CREATOR'S CHILDREN THE RISE OF ASTWIHAD

By Valerie Welsh

A deadly evil, unwittingly created, slaughters the Tridents, a peaceful race in the Deneb star system. Not satisfied, it seeks out all life with one purpose, total annihilation and its next target is Earth. Galaxie, Guardian of the Milky Way and an immortal, races to Earth to beg the help of a small group

• Language: English
• Publisher: Valerie Welsh
• Release date: Nov 26, 2021
• ISBN: 9781087990347

Book preview

CREATOR’S CHILDREN: THE RISE OF ASTWIHAD

By: VALERIE WELSH

CREATOR’S CHILDREN THE RISE OF ASTWIHAD

COVER by V.LERIE WELSH

Copyright © 2017 by Valerie Welsh

Editors: Kathryn Swanson and Robert Welsh

All rights reserved in all media No part of this book may be used or reproduced without written permission This is a work of fiction .All names, characters, locations and incidences are products of the authors imagination and any resemblance to actual people, places or events is coincidental or fictionalized

ISBN: 978-1-0879-9033-0

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to my longtime friend, Betty Taylor, who has seen me and my family through good times and bad. Thank you for selflessly taking care of our son when he had back surgery.

CONTENTS

CONTENT

content

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank my husband for his ongoing love and support and for his editing of this book. I would like to thank my editor,

Kathryn Swanson. I would like to thank my sons who believed in me and my mother who beamed with pride every time I talked about my writing.

~Chapter One~

Galaxie Guardianof the Milky Way glanced at her sister Tesla Guardian of the Andromeda galaxy as they stood in the massive crystal common room of the Council building Another Gathering ends and the Council didn’t choose anyone to bear a child We know of at least two new galaxies ready to be born so why haven’t they chosen someone?

The Universal Gathering occurring once every five hundred thousand years allowed the Guardians to share with the Sesheta Council their galaxies progress The soli tary Sesheta looked forward to visiting with family and friends during this time At the conclusion of each gather ing the Council would choose a guardianwho would bear a daughter to oversee a new galaxy

While the Sesheta attended the Universal Gather ing their partners beings called Lathevains continued to record their galaxys history Galaxie and her partner

by: VALERIE WELSH

Solana carried the responsibility for overseeing and re cording the Milky Way from its birth to its death

Galaxie looked around at all her fellow Sesheta In teresting those who have become corporeal and returned to their energy form are interacting in groups while those who have not taken on corporeal form yet are standing by themselves

Flicking tiny bolts of lightning at the floor Tesla ig nored Galaxie’s chatter You and I are not standing alone

True However you would prefer I left you alone wouldn’t you? Galaxie shook her head When the Council chose you to become corporeal and bear a daughter at the last gathering why did you turn them down?

Tesla shrugged her flaming shoulders throwing sparks all around her None of the males in my galaxy in terested me They never have Becoming corporeal would not change anything

No one has ever turned the Council down before Until you I did not know we could

The Perth galaxy Guardianfloated by the two sis ters Hi GalaxieTesla She continued  on joining aamgoing conversation in the middle of the circular room

Hello Charm Galaxie chimed back

Tesla did not respond instead she looked around the massive crystal room at the other Guardians She watched as a young Sesheta who had been born without a galaxy handed each Guardiana tiny diamond They placed the diamond in the flames surrounding their heads then disappeared one by one

CREATOR’S CHILDREN: THE RISE OF ASTWIHAD

Galaxie’s thoughts whirled How could no one have interested her? I see someone or something that interests me all the time

Before Galaxie could ask her sister any more ques tions the young Sesheta appeared and handed them each a small diamond She placed her diamond into the flames crowning her head Report to the Council chambers at once the diamond chimed

All of the questions she had wanted to ask her sister fled from her mind With a burst of lightning Galaxie touched Tesla’s hand I believe I may have finally been chosen! I have to leave She vanished

Tesla looked down at her now empty hand sur prised by Galaxie’s fleeting touch

Charm talking with her friends glanced in surprise at Galaxie’s energy burst she turned back to the group Galaxie’s been chosen If I didn’t know any better I’d say she had taken on corporeal form already

True enough To my knowledge she is unique among us Maybe her Lathevain Solana has rubbed off on her Deign from the Boll galaxy trilled

Perhaps her Trichinas father is the reason?

