Beyond the Stars

By Doreen D Berger

HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO TO HELP A FRIEND? 

Mischievous sisters Diane and Robin are already in trouble with their father, Captain William Marsh, commander of the starship Polaris, for a stunt they just pulled. Their punishment (grounded...again!) is cut sho

• Language: English
• Publisher: PolarisPrint, LLC
• Release date: May 4, 2022
• ISBN: 9781736542132

Book preview

2

Chapter 1

Masilon

January, 2298

Why can’t we stay longer, Dad? Diane asked, stopping in her tracks and frowning as if she just got the worst news ever. Much to her dismay, he’d just told her and her sister Robin they would be leaving Masilon, the enchanting city on Batton V where they had been vacationing for the past week. We were supposed to stay ten days and it’s only been a week, she reminded him, a bit too sharply, she knew, but luckily, he didn’t react.

Robin tried a different approach and looked at him with that wide, playful grin he loved so much. Why can’t you go back to the Polaris and just leave us here, Daddy? There’s still so much we want to see.

We’ll talk about it in a little while, was all he said and continued to lead them out of the small café where they’d eaten breakfast every day for the past week, a welcome change from the meals on the Polaris, the starship where they lived.

As they exited the cool restaurant, a wave of heat and humidity hit them, and they squinted from the intense, bright morning sunshine.

Diane watched as her father glanced up at the clear sky and then at her, a gesture she knew only too well. Wait for it…wait for it…

Diane, you should be wearing a hat, he said, right on cue, wagging his finger at her and giving her ‘the look,’ the one that said, I’m serious, young lady.

Her pale skin earned her that warning every time. She noticed as Robin, who tanned instead of burned, turned away and smiled, knowing how frustrated her sister got whenever he mentioned it.

Diane looked down at the ground and then back up at her father, using that split second to decide how to respond and choose the response that might win her this battle. Sure, Dad. I’ll run right back to my room and get one. Should I get the purple helmet, the chartreuse bonnet covered with lace, or the bright orange and green polka dot scarf? To her satisfaction, she saw his lips curve upward ever so slightly.

Captain William Marsh completed the smile and sighed, knowing when to admit defeat, but said anyway, You would look adorable in any of them, and watched as Diane shook her head and rolled her eyes at him.

For a man whose career didn’t usually allow time for a family, Marsh considered his daughters the universe’s gift to him, and he loved them beyond measure—had since the moment he was given legal guardianship when his brother Daniel and sister-in-law, Beth, were killed during an interplanetary war. The girls had been infants, Diane only eight months old and Robin, a newborn, born three months premature on the day her parents died, making the girls exactly eight months to the day apart.

At first, Marsh hadn’t been able to take the girls into space with him, and Diane and Robin spent their first five years living with his parents at the family home, the Turquoise Trail Ranch, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. But since then, the girls had been his constant companions, going with him from starship to starship as he was promoted and transferred. Three years ago, he’d been given command of the Polaris, the newest starship and flagship of the fleet, and he became the only commander in Space Central to have his own children aboard.

So, why do we have to leave, Dad? Diane asked again, veering him away from the topic of the unwanted hat.

Because— Marsh started to explain, but only got that one word out before Robin cut him off mid-sentence.

‘Because’ isn’t an explanation, she said, an octave lower than her usual voice, mimicking the words he used when she or her sister tried to use ‘because’ as an excuse. She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes in an attempt to look stern, but couldn’t keep from giggling.

Diane laughed and high-fived with her sister.

Marsh couldn’t help but chuckle. To be honest, Robin did a pretty good imitation, and besides, he loved laughing with them. Their giggles were contagious and the sound he missed the most when they weren’t with him.

Anyway, as I was saying, he continued, the Polaris has been called away by Space Central on another mission. My negotiations here are finished. The only reason we were going to stay longer was to give the crew shore leave.

Robin nodded in understanding, but her shoulders fell and she let out a deep sigh. She knew there could be no arguing with a Space Central order, so she didn’t even bother to try. When do we have to be back on the ship? she asked, hoping to at least get as much time as she could.

Marsh considered her question while running his fingers through his dark, wavy hair. We will leave later this afternoon. I have a few loose ends to tie up at the embassy so I will be busy all day. That should give you plenty of time to finish your exploring. He knew they were disappointed and was glad he could give them a few more hours. What do you two have planned?

I still want to explore the ruins in the western part of the city, Robin told him and looked at her sister for confirmation. Diane shrugged in response, still upset by the disruption of her plans. She knew what she wanted to do and hoped there would be enough time.

