The Monarch Fairy Chronicles
The Monarch Fairies

by

Charles N. Cordaro

*** Prologue ***

      Three years had gone by since the arrival of the Monarch Fairies. They kept their word about living peacefully with the human colonists. They moved their powerful weapon satellite to a higher orbit. It helped to destroy and divert asteroids. They also kept up their reclusive policy. The Science Station’s Ocean ship Clipper only ventured into their islands hoping to communicate with them. The Monarch Fairies kept silent. One of their saucers, however, did appear to the Clipper. In a friendly gesture, the crew saw a projected hand waving. Each time the saucer plunged into the ocean where the Clipper couldn’t follow. The human military, in turn, avoided the regions where it was thought they were living. Such issues as why did Transobject destroy the settlements, purpose of the now silent Tower Complex and how old they were had become unimportant to the government.

      Confident in the Monarch Fairy friendly intentions, the government went ahead with planning two missions. One was to honor the request by Linda to investigate the waterfall sites associated with the Science Station discoveries. The other to determine the suitability of a town on the alien continent’s inlet sea. To accomplish these missions, the military command base got a new vehicle named the Sojourns. It is about 1/3 the size of the Detriped. It is assigned to the command base because of having laser and missile weapons. The advantage of it is that it could land on the ground or in forested terrains better than Detriped or Aurora. The other intention for the Sojourns was scientific research.

*** Return to Science Station ***

      Linda, Rosemary and I were delighted to arrive at the Science Station on the alien continent’s west coast for the quest to investigate the ruins found at the waterfall sites. It had been about 3 years since our last visit to greet the Monarch Fairies. Looking out from the Sojourns, the Science Station’s expansion impressed us. It had added a new building and piers. An adjacent vacation hotel with new pool facilities had been built because of the popularity of the art gallery’s landscape pictures brought back by the last visit. Adjacent to the Science Station was an art gallery building. The beach was still undeveloped for fun because of the cold water.

      The first people to greet us were Science Station personal and a government representative. James (Science Station Director) handed Linda (Detriped’s First Officer) the plan for this expedition. He said “The Sojourns will be the exploratory vehicle since little danger is expected. Linda will keep in touch with Detriped if needed. The mission is to find whatever you can about what the Science Station personal found. Nothing significant has been learned since their discovery.” Everybody understood the plan. The government representative then said goodbye and walked to an awaiting airplane. It took off.

      The rest of us walked to the Science Building for refreshments. The Science Station director opened the meeting with naming the people for the exploratory team. He said that the team will include Linda, Rosemary, and me. Captain Emily will have her crew familiar with the Sojourn’s navigation, engine and weapon systems. Both forest and desert clothes will be needed for the expedition. He then handed the microphone over to Captain Emily. She then presented a visual display of where we are going. The route started where Linda and I saw the last ruins on the waterfall hike three years ago. The route would then follow a southeastern pattern toward the Tower Complex. The route description was over by dinner. At dinner, everyone at the meeting met the other personal of the Sojourns. By 9pm everyone was ready for a good night’s sleep. Linda, Rosemary and I went to the Science Station’s bungalows.

      The next day started with meeting the Science Station’s director for breakfast. The pancakes, pastries and coffee were delicious. Kevin from the Aurora was also there at breakfast. Captain Mark had brought him to the Science Station overnight so could represent his ship. The director gave Linda, Rosemary and I each a list of what to get from our spaceship. Rosemary and I had to return to the Detriped to pack clothes. John decided to come back with us for the day. By 10am we were all back to meet Captain Emily at the Sojourns. She and the Station personal had been loading the Sojourns with provisions. With our help, loading provisions was completed by mid-afternoon. It was time for some fun at the Science Station’s & hotel’s new swimming pool facility which used solar panels for heating. Captain Emily and some of her crew joined the group. The time spent was a good opportunity for everyone to get to know each other better. Personnel from the Detriped and Aurora had each met the Sojourns bridge crew only twice before. After some introductions, everyone was interested in making the most of the warm water. Many people moved in the water like it was a wave pool. None of the girls were shy about wearing low-rise bikinis of some type. In a couple of hours, it was time to call it a day.

