Free Star Raiders and the Lost Expidition by M. Shaunessy Page A

rebuild what the Empire destroyed. Tygla frowned and sighed at this sight and wished it never happened. They landed on the royal launch pad in the capital city. The palace was the only building that the empire did not hit too badly. When Mike and Justin first looked at it, they thought they took a wrong turn and ended up in the ‘Emerald City in Oz.’
     
    “ Jeez,” Justin exclaimed as they got down from the bay doors. He looked at the ruined city and said, “It does look like the Empire has been here.”
     
    The port was empty as no one greeted them. Then suddenly a door on the far side of the pad opened and four Felinis guards entered the area with their laser rifles aimed at the new arrivals. Mike, Justin and Tygla were alarmed and confused. When they noticed Tygla, they lowered their guns. One of them mumbled something in his MiniCom. The doors opened once more and an older tiger looking Felinis entered the pad.
     
    “ Tygla?” He called to her.
     
    Tygla turned towards the door and replied, “Father?” She knew that she was in trouble disobeying her father, but maybe he had forgotten as she ran towards her with open arms.
     
    Her father hugged Tygla and said joyously, “Tygla my daughter. When I learned that you disappeared, I-I was so worried,” he then looked at her with a stern look. Tygla’s heart leaped in fear. “I thought I told you to stay in the castle walls.”
     
    Tygla frowned and said softly, “I’m sorry father. I had to go and find help.”
     
    King Rymu looked at the two human pilots and their ship wondering what kind of help Tygla got. He did not like strangers escorting his daughter throughout the galaxy without him knowing.
     
    She looked at her new friends and said, “Oh, I’m rudely sorry father, let me introduce you two. Mike, Justin. This is my father, King Rymu.”
     
    “ Hi,” Mike replied holding out his hand for a handshake.
     
    King Rymu shook his hand in good gesture as he did the same to Justin. Tygla’s father was an older version Xman, but he was a bit shorter and had a grown a furry mane around his chin. Mike thought that he did not look like a king at all, just some father.
     
    Tygla continued, “Father this is Mike Tippin and Justin Jobbs. They’re my, uh, new private guards.”
     
    “ Say what?!” Justin exclaimed not believing what she said as Mike calmed him down with a hand gesture.
     
    Tygla concluded, “They’ll be staying here for a couple of days, if that’s okay with you?”
     
    “ Well,” he pondered looking at them. He did not know why Tygla had picked them to be private guards, but he was sure that she had her reasons. And even now they desperately needed more guards and soldiers he made his decision, “All right, but let me inform you this, it’s been rough for us all, most of the common rooms have been severely damaged, so you’ll be staying in the main castle,” he proclaimed.
     
    Tygla said happily, “Oh, thank you daddy,” she kissed him on the cheek, but her father tried to smile, but he was too disappointed in Tygla’s actions.
     
    “ But I want to talk to you young lady. Alone”
     
    Tygla sighed and replied grimly, “Yes father.”
     
    King Rymu, Tygla and the guards left the launch pad through the door. Mike and Justin got their things and followed them.
     
     
     
    Inside it was something that Mike and Justin had never seen in their lives before. Even though that the Empire had destroyed most of the city, the palace seemed that it was never touched. Mike inquired about that and Rymu explained that they had a shield generator turned on round their home. Tygla said after the battle she snuck away in a public transport ship and arrived at Cian. They walked down the hall and Mike noticed all the fancy paintings around. He then saw Tygla’s painting and she told him that it was painted during her coronation when she was eighteen. He then knew that he could never be good for her. Justin was right she was way out