Okay, girls. I’ll see you later. Have fun and be back by 1600 hours. No later, do you understand? Marsh waited to see two nodding heads and then turned toward the Masilon embassy.

As he passed Diane, he ruffled her dark curls. His fatherly gesture caught her off guard, and she suddenly felt the need to let him know that she wasn’t really upset with him. What kind of mission is it, Dad? she asked, grabbing his hand and pulling him back into the conversation.

I don’t know all the details yet, Marsh said, and the girls knew that meant he probably couldn’t tell them. But there just might be a surprise in it for you, he added, grinning at them, his green eyes sparkling.

The girls couldn’t help it—they smiled back. His grin told them that something good was in store.

Come on, Dad, tell us! Robin begged. Her honey-colored curls bounced as she laughed, and her green eyes, so much like his, sparkled too.

Marsh shook his head. Nope. Can’t. At least not yet.

Diane contemplated his cryptic assertion. Person, place, or thing? she asked seriously, not yet ready to let the subject drop. Come on, Dad, you can at least tell us that.

Okay, he said as his daughters watched him with rapt anticipation. Person. And that’s all I’m telling you. I’ve got to go. He began to retrace his steps back to the embassy, but turned to give them final instructions. 1600 hours. No later, he reiterated, and while he still had their attention, he added, accenting each word, Stay. Out. Of. Trouble.

Diane waved him on and yelled over the din of the traffic. Trouble? Us? Don’t be silly. We always behave!

On what planet, in which universe? Marsh wondered, grinning, as his daughters disappeared from view.

When he was out of sight, Diane turned to her sister, her dark eyes deep in concentration. I wonder who the surprise is. Any guesses?

Beats me. But we won’t find out until tonight so let’s not waste any time worrying about it. Robin hastened her pace and grabbed her sister’s arm, pulling her along. Come on. I have a list of things for us to see today.

Can’t wait, Diane muttered, as she followed her sister’s lead. But let’s go back to our room first. I want to change into something cooler.

Giggling, Robin teased her sister. And get a hat.

Diane bumped her shoulder against her sister’s. "Not happening, Dad."

Robin looked around the city she had come to enjoy and sighed. I’m really going to miss this place.

Batton V was a small, peaceful planet whose ideology was one of neutrality, which made it a safe haven for all who visited. The inhabitants of the planet enjoyed sharing their home with travelers, and they had built spectacular vacation resorts perfect for every season.

Plus, the ambassadors of Batton V had an agreement with the League of Universal Planets. They allowed Space Central, the military division of the LUP, to build a secure city for military personnel who needed a safe place to stay or a place to hold sensitive negotiations. The tiny city was built on the site of an ancient fortress called Masilon. It was completely enclosed by twenty-foot stone walls with locked iron gates and surrounded by dense forests. A force field shielded the entire city, and no one could transport in or out without permission. Many of the ancient structures still stood and some were even still used, creating a charming city that united old and new.

Captain Marsh had allowed off-duty personnel to take advantage of Batton V’s recreational facilities, but the children of the Polaris had been the real beneficiaries of the planet’s hospitality. Classes were suspended for the week, and because the city was secure, the older kids were permitted to wander and explore on their own as long as they went in groups of two or more, let their teacher know where they were going, took their communication badges, and checked in at regular intervals. One of their favorite places to investigate was Masilon’s foremost structure—a one-thousand-year-old castle that had been turned into a hotel for diplomats and visiting VIPs.

Diane and Robin took full advantage of their time on Masilon. Dragging their best friend Jared along with them, they mapped out everything they wanted to see and do. With Robin as their tour guide—she was the one who loved to read and research new places—the trio visited ancient ruins and modern structures. Robin couldn’t have been happier. She collected rocks from every place they went and then made Diane and Jared help her carry them back to the hotel!

During his negotiations, at the kind insistence of the Masilon ambassador, Marsh was given a room in the castle, even though he could have transported back to the Polaris each evening. As a rule, he insisted that his daughters not get any special treatment, and they were subject to all the rules and regulations as the other children aboard his ship. If possible, however, he liked to keep them with him, so even though the other students had to return to the ship every night, he got the girls the room next to his—not just any room, but one that remained unaltered from when the castle was built.

Upon entering their room, Diane surveyed the pile of rocks on the floor. Wait until Dad sees all these rocks, Rob. You’re going to need your own storage room!

Robin laughed. Wait until he sees the books I’ve picked up to research them! she said, pointing to a mound of precariously stacked books in the corner of the room that looked as if they would topple at any given second. I’ll need my own starship!

