by L M Lacee
They remained silent for a moment or two, then Peyton said. ‘You should call me, when you get time, and we can shoot the breeze or stuff.’
Melody’s top lip kicked up as she said. ‘Shoot the breeze, pardner you are a hoot, so we would be like friends then.’
Peyton stared at her, then a slow smile lit her eyes. ‘Why, General Melody, are you hitting on me?’
Melody let go a laugh that threw her entire face into relief. ‘You sure are a pistol Peyton. No girl, I don’t go hunting in my own paddock but if I was to hunt there. I’d hafta tell you, you are way too wholesome for me.’
Peyton grinned. ‘Are you trying to seduce me with your foreign language speaking? Cause I gotta tell you, it’s not working.’
Melody barked out a laugh, then said. ‘Ain’t that cute, you trying to talk country.’
Peyton grinned as they both heard someone knocking on Melody’s door she sighed as she said. ‘Gotta go, duty calls.’
Peyton asked quickly. ‘Will you call again?’
Melody could hear the loneliness in Peyton’s voice this time. After a minute, she nodded. ‘Sure… why not, you like country music?’
Peyton grinned. ‘I like music.’
‘What about western vids?’
The knocking became banging, Peyton looked to where Melody was staring and imagined it was a door that was being hit. She finally answered. ‘Never seen one, I read.’
That grabbed Melody’s attention. ‘Are you serious? Damn, girl, your education is lacking. You can’t see anything from a book, but what’s in your own mind, a vid is live action, right there, and those cowboys are worth looking at.’
Peyton shrugged she was probably right, these days, she didn’t have much time for entertainment or any interests really. She could not remember when she had dismantled a bot or fixed one for someone. She frowned as she decided that would have to change. She had liked that side of herself, enjoyed figuring things out.
There was hammering now as Melody looked over at the door. Loud thumps echoed in the room. She turned back to Peyton with a smile and said. ‘Watch a western vid, then call me when you have. We will talk.’
Peyton asked. ‘Is that an order?’
‘Funny girl.’ Melody grinned, then she demanded of the person on the other side of the door, in what Peyton would refer to in the future as her General’s voice. ‘You want to keep that fist soldier?’
Then the screen went black, Peyton fell back on her bed with a smile, she had a friend… well, a maybe friend, she liked General Melody. Then a frown replaced the smile as she asked herself. ‘What the hell is a western vid?’
EIGHTEEN:
Age Twenty-five.
Peyton turned her computer on and set the jammer to high pulse, making it untraceable. She then set her computer to search and download emails from Sybil Hugh. It was four years since she had started working for the mayor’s office and she was still searching Sybil’s computers. Of course she would not have to be doing this, if Sybil had not been acting squirrelly all day or lied to her when she had asked what was going on.
Time and again, Peyton had caught Sybil and her friends out in lies, and yet they persisted in telling untruths. It was worse since Milly and Joan had left to work at a government installation on the other side of the world. Now they had a receptionist Sybil had hired and no assistant, damn the woman.
‘It’s like they don’t even know me.’ Peyton muttered to herself as she opened a bottle of beer and took a drink while the emails loaded.
Fifteen minutes of messages about how grateful someone was that Sybil would attend their party. Or someone asking that she grace them with her presence at the opening of a business, had Peyton reaching for another bottle of beer. Only to stop as the next message scrolled opened.
To Mayor Sybil Hugh of Runnerdale.
From the office of the World Representative.
Dated 07.01.2214
We, the government, have confirmed contact with an Alien race who has answered our call for help. They will arrive on Earth within hours, as at this time we are reviewing an advanced copy of an agreement between our worlds. In which we will receive a cure for the Virus attacking our citizens for considerations from Earth.
We will forego announcing to the general public that contact has been made. We have concluded that no amount of warning will reduce the hysteria and fear generated by such a momentous occurrence. Therefore, we have advised the incoming visitors, that our people may view them with suspicion and aggression. They have assured us this will not last and will be but a minor problem. It has been decided to limit the number of ships arriving on our planet to reduce the fear of an invasion.
