Sense of Duty: Book 3: My Planet, My Galaxy, Destined Universe

By Colleen Hunter

Wesley Motgellin is a very duty driven person who puts his responsibility to his job above all else. He loves his family and is very protective of them. His job sees him traveling through the galaxy hunting down threats to Earth's global security. His father sends him on a mission that he is very unhappy about. His worst nightmare is about to come true; accompanying a group of scientists to a little-known planet. His Superior officer expects him to keep his daughter safe.

Marilla Prentagist, who father General Stephen Prentagist is Wesley's superior, has just graduated from university. She specialised in Intergalactic Fauna and Flora and has been given the chance of a lifetime. She is easily distracted by her research, or anything that is new and exciting. New discoveries set her pulse racing, and her brain going into overdrive.

Her one wish is to discover anything new, and never before seen. These two are thrown together, can they survive the journey?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Oct 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9781471010361

Book preview

Chapter 1

20th July In the Earth year 2585

8.30 a.m. Palace of the President of Earth’s Northern Hemisphere Alliance

Wesley Alden Motgellin stalked out of his walk-in dressing room snatching various items of clothing he intended to take with him.  He violently threw them into his luggage sitting on his bed with the rest of his belongings. Under his breath he had been swearing and cursing anyone and everyone he could think of, who had put him in his current position.  When the cursing was no help, he gave his bed a kick for good measure.  Blasted, everlasting hell!  he muttered.  Bloody scientists, I am going to be babysitting bloody scientists.  Gathering an arm load of shoes he yelled, three flaming years of my life are going to be wasted.  As he threw them in to his larger bag, he heard a knock on his door.

Wesley? came a small voice from the other side of his door followed by another gentle tap tap tap.  Wesley came the little voice again.

He heaved in a calming breath, putting into practice skills he had gained from his years of working for the Rangers.  When he was calmer, he opened his door.  Hello Zel, he said to his youngest sister who was standing outside shuffling her feet.  Zelia was now 12 years-old, and was starting to turn into a slightly more confident girl.  For years she had been very anxious, and struggled with the people in her life who had to leave for work, or other reasons, never adapting to change very well.

Why were you swearing? Zelia asked shyly.

Wesley silently cursed himself, he did not want to make things harder for his sweetest sister, but then he could never keep anything from her, no one could.  There was something about her that told him she was bound for great things when

she grew up.  I am just frustrated with the assignment Dad has given me.  He smiled to further soften his still slightly angry expression, gathering her into his arms and kissing the top of her head. 

Zelia hugged him back, and said: It will be all right, you know.  No matter what you think it will all work out.

Wesley noticed that she sounded as if she were 20 years older than she was, stating a fact, rather than guessing something not yet known.  He and the rest of his family had learned not to question statements like this when she made them.  One of the Intermediary they dealt with had said something about Zelia to his parents during a meeting they had a few months back.  It had been very cryptic, but the Intermediary were exceptionally perceptive, when they spoke, they never said anything that was not relevant or profound.

Thanks, Zel, I know it will be, but I have more important things to do, and babysitting a bunch of absent-minded scientists is not high up on my priority list.  He turned and surveyed his luggage and the mess he had made of his packing, which annoyed him, he was if anything, a very organised and precise person.  Why don’t you help me finish up here, he suggested.  Seems I have need of your presence to get my packing put into order.

Zelia rushed over to his bed, and pulled out his clothes that he had so violently thrown into the bag, and started re-folding them.  Wesley noticed that if she was part of the process of preparing someone else to leave, she seemed to adapt quicker and not be so stressed.  Occasionally over the last few years, he had noticed that she often snuck something in amongst his belongings.  He returned to his wardrobe to check a few things that he still needed to decide if he would need.  They would be stopping on Borsha, and Mittan so he could stock up on some things while there, but only he would handle his security gear.

He would wait until Zelia left before he put them in the luggage. A lot of his Ranger gear was deadly, and the less his youngest sibling saw of the tools of his trade, the better.

Once Zelia was satisfied that she had done her bit to help her eldest brother, she continued sitting on his bed and considered him as he sorted out another bag he was taking.  They remained silent while Wesley continued with his tasks. Little sister watching biggest brother do big brother things, occasionally they would discuss what she was going to do while he was away, her schoolwork, her social calendar.  Occasionally she would jump off his bed to give him a hand if she thought he was not folding his clothes properly.

