Taming a Planet (Trapped in Time Book 2) (13 page)

Harvey nodded, “Andy believed they came from a distant galaxy. Somewhere out in the distant stars.”

Andy said, “They travel through space, which is the place above Earth’s atmosphere.”

Togawa said, “One of their enemies is coming here.”

“That is why we were sent here. For some reason, we don’t understand, it appears that humans can defeat this enemy that they can’t beat.”

Mark shook his head, “Then that would mean this enemy of theirs is also highly advanced. It will take hundreds of thousands of years for us to develop a civilization that can take them on.”

Andy shook his head, “Not really.” Mark jerked his head toward Andy as he said, “Andy wrote a history of humanity from the time humans first appeared on the planet until his civilization. He said that humans went from living in caves and being nomadic hunters to nuclear power and space travel in less than five thousand years. We are much further ahead of those primitive hunters and I suspect we could build an advanced civilization in less time than you think.

Maxius said, “So that enemy is thousands of years in our future?”

Andy shook his head, “That’s what the Time Takers wanted us to believe. That’s why they wanted us to think we were much further in the past.”

Harmony shook her head, “I don’t understand.”

“They have already given us the weapon we’ll need to defeat this enemy. We won’t need to build an advanced civilization to defeat them.”

Maxius’ eyes went wide and he said, “The guns that fire a red beam.” Andy nodded. “But…why would they put us here if it wasn’t to build an advanced civilization?”

“You have to remember that they destroyed our planet in Carrie’s time. Why did they do that?”

Linus said, “Because the red beams would also kill them.”

Andy and Harvey nodded, “Very good, Linus. They weren’t going to allow a civilization that could be a threat to them to survive.”

“But we have the guns. We’re a threat to them now. We’ll be an even greater threat millions of years from now.”

“That’s why they didn’t want us to know ‘WHEN’ we were.” Everyone looked at Andy and he saw their confusion. “Andy wrote that we should keep our eyes out for that T-Rex, Triceratops, and the one only Harmony has seen called a Troodon. If we saw these species, then we are living in what he called the late Cretaceous Era. It was during that era that a giant rock, called an asteroid, hits our planet and kills every dinosaur on it. I suspect it will also kill us as well. The enemy will come first and soon afterwards, that asteroid is going to hit Earth and remove the little problem that we pose to the Time Takers.”

The fear on everyone’s face was clear. Andy looked at Harmony, “No, I don’t know how much time we have but we’re not going to just sit here and let them get their way. We’re going to do something about it.”

Harmony’s voice trembled and now she knew what had been troubling Andy, “Is there anything we can do?”

“I started reading the documents that my ancestor wrote and I have to admit that I am amazed at his intelligence. He really didn’t trust the Time Takers and that’s why he had us look for those species. He just refused to believe they would put humans this far back in the past and allow them to evolve an advanced society. He wrote a plan so that some of us will survive and made sure we had what was needed to make it happen. Many of us will probably die, but not all of us.”

Togawa shook his head, “How can we live? They’ll see if we do anything to save ourselves.”

“Andy didn’t think they would. The Time Taker told him that he was leaving and wouldn’t be actively participating in what was going to happen. I suspect they feared that the enemy would see them if they were present when they arrived here. So until those beings arrive from outer space, we can do what has to be done. We are going to follow the plan Andy wrote for us to survive.” Andy paused and said, “All of us may be long dead when they arrive. We have no way of knowing when it’s going to happen. However, we start immediately and hope we have more time than we need to complete it.”

Harmony looked at Andy, “What about the Destroyers?”

“We’re not going to continue to save our weapons for the future. This new information changes everything. We will be issuing the Red Beam Guns to our Archers and we will use them to handle the issue with the Destroyers.” Andy looked at Linus and Togawa, “We’re also going to start using the electrical items you’ve been developing and putting away. I want the solar powered motors for the larger gliders given your immediate attention.”

Linus smiled, “It’s about time.”

Andy shrugged, “We’ve been operating on the belief that we were being watched. Now that we know the time for this to happen is not in the far distant future but soon, we will move forward at our best speed.”

