Defenders of Destiny In Search of Etherial.

By Brenton Barwick

An alien hatches from the stasis chamber that Sharianna, Joseph and their family brought back from the moon and grows into a beautiful red dragon; they name him Astrolaris. Unaware of NASA’s true capabilities, they court disaster and begin their search for more stasis chambers. They are surprised to find that the thick layer of ice encapsulating Europa, Jupiter's large icy moon, hides an ocean of liquid water. It is full of colorfully vibrant bioluminescent creatures, including a technologically advanced sentient species with a lingering dark past. Their fate becomes intertwined in the struggle of this spectacular world of water, fire and ice. Agony and anguish cry for them to abandon their quest, as home gently summons them back to earth.
Destiny is renewed as the quiet sound of a computer keyboard reverberates fatefully through the silence of the stone chambers and passageways of an ancient monastery in a remote region of the Himalayan Mountains. The Tibetan monks faithfully fulfill their sacred oath which their brothers had sworn centuries earlier – to guard and defend the secret of Draco...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brenton Barwick
• Release date: Jan 6, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310633102

Brenton Barwick

I grew up in rural Herriman Utah and loved the outdoors. I discovered the wonders of reading suddenly, in the 5th grade. I consumed hundreds of books – Edgar Rice Burroughs, Jack London, H. G. Wells, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Anne Mccaffrey, Louis L’amour etc. I discovered that I also loved to write in Mr. Dave Judd’s 12th grade English class at Bingham High School when he assigned us to write our own Beowulf adventure; it leaped from my pen and he asked me to read it in front of the class. It was a great day that should have inspired me to continue writing. I chose to pursue a bachelor’s of business management, and found that I had little time for recreational reading or writing. My character and social skills were greatly enhanced by serving a two year religious proselytizing mission for my church. I married the beautiful Kjerstin Diamond from my high school, graduated from the university, and then embarked on the dangerous and turbulent self-employment adventure. Kjerstin graduated with a bachelor’s in English and teaching credentials – fortuitous, indeed. I longed for more time to read and even felt a few yearnings to write now and then, but I allowed my talents and imagination to become preoccupied with the immediate task of earning a living. Finally, our first son was born. He loved to listen as I told him about the stories I had read as a youth. One day, my brother Stott invited us to go with him and his family out to the Dugway geode beds. Shortly after the invitation, we were on our way to Grandma’s and Grandpa’s house and Joseph asked for a story, so I began with: “Joseph and his daddy went out to the west desert hunting for geodes...” Joseph loved crystals, and robots. At every opportunity Joseph wanted more; the story evolved – they found the robot, and my imagination was liberated! I was inspired by his words: “I love you Daddy. Tell me a story about me and the robot.” The story became crystal clear in my mind and the scenes seemed to flow by themselves. I told Kjerstin that I wanted to write a children’s book, but the story progressed so rapidly that a children’s book would not suffice, so it evolved into a book for youth and adults. Five more books in the Defenders of Destiny series and an intersecting prequel series set in the middle ages that reveals the origins of the European dragon(the book one afterword foreshadows it) are anxiously awaiting their turn to be liberated from my mind, so I have placated them temporarily by writing down outlines – I cannot write fast enough, even though my typing skills have greatly improved. While writing this adventure, I intentionally created a story that would appeal to readers of all ages, but with youth particularly in mind. I was tired of books and movies that specifically excluded one or both parents from the story and I am appalled by the vernacular and inappropriate content of some of the books that have been recently written for youth. My primary goal was to write an exciting story that could not be set aside, but I also wanted one that would stretch students' vocabulary without frustrating them, as well as inspire them to seek after more knowledge and develop a lifelong love of reading and writing. I wanted my characters to be realistic, yet display a level of character that would offend no one and inspire youth to live up to their greatest potential, without lectures or sermons. This is a family adventure, revolving around the main youth characters, Joseph and Sharianna. Your friend in reading and writing,Brenton Barwick

Book preview

Defenders of Destiny

Book Two

In Search of Etherial

By Brenton Barwick

Smashwords edition

Copyright 2010 Brenton Barwick

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is an original work of fiction by Brenton Barwick and is protected by the copyright laws of the United States of America.

