The Quest Begins: Civil War II Chapter Sixty-One

On the planet below the sound of pounding hooves grew nearer and nearer. Try as they might, the quartet of fugitives could not escape. The stranger seemed to move ever quicker, but he kept stopping to help his companions. Soon they were surrounded by mounted gorillas. Urko looked scornfully down at them.

"Well. Four fugitives. I will take great pleasure in destroying you."

Burke began to speak but Urko kicked him down.

"Do you realise what you have with you?" he sneered at Galen.

"A freak! Tie them all up!"

The four captives were soon bound to trees.

"Urko, you cannot shoot us in cold blood. It is against the law," cried Galen.

Once more Urko broke into a sneer.

"The law does not apply here."

"You are going against the teachings of the Lawgiver!"

"What do I care for that? Load your weapons!"

As the gorillas moved to obey the command, a ribbon of energy struck down from the sky, striking the tree the stranger was tied to. It vanished in a ball of concentrated light. The gorillas shied away in fear. Urko's horse bolted, beyond his control. To the amazement of all, the stranger stood there, a new light in his eyes.

The gorillas, taking this as an omen, fled. Burke, Burton, and Galen could not believe it. More energy blasts rained down as the stranger freed them.

"Who are you?" asked Galen.

"I am James Watt, President of the United Federation of Planets. Excuse me, I have some business to attend to."

To their amazement he took to the air, and then vanished.

Both Star Destroyers were keenly scanning for life signs.

"I can find no trace of him!" was the call from one.

The other was strangely silent. The commander ordered visual contact. The other destroyer hung in space, silent, all communication cut. Then it exploded in a ball of coruscating flame. The remaining destroyer launched all its fighters. One by one they were picked off by something moving at a speed beyond even an Imperial fighter.

"It's Watt!" was the cry. "Where is he?"

Then came the call: "Main reactor core disrupted. We're going up!" and the realisation that one man had defeated two of the Empire's best destroyers like toys.

 

Far away, the sensor on the Lord of the Isles picked up reverberations of the battle.

"Do you think it's him?" asked Drathro.

"I can smell him!" said Toby.

"We have no hope of reaching him before he leaves the sector, even if I use magic," said Magus. "However, I came prepared for this eventuality. If James does have his memory back, he will criss-cross the quadrant trying to get his bearings. I doubt if he will know he is in the Delta Quadrant. Launch the buoy."

Belverdere pressed a button. Soon, what appeared to be a standard Federation marker buoy bobbed behind them.

"It's set so only James can detect the signal," smiled Magus. "In the meantime, we continue to the planet."

"But why not wait here?"

"I have a feeling, dear boy, that the planet will be more beneficial to us!"