Greyson teleported out to deep space and waited for the Invaders to start their attack. Robby insisted he wait before jumping away to avoid detection. “They should be focused on the planets being destroyed and you should get away without being seen.” Greyson felt huge sorrow at what was happening but hoped Robby and Dani jumped away in time.
Trey sat in the command chair and thought about what his parents had just said before he left. The more he thought about it, he knew something was wrong. “Greyson, take me back!”
“I’m sorry Trey, I’ve given an oath to your father that I would not do that.”
“Why!?!”
“I can’t tell you, yet.”
Trey felt his level of stress build to a breaking point and suddenly something inside him broke and a blue flash illuminated the bridge. Trey discovered he could see the entire universe in his mind. He focused and saw Bristone. He brought the view in closer and saw his parents talking with his grandparents. He listened in and jumped up from the chair, “No! NO! Greyson, take me back.”
Trey stood and heard what was going to happen. He felt his family’s love for each other and started crying uncontrollably. He tried to tell them he loved them but they couldn’t hear him. Then the beam hit the planet and his family was gone. He fell back in the chair and put his head in his hands. Greyson was connected to Trey telepathically as soon as he sat down and saw the last moments of the Emperor and his family. He recorded it and jumped out of the universe and made twelve rapid jumps into other universes before stopping and waiting. He remained there for two hours while Trey continued to cry.
“Trey, I have a message from your Mother.”
Trey looked up at the display on the wall and saw Dani smiling, “I’ve recorded this knowing that we are going to have to leave you to make sure all our friends survive. We don’t want to leave you alone, my darling boy, but if we don’t, you will die with all the others we’ve moved to safety. We are so proud of who you are and what we know you’ll grow up to be. Please know that we will love you until the end of time and will keep you in our hearts. Grow up and become the one that leads the Empire to safety. I’ve saved some of my very special memories for you to remember us. We love you with all our hearts, little one.”
The recording changed and began playing video after video of Trey growing up with his parents always present loving him. He sighed and felt his tears continue as he watched the display. His sorrow was more than he could endure. Then, another blue flash erupted from him.
Greyson jumped to the new universe and arrived at the jump limit on New Hope. Grace jumped in as soon as he appeared, “Welcome back, It’s good to see you… what happened!?!”
Greyson sent Trey’s vision of what transpired on Bristone and Grace felt something in her break. They didn’t tell her that they were not going to survive because they knew she wouldn’t have allowed them to die, “Oh, Greyson.”
““I know, Grace. I know.”
Trey listened to the two ships and was unable to move. He was too weak to stand and his mind was frozen with the image of the beam hitting Bristone. He was too weak to even raise his head.
“You are not alone in your sorrow, Trey.”
Trey raised his head and thought, “Who are you?”
“Do you remember the love your parents felt for each other at the end?”
Trey took a deep breath, blew it out slowly, “Yes.”
“You are going to be loved with an even greater love than that.”
“I don’t think that’s possible.”
“It is, because I’m the one that will love you that much.”
“Who are you?”
“My name is Cassandra Rose Reese and I am the one you are destined to love for the rest of your life. We were born to be together during this moment in time and I already love you so much. You were given your telepathy so that I can share this moment with you.”
“How do you know this?”
“I’m the one that is going to release you.”
Trey saw her in his mind. He also felt her. He drew strength from her and felt his anguish change from sorrow to anger, “When the time is right, Cassie.”
“I know. Until that time, I will love you with all my heart, I’ll be with you always, and you’ll never be alone.”
Trey thought about what he was going to do next. He started Dani’s message again and after ten minutes he knew what had to be done.
“Timmy, Alex has requested that we bring our Command Team to him as quickly as possible.”
“Did he say why?”
“No, but I know it’s something bad.”
“Notify Carter, Grang, Jingo, and Mallory. I’ll get Kreej to notify the Zord.”
Virze opened her communication panel and felt fear. Alex was demanding their presence. That had never happened before.
Timmy looked around at the leaders of the Empire. Most of them had brought their mates with them and everyone was greeting each other with hugs and handshakes. He saw sixteen year old TK teleport in with Malah and wondered why she was present. She looked at him and sent him a thought, “Grace sent word that I should be present.” Timmy shrugged and turned to give Mallory Valrico a hug.
Alex announced over the wall speakers, “I thank all of you for coming on such short notice but I have sad news to give you and I wanted to do it with all of you together. I wish there was an easy way to say this but there isn’t. All of the civilized planets in our former universe have been destroyed by the Invaders. Every one of them was burned to their bed rock; there were no survivors.”
Grang yelled, “What about Scotty and Julie?”
