The Chronicles of Syra Omnibus

by Carolyn Davidson Hicks

  The windmills always turned and produced power but even they were not counted on. Every precaution anyone could think of was thought of and action was taken about it.

  Warm clothing and blankets were pulled from storage and kept in the lodge. The clinic also received extra supplies to make it through the winter, so no one would need to make a run to the storage areas.

  The security team had already made a route to and from each check-point of the perimeter. The security cameras were always sending back live feed, but they knew they were really going to need Ohtron and his bitrons this winter until they could get a workable routine.

  The Caldiron Ranch needed no extra precautions since they had a Zhian force field that covered the entire ranch. But they did move all operations to the ranch house and settled in for the winter.

  The three settlements of freedom had received the same message and were preparing. They were in the same situation that the Appalachian Retreat was in.

  They had a great secure perimeter, but no shields to protect them from the weather. One reason was the sheer size of each of those settlements.

  Meanwhile, Cynthia was getting worried by the day. Every day counted, and there would be no rest for the weary. Each Sunday, after services, everyone went straight to work preparing for the worst winter of their lifetimes.

  Then the fall came, and the leaves had changed colors almost overnight. They were so beautiful everyone forgot about the storms headed their way for a short time.

  They enjoyed the warm breeze and fall weather. It had only lasted less than a month. Most said it went by way too quickly for them.

  Each day, it felt colder and the winds stronger than anyone could remember. All fireplaces were lit every day now, and most residents conserved the heating oils as much as they could.

  The trees would be good protection from snowfall, but the winds created dangers from fallen branches. It was those branches that continuously fell, plus the dead trees found on the property and chopped for firewood, that would last the winter if they had planned well enough.

  Cynthia was proud of the people of the retreat. They had worked so hard all summer to build up their new homes and then protecting them for the winter in record time.

  Then the first snowflakes started to fall. Many of the residents had never seen snow; now that they were seeing it, they were unsure if they really wanted it anymore.

  Back on Earth II, Syra was watching the weather on Earth and began to worry about all her people in the settlements. Winter on Earth II was months away.

  Syra started contacting Hannah at the Caldiron Ranch once a week, sometimes twice, as well as all settlements including the retreat to check on everyone.

  When the snow finally stopped, the retreat had six-foot snow drifts to deal with and no sooner than they cleared those and the path to each building, the winds came, and the freezing temperatures settled into the Appalachian Mountains.

  There was less news these days, and if it were not for the Zhian com systems set up in the lodge, no one would have been aware of just how bad it really was all across the U.S.

  At one point, Cynthia just decided she would no longer leave Ellead. She would settle in and spend the winter in the ship and monitor the retreat from there.

  But there were days she was sure Ellead was burned out on her talking to him continuously when he was busy processing and analyzing.

  He worked continuously and never slept. Cynthia decided she’d quit bugging him and that is when he asked her if something was wrong.

  In the meantime, Ohtron was out in some of the worst weather he had ever experienced. But he ran his routes nonstop.

  When the perimeter was breached for whatever reason, he would report the exact location and a team was sent out to repair whatever was needed to keep the retreat safer from outsiders who would mean them harm.

  Then the news came in that shocked Cynthia!

  The megachurch had burned to the ground and there was nothing but a stone wall and much of that had crumbled.

  The building was so full of the homeless and they were building fires in barrels inside the building to keep them warm. They had burned much of the seats for heat and had started on any furniture in the building.

  The building was so full of trash that it was ignited by an overheated barrel that was red hot at the time. The news reported that they were unsure of the loss of lives and would not know until spring.

  Fire departments had closed almost a year ago so there was no help on the way. A few hospitals remained open, but they only accepted the worst cases; everyone else was simply on their own.

  Living conditions had driven most to crime; even the very well-to-do folks who would never have even considered such a lifestyle now embraced it.

  This was a decision Cynthia regretted because if she had just burned it to the ground to begin with, no one would have died in the fire.

  “It’s not your fault you know,” Ellead spoke softly as he watched Cynthia’s tears slowly fall down her cheeks.

  Then Ellead, being all brushed up on human culture, suddenly realized it would be New Year’s Eve in a week and suggested Cynthia plan accordingly.

  Cynthia never had such a big smile on her face and perked right up! She must have thanked Ellead a thousand times for the suggestion and went straight to work planning her private party.

  She had not realized how hard she had been working all summer to get the retreat set up and running that she had not taken any time to just socialize and have a party.

  She contacted Lawson, who had been very busy until the winter blast came, and he too was going stir crazy! He would take a travel pod and be there as soon as possible.

  Cynthia was excited to have him come early, he would help her plan the party, and she really needed the company right now.

  Not only was she going stir-crazy, but she also needed a friend. She could not remember a time in her life she felt lonelier than she did now and was pacing the floor waiting for Lawson to show up.

  The call came in to Ellead that the travel pod was landing shortly, and Lawson would need to get out of the bad weather as soon as possible.

