MAR: (Earthal: Book 1)

By Anita Moran

Mar is a remnant of one of the species taken from a planet at the brink of nuclear war that would have destroyed the planet along with thousands of other species. Humans were thought to be among the least of the species rescued; it was only the interest of the most powerful being in his world that the human remained at the attention of all who bred and raised them. Despite his upbringing, the loss of his twin sister, Mar is manipulated to choose to stay in the most dangerous environment known to all the species. The jungle planet is known for killing those who failed to learn from those who know the danger of the planet. Mar is set on a course to not only conquer the planet but prove that humans are as important as any species rescued from all the planets being tested. If he can survive the tests.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 4, 2020
• ISBN: 9781646283903

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MAR

(Earthal: Book 1)

Anita Moran

Copyright © 2020 Anita Moran

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING, INC.

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2020

ISBN 978-1-64628-389-7 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-64628-390-3 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 15

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 17

CHAPTER 18

CHAPTER 19

CHAPTER 20

CHAPTER 21

CHAPTER 22

CHAPTER 23

CHAPTER 24

CHAPTER 25

To my sons William, Robert and Adam.

They are the strongest men I know and

all were willing to give me ideas.

CHAPTER 1

All that was visible from the portal were streams of lights denoting the passage of debris that resulted from interstellar travel, asteroids, and the stars of systems explored and unexplored. Within the cabin, except for a single corner, all the contents from the deep gray metal walls that maintained the cabin’s pressure, humidity, and temperature to make its occupant comfortable, to the silver of the furniture that was designed to contain the few needs were in shadows. The sparse metallic furniture could only be guessed at as rounded corners and lines were all that was visible to most. In the one illuminated corner, colors flashed throughout the small area with three large data screens that transferred its information at a speed of twelve pages a second to the occupant seated in front of them. The slow speed was tailored for the enjoyment of the reader who watched the three screens with interest and dismay. Having read through the content several times, he wanted to make sure nothing was missed.

Slender fingers, barely more than tissue covering fragile bones, depressed a series of buttons. Each screen slowed then stopped. The charts of two solar systems showed on each screen, one slightly different from the other. The differences were minor, and the fact that the original records were incomplete might be the cause of the discrepancies. Notes that continued to scroll at an even slower speed on the side of each image explained the missing data. The thick cushioned chair wrapped around its occupant for support even though it was not needed except for comfort. The fine skeletal neck seemed incapable of withstanding the weight of the enormous head it supported. Deep-green eyes, a pair in each of the six sockets, were capable of seeing all but what was directly behind and even through certain objects made of natural material with heat images. The orange, almost translucent, skin filled with noticeable pores could reflect or absorb information and sounds. Only taste went unnoticed by the Tremin in their natural form, and they thought it an unnecessary sense. There were very fine hairs that covered the body that took in additional information from the environment, but they were invisible to most species. They transmitted information to the cabin walls to assure that the occupant was in optimum environmental conditions.

The first, a pale-blue screen, rolled through the contents of the captain’s log from the Proguto. The ship and her crew were sent searching since its maiden voyage. Her captain and crew were specially selected because of their reputations for finding the impossible and willingness to brave the most hostile of environments. Already the inhabitants of eleven planets were rescued and returned to Lakar’s moon, Apaar. It was right that this be the ship to find such a treasure. The second, a white screen, whirled through its contents of galactic charts with notes as to which areas were visited in the search thus far. Places of encounters and types of encounters filled the screen. The third, a green screen, showed all that was left of the original log of the first ship to find the planet. Only small portions remained intact because of a breach during quarantine and collection on a visit to that fateful planet. What changes could have occurred during the time since the planet’s location was unknown until now. All eyes closed as if to prevent pain of failure from being dwelt upon.

Tu studied the charts in front of him, as did three of the highest-ranking Tremins, who were reviewing the same information. He was convinced. The excitement running through his body only showed in the added sparkle to the green eyes. It must be the system of the Tremins, his own, greatest mistake.