APPRECIATIONS

I would like to thank all those who have been encouraging me in my efforts to write this story and all those who have been anxiously waiting for book two. The wait for book three will be much shorter.

Thank you to all who have listened to me enthusiastically tell the Defenders of Destiny story from beginning to end, including the prequel series. You are too many to mention here by name, but I appreciate each of you nevertheless. Telling the story is an important part of the development and creative process for me; it allows the story to evolve spontaneously and helps new ideas find their place. The entire epic is now alive in my mind and it is endeavoring to escape. Its liberation is expedited as it flows from the eye of my imagination to my fingertips, as I am compelled to reach out and touch the computer keyboard.

I especially appreciate the ideas, critique and careful editing provided by my wife, Kjerstin. My gratitude is extended to my son, Joseph, for his enthusiastic support and collaboration. My sister Kenda, her son Joshua, and my own mom and dad, Donna and Ken have been very supportive and free with their ideas.

I thank my handsome son, Joseph, and my beautiful niece, Marissa, for perfectly portraying Joseph and Sharianna on the cover.

CHAPTER ONE

THE baby ALIEN

The alien made another soft, melodious, crooning sound; it reminded Joseph of the purring of a kitten combined with the gentle cooing of a dove.

Mom anxiously, yet cautiously, went down the four steps to the tiny lower observation level of Robo-ship’s control room. She was worried that her movements might startle the baby alien encircled in the protective embrace of Sharianna’s arms.

Dad articulated Mom’s concern – his soft whisper seemed to reverberate in his ears because of the small spherical space of the control room as he cautioned, Don’t make any sudden movements or loud noises.

Sharianna turned around. See, he’s not dangerous, she tenderly affirmed.

It is a dragon, gasped Mom, in an almost inaudible, incredulous whisper as the baby’s wings gently refolded inconspicuously onto its back. Her thoughts were in ultra-high-speed: Why was a mythological creature’s egg in a stasis chamber on the Moon? It must have been there a very long time before we dug it up. Maybe dragons aren’t myths. That’s quite obvious – I’m standing here looking at one. She looked at the sharp little claws, six on each hand and foot. The creature seemed to smile, revealing two rows of innumerable sharp gleaming teeth. It’s definitely designed to eat meat, she thought with fearful horror, as she saw how close it was to Sharianna’s tender throat. All these thoughts flashed through her mind in the moment it took for Sophia’s eyes to meet the big beautiful turquoise blue eyes of the infant dragon. Somehow, her heart seemed to connect with the dragon through those gentle orbs. Her anxiety miraculously and instantaneously morphed into a motherly manifestation of warmth and tenderness.

No, he’s not dangerous, agreed Mom kindly, as she reached out her hand and gently caressed the cheek of the baby dragon. Its nearly scarlet skin felt surprisingly soft.

Joseph stood on the main level, still holding onto Percy’s collar. Joseph and his dad, Thomas, glanced at one another in amazement.

Mom put one hand on Sharianna’s shoulder, while she kept the other gently helping to support the baby as they came up the steps to the main level.

Look Percy, a new baby, whispered Sharianna, as she knelt down.

Joseph also knelt down and put his arm around Percy’s neck, while maintaining a strong grip on his collar with his other hand.

Percy’s lips quivered and arched, revealing his powerful teeth as he began a ferocious growl. Suddenly, his lips relaxed and his tongue shot out and gave the baby a slobbery lick across the face.

I can’t believe it, they’re already friends, exclaimed Joseph quietly.

What are we going to do with it? pondered Thomas.

We’re going to keep him, of course, replied Sophia.

