Martian Earth by Ellis Brandon

Author:Ellis, Brandon [Ellis, Brandon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction
Goodreads: 44413288
Published: 2019-04-22T22:00:00+00:00

25

Earth • Ancient Athapaskan Land, California

Ozzy sat against a tree in Porgas’s backyard, his head in his hands and his eyes closed. Ten minutes ago he had handed Zalas to Porgas, and it was human-like affection he felt between them.

And human-like gratitude from Porgas to Ozzy.

Human-damn-affection, human-no-shit-gratitude.

He pushed out a breath he was holding inside. He missed Lily. He longed for her, and he wanted more than ever to give her a daddy-hug and to lose against her in chess as he always did.

Jozi sat next to him, her hands folded in front of her as she rested against the tree.

Ozzy kept his head in his hands. “What are we going to do with all the troops we captured?”

Jozi shrugged. “Let them go, I guess.”

Ozzy lifted his head. “And then what?”

“Gragas is going to take all the people in this village to some distant location.”

Ozzy put his hands out, palms up. “To Europa, the Jupiter moon?” Outside of Mars, Europa was the only distant location habitable in the solar system.

Jozi shook her head. “No. I’m thinking someplace on Earth that is remote and where they can build a village without being controlled by the governance.”

“Is there a way we can get Zalas off the planet?”

Jozi breathed a quick and shallow breath. “The longer I’m in this village, the harder time I have of wrapping my mind around killing these people.”

Ozzy rubbed his temples. The same thoughts were polluting his head. “I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

Jozi placed her hand on his shoulder and used it to help herself up. “You really, really don’t change.” She walked toward the house.

“It was your idea, Jozi. You guilted me into this. Remember saying do something for humanity for once in your life? Do those words sound familiar?”

She continued walking. “Yes, but you know what’s great about choices? You know what’s great about being wrong? You can change your mind and do what’s right.”

Ozzy scoffed and said under his breath, “You forgot to add: You’ll be no better than the Dunrakee.”

She spun on her heels. “It’s true.”

Ozzy raised his hands. “Then why did you come with me? Why did you pull me on this trip to use the Ark on every one of these people?”

She went to talk, but no words came. He saw hesitation in her eyes as she avoided his direct eye contact. There was something she wasn’t telling him. But it didn’t take a genius to figure it out.

“You’ve made up your mind. You’re not going to let me use the Ark anymore.”

She could kick his ass, so it was possible she would keep him from completing his mission. “You’re not going to let me go through with it, are you, Jozi?”

Her shoulders slumped, and she hung her head. “No.” She tapped her temple. “I have a brain, and I use it, Ozzy. I think one thing and realize the thought isn’t only wrong but also horrifying. And you know what? I can change my mind. It’s simple. You should try it once in a while.

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