The Galahad Legacy

by Dom Testa

  But Triana was missing. She’d called down half an hour earlier and reported that she had things to take care of. Now, as the clock ticked and Walzim approached, the assembled crew waited for their leader.

  Channy’s voice came through Gap’s earpiece from one of the other Spiders. “Is she saying good-bye?”

  He heard Lita respond: “Triana doesn’t say good-bye.”

  * * *

  Lighting along the gracefully curved hallways was dim, so Triana walked with a flashlight, just in case. She skimmed the various levels, calling out for any possible stragglers, but only as a precaution. Gap had reported that two separate roll calls had confirmed everyone present and accounted for, and there were no additional life readings aboard the ship.

  Her final stop wasn’t her room, nor the Control Room. She walked out of the emergency stairwell into the slightly humid air of the Domes. Although technically still daytime aboard the ship, the current circumstances made it necessary to shut down Galahad’s artificial suns. It was cooler than normal as Triana began a quick walk down a dirt path toward the center of Dome 1. Once there, she stopped and glanced around. It was an eerie feeling to be, for all intents and purposes, the last person aboard the ship. The tomblike silence that draped the air, however, didn’t frighten her. In fact, it was exactly what she wanted.

  She closed her eyes and held her arms out at her sides, her head tilted back. She breathed deeply, taking in the moist air and exhaling with a slow, measured pace. In a moment she saw him, a vision that both calmed her and emboldened her.

  “Hello, Dad,” she said, a smile breaking across her face. “It’s time.”

  In her mind she saw him smile back at her, and give a wink.

  “You made this possible,” she said. “Not just by sending my information to Dr. Zimmer. You made this possible years ago, with everything that you taught me. You didn’t pick me up and place me here on this path, but you pointed me in the right direction. You cleared some of the brush out of my way, and gave me just the slightest nudge in the back.

  “Thank you for urging me to take the more difficult path, and not the easy way out. Because of you I believe in myself. You taught me to never settle, to always keep reaching for more, because you had faith that I could do it. You encouraged me without giving me false hopes. You disciplined me in ways that showed me the meaning of consequences, which I never appreciated until I was here, faced with the most critical consequences of all.

  “You taught me to listen, to keep an open mind while at the same time not being afraid to defend what I knew to be right. You showed me how to handle disappointment. And, Dad, more than anything, you showed me how to quietly inspire, because that’s what you’ve always done.”

  She opened her eyes and looked through the clear panels of the Dome. The blazing star field ignited her emotions, as they always did. She felt a rising surge of love for the people in her life who had sacrificed so much for her, especially her father and Dr. Zimmer. More than anything, against any odds, she wanted to prove that their confidence in her was not misguided.

  She wouldn’t let Dr. Bauer’s scheme derail the mission. She wouldn’t let Merit’s veiled threat distract her from the second stage of that mission, to settle and colonize humanity’s new home. And she would never forget the lessons that she’d learned from her fellow star travelers, and from the benevolent alien life-forms who patiently guided Earth’s emigrants to their new home.

  One of those alien entities was safely stored within the Spider that waited for her now on the lower level. Talon and his kind would become partners with the struggling refugees from Earth.

  “And now, Dad, I’ll take everything you’ve taught me, and bring it to a new world. I’m glad that you’ll be there with me. We still have some peaks to climb together.”

  With one last deep breath, Triana turned toward the stairs, leaving a final set of footprints in the soil of Galahad’s farms.

  * * *

  With eight minutes until launch, she walked into the Spider bay control room to find Bon waiting for her.

  “What are you doing?” she asked. “You should be aboard already.”

  “I was aboard. I was coming to find you.”

  Triana could hear an anxious exchange on the intercom between Gap and Lita. Galahad’s Council Leader was missing, and now Bon had bolted. Triana keyed the system and eased their concern by telling them she would be aboard in minutes. Then she turned to Bon.

  “I’m fine,” she said. “Just had a few things to take care of.”

  His eyes bored into her. They were inches apart, reliving a scene from a year earlier, alone in this same room, standing in the exact same spot. Only now, things were different. They, in fact, were different. Both, she realized, had not only grown, but had grown apart. Up until this point all she’d considered were the changes that had taken place within him. But now …

  “You’d better get back aboard,” she said, with a calm that surprised her. “I’ll be right behind you.”

  There would be no reenactment of that long lost scene. There would be no embrace. Instead, Bon held out his hand.

  “Thank you for getting us here in one piece,” he said. “You were the right choice to lead us. I know you had your doubts; I hope you don’t anymore.”

  Triana hesitated, then placed her hand in his. “Thank you, Bon. There were times when I didn’t think we stood a chance.”

  Bon’s grip was firm. “In my country, we say: I lugnt vatten har alla skepp en bra kapten.”

  “What does that mean?” Triana asked.

  Bon lifted his chin. “In calm water, every ship has a good captain.” He waited, then said: “Understand?”

  Triana could only nod, but inside she felt an odd combination of exhilaration and regret. She wondered if Bon could feel her tremble.

