Forest Guardians Chronicles: A Matter of Humanity by Beth Roose (smart ebook reader TXT) 📗

Garman, that is what Captain Picard would say!” Both men laughed, relieving almost all of the tension that had crept into the room within the last few hours. Morgan continued.“Yes, I am up for the plan. After all, I created this mess, so it is my responsibility to take ownership and fix it. Sometimes doing the hard thing is the right thing.

Clapping and rubbing his hands together, Mr. Garman’s thinking gears were turning in his head. “Alright, we have a plan. Now, we just need to work up that formula!” exclaimed Mr. Garman. Quick to protest, Morgan made Mr. Garman aware of the time. It was already seven in the morning. By golly, they had sat in the kitchen brainstorming all night! Morgan stood up instantly, remembering he had another responsibility to oversee. “Mr. Garman, I appreciate your help and delicious coffee, but it is already seven in the morning. That drone will be wondering where I am. After all, I have left him in my lab all night.”

Noticing the anxiety radiating off Morgan, Mr. Garman let out a laugh. “Morgan, the drone is not going anywhere. He is in a hibernation mode right now, remember? We have all day until the creature reawakens.” Morgan paused, thinking over the information Mr. Garman just gave him, and finally shook his head up and down in agreement. “Now,” Mr. Garman stood taking both of their empty coffee mugs in hand, “how about another cup of coffee? What do you say?” Both men laughed again, bonding over their same love of Star Trek.

Marsha shuffled into the kitchen as her Dad and Morgan worked through a few physics equations. Wiping the sleep from her eyes and stifling a large yawn, Marsha greeted her father and his visitor in the kitchen. “Dad?” Morgan asked, stretching her arms to the ceiling, reaching side to side to remove the stiffness from her recently awakened muscles, “How long have you guys been working on this? Have you been at it all night?” She looked inquisitively between both men at the kitchen table.

Mr. Garman stood up, a large grin on his face and arms outstretched, ready to give his daughter a warm morning hug. “Yes, Marsha, we have been here all night, and we are making some real progress!”

Marsha was used to her father staying up all hours of the night to brainstorm and solve science problems. After all, it is what he enjoyed most, and he was known for getting lost in his work. She chuckled to herself and thought “I suppose when you are passionate about something, time does not really matter.” Peering at the time on the rust orange colored clock over the stove, Marsha realized if she did not get ready now, she would be late for work. “Well, it is about time I start getting ready for work. I would not want to be late.” Marsha said. “Dad, will you let me know if I can help in any way?”

Mr. Garman looked at his daughter with delight. “Why, yes, Marsha, I will let you know if you can be of any help. You know I always love when I get to work along side you. It means I get to spend more time with you!” Suddenly, the smile on Mr. Garman’s face vanished and he looked quite cross. “Marsha, honey, do me a favor, would you? Please do not mention any of this to your co-worker, Bev.” Marsha, having turned down the same narrow hallway that Morgan walked through many hours ago, heard her father’s voice echo down it. “Did you hear me, Marsha?

Although he could not see her, she nodded and replied with a hasty, “Yes, Dad, I will not say a word.” She paused by the front door to gather her things for the day: her keys, purse, lunch box, and favorite Star Trek comic book, and walked hastily out of the front door, and into her car. Chucking all of her items into the passenger seat and speeding around the hood of her car, making her way to the driver's seat, she came to a sudden halt. “That is weird,” she whispered under her breath. The side door to her car was slightly ajar, but how could that be? She thought she had locked the car the night before. Was someone playing a joke on her? Why would someone want to be in her car? Rummaging through the glove compartment and the center console, Marsha took inventory of all of her belongings: nothing was missing. She sat in the seat just staring out the windshield in disbelief of her recent discovery. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, trying to calm down the best she could before taking off for her morning commute. After all, it is not safe to get behind the wheel of a car in a frantic and anxious condition. Slowly, Marsha exhaled one final time and opened her eyes. Muttering to herself, “God, oh dear God. I wish I had not overheard so much of that plan.” She shook her head and turned the key in the ignition on, setting off to work as if it was just any average day.

3

Time Grabber: The Shocking Reality

Bitty was running as hard as she could. Gasping for what little air she could get through her lungs, she came to a stop and gazed into the sky above. She was overcome with fear and adrenaline as she watched the Hornet Queen weave in between the pine trees, making a straight beeline towards her. Freda, the Great Blue Heron, swooped down to rescue Bitty from harm's way, ordering her to lay down flat on the ground. Bitty complied as Freda landed on top of her with her great feathered wings still spread to hide Bitty. Freda had one job at this moment, and that was to protect Bitty. She could not let the evil Hornet Queen find her, so Freda did what first came to mind: play dead. Freda told Bitty