I wish I could come with you, said Zelia. She always wished she could go with him or any of the other members of her family when they travelled, but knew that was never going to be possible in every situation.  She had dreamed about him the previous night; she wondered if she should tell him about her dream.  The older she became, the more she was getting these dreams, she never shared them, though she longed to.  One of the Intermediary had spoken to her and told her to trust her visions. Zelia did not understand what the Intermediary meant, but she had learned that they only spoke to people when that person needed advice. She had learned over the years, due to her father’s work, they never initiated a conversation, or offered advice unless they were invited to. The only time they did speak without prompting was when they somehow knew a particular person needed guidance, but was hesitant to ask. 

Wesley finished his packing and then he and his sister went to join the rest of the family who had gathered there for his farewell dinner.  His other sisters and their husbands were with them, along with their children.

You will find Sliphta fascinating, said Anan Bersell, Priscilla’s husband.  They both acknowledged Jonas Starson and his wife Helene as they walked into the room with their children.

Jonas joined in the discussion on Sliphta and added, we know you are not happy about this, but make the most of it.  You never know what you may discover.  He gave Wesley one of his most cheeky smiles as he hugged his wife to his side.  The Creators are an interesting people; you should maybe go and speak with them.  Get a carving from them, you know like the unicorn I gave Helene.

Wesley rolled his eyes, and good naturedly poked Jonas in the shoulder. Not likely! he replied.  It was all he was going to say on that topic.  He knew the history of the gift his brother-in-law had given to Helene, and the trouble it had caused her.  He was really only relenting to go, as he wanted some more information on the tracking compound The Creators had made. 

Chrisell, his mother announced that lunch was about to be served, and invited everyone to take their seat at the table.

21st July In the Earth Year 2585

6.00 p.m. Home of Professor and General Prentagist, Secretary of Military and Defence for Earth’s Northern Hemisphere Alliance

April Prentagist entered her husband’s office as she saw his fellow officers leave at the end of their meeting.  She walked around the desk and gave him a kiss on the cheek.  Dinner is ready darling, she told him.  I held it over until you finished the meeting.  Marilla will be leaving us in a few days, so I have invited some of her friends to share in a goodbye meal. 

Thanks April, I will be there shortly, Stephen sighed and took her hand.  I really wish she was not going, but who can deny her the opportunity of a lifetime.  A planet that is not very well known to us, and the opportunity to discover new plants and creatures.  He sighed and shrugged.  It has been her lifelong dream for an opportunity like this.

Yes, it is everything she has been dreaming of, finding a new species and learning all about a different planet. April replied.  At least President Motgellin’s son will be with them, if he is going, then she will be safe, as well as the rest of the team.

Stephen nodded. I would not trust her safety to anyone else.  If Wesley is going, I know things will be done correctly.  He has enlisted a good team, so little should happen that they can’t deal with, hopefully.

April left her husband to finish off what he needed to do, before joining their family and a few of Marilla’s friends in the family room. She stopped at her daughter’s room on her way past, and reminded Marilla that she needed to be downstairs in the family room in half an hour.  Marilla assured her mother that she would be there.  April went to her own room to dress for dinner.  How many times have I heard that! she said under her breath and rolled her eyes.  She knew she would have to send one of her other children to remind Marilla that her presence was required downstairs. 

Marilla was one of those people who just happened to become so lost in what they were doing, that at times she would forget to eat.  With her sorting out her equipment and notebooks, and other things she was going to need on this journey with her fellow Flora and Fauna scientists and other science colleagues……  Well Marilla had always been like that, ever since she was a small child.  The Prentagist family knew from experience, and her friends soon found out after getting to know her, that once Marilla was investigating something, nothing short of explosion would distract her.  Even then April doubted one explosion would be enough of a distraction for this child of hers.

An hour later, after two reminders from two of her siblings to come down to dinner, Marilla finally joined her family and friends. 

What are you looking forward to the most? asked Wendy Hillyard, who was a long-time friend from Marilla’s school.

Marilla’s eyes glazed over; everyone knew that this was not the wisest question to ask her.  Well, there is so much not known about the planet, or anything that is there.  From what Jonas has told me about it.  She nodded to Jonas Starson, who was sitting next to his wife Helene.  "There are two distinct hemispheres, with two very different climates, with a melding of the two….’  And she was off giving a long discourse of what she hoped to find, do and achieve.  Everyone around the table cast a withering glare at Wendy, who shrugged while cringing realising her mistake, cringed and mouthed her apology. 

