Name of fanfiction: Quest For The Mask Of Life
Rating: 8/10
Review: The plotline for this story was well thought out and fairly easy to follow. The only downside(for me, anyways) was the large array of characters. There were several places where I lost track of who was who. I guess if I had watched the Bionicle series, which I know The Chronicler is a big fan of, I wouldn't've felt so lost.  

Even though the story is still not complete, it leaves that certain sense of anticipation as to how this will all end.  

CHAPTER 11

AMBUSH AND SAYING GOODBYE

“Now, if you will excuse me, I must report to the Enterprise,” Mr. Kark said as he stepped away from the still chattering group.

As he opened up his communicator to signal the ship, a roar coming from the cave entrance made him look up.

Chomper gasped when he recognized instantly who it was. “Oh, no! It’s Red Claw!”

“And Screech and Thud!” Littlefoot cried out when he saw Red Claw’s two usual fast biter lackeys.

“They got us trapped!” Ducky cried out.

“We’re doomed!” Petrie exclaimed as he covered his eyes with his wings, shaking in fear.

The Saurians all cringed back as the three sharpteeth slowly approached them.

“Fear not, my friends,” Mr. Kark said calmly. “We’ll handle this. Lieutenants?”

Briank and Yolanda got beside him.

“Phasers on heavy stun force,” Kark ordered as he whipped out his own phaser. The Rainbow Faces followed suit.

The clicks could be heard as they got their individual phasers on the appropriate setting.

“Aim for the big one,” Kark ordered. “FIRE!” he exclaimed.

All three simultaneously let loose a beam of light from their phasers directly at Red Claw, who collapsed to the ground instantly as he was knocked out by the laser blasts.

Upon seeing this, Screech and Thud immediately ran away in fear, leaving their leader lying in a heap on the cave floor.

“Whew!” Chomper sighed in relief. “What would we do without you?”

“More than likely, you would beó” Kark began to answer.

“I think that was a rhetorical question, Kark,” Briank interrupted.

Kark simply raised an eyeridge and eyed the male Rainbow Face quizzically while Yolanda stifled a giggle.


With danger now out of the way, Kark reopened his communicator and signaled the ship. “Kark to Enterprise.”

“Kirkland here,” came the Captain’s voice in response through the communicator’s speaker. “What’s up?”

“Progress report, Captain. The history lesson is completed.”

“Excellent!” Kirkland said. “I’ll be right down.”

Kark raised an eyeridge. “Acknowledged. Kark out,” he said as he closed the communicator.

“What’s wrong, Kark?” asked Briank as he noticed his puzzled look.

“We are about to be paid a visit by the Captain.”

“Oh?” said Briank, sharing his Commanding Officer’s puzzled look.

Before they could say anything else, the whine of the transporter beam could be heard echoing throughout the chamber of the cave as the shimmering light announced the arrival of Captain Kirkland in the room; and he was not alone. A second figure was materializing alongside the Captain. It was Jenna, his wife!

“Captain?” Kark nodded as his Commanding Officer was fully materialized in the cave.

“Mr. Kark? I trust everything went well?”

“Quite well, Captain.”

Kirkland then noticed the still form of Red Claw on the cave floor. “Trouble?”

“Nothing we couldn’t handle accordingly, Captain,” Mr. Kark said.

“With the help of a heavy stun blast from our phasers,” Briank said in turn.

“He should be out for hours because of it,” Yolanda said.

“And we should be long gone by the time he wakes up!” Chomper added.

Kirkland smiled and nodded. “Good!” Then he turned his attention to Littlefoot and his friends. “My friends, I trust that the lessons given to you by these fine members of my crew were informative, and that you’ve learned something today?”

“We’ve learned a great deal today, sir!” Littlefoot said proudly.

“Excellent!” Kirkland exclaimed. “This is something that you’ll no doubt remember for the rest of your lives, which is very important; because it makes up who and what you are as individuals, and defines your heritage as a species.”

“We won’t forget, sir,” Chomper smiled.

Kirkland smiled in return. “Please, call me ëJarrok’. I don’t stand on formalities, especially among ëcivilians’ like yourselves.”

Littlefoot nodded. “Okay.”

“So these are the infinitely curious Saurians I’ve been hearing so much about,” Jenna said.

“My friends, I’d like you to meet my wife, Jennifer Foster Kirkland,” Jarrok said as he gestured towards her.

“My husband’s told me so much about you. It’s an honor to finally meet you all in person.”

“The honour is all ours, ma’am… uhm… Jennifer,” Littlefoot grinned as he revised himself.

Ducky gasped as she noticed something. “Cera, look!” she whispered as she pointed.

Cera gasped herself as she noticed what Ducky saw. “My goodness, you’re right!”

“I’m sorry, did I miss something?” Jenna asked somewhat confused.

It was Ruby who spoke. “You must forgive my friends, for they often do forgiving things; but they couldn’t help but notice, and I’ve also noticed, that you were expecting; which is something I was not expecting.”

“Is it really that obvious?” Jenna asked as she looked down at her belly.

Cera nodded. “It is!”

Jenna smiled as she rubbed her belly. “It’s our first child. Me and Jarrok, that is.”

“She’s not due to lay the egg for a few months now, but… yes… it is the first child between us.” Jarrok smiled as he laid his hands on his wife’s shoulders.

“Really!?” Ducky exclaimed.

Jenna smiled and nodded. “Mm hmm.”

Ducky squealed. “That’s wonderful! I’m so happy for yooooouuuu!!” Ducky surprised Jenna by throwing her arms around her in a congratulatory embrace.

“Duckyyyyy!”  Littlefoot whispered harshly through gritted teeth. Everyone else cringed in fear as to how Jenna, or the Rainbow Faces, would react to this spontaneous act by the excitable Ducky.

Realizing what she had done, Ducky immediately relinquished the hug. “Oops! Eeps!” she said rather embarrassingly, as she often did as a youngling.

Jenna surprised everyone by giggling. “It’s quite all right!” she said with a smile, which made everyone breathe a sigh of relief and relax.

“Well, now that that’s out of the way,” Jarrok began, “let me state for the record that we Rainbow Faces have absolutely no intentions of ever returning to this planet. Your ancestors pushed us off of this world long ago, and that was how you’ve inherited it. Since then, we’ve found a new world to call ëhome’ out in space, and that’s where we’ll stay. As inheritors of this world, it’s your job to look after it.”

“We will, sir! I-I mean, Jarrok!” Littlefoot said, looking embarrassed again at his misnomer.

Jarrok smiled brightly. “Excellent!” Then he grew more serious. “Mr. Kark, Lieutenants, you have time for one last goodbye before we leave.”

The Saurians all looked sad and whined at having to part company so soon.

Goodbye hugs were exchanged all around between the Saurians, Mr. Kark and the Rainbow Faces. Littlefoot and his friends all looked sad to the point of tears as they said their farewells to a group that they had come to value as dear friends.

“W-will we ever see you again?” Littlefoot asked.

Captain Kirkland smiled and shrugged. “Who knows when the wind will push us this way again?”

Captain Kirkland then opened up his communicator to signal the ship. “Kirkland to Enterprise transporter room,” he said in his communicator.

“Sloan here, Captain,” came the voice of the Transporter Chief through the communicator’s speaker.

“Five to beam up.”

“Acknowledged.”

“Oh! And don’t forget the equipment.”

“Aye, sir.”

Kirkland then closed his communicator and waited for the beam out, as did his shipmates.

“Take care!” he said with a smile to Littlefoot and his friends.

A droning sound could be heard as the transporter beam hit the five members of the U.I.S.V. Enterprise. “BYE!” said the Saurians as they shimmered out of sight. Soon after, the computer desk, projector and crates full of supplies also shimmered out of sight as they were also beamed aboard.

“I’m really gonna miss those guys,” Chomper said sadly.

“Me, too!” Petrie said, sharing his sentiment.

“Me, three,” Spike said with equal sadness.

“Let’s go home,” Littlefoot said as he started walking out of the cave. His friends followed suit. “Wait until I tell grampa about what we learned today,” he exclaimed.

“Well, I know my father is never going to believe this!” Cera said.

Petrie lagged behind. After some hesitation, he turned around, came up and gave a weak kick to Red Claw’s prone body; then he scampered away snickering.

CHAPTER 10.1

LITTLEFOOT’S HISTORY LESSON

As Littlefoot and his friends were chattering in excitement over what they knew was going to come next, Briank faced them and said, “And now, last but not least, we’ve come to the part of the lesson that revolves around Littlefoot’s ancestor; who may have been, by far, the most important among all Saurians.”

“Humpf! Big surprise!” Cera said in her usual sarcasm. The other Saurians, though, could barely contain their excitement.

“For this part of the lesson, I shall now turn things over to my esteemed Commander, Mr. Kark,” Briank said as he handed the projector control box to the big Draconian.

The Saurians were a bit puzzled at this. Ducky was the one who spoke, voicing her friends’ confusion. “I do not understand. Why is Mr. Kark giving this lesson?”

Mr. Kark spoke before Briank could say anything. “If you recall, Miss Ducky, I mentioned that I was an amateur historian.”

“When was that?” Petrie asked.

“That time we were exploring the alternate Terra, while we were in the Federation Central Library,” Kark said in answer.

“Oh,” Petrie said.

“You have a good memory, Kark. I do not remember you even mentioning that,” Ducky admitted.

“We Vulkadians have excellent memory, as a matter of fact.”

“Well, I remember you saying that,” Littlefoot said as he stepped forward. “But I thought you were just playing along with Briank’s ruse, and it wasn’t really true.”

Kark raised an eyeridge. “You forget that as a Vulkadian, I am incapable of lying. What I said was true, and I have aided the Riggs numerous times in their research during my off duty hours. What’s more, I am a Science Officer; this is second nature to me.”

“Fascinating,” Chomper commented.

Kark raises his eyeridges, and there was a faint hint of a smile on his facial features. “Now, shall we begin?”

“Yes, please!” Ruby said with much eagerness.

Kark nodded, then pressed the handheld controller of the projector, which warbled into action and displayed several images and short videos on the cave wall. “Littlefoot’s ancestor went by the name of David Longneck, and he existed in the time preceding the Great Departure; which you’re already quite familiar with.

“As you can see, at that time, there were great advancements in technology and culture; especially when it comes to spacefaring. The Rainbow Faces had already built numerous space stations orbiting the planet, and used rocket ships and space shuttles to ferry astronauts to and from those space stations. This was done mostly as a show of pride in their accomplishments. It was also their ultimate goal to establish a permanent colony out in space, and they were well on their way to accomplishing this goal.”

Kark pressed the handheld controller again, and the pictures and videos disappeared from the cave wall as the projector warbled off.

“But there was a major flaw in the Rainbow Faces planned ó for lack of a better word ó utopia. Most of the technologies they invented and perfected were meant only for Rainbow Face use. Very little of it was adapted for use by the Saurian races. Very often, the reason was that it was simply much cheaper to produce a single design rather than a dozen or so for other species to use. It wasn’t long before most of the Saurian population, especially the so-called ëuncivilized’ Saurians, started to feel left out of this planned utopia the Rainbow Faces had in mind.

“It wasn’t long before a wave of resentment and loathing permeated the entire Saurian population. David Longneck lived in these tumultuous times. He was an important public figure not only among longnecks, but for all Saurians. His involvement in the events leading up to the Great Departure would become vital in theó”

“Excuse me, Mr. Kark,” Littlefoot interrupted. “Briank, why were we not told of this before? Why was I not told that my direct ancestor was involved in the Great Departure that time in your room on the Enterprise, when you showed us that vih-dee-oh of the Peh-trow-grahd Massacre!?” There was a bit of harshness in Littlefoot’s tone.

Briank cleared his throat. “Well, Littlefoot, for one thing, we didn’t know at the time that he was your ancestor. Even if we did, would you have felt comfortable with the knowledge that a member of your family caused us to leave this planet in the end?”

Littlefoot pondered this a bit, then shook his head. “Probably not.”

Briank smiled. “I’m glad you see it that way. You may continue, Commander,” he then said to Kark.

“Thank you,” he said as he nodded to Briank. “As I was saying, David Longneck’s involvement in the events leading up to The Great Departure became vital not only for the survival of the Saurians, but the Rainbow Faces as well.”

“How?” Chomper asked.

“I shall tell you,” Kark said simply. “Although David Longneck came to be known as the greatest outspoken opposition to the Rainbow Faces’ planned utopia, he was also great friends with the Rainbow Face President of the United Laurentian States at that time. His involvement in the events leading up to the Great Departure started when…”


Christopher Dempsey, “Chris” to his friends, had been President of the United Laurentian States for almost four years now. He was a middle aged Rainbow Face born and raised in Wilmington D.S. Ever since he took office, he made it his own personal mission to protect the existing rights and freedoms of the Saurians, even though a lot of Rainbow Faces greatly opposed this.

The last decades had been particularly rough on not only Saurians, but also Rainbow Faces; as the racial tensions between the two groups were at an all-time high. Many Rainbow Faces, though, wouldn’t even call the Saurians “civilized”, for they thought them too arrogant and too primitive, compared to them.

Chris, though, was of a different mindset; especially since he was best friends with a longneck named “David”, who was a Preacher in the Sect of The Latter Day Believers in The Great Beyond, who believed that the Primal Egg was created in Laurentia, and not in Middle Asia, like most Saurians and Rainbow Faces believed. Most Saurians didn’t carry last names, like the Rainbow Faces did. Some even adopted “totem” names like Big Feet, Crooked Toe, Eye Patch and Glider. Saurians who were given Rainbow Face names, like David, were usually given the name of their species as a last name; which was why David came to be known as “David Longneck” among Rainbow Faces. To his Saurian brethren, he was simply called “David”. Many Rainbow Faces felt that them now wanting to adopt these more “totem” names was further indication of their “uncivilized” nature. Chris, however, knew differently. He’d spent enough time with David to know that most Saurians could be just as civilized as they were.

Chris was running for reelection. His opponent, another Rainbow Face named Michael Wilson, was an outspoken proponent of a series of proposed laws called the “Wildlife Preservation Act” that he intended to sign in as official laws, should he be elected as the new Laurentian President. Michael’s entire campaign platform revolved around this law project, and he received tremendous backing from many high ranking Rainbow Face politicians in the Congressional House. Chris read the transcript of those laws, and it made him almost sick to his stomach! The very word “Wildlife” was an insult to Saurians, as it indicates that they’re not even capable of expressing any coherent thoughts, while Chris knew far better. His entire campaign revolved around protecting and improving upon existing Saurian rights and freedoms, and he received tremendous backing from Saurians everywhere. He now had to sway as many of his Rainbow Face brethren to his side. He knew he already had some, but he was fearful that it may not be enough.

Today, however, Chris was in his office at The White Residency, an office that came to be known as “The Cubicle”, because it was large enough to accommodate large Saurians who would be invited in. But when it came to very big Saurians, like his friend David Longneck, there was barely enough room for him to squeeze through the large double doors, let alone stand properly! So, whenever he met one of those larger Saurians, it had to be in the waiting area outside The Cubicle. Chris was sure that many other past Presidents had to do the same thing numerous times.

Chris was going over some paperwork when the buzz of his desk intercom interrupted him. “Yes?” he said as he pressed the button to open the channel.

“Mr. President?” came the voice of the female Secretary. “David Longneck’s here to see you.”

“All right! I’ll be right out!” Chris said before he closed the intercom, got up from his desk and walked out of The Cubicle through the large double doors leading to the huge expanse of the waiting area.


In the waiting area, David Longneck was patiently waiting for the arrival of his friend, Chris Dempsey. On the monitor, a replay of one of his speeches was being aired, and he listened intently with a certain sense of admiration. “I have dreamed of a world where my four young hatchlings would be judged not by the nature of their race, but on the content of their character.” There was a pause so several enthusiastic applause could be heard. “I have dreamed of a world where all of our rights and privileges that we have fought so hard to earn over the centuries would be protected until the end of time!” More applause followed. “It is my sincere wish that this newly elected Rainbow Face President listen to what we have to say, and work with us, rather than against us, to make this dream of mine, and of all Saurians across the world, a reality!”

Chris walked in on David as he was watching himself on the monitor. Chris smiled at his friend, who hadn’t even noticed him approach. Chris knew that, despite how great his huge longneck friend was, he had a certain sense of vanity. He believed David knew this as well. “Ahem!” he said after a few moments.

David turned briskly around. He smiled as he saw who it was. “Chris!” he said joyfully.

“Hello, my friend!” Chris said in reply.

David bent his head down and gave the Laurentian President a cheek rub, which was customary among longnecks, for they can’t actually shake hands. While other Saurians and Rainbow Faces would call Chris “Mr. President”, David went against the norm, and Chris didn’t seem to mind.

“Only you could be mesmerized by one of your own speeches!” Chris said jokingly.

David chuckled. “Yeah. My famous ëI have dreamed’ speech. Hailed as the finest speech ever given by a Saurian,” he said as he glanced back at the monitor.

“I can still remember that day, like it was yesterday,” Chris mused. “It was almost four years ago, and I had just taken office. I have to admit that I was scared when I saw you and your brethren march up Wilmington Avenue all the way to the steps of The White Residency. I listened to your speech from one of the balconies. I thought you spoke so well that I said to one of my aides, ëI have to meet this longneck speaker of theirs.’”

“And we did, later that day. It was a really long talk we had!”

“And thus began our friendship.”

“Indeed.”

Then they both shared another cheek rub.

“So, you called me here, and here I am,” David said. “What can I do for you, old friend?”

Chris sighed as he became more serious. “We need to change our strategy.”

David adopted a worried look. “Change our strategy!? What do you mean?”

“Michael made another speech yesterday. This time, he’s saying that the poor economy and the ballooning government debt is due to the infrastructure in place to protect and maintain Saurian rights; and that passing the Wildlife Preservation Act would actually save money and lower the public debt.”

David groaned. “That’s a crock, and he knows it! Most of that money is being filtered through to the ongoing Space Stations Program. I’m sure he knows that, too!”

“I’m pretty sure he does, but most of his followers don’t know it. They’ll believe anything he says like it was the Word of The Primal Force; which is why we need to tell our followers that maintaining Saurian rights would actually save money.”

David smiled. “Well, you know you can count on me, old friend.”

Chris returned the smile. “I know. I have my debate against him next week, and I’d like your advice on how to respond to some of the more important questions that’ll be posed. That’s the main reason why I asked to see you here today.”

David nodded. “Okay. What would you like to know?”

“For instance, how would you respond to…”


On the night of the Presidential Debate, the stage was set. Both opponents came prepared. The Mediator asked all of the expected questions on various issues, and both candidates gave the expected answers. The arguments and counter arguments were also as expected.

Then the debate started to center around the proposed Wildlife Preservation Act, and the debate started to become more heated. The thousands in attendance at the auditorium where the debate was held started to pay more attention, as did the millions watching from their television sets at home, including David Longneck, who watched the debate with his family from their home in Birmia, Albamia in southern Laurentia.

At one point, Michael Wilson said something that enraged the current President so much that he lashed out at him, saying, “How can you say that!? Can’t you just listen to yourself!? What you are proposing is nothing short of genocide!!” He pounded on the podium in front of him, expressing his anger and frustration. “Not only for the Saurian population, but the Rainbow Face population as well!! How dare you condone such actions!!?”

Angry shouts could be heard from the crowd in the auditorium as both opponents nearly got in each other’s faces, shouting at each other. Security immediately got between them out of fear that it would come to blows between them. The debate was ended prematurely, and both candidates were evacuated to safety out of fear that it would turn into a riot. The broadcast ended with the image of several Rainbow Face security guards armed with rifles forming a barricade in front of the stage to stop the crowd from mounting the stage and wreaking havoc. There were a lot of Saurians in the crowd, and there was great fear that they would decide to take action and try to assault Michael Wilson, who was being quickly escorted away to safety.

While most people watching this travesty would react with outrage, David Longneck’s reaction was totally different. “Oh, no!” he cried as he placed his forepaw to the side of his head.

“Wow! I’ve never seen Chris so upset like that before,” his wife commented.

“Me neither,” David admitted. “Michael really pushed his buttons this time! I hate to say this, but this will really jeopardize Chris’s chances for re-election.”

“So what happens now?” his wife asked.