As the local authority, it is your duty to withhold this information and deny any contact until you are notified to proceed with dissemination. This should happen in only a matter of days, until then allow rumors to circulate.
Joan Latham.
Council of Interplanetary relations.
By rote, Peyton shut down her computer and jammer, and sat back in her chair. Her beer remained unopened in her hand, while her brain tried to process what she had just read.
The Government had asked for help from Aliens. Aliens were coming to Earth, and they had a cure for the Virus. Round and round flew the words, as she adjusted to a new reality, Aliens were real and they were going to be walking on Earth. She wondered if Melody knew, quickly she sent her a message asking her if she knew of the visitors coming.
Melody returned one word before her celltex cut out… Now.
Slowly Peyton stood and walked into her bedroom, where she turned her grandfather’s old armchair around and opened the curtains. She snuggled down with her blanket and her bottle of unopened beer and looked up into the night sky.
Just as dawn arrived a glimmer of shiny metal broke through the clouds and in a voice she did not recognize as her own, she whispered into the dark. ‘Why does the sight of that make my heart race, and my soul tremble?’
NINETEEN:
BANG… BANG!
Peyton hurried from her bed as she yelled. ‘Who the hell is banging on my door?’
‘Open up townie, I am here.’
‘Melody!’ Peyton screeched as she unlocked her front door and pulled it open. ‘Why are you here at this ungodly hour of the morning?’ She squinted. ‘It is morning, right?’
‘Woman, why are you questioning me, it is 06:00 hours, which means six in the morning. Now move!’
She pushed Peyton gently to the side as she walked in carrying a large box. ‘I know what army time is, I studied.’ Peyton grumbled as she rubbed her eyes.
‘Sure you did.’
‘So did Army girl, and again why are you here?’
‘I told you already.’
‘Nah, you didn’t. Oh my Lord, is that Heather and Darby with you?’
‘Yes, now move.’ Melody growled as she moved passed her again, after depositing the box on the floor in her lounge.
‘Again, seriously so rude. Hi Heather, hi Darby. Why are you both here and carrying boxes?’
‘We are moving in,’ Darby told her, ‘Melody said we are to live here with you.’
‘But I live alone.’
Heather grinned. ‘Oh hon, no one lives alone, it’s just sad.’
‘But…’
Darby stated quietly. ‘I have always lived alone in a tiny room. Melody said the bedrooms are huge and they have their own bathrooms.’
‘Yeah, they do, I don’t know about huge though.’
‘Never mind, it will be better than what I had.’
‘Well, yeah but…’
‘Give it up girl.’ Melody told her as she grabbed several bags off the front porch. ‘You have roomies now, buck up and help us unload or go make breakfast.’
Heather called. ‘Oh, don’t worry, I’ll make hotcakes.’
Bewildered, Peyton cried out plaintively. ‘Unload… but this is my home.’
‘Don’t you like us Peyton?’ Darby asked, and it
was easy to hear the worry in her voice.
They all turned to look at the small woman, who held her tablet close to her chest like a shield. Heather and Melody looked sharply at Peyton, who quickly assured her. ‘Yeah Darby, I like you, all of you but…’
‘Oh, good. I like you all too.’ Darby cut her off with a smile that transformed her quiet face into something amazing.
It distracted Peyton enough that Melody was able to carry in two more bags and dump them at her feet. Her voice had a warning in it, as she said. ‘We are so happy about that, aren’t we, Peyton?’
Still bewildered, Peyton nodded. ‘Yep, so happy.’
EPILOGUE:
‘Peyton, wake now.’
She grinned as her eyes fluttered open and she blinked several times, asking the male who sat looking relaxed and comfortable. ‘So do I have issues?’
Jarrod laughed then said. ‘Peyton, you are the second most powerful Entity in our Universe, and the leader of a new solar system as well as on occasion the Star Child’s arm of Justice. Of course you have issues.’
