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happened, he was out of energy. The big bird didn’t even blink.
    “We mean you no harm,” said the eagle. “How about if we just are friends?”
    “Sounds an excellent plan to me,” Tom said, knowing that he didn’t have much choice.
    Calvan said nothing; he stood still with his eyes half closed and flexing his muscles. The other Eagle seemed to laugh. “My , aren’t you a fierce looking boy” it said.
    “Yes actually I am,” he answered, as if his feelings had been hurt, “fiercer than any bird on Earth.”
    “That’s OK because we are not from Earth,” the first eagle said. “But enough of all this fun, we have business to attend to, and need your help. Sit down , relax and allow us to introduce ourselves please.” 
    They made their introductions as Eagles One and Two. Calvan couldn’t help noticing that these were no ordinary birds. For a start they could speak, and seemed to have very refined manners.
    “The original Star People left us to guard this place,” the first eagle explained. “What you see are not just two computer projections, we’re real enough in our own way, and when our people return we’ll be restored, and will return with them.”
    “We were left with some physical ability, so we’re not just images,” he added.
    “He’s trying to tell you that we can still ‘lift and shift’” Eagle Two said. “ Watch this.” A rock nearby lifted into the air, hung there for a moment, and then dropped to the ground again.
    “Enough of the introductions, now I must tell you some important news,” Eagle Two was shaking it’s head sadly. “This place is no longer secret. It’s also been discovered by a fierce race from the outer galaxy. We call them Zaarks. They aren’t friendly, and their leader is jealous of the Star People.”
    “They want to expand their territory,” Eagle One said.
    “Yes I know of these creatures,” Tom said. “I thought they’d made peace. We defeated them in a battle some time back, and made a deal with them.”
    The second eagle added. “They would never give up. Those primitive beasts have no morals or conscience, and couldn’t care less about breaking a peace treaty.”
    The first eagle continued. “They look primitive until you look into their eyes! There is great cruelty there. They are evil, cunning, but and also very smart.”
    Eagle Two added his bit, “And that’s the really scary thing.”
    Oh yes, added the first bird, not wanting to be outdone, “they also smell – really bad.”
    “Are you guys twins?” Calvan asked. Both Eagles laughed.
    “Now here is the worst scenario,” Eagle One said. “The crystal in this cave is pure, and contains massive quantum energy. If the Zaarks lay hands on it, then within a short time they will be able to match and then better the Space People in a war, and they will certainly choose this option - it’s their nature.”
    “We tried to get a message out to the Space People” said Eagle Two, “and let them know about the fire crystal left here, but a Zaark scout ship followed our beam, and spotted this place. They set up a jammer, and we were silenced. The Star People must have got part of our first message, before we were cut-off, and when that happened I guess they thought about it, and joined the dots.”
    Eagle One added, “In other words they guessed what had had happened, and realized that the Zaarks had blocked our signal , and were on their way here to get the fire crystal.” He added. “There are now two huge ships, in Earth orbit. Both are shielded from missiles, and cloaked for secrecy. It’s a standoff between the two  - Zaarks versus the Space People.
    SP’s have the edge, but it's still a stalemate. Both sides have the power to destroy each other, but if either side can reach this energy source and charge their ship, then the game changes, as they ’ll have a massive advantage.”
    Eagle Two continued the story. “If the Zaarks were to attack the SPs, mother ship , and