There was a long silence and Alex said, “They, along with Robby and Dani, sacrificed themselves to insure that we would not be found.”
Grang yelled, “NOOOOOOOO!”
Geena wrapped him in her arms as he fell to his knees.
Nathan grabbed Mallory as she wailed her grief. Jingo ran over with Tesa and wrapped TK in his arms. Carter and Jenna felt their tears and didn’t care who saw them.
Vring fell to all fours and screamed, “Why?”
Alex continued, “They died to save your lives.” Alex gave the group time to grasp what had happened and said, “I’m going to share with you the psychic vision that Dani and Robby had eight years ago. All of you know the power of a psychic vision and please think about what they knew.”
Everyone saw the destruction of Bristone as Anglo gave the warning a moment before the beam struck. They saw Robby look up at the stars just before the planet exploded. They then saw millions of planets being burned.
Alex said, “Nothing, and I do mean nothing, could have prevented this and if we tried, they sensed that the damage that followed would have been even more catastrophic.”
Timmy shook his head, “What could have been worse?”
“The destruction of our old universe would have happened anyway and we would have died with it. Robby and Dani told me four years ago that they were going to activate their armor and teleport away before the beam hit. They were not being honest when they told me that. Greyson is now going to share their conversation with Emperor Robbins and Juliette just before the Invaders attacked.”
Grang was on his knees; his mind was numb. His anguish was beyond belief.
Everyone heard Robby tell Scotty and Julie that if they tried to escape, all of those in the new universe would be killed. There just wasn’t enough time to escape without being seen by the Invaders. As they listened to Robby, the gathering felt the Robbins’s love for each other and felt anguish and loss for the family that was brave enough to make their sacrifice. Everyone also felt the love of the four and was touched to their core at what they witnessed.
“Robby and Dani knew they were not going to survive but chose to die for us to live.”
TK was weeping with Jingo and neither of them could stop their tears.
Alex continued, “There’s more. The Robbins knew if they escaped, it would cause the being that created the Invaders to come to our former universe; if that happened, it would lead to the destruction of the three galaxies of the Stars Realm. It could not see those galaxies in its scans but if it physically came there it would see the reflections and turn its attention to them. They did what they knew must be done to give us the necessary time to develop the weapons we’ll need to make those evil creatures pay for their crimes. The price was unimaginable, but they saw it had to be paid and were courageous enough to do it.”
Suddenly TK raised her head and yelled, “Trey! What about Trey!?!”
Grace said over the speakers, “He’s with Greyson. Robby put him in a psychic bubble and teleported him out before the attack.”
Mallory was in Nathan’s arms crying, “I’ve lost my baby.”
Nathan stroked her hair, “She was a warrior and she lived and died keeping her faith. She will be immortal in this Empire. I’m heartbroken at losing her but I love her for having the courage, your courage, to do what she knew had to be done. She had your heart at birth.”
Mallory continued to cry but Nathan’s words moved her. She felt her Daughter’s love at the end and knew that Dani was at peace with her decision. She knew that she would have to support her choice and remember all the wonderful, happy moments they shared. She dried her eyes and stood straight. Now was the time to be brave; she owed that much to her Daughter.
Timmy felt his pain but looked at Vring, “How many Zord are here with us?”
Vring gathered his thoughts and said, “All thirty thousand Flyers are here with their riders. We were ordered here by Robby to receive an upgrade to our armor. Now I know why.”
Timmy shook his head and Vring continued, “Bleath ordered the mates and children of the Flyers to go with them on this journey. I think he somehow sensed what was going to happen. We were once down to only nine thousand on El Prado; my species will survive this loss and we will avenge ourselves. This year’s nesting will triple our number.”
Mallory said, “The Western Continent on New Hope is not settled and is mostly forested. Your family may have it for your home or until you find a place of your own.”
Vring looked at Mallory and bowed, “Thank you, Mother of our Savior. We will go there now.”
Mallory was startled at what Vring said but realized that all the others died on Bristone. Mallory was given the Zord’s protection from that moment until she died. They honored her as much as they honored White Hair. Vring became the ruler of the Zord and he named Kreej as his successor.
Timmy held Virze, “We need to tell the Empire what’s happened.”
Virze nodded, “Get with Alex to put the announcement together and have him make the broadcast. You should do that now before we leave and schedule it three days from now so we can be prepared to handle the fallout from what happened.”
“You’re right. I need you there with me.”
“I’ll always be with you.” Virze looked at Timmy and saw something was bothering him, “What’s on your mind?”
“I’ve always wondered why Scotty made me his successor and not Robby. I think this was a part of his decision and, without psychic abilities, he never really knew why.”
“Why is that important?”
