Old Worlds & New Worlds Trilogy Book 1 Journey Back To Threa

By Cindy Cowles

For two thousand years, there has been a spaceship hidden on the dark side of the moon. Very few know of its existence, and only one has known its location. That one was High Councilwoman and Captain Estelle Morgan, Lacy’s grandmother and one of the original survivors from the planet Threa. When Lacy’s grandmother chooses not to Rebirth again and passes away, Lacy inherits the house, a tantalizing letter about humanity’s true origins and...a FTL spaceship called Pegasus I. Forced to flee when her home is invaded by a group called the Chosen, and her life and the lives of her three closest friends are threatened, Lacy brings her friends aboard an atmospheric hopper - a small transport meant to shuttle explorers from Pegasus I to a planet’s surface and back - and escapes just in time. Now she’s taking them on the trip of a lifetime, going on a Journey Back To Threa.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cindy Larie
• Release date: Jul 17, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310542138

Cindy Cowles

I am a writer who has visited or lived in each of the 48 continental United States. Hawaii and Alaska are on my list of places to see. I've been to Canada and one day plan to tour Mexico as well. I've worked as a taxi driver, an exotic dancer/waitress, a dump truck driver, a storage facility manager and a traveling carnival worker. I love writing stories more than anything (other than my fabulous grandson (: ) and hope to one day support myself with my stories. I live in Louisiana with my boyfriend, two grown kids, an awesome grandson, and several spoiled cats. I truly believe you can do anything you set your mind to.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Lacy pulled up to the ornate gate guarding the front entrance to her grandmother’s estate. She still couldn’t think of it as her estate - couldn’t believe her grandma was gone. It didn’t feel right when she walked through the front door and wasn’t greeted with a big smile and the delicious scent of cookies baking. Blinking rapidly, she reached above the visor for the little black box. Pressing the button to bypass the keypad and open the gate, she glanced in the rear view mirror and wasn’t surprised to see her mother’s Cadillac creeping up on her bumper.

What is she doing? Maria asked, looking back too.

What do you think? Trying to bulldoze her way through, as usual. Drew frowned,  watching the older woman inch closer, Got to give her points for sheer stubbornness. Did you bypass the safety, like I suggested?

Yeah, Lacy pulled up until her bumper just cleared the gate’s path and looked into the mirror again, a tense, angry grin marring her features.

Oh crap, it’s going to be a proverbial Mexican standoff! Maria whispered.

That is so racist! Trina gasped, her eyebrows shooting toward her hairline.

Really? How? I’m half Mexican. That would be like me calling you racist for making Swedish jokes.

A long, angry blast from the Cadillac’s horn announced the start of gate’s slow return trip. Lacy watched as her mother figured out what she was doing and closed the gap between the two cars again. It was obvious that she expected the gate to reverse course since she was obstructing its path. One side of Lacy’s mouth curled up into a smirk, as she waited for the older woman to realize that it wasn’t going to happen.

Did you have the gate motor replaced, too? Drew asked from his spot behind the driver seat, I would have done it for you for just the cost of parts.

Yes, The chill in her voice drew everyone’s attention to the driver's seat, And I know you would have, but I don’t want you involved if things get nasty.

If? He asked, I think we’re way past if. We passed if when Mummy Susan spit on Grandma’s coffin. We passed if when she called the lawyer a limp wristed faggot at the reading of the will. We passed if-

We get it! Three female voices chimed in together.

When she threatened the Sheriff with bodily harm after he told her she couldn’t legally break in to the property.

Drew- A deafening screech drowned out the rest of Lacy’s words. The grinding of metal on metal was worse than fingernails on a chalkboard and they all shivered. All four heads turned to watch, as Lacy’s mother screamed and threw her shiny new car into reverse, seconds too late to prevent the front bumper from being ripped half off. They continued to watch as she jumped out to inspect the damage without remembering to place the gear shift in park first, and as she scrambled to climb back inside without getting run over as the big car rolled backward. Then, once they were sure she had the once beautiful vehicle under control, Lacy beeped the horn at her and continued up the curving driveway.

She’s gonna rip you a new ass next time she sees you, Trina said, laughing, She may even kick you out of Casa Morgan.

Doesn’t matter. Lacy shrugged, I’ve already moved all of my things here. She pulled around the circle section of the drive and rolled to a stop between a beautiful mermaid fountain and the front door, beneath the portico. Well, the important stuff anyway. For the past three years, after dad’s accident, I’ve only kept a bare minimum there. Let’s get inside. The attorney said Grandma left me a letter in her safe and gave me the code to open it. While I’m getting the letter, you guys can get us some snacks from the kitchen. Then we can relax and talk while we eat.

Sounds good, Maria nodded, Trina can hunt down glassware and plates. Drew, see what there is to drink around here, and I'll throw together some sandwiches, chips and snack cakes. Make it fast, Lacy, because we're freaking starving.

Several minutes later, they were seated around one end of a massive mahogany dining table, with Lacy in the chair on the end. An impressive chandelier, filled with hundreds of tiny electric candles, illuminated the area like a small star

Look at you, presiding like a queen, Drew stated, With armrests and shit, while we gotta rest our elbows on the table, when we could be lounging in the den, spread out on those fluffy, buttery soft leather couches, watching HBO on that kick ass big screen TV.

Food is eaten in the dining room, or the breakfast nook, or the sun room. Lacy said,  responding without thinking.

Yes, Mom, They all chimed in, grinning and laughing when she blushed, a look of horror on her face.

Sorry, She ducked her head, hiding behind her sandwich, My grandma trained me well. The only time I ever sneaked food, I decided to eat in the library, while doing homework with Levi, the hottest boy in 9th grade.

And? Trina prompted.

And we spilled strawberry soda all over the white love seat and light blue carpet.

