Maddox listened intently. He wanted her to kiss him again, and hug him again and—
Maddox abruptly stopped. His mother was gone. She no longer held him. He was alone on a dry beach, a young man in a Star Watch uniform.
Maddox turned slowly in a circle. It was just this beach of sand. There was no ocean, no cliffs, no wind—
“The Fishers,” Maddox said. “I’m back on their world.”
In the distance, then, he saw the same creature he’d seen before. It beckoned him to follow.
“Why are you so far away?” Maddox shouted.
The shimmering creature raised a tentacle, beckoning.
“I’m tired,” Maddox said. “I’ve done my part.”
The Fisher would not stop beckoning.
Finally, Maddox began to trudge after the Fisher. It kept ahead of him on the sand. After a time, the Fisher entered a fog.
“Nope,” Maddox said. “You don’t get to escape me this time.”
He began to run, soon entering the fog after it. He ran and ran, and he shouted for the Fisher to dare to show itself again.
It did not.
As he ran, Maddox thought he sensed light in the distance. The light meant pain. The light meant sorrow and great regrets. The light also meant Meta and Riker, Galyan, Valerie, Keith, O’Hara and the others.
Was that enough to keep running for life? Maddox wasn’t sure. If his mother were waiting for him in the other direction…
Something fierce grew on Maddox’s face. He still hadn’t settled with his father. He still hadn’t paid the man back for harming his mother, for using his mother.
“I’m not finished,” Maddox said. “Do you hear me? I’m not finished.”
He continued to run in the fog toward the light, and as he did, Captain Maddox of Star Watch came back to himself in the hospital quarters of Starship Victory. He opened his eyes to see Meta’s teary smile as she laughed with joy at his return.
“You’re alive,” Meta declared.
“Yes,” Maddox said in such a weak voice.
Meta rushed near and held his face, showering him with kisses.
“Say it,” he whispered.
Meta laughed and cried all at once. “I love you. I love you. I love you.”
“And I love you, babe,” Maddox whispered. “Now, help me up. I have a lot of work to do.”
THE END
To the Reader: Thanks! I hope you’ve enjoyed The Lost Earth. If you liked the book and would like to see the series continue, please put up some stars and a review. Let new readers know what’s in store for them.
—Vaughn Heppner
The Lost Earth (Lost Starship Series Book 7) Page 33