Difference between revisions of "The Race"

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===Synopsis===
 
===Synopsis===
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The story begins with a prologue where two CIA employees, [[Jack Lundy]] and an unnamed junior colleague, discuss the [[Terran 2 Project]] (aka the planet of [[Offworld]]), and the various groups involved in it, including [[Section 17]] and the [[Alien Brotherhood]], two parts of the main controlling organization known as the [[Syndicate]] that controls Offworld and [[the race]] that's at the center of it.  After this brief introduction the story then moves over to begin the story of [[Simon Williams|Simon]] who is the main character of the story.  The scene opens with Simon sitting at his desk working late at his job as a Software Developer in a small Michigan software startup.  After a quick bit of office banter, Simon closes down and leaves for the day, walking out of the office and into the parking lot only to unexpectedly find himself sitting in a small metallic cell in the reception center of the Syndicate on the planet of Offworld at the very start of the race.
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The story begins with [[Simon Williams|Simon]], a software developer and part time farmer, who is the main character of the story.  After a stressful day at work, he leaves late at night only to be abducted shortly after leaving the building.  He wakes up to find himself at the reception station for a 6000 mile long [[The Race of Offworld|survival race]].  After processing, Simon meets a brash, arrogant, street smart kid from the South Side of Chicago named Trevor.  After a brief and disrespectful conversation with Simon, the young man goes off on his own while Simon settles into learning all he can about the race.  By late afternoon he stops reading, gathers his things, and begins the course.  However, as he's entering the course, two of the demons from the [[Alien Brotherhood|Brotherhood]] take an unhealthy interest in him from atop the reception center, and seek to exterminate him before he can get anywhere.  However, they are stopped by one of the senior Section 17 agents, advising that they should allow him to continue just like any other racer.  After this, Simon continues hiking the rest of the day and eventually reaches the first [[Resource Nodes|checkpoint]] where he orders a poncho, then sits down for the evening, as it's growing close to sunset, and builds a fire.  About an hour after dark, Trevor appears and takes up a place in the camp.  The two talk briefly, and Simon even witnesses a little to Trevor, but the young man wants nothing to do with it.  The two then fall asleep for the night.  Simon wakes up the next morning to find that he's alone again as Trevor has gone on ahead of him already.  This goes on for several days until Trevor, having experienced God's love through Simon often enough, eventually accepts Christ.
  
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After being snatched out of his cell and roughly treated by the strange, alien employees at the reception center, he's provided with some basic starting instructions, an initial selection of supplies, and then hurried out into the staging area that sits between the starting checkpoint of the race and the reception center itself.  Simon quickly realizes that he's not on Earth anymore, and immediately goes into survival mode,learning everything he can about the race from the handy and informational race manual given to him as part of his initial list of supplies.  During this period of time he meets a brash, arrogant, street smart kid from the South Side of Chicago named Trevor.  After a brief and disrespectful conversation with Simon, the young man goes off on his own while Simon settles into his reading again.  By late afternoon he stops reading, gathers his things, and begins the course.  However, as he's entering the course, two of the demons from the [[Alien Brotherhood|Brotherhood]] take an unhealthy interest in him from atop the reception center, and seek to exterminate him before he can get anywhere.  However, they are stopped by one of the senior Section 17 agents, advising that they should allow him to continue just like any other racer.
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After some more talking, Simon then begins to instruct Trevor in the ways of woodsmanship, including how to start a fire.  They then continue to hike the trail, moving from campsite to campsite while getting to know each other.  Eventually they come up to a large, open prairie that begins where the woods abruptly ends.  They stopped for a few days to prepare for the long trip across the prairie before continuing on again.  Eventually, after a couple nights in the prairie, they come across [[Ariana Peterson|Aria]] one night when she appears in camp, out of the darkness, and tries to steal Trevor's dinner.  After a brief struggle she's knocked out, and then tied up, more for her protection than theirs.  When she wakes up, Simon questions her about her actions, and then realizes she only did it because she was hungry.  So he feeds her the rest of Trevor's stew, and then a ration pack and a can of juice.  Once satisfied they begin to ask her about who she is, why she's there, and more.  Eventually Simon offers her a place on his team, much to Trevor's consternation.  However, Aria chooses to think about it, and then leaves.  She returns the next morning and is generously offered breakfast, which she accepts gratefully, if not a bit to her surprise as she's never encountered kindness of this type in all her life.  After some struggles they reach the other side where they setup camp for a few weeks to rebuild their supplies.  While there, a local group of bandits take an unhealthy interest in the team.
  
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Simon continues hiking the rest of the day and eventually reaches the first [[Resource Nodes|checkpoint]] where he orders a poncho, then sits down for the evening, as it's growing close to sunset, and builds a fire.  About an hour after dark, Trevor appears and takes up a place in the camp.  The two talk briefly, and Simon even witnesses a little to Trevor, but the young man wants nothing to do with it.  The two then fall asleep for the night.  Simon wakes up the next morning to find that he's alone again as Trevor has gone on ahead of him already.  The day's hiking is generally unadventurous, even though Simon finds himself thinking a LOT about things back home, as well as the trail ahead.  That night, the same as before, Trevor joined Simon in his camp to share the fire and human company.  This time though, Trevor chose to stay with Simon and become his traveling partner.  However, due to Trevor's immaturity, caustic attitude and combative attitude, the two soon part ways.  Simon then prays briefly for Trevor before focusing himself intently on the course and what he'll need to do to survive the entirety of the race.
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Later on, while hiking through the woods, the three realize that they desperately need a bath.  The two men decide to let Aria go first, alone, to the river to bath.  She doesn't want to, but eventually agrees.  But when she goes down to the river, before she's able to do more than dip her foot in the river, a pair of bandits come out of the woods and kidnap her.  Simon and Trevor are then jumped by six more of the [[The Band of Orbis|bandits]] who fight bravely, but are ultimately defeated by Simon and Trevor.  But not before the bandits knock both men unconscious.  As soon as the fight ends, another man, this one dressed in a ghillie suit, appears on the trail and finishes off the last two bandits who aren't already dead.  He then drags all the bodies off the trail, leaving no evidence that there was ever a struggle there.  Simon awakes a few hours later to meet the man in the ghillie suit, who turns out to be [[Alexander Baker|Alexander Baker]] (aka Alex), an old man and former SAS soldier who has been trapped on [[Offworld (planet)|the planet of Offworld]] for some time.  With Alex's help, Simon and Trevor rescue Aria, but gain two more members of their team (Birash and Yurg) in the process.  However, it's obvious from the start that the relationship between Birash and Yurg is anything but cordial, as Yurg sees Birash as his mortal enemy, even though Birash shows great care and concern for Yurg, despite the tiger's obvious hatred of him.  Despite this, Simon and the others all move quickly to put as much distance between them and the bandits as possible.
  
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The story then switches to Trevor for a time and explores the consequences of his poor attitude and the poor decisions he makes along the way.  After a difficult night of sleeping, due to a heaven rain storm and cold evening air, Trevor awakes to find Simon camped out next to him with a pair of [[Trovets|trovets]] roasting over a roaring campfire.  Simon offers the young man one of them (he knew they'd meet again, so he'd gotten one for each of them) and the two then discuss several things, including Trevor's past, Jesus, Simon's faith, and more.  At first Trevor reject's Simon's witnessing and the chance to be saved.  But eventually, after thinking it over for part of the night, Trevor eventually accepts Jesus and becomes saved.  After this Trevor begins to grow quickly in his faith.  Trevor then opens up and reveals to Simon that he was an "Arranger", and also an enforcer from time to time.  Simon then shared a bit of his history, including his childhood, his current employment as a software developer, his experience farming, and a brief summary of his adult career.
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The next morning the bandits awaken from their beer soaked party the night before to discover, to their horror, that their two prisoners have escaped and made off with some of their captured supplies.  They sound the alarm and soon set off after them.  As they get ready and make pursuit, one of the men makes his way over to the headquarters of [[Orbus]] and notify him of what's happened.  He immediately dispatches everyone he can to find Simon's team and exterminate them.  As this is happening, Simon and team work to get their previously interrupted baths back on schedule.  However, this is again interrupted when the bandits catch up to them not long after.  However, this time the bandits are wiped out without a single team casualty.  Realizing what has happened, Alex hurriedly leads them out of the area and further down the trail to the safety of one of his supply depots.  After taking time to restock, sort supplies, and arm themselves, they catch up on their sleep before heading out again.  Over the next several days they carefully work their way down the trail in an effort to avoid being spotted by the bandits.  Eventually they reach the bridge over Golden Canyon and discover it being guarded by two bandits, whom Birash and Yurg quickly deal with.  The team then moves forward thinking its safe, but are soon surrounded by a whole crew of bandits.  Seeing that their situation is impossible, Simon prays for a miracle, after which a swarm of insects appears and drives the bandits away.  Seeing their opportunity Simon and team hurry across the bridge to the safety of the other side.
  