*** The Waterfall Sites ***

      The Sojourns entered the canyon of the first site’s waterfall. The ship flew over the river with trees to both sides. They and some underbrush swayed in the breeze. Predominantly pink flowers dotted the river banks. The scene changed when the ship got closer to the waterfall. The Sojourns had to ascend sooner than the crew would have liked because of the canyon narrowing. The waterfall was high and narrow. After clearing the top of the falls, we were able to see the object of our mission. It was the ruins of the first site on the route. Rapids flowed past ruins of what could have been a village, fort or an outpost. The Sojourns landed. Walking past meadow plants, Captain Emily, Rosemary, Linda, Kevin and I came to sections of a wall. On them were marking known to us from the gilled alien settlement. Stepping past them we got to a partially collapsed round building. Vegetation had taken over the building. Blocks of concrete like objects lay on the floor in patterns. Our best guess was that they supported structures or large equipment. Other buildings were just as overrun by vegetation. Outside of these buildings and an enclosing wall, there was no trace of homes. The four of us tried to find anything significant but couldn’t. The group concluded that the aliens abandoned the site taking all technology with them. The only thing we could determine was that it was simply an outpost and not an attempted settlement. Upon returning to the Sojourns, Captain Emily said “Better luck next time and gave the order to lift off for the next site.” The next sites were east of the first. The landscapes were more open with cascading waterfalls. Everyone, however, was again disappointed at finding an outpost with little trace of inhabitation or purpose. After the 4th site, Linda wanted to investigate the last site on the route. This site was more promising. The buildings were orientated toward the Tower Complex. Two concrete base structures and a telescope existed. The telescope had fallen of its base but was still intact enough to identify. Captain Emily noted the findings and then recommended going to the Tower Complex. Linda agreed based on the findings that route sites seemed to be nothing more than outposts. Probably to watch the Fairies or stars. She sent a message to Captain Dennis saying “Gilled aliens definitely built outposts. Why unknown. Going to Tower Complex.”

      The situation became tense when the expedition got to the Tower Complex, The Sojourns found the same Monarch Fairy large ship that came to Science Station. It hovered directly in front of the Tower Complex. Captain Emily immediately contacted Captain Dennis requesting that Detriped descend to possibly defend her ship. It was outgunned by the Monarch ship. The Sojourns could detect an infrared light exchange between the large Monarch ship and the Tower Complex. The two captains exchanged thoughts that the Monarch ship could present a threat because of the light exchange. While they were talking, I watched the Detriped break out of some clouds and fire warning lasers at the Monarch Fairy ship. It was hard to tell what effect our lasers had on the ship other than its shielding held. The Monarch ship did nothing in response to Detriped. Before any further action, the Aurora showed up with news of the Monarch’s smaller ships heading for the Tower Complex. They appeared shortly after Aurora did. It looked like the Monarch Fairies ships were about to defend the Tower Complex with more force. Instead, the Monarch Fairies ships projected a hologram saying “Need help”. Captain Dennis suspicious of a trick, contacted Jack at the command base as to activity by Transobject. He said that Transobject was not taking any hostile action.

      Captains Dennis, Mark and Emily then decided to try to communicate with the now 3 Monarch Fairies ships rather than escalate hostilities. Their response was quick. This message appeared on the bridge screens of the Detriped, Aurora and Sojourns. It said “We are contacting you because danger exists on alien continent to both of us. There are lions in the southern peninsula of continent that are aggressive and are capable of attacking you. They have artificial intelligence implants. They could disrupt yours and our electronic devices. The gilled aliens were responsible for the implants. We assumed the lions to be too disorganized for attacking outside the peninsula until recently. The dome is protecting the Tower Complex.” Captain Dennis took the lead in answering the Monarch’s message. He asked “If the Monarch Fairies would meet them at Science Station? What they meant by the Gilled Beings being responsible for the implants? Why human help?” The Fairies simultaneously sent a message to the Detriped, Aurora and Sojourns that they would rather meet at the peninsula sea shore where the lions are to discuss about what to do. The three human captains decided to go along with the Monarch request. Without a warning, clouds appeared behind the smaller Monarch ships. This was followed by them starting to lose color. John immediately used Sojourns’ sensors to try to determine what the Monarchs were doing. For all the efforts of the human ships, it became impossible to tell if Monarchs were using either holograms to confuse our sensors or unknown sleuth technology. After about 10 minutes our sensors confirmed that the ships indeed disappeared in the clouds. Captains Dennis and Mark then contacted Jack for what to do next. They paraphrased that it looks like the Monarchs got new tricks and could have a previously unknown purpose for the Tower Complex. Although Jack was worried about how the Tower Complex was involved in the Monarch ships disappearance, he was more concerned about the news of the aggressive lions. He told the captains that he was worried about these lions, what the gilled aliens could have left behind and what the Monarch Fairies didn’t tell us. He ordered the Detriped and Sojourns to go to the inlet sea shore. All ships left departed the scene.