Charm suggested

You speak true She has emotions small though they are However does it matter where they came from? I am more concerned with Galaxie’s sister Tesla Who ever heard of one of our kind refusing the change? Vidiaof the Golgotha galaxy chimed

Tesla is the Councils problem Charm chirped

by: VALERIE WELSH

Deign took a diamond from the young Sesheta "In my opinion Galaxie’s behavior has to do with her Lathe vain Solana has always been unusual Her emotions are more heightened compared to others of her kind Most Lathevain have emotions but they are minor and serene similar to the way Galaxie is now That is until the change affects their Guardian" All three friends nodded in agree ment remembering their own change

The three received their diamonds listened to its message and vanished from the room with fond farewells

Tesla looked around the room again as more and more guardians winked out Looking down at the diamond in her hand she thought I wanted to talk to Galaxie about a Trichinas living in her galaxy Oh well Placing the diamond into the energy surrounding her head she heard The Universal Gathering is over Thank you for attending Tesla vanished returning to her home

Flaring bright dimming only to flare again Gal axie’s female form comprised of electric energy and lightning shimmered in blinding intensity She floated above the emeraldsharing platform within the Sesheta Council Chambers casting a brilliant hue of yellow and blue  on  the  diamond  floor  around  her Where  are they? Great bolts of lightning shot from her and exploded against the platform and floor of the massive chamber as she waited for the council members to appear

The members of the Council stood just outside the door This is a horrible day  Pearlfire fretted causing sparks to whirl around her in a dizzying spiral

She’s so young Jadefire trilled

The sound of sticks on drums reverberated up and down the expansive hallway "Alright ladies let’s keep this

CREATOR’S CHILDREN: THE RISE OF ASTWIHAD

short and just deliver the good news When Galaxie gets home she will discover soon enough what has happened and come to her own conclusions She has a great deal to face and to do However Creator believes she is up to the task and we are to let her handle this situation herself" Mistress Jasperfire leader of the Sesheta Council blinked out of the hallway

≈≈≈≈≈

The crystal room Galaxie occupied spanned aninfi nite amount of space and held a massive holographic library containing all the knowledge of the universe

Each time Galaxie came before the Sesheta Council to present her observations she hoped they would choose her to bear the new guardianThe chosen guardianwould separate a piece of herself from the whole and take on cor poreal form to find a mate All those chosen had returned to their energy form after bearing a new guardianexcept for Galaxies mother Nova

Galaxie considered herself different from her Sesheta sisters as she looked forward to becoming corpo real and did not intend to reincorporate into her energy state To actually touch feel taste and smell instead of just observe had her energy burning bright

The massive crystal chamber filled with the sound of crashing thunder as the twelve Council members ap peared on the ruby platforms forming a half circle before Galaxie She fought to restrain her energy flares and show respect Lightning arced off each member of the Council exploding against the floor of the chamber

Mistress Jasperfire communicating with the sound of drums announced Galaxie you have waited a long

by: VALERIE WELSH

time for this day so I will not draw this out You may now become corporeal and take a mate"

Galaxies  energy  flared  bright and    lightning crashed off her at the news She barely registered her and the Council were the only ones in the council chambers as her thoughts raced Finally! What will I do first? What form will I take? Which race will I choose? Will I find a mate? Maybe I will take a mate from among the Dolphins of earthor perhaps a Grail from the planet Diniti?

Silverfires haunting flute interrupted her thoughts A guardianis required for a new galaxy

As you well know young one Opalfire chimed in bells ringing this is a great honor

Galaxie forced her energy to dim in respect though only managing to maintain the dimness for a moment be fore flaring bright again

As a rule everyone would have joined us and we would have a ceremony for you to celebrate this special time Mistress Jasperfire added seriousness coloring her drum beat however you are needed at home so we have ended the Gathering early You must leave now With that decree the Council disappeared with a great crash of thun der

Galaxie puzzled by the Council’s cryptic words vanished from the chambers and reappeared home