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After some more talking, Simon then begins to instruct Trevor in the ways of woodsmanship, including how to start a fire.  They then continue to hike the trail, moving from campsite to campsite while getting to know each other.  Eventually they come up to a large, open prairie that begins where the woods abruptly ends.  They stopped for a few days to prepare for the long trip across the prairie before continuing on again.  Eventually, after a couple nights in the prairie, they come across [[Ariana Peterson|Aria]] one night when she appears in camp, out of the darkness, and tries to steal Trevor's dinner.  After a brief struggle she's knocked out, and then tied up, more for her protection than theirs.  When she wakes up, Simon questions her about her actions, and then realizes she only did it because she was hungry.  So he feeds her the rest of Trevor's stew, and then a ration pack and a can of juice.  Once satisfied they begin to ask her about who she is, why she's there, and more.  Eventually Simon offers her a place on his team, much to Trevor's consternation.  However, Aria chooses to think about it, and then leaves.  Even so, the two men pray for her.  She returns the next morning and is generously offered breakfast, which she accepts gratefully, if not a bit to her surprise as she's never encountered kindness of this type in all her life.
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After taking a brief rest they continue on until they reach Alex's cabin several miles away.  Alex congratulates them on completing the [[Hextants|first hextant]] and passing into the second, and then explains several important details about the course, including the fate of his original team and why he quit the race, to instead come back to the first hextant to help other newcomers to the course successfully pass this very difficult and challenging part.  During this time Trevor leads Aria to salvation.  After this, Simon asks Alex to join them, but he initially refuses, only to eventually agree later on.  After staying for a day to rest and relax, the team packs up their gear, after which Alex wires the place to explode (via a timer) to destroy everything there, as he (Alex) never intends to return.  This is also to keep his gun making supplies out of the hands of Orbus and his men.  After gathering all of his men, after the failed attempt to capture Simon's team, Orbus rallies all of his men and charges across the bridge over Golden Canyon in search of Alex and the others, who have already left and are now well ahead of them on the trail.  Discovering Alex's cabin and barns, Orbus and his men surround it, expecting to catch Alex by surprise and exterminate him and all his new friends.  Instead, they trigger one of Alex's bobby traps, destroying both themselves, and Alex's entire homestead in one massive explosion.
  
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The team then sets out across the prairie.  However, part way across they encounter a powerful thunderstorm that threatens them.  Simon and Trevor quickly take their ponchos and make an improvised tent, then hide inside it with Aria.  The storm rages around them for nearly twenty minutes while the two men pray for protection and Aria sits between them in an absolute panic.  Eventually it runs its course and the three of them step out into an amazing scene where they find themselves standing in the most unlikely of places.  Namely, on a small island in a prairie of small, yet deep lakes that surround them on all sides, and were created when the oddly elastic floor of the valley sank, creating little pockets where the water gathered together.  While Simon is cautious about this at first, Trevor dives in and explores them.  Eventually Simon joins him, followed by Aria, where they frolic and play for a while.  Eventually the water begins to drain out of these ponds, causing the floor of the prairie to rebound until it's completely flat and dry again.  The team soon moves on again.  Several days later the team reaches the end of the prairie and sets up camp along the edge of the woods where Simon and Trevor plan to go hunting for some of the local deer population, much to Aria's protest.  But, when Simon explains the benefits of doing so, she relents, even though she still disagrees with them about doing it.
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Simon's team, after being surprised by the blast, continue on to the village of [[Logantown]] where they're greeted by a Jewish butcher and baker by the name of [[Benjamin Bernstein]] who runs a small bakery and butcher shop in the center of town.  He invites Simon's team into the house where they can rest and talk.  After staying the night, and receiving some treats from Benjamin, they continue on down the trail, struggling over the next several days to make their way through the thick, heavy woods on the other side.  After struggling over a large moat obstacle, and nearly dying in the process, they setup camp for a couple days to recover.  Not long after they pass into the third hextant, which is one of the two longest, and begin their journey through rough and rolling country that tests their endurance and mettle the entire way.  Along the way they slowly begin to learn more and more about each other, where they came from, their history, and many other things.  During this time Yurg, through the gentle and kind consideration of everyone in the team, slowly begins to soften to them, and begins to give up his hatred of Birash.  Not completely, but he certainly makes some strides in that direction.  As they continue traveling, Simon proposes to Alex the idea of teaching the other three in the team the skills of "Wayfinding" and "Pathfinding", of which Alex agrees.  Trevor is the first to undergo this training, which he struggles with doing.  But he also learns a lot as he does it.  Eventually the team reaches the village of [[Pongo]] where they encounter [[Jacob]] and his wife, and first learn about the language of [[Bonisi]] and some more details about the race, the world and its people.
  
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Simon and Trevor then go hunting, and eventually bring down a king buck via Simon's expert shooting.  However, before the animal is completely dead, Trevor foolishly mounts it like a conquering hero and is then treated to the rodeo ride of his life.  Eventually the deer goes down and Simon comes running over to Trevor where he fears he'll find the young man dead.  Instead, he finds Trevor just fine, albeit trapped under the buck.  Simon frees him and then the two of them take the deer back to camp where they butcher it out and begin processing the skin and meat, turning the latter into jerky for the journey ahead.  Both Aria and Trevor then begin to learn a bit more of Simon's long, and storied history, including how he came by some of his numerous survival skills.  Simon and Trevor then briefly talk about God, but Aria isn't interested.  Trevor's a bit shocked and surprised at this, but chooses to follow Simon's lead on this.  They spend a couple weeks in camp gathering more deer and supplies, tanning deer and trovet hides before resuming the trail.  However, as they do, they're watched by several unsavory characters.  Eventually they break camp and resume the trail.  But, along the way, they realize how badly they need a bath.  However, while the two men are all for it, Aria's a bit apprehensive about it, fearing that they might ogle her, or worse.  Simon assures her all is fine and she can go alone, which she's, oddly enough, uncomfortable with.
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They also learn about the "generational" divisions of [[racers]] on the planet, and how anyone of the 2nd and later generations are treated as unwanted additions to the planet that mess with the plans and schemes of the [[The Syndicate|controllers]].  As they talk, Jacob and his wife bring dinner for Simon and his team to enjoy.  While they're eating dinner, an older gentleman named [[Father Mathews]] appears in the house and sits down with Simon's team.  He declares that he's there to tell them why they're there and what God has both given them, and intends for them.  Simon is told he has the gift of teaching, which he very easily and naturally displays, even though he humbly claims that he's not that great of a teacher.  Aria is told she has the gift of discernment, Trevor helps, and Birash mercy.  The old man then passes away.  They bury him the next day, and then set out on their journey again.  After several more weeks of hiking they come to the city of [[Trail Point]], that is the central city in the [[Keep of Woes]].  They stay the night at an inn, where they get dinner, and then bed down for the night.  The next day they go out and trade in some of their furs, and various other items they've been carrying with them, in exchange for some of the local currency.  They then go into the market to do some shopping, with Simon, Aria and Yurg going one direction, and Alex, Trevor and Birash going the other.  However, it's not long before Simon, Aria and Yurg draw the interest of the local [[slavers]] who eventually take them captive.
  
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The two men then decide to let her go first, alone, to the river to bath.  She doesn't want to, but eventually agrees.  But when she goes down to the river, before she's able to do more than dip her foot in the river, a pair of bandits come out of the woods and kidnap her.  She cries out in terror which alerts the two men that something is wrong.  The men are then jumped by six bandits who fight bravely, but are ultimately defeated by Simon and Trevor.  But not before the bandits knock both men unconscious.  As soon as the fight ends another man, this one dressed in a ghillie suit, appears on the trail and finishes off the last two bandits who aren't already dead.  He then drags all the bodies off the trail, leaving no evidence that there was ever a struggle there.  Simon awakes a few hours later to meet the man in the ghillie suit, who turns out to be [[Alexander Baker|Alexander Baker]] (aka Alex), an old man and former SAS soldier who had been trapped on the planet for some time.  The two talk briefly and Alex gives a bit of his history before they focus again on the situation around them, and the desired rescue of Aria.  Alex tries to talk Simon out of it, but Simon won't abandon her, no matter what.  Eventually Alex relents and agrees to help them save her.  He then explains what they're up again.
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Hearing the commotion, Alex, Trevor and Birash rush to their aid, but are stopped by a hail of gunfire.  They then battle it out with the slavers in an exchange of fire, but are not able to subdue their attackers before Simon, Aria and Yurg are dragged away into the catacombs below the city.  Alex, Trevor and Birash find the trap door their friends were taken through and soon give pursuit.  Some time later Simon awakes to discover he's in a dungeon where the slavers have gathered their day's catch in preparation for the evening slave sale.  Simon, Aria and Yurg are put in line and then hauled up to the stage one by one to be auctioned off.  Yurg, goes first, and stands proudly on the stage and refuses to be dishonored or insulted by the crowd.  He is bought by a man who intends to use him as a guard animal and a pet.  Aria is next, and is purchased by a perverted, sleazy old man who intends to use her as a concubine.  Last to be sold is Simon who is booed because of his age and weight.  Instead of being insulted, he takes the opportunity to witness to the men and women gathered there.  The crowd boos him and one even threatens to kill him just to shut him up.  About this time a [[The Baroness of Hollow Manor|Baroness]] appears and stops the man, after which she purchases Simon, even though nobody else wants him, and a few even want him dead.  Alex and Trevor witness this and Simon's impassioned speech even moves Alex.  He and the other two young men then find their way outside in hopes of rescuing the others.
  
