Chapter 16 What Kind of Planet is This?

An excerpt from The Guardians Book 1: Formation of the Guardians

The Guardians assembled in their various locations. The dragons in their council chambers. The elves, fairies, and nymphs at the main hold. The monks and nuns at their monastery. The centaurs in their forest. The merfolks in the sea.

Everyone was excited. Mostly they all got along. There were arguments and games and teasing to help relieve the pressure. Old habits do indeed die hard. Prejudice never goes away overnight. It take years. The Guardians had the rest of their lives and the lives of their descendants. The rest of the world may not lose its preconceived notions about different kinds of people or even the differences between men and women.

Dealing with the outside world was always delicate at best. The Guardians could not impose their beliefs on others, unless someone was being discriminated against. Oftentimes, people in those kinds of situations would just leave and search for the Guardians, especially if they knew they would be dead otherwise.

Maegin started the session. “As many of you know, we get earthquakes and sometimes severe weather around the planet. Greg and his crew have been working on a project, which will allow us to monitor the weather and earthquakes from space. They plan on launching satellites that will surround our planet.”

An elder dragon nodded. “We would like to help out with that project.”

Maegin smiled. “Certainly. We would love the help.”

“We are in this together on this planet.”

“Yes, we are.”

The merfolk queen spoke up, “Will we get any benefit from this project?”

“Yes, the satellites will monitor the oceans. Of course we may be able to see everything and everyone one on the planet as well. We are aware that could create a huge problem.”

Many people murmured. A beep was heard. Greg reached over and pressed a button. Soon the Goddess Stefani’s face appeared on everyone’s screens.

“Hello, Guardians. We know what you’re planning and we think it’s a good idea. However, you may have to launch the satellites at night when most people are sleeping. Or else, they may freak out.”

Greg smiled. “We can work overnight without any problem.”

“Good.”

“We will need transportation to launch all the satellites all over the world.”

“We dragons will be happy to help with that part. Just please make sure everything is packed well.”

“We will do that.”

Stefani continued, “Keep in mind that the local time will be different for each different place on the planet.”

“Okay. I’m making a note about that.” Greg wrote down some notes on his paper. “We’ll need a couple of scouts/warriors to help out.”

Jazmin smiled. “Darius and I will be happy to accompany you on the trip.”

“Good. With the dragons, it should be enough just in case we get attacked.”

Berri nodded. “Elaen and I would love to help, but I think we better stay and take care of the twins.”

The twins were currently sleeping. Both Berri and Elaen each had one cuddled to themselves.

Lady Penelopi smiled. Luka was asleep on her lap. “It’s not as easy as it looks, is it?”

Berri and Elaen shook their heads and everyone else laughed.

“We nymphs will also offer you protection and warning when and where we can.”

Darius looked puzzled. “You can communicate that to the nymphs all around the world?”

“Certainly. We can travel anywhere, so it shouldn’t be such a surprise. When in elemental form, time doesn’t pass the same and it’s easy to pass on any information with the others.”

“Oh. We will welcome all the help we can get.”

Stefani smiled. “Sounds like it’s settled. I hope we will all have access to the information.”

Greg looked up. “Yes, we will. The satellites will have a special channel any of us can check at any time. I also thought we may end up expanding and building more Guardian holds around the planet. Currently we are building the satellites and globes we will place in our various locations. That way we can view the planet on the globes and we’re all know what’s going on.”

They finished their plans and went to work on them right away. It was one of the biggest projects Greg and his crew had ever attempted.

Months of work went into building the satellites and globes. The crew would have to deliver the globes to the various Guardians holds. Greg was so busy, he almost didn’t have time to see Hugo.

But Greg did see Hugo whenever he could. Hugo also didn’t let him forget. Greg needed the breaks even though he wouldn’t admit it.

Over the course of the project, Greg was thinking he wanted to marry Hugo, but was afraid to say anything knowing he would have to leave to set up the satellites into space. That alone would take months, if not years to get it all done.

Greg thought perhaps he could wait until he returned to the main hold to ask the big questions.

Hugo, for his part, was quite happy with Greg and his work. He was needed and appreciated for who he was and no one criticized him unless he made a serious error. When those rare events happened, Hugo would learn his lesson and not keep making those same mistakes over again.

Hugo secretly thought about marriage, but saw how distracted Greg was with his work. Hugo knew how important the work was and thought it best not to bring it up.

Greg and his crew did a practice run at the Silver Mists and it went well. It was late at night when the nearby towns were all asleep. Many people in the Guardian hold and monastery were also sleeping at the time.

Soon it was time to start setting up the satellites into space. Greg and his crew were busy packing everything and securing all the items so the dragons could carry the equipment without a problem.

Hugo walked over to Greg in the courtyard. “Hi, Greg.”

“Hi, Hugo.”

“I understand how important this is, but I will miss you.”

Greg stopped packing. “I’ll miss you, too.”

They stared at each for several minutes. Then they grabbed each other and wrapped their arms around each other. They made out for several minutes.

Darius, Jazmin, and Adelaen were smiling at the Greg and Hugo.

Darius turned to Adelaen. “Adelaen, you will be in charge with both Jazmin and I gone and Berri and Elaen busy with their twins.”

Adelaen giggled. “Alright. I’ll do my best, but I’ll miss both of you, too.”

Jazmin gave Adelaen a hug. “We’ll miss you, too. But we will be in contact.”

Darius and Adelaen hugged and the whole group took off to start setting up the satellites. Greg and Hugo let go of each other and smiled.

The group ran into a problem right away. There were no complete maps of the world of Platinum. They soon found they had to create a master map so they could find their way home. They recorded as much information as they could and took notes. It was tedious, but they had to avoid the notice of any towns or villages. Stefani gave advice when she could. She did, after all, know some of the people who lived all around the world.

They had to stop every night to rest and to send up the satellites. With every satellite that was sent, the globes at the various places were picking up information.

The group was weary and almost couldn’t find the main Guardian hold. Finally, they all saw the Silver Mists. Silver Scale spotted them first and greeted them in the air. She had finally just learned how to fly.

The dragons were excited to see her flying. They all roared. Soon all the dragons landed in the courtyard. The elves, nymphs, and fairies climbed down and took all the remaining equipment and supplies off the dragons.

Hugo was in the clinic. “Bernard, do you mind if I go and meet Greg?”

Bernard smiled at Hugo. “Go on. Merlaen is here and I’m sure we can handle everything until you get back.”

Hugo beamed and ran to the courtyard and right into Greg. Soon they were hugging and kissing again.

“Hugo, it’s been too long!”

“Yes, it has!”

“Let’s get married!”

“Yes!”

They danced around the courtyard as others looked on and laughed. Lady Penelopi walked out to the courtyard to greet the those who had returned. She was followed closely by Luka, who was laughing at Hugo and Greg.

“Welcome home, Guardians. I see we will have another marriage.”

“Today!” Hugo and Greg yelled.

“Alright, boys, that may not be easy. Or maybe it will be.” She motioned to other members of the domestic staff. They quickly set up tables and the wedding arch. A monk came over to preside over the ceremony.

People ran around to get in their special occasion clothes. It was late afternoon when everyone was assembled. The dragons sat down on the edge of the courtyard to give everyone else room.

Soon Greg and Hugo were skipping hand in hand to the wedding arch. They exchanged their vows with the monk. People laughed. People cried.

Soon people were eating, drinking, and dancing. The happy couple were laughing and dancing around the courtyard. Who needed alcohol with that much happiness?