Chapter 8

Sam was still smirking when a huge multitude of beings came into view. The first thing he noticed was an almost overwhelming feeling of fear, pain, and anger. What in the hell had those IP creeps done to these beings to elicit such emotions?

Shaking his head, Sam slowly lifted off the ground a few feet, looking at the huge throng of gray people. Suddenly, he heard a shout of, “There it is! We have to destroy it before it ends our planet!”

Sam grimaced as he saw more than a few of the gray people point a myriad of weapons toward him. “I suggest that you not discharge those. The consequences of that would be deadly. Just so you know, those won’t hurt me, though I am afraid that the bounce back will harm many of you,” Sam warned.

A youngish gray being stepped out, pointing its weapon at Sam. “Don’t believe it! It’s just afraid of us. Remember, the patrol promised us freedom if we kill it.”

Sam was doing the best he could to hold his temper. Being called a thing was really starting to wear thin on his patience. Floating to the young gray being, Sam pulled him into the open space.

“Since you think you can kill me, I’ll let you have the first shot.” Puffing out his chest, Sam pointed to it. “Go ahead, you were so certain. Come on, kill me. I’ve done nothing but try to help your people. All you seem to care about is my death.”

The young gray got an evil grin on its face as it pulled the trigger, the beam at full strength! Sam could only shake his head as the beam hit him, then bounced back toward the gray. The beam hit right in front of the gray, then stopped for a moment. Suddenly, it continued on, vaporizing what appeared to be an IP soldier.

A great many in front gasped as they realized they had been lied to. A great many who hadn’t seen tried to push forward to see what was going on. An older gray stepped in front of them, trying to call for quiet.

“It appears that we were told a great untruth. Though they haven’t always been that kind, they have protected us. This,” here the elder pointed to Sam, “hasn’t proven anything yet.” Turning to Sam, he stated, “Though you uncovered what was a spy in our midst, that does not prove you a friend.”

Sam still hadn’t moved as he nodded his head, agreeing with the elder. “I am well aware of this, Elder. I don’t wish to harm you or your people, though I will if I have to. This is the third triad corner world. I am here to help establish the triad again.”

The elder’s mouth hung open when Sam revealed this fact. “Only a few know of this fact. How did you acquire it?”

[That would be from me and the elders of the other corner worlds, ] came the thoughts of Queen Triada. Many gasped, hearing the thoughts of the Queen. Then, in a rush, a great many started to move toward Sam with looks of pure hatred. Most of those raised weapons pointing directly at him.

Growling, Sam rose higher as they all followed him with their weapons. Laughing, they started to fire even as Sam was making sure each energy beam missed.

Even as he was dodging, Sam was afraid they would get a shot through. Sure enough, one caught Sam from behind, speeding back toward the elder! As fast as he could, Sam blocked the beam a few feet from the older gray.

Bowing to the elder, Sam stated, “I apologize for not moving fast enough. I did not mean to place you in danger.”

The elder’s eyes were wide with surprise when a being as obviously powerful as Sam was apologizing to him! A great many near the front were also surprised, though many were still calling for Sam’s death. “It appears that many still do not believe you. Please, sir, try not to kill too many.”

Sam’s eyes were surprised as he looked at the gray, seeing that the elder was speaking the truth. Nodding, Sam grimaced as he looked at the throng. Focusing harder, he began to see a great many of the gray people were disguised IP troops. Growling low, Sam flew through the crowd, gathering all the IP troops he could.

Looking at the collection, Sam was surprised when he saw that there were more than a few hundred he’d collected. Searching the first, he soon found the hologram disguise. Again, Sam rapidly snapped off all of them, leaving all of the troops shocked.

At that moment, he heard a great gasp from the crowd as they realized that they had been fooled. Then a great many were afraid as they tried to draw back.

“Don’t be fooled by what you saw!” the obvious leader of the troops shouted. “Kill him! He is an enemy; he will kill you and your children. Kill him, the IP demands it!” Suddenly realizing his mistake, the IP leader tried to amend what he’d said. “Kill him! He will destroy you and your planet! He...”

