Tarizon, The Liberator, Tarizon Trilogy Vol 1

By William Manchee

A high school student inadvertently discovers that his father is working on a top secret project with the CIA and aliens from another planet. When the aliens discover this serious security breach they insist on Peter Turner's exile to Tarizon.

Meanwhile Tarizon is recovering from a series of super volcanic eruptions that has nearly destroyed all life on the planet. Tarizon is slowly recovering ecologically but the political situation is volatile. Videl Lai has become Chancellor in a tainted election. Once in power, he renounces Tarizon's constitution, The Supreme Mandate, and orders the extermination of all non-human life forms.

The Loyalist party, however, has been planning a civil war to restore rule under the Supreme Mandate and stop the genocide. The Loyalist Party, however, is weak and there is little hope it will be able to defeat Videl Lai and his formidable army. The only hope seems to be a prophecy that foretells of the arrival of a Liberator from Earth who would lead a revolt to rid Tarizon of a ruthless dictator. When Videl Lai learns of Peter's imminent arrival and the talk that he might be the Liberator, he vows to have him killed the moment he sets foot on Tarizon.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Top Publications, Ltd.
• Release date: Mar 7, 2012
• ISBN: 9781935722359

William Manchee

A consumer lawyer by day, Manchee writes legal thrillers and science fiction adventures at night for stress relief and relaxation.

Book preview

Book I

WILLIAM MANCHEE

William Manchee

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Top Publications, Ltd.

Tarizon: The Liberator

Book 1 of the Tarizon Trilogy

eBook Edition

© Copyright William Manchee

2008, 2012

Cover Design by Dan Silverman

ISBN 978-1-935722-35-9

No part of this book may be published or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or information storage and retrieval systems without the express written permission of the publisher.

This work is a novel and any similarity to actual persons or events is purely coincidental.

Dedication

The Tarizon Trilogy is dedicated to my grandchildren, Joshua, Alex, Isabella, and Andrew.

PRELUDE

It’s strange how a few people are born with natural charisma and are loved and adored by the majority of people they encounter in life. I say the majority because a charismatic person will also have those who are jealous or feel threatened and will feel hate rather than love. Logically you would think charisma was the result of being born into an ideal environment–loving, happy parents living in a secure, stress-free environment. But this wasn’t the case with Peter Turner. He couldn’t have been dropped into Stan and Rebekah’s life at a worse time. They had just been through Stan’s court martial, the family was broke and struggling to survive, and the future looked anything but bright.

When Stan finally got back home to Portland, Oregon he couldn’t find a decent job, so he took what temporary work he could find. Rebekah worked too, the night shift at the local hospital emergency room, because they couldn’t afford a babysitter during the day. Then the family was uprooted and moved to Texas so they could be close to Rebekah’s parents. If that wasn’t enough stress on the family Rebekah soon found out she was pregnant again. Yet, despite all this stress and upheaval, Peter Turner couldn’t have been a happier baby and a delight to his parents and grandparents.

Even his siblings loved him, and the only sibling rivalry Stan and Rebekah had to deal with was their fighting for Peter’s attention. All the Turner children were smart but Peter, along with his sister, Marcia, were brilliant. That became apparent very early on and Peter’s teachers often commented to Stan and Rebekah about it. But brilliance had its drawbacks. School came so easy for Peter that he tended to be lazy and lacked focus. Rebekah had a particularly hard time getting him to do his homework and turn in assignments on time. Even so, Peter still managed to get almost straight A’s with very little effort.

Peter was very popular at school too, particularly with the girls who were always hanging around him. Besides being handsome and intelligent, he was a good listener and anyone talking to him felt like he really cared about them. In high school he was on the swim team which kept him strong and fit, but it was the debate team where he really stood out. It was a combination of brilliance, charisma and humility that undid his opponents. Although he was constantly barraged with compliments and accolades, he never took himself too seriously and somehow managed to remain humble. The only explanation for this was his position in the family. As the third child of four he wasn’t given any special treatment. Stan and Rebekah went to great lengths to treat their children equally, no matter how the rest of the world perceived them.

