The lights came up slowly and a soft musical lilt drifted through the air. Boss Jene opened his eyes and looked over Miriam's face. He couldn't avoid a shudder of pleasure knowing that she was lying naked next to him. He put down any lasciviousness as a bad idea. The poor woman had enough on her mind without him taken advantage of her need for reassurance. She had come to him in the middle of the night standing over the bed in her full glory. She was a stunning woman and any other time the invitation would have been accepted as a welcome gift. This wasn't that time. She had done an extraordinary thing in saving all their lives and wasn't even sure that she did it. The loss of James was still not addressed by the crew and at some point would have to be. Here they were safe, for now, in Samson's lair. How he knew they would be here was a mystery but anything about the man wasn't at all surprising.

"Good morning!"

Boss Jene started. Miriam had awoken and was looking at him with incredibly kind eyes. She smiled and sat up wrapping herself in the blanket.

"I am a little embarrassed. I hope you won't think badly of me. I just needed…"

"Me too!"

Miriam stood slowly. She looked over her shoulder and smiled.

"Thank you!" She left the room.

Elizabeth and Jonathan walked into the room naked both very excited about something. They were both talking over each other to the point that not one word was understood.

"Get up dear boy." Elizabeth jumped into the bed with Jene. Snuggling or spooned up against him. She took his hand and put it on her breast helping him knead the soft flesh. Jonathan sat on the edge of the bed chattering seemingly unaffected by his wife's playfulness.

"We found something incredible. We were up most of the night pouring over computer files. This place is wonderful."

"Feel up the other one I feel lopsided." Elizabeth purred and jutted her butt cheeks further into Jene's activating groin.

"Honey, I'm trying to talk to the man. If you keep doing that he won't have enough blood in his head to understand what I'm saying."

"Which head. Oh my, I see what you mean." She reached around and grasped a hold of Jene's member causing him to jump. She flipped around and pursed her lips and started to drop her head toward his lap. Jene jumped up and stood red faced on the side of the bed.

"What's the matter?" Jonathan looked up at him and over at his wife.

Elizabeth sat up and put her hands on her hips producing a magnificent display.

"I'm sorry Dear. I thought you would be in a terrible need. We know you didn't…well, you didn't with sweet Miriam. You are a good man. I thought maybe I could relieve some of that bent up tension."

"How did you know?" Jene slipped on a pair of jeans doing his best to put away his stiff member.

"Thank you for that." She pointed to his discomfort." We found a monitor to this room."

"We were hoping for a little entertainment." Jonathan smiled. "Still what we saw was enough to put a fire on our evening. She is a lovely girl. Isn't she Dear? Anyway, you have got to come and see what we found." He bolted from the room.

"You sure I can't give you a hand?" Elizabeth got up hip out and an arm behind her head being simply breathtaking.

"I think I am going to take a cold shower by myself and paste you looking like that permanently in my memory, to be taken out for those special private moments.

Elizabeth walked over and kissed him on the cheek. "You are the second most dangerous and sweetest man I have ever known. It doesn't have to be such an incomplete memory." She left the room redefining what hips and perfectly rounded bottoms are supposed to do.

Jene breathed deeply a dozen times letting the blood flow out of his face and all other flushed parts. Shaking his head he slipped on a T-shirt, courtesy of their host and walked into the computer room. Elizabeth and Jonathan had donned robes and were attentively scrolling down files.

"Come here- sit down." Elizabeth patted a seat.

"We have found something very interesting about Samson. Look at this." Jonathan pointed at the screen.

On the screen was a picture of what appeared to be an astronaut. He was scowling at the camera. The caption read. 'Col. Samson is all business and the whole country is proud that he is an American.' Jene leaned forward staring at the image.

"That can't be him. My Lord, that must be …what?…centuries ago."

"There's more." Elizabeth pulled up another photo. It was of a stunningly beautiful redheaded woman, standing next to the same man. She was noticeably taller and it seemed to make no difference. Her eyes clearly showed her affection toward the man.

"No. That's…" Jene sat back and wiped his face. "How can this be?"

