Solbidyum Wars Saga 4: Too Late for Earth by Dale C. Musser Page B

would be making the trip back to the Federation with them to stand trial for stealing the solbidyum shipment.  As their shuttle departed the hangar in route to the MIZBAGONA, a message came through on my communicator from the Commodore.
    “Tibby, I’ve checked, and we will be passing very close to Alle Bamma on our way to Earth, I’ve charted it into our navigational plans, we should arrive there in two weeks.”
    “If we assume that we spend a day at Alle Bamma, how long will it be until we arrive at Earth?”  I asked.
    “With our enhanced engines, running at max speed it should take us about six weeks.” He responded.
    I sighed.  “I know I gave a departure time earlier of 20 hours, but if everyone gets back before then, I want us leaving as soon as the last is aboard.  Maximum speed!”
    “It will be done; I’ll let you know as soon as we depart.”
    Just a little over six hours later I received word from the bridge that we were underway.
    Over the next few days my strength returned rapidly and my bruises faded.  The nanobots in my body searched out damaged tissue and bone and knitted it together; a week later, other than for my missing eye, I felt pretty much like my old self again.  The illusion of being returned to my earlier physical state was soon shattered when I decided to do some minor workouts in the gym.  I began slowly practicing some Tai Chi moves and quickly discovered that my sense of balance was way off.  I had a difficult time trying to keep balance on one leg while extending my other.  I found a few other leg and arm movements demanding as well, and a few I was unable to do at all.  Suddenly, I felt very tired and very afraid.  I left my exercise and headed back to my suite, there I threw myself on the bed and stared at the ceiling.  I was feeling lower than I have ever felt in my life.  Earth was gone, or at least it sounded that way, and here I was, in an alien universe, disabled, or at least I was from my perspective.  I knew I wasn’t really disabled, but I felt terribly impotent without my normal skills.  I’m not sure how long I lay there cursing myself internally when I became aware that Kala was standing in the doorway staring at me.
    “You feeling sorry for yourself now?”  She asked calmly.
    I was a bit embarrassed for her to find me like this, but I answered with a sigh, “I’m sorry to say I am.  It’s all a bit much.  All the events on Goo’ Waddle, Tanden’s death, Shydak getting away, my crash, and now finding out that my home world of Earth may have been destroyed!”  It’s a lot to deal with.
    “You seemed to be dealing with it pretty well until you discovered that you no longer have the speed and agility you had before.  Are you sure it’s not your masculinity that is troubling you?”
    Her words stung, but I knew she was right.  The idea that I may never be able to perform at my previous level of skill with my martial arts made me feel like a cripple.  I knew that was not true, but I still felt that way.”
    “Tibby, you’re going to have to give it time.  It will take months of exercise for all your muscles and nerves to relearn all that was lost.  Give it time; don’t give up.”
    “I rolled over, got up off the bed, walked to her, put my arms around her, and gave her a gentle kiss on the lips.  “Thank you.  I’m sorry I’m being so negative, but with all that happened in the past few weeks, it’s hard for me to be positive.”
    Kala squeezed me tighter and kissed me back and then pulled away.  “Just focus on thinking about our family and raising our kids.  That should give you something positive to think about.”
    “You’re right!”  I said with a smile, “By the way, you never did tell me just how long you have been pregnant.”
    “How long WE have been pregnant!”  Kala emphasized, “I didn’t do this alone, you know.
    I smiled, “No you didn’t.  Okay then, how long have WE been pregnant?”
    “Ten and a