The Journals of Zaleem: Part 8 - The Return

By Tommy Masek

As the result of an accident aboard their ship, Xacs Omathe, a California avocado grower, is inadvertently abducted by an alien race which has cultivated life in our galaxy and the greater universe for billions of years. He lives and travels with them for nearly three centuries, experiencing what the future may hold for the Human race.
The creation of all life on Earth was accomplished by the Aanbollth, an extraterrestrial race dedicated to the improvement and continued development of life in the Universe. They are the ultimate engineers of all organisms, great and small, on this beautiful planet known, in part, as M37CXA19B24R3.
Sixteen of the seventeen crewmembers aboard the ship are killed immediately, and Zaleem, the Captain, dies five days later. A moment before his death, Zaleem slips an amulet, his recorder, into Xacs’s hand, saying it will provide him with safe passage.
An Aanbollth female, Oelphia, for short, is the only other long-term survivor of the accident. She becomes Xacs’s life-long mentor, supporting him initially through genetic modifications and rehab, and later by finding him a job and a mate.
In Part 8, Xacs is called upon to help Arlyne investigate missing persons, in what might be called cold cases. As judged by the number of cycles in the past, these cases were frozen solid. They find that many deaths were due to two serial killers who cleverly prevented the deaths from being reported.
A renovation of the main government building in Cortesa allows him to participate in painting murals with his two unofficial protégés, Jenniphor and Luizza. Animosity toward him comes to the fore when a council member sets his portable shop on fire, and sends an assassin after him.
Expecting that his career and life are near an end, after spending nearly three life times on Aanbol, Xacs focuses on making art pieces for his mates and friends. The magistrate, Adrianna, has different plans for him, but he is returned to Earth in a somewhat unexpected manner.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tommy Masek
• Release date: Jan 26, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005257859

Tommy Masek

In his early career, Tommy worked as an engineer and scientist, having degrees from the University of Colorado, and MIT. He worked for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Rockwell International, and Hughes Research Laboratories, with a primary focus on ion propulsion for spacecraft. In later years, he manufactured coal stoker heating equipment. The Journals of Zaleem Series will be six novels in the science fiction genre. In Part 1, Xacs Omathe is abducted by an alien race and must deal with survival on an alien planet. Eventually, after nearly three centuries of living and traveling with the Aanbollth race, he will be returned to Earth to publish his memoirs before his death. Tommy has also written The Alexander Affair, The Quixote Files, The Whistler Agenda, and The Heiress and the Black Monk. The last three of these novels follow political reporter Martin Cosgrove as he unravels mysteries and dodges bullets. Tommy has been married to his high school sweetheart, Claudia, since 1962. They reside in Oxnard, California, with their Yorkie dependents, Oscar and Theo.

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About THE JOURNALS OF ZALEEM

Part 8 – The Return

As the result of an accident aboard their ship, Xacs Omathe, a California avocado grower, is inadvertently abducted by an alien race which has cultivated life in our galaxy and the greater universe for billions of years. He lives and travels with them for nearly three centuries, experiencing what the future may hold for the Human race.

The creation of all life on Earth was accomplished by the Aanbollth, an extraterrestrial race dedicated to the improvement and continued development of life in the Universe. They are the ultimate engineers of all organisms, great and small, on this beautiful planet known, in part, as M37CXA19B24R3.

Sixteen of the seventeen crewmembers aboard the ship are killed immediately, and Zaleem, the Captain, dies five days later. A moment before his death, Zaleem slips an amulet, his recorder, into Xacs’s hand, saying it will provide him with safe passage.

An Aanbollth female, Oelphia, for short, is the only other long-term survivor of the accident. She becomes Xacs’s life-long mentor, supporting him initially through genetic modifications and rehab, and later by finding him a job and a mate.

In Part 8, Xacs is called upon to help Arlyne investigate missing persons, in what might be called cold cases. As judged by the number of cycles in the past, these cases were frozen solid. They find that many deaths were due to two serial killers who cleverly prevented the deaths from being reported.

A renovation of the main government building in Cortesa allows him to participate in painting murals with his two unofficial protégés, Jenniphor and Luizza. Animosity toward him comes to the fore when a council member sets his portable shop on fire, and sends an assassin after him.

Expecting that his career and life are near an end, after spending nearly three life times on Aanbol, Xacs focuses on making art pieces for his mates and friends. The magistrate, Adrianna, has different plans for him, but he is returned to Earth in a somewhat unexpected manner.