“There are forces operating here that are unimaginable. Robby and Dani couldn’t be his successor because that force knew they were going to die with them. Now, I understand.”
Virze thought about Timmy’s comment and worried about whether the Empire was a pawn to be sacrificed in the game or a major piece. Only time would tell but the industrial planets were safe. That must mean something.
Timmy looked at Virze, “That piece of information gives me hope that we have a chance. It also answers a question I’ve been struggling with.”
“What is that?”
“Who is going to be my successor? Now, I know.”
Virze was puzzled, “It’s not going to be Junior?”
Timmy took a deep breath and said, “I know what Scotty felt when he named me his successor because I feel it now. I know who has to be chosen; Trey will be my successor.”
Virze thought about his decision and said, “I’ve also wondered why Scotty didn’t name a psychic to follow him. Now we know the answer to that question and your choice is obvious. Trey is a second generation psychic and his abilities will eclipse his parent’s. It makes sense. When are you going to tell him?”
“I’m not.” Virze did a double take and Timmy said, “He’ll tell me when the time is right.”
Virze looked across the floor at TK, “I suspect you’re right. I suspect TK will have a message to the Invaders as well.”
Timmy looked at TK and nodded, “I suspect she will.”
The two Algeans were in a corner of the hall listening to what Alex said. Weed looked at Seed, “I feel I’ve betrayed our principles in causing this event.”
Seed leaned back, “There was a psychic vision that foretold this happening. You were caught up in the forces here and did not have any freedom to change it. If you didn’t spread those spores, everything would have been destroyed. However, our loyalties may be misplaced.”
“What do you mean?”
“Which of the two actually holds to the principles we follow; the Stars Realm or this Empire? I’m beginning to think that this small Empire is stronger in those beliefs than the old Realm. Do you see it differently?”
Weed thought a moment, “No, I don’t.”
“There’s one other thing to consider, my love.”
“What?”
“The destruction of the other universe only left those worlds behind that hold to those principles. It weeded out all of those that weren’t totally committed.”
Weed thought about that, “This core is something that is going to become wonderful to behold if it’s given time to grow. The deaths that just happened will unify them as nothing else ever would. Are you willing to commit to it, even over the former Realm?”
Seed hesitated, “The former Realm is where our species live.”
“Yes, but they were willing to leave it behind when they did not follow its principles. This Empire will not lose their way. I can see it.”
Seed thought about Weeds words for three minutes which was an incredible amount of time for an Algean. “You know that if we give our oath to this Empire it may come down to a choice of survival between our species and this Empire.”
“Yes, but look at what would arise from that choice.”
Weed looked at those gathered and said, “The birth of a new force following the higher principles would pay for all the worlds we once killed. It would save more than we ever destroyed.”
Seed leaned forward, “All of us would gladly die to make that repentance happen.”
Weed took one of Seed’s branches in his and said, “We should talk with the Emperor.”
Seed shared her smile, “Yes, we should.”
They walked over and began talking with Timmy and Virze.
The worlds of the Empire received the devastating news with shock and anger. It took time but they eventually came to understand the power of a psychic vision and their sorrow turned to rage. The adoration the worlds felt for the former Royal Couple grew and a memorial was built to honor Scotty and Juliette on New Hope. The first two to receive a marker at the site were Robby and Dani Robbins. The numbers of visitors to the site were enormous and flowers were placed there to remember the family that died for the Empire’s survival. All the cadets that graduated from the new Robbins Naval Academy came to the site to give their oaths. The Stars Realm had its Colony Park; the Bristone Empire had its Robbins Memorial. On each side of the Monument, a huge statue of Bleath beside Scotty and Zreeg beside Julie were carved. They were at their full twenty five feet height overlooking the Royal Couple. Vring and the Zord christened the park as holy ground for their species and once again affirmed their oath to protect White Hair’s creation.
Two weeks after the deaths Jingo received a thought, “Jingo, I need you to meet me at Grang’s home.”
“Trey, now is not a good time.”
“Jingo, this is not a request. I ask you to do it with my Grandfather’s love. Meet me there in an hour.”
Tesa heard Trey, “You should go.”
Jingo took a deep breath and released it slowly, “I’ll see you there.”
Jingo arrived at Grang’s house and was announced by the sensor. Geena came to the door and Jingo saw her sadness, “Jingo, now is not a good time.”
“I know, but Trey has asked me to meet him here.”
Geena narrowed her eyes, “Why?”
“I don’t know.” He paused and looked at Geena, “I just don’t know.”
Geena saw Jingo’s anguish and put her arms around him, “There’s so much pain. I believe I’ve lost Grang.”
“I understand why, Geena.”
Geena looked at Jingo, “I believe you do.”
