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Category:
Science Fiction
Publisher: Sacred Life Publishers
ISBN-10: 0986027049
Pages: 452
Copyright: Jun 1, 2013
ISBN-13: 9780986027048
Price: $4.95 (eBook)
Book 4 in the Dave Brewster Series is a tale of one man's insane thirst for revenge. Dave, his friends, and the entire galaxy are put in grave danger to satisfy Fola Untor's bloodlust.
Following his success at the Grand Conclave on Earth Prime, Dave Brewster and his friends set out to expand the Free Society. However, all is not well in the galaxy. A Maklakar battle station is headed toward Earth. Mysterious ripples in space-time are confounding the Temporal Command. Agents from Predax and the Brotherhood are recruiting other planets to join their crusade against the Free Society.
Setting aside those challenges to help his Gallicean friends, Dave follows them on the Sojourn, an ancient ritual to remember the atrocities of the past. On the two planets in the Gallicea system, Dave learns of the past but also discovers the truth is often visible only to those willing to see.
Tears of Gallia is a story of friendship, faith, and perseverance. Will Dave be able to stop the Brotherhood from starting a galactic war? Can he survive a madman’s attempts to kill him or strand him in the ancient past?
Excerpt
“Elder, I think you are being obstinate on purpose,” Darlene said. “You must return to Nan soon. Please for your own sake, do not choose to die here.”
“My beautiful Ila tells me the same thing daily, Darlene,” Odo replied, sitting upright on his narrow bed. Ila and his children Alo and Uli stood nearby with tears in their eyes. The entire family was wearing their gray tunics smudged with black soot as a sign of grief, but Odo was wearing his normal Elder robes. His skin was pale and his cheeks were sunken. Dark circles formed around his eyes which seemed to stare off into space. “Each of us makes choices in life, and coming to Nanda was my choice.” He coughed deeply. “Every Elder of Nan volunteered for this job. We all knew that our disconnection from the natural Hive would affect us greatly, but the greater good must be served. If it is my time, then so be it.”
Ila sat on the bed next to her husband and held his hands. “Odo, please listen to Ambassador Brewster! The Elders and your best friend, Obu Neela, have all come to tell you the same thing. There is too much at risk in the universe for you to leave us now.”
“I’m not planning on dying, darling,” he said as he kissed her cheek. “The river of fate is leading us all in a specific direction. That direction is not of our choosing, but was selected by the Source. I have faith my decision to come to Nanda put me fully into the current of that river. But it is not a death wish on my part.”
“But Father, you can save yourself so easily,” Uli begged with tears streaming down her face. “The Elders of Nan can take you home in seconds. When your strength has returned, you can come back here.”
“Perhaps I am an old fool,” Odo smiled. “But my nine thousand years of life have taught me a thing or two. There are things Obu and the Elders do not know, but I do. I trust God to let things happen as He chooses.”
“Please tell us about those things, Father,” Uli asked. “If you die, all of that knowledge will be lost and we will not be able to carry on after you.”
Odo laughed heartily. “My darling Uli, thank you for your love and concern for me. But there is nothing I know that is not known by others. While this flesh is very old, my spirit is as young as a new baby. Each of us knows everything, if we could just allow ourselves to accept the truth and let it flow out of our mouths and hearts.”
“Odo, you have saved my family more than once,” Darlene interjected. “Now it is time for you to allow us to save you. Dave is distraught over your condition and asked me to beg you to return to Nan.”
“Thanks to both of you,” Odo sighed. “Let Dave know I am thrilled he has allowed himself to flow down the river by my side. If there is a future in this life for me, it will only be because he completes his current journey.”
“I don’t think that’s fair to burden Dave with your future when you could easily choose life by returning to Nan,” Ila argued. She turned to Darlene and said, “Please forgive Odo for that, Darlene. I’m afraid his mind is going too.”
Odo laughed again. “Dearest Ila, I am not burdening Dave at all.” He took her hands in his. “I have foreseen many events, including a brazen attack on Nan in the next few hours. Events in both galaxies are degrading very quickly. Without an incredible effort from all of us, the universe could fall into a darkness that will take millennia to recover from.” He stood feebly and walked over to the window. It had just started raining on Nanda and the residents were scurrying for cover. He smiled as he saw parents holding their coats over their children’s heads to keep them dry. “There is a chance that Dave and his friends may stop that evil from taking over.”