THE JOURNALS OF ZALEEM

As Chronicled in

The Memoirs of Xacs Omathe

PART 8 – THE RETURN

Tommy D. Masek

THE JOURNALS OF ZALEEM: PART 8 – THE RETURN

Copyright © 2021 by Tommy D. Masek. All rights reserved.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from the author or publisher.

Foreword to Part 8

By

Jacqueline Laleh Karacasevich

When we began this adventure a few years ago, all I could convey to you, the readers, was what Xacs had told me in his first letter. His lawyer, Stella Arbogast, progressively provided the parts of the story following instructions she’d received from Xacs in the beginning.

We’re now at the end, with Xacs being returned as we’ve all hoped. There are a few surprises throughout the story so please read to the very end.

Thank you for your interest in Xacs’ adventure. I expect to see Stella in the near future.

CONTENTS

Foreword to Part 8

Prologue

Chapter 1 – Whatever Remains

Chapter 2 – Serial Killer

Chapter 3 – The Quest Continues

Chapter 4 – Saman Deedrich

Chapter 5 – Aggusto, Dannka, and Veernna

Chapter 6 – Sleight of Hand

Chapter 7 – Gaddy

Chapter 8 – Looking For Grave Sites

Chapter 9 – Luizza’s Mural

Chapter 10 – The Sealed Barrels

Chapter 11 – Contact Hackers

Chapter 12 – Inept Hitmen

Chapter 13 – Tramo Rendezvous’

Chapter 14 – The Renovation

Chapter 15 – White Lies

Chapter 16 – The Renovation Bid

Chapter 17 – Verremeer’s Winning Bid

Chapter 18 – A Load of Andromarileete

Chapter 19 – Carlitia’s New Position

Chapter 20 – Busts And Statues

Chapter 21 – Progress Galore

Chapter 22 – Shop Fire

Chapter 23 – Fire Insurance

Chapter 24 – The Grand Opening

Chapter 25 – The Tree Of Life

Chapter 26 – The Querrols Scandal

Chapter 27 – Moraugg’s Visit

Chapter 28 – Evelynne’s Murder

Chapter 29 – Crime Scene Investigation

Chapter 30 – Justice Served

Chapter 31 – Estate Planning

Chapter 32 – Evelynne’s Visit

Chapter 33 – Return Options

Chapter 34 – A New Wrinkle

Chapter 35 – Pre-Departure Check

Chapter 36 – Welcome Aboard

Chapter 37 – Thallina

Chapter 38 – Stella

Chapter 39 – The Gemologist

Epilogue

Glossary of Terms

Character and Name List

XACS OMATHE

My Life with the Aanbollth

Part 8 – The Return

PROLOGUE

Nearly a cycle has passed since I finished the reflective mural for Luizza and Harmonious. I’d assembled it in their office to avoid building a huge crate. Still, the ten pieces had to be packed and shipped. Unfortunately, Luizza and her partner had creative differences and dissolved the business a few pherods later.

Luizza had asked me if they should return the mural to me or sell it and share with me whatever it brought. I suggested she ask the Space Agency, via Gardener Services, if they had an interest in buying it. I had given Harmonious a bill of sale for it and considered it to be a gift.

A few revs later, I heard from Torgs Bec saying they had decided to purchase the piece and would display it in the lobby area of their building in Sporaale. I volunteered to move it to their space since it had to be disassembled to be moved. I was fairly certain that GS would keep it as a reminder of their experiences with me, good and bad. I never asked what they paid for it.

Traffic flow in their building was such that, where we positioned it, people could walk on either side and have room to stand and ponder what the strange alien had intended. Was there a secret meaning or a subliminal message camouflaged within the carvings? Indeed, the network was alive with that issue for a pherod. But unlike the past, my friends said the current comments were not hysterical threats. I benefited from the free advertising.

I had built a half-scale copy of the mural for my studio to remind me of the binary aspects of Aanbol life. We didn’t advertise it for sale.

Luizza was hired by the architectural firm Verremeer, which had designed parts of the Cortesa Civic Center. They were aware of her work from the Two Dragon Bridge I’d supplied. I’d appropriately credited Luizza with the design.

The Inflatable Roof Greenhouse, or IRG in SSF’s terms, has improved farm productivity by a third by reducing fruit maturation times. We expect to have it paid for within about 10 cycles. We experienced another moderate Spirocorr without damage to the IRG, but it had shut down shipping for two revs.

Reliable Aanbol employees continue to be hard to find. We pay enough that new hires are commuting from Mosphire and beyond. The live staff numbers eighteen at present. We have twenty-four robots working around the clock in the mega greenhouse and twelve in the original processing building. They replace at least twice that many live farm hands.

