by Scott Moon
"There is no travel between galaxies," Thaddeus said.
"There is about to be," she said, looking as though she might vomit with stress.
No one spoke.
Maximus found his way to the discarded meat and ate noisily.
"I made the wrong decision," Penny said the moment Sledge stepped away to deal with several irate townsfolk.
"No, Penny. You made the right decision as always. Humanity would have been doomed in that kind of exploration and trade embargo. That sort of threat is exactly the reason everyone is afraid of him. He has a behind-the-scenes monopoly on all space travel except generation ships. Now he thinks he can expand to new galaxies," Thad said.
Sledge tilted his head to one side in an expression of exaggerated consideration. "Or people are afraid of the freakishly powerful AI that runs his ship and the squad of alien assassins who practically worship him as a demigod. Which we're lucky he didn't send to Darklanding…or did he?"
"Stop being juvenile, Sledge." Penny shook her head. "None of that involves us. Not directly. Not for years. I made the wrong choice."
Thaddeus disagreed but knew better than to pursue the argument.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: Spirit Quest - Part Four
Mast watched Thaddeus talking to his first ex-wife and tried to understand how humans had survived long enough to journey beyond the stars they came from. The sheriff was his only friend, a man muchly respected by everyone. And still, he was a boy talking to a girl, trying to win her affection when he had long ago thrown it away.
The tablet device Thaddeus had given him vibrated in his pocket. He wondered who it could be since he was looking at the sheriff and no one else ever called him on it.
The face of Cornelius Vandersun appeared on the small screen. "Can you turn a little bit? I can't quite see what is happening. Ah, yes. That's what I thought. " The disembodied face watched Thaddeus and Penelope. “They are an interesting couple, aren’t they?”
“No,” Mast said. “They are no longer a couple as I understand it. Human mating customs are illogical.”
Cornelius laughed. “How was your vision quest, Mast Jotham?”
Mast turned the screen for better privacy. “I am muchly disturbed by your question.”
“Be calm, friend. Red says you found a ship at the bottom of a shaft,” Cornelius said.
Something in the old man’s eyes was so compelling that Mast felt entranced. "You should not have human charm through an electronic device."
"Human charm, you say? Interesting. Red, please research that metric between humans and Ungloks. Mast Jotham, you are full of surprises," Vandersun said. "Tell me. Did that ship appear to be intergalactic?"
Mast closed his eyes. He did not wish to consider the ship. "It seemed very old and covered with dust."
"Hmm. I always thought A19 was extra-galactic." He yelled over his shoulder, "I told you, Red! That's proof it can be done. Someone has made the leap between galaxies."
"You don't have to yell, Cornelius. I am everywhere you are," the voice of a sultry woman said.
"Ah, yes. Cosmic phenomenal power, complete lack of privacy. Thanks for the reminder," Cornelius said.
"If that is all you require of me, I must return to my duties," Mast said, placing his thumb on the device to end the conversation.
"Wait, Mast Jotham," Cornelius said. "I lived with your people for several years before SagCon took over. I respect your people very muchly."
Mast nodded. "May you have peace and wisdom on your own spirit quest."
Cornelius smiled sagely. "It was good to have met you, if only briefly. Peace and wisdom to you, Mast Jotham."
The tablet turned off before Mast could press the button.
CHAPTER NINETEEN: Good-byes
"I have to go with her, Thad," Sledge said. "Abandoning her once was bad enough. The SagCon mission review board will know what she did. I was ready to retire when they debriefed me, or just stay in Darklanding as long as possible, then retire. Then she came along and made the hard decision. It's only right that I testify in her favor, for what that's worth."
Thaddeus wasn't quite sure what to say. He'd already said good-bye to Penelope Fry-Grigman. Several of their encounters had rekindled the burning passion between them, but the rest of the time they fought like…an old married couple, he supposed. The guilt he felt now was real. Despite proof they could still enjoy real intimacy and trust, he was glad she was leaving. Maintaining that type of relationship was exhausting and he didn't think he could do it for long. I must really be an ass.
