Conqueror's Quest

Conqueror's Quest Stephen Gambuti All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Published in the United States by Double Dragon eBooks, a division of Double Dragon Publishing Inc., Markham, Ontario Canada. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the permission in writing from Double Dragon Publishing. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Dedication To Stephen Matthew and Tina Nicole, my inspirations for everything I do. Prologue The dactalcon soared through the air of the eastern shores of Pangea flapping its wings fiercely against the winds bouncing off the ocean. The Neanderthal rider leaned into the reptilian bird's scaly neck hoping to catch another glimpse of the alien ship that had burned in from the sky. The beings who poured out of the vessel were similar in shape and form to his people, with a few exceptions. The intruders had small, flat foreheads and petite frames compared to the men of the Crow Republic Empire. These aliens had corresponding body parts, including two eyes with considerably less hair. The rider drew the reins of his flying lizard hard to one side, forcing the animal to veer into the thick clouds that lined the coastline. It was imperative Emperor Pernius be alerted to his new guests. The prophecies of the ancient shamans had been fulfilled. Many of the elder mages shared stories of a similar race living on stars beyond Earth. "One day ... One day, they will come," they said.

Chapter One Two revolutions later Dust swirled in minute funnels around the vast field of the jousting arena. The competition commenced with the heralding of bone horns from three trumpeters in the center of the weathered stadium. Both opponents sat upon their dracosaurs at opposite sides of the field, fighting staffs at the ready. The three trumpeters completed their interlude and hooked their curled horns under their arms before marching off the field. The dracosaurs ripped through the soil with their long claws preparing to romp toward each other. Their enormous reptilian bodies would slap their armored tails into the dirt upon the rider's signal. Hundreds of barking fans pounded the air with their fists as they cheered for their favorite champion. The crowds were evenly spilt in who they favored, but the odds always rested with the shaman, Dornan. He remained undefeated for over two revolutions. Jousting was the primary sporting event among the natives of planet Earth. This particular duel would send the victor to challenge the champions of the other surrounding villages. A handful of others were explorers from a far-off world called Venus. The Sapiens, as they were called, curiously watched their first jousting match with far less enthusiasm than their primitive hosts. The contrast between both the Sapiens and the natives, who went by the name of Crows, were acutely different. "Yah!" Dornan slammed the tip of his staff into the rear of the huge riding lizard. The dracosaur kicked back its naturally armored legs and bolted forward. With a swift cut through the air, the Crow redirected his stick toward the oncoming opponent. The match had officially started. "Come on!" Joni hunched behind his drac's large scaly head as he pointed his staff beyond the lizard's nose. Both animals raced toward each other, leaving enormous amounts of dust in their wake. The ground trembled from the extreme mass of each dracosaur. The crowd roared as the earth vibrated underneath them. The Crow men peered through the hoods of their cloaks, the thick ridges of their foreheads creased in concentration, hoping to collect on their bets. Only one would remain in his saddle. The dracosaurs swept passed each other nearly colliding their massive bodies. "Down with you, Dornan!" Joni sliced the fighting staff diagonally across his opponent's shoulder. Dornan was forced down the side of his drac's saddle, scraping himself on the lizard's rough scales. Tightening the reins, he returned to an offensive position. "Not this time, my friend." The Crow shaman slowed his animal, positioning the huge lizard for another charge. He twirled his staff between his massive fingers. An ear-piercing screech echoed through the arena capturing the crowd's attention. The emperor's riders signaled their arrival to the game as three dactalcons hovered over the field and their wingspans threw deep shadows. The absolute ruler of Earth's villages kept his distant eye on the outcome of every duel. This one was personal, since Dornan was to life bond with the emperor's daughter in a few rounds. Joni readied his drac at the other end of the field. "I will defeat you. It has been too long, Dornan." The

opponent tapped the dirt with the tip of his staff. "You have too much confidence this time, Joni!" Dornan's animal charged to the center of the battlefield. He had been a master at this game for revolutions. This jousting match, however, a female dominated his thoughts, causing his focus on the match to subside. The dactalcons above troubled him because the female was not the emperor's daughter, but someone else. Joni once again scrunched behind the thick, scaly plates protruding from his lizard's head. His fighting staff swirled through the air aiming toward Dornan. "You fell once, you will fall again." Dornan tightened his grip on the reins, hoping he wouldn't slip on the next pass. He hadn't been knocked from his saddle in two revolutions. He needed to put Plenda, a Sapien from Venus, out of his head. The Crow clearly mastered this art of fighting and would not become second best to anyone, at least not in front of her. Joni's drac thundered toward Dornan, its scales rippled with each trot. Joni commanded a regiment of the dracosaur brigade. Though he was considered a master rider, he had not yet moved ahead as a champion for his village, Cuga. Crack! Joni's staff slammed into Dornan's armpit, tossing Dornan from the saddle for a second time. Dornan struggled to maintain control, but the momentum of his drac jolted his hands free of the reins. Moons! How could Joni beat me? Joni stood on the back of his lizard with both hands clenched around the ends of his staff, tossing it into the air with tremendous fervor as the surrounding crowd of Crow men and women exploded in applause. A new champion would represent Cuga for the first time in revolutions. Dornan dropped back into the soft earth and stared up at the blue sky that hovered overhead. The dactalcons escorted their riders from the field. They would issue a full report to the Emperor. How could he have lost to Joni? Joni dismounted his animal and approached Dornan. "What are you dreaming about?" He chortled. "If I did not know any better, I would think you gave that to me." Dornan didn't move. "I am actually having a nightmare," he chuckled. Eventually, Joni had to beat him. His friend proffered a hairy hand. "Need a lift?" Dornan's thick brow arched and a smile slid upon his cheeks. "Sure." He locked onto his friend's hand. "Whoa!" Joni cried as Dornan playfully pulled his friend to the dirt. The two men wrestled for a moment laughing at each other. Dornan released Joni from a head hold and patted him on the shoulder. "When did you get so good at this?" "I must admit ... I have been secretly practicing." Joni grinned as he ran his fingers through his thick black hair. "Did you have to get me all dirty?" "Oh I see ... You win one game of joust and you wish to be treated like an emperor." Dornan chortled as he brushed the dirt free of his own black hair. "I must admit. I know I have been touching up on my skills, but your mind was not in the match." Joni glanced over at the cheering crowd. A slim woman stood out amongst the others. She was one of a

dozen Sapien women to come to Earth with the exploratory team from the far-off world of Venus. Plenda was the prettiest of them. "You were thinking of something else." Joni laughed. "You best be careful, my friend. If Pernius finds out, you'll be finished." "Go and greet your audience. We'll talk later." Dornan didn't need a reminder that his passion for the Sapien was forbidden. Joni stood up and swiped more soil from his robes. "You've been saying that forever." Dornan nodded, but his friend was right. It seemed like the only time they got together was to play in a jousting match. They had been friends since they were children. Now at the age of twenty revolutions, they found themselves growing apart. He couldn't assume all the blame, but his service to the emperor as a healer consumed most of his time. Joni spent the majority of his days patrolling villages with the dracosaur brigade. It seemed like life began to pull them from the days of their youth. "I will be victorious again." Dornan assured his friend. Joni's lips curled as his brow rose along the deep ridge of his forehead. "I can't wait for a rematch." He chuckled heading toward the crowd with his thick arms outstretched. "I can't believe it!" The young Sapien woman broke from the crowd and rushed to Dornan. Plenda brushed her long black hair away from her almond-shaped green eyes. Dornan remembered the day she landed here with the explorers. The entire village had been in awe of the different looking people. Their facial features were smaller in comparison to most Crows. Their noses, foreheads and bones in general all seemed more refined. The explorers' clothing consisted of black jumpsuits, as they called them. The Crows were commonly garbed in robes, cloaks and skins making the differences in culture stand out just as much as did physical appearances. The most frightening items the Sapiens brought with them, besides their fast moving vehicles, which floated above the ground, were their weapons and technology. The explorers called these weapons blasters. Dornan witnessed their enormous power when Captain Kado, the leader of the explorers, demonstrated the weapon's ability during their first meeting with Emperor Pernius. The Sapiens promised to share this technology, along with constructing dome dwellings, but nothing further came of it. "I had an off day." Dornan chuckled thinking about the times he used to brag about how skilled he was in joust. None of that mattered at the moment. The girl he fell in love with was the only fan in the crowd who mattered. He just hoped the riders wouldn't pass over the field while Plenda was with him. Plenda knelt down beside Dornan and brushed the dirt off his thick shoulders with her slim fingers. "I can beat Joni with my eyes closed." She mocked Dornan. "If I didn't feel this way, I might have played much better." Dornan stared deeply into Plenda's eyes. She brought her face close to his. He could discern the differences between them as clear as the stars in the sky. Her tiny nose contrasted with his thick nostrils. So different, yet he knew she would be the one. "What way is that?" Plenda rubbed her nose against his. "I ... I have these feelings for you that I cannot explain." Dornan turned away. He couldn't allow anyone in the crowd to witness his affection for the alien creature he had fallen in love with for fear someone

might report it to the emperor. This relationship would be looked down upon by so many throughout the village. The elders of Cuga had planned for Dornan to mate with Malanna in hopes of bringing shaman traits into the emperor's bloodline. Emperor Pernius desired the future absolute rulers to obtain the magik powers of Zafa, ending the need to rely on shamans from different villages. The only ones who knew of this relationship were close friends of both Plenda and Dornan. **** "There you are." Captain Kado walked in to find Plenda eating alone at a table set in the center of the wide cave half of the exploration team temporarily called home. The others lived in a metallic dome structure on the other side of Cuga. He eyed the curves of her slender body. He liked her much better when she wore her jumpsuit. The robe slumped over the chair hid too much of her beauty. "Where is everyone?" Plenda set her utensils down on the table and let out a sigh. "They're around somewhere. Marin is assembling a few more crafts with Caryn." Kado glanced around the vast cave hoping they were truly alone. Seeing in the darkness beyond was difficult without a glow stick. "So for the time being, it's just you and I?" Plenda slapped the palm of her hand down onto the table causing an empty plate to hop. "Why can't you leave me alone?" She glared into the captain's eyes. Kado felt the sting of her pupils as they pierced his thoughts and his heart. "Sorry. That's not what I wanted to talk to you about." It was exactly what he wanted to discuss. The two of them had a brief encounter on board the main transport vessel during their three month journey to Earth. Kado could not seem to drive Plenda from his thoughts. He tried many times by engulfing his mind in his work, but the attractive female continued to surface. "What is it then, Captain?" Plenda stood and slipped her arms into the warmth of the deep brown garment behind her. Kado hated that robe. It reminded him of Plenda's relationship with the Crows. In fact, quite a few of the Parliamentary scouts befriended the savage natives and he despised them for it. "Are you going into the center of the village again?" "Cuga?" Plenda tied a light brown sash around her waist keeping her robe snug against her figure. "Yes." "What is it about that place you like so much?" Kado longed for a day when Plenda would just stay here with most of the team. With him. "Marin is taking me for a run of the area. He wants to test pilot the new crafts." She moved toward the mouth of the cave. "He wants to show off some of the crafts to the people of the village." Kado burned with anger. He abhorred the fact that the chief technical officer so willingly shared information with the Crows. He knew his scouts needed to mingle with the natives in order to gain their trust, but Marin went beyond normal bounds. "Make sure he doesn't share too much." He warned with a finger. "I'll tell him." Plenda huffed and left Kado in the cave dwelling alone with only his misery. He either needed to eliminate her from his mind, or have the female removed. The captain watched her leave, jealousy raging through him. One of these evenings, he would take it

upon himself to see the reason she constantly left her comrades behind at the camp. There had to be more to Cuga than a bunch of Crows.

Chapter Two A rider glided his dactalcon toward the emperor's palace. The balcony provided ample space for the large reptilian bird's wings for both landing and taking flight. Pernius folded his hands together as the rider lowered his animal onto the stone ledge. The Crow dismounted with the grace and ease years of training provided. He rewarded the dactalcon by rubbing his fingers between the bird's scaly eyes. Pernius couldn't wait to hear if Riko would return as a scryer. He hated relying on these shamans, always feeling he was at their mercy. The rider entered the emperor's private quarters through a craggy archway leading from the balcony. The Crow arrived with a grin etched underneath his leather cowl. Pernius approached the rider proffering a mug of hot brew. "So you have news for me, yes?" The Crow dropped to his knee and lowered his head. The emperor could see the whites of the man's deep set eyes peering up at him through the symmetrical holes in the headgear. "I do, Emperor." Pernius brought his hand under the rider's chin and nudged it so the warrior would rise. "You may stand. Tell me what Riko said." The rider straightened his stance once he settled on his feet. If the emperor didn't know any better, he might have mistaken the Crow for a drunkard. However, even experienced riders needed time to regain their equilibrium. "Riko has offered his services as you need them, Your Majesty." The emperor slapped his palms together, delighted by the message. "Perfect." Pernius paced the floor of his quarters rubbing his chin while strategies whirled in his head. "The rumors will be silenced once and for all. Then my daughter may marry without humiliation." "Yes, Master." The rider nodded respectfully. A meeting with the Sapiens was planned in a few days' time. "How fast can you bring him to me?" Using one of their own to scry presented the perfect opportunity. If the allegations about one of the female scouts had any truth behind it, who could get closer than a scout? The rider snapped to attention. "Next sun, Master." The Emperor flinched at the idea that Dornan was in breach of his life bond contract. Pernius cared not about a meaningless tryst prior to Malanna's wedding. The rumors were the thing that could ruin his daughter's reputation. That would not be tolerated, even by his best shaman. **** "What did he say?" Marin depressed a red button on the craft's control panel forcing the vehicle to vibrate. "Same old thing. He just can't get over the fact it's over between us." Plenda regretted the few times she submitted to Kado. The trip to Earth had been long and lonely. Kado's physical appearance could be hard to deny, especially on a journey that had taken the better part of a year to complete. "Why you even went there is beyond me." Marin chuckled, shaking his head. He and Caryn had been

together since their days at the Parliamentary Academy. Plenda envied their relationship. She could never hold Dornan's hand or embrace him in front of others. Marin was the only Sapien male she trusted to share the secret of her forbidden affair. "Well ... Kado is tall, muscular, striking blue eyes..." She stopped herself realizing his dominating and cunning personality overshadowed all his good looks. The man would've offered his mother to his enemies if he gained something from it. "He is also almost twice our age." Marin wrapped his hands around the steering column and applied pressure to the foot pedal. "It's off to the center of Cuga ... again." The craft hovered slowly gaining in acceleration toward its destination around the opposite side of the mountain that separated the Crow village from the Sapien camps. "Everyone is entitled to make mistakes." Plenda giggled, glad that her poor judgment with Kado was behind her. "I have to meet with that creepy emperor." Marin cringed at his words. "Kado promised we would teach them how to build crafts of their own, besides make them a moon base." Plenda perked up at the mere thought of the idea. She knew they had robots with the capability to construct massive dome structures, but on a moon? "Is that possible?" A grin crept up Marin's face. "Not only is it possible, it's extremely probable. The center moon, Cordova, has just enough gravity to keep the equipment on its surface. We just need to figure out how to keep people there." Marin pressed his foot against the pedal forcing the new craft to accelerate. "The hardest part of the whole operation will be the amount of time it will take." Plenda knew the reasons Pernius wanted the base. The center moon provided a perfect point from which to view the entire continent. The emperor desired to keep all the villages under his thumb. The absolute ruler also feared the Sapiens and their weapons. When the migration came from Venus, the moon base would act as a means of overseeing the new colonies. **** Dornan stood outside his cave staring at the three moons that bled through the darkened sky. Every night after his teachings and sometimes, a few healings, the shaman waited patiently for the one Sapien he actually looked forward to seeing. He used a broad stick and adjusted the smoldering coals in the fire pit reviving the flames to their peak. The ceremony marking his marriage to Emperor Pernius' daughter was to take place at the emperor's palace in a few suns' time. The shaman hadn't informed Plenda what his future held. He promised himself night after night he would end the forbidden relationship, but once the Sapien entered the dwelling, all judgment became clouded. The reflected illumination from the surfaces of the three moons showered the gritty terrain with a lavender hue. The hum of a floating vehicle grew louder in the distance. A rush of anxiety trickled down his spine knowing he needed to tell her they could no longer see each other. Emperor Pernius would kill her if he knew she obstructed the arranged marriage. The craft turned around the foot of the mountain advancing toward his dwelling, which had been situated on the perimeter of the village. Dornan smiled at the sight of Plenda's hair blowing in the night wind. The vehicle stopped ten meters from his cave alongside a huge rock marking the entrance into the village. Plenda hopped over the side panel of the craft saying something to her male friend, Marin. The Crow

shaman liked Marin and trusted him. The Sapien assisted with their hidden relationship. "See you in two strokes." Plenda waved to her friend, who brought the floating vehicle toward the center of the village. She turned facing Dornan, a grin crept up her face. Her eyes glistened in the moon's light. "Hello, Plenda." Dornan outstretched his arms embracing the female as she ran to him. He squeezed Plenda bringing her closer. A sense of warmth wrapped his heart. "I waited all day for this." She buried her head into his massive chest. A buzzing swirled through the air forcing Dornan to nudge Plenda aside for a moment. The sound was unnatural, almost as if made by a machine or a robot. "Did you hear that?" Plenda pulled him backwards by his shoulders luring him into the mouth of the cave dwelling. "I didn't hear anything." "Are you sure?" Dornan refused to deny the fact he had heard a noise. "It sounded like one of your robots." Plenda brought herself to face the Crow. "You seem nervous about something." Dornan stared into her magical eyes, captured again by her presence. Crow women did not have this effect on him. "Let's go inside." He would tell her about his pending marriage, but not tonight. **** A guard decorated in battle robes tied with a lavender sash entered the palace hall at a trot. "Emperor?" When Pernius faced the guard, the man dropped to one knee and kept his head low. "You may rise, my servant." Pernius approached his throne and rested upon it. He motioned his guard forward. "Tell me your news." "We have the one in charge of the moon project, Master." Once the guard completed his statement, he lowered his head in respect. Pernius' face lit up as his brow creased in delight. "Bring him to me." The Sapien coming before him not only supervised the moon construction, but was close to the female in question. "Yes, Master." The guard bowed and retreated from the throne room. Pernius wanted to kill Marin for his lack of initiation in the construction of the moon base, but didn't know another who possessed the Sapien's skills. Captain Kado promised since the Sapiens' arrival that the dome city would be considered a priority. It had already been two revolutions since that original meeting. Pernius planned on meeting with the captain of the Sapiens on next sun, but wanted an idea of where the project was heading so he had more knowledge. Four of the emperor's guards entered the great hall escorting Marin. The Sapien had been to the palace when the explorers first landed. The emperor's men went down on their knees, but Marin remained standing. Pernius despised Marin's arrogance. "I demand a full account of your progress on the dome. Your people plan to descend upon my planet in the future, yet I have no moon post to watch them from." Pernius felt the strain in his eye sockets as his penetrating stare fixed upon the Sapien. Marin shrugged and stepped around the guards as he approached the throne. "Very well, Emperor. The

reason you do not have a lookout on Cordova as of yet is because your men keep harassing my friends. The scouts can't leave the surface for fear your guards will pillage their possessions. I ask that you guarantee our possessions will remain safe, once I have your word, I will prepare the AC-10 bots for work." Offended by the Sapien's demands, Pernius sneered at the man standing before him. "How dare you petition me!" The emperor waved his hand with a sharp motion. "Riko!" From a dark corridor behind the throne came an elder Crow clothed in a brown robe embroidered with golden silk ribbons. White strands of hair sprouted in clumps between bald patches of aged skin. Beneath the deep dark ridges of his thick brow, solid gray eyes were tucked away in his head. The elder found his way to the throne with the aide of a walking staff. The broad stick was crowned with a crystal orb on its top end. Inside the ball, a single eye floated with a rich red pupil guiding the old man toward the throne. The emperor released a wicked chortle as he pointed to Marin. "You will pick up the pace of your work. We cannot allow your people to go unchecked." Pernius had other reasons for the moon post, which he left unspecified. A village known as Tigris had been at constant odds with the Republic Empire. That group of Crows required monitoring, too. The emperor would never reveal information about a rogue village to another species, no matter how well they could be trusted. "I am doing the best I can under the circumstances." The explorer shrugged. "The dome is the easy part. We need to secure the gravity issues. We feel a series of plates might be the answer." The emperor patted the old man on the shoulder. "This is Riko. He will help you." Marin chuckled. "How do you expect an old man to help me, when an entire crew of twenty can't?" The elder released curdling laughter. "Kin chal tee pun to." The red pupil inside the orb whirled from the emperor to Marin. The scout's upper lip twitched. "What did he say?" Marin stepped closer to the throne, but stopped when the sound of the guards' staffs tapped against the floor. "Very wise. Nobody comes close unless I invite them." Pernius adjusted his robe as he found a more comfortable position on his throne. "This is Riko. He is the wisest and the oldest shaman who ever breathed the air and drank the waters of our planet." "Is he blind?" Marin pointed to Riko's eyes. "The way we see ... yes." Pernius waved his hand in front of the old man's face. "His vision comes in many other forms." The eye in the crystal trembled in its place, but kept its focus on Marin. "What does this mean?" Marin glanced around the throne room. Pernius could see the Sapien's growing uneasiness. "He will watch your people as they construct the dome." Pernius' lips curled. "He will watch from here. Most of all, he will be watching you." "How can he watch me from here?" Marin's eyes darted to the ancient Crow. Riko extended his palm in Marin's direction. The scout's head jerked forwards as the old man's hand pulled the Sapien's body to approach the throne with surprising power.

The emperor was glad to see the arrogant Sapien being tugged by an elder four times his age. In the old man's youth, Pernius fortified his family's dynasty with such powers. Not all shamans possessed the same abilities. Some used their Zafa to ensure plentiful crops and others depended on it during battle. Riko's palm clung to Marin's forehead. The scout's pupils rolled back into his skull. An abrupt crack of light sizzled between the shaman's thick fingers, which sent Marin to the palace floor in a thump. Pernius chortled as he lifted himself from the throne and stood over the unconscious Sapien. He spoke in his native tongue so Marin couldn't comprehend his words. "Do you think it will work on these Sapiens?" Riko nodded as he tucked his hands into the sleeves of his robe. "When he wakes, I shall see what he does, where he goes and who he loves. His eyes shall be mine." "For this to work properly, he must not be aware of it." The emperor gestured to the guards to remove Marin from the great hall. **** Kado sat near the comfort of the fire pit with a few of his explorers discussing their plans to build a settlement. Marin's appointment with Pernius didn't bode well and everyone rushed to get the project in motion. Kado had other things on his mind as well. Half the explorers were preparing to return to Venus in a few suns. He hoped to stall the emperor until the migration commenced. With the technological advances the Sapiens had, Pernius would be as threatening as a mere stegolizard. "We need a complete set of plans to present to the Parliamentary Senate. The iron mines we found, the tiny village of Tigris and the direction the rivers flow, every bit of data we have." "Yes, sir." The explorer jotted information down onto his comp pad. "What about the specimen?" Kado leaned back rubbing his chin, thinking about how he could approach the emperor with a request to snatch one of the Crow people. The Supreme Lorde's orders were clear. Kado needed to bring back a sample of intelligent life found on Earth. Though Kado didn't consider the Crows very astute, it would be difficult getting a huge dracosaur to fit inside the transport vessels. Dactalcons weren't even a consideration. Quada appeared from the darkness beyond the fire pit to join the group of scouts. He pulled a bench next to Kado and discreetly tapped his commander on the side of the leg. "I need to speak with you, sir." He whispered through taut lips. Kado glanced at his second-in-command. "We're making final preparations for our return trip. Can't this wait?" Quada leaned into his superior. "If you don't come with me, you'll miss the moment and the opportunity will be lost." He lifted himself from his seat and stepped out into the darkness. Kado sighed as he straightened. "Excuse me. While I am gone, figure out a way to maintain gravity inside a dome for the center moon they call Cordova." The captain left the warmth of the fire for the coolness of the desert night. "Over here." Quada stood along the outer wall of the cave holding a metallic sphere in his hands. "Before, I show you this ... promise me you won't act irrational." "We are in an important discussion. I didn't follow you out here to play games." Kado reached for the

probe, but his second drew it away from him. "I asked you to promise me." Quada shook his head keeping the probe at arm's length. "Fine. I promise. Now can you tell me what you wanted?" Kado folded his arms and nodded. Quada placed the probe in between them and slid a lever along its seam, bringing up a barely audible hum. "I had the sphere follow Marin and Plenda to Cuga. It recorded a most disturbing memograph, but if you play it right, you'll have the specimen you need to present to the Parliamentary Senate." The probe projected a hand-sized screen that hovered a decimeter from the sphere. Kado leaned in to see its contents more accurately. The scene exhibited a Crow male standing outside a cave dwelling with Plenda next to him. He moved her aside and she pulled him into the cave. Kado clenched his chest as he took a step back. "Sir? Are you okay?" Quada flipped off the image. He stared into his commander's eyes. "Sir?" Kado sighed combing his fingers nervously through his hair. His immediate thought was to hunt this savage down and fill him with blaster bolts. However, this particular Crow appeared to be an important member of the emperor's tribes. He gathered his breath with a long inhale of night air. "I'll be okay." "Isn't this the shaman?" Quada's lips curled. "This Crow is to become the life mate of the emperor's daughter in three days." "Make sure you secure the recording." Kado dried the tear that formed in one of his eyes. "I have the feeling we'll need it." The captain wanted to return to planning both the moon base and the return trip to Venus. Tomorrow, Pernius would expect answers.

Chapter Three "Can you give me a dome on Cordova, or not?" Pernius leaned back in his gold chair and rubbed his hands over his finely skinned armrests. The ridge of his thick forehead arced as he listened to the offer before him. The emperor couldn't believe what he was hearing. The Sapiens were returning to their home world and he still didn't have a moon base. "Yes, Emperor Pernius. We will deliver your moon settlement to you as promised." Kado, outfitted in an all-black jumpsuit, stood in stark contrast to the emperor, cloaked in a rich brown robe. "If you are willing to let our people settle here alongside your good subjects, the Parliamentary Senate will build your outpost on the center moon." The explorer's lips curled. Pernius was about to sip from a jeweled mug, but decided to snap it toward the floor instead, sending shards of hardened clay and brilliant stones scattering. "Forget your Senate! You have been promising this dome city since your arrival." Pernius never even imagined such a place could be built until Captain Kado offered. "Now, Captain Kado, how do I know you will stick to your end of the deal?" The emperor held his open palms out. "I could allow your people to migrate to Earth and then have a change of heart." Pernius' stare penetrated the Sapien leader. "No one ever broke a deal made with this dynasty once it was bonded." "We have estimated a return time of two of your planet's revolutions, Emperor." Kado pulled out a small half sphere from his pouch. The emperor's eyes widened as he drew himself up in his chair. This man would not be stupid enough to bring an explosive device into the palace. "What have you there?" Pernius wanted to be sure the object was safe, so he waved two of his guards forward to inspect it. Each Crow grabbed their staffs and came up behind the Sapien. Kado's eyes shifted back and forth. He wiped a bead of sweat from the side of his face. "Calm down. This is not a weapon. It's a glap." The Sapien pressed a little switch along the bottom rim of the device. The half sphere crackled to life. "See ... it's a three dimensional rendering of my world." Pernius's curiosity piqued. He held out his hand hoping Kado would allow him to look closely at it. "May I?" "Sure." Kado handed the emperor the glap and then stepped back. "You can see that Venus is extremely similar to your Earth." Pernius was completely bewildered. He felt like a child who had received a gift. He studied the familiar landscape of Venus. There were trees, rivers and mountains. Then he noticed something he had not ever seen before. It reminded him of the plants and vegetation here on Earth, but there was something unique about it. "Is that flat green stuff a plant?" Kado grinned. "No, Emperor. That is what we call grass. We have an abundance on Venus. Earth has some, too. Our explorations revealed grass like our own along the edges of the continent." Pernius released a long sigh embarrassed that this alien knew more about his planet than he did. "Here." The emperor handed the glap back to the Sapien. Kado shook his head refusing to take the glap. "You may have it. As my gift to you."

Pernius' lips curled as he set his gaze upon the Sapien. "A gift?" Kado acknowledged with a nod. The emperor's eyes narrowed on his subject, realizing nothing comes without a price or a trade. "What would you like in return?" Kado lifted his head revealing a bit of arrogance. "I want one of your shamans to join us on our return voyage." Emperor Pernius needed a moment to contemplate whether or not it would be good strategy to have one of his shamans join the Sapiens on their return to Venus. There would be much information obtained from such a reliable source. "Which shaman do you wish to take?" Kado adjusted his jumpsuit. "I wish to take Dornan of the Trup clan." Pernius' lips quivered as a slight rage built up inside him. "Absolutely not!" The emperor pointed toward the exit of his throne room. "This request is unthinkable. He is to become my daughter's life mate in two suns." Kado cleared his throat and then stepped forward. "Last night, we discovered something we believe you should be made aware of." The emperor rose in his chair motioning for the Sapiens and his two guards to come up to the throne. "Come here, Sapien." The emperor guided them with a thick index finger toward him. "If this is something that displeases me, you may not walk out of here alive." Quada trembled as he removed the probe from his shoulder bag. He noticed the guards advancing. "This is not a weapon either." Kado went up the steps, finally resting in front of the emperor. He leaned over into Pernius' ear. "This might not be something you want me to say in front of your people." Pernius grabbed Kado by the back of his head and pulled him in so closely, that the Sapien had to balance himself not to fall on top of the emperor. "Tell me now. Tell me in my ear." Pernius's eyes widened with anticipation. **** "I'm pregnant." Plenda trembled against a huge rock that marked the entrance of Cuga. She gazed into the young shaman's eyes. "I do not understand." Dornan never heard this word before, but whatever it meant, it was new to him. "Dornan." Plenda grabbed his hands and squeezed them gently. "I'm going to have your child." The Crow shaman broke their connection. He fell back a step. "That is ... pregnant?" He watched her rub her stomach with her eyes radiant. How could he become the life mate of Pernius' daughter? He not only broke ethics, but proof of his disobedience would roam the village in the future. Plenda ran her finger across a crevice in the rock's craggy surface. She turned away from him. "What are we going tell the people of the village? My team?" Dornan thought the same thing. "We'll have to run away. It would be impossible to raise a half Sapien, half Crow child here. Someone would end up dead."

Plenda shook her head as her eyes warped into a shape Dornan had never seen before in his life. "I can't leave my friends. You can't leave your clan." He needed to reveal his arranged marriage to the emperor's daughter. No matter how captivating her presence, Dornan had to explain his situation. He grabbed Plenda's hand and guided her toward his cave dwelling. "I have something to tell you." The Sapien female lowered herself onto a wooden chair. He kept a hold of her hand sitting adjacent to her. Plenda released a nervous giggle as she stared at Dornan. "What is it? You look worried." The shaman nodded in agreement. He already worried about his future with Plenda, but now a child changed everything. He studied the stray strands of her long hair as they flowed over her shoulders. "I have to tell you..." The Crow decided to come right out with what he needed to say. "I am expected to take the hand of Mistress Malanna in two suns' time." Plenda did not answer, but her pursing lips revealed the pain in her heart. Her eyes vibrated in their sockets. "The emperor's daughter?" She mumbled meaningless words throwing Dornan into a panic. The shaman placed his hands on her shoulders to ease her tremors. "Plenda? Plenda." "Don't touch me!" She sprang up slapping Dornan's hands off her body. Tears streamed down her cheeks like tiny rivers. "How could you? Why keep this from me?" Without waiting for an answer, Plenda buried her face in her hands and raced from the dwelling. "I ... Plenda?" Dornan couldn't move his feet as his gaze followed her retreat. He had to stop her, to let her know he loved her. He would risk everything for her and their future child. The shaman broke from his mental hold and took off after her. "Wait!" He watched her turn the corner to the mountain pass. "Plenda!" He chased her blindly, not concerned about the few villagers staring. "Don't go!" Realizing she was too far ahead, he dropped into the dirt letting his head bob into his chest. The salt from his sweat stung as his eyes welled with heartbreaking pain. **** Pernius entered the dim and dampened chambers behind his throne. Riko sat in a stone chair along one of the craggy walls. "I have been waiting for you." The emperor released a curse in his native tongue. "I refuse to believe that device those men showed me. It's a deception caused by Zafa." Pernius bundled the ends of his robes and kicked a basket in the center of the floor. "Why is this thing here? I will have the servant's head for his untidiness." "I would like to reason with you, my Master." Riko nodded in the direction of the Emperor. "Malanna will not see reason." It felt as if a part of Pernius' own heart had been ripped from him as he knew the pain his daughter would feel. "I need to know if this is true." Riko released a sigh. "True it is, sir." The old man positioned his staff between him and the emperor. He rubbed the crystal orb causing the eye within it to blink. "You have seen something?" Pernius leaned into the crystal. The shaman nodded, "See what I have seen." With a gentle wave of Riko's hand, fog engulfed the red

pupil enclosed in the orb. As the eye vanished, an image of the Sapien female generated in its place. The woman ran from Dornan's dwelling with her face full of tears. A smaller figure in the background, easily identified as the shaman, was calling to her. "That's the one?" The creases in Pernius' forehead deepened. "She is riding in Marin's floating vehicle." The emperor clung to every moment in the orb. Riko once again waved his wrinkled hand over the crystal. The eye returned to its post leaving the scene as a memory. For the first time, Pernius actually felt a sense of hope over the situation. "The woman was crying. It seems our worries are for nothing. From the view I had, Dornan released her." Riko shook his head from side to side. A grim expression formed in his face. "My Master, he didn't release her." "But she was crying and running from him." Pernius giggled nervously. Why did the ancient shaman look so depressed? "The female is carrying Dornan's child." Riko stared at the floor. **** After a fit of rage, Pernius returned to his throne with a new outlook on the request about sending a shaman to Venus. "If he refuses?" Kado smiled. "We will personally ensure that he gets on your craft." Capturing Dornan wouldn't be too difficult. As loyal as the shaman had been in the past, the emperor wouldn't hesitate to kill him personally. If Dornan refused to leave, Pernius would have him gutted and dried out in front of the palace. "Now back to the original order of business." Kado nodded. "You say that your atmosphere is dying. Why is that happening?" The emperor fought to maintain his composure. He would like nothing more than to hunt Dornan down like a common saber cat. "Our scientists believe it's because our planet's orbit has shifted, which brought us closer to the sun, so the protective gases are burning off." The emperor rubbed his chin with his hairy fingers. He leaned into the back of his chair twisting until comfortable. "When can Cordova's first dome be completed? No more false promises." "We can have that done within one of your planet's revolutions, Emperor." Kado smiled politely. "We are almost finished solving the gravity problem." "Then I will allow your people to migrate to Earth in two revolutions." Pernius leaned back again as he flipped his robe over to cover his knees. "If they land before my moon base is complete, we will have war." "My people do not have that kind of time, Emperor." Kado grew animated with his hand motions. "It has taken us generations to find a suitable planet. We do not have more than three of your revolutions." Pernius' eyes darkened as his wide nostrils flared. He held his hand up pointing at the worthless Sapien.

Even with all their superior technology, the Sapiens still needed him. "I suggest your people build quickly then." The emperor laughed the most menacing laugh he could muster. He knew the game being played. If the moon could be settled, it would be the perfect outpost so the emperor could keep an eye on all his villages rapidly expanding across the vast continent, including Tigris. It was imperative to keep an eye on what the Sapiens were doing across the entire continent once they arrived. Kado bowed respectfully and left the throne room with Quada on his tail. **** "Forgive me, sir, but how are we going to build this dome base on the moon?" Quada asked as he walked alongside Kado. "I doubt we'll ever figure out how to solve the problems we're facing." The commander did not respond immediately as he wanted to make sure his words were chosen properly before sharing his ideas. He glanced up at the craggy ceiling admiring the way the short tunnel led from the mountain palace. "If we build a colony on their center moon, it would make it all that much easier to migrate and settle here." "How do you figure that, sir?" Quada's expertise was in navigation, not military strategy. Kado came to a halt and placed his hand on his subordinate's shoulder. "We need this planet for our entire population. The quicker we can remove this emperor, the less threat he will be in the future." "Why don't we just kill him, sir?" Quada stared into his superior's eyes without a twitch. Killing the emperor would be the easiest route. However, he didn't think it would be wisest option at the moment. "We are explorers, my friend, not murderers." Besides, Kado figured it would be hard enough settling his people, let alone fighting a war at the same time. "We are a people in need of our own destiny." Quada's eyes widened as he squeezed his superior's upper arm. "We will allow Councilor Tomas and his group of politicians to worry about the emperor. The moon base will be a nice place to lock him up." Destiny of this world would come in time. He had only two missions for the moment. Return home with the coordinates of Earth and present his findings to the Parliamentary Senate. If the Sapiens could not settle in Cuga, they would seek other areas, putting distance between them and the Crows. His second goal was ending Dornan's life. Dornan couldn't be eliminated in the presence of other Crows, even though he would probably have the emperor's blessing. Once he brought Dornan aboard the his vessel, he would take care of the shaman. "How do you plan to offer this emperor a moon colony? We don't have that kind of power back home." "Easy, Quada. The colony will be constructed not because I ask for it, but the fact it makes good sense. That will be all the Parliamentary leaders need." Kado exited the short mountain tunnel and bathed in the sunlight. He stretched his arms out and inhaled deeply. "The atmosphere here is so much cleaner and cooler. I am going to miss it." "Don't the AC-10s have enough weight to remain on the moon's surface?" Quada spoke as though he was thinking out loud. "What if we began construction merely to appease Pernius?" The scout team had brought AC-10 robots with them. These heavy machines were designed to construct

self-sustaining domes that maintained livable climates. The Parliamentary Council sent along the AC-10 robots to build a dome on Earth in case the conditions were not hospitable for human life. In fact, the explorers who didn't live in caves were residing in one now. Kado grinned at his officer. "They can construct a temporary dome. If anything, it will satisfy the emperor until we return." Kado patted Quada on the back. "I wish I thought of that myself." "I think if we leave some of the team behind, they can work with the savages here to carry out construction." The officer placed his hands on his hips and stared out over the ledge they were standing on. "They will work hard for this." Kado studied the Crows in labor lines along the foot of the mountain. He admired the way they moved barrels of iron ore and other metals they worked from the mines. That material would transport easily in the Sapiens' crafts. Kado ran his fingers through his thin stringy brown hair. Should he leave Marin behind to continue supervising this project? His gaze trickled down toward one of the Crow workers admiring the massive build on the man. Plenda entered his thoughts. "What is on your mind, sir?" Quada asked. "Do you think it's wise to leave our women behind with these Crows?" Kado turned to Quada with one eyebrow arched. "I mean, there are only a few." "You're worried more will follow Plenda's path?" "I just want all our options left open when we return with our people. Blending the two worlds might make dominating this planet difficult when our own have a stake in them." Kado nodded. He had deep-rooted feelings for Plenda, but placed the needs of his people ahead of himself. **** Kado sat around a campfire that rested just outside the opening of the dome dwelling. Inside the manufactured dwelling, most of his lead scouts prepared to retire for the night. Kado studied the stars every evening. His focus was always on the shiny jewel that flickered right below the third moon. On a crisp night, Venus pierced the dark sky with little disruption. He could not wait to return home, even though his stay would only be temporary. Marin sat next to Kado. He had just asked the technical officer to offer an ultimate sacrifice, to help construct the first dome of Cordova without a solution to the gravity crisis. "I'll put the first one together, sir." Marin proudly stated as he saluted Kado. "After all, I do have the expertise with the AC-10 bots." He waved an index finger through the air. "And ... we'll have gravity after all." "How did you do that?" Marin grinned. "The solution was underneath us the whole time. I'll have some of the iron ore molded into a series of wide discs ten meters in diameter. They'll act as plates." "We can never get discs that size on our crafts." Kado's glimpse of optimism faded. Marin shook his head. "Sir, we can bring them up in sections."