"Yep. That's her. That's Cassandra. The article read that she is married to that guy. That guy is Samson and that is his wife Cassandra Dee Samson. She was a movie star and a model. From what we can gather they were two of the most famous people in the world and they loved each other devotedly." Jonathan turned his chair to face Jene. " That Samson and that Cassandra lived before the second moon's arrival. He was to go up and blow the thing up. The thinking was that the moon would crash into Earth. They were pretty convinced that the plan would work. He went up blew it up, not so much. The moon just slowed down and planted itself in orbit. Nothing after that. We know what happened."

"I don't get it. Is that our Samson?" Jene stood and paced. " She's a vat baby. She's a clone."

"Bingo!" Elizabeth chirped. "But he's not."

"What? How do you know?"

"He has entries, a lot of entries. We haven't gone through a sliver of his writings. The early ones tell of the catastrophe and him coming down to a completely destroyed world." Elizabeth folded her hands.

"There's more. Apparently he was taken for about a hundred years." Jonathan pursed his lips as if afraid to speak.

"Taken? By who?"

"It's not clear. He calls them Sons-o-bitches. That's it Sons-o Bitches. When he was in space some-ones took him and kept him for a long time while the Earth stabilized. He speaks of getting used to the changes but no telling what those changes were. Long life was one of them. It goes on to tell of his travels, his dog, and his experiments. Here's the bombshell, we are all his children."

Elizabeth crossed her legs letting her robe fall open. "Almost every human being on this planet was wiped out. He wrote that he tried to find people but had to kill them all. He claimed they were insane, deviant or deformed animals with no connection to their human ancestors. After a normal lifetime of hunting and killing he decided to repopulate. He used stored eggs and DNA. We thought these facilities were left from the old world. They were, but not what's in them. He built all this. He even tried some new forms of life to see how they would fare. We have seen some of them."

"He made Cassandra." Jene sat down.

Elizabeth spun back to the computer and pulled up another file. "He cloned his wife. He found some genetic material that was stored for her. He grew her with some of the same modifications the 'Others' had made in him. Then he got weird. He kept her suspended, never woke her up. Years later some of your folks found the bunker and decided to continue the work, attempting to make her the perfect pitch woman for a new world order-on Mars."

Jonathan weighed in. "They screwed up. They thought she was just a human. Samson let them think what ever they wanted. He knew that she would kill them all and wake then he would kill her. He called it cleaning up his mess."

"Why Mars?"

"That's the bad news." Elizabeth frowned. The Earth is unstable. I guess the earth quakes are for a reason."

All three sat silent. Miriam walked in drying her hair.

"What on Earth's going on? More bad news?"

"I think we need to go to Mars." Jene touched her hand.

"Can we have breakfast first?"

***

Adams had spent over eight hours in as ghostly a manner as he was able to purge and discard into apace all those he knew where in league with those upstart druggy bastards on Earth. He would deal with them in good time. It did cause an insurrection of sorts but that was predictable. They thought they all were going to die. He did not hold their natural reaction against them. In fact he honored them for the metal in their spines. He got on the station intercom and told the survivors to meet him in the cargo bay in ten minutes. All was to be revealed.

He stood up on a catwalk knowing full well that he was a great target. He was confident that these people would listen at least to find out why all of this was happening.

"My people, do not be afraid. I know what's in your hearts and you know that what we do here is a worthy thing. Those who are no longer with us, though you thought them colleagues and friends, were in fact vipers bent on our destruction. I did what I did for us all that the future would be safe from duplicity and hidden danger. Rest easy, it was not an easy decision for me to make but one that had to be done. You know of the evil of the drug lords and what they seek, in their nihilistic endeavors. Are we lost? Are we devoid of hope? No. We are the vanguard to a bright and shiny future. Why else would we do what we do, for purely scientific exercise? Or because we believe we can do better? We can thrive and be greater than the generation that ruined the Earth. That same generation that attracted the second moon by its' inequities. I know that is not scientific but in my heart I know it to be true. And so, the good survive and will prosper, as it should be. Those evil ones did not heed my warnings and did I not as a Prophet go to the Church and tell them of what is coming? Are not some of you related to Priests that have secretly told you of what will come? I have given you technology and have prepared the way. You will in the next week build a device that will allow us to achieve an orbit around Mars in seconds. We will ferry your families and a great number of the faithful and their families from the Church to a new home. Not in the thirty years you believed but now. Those monsters that would stop what is rightfully our legacy will perish with the Earth. Do not look for ships to arrive. I will show you a wondrous thing. Your loved will begin to appear in your quarters as a sign to you of my faithfulness and appreciation for you all. Now go and rest for a day. Please know that I am your leader, your friend and your father. Now go and renew yourselves."

