** Writer's note - while this is the end of Penny's saga, the many adventures of Bok and its people will continue on in other adventures. Keep reading!
The planetary assault on Bok took the population by surprise. Several fighter ships had engaged the new Boccan freighters to distract them, while the troop transports landed at several places on the planet's surface. The objective was conquest, and the means was to capture the seats of power. This meant Penny, specifically, and the capital.
Cities and strategic military targets were being attacked all at once. The people of Bok were all putting up a strong effort to try to maintain security.
Fiona and Groovi had seen the explosions. Groovi's strong instinct was to go and find her daughter. Fiona pulled Groovi away so they could escape the capital. "Think about it, Groovi!" The two of them ran out to one of the shuttle launch pads. "Khazal's with Penny, right? She's gonna be surrounded by the palace guard. She'll probably be better off than with us."
"I just want to be able to see her!" Groovi was gasping in panicked breaths. "My dear Khazal!"
The two of them found an unattended shuttle. They got in, and Fiona launched them.
"Where are we supposed to go?" asked Groovi.
"We have to try to get to the Order," Fiona answered.
"They are not warriors," Groovi protested. "How can they help us?"
"I still believe in them," Fiona replied. "We can do a lot with prayer, and they all know the goddesses are out there." The panel started to beep. Fiona tapped at the console. "There's a landing party!"
The two of them peered out the windshield of the shuttle. Several landing craft had touched down just outside the capital, preparing camp and clearly setting up for invasion.
"I cannot believe it," Groovi whispered. "They will attempt to seize the capital!"
There were several flashes and the sound of clanging metal. "We're getting shot at!" Fiona banked the shuttle hard to avoid the weapons fire. Several laser blasts shot up from the ground.
The panel beeped and flashed red. "Shit!" Fiona typed wildly at buttons. "Our left thruster was hit. We have to land this thing."
"We cannot land here," Groovi protested. " We will be vulnerable to attack!"
Fiona got the shuttle landed a good distance away from the battalion. The two of them exited the shuttle, and Fiona inspected the damage. "They got some serious shots in," she commented. "Lookβthe liquid hydrogen is leaking."
"Can you fix it?" asked Groovi.
"Not with the tools I have," Fiona sighed. She climbed back in and flicked a few switches. "The electrical is dead, too." She got the carrying case with the emergency transponder, a supply of food and water, and a few coins. She then got out of the shuttle. "Come on. The sanctuary isn't far."
Groovi began to panic. "We must find out if Khazal is all right! What of Oola?"
"We can contact them both once we get to the sanctuary," Fiona told her. She took Groovi's hand. "ListenβPenny is strong and smart, and she probably has about a hundred guards around her. Oola and Crele are absolute monsters. We should worry about
us
more than anything!"
Groovi relented, and the two of them made way for a long walk in the desert, the sun starting to set.
Meanwhile, at Grandfort, there were already shots being fired all along the walls. There were several hundred alien troopers lined up and attempting a storming of the forbidden palace.
Oola landed the shuttle down fairly close to the castle walls. The two of them jumped out and took cover behind the shuttle. They each had a laser rifle and their swords slung on their back. The two women wasted no time in shooting back at the invaders.
"You there!" The woman's voice called out from the top of the castle walls. "Be you friend or foe?"
"Do our rifle blasts not indicate that?" yelled back Crele.
"Crele!" The voice became excited. "It is Girtan!"
Oola laughed as she fired into the crowd of soldiers. "Girtan! We have come to decimate these villains!"
"I bid you good battle," Girtan yelled back. "We cannot allow you in yet. If there is a cessation of the battle, we will make sure you have proper shelter."
Crele and Oola were both firing away, with each of them taking out ten soldiers. The cover fire raining down from the top of the wall kept the shots away from Oola and Crele.
It was an exhaustive battle, and the casualties mounted on the invaders' side. There were a few shots taken on the protectors of Grandfort as well, although none fatal. The invaders made a strategic retreat, giving the protectors a chance to regroup and rest up.
Crele and Oola were let into the inner walls of Grandfort, where Girtan greeted the two of them. The women were given a hot meal and a cold brew. Some of the protectors of Grandfort were tending to the wounded. Each of the residents of Grandfort had participated in the fight. Lolo had managed to take out several of the soldiers, but had taken a minor wound to the shoulder.
All of the women decided they would sleep in the main garden, allowing them to scramble in case of a night attack. Girtan had guessed that due to the number of casualties they sustained that the enemy troops would be convalescing for some time. The women of Grandfort had fought valiantly and sustained but a few injuries.
Crele and Oola were given a blanket, and both had cuddled up on the grass. They stared up at the stars.
Oola sighed. "You do not believe in the goddesses, do you, Crele?"
"I am skeptical," Crele replied. "I know that Fiona had been transformed somehow, which I could not explain. I imagine if they were real, they would not care a whit about me, either."
"Melbrik loves us all," Oola whispered, then yawned. She threw an arm over Crele's chest. "I wish I knew if Khazal was all right."
Crele rubbed Oola's arm. "Her excellency will guard that girl with her life."
Oola let out soft sobs as the two of them drifted off to sleep.
Groovi and Fiona had spent the night wandering the desert. They were freezing and hungry, but they had finally come to the Order of Goddess Divinity sanctuary. They were met at the door by an adherent.
"Priestess!" The woman took Fiona by the arm. "Come! We will provide sustenance! You must be exhausted!"
Fiona and Groovi were dirty, tired, and disoriented. They had just made it when the sun was beginning to rise.