As they had come in sight of Bognor Will and Zoe had become highly excited. The others had been surprised to see the small blue-green planet as they drew closer. What had confused them, though, was realising that the blue was the land and the green was the sea. It reminded them that despite the similarities this was not Earth. This was a homecoming for Will and Zoe, but not for anyone else.
Around them the spacseships of the pirates and astroninjas were touching down, and their troops were pouring out of the ships to scout out the area and protect the king as he landed. Will had refused to let anyone else fly the Hilarity, and was doing it himself with only the help of Zoe and the Gilbot.
They landed, and the doors opened. The travellers headed towards them. Will looked at Zoe, and together they strode out onto the planet's surface.
"Home at last," he said to his sister.
Suddenly there was a shout from one of the astroninja scouts. "Enemy forces approaching."
"To arms!," the chief ninja shouted.
"Don't shoot till we find out what they've come for," Zoe ordered. "We need to know what's going on."
"I don't think that takes much working out," Will said, as the advancing troops began to fire on them. The travellers quickly retreated to the safety of the Hilarity. But the troops of the insurgent ruler of Bognor which had been sent to prevent the landing were no match for the disciplined skill of the astroninjas or the fiery attack of the pirates. Soon they were driven off back to Bognor Regis in shame and fear.
"Now uncle Friderts will be quaking on his new throne," Zoe said exultantly.
"We've a long way to go yet," Will said. "Time to start our plan.
The day before, on the astroninja space station they had come up with their plan. As there were already some astroninjas on Bognor, acting as Friderts' bodyguard, the arrival of a small group of reinforcements would be pass without comment. Accordingly a small party of expert ninjas had been dispatched to the planet ahead of the main force, to inform those already there of their change of sides and the new plan. These ninjas were the key to their new plan- the allies within who would, metaphorically, open the gates to King Will's forces.
They also told those ninjas who were already there of the joys of love. All ninjas were commanded to be obedient to the chief astroninja, and were not unused to changing sides in the midst of a struggle if the appropriate amount of money changed hands. There was no need to fear that they would refuse their new allegiance. But so the royal forces could tell who was on their side Queen Argent had proposed a secret sign.
"Like a special handshake?" Emma had said.
"Yes, but something you'd be less likely to guess," Zoe replied. She had come up with many of the ideas for their plan.
"Eating a sausage roll?" suggested Tom.
"But what about vegetarians?" Ruth said.
"How about a banana?" Patrick suggested. "Do you have those here?"
"Of course," Zoe said. "Right, so if you're not sure if someone is on our side you eat a banana and they'll eat one too."
"What if you don't happen to have a banana with you?" Ruth asked. "We don't all carry fruit around with us." Patrick produced one from his pocket.
"We'll make sure everyone is provided with a stock of bananas," Zoe said. "Now, the rest of the plan..."
Once they had made sure that the area around their ships was safe the royal forces posted guards and began to move towards the city on foot. Crossing a narrow belt of woodland- beautiful tall trees with dark red trunks and delicate leaves in shades of purple and blue- Ruth and the other Earth dwellers saw Bognor Regis for the first time. It was a large, sprawling city of buildings of many shapes and sizes and shades of colour. Flowing down towards the city was a river of deep green water, and far off in the distance Ruth thought she could just make out a coastline.
The travellers, surrounded by the astroninjas and pirates, marched across the blue grass until they reached a road leading down to the city. Some of their scouts who had been sent ahead reported that the road was clear and there were no more troops belonging to the usurper Friderts in sight. As they marched down the road it seemed deserted, the local people hurrying inside and locking their doors as the heavily armed royal group came in sight.
Ruth and the others strained to catch glimpses of these people. They looked human, like Will and Zoe. Some of the buildings did look 'alien,' but there were others that wouldn't have looked out of place in a London street. They all looked very solid and tidy, and the street was clean and litter-free. Ruth was beginning to find this place unnerving- the way that things were so like Earth, but just a bit different.
"What's Friderts playing at?" Zoe muttered.
Will shrugged. "Who knows? Something cunning and unexpected. He expects we'll head for the palace first, so no doubt he'll have something planned for us there."
"Just as well we have other plans," Zoe replied. The long procession of pirates, ninjas, visitors and returning royals headed onwards into the heart of the city, guided by Zoe, until they stood in a wide, deserted square before a large building. Around them were gleaming buildings of white stone, but this one was dark, and looked very Gothic and very familiar. At one end was a tall clock tower.
"The Bognorian Senate," Will said proudly.
The story continues...
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