Guardian of Our Stars

By Danielle Gao

You always thought you knew what they looked like: big black eyes, green skin, three or six-fingered but never five.

When cousins Bree and Quinn uncover a small facility building in the woods, they didn’t expect it would be occupied—not to mention by human-like beings who call themselves Minervans. Their discovery brings them on a perilous journey across space to visit a doomed planet. Along the way, they meet robots, hear mysterious tales, and see strange new worlds. Completely unanticipated, Bree and Quinn find out how their everyday lives are tied to the ancient aliens across the galaxy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 20, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796015812

Danielle Gao

Danielle Gao started writing at age nine after an exciting first place win in a writing competition. She published her first novel in elementary school. Thankfully, she is still a student in Massachusetts. Danielle lives with her two birds, and the rest of her family. Other than reading and writing, she spends her time playing piano and tennis.

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Copyright © 2019 by Danielle Gao.

ISBN:              Softcover              978-1-7960-1580-5

                        eBook                   978-1-7960-1581-2

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 02/18/2019

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CONTENTS

Part One   Guardians

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Part Two   Origins

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Epilogue

PART ONE

Guardians

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CHAPTER 1

T HE RAYS OF sunlight flickered on the road while the trees bent to the breeze. Quinn’s feet padded on the smooth asphalt layer. Mine shook droplets off the blades of grass that darkened my shoes with water. An occasional car would shake the ground, warning us, then thundering past at great speed. The humidity made our hair stick to the backs of our necks.

Did you know that one of the cosmonauts claimed that aliens came to Earth to stop a nuclear war against Russia? Quinn asked.

How do you know?

I pick up a lot from here and there. He shrugged and didn’t say anything else. I shifted the weight of my bag to my other shoulder. We then walked in silence. The wind from a passing car blew strands of hair from my face. In short time we turned onto our street.

Do you think Uncle Barry will be home? Quinn stared into the trees.

I don’t know, I thought for a moment, He probably isn’t. I searched for the key under the rose bushes. Quinn smirked, At least you didn’t hide it under the welcome mat.

I didn’t know you knew a better place. I tossed him the key. Quinn dropped it into is pocket. I scowled as he took it out again to unlock the door.

You’ll probably lose- I stopped. He held up a finger to silence me. He listened.

Nope, he’s probably out.

Why don’t you look inside? I asked. It was Quinn’s turn to scowl at me. The floor creaked in places when I placed my feet on them. Quinn took out his binders and started upstairs. I looked around the last time and followed.

The next hour was spent on filling out bubbles on the practice sheet for the upcoming science test. The sky was dark when I stretched to soothe the ache in my back. Sitting so long had taken its toll. I got up to walk down to Quinn’s room, a literal lab, but decided against it.

Instead, I thought of fixing dinner. If Uncle Barry wouldn’t come back soon, there wouldn’t be any dinner until 9, plus it would save him some work.

I flipped through my mental cookbook as I sprinted down the stairs.

Hello? Someone murmured. I froze.

Uncle Barry…, I stretched a smile across my face. He didn’t look too well. Where have you been? Confusion flitted across his face. Nevermind. I muttered.

The fridge was almost empty when I sorted through it. I turned to look at him over my shoulder, he was staring right through me. I shuddered and grabbed a pack of instant noodles.

It wasn’t until the water was boiling did Quinn smell the tasty aroma and came to join me downstairs.

What’s up with him? He whispered, tilting his head toward the milky-eyed man.

I think it’s the ‘out of this world’ thing again. I stirred the noodles in. Quinn eyed him warily, afraid the same thing would happen as the first time.

I shook the flavoring packet over the giant pot and stirred again.

Noodles are ready! I called upstairs.

Noodles…, Uncle murmured. When I turned Quinn was right beside me. I jumped.

I was just over there, sorry. He nodded to the other room.

We ate in silence, sortof, with the occasional slurp and murmurs from Uncle.

Kids, I’ll order pizza tomorrow ‘k? He said.

I stopped mid-chew, surprised.

Quinn nodded, That’s fine.

When everyone just about finished up, Uncle Barry stood, I’ll clean up here, you guys go work on your homework. He smiled. Quinn and I ran upstairs.

Quinn! I whispered, "Did you see him change?"

Yeah,

I know, it’s freaky. Quinn thought about something for a moment.

Well, see you. He said as he backed to his room.

I studied some more until the lids of my eyes threatened to put me to sleep.

Quinn looked up when I creaked open the door.

Uh, you should sleep, it’s really late, I pointed out. He yawned.

Couldn’t agree more, I’ve only got a few more things to do, He pointed to his poster.

‘Kay, I said, already halfway out the door. I stumbled back to my room. The fatigue was really getting to me now. I could hear the faint noises of the TV when I fell asleep as soon as my head touched my pillow.

Jungle sounds reached my ears as I sat up in a soft bed of moss. I looked around. Strange bugs crawled up and down thick trees. The bark was a darker shade than the normal backyard trees and the leaves, a brighter green. Laughter echoed through the forest. A man was chuckling as he ran towards me. He had crinkles around his dark eyes and a stubble of a beard.

Come here my sweet girl! He exclaimed with open arms. At first I thought he was talking to me but then I heard another, higher, laugh. I turned. It was coming from a girl that looked 7 years old. Her golden hair bounced around her as she ran into the man’s arms. But she touched nothing. I reached out.