  A moment later he released her hand and walked back into the bay. She exhaled and looked at the room’s vidscreen, and the timer. It registered 6:20, counting down.

  She felt the presence that waited with her in the room.

  “I don’t know what to say to you,” she told the computer. “How do I thank you for this? For everything?”

  “I could give you a list,” Roc said. “I already mentioned naming the mountain, but you could also find some new clothes for Gap, and maybe take away his gel.”

  Triana concentrated on her breathing; she knew that otherwise she’d never be able to finish what she had to say. “I couldn’t have made it without you,” she said. “And I’m not just talking about … you know, the work. I mean the talks we had. You kept me grounded. I’ll … I’ll never forget you.”

  “Ah, immortality,” the computer said. “The Legend of Roc. I like it.”

  Triana bit her lip. “And … about the things I said to you earlier. About doubting you. And … and about you trying to prove that you’re human. Well, I was wrong. I never should have doubted you. And as far as I’m concerned…” Her voice trailed away, and she fought for control as her voice broke.

  “As far as I’m concerned, you’re human enough for me. You’re one of my best friends, Roc.”

  She looked down for a long time, silent. Then she glanced out the window into the bay, at the fleet of pods and Spiders that beckoned, waiting to take her away.

  “You better run along,” Roc said. “Before you accidentally say good-bye.”

  In spite of her breaking heart, Triana found room to laugh softly. “No, I’m not going to say that. Somehow we’ll find a way to be together again.”

  “You may be right,” Roc said. “I might have a trick or two up my sleeve. Not to mention the most obvious trick, which is a computer with no arms having a sleeve in the first place.”

  With a sad smile, she brought her index finger up to her lips, then reached out and touched it to the glowing sensor on the panel.

  “Remember your strengths,” Roc said. “Always.”

  Two minutes later she was aboard the Spider, and the outer doors of the massive hangar
began to silently glide open. Starlight spilled in as Earth’s fleet of young explorers stared outward, taking in the universe, and taking on the challenge.

  A Note from the Author

  As you might guess, I’ve grown quite attached to the crew of Galahad over the years. Like you, I’ve wondered how they would get out of some tough scrapes, I’ve muttered “what were you thinking?” to more than one of them, and I’ve laughed when Roc showed them the lighter side of life.

  I’m proud to say that the hard-working teens within these pages represent an attitude that I hope takes hold among teenagers everywhere. Triana and her fellow adventurers are obviously sharp, intelligent young people. But in case you haven’t noticed, they’re pretty cool, too. In their minds, you don’t have to choose between being cool and using your brain; you just do both.

  One of my passions is helping young people recognize that Smart is Cool. The days of dumbing down in order to fit in with the “cool crowd” are hopefully disappearing. My goal is to help students understand that the choices they make today regarding their education will affect them for the rest of their lives. My nonprofit foundation, The Big Brain Club, isn’t about perfect report cards or honor rolls (although we love those!); its mission is to celebrate learning, and to help each student become the best version of themselves. Check it out at www.BigBrainClub.com.

  And, if you love the cool, nerdy stuff that’s tucked inside the Galahad books, you’ll love The Science Behind Galahad. There are multiple volumes, and they’re all downloadable at www.ClubGalahad.com.

  Thanks so much for riding along with Triana and the gang aboard Galahad. I hope you’ve had as much fun as I have!

  Tor Teen Reader’s Guide

  The Galahad Legacy: A Galahad Book

  by Dom Testa

  About This Guide

  The information, activities, and discussion questions that follow are intended to enhance your reading of The Galahad Legacy. Please feel free to adapt these materials to suit your needs and interests.

  Writing and Research Activities

  I. Alternative Minds

  A. Go to the library or online to research supercomputers. Find out about Watson, the computer that won the television game show Jeopardy! Watch the classic science fiction film 2001: A Space Odyssey. Then make a brainstorm list of the benefits and dangers supercomputers may present to human life.

  B. Imagine that you are a Galahad crew member, and Triana has asked you to develop a slideshow or other computer presentation on the different types of intelligent beings you have encountered in space. Share your presentation with friends or classmates.

  C. Ask friends or classmates to complete the sentence, “The crew of Galahad should/should not trust Roc because…” Post all of the completed sentences on a wall in your classroom in preparation for a group discussion. Did most students offer similar answers? What are the most surprising or interesting discoveries you make by analyzing the sentence display? What conclusions might you draw from this exercise?

  D. Try exercise C, above, substituting “Roc” with “the Cassini” or “the Dollovit.” Do you reach similar conclusions?

  II. The Question of Connections

  A. The novel depicts different types of connections between human individuals, between humans and other beings (such as Bon and the Cassini), and between those alive and those remembered (such as Triana and her father, or Galahad crew members and Alexa). Using paper, paints, found objects, newspaper or magazine clippings, and other materials of your choice, create a collage depicting your understanding of some or all of these connections.

