
Subj : New Beginnings(46)
To   : All
From : Skyhawk #1
Date : Mon Sep 18 1995 13:32:26 PST

                               New Beginnings(46)
                               By Daniel C. Harrison(Skyhawk)
     
     Candar bent down and took Terry into her arms. It didn't matter that the
little girl was really an alien. What mattered was the closeness of the mental
link. She wiped the tears that came to her eyes. "Eventually our peoples will
meet formally. What will you do then?"
     "They will be thrown into a new chapter in the universe. Man will no
longer be alone. He never has been." Terry pulled away and looked at her. "You
are the Governor of these people. You must tell them of us..and our offer. If
they attack, it will be death for us all. And they will be wiped out as they
were on Delazar. You must go now and tell them this. Your ground survey team is
fine. They will be returned soon. They attacked some of our people and, it was
all my father could do to keep from slaughtering them. Go now, Candar."
     The mental link faded and, she found herself staring into the huge red
eyes of the alien. She jerked back in surprise. The alien nodded it's huge
head. The voice filled her, "You must convince them. We will be there shortly.
There isn't much time. Your people are planning more than a defense now."
     Candar nodded and turned away. She stopped and looked back at the huge
mass of creatures. Intelligent life. It was too wild to believe.
     She climbed back into the cockpit and brought the G-6 to life. Immediately
the engines powered up and, she began taxiing. She put on the comm and opened
the channel."Base One. Kerry, this is Candar, do you read me?"
     "Right here, Governor. Are you alright?"
     "Yes. Change in plans. Tell Kev to hold off. There is no threat, repeat no
threat of attack."
     There was a long silence that followed as she took off in the G-6 and
turned westward. She could see the mass of creatures  had quickly resumed
their speed. Kerry came on. "Uhmmm..Candar, I don't think I heard you right.
Kevin is setting up for a full scale assault. He thought that if we hit them
first with a bombardment it would help us."
     "Negative!" Candar was shocked. Why the hell would Kevin make such a
decision? She hadn't ordered it. "I'll explain when I get there. Halt all
offensive type ops now. You can continue on defenses though. Just as a
precaution."
     "Did the bombing work?" Kerry asked.
     Candar sighed. "No. And there's no need for it. We are about to have
visitors Kerry. And a chance at going home. WE must have faith..and trust."
     "I'll tell him. See you when you land."
     Kerry cut the link and Candar flew on in silence. Soon she must put her
words to the test. She knew what she had felt when the alien/Terry had been
with her. But, did she really believe it? All her life she had been so much to
herself..trusting no one except for a very few. Now she was being forced to
trust a creature who she didn't even know. Could she really?
     The base camp was in sight. She nosed downward and brought the G-6 in. She
could see Kevin running out to meet her. Jerry was standing by the ship
watching. Damn him! Why wasn't he resting? She landed the G-6 and brought it to
a stop. Kevin reached her, "Thank got your safe! We were wondering if anything
had happened to you?"
     Candar stepped out of the ship and looked at the assemblage of waiting
people. She sighed deeply. "We must stop all offensive and defensive ops now.
There is no threat. They mean us no harm."
     "What?" Kevin stared hard at her. "Candar..these are the same things that
wiped us out on Delazar! You want me to believe they aren't? They killed
hundreds! Are you alright?"
     "I am fine. And, I am coherent. I have been in telepathic contact with one
of them. Her father is the leader of these creatures. They are intelligent life
forms, far more than us. They travel through the galaxy without ships through
the power of thought itself. They made me an offer. They are willing to return
us to earth..or move us to Hycenda."
     The crowd began all talking at once. Kevin shouted for quiet. He looked
around at everyone. The faces of disbelief filled his vision. He could see
Carnigan moving forward. The man pushed his way to the front and stared at
Candar. "You little bitch! You want us to believe that? What kind of bullshit
game are you playing? First you crash the damn ship then, you try to get us to
become food for these things! Your full of shit!" He looked around. "Everyone!
Is this the kind of Governor you want? She doesn't know what she's saying!"
     Candar waited for the noise to die down. Kevin turned back to face her.
HIs pleading eyes spoke volumes "Candar. This doesn't make any sense. Perhaps
you dreamed it? You were gone awhile." He looked over the ship as he spoke. "I
see dirt on the side. Did you land? Maybe you blacked out."
     "Oh for god's sake!" she shouted. "Kevin, we have gone on many trips
through space together. We were on Delazar together! I saw the same carnage
that you did. Why the hell would I let us be killed unless this was true! We
must not attack. Or defend. We must trust these creatures. They could have
destroyed earth long ago if they had wished! I'm still me, I haven't gone
crazy!" She looked around. "I know this is difficult to believe. They will send
us to Hycenda! You can go to your original destination if you want. A world
much more hospitable than this."
     Carnigan stepped forward. "I don't believe you. And, I don't think any one
here does. This is our home, now. I say we defend it! Let's kill these goddam
things now before they kill us!"
     Candar watched in fear as the majority suddenly began to agree with
Carnigan. "Wait!" she shouted. "If we attack them, there will be more death!
Just like before! We must trust them!"
     Kevin shook his head. "It's a nice story babe but, we can't risk it.
Sorry." He looked around. "I'm sure they're not far behind. Man your defensive
stations. Prepare the power field. I want those laser cannons armed at all
times. Kerry, see if you can do something with ultrasonics. I don't know if
these things have ears but, we gotta try it." He looked at Candar."Sorry."    

