Star Fields

Chapter No. 42 Recompense

Chapter No. 42 Recompense

Power is imaginary.

We arrived back in Earth orbit and Molly immediately began a thorough examination of the Hawaiian human colony. "The structures are still intact and I see people walking about," she said. "I also see some children." She turned to smile at me. "It appears that they were busy while we were gone."

"Maybe we should go down and see if they need assistance," I said.

She nodded. "That sounds like a plan."

We took two shuttles down, filled with more habitats, tools and supplies. When we landed near their little village, the colonists came out to greet us. They were wearing short skirts made of leaves from broadleaved plants. The women also had bras made from smaller leaves.

Molly and I, along with Alice and Ellen, came out of the shuttle and went over to them.

"Greetings! I said, holding up my right hand. "I pray that you are well."

One of the men stepped forward. "Long time, no see," he said with a slight grin on his bearded face.

I smiled. "Yeah, we were busy with a mission to Triangulum." I noted the confusion in his eyes. "That's a nearby galaxy. In any event, we have more stuff for you."

The androids began carrying things out of the shuttle, and the men stepped forward to help.

Molly went with the women and I stayed with the men to help erect new huts.

"Have you seen any other visitors since we were gone?" I asked the men.

"No," the one who greeted me said. He was obviously the leader.

"Good," I said. "That means that our alien friends honored our deal."

He didn't understand my meaning, but it didn't matter.

After helping set up four new huts and distribute tools, utensils and other things of value, we said our goodbyes and departed.

On the way up to the ship, Molly filled me in on the status of the women and children. "Surprisingly, the children are all healthy and learning well."

"That's great," I replied. "That means that they are doing well and will survive."

"I wonder if we'll get more breeding stock from the reptilians," she said.

"I wouldn't bank on it. We should go there and see what they're up to."

As soon as we got back on the command deck, I told Judy to take us the Galactic Coalition Headquarters planet.

We arrived in orbit and Molly began a scan.

"Everything looks intact," she said.

"I have a video feed request, Jason," Judy said.

"Put it on."

"Welcome back," the reptilian said.

"Thanks," I replied. "We were successful."

"We await your report," he replied just before the video feed ended.

"We'll be going down there," I told Judy.

She nodded.

As before, Alice, Molly and I went down in a shuttle to the previously designated location and then were lowered down to the interior of the cavern on a tractor beam generated pad. After walking to the actual headquarters structure, we found the main chamber filled with several aliens at workstations. I noted that they had added a couple of new species to the coalition. Both appeared to be hominid-like with two hands and feet and ape-like faces.