Their grandmother loved antiques and had instilled in her sons and granddaughters the love of real books, and the girls preferred reading them as opposed to digital books, and had shelves full of them.

Luckily, Diane’s hobby of collecting beads for making jewelry took up a lot less room. She had found some beautiful ones and couldn’t wait to start working. Ideas for necklaces and bracelets were already taking shape in her mind.

But of all the places Diane and Robin had visited in Masilon, the castle remained their favorite place to explore…a massive stone structure with six turret-topped towers of varying heights. On their first tour of the castle they were told how many of the original features were refitted with modern conveniences to accommodate the guests. But the girls liked to imagine the castle as it was when it was built and wished the changes had not been made. Now, the old winding staircases that led to the turrets were replaced with modern elevators, and the turrets, once used as lookouts to spot invaders, were now meeting rooms. Boring! the girls thought…much better to picture the battles that had been fought to defend the castle! The moat, which surrounded the castle, was filled in, and gardens of wildflowers, benches, and walking paths encircled the ancient stronghold. The gardens were pretty, but a real moat would be way cooler…maybe with alligators or some kind of fierce monsters in it! A cobblestone road took the place of the drawbridge and was lined with stately trees. It now served as the entryway into the lobby, once the main hall of the castle. Imagine regal horses entering the castle over the drawbridge! An elegant dining room replaced the original banquet hall, but the giant fireplace that warmed the past residents as they dined now warmed guests during the cold winter months. Envision great balls and banquets given in honor of the royalty! Most of the rooms that had been the spacious living quarters for the royal family were broken down into smaller rooms and suites for the hotel’s guests. Tragic!

To their great surprise, however, there were still some holdovers from the castle’s past days. On their first night there, Diane and Robin found a secret passageway that started in a hidden door behind the floor-length, green brocade drapes in their bedroom, and ended in the kitchen. This turned out to be very convenient for the midnight snacks they so enjoyed! But they didn’t tell their father about the hidden passage—or their late-night excursions!

The girls had made friends with Paramine, the elderly woman who ran the kitchen and who made the most fantastic treats for them when they came to visit. Paramine had been born in the castle and knew everything there was to know about it—her parents had been the caretakers until their deaths. She was a kind, heavy-set woman with steel gray hair that was pulled into a bun on the top of her head, and she always wore a starched white apron tied around her ample waist. She walked slowly with a wooden cane, but her eyes were bright and sharp and didn’t miss a thing. Her voice was soft and melodic, and she would spend hours telling the sisters stories of Masilon while they sat transfixed.

When Paramine learned which room Diane and Robin where staying in, she told the girls about the original occupant of the room, a thousand years ago…

Princess Amalee had been the most beautiful princess the kingdom had ever seen, Paramine began. "She had been a beautiful baby, and as she grew, her beauty grew too."

Robin leaned forward, already captivated by the story. What did she look like?

According to legend, she had long golden hair that cascaded in silky waves to her knees—

In my next life, Diane interrupted wistfully as she tugged one of the dark curls that covered her head. Robin laughed, agreeing with her sister’s wish for straighter hair.

Everyone has their own beauty. Don’t be so fast to give yours away, Paramine advised and continued with the story. Queen Arin, Amalee’s mother, had been kidnapped when Amalee was two years old and was never heard from again.

Robin gasped. Oh, that’s terrible.

Yes, it was, and Amalee’s father, King Rolon, never got over the loss of his beloved wife.

Who kidnapped her? Diane asked.

A king has many enemies. But legend says it was King Baktas, the king of a neighboring province, who kidnapped Arin. Originally, Arin was promised in marriage to Baktas, but she fell in love with Rolon and ran off to marry him instead. Baktas, who had had a peaceful and friendly alliance with Rolon, never forgave him for stealing his bride-to-be. Their provinces were always at war after that.

Diane sighed. That’s so romantic.

War is never romantic, Paramine said firmly.

I know. It’s just the idea that men would actually go to war over the love of a woman.

Shaking her head at their innocence, Paramine smiled at the enraptured girls, and continued. King Rolon watched Amalee grow into a beautiful girl and was afraid for her safety. He had her watched at all times, but Amalee was resentful of the protection and escaped into the forest as often as she could by dressing as a peasant girl and slipping through the city gates.

Robin clapped gleefully. Good for her!

Amalee loved the forest animals and she would spend hours playing with them, Paramine told the girls.

The sisters looked at each other and smiled, knowing that’s exactly what they would do in the same situation, as they were avid animal lovers themselves.

