Sarah's Landing III
Chapter 1 : Excerpt

On the Hills Outside Star City, Theon

     Memories stirred deep within him as Andrew swept his eyes across the boundless deep green valleys and plush hills. Behind him, Star City glistened in the background in mute testimony to the existence of life in a seemingly otherwise silent world. But for the dying echo of his call, which shattered the eerie stillness, not a sound could be heard.
     "Where did he disappear to now?" Andrew demanded frowning. "I'll bet he's off somewhere with Maia."
      His thoughts turned toward Ballard's younger daughter and his frown deepened. If she was missing as well, then Adam discovered another hiding place where they could be alone. He would only be wasting his time searching for them. Andrew knew he would never find them unless and until Adam wanted him to.
     Maia is all Adam thinks about these days, Andrew thought. Guess he doesn't have time for anyone anymore, including me. But then he didn't know I was coming. How could he?  I didn't know myself. Well, maybe next time. He remembered a time when it was different. When no one could come between themónot even his mother.

* * *

     He was three when his mother left him on Theon and several happy, carefree days passed before he realized she was gone. He cried when he could not find her, when he could not remember the coordinates, which would take him back to Earth. He begged Joshua, his father, to help him. But his father held him tightly in his arms and explained why it was necessary he stayed. Adrianne, Adam's mother, tried desperately to comfort him, while his brother, Adam, begged him not to cry, as he awkwardly tried to pat his arm.
     "You'll see. You'll like it here Andrew," Adam said, his eyes glistening with tears as he spoke. "Please Andrew, don't go away and leave me alone again. I want you to stay here with me forever. Please Andrew, please want to stay." Adam pleaded as the tears streamed down his face.
     Andrew looked down at his brother from the height of his father's arms and bravely tried to brush away his own tears.
     "But Adam," Andrew sobbed haltingly, "my mother needs me. I have to take care of her. She's all alone now."
     "No she isn't Andrew, honest! Father will tell you. Won't you Father? Tell Andrew you found Harry and Harry's with Alexandra now. Please Father, tell him!"
"You're doing a good job of that yourself Adam. You tell him," Joshua smiled as he gently lowered Andrew to the floor.
     Adam grabbed Andrew's hand and led him into their room, while Joshua and Adrianne, standing side by side, watched them go.
     "It will be all right Adrianne, don't worry. Adam will bring Andrew around."
     "I hope so Joshua. I really hope so," she answered doubtfully.
     But Adam did bring Andrew around. It was Adam who told Andrew about Joshua's promise. Joshua would let both of them visit Earth when Andrew adapted to Theon and progressed sufficiently in his studies to allow it. But Andrew had to understand it would be a few years before their father would let them make the journey.
     "It will be like being in school, Andrew. Only we get to start earlier 'cause we have more to learn than the others. And when we go to Earth to visit your mother and Harry it will seem like a long vacation Ö see?"
     "Uh-huh," Andrew said, but he did not. He could not understand why they could not go anytime they wanted to.
     "You'll be too busy," his father would only say, when Andrew asked him why.
His father had been right, he was too busy. First and foremost was the task of changing his molecular structure to adapt to Theon's environment. Since he was already part Theonian, it did not take as long as it had for the other Earthmen.
     Adrianne began the process almost immediately upon Andrew's arrival on Theon. While Adrianne showed Alexandra Star City, everything Andrew ate and drank was aimed at changing him, but Alexandra was only given nourishment to sustain her. After the first few carefree days on Theon, the process was begun in earnest. Andrew was becoming a full-fledged Theonian.
     The months and years passed swiftly and both boys grew mentally as well as physically. Adam had a slight edge on Andrew to begin with, but Andrew's telepathic games with his father and brother across the vast expanse of space while he was still on Earth fared him well. He soon caught up to Adam and both boys became the pride and torment of Theon.
     Joshua decided both of his sons would undergo the rigorous training necessary to take his place as Theon's Elder. He was not going to choose one over the other. And if it turned out Theon would have two Elders, so be it. Time alone would tell if one outshone the other.  As it was now, they were both equalóso much the better for Theon, Joshua thought.
     They were inseparable, Adam and Andrew. Where one went, the other would follow. When one was in trouble, the other would be right in the thick of it. Together they did everything. Mischievous, inquisitive, intelligent boys behaving as any normal boys their age would, with a seriousness to them, which belied their tender years.

* * *

     From the beginning they were leaders, with the other children of Theon following their every lead. More than once exasperated parents would demand the Elder's sons be reprimanded for their mischievousness. More than once, Joshua threw his hands up in despair at their antics. While Adrianne stifling her laughter tried to be serious, and only sent them to bed without any dinner. But these two resourceful boys never went hungry for long.
     It was not until the 'Morgan Boys', as Theon's parents were wont to call them, led a number of Theon's children on a wild journey into space that Joshua finally had to curb their adventurous spirits. They were 'grounded' in the literal sense of the word and forbidden under penalty of the Elder's punishment to teleport anywhere for two solid months. This was a fate worse than death for both of them. For days they moped around Morgansphere complaining constantly about having nothing to do. Adrianne finally capitulated under their relentless pleadings and allowed them to play in the botanical garden. Almost immediately, she sensed she made a mistake.
     She heard the sound of the garden starting to rotate moments after the boys stepped into it, and smiling nervously, shook her head at what her two 'angels' might be up to.
Growing impatient with its slow movements, both boys decided simultaneously to set the garden spinning at higher and higher speeds. Faster and faster it went, straining against the gravitational pull of the biosphere.
     Adam and Andrew, laughing and giggling, hung on to the fragile trees, bushes and shrubs in a valiant attempt to keep from being tossed around. Ultimately, the centrifugal force, generated by the spinning garden, tore them loose and flattened them against the transparent garden dome, affording them an unobstructed view of swirling lights intertwining a profusion of color into the whirling garden.
     Screams of delight reached Adrianne's ears just as the entire biosphere began to shudder beneath her feet. Instant panic seized her as her mind visualized the outward tilt of the garden. The whole area seemed to be moving away from its berth, with her two sons held fast against the fragile dome. Her horror-stricken screams reverberated throughout Star City as her mind transmitted the scene she was visualizing.