Angelika Queen Of Mars

Chapter 7

Chapter Seven Something New To Offer

On the journey back to Mars, there wasn't much for the Giuffrida" crew to do. Jake asked Dori to teach him their language. Doctor Temuchin spent a lot of time with doctor Targent talking "shop." Queen Angelika and Captain Aelfric also spent a lot of time together. Mostly the time was spent listening to him talk about Falth, so that by the time they reached Mars again, Queen Angelika had a question for her crew.

"I really don't want my relationship with Captain Aelfric to influence your decision in what I'm about to ask. We've all been talking with our Falthian friends; we should all have a good idea by now of what life is like there. My question is this…Do we leave here and continue to search for our home word. Do we try and find a place on earth, or do we throw in with these people, go with them to Falth, and make a life for ourselves there? The captain has agreed to wait for three days. In that time, I want you to not only talk with him as well as his crew, but Jake Gandrigg as well, if you're interested in possibly going back to earth. All of you know me, Ha! I you've all been traveling with me so I guess that's a moot point. You all know I've always been upfront and fair. I'm putting a box here in the lounge. At the end of the three days, I'm going to ask all of you to vote your choice. I will refrain, only voting if there is a tie. So I want all of you to seriously consider our options."

For the next three days Captain Aelfric, along with his crew were asked every conceivable question. Jake was asked a considerable number as well. Queen Angelika refused to make her wishes known lest someone be influenced. Finally, after the evening meal everyone was asked to vote. Angelika reminded everyone that she would abstain unless there was a tie. Of the ten votes, eight were for going to Falth, one wanted to go to earth, and one wanted to continue the search for Grocyra.

"Well captain," announced Angelika, "It looks like we'll be heading to Falth with you."

She made sure everyone was happy with the result. General Zennor was the one wanting to look for the home planet, but ended up accepting the queen's decision. As it turns out, Dori voted to go to earth because she thought that was what Jake wanted. Upon learning that he was in favor of going to Falth, she changed her mind as well. Before they shut things down at the base, Jake convinced the queen to announce to earth that she and her crew had decided to come to earth to live. He gave her a script listing some vague details on where she and her crew had decided to live.

"It's vague enough and describes enough countries they'll be looking for you for years to come," chuckled Jake. So with earth told that they could expect some new citizens, the Mars base was shut down to power just enough for the life support. Captain Aelfric's engineer also rigged up a hidden warning device triggered to alert Falth should anyone enter the base. Then both ships departed from the red planet. As they were leaving its orbit, queen Angelica waved slowly at the monitor screen, and said,

"Goodbye Mars, it was fun." Meanwhile thousands of miles away, the Mars rover "Curiosity," continued to roll steadily onward, broadcasting signals back to earth, a doll-like figure of the queen happily riding on the back while near the base, the Mars 3 lander broadcast signals of a small part of the Martian landscape, a poster of the queen waving to all on earth.

Captain Aelfric gave captain Yarod the code to enter the jump gate waiting for the "Giuffrida," on the other side. When she popped out of hyperspace captain Aelfric greeted them.

After alerting his superiors, as to the situation, Captain Aelfric waited for two Falthian fighters to arrive. The "Giuffrida" was escorted to the space station "Prax Narus," orbiting Falth. This was a time of great concern for the crew. For one thing, all were required to receive a Transnanno" injection, something Mikah and general Zennor were leery of. However, the next day, they realized they could now speak and under stand Falthian and the Nuel people. There were several meetings as well as debriefings concerning the Hyach 3 base, the situation on Kagor, and especially one Moreck Gandrgg.

Jake found himself right in the middle of things. Old records were "dug up," before long descendants were coming forward with added information. Naturally, it wasn't long before Jake was whisked to a medical facility where he was introduced to a very old woman.

"I'm Moreck's mother, Partha, they tell me you are a Gandrigg and a descendant of my Moreck."

"Yes ma'am," said Jake as he leaned over the frail old woman lying on a special air bed.

"Moreck was my great great grandfather. I'm sorry to say that just before we left Falth, he passed away at one hundred and forty-six years of age. Handing her a small canister, as well as a letter, he added.

"He wished to be buried on Kagor with his wife; however it was his wish that a portion of his ashes be returned to Falth, along with this letter. One thing Mrs. Gandrigg. Moreck was always worried they didn't tell you, but were you ever informed that he was still alive?" It took a moment for her to understand, but then she slowly nodded. Oh yes, a very long time ago, I received a letter from him, I think he sent it through someone who was making regular trips to Kagor. He told me all about his life there, and his wish to remain."

Since Jake couldn't read the language yet, one of the nurses read the letter for her.

"Mother, it's been such a long time since I last wrote you. I pray that you are still alive to read it. A group of Grocyrian's has landed here on Kagor, and I am hoping they will contact Falth so that my people might come again. I've lived a full and long life, although my race is nearly run. I enjoyed a long and wonderful life with my Karla; we produced two sons and a daughter, three children we were very proud of. As I look back on my life I wonder what I could have done differently. Should I have refused father more. Lemeck was the one who was very adamant that I go. As they say here on Kagor, "It's all just water under the bridge." I enjoyed a splendid career as a doctor, even being involved in the Kagorian's brief effort to travel to the stars. I've requested that my remains be cremated, and buried next to my sweet Karla, however I've requested that a small portion be returned to Falth should that be possible. One last thing, mother, there was never an una that went by where I did not think of you. Signed your loving son Moreck.

The nurse handed the letter to Mrs. Gandrigg, who took it and held it to her chest quietly sobbing,

"On Moreck, I've missed you so much." She then looked at Jake and in a soft but strong voice,

"You have not our eyes, but I see the resemblance, oh yes, the skin, the nose, and even the ears, you are of my Moreck." She then reached up and gently kissed him on the cheek. "Welcome home, my son." Jake was brought to tears by the heartfelt emotion from a woman he couldn't figure where in the family tree she fit just yet.