Upon her return to the center of the Milky Way she noticed her coguardianSolana’s absence and wanting to share her good news with her partner she called for her Hearing a pained roar from near the Deneb system Galaxie sliced through time and space and found her partner in great  distress  Solanas color usually a  deep  iridescent

CREATOR’S CHILDREN: THE RISE OF ASTWIHAD

purple now appeared pale lavender Galaxie knew Solana had seen many disasters occur stars burn out entire spe cies die off and war wreak havoc yet never had she shown such distress

Solana saw Galaxie and roared again Her multicol ored eyes swirled with pain and fear Galaxie reached out with soothing energy wrapping herself around Solanas great muzzle

"What? What has happened? Galaxie’s voice chimed in a series of soft musical notes

Solana shuddered down the length of her long leanbody as her tail lashed in agitation Galaxie enveloped her in energy until the great beast grew calm and some of her strength returned

Solanas voice boomed from within the giant glow ing orb resting between her spiral horns The Trident race is destroyed!

Galaxie shrank away in shock Releasing her friend her energy dimmed "No! I have not been gone long and I left everything in order

Solana hung her head her voice so soft Galaxie had to strain to catch the words Just after you left for the Uni versal Gathering I noticed a strange ripple in space in the Deneb star system Once I figured out the ripple originated near the moon Toad I went to investigate Using a worm hole to reach Deneb space I encountered a strange energy field within the wormhole near Toad Solanas voice be came stronger and she looked Galaxie in the eye Despite my concern I entered the field

Solana trembled hanging her head once more Her voice softened "The energy surrounded and trapped me

by: VALERIE WELSH

pulling  from  every  direction I struggled with  all my strength and  after what seemed  forever I managed  to throw myself from the wormhole I landed in the Androm eda galaxy But  a tiny piece  of my  body stayed in the wormhole due to the force I exerted to get free

Galaxie gasped What? A Lathevain has never been injured You cannot get injured!

Solana twisted her long neck around and licked her tail Galaxie saw a ragged tear oozing black blood The cut wont stop bleeding Solana whimpered

Galaxie understood Solana’s pain wasn’t physical She leaned against her friend once more sending ripples of energy across her muzzle and down her neck to sooth her

Thank you Galaxie You should know when I flew from the wormhole I left a long trail of blood from the Andromeda galaxy all the way back here I didnt want to return via a wormhole just in case the danger was wide spread"

I will take care of the blood trail do not worry Galaxie’s  energy gently stroked Solanas  long slender neck Please continue with your story

Solana took a deep shuddering breath I returned to the Deneb system where I found the majority of the Tri dent people dead Opening her jaws wide she threw back her head and roared with grief Almost anentire racegone in aninstant!

Galaxie shook her fiery head causing a shower of sparks to fall over Solana This just cannot happen Could I have done something? Anything I should have done? She thought

CREATOR’S CHILDREN: THE RISE OF ASTWIHAD

Solana continued When I went  to  the capital planet I discovered a strange alien species Everything else in the system had been laid to waste

Galaxie found herself disturbed for the first time in her existence She only just took in what Solana had said

How could analien race infiltrate my galaxy without our knowledge?"

A giant tear rolled down Solana’s face and into her shimmering white beard as she hung her head in grief

Realizing her friend needed time to recover Gal axie wrapped her arms of energy around Solana’s neck and hugged her pretending a bravery she didnt feel You rest while I cleanup the blood trail When I finish I will take a look at the Deneb system of today and then travel into the past and see what has happened

Solana followed Galaxie to the Deneb system and stood forlornly beside her I wish you didn’t have to see this The devastation is horrific

Thank you for your concern my friend but as you know my responsibility is to share this information with the Council Therefore I need to see for myself everything that has happened She systematically searched for life among the many planets and  moons surprised  to find each one empty

She discovered all the space stations and satellites gone and the once beautiful cultivated planets reduced to dirt and rubble Every planet is barrencompletely void of plantsanimals and people Where are the starships and gleaming crystal cities reaching to the sky? Where is the bustle of activity making everything so exciting to watch? Now everywhere she looked Galaxie saw charred ruins and destruction

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Solana’s head hung down in shame I am so sorry I could not stop this

Galaxie embraced Solana with her energy Please do not blame yourself This is not your fault

Galaxie released her friend and turned to the capi tal planet Acropolis where the Trident government had resided Solana you told me analien life form lived here? I do not see anything alienShe looked again and gasped They have no spark! No wonder I could not see them How cansomething exist Creator did not touch?"