David sighed and shook his head. “I don’t know. I have to give a reaction speech tomorrow, and I have absolutely no idea what I’m going to say.”

“You’ll think of something. You always do,” his wife said, smiling.

David returned the smile. “I love you, dear.”

“I love you, too, Davey,” she replied.

They both shared a kiss and an affectionate neck rub.

Meanwhile, their four kids were still stunned over what they had just seen on TV. They were not quite sure of what to make of Mr. Rainbow Face President’s “madness”.


The very next day, David Longneck gave his speech in front of Birmia’s City Hall. The speech was broadcast throughout Laurentia. Even though he was at a loss for words the night before, he came forward telling all Saurians, “Even though our President looked bad during last night’s Presidential Debate, I see this as a definite sign that he is a fervent supporter of our cause; and we, as Saurians, must continue to support him. For without him, we would have no freedoms, no rights, in this society! When the day of the vote comes, make sure you all vote for Christopher Dempsey to remain as our President for the next four years!”

His speech was met with thunderous applause, stomping and roaring. The Rainbow Face Security Force guarding the crowd looked nervous. They genuinely feared that David Longneck would start another protest against Michael Wilson’s campaign, and that they would be overwhelmed by the vast number of Saurians present in front of City Hall that day.


Two weeks prior to the Presidential Elections, in a surprise move, the announcement was made that the Saurians would be barred from voting. This was mainly due to the influence from Michael Wilson’s lobbyists, who convinced the authorities monitoring the elections that the Saurians, who outnumbered the Rainbow Faces by millions, would all vote for Christopher Dempsey, and make it an unfair election. The authorities acquiesced. The fate of the Saurians would rest in the hands of the Rainbow Faces.

It wasn’t long before protests started once the news reached their respective communities. Many riots ensued. The Rainbow Face Security Forces used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the rioters. Thousands of Saurians were injured, and a few even died from their wounds.

The very next day, David Longneck made a speech from a secured location where he said, “Even though this decision by the governing authorities to bar us from voting in these upcoming elections came as totally unexpected, I urge Saurians everywhere to remain calm; for I am confident that our Laurentian President will be victorious at the outcome of the vote, and continue his work in supporting our cause for the next four years.”

He was met with several applause, some stomping and moderate roars from the Saurian crowd.

“If you are to protest, I urge you to protest in a peaceful manner. Passive resistance is the key! Do not resort to violence in this matter. If we are to show the Rainbow Faces that we are as civilized as they are, this is the way to show them. If we show them that we are civilized races, they will accept us as civilized, and allow us to continue to coexist peacefully with them.”

More applause, stomping and roars ensued from the Saurian crowd on hand.

“Once they see that we can be as peaceful as they are, they will vote to defeat Michael Wilson and his ideals, and his notion of a false utopia will fade into oblivion forever!”

At the conclusion of that speech, David Longneck was met with a thunderous ovation that went on for almost fifteen minutes. The Rainbow Face Security Force guarding the proceedings looked as nervous as ever.


On election night, the entire nation of Laurentia was on the edge of their seats waiting to see the outcome. Who would be the next Laurentian President for the next four years? The Saurian population was as nervous as ever, but none were more nervous than David Longneck. The fate of his race and his Saurian brethren rested on the outcome of these elections.

From his home outside Wilmington D.S., Christopher Dempsey was also watching the elections, hoping that he would defeat the odds and remain in Office. The latest polls showed that he would end up losing the elections by a narrow margin.

At the end of the night, though, in a surprise landslide victory, Michael Wilson was the winner! While the Rainbow Faces who voted for him celebrated his victory, Saurians everywhere were stunned or outraged. None were more stunned, however, than the new ex-President Christopher Dempsey and his Saurian friend David Longneck.

As tradition dictated, Michael Wilson gave his victory speech in the election hall of his hometown of Nashvilla, Tennessiah; where he thanked all of the Rainbow Faces across the nation who voted him into Office. He also said that he would fulfill his promise and push the Wildlife Preservation Act project forward ASAP, which he reassured all Saurians watching from home would mean a better life for them, and would help the Rainbow Face civilization advance towards a better future.

Meanwhile, Christopher Dempsey gave his farewell speech from the election hall near his home. He thanked all of his supporters for continuing to believe in him, but, in his own words, “it was unfortunately not enough.” He wished all of his Rainbow Face brethren well under their new leadership, and vowed to continue to oppose the Wildlife Preservation Act every step of the way, “not only for the sake of our Rainbow Face society, but for the sake of all of my Saurian friends throughout Laurentia.”

While Michael Wilson’s followers met his speech with polite applause, Christopher Dempsey’s followers met his speech with a thunderous ovation.

The very next day, David Longneck gave his reaction speech in front of Birmia City Hall where he urged the entire Saurian population to remain calm and continue opposing the proposed Wildlife Preservation Act project in a peaceful manner. “Although this proposed law project could spell disaster for our entire society, should it ever become reality; we must now let our newly elected President make the next move. Lobbying to have this law project accepted into actual law will not be easy. I am confident that the governing authorities will see the error of his ways and vote to defeat this law project for all eternity.” The attending crowd cheered and applauded David’s speech, but it was more subdued than the last time.


About one year later, against all predictions, the Wildlife Preservation Act was voted into Law by the Laurentian Government. This was President Michael Wilson’s first step to achieving his planned “utopia”. It would be a few months, though, before the entire Saurian population would be relocated to the co-called “wildlife preserves”.

But barely two weeks later, the delegates of the United League of Nations voted to have the governments of their respective countries apply the Wildlife Preservation Act into their own system of laws.

As David Longneck watched the news from his TV at home, he was outraged. “I can’t believe this!!” he exclaimed as he got up and started pacing around the living room.

“Davey, honey, please stay calm,” his wife urged.

“Stay calm!? How can I stay calm!!? Didn’t you see what just happened!?” he exclaimed, pointing to the TV.

“Yes, I saw,” she said. “But these wildlife preserves they’re talking about can’t be that bad.”

David was stunned at his wife’s ignorance. “Can’t be that bad??? You’ve got to be kidding! I’ve seen those so-called ëpreserves’ with my own eyes! Swampland, deserts, snowy mountain tops, nothing but wastelands! The very places the Rainbow Faces don’t wanna live in. That’s where they plan to relocate us! Open your eyes, dear! Look at what’s going on around you!”

David’s wife’s eyes grew moist as she let it all sink in, and realized the reality of the situation.

“Daddy, is everything gonna be all right?” David’s youngest daughter asked as she approached her father.

With sad eyes, he smiled, bent down and gave his daughter a cheek rub that she quietly accepted.

“So what do we do now?” David’s wife asks.

David sighed. “I don’t know. What I do know is that I have a speech to prepare.”

Then he walked off towards his study to prepare the speech he was to give in front of Birmia’s City Hall the next day.


The next morning, a large crowd of angry Saurians gathered in front of Birmia’s City Hall, waiting to hear from David, the longneck whom they came to accept as their leader in these troubled times. Some in the crowd were holding signs they had carried in numerous protests throughout the country: some had “WPA” with big red X over it, others stated “We Think! We Talk! We’re Civilized!!”, and a few even depicted Michael Wilson as resembling Alfred Hister, the infamous Germanian dictator from the Second Great War. There was a large sense of uncertainty as to what would happen to them and their families in the near future. Many felt contempt towards Rainbow Faces in general whom they now considered their worst enemies. Many had completely severed ties with Rainbow Faces whom they once considered dear friends.

About two hundred lengths away, a barricade was set up to protect the downtown area of Birmia from potential looters and rioters who would want to wreak havoc on the downtown area’s shops and boutiques. The local Rainbow Face authorities were not yet ready to start the relocation project of the Saurians living in Birmia and surrounding areas to the designated “wildlife preserves”, but the SWAT Team was out in full force to guard the barricade; and they were armed with machine guns that carried real bullets. They were ready for a fight, if there was one that broke out!

When David Longneck took the stage, he was not met with applause, like he was during his previous speeches. Instead, he was met with worried cries and shouts of “Help us, Davey!” “Reverend, please save us!” “What do we do now, Leader?”

As he approached the podium, the din of the crowd continued. He just stood there for a few minutes and waited for the crowd to quiet down. When they didn’t quiet down, he raised a forepaw in the air as a sign to urge the crowd to grow silent. When they finally did, he began his planned speech.

“As most of you already know, the governments of the world have already embraced the Wildlife Preservation Act and are preparing to vote it into Law, just like Laurentia did. This, I tell you, is unacceptable!”

The crowd’s cries of anger and outrage began again. Many of the two footed Saurians pumped their fists into the air as they echoed David Longneck’s sentiment. David raised his forepaw in the air again, urging silence. When the crowd finally did calm down, he continued.

“Why must they always push us around like this? Why must our lives be dictated by these so-called civilized Rainbow Faces who don’t even know us?”

The crowd cried out in anger again. This time, David didn’t raise his forepaw in the air to urge silence. He let the cries of anger continue. When the crowd finally did grow silent, he began again.

“The very name of the law project is insulting and demeaning to us. We are not ëwildlife’ to be dealt with as they please! And what they plan to do to us is not the mark of a civilized society. If you ask me, they are the ones who are uncivilized! What are they thinking!?”

Cries of outrage, roars of anger and two footer fist pumps could be seen and heard from the gathered crowd again as they began their protests again. When the crowd quieted down again, David Longneck continued.

“This is why I now call upon all of my Saurian brethren across this great nation to protest the planned relocations, concentration camps, and ghettos this law project dictates by any means necessary.”

The crowd began its cries and roars of protest again. This went on for a few more minutes before they finally grew quiet again.

“They say that we will find everything we need to survive on these so called ëpreserves’, but I know better. I have seen with my own eyes what these so-called ëpreserves’ look like! And believe me, my Saurian brothers and sisters, when I say that these so-called ëpreserves’ are nothing but wastelands that no Rainbow Face in their right mind would want to live in!”

More cries of outrage and a few stunned gasps emerged from the crowd. This time, David raised his forepaw in the air to quiet the crowd down as he wanted to conclude his speech. They immediately obeyed.

“Which is why, my fellow Saurians, for the sake of our children and our children’s children, I urge you all to protest this proposed law project ëtil the bitter end in the manner that we have always done: through passive resistance. And as this speech is broadcast around the entire world, I also urge all Saurians everywhere to do the same. Let us all show these Rainbow Faces in power that we are not ëuncivilized’, as they are being led to believe. Let us all show these Rainbow Faces that we are not ëwildlife’ to be told where to go and what to do. Let us all show these Rainbow Faces that we have come too far and worked too hard to give up our rights and freedoms in this manner and in this fashioooooonnn!!”

As he said those last words, he raised his forepaw in the air as a sign of determination. The watching crowd erupted in cheers, thunderous applause, stomping, and roaring. They started chanting “Da-vid! Da-vid! Da-vid!” as he walked off the stage. As soon as David Longneck was out of sight, the crowd quickly dispersed.

In a surprise move, the Saurians did not confront the Rainbow Face SWAT team guarding the barricade leading to the downtown area. Instead, they calmly walked down the side streets leading away from the downtown area, as they were told to do. But as they passed by the SWAT Team, many Saurians shouted insults at them and/or spat at their feet.

The local Rainbow Face authorities would have loved to be able to arrest David Longneck for in sighting protests and riots, but because he was under the protection of former President Christopher Dempsey, he was untouchable. David knew this and took advantage of his liberties wherever he went, but he didn’t break any laws that were in place. As a Reverend of an important Saurian Sect, he had a high moral standard he abided by.


Months later, many governments of the world started implementing the Wildlife Preservation Act, and started relocating its Saurian citizens to the designated “wildlife preserves”. Many Saurians resisted the forced relocation, and in some countries, the resistance turned violent. But it was in the city of Petrograd, in the country of Prussalia, that the protests turned the most violent.

The Saurians in that city organized a rally group, and gathered in the city square to protest the forced relocation. The country’s Premier called in the Rainbow Face Army to try to restore order, and it wasn’t long before the confrontation turned violent. The Army opened fire on the Saurian mob, essentially killing most of them.

The ugly scene was replayed on the evening news in Laurentia, and many Saurians were horrified at the scene they saw. The relocation program had already started in many areas of Laurentia. So far, things didn’t get too out of hand for the Rainbow Faces, but many Saurians that had yet to be relocated feared that what happened in Prussalia would happen in Laurentia.

From his home in Birmia, David Longneck and his wife watched in horror the events in Prussalia unfold. They had already told their kids to go to bed early, for they had anticipated that the evening news would be especially violent, and they didn’t want them to see this with their own eyes. They didn’t protest their parents’ too much. They realized that their parents knew best.

“Oh Great Beyond!” David’s wife said.

“It’s already started,” David himself sadly said. “And it’s only a matter of time before we see the same thing happen here.”

Before David’s wife could say anything, the phone rang. She got up to move to answer. “Hello?” she said after she pressed the longneck sized button on the phone’s console to accept the call.

“Elaine!” came the voice at the other end.

“Chris!” Elaine said, recognizing the voice in the receiver as belonging to Christopher Dempsey, their friend and former Laurentian President. “D-did you see the news about what happened in Petrograd today?”

“Yes, I did. That’s why I’m calling. Is David there?”

“Yes, he is. Davey!” she then called to her mate. “It’s Chris.”

David came to the phone. “Chris!”

“Dave, my old friend! Sorry I haven’t kept in touch with you lately, but I’ve been very busy lobbying against the implementation of the Act. Guess my work is over now.”

David chuckled. “I guess so, based on what I’ve seen on the news a few minutes ago.”

“Yes, an unfortunate event. That’s why I’m calling you, to warn you. The Rainbow Face Army is about to move into Birmia to start the relocation process. You and your family need to get out of there now!”

“Are you serious!?” David asked in deep surprise.

“Very!” Chris said in a serious tone on the other end. “But don’t worry. I’ve got it all planned. I’ve arranged to have you and your family flown to a safe place.”

“Where?”

“Camp David!”

“What? Where’s ëCamp David’?”

“You remember that cottage I have in northeastern Laurentia?”

“Yeah, I remember. We went there six years ago. That’s where we became friends.”

“That’s Camp David.”

“Funny, I don’t remember it being called that.”

Chris hesitated a moment before he spoke again. “Actually, that’s not its official title, but I decided I should name it after you.”

David smiled. “Wow, old friend! I’m honoured!”

“Think nothing of it!” David could sense Chris’ smile on the other end of the line. “Now, here’s what you gotta do: There’s a tractor trailer limo waiting for you at City Hall. I told the driver to take you to the Birmia Airport. Aurora One is there ready to fly you and your family to Bangoria International Airport.”

“Aurora One?”

“That’s right.”

“The presidential airplane!?”

“The very same.”

“Whoa! How’d you manage that!!?”

David could sense Chris smiling on the other end of the line as he spoke. “I still have some friends at The White Residency. As it turns out, President Wilson doesn’t need Aurora One today, so I ëborrowed’ it.”

David couldn’t help but laugh. “Incredible!”

“Anyways, you need to take that plane to get out of Birmia. I’m about to hop onto my private jet to meet you in Bangoria. We’ll head up to Camp David together from there. Bring only what you need for the trip. I’ve arranged to have everything we need to hunker down at Camp David for awhile.”

“Wow, Chris! I-I don’t know what to say!”

“You can thank me later. But we’re not out of the woods yet. You’ll have to hurry, though. There’s no telling when the Army will move in. Oh! You remember the War Room, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Well, it’s still there, and it’s still equipped to broadcast anything we want. I’m sure you’ll wanna make a reaction speech over what happened today. You can broadcast your speech from the War Room tomorrow, if you’d like.”

“That’s definitely something I’ll wanna do. All right. I’ll see you at ëCamp David’.” David chuckled as he said the name.

“Talk to you soon!” Chris said before he hung up the phone.

As soon as David hung up on his end, he moved into action. He and Elaine gathered up everything they needed for the journey. They then roused their kids and told them that they were “taking a little trip” so as not to alarm them too much about what’s going on, then they set out to head towards City Hall. The streets of Birmia were strangely quiet, even though the sun had just barely set. David figured the people living in this primarily Saurian neighborhood were hunkering down, waiting for the firestorm to arrive. Some of them were probably looking out curiously at the longneck family hurrying down the street, thinking they were trying to escape the relocation, but feeling that they wouldn’t make it out in time.

It was only a few blocks away from their house, so it didn’t take them long to get there. Sure enough, the tractor trailer limo big enough to carry David’s entire family was parked outside City Hall waiting for them, exactly as Chris described. It was entirely black with tinted windows in the cabin so as not to draw too much attention. The Rainbow Face driver anxiously ushered them inside the trailer, saying that there wasn’t much time and that they had to hurry.

As soon as David and his family was securely inside, the driver climbed into the truck’s cabin, switched it into gear, and sped off. The truck sped conspicuously down Birmia’s main street all the way up to the military blockade outside the city limits. The falsified documents the driver was carrying was enough to allow him to pass through the gates and onto the highway. From there, it was smooth sailing all the way up to Birmia Airport where, sure enough, Aurora One was waiting on the tarmac to whisk them away to northeastern Laurentia. David was still in disbelief as to how Chris was able to put all this together, but this was no time to ask questions. Their lives depended on them reaching their destination before the “rain” came.

David and his family had left just in time. For at dawn the next day, the Rainbow Face Army moved in to begin the forced relocation of all of the Saurians living in Birmia. It didn’t take long before the confrontation between the Saurians and the Army turned violent. Nearly half of the buildings in town had been set on fire and many Saurians were killed. The same thing would happen in many other towns and cities throughout Laurentia. The Rainbow Face Army spent all day trying to locate David Longneck and his family in and around Birmia and surrounding areas. When they couldn’t find them, they decided to report them as “missing”.

Later on that day, David Longneck gave his reaction speech to the Petrograd Massacre. Given the situation, the captions attached to the broadcast stated that David was speaking from “an undisclosed location”. In his speech, David urged all Saurians everywhere to keep protesting the forced relocations peacefully, and to stay as non violent as possible; but this was before he got word of the many riots and confrontations with the Rainbow Face Army in many cities throughout Laurentia. When he saw the burning cities and the carnage on the evening news, he knew that everything had spun out of control, and it wouldn’t be long before the President would declare a state of emergency, maybe even Martial Law.


A few days later, the entire country of Laurentia was thrown into a state of chaos. Riots broke out in almost every major city in the country as Saurians everywhere stood their ground and fought the Rainbow Face insurgents. Many went as far as taking up arms and storming the Army barricades set up around the cities, killing as many Rainbow Faces as they could. It eventually came to the point where no Rainbow Face was safe. It didn’t matter who they were or how old they were, Saurians everywhere started to kill every Rainbow Face they encountered, and they killed with extreme prejudice.

The ultimate coup de grace came in Wilmington D.S. where a large mob of Saurians gathered and marched up Wilmington Avenue all the way up to The White Residency. The Rainbow Face guards at the gate were soon overwhelmed and taken out. President Wilson was in The Cubicle when his bodyguards came to escort him out of the White Residency, for it was only a matter of time before the Saurian mob broke open the gates and stormed The White Residency.

He was quickly taken through a back door of the expansive building where a helicopter was revved up and waiting to fly the President to safety. A flyer Saurian in the mob noticed the presidential helicopter take off, and immediately took flight after it. It didn’t take long for the flyer to catch up with the fleeing helicopter. Upon seeing the approaching flyer, the two Federal Agents guarding the President whipped out their pistols to try to shoot down the charging flyer, but the flyer was nimble, and was able to quickly dodge the bullets. He swooped down and landed on the right skid of the chopper. He quickly opened the door and pulled out the Federal Agent sitting to the President’s right and tossed him out of the chopper, screaming as he fell to his death. He then reached for the President, but the other Federal Agent sitting to the President’s left emptied his gun into the flyer’s chest. The flyer took the five remaining bullets, but still had enough strength to yank the President out of his seat and into the void. Both fell to their deaths.

When word was sent back to the White Residency that the President was dead, and that Executive powers needed to be granted to the Vice President right away, the Rainbow Face aides who stayed behind quickly ran to locate the Vice President in his office. By this time, the screaming Saurians had already stormed the gates of The White Residency, and they were at the front doors, relentlessly pounding to get in. Several Rainbow Face aides barricaded the doors, but it was a struggle to prevent the angry Saurians from breaking down the doors. It was only a matter of seconds before they’d lose this battle.

