by Wearmouth
Whatever it held, Mike knew one thing: he was invigorated unlike any other time in his life as he returned to the role he had before the croatoans arrived: archeologist.
CHAPTER FORTY
Charlie stood in the middle of a root field on the edge of Unity’s basin and shielded his eyes from the setting sun. He left Mike’s chalet early to visit Gregor’s grave and to take a look at the scion ship that would be transporting Denver away.
It appeared much like the fighters that pounded Tredeya. Sleek and black, in the shape of a swallow with circular engines at the back. This kind of technology gave him confidence that one day his son would return.
Denver, Layla, Mike, Mai, Maria and a black prism crossed the field. Pip bounded around them and barked at the scion drone. The drone maintained its steady course next to Mike’s head. They hadn’t stopped talking since meeting and discussing plans around the future development of Earth and the search for artifacts.
The souvenirs from Tredeya reignited Mike’s passion for archeology and he threw his weight behind assisting in the search for scion artifacts stolen by the croatoans.
Charlie scanned the scorch-marked remains of the city and thought about his future role in society. He decided to kick the root habit tomorrow and see out his days in the local militia. If they needed him, he would rise again, but he suspected his fighting days were over.
“We thought we’d lost you,” Denver said.
“Just inspecting your ride,” Charlie said and slapped the side of the ship, although the truth was that he hated long goodbyes.
Denver felt the same, but Charlie knew he couldn’t avoid taking part. Maria and Layla both had feelings for him, but had accepted his decision. Mike and Mai wouldn’t let him go quietly either. They were like his adopted uncle and aunt and fussed over him in the cavern, stuffing gadgets into his pockets and asking to be kept updated. The drone told them to expect no communications until the first Earth was found, as anything before that might compromise the mission.
Pip sprinted over to Charlie. He knelt down and stroked her. She jumped up and enthusiastically licked his face. Denver hugged each person in turn, holding short conversations, promising they hadn’t seen the last of him and he’d be back before they knew it.
Approaching Charlie by the side of the ship’s ramp, Denver extended his hand.
Charlie shook it and they exchanged a firm nod.
Nothing needed to be said. They talked the mission dry during their return from Tredeya. Even Layla accepted it was the right thing to do. Charlie knew Denver would want to board at this point and get on with it. His mind didn’t need to be clouded with emotional statements.
Denver turned and gazed at the surrounding area. Maria and Layla both had tears in their eyes. Mike cuddled Mai and she buried her face in the armpit of his brown and yellow striped sweater.
The ship’s engines rumbled to life, throwing out red heat haze. Denver trudged up the ramp and didn’t look back. The ramp folded into the starboard side of the ship and its solid metal door slid down.
Charlie backed away to join the rest of the group. The ship’s engines tilted down and grew in sound. Sunshine reflected off the dark tinted window in front of the cockpit. The ship thrust into the air and shot forward, banking around Unity in a matter of seconds and heading upward, roaring through the sky.
A chilly wind blew across the field. Everyone silently watched as the engine’s blue glow disappeared, leaving a thin trail of vapor behind.
***
Mike and Mai sat opposite Charlie, Maria, and Layla at Aimee’s dining table. The prism balanced at the far end, emitting a purple cone of light with a holographic face inside.
Charlie lit a root cigar and took a deep drag, enjoying the feeling it gave him for one last time. He puffed a smoke ring into the air, enjoying a feeling of freedom that he hadn’t experienced in thirty years.
Steam drifted from Mike and Mai’s herbal tea. Layla and Maria decided to drown their sorrows with root wine.
“How’s your elbow?” Charlie said to Mike.
“The scion are repairing it tomorrow with nanomachines. They wanted to put me under for the operation, but I insisted on having a numbing injection to watch the process.”
Mai rolled her eyes, raised a hand and gave him a mock slap on his shoulder. After hearing about her poor health, Charlie was pleased to see her about on her feet. They really were the post-apocalyptic odd couple, but Charlie would have them no other way.
“We’re project managing the infrastructure rebuild next week,” Mai said. “The scion are sending down a million worker drones to build wireless electricity, housing, sanitary sewers and networked communications.”
“Don’t forget the technology school,” Mike added. “We’re going to build the best city the world has ever seen and teach others how to replicate it.”
The hologram nodded. “Replication builds strength. We will also attempt to recover old data. This will be mutually beneficial in terms of our quest and your restoration.”
