Extinction Wars 3: Star Viking Read online

  “Let me join you, Commander,” Zoe said.

  I shook my head. “I’m going alone. I…I need this.”

  Zoe stared into my eyes, nodding after a moment. Then she pecked me on the lips. I gave her a hug and headed for the hatch.

  I had goosebumps on my arms as I entered the airlock. I wore a jacket but no vacc-suit, no breather or other protective devices. This would be my first time on the planet breathing the air since Antarctica so long ago.

  The lock hissed, clanked and rotated. I opened the outer hatch and stepped onto Terra Firma.

  I stood frozen, maybe a little frightened. Don’t tell anyone I said that. I have an image to protect. Finally, I jumped out, landing on the dusty soil.

  All the grass and trees, the bushes and funguses had died to the Lokhar bio-terminator. We had seeders putting Earth plants down. They would need time to root into the soil. Until then, this was a rock world waiting to begin.

  How many cars had rusted away? How many old buildings were gone? The freeways crisscrossed in places, but there wasn’t much else left from the pre-Alien Visitation Era.

  Yeah, the automated factories chugged overtime. The humans in the freighters had debarked near the factories. They built new homes, planted and worked feverishly. They labored to ready our planet to receive millions upon millions of lost sons and daughters.

  Humanity rebuilt its world, racing to catch up with all the other aliens. We’d come a long way since the day the Earth died. Now, it was the year the Earth was reborn. We had a fantastic challenge to motivate us. That should help to unite us quarreling humans for many, many years.

  I walked away from the patrol boat, feeling the sunshine on my face. I yearned to walk past waving wheat fields and hear children laughing and dogs barking. That would come. We were rebuilding, and I led humanity in that.

  In time, I would join the Grand Fleet. We had to slay whoever won the Jelk-Karg War. First, I wanted to enjoy my world. I wanted to swim in the waters and see the new sights.

  “Creed!”

  I turned around. Zoe Artemis ran after me. She waved, and her hair flowed in the wind.

  Smiling, I waved back. A pang of guilt reminded me of Jennifer. Somehow, someday, I’d find and free her. What had Abaddon done to Jennifer?

  Before I could think too much about my greatest failure, Zoe threw herself into my arms. We kissed. We hugged and laughed. Then, hand-in-hand, we walked on the Earth. I think we’d earned a few moments of peace. I planned to enjoy them while I could.

  The End

  To the Reader: Thanks! I hope you’ve enjoyed Star Viking. If you liked the book and would like to see the series continue, please put up some stars and a review. Let new readers know what’s in store for them.

  —Vaughn Heppner