Chapter 4

Landing with a thud, Sam faced the I.P. troops advancing towards him with almost murderous rage. “There it is!” one of the troops yelled. Several aimed their gas weapons at him and continued to advance.

They were only twenty yards away when Sam raised his hand. “Unless you wish to seriously anger me, I advise against using those weapons. You see, I am immune to them.”

Several of the men laughed as they advanced further, a look of supreme confidence on their faces. “You’re nothing but a savage that we will expunge from the universe!” Laughing, at least twenty began to fire at Sam.

Standing still for a few moments, Sam wondered how long these fools would continue firing when they saw that their weapons had no effect on him. Moments later, shouts filled the air as more men entered the area.

“Trooper report,” a man obviously in command said as he entered the clearing.

“That thing told us he was immune. At least twenty of us used the gas guns. It appears he is indeed immune to them,” a trooper reported, swallowing hard. “I believe, sir,” he continued, “that we are in deep trouble.”

The commander pushed the trooper aside and advanced towards where Sam was still standing patiently. As the IP commander opened his mouth to speak, Sam raised a hand. “I have a suggestion,” Sam said through clenched teeth. “So far, I haven’t tried to make an enemy of the Intergalactic Patrol, but if things continue as they are, I surely will.”

The commander gulped hard as a renewed murderous look crossed Sam’s face. He started to speak, then snapped his mouth shut. He tried again, but thought better of it. As Sam was about to move off, he heard a familiar voice.

“Samuel Ray?” the female voice said. Snapping his head back toward the commander, Sam’s eyes narrowed.

“Hello, Drivas. I take it you are nearby? Good. I think you should get here real damn quick. I’m very close to harming every trooper here for what they’ve done, especially calling me a ‘thing.’ I don’t think the galaxy would miss this foul bunch!” Sam shouted.

“We are almost there, Samuel; I ask that you spare them for now. I’m sure that an apology would placate you?” Drivas asked.

“Don’t think so, Drivas, though seeing most of them dead would!” Sam seethed.

Sam heard a sigh, “If you could hold off for a few time frames, we will be there.”

Sam, still seething, considered her request for a few moments. Finally nodding, he replied, “Alright, I’ll wait, but if I don’t like what you have to say, there are going to be a lot of hurt people.”

“Good, we’ll be right there,” Drivas told Sam.

Moments later, a ship touched down and Drivas, along with Thellus, approached Sam. He hadn’t moved from where he’d stopped, and though he was holding his temper, it was beginning to slip as the waiting irritated him. “Alright, I waited. What could you possibly say to deter me from hurting all of them?”

Smiling, Drivas stopped in front of Sam. “As I recall, you had no desire to make an enemy of the I.P. I assumed you were still of that mindset.”

Shocked for a moment, Sam grimaced. “That WAS how I felt. But being treated as something non-living has extinguished that desire.” Looking straight at Drivas, Sam growled. His attention snapped to Thellus, who suddenly screamed, clutching her head.

“No!” she shouted, her eyes widening. “How? You have no training.” With that, Thellus gasped and then passed out.

Turning back to Drivas, Sam’s eyes narrowed. “I suggest you don’t try either. I can sense your mind has been greatly boosted. You might attempt it if you wish, but after you wake up, you can tend to those that are left alive!”

Drivas placed a hand on Sam to halt him. “If you do this, then all of the I.P. will be your enemy, including us. I do not wish for that, Samuel. How can we mend this situation? I do not want to fight you.”

Calming slightly, Sam considered. “One chance: they ALL leave NOW! They don’t come back, or I’ll know. I have powerful thought friends out there; I’ll know.”

Drivas nodded and turned to the trembling commander. “I suggest,” she began, “that all troops and officers evacuate this planet as soon as possible. The sooner, the better. And if you ever encounter this individual again, be more respectful. Now GO!”

The commander was about to speak when Drivas’s stare made him shake uncontrollably. “Yes, Special Agent! Right away!” he stammered, tripping over himself as he started to bark orders.

