Mission To Cyma

By Margaret O'Neill Lamont

The Magic spaceship hurtles through galaxies to reach the Planet Cyma. The earth's Cyman colony hasn't communicated with them for two hundred years. The Marine's and scientists aboard The Magic don't know what they'll find; a mutated race of Psi Dissidents, a failed colony, or utter destruction ? WWIII has devastated Earth; NASA scientists are counting on Planet Cyma as their last hope for the continuation of their mighty civilization. A "Rover" is sent down to investigate, programmed by a Female Marine, Sgt. Marisa Iannis. An advanced colony is found, with a Psi training program developing the " Kuma" or "Wave, " in physics. A love story, adventure-thriller, and action packed Science Fiction story, Mission To Cyma appeals to all audiences.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Margaret O'Neill Lamont
• Release date: Apr 30, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311484123

Margaret O'Neill Lamont

Margaret Lamont is Chef and writer living in the Boston area. She's worked in over 15 restaurants over the past twenty years, likes to travel, write, and cook for friends and family. Margaret is currently working on a third novel.

Book preview

MISSION TO CYMA

Maggie Lamont

Copyright 2015 Maggie Lamont

Smashwords Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever including Internet usage, without written permission of the author.

Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Prologue

The Alawi was built into a hillside in Tibet. A giant sandstone dome flanked by minarets, and a high ornate outer wall shielded a courtyard from prying eyes. The sun beat down on the mountains and dry sand rose with the winds, yet the central corridor lined with deep blue and white lettered tiles gave all who entered the sensation of being underwater. The entrance led to a large courtyard with a low circular fountain. Looking into its depths, turquoise and indigo tiles glinted from rippling water, where gold leaf designs sparkled and winked. In summer, jasmine vines planted heavily on a large trellis scented the dusk; the heady, sweet scent a blessing from the prophet himself .The Adhan, call to prayer, rang over the minarets and then floated down to the supplicants.

Allahu Akbar, God is Great, Ashhadu an la ilala illa Allah, I bear witness that there is no God except the One God, Ashadu anna Muhammadan Rasool Allah, I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of God…. The Maudhan's cry rang through the dawn, raising the souls of those listening. The verses continued, Hurry to prayer. Their hearts would stop beating for seconds at a time. Pale pink rose bushes lined the courtyard, and Alephs in embroidered white caps and spotless thobes could be seen studying and talking quietly. Female pilgrims wore Hijab, their children dressed in white cotton garments, wool sweaters and shawls in the cooler months. They outwardly appeared to be followers of Athari Islam, a nonviolent, non partisan sect, yet what they studied and practiced indoors was far different from the central teachings of Islam.

Every pilgrim there had been shunned and outcast from their communities. They came from India, China, Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Australia. Their lives had been troubled until they found their true purpose. They were hunted, imprisoned, tortured, and monitored. The Alawi was their only home. More and more pilgrims found their sanctuary there. Splinter sub communities existed underground. After WWWIII, the most resilient of the Psi dissidents from the Alawi managed to secure tickets aboard a spaceship headed across the galaxies. Earth was becoming too unstable. They wished to start anew, on a colony they built, where they didn't have to hide ….

The Terrans space program gained support and funding from eccentric millionaires for years. Alarmed by high carbon emissions that slowly warmed the earth, the radically changing weather patterns, and the melting of the polar ice caps, the astrophysicists at NASA knew in time the Earth would become uninhabitable. Meeting in boardrooms, private ski chalets, yachts, and luxurious hotels; industry magnates and private investors nibbled salty bubbles of beluga caviar on toast points, sipped vintage Piper Heidsieck champagne from crystal flutes, gazed at the sky and discussed their hopes. A Billionaire confined to a wheelchair rolled over Persian carpet and watched the sun setting on the peaks of the Matterhorn,

If we no longer dream, what are we ? He turned and smiled at the visiting Astrophysicists, they gazed back at him silently, as alert and intent as eagles. They fidgeted in their best suits, one had wild gray curls to his chin and a five o'clock shadow. A woman scientist wore a flowered print suit. He was sure it was made in the 1950's. Yellow and red tulips with large dark green leaves stretched over sofa like curves that hurt his eyes. Her hair was lank and black and needed a good cut, but the swiftness of her answers revealed an intelligence so advanced, that they soon became entranced. Her calm proposals to bring their super vision " to reality anchored the plan.

