The New Earth Series Update
The Exciting Conclusion to Chapter 4
I hope you are enjoying the holiday season. I am trying to enjoy the moments more, but it always feels like a sprint to me this time of year. So much to do in what little precious time we have been granted.
I’m happy to provide the latest entry to the New Earth series. We last left Tao and Liberty trying to escape from the space station operated by the tech and business genius, Maxwell Rhodes. Reed, the space cowboy and Tao’s friend, had drifted off into space and ran out of air.
It is here where we pick things up with the latest entry, below. To enjoy the entire series on one page, click here.
Peace
New Earth Chapter 4 (continued)
The Welcoming Station grew smaller and smaller on the screen, but the flashes of light behind them meant ships were already in pursuit. Max wouldn’t let them escape so easily.
Liberty scanned the forward displays and saw only the darkness of space. She’d promised Tao she would help save Reed, but this was ridiculous. Reed had been without oxygen for ten minutes—what was left to rescue at this point?
From the flight chair, she looked back at Tao. He still sat with his legs crossed. Liberty shook her head in disbelief—was he sleeping now?
“Tao!” she shouted. “Reed is gone. I don’t know what you’re doing—or think you’re doing—but we’ve got to go. Now!”
Tao remained motionless.
“Sorry,” she said, grabbing the throttle. She shoved it forward—it wouldn’t budge. Again and again, she pushed, but it stayed locked. Bracing herself in the chair, she leaned back and planted her foot on the throttle, forcing all her weight into it.
Nothing.
Liberty lunged toward Tao and gripped his shoulders. “Tao, help!”
The ship jolted forward, sending her sprawling to the floor. The craft banked hard, then leveled.
A red light flashed.
“Outside airlock opening,” the ship said.
Tao whispered, “Let him in.”
“Who?” Liberty demanded.
“Reed.”
“Tao, there are ships—”
“I’ll handle them.”
She sprinted down the corridor, its walls strobing red and white from the emergency lights. Why was Tao risking everything for a lifeless body?
“Outside airlock closed,” the ship said.
Liberty opened the inner airlock door. Reed was curled on the floor, his back to her so she couldn’t see his face. She’d seen too many dead faces in her short life, anyway.
“He’s in!” Liberty shouted. “Let’s go!”
The ship lurched forward again, throwing her down. Two explosions boomed behind them. Their rear shields held, absorbing the hits.
Liberty scrambled toward the flight deck, stumbling side to side as the ship dodged incoming fire. Entering the cockpit, she scanned the floor. Where did Tao go? The navigation panel now displayed coordinates. She hadn’t set them—so who did?
Two more explosions rocked the ship.
“Let’s go already!” she said, grabbing the throttle. It still wouldn’t move.
“Strap in,” a voice said.
She spun. Tao was now in the corner, hands resting on a flat, featureless console, eyes shut.
“If this is the ship I think it is,” he sat down, “we’re about to go fast. Really fast.”
Liberty stared. “How are you controlling the ship?”
“I’ve got some questions too,” a voice said behind her.
Liberty whirled. “Reed! How can you be—”
“Alive?” he said. “That’s one question.” He pressed his hand to his chest, confirming the heartbeat himself. “All I know is…something held onto me.”
Tao’s eyes opened. “I told you I’d come back for you.”
“Thank you,” Reed said, wiping a tear from his face. Another blast shook the deck. “It’s time to get out of Dodge.”
Tao closed his eyes and touched the console, connecting with the ship. A soft hum rose as space around them tightened—threads of starlight stretching into thin, endless lines. In perfect outer silence, the seams of the universe pulled apart, encircling the ship.
Reed exhaled, a calm settling over him, like a child cradled by the Supreme Ruler Himself.
For a second, time seemed to bend. And with a whisper, they slipped into hyperspace.