Mission Beyond The Stars: Book #1 of "Saga Of The Lost Worlds" by Neely and Dobbs

by Neely Dobbs

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  Sabanda reached across the bed, gently stroked Jazon’s arm, and said, “Jace, I know something’s bothering you.  Can you tell me what it is?”

  “Nothing, really, Sam.  It's probably just that I'm tired.”

  “Jazon Ozier, I know you better than that.  Something is worrying you.  If you can't tell your wife, I'll understand.”  She graced him with her sunniest smile.  “But I think it’s important that you at least share your concerns with your Vice-Admiral.”

  In mock dismay, he said, “I don't make a habit of going to bed with my Vice-Admirals and divulging my innermost secrets!”

  “I believe that is an admirable policy, Admiral.”  Then, with a wink, she added, “So long as I remain the only exception.”

  He shrugged, but was unable to stifle his laugh.  “Sabanda, I forgot to tell you how much I appreciated your calming Agriel— in fact, everyone— at the peak of the tension during the crisis.  You are justifiably renowned in the Armada's upper echelons for your calming effect on people, and I am very thankful to have you as my ‘secret weapon'.”

  She smiled, squeezed his arm, and nodded gracious acceptance of the compliment.

  He tried to wait her out, but her silence was adamant.  Finally, he capitulated, “OK!  You win…as usual.  I can't help wondering about the ‘whys' of the SDs.  Is some alien civilization causing these disappearances as a prelude to invasion, destroying entire star systems and their inhabitants as a way of softening us up by showing their power?  Might that be why almost every SD has occurred almost immediately before a ship has arrived in the region of the system by star tube?  And why would they be invading?

  “Then I wonder if the systems might not have been destroyed, but instead somehow…I don’t know, ‘kidnapped’ or ‘captured.’  But why?  If they need planets to solve an overpopulation problem, why come to our cluster for them?  And why always settled worlds?  Could they possibly want our people for slaves, to farm crops they need to relieve a famine?

  "And now I keep wondering if, possibly, the real reason why the Colossus "saved" the Wasp  was to protect Kepren…so it could be captured in some future SD they have planned. Maybe it's not so much that they were trying to help us, but that they were just protecting what they consider to be their future resources! Sabanda, it's the whys that bother me…worry me.  But worrying hasn't yielded any answers. Just more questions.”

  “Jazon, what makes you think you're all alone?   Do you feel that only your broad shoulders can carry the load?  Why refuse to share it with anyone?  No wonder you've been distressed!

  “And as important as the ‘whys' are, your fearful speculation makes no sense, Jazon.  We've seen no signs of any such hostile civilization anywhere in our extensive explorations of the galaxy.  No truly advanced technological civilization we’ve ever encountered has continued to wage war.  And any civilization with the power to destroy or transfer systems surely wouldn’t need to raid an inhabited cluster, steal its planetary systems, and enslave its people.  With that kind of power, they must have the capability to solve those problems without resorting to plundering another civilization.

  “I know these problems weigh heavily on you.  In fact, I've wondered if that was why you've been so restless in your sleep.”  Seeing the guilty look on his face, she continued, “And before you bring up the Colossus, remember that its actions saved the Wasp.  Kyell is on watch and our defense systems are on full alert.  For now, nothing more can be done…but I've been having difficulty sleeping the last few days, too.  However, I have an admission to make, too. What’s bothering me now is not the SDs or the Colossus.  It's simply that we've had so little private, personal time since we've left Earth. We may not have had a lot of technology or close friends there... but we did have a lot of 'us' time... and I'm missing that.”

  He smiled most appreciatively, then his pupils dilated as she stretched sinuously.  She leaned over him, brushing gently against his bare chest.  After her second warm kiss and her third soft caress, his concerns about the Colossus and the SDs had been left far behind.

  Later, as Jazon slept peacefully, Sabanda drifted off with a doubly contented smile.