The man fell back, tumbling into the abyss that appeared out of nowhere. His eyes were lifeless when I got one last glance at him.

The girl cried. I shuddered as the image of the girl hunched over with her hands covering her face faded away.

I jumped out of bed as the shrill beep of the alarm ended when my fist made contact with the top.

Oh no. I muttered, after glancing at the digital flashing numbers. I tripped over almost everything as I threw on some new clothes and shoved my toothbrush around in my mouth.

I pounded my fist on Quinn’s door as I passed on the way downstairs.

Uncle Barry was waiting at the table.

Why didn’t you call me? I mumbled as I hastily poured cereal into two bowls.

You wouldn’t have woken up even if I dropped a piano on your head.

Can we try? I heard Quinn ask enthusiastically, appearing next to me. I rolled my eyes as I tossed the carton of milk at him.

I scooted in next to Jessica, just as the bus lurched forward.

You awake? I poked her face and she playfully tried to bite my finger off.

No, She yawned. Been studying for that stupid social studies test all night.

Yeah.

I don’t see a point in it though, studying things like Mars, it’s not like I’m ever going to go there, She hugged herself and examined the frost on the window.

I don’t either. I laughed and pulled out Tetris for the rest of the way.

Almost every time the new shiny school presented itself before my eyes, I had to take a moment to realize I wasn’t in the wrong place.

That’s so weird, Jessica yawned again, hopping off the bus. You’d think that you would get used to it by now.

Well it wasn’t that long ago since the renovation. I pointed out.

Either way, I’m still getting lost. She joked.

I’ll see you in Social Studies. I laughed and headed off to first period.

There weren’t any classes with big tests other than Social Studies and a small pop quiz in Chinese. So nothing to worry about. Not much to occupy my mind with. The day flew by as I worried about Uncle Barry. I couldn’t think of anything that would make him so blurred.

The teacher cleared his throat. Er, is anything wrong Bree? Please answer the question.

Ohh I know! Jessica waved her hand in the air and gave the answer, he sighed and turned around to write it on the board. Jessica winked at me. I saw Quinn sigh too. He would’ve made a great teacher.

Is everyone ready for the test? His hand was poised in the air ready to erase the review. Okay then, take everything off your desk and you may begin.

The test was incredibly similar to the practice test.

Read the question, think, fill out bubble, check, again!

I paused for some difficult questions that would take me a moment to remember from my studyings, or if I even did remember at all.

It was insanely quiet compared to the loud hustle and bustle before the class in the hallway. So quiet, the sound of papers rustling and pencils squeaking were magnified.

And of course almost everyone was sick, sniffling and coughing. I wondered if Uncle Barry had caught some strange disease, it was possible. Last page, I sighed.

I reluctantly handed in my papers, always feeling something was missing, and watched everyone else hand in theirs. Only a select few people were smug though. James, one of the smartest kids in the school, my brother, always confident in his grades, and the new girl from Math.

Abigail, I think. She’d mentioned her trip from London when the math teacher introduced her.

I wouldn’t expect Mr. Birkin, our social studies teacher, to introduce Abigail. He’d rather glare at our incompetent heads over his glasses. But he was in a particularly good mood today. I don’t know what got to him. Just then the bell rang. I grabbed my stuff to go home.

So, how’d you do on your test? I asked.

He yawned, Was a Breeze.

Aw c’mon, stop boasting, everybody knows you’re the whiz kid.

I know that too. He smirked. I sighed.

As always, we turned onto our street and walked up to our house.

Do you have the key? Quinn asked.

Uh, I thought you had it… I stopped. Quinn tried the handle.

Nope.

Seriously, you lost it? I demanded.

I’m just a human too! He explained, shrugging.

I thought you said you were above human. I muttered.

What?

Nevermind, let’s try the back. I suggested. As we trudges through the grass, along the side of our house, a thought struck me.

Wait, didn’t Uncle Barry say he’d stay home today? I looked up.

BANG! We both jumped and ran back to where we came from. Uncle Barry was just out the door and racing down the street while holding his knit cap to his head.

Wait! I called, but he didn’t seem to hear. A gust of wind blew around me and when I looked again, he was gone.

Quinn looked around, At least he left the door open, in the hurry he was in…

Where do you think he went? I wondered.

I… have no idea. Quinn slumped.

I just hope Uncle will be back soon.

For the rest of the afternoon, every noise sent us jumping out of our skins. And we did just that when the doorbell rang. I yelped. Quinn’s footsteps pattered down the stairs as he rushed to open the door, I followed hastily.

Standing there in the rain was a pizza deliverer looking like he had made the wrong decision to come to work today.

Cheese pizza? the drenched man asked. Quinn and I exchanged looks. We had both expected it to be Uncle Barry.

Yep, how much? I winced. Of course, we didn’t have any money.

It’s already paid for, he sighed, probably hoping for a tip and plopped the box into Quinn’s arms. Enjoy.

We were just sitting down around the pizza when the doorbell rang again. Hopeful, Quinn and I dashed to the door once more. But it wasn’t Uncle Barry.

Wait, woah, Abigail? What are you doing here? I flustered.

Hey, may I step inside? she asked casually, as if visiting an almost-stranger at 6pm was normal for her.

We let her in, closing the door behind her. She held up her hand when I tried to talk.

I can explain, but I’m afraid we don’t have much time. She paused. Your uncle isn’t here.

No, we were sorta hoping you would know where, since you seem to know everything right now.