[Ash]: 102.Traveler.Chapter One

All was quite as the river flowed gently through the rocks. It seemed as the twilight faded out into sunrise that the world stopped and watched the heavenly bodies move themselves about the vast sky, which it’s self, seemed to stop and watch the passing clouds. The second moon was setting on the horizon and the third was rising. Rydle was amazed at this site. “It’s amazing Cahlouway. Three moons, quite beautiful, aren’t they.” Captain Rydle walked out onto the balcony, “simply amazing.”

“Rydle, get your butt back to bed, it’s not even sun up yet.” Captain Cahlouway yawned. He turned over and fell back asleep. Rydle didn’t see the point of staying in the same spot, heck, he didn’t like staying in the same system for more than two weeks, non the less, the same planet. This was torture for him. He had to go somewhere, than he saw it, there was a vine growing off their balcony. It looked odd to him, than he remembered he wasn’t on earth anymore. He grabbed it just as the balcony top rail stopped. With all the force he could muster Rydle forced himself to go over the balcony. He almost fell if Cahlouway hadn’t caught his hand. “There are stairs, you know, don’t you? Come on like I’d let you explore by yourself, frankly, you’d die.

“Our first missions on our own,” Cahlouway helped him up the rest of the way, “and already, you trying to kill yourself. I though I taught you better. Personally, I’m very disappointed in you, Rydle. You’ve earned the rank of Captain through skills, but you’re not mature enough to say that you are. When you prove, you can really handle being a Captain I’ll start introducing you as one, otherwise, your now a first mate.”

“Your lowering my rank! Captain I can’t believe this. I’ve worked for you for two years . . . ”

“Yes, and your navigation and flying are remarkable, but you’re not ripe in the head yet.”

“Yes sir.” Rydle walked back into the room and picked up his hat. He turned back once to look at his commanding officer and started out the door. Cahlouway was right of course, he was acting immature, but he was only twenty, why should he have to grow up now, ever? He took the stairs down and found they opened up to the outside world. It was only a two-story drop. He could land it. He backed up to the wall and ran toward the opening. Using his hand to push off he jumped over the wall and landed on his feet. ‘What’s the difference between a two-story jump and the stairs?’ he thought as he straightened out his hat and headed for the main building.

He stopped at three young Dyonics and tipped his hat. “Good Morning to you M̀Ladies. Do you know where I might find the library?”

“Library, Earthling? We do not know of that word.” Said the tallest. They all looked mostly the same, about five feet tall, 100 pounds, with white skin and hair. Dyonics had something special though, they had pointed ears and had a marble look to their skin which appeared part way blue.

“A library, well, it’s where you keep all your books, maps, and other information on everything. Do you have one?” She smiled and nodded.

“It is located in the nearest wing to the right of you, it is four entrances down with two large pearl sculptures on each side. Here and in the entire system we call them Hagoois.”

“Hagoois, I’ll have to remember that. Ladies.” Rydle took off his hat and bowed to them. Walking away he could here them giggle about things in their tongue. He shook his head and followed their instructions. He opened the door and found himself surrounded by books, it was larger than the building he had slept in. Every wall had at best, about four or five shelves full of books. It even had multiple levels. Rydle started to look around and found what he was looking for, maps. “Where’s Kitua? Or Mydlea? Wait, these are moons, and moon base. But where’s the third?”

“We lost it sometime ago,” said an older looking Dyonic girl, “sadly we have yet to even go there since. The bases at Kitua and Mydlea have been searching for them though, but even if they found them, we only talk with them in emergencies.” She came over and sat on the table where he was working with the maps. “There’s a huge reward for it, that’s why the moon bases are looking, so the government won’t have to pay up.”

Rydle sat down next to her, “well, how would they get it back?”

“I’ve never really thought of that, I should go tell daddy.”

“Daddy, your father works for the government?”

“No, my daddy is the government, he’s the king.” She walked out the door and Rydle just shook his head. He took up another map, this was of the moon paths. It looked over four hundred years old, he guessed as he study the paths, Kitua was the closest, followed by Mydlea. There was a Third moon right behind it, Telion. He had heard that named before, in some a battle book or something. Cahlouway would know, he never forgot anything, ever. He need the map so he decided that they wouldn’t need it anymore, they live here, they should know their own planet. He rolled it up and stuck it in his bag. On his way out the door he turned and looked at his mess and laughed, he never cleaned after himself why should he start now?

Rydle was just out of the library when he saw Cahlouway. “Sir, maybe we could go to our ship and talk.” Rydle said grabbing him.

