“Below the tragic angels, I tread an earthen path, gathering feathers.” The Book of Mordorain.

The house shook as if one of the moons had fallen. All eyes turned to Sam who stood by the front door. He raised a hand for calm and turned to look outside. Three hairy creatures in heavy armor stood between the house and a heavy black craft that had landed on the road. They immediately lifted their arms, and the door shattered in Sam's hand.

Sam ducked in and yelled, “Down!”

With his back to the wall, Sam faced away from the splintering door frame with a grimace. His narrowed eyes swept the scene around him. Heaven and the twins huddled in a corner protecting Ben. Albert ran with his parents into another room. Seconds mattered as Sam sought the pirini within.

The pirini timed the energy blasts of the alien creatures; a discrepancy was found in the middle alien, who fired at a slower rate. There was a narrow window to take each alien down. Sam knew that to make the first strike count for all, there were two avenues. Shoot them in the feet and topple them, or shoot them in the face and conserve the charge.

Sam reached into his back waistband and pulled out his Radial Magnum; it whined as he thumbed it on. Sam turned and walked between the splintered frames making three precise shots into the faces of the advancing aliens. Sam counted three seconds of silence then peeked out. Three dead aliens lay on the cobbled walkway. As Sam stood in the ruined frame of the door, the alien craft shot into the sky, swaying nearby trees.

Albert joined Sam in a cursory inspection of the beasts. Sam kicked each alien in turn, and Albert stooped to inspect the armor and weaponry. Suddenly, the twins stood behind them gaping. Ben and Heaven walked out to see, while the former King and Queen stood together in the doorway.

“They're like armored werewolves,” said Affe.

Albert stood and spoke to Sam. “I'll take Mom and Dad to the Palace. I'll have these creatures brought in for inspection.” As the guards and pilot ran from the transport, he turned aside and opened a channel on his wrist comm.

Sam turned and asked Heaven, “Are you alright?”

“We're all good,” answered Heaven. “I'm amazed that they've tipped their hand. At first, I thought it was just the criminals in Ashpall, but they were in cahoots with the police. I guess the Sharantta got tired of farming it out.”

Sam mused. “The police, huh?” He looked into Heaven's calm gaze, then said with determination. “If you have a place to hide, I'll take you there. I'll pay a little visit to the Ashpall PD.”

Ben turned to view the former King and Queen. The elderly man held the beautiful old woman in his arms and spoke soft comforts. Ben was moved. He could not remember them, but it seemed he knew good people in his previous life.

Ben walked back to the elderly couple and asked, “Were we good friends?”

David looked up and saw the face of the man that had set his broken leg. “We still are,” said David. “We always will be.”

Back on the Co'Hwaul, Ben stood in the lounge entrance. He watched the lift at the end of the hall with longing.

Cuddling in the long seat behind him, Affe pulled away from Aggi and looked up at Ben. “You're just being clingy,” said he.

“And needy,” said Aggi. “Women don't like that in a man.”

“You'll drive her away,” said Affe.

Ben turned with worry on his face. He crouched before the twins and asked, “What can I do?”

Sitting forward, Aggi said, “The first thing you need to do is have a plan. Show some spine. Man up. Own who you are.”

Affe shoved Aggi playfully and said, “You're scaring him.” Turning to face Ben, Affe said, “You can start by having a goal.”

Ben countered, “I have a goal.” Then, in response to the blank stares of the twins, he added, “My goal is to remember.”

Aggi responded, “That's not really a goal.”

Affe added, “You have to do that anyway.”

“What should I do?” asked Ben.

“Get a job,” said Shi'nese, standing in the entrance with a tray of drinks. Ben turned while crouched and lost his balance. He fell on one hand and smiled up at the pretty cadet. Smiling mild amusement, Shi'nese added, “I'm accepting applications for apprenticeship, training to begin this evening.”

Ben smiled embarrassment while Affe laughed out loud. Aggi stood and took the tray, looking into the cadet's eyes. “You really don't want to butt heads with the Constable.”

A smile was the answer Shi'nese gave Aggi. “I really came,” she said in a more professional voice, “To pass on information. You are being taken to the farm where the Constable grew up. It's south of Ashpall.”

Ben asked, “Is Heaven coming back?”

