The Chronicles of Syra Omnibus

by Carolyn Davidson Hicks

  A year had come and gone, then several months. Life on the ranch was always busy these days and everyone went about their lives without worrying so much about the pioneers.

  They had made it all the way to this Earth, they’ll make it to the next. Then the first transmissions started to come through again as Ellead had slowed his speed and was approaching Earth II.

  Ellead had made the trip in half the time predicted by traveling high speeds three-fourths of the way there, they were now slowing down. The pioneers would soon be awakened and Syra was anxiously awaiting visuals on them.

  Each day Syra waited anxiously, then the visuals finally came through and everyone sat silently waiting to see and hear from their friends and family.

  As Ellead circled the planet, all 30 passengers began waving and sayings, “Greetings from planet Earth II.”

  From that moment on, the video feed started and never failed to provide visuals which were exactly what was hoped for.

  The trip was a success and when Ellead touched down on Earth II, everyone cheered his landing that saw it.

  Every day the feed continued and Syra could see the expedition organizing, building their settlement and going about their daily lives. The spot was found to start the first settlement and a perimeter was set up as a safety measure with a state-of-the-art security system to protect the settlers from any unforeseen problems, a shroud, and communications devices to report back to Syra always.

  The spot that was chosen had an unlimited supply of fresh water from a waterfall. The first settlers worked hard every day building their settlement and setting up who would hold what duties and how it would be performed. They picked their own temporary leader and all decisions were discussed and agreed upon beforehand.

  Ellead would stay and make sure the settlers could survive on their own. They had several bots to assist them in their settlement of Earth II, Ohtron and Zee-uV stayed behind and in no time at all, they gave Ellead the go-ahead to speed back to Earth.

  With Elleads ship virtually empty, he would take much less time to return to Earth and could travel at higher speeds most of the way back.

  Incredibly it was less than one Earth year, Ellead was back on Earth and the feed and visuals continued.

  By the time he returned to Earth, the settlers had already established homes and were using their temporary shelters to store food and to perform other tasks.

  A hydroponics garden was set up and was now producing vegetables. The botanist bot had organized much of what they had accomplished. Some of the men were already starting to explore the new land in search of useful things that might help them make things better for them and easier. The transportation pods made this possible in record time.

  Back on Earth, Syra was thrilled the twins graduated from college and were home, and eager to take on new jobs in their chosen careers. They would spend the summer home but planned on moving out next year. Neither one was interested in traveling to Earth II but enjoyed the updates they received.

  James and Syra’s ranch were slowly emptying and they missed all the kids and noise it used to have. Those would be the days they would always long for again.

  Ellead had Zee10 complete all his maintenance along with the maintenance bot and Ellead had the go-ahead for another speedy trip back to Earth II but now had the ability to double his speed once again with the new adjustments.

  With Syra’s blessings, this time Ellead carried a load of supplies for the settlers on Earth II. Much needed advanced Zhian medical supplies since the Zhian Sphere stored plenty for those on Earth, it was decided to transport as much as could be spared to Earth II.

  But no other Zhianite wanted to leave and they continued life on Earth happily fitting into society, having children and contributing to society as law-abiding citizens.

  When it was launch day, Syra could have sworn she saw a tear or two in Zee10’s eyes. He truly missed Ohtron and asked if Ellead would bring him back and take the replicant with him instead and that was agreed up immediately.

  Zee-uV assisted Ellead in takeoff, and they were gone before anyone could blink their eyes. This time around, there would be no visuals because this would save power for the trip. The visuals were what slowed Ellead down on his first trip.

  Syra was never sadder than the moment she saw the words, Ellead The Explorer disappear into thin air.

  Over the course of the next few weeks, James and Syra had a lot to discuss. They had been watching the settlers of Earth II and were simply amazed at their progress.

  Already, they had 5 new births on the planet and the education bot on the way would arrive just in time for the younger generation born on Earth II.

  Syra and James discussed the concept that relocating the Zhian Sphere was being considered because it would be safer on Earth II and could make it back to Earth if Syra or James or anyone else ever needed what the sphere had to offer.

  They would hold off until they received many more reports on any of Earth II’s planetary readings to make sure it was safe enough for Zhian Sphere.

  The one thing they knew for sure, was the sphere was better off there than at the South Pole if it were going to be stored for an extended for a long time.

  Earths political arena was always unsafe and very risky to assume or place or the other would remain under US control.

  By the end of the summer, the twins Zachary and Zoey moved to the big city and started their first jobs right out of college. They graduated in the highest honors and their pay reflected that point.

  Zachary worked in politics and Zoey started an organization to feed the hungry children in the poorest of areas of the US, provide medical help, shelter, education, and clothing.

  James and Syra got involved in population control because their biggest concerns were crowded cities and food shortages. Syra had no worries anymore about being targeted as an alien. Over the years she had made several television appearances in causes for the betterment of humankind and had a great movement of her own.