Suddenly, Paramine’s face dropped into a mask of sadness, as if remembering something horrible, and her voice dropped to a whisper. One day, when Amalee was about your age, she escaped into the forest. While playing with the animals, she heard a thunderous noise coming from the city. Climbing a tree to see what it was, she sat transfixed and watched helplessly as the city of Masilon was attacked and burned to the ground—her father and all she loved, along with it. Only the castle remained.

Oh, no! the sisters cried at the same time, each feeling as if a personal friend, not just a character in a story, had just been hurt.

Robin was barely able to contain the tears that were filling her eyes and promising to spill over. What happened to her?

She spent the rest of her life in the forest. The animals watched over her and protected her. It is said that her spirit still wanders the forest, protecting Masilon and its inhabitants.

Wow! Robin said softly.

Double wow! Diane added.

Jared doesn’t want to come with us today, Diane informed her sister as they changed into light cotton pants and T-shirts. He’s playing some kind of Masilon ballgame he learned.

That’s okay. You and I can carry any rocks I get.

Diane looked around the room and tried to figure out where they could possibly find space for more of her sister’s treasures. Just what we need, more rocks.

Robin grinned. We can always use more rocks!

Shaking her head at her sister’s comment, Diane grabbed what she needed for the afternoon. Okay, let’s get our stuff together and get going. There are other things at the west end of the city I’d like to see too.

Like what? Robin asked, surprised there was something to see that she didn’t know about. Is it in the guidebook?

Diane shook her head as she reached for her sister’s arm. No, it’s not in the guidebook. Tell you later. Let’s get a move on.

The girls walked quickly, and it didn’t take long for them to reach the ruins—ancient, crumbled buildings that were damp, musty, and dirty. Tripping over old tree roots and climbing over broken boulders, they slowly made their way through the site. Robin was enjoying herself immensely, walking and reading the guidebook aloud at the same time. Diane leaned against an old archway and ran her fingers over the ancient etchings and inscriptions chiseled into the stone as she listened half-heartedly to her sister’s dissertation. After a while, all the ruins began to look alike to Diane and she cringed every time Robin picked up a rock.

Are we done? Diane finally asked when she couldn’t stand to look at yet another stone.

Robin looked up from the guidebook. Oh, do you want to go?

Yeah, Rob, I want to go. Please. No more rocks!

Robin didn’t understand her sister’s apathy. They’re not just rocks, Diane, they’re a part of history. They’re—

Diane threw her arms into the air. Rob, please!

Oh, all right. Just give me five more minutes.

I’m timing you! And exactly five minutes later Diane dragged her sister out of the ruins and onto the main road.

"So, where do you want to go?" Robin asked. She tried to brush the dust off her clothes, but her arms were full of cumbersome rocks.

Diane leaned over and brushed some silt out of Robin’s hair. Let’s just walk for a few minutes, she said and steered her sister toward the west wall of the city. They stopped and rested in front of the giant iron gate and watched the people go by.

Robin nudged her sister with her elbow.

What? Diane asked.

The scenery, Robin answered, smiling broadly, and pointed to a young man about their age who was passing a few feet in front of them. He’s cute!

Diane inspected him as he passed, and shook her head in disapproval. No, not my type.

"And just what is your type?"

Diane continued to scan the crowd. Him, she finally said.

Robin followed her sister’s gaze until she found the object of Diane’s search.

Hmmm. Not bad, she admitted. But I like mine better!

The sister’s spent the next few minutes giggling and comparing notes on the different young men who caught their attention.

Having a good time, Robin continued to laugh. No wonder you wanted to come here. The view really is great!

Yeah, it is, Diane agreed, her dark eyes trailing yet another good looking young man. But that’s not what I had in mind. Aren’t you curious about what’s on the other side of the gate?

Robin stared at her sister. "Is that where you want to go?"

Diane didn’t answer; she just continued to stare at the gate.

In case you haven’t noticed, there are Space Central guards patrolling that gate. No one gets in or out without permission. Remember? In other words…we’re not allowed to leave the city, Robin said, shaking her head.

A slow smile crossed Diane’s face and Robin knew that smile could only mean one thing…an adventure!

What do you have in mind?

2

Chapter 2

Malon

The camouflaged Frazon warship slipped unseen into LUP space. Its commander, the Frazon Imperial Governor, General Malon, rested comfortably in his command chair, totally aware that he was breaking the seventy-five-year-old treaty that prohibited either party from crossing the mutually agreed upon boundary line. If caught, such an action could