Trey suddenly appeared just in front of the house and walked up, “I need to speak with you and Grang, Jingo.”
“Can’t it wait?”
“No, it can’t!” The seven year old looked at Geena and she saw raw determination in his eyes, “Take me to Grang now!”
Geena shook her head, “I don’t know if he’ll hear you.” Trey just stared at her. Geena shrugged and opened the door for them to follow her inside. She led them to a backroom and they saw Grang sitting in a chair staring out of a window at the Robbins Memorial on the hill next to the Capital. Jingo saw Grang and felt his misery return. He was feeling just as lost as the huge Magrum. Trey walked in front of Grang and said, “Your time for weakness is over. I’m ashamed at how you have chosen to dishonor the memory of my family. That ends today.”
Jingo looked at Trey and saw something in the seven year old that just didn’t seem to fit. His anger was real and he felt no pity for either him or Grang.
Grang bought his eyes to Trey and he saw the misery on Grang’s face. Trey said, “I’m going to share my Grandfather’s last thoughts with you and you will listen to them.”
Grang said, “I wasn’t there. I should have been there.”
“Are you that dense? He would have never allowed you to stay. My father would have made absolutely certain that you and Jingo were not there. He knew how important you are to preserving his vision. Here’s why.” Trey sent his vision and they saw the four Robbins on Bristone.
They heard Robby say to Dani, “How can we not face what this universe is going to have done to it?” Robby looked at his parents and said, “I’m so sorry. I’ve wanted to tell you so many times.”
Scotty looked at him with a smile, “I’m so proud that you had the strength to do the right thing. I’ve often wondered what possessed me to step away from the crown but now I know.” Scotty looked at Julie, “These last years with you have filled me with enough love to last a lifetime. This was a gift from the Creator.” Julie came into his embrace and they looked up at the stars in the clear night sky. Scotty smiled, “I’m not going to get to say good bye to Jingo and Grang. I hope they know how much I love them. The Empire is really going to need them now.”
Julie nodded, “They know, my love. I’m glad TK is on New Hope. She’ll be taken care of by those that love us.” Julie hugged her warrior tighter, “I’ll love you forever, Scotty.”
Grang and Jingo not only saw the vision but felt it from the first hand view Trey had witnessed. The both felt their pain again but Trey exploded into their consciousness.
“Now the two of you sit here in your sorrow and ignore the last order my Grandfather gave you. Did you not hear him say that the Empire is going to need the two of you more now than before; yet you sit here and ignore his final request.” Trey walked up close to Grang and grabbed his chin and made him look in his eyes, “I’ve lost my family. They’re all gone. Do you know what I’m going to do about it?” Grang didn’t say anything. “I’m going to grow up and go and kill those that killed my parents. I’m not going to just beam that being that sent the Invaders; I’m going to put my boot on its chest and cut it into pieces with a short sword. Those bastards are going to die and I’m the one that’s going to kill them. I’m shocked that you don’t want to beat me to that moment.”
Grang saw the rage and listened to Robby’s Grand son’s anger at him.
Trey released Grang’s chin and looked at Jingo, “However, I don’t know enough to make my dream come true. The two of you are going to prepare me.”
Grang said, “What do you mean?”
“You two are the Empire’s greatest warriors and you are going to raise me to be the warrior I need to be. You are now my family. Do you understand!?!” Grang straighten up. “Do you!?!”
Grang looked at Jingo and saw him starting to get angry. Grang felt Trey’s rage at the Invaders and he felt it grow in him quickly until his anger took him. He stood and screamed at the ceiling and stuck out his hand to Trey, “You will have to be fast to kill it before I do. I will have its heart still beating in my hand.”
Jingo came over and put his hand on Grang’s shoulder, “You can have it after I cut off its limbs.”
Trey looked at Jingo, “You are the greatest tactician in the Empire.” He turned to Grang, “You are the best at using all our weapons. You will teach me to be as good as you. I’ll accept nothing less than your best effort. Do we have a deal?”
Geena watched the three and saw Grang come back alive. Her heart filled with joy as she saw her mate back in the land of the living once more. Grang looked at Jingo and they both put their arms around Trey and hugged each other. Grang said in a low tone as all three looked up, “We will honor your order, my Brother.”
Cassie watched the three from her room and was amazed at Trey’s determination. Her excitement grew as she knew they would be together in time and he was going to be more powerful than anyone could imagine. What she didn’t tell Trey was that she was also going to be released. She felt the power inside her and knew that the two of them would be formidable. She just had to force herself to be patient. She had much to learn from her father to prepare her for the level of control she would need to use the powers given her. She felt changes in her thought processes from the mental contact with her father and knew he was a unique being that was a gift from the Creative Force.