“Silly boy,” said Shi'nese, her voice playful. “She's with the King.”

Ben stood and asked, “Can you take me to her, please.”

“I'm afraid they can't be disturbed right now,” said Shi'nese with a smile. “They're busy.”

“Getting supplies,” added Heaven walking from the lift.

Ben ran to stand beside Heaven in the lounge entrance. “Heaven!” He stood close, smiling, then took a step back, attempting to look less clingy.

Heaven looked at Shi'nese with the veneer of a smile and said, “Thank you for the drinks. You can leave now.”

Shi'nese sighed and headed for the lift.

Chief O'Leary stood just inside the Ashpall Embassy building. There were signs of recent construction, and a single light flickered in the ceiling. The place where the alien severed his left arm hurt in a way that painkillers could not control. He wore his police jacket loosely over his shoulders to hide the stump of his arm and the stained bandages.

Double doors swung open on the opposite side of the lobby. Two young men dressed smartly in royal blue, robed and capped, walked forward, their polished boots sending shrill echoes back through the hallway beyond the doors. They stopped before the Chief and stood at attention.

The young man to the Chief's right spoke. “I'm Crispin Beasley, Attache to King Albert of Pendragon. Please excuse the disarray.”

The man to the Chief's left spoke. “I am Ambassador Ruiz. Welcome to the Orlainese Embassy on behalf of the King of Orlain.”

O'Leary's voice was rough when he asked, “Why am I hear?”

Ambassador Ruiz answered with a smile. “The King of Orlain has asked to meet with the Chief of Ashpall police.” He turned and extended an arm down the hallway. “If you will, please follow us. The King is eager to meet you.”

Alarm bells sounded in the Chief's head. He was beginning to hate all aliens. When he answered with a nod of acquiescence, his voice betrayed the complaint in his heart. “Lead the way,” he said.

O'Leary followed the young men down the hall, wincing at a new round of shooting, fiery pains from the pound of flesh he had paid the Sharantta.

O'Leary entered an office in somewhat better repair than the lobby; at least he found sufficient lighting. The King of Orlain stood before the desk dressed in black and gold, his cap beneath one arm. He nodded to an empty chair.

“Chief O'Leary,” said the King. “Please have a seat.”

The Chief seated himself as he assessed the alien King. The hair was cropped in military fashion, and the scar on his face was an obvious memento of battle. The man was muscular and impressive. The King turned, set his cap on the desk, and chose a corner to sit on. He folded his arms and spoke immediately.

“I will cut to the chase,” said Sam. “I have tracked the enemy of my people to Ashpall. It would appear from your wound that you have had exposure to the beasts.” Sam was speaking off the cuff, bluffing. He watched the Chief's reactions with seasoned clarity. He said, “The hairy ones aren't even the worst.”

O'Leary responded, a snarl in his words, “Damned spiders!”

Sam continued. “Their presence is a threat not only to my representatives here in Ashpall but to all citizens of Merlin. I would ask for whatever information you can give. My mission is to eradicate the spiders. Believe me, Chief, that serves the interests of both our peoples.”

O'Leary laughed. It was a harsh sound from the back of his throat. He said, “You aliens aren't timid to use us common folk. Alright. I'll tell you what I know. It's not much. In trade, I want a spider leg when you kill one.”

Brigadier Alarie sat comfortably in the Captain's seat looking out across the bridge of the Thornburg. Privates First Class Thrush and Lurei manned their posts in a professional manner as the stations around them changed. Below the Thornburg, the image of icy Merlin rolled toward the distant sun.

Thrush turned in his seat and said to the Brigadier, “Incoming from Ashpall.”

Alarie sat straight, relieved of the tedium, and said, “Bring it up.”

The view of a snowy northern hemisphere changed into the face of the Ashpall Chief of police. Xander said, “Mack. Long time.”

The Chief blinked and said, “You never change. Listen, can you take this in private?”

Alarie moved to the call room and closed the door. When he brought up the image of his old friend, he asked, “What is it, Mack?”

Mack said, “Xander, this is serious. Merlin has an alien problem. Have you met the King of Orlain?”

Alarie answered, “I have. Presently, he is my better for saving my ship. What is the problem?”

“Well, how would you like to be one up on him?” asked O'Leary. “The alien King has dealings with another alien race. Don't you think the Consortium should be in on it? I mean, what are they trying to hide?”

