A Promise Remembered

By Michael Black

Dren was a warship with no more war, no more people and even no more living planets in the sector; his human companion was the last of her race; she would hold that title for only one week though, the radiation in her body ensured that. Before Nadeen died she made Dren promise to find a better way. When she did die Dren had no idea how to seek out a new life; so he reduced power and stayed beside her, in a deep mechanical slumber as the drifting sands covered them both...he didn't notice the big starship that crashed 300 years later with only 1000 survivors...

800 years later an unusual wind brought a young girl with uncertainties of her own to Dren; the chance meeting would change them forever...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michael Black
• Release date: Apr 7, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463487792

Michael Black

I was born in 1948, to two delightful parents, in Brockton, Massachusetts. From about 5 years old I knew I loved Science Fiction and Horror movies. I graduated from Braintree High School in 1966. The Military draft was going strong then, and since I didn't want to be conscripted, I joined the Naval Reserve the next year. From 1968 to 1970 i served on my first ship, going to the Mediterranean on one 6 month cruise, being released after my 2 year obligation. From 1970 to 1972 I did Weekend Warrior time on two reserve Destroyers once a month, and two weeks in the summer. Just before my enlistment was up, I found I liked the life of a sailor, and reenlisted in the regular Navy, for the remainder of a twenty year carreer.After that, I went to work for a private Ship Yard, and spent the next 24 years working on more Navy Ships, making much more money of course. I retired in 2016, and have been learning how to enjoy retirement ever since.

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A Promise Remembered

By Michael Black

Copyright 2019 Michael Black

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Authors Notes

Prologue

Nadeen stared at the horizon of this world; it didn’t even have a name, just navigational coordinates. The Sun was setting, and the beautiful colors made Nadeen feel more at peace with what was coming for her; she was dying, there was simply no escape from that inevitability. The intense radiation her body absorbed during the last battle had ensured that fate. It had been the last battle for everyone; there were just no more people on her home world; or on any other ships either, for there were no other ships anymore. Dren was the very last or his kind too; a warship with no more war to fight. He was a Reega Class hunter killer; and Nadeen sat under his bulk now, watching this beautiful sunset.

Dren had been the one to suggest landing here on this planet, for they had no ‘home’ to go to now; it was where Nadeen’s people sent all their ‘obsolete’ starships and Dren was definitely obsolete now with no more war. Even though he was rather new, fitted with the latest weapons, Dren no longer had a purpose; for even though there were no more enemies, the one reason for him to continue on was dying right underneath his hull, I wish I could go with you to the Other World’ Nadeen, it will be horrible to be alone. Putting me in stasis will help perhaps, but the silence will be hard. Will I dream, do you think?"

Nadeen managed a small laugh, Dren, I don’t know much about ships brains, but I do know that you and I have been bonded or 7 years now and I must tell you the truth. I simply don’t know; but I suspect that you will dream. I want them to be happy dreams; my friend, but with all the bad things that we have had to deal with in the war, I think there will be bad dreams in there too; try to focus on our few happy times together, not just the war. Nadeen laughed at that, but it turned into a heavy coughing fit; That is a silly thought, I know, but don’t you ever give up hope. I am biological, so dying is a part of me; but your life is mechanical, so you must be the one to continue on for both of us. There must be something other than conflict and killing; I know it deep down inside. You must find that other way of life; and when you do, you must cherish it and nurture it. Promise me that you will never give up; that you will find that better life… Dren told Nadeen that he would do it for her; it was all he could really say, but he had no idea how he could honor such a promise.

This planet, a graveyard of ships, was very far away from anything they knew…there were thousands of ships, parked close together on a massive plain, all with their ‘brains’ removed to continue on in other newer ships. But because they had been put in other ships of war, they were all dead now too. Dren had landed on the outer edge of the huge gathering of ghosts; one hundred yards from the closest one. There were no voices, only whispers of what had been.

***

Nadeen held on to life for 7 more days, her strength slipping away a little more each day. They watched the magnificent sunsets each day, and talked only of good times in their lives together. But by that seventh day Nadeen’s coughing was continuous, and she could barely lift her head to watch the sun set one more time. As Dren watched through the one external camera he kept focused on her, Dren heard her last words; barely a whisper, Dren, try to keep your promise; it is important. Her eyes closed, and the coughing stopped…

Dren didn’t feel emotions like Nadeen did, but he knew something went away inside of his housing just then; he could ‘feel it’. He watched Nadeen for a time, and then turned his attention to the sunset; he would watch for both of them one more time. When the sun had lowered below the horizon, Dren retracted the stairs and closed the boarding door, reducing all power on the ship to near zero; and he engaged stasis mode, effectively putting himself to sleep. His reactor was good for several thousand years. He would wait, for what he didn’t know; and while he wasn’t really aware of it, he did dream…

Planets have this pretty neat trick they do occasionally; they rearrange the topographical features a bit. Mountain ranges turn into flat plains; and flat plains become mountain ranges. This planet thought it would be nice to turn a massive grassy plain into a desert; so it let the winds have their way, and over the next hundred and fifty years the winds picked up tons of sand from the other side of the mountains, and deposited the sand on the great plain where the starships were. Slowly that plain became another desert, covering every one of the starships; including Dren. He didn’t notice it, since he was dreaming; but by three hundred years there was no evidence that mechanical devices had ever existed on this big floating rock in space.

