Logic's End Read online

  Endorsements For

  The Origins Trilogy and

  The Tartarus Chronicles

  "Logic's End is a great read, and I highly recommend it.

  I very much enjoyed reading Logic's End. It explores the question of what life would be like on a planet where evolution really did happen. The surprising result helps the reader to see why life on Earth must be the result of special creation.

  For those interested in science fiction but who are tired of all the evolutionary nonsense, Logic's End is a refreshing alternative."

  —Dr. Jason Lisle

  Astrophysicist, Institute for Creation Research

  "In this book, Robinson has discovered a "novel" way to communicate vital information to young adults and readers of all ages. Mainstream indoctrination on the origin of species and the age of the earth are regularly encountered, and has long needed combating. Through this unique story, truth is conveyed."

  —Dr. John D.Morris,

  President, Institute for Creation Research

  "Pyramid of the Ancients will challenge you to reconsider the conventional wisdom concerning the history of our world."

  —Tim Chaffey

  Author, The Truth Chronicles

  Editor, Answers in Genesis

  "A thoroughly enjoyable read with great characters and a compelling, suspenseful story propelled by lots and lots of action. For me, the icing on the cake is the enlightening apologetics information masterfully woven into the story."

  —Joe Barruso

  Emmy Award Winning Director/Producer

  Logic's End

  Copyright © 2017 by Keith A. Robinson. All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the author except as provided by USA copyright law.

  This novel is a work of fiction. Names, descriptions, entities, and incidents included in the story are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, events, and entities is entirely coincidental.

  Cover Artwork by Jaslynn Tham

  Book design copyright © 2016 by Tate Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved.

  Cover design by Dante Rey Redido

  Interior design by Mary Jean Archival

  ISBN- 13:978-1548232245

  ISBN-10:1548232246

  Fiction / Science Fiction / Space Opera

  To Mom and Kevin for helping me with proofreading, editing, and story ideas; and to all of my other family and friends whose support and prayers have helped make this book a reality. I couldn't have done it without you.

  Acknowledgments

  I'M SO grateful for everyone who helped make my dream become a reality. Since Logic's End was first published in 2007, it has been an overwhelming success. When I first set out to write, I had no idea how this story would impact the lives of so many. I pray that it will continue to touch the lives of those who read it. I am forever humbled and awed at how God uses the written word to change hearts and minds.

  To Tom Horn, my first publisher, for taking a chance with me. Also, to all of those at Anomalos Publishing who worked on the first edition.

  To Jas Tham, my cover artist. Your work always amazes me! Thank you for using your talents to make my books look so good.

  To my wife, Stephanie. You are truly the best wife a husband could ask for. Thank you for your patience and for granting me the time to write. I love you.

  To my children (even those who are not related by blood). May you draw inspiration from your father's work, and may it help you draw near our God.

  To my Lord and King. May you find these inkblots on paper useful for the advancement of your Kingdom.

  Contents

  Pronunciation Guide

  1 Mission Approved

  2 2021 PK

  3 Rescued?

  4 The High Crala

  5 Ka'esch

  6 The Journey Begins

  7 Mrdangam Attack

  8 The Aftermath

  9 Decisions

  10 Ryazan

  11 Race to the Cave

  12 Jorylk's Condition

  13 Discoveries

  14 The Garden

  15 Revelations

  16 Escape from Mt. Kiabab

  17 The Price of Freedom

  18 The Vanguard

  19 Hope Rekindled

  20 Desperate Measures

  21 Sikaris's Promise

  22 Rebecca's Calling

  Epilogue

  Afterword

  Biological Information

  Irreducible Complexity

  Mathematical Probability

  Random Mutations

  Theistic Evolution

  Suggested Informational Material

  Ka'esch—Southwest Quadrant

  Modir Caverns

  Sikaris Clan: Unknown

  Weapons: Sonic roar

  Defenses: Speed, gliding ability

  Color: Dark brown, gold highlights, black skin folds

  Size: 7'

  Prin Clan: Diodre

  Weapons: Pistol, electric shock, explosives

  Defenses: Electric shock, agility, body suit

  Color: Yellowish brown with black spots

  Size:5'5"

