by Jim Laughter
“Sol-3!” Delmar exclaimed. “But you were stranded there for fifteen years. How can you consider going back there?”
John reached across the table and took Delmar’s hands in his own.
“Because they’re good people, son,” he answered. “They’ve come a long way toward being ready for entry into the Axia. And I can help. I’m a professor at one of their major universities, so I know their cultures and I speak, read and write over a dozen of their major languages. They’re in an age of political and religious turmoil, and I understand them. Can’t you see that I’m in a unique position to help them expand their horizons and become citizens of the galaxy instead of just their own little world?”
Everyone at the table nodded their agreement, even if they didn’t want John to leave again.
“Besides, I’ve got fifteen years back pay coming to me, and I’ve convinced finance to pay me in Earth currency, so I should be set for life. That is, once they figure out a fair exchange rate. Keith will get that all sorted out. He’s on his way back to Earth now aboard a Watcher scout.”
“You’re not telling us something, John,” Agnes said.
“You’re right,” John answered. “I never could hide anything from you or my wife.”
“So spill it,” Robert said.
“I’ve resigned from the Service, which is why I’m not in uniform,” John said. “I’ve taken a civilian posting to Sol-3. When the time comes for their entry into the Axia, I’ll serve as ambassador between their interests and ours.”
“Oh, that’s exciting!” Agnes exclaimed. “Isn’t that exciting, Delmar?”
“I suppose so,” Delmar answered. “But I want you to know that as soon as the Cabbage Patch is serviceable, I’m coming there to look you up. You better stay in touch with me. I’m not losing you again.”
“Nothing in the galaxy could keep us apart, son,” John said. “But you’ll have to look for Yohan Nashar, not John Eagleman
“And you’ll be able to return to your job at the university?”
“I didn’t just walk out on my job,” John answered. “I took a leave of absence for personal reasons. No one will be the wiser. The old Trooper-First doesn’t exist anymore. I’m leaving my past behind me and forging ahead into a new future. I want all of you to be a part of it.”
“You see, Delmar,” Robert interjected. “The Unseen One has had his hand in this whole thing. We all have to learn to keep the faith.”
EPILOGUE
The air was crisp and clean at five thousand feet with only the sound of the engine to keep him company. Pete Gilley looked around the sky noting the few small puffy clouds floating along as his escort. It seemed appropriate to reflect and let the openness of the sky help him clear his mind.
All he could think about was his friend Yohan. The revelation that he’d been an alien from some outer space commonwealth had been difficult enough to take. Then seeing that underground facility put a different face on things.
What had been theory became a harsh reality. Man wasn't alone in the universe. And knowing that well-meaning people were watching over them, albeit as keepers, made the prospect a little less scary. It made sense of many senseless things on this planet, but Pete had to keep it to himself. One word about this and his flying career was over.
Ahead one cloud blocked his path and Pete banked to avoid it. Suddenly, the sound of gunfire and the roar of a racing engine shattered the silence of the sky. Pete instinctively kicked the rudder hard over and swung away from the noise. A hasty glance over his left shoulder showed him a blue biplane barreling down on him from where it had dropped out of the cloud.
"This can't be happening!"
He threw his plane into a sloppy hammerhead stall to avoid the attacking aircraft. Just as the blue biplane flashed past, Pete pushed hard over and tried to get in behind it. The blue aircraft immediately snapped to the left and clawed for altitude and the safety of the cloud.
"Oh no you don't!" Pete cried to no one that could hear him. He also snapped his plane over to the left and managed to get in on the tail of the other craft. The attacking pilot snapped his craft inverted and dove down the opposite direction, leaving nothing but empty air in Pete's sights.
Pete looked madly around, trying to find the enemy plane. He spotted it now somehow above him, coming out of the sun.
From the ground, Keith and Darrel watched the aerial duel with delight. The two planes twisted and turned, each trying to get a good bead on the other. They slowed and lost altitude. The gyrating continued as the sky filled with the sound of roaring engines and gunfire.