At three hundred and thirteen years, one month and eleven days, a large colony ship crashed; nearer to the mountains but still on flat land. This ship came from another part of space entirely; it had 5000 people onboard, but only 1100 survived the crash. The command crew had tried to minimize the damage and loss of life, but the ship’s power was almost gone and it crashed rather hard. The survivors buried their comrades, and set up shop on the foothills of the mountain; they didn’t have a choice, with no ship they were stuck here whether they wanted to be or not. Slowly survivors became residents; and a society developed. It was a harsh environment, but these people managed to negotiate something of a truce with the planet, and it let them live.

Over the next 800 years knowledge was lost, or twisted into legends and myths; the colony ship was a twisted, smoldering wreck, and eventually it crumbled into dust, leaving no resources to draw on. The technological society devolved into a simpler, agrarian one, leaning more toward survival than science. The history of the settlers became a mixture of stories and fact, with the stories prevailing. In the end, the people thought they were on this planet as a punishment for some undisclosed misdeeds. The story got pretty bizarre for a time; until a young girl questioned it…

Chapter 1

Jaylee liked this time of day; the sun was touching the world way off in the West, and the colors changed as it dipped lower and lower; it was growing cooler too, always a good thing. Out here in her favorite vantage point, the colors danced across the sand dunes. Soon it would be dark, and she could watch the twinkling stars in the sky too; that always gave her a sense of peace. Tonight Jaylee needed some peace; she was sixteen now, and her mother had told her today that she was chosen to serve at the temple, and that frightened her. Being chosen as an acolyte was considered an honor by the people, but she just didn’t see it that way. All the chanting and prayers didn’t feel right; and Jaylee couldn’t shake the thought that it was all wrong.

So this is your hiding spot child. It is a nice view; I used to come out here every night too. Jaylee jumped up at the sudden voice; she knew that voice well, Master Walter, you frightened me; are you alright? The old High Priest laughed, a twinkle in his eye, Yes Jaylee, I am fine; I may be old now, but I can still walk out this far to ‘our’ favorite place to think. Tell me what troubles you child; I can see that all is not well in your world this evening.

The last thing Jaylee wanted to do was bare her soul to Master Walter; but she couldn’t just tell him to go away and leave her alone. Besides, she really liked the old priest; he always conducted the weekly services like a town meeting, speaking plainly what he thought and asking for people to speak their mind. Unlike the lower priests, who just chanted and read words out of the Great Book, Master Walter gave an honest interpretation of the words. It was the biggest reason Jaylee liked him; He didn’t ‘throw’ words at you, he asked you to ‘think’ about them; I’m not sure I can describe the feelings inside me Master; I know all the words in the Great Book, and have memorized all the responses, but every time I think of the words they seem wrong to me.

Jaylee half expected the old priest to get angry for her questioning the holy words within the Great Book; what she never expected was Master Walter laughing hysterically for over a minute, Young Jaylee, I suspect it may surprise you to know that I have questioned the Great Book all my life, and every word in it. I have chosen you expressly to ‘know’ your views on the book, not to change those views. Now that I am Master in the temple, I have read another book that no one else even knows about and I want your views on those words. It was in the old Master’s chamber when I took it over after his death; but for now, let us enjoy the stars, shall we?

They spent three hours just watching the stars, making animals and people out of different groups across the sky. Jaylee tried to focus on the stars, but couldn’t help but think of this mysterious book that Master Walter had. What magical words would be inside that book…the two walked the two miles back to the small town rather late, and Jaylee’s mother was about to scold her for being out so long after dark; but seeing Master Walter walking with Jaylee prevented that outburst fast. The old priest further surprised the woman by telling her that Jaylee would be his personal assistant beginning tomorrow; then abruptly rose and bid them a good night. Jaylee’s mom was too astounded to even utter another word; her daughter was not only honored by the temple, she was now to be the High Priest’s personal assistant. She was beaming the pride she felt for her daughter the rest of the night…

***

Jaylee woke before the sun came up, washed and combed out her hair; she put on the best tunic she had, made sure it was positioned just right, and walked to the Temple. She managed not to run; but had anyone seen her they would have known she was excited. At the Temple gate the night ‘protector’ smiled knowingly at Jaylee, "I haven’t seen this much enthusiasm in several years from a new acolyte. Go directly to the Master’s chamber Jaylee, he has checked twice