He stood in command of his first search mission that seemed so long ago. A young two galactic years, Tu was given a ship of his own to command and an important mission. He was to rescue any intelligent or interesting life-forms from a planet moving away from its sun. The saving of species on planets endangered by whatever means was what the Tremins devoted their existence to. The newly commissioned Nilance was more than adequately designed for the task. Her large isolation compartments could hold up to three thousand different species, more if they were small. After her initial testing showed all systems were a go, the crew selected by the captain boarded her eagerly. When the Nilance arrived at the planet, it was all but frozen. They managed to rescue only eighteen species from the billions that once inhabited the tropical planet. The most intelligent species was a biped of great proportions standing nearly twelve feet in height and deeply muscled. Its dry gray skin seemed more suited to a desert environment than what the planet had once been. All members of the species were collected, and all were pleased that young and old alike survived.

After careful quarantine and sterilization procedures, the oldest members of each species were given light sedation if possible, instead of suspended for the trip to Apaar, the quarantine moon of the planet Lakar, awaiting investigation. A mind probe was attached to each in order to absorb any and all thought processes so that they could learn as much as they could about the planet and the interactions of the species. The stored thoughts would be the basis of the knowledge base so that the environment they needed could be replicated until it was determined that they could be safely placed on one of the planets in the Noug system. With many of the crew having placed themselves in suspension for the return trip, they had been unprepared for the solar explosion. A sun usually gave warning signs, which would have activated alarm systems and allowed the ship to automatically leave the area well before there was danger. No alarms sounded when the first waves of images reached into the mind of the captain.

The mental images of death woke Tu just in time to press the deep-blue panel that woke and alerted his crew of the danger. Tu was proud of his crew’s reaction for they managed to keep the ship intact and all rescued species safe. The damage done by the explosion and incorrect instrument readings, led the ship away from their own solar system. Floating in space with little power and the repairs that were needed required landing the vessel to complete. Even in the best of times, that action could be dangerous to his crew, his ship, and the life-forms on any planet they chose. Tremin officers and scientist studied planets for centuries before landing for a rescue, but this was an emergency. It took eight Lakar years to find a suitable planet with the capability and natural products required for complete repairs. Landing on an unknown planet not previously scanned over many years could be foolish, but there was little choice left to them if they were to save their passengers and themselves. The atmosphere was similar to that of the planet from which their guest came and could be used by the Tremin and their less mentally developed Surin families. Life support could be shut down for repair but with all air-filtration systems remaining active.

The primary life-form of the planet could be easily imitated by the Tremin, which helped with the collection of essential items for repairs without drawing attention to themselves. Tu spent many hours in human form to study them closely and interact with those few he watched even more closely than others. When he could no longer maintain the form, Tu listened to the communication channels across the planet and recorded what he saw and heard. While the majority wanted to live peacefully, the human species as a whole, seemed bent on destroying itself and the world it lived in. Death by violence and neglect seemed to be the prevailing topic on the news, but many instances of violence, disease, and neglect was not seen in the sterile media coverage. Walking in the worst parts of cities they visited gave perspective to all the problems that went from hunger to self-violence and the reasons for that violence that he could not understand. Their capabilities for mind-altering energies could keep the inhabitants of these dangerous areas ignorant of the visitors to their planet. Reading the various news sources, the most disturbing aspect to what appeared to be the ruling life-form was their random acts of violence and violence in the name of various religious and political beliefs. Currently, many were worried about a nuclear issue on an island nation involving one of the larger land masses. To protect themselves, the senior Surin engineer assured Tu that he could neutralize the threat if required.