When the aides reached the door to the Vice President, all they found was a hand written note stuck to the door with the words “I QUIT!” written in bold letters. The Vice President was nowhere to be found on the premises of The White Residency.

The Saurians managed to break down the front doors and rushed inside the White Residency, killing every single Rainbow Face that happened to be inside. The government of the United Laurentian States had officially been overthrown.

Later on that night, under cover of darkness, a search party was organized to try to locate and recover the President’s body. They eventually found his body, but they were shocked to see that somebody, most likely a Saurian, had decapitated the head and fled with it, for it was nowhere near or around the body. The culprit was never found, so no Rainbow Face knew what happened to the President’s head, who had it, or what happened to it.


Meanwhile, at Camp David, Christopher Dempsey, David Longneck, and their respective families were watching a dark period of history unfold on the large screen monitor in the War Room. Live images of burning cities, ongoing rioting, fighting, and looting were taking place. The most shocking images of all came from Wilmington D.S. as celebrating Saurians were cavorting in front of the burning White Residency amidst numerous impaled Rainbow Faces on pikes. The scene was so horrific that David’s wife Elaine placed her forepaws over her eyes and looked away, as did Chris’ two grandkids. Chris remained silent as tears of sadness rolled down his cheeks. As he looked towards David, he saw that the big Saurian was also crying tears of sadness.

“The horror! The sheer horror!!” David cried out in a shaky voice.

Chris’ only son and his daughter-in-law were comforting their two children, who had started crying; while David and Elaine held their four stunned children close, trying to comfort them as well. Tears rolled down Chris’ face.

For the next half hour or so, they all continued sobbing as the horror of the images they had just seen replayed over and over in their minds. “So where do we go from here?” David asked, as he regained his composure.

Chris dried his eyes before he spoke. “Well, recanting the Wildlife Preservation Act won’t change anything. Want to or not, your race and mine have become blood enemies.”

David looked at his long time Rainbow Face friend with a look that betrayed surprise. Chris simply looked back at him with a sad look that said, “It’s true.”

“So what do we do?” David asked almost desperately.

“There’s only one thing left to do…” Chris began. “We must separate the two races forever. We’ve got to leave the planet, my brethren and I.”

Chris’ son, his wife, and his grandkids all looked at him puzzlingly.

“How!?” David asked, equally puzzled.

“How else but by all of the rockets and space shuttles we’ve built. We’ll need to fly all the way up to the space stations orbiting the planet. They contain everything we need to survive for the next little while. They have self-contained eco systems that can produce food, water, and oxygen, and there’s tons of renewable energy that can be used. But it can’t be done overnight. It’s gonna take months ó maybe even years ó to prepare.”

“Chris, you can’t be serious!” David’s wife exclaimed.

“If our species is to survive, we have to go!” Chris retorted. “We’ve already passed the point of no return. We have no choice!”

“But how are you gonna displace millions of Rainbow Faces to those space stations!?” David asked.

“I’m afraid that by the time we’re ready to leave, there won’t be millions of us left.” Chris sighed sadly. “I just hope that there will still be enough of us left alive to keep our race going. Tomorrow, though, I’ll go on the air. Offer this way for my people. I’ll try and urge the Saurians not to attack us, but I fear they won’t listen to me. It would help if you talked to them yourself, afterwards.”

David was very hesitant about the idea. He had dedicated, literally, his entire life to ensuring a peaceful coexistence between all Saurians and Rainbow Faces. He had been in a state of denial since the Petrograd Massacre, convinced that there was still hope for his dream. Now, hearing the arguments from his own best friend, he knew it was time to reject his fantasy and accept the reality. After letting it all sink in, David finally nodded. “All right.”

Chris smiled and patted David’s massive foreleg. “It’s settled, then. Let’s all try and get some sleep, all right?”

With this, everyone moved to their respective sleeping quarters for the night. “I don’t wanna go to space!” Chris’ granddaughter sobbed as she was lead away to her own bedroom. Her mother tried to calm her down, but the Rainbow Face girl wouldn’t stop crying.


First thing the next morning, as promised, Christopher Dempsey made his speech. The War Room was equipped with everything anyone would ever need to broadcast anywhere around the world. He opened the worldwide channel and started his spiel about the plans he had for transporting all surviving Rainbow Faces to the space stations, and leaving Terra in the care of the Saurian races forever. It was a planned exodus that he would come to call “The Great Departure”. He also made a plea to all Saurians to leave the Rainbow Faces alone, for they only wanted to leave this world in peace. He finally urged all of the remaining world governments to organize to transport their own Rainbow Face citizens to the space stations using their own rockets and space shuttles. “If we are all to survive, there is no other alternative,” he finally said to conclude his speech.

Then he turned the camera over to David Longneck, who made a plea to all of his Saurian brethren to not harm the Rainbow Faces, for he believed that what his Rainbow Face friend was saying was true; and that the he knew firsthand that the Rainbow Faces only wanted peace, and to continue existing, but elsewhere.

After David’s own speech, Chris came back on the air to mention that any remaining government official could contact him by INTERCOMM via secure channel so he could coordinate and organize the “Great Departure” he was planning.

Within minutes of going off the air with that message, his inbox was flooded with virtual letters coming in from all over the world. “So it begins,” he muttered to himself as he moved to read the influx of messages.


Nearly two years later, everything was set for the Great Departure to commence. During this time, it had been just a struggle to survive for Rainbow Faces everywhere throughout the world. Initially, many Saurians followed David’s request that any Rainbow Face who wished to leave Terra would not be harmed. However, there were many Rainbow Faces ó most of them followers of the late President Wilson ó who refused to “run away like cowards,” and instead chose to stay and fight for what they thought was rightfully their home world. Some of these “fighters” eventually started using a tactic in which they would deceive Saurians into thinking they were among the “runners,” then slaughter them once they let their guard down. It wasn’t long until Saurians everywhere caught on to this trick, convincing themselves to track down and kill all Rainbow Faces without mercy! It didn’t matter the age or the gender, elderly Rainbow Faces right down to little hatchlings succumbed to the relentless wrath of the Saurians. Several Rainbow Face populations established fortresses and protective facilities around themselves where they would hunker down until the vast space fleet was finally ready to transport them to the orbiting space stations, and to life.

Although Chris’ life was never at such high risk, his role in preparing for the Great Departure was at times a nightmare! In the first few weeks, advisors would contact him and frequently point out that the necessary expenses were far greater than all of the available funds. He insisted that costs should’ve been a rather low priority in a situation like this, but the complaints kept coming. It soon came to a point where he had to address this issue on the air, where he famously said, “Forget the money! I wanna live!!” It was a quote that would be repeated among many “runners” to emphasize their desperation. Sure enough, the money complaints quickly stopped after that. “Debt” was no longer such a bad word anymore.

Over the last few weeks, all cargo that was precious to Rainbow Face civilization and history was launched to the space stations. These records and artifacts would be preserved for generations to come, but larger objects and fixed structures ó which couldn’t be launched into space for obvious reasons ó would be left behind and abandoned to the forces of nature. Once all of the cargo shipments were done, it was time for the final step: transporting the entire Rainbow Face population itself.

On the evening prior, Christopher Dempsey went on the air for the last time. The latest reports indicated that the total remaining estimated population of Rainbow Faces left alive was down to just around fifty thousand. “Just enough to sustain our race!” Chris said sadly. In his speech, he urged all the remaining governing authorities to put “The Great Departure” into motion at dawn tomorrow, and to migrate all of their remaining citizens to their nearest space ports to be launched into orbit in various space vehicles. He also urged all Saurians everywhere to not resist this mass exodus, as all of the remaining Rainbow Faces everywhere unanimously wanted to leave. (He refused to mention that virtually all of the “fighters” had been killed off by now, which in his mind he was thankful for.) David Longneck then came on the air to back Chris’s claim, and to tell his brethren to, “Do as my friend says, for the sake of whatever world the Rainbow Faces decide to make for themselves out in space.”

After Christopher Dempsey then terminated his last transmission for good, he and his family gathered up their necessary belongings to leave. He had called for the tractor trailer limo to come to Camp David to pick them up. When the limo arrived, all of Chris and his family climbed aboard the front cabin, while David and his family climbed into the huge trailer behind. It would be a several hours’ drive before they arrived at their final destination, which was Cape Carnivoria in the southeastern Laurentian state of Flowrydia, so named because of the large amount of sharpteeth that had made this swampy area of southeastern Laurentia their home. As the limo left Camp David for the last time, Christopher Dempsey contemplated the future of his race, and what their future out in space would look like.


Roughly twelve hours later, the tractor trailer limo arrived in Cape Carnivoria. The journey itself had been mostly uneventful. They had to bypass the highway at a few points along the way because of the mass destruction that had rendered those areas impassable, but they were almost at their final destination.

A few thousand-lengths from the launch pads for the rockets and space shuttles, they encountered a traffic jam. The roadway leading to the space port was clogged with thousands of abandoned vehicles of all kinds. That’s when the decision was made to walk the rest of the way to the space port, as the huge tractor trailer limo could not get through this kind of congestion. So they climbed out of the limo and abandoned it right where it stopped.

About a half hour later, they neared the space port and were surprised to see a large number of screaming Saurians all gathered around. Chris figured word must’ve leaked out that the Great Departure would occur today, and the Saurians had decided to gather and watch their greatest nemesis leave Terra for good. Chris and David were astounded at seeing the large number of Saurians gathered in one place! It seemed to them like every Saurian in Laurentia came down to observe this grand exodus take place!

As they neared the crowd, the noise of their screaming became louder and louder. As they were about a hundred lengths away from the crowd, Chris ordered David and his longneck family to surround them for protection. He told David to stand at the front of the circle of protection, so that once the crowd of Saurians saw that it was him that was approaching, they would make way for him and let him through.

Sure enough, as soon as the crowd saw him approach, they all cried, “It’s David Longneck!” “Make way for David!” others cried, and the Saurian crowd cleared a path so David and his family could move to the front of the crowd. Although the crowd was still able to easily recognize him, it was clear that his health had deteriorated over the past few years. No one knew for sure what the cause was, but the most common theory was that he was suffering from depression ó the source of which was just as uncertain to anyone outside of Camp David.

As soon as the crowd saw the Rainbow Faces David was protecting, however, they got angry and started shouting slurs, insults, and also threw stuff at them. David and his longneck family held the Saurian crowd back. Although his children were not as big as he and his wife were, they still provided sufficient protection for Chris and his family.

When they finally broke through the crowd, they saw that a steel barricade was set up a few lengths away with several black armor clad Rainbow Face soldiers armed with automatic rifles all lined up and guarding the barricade. They were ready to open fire on any Saurian that would try to approach or charge the barricade. A passageway just wide enough for Rainbow Faces to walk through single file was set up, and it lead all the way up to the launch pad where a passenger shuttle was waiting.

When they were just a few lengths away from the barricade, Chris and David stopped to face each other. “Well, I guess this is goodbye,” Chris said in a somewhat shaky voice.

“I guess so,” David said in response, his eyes almost wet with tears.

They both stood there in silence for a few more moments, then both males embraced each other. The watching Saurian crowd jeered and booed this tender moment, but Chris and David didn’t hear them. To them, the Saurian crowd was thousand-lengths away.

“I’m gonna miss you!” David sobbed as the tears streamed down his cheeks.

“I’ll miss you, too!” Chris sniffed. “Don’t lead them astray, y’hear?”

“I won’t. I promise,” David swore.

Meanwhile, David’s wife and their kids said their own goodbyes with Chris’ family. All of the kids were bawling openly, for they knew that this was the last time in their lives they would ever be together.

Finally, embraces were relinquished. Everyone looked at each other for the last time before Christopher Dempsey and his family made their way down the passageway to the waiting space shuttle.

The Rainbow Face soldiers then retreated towards the space shuttle when the last of the Rainbow Faces made their way down the passageway. As the last of them were leaving, the Saurian crowd started chanting “Na na na na! Hey, hey, hey! Goodbye!” as the last remaining Rainbow Faces boarded the shuttle. Christopher Dempsey looked back upon the chanting crowd. He was able to pick out David Longneck and his family, looking really sad. After a few moments of this, he boarded the shuttle himself to take his place in one of the many passenger compartments set up inside. The last Rainbow Face to enter the shuttle after him turned around, bore an angry scowl on his face, and gave the finger with both hands to the Saurian crowd. The Saurians hissed and booed in reaction to this.

Some of the smarter Saurians, who saw the smoke coming out of the space shuttle’s boosters, started shouting and motioning for the crowd to move back so as to not get caught in the middle of the initial lift off blast and get incinerated. When they reached the safe distance, they had grown surprisingly quiet, anticipating the lift off of the shuttle.

Minutes later, the shuttle boosters fired up, thus lifting the shuttle up into the sky. Several other shuttles and rockets lifted off almost simultaneously. The Saurian crowd broke into wild cheers as this happened. Their cheers were soon drowned out by the noise of the rocket engines of the dozens of space shuttles and engines that lifted off into the air.

The crowd was still cheering after the shuttles and rockets were out of sight. “Goodbye, old friend. May The Primal Force watch other you and your family,” David Longneck said to himself as one final tear streamed down his face.

He then turned to face the still cheering crowd, and noticed the large podium to his left that was set up so he could give his speech. After regaining his composure, he dried his face with his forepaws and moved to climb up onto the podium. The crowd started chanting his name as he moved up to the microphoned altar. He let the chanting crowd continue for a few more minutes. He then tested the microphone with his right forepaw. The feedback whine told him that the microphone was on and was working. The crowd immediately grew silent to listen to what David had to say.

“My fellow Saurians, so it’s now come down to this!” Unlike most of his past speeches, there was little, if any, pride and strength in his voice; it was more solemn and almost defeated. Much of the crowd failed to notice this, however. “You’ve expelled from this world a race of dinos whom you felt would’ve kept you in the bonds of tyranny forever. You’ve…”

He was interrupted by the sudden cheer of the crowd. He let this continue for a couple of minutes before raising a forepaw demanding silence.

“You’ve chosen a world without the Rainbow Faces, a world without the benefits of their knowledge and their technology. You’ve chosen a world where you can revert back to the primal traditions of our ancestors.”

The crowd erupted into cheers again. David let this continue unabated. Then they finally quieted down, he continued.

“While each and every one of you may think that this is the ideal world for you, it is not the ideal world for me!”

The crowd grew more serious. Smiles began to disappear as they listened to what the longneck, who became their symbolic leader, had to say.

“All I wanted was a world where both our cultures could coexist in peace and harmony; a world where we could all move together towards a better and brighter future. That was the dream I had dreamed all those years ago! Now, to my great sorrow, that dream will never become a reality!

“You may think you have won by casting out the Rainbow Face ëvermin’ that you felt have suppressed you, but I don’t see any winners here at all; only losers, and the countless dead we must now bury!

̶

CHAPTER 8

SPIKE’S HISTORY LESSON

Briank handed the handheld controller to Yolanda, who went straight into the next lesson.

“The next part of the lesson centers on Spike’s ancestor, who went by the name of Robert Spiketail. He died at an early age for a spiketail, but his role in our history was no less important.”

Spike’s eyes lit up and his earholes perked up at this.

Yolanda pressed the handheld controller, and the projector warbled to life once again as more images were displayed on the cave wall. “Robert, or ëBob’, as his friends would call him, lived in a time in our society where there was great progress. Devices called ëmicro computers’ were being developed and perfected. These are the distant ancestors of the computer that runs this file projector, and the computers that run the Enterprise currently orbiting this planet.

“Thanks to these computers, we were not only able to store vast amounts of information for safekeeping, but also take our first steps into space. First by launching satellites into orbit, then rocket ships and space shuttles that allowed Rainbow Face Cosmonauts to go ëspacewalking’, build space stations, and repair and maintain those numerous devices we put in orbit around this planet.”

As Yolanda was talking, several images and newsreel clips depicting all that Yolanda described appeared on the cave wall. The dinos were quite mesmerized at seeing the computers being looked after by Rainbow Faces, the rockets and space shuttles launching, and the Rainbow Face Cosmonauts taking their space walks as they worked on repairing some satellite or space station that was in orbit.

This made Littlefoot ask a burning question. “Uhh… Miss Yolanda. How come it’s only Rainbow Faces that I see in Beyond the Mysterious Beyond working on those sah-tuh-lights? Where are the other flattooth cause-moe-knots?”

Yolanda looked nervous. She didn’t dare answer the overly curious adolescent longneck. Briank, sensing his wife’s nervousness, intervened. “That is a question that is best answered later.”

Littlefoot was about to protest. “My husband’s right. We shall answer that question in due time,” Yolanda said before Littlefoot could utter a word.

Littlefoot lifted a paw, and moved his mouth as if to say something, then sighed and shut it in frustration.

“In continuing with the lesson: As you all know, the United Laurentian States was run by a Rainbow Face male called the ëPresident’. He was literally the most powerful male in the entire civilized dino world! Such a powerful figure must be well protected by what was called a ëSecurity Force’, for a male holding that much power could have many enemies out to harm him, or even kill him.”

All of the dinos gasped.

“Robert Spiketail happened to be one of those Security Agents assigned to protect the famous Laurentian President Ronald Deegan.”

Yolanda pressed the handheld controller one more time. The projector warbled as several pictures and videos of Security Agents on duty were displayed on the cave wall. “This was Robert’s job, day in and day out,” she said. “Spiketails were often chosen and trained for this role, because they were considered the toughest and strongest of all of the Saurian races. But there were other Saurians who were recruited for the job, as you can see.”

Just then, a short video depicting a lone hadrosaur among a sea of spiketails surrounding the Laurentian President as he was giving a speech in front of The White Residency.

“But little did any dino know that Robert would end up playing an important part in our history, even though it would cost him life,” Briank said sadly.

“What happened to him?” Spike asked.

“I was just getting to that!” Yolanda said. “That day started out quite ordinary for Robert, then something terrible happened…”


It was an overcast day in Wilmington D.S. (which stood for District of Sauria), and a large crowd was gathered in front of the Walton-Astria Hotel in the downtown area. The crowd was eagerly awaiting the arrival of their President, a middle aged Rainbow Face called Ronald Deegan. Already, in his short term in Office, he had done many great things for the citizens of Laurentia, but he had also done some controversial things that many Rainbow Faces and Saurians didn’t like.

He was to make a speech in front of the hotel before he was to have a luncheon meeting inside the hotel with the newly elected President of Grenadia, a country in the continent of Amazonia, south of Laurentia. He received tremendous backing by the Laurentian Government that allowed him to win the elections. The former Dictatorship that ruled the country for a long time was finally defeated in a coup d’Ètat, and a provisional people’s government took power before the first real elections for a new President could be held.

This speech in front of the hotel was unusual for President Deegan. He normally received the visiting dignitaries at The White Residency. This was done to better accommodate the Grenadian President, who happened to be staying at the hotel. Deegan’s advisors did not like the idea of him holding a speech out in public like this, for he had received numerous death threats in the days leading up to his meeting with the Grenadian President. However, against his Chief Advisor’s wishes, he went ahead with the plan that he set out himself for today.

At the foot of the crowd stood two Security Agents. They were guarding the corridor that was set up for the President to walk through and up to the podium where he was to give his speech, before going inside the hotel to meet the Grenadian President. One was a spiketail called Robert Spiketail, or “Bob”, as his friends called him. The other was a threehorn known simply as “Fred”. Fred was the elder of the two. He had been a part of The White Residency Security Staff for almost twenty years, while Robert was only into his second year on this elite force assigned to protect the President wherever he went. Fred became Bob’s mentor, and Bob learned a lot from Fred on how to be the best Security Agent he could be.

“I still think it’s a mistake doing this,” Robert said. “Given the recent threats made against him, he should’ve moved this whole shin dig to The White Residency.”

“I agree, but he’s our President,” Fred said in answer. “We shouldn’t question his decisions.”

“Whatever you say, boss.”

“I told you not to call me that! I’m not your ëboss’! I’m just another member of Security, just like you.”

“But you’ve been at it for far longer than me.” He turned to face Fred. “And you’ve taught me a lot.”

Fred returned the look with a smile. “No need to remind me. I merely showed you the ropes.”

“Oh, you did more than that, and I’ll always be grateful for what you did.”