When Peter was in middle school, he joined the Boy Scouts. He loved camping and the outdoors, so scouting was very attractive to him. Stan had been an Eagle scout himself, so he encouraged Peter in this direction and occasionally went with the troop on camp outs. It was about this time that Peter began to wonder about his father’s work. He knew his father was an attorney and often read about his cases in the newspaper. He and his partner, Paula Waters, were often involved in high profile murder cases and were even interviewed on TV on occasion. But he also knew there were secrets about his father’s work that his mother and father kept from him. He knew this because they would often whisper things that they didn’t want him to overhear. And then there was the time his father was shot and another time his car blew up. Peter wasn’t stupid, he knew his father was involved in something other than practicing law and he wanted to know what it was.

So Peter began to pay close attention to what his father was doing, listening to what was said between his mother and father, asking questions, and snooping around when the opportunity presented itself. Nobody realized he was doing this except his older brother, Reggie, who warned him he was going to get in trouble if he persisted, but Peter rarely listened to advice from his siblings.

At the time Stan and Paula were working on a case for a man named Mo. There client was Cheryl Windsor and Peter knew Mo had referred her because he heard his mother and father whispering about Mo, the man who never answered his phone. You had to call him and then he’d call you back. It was all very mysterious to Peter which made him more determined to figure out what was going on. Even so, Peter may never have figured out what his father was involved in had it not been for the Jeep accident. One of the older scouts in Peter’s troop, Steven Caldwell, the Jr. Assistant Scoutmaster, had brought his Jeep to Camp Comfort at Possum Kingdom Lake. So, when Steven ran the Jeep off the highway, leading into Camp Comfort, killing his passenger, Steven found himself charged with murder and in need of representation. Since Steven knew Stan from scouting, he naturally asked him to represent him. But Stan was reluctant to take the case because Steven adamantly maintained that the accident wasn’t his fault because he’d been distracted by a spaceship suddenly appearing overhead!

Peter later became a witness in the trial which gave him an excuse for asking a lot of questions of his mother and father about the trial and Steven’s defense. Stan may not have realized it, but he soon was telling Peter things he shouldn’t have known and even asking for his advise on several issues. Throughout the trial Stan refused to accept Steven’s spaceship story and finally was able to convince the jury that the spaceship was actually an experimental aircraft being developed for the Air Force and flown by a test pilot over Possum Kingdom Lake. But even though Stan had convinced the jury that what Steven had seen wasn’t a spaceship, he hadn’t convinced himself and made the mistake of expressing his misgivings to Peter. So, it was only natural that Stan took Peter to Possum Kingdom Lake in search of proof that aliens had, in fact, landed at Cactus Island, a small island one mile west of Camp Comfort on Possum Kingdom Lake. But neither Stan nor Peter expected what they ultimately found–not just evidence of an alien landing, but the alien spaceship itself!

Peter also was intrigued by Paula’s case. She was defending Cheryl Windsor. It started out as a divorce case but then turned to criminal defense when the woman’s husband disappeared. What intrigued Peter about this case were the bizarre things that he overheard his father talking about with Paula and his legal assistant, Jodie. Peter got very good at picking up the phone at the exact moment his father picked it up and then listening to the conversation. He didn’t understand a lot of what they were talking about, but several things got his attention like: talk about the CIA, people following Stan and Paula, a disappearing man, and a memory gun that erased people’s memory. It was at the conclusion of the Cheryl Windsor trial that Peter’s life changed forever.

1

Loyalists

A nervous Lorin Boskie knocked on the door to her father's office. This was the second urgent summons this week. The situation was getting desperate, and she was worried about the toll it was taking on her father’s health, not to mention the danger he’d be in when Vice Chancellor Videl Lai seized power. She heard his voice say to come in, so she took a deep breath as the retinal scanner verified her identity and the door slid silently open. Her father, Councillor Robert Garcia, several advisors, and his military liaison, Colonel Tomo, were huddled over a pile of maps and intelligence reports. Their disheveled appearance told Lorin they hadn’t slept for some time. Her father looked up and motioned for her to join them. She walked over and asked, Where's Jake?

Jake was her mate and currently served as a fighter pilot in the Tarizonian Global Army or TGA as it was called. Lorin was worried about his safety too, since Videl Lai obviously knew where his loyalties would lie when civil war broke out. She feared a preemptive strike against the two men she loved could come at any time. That was Videl’s style to ruthlessly eliminate any opposition as soon as they were identified. Only her father’s position as a councillor and his friendship with two TGA generals had protected him so far, but the time was drawing near when that wouldn’t be enough.