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When Aria comes to, she finds herself in a small shed tied up next to [[Birash]], who terrifies her, even though he shows no signs of any hostility towards her.  Simon and Trevor quickly coordinate with Alex who covers them as they make an insertion into the camp of the bandits.  Once there they rescue Aria, and initially meet Birash, who they're a bit cautious about given his size.  Birash shows no hostility towards them, and instead goes over to a nearby shed where he opens it to reveal a large, orange tiger named [[Yurg]].  Seeing this, Aria faints.  The tiger shows himself to be hostile towards Birash, seeking to destroy him at the first chance he can get.  But when Birash frees him, being honor bound, Yurg agrees to a truce until he can fulfill his honor and repay Birash for his kindness.  Birash then grabs some of the bags of supplies the bandits have collected, before following Simon and the others over to join up with Alex, and then slip out of the area.  Once on the trail they keep moving until morning where they stop for a break.  Simon considers looking at the contents of the packs that Birash is carrying, but decides to wait given the rather angry, discomforting attitude displayed by Yurg.  Especially the large tiger's clear hatred for Birash, and most humans in general.  In the midst of this, Aria begins to show a bit of romantic interest in Simon, which he absolutely does not reciprocate.
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As each of their three friends come out the door, one by one, Alex, Birash and Trevor quickly neutralize their captors and free them, much to everyone's joy.  The first to exit the building is Yurg and his new owners.  After he's rescued, the next to appear is Aria and the old man who bought her.  Inside, while the others continue to wait, the Baroness comes to Simon and examines him before revealing to him that she too is a Christian, much to his surprise.  Last to appear is Simon, along with the Baroness.  At first Alex and the others try attacking them.  But Simon tells them to hold their fire as she's a friend.  After a brief few tense moments, they realize he's telling the truth.  They all then pile into the Baroness's carriage and head back to her manor.  She then gives a brief history of herself, and how she became the Baroness of [[Hollow Manor]], one of the ten most powerful houses in the entire keep, and one of only three that are Christian.  Upon arriving the Baroness treats Simon's team to hot food, hot baths, comfortable rooms and anything else they want.  Alex then takes Simon aside into another room and talks to him about God.  Simon in turn answers all of his questions and even witnesses to him, through which Alex becomes saved.  He then goes out and tells the others.
  
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The next morning the bandits awaken from their beer soaked party the night before to discover, to their horror, that their two prisoners have escaped and made off with some of their captured supplies.  They sound the alarm and soon set off after them.  Back at the team, Simon and team work to get their previously interrupted baths.  Trevor initially goes first, then Simon offers Aria a chance to go next.  She's too scared to go, and wants Simon to come with her.  He refuses.  So Yurg agrees to follow her instead.  While taking her bath in the river, Yurg mutely keeps watch over the area, paying no real attention to her or her questions.  Eventually she finishes, but just as she finishes getting dressed, Yurg bolts away.  Gunshots are heard shortly afterwards.  Up on the trail, Simon is walking Trevor through a passage in the bible when a group of bandits appear on the road.  After a brief fight the bandits are all killed, save two that run away into the woods.  However, Alex, Birash and Yurg all chase after them and deal with them before returning to the trail.  Realizing that the bandits are after them, Alex leads the team down the trail towards safety at the bridge over Golden Canyon.
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The next morning the team enjoys breakfast, after which the Baroness sends Aria away for a special bath to pamper her as a treat.  She then explains her mission there in the manor, how they make their money, how they serve the local community, and more.  This includes their ministry of printing and distributing bibles.  She also reveals that all of her staff are rescued Christians that she's saved from the slave markets and other places.  The Baroness then gives Alex his own bible, which he happily accepts, before heading off to begin reading it in solitude in the garden.  Trevor soon joins him, leaving just Simon and the Baroness, as Birash and Yurg have already left for a walk.  They then go for a walk in the garden alone and talk between themselves.  While they're doing this, Birash and Yurg encounter a young dragon named [[Fallon]] in the garden.  After introducing himself, one of the demons of the Brotherhood appears, whom Fallon initially resists.  The demon grows angry with him, but before he can do anything, Birash rebukes him and sends him fleeing.  Fallon then gives them a brief warning before vanishing.  Yurg and Birash decide to report this to the others.
  
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Having been defeated, one of the remaining bandits makes his way up the trail to the headquarters of the bandits where their king, a bandit named [[Orbus]], rules over the bandit kingdom.  The main reports what Simon's team did to his king, who immediately orders all his men out into the trail to find Simon's team and exterminate them, especially Alex.  Further up the trail, Alex continues to lead the team until they make a short detour off the main trail and onto a side path where he has an ammo stash and safety shelter.  The team go inside and are introduced to Alex's stash, which shocks them at the sheer amount of ammo and guns contained within it.  After a quick nap they set out after dark and make their way down the trail over the next several days until they reach the bridge over Golden Canyon.  However, upon reaching that they find two bandit guards blocking their way.  Birash and Yurg sneak away and deal with them before returning.  The team then moves forward thinking its safe, but are soon surrounded by a whole crew of bandits.  Seeing that their situation is impossible, Simon prays for a miracle, after which a swarm of insects appears and drives the bandits away.  Seeing their opportunity Simon and team hurry across the bridge to the safety of the other side.
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Back in the garden Trevor speaks with Alex about his bible reading, but the subject soon changes to Aria and Trevor's budding love and relationship.  Trevor is a bit embarrassed about the whole thing as this is all new to him.  Aria soon appears dressed in a beautiful, white sun dress and Trevor is immediately smitten.  They then go off for a walk in the garden.  Elsewhere, as Simon and the Baroness continue their walk in the garden, they're then approached by Yurg and Birash about Fallon.  Afterwards, everyone gathers and they talk about him briefly, as well as what his presence and appearance mean, including the dangers it brings.  However, instead of discouraging Simon's team, it encourages them and strengthens their resolve.  The next morning the Baroness sends them off with a fresh load of supplies and gear over to the nearby village of [[Donville]], which sits on the edge of [[The Reaping Sea]] where they hire a ship for the journey across to the other side.  However, on the journey across nearly everyone in Simon's team gets seasick.  To make things worse, a [[Sea Storm]] appears and beats on the boat, sending it tossing and swaying violently.  Eventually the ship succumbs to the storm and sinks with all hands on board.  Shortly after this the storm dissipates.  One of the controllers appears shortly after this and checks his handiwork.  Satisfied, he flies away.
  
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After taking a brief rest they continue on until they reach Alex's cabin several miles away.  Alex congratulates them on passing the [[Hextants|first hextant]] into the second, and then explains several important details about the course, including the fate of his original team and why he quit the race, to instead come back to the first hextant to help other newcomers to the course successfully pass this very difficult and challenging part.  Alex offers them dinner, and a quick nap, which Simon refuses, choosing instead to read his bible.  Instead, he falls asleep during this, and is awoken by Alex 20 minutes later.  Afterwards he opts for bed, completely skipping dinner, only awakening again the next morning.  However, when he wakes up he sees Aria and Trevor giggling.  After a little bit of questioning he discovers that Aria and Trevor talked and Aria accepted Christ.  When Alex awakes the next morning he goes outside to find Simon, Aria and Trevor having a bible study under a tree near the cabin.  Simon offers for him to join, but he refuses, instead to go fix breakfast.  Birash and Yurg appear a little bit later carrying trovets.  Yurg has one that he eats for breakfast.  Birash brings several which he gives to Alex in repayment for his hospitality.  Birash then sits down with Simon and the others and talks with them about Jesus (he calls Him "Olumide", which is Yaruben for "God has come", which is roughly equivalent to Emanuel.
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Once he's gone, an angel appears and lifts Simon's limp, lifeless body out of the water and takes him to the other side and sets him on the doorstep of a fisherman named [[Mathias]] who nurses him back to health.  Deep down though, Simon fears that his entire team has died and he's the only one left now.  However, the next scene reveals that Trevor has miraculously survived, and was saved by [[Lord Banister]] and [[Lady Lidia]] of the [[Sheffield Republic]].  Trevor wakes up in their mansion and jokes that he feels as though he's died and gone to Beverly Hills.  He then learns that Birash has survived too, although his two hosts think that he's Trevor's slave.  Trevor briefly explors the mansion, but finds the reception by the staff to be very cold and impersonal.  After he's served a very high class breakfast, Trevor decides to go out to the slave quarters to check on Birash.  Especially since he's getting a very bad vibe from his hosts.  In the meantime, Simon learns more about Mathias, including that they're both believers.  However, Mathias is a 14th generation native, and doesn't speak a lick of English.  They eventually determine that this is likely a miracle from God, and a form of the biblical "tongues".  Back at the mansion, Trevor wanders around looking for the slave quarters only to accidentally stumble onto a secret room where several generals are meeting and discussing their war with the [[Gak Republic]].  They also discuss the kingdom of [[Thorn Confederacy|Thorn]], and a pending battle that will soon be happening on their shared border.
  
