"Why are you hiding from me?" Urim startled Josephine with those words, and she cried out.

"I'm not hiding from you. I heard a sound, and I thought Ixia's spy was coming back. I didn't want to be seen, so I climbed up here." She tried to climb out and discovered a problem. "I'm stuck. There is nothing to grip with my hands and no footholds."

Urim laughed despite his aching head and replied, "I guess that means you are at my mercy."

Josephine looked up at the tall warrior. He appeared even larger standing upon his rock like a statue of Adonis. "It's not funny! Stop laughing!" Her anger made him laugh louder at her predicament. She continued, "If you can't stop, then just go away and leave me alone."

"You wish me to leave you stuck there? What will you do for food or water? Do not let pride overcome your good sense. I am not actually laughing at you. I am laughing because it is such an odd situation, and one I did not expect. The fact that you are angry about it makes it funny."

"How would you feel if you were stuck here and I laughed?" asked Josephine.

"I do not think I would fit. The crevice is too small. However, I have my own problem, and when you see me clearly, I give you my permission to laugh as much as you like." He laid belly down on the rock and reached into the crevice. "Give me your hands, and I will pull you free."

Josephine strained to reach him, but their fingertips barely touched. Urim hooked his feet over the back edge of the rock and let his torso hang down toward her. Their hands clasped, and he began to pull her up. Something dripped onto her arm. It was blood. She turned her face up toward Urim and saw the blood dripping from his forehead. She gasped and let go of his hands. He caught her as she started to slide back into the crevice. "Do not let go! If I fall in there with you, there is no one to help us. You might even be crushed by my weight."

"But you're hurt and bleeding," Josephine declared.

"And you cannot help me if I do not get you out, so hold on." He scooted backward as he pulled her up. When they both were on the flat surface of the rock, he collapsed.

Josephine scrambled to her knees to get a look at his head. A jagged cut on his forehead was bleeding profusely. There was also a bruise and a large lump. She had nothing to wipe off the blood or mend the cut. She stated, "We have to go to the cove and wash the blood off. The cut will eventually stop bleeding. Head wounds are not as bad as they appear. Though, you most likely have a bad headache."

Urim sat up, and the world swam around him. "I cannot see straight. The world is spinning. Can you make it stop?"

"You have a mild concussion. When we get down from here, I promise you can rest, and the dizziness will pass." She forced him to stand. He showed her the trail down, and with her help, they made it to the cove. She coaxed him to the water's edge and cleansed his wound with its pureness. When the blood finally stopped flowing, she cradled his head in her lap. Running her fingers through his silky black hair to soothe the ache in his head, she asked, "How did this happen? Were you attacked?”

"I know I said you could laugh when I explained, but I would appreciate it if you did not. I am humiliated enough."

Josephine swore, "I guess that means you weren't attacked. I swear I won't laugh at you, even though you had a good time at my expense."

"When I saw you on the mountainside, I thought you were leaving the cove and I did not wish you to go before we had a chance to speak. I hurried across the water on a narrow rock shelf but forgot about the slimy mud on my shoes. I slipped, fell, and hit my head. When I reached the cove, you had disappeared!" he exclaimed.

"Was there a reason you came all this way to search for me?" she asked.

He frowned. Should he admit that he had come to spy on the Pura and that he had planned to trick her into telling him of their plans? Or should he use a lie, saying he had missed her and then charm her into telling him about the Pura? Both options held a partial truth mixed in with a lie. Looking up into her sparkling green eyes, he knew he could not lie or deceive her in any way. There was a connection between them that should not be jeopardized with lies.

Opting for the whole truth, he replied, "I came back to spy on the Pura. If my warriors are to be at their best for a battle, they must know what they are facing. My heart tells me there is more than battlebots to their plan. I fear there is something far more sinister in the works. It is also true that I wished to find you. I know your loyalties are to the Pura. Yet, I hoped you would be willing to tell me their plans. You willingly provided the information about the battlebots, so I felt it was worth a try."