He should be here any moment, Garcia replied.

Lorin loved her father and was proud that he was leading the movement to preserve the Supreme Mandate, Tarizon’s Constitution, but she didn’t always agree with his policies and strategies. He was far too trusting and optimistic. She feared this would be his downfall.

The door slid open again and a tall man in a flight suit strolled in. Lorin glanced over at him and smiled. He came over to her and put his hand on her shoulder. She grabbed it and gave it a squeeze.

Councillor Garcia nodded to Jake and said, Let's get started. Everyone immediately stopped what they were doing and gave him their full attention. ...As you know the Super Eclipse is almost upon us—just ten days from now. If the Prophecy is true, the Liberator will come on the night of the eclipse.

Lorin shook her head. You don't really believe the prophecy do you, father? Lorin asked.

Councillor Garcia shrugged. No, but it doesn't matter what I believe; it's what the people believe that is important. Our political analysts tell me that a large majority of our citizens believe in the Prophecy. Almost 90 percent of the mutants and Seafolken believe the Liberator will come to free them. Of course, we haven't been able to poll the Nanomites, but if we could I'm sure the result would be the same.

Well, they’re going to be sorely disappointed when he doesn't appear, Lorin said.

Exactly. That's why I called this meeting, the Councillor said turning to Colonel Tomel. I'll let Colonel Tomel explain.

Yes, sir, Colonel Tomel said. We all know of the ambitions of Vice Chancellor Videl Lai and what his rise to power would mean to all of us on Tarizon. The Prophecy promises that a Liberator from Earth will come to Tarizon and save the planet from a dictator, presumably Videl Lai. The sad reality is that if Videl Lai takes power he will be nearly invincible. Our Loyalists’ movement, which we have all been working so hard to build for many cycles, isn't nearly strong enough to defeat him. He's got the overwhelming support of the military because he's promised them much power and glory in his new regime.

Lorin frowned.So, you called us here to tell us the situation is hopeless?

No, Colonel Tomel replied. We called you here because one of our spies informs us that Videl Lai is worried about the Prophecy and is devoting considerable resources to insure that it is not fulfilled.

You’re kidding? Lorin said. Videl believes in the Prophecy?

I don’t know what he believes, Colonel Tomel said, but he’s not a man to ignore any threat against him. That’s what makes him such a formidable adversary.

So, do our spies know what he plans to do? Jake asked.

Yes. He’s ordered the assassination of anyone coming from Earth who remotely fits the description set forth in the Prophecy.

That’s why we called this meeting, the Councillor said. Because the people believe in the Prophecy and Videl Lai fears it so much, we have no choice but to do all we can to make the Prophecy a reality.

How do you plan to do that? Jake questioned.

There happens to be an Earth shuttle docking on the day of the Super Eclipse, Colonel Tomel replied. If there is a Liberator he would have to be on that shuttle. We know that Videl Lai will have his agents there when the shuttle lands. It’s imperative that we find the Liberator before Videl does and protect him.

Lorin shook her head. But even if there were a Liberator, how would you recognize him?

You're right. There would be no realistic way to do that, so what we propose is to select the most likely person and protect him.

What good will that do? Lorin asked. So you protect this person. What if he is not the Liberator?

Councillor Garcia stood up. It doesn't matter. We'll say he is. Who could prove he isn’t? Videl will no doubt kill the true Liberator if we’re wrong.

Lorin looked aghast. We’re going to stand by and let him kill innocent Earthchildren?

The Councillor sighed. "Videl’s supporters control the shuttle port. We’ll be lucky to protect even one of the passengers."

Even if we succeed, how long will we be able to keep up the charade? It will soon become apparent he’s a fraud when he cannot fulfill the Prophecy, Lorin argued. It's a dangerous idea and could easily backfire on us.

Maybe. It’s a gamble for sure, but it will give our citizens hope and buy us time to strengthen the Loyalist army. If the Liberator does not come, the people will lose heart and won’t have the will to fight.

Lorin shook her head. She knew her father’s mind was already made up, so there was no use continuing to argue. So, who will you pick? Is there anyone on the shuttle who could possibly be the Liberator?