Peyton growled. ‘You know you have become rather snippy since mating with Trina.’
He unfolded his long body from his seat and walked to the door, looking back over his shoulder as he said. ‘So I have been told, now my professional advice is sleep.’
‘Thank you Jarrod, it was not as horrendous as I thought it would be to remember. In fact, some things were better for looking at them again.’
‘Like your grandparents?’
‘Yes, and my initial meeting with Melody. Then there were instances which probably are better forgotten.’
‘Yes, that is true. Peyton, you are stable again; see me if the balance falters, do not leave it so long next time.’
‘You seem to think there will be a next time.’
‘Of course there will be, you are you, it is guaranteed.’
‘Seriously, I am not that bad.’
‘And yet, you are here?’
‘So funny.’
‘I thought so.’
Looking up into his brown eyes as he held the door open for her, she softly told him. ‘Jarrod, I am very happy you are in our lives.’
‘Star Daughter, I bless every day that I am in your life.’
‘Such a sweet talker!’
Book 1: Unknown Universe
By L. M. Lacee
Characters - Unknown Universe:
Humans/Terrans:
Peyton St. Hill: Star Daughter.
Netta Howl: Commander of Star Daughters Guard.
Melody James: Commander/Tocho/Tivna.
Darby Kline: Scientist/Specialist.
Heather Wilson: Doctor/Healer.
Esther Lioni: Nanny/Omperea.
Helen Merson: Chef/Housekeeper.
Brenda Wilkinson: Housekeeper/Celebrant.
Trina Brown: Warrior/Mystic Kailee.
Jean Harding: Systems Analyst.
Karen Lioni: Hotel Manager.
Amelia Lioni: Child Minder.
Nina Jones: Botanist.
Fern Jones: Biologist.
Warriors:
Hawk Roeah: Elite/First Commander.
Dinas Serapera: Elite/Healer.
Kerol Naihal: Commander
Willian Devet: Warrior/Investigtor.
Lukas Naihal: Warrior/Scout.
Jorge Torron: Commander Star Daughters Guard.
Nikolas Faelone: Pilot.
Kolin Matewe: Engineer.
Sarn Lischer: Warrior/Guard.
Kent Jeyer: Warrior/Guard.
Mystics:
Avana Hananva: Seer/Sene/Sevna.
Jarrod Hananva: Mystic/Kail.
Malchol Hananva: Mystic.
Telfor Hananva: Mystic.
Traders:
Rose Leesungha: Chief Trader.
Frand Leesungha: Pilot/Trader.
Miko Leesungha: Laroro/Accountant.
Savo Leesungha: Head of family Leesungha.
Teelu Leesungha: Lalorla/Lawyer for Leesungha traders.
Reeico Leesungha: Chief Inventor.
Savna Leesungha: Pilot/Trader.
Teenarlo Leesungha: Inventor.
Adversaries:
Doctor Agnes Johnston
Jenersar Ambassador Thanikis Jenerika
Earth Ambassador Ian White
Emperor Uthar Jenerika
Empress Quara Jenerika
Sether Jenerika
Orotha Jenerika
Meins Thomsfar
Celinna Thomsfar
Fantha Thomsfar
Inferr: Planet of Indorino
Leanii Undinly
Extras:
Sunshoona: Earths Sun
Gaea: Planet Earth
Lasing Undinly: Head of family Undinly
Quote Book 1
There must be something more out there, and I want to find out what it is.
— Dr Darby Kline
PROLOGUE:
Conversation between Sunshoona, Earth’s sun and Gaea the world:
Gaea: I should have thought harder about my plan.
Sunshoona: I did tell you, dear one.
Gaea: I know, but it seemed so simple.
Sunshoona: Well, yes dear, I can see how you would think that, but as you can see, when it comes to planets and humans, nothing is simple.
Gaea: I would be angry with that statement but I reluctantly have to admit, unfortunately what you say is true.
