Henery spoke, “He did write a letter.”
Roger said, “We were told this in Roswell; it comes from the sheriff.”
“Well, gentlemen, I can assure you I’m human,” I said.
The marshal said, “Then you won’t mind coming with us to Roswell.”
Henery questioned the marshal. “I’ll bring him.” I agreed.
Lee insisted, “Hell, I’m coming too. Wouldn’t miss it, bringing my old gun.”
5
The suns were as a glow in the eastern sky. The purple haze was a mist as always; just another beautiful day. The rivers that flowed through the city was rushing. The green water rushed as it flowed over the many falls; some of the trees were as on Earth. The grass is always green. Leah and Candance had planted flowers around the courtyard. Kira told them how she loved them. She wanted them to plant more.
Ellie was always doing something. I met with Mekon and Mea. We were doing our planning on our departure for Earth in a few days.
Marie came in with April. I asked Mekon, “You noticed they spent a lot of time with each other.”
Mekon replied, “Marie has to have someone to take Tyler’s place.”
Marie came over. “Dorn,” she said, “I’m ready to go.” I told her two more days.
Marie said to me, “I talked to Tyler last night, he is in trouble. The Palatonians and Centaurians look for him every day. They killed one of Tyler’s friend from the planet of Vernon.”
“Marie,” I asked, “Did you say, Vernon?”
“That’s what he said; it was as a dream,” Marie said.
I asked Marie, “What did you hear him say?”
“He asked of me and you,” Marie looked at April. “He asked about April, then I lost him.”
“April,” I asked, “Did you hear anything?”
Dropping her head, “I never knew, Dorn. You knew, but I never knew he cared for me.”
I asked, “Mekon, you remember Vernon? They once were friendly to us.”
“I remember. Ira asked me once of the Pegasus system. Why did I go there? I found the people very intelligent, some are human; there are several races there. How long before we leave?”
Mekon answered, “Two more days.”
Mi spoke from the door. I said, “Morning.” Mi looked like a perfect human; of course, the woman that was with him helped. Ellie was no doubt a beautiful woman.
“Dorn,” he asked, “Could I speak to you?”
I waved him over. “Sure Mi, come in.”
“Dorn, I mean in private.” Walking from the lab to the courtyard, Mi asked, “I wish to stay here. My child would be born before I return. I need to be here for Ellie. I need to be here if something goes wrong.”
I told Mi to check with the chief justice. “Give him all the help you can. Besides, the three needs to be together.”
“Oh Dorn, Kira, and Omega would like to see you. Kira said, as soon as possible. Dorn, be prepared.”
“Prepared for what?” I asked.
Mi turned and said, “Got to go. Thanks, Dorn.” I went back to the lab. April and Marie were talking.
April came to me. “Dorn, why did you not tell me about Tyler?” I told April it wasn’t my place.
April said, “Dorn, since you saved me and my mother, I’ve looked to you as a father figure. I’ve even told Kira this.”
I said, “Now that you know, what are you going to do about it?”
April replied, “Roberto was a good man, I wasn’t in love with him. I always knew there was someone else for me. Roberto was my friend, Marie is tickled about it. She said, I would be the sister she never had. As for Tyler, we will take the ritual if I ever get him back. Dorn, I have only one request.” I told April if I could grant it, I will.
April said, “When we return from Earth, or if we return, I never want to go again.” I told her I’m in for that. I’ve always said that something always comes up. I told April that Mekon said two days be ready.
“Kira has sent for me, I got to go.”
April said, “Dorn, be prepared.”
“April,” I said, “that’s what Mi said. What is going on?”
April smiled. “You’ll see.”
I asked Mekon, “Do you know what is going on?”
He said, “Dorn, I have no idea.”
I asked Mekon, “How long would it take to go to Vernon?”
Mekon answered, “If you left now, you could be back in two days. By the time you return, I’ll have the ships ready.”
I said to him, “I’ll take the George Washington.”
Mekon said, “Take Mi with you, he knows the jump.”
I sent a sentry to my house for Leah. “Tell her to come to the chamber.”
I went to the chamber to Kira’s living quarters. Kira and Omega were with Tressa, Aries, and Candance. It appeared they were having a family moment.
“Opa,” Tressa said, “I’m sixteen today.” I told her I know. Tressa looked at her mother, Kira looked at me. I told her I was here at her request.
“Kira,” said father, “Tressa has asked to come with you to Earth. She has promised to do everything you say.”
I asked, “Kira, is this an order or request? I’m going to Vernon, I’ll give you my answer when I return. I’ll be gone for two days. If she wishes, she can come with me to Vernon.” Tressa flew from the chambers.
I asked, “Why is she running so fast?”
Kira answered, “She’s afraid you will change your mind.”
I looked at Aries. “You and Candance go to my ship and wait for me.” I asked Kira, “Does Tressa have any hidden powers I need to know about?”
Kira said, “No father, not that I know of.”
Kira asked, “Father, why are you going to the Pegasus galaxy?”
I replied, “When you were a child, the Veronians came here once. They stopped, I want to know why.”