Pozzy has an assistant farm manager who primarily handles the original trees and fruit. Pozzy handles the IRG operations and the whole farm overall. There are two additional assistants who mainly manage shipping operations.

Shar continues to be the overall business manager and has contracted with a sales organization to promote our fruit around the planet. About a third of our fruit is now shipped by gravo to other continents. Our Scorlaan Fruit brand has become well known.

Jenniphor has developed a thriving art business of her own, working mainly in the portable shop. She’s mastered the technique of carving images she’s painted in several views to create the necessary 3D views. Her seminars for our employees continue to be popular and a way to connect the relationship between the Aanbollth mission in the Universe and everyday life.

Arlyne has continued her work in the magistrate’s office investigating an assortment of crimes. Seemingly, the Aanbollth communicators have been achieving good results, and she’s only asked for my help a few times over the past cycle.

CHAPTER 1

Whatever Remains

The present date on the Aanbol calendar is 2.19.75, 852, which converts to April 28, 2251. In about five months, I’ll have been gone from Earth for 238 years. If I think about my age too much, I begin to feel old. When that happens, I make tea and invite one of the ladies to join me for a readjustment of my perception.

The farm has just closed for pickups for the rev, but as usual, three workers continue to supervise the robots for another thirty ticks. That is our second shift in my terms. After that, the robots are returned to their charging stations until the farm reopens at about 35 ticks in the new rev. Everyone except me and some of our animal neighbors have the graveyard shift to relax.

Jenniphor schedules her seminars for the end of the farm workday, and she contacted me after the current one.

Xacs, I need some rejuvenation, as you sometimes say. Where are you?

In the studio. I have tea brewing. I’ll shower.

Arlyne will be a few ticks late, and Shar is going to meet customers. So you and I can consult at length. I’ll stop at the house first.

Jenniphor had changed clothes and had on the Aanbollth equivalent of high heels. She was wearing little else when she removed the robe as she stood by the bed in front of me.

She said, Do you like this look? as she slowly turned a full 360.

You look sensational in white.

I was sitting on the edge of the bed and put my hands on her hips as she straddled my legs. I helped her balance as she impaled herself on my erection. I held her tightly, stood, and pressed in to the hilt. Her long legs wrapped around me like a hungry vine.

You always know what I want. She wiggled for emphasis.

I think you send me subliminal images.

I told my officemate about this position, so send me your recording of it later. I want her to experience your heat in this position.

It wasn’t long before she had the first of several installments.

After a session lasting 15 clicks, Jenniphor returned to the house to shower, dress, and paint in her sitting room. I continued what I’d been working on in my gallery, a painting of the nightlife activity in The Black Calfid, the gay bar in SPC.

The painting was more to have a record of my experiences on Aanbol rather than to show anyone in particular. I planned a second version to show what I imagined was the scene of a shooting that Arlyne and I had investigated many cycles ago.

At 79 ticks, Arlyne announced her arrival.

Jenniphor shared her experience with me a few ticks ago. I had several orgasms. Are you available for an encore engagement with me?

Of course. I’ll make fresh tea.

Good. I have other work for you afterward, in the form of an inquiry. Poendal’s crew has hit a dead end as you might say.

It’s fortunate the souls never sleep.

Indeed.

• • •

After an exhilarating session with Arlyne, she left me to recover for a few clicks while she went to the house to shower and change clothes. We agreed that if the soul inquiry became extended, we’d continue after my sleep cycle. I guessed that Jenniphor and Arlyne both had plans for me after my nap.

You might find the case I want your help with to be intriguing, she said, as she sat across from me at the table in the studio dining area.

I’m always amazed at situations people get into. Intrigued too, I suppose.

Let me explain the problem before you contact Janece. We began looking for missing persons a few revs ago and resolved a number of the cases. Some were murdered, some died accidentally, and some weren’t actually missing at all. Out of the original long list of twenty-seven, we have eight people who are missing without a trace, and none are in the Other Life. Poendal even asked Janece to search for them.

If they aren’t in the Other Life, what good can I be?

You seem to think in possibilities we don’t imagine. Maybe it was how you grew up on R3 or the television you watched. Anyway, Adrianna suggested I bring you into it. She’d like you to consider that you are back on the payroll and still agree to all the previous regulations.

I agree to all of that every time I participate in one of your cases. I assume you’ve checked with friends and relatives of the missing?

Yes, through several investigators. But I’ve mentioned before that Poendal’s communicators aren’t good at connecting the dots, to use an expression you understand. I want to review the overall case from the start so we both see what was considered and what wasn’t.

