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Duke Grendel talked into his comm. “Captain Shirel have your ships destroy the creatures on our shields or we will be destroyed.”
Captain Shirel said, “Yes.”
Duke Grendel saw their smaller jet fighters engaged the Vvong creatures.
“Duke Grendel,” Captain Shirel said, “Some ships of the Vvong fleet is heading back our way.”
Duke Grendel said, “Contact General Romo, we have a fight on our hands. Let's move to intercept the battleships. Electrify our shields and get rid of the Vvong smaller vessels.”
On the front screen, he saw the Vvong vessels explode before them.
The communication officer said, “Duke Grendel, General Romo is on the line.”
“Good,” he said, “General Romo move into attack position Delta.”
“Yes,” General Romo said, “Good luck on the fight.”
Duke Grendel knew his attack fleet was going to be on the attack V position and behind him with be General Romo his fleet also in the attack V position.
The first Vvong battle ship came toward them.
“How is our shields?” he said.
“Not too bad,” Captain Shirel said.
“Get the jet squadrons behind us. Connect our shields together and wait until I give the command to fire our magical ion cannon.”
The Vvong ships didn't release their smaller fighter planes like usual. The lead ship instead rush ahead and started to shoot their large guns at them. It hit their combined shields, but it didn't strike them. When the ships next to them connected their power, it gave all of them a boost to their defenses.
Duke Grendel said, “Shoot the ion canon at the large battle ship in the middle.”
The ion cannon was already preparing to fire. The cannon was on his ship and they felt the cannon fire shoot. The missile shot forward and hit the enemy ship on the front of the hull. The cannon fire knocked out the Vvong's shields.
Duke Grendel said, “Fire at will at the large ship. And get the ion cannon to shoot at the next ship on line.”
***
LAZARUS MOVED A FEW feet back to Cindy and the other Alpha Mages. Morgana started to float backwards away from them and the Vvong creatures behind her started to move fast closer to them.
Lazarus said, “Royce watch our back. Cindy and Grace watch our flanks.”
The first large Vvong creature lumbered toward them. Lazarus waited until the creature was almost on top of him and he created a large fireball and threw it at the beast. The spell struck the creature and burnt it to small pieces. The fireball kept moving and broke into extra fire balls hitting the other creatures behind it. The heat was intense.
Flying Vvong creatures flew toward them from the sky. Lazarus was not ready. He instantly threw up a magical shield, but the creatures exploded. Looking upwards, he saw Captain Marlena’s ship swooping down and shooting at the enemy coming to them. Vvong ships started to stream down from the clouds.
Lazarus held up his hands, and the clouds started to gather around them. The sound of thunder boomed. Lightning shot all around them hitting all the enemy monsters. He felt his power gathering around him. They were doing great. Then on the hills he saw groups of Vvong insectile creatures running to them like a locust of monsters.
Royce growled behind him and changed into an Alpha Grog. Fireballs shot from his mouth destroying the enemy moving toward them. Lazarus smiled. Cindy next to him unleashed a large tidal wave at the coming creatures. Grace created large boulders and flung them at the insectile Vvong, smashing them into green blood and gore. They were winning. He knew it
“Stop!” The Queen Vvong said.
Everything slowed and changed. The Vvong creatures stopped attacking.
***
“ROYCE, WAKE UP,” A voice said to him. “It is time for your award ceremony.”
“What?” Royce said. He was laying in a large plush king size bed. Next to him was several naked women. The person who was speaking to him was a young man dressed in uniform.
“Colonel Daggers, your dad is going to present to you the Purple Heart,” the young man said.
Royce shook his head. This cannot be real. He was not a soldier anymore, much less a Colonel. Staring at the beautiful women next to him, he sighed and moved out of the bed. He looked around.
Royce said, “Tell me your name.”
“My name is Private Dan Jones. I’m your private secretary. You don’t remember?”
Royce shook his head. He could only remember fighting against the Vvong creatures. And Morgana, the Queen, moved closer to them. Moving forward toward his closet, he saw pictures on a shelf. It showed him as a soldier and also showing him receiving medals. This cannot be. He was a lousy soldier and was not sure what was happening.
His phone rang. Private Dan picked up the handle and talked into the receiver.
Private Dan said, “It’s your dad.” He handed him the phone. Royce was hardly dressed. He only wore boxers. The beautiful women on his bed were still asleep.
“Hello,” he said tentatively.
“Colonel Daggers, I’m so proud of you. You destroyed the last group of terrorists in the Middle East. It was you and your crew who killed them all.”
Royce looked at the phone handle as if it was an alien claw. He was not sure what he heard.
“Terrorist?” He said. The word sounded odd.
“Yes, son. The President is going to be at the ceremony. I’ll going to present you with the award. Now get ready. You must have a late night.”
“Yes,” Royce said. He hung up the phone. Looking at Private Dan, he said, “where’s my clothes?”
“Right here. I can get you dressed.”
“No, I want to go outside. I need to get some air.”
Royce grabbed the closest thing he could fine. He saw a white terry-cloth robe. Scanning the room, he walked out toward the hallway. He encountered a large living room with a vaulted ceiling, a large screen TV and several leather couches. He looked for an exit. His breath was shallow, and he felt like he was going to scream. He was not supposed to be here.
Opening a double door patio glass slider, he moved into a paved long patio. He smelt cool air and the sound of the ocean waves pounding against the shore. He stared up at the sky. Sea gulls flew in the winds currents.
Royce had everything he had ever wanted. He wanted to be a hero. He wanted to have his dad’s approval. Yet, this was all wrong. His mind was screaming for him to get back to the Alpha Mages.
Then he saw her. She was a beautiful woman walking barefoot along the wet glistening cut grass. It was Morgana.
She moved close to him and said, “Royce, you can have all this. You need to choose which side you want to belong too. You need Lazarus to help me.”
