Ivy tried several times to look into the crystal ball, but nothing worked. Obbo polished it then waved his arms over it several times, but his efforts were also to no avail.
Kaz crouched beside them. “Try it without the crystal ball. Can you communicate with anyone or pick up anything?”
The little couple faced each other, held hands, and entered what seemed a trance-like state while the others gathered around. After minutes with no reaction, the couple’s tension spread to the crewmates, whose impatience manifest in deep breaths and shifting eyes. Soon, Ivy scowled and shook her head. Then Obbo shook his head.
Kaz tapped on Ivy’s shoulder. “What?”
“Can’t see,” said the little lady.
Obbo opened his eyes. “Something here has stopped our foresight.”
Ivy shook her head again. “Can’t see or hear.”
“Okay,” Kaz said. “Maybe you’ll come up with something when you get back to the E-module. You’ll have to go back there for now until we know what we’re dealing with.”
Lynch pressed his face to an aft porthole. “Bach was clearly in stress shock; not mentally fit. I shouldn’t have let him go alone.” He looked at Star with single-minded determination. “Open the ramp.”
Star clamped her hand over the controller to override security. Weighing the risks, she prayed for divine guidance. A light flashed on the control panel. At the same time, the ship’s security systems deactivated and the ramp opened.
Lynch headed outside ready to rescue Bach, only to see him approaching with Elhannon. Dozens of children of all ages, races, and genetic variances followed the two men.
Bach waved across the distance to his stunned crewmates now waiting at the bottom of the ramp. Nearing the Ark with Elhannon, he pointed to the children and yelled ahead, “The children were rescued from the planets.”
Elhannon turned around and signaled the children to stop, then continued on with Bach.
Bach yelled again as he walked. “Our passengers are parents and relatives of all of these children.” Face beaming, he reached the Ark with Elhannon and excitedly shared more good news. “Elhannon’s commissioned us to raise and nurture them.”
Star stepped forward and stared into Elhannon’s ice-blue eyes. “You’re entrusting us with the care of all of these children?”
“Yes.” He motioned the children forward.
Now the nine couples from the E-module showed up in the doorway and hurried down the ramp with shouts of joy.
Newlyweds Urich and Rain were first into the crowd and found their twin nieces and nephews and other twins from planet En Gedi, including the twin boys and girls who helped Bach and Star.
Ivy and Obbo instinctively knew where to find their two pint-sized daughters in the group. The love between parents and children flowed without words, and the little couple embraced their children and a dozen other little ones dancing around alongside them.
Betrothed couple Yin and Yang searched for missing family members and soon located numerous young relatives and their friends.
The long-lost children from Violet and Noble’s planet were in the arms of taller children.
Maya and Jett found the children from their planet, including the two young brothers who gave Bach and Star the berries. The brothers were the last children rescued by Elhannon.
Wick and Cyrus’s three boys and a group of others rushed forward, their white hair flying back from their faces and their pink eyes filled with joy.
Freeman and Hope’s three children ran to them. They wrestled each other to the ground, hugging and crying with joy.
Although they had no children of their own, Zerah and Tobit teamed up with Xian and Ptero to reconnect with dozens of children from their two planets.
Caught up in the energy, G.R. grabbed Deni and hugged her as if she were his long-lost sister.
Lynch wrapped his arms around Kaz, holding her so close they appeared as one.
Without thinking, Bach took Star in his arms, lifted her from the ground and swung her around, inhaling her enchanting fragrance with delight.
Elhannon stood aside, smiling.
*****
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
While families and friends reunited, Elhannon gathered the six crewmates together for a meeting inside the Ark.
Bach couldn’t wait to tell the others what he’d learned when first taken aboard Elhannon’s ship, and started talking before they sat at the table. “Urusa was formed by the Creator with our mission in mind. Elhannon and his assistants systematically rescued the children from each of the planets by divine commission. He kept them here on Urusa, safe aboard his craft, while they awaited our arrival with the chosen ones—their families and friends. The children, and Elhannon’s assistants, cared for the gardens.”