How is it possible for someone to disappear without a trace and not be dead? I believe that you can eventually find anyone alive on this planet via satellite data collection, the equivalent of remote DNA measurements. So, as far as I know, the only other possibility would be having a person in stasis and having their file shredded. That destroys the soul, correct?

That’s my understanding. Adrianna has investigated, and no one we’re looking for has been disposed of in that way. It’s a complicated process, and there are many layers of security.

Accidents happen.

Arlyne nodded. I’m sending a list of persons we’re interested in locating. Please verify that you’ve received it.

There are twenty-seven names. Is that correct?

Yes.

Seems like a lot of missing people for this planet.

They go back in time almost 10 slatacycles.

Over that long a period, I might have imagined more. Then again, I had no basis for judging either way.

It might take Janece awhile to locate people, so I’ll leave it with her and take my nap. You can join me if you wish or come back when I wake up.

Let me know when you wake up and I’ll bring tea. And perhaps Jenniphor, if she’s not too busy.

Here’s an odd question for you to ponder. Are there ever any abductions by aliens on this planet? I smiled to myself.

Such as what happened to you?

It’s just a silly thought if we find unexplained cases.

"No abductions that I’ve ever heard of. But you’re proof that such things are possible. I’ll keep that in mind."

Janece, can you speak with me for a short time?

For a few beats, I had no reply and wondered if I’d lost my mojo.

Xacs Omathe, I was occupied with another matter, as hard as that might be for you to imagine.

I wondered if I’d forgotten to pay my spirit service bill. I’m relieved to speak with you.

And what can I help you with this time? You seem to be alive and well.

That observation is related to the reason for my contact. Arlyne is with me and has asked me to help locate a number of persons who appear to be missing. You’ve spoken to Poendal on this matter, but we’re starting fresh. You might have seen the list of names I’m sending now.

You want to know if their souls are here and not really missing.

Yes.

Many long beats later, Janece said, Xacs Omathe, a few of the contacts wanted to talk because they feel forgotten. I assume you will eventually wish to speak with them directly.

Yes. Are all of those on the list with you?

All but eight are here. I spoke to a relative of Keenier Topps, number nine on your list, who said his brother had suffered severe burns in a fire. The relative believes the hospital made an error when they attempted to regenerate him, and his file was lost.

That would be devastating for the family and probably a significant problem for the hospital. Of course, accidents happen. Even here on Aanbol, apparently. But it would explain his disappearance without a trace.

In Keenier’s case, he was living alone and no one knew why he disappeared except the relative who is here. I told them all I thought you would be in touch again soon.

Which persons aren’t on your side?

We do not have numbers 4, 9, 11, 16, 17, 20, 21, 24, and 27.

You’re assuming Keenier is accounted for now and eight others are actually missing. Is that right?

That’s how I’m counting, yes.

Did you explain Keenier’s status when you spoke with the Poendal and the communicators?

That bunch doesn’t ask logical questions and seem easily confused. You’re the alien, so I would think it would be you who’d be confused if anyone was. Yes, I explained it as I did with you. I don’t know what Poendal understood.

Janece, it’s about time for my sleep cycle, so we’ll be back in touch with you after that. Thank you for helping so graciously. Arlyne is always impressed with your work too. If any of those souls with you has information related to any of those who are missing, we’d like to hear it. Our main problem at this time is understanding how someone can completely disappear as the eight apparently have.

I’ll investigate for you here, Xacs Omathe.

I’ll speak with anyone who wishes to, whether they think it’s relevant or not. Thank you again, Janece. The connection ended.

When I opened my eyes and looked at Arlyne, she was smiling.

What?

It’s interesting, and humorous in a way, that you have better rapport with Aanbollths in the Other Life than anyone else. It’s why you get better information. I’m recording the last conversations. Turn off the Imac for a bit.

It’s off. Maybe I’ve been doing the interviews longer than the current communicators. Or perhaps I work harder at understanding their situation. Maybe they feel sorry for the alien and try to help me.

Well, maybe I’ll make some strong tea and see you after your nap.

She met me as I stood and started for the door. She put her arms around my neck and pressed close.

It’s totally inappropriate for me to sleep with you, a colleague.

I know. I make sure we don’t sleep. I kissed her. And I think aliens are exempt from that rule since we’re harmless.

She giggled and kissed me back. I’ll remember that if anyone questions my ethics.

CHAPTER 2

Serial Killer

When I awoke, I had two mostly naked ladies in bed with me. They’d started without me, but I quickly caught up.

You make excellent tea, I said, pressing deep into Arlyne.

Gasping, she said, I’m not sure you needed it.

You’re both very inspiring.