Sunshoona: You will have to tell them.
Gaea: Oh, I do not think that is a good idea. No... Not at all.
Sunshoona: Well no, I am sure you would not, but needs must.
Gaea: I do not want to.
Sunshoona: Yet you will. Just use what we obtained last night.
Gaea: Oh, I cannot. Please, will you do it?
Sunshoona: No, dear one, I will not. Send the message, just like we decided on.
Gaea: They will be very annoyed, and that is never a good thing.
Sunshoona: It is not. Although I feel they may be forgiving, as I have found our Star Daughter.
Gaea: Really! On my surface?
Sunshoona: Yes, dear one, on your surface.
Gaea: Oh, Sunshoona, how wonderful.
Sunshoona: Yes Gaea, please tell the Star Child what has happened.
Gaea: With the report we stole.
Sunshoona: Borrowed, dear one. We borrowed it.
Gaea: Yes Sunshoona. Have I ever told you that for a Star, you are very intelligent?
Sunshoona: I tried to remind you of that fact before you started all this… Oh. What was the term you used? It was such an elegant turn of phrase… Mishap!
Gaea: Yes, well, you need not harp on about it.
Sunshoona: Send the report Gaea.
Gaea: Alright, although I am still unsure how it will help.
Sunshoona: Just send it dear one.
ONE:
Transmitting a message from Gaea to the Star Child.
Message reads: Year 2214.
Report compiled by Dr Darby Kline.
This is a report about our world, for the Undernet to publish and disseminate to the people of Earth.
In the year 2193 the population of Earth was approximately twenty billion people. Before a silent, relentless killer stalked our world. It had only one name, Virus. It never slept, it never faltered, and it never died. It killed without mercy or remorse. A deadly assassin with humanity as its target.
Within seven years, from the first sign of the Virus, our population had decreased by thirty-eight percent. Males of any race, or creed, old or young were the first to succumb. The Virus did not discriminate; it killed anyone with predominately XY chromosomes.
In the following seven years, the Virus mutated and targeted the males it missed the first time around. Despite the efforts of the remaining scientists, researchers and doctors in every part of the world using everything at their disposal. The Virus continued to ravage the world, removing life after life until seven years later it mutated once more. This
time it was not gender specific, and as with the previous outbreaks, it randomly selected whoever it needed to kill.
In the early days of the pandemic, scientists postulated, the reason for the Virus was an unknown substance from a passing meteor. They hypothesized that this alien substance infected our upper atmosphere and over time made its way down to Earth. Of course there were other conspiracy theories ranging from a plot by militant terrorists who manufactured the Virus to cleanse the Earth. To the most common belief that a Government agency, experimenting in anti-gravity and hazardous space technology released a dangerous toxin into our environment. Another theory circulated on the internet said that aliens released the Virus to reduce the population to a manageable number, for when they came to take over the world. This theory has remained the favorite, and considering what has happened, now has credence. To be fair, as of this writing, none of these theories have ever been proved or disproved.
In the end it did not matter, human life was held on a knife’s edge and the blade became thinner each time the Virus mutated. After the last outbreak the few scientists left, concluded that people who never became infected, had a natural immunity to the Virus and all its mutations. Unfortunately, no matter what was tried, this immunity could not be passed on to others nor could it be cultured into a cure. We have no understanding why this is so. Sadly, at this time, it seems that nothing will stop the Virus.
Twenty-one years after the emergence of the Virus, we estimate that just over one billion people remain on Earth. Countries have become vacant, as have cities, towns, and villages, whether or not they were isolated.
As you know, the face of our civilization has changed forever. The New World Government states that although there are still deaths, scientists believe the Virus is finally becoming dormant. I cannot say this strongly enough. We do not say this.
I digress — as you the followers of the Undernet know. The Government was originally formed by politicians and business people from around the world, who seemed to be resistant to the Virus. Some years after their conception, the Government divided the world into three regions. America, Canada, Mexico and South America have become the Americas.