*** The Inlet Sea Shore Meeting ***

      The scene on the inlet sea shore resembled that of the Tower Complex meeting. The human spaceships facing off with three Monarch Fairy spaceships. The Monarch captains seemed to be aware of our captain’s nervous feeling of danger because of how their ships disappeared at the towers. They didn’t put up defensive shields and made the first gesture. One of the smaller ships came toward the Sojourns. It landed on the beach. To mine, Rosemary and Kevin’s delight, the same type of platform we saw before emerged from the Monarch ship. Captain Emily at our suggestion landed the Sojourns. Rosemary, Kevin and I stepped away from our shuttle onto the beach. The Monarchs, simultaneously, fluttered their beautiful wings and landed on the sand. The Monarchs put out their hands as if a gesture to indicate no weapons. Whatever uniform they were wearing was too tight to hid weapons. I couldn’t resist trying to ask them about their appearance. Instead of clarifying their appearance, they backed away toward their ship. I thought that maybe they thought that we would be frightened by them coming closer. The Monarchs then waved and started talking to us. They said “We have to tranquilize the lions living on the peninsula so we can remove the implants. We need help moving them. The lions could be either brought back to the alien continent southern peninsula or relocated to some place where you would become caretakers. We realize that your government has to decide this. When your government does that contact us.” Knowing that the bridge crews of both ships could hear this, I contacted Captain Dennis on the Detriped with “What do you think.” He and John replied “We will confirm that plan with the Monarch ships.” So did Captain Mark on the Aurora after Kevin had contacted him. The Monarch ship soon lifted off the beach kicking up sand. It rejoined the other ships. The Monarch ships then ascended in formation and left the sea shore toward the peninsula forest. The Detriped, Aurora and Sojourns were now alone. Kevin went back to the Aurora via a shuttle. The Aurora signaled goodbye and departed for the command base. Captain Dennis and Linda, meanwhile, went back to the Detriped. The Detriped, likewise, headed for the Command Base. Before leaving, Captain Dennis suggested that the Sojourns visit the lodge on the opposite shore for checking Monarch ship sightings. Since the Sojourns was already on the beach, Captain Emily invited Captain Dennis, Linda, Rosemary and I to celebrate with wine that someone had actually had a face-to-face conversation with the Monarch Fairies. The Fairies, furthermore, expressed a need to solve a problem with the humans. The one and only encounter at the Science Station had been mostly an exchange of video messages and one sided.

*** The Lodge ***

      Sojourns soon landed on its welcoming pad. Rosemary and I were somewhat disappointed at the facility. It wasn’t on par with Crescent Beach or the Woodland resorts. It was smaller in size and clearly designed for people intending to hike to the waterfalls. Vehicles for trips were lined up next to the lodge. Signs advertised certain waterfalls. Rental shops advertised mostly hiking clothes and equipment. Only a few water items were available. Although the lodge was on water, the beach was dominated by a marina allowing only a small swimming area. The saving grace for swimming was that the lodge was built on the inlet sea instead of the ocean coast thereby escaping the ocean’s cool current. While we were looking around, the Lodge owners Laurie and Charles came up to us. She said “Welcome. Why are you here?” I explained to them about the encounter with the Monarchs on the inlet sea peninsula shore. I added “Have you seen any signs of the Monarch’s ships?” Laurie answered “Some guests have reported seeing the triangular craft you described from their boats. It appeared hovering over the trees across the inlet sea and near that shore.” Rosemary told Laurie “I doubt if the craft intended any harm.” Laurie and Charles then offered us a tour of the lodge and the marina. Rosemary and I decided to take a look at the lodge. The building entrance opened to a lobby and adjacent dining area. Laurie’s Yorkshire terrier came running out from the front desk to greet us. Soon we were petting the dog. Pictures of people hiking, waterfalls and wildlife decorated the walls. The lobby also had some unusual plants. We also visited a couple of bedrooms. They were furnished like typical hotel rooms. Afterwards, we decided to skip the marina and return to the Sojourns.