Turning back to Sam, Drivas nodded, “Will that do, Samuel?”

Sam paused deep in thought. “For now, Drivas, for now. I’ll remove all the rest of the I.P. monitors as soon as they’re gone. So, are you following me?”

“No, we were on a special assignment when we heard you were here. I was told that if I could aid you, I should.” Drivas responded.

Sam nodded, though he found it hard to trust her words. Then, feeling a surge, he snapped his head up and growled, pushing back as Drivas stepped back. “I told you not to try!”

Drivas’s eyes widened. She’d hardly probed his mind and yet he had detected it immediately. “I am sorry, Sam. This new level my mind is at is harder to keep in check,” Drivas said, hoping that Sam would believe her blatant lie.

Sam’s eyes narrowed as he stared at Drivas. He sensed she was lying, though he couldn’t discern any advantage for her in doing so. She had grown stronger, almost matching his level when they first met. Yet now, he had far surpassed that. Peculiarly, he felt his strength had grown since his time on the blue gas world, and even more so after visiting the Queen’s world.

Drivas sighed, knowing she would have to report this encounter to Thantas. She anticipated that Thantas would not receive the news well, especially since Drivas had been granted permission to advance to the third level. Few could resist her now, yet Sam had dismissed her influence as if it were nothing. “I must go, Sam. I apologize for Thellus’s intrusion. She’s had a far rougher time with her new level. It’s taxing to maintain control during the initial weeks,” Drivas explained, attempting to placate Sam.

Sam merely nodded as he watched Drivas help Thellus to their ship. Within an hour, almost all of the I.P. troops had departed. Breathing a sigh of relief, Sam headed back to where he had hidden the woman he’d rescued.

Arriving, he saw that she was awake and had been observing his exchange with Drivas. “I thought you’d still be out from the gas,” Sam remarked.

“I thought so too. But not long after you placed me here, I awoke. I was weak but nowhere near as incapacitated as when the gas hit me,” the woman replied. Sam nodded, puzzled. This mirrored Mellos’s situation. He’d fought her twice, and she had exclaimed, What in the hell do you think you are doing? I need her to finish healing where you stopped! Where he had stopped? What was she talking about?

Observing the woman regaining strength, Sam extended his hand. “My name is Sam. I am from a planet called Earth ... well, I think I am. According to what many beings are saying, I am really from a place called Owt Los. They say I am a Cliveastone, and from what the woman who had you on her ship said, you are one too.”

The young woman’s face showed shock and then fear as she began to tremble. “I am a descendant of the Cliveastones? No, it can’t be!” she exclaimed, falling to her knees, sobbing. “I am one of the most hated beings in the galaxy then!”

Sam looked perplexed. “Really? I’ve been to several worlds and wasn’t hated but rather welcomed. On the last two, I was even called one of the noble races. Oh, and you’re not a descendant; you ARE one of them.”

“NO! The I.P. says all Cliveastones are hideous, horrible beings bent on ruling the universe! I can’t be one of...” the woman started.

“Stop!” Sam interrupted, louder than he intended, making the woman cringe. “I am one of those people; do I seem like that to you? The only one I have met who might fit that description is Mellos Thymp. Though, at the moment, even her motives seem better by comparison. Look, whether or not you accept it, you are a lot like me. If you don’t want to be bad, then don’t. I have to go now, but think of me if you need help, okay?”

“I’ll try, I’m Raydy. Thank you for all you have done,” Raydy told him.

Nodding, Sam took to the air again, gathering and destroying every I.P. monitor he could find. After finishing, he headed for space, but upon reaching orbit, he paused. Should have known she’d get away, he thought, staring at the energy trail leading deeper into space.

Shaking his head again, Sam opened another wormhole, accelerating away. Raydy watched him leave with a slight tremble to her lips. She had to learn to suppress her abilities. It wouldn’t do to have the I.P. coming back after her and therefore her family. No, she couldn’t do that to them. She had to be strong if what Sam had said was true; then she had to be strong.