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Heather’s Story I hadn’t always been a physician, the position I signed onto for the expedition. I started out as a trauma surgeon, and a mighty fine one at that. I had the perfect life, a loving husband, a house in the suburbs, and a job where I helped people everyday. The day I found out I was pregnant life became 100% brighter. Things went downhill the day I gave birth to Constellation Dream. They didn’t even let me hold her; instead they whisked my daughter away to some unknown part of the hospital. Dr. Kevin Dalen, one of my colleagues, came in a few hours later to inform me that my daughter had Krabb’s disease. They didn’t expect her to live past the age of two. I threw myself into research, trying to save my daughter. Constellation was a fighter; she got that from her grandfather, a General in the Aquilo corps. She made it to the two year marker weighing only ten pounds more than the 8 pounds she was born as. I could tell I was on the verge of a breakthrough but I could also tell Constellation was dying. Everyday she became more detached from reality. I always tried to make it home every evening to spend time with Constellation but the night of November 5th was different. By morning I was crying with tears of joy. I had found a cure. I was racing out of my lab in the lower levels of the hospital when I ran into a rather grim looking intern. He had been looking for me for the past hour. Constellation had gone to sleep and not woken up. It was ironic really; she died just hours before I found the cure. I almost didn’t go to my daughter’s funeral. I didn’t want to face all the sympathetic gazes. It was my husband, Jordan, who got me to go. He said it would be an insult to constellations memory if wasn’t there to send her off on her next journey after I had worked so hard to keep her in this one. Five days after the funeral Jordan was a victim of a hit and run driver. He didn’t last the night. Now he rests beside Constellation. It was two years before I returned to my work, this time as a doctor at Delta base. There was much fighting in Theta dimension and I wanted to help soldiers because I thought when my daughter would have grown up she’d have been one. I spent six years working my way to head physician on the base before I was offered a job on the Xi expedition. I had nothing to lose, no family left, nothing to live for. I accepted. ---------------------------------------------------------------- 244 people were packed into a room the size of my lab, which was rather small, and yet they were divided into 3 groups with a marginal gap in between. The soldiers from all branches of the military, Ether, Terranus, and Aquilo, had staked the area by the door. Scientists from all over the word were huddled together on the opposite wall from the military. Then there were those who were both soldier and scientist. They congregated in the middle, debating which side to join. Four people stood away from the groups. Dr. Gorran stood on a platform giving a speech on the dangers of Xi dimension and if anyone wanted, they could turn back now. Dr. Dream was talking with Major Star about past jumps to other dimensions. That left me, Dr. Benton Leo, to enter the jump sequence, a series of coordinates using binary code. I pressed the button on the com system. “General are we clear to go.” I inquired. Silence greeted me for a few seconds until “Yes, good luck and I expect to hear from you as soon as possible.” I looked around the room. Everyone’s face was scared yet no one had backed out. Turning my attention back to the jump sequence I pressed initiate and went to stand beside Heather and Major Star. I could hear the whine of the Sardonyx generators heating up until it was the only sound in the room. A soft green light filled the room obscuring my vision. When the green light cleared away the General, who had watched the expedition team from an observation room above, saw an empty room. -------------------------------------- His muscles tensed, climbing up a nearby tree, a young man surveyed the surrounding forest. Lithe muscles under tanned golden skin shone in the afternoon light and reddish brown hair swayed with the tree tops. The man’s golden eyes stopped on a clearing nearby. Grey boxes that looked like small houses were scattered haphazardly and in between them a green light was steadily glowing bright. He watched this phenomenon for 15 minutes before the light disappeared with the blink of an eye. In its place was a small tribe of people. The tribe split up, the majority started examining the grey mini houses while a handful of them scouted the area. Four people stood out, a man and two women directed the people with the boxes while a woman with red hair directed the people scouting the area. The young man climbed down the tree and started making his way toward the tribe. He stealthy snuck past the scouts and stood behind their leader. Before he could introduce himself, she talked. “I am looking forward to training my soldiers in the art of observation. We’ve been here but ten minutes and someone has already snuck past them.” She turned around and the man noted bright green eyes and a grin that many men in his village would love. Another woman came up beside the first and introduced herself to the man. “I’m Dr. Reon Gorran. My people are explorers from far away. We come in peace.” “I am Burrirod of Swift Waves, third son of Chieftain Sanclar of High Moon. It you come in peace than my people offer the hand of friendship.” Said the man. “I was hoping to talk with the one of red hair and green.” He stepped up to the women and cupped her cheek. Upon her questioning gaze he clarified, “It’s a sign of friendship.” The woman cupped his cheek. “I’m afraid I haven’t introduced myself yet. Major Gallea Star, Chief Military Officer for my people.” “If is an honor to meet one who is trusted with the responsibility of leader. You must truly be a great warrior. I invite your people to feast with mine tonight.” ---------------------------------------------- Gallea assigned a squad of soldiers to guard the supplies on the promise of locals bringing dinner to them. Burrirod, who had been leading the expedition to the village, pointed out different trees and plants and their uses. He shared legends and customs of his people. The sun had set and a cool breeze began to pass through the trees when we they arrived at Burrirod's village. Children were lighting lanterns outside tents that were made from some animal’s skin. People were gathered around campfires singing, dancing, gossiping, and eating. Beyond, miles of farmland adorned rolling hills and the faint crash of the ocean could be heard in the distance. Rod, as he had been asked to be called, led the group to the largest fire where a woman in a tanned hide dress sat. Rod touched her cheek before speaking. “Mother, I have brought explorers form far lands. They are a mixed group of warriors, scholars, even healers. I have invited them to feast with us tonight and the help of our people till first snowfall.” The women stood up with grace and poise that could only be achieved through age. “The harvest was plentiful and first snow will not be for two moons. If my son trusts you then I trust you. The Sanclare welcome you to eat with us.” Corn meal and what tasted like venison were served. Many villagers invited the scientists and soldiers to dance with them. Gallea declined all offers until Rod told her it was considered an insult. She danced with him for the rest of the night. The squad guarding the supplies had borrowed horses and wagons from the Sanclare and moved the boxes closer to the settlement by early morning. Gallea spent the morning negotiating with the Chieftain for a trade of supplies with medical equipment and other things the settlement lacked. At noon one of the younger soldiers came running with a message for her to come to a dig site a team of archeologists were exploring with a local guide. The dig site was located on a sandy beach next to a glass blue ocean. A scientist had fallen into a cavern. An archeologist came up to her. “The walls of this cavern are filled with an ancient dialect of Latin. It’s basically a goodbye message form an ancient race that once lived here. They say if we can find their city we can keep it.” “What are we waiting for.” Ordered Gallea “We’ve got a city to find!” ------------------------------------------ |
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