His tablet vibrated in the pocket of his battered fire coat. After the most recent incident in Raven's Haven, he decided to keep the original for good luck. He pulled out the device and looked at a message.
Sledge, who was still watching him, laughed awkwardly. "What'd you do, win the lottery?"
"It looks like Cornelius Vandersun just paid for a new jail to be built on Darklanding. He also claims that there is no actual Marine contingent in the spaceport. Something about it never arriving and a shady character on one of the orbital platforms collecting all of their income and budgetary allotments," Thad said as he put away the device. "You better get on your ship. If I know Penny, she will leave you if you're late."
"That's a fact. Watch your six, Thaddeus Fry. Maybe we'll meet again."
"Sure," Thad said. He walked toward his deputy, who was staring silently at the spaceport. The Unglok seemed at peace, older in spirit yet somehow more youthful in his expression.
"I'm glad you're back, Mast," Thad said.
"As am I. Maybe things will be muchly more boring in Darklanding after this," Mast said.
"That's the plan, partner. That is definitely the plan," Thad said.
The End of Episode 4.
Stay tuned, there’s more to come!
Thank you for reading this story. If you liked it, please leave a review.
Social Media for Scott Moon
Amazon – www.amazon.com/Scott-Moon/e/B0082VIWL8
Facebook – www.facebook.com/scottmoonwriter
My web page – www.scottmoonwriter.com/
Scott’s Email – [email protected]
Social Media for Craig Martelle
Amazon – www.amazon.com/author/craigmartelle
Facebook – www.facebook.com/authorcraigmartelle
My web page – www.craigmartelle.com
Craig’s Email – mailto:[email protected]?subject=Darklanding
Other Books by Scott Moon
Darklanding with Craig Martelle
Episode 1: Assignment Darklanding
Episode 2: Ike Shot the Sheriff
Episode 3: Outlaws
Episode 4: Grandfather
Episode 5: An Unglok Murder
Episode 6: SAGCON
Episode 7: TBD
Episode 8: TBD
Episode 9: TBD
Episode 10: TBD
Episode 11 TBD
Episode 12: TBD
The Chronicles of Kin Roland
Book 1 – Enemy of Man (also available on audiobook) Book 2 – Son of Orlan (also available on audiobook)
Book 3 – Weapons of Earth (also available on audiobook)
SMC Marauders
Book 1 – Bayonet Dawn
Book 2 – Burning Sun
Grendel Uprising
Episode 1: Proof of Death
Episode 2: Blood Royal
Episode 3: Heavy Weapons
Son of a Dragonslayer
Book 1 – Dragon Badge (also available on audiobook)
Book 2 – Dragon Attack (also available on audiobook)
Book 3 – Dragon Land
Other Books by Craig Martelle
The Terry Henry Walton Chronicles, a Kurtherian Gambit Series, co-written with Michael Anderle
World’s Worst Day Ever (a short prequel of sorts)
Book 1 – Nomad Found (also available on audiobook)
Book 2 – Nomad Redeemed (also available on audiobook)
Book 3 - Nomad Unleashed (also available on audiobook)
Book 4 - Nomad Supreme (also available on audiobook)
Book 5 – Nomad’s Fury (also available on audiobook)
Book 6 – Nomad’s Justice (also available on audiobook)
Book 7 – Nomad Avenged (also available on audiobook)
Book 8 – Nomad Mortis (also available on audiobook)
Book 9 – Nomad’s Force (also available on audiobook)
Book 10 – Nomad’s Galaxy (also available on audiobook)
Free Trader Series
Book 1 – The Free Trader of Warren Deep
Book 2 – The Free Trader of Planet Vii
Book 3 – Adventures on RV Traveler
Book 4 – Battle for the Amazon
Book 5 – Free the North!