  Cynthia immediately hugged Lawson, and he stepped back and said, “Wow it is so good to see you again, it’s been almost five months now hasn’t it?”

  “I think so, I’m not really sure. Here, take those heavy wet clothes off and I’ll have them dry in no time!” Cynthia said.

  Lawson had brought luggage but left them down in the cargo bay for now. He was just in such a big hurry to get up to the second floor where the lounge was for a nice hot drink that would warm him through and through!

  The lounge had a holocom unit that Cynthia had played the recording of a fireplace that was so realistic she kept warming her hands by it and laughed at herself for being so silly.

  “You know, it really is giving off heat!” Lawson said.

  “I think you’re right! Oh, my goodness, now how cool is that Lawson!” Cynthia replied and concluded, “Sir, I don’t even know your first name, come to think of it!”

  He laughed and said, “No one does unless I like them a lot. I hate my first name!”

  “Well, what’s the big deal? Come on tell me I won’t laugh I promise!” Cynthia replied.

  “I will tell you but first I need a hot drink, I’m cold down to my bones right now! Lawson said, and he laughed.

  “So, what’s your poison then?” She asked.

  “Hot coffee with two shots of Bourbon my dear!” He answered quickly!

  All of a sudden, the lights went dim and some soft music started playing and the music filled the air. Neither had touched anything, no dials or buttons and both were stunned.

  No sooner than both started to sip their drinks, the visual came on and a movie started playing.

  “Honestly, I did nothing!” Cynthia said.

  “Well, I didn’t either!” Lawson replied.

  “Well, what can I call you besides Lawson?” She asked.

  �
�Just call me Bart! And don’t ask me for my full name okay!” He replied.

  Well about that time he had laid his badge and FBI ID on the bar by the drink and food replicator and she glanced over, and it said, Bartholomew Lawson! She said nothing.

  That evening he saw a change in Cynthia he had never noticed before. She could actually smile. She was not all work and no play. She had a feminine side he had not seen before.

  “Well since there’s a movie on, we might as well make ourselves comfortable and watch it!” Cynthia said as she sipped on her martini.

  “Okay, I’ll watch it only if you let your hair down. You are not at work you know.” Bart replied.

  “I didn’t even realize, give me a moment to go freshen up a bit so I don’t look like I’m headed to a board meeting,” she answered with a laugh and left the room.

  Now things were really starting to get strange, Bart thought to himself. Just as Cynthia stepped out of the room, the movie paused itself!

  Bart thought, well, I might as well go get my luggage and grab something more comfortable to wear than my clothes she dried out so quickly.

  He was back in just a couple of minutes, so he placed his bags in the corner and slipped into some baggy shorts and shirt and about that time, Cynthia stepped back into the room.

  Once again, the movie started right up without anyone saying anything and all of a sudden both smelled popcorn! Sure enough, a bowl full of very buttery popcorn either of them had ever seen or tasted was waiting on them to devour.

  “You have the most beautiful long blonde hair. You should wear it down more often, really.” Bart said as he saw Cynthia for the first time as a beautiful woman he was very much attracted to.

  He remembered when he saw her in her second skin suit, how shapely she was. But he got so caught up in work he never told her.

  Both just kept on talking and neither really watched the movie, but they truly enjoyed each other’s time together.

  But by the time the movie went off both were nearly exhausted, and Bart just wanted to know where his room was.

  He was not about to take advantage of a woman like Cynthia and did not want to take any chances of messing this one up as he had with all the other relationships he had ever tried to have.

  He had always moved way too fast and would not repeat that mistake again.

  “You can have any room you want. There are several. This one is mine, but the rest is yours for the taking,” Cynthia also said, “ and don’t forget your bags.”

  Both went straight to bed and were fast asleep in just a few minutes. But by early morning Cynthia was up and ordering breakfast and Bart could smell the food and he woke up quickly.

  “Woman, you keep this up and I’m gonna attach myself to you and never let go,” Bart said with a smile.

  “You best eat up or I’ll be the one to make the first move Sir!” Cynthia said as sexy as could.

  Both laughed and enjoyed breakfast for the first time in a long time. Neither had shared mornings with anyone in many years and they were not about to ruin this possible relationship.

  After breakfast, both viewed the weather on the visuals and saw it had gotten much worse. Bart’s travel pod was now covered in snow overnight.

  At this point, it would be treacherous to even go outside. What a fix Bart had gotten himself into, he thought, trapped in the lap of luxury in an alien ship with the most beautiful smart attractive woman he had ever met.

  All he needed now was as a box of chocolates and a dozen roses, he thought. Where had all the old-fashioned courting gone these days?

  He was waiting on Cynthia to return from her makeup and hair time when he turned and saw a dozen roses and a box of chocolates by the bar!

  Now things had really gotten weird when Cynthia walked into the room, she went straight for the flowers and candy and said, “Oh you didn’t have to but thank you so much!”

  She laid one hell of a big kiss on Bart’s dry lips and she never stopped until he returned it!

  For the next week and right up until New Year’s Eve, they had fallen in love and the romance was nothing like either had ever experienced before.

