Canto Forty-Three – On the Moon Gundahl
The massive space cruiser set itself down on the ruined tarmac of the moon base. Only Farbick and Starbright were there to meet it. After all, the two Galtorrian overlords were still penned inside a force-field and all the young lizard-children were still soundly sleeping off a full meal.
The cruiser was heavily armed and had cannons sticking out in all directions like spines on a sea urchin. It had some battle damage on it, but obviously gave far worse than it had received. In fact, Stabharh had said that this was probably the same warship that had damaged the moon base to such a degree that chunks were missing from the moon.
“Can they really be as terrible as Stabharh says?” asked Starbright.
“I suppose he would know better than I,” said Farbick. “He says this Senator Tedhkruhz led an army across all the continents of Galtorr Prime and murdered two thirds of the population of the entire planet.”
Starbright shivered. Farbick put a comforting arm around her shoulders. There was definitely something to be said in favor of the Earther way of showing love through physical contact. Tellerons had been too cold and distant from each other for too long. Starbright leaned into the hug in response.
The entry ramp of the cruiser came down, and some of the crew appeared at the top of the ramp. There were Galtorrian soldiers armed with slug-throwers akin to what Earthers called assault rifles. There were also clunky metal robots that looked a lot like trash cans with a pair of legs. Two lines of soldiers and robots formed on each side of the ramp. Then, decked out in a purple velvet suit, the Senator himself appeared. Farbick couldn’t help but notice that the Galtorrian Senator had a smiling face that resembled Grandpa Munster from the television show The Munsters of the 1960’s on Earther TV. Grandpa Munster with no hair and a smiling face covered in green scales, but definitely Grandpa Munster.
“Where is Bahbahr?” asked the Senator in a loudly-projected voice. Farbick couldn’t tell if he was using some kind of unseen microphone device, or his voice was actually that capable of booming. “I know that the Galtorrian criminal I seek is here somewhere!”
“What will you do with him if you have him?” asked Farbick.
“He will get what he deserves… his just deserts are to be dessert. We will cook him and eat him. My soldiers are hungry.”
“If we give him to you, will you give us this base and leave?” It was worth trying.
“Of course not. We will take and eat all of you. You can’t really believe you can prevent that from happening, can you?”
“There are four of us. My companion and I have captured the scoundrel and his warrior.”
“Ha! That is rich. Tellerons who happened to catch the big and mighty lord of merchants! And is his warrior toothless little Stabharh?”
“He is.” Farbick hoped the children were well enough hidden that this cruel cannibal would never find them. He had disabled all the Telleron tech except the force field that held the two lizard-men, so there was no chance that Grandpa Munster would be able to use the devices against anyone.
“You are going to have to accept the inevitable, Mr. Telleron,” said Tedhkruhz. “Surrender now and you won’t be subjected to pain and torture. We will make it easier on you.”
“Will you take us away from this place? Or will you stay here?”
“Why-ever would anyone want to stay in a place like this? I blew chunks out of this moon before. It’s in pieces now. Not a very nice place to be.”
“You have a better place?”
“Well, no… but I own several other installations that are at least partially whole. We will be able to make something work. Some of us are destined to rule and be the lords of this planet. I have the power to be the last one standing, and I think that is pretty great.”
Starbright and Farbick just held up their hands and surrendered. What else could Farbick do? At least, Biznap and the other Tellerons would find this place where they could take up residence and possibly survive as a people.
*****