The planetary surveyors among the crew were astounded by the wide variety of conditions throughout the planet from deep deserts seen on Trile to thick jungles seen on Nide. Island nations dotted the vast oceans while thick ice entrapped water at both poles of the planet. In a country called Texas alone, there were deep forests to deserts with gold, silver, petroleum, and pockets of gemstones that might be of use. There were large deposits of what the planet’s inhabitants called diamonds in a country called South Africa. They were not optimum; it was determined that they would be usable after treatment with pressure from the engines as they got back online. As the geologists studied the nature of the planet, others studied the wide varieties of life-forms. Those they determined could be close to extinction were cataloged and studied to assure it was natural elimination or from some other cause. Although it was dangerous, the Tremin ship was moved to where the natural resources could be found so that they could be collected, concentrated, or used in their raw form. Some could be made usable by systems within the ship, which were currently offline. When it was time to move, they used the weather and darkness to allow them to move unseen, but invariably one or more of the humans would see, but these sightings meant little since overall they were ignored.

Tu knew what he wanted to do. When the ship was once again ready for space travel, most were expecting the call of the command officers to his quarters. Letting them know of his decision was a formality; it was what their species were focused on completing for eons. Each section became excited as they began cataloging various species they wished to study. Tu was confused by the adamant request to collect all species of whales. The amusement in other Tremin commanders, Tu nodded in agreement. Surins were the engineers of Trill and performed the jobs requiring physical strength and dexterity. Though with much higher intelligent quota than most species encountered, the Surin had no telepathic ability. They were vital to Tremin society and to the Nilance. Commander Andri, they have already been listed and several were planning on asking your help in devising a way to make sure there is room for all the species that we may be taking with us and keep them safe and healthy.

Tu, when we found the first dead one, we made sure the lower two levels could contain a large number of each species in stasis.

The decision to take a small sampling of life-forms from the planet seemed almost anticlimactic with the senior officers having already assumed they would collect those of several species that would not be missed, and those endangered were collected so that none remained on the planet. They were all sure the Tremin council would agree to another mission, if only for observation. Tu made sure that several elderly males and females of the humans were included along with the very young for this species fascinated him as no other. As the ship was repaired, they collected porpoises, whales, various fish, and sharks from the sea, crustaceans from the shore. Cattle, horses, deer, elk, cats, wolves, dogs from the first continent and other animals from each continent and island group including all which were deemed endangered first. Eagles, hawks, owls, and a wide variety of birds from the sky. More than two hundred thousand species including microscopic specimens were included and made room for so that they could be placed in statis for the journey. Instruments, drugs, chemicals, tools, printed materials, and other daily use items were included in the retrieval. Those elders that would not survive the trip were placed in a light sleep until they could place monitors on them.

Once they left the surface, Tu made a final decision to fill the remaining space with humans from a wide variety of locations and situations. Most of these were infants and younglings that seemed to be abandoned or in poor situations as well as senior humans from the same areas. Tu also made sure that historical data was retrieved especially medical for both humans and various species. He was surprised that the most extensive information on species other than humans was where humans various other collected species in cages and special environmental enclosures. News recordings and something the humans called books were collected as well. Pleased that they were able to not only make the repairs but rescue so many species that needed their help. Several additional species were added to the cargo until the ship was at capacity. For all that is started as an emergency landing, it turned into a rescue mission of great worth. The presence of nuclear and weaponized pathogens was surely enough so that the Tremin council would allow a second rescue mission to this planet.

They had not even reached Apaar, the quarantine moon of Lakar, when Tu discovered his ascension to the role of leader of the Tremins. His pod parent, Trus, the previous leader, along with the ruling council, perished in a shuttle accident on the tropical planet of Nide. Tu sat alone in his quarters until Tala arrived. Tala, his pollen parent, entered and sat at his table. She was on his ship because she was the best bio historian, and her ability to connect with most species was unsurpassed.

You must tell Ta, Tala.

Let her have her time with the species…

Dolphins is what most earthlings call them.

Let her have her time with them without this knowledge, you know she was very close to Trus and we will be at Appar in less than a cycle.

I know, Tala. I was informed of everything. I do not want her hurt any more than you, so I will take your advice and wait until we reach Apaar.

You must find a pollen match soon.

It is already done. Reni will arrive on Appar just before we arrive.

Reni is from a three-quarter Surin pollen parent, Tu. That will diminish your pod offspring abilities.