Fred could only smile at his “student’s” praise. “So how are those two boys of yours doing?” Fred asked, changing the conversation.

“Just great!” Bob answered. “They worry about me, though. My wife worries, too.”

“You’re not the only one. My wife and daughter worry about me all the time, too! Comes with the job.” Fred simply shrugged. “Keep your eyes peeled, kid. Anything can happen.”

“Yes, sir,” Bob said.

Then Fred noticed the presidential limo roll up. “Here we go!” Fred said as he and Bob moved to take their pre-assigned positions.

The limo pulled up alongside the makeshift corridor. Two other security agents ó both Rainbow Faces since most kinds of Saurians couldn’t fit inside ó stepped out and took up their posts around the President, who climbed out of the limo and immediately started smiling and waving. The crowd erupted into cheers and the press cameras started flashing and the video cameras started rolling as President Deegan made his way down the corridor up to the podium. The four Security Agents surrounded the President to make sure that no dino would get at him. Many at either side of the corridor tried to reach out and touch him, or shake his hand. The agents allowed this, once they saw that they weren’t carrying any concealed weapons.

More enthusiastic cheers erupted as President Deegan climbed up onto the stage, smiled and waved at the crowd. He walked up to the podium, and waited until the cheering died down. When it finally did, he began his speech. “My fellow Laurentians…”

Meanwhile, the Security Agents lining the stage, including Robert Spiketail, gazed at the crowd; making sure that no dino made any sudden moves that’d might be considered threatening. Robert then caught a glimpse of something on the roof of a building across the street. A lone dino was up there for some reason. Even from where he was at, he would see that it was a Rainbow Face. His presence up there was quite conspicuous! Bob continued to observe his movements while wondering what the heck that dino was doing up there, when there shouldn’t be anyone up there to begin with.

When he saw the lone dino pull out a rifle and moved to aim towards the President, he sprung into action without a moment’s hesitation. He jumped onto the stage and ran towards the Rainbow Face male he was assigned to protect. “MR. PRESIDENT!” he screamed as he shoved him out of the way. At that exact same moment, the assassin on the roof fired his rifle, and the bullet caught Robert Spiketail in his ribcage, piercing his lung.

Everything seemed to happen in slow motion as Robert staggered from the impact of the bullet, but stayed on his feet, despite the fact that he was winded from the shot. The assassin reloaded his rifle, and President Deegan got to his feet. “NOOOOOO!” Robert screamed as he placed himself in front of his President. The assassin’s second shot pierced Robert’s skull and he collapsed to the floor of the stage.

The crowd began to scream and scatter as other Security Agents climbed onto the stage and surrounded the President, shielding him from a third potential shot from the assassin. Fred put a paw to the side of his head, activating his communicator, and said, “I have visual on the suspect! He’s on the highest rooftop across the street!”

The message was received by a fast runner Security Agent on the roof of the hotel, sniper rifle in hand. He always knew it was going to be a bad day if he ever needed to use that rifle, but now it was time to show why Security Agents like him were always prepared for the worst. Thanks to his combat experience from the war in Vianem over a decade earlier, he was quickly able to aim his rifle at the assassin and fire. The bullet pierced the assassin’s skull and downed him just as he was getting ready to take a third shot at President Deegan. The agents who surrounded President Deegan quickly moved to take him back to his limo so he could be quickly driven away to safety.

“BOB!” Fred cried out as he realized that his friend and fellow agent was limp on the floor of the stage. He climbed up to move beside the big spiketail, who was lying in a pool of his own blood. “Bob! BOB!” Fred screamed as he shook his friend’s limp body. “Stay with me, Bob! DON’T YOU DIE ON ME!”

When the Paramedics climbed up onto the stage to tend to Robert, Fred moved out of the way to let them do their work, looking quite sad and worried.


“… But there was nothing the paramedics could do. Robert Spiketail was pronounced dead at the scene.”

Littlefoot and his friends all looked sad upon hearing this tragic story. Spike even allowed a tear to roll down his cheek.

“As it turns out, the would-be assassin was a crazed Rainbow Face named Joe Finkle Jr., who was captured and imprisoned in Grenadia for drug trafficking. He managed to escape prison and sneak his way back into Laurentia. He obviously held a grudge against President Deegan, for he was responsible for the ëWar on Drugs’ campaign that brought down several powerful drug cartels in Amazonia, including the very same drug cartel that Joe Finkle worked for.”

Yolanda then pressed the handheld controller to activate the projector. “We were fortunate enough to have in our archives a newsreel tape of the actual assassination attempt. I’m going to show it to you here. I should warn you, though, that it is pretty gruesome.”

She pressed the handheld controller again, and the projector warbled into action as the video of the entire incident, complete with sound, was played out. It started with the President’s speech that went on for a couple of minutes, then everybody could see Robert Spiketail suddenly jump onto the stage. You could clearly hear him shout “Mr. President!” as he moved to push President Deegan out of the way. President Deegan fell to the floor of the stage as a distant popping noise was heard. That was the sound of the assassin’s rifle being fired! The camera captured the impact of the bullet in Robert’s left side.

The dinos gasped at this horrific sight. The newsreel camera then captures Robert lunging himself in front of President Deegan. You could clearly hear him screaming “Noooo!” just before the second bullet hit him in the head, causing an outward spray of blood. Most of Littlefoot’s friends looked away upon seeing this. Petrie even covered his eyes with his wings! Spike was simply surprised and dumbfounded at what he saw. The videographer was able to capture Robert Spiketail’s collapse to the stage floor before he was bowled over by the screaming and panicking crowd running away, and that’s where the video ended.

The projector warbled again as the cave wall went dark.

The dinos stayed stunned for a few moments, then Ducky finally spoke. “Y-you were right! That was pretty gruesome.”

“You’re tellin’ me!” Cera said, still in shock over what she saw.

“What a way to go,” Spike sadly said.

“But, like the Great War videos you’ve seen earlier, we felt it was necessary for you to see that in order to fully learn of Robert Spiketail’s heroism.” Yolanda said.

Petrie slowly lowered his wings once he realized the horrific video was gone. “Gee! Now that I think about it, Spike’s ancestor looked almost exactly like Spike! For a second there, I thought it actually was Spike taking those buhl-lets and dying.”

“Thanks,” Spike said, taking what Petrie just said as a compliment.

“But how does taking a buh-leht like that make him a hero?” Littlefoot asked.

“Sometimes, it is the smallest of things that makes the greatest of heroes,” Mr. Kark said.

“What do you mean?” Littlefoot asked.

“What he means is,” Briank began, “that a simple act of sacrifice, like what you’ve just seen Robert Spiketail do, is all it takes to be a great hero.”

It took a moment for it to sink in, but once Littlefoot realized that what Mr. Kark and Briank said was true, he smiled knowingly. “Oh! I get it, now!”

Briank smiled and nodded. “It is also interesting to note that later on that week, Robert Spiketail’s remains were interred at Arkington Cemetery in Wilmington D.S., where all Saurian and Rainbow Face heroes of Laurentia are buried.”

“Wow! That’s awful nice,” Ruby commented.

Briank smiled and nodded. “Indeed! And another interesting fact was frequently talked about following Robert’s death. Since before the Laurentian Civil War, each Laurentian President that had either been assassinated or simply passed away while in office had been elected exactly 20 years apart! Had President Deegan actually been assassinated on that day, it would have continued that unfortunate trend, long believed by some to be a curse placed upon the Presidency by an old native tribe. So it was heralded that Robert Spiketail ëbroke the curse’, so to speak.”

The dinos happily muttered amongst themselves at this interesting fact.

“And that concludes this lesson surrounding Spike’s ancestor,” Yolanda said.

Littlefoot and his friends smiled happily at themselves over the lesson they’ve just had, and Littlefoot and Ruby were left wondering who would be next to have their history lesson.

CHAPTER 7.1

DUCKY’S HISTORY LESSON

Briank and Yolanda called for a short break after Cera’s history lesson was over. Briank asked the Saurians if they wanted some water and a little something to eat. Most of the Saurians admitted that they were thirsty, and a few said that they were a little hungry. Briank and Yolanda broke out some plastic bottles of water and a tray full of sweet bubbles. The Rainbow Faces offered Chomper some jerky, but Chomper politely refused saying he was still digesting the steak dinner and sundae he had awhile ago.

Littlefoot and his gang had already seen plastic water bottles on the Enterprise, so it wasn’t new to them. While the two footers were able to remove the plastic caps off of the bottles, it wasn’t that easy for the four footers. Briank offered to open the bottles for them. While Spike asked for Briank’s help, Cera and Littlefoot proudly said, “No,” and managed to unscrew the bottle caps with their teeth. Chomper simply bit off the end of the bottle with his sharp teeth. “Must you do that!?” Cera said with some annoyance, to which Chomper simply flashed a toothy teasing smile at her. Cera simply rolled her eyes. This made Yolanda have second thoughts about simply handing the water to them in plastic bottles.

Those who were hungry helped themselves to the bundles of sweet bubbles from the tray. Mr. Kark even grabbed a bunch, picked up the bubbles one by one and popped them in his mouth.

After about half an hour of relaxing and idle chit chat, Briank offered to continue with the lesson, to which the Saurians eagerly said, “Yes.”

Briank cleared his throat before continuing. “This next part of the lesson takes place some decades after Cera’s ancestor’s time. It was a time of great progress for the Rainbow Face civilization where many new means of transportation were being invented.” Briank pressed the hand held clicker a few times to display a series of images on the cave wall. Littlefoot and his friends OOOHed at the images being displayed. “Many different kinds of motorized four wheeled vehicles, two wheeled peddlers and aircraft were being built and perfected. You remember seeing images of these on the Enterprise, don’t you?”

The Saurians all smiled, nodded and muttered “Yes!”

“It was also a period that saw the rise of a grand popular culture movement through the means of music and moving pictures, better known as movies.” He then pressed the hand held clicker one more time, and a movie scene was shown on the cave wall. “This is a clip from a movie called ëThe Jazz Act,’ which was the first ever motion picture movie with sound that was created. You remember seeing something similar in our quarters on the Enterprise, don’t you?”

The Saurians nodded.

“Yeah, but the pick-churz weren’t as bad as this.” Petrie commented.

“And the sound wasn’t as bad, either,” Chomper said.

Yolanda giggled. “Motion picture cameras back then weren’t as highly advanced as they are now, or even a hundred years from that point.”

Briank nodded. “That’s right. Everything was still experimental, but it was cutting edge technology, for its time.”

The Saurians all nodded in agreement.

“Eventually, though, motion picture cameras would become capable of not only capturing better sound, but also colour. Like these.” Briank clicked the hand held controller a few more times to display clips of other movies that did include colour images and better sound quality.

“You’re right!” Ducky said. “These moo-vees do look and sound better. Yep, yep, yep!”

Briank smiled, but then immediately grew more somber. “But while this period in history was a time of great progress, it was also a time of great upheaval.”

The Saurians, seeing Briank’s somberness, became increasingly worried.

“While some of the advances in technology that were invented were used for good; others, still, were used for evil.”

Gasps and cries of shock were heard from the Saurians as Briank displayed images of early missiles, bombs, grenades, rifles, and machine guns. “It was with the introduction of these weapons of destruction and chaos that made some nations very concerned about some of their neighbors, so they made agreements with other nations that they would fight together, should one of them end up being attacked. Eventually, tensions got so high that all it took was the killing of just one leader to set off a chain reaction that made everyone on each side declare war on the other side, thus bringing about the First Great War.”

Littlefoot and his friends cringed as Briank displayed a few “homemade” moving pictures of trench warfare that was common during that period in their history. There were even scenes that depicted Rainbow Faces and Saurians of all kinds getting shot down or blown up.

“Now, after thisó” Briank continued.

“Uhh… I-I-I don’t think we should see anymore!” Littlefoot interrupted, sensing his friends’ concern.

“Y-y-y-yes! This is very scary, and I don’t think we should continue with this lesson! No, no, noooo!” Ducky whined almost to the point of tears.

“I understand how you feel!” Yolanda sadly said. “But we feel it is necessary to show you not only the good parts of our history, but the bad parts, as well.”

Briank nodded. “Yes! Keep in mind that history isn’t always ëpeaches and cream’.”

“Peaches and…???” Chomper uttered, somewhat confused.

“An old Rainbow Face expression,” Mr. Kark said. “What it means is that things in life aren’t always pleasant. There necessarily has to be darker and more somber periods intermixed.”

“So in other words: Good times, bad times?” Cera offered.

Yolanda smiled. “You got it, dearie!”

Cera nodded. “I understand now. And can you stop calling me ëdearie’!? It sounds almost childish, and we’re not kids anymore!”

Yolanda giggled. “As you wish.”

“Besides,” Briank continued, “it’s not as if you haven’t seen anything like this before. Remember the Petrograd Massacre?”

Littlefoot nodded. “I remember.”

“Uhhh…” Ducky began, raising a finger. “Most of us looked away when that moo-vee started, including me.”

“I didn’t look away!” Petrie said proudly.

Cera humphed. “Yeah, right! A scaredy egg like you!?”

Petrie glared at Cera.

“I’m pretty sure you did look away, Petrie,” Spike smiled, which caused Petrie to glare in his direction next.

“Well, regardless of who saw it and didn’t see it, if these new moo-vees have to be seen, then we should all see them,” Ruby suggested.

Finally, Littlefoot nodded. “All right, continue with the lesson, Briank.”

Briank smiled. “Very well, then!” He pressed the handheld control, and the First Great War video clips appeared on the cave wall again.

“As I was saying: After the First Great War ended, many nations signed a peace treaty, thus officially ending that conflict. During the negotiations, it was decided that many of the devastating weapons that had been used for the first time in that war, like poison gas, should never be used again.”

Briank pressed the hand held control again, and another silent movie appeared on the screen wall. “This is a news reel clip of the signing of that peace treaty.” Briank let the movie run for a few minutes so the Saurians can take it all in.

He then pressed the handheld control again. A warbling sound was heard from the projector as it vanished from the cave wall.

“This peace, however, was short lived. Only a few decades later, the Europan nations that were defeated in the First Great War were taken over by evil leaders who wanted to extract revenge on the nations who won that war.”

He pressed the handheld control, and other “homemade” movies appeared, depicting grand parades of Rainbow Face and Saurian armies and their weapons. Some of the movies were black and white, and some were in colour. “As you can see, some video cameras able to capture colour were already in use at that time.”

He let the movies run while he continued his lecture. “These nations spent years rebuilding their armies and building new, more sophisticated… and devastating weapons that they would use to wreak havoc on the other Europan nations.”

He pressed the handheld control again. The projector warbled as more “home” movies of fighting appeared on the cave wall. “When Germania invaded its nearest neighbor, Polia, this brought about the Second Great War. As you can see, some cameras capable of capturing sound were also being used.”

The Saurians cringed as they heard the sounds of explosions, machine gun fire, and screams of death and injury. Nobody, however, looked away or complained. They all just stood silent as they watched the drama unfold.

Finally, Briank pressed the handheld control one more time, and the projector warbled as the movie disappeared from the cave wall.

“As you saw, it was a time of great chaos and peril,” Briank said somberly.

“It certainly was,” Littlefoot said as he still bore a stunned expression on his face.

“Ducky’s ancestor, Jack Swimmer, lived in these tumultuous times,” Briank said.

“He did???” Ducky asked in surprise.

“Indeed he did!” Yolanda answered. “And soon you will learn the important part he played in that part of our history.”

“You see,” Briank continued, “Jack Swimmer was an ordinary factory worker living in the United Laurentian States. He was already married and had three children when Laurentia entered the Second Great War. He, like many other ordinary civilians, felt compelled to volunteer for the Army and help defeat the evil nations who wanted nothing more than to conquer the world and enslave every last Rainbow Face and Saurian living in it! But mostly, he wanted to protect his family, and provide a future for his children, a future in a free world.

“Jack became a part of our history one fateful day, while he was shopping for supplies in the downtown area of the town he lived in, then he ran across…”


Jack Swimmer was walking home from his factory job in Columbias, High Hoe state, like any other day. On his way home, though, he saw a most unusual scene. At an Army recruiting station, there was a large line up of Rainbow Faces and Saurians of all kinds, and he saw several posters depicting the sharptooth character Uncle Szam looking rather fierce and pointing his finger at no one in particular with that familiar slogan “We want YOU.” Only this time, it was accompanied by another phrase “to join the fight for freedom. Sign up today!”

As Jack proceeded up the sidewalk past the long line up of Rainbow Faces and Saurians, he was stopped by a good friend of his.

“Jack!” his Saurian friend called out.

“Billy!” Jack called back to his friend.

William McKay, “Billy” to his friends, was another swimmer who worked at the same factory as Jack did. The two had started working there at around the same time and had become fast friends. He had finished his shift a half hour earlier than Jack did, and Jack assumed that he would be home to his wife by now. He certainly wasn’t expecting to see him here.

“What’s going on?” Jack asked, gesturing toward the long line up.

“Haven’t you heard? The war in Europa has gotten pretty bad, and they need all the help they can get. I hear they have an especially dire need for swimmers like us to join some kind of special unit.”

“What sort of unit?”

Billy shrugged. “Don’t know. All I know is that it’s supposed to be special. So what do ya say?” Billy smiled in an attempt to coax his friend into signing up.

Jack took one look at the lineup, taking in all of the brave young males eager to sign up, looked back at his friend, smiled, nodded, and moved to take his place at the back of the line up.

“Atta boy, Jack! You won’t regret this!” Billy called out to his friend.

“I hope not!” Jack called back.


A short time later, Jack finally arrived home. “Honey! I’m home!” he called out.

But he was greeted by somebody else almost as soon as he arrived. The little swimmer female flashed a huge smile, gasped, and ran up to him. “Daddy’s home! Daddy’s home!”

“Hey, sweetie!” Jack smiled brightly as he picked her up in his arms and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

Almost immediately, he was also greeted by his older daughter, who came up to hug him, and his son, the eldest sibling who had just turned twelve. “Hey, dad,” The boy said as he came up to give Jack a small pat on the shoulder. Jack smiled and rubbed his son affectionately on the head.

Then his wife, still wearing an apron, as she was still getting dinner ready, appeared. “Hi, dear!” she said as she sidled up to him.

“Hey, honey!” Jack as he wrapped his arm around her waist. They both shared a kiss on the lips.

“You’re late!” his wife said, adopting a more serious look.

Jack nodded. “I know, and with good reason.”

“Not sharing drinks with Bill at the local bar again, I hope!” she said, anticipating that same old excuse.

“No. Better. I’ll tell it to you over dinner.”

The female swimmer nodded. “All right. Can’t wait to hear what your excuse is this time, and if it’s another one of Bill’s lame brained ideas.”

Jack laughed. “This time, I assure you it’s not.”

“I’ll be the judge of that,” His wife said. “And remind me to kill Bill, if it turns out that it is.”

Jack laughed again as they all made their way to the dining room.


“You did what!?” Jack’s wife exclaimed from her place at the dinner table.

“I joined the Army,” Jack repeated with a grin.

“Why???” his wife asked, almost in a whine.

“The war in Europa is going pretty badly. They need all the help they can get.”

Jack’s wife adopted a serious look. The children preferred to stay silent throughout this entire argument.

“Is this another one of Bill’s ideas?” she asked.

Jack grinned nervously. “Kinda.”

The female swimmer slapped her hand down on the table. “I knew it! I KNEW IT! Of all of the dumb ideas he’s had, this one is, by far, the worst one yet! I told you that he was bad news from the start, and that it was a bad idea befriending him, but NOOOOOO… You decided to ignore me and become buddies with him, even though he married a swimmer girl I absolutely hated from school!” She then pointed a finger at him. “I want you go back to that Recruitment station tomorrow first thing and tell them that you want out!”

“It’s too late for that, dear. The enlistment papers are signed. It’s a done deal.”

“But don’t you realize how dangerous it could be!? I mean, what if you get killed!? I couldn’t stand to lose you! Not now! Think of your kids. Our kids. They need you, now more than ever!”