  That long hair of hers was incredible and reached all the way down her backside! She had beautiful soft white highlights that she had gotten no sooner than her twins were born.

  James often said it was the stress of raising two. Syra always reminded him of being the wife of James Caldiron was not that easy either.

  Zee10 often asked Syra why she changed so much after arriving on Earth because her hair grew so fast and she would gain weight then lose it and so on. She always reminded him he was mechanical in nature, she was not. It was times like these Zee10 wished he could age so gracefully alongside his lifelong friend!

  Zachary Caldiron was making quite the name for himself and started on the campaign trail supporting a favorite candidate of his and would be on the road for the next year and a half. This saddened Syra, but she knew she would see her son almost every day via CNN.

  Zoey was not seen much because no one seemed to care that much about the causes she fought for, but she fought hard to save the sick children, for cleaner air and she fought her causes anywhere and everywhere anyone would or could listen.

  The one thing Syra could count on was her children calling her almost daily. Neither of the twins still had a clue of the highly advanced security that surrounded them, and they continued to go about their daily lives.

  They were half human and half Zhian and it was Syra’s hope that one day, they would change the world in a positive way.

  But one thing for certain, if their time on this Earth was not welcomed, they could always go to Earth II. But that was not where their hearts were.

  Back on Earth II, the settlers were extremely excited when they saw Ellead landing so gracefully. He had brought with him much-needed supplies and Zee-uV helped carry as much as he could to the settlers.

  Life was about to get much easier on Earth II now that those supplies had made it.

  Ohtron was instructed that he needed to return to Earth and his replicant Ohtron II would replace him on Earth II. Ohtron II had only min
imal download and was more of a worker bot than anything else.

  Ohtron had completed his assignment and the settlers cheered him on but hated to see him go. He had secured much of that side of the planet over time and worked tirelessly to monitor their growing settlement.

  All the settlers had the offer to return to Earth if they chose. But none took up the offer and remained. The fresh air, fresh water, fertile soil and sheer beauty of the surroundings they knew they just could not leave it and stayed without a second thought.

  The settlers felt it was way too soon but understood why Ellead had to return as quickly as he could to Earth. It would be a long journey back but there would be no living beings aboard and Ellead could make double time and he planned on it.

  Meanwhile, back on Earth Syra had finally made the decision that Zhian Sphere should be stored on Earth II. She was not pleased with the reports back from the sphere that the cold was causing issues the maintenance bots were having a problem keeping up with repairs.

  This broke Syra’s heart. She felt as if the sphere had become forgotten and that she could not have that happen. James agreed. She had always known that the perfect place for the Zhian Sphere was a place it did not need it’s shrouding on, which used a lot of resources over time.

  Zee10 sat down with Syra and James and they began working on a plan to get the sphere to Earth II for safe keeping. It would be away from prying eyes and safe from anyone who would try to claim it should it be discovered.

  Syra longed to fly the sphere again and James had always wanted to board it. That is when James asked if there was any way Syra would consider a trip to Earth II.

  James longed to step foot on another planet other than his own, and this would be the chance of a lifetime. It would also give Syra the opportunity to captain her vessel once more and when they got to Earth II, they could see the progress themselves and approve in person!

  Once Ellead returned, they would use the original Ohtron to finish the outer edge of the sphere’s minor repairs. Mostly it would be to remove ice buildup.

  Zee10 would return to the sphere and co-pilot it back to the ranch. It would be there only for a short time while they pick up James and Captain Syra!

  Meanwhile, Zachary Caldiron’s candidate won and he himself became one of the youngest Senators. When he spoke in the Senate, all eyes and ears were upon him.

  It was from that moment on that things began to change for Zachary as he considered running for President one day. Zach had met a girl in Washington, and they married right away. She was an attorney straight out of Harvard and had a bright future and Syra could not have been prouder of her son than when she saw him walk down the aisle and take a bride.

  Zoey had such a passion for people and was now known as the one who single-handedly got the government to move wasted funds spent on useless price-hiked furniture and tools and shift that money over to her Feed the World project.

  Because of Zoey, no soup kitchen ever went without something to feed the hungry. Many said it was because she just would not let up and it was easier to give her what she wanted because she would never give up.

  Government waste was something Zoey would fight against if it was the last thing she ever did and when she called upon a politician to back her up on a project, they did it in record time. They knew all too well that Zoey would cause them grief they did not need.

  Finally, Ellead returned to Earth and would need to spend some time having normal maintenance done on his frame, some tweaks and adjustments and a few upgrades to his core systems while they were at it.

  Ellead was informed that Syra, Zee10, and James would be transporting the Zhian Sphere to Earth II and he would be shuttling them back to Earth when the time came. Ellead would fit in the transport cargo bay are at the bottom of the sphere and plans were now well underway for the next journey back to Earth II.

