Strangers in a Strange Land Episode 3: Strangers In a Strange Land, #3

By C. B. Maurice

In a visit to the villages, Livy, Jessie, and Kevin figure out how to turn on the defensive shield and discover new enemies, but don't get any closer to understanding why one village is in so much better condition than the other.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christa Maurice
• Release date: Apr 23, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386016380

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright 2018 C B Maurice

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Also by C. B. Maurice

In the fourth episode

Episode 4 Bonus

Strangers In a Strange Land

Episode 3

By

C. B. Maurice

Copyright 2018 C. B. Maurice

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This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.

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Chapter 1

Livy set her breakfast tray down between Kevin and Jessie. They had left a chair open for her between them. Protecting her flanks. The board buzzed as teams organized either to search the underground complex or the towns at either end. Livy chewed her oddly shaped bacon, wished for coffee, and pretended to be invisible. This morning, she’d pulled on her Star Trek T-shirt that said, It’s a Klingon thing in Klingon and her last pair of clean jeans. Laundry facilities would be needed soon. The T-shirt would have been a hit at the convention, but they’d been kicked out for causing a ruckus which lead to an early departure to the other side of the galaxy. Same old, same old.

Saida sat across from Livy causing her to jerk backward and slop tea into her lap.

Good morning, Saida said, as if people overreacting to her presence happened all the time. Which, to be fair, might. The local leader of the free galaxy couldn’t just sit wherever without it being analyzed. Heads turned around the board.

Morning, Kevin said. And how are you this fine morning?

Saida blinked at him. Fine morning? This is something you say on your world?

Yes.

I have never heard Alexy say it. Saida turned in her chair and shouted to Alexy who was hurriedly filling a tray with his breakfast. "Alexy, what is a fine morning?"

Alexy abandoned the buffet. "A fine morning?" His Russian tinged Magyar boomed across the room as he rushed to Saida’s side. Now heads really turned.

It’s an expression, Livy said. She shot a glare at Kevin. Leave it to him to toss out something goofy and disrupt the room. It means nice. It’s just a thing we say in English.

Asmund slid into the seat across from Jessie. Livy clenched her teeth as battle broke out for the spot on Saida’s other side. Alexy reached it before Lars could. All Alexy had grabbed for breakfast was a scoop of eggs and one of those red oranges.

I see. A morning pleasantry. Saida beamed. I am well this fine morning. How are you?

Great. I slept well. Kevin pushed his tray toward the middle of the table. I’ve been meaning to ask you, we were told we’d be able to get online from here. How do we do that exactly? If I don’t show up on Facebook every couple of days, my family is likely to send out the Mounties.

Saida stared at him, no doubt lost in the torrent of colloquialisms.

Kevin wants to know about communicating with Earth, Livy translated into Magyar for her.

This is easy. You have been communicating with Alexy for many years. Saida frowned.

We need to know how, Livy said. I would like to do it.

Saida held up a hand. It will be arranged. Today, you go to the western village and I will accompany you.

Good idea. Alexy leaned forward. We will see if there are any clues to the Venedae language.

No, you go to the eastern village. I will accompany Dr. Valens’ team. Saida speared a chunk of egg and ate it.

The eastern village, Alexy repeated.

Dr. Valens, I am interested to understand how you found the elevators. We have been searching for just such a thing since we arrived. Saida lifted the last bite of her eggs to her lips.

Livy squirmed. Alexy was apoplectic. He had to be. "Well, I saw those symbols on the table and, on the way to breakfast yesterday morning, I noticed