      The next morning Captain Emily told us that she had contacted Jack about what to do about the lions. The government was still debating about the merits of where to put a zoo. Jack wanted Captain Emily to look for the Monarch triangular ship across the inlet sea from the lodge. After telling Laurie to keep people away from the Sojourns, it lifted off raising sand. The appearance of the Detriped hovering off the shore was enough for boaters not to follow the Sojourns. Everything was quiet on the inlet sea shore until mid-afternoon. Captain Emily saw it first. A Monarch ship appeared darting across the tree tops. Rosemary guessed that it was being evasive until it knew our intentions. To everyone’s relief, the Monarchs send a message to Detriped and Sojourns explaining their presence. It said “Came to patrol for lions. Found some. Have come up with a plan. Waiting for decision from your government to go ahead.” Captains Emily and Dennis signaled back OK. In minutes, it disappeared over the horizon without explaining anything more. The two captains noted the Monarch’s message but once again were frustrated by their reclusive attitude. The Sojourns turned around and went back to the lodge.

      Upon landing at the lodge, Rosemary suggested renting a boat for the next day. At the lodge, Charles recommended going to a particular place with a waterfall and bluff. The bluff was loaded with several bird species. Using binoculars, were able to see plumage detail. The birds had predominantly yellow feathers. After 1/2-hour, Rosemary and I decided to change for swimming. Rosemary emerged from below deck in her low-rise yellow string bikini. She delighted at me gazing at the contours of her abdomen. Once the boat was anchored, we jumped into the water from the boat’s platform for swimming. Since the water was over our heads, we could only tread water and do some swimming for a short time. Getting out of the water, we laid down on the deck to dry off. We then hugged and kissed for a while. While getting a drink, I noticed a sparkle in the sky. I saw one of the Monarchs’ smaller ships heading for us. I then heard a voice say “Hello, we wondered what you and Rosemary looked like out of uniform. Now we don’t need to abduct you.” Rosemary stood up and said to me “Nice to hear that they have learned to tell a joke. Let’s do some posing.” The saucer stayed until I saw the Sojourns. Rosemary put on a bottom sarong preferring to show less of her. An inflatable boat from the Sojourns soon came near our boat. One person came aboard the rental boat and said “I’m here to take the rental boat back to the lodge. You will take the inflatable back to the Sojourns.” We took turns getting our stuff and changing out of our swimsuits into shorts and shirts. We then exchanged places with the other person in the inflatable boat. Once under the Sojourns, the inflatable was lifted into a cargo hold by cables. By evening, we were settled in and listening to some music.

*** Lion Retrieval ***

      The next morning, Captain Emily greeted us and said “I have good news. The government has agreed to the Monarchs plan to the lions. The Detriped will be joining us at the first retrieval site. The landscape at the first site is too hilly for large spaceships to land. The large triangular Monarch ship and Detriped will be hovering above the trees when the Sojourns gets there.” At the site, a saucer-like Monarch ship had managed to land near two lions laying on a slope. Captain Emily started to contact Captain Dennis on the Detriped. Before she could complete her message, Captain Dennis told her “Expect the Monarchs to tranquilize the lions. The lions are to be brought aboard the Monarch ship.” Rosemary and I prepared to leave the Sojourns to meet the personal from the Detriped. Soon after the shuttles had landed, Lt. Jennifer greeted us. We then walked toward the lions. Jennifer bent down and scanned the lions for vital signs. After saying that they were good, she told the husky men who accompted her that they could pick up the lions and put them in transportation pods provided by the Monarchs. A drone hovering next to the pods then turned on a switch on each pod. The pods closed and then ascended and went to the large Monarch ship. Rosemary, Jennifer and I waited for a what to do next message. This time, the drone spoke saying “Thank you, the lions are aboard our ship. Please follow the drone to the next site.” Detriped’s shuttle then lifted off and the large Monarch ship departed.

      The next site was similar to the first in its landscape. The Sojourns, as before, couldn’t land due to the forest density. Only Detriped’s shuttle could. I watched Jennifer and the husky men proceeded to do what they did at the first site from the Sojourns view screen. The next bunch of sites were a variation of the first two. The large Monarch ship and Detriped hovering above the trees. A combination of The Sojourns, a small Monarch ship or shuttles on the ground depending on the landscape. I started wondering why the Sojourns came other than to be a witness to the lion retrieval. The people from the Detriped were doing the work. At dinner that evening, I asked Captain Emily if the Detriped had sent her any more details about the lion retrieval. She said “The Monarchs informed herself and Captain Dennis that most of the affected lions have been retrieved. Tomorrow you and Rosemary will rejoin the Detriped crew.” Rosemary and I fell asleep quickly after returning to each of our rooms.

