“I tried. I told her I loved her.”
“Sometimes loving someone means you do what is best for them, rather than what you want them to do. Sometimes if you truly love someone, you let them go.” The elder Richard stood up. “I can’t say anything more, or I’ll change the future. I’ve helped you all I can. The next step is up to you.”
Richard watched as the man mounted the platform. He set the code to activate the gate. Then, his other self disappeared into the future, hopefully to one better than the present he was stuck in, hopefully not a future involving a prison.
The room dimmed. Richard sighed and tapped the off switch.
Where might I find a gun?
***
They crowded into the rotunda. Alysians of all sizes, colors, and shapes jostled their way into the old palace to observe the pending debate. Vid cameras bobbed about searching for a famous face to interview. Lesser knowns angled into the media’s eye, hoping to grab a fleeting slice of fame.
The din spawned by an ever-increasing chorus of angry voices made Richard’s head dizzy. He took a sip of water as Trace slipped into the seat next to him and nodded. John Armstrong stood up and started pounding the podium for quiet.
No one listened. The delegates were in place, but persisted in arguing with each other. The public, intent on watching the proceedings, swarmed through the doors, scrambling for the last remaining seats.
“Quiet!” President Armstrong yelled at the top of his lungs.
Only a few glanced in his direction. In frustration, he banged down the gavel, but the sound got drowned out by strident discussions. He nodded toward Richard.
Richard stood up, pulled out the gun, and fired three shots at the ceiling. Pieces of plaster rained down on the startled crowd. The room fell quiet as all eyes swung in his direction.
Trace leaned sideways. “Don’t overdo it.”
Immediately, Richard placed the gun on the table in front of him and raised his hands, palms out. He glanced up toward the back of the assembly where Merek stood in charge of the guards, each one casting a nervous look in his direction. Merek’s hands also went up to signal a stay of action. Within the assembly, concerned expressions flitted back and forth, but everyone remained quiet.
He had finally gotten their attention.
Richard cleared his throat and bent to the microphone. “It’s real simple,” he said in a loud voice that filled the room. “Before each one of you shoots your own foot off due to arguing over stupid stuff, understand the situation. Most of the fleet plans to leave because we’re such fine hosts here on Alysia. Some will continue to stay on the space station, and a few would like to come live on the planet. I have no idea why they would want to dwell among such an ungrateful rabble, but there you have it. If we deny them entrance, well, they have weapons capable of wiping out a significant portion of our population. Things could get messy and put all of your lives at risk.”
He leaned into a subdued audience. “Already our population is dangerously low due to the comet hitting our moon. Do we want to engage in a war with an advanced intelligence that so far has done nothing but help us? They have the knowledge to aid us so much more, and yet, we continue to treat them badly. Our leadership has prepared a resolution to allow those who want to immigrate to land here. Alysia will also provide natural resources and raw materials to those Terran ships that choose to leave. I urge you to pass this fine resolution so we can continue to survive, and possibly flourish.”
Abruptly he sat down and gazed over at President Armstrong, who nodded and began to read the resolution they had prepared earlier.
A reasonable discussion followed the reading of the resolution, and a few amendments were offered, but the conversation stayed civilized. That was most likely due to the gun Richard placed prominently in front of him, and the scowl which appeared on his face when there arose any stupid objections.
***
As soon as the ink dried on the agreement, he made the call.
She answered immediately as if she’d been waiting by the comm.
Most likely she had.
“All right, Elise. I kept my word. You have your landing permits. The shuttles can bring whoever you want, and we’ve designated two pristine lakes for water in Islia and a mine near the Homestead for minerals and metal.”
She interrupted, “I understand a gun was involved in the negotiations. A bit excessive, don’t you think?”
Richard grunted, “I thought that it was needed.”
“Well, thanks, anyway. Captain Bradley has been in touch with an Alexander Snow who has been identified as the ruler of Islia. You realize that getting ready to leave will take some time?”
“Elise, if you love someone, you set them free. I’ll miss you. I just wish…”
“I haven’t left yet, but you realize my responsibilities dictate…” Her voice softened and trailed off.
He choked, saying, “Yes, I’m familiar with the concept. I’ve used it myself to explain what I thought was necessary. Duty usually ruined any personal life I might have hoped for.”
“Duty does tend to interfere with relationships, although we did make a little time for us.” Elise smiled. “We’ve had some unforgettable moments.”
“Will you give birth here? I would imagine it would be safer, and I’d like to see my daughter before she leaves.”
“You’re still convinced it will be a girl?”