"I am glad that you are being honest with me. I expected you to be spying on the encampment after you found me here before. In fact, I came here today to see if I could find you. I never thanked you for saving my life when we last met. I might have drowned if you hadn't come to my rescue. So, thank you for being there when I needed you,” Josephine answered.

"We are even now. You have taken care of my wound, and I am feeling better." He stood and declared, "I will not make you betray your loyalties to the Pura, but I will ask that you do not alert them to my presence. I will go now and find a good spot to see the camp."

"No!" Josephine shouted. "Just wait, please! I came here to find you and give you a warning. My only loyalty is to life for all. You are correct. They have a better weapon than the battlebots."

"Why did you not tell me this before? We could have been preparing a way to defeat it. Are you just saying this now because you know I will soon see it for myself?" Urim was hurt by the thought that she had held back information that could change the battle in his favor.

"I didn't tell you before because I didn't know about it until today. Ixia hid his secret well."

"Why should I believe you?" Urim defiantly asked.

"I can prove that I was going to tell you. I have been here for hours. When you didn't show up, I decided to leave you a message. That's why I was on the mountainside. The red juice of the vegetable gave me a way to write a note on the rocks. Since you were coming this way, you must have seen the dark shadow over the land, or maybe the spaceship itself. Just look behind you, and you'll see I'm telling the truth!" Josephine was frantic to make him understand and believe her.

Urim spun around too fast and staggered. As his eyes focused, he caught sight of the red splashes on the rock. He read her message and said, "I am sorry for doubting you. Please forgive my arrogant anger. I saw the shadow, but thought it was rain clouds over the Pura camp. I do not understand these words. What is the difference between an android and a battlebot? Are they larger, with more weapons? You said a spaceship came and brought them. I know of no ships large enough to carry one thousand of those monsters."

Josephine sighed, "It is so hard to explain, but I will try. An android is a mechanical man. They are usually made in the image of their makers. In this case, the Pura. These wear armor and carry long-range weapons. They are controlled by the small computers you saw the Pura with."

"If they are small like the Pura, why should we fear them? We have guns to shoot them and explosives that can be tossed to blow them up."

Josephine had to make him understand. "These androids will not die. If you blow off their heads, they will keep fighting. Cut off an arm or leg, and they will keep coming. They do not grow tired or feel pain. They don't bleed or get weakened. They don't require sleep, food, or water. Emotions are not a part of their circuitry, so they can't be reasoned with. There is only one objective programmed into them: kill the enemy. The Pura can control them without ever endangering themselves."

Urim declared, "Machines can be destroyed. They are not all powerful. We must simply find their weakness. The battlebots are slow and cannot see behind themselves. I learned that from observing them. If I can see these androids, perhaps I will be able to find a weakness. Are they where I can see them from the mountainside?"

Josephine gave up on her hopes of stopping the war. She replied, "They were lined up in rows when I left. I sincerely doubt that Ixia could find a way to hide them. There are simply too many. He doesn't really have a reason to hide them. I would imagine he would be quite happy for you to see them. He would believe it to be so frightening that you would leave the planet. I can honestly say that they scare me beyond reason."

"I must see them now, so I have time to warn the knights. Go back to your shelter before they come in search of you." He took her hand and kissed the palm. "Thank you, Josephine, for warning me."

She trembled at his touch. "I'm coming with you. I try to stay away from Ixia as much as I can. He gets in my head too much. I don't like the feeling."

"Will he not come looking for you again?"

She smiled and answered, "It is too mundane a chore for him. He sends one of his crew for something that simple. They will expect me to be at the cove. No one would think to search the mountain. I will be fine. Besides, I have a mighty warrior to protect me from the tiny blue creatures."

Urim wrapped his large hand around her small one, and they began the steep climb. It took extra time to avoid the terrabots and the roving eyes of the battlebots. They found the perfect vantage point and parted the crops to spy on the camp.