  Rysth-nuul Clan: Dakkar-nil

  Weapons: Two automatic pistols, whiplike tail

  Defenses: Quickness and agility, tail

  Color: Moss green with dark yellow lines

  Size: 6'

  Tarrsk Clan: Torlig

  Weapons: Shoulder tentacles that shoot projectiles

  Defenses: Camouflage, ability to climb smooth surfaces

  Color: Dark blue with patches of white, dead scales

  Size: 5'

  Ch'ran Clan: Harmath

  Weapons: Handheld pistol, poisonous tail, claws

  Defenses: Armor, jumping ability

  Color: Gray

  Size: 3'

  Jorylk Clan: Joktan

  Weapons: Heavy rifle, spiked body armor

  Defenses: Body armor

  Color: Dark red and tan

  Size: 7'

  Kyen'tir Clan: Phaxad

  Weapons: Sharp feather projectiles, talons

  Defenses: Flight, mist spray

  Color: Orange head, black scales/feathers, white torso

  Size: 3'

  Lohgar Clan: Cahlah

  Weapons: Three handheld pistols

  Defenses: Body armor, agility

  Color: Dirty orange

  Size: 6'

  Druen Clan: Bkor

  Weapons: Heavy cannon, horns/tusks

  Defenses: Body armor, size

  Color: Black and gray

  Size: 10'

  Breuun Clan: Grinath

  Weapons: Automatic pistol, claw projectiles

  Defenses: Armor, agility

  Color: Dark gray and black

  Size: 7'

  Lri Errhu Species: Lidrilian

  Weapons: Limbs and roots

  Defenses: Bark

  Color: Dark purple

  Size: 10'

  Clan: V'skir

  Weapons: Guns, stun lights, pincers

  Defenses: Hard exoskeleton

  Color: Gray and yellow

  Size: 5'

  Clan: Mrdangam

  Weapons: Spit acid, claws, tails

  Defenses: Flight; thick, scaly hide

  Color: Blood red

  Size: 30' wingspan 25' (snout to tip of tail)

  Clan: Ryazan

  Weapons: Various guns, flammable gel, claws

  Defenses: Fire

  Color: Gray

  Size: 3'

  Clan: Modir

  Weapons: Breath gas, claws
/>   Defenses: Speed

  Color: Dark Brown

  Size: 4'

  Pronunciation Guide

  Bratsche—Br-AHT-sh

  Breuun—Bree-OO-uhn

  Ch'ran—Chuh-RAHN

  Dakkar-nil—Da-KAR-nil

  Diodre—Dee-O-druh (the r is a Spanish r, it is rolled slightly, or flipped)

  Druen—DREW-en

  Grinath—GRIN-ath

  Harmath—HAR-math

  Joktan—JOE-kten

  Jorylk—JOR-ilk

  Ka'esch—Kah-ESH

  Kyen'tir—Kyen-TEER

  Lidrilian—Lih-DRILL-ee-en

  Lri Errhu—Luh-ree AIR-hoo

  Lohgar—LOH-gar

  Lohgur—LOH-ger

  Modir—Moe-DEER (the r is soft, almost like a d)

  Mrdangam—Mer-DAHN-gahm (the r is a Spanish r, it is rolled slightly, or flipped)

  Phaxad—FAX-add

  Prin—Prin

  Ryazan—RYE-uh-zahn

  Rysth-nuul—Risssth-NOOL (rhymes with tool)

  Sikaris—Si-KAR-iss (rhymes with miss)

  Tarrsk—Tarrrsk (with a rolled r)

  Torlig—TORE-lig

  V'skir—Vuh-SKEER

  1

  Mission Approved

  DON'T CRACK your knuckles! Focus on the speech! Rebecca reminded herself as she grabbed the edges of the podium for reassurance. She hated giving speeches, especially speeches to wealthy, important shareholders and business types. Yet the team had chosen her to be its spokesperson despite her protests, and she couldn't let them down. The whole project would face a major setback if they could not count on the financial support of those gathered in this room, and she was determined that she would not let years of study and research go to waste. Focusing her thoughts, she glanced around the hotel conference room and gauged the attention of the audience. Satisfied of their attentiveness, she took a deep breath and continued.