Adams disappeared into a panel letting the murmuring continue.

'Let them process the events." He thought to himself, pleased that it went as well as it did.

He made his way to the Captains quarters. The door panel closed behind him with a hiss and he sat down heavily in the large swivel chair in front of the consul. He stared at the Com panel for a moment and yawned. He was tired and needed to rest but first things first. His right eye turned green and he bent over to peer into a lighted bulb on the face of the panel. Hidden in the Com unit was a special device, unseen until he needed it. He was sure the little weasel that once occupied this seat had it taken apart to look for spyware. He wouldn't have found it. A small drawer opened and inside was a pin with a tiny crystal on one end. Adams picked it up and stuck it straight in behind his left ear. He winced a bit at the pain gave his head a little shake to dispel the odd sense of displacement. Immediately a buzz of a thousand voices filled his head.

'Please center so that one who can not discern all your thoughts and must have one voice to comprehend.' Adams focused his thoughts and tried his best to breath through the vertigo he was experiencing.

'It is he!' all the voices spoke in unison.

'It is I.'

'We are pleased.'

'As am I.' Adams hated this formality.

'Don't.' The admonishment came back.

'I am sorry. It is rude for me not to find joy in the joining of souls. Allow that I as a human sometimes find this level of intimacy a bit uncomfortable. You know this from the millennia that you have been our guardians. I say this with thanks and humility.'

'We do know, but try. It will be well for you to do so.'

'As you say. I report that all is doing well. In a bit more than a week we will be ready.'

'That is pleasing to us. We noted that some had been relieved of their physical-ness. Was such a brutality necessary?'

'The proper alignment of human souls, often, is not something that can be easily affected. Sometimes ending their involvement, silencing them, is the only course of action toward a proper outcome.'

'They are not now involved that is true. Yet they may yet be in another incarnation. with your permission may we?'

Adams did not understand the religious mechanisms of the visitors. It had been explained to him but it was so far over his head that trying to glean even the smallest fragment of the dogma was painful and far to esoteric. It served him to go along.

'Yes of course. If they are redeemable so be it.'

'We will care fir them. It has been pleasant.'

The connection was broken and the dizziness and nausea flooded through him. He took several deep breaths and slowly gained some balance. He pulled out a handkerchief and reached for the pin. Taking it out of his head, he wiped the blood drop away and put the pin away. Standing he stretched and walked over to the bunk. He lay down and ordered the door sealed. Fatigue washed over him and he allowed himself to slip away into a deep sleep.

***

Cassandra and Beth had run for over three hours. Beth pulled up and listened.

"There are people up ahead camped by the creek. How come we couldn't see them from up there." She pointed to the mountains behind them.

"Nomads. They disguise their tents and wear garments that make them hard to see from a distance. They blend well into the surroundings. Let's go get a meal I’m starving."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. I could use a wash. I smell like a horny goat."

"I noticed. Doesn't do a thing for me but then I'm not a goat." Beth laughed and followed an already moving Cassandra.

"Cute. You're no rose yourself. I can still smell that man on you, you randy little slut."

Beth smiled very pleased with herself.

They waded through a shallow creek and stood allowing for the men to see them and determine if there was any danger. A small group of men stepped forward. They were dressed in wheat colored robes and tan wide brimmed hats. Each had a bandoleer and holstered pistols. A few carried rifles and large knifes.