Every now and then Marilla’s father or her eldest sister, who were sitting next to her, prodded her into taking a mouthful of food or a drink.  If they had not done so, she would have spent the next hour, talking, and not eating, to find that she was starving by the time she went to bed.  She was too well brought up to speak with her mouthful, so it gave those present a break from her oration. 

By the end of the meal everyone was fully versed on everything that Marilla was planning, and her hopes and dreams.  Once she started on one of her rambling monologues, no one else could get a word in until she finished.  The rest of the evening was spent with other people being finally being able to get a few words in and wish Marilla well, being careful not to invite another long description on her upcoming journey.

As Helene and Jonas stepped outside the Prentagist home, Jonas asked his wife.  How do you think Wesley will handle spending a few years with Marilla?

Helene let out a long loud laugh and replied.  Not well, he will want to kill her before they have even taken off from the spaceport.  Helene adored her oldest brother and her friend, but she could foresee many frustrations for Wesley having to deal with a hyper-focused Marilla.  She had known Marilla for some time and had learned how to deal with her friend’s moments of blanking out everything around her while she studied, or undertook an involved task. Are you going to give Wesley some advice in that regard?  Jonas asked.

Nope! Helene grinned at him.  Where would the fun be in that?

Chapter 2

28th July In the Earth Year 2585

10 a.m. Shipping Control Headquarters, Planet Earth, Northern Hemisphere. 

Wesley and his team were overseeing the loading of the specially designed galactic transport, the Galaxy Explore. Everyone referred to it as GE1. The vessel, which was the first of one its kind, was designed with interspecies comfort and to cater to scientific specifications. This was a revolutionary step in engineering and design and a prototype for further vessels of its kind.  The crew would be a combination of droid and human staff.  Some droids were specially programmed for each of the scientific teams that were being left on the various planets they were heading to research. 

It would take approximately one Earth year to reach their final destination, which was Sliphta. The ship had taken over a year of fine tuning to get the right combination of design and atmospheric level right to cater to the needs of the delegation of The Creators.  They were going to return to Earth on the ship, while those specially chosen for the purpose, would remain on Sliphta for research.  Already aboard the GE1 were the short and mid-range transport vessels that would remain with the science teams on each of the planets they would be dropped off at Borsha, Mitta and Sliphta. 

Wesley scowled at a team from the Science Corporation, who were overseeing their own items being loaded on to the Galaxy Explorer.  Wesley’s second in charge, Rory, who was going to be flying the GE1 back to Earth with The Chief Creator and his party, laughed.  You really hate this don’t you?

Is it that obvious? Wesley turned his scowl on his second in command.

No, Rory replied casually shrugging, and then said with a hint of sarcasm. Not at all…. You look very pleased actually. Rory covered another snicker with a cough.  This earned Rory a more severe scowl and a growl from his long-time friend.  Wesley, if you don’t want a silly answer, don’t ask a silly question.

Another team of scientists including Marilla Prentagist along with her mother, Professor Prentagist, came into the facility, and Wesley’s annoyance levels increased.  It was bad enough that he had to deal with a bunch of scientists, but adding her to the mix, made things worse.  Firstly, because she was a friend of his sister Helene. Secondly because she was the daughter of one of his father’s senior advisers, who also happened to be his boss.  Thirdly, Marilla’s parents were close friends of his own parents.  The fourth, and most annoying reason, his sister and father as well as Marilla’s parents expected him to ‘take special care of her.’  As the old saying went, three strikes, you’re out!  She had four strikes, Wesley was given no choice to opt out of this mission, according to his father, who was also his president, so he just had to suck it up, and do his job.

Rory, who had known Wesley for a long time, noticed the change of expression on his friend and colleague’s face.  He turned to follow where Wesley’s gaze was laser focused.  He saw the group of people his friend was tracking, and noticed two short, and bookish looking women amongst the group.  The rest were men, he turned to assess the exact direction of Wesley’s penetrating hunter’s focus.  His friend was definitely targeting the two women, who looked enough alike to be related.  Ah!  he said, patting his friend on the shoulder.

Ah! What? Wesley asked rather harshly.

Rory shrugged, looking as innocent as any A2 Ranger could. Nothing, just found what I was looking for, thought I left it at home.  As he walked away to take his belongings onto the shuttle that would take up their first lot of deliveries to the transporter, Rory’s face split into a wide knowing smile.  He could see some interesting times ahead of them on their trip.  As well as he knew Wesley’s view on being stranded on an alien world with a bunch of scientists, Rory could now add this particular scientist he knew would test his friend greatly.  His cousin Wendy Hillyard, was a friend of Marilla Prentagist’s and he had been subject to her rather strange little habits occasionally when Marilla joined the family for outings, or dinners.  Better you than me Wesley me old mate, he said to himself once he was out of Wesley’s hearing range.