Kado was pleased with the commitment from his technical officer. "How many others do you need?" The original exploration team consisted of forty scouts in total. The commander knew he needed at least one of the four exploratory vessels to navigate their return to Venus. Kado believed the ones sympathetic to the Crows would gladly stay, just like Marin. "I can make due with twenty, sir. That would give me half a dozen to keep here to supervise the mining and loading of materials. The rest would assist me on Cordova in maintaining the bots." Marin pointed up at the moons as they crept through the evening sky. "I can assemble the team quickly enough. That shall be my primary duty." Kado realized the officer's eagerness. He knew, if any member of his crew could pull this off, it would be Marin. He had already begun building new land crafts while his companion, Caryn, taught the common language to the Crows. "You got the job." Kado extended his hand to shake on the deal. "I figure once I teach these Crows how to manipulate the bots, they can continue the moon colony on their own." "What will you do with your time when you're not supervising these people?" Kado needed to account for everything. The Parliamentary Senate would demand it of him. "I'll work to develop ways we can produce buildings efficiently. Our people won't accept living in caves and mud huts as we had to." Marin chortled. Marin brushed back his long black hair with his hand. Kado recalled the freshly groomed officer, ready to take on the world. Since they landed, he seemed destined to change it entirely through his knowledge of technology. "Those robes fit you well." Kado commented on Marin's current wardrobe of Crow clothing like most of the scouts wore. Their original jumpsuits had worn over the revolutions spent on Earth. "When you return, sir, I beg you to bring more shirts and pants." Marin's lips curled as he stuck out his feet, which were covered in worn boots. "And footwear, too, sir." Kado's smile faded as he stepped in toward his officer. "Do me a favor." "Anything, sir." "Keep their men away from our women," the commander muttered through his still lips. "It will ruin the mission." Marin nodded. "Understood, sir." "The explorers leave in two suns. What do we need to get this thing moving before we depart?" Kado would return to the palace tomorrow to inform the emperor he would personally order Cordova's colony to be built immediately as a sign of good faith. "I'll present you with a list of people I feel have the know-how for this operation." Marin began walking away, but stopped. He turned and raised his hand. "Sir? I forgot to ask one very important question." "Yes, Marin." "Why are we building a dome on Cordova anyway?"

Kado nodded and approached his officer. "The emperor would like to establish a lookout post to extend his power. He feels he can keep an eye on our people from there." Kado studied the reaction on Marin's face. The young technical officer despised anything that dealt with conquering or fighting. He waited for some sort of negative answer, but none came. "I find it hard to believe we're going through all this because the emperor wanted a lookout post. After all, this isn't like building a simple structure." Marin grinned. "How long have you been erecting domes?" Kado stared up into the night eyeing the center moon. "I mastered it at the Parliamentary Academy and built at least fifty of them since then, sir." Kado massaged his rough chin. "How much time is required for a dome?" Kado witnessed domes going up all over Venus in the past ten revolutions in preparation of losing the atmosphere. The bots moved quickly because time demanded it. "On our home planet, one dome required half a revolution." Kado nodded again. "Can we build one massive dome within two revolutions?" Kado figured by the time they reached Venus, assembled transports and returned, there would be at least one dome completed. "I don't see why not. The bots do all the work once they're programmed." Marin reached into a pouch that rested outside his robe. He withdrew a handheld device. He pressed many of the numerical buttons below the tiny screen. Data scrolled through the display. Marin's lips curled. "Once the bots set up the temporary dome, we should be on our way. We'll be able to keep a group of workers on location day and night." "Excellent. Dismissed, Marin." Kado saluted his officer. Dornan packed a bag of his most important possessions. Spell tablets, warm clothing and enough food for both him and Plenda. He planned to hide out in his home village of Tigris. Plenda didn't know Dornan was coming for her, but he felt confident she would follow him once she understood their lives would be worthless with a half-breed child. He slung his pack over his shoulder and grabbed his staff, which leaned against the cave wall. Dornan scanned the dwelling for anything significant he might have missed. Pivoting on his sandals, he moved for the exit. The shaman came to an abrupt halt upon the discovery of a dark figure standing with the moons' light against his back. "Going somewhere?" A Sapien leveled a blaster, aiming a red tracer dot on Dornan's forehead. "That's a rather large target." The shaman slid the rucksack from his back and slapped his staff into the air popping the far tip of it onto the scout's hand. The blaster sent a slice of heat energy into the cave wall, boring a black hole into the craggy surface. With a jerk of the wrist, Dornan slammed the staff into the side of the Sapien's face knocking the scout to the ground. He took a more defensive stance when two of his own kind greeted him with fighting sticks drawn. "Get out of my way!" the shaman ordered. One Crow guard advanced twirling his staff in front of him.

"You are under arrest by order of the emperor." The second leveled his stick into an attack position. Dornan threw up his forearm and blocked the advancing strike from his comrade. He drew back in defense rolling deeper into his dwelling. As the emperor's guard approached with a second maneuver, Dornan swiped his staff and sliced the attacker's ankles. The guard's back thumped on the stone floor. "Don't move!" Four more Sapiens announced their presence as they blocked the entrance with their powerful blaster weapons trained on the shaman. Behind them, a group of six more Crow guards were positioned ready to enforce the arrest. Dornan decided living under arrest would be better than never knowing his child. He released his stick letting it vibrate against the ground as it fell. He shot his open palms up signaling his reluctant surrender.

Chapter Four Plenda stared at the craggy walls of her cave dwelling wondering what her next move would be when her friends discovered she was carrying a Crow infant. The news of Dornan's capture arrived yesterday and her feelings were mixed. A part of her was satisfied he earned the arrest by the emperor. Not only did he betray her, but also, the trust of Malanna, Pernius' daughter. For that alone, he deserved some type of punishment. The larger stream of emotions came from her heart and her concern about the shaman. She feared his being put to death, as well as her child living without a father. It seemed like all men had their secrets and quirks. "Hey." She spotted Marin at the entrance of her dwelling. He leaned against the side of the cave's opening. "You okay?" The technical officer entered the home with an arrangement of dried flowers. Marin's interest in dehydrating plant life had increased here on Earth. He approached Plenda and placed the assortment on the table before her. "These are the best of my collection." Marin grinned as he rubbed her shoulders. Plenda dropped her head into her palms and began sobbing. "It isn't fair, Marin. It just isn't fair." She calmed herself and crinkled some of the dried petals between her fingers. "Why can't I find someone normal?" Marin pulled a chair alongside her and lowered into it. "Listen. Half the team is returning to Venus at next sun. Why don't you go back with them?" Plenda chortled, "That's all I need. Being pregnant on that vessel with Kado around." Marin pursed his lips. "True." He wiggled his nose and released a sigh. "Just imagine his face when this totally different looking baby comes out." Plenda giggled. It worked. Marin had always been able to make her crack a smile when she felt at her worst. "It will be okay. I'm going to be supervising that moon disaster project and Caryn will be here to take care of you." "Thanks, Marin." Plenda picked up her flowers from the table and went to her makeshift cabinets. She drew out a clay pot given to her by one of the villagers from Cuga. She stuffed the dried stems into the top and placed her arrangement in the center of the table. "Perfect." Marin's expression hardened. Plenda had seen that face a thousand times in the past and it never brought positive information. "What is it, Marin?" He tapped the table with his fingers and shifted his gaze around the room. "Dornan will be on board that vessel tomorrow, too." ****

Emperor Pernius paced the dark quarters behind his throne room. Riko, the ancient shaman, was hunched over the stone table in the center of it, resting his wrinkled face inside his frail hands. "Once the scum is off this planet, I want that Sapien girl killed." Pernius nodded as he approved his own words. Riko raised his head just enough to clear his mouth from his hands. "What if they try to stop us? This Marin is very close to her." The emperor's eyes lit up with satisfaction. "That is why we'll wait until he goes to Cordova to start the dome." He whipped around, pointing at Riko. "You can see through his eyes. You'll tell me when he's on the moon's surface." Pernius rushed to the huge opening in the stone wall that overlooked all of Cuga. "Then she'll be much easier to catch." **** Emperor Pernius stood at the edge of the recently constructed docking port surrounded by his guards. His dactalcon riders flew over earlier and reported they had witnessed the shaman being dragged into the vessel. The team of scouts filed up a ramp that led into their ship. One day, he thought. One day I will have space vehicles, too. Captain Kado stood before the mix of villagers, guards and fellow scouts. His eyes caught Plenda's as he offered her a smug grin. Then he bowed to Pernius and turned to join the twenty member exploratory team who went into the craft prepared for a return trip to Venus. Pernius followed the captain's gaze and recognized Plenda immediately. She was exactly as Riko's scrying ball discerned her. Her hair was long and thin and her body was quite attractive. Maybe he would just have her captured instead of killed. Then he could use her at his own discretion. Plenda remained with a crowd of her fellow explorers watching the scene from an indiscreet position away from the action. As soon as Marin carried the team to the moon, the emperor would retrieve his newest prize. **** Dornan stared at Plenda through the craft's side view port, wishing he could have told her how much she meant to him. So many thoughts ran through his head. He never had the opportunity to tell her he would leave everything and stay with her. He knew Captain Kado was somehow behind this separation. The Sapien's jealously had grown to dangerous levels. Dornan vowed he would inflict every ounce of wrath he could upon these scouts when the time was right. He was being forced to meet the people of Venus, though he knew he would never live to see the faraway place. The shaman wiped moisture from his face as he witnessed Plenda leaving the crowd. An abrupt jolt caused Dornan to clutch his seat cushions as the floor of the transport violently rumbled below him as it lifted off the ground. The deafening roar of the engines clouded his thoughts as fear overwhelmed him. He wondered if he would even survive the ascension into the atmosphere. Space travel had been a curiosity amongst many villagers since the arrival of the Sapiens, but the shaman never considered the possibilities of leaving Earth's surface. The ground below began to shrink before his eyes, miniaturizing Plenda and the surrounding people. No matter what he had to endure, he promised to make sure Kado received what was coming to him.

Chapter Five Kreg sat in the first row of the Parliamentary assembly waiting for the Supreme Lorde to complete his address to the general public. These meetings grew more common with each passing month. They were designed to inform the people of Venus about the mounting dangers the atmosphere posed. "Is this almost over?" he asked his older brother, Matt, while he twisted his legs around trying to find a more comfortable way to sit. Matt turned his head with a disturbed look in his eyes, as if Kreg woke him from a short nap. "Shhh ... Father is going to speak next." "He's always talking." Matt threw his little brother a threatening stare. Kreg needed to learn patience and manners. "He's going to command the evacuation teams. He is important, you know." Matt tapped Kreg on the shoulder and alerted him that their father, Captain Shal, stepped up to the podium. Matt, the oldest of three, had graduated from the Parliamentary Academy two months prior. His father planned to have him assist in leading the evacuation of their dying planet. The eighteen year old drew a comp pad from his waist pouch and tapped the screen with a stylus, going over each of the points his father would bring up. Captain Shal scanned the audience of two thousand Sapiens as he stood at attention behind the metallic podium. The assembly hall was packed with citizens who were chosen to be the first group migrating to Earth. "Ladies and gentlemen, as of this morning, we have made initial contact with our exploratory team for the first time in two years." The entire assembly exploded in applause. Many believed the explorers perished when communications were lost. "Those scouts who left here are alive?" Kreg nudged his brother with his foot. Matt sighed wishing Kreg would stop kicking him every time Kreg wanted attention. The thirteen year old should know better methods of getting someone's attention. "We reestablished contact with them late last night." "Then why did Dad say this morning?" Matt suppressed a giggle. Kreg's age required simpler explanations. "There's no difference between this morning and late last night." "Yes there is," Kreg responded. "It's not pitch black in the morning." "Shhh." Matt glanced down at his comp pad highlighting a phrase that concerned procedures. Captain Shal's voice carried to the thousands in the audience. "It appears the third planet, Earth, is capable of sustaining life. Half the scouts remained behind to build structures for future habitation, while the others have been traveling toward us for the better part of a month." Captain Shal cleared his throat and wiped his brow with a cloth. "Each day, our atmosphere dwindles as the sun continues to burn off oxygen particles. It is imperative we launch our transport vessels within weeks of the explorers' arrival."

"What's he saying?" Kreg leaned so close to Matt, that the elder could smell his brother's rancid breath. "Will you be quiet?" Matt covered Kreg's mouth with his free hand. "And brush your teeth when we get home." Captain Shal pounded his hand on the podium in true politico style. "Gather clothing and I implore you to bring your weapons. We have received word that Earth is populated by a lower form of human. They are called Crows. There are no signs of danger, but the explorers feel the Crows' behavior depends on the strength of our weaponry." Matt listened to his father discuss matters concerning the transport vessels, sleeping arrangements, eating times, and other daily routines that would take place aboard the ships built to carry one hundred people each. **** "I'm sorry to inform you, Captain, but we've run into a crisis." The Supreme Lorde strolled around his metallic desk and sank down into a plush chair. Captain Shal studied the Supreme Lorde's deep-set eyes and heavy wrinkles that spread throughout his pale face. "What's the problem, sir?" The Lorde leaned back resting the heels of his heavy boots on the smooth surface of the desk in front of him. His lips pursed as his ice blue gaze lit calmly on Shal. "We've received word that a dozen of our most intelligent and, may I say dangerous, prisoners have escaped their cells." The old man hit his armrest with his fist. "It has also come to my attention that our factories have only produced twenty super transport vessels. I've also been told that these criminals intend to help themselves to one of them." Shal dropped into a chair in front of the Supreme Lorde's desk. The first wave of people fleeing would be half of what he first expected. It was unfortunate that Venus consisted of well over five hundred thousand lives. The fact only two thousand people could travel meant many more would perish if the rest of the fleet wasn't complete on the return trip. He pulled a cloth from his pocket and wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead. "How do you suppose we decide the first round?" The Supreme Lorde released a long low sigh. "We'll need to order a lottery. That's what the Council wants." The nerves in Shal's spine quivered. The lottery proposition had been debated hundreds of times in the Senate. The controlling political party opposed the idea of a lottery because it removed ranking and placed every citizen in equal danger of either being left behind or leaving family members. "Where does that leave us?" "Unfortunately, I am included in this madness." Beads of sweat formed along the Lorde's brow. "I must set the example, otherwise, the council will refuse to follow. Then we would have chaos." Shal was assigned to command the mission. He had trained for the journey for an entire year. If forced to remain on the dying planet, a new leader would be required to take charge of the twenty vessel migration. "I assume you are asking me to be second in drawing a number?" "Asking, Captain?" One side of the Lorde's lips lifted in a reluctant attempt to smile. "I am ordering you to maintain your status as commander. It will finish my career, but I'm old anyway." The Lorde chortled. "It would be impossible to train a new person." The Supreme Lorde waved his index finger. "More than likely, your entire crew will change when this is over."

"The Council is comfortable with me being left out of the lottery?" Shal acted concerned, but deep down in the pit of his stomach, was thankful that he and his family would be off-world before it turned deadly. The Lorde shook his head, "Not entirely. We just need to keep you out of the limelight until you leave." "When do we inform the citizens of this crisis?" Shal's thoughts focused more on his family. Including himself and his wife, Leona, there were five in his home. Thankfully, families would remain together. The Parliamentary Senate and Council were very specific about keeping families together during the migration to Earth. When the idea of a lottery came into being, many rules had been put into place to safeguard the equity of all citizens, even the prisoners. "The explorers are expected to reenter our atmosphere within a few months." The Lorde tapped a single finger against his wrinkled temple. "The Council must call an emergency session of the Senate, drawing people's identicodes no later than in two days." "I have a suggestion, sir." "Speak your mind, Captain." "Our scientists tell us the atmosphere can only hold for another year, two at the most. May I request we channel our entire labor force into building these vessels and picking up the pace of the AC-10 bots on dome projects?" One of the strategies was for the technical officers to construct bio domes until the fleets returned for second and third runs to Earth. The Lorde cracked his first genuine grin since the meeting began. "I ordered it twenty hours ago." **** The storage hangar housing the twenty transport vessels was enormous. In fact, it was so spacious, an entire city could fit inside it. Matt was assigned special guard duty, which had been different than his normal piloting duties. Since graduating from the Academy, Matt spent the past few weeks flying orbital spot missions over Ishtar, the largest population center on Venus. Pilots were required to pull double security shifts due to rumors circulating about the possibility of vessels being stolen by the escaped prisoners. Each of the prisoners possessed certain talents for technology and navigation. The most wanted of all the convicts was a burly man by the name of Bade Knor. "I can't believe we have twenty of these vessels." Matt caressed the smooth metallic surface of a transport ship built specifically for the mission to Earth. The vessels were far superior than the orbital crafts he had become so familiar with flying. He knew all the details of this mission and every speck of the prototype model. A group of pilots, captains and technicians gathered in the center of the huge hangar discussing the particulars of the mission and recapping events of the day. Captain Shal was explaining how the lottery was directed by the Parliamentary Council. The look of hope radiated from the few who weren't chosen for the virgin trek to Earth as others bore frowns of despair. Captain Shal had been the sole commander for the journey until his meeting with the Supreme Lorde. The recent developments confirming a lottery opened possibilities to many different crew members and captains of the new vessels. He wanted them to be aware that there would be a separate lottery for the Enforcers' officers and their families would not be allowed to join them. Matt approached his father among a group of officers. The expressions on their faces forced young Matt to feel guilty. He would be on board one of these vessels regardless of the outcome.

"Matt." An older man obstructed the younger's path. Through his thick lenses, the man's sharp green eyes gazed upon Shal's son. "You have grown into quite a man. I must need new glasses because for a moment, I thought you were your father." Matt abhorred meaningless discussions. Not because he was conceited, but the conversations never amounted to anything of substance. He grinned at the old man, "Master Ton, it's good to see you again." "Your blue eyes and your black hair. My boy, you are a miniature version of the captain." Master Ton nodded and patted Matt on the back. "Very good to see you again." Ton stepped aside allowing Matt to pass. Approaching his father, Matt thought about the old man's words. He and his father both shared a muscular build and a distinct height, as well as identical bushy black hair trimmed to a manageable length. He admired his father, so looking just like his dad didn't bother him in the slightest. "There you are." Captain Shal greeted his son with the customary grip on the shoulder. "I didn't miss anything, did I?" "We were just about to discuss the lottery." Shal bit his lower lip. "When is supposed to take place?" Matt had heard three different dates and all kinds of rumors since the Supreme Lorde's audio address yesterday. His father would know the actual day. Shal wiped his forehead with a cloth removing beads of sweat that gathered over the course of a few minutes. Even though the hangar had a temperature control unit, the outer layer of the planet's atmosphere caused higher levels of heat radiation to burn through the protective gases. "The Lorde is planning to begin the lottery in two days." A thin man with chiseled features approached the group of officers. His posture was perfect with each stride of his long legs. The man advanced with a phony smile plastered across his face. The councilor exuded arrogance as his chin led him toward the men. Captain Shal sighed as did most of the group when Councilor Tomas entered the hangar. Jasmaus Tomas was considered a rising politician in the Parliamentary Council and many believed he would have become one of the youngest lordes in Venus' history, if the planet survived. The ones who knew him best were well aware of his back door tactics, along with his unproven history of criminal behavior. The insiders considered him evil to the core knowing he would murder the Supreme Lorde if he could take control of the position. "Greetings, Captain Shal." Tomas's decorative robes trailed a meter behind him, sweeping the floor. "Just the person I wished to see." The politician smiled. Shal nodded to Tomas and glanced at his son from the corner of his eye. "Councilor Tomas." The commander proffered his hand. "How may I be of service to you?" Tomas clasped Captain Shal's hand and then greeted a few surrounding officers and pilots in the same way. When all the formalities were complete, the councilor stared at Shal. "I must have a word in private." "I apologize for intruding, but any word from the council can be shared among us all," Captain Haden interrupted. There were years of conflict behind his words. Haden once campaigned for the council seat Tomas vacated only to lose it and part of his reputation to a smear campaign.

"This is a private matter." The councilor lifted his head as his gaze lit on Haden. "This is not council business, Captain Haden. I'm sorry if that poses a problem for you." Haden rubbed his hands together and stepped into the councilor's space. "No problem at all." He held Tomas' gaze for an uncomfortable moment which seemed to last forever. Matt wished Haden would slug the councilor. He knew the kind of dirty politics played during the last campaign. Tomas championed unethical tactics against opponents vying for his council seat. "Walk with me, Captain." Tomas cupped Shal's elbow, guiding the commander away from the other officers. "Is there a problem, Councilor?" Shal asked. The councilor stopped a good distance from the officers and leaned close to Shal, whispering in his ear. Matt attempted to decipher the words being formed by Tomas' lips, but was unsuccessful. Matt identified some sort of threat being proferred by the politician. Councilor Tomas chuckled like he was on a friendly basis with Captain Shal and then pivoted in his knee-high boots and fled the room with his robe dancing behind him. He left without the same sense of false warmness he used upon greeting the group. "What did he want, Dad?" Matt walked up to his father, who remained apart from the others. Shal scanned the hangar as his lips pursed. He muttered something incomprehensible under his breath. Whatever was whispered into his ear obviously had him in a daze. "Dad?" The commander ignored his son and advanced toward the group of officers. Matt followed thinking it best to leave the questions for another time. Apparently, his father did not wish to disclose the contents of the conversation. Silence loomed over the bunch of pilots and captains huddled in the center of the room. It felt like a memorial to a lost comrade rather than the bustling of laughter, nerves and energy it had been previously. Everyone was aware of Councilor Tomas' back door deals and despised their leader being used in one of them. Captain Shal stared back at the silent grouping and then strolled over to one of the transport vessels. He gently stroked his fingers along one of the blaster barrels that sprouted from underneath the ship. "Each craft has a full battery of high energy torpedoes, as well as two turret mounts on top." Shal stepped back and motioned up the side of the craft until his hands pointed to the clear wide plexi domes. One turret rested above the stern of the ship while the other had been mounted near the bow. The half spheres revealed the tops of the gunner's headrest with two long steel barrels protruding from their bases. The entire system rotated the circumference of the vessel's radius. "What's with all the precautions and weaponry?" an officer wearing a baggy black jumpsuit asked with his thin arms crossed over his chest. Shal nodded an acknowledgment of the officer's question. He slapped the snout of the torpedo barrel. "We have word of a peaceful group on Earth. However, they are still considered savages. We also don't know what kind of life forms we may encounter in our travels."

The officer pushed with another question. "So basically, we don't know what kind of danger these savages pose to us?" "True." A deep, familiar voice penetrated from the rear of the group. "Captain Kado has mentioned these lesser forms don't display aggression because we possess superior weaponry." The Supreme Lorde weaved through the bunch positioning himself next to Captain Shal. The Supreme Lorde wore casual garb and without his colorful robes signifying the highest office in government, seemed much smaller than usual. Matt nodded respectfully when the Lorde glanced in his direction. "I join you here today because of my deepest concerns." "Sir." Captain Shal proffered a sharp salute and moved aside so the Lorde would have everyone's full attention. The Lorde reluctantly smiled as he acknowledged each person with a nod. "I've made a tough decision." The Lorde released a long sigh. "I will not be drawing a lottery number. Instead, I've chosen to remain here on Venus until the last living being is safely off-world." Shal lifted a hand. "But, sir?" This Lorde captured the affection and loyalty of his men. No other Supreme Lorde had sacrificed so much of himself for his own people as this one. These men would rather die than serve another. The Lorde waved his hand. "It would not be proper for me to even consider leaving my people behind." Matt obtained a newfound respect for the Supreme Lorde. The citizens of this world were fortunate to have a leader willing to sacrifice himself, as opposed to a self-absorbed, power-hungry twit like Tomas. "I wanted to let each of you know personally that I'll do the best I possibly can in order to manufacture vessels with the utmost speed. Our situation is dire, but we will be successful." The Lorde touched his fingertips together forming them into a pyramid. The triangle was the symbol of the Parliamentary Senate. "I beg you now to finish learning about these fine vessels as they will be your chariots to the new world." A pilot stepped forward with his finger extended. "Excuse me, sir?" "Yes." The Lorde's gaze landed on the pilot in a soft and concerned manner. "Is it true Captain Kado will return with a specimen from this Earth?" The pilot referred to the scout vessel's last broadcast. The Lorde shifted his glance to Shal. The captain shrugged innocently and stepped back allowing the Supreme Lorde to respond personally to the rumor. "From what we are hearing ... and again, everything is coming through very choppy, Captain Kado has a nonliving sample of an Earth human. A Crow, I believe is what they're called," the Lorde offered with a grin. Matt wondered why they couldn't come home with a live specimen. It would have been more beneficial for his people to converse and acquire knowledge from an Earthling. The Supreme Lorde conversed with the group as Matt's curiosity burned wanting the details of his father's words with Councilor Tomas. **** Councilor Tomas leaned over his desk in the far corner of his Senate office overlooking Ishtar. His atmosphere adjuster blew out the last of the day's allotment of cool air. He had an hour at most before

the chamber turned into an convection oven. The adjuster worked ferociously over the past ten months to maintain a daily tolerable temperature. Tomas' comm device rested in the center of his console, transmitting a tinny voice with overwhelming amounts of static. "So what are you telling me, Kado?" The councilor placed his ear close to the speaker emitting the sound waves. Incomprehensive words trickled into the air particles. He thought Kado said, "The Crows wanted a moon base." Tomas shifted his mouth toward the transceiver. "Why a moon base?" "The ... emperor ... place ... to ... keep ... watch." Words came through between jolts of white noise. Tomas laughed as he intertwined his fingers together. "I guess the savage leader will indeed need a place to live. A place he can watch us settle from." The councilor chortled knowing that once his vessel touched the new world called Earth, the Sapiens would have their way with all its precious resources. To the councilor, this Emperor Pernius was nothing but an easily removed obstacle. He depressed a button disconnecting his comm device. Once Kado's vessel neared, the transmissions would be clearer. At least he received the invaluable coordinates of Kado's location. He needed a second set of numbers to confirm Earth's position. The councilor strolled over to the plexi window and counted the crafts hovering along the city streets. The purple hue in the atmosphere signaled the commencement of Ishtar's new evening. The lottery would begin tomorrow starting in the Parliamentary Assembly Hall. The political body decided it only proper to initiate the grueling process using themselves as examples. A knock on the entry panel forced the councilor's head to turn. "Come in." Two men garbed in military jumpsuits entered with metallic blasters strapped to their legs. The men went in opposite directions alongside the entrance and tucked their arms neatly behind their backs spreading their legs in an attentive stance. Neither said a word as their impassive faces only relayed a prominent guest had arrived. The Supreme Lorde entered the chambers, his robes open with his common garb underneath. "Jasmaus?" The Lorde stood before the councilor with a glint of rage burning in his eyes. Tomas bowed as required by Parliamentary Code. "Sir." He heard the distaste in his own voice. "Rise, Jasmaus." The Lorde motioned in haste for Tomas resume a normal stance. "How may I serve you?" Tomas brought his hands in front of his waist, tucking them deep within opposite sleeves of his lesser quality robes. One day, he thought, as he tried to read the old man's mind. One day, you shall serve me. "It has been brought to my attention that you paid a visit to the hangar yesterday before my arrival." The Lorde's eyes narrowed upon his subject. "What did you say to Captain Shal?" It was Tomas' turn to force his gaze upon the Supreme Lorde. Shal would face consequences for discussing this matter with the highest leader of Venus. In fact, a plan had already been put in place for circumstances such as these. His facial muscles relaxed in order to maintain his bluff. "I wished him well on his mission."

The Lorde chortled. "I doubt that very much." Tomas could tell from the grin that inched up his superior's face that the old fool hardly believed him. "May I speak off the record, sir?" "You may. Actually, I prefer it." Tomas organized a jumbled bunch of thoughts into an advantageous fabrication. "I offered the Captain an opportunity to gain an upper hand with the lottery. In this manner, he would have the crew of his choice." The Lorde's smile thinned. "I don't understand. Rigging the lottery is highly unethical." "I..." Tomas focused on the floor, no longer able to look the Lorde directly in the face. "I wanted to offer my ticket to one of his top officers." The Lorde snapped his fingers bringing the guards from their attentive stances. "I'll speak with Shal and order him to reveal your words." "I must say, I am insulted, Molden." Tomas stepped toward his console. "I must get my things. It's growing quite late and tomorrow is the big event." "We're no longer off the record, Jasmaus. You will never address me by my first name again. That right is reserved for my friends." The Supreme Lorde slapped his robes as he whipped around and left the councilor's chamber. Tomas drew open the top drawer of his console and grabbed his comp pad. Before he closed the drawer, he ran his finger along the inner frame of the desk feeling for his personal communications device. In moments, his underground band of followers would carry out his preplanned strategy. Captain Shal would never have the opportunity to disclose their discussion. **** Matt stood attentively at his first assignment with an enthusiasm he hoped would never fade. It wasn't flying over the vast city or doing a slingshot through orbit, but the task had more importance. A small team of ten was designated to guard the hangar housing some of the Earthbound vessels. They staked their positions throughout the bay in hopes of thwarting any attempts by anyone thinking about stealing a vessel. Captain Shal ordered the ships to be under constant guard since his encounter with Councilor Tomas, in addition to the news about the escaped convicts. Matt and another young officer by the name of Cling, partnered for the evening watch, alternated their posts each hour. He asked his father to place him on night duty because he preferred to sleep during the day, plus the temperature was a bit cooler in the hangar. Captain Shal waltzed down the graded staircase, his thick boots clanging on the metal with each step. He greeted the guards with a hasty salute as he approached his son. "Got a moment?" Matt snapped to attention and stared at a point on the hangar wall somewhere beyond his father. "Request permission to leave my post, sir?" Quivering lips revealed his desire to burst out laughing. With a wide grin etched on his face, Captain Shal punched Matt in the shoulder. "Granted." Matt and his father moved toward to an out-of-the-way console at the far side of the hangar. Shal

lowered himself into the chair behind the desk and motioned Matt to sit in one of the surrounding seats. The captain's lips thinned as he folded his hands on top of the desk. "I'm going to tell you something. Something you mustn't speak of again." Matt straightened up as his nerves tingled along his spine. He hoped his father would tell him about the encounter with Councilor Tomas. "Is this about what happened yesterday with Tomas?" At first, Shal responded with only a frown. Then he whispered, "Yes." He scanned the area with tired eyes and leaned closer to his son. "You must watch these vessels carefully. Tomas promised to harm our family if one wasn't available to him." Matt trembled at his father's admission. The idea that a person could be so self-absorbed they would deny helpless people an equal opportunity to escape a dying world stunned him. "So the councilor means to steal a pass to Earth, regardless of his fate in the lottery?" "Not only him, but his little band of thugs." Shal clapped his hands together and reached into his chest pocket drawing out a round disc that fit snugly in the palm of his hand. "This memograph contains the images of every prisoner who escaped from their cells. Each has some kind of tie with Councilor Tomas." Shal placed the memograph in Matt's hand and wrapped his son's fingers around the disc. "If anything should happen or anyone enter this hangar unfamiliar to you, check them against these images." Suddenly, Matt no longer seemed sure about his choice in accepting this assignment. Maybe watching Mother rant would have been better. The very thought of stopping someone and arresting them made his heart slide into his stomach. However, he refused to reveal these fears to his father. "Okay, Dad." Matt was reluctant to offer him a reassuring grin, as he was anything but confident. "I'm going home to be with your mother. She could use the company." Captain Shal stood and tugged on his jumpsuit to straighten out the wrinkles. He was compulsive about the appearance of his uniform. "I'll see you when the next shift arrives." Matt got to his feet and rotated his head, loosening the stiffness in his neck. "I'll be out first thing in the morning for that lottery." Shal patted his son on the shoulder and left the console. Matt adjusted the blaster that hung diagonally from a shoulder strap and returned to his post. He adjusted the settings to ensure it would work properly if needed. With trembling fingers, he slipped the memograph player into his chest pocket for easy access. He hoped trouble would stay far away during his watch. Captain Shal whistled while leaving the hangar. The captain pulled his cap down over his eyes and threw an exaggerated wave to his son. The young man waved back and returned to duty as his father headed toward their family vehicle. Beyond the hangar, the darkness of the night exploded in a blinding flash. A tremendous wave of extreme heat bowed the metal doors. Every nerve in Matt's body quaked with only one thought. Dad. He hurried toward the explosion afraid of discovering his dad lying in pieces. Matt and Officer Cling kicked the smoking doors until they sprung from their hinges. "Dad?" Matt scanned the area, relentless to find his father. The family craft was cremated into a heap of

smoldering ash. "Oh no." His eyes welled as his diaphragm screamed with agony. "Dad!" "Over there!" One of the ten guards now huddled near the doors pointed to a figure in the distance. "I'm okay. A little fried, but I'll be fine." Captain Shal waved his blaster in the air. His clothes were charred on one side and his cap was no longer on his head. "There were three of them." A surge of relief flooded Matt's mind. The very moment he feared had come true. **** Kreg lay in his bed constantly readjusting his hands underneath the pillow in order to get more comfortable. All day, the thought of his aunt and cousins not being chosen in the lottery plagued him. Even though Kreg was only thirteen, he comprehended the consequences of not being selected. The stars twinkled brightly outside the plexi window of his dwelling. He listened to his little sister, Lanna, cooing in her crib. A newborn who soaked up every bit of attention. He loved Lanna, yet resented her at the same time. A heavy pounding at the front door echoed throughout the rooms. Kreg bolted upright and held his hands against his chest as it thumped. Father probably forgot his code. "Hold on..." Mother groaned as Kreg heard her bare feet slapping against the floor tiles. The pounding continued impatiently. An uneasy feeling clouded the boy's senses. "Mother, don't!" Kreg knew his father would never pound that hard to get the door open. Especially when Lanna might be asleep. "Mother!" Whack! The crack of a weapon scorched the air. Kreg sprung out of bed without an idea of which direction he should run. "Leave her. She isn't the one we came for." A deep voice bellowed from the front door. The baby wailed loudly as heavy footsteps pounded along the floor. Terror ripped through Kreg as the thumps of heavy soles became even louder. Was his mother dead? What about Lanna? "The infant is in that room," the deep voice stated. "What about the woman?" another asked. "Forget her." Kreg pressed his back against his door and glanced at his infant sister's bedroom. Why wasn't his mother saying anything? He didn't want an answer to that question because of what it could mean. Slam! A man wearing a black mask blasted through Lanna's bedroom door with a single kick. He wore the long-sleeved shirt issued to convicts along with bright orange shorts. Kreg spotted a dark birthmark that ran from the man's ankle up along his outer calf, almost to the knee. Kreg longed for a way to stop these thugs from doing his family harm. A second man also hid behind a

mask. He, too, approached Lanna's door. He tried to shout a warning, but the words refused to escape his lips. The first masked man retreated from the baby's room with the infant crying in his thick arms. "La--Lev..." Kreg attempted to speak as the two men stood in the hallway. The second snapped his head in Kreg's direction. The boy couldn't move his feet and urine ran down his leg. The masked man drew his blaster from its side holster and leveled it at Kreg. The last thing the boy saw was a blue flare burst from the barrel and then everything went dark. **** A second set of hangar doors crackled off their hinges and flew out into the darkness. The massive entrance panels blew from the inside sending guards scrambling. "Watch out!" Matt pulled Cling to the ground avoiding the huge slabs of flying metal. Through the flames and destruction, a single transport vessel threatened the officers as it hovered in the mangled entrance. Continuous blasts, compliments of Captain Shal, pounded the sides of the vessel from his distant location in a feeble attempt to stop the ship's leaving the hangar. The ship's monstrous bow pierced through the once sealed entry. He protected the other guard from falling debris with his body. Chunks of concrete hit the thick material of his jumpsuit. Matt raised his elbow just enough to see his father's defeated expression. Someone helped themselves to a precious ship and they did it right in front of the Enforcers. Matt figured the convicts blew up his father's craft as a clever diversion to get everyone focused outside the hangar. Councilor Tomas was Matt's first and only suspect. **** "What do you mean he wasn't in his craft?" Tomas' lips pursed wishing he could reach through the communications device and fatally wound the man who delivered the distressful news. "But we have the vessel and the infant is on board," the voice crackled through the device. "We also have Captain Shal of the Parliamentary Forces still alive." Tomas sent the comm device into a spin as it flew across his chamber, smashing as it connected with the wall. The plan had been partly successful, but with Shal still alive, the vessel wouldn't remain in hiding for any length of time. They needed to launch immediately, which required that he join his band of convicts before any Enforcers came to his quarters. Tomas collapsed in his finely made chair, chuckling at his biggest mistake, the child. Forces would be swarming all over the Parliamentary complex the moment Shal discovered his infant daughter had been abducted. He needed to get coordinates from Kado and leave Venus immediately. If he arrived in that chamber for the lottery, he knew he would be arrested. **** Leona and Kreg huddled together on the couch in their living quarters as swarms of officers and investigators scoured their home. The constant flow of tears reddened Leona's eyes. Lanna's kidnapping had pushed her to near insanity. Kreg fought to remain awake while his mother struggled to remain sane.

