The probe launched the slivers and instantly disappeared. Dela was no longer able to see the universe where Kogo died but she stood at the Prime’s viewport and stared out in that direction. She remained standing for an hour and finally, she put her hands on her bump. She closed her eyes, centered her mind, and, after she felt her sorrow diminish, she sat down on the Prime’s Command Chair, entered the Dark Dimension’s coordinates into the dimensional drive, and said softly, “I love you, Kogo. I honor you for remaining true to your Warrior’s Destiny. I will see you again, my Love.” She pressed the drive button and the Prime jumped away.
Epilogue
The Probe arrived at the Defense Facility and BC found fifteen-slivers still in it that weren’t launched to the Control Room. He removed the first one and discovered that the Grang had copied its entire database along with the content of all its central-processors into those fifteen slivers. BC immediately contacted Danielle and she ordered it downloaded into one of the new Psychic Ships. When the process was complete, Dela went with Jimmy and Lola as they touched hands and filled the psychic generators. The Grang came back to life in its new home and instantly said, “I have a recording of the forty-two-seconds we fought the Yellow Ships.”
Dela fought back her tears and watched the battle on Grang’s Wall monitor. The recording the probe made of the battle didn’t nearly convey what she saw on Grang’s recording. This was a testament to what they endured to collect the critical data desperately needed by the New Stars Realm. Grang said at the end, “I’ve copied it into a data cube on the master console. Please take it and share it with your child one day.”
Dela went to the main console and removed the cube. She held it to her chest and managed not to cry. That would come after she arrived home.
• • •
Kogo’s funeral was held on Ross and the number attending was in the millions. His statue was placed beside Dorg-Ross’s in Heroes Park just outside Castle Gardner. The park was not damaged by the Black Ship attack and he joined the legendary Heroes of the Realm. The memorial placed on the Cainth Capital Planet was even larger and Kogo joined Dorg-Ross as their greatest hero. Many would say he was even greater than Dorg-Ross. Perhaps he was, in the New Stars Realm; it needed heroes to mark its infant history. Kogo was the first and possibly the greatest of many to come. His legend grew with time and millions of Cainth Pilgrims came to Ross to place flowers at the foot of his statue.
• • •
Seven-months later, Dela had her baby on Ross and life became bearable again; he had Kogo’s eyes and smile. She went home to the Cainth Capital to raise her baby in the traditional values and virtues of her species. She took him to the river immediately, upon arriving on Cainth Prime, and the crowds that followed her there were huge, but they kept their distance as Dela spoke softly to her baby. They would return there many times in the coming years and, unlike his father, the child loved to fish, while he listened to his mother tell him all the wonderful stories about his father’s bravery.
• • •
Three-years later, the Algeans and Defense Facility were making great headway in deciphering the Yellow Civilization’s Technology and the weapons used by the Orange Warship. The blasters on the Primes were modified and the ones used by the orange warships replaced them. The Prime’s nuclear reactors tripled their power.
Danielle, Tag, Cassie, and the Robbin’s family were gathered to witness Rose’s Graduation. She was now a fully-grown woman and, at eighteen years old, she was incredibly beautiful. Danielle couldn’t take her eyes off Rose and Tag was also stunned by her. JP looked at Danielle asking, “Is something wrong?”
“She’s my first daughter’s…twin. She’s…she’s…looks identical to her at this age.”
“You said she looked like Rose when you first met her,” JP replied.
“I know. But…not like this!”
Rose walked across the stage, was handed her diploma, and was declared number one in her class by the Academic Dean. She went to her chair and winked at Cassie, as she mouthed, “You’re next!” Cassie laughed and vigorously nodded. Cassie had caught up and had her full growth at seventeen. She was taller than Danielle and was growing more beautiful as each day passed.
As Tag watched Rose walk across the stage, he glanced at Danielle, who was still staring at Rose. He turned back to the stage and was taken at how much Rose looked like Danielle; same blonde hair, same blue-eyes, same height, but she didn’t look exactly like Danielle. She looked like someone else.
JP thought to Rose, “I’m so proud of you!”
Rose didn’t connect with him mentally but then she turned around and looked at them. She smiled and thought, “It’s time, JP!”
JP’s smile instantly became huge filling his entire face. Danielle jerked her head around to Tag. They both heard Rose’s thought and all their doubts were removed……it was Rose!
The End
Message me at Saxonandrew@msn.com and let me know your thoughts. I treasure your feedback.
Books by Saxon Andrew
The Annihilation Series:
Love Conquers All
The Power of a Queen
A Rose Grows in Weeds
Tommy’s Tale
Searcher
Finding Keepers
(The seven books above are also audio books at Audible.com)
Prequel-Psychic Beginnings
Searching for a Hero
Dahlia’s Deception
Annihilation-The Complete Series Box Set
The Annihilation Saga:
Lost Royalty
The Warrior's Destiny
Ashes of the Realm:
Juliette’s Dream
Greyson’s Revenge
Death of an Empire
The Return of the Realm
Lens of Time:
The Pyramid Builders
Planet Predators
Pray for the Prey
The End of Time
Lens of Time - Star Rover:
The Worst of Time
Running Out of Time
Chosen to Die
The Fight for Creation:
Life Warrior
Scout Warrior
Ultimate Warrior
Star Chase:
(Also an audio book at Audible.com)
Nowhere to Run
Nowhere to Hide
Probe Predators
Jesse's:
Jesse’s Starship
Mike’s War
Joshua’s Walls
Nemesis:
Revenge is Best Served Hot
The Search for Orion
Trapped in Time:
The Time Takers
Taming a Planet
Extinction
Escape to Earth:
Running From Fate
Fighting for Space
Defending Holy Ground
The Legacy of a Conqueror
Living Legends
The Sequel Series to Escape to Earth - Defending Earth:
Searching for Death Feeders
Discovery Means Death
The Death Prophecies:
The Coming of the Prophet
The Prophet's Eyes
The Unknown Enemy Will Kill You
Survival is Never Free
The Last Prophecy
Stories from the Filament Universe:
Gregor’s Run
A Pirate’s Tale
Soul of the Swords
The Death Filament
Death Never Leaves a Calling Card
Jimmy's Dreams Stories:
Jimmy’s Dreams
Jimmy’s Dreams II - A Recurring Nightmare
Other:
The War Against Earth
The Book of Life
(a short story)
Coming Soon:
The Annihilation Saga:
Fight and They Will Come
About Saxon Andrew
Saxon Andrew is a former social worker with a degree in Psychology and Education from Mercer University. He has taught school, managed several sales organizations and owned his own business.
He has devoured science fiction since he first learned to read and his stories are the product of years of personal experience and exposure to the universes created by the genre’s great authors.
He lives in Tampa, Florida with his wife and two dogs who still appreciate his sense of humor after all these years. "Dogs are always ready to smile."