Mea said on my return to the lab, “Everyone is on board, Leah is going with you.”
I told Mi and Ellie to map a route to Vernon. “Call Fax, ask if he wants to ride along.” Three hours later, a message landed at will. Fax told me he would come along.
“The Veronians are good people,” Fax said. “I know them very well. We have a great trade with them. The reason we stopped was the fact the Palatonians came. We stopped going there.” I told Fax I would send Mekon a message. I told Mekon to have Wald and Wil to come to Xon. We went aboard the ship, went to space. It wasn’t long when the ships come from hyperspace.
Wald held us. I replied, “Well, that didn’t take long.”
Wald replied, “We were already in space with the jump, it was minutes. What are we doing with the George Washington? We have three ships, fully armed.” I told them to set course for Vernon.
The thing about space, it’s always dark. Tyler always told me he loved space. He had become a very good pilot, a good captain with the crews. The ones that served under him said he was a very good captain.
The ships flew through the emptiness of space. I took Leah retired for a while.
Leah asked, “What are they like, these Veronians?”
“We were about to meet them,” I told her. Once, long ago, the Veronians came to Boldlygo. There was other I remember. Mekon built a ship for some being. I don’t remember them. I started to tell Leah of others.
Marie called to the room, “Dorn, we have two ships coming up.” When I got to the bridge, Marie was looking at the scope.
“They’re coming fast,” She said.
I said, “Drop us out of hyperspace. Marie, can you tell who they are.”
Marie replied, “The ship is from Vernon.”
I said to April, “Talk to them.”
April responded, “This is Boldlygo airship, please respond.”
The voice called, “You ar
e in Vernon airspace.”
“We are on a mission to meet you, leader. I have King Fax of Xon, and Commander Dorn from Boldlygo.”
Moments later, a message, “Commander, do you have a shuttle?”
April said, “Yes.”
The voice replied, “Command your ship. Only bring your shuttle to the floor, do you understand?”
April replied, “Yes, we will launch in five minutes.” Going aboard the shuttle, we dropped to the floor of the planet of Vernon. I must say it hasn’t changed much.
Leah said, “Dorn, it is like Earth.” The council greeted us fairly. We were introduced to their king; his name was Ba. We had a council for hours.
Fax asked, “What happened with the Palatonians that were here?”
Ba said as he spoke with authority, “The Palatonians left, they did at my request. We had no trouble with them. I hope we never do.”
I told him we had a word from Earth of a young man parents were from here.
“It is possible,” he said. “We do go to this Earth.”
“The young man’s name was Grady; his mother and father were from here. It was the Palatonians that killed him.”
Ba looked at me then said, “We came to your planet at one time.”
Ba said, “I remember your father Ira; Sweet Grass, Simons, very tasteful.”
I asked, “Why did you say, my father?”
“Ira told me you were his son. I do believe you traveled for a while.”
I asked him, “Why did you stop coming?”
Ba answered, “When we asked the Palatonians to leave, we decided to live on our own. The Xonian’s with you; we at one time came to his planet.”
Fax said, “You could always come back.”
I asked him, “Have you met the Centaurians?”
He looked at me, “Centaurians. Please, I despise them. Kill them all.”
“Then join us. In two days, we leave for Earth from my world.”
Ba asked, “Are your ships complete?”
I told him, “They will be if you will join us. We will have a fleet; we would be the strongest. Six of our ships and three Xonian ships.”
Ba said, “I’ll send three ships, they are capable of hyperspace.”
I told him, “Have your ship meet us at this location in space. We will join. Soon after, when they pass our sensor, we’ll know who they are.”
Ba said, “Then our friendship begins.”
Fax asked, “Am I included in this?”
Ba said, “Yes, I will send my chief commander and three ships. I have one thing to ask.” As we went to my shuttle, Ba said, “If you find a Palatonian, His name is Captain Porta, he is captain of the Palatonian ship; bring him to me. Prove your friendship.”
I told him, “If I find him, you have my word.” I took his hand. I went on board with Fax; we departed to space.
Returning to my ship, all went to their stations. Tressa was hanging on to Leah like a bug on a flower - stupid human expression. Leah is trying to turn me into a human. Mi took control of the ship I thought of a battle plan. I also thought of the years we have been together. I could not ask for a more loyal captain. Looking around, I saw a complete crew. I also saw my family. I called everyone to come to the bridge. I told them I was very proud of each one.
“There is nothing we can’t do, however, I must leave you behind. Marie and April will be coming with me.” I looked at Tressa. “You still want to come along? I think it would be a great experience for you.”
Tressa said, “Then I shall come too, Opa. I want to try the chocolate everyone talks about.”
Mi stated, “Dorn, I think you know we all would go. I must be with Ellie; our child is to be born soon.”
Leah said, “I must stay because of Zin.”
“Aries, I need you here. Candance, well, she needs to be here for the three”. I told all to enjoy what time we have; it will be a while before we sail again. On the morning of the second day, Wil and Wald stayed to my flanks. The Xonian ship dropped off at their home.
Fax said, “I’ll be ready tomorrow.” We took the west staging area. The other ship stayed in orbit.