Matt stood at the entrance with his blaster unclipped in its holster. He watched his father pacing as Leona retold the story of Lanna's abduction. He had never seen his parents under so much stress before. He struggled not to cry, but finally abandoned the fight. The pain was far too crushing to deny. Shal knelt in front of Kreg and placed his hands on the boy's knees. "Son, it's important for you to describe the men who came here. Tell the Enforcement officers what they looked like. Just one more time, okay?" His lips cracked a reluctant grin as he gestured for the officers to come to the sofa. Kreg trembled and closed his eyes. "All I remember was they wore black masks that hid their faces." Kreg leaned into the security of his mother's shoulder. "They were really strong and had deep voices." "Thank you, young man." An Enforcer drew a memograph disc from his sleeve pocket, similar to the one Shal gave Matt earlier that evening. Matt couldn't take his thoughts off his poor mother. She released her pain in short, ear-splitting screams every few moments. The thought of having Lanna kidnapped seared all their hearts. Councilor Tomas crossed an unimaginable line and would be paid back in full. The young Shal vowed to get his sister back, even if he had to kill to do it. The officer clicked on the disc. An image of a well-built man projected itself from its center. The rotating memograph was one of the convicts believed to be linked to Councilor Tomas. "Does this man have the same build as the man you saw tonight?" Kreg's eyes twitched. His expression revealed his inability to identify the image, or match it to the person who committed the crime. "I ... I ... I'm not sure, sir." "Here's the next one." The officer projected a new image from the data on the disc. The figure's arms were crossed as it rotated. Kreg's eyes widened as he crawled deep into the cushions of the couch. His lips quivered and his breaths grew heavy. Matt glanced at his father, then at Kreg. Something disturbing was going on in his brother's head. "He's the one. One of them, I mean," Kreg blurted out as tears poured from his eyes. The investigating officer nodded. "Are you sure?" Kreg pointed at the projection. "That man is wearing shorts just like the one who took Lanna." The image almost completed a full rotation and Kreg gestured to the figure's calf. "He had a mark on his leg, just like that guy." Shal shot to his feet and then leaned over kissing his youngest son on the forehead. "Good boy." He turned to his eldest with a glint of vengeance in his eyes. "Matt, ready the men. We're going to pay Tomas a visit." The Enforcer placed the palm of his hand on Captain Shal's chest. "With all due respect, sir, we'll be more than happy to grab Tomas for you. I understand your situation, but your presence is required in the Senate building in less than three hours." "To hell with the lottery!" Shal turned to his wife, who seemed to be in a near comatose state. "Look what this has done to my family." The captain finally broke down. "I'll go, Dad. You stay with Mother." Matt could handle a squad of men. He just needed to know the

possible locations where these men may be hiding. Lanna would be wherever that vessel was kept. "How about it, Captain?" The officer patted the commander on the back. "Let your son go." Shal released an exhausted sigh. "Okay. The minute that lottery is over, I'll be searching, too."

Chapter Six The sun's arduous temperatures accompanied the early glow that peeked over the horizon. The search for Tomas led to continuous dead ends and half a dozen abandoned chambers. They gathered on the highest of Ishtar's walking decks to capture a complete view of the surrounding geography. The city had been designed to reach high into the atmosphere with layers upon layers of buildings. Each section was wrapped with extremely wide decks that enabled pedestrians and small crafts to travel the outer perimeters of Ishtar's each level. "Your father must have old information." Jaren Cling chuckled. He was an older relative of the same Officer Cling who was in the hangar with Matt during the theft of the vessel. Though he seemed a bit strange, he was the most celebrated marksman in the ranks of the Enforcers. Matt scanned the area through his monoscope frustrated like the rest of the team. In fact, more so, because this concerned his infant sister. He could not give up on her. "Where would you hide a vessel the size of three buildings?" Jaren clicked his tongue against his cheek. "It wouldn't be in the city. That's for certain." Matt's mind lit with a sudden conclusion to their problem. "Jaren, you did it!" Even though Jaren didn't offer an exact answer, he tossed an idea in Matt's head. Jaren gave Matt a dopey grin. "If you say so." "The vessel has to be out there somewhere in the wild rim." Matt motioned to the mountainous region beyond the city perimeters. "There ain't much wild left, if you ask me." Jaren referred to the patches of tundra and barren terrain that spotted the once plush vegetated areas. Matt smiled. "Then the ship shouldn't be that tough to find." He looked down at his watch realizing the lottery had begun an hour ago. **** The Supreme Lorde stood at the podium with officials, councilors and Lordes of other cities seated on either side of him. They each had a turn at the lottery, minus the Supreme Lorde, who chose to forfeit his opportunity. Not one of them had been selected to travel in the first wave, which left the new form of government open to the first settlers of Earth. Captain Shal stood quietly in the background as his name crackled over the huge arena's audio system. The audience roared with respectful applause. News of Lanna's abduction had swept through the entire city of Ishtar within hours of its occurrence. The people gave such an enormous amount of support to Shal and his family that the Supreme Lorde needed to use the alarm system to regain their attention. "I am sure Captain Shal and his family remain thankful to serve such a fine community." The Supreme Lorde proffered an ovation of his own by gently clapping his hands followed by a gracious half bow. Shal nodded to the crowd and then dropped his gaze to the floor. If they didn't find Tomas, who didn't report in today, that first wave might be a hundred less than planned. **** Matt's team discovered an old dumping ground neatly tucked away on the outskirts of the city. Ishtar

used to haul its waste there before they realized the presence of biotoxins. The transport ship was wedged discreetly in between two heaps of scrap metal that exceeded the height of most city buildings. "This way." Young Officer Shal whispered as he beckoned with two fingers for the team of six to follow. He crouched down and scurried toward the closest tower of scrap. He hoped the trash would hide him as well as it did the stolen vessel. "The ship looks so much smaller outside the hangar," Jaren whispered as he put his back against slabs of metal. He kept his blaster elevated, prepared to shoot at any moment. "On three, we storm the ship," Matt ordered the team who remained close behind him. Lanna invaded his mind. Was he putting her in even greater danger? The men threw their thumbs up and nodded in response. They leveled their blasters preparing for the count. Matt slowly raised his first finger, then his second. Before he revealed the third, the realization hit him that he might have to kill someone. Only two of the other officers had prior experience with making arrests. How would he do this? Should he hand command over to Jaren? An image of Lanna crying at the hands of one of the thugs penetrated his brain. The third finger flipped into the air. "Now." The six man team of Enforcers slipped around the side of the metal scrap heap, discovering two convicts standing near the vessel's entrance ramp. Matt dodged behind a barrel of toxic waste with his blaster trained on his targets. "Halt!" One of the convicts whipped around, as if he'd been waiting. His weapon sent two shots slicing toward the team. The second dropped behind the ramp for cover, then fired blasts into one of the rookie officers, blowing a charred hole into his chest. The dying man's screams jolted Matt's focus for a brief moment. He returned fire, blasting the first convict's head into pieces. He jerked in the astonishment at his violent reaction. Bile rose up his throat as he fought to keep it down. He killed another living being. The blaster fell to his side as vomit forced its way from his mouth. The headless body of a once living being faced him. "Matt! Fire! Fire again," Jaren called as he continuously pumped shots at the remaining convict. "Matt?" Heavy hums rattled through the dump yards vibrating the scraps of metal as inside the vessel, all engines switched to full. Matt's eyes shifted to discover the topmost pieces of trash trembled. "Watch out!" His warning prompted the team to dive away from the heap just as a few thick objects tumbled to the ground. "Thanks." Jaren patted his friend on the back appreciatively. Oh no. Matt felt like his sister was about to be permanently ripped from him. A sudden flash of firepower sprayed from the turret above the bow of the vessel. It poured its relentless energy bolts down on the team killing two more Enforcers. The convict outside the ship hopped onto the safety of the lifting ramp.

Matt had no idea how to react to the vessel's escape. He was in complete denial of having lost this round of the battle. That he lost his sister, Lanna. He would steal an orbital craft if necessary in order to get onto that transport before it left orbit. The vessel hovered over the Enforcement team with its powerful guns threatening them. The top turrets forced the remaining three officers to take cover within the piles of scrap. The ship's flight left Matt hopeless. His hand blaster was no match for the new weaponry. The vessel cleared the scrap moving forward in slow motion until it had cleared the dump. The rear engines ignited, thrusting the ship beyond reach while the top guns kept blasting at Matt and his men.

Chapter Seven The scout vessel vibrated as it collided with a harmless showering of small asteroids. The tiny flotsam that pocked the hull of the ship became a growing nuisance. Two rounds had past since Captain Kado and his exploratory team departed from Earth in order to present their findings to the Parliamentary Senate and Council on their home planet of Venus. Dornan, no longer panic-stricken by the sudden jolts of space travel, rested in a single occupant couch adjacent to a wide view port that offered a calming vision outside the vessel. His quarters were designed to accommodate three others and contained the same pleasantries awarded to most passengers. The additional lock on his door panel marked the only difference from the other rooms along the corridor. A prisoner in luxury, he thought as bits of rocks floated past his view port. They reminded him of Earth stones. The very ones dwellings were carved out of and tools were made from. There was such a contrast between the Crow people and the Sapien travelers from Venus. Every moment since being taken from Earth, Plenda haunted his thoughts. Pregnant with his child, he and the Sapien woman overstepped the unspoken code of intermingling. The last conversation they had left Plenda running out on him because she was distraught about his arranged marriage with Emperor Pernius' daughter, Malanna. The arrest by the emperor's guards was payback for betraying Malanna. He hoped Plenda could hide the fact her child's father was a Crow. While he was away and would probably never return home, he feared for her and the unborn infant. The Sapiens delivered food at a set time twice each day. One day, he knew the Sapiens would come with their mighty blasters instead of food. Dornan never believed that Captain Kado would allow him to see Venus or its people. **** "Try one more time, Quada. He has to be there." Captain Kado leaned back in his command chair, centered in the small bridge of his vessel. He studied his second, who was stationed directly in front of him. "Yes, sir." Quada leaned over his console sliding a lever toward the top of the control panel. He tilted his head into the speakers listening for any possible noise that might be transmitted. He glanced back at Kado. The captain's lips twisted as he shook his head. "Turn up the levels. We're getting closer so the signal should be stronger ... not weaker." Several attempts were made to reach Councilor Tomas since yesterday morning. Kado conversed with the rising politician for the past few days. They had planned to travel back to Earth together when the migration began. Quada rolled his eyes and focused back on the console experimenting with different levels on the control panel. "Councilor Tomas, this is Parliamentary Dream. Do you copy?" Quada tapped one of the speakers. "Councilor Tomas?" "Okay. We'll try again in a while." Kado rubbed his stubbly chin with his fingers wondering about the politician's whereabouts. It amazed him that Tomas seemed to have vanished. The captain's mind shifted to another topic he had postponed for too long. The Crow shaman locked away in the passenger quarters remained extremely quiet since the start of the journey.

He needed to meet with the Crow to investigate how far the relationship with Plenda had gone. Once he acquired this information, which he planned to use against his former lover, the Crow would be put to death. **** Plenda stood outside the explorers' cave clenching her stomach, dry heaving to alleviate the nausea preventing her from getting a solid night's rest. The pregnant Sapien sacrificed most evenings of socialization with peers to maintain her equilibrium and her secret. Plenda's stomach kept its usual slim form with only a slight bloating in the center. Unable to vomit, Plenda inhaled deeply staring out at the glittering stars in the crisp night air. Something about the cool temperatures permitted the distant suns to glow brighter than they did during warmer evenings. Dornan was somewhere amongst the tiny flickers of light. She searched the heavens hoping the Crow could hear her calls to him late at night as she yearned for his return to her, to their child. "Feeling any better?" Plenda turned discovering her friend, Caryn, coming from another dwelling. She only trusted two people with her secret, Caryn being one of them. Plenda nodded as she pushed off the cave's outer wall to keep her balance. "I'm fine." "Another month and the sickness should vanish." Caryn offered a comforting smile. She wrapped her hands over Plenda's shoulders. "Come on ... I'll make you something warm to drink." Plenda rolled her eyes toward the one person she considered a sister. Caryn had always been there to comfort her when times were rough. Though they were both barely twenty, Caryn had been the organized one, the one who did everything by the codes. Plenda followed her friend into the dwelling and pulled up a chair at the long, wooden table set in the middle of the makeshift room. Dornan kept popping into her thoughts as Caryn placed a kettle on one of the portable hot plates the exploratory team had lugged from Venus. "We'll have a nice warm cup of brew and then discuss what we're going to do about that unborn child of yours." "Have you heard from Marin?" Marin had been busy supervising the dome construction on the center moon of Cordova for the Crow emperor. "He's scheduled to return to the planet in a day or so." Caryn ignited the hot plate and sat alongside Plenda. "The AC-10 bots should begin carrying out commands once the final blueprints are programmed." "I heard they already have a fully operational work dome." Plenda hated the emperor for forcing his authority over Dornan. She despised him even more for arresting the man she loved and sending him off with Captain Kado. The day Pernius went to Cordova couldn't come fast enough for her. "So the emperor plans on living in this dome city?" The water steamed on the hot plate. Caryn lifted the kettle and poured the boiling liquid into two cups. "According to Marin, the emperor wants the dome city so he can keep watch on the rest of us when we arrive here on Earth." She jammed her hand into a ceramic container drawing out a clump of chopped leaves. The herbs were sprinkled into the liquid turning the clear water a golden brown. Plenda chortled, thinking about the evil commanders of the feared Enforcement and the corrupt

politicians who polluted Venus. "Well, at least he's thinking in the right direction." Even giving Pernius that much credit ate her up inside, but she knew the kind of people who would be migrating to Earth. "It would probably be in his best interests to get some weapons, too." The sudden snap of a twig forced both Plenda and Caryn to turn their heads toward the mouth of the cave. Plenda stood halfway out of her chair, keeping careful watch. "I heard it, too." Caryn cautiously backed her way toward an alloy trunk sitting against the far craggy wall. The Crows were becoming eccentric lately and had been caught snooping around at night. "It's coming closer." More sticks snapped louder with each break. "Pass one over." Plenda held out her open palm waiting for a weapon to fill it. Caryn quietly unclipped the lock on the trunk. "You read my mind." She lifted the lid and drew out a hand blaster. "Got it yet?" Plenda impatiently wiggled her fingers. "Whatever it may be is right outside." "Catch." The weapon flowed right into Plenda's waiting hand. She lifted it with her slim fingers firmly wrapped around the trigger. Caryn had her blaster leveled toward the mouth of the cave. "You're with child, so I go first." Caryn elbowed past Plenda as she advanced to the front of the craggy dwelling. "Ever since Marin left, these Crows have become funny." The explorer team has yet to use their blasters. The first threat of force was when they arrested Dornan. Since then, the people of Cuga had been assaulting remaining members of the scout team. They were taking their vengeance slowly for the Sapiens taking their shaman leader. The Sapiens had been shooting into the air to scare off the natives, but the harassment had increasingly turned more violent. No one had been killed on either side yet and she hoped this would not be the first incident. Caryn cautiously sidestepped along the craggy wall. Darkness filtered into the mouth of the cave refusing to reveal the hidden danger. Plenda crouched advancing a few paces behind her friend. She shivered with anxiety as she feared using her weapon in any capacity. Caryn took a reluctant step forward into the night. Nothing happened. She relaxed her defensive stance. "Maybe it was just our imagination." Caryn released the grip on her trigger dropping the weapon to her side. "I really wish Marin was..." Crack! A staff whipped around the cave's mouth walloping Caryn in the back of the head. She screamed, dropping her blaster into the dirt while clutching her wound. Plenda trained her blaster on the attacking Crow. Confusion exploded when a second Crow dove to the ground from behind the first, fumbling for Caryn's weapon.

"Stop!" Plenda hoped the sight of a blaster in their faces might scare off the Crow thugs. No such luck. The second attacker scooped the weapon into his thick, hairy fingers stopping the gun in its wild spin. He lifted it as a smile widened across his face. "Please, stop!" Panting, Plenda tried not to divide her focus between her friend on the ground and the two Crows threatening their lives. The second leveled his new weapon directly at Caryn. He chuckled as his deep-set eyes protruded from underneath his brow's thick ridge. "Don't make me do this." Plenda firmed her grip around the trigger about to fire when she discovered the Crow held the weapon the wrong way. The barrel faced the Neanderthal native with the butt pointed toward Caryn. Caryn wiped her bloodstained hands on the rear of her pants. She huddled against the security of the cave wall unaware her attacker had the blaster aimed at himself. "Sapien females." The Crow with the staff jammed the tip of his fighting stick into the dirt, teasing Caryn as if he were trying to hit her. "Stop it!" Plenda pleaded, her blaster trembling in her hands. The second Crow giggled maliciously tightening his hand on the trigger and firing the weapon. The burst of energy sliced through his stomach forcing him backwards into the dark night. The first Crow immediately flipped his staff in front of him and charged Plenda. "Oh no." She closed her eyes reluctant to use the blaster, but with her baby inside her, instinct won out over her sense of compassion. Slam! The Crow's body thumped into the soil face down with his staff just pecks away from Plenda. Caryn scrunched into a fetal position rubbing the back of her neck. "What do we do now?" For the first time, Plenda witnessed her friend wail like a child. **** The clicking of the entrance panel alerted Dornan that visitors were on the other side of it. He straightened, proud of the fact the Sapiens considered him enough of a threat to keep the door locked. The panel slid open and three Sapien explorers revealed themselves with their blasters clenched in their hands. They weren't delivering food. "Can you speak our language?" The first Sapien stood ahead of the others at the entry. "I'm able to talk with you in your tongue." Dornan nodded. These armed men feared him. The way the weapons trembled in their thin hands revealed their fright. He didn't expect much, since these men were explorers and not warriors. "We need you to come with us." Dornan hadn't talked to another living being for the past two rotations. Usually, they just opened the panel, placed his meal tray on the floor and left without saying a word. The only delivery to be made at

the moment would be him to Captain Kado. The Sapiens grossly miscalculated if they thought their blasters intimidated him. The only reason he didn't fight the ones who arrested him on Earth was to draw attention away from Plenda. Without moving from the comfort of his couch, Dornan contemplated his next move. "Hey." The closest explorer hesitated a moment, then reached over and tapped the Crow on the shoulder, quickly withdrawing his hand to the security of his own space. "You need to come with us." Dornan studied the other two men in the entrance. The second faced the corridor, while the third kept his gaze trained on him. The one closest, the first, would have to die quickly if he was to have any chance of killing the others. Taking the men out didn't present as big a problem as gaining control over a vessel he had no idea of how to pilot. He realized that when the fight ended, at least one of these men would need to remain alive to assist him in returning this chunk of metal to Earth. "You need to come with us now." The first Sapien nudged the nozzle of the blaster into the Crow's shoulder sending a tinge of pain down Dornan's arm. The shaman searched the Sapien's eyes for evidence of the man's soul. With a flick of his thick fingers, the explorer suddenly gasped for air. The Sapien dropped his weapon gripping his own throat. His other hand frantically tore at the stiff collar of his jumpsuit. Dornan moved faster than the human eye could ever imagine. Whether Sapien or Crow, eyes weren't able to catch his lightning fast movements. His index finger shot out again, striking the explorer directly in the Adam's apple. To most, it would look like magic, but Dornan knew it was years of endless defense training all shamans were required to endure. The other two Sapiens rushed to the aid of their comrade, unaware that the Crow was behind the invisible attack. The man would certainly die due to the damage inflicted, no matter how much they offered to help. Dornan converted his powers of healing into forces of death. The Sapien's eyes bulged from his discolored face as he struggled to breathe. Dornan didn't mind killing these men since they were keeping him away from Plenda. "Is he choking on something?" One of the explorers tried to assist his struggling comrade by ripping the man's collar free. "Flak? Flak, can you talk, man?" The second Sapien slid his blaster into his leg holster and began pounding the gurgling scout on the back. "Save him!" The third man cried as he nudged Dornan toward the dying scout. Dornan wished the power inside him could manage to choke the others, but he wasn't that skilled. He did posses the talent to drain energy from a living thing and reverse the healing process. The shaman chortled to himself and placed his open palms on his victim's chest. Closing his eyes tight, Dornan squeezed every bit of oxygen out of his enemy with mere thoughts until the Sapien collapsed in the arms of his partners. The dead man's blaster dropped at the Crow's feet. Dornan slipped his thick hand toward the floor never noticing just how much bigger his hands were until this moment. His pinky hooked the trigger and he discreetly drew the weapon closer to him. The Sapiens were too busy mourning their friend, not realizing

he was dead. "Don't move." The Crow aimed the blaster at the two men. He prayed to the moons he could use the weapon correctly. Plenda tried to show him many times how to work a blaster, but he never bothered to learn. Strange how small decisions have such results. "Stop!" The second explorer pivoted on his heels and leveled his gun at the shaman. Slam! The explorer's body slapped against the wall as a hole fizzled through his chest. Dornan leaned back surprised he actually killed someone with controlled energy. Wasting moments proved detrimental, so he squeezed the trigger again, sending energy into the last scout before the man had a chance to return fire. The side of the explorer's head flipped open, spraying cauterized chunks of skull and brain all over the ceiling panels. Dornan reached over the bodies and tapped the button adjacent to the entrance. The panel slid closed concealing the Crow inside the room with the corpses allowing him time to think before more Sapiens figured out what happened.

Chapter Eight "Get in!" Caryn called from the hovering craft. "I'm coming." Plenda swiped her rucksack, filled with bare necessities, off the wooden table. She left a note attached to the main food cooler informing the other explorers that she and Caryn were safe, but had to retreat to the dome dwelling before more Crows attacked. The death of the Crows lying in front of the cave revealed just how serious the threat had grown in the past months. "We need to find the others." Caryn shifted uncomfortably behind the steering controls of the small craft her boyfriend, Marin, had given her. "I also left a note." Plenda joined Caryn in the craft cuddling the small bag filled with her possessions on her lap. The gritty terrain ahead was illuminated by the reflections of the three moons. Caryn's eyes tilted toward the center rock with the bluish hue. "Why does he need to be up there right now?" Plenda nodded, knowing Marin offered them both a sense of security. "As long as Marin is in charge of building the dome city, Pernius will keep him safe." "Well, there are other scouts up there with him and they're all well armed." Caryn sighed. "That's somewhat of a comfort." "We just need to warn the ones down here." Plenda caught a final glimpse of the two lives she ended with her blaster. Should they have buried the Crows? The stiff bodies had grayed in color, which forced an image of Dornan into her mind. His fate would be the same as what had befallen the two Crows. The image of Dornan's pale corpse captured her imagination. "Are you alright?" Caryn rubbed Plenda's shoulder. Snapping from the horrible vision of the man she'd tried not to love, Plenda nodded without a word. "We'll go to the dome dwelling. At least we'll be stronger in numbers." Caryn applied pressure to the floor petals and the craft had ascended above the dirt. Plenda nudged the bag off her lap, placing a palm gently on her stomach. She had remained secluded from the group for the past few weeks in an effort to keep her secret. How would she be able to hide it now? Her baby was growing, exhaustion knocked her off her feet for long periods of the day and certain odors brought on nausea. These attacks by the Crows had been retaliation for the Sapiens taking Dornan. They had arrested him because his affair with an explorer had offended the emperor's precious dynasty. The beginnings of a war between two cultures sprouted and it could all be linked back to her. **** The Crow shaman slipped from his quarters clenching a blaster in each thick hand. Dornan closed the panel to his room, cutting off the sight of the dead scouts from the rest of the ship. The long corridor ran the length of the entire vessel pocked with sliding doorways that led into various quarters on each side. Behind the panels were the private quarters of the crew. Since he had been locked away at the farthest

end of the ship, he decided to enter each room, knocking the explorers out one at a time until he reached the command bridge in the bow. Experimenting, he popped open a panel which revealed a metal stairway. If he found himself in trouble, he decided to hide down there. Dornan focused on the first room and hurried alongside its door panel. He pressed the button on the wall, causing the entrance to slide open. Leading with the two blasters, Dornan rushed into the room and discovered two scouts dining at a small round table near their port window. "What the..." One of the scouts jumped out of his chair, kicking it out behind him. Whack! Without hesitation, Dornan fired off two shots of energy into the scout who made the mistake of standing. The Crow turned his weapons on the second Sapien, who remained seated. The Sapien's lips quivered as his eyes stared at his fallen friend. "You." Dornan's dark gaze pierced the man. "What is your skill on this ship?" "I ... I ... I am trained in navigations and communications." The scout remained seated as a frown grew over his face. Dornan couldn't read the scout's name plate. He was working on Sapien symbols with Plenda, but hadn't mastered it. "What is your name?" "Marcus." The man's legs trembled as he stood. The Crow pointed to the bunks with the tips of the blasters. Marcus' wide eyes followed the direction of the weapons. He gazed back at the Crow. The scout's dumfounded look reminded the shaman of a stegolizard realizing it was to become that night's meal. "Get in the bunk." Unable to balance himself, Marcus managed to get his legs moving toward his bunk. "How can I bind you?" Dornan lowered one of his weapons. Tying this man to his bunk posts would be a preferable alternative to another needless death. Besides, from what the Crow gathered, keeping this man alive was imperative if he wanted to get home. The man's mouth fell open. "You're going to kill me in my bed? Tied up?" Dornan empathized with this particular Sapien. He knew these men were not fighters, only mere scientists looking for a way to prevent their people from becoming extinct. "Today is not your day to leave this world. Disrupt my desire to return to Earth, your moment will come." The man's expression of relief pleased the shaman. The Sapien nodded keeping his hands in the air. He went over to an alloy case at the foot of the double bunks. Slowly kneeling, he shook his open palms. "We have some binding straps in here." Dornan motioned for the Sapien to retrieve the straps, but leveled both blasters in hopes that the man comprehended deception would bring certain death. For reasons the Crow couldn't explain, he trusted this particular explorer.

Never removing his gaze from Dornan, Marcus lowered his hands to the case and unclipped the latch. "Please hurry. I'm sure your friends will be coming for me." "Most of my friends are on Earth." The man withdrew a set of flexible binding straps from the alloy case, holding them out for Dornan's approval. "I can help you." The Crow studied the scout, wondering if this offer was an attempt at stalling while the others arrived. "Why would you want to help me?" Clearing his throat, Marcus got to his feet, straps extended in his arms. Before even responding to Dornan, the scout went to the bunks and eased onto the bottom bed. "I don't agree with Captain Kado's philosophy." The scout stretched out along the mattress and placed his wrist against the bunk posts. "I know who you are." Dornan felt the confidence building in the man's voice. "Who am I?" "You're the great shaman of the village of Cuga. You were to bond with the emperor's daughter." The Crow wasn't sure if the man's knowledge frightened him or was evidence of another reason to trust. "How do I know you're someone I can count on not to turn on me?" "I haven't turned yet." The man's lips curled slowly. "I don't understand." Dornan found himself more uncertain about his choice of allowing this Sapien to live. "I'm the one with the energy guns." "I'm friends with Plenda. I can help you get back to her and your unborn child." He crossed his legs at the ankles waiting to be tied. The ridge of Dornan's brow creased as his heart sunk. How did this Sapien know so much about his situation? Could it be possible someone understood him? **** "Sir, we've been contacted by another vessel." Quada swiveled around in his console seat facing Captain Kado. Kado leaned forward in his command chair waving his index finger frantically. "Why is another vessel hailing us?" For a moment, the captain wondered if there were more transports in space. The possibility of a premature exodus from Venus entered his mind. "The signal we keep receiving follows our codes." Quada keyed in a few symbols causing the speakers to crackle. "We have tone." Kado listened for a voice to break through the dead static. He hoped whatever was hailing them was human. "This is Ishtar's Escape." The clear vocalization of a human transmitted suddenly through the speakers. "Hailing unknown vessel ... This is Ishtar's Escape." Kado composed himself while sliding to the edge of his seat. "Ishtar's Escape?" he muttered while tapping the tips of his fingers along his bottom lip. Shifting his gaze toward Quada, Kado needed more information.

"This is Parliamentary Explorer Transport 19-C, Parliamentary Dream. We acknowledge Ishtar's Escape." Quada swung around again, facing his captain. "It's one of ours, sir." The name of the distant vessel coincided with the largest city on Venus. Maybe that had been the reason he lost contact with Tomas. Perhaps the planet required immediate evacuation and the councilor's office had been vacated. "Ask them what's happening. Do you have a reading on their distance from us?" Quada spun back to his console running an index finger along the symbols generated on the screen. "They're about two months at most from us." He lowered his head toward the thin microphone in front of him. "Ishtar's Escape, what is your reason for being in transit?" The speakers crackled, then snapped clear, a familiar voice followed the abrupt noise. "We're transporting Councilor Tomas on an ambassadorial mission, making way for migration to Earth. We're still in high orbit over Venus." Kado's eyes widened. Tomas had found a ship and decided to lead a group to Earth prior to any official report by the explorers. Perhaps their initial contact with each other affirmed Earth to be a secure environment. "Quada, find out if the exodus has begun." "Yes, sir." The second-in-command again leaned into his microphone. "Has the mass migration commenced?" "Negative," the voice responded as static recaptured the speakers. "We are on an ambassadorial mission." Kado leaned back rubbing his chin. His gaze scanned the men in the command center. Each one seemed as stunned as he that vessels were prematurely leaving Venus. Suddenly, a completely different thought came to mind. The Crow shaman he had taken prisoner had been summoned a while ago, yet he sat in his command chair without the specimen standing before him. He planned on executing the savage who had an affair with his former lover, Plenda. Kado rose and turned toward the stern of the vessel. He decided to find out what had happened to the three men he sent to retrieve the Crow. His personal quarters were located directly behind the command center on the starboard side while a massive common room spanned most of the port side. "I'll be in my quarters. Please send two men to see what the hold up with the Crow is." "Yes, sir." Quada muttered inaudible words into his headset. **** Several Sapien explorers huddled around a fire pit outside their dome dwelling. Unlike Plenda's cave home, this temporary structure was man-made, and had been erected by the AC-10 bots. The lodging could have doubled as a mountain if it only had a craggy, soil surface as opposed to its malleable metallic covering. The AC-10 bots unfurled sheets of soft aluminum over the sturdy frame, which consisted of snap-together rods. The seams were heat sealed to prevent leaks. The set of mechanical builders that erected this dome were currently with Marin on Cordova. Caryn maneuvered her craft onto a freshly dried concrete slab that held fifteen other vehicles used by the scouts. "Don't say anything about your pregnancy." "We don't want to be pinned as the cause of these attacks." Plenda spoke the truth realizing soon

enough, her people would figure out why the Crows were retaliating. "You don't want to be pinned as the cause, don't you mean?" Caryn chortled softly as she patted Plenda. "I thought you might like all the attention." Plenda forced a giggle through all her pain. Caryn was the only one who understood her. She sighed a moment studying the dome structure. This is where she belonged, not in some hollowed out section of a mountain. The idea of living in the wilderness sounded good in the beginning as a way to empathize with the Crows, but the security she enjoyed departed when the other scouts headed back to Venus. "Let's get inside and inform them of the situation." When Marin returned from Cordova, he could help her and Caryn break the news to the others about her carrying the unborn half Crow child. **** Each step on the metal floor carried a light sound that echoed the length of the corridor. With the skilled Sapien strapped to the lower bunk, Dornan decided to continue cleansing the vessel free of scouts. Thunderous noise penetrated the passageway. More Sapiens, he thought. The multiple echoes revealed more than one set of hurried footsteps as the floor below began to vibrate. They're getting closer. Dornan knew this rush of men came to investigate why the others had not reported back with their prisoner. He slammed his shoulder into the closest entry panel he could find only to dent the door. Unlike doors on Earth, these had been set inside the frame of the walls, unable to swing back and forth. He clenched his teeth as the distress from the hit sizzled through his shoulder. There was no place to take refuge. The dimpled panel slid open revealing four scouts with tousled hair, rubbing their eyes. Dornan woke them from a sound sleep as they fumbled back at the sight of him. He made a bad situation worse. Sapiens approached from the corridor and four were next to him. One of the men pointed while backtracking into his room. "The Crow!" Dornan's lips curled while leveling his duel blasters. "Yes. It's the Crow." He applied pressure to the triggers, pumping energy into all four scouts until no one in the room remained standing. The smell of burnt flesh penetrated his nostrils making him want to vomit. The four men stared lifelessly in all directions as their fatal wounds smoldered. Smack! Dornan dropped his weapons, gripping his upper left arm when the shot hit him. "Don't move!" Dornan found himself leaning against the corridor wall staring at the two men causing the thunderous floor vibrations. His breaths grew deeper trying to fight off the pain from the cauterized hole in his arm. He needed to gather his thoughts or he would be finished. The explorers took a defensive stance keeping their weapons trained on the Crow with their index fingers curled around the triggers. The men hadn't yet noticed the carnage in the room adjacent to them. "Hey, Crow. What's all the noise about?" the first scout asked with a blaster trembling in his hands. Dornan's chest tightened as he squeezed air from his lungs. He rolled his back against the wall and slid

down to the floor. "I'm taking this ship back to Earth." Those words required a tremendous amount of strength as he inhaled deeply to capture more breath. "You people are dim-witted, aren't you?" The second explorer chortled at his own question. The Crow remained on the floor feeling no need to rush to his own death. Dark red liquid began oozing from his wound. Reaching deep in his soul, he searched for the power to heal himself. Closing his eyes, the shaman steadied his breath in an attempt to regain strength. He mended many injuries in his village, worse than the mere laceration that stung his shoulder. "Get up. Don't force me to put you out of your misery." The first explorer stood at a secure distance with his blaster still leveled. "Just shoot him. Captain Kado won't care." The second Sapien laughed louder sliding his own weapon into its leg holster. Dornan lifted his head, breathing calmly. The molecules composing his skin cells warmed the charred tissue that covered his shoulder. The healing power the shaman possessed was his strongest magic ability. He lifted his chin allowing the back of his head to rest against the corridor wall. "What the hell is he doing?" The second explorer's sarcastic tone changed as his voice abruptly trembled with worry. Dornan ignored the Sapiens' mumbling as the pain lessened in his arm. He placed his hand over the area ripped by the deadly shot of energy. He desperately wanted to keep the glow emanating from his skin hidden from the scouts. However, lucent beams broke through his thick hands showering the walls. "Some sort of strange stuff. That's for sure," the first said. The second swiftly drew his blaster again, taking immediate aim at the Crow. Fully rejuvenated, Dornan inhaled a deep swell of air into his lungs as he burst to his feet. Before the Sapiens could fire off a shot, the Crow flung his long arms toward their weapons knocking the blasters to the floor. Both explorers cringed as their guns clanged against the metal floor echoing throughout the length of the vessel. Without hesitation, the Crow towered over them grabbing each by their ears. One effortless movement of his massive arms forced the explorers' heads to meet in a violent collision. The cracking sound of their skulls splitting was accompanied by red fluids dribbling from their eyes. Dornan released his grip, both bodies falling. A satisfied grunt escaped him as he studied the aimless looks he received from the others. He decided he must go room to room until he reached his most desired target, Captain Kado. **** "What is it?" Kado sat at his desk rubbing his temples. The deeper they traveled in space, the more his head pounded. He wondered if he could actually continue the journey back to Venus. This last attack of a splitting headache came on suddenly with twice the strength. The second set of knocks on the entrance panel were harder. "Come in." Just one night of undisturbed rest might do him some good. Once he eliminated the Crow, he

would sleep for days. "I said, come in." The panel slid open revealing Quada and another scout with blasters drawn. "We have a major problem, sir." Kado gathered his thoughts wondering what could prompt his men to cling so tightly to their weapons. A roar thundered from down the corridor. The sound was definitely human, but not Sapien. Oh no. He hopped from his console frantically scanning his quarters for a blaster. "The Crow?" "Yes, sir." Quada retreated into the captain's quarters as the other Sapien was abruptly tossed against the opposite wall. He whipped around and pressed the button to close the panel, leaving his partner trapped with the savage outside the room. Kado caught the slightest glimpse of the scout being left behind in the corridor just moments before the panel shut. The poor soul's side was blasted apart. "Fire into the panel." He could not believe the shaman had escaped, but knew he would suffer the same fate as the officer in the corridor if and the shaman wasn't killed. "Yes, sir." Obediently, the second-in-command leveled his weapon, squeezing a round of energy into the doorway. "Fire again! Now!" Kado's common sense peeled off in layers from his usually sane mind. This Crow had somehow succeeded in advancing to the front of the vessel. He hoped the savage would not succeed any further. The command bridge was just on the other side of this door. Whack! The door dented deeper with each pounding it took from the Crow's body. Whack! "Kado! I know you're in there." Whack! Three more distortions appeared in the panel. Kado and the scout fired their blasters simultaneously into the dented door, but most of the bursts ricocheted off the sheathed alloy. Kado wondered how they would deal with the monster on the opposite side when the moment came. Quada backed into a corner taking cover behind a thick, plush chair. Kado knew he should do the same. The captain hurried to the oversized console he used for official duties, never taking his eyes from the convex panel. Jamming his hands under one side of the desk, he flipped it over with a huge burst of strength so as to provide him with maximum protection. "When the Crow breaks through, fire your weapon until it discharges all its power." The beating on the panel came to an abrupt halt. Silence loomed in the corridor terrorizing Kado and his second-in-command. Funnels of smoke bellowed from the burn holes in the doorway. "How many of our men are left?" he whispered to Quada. The second-in-command lowered his head, whimpering softly. "There is no one alive but us, sir." The panel warped one final time and with a snap, pieces of broken alloy flew into Kado's quarters.

Dornan burst into the quarters in a roll across the floor smashing into the far wall. "Fire!" Captain Kado leveled his blaster trying to get an accurate shot on the Crow intruder. Quada did the same. "I can't get a good shot!" his second cried as he kept shifting his blaster in conjunction with Dornan's evasive moves. The Crow hopped to his feet with both blasters tightly in his hands, his stare focused on Kado, who was firing aimlessly in all directions. His lips thinned as a slight grin captured his face. Dornan drew one of the blasters over and behind his head. Unsure of the Crow's intentions, Kado stopped firing. What the heck is he doing? The captain steadied his aim, bringing the savage into his blaster's vector. Just stay still, he thought, and this will be over before you can blink. Quada also firmed the grip on his weapon's trigger. Dornan abruptly whipped the blaster from his hand, throwing it as opposed to firing. The weapon flew through the quarters until it struck Kado squarely in the forehead. The Crow released a grunt as the commander's body thumped onto the floor motionless. **** Hiding in the corner behind a plush chair, Quada stood tremulously. Dornan leveled the second blaster, not willing to pull the trigger unless the Sapien fired first. For an eerie moment, the two different breeds of humans studied each other. The Crow poured comforting images into his thoughts in hopes of communicating with the other breed. He had no way of knowing whether the other received the feelings he sent, but the momentary pause lingered. "I don't want to hurt you." Dornan spoke softly, not wanting to vex the scout any further, using a tone many shamans utilized when calming their distressed patients. "I wanted him." With the hand that sent the first blaster sailing to the captain's head, Dornan motioned to the dead commander of the exploratory team. The Sapien cautiously lowered his weapon until he let it fall onto the chair cushion in front of him. Then he brought his empty hands into view. "I don't know why, but I believe you won't kill me," he muttered. "Are there any more of us?" Dornan glanced to the floor ashamed of the crimes he committed, especially considering his entire young life had been dedicated to healing and saving lives. "Just one. At the end of the corridor." The Sapien's lips quivered, and there was a wild twitching in his right cheek. "Oh." His mouth opened and closed a few times before words actually left them. "The pilots, too?" Dornan thought the two remaining scouts could maneuver these huge vessels, returning him to Earth in short order. "Can you maneuver this ship back to Earth?" One side of Quada's lips bent as his eyes widened. "No. I don't know how."