The first shuttle up to the Galaxy Explorer took off, it would take half an hour to get to the transporter, and then another hour or more to unload the equipment and baggage they were taking.  One of Wesley’s team was sorting out the next shipment that would be going up in the next shuttle.  Sitting in his seat, as a passenger this time, Wesley cast another withering look at the scientists who were seated ahead of him, then turned to gaze out the window.  As they broke through Earth’s atmosphere and into space, he could see the ship he would be piloting on their journey to Sliphta.  She was an amazing sight, three times larger than the normal transporter.  This trip had some major significance, and a huge number of items and people to transport, there and back.

After arriving on the Galaxy Explorer, Wesley and Rory oversaw the storing of the goods that had come on the shuttle.  Then they went to the engine room, and did an inspection, to ensure that everything was in order there. Once satisfied that the engine room and their team were happy with the systems of the ship, they went to the flight deck, to re-familiarise themselves with the console there.  Double checking that everything was functional, they cross checked everything until they and the rest of the crew who would be travelling with them, were confident. 

Wesley went to the main hanger area and checked in with his team who were overseeing the storage of everything that was coming onto the transporter.  He received a report on what had come aboard, where it was stored, and what they were expecting.  He could then how much longer it would be until they were fully loaded and ready to take on the last of the passengers, who were not yet on-board.  Wesley and Rory would call a crew meeting just prior to departing Earth’s space, and heading to their first destination, Borsha.  They would be dropping off some of the people on the planet, collecting some supplies, as well as catching up with his cousin and his family.  There were a few people they had agreed to transport to Mitta, where he could catch up with the Willows as well as collect some Mittan Scientists who had been given permission to travel to Sliphta.

He was satisfied with the progress so far and would do a final check of everything before the main body of the people they were transporting could come aboard. Wesley then checked with his Passenger Liaison Officer, Sandra, to get her report on how the arrangements for the passengers were coming along. 

Everything seems to be going fine so far, Sandra told him.  We have the rooms for the Intermediary we are returning to their planet, set to their specifications.  The Scientific Officers Liaison officer, whose name is Jill, said that they were happy with their rooms, and the storage of their equipment. I have some of my team going over the final few rooms before the rest of the passengers come aboard just before we leave.

Good, Wesley said, Have you had any problems so far, with any of the people who have come on-board already?  He did not voice his concerns that a certain person who was his major concern, had a tendency to wander when she was in the midst of reading, or trying to nut out a problem. 

Over the years his sister Helene had known Marilla, he had first-hand experience of her wandering. Several times she had entered his room, when he had stepped out of the shower, was getting ready for bed, or just relaxing.  The room she had been given when she was having a sleep over with his sister was three doors down from his, next to Helene’s.  She had not even noticed she had entered the wrong room.  Most recently only a few months ago Helene had rushed in and physically turned her around and sent her in the right direction giving him an apologetic look.  Marilla had only mumbled something that he thought sounded like ‘Oh sorry, wrong door,’ as she ambled down the passage under his sister’s guidance to the correct room, without taking her eyes off her book.

Nothing to report so far, Jill Orson the science liaison officer smiled at him.  It is a pleasure working with such a competent and forward-thinking Captain. Sandra had been engaged through the Diplomatic services connected to the Northern Hemisphere’s Embassy Liaison Office.  She had worked with several inter-galactic captains on transporters and not all of them were as efficient, or as forward thinking as this one.

Wesley thanked her for her report and asked her to keep him or Rory posted should anything strange, or concerning should arise. 

1st August In the Earth Year 2585

11 a.m. Aboard the Galaxy Explorer

The day for departure had arrived, most of the various science teams had been aboard the GE1 for three days.  In her assigned room, Marilla Prentagist and her mother April, were overseeing the final instalment of some of the database Marilla and her colleagues would need for their work. 

Unlike her daughter, April was very present in the here and now, and was not prone to her daughters more challenging habits. She and her husband Stephen had understood where she got her peculiar traits from, because Marilla had been diagnosed before she was born with the highest form of Hyper Focus.  They had been able to learn how to help Marilla from birth to cope with the various H.F. phases she would experience.  Hundreds of years ago those diagnosed on the Hyper Focus faced many challenges, especially those with the most severe form, like Marilla. 