Wil said, “I’ll see you before you leave.” Mekon had called my ship, told me to come to the hanger; he had some last-minute changes.
Mekon said, “You will be ready to go early. I see that the supplies were loaded; go home with your wife.” I took Leah by the hand. She was a loving person, I was so lucky.
6
On Earth, the war was still going on. In the United States, there was no fighting. From New Mexico to New York, all international mail went to New York. If I was right, it took three weeks to cross country a single letter no one knew exists except Tyler and the friends he made on Earth. This I would find out later.
I sat on the ship thinking of him. Tyler had proven himself a loyal person always willing to learn. He showed some powers not as much as some, more than others. His sister Marie, I in my own mind knew Marie was more powerful than she let people know. It is my belief she is as powerful as April; they both were still young.
Ira paid close attention to her. Ira always said she would be good for our people. With April and Marie, there would be no stopping them. Sometimes, it was scary just to think of them together. It would be pure destruction. In my thought, how powerful would the next children be?
Marie would spend her eighteenth birthday in space. I stopped by the palace with Leah before we went home. I needed to give my report to Kira and Omega. I told Kira we will be leaving early. We should have left two weeks ago.
Kira said, “Father, I will be there to see me off.”
I said to Tressa, “You need to pack.”
Tressa asked, “Opa, what should I pack?”
I told her, “Take your robes and sandals.”
Leah said, “Tressa, come with me to the cabin, I have some Earth clothes. I’ve kept them for reason unknown.”
Tressa smiled and said, “Oh yeah.” I thought, Tressa was a beautiful young girl; she will be a beautiful woman.
Omega asked, “Dorn, who are you leaving here?”
I told him Mi will take charge of the ships. “Aries will be here with the three; between them and the Xonian’s ship, you will be fine. Leave the ships in orbit and rotate every two days.” I told them I would see them early. Taking Leah’s hand, we started to the cabin. She placed her arm around me, lying her head on my shoulder.
She said, “Tomorrow when you leave me, think of me often.”
I said to my beautiful wife, “I think of you often everyday now, my love.” That night, we made love passionately, long into the night. I hope it wasn’t our last time. The next morning, Leah woke me with a kiss. Well, it was on again.
She said to me, “I hope you never lose that alien touch of yours.
I asked her, “What touch?”
She replied, “The one that is not human.” We both laughed. Leah told me she gave Tressa Earth clothes. “She tried them on before leaving. I swear Dorn, Tressa looked like she was born on Earth.”
Hand in hand, we walked to the hanger. My new captain had the ship ready to go. Zar was a very good pilot. I had been with him on one other mission. Tabbi wasn’t new to me yet seems to be a good crew member. He wanted, someday, to command his own ship. Tabbi had the intelligence to become a great captain.
There were humans and natives waiting around the staging area. They knew I was off on another journey— a rescue journey, my last. I suppose they were here to give support. The George Washington fired its engines. I kissed my wife. “Eighteen months, my love. Until then.” I had new people with me. People I knew, yet I’ve never been with. People were going back to Earth. I told them New Mexico was the only place I would be going.
They said, “That would be fine, Dorn. We will find our way from there.” Zar took the ship from the stag
ing area. I must say he did a good job. Everyone waved to us as we made our way from the pad.
I said to Tressa, “Come see your mother, it will be a long while before you see her again.”
Tressa asked, “We will be back, right?”
“I truly hope so, honey.” Hyperspace was nothing new to me. Zar took the ship up to the darkness of space, then to hyperspace. Inside the airspace of Xon, we met the Xonian ship. Right away, Fax wanted to come aboard. Ren met him; Fax wanted his Sweet Grass.
Fax asked Ren, “You want to come to my ship?” Ren agreed.
Zar called, “Three ships coming from hyperspace.”
I said, “That will be the Vernon ships.” Coming around, the commander asked to dock. Aboard, we made our plans. I told them we would go in a peaceful formation.
He asked, “Why?” I told him it’s easy to go to battle from there. He agreed. Fax back on his ship, we made the countdown to hyperspace, then we we’re gone. For more than a month, we went full throttle.
My new captain said, “Dorn, we’re doing great; making good time.” Flying through space in this time, you’re going to meet someone.
“We are being held,” Zar called. “Dorn, we’re showing a ship on screen.” I looked at April.
“It’s Palatonian, Dorn,” April answered.
I told the commander, “I see it. Drop from hyperspace. Cloak right away.”
April said, “The ship is slowing down.” I told the other ships to stay cloaked. The Vernon ship asked later how we did that. I never answered. Only the Vernon ship and I were visible. I held the Palatonian ship.
“This is the George Washington from the planet Boldlygo.” A round was fired to the stern; our shields reflected it. Before I could call, April targeted the engines, took them out. I looked at April.
April said, “Dorn, your wife told me not to take chances. I agreed with her.”
I said, “April, you never give them a chance.”
April replied, “Did they give us one when they fired?”
Marie said, “I’m with her.”
I told them, “You spend too much time with my wife.”
The girls said at the same time, “Dorn, we would have it no other way.”
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