  B. In the character of Bon, write several journal entries in which you attempt to describe your relationship with the Cassini and how you envision it developing or changing in the future.

  C. In the character of an assistant in Sick House, write a short report defining the term “ventet” as you understand it from examining the ventet of Alexa.

  D. In the character of Torrec, write a speech explaining why you do not believe in faith.

  E. Write a dialogue in which your favorite human character from the novel explains how humans deal with death, and remember those lost, to Dollovit, Roc, or the Cassini. Invite friends or classmates to perform the dialogue.

  III. Choices

  A. From Triana’s rash adventure in the Spider, to the encounter with Alexa’s ventet, to the choice of going with the Dollovit or landing on Eos, The Galahad Legacy is a nonstop challenge to the decision-making talents of its crew. Make three sign-up sheets to post at the front of your classroom: Go to Eos Three; Go to Four; Go with the Dollovit. Invite friends or classmates to sign up for the destination of their choice. Afterward, give each student an opportunity to explain his or her choice to the group.

  B. Write an essay about a difficult choice you have had to make in your own life and describe the outcome of that choice.

  C. In the character of Merit Simms, write a speech defending your actions and explaining why you feel it is important to offer the crew an alternative to Triana’s plans.

  D. In the Galahad series, a group of teens travel the cosmos in hopes of preserving the human race far from disease-contaminated Earth. From the moment each teen joined the training program for Galahad, they began making painful, life-altering choices. Using examples from this book, other series titles you may have read, and your own life, write a 2–3 page essay entitled, “The Challenge of Choices.”

  Questions for Discussion

  1. In Chapter 2, newly returned Triana defends her actions to her fellow Council members, saying “Making a popular choice wasn’t as important to me as doing what I felt was best for this crew.” Do you agree with Triana’s judgment? How might the idea of choice be considered an important theme throughout the novel? Cite examples from the book in your answer.

  2. How might you have reacted to Torrec? Do you think Triana is right to trust him? Why do you think she reacts to him as she does?

  3. At the beginning of Chapter 8, Roc asks, “How would you describe where YOUR personality exists? Is it in your brain? Your heart? Somewhere else…?” Answer Roc.

  4. By Chapter 9, Triana is beginning to worry about the power of supercomputers, and to question Roc’s loyalty. Would you rely on Roc at this point in the novel? Why or why not?

  5. In Chapter 9, Triana also wonders, “Was she the same Triana who plunged through the jagged rip in space?” How might this question be interpreted in at least two different ways? Do all majors experiences, such as loss, trauma, or even great joy, change us? Does it matter if we are “real”?

  6. What bizarre “gift” does the Dollovit give to Galahad in Chapter 10? What does Lita reveal about this gift? Had you been aboard Galahad, would you have wanted to see, interact with, or keep the gift? How might you have handled the situation, keeping in mind your possible dependency on the Dollovit?

  7. In Chapter 14, Lita tries to explain notions of “honoring the dead” and of “closure” to Torrec. What does their conversation teach Lita about the Dollovit?

  8. At the end of Chapter 18, Triana and Bon discuss the possibility of humans being computer replicas made by a greater intelligence. Do you think this could be a possibility? Why or why not?

  9. Do you think Triana is right to let Merit’s group disembark at Eos Four? Do you think Merit will be a good leader? Explain your answers.

  10. Why do you think Dr. Zimmer chose to store embryos on Galahad—and to keep this a secret from the crew? Do you think this was a good decision? Do you think that, ultimately, Merit’s theft of some of the embryos was an equally scientifically valid choice? Why or why not?

  11. Bon posits that the Dollovit are the students of the universe while the Cassini are the peacekeepers. Do you agree with his logic? What role might human beings play in this universal dynamic?

  12. Why do you think, ultimately, Triana decides to let Roc “go” and trust the Cassini?

  13. Does faith make us human? Might the human sense of personal loyalties and et
hical reasoning be as valuable (or sophisticated) a contribution as some of the other life-forms’ technological offerings?

  14. What do you think will happen to the settlers of Eos Three and Four? What are your hopes for their futures? Has reading The Galahad Legacy made you think about your own sense of the future in a different way? Explain your answer.

  DOM TESTA, of Denver, Colorado, has been a radio show host since 1977 and currently is a cohost of the popular Dom and Jane Show on Mix 100 in Denver. Find out more about Dom at www.domtesta.com.

  Tor Teen Books by Dom Testa

  GALAHAD

  The Comet’s Curse

  The Web of Titan

  The Cassini Code

  The Dark Zone

  Cosmic Storm

  The Galahad Legacy

  This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  THE GALAHAD LEGACY

  Copyright © 2012 by Dom Testa

  Reader’s Guide copyright © 2012 by Tor Books

  All rights reserved.

  A Tor Teen® eBook

  Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC

  175 Fifth Avenue

  New York, NY 10010

  www.tor-forge.com

  Tor® is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.

  ISBN 978-0-7653-2112-1

  First Edition: February 2012

  eISBN 978-1-4299-8791-2

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