  James knew much had to be done to shut the ranch down for a couple of years before he would be able to start up again. His cattle and horses would be moved one ranch over for safekeeping and this took a lot of worry off James’ already over-burdened shoulders.

  Syra always liked to plan ahead, and the one thing she was concerned about was protecting her technology. So, only her twins knew the location of the hidden treasures she was saving for Earth.

  She also prepared the ranch house so there would be no sign of Zhian technology in there and the com center was moved to the secret location as well. The safety perimeter was reduced to a small area to conserve power.

  Zee10 and Ohtron searched the grounds of the ranch and spent some time removing any signs Zhians or Zhian technology that was ever present. They knew they did not have much time until the sphere would be ready to pick up Syra and James. Once Syra and James returned to Earth, they would be able to set things back up the way it was or change it.

  Once Zee10 was done at the ranch, he took a travel pod to the South Pole and docked it inside the sphere. And all maintenance bots were now called to duty from storage. All other bots that could assist did.

  Zee10 sent heat to all the outer surface of the sphere immediately to warm up the ship and reduce the ice and snow that had built up on its outer frame.

  When Zee10 received the go-ahead from Syra through his direct channel to her, the sphere rose up above the surface and simply disappeared.

  It would not take long for him to arrive over the ranch and pick up the last remaining crew members and his captain.

  Just a short time later the sphere hovered over this designated spot. The shroud was turned off momentarily and Ellead with a load of building supplies and other items rose above the ground and was swallowed up by the cargo bay holding doors.

  Just as quickly, Syra and James got in their pod and docked in the captain’s docking area of the sphere. With everything aboard, the shroud was turned back on and the sphere rose high into the sky and shot up and outwards into deep space traveling at speeds even Syra had never observed or imagined.

  James was star-struck! Never in his imagination had he thought he would be aboard an alien ship and be there willingly.

  Almost immediately after boarding, James’ DNA, likeness and voice were added to the system for security reasons. Then, once they were in deep space James got a tour and was almost overwhelmed.

  He began to see the Zhian Sphere as a planet itself, self-sufficient and virtually alive. What he had never realized until then was that the ship could hold up to several thousand occupants if it needed to.

  But on Zhian, the ship had been outfitted with as much of their technologies as they could save and that was why Syra had only 48 Zhianites in total. Already those numbers had more than doubled on Earth.

  Zhianites had agreed that if they could reproduce children on Earth, they would save their population that way, and only the most probably fertile of them were selected by Syra to travel to Earth. With no births in over 25 passes, that was a risk they were willing to take.

  James got a partial tour because Syra realized he was a bit overwhelmed and took him to her captain’s quarters. It had been modified to house two and had a regular bed and two sleepers.

  It had also been arranged so James could cook real Earth food and had movies aboard for entertainment too! Even an Earth clock with time and date hang on the wall, especially for James comfort.

  James had a difficult time separating which bots did what until pointed out the color-coding charts on the walls matched their colors and the symbols just made sense. But the one thing that baffled James was he was just so sure he would hear a lot of humming sounds of engines or something. Much of what he saw baffled him but that was understood.

  James was exhausted and retired early to bed. Syra had a lot to do but explained she would join him soon.

  As soon as James had fallen asleep, Syra got to work. Monitoring Earth as much as she could, the system was programmed to wake up upon any changes of any kind but with her twins back on Earth, she wanted to make sure they were okay.

  It
was not until then, that Syra went on to bed. James had been afraid of the sleeper, so their large bed had been secretly converted to a sleeper and the dome came over the bed silently after both went to sleep.

  The life support became active and neither one would be awakened until they arrived on Earth II. Syra had requested that both be awakened together and there would be no need for separate sleeper pods.

  Zee10 ran the vessel as always and worked tirelessly without ever needing to sleep.

  Meanwhile back on Earth, one of the strangest phenomena had taken place near the South Pole and all the news media was covering it. Not that anyone could show up there with cameras, but they relied heavily on satellite views.

  The research lab had detected a large body of water but was quickly frozen over. All the equipment at that lab clearly showed this existed. The scientist ran test after test to make sure it was not their instruments. This could be a very bad thing for the lab and for Earth if ice were to suddenly start melting and then refreeze.

  This phenomenon had the world on full alert once it was proven the lab's instruments were, in fact, working properly.

  This had taken place not all that far from the lab, but no instruments showed anything out of the ordinary until a lake of water suddenly showed up and then shortly thereafter, froze up again.

  Sen. Zachary Caldiron knew right away what the cause was and would send his mother the message right away. She would not get the message until she got to Earth II, or Zee10 woke her to give it to her.

  This is the very reason Zach decided to make the message short and sweet and not to cause any real alarm. Besides, Zach thought to himself, no harm done!