Exhausted from all they’d been through, Will and Debra collapsed on the couch when they returned to their room. Will looked over at Debra, “Isn’t this what we were doing when everything started?”

She nodded. “Hard to believe it was less than a day ago.”

“Yeah,” agreed Will as he stretched and yawned. As tired as he was, there was something he was curious about. “So how did you get to Commander Stelia’s ship? Gwen told me she’d agreed to give you up.”

“I suppose that’s one way to describe ejecting someone out of an airlock,” answered Debra angrily.

“What!” cried Will, sitting up and nearly knocking her to the floor.

“After they took me from the room Gwen ordered me to put on my helmet,” recounted Debra, her anger not diminished. “When I refused, the guard shot me and the next thing I knew, I was waking up on the floor of Commander Stelia’s ship. She told me what’d happened.”

Will sat there quietly fuming for several minutes. Finally he looked over at Debra. “I’m sorry, but I had no idea what’d happened to you. For all I knew, Gwen might have put you on another ship or …” His voice faded away.

Debra put her hands on Will’s shoulders and turned him to face her. “What matters is that we’re here now. We can still stop whatever Grandle’s planning.”

“I know you’re right, but nothing we’ve tried so far has worked,” declared Will, frustration in his voice.

“Then we try something else,” argued Debra. “Just know I plan on being there with you every step of the way.”

Will smiled. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Debra got up. “We’ve got a banquet to attend in less than two hours. I know I need a bath.” She took a sniff of Will. “And I’m certain you could too.”

Grabbing a robe from the closet, Debra smiled and headed into the bathroom.

Will leaned his head back and closed his eyes thinking about everything that’d happened since he and Debra left Earth. They’d done a lot of good such as stopping the invasion of Celentus and destroying Grandle’s secret base in the Audril system, but that hadn’t stopped him. He’d even been able to threaten Celentus again.

Sitting there, King Raphul’s words came to mind. “Where doing the right thing is concerned, no risk is too great.” Up to now there was one risk Will hadn’t been willing to take; returning to Earth to directly confront Grandle. Just getting back on Earth without being detected would be hard enough, but then they’d have to get past Grandle’s security. Even so, it seemed to be the only option left.

“Will,” called Debra interrupting his thoughts. He opened his eyes and saw her standing there with her robe wrapped around her. “I’m all done.”

“Thanks,” he said getting up and grabbing some clothes from the closet before heading to the bathroom to wash up. Even as he washed and dressed, his mind continued trying to come up with a way to get to Grandle, but with no success.

Coming out of the bathroom, he saw that Debra had put on a dark green dress which although not tight, still complimented her figure. She gave a slight twirl. “What do you think?”

“Beautiful,” answered Will.

“Why thank you,” she answered sweetly. She stopped and looked at him and gave a chuckle. “Come here.” As he reached her, she pulled his shirt out of his pants and began unbuttoning it.

“What are you doing?” he asked with surprise.

“Fixing your shirt,” she answered with a smile. “You got the buttons messed up.”

Looking down, Will saw she was right as there was an extra buttonhole at the top of the shirt. Once the buttons were all undone, she started buttoning them correcting.

“Thanks,” he said as he tucked his shirt back in.

There was a knock at the door and Will went over and opened it. A young female officer stood there and saluted. “Good evening,” Captain Power. “I’m Captain Dulve and I’ve been sent to escort you and Miss Debra to the banquet.”

Debra walked over and Will took her arm. “We’re all set,” he told the captain. She led them downstairs to the great hall which was richly decorated for the occasion. Brightly colors banners hung from the walls and each table had different types of floral arraignments as center pieces.

Most of the tables were already full with many of the same people who’d attended Will and Debra’s citizenship ceremony. Up at the front of the hall was a raised table where the King, Princess Cintrel, Commander Stelia, and Admiral Zelen were seated with the two Lentlian captains. Captain Dulve brought Will and Debra to the head table where they were seated by the King.