Beth wondered if they would shoot but decided that if they wanted to do that they would already be dead. Just as that thought entered her head two men splashed up behind them They had been followed and that made her angry. She should have known. Maybe being laid dulled her senses.

"No dear." Cassandra whispered. "They are very good at what they do, just follow my lead."

Beth hated that. She wondered if Cassandra was going to mix up a smelly cocktail. The wind was blowing the wrong way. I guess a fight was in order.

"Brothers and sisters, we are strangers and wanderers. We seek no gain and seek to do no harm. We would add to you our skills and wits. We are fighters of the Essian class and no well the code."

Beth had no idea about any of that.

"We seek respite and succor as is just and good to ask and to receive." Cassandra bowed as did Beth.

"I am Bralane and Leader of these people. What you say is well spoken and true. You will speak your name for all to hear."

The whole camp wandered over. Men stood and the women sat down cross-legged on the ground, holding babies and directing children to be quite and behave.

"I am one called Cassandra and My second is named Beth."

"Both are good names. My second his Tamb." Tamb stepped forward. Cassandra went over to him and looked him up and down. She stepped back.

"Forgive me. Did I not say aloud for all to hear that we are of a class of fighter that would demand your best? It grieves me to believe that you would insult me in such a cavalier manner. If you want this worthy man to die for your disregard of my worth and status so be it. After that thing is done it will be my painful and sad duty to seek restitution and regain our honor on these good people for your error.

The crowd went silent. Bralane's eyes were wide with fear and concern. He dared not move or show weakness.

"Forgive me for a stupid and childish test. I would never insult one such as you. I did find your posturing so early in our meeting arrogant. I now see it to be assured. We will have Sedi our best fighter step forward. It is not our custom that these matches are to the death. But since you, Cassandra, and I, Bralane, have knocked against each other and caused each of us a loss of face this match will be to the death. If your second dies so will you."

Cassandra stepped right up to Bralane and put her nose to his nose.

"No this foolish one. You still speak to me as if I was a child. We have come as friends and you all treat with indignity. It is my second and myself who will win this day. It is you and yours that will be judged as insolent and arrogant. You discard custom and law because you shake in your boots over the visage of warrior women of such high status. What you know but have not seen hardens your heart. Beware my wrath and need for restitution."

She stepped back dramatically.

Beth said in a loud clear voice. " Do I kill him with mercy or punish him before he dies?"

A man pushed through the angry crowd and stripped off his clothes in as defiant a manner as he could muster.

"You have your answer. His name is Sedi and he is the greatest amongst us." The leader took a charred stick and drew a symbol on Sedi's chest.

Sedi was well muscled and moved with surprising liquidity. He quickly tied up his hair, knelt down and put his forehead to the ground.

"Cassandra do I strip down too?" Beth whispered.

Cassandra spoke aloud. " She has asked if she should kill the man in a common fashion. I have told her that it would be murder no matter the insult."

The gathering murmured in approval.

Beth nodded and stripped. It felt good to be out of the clothes. It was a personal thing of hers to be naked as often as she was able. Cassandra took the offered stick and drew a symbol on Beth's chest.

"Your perfectly formed breasts make this really difficult." Cassandra smiled. 'When you beat his ass up. Do that healing thing you did on your young man."

"You knew?"

"Of course."

"Do you want me to screw him after I kick his ass?" Beth asked sarcastically.

Cassandra smiled. "Maybe. We'll see how it goes. He is very cute. Maybe I will after you fix him up."

Beth grinned and as Cassandra resumed her original position Beth knelt down and put her forehead on the ground mimicking her opponent.