Josephine felt Urim's hand spasm and clench hers tighter when he got his first glimpse of the androids. From their height, the machines appeared more numerous than one thousand. She was sure Urim's imagination had not conjured up such a sight. Ixia and his crew were practicing their control of the androids. Urim was able to see how they moved and just how lethal their weapons were. He didn't say anything but watched every movement below. After what seemed like hours, he drew back into the crops and sat with his head in his hands.

"Is it as hopeless as it looks?” Josephine asked.

"No, it is not hopeless. It will be difficult, more so than we have ever faced. The androids are just as you described. Explosives may take out the circuitry of some of them, but more will take their place. The Pura's intellect and technology are superior to ours. However, we are more strategic due to years of training and battles." He touched her face gently and continued, "Thanks to your warnings, we know the battlebots weakness is at their back. Today, I have learned the weakness of the androids. We must destroy the computers. Without them, the androids are useless. They cannot think for themselves. I told you they were not invincible."

"To destroy the computers, you have to get past the androids. It's not possible. You will be killed. Please, don't do this!" Josephine begged.

"We both know I must. I may die, but it will be with honor. All the Milisarian Knights are aware that they may die in battle. It is a requirement that we be willing to give our lives for our species. We learn not to fear our own deaths. It is the deaths of the others I command that makes my heart ache." He turned to face Josephine and clasped her face between his hands. "You must find a safe place to hide, far from the battle. I cannot conceive of the notion that you will die. Protect yourself. Earth will hear of the war, and your people will come for you."

Urim stood and drew her up to him. "You are a beautiful soul, Josephine. Stay well and have a wonderful life." He leaned down, and his lips touched hers for an instant, then he was gone. Josephine was alone on the mountain. Her fingers stroked her mouth as if to rub the kiss into her lips where it could never be washed away.

Forcing his legs to go faster and faster, Urim ran down the mountain. Though his head still throbbed, and his lungs ached, he could not stop to rest. The Pura could attack his camp anytime now. He had to get to the knights and tell them about the androids. No matter what he had said to Josephine, he knew his men could not win this war without a miracle. They would fight valiantly, and he would be on the front lines. He would never hide behind his men as King Shene had done. It was cowardly and cruel. Urim planned to be the one who tried to get through the lines and destroy the computers. He would make sure to kill Ixia as well. The Pura leader reminded him of King Shene. He hid behind his metal monsters, uncaring of the destruction he would cause. He was even willing to tear up the planet he claimed to be fighting for.

Urim stumbled into his camp as the sun rose. The guards caught him as he fell. He was dehydrated and exhausted, from running all the way to camp. His food had been left behind on the mountainside with Josephine. He kept muttering the strange sounding word 'android.' The guards did not understand its meaning. When Urim passed out, they carried him on their shoulders to his quarters. The guards stripped him down, cleaned him up, and forced him to drink water. He recovered enough to ask that they gather everyone for an important announcement.

He stood once again on the raised ramp in front of the spaceship doors. The knights and colonists gave him their full attention. They could feel the tension radiating from their leader. Urim's voice rang out, "I have seen the Pura's newest weapon. We are far outnumbered by an army of mechanical men called androids. They number one thousand strong. They wear armor and carry long-range weapons. These machines do not tire, do not need food or water, and they do not feel pain or bleed. It is a daunting and almost impossible task that lies before us. I made a commitment to protect the property of Milisaria. I will see that commitment through to the end. I choose to fight until I am dead, or the battle is futile. You do not have to join me. I am giving you all the choice. You may stay and fight or take the ship and go home. I will not hold it against you if your choice is to leave. All I ask is that at some point a ship is sent back to retrieve those who stay and fight. Alive or dead, we will want to be brought home to Milisaria. The choice remains with each man, whether a knight or a colonist. I will not try to persuade you in any way. May you make the decision that serves you best."

He began to walk down the ramp, but was stopped by the battle cry, "Fight, fight for what is right! We will never stop until our leader does!" The knights and colonists all chose to stay with Urim.