
Subj : New Beginnings(47)
To   : All
From : Skyhawk #1
Date : Tue Sep 26 1995 13:44:09 PST

                              New Beginnings(47)
                              By Daniel C. Harrison(Skyhawk)

     Kevin stepped forward, his eyes warily looking at the huge creatures that
surrounded the colonists. "Candar, we can't trust them. But, what choice do we
have left? Because of you, we're at their mercy."
     Carnigan got up from the ground looking at all the people around him. He
scowled as he held his arm. "What's the matter with you idiots? Shoot them!
Defend our home!"
     Candar sighed. "You just don't get it, do you, Carnigan? Mirinda is their
home. Years ago, myself and Kevin accidentally invaded one of their colony
worlds. Because of that, many innocents were killed. Now, we have a chance to
set things right. They are willing to use their mental power to return us where
we wish to go." She stared at everyone as she spoke. "How many of you want to
remain here? This planet is cold and harsh. There is little food which we can
consume here. It would be a battle for survival. But, we are being offered the
chance to be sent to Hycenda where we originally wanted to go before the ship
crashed. Or, back to Earth. The choice is ours."
     "What about the men who were killed?" someone shouted. "Where are they?"
     Carnigan nodded. "Yes, Candar. Where are those poor souls from the ground
survey party? Were Will and his crew eaten alive by these things? We can't
trust them!"
     "Then they'll eat us too!" Candar shouted. "If they wanted to they could
slaughter us right now. They could have destroyed earth long ago. It's obvious
our two races are not compatible because people like you Carnigan will always
make it so. I say we go to Hycenda. It's where we wanted to go and, it's a
perfect world ready for the taking. I trust them." She turned and smiled at the
huge creature behind her. The beetlelike thing hummed suddenly and, all around
them the air was filled as if with the sound of bees. People gritted their
teeth and put their hands to hteir ears. Then, one by one Candar watched in
wonder as they began to fade away into nothingness. Carnigan screamed and tried
to run..then, he too was gone. Candar looked around. All that was left were her
Jerry and Kevin. 
     Kevin swallowed hard. "So what now?"
     A voice filled everyone's head. "You three have yet to fulfill your lives.
Candar, look back on who you are. Look at your life. Do you really wish to
retire so soon? There is a universe out there filled with dreams and wonders.
Species like and unlike us. You as a skilled traveller should see all that
before you settle on a single world. You may find, you never want to settle.
Drifting with the eddies of space..it is only natural."
     Candar smiled. "Yes. I have felt that." She turned to Jerry. "I
think...I'm not going to Hycenda. I want to return to earth and buy my own
starship with the money I saved. It wont be much but, it'll be mine. I think I
might like exploring the cosmos."
     Kevin smiled. "I think that's a good choice for you. I'm sorry I didn't
believe you, Candy. I was terrified..of the past I guess. I couldnt see beyond
what happened on Delazar. Now, I do." He looked at the creatures. "I never
thought I'd live to see another intelligent life form."
     Jerry took Candar's hand. "I'll accept that decision if I can come with
you..and be with you forever. Will you marry me?"
     Candar smiled and hugged him close. "Yes.
     Kevin looked at the wrecked Outlander. "What the hell will we tell the
company when we get back? we wont be able to explain this!"
     Candar smiled. "They'll write it off as a tax break. The company probably
wanted to get rid of that old ship anyway. But explaining our precense on
earth..that will be something.."
     A loud hum filled the air...and Candar and the others stared in wonder as
the Outlander glowed...the heat filled the air as the hum rose in pitch. Then,
suddenly there was a flash and, a newly reformed Outlander was there. Kevin
dropped his mouth open as he walked toward it. "It's....it's completely
repaired!! What the hell?"
     "Take it." the voice said in their heads. "You don't need to return to
Earth. Take it and explore the universe..."
     Candar looked at the two men. "Well, weve always been a team. What do you
say?"
     Jerry shrugged. "I was gonna marry you and.."
     She held him close. "You already have. I don't need a piece of paper. Weve
been together through so much. Isn't that enough?" She looked at Kevin. "Wanna
come on the adventure of a lifetime?"
     Kevin grinned. "Yeah...why not? We might be back this way again in seventy
years or so. What the hell, nothing on earth I'm interested in anyway."
     Candar turned to the creature who in her mind had been with her so long. 
     "I never knew you...now I do. Thanks. For knowing me better then I knew
myself. This is..a new beginning..for all of us."
     "Farewell, Candar." the voice said. For a moment she thought she saw
Terry.
     The three of them climbed aboard the newly formed Outlander. Candar 
marvelled in it's beauty. She fired up the engines smiling at Jerry and
squeezed his hand."Ready, darling?"
     "Ready, Captain." He grinned. and turned to Kevin. "Engines secure?"
     "Let's do it." Kevin answered.
     Then with a powerful roar from her engines, Outlander lifted off and 
soared towards the heavens..her new home..and the great unknown........
                            The End....?