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When asked about is bible, Birash reveals that he can't read, and instead relies on an audio bible given to him by a local missionary.  Understanding this, Trevor offers to teach Birash, who gladly accepts.  The team then is called inside for breakfast by Alex.  While eating, Alex reveals that some of the food they received was brought in by [[cargo bird]], and the food paid for by bartering metals for what was purchased.  Simon then asks Alex about continuing on with them, but he refuses.  Simon tries convincing him, but Alex again refuses, too afraid to try again after failing before and losing all of his traveling mates, especially at the very end.  He then goes out into his workshop and begins loading additional rounds to replace the ones he'd recently used, only to end up having an argument with himself about going.  Eventually he decides to go with them, because if he doesn't, he'll never have another chance like this again.  On the other side of Golden Canyon, Orbus discovers that Simon's team have crossed the canyon.  He orders his men to gather every single one of his bandits as they will march across the bridge and exterminate Simon, Alex and the others.  Back at Alex's place he steps into his cabin and reveals, to the absolute joy of the others, that he's going with them.
+
Deciding he didn't want to be around for this, he sneaks away only to discover a small armory nearby.  After picking the lock he steps inside and is floored by all the firepower contained within it.  He quickly packs two bags full of weapons and ammo, and then makes his way to the slave quarters.  After freeing Birash, the two then head out to pick up more supplies in preparation for leaving the estate.  Back in the mansion Banister's men capture a spy from Thorn who reveals that he's worked behind the scenes to undermine Sheffield and even allow a couple racers, the bane of [[The Four Kingdoms]] to escape their grasp.  After growing angry and killing the spy himself, Banister then sends his men to hunt down and kill Trevor and Birash.  Back at the village, Simon prepares to leave, but Mathias warns him of the danger he will face ahead, and the war that's going on right now.  He also warns him of the danger to anyone who is a racer, because any soldier or citizen from the Four Kingdoms are under orders to kill any they find due to their fear of losing their power should the race be won by anyone.  Deciding to help Simon, Mathias gathers a team of villagers who head out with him to escort Simon through the worst areas and to safety at the far edge of the Four Kingdoms territory.  Back at the mansion, after completing their sacking of Banister's supplies, the Trevor and Birash head over to the garage where Trevor steals one of the automotives that Banister owns.  However, before they can get far, soldiers from Banister's mansion discover this and give chase.  After a brief high speed chase, Trevor is able to shake his pursuers and then sets out to search for the others, who he prays are still alive.
  
−
They briefly discuss what he'll do with all the equipment and ammo stashed at his place, which he decides to blow up so the bandits don't get their hands on it.  Alex then wires up the cabin and his entire property to detonate in a given amount of time after they leave so they can get safely away before it does.  Orbus in turn, now that his men are all gathered, rushes across the bridge in pursuit of Alex and the others.  However, before they arrive at the cabin, Alex, Simon and the others safely make it away from the properly and down the trail, out of sight.  Orbus and his men rush onto the property, but find it abandoned.  Seeking to see if anyone is hiding inside the cabin, one of the men opens the door, triggering a booby trap that Alex left behind, sending the cabin and all connected buildings up in a massive explosion that completely exterminates Orbus and his men.  This surprises Simon and the others, but the flying debris never reaches them.  They then continue onward, unaware of what really happened, and eventually reach the village of [[Logantown]] where they're greeted by a Jewish butcher and baker by the name of [[Benjamin Bernstein]] who runs a small bakery and butcher shop in the center of town.  He then invites Simon's team into the house where they can rest and talk.  As they come inside, two of the demons of the [[Brotherhood]] stand outside complaining about the incredible luck and success of Simon's team, wishing they'd failed and died already.  They then begin to plan the deaths of Simon and team.  While they do this, one of the men from [[Section 17]] appears behind them, and stop their plans, citing the rules of non-interference. The demons relent and leave.
+
Elsewhere in the area, aboard the submarine [[Calypso]], it's discovered that Aria and Yurg have survived the sinking of the ship, and were rescued by the crew of the submarine.  Ever since their rescue, Yurg has stayed by her side, waiting for her to wake up again.  Yurg even prays for her healing.  The ship's captain, [[Clifford Weiss]], introduces himself, and then gives her the bad news about her friends, which causes her to pass out in grief.  He then leaves to attend to his duties while Yurg patiently watches over Aria, worried that she'll be alright, and cursing the controllers for what they did to him and his friends.  Back on the road, Trevor pulls into a gas station to get gas.  Upon filling his tank, he's led back to the attendant's hut, where he meets Alex and learns that he's survived the sinking as well.  They then head back out on the road in search of the others who they believe are still alive.  Over near the border where Simon and the others are, Mathias leads them through a brief bit of fast and intense combat, artillery shelling and more, before finally escaping out of the area and eventually meeting up with Trevor and crew who have been looking for them.  Mathias and his men then return to their village as Simon rejoins the others in search of Aria and Yurg.  Out on The Reaping Sea, Clifford and crew continue to hunt for more possible salvage prizes.  But, upon realizing that they're coming up with nothing, and that their entire reason for being out there was likely to rescue Aria and Yurg, they head back to their headquarters at [[Subton]].  Back at Banister's estate, he takes time out to discuss the progress of the war with his generals, at which point a third kingdom, the [[Unity Empire]] is discussed, as well as their roll in the war between the Four Kingdoms, and how they're a bigger threat than either Thorn, or GAK.
  
−
The next morning Aria awoke to find Simon outside praying.  After a brief discussion, she makes some romantic gestures towards Simon which he strongly rebuffs.  She feels hurt and sad at this.  But Simon wisely explains to her she's not really after a romantic interest (at least not with him), but rather is seeking a father figure and the best one to fulfill that is God.  Jesus then pours His love out on her, helping her to realize that Simon was right.  Simon then comforts her as all of her feelings of romantic interest in him are washed away.  After talking briefly they go inside and are greeted by an expansive, delicious breakfast of eggs, meat, bread and pastries.  Afterwards, Benjamin introduces them to the bakery, and the really odd form of local barter that is used in the exchange of goods.  Benjamin and his wife then resupply Simon's team, after which they head out on the trail again.  They then spend the next several days struggling through the woods along the trail until they reach a large clearing, in the middle of which is a large, 30 foot tall wall, and an equally wide moat preceding it.  Simon isn't worried about this, but Trevor's faith comes up short.  He then challenges God to get them out of this situation, which He does through an incredible miracle.  The team quickly slip to the other side where Simon begins to sing a song of praise, which is then interrupted by a series of sharp spikes that protrude up out of the ground in an attempt to kill them.  They successfully escape into the woods where they rest from their ordeal as one of the [[controllers]] looks on malicious, swearing he will do all he can to exterminate them.
+
They then discuss the hunt for Simon's team, and decide on the most likely place they will be found.  Banister then sends troops to kill them as quickly as possible.  Back with Simon's team, after finding an inn to stay in at a small fishing village near a river, they are discovered and surrounded by Sheffield troops who demand their surrender.  After having made their way out of The Reaping Sea and onto one of the large rivers that feeds it, Clifford and the Calypso receive word that Sheffield has surrounded a nearby village for reasons they're not quite sure of yet.  So Clifford has them park the sub on the bottom of the river while requesting support from the [[Odyssey]] and the [[Thor]] in case they need it.  Meanwhile, elsewhere on Offworld, near the Southern Wyre, also known as [[Trond]], Fallon appears before [[Weyr Master Zek]], his grandfather, and discuss the current situation with Simon's team, as well as the rather strange amount of attention that the demon [[Sheobaal]] is paying to Simon and his team.  They also discuss how this will create problems for them, as well as the rest of the [[Dragon Corps]], including Zek's plans for the race, and especially Simon's team.  They also discuss [[Caleb]], and his part in all of this.  During this conversation, a little bit of Fallon's wisdom is displayed, which is uncharacteristic for one of his age, being but a young child in the eyes of the other dragons.  As they are discussing this, Zek receives orders from his masters to send a team of his dragons to a village nearby and sack it.  Zek then sends Fallon back out on his mission to monitor and assist Simon's team.
  
−
Simon awakes the next morning to find he overslept and it's now well past noon.  He's upset at this, but Alex decided that it was best so he wouldn't get too exhausted.  After lunch Simon asks the others to introduce themselves and share a bit of their history.  Yurg refuses, and when Birash is next, Yurg's look makes him wait until later.  So all focus is turned to Aria who doesn't want to share anything about her past as she's very embarrassed about who she used to be.  Eventually she reveals that she was a thief, not because she liked to steal, but because it was her way to survive.  She's shocked when everyone is very accepting of this.  She also finds out just how much like Trevor her life was.  A little sparkle of love begins to grow between them as a result.  The team continues on several more days until they enter a field of sunshine colored wild flowers, where they discover that they've now entered the third hextant.  Simon and Alex discuss some of what to expect up ahead, including challenges and the wintering cabins.  The hiking eventually begins to reveal who in their group is in good shape and who isn't.  They keep pushing on until nearly dark where they stop for the night in the open as a thunderstorm approaches them from the distance.  Simon and Alex gather wood for a fire, but when they return they find Aria, Trevor and Yurg sound asleep.  Deciding it best to save the wood, they pile it up on the ground, cover it over, and then go to sleep themselves.
+
As morning dawns the next day, Alex and the others are shocked at how many soldiers are in the area.  The soldiers again demand that Simon and his team surrender to them.  They obviously refuse.  This upsets the soldiers, but they don't move just yet.  While the two sides remain at a standoff, Simon and Alex take stock of their situation and realize that they don't have any way out of this.  However, as they continue trying to find a way out of this, the Calypso, the Odyssey and the Thor surface in the river behind them and open fire on the Sheffield troops.  Sheffield immediately scatters and falls into retreat.  Clifford them pulls the Calypso into port and hails Simon, who immediately boards the submarine with his team.  Clifford then takes them up river towards his home base in Subton.  But, while they're making good on their escape, Clifford reveals to Trevor and the others that their two still missing teammates are actually with him.  With his spirits lifted, Trevor follows Clifford over to where Aria and Yurg are and enjoys a happy reunion with them.  And while Trevor and Aria are getting caught up, Yurg and Birash have a special moment together as Yurg further explores his growing friendship with Birash.
  