“What? Why?”

“Just please come, sir.” Cahlouway knew better than to question him in the pubic, where always eager ears could hear. They made their way to the Sky Port and went to where they docked The Atlantis. Rydle stepped onto the plane almost tripping over himself, his shoes were untied. Cahlouway began to laugh.

“You haven’t done that in so long, it’s funny again!”

“Telion.”

“What?”

Rydle picked up his bag and walked over to the table. “Telion, tell me everything you know.”

“Oh it’s a renegade satellite, I never found out where it was though. When the people of the planet landed on Telion they found it to be loaded with natural resources, completely like earth, in fact only a little bit smaller. Well they began to sell it and make a profit. They sent half the profit back to their home world and kept the other half for themselves.

“As it so happens the King of the planet didn’t like them making any profit and demanded that they give all of it to the crown. Well the pioneers of Telion didn’t like that. They began to build a war base, and before the crown knew what they were up to, they had shot off six missiles at there other moons nearly destroying the moonbases. Telion declared it’s freedom and went and conquered all the other satellites and sold them back to the crown. They made such a large fortune that they decided to make their own planet.

“Thing is that the Interstellar Alliance wouldn’t accept them because no one could find them. Heck if you found the planet, you be probably take as their king.”

“I found it.” Rydle said as calmly as he could.

“What?” Cahlouway leaded across the table and stared him in the eye.

“I found Telion. Third satellite out.” He pulled out the map and showed him.

“You found Telion!” Roared the Captain in glee. “We will set off at once.”

“We need the crew,” Rydle threw in.

“Oh, well, assemble the crew! We are leaving.”

“To where?” Asked a small voice behind them. It was the princess. She walked in with two of her ladies in waiting. “I will to go.”

“I’m sorry, Princess, but where we’re going, they may kill you.” Rydle still was seated, but trying to cover the map. She looked at him kind of strange. “Can’t sorry.”

“Earthling I have been trained in more fighting arts than you have heard of. I will go.”

“If you want to Princess.” Said Cahlouway bowing.

“Please call me T’vora.”



The crew was set up by noon as they headed out of the port. Cahlouway had taken command and Rydle was navigation. T’vora saw that they were busy and didn’t want to interrupt. Her ladies in waiting had not want to come so she was left alone. She began to wander, they would be there in a half an hour but she wanted something to do. There was a door open and a little boy sat in the room playing. She thought it was harmless so she wandered in. “Hello.”

“Your pretty, “ he said carelessly, “want to play. Daddy bought me all these cool cars.”

“What’s a car?” She asked picking one up.

“These aren’t real cars, these are miniature models. A car is a transport by land. They used to run by fossils turned into fuel but now they run by water.”

“Sure, how do you play?”

“You run them into each other. Watch.” He picked up two of them and laid down on the ground setting one on each side he rammed them into each other, just as he said. “Why don’t we play a video game. I have this classic one daddy bought for me several years ago when I was three. It’s from over 900 years ago! It’s call Mario Brothers.” T’vora was intrigued by this child and stayed and played with them. They heard the landing bell and she though she best go to the bridge.

“Hey, I better go, I’m a princess so they may need me, I’ll come back and play more later. Good luck on your games.”

“Thanks, I’ll see you around.” She left the boy, that was the funniest time she had in a while. These cars and video games excited her, but seeing him do all those silly faces was better.

Rydle sat at the navagations and stared out the window, the place was exactly like Earth, he missed home. Earth was far away though, by at least 24 thousand light years. He would have to go through seven different portals and that would take several months. He would do it someday go back to earth, show his parents what he’s become, a navagationist, a Captain. He’s met royalty, in fact he had one on board, he found a lost planet, which they were currently sitting on. He had made it.

He turned around and saw that Cahlouway had fallen asleep. The old man was to tired to make it all the way sans getting to more hours of sleep. The bridge doors open and T’vora walked in, she had a gleaming smile on her face. She rushed over to see the window, she had never seen jungle before, he almost forgot that. “Well, Princess, what should we do? It’s only a miles walk to their base.”

“They will probably send someone, look, see.” Rydle turned his attention back to the window, several hover crafts were floating outside. “Should we wake the Captain?”

“Hey, Cahlouway!” Cahlouway jumped up and was about to scold the boy when he saw the crafts.

“Open the bay doors.” Rydle turned to his station and opened them. “We may need a translator, go get Sypheria.” Rydle got up and went to another set of control, and pressed a button.