Star blurted out, “The children are Urusa’s caretakers?” If Elhannon replied, she didn’t hear. She fired off another question. “How did you come and go on all the planets without detection?”
He seemed to smile. “The top portion of my craft flies undetected.”
Star spoke to herself, “’Flies undetected?’”
Deni shifted her eyes back and forth from her crewmates to Elhannon, watching his reaction to their questions, hoping to learn where he’d come from in a universe with no other planets.
Lynch cleared his throat and leaned across the table to speak with the stranger face to face. “Elhannon. Now if you’re leavin’ these kids here with us and all our passengers, we’re gonna be short of shelter—sleepin’ quarters.”
“My ship has adequate provisions.”
“It’s like a small city in there,” Bach said.
Lynch nodded, then locked Elhannon in his stare. “So you’ll be staying with us too?”
“No. But the two bottom layers of my craft will remain.”
Bach spoke up. “I told you it’s like a city in there. A city with a hotel big enough for all of us. There are kitchens, workshops, laboratories, and recreation areas.”
G.R. tapped Elhannon’s shoulder. “Where will you go when you leave?”
Deni interjected, “And where did you come from?”
“Let’s just say I’ll be going home.” Elhannon’s manner of reply left no room for further questions.
*****
When darkness fell, Elhannon took Star to his spacecraft’s top level and closed the door. The small area resembled a comfortable apartment with separate rooms, curved walls, and soft furniture. In the pastel blue and white surroundings, nothing resembled a cockpit. There were no instruments, gauges, headphones, or computers. A comfortable chair with controls on the armrests overlooked a viewing window.
Elhannon placed his hands on Star’s shoulders. His pale blue eyes stared at hers for a halting time before he spoke. “Star…,” his voice was a whisper, “I’m your uncle.”
Goosebumps covered her body. She stared back. “I don’t understand.”
“Altemus is my brother,” he said with a rush of breath.
“My father has a brother?”
Elhannon put his lips to her forehead with a kiss she barely felt. “I never made it all the way to birth.” He looked from loving eyes.
"But, you’re a man … an adult….”
“For those where I live, age is an ongoing choice.”
“You can change your age?”
“Yes.”
Star acted on an overpowering urge to hug him, and it was as if a protective force instantly enveloped her. She nestled her face against his chest and softly asked, “You’re the Creator’s intermediary?”
“I, and others.” He wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on her head.
They embraced for a time, neither willing to break the connection. Then Star stepped back to wipe away tears.
Elhannon took her hand in his, smiling. “Now go to your new family. I’ll depart tonight as you sleep.”
Their soft blue eyes held the connection, neither wanting to look away. When the energy waned from Elhann
on’s grasp, Star stepped back, letting her hand slide along his to treasure the last of his touch.
*****
The next morning, after awakening inside Elhannon’s city-like ship, the crewmates rushed outside, wondering if he’d departed undetected. The smaller craft was gone.
Kaz whispered, “He’s out there somewhere.”
Star nodded and glanced skyward, smiling.
“I hardly knew him, but I’ll miss him,” Deni said.
“We’re caretakers of a new earth,” G.R. added.
“In the new Jerusalem,” Lynch replied.
Bach moved to Star’s side and took her hand in his. His other hand moved to the chain around his neck. He touched the tree of life and circle of light pendants and looked into Star’s eyes. “Hope for eternity.”
--END--
I hope you enjoyed this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. I would be honored if you would post a favorable review.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
I was born in northern Ohio, but have lived most of my life in Florida; Miami being my childhood home, and now living near Cape Canaveral, where shuttle launches visible from my front yard set the stage for Alpha Rising.
Writing has always been part of my life, and I knew one day all my notes and musings regarding deep space, and what lies beyond, would form the foundation for this exciting, entertaining, and provocative space-travel novel.
My hope for the future is that many medical conditions will be successfully treated and cured in space station laboratories.
Enjoy the journey.
G.L. Douglas
Please visit my website: http://www.alpharising.net
#
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
CHAPTER FORTY
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Alpha Rising Page 34