      Rainy weather greeted us the next morning. It allowed Rosemary and I to have a more leisurely breakfast. The weather, however, made the last lion retrieval more difficult because of soggy ground and wet lion fur. We had to help with lifting the lions into the Monarch’s pods. By mid-afternoon, the retrieval was complete. The Monarch ships departed without any further communication. Efforts to get the Monarchs to explain the implants or anymore about the Tower Complex were useless.

      We said goodbye to Captain Emily and her crew. The first thing Rosemary and I did upon returning to Detriped was go to each of our quarters. I changed into my usual uniform from the casual clothes that I brought on the Sojourns. I then met Rosemary in the recreation lounge. We eat several foods not available on Sojourns. Other crew members also involved in the lion retrieval were there also including Lt. Jennifer. Captain Dennis gave us about a couple of hours before he came in the lounge and said “The large triangular Monarch spaceship is heading for the command base.” I said that “I assume Commander Jack knows and is he being cautious by ordering both the Detriped and Aurora to the command base since the Monarchs have never been there?” John replied “Yes, Captain Mark, however, has reported that the Monarch spaceship is lagging behind the Aurora and Detriped. Apparently to avoid a misunderstanding.”

*** Return to Command Base ***

      The Aurora and Detriped were first to arrive at the command base. The Monarch ship did as Captain Mark predicted. It was evening when everyone saw it breaking out of the clouds. Not to my surprise or others, the Monarchs put on a show. Their ship started to display rotating lights. It threw up some grass and dirt when it landed. The scene became quiet after Aurora and Detriped shuttles landed. The silence was broken when three Monarch Fairies stepped out of their ship carrying chairs. They fluttered their wings such that the wings fell behind the chair. They then waited for us to make the next move. Aurora’s Security Officer Robert, Captain Dennis, Security Officer John and Commander Jack walked toward the Monarch Fairies carrying chairs. It was obvious when the Monarchs thought that Jack and the others had come close enough. Their leader used a light device to illuminate a boundary line. Jack told everyone to open their chairs and sit down. The conversation lasted about an hour. Jack and the others folded their chairs first. Each of them walked toward where they came from. The Monarchs followed suit a few minutes later. Once inside their ship, the ship started making a whining noise for liftoff. The large ship also wobbled at bit as it ascended. I wasn’t surprised since the Detriped and Aurora also were not designed to normally liftoff from the ground. The command base had built a landing pad for that.

      Captain Dennis had a big smile when he stepped onto the bridge. He said that “No need to leave the bridge for a meeting. The implants will be removed in a couple of days. It will be time to wake up the lions. I have the coordinates of where to go.” Linda asked “Are we going to land? What about the thickness of the forest?” He replied the Monarchs have thought of that. Transobject will make a clearing.” I shuddered at the thought of Transobject firing lasers at the ground. John, as if to read my mind, said “It’s the only way to allow the necessary crafts to land for releasing the lions.” Rosemary next had a question. She said “Will any of the lions be brought to a zoo?” Captain Dennis replied “Not immediately, a committee is going to evaluate building zoos near the Lodge, the Woodlands resort and/or the Crescent Beach resort. Even the Science Station is a possibility.” Is anyone interested in participating at some point?” As Rosemary nodded yes, I jumped in and said “Me also.” Captain Dennis then said “We will discuss that after releasing the lions. Now let’s get going.” At that response, he told the crew to prepare for liftoff from the command base pad. Detriped ascended into the brilliant blue sky. Linda, John, Rosemary and I had breakfast together the next morning. John reminded us that the effect of Transobject’s weapons will be obvious and all the Monarch ships will be there. The rest of us commented “That should be interesting”