Councillor Garcia nodded. Yes, there is one possibility—a young American who was brought aboard the shuttle and placed in protective custody. His father was recruited by the American CIA to help with our repopulation project and inadvertently discovered our presence on Earth. Normally we would have simply erased his memory, but he found out from his father that erased memories can be restored through hypnosis. That left us no choice but to bring him back to Tarizon.

How old is he?

He's seventeen—very smart, and I'm told he has a kind heart, which is mentioned in the Prophecy.

Lorin folded her arms and laughed. This is so ridiculous. It will never work. Councillor Garcia gave her a frustrated look. She sighed. ... But I guess anything that will give us more time to strengthen our army is worth pursuing.

The Councillor smiled broadly. Good. Then I can count on Jake’s and your support?

Of course, Father. Jake and I will do whatever we can to make everyone believe this American teenager is the Liberator, no matter how pathetic he may turn out to be.

Lucinda Demitri was the daughter of a middle aged banker named Shrie Eckvall. When he was returned from Earth fourteen cycles earlier, he brought Lucinda and her younger brother Roben back with him. Their Tarizon mother Doren Eckvall welcomed them with a thankful heart as she could never have children on her own.

Upon his return Shrie Eckvall got a job with the government. He started at the lowest grade but within five cycles had worked his way up to the position of Vice President of the Central Urban Finance Office. This meteoric rise, however, was accomplished at a high personal cost in terms of Eckvall's family. He worked long hours and had little time for his mate and children. As a result, Doren Eckvall ended up raising Luci and Roben almost exclusively. Although Luci could not express it openly for political reasons, she felt a great resentment toward her father and a yearning to see her natural mother who was left back on Earth.

One of the perks of Shrie’s high political position was his ability to get his children favorable positions once their education was complete. In Luci’s case he picked for her the very prestigious position as a guide. Guides provided orientation and comfort to children arriving each day by the thousands from Earth. These children, who were born on Earth, needed to be processed prior to their return to their families. This processing included physical and mental examinations, implanting of monitoring chips, instructions about their new lives on Tarizon, and time in the language lab to learn Tari.

Although most of these Earthchildren were four to six years old occasionally older children, teenagers, and even adults would disembark on Tarizon for one reason or another and need the services of a guide. Since infertility was a huge problem on Tarizon, assignment to these teenagers and adults was every guide’s dream because it afforded them the first opportunity to impregnate or become impregnated with healthy sperm or egg.

It was the day before the Super Eclipse when Luci learned that she would be assigned as head guide for a group of teenage Earthchildren and adults disembarking the next day. She was ecstatic when she broke the news to her mate, Sola.

You won’t believe this, Lucinda began. I’ve been assigned some teenage Earthchildren arriving tomorrow.

Oh really?

Yes, and I have the most seniority of all the guides, so I’ll be first guide.

Sola nodded. That’s nice.

Yes, it is because that means I can choose my guest. I was so worried I’d get assigned to an idiot or, Sandee forbid, a pot-belied middle-aged Earth-alien.

So, you’re really going to try to get pregnant, huh?

Of course. Do you know how embarrassing it is to be childless at my age?

I know. I’m sorry about that, but can’t you get your guest to donate at the sperm bank and then get artificially inseminated?

She sighed. You know it doesn’t work that way. He’s expected to donate sperm anyway, so they’re not going to do me any favors for bringing him in. Unless you’ve got a lot of credits tucked away that I don’t know about, we couldn’t afford what they’d charge me.

Sola sighed. I just don’t like you, . . . you know. …, doing it with another man.

I know, but the only way I’m ever going to get pregnant is if I take him to bed. You know that. And it’s my duty to get pregnant any way I can.

But what if you like doing it with your Earth-alien?

She shrugged. Sex is sex. I’m supposed to like doing it. What do want me to say? It won’t mean anything, if that’s what you’re worried about. In a few days he’ll be assigned a permanent job and be out of our lives, so you needn’t worry.

What if he carries some kind of disease? Not only will you get infected, but you’ll infect me too.

He’s in perfect health. I’ve looked at his medical records.

So, you already made your selection?

She smiled broadly. Yes. Peter Turner from Dallas, Texas. He’s seventeen Earth-years-old, five foot eleven, blond hair, blue eyes, average weight, and has an IQ in the top two percent of persons his age. He’s by far the best prospect in the group.

