Exiles (The Progenitor Trilogy, Book One)

  ‘I’ll have to think about it, I’d want the same bridge crew of course.’ said Chen flatly. ‘I just need some time,’ she added sadly.

  ‘Of course,’ said Mentith as the two aides re-emerged from the temple, carrying the lifeless body of Ramirez between them.

  Chen got up and went to help them.

  ‘My shuttle awaits,’ said Mentith. ‘We will take you off planet to my ship and hence back to the Commonwealth. This way, please.’

  ‘Rekkid,’ said Katherine wearily. ‘Let’s go home.’

  ‘I quite agree,’ said Rekkid. ‘After all, we have to explain all of this somehow. People need to know what went on here… some of it at least.’ He rose and taking Katherine by the hand, walked towards the waiting ship. Steven followed in their wake.

  Moments later, Mentith’s shuttle lifted off and sped into the clearing orange skies before it vanished from view.

  When the shuttle had gone a single Dendratha figure came slowly out of the temple and stopped by Ekrino’s lifeless body. Bibarat sat and regarded the devastation about him. His home had been destroyed, ravaged by a war that his people had wanted no part of and did not understand. The great powers had laid waste to the city, its once beautiful spires and domes lay smashed and ruined.

  Smoke still clouded the red sky as he looked up to the cluster of unnatural lights in the sky. He felt a pang of resentment as he watched them leave.

  Epilogue

  The Andromeda Galaxy: 4098,789,513 B.C.

  In the prefabricated hospital on the new colony world of the Bajenteri, Varish walked gingerly about the pristine white ward. He was testing his legs until he was sure his new muscles would carry him. The doctors had located the sample of his original DNA within the AI core found aboard the mysterious battered ship that had dropped out of hyperspace and crash landed outside the newly built capital. They had re-grown his body from scratch. Then they had downloaded his mind into the waiting clone from the AI core. There had been many days of tests to undertake, but they all seemed confident that he appeared to be fit and healthy.

  He dressed in the clothes they had provided him with. It seemed strange, not only to be back among other Bajenteri, but to feel alive! To breathe, to feel, to eat! He dressed himself hurriedly then strode towards the exit, bidding farewell to his carers and wishing them well.

  Her saw her there then, standing in a pool of sunshine on the steps of the hospital. She looked utterly beautiful. He went to her and weeping with joy he held her in his arms for a long time before either of them said anything.

  ‘I thought you were dead, Varish,’ she said. ‘I thought I’d lost you forever.’

  ‘I was, Irlani, but I never stopped loving you, not for one minute of all the time we were apart.’

  ‘You can tell me all about it. Come home with me Varish,’ she said softly and looked deep into his eyes once more before kissing him gently. ‘Let’s start our new lives here together.’

  About the Author

  Dan Worth was born in Bradford in the United Kingdom in 1977 and was educated at Hull and Bradford Universities. He has probably worked in every office job known to man at some point and writing kept him sane during his evenings and weekends. He writes for his own enjoyment but even though he now spends his working hours in a job he enjoys he still likes to wander off into his own imaginary worlds during his spare time.