Chapter Nine From the lowest walking deck that surrounded the city's spiral of buildings, Matt stared down at the orbital craft resting on the grounds of the communications building. This was the ship Jaren Cling promised would be there for him. Once the sun went down, he would return to claim it. The young Enforcer didn't like the idea of becoming a thief, but he couldn't allow the transport vessel taken by Councilor Tomas and his convicts to leave orbit with his infant sister aboard. Matt measured the distance between the deck and the ground below him. It was an easy twenty yard drop. Matt counted three cylindrical guard posts surrounding the satellite structure. Two smaller stations were in the rear of the building with the largest protecting the main entrance. The fighter craft was there as the officers rarely needed more than one and even then, it was only used in emergencies. The young Enforcer figured this would be the perfect location to hit since the other military installations had heavy security. He wanted to ask his father for clearance to another base, but knew it would only create a chain of events and tons of bureaucracy and was afraid that Lanna and the stolen vessel would be long gone by the time he had permission to fly. The last thing he wanted was his father to act illegally and void his family's opportunity to escape the dying planet. This way, he would take the brunt of any laws he broke. Considering the fact the communications building was located on the dangerous outskirts of the city, Matt wrongly assumed more guards would be present as well. He was pleased with the minimal amount of security he discovered. He needed to get his hands on the master sequence that launched all the fighters with one code. By doing so, he would be able to avoid getting caught stealing this particular craft. He needed to devise a plan and return in the middle of night in order to safely take the ship. "Don't move." Something hard nudged into Matt's back. He should've remembered to remain more vigilant in this area. The city of Ishtar boasted a low crime rate because most of its criminals lurked in the shadows of the outer perimeters. "Are you sure you want to do this?" Matt placed both hands on top of his head, his back toward the person accosting him. "Quiet down and hand me your pack." The raspy voice ordered as the hard item in Matt's spine dug deeper causing more pain. The mugger was unaware that Matt had been fully trained to handle just such a situation. Matt twisted his head catching a glimpse of his attacker. Whack! The hard object slapped abruptly against his head. "Give me the pack already!" the stranger demanded with another whack into Matt's shoulder. "Nobody gets my bag." Matt clenched his rucksack. He whipped around using his gear against his assailant. The mugger dropped as the heavy sack connected with the side of his head. After a moment, the attacker jumped back to his feet and threw a punch that connected with Matt's nose.

Matt kicked hard with his right foot, cracking the sole of his boot against the thug's face. "Back off!" The young enforcer raised his right leg and spun on his left completing a perfect roundhouse into the man's chest. Matt drove his elbow between the falling man's shoulder blades, which put an immediate end to the fight. The man remained on the ground and didn't seem to desire another challenge. "I did ask you if you were sure you wanted to do this." "Ughh." The thug responded with a grunt. Matt flung his bag over his shoulder and headed back into the main section of the city. **** The stolen vessel maintained an orbit along the edge of Venus' fading atmosphere. The coolness of space brought a welcome change to the constant intrusion of the sun's rays. The rogue crew waited for the final order to leave orbit and head toward Earth. The command bridge of Ishtar's Escape, uncommonly spacious compared to other crafts used for light travel, had two former officers preparing the vessel for the long journey. Both men had relinquished their careers as officers in the Enforcers and chose to work the other side of the law. In the center of the bridge, a captain's chair held one of Ishtar's most notorious convicts, Bade Knor. Knor dabbled in many different illegal operations, including a waste scandal, which landed him in lockdown for the past five years. Councilor Tomas scripted a pardon for Knor, just hours before the Parliamentary Senate had gathered for the lottery. Bade Knor studied his crew through his single beady eye. His mangled appearance had eated at him for the past twenty years. Knor removed all the mirrors in his quarters, both at home and while in prison, so he need not be reminded of the horrible accident that melted his facial features on one side. "Where is that moron of a captain?" he barked at the officer turned pirate manning the console to his right. The scruffy man keyed his terminal keeping his gaze over his spectacles. "Captain Kado has not responded to our last three transmissions, sir." "Niko, my orders are to remain in orbit until we have exact coordinates for Earth. If we don't get in touch with that fool, our asses will end up in lockdown again." Knor refused to allow the twenty man team of criminals and thugs to return to Ishtar for that very reason. He'd rather roam the endless vacuums of space until they froze to death. Niko nudged his thin framed glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Shall I contact Councilor Tomas?" Knor resented having to disturb the councilor during the politician's rest, not because Tomas would be inconvenienced, but because it demonstrated Knor's inability to command. He hoped this disturbance would not be a reflection of his performance. "Not yet, Niko. Let's hail Captain Kado for a few more hours before we seek Tomas' advice." "As you wish, sir." Niko swiveled his seat back toward his console and keyed in a signal to other spaceship. Knor settled deeper in his chair studying the crew of cons who worked diligently at their stations. There was no doubt this holding period gave them valuable time to get more acquainted with their new vessel. Even though they were once officers, technology had advanced since their arrests. He looked forward to a fresh life on this distant planet called Earth. Tomas had promised each one of

them a prominent position in the new Earth government. Knor hated the councilor, but relished the opportunity for another chance to make things right. **** Matt finished his nightly meal with his family, minus Lanna. The somber mood around the table reflected each member's thoughts and deep feelings. Matt counted on one hand the amount of words spoken in total. Mother stared at her cactus greens through her normally bright eyes now reflecting a lack of sleep and worry. At one point, she raised her fork but it fell to the floor. She never bothered to retrieve it. Captain Shal helped himself to a few bites of spunk links, which were combined meat byproducts of wild snoxen. The rest of his meal cooled undisturbed, since he was frustrated with Lanna's empty spot at the table. Kreg desperately tried to get a conversation going, but his parents weren't in the mood. Kreg had spent the last few nights fighting off nightmares of his sister's kidnapping as they continued to play over in his head. "Let's go for a walk, Kreg." Matt pushed away from the table, wiping cactus juice from his chin. His little brother could use a change of scenery. Being locked in the dwelling all day with Mom would be enough for anyone to have to deal with, much less a little boy. The two brothers removed themselves from the dining area leaving Shal and his wife alone in their misery. Matt pondered several strategies to lift his parents' spirits, but felt awkward approaching them. "Why are we leaving Mom and Dad?" Kreg slipped on his mesh footwear and caught up with his older brother, who had already cleared the front entrance. "They need some time alone." The thick night air wrapped firmly around Matt's neck as a reminder of how close Venus was to destruction. "But they aren't alone." "I meant they needed to be alone ... together." Matt patted his younger brother on the head, admiring his innocence. "You and I are headed off on a secret mission." Kreg glanced up at his brother as a wide grin rolled across his face. "Cool." Matt stopped and went down to one knee. He placed his hands on Kreg's shoulders and stared deeply into his brother's eyes. "You must promise to tell no one about this mission." Kreg's cheek twitched nervously as it always did when he was excited. He responded with an honest nod. "Where are we going?" "I need to pick something up." Jaren Cling was waiting for Matt with the master sequence to unlock the launch codes of the orbital fighter. "From who?" Kreg hurried behind his older brother, trying to keep up. "A mystery man. He has important papers for me." Matt prepared himself for the onslaught of questions Kreg always asked. "What kind of papers?" Kreg fired the first round of the expected interrogation.

"Just a code. That's all." He walked even faster. "What's the code for? Are you doing something against the rules?" Kreg continued as he double stepped to catch up with Matt. "Why else would you pick up a code from a mystery man?" "I told you it's a secret mission." "So what's so secret about some dumb codes?" Kreg was persistent in his cross examination. Matt stopped and turned. He gazed at Kreg and held out his index finger. "No more questions. Got it?" Kreg threw his hands up into the air. "Hey, you asked me to go with you, remember?" **** Councilor Tomas strolled down the wide corridor of his acquired vessel full of ideas on how he would take control of Earth once his team of thugs arrived at their new home. His sleep was interrupted by the one he hired to pilot the craft, Bade Knor. At least he had managed to get some rest. Tomas approached the entrance panel to the command bridge, curious to know why he had been summoned. His fingers tapped the red button which opened the sliding partition, revealing the crew at their stations. In the center of the room, Knor spun his command chair around, greeting Tomas at the door. "Good to see you, sir." Knor's lips curled. "I apologize for any inconvenience I may have caused during your respite." Tomas couldn't bear to look directly at his captain. The deformities on Knor's face repulsed him to the point of becoming ill. "This disruption better be good, Captain." Knor's single eye narrowed as his lips thinned to a straight line. All the pleasantries escaped his face. "I assure you, sir, it's quite urgent." Tomas stepped onto the bridge and focused on Venus' distant surface through the forward view ports. "The problem being?" Knor stood from his chair taking a stance next to the councilor. Tomas thought he'd be sick. He hoped that when he turned toward the captain, he would be facing the the normal side of Knor's face. "We've made numerous attempts to contact Captain Kado, but have been unsuccessful." Bade Knor's heavy breathing also offended Tomas. The councilor stepped closer toward the view ports, hoping he wouldn't be followed. "He has our coordinates." Knor nodded in agreement. "I was of the understanding you possessed them as well." Tomas chuckled softly while shaking his head. The only thing he possessed was the coordinates sent through his communication device back in his office. However, those were from the Kado's location when the transmission was made. "So we don't have coordinates, sir?" Knor's eye ticked nervously back and forth in its socket. "Relax, Bade. We will have our coordinates. We'll wait them out for another few hours and if there's no contact, we'll proceed to the previous set." Tomas knew it would only be a matter of time before the Parliamentary Enforcers would burst through the atmosphere hunting him, the infant girl and the vessel.

"Yes, sir." Knor returned to his chair and dropped into it. "We'll keep attempting to reach Kado and his crew." "Very well." Tomas pivoted on his heels and headed for the entrance panel. His next task would be to check on the infant girl. She was a powerful shield that might prevent him from being blown out of orbit. **** The stars danced in the deep dark sky over Ishtar. Matt knelt near the window using their natural illumination to pack the last of his gear. He stretched his upper body toward a night table. He reached into an open drawer, retrieving his blaster. Once his weapon went into the pack, he drew the strings tight closing in its contents. The Parliamentary codes forbid any weapons to be displayed openly unless the person was on active duty. He strapped the pack to his back, and got to his feet. The craft he scouted out earlier was along the outer perimeters of the city. He'd holster his blaster once he got there due to the filth and scum of Ishtar loitering in those areas. Besides, he didn't know what to expect once he reached the communications center. Someone had already tried to steal his pack, so why risk it at this late hour? Did Jaren's connection place a bow on the craft as a gift, or would he have to steal it?

Chapter Ten Matt hopped three ground transports before finally reaching Ishtar's outer perimeter. He had left home over an hour ago, so he had to move quickly before the sun shed light on this side of the planet again. He left the transport platform and headed toward the railing that protected pedestrians from the one hundred meter drop to the surface. He glanced over the side seeing the communications center now illuminated by the artificial bulbs around the structure. Reaching the lower deck, Matt scanned the area in search of the single orbital vessel he had spotted during the day. From his vantage point, he could not see a single craft. Hopefully, it hadn't been moved. Maybe he needed to get a closer look from the ground. The ship was probably hidden in the darkness. He slid the pack off his shoulders, bringing it to rest in front of him. He loosened the straps and reached inside, drawing out a thick coil of cord and dropped it on the walking deck. Then he removed his blaster and tucked it into his leg holster. He tugged the strings closed and arranged the pack back on his shoulders. Matt scanned the area for possible witnesses. When he deemed it safe, he lowered the cord along the deep drop below until it dangled an arm's length from the dirt. He fastened a tight knot to the protective bars that formed the railing and flipped his leg over them as he began the task of sliding down to his destination. His boots touched the ground when the young officer shifted his gaze above to the walking decks. Matt couldn't believe he descended twenty meters below the city's main level on a rope. Looking around, he noticed he cast a long shadow on the dry soil that covered most of the Ishtar's outer perimeter. Matt turned to face the structure in hopes of seeing the craft he'd noticed earlier in the day. He rethought the idea of having the orbital fighter gift wrapped. The yellowish glow of the lights splashed against the main sections of the building, with the corners and indentations still as dark as the night. Matt panicked wondering how he would return to the upper decks if this mission proved futile. He knew there were many dangers which lurked in the shadows below the city. He stepped away from the shower of light, preferring to hide in the shadows of darkness the overhanging decks provided. Heading along the perimeter, he hoped to get a better glimpse behind the communications building. He had to be missing something. The ship was here when he staked out the building earlier. There. His heart pounded beneath his jumpsuit. Matt discovered the very thing he hoped to find. Glimmering faintly in the darkness, the craft rested peacefully with its four landing feet nestled in the soil. The area seemed unusually quiet, which bothered Matt. Most communications buildings were bustling with activity at all hours of the day and night. The only possible explanation could be that he arrived during a change in shifts. If that were true, then he only had a few moments to spare before the patrols returned to their outdoor posts. Matt spotted one post just beyond the craft. The posts were easy to discern by their cylindrical shapes, just wide enough to seat two officers and hold a small table. Dim lights radiated from the slender doorway. The other, identical in design, was just outside the rear entrance of the building.

He inhaled deeply while gathering his thoughts. Matt needed to grab that craft before the guards returned to duty. His boots thumped lightly against the dusty soil as he hurried toward the waiting craft. As Matt approached closer to the vessel, he realized his father's pessimism about the craft wasn't without merit. This tiny ship had a sharp nose to go along with its sleek wingspan. The aerodynamic design confirmed the craft's primary function of exiting and reentering the atmosphere with the least amount of friction. Lanna was hovering somewhere above Venus' surface in a hasty journey to the new planet, Earth. Matt was confident he could meet the stolen vessel in orbit and stop his sister's kidnappers. He couldn't wait to see the astonishment on Tomas' face. He gently placed his flat palm against the metal hull of the craft wondering if the controls inside were similar to the S-4s he used to pilot. He ran his fingers along the fine craftsmanship of steel grooves and dimples of the ship. The surface underneath was a rough, blackened coating designed for reentry into the atmosphere. "Move one more step and we fry you," a deep voice boomed behind him so abruptly, the hairs on his arms stood at attention. **** Tomas cradled Lanna in his arms studying the infant as she sucked on her thumb. He hated to take the child from her parents, but knew that keeping her close would guarantee his safety. No Enforcer would use the threat of heavy guns out of fear of harming Captain Shal's daughter. The councilor pursed his lips making a calm, clicking noise with his tongue. "Hello, pretty girl." He slid the palm of his hand snugly around the back of Lanna's tiny skull and drew the infant closer to his face. "I'll take good care of you when we get to Earth." He wiggled his nose. "Yes I will." The speaker near the entrance panel crackled to life with a hiss of white noise. Tomas glanced over wondering what he was being summoned for this time. He had such high hopes of having a competent crew, but quickly discovered the criminals were dependent upon his every command, even the two ex-officers on the bridge. "Sir?" He wanted to respond immediately, but instead, gently lowered Lanna back into her crib. "Sir?" "I'm coming," he whispered, trying not to frighten the child. He found himself liking the baby more than anyone else aboard the vessel. "Sir?" the voice boomed a third time over the speaker causing Lanna to wince uncomfortably. Tomas hurried to the entrance and slapped his hand against the red button on the bottom of the device. "What is it?" he asked heatedly. If this had anything to do with Commander Knor's inability to contact Captain Kado, he would indeed be angered. "We've received a signal, sir." Knor's voice replaced the original crackling through the speakers. Tomas was indeed pleased with this bit of news for a change. The signal transmitted the coordinates of Kado's vessel. They were supposed to rendezvous with the explorers' ship and return to Earth together. However, the opportunity to do so was taken from Tomas.

Lanna had gone back to sleep. He leaned into the speaker, careful not to wake the infant. "What did Kado have to say about the lull in communications?" The speaker crackled a few times before Knor's voice clearly said, "We didn't have the opportunity to actually talk with the captain." Tomas raised one of his eyebrows as a twitch ran across his cheek. "If you didn't speak with Kado ... who sent the signal?" His excitement dissipated as quickly as it had come to him. This signal could be from any number of sources. His first thoughts were the Enforcers were baiting a trap. His second was the possibility of an alien life form attempting to acquire a distant contact. "We assume Kado sent it because the coding matches that of the explorers' vessel." Knor stopped speaking abruptly. The military possessed abilities to interfere with radio signals and replace them with their own codes. The coordinates Knor received must be an attempt to ambush their vessel and rescue Shal's infant. **** "State your business. If you weren't wearing a uniform, you'd be dead already." A tall dark figure stood silhouetted in the artificial lighting. Matt kept his gaze trained on the figure's blaster, leveled directly at him. "By order of the Supreme Lorde, I am authorized to seize this craft." Matt pivoted his heels in the soil to face the guard. "You look familiar." The guard advanced toward Matt lowering his weapon. Confidence grew in Matt and he relaxed a bit seeing he was dealing with someone who undoubtedly knew his father. "I am Officer Matt Shal of the Ishtar Vessel Command." The guard crept closer revealing his chiseled facial features. His deep blue eyes focused in on Matt's jumpsuit. "I knew you were familiar." The guard placed his hand on Matt's shoulders smiling. "How is your family?" All the fear of being imprisoned by the guards left Matt and he let go with a long sigh as he allowed himself a moment to get a better read on the officer. "My mother is devastated, of course, and my father's a walking mess." Matt tapped the hull of the craft. "The Supreme Lorde gave me the use of this craft to chase after my sister." He didn't need to explain further. Every citizen of Ishtar was familiar with the story of Captain Shal's recent plight. "Did the Supreme Lorde give you any credentials to offer us?" The guard removed his hand from Matt's shoulder and held his palm open waiting for some sort of official notification. Matt's gaze darted toward the ground as he mentally rummaged through various excuses he had stored in his memory banks. After a momentary pause, he stared directly into the guard's hard gaze. "I'll wait here if you wish to contact the Supreme Lorde's office." Matt knew his words to be a lie, but figured if the guard went to check his claim, he would have the time he needed to take the ship. The officer's lips curled as he nodded in agreement. "That sounds fair enough." The guard waved his index finger. "Stay right there." Matt responded with a grin and a wink. The guard strolled to the post nearest the rear entrance of the communications building and went inside.

Matt knew this was his only opportunity to rescue Lanna. The Supreme Lorde knew nothing about this, which meant there would be a denial permitting the craft to leave the grounds. He stood in place contemplating his next move, though he already knew what he had to do if Lanna were to have any chance of being rescued. He needed to steal the craft immediately. He ran his fingers along the bottom of the transparent canopy until they caught a hidden latch within the seam. With a hard flick, the entrance to the cockpit snapped open with a slight hiss. Matt turned and climbed inside the sleek craft nestling himself in the pilot's seat. He flipped a blue switch that sprouted from the right side of the control panel. The canopy slowly eased itself closed, again hissing as the seams resealed themselves. He reached into his sleeve pocket to retrieve the codes Jaren had given him. He punched the sequence into the main keyboard in the center of the control panel. A series of symbols scrolled across the LCD display and ended with a combination of six letters and numbers. He entered the rest of the entry code and waited. If the thrusters fired, he had the correct code. If they didn't, he would be in a world of trouble because the guard came out of his post, arms flailing in the air. **** The Supreme Lorde leaned over his desk with his head in his hands. The very thought he was forced to deny Matt Shal's request to launch the orbital craft ripped through his heart. He secretly hoped the boy managed to escape the guards at the communications building. He raised his head from his palms and pushed himself upright in his plush chair. Rising to his feet, the Lorde strolled toward his wall-sized windows to stare over the main city. Venus had five major cities and several smaller civilized areas. Each controlled by a Lorde. Ishtar was governed solely by the Supreme Lorde. Evacuating the millions who inhabited this planet was a problem he fought every day of his administration. Through the lottery, two thousand citizens had been picked who would board the vessels. If he ordered the launches immediately, there would still be time to rescue Shal's daughter. In the back of his mind, he knew the infant was the luckiest of them all, since she would be far from Venus when its destruction finally came to pass. In his opinion, it would make a difference to send the minute number of citizens to Earth immediately. The vessels would be able to return earlier and join the next wave, which would double the amount of migrants. He lifted his arm revealing the comm device strapped to his wrist. He slid the annoying end of his robes beyond the device. "Set the Earthbound Fleet in motion." "Yes, sir," a voice crackled in response. "And give me a direct feed to Captain Shal." He didn't care if what he was about to do broke every principle he cherished. Captain Shal and his family meant more than any ethical code. Shal had served the Lorde faithfully his entire political life. The time had finally come to repay his most loyal officer. **** Matt noticed more guards hastily exiting the communications building with their blasters drawn. He hoped he could get off the ground before they fired. Each officer advanced to a certain point and leveled their weapons in his direction. The blue-eyed guard he'd spoken to previously left his blaster in its leg holster as the man continued to

wave frantically and scream words Matt could not hear. Matt appreciated the nonviolent attempt to stop him, but he was determined to save his sister. "I'm so sorry," he whispered as he clenched the control throttle snugly in his hand. He made certain none of the guards were near the thrusters as he rotated them into a vertical position forcing the engines to push their energy into the soil. "I have to save Lanna." As a warning, he aimed the craft's single blaster at the ground right in front of the guards and fired. He depressed a red button on the control throttle and the engines delivered a burst of flames that singed the soil. The craft hovered above the area until it attained full power. The tiny ship then shot straight into the air, safely out of reach of the guards' weapons. Matt glanced out and discovered Ishtar was now a mere clump of speckled lights with the other cities even smaller. He keyed a command into his panel forcing the thrusters to rotate and lock horizontally and aimed his craft toward the tip of the atmosphere. Fear devoured him.

Chapter Eleven "A signal has been intercepted from the explorers' vessel," the Supreme Lorde's voice stated through the comm box. "Now that we have the coordinates for Earth, I've given the order to begin the migration of the Earthbound Fleet." Shal closed his eyes anxious to get into orbit and retrieve his daughter. The news that his command of the transport vessels was upon him seemed to raise his spirits. "We have another matter to discuss." The Lorde's tone was now more subdued. "Yes, sir." Shal clenched his teeth in anticipation. "Your son has launched a fighter into orbit." Shal paused trying to catch his breath. Matt was sleeping in his room and wouldn't break code under any conditions. "My son?" "Apparently, he has initiated his own rescue attempt. He stole the craft from a communications building located in the city outskirts." The Lorde chortled. "I didn't think little Matt had it in him." "I apologize, sir." The first order of business once this transmission ended was to confirm his son was still asleep. "If it was Matt, I accept total responsibility." "Don't be ridiculous. Just make sure he finds a way onto your vessel before you leave orbit." The Lorde's generosity baffled Shal. If his son broke the code, he deserved imprisonment. "When he lands, he will be pardoned." "Thank you, sir." The captain knew the Lorde went against everything he believed in concerning Matt. Tears streamed from Shal's eyes as he remained silent. His family was breaking apart because of this Tomas character. Lanna kidnapped and Matt off on a mindless rescue. "Captain?" The Lorde's voice once again turned intense. "The people of our planet are your first priority. Do not engage in any type of space battle with Tomas if innocent lives are at stake." The Lorde cleared his throat. "You must return with as many ships as possible for the next migration, which you shall lead." "Thank you, sir." Shal flipped off the comm box. He hurried into Matt's room and his heart thumped at the sight of an empty bed. Could Tomas really have pushed us to these acts? Once his family left the surface, he would capture his son's orbital craft and place it in the vessel's docking port. Then he would chase Councilor Tomas all the way to Earth if necessary in order to ensure the kidnapper's death. **** Niko swung his chair to face Bade Knor. "Sir, an orbital craft has pierced the atmosphere and is heading toward us." Knor tightened his grip on the armrest of his command chair. "They're coming for us." Everyone assumed the Parliamentary Senate would have waited longer before sending their fighters into orbit. This was happening much too soon, considering the bureaucracy involved. "Estimated time of engagement is less than ten minutes, sir." Niko turned back to his console.

"How many are there, Niko?" "Only one." Knor figured a full squadron of orbital fighters would advance on the stolen vessel. It seemed odd that just one craft entered space. "Let me know when others follow." "Yes, sir." The convict keyed a sequence of codes into his control pad. "There haven't been any other significant liftoffs. At least not coming through the atmosphere." "Keep an eye on it. I'm sure others will follow." Knor assumed the fighter might be on some sort of first contact mission. Perhaps this approaching officer was sent to negotiate an exchange for the infant girl. "What should we do when the fighter gets closer?" Knor chuckled as he whisked his hands through his hair. "Advise the top turrets to blow it apart as soon as it's within range." **** Matt relaxed the tight grip he had on the throttle allowing the stick to return to its natural position in the center of the control panel. The stolen vessel was in his sights, his sister in his thoughts. I'm coming, Lanna. The glimmering chunk of steel magnified as his orbital craft advanced toward it. The vessel's size and design were something to be admired. He just needed to devise a strategy that would get him safely aboard Ishtar's Escape. The stern of the transport had a good-sized docking bay, which was created to house a dozen fighters. This particular vessel's bay was empty due to the fact it had been taken before the smaller crafts could be placed within. He thanked the Gods because an all out fight in space was not something he desired. All Matt needed to do now was convince Tomas and his convicts to open the hatch. The best approach would be to fight once he was on board, then return the vessel and of course, get Lanna safely back to Venus. Matt pressed down on a blue comm button. "This is orbital craft..." He glanced at the call numbers on the top right side of his control panel. "F28-60. Can you read me?" Nothing but white noise crackled through his speakers. He didn't think Tomas would respond, but he had to make contact with someone in order to board. "This is orbital craft F28-60. Can you read me?" **** Niko held a cupped hand over one ear as he stared at his console, which was on the far left side of the command bridge. He glanced over at Knor, who begun mapping the coordinates of Earth from his command chair. "The fighter is attempting to make contact, sir." Knor raised his single eye, which had become tired and felt like it was riddled with red. "Is it alone?" "It appears to have entered orbit by itself, sir." Niko squinted as if he received another communication while he spoke. Knor shifted his gaze toward the huge window wondering about his next move. Blowing the small craft

out of orbit might not be wise. A fighter alone usually meant someone was breaking the rules. Orbital crafts never broke atmosphere alone. This situation could be handled without Councilor Tomas' advice. He desperately wanted to prove his worthiness in hopes of gaining a higher position once they reached the third rock. "Permission to contact the fighter is granted." "Yes, sir." The convict excitedly punched a few codes on his keyboard sending a confirmation tone to the small craft. "This is Ishtar's Escape." He looked back at Knor for confirmation. The normal half of Knor's lip lifted in a foul attempt at a smile. "Ishtar's Escape. Yes. This is the Ishtar's Escape." He chuckled to himself and returned to his coordinates. **** Ishtar's Escape? An appropriate name for this transport vessel, Matt thought. "Greetings, Ishtar's Escape." While waiting for a response, Matt improvised what he considered the perfect ploy. "I am Matt Shal. Enforcer officer and older sibling of the infant you have abducted." Silence lingered momentarily as Matt figured he sent Tomas into a tizzy. "Did you say you're a Shal?" the voice finally asked. Matt hit a nerve somewhere within the the transport vessel. He inhaled deeply before speaking. Whatever words he used now would be critical. "I have come to surrender myself in order to keep watch over my sister." "Hold on just a moment," the voice returned. **** "He wishes to surrender, sir." The convict adjusted the earpiece. "Should we allow him to board?" Knor leaned back in his chair and rubbed his chin in deep thought. Something didn't sound right with an Enforcer turning himself over to Councilor Tomas. However, this was not an ordinary officer. It just happened to be the older brother of the kidnapped infant. That meant there would be no risk of a suicide mission because he highly doubted that Matt Shal wanted to risk blowing his baby sister into pieces. There was no way the fighter could single-handedly destroy or even cripple a ship of this size with all its defenses. However, Matt Shal might realize this and could've planned more deviant efforts for when he actually boarded. "Should we notify Tomas, sir?" The convict nudged his earpiece. Knor straightened his body and puffed out his chest. "I think we can handle this on our own." He could only imagine the satisfied glow in Tomas' eyes when the councilor heard that two of Shal's children were now in his possession. "What can we handle on our own, Commander?" Knor twisted in his chair and faced Tomas, who stood in the entrance of the command bridge. "Oh, ah, sir." Knor smirked, a bit of nervousness evident in his voice. "What's happening here, Bade?" Tomas walked onto the command bridge and stopped next to Knor. "A fighter is upon us?" The councilor stared out the window. Knor cleared his throat wanting to exude confidence to his superior. He needed to prove to both his crew and himself that he could indeed handle this situation without supervision. "It appears to be a single fighter requesting permission to board, sir."

Tomas released a long, sorrowful sigh from his lips. "Shoot it out of space, Bade." "But, sir." Knor hopped to his feet as a twitch pinched the cheek below his good eye. "It happens to be the infant's eldest sibling, Matt Shal." Knor could see the rise the name of the pilot had given Tomas by the way the councilor's brow lifted. Tomas approached the view port and touched the transparent plexi just under the image of the fighter. "What is your decision, Bade?" He kept his gaze on the view before him. "It's my belief we should allow the officer to board. We can meet him in the docking bay with blasters. Then we can keep him with his sister. They way I see it, Councilor, two Shals in our possession would be even better than one." Knor knew he hit home with the councilor when for the first time since he knew Tomas, Tomas actually looked him in the face and smiled. "Permission granted." Tomas approached the entrance to the main corridor. "Make sure we have at least five men to greet Officer Shal." "Yes, sir." Once the councilor left, Knor collapsed into his chair relieved he'd made a sound decision. He thought of the future, catching a glimpse of himself as a great leader on Earth. "Sir, your decision?" Niko asked while waiting at his console. Knor nodded as he combed his fingers through his hair. "Allow the fighter to board and do like the councilor says and meet young Shal with a party of five." **** Matt grinned when he heard the words. He would be allowed to board, which meant he was one step closer to Lanna. He guided the orbital craft around the transport vessel keeping an eye on the top turrets that trailed his every move. Matt gasped at the elegance of the docking bay doors as they slowly slid open inviting him inside the vessel. Seeing the doors open and close from the hangar was nothing compared to their smooth movements in orbit. "Ishtar's Escape ... This is F28-60. I am prepared to dock." Matt sensed the veins in his hands trembling as he feared slamming his craft into the side of the transport vessel. He had flown quite a bit in the past, but only a few times in orbit and that was with an instructor. The docking bay doors opened wide like the mouth of a predator waiting to swallow its prey. "Steady ... steady now." Matt muttered under his breath as he piloted his orbital craft through the bay entrance with gentle touches upon his controls. **** Beyond the enormous row of empty hangars, a vast field was host to the eighteen transport vessels undergoing last minute preparations for the maiden voyage to Earth. Not a single blade of vegetation inhabited the launch field. The surface consisted of tiny stones and dusty soil contained behind a tall electric gate. Passengers who had been fortunate enough to be chosen through the lottery formed long lines along the vessels' entrance ramps. Captain Shal nudged his wife and youngest son up to the gated entrance. Shal embraced his wife with one arm while he tucked Kreg under the other. Once he arrived inside the field, he needed to meet with the other commanders and assume control of the operation.

Shal heard that Matt had surrendered to Tomas. The entire conversation between his eldest son and Ishtar's Escape had been recorded on the surface. He blinked a few times hoping the tears would dry themselves before they ran down his face. "What's wrong, Dad?" Shal wiped the tear welled in his eye. "Nothing, son. Nothing." "We've been expecting you, sir." An officer stood near the opening in his black jumpsuit waving to Shal and the remnants of his family. Shal tugged his wife and son up to the front of the line. "Excuse me. Pardon me." The three of them made it through all the people. As popular as the plight with his daughter had become, he was thankful nobody recognized him except for the few military personnel. Boom! A thunderous wave vibrated through the atmosphere. Shal glanced up as a squadron of orbital crafts ascended through the air. "What are they doing?" he asked the officer as he approached the gate. The officer's lips curled as his gaze gently lit upon Shal. "That's the force hoping to intercept Councilor Tomas before they leave orbit." The officer glanced over at Shal's wife. "They also hope to bring Matt and Lanna back down so they may board the vessel with you, ma'am." **** "It's a trap!" Knor rose from his command chair as soon as he noticed the squadron of fighters piercing Venus' atmosphere. "That little twit tricked us." Niko turned to Knor. "What do we do now, Commander?" "Punch in those coordinates from Kado's craft." Knor planned on taking the vessel out, regardless of Tomas' opinion. "What about Councilor Tomas?" the thug asked. "I'm the commander of this ship. Do as I say!" Knor slammed his fist against the back cushion of his chair. If he didn't pull out of orbit immediately, he and his crew would spend the rest of their lives in lockdown. "Right away, sir." The man began punching the keys in his console. The alarms came to life with a resounding blare. **** The locks that sealed the docking bay doors resounded through the huge, empty hangar. Matt listened to the wheezing of the air pressure returning to its normal level. Matt lowered the orbital craft gently scraping its landing gear against the virgin bay floors of the transport vessel. He flipped the latch to open the canopy. "Welcome aboard, Officer Shal." Five of Venus' most brutal men appeared in the bay entrance. Each had a blaster trained directly on the young Enforcer. Matt climbed out of the cockpit of his craft knowing he would have to play along until he could figure out

a way to gain the upper hand. "Thank you for having me." As his boots hit the metal floor, he placed his hands over his head. "I just want to see my sister." A sudden shift in gravity level threw Matt back against his craft as the five convicts slammed into the wall behind them. The ship wailed a deafening hum and everyone slid in different directions along the floor. Matt wrapped one arm around his craft's landing gear. "What's going on?" One of the convicts attempted to stand, but lost his balance. His blaster slid across the floor leaving one of them unarmed. "I think we're moving," Matt offered. "Quite fast, in fact!" He discovered two more men had also lost their weapons while his was still snug in its holster. If he were to take a shot, now would be the time. The convicts crawled across the floor to retrieve their weapons. Matt grabbed hold of one of the landing bars on his craft so he wouldn't fly into something as the vessel's acceleration continued. He drew his blaster from its holster and focused on the men who still had weapons. Whack! He nailed the first with a perfect beam to the chest. "You!" The second man fired immediately, but was tossed to the side and ended up hitting the floor in front of Matt. The young Enforcer responded with a burst of energy cutting through the second man's torso. Matt detested the fact he was killing other people, but he knew it would be only him and his sister once they were in the deeper regions of space. "Just like your old man!" the third convict raged as he ran across the steel floor with ease. Matt was astonished at how easily this man could move in such a delicate state of gravity. The vessel jerked abruptly and the convict stopped. Something large and loose slid toward the third man. "Watch out!" one of the others warned his friend. A steel container scurried wildly into the last armed man, slamming him violently to his death. Matt then noticed the two remaining men scurrying toward their weapons. "Don't!" He leveled his weapon, alternating between the two of them. "Please don't make me do this." He had the upper hand and wanted to just bind these guys to something with some strong straps. As he stared at the men he killed, his eyes started to tear. He hated himself for what he had done to them, but he wouldn't allow anybody to harm Lanna. One convict jumped to his feet and leapt onto his blaster. He rolled over and fired it rapidly. Thankfully, he was a horrible shot. Matt sighed and squeezed the trigger, firing a beam into the man's forehead. Only one thug remained and he seemed intent on becoming a hero. The escaped convict made his way across the metal floor toward the unclaimed blaster, his feet skidding in every direction. "Please stop!" Matt pleaded as he took aim. "Shove it." The man steadied himself with his arms and bent down to grab his blaster. Whack! Matt pounded the convict with two consecutive shots. The man stared at the young Enforcer smiling

before dropping face first onto the floor. The vessel again jerked violently, but Matt maintained his grip on the landing gear. He slid his blaster back into its holster waiting to make his next move. If the intelligence he had was correct, there were only fifteen more convicts on the transport vessel. Once he had taken care of them, he would return the ship to Venus with Councilor Tomas in binding straps. **** "Faster! Can we go faster?" Knor leaned forward in his command chair wanting to get away quickly. The fighters would never chase him beyond orbit. Ten crafts were vectoring toward Ishtar's Escape. "We can break sound in a few moments, but we need to buy some time," Niko stated as he continued working at his console. Bade Knor could buy time the same way he always did. He tilted toward the comm device built into his armrest. "Activate turrets. Take them out." **** Ishtar's Escape unleashed a terrorizing string of energy beads into the squadron, sending the fighters into a scattered frenzy. The transport's top turrets and the guns underneath the vessel worked in tandem, firing in random directions. A couple of the fighter crafts were split into pieces after they were caught in the blasts. "Keep on them," a pilot cried as his craft advanced. "We lost a few." "Don't let them leave," the pilot ordered. "Any sign of Shal's son?" "Not that I've seen." "They stopped firing," another added. Ishtar's Escape's rear engines glowed momentarily before it launched into the deep vacuum of space. The orbital crafts struggled to follow, but they lacked the speed and ability. "They're gone."

Chapter Twelve "Are we ready to launch?" Several days had past since the winners of the lottery entered the gates of the massive field that hosted all eighteen transport vessels. Captain Shal strolled through the narrow spaces between each of the vessels preparing to head to Earth with technical officers on each side of him. Both men were offering details about the vessels' readiness. "Sir, all the fueling systems are offline. We filled the last ship this morning." An officer in a gray maintenance jumpsuit grinned as he continued to walk next to Shal. "Excellent." Shal placed his arm on the second officer's shoulder. This technician also wore a gray jumpsuit. "How about the navigation systems?" "The command bridges are prepped for their crews and my men have coded the destination vectors for the coordinates we retrieved from Captain Kado's explorer vessel." Shal smiled in delight. His goal was to beat Tomas and his band of escaped convicts to Earth. His hopes were to greet the rogue councilor when Matt and Lanna touched down on the new planet's surface. "What of the boost modifiers?" "Their codes have been initiated in each of the eighteen vessels." The first officer withdrew a palm-sized data pad from his leg pocket. He scanned the information on the miniature screen. "It appears that the stolen vessel has yet to engage boost modifiers." Shal nodded acknowledging the officer's input. "That means they don't possess the codes." Shal's command vessel, Earthbound One, was slightly in front of the others, designating it as the lead ship. He stopped in front of his transport, admiring the podium. The Supreme Lorde would address the entire fleet from that location with the Parliamentary Senate and high officials seated behind him in the newly constructed risers. "I think you'll beat Tomas to Earth, sir." The officer returned his data pad to his pocket. Shal reluctantly smiled as he thought about his wife's mental state. Once Tomas reached his destination, the councilor would kill both Lanna and Matt. It was imperative his fleet reach Earth first. "They have a new name for this field, sir," the other officer stated. "Oh yeah? What's that?" "They're starting to call it Earth port one." The officer grinned. **** Plenda clutched her lower stomach trying to control the piercing pains she experienced. She ground her teeth in an effort to remain quiet. She didn't want to draw any attention from her fellow explorers. She cautiously got to her feet and stretched her legs. Lying in bed all day had caused her joints to stiffen up. She swept the curtains away that separated her room from the others' sleeping bunks and made her way toward the front entrance. Most of the other scouts were gone on different missions. Most of them were returning from the surface of the center moon with Marin. Plenda hurried past a small group of three scouts who had stayed behind, all playing a card game in the

common area of the long dwelling. She wanted to share the news about her pregnancy with her colleagues, but the child's being half Crow decided her against doing so. The only ones, besides Dornan, who knew about the half-breed infant were Caryn and Marin. Caryn was somewhere out in the darkness picking up her boyfriend and a team of scouts who were on their way down to the surface for some respite. From previous communications Caryn received, the moon-based village had finally been sealed tight inside a massive dome structure. A handful of scouts remained, still completing the finishing touches of the project. Plenda approached the door and exited the dwelling as she inhaled the fresh, night air. Her stomach muscles relaxed as the shooting pains lessened with each new breath. She had wasted another day in bed, telling the other Sapiens she must've been stricken by a viral infection. That excuse wouldn't last very much longer. She glanced back at the scouts playing cards. They had been so engrossed in their card game, they didn't even notice her as she slipped into the crisp air. She put her arms around herself as she relished the chill. It had grown colder each day since Dornan was taken away by Captain Kado. The relations with the Crow people who lived in the nearby village of Cuga had turned frigid. Every week, a scout had been attacked by angry Crows for the abduction of their shaman. The only deaths she knew about were the two Crows she had personally killed in self-defense. One of the Sapiens barely survived a very close call when he had been badly beaten by five Crows. However, other Sapiens ran off the Crows with their blasters. The pains abruptly returned with twice the strength they had before. Plenda sucked in short, quick breaths as she bent over to ease the pressure. It shouldn't feel this way. It never felt this way for anyone I knew. She tried to maintain her balance as the stars began to swirl above her. Her neck muscles tightened. Oh no. Everything she had eaten for dinner churned as it traveled to her lips, burning the lining in her throat. "Sapien, don't move," broken speech cautioned from the darkness. Plenda wiped her lips clean with the back of her hand. Usually, she carried a cloth with her, but this was so sudden. Her nostrils continued to sting. "Move again. We kill you," the hidden voice ordered. Sudden horror reminded her of the Crow corpses lying in front of her old dwelling. This time, she didn't have Caryn or a blaster to help her. She knew that inside the dwelling were a group of scouts playing cards and they all had blasters strapped to their legs. The doorway was only a few, quick strides away from where she stood. **** Isthar's Escape swiftly moved through the solar system. The new transport vessels had fifty times the speed capacity of the model, which the explorers had used to travel to Earth. Bade Knor leaned forward and rubbed his single eye in frustration. Councilor Tomas had wanted the small orbital craft blown out of space, while Knor desired to capture it instead, hoping to have two Shal children in their possession.