The life form she looked upon had anoffensive and strange appearance not resembling any particular species known within the Trident system Over half a bil lion of the alien beings now inhabited the capital city Atlas However the number increased daily through clon ing a process which continued around the clock From their appearance they did not come from outside our gal axy

No they came from right in this system

Galaxie noted some Tridents still lived on Atlas in large prison complexes The once beautiful city was com pletely devastated She counted a little over five hundred million men women and children sitting listless and silent in their cells She became disquieted and puzzled as she realized all the people had limbs missing

Galaxie looked across the planet Why have they shuttled the animals to Acropolis from all over the star sys tem?

The world of once luxuriant cultivated gardens now lay choked beneath dust and weeds As though its beauty hid in grief

CREATOR’S CHILDREN: THE RISE OF ASTWIHAD

Spaceships of all sizes lay strewn across one hun dred square miles of the desolate landscape Galaxie gazed at the activity "Why are they modifying the Tridents ships They have won the war so what could be the point in mak ing more ships?

They are not even using their prisoners to help them Solana noted

Galaxie watched for a long time as the clones worked to transform the Trident ships Her eyes wid ened They are near interstellar flight! They could break away from this planetary system and travel to another one soon

Solana turning  to Galaxie shuddered in revul sion We cannot allow that to happen

Galaxie nodded in agreement as she observed a gi ant black  crystal space  station  in  orbit  above  the planet How strangeshe thought

Realizing she would not find the necessary answers in the present Galaxie turned to the past with a heavy heart

Solana nudged  Galaxie  with  her  head May  I watch?

Of course my friend Using the Deneb system of the present as their anchor Galaxie opened a portal to the river of time We must use caution so as not to cause a ripple She enveloped Solana in a blanket of energy hold ing her close Moving into the river they became shadowy observers of the past hoping to find the truth about what happened

by: VALERIE WELSH

~Chapter Two~

As they  traversed  backwards  in  time Galaxie pulled history from the flow of the river to record in her archives Searching for the catalyst resulting in the de struction  of  the  Tridents she  remembered  the  most peaceful people she had ever known

The Tridents had numbered more thanthirtyfour billion populating ten planets and seventy moons Anad vanced race technologically they also valued the natural world around them This balanced knowledge enabled the Tridents to extend their lifespanto onethousand Deneb years  with no  illness experiencing  youth  and  vitality throughout their entire lives

Saddened by all the loss Galaxie shook her head and turned back to the task of discovering what had hap pened to the Tridents

As Galaxie slowed their travel backward in time Solana asked Why have you chosen to start your search here?

Do you remember the decree the Trident govern ment passed concerning Trident DNA manipulation? Galaxie queried

CREATOR’S CHILDREN: THE RISE OF ASTWIHAD

Yes of course Scientists led by Faryn Kepler ma nipulated the DNA of a group of biologists to disastrous results The goal had been to give the biologists underwa ter abilities to harvest the bottom of their oceanHowever instead of breathing underwater the biologists became in tolerant of any form of fluids whether internal or external and their organs shut down causing them all to die painful deaths

Correct Galaxie said Keplers colleagues turned on him for his ruthlessness pointing at him when the gov ernment stepped in after the needless deaths Galaxie shook her head throwing sparks everywhere

With the strangeness of these creatures and the timing and severity of the problems Faryn Kepler caused we will start here Galaxie and Solana stepped out of the river of time when they reached Faryn’s lab after the death of the biologists

I don’t like that man Solana noted

Kepler blocked the door of his lab legs spread wide his arms crossed at his chest and his chin jutting out "This is my lab! You are not welcome!"