The ship performed a series of Jumps, in order to travel the unimaginable distance, with minimum wear on the space craft, and less radiation to the passengers. They were kept in stasis pods after the initial exit from Terran atmosphere. Kept in an artificial coma, passengers slept across the galaxies, dreaming of barbeques, the scent of wood smoke, the tart taste of lemonade, and ice cold beer. The cannabis extracts and barbiturates kept them dreaming peacefully, oxygen was piped in and carbon monoxide was vented out, as image-memories of the happiest kind cycled through their brains; each passenger underwent hypnosis prior to settling down for their journey.

The ships course had been pre-loaded onto the Aerys-Kronos server, and all the functions of the ship; the maintenance of the oxygen pressure, the auto scans of the ship's exterior, the autocorrect of the flight in the presence of asteroids, the sensing of distant black holes to make large changes to the navigation, the constant checks on the function of the ship's engines, all had been implemented by NASA scientists.

The ship streaked downward, with small wavering movements that grew into erratic dips and sudden drops as acrid black smoke filled the hold. The Captain, Buzz, fought for control of the ship as a passenger named Dunya ran through the med bay and began the emergency evacuation procedure. A giant red moon shined over the valley, eerily lighting their scramble from the Aerys. An expanding flash of brilliance, then deafening thunder rocked the valley and threw them downward. An intense billowing heat, and then the patter of raining embers littered the ground. Huddled behind sheltering rocks, they watched towering flames engulf the ship, burning figures howling and running from the wreckage. A few were brave enough to tackle the burning passengers and roll them on the ground. They shouted for shock blankets, a medic, a doctor, but none were there. Most of the survivors still wore the paper gowns and elasticized foot coverings from their long sleep, a woman tore hers off and threw it over a screaming man, patting and pressing the flames until they dampened and went out. A little boy shed a gown that glowed and smoked, dancing up and down. Others held down the passengers who struggled and cursed, fighting to return to the ship.

The long journey of survival began. They found a clear stream running nearby, dug pits in the dirt for the survivor's waste, gathered broken tree branches for fires, and sent out hunting parties. Everything was trial and error, they weren't sure which animals meat was safe to eat.

The first catch of a ten year old boy was a small hopping creature with unusually long ears, thick hind legs, a red-grey striped pelt, and odd red eyes. Kai built a snare trap out of thin branches he had soaked in water, baited it with some of the precious bread grabbed out of the small galley freezers as they had exited the emergency locks on the ship. He insisted that he wasn't afraid to try the creatures meat, which smelled delicious from being roasted and basted in its own fat, popping and sizzling over the flame. His mother carefully cut off a tiny sliver, sniffed it dubiously, and handed it to Kai on the back of her knife. Kai cautiously tasted, chewed, and swallowed the morsel as all 115 eyes watched him, with a mixture of jealousy and fear.

There was a long period of silence as the survivors watched Kai for signs of nausea, hives, sweating, red rash, dizziness, and swelling of the face. When none appeared, after Kai smiled and said, It's good, told you, the survivors hooted and clapped loudly, picked Kai up and swung him into the air, ruffling his hair, clapping him on the back.

A party of men and boys went out and captured thirty more of the animals, and by dawn they had the comfort of a meal, the meat served on slightly burnt toasted bread. Even the survivors whose tears still ran down their faces ate. A Spanish woman dubbed the animal, conejito, or, in English, little rabbit.

The real name for a rabbit is conejo, a jack rabbit is ' liebre, ' but by God this one looks like a bunny. The woman, Ana Maria, became the official leader of the wildlife exploration party. Kai was her taste tester. He took his new job very seriously, and didn't give up even when he was violently ill, from trying the spiky purple fruit of the grunir tree, which everyone said looked like a lychee and was sure to be safe. Soon their party had categorized hundreds of fauna and flora of the planet, and new parties were born within hours on the first day.

Maria surveyed the valley, walking on grass that still sparkled with dew. Kai walked ahead musing, Cyma isn't so bad. An animal leapt through the trees in front of him; it was as white as birch bark, with a black stripe down it's back and a little black tail. The creatures legs were long and delicate like a Deers, but it had curved black horns like an Oryx. He pointed and Maria quickly glanced up. What was it, Kai ?

I'm not sure, it looked like a deer, probably edible. Maria made a note.

Rodrigo ! She called behind her.

Yeah ?! He shouted back.

Get the bow and arrow, we found something ! Rodrigo ran past her and then climbed up a small boulder.

Where'd it go ?!