−
Simon was awoken an hour later by the passing thunderstorm and soon discovered that Birash was still wide awake.  Simon and him then spend some time talking as the storm thunders loudly around them.  Birash reveals that he's an orphan, and the unofficial patriarch and chief bread winner of a family of 17 orphans, counting himself, who is also an orphan.  Simon reveals that he too comes from a big family, but was never married, nor had any children of his own, even though his siblings did.  Birash then explains how he came to know Yurg and how much he loves and cares for the angry tiger, even though Yurg clearly hates him.  However, unknown to the two men, Yurg is listening to their entire conversation.  The team then struggles forward over the following weeks, enduring one hardship after another as they fight just to supply their basic needs.  However, during this time Yurg begins to soften towards the others and slowly becomes friendlier to them, as does the rest of the team who slowly starts drawing closer to each other as the journey continues.  Simon even reminisces about the things he left behind, including his family and his farm.  Simon then proposes to Alex to start teaching Trevor, Aria and Birash the skills of "Wayfinding" and "Pathfinding", of which Alex agrees.  Trevor is the first one to undergo this training, which he struggles at a lot.  But he also learns a lot as he does it.  Eventually the team reaches the village of [[Pongo]] where they encounter [[Jacob]] and his wife, and first learn about the language of [[Bonisi]] and some more details about the race, the world and its people.
+
Simon then leaves to talk with Clifford about a possible destination for him and his team.  He also asks Alex for ideas, but he has none as this is all new to him.  Clifford then takes them to the bridge of his ship where he reveals a secret of his vessel, namely a controller [[Navigational Guidance and Map Table|map table]], as well as some other hidden controller technology inside the submarines which provide their primary power.  They then use the map table to discuss the journey ahead, and a few of the pitfalls of navigating the river, as well as the current political situation in the area.  While they're making their way to Subton, news of the escape of Simon's team reaches the ears of [[General Amaroth]], who vows to succeed where Sheffield has failed, and exterminate Simon's team at all costs.
−
 
 
−
They also learn about the "generational" divisions of [[racers]] on the planet, and how anyone of the 2nd and later generations are treated as unwanted additions to the planet that mess with the plans and schemes of the controllers.  As they talk, Jacob and his wife bring dinner for Simon and his team to enjoy.  While they're eating dinner, an older gentleman named [[Father Mathews]] appears in the house and sits down with Simon's team.  He declares that he's there to tell them why they're there and what God has both given them, and intends for them.  Simon is told he has the gift of teaching, which he very easily and naturally displays, even though he humbly claims that he's not that great of a teacher.  Aria is told she has the gift of discernment, Trevor helps, and Birash mercy.  The old man then passes away.  They bury him the next day, and then set out on their journey again.  After several more weeks of hiking they come to the city of [[Trail Point]], that is the central city in the [[Keep of Woes]].  They stay the night at an inn, where they get dinner, and then bed down for the night.  The next day they go out and trade in some of their furs, and various other items they've been carrying with them, in exchange for some of the local currency.  They then go into the market to do some shopping, with Simon, Aria and Yurg going one direction, and Alex, Trevor and Birash going the other.  However, it's not long before Simon, Aria and Yurg draw the interest of the local [[slavers]] who eventually take them captive.
 
−
 
 
−
Hearing the commotion, Alex, Trevor and Birash rush to their aid, but are stopped by a hail of gunfire.  They then battle it out with the slavers in an exchange of fire, but are not able to subdue their attackers before Simon, Aria and Yurg are dragged away into the catacombs below the city.  Alex, Trevor and Birash find the trap door their friends were taken through and soon give pursuit.  Some time later Simon awakes to discover he's in a dungeon where the slavers have gathered their day's catch in preparation for the evening slave sale.  Simon, Aria and Yurg are put in line and then hauled up to the stage one by one to be auctioned off.  Yurg, goes first, and stands proudly on the stage and refuses to be dishonored or insulted by the crowd.  He is bought by a man who intends to use him as a guard animal and a pet.  Aria is next, and is purchased by a perverted, sleazy old man who intends to use her as a concubine.  Last to be sold is Simon who is booed because of his age and weight.  Instead of being insulted, he takes the opportunity to witness to the men and women gathered there.  The crowd boos him and one even threatens to kill him just to shut him up.  About this time a [[The Baroness of Hollow Manor|Baroness]] appears and stops the man, and then purchases Simon, even though nobody else wants him, and a few even want him dead.  Alex and Trevor witness this and Simon's impassioned speech even moves Alex.  He and the other two young men then find their way outside in hopes of rescuing the others.
 
−
 
 
−
As each of their three friends come out the door, one by one, Alex, Birash and Trevor quickly neutralize their captors and free them, much to everyone's joy.  The first to exit the building is Yurg and his new owners.  After he's rescued, the next to appear is Aria and the old man who bought her.  Inside, while the others wait, the Baroness comes to Simon and examines him before revealing to him that she too is a Christian, much to his surprise.  Last to appear is Simon, along with the Baroness.  At first Alex and the others try attacking them.  But Simon tells them to hold their fire as she's a friend.  After a brief few tense moments, they realize he's telling the truth.  They all then pile into the Baroness's carriage and head back to her manor.  She then gives a brief history of herself, and how she became the Baroness of [[Hollow Manor]], one of the ten most powerful houses in the entire keep, and one of three that are Christian.  Upon arriving the Baroness treats Simon's team to hot food, hot baths, comfortable rooms and anything else they want.  Alex then takes Simon aside into another room and talks to him about God.  Simon in turn answers all of his questions and even witnesses to him, through which Alex becomes saved.  He then goes out and tells the others.
 
−
 
 
−
The next morning Simon awakes in the bed the Baroness arranged for him.  He then finds the others, who are eating breakfast, and joins them.  The Baroness then sends Aria away for a special bath to pamper her as a treat.  The baroness then explains her mission there in the manor, how they make their money, how they serve the local community, and more.  She also reveals that all of her staff are rescued Christians that she's saved from the slave markets and other places.  This includes their ministry of printing and distributing bibles.  The Baroness eventually then gives Alex his own bible, which he happily accepts, before heading off to begin reading it in solitude in the garden.  Trevor soon joins him, leaving just Simon and the Baroness, as Birash and Yurg have already left for a walk.  They then go for a walk in the garden alone and talk between themselves.  While they're doing this, Birash and Yurg encounter a young dragon named [[Fallon]] in the garden.  After introducing himself, one of the demons of the Brotherhood appears, whom Fallon initially resists.  The demon grows angry with him, but before he can do anything, Birash rebukes him and sends him fleeing.  Fallon then gives them a brief warning before vanishing.  Yurg and Birash decide to report this to the others.
 
−
 
 
−
Back in the garden Trevor speaks with Alex about his bible reading, but the subject soon changes to Aria and Trevor's budding love and relationship.  Trevor is a bit embarrassed about the whole thing as this is all new to him.  Aria soon appears dressed in a beautiful, white sun dress and Trevor is immediately smitten.  They then go off for a walk in the garden.  Simon and the Baroness then continue their walk in the garden, talking and encouraging each other.  They're then approached by Yurg and Birash about Fallon.  Everyone gathers and they talk about him briefly, as well as what his presence and appearance mean, including the dangers it brings.  However, instead of discouraging Simon's team, it encourages them and strengthens their resolve.  The next morning the Baroness sends off Simon's team with a fresh load of supplies and gear, and over to the nearby village of [[Donville]], which sits on the edge of [[The Reaping Sea]] where they hire a ship for the journey across to the other side.  However, on the journey across nearly everyone in Simon's team gets seasick.  To make things worse, a [[Sea Storm]] appears and beats on the boat, sending it tossing and swaying violently.  Eventually the ship succumbs to the storm and sinks with all hands on board.
 
−
 
 
−
Shortly after this the storm dissipates.  One of the controllers appears shortly after this and checks his handiwork.  Satisfied, he flies away.  Once he's gone, an angel appears and lifts Simon's limp, lifeless body out of the water and takes him to the other side and sets him on the doorstep of a fisherman named [[Mathias]] who nurses him back to health.  They share bible verses and some fellowship before Simon goes back to sleep.  Deep down he fears that his entire team has died and he's the only one left now.  However, the next scene reveals that Trevor has miraculously survived, and was saved by [[Lord Banister]] and [[Lady Lidia]] of the [[Sheffield Republic]].  Trevor wakes up in their mansion and feels like he died and went to Beverly Hills.  He then learns that Birash has survived too, although his two hosts think that he's Trevor's slave.  Trevor then gets up and begins exploring the mansion, but finds the reception by the staff to be very cold and impersonal.  After he's served a very high class breakfast, Trevor decides to go out to the slave quarters to check on Birash.  Especially since he's getting a very bad vibe from his hosts.
 
−
 
 
−
Simon wakes up in the home of Mathias again and they learn a bit more about each other, including that they're both believers.  However, Mathias is a 14th generation native, and doesn't speak a lick of English.  Confused as to how this is possible, since they understand each other, they surmise this is due to God temporarily giving both of them the gift of tongues so they can communicate as Simon isn't proficient in Bonisi yet, and has only really started his lessons, but isn't conversational yet.  Mathias takes Simon out to meet the other villagers and introduces him to them.  But, the gift of tongues doesn't apply to them the way it does to Mathias and himself, so he can't understand them.
 