I’ll keep him in my room, offered Sharianna, as she stood up and entered the little hallway that led into the cargo area which was now transformed into a cozy little kitchen and living area. The kitchen counter stood a few feet from the curved wall on one side of the twelve-foot by twenty-foot oval-shaped room with a domed ceiling. It was a little crowded because of the two anti-gravity sofas and three lounge chairs. The rest of the space was taken up by the artifacts that they had brought back from their accidental trip to the Moon: the baby dragon’s stasis chamber – a four foot spherical object that was now divided into two halves with the remnants of the dragon’s eggshell spilled on the floor; the strange, shiny metal ball that Dad had collected from the alien mine on the Moon – it was only the size of a soccer ball, but weighed over three hundred pounds; the small asteroid from the asteroid field; Sharianna’s moon rock; the glowing piece of railing that served as a reminder of their harrowing escape from the terrifying creatures inside the Moon, and the map and crystal chandeliers from the sunken ship they found off the coast of Alaska.

I wonder if he is hungry? pondered Sharianna, as she threaded her way through the ship’s living room and entered the hallway that led down to Robo-ship’s ankle door.

That reminds me, commented Mom, we bought a bucket of chicken while we were in town.

They all crowded into the little airlock. They looked up at the open door in the ceiling. It was a strange sight, because the ship maintained its artificial gravity in the interior of the ship, independent of its orientation with the earth. The ship was now inside the family’s barn, on its side. Looking straight up, from their perspective, through the doorway, it seemed as if the wall of the barn was the ceiling. In the middle of the barn’s floor, which appeared from their perspective to be a wall, was the treasure they had found on the sunken Golden Alaskan paddle wheel ship, still piled up on the bathroom scale.

Thomas pushed the button that closed the door from the hallway and then reached up and pressed the button that closed the airlock door. He then pushed it again. They all shuffled their feet as the gravitational pull slowly rotated until they were all standing on the wall of the airlock. The door opened, and they stepped down to the floor of the barn.

Well, it’s way past time for lunch – I’ll bet that chicken is cold, complained Mom, as they crossed the back yard, through the orchard toward the house.

I don’t care, I’m starving, replied Dad.

They sat down at the kitchen table; Sharianna carefully cradled the baby in her arms.

Here you go little guy, do you want some chicken? asked Joseph, as he handed a drumstick to the little dragon. It reached out and took the chicken with its mouth. To the family’s surprise, it reached up with one of its front feet and held the chicken, just like a person. This was the first opportunity the family had to get a close look at its feet.

Those are more like hands, than feet, exclaimed Joseph.

You’re right. Look, it has six fingers, but two of them seem to be opposable thumbs, one on each side of the hand, instead of only one, like us, observed Dad, as he held up his hand and wiggled his thumb.

Unexpectedly, they heard a crunching sound as the baby bit all the way through the bone of the drumstick. The dragon made a strange growling sound from deep within his chest. It was definitely different than the cooing sound they had heard before, and yet, it was not alarming. It was as if the infant were saying mmm, indicating that he really enjoyed what he was eating.

The baby finished off the chicken leg, bone and all, and then crawled out of Sharianna’s arms and onto the table. Reaching into the bucket of chicken with his hands, he pulled out another piece. He squatted on his hind legs and, using his tail for balance, he began to devour the chicken; he seemed to relish the bone and gristle as much as the meat.

When he was done eating, he crawled back into Sharianna’s arms, closed his eyes and went to sleep.

I can’t believe how dexterous its hands are, marveled Dad.

He seems to have a very good disposition, and he seems smart – I’ll bet we could train him, commented Joseph, as he looked at Dad for his approval.

Dad responded: Mom already gave the definitive word; we are keeping it. Besides, what else can we do with it? It’s not like we can turn it over to any authorities, and we obviously can’t just turn it loose.

He’s so beautiful, asserted Sharianna.

Where are we going to keep him? questioned Mom, as she looked at Dad who, just like the dragon, was devouring a piece of chicken, except that he was not eating the bone.

You’ve still got the baby crib downstairs in the storage room. I guess we could put it in Sharianna’s room – if you are absolutely sure it is not dangerous, he replied.

