The Forever Fight: The Forever Series Book 3

by Craig A. Robertson

  “Ouch,” was her quick response. “But I guess I deserved that, didn't I?”

  “No, Mandy, you did not. I'm an ass. I lashed out because I'm in pain and you were an easy target. Please forgive me.”

  Coolly, she replied, “Consider it done.” Her jaw quivered, but she refused to cry. “I do want you to know I meant every word I said. The fact that my timing was so epically bad is something I can't change.” She sniffed deeply. “God, I need to learn to keep my mouth shut.”

  “Nah,” I said with my best cute-guy grin. “You keep using it. You're just speaking from your gut. The rest of us'll work on putting up with you.”

  “Thanks, I think. That was a compliment, right?”

  “Who can say?”

  “Are you planning on staying put on Azsuram? Lord knows, there's a lot of work that needs to be done there.”

  “For a spell, yes.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “For a spell? That sounds limited.”

  “Maybe it will be. I'm sorting through things in my head.”

  “I understand. You've been through a horrible experience. It's only natural.”

  I shifted in my chair but didn't respond verbally.

  “What?” she asked. “You're not saying something.”

  “I need to get my head straight, sure. But I also think there's a thing I need to do.”

  “A thing? What? Learn to play a musical instrument? Become a master gardener?”

  I chuckled. “No. None of the above.”

  She got a very concerned look on her face. “You're not planning to go after the Berrillians, are you?”

  I sat quietly a moment. “Nah, don't think so.” I was silent a few seconds. “At first, after they killed her, I was crazy with thoughts of revenge. I wanted to slaughter every one of their men, women, and children. Twice each, if possible.”

  “But not now?”

  “No, not now. I still hate the very thought of their existence, but I'm not going on a vengeful crusade. I spoke with a friend; someone I respect a lot. He told me I would be making a mistake of major proportions.”

  “Toño?”

  “Nah. He told me the same, in so many words. Kymee set me straight.”

  “So you went back after the fight?”

  “Yeah. I wanted to know if it was their ship that helped us out.”

  “And since you knew beforehand it wasn't, you wanted to rub their noses in something smelly.”

  “Basically,” I tapped my finger on my chest. “Hey, I'm no angel.”

  “Never suspected you were.” She smiled warmly. “So, what might you be doing? You know you're always welcome here, officially and, you know, unofficially.”

  “No. I have to find me.”

  “I believe the expression is find myself, not me.”

  “No, Ms. Grammar, I meant what I said. I need to find someone who I think is me.”

  “Now I'm completely lost.”

  “I believe he is too. That's why I need to find the man I might have become.”

  She rested her head in her hands. “What are you on about? You sound like an old man bemoaning past choices.”

  “No, Mandy, I mean it literally. I think there's another version of me out there in this time stream. He's a me that lived a very different life. If I'm right, he's the one who gave us the membrane tech.”

  “Why do you need to find him, assuming he even exists?”

  “Because I think he's carrying more pain than anyone should have to. He's been through hell and not come out the other side, like the storybooks predicted.”

  “And you're the man to help him?”

  “Who knows? I am the man to find him.”

  “Maybe. It seems to me the other Jon Ryan doesn't want to be found. Maybe you should respect his privacy and leave him be. Hmm?”

  “I know how this one thinks. I'm betting he doesn't feel he's worth saving.”

  “That makes no sense.”

  “Exactly! We are talking about me, here.”

  To Be Continued…

  List of Main Characters and Places:

  Number in parenthesis after name is the volume the name first appeared in.

  Ablo (2): Led Uhoor to attack Azsuram after Tho died.

  Almonerca (2): Daughter of Fashallana, twin of Noresmel. Name means sees tomorrow.

  Alpha Centauri (1): Fourth planetary target on Jon's long solo voyage on Ark 1. Three stars in system, AC-A, AC-B, and AC-C (aka Proxima Centauri). AC-B has eight planets, three in habitable zone. AC-B 5 was initially named Jon, by Jon Ryan, until he met the falzorn. AC-B 3 is Kaljax. PC has one planet in habitable zone.

  Alvin (1): The ship's AI on Ark 1. aka Al.

  Phil Anderson (1): TV host, sidekick of Jane Geraty.

  Azsuram (2): See also Hodor, Groombridge-1618, and Klonsar. BG 3 was discovered by Seamus O'Leary, the pilot of Ark 4. Site of Sapale's new Kaljaxian society. Name means love of others

  Barnard's Star (1): First planetary target of Ark 1. BS 2 and 3 are in habitable zone. BS 3 was Ffffuttoe's home, as well as ancient, extinct race called the Emitonians. See BS 2 below.