Subj : New Beginnings(46)
To   : All
From : Skyhawk #1
Date : Mon Sep 18 1995 13:32:26 PST

                               New Beginnings(46)
                               By Daniel C. Harrison(Skyhawk)
     
     Candar bent down and took Terry into her arms. It didn't matter that the
little girl was really an alien. What mattered was the closeness of the mental
link. She wiped the tears that came to her eyes. "Eventually our peoples will
meet formally. What will you do then?"
     "They will be thrown into a new chapter in the universe. Man will no
longer be alone. He never has been." Terry pulled away and looked at her. "You
are the Governor of these people. You must tell them of us..and our offer. If
they attack, it will be death for us all. And they will be wiped out as they
were on Delazar. You must go now and tell them this. Your ground survey team is
fine. They will be returned soon. They attacked some of our people and, it was
all my father could do to keep from slaughtering them. Go now, Candar."
     The mental link faded and, she found herself staring into the huge red
eyes of the alien. She jerked back in surprise. The alien nodded it's huge
head. The voice filled her, "You must convince them. We will be there shortly.
There isn't much time. Your people are planning more than a defense now."
     Candar nodded and turned away. She stopped and looked back at the huge
mass of creatures. Intelligent life. It was too wild to believe.
     She climbed back into the cockpit and brought the G-6 to life. Immediately
the engines powered up and, she began taxiing. She put on the comm and opened
the channel."Base One. Kerry, this is Candar, do you read me?"
     "Right here, Governor. Are you alright?"
     "Yes. Change in plans. Tell Kev to hold off. There is no threat, repeat no
threat of attack."
     There was a long silence that followed as she took off in the G-6 and
turned westward. She could see the mass of creatures  had quickly resumed
their speed. Kerry came on. "Uhmmm..Candar, I don't think I heard you right.
Kevin is setting up for a full scale assault. He thought that if we hit them
first with a bombardment it would help us."
     "Negative!" Candar was shocked. Why the hell would Kevin make such a
decision? She hadn't ordered it. "I'll explain when I get there. Halt all
offensive type ops now. You can continue on defenses though. Just as a
precaution."
     "Did the bombing work?" Kerry asked.
     Candar sighed. "No. And there's no need for it. We are about to have
visitors Kerry. And a chance at going home. WE must have faith..and trust."
     "I'll tell him. See you when you land."
     Kerry cut the link and Candar flew on in silence. Soon she must put her
words to the test. She knew what she had felt when the alien/Terry had been
with her. But, did she really believe it? All her life she had been so much to
herself..trusting no one except for a very few. Now she was being forced to
trust a creature who she didn't even know. Could she really?
     The base camp was in sight. She nosed downward and brought the G-6 in. She
could see Kevin running out to meet her. Jerry was standing by the ship
watching. Damn him! Why wasn't he resting? She landed the G-6 and brought it to