She waited till he rose. When he did she did. Sedi nodded, as did Beth. They both began to circle each other. Sedi lunged in and Beth lightly stepped away. Sedi lunged again and Beth put her hands on his shoulders and flipped over his head shoving him ti the ground. He snapped up angry and red faced. He lunged again this time Beth stepped to the side and hocking his shoulder spun him around she kicked him and sent him hard on his back. The man snapped up and snorted his defiance. Beth smiled at him admiring his body. She couldn't help but think of Raul and the evening they had spent. Sexual play wasn't something she allowed herself in a world where most men were animals. Raul and this man in front of her were exceptions. She could feel Sedi's heart and knew him to be a good man. Right there after many more interactions, where the poor man suffered more bruises and injury to his pride, she decided not to kill him. The world needs such men. She decided at that moment to put an end to the festivities. Sedi lunged with a grunt. Beth lowered her shoulder using his momentum, she drove her shoulder into his groin while snapping her arm upwards hitting him, closed fist in the throat. Spinning she rolled to his back as he leaned over in agony. Reaching under his thigh she threw him cartwheeling into the air headfirst into the creek. She waded over to the struggling man and wrapped her arm around his neck choking him into unconsciousness. Then effortlessly grasped his ankle and drug limp body to the shore. Kneeling down beside him she punched his chest and he came to live in a spew of water and coughs.

All the men fell to their knees and put their foreheads to the ground. The women did also but not without revealing broad grins.

The leader looked up and asked. "Mistress, you are able to kill us all, are you not?"

"Without a need to breathe heavily." Cassandra responded.

"Can your Leader warrior best you, Mistress?" Looking at Beth.

"In her sleep. I am but her student." Beth smiled menacingly.

The men all fell prone to the dirt. The women could hardly contain themselves.

"Rise noble people. We seek no authority but offer ourselves as warrior protectors for the greater good. I have come to take your people home as it has been commanded. Stand and greet us as sister friends."

The whole camp jumped up and started cheering. The women threw off the drab outer robes to reveal deep blue linen underneath. They rushed forward shoving the jubilant men aside and directed Cassandra and Beth toward a large communal tent. The men were laughing and patting each other on the backs at their good fortune. Sedi was sitting dejected and miserable when a group of men approached him, lifting him to his feet and congratulating him on how long he lasted with such an angel. The man looked at them and to his leader with a perplexed expression.

"Is this true? Have I been blessed to have fought and angel?" His face fixed in wonder.

"It is clearly so. We counted fifteen lunges. Such a fight will be spoken of for generations. You are truly the best of us, Sedi."

Sedi started to cry as the men threw robes over him and lifted him to their shoulders. The poor man did not know whether to sob or laugh. He was happier than he had ever been.

Bralane beckoned the men. "Come we men are charged to prepare a feast for our new sisters as our women bath and dress them. Slaughter five lambs and fire the braziers put on your best robes of flower colors. Man and heaven will see us, this day. Our new sisters are blessed and so then are we. Are we not a great and good people? Will not the sun go down on the most wondrous day in all the time of our people?" Tears ran down his cheeks as well.

***

Raul awoke to the dogs nudging his side.

'They come!'

It took several minutes before he heard the hoof beats of horses. Three more dogs appeared over the rise and greeted the two that had befriended Raul. When Samson appeared followed by Benning, Raul couldn't help but well up with happiness. He had been through so much and never thought to see them again. This was a good day. Samson rode up and leaned over in the saddle peering into Raul's face.

"You don't look to bad for the ware." He reached over and slapped his face.

Benning dismounted and ran over to his son, hugging him and kissing the side of his face until they both fell to the ground.

"I'm okay Dad. Really."

Samson smiled and reached over lifting Benning off the ground with one hand.

"Get up both of you. You are making a fool of yourself in front of the dogs."

The dogs didn't seem to mind at all. They were barking happily at the reunion.

Out of a crevasse an enormous golden retriever walked over to a startled Raul. He had never seen such a dog. Ruun sniffed him up and down and snuffed.

'I'm the only one like me lad.' The thought boomed in Raul's head. "He has been badly injured. Something as rebuilt him from the smallest part. He has no disease. It is strange. Father, not even you have such a gift.'

Samson pulled his horse and galloped away.

"I guess we are leaving." Benning mounted pointing toward the horse saddled for Raul. The dogs all took off in a full run leaving Raul and Benning to catch up.

A voice boomed in the men's heads. 'We leave you now. We have other duties and we will see you again.' The dogs veered off to the right and disappeared out of sight.