Days past and all he had to show for his decision to bring young Shal aboard were dead crewmen. Tomas assured Bade that if another man were killed, Bade would pay with his own life. "Niko, how far have we traveled?" The scruffy navigational officer input some data into his console, which brought up a solar map. Ishtar's Escape was represented as a dim blip that hovered between two large circles. One round shape was for Venus and the other, Earth. The blip was closer to Venus, but far enough away from it to confirm some distance had been achieved. "We have traveled two hundred thousand kilometers, sir." A grin grew across Niko's bony face. Bade couldn't get over the incredible distance the transport vessel had traveled in such a short amount of time. "Thank you, Niko." He shifted his attention to all the of the stars framed in the view port ahead of him. One day, he would enter the command bridge to see Earth looming in the foreground. Bade turned to the convict who worked the intraship communications. "Any new information regarding the whereabouts of young Shal?" The man looked up with a certain amount of regret on his face. Bade knew the answer, but allowed the man to respond. "I apologize, sir, but the new team we sent to scour the vessel hasn't reported back yet." Bade slammed his foot against the metallic floor. "We need to find him." Any moment now, Tomas would walk through the entrance and Bade had better have good news for his superior. "The team has searched the lower level of the vessel, sir." The convict sighed. "They are currently backtracking the steps of the last team, starting with the docking bay." The crew was wasting valuable time on the lower deck when Shal's sister was located on the upper deck just behind Tomas' quarters. "Split them up." "Sir?" "Communicate with the team. I want three of them to continue their hunt for Shal and the other two guarding the entrance of the infant's chambers." "Are you sure that's a smart move, sir?" The muscles surrounding Bade's eye socket twitched frantically. "Never question my orders!" he barked while his index finger jabbed in the man's direction. It was unwise to divide the team when the young officer killed them so quickly, but he needed the infant's room guarded. Silence loomed over the command bridge as Bade continued staring out the large view port. **** Matt needed to keep a low profile until he found his infant sister. The lower decks were too quiet. An enormous vessel like this one shouldn't have been wasted on a mere twenty people. He promised himself he would return the craft to Venus once he successfully rescued his sister. In hopes of finding a cabin he could use as a place to collect his thoughts and plan his attack, Matt hurried down the long, narrow corridor. He had scouted half of the various quarters on the lower deck, but at least twenty more still needed to be checked out.

Blaster leveled, he popped a pair of panels open opposite each other in the passageway. Matt leaned his head in and quickly noted the empty bunks and furniture still cloaked in crystalline wrap. It reminded him of the first tour given to the Enforcers when the transport vessels debuted. He methodically continued opening panels two at a time until he found a suitable cabin, which he considered the perfect place to hide. He slid open a panel that revealed quarters unlike the others. This room had been a storage receptacle for empty furniture boxes and tool crates. Matt assumed if this vessel had been launched at its proper time, these quarters would probably have been used for maintenance. The young Enforcer entered the storage compartment and pushed a waist high crate from his path. An empty lavatory was in the corner and a set of bunks filled with smaller tool crates were set against the far wall. Matt tried to remember his initial training on the tool crates. If he recalled correctly, one of the crates was furnished with a portable communications device. **** Plenda narrowed her eyes to try and see better. Someone had warned her to stay where she was, but she couldn't see who it had been. After several minutes, nothing happened. In fact, the only sounds in the area were the Earth insects. Occasionally, laughter trickled through the dwelling reminding Plenda that the explorers were still at their card game. Am I going crazy? She shifted her eyes left, then right. She cautiously took a single step toward the dome. "I said don't move," the strange voice ordered. Plenda felt her stomach churn again. She had thought the intruders left. Her fright caused the nausea to return. Either way, she had enough of the games. "Who are you?" "You must come with us," the voice said. "Who is us?" she asked, frightened out of her mind. Three Crow men appeared with their staffs extended in front of them. They weren't dressed as the emperor's guards, but instead, looked to be quite poor. They had to be from Cuga, perhaps friends of Dornan or those she had killed. Blood rushed through her body. Plenda eyed the entrance to the dome, hoping the card game ended and the men would come out to stretch their legs. She shifted her feet, when a fourth Crow appeared behind her. "What do you want from me?" she screamed, which caused the Crows to step back. The raised voice frightened them. "Close your mouth, female." The Crow facing her placed a single finger over his lips. His thick brow creased nervously over his deep-set eyes. "You trying to get killed?" Plenda couldn't stop trembling as the men on either side of her advanced. "Get away!" She swatted one's hairy fingers out of her personal space. The entrance to the dome opened a crack. A Sapien with an astonished look in his eyes stood in the doorway. Before more words could be exchanged, the Crow closest to the dome whirled his staff in his fingers. He then advanced burying the tip of his staff into the Sapien's chest. "No!" Plenda released a blood-curdling cry as one of the Crows grabbed her arm. She attempted to

shake him off, but was no match against his greater strength. "Let go of me!" She tried to pull away again, but was unsuccessful. Her gaze drawn to the sound of blaster fire, Plenda discovered a second Sapien exiting the dwelling as he fired at the Crow intruders. The Crow who killed the Sapien was now motionless on the ground in a pool of deep red blood. "Don't move and we won't shoot anymore of you." The third Sapien kneeled alongside the body of his friend and kept his weapon leveled. The Crow who clutched Plenda's arm snorted in defiance. "Tiik nok chu," he barked out in what Plenda knew to be Cratillian, the Crow language. The two other Crows faced the Sapiens and twirled their staffs so fast, that a circle appeared like a shield. "Yuk chu roo!" one of the two Crows responded. The Crow holding Plenda tugged on her arm. "Let's go." Plenda struggled and slapped the Crow on the face. "Let me go." She kicked him, but thought better of it when the infant inside her seemed to jab at her too. "How can this be happening?" She wished Marin and Caryn would come to her rescue. The Sapien explorers remained spellbound by the swirling staffs before them. They weren't trained in combat and seemed bemused by the defense the Crows had taken. The hairy Crow pulled on Plenda as his deep eyes bulged. "If you trust Dornan, you must come with us." Dornan? Did he say Dornan? Plenda didn't know how to respond. Her feet remained frozen in place. "If you leave now, none of the others will die." The Crow gave Plenda a forceful tug and dragged her into the wooded area alongside the dwelling. Simultaneously, the Crow men stopped their twirling, crouched and swiped their staffs at the legs of the Sapiens, knocking them down on top of each other. Then the Crows flipped their staffs in the opposite direction sending the Sapiens' blasters to the ground. "Please don't hurt me ... I didn't mean to kill..." Plenda's heart raced as she muttered a confession under her breath. The dome began to disappear through the thickening trees and she had no idea where she was headed. "Dornan ... Is he alive?"

Chapter Thirteen Councilor Tomas sat behind the wide console in the far corner of his room. He fiddled with a glow wand turning it on and then off again as he waited for the captain to arrive. Tomas grew impatient for answers as to the whereabouts of young Officer Shal. If Bade couldn't produce the Enforcer, the councilor had no qualms about punishing the one-eyed captain. The sliding of the entry panel forced Tomas to stop toying with his glow wand and take notice of the scraggly man who stood at attention. "Sir." Bade ran his hand through his long hair. "Come in, Captain Knor." Tomas gestured for Bade to take a seat on the opposite side of the console. "We have a crisis on our hands." Bade kept his eye on the floor while he approached the console. His heavy breathing not only disgusted Tomas, but was a dead give away of the captain's apprehension. The captain sat down and Tomas released a slow, judgmental sigh. "Bade, Bade, Bade. You've taken a nice strategy and screwed it up." Knor didn't respond immediately. Tomas figured the convict turned captain was searching for remorseful words. Bade finally lifted his head and trained his single pupil directly on Tomas. "I have screwed things up. I apologize and will work until my last breath to make it right." Tomas reluctantly grinned. "That you will, Captain." The councilor leaned back in his comfortable seat and crossed his legs. He began fiddling with the glow wand again, while he kept his gaze upon Knor. "If we don't arrive on Earth, we won't have the opportunity to rule the new government." "I understand, sir." Bade's eyes shifted from Tomas to the glow wand. "This," Tomas rattled the wand in his hand, "represents the light." He swallowed before he stared into Bade's grotesque face. "We are the light, Captain. Earth awaits us to take it from its darkness." Bade nodded in agreement, but still had a confused look on his face. "I believe the young Enforcer has the desire and the ability to snuff out our light. You have one more day to catch him." Tomas slowly turned away since Knor's face repulsed him. "And if we don't catch him?" Knor straightened in his chair. Tomas clicked his tongue against his cheek while moving his head slowly from side to side. "Then we snuff out your light, Captain Knor." The councilor switched off the glow wand. Bade cleared his throat and forced a grin. "Understood, sir." Tomas relaxed allowing all the tension to leave the room. "Now," he leaned forward and folded his hands on the console, "how has the search been going?" "I've sent an additional five man team to investigate the lower decks." Knor fidgeted. "I've given that team the order to split. Three will cover the lower deck, while the other two will guard the infant's quarters."

"So just how many men have died since Shal has come aboard?" Tomas was angry over the first five who were sent to meet Shal's orbital craft in the docking bay. Once again, Bade cleared his throat and muttered something inaudible. Tomas turned his ear toward Bade. "Excuse me?" "We have lost no more." Tomas' eyebrows arched in amazement at the number of victims who had fallen prey to Shal. "Five is too many." His fingers strummed against the console as they always did when he became nervous. How could he form a new government with fifteen men? Twenty was bad enough, but he planned to use the explorers to carry out his plans once they landed. "If we lose another life, you will have contributed to putting out the light, Captain." "We'll get him, sir." Bade stood and nodded respectfully. "Catch that young officer, Bade." Tomas smiled as a thought came to him. Transmissions within the vessel were routinely received by the Enforcers on Venus'. Anything said on Ishtar's Escape had to be carried out via one-to-one comm devices or in person. "If you do not catch him soon, you have my permission to broadcast a deadline for his infant sister's death." **** Matt huddled between a stack of empty crates studying a communications device he was fortunate enough to find in one of the tool crates. The portable console fit in the palms of both hands. He ran his fingers along the sides feeling the knobs move back and forth. One knob controlled the volume and the other controlled frequency. The clinking of boots echoing from the corridor signaled someone's approach. Tucking the device under his arm, Matt slid into an empty space under the bottom bunk. He pulled two crates in front of the bed to provide better cover. The footsteps were directly outside the entrance panel now. Matt trained his blaster through a gap in the crates. The door slid open and Matt noticed two sets of boots enter the cabin. "We have to search everything," one of the men stated. Matt tried to match a pair of boots to the deep voice. "These crates will take us hours to go through," the other said. "Just check the lavatory and I'll check around these stacks." The thicker set of boots advanced further into the room as Matt carefully watched them through the open spaces between the crates. "Nothing in here," the second voice called from the direction of the lavatory. The closer man's boots blocked the gap of the crates obstructing Matt's view. Matt could now smell them. The young Enforcer crawled further under the bed to stay hidden. He had known they would come looking for him. As he wedged himself closer to the wall, his foot caught against something. Nudging it, a stack of crates on the side of the bunk toppled over. Matt reflexively curled in his legs hoping his cover wasn't blown. "What was that?" A set of boots pivoted toward the end of the bunk.

**** Plenda's nausea worsened as the three Crows bound her hands and carried her over a rough trail that slinked through the dense wooded area beyond the Sapiens' settlement. The fear brewing for her own life was nothing compared to that which she felt for her unborn child. "Almost there." The leader of the Crows tugged at Plenda's hair. "Let go of me!" She kicked one of the Crows in the shin, sending the man to the ground, which caused the entire group to tumble. The lead Crow picked himself up and jabbed a finger directly in front of Plenda's face. It was so close, she could smell it. "You must trust me, Plenda of Venus." Stunned by the fact this man knew her by name, she struggled even more to gain her freedom. "How do you know my name?" The Crow jammed the tip of his dirty thumb between Plenda's lips forcing her to gag. "I said you must trust me and be quiet." Plenda bit down causing the man to grab his thumb with a yelp. The Crows dusted off their skins and lifted their captive off the ground. They continued moving through the woods until a clearing appeared at the end of the trail. The Crow who had just been kicked suddenly smiled as he pointed to a huge, dark object in the center of the clearing. "She waits." Plenda attempted to make out who, or what, the men were so pleased to see. At first, she thought it was a boulder of some kind, but couldn't understand why the men referred to it as ‘she.' The large object moaned and the horizon along its back extended into a jagged form. "Why do you have a dracosaur?" Then she spit, still tasting the Crow's dirty thumb. The drac's dark green scales appeared deep black in the darkness of the night. This animal's eyes radiated a reddish hue, which, when closed, transformed the drac into something nearly invisible. "Tinka. Tinka, fi tu coo." The lead Crow approached the reptilian animal and rubbed his thick hands against the drac's rough snout. Plenda knew the Cratillian word for calm was ‘coo.' The Crow was relaxing the animal. Tinka responded with a gentle purr. The drac nodded its scaly head and lowered the upper half of its body as it prepared to be mounted. Whack! A nearby tree splintered into pieces. Continuous rounds of laser fire followed. The Sapiens had come after Plenda. Two Crows leveled their staffs and twirled another set of shields blocking Plenda from the blasts. "Get on!" The lead Crow easily lifted Plenda into the drac's saddle, which was made of a combination of animal hides. "Why are you doing this?" Plenda noticed the Crows didn't use their fighting sticks to kill her friends. They used the staffs to give themselves cover against the blasters. In fact, the only man to die so far had been a Crow back at the dwelling. As aggressive as these men were, they weren't murderers. "Ahhh!" one of the Crows cried out as his right leg disconnected from his body, blood gushing out. He

didn't have the opportunity to balance himself before a Sapien emerged from the trail firing a blaster. Another blast of energy hit the injured Crow, burning a hole through his back. "Stop it!" Plenda raised up in the saddle hoping her friends would cease their attack. "Please!" "Plenda ... These men are trying to kidnap you!" a Sapien shouted as he fired at the second Crow's shoulder. The Sapiens realized that the twirling staffs couldn't block their firepower if they aimed for the centermost part of their opponent's bodies. The lead Crow leapt onto the drac, wedging his body behind Plenda. He drew a thin, flexible stick from a saddlebag and whipped it against the drac's rear scales. "Tinka! Nu don!" Three Sapiens ran into the clearing with their weapons leveled on the drac. "Don't!" one yelled as he tried to outrun the animal. "You might shoot Plenda." The drac raced across the dark clearing with the same thumping speed Plenda remembered from Dornan's jousting games. She glanced over her shoulder and watched her friends diminish in size as the night consumed them. "I am glad you decided to trust me." The Crow wiped tears from his eyes. "Retrieving you has cost us too much." **** Councilor Tomas leaned over the console with his fingers interlocked as studied every inch of Matt's body. "Did you think we wouldn't find you?" Matt's head raised when the prisoner holding him grabbed the young Enforcer's hair. Matt wrestled with the straps that bound his hands behind his back. The harder he fought to get away, the more pain he felt as his hair was pulled harder. His lips quivered as he tried to hold in the pain. Tomas stood and calmly advanced on the young Enforcer. "Certainly, we would find you." His lips curled as his gaze intimidated Matt. "At least now, we have someone to watch over your sister while we focus our energies on piloting this vessel through space." Matt's eyes bulged as he struggled for a better glimpse of his captor. The angle of his head didn't help matters. "Where's Lanna?" Tomas nodded as if answering an unspoken question. He clasped his hands in front of his chest and slowly lowered them to his belt. "Your sister is in good health. You'll be joining her shortly." "Why did you do this?" Matt's heart raced. He wanted to kill Tomas. Arresting this man was no longer an option. "Release him," Tomas ordered, gesturing for the man to let go of Matt's scalp. "Is that better?" Matt refused to answer and shook his head. "Why, you ask?" Tomas strolled back to his console and sat on the edge of his desktop. "This was the only way I would get to control the new government." "How are you and a bunch of cons going to rule anything?" Matt chortled at the thought of Tomas as Supreme Lorde. "My dear boy, as long as I arrive first, I will gain the upper hand. You seem to forget the crew of

explorers who are still on Earth." Tomas folded his arms over his chest. "My father and I will stop you." Matt attempted to extricate himself from the binding straps cutting into his wrists. Tomas muttered something inaudible. "I need you alive in case we're attacked during our journey. However, as soon as we land, you will be eliminated." Tomas gestured to the convict and the wild-looking man grabbed Matt's hands. "Take him to his sister's chambers. Make sure the panel is locked and guarded." Matt resisted as the thug dragged him out of Tomas's quarters. "I will stop you." **** Plenda and the Crow who abducted her completed their long journey across what seemed like most of the continent. The sky lightened as the three moons overhead delicately faded away. Judging by the stars, Plenda knew they were traveling north of Cuga. In the distance, plumes of smoke rose into the air from various mounds of hardened soil, which she recognized as mud huts. The little dwellings became more distinct as the dracosaur brought them closer to the village. An eerie silence loomed as the fires dwindled into smoldering ash. The drac raced toward a large mud hut along the perimeter of the collective dwellings. "Is this Tigris?" Plenda recalled that Dornan always considered Tigris to be his first home. His family still lived in the old village which had a reputation for being rebellious under the emperor's rule. "Yes. This is where you will give birth to your child," the Crow answered as he slapped the drac on the rear. The animal stopped and lowered itself so they could dismount. The large mud hut in front of them had a plume of smoke rising through its domed roof. She felt more secure when the Crow mentioned she would have her child here; not because it was a nice place to give birth, but that she'd remain alive a while longer. "Come." The Crow slid off the animal and assisted Plenda to the ground. The drac lifted its frontal section and purred softly. "Tinka. Tu ni coo. Faun tay!" The Crow patted the dark-scaled creature on the snout and sent it away through the village. The Crow clenched Plenda's arms and pulled a stone knife from his leather belt. "Don't run away." With a sharp twist, Plenda's hands were free of the bindings. Plenda massaged her wrist as she studied the tiny village of Tigris. She had planned on coming here one day, but never had the opportunity. A sudden glimmer caught her attention. "Is that a craft back there?" Ignoring her question, the Crow approached the entrance of the mud hut and grabbed the mesh covering the opening. He gently nudged it to one side. "Come." She followed him into a large, circular room with a fire blazing in its center. Beyond the fire and against the far wall, a dark figure cloaked in a robe sat on a chair made of timber. His features were hidden by a hood that covered his face. "Thank you, Rook. Are the others with you?"

the figure inquired in a deep voice. Rook, obviously the name of the Crow who brought Plenda here, dropped his head. "No, Jano. They were killed." The crackling of the flames was the only sound heard in the room for a moment. "It must be so." The figure peeled back his hood revealing a gray bushy unibrow along the edge of his protruding forehead. His skin was pocked with scars and holes, his hair thinned and white. "You may return to your clan." "Yes, Jano." Rook nodded respectfully and left. "What do you want with me?" Plenda wanted to turn and run away from mud hut. Jano gazed at her as the reflection of the fire danced inside his brown pupils. "I wish to see my grandchild born in a safe place." Plenda's heart thumped at the old man's words. She fought to keep breathing at a steady pace when the nausea returned. Was she standing before Dornan's father?

Chapter Fourteen An enormous crowd of Ishtar's citizens crammed along the thick wired gates to watch the official launch of Venus' first pilgrims journeying to a new life across the solar system. Thousands pushed up against the fences to witness the sequential launches of the first eighteen transport vessels. Most people cheered in hopes they would be chosen in the next lottery drawing. Others protested violently and they carried signs, which ranted about planetary destruction and politics. The Supreme Lorde attempted to allay the political aspects by forgoing the lottery, and had transferred his passage to Captain Shal. Most of the people felt Shal deserved immunity from the drawing. Other citizens still didn't think the system was fair. It had taken a week to complete all the final preparations. Those who had been picked in the lottery had been tucked comfortably into their cabins and they peered at the surrounding crowds from their room portals. The Parliamentary Senate thought it in poor taste to have them watching the proceedings. The officers designated to pilot and command the mission lined the grounds of Earth port one. Three columns of Enforcers stood at attention while the Supreme Lorde walked among them with Captain Shal at his side. Many of them were young and eager and destined to become great leaders of the virgin armada. They would step up to run the government on Earth. Parliamentary Guards were stationed on either side of the Supreme Lorde because he had received a recent string of death threats with two assassination attempts recently thwarted. He approached the podium placed in the center of the massive field directly in front of the loaded vessels and officers. The Supreme Lorde tapped the voice expander with the tip of his finger testing its volume. "Today," he paused with a swallow, "is both a sorrowful day and a time for celebration." The officers applauded dutifully, along with the numerous dignitaries, council members, lordes and senators who sat quietly on a set of risers behind the Supreme Lorde. "For those of us not chosen to take part in this journey, it is certainly a disappointment." A thunderous roar erupted from the crowds outside the perimeters of the gates. The man who had led the planet of Venus for generations closed his eyes wondering if he made an error in passing on his chance at the drawing. He shook the idea out of his mind. It is to be expected. "These courageous men and women," he gestured to the packed vessels, "will lead us to hope." Approval trickled through half the people who, only moments earlier, participated in the heckling. The Supreme Lorde lifted his index finger waving it slightly in the direction of the Enforceers. "These men will see to the safety of our fleet and return for our next launch." He pounded on the podium. "This is my solemn promise." The ground below him vibrated as every living person within the gates and beyond applauded emphatically with both feet and hands. The Supreme Lorde felt the atmosphere sway to one more favorable. "We have another twenty vessels being constructed as we speak. When our brave officers return, they will take twice as many of us to Earth." The overwhelming response from the crowd let the Supreme Lorde know his speech would end on a good note. Many of the protestors changed the opinions they had when they first arrived. He ended his speech with an exaggerated salute to his officers wondering if he would ever see any of

their faces again. Many of the older officers gave their passage tickets to their sons. The Supreme Lorde knew Captain Shal had a tough job ahead of him in managing an inexperienced group. He longed to recognize Shal at the event, but feared outrage from those citizens who had rallied against the captain's immunity. It would be better to let them go quietly. There was one last official duty which needed tending. Shal approached his superior proffering his hand. "Sir." The captain's facial muscles twitched. "I can never repay you." The Supreme Lorde wanted to embrace the man he not only considered his most loyal officer, but one of his closest friends. It would have to wait for another day since it would result in too many questions from the surrounding people. The Supreme Lorde couldn't afford the negative attention from the media. "You've repaid me for all your years of service." "They say Matt's orbital craft docked inside Tomas' vessel." Shal gave the Supreme Lorde a smirk. "Remember, Commander, the fleet comes first." The Supreme Lorde grinned, then nodded. The last piece of business was complete as he promoted his friend. "Tomas won't hurt your children as long as he feels he needs them. That I am sure of." "Commander, sir?" "Yes, Commander. Certainly the leader of a huge fleet can't be called captain." Shal nodded respectfully, pivoted and headed toward the lead vessel of the massive armada. The Supreme Lorde caught a glimpse of a newscribe snapping a memograph of Commander Shal approaching the lead vessel's boarding ramp. He motioned his guards to retrieve both the memograph recorder and the scribe. If that image were to be released, it would certainly destroy his newly acquired support. For a moment, images of negative press flashed through his mind. The headlines would read, The Supreme Lorde hands out passes to the new world to his friends as Venus suffers. **** Lanna's cry woke Matt from the first sound sleep he had in days, or at least what felt like it. It was hard to tell without the shift of the sun. He almost snapped at her, but then realized how fortunate he was to be close to his sister. He lifted the covers from his body and approached the infant. "What is it, Lanna?" Matt lifted the child from the pen and snuggled her into his chest. "Don't worry, baby. I'll take care of you until Daddy and Mommy come for us." As the words recklessly escaped his lips, he wondered if he and Lanna would ever reunite with their parents. His sister ceased wailing as her older brother talked to her. Matt trudged over to the coolant box and retrieved a premade tube of cacta milk. With one hand, he flipped off the seal and popped a disposable nipple onto it. The first time he had attempted the one-armed stunt, he fumbled miserably, but after four days of practice, the trick was easier to manage. Lanna swiped the feeding tube from his hand and commenced sucking on the rubber nipple. He carried the infant to his bunk and propped her up with some pillows, keeping her at a proper angle for feeding. He snuggled next to her, pulled the covers over them both and contemplated his escape plan.

He had two scenarios flowing through his head. One plan required the vessel to reach Earth. The second would play out if they were approached by the explorer's vessel. **** Dornan allowed only two of the original Sapien crew to live as long as they promised to take him back to Earth. Both men agreed and almost seemed pleased with the Crow's demands. The return trip was unpredictable as different things on the ship broke down and didn't perform the way there were supposed to. Air pressure leaked from various cabins and the two Sapiens had been forced to seal off several sections of the vessel. They also discovered the hoses connected to the engine had slight punctures. The explorer's vessel rumbled for the fifth and final time signaling to the three man crew that the engines finally failed. Dornan held his head in his hands unwilling to believe that his life would end in the coldness of space. The explorer he had tied to the bunk, Marcus, commanded the vessel from a central seat on the bridge. The floor below him vibrated with a painstaking rumble that ended in a pop. "Damn it!" He quickly looked at the Crow sitting at the console in front of him. "We'd never have made it to Venus anyhow." "Is there anything I can do?" Dornan wished he knew something about these vessels. He spent the past round a mere witness to the breakdowns of each mechanical system. The Sapien, Marcus, was doing all he could under the circumstances while the other, Quada, seemed reluctant to do anything. Marcus politely waved off the Crow's request. "No, Dornan. There isn't enough time to even begin teaching you how to use the bridge consoles. Our oxygen would be depleted before we even finished the first lesson." Quada swiveled around facing the command seat. "Marcus, the sensors are now showing that fifty percent of the cabins have lost air pressure." The scout giggled in an almost insane manner. Marcus leaned forward resting his elbows on the armrest of the chair. "What does that have to do with our engines freezing up?" "I would assume the engines' main fuel lines require a certain amount of oxygen intake, which the punctured air hoses aren't providing," Quada responded. The Crow thought he noticed Quada smirk. Dornan could speak the same language as the Sapiens, but couldn't comprehend all the words pouring from their lips. He glanced at the screen on his console and observed unfamiliar codes and symbols flickering across the display. "It appears that for every two cabins which have lost pressure, the engines revved to compensate for the lack of oxygen in the fuel lines." Quada demonstrated with his hands as he simulated a line breaking. "With the final rumble, we heard the motors finally crack. At the same time, we lost two more cabins." There was no mistake this time, the Sapien did smile. Marcus sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. Unlike his partner, the Sapien wanted to return to Earth as much as the shaman. Beads of sweat decorated the explorer's brow and a tiny drop slid off the tip of his nose. "Is there a way to repair the hoses?" Dornan asked, but wasn't sure he knew what he was saying.

"The lines," Quada corrected, "can only be exchanged when the vessel is in complete hibernation." Confused by the response, Dornan nodded and then promised himself he wouldn't ask any more questions. "We can't hibernate because you would die." Marcus looked at the Crow. "I would die?" Dornan smirked because he didn't know how else to respond. Marcus stood up and approached the huge view port, which displayed an array of stars with one sparkling brighter and larger than the rest. Earth was still so very far away. "We would have to decompress the entire vessel." He poked an index finger in Dornan's direction. "You're way too large to fit in a pressure suit, or as we call them, a PS." "How long will it take to complete your task?" If it was only a matter of maintaining a constant internal pressure, Dornan could do it with his shaman training. The real dilemma came with handing over complete faith to the Sapiens. How could he trust them when only a couple rotations ago, he murdered all their friends? "The task should only take a few moments, but the decompression process is time consuming." Marcus shot a look at Quada, who cut into the conversation as if on cue. "Our suits will hold us for a day at most, or a rotation as your people say." Quada gestured his hands in a circular motion. "So your suits will only keep you safe for that time period." Dornan sensed the men were lying to him. They might wait for his lungs to collapse and then return the air pressure to normal. He could only place himself in a trance for a few hours at best. "But we couldn't even attempt it because we don't have a pressure suit you would fit into." Marcus raised his voice. Dornan sensed both regret and sympathy in the Sapien's voice. "Go ahead. Take the air from the ship. We've been going nowhere for quite some time, or as you say weeks. I can go without air a fair amount of time." Quada chuckled and leaned back and stared through the large plexi-window. "We've only traveled one hundred thousand kilometers since the day you wiped everyone out." He turned to Dornan. "If we get home, I will have an issue to resolve with you." Tension lingered through the thinning atmosphere on the ship. Dornan had a decision to make, either trust the same people who'd captured him or die in the vacuum of space. **** With the last of the earthbound fleet launched into orbit over Venus, Commander Shal leaned back in his command chair massaging his chin. The scene beyond the wall-sized view port was the most stunning of spectacles ever witnessed. His son Matt had seen it plenty of times, but this was his first. Seventeen transport vessels hovered in the emptiness of space with Venus buoyant below them like a massive green cushion. This would be the last image of home for the vast majority of the two hundred thousand pioneers on the voyage. Each ship's set of running lights winked in succession, reds and blues combined into a beautiful display of human determination. "When will we begin advancing?" Shal asked as his gaze fixed on the vessels beyond the stars. The fleet

needed to arrive on Earth before Tomas so he could rescue his son and infant daughter. A lanky officer who barely filled out his jumpsuit stood at his post. He saluted the commander. "Sir, the advance is underway. Once the entire fleet is fifty thousand kilometers out of orbit, the coordinates will be set and we'll execute our boost modifiers, sir." The officer remained at attention. Shal nodded and asked another question. "Officer Tilman, how long is this ride going to take?" "We should reach the new world in two months and three days, sir." "At ease." Shal threw a quick salute and released his navigation officer. The commander observed each vessel of the fleet maneuver into a column. While the space caravan waited for the final ship to position itself, Shal addressed the communications officer in front of him. "Link me with all vessels, please." "Right away, sir." The communications officer swiveled toward his console and keyed in the central frequency. Every transport vessel in the fleet received this signal, which was sent on Shal's main circuit for addressing all crews and their passengers. After a moment, the officer motioned his commander with his index and middle finger. The commander depressed the comm button on his armrest and inhaled a bit of courage. "Attention, all citizens of Venus. This is Commander Shal of the lead vessel, Earthbound One. I invite you all to take a look out your view ports. For almost all of you, this will be your last glimpse of home." Shal rubbed his hands together with the knowledge that he too would never again set foot on the planet below them. Even when he commanded the return mission, he would remain on board. "We will commence our journey at an accelerated rate of speed on my orders. Please take this time to make sure you are secure in your quarters until we are safely underway." The communications officer threw a thumb up into the air in support of his commander. Shal smirked in response, then continued with his final statement. "The next time we see each other will be upon the soil of a new world. Good luck and may we have the blessings of the Gods." The commander pointed his index finger at the comm officer. "We are offline, sir." "Thank you, Ensign." Shal turned to one of the two officers standing guard on the command bridge. "Can you please check on my wife and son? I just want to make sure they are secure." "Right away, sir." The guard responded with a crisp salute and exited through the door panel. **** Matt's heart skipped when his father's voice resonated through Ishtar's Escape. He turned toward his sister, who was standing in her crib with a wide grin etched on her soft face. "Did you hear that, Lanna?" The infant responded with a giggle. Her parents had missed so much in the past few weeks as Lanna's blonde hair grew in thicker and curlier. She stood completely on her own without holding onto the crib bars. "That was Daddy and he's coming for us." A glimmer of hope rushed through Matt's mind. He wasn't aware of a frequency that communicated simultaneously throughout the fleet. His father had launched the fleet early and Matt knew the chase had begun.

Two convicts entered the cabin with their blasters drawn. "Is there something I can do for you?" Matt assumed a visit would be eminent after his father's voice echoed throughout the ship. He just didn't think it would come so soon. One of them offered a lopsided smirk. "You need to see Councilor Tomas." For a nanosecond, Matt toyed with the idea of killing these two, but with Lanna nearby, the thought quickly faded. He refused to put his sister in harm's way any more than necessary. One of the men plopped on the couch while the other remained standing near Matt. The elder strummed his fingers along his blaster barrel while he stared at Lanna, sending Matt a clear threat. "Let's go." The younger motioned for Matt to exit as he pointed to the door with the tip of his weapon. The one on the couch lifted his legs across the armrest. Matt was repulsed by the man's behavior. The young officer walked over to Lanna and reached in to take her out of her crib. "Bones will keep an eye on the little one." The convicts both chuckled. "I will not leave Lanna here. She's coming with us," Matt said. The councilor feared Matt would escape with his sister. Tomas hadn't permitted young Shal to leave the cabin since he was captured. "Sure you are, boy," the elder said, scratching himself just below his waistline. "That girl won't give me any trouble." Matt ignored their orders and brought Lanna close to him. He kissed her on the forehead and snuggled her into his chest. "If she stays, then so do I." One convict trained his blaster on Matt, while the other targeted his sister. "Our orders were for you to come alone." "Over my dead body." Matt straightened his posture as he felt Lanna trembling in his arms. "So be it." The younger one tightened his grip around the trigger.

Chapter Fifteen The fleet formed one enormous two-columned caravan. Earthbound One remained alone leading the armada. "Ready on sequence, sir." Shal held his hand in the air prepared to leave orbit first as both a sign of courage and leadership. "Start sequence." He dropped his arm as he gave the order. The floor below him rumbled slightly as the secondary engines sparked to life. He imagined what it was like for the passengers on the lower deck. The stars in front of him appeared to shift from their places, but in actuality, it was the ship moving through space. "Sequence go, Earthbound Two, do you copy?" Navigation Officer Tilman smiled into his console screen. The voice of the navigation officer aboard the second vessel responded. "Earthbound Two, go sequence initiated. Earthbound Three, do you copy?" A third echoed through the speakers. "Earthbound Three, go sequence initiated. Earthbound Four, do you copy?" The roll call continued through each of the transport vessels. Each ship ignited their secondary engines as they followed the one before it into deep space, chasing their dream of survival. By the time the ships were all in sequence, Shal needed a rest. He had been awake since the initial launch with only short naps here and there. He rose from his chair and headed toward the guards at the sliding door. "I'll be in my quarters if you need me." He turned toward his communications officer. "Ensign, alert me when we're ready to engage the boost modifiers." "Yes, sir." Shal left the command bridge and approached the cabin directly behind it. Inside were his youngest son and his wife waiting patiently for him. A table welcomed Shal in the center of the living quarters, dressed with the finest plasti-ware a military vessel could afford. Leona topped off the setting with an evening meal she specially prepared in the galley herself. She stood behind Kreg, who was seated with his utensils in hand. "Hello, honey." Leona offered a weak smile, but the brightest one Shal had seen on his spouse in months. The newly prescribed medication seemed to be taking effect as her moods lightened with each new day. "Hello, dear." He shifted his gaze to his son. "Kreg." Shal nodded. His son responded and cut through his food. Shal came behind an empty chair and drew it out, allowing his wife to sit. He took an adjacent seat. "So we're on our way." "Do you really think Lanna and Matt are okay?" Leona reluctantly smiled, but her eyes revealed her concern. Shal leaned over and kissed his wife on the tip of her nose as he caressed her hand with the back of his

fingers. "I promise. They're safe. Locked up, but safe." "Hey, Dad?" "Yes, Kreg." He was very thankful his son had interrupted. He didn't want his wife to worry about the other children. "I went all over the ship today." Kreg smiled revealing meat links stuck between his teeth. "It was awesome. I didn't know we had two decks and a docking bay. This place is a little city." "Yes it is, son." Shal cut a sliver of link and pushed it into his mouth, enjoying every morsel of flavor. The code in the galley allowed meats to be prepared once a week as part of the rationing. He savored every bite. "How long before we go real fast?" Kreg asked. Shal read the innocence in his son's eyes. "When we wake up from our night's rest, we should be well on our way." The commander's lips curled as Kreg reminded him of the gleam Matt had at that age. "So the sooner you go off to bed, the quicker you'll see the fleet go faster." "Do we have to be strapped down or something?" "No, son, it won't even feel like we're moving at all." Shal cut off another piece of his link with the edge of his plasti-ware fork. "At least that's what I was told." **** Both convicts entered the cabin on the councilor's orders. Matt had been violently shoved between them and forced to the floor. Tomas grinned down clasping his own hands. His eyes shifted to a third man carrying Lanna behind the others. He nodded toward the baby girl. "The tough guy wouldn't leave the quarters without his little sister." Tomas rocked his head in disappointment. "If I didn't lack men, I would eliminate the three of you." "Well, sir, we made a trade-off." The convict proudly proclaimed. "Oh?" Tomas lifted his chin. "His face for his sister." The ragged man laughed as he waved a bloody fist. Matt glanced up at Tomas, but could only discern a blurred figure with a reddish hue. Both eye sockets were beat so badly, they were swelling shut. He vowed he would kill every last man on the vessel. "Are you sure this is the famous Matt Shal? I barely recognize him." Tomas strutted over to the young Enforcer, his long red robe trailed behind him. Tomas went down on one knee and forced Matt to stare at him by pulling the young officer's hair. "I assume you heard your father's voice, just as the rest of did?" Matt tried to respond, but his lips were so swollen, he couldn't squeeze even a single syllable through them. Tomas tugged Matt's head causing it to nod. "Yes, I thought so. So ... he's a commander now?" The councilor released the young officer's hair so Matt's face hit the floor with a light thud.