Book 6 – Free Trader on the High Seas
Book 7 – Southern Discontent (2017)
Book 8 – The Great ‘Cat Rebellion (2017)
Book 9 – Return to the Traveler (2017)
Outpost of the Ancients – a Free Trader short story published in the Apocalyptic Space Collection, Volume 1
Cygnus Space Opera – set in the Free Trader Universe
Book 1 – Cygnus Rising
Book 2 – Cygnus Expanding
Book 3 – Cygnus Arrives
Cygnus Omnibus – Books 1 to 3 under one cover and also as an audiobook
End Times Alaska Series, a Winlock Press publication
Book 1: Endure (also available on audiobook)
Book 2: Run (also available on audiobook)
Book 3: Return (also available on audiobook)
Book 4: Fury (also available on audiobook)
Rick Banik Thrillers
People Raged and the Sky Was on Fire (also available on audiobook)
The Heart Raged (2017)
Paranoid in Paradise – a short story within the Close to Bones Anthology
Short Stories (and where you can find them)
Just One More Fight (published as a novella standalone)
Wisdom’s Journey (published as a novella standalone)
Fear Peace (published as a short story standalone)
The Trenches of Centauri Prime (in Galactic Frontiers, edited by Charles Ekeke)
The Outcast (Through the Never Anthology, nominated for consideration for a Nebula Award)
Defense of the Deep Space Denali (in The Expanding Universe Vol 2)
A Language Barrier (in The Expanding Universe Vol 3)
The Misadventures of Jacob Wild McKilljoy (with Michael-Scott Earle) (Always FREE)
Box Sets & Anthologies
Trader, Cygnus, & People Raged – Martelle Starter Library
Close to the Bones, a Thriller Anthology (edited by Martha Carr)
The Expanding Universe, Volume 1 (edited by Craig Martelle)
The Expanding Universe, Volume 2 (edited by Craig Martelle)
The Expanding Universe, Volume 3 (edited by Craig Martelle)
Earth Prime Anthology, Volume 1 (Stephen Lee & James M. Ward)
Apocalyptic Space Short Story Collection (Stephen Lee & James M. Ward)
Lunar Resorts Anthology, Volume 2 (Stephen Lee & James M. Ward)
Metamorphosis Alpha – Chronicles from the Warden Vol 1 (with James M. Ward, edited by Craig Martelle)
Metamorphosis Alpha – Chronicles from the Warden Vol 2 (with James M. Ward, edited by Craig Martelle)
Author Notes: Scott Moon
Stories must have conflict. They start with a premise—a veteran becomes the sheriff on a frontier world full of dangerous secrets in the style of Firefly meets Tombstone and/ or Bonanza. Characters who want things are introduced. Thaddeus fry wants to ride out the rest of his career in peace…not going to happen. He’ll face criminals, corporate politics, strange local customs, and ancient alien mysteries.
But when his ex-wife shows up, things get serious! The story needs conflict? Now we got conflict!
I couldn’t resist bringing one of Thad’s much maligned ex-wives on stage. Penelope Fry-Grigman is a writer’s dream, a juggernaut of backstory and character conflict. Maybe I’m a bit twisted, but I enjoyed the way Thad and Sledge jumped when she said boo and walked on eggshells to avoid her wrath.
But she can’t be the story. Darklanding is already full of our favorite characters and their story arcs. Something had to be done about Ruby and the many references to her family, specifically, her adventurous grandfather.
What do we know about the man? Not much. It was tempting to dump a lot of information when we first met him. Anyway, here’s his deal. Cornelius Vandersun is one of the pioneers of intergalactic travel—a brilliant, almost mad scientist—but also a great tactician in businessman. We all know the story. He became a leader in the newest tech industry at a young age, then cornered the market.
What makes Cornelius Vanderson different? Well, he’s also the black sheep of the family. The adventures he’s had…may need to be written! Think James T. Kirk, Dr. Who, and Bill Gates or someone like that all rolled in to one adventure seeking lunatic.
Let’s get back to Darklanding and the characters we love.
Reader feedback warned me against killing Mast Jotham. It could happen. I’m not above wiping out a main character. (So if you have people in this story you don’t want to die, please make yourself heard!) Mast’s spirit quest is extremely important to the overall arch of the story, something I didn’t know when he first went into the shaft.