Jack got up and moved to be next to his wife, who was to the point of tears. His children stayed in their places, but looked really sad. “I thought about all that, I really did,” he said in a comforting tone as he knelt down next to her beside her chair. “True, it might be dangerous over there, but I can take care of myself, you know that. But this is more than just a… senseless war. It’s another fight for freedom. If we just sit by and do nothing, things could end up being worse than the First Great War. I, for one, don’t want our kids to grow up in a world where they are not free to choose what they want to be, live the way they choose to live, benefit from the nourishments of liberty. That’s why I signed up, and that’s why Bill, and countless others, signed up.”

After taking a few moments to take all this in, Jack’s wife sniffed and looked to him with sad eyes, and nodded. Jack smiled at this, and kissed her on the cheek. “W-when do you have to report?” she asked him.

“A week from today,” he answered. “They’ve already notified the factory of this.”

Jack’s son got up to move next to his father, and lay a hand on his shoulder. “Dad, are you absolutely sure that you’re going to be safe over there?”

Jack smiled at his sad looking son. “I will. I promise.” He then rubbed his son’s head.

The swimmer boy smiled slowly. “Then go kick Germania’s tail!”

This made Jack laugh. His two girls both got up to come hug their father, still feeling quite sad. Jack felt their sorrow as they all shared a family group hug.


One week later, Jack Swimmer arrived at the recruitment depot in downtown Columbias. It was here that he was supposed to board a bus to take him off to boot camp. His family had come to see him off. They were surprised to see hundreds of dinos and Rainbow Faces there! It seems that all of the recruits of the entire state of High Hoe were gathered there today!

“There sure are a lot of dinos gathered here today,” Mrs. Swimmer even commented.

“Well, there was a long lineup at the recruitment station that day,” Jack said in response.

Then Jack’s friend, Bill, showed up. “Hey, Jack!” Bill said as he greeted him.

“Hey, Billy,” Jack said as he greeted him back.

“Mrs. Swimmer? Kids?” Bill said as he nodded to Jack’s family.

“Bill?” Mrs. Swimmer said as she returned the nod.

“Hi, Bill!” the kids said in unison.

“So, are you ready for this?” Bill asked his friend.

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” Jack said in answer.

“I still think it’s a bad idea,” Mrs. Swimmer said.

“Hey! It’s a new fight for freedom, Mrs. S!” Bill smiled. “Besides, it’s too late to back out now.”

“And I have you to thank for this, Bill!” Mrs. Swimmer said sarcastically.

Then the buses pulled in. “All right, people! Let’s go!” an Army Sargeant shouted out, thus causing everyone to line up to board the buses. As had been the case throughout history, all of the army regiments were segregated; each consisted of nothing but one type of Saurian, and half of them were often for Rainbow Faces. This meant that everyone had to get in line with their own kind, so that each bus would take them to their respective boot camp.

“Time to go,” Jack said as he grabbed his duffle bag and threw it over his shoulder. He then gave his wife one final kiss.

“Please be careful,” Mrs. Swimmer said to him.

“I will,” he replied back with a smile.

His children looked sad as they hugged their father goodbye. His youngest daughter, though, felt the saddest. “I don’t want you to go!” she sobbed as she hugged her father deeply.

Jack knelt down to face his daughter. “I have to, honey!” he said softly to her. “Don’t worry. I’m coming back. I promise.”

She sniffed and wiped the tears from her eyes. “Okay,” she said hoarsely.

Jack kissed her on the forehead. “Remember, daddy loves you.”

“I love you, too, daddy,” she said as she gave her one final hug.

“Swimmer! McKay! Come on, let’s go!” the Army Sergeant called after them, seeing that they were lagging behind. Bill had lingered to observe the touching scene between his best friend and his family. Bill had already kissed his wife goodbye before he left home. She had decided to stay home and look after household chores.

“We gotta go, Jack,” Bill urged.

Jack nodded, gave his family one final wave as they moved to take their place in the lineup to board the nearest bus.

Bill was in front of Jack, but when it came his turn to board, he was stopped by the Corporal that was at the foot of the entry door. “You’re McKay, right?” the Corporal asked him.

Bill nodded. “Yeah, that’s me.”

“You’re in the wrong line. You’re over there,” the Corporal said as he pointed to another bus not far away.

Bill looked concerned, “But Ió”

“No buts, Private! Move!” the Corporal ordered.

“Y-yes, sir!” Bill stammered as he moved to take his place at the lineup for the other bus.

“I’ll catch you later!” Jack called out to his friend as he rushed away. To have more than one bus for swimmers could only mean that a lot of swimmers had been recruited. Whether most of them had signed up or were drafted, he had no idea.

“Okay! Swimmer! You’re right here,” the Corporal said as he gestured towards the bus in front of him, to which Jack boarded and took a seat.

The buses soon pulled out. Jack’s family stayed and sadly watched them leave. They caught sight of Jack in the bus window, who smiled and waved to them as the bus rolled out. They smiled and waved back to him. When the bus was out of sight, Mrs. Swimmer started to walk back home, comforting her sad kids as they went.


As soon as they arrived at boot camp, which was in some remote location in northern High Hoe near one of the Big Lakes, everyone was told to go stand at attention in rows of two to be inspected by the Staff Sergeant. Jack looked around for Billy, but did not see him. That’s when Jack realized that he must’ve been sent to a different boot camp. He sighed inwardly and went to take his place amongst the row of soldiers.

“AttenTION!” the Corporal called out, which prompted every dino in the rows to stand straight with their feet together, as they were taught to do at the recruitment station.

The Corporal then moved to face a swimmer standing at the far edge of the rows. Both saluted each other. The Corporal then stood aside to allow the swimmer to walk by. Jack glanced over and noticed that the Sergeant was a rugged looking Saurian with a light grey colored hide and a scowled look on his facial features.

“I’m Gunnery Sergeant Heartman, your senior Drill Instructor!” the male swimmer said in introduction. “But you may call me ëBig Mouth,’ because I have a very big mouth! And when I talk, you’d better listen! From now on, the first and last words out of your puny little cake holes had better be ësir’! Do you maggots understand that!?”

“Sir! Yes, sir!” everyone in the rows replied simultaneously.

“Mammal crap, I can’t hear you! Sound off like you got a pair.”

“SIR! YES, SIR!” everyone replied a lot louder.

“That’s better! By the time I’m through with you, you will be soldiers! Proud to be a part of this great Dino Army! You will also be killers, capable of killing another dino with your bare paws, mark my word on that! You will go through a rigorous training. You will beg for mercy. You will not like me! But the more you hate me, the more you will learn, mark my word on that!”

Jack heard a young swimmer next to him snicker quietly and whisper to him, “ëBig Mouth.’ Sounds appropriate, don’t ya think?”

“YOU GOT SOMETHING TO SAY, MAGGOT!?!”

The young swimmer was startled as Sergeant Big Mouth practically shouted right in his face. “Uh, n-no, sir,” he weakly replied.

“I CAN’T HEAR YOU!” shouted the Sergeant.

“Sir! No, sir!” the young swimmer shouted in response.

“Good! And you will continue to say nothing, unless I expect you to say something! DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR!?”

“SIR! YES, SIR!”

As Sergeant Big Mouth returned to where he had been standing, Jack thought to himself, That kid has a lot to learn.

“Also, let it be known that there is no favoritism here!” continued Sergeant Big Mouth. “I don’t care if you’re a swimmer, a fast runner, a flyer wannabe, or even a damned sharptooth! Here, you are all equally worthless, and it’s my job to turn worthless scumbags like you into fighters, proud to boast that you are a part of this grand Dino Army. Do you maggots understand that!?”

“Sir! Yes, sir!”

“Mammal crap, I can’t hear you!”

“SIR! YES, SIR!”

With a satisfied grin, Sergeant Big Mouth turned to face his Corporal. “Corporal?” he called.

The Corporal came forward.

“Carry on!” Sergeant Big Mouth ordered.

“Sir! Yes, sir!” he replied and saluted.

After returning the salute, Sergeant Big Mouth left the ranks.

“All right, ladies, listen up!” the Corporal began as he addressed the troops. “Here’s what were gonna do today…” He then gave a rundown of what the schedule for the first day was.

Jack only half listened to what the Corporal was saying. His thoughts immediately went to his family. He found that he missed them already. He also wondered if he made the right decision. This wasn’t at all what he was expecting! He also thought about Billy. He wondered where he was, and what he was doing. He wondered if he was gonna have a hard-nosed Drill Sergeant like he was going to have.

The Corporal’s barking brought him out of his reverie. “Am I understood!?” he asked in a bellow.

“SIR! YES, SIR!” the troops responded.

“No need to call me ësir’! That’s reserved for Sergeant Big Mouth! ëCorporal’ will suffice.”

“YES, CORPORAL!” the troops barked out.

The Corporal gave a satisfied smile. “All right, ladies! DISMISSED! Report back here in half an hour for your first assignment.”

With this, everybody broke rank to go collect their duffle bags and bring them over to the barracks where they were to be assigned their bunks to sleep in during their stay. Jack’s thoughts went back to his family, and he prayed to the Primal Force that he would be all right, and that he would one day be able to go back home to them.


For the next few days, the recruits at the boot camp were put through their paces, and it was a literal Hell. Although Jack and the other swimmers were told that they would be part of a special division, they were not exempt from the rigorous training the other dinos and Rainbow Faces went through. Jack had to endure obstacle courses, battle simulations, weapons training, and several dress downs from Sergeant Big Mouth whenever he performed badly. Those were, by far, the worst! He was also taught how to clean and care for the uniforms he was given, and the rifle that was entrusted to him. He was even taught when, where, and how to take a pee and a crap!

One day, during a break in their training, Jack was sitting on the steps that lead to the barrack he was bunking at, trying to relax. A younger swimmer, who also happened to be his bunkmate and the same dino who had foolishly spoken up on their first day here, came out and sat down on the steps next to him.

“Rough day so far, isn’t it?” he began in conversation.

“Damned right,” Jack snorted.

“You’re Jack Swimmer, right?” the young swimmer asked.

“Yeah. And you are?”

“Floyd Jenkins,” The young swimmer smiled and stuck out his hand.

Jack smiled back as he grasped the younger swimmer’s hand for a shake.

“I’m from Daytonia, you?” young Floyd asked.

“Columbias.”

“No kidding!” Floyd exclaimed in surprise. “I have family in Columbias. Perhaps you know them.”

“Maybe,” Jack grinned. “You look rather young, though. How old are you?”

“Sixteen,” Floyd said rather shyly.

Jack was surprised. “The minimum age to sign up is eighteen.”

“I know. I lied,” Floyd admitted. “I wanna do my part. I wanna fight the Germanians as much as anybody else here does! Don’t tell anyone, ok?”

After a few moments, Jack smiled. “Sure, kid!” He then jokingly added, “Just remember to not speak up in front of Sarge, again.”

Floyd nervously chuckled. “Yeah, that probably was a dumb mistake, but I’m sure everyone’s had a first day like that.”

Jack smiled as he shook his head. “You’ve got a lot to learn, kid.”

“Ten HUT!” came the bark from their left side. This caused both of them to immediately get to their feet and stand at attention. It was Sergeant Big Mouth.

The big swimmer moved to face Jack. “What’s the meaning of this, Private!?”

“Sir, I don’t understand, sir!” Jack said in response.

“I mean this!” the Sergeant motioned to Floyd. “Interacting with this young male! What’s the meaning of it!?”

“Sir, I really don’t understand, sir!”

“Are you really that dumb, Private!? Look around you!”

Jack stood still.

“I’m serious, Private! Look around you!!”

Jack did as he was ordered. He saw several of the troops milling about and going about their business.

“If there’s one thing you can be sure of, it’s that most of the dinos you see here are coming home in a box! If you become buddies with these males here, and you see them get killed over there, it will only break your resolve! Which is why I will not tolerate any kind of fraternization at this boot camp! In case you forgot, we’re going to war! It’s not going to be a cake walk over there! War is a really messy, messy business! You can mark my words on that! Do I make myself clear, Private!?”

“Sir! Yes, sir!” Jack bellowed.

Sergeant Big Mouth flashed a satisfied grin. “Carry on, ladies!” he said as he walked away.

“Sir! Aye, aye, sir!” Jack and Floyd said in unison.

Then they both glanced at each other, and went their separate ways.


About a week later, the troops in Jack’s squad, who became known as Platoon number 6392, were called to attention at the parade square of the boot camp. Sergeant Big Mouth said he had an important announcement to make. Everybody in the squad were hoping that they would finally be deployed to Europa to fight in what has now become known as the Second Great War. They were fully trained for combat, and were eager to see action.

Despite strict orders from Sergeant Big Mouth not to socialize, Jack struck up conversations with other males in the camp every chance he got, and when the Sergeant was not around to scorn him. He became friends with a lot of them, and they started calling him “Big Daddy,” mostly because of his three kids but also because he was older than most of them were. A lot of them were teenagers barely out of High School! A lot of them were under aged, too, having barely turned seventeen!

Today, however, was the big announcement promised them by Sergeant Big Mouth. The Corporal called them all to attention, then the big swimmer moved out into the ranks as he spoke.

“We have just received our orders! Finally, we are being deployed, and we are going to see combat!” Although the troops stayed perfectly silent, they were screaming with excitement on the inside.

“Contrary to what many of you believed from the start, we are not going to Europa!” Many of the soldiers in the ranks shared confused looks amongst themselves. “Instead, we are headed to the islands of the Panthalassic Ocean to fight the Yapanese Army.” The confused glances turned into worried glances. They had heard many horror stories about the armies of Yapan. “The Yaps have been especially ruthless, and merciless. The troops already over there are in dire need of reinforcements, and this is where the swimmers among you will be especially useful. The special training you have received will help you out a great deal!

“From now on, you are no longer maggots! You are soldiers and killers, and I feel exceptionally proud to have each and every one of you serving under me. Am I understood!?”

“SIR! YES, SIR!” everyone bellowed out in unison.

“Excellent! We ship out in two hours! You are all free until then. You have time for one last letter to your friends, family, and any loved ones you may have. I suggest you make the most of it, because we really don’t know when you’ll have this opportunity again! That’s all! Dismissed!”

Jack did take the opportunity to write out a detailed letter to his family telling them about the orders he and his platoon have received. He could already imagine how they would react. If they were worried now, they’d be even more worried once they read the news that he was going to the Panthalassic to fight what was arguably the most ruthless of the three enemy nations.

At the appointed hour, all of the troops gathered in the parade square where they boarded buses that took them to the airport where they would be flown to Los Angela in Caledonia state, where they would then get on a Navy ship that would set sail across the Panthalassic Ocean towards the first of many islands that were currently held by the Yapanese Empire.


A few months later, Jack found himself in a small boat with other swimmers floating two miles off shore from an island in the Panthalassic Ocean. Due to its strategic location, the island came to be known as the “Gateway to the Panthalassic,” and it was controlled by the Yapanese Army. It was from here that the Yapanese had launched their devastating surprise attack over a year ago against the Navy base at White Harbor, which ultimately convinced the United Laurentian States to finally join the war. What made this island such a vital objective to control was that it was the only island in the middle of the vast Panthalassic. If the Yapanese wanted to capture the islands to the east, or if the Laurentians wanted to capture the islands to the west, control of this island was a must. What the actual Yapanese name for it was, nobody knew, but they were off shore of this island, and it was about to be invaded.

Inside the boat Jack was in, Sergeant Big Mouth was gazing through binoculars towards the island, hoping to catch a glimpse of the enemy.

“Anything, Sarge?” the swimmer Corporal standing next to him asked. This was the same Corporal who was at the boot camp in northern High Hoe, and the swimmer platoon under his command was made up almost exclusively of soldiers that were trained at that same boot camp. Sergeant Big Mouth was their commanding officer.

“Nothin’!” Big Mouth said as he lowered the binoculars. “But they’re out there, camouflaged.”

“You sure?” the Corporal asked.

Big Mouth turned to face the Corporal “Like I always said: Those Yaps are ruthless.” He then brought the binoculars back up and continued to gaze out through them at the island ahead of them.

“Hey, Big Daddy, what do you think’s gonna happen?” the young swimmer Floyd Jenkins asked Jack.

“Don’t know, kid,” Jack said in answer. “But we’ll soon find out.”

“Quiet!” the Corporal whispered harshly at them. Both swimmers smiled apologetically at the Corporal. The Corporal continued glaring at them for a few more seconds before turning his attention back to his commanding officer.

There were several such boats lined up all along the east side of the island. Each boat contained a platoon of swimmer soldiers that were specially trained for the mission they were about to embark on. A thick fog hovered over the water, which was to their advantage, for it provided cover for them.

Then Sergeant Big Mouth noticed something to his left.  He saw swimmers emerge from a boat a few hundred meters away from him, and slowly immerse themselves in the water, followed by other swimmer soldiers in other boats.

“Here we go.” Big Mouth said to himself. “Okay, ladies! Move out!” He ordered in a loud whisper, to which the swimmers sprung into action.

Slowly, quietly, they immersed themselves in the water and started to silently swim towards the shore. This was what they were trained for: A stealth amphibious attack! What made this a very effective tactic was that it gave the enemy the illusion that the invading force was much smaller than it actually was. Once all of the swimmers soldiers were in the water, the two Rainbow Faces who were sitting at the back of the boat took up oars and started paddling the boat forward, following the swimmer platoon behind.

The swimmers all sank low in the water, keeping the upper parts of their heads just above the surface so they could breathe through their nostrils. This made it very difficult for any enemy soldiers to see them. They were equipped with cutting edge waterproof semiautomatic rifles that could fire underwater, as well as on land like a normal rifle.

Sergeant Big Mouth, who remained in the boat as ordered by his superior officer, continued to gaze through his binoculars as they crept closer and closer to the shore of the island. He began to fear the worst as he noticed the fog begin to lift. Suddenly, when they were only a few dozen meters off shore, he saw several puffs of smoke rise up from the jungle on the opposite side of the beach, which was followed by a series of loud bangs and booms along the coast.

He bore a stunned look as he lowered the binoculars. “Damn! We’ve been spotted,” he said. “INCOMIIIIING!” he cried out in warning.

No sooner that he cried out, several explosions resounded all around them, many of them harmlessly splashing into the water. “MORTAR SHELLS!” a swimmer cried out as the explosive rain fell.

“SAAAAARGE!” A young swimmer cried out, literally scared out of his wits.

“Keep moving!” Big Mouth ordered. “There’s no turning back now!”

As soon as he said this, the boat he was in took a direct hit from a mortar shell and exploded into flames. Young Floyd Jenkins’ eyes betrayed shock as he gazed upon the scene. “CRAP!” he cried out. “They just killed Sarge! What do we do NOW!?” he asked as he turned to face Jack.

“Corporal,” Jack muttered as he looked around. “Where’s the Corporal!?” he called out.

“The Corporal’s dead!” a swimmer called out from his left. The Corporal’s lifeless body was floating on the surface of the water, face down. A mortar shell hit only a few meters away from him, resulting in him taking shrapnel from the explosion, killing him instantly. The swimmer nearest to him flipped the Corporal face-up to hopefully keep him from drowning, but he was already gone.

Jack was stunned. It was already predefined that if anything was to happen to Sergeant Big Mouth or his Corporal that order would fall on him next, being the oldest member of his platoon. “I’m Squad Leader now,” he mumbled almost to himself.

“So what do we do now, oh fearless leader?” a swimmer to his right asked. The surviving members of his platoon gathered around him, waiting to see what he will order them to do.

After several moments, Jack reached a decision. “We move forward!” he said as he pointed towards the beach.

“I’ll follow you anywhere, Big Daddy!” Floyd Jenkins said with a smile.

“Are you crazy!!?” a young swimmer to his left exclaimed. “This is SUICIDE! We’ll all be KILLED!”

“Better than dying out here in the water. Let’s move out!” he ordered as he waved the troops forward. The young swimmer hesitated before he, too, groaned lightly and followed his orders.

They all resumed their swim towards the shore with shells continuously exploding all around the beach, and sounds of death and suffering echoing everywhere.


A few minutes later, the surviving members of his platoon reached the shore. More were taken out by exploding shells and sharpshooter bullets fired from beach bunkers. By the time they made landfall, nearly half of the platoon had been killed.