−
 
 
−
Back at the mansion, Trevor wanders around looking for the slave quarters only to accidentally stumble onto a secret room where several generals are meeting and discussing their war with the [[Gak Republic]].  They also discuss the kingdom of [[Thorn Confederacy|Thorn]], and a pending battle that will soon be happening on their border.  Deciding he didn't want to be around for this, he sneaks away only to discover a small armory nearby.  After picking the lock he steps inside and is floored by all the firepower contained inside.  He quickly packs two bags full of weapons and ammo, and then makes his way to the slave quarters where he encounters the keeper.  After freeing Birash, the two then head out to pick up more supplies in preparation for leaving the estate.  Back in the mansion Banister's men capture a spy from the Thorn Confederacy who reveals that he's worked behind the scenes to undermine Sheffield and even allow a couple racers, the bane of [[The Four Kingdoms]] to escape their grasp.  After growing angry and killing the spy himself, Banister then sends his men to hunt down and kill Trevor and Birash.
 
−
 
 
−
Back at the village, Simon prepares to leave, but Mathias warns him of the danger he will face ahead, and the war that's going on right now.  He also warns him of the danger to anyone who is a racer, because any soldier or citizen from the Four Kingdoms are under orders to kill any they find due to their fear of losing their power should the race be won by anyone.  Deciding to help Simon, Mathias gathers a team of villagers who head out with him to escort Simon through the worst areas and to safety at the far edge of the Four Kingdoms territory.  Back at the mansion, after completing their sacking of Banister's supplies, the two head over to the garage where Trevor steals one of the automotives that Banister owns.  However, before they can get far, soldiers from Banister's mansion give chase.  After a brief high speed chase, Trevor is able to shake his pursuers and then sets out to search for the others, who he prays are still alive.
 
−
 
 
−
Elsewhere in the area, aboard the submarine [[Calypso]], it's discovered that Aria and Yurg survived the sinking of the ship, and were rescued by the crew of the submarine.  Ever since their rescue, Yurg has stayed by her side, waiting for her to wake up again.  Yurg even prays for her healing.  The ship's captain, [[Clifford Weiss]], introduces himself, and then gives her the bad news about her friends, which causes her to pass out in grief.  He then leaves to attend to his duties while Yurg patiently watches over Aria, worried that she'll be alright, and cursing the controllers for what they did to him and his friends.  Back on the road, Trevor pulls into a gas station to get gas.  Upon filling his tank, he's led back to the attendant's hut, where he meets Alex and learns that he's survived the sinking as well.  They joyfully reunite and then head back out on the road in search of the others who they believe are still alive.  Over near the border where Simon and the others are, Mathias leads them through a brief bit of fast and intense combat, artillery shelling and more, before finally escaping out of the area and meeting up with Trevor and crew who have been looking for them.  Mathias and his men then return to their village as Simon rejoins the others in search of Aria and Yurg.
 
−
 
 
−
Out on The Reaping Sea, Clifford and crew continue to hunt for more possible salvage prizes.  But, upon realizing that they're coming up with nothing, and that their entire reason for being out there was likely to rescue Aria and Yurg, they head back to their headquarters at [[Subton]].  Back at Banister's estate, he takes time out to discuss the progress of the war with his generals, at which point a third kingdom, the [[Unity Empire]] is discussed, as well as their roll in the war between the Four Kingdoms, and how they're a bigger threat than either Thorn, or GAK.  They then discuss the hunt for Simon's team, and decide on the most likely place they will be found.  Banister then sends troops to kill them as quickly as possible.  Inside the Calypso, Aria rouses and is served a simple meal, after which she tries to get up, but finds she's not strong enough yet.  Yurg and Aria then discuss what happened to the ship they were on that sank.  However, Yurg can't remember all of what happened.  Clifford then appears and explains what he knows about their accident.  Back with Simon's team, the group has found an inn to stay in at a small fishing village near a river to rest overnight before heading out again to try and find Aria and Yurg, if they can be found.  While talking Trevor grows angry at the thought of losing Aria.  Simon tries to console him, but Trevor will have none of that.  However, as they're discussing this, word comes that the village has been surrounded by Sheffield troops.
 
−
 
 
−
After having made their way out of The Reaping Sea and onto one of the large rivers that feeds it, Clifford and the Calypso receive word that Sheffield has surrounded it for reasons they're not quite sure of yet.  So Clifford has them park the sub on the bottom of the river while contacting the [[Odyssey]] and the [[Thor]] to provide them with assistance should they need it.  Meanwhile, elsewhere on Offworld, near the Southern Wyre, also known as [[Trond]], Fallon appears before [[Weyr Master Zek]], his grandfather, and discuss the current situation with Simon's team, as well as the rather strange amount of attention that the demon [[Sheobaal]] is paying to Simon and his team.  They also discuss how this will create problems for them, as well as the rest of the [[Dragon Corps]], and Zek's plans for the race, and especially Simon's team, as well as the steps that Fallon has done to counter this, which is mostly been simply to frustrate Sheobaal's efforts, as the controllers are their masters.  They also discuss [[Caleb]], and his part in all of this.  During this conversation, a little bit of Fallon's wisdom is displayed, which is uncharacteristic for one his age, being but a young child in the eyes of the other dragons.  As they are discussing this, Zek receives orders from one of his masters to send a team of his dragons to a village nearby and sack it.  Zek then sends Fallon back out on his mission to monitor and assist Simon's team.
 
−
 
 
−
As morning dawns the next day, Alex and the others are shocked at how many soldiers are in the area.  The soldiers then demand that Simon and his team surrender to them.  They obviously refuse.  This upsets the soldiers, but they don't move just yet.  While the two sides remain at a standoff, Simon and Alex take stock of their situation and realize that they don't have any way out of this.  Looking back at the soldiers, they soon realize that Sheffield didn't actually bring as many soldiers as they're pretending to have, mostly due to the war, and realize the bluff being played on them.  Even so, they're still severely outnumbered.  However, as they're continuing to try and find a way out of this, the Calypso, the Odyssey and the Thor surface in the river and open fire on the Sheffield troops.  Sheffield immediately scatters and falls into retreat.  Clifford them pulls the Calypso into port and hails Simon, who immediately boards the submarine with his team.  Clifford then takes them up river towards his home back in Subton.  But, while they're making good on their escape, Clifford reveals to Trevor and the others that their two still missing teammates are actually with him.  With his spirits lifted, Trevor follows Clifford over to where Aria and Yurg are and enjoys a happy reunion with them.  And while Trevor and Aria are getting caught up, Yurg and Birash have a special moment together as Yurg further explores his growing friendship with Birash.
 
−
 
 
−
Seeing the two former enemies now becoming good friends, he turns his attention back to Trevor and Aria who haven't let go of each other since they were first reunited.  Simon chides them a bit about this, which they take in good stride.  Simon then leaves to talk with Clifford about a possible destination for him and his team.  He also asks Alex for ideas, but he has none as this is all new to him.  Clifford then takes them to the bridge of his ship where he reveals a secret of his vessel, namely a controller [[Map Table|map table]], as well as some other hidden controller technology inside the submarines which power them.  They then use the map table to discuss the journey ahead, and a few of the pitfalls of navigating the river, as well as the current political situation in the area.  Clifford then agrees to take them as far as he can.
 
−
 
 
−
While they're making their way to Subton, news of the escape of Simon's team reaches the ears of [[General Amaroth]], who vows to succeed where Sheffield has failed, and exterminate Simon's team at all costs.
 
  
 
=== Reviews and Awards ===
 
=== Reviews and Awards ===

Revision as of 21:51, 14 May 2019

The race.jpg
Title: The Race
Cover Artist: Don Semora
Genre: Christian, Scifi, Survival, Adventure
Series: The Offworld Chronicles
Publication Date: August 2017
Media Types: Print (paperback) and Ebook
ISBN: 978-1370361878 (ebook)
978-1940155449 (print)
Followed By: Dragon's Gambit

The Race is book 1 in the Christian Survival Adventure series, The Offworld Chronicles and begins the story of Simon, Trevor, Aria, Birash, Yurg and Alex and their travels, adventures and experiences in the early parts of the race course that each of them are forced to travel along in their journey towards the end, freedom, and the opportunity to return home.

Synopsis

The story begins with Simon, a software developer and part time farmer, who is the main character of the story. After a stressful day at work, he leaves late at night only to be abducted shortly after leaving the building. He wakes up to find himself at the reception station for a 6000 mile long survival race. After processing, Simon meets a brash, arrogant, street smart kid from the South Side of Chicago named Trevor. After a brief and disrespectful conversation with Simon, the young man goes off on his own while Simon settles into learning all he can about the race. By late afternoon he stops reading, gathers his things, and begins the course. However, as he's entering the course, two of the demons from the Brotherhood take an unhealthy interest in him from atop the reception center, and seek to exterminate him before he can get anywhere. However, they are stopped by one of the senior Section 17 agents, advising that they should allow him to continue just like any other racer. After this, Simon continues hiking the rest of the day and eventually reaches the first checkpoint where he orders a poncho, then sits down for the evening, as it's growing close to sunset, and builds a fire. About an hour after dark, Trevor appears and takes up a place in the camp. The two talk briefly, and Simon even witnesses a little to Trevor, but the young man wants nothing to do with it. The two then fall asleep for the night. Simon wakes up the next morning to find that he's alone again as Trevor has gone on ahead of him already. This goes on for several days until Trevor, having experienced God's love through Simon often enough, eventually accepts Christ.