“You have too many buttons on your ship, commander.” T’vora stepped out of the bridge and to the bay doors. Rydle followed her. Cahlouway sat down and waited a minute. A tall skinny half human walked in. She had light red skin and dark maroon hair. Sypheria was playing with her Jubar when he called her.

“We may need you to translate old Dyonic.”

“I speak it fluently, if you haven’t forgotten cousin.”

“No, come along. Remember when Uncle Gregory told us of the renegade moon?”

“Yes, that old fable.” She said placing the small fury animal on her shoulder.

“Rydle found it.”

“Ahh.. . . so that is where we are, come now. I want to speak with them.” She led the way out and down through the doors. As the four of them stood before the crafts she spoke clearly, “we come with warm welcomes. We would like to see your planet if we could, dear Telions.”

“Why are we to believe you? Why you bring a Dyonic with you!” Said an older member of one of the crafts.

Sypheria turned to Cahlouway, “will she grant peace.”

“I will grant more than that, I wish for us to open relations. As Princess I will sign a treaty, if needed of course.”

“This, is the Princess of Dyonic, she wishes to make a treaty with you so you will have peace.”

“Than why they come?”

“They discovered the planet. It be lost, for long while.”

“Come we show you city, we have many in city who speak the Dyonic of current.” They landed one of the hover crafts and allowed them to board. They went over the jungle and T’vora looked amazed at this. The city was of Dyonic architecture, which meant everything was marble and spherical in shape. The crafts landed at a huge opening in the heart of the city. The old man who first spoke brought up a younger man to speak with them.

“I am Prince Feildin, we are please to have visitors. Come we will show you the palace, where you will be staying? Hopefully, we never get visitors.” He barely looked thirty but had the energy of a child.

Rydle stepped forward and bowed. “Your majesty, I am Captain Rydle of the Earth ship The Atlantis. We thank you for our hospitality. This is Captain Cahlouway, our translator Sypheria, and Imperial Princess of Dyonic T’vora. She wishes to discuss a terms of peace between your planets.”

“Is it true?” Called a woman from the square.

“It is Mam.” T’vora yelled happily. The crowed cheered as they were escorted to the palace. Everything looked the same to Rydle, same type of people, same buildings, but different governments. They had a high council which made three quarters of the rulings. As they walked into the main room where the council sat they looked at the floor, it was the map of Telion under glass, “we thought we had lost it. Why did you take it?”

“Well, you couldn’t think that we could go here blind did you, anyway, that version outdated. We’ll give you a new version when there finished shooting from out satellites.”

“You have moons?” Cahlouway asked, “but aren’t you a moon? Well the orbit and everything.”

“Yes, we have six, but we meant man made, equipped with cameras.”

“When did you invent these?” Rydle asked. “We got them about a thousand years ago.”

“We got your signals, than 200 years ago we got one of your satellites.” Prince Feildin sat down on a throne and began to question them. “Where do you come from? And how did you get here? How long have you been in contact with the Dyonics? How many more Planets were added.”

“Slow down please, we hail from Earth, as you might now, except Sypheria, she came from Gustanb, a small trade planet in the top side of the galaxy.” Cahlouway sat down in a side chair. “We got here by coming from Dyonic where Captain Rydle found your Planet. We have been in contact with the Dyonics for over 600 years. In the year 2456 they came to earth and told us of the Interstellar Alliance.”

“Were they your first contact?” Asked the Prince eagerly.

“No, Gustanb was. We met them in the year 2429. Only a few years earlier. They Dyonics were the second. To answer your last question the Alliance now has over twenty-three thousand planets.”

“Wow, when we tried to join there was only 215 planets. Maybe they’ll let us join.”

“Prince,” said T’vora stepping forwards, “if you will call them now I will tell the exactly where you are and your path around Dyonic. Of course after we make a peace agreement.”

“Yes well, why don’t we sign it on your planet. If we do it here I fear that we won’t have the accommodations for your great leaders.”

“Actually, your palace is twice as large.”

“In that case we shall get on it right away!” The Prince had his scribes and advisor there to make the deal and T’vora added the things her planet would like to see. In less than a halve and hour the deal was set and they were on the steps of the palace. Prince Feildin signed first and than Princess T’vora. The pact was set. Staying on the steps they called the I.A. and luckily it was a council in progress. When the council came on Feildin spoke. “Council, I am Prince Feildin of Telion, we wish to join the alliance.”

“Where are your current locations?” Said one of the council in the higher chairs.

“They do not stop, council woman, Tag-mur, they are a satellite around Dyonic.”

