Read Online The Fire Crystal by James Lawrence - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: James Lawrence
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jumped for joy. There was Tom waiting to talk to him directly. The two friends exchanged greetings and Tom explained his visit.
“We’re in orbit in a battle cruiser; the biggest we have. It’s fitted-out with the most powerful weapons, because we need to be ready for anything,” he told Calvan. “Amber, my cousin is here too. She’s part of the team. The Elders have given permission for you to join too. Come on up, and we’ll catch up. I’ll collect you on the beach tomorrow evening, then we can explain everything.”
Calvan wanted to shout with excitement but managed to say in a matter of fact voice. “OK looking forward to it.” This was an offer he couldn’t refuse.
He was old enough to take care of himself now, and there would be a simple note explaining that he was taking a short vacation, before college started again. Calvan smiled to himself as he imagined telling Mom and Dad the real facts. “Just interrupting my summer break this year. A shuttlecraft is taking me up into orbit, and I will be joining my friends from Two Stars on their battle cruiser. The Elders from their planet have decided that I can join the team.”
His father would laugh, and suggest that he become a writer, or much worse they may take him to be examined by a doctor; a shrink he had heard them called.
Next evening Calvan was waiting on the beach for the shuttlecraft. Suddenly the beacon alerted him that a link was open. It was Tom. “Hi Calvan, I’m about ten miles above you, and cloaked, from just about everything you guys have on Earth. I don’t want to be playing hide and seek with a fighter plane. They sometimes scramble one, to take a look at UFOs,”
Calvan looked around to make sure that it was all clear, and used the beacon to send the ‘ready’ signal. He stared up at the sky, thinking that he would catch a sight of Tom’s ship. Suddenly, right next to where he was standing the air began to crackle, and started to shimmer with an electric blue glow. He jumped sideways. A small craft had materialized in the center of the glow , and sat firmly on the beach. A hatched opened in the side, and there was Tom with one outstretched arm, ready to pull him aboard.
Calvin grinned. “That was impressive, you must be getting even better at this stuff,” he said leaping through the hatch, and into the craft.
They exchanged greetings , with the usual ‘how you been’ stuff, as the craft lifted. This was an experience that Calvan would never take for granted, and he watched with wonder through a porthole, as the landscape receded, and they headed for space.
Finally Tom announced they were in orbit , and then he saw the huge bulk of the battle cruiser. Their shuttlecraft edged towards it, and then drew alongside. It seemed that Tom had nothing to do, and the journey had been automatic.
“Who’s steering this thing?” Calvan asked
“I’m not controlling the craft. The main ship has been in control, since I walked into it and descended,” Tom explained to Calvan.
The craft docked perfectly , without even a bump. The hatch opened into a short tube, and a small indicator above the opening glowed green. They walked across to the cruiser. It was that simple.
Tom smiled , as he watched Calvan stare in amazement and said, “This is a new ship, we have all the latest stuff, and some of it even surprised me until I got used to it.”
Tom seemed relaxed now, and relieved that he was back onboard. Was it because they were now within the ships missile-shield? Calvan had wondered, remembering Tom’s remarks from two years ago. “There was a risk of missile attack, when in near - earth orbit.”
They sat in a small conference room, and a pretty girl walked in to join them.
“This is my cousin Amber, she will be joining us on this mission. In fact a lot of it is her idea” Tom said proudly. Then he explained: The Zaarks were on the offensive again.
“We are honorable people,” Tom declared, “and expected them to
“We’re in orbit in a battle cruiser; the biggest we have. It’s fitted-out with the most powerful weapons, because we need to be ready for anything,” he told Calvan. “Amber, my cousin is here too. She’s part of the team. The Elders have given permission for you to join too. Come on up, and we’ll catch up. I’ll collect you on the beach tomorrow evening, then we can explain everything.”
Calvan wanted to shout with excitement but managed to say in a matter of fact voice. “OK looking forward to it.” This was an offer he couldn’t refuse.
He was old enough to take care of himself now, and there would be a simple note explaining that he was taking a short vacation, before college started again. Calvan smiled to himself as he imagined telling Mom and Dad the real facts. “Just interrupting my summer break this year. A shuttlecraft is taking me up into orbit, and I will be joining my friends from Two Stars on their battle cruiser. The Elders from their planet have decided that I can join the team.”
His father would laugh, and suggest that he become a writer, or much worse they may take him to be examined by a doctor; a shrink he had heard them called.
Next evening Calvan was waiting on the beach for the shuttlecraft. Suddenly the beacon alerted him that a link was open. It was Tom. “Hi Calvan, I’m about ten miles above you, and cloaked, from just about everything you guys have on Earth. I don’t want to be playing hide and seek with a fighter plane. They sometimes scramble one, to take a look at UFOs,”
Calvan looked around to make sure that it was all clear, and used the beacon to send the ‘ready’ signal. He stared up at the sky, thinking that he would catch a sight of Tom’s ship. Suddenly, right next to where he was standing the air began to crackle, and started to shimmer with an electric blue glow. He jumped sideways. A small craft had materialized in the center of the glow , and sat firmly on the beach. A hatched opened in the side, and there was Tom with one outstretched arm, ready to pull him aboard.
Calvin grinned. “That was impressive, you must be getting even better at this stuff,” he said leaping through the hatch, and into the craft.
They exchanged greetings , with the usual ‘how you been’ stuff, as the craft lifted. This was an experience that Calvan would never take for granted, and he watched with wonder through a porthole, as the landscape receded, and they headed for space.
Finally Tom announced they were in orbit , and then he saw the huge bulk of the battle cruiser. Their shuttlecraft edged towards it, and then drew alongside. It seemed that Tom had nothing to do, and the journey had been automatic.
“Who’s steering this thing?” Calvan asked
“I’m not controlling the craft. The main ship has been in control, since I walked into it and descended,” Tom explained to Calvan.
The craft docked perfectly , without even a bump. The hatch opened into a short tube, and a small indicator above the opening glowed green. They walked across to the cruiser. It was that simple.
Tom smiled , as he watched Calvan stare in amazement and said, “This is a new ship, we have all the latest stuff, and some of it even surprised me until I got used to it.”
Tom seemed relaxed now, and relieved that he was back onboard. Was it because they were now within the ships missile-shield? Calvan had wondered, remembering Tom’s remarks from two years ago. “There was a risk of missile attack, when in near - earth orbit.”
They sat in a small conference room, and a pretty girl walked in to join them.
“This is my cousin Amber, she will be joining us on this mission. In fact a lot of it is her idea” Tom said proudly. Then he explained: The Zaarks were on the offensive again.
“We are honorable people,” Tom declared, “and expected them to
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