Razing Pel Read online

Kaj angrily walked back into his home, his uncle, sitting alone at a small table, listening to the radio.

  "Ah, Kaj you're home," his uncle said.  "So, did you help that old man out?"  Kaj remained silent.  His uncle got up from the table and walked over to him.  Kaj just stood by the window next to the front door, looking over the village.  His uncle came up behind him and placed his hand on Kaj's shoulder.  "Kaj, what's wrong?"

  He looked over at his uncle.  "Why us?" he asked.  "Why did they have to choose our planet?  Those things have been here for fifteen years now uncle!  Fifteen years!"

  "I know, Kaj, I know," his uncle said as he fixed the glasses on his face, patting him on the back.  He glanced over at the radio as the announcer's voice got excited then quickly looked back at Kaj.  "Come, I'll get you some dinner."

  Kaj nodded and walked over to the small wooden table by the radio and sat down.  His uncle went into the kitchen to get Kaj's food.  As Kaj sat down, he let out a long sigh.  He closed his eyes and imagined how his life would have been if the Oce never attacked.  He pictured him, his mother, father, and his uncle walking around outside United City.  The sky was beautiful, and the air tasted fresh.

  "Here ya go," Kaj's uncle said, dropping the plate on the table, disrupting his daydream. What sat on his plate were Canyon Worms – a fat worm that lives in the deep underground of the canyon.  About six dead ones sat in front of Kaj.  He sat there, watching the steam escape from their corpses.

  His uncle sat down on the other side of the table.  He reached over to the radio, which was sitting in front of the window, and turned the volume up.

  "Breaking News!  I repeat Breaking News!" an excited yet fearful voice shouted over the radio.  He went silent for a second.

  Kaj and his uncle both looked over at each other before looking back at the radio, waiting for what all the commotion was about.

  "I have just gotten word from the Galactic President that he has announced the withdrawal of Galactic Soldiers from planet Pel.  I repeat, the Galactic President has announced that he will be withdrawing the Galactic Soldiers from planet Pel.  This will be the fifth planet in our solar system that has fallen under the control of the Oce.  The Galactic President says that it is his priority to make sure that the soldiers come first in safety if he wishes to continue the fight against the Oce.  All Galactic Soldiers are being told to gather all equipment and make their way to the planet's capital, United City.  Galactic Soldiers will be brought aboard a ship along with a few residents from the planet to make sure that the species of Daj do not die off completely.  The Galactic President has given 48 human hours for all soldiers and Daj to get abroad.  Once again, breaking news, the Galactic President will be withdrawing all Galactic Soldiers from planet Pel."

  Kaj's uncle slowly reached over to the radio knob, turning down the volume.  He looked over at his nephew.  The expression on his face was of one he had never seen before.  His eyes wide open, face frozen.

  "Kaj?" his uncle whispered across the table.  "Kaj?"  He still sat there, motionless.  His uncle got up from his chair and walked over to him.  He gently shook him, waking him from his daze.

  Kaj quickly got up out of his seat and quickly headed to his room, his uncle following close behind.  When his uncle finally managed to make it to Kaj's room, he was already in a daze again.  He sat there on his bed, with the same face he had on before.  His uncle sat down next to him.

  His uncle let out a sign before getting off what he had on his mind.  "Go Kaj."  He quickly snapped out of his daze.  Kaj looked over at his uncle in confusion.  "Go.  Get off this filthy planet.  You are young.  You don't deserve to rot along with this planet.  Just because I might die on the outside, doesn't mean you have to die on the inside."

  There was a long pause.  Neither of them looked at each other.  Both were soaking in what had just been said.

  "I'll do it," Kaj whispered out.  He jumped out of his seat.  "I'll do it, uncle!"

  "Well, you heard the man on the radio.  You don't have much time.  Get packing.  I'm pretty sure you can ride along with the Galactic Soldiers."

  Kaj quickly started to pack.

 

  CHAPTER THREE

  THE DEPARTURE