It was a match I approved even knowing that information. The Surins are still Tremin Tala, and Reni’s specialty is the same as yours. She will be accepted, or I will break all contact with those who do not accept her. Is that clear?

Yes, Tu.

The decision about Earth was placed before the youngest council ever to rule. After all species were left on Apaar, the Nilance traveled immediately to Trile. Tu would to have been given several Lakar cycles with his pollen choice, but it was unnecessary since Remi transferred to the Nilance from Apaar. The reports from Tu and his crew had been well received, but there was an issue when a problem was detected. There were many questions, but when the records from the Nilance were retrieved and viewed, the disaster was known.

It had been, Tas, Tu’s pod sibling who found the problem and brought it to the council’s attention while they waited for the report on the planet that the Nilance had visited. With all species being important and as it was unknown whether any species would cause harm to another by intention or not. All species were kept separated in their sealed areas in biological suspension, until the ship’s arrival on Apaar. Feeling the air system used on the plant surface adequate, proper precautions had not been used. A microscopic plant that could multiple quickly had been collected for study, as a possible substitute for Preseptal. It also entered the ship on the clothes of a crew member. The Nilance’s self-protection program had kept the organism from the vital workings of the ship, but the star recorder and the captain’s logs were deeply damaged. Many blanks were left where vital information and the planet’s media coverage was stored. Only the mind-probe information collected on the trip and the recording of the human private communications remained intact. The system information and planet information and location were lost.

Memories faded as the Tremin leader focused on the star charts before him. Never had there been such carelessness, however, that did not help the countless other intelligent creatures still on the unstable planet. It had been more than eighteen galactic years, 2,700 Earth years, now the search may have ended. Tu hoped that they were in time to return to save those on the planet.

A small blinking light at the bottom of all screens appeared, and using a single digit, a blue button was pushed and a message in the Tremin language appeared. They were approaching Lakar, and he would have to change soon. Only the Surkires knew the true form of the Tremin. Their highly developed telepathic ability made it impossible for the Tremins to hide their true selves. Tremins were ever evolving, and when their mental capabilities reached what they considered its zenith, they reached to change their bodies. It was the reason Tremins and Surins were so different now. Tremins could absorb any malleable natural material to increase their bulk. With the power of their mind, they could shape that material in any way. Most Tremins could only shift for less than a day on Lakar or Nide, but the strongest minds could be in their shifted form for several days. Only in an emergency was that accomplished; to do so left the Tremin who tried it vulnerable for many days as their energy and all reserves would be depleted. The other species expected strong beings to be respected, and even a little feared. The beings that others saw was a combination of all those who had been rescued and most feared what they saw. Thankfully the Surkires provided chambers so that Tremins visiting could rest and retake their normal forms as needed. The liquid resulting from the transformation back to their original form was absorbed over the rest period requires to renew their energy.

The long frame lifted from the chair and moved to the sleeping space which moved as if alive. The sap from a water plant of Nide had long since been used by the Tremins not only because it conformed to and supported whatever shape laid upon it, the substance gave equal comfort, but also because the accommodating substance could easily be used to increase bulk if needed for a transformation. Tu gently touched the panel on the wall, and the chamber became darker still so that nothing could be discerned about the interior of the chamber.

CHAPTER 2

The shuttle moved slowly over the thinning clouds as it broke through the atmosphere surrounding the planet of Lakar. Looking out of the windows of his private quarters, Tu saw the reflection of the being most would see when he reached the landing dock. The small porcine nose was almost comical except for the small canine upper teeth that protruded below the lips. The multiple green eyes were now encased in two large sockets but still worked independently. Tall erect ears formed the beginning of the facial line, which extended down firm jowls ending in a slight protruding jaw. The previously fragile-looking neck was now muscular as was the rest of his body. He was covered with rich brown fur, which moved on its own accord in order to pick up sounds and atmospheric conditions. He looked at his two hands, each different from the other. The left formed into three broad digits, each ending with two-inch claws. The right hand was free of hair and delicately sculptured into seven thin, multijointed digits, each capable of moving independently. His fragile legs were now thickly muscled and