“Didn’t you tell him that it wasn’t his responsibility to take care of the universe?” Ila asked. “I seem to recall those words quite clearly.”
Odo laughed and walked over to her and hugged her. “You always had a perfect memory, darling. That is true, however, he must love and care for his friends and family. While he doesn’t realize it yet, his family is a lot larger than he once thought.” He sat again on the bed and motioned for Darlene to sit next to him. After she did, he put his arm around her shoulders and continued, “The intergalactic conflict that has already begun will affect each of us. If the evil forces prevail, all of us will be killed as enemies of the new state. That puts us, Dave’s family and friends, in extreme danger. If he continues down his path, perhaps the evil will fail, saving all of us. He will have succeeded in caring for his family and friends. It is only an ancillary fact that the universe will be saved. Do you understand, Darlene?”
“No, Odo, frankly I do not,” Darlene smiled as she kissed his cheek. “You know, I have envied Dave for his ability to join the Source and connect to people like my future granddaughter. After listening to you, I don’t think I do anymore. If that ability comes with the mission to save the universe, it is much too big for a single person. Can’t you see this is why you must return to Nan to rebuild your strength? Dave needs you, now more than ever. Please help him.”
Odo smiled back and replied, “I am helping him, every moment of his life. My spirit is connected to him now, as he sits down for a wonderful dinner on Tak-Makla. I will continue to push him along with me down the river of fate to hopefully, save us all.”
“But Dave isn’t on Tak-Makla, Odo,” Darlene said. “He is on the Sojourn with Fa-a-Di and his brother.”
“Trust me, dear,” Odo smiled. “He, Jake and the Galliceans are on Tak-Makla right now. Today was a great day there. For the first time in all of history, Galliceans have knowingly joined with the Source. The spirits of all Galliceans have been set free from the chains of the past. Living Galliceans have seen the truth of the universe. Now we will see if they understand and accept that truth.”
A tone sounded on Darlene’s earpiece and she tapped it to communicate with the Nightsky. “And so it has begun,” Odo said. “The time of darkness has arrived my darling family.”
“Whatever do you mean, Father?” Alo asked.
Darlene stood up and appeared very upset. “That was the Nightsky. Ten Donnaki battle cruisers have appeared in orbit here. The Kong-Fa and her fleet will arrive within ten minutes to assist Nightsky. Dozens of Donnaki shuttles are heading down to the planet with an invasion force. Jon wants us to transport up while there is time.”
“That won’t be necessary, Darlene,” Odo said. “I foresaw this as well. The Galliceans will arrive soon to help us.” As he spoke, a brigade of two hundred Gallicean Marines appeared outside Odo’s home. Each had a maklan clinging to his chest.
Colonel Um-de-Bo rushed into the room with two others. “Ambassador Brewster, I am here to escort you to safety. My men are establishing a secure perimeter for you and your friends. I’ll leave two men with you and return shortly.” He smiled and rushed back into the street. They could hear explosions as the enemy cruisers shot randomly down on the planet.
“Everyone try to be calm!” one of the Marines shouted. As he finished talking, another explosion struck just outside the home, shattering the wooden building and burying everyone in rubble. “Medic!” the Marine shouted. A column of Donnaki soldiers flew over the area and shot at the Marines, who jumped into the air to fight back. The two forces fought hand to hand in the sky over the wrecked home. The superior training of the Gallicean Marines was evident as the Donnaki quickly fled the scene with dozens of dead soldiers littering the ground.
Darlene tried to move, but her legs were pinned down by rubble. She could hear shouting and voices calling her, but her translator had been blown out of her ear by the explosion and she couldn’t understand anything. There were more sounds of explosions but they seemed very far away. She wondered if Odo and his family were okay and if the Gallicean fleet had arrived on time. It would be the worst case scenario of Odo had died in this attack right after saying he had foreseen this. She prayed she could be on Tak-Makla now drinking a glass of whisky with Dave. Darlene felt something crawling on her body and looked down to see a maklan crawling onto her chest. She could sense it trying to communicate, but did not understand. The maklan smiled at her and glowed bright blue.
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