I’m sure, Mom asserted.

Do you think he could fly out? Joseph enquired.

I doubt it, answered Dad, its wings don’t look developed enough for flight. It is more likely that it will simply climb out. It is definitely much more self-sufficient and dexterous than a human baby.

Sharianna liked the idea of being the baby’s mother. Joseph, will you bring up the crib for me? I’m a little busy.

Ok. answered Joseph. Turning to Dad, Dad, will you help me? It is a little bulky and hard to carry.

Joseph and Dad quickly had the large oak crib set up at the foot of Sharianna’s bed and she gently placed the sleeping dragon on the soft baby blanket that Mom had retrieved from among the baby things that she had carefully stored away when Joseph and Sharianna were babies.

Good night, sweet dreams, whispered Sharianna.

What would a dragon dream about? asked Joseph mischievously, as they closed the door to Sharianna’s room. …eating young maidens?

Startled by Joseph’s quip, Dad turned to Mom, Are you positive that it is not dangerous?

Yes, I am, Sophia replied emphatically, as she glanced back at Sharianna’s door.

Thomas trusted Sophia’s instincts; however, his confidence in the benevolence of the dragon was not as unwavering as hers. He lay awake, straining his ears for any sound from Sharianna’s room. Twice, he crept stealthily down the hall to her room. He listened carefully at the door and silently turned the knob. Twice, he found her room peaceful and quiet.

Sophia awoke early, before anyone else. She looked at Thomas who had just barely fallen into a deep sleep after a very restless night. He’s been sleeping like a log all night, she thought.

She tiptoed down the hall to Sharianna’s room and opened the door noiselessly. The crib was empty; there, curled up against Sharianna on top of her quilt was the little dragon. He raised his head, looked directly at her, and then put his head back down, closing his eyes. Sophia had the strange feeling that Sharianna was safer now than she had ever been before.

CHAPTER TWO

Dejavu?

Joseph opened his eyes and took a deep breath. Bacon and eggs, and toast, he thought hungrily.

So, what are we going to do today? asked Joseph, as he opened the back door and let Percy in. Cash in some of the gold? Joseph thought of the gold that was still piled up on the bathroom scale in the barn. It seemed incredible to him when he thought of the previous two weeks: finding the spaceship in the desert, their accidental trip to the Moon, their narrow escapes from the Chinese, Russians, and even NASA, and their underwater adventures, including exploring the sunken Alaskan paddlewheel ship where they found the ship’s safe full of treasure.

Joseph knelt down and rubbed Percy’s ears. Locked out all night, huh boy?

Your dad says, and I agree with him, that we need to be very careful how we cash in the gold because lots of gold always makes people ask lots of questions.

Yeah, I could see if you showed up with eighty-seven pounds of gold all at once, people might wonder. But why can’t we sell a few of the coins, or some of the old paper money, Joseph replied. Maybe we could even put some of it on one of the internet auction sites.

Sharianna entered the kitchen with the baby dragon in her arms. Where’s Dad? she asked.

He’s still sleeping, answered Mom.

What’s up with that? He never sleeps this long, observed Sharianna, as she picked up a piece of bacon and handed it to the dragon, who quickly devoured it.

Mom shrugged her shoulders, Maybe all the adventure has finally caught up with him.

So, what are we going to do today? pressed Joseph.

I thought we would go out and see the petroglyphs that you and Dad found when you dug up Robo-ship.

Sharianna sat down at the table, I think I’ll stay here and take care of my baby. She put her hand tenderly on the dragon’s head and rocked him gently back and forth. He began crooning softly.

Joseph gave the baby another piece of bacon. This time the dragon ate it slower, seeming to relish and savor its taste.

Mom dished up a plateful of eggs and placed them on the table in front of Sharianna. The baby dragon sat on Sharianna’s lap and began eating the eggs with his hands; he seemed to like them. When they were all gone, he looked at Mom gently with his beautiful eyes. She put the piece of toast with butter and jam that she had made on the plate in front of him. As he ate it he made the same gentle growling noises that he had made when he first ate the fried chicken the night before.