Despite their casualties, they pressed on! They found cover wherever they could on the beach, and fired their semiautomatic rifles at enemy positions. Jack was able to secure a machine gun nest by strategically waiting until the Yapanese soldier had to reload, then he stormed in and took him out. The other enemy soldiers had seen him charge, but the only hit he took was a bullet that just grazed his tail. He seized the machine gun and used it to take out other nearby soldiers in their own nests. When the members of his platoon saw this, they moved in to secure the nest positions and seized the ammo to use against the other Yapanese soldiers hidden in the surrounding jungle. Seeing the overwhelming odds stacked against them, the enemy soldiers retreated further inland, abandoning the beach to the swimmers.

By the end of the day, the swimmer troops had complete control of the beach! Word was sent to the Navy ships fifty miles out to move in and mobilize the remaining army for an attack further inland. Jack’s platoon played a key role in securing the beach for them, but over half of the soldiers in his squad were lost. Nevertheless, the surviving members of his platoon have earned their rest!


Having set up camp on the beach the night before, Jack’s platoon, who now called themselves “Big Daddy Squad,” were relaxing on the beach, waiting for their next orders. It was nice and sunny, so it was ideal weather for it.

Floyd Jenkins saw something in the distance to his right that he had to point out to Jack. “Is that who I think it is?” he asked.

“Yep!” Jack responded. “That’s General McCarthy.”

“What’s he doing here?”

“Probably paying his troops a visit.”

It was, in fact, General McCarthy, Commander of the Laurentian Army in the Panthalassic Ocean, and his aides. They slowly walked up the beach meeting with the individual platoon commanders, and asking some questions as they went.

“Heads up, Big Daddy Squad!” Jack said. “We’re about to be paid a visit by Army Brass.”

Everyone in Big Daddy Squad stood at attention when General McCarthy and his aides approached their position. When the General, a Rainbow Face, strolled up to Jack’s platoon, Jack stepped out to greet him. He saluted the General, and the General saluted back. Jack noticed several medals on his uniform shirt, and that there were four stars on his helmet. He was a four star General!

“You the leader of this Squad?” the General asked. His voice was gruff with age.

“Yes, SIR!” Jack said in response.

“What’s your name, son?”

“Jack Swimmer, sir!”

“Well, Jack Swimmer, I wanna congratulate you and your troops. You’ve helped secure this beach for us. This island’s a vital strategic point. Whoever controls this island controls the war, but I’m guessing you and your troops already knew that.”

“We do, sir.”

The General smiled and nodded. “Good! There’s one last thing we need to take care of: There’s a radar station on the far side of the island that’s still being controlled by the Yaps. They’ve set up anti-air guns all over the island, but if that radar station is destroyed, they won’t know when or where our aircraft will arrive, catching them off-guard. Normally, our Special Ops Rainbow Face squad would take care of this, but they were taken out during the invasion. Given your valiant efforts in securing this beach, I think you and your troops would be a good substitute for the Special Ops team. Feel up for the job?”

“We’ll do what we can, sir.”

The General smiled again. “Good! Somebody’ll come by to brief you on the specifics of the mission and give you everything you’ll need to accomplish it. And since you’re now the leader of these fine troops, I’m promoting you to the field rank of Platoon Sergeant.”

“Thank you, sir.”

The General then raised his voice so that everyone in Jack’s squad could hear. “You’ve done a fine job, all of you! You make me proud.” He then said to Jack, “Carry on.”

“Yes, SIR!” Jack said as he saluted.

The General returned the salute, then moved on towards the next platoon a little farther up on the beach.

Sure enough, a half hour later, a Rainbow Face weapons expert came to brief Jack and his squad on the specifics of the mission and gave them all of the tools they needed to carry it out, including some plastic explosives they would need to blow up the radar station.

With this, Big Daddy Squad set out on the mission they were assigned.


A short time later, Big Daddy Squad was hacking their way through the thick jungle with the machetes they were given. Finally, they reached a clearing. Jack signaled for his troops to stop while he observed the situation. The swimmer to his right started to step forward, but Jack stopped him.

“Wait! I don’t like this. It could be booby trapped,” Jack warned the soldier.

“Pfft! Come on! What could possibly go wrong?” the cocky soldier said before he stepped forward. He only went forward a few feet before an explosion from underneath him took him out.

“Minefield! CRAP!” Jack said in wide eyed surprise.

“BANZAIIII!” came a shout from behind him as several Yapanese soldiers jumped out from the jungle and ambushed them.

A few of Jack’s troops were taken out before they could even draw their weapons. Those that did shot randomly at Yapanese soldiers attacking them, who were armed only with the lethal Samoorae swords that was a long standing traditional weapon in their culture.

“Eat lead, you damned Yaps!” a soldier to Jack’s left cried as he shot his semiautomatic rifle at them. It wasn’t long, though, before he was taken out by a Yapanese soldier who came from behind and stabbed him through the back with his sword. The piercing blow through the heart killed him instantly. Jack took out the soldier with a blow to the head from the butt of his rifle before he could move on him. Then he shot randomly at other Yapanese soldiers he could get a bead on.

When all was set and done, all of the two dozen or so Yapanese soldiers were taken out. Jack, still breathing heavily in panic from the ordeal, looked around and saw young Floyd Jenkins a few feet away from him, collapsed on the ground, also hyperventilating from panic.

“Hey, kid! You all right?” Jack asked as he got beside of him.

Young Floyd took a few more deep breaths before answering. “Yeah,” he nodded. “That was close!”

“Damned close,” Jack said with a return nod. “Go check to see if anyone else is alive.”

Floyd nodded, saluted, and moved to do what he was told. Jack took the opportunity to get his wind back and take a few sips from his water canteen.

A few minutes later, Floyd came back. “Bad news, Big Daddy! They’re all dead.”

Jack stared at him. “You sure?”

Floyd nodded sadly. “Positive. All dead.”

“Dammit!” Jack exclaimed.

“What do we do now?” Floyd asked.

Jack rubbed a hand against his face, trying to think. “Continue with the mission.” He then turned to face Floyd. “Are you with me?”

Floyd smiled and said without hesitation, “You know I’d follow you anywhere.”

“All right. Go find the explosives and take whatever gear you’d think we’d need.”

“Yes, sir,” Floyd said and saluted. “I thought I saw a mine detector back there. The Yaps were probably gonna use it to go through the minefield and get back to their base.”

Jack smiled. “Yeah, we’re definitely gonna need that.”

Floyd smiled back. “Be right back!” With that, he went and gathered up the explosives, a couple of extra rifles with ammo, some rations, and the all important mine detector. Then they set out to navigate though the minefield that lay before them.


It took them about twenty minutes to go through the minefield. They proceeded slowly, bypassing any mines that the mine detector signaled out to them. Jack didn’t like the idea of being out in the open, exposed like they were. They were vulnerable to attack at any time. None came, though, to which Jack thanked the Great Beyond for.

When they were finally clear of the minefield, they abandoned the mine detector. They were now at the foot on the mountain where the radar station was at, and Jack felt that they wouldn’t have laid down any mines along the mountain slope. Jack gazed up through the binoculars he was carrying. “That’s it! That’s our target,” he announced to Floyd.

“See any bunkers?” Floyd asked.

Jack passed the binoculars over the mountain slope. “No,” Jack admitted when he finished his sweep. “But they’re out there, somewhere. Be careful.” With this, they proceeded up the mountain towards their target.

About halfway up the mountain slope, Jack caught movement in front of him. That’s when he saw the enemy machine gun nest, camouflaged so well that it seemed to blend in with the mountainside. He heard some shouts from the Yapanese soldiers in it. They had spotted him and Floyd! “Crap! TAKE COVER!” Jack shouted to his friend. They had just enough time to find shelter behind a large boulder before the spray of bullets pierced the ground where they were standing, and ricocheted off the boulder they had just hidden behind.

“Go back, Laury! You no belong here! You die if you come!” one Yapanese soldier shouted out in broken Britanian.

“GO TO HELL!” Jack shouted back.

Another spray of bullets ricocheted off the boulder. They were nothing more than warning shots.

“It useless! You no win!” the Yapanese soldier shouted in defiance.

“Jack! I think I can sneak around the bunker from that side,” Floyd said as he pointed towards his left, “and take them out from behind.”

Jack looked out at the forest canopy to their left, and realized that Floyd could remain unseen, if the Yaps weren’t looking in his direction. He then nodded. “All right. I’ll distract them.”

Floyd nodded.

Jack raised his semiautomatic rifle, readying himself to unleash a hail of bullets toward the bunker. When he was ready, he signaled for Floyd to move out, then unleashed his volley.

The Yapanese soldiers quickly fired back. This provided the cover Floyd needed to sneak past their field of vision. But he was only able to move about ten feet before he fell through a booby trap. The Yaps had dug out a hole in the ground and covered it with foliage for concealment. It was a classic ground pit, and Floyd fell right into it. Floyd cried out in pain as he landed hard at the bottom of the pit.

“FLOYD!” Jack cried out as another hail of bullets struck the ground around him and ricocheted off the rock.

He then heard cries coming from the Yapanese soldier’s nest. He peaked around to see that one of them was preparing to throw a grenade towards him. He quickly raised his semiautomatic rifle, aimed, fired, and scored a head shot on the soldier just before he was able to throw the grenade. Since he had already pulled the pin to load the grenade, it was already set to explode. His two compatriots tried to escape the enclosed bunker, but the grenade exploded before they could get away. They were both killed instantly.

Jack quickly swept the area, making sure no other Yaps were around. When he was sure the area was all clear, he rushed to the pit where Floyd had fallen. “Floyd! FLOYD!” he cried as he reached the pit. “Oh, no!” he said as his heart sank upon gazing at the scene.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to go on with you, Sarge,” Floyd said in a hoarse voice. The Yaps had set up wooden spikes at the bottom of the pit. It was a classic booby trap! One of the spikes had gone through Floyd’s right leg. It was a miracle that Floyd didn’t get impaled by any of the other spikes!

“Hang on! I’m comin’ down to get you,” Jack said as he sprung into action.

Floyd immediately shook his head, which stopped him. “Forget about me. Complete the mission.”

“I’m not gonna leave you here to die alone!” Jack argued.

“You’re the only one left who can blow up that radar station. You have to complete the mission. That’s what’s most important,” Floyd counter argued.

Jack grew sad, and was sobbing almost the point of tears.

“You’re the only one who can do it,” Floyd said.

After a few moments, Jack regained his composure, and nodded. “All right. But I’m comin’ back for you once I’m done.”

“Yeah,” Floyd said, then he started to close his eyes and lay his head on the ground of the pit.

“Don’t you fall asleep on me, Private!” Jack almost ordered.

Floyd immediately reopened his eyes and lifted his head. “I’ll do my best, Sarge.”

“That’s all I ask,” Jack said before grabbing his gear and moving out.


As Jack proceeded up the mountain, he kept a sharp eye out for booby traps and machine gun nests. He heard a distant scream coming from the area where he was at. He recognized the scream as belonging to Floyd. “Great Beyond, I hope he’ll be all right,” he said as he continued on his climb up the mountain.

Eventually, he reached a clearing where he saw the radar station that was maybe a quarter of a mile away. The clearing looked very suspicious to him. He felt it was too much at an incline to lay down mines, but he was cautious, thinking there may be Yap snipers hidden somewhere, ready to take him out, or soldiers hiding in ambush.

He caught movement to his right. He raised his semiautomatic rifle and fired without hesitation, taking out the approaching dino. The dino collapsed in front of him, having taken the shot through the heart. “Fast biters!” he exclaimed. “CRAP!”

More movement and shouts from in front of him made him turn. They were more fast biters, and they were attacking! Jack quickly took them out with sharply aimed bullets to their skulls. There were about a half dozen of them, and they came out of nowhere! He figured they must’ve been hidden in the ground somewhere. Sure enough, he found one of the places they had been hiding. It was a hole that was dug out with a trap door covered with foliage to conceal it. They were armed only with long samoorae swords, but they also could’ve easily bit into his neck and snapped it with their sharp teeth, had they gotten close enough. Jack knew, however, that it wasn’t over. He knew this wasn’t the last line of defence. There were probably guards at the actual radar station itself. With this belief, he proceeded on towards his final destination.


Sure enough, when he neared the radar station a few minutes later, there were guards. He only saw two Rainbow Face guards with their samoorae swords, but also small machine guns. Jack crept up slowly and silently from their left, and kept himself hidden in the surrounding foliage, in true sniper fashion! When he was close enough for a clear shot at them, he slowly raised his semiautomatic rifle, aimed, and fired, scoring another head shot at the guard standing closer to him. He fell to the ground, dead. His compatriot only had enough time to scream and raise his small machine gun before Jack took him out as well with another head shot.

Jack waited for about thirty seconds to see if other guards would show up. When none came, Jack figured he was in the clear, and moved up towards the station.

When he arrived, he immediately set to work in setting up the explosive charges at strategic points on the station. It was a small mobile station designed to be set up and taken down quickly and efficiently. Jack made sure the explosives were set up in such a way that it would leave no trace of the station when they were detonated. Once the devices were installed and armed, Jack quickly moved off to a safe distance, brought out the remote controlled detonator that was part of the explosive kit and armed it. “Bye bye!” he shouted as he pressed the detonation button. The massive explosion was instant! Jack felt the shockwave of the explosion only a second after the explosion. The huge ball of flame followed by black smoke was a clear indicator to anyone within five miles of the station that it was gone. He heard distant shouts from Yapanese soldiers who saw the incident occur. He figured they must’ve been horrified at seeing their portable radar station go up in smoke, but Jack didn’t care.

He then pulled out a radio from another pack, switched it on and spoke into it. “Staff Sergeant Jack Swimmer to base, over!”

He waited a few seconds. When no response came, he called again. “This is Staff Sergeant Jack Swimmer calling base! Do you copy, over?”

The response finally came a few seconds later. “This is Home Base. We copy, over,” came the static voice from radio’s receiver.

“Home Base, mission accomplished. Radar station destroyed, over.”

“We copy, Staff Sergeant. Nice work! Sit tight and stay out of danger. We’ll rendezvous with you and your squad shortly, over.”

“Roger. Over and out!” Jack then switched the radio off. He then moved back down the mountain to get back to Floyd, who would still be in the pit waiting for him to return.

When he arrived at the pit, he was shocked to see that Floyd was gone. All he saw was the bloodied wooden spike that Floyd had landed on when he first fell in. He immediately looked around, thinking that he might’ve freed himself and crawled away to safety, but he didn’t see him. “Floyd? FLOYD!” he called out, but no answer came.

He heard distant shouts coming from in front of him. He raised his rifle in a defensive posture. Then he saw who it was that was nearing his position. It was the Laurentian Army, who was moving inland. Jack smiled, relaxed and lowered his rifle, knowing that he was now safe.


A few minutes later, the army platoon approached his position. He could hear artillery and rifle fire off in the distance, telling him that the Laurentian Army has moved inland and were attacking Yapanese positions.

The platoon was being led by a fast runner Lieutenant. Jack went to greet him. He stood at attention in front of the Lieutenant and saluted him.

“Name? Rank?” the Lieutenant asked after returning the salute.

“Jack Swimmer, sir. Staff Sergeant Jack Swimmer.”

“Well, Staff Sergeant. What you and your squad did here today gave us the advantage. This island is all but secured. Well done!” the Lieutenant smiled.

Some planes flew overhead, headed west, thus signaling to Jack that the army was meaning to move towards the western side of the island, where the Yapanese Army was believed to be gathered as a last line of defence.

“Thank you, sir!” Jack said as he smiled back.

“Speaking of your squad, where’s the

CHAPTER 5

CHOMPER’S HISTORY LESSON

“For this next part of the history lesson, I shall now turn things over to my darling wife, Yolanda,” Briank said as he handed the hand held clicker to the female Rainbow Face. He then cracked open a bottle of water as he sat down on the picnic blanket laid out on the floor of the cave, taking a break.

Littlefoot and his friends imitated Briank by settling down on the cave’s floor. Kark simply stood behind the Saurians with his arms crossed, observing the proceedings.

“This next part of the lesson takes place roughly sixty five years after the time Edward Flyer lived,” Yolanda began. “Although the Independence Declaration proclaimed that all Saurians were created equal, not all Rainbow Faces saw it that way. This was especially true in the southern Laurentian States.” Yolanda indicated the area she was talking about on the map on the cave wall using the laser pointer.

“Powerful and wealthy Rainbow Face families controlled most of that territory, and most of that power and wealth was achieved on the backs of Saurians, who were their slaves.”

The Saurians youths gasped and muttered amongst themselves at this revelation. “By ëslayvs,’ do you mean Saurians who were forced to work for the Rainbow Faces?” Littlefoot asked.

Yolanda nodded. “That’s right.” She then clicked the handheld device several times, which displayed pictures and photographs of Saurians of all kinds labouring in fields under the watchful eyes of their Rainbow Face masters. Some were taking whips to their backs by the Slave Drivers, or being threatened by masters pointing rifles at them.

“That is so horrible!” Ducky sadly said as she placed her hands to her cheeks.

“It was! And the working conditions were most unbearable.”

“I don’t see too many longnecks, though,” Littlefoot commented.

“That’s because the longnecks mostly lived in the northern Laurentian States, where there was no slavery,” Briank said from his place on the picnic blanket.

“And the Saurian races that lived in the South found themselves trapped down there as a part of their slavery,” Yolanda commented.

“I imagine that things were far worse for sharpteeth, though,” Chomper suggested.

“They were!” Yolanda confirmed. “As a rule, sharpteeth ó and their cousins, the Fast Biters ó were not allowed anywhere near the fields and plantations. Not only because they were meat eaters who can eat the green eating Saurians and Rainbow Faces, but because they were sharpteeth. And any sharptooth that ventured near any of those places were shot on sight, no questions asked!”

Chomper gasped.

“BUT one sharptooth would come to change all that. Your ancestor, Chomper.” Yolanda smiled.

“Wow!” Chomper said in amazement. “Tell me more!”

“Tell us more!” Cera repeated.

“Well” Yolanda continued. “It all started one fateful dayó”


The little girl Rainbow Face was running through the cotton field, like she always did at this time of the day. She had her hands outstretched, pretending that she was flying like she often liked to do. She was Theresa Snyder, the only child of the wealthy plantation owner Dixon Snyder. Since this was her father’s property, she could run and play on it whenever she pleased.

The Saurian slaves were out in full force, picking the cotton crop like they always did. Day in and day out, it was the same old thing. They never got a moment’s rest!

At one point, Theresa turned her head away for a moment while she was running, and she accidentally ran into a female parasaurolophus, who screamed as Theresa fell to the ground. When she saw who it was that ran into her, she adopted her stern mannerisms as she placed both fists on her hips. “Theresa! How many tahms do ah have to tell ya’ll to watch where ya goin’!?”

“Ah’m sorry, Miss Annie Mae. Ah guess ah was distracted,” Theresa said apologetically.

Annie Mae humpfed. “Well, run along, now!” She said with a wave of her hands. “Annie Mae’s got work to do!”

“Yes, ma’am,” Theresa said as she got up and ran off. Theresa couldn’t understand why the other Rainbow Faces were always so mean to Annie Mae and the others like her. She was never mean to them, or anybody else, for that matter. She was so nice! Strict, but nice; so she was nice back at her.

Matter of fact, she couldn’t understand why the Saurians living on the plantation were always being treated so rotten. They never did anything to hurt anybody! But since it was her daddy that owned the land, he made the rules. She didn’t like a lot of his rules, but she knew that he was the grown up, and he made the rules that everybody had to obey, even the Saurians, and they certainly had a lot of rules to follow! Way more than her, and they were punished way more often than she was whenever she broke one of her daddy’s rules, and punished hard!

A short time later, Theresa was strolling along by a stream near the cotton fields. She often liked to come to this place, whenever she wanted some peace and quiet. Then she heard a strange squawking sound coming from only a few feet away. Curious to see what was making the sound, she cautiously approached the spot the sound was coming from.

She peaked around a tree, and gasped at what she saw. “Why, it’s a little sharptooth!” she said to herself.

It was, in fact, a baby sharptooth; freshly hatched from his egg. The egg fragments lying nearby were a testament to that. Then she saw the big sad eyes of the sharptooth, and her heart just melted. She slowly approached the creature. When it saw her, it yelped and cowered away.

“No! It’s okay! Don’t be afraid! Ahm not gonna hurt you!” Theresa said immediately.

Then she smiled and slowly extended her hand out to the sharptooth. He cautiously approached it, sniffed it, and then, realizing that the Rainbow Face girl meant him no harm, huddled close to her and allowed himself to be petted.