King Raphul stood up and the room grew silent with all eyes on him. “They say that when things are darkest is when true friends are revealed. Tonight we celebrate true friends who risked their lives for our world.” The King spoke for a while longer extoling the virtues of Will and Debra along with those of Captains Krentl and Prustr.

When he’d finished platters of Celentus’ finest delicacies were served. Having not eaten since the previous day, Will and Debra happily dug into the delicious food. After the meal finished, all the guests mingled and Will, Debra, Commander Stelia, and the two Lentlian captains spent much of the evening recounting the events surrounding Will and Debra’s rescue.

Will was glad to let others tell the tale because he was still preoccupied with figuring how to get to Grandle. Several times Debra had to nudge him when someone had spoken to him.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

When the banquet finished, Will and Debra headed back to their room. As soon as the door closed behind them, she confronted him. “Okay, what’s going on?”

He sat down on the couch. “I think the only way we’re going to stop Grandle is return to Earth and deal with him in person,” he explained in a sober tone. “I’ve been trying to figure out a way to do that.”

“Do you plan on killing him?”

Will shook his head. “I hope not, but it may come to that.”

“So what have you got so far?” asked Debra sitting down beside him.

“Not much,” answered Will. “The service entrances have less security so that might be a way to get into the capital building, but I haven’t even been able to figure a way to get back on Earth yet.”

Debra sat back and thought for a moment. “I might have a way,” she said.

“What is it?”

“You remember the pirate crew I used to be a part of?”

“Yeah, you said they went straight and opened a store and are doing quite well.”

Debra smiled. “Well they didn’t go entirely straight. Oh, their store is legitimate, but it does provide them a cover for doing a little smuggling on the side.”

Will smiled. “Do you think they could smuggle a couple of people to Earth?”

Debra thought for a moment. “Don’t know. Unfortunately, I doubt they’d discuss anything like this over the radio. We’ll have to talk to them in person.”

Will was quiet. “Nothing personal, but the last time we dealt with one of your former associates, they double-crossed you. Can you trust these guys?”

“Hey, I lived and fought with these guys for almost two years. Plus, I saved their lives a couple of times,” she explained. “I think we can trust them.”

“Wait,” said Will. “I thought you said they only attacked easy targets so how’d you save their lives?”

She smiled. “I told you those business meetings could get heated. Had to break things up a few times.”

Will laughed. “Okay then. You said they’re located on Preltis Three, right?”

“Yep.”

Will nodded. “In that case, let’s see about borrowing a ship tomorrow and visiting your old comrades.”

“Good,” said Debra getting up. “Now don’t turn around while I’m changing.”

Will sat there staring straight ahead as he heard the closet door open and the sounds of clothing being removed and put on. At last she walked back around the couch wearing an open robe which revealed a white nightgown underneath. Will did his best not to stare, but couldn’t help himself.

Debra smiled. “I’m glad you like it. Now you go get changed and let’s get to bed.”

Will went to the closet and grabbed a robe before heading to the bathroom to change. “Overgrown boy scout,” yawned Debra as she took off her robe and headed to the bed.

Debra was already asleep by the time Will came out of the bathroom. Climbing into bed he was soon asleep as well. Except for getting kicked in the side by a sleeping Debra several times over the course of the night, he slept well.

After breakfast in their room the next morning, Will and Debra went looking for King Raphul. They found him in a large office not far from the great hall. Will and Debra were escorted to the King by his secretary. He sat at a large desk alternating going through papers and typing at a computer.

Seeing Will and Debra, a smile came to his face. “Captain Power and Debra, it’s so good to see you.”

“Thank you, your Majesty,” answered Debra remembering not to bow.

“I hope we’re not disturbing you,” said Will.

“Not at all,” replied the King. “Any break from all this paperwork is always welcome. What can I do for you?”

“We’d like to borrow a ship,” declared Will.

“Of course,” answered the King. “Might I ask why?”

Will and Debra looked at one another. “There’s some information we need to check out,” explained Will in a tentative voice.