“Ahh. . . Princess, you wish to give them independence? So it will be. I accept the offer.”

“As do I.” Said another. The third in the high chair looked though he was thinking, “one question,” he said, “you must reach the age limit for planet which is 300 years. How old are you?”

“Tomorrow is our 500 birthday, sire.” The Prince said flawlessly.

“As do I. You will be added by the next session of council.” The screen went blank and everything was silent. The Prince turned around and yelled. The crowed cheered as they were so happy. “Tonight we have a planet wide feast, call the other cities, I want their leaders to come to mine!” The crowed roared again. Rydle had cause this great happiness. He decided to call his parents, or at best, get someone on Earth to know. He ran inside the palace to the conference room. He sat down at the head chair and pressed in the Earth’s area code, 061.

“Hello, what Planet may I get you?” Said a voice.

“Could you get me Earth, please?”

“Earth, oh my, you haven’t heard have you? Earth is on an evacuation, the planet has been bombed with energy drops. What area of Earth were you trying to get, dear?”

“England.”

“Oh, England was fine, they are on their own carrier right now, I can patch you through to it though.”

“Okay.” He said with a sigh of relief. The line went dead for a minute.

“Hello?” Said a voice.

“Yes, I am trying to get in contact with my parents, I was told England was on your ship.”

“You are indeed correct sir. What are their names?”

“Fredric and Sue Rydle, this is their son Captain Rydle of The Atlantic.”

“Okay hold on a minute please.”




The deck of the emergency ship Britannia was filled with people, mostly children having a football game. Lindsey looked on this with meager excitement from their room. She wanted to be on the war ship, she wanted to fight to the death if necessary to get back at those bastards who blew up her planet, they would pay. The intercom paged on, “Would Fredric or Sue Rydle report to the communications room, they have a call from their son Captain Rydle from Dyonic.” They were asleep and badly injured, she would go. She kissed her parents forehead and walked out of the room. The crowd was hard to get through nicely, but she was never nice. She pushed her way through and made it there in a minute. “Captain, I’m Lindsey Rydle, his sister, my parents are injured, may I speak with him?”

“Of course, I think he’s just glad you alive.”

She sat down at the screen and pressed the go button, it was Rydle. “Hello little brother, how are you doing?”

“Little, I came out only a second after you!” He calmed down, “sorry, I just found out what happened from the transitioner. How are they?”

“They got hurt when the sirens came on they both fell out of bed. But they’re fine. Captain?”

“Yes, I have a ship, well, I share a ship with my friend from the academy, Cahlouway.”

“How’s Dilain?”

“He’s good, completely consumed by video games though.”

“He’ll get over it once you get here.”

“What, we can’t. I just found a lost planet I have to file this with the Earth Accomplicements office.”
“It was blown up.”

“But it’s in London?”

“I blew it up.” Lindsey said calmly, “some people need to shut their traps.”

“You were always a spoiled sport. Well I discovered Telion, tomorrow they are going to become apart of I.A. and it was all because of me.”

“How?”

“I stole the map.” Rydle smiled to himself.

“We were always to alike.”

“How’s Sylvia?”

“She was in America, I’m sorry, but you divorced her two years ago, why do you care.”

“Dilain was hoping to see her.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, but your coming to pick me up, and were going to chase those ruddy bastards into a black hole.” She hung up, he knew he wouldn’t have peace till he got there, than he’ll have to get there. He pressed in the area code 012 and asked for the crown of Dyonic. The king came on line. “Hello, your one of those Captains, where are you? You can’t be calling from here, can you?”
“We are on Telion, your daughter has been very diplomatic and has brought peace to them. You should be proud.”

“Ahh.. Well she was always good at that, maybe she should go with you? She can take peace everywhere.”

“T’vora already invited herself to that, I must speak with you more important matters.”

“As of what?”

“Earth has been attack the Americas have been wiped off the face of the Earth, just yesterday. I am going to call the alliance, but since you were always our closest friend, I wished that your people knew first.”

“Thank you, tell I.A.” The screen closed out and he pressed the number one. The council came on immediately.

Tag-mur was speaking, but there was no time, he spoke, “council woman, I have urgent message.”

“You interrupt me, this better be important.”

“Earth has been attack by Energy Drops, they have lost a third of the planet, and there contact building with you. The rest of the planet has been kept safe and on emergency ships.”

“My planet,” she cried, “Earth! What is their contact, I will speak with all the ships!”

