"How could anybody blame church people for what Leader did?" Astro exclaimed.
That got everyone's attention, and all the androids gathered around Astro and Joseph.
Joseph glanced around, then nodded at Luna. "Hello, Luna. It's nice to see you again."
"Nice to see you too, sir," she replied.
"And who are all your friends?" he asked Astro.
"Everybody, this is Joseph, a friend of mine from Creekhollow in Foredan." They smiled at Joseph, and Astro went on, "Well, um, sir, this is my son Ran-tan, and his wife Evan-sa, and their baby."
"Son? Wife?" He stared at the doll-like three-week-old infant in Evan-sa's arms. "Baby?"
"Yeah; we androids can reproduce."
"You ... don't say. Who could have imagined such a thing?"
"And this is Zog, and Dragon, who are Evan-sa's parents. And this is Orkan."
Joseph frowned. "How could you possibly have called him by such a name?"
"Because that's my name," said Orkan softly. "Dad, uh, Astro took Leader's core, purified it, and he and Luna raised it—me—as their own child."
"My word! And do you remember being the Leader?"
Orkan turned away. "Sure, but I wish I didn't."
"Anyway," said Astro. "I know you didn't come here to meet my family. I'll call Dad and see if he can put you up tonight. Then we can talk."
"Thank you. I'd appreciate that."
Joseph sat glumly on the couch in Dr. Tenma's livingroom, nursing a mug of tea, while Tenma sat in the easy chair, and the androids sat around on the floor.
"It all started," said Joseph to Astro, "after you defeated Leader Orkan. At first the alliance of the Resistance and the people from the rest of Foredan made some progress in re-establishing peace, but they were quickly pushed aside by a powerful group of financial heavyweights who had profited by Orkan's warmongering."
Orkan nodded. "I think I know who you mean. There were quite a few people who made a lot of money on weapon sales and other war preparations. I doubt they were happy to lose that business."
Frowning, Astro said, "That smells an awful lot like Mellanine." When Joseph gave him a puzzled glance, he filled him in.
"Yes," said Joseph when he'd finished, "that has the ring of truth to it, in spite of all the speculation you've been forced to do. Before this happened in Foredan, we had been hearing of churches in many other nations being forced to close or to submit to governmental control." He sighed. "And that submission was tantamount to turning their backs on God."
"That's scary," said Luna. "What's happening to those who don't submit?"
"They meet together in private homes or out in the countryside, but if they're caught, they're thrown in prison for such charges as corrupting the youth with their beliefs, or defying edicts that require everyone to accept whatever religion is on top in that country."
"Is there anything we androids can do to help?"
Joseph shook his head sadly. "I cannot imagine what you could do. Even with my people, they received your warning, but they had no idea what they could do or where they could go to escape. And there's only the seven of you against a world-wide movement."
"I'm tired of hearing that," snapped Astro. "I know we can't help the world, so how can we help right here?"
"We hide them any way we can," said Orkan. "It's pretty obvious that Mella hates the God-fearing people, and he'll do anything to get them out of the way. Leader did the same thing to people who tried to stand up to him."
"Why does he hate them?" Dragon asked. "What did they do?"
"They push for what is right in God's teachings," said Joseph. "You see, everything that this movement—which Astro says is led by Dr. Mella—is pushing for will destroy the foundation of human life. In country after country where those who are seeking this new age are in power, the family is being destroyed. The few children that are permitted—they use the fear of overpopulation to enforce that—are practically raised by the state-run school systems, since they don't want parental thinking to deprive the children of their 'freedom' to do what they want. And even worse, parents are often paid so poorly that both of them are forced to work to make enough money even to pay the bills. And the small and family-run businesses that were the basis of democracy are being swallowed up by internationally-owned stores that control product distribution and pricing."
"Big money," said Astro, nodding. "Mella's disciples."
"But that's crazy!" said Dragon. "Why are they doing it?"
Joseph looked over at her wearily. "Money, child; prestige; power. It all boils down to the freedom to do whatever they want to any way they want to."
"Stupid," she spat. "For this they're throwing people in prison? Killing them?"
"They want them to act like robots," said Orkan knowingly. "Tools to be used, and, when they're not useful any more, thrown away—property, not people—and, if the people resist, they treat them like defective product."
"Yeah; the complete opposite of God," said Astro. "So of course they hate God because—as they see it—he wants to take away their oh-so-important 'rights' and 'freedoms' to get what they want, and anybody connected with God gets lumped in with him. That's what we're up against."