*** Lion Release ***

      It was a bright sunny day when the Detriped approached the lion release point on the alien continent peninsula. The landscape below the shuttles looked like Transobject had dropped a bomb on it. The central trees were gone and the perimeter trees scorched. We could see the large triangular ship hovering above the trees and the two smaller Monarch ships on the ground. On the ground laid two dozen pods with the lions and a robot. Monarch Fairies were picking up and racking debris from the laser blasts. Once they saw our ships, they returned to their ships. The Monarch ships then lifted off leaving us enough room to land Detriped’s shuttles. A few minutes after landing, Linda sent a message to Captain Dennis as what to do next. The robot answered by “Please take the lions out of the pods and place them on the ground. You have enough time before they all fully wake up.” One by one the robot pressed a switch to open a pod. The shuttle crews then took each lion out of its pod and placed it on the ground. The shuttle crews were understandably nervous because the lions were waking up. Although the implants were gone, the lions were still wild animals. Linda and I watched as the lions stood up and ran into the forest ignoring the humans. No doubt that the Monarchs were watching the progress. On the last release, one of the smaller Monarch ships re-landed. The drone flew to it. The ship quickly ascended out of view after all the lions had left the clearing. I was glad to inform Captain Dennis when the release was complete. Nobody was concerned about the Monarchs retrieving their pods. John greeted Linda and me upon returning to the Detriped. The Detriped then headed back to the Command Base.

      Jack had a surprise for us when Detriped got half way to the base. Instead of landing there, he directed the ship to an estate with wonderful gardens overlooking the ocean. The reason became apparent when the Detriped shuttle started to land. Rosemary, Linda and I could see the Hunter Explorer off shore. A Sojourns shuttle and command base helicopters were already on the ground. Since the lion project was complete, I thought Jack planned a party. I was partly right. Rosemary, Linda and I walked past tulips, roses, pansies and petunias to get to the group sitting on one of the estate house’s porches. Captain Sharon (Hunter Explorer) was to first to greet us saying “Good to see you again.” I said likewise. I then looked over to Captain Emily and Laurie. They were talking about horses and adding horseback riding to the Lodge activities. After we sat down, Jack took over the meeting. It was good to see him with a calm look instead of one of impending danger. He said “Congratulations on completing the lion release. I have some news about the Monarch Fairies. They plan to leave the planet again. They have invited us to the event but insist that we don’t interfere with their preparations at either the Tower Complex or from a southern hemisphere island. They still won’t answer why the settlement destruction, more about the Gilled Beings, why the implants, how old they are or details about their life cycle. They think that there is no need to answer our questions.” He then turned the meeting over to Frank. Frank explained that once the Fairies leave, an agency called the Alien Continent Historical/Scientific Agency will be created for recording projects such as the zoos. He will be the Director. Jack then said “Meeting adjourned. Enjoy the estate.”

      Frank, Captain Emily and Laurie walked to the tulip bed. Jack and Captain Sharon decided to see the house. Rosemary, Linda and I followed them. We looked at the furniture and decorations. We wound up on the estate house’s front porch overlooking the ocean. Captain Sharon told us that the Hunter Explorer will be staying in this ocean and about their next missions. Jack sensing Rosemary’s and mine interest said “You could sometimes join them on their missions after the Monarchs leave. For now, the Detriped needs to join the Aurora at the southern hemisphere islands.” Linda then said “Chasing the Monarchs again.” Jack responded “Yes”. Sharon and Jack went to a command base helicopter. Jack stepped in and turned the key. He knew how to fly it. Rosemary, Linda and I boarded the Detriped shuttle. in a short time, we were on our way back to Detriped.

*** Monarch Departure ***

      After settling in on the Detriped, the three of us went to the bridge. John said welcome aboard. It took a short time for the Detriped to get from the estate to the southern hemisphere island. The Monarch ships were there. The saucers on the ground and the triangular ship hovering above the beach. The saucers became eerily silent when most of their lights went out. The triangular ship then started rising and sent a goodbye “Leaving planet. Your Monarch butterflies are beautiful but please refer to us as the Fairies.” message to Captains Dennis and Mark. The two captains agreed to leave the saucers alone. They noted that we know what the Transobject builders look like and can be reasonably assured that they are benevolent. Jack concurred. The humans again were alone on the planet.

      The Monarch departure dominated the conversations for days. Most of the Detriped’s crew thought that the Monarch Fairies would eventually come back. Everyone on the bridge, hoped that they would come back and answer the old and new questions. None of us expected the government to act to answer them since once again there appeared to be no alien danger.

      On one of the evenings, a group of us walked to the lounge’s view of the stars. It reminded Rosemary of the celebration party at the Golden Sands resort when Transobject left orbit.