The Last Night Chapter 21 A Past Recaptured

   The Last Night

Chapter21

A Past Recaptured

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   None of them were particularly surprised by Patrice’s unsolicited knowledge of them. Automatic facial recognition and genetic sampling occurred the moment they passed through the swirling artwork passageway. It was of course, much more than a door or a work of art, but part of a global filtering network, that screened and rescreened out all unwanted visitors, planet -side and off world. It was just like the planetary shield that encircled Terratu, allowing light, warmth and authorized starships, shuttles and people to reach the planets’ surface but nothing or no one else.

    They were safe, the entire planet secure. However, the Strion Concord had not been defeated, only driven from Terratu and pushed back to their own territories. But that did not mean they had given up, much less desired any sort of peaceful coexistence with other species. Like their ancient ancestors, they considered any non Strion life forms, whether they be sentient or not, commodities good for exploitation and nothing else. And if those other lifeforms opposed or hindered them in their quest for complete dominion of the galaxy, then they were simply mercilessly removed…

 

   “It’s a good thing Patrice didn’t seem to care about your disappearance from the Reliant.” Sis said as they watched their hover car speed away leaving them at their new Terratuan residences.  

   “Yeah, she was more than helpful.” Wyatt replied.” She even made us neighbors. Igloo 457 is our place.” Wyatt looked passed the tall pine standing near the center of their yard a dozen feet from their ‘igloos’, half tube entrance, just barely making out the number 458 on Siss’ new home. “And yours’ is right over there. Convenient, maybe too convenient.”

   “Yes, she did seemed completely unfazed by your disappearance. Maybe the ring influenced her mind.” Siss replied.

   “Maybe but,” Wyatt glanced around, saw children playing a hundred feet across the way, a handful of adults shooting the breeze, nearby, but out of ear shot, then continued. “None of you heard her say, ‘You’ll see her soon Wyatt.”

  “When did she say that?” Martha asked.

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 “Right after you spoke of Captain Jerk.”

  “Sorry didn’t hear her say any such thing.” Forrest chimed in. “You sure she said that?”

   “She, or something inside her said it. Something is up with her, or in her.” Wyatt said, “but we’re here. That’s all that matters, at least for now.” 

  They all smiled nervously as they made their way up the concrete walkway that led to Wyatt’s new home.

 

   Not too far from Terratu another Starship, ‘Deliverance’ was streaking through the darkness with the last round of refugees from Terra. No one used the name Earth anymore. Even after so many centuries the name still burned on the tongue and brought tears to the eyes of any that might read it. 

   So, Terra, was the name chosen and only accepted name for the most earth like and most human populated outpost in the galaxy. 

   This is where Wyatt and his parents fled to when Terratu fell to the Strion invasion. It was also the same world Macon and Marla Pace were now streaking away from, at near light speed.

    Marla was in her late twenties. Beautiful petite, with hair like snow and skin pale smooth and flawless. Only one thing marred her beauty, the perpetual frown that wrinkled and warped her otherwise pretty face.

   “I didn’t know Macon. Maybe we can return to Terra.”

  Macon a strong straight as a rail athletic sort, sat down on the bed by his wife, looking so angelic in her gossamer nightgown.

  “Dear I’m afraid it’s too late. Deliverance is not a taxi service. We’re halfway to Terratu. They’re not turning back.”

  “Surely they wont force me…they’re not monsters.”

 “No but they are the military, and they have their rules.”

  “Rules! If it had happened on Terratu. No problem.”

  “I know. Makes no sense, certainly not fair. We’re not soldiers. They don’t own us. But, while we are on this ship we are under their authority.”

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 “That’s right. This is a ship not a battlefield! They can’t just order us to run into hell.”

 “They have certain protocols. Numbers and rules are what matters to them, not common sense or decency. We are authorized to return to Terratu. No one else.”

  “They can’t make me kill my baby.” She cried, “I’ve already picked out her name, my mothers’ name, Ariel.”