The King nodded knowingly and pressed a button. “Admiral Zelen, have someone escort Captain Power and Miss Debra to the landing field so they can choose a ship for their use.”

“Yes, your Majesty.”

Within an hour, they were in a hanger with Commander Stelia walking along a line of light cruisers. Each was about seventy feet long and thirty feet wide with short wings and a tail fin. “From what you’ve told me, these ships should suit your purposes,” explained Commander Stelia. “They’re fast and have excellent offensive and defensive capabilities.”

Will stopped in from of one of the ships which appeared older than the others. There were marks on the skin showing it’d been in battle. “Let’s take this one for a spin,” said Will.

“There are newer ships,” suggested the commander.

“True,” replied Will, “but I prefer a ship that’s had some experience.”

Climbing aboard, Will soon had them in space and was putting the ship through its paces. He had it swerving, spinning, and zooming around the planet, a wide smile on his face.

“Does he always fly like this?” Commander Stelia asked Debra.

“No, he’s actually taking it easy today,” she answered with a smile.

After a while, Will gave a nod. “This will do nicely,” he concluded as he brought them in for a landing.

The rest of the day was spent transferring their belongings to the new ship. Scaffolding surrounded Will’s ship and sparks would be seen where the outer skin was being repaired. However, there were able to get on board and headed to the crew quarters to gather clothes and other items. They hadn’t been down there since it’d lost pressure. Opening the door and climbing down, the found a pile of papers and clothes at one end of the room pressed against large crack in the wall that hadn’t yet been repaired.

Will shook his head and starting picking things up. “Quite a mess.”

As he was doing that, Debra went to her quarters. She grabbed an empty suitcase and began packing her clothes from the closet. On the floor of the closet were two more suitcases, but those weren’t empty. They contained the money paid to them by Lord Lestrol for the Strelian Crystal and the Amulet of Hrytrin. She picked up one of them. “That should be enough,” she muttered to herself.

Will was waiting for her when she came out. He tapped a small suitcase. “All set.”

“Me too,” answered Debra holding up the two suitcases she was carrying. “Clothes and enough money to insure we get to Earth.”

It was late in the day by the time they’d loaded the new ship and they were exhausted. After a quick dinner, they went right to sleep.

Early the next morning they were escorted to have breakfast with King Raphul and Princess Cintrel on the balcony overlooking the city.

“How long do you plan on being gone?” asked the Princess.

“Really don’t know,” answered Will knowing that they might never return. “Hopefully not too long.”

Princess Cintrel had to leave as soon as they’d finished so Will and Debra were left alone with the King. He looked over at the two of them. “I know there’s no way I could ever change your minds, but are you certain you have to do this?”

Will and Debra looked at one another. “How’d you know?” she asked.

“The sudden need for a ship and a vague explanation as to why,” he replied. “Besides, it’s just the sort of thing you two would do.”

“Unfortunately, it’s the only option we have left,” explained Will in a firm tone. “If Grandle isn’t stopped then other planets will suffer the same fate as Celentus.”

“I know you’re right,” answered the King, sadness in his voice. “It’s just that you’ve both become very dear to me.”

“Don’t you worry,” declared Debra, doing her best to sound confident. “We plan on coming back.”

“That’s right,” agreed Will.

They sat there in silence for a few minutes, but at last everyone got up. “Good luck to both of you,” offered the King. “If you have need of anything, just let me know.”

“We will, your Majesty,” answered Will. “Thank you.”

“Thank you for everything,” said Debra, giving the King a hug.

In a few minutes, they were on a hoverjet flying to the landing field. Landing not far from their ship, they climbed aboard and strapped themselves into their seats. Will looked over at Debra. “You ready?”

“You know I’m always ready,” she replied.

He began flipping switches and as he flipped the last one, he announced, “Initiating ignition sequence.”

The ships engines roared to life and they were soon in space heading for Preltis Three and whatever awaited them there.