Solana whispered to Galaxie I have always ad mired the Trident’s physical design short and slim with males four feet tall and females three feet

Galaxie agreed Yes I also find the hands at the end of all four limbs particularly efficient Their long fingers and thumbs are dexterous although they only use their two hind limbs for mobility

The lead Protector slapped a data pad displaying their warrant against Kepler’s chest "The government has

by: VALERIE WELSH

passed a  decree forbidding Trident DNA  manipulation This lab is terminated and all materials confiscated"

The Protector pushed Kepler aside Lets get to work men I want everything out of here today

Kepler ignored the legal document He rushed after the Protectors as they filed into the room and begandis mantling everything one piece at a time

A Protector picked up Kepler’s energy machine and jumped in surprise when Kepler grabbed the machine and shouted I made that! Its my personal property!

The Protector snatched the small icosahedrons box back from Kepler Not anymore! He stabbed his finger at the data pad in Keplers hand Read the paperwork Eve rything in this lab is to be destroyed

Kepler paled and screamed Thats not fair! I have done nothing wrong! The government has no right to do this! He looked toward his fellow scientists attempting to include them in his tirade however they all backed away from him

Galaxie and Solana exchanged surprised glances and looked back at Faryn He is quite unbalanced Galaxie whispered in surprise

Faryn continued to rant but no one listened The government is overstepping their bounds people! They arent scientists What could they know about what were doing here? Kepler continued to shout as his fellow scien tists left the room one by one "The deaths of the biologists were a minor setback given time II mean we we canovercome"

No one else shared Faryns opinion and the Protec tors shut down his lab despite his incessant protests He

CREATOR’S CHILDREN: THE RISE OF ASTWIHAD

lost his job and position as well as the machine he had built finding himself forbidden from practicing science of any kind for the rest of his life

Galaxie and Solana watched the scientists who had been working on the DNA project slink away Solana cocked her head Faryn’s behavior is not a Trident’s be havior Galaxie nodded her attention on Faryn You are right I am distressed to look upon a lunatic among the Tri dent people They have always cared about life and each other yet Faryn does not

The Trident race had focused their considerable talents on horticulture from plant propagation breeding and genetic engineering to plant biochemistry physiology and crop production To see him wanting to alter Trident DNA with so little regard for the consequences is distress ing Solana whipped her tail in agitation

Galaxie and Solana moved forward a month and stepped from the river of time into Keplers living room He lived in the city Zeus on the planet Acropolis He sat alone in the dark mumbling "What are a few lives in comparison to the furtherance of science? Dont they understand risks are required for greatness?"

Faryn sat up in his seat his eyes wide Ive wanted this all along Ive needed free of them for years now I just didnt see it before Regaining his confidence and embold ened by his supreme arrogance he stood and beganto pace Galaxie stood still as Faryn walked right through her "I needed to leave those imbeciles behind anyway They were only holding me back Ill show them Im the greatest scientist ever By the time Im finished theyll beg me to come back"

Faryn paced back and forth as he thought coming to a decision he headed for the video  link to contact a

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realtor Ill sell this dwelling consolidate all my posses sions and set up my own lab!

Having always been frugal Faryn had amassed a large fortune which had never interested him before now Once he made up his mind he quickly moved ahead

Galaxie shook her head I should have noticed Kep lers madness before Looking at Solana she asked This is what we have been searching for

Yes we should move forward from here"

They watched as Faryn Kepler bought supplies and equipment through legal and not so legal means He chose a tiny uninhabited moon called Toad on the outer rim of the star system for his lab Many varieties of dangerous plants animals and insects inhabited this moon A large oceandominated the surface of the planet with a scatter ing of tiny islands A river the only fresh water ranthrough the main land mass The temperature usually hit the one hundred twenty degree mark every day with almost one hundred percent humidity A great deal of thick yellow and orange vegetation stunted trees and thorny bushes covered the land Due to the temperature and dangerous wildlife attempts at colonization proved impractical

After settling on a location for his lab Faryn sold his palatial apartment and moved into a tiny rental He spent a week researching lab technicians working throughout the Trident worlds zeroing in on two Am Doser and Kelp Taget After memorizing the lab tech’s information he rubbed his hands together jumped up and headed for the door Two stupid peons just what I need Their lack of in telligence makes them perfect for my plans