Sola nodded. Well, you’ve certainly done your homework. Do what you have to do, he said, forcing a smile.

Luci turned away and began daydreaming about becoming pregnant. She loved children and enjoyed helping them adapt to their new lives on Tarizon. She envied all the mothers who would come each day to pick up their Earthchildren when their orientation was complete. She wanted her own child and, if by the grace of Sandee, she could conceive one on her own, that would be the fulfillment of her life.

2

Encounter

Peter Turner sat nervously in the living room of his home waiting for his father to come home. He'd heard on the news that Cheryl Windsor’s trial had been recessed early that afternoon. Stan usually came straight home after a trial was over. When he hadn't shown up by 4:00 o'clock, Peter began to worry. His mother, Rebekah, called his office but no one there had heard from Stan either. Next she called Paula Waters, Stan’s partner, but there was no answer at her apartment. Peter had a hunch his father had gone to Possum Kingdom Lake, 125 miles west of Dallas, to look for his client Cheryl Windsor, who’d been abducted right in the middle of her murder trial. He figured his father must have come to the same conclusion he had. The aliens had taken her. Peter wasn't sure why they’d done it, but he guessed she must have known something they didn't want her to talk about on the stand in front of the press. As Peter was thinking, the telephone rang. It was Paula. His father was missing!

His mother became frantic at the news and immediately called the police. The dispatcher put her through to a sergeant who said they‘d already been contacted by his partner and had contacted the FBI. He told her to stay at home, remain calm, and they'd contact her if there was any news. She hung up and immediately began to cry. Peter felt his mother’s pain and wanted to tell her about the aliens and what they'd seen at the lake, but he had promised his father he wouldn't tell anyone about it. Peter didn’t know what to do. Finally he decided he had to go to Possum Kingdom Lake and look for his father. There was no other choice. Neither the police, the FBI, or his father's private investigators knew about the aliens. Peter was the only one who knew what was going on. He was his father's only hope.

Since Rebekah wouldn't have allowed Peter to take her station wagon to look for his father, he told his brother Reggie he was taking it to visit a friend and would be back in a few hours. Reggie warned him that he'd get in trouble for taking the car, but that didn't stop him. Ten minutes later he was on the road to Possum Kingdom Lake. During the three hours it took to get there, he thought about what he would do if he found his father. He had no weapons and even if he did, he doubted they'd be any match for what weapons the aliens might have. His only hope was to find his father and pray he'd have an opportunity to free him. If not, there was a mobile phone in his mom’s station wagon, so he'd at least be able to call the police.

It was dark when he arrived at the stable where he and his father thought the cave entrance was hidden; a cave that led under the lake to Cactus Island where the aliens landed and hid their ship underground. It was a huge metal building that his father believed was built over the mouth of the cave to hide it from neighbors and passer-byes. On the radio the announcer had warned of a line of thunderstorms moving through Palo Pinto County and, sure enough, it arrived just as Peter did.

When he drove up, billows of smoke were pouring out of the metal building. Panic stricken, Peter jumped out of his car and stopped a fireman working the blaze. What happened here! he screamed.

The fireman stopped and looked at him.There's been an explosion. The place has been burning for half an hour.

Oh, my God!

You can't be here, the fireman said. You should go back to the main road.

But I think my father was in there. I've got to go in and see.

No. No. Nobody can go in there. What’s your father’s name?

Stan Turner.

The attorney?

Yes.

Oh, he's okay. He's on his way to the sheriff's office.

Really? Where’s the Sheriff’s office?

In the courthouse at Palo Pinto.

You mean the courthouse off the main highway, the one that sticks up over the trees?

That's it, the fireman said smiling.

Thanks.

For a moment Peter watched the firemen, police, and FBI agents who were swarming around the building like bees tending to their hive. What had happened here? He couldn't wait to find out. The news that his father was okay comforted him, but he wanted to see him in person to make sure. He debated whether to go to the sheriff's office or just drive home. Then he remembered his father didn’t have a car with him. The aliens had brought him here in a van. He would need a ride home, so it made sense to go to the sheriff's office. He got in the big station wagon and headed back toward Palo Pinto.