a stop. Kevin reached her, "Thank got your safe! We were wondering if anything
had happened to you?"
     Candar stepped out of the ship and looked at the assemblage of waiting
people. She sighed deeply. "We must stop all offensive and defensive ops now.
There is no threat. They mean us no harm."
     "What?" Kevin stared hard at her. "Candar..these are the same things that
wiped us out on Delazar! You want me to believe they aren't? They killed
hundreds! Are you alright?"
     "I am fine. And, I am coherent. I have been in telepathic contact with one
of them. Her father is the leader of these creatures. They are intelligent life
forms, far more than us. They travel through the galaxy without ships through
the power of thought itself. They made me an offer. They are willing to return
us to earth..or move us to Hycenda."
     The crowd began all talking at once. Kevin shouted for quiet. He looked
around at everyone. The faces of disbelief filled his vision. He could see
Carnigan moving forward. The man pushed his way to the front and stared at
Candar. "You little bitch! You want us to believe that? What kind of bullshit
game are you playing? First you crash the damn ship then, you try to get us to
become food for these things! Your full of shit!" He looked around. "Everyone!
Is this the kind of Governor you want? She doesn't know what she's saying!"
     Candar waited for the noise to die down. Kevin turned back to face her.
HIs pleading eyes spoke volumes "Candar. This doesn't make any sense. Perhaps
you dreamed it? You were gone awhile." He looked over the ship as he spoke. "I
see dirt on the side. Did you land? Maybe you blacked out."
     "Oh for god's sake!" she shouted. "Kevin, we have gone on many trips
through space together. We were on Delazar together! I saw the same carnage
that you did. Why the hell would I let us be killed unless this was true! We
must not attack. Or defend. We must trust these creatures. They could have
destroyed earth long ago if they had wished! I'm still me, I haven't gone
crazy!" She looked around. "I know this is difficult to believe. They will send
us to Hycenda! You can go to your original destination if you want. A world
much more hospitable than this."
     Carnigan stepped forward. "I don't believe you. And, I don't think any one
here does. This is our home, now. I say we defend it! Let's kill these goddam
things now before they kill us!"
     Candar watched in fear as the majority suddenly began to agree with
Carnigan. "Wait!" she shouted. "If we attack them, there will be more death!
Just like before! We must trust them!"
     Kevin shook his head. "It's a nice story babe but, we can't risk it.
Sorry." He looked around. "I'm sure they're not far behind. Man your defensive
stations. Prepare the power field. I want those laser cannons armed at all
times. Kerry, see if you can do something with ultrasonics. I don't know if
these things have ears but, we gotta try it." He looked at Candar."Sorry."    

Subj : New Beginnings(46)
To   : All
From : Skyhawk #1
Date : Sun Sep 24 1995 13:01:38 PST

                              New Beginnings(46)
                              By Daniel C. Harrison(Skyhawk)

