Ken wandered off towards the edge of the crowd and stood looking at the gathering.
Scarboro appeared and walked over to him. “Something wrong?” he asked.
“No,” Stricklen replied shaking his head. “Just looking at something I didn’t think I would ever see.” Pointing each out in turn Ken continued, “Chroniech, Kyrra, Human, Omel, Tholtaran, Lamaltan, Rouldian, Shandarian, Lartz, and others I can’t see from here. All talking, eating, drinking, and laughing together in peace.”
“It is indeed an unbelievable sight. You are to be congratulated.”
“No!” Ken spun and faced Doug. “It was not just me. I rendered assistance to a disabled passenger liner – nothing more – nothing less. Captain Zatch had the guts to risk his life to honor me for that. The Chroniech ruling council and the Alliance Grand Council ended the war. We all worked together to make this happen.”
“True,” Scarboro replied. “But it all started with a single act of kindness. The flap of a butterfly’s wing you might say.”
“A butterfly's wing?”
“You should look it up sometime,” a familiar voice from behind him replied.
Ken spun around and saw Elizabeth. His heart skipped a beat as his eyes met hers. She was dressed in a stunning outfit that seemed to show off every curve of her incredibly beautiful body.
“I am part of the negotiating team,” she said. “Weren't you curious to know where I was?”
Stricklen felt as if she had backed him into a corner. He had assumed that the negotiating committee would have left after completing their job of bringing peace to the galaxy. But seeing her here seemed to give him more joy than anything else. “I didn't know the team was here,” was all he could say.
Scarboro suddenly seemed to have business elsewhere and melted into the crowd. Elizabeth looked at Ken and smiled. It wasn't a large smile, just a small one, but it seemed to melt Ken's heart. Ken took a hesitant step forward and was met halfway by Elizabeth. The two embraced each other as if they were two long lost friends.
* * * * *
The treaty was signed and the war was officially over. Ken returned to Earth and published his autobiography. As predicted, it was an instant Galactic best seller. It took many years before the Chroniech and the other member species of the Alliance could comfortably interact with each other but both cultures learned fast.
The Kyrra remained in the area for a few years until they were satisfied that the peace would hold. They had felt partially responsible for the war and were glad to have seen it come to an end. They surprised everyone when they announced they were leaving. They wanted to explore and so the worldship left for parts unknown. They did promise to stay in touch through the mysterious power of the hytrans transceiver.
Several years after the signing of the treaty, Elizabeth Warden became Elizabeth Stricklen. There are those who claim that she used her superb knowledge of Human psychology to influence Ken and manipulated him into settling down with her. Ken, of course, would be the first to disagree. But, in the end, does it really matter? Even if she had used the unique bond they had created during their first meeting on the
Komodo Dragon
to influence his emotional attachment towards her, did it really matter?
Ken was happy. He was as happy with Elizabeth as he had been with Tash. His retirement pay from the Alliance along with the royalties from his book gave him the financial freedom to do as he pleased. Peace not only permeated the galaxy, but Ken was at peace with himself and enjoying life to the fullest.
It is amazing to think what might have happened had Ken Stricklen not been on the
Komodo Dragon
when it defied the odds and encountered the damaged passenger liner. What would the outcome have been had he not insisted in showing mercy toward the dying passengers?
The beating of a butterfly’s wing indeed.