Earth – New Beginning
Dragonlots aka Dana Bell
Chapter 20: Moonlit Night
The moon is brighter Barnabas thought as he trudged across the shifting sand. Animal cries he'd gotten used to were eerily absent in the Badlands. From the faint tracks he'd seen earlier, a few dinosaurs lived here. There had even been some picked clean bones.
His nose detected the rancid stench of decay and grinned. He'd been following the scent for hours and hoped the power of the smell indicated his prey Lucas Taylor was near.
Perhaps tonight or tomorrow, he'd catch his accidental creation and end his undead life. Then he'd await the sun and welcome his own.
He hoped his sacrifice freed his family from the witch's curse which had hung over them for centuries casting dark shadows over their lives. His foolishness had started it. His death should end it.
"You will finally loose, Angelique," he spoke into the air, knowing she would never answer, relieved he would never hear her mocking laughter ever again.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
"Beautiful moon," Laura commented as she sat out front of her home. Sheba lounged in the small yard, her teeth working on bone she'd finally managed to crack open, her long tongue lapping at the marrow.
"How do you manage to handle her?" Dr. Quest asked from his place in the chair next to her. He reached over and took her hand.
"I always remember she's a wild animal and treat her as such." She left her hand in his. It felt good. "Plus I made Commander Taylor a promise."
"What kind of promise?" he asked quietly.
"That if she ever became a problem I'd end her life." Laura hoped she never had to do so. She loved the sabre cat.
"Laura." She heard him shift in his chair. He cleared his throat. "I'd like to court you."
Not sure how to react, she said the first thing that came to mind. "A year in the wild didn't change your mind?"
"If anything." He squeezed her hand. "It convinced me," he paused. "I never stopped thinking about you and wishing you'd come with us."
Laura wet her lips. The hardest thing she'd ever done was tell him now when he'd invited her to go with them. It had taken everything she had to return to Terra Nova after rescuing him from Lucas Taylor. "I missed you too," she told him.
He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it.
His action reminded him of Barnabas. He'd been the only man she knew who did that. Her eyes lifted to the moon wondering whether her cousin had found Taylor's son and ended him.
"Are you cold?"
Benton's question jerked her back to the moment. "No." She needed to change the subject. "Tell me about your adventures last year."
"We have time to discuss our travels later." He pulled her to her feet so he could embrace her. "Is meant for enjoying this lovely view."
His look told her he didn't mean the full moon. She blushed, not sure how to take his attention.
Sheba raised her head growling. He frowned not liking the interruption of their moment.
"What is it Sheba?" she asked, accepting the cat's warning.
A shape crossed the street followed by another smaller, the white fur reflecting under the light. Bandit bounced up to the cat barking. She bumped him with her paw and he yelped, running to the young man Laura could see clearly.
"Give Sheba a wide berth, Jonny," Laura instructed.
The teen complied. Sheba went back to enjoying her bone.
"You should be in bed," Benton scolded.
Jonny rolled his blue eyes. "You didn't come home for dinner." He glanced over at Laura. She suspected he had no idea how to react to his father's interest in a woman not his mother. Like always he wore jeans and a black top.
Dr. Quest blinked. His expression surprised. "You're right."
Jonny stared at his father before shaking his head. "I haven't seen you like this since mom…" He stopped.
She couldn't read the look that passed over Benton's bearded face. "I need to say goodnight, Laura."
What had just happened Laura couldn't be sure. She nodded and heard herself say, "I hope we can talk later."
"Rest assured we will," he promised, before placing an arm around his son's shoulders.
She watched as the pair headed back to their hut, with Bandit strutting behind them.
Curious why the remark about Jonny's mom had upset them both yet knowing from experience mostly from her vampire cousin, there were topics they would never discuss. Evidently his deceased wife was one of them.
With a final glance at Sheba who now napped, her strong paws wrapped around her bone, Laura went inside. She hoped the cat would go visit the orchards later. The little dinosaurs had returned worrying the gardeners. No doubt she'd find pieces of heads or tails at her back door.
Her hand rested on the family history sitting on the table. She'd been reading the volume. Barnabas's records had proven surprising complete giving details no one else in the family even knew. She'd reached the late nineteen nineties covering when Roger Collins had been patriarch of the family ruling alongside Elizabeth Stoddard and the exploits of their two children David and Carolyn.
Tonight it didn't interest her. Restless, Laura went out the back door looking over her exotic garden of medicinal plants. Moonlight cast shadows the vines looking like tall monsters. What she missed was the whispers of ghosts she'd always heard at Collinwood.
Ghosts weren't supposed to exist, but then, neither were vampires, and they'd had one in their family for generations.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Adama had managed to convince the Quorum, finally, to accept the inevitable resettlement of their people. They'd narrowed the selections down to an area a few days travel from Terra Nova. A river flowed through a fertile valley, if Dr. Quest's observations were correct. Not far away stood a very high mountain and the mining possibilities would supply them with much needed ores. The foundry ship had the ability to land so they occupants would be able to start work quickly.
The agro ships could supply them with the needed seed to start crops and feed their people. It would be a struggle for a couple of yahrens, but the fruit of their labors would be rewarding. Not to mention the ability to finally allow their women to give birth to a new generation. They'd had to prevent many pregnancies due to lack of supplies. He knew Apollo and Sheba wanted children and no doubt other couples did as well.