After some more talking, Simon then begins to instruct Trevor in the ways of woodsmanship, including how to start a fire. They then continue to hike the trail, moving from campsite to campsite while getting to know each other. Eventually they come up to a large, open prairie that begins where the woods abruptly ends. They stopped for a few days to prepare for the long trip across the prairie before continuing on again. Eventually, after a couple nights in the prairie, they come across Aria one night when she appears in camp, out of the darkness, and tries to steal Trevor's dinner. After a brief struggle she's knocked out, and then tied up, more for her protection than theirs. When she wakes up, Simon questions her about her actions, and then realizes she only did it because she was hungry. So he feeds her the rest of Trevor's stew, and then a ration pack and a can of juice. Once satisfied they begin to ask her about who she is, why she's there, and more. Eventually Simon offers her a place on his team, much to Trevor's consternation. However, Aria chooses to think about it, and then leaves. She returns the next morning and is generously offered breakfast, which she accepts gratefully, if not a bit to her surprise as she's never encountered kindness of this type in all her life. After some struggles they reach the other side where they setup camp for a few weeks to rebuild their supplies. While there, a local group of bandits take an unhealthy interest in the team.

Later on, while hiking through the woods, the three realize that they desperately need a bath. The two men decide to let Aria go first, alone, to the river to bath. She doesn't want to, but eventually agrees. But when she goes down to the river, before she's able to do more than dip her foot in the river, a pair of bandits come out of the woods and kidnap her. Simon and Trevor are then jumped by six more of the bandits who fight bravely, but are ultimately defeated by Simon and Trevor. But not before the bandits knock both men unconscious. As soon as the fight ends, another man, this one dressed in a ghillie suit, appears on the trail and finishes off the last two bandits who aren't already dead. He then drags all the bodies off the trail, leaving no evidence that there was ever a struggle there. Simon awakes a few hours later to meet the man in the ghillie suit, who turns out to be Alexander Baker (aka Alex), an old man and former SAS soldier who has been trapped on the planet of Offworld for some time. With Alex's help, Simon and Trevor rescue Aria, but gain two more members of their team (Birash and Yurg) in the process. However, it's obvious from the start that the relationship between Birash and Yurg is anything but cordial, as Yurg sees Birash as his mortal enemy, even though Birash shows great care and concern for Yurg, despite the tiger's obvious hatred of him. Despite this, Simon and the others all move quickly to put as much distance between them and the bandits as possible.

The next morning the bandits awaken from their beer soaked party the night before to discover, to their horror, that their two prisoners have escaped and made off with some of their captured supplies. They sound the alarm and soon set off after them. As they get ready and make pursuit, one of the men makes his way over to the headquarters of Orbus and notify him of what's happened. He immediately dispatches everyone he can to find Simon's team and exterminate them. As this is happening, Simon and team work to get their previously interrupted baths back on schedule. However, this is again interrupted when the bandits catch up to them not long after. However, this time the bandits are wiped out without a single team casualty. Realizing what has happened, Alex hurriedly leads them out of the area and further down the trail to the safety of one of his supply depots. After taking time to restock, sort supplies, and arm themselves, they catch up on their sleep before heading out again. Over the next several days they carefully work their way down the trail in an effort to avoid being spotted by the bandits. Eventually they reach the bridge over Golden Canyon and discover it being guarded by two bandits, whom Birash and Yurg quickly deal with. The team then moves forward thinking its safe, but are soon surrounded by a whole crew of bandits. Seeing that their situation is impossible, Simon prays for a miracle, after which a swarm of insects appears and drives the bandits away. Seeing their opportunity Simon and team hurry across the bridge to the safety of the other side.

After taking a brief rest they continue on until they reach Alex's cabin several miles away. Alex congratulates them on completing the first hextant and passing into the second, and then explains several important details about the course, including the fate of his original team and why he quit the race, to instead come back to the first hextant to help other newcomers to the course successfully pass this very difficult and challenging part. During this time Trevor leads Aria to salvation. After this, Simon asks Alex to join them, but he initially refuses, only to eventually agree later on. After staying for a day to rest and relax, the team packs up their gear, after which Alex wires the place to explode (via a timer) to destroy everything there, as he (Alex) never intends to return. This is also to keep his gun making supplies out of the hands of Orbus and his men. After gathering all of his men, after the failed attempt to capture Simon's team, Orbus rallies all of his men and charges across the bridge over Golden Canyon in search of Alex and the others, who have already left and are now well ahead of them on the trail. Discovering Alex's cabin and barns, Orbus and his men surround it, expecting to catch Alex by surprise and exterminate him and all his new friends. Instead, they trigger one of Alex's bobby traps, destroying both themselves, and Alex's entire homestead in one massive explosion.

Simon's team, after being surprised by the blast, continue on to the village of Logantown where they're greeted by a Jewish butcher and baker by the name of Benjamin Bernstein who runs a small bakery and butcher shop in the center of town. He invites Simon's team into the house where they can rest and talk. After staying the night, and receiving some treats from Benjamin, they continue on down the trail, struggling over the next several days to make their way through the thick, heavy woods on the other side. After struggling over a large moat obstacle, and nearly dying in the process, they setup camp for a couple days to recover. Not long after they pass into the third hextant, which is one of the two longest, and begin their journey through rough and rolling country that tests their endurance and mettle the entire way. Along the way they slowly begin to learn more and more about each other, where they came from, their history, and many other things. During this time Yurg, through the gentle and kind consideration of everyone in the team, slowly begins to soften to them, and begins to give up his hatred of Birash. Not completely, but he certainly makes some strides in that direction. As they continue traveling, Simon proposes to Alex the idea of teaching the other three in the team the skills of "Wayfinding" and "Pathfinding", of which Alex agrees. Trevor is the first to undergo this training, which he struggles with doing. But he also learns a lot as he does it. Eventually the team reaches the village of Pongo where they encounter Jacob and his wife, and first learn about the language of Bonisi and some more details about the race, the world and its people.

They also learn about the "generational" divisions of racers on the planet, and how anyone of the 2nd and later generations are treated as unwanted additions to the planet that mess with the plans and schemes of the controllers. As they talk, Jacob and his wife bring dinner for Simon and his team to enjoy. While they're eating dinner, an older gentleman named Father Mathews appears in the house and sits down with Simon's team. He declares that he's there to tell them why they're there and what God has both given them, and intends for them. Simon is told he has the gift of teaching, which he very easily and naturally displays, even though he humbly claims that he's not that great of a teacher. Aria is told she has the gift of discernment, Trevor helps, and Birash mercy. The old man then passes away. They bury him the next day, and then set out on their journey again. After several more weeks of hiking they come to the city of Trail Point, that is the central city in the Keep of Woes. They stay the night at an inn, where they get dinner, and then bed down for the night. The next day they go out and trade in some of their furs, and various other items they've been carrying with them, in exchange for some of the local currency. They then go into the market to do some shopping, with Simon, Aria and Yurg going one direction, and Alex, Trevor and Birash going the other. However, it's not long before Simon, Aria and Yurg draw the interest of the local slavers who eventually take them captive.

Hearing the commotion, Alex, Trevor and Birash rush to their aid, but are stopped by a hail of gunfire. They then battle it out with the slavers in an exchange of fire, but are not able to subdue their attackers before Simon, Aria and Yurg are dragged away into the catacombs below the city. Alex, Trevor and Birash find the trap door their friends were taken through and soon give pursuit. Some time later Simon awakes to discover he's in a dungeon where the slavers have gathered their day's catch in preparation for the evening slave sale. Simon, Aria and Yurg are put in line and then hauled up to the stage one by one to be auctioned off. Yurg, goes first, and stands proudly on the stage and refuses to be dishonored or insulted by the crowd. He is bought by a man who intends to use him as a guard animal and a pet. Aria is next, and is purchased by a perverted, sleazy old man who intends to use her as a concubine. Last to be sold is Simon who is booed because of his age and weight. Instead of being insulted, he takes the opportunity to witness to the men and women gathered there. The crowd boos him and one even threatens to kill him just to shut him up. About this time a Baroness appears and stops the man, after which she purchases Simon, even though nobody else wants him, and a few even want him dead. Alex and Trevor witness this and Simon's impassioned speech even moves Alex. He and the other two young men then find their way outside in hopes of rescuing the others.

As each of their three friends come out the door, one by one, Alex, Birash and Trevor quickly neutralize their captors and free them, much to everyone's joy. The first to exit the building is Yurg and his new owners. After he's rescued, the next to appear is Aria and the old man who bought her. Inside, while the others continue to wait, the Baroness comes to Simon and examines him before revealing to him that she too is a Christian, much to his surprise. Last to appear is Simon, along with the Baroness. At first Alex and the others try attacking them. But Simon tells them to hold their fire as she's a friend. After a brief few tense moments, they realize he's telling the truth. They all then pile into the Baroness's carriage and head back to her manor. She then gives a brief history of herself, and how she became the Baroness of Hollow Manor, one of the ten most powerful houses in the entire keep, and one of only three that are Christian. Upon arriving the Baroness treats Simon's team to hot food, hot baths, comfortable rooms and anything else they want. Alex then takes Simon aside into another room and talks to him about God. Simon in turn answers all of his questions and even witnesses to him, through which Alex becomes saved. He then goes out and tells the others.