“Not entirely, but yes, I’m expecting a female. I also happen to know that you aren’t the only one pregnant in the fleet. Trace says there’s been an outbreak of pregnancies.”
She laughed. “There may be more of them than you suspect.”
“Your Dr. Luttrell has been a busy boy, then?”
“Let’s just say that there’s been an unusual amount of activity all around with unexpected prolific results.”
“Sex in zero gee. I’d like to try it.”
She made a noise over the line that he couldn’t decipher. It caused him to smile, however, and he waited for an encouraging response.
There was a thoughtful pause, but she finally said, “This call is finished.”
Reluctantly, he cut the call, but now suggested, exotic images continued to dance in his mind.
Chapter 37
Departure
The ground shook, and gale force winds buffeted Richard’s hair. He looked skyward to observe the first of the mighty spaceships soar overhead, heading majestically northward toward the thawing lakes of Islia. Out of each craft dropped shuttles that held beings from another world who looked deceptively like Alysians, but one would be a fool to think they were the same.
Elija and his people had constructed a runway near the Homestead to accommodate new Terran arrivals. President Armstrong had provided transportation that would take a large contingent to Tygel. From there, the newcomers would be dispersed to the four corners of the globe. The remainder would stay at the expanding Homestead until resettled. Several kidnapped Terrans had been recovered, but not all. He had pledged to continue the search until all were found, and then, find a home for them.
Rumble. Rumble. Beneath the rolling thunder, Richard squinted upward. He rubbed his arms as wind tickled the hairs on his body and flapped his clothes about him. Another massive ship passed overhead, causing his feet to tingle from the ground’s vibrations. Shading his eyes with one hand, he tried to catch a glimpse of The New Found Hope. Elise would be up on the bridge, calmly giving orders as she guided the fleet through the delicate dance of replenishing supplies and landing new inhabitants. The beautiful woman had blinded him to the resolute commander beneath the deceptive exterior. Again, he’d been a fool.
“Quite a sight.” Beside him, Trace also shaded his eyes with a hand and stared after the three supply ships that were able to navigate through an atmosphere-laden planet. Within seconds, the three behemoths hovered over the Islian lake.
Long funnels deployed from the ships to penetrate the melting ice and suck up the lake’s precious
, pristine liquid. Climate change had softened Islia’s harsh weather, allowing the ice that had covered the lake to melt in the abnormal warmth.
Another ship hovered nearby and hooked up with miners who operated machines that chewed into the Homestead’s local mine, gathering precious metals, minerals, and strange exotic crystals.
During a quieter interval after a ship had passed, Trace cupped an ear with his hand and nodded. He turned to Richard. “Deuce says the shuttles are landing successfully. No crashes yet. So far, so good. The Union’s military has cordoned off the area just in case protesters prove violent.”
Richard felt surprised at the revelation that a large number of the ships wanted to leave. World leaders suddenly saw a treasure of knowledge and technology slipping from their grasp. Attitudes hastily changed. A large mob of Alysians attempted to protest the departure. An equal number faced them to protest the landing.
Alysians are idiots.
He smiled, hearing an echo of Elise’s voice.
“Once the supply ships are full, they’ll return to orbit and wait until the shuttles join them. And then…” Trace circled a hand in the air… “They’ll leave for an adventure in space. Someone told me that humans often cling to what they are familiar with. Too many on the ships have only know one way of life. Living on a planet scares them because it’s unknown.”
He looked over at Richard. “Will you miss him?”
Startled by the question, Richard stopped to think of who Trace was talking about, and then realized he meant his brother. Surprised, he found that he would miss Braden. Because Braden had gone to explore space for so many years, the two brothers had needed to get reacquainted, but now that they were close once more, he was leaving again. If he ever returned, Richard would be long gone. Relativity let you grow old while your brother stayed young.
“I understand Earth2 is going to throw a going-away party, and we’ve been invited.”
“I don’t know, Trace.” Richard gazed overhead, not wanting to discuss the situation.
Another shuttle spiraled down out of the sky, swooping in.
“You’ll get one last chance to see her.” Trace patted him on the shoulder. “You can’t let her leave without saying goodbye.”
***
In the end, he made the harrowing trip back up to the station. He thought he would at least be used to it by now… but no. The fear, the sweat, the twisting lump in the pit of his stomach still overwhelmed him. A feeling of suffocation seized him as he gazed out onto the dark void. He would never survive a long journey through space, although he'd considered it for her sake.