Hey, maybe he’s not a strict carnivore, observed Joseph, as he went to the fridge and took out a large piece of cantaloupe and placed it in front of the dragon. The soft growling noises became even more pronounced as he ate the juicy cantaloupe with licking and slurping noises.

I think he really likes it, declared Sharianna.

Apparently, he’s an omnivore, just like us, concluded Joseph.

Dad entered the room and took a seat opposite of Sharianna. I see that everyone survived the night well.

Yes, what else did you expect? inquired Sharianna.

We thought that maybe he would love you so much that he would eat you, teased Joseph. Bones and all!

Stop that, he does love me! Sharianna kissed the dragon on the head and he turned and looked up into her eyes. See, he would never hurt me.

Dad changed the direction of the conversation, I heard something about going out to see the rock art that Joseph and I found.

Yes, the idea that the petroglyphs are accompanied by some form of ancient writing is intriguing, replied Mom.

I’m going to stay here with the baby, stated Sharianna.

Did I tell you that there is a picture of a dragon on the rocks? tantalized Joseph.

Is that true? asked Sharianna, as she looked at Dad.

Well, I thought it was probably a bird, but now that I think of it, it might have looked like a dragon, he replied. There are also pictures of Robo-ship, and Joseph even thinks there is a representation of us. I think it is worth reinvestigating.

I guess I’ll go, but what will I do with the baby?

I think it will be just fine if we leave it in the crib, replied Dad.

But he can climb right out of it, argued Sharianna.

Obviously, it can’t come with us – it might be seen – and that would be hard to explain, counseled Dad. We could screw a piece of plywood over the top. That should keep it in.

The trip out to the desert was quite uneventful, but Sharianna was worried the whole time about the baby dragon.

The air was hot. They could see the heat shimmering off the pavement. Dad drove the old truck fast in order to get the air blowing in through the wind wings.

Maybe with all that gold we could break down and buy a new truck, suggested Mom.

One with air-conditioning, agreed Sharianna.

Hey, I love this old truck, I just need a couple new hoses and a charging kit and I can fix the air-conditioning, Dad reasoned.

Mom and Sharianna looked at each other skeptically, If you say so, Dad, replied Sharianna.

When they got to the dirt road, Dad continued to drive fast in an effort to outrun the dust cloud that billowed up from the tires, and to keep the air moving.

The truck came to rest only a few steps from the rock art. The doors sprang open and the family leaped out and ran to the rock outcropping and stared at the carvings in amazement. Mom pointed to the strange words at the bottom of the carving.

Can you read the inscription, Mom? inquired Sharianna.

Yes, but it’s very strange – it is an ancient Gaelic form of Latin. How could a dead European language end up on a rock in the middle of the western desert?

The inflection in Sophia’s voice and the expression on her face reflected the query carried by her words. She continued: These words, Fatum Alastriona are interpreted: Defenders of mankind’s destiny. These other words are Astro Laris, which mean star tool.

Astrolaris, repeated Joseph thoughtfully. That’s what we should call the baby dragon.

A strange silence fell over the little family as they gazed at the mural. The small breeze that had blown away the dust kicked up by the truck was gone. The desert was peaceful and quiet. Sharianna began to feel an unexpected and unfamiliar emotion. She looked around, half expecting to see someone watching them from close by, even though she knew that they were alone. Mom was experiencing the same unusual feelings and turned instinctively at the same time and followed Sharianna’s gaze. She turned and looked at Thomas. As their eyes met, he raised his eyebrows and whispered: Dejavu? A chilling tingle ran through her body as she nodded her affirmative.

A hawk shrieked in the distance and a tumbleweed resumed its journey across the sand as the momentary feeling quickly faded.

That’s weird; we all felt the same feeling at the same time, marveled Joseph softly, as he turned back to the carving. See, there is the carving that Dad thought was just a bird. The primitive picture he was pointing at was right in the middle of the mural and