“What’s a little boy sharptooth lahk you doin’ so close to mah daddy’s property?” she asked.

The sharptooth simply let out a questioning squawk in response.

“Where are ya parents?” she asked almost to herself as she looked around, hoping to spot them.

“Mah daddy’d surely shoot them if he caught them anywhere near his cotton fields… if he hadn’t done so already!”

The sharptooth cooed as he huddled himself close to Theresa. Theresa giggled.

“Ya a friendly little guy, ain’t ya?” she smiled. “But we can’t stay here. Ya risk yaself getting’ killed for sure if you do. Come on!” she said as she got up and motioned for the sharptooth to follow her. Flashing a toothy smile, the sharptooth complied.


A door to an old abandoned barn creaked open. The Rainbow Face girl named Theresa peaked inside. “All clear! Come on!” she said as she walked in. The little sharptooth followed her inside. He took in the spacious inside of the barn as the girl closed the barn door behind them.

“Ya should be safe here,” she said. “Nobody ever comes here anymore. Nowó”

The sound of her name being called from outside cut her short. “Daddy!” she gasped. The sharptooth let out a questioning squawk. “Stay here!” she said as she walked out of the barn.

“Theresa!” the Rainbow Face male called. “Where is that girl!? Theresa!” he called again. This was Dixon Snyder, the plantation owner, and Theresa’s father. He was a harsh male who always had a firm hand in keeping his Saurian slaves in line. He didn’t hesitate, either, to punish them severely whenever they “disobeyed,” which often times meant giving them a bullet from the rifle he always carried. “Theresa! Where are you!?” he called again.

When she heard that her father was getting close to the abandoned barn, she walked out to greet him.

“Ah! There you are,” he said as he saw her. “Ah’ve been lookin’ all over foó” He stopped when he saw that she was looking back towards the barn.

“Whatcha got in there?” he asked her.

“Nothin’,” she said nervously.

“Nothin’, huh? Lemme see!” he said as he marched towards the barn.

“Daddy? Daddy, please!” she begged as she tried to stop him, but he kept marching forward.

Dixon’s eyes went wide as he entered the barn and saw that his daughter had been hiding. “Sharptooth!” he said with disdain as he loaded his rifle and prepared to shoot. The sharptooth, meanwhile, cowered back in fear.

“NOOOOOO!” Theresa screamed as she pushed her father’s rifle away just as he took aim. “Please don’t kill him, daddy!” she pleaded.

“Why not?” he asked.

“He’s just a baby! He ain’t gonna hurt no one!” she said to the point of tears.

“Not now, no! But when that thing grows up, he could very well have us all for breakfast! Better to get rid of him now!” Dixon said as he aimed his rifle again.

“NO, DADDY!” Theresa cried as she stopped him again. “I-I’m pretty sure that if we teach him right, he won’t eat any of us, or the slaves.”

Dixon hesitated.

“Ah promise ah’ll take good care of him!” Theresa said as she looked at her father with pleading eyes. The sharptooth slowly approached and let out a questioning squawk.

Finally, Dixon relaxed and lowered his rifle. “All right,” he said.

Theresa breathed a sigh of relief, smiled and hugged her father. “Thank you, daddy!”

“You’re welcome! But ah swear, if he so much as lays a claw on you, he’s takin’ a bullet from mah gun!”

Theresa nodded. “U-understood, daddy.” Then she turned to kneel down in front of the young sharptooth and spread her arms. “It’s ok,” she said as she invited the sharptooth to approach her.

He let out a cry of joy as he ran into her arms to accept the offered hug. “Ah think I’ll call you ëThomas’,” she said. “Thomas Sharptooth! That’ll be ya name, but ah’ll just call you ëTommy’,” she said as she hugged him again. He cooed as he accepted his surrogate mother’s hug.

Dixon simply looked on with a mixture of disdain and worry. Disdain that his daughter would want to adopt a sharptooth, and worry at what a full grown sharptooth could potentially do to her.


For the next few years, Thomas’ life on the plantation was spent playing with Theresa and learning from Theresa everything he needed to know to be a good plantation owner’s “son.” She even taught him to speak flattooth, and he mastered the language quite well!

He grew up quite fast, too! By his second year, he was almost half as tall as Theresa, but he always stayed really nice and friendly, never even thinking about harming or eating anybody on the plantation. When Dixon saw this, he decided to leave him be, especially after seeing how fond and totally unafraid his daughter was of him.

Theresa was growing up, too. She was becoming a fine looking preadolescent Rainbow Face female. It wouldn’t be long before she reached her adolescent stage, and would have a few potential suitors wanting to take her hand in marriage. “As long as it wasn’t to Thomas!” Dixon always thought to himself. He wasn’t going to let his only daughter marry a sharptooth.

Then, one evening, Thomas’ life on the plantation would change. He was sitting at the dining room table with Theresa and her parents. For the past year, Thomas was allowed to share their meals. Theresa insisted upon it, saying it was a way to teach him to be more “civilized.” Dixon refused, at first, but after being convinced that this would be beneficial to Thomas, he finally agreed to have him sit at their table with them.

Licking his chops, he grabbed the slab of cooked steak that was laid out for him by a kitchen slave just five minutes before. He was about to bite into it when the sound of his name made him stop. He looked up to see Dixon, his “father,” gesture with a knife and fork in each hand. This was his reminder that as a civilized sharptooth, he needed to use them whenever he sat at their table. Theresa giggled in between bites of her usual fare of fruits and salads.

Being a sharptooth, Thomas could not eat green food of any kind. He was always served slabs of meat. Sometimes, this was served to him cooked, and other times, raw. Thomas could never really understand why this was done. He could still eat the raw meat, but he liked the cooked meat better. When he was hungry, though, he didn’t really care.

It was on this particular evening that Dixon wanted to explain to Thomas the subject that he’d been wanting to for the past few weeks. “Ah’m sure that ya’re aware by now,” he began, “that everybody who lives on this plantation has to pull their own weight around here, even you, boy. That is to say, I’m puttin’ ya ta work startin’ tomorrow.”

“Work, sir?” Thomas said after swallowing his bite of steak.

“That’s right,” Dixon nodded.

“What’s he gonna do, daddy?” Theresa asked.

“Quite simple, mah dear!” Dixon began. “Ya know how some of mah Rainbow Face overseers have difficulty gettin’ those slaves to do their work? Well, ah figured that if we had Thomas here help ëem out, they’d get their work done quicker.”

Theresa and Thomas shared a worried look. She knew the day would come that her father would put him to work, but she certainly never expected this.


On this particularly hot day, the Saurian slaves were busy picking the cotton under the pounding rays of the sun. The heat was most unbearable! Here and there, cries of pain echoed out as a Rainbow Face overseer gave his whip to their back in an effort to try and get a lagging slave to pick up the pace.

A swimmer Saurian male, who also happened to be dear sweet Annie Mae’s son, tripped and fell under the weight of the cotton baskets he was carrying. As he tried to quickly get up again, he saw a pair of clawed feet walk right up to him. His eyes grew wide as he looked up to see an adolescent sharptooth gaze down at him with a stern look in his eyes. He was Thomas Sharptooth, the assistant overseer to the cotton fields. The Saurian thought that his life was forfeit, right then and there!

But Thomas, after all he had seen while working on the plantation over the past few years, simply didn’t have the heart to bring harm to someone so weak. He simply sighed and motioned for the Saurian male to stand up. “Move along!” he said.

The swimmer simply nodded and quickly got up to bring his cotton baskets over to the dumping station. He looked back at Thomas once as he hurried away, almost thanking him for sparing his life.

Then, about fifty feet away, another Saurian slave ó a male fast runner this time ó collapsed to the ground from exhaustion. Almost immediately, Dixon Snyder himself was upon him. “Come on, slave! GET UP!” he said, kicking him. “Come on, ya lazy Saurian! GET UP!!” He kicked him again. The fast runner, though, was too tired to even move or speak. Other slaves tried to come to his aid, but they were held back by the Rainbow Face overseers.

Dixon loaded his rifle and, without hesitation, shot the male fast runner in the head, killing him instantly. Annie Mae herself gasped at the scene and immediately turned her head away, not wanting to see any more. “Just a friendly reminder of what will happen if ah catch any of ya’ll ënapping’! Now get back to work, ya lot!” Dixon said as he reloaded his rifle again.

“There ya go, boy,” he said to Thomas as he walked away.

Thomas knew that his next meal was “served” in the form of the now dead fast runner corpse lying at his feet. He also knew that if he didn’t feast on the dead male’s body, he would be severely punished. He noticed the angry looks directed at him from some of the slaves. He looked back at them with a look that said “I’m sorry” as he began to devour the corpse.

“Come on, ya slaves! Move along! Nothin’ left here to see. Get back to work!” an overseer said as he motioned for the slaves to get back to picking their cotton.

About a half a mile away, from her bedroom balcony, Theresa was observing the scene with a sad look. She sobbed and sniffed as tears ran down her face.


On this humid night, Thomas was creeping about. He waited until his “father” was asleep before he snuck out of his room at the plantation house and crept out into the cloudless night.

Meanwhile, Theresa was in her bedroom, getting ready to retire for the night. She wasn’t sure how much sleep she’d get tonight. That “incident” involving Thomas a few months ago was giving her nightmares. The sound of the front screen door opening and closing made her walk out onto her balcony to see what was going on. “Where’s he going?” she said to herself as she saw Thomas disappear into the night.

Annie Mae, her husband, children and grandchildren were all huddled together in their slave shack, like they did every night. There were several such shacks lined up side by side on the far end of the plantation property. As slaves, this was the only “luxury” they had.

She was telling them stories of hope and freedom, like she always did. It was the only thing that kept them going! That, and the thought that they would one day be free from slavery, but that hope seemed decades away, at times.

Her storytelling was interrupted by a knock on the door. They all looked at each other as they wondered who it could be at this time of the night. Annie Mae’s husband got up to answer. “What’re you doin’ here!?” he said when he saw who it was.

Thomas immediately put his hands up as a sign of non aggression. “Ah’m not here to hurt you, or eat you, for that matter!”

“Then what are you here for!?” the male swimmer asked.

“Can I come in?” Thomas pressed.

After a few moments hesitation, the male swimmer opened the door wider and let the sharptooth enter.

“Evenin’!” he said politely at everyone. “Well, to make a long story short, we’re getting’ outta here.”

“What?” the male swimmer said.

“You heard me!” Thomas said. “Ah’m here to help you escape!”

“Just like you ëhelped’ poor Leonard months ago!?” a younger male swimmer Thomas recognized as Annie Mae’s son, the very same male who fell at his feet that day he feasted on the male fast runner his “father” had killed. He figured “Leonard” must’ve been his name.

“Ah had no choice!” Thomas pleaded. “If I didn’t eat that fast runner’s body, I would’ve taken the whip just as much as you would’ve, but I’m sick of it! Absolutely sick of it!! And ah don’t wanna see any more of ya die, neither, which is why we’re gettin’ outta here.”

“Okay!” the elder male swimmer motioned. “Let’s just assume ya’re here to help us, how can we trust you?”

Thomas shrugged. “You’ll just have to.”

“Next question,” Annie Mae said. “How are we gettin’ outta here?”

Thomas was about to answer when a knock on the front door of the shack interrupted him. The elder male swimmer went to open the door. “Theresa!” Annie Mae said in surprise.

“Theresa, what’re you doin’ here!?” Thomas asked.

“I followed you,” she answered as she walked in. “Ah wasn’t sure what you were up to. Ah overheard some of what ya’ll were sayin’, andó”

“Please don’t tell your father, Theresa!” Thomas pleaded.

“Ah’m not gonna,” Theresa admitted. “Matter of fact, ah’m gonna help ya’ll escape, but ya cain’t leave tonight. Not while daddy is here.”

“When can we leave?” the elder male swimmer asked.

“A few days from now, mah daddy’s gonna be away on business. You can escape then.”

Thomas knew that by “business,” she meant that Dixon would be going to town to sell the cotton and possibly even purchase a few slaves to replace the ones that had died off over the past year.

“But ya haven’t answered the question as to how we’re gonna leave!” Annie Mae pressed.

“Ah was gonna get to that,” Thomas smiled. “Miss Theresa here taught me a bit about astronomy. If we followed the North Star by night, we’d eventually arrive in Northern Laurentia. Ah hear they’re friendly to slaves up there.”

“And the most northern part of the property is the easiest way to leave. There’s only one guard there the whole time, and after Thomas takes him out, ya’ll can sneak out unnoticed,” Theresa suggested.

Mumbles of hope echoed from Annie Mae’s relatives.

“But not all the slaves can leave!” Theresa warned, which brought immediate silence. “It would look too conspicuous if everybody left at once!  Only a handful of ya’ll can leave. Twenty at the most.”

The swimmers began to mutter amongst themselves, discussing Thomas and Theresa’s proposal. Finally, the elder male swimmer said. “Well, twenty of us getting a chance at life is better than all of us facing almost certain death. Let’s do it!”

Theresa and Thomas smiled. “Ya won’t regret this, Mr. Swimmer!” Thomas said as he laid a clawed hand on his shoulder.

“Ah hope not!” he said.

“All right! We’ll come back and see you four days hence. That’s when we make our move,” Theresa said.

With this, both parties parted ways. The slaves slept unusually sound that night, and so did Theresa. Her nightmares were finally over!


On the appointed night, everyone gathered at Annie Mae’s family shack, and they all struck out, carrying whatever few belongings they had. It wasn’t difficult for them to find twenty volunteers for this escape mission. They were literally unafraid. Rather, they were quite hopeful! This was their one shot at freedom, and they were in high spirits!

At the northernmost border of the property, the only Rainbow Face guard on duty was lazily lounging about at his post. He never saw much action at this part of the property. The slave shacks were about a mile away from this border area, and they’d never think to come all the way up here to stir up trouble.

A rustling noise coming from the nearby tall grass made him jump up and grab his rifle. “Who’s there!?” he called out. When there was no answer, he relaxed and lowered his rifle. “Darn mammalian critters,” he said almost to himself as he broke out a cigarette and lit a match.

As soon as he put out the match and started puffing, a large form quietly snuck up and grabbed him from behind. He only managed to gasp lightly as the huge clawed hand grabbed his chin and snapped his neck in such a way that it killed him instantly. His lifeless body hadn’t even slumped to the ground that the big sharptooth’s companions came out from hiding.

“Just keep followin’ the North Star!” Thomas reminded them as the twenty Saurian slaves quietly moved past the guard house into the adjoining field.

“We did it, Thomas!” the elder Mr. Swimmer said as he smiled brightly.

“We’re not out o’ the woods yet!” Thomas said realistically. “We’ve still got a long ways to go before we reach the North.”

Mr. Swimmer nodded and smiled in a joyful manner as he placed a hand on the sharptooth’s shoulder. “Thank you!” he said.

Thomas returned the smile as he patted Mr. Swimmer’s hand that was on his shoulder. Mr. Swimmer then parted from Thomas and disappeared into the adjoining field.

Thomas then turned to face Theresa, who had guided them here. “Come with us!” he said.

Theresa sadly shook her head. “I can’t.”

Thomas placed his clawed hands on her arms. “Why not!? There’s no tellin’ what your father’ll do to you, if he finds out!”

“This is my home. This is where I belong. You belong out there, with them.”

Thomas got a sad look in his eyes.

“As long as you promise me that you’ll come back for the rest of the slaves.”

Thomas sniffed and nodded. “I promise,” he said in a sad voice.

Both then hugged each other close.

“I’ll miss you, Tommy!” Theresa sobbed.

“I’ll miss you, too!” Thomas sniffed as tears ran down his cheeks.

They stayed like this for several moments. Finally, Thomas relinquished his hug on Theresa, and they parted ways. He then disappeared into the field, catching up to the now free Saurians.

“She’s not coming?” Mr. Swimmer asked as Thomas caught up with his companions.

Thomas sadly shook his head. “She said her place was here.”

“But you are gonna come back for the rest of us, aren’t you?” the young male swimmer that was Annie Mae’s son asked.

Thomas sighed. “I’ll try.”

“Good enough for me. Let’s go.” Mr. Swimmer said, and they all moved off to the cover of a nearby forest.

“What’re we gonna do if he gets hungry, big momma?” Annie Mae’s granddaughter asked.

“HUSH!” Annie Mae whispered harshly to her granddaughter.


A few years later, Thomas found himself in the middle of a bitter conflict. War had broken out between Northern and Southern Laurentia over the slavery issue. Some Saurians and Rainbow Faces called it “The Laurentian Civil War”, but others, including Thomas, knew it as “The War of the Northern Aggression.”

To show his support for bringing an end to slavery, Thomas had volunteered his services for the Northern Laurentian Army, where he served as a Cannon Hauler and Aimer. Many strong able bodied Saurians served in the war in this manner, while the Rainbow Faces and smaller Saurians served in the infantry. The Southern Laurentian Confederate Army had a few sharpteeth among their ranks, but they had all been captured from the wild and were simply unleashed on the enemy to inflict massive losses before inevitably being killed in action. Unlike those sharpteeth, Thomas had enlisted in the Northern Army as a fully trained soldier ó the first of his kind ever in history ó and they were really grateful for his services. It was a brutal conflict, however, that cost many lives.

During a break in the fighting, Thomas was staggering through a field, dragging his cannon behind him. A spiketail artillery hauler he had befriended was walking along beside him. There were dead Confederate soldiers lying all around them.

He stopped suddenly next to one particular body. “What is it?” his spiketail friend asked him.

“Ah know that Rainbow Face,” Thomas admitted.

“Really? Who is he?”

“I guess you can say he was my ëfather’.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Thomas said. “He was a cruel male who killed slaves, and forced me to butcher ëem! Looks like he finally got what he deserved! Consider this your ëpayment’ for all of your injustices towards Saurians!” He then spat on the ground at his feet.


“But before all this went on,” Yolanda continued, “Thomas returned to the plantation many times until he finally freed all of the slaves and brought them to the North. He had a few close shaves with the Rainbow Face overseers and guards, and nearly lost his life in the process, but he was no less deterred in his efforts.

“After realizing how successful his acts of goodwill were, he decided to expand his enterprise to include the slaves on other plantations and would later become the founder of what was then called “The Underground Trails.” Thanks to him, many thousands of Saurians’ lives were saved.

“Shortly after the Laurentian Civil War ended, an Emancipation Law was signed that made it illegal for any Rainbow Face or Saurian to own another Saurian as a slave. This brought an end to slavery in Southern Laurentia!”

She clicked the handheld controller, which made the projector display a picture on the cave wall. “This is a photograph of Thomas with the Snyder family. That’s Thomas, of course,” She said as she pointed him out with the laser pointer. “That’s Theresa, her father and mother.”

“Incredible! He looks just like me!” Chomper commented.

Yolanda smiled as she clicked the controller again. “Here is a photograph of Thomas in his military uniform.” The image showed Thomas standing beside a cannon with a serious look on his face. Yolanda clicked the controller again to show an image of a group of Sharpteeth, both old and young. “This is another photograph of Thomas and his new extended family taken a few years after the end of the Laurentian Civil War.”

“Wow! They sure had big families back then,” Petrie commented.

“Indeed they did,” Briank said as he got beside his wife.

“Anyway, it serves that mean Rainbow Face male right for killing all those Saurians!” Cera commented.

“Uhm, I’m curious, and I’m usually not that curious,” Ruby said as he raised a finger. “Whatever happened to the Rainbow Face girl, Theresa?”

Yolanda clicked the handheld controller a few more times until she found the page she was looking for on the computer. “Hmmm,” She said to herself as she read the page she finally found. “It seems that shortly after Thomas left the plantation that first time, young Theresa Snyder had mysteriously gone missing without a trace. Nobody knows what happened to her. Some say she changed her mind and decided to follow the slaves north. Others believe she had committed suicide due to her guilt of betraying her family. Then there are the conspiracy theorists who claim that she was killed by her father for her involvement in freeing the Saurian slaves.”

“The bastard!” Chomper muttered in anger, hoping that third theory was not correct.

“I have a question, though,” Littlefoot began. “Why do these ëfoe-toe-grahfs’ have no color like the ones we saw on the Enterprise?”

“Yes!” Ducky said. “And those we’re much better looking.”

