In this chapter, I will indulge you with a little "flash-forward." How far forward you ask? 50 years to be exact. Please let me know if you would like to see more flash-forwards in the future.
Chapter Five
The Settlers' Ball
"Attention please," Tessa said, clinking a glass with her spoon. Her voice was papery and weighted with her wisdom. The room quickly feel silent; the floor creaked as people turned to face Tessa. She cleared her throat and began to speak. "Welcome to the first ever Settlers' Ball. We hope that this will become an annual tradition. Now, to continue with this presentation, my daughter, Katherine." Tessa clapped and stepped aside. Katherine's auburn hair glowed in the evening sunlight.
"Good evening everyone. Fifty years ago, six intrepid colonists crash landed on this planet. Unfortunately, only one is left today, and that is my mother, but the others are still here with us in spirit." She smiled as the audience of about 100 clapped. "Behind me here is a statue commemorating the original landing of the settlers." Katherine tugged on a rope, and a curtain fell off of a massive alabaster statue. It depicted the six settlers and their ship behind them. "We have also, with the help of Harold, decided on a name for our humble settlement here." Katherine paused, creating suspense. "Ladies and gentlemen. I present to you: New Paris." She couldn't help but smile. No one alive except her mother had seen the real Paris, and it was probably better that way. From what Katherine knew, this small town of mismatched log buildings would never live up to the glory of the gleaming city of Paris.
Katherine glanced out the window at the croissant shop across the street, and a strange feeling swept over her. Her eyes widened as an ominous shadow crept over the settlement.
"Oh bloody hell," Tessa said, drawing everyone's attention. Several of the men stood up, grasping their rifles. They cautiously walked out the door and stood up.
"Everyone get to the bunker!" one of them shouted. Panic quickly ensued. Women shrieked, grabbed their children, and clung to their husbands.
"Damon!" Tessa said, grabbing the man who yelled by the arm.
"Yes ma'am," he said shamefully.
"Make sure these people get to safety. I'll go to Harold and see if I can figure out what this thing is," Tessa said sternly. "Now go!"
Damon ran off with the crowd of people toward the hills east of the settlement. Tessa gathered up her skirt and dashed off toward the town center. When she reached the fountain, she shut off the water. The shadow got darker, making all the buildings look dismal and macabre. Once the water drained, a set of stairs revealed itself. Carefully, she climbed over the edge of the fountain and walked down the stairs.
"Harold!" she said, reaching the bottom of the stairs.
"Yes ma'am," the computer responded.
"What is that-." She was cut off by a sudden flash of light. Two green eyed aliens materialized in front of her. "Dammit… now look boys," she said as calmly as she could. "We agreed that you wouldn't come back here for another 50 years."
"The terms of our agreement have changed," one of the aliens said in a harsh, guttural voice, pulling out an energy weapon.
"Wait don-." Tessa didn't finish her sentence before she was shot square in the chest by a ball of energy.
Sorry to leave you guys hanging again, but I promise this will be continued….eventually.