Ooh man! But the -

Yeah, I know...the love seat and carpet in the library are the color of fresh turned dirt. That's because my grandma wanted to make sure I never forgot her rule. The library was my favorite room in the whole house. I used to pretend like I was floating on a snow white dragon, riding gentle wind currents high above the ground. But it's hard to soar in the heavens when your ass is planted on furniture the color of mud.

Your Grams was one cool lady. Drew laughed, blotting drops of tea from his shirt and the table with a handful of paper towels, Guess we'll eat here. So, since there's no TV in here, not to be nosy but - what does that letter say?

Lacy shoved the last bite of sandwich into her mouth, wiped her fingers on her jeans and pulled the neatly folded sheets of colorful stationary from the envelope, I don’t know. I haven’t read it yet. I’m afraid I’ll bawl like a baby, Lowering her eyes, she skimmed through the pages. Her smile fading, she went back and read more slowly. Then, with an obvious tremor in her hands, she reread through it a third time.

How long does it take to understand a freaking letter? Is it written in a foreign language or something? Code, maybe? He asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm, Would you like for me to decipher it for you? Lacy, I’m dying of curiosity!

Drew! Be nice! She lost her grandma last freaking week! Maria exclaimed, glaring at him, I don’t care how long it takes for her to read that letter. I wouldn’t even care if she decided not to share it with us. It’s her letter, from her grandma, addressed to her - your name isn’t anywhere on it. Show a little respect. What if it was you who’d lost your grandma? Huh?

He wilted, Lacy, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean -

No, I’m sorry, Lacy neatly stacked the pages on the table in front of her, I did take a long time. But it’s just so hard to believe, so unexpected, yet explains so much. Why didn’t she ever say anything? All these years...

Okay, now I’m curious too, Trina topped off all four tea glasses before returning the jug to the refrigerator and taking a seat, I wasn’t going to ask because it isn’t our business, but between your reaction and that comment, you’ve piqued my interest. You can’t just say something like that and expect us to act normal.

Well, She looked around the table, I don’t know how to say this but, my Gram...we...she left me a - here, let me just read it to you. I’m still in shock. Gathering up the pages again, Lacy cleared her throat, took a sip of tea and read:

My dearest Lacy, She read aloud, If you are reading this, then I have passed from this world. I am leaving all my possessions to you, including my atmospheric hopper and responsibility for Pegasus I. I will explain what these are in a moment, so bear with me. Don't skip ahead!

She knows you pretty well, doesn't she? Drew nodded, But with words like atmospheric hopper and Pegasus I, sheer curiosity has me wanting to urge you to at least skip ahead, so you can tell us what those are.

Me, too, Maria agreed, But we must be respectful toward the dead.

Agreeing with Maria, and trying to not react to Drew’s disappointed scowl, Lacy continued to read, Be very cautious of who you let close to you. Watch for strangers who would suddenly attempt to insinuate themselves into your life. They may not be what they present themselves to be. There is still a secret agency with knowledge of the hopper and Pegasus I. Last I heard, they called themselves The Chosen. Their one objective in life is to gain control of Pegasus I and if you alert them to its location they will take it - by whatever means necessary.

Whoa, that sounds dangerous, Maria shared a concerned look with her friend, This Chosen group don't seem to be people you want to be on the wrong side of.

You expect her to just give in to them? Drew growled, Let them take everything her grandma left her?

Well, no -

Damn straight, no, Drew agreed, scraping uneven blond bangs out of his eyes, Go ahead, Lacy.

Now, if you are still reading, I hope it means you haven’t decided that your Grandmother was a crazy old woman with wild fantasies filling her head. I wanted, on so many occasions, to share my knowledge with you. You, out of everyone I have known, would have enjoyed hearing about the things I have seen and places I have been. You were always looking up information on UFO’s and watching television shows about space travel. So often, I found myself biting my tongue and trying to not let anything slip, while at the same time encouraging your curiosity about what was ‘out there’. Therefore, I have decided to give you the location of my atmospheric hopper, as I said earlier, which is a small craft that will take you to Pegasus I. Pegasus I is a FTL ( faster than light ) spacecraft meant for long distance space travel. It is how we first came to this planet, two thousand years ago. With it, you can travel to wherever you want; perhaps even to find the other two colonies. Ah yes, I can practically see your eyes light up, upon reading the last sentence. Yes, child, there were two other colonies who left and went their separate ways when we decided to come here. Not everyone agreed on how we should live, so we ended up forming three separate groups. But you can read up on that and the rest of our history on Pegasus I, if you choose. Lacy paused and glanced around at her friends, You guys, this is a freaking space ship! There are other colonies that went to other planets! We aren’t the only life in the universe. I knew it! It’s a dream come true. Why didn’t she tell me?

Yeah, that's awesome, Trina agreed, But more importantly -

What's more important than a mother fucking space ship that can travel to other planets? Drew interrupted, pounding the table for emphasis.

Maybe nothing, Trina replied, But did you miss the part where Lacy's grandmother casually stated that they came to this planet two thousand years ago? Lacy's grandma was over two thousand years old, guys.

I want to know her beauty secrets! Maria gasped.

Me, too! Trina nodded. Motioning to Lacy, she added, Sorry, please continue. But you have to admit, your grandma looked fine as hell for being a that dang old. My aunt would give up her entire life savings for a secret like that.

Looking down, Lacy tried to swallow a smile and continued, "Watch out for Sarah. I'm sure I don't really have to tell you that, but I prefer to be cautious. She doesn't have your best interests at heart. Please don’t let her have access to the house and grounds either. I have long suspected that she was behind your father’s accident, though I had no proof. Plus, my sources told me she has been in contact with The Chosen, and may have promised them things in exchange for money. If so, that is on her head, because the property belongs to you, not her,