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Alarina moved into the room. She sat in the chair by the table.
“Do you want a drink?” Cindy offered.
“Yes,” Alarina said. Her faced looked flushed and a little tired. “I tried to contact anybody through my communications. But whoever locked me in my room stopped any connections to the outside.”
Cindy said, “We will find out about this later. I think somebody is trying to lead us into a trap. I want to know what the Illuminati thought about the satellites and the barrier.”
Alarina nodded her head. “I was headed to your room to tell you not to go into space and try to fix the satellites. Krump knew the U.N. wanted you to go out there. It’s a fool's errand.”
Royce said, “I knew it. I could tell. They wanted us to go out there. I was only a soldier for a short while but I knew military generals and commanders don’t like to fight a losing battle unless he was ordered. And would not commit his troops unless he knew he would win or had no choice. I think the Vvong had overrun the earth and the U.N. is desperate.”
“We should not give in to their hysteria. We need another plan of attack,” Cindy said.
Alarina said, “Krump had an idea. But he wants us to leave here to our home base.”
A knock was at the door. A soldier stood at the doorway. It was a man this time who look as young as a teenager. Cindy felt sad seeing this young soldier who might not live to have a family.
The soldier said, “The General asked for the Alpha Mages attendance.”
“Yes,” Cindy said. Royce and Grace followed her out of the room. She turned back to Professor Jacobs and Della. They knew what she was thinking.
***
CINDY AND THE ALPHA mages were staring at a large screen. It showed the General face as large as a small house in the front.
General Graves said, “I know of your hesitance in joining us. So, we already launched our ships into space. I’m calling you from a battleship.”
Cindy heard the sounds of several hundreds of ships lifting into the air.
General Graves said, “It is not too late. We have a ship waiting for you.”
“General,” Cindy said in a whisper, “I think this is a trap. The Vvong are smarter than you think.”
“So, you answer is no,” General Graves said.
“This is correct. I would have told you no in the first place,” Cindy said, “I don’t understand your hurry.
General Graves said, “We have lost most of Europe and the Russian Red states. The new U. S. is the only free place. We cannot wait for your friend to find a magical sword that may or may not be real. I have my orders.”
Cindy said, “General, I think you should stop this mission and get our troops ready down on earth.”
“No, we have total commitment.” He turned away.
She heard Marlena’s voice. It came from the communicator Marlena gave her.
Captain Marlena said, “Cindy, what’s happening? We see hundreds of ships entering space.”
Cindy said, “I will tell you soon. Don’t go yet. Stay where you are.”
General Graves said, “Ok, Alpha Mages, watch from the safety of my base.”
Then his face disappeared from the large screen. It was replaced with a picture of his ship entering earths outer atmosphere. On the large screen, it showed a vast armada of ships and larger ships.
Cindy took out Marlena’s communicator.
She said, “Captain Marlena, are you there?”
“Yes, tell me what’s happening?”
“Earth’s forces are trying to fix their satellites which would create a barrier around the world. But I told them it is a trap,” Cindy said.
Captain Marlena was quiet for a few seconds and then said, “Yes, we need to stop them. They will be slaughtered up there.”
“It is done. They will not listen to me,” Cindy said. “But I will need your help later. We will be leaving here.”
“Sure, I will help you. Call me when you’re ready.”
Cindy placed the small round communicator back into her shirt. It was small enough for her not to notice it. She touched Merlin’s Amulet. It seemed to get warmer.
Royce said, “Look at the screen.”
She saw in the middle screen which showed the General ship entering space and a view of hundreds of Vvong ships waiting for them. Earth’s fleet didn't have a chance. Cindy’s first instinct was to run toward the ship awaiting them and fly up there to help them. But Royce placed a hand on her shoulder.
He said, “There is nothing we can do.”
A swarm of Vvong small ship came straight at the General’s ship. Red scarlet lights lit up inkiness of space. Explosion was shown all over them. The last thing Cindy saw before the transmission was cut off was a group of red lights shooting lasers at the General’s ship. The transmission was cut off and all the screens went blank.
Cindy said, “Let’s go. We will get Alarina and the others.”
“How are we going to get out of here?” Grace said.
“We will hitch a ride on Marlena’s ship. I think in the confusion, they will not notice that we left.”
They ran out of the building and moved to her quarters. Soldiers and pilots were running around on the base. There was not many pilots left Cindy noticed. They got to her room and opened the door. Nobody was inside.
“What?” Cindy said.
She heard the sound of footsteps moving behind her. She turned and saw a group of soldiers holding guns pointing at them. Commander Wellstone stood there.
“We cannot let you leave.”
Behind the soldiers was Alarina, the Professor and Della.
Cindy said, “Why? We’re not your prisoners. We can leave anytime.”
She suddenly saw something that flashed through the soldiers. They started to change into monstrous Vvong creatures.
Commander Wellstone said, “You understand now. The Queen Vvong will come here and destroy your world and take all your magic.”
The soldiers started to shoot at them. Cindy held up her hand and created a magical barrier. The bullets didn't touch them. The projectiles exploded in front of them like fireworks. She felt Grace bring up her magic. The ground exploded upwards were the soldiers were standing. They fell away.
Royce crouched to the ground and transformed into an Alpha Grog. He growled, “Cindy let me through.”
“Go.”
She let down her magical barrier. Royce jumped into the first soldier and ripped him apart. Cindy threw a blast of water and it hit each of the soldiers and Commander Wellstone in the chest.