The next morning the team enjoys breakfast, after which the Baroness sends Aria away for a special bath to pamper her as a treat. She then explains her mission there in the manor, how they make their money, how they serve the local community, and more. This includes their ministry of printing and distributing bibles. She also reveals that all of her staff are rescued Christians that she's saved from the slave markets and other places. The Baroness then gives Alex his own bible, which he happily accepts, before heading off to begin reading it in solitude in the garden. Trevor soon joins him, leaving just Simon and the Baroness, as Birash and Yurg have already left for a walk. They then go for a walk in the garden alone and talk between themselves. While they're doing this, Birash and Yurg encounter a young dragon named Fallon in the garden. After introducing himself, one of the demons of the Brotherhood appears, whom Fallon initially resists. The demon grows angry with him, but before he can do anything, Birash rebukes him and sends him fleeing. Fallon then gives them a brief warning before vanishing. Yurg and Birash decide to report this to the others.

Back in the garden Trevor speaks with Alex about his bible reading, but the subject soon changes to Aria and Trevor's budding love and relationship. Trevor is a bit embarrassed about the whole thing as this is all new to him. Aria soon appears dressed in a beautiful, white sun dress and Trevor is immediately smitten. They then go off for a walk in the garden. Elsewhere, as Simon and the Baroness continue their walk in the garden, they're then approached by Yurg and Birash about Fallon. Afterwards, everyone gathers and they talk about him briefly, as well as what his presence and appearance mean, including the dangers it brings. However, instead of discouraging Simon's team, it encourages them and strengthens their resolve. The next morning the Baroness sends them off with a fresh load of supplies and gear over to the nearby village of Donville, which sits on the edge of The Reaping Sea where they hire a ship for the journey across to the other side. However, on the journey across nearly everyone in Simon's team gets seasick. To make things worse, a Sea Storm appears and beats on the boat, sending it tossing and swaying violently. Eventually the ship succumbs to the storm and sinks with all hands on board. Shortly after this the storm dissipates. One of the controllers appears shortly after this and checks his handiwork. Satisfied, he flies away.

Once he's gone, an angel appears and lifts Simon's limp, lifeless body out of the water and takes him to the other side and sets him on the doorstep of a fisherman named Mathias who nurses him back to health. Deep down though, Simon fears that his entire team has died and he's the only one left now. However, the next scene reveals that Trevor has miraculously survived, and was saved by Lord Banister and Lady Lidia of the Sheffield Republic. Trevor wakes up in their mansion and jokes that he feels as though he's died and gone to Beverly Hills. He then learns that Birash has survived too, although his two hosts think that he's Trevor's slave. Trevor briefly explors the mansion, but finds the reception by the staff to be very cold and impersonal. After he's served a very high class breakfast, Trevor decides to go out to the slave quarters to check on Birash. Especially since he's getting a very bad vibe from his hosts. In the meantime, Simon learns more about Mathias, including that they're both believers. However, Mathias is a 14th generation native, and doesn't speak a lick of English. They eventually determine that this is likely a miracle from God, and a form of the biblical "tongues". Back at the mansion, Trevor wanders around looking for the slave quarters only to accidentally stumble onto a secret room where several generals are meeting and discussing their war with the Gak Republic. They also discuss the kingdom of Thorn, and a pending battle that will soon be happening on their shared border.

Deciding he didn't want to be around for this, he sneaks away only to discover a small armory nearby. After picking the lock he steps inside and is floored by all the firepower contained within it. He quickly packs two bags full of weapons and ammo, and then makes his way to the slave quarters. After freeing Birash, the two then head out to pick up more supplies in preparation for leaving the estate. Back in the mansion Banister's men capture a spy from Thorn who reveals that he's worked behind the scenes to undermine Sheffield and even allow a couple racers, the bane of The Four Kingdoms to escape their grasp. After growing angry and killing the spy himself, Banister then sends his men to hunt down and kill Trevor and Birash. Back at the village, Simon prepares to leave, but Mathias warns him of the danger he will face ahead, and the war that's going on right now. He also warns him of the danger to anyone who is a racer, because any soldier or citizen from the Four Kingdoms are under orders to kill any they find due to their fear of losing their power should the race be won by anyone. Deciding to help Simon, Mathias gathers a team of villagers who head out with him to escort Simon through the worst areas and to safety at the far edge of the Four Kingdoms territory. Back at the mansion, after completing their sacking of Banister's supplies, the Trevor and Birash head over to the garage where Trevor steals one of the automotives that Banister owns. However, before they can get far, soldiers from Banister's mansion discover this and give chase. After a brief high speed chase, Trevor is able to shake his pursuers and then sets out to search for the others, who he prays are still alive.

Elsewhere in the area, aboard the submarine Calypso, it's discovered that Aria and Yurg have survived the sinking of the ship, and were rescued by the crew of the submarine. Ever since their rescue, Yurg has stayed by her side, waiting for her to wake up again. Yurg even prays for her healing. The ship's captain, Clifford Weiss, introduces himself, and then gives her the bad news about her friends, which causes her to pass out in grief. He then leaves to attend to his duties while Yurg patiently watches over Aria, worried that she'll be alright, and cursing the controllers for what they did to him and his friends. Back on the road, Trevor pulls into a gas station to get gas. Upon filling his tank, he's led back to the attendant's hut, where he meets Alex and learns that he's survived the sinking as well. They then head back out on the road in search of the others who they believe are still alive. Over near the border where Simon and the others are, Mathias leads them through a brief bit of fast and intense combat, artillery shelling and more, before finally escaping out of the area and eventually meeting up with Trevor and crew who have been looking for them. Mathias and his men then return to their village as Simon rejoins the others in search of Aria and Yurg. Out on The Reaping Sea, Clifford and crew continue to hunt for more possible salvage prizes. But, upon realizing that they're coming up with nothing, and that their entire reason for being out there was likely to rescue Aria and Yurg, they head back to their headquarters at Subton. Back at Banister's estate, he takes time out to discuss the progress of the war with his generals, at which point a third kingdom, the Unity Empire is discussed, as well as their roll in the war between the Four Kingdoms, and how they're a bigger threat than either Thorn, or GAK.

They then discuss the hunt for Simon's team, and decide on the most likely place they will be found. Banister then sends troops to kill them as quickly as possible. Back with Simon's team, after finding an inn to stay in at a small fishing village near a river, they are discovered and surrounded by Sheffield troops who demand their surrender. After having made their way out of The Reaping Sea and onto one of the large rivers that feeds it, Clifford and the Calypso receive word that Sheffield has surrounded a nearby village for reasons they're not quite sure of yet. So Clifford has them park the sub on the bottom of the river while requesting support from the Odyssey and the Thor in case they need it. Meanwhile, elsewhere on Offworld, near the Southern Wyre, also known as Trond, Fallon appears before Weyr Master Zek, his grandfather, and discuss the current situation with Simon's team, as well as the rather strange amount of attention that the demon Sheobaal is paying to Simon and his team. They also discuss how this will create problems for them, as well as the rest of the Dragon Corps, including Zek's plans for the race, and especially Simon's team. They also discuss Caleb, and his part in all of this. During this conversation, a little bit of Fallon's wisdom is displayed, which is uncharacteristic for one of his age, being but a young child in the eyes of the other dragons. As they are discussing this, Zek receives orders from his masters to send a team of his dragons to a village nearby and sack it. Zek then sends Fallon back out on his mission to monitor and assist Simon's team.

As morning dawns the next day, Alex and the others are shocked at how many soldiers are in the area. The soldiers again demand that Simon and his team surrender to them. They obviously refuse. This upsets the soldiers, but they don't move just yet. While the two sides remain at a standoff, Simon and Alex take stock of their situation and realize that they don't have any way out of this. However, as they continue trying to find a way out of this, the Calypso, the Odyssey and the Thor surface in the river behind them and open fire on the Sheffield troops. Sheffield immediately scatters and falls into retreat. Clifford them pulls the Calypso into port and hails Simon, who immediately boards the submarine with his team. Clifford then takes them up river towards his home base in Subton. But, while they're making good on their escape, Clifford reveals to Trevor and the others that their two still missing teammates are actually with him. With his spirits lifted, Trevor follows Clifford over to where Aria and Yurg are and enjoys a happy reunion with them. And while Trevor and Aria are getting caught up, Yurg and Birash have a special moment together as Yurg further explores his growing friendship with Birash.

Simon then leaves to talk with Clifford about a possible destination for him and his team. He also asks Alex for ideas, but he has none as this is all new to him. Clifford then takes them to the bridge of his ship where he reveals a secret of his vessel, namely a controller map table, as well as some other hidden controller technology inside the submarines which provide their primary power. They then use the map table to discuss the journey ahead, and a few of the pitfalls of navigating the river, as well as the current political situation in the area. While they're making their way to Subton, news of the escape of Simon's team reaches the ears of General Amaroth, who vows to succeed where Sheffield has failed, and exterminate Simon's team at all costs.

Reviews and Awards

The reviews and awards collected below are both reader and professional reviews, as well as any reviews the book has received that I am aware of at this moment.

From Smashwords, posted by AdeOjo Tolu: Reviewed on on Oct. 22, 2017

I didn't know what to expect when I got this book as I saw "scifi, angels, fantasy". But I can say I'm very intrigued by it and has sparked up my faith in God once again. I can also safely say this is a modern day equivalent​ of the Pilgrim's Progress, except with more characters (that you can relate to). This book is a blessing. Thank you Steven, God bless!

P.S. I'm patiently waiting for the next one.

From Smashwords, posted by Yvonne Yap: Reviewed on on Aug. 29, 2017

This had been a very uplifting story to me. A bit like Narnia + Hunger Game. I like all the characters and could really relate to them as I share their faith. You will either like this or need this. Hope you find something more at the end of it. Can't wait for the second installment.

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