Charlie couldn’t help feeling impressed. Most of the preinvasion data would be useless now. Governments had fallen, armies were destroyed, and the population decimated. Dirty little secrets, old plans, and classified databases were useless to the current world.
Croatoans stripped the planet’s dignity and they had nothing to hide. The scion gave them a chance to increase their standard of living under protection, in exchange for searching for information that had little consequence to the population, as far as he could see.
“Maria and I are continuing with our reintegration work,” Layla said. “There’s thousands of humans who need our help. Mike’s making it a priority to build accommodations to house former captives. The scion are already reconfiguring some of the farms as education centers.”
“Ten are nearly completed,” the hologram said in a neutral voice.
“I’m heading to Freetown tomorrow to oversee it,” Maria said. “They’re giving Khan, Baliska and me a demonstration of how to use the computers.”
“Sounds like you’ve got it all worked out,” Charlie said, taking a drag of his cigar. He hadn’t taken part in the planning since arriving back on Earth, preferring to spend time in Augustus’ old cabin, unwinding and reading through some of the bizarre revisions the old emperor had planned for his new version of history. “You don’t need a grouchy old man like me getting in the way.”
“You’re welcome to join us,” Maria said. “You can’t just disappear into the sunset.”
Mike laughed. “If you think Charlie Jackson will do that, you’ve had too much wine.”
“I’ll still be around. Don’t you worry about that,” Charlie said.
Candlelight glowed against Maria’s smiling face. This was the happiest Charlie had seen her since the harvester liberation over two months ago. She could look forward to living her natural life, free of tyranny. They all could.
The cigar was only half finished, but Charlie had smoked enough. Now the root was nonessential, the sour metallic flavor tasted even more disgusting. He stubbed it out in the chamber’s newly acquired ashtray, carefully making sure none of the hot embers dropped through the eye and mouth holes of the metal mask.
“I need some fresh air,” Charlie said and stretched his arms. “I’ll leave you guys to your planning.”
“Leaving us already?” Mike asked. “We’re talking about vehicles next.”
“I’m sure it’ll be thrilling, but Pip needs a walk.”
Charlie pushed back his chair, waved Pip from her basket, and headed for the exit. The group continued to enthusiastically chat about their plans, but he wanted a few moments alone to think about Denver.
The surviving population was crammed into the structures still left standing. Weak artificial light poured through windows of the wooden houses as Charlie walked to the edge of the city.
He climbed the switchbacks at the end of the basin and overlooked the town, wanting to keep the image in his mind of where t
hey had come from after the new city was established.
Those who were lost over the last three decades needed to be remembered. It would keep everyone’s feet planted firmly on the ground in the face of a new technological revolution. Charlie let out a deep breath when picturing Pippa’s smile after she entered the office thirty years ago, with a blue bead from the Roanoke dig.
A black prism drifted across the star-filled sky—a human creation from centuries ago on another planet, providing protection and advancement for Earth. Denver was probably already aboard, making plans and familiarizing himself with the scion weapons and early stages of the plan.
Charlie’s days of adventure were over. He let out a deep breath, dropped to one knee and put his arm around Pip. He was glad that he played a part in freeing Earth from oppression and could hold his head up high. As far as he was concerned, his job was complete.
It was time for the next generation to take up the mantle.
A shiver of pride ran through Charlie’s body at the thought of Denver and his mission. Together they helped saved the fate of the world. His son would now do it on a universal scale.
Pip whined.
“Don’t worry, girl. He’ll be back. I guarantee it. He’s a Jackson. We always win in the end.”
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OTHER TITLES
Wearmouth & Barnes:
Sequence: A Technothriller
Colin F. Barnes:
Code Breakers: Alpha
Code Breakes: Beta
Code Breakers: Gamma
Code Breakers: Delta
SALT: A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller
Darren Wearmouth:
First Activation
Second Activation
Sixth Cycle
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ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Two heads are often better than one. Darren Wearmouth and Colin F. Barnes joined forces in 2013 to write thrilling tales of science and adventure with characters we can all relate to. Exploring the ‘what if’ scenarios of the post-apocalypse and where advanced technology will takes us, Wearmouth & Barnes seek to bring unique experiences to readers.
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Table of Contents
All Rights Reserved
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
Other Titles
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