He looked for her at the party, and couldn’t believe she didn’t appear. Asking around, the consensus was that she was on board The New Found Hope finalizing preparations.
Eventually, he ended up in the Operations Center, staring out the observation window, watching endlessly orbiting ships. He wasn’t going to feel pity for himself, and he refused to believe that this was actually happening. What had he done to change things? He refused to believe this outcome.
This is not my future.
He gritted his teeth and tried to locate her ship. The ships blurred, making it hard to distinguish between them. He blinked to clear his vision.
“It’s not there,” he muttered, searching for her ship.
Behind him, someone entered the room and said, “That’s because I docked it next to the station.”
He froze at the sound of the voice and turned into her smile.
“Your gun was effective at the conference, but even more effective was my promise to leave a ship for them to study. They leaped at the suggestion.”
“What!”
“John Luttrell staying behind and offering to share some of his discoveries was the cherry on the top.”
“Cherry on the top?”
Elise rolled her eyes. “Don’t start with me, Richard Steele. I’m a pregnant woman and susceptible to mood swings.”
“You really are pregnant?” He glanced down at her protruding stomach. “Won’t that be dangerous out in space?”
She grimaced. “Somewhat, but others have survived the condition before.”
“Oh.”
“Still…” She lifted an eyebrow.
Movement outside the window caught his attention. Ships were disappearing from orbit.
“The fleet is leaving,” he murmured.
She gazed out along with him, also following the ships’ departure. “Then you better come up with something quick to keep me here if you want me to stay. There’s not much time left.”
He turned to embrace her, decided to give it all he had. “I offer you all my love and everything I am.” He pulled away from her and put his hands on her shoulders. “It’s a good offer. The citizens of this planet consider me a very powerful and wealthy man.”
She smiled. “Is there a marriage involved? I understand it’s a necessary convention on Alysia for a woman in my condition.”
He grinned. “Most definitely. With a grand celebration, afterward.”
“Mmm. Sounds intriguing… worth considering. If that’s your best offer,” she produced a coquettish grin, “I think I’ll accept.”
They watched the last of the ships leave orbit, and then they kissed. With that kiss, Richard knew the right future had finally found him.
Thank you for reading the second book in the Terran Trilogy. I hope you liked it.
Please, if you did like it, leave an honest review on Amazon or Goodreads. Reviews are the lifeblood of authors and readers alike. I would be very grateful for your feedback.
About the author: secret info and tidbits:
Sheron McCartha stands tall… five feet, eleven inches tall. But that didn’t slow her down. Not able to travel in space, she did manage to solo a Cessna and copilot with her husband, Bland, in their Mooney, race their sailboat on the Chesapeake, bareboat in the Caribbean, ski all over, trade as a stock broker on Wall Street, and raise an outstanding daughter.
Now she snuggles indoors reading and writing amid tall trees of the Northwest as she creates alien worlds and starship adventures.
Science fiction is her read, roses are her delight. Snowshoe kitties Bubba and Beau are her joy, her daughter Lauren, her treasure, and her husband Bland, her love.
Check out all her books at Amazon Author Central
https://www.amazon.com/Sheron-Wood-McCartha/e/B0045K0HD6/
Read about the first time traveling clone sent back into Alysia’s medieval age who started it all in Caught in Time.
Learn all about Alysia and follow clues of a riddle in A Dangerous Talent for Time.
Find out about the development of Alysia’s space program and how the crew got selected for The Seeker, in Cosmic Entanglement
Travel along and join the adventures of Braden and his crew in space as they went through the stargate and battled aliens in Past the Event Horizon
Richard’s experience building the space station and uncovering a secret alien genetic program is the story in Space Song.
Understand the impact of the alien crystals and learn of the arrivals of aliens that changed Alysia forever in Touching Crystal.
Unraveling the mystery of Kayse Kiare’s identity and the war between aliens and Alysians is the story of Someone’s Clone.
A World Too Far starts the Terran Trilogy and tells the story from the Terran viewpoint through an exciting space voyage. Touching Crystal provides a great companion piece to this as it relates the invasion from the Alysian viewpoint.
For my blog on other science fiction/fantasy novels and all things science fiction, including the challenge of being an author, go to www.scifibookreview.com
For more book details and character descriptions, a map, and news: go to: http://www.AlysianUniverse.com
Or tweet: :https://www.Twitter.com/Sheronwriting
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Title Page
copyright
Discover Other Titles by She
ron McCartha
Acknowledgments
The Station
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Interesting Tidbits on the Author
Somewhat Alien: The Station (Terran Trilogy Book 2) Page 27
