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“Future Wake is a joint government-military endeavor. We have eight ships already prepared. To cover all bases the ships have the flexibility of artificial intelligent auto-pilots, plus human pilots, such as you, as backup.”
“How long will it take?” Jack cannot fathom how far away these habitable planets are.
“By our current calculations, somewhere between fifty to two hundred-and-fifty years. The planets were discovered with the help of the Kepler Spacecraft’s telescope.”
Jack’s jaw drops. “You’ve got hormones that can keep us alive that long?”
“That’s why we’ve installed AIs. There will be constant communication between the ships and Earth. As greater knowledge is discovered on Earth, the AIs will be able to increase the speed of each ship towards its destination planet. The inhabitants of the space ships will be in stasis, not cryogenics. Our scientists have estimated with stasis there is a 200,000 year half-life before your bodies will noticeably start to decompose.”
Jack rubs his temples. “Everyone will be gone by the time we get back to Earth.”
“You may not want to come back to Earth. Colonel Lowry Sanders made that clear to you.” He didn’t miss the sudden sadness in her eyes. “You may want to stay on the designated planet. Your duty is to establish a colony. The captains of the Future Wake program have no siblings and their parents are dead or dying. Most of you don’t have close friends because your dedication is to your country and your careers.” Elizabeth peers deeply into Jack’s eyes “You are a protector.”
“What about NASA?” Jack asks unnerved by her glare.
“They’re the best. They’re also going to miss the ride. NASA is more interested in nearby planetary habitation. But time is ticking and the Mars habitats are not functioning as well as they hoped.”
Jack lets out a deep breath. “Future Wake is a better idea?”
“Let’s just say different. Better to try all the angles instead of just one.”
Bran kicks the ground in frustration, “For how long?”
“Perhaps forever. Four years is the minimum to get all your markings to become a journeyman but you decide. At any time, you can return to help me with the blacksmith shop. But if you leave, they won’t take you back, Bran.”
“Then why don’t I stay here?!” he asks. He has no desire to leave home.
A wondrous smile grows across his father’s thin cheeks. The grey eyes twinkle as they stare up into the full moon. “The things you can learn. A Bard can travel over the entire continent.” In a less enthusiastic voice his father continues, “Or cross over Whale Sea to the East. You can go where you like, and you can play for the richest, or the poorest of people. You can work at a tavern, maybe buy your own. I will not force you to stay at the Bard campus Bran but you must go. Sadly, you must go by yourself and the roads are more dangerous now.” The happiness in his father’s face disappears. “Do not forget to use your intuition. Never freeze up in the face of danger. If you remember you are stronger than most because of your blacksmith heritage, and that you are smart–you’ve always done well in school–you will be fine. If you have to earn money to buy food, don’t forget your strong back, or the blacksmithing skills I’ve taught you. You can get by, even if you don’t get all your markings.”
Bran knows little of the Bard campus except that he will be one of the poorer students. He presses his hand against his chest. He can feel the smooth surface of the gemstone beneath his shirt. As a Bard, he can search for her.
Bran feels around until he finds the wood of the door. He sits down with his back against it. “Where is the Duke now?” he asks.
Bran hears the owner of the voice shift off something that creaks. “Why are you here?” he asks, his hand clenches tightly around the hilt of his rapier.
“My name is Tesler, and yours?”
“Bran, as I told you.” He replies as he tries to quietly slip the rapier from its sheath.
“Bran, the Blessed Bard, or is it barred the bran? I am Tesler, the Jester, or is it Jester who is a Tesler?” the voice is now closer. “You don’t smell like a Bard. All sweet with cologne. You smell like…,” Tesler stops speaking, Bran hears him sniff in deeply, “you smell like a worker.” Bran feels a hand grasp his left forearm. “You have muscles, like a dancer’s legs. Thick and rippling. I feel the scars but you’re not a Bard! The Duke sent you to assassinate me!” Tesler squeals.
“I sing,” Bran replies haughtily.
Tesler’s hand moves away.
Bran can hear him stepping back and sitting.
“Sing, so I know it is true.”
Bran slips his lute out of its sack as he hums nervously. He fumbles to play the chords, while he sings:
Where are you?
I have looked for you
All my life
What is your name?
Who should I call out to?
When will we meet?
How will I find you?
Until I do
The rest of my life is just a facade
A passage of time
Wasting away
While I search for you
Where are you?
Missing piece of mine
I don’t want to wait forever
Before I see the infant eyes
Made from you and I
There is silence before the soprano voice says, “So, maybe you are a Bard. Not very good but your woody voice has a certain food in it that nourishes the heart. Should I sing for you?”
The quacky wacky was no sappy
Though most found his comments obnoxious
If they had listened closer, they would find sad truths
Intermingled with ironic humour
Quacky wacky was no sappy
He was a real man with a sense of vision
Telling his Lord of ensuing chaos
But the Lord only laughed
and slapped him on the back
Quacky wacky could have been more tactical
Should have been less problematical
But should and could have planted their seeds
Poor Quacky must now act wacky forever more
The words of Tesler’s song stir Bran’s thoughts. Tesler sang the song with a great sadness, yet Bran can only feel that it was an old song, its meaning evading him. “Why do they lock the door?” he asks.
BARD: Owner Of The Gemstone: Book One: Fantasy Fiction 
BARD: Owner of the Gemstone: Book2: Fantasy Fiction 
WHISPERS: Future VII: Science Fiction 
QUEEN OF CAELUM: Book One of the Children of the Myth Machine: Science Fiction and Fantasy 
SYLVIA: Book Two of the Children of the Myth Machine series: Science Fiction and Fantasy 
ACHEBE: Book Three of the Children of the Myth Machine: Science Fiction and Fantasy 
Lucy and the Snivel Chair: Detective and Science Fiction 
Laura Suen, CEO of Fire and Steel: 2018 Kitchener Comic Con 
2018 Kitchener Comic Con 
2018 Kitchener Comic Con 
2018 Kitchener Comic Con 
2018 Kitchener Comic Con 
2018 Kitchener Comic Con
BARD covers by fantasy_art_z.com
Books by Author
Books by Friends
Author of Climate Change — Health Connection, and Songs of Bittersweet Memories
Books by Indie author, Darren Joy: A Viral Imperium, A Malignant Fetch,
and Fantasy World-Building And Magic System Planner…at Books2Read
To learn more about Darren Joy and his books go to darrenjoy.com
Booksradar also has a listing of my books.
The Other Place: #15 Hello, Aunt Thelma!
The Other Place Blog 2: The Between Place
Slide Show of Books By Authors Who Never Existed [Steampunk hybrid story]
Lady Evelyn Oolong puts on her top hat and grabs her perched drake cane. 
Chief Dimoso Shabani 
Mr. TLC and the Book Stealer [Part 2] (Books by Authors Who Never Existed: A Steampunk Hybrid story) By the author of BARD: Owner of the Gemstone 
Concept artwork 
Books Written by Authors who Never Existed (Steampunk Hybrid) 
The Inventor (Steampunk hybrid)
Weekly Blogs
Currently blogging “Books by Authors Who Never Existed” A Steampunk hybrid story
https://caedar-writing-artwork.com/2022/06/27/a-loud-noise-and-chief-d-shabani-part-4/
Caedar Writing & Artwork 