A beam was heading toward the leader when Sam stepped in front of it. “Don’t be a killer like they are,” Sam shouted. Flying to the gray who fired, he gently took the weapon. Handing it to the leader, he smiled. “Though they are your enemy as they are mine, do not fall to their level.”

Sam turned to stare at the IP leader as he started to laugh. “Killer, enemy? As many of the IP as you have killed, you have the audacity to say that?”

Getting right in the IP leader’s face, Sam sneered at him, “I killed no one who didn’t attack me first! By the IP’s own rules, almost the entire IP should be arrested! Should I name off the over one thousand of your own rules and laws that YOU yourself have broken? I and the people of this world, by the same rules and laws, have more than a right to execute all of you right now!”

When the IP leader’s face blanched white, Sam knew he was on the right track. Smiling, Sam stood aside then walked back to the gray leader. “I thank you for showing us this, though I am afraid that many will still not accept you. This will go very far toward that. They, I am afraid, will require more. If you...”

[Elder?] came what seemed to be three voices.

[Queen Triada? Is that you? It has been a great many time periods since your thoughts graced us, ] the elder’s thoughts responded.

[Yes, it is good to think to your people again. Sam, when you rid their world of those, please be quick. I know that you find it distasteful. Unfortunately, justice can be that way, ] came the Queen’s thoughts.

Sam just grunted as he nodded. Shaking his head, he was still having a little trouble with not speaking to communicate.

[Elder, we are the leaders of the other corner triad worlds. It would greatly honor us if you and your world would join us in re-establishing our triad, ] the other two thoughts spoke to the elder and most of those there.

Most of those there bowed when they heard the thoughts. The IP leader was screaming at the top of his voice, “It’s a fake, a trick! Don’t believe it!” A flash of anger crossed Sam’s face as he cuffed the IP leader, knocking him out.

Suddenly, there was a strong stream of thoughts that were pushing at Sam’s mind. Getting even angrier, Sam pushed back hard, far harder than he meant to. Extremely far across the vast distance, Sam felt another mind scream as it died.

[So you are far stronger than we at first thought. It has been a very long time since we brought the full power of the collective to bear. It will be good to have them in use again. It is unfortunate that you destroyed the weakest. We will ... NO! What are you doing! STOP! AAAAAAAAAA!] Sam heard the thoughts scream, then it was quiet as he no longer felt anything from the mind either.

On the new home world of the Intergalactic Patrol, an older male was being rushed to medical services. Another older male was floating beside the first, shaking his head.

“I had warned him not to try it. Even with the increased power of the machine, I didn’t feel it was strong enough.” Shaking his head, the second older male touched a button on his wrist. “It appears we may lose the seventh council. It appears that the triad that has appeared has weakened his abilities. Yes, I realize that. Do you have another in line for it? I realize it has been such a long time. Alright, I’ll look into it.”

The second male took one last look at the seventh council, then turned to talk to the attendants.

“On orders established by the first Heptad council, if there is no response within two solar time units,” here the older man looked around, “you are advised to terminate any and all support systems.”

The attendants’ eyes went wide, then they nodded. This was one of the seven sector councils; to disobey was an immediate death sentence. Bowing to the older man, they responded, “It will be as you order, council sir.”

The older man looked closely at the attendants, seeing fear and obedience in their eyes. Now, if the rest of the seven sectors would just come under control. This news that a Cliveastone was out there AND it was immune to practically all weapons was troubling. Shaking his head, they had two solar time units to wait, though he held out no hope of the seventh council returning.

The council boarded a special transport that took him swiftly across the planet. ‘Might as well get this over with,’ he thought, moving to a rather plain door. Placing his hand on the door, a tone sounded, then the door slid open revealing a young, almost identical-looking version of the male in the medical center.

The young male’s features were at first angry, then he recognized the council. Bowing low, the male stated through tight lips, “I am honored to have you here, council sir. How may I best serve you?”