The Deputy Sheriff of Darklanding is key to several plot arcs including the spirit quest, Tigi, and Dixie’s secret business. Craig and I have recently auditioned an audiobook narrator and I think his voice for Mast is spot on. Very excited for everyone to hear the Darklanding series narrated someday (soon, I hope). I’ll restrain myself from talking details or dates, but I’m muchly sure it will happen.
As a super-geek about all things related to the craft of writing and story telling in general, I could go on forever about Grandfather: Assignment Darklanding (Episode 4). Would that be wrong? Maybe. Please let me know what you’d like to read in my author notes.
So with that artful tradition (lol) let me share a bit about what is going on in Moonlanding. (Cue the laugh real.) Okay, I won’t venture into standup comedy.
It’s not as cold her in Kansas as it is in Alaska, but we bought our dog, Mavis, a sweater. She seems to like it well enough in the freezing Kansas wind. Once we’re home, and she gets out of it, we all watch as she rolls around on her back and turns into a big ball of static electricity. Mavis is a Havanese (and part mountain goat, I think). She runs on the backs of our couches and jumps over a Moon almost every day.
Everyone in the county has the flu. I’ve slipped through the virus gauntlet so far. The day job has its ups and downs. Raising a large family is fun, rewarding, and likely to drive me crazy. All the parents reading this know what I mean.
I hope you are doing well. Thanks for reading another episode of Darklanding. I love this project and feel blessed to be part of it.
Now, a word about episode 7, Race to the Finish: Assignment Darklanding. My good friend and Keystroke Medium co-host, Josh Hayes, helped me expand and outline my ideas live. You can check it out on YouTube here. (https://youtu.be/CsQHQPfxHb8)
I recently finished number 7 and hope it turned out well. (I really like it, but who am I to judge?) If you watch the video, then read the novella, you will recognize a lot. However, it actually has a twist ending something I find hard to do on purpose. It might be fun to watch the video before or after reading Darklanding 7 to see how the creative process became the finished story. Might. Or you might want to head straight for Darklanding 08 (working title: Boom Town).
Thanks again!
Be safe,
Scott Moon
(Oh, and please don’t confuse me with the Scott Moon character in episode 29 of the Walking Dead comics. I just learned this was a thing.)
Author Notes: Craig Martelle
Written on 2/4/18<
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Look at you (if you’re reading this, I’m looking at you), and I’m thanking you for still reading!
Scott Moon is an authorly stud! Look at these stories. Well crafted and well told, I enjoy working with Scott (my term for reading Scott’s great work – he sends me a finished story and I read it:).
I’m in a hotel called Runnymede-on-Thames, which is near Heathrow in London. I’m running a conference for authors and the reception has been fabulous. Jet lag is a royal pain – it’s nine time zones away from God’s country (Alaska), and I have been completely out of sync.
The great thing about these conferences is getting to meet the stellar people in the self-publishing community. I also got a bottle of single malt Scotch out of it, and a custom-etched Royal Marine mug. People here were most appreciative of our efforts to bring the show to the UK.
I also got to run down to Windsor Castle thanks to the kindness of Andrew Mackay, an individual I met over a year ago who was looking at getting into self-publishing. Andrew has published some ten books since then and is a major force in UK satire.
Windsor is huge. It reminded me of the Kremlin in Moscow as to how much space it takes up. Very classy – this is where the royal family goes to get married. Next up is Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Last ones through were William and Kate. Very posh and British that.
The reviews for Darklanding have been overwhelmingly positive. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to pen some kind words.
These stories are technically novellas, being between 17,500 and 40,000 words. Short stores are works up to 7,500 words and novelettes are between shorts and novellas. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer’s of America determine what is what. We simply call them episodes and stories. It would be nice if one of the TV studios took a look – could be a great series, and the visuals would be pretty cool.
Books 5, 6, and 7 are finished and only waiting their time to see daylight. The series continues to roll - what is in store for Thad, Shaunte, Mast, and Dixie?