Thinking of his son made him pay closer attention to his and Rae's plans for a fly over.
"I need my squadron down here," Rae said, her fingers resting on the map. Her dark hair rested on her shoulders and her brown flight jacket.
"I've already selected my warriors. Sheba will bring them back."
At least whatever disagreement had been between them must have long ago been resolved. They'd never discussed it with him and he believed in allowing his children to resolve their own issues.
"We should be able to start the recon in the morning." Apollo waited for Rae to agree.
"That's fine. I'd prefer daylight to this overly bright moon."
"I heard the worst hunters roam at night," Starbuck added, with an impish grin.
"Speaking from experience, Starbuck?" Apollo teased.
"Maybe."
Rae laughed. "You haven't changed."
"I wouldn't say that." Starbuck and Apollo exchanged a meaningful look. "Both of us are sealed now."
"You? Sealed?" Rae shook her head. "I never thought I see the day/"
"I never saw you and Don coming," Starbuck bantered back.
Her face shadowed. "Long story."
Apollo placed a hand on her shoulder. "We have plenty of time to catch up. Where is Don?"
"Where do you think?"
"You didn't ask my consent?" Adama tried to sound firm despite knowing Captain Raelene never followed orders or the chain of command.
"Do I ever?" She smiled, her eyes twinkling.
Adama sighed. "Rarely." He gave her an indulgent smile. "It's nice to have you back."
"Good to be back."
"Rae," Apollo drew her attention. "May I speak with you?"
She frowned. "Sure."
His son's tone told him he wanted to speak to her about a private matter. Possibly his marriage to Sheba or more likely, Dillion, who she'd fostered.
"Let me know your full flight plans," Adama reminded them.
They both nodded before stepping outside.
"Think I'll go back to my quarters." Starbuck left as well.
Adama sat back in his chair proud of his children. He'd have to find a time to speak to each of them privately. They were accomplished warriors and he wondered how they'd adapt to being planet bound and not in a viper.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
"How'd it go with Taylor, Shannon and Dr. Wallace," Kelly asked, lounging in the door.
"About what I expected," Alona answered. "I'll take to Laura in the morning."
"Any guesses what the Ancients left behind?"
"No." She stretched and rubbed her eyes. "I think I need a good night's sleep."
"Good Idea."
"You coming, Kelly?"
"In a bit."
"Don't YOU stay up all night."
Kelly stuck out her tongue.
"Very mature." Alona shook her head.
"How long have we known each other?" Kelly returned.
"Our entire lives."
The Sheppards, McKays and Millers had always been tight. She wondered if her ancestors had started the tradition.
"My point exactly." She waved her fingers. "Sleep well." Kelly ducked out.
"Brat." Alona smiled as she tucked the imager back into the drawer and locked it, before leaving for the night.
Outside the air had grown damp. Above the full moon hovered overhead with a few clouds starting to mar its brightness. No doubt another storm would deluge them tomorrow and she'd have to travel in it.
Back at her home, she discovered to her delight, none of her other house mates were home. Kelly was at the lab, the boys were probably working with others to shore up any holes in the fence to keep the pesky dinosaurs out of Terra Nova. Tessa though, she had no idea where the young woman had gotten off to.
A scratching sound made her stop. Bright eyes peered at her, followed by a sharp clawed talon.
Don't make any sudden moves she reminded herself, slowly backing toward the front door. Her fingers fumbled to open it, hoping it gave her the escape she hoped for.
Glass shattered surprising her as a low growl filled the room. Her mind finally registered the Sabre cat challenge before the door opened and she nearly fell backward. Someone caught her.
"Sorry about the window," Laura apologized. "I had no idea what she was going to do."
"It's okay." Her legs wobbled and she feared she might collapse.
"Here." Laura grabbed a chair and made her sit down. "Stay here." The other woman entered the house. A few long minutes later she came back out. "Sheba didn't make too much of a mess." She chuckled. "You'll need to get your back door fixed and the window."
"Thanks." A shudder racked her body.
"No problem." Laura ducked back into the house, coming back with a blanket she tossed over Alona's shoulders. "Sheba got restless. I followed her when she dashed off."
"Was it one of those…" She swallowed.
"Yeah."
"Oh." Alona felt grateful to be alive. "How many lives has she saved?"
"Lots."
Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm her pounding heart. "Have a favor to ask." Her timing was never the best.
"I'm listening."
"Need a ride out to the lake where the herds are."
"You could take a rover to look at the city."
"It left." She took another deep breath. "They left some containers. I need to find out what's in them."
The red head smiled. "I suspect you want a ride on Bola."
"If it's not too much to ask."
She chuckled. "That can be arranged."
Alona felt sorry for her housemates. They'd need to fix the place before going to bed. "Thanks. Again."
"You're more than welcome."
Drops began to fall.
"You can't stay here," Laura said. "Why don't you grab what you need and stay at my place tonight."
Her suggestion made sense. "I'll be just a few minutes." Alona got up and stopped before she went back inside. "What about Sheba?"
"Not to worry. She'll hole up somewhere with her prey and wander back when she's ready."
Laura's reassurance helped and Alona went inside to grab her backpack and what she'd need for the next few days.
