"King Terglak, you scaly skinflint," Mort speaks into the Star-Caller. "Is that you?"

"Captain Mortecus." A gravelly voice crackles from the device. "So it is true. You're still alive. I want to see it with my own eyes."

With the push of a button, Mort projects a hologram from his Star-Caller. We are greeted by an unsightly creature--one not too dissimilar from Kryllios but uglier.

The ruler sits on a throne decorated with skulls from an array of species I do not recognize. He wears a towering crown on his head, a string of feathers around his neck, and gold cuffs on his wrists. Two streaks of war paint run parallel on his forehead and intersect with a scar across his right eye.

"Here I am," Mort tells him. "You didn't call upon me just to look at my pretty face, did you?"

"No," Terglak says, straightening his posture. I wonder if the hologram is life-size. If he was standing here with us, he'd reach the ceiling. "I called you because my son has taken the liberty of declaring war on Earth."

"Kryllios is following in Your Majesty's footsteps," Mort tells him. "You must be so proud."

Terglak's nostrils flair as he lets out a grunt. "He deliberately disobeyed my orders by tracking you instead of your queen. And now, he has diverted my forces to your puny little planet." Lifting his claw, he says, "So, you see, I have a bit of a problem child on my hands."

"A little impulsive, is he?"

"I'm afraid so."

"Perhaps I could help with that."

"I'm listening."

"Might I suggest a few repercussions should his haphazard war efforts fail? Maybe then he will learn to pick his battles a bit more carefully."

"Ermm." Contemplating this, Terglak grumbles and leans back against his throne. "What are your terms?"

"Under the condition that Kryllios surrenders, he must leave Earth--forever. You will also declare this planet off-limits to your military."

"And if he defeats you?" Terglak questions.

"Then Earth shall be yours for the taking."

"Hmph. That dirt ball is nothing compared to Lunatori's riches, but I am sure I can find some use for it."

Horrified, I grab Mort's collar and pull him backwards. "Are you insane?"

Terglak narrows his eyes at me. "And this is?"

"My son, Drake." Mort pats me on the back. "Forgive him for speaking out of turn." He laughs nervously and pinches my cheek.

"You," he growls. "You're the one who provoked Kryllios into this pissing match." He turns to Mort now, saying, "Perhaps both of our boys need to be taught a lesson about planetary conquest."

"H-he did not understand the implications of challenging a Repkonian--"

Terglak cuts him off, saying, "Listen to me, boy. Before you instigate a war, you need to ask yourself how much you are willing to lay on the line. My people may be barbarians, but we don't waste our time with petty disputes."

"In that case," I say, looking directly into his reptilian eye, "why don't we raise the stakes? If Kryllios loses, then he will leave Earth forever... and the Repkonians will return Lunatori back to its queen."

"A bold proposal." He squeezes his fist. "Of course you understand that the more you stand to gain, the more you risk to lose. So tell me, what do you have to offer as spoils of war?"

"I..." I have nothing of value. Dumbstruck, I look to Mort for help.

"Me," he says.

"You?" Terglak raises his spikey brow.

"You know very well that there are a thousand bounties on my head. Cash them in, and you will be the richest lizard in the galaxy. Not to mention I have my own personal reserve stashed away." Mort crosses his arms and says, "Between my fortune and those bounties, you could sustain your forces for the next millennia."

Terglak smiles at him with hungry ambition in his eyes. "Oh, the plans I have for you, Captain Moretcus. I'm sure the Enoctsul loyalists would love to see you in my coliseum."

For a brief moment, disgust breaks through Mort's friendly façade. "So, do we have a deal?"

"Not yet." Terglak eyes me up and down and says, "I have one more request."

"Yes?"

"Your son shall marry my daughter, Krylla."

Mort covers my mouth before I can voice my objections. "A prince for a princess," he says cheerfully. "How perfect."

"That is if he survives Kryllios, of course. Maybe I'll do you a favor and tell him to take both of you as my prisoners."

"It's a deal."

Terglak reaches down and exchanges a handshake using his holographic hand. "To the victor go the spoils."

"Good luck to you," Mort replies, "and to your daughter--who's lovely, I'm sure."

"Mmmgh!" I let out one more muffled scream before he releases me. He quickly disconnects the call while I catch my breath and process what just happened.

Solara is the first to comment on Mort's alarming offer. "Captain, if the Repkonians get their hands on you, then..."

"You're dead meat." Mags finishes her sentence without sugarcoating it.

"Have a little faith," he says with his unwavering confidence. "Although," he pauses to remove the Star-Caller from his wrist, "it wouldn't hurt to ask for backup one more time."

He walks to the desk in front of the security cameras and fiddles with loose junk sitting on top. When he plugs a thick cable into the device, it beeps while a blue light flashes on and off.

"What are you doing?" Abe asks.

"I am transmitting a distress signal to Luneimaya."

"What are the chances she'll send in the cavalry?"

"Hard to say," Mort answers honestly. "But if I know my queen, she always hears the call of those in need." He leaves the device on the desk and looks up at the screens above him. "For now, we must meet our own soldiers on the battlefield."

The surveillance shows tanks and uniformed men stationed all over Penumbra. God, I hope Mom is okay. Wilma probably sent me a million texts. I worry that she isn't getting any sleep for her finals, but college tests are the least of her worries right now.

"Let's go, let's go!" Mags walks up to Abe's truck, and he closes up the trailer as she climbs inside.

Once they drive through the tunnel, Jeremy looks at me and says, "Uh, the minivan's wrecked. How are we gonna get back to town?"

"Good question."

"Don't worry, my young friend. I have other forms of horsepower at my disposal. Follow me." Mort leads Solara and Jeremy towards the exit.

It takes me a moment to catch up with them after struggling to sheath my sword. Solara already has the katanas on her back, and Jeremy has a laser strapped to his hip. I slide my helmet on as we walk towards the moonlight shining at the end of the tunnel.

Once we are outside, Mort turns to us and says, "This is how we did it in the old days." He sticks his fingers in his mouth lets out a whistle.

Lightening flashes in the sky, and out of nowhere, a wave of screeching bats suddenly manifests. They descend upon us and fly in a spiral before disappearing. In their place, three handsome horses appear with red, glowing eyes.

Jeremy's laugh of excitement stretches through the desert. I am left speechless as Mort walks up to the black stallion leading the herd.

"Hello, Hadrian," he says, stroking his mane. "It's good to see old friends."