While Jake was involved with family descendants as well as undergoing a medical exam, Captain Aelfric was seeing to it that Angelika and her crew were getting settled in. By now, the captain and the queen were making it no secret that they were madly in love, as were Dori and Jake. After an extensive interview from a team of government and navy personnel, Queen Angelika and her crew were issued identification cards applications for citizenship. Basically, they were all made the same offer, obtain citizenship, take an officers training program that would familiarize them with Falthian navy procedures and operations.

Before accepting the offer, Angelika asked her crew.

"Aside from the fact that captain Aelfric and I are talking marriage I want to hear what you're thinking on this matter. We've come a long way together, but now we've come to a crossroads. You've listened to these navy people, I think for all of us it will just be a change of uniforms and loyalty. If I thought there was any chance of finding Grocyra again things would be a whole lot different. Speaking for myself, I like these people…All right, all right, I'll admit the fact that I plan to wed one influences my decision, but I like these people, and I think you do too. As far as the Giuffrida goes, I was told we could park it at the field at Akdor, rents cheaper so I hear. Now…Just because we'll be making personal decisions that doesn't mean we'll all go our separate ways. They tell me the place known as Drolugi's is the meeting place of the galaxy. I think some of you already know of it, heh, heh, I know I certainly do. That shall become our home away from home."

While Angelika and her crew were speaking with the navy, Dori had decided to cast her fate with Jake. She was able to obtain a job with Andara checking computer code on mainframe's being overhauled. Through the friends she made at Andara, Dori was able to purchase a fisherman's beach shack near Akdor. It wasn't much other than cozy, and perfect for two people terribly in love. Nestled on the shore of the Sheynalian Sea, Jake and Dori could lie out on the sand totally in the nude, working on their tans, or making love. Jake was the only one not entirely happy with their new set-up, since he as yet didn't have a job. To stay busy, he made a lot of improvements, on the shack, re-roofing it, and shoring up the porch, and making improvements in the kitchen.

Near the shack was a large beach popular with Falthians. The Nuel liked to swim and especially sunbathe in the nude, something Dori liked as well, although Jake was rather uneasy about it at first. At Dori's insistence, they got into the habit of taking a blanket or beach chairs next door. Dori wasn't ashamed of her body, and often times received complements on her elaborate head and neck tattoo, as well as a small narkoo flower just above her v****a. One thing Jake certainly enjoyed was that lying on the beach usually got both of them so worked up; returning home often resulted in lengthy love making sessions.

One una they had been lying out on an especially crowded beach when a couple asked if they could lay down next to them. Bothe he and Dori had given permission while they still had their eyes closed. As the couple laid out their blanket, Jake opened his eyes to gaze upon a very beautiful and very well developed woman with short bobbed bluish hair. Her partner was also quite well built with a rather large appendage Jake noticed Dori staring at.

"My name is Moreck Gormeth, said the male, "And this is my business partner Tarsig Salfrig."

Both quickly laid down on their chests covering their atributes; however Tarsig lay so that when she sat up, her breasts displayed "themselves," practically in Dori's face.

"You two don't seem to be from around here," observed Moreck.

"Actually we live over in that fisherman's shack," replied Jake, but you're right, I'm from Kagor, and Dori here is from the planet Grocyra. Well that is certainly a most unusual tattoo on your head and neck," said Tarsig, "I don't think I've ever seen anything like it before."

"Well, it's not that unusual," replied Dori, while the pattern might be different, the style is rather popular back on Grocyra." Then Tarsig got a wicked smile on her face replying,

"Talk about unusual tattoos, Moreck, show them your tattoo." Without batting an eye, Moreck got up on his knees and displayed his "thing." On it's side was tattooed a pair of lips.

"As you would expect, we couldn't make love for awhile after I had it done," grinned Moreck. Dori smiled with interest, but Jake was clearly embarrassed.

"I think I've heard of Kagor, said Moreck, but I know I've never heard of Grocyra."Dori then explained about how she along with Queen Angelika and her crew had fled Grocyra, fallen into a black hole, and ended up near Kagor. Dori then the two about her working for Andora, working with computer code, and other electronic software. This really perked up Moreck and Tarsig.

"Tarsig and I involve ourselves in several business ventures, one of which is attending the frequent auctions they have at a place called Yedor-rus. It's a government salvage yard out in the Arkaruvian desert. Nothing but sand and wind, however you can pickup some rather interesting finds form time to time. Perhaps you might like to go with us sometime, your expertise in software and computer code might come in useful, we'd be more than happy to pay you for your time and trouble."

Before it was all over, Jake and Dori had agreed to accompany Moreck and Tarsig out to this Yedor-rus at the next auction. Tarsig was also quite interested in Kagor as well; especially things that could be imported back to Falth for a nice profit. He related the story of the long ago effort to harvest black walnuts, and St. John's Wort by the Shai Alyt in the effort to manufacture the Brotenga Serum. Both knew all about that, but it was coffee, that caught their interest

"Don't you need a permit of some sort," asked Jake. With a sly wink Tarsig replied,

"The permit is the easy part, finding decent transport to Kagor is something else."

That evening, as they lay in each other's arms, Jake asked Dori,

"Should I get a tattoo like Moreck has on his…" Dori giggled,

"If you want." Then Jake asked.

"If we're going to be dealing with these people, you won't be tempted will you?" It took her a moment to realize what he was referring to,, then she snickered,

"Oh I think you're plenty big enough for me, you just lay back and let me prove it." With that, she eagerly mounted him, for another long session.

In the morning, Dori walked over to the landing field where she caught an Andarian shuttle into the main center in Cluria.