There ! Kai shouted. The Deer-Oryx scrambled out from a copse of trees and ricocheted through the wetland, it's legs flung in front of it and rear legs powering it further and further away. Rodrigo drew an arrow, pulled back the bow and then positioned. They were as still as the trees. A thwacking sound carried through the valley, and the arrow sailed through the air burying itself in the retreating animals flank, it stumbled and Rodrigo sent another arrow into its side.

Get it Rodrigo, don't let it suffer ! Maria called. He ran through the woods and knelt by the animal, then twisted it's neck neatly.

Awwwww, Maria said. She knelt and stroked its downy cheek,

¡Que linda !

Just like a Deer –

Yeah, but the horns make it look like an Oryx. Kai said.

He knelt beside them and took out a pencil and paper and made a quick sketch, then Rodrigo took a picture of it.

They took out the arrows and Rodrigo carried the carcass on his back on their way back to camp. They passed low bushes and Kai spied some bright pink berries beneath the leaves. Wait, He said, he took a rucksack out and picked a berry, they watched him silently. He sniffed it and then took a tiny bite, it's juice filled his mouth, sweet and slightly sour. He lifted his hand to his mouth and spit out a tiny oval seed, putting it in his pocket.

What does it taste like, Kai ? Maria laughed.

I don't know ! Kai laughed too. I've never had anything like it !

Think ! We need to document it.

Kai sighed, Fine. He squinted.

It tastes like, it tastes like – a berry I don't really like, but would eat anyhow. They giggled.

Come on.

Ok, it reminds me of jam my Grandmother used to make. Except she was from Denmark, so their berries were different. Less sweet.

Lingonberry.

That's it. They fell to gathering, the bushes were more plentiful than they first thought.

Roast Deer-Oryx with Cyma berry sauce ? Maria sighed and put her head on Rodrigo's shoulder for a moment.

We need greens… Rodrigo said. Maria made a face.

There's nothing today. We took all the water cabbages from the ponds last week…

C'mon Baby, one more circle around the valley, we'll find something.

They walked on wearily. Maria stopped and bent down,

Look ! She pulled on a long weed like plant and slowly drew a long root from the ground, covered with earth. Kai slid down beside her. She shook of the earth, holding the root up reverently.

Here's our source of starch ! They whooped and Rodrigo spilled water from his canteen all over it. I'm sorry, that has too much dirt on it, no WAY am I taking a bite of that. Kai said and crossed his arms. Rodrigo gave him a mock cuff on the back of the head.

Gather more of them, we'll wash them and then make kabobs out of them back at camp, a little ash-salt, mmmm, mmmm, mmmmh. They pulled more roots from the ground for at least an hour, until they had three full sacks. Their backs screamed, their hands had tiny cuts, and they were thirsty, hot, and dirty. They turned around and trudged towards the path to their settlement.

Better meal than usual, Rodrigo said.

Si.

They caught a lot of rabbits…

Persona tienes hambre.

Verdad.

¡Que dice ? Kai asked. They laughed, they had been teaching him Spanish, but his accent was terrible.

You said ' No one will go hungry, then Rodrigo said ' true ', then I said 'What did you say ? ' Even though I knew what you said –

Alright hotshot, time for a new word-

Okay – Go !

Fresa. Rod said.

Fresa, Kai repeated thoughtfully.

You're not getting the R sound right, I told you to practice-

They walked ahead and kept talking.

Maria smiled and then fell silent. She was worried about the camps vitamin C intake. Rodrigo danced a few steps backwards and squeezed her shoulder.

We have the supplements for now, we'll find some fruit tomorrow morning, don't worry, Baby.

The Deer-Oryx will feed forty at least, they can make a soup, too…

A soup needs onions.

True.

Tomorrow. Kai said. He was tired but he didn't want to let them see it, otherwise he'd have to stay in camp and learn lessons with the other 12 year olds, which was so boring he could barely tolerate it.

Always moving, that's our Kai, his mother should say. A Doctor on Terra, she was always busy conferring with the other parties about pressing issues, clean sources of water, keeping their waste away from the camp, hygiene, and the psychological counseling of colonists who were still grieving. The camp called her the Talking Sorrow Lady, but she didn't mind in the least. His father helped build structures, and was always sawing wood and hammering it into their log house. He was trying to find a way to build an electric saw.

Just elbow grease now, Dan. His mother would say.

There's GOT to be a better way ! He would answer. Kai began hurrying, he wanted to tell his mother about the Cyma berry find.

