Read Online Torian Reclamation 3: Test of Fortitude by Andy Kasch - Free Book Online
Authors: Andy Kasch
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three-day journey. In a nice, comfortable Class-3 transport ship. There’s a full gym on board, video games, all the—”
“If I went that far in the opposite direction, I could almost be back at Earth.”
“Would you like to go back to Earth?”
The question gave Brandon pause. Olut6 never offered him that before. Brandon had certainly pestered him with it, along with every politician who would listen to him, several decades ago. That was back before the humans had come to appreciate life on Banor. Now the High General finally volunteers it after all these years. And Brandon could tell he was serious.
But Brandon also knew the High General expected him to decline the offer. Maybe he should call his bluff, just for spite.
Ultimately, though, something as prodigious as an Earth pilgrimage wasn’t Brandon’s call to make. The idea would need to be circulated and discussed in the human communities on Banor. Brandon already knew most of them would be against it. But there were a small number of misfits who would, no doubt, jump at the chance. Such an undertaking would be too monumental of an event to arrange for only a few rogues. There would need to be a rally in favor of this cause significant enough to divide the Torian humans. If such a thing happened, it would be bittersweet and even a little tragic. Families, friendships, and homes would be split.
Brandon’s daughter, Rachel2, would probably be against the idea, as would most of the second generation. They never knew Earth. The stories they heard of it were a mixed bag at best. Yes, the first-generationers would often look starry-eyed at the night sky and reminisce about “home.” But other times they would relay tales of crime, poverty, natural disasters, unjust governments, and astonishing cruelties carried out in the name of political activism. By comparison, Banor was a paradise void of those particular elements. Its hazards mostly came from outside its society, not from within. That seemed more appropriate to Brandon.
Then there were the babies. Lots of adorable human babies, whom even the native females were smitten with. Rachel2’s boyfriend was a good man who was respected in Banorian culture. Brandon liked him. They had been dating for two years now, which probably meant that Brandon could expect to be a grandfather soon. It was rare on Earth for people to know their great grandchildren, but on Banor parents had every expectation of playing catch with their great great grandchildren. How could you possibly transport so many happy, booming families with small children across the galaxy to their “home planet” when most of them only know of it by legend?
Did Brandon even want to go back? That was a question he was embarrassed to explore. By all reasonable logic, he should. Rachel, too. They could probably drag Rachel2 with them, as could many first-generationers also likely coerce their children to go wherever they went. It would take coercing, because to leave the known for the unknown was a tough sell.
And the state of Earth was unknown. If the pending orbital shift had not yet occurred, assuming there was truth in it, it was entirely possible they could all get back just in time to be wiped out in a massive worldwide disaster. If not, then perhaps they would be able to settle in and, if all goes well, live out life expectancies that were half of those on Banor.
But what kind of lives would those be? It was probable that most Earthlings still considered themselves alone in the galaxy. A thousand new humans suddenly showing up from outer space as a “returned abductee race” would result in worldwide social upheaval. They would all be celebrities, and perhaps not the good kind. Brandon could envision them being slandered, labeled freaks, and forever drawing the suspicion of others. They might even be relegated outcasts by the ugly reality of human bigotry.
Unless they could be returned covertly. That’s the only way. It would be quite a
“If I went that far in the opposite direction, I could almost be back at Earth.”
“Would you like to go back to Earth?”
The question gave Brandon pause. Olut6 never offered him that before. Brandon had certainly pestered him with it, along with every politician who would listen to him, several decades ago. That was back before the humans had come to appreciate life on Banor. Now the High General finally volunteers it after all these years. And Brandon could tell he was serious.
But Brandon also knew the High General expected him to decline the offer. Maybe he should call his bluff, just for spite.
Ultimately, though, something as prodigious as an Earth pilgrimage wasn’t Brandon’s call to make. The idea would need to be circulated and discussed in the human communities on Banor. Brandon already knew most of them would be against it. But there were a small number of misfits who would, no doubt, jump at the chance. Such an undertaking would be too monumental of an event to arrange for only a few rogues. There would need to be a rally in favor of this cause significant enough to divide the Torian humans. If such a thing happened, it would be bittersweet and even a little tragic. Families, friendships, and homes would be split.
Brandon’s daughter, Rachel2, would probably be against the idea, as would most of the second generation. They never knew Earth. The stories they heard of it were a mixed bag at best. Yes, the first-generationers would often look starry-eyed at the night sky and reminisce about “home.” But other times they would relay tales of crime, poverty, natural disasters, unjust governments, and astonishing cruelties carried out in the name of political activism. By comparison, Banor was a paradise void of those particular elements. Its hazards mostly came from outside its society, not from within. That seemed more appropriate to Brandon.
Then there were the babies. Lots of adorable human babies, whom even the native females were smitten with. Rachel2’s boyfriend was a good man who was respected in Banorian culture. Brandon liked him. They had been dating for two years now, which probably meant that Brandon could expect to be a grandfather soon. It was rare on Earth for people to know their great grandchildren, but on Banor parents had every expectation of playing catch with their great great grandchildren. How could you possibly transport so many happy, booming families with small children across the galaxy to their “home planet” when most of them only know of it by legend?
Did Brandon even want to go back? That was a question he was embarrassed to explore. By all reasonable logic, he should. Rachel, too. They could probably drag Rachel2 with them, as could many first-generationers also likely coerce their children to go wherever they went. It would take coercing, because to leave the known for the unknown was a tough sell.
And the state of Earth was unknown. If the pending orbital shift had not yet occurred, assuming there was truth in it, it was entirely possible they could all get back just in time to be wiped out in a massive worldwide disaster. If not, then perhaps they would be able to settle in and, if all goes well, live out life expectancies that were half of those on Banor.
But what kind of lives would those be? It was probable that most Earthlings still considered themselves alone in the galaxy. A thousand new humans suddenly showing up from outer space as a “returned abductee race” would result in worldwide social upheaval. They would all be celebrities, and perhaps not the good kind. Brandon could envision them being slandered, labeled freaks, and forever drawing the suspicion of others. They might even be relegated outcasts by the ugly reality of human bigotry.
Unless they could be returned covertly. That’s the only way. It would be quite a
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