The red blur rose into the air as Matt desperately fought to bring Tomas into focus. "The great fleet has launched. A feeble rescue attempt, no doubt." The councilor perched himself on the edge of his console. "Well, dear boy, the rules have certainly changed now." Tomas gestured for the thug to bring the infant forward. "From this moment until we reach Earth, you and your precious little sister will be separated." Tomas cradled the infant and toyed with her using soft coos and silly faces. Matt extended one arm toward the fuzzy image coddling his sister. "Die," was the only word he could muster. Tomas' face brightened as his eyes widened. "Oh yes. You will certainly die. Once we have landed this vessel safely on our new home, you will certainly die." "Where should we keep the girl?" The convict once again held Lanna. "Move her crib into another cabin. Guard it from the inside. In case our Enforcer friend here decides to try something, he won't know her location." Matt never considered the councilor for a fool. The man worked his way up in the Parliamentary Senate too quickly and ruthlessly to be second-guessed. "Yes, sir." Two of the convicts left the quarters with Lanna crying as she reached for her brother. Matt turned his head toward the door, but couldn't swivel his neck quick enough to catch them leave. Frustration began deep within him. He glanced up through the slits in his eyes to discover the reddish blur had a head attached to it. He swore that head would be removed when his strength returned. "Now, my boy, we will reach an understanding before I return you to your quarters." Tomas made himself comfortable on the console. "If you even think of escaping your room and killing more of my men, I promise you that your sister will be killed immediately." Tomas clapped his hands together. "Okay, take him to his room. Keep him monitored so he remains alive for the remainder of the voyage." "Yes, sir." Matt's head collapsed onto the floor as the room spun around him. The man in red faded to black, and he lost consciousness. **** The explorer ship floated aimlessly in space drifting in the direction its engines last pointed. Several sections of the hull began to constrict as cabins completely emptied of pressure. As bits of flotsam knocked the ship, no matter their size, they created huge dents in the craft. The three men aboard the craft huddled in the engine room. The two Sapiens found new hoses to replace the broken lines. They'd gone over the plan several times with Dornan, hoping he understood. "Okay. We don't have a lot of time to finish this." Quada sealed his gloves to the sleeves of his pressure suit, peering through the soft head gear. "Are you sure you can hold out?" Marcus asked Dornan. The shaman's knees rubbed against his chest as he was crammed into a supply closet. "I'm sure, but no more than one of your hours." At first, the Crow didn't feel he could trust the Sapiens, but sensed empathy in Marcus. Marcus winked at the Crow. "It'll only take a few moments. We already gathered the new hoses. The most time will be taken by the decompression process."

Dornan gathered from their conversations that if something collided with the vessel during decompression, the entire ship would implode. Before attempting decompression, the crew waited for another shower of flotsam to drift past the ship. Quada flipped the lid of his soft helmet over his face. "Let's get this over with." His voice was muffled through the suit. "You need to get inside the closet." Marcus motioned and Dornan forced his large shoulder into the closet. "I'll be fine. One hour, right?" The Crow hoped his anxiety didn't reveal his true fear. Marcus snapped his face shield into place and offered a thumbs up with both gloved hands. He pulled down a lever that delivered an abrupt hiss throughout the vessel. Decompression had begun. The men retrieved a few tools from a metal crate, then headed toward the engines. Dornan pulled the closet door until it sealed. The Sapiens promised he'd be safe in here. He needed to use a technique shamans practiced during their training. In preparation, he inhaled a series of deep breaths and allowed his eyes to close. After a moment of meditation, Dornan's chin drooped to his chest and he felt the discomfort of his cramped legs. His forehead rested comfortably on his knees as a soothing feeling came over him. The tips of the shaman's hair glowed pure white over his entire body. Dornan succumbed to the hibernation technique, which overwhelmed both mind and body as his limbs went numb. Only his sense of hearing remained. The hiss wasn't as loud anymore and finally, the only thing he could hear were the sounds of the Sapiens completing the repairs. Visions of Plenda haunted his soul and his fate was now in the hands of the very men he spared while killing their friends. The images that clouded his mind portrayed the woman he loved engulfed in pain. **** The village of Tigris remained quiet most of the day. The clan of hunters left the settlement in search of food for the evening meal. They would return to share their booty with the entire community. Plenda spent her time hiding in the mud hut located along the edge of the settlement. The pressure in the Sapien's stomach hit her often and for longer periods. The child inside her was positioned snugly inside her. The movement of the baby excited her as an impression of a foot poked above her navel. With all the discomfort of the past few days, Plenda concentrated on the joy of having a life growing inside her. She eased back on a massive pillow stuffed with dactalcon feathers and a bed covered with warm furs. The sleeping arrangements couldn't have been more serene. Dornan's father provided Plenda with a safe shelter and a warm place to birth her child. However, her abduction had yet to be explained. The old man had learned about the pregnancy from two others, but refused to divulge their names. Plenda whiled away her boredom by wondering about the identity of the informants. The entrance flap of the mud hut rustled to life and Plenda struggled to prop herself up from the depth of all the feathers. Jano intruded through the thick-skinned partition. The old man acknowledged the mother of his grandchild with a polite nod while clasping his hands

together. His resemblance to Dornan was astonishing. Plenda pictured a future version of the man she loved as she gazed at his father. Jano's thick eyebrows protected the deep sockets that cradled his dark brown eyes. The two men were identical, except for Jano's salted hair, wiry white beard and the deep creases etched in his worn face that revealed his years. "Hello, Jano." Plenda straightened and jammed a down pillow underneath her arm. "Good sun, Plenda." The old man squatted on the floor next to the Sapien and crossed his legs. She gestured to the chair, but Jano shook his head. "I am quite comfortable here and I'm ready to answer any questions you may have." "It's about time." Plenda would've liked Jano better if he didn't make her feel like a captive. Sure the old man reassured her that she wasn't a prisoner, but the two Crows posted outside the mud hut told her differently. The old man's lips curled in a way that comforted Plenda. "I needed to make sure all the pieces were in place before I told you anything and I very much thank you for your patience." "You speak my language very well for a Crow." Plenda rolled her eyes. "No offense." "Ever since your people came here, Dornan has been returning to the village to teach us what he learned." A single tear slid down the side of Jano's face. The old man wiped his cheek dry and brought his index finger close to his face. "Funny how you build a family, watch them grow and then lose them." "Dornan learns very quickly." Plenda ignored the family comment and referred to the fact that Crows had an incredible ability to learn and then replicate that knowledge. "That is why Dornan was selected to train as a shaman." A moist film glossed over Jano's eyes. "So, you are the reason my son was taken from us by Emperor Pernius?" Plenda resented the question. Was the old man blaming her for Dornan's exile? "That's not fair." Plenda tapped her stomach. "Dornan had as much to do with this as I did." "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to anger you. I mean that you are very," he appeared to be searching for his next word, "attractive." "Thank you. I appreciate everything you done for me, but I need to return to my people." Plenda couldn't take another night of eating reptile meat brought in by the hunters. Stegolizards seemed to be the easiest catch and therefore, the most common dish served. "You can never go back." The creases in Jano's skin twitched as his eyes signaled his regret. "You don't understand." Plenda jumped from the bed, cringing as the infant inside her abruptly twisted. She cupped the lower half of her stomach trying to relieve the pressure. "They'll look for me; they'll be worried..." Jano interrupted with, "They will kill you." The old man got to his feet and gently assisted the Sapien. Nothing in the world could've prepared Plenda for that statement, yet the old man's words stung. "Kill me?" She giggled in disbelief fighting her sudden fear. "Kill me? Have you lost your mind?" Jano looked deeply into her face. "Your friends won't kill you, but the emperor has ordered your death at his daughter's request."

Plenda needed a moment while she allowed this information to sink in. "Pernius' daughter wants me dead?" A sudden rage ignited within her. "They took Dornan from me! Isn't that enough?" "In Malanna's eyes, you are to blame for the termination of her life bond with Dornan. From what I've heard, there has already been an attempt on your life." The old man's dark brown eyes were filled with sorrow. "The emperor has already taken my son from me and our people. He was willing to sacrifice the greatest shaman of our age to indulge his daughter." Plenda now realized the recent attacks on the Sapiens were Crow guards in search of her. The Sapiens would probably be left alone if she disappeared. "You're hiding me?" Jano grinned through his thick white beard. "To save my grandson." Plenda smiled. "How do you know it's a boy?" "The way the child sits in your..." Jano rubbed his midsection. "Stomach." Plenda instructed him as she massaged her belly. "Yes, stomach." Jano turned toward the flap. "One of my informants will be here shortly." "Who told you all this?" Curiosity raced through Plenda. "You will see." The old man bowed to the Sapien and left the dwelling.

Chapter Sixteen Bade Knor sat for hours waiting for data to compile a report. The two other men on the command bridge struggled through two shifts trying to come up with a way to communicate with the oncoming fleet. Niko had the feeling their stolen transport vessel might possess a hidden code that would reveal the frequency channels for all the other ships. "How much longer? Councilor Tomas wanted that data immediately." Knor gazed at the console screens, but couldn't understand the sequences of symbols being displayed. "Sir, something else is appearing on our sensors." The convict punched in a few keys on his console keyboard. "What is it?" The possibility of the fleet rearing up on them haunted Knor's thoughts. "Another vessel, sir." "Is it Captain Shal?" Knor couldn't wait to blast the man who had kept him locked away for most of his adult life. "No, sir." Niko stared at his superior with an astonished look upon his face. "Its sequence codes are telling me..." "What? Telling you what?" Knor stomped on the metallic floor with so much force, that the vibrations jolted the displays on the monitors. Niko ripped off his headset and gazed at Knor. "It's Captain Kado's ship," he gulped. "These readings indicate it's lost all air pressure." The dangers of traveling through the unknown vacuum of space taunted Knor. "How long until we reach the ship?" He tried to see Kado's primitive vessel in the huge view port. "Within seventeen hours, sir." Knor collapsed deeper into his command chair. "Notify Councilor Tomas. I'm sure he'll want to search for survivors." "Yes, sir." **** The explorer vessel hovered in the massive vacuum of space for close to an hour. The air pressure, still unstable, had caused the hull to transform into a dented piece of alloy. The two Sapiens hit a snag when one of the clamps wouldn't fit properly over the air lines. After experimenting, the scouts nodded to each other. Marcus connected the clamp and tightened it with the wrench. "You can switch the lever and bring the pressure lines back up." Quada tilted his head in the direction of the Crow shaman still in a hibernated state. "You think that Neanderthal is still alive?" "Let's hope." Marcus gestured to the lever. "We're lucky if we still have five minutes ourselves."

"You are the highest ranking officer left. I'll follow your command, but I think we could hold out just a bit longer." Quada reached for the air lever, then rested a gloved hand around it. "You sure you want to do this?" He pointed toward the airtight closet that held Dornan. Marcus nodded affirmatively and his partner flipped the lever, which was followed by a loud hiss. It required half the time to bring full pressure back to the ship. Popping sounds of the dents in the hull as they were removed confirmed the new lines were working properly. Feeling their arms grow heavier, the men cracked the seals on their face shields. "Open the closet," Marcus directed, his voice no longer muffled by the soft helmet. Quada unlatched the closet hatch and the sealant hissed open with a suction sound. Dornan was curled into a fetal position and his body had a glowing aura surrounding him. There wasn't even a hint that the Crow was breathing and he didn't move a muscle. "Is he dead?" Marcus asked, poking the shaman's shoulder. "Let's hope." Marcus glanced at his partner. "He let us live, didn't he?" "Oh so that excuses the fact he killed our friends?" Quada peeled off his PS suit after he unzipped the gloves from their sleeves. "That wasn't right either, but somehow, he knew we felt sympathy for the plight of the Crows. I don't know why or how, but he spared the only two guys on this vessel who didn't want him locked up in a cabin." Marcus went down on his knee and took another poke at the Crow. "I wish nothing but pain for this savage," Quada scoffed. "He only let me live so I could pilot the ship." Marcus made a face at the comment. Even though Quada was Captain Kado's assistant, there had been times when he performed many good deeds for the Crow people. Dornan's body was shut down, but his senses continued to function at a normal rate. He heard the conversation and was thankful Marcus held a higher position than the other man. The shaman couldn't blame them for any bad feelings they might have against him. "It's going away." Quada pointed to Dornan. "I see it." The radiant glow that surrounded the Crow gradually faded. "He's either alive or the return of air pressure has done something to his skin." The individual muscles along Dornan's outer arm twitched in succession starting from his wrist and continuing to his shoulder. The shaman's torso shuddered with spasms as the aura left his skin. His deep set eyes popped open, and his large brow creased. "He's alive, Marcus," Quada exclaimed. The Sapien frowned. Dornan's gaze shifted between the men. "Thank you for allowing me to trust again." Marcus offered a wide grin that spread across his pale face. Quada simply nodded in acknowledgement. Dornan slid out from the small closet and extended all his limbs. The stretch of his legs as he rotated his

ankles brought him such pleasure. He reached over his head with his arms, wiggling thick fingers. "Now we have one more task left," Marcus inserted as he stepped out of his PS suit and the rest of his protective gear and approached the engines. "We need to bring the engines back online." "They don't work?" The small bit of hope the Crow held onto vanished. "Didn't the new lines fix the problem?" One side of Marcus's lips cocked into a half smile. "That was the first part of the problem. Now that we can breathe, we need to figure out how to ignite the carb-shaft so we can power up this mother of a ship." "I'll go up to the command bridge and scan the database for instructions. We might be able to do it with a simple press of a button." Quada kicked his PS suit to the side and hurried back up the metal stairs that led to the main deck. Dornan gazed at his Sapien counterpart. "Thank you for giving me the chance to live." The Crow placed his wide palm on Marcus's shoulder. "You would do the same for me." After checking the hoses, Dornan discovered the old lines had been scorched, which is what had caused the tiny leaks. "What caused us to loose pressure?" Marcus stepped over to the stairway and looked up for a moment. He turned to Dornan and released a soft sigh. "Just between you and me," he paused, "the holes in the lines were made by blaster marks." Marcus pointed up to the ceiling, which had multitudes of burn holes. "This ship wasn't designed to repel or endure weapons from escaped Crows, or the men seeking to capture him." "Oh." Dornan had nothing else to say. **** Matt was stretched out motionless in his cabin onboard Ishtar's Escape. A breathing tube slinked into his left nostril to keep oxygen flowing through his lungs. The convicts had punished Matt beyond recovery. The hours he had left alive would be spent in his bunk. Matt's eyes were shut since his sockets had swollen to the size of his fists. The hope that Lanna would be rescued was the only thing which kept him breathing. Matt longed to hear his infant sister's pestering cry and carefree giggle one final time before his spirit moved off to the heavens. Lanna made him smile throughout this entire journey, even though they were prisoners. His intent had been to save her and in a way, he probably did by sacrificing himself. Matt wasn't sure what day it was or how long it had been since he heard his father's voice over the comm system, but he sensed something strange happening with the crew. When the convicts came in to change Matt's dressings and stick him with needles, he overheard them discussing a ship they encountered. He had no chance of ever seeing Tomas' arrest, but if the other vessel belonged to his father, the councilor would plead for death. **** "We are coming up to the vessel, sir." The convict navigations officer punched some keys on his console, enlarging a blueprint showing the wounded ship that lingered ahead of Ishtar's Escape.

Bade Knor stepped over to the screen that displayed the simulated ship design. Red orbs huddled together in the lower portion of the vessel. "What are those marks on the bottom deck?" The scruffy navigator ran his finger down the screen toward the glowing dots. "They're heat indicators set at human body temperature." "So that means people are still alive?" "Yes, sir. In the engine area, to be exact." Knor shifted his gaze from the screen to the huge view port to see a miniscule version of the real vessel before them. "Can you tell how long they've been sitting out there?" Niko keyed few sequences into his console. He paused momentarily and rubbed the growth on his chin. "The build-up of ice along the outer engine cylinders suggests they've been stranded for well over a week." "Wonderful." Bade Knor may be a criminal, but the thought most of the scout crew had perished did not fill him with joy. The explorers were instrumental in Tomas' strategy to govern the new world. "Attention all Earthbound vessels," Commander Shal's voice sounded throughout the ship. Both convicts on the bridge glared over at Knor with a disturbed look upon their faces. The last time they heard from Shal was when the fleet left Venus' orbit. Knor backed up until he fell into his command seat. "We are about to engage the boost modifiers. Prepare for launch sequence." The distant commander's voice penetrated the vacant rooms and corridors of Ishtar's Escape. "Excuse me, sir. Did Shal say boost modifiers?" The communications convict pursed his lips. "I believe he did." Knor couldn't comprehend why the con running his communications appeared so disturbed. Apparently the Earthbound fleet was preparing for something the man didn't anticipate. "Why does that bother you?" "If this vessel is the same as theirs, then we, too, must have boost modifiers," the navigator interrupted as he hopped from his seat. "Exactly!" The communications convict hustled to an empty console and began hacking into its computer. Knor had no idea why they were getting all excited about the boost modifiers. "Everyone freeze." He threw up his arms wanting an explanation. "What does all this mean?" Once again, Shal's ghostly voice broke through the frequency. "Earthbound One, boost modifiers online." "Shut that thing off!" Knor barked as Shal's voice intruded on his thoughts. Niko flipped a switch on his console, which muted the countdown. "I'm recording the sequence. We'll need it later." "The boost modifiers are specially designed turbo engines. With them, a vessel can travel through clear space at the speed of sound." His fingers danced across the keyboard. "Damn. We can't access the codes!" "Get Councilor Tomas in here immediately." Knor now realized the Earthbound fleet would beat them to

Earth due to the increased speed of their vessels. **** Plenda had been tucked away inside a single mud hut for weeks, or as the Crows called them, rounds. Once in awhile, Jano would enter the tiny dwelling to replenish the oil in the lamps keeping the place dimly lit. The pressure became increasingly unbearable for Plenda. She hadn't yet reached full term, but she knew the child growing inside her was ready for birth. With two more months left, she didn't think she could function any longer. Plenda squeezed her eyes shut as another fierce pain drove through her pelvis. She grabbed her stomach trying to keep her infant from bursting out. Her heart raced as anxiety overwhelmed her. She hadn't discovered Jano standing over her bed until he cleared his throat to catch her attention. "Excuse me, Plenda." He placed a cup of frothy brew on the tiny log table next to her. Plenda wiped the beads of sweat off her brow. "Jano, I think it's time." The old Crow's lips curled softly. "Not yet. You are close, but not yet ready." Plenda wanted to smack the old man for telling her when her child would be born. The pain that ripped through her abdomen grew stronger and came with more frequency. Her gaze caught his with a ferocious bite. "I am ready!" Ignoring Plenda's sudden rage, Jano nodded and turned his head toward the entrance of the hut. "Someone is here to see you." Jano had mentioned there was a person responsible for helping the Crows capture her, but at the moment, it didn't matter. At least until she spotted the person entering the mud hut. "Hey, you." Caryn's face glowed in the light of the oil lamps as she came through the skin flap. "Are we ready to have a baby?" Plenda flipped her head back and laughed. Tears trickled down the sides of her temples with her laughter. "How did you ... You told them about me?" Caryn rushed to her friend's bedside and knelt down next to Plenda. Before responding, she embraced the pregnant Sapien. "I have missed you so much." Plenda glanced up at Jano for a moment hoping he would leave her and Caryn alone. When the old Crow remained fixed in his stance with a grin etched across his face, she figured he didn't realize he should leave. "Are the others still looking for me? How's Marin?" The lines in Caryn's face changed signaling to Plenda Caryn was going to say something unpleasant. "The others think you're dead. Except Marin, of course." Plenda gasped and covered her mouth with both hands. "Why?" Caryn gently took hold of Plenda's fingers and wrapped them in her palms. "I had no choice. They were going to kill you." "Who? The other Crows?" Plenda glanced up at the old man who still stood over her. "The emperor's guards have been scouring the area in search of you." Caryn leaned closer toward her

friend. "Pernius wants any trace of Dornan wiped from this planet." Plenda pulled her hands from Caryn's and rubbed her stomach vowing to protect her child whatever the cost. The emperor's daughter wanted the baby dead, too. "Marin and I had no other choice but to fake an attack and capture. Marin met a Crow on Cordova who knew Jano lived here. Since this village had broken its ties with Pernius, it only made sense that this was the best place for you to hide." A tear slid down Caryn's cheek. "I'm here with you now to help you through this." Plenda didn't know what to say. Caryn and Marin had risked much to guarantee her safety. An abrupt pain pierced her just under her navel. "Are you okay?" Caryn asked as she sat on the edge of the bed. Plenda wished Jano would stop staring at her. She glanced toward Caryn and forced a grin through the agony she endured. "This baby is coming soon. She keeps dropping lower." "He keeps dropping lower," Jano inserted in a corrective tone. **** Riko stood next to the throne as a group of children beat on drums and danced in celebration of Malanna's selection day. He loved events such as these because it gave him the chance to relive his days as Pernius' main shaman. Every seat had been taken as the people of Cuga waited to see who the emperor's daughter would chose as her life mate. Pernius occupied his decorated throne as his daughter stood alongside him adorned in fleece white robes with a crown of dried flowers. Her unibrow creased as the ten men she previously selected were brought before the dancing children. The emperor recalled this exact ceremony a revolution before, when Malanna had selected Dornan as her mate. He was allowed to offer one suggestion on who she was to choose, however, the young woman would make her own choice. He studied each of the ten men. Three were high ranking guards in the Republic, four were wealthy artisans all specializing in weaponry, one was a shaman twice his daughter's age who performed Zafa to produce a bountiful harvest each year and two were decorated dactalcon riders. Malanna leaned toward the Emperor and whispered in his ear, "Which would you choose, Father?" Pernius preferred the shaman, except for his age. He wanted his grandchild to have a role model of strength, not an elderly man who wouldn't be able to perform his duties as a father. "I would choose one of the artisans, my love. They come with property and riches." Malanna rolled her eyes. "Don't we already have all the land we need? Who can claim more wealth than us?" Malanna pointed to the two dactalcon riders. "Release the others and have the guards bring those two forward." "Whatever you wish, my love." Pernius sat back in his throne and listened to the final beats of the drums as the pounding grew louder. The dancing children froze in their places when the drums finally silenced. Applause rang throughout the palace and the children bowed toward the crowd and then to the Emperor, Malanna and the men who challenged each other for her hand.

The crystal orb on top of Riko's staff clouded as the red eye transformed into a scene. The shaman wrapped his frail fingers around the image and inhaled the air around him. Riko placed his hand on Pernius' shoulder. "Majesty, I have the location of Dornan's unborn infant." Pernius chortled as he continued to applaud the children. "Excellent, my servant. We shall discuss this at a better moment." The emperor refused to allow the Sapien woman to interrupt his daughter's selection day. The guards delivered both dactalcon riders to Malanna and dismissed the other eight. Pernius' daughter stepped down and began to stroll around the decorated fighters. The emperor rubbed his chin as he watched his daughter select her new mate. Out of the two, the rider on the right appeared stronger and younger than the one on the left. Malanna glanced toward her father and he shifted his gaze in the direction of the one he thought would be the best mate for his daughter. "Riko?" "Yes, Your Highness." The old man straightened his posture. "Meet me in the back room and we'll figure out our next move." Pernius was frustrated at the fact the female Sapien had once again managed to interfere with his daughter's life. He tried not to think about the Sapien, but the very thought that this woman was still alive ate away at his gut. "Yes, my Master." Riko turned and began to retreat to the dark corridor behind the throne when the Emperor grabbed him. "Quickly ... tell me where she is." Riko leaned down to the Emperor's ear and whispered the location. "Tigris." **** "I don't care how you do it, Bade, but we need the young Enforcer conscious. He'll know how to activate the boost modifiers." Tomas poked his commander's chest with his index finger. Bade Knor stood in front of his superior feeling like a youngling. Councilor Tomas had belittled him in front of the other men for too long now. It wasn't his fault the convicts beat Matt Shal so badly, that the young officer had been comatose for over a week. "How close are we to Kado's scout ship?" Tomas abruptly changed the subject to something Bade could answer. "We're preparing to extend a docking tube in a few moments." Knor responded to the man he no longer respected. "Very well. I'll be in my quarters and expect a complete report on the condition of the crew." Tomas pivoted on his boot heels causing the end of his robes to sway behind him. He marched off the command bridge with heavy steps, clearly angered. "Docking arm is extending now, sir." Niko informed the bridge crew from behind his console. Bade stared out the front view port witnessing the crippled scout ship moving along the portside of his vessel. An abrupt scraping noise echoed throughout the bridge, forcing Knor to fall back into his seat and clutch his armrests. "What the hell was that?"

"I believe it's the tube extending, sir." **** A solid blow to the side of the scout vessel jolted the two Sapiens and the Crow shaman from their rest in the engine bay. "What the hell was that?" Marcus glanced at the ceiling as he braced his hands on the floor. "Something hit us pretty hard." Dornan remained in his casual position. He had resigned himself to the fact they would all freeze to death since the engines haven't proved steady enough to take them back home. "That didn't sound like the kind of space debris we've been hearing." Quada hopped to his feet. "I'm going up to take a look." Marcus grabbed his partner's arm. "You'd better be very careful that whatever hit the upper deck didn't puncture the hull." "Then I'll die that much quicker." Quada exited the engine bay via the metal stairway leading to the higher level. "He's right, you know." Dornan agreed that death sooner rather than later would be preferable. "Right about what?" Marcus lifted himself to his feet. "Right about giving up?" The Sapien circled the Crow. "We will get back to Earth if it's the last thing we do." Dornan nodded. "I'm sorry. You're right." He knew deep in his heart he needed to fight to live, to see his child born and once again feel the satisfaction of being in Plenda's arms. "Shh." Marcus placed his index finger against his lips. "Did you hear that?" Dornan focused his senses to hear something, though he wasn't sure what it was he should be listening for. After a moment, he heard unfamiliar voices. He turned to Marcus and nodded. "They're speaking my language." Marcus's eyes widened. "We've been rescued!" Marcus stepped on the metal stairs, which ascended to the voices. "Rescued?" For a fraction of a second, Dornan felt a sense of overwhelming joy until the realization hit that he, as a Crow, was far from being saved. "Relax, Dornan. I'll think of something, but you must trust me." The shaman didn't have any choice in the matter. He needed to trust Marcus the Sapien. "Okay." "Whatever you do, don't try to kill anyone." Marcus smiled and he hurried up the staircase. The Crow inhaled deeply, anxiety growing within him. The muffled voices became clearer and louder, which meant the new threat, the rescue, came closer to him. Don't give up, he thought. "He's down there." The voice belonged to Quada, the one who didn't like him. "Make sure your blasters are at the ready." Trust them? They just turned me over to whoever boarded the ship.

"Okay. Keep your hands up where we can see them and there won't be any problems." A pair of thick-soled boots came down the metal steps. Dornan sighed deeply as he lifted his arms in surrender. "Damn! Look at that ugly thing." One of the convicts from Ishtar's Escape rubbed his eyes at the sight of the Crow shaman. He turned back to Quada. "What the hell do you call these monsters?" "They are known as Crows, Earth people," Quada replied. "Keep your weapon trained on him. Marcus and I witnessed this guy murder an entire crew." The convict tightened his finger on the trigger. "Why don't I kill him right now?" "Fine with me."

Chapter Seventeen "No!" Marcus commanded as he hurried down the staircase. "You cannot kill him." "Says who?" The convict spit on the floor in a display of defiance. "I'm the commanding officer of this vessel and he's my prisoner." "Come off it, Marcus. He killed all our friends," Quada interrupted. "He's a healer," Marcus reasoned. "We might have need for his services before we reach Earth." "A healer?" a raspy voice boomed from the top of the stairs. "What the hell is a healer?" The convict's face contorted. "What kind of healer?" "Did you say a healer? Like a doctor or a medic?" Bade Knor slowly and clumsily made his way down the stair well, his boot heel clanging along the metal surface. Marcus nodded. "That's right. He's like a medic except he doesn't use any instruments." Knor leaned into Marcus. "What kind of a medic operates without instruments?" "He does." Marcus pointed to Dornan, who had remained in a nonthreatening stance. "He uses some sort of inner power." The convicts from Ishtar's Escape burst into sarcastic laughter. The only three not chortling were Marcus, his partner and the Crow. Bade stepped up to Dornan and stared down at his newest captive. "Inner powers." He snarled through his distorted mouth and narrowed his eye upon the Crow. "Prove it." Dornan wasn't intimidated by the man bearing half a face, nor was he offended. He lifted himself to his feet and found he was an easy head taller. From the way the man called Knor stepped back, the Crow figured the ugly Sapien was the one actually appalled. Dornan looked to Marcus for guidance and the Sapien nodded in approval of Knor's demand. "I need not prove anything, but will do so for your sake." The Crow shaman lifted his hand toward Knor's mangled face. Cautiously, so he wouldn't get blasted, Dornan brought his palm closer to the Sapien's skin. With the abrupt clicks of blasters, Dornan froze. "He isn't going to hurt you. You have my word," Marcus promised the ugly Sapien. Knor's lips quivered with what Dornan recognized as fear. "It's okay, men. I asked this thing to prove he was a healer." Thing, huh? Dornan continued to extend his palm until it connected to and completely covered Knor's mangled eye socket. The Sapiens raised their weapons, ready at a moment's notice.

Dornan closed his eyes and began to breathe in a steady pattern. Warmth filled his chest as he felt the Zafa rise through his veins and into his shoulders. The energy converged down his arm exiting through his palm and entering Knor's mangled eye socket. The Sapiens gasped as strands of bright white light radiated from between the Crow's thick fingers. Knor's head trembled, his working eye rotated violently in its socket. The convicts gave each other confused looks. One of them tightened his grip on his blaster, but Marcus redirected the barrel to keep its aim from Dornan. "Is he killing Commander Knor?" one of the convicts asked. Marcus chortled before answering. "No. I told you this man is a healer." The bright light glowing through Dornan's fingers lost intensity as Knor's head remained still. The shaman's eyes sprang open as the ridge on his huge forehead creased. When the light dimmed completely, Dornan removed his hand, which caused another round of gasps from the surrounding Sapiens. Bade Knor's once mangled eye now mirrored the other, both pupils the same in color with identical sockets. The Crow smirked at Marcus and dropped both hands to his side. "It is done." Knor ran his fingers along the rejuvenated areas of his face, undoubtedly searching for old wounds. "Of all the ... I can see! I can see again." For the first time in years, both ends of his lips curled. Marcus approached Dornan and placed his hand on the Crow's shoulder. "He's important to our mission. To anyone's mission." Both of Knor's eyes gazed upon the larger than life man in front of him. His pupils lit up as he proffered his hand. "I have something special for you to do. Back on our vessel, there's a young officer. If he isn't treated soon, he will die." **** "I cannot believe you allowed this thing to live. I'm beside myself with disbelief that you brought him aboard our vessel." Tomas slammed his fist against the surface of his console so hard, the monitor hopped. Knor sat before him wondering when he would finally be finished with this tyrant. It was true that Knor was a convict, but he couldn't yet figure out why the councilor had never spent time in prison. Tomas was proving to be the cruelest individual Knor had ever met. "The Crow man killed over twenty scouts, including Captain Kado. What makes you think he'll spare us?" Tomas jumped up, causing his chair to flip backwards into the wall. "I figured the Crow man could save young Shal and we could learn about the boost modifiers." Knor thought his strategy a sound one. He could not comprehend Tomas' anger. "Well..." Tomas's lips pursed as his head bobbed, clearly frustrated with his subordinate. "Did it ever occur to you to communicate with me before you made the decision?" Tomas didn't allow any time for a response. He began pacing his quarters. "Okay. So we get Shal all fixed up and then we get the instructions on the boost modifiers." "That was the plan, sir." Tomas stopped his aimless stroll and giggled. "The plan?" He returned to his console and set his chair

upright. "Once this monster and young Shal team up, there won't be a need for boost modifiers." Tomas flashed Knor a false smile, which bared the councilor's teeth. "But you ordered me to restore Shal's health, sir." "I think this Crow healer not only fixed your vision, but warped your brain." Tomas leaned forward in his chair. "Where is this giant man now, Bade?" "He's being held with the infant until we can come up with suitable arrangements, sir." "Well, that was good. I want to speak with the two surviving scouts to find out more about our new Earthling friend. Please make sure they see me." Bade nodded and stood. "Will that be all, sir?" "Just hope, Bade, that neither of these men I am about to speak with possess your skills. Otherwise, you will be taking orders from them." With a sweeping motion of his hand, Tomas shooed Knor from the room. **** Plenda rolled on her side panting like a wild animal trying her best to deal with the pain that sliced through her stomach. Beads of sweat trickled from the matted hair stuck to her forehead. When will this child come? "It's okay," Caryn said as she continued comforting her best friend. "Just keep breathing steadily." Plenda loved her friend more than anyone in this world, but the infant shifted forcefully inside her. "Just get it out of me!" Caryn gazed upon Plenda. "This baby will come when it's ready." Plenda's mouth formed a ring as she began to breathe even quicker. "Where is the old man anyway?" Caryn glanced toward the mud hut's entrance. "How long has he been gone?" Plenda was waiting for the herbal mixture Jano had promised would ease the pain. "It feels like he's been gone forever." "He has been away for some time. Did he go to Venus for the plant?" Caryn's joke caused both her and Plenda to burst into laughter. "Ughh," Plenda reached between her legs clenching her inner thighs as the baby's foot print pushed at her from the inside. "Oh my!" Caryn jumped at the sight. Tears streamed from the corners of Plenda's eyes. **** Dornan remained slouched on a sofa in one of the large vessel's many rooms. Voices of Sapiens leaked through the entrance panel, a constant reminder he was under heavy guard. In the corner of the chamber, a tiny child, probably less than a revolution in age, began to make noise as she woke up. The Crow thought of his own child. If his calculations were correct, Plenda would give birth to his baby within the rotation. Sapiens referred to the time frame as a month.

The little girl rolled over on her side and stared directly at him. Dornan smiled, unsure of the child's reaction. Surprisingly, the baby giggled and squeaked a funny noise. "Hello." Dornan wiggled his fingers. His thick, hairy fingers were an easy contrast against the girl's dainty pale hands. "Hi, baby." The child giggled innocently and pulled herself up on the crib's bars. Dornan loved the light-colored curls that surrounded the baby's wide green eyes. The child was adorable. Why would the Sapiens put a Crow in a room with such a beautiful little life? That required an enormous amount of trust. Could this baby also be a prisoner? The door panel slid open revealing two Sapiens armed with blaster weapons standing in the entrance. A gray-haired man draped in a long, flowing burgundy cloak strolled past the guards and approached Dornan without hesitation. The Crow straightened in his seat as the Sapien man halted and stared down at him. "Greetings, Earthling. I am Councilor Tomas from the Parliamentary Government of Venus." The councilor scratched the side of his salty head. "I understand you can speak our language." Dornan glanced at the little girl, who stopped giggling once the councilor entered. He looked at the well-dressed Sapien, deciding whether or not he should converse with his new captor. "You do speak our language, correct?" Dornan nodded. "Yes I do." Tomas reached over to a single chair and dragged it into place before sitting in it. He crossed his legs and adjusted the ends of his robes. "Please tell me your name." Tomas cracked a reluctant smile that reminded Dornan of a carved statue of the emperor. "Dornan." "And what exactly brought you on this space adventure with us?" Tomas' eyes jutted in their sockets. The councilor's repulsion radiated throughout the room. Dornan sensed that the Sapien was offended merely by his presence. "I was taken aboard as a specimen to be studied by your people on your home world." Dornan hated his captor's arrogance. "And you saw fit to murder each and every one of them?" Tomas lowered his head and peered at Dornan from under his brow. The question enraged Dornan. "They were going to kill me and bring me back as a dead specimen!" Tomas calmly lifted his hand as the guards lowered their weapons. His stone cold gaze never left the Crow. "You will have no such opportunity to do that here, Dornan." "Why have you come to speak to me?" Tomas pointed to the child in the crib. Since the councilor arrived, Dornan sensed a great tension within her. "That child has an older brother who is dying. My men informed me that you're a healer and my captain has placed a great deal of trust in the fact that you will be able to heal the young man."

Dornan knew exactly who Tomas referred to as the captain. "He is the one with the disfigured eye?" "Precisely." Tomas stood. "I am prepared to barter with you." "You mean a deal?" "Yes, a deal." Tomas smiled. "You save this young man's life in exchange for your freedom once we arrive on Earth." The word ‘freedom' struck a nerve with the Crow. He could return to Plenda and live amongst his people; watch his child grow into an adult. Then thoughts of his son or daughter forced his eyes to glaze over when he noticed the little girl trapped behind the bars of her crib. "What about that little one? Does she become free, too?" Dornan motioned to the baby. Tomas hesitated, just enough to let Dornan know that the words about to come from his mouth wouldn't be the truth. "She belongs to me." "So you're also the father of her brother, the young man you want me to heal?" Dornan had the Sapien cornered. Tomas nodded. "Both belong to me. Let's just say they're my property." "You mean they're your prisoners, as I am." Dornan grinned politely, but not overly so. "Earthlings are highly intelligent beings," Tomas commented as he approached the door panel. The councilor looked back at Dornan. "Once we land on your planet, you will be free to go where you wish. So instead of a prisoner, you are more like a special guest." Before Dornan could respond, Tomas left the chambers with the two guards following him. The Crow turned toward the little girl who leaned up against the bars of her crib giggling once more. "Don't worry, young one. When we reach Earth, you will also be free. That's a promise." **** Bade Knor entered the command bridge discovering the two newest members of the crew hard at work. Earlier, he had relieved Niko and the other convict and had the scouts take their places. The two man team had been redirected to decode the boost modifiers. "Thank you for joining up with us, gentlemen." Knor glanced around the bridge with both eyes for the first time, feeling like a whole person again. His heart yearned to return the favor to the Crow once they arrived on Earth. "Pleasure, sir." Marcus nodded while he adjusted the chair behind his station. "Yes, sir." Quada stated as he clipped on his headphones. "It's nice to be in a ship with some heat generators again. And, of course, regular people." Knor lowered himself into the command seat and leaned back as he looked on in amusement while the new members acquainted themselves with Venus' latest technology. "Marcus, any idea how long before we reach Earth?" "The best read I can get from this advanced technology tells me we have about another two weeks of travel time."