Mark looked at Andy and smiled, “I can see the original Andy in you. I suspect he was just like you.”

Andy smiled, “Actually, I pray that I am like him. He was an amazing person. He also had an amazing amount of knowledge of technology that I don’t possess.” Andy looked at Harvey and Linus, “I need the two of you to start implementing the plan. Mark, Maximus, and I are going to plan a welcome to the Destroyers while you’re busy.”

Lyla said, “Why are you worried about them? The beams can remove them.”

“We’re going to need their ships. They will be an addition to Andy’s plan that he didn’t know would be available; we’re going to make good use of them. If we have time, we’ll build our own but I’m going to take what’s available and put them to use. We will not be burning them as we originally planned.”

Harmony looked at Andy, “I have to go home and get some rest. Will you be able to come join me?”

Andy smiled, “We have some time on the Destroyers. I’ll be coming home from now on.” Harmony smiled and yawned again. Andy tilted his head, “However, you might be interested to know that Dinah came home just in time to lay her eggs. You can wait until tomorrow to make your selection if you want.”

Harmony jumped to her feet, “Oh no! I’ll do that before I do anything else.”

Andy smiled, “I thought you’d say that. One of the eggs makes the egg Dinah came out of look small.”

“Lead me to them.”

Mark said, “I’m right behind you.” Andy took Harmony’s hand and led her to the nest. Harmony thought Andy was joking about the size of the biggest egg; it was huge. She took a small marker and put an ‘H’ on it. Dinah watched her and didn’t react. She had to be restrained when Mark made his choice. It was clear that Harmony had Dinah’s blessings. Andy led Harmony home and had to carry her the last fifty yards. The Community’s newest Master Archer was spent and asleep before Andy put her to bed.

Andy looked at Harmony and shook his head. She was so beautiful. He got ready for bed and lay down beside her. He thought about all the things he had read over the last four weeks and knew there was so much to do. The new gliders had to be built and some boats had to be taken. But tonight, he was right where he wanted to be. His fatigue took him and the Community’s Royal Couple slept in peace.

• • •

Jonathan rose another two hundred feet above the cliff and saw hundreds of dinosaurs rushing out of the forest. He swung out over the disturbance and saw a Spinosaurus moving through the forest. It had been a long time since one of the giant predators had moved into the Community’s lands and this one was monstrous. It had brought down one of the huge herbivores next to the river and was tearing huge chunks of flesh out of its long neck. He thought about going back to the community to gather a hunting team but knew he would be challenged by Mark and Andy if he didn’t use his newest weapon. He sighed and pulled the blaster out of a holster on his back and turned toward the giant. He flew over the river and pushed the small button on the gun’s handle and aimed it at the giant’s head. As he flew over, the Spinosaurus smelled him and raised its head and sniffed the air. The giant head was just ten feet below him when Jonathan sighted the hand gun on the creature’s head and pulled the trigger. The red beam hit the giant head dead center and it exploded into an orange mist. The Spinosaurus’ body collapsed on top of the beast it had killed. Johnathan turned the glider into the wind and rose higher as he watched the death scene below. Within ten minutes, the Raptors began arriving and the feeding frenzy was incredible. Even small predators rushed in to steal bites as they quickly ran away. When the Allosaurus arrived, there was very little left other than bones that had been ripped apart to get at the really juicy parts. The roars were incredible and many predators would not need a meal for weeks to come.

Johnathan didn’t like using the gun. It just seemed…unfair. There was no risk to the shooter and it demanded very little skill. He wondered if the need for Master Archers was going to be a thing of the past. He shook his head and flew north along the river.

• • •

The Destroyer fleet arrived at their home port and started moving their plunder ashore. The captured slaves were moved to the slave yards to be auctioned off to the highest bidder and the young males were taken to the military compound to decide which would be used to sail the ships and which would become a warrior. Those that didn’t pass either test were shot and their body thrown into the sea. The Fleet Master went to the Commandant and was allowed to report. The Master knelt and lowered his head, “Sire, it appears two of our own have escaped after killing several of our warriors.”

“Who?”

“Singer and that white haired slave of his.”