The two men soon caught up with Samson, who had slowed down a bit. The purposely stead a bit back so as to not interfere with whatever thought process Samson was engaged in.

Samson pulled up abruptly. "I know where she's going and we have to hurry. She has joined up with some folks I know and convinced them she is acting in their best interest. What she is about to do is dangerous, not that I'd be upset if she got herself killed in the process. That just wouldn't serve my purposes. Have your wits about you, boys. This is a strange land we are entering. Stay sharp."

He galloped away without waiting for a response. Raul and his father followed. After to long a period of silence Raul couldn't hold back the questions.

"What's going on?"

"The women, Cassandra, wants to take over Mars or something."

"So?"

"Look, I have learned some pretty bizarre stuff in the last few hours. Things you wouldn't believe. But knowing the man like I do. It all makes perfect sense."

"I'd believe a lot, try me."

"Okay. I think the women wants to start it all over on Mars. I'm getting the idea that maybe we need to. Like the old planet is getting old- all the shaken and all. I think she intends to have Samson give her a hand. She can ruffle his feathers from a distance, if you get my meaning?"

"Pop, I believe that would be akin to marrying up with a black widow."

"The picture of that does seem apt."

"Unc is a lot older than he looks isn't he?"

"Son, I reckon he is the oldest man alive or maybe ever was. Seems like we are all kin to him."

"You are going to have to explain that."

"I will but not now. Right now we are going to serve him well. That is what you and me are going to do." Benning kneed his horse and pulled ahead. The conversation was over.

Raul thought about what his father had said. Just last night he had a vivid dream in which Samson was Noah and Moses. Men from the stories his father read to him, as a boy, from a sacred book he had found in a ruin. He knew he was wrapped up in extraordinary events and that he was a part of them. He loved his uncle and would follow him anywhere and besides he couldn't help his feelings for the little superwoman.

A bullet ricocheted off a rock to his left. There was no cover so he through his leg over and pulled his horse to the ground. Another bullet careened just passed his ear. Raul peered over his saddle looking for the shooter. His father was not in sight. He hated using the horse for a shield but he had no choice. Another bullet snapped off a rock in front of him.

"Damn, not good. Not good. "Panic was welling up in him.

He saw a glint of medal off a large boulder on a small ridge in front of him. Then he saw movement to the left. It was clear there were two men clearly intent on killing him. HIs anger flared and grew in him like a molten rock, causing his veins to burn. Another bullet whizzed over head. He closed his eyes and screamed to release some anxiety. Then suddenly the ground felt different. He was lying in grass. He opened his eyes and in front of him were the backs of two men, with rifles, looking down and incline. The air shimmered in front of him and Samson's back solidified. He moved up to the two men and swiftly killed them both with by snapping their necks with one hand. Raul moved breaking a twig. Samson swirled around with his gun drawn. He stared for a second and holstered hid gun. Raul blinked and smiled. He got up and dusted off.

"Hi, Unc. I got kinda mad and somehow I was up here."

"So it seems sense you are not down there." He pointed down the steep grade." Were you going to kill these two morons or were you gonna have a chat. Maybe ask them why they were shooting at you?"

"Okay, I was a little confused. I didn't know I could do that."

"Look, don't tell your Dad you can do thus little thing that we can do. I did a little hocus- pocus in getting you out of hot water back there with the winged shits. He has had a lot to assimilate lately. Can you do that for me?"

"Sure, the worlds a lot different than he and I thought when we started out with you."

"You have no idea. Most of it my doing and I intend to make it right. Look, there are a lot more of these thugs up ahead. The think they are going to bushwhack us when we pass through a ravine down into the valley. I think they were supposed to waylay the ladies but missed them. Before we get there we are going to hold up in another of my little hide- aways. We have some people coming that can give us a hand."

The two men started walking down to the horses.

"How did I do that?"

"You can do a lot more than you know. Once you understand your potential-who knows. I am very pleased with you. I did something right "

"Thanks -I guess. Say Unc, you ever read the Bible?"

"Yes I have."

"You believe it?'

"Yes I do. I have good reason to do just that. Come on boy we have work to do."