TIME : August 4, 2008 1:29 P.M. (13:29)
PLACE : Altair 7
When the Ruler found out that X was not only alive but also the new leader of M.W.G.D. he was enraged. He was going to have to work twice as hard to take over any more planets. Even Yot was afraid to get anywhere near the Ruler when reporting a setback in his plans.
"Get out of my sight!" the Ruler yelled at Yot after he had reported their failure on Mars. "And don't come back until you have done something successful."
Yot knew that the Ruler meant what he said, so he didn't plan on coming back any time in the near future. The Ruler was determine to beat X even if it took him the rest of his life to do it.
"Someday, I'll get my revenge!" he swore to anyone who could hear him. "X will pay for all the trouble he has caused me and it won't be a pleasant sight to see."
TIME : 1:30 P.M.
PLACE : The Aries 1
For the first time since the battle, Shawn had a chance to look at his old spacecraft. Remarkably, it remained undamaged. Like the Earth, the Ruler didn't consider it a worthy target. Shawn went inside and saw that the Aries 1 was in even better shape than it had been when it was launched seven years before.
Rynn came over to join him. He too had been promoted and was going to be commander of the M.W.G.D. base on his home planet, Lougrah. It was probably the last time they would get to see each other for several years.
"What are you thinking about?" Rynn wondered.
"I just miss Earth," answered Shawn. "I have been through quite a lot recently and I wonder what has happened on Earth the last seven years."
"I miss my home planet too," Rynn confessed. "That's why I'm looking forward to returning home. I will miss you and Gary and all my other friends here, but I am looking forward. to my new command."
"Me too," Shawn agreed. "I just wish I could visit Earth without putting them in jeopardy. It seems so unfair."
"Your planet is advancing rapidly," stated Rynn. "Others will come to join you and Gary. X and I have had a feeling about Earth for a long time. It is Earth that will one day shape the future of the galaxy."
Rynn was right in at least one respect. Another ship from Earth landed on Mars and got tangled up in the Ruler's affairs and all of them had to work hard for survival on Mars.
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