The Commandant shook his head, “I knew he was going to be trouble after he lost his family. I should have forced him to turn that slave over to me long ago.”

“Sire, it was too late in the season to start searching for them but I thought you should know.”

“We will look for them when our next fleet goes out. If they’re still alive, they will be made an example of for everyone to see.”

“I’m sorry, Sire.”

“Don’t be. I knew this was coming.”

The Fleet Master left and knew the Commandant would slowly kill his brother if he was still alive. What he was going to do to the white haired slave would be unimaginable. She would receive the blame for what happened…as she should.

• • •

The Commandant called his wife in to his quarters and looked at her, “It appears that Singer and that blonde slave of his have run away.”

“Oh?”

“They also killed some of our warriors making their escape.”

“What do you intend to do?”

“I’m going to send the slave’s sister with the fleet and use her to pull them in; if they’re still alive.”

“How will you do that?”

“I’ll have her tortured on the beach and use the loud speakers to announce that she will die if they don’t turn themselves in.”

“You know Melody is my favorite. I’ve owned her since she was a child.”

“I do; but I intend to use her.”

The woman stared at her husband and knew he had wanted her to get rid of Melody for a long time. Her eyes narrowed and she said, “She is my property; not yours.”

“This falls under the safety of the union.”

“I can’t stop you doing this, but what happens if they turn themselves in?”

The Commandant looked at his wife and saw he was cornered. He paused and said, “Then your slave will be returned to you.”

“If she is harmed in any way, I will take my damages from your fortune. Is that clear?”

The Commandant stared at her and nodded. She left the room and he knew the chances of them being alive in a year were remote…but there was a possibility. He shook his head and called in the Admiral. He told him that the slave would be taken on the next voyage and that she would not be harmed in any way. She would be taken to the beach and she would be strung up to be tortured; however, if her sister and his brother turned themselves in, she would be brought back unharmed.

“Sire, the chances of them being alive is remote.”

“I know that and I fully expect you will end up torturing her. Make her death painful and long if they don’t come in.”

“It will be hard to prevent her from being attacked on board the ship.”

“Make sure everyone on board knows that if she’s abused that the abuser will be brought back for me to torture and you will be strung up beside them.”

The Admiral stared at the Commandant and saw his small evil smile. He knew the odds of them turning themselves in was small…but…this was not a risk he was going to take.

• • •

The Fliers started practicing using their new weapon. The safeties were kept on as they would draw the gun out of their holsters, bring it up to aim, and pull the trigger. The warriors didn’t take the training seriously at first but Andy demonstrated how he wanted them to be able to perform. Andy had been practicing for more than a month in the holy cave before the weapons were passed out to the Archers. The speed he drew the gun was incredible and the practice shot he took at a small target two hundred yards away was unbelievable. Now the bar had been set and the Community’s Warriors began practicing with a passion. The warriors were deadly before they were given the red beam blasters; now, they were a force nothing on the planet could match. However, they were heavily outnumbered by the Destroyers and their rifles. The coming war would determine who would rule the planet.

• • •

Harmony took to the new hand weapon like she had been born with it. She set an example to the other Master Archers with the time she spent practicing. Finally, Dinah’s egg hatched and Harmony had one large female Cursor to care for. She named her Melody and the two of them were constantly together. Even as a hatchling, the Cursor was huge and in no time it had grown to the size of the regular cursors. In nine months, it was almost as large as its mother. It was carrying Harmony for short rides at six months and for long rides at nine. She was just as adept as her mother at smelling trouble and was learning all the survival commands she would need to follow; then the wind shifted.

The flag on top of the cliff began blowing off the ocean toward the community. Harmony knew the Destroyers would be returning with the freshening wind and they would be a formidable force to face. She saw Andy’s determination to face them and hoped there wouldn’t be a huge loss of life. Even with the new red beams, the Destroyers would not fall easily. A week later, Andy dispatched two Fliers to the south to keep their eyes out for the Destroyer ship that was coming. It wouldn’t be long now before the fight they had been practicing on would commence. She knew she was going to be with Andy wherever he went. She would not allow anyone to harm the man she loved so much.