Galactic Travel and World Domination

   (When we last left Fred, he, Anthony, and Alexander were about to go places unknown in the alien saucer)

   Alexander reared up and pushed a few buttons on the console.  There was a flash, and the screen in front of them was filled with a bunch of stars zipping by them faster than a bunch of zippy things. 
Fred stared at the stars, mesmerized. “Whoa, that’s so cool.”
   Then there was another flash and the zippy stars were replaced with zippy lasers, spaceships, and explosions.
   “Holy moly!” Fred yelled. “You’ve brought us to a battle zone, Alexander!”
   “Yah!  Blow ‘em all to bits!” Anthony yelled.
   Alexander nodded and lasers began to shoot out of their saucer, blowing other ones to bits.  Something flashed nearby.  Their ship shook violently, throwing them all to the ground.  Except Alexander of course.
   “We’ve been hit!” Fred said. “We have a breach in Hull 9!”
   Anthony and Alexander stared at him.
   “What are you talking about?” Anthony asked.
   Fred shrugged and grinned. “I’ve always wanted to say something like that.”
   Alexander rolled his eyes and went back to blowing spaceships out of the sky.  Under his brilliant piloting, the rest of the ships were soon debris.
   Fred surveyed the scene with satisfaction. “Good work, ol’ boy.”
   Anthony also looked around. “Now what?”
   “Er…” Fred looked around. “I dunno.  Take us somewhere else, Alexander.”
   There was a flash, zippy stars, and then a big, green and blue globe right in front of them.
   “Wow!  Look at that!” Fred shook Anthony’s arm. “An alien world!  A whole new world for us to explore!”
   “Uh, Fred—“
   “Break out the spacesuits, Alexander.  We’re heading down!”
   “Fred!” Anthony grabbed Fred’s arm as he was heading off. “That’s Earth.”
   Fred did a double take and glared at the globe. “Darn it.  You’re right.  Why’d you bring us back here?” He looked at Alexander accusingly.
   Alexander nudged something, bringing up an image on the screen.  One of Jonathan seated on a big ol’ throne with all the world leaders bowing to him.
   “Holy cow!” Fred exclaimed. “Jonathan’s taken over the world!  But how’s that possible?  We just left a few minutes ago.”
   Alexander nudged something else, bringing the date up on the screen.  6/6/66. 
   Fred’s jaw dropped.  “You cannot be serious.”
   “We’ve been gone fifty-four years?!” Anthony asked. “You never said space travel had a time draw thingy, or whatever they’re called, on it!”
   “I didn’t know!” Fred protested.
   “Alexander!” They both yelled at the same time.
   The alligator gave a sheepish shrug and small grin.
   Fred took another look at the screen. “Y’know, Jonathan’s looking pretty spry for a hundred or so year old man.”
   Anthony took a look too. “What are you saying?”
   Fred looked at him blankly. “Huh?”
   Anthony rolled his eyes.  “Fine, I’ll take charge then.”  He struck his own noble pose. “We’re gonna save the world, boys!” Then he stumbled forward.
   “But, but, but,” Fred spluttered. “Didn’t you see the date?”
   Anthony regained his pose, trying to remain dignified. “Yeah?  So?”
   “Can’t we take a vacation and come save the world tomorrow?”
   “No!” Anthony jabbed a finger at the screen. “They need us!  Tomorrow will be too late!”
   “Why is tomorrow always too late?” Fred grumbled. “They’ve done without us for forty-four years, you’d think they could go a day longer.”
   “What was that?” Anthony asked.
   “Nothing,” Fred said innocently.
   Anthony looked at him suspiciously, but didn’t pursue it. “All right, Alexander.  CHARGE!”

   To be continued…