Halfway there he caught up with the line of thunderstorms that he'd encountered earlier, and the rain became so intense he could hardly see. Not wanting to smash his mother's car, he decided to pull over and wait for the rain to let up. Twenty minutes later it was still raining just as hard, and he was beginning to worry that he might miss his father. That would ruin his plan. He wanted to be the one to bring his father home, so his mother wouldn't be mad at him for taking her car.

He started the engine and continued cautiously back onto the highway. As he was pulling out the wind became so strong the car began to shake. Peter swallowed hard and looked around wondering if he was sitting in the path of a tornado. Memories of a Colorado encounter with a tornado years earlier came flooding through his mind. They’d been driving down the freeway one afternoon when his father told them a tornado was coming down the median straight at them. Just as Peter looked up a big Ryder truck was tossed in the air like a tin can and tumbled off the highway. The car if front of them stopped suddenly, so his father slammed on the brakes nearly throwing them to the floor. For several anxious moments they watched the tornado advance toward them. His father told them that if the tornado was going to hit them, they'd have to abandon their car or they'd surely die. Luckily the tornado had gone up in the clouds just in the nick of time.

Peter unbuckled his seatbelt. Warily, he accelerated down the highway. He couldn't see a thing it was so dark. Suddenly, the lights went out and the engine stalled. Fear shot through him like a hollow point shell. He looked around trying to get his eyes to penetrate the total darkness. Intermittent flashes of lightning provided the only illumination.

What should I do? This is too dangerous. What if an eighteen wheeler comes barreling around the bend and crashes into me? I've got to get the car off the road. I'm a sitting duck out here.

He cranked the engine, but nothing happened. He tried again but all he heard was a faint clicking sound like you hear when the battery is dead. After banging the steering wheel a few times, he resigned himself to the fact that he'd have to push the car off the road himself.

He climbed out into the torrential downpour and began pushing with his left hand while he steered with his right. Intermittent flashes of lightning provided just enough light to see where he was going. Fortunately, the road was downhill so as he pushed the car gained momentum. When it had picked enough speed, he jumped back in and shut the door. A hundred strides down the road a flash of lightning revealed a gravel road going off to the right, so he turned onto it and rolled to a stop.

Now that he was safe from any traffic all he had to worry about was the tornado. Peter looked around expectantly, still seeing nothing but darkness. He knew the odds of getting hit by a tornado were slim, so the fear that had gripped him earlier began to wane. What concerned him now was how he'd get his car started once the storm had passed.

As Peter was contemplating his predicament, lightning struck a power pole nearby. An eerie blue glow permeated the sky around him. He wondered if his car had been hit. Another strike hit the ground nearby nearly causing him to jump out of his skin. The car began to shake again, then suddenly was lifted off the ground at least ten feet before being dropped hard onto the gravel.

The eerie blue light hung in the air even after the lightning strike. The rain suddenly stopped. Peter looked around in shock and panic. As the minutes ticked off, the blue light intensified. Peter suddenly realized it was coming from directly overhead. He opened the door, looked up warily, and gasped at the huge spaceship hovering overhead.

He knew in an instant he’d made a mistake not obeying his father. The aliens had discovered he knew of their existence. His father had told him to stay in the living room when he was being hypnotized by Dr. Gerhardt, but Peter hadn’t listened. He’d suspected his father was working for the CIA and the aliens, but he wanted to be sure. They’d have to eliminate him now. Oh, God! What am I going to do? Peter slammed the door, frantically rolled down the window and stuck out his head. I won’t tell! he screamed. But he knew that wouldn’t matter. Why should they trust him? They couldn’t afford to. He knew they existed, and for that they had to strike him dead!

Panic gripped Peter like a vice, but he told himself to remain calm. There had to be a way out of this. He knew he was a sitting duck in the car. If he stayed put, they'd hit him with a laser, and he'd be incinerated in an instant. The car began to shake violently again. What were they doing? Were they going to take the car into the ship? You're not taking this kid! he screamed as he opened the door and made a run for it.

He ran along a fence line and then through a grove of trees. Suddenly he slammed into the drenching rain that had been deflected by the ship. He kept running, faster than he'd ever run before. He had to get away. Behind him he heard the big spaceship emit a deep whirring sound and he could tell it was coming after him. Somehow, he ran even faster, but it wasn't enough. A beam of light shot out from the ship temporarily blinding him. His legs were lifted off the ground and he was sucked up in the beam like soda pop through a straw.

