
Subj : New Beginnings(31)
To   : All
From : Skyhawk #1
Date : Sun Aug 13 1995 19:25:05 PST

                           New Beginnings(31)
                          By Daniel C. Harrison(Skyhawk)
                          BOOK TWO: PLANETFALL!
 
      The echoes filled her mind as she felt herself emerging from a sea of
oblivion. There was a warmth that came with them and, the echoes began to
change into a voice..a whisper. She strained to hear the words but, she
couldn't comprehend them. Yet, the voice continued, insistingly. It would
not be ignored. "Who are you?" she said impatiently. "Why are you
whispering to me?"
     "Because I felt you and knew you were there."
     "Who are you?" She could see nothing but darkness. Yet, the warmth filled
her. It was unlike any feeling she had ever experienced. It seemed to move
through her and around her very inner self. "Is this heaven? Did I die in
cryo?'
     "Heaven?" the voice whispered. "What is heaven? That word is unfamiliar to
me. Yet, the feeling you project when you speak of it is one of goodness. If
that is what you seek, you are there."
     She sighed deeply. "Okay. But, if I'm in heaven, howcum you don't know
what it is? Perhaps you call it by another name?"
     "Yes." the voice filled her with warmth. "Another name. You are where you
wish to be. We are waiting for you."
     "Then..how do I get there? All I can see is blackness. Void. I don't know
where you are."
     "I am here. And I feel your fear. It is unecessary to fear here."
     "Then...where is the light? I heard that heaven is a place of light and
warmth and goodness. Like you just described. Only, It doesn't look like it. I
can't see anything at all!"
     The voice caressed her as she stared into the darkness. "Perhaps what you
see or seem is nothing but a dream. Your perception of what it is supposed to
be, and what it is may be different. This place is as you see it."
     "Then.." she swallowed hard. "If this is all there is, I want to live! I
can't stand the idea of an eternity of this!"
     "You do not see yet. But, you will someday. There is much your
consciousness is not revealing to you. In time, you will be as one."
     "Whatever." She swore. "Is hell any better? Can I see there?"
     "Hell?" the voice was confused. "Hell..that word..fills you with dread. It
sends a feeling of..hopelessness."
     "It should." she said. "It usually means eternal pain and suffering. What
do you call it?"
     "I do not know. That feeling is unknown here. If it is felt where you are,
perhaps you should remain here."
     "If I'm dead, I didn't think I had a choice. Is there more than one
area of heaven? Maybe I can go to where they turned the lights on."
     "There is no other area. When you understand, you will want to come
back."
     "Okay, this is too deep." She looked around frantically. "You can show
me the way out of here anytime now." Her fear rose.
     "Be at rest. Be at peace. You have no need for fear."
     "Bullshit!" she shouted. "This is wrong. This isn't what's supposed to be.
Open the damn door! Open the door!!! 
     
     The warmth was replaced by a bone chilling cold. A voice returned,
and she felt herself emerging as if from a vacuum. "Candar? Candar, hey
babe are you okay?"
     She opened her eyes realizing the voice was Jerry's. "Jerry? I'm
still here? I'm still alive?"
     Jerry hugged her. She could see his face now as he helped her out
of the cryo tube. God, he looked older! His face was covered with a
beard and, his hair was longer. There was careworn lines across his
forehead. "Of course your still alive, babe? Why wouldn't you be? You
act like you never went in cryo before."
     "Not like this." she whispered. The memory of the vision she had
felt was gone now. All that remained was confusion. "What is our status?
Did we make it to Mirinda alright?"
     He helped her to a chair. "Relax, your shaky. Yeah, it all worked
out. Henry is on the bridge getting set up. Dr. Grayson and Kevin are
with the colonists getting ready to bring them out."
     "Kevin!" she grinned. "He's alright now?"
     "Yeah, he's better than ever. He's working on a way to land this
pile of crap so we don't blow up. Might be able to get one of the
engines working."
     Candar stood up quickly surprised. "The main engine? But, they
were destroyed."
     "We're talking about Kevin. The man could take a  shuttle and
probably give it light speed capability. I know, I'm overstating his
talent. But, he does think he can get us down okay."
     Candar hugged Jerry. "This is perfect. Let's get to the bridge, we
have a lot of work to do before landing."
     "Right." Jerry put his arm around her and together they moved
toward the bridge. Jerry looked at her as they walked. "It was a lonely
year, babe. I can't tell you how much. I kept thinking it would never
end. I would walk by the cryo tubes and a couple of times, I considered
bringing you out. I missed you a lot."
     Candar nodded. "I don't remember a thing about cryo. I remember how
terrified I was when you shut that door. I didn't think I would ever see
it open."
     "Why?" his concerned voice made her pause in midstep. "What's so
different about this time than others?"                 
                                    
