Read Online The Stars Blue Yonder by Sandra McDonald - Free Book Online Page A

Delaney. “Sit down properly and show me how you play this game.”
    She knew how to play Izim, of course, but it was mildly entertaining to watch Twig try to explain the various levels and puzzles to her. The security tech, Hadley, retreated to the main hatch to stand his guard. Kyle listened to Twig’s explanations with growing exasperation and finally grabbed the pointer from her hands.
    â€œYou don’t do it that way, stupid.”
    â€œGive it back! Nana, tell him to give it to me.”
    Jodenny blinked at the name. “I’m not your nana. Yet.”
    â€œYou will be,” Twig said. “When you’re old.”
    â€œHow old?”
    Kyle’s gaze was fixed on the screen. “Where we came from, you’re seventy. Older than almost everyone else.”
    â€œAm I happy?”
    Twig made a face. “Your back hurts, because you fell a few years ago. And your leg and hips hurt, because you broke them once. You never told us how. But you’re gray and all wrinkled and you’re grumpy a lot, but sometimes not so much.”
    Kyle remained silent on the matter, focused on the game.
    Myell’s hatch opened. Osherman, Commander Delaney, and two officers Jodenny didn’t recognize emerged, all of them looking grim-faced. Osherman stayed behind as the others left.
    â€œYou saw the medical results?” he asked Jodenny.
    She nodded.
    â€œBit awkward,” Osherman said, running his fingers through his short hair. “You, me, and him.”
    â€œThere is no me, you, and him,” Jodenny said.
    â€œYou don’t believe in time travel?”
    â€œYou do?”
    He said, “I believe in genetics testing. Kyle has your DNA and mine. Twig carries DNA from both you and Sergeant Myell. That’s mighty strange, don’t you think?”
    â€œNo odder than a man claiming to be a time traveler.” Jodenny glanced at the kids, but they appeared engrossed in the game. The sounds of explosions and gunfire rang out from the screen.
    â€œHe’s fairly persuasive, Lieutenant. You should talk to him.”
    She took that as a dare. Myell’s hatch was still open. He was sitting on the bed considering his own bare feet. He wriggled his toes and flexed his heels.
    â€œHello, Kay,” he said, without much enthusiasm.
    Jodenny leaned against the open hatchway in an attempt to look casual. “Why do you call me that? That’s the name of my computer agent.”
    â€œI know. Did you come to hear stories about the future?”
    â€œMaybe,” she said.
    He nodded toward an empty chair, but she didn’t move. She said, “I received the medical reports.”
    Myell poured himself some water from a plastic pitcher. “So you know it’s true. They’re both your grandchildren, with different grandfathers. Myself and Commander Osherman.”
    â€œI still don’t understand how.”
    â€œIt’s not that hard, is it, Lieutenant?”
    She didn’t like the sarcasm in his voice. Didn’t like it one bit.
    Jodenny said, “If I married an enlisted man, I’d be brought up on fraternization charges.”
    â€œThere’s ways around that.”
    â€œAnd we found them?”
    Myell gave her a bland smile that meant nothing at all.
    Jodenny folded her arms. “I hope this doesn’t ruin the course of time, but I don’t even like you.”
    â€œDoesn’t matter.” Myell reached for a pair of gray socks balled up on the deck. The boots beside them were freshly issued and spotlessly clean. “You know what I like best about Team Space? The socks. Excellent socks. You get them wet and they dry out. You rip them, and they meld back together. When your toes get cold they warm them up, and when your feet are hot they cool them off. My first day in boot camp, when I got my first pair, I knew I’d made the right decision.”
    â€œYou’re a man of simple pleasures. Obviously