After about 20 clicks, I stretched out between the two to catch my breath. Jenniphor rose up to kiss me then rolled to the side of the bed.

I have a painting to finish, and you two have inquiries to make. Your heat is very satisfying and inspirational, Xacs.

It took a few more clicks to satisfy Arlyne.

• • •

While I had breakfast and chatted with Shar during her tramo ride from SPC, Arlyne had researched the Keenier Topps case.

"The hospital was censured for their lack of oversight. Their records showed that Keenier was still in stasis. Unfortunately, someone had mistakenly destroyed his file and therefore his soul. Certain criminals are handled in that manner, but only with the magistrate’s approval. They can’t explain why he wasn’t regenerated as planned. Unfortunately for Keenier, his relatives had all passed and no one asked about him or complained. His friends and coworkers thought he’d died.

I’m transmitting a new list of the remaining eighteen missing persons in the Other Life, in the order we’d like you to conduct the interviews. In addition, there is a short biography for each person beginning with their most recently known activities.

I have the lists and bios.

I briefly scanned the list and read the short biography for Gremanne Travish. A tick later, I contacted Janece.

Greetings, Xacs Omathe. With which souls would you like to speak?

We’d like to start with Gremanne, number three on the list. Sometimes the plan changes depending on what we find.

The connection was quiet for several beats.

I’m Gremanne. Janece assures me that you are alive on Aanbol. But you are from another planet?

Yes, R3, as you might call it. Janece can probably answer many questions you might have concerning me. I was accidentally abducted by the Gardener Services ship Albatross. The magistrate’s office is attempting to find persons who have disappeared without a trace. I believe you spoke to another communicator a few revs ago.

Yes, a female who called herself Ali. The connection was poor and we never spoke about my life. Apparently, she couldn’t hear me.

I hear you clearly and would like to know your story.

I was part of a family of many generations. I was the only female in four generations, and I had a half brother with a different father. My brother murdered me.

What’s your half brother’s name?

Coomy-Une Straange.

It took several beats for me to understand the hyphenated name. He wasn’t on our list.

Can you tell me what happened?

Coomy wanted to meet the man I intended to mate. He was jealous.

Coomy was jealous. Why?

The connection was silent, but I waited.

We’d engaged many times, and he expected me to agree to be his mate and live together. I had other plans. I realized too late that Coomy only wanted to kill both of us.

Did he accomplish that objective?

Coomy strangled me and threw my body into a river. I was out of my body and watched the current carry me away.

How do you know he killed your friend?

He’s here. His name was Hanling Koondor, and we are together now. He was dumped in the same river. We became food for the water creatures.

Some of your fish are big and voracious. Is there any evidence of the crime that you know of?

Coomy removed my clothes before throwing my body into the water. Perhaps he kept them. Hanling told me that he was stabbed with a long knife used for processing fish and was also stripped naked.

I will speak to Hanling next, so perhaps he will remember something else the police can use to arrest Coomy. Can you tell me where these murders occurred?

In Ethorn, where I lived. Coomy has a house there too. You will need enough evidence to compel Coomy to provide his mental recordings. You know the entire event is there, right?

Yes, I do. I believe we’ll find something. Thank you for speaking with me, Gremanne. If you wish to speak with me in the future, you can contact Janece.

A click later, Janece had briefed Hanling Koondor and I made the connection.

Thank you for speaking with me, Hanling. I’m investigating your disappearance, with the authorization of the magistrate.

Some of us wonder why it took so long. A person named Ali tried to speak with me but apparently didn’t understand me.

I know nothing about the original investigation, but I assume the police found no evidence. What can you tell me?

Gremanne and I were murdered by her half brother, Coomy-Une Straange. She was planning to become my mate, and Coomy came with her the last time to meet me. I’m certain he’d come to kill us both. He used a large knife on me. He strangled Gremanne.

What did he do with the bodies?

There’s a large river through Ethorn, where he lives. It has huge fish, some measuring half a traise. People occasionally fall in. Some accidentally, some not. That’s where he threw our bodies.

Did you know I just spoke to Gremanne?

No. What did she say?

Her statement confirms yours. Can you think of any evidence of the crime that might still exist?

He’s killed others, and he has pieces of clothing. He showed me Gremanne’s underwear as he was stabbing me. He has an old chest in which he displays the pieces. I’ve looked in on him a few times. Please stay with me. I’ll locate the chest if I can.

The connection was silent for a few beats.

The chest is black and in his bedroom. It has a complex set of locks.

Can you tell me where he lives?

"Wait. He now lives in the house where Gremanne grew up in Ethorn. But