Chapter One

Eva shifted the leather water sack's strap over her head from her right shoulder to her left. The sack was made from the bladder of a native species of mountain lion. Neil had caught the lion a year before her thirteenth birthday, in order to have enough time to cure it, dye it, and stitch symbols onto the lions hide of planets and stars meaningful to her people, the Cyma. The bladder had been cleaned, dried, and stretched; then stitched inside the leather sack. He had been supremely mysterious about her gift, shutting himself in his room and locking the door at night, ignoring her entreaties to tell her what he was doing. The sack carried a liter of water. Eva treasured the gift but claimed the water it carried had a faint tang of lion bladder. She would taste the water thoughtfully and then pretend to choke, spit it out the second it crossed her lips, then gag.

So ungrateful ! I slaved over her 13th birthday gift and this is what I get !! No more gifts, that's it, if she doesn't have the grace to appreciate them ! Neil would say.

Eva was coming back from a walk through the woods on the outskirts of Kamra valley. Lisa was coming over to visit her today. She had to get home and do her chores before her mother would let them go outside, so she hurried down the dirt path that had been trampled and smoothed by many feet. Eva smiled as she walked up a steep hill whose summit had large boulders on either side of the path. She always liked the sight of her city sprawling in front of her, the wood, mud and stone single story houses giving way to more populated areas; golden tiled rooftops created a uneven landscape leading all the way the bigger buildings of Cyma's capital, Doha. She bet there was some honey cake left over from last night's dinner, her stomach felt hollow. Her mother was the best cook in their neighborhood; her honey cake was light, moist, and studded with nuts and spices. The other mothers cakes were leaden and had spots where the cake batter still oozed, or a singed crust. She saw her house and her Cavalos stable and felt a lift in her heart.

Eva's horse was named Brisa, after wind pattern on Puerto Rico, that would blow from the East over the Island. Brisa had been given to Eva for her ninth birthday as a foal. When she had nightmares, Eva slept curled next to her in the stable, and Brisa gently nuzzled Eva around the face to comfort her. Riding Brisa was the best incentive for getting Eva to do her chores, from homework, to picking up her dirty socks on the stairs, to dishes, and the families laundry. Eva hated doing laundry because it took hours and all they had to use was a stupid Pila in the backyard, a large stoneware sink that held gallons of water with a corrugated ceramic board across the top for rubbing soapy clothes. The rough soap made her hands itch, and the feel of her families wet sheets and underthings gave her the creeps.

Her blood boiled as she hung wet, clean sheets, tunics, pants, and shrunken, stinky wool sweaters. She scrubbed the ground - in dirt, blood, and grass stains out of her younger brother Kyle's clothes, inwardly cursing and outwardly fuming and sighing. It took at least a half hour of riding Brisa until she calmed down, so her parents let her ride without fail on laundry day.

Lisa had come to Chengdu with her father, Dr. Lee, last year. Her skin was a very pale gold, her very long black hair as shiny as an obsidian waterfall. Best of all, she wore tiny, emerald green stones in her earlobes. Eva's classmates gathered around her fascinated, at recess.

What are they ?! They asked.

These are Jade," Lisa said shyly with a slight accent.

What's Jade ?!

" It's a stone mined from Terra, the ancient Chinese thought Jade had magic properties.

Liar, pants on fire ! Brook shouted.

I'm not lying ! My great-great-great, oh, I don't know how many greats it was, a long time ago.

Brook was sneering at her like she was worthless. Lisa smoothed her hair, My Great Grandmother to the fourth power smuggled them onto the Aerys-Kronos, even though they weren't supposed to bring anything like jewels on board.

A hush fell over the playground.

" A relic from the Aerys-Kronos !? The students had heard of them, relics were kept in safes and in Doha's museum. There were wild rumors of A Silicon chip, The Apple , A Beacon and something even more strange, A Radio Transmitter. " The relics were made out of metal and plastic and were priceless. The Dohans grumbled that Chengdu Second had more relics that they hid and wouldn't reveal to their delegates.

Those ear stones are old pieces of sea glass ! Polished and cut to look like relics ! Brook cawed.

Brook was very chubby, with a blubber ring around his stomach and a double chin, his Mother was always doing embarrassing things and scolding him in French, which no one but his family knew, plus some of the school teachers. They would attend Brook's mother's dinner parties, coming away sated from the excellent Gougeres, Daube , Salade Cymoise, then finishing with an artfully displayed Cheese and fruit course.