Solana shuddered in revulsion at his gleeful tone

CREATOR’S CHILDREN: THE RISE OF ASTWIHAD

The two partners followed Faryn as he sought out Kelp at a drinking establishment called Demolish on the planet Delta in the city of Hemera A popular bar located on the main floor of a gleaming one hundredstory crystal building Demolish could seat one thousand people and shared space with restaurants and shops Apartments oc cupied the other ninetynine floors above

Galaxie admired the crystal architecture of the Tri dents as Faryn landed on the roof of Demolish and zipped his shuttle in a spot just as someone left cutting off a young male who had been waiting to occupy that space

The Trident star system had anabundance of a crystal quartz substance called Trizerasite or TZS The Tri dents used this to make all manner of things from starships to buildings Within the cities all housing con sisted of twenty fifty or one hundred story apartment buildings made of TZS Only Farmers and the wealthy lived in singlefamily dwellings far from the cities No other species in my galaxy had the ability to work with crystal as the  Tridents  did Galaxie  sighed her  energy  sagging against Solana’s massive shoulder

They were brilliant Solana whispered

Faryn strode toward the elevator which would take him down to the bar He instructed the computer Close the doors immediately and take me to the first floor ig noring anelderly couple who waved and shouted for him to hold the door

In  the  bar small robots called  cubebots darted about dispensing drinks and food while wiping down ta bles and clearing away debris The friendly brightcolored bots had six thin retractable metal arms and hovered three inches above the ground

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Faryn spotted the overweight Kelp lounging in a booth at the back of the room and strode toward him grab bing a drink off the tray of a passing cubebot Kelp sat focused on the video screen in front of him intent on the game he played A large pile of tubers and a tall glass of Pirouette a fruity cocktail sat untouched beside the video screen Faryn sat down and sipped his purloined drink waiting for Kelp to notice him

Galaxie and Solana watched from behind Kelps seat and listened

Looking up from the video screen Kelp jumped when he saw the scientist He had never met Faryn Kepler but had seen him on the news vids Kelp’s butter yellow skin paled and his gold eyes widened in surprise as he rec ognized who sat across from him

Hello Kelp Faryn ranhis finger around the rim of his glass How are you?

Kelp looked Faryn up and down noting his pure white skin and long dull brown hair and eyes Faryns clothes wrinkled and all black hung on his thin frame

Solana  tilted  her  head Most  Trident  people dress in mixed colors I have never seen black on a Trident before now

Galaxie nudged her Shhh

Kelp whispered Im fine Clearing his throat he spoke up What do you want?

Faryn who wasnt good at small talk blurted out

Do you want to make double your current salary?

CREATOR’S CHILDREN: THE RISE OF ASTWIHAD

Kelp sat up a little straighter sneering What are you talking about? I heard all about your crash and burn How could you have anything to offer me?

Faryn lied I bought the moon Toad and Im planning on starting my own business Im just looking for two or three people to join me and maybe get rich He sipped his drink and relaxed as if he had all the time in the world

What kind of business could you start? Kelp shot back as he leaned away from Faryn throwing his arm over the back of his seat

Forget it If youre not interested Im not going to tell you my ideas Faryn downed his drink and rose as if to leave

Kelp stopped him with a raised hand Wait a mi nute what if I am interested? he whined leaning forward

If that’s the case come with me now to my rental and well talk further

What happened to your big fancy house? Kelp jeered still trying to assert some authority over Faryn whom he considered beneath him

I sold my family home to start this business you halfwit Faryn turned on a dime his head held high and headed out without looking back

Kelp paused downed his drink and followed They both rode the elevator in silence to the roof and climbed into Faryns ship Once underway Faryn turned to Kelp I have to make a short stop He landed on top of the apart ment building where Am lived without waiting for a response

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Faryn swung around in his seat and looked at Kelp

You know Am dont you? Isnt this his building?

