Galactic War The Seven

The Seven Keys

"Alex."

Nothing.

"Alex."

Still nothing.

"Alex, wake up."

Alex slowly opened her eyes.

Her vision was blurry.

She blinked several times before recognizing the face standing over her.

"Granddad?"

"Yes."

Alex immediately tried to sit up.

"What happened?"

Then she remembered.

"Mupo!"

She looked around frantically.

"DJ? Treaya? Where are they?"

"We're fine," DJ said.

"Yeah," Treaya added.

Alex looked toward the other side of the room.

Mupo was sitting comfortably at a table, eating crackers as if he were having breakfast with old friends.

Alex stared at him.

"What is he doing here?"

She tried to stand.

"Did he hurt you?"

"No, no, no," her grandfather said quickly. "I'm fine. Your friends are fine too."

Mupo smiled.

"See? Everybody's happy."

Alex glared at him.

"You're enjoying this way too much."

Mupo popped another cracker into his mouth.

"You know, for a heavy smoker, you're a lightweight."

Alex ignored him.

"What happened?"

Her grandfather looked toward Mupo.

"We came to an agreement."

Alex frowned.

"What kind of agreement?"

"The kind that's going to make me rich," Mupo said.

DJ sat down beside Alex.

"Right. So, let's catch you up."

He pointed toward the strange glowing rock sitting on the table.

"This rock."

Alex stared at it.

"I know the story."

She looked at her grandfather.

"Is this why you called me here?"

Her voice became colder.

"So the whole thing about wanting to spend time with your granddaughter was fake?"

Her grandfather shook his head.

"Yes and no."

Alex folded her arms.

"That's not an answer."

"I put some lies in the letter," he admitted. "But something very real was in it too."

He placed both hands on Alex's shoulders.

"I really do want to spend time with you."

Alex stared at him.