“The direct contact is unknown to me, the transitioner will be glad to help. Tomorrow we will be heading their, if you need anything dropped off.”

“Pick me up I wish to speak to them, person to person.”
“Yes great Tag-mur.” He turned off the screen and went to find Cahlouway. They were in the dining hall it had been an hour since they left. Cahlouway was talking to several young boys and it looked like he was telling them of his past exploits.

“So than with my great sword in my hand I took a risky swing, and cut the head off the Dragon!” The boys jumped back in awe and amazement.

“Yes than he removed his glasses and it was a sky fly.” Rydle grabbed him and forced him into the hall, “we’re leaving tomorrow morning, Earth has been attacked, the Americas are gone.”

“How long ago?”

“Hours, at the most I’‘d say three hours. I talked with the Dyonic King and called the council. We are to pick up council woman tomorrow at th I.A. center and take her to her people.”

“Why does she think we’re going to Earth?”

“Because were picking up my sister, I have to go tell Dilain, you get to crash the party.” Rydle headed out the door. Cahlouway turned around, how was he going to break it. The screen in the main room came on, it was Tag-mur. He wasn’t going to have to.

“My dearest alliance, we are faced today with a terrible tragedy. One of our planets has been bombed, Earth has lost America, one of their most thriving divisions.” She began to weep uncontrollably.

“Tag-mur, do you wish for me to continue?” Said the last of the three council members.

“No Ragdar, it was my planet, I have suffer the loss of my entire family, and I am not weak as I talk to my peoples, I say we should find these murderers and do away with them.” The council went into a roar, “who is with me!” They all stood and voted, a unanimous yes. “This mission will be conducted under the great Captain Rydle, I’m sure you’ve heard of his exploits, saving the council and it’s planets numerous time, and now discovering a new planet which has just joined us! I will join him as he heads to earth. I will survey the damage and give my report from one of their ships, thank you. Long live the Alliance!”




The screen shut off and Mr. And Mrs. Rydle looked at the people, everyone applauded them. Lindsey looked down on them, they might lose both children in battle. How did he get mixed up with the council? She was going to find out. She went in the room and locked it, she found the nearest screen she could and picked it up. She pressed the on button and the holographic computer appeared, she looked around, and she wonder how the people used to function on outdated hardware. “Screen, access files on Rydle, Captain D. A..” The screen came up with one from the council, she opened it, but access was denied, sans a password. She typed in one of the ones she stole from the I.A. building from Gustanb and got in.

Rydle, Captain D. A. 20

Born 3007, May 15

London, England, Earth

Area 061 of 23987

Current Captain of the warship, The Atlantis. Co-Captain, Cahlouway, C. K.

Was framed of stealing over five thousand units of currency. Saved Tag-mur from invasion of Hypoilcs in 3021, but was in stolen ship to do so.

Family, unknown


“I am not unknown!” She yelled! “I’m a famous criminal, and what do you mean framed, he stole them and blame it on me, when I don’t even steal money!” She threw the screen and sat up on her bed. At least she had her parents, Dilain only had Rydle, poor kid, he’s only five. Well she knew, he saved Tag-mur, actually, he was running from the cops and accidentally hit the car that was chasing the council woman. He was only fifteen at the time, and he already had so much more to worry about.




Rydle landed the hover craft without fail, in fact, he landed it so it didn’t even have the normal jolt. He ran inside and went to Dilain’s room. The boy looked at him, “hi daddy. Look, I’m on the last level!”

“That’s great! Wait didn’t you start this last night?”

“Yes, and look, I won!”

“Dilain, come here.” Rydle sat on the floor and pulled the five year old into his lap. “You remember mommy right?”

“Nope. Tell me about her.”

“Well she was the most beautiful woman, she had light blonde hair like yours and your green eyes.” Dilain cuddled up to him.

"Tell me more.”

“Every night when you woke her up crying she would sing you a song, it was an nursery rythme though.”

“What happened to Mommy?”

“That’s why I’m here, Mommy was in America on a visit, and I need you to be grown up. But Dilain, some nasty people came and blew up America, and she’s dead.”

“That’s okay Daddy, I never knew her. But I do like the one Princess, she helped me in Mario Brothers.”

“T’vora, yes well, the problem is that you should have known your mother, she was a great woman, she had just gotten done making a movie, she was a movie star, the movie was about you.”

“Sing me the song. Please Daddy.”

“I can’t remember the words.”

“Can you hum the melody?”

Rydle hugged his son to his chest as he hummed the song. A small tear ran down his cheek, he remember the last line. “And we all fall down.”