Finally, when the two planes were close to a thousand feet, the blue plane made a fatal mistake and stayed level for a few seconds to long. Pete's red biplane closed the distance and the men on the ground could hear the gunfire as he locked on the tail of the blue biplane.
Smoke immediately began to pour from the blue aircraft as Pete broke off his attack. The blue plane headed away from the field briefly and cut its smoke generator. Pete did a victory roll that set him up on the downwind leg of the field's landing pattern. The blue biplane swung around and took up wing position.
Keith and Darrel watched the two aircraft descend along the flight path and set themselves up to land. Touching down together, the blue biplane slowed a little sooner to allow Pete to take the victory position for entering the taxiway. In less than a minute, the two planes rolled to a stop in front of the hanger where Keith and Darrel waited.
"Yohan!" Pete yelled as the two engines spun to a stop, surrounding the hanger with silence. Jumping out of his plane, Pete ran over to Yohan's plane just as his friend was getting out.
"You old son-of-a-gun!" Pete exclaimed and grabbed Yohan in a bear hug.
"Good to see you too," Yohan said with a grin. "But you better not let me sneak up on you like that again or it's me that's going to be doing the victory roll!"
"But...” Pete stuttered when he heard what his friend was saying. "Does this mean you're back?"
"Sure does,” Yohan said, grinning. Keith and Darrel approached them.
"This is his new assignment,” Keith offered as he shook Pete's hand.
"But I thought you were going home?" Pete said.
"I am home,” Yohan said with emphasis. "Things have changed. Now I'm here as part of the permanent team."
"But what about your family?" Pete asked.
"That worked out faster than I expected,” Yohan answered. "In the meantime, this became home. So I'm here to stay."
"His expertise will be most welcome,” Keith said. "As will Darrel's. It gives us new opportunities we never dared hope for."
Darrel smiled.
"So, are you one of them or one of us?" Pete asked Darrel.
"Both,” Darrel answered. "I'll be working on gaining Axia citizenship, and in the meantime I’ll serve in a liaison position."
"Then you're going back to the university?" Pete suddenly asked his friend.
"At least for now,” Yohan answered. "But enough questions. Let's get these birds put away and go get something to eat! I’m starved!"
The End
Books of the Galactic Axia
Adventure Series
Escape to Destiny
The Horicon Experience
Space Trader
First Contact
The Wounded Warrior
Trooper Down
The Search
Ghost Series
Ghost in the Dark
Other books by Jim Laughter
From Victim to Hero:
The Untold Story of Steven Stayner
(True story of the Steven Stayner kidnapping)
Polar City Red
(Climate fiction)
KELLER MORRIS THRILLERS
The Apostle Murders
A Killer in Time
http://www.jimlaughter.com
About the Author
Jim Laughter served in the U.S. Air Force for 20-years with tours of duty in Texas, the Philippines,
Japan, Louisiana, and England. He traveled extensively through Asia and Europe, and retired as a Master Sergeant in 1991. Jim’s education includes the Los Angeles Community College, the Community College of the Air Force, the Air Force Senior Non-Commissioned Officers Academy, and finally the University of Maryland.
Originally from the rural farming community of Kellyville, Oklahoma, Jim and his wife since 1971, Wilma, live in Tulsa, Oklahoma near their three sons (Sam, Ben, and Jon), their wives, and their five grandchildren—Abby, Daniel, Robbie, Lydia, and Shawn.
Jim is a member and past president of the Tulsa NightWriters, a more than 65-year old writing group that helps writers become published. Jim enjoys visiting rotary clubs, libraries, high schools, and junior high schools, speaking about writing, publishing, editing, and other creative subjects. When time permits, Jim enjoys fishing and playing tournament poker. He also enjoys traveling with his wife and family, seeing the wonders of America and experiencing the many flavors of life only this great country can offer.
Jim is the creator of Galactic Axia, a fictional commonwealth of planets, and is author of the Galactic Axia series of science fiction adventure books. He also authors several stand-alone and thriller series books. You may preview his work at www.jimlaughter.com or follow him on Facebook.
