Amidst Alien Stars by Clayton Graham

Author:Clayton Graham [Graham, Clayton]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-11-30T22:00:00+00:00

* * *

The morning after their arrival at the Rbuzen research establishment, Laura had woken from a deep slumber fully refreshed, despite recent events. Her garments had been washed until they were pristine and placed at the foot of her bed. She’d eaten a simple breakfast of bread and fruit with relish, eager to eliminate all traces of Gerb food.

They had been given separate rooms and allowed to wander outside freely as long as they wore the small nasal breathing tubes supplied by Rblun. She was in the garden now, sitting in quiet contemplation beneath a tree with a massive gnarled trunk and large fernlike yellow-and-green leaves.

This garden is a good place, Laura thought, peaceful and good for the soul. The few Rbuzen she had encountered politely ignored her, gave her space, and did not show any curiosity other than a gracious nod of the head—an Earth custom, not Rbuzen, an expression of their acceptance of her and Tala.

Relna had disappeared to talk in-depth to Rblun and his colleagues, who were no doubt eager to assess her mental and physical capabilities. They would find no problem there, Laura mused. The hybrid girl had been their saviour. She was physically strong and mentally powerful. And probably much more besides!

The Rbuzen had also taken Tala away, presumably to undertake a medical examination of her and do whatever needed to be done to investigate possible Gerb impregnation. Laura was saddened by the whole episode and felt tremendous sympathy for Tala.

Since being abducted from Earth with Jason, she had harboured hopes that the Rbuzen plan to commune and cooperate with mankind on space exploration would come to a peaceful and mutually beneficial conclusion. The Gerb, however, had painted a different picture of the Rbuzen motives.

Full of doubt, Laura did not know whom to believe.

Details of the proposed collaboration and the timing of the return to Earth had not yet been revealed by the Rbuzen, and she was uncertain what her role would be. Possibly some kind of envoy, working with the hybrids and Earth leaders to manage the engagement of the necessary parties on both sides. A mammoth task! If not impossible. Who on Earth would I talk to?

In the past, it would have been the United Nations, but they were a shadow of what they used to be. They had been proven weak and ineffectual prior to the last war and not much better after it. Countries on Earth were more isolated than they used to be. It would take many years before meaningful international and trustworthy communications were established again. Is it logical that the aliens will wait that long? Will I even be there to see it?

And there were still divisions on her home planet, differences that could ignite another devastating war. She determined one of two things could happen on the Rbuzen return: either countries would collaborate and look outward together, or things would get even more complicated, and the planet would return to feuding and mistrust and conflict.

The Rbuzen seemed a peaceful people but had a considerable military capability.

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