As he was pulled into the ship the sensation reminded him of body surfing when he was on vacation in California. When the big wave broke over you, there was nothing you could do but let it drag you along until it lost its momentum. If you fought it, you'd only injure yourself. This felt the same way so he instinctively relaxed and just waited. The beam sucked Peter into the ship and spat him out onto a slippery surface. He rolled over twice and slid hard against a spongy wall. It was cold, wet, and dark as midnight. Peter was petrified. He began to shake incessantly and could hardly breathe.

3

Earth Shuttle 21

After what seemed like an eternity to Peter a soft blue glow lit the room. A hatch opened and a man stepped inside. He was medium height and build, with short dark hair, and wore a blue and grey uniform. He didn't look like the aliens he’d seen on TV or at the movies. In fact, in his uniform he looked a lot like a bellhop at the Sheraton Hotel. He approached Peter cautiously and said, Mr. Turner?

Yes, Peter replied, still trembling.

He extended his hand. I'm Lok Thorz. ... Welcome aboard.

Peter shook his hand tentatively. Where am I? he asked looking around what appeared to be the inside of a large tank. It was a stupid question, really. He knew he was in a spaceship, but he still felt compelled to ask.

Lok smiled and said, You're on Earth Shuttle 21 and this is the transport hold.

Peter looked back at Lok. He felt a little better since Lok seemed friendly and spoke English. Still, he knew evil people often pretended to be nice to get you to trust them. His father had warned him about that.Where are you taking me?

The shuttle goes back and forth between Earth and Tarizon.

There must be some mistake. I don’t want to go to Tarizon. I’ve never heard of the place.

Lok shrugged. Well, I’m sure that’s true, but—

How did you get me up here, anyway? I mean, nothing touched me. I was just sucked up like a dry leaf.

We transported you into the ship through a compression tube.

A compression tube? I didn’t see any tube.

It’s an electron tube. You can’t see it. It didn’t hurt, did it?

No, it was like riding a wave.

Yes, it was a wave of sorts. Don't ask me how it works, though. I'm a diplomat, not a scientist.

A diplomat? For what country?

Ah . . . not a country . . . Tarizon. It’s a planet in another solar system.

Another solar system? But you look and talk just like an American.

I have dual citizenship. I was born in Irving, Texas but my father is from Shisk, the capital city of Soni on the planet Tarizon.

Peter just stared at Lok in awe. Dad was right. There are aliens living on Earth! My God! But I've never heard of people from other planets living on Earth, Peter protested. It would be on the news if it were true.

No. It's a top secret program between our governments called the TRP or Tarizon Repopulation Project.

You mean the government knows about it?

Yes, but like I said, it's very low profile. Only a very few people are aware of it. Your CIA runs the program. That's why we had to bring you on board.

What do you mean? What do I have to do with the CIA?

Well, your father works for them. Didn’t he tell you?

No, but I suspected he did.

Peter’s father hadn’t told Peter about the CIA, but Peter suspected his father was doing more than just practicing law. None of his friends’ fathers got shot at or had their cars blown up. Peter couldn’t remember how many times he’d sat with his dad in the hospital after he’d been mysteriously injured. He wasn’t stupid. He’d read the newspaper articles and his dad had hinted that he was involved in other things.

Right. Well, I guess he couldn’t tell you. Anyway, I'm sorry to have to break this news to you. This ship is on its way back to Tarizon. You're going to have to live there for awhile; maybe, well . . . for the rest of your life.

Lok's words stunned Peter. He turned pale. It suddenly hit him like a Mack truck. He was being taken to another planet! Panic engulfed him. He looked around for a way out, but he couldn't even find the door Lok had entered.

He ran to the wall searching for it. No! You can't do this! I've got to get home! My mother will be worried. I've got school. I've got to take my dad home. He's at he Sheriff's office in Palo Pinto. He may be hurt! There was an explosion!

Calm down! Lok said. Take a breath. None of that's important anymore.

Not important to you maybe, he screamed, but it’s my life!

Lok grabbed his shoulders trying to calm him.