  The Beast Without Eyes (2): The enemy of Gumnolar, hence, the devil for inhabitants of Listhelon.

  Braldone (1): Believed to be the foreseen savior on Kaljax.

  Brathos (1): The Kaljaxian version of Hell.

  Brood-mate (1): On Kaljax, the male partner in a marriage.

  Brood's-mate (1): On Kaljax, the female partner in a marriage.

  BS 2 (1): The planet Oowaoa, home of the highly advanced Deavoriath race.

  Command prerogatives (2): The Deavoriathian tools installed to allow operation of a vortex. Also used to probe substances. Give to the android Jon Ryan.

  Calrf (2): A Kaljaxian stew that Jon particularly disliked.

  Faith Clinton (2): Descendent of the currently presidential Clintons. First a senator, later the first president elected in space. Assassinated soon after taking office.

  President Charles Clinton (1): US President during part of Jon's voyage on Ark 1.

  Sherman Collins (1): Secretary of State to President John Marshall when it was discovered Jupiter would destroy the Earth.

  Cube (2): See vortex.

  Cycle (2): Length of year on Listhelon. Five cycles roughly equal one Earth year.

  Davdiad (1): God-figure on Kaljax.

  Deavoriath (1): Mighty and ancient race from Oowaoa. Technically the most advanced civilization in the galaxy. Used to rule many galaxies, then withdrew to improve their minds and characters. Three arms and legs. Currently live forever.

  Toño De Jesus (1): Chief scientist in both the android and Ark programs. Course of events forced him to reluctantly become an android.

  Carlos De La Frontera (2): Brilliant assistant to Toño, became an android to infiltrate Marshall's evil team.

  Delta-Class vehicles (1): The wondrous new spaceships used in Project Ark. Real fast!

  Dolirca (2): Daughter in Fashallana's second set of twins. Took charge of Ffffuttoe's asexual buds. Name means love all.

  Draldon (2): Son of Sapale. Twin with Vhalisma. Name means meets the day.

  Matt Duncan (2): Chief of staff for the evil President Stuart Marshall. Became android that was destroyed. Marshall resurrected his in the body of Marilyn Monroe. Matt no likey that!

  Enterprise (2): US command worldships.

  Epsilon Eridani (1): Fourth target for Ark 1. One habitable planet, EE 5. Locally named Cholarazy, the planet is home to several advanced civilizations. The Drell and Foressál are the main rivals. Leaders Boabbor and Gothor are bitter rivals. Humanoids with three digits.

  Exeter (2): UN command worldship.

  Farmship (2): Cored-out asteroids devoted not to human habitation but to crop and animal production. There are only five, but they allow for sufficient calories for all worldships and a few luxuries.

  Devon Flannigan (2): Former baker who was the assassin of Faith Clinton.

  Fashallana (2): First daughter of Sapale. Twin
to JJ. Name means blessed one.

  Falzorn (1): Nasty predatory snakes of Alpha Centauri-B 5. Their name is a curse word among the inhabitants of neighboring Kaljax.

  Ffffuttoe (1): Gentle-natured flat bear like creature of BS 3. Possesses low-level sentience.

  Form (2): Title of someone able to be the operator of vortex using their command prerogatives.

  Jodfderal (2): Son in Fashallana's second set of twins. Name means strength of ten.

  Jane Geraty (1): TV newswoman who had an affair with newly minted android Jon. Gave birth to Jon Ryan II, her only child.

  Groombridge-1618 3 (1): Original human name for the planet GB 3 = Azsuram.

  Gumnolar (1): Deity of the Listhelons. Very demanding.

  Habitable zone (1): Zone surrounding a star in which orbiting planets can have liquid water on their surface.

  Indigo (1): Second and final wife of the original Jon Ryan, not the android. They had five children, including their version of Jon Ryan II.

  Infinity-charges (2): Membrane-based bombs that expand, ripping whatever they're in to shreds.

  Jon Junior, JJ (2): Son of Sapale. One of her first set of twins. The apple of Jon Ryan's eye.

  Secretary Mary Kahl (2): UN Secretary General at the time of the human exodus from Earth.

  Klonsar (2): The Uhoor name for Azsuram, which they claim as their hunting grounds.

  Kendell Jackson (2): Major general who became head of Project Ark after De Jesus left. Forced to become an android by Stuart Marshall.

  Kashiril (2): From Sapale's second set of twins. Name means answers the wind.