Now thanks to a doctor in the year 2297, identifying and a caring for those with H.F. had been developed back then, and perfected over the last 150 years.  The Prentagist’s worried that she would not have anyone to take care of her and see that she ate, and did not wander off while in one of her ‘investigative’ phases.  She was thankful that Wesley Motgellin was going to be travelling with them. His parents had assured her and Stephen that he would keep an eye on the safety and security of those travelling with them.  April was even more pleased that he would be staying on this little-known distant planet with the science team for the year.

Marilla, April called as she stepped out of her daughter’s dressing room, having helped her unpack her clothing.

Marilla!  She said more sharply, pushing down the book her daughter was reading, and lifting her daughter’s chin to make her break her focus.

Marilla blinked and focused on her mother. Oh…. yes, you were saying something.

I have sorted out your clothes, now are you sure you have everything that you will need?

Marilla ran through her mental list of what she knew she had packed, for her scientific work, and said.  Yep, I am sure I have everything. 

What about clothes?  April noticed the inevitable blank look cross her daughter’s face.  Toiletries?  A frown appeared on the younger woman’s face.  With a sigh of long understanding, April took her through everything that she had unpacked for her daughter, and showed her where everything was. 

Thanks mum, I don’t know what I am going to do without you.  Marilla said hugging her mother.  Now back in the land of reality, she made herself leave the reading she was doing, and went with her mother to inspect the rest of her rooms. 

Knowing their youngest child, the way she did, April and Stephen had enlisted the help of her housekeeper to make sure that a full list of clothes, toiletries, and other things needed were packed.  If it had been left to Marilla, who seemed to find everyday things a bit of a challenge, especially when she was excited about a science related issue, she would have travelled all the way to Sliphta with only the clothes on her back if no one had intervened.  This extended trip away from all that Marilla knew, was going to be a challenging one.  Normally her friends were with her, if not a family member.  But April had to cut the apron strings sooner or later, and let their absent-minded child, test her wings, and find out what life was like.  Some of her colleagues were very similar, and got lost in their research, forgetting to eat, or what the time was. 

OK, the shuttle back down will be leaving soon.  Is there anything that we need to have sent up to you before the transporter leaves?

I think I’m all good to go thanks mum, is dad coming to say goodbye, or is he off at a meeting?

He should be dropping in to see you before you leave, he will have a final meeting with his team who are travelling with you.  He is coming on the final shuttle, accompanying the Intermediary on board who are flying home.  He will take the last shuttle back after he has concluded his briefing with his people.  She gave her daughter a final hug. Now I have some papers to grade for yesterday’s classes, so you make sure you eat, make sure you…

Yes, mum I know, Marilla said with a sigh, I will remember.  I am grown up now, I don’t need people watching over me.

As April stepped onto the shuttle heading back down to Earth, she cast a final look at her baby girl.  Shaking her head, she hoped, that for once, Marilla would not end up doing something that could get her into difficulty.

Marilla waved as her mother stepped into the shuttle, a huge smile on her face.  She had so much to do before they got to Sliphta.  She was also looking forward to being able to see a bit of Borsha and Mitta.  The Scientists from those planets who were joining them, would be a wealth of information for her.  Happily walking back to her room, she passed an observation window, and stared down at her home planet.  She had never been into space before, and this was the first time she had seen Earth from this view.  Looking up above the window, she saw the docking station the transporter was attached to.  It was huge!  The ship itself was massive, but the docking station was bigger than she could have imagined.

She consulted the floor plan of the ship she had been given, and did her own investigation of what the ship had to offer.  Where she was allowed to go was all marked in green.  Anywhere she was not allowed to go, was marked in red, so she would have to make sure that she did not wander into any of those zones. 

People kept joking with her that she often wandered about in a daze and into places she should not, but she did not think she had done that for a very long time.  Marilla thought they were just playing tricks, teasing.  She used to do things like that when she was a lot younger, but had not walked into a place she should not, for several years.  Also, she was proud that she had stopped her rambling speeches about things that interested her. 

She was now just focused, not as hyper-focused on subjects of interest as when she was younger.  She was now able to hold a normal conversation with others without waffling on for extended periods of time.  She had finally grown out of her wandering and rambling faze.

Casting a final glance at Earth below her, she turned sharply on her heels and headed on her self-guided tour.  After all it would only be wise to get to know the ship, she would be spending such an extended period of time travelling on.  Marilla reminded herself she would need to take a look at the short-range transporter that had been loaded into the cargo bay for their use on Sliphta.  But that could wait until later. 

There was so much to do between now and the time they landed at their destination.  The science team had been told that they would take