“Well, you see,” Briank began, “back then, cameras were not as sophisticated as they are now. They were simply incapable of capturing any kind of color, and could only see how bright or dark the subjects were, which is why you see them in black and white.”

“Kah-me-rahs???” Petrie asked.

“Those little boxes you saw some Rainbow Faces on our ship use to take pictures of you, while you were on board.” Briank smiled.

“Oh,” Petrie said.

“What I thought was funny was when they asked us to smile before they took the ëfoh-toh-grah-ffs’,” Chomper smiled.

Briank chuckled. “Well, it’s only natural for us Rainbow Faces to ask that.”

“But if you’re supposed to smile when someone takes a ëfoh-toh-grah-ff’ of you, then why do we not see anyone smiling in those older ones?” asked Ruby.

“That’s due to another limitation of the earliest cameras,” answered Briank. “They had a long exposure time, which meant that you had to stay perfectly still for a few minutes, otherwise the photo would come out all blurry. Try holding a smile for as long as you can and you’ll see why it was much easier for them to look serious in those early pictures.”

“In conclusion,” Yolanda continued, “although the Emancipation Law made slavery illegal in the Southern Laurentian States, many southern Rainbow Faces still saw other Saurians as an inferior race, even though they could no longer own them. It actually took about a hundred more years before Saurians still living in Southern Laurentia got the same Civil Rights as Rainbow Faces did. And this concludes Chomper’s history lesson!”

“Another great lesson!” Chomper commented. “I’ve certainly learned a lot from it!”

“And well you should!” Briank smiled. “History is very important to us.”

“I know it is,” Littlefoot smiled.

CHAPTER 3

IDLE CONVERSATION

“I think we’ll be safe in here.” Little Foot said after the entered the cave and looked around, making sure there was no one inside.

“Excellent!” Briank said with a smile.

“Now, if you will excuse me, I must make my report to the Captain.” Kark said.

Briank smiled and nodded. “Of course.”

With this, Kark stepped outside and opened up his communicator. “Kark to Enterprise.”

“Enterprise, Lieutenant Urbina here.” Came the voice of the ship’s Communications Officer.

“Is the Captain there?” Kark asked.

“One moment!” Urbina said.

“Jarrok here. What’s up?” the Captain said after a few moments of silence on the communicator.

“Captain, I wish to communicate to you our progress report.” The big Vulkadian said.

“Go ahead.”

“I must inform that we have encountered a… minor setback.”

In his Captain’s chair on the Enterprise’s Bridge, Jarrok got a look that betrayed a mixture of worry and surprise. “What sort of setback?”

“Captain, do you remember that group of young Saurians we’ve encountered three years ago?”

“Yes. What about ëem?”

“Well, we… ran into them???”

Jarrok got a surprised look on his facial features. Several of the Bridge officers turned towards Captain Jarrok, knowing full well the severity of what Mr. Kark just said.

“Why, Kark! If I didn’t know better, I’d swear you were trying to pull a practical joke on me.” Jarrok said in an attempt at levity.

“Believe me, Captain, I wish this were an attempt at a practical joke. We really did encounter the young Saurians again.”

“Damn!” Jarrok said from his place on the Bridge. Kark didn’t hear this on his communicator, for he had muted the speaker; but the Bridge crew could sense his frustration.

“Captain?” Kark said in the communicator, breaking the uneasy silence.

“Yes, Kark!” Jarrok finally said, switching the speaker back on. “So what now?”

“Both Lieutenants Riggs have come up with an idea as to how to deal with these infinitely curious Saurians; and they’ve asked me to communicate with you in order to ask if you will permit them to go through with their plan.”

On the Bridge, Captain Jarrok shook his head and extended his arms in front of him as a sign of despair. “I’m all earholes!”

The Bridge crew listened intently; for they, too, wanted to know what the landing party’s plan was.



Meanwhile, in the cave, the Riggs were busy telling Little Foot and his friends about what happened to the Enterprise’s crew over the last three years.

“So khap-ten Jah-rock took the female rainbow face Jeh-Nah Fohs-terr as his mate!?” Little Foot exclaimed.

“That’s right!” Briank said.

“And they became mah-reed and are expecting their first egg!?” Ducky exclaimed.

“Yes!” Yolanda said. “Jarrok’s actually quite excited and nervous about it at the same time.”

“That’s wonderful!” Petrie exclaimed as he flapped his wings excitedly and lifted a few centimetres off the ground.

“One question, though; and I don’t usually ask many questions: Is mah-reed like becoming mates for life?” Ruby asked.

Briank nodded. “It is!”

Cera humpfed. “You rainbow faces sure have a strange name for that kind of relationship.”

“Comes with being-“ Yolanda began.

“-being civilized!” Cera completed. “Yes, I know! You’ve told us that many times before!” She rolled her eyes.



Meanwhile, outside, Kark was still talking on his communicator with Captain Jarrok, trying to convince him that what the Lieutenants Riggs had in mind would actually come to no harm to Little Foot, his friends, or Saurian society in general.

“All right, Kark!” Jarrok finally said. “Tell the Lieutenants they have my permission.”

“Very well, Captain.” Kark simply said.

On the Bridge, Jarrok was about to switch off the intercom on his Captain’s chair when he remembered something. “OH! Mr, Kark. I think the good Doctor would want to beam down. He’s never had the chance to examine real live adolescent Saurians before, especially a diverse group as your friends down there. He’d never forgive me, if I didn’t have him take the opportunity.”

Kark raised his eyeridge. “As you wish, Captain. Contact me when Dr. McLelland is ready to beam down. Kark out.” With this, he closed his communicator and headed back towards the cave.


Inside the cave, the conversations were still going on.

“But I take it you haven’t started eyeing potential mates yet, have you?” Yolanda asked.

Little Foot and his friends looked awkward as they remained silent.

“Well?” Briank asked Mr. Kark as he entered the cave.

“Captain Jarrok has finally agreed to allow you and your wife to give these young Saurians their ëhistory lesson’.”

With this, Little Foot and his friends cried out in joy and celebrated.

“So what interesting conversations have I missed in my absence?” Kark asked when the excitement died down.

“We were just asking these fine young Saurians if they’ve already thought about finding potential life mates.” Briank said.

Little Foot and his friends all sadly shook their heads, except for Petrie. “A-actually, there is this one lovely girl flyer I was thinking of meeting.”

“HA! Don’t waste your time! What kind of girl flyer would want a scaredy egged fool like you!” Cera mocked.

Petrie got a sudden angry look on his facial features. “CERAAAA! Your constant negative remarks are really starting to AGGRAVATE ME!” he screamed.

Everybody gasped and recoiled as Petrie had his outburst.

“Whoa! Calm down, Petrie!” Little Foot urged.

“Violent mood swings. Typical adolescent behaviour.” Kark said simply.

“And how would you know, Kark!? You’ve never experienced anything like that.” Yolanda stated.

Kark slowly, calmly turned to have his subordinate. “In fact, I have. I only started my logical training during my first year of adulthood. My adolescence was just as tumultuous and unpredictable as anyone else’s.”

“Why Kark! You’ve never told us this before!” Briank said in surprise.

Kark turned to face him. “You simply did not ask.” He said simply.

“Oh.” Briank said, feeling a little embarrassed.

“What about you, Kark? Have you ever thought about searching for a mate of your own?” Little Foot asked.

Kark raised his eyeridges. “We Vulkadians do things differently. Unlike Rainbow Faces and Saurians, who essentially search for and find mates pretty much anytime they please; every tenth year or so of our adult lives, we undergo what is called the ëBond Fire’.”

“What’s that?” Chomper asked.

“It is the period where our mating instincts kick in, and it is also a time where all of our emotional inhibitions disappear, thus causing wild chaos within ourselves.”

“What happens then?” Ducky asked.

“At that point, it becomes imperative for the Vulkadian male or female to mate. Otherwise, they die.”

“Sounds serious!” Cera stated.

Kark nodded. “It can be. However, the Vulkadian afflicted does often receive support from their family and friends during this chaotic time. Ultimately, though, the Vulkadian does mate; usually with another Vulkadian also undergoing the ëBond Fire’.”

“But what happens if none are available?” Petrie asked.

Kark cleared his throat. “Then the Vulkadian alleviates the mating urge by… whatever means available.”

“What do you mean by-“ Petrie began to ask.

“Trust me! You don’t wanna know.” Cera said in interruption.

“But if you only mate once every ten cold times, does this mean that there are no lifelong matings among your kind?” Little Foot asked.

Kark raised his eyeridge again. “Actually, some ëBond Fire’ encounters do result in lifelong matings, or marriages, as we call them; and offspring are produced. I, personally, have undergone ten separate Bond Fire episodes throughout my life. None of which, though, have resulted in any permanent marriages, or matings.”

“Why not?” Ruby asked.

“Because the female I was mated to desired another, or only mated with me to alleviate her own Bond Fire episode. Besides, our marriages are based on choice, or convenience, rather than out of love.”

“Because they suppress emotions such as love.” Briank reminded.

“OH! How could I forget that?” Cera said with a roll of her eyes.

“Furthermore, we are often able to predict when our next Bond Fire episode would occur. My next one is not due until another two years from now. Like most Vulkadians, I plan to return to my home world of Vulkadia to ëpurge’, when the time comes.”

“And who knows? He may even decide to marry the female he will mate with at that time.” Yolanda teased.

Kark raised his eyeridges. “Possibly.”

Little Foot and his friends giggled at this.

A beeping sound from Mr. Kark’s communicator brought an end to the laughter. “Excuse me.” He said was he grabbed it and opened it up. “Kark here.”

“This is Jarrok. Dr. McLelland is ready to beam down now.”

“Acknowledged. Kark out.” Kark closed the communicator, then announced. “Everyone, we are about to be paid a visit by another of your old friends from the Enterprise.”

“Who?” Chomper asked.

Kark simply pointed to the shaft of light that just materialized in front of them. All of the Saurians smiled slowly as the familiar form of Dr. Lenek McLelland shimmered into view.

“Doctor.” Kark said in greeting.

“Well, bless my scales and rainbow nose!” the Doctor said excitedly. “When Jarrok first told me that you’ve encountered our old Saurian friends down here, I thought you two were pulling my tail! But now that I see you here with all seven of them, I may just have to pinch myself, ëcause I can’t believe it’s real!”

“It is, in fact, quite real, Doctor.” Kark said. “You may proceed with your examinations at your own leisure.”

“With pleasure!” Dr. McLelland happily said. “Who wants to be first?” He asked as he turned towards the Saurians.

Everyone hesitated for a few moments. Petrie looked visibly nervous. Finally, Chomper stepped forward and raised a clawed finger. “I’ll go first, but I just have one question: Will it hurt much?” He flashed a nervous grin showing his teeth.

“I promise you, you won’t feel a thing!” Dr. McLelland said reassuringly.

Chomper sighed in relief. “Good!”

“Big baby!” Cera muttered.

Without hesitation, Dr. McLelland brought out the medical tricorder he had brought with him and proceeded to perform his scans on the big sharptooth.

CHAPTER 1

RETURN MISSION

The starship U. I. S. V. Enterprise made its approach to the planet Terra. They had literally travelled thousands of light years to reach the planet. They had departed from their last mission, which was some exploration in the Alpha Centauri district, when they received their orders from Space Fleet Command. Thanks to their Ultra Light Speed technology, the journey here took only three days, while it would’ve taken years with conventional light speed.

“Standard orbit, Mr. Chang!” Captain Jarrok Tiburon Kirkland ordered from his seat in the Captain’s chair.

“Aye, sir!” said the Senior Tactical Officer from his post as he executed the command.

“Mr. Koralenko, put us in synchronous orbit over the Great Valley area.” the Captain then ordered.

“Aye, sair!” said the Navigator with his native Prussalian accent as he executed the command.

He then opened up the log recorder he had in his hands and stated the following. “Captain’s Log, Interstellar date 10119.9.23. It has been three years to the day since we last left orbit from Terra. We are here in relief of the U. I. S. V. Aries, which departed from here yesterday. Our mission is to continue with the observation of the primitive Saurians still thriving on the planet, until further orders.” He then closed the log recorder.

After a few moments, he had an afterthought and reopened the log recorder. “Personal note: It is not my place to question the orders of Space Fleet Command, but I’m beginning to find that this constant observation mission we’re committed on to be a bit redundant. These primitive Saurians obviously pose no threat to Rainbow Faces, Vulkadians, or any other space faring species who are members of the Federation. My big question is: What does Space Fleet hope to accomplish with this? Kirkland out.”

As soon as he closed the log recorder, the sliding doors to the turbo lift swished open to reveal Mr. Kark, the Vulkadian Chief Science Officer assigned to the U. I. S. V. Enterprise. He was a deep red colored sentient Draconian, who was eight feet tall and had a tail that was equally as long to balance his large frame.

“Captainó” he began as he approached the Captain’s chair.

“Mr. Kark.” Captain Kirkland interrupted as he turned around to face him. The Captain’s chair was on a swivel that could turn around three hundred and sixty degrees, if need be. “Since we’ll be in orbit here until further notice, I’d like you to conduct a scientific study of the planet’s society. You can ask the Lieutenants Riggs to help you with this, since they’re now Senior grade Science Officers under your command, and they’re the ones on this ship who are most familiar with this planet’s inhabitants.” Kirkland smiled.

“Yes, Captain.” Mr. Kark simply said as he left to go to his Science station.

“Oh!” he said as he turned to face the Captain, remembering something he wanted to tell his friend and ranking officer. “By the way, your wife wishes to see you.”

“Really?” Kirkland asked.

Kark simply nodded.

“Were you in the arboretum just now?”

“I was.”

“Why, Mr. Kark! I never pegged you for being a botanist.”

“My father was a breeder of prized Vulkadian orchids, so I was raised around gardens and arboretums from early childhood. I find the opportunity to spend time there to be very.... relaxing. Your wife doesn’t seem to mind my presence there, in any case.”

Kirkland smiled at his friend. Every day, he learned something new about his Vulkadian friend, like he did just now. “All right! ” he said as he got up out of his chair. “You have the ëcom while I go see what missus Kirkland wants.” He then disappeared into the turbo lift as it opened and then closed for him.

                                                         ------------------------------------------

The Enterprise’s arboretum was a landmark experiment. It was established thanks to some lobbying by Jenna Foster Kirkland, Captain Kirkland’s wife. She had convinced the Federation Council and the higher ranking Admirals at Space Fleet Command that a starship arboretum would be beneficial, especially on long space missions. It would allow a ship’s crew to grow its own food, and not have to rely on replicators all of the time. It could also provide some recreation for those whose hobby or profession is botany and gardening. Finally, the experiment was approved. The Enterprise was chosen, not only because Jenna would be the Head Botanist in charge and she was the Captain’s wife, but also because the Enterprise was the flag ship of the Federation, and they had to portray an image of innovation.

Jenna was hard at work planting some new flowers when she heard the swish of the automatic doors open behind her. She turned to look and saw her husband enter. She smiled to him. “Jarrok!”

Kirkland smiled back at her as the doors swished closed behind him. Jenna removed her gardener’s gloves and soil stained apron and laid them on a nearby table before sidling up to her husband.

“You wanted to see me?” Kirkland asked as he took Jenna in his arms.

She giggled. “Does a wife need an excuse to see her husband?”

“Sorry. Force of habit.” Kirkland said softly. Then they both shared a few kisses.

“Have we arrived in orbit around Terra?” Jenna asked as they both started swaying back and forth together, like they often did when they held each other in this way. “I felt the ship drop out of Ultra Light Speed.”

“We’ve arrived.” Kirkland admitted.

“So this is where those Saurian kids you’ve met three years ago live.”

“It is. Though they’re probably not ëkids’ anymore. Saurians tend to grow up fast, and it has been three years.”

“Well, I’d like to meet them, if I can... Do you think that would be possible?”

Kirkland shrugged. “Who knows?” They then shared a few more kisses.

“I love you!” Jenna said.

“I love you, too.” Kirkland reciprocated.

“There’s something else you should know.”

“What?”

She hesitated. “I’m pregnant.”

Kirkland’s eyes grew wide in surprise. “Pregnant!!?”

Jenna nodded.

“Are you sure!!?”

“I can feel the egg inside me.” She said as she unconsciously rubbed her belly. “I only found out this morning.”

For a few moments, Kirkland was speechless. Then he smiled brightly as he grasped his wife by the shoulders. “Why... by the Primal Force, that’s great news... fantastic news, even! Dear, dear! There’s so much we have to do! We’ve... we’ve gotta build a nursery, find bigger quarters, andó”

Jenna interrupted him with a giggle. “Relax, Captain! We still have a few months to go before I lay the egg. There’s plenty of time for that!”

“You’re right, you’re right... How silly of me.” Kirkland was unconsciously hopping from one foot to the other in a mixture of excitement and nervousness. “Pregnant!... Wow!... I...” He shared a few more kisses with his wife. “I love you, dear!”

Jenna smiled up at her mate. Of all the males she knew, he was the most... unique. She was never able to fully predict what he would do next, which was probably why she loved him. “I should get back to work.” she said to him.

“Work... Yes! And I... I should get back to the Bridge.” He finally tore himself away from his wife and headed towards the exit. “Take it easy, ok!? Pregnant...” he muttered as he walked out of the room. Jenna just smiled and shook her head as she put on the gloves and apron and went back to potting her plants.

                                                ----------------------------------------

Kirkland regained his composure by the time he emerged from the turbo lift. He knew he had to maintain his tough exterior image in front of the crew; while inside, he felt like celebrating and worrying at the same time. He saw Kark at his Science Station’s scanner, working away at analysing data the ship sensors was already getting for him. Kirkland approached him from behind.

He cleared his throat before speaking. “Mr. Kark.” the big Vulkadian turned to face him. “I’d like to arrange a meeting in the conference room in a half an hour. Get both Lieutenants Riggs join us.”

Kark nodded. “Very well, Captain.” Kark saw that there was something else on his friend’s mind. “Something else, Jarrok?”

Kirkland was a bit surprised at hearing the logical and formal Vulkadian call him by his first name rather than by his rank. He had tried for the longest while to get Kark to loosen up a bit more. Kirkland felt he was making some progress, if Kark was going to start referring him by his first name every once in a while.

Jarrok moved to the other side of Kark, and spoke softly so no one else could hear him. “Jenna just told me that she’s pregnant.”

Lieutenant Urbina, the Communications Officer sitting nearby, reacted to the word “pregnant”, but wasn’t sure if she heard correctly. She decided to let it slide for the time being and went back to monitoring her work station.

Kark simply raised his eyebrows in his own expression of surprise. “Indeed. Most interesting.”

Jarrok was rubbing his hands nervously. “I’ve never been a father before... I don’t know if I’ll even be a good father... I... I don’t know what to do.”

“Jarrok, please restrain your emotionalism!” Kark practically begged. “Many males do not look forward to the prospect of fatherhood. Unfortunately, there is no formal training one can take to become a good parent. Children do not come with instruction manuals, and no amount of advice can make you better at it. You’ll just have to... ëwing’ it.” Kark unconsciously flapped his bat-like wings slightly.

Jarrok smiled and nodded. “You’re right, Kark... how foolish of me.”

Kark nodded in turn. “I’m curious, though: Since, in your words, we are ëlike brothers’, does this mean that I will be your child’s ëuncle’?”

Jarrok chuckled lightly. “Carry on.” he said as he went to take his seat in the Captain’s chair, while Kark opened the ship’s intercom to Lieutenants Briank and Yolanda Riggs’ quarters.

Name of fanfiction: The Three Stone Of Life
Rating: 5/10
Review: I'm sorry to say, but this story needs more work.

If the author somehow reads this, let me state for the record that this is just a little constructive criticism. I've noticed many spelling and grammar mistakes in the chapters you've put up so far, which leaves the impression that English is not your first language. Am I correct in assuming that? If so, than I'm more perceptive than I give myself credit for.  

I will, however, give you an "A" for effort! The storyline does follow a logical sequence, which is what makes a good story work. Don't take what I say here like you would the word of God, though. I'm often very critical about such things and set high standards for myself. Others, though, may not. They may read your story and say "Awesome!" or "A-1"  

I thank you for your attention.

And here's  the other:

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5552141/1/The_Alternate_Factor

P.S. - I hope I did this right.