"And we're right back where we started," said Zog. "What do we do?"
"Orkan's got the idea," said Astro. "We hide God's people. And you know that whatever's happening in Foredan will be happening here real soon, so let's get Hamegg's buildings up as quick as possible, and then we can start looking for good hiding places out in the countryside."
"Wait a minute," said Tenma. "These people you're going to hide: what are they supposed to eat, and where will they stay? Let's face it, most of them won't be used to roughing it outdoors."
"Hmm," Astro responded. "Give me a minute to check something on-line." Then he said, "Well, we do know how to build, and I've just found some info on log cabins, so that's at least something. But I don't have a clue about feeding them. Any suggestions?"
"I'm way ahead of you," replied Orkan. "Since we're in it for the long haul, farming is going to be the only option, so we better hope we get some farmers among our refugees, because I can't find all of what we need to know on the web, and it looks like experience is a must for a lot of it."
"You're probably right," said Tenma. "Since tomorrow's Sunday, I'll be taking Dr. Elefun to church with me—and you too, if you wish," he said to Joseph.
"Thank you. That's very kind of you."
"We'll talk with the people there," he went on. "Then see who we can find to help."
"That'd be really great, Dad," said Astro. "Thanks a lot."
"Well, that worked out well," Astro said two days later to Luna as they moved the final piece of wall into place for Hamegg's new workshop.
"Yeah," said Luna. "Dad found us two people who knew farmers, and it looks like those farmers will be willing to put up a bunch of people."
"And there's people to help everybody who wants to get moved. We're even going to build the houses."
"Do you think the Mellanines will be watching for that kind of stuff?" she asked as Zog and Dragon fixed the wall section into place.
"Hmm, no doubt. There's plenty of satellites that can see to that resolution. I guess we'll have to do stuff like put those houses under trees, or cover their roofs with dirt and grass for camouflage."
"All done," said Dragon as she and Zog clambered down onto the ground again. "Let's get the first roof piece."
"Sure," said Astro, and he led the way to the stack of roofing material. Suddenly there was a loud crack, and he was thrown back violently into a pile of blocks with a sharp pain in his chest.
"Astro!" Luna linked.
"I'm okay," he replied as he jumped to his feet and computed where the shot must have come from. Then, scanning the buildings in that direction, he caught sight of a brief flash of reflected light. Blasting off, he shot toward the window at that location and crashed feet-first through the glass.
A man jumped back in surprise. He was still holding a large rifle with a scope mounted on top, and Astro immediately gave him the blue touch so he wouldn't cause any trouble before he was thoroughly checked over.
On his wrist was the tattoo of the goat's head in Ouroboros.
Astro examined the ammunition: armour-piercing bullets. This guy was definitely gunning for robot. He rubbed his chest; no wonder it hurt so much.
"I guess Dr. Mella's 'it' now," Luna linked.
"Right," he responded. "That gives me an idea."
He patted the man down and turned up a phone. Setting it to record, he said in Suenisian, "Well, Dr. Mella, it appears that the striker is now in your hands," referring to a Suenisian children's game similar to tag.
Slipping the phone back in its pocket, he stripped the man of weapons, then flew him out, placing him on a platform high above the ground on the old railway trellis. There was no easy way down from there.
He engaged his own phone and dialled a number.
"Emergency services," came the answer. "What is the nature of your emergency?"
"Astro," linked Luna when he was finished. "That's a really cute payback, but is he going to be alright? I mean, what if he comes to and thrashes about before he's rescued?"
"Thank you! I'll get some rope."
A lieutenant entered Dr. Mella's office and bowed deeply towards Dr. Mella seated behind his large oak desk. "Holy One, we have received news of our assassin in Antemonain. He failed."
"I see. Berq'an still lives, as I expected."
"And Berq'an recorded a message for you on the assassin's phone." A computer screen appeared at one side of the desk and played Astro's challenge.
"So he wishes to play the game, does he?" said Mella darkly. "That is very good, but my ascendancy approaches. Is the announcement in readiness?"
"Yes, Holy One."
"Do you have the snare with you so that I may examine it?"
"Yes, Holy One. At your command." The soldier backed out the door, returning a minute later. Bowing once more, he said, "Behold the Holy Berq'an."
The figure of Berq'an walked into the room and bowed silently.
Dr. Mella sat back and gave a smile of deep satisfaction. "You will serve me yet, robot boy."