Knor nodded. Quada glanced up from his console shifting one side of his headphones. "Sir, we're receiving a communication from ... Commander Shal?" The rescued scouts were unaware of the kidnapping of two of Shal's children, as well as Tomas' stealing Ishtar's Escape. The councilor's orders were to keep quiet about the actual intentions of the renegade crew. Knor didn't know how to react, but he knew the scouts were listening to the transmission. "Bring up the good commander's message." He chuckled in a fake sort of way, hoping the facade wasn't too phony. "This is Commander Shal alerting the entire fleet to keep all frequencies open. I repeat, keep all frequencies open. Keep sensors alert for the rogue ship. Maybe we can rescue my children." Shal's voice crackled and faded into white noise as the transmission ended. Knor wiped a bead of moisture from his brow as he witnessed his new crew members staring at each other momentarily before they returned to their duties. "You heard him. Keep all frequencies open." "Yes, sir." Marcus grinned and turned back to his console. **** "Da da." A wide smile engulfed the little girl's face as she danced in her crib. Dornan began to put the pieces together realizing the baby repeated the same words several times during the strange transmission. "Da da." The girl's bottom lip quivered as the white noise came through the speakers. The baby and more than likely, the young man he was assigned to heal were the children of this Commander Shal. The panel opened and two guards stood with blaster weapons leveled in Dornan's direction. "It's time. Follow us." Dornan stood and headed toward the door. "I'll return soon, little one." He gently squeezed the baby's hand and left the room with the armed Sapiens. During his escorted stroll down the corridor, the Crow noticed subtle differences between the Sapien scouts who had originally captured him and the crew of this particular ship. Not only did these men appear unkempt, but they weren't wearing uniforms like the scouts. The vessel didn't have the crew such a huge craft should. Was he on the rogue vessel the voice referred to in his message? One lesson learned from the explorers was not all Sapiens were honorable. The guard in front of Dornan stopped before an entrance and keyed a code into the flat panel adjacent to it. A tone beeped and the partition slid open revealing a young man of about twenty revolutions lying in bed with tubes running into his arms from various machines. Dornan paused before entering the room. This is that poor baby girl's brother? "Is that the one who needs healing?" "Obviously, that's him." The guard behind Dornan nudged the Crow into the room with the barrel of the blaster weapon digging into his spine.

"I got it." The guards followed the shaman into the chambers. They remained close to the doorway while he approached the young man. "Hurry up, Earthling." One Sapien rested his blaster across his shoulder. Dornan studied the young man before him. He traced each tube of fluid to its original source. This young man, unlike the others, had on a uniform very similar to that of the scouts'. A much neater and nicer design, but the same uniform. Yes, this is indeed the renegade ship. Pale skin and bruised eye sockets told the shaman that this young man was already on the edge of death. It was possible that the young man had already passed and was merely kept alive artificially. Dornan set his eyes upon the guards. "You both need to leave while I do what I need to do." One guard shook his head. "Sorry, orders are to stay." Dornan grinned. "Then I guess I can't treat this man." He headed back toward the doorway. "Wait!" The other guard aimed his blaster. "Promise you won't try to escape?" Dornan laughed sarcastically. "I don't need to escape. Once I heal this man, I'll be free. You think I would risk that? Besides, where would I go?" "I guess you got a point there." The guards nodded and left the room. Dornan faced his patient wondering how in the hell he was going to save the baby girl's brother.

Chapter Eighteen Plenda relaxed as she sipped the last of the herbal mixture Jano brought her. "That feels so good going down." The flames coming from the hearth warmed her body as well as her spirits. The pain in her belly faded and she assumed the unborn child chose to rest for the evening. "I'm sorry for the delay. It takes quite a long time to brew." Dornan's father stood over her with a serene look upon his wrinkled face. The old man had been keeping her company since Caryn returned to the scout dwelling for a few things Plenda requested. "It feels like the baby went to sleep." Plenda wondered if the herbal drink sedated her unborn. The old man had been correct. The pains disappeared since the first sips of the steamy liquid entered her system. The tips of Jano's beard lifted as he smiled. The old man leaned closer to Plenda. "I told you this was not the time. I went through this with my mate twice." "Twice? I didn't know Dornan has a brother." The grin on Jano's face contorted to an abrupt frown. "Yes. He had a brother." The old man pulled a chair alongside the pregnant Sapien's bed. Jano rested his hands upon his lap and the old man's deep-set eyes reddened. "He died at a very young age. He came down with an illness that took a quarter of the village." Plenda wanted to cry, but the brew had left her feeling numb. Lately, she found herself tearing up at the simplest things. "I'm so sorry." Jano took her hands in his and nodded. "Dornan always was a gifted child. Being the older of the two, he studied under one of the many shamans in the village. As talented in Zafa as all the shamans were, none could save my son or the other children. From then on, Dornan swore he would become the greatest healer the Earth has ever known." "So he could prevent others from dying..." Plenda completed the story for Jano. She watched pain weave across the old man's chiseled face. Each wrinkle twitched in turn until a single tear fell from his right eye. "Yes. That's why Dornan chose to become a healer. He could have been any kind of shaman, but healing became his calling, his cause." "Are their any other shamans in the village?" The only shaman Plenda had met was Dornan and she found the whole idea of shamanisn fascinating. "There are a few around other communities, but not here." The old man pursed his lips in deep thought and then nodded. "The only other two shamans I know personally are in the village of Molga. There is an very old shaman by the name if Riko, who is miraculously still alive. He was blinded as a child and sees through the use of his staff. He is a very powerful shaman and he used to serve Emperor Pernius and the entire ruling clan before Dornan was selected to replace him. The other is his apprentice who I don't know by name." Plenda placed her empty cup on the tiny table next to her bed. She cautiously rolled to her side and propped one arm under her head. "Jano?" The elder looked up at her.

"What was your younger son's name?" "Jada." His lips curled slightly as if repeating his lost child's name brought him some joy. "We called him Jada." **** Commander Shal was awakened from his first sound sleep in days. The pounding on the entrance panel to his living quarters caused him to fall out of his bunk and drag the covers off his wife. "What is it?" She tugged the sheets back over her. "Someone is outside our door." Shal wedged his bare feet into a pair of slippers as he wobbled out of the bedroom. "Hold on. Don't you know what an intercom is for?" The invasive thumping increased as Shal went to the panel. "Hold on!" He keyed in a code and the panel slid open with his second-in-command stood there, also wearing night robes. "I am sorry, Commander, but this is most urgent." He entered without invitation and took a seat on the nearest chair. The entrance panel closed as Shal faced his subordinate, tucking his hands into his pockets. "Captain, have you ever heard of an intercom?" "Again, I apologize, sir. The situation warranted a personal call." Shal flinched at the words ‘situation' and ‘personal call'. He prayed nothing had happened to Matt or Lanna. He hoped the captain had something else to report. "What is so important that it couldn't wait until regular shift hours?" Shal sat in the chair next to the captain as a yawn escaped him. "We believe we have them, sir. Ishtar's Escape was picked up by our sensors." Shal's insides warmed with new life and he was filled with a sense of excitement. Tears glossed his tired eyes. Matt and Lanna were within reach. **** Beams of light radiated from between Dornan's fingers, his hands firmly on Matt Shal's battered head. This had been the third and final installment of healing sessions in the past round. Hopefully, the young Sapien would wake this time. The Crow's deep-set eyes closed tight as he focused on the task before him. The shaman raised his palms and lifted the young officer's body into the air as high as the binding straps permitted. The light crackled and young Shal lowered to the mattress. As Dornan peeled himself away from his patient, his eyes opened. He fell to the floor, but continued to watch the young man. The crust sealing Matt's eyes crumbled away and his nose twitched. Dornan's insides warmed at the thought of saving a life as opposed to taking them. The Sapien's eyes fluttered open revealing his rich green pupils. The young officer stared directly at the ceiling without even noticing Dornan.

"Hello," the Crow whispered. Matt shifted to see Dornan looking at him. "Ahhh." His voice cracked. "Please don't kill me." For someone recently healed, the young man trembled as much as someone heathly. Dornan realized his looks shocked the young Sapien. He backed away with his palms open. "Kill you? I just saved you." "Just please ... leave me." The young Sapien pulled at his binding straps, his eyes reflecting defeat. "Don't do that." Dornan hoped the Sapien wouldn't hurt himself struggling. "Who are you?" Dornan figured it was safe enough to answer, hoping to learn more about the young Sapien. "I'm a healer from Earth. I mean you no harm." The Sapien stopped fidgeting in his bed and glared at the Crow. His jaw lowered as if he wanted to speak, but not a word came out of his mouth. "My name is Dornan. I brought you back to health." The shaman felt the tension beginning to leave the young Sapien. "What's your name?" Ignoring the question, his gaze followed every move Dornan made. "So you're from Earth?" "Yes." Dornan nodded, sensing the young Sapien starting to calm. "I was taken from my home by your people." "Why would they do that?" "I angered the leader of the scouting party." Dornan tried to articulate further, but the words wouldn't come. "I am Dornan the shaman of Cuga." The young officer tried to offer his hand, but the binding straps prevented it. "I'm Officer Matt Shal of the Parliamentary Enforcers." Shal, he thought. That was the man's name who's voice came through the speakers. Dornan displayed both palms with his fingers extended, demonstrating he wasn't a threat. "I'm going to release you." "Thank you." Matt waited until the shaman unclipped the first strap, then he stretched out his arm, intending to shake the other's hand. "You're welcome." Dornan thought about the little girl a few rooms down. "Is the infant your sister?" Matt's face brightened at the mere mention of his sibling. "Lanna." "She's fine. I've taken care of her while you were here." The Crow smiled when Matt's eyes showed his satisfaction. Matt no longer posed a threat to Dornan. There was something different about the healed Sapien. He seemed more trusting than the crew of the renegade ship. Matt possessed the same qualities the Crow noticed in Plenda and her friends as well as the scout, Marcus. "I didn't know they had someone from Earth on board this ship. How is that possible when we left from Venus?" Matt sat up and rubbed his neck.

Dornan pulled a chair up next to the the bed and folded his hands in his lap. "I am from Earth and was taken prisoner by Captain Kado. They forced me to return to Venus with them as a specimen. Knowing they were going to kill me before we arrived on your home world, I decided to murder them instead." The Crow lowered his head in shame. Matt assumed a more defensive position. "You killed them all? There had to be forty scouts on that ship." "Lucky for me, there were only about twenty. The rest of the Sapiens stayed behind to build a dome city on one of our moons." Killing living beings was against everything the Crow believed in. "I kept two alive. Marcus and one other, Quada, who I don't like, but he had skills to fly the ship." "Why did they take you?" Matt stretched each of his muscles in turn while he listened. First, he extended his fingers and wiggled them, then he raised his arms over his head. Dornan rubbed the stubble on his chin. "All because of a woman." The Crow explained the situation with the emperor, Mallana, Plenda and what happened between her and Kado. "And you didn't make it to Venus?" Matt massaged his forearms. Dornan knew that to be a good sign of healing. "Our ship hit an asteroid or meteor shower and was disabled. We were rescued by the men of this ship." Matt snarled at Dornan's words. "Is something wrong with these men?" Dornan needed the young Sapien to confirm his suspicions. "They're killers and thieves. They stole this ship, invaded my home and snatched my little sister from her room." Matt's face twitched by the time he finished. "I thought as much." Dornan's hunch had been correct about the crew. "They appear evil to me, too." "I need to see my sister." Matt lifted himself up. His jumpsuit slipped down to his waist and his feet were bare. "Did you happen to see my boots?" The young Sapien pulled the suit over his shoulders and fastened the front bindings. "No, I'm sorry." Dornan felt sorry for Matt. In another time, they might have been friends. The Sapien couldn't have been more than five revolutions younger than him. **** Plenda sat outside the dwelling and she tried to count the stars. Each time she counted, her results were different, which suited her because the game kept her mind from drifting. Once in a while, she would spot a flash of light streaking through the air and recalled the meteor shower she had watched weeks earlier. Her unborn child spent each morning moving around in every direction. She was almost begging Caryn to help deliver the baby, just to relieve the pressure, but something inside her agreed with Jano that it wasn't time yet. Tonight, however, she felt odd. Most of the day, Plenda found herself cleaning the dwelling, an unusual circumstance since she usually wasn't the best housekeeper. There was nothing in her past to compare the feeling with. She relaxed and the active child within her was the calmest it had been in weeks. The calm before the storm, she thought. The buzz of an approaching craft grew louder. The village of Tigris must've grown accustomed to the

noise since none of them ran out to watch Caryn park her craft. Caryn had joked about whether it was safe for her to go back for supplies and things. However, tonight Plenda didn't think she'd let Caryn leave again. The craft stopped fifteen pecks from the mud hut and lowered as the engines hissed then finally silenced. Caryn hopped out and reached into the passenger side of the vehicle. She pulled out several things Plenda recognized as comforts of home. "You brought me a lamp?" Plenda clapped her hands, full of excitement. "Something that will actually stay lit for more than a few hours? I can't believe it." The weeks spent living as a Crow were exhausting because everything required more time and labor than she was used to. "Guess what else I brought for the future mother?" Caryn teased Plenda by dipping her hand down into the passenger's seat and bringing it up empty. "That's not fair." Plenda moaned as she stood. "Okay." Caryn threw out her palm. "Stay there and close your eyes." Plenda stomped her foot sarcastically like she always did. "Fine." She crossed her arms over her bloated stomach and closed her eyes. Just enough to peek at what Caryn might've hidden in the craft. Caryn pulled out a synthetic blanket. She carried it under one arm and managed to carry everything in a single trip. "Come on, already." Plenda stomped her foot again and tried to recall how long it'd been since she laughed like this. She wanted to peek at her surprise, but refrained. "Alright, already." Caryn placed everything on the ground and grabbed the blanket with her empty hand. "Hold out your hands." She placed the surprise across Plenda's outstretched arms. "You can open your eyes now." Plenda glanced down at the blanket excited about the warmth she would now enjoy. "My Gods! I won't need ten of those primitive covers over me at one time anymore." The synthetic blankets were designed specifically for the scouts for both comfort and warmth. Even though she appreciated the intricate weavings of the Crow artisans, nothing could compare to the products of Ishtar's biggest manufacturers. "So basically, you don't like it?" Caryn responded with a sarcastic tone. Plenda embraced her friend, never wanting to let her go. "I love you, Caryn." "Of course you do." Caryn drew back and bent down toward the other things she brought. She pulled a plastic wrapped treat from a metallic box. "Coco bar?" "I really love you!" Plenda clapped like a youngling with birthday presents. An abrupt pain sliced through her stomach. The prized blanket toppled to the ground as she endured the pain. It felt like her eyes were about to pop out of their sockets. Only a moment ago, she was laughing and enjoying her gifts, now she felt as if death were approaching. "Plenda, are you okay?"

Chapter Nineteen Earthbound One continued to advance toward its destination at incredible speed. The entire fleet was within days of arriving at their new home. "Do we still have an idea where Councilor Tomas is located?" Commander Shal walked onto the command bridge and noticed his well-disciplined crew. The young men had proved to be more efficient than most of the veterans he'd served with in the past. "Yes, sir." The navigations officer wiped his reddened eyes. These men had been on duty beyond normal shift hours. "We've passed them during the night." "Explain!" Shal didn't mean to raise his voice. He knew the goal was to beat Ishtar's Escape to Earth and once the boost modifiers had been powered up, it would be impossible to reignite them. However, the thought of being further away from his children disturbed him. "Sir, they were in reach, but the boost..." "Understood, Ensign," Shal interrupted, waving a hand. He fell back into his command chair and received his morning brew from the galley officer who stood next to him. "Thank you and good sun." "Good sun, sir." The galley officer nodded and retreated from the bridge. "Ensign?" Shal sipped the steamy liquid, careful not to burn his upper lip. "Sir?" The officer whipped around in his chair and straightened. "I apologize for seaming a bit grumpy. I didn't mean anything by it." Shal blew a worthless breath of air from his lips knowing it wouldn't cool down his morning brew. Some habits never died. "It's tough with my children in harm's way." "I completely understand, sir." The ensign returned to his task. Shal owed these men more than the occasional apology. If not for them, this vessel wouldn't have traveled so far in such a short period of time. He promised himself he would guarantee each member of his crew a dwelling to call their own once they reached Earth. **** Matt embraced Lanna, thanking the Gods she was healthy. He didn't know much about the Earthling who saved him, but he realized the man had been good to his sister while Matt lay helpless in bed. "Dordon. Dordon." Lanna repeated Dornan's name most of the day. She seemed to miss the Earthling, too. "Maybe we can go see him, Lanna. He's only down the corridor." Matt rolled a little ball along the floor and laughed as Lanna waddled after it. Mom and Dad missed her first steps. The clicking sound at the door panel got Matt's attention. He retrieved the ball and picked Lanna up before the convicts entered. If they spotted the toy, they would surely take it. Matt jammed the play sphere into a pocket of his jumpsuit. The panel slid open revealing the one man Matt detested more than any other he had ever known. Councilor Tomas stood alone in the doorway with his maroon robes swaying alongside him. He smiled

and entered the room. Matt clung to his sister to protect her the best he could. Though the councilor entered alone, the young officer figured convicts waited in the corridor. He refused to allow Tomas the satisfaction of a formal greeting. The last time they met, Tomas threatened his life and almost took it. "Good to see you are up and about, Officer Shal." Tomas paraded through the living space in cheerful manner. He pulled a chair alongside Matt and sat down. "You've met my newest friend, Dornan, the Crow shaman." Matt chortled at the statement. He'd spent little time with the Crow shaman, but Matt realized they both hated Tomas. That was probably the reason they were kept separated. "I see. Keeping your mouth shut, eh?" Tomas grinned. "I do deserve that." The councilor must want something important and decided to change his approach. "Well, I am relieved you're alive." "I'm sure, Councilor." Matt finally spoke through gritted teeth. The fact he actually spoke to this dreadful man made him want to vomit. Tomas laughed heartily. "Oh, it has been awhile." He leaned closer to Matt and gazed at Lanna, then returned his gaze to the young officer. "You shall now address me as Supreme Lorde." Tomas' face glowed with insanity. "It will be my new role once we land on Earth." "Supreme Lorde?" Matt wanted to spit in Tomas' arrogant, narcissist face. The criminal politician couldn't hold a candle to the Supreme Lorde back on Venus in either character or principles. One was a man of courage and concern for his people and the other, an evil deviant out to satisfy his own desires. Tomas nodded and smiled inwardly. "I am afraid it's true. You see, as the highest ranking government official on Earth, it will be my rightful place to rule the new civilization." Matt sighed under his breath deciding it wasn't even worth the argument. "Why have you come here?" "Don't be so testy, boy. I need a huge favor." Tomas once again glanced over at the baby and released a sigh of his own. "You will save our lives." Matt noticed the way the councilor kept looking at his sister and knew Tomas had a plan in mind. "Why would I want to save all your lives when you're planning on ending ours once we land?" Tomas chuckled a bit and then his facial features hardened. "I need you to ignite the boost modifiers." "Absolutely not." He should've denied knowing about the boost modifiers, but it was too late now. Matt shot off the lounge sofa with Lanna in his arms. He went to the crib and placed her on the mattress. "Do you really think I'll let you get to Earth before my father?" Tomas faced Matt, a serious expression etched in his face. "I'm afraid it's no longer simply a matter of beating your father anymore. We need to look at two major factors." Tomas crossed his legs and motioned for Matt to return to his seat. Once he did so, the councilor continued, "First, I'm an elected Parliamentary Officer. I hold rank over your father, whether he gets to Earth before me or not. Second, because of the haste in which we fled Venus, I'm afraid we'll run out of food and supplies before we reach our new home." Matt wanted to call the councilor's bluff, but the giggles from his sister forced him to be sensible. "So what you're saying is that, if I don't assist you in getting those drives to ignite, then we'll all die before we reach Earth?"

Tomas stared at Matt with a false sense of sympathy. "Once you've decided to do the right thing, let us know and we'll escort you to the bridge." The councilor rose from his seat and headed to the door panel. He depressed a coded sequence into the key pad and the partition opened. "I want two things before I agree to do this." Matt called out and Tomas halted before leaving. The self-declared Supreme Lorde pivoted on his heels and once again faced Matt. "Yes, Officer Shal?" "A written guarantee that Lanna and I will be safely released once we land on Earth. The other thing is ... I want my meals with the Crow who saved me." Without hesitation, Tomas nodded. "Done and done." He left the door open behind him. Matt waited for the panel to close, but it didn't. He approached the corridor with caution, expecting guards on either side of the doorway. The area was empty and clear of any visible threats. Was this a trap? Did Tomas mean what he said about allowing Lanna and him to go free once they landed on Earth? Either way, he didn't dare step beyond his quarters. **** Plenda moaned in the middle of her labor. A few quick breaths were all she had time for in between contractions. "It's okay, honey, I see the head." Caryn assured the mother-to-be as she stood in between two Crow women who held Plenda's legs. Plenda exhaled feeling the pain of childbirth. Her knuckles whitened as her fingers wrapped around the wooden branches that made up the bed frame. "It's coming, Plenda. Just hang in there." Caryn extended her hands just below the baby's fuzzy cranium as it peeked out from Plenda's body. "Push, honey, push." Plenda pushed with all she had hoping the infant would free itself. "Ahhh." Her cry sounded like an exotic animal being painfully tortured. Get this damned thing out of me! "We have a complete head!" Caryn firmly grabbed the baby. "One more hard push," she insisted as the infant's shoulders slid through the birth canal. "Ewww." Plenda pushed one final time as the sweat soaking her hair trickled into her face. She dropped her head back onto the down pillow with exhaustion. Tears streamed down Caryn's face as she lifted the child into Plenda's line of sight. "You have a little boy." The Crow women who assisted in the birth smiled at one another, then at Plenda. They lowered her legs and rested them on the edge of the bed. One woman took the baby from Caryn and quickly wrapped him in a thick cloth. The second lady began cleaning the new mother with warm sponges and fresh blankets. Plenda couldn't help noticing their huge brows creasing as they continued smiling at her. Her son, covered in a thick cloth, was placed on a nearby table. The baby had unusually thick hair and very wide hands. She missed her chance to see his feet, but they, too, were probably thick. The woman cradled the baby and carried him over to Plenda. She placed the child down on his mother's chest.

"Thank you." Plenda grinned and nodded gratefully to the women, who soon left the mud hut. "Come to Mama." She wrapped her arms around the newborn, promising herself she would keep a watchful eye on him. She refused to lose Dornan's son to anyone, especially the emperor or Captain Kado. Caryn leaned next to the new mother and brushed Plenda's hair back with a comb created from twigs. "What shall we call him?" Jano came into the hut when the Crow women left. The old man grabbed a seat at the foot of her bed. His face was filled with pride. Plenda noticed the radiance. She cradled her son with one hand and placed her other on Jano's lap. "I will call him ... Jada." **** On board Earthbound One, Commander Shal walked onto the bridge after sharing a hot meal with his wife and son. The taste of the spicy sauce lingered on his tongue. An urgent call from the crew forced the commander to interrupt the time he spent with his family. The invasions into his family life seemed to occur more often as the fleet approached Earth. "Sir." The communications officer stood at attention and the rest of the bridge team followed suit. Shal ran his tongue along the edge of his mouth savoring his meal one last time. "This better be good, men." The communications officer smiled. Shal noticed a gleam in the young man's eyes. "We've arrived at our new home and are awaiting your official order to begin the power down sequence so we may orbit the planet." Shal stiffened, elated the fleet completed its journey. The vessels had safely completed their journey through the solar system and to the new world. Two hundred thousand people traveled in what felt like an endless mission. "Sir?" The communications officer nodded. "Your order." Shal shook himself back into reality. "Power down, Ensign." The commander sat down and crossed his legs. He depressed the comm button built into the armrest for what he hoped would be one of the journey's final announcements. "Attention, Earthbound Fleet, this is Commander Shal. Prepare for power down. I repeat prepare to power down." The broadcast transmitted to all vessels. The bridge crew roared with cheers as they anticipated the tunnel of stars visible in the view port transforming into an image of the blue planet. Shal paused to enjoy his men's enthusiasm. Exhilarated, he pushed down on the comm button. " Earthbound Two, this is Earthbound One." "Go ahead, One," a voice came through the speakers. "Power down and slide into orbit." "Yes, sir!" Shouts of victory from the bridge crew of Earthbound Two overwhelmed the communication devices throughout the mother ship.

"Earthbound Three, this is Earthbound One." Shal continued the sequence until all transport vessels in the armada successfully powered down their boosters. The ships would rendezvous at the coordinates received from the original scout exploration team. The tech officers preset the destination into the vessels before they launched. **** Bade Knor slammed his hands against the armrest of the command chair when he heard Shal's transmission. "They are there first, sir," the convict behind the navigations console stated as he frowned. "Not to worry. I am sure Coun--I mean Supreme Lorde Tomas has an alternate plan." Knor hated the self-appointed title. The councilor became more insane by the hour. Bade feared for the people living on Earth, knowing once his crew landed and Tomas demanded control of the Enforcers, life would never be the same. He yearned to set the Crow shaman free as a sign of his gratitude. It wasn't everyday a man regained full vision. His insides ripped at him more each day because his ship, Ishtar's Escape carried a man who would make Dornan's people miserable. "I'm here to put in the codes." Knor shifted in his seat and discovered young Shal on the bridge. The officer didn't have the usual escort of guards, but instead, held his baby sister in his arms. "You're going to decode the boost modifiers?" "Yes, Captain Knor." Matt stepped further onto the bridge. "It doesn't matter much anymore. I heard my father over the comm system. They've arrived before us." Knor rubbed his chin while studying the young man. "Yes. Yes they have." Knor pointed to the navigation console. "It's over there, Officer Shal." Marcus nodded. Knor kept the scouts completely in the dark about Tomas' intent. The new Supreme Lorde feared the explorers would revolt against the crew if they knew the truth. As Matt passed Marcus, the former scout and his fellow explorer, Quada, both gave the young Enforcer a crisp salute. Matt acknowledged them by taking Lanna's hand and like a puppet, had her return the salute to them. Knor couldn't help but admire the respect the scouts held for a much younger superior. If Tomas miscalculated or made a mistake, the three officers would overpower the convicts in mere moments. "The modifiers are over there actually." Matt put Lanna down on her own two feet and walked with his sister to a panel underneath a vacant console placed between the navigation computer and the huge view port. Impressed by young Shal's knowledge of the bridge, Knor smiled. Why am I helping Tomas? he quietly thought. **** Matt couldn't help but wonder why, in the midst of a crew of convicts, two Parliamentary scout officers were working the bridge. Not only did they sit behind the consoles, they offered respectful salutes. He bent down at the empty console and keyed in a series of numbers. A panel slid open to reveal a

colorful array of blinking lights and a smaller palm-sized keypad. Matt noticed the crew watching his every move. He didn't want to share the sequence, just initiate it. Matt pulled Lanna close to him, not only to protect her from unwanted looks, but also to keep the crew from seeing the codes. "What is it you're doing there, Officer?" the once deformed captain asked from his chair. "I'm powering up your boost modifiers." Matt pointed to the first scout. "You there? What's your name?" The man snapped to attention. "I'm Parliamentary Explorer Marcus Qun." The scout smiled. "You, sir, may call me Marcus." "And you may call me Matt." In that moment, Matt realized these scouts had been rescued along with the Crow shaman. "Please, come forward." Marcus approached Matt and went down on one knee next to the console. "Yes, sir?" "These are very bad men," Matt whispered. "This is the sequence. Share it only with your partner if necessary." He raised his voice in hopes of covering his first few words. "Understood, sir." Marcus nodded and leaned in toward Matt. "Where's the rest of the crew?" "Tomas stole the vessel," Matt muttered. "What is he saying?" The navigator stood staring at Knor. "They're discussing the sequences," Knor responded and leaned back in his seat seeming not to care. A part of him wished for a mutiny. "You believe that, sir?" The convict grimaced. "Just watch the code." Matt began touching the pad of his finger against each symbol on the keypad, spelling out his situation. "Now your turn." "Understood, sir." Marcus responded by pretending to touch the keys one at a time when he actually spelled out his promise of assistance at the proper time. "That will be all, Marcus." Matt sent the scout back to his post and keyed in the sequence for real. He stood eyeing the crew. "We'll power up momentarily. I suggest you fasten your straps until you're used to the speed." He couldn't arrive on Earth fast enough. Matt sat in the vacant console chair and placed Lanna on his lap. He reached under the chair feeling for the binding buckle and attached the strap over his and Lanna's legs. "Hold on." "This is Bade Knor. Please secure your binding straps. The boost modifiers have been powered up." The captain winked at Matt as he released the comm button on his armrest. Ishtar's Escape hummed with new life as the modifiers ignited. Everyone looked in different directions. The rumbling sounded as if something outside the ship was about to come through the hull. A slight jerk signaled the complete firing sequence of the modifiers and the stars that were mere dots in the view port swirled into bright strings of interstellar twine.

"Supreme Lorde Tomas tells me that your dinner guest awaits you, Officer Shal," Knor barked over the roar of the engines. Matt nodded and continued to observe the light show of bent star lines in the view port. Once the ship reached full acceleration, he would join the Crow in the galley for his first relaxing meal in months. **** Dornan, Matt and Lanna sat around a circular table in the corner of the vessel's galley. Ishtar's Escape now made great progress in its journey toward Earth. Matt could tell by the look on the Crow's face he was impatient. "So, you have a child waiting for you?" Matt fed Lanna a nibble of food from his utensil. "Plenda should give birth any time now. I can't wait to see her." Dornan smiled and his deep-set eyes drifted off into a secret place. The young officer guessed his new friend was drowning in memorable images of the woman. "Who's Plenda?" Matt wiped Lanna's face clean. "She, my friend, is the reason I'm here." Dornan frowned, his eyes turned to stone. "She is one of you. A Sapien." "One of the scouts." Matt nodded in understanding. Dornan had briefly explained his predicament to him when they first met. "Yes. I was to life bond with the emperor's daughter, but fell in love with Plenda. The emperor discovered my feelings for Plenda and condemned me to die on a spaceship headed back to Venus." Dornan wiped the moisture from his eyes. "Why did you kill all the scouts on the ship? I can't see my people as murderers." Matt heard such wonderful stories at the Academy about Captain Kado and his brave group of explorers. The lives Dornan had ended were some of the most worshipped in Ishtar. "Kado." The Crow's face hardened. "Kado forced Plenda into a relationship during their journey to my planet. His broken heart was his motivation for murder." "I understand." Matt offered some more of the spongy orange food to his sister. "I need to ask you about two scouts I met on the bridge." Dornan chuckled. "Oh yes, Marcus and Quada." "So they were rescued with you? That was what you told me, right?" Matt became excited thinking up a strategy to escape once they reached Earth's orbit. "Marcus promised me his assistance if needed. They have no choice but to obey me since I outrank them." Dornan gulped down a mouth full of food. "Marcus saved me once already. The other one I don't trust." "Then we'll only plan on Marcus helping us." Matt shoveled a portion of orange stuff into his own mouth. He had spent so much time feeding his sister and talking, that he'd forgotten about his own appetite. **** Plenda cuddled Jada to her bosom as she fed the newborn a second helping of milk. The infant had a huge appetite for such a tiny thing. She noticed his deep-set eyes and a caterpillar of fuzzy follicles that snaked across his brow. Jada obviously took after his father.

Though Plenda missed the man she loved, Jada filled a void she never thought possible. Jano kept coming in every hour or so to wiggle the infant's minute fingers or tickle his toes trying to draw a smile from his grandson. Plenda welcomed the minor intrusions while she waited for Caryn to return from the scouts' dwelling. Plenda nodded off with the baby in her arms worried she might drop or even worse, crush him. Short naps between visitors seemed the most appropriate under the circumstances. The faint whining of a craft engine whispered through the skin flap of the mud hut. Caryn is back and hopefully, with more goodies. Plenda made a mental list of the food items her friend promised. The sound of the vehicle ceased and the new mother straightened herself in her bed with anticipation. Caryn burst through the flap empty-handed. Her gaze shifted around the hut. Familiar with Caryn's look of distress, Plenda braced herself for bad news. "The emperor's guards are coming." Caryn caught her breath as she placed a hand on her chest, calming herself. "Guards?" Plenda glanced at her child, who slept without care or concern. "Are you sure?" "I'm positive, honey, I went by them in my craft. There were about two dozen." They're coming for me, she thought. "Go tell Jano while I gather my things." Plenda looked around to decide what she would take with her. "We can go back to the scout camp." Caryn shook her head. "Impossible, the entire camp is under guard. I got out just before the emperor's men got there." "Okay. Ask Jano if he knows of anywhere we can hide." Plenda got out of bed for the first time in days. As with any mother, she wrapped her baby in warm blankets. She grabbed her synthetic coverlet from the bed and stuffed it into a nearby sack. Plenda didn't know what to do next as her mind fluttered in all directions. Emperor Pernius wouldn't give up on getting rid of Dornan, and he wanted the child, too. Within a few moments, Caryn came back with Jano on her heels. Out of breath, she inhaled and grabbed food. "I'll take this to the craft." "Come. We cannot waste time." The old man retrieved more food from the pantry, packing whatever fit into the sack he carried. "I've planned for this moment." "You did?" Plenda cradled her son as Caryn carried the sacks out of the dwelling. "I'm not known as a wise old man just because my hair is gray. We'll take your craft to a secret ledge on the mountain. You can see the village from there." Jano placed his empty hand on Plenda's shoulder escorting mother and child from the hut. "See them?" Caryn pulled her blaster out of her holster. "I have yours in the rear seat, Plenda." Plenda looked at the weapon Caryn had for her and then her attention shifted to the tiny steam of torches coming toward them. The guards' proximity didn't permit for any wasting time. "Let's get out of here." "I'll come with you in that speed machine and then walk back." Jano stroked the tips of his beard as he looked at the invaders. "They won't attack this late, but come morning, they will." The old man gazed into

the sky. "What are you doing, Jano?" Plenda hugged her child impatient with the old man's wasting time. "I don't see any dactalcons flying around, so we can go."

Chapter Twenty "We are approaching orbit, sir." Knor rested comfortably in his command chair overseeing his four man crew. He was amazed at the brilliance surrounding the new planet. Venus, at one time, had glimmered in the same way. Glowing blue hues radiated from the thick atmosphere clinging like a soft cushion around Earth. To be sure, he would miss Venus and for the first time since he had undertaken this journey, a sentimental tear slid down his cheek from his reborn eye duct. "Sir, we're approaching orbit." The convict behind the navigation console waited for a response. "Yes." Knor shook himself back into reality. They had to safely enter the atmosphere now. "Bring us around the portside and power down the boost modifiers." "Powering down." Quada keyed in a few commands and the bridge suddenly dimmed for a moment, accompanied by a purring sound before the lights returned to normal. Earth had something Venus did not, moons. Three of them lingered on the darker side of the planet. The information sent from Captain Kado prior to his demise mentioned them. Kado had also reported that the largest one, the center moon, was currently having dwellings made upon it by Parliamentary construction robots by order of the Crow emperor. "Bring us around to those moons. It's been a while since we heard any transmissions from Commander Shal and the fleet. I don't want to meet them in orbit." Knor feared direct contact with the Earthbound vessels. The last crackle of Shal's voice came moments before Ishtar's Escape launched their boost modifiers. "Sir, I cannot find any indication of the fleet on our sensors," Marcus stated. Earth grew in size as it filled the massive view port. Anxiety gripped Knor when he thought of seeing all the Crow Earthlings. He couldn't discount the fact that Dornan had given him a new reason to live. He vowed to change his ways once his new life began. "Please alert the good councilor that his kingdom awaits him." Knor was grateful Tomas no longer had the shaman under constant guard, but as each day went by, he realized he didn't share in the councilor's vision for ruling Earth. Already Tomas was demanding the crew address him as Supreme Lorde. **** Matt stared out the view port when the vessel's lights dimmed. We powered down. This ship is very close, if not already in orbit. He went to Lanna and lifted her from the crib. He returned to show his sister the view outside the round window. "See, Lanna, we're here. I just know it." A sudden bluish tint filled Matt's vision. Squinting, he noticed Earth was much closer than he assumed. "Da da." Lanna pointed to the massive sphere that swallowed the vessel within its shadow. "Soon. Very, very soon." Matt and Dornan had developed a strategy for escape. The crew had been very friendly to both himself and the Crow since he decoded the boost modifiers. However, he still believed Tomas planned to kill them all once they reached Earth.

"Da da." Lanna giggled as Matt tickled her. He loved watching her smile, especially these past few months. "Just think ... we're going to have a new home soon." Matt brought his sister into his chest and cuddled her as if she was the most precious thing in the world. And at that particular time, she was. **** Dornan stared at the view of Earth beyond his view port. He remembered being taken aboard one of these vessels and almost dying on it. He used to fear space travel, but in the past few rotations, had grown quite fond of it. He thought if he looked hard enough, he might be able to see Plenda in some village clearing holding their child. The sight of Earth alerted the Crow it was time to prepare for his and Matt's escape. Dornan reached into his robe and pulled out a note written in the Sapien language. During their many rounds dining together, the Sapien helped Dornan learn the written words, as well as more spoken phrases. The Crow unfolded the note and glared down at the words etched in an ink similar to the dyes the Crows used for painting symbols on cave walls. The Sapien inks came in portable containers and didn't need refilling. The note consisted of six simple words: Docking bay emergency dump at dinner. Dornan turned the paper over and studied the hand-drawn map Matt had provided. Matt had even made a circle showing Dornan's present location. The crew had no idea how familiar Matt was with the layout of the vessel. Having trained on each section of the prototype transport vessel, Matt knew all the ships were designed with the exact same quarters, galleys and hidden compartments. Emergency dumps were compartments located at the ends of both levels and were designed for the pilots to have quick access into the docking bay in case of emergencies. Since Ishtar's Escape had launched prematurely, there was only one craft in the bay and it was the one Matt had stolen. **** The Earthbound fleet hovered in orbit for quite some time waiting for all the ships to gather. Earthbound Eighteen powered down and approached the rest of the armada. Commander Shal crossed one leg over the other and leaned back in his command chair. He gazed at the blue planet for a few moments hoping he would land in time to see his son and daughter before Tomas had them killed. And when I get my hands on that councilor, I'ill kill him barehanded. "Commander, all vessels are now in orbit," the communications officer stated. "Are you sure, Ensign? Count each blip on your screen. From the data we received from the explorer group, we must enter the atmosphere at a certain angle." Shal studied old reports and electronic files from the scouts' first landing. The ensign ran a finger along each individual digital orb embedded in the orbital map. He repeated the

count and turned toward Shal with a quizzical expression. "Funny, sir, but I'm reading one extra vessel." The commander straightened in his chair allowing both boots to hit the floor and leaned toward the ensign. "What do you mean ... extra vessel?" The ensign shook his head holding out a hand toward his display. "T-t-there is an additional transport, Commander." Shal pounded his armrest. "Ishtar's Escape!" He flew from his seat and approached the ensign's console. He personally wanted to count the orbs. To his astonishment, he also discovered an additional vessel hiding behind one of the three moons. "Listen carefully. I do not want the following order broadcast. My children's safety is at risk." The commander paused. "We will launch three orbital crafts to follow Ishtar's Escape down to the surface. Once we get a lock on their landing site, we can rush them." "Sir?" The communications officer stood at attention. "May I have the honor, sir?" "Yes, Ensign Dolan, you may." Shal nodded in approval sending his officer off the bridge. Dolan had served with Matt at the Parliamentary Academy and was eager to take the message to the pilots personally. "Won't they detect our orbital crafts, sir?" another ensign asked. Shal rubbed his chin thinking about a way to respond without looking overzealous. "Actually, I don't think they can detect us now." "Why is that, sir?" "It's simple really." Shal giggled a bit. "They would have run like hell." Shal pointed at the three moons. "Something about those moons is jamming their signals." "Then how come we detected them, sir?" The ensign seemed lost. "You must have forgotten that this is the only vessel with the ability to contact all the ships at once. We can see everything. The other ships probably have no idea that Ishtar's Escape is in the vicinity." Shal motioned to the comm stick. "Go ahead." "Earthbound Two, this is Earthbound One." The ensign released his thumb from the button. "Go ahead, One," a voice crackled over the speakers. The ensign looked at Shal before he continued. The commander motioned the officer to continue. "Please run a fleet check and give us your numbers." The ensign watched his console screen as Earthbound Two responded with a numerical response. "They say eighteen, sir." "I told you." Shal wagged a finger excitedly with the realization his children were within reach. He wanted to run down the corridor to his wife and share the news, but decided it would be better to deliver it in person. **** Plenda and Caryn sat on a pair of flat rocks outside the entrance to the branch-covered shelter which overlooked the village of Tigris. It had been days since they had been forced to flee.