Xander sat back with a smile. He could picture a fleet under his command. “Mack,” he said. “Tell me everything.”

Xander had quickly absorbed the import of Mack's news. The Consortium had been in decline, and contact with a new species was just the thing to breathe life into asepticism.

He had spent an hour in his call room looking at the masked face of a Judge. The engraved sigil displayed the highest rank within House Maximum. In the end, Xander was given command over a fleet of eleven Light Crusaders.

Alarei walked onto the bridge massaging tired eyes. He sat in the Captain's seat; Thrush and Lurei turned to await his command.

“Gentlemen,” said the Brigadier. “We are to command a small fleet of Light Crusaders. Consolidation will be at Point Stock between the moons of Pendragon at oh eight hundred universal median. I want a pre-inspection and clean before consolidation. Make me look good.”

As the new command went shipwide, Xander relaxed in the Captain's seat and mentally assessed the combined firepower of his small fleet. If it came to a fight with the creatures Mack described, Xander was assured of a favorable outcome. While the Thornburg was moderately armed, each Light Crusader had a full array of negative ion emitters and tactical missiles.

The Brigadier smiled to himself; if handled correctly, this could be quite the feather in his cap. A small skirmish to start, thought Xander. Then, gifts and conciliatory gestures. Finally, negotiations and trade agreements.

Alarei stood and flexed. He announced broadcast on his way off the bridge, “I'll be with Doctor Brock. Give me an advance prior to consolidation.”

“Aye,” answered Thrush and Lurei, smiling at one another.

Alarei tapped on his wrist comm. “Sam,” he said. “I got a big one on the line. Let's have coffee.”

Doctor Brock answered. “You sound happy. I'll be right there.”

Heaven stood on the porch watching her breath drift away on a cold breeze. She tightened her coat, glancing around the property. Fences overgrown with vines, fields with high grass, and tall trees along an earthen path were what she saw. It was where she grew up, and the memories were bittersweet. A dusty two-story house and an empty barn were the farm that her Dad never had enough time to make viable. She turned and entered the house with a melancholy sigh.

The twins, coughing, were removing dusty sheets from furniture. Ben was picking through the bundle of supplies they had received from Co'Hwaul storage. Heaven walked to Ben, who stood near the fireplace.

“Pick a good coat,” she said to him. “I feel a cold front moving in.”

Ben turned to her with a happy smile. “It's really nice outside.”

She responded with an emphatic, “Brr! Don't go outside without a coat.”

Affe called from the corner window, sheet in hand, “I can't believe you had a baby grand growing up.”

Aggi asked, “Do you still play?”

Heaven turned from Ben to view the piano. Her Dad had such high hopes. “Never got the hang of it,” she answered.

Ben asked, “Can I play it?”

“After we get these things put away,” she said. “You two. There are dust rags in the kitchen. Let's have this place tidy before Raul and Crispin arrive.”

In concert, the twins answered, “Yes, boss.”

Ben asked, “Who are they again?”

Just then, there came a knock at the door. Heaven answered to find Raul and Crispin standing on the front porch with bundles of additional supplies.

“Come on,” said Heaven. “You're letting the cold in.”

Raul and Crispin entered with broad smiles, discarding their bundles to receive Heaven's embrace. For her part, Heaven was more than glad to see their familiar faces.

“You're looking good,” said Raul.

Heaven responded, “Take off your robes. There's lots to do.” She noticed the twins returning, rags in hand. “These are the twins,” she said. “Affe and Aggi Berg.”

The twins waved. Raul nodded, while Crispin returned the wave. Heaven continued, turning to point. “And this is my PUP, Ben.”

“Ah!” said Raul.

Crispin leaned in with a smile, and asked behind his hand, “Is that Constable-talk?”

Heaven laughed sweetly, extending a finger to flick Crispin's chin. “Is that a goatee?” she asked.

Heaven grabbed the two bundles and walked to Ben. She called over her shoulder. “Help the twins.” To Ben, she said, “Take that bundle and follow me.”

Ben complied and followed, asking, “What's a PUP?”

His inexperience was sweet innocence. “Person Under Protection,” she said.

Affe and Aggi walked to Raul and Crispin. Aggi asked, “Do you play War?”