YYeah Kelp said hesitantly

Why dont you come and introduce me to him? I want to make him the same offer Im making you Faryn stood and strode from the ship heading for the elevator knowing Kelp would follow

Kelp frowned feeling confused and out of his depth He reluctantly followed Faryn

Ams building stood across from Demolish and just a block away from Kelps apartment Kelp rang the chime while Faryn hung back a little A slender handsome male dressed in a flowered pink and blue shirt and baggy red and white striped shorts answered the door Kelp! Come on in buddy

Obsessed with his looks health and attractiveness to females Am had no problems getting a dateat least not a first date However he rarely could convince the young female to give him a second date as he had no personality Boring and unimaginative it didnt take a female long to decide to end things

As he opened the door wide Am noticed Faryn who pushed past Kelp and entered the tworoom apart ment Thanks for the invitation Am Faryn said

Kelp shrugged and followed Faryn They found themselves in a tiny three hundred square foot sparsely furnished  space A livingdiningbedroom  combination and bathroom rounded out the space

Am asked Kelp in a loud whisper What are you do ing with him?

CREATOR’S CHILDREN: THE RISE OF ASTWIHAD

Kelp looked between Faryn and Am and shrugged

He has a proposal to make

Am looked confused however Faryn didnt give him any options as he sat down in the best chair in the room and beganrepeating what he had said to Kelp

Am listened to Faryns brief monologue and said

I’m in if Kelps in

Just the blind conformity I counted on Why dont you get dressed and well head over to my rental Faryn stood and stretched

Am frowned looking between Faryn and Kelp and down at his clothes he exclaimed I am dressed!

Faryn raised one eyebrow looking Am up and down He sniffed saying If you say so he turned and headed for the elevator with Kelp and Am trailing behind him

Anhour later they found themselves in Faryns liv ing room which he had furnished with one chair and a small table Faryn invited Am and Kelp to have a seat Where? Am asked surveying a room full of nothing

Pick a spot Faryn directed with a wave of his

hand

The two men looked at the floor before sitting awk

wardly against the wall next to each other

Without asking Faryn handed Am and Kelp each a cold coffee and liquor combination The guys took their drinks and Faryn cleared his throat This is the dangerous part If they don’t buy this storythey could turn me into the governmenthe thought

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Faryn beganpacing and with dramatic hand ges tures and a great deal of exaggeration he said I have been falsely convicted and set up by the people I consid ered my friends I need to prove my work is valid and vital to our continued existence I want to set up a lab where I cancontinue with my experiments in DNA research

Kelp and Am squirmed and looked around for anescape route Wasnt that what got you into trouble in the first place? Am whispered leaning toward Faryn

Yeah we want nothing to do with your research! Kelp shouted to the room at large looking around with wide frightened eyes

No one canhear us you idiots! Faryn screeched making the two technicians jump He closed his eyes and took a deep breath getting himself under control

Now I will pay you double your present salary and guarantee no one will know or care about what we do I will take full responsibility and blame if we are discov ered I want to remind you out of everyone working on the DNA project only I lost my position So I can guarantee nothing bad will happen to you Fools

Am and Kelp settled back against the wall taking a gulp of their drinks at the same time Faryn closed the deal with Ill give you both a hiring bonus of twenty platinum coins apiece if you agree tonight Thats the equivalent of five years’ salary"

Both mens eyes widened and they looked at each other in astonishment Yes! They exclaimed at the exact same time They struggled up off the floor and shook hands with Faryn

CREATOR’S CHILDREN: THE RISE OF ASTWIHAD

Solana shook her massive head back and forth Why does huge amounts of money make people do stupid things?

We see money affect people in every society and in every way imaginable and I have never been able to answer your question my friend Galaxie turned back to the tableau

When do we get our bonus and what do you want us to do? Kelp asked

You will get your bonus when you have bought all the scientific equipment I will need Ill take care of every thing else Faryn told them

You want us to spend our own money? Am asked in alarm

No of course not! Faryn stated I will provide you with all the money you will need for whatever you buy He handed two items to Kelp Here is the money card and my list He snatched back the money card Guard this with your lives He sighed as he handed the card back to Kelp "These are directions for the places you will find what I need including the address of the storage facility I have acquired The sooner you get everything on the list the sooner you will get your bonus I want receipts for eve rything and do not cheat me Faryn snarled

Kelp took the items from Faryn He and Am left with the promise they would meet Faryn back at his place in one week

by: VALERIE WELSH

~Chapter Three~

Galaxie shook her fiery head At this point I do not believe any of them could have known what would happen Faryn  Kepler is  obviously  damaged but  not overtly dangerous

I agree with you Solana said I guess we’ll need to continue following Faryn to find out how they