     Jerry moved quickly with Grayson close behind. Both men tackled Kevin and
forced his to the floor. Kevin struggled hard but, Jerry slammed his fist hard
into the engineer's stomach. Grayson slammed into his back, knocking the wind
out of him. Kevin groaned and slumped into unconsciousness.
     Grayson looked up. "This doesn't help. We need to do this and get out of
here."
     Candar set the detonator and turned it on. "We've got five minutes, let's
move it!"
     The two men picked up Kevin and the group moved hurriedly out into the
corridors. Candar felt as if she was going out of breath, her right side
suddenly felt a sharp pain hit it. She doubled over.
     "Candar?" Grayson dropped Kevin's feet surprising Jerry. He bent down to
check her. "Candar are you alright?"
     Candar watched in fear as if a sudden fog rolled in obscuring hwer vision.
Then slowly it faded to black and was gone. "Oh my god!" Her eyes filled with
tears.
     Grayson picked her up and stared directly at her. "Cripes! You can't see
can you?"
     Her head bowed and, Grayson picked her up. "We don't have time for this!
That bomb is gonna go off any minute!" He ran hard. Jerry threw Kevin over his
shoulder ignoring the pain from his wounds and followed suit. Kerry ran on
ahead. 
     They reached the airlock door. Kerry ran hard getting away from the
Outlander as fast as she could. Grayson had put Candar down and the two of them
were close behind. Jerry brought up the rear. "That's things gonna blow any
second!"
     Other colonists had seen them run from the ship and watched as they hit
the ground. Carnigan frowned. "What the hell are they doing?"
     The next moment, an explosion hit that blew a huge hole in the top of the
Outlander. Pieces flew upward and out in all directions. Carnigan jumped to the
ground "Shit!" He watched as the explosion continued turning the ship into a
useless pile of scrap. Instantly, the defense shield went down. The men who
were manning the laser cannons noticed their power was gone. Carnigan got up
and looked around as the explosion subsided. There was nothing left of the
Outlander but half a hulk of metal. A huge hole was in the roof. Everywhere
pieces were laying. Glaring, he took out his gun and slapped a magazine into
the chamber. He walked purposely toward the small group which had huddled on
the ground.
     Grayson wiped the dirt from his eyes. He turned to Candar who was shaking.
"Hey, are you okay, Captain?"
     She shook her head. "I can't see. I'm in such pain, I think I'm dying."
     Jerry moved over to comfort her. He hugged her close and stroked her hair.
"Why didn't you tell me you were sick, babe? What's wrong?"
     "She has a tumor in her brain." Grayson answered. "It's terminal. I don't
know how much longer she has left."
     Jerry stared at him. He looked back down at Candar and turned her face
upwards to look into his. "That's why you wouldn't marry me. Isn't it?"
     She nodded and buried her face into his chest. He stroked her hair. "I
don't care about that. I love you. I've always loved you. Even if we die here
together, at least I was with you now."
     Kevin had woken up and suddenly noticed a huge mass approaching. "You may
die with her. We all may. They're here."
     Grayson turned and saw the huge mass of creatures approaching. Jerry still
holding Candar pulled her to her feet. "I trust you, babe."
     They all watched as the creatures slowed their speed and finally came to a
stop. They began to disperse and surround the small comunity. Wives clung to
their husbands, husbands cocked their guns and prepared to die fighting. The
small group came together as one as, the unknown creatures surrounded them.
Jerry gently pulled Candar away and looked at her. "I know you can't see. But,
you were the one who said you can communicate with them. I think it's time you
showed everyone. I'll come with you."
     Slowly he held her and began walking toward the largest of the creatures.
They were huge, their red eyes almost glowing. Jerry could hear the clicking of
their mandibles as they held position.
     "Stop!" Jerry halted and looked over to his left. He could see Carnigan
pointing a pistol at them. "You did this. All of you. Because of you, we'll all
die. At least I get to kill you first. Starting with her." He cocked his gun
and aimed at Candar's head.
     The largest of the creatures made a high pitched whine. Carnigan screamed
and, the gun fell from his hand. He doubled over in pain and fell writhing on
the ground. Then, the creature moved slowly to Candar. It extended it's
antannae..
     Candar suddenly found herself able to see. She was in a blackness. Terry
was standing in front of her. Terry nodded sadly, "So much hatred. Can our two
races ever co-exist?"
     Candar shook her head. "Not while hatred, and greed, and mistrust are
present. There is no trust, your people are too alien compared to mine. Will
you help us now? I have done all I can for you."
     Terry smiled and moved to hug her. The little girl laughed. "You've done
all that and more, Candar. You've risked your life for peace and all the others
who helped as well. I know you are sick. I can help you." Candar felt a wave of
heat wash over her. For a moment there was a burning sensation in her brain.
Then, with a shock, she was back in reality again. She could see! She saw Jerry
standing close, his eyes filled with concern and love. Kevin was behind him
with his head bowed. All around her, people were terrified. She smiled and
stepped away from the creature, it's low rumbling filling the air. "Everyone.
They are ready now to send us to Earth or to Hycenda. Our choice......."
