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Carson asked, shooting him a pointed
look.
    “I can always adjust my plans,” he replied.
“I don’t want to rush things. Let’s just see what happens.”
    He noticed Ann blush. He hadn’t realized how
easy she had been to impress. So unlike Carol and some of his other
ex-girlfriends who made life difficult for him.
    “I agree. We should just enjoy today while
it’s here. Whatever happens will happen,” Lisa said.
    Carson glanced over at him.
    William couldn’t help but wonder what Carson
was thinking. He also wondered if he should keep a close eye on his
friend. He suspected his friend might piece things together if he
wasn’t careful, and who knew what Carson’s moral code would compel
him to do?
     
    ***
     
    Present day
    Alpha Head I
    Planet: Pale
     
    Paff, Zak, and Jaz walked around the Security
Forces Gamma Division where Pale’s military force was getting ready
for the impending war.
    “Be sure to prepare for Omin’s classic sneak
up from behind maneuver,” Paff told the head of the security guard.
“That’s what the clone used when he knocked Guard Rico unconscious
so he could escape.”
    The guard nodded. “Will do, Leader.”
    Paff turned his attention back to the large
room. Pale had advanced its weapon technology in the past year, and
he hoped some of the new weapons would take Omin’s clone by
surprise. It might be the one advantage that would get them through
the war successfully.
    “Keep up the good work,” Paff said then
headed back to his office.
    By the time he got there, Zak and Jaz were
waiting with two guards who were the most qualified to lead a
search and rescue mission. The four stood up as he entered the
room.
    “I’m sorry to call you on short notice, but
Queen Ann and Hathor have been missing for forty-eight hours,” Paff
said, deciding to get right to the point. They were on edge anyway.
Why go through the pretense of formalities? “The last time we saw
them, they were on their way to Olympia to seek help from the gods
and goddesses who live there. They were acting on our behalf, and
that being the case, we need to send a search party for them. We
aren’t even sure if they made it to Olympia, but that is the most
logical place to start.”
    “Do you know where Omin’s clone is?” Guard
Lino asked.
    Paff shook his head. “Not yet.”
    “If we find Queen Ann, we might find him,”
Zak said. “Omin made a threat to kill her. It’s looking more and
more like something he intends his clone to do.”
    Jaz turned to the guards. “I will be going
with you on this search. How long will it take for you to get
ready?”
    “I can gather a week’s worth of supplies in
thirty minutes,” Guard Lino replied.
    “And I can get the spaceship ready in that
time as well,” Guard Falon added.
    She nodded. “Good. I will get my own things
ready. Let’s hope we find her and Hathor on Olympia,” she said.
    As the three left the room, Paff turned to
Zak. “What are the chances that she and Hathor made it to
Olympia?”
    Zak frowned. “At this point, I would guess
they never made it.”
    Paff was afraid of that.
     

Chapter Eight
     
    Six years in the past
    Dayton, Ohio
    Planet: Earth
     
    The next day, Hathor boarded another city bus
and paid the fare. Fortunately, Kent had briefed him on what to do
when riding the bus. Hathor felt so out of place on this planet. It
was hard to adjust to the automobiles and big stores. Earthlings
had a surprisingly busy lifestyle. Even the queen didn’t rush all
about like Earthlings did, and she was the busiest person on Raz.
Everyone seemed to be in such a hurry all the time. He didn’t think
he could handle it.
    Thank goodness this trip was temporary. He
sat on one of the empty seats and braced himself for the initial
pull when the bus would start up again. The first time he felt it,
he nearly fell off his seat since he hadn’t expected it. But now he
was prepared and better able to handle it.
    He opened the map he bought, with