  Lilith, aka Lily (2): Second AI on Shearwater. Al no likey!

  Bin Li (2): New UN Secretary General after Mary Kahl was killed.

  Listhelons (1): Enemy species from third planet orbiting Lacaille 9352. Aquatic, they have huge, overlapping fang-like teeth, small bumpy head, big, bulging eyes articulated somewhat like a lizard's. Their eyes bobbed around in a nauseating manner. His skin is sleek, with thin scales. They sport gill split in their thick neck on either side. Maniacally devoted to Gumnolar.

  Luhman 16a (1): The second target of Ark 1. Eight planets, only one in habit zone, LH 2. Two fighting species are the Sarcorit that are the size and shape of glazed donuts and Jinicgus looking like hot dogs. Both are unfriendly by nature.

  Manly (2): Jon's pet name for the consciousness of an unclear nature in the vortex. He refers to himself as the vortex manipulator.

  Stuart Marshall (1): Born human on Earth, became president there. Before exodus, he downloaded into an android and became the insane menace of his people.

  Noresmel (2): Fashallana's daughter, twin of Almonerca. Name means kiss of love.

  Seamus O'Leary (2): The pilot of Ark 4, discovered Azsuram.

  The One That Is All (2): The mentally linked Deavoriath community.

  Offlin (2): Son of Otollar. Piloted ship that tried to attack Earth and was captured by Jon.

  Otollar (2): Leader, or Warrior One, of Listhelon. Died when he failed to defeat humans.

  Owant (2): Second Warrior to Otollar.

  Oowaoa (1): See Deavoriath.

  Senator Bob Patrick (2): One of The Four Horsemen, co-conspirator with Stuart Marshall.

  Chief Justice Sam Peterson (2): Member of Stuart Marshall's inner circle, The Four Horsemen.

  Plo (2): First Uhoor to attack Azsuram.

  Prime (2): Pet name for the android of Carlos De La Frontera.

  Heath Ryan (2): Descendant of original Jon Ryan, entered politics reluctantly.

  Jon Ryan (1): Both the human template and the android who sailed into legend.

  Jon III and his wife, Abree (2): Jon's grandson, via the human Jon Ryan.

  Piper Ryan (2): Heath Ryan's wife.

  Carl Roger (1): Chief of staff to President John Marshall, before Earth was destroyed.

  Sapale (1): Brood's-mate to android Jon Ryan. From Kaljax.

  General Saunders (1): Hardscrabble original head of Project Ark.

  Shearwater (2): Jon's second starship, sleek, fast and bitchin'.

  Captain Simpson (1): Pilot of Ark 3. Discovered Listhelon orbiting Lacaille 9352.

  Space-time congruity manipulator (1): Hugely helpful force field.

  Phillip Szeto (2): Head of CIA under Stuart Marshall.

  General Chuck Thomas (2): Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, one of The Four Horsemen, and the first military person downloaded to an android by Stuart Marshall.

  Tho (2): The head Uhoor, referred to herself as the mother of the Uhoor.

  Tralmore (1): Heaven in the religion of Kaljax.

  Amanda Walker (2): Vice president then president, a distant relative of Jane Geraty. Wife of Faith Clinton.

  Uhoor (2): Massive whale-like creatures of immense age. They feed off black holes and propel themselves though space as if it was water.

  Uto (1): Alternate time-line android Jon Ryan, possibly…

  Vhalisma (2): From Sapale's third set of twins. Name means drink love.

  Vortex (2): Deavoriath vessel in cube shape with a mass of 200,000 tons.

  Vortex manipulator (2): Sentient computer-like being in vortex.

  Wolf 359 (1): Third target for Ark 1. Two small planets: WS 3 bad prospect, WS 4 about as bad

  Wolnara (2): Twin in Sapale's second set. Name means wisdom sees.

  Worldships (1): Cored-out asteroids serve as colony ships for the human exodus.

  Yibitriander (1): Three-legged Deavoriath, past Form of Jon's vortex.

  Lt. Gen. Cynthia York (1): Head of Project Ark when Jon returns from epic voyage.

  Shameless Self-Promotion

  (Who Doesn't Love That?)

  Thank you for joining me on the Forever Journey! It's only just beginning. Books 1 and 2, The Forever Life and The Forever Enemy are available on Amazon now:

  The Forever Life: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CRFG2ZM/

  The Forever Enemy: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ILBE9BK/

  Book 4, The Forever Quest will be out in early spring of 2017.

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  My Website: craigrobertsonblog.wordpress.com

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