The emperor's guards were camped in a small clearing near the village waiting for Plenda's return. Each day, the guards pillaged different homes in search of Dornan's newborn son. Jano had protected Plenda and infant to the best of his ability by rushing them to a cave above the village he had prepared before Plenda's arrival. The emperor's men flogged the old man several times to force a confession out of him. "Why do they want my baby so badly?" Plenda wrapped her arms around her knees as she scrunched down. "I think Emperor Pernius wants a guarantee Dornan's son won't come looking for him when he gets old enough." Caryn stretched out her arms. "Has Marin learned anything else about the ships?" Caryn told Plenda about the large fleet in orbit. Caryn ran her fingers through her matted hair. "Nothing yet. The construction crews on Cordova reported seeing about a dozen ships pass their space, but they didn't contact the crews. Since we've been here, I haven't heard anything else." "Wow. Can you imagine? Kado must've returned quickly to get that many ships here so soon." Plenda felt nothing but repulsion for the captain. After all, it was because of Kado that Dornan had been taken away from her. "Do you think once Kado lands with more of our people, he'll have the same amount of power?" "Don't you mean ... will you live the rest of your days in terror?" Caryn giggled a bit. "No. I think Kado will fade into the background and let the politicians do their jobs." "I suppose you're right." Plenda sighed and leaned into the entrance of her shelter listening for her son. "Do you think Dornan will return with them?" Caryn didn't respond. Plenda noticed her friend's bottom lip purse a few times as she continued to stare down the mountain. "Caryn?" Caryn turned abruptly to face Plenda. "No, honey, I don't think Dornan will come back." She wiped some moisture from her eyes. "Look!" Plenda shot up at the sight of two dwellings with dark gray smoke coming out of their windows and doors. "Another set of homes burned." Caryn covered her mouth with her hands. Plenda buried her hands in her face. The frustration was mounting in her. How could she sit back and watch people die and be tortured while the emperor's guards hunted her and her son? **** "Enough!" Jano roared from a tree line near a cluster of dwellings. "You will leave our village now." The old man approached the two dozen guards with a fighting staff clenched firmly in his hands. Two guards approached Jano before he could advance any further. "Be gone, old man! Or you will meet the same fate as some of the dwellings." Jano could still smell the burnt thatch roofs from the homes the guards burned during the night. "I don't

think so." Jano leveled his staff into an offensive stance prepared to end the emperor's siege once and for all. The guards laughed. "We will kill you if that's what you desire." "It is what we desire." Jano stomped the tip of his staff against the ground three times and resumed his stance. From every dwelling, shadow and nook, the men of Tigris emerged bearing their fighting sticks. Jano raised the staff over his head with the vigor of a young man. "Attack!" he cried. Dozens of Crows advanced on the emperor's soldiers screaming Jada's name as they whirled their staffs. The emperor's guards lunged toward their attackers with skilled counterstrikes. For every guard who died, three villagers joined them. Jano whipped his staff in a circular motion slapping his nearest opponent against the side of the head. Before the guard knew what hit him, Jano jabbed his stick into the guard's torso. The battle for freedom raged on the field as Crow killed Crow. The villagers of Tigris were tired of their homes burning in the name of Emperor Pernius. They were willing to lay down their lives to live free of the Republic's rule. Jada's birth was the spark that ignited a revolution. **** "Caryn, look down there!" Plenda pointed to fighting in the village below. Caryn leaned against a slim tree that angled over the side of the steep ledge. "They're fighting." "I should do something. I can't just sit back and do nothing." Plenda understood her baby's safety was a priority, but in the back of her mind, she knew that if the men of Tigris were defeated, no one would be safe on this planet. Caryn pushed off the tree and ran inside the shelter. She emerged with their blasters. "We can help in our own way." Plenda smiled. They could go down the mountain just far enough to be in range of the emperor's guards. "Pernius' men can run really fast." Caryn tilted her head toward the craft she had parked just beyond the shelter. Plenda wanted to leave Jada in the shelter. If they took the craft, they would need to travel further than she'd planned, but Caryn was right, the guards did move quickly. "What about my son?" "We can put him on the floor inside the craft." Caryn smiled now. Plenda paused a moment in order to consider her options. She could continue to watch the battle from her perch in the mountains in hopes of a Tigris victory, or she could zip through the clearing blasting Republic guards with their advanced weaponry. "If one of us drives, that means the other can shoot." Caryn chortled. "Since I'm the better pilot, you get the honor of saving Tigris." Anxiety rushed through Plenda causing her hands to tremble. "Do you think we can do it?" "There are only two dozen or so guards and they don't have blasters. You should have most of them

eliminated before they get close enough to attack." "Let me grab Jada and you get the craft ready. We're gonna be useful." Plenda smiled as she ducked inside the shelter to retrieve her son. **** "Keep your staffs," Jano commanded as he advanced toward two opponents simultaneously. "Keep your staffs!" "We're losing, Jano!" a villager cried a few steps away as he fought viciously against his enemy by twirling his stick. With a tremendous motion, the villager slammed his staff down onto a guard's head, splitting skull and brain. "It doesn't look that way to me." Jano burst into laughter as he swung his fighting stick around cracking his closest opponent in the knees, forcing the guard forward. With a mighty twirl, the old man changed his grip and drove the far end of his staff into the guard's mouth. Jano shoved the stick until it penetrated his enemy's skull. The villager cracked the tip of his staff against the temple of the second guard sending Jano's other opponent to the ground. "Oh no, take a look!" Jano's eyes widened as all hopes of victory left him. "There are more guards? Where did they come from?" He scanned the fallen men located throughout the clearing. Scores of guards and villagers lay lifeless. However, the new swarm of guards rushed to combat replacing the tired and dead. "About another two dozen I think." **** Caryn zipped the craft over the smooth terrain that formed a path down the opposite side of the mountain. Plenda nestled her son on the floor of the vehicle behind Caryn's seat. With her knees firmly on the rear seat, Plenda set both hands on the back of the craft with a blaster in each, ready to shoot while Caryn cruised into the combat zone. The craft descended to the bottom of the mountain and whirled around toward the village. "Oh no!" Caryn pointed to the battle ahead of them. Plenda quickly discovered the reason for Caryn's outcry. Another group of guards had entered the fray. "Caryn, turn this thing around so my weapons face them. Then hover in place so I can get the bastards from behind." "You read my mind." Caryn piloted the craft a bit closer so the blasters were within range of shooting. Plenda leveled her weapons in the direction of the unknowing guards. The new mother inhaled deeply releasing a long, slow sigh as she begged the Gods to forgive her. She hated killing another human, but nothing in this world would take her son away from her. "Now." Caryn's vehicle crept toward the combat arena. Plenda took aim and fired at the first group of guards. Four of them were sliced down in an instant. "Got some." Her adrenaline pumped as she felt the pads of her fingers throb. "Sapiens!" One of the guards twirled his staff above his head.

"Oh, hell." Plenda's heart slowed when the entire line of guards turned to face her. She lowered her head and she squeezed off consecutive blasts, scattering them in all directions. Three more invaders dropped as the majority found themselves caught between her blasters and the villagers. "Get ready to swing around. Six are racing toward us." Caryn's foot came down heavy on the accelerator pedal lifting the craft slightly higher off the ground as the machine's engines raced. Just one more round of shots, Plenda thought as she tightened her grip around the triggers. Intense energy ripped through six of the guards. "Okay. Only three left here. Move now!" Caryn catapulted the craft forward. Plenda glanced at Jada and discovered he was sleeping as soundly as he did in the shelter. The odds on the battlefield now tilted in favor of Tigris. The Republic guards lost their advantage with the introduction of the Sapiens' superior weapons. She wondered if two weapons would hold off the entire Republic. Jano fought one to one amongst the many dead littered on the ground. With a few swipes of his staff, the old man defeated his newest opponent in mere moments. A couple more rounds of blaster fire, and the battle would be over. **** "How can you be so sure they can't see us?" Tomas snarled as he stared out of the huge view port on the command bridge. The only visible objects were two of the three moons. The closest one seemed to have a light atmosphere as it radiated an orange glow. "Maybe we should land there until the fleet disperses." "Sir, if we can't detect them, then surely, they can't see us." Knor approached the councilor, tired of the constant questions. Deep down, the captain wished the fleet had spotted his ship. Tomas pointed to the largest of the moons wrapped in a bluish hue. "See that one there?" "Yes, sir." Knor noticed the solitary massive dome nestled on the surface. "That must be the future moon base Captain Kado mentioned to me. It was made as a request by the emperor of the Earthlings. He wanted us to build it in exchange for sharing the planet's resources." Tomas giggled. "Stupid man." "I don't understand, sir." "Of course you don't, Bade. That's why I'm Supreme Lorde and you're my subordinate." Tomas grinned. "That moon will become the emperor's new home after we chase him off the planet." Knor stood silently as Tomas laughed and walked off the bridge. "Bade? See to it that our prisoners, including the infant, are fed a final meal before we dispose of them." Tomas left the bridge with his robe trailing behind him. "Yes, sir." Knor nodded and then stared at Marcus, which was the secret signal. Marcus winked and exited the command bridge. **** Matt sat up and removed the bottle from Lanna's puckered lips. This was the first time she'd closed her eyes in hours. Usually, Lanna napped more frequently. Matt went to the crib and lowered his sister into it

humming a lullaby. Matt looked at her thanking the gods he caught up with Ishtar's Escape before they left Venus' orbit. The convicts aboard this ship would've neglected her. Three knocks sounded, followed by one solitary tap, then three more knocks. A lump developed in Matt's throat when he received the signal. The time for their escape had finally arrived. The three of them were now being summoned for their last meal. The plan was to get to the galley via the corridors and then bolt into the docking bay emergency dumps. **** "Let's go, Earthling." Two Sapien convicts stood in the corridor outside Dornan's quarters. "It's time for your meal." "Isn't it a bit early?" Dornan too received the signal. He figured there was nothing wrong with having a bit of fun at the renegades' expense. "Don't worry about that. We hope to be on Earth shortly, so the time has been moved up a bit." "Oh, okay." Dornan grinned sarcastically. He knew full well the crew had been ordered to keep his murder a secret. They didn't want a repeat of what happened on the scouting vessel. The Crow cracked a wider smile, which drew a look of concern from one of the crew. The two Sapiens who routinely escorted him had lowered their guard the past few weeks. Their blasters were no longer in a ready position as they had been when he first arrived. Part of the strategy was to befriend the convicts, or at least, pose as minimal a threat as possible. When the time came to attack them, Matt wanted it to be a surprise. Dornan could tell that they would definitely be quite surprised in just a few moments. "Okay, Shal, open up." One of the Sapiens pounded on the panel. "Time to eat." The panel slid open revealing Matt with Lanna sleeping in his arms. "Shh. You don't want her crying all the way to galley, do you?" Matt whispered. The convicts escorted Matt, Dornan and the baby toward the galley. Dornan looked at Matt and winked. The Crow got between Matt and the convists as they headed toward their destination. Marcus appeared at the end of the corridor with his arms outstretched. "Gentlemen, I have a question to ask Officer Shal before he eats." They stopped and waited for Marcus. Matt had to complete his tasks while not revealing the scout's intentions. "Sir?" The convicts nodded at the former scout. Dornan glanced over at Matt and nodded. Matt back stepped with Lanna in his arms. Marcus lifted a hand toward Matt and opened his mouth like he was about to say something, when he suddenly dropped to the floor. At this, the convicts both looked at the scout lying on the floor. Marcus appeared to be having a

convulsion. Dornan silently praised his performance. "What the hell is wrong with him?" One of the convicts moved over to Marcus in total bewilderment. "May I?" Dornan extended his hands toward the convulsing scout. "Yes. You are the healer." The man stepped aside giving Dornan access to Marcus. Matt backed away from the group when all eyes were focused on the incident. Dornan stretched his arms, his palms wide open, as he always did before healing someone. He lowered his upper body and without warning, quickly lifted up striking both thugs on the side of their heads, sending them to the floor with a simultaneous thump. Matt glared down at the unconscious men. He looked at Dornan. "Remind me never to upset you." The Crow chuckled at his friend's joke and slapped his hands together and gestured like he was wiping them clean. Marcus abruptly ceased his uncontrollable trembling. "Get out of here," he whispered. "Just make sure you stay down, Marcus." Matt acknowledged with a grin as he retreated. "See you on the surface." Marcus winked and made as if he too were knocked out by the shaman. Dornan hated to harm others, but would allow nothing to stand in his way of reuniting with Plenda. "To the dumps." Matt led the way with Lanna waking in his arms. "I hope Knor did his part and unlocked the hatch." Dornan hustled behind the young Sapien. Matt arrived at the end of the passage and tugged on the portal with one hand while holding Lanna with the other. "It's open." "Get in!" Dornan turned back to watch for any crew members. Matt lifted one leg into the hatch and carefully brought Lanna through with him. Dornan heard the friction of Matt's descent, along with the baby's whimpering. "What the hell?" one of the convicts mumbled as he came to. His head must've throbbed because he didn't make a move toward the Crow. Dornan proffered a sarcastic wave as he hopped in the portal and closed the hatch. The ride was swift and dark. Matt assured Dornan that he would fit in the rear seat of the craft. **** "Sir, we have unknown activity in the docking bay!" The communications officer whipped around in his seat looking at his superior. Knor wanted to burst out laughing, but couldn't afford to allow a single soul to know he had been part of the plan. "What?" He leaned forward in his command chair. "Check to see if we have a leak in the airlock." Before ordering a direct assault into the bay, he wanted to send his crew on a bit of a wild goose chase, which would allow the Crow time to escape.

The convict turned back to his console and rapidly keyed in a sequence, which brought up a random display of digital blueprints. "So far, I can't see a single breach in the hull, sir." "Get a crew count. Make sure everyone is still on board." The man stood up and tossed his headset down. "Damn it, sir. The docking bay doors have been opened." "Oh no!" Knor was getting a kick out of the whole charade. Quada stood up abruptly. "Should we fire upon it?" "Absolutely not." Knor commanded in a loud tone. "That would draw unwanted attention to us from the fleet." **** "An orbital craft?" Shal shot up and out of the command chair as he listened to the report from the three fighters he'd sent to watch Ishtar's Escape. "Yes, Commander. Should the crafts intercept it?" One of the officers lurked over his comm mike awaiting Shal's decision. My son, the commander thought. "See if it's Matt. I have a strange feeling..." The commander was interrupted by Officer Dolan. "It's Matt, it's Matt! And he has Lanna with him!" The young officer jumped up clapping his hands, which set off a roar of cheers from the bridge crew. The commander smirked. "Is his identification confirmed?" "Yes, sir." The communications officer saluted his superior. Shal's heart stopped beating for just a moment as he gathered every bit of his internal strength. "Have one of our fighters escort my children to our vessel." "Yes, sir." The communications officer punched the message into his keyboard. "And Ishtar's Escape, sir?" Shal stiffened. "Have the other two fighter crafts blast that worthless councilor's ship into pieces," he ordered. **** Knor sat in his command chair happy with his part in the escape of the three prisoners. It was time to bring the vessel around the third moon and angle it through Earth's atmosphere. "Prepare landing sequence. Strap in." The renegade crew secured themselves in their seats with their binding straps. Knor depressed the comm button on his armrest. "This is Captain Bade Knor. We are descending to our final destination. Please make sure you're prepared for a bumpy ride," he announced to Ishtar's Escape at large. An abrupt and violent jolt slammed Knor. One of the crew bashed face first into a console screen. "What the heck?" Knor thought for a moment that the ship had collided with an asteroid until the hull was struck a second time and his head hammered into his knees. "What is going on?"

"We're being attacked, sir." "What? How? These Earthlings don't have the technology..." The words trailed off as an orbital fighter streaked in front of the view port. Knor spotted a second craft right behind the first. The fleet had found Ishtar's Escape. "Man all turrets! Man all turrets!" the communications officer repeated into his headset. "We are under attack. I repeat, we are under attack!" The ship continued to absorb the immense poundings. Knor closed his eyes hoping the descent to Earth would come quickly. We'll never make it. **** Two of the three fighter crafts zipped around Ishtar's Escape like bees over a flower. The pilots fired relentless bursts of energy into the vessel's hull with each pass over the command bridge. "Look out, Nord. They're firing up the defense turrets," the first pilot warned. "Got it, Jym." Nord whipped his craft around and accelerated toward the renegade vessel letting go with a string of blasts into Ishtar's guns. "That's one!" Jym cried as Nord's shots hit their mark and blew the turret to bits. "Back off! Back off!" Nord brought his orbital fighter into a wide loop away from the renegade vessel. "It's angling. If you get any closer, you'll be pulled in with it." Jym ignored his friend's plea and stayed with Ishtar's Escape until the bow of his fighter was within reach of the engines. "That's it..." Jym muttered. He waited until the glow of the boosters filled the craft's canopy. At which point, he jammed his thumbs on the dual triggers of his steering handle. "Holy..." Nord muttered as the shots from Jym's fighter penetrated Ishtar's engine shaft. "Pull up, Jym!" Jym pulled the steering handle between his legs. His fighter barely made it out of danger before Ishtar's engines exploded in a massive array of flames and metal. The renegade vessel violently spiraled though the atmosphere toward Earth. "Good night, Councilor." Nord chuckled as he and Jym headed for Earthbound One. **** The panels of Earthbound One's docking bay opened to welcome Commander Shal's son and daughter. "You feeling alright back there, Dornan?" Matt kept the orbital craft steady knowing his friend was having a hard time. Matt stressed the importance of staring out of the canopy when the shaman felt nauseated. "I'm getting used to it." Dornan nodded as Lanna played on his lap. "Here we go." Matt eased the craft into Earthbound One's bay, being very careful to keep his approach professionally executed. "We're going to see Dada, Lanna." "I have one question, my new friend." "What's that, Dornan?" Matt focused on the task before him. "Will your people also imprison me?"

"Not a chance." The silence in the air could've been contributed to the tense landing, but it wasn't. Matt hoped his father's men would treat the Crow with the respect and honor the Earthling deserved. The craft hovered in the bay until its landing gear scraped the floor. The massive doors sealed with a loud bang. Matt allowed the air pressure to normalize before raising the canopy. Commander Shal, his wife and Kreg poked their faces through the viewing window as they, too, waited impatiently. "Mom." Matt's insides lit when he spotted his family. "Dornan, that's my mother, little brother and, of course, my father, Commander Shal." He flipped the release switch to unlock the canopy. Before the hatch lifted, his parents rushed through the bay with smiles wider than the solar system. Matt stood and took Lanna from Dornan's arms. "Come on, Dornan." The three former prisoners were greeted by an overwhelming display of love and gratefulness as Matt's mother ripped Lanna from her eldest son's arms. She cuddled and kissed her daughter while Commander Shal embraced Matt. Dornan looked on with envy in his deep-set eyes. He glanced toward the docking bay doors wondering about his own family. **** The fires of Tigris burned brightly in celebration of their victory over the emperor's guards. Plenda moved Jada's arms and legs in a semblance of dancing to the beat of the skinned drums and wooden flutes. Jano sat along the inner rim of one of the campfires laughing with friends as they clapped their hands in rhythm with the tribal music. "Thank you, Caryn." Plenda was grateful for everything her friend did for her through these trying times. "We girls have to stick together." Caryn grinned and then made more silly faces at several of the children surrounding Jada. This baby was different than the others. His features were a combination of two worlds and cultures. "When are you going back?" As much as Plenda enjoyed her time with the Crow people, she envied Caryn being able to go back anytime she wanted. "Well, Marin wants me to stay here with you until he completes the Dome City on Cordova." "That could take years." Plenda prayed it would. "They aren't that far off from finishing it." Caryn lifted one of the Crow children by the arms and spun the little girl around in a wide circle. Plenda glanced out at the stars and wondered if Dornan had any part in the recent activity beyond the moons. Rumors of new people migrating from a place called Venus were running rampant throughout the village. She wasn't sure if she would ever see him again, but a sinking feeling deep inside her told her she might.

Chapter Twenty-one "Sir, we are the last vessel to enter the atmosphere," Officer Dolan informed Commander Shal, the sheer excitement evident in his words. "Let's not keep the fleet waiting." Shal nestled into his command chair securing his straps. "Angling now, sir," the navigations officer alerted his superior. "Bring us in gently, Ensign." Shal leaned his head back against his chair. "Yes, sir." The hull vibrated as a fiery hue engulfed the exterior of the view port. The crew trembled in their seats as Earth's air currents collided and tugged at the vessel. "Almost there," Dolan stated. Beads of sweat trickled down the sides of Shal's face. The entry caused an enormous amount of turbulence. However, the commander knew what to expect from the vessels already on the ground. "Coming through now, sir," Dolan said. The reddish hue outside the view port dissipated, revealing a single continent of land surrounded by oceans of deep blue. Commander Shal felt the bright reflections of the sea burn his eyes. The new world sat before him in a stunning array of colors and textures. Similar to Venus, yet so very refreshing, Earth displayed the promise of future generations. As the landform enlarged, the oceans vanished and the grounded fleet appeared as small insects, growing larger by the moment. "Welcome to Earth, men." Shal released the buckle of his binding strap. The crew exploded with cheers as tiny figures in black jumpsuits flailed their arms from Earth's surface. **** Dornan stood impatient until the hatch doors unlocked. It felt as though he had been away from Earth for revolutions. With his belongings slung over his shoulder, the shaman longed to find Plenda. "Just where are you going?" Dornan turned discovering Matt walking toward him. "Hi, friend." Matt stopped next to the Crow and looked at the two crew members break the seal around the hatch. "You weren't going to leave without saying goodbye, were you?" Dornan lowered his head in shame. "I'm no good at saying goodbye to friends." He planned on making his departure as discreet as possible. Leaving people he cared about wasn't one of his strong points. If he could have exited the vessel without seeing Lanna or Matt, he would've felt better. Matt chuckled and slapped Dornan on the shoulder. "There's no need to say goodbye. I do plan on

keeping in touch with you." The young officer's words warmed Dornan's heart. Having a friend with influence amongst the Sapiens was a good thing. "Thank you, Matt." The hatch flew open with an eruptive hiss. The view beyond the doorway stole Dornan's breath away. He gazed at the gritty soil that spread far and wide all the way to the mountains. My home. I'm finally home. "It's beautiful." Matt inhaled deeply. "So fresh and clean." Earth's air had been invigorating compared to the recycled oxygen he had been forced to inhale the past few rotations. "Yes. It is sweet." "I don't want to hold you here." Matt offered his hand. "Thank you for everything. Most of all, thanks for the second chance at life." Dornan clenched Matt's hand and drew the young officer into an embrace. "You're a good man, Matt Shal. If ever you need anything, look no further than a village known as Tigris." "Okay." Matt's eyes were bulging with Dornan's hug. "Oh, sorry," Dornan said. "I didn't mean to squeeze you so hard." The Crow released his friend. "I must go. Please give your sister a kiss for me." Dornan spied Sapiens peering out the view ports of all the vessels that landed. He feared being spotted or even worse, followed by a curious pair of eyes. "Tigris." Matt escorted the shaman down the ramp. "My father promised me he wouldn't allow anyone off the vessels until you had a head start." "I will see you again, Matt." Dornan smiled. "Remember, the village of Tigris." The shaman secured his sack to his shoulder and strolled out amongst the fleet. He swelled with pride because the commander forbade anyone else to leave the ships. The dirt crunching underneath the soles of his sandals brought tears to his eyes. No more space trips, he promised himself. **** Matt wiped the tears from his cheeks as the Crow shaman vanished somewhere near the foot of the distant mountains. Tigris, he thought. "He seems like a good man, Matt." Commander Shal smiled at his son. "I'm thankful he was around to help you." Matt nodded. "Please make sure our people don't bother the Earthlings, Dad." Deep in the pit of his gut, Matt knew the Sapiens would dominate the Crows if the opportunity to do so presented itself. "We can't allow our race to be like Tomas or Kado." Commander shrugged as he bobbed his head. "I understand." He clapped his hands together. "Let's get the hatches open so our citizens can plant their feet firmly on solid ground." "Who will lead us, Dad?" Matt hoped it would be his father, but the Parliamentary Senate had called for an open election for a new Supreme Lorde once the Sapiens settled. "For the moment, there will be a military rule until we form a proper government." Shal gazed at his son. "Hopefully, it'll be someone I can influence. Then your friend will be safe."

Matt smiled. His father understood the real question he was asking. "Thanks, Dad." Commander Shal placed his hand on his son's shoulder. "Come on, son. There's a lot of work to be done." Matt remained in the hatchway another moment listening to the cracks and hisses of over a hundred hatches coming unsealed. The Earthbound Fleet now commenced the last part of its mission. **** Smoke billowed into the open air above as Ishtar's Escape's bow buried itself deep in Earth's rich soil. Remarkably, the ship remained intact as it soared uncontrollably through the atmosphere. Tomas hobbled through the corridor and slammed his palm against the button, which opened the entrance panel to the command bridge partly. The interior of the vessel had been disheveled and battered beyond recognition. If he hadn't lived in it for the past few months, he wouldn't have believed it habitable. The partitions separating the sleeping quarters had been distorted and warped. If the inside was this bad, he did not want to know what the hull looked like. Floor seams were ripped apart leaving the lower deck exposed. Tomas needed to wedge his hands in between the sliding panels to create enough room to get through. His mouth dropped and he stood frozen at the sight that met his eyes. All the consoles were scattered around the bridge, unsecured from their bases. The two men he released from the prisons to navigate the vessel had been fatally injured. Their bodies thrown over the spaces where their consoles were once located. Tomas could see the bodies still had the binding straps around them. "What a horrible mess." Tomas patted Bade Knor on the back. The captain remained in his chair facing the wall-sized view port. "Bade?" Knor was unresponsive. "Captain, this is quite a..." Tomas's words trailed off when he stepped around the command chair and discovered Knor's body had been severed in half at the waist. "Oh gods." Knor's eyes stared lifelessly ahead. Tomas could see the terror the captain must have felt by the way his eyes were open wide. A headless body in an explorer's jumpsuit lay under the view port. Tomas read the name patch that identified the scout as Quada. The self-appointed Supreme Lorde released a long sigh. He had come so far and taken so many risks to rule. Only a handful of the crew had survived. Everyone on the bridge had died on impact. That much was evident. "What now, sir?" One of the convicts stood at the entrance with his arm in a makeshift sling. "We need to figure out a way to take out Commander Shal. Only then can we rise to power." Tomas approached his subordinate and gestured toward the corridor. "The men are outside awaiting your orders." "Is the other scout still alive?" Tomas needed the explorer to guide the renegade crew. "We haven't found him or his body, sir." The man walked in front of Tomas back into the corridor. "The

only thing around here is a deep cave." He giggled. "It's actually quite beautiful. This planet, I mean." "I expected much better circumstances." Tomas followed the convict. "The hatch is over here, sir." Tomas turned as a light breeze swept across his face. "We need to see just how far we are from civilization." He limped down the ramp and felt the crunching of gritty soil under his boots. The land around him flourished with green vegetation as the massive sea behind him made its presence known with the powerful ripple of crashing waves. The former councilor saw the survivors of Ishtar's Escape lying in the grass. The ship landed in a secluded area of some sort and the surrounding mountains shielded them from the rest of the world. They'll never find us here, he thought. Reptilian birds took to the air from the trees along the foot of the mountains piercing the blue skies with their screams. At first, Tomas didn't know how to react, but then he relaxed when he noticed they creatures were flying away from the men. "Sir, look!" A renegade crew member pointed to the farthest point of the valley. A herd of massive beasts stomped across the grass to the opposite tree line. Tomas never saw an animal so large before. They, too, had reptilian features with armor lining the length of their spines. Tomas counted only four men plus himself. "What do we do now, sir?" Another convict sat in the grass rubbing his chin. "We kill Commander Shal. But we need to find him first." Tomas removed his torn robes and tossed them to the ground. His common clothing would be enough, besides, he didn't want to stand out. Not yet anyway. "What do we have in the way of weapons?" "Plenty of blasters, sir." "Good." Tomas chuckled under his breath. "Gather any supplies we might need, including food and weapons." He would walk the length of the planet in order to take his rightful place as the new leader of Earth, even if it killed him. **** Plenda had become quite a competent cook recently. The villagers were fond of her food and curious about the utensils she used. Her mud hut had the only steel stove in the entire village. Caryn had made another trip to the Sapien settlement and returned with a hot top stove, which allowed Plenda to heat things in half the time Crow methods took. Many other gifts, including pots, utensils, glow wands, mirrors and advanced technological pleasantries came with the stove. The most important gift from Caryn came in a metallic crate for Jano. Plenda couldn't wait to see the look in the old man's eyes when he opened it. "Would you like more soup?" Plenda scooped a ladle of hearty vegetables in a meat broth and filled Caryn's bowl. "Thanks." Caryn smiled. "I think motherhood suits you." She lifted the spoon to her lips and blew on the hot liquid.

"So how many ships landed?" Plenda asked. Caryn had not only brought her things, she was also Plenda's source of information. Since Plenda couldn't return to the settlement, she relied on Caryn for the latest news. "Well, we heard eighteen, but that's not confirmed yet. They say about two thousand made the journey." Caryn sipped her soup. "I can't believe it!" Plenda dropped her ladle. "That many came?" She fell into a chair opposite her friend. Then I'll be able to go back as soon as everyone settles. "The vessels landed in the north. Actually, not all that far from here." Caryn laughed. "What's so funny?" Plenda leaned over the table and peered at her laughing friend. "How do you think I got all this stuff? Marin has been gone for days. The scouts all but abandoned the camp to meet the fleet." Caryn giggled again as she blew on her food. "Are the scouts going to relocate closer to the fleet?" Plenda didn't see any reason for them to continue living with constant harassment by the emperor's guards. "I think they will." Caryn stood and wiped her mouth clean with a cloth. "I gotta get back. I'm hoping Marin finally returned. He supposedly went to meet the fleet." Plenda rose from her seat and went around the table and hugged her friend. "Will you be alright?" "There are still a few scouts left in the settlement. I won't be alone, if that's what you mean." "That's what I meant." Plenda smiled. "I have to feed Jada now. That kid sleeps all day and eats like a dracosaur." Caryn kissed her friend on the cheek and left. Jano entered as soon as Caryn left. "Hello." He closed the flap. "How is my grandson?" "Still sleeping." Plenda gestured for the old man to lower his voice. Then she motioned him toward the crate. "I have something to show you." Jano grinned as he brushed his white hair away from his eyes. He approached the metallic crate. "What's this?" Plenda placed her hands on the lid of the container, wanting to tease the old man before actually revealing its contents. "It's a gift from Caryn ... for you." "For me?" Jano scratched his head with a bewildered look upon his wrinkled face. "I've never received a gift from a Sapien before." "Ahem." "Oh." Jano giggled as he peered across the hut at Jada. "Well, you know what I mean." Plenda lifted the lid of the crate and she watched the old man's deep eye sockets widen. "For our army." "Our army?" Jano creased his brow, which usually meant he was confused. Plenda had learned quite a bit about him over these past few weeks.

"Our warriors. So we can keep the emperor's guards away from Tigris." Plenda nodded wondering what the old man was thinking. "Oh..." Jano's beard scrunched up as he smiled. "Yes. Our army." "There are fifteen blasters here. That should hold them off." Jano pulled his facial hair. "At least until the dactalcons arrive." "Dactalcons?" Plenda knew about the reptilian birds, but wondered why Jano always referred to them with such a sour look on his face. "The emperor's most elite guards fly on dactalcons and throw spears from the sky." Plenda slowly closed the lid and then reached over to touch her infant. His future was undefined and indeed, even dangerous. The atmosphere was changing on Earth with so many different things happening now. The Crows had a civil war brewing between the emperor and the village of Tigris. The emperor had scouts building a lookout post on Cordova so he could watch the Sapiens. The scouts were migrating to the north, which meant she wouldn't see Caryn nearly as much as she did now. The worst part for her was the fact she couldn't be with her own people until she knew they were safe from the emperor. **** Thousands came out of the vessels onto the surface of the new world. Some kissed the ground and others stretched their limbs inhaling the clean air. Children ran about the vessels in clusters screaming. Strings of vehicles designed to carry a few people at a time were piloted out of the vessels. Sapiens in black clothing hauled containers and packing crates on incredible flatbed vehicles that hovered over the soil. The people from Venus had arrived. Matt and Kreg busied themselves with the family's personal possessions. Both of the Shal boys carried most of the packing crates themselves. Their mother had Lanna to watch and Commander Shal needed to supervise everything. "Is Dad going back with them?" Kreg asked as he placed his crate on top of the rising stack. "From what he told me, he needs to stay here. His second will return with the fleet." Matt wanted to be a member of that crew, but didn't want to part with his family. After all his parents have been through the past few months, he couldn't bring himself to leave them. "Who is that?" Kreg tapped his brother on the shoulder. "They look like us, and are driving land crafts." Three crafts were approaching from what Matt assumed was the south. They were definitely older models than what the Sapiens brought with them. Twenty years old, to be precise. The men riding in them had long, straggly hair and as they came closer, Matt could see their clothing was a combination of skins and Enforcer issued garb. The three crafts came to a stop in the center of the huge ring the vessels formed. Yes, they were part of the original team of explorers who landed here a few years ago. "They look like us, too." Kreg scrunched down behind the containers. "You don't have to be scared. Those are our scouts." Matt laughed as he pulled his brother up by the

collar. "Oh." Kreg giggled. One of the explorers stood and hopped over the side of the craft. His gaze met with Matt's. Oh great, though Matt. He's coming over here. The lanky scout seemed to be in his late twenties. The man's scruffy appearance signaled days of not grooming. "Hello." He extended his hand. Underneath the skins, Matt spotted an old Parliamentary uniform. Though Matt couldn't get quite read the name patch, the embroidering around the visible edge signified the man held higher rank. "Sir." Matt snapped to attention. The scout waved his hand. "That's not necessary. Not now at least. I'm Officer Marin Tinia." "Pleasure to meet you, Marin." Matt relaxed and took the man's hand. "I'm Officer Matt Shal and this," he gestured to Kreg, "is my younger brother, Kreg Shal." Marin's face lit up. "I don't believe it. Of all the people I see first, it's Ty Shal's boys. You are Ty's kids, right?" A bit of pride swelled deep inside Matt. This man knew his father. "Yes. Yes we are." Marin weaved his head around as if looking for someone. "Is he here? On Earth?" Matt nodded. "He's organizing the migration." Marin pointed to the other scouts, who chose to stay in their crafts. "We're all that's left of the original crew. Captain Kado and his select team left us here to help the Crows build a moon base with our AC-10 Bots." "A moon base, huh?" Matt didn't have a clue what the man was talking about, but he smiled anyway. "A few of us are still south of here at a camp near the city of Cuga. That's where the Crow's leader resides. He's their emperor." Marin giggled. "I'm sorry if I'm giving you too much information." "It's okay." Matt realized how the scouts must feel upon seeing other Sapiens. "Come on. I'll take you to my father." Marin's eyes opened wide. "Yes. That would be nice."

Epilogue "What is it? Tell me what you see," the emperor requested from his seat at the dinner table. "Just another moment, Master." Riko directed his unseeing gaze into a clay bowl. The concoction inside provided the shaman with all he needed to see through Marin's eyes. The emperor always became impatient whenever the old man scried. Frustration overwhelmed Pernius. He despised others possessing powers he himself didn't have. "Where are they?" The ancient shaman dipped his knobby index finger into the mixture and swirled it around until a miniature whirlpool developed. He appeared to be studying the vision. The emperor was quickly losing whatever patience he may have once had as he looked over the shaman's shoulder. The old man turned away from the hand-crafted bowl to face Pernius. "There are many. Thousands, if not more. They come with powerful vessels and machines that will drive us off the face of our own planet." The shaman's words pierced Pernius's heart deeper than any arrow. He fell back into his seat staring at his meal. "What do you suggest we do?" "They do not appear aggressive, however we must show them that we intend to remain the dominant force on our world." The shaman offered a weak grin. The emperor felt as if he were going mad. His people meant everything to him. His power meant more. "There has to be some way we can do this without causing a war. At least until that dome base is completed." The shaman faced the emperor. The look choked Pernius for a moment. "Call every dactalcon rider, shaman, dracosaur and soldier." The shaman cleared his throat. "Thank the moons they have taken refuge far north of here. Let's hope they remain where they are and all should be well." "But these are migrating beings!" Pernius snapped as he slammed his hand on the table, knocking his meal from its plate. "We are not. We huddle together in our villages." "That is why we need to meet with their leaders and make our intentions clear." Shaman wrapped his hand over the emperor's. "Their leader's name is Shal. It appears our dome builder, Marin, knows him from the past." **** Plenda stood outside her mud hut slapping a stick against a skin. She missed the conveniences the scouts had at their disposal. Her friend had brought her many things from the explorer's camp, but a washing mechanism wasn't practical to bring, otherwise Plenda was sure she would have one. "Well, I guess this is it. For now." Caryn stood behind Plenda with tears in her eyes. Plenda stopped beating the skin and glanced at the dirt. A lump grew in her throat. She quickly gazed off in the distance, not quite ready to look her friend squarely in the face. The tears would come too fast. "I know this is tough, but you're going to be fine." Caryn squeezed her friend's shoulder. "Once we settle

up there, I'll come back for you." Plenda turned and embraced Caryn without looking at her friend. "Promise?" "I promise. You just take care of that little guy of yours." Caryn wrapped her arms around Plenda and sighed. "This stinks." "You're like a sister to me, Caryn." Plenda, now prepared to look at her friend, pulled back and stared into Caryn's eyes. "Who knows? Maybe we'll live here. Jano and the others seemed to like that idea when we discussed it." "That would be wonderful." Plenda forced a smile and pressed her lips against Caryn's cheeks. "I know I'll see you soon." Caryn broke the embrace and heaved a sack over her shoulder. Her eyes widened in alarm and caused Plenda to turn in the direction Caryn was staring. A figure advanced toward the village from the mountains. Its huge shape signified the man to be a Crow. "It's him. I can tell by his walk." Plenda's fingers trembled as her arms went numb. "Oh my Gods. It is ... It's Dornan!" "You're right. How can that be?" "Excuse me." Plenda bolted from the front of the mud hut racing toward the shaman. Her arms extended as she drew closer to him. "Ahhh!" Dornan wailed victorious as he dropped his belongings and approached Plenda with his thick arms outstretched "Plenda!" he screamed. The two collided in an embrace and circled for a moment laughing at their good fortune.