Thera by Jonathan G. Meyer

station’s facilities. It turned out that many of the townspeople were sympathetic to the cause and openly happy the king’s rule was over. Al’s reception was surprisingly favorable.
    He used some of the captain’s tricks to provide information and leave the details fuzzy. Many years had gone into forming their current beliefs, and too much change, too fast, could cause more harm than good.
    In the end, he asked for permission to relocate four hundred and fifty-two colonists, plus maybe twenty natives from Avalon to Thera.
    “We will eventually be settling on the far side of the island,” he told them, “But we will need your help in the process. If anyone can give us temporary lodging, it will help immensely. In the meantime, we hope to assist in adapting the devices and machines inside the mountain to help everyone.”
    The town was about to transform drastically, with a great many ready for a change and hopeful their lives would be improved. A little tentatively, they agreed to the new conditions.
    The next few days blurred in Al’s memory. There was so much to do. Darius was settled in his house to recover, with Timothy there to help. Tiro changed all the instructions and digital indicators throughout the facility to the English language, as he had done at Overlook. There would be no need for scholars to interpret the wonders buried within the ancient writings.
    Tiro tied all primary functions to security badges produced by the facility computer, and the badges assigned to specific personnel, with spares to be handed out as needed. The station was made secure, and a security protocol enacted.
    A small victory party was held at the Forman home the night after the uprising, but the exhausted victors had little energy left to celebrate. They made plans for a more suitable occasion when things calmed down.
    The king was buried, with a sparsely attended formal ceremony. The few that spoke at his funeral said kind things and referred to a man who cared about the people he was closest to. There were some that would miss him, and the special treatment they received during his reign. They felt attending his final assembly was the least they could do.

Chapter Nine
     
    The victors returned from Thera to a hero’s welcome on Avalon. Within ten minutes of their appearance, the chamber containing the transport cube filled with hopeful colonists waiting eagerly to hear the outcome of the quest.
    Falkor caused quite a stir when Al convinced him to become visible, and for the first time, he noticed the little lizard with wings was not quite so little. It seemed he got a little bigger each time Al saw him. Until the dragon came to know the new people and became more familiar with the strange surroundings, Falkor attached himself to Al’s leg.
    The leaders of the colony arrived as soon as they received word of his return, and they exchanged quick greetings. Al pulled Captain Effinger aside and filled him in so he could make the announcements. Al was not fond of the spotlight and knew the captain was much better at this kind of thing.
    The captain was stunned, “You killed the king?”
    “It was him or us Tobias, the guy was nuts, and waving a gun around.”
    “Yea but….”
    “He had a hostage, and he was shooting at Elizabeth.”
    “Well, that helps to explain it.”
    Al gave him some of the details and the outcome, and when he had the necessary information, the gray-haired leader gained the crowds attention by banging on a metal duct. The people settled down to hear what he had to say.
    “Ladies and gentlemen. The search to find a new place to colonize has been successful. An island has been found that will fill our needs. However, it will not be an easy transition. The natives have consented to our coming, but we will be imposing on their hospitality. We must remember that we are the invaders on their island.
    “We have gained control of the Caretaker facility located there, which is misunderstood and treated as a