Brook's step father, Robert, had started a winery, the grapes, on Cyma were large like globe grapes, either a hard green with bands of tiny seeds; or deep, shiny purple, acidly sweet like concord grapes from New England. They were determined to produce a wine, and the fermenting barrels in their winter cellar were constantly exploding or foaming over. Robert's best wine was a sparkling, fast-fermented, light white wine. He had worked for days on its composition until he found the perfect blend. They whooped and high fived each other and even 13 year old Brook was allowed to drink two glasses. His mother didn't care for treating teen agers like precious china, insulated from real life.

Back on the playground, surrounded by all the thirteen year olds in her class, Lisa's faced flushed, but she said calmly,

We call rude, annoying people like you Bien-bien fan, in Chengdu.

What's that supposed to mean ? Brook rolled his eyes.

Shit-rice. Lisa giggled. Once one grain of it gets in the pot, you can never wash the stink out. Laughter rolled over the playground. Brook glared at Lisa and managed to punch her undeveloped breast before the other boys pulled him off of her.

Turd, Neil said.

Lisa sat next to Eva for the next period. She only wore her Jade earrings for special occasions after the first day, for the middle school graduation, and for Eva's birthday party.

Eva showed Lisa how to ride, she had never been on a horse before. Brisa patiently trotted in circles on a lead while Lisa bounced around in the saddle, and fell off twice on the first day. She bruised her arm. The girls painted on some of the bronzing powder her mother kept on her bedroom bureau, with the baby rabbit hair brush, first mixing the bronzing powder with a little water and flour and carefully brushing it on the palm sized yellow and purple bruise on Lisa's bicep. It took three coats, but the bruise disappeared under their careful brushstrokes. They were dismayed when the dark bruise slowly appeared through the veil of powder.

How'd did you do that ?! Neil asked Lisa when they first came back from Kamra Valley.

Hit the saddle horn on the way down, Lisa said grimly.

At least it wasn't my head hitting a rock on the ground.

True, Neil mused. You know, I could try some energy medicine on it – Eva shushed him.

The Chengdu don't practice energy healing, just herbal medicine and acupuncture, bone-setting, things like that. Lisa replied. Neil was always trying to practice his new found abilities outside of the classroom, which was forbidden,

Too many things could go wrong, and if you have an undisciplined approach, you'll develop bad habits, Their master instructor, Damien, constantly reminded them.

Isn't acupuncture an energy healing of sorts , anyhow ?! Neil argued.

I guess you could think of it that way, but it's actually tiny needles into the Chi median lines in the body-

Which is 'energy', you can't deny that ! Neil interjected.

Yes, but the Chengdu don't attempt to manipulate these medians with their minds, they know the Chi is already there, that the accurate placement of the needles draw the Chi to the surface, at times redirect it…

Okay, if you're so certain. Neil conceded, but he still stared at the red, purple, and yellow bruise as if it held the key to his future.

If you'd just let me try, I've really been making progress with altering and controlling the body tissues blood flow, then the flow of the lymph cells to the site.

Lisa looked at Eva and then Neil for a moment quietly.

Okay, she said reluctantly,

Neil flexed his wrists, twisting his hands. Eva lifted Lisa's tunic up above her shoulder and removed the wet washcloth she'd been holding against her bicep. Neil looked at Lisa.

Breath slowly, long breaths, imagine a white light is traveling from your feet to your head, good, keep breathing…

He synchronized his breath to Lisa's for three minutes, carefully placed his right palm on Lisa's bicep and held it there. Eva looked at his face, his brow was furrowed, he was concentrating, the wrinkle between his eyebrows relaxed, and he drew a long breath in and then out.

I feel something ! Lisa said, This funny tingling where the bruise is.

That's just because my brother is cute, Eva whispered back and they both started giggling. Neil's face remained blank until a smile he fighting to control broke through and he opened his eyes. He left his hand on Lisa's arm.

Did it help ? He asked.

It feels better, doesn't hurt so much now. Lisa answered. She lifted her arm experimentally,

Still twinges but much less now. Eva watched her brother's face jealously, he definitely had the gift.

Lisa threw her arms around Neil ,

You saved me ! She pealed. Neil hugged her back for a second and then broke free, his face pink.

Rhys can make a bruise fade on contact, He mumbled.

Rhys' father is one of the master instructors, Eva said.

You're getting better, and that's no lie. She turned to Lisa,

Come on, let me paint over that bruise, if your Mother tells my Dad, we'll never hear the end of it. The rabbit tail brush had to be dried over the fire for five minutes, and Eva fanned her