  They spent their days embracing each other and had forgotten what was really going on outside until the call came in that a party was set up at the lodge and Cynthia and Bart were invited.

  “Oh my gosh, Bart! I never invited anyone here for my party I was arranging. You distracted me!” and she smacked him on the shoulder and laughed.

  That evening, both attended the party at the lodge but had to walk through a path that had been cleared from the five feet of snow between Ellead’s ship and the lodge.

  That may have been only a fourth of a mile, but it might as well have been 10 miles for all both could tell.

  But everyone was celebrating the New Year and welcomed both Cynthia and Bart to the party.

  Everyone was so happy to have Cynthia and Bart celebrate with them that they asked them to do the toast at midnight and to make a short speech.

  After the countdown, both Cynthia and Bart wished everyone great success throughout the new year. Cynthia announced that she would stay on only until spring.

  She felt that the retreat would be good on its own at that time and would keep Bart with her until then, and together they would return to the Caldiron Ranch.

  His Zhian travel pod had already been moved into the cargo area.

  Cynthia also explained that Ohtron and his bitrons would be traveling back to the ranch as well, and she asked that as soon as the weather broke to use them for any help they may need before departure.

  As soon as they finished their glasses of champagne, both Cynthia and Bart headed back to Ellead as they held on to each other against the fierce wind.

  Once inside, they both checked on Ohtron and he was fine in the cargo bay. He was just waiting out his time until he was needed once again.

  For the first time, Cynthia had found true love. Bart had found the woman of his dreams. Together they made a hell of a team!

  That night, as they both lay in bed, thoughts ran through their heads. We are too old to get married, we can’t have any babies at our age and we can’t do much but continue the life both had been living.

  The next morning Bart ask Cynthia to be his wife. He was a bit of an old-fashioned man, and since there was no captain aboard the ship but Cynthia, Ellead spoke up and said, “Please take Cynthia by the hand, Bart, there is a ring next to your coffee and two shots of bourbon.”

  “What?” Bart asked Ellead suspiciously, “were you the one all along making movies start playing, the fireplace turning on and off, popcorn in the bowl just the way we both like it, the bearskin rug on the floor by the fireplace the other night and all of that other stuff?”

  “Yes Bart, do you have any objections?” Ellead asked.

  “Oh no, none at all, but is romance in your programming Sir?” Bart just had to know.

  “Perhaps, but Cynthia is the one that controls this ship. If she has needs, I will fulfill them,” he said. He also concluded, “You have needs, and she is interested in you. Therefore, I have pleased my captain well.”

  Bart embraced Cynthia with all his heart he had wished he had met her a lifetime ago. The years had escaped him, but it didn’t matter. He held in his arms the woman of his dreams, and together they would spend what time they have left loving each other.

  Spring would arrive much sooner than either of them or anyone else would expect, but no doubt being trapped inside Ellead was the best thing either Cynthia or Bart had ever happened to them.

  After the quick wedding in Ellead, another wedding was performed inside the retreats small church. This was something everyone needed. The last nine months had been all work, but a wedding always cheered everyone up.

  Cynthia continued to keep open communication with Hannah back on the Caldiron Ranch and Bart had finally explained to Hannah over the com system why Cynthia was calling him Bart.

  For the next three months, neither of
them wanted life to change. But duty called, and both knew that the new year had come and spring just a few weeks away. Times would soon change not just for them but for every single living human being on Earth!

  book two

  chapter nine

  It was early spring and the snow and ice from the long winter had started to thaw. With this came the flooding and there were several mudslides near the retreat.

  With their camp so high up on the Appalachian Mountains, they did not have it as bad as those at a lower elevation, but they still received a lot of damage.

  Today would be the day Cynthia and Bart would be leaving the retreat, but it was a job well done and it was time to depart.

  Cynthia had given them most of everything she had from the Chadwell wealth. They were now on their own and well prepared to combat nearly any situation.

  She had informed everyone that the Caldiron Ranch was just a call away, and if there was ever a need for assistance, someone would no doubt arrive to help them.

  She also warned them that the day may come that there would be no one available to come to their rescue. So be prepared.

  Cynthia felt the worst was yet to come, but all in the retreat had shown they were fighters and they would survive.

  Ohtron was tucked away in Ellead’s cargo bay along with Bart’s travel pod and it was nearly time for liftoff when Ellead asked, “Would you like a fly around the retreat one last time before we depart?”

  “Yes!” both replied at the exact time.

  As Ellead rose high in the sky, they could see the residents of the retreat waving goodbye.

  Ellead flew above the grounds one last time and then off to the Caldiron Ranch for the next assignment, whatever that may be. Both were excited to do whatever they could to save as many citizens as they could.

  They arrived just a short time later and the shields opened for Ellead and he landed near the ranch house. Both Cynthia and Bart got the biggest welcome they could have ever imagined, and it totally caught all of them both off guard.

  Now disembarking the ship, both were stunned by the welcome they received, and they were called heroes by everyone there that day.