Peter finally took a breath. He could scarcely believe what was happening to him. One minute he's driving along the highway and the next minute he's on a spaceship heading for Tarizon? Oh, God! No, he moaned. This has to be a dream. Tears began streaming down his cheeks. It must be a dream. Please God, let it be a dream.

Lok walked over to the wall and pushed a button on a small control panel. A shield protecting a large window retracted. Peter's jaw dropped as he saw Earth in the distance. Utter despair came over him. He staggered to the window and ran his hands along its surface to make sure it was real. No, he moaned as he began to feel weak and lightheaded. He felt his heart pounding in his chest and his knees suddenly gave way. Lok grabbed him from behind to keep him from collapsing.

I know this is a lot to assimilate all at one time, Lok said, but the Treaty requires us to be honest with you and to keep you informed. We are a highly civilized society and live in accordance with the Supreme Mandate.

Peter blinked and looked at Lok who appeared fuzzy to him now. He rubbed his temples trying to clear his head. What . . . I mean . . . ah . . .what’s the Supreme Mandate?

It's like your Constitution and Bible all rolled up into one. It's the foundation of our modern civilization.

Peter shook his head, and his vision began to clear. He was starting to recover a little from the shock of his abduction. He wondered if he’d heard Lok correctly. Did you say you had to be honest with me?

Yes. Our treaty with the United States demands it.

So, I can ask you anything?

Yes. Ask away.

Peter blinked a few times and then questions began flooding his mind. So, you said my being here has something to do with the CIA?

Yes, it seems your father has been recruited by them to be a part of the TRP—some sort of legal liaison or something. Regrettably, in the process of his recruitment I understand you became aware of the program's existence.

No. I've never heard of it.

You must have, or they wouldn't have ordered your exile.

Exile. Is that what they call this?

Yes. It’s much more humane than killing you, don’t you think?

Peter couldn’t argue with that, so he didn’t try. Well, now that I think about it, I guess my father and I saw one of your ships take off, but I don't have any recollection of it myself. I only know about it because my father had himself hypnotized so he'd remember it.

Precisely; so, you admit you knew about us?

Peter shrugged.

So, they had to bring you aboard. They can't allow anyone to compromise their mission.

The Tarizon Repopulation Project?

Yes, he sighed. But I think we've probably talked enough for now. I have to get you ready for deep space transport.

Deep space transport? Prepared? How?

I know this is a little scary, but I'm going to have to put you to sleep for awhile. It's a long ride to Tarizon. We have to conserve food and water to get you there safely.

A cold chill washed over Peter. How long do I have to sleep? he asked.

A little over a year, he replied without emotion.

A year! Peter gasped. You've got to be kidding me. No way!

Peter looked around the room again frantically as if searching for something—an escape pod, perhaps.

Don't worry, Lok said reassuringly. "It won't seem like more than a single night. You'll go to

Reviews for Tarizon, The Liberator, Tarizon Trilogy Vol 1

[vickimac · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The first in novelist William Manchee’s exciting Tarizon Trilogy, begins after a series of super volcanic eruptions nearly destroys all life on planet Tarizon. The planet is slowly recovering ecologically but the political situation is volatile. The fight is between the Purists who want to rid Tarizon of a growing mutant population and eliminate all non-human intelligent life-forms, and the Loyalists who want to restore the Supreme Mandate that guarantees freedom and basic rights for all humans and other beings. Much to his dismay, Peter learns that many on Tarizon regard him as the Liberator and expect him to lead a revolution to settle the political unrest. Departing from his typical mystery writing, Manchee explores new territory with The Tarizon Trilogy. He presents a storyline that is a must read for the young adult science fiction audience, as well as older readers who yearn for action-packed thrillers. Through exciting characters, fitting dialog and an engaging storyline, Manchee has created a fascinating story that offers sci-fi fans everything they could want. It is the basic good vs evil with aliens thrown into the mix.Both my teenagers and myself read this book and enjoyed it. Great for a family "read" and communication between the generations. would be good for a gift!

[judymac45 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Departing from his typical mystery writing, Manchee explores new territory with The Tarizon Trilogy. He presents a storyline that is a must read for the young adult science fiction audience, as well as older readers who yearn for action-packed thrillers. Through exciting characters, fitting dialog and an engaging storyline, Manchee has created a fascinating story that offers sci-fi fans everything they could want.