  "In the past, astronomers have located baffling numbers of worlds around other stars. Yet not even one of these worlds has come close to resembling Earth. These planets are at the extremes of the thermometer, or they are enormous or tiny, or they lack the proper oxygen-rich atmosphere. We have not observed any planets that could possibly support life. Until now."

  Rebecca paused for emphasis before continuing, her eyes scanning the crowd. "Since NASA launched its Terrestrial Planet Finder space telescope years ago, my colleagues and I have been scanning the heavens for a planet that would have the chemical markers of life. Our dedication has finally paid off.

  "Once this planet, designated 2021 PK, was found, NASA sent a small probe to take photos and readings. As you can see by this next slide, the probe reports confirm our greatest hopes. This planet has many similarities to Earth." Using her fingers to count off the numbers, Rebecca continued. "First, it revolves around a G2V size star. Second, its orbit is only slightly elliptical unlike most exoplanets we have studied. Third, it is point ninety-five astronomical units from its sun, almost exactly the right distance for life to evolve. Fourth, its gravity is only slightly heavier than ours. Fifth, the mean semimajor axis, mean eccentricity, and the mean mass are nearly identical to Earth. And most importantly, it contains high amounts of liquid water, which would be absolutely necessary for life to have evolved there." She paused and brushed a loose lock of curly black hair behind her ear.

  Clicking to the next slide, she continued. "You can see here a photo of the planet showing the dense atmospheric cloud cover, which may be accountable for the disruption in the radio signals and the slight degree of distortion in the photos.

  "Although the reports are not conclusive, we believe that there is sufficient evidence to warrant a manned mission to 2021 PK. The primary goal of this mission would be to find proof of other life-forms. The team would dig under the surface of the planet to search for fossils, plants, or any other signs of life, as well as collect numerous rock samples and perform various scientific experiments. We at NASA are proposing a partnership with Ionian Laser Technologies to help complete this mission. We believe that your recently completed laser drill, the RSK-320, shown here"—she changed the slide to a photo of the sleek machine—"would be ideal for digging through the planet's hard surface. As most of you are aware, the RSK-320 uses radioplasmic technology to cut through dense planetary layers, shutting off within one over one hundredths of a second if it encounters any fossil-bearing materials or any kind of life-form."

  She leaned forward over the podium, growing excited. "Because of the sheer number of variables that must be in delicate balance for life to arise, we believe that 2021 PK represents the best chance to find other forms of life in our galaxy. For no other planet that we have ever observed even comes close to the perfect harmony of Earth. The discovery of this planet could very well be one of the most profound discoveries in all of human history. But only if we find evidence of life. We must send a team of scientists to scour the surface of the planet if we have any chance of finding the evidence we seek.

  "NASA hopes that you will realize the enormous potential for this mission and support us wholeheartedly. For once the team returns triumphant, it will usher in a new era of scientific study, not to mention a new era of prosperity for ILT. And your generous financial support will have been the driving force that made it all possible. On behalf of all of us at NASA, thank you for your time and consideration." Rebecca took a deep breath, stepped back from the podium, and gave a heartfelt smile to the audience, which had begun to clap enthusiastically.

  She turned, walked off the platform, and continued on to her table in the front of the room as the MC returned to the podium to close out the evening. When she reached the table, her supervisor stood and pulled out a chair for her.

  "Way to go, kid!" he said in an excited whisper. "You really made an impact."

  Although Rebecca was thirty-two years old and only seven years younger than Dr. Goldsmith, he frequently teased her by calling her "kid." It had bothered her the first year at NASA, but over time she had come to grow fond of it, especially after realizing that this was what he called everyone younger than him. After a few years, she reached the conclusion that it was probably due to the fact that his mostly bald head, old-fashioned glasses, and very conservative style of suits made him look much older than his thirty-nine years. On top of that, in his eyes, compared to his own extremely advanced intellect, everyone else was just that—a "kid."

  "Thank you, sir," she replied. She smiled lightheartedly at him as she smoothed out her floor-length blue silk gown and sat down.

  Relaxing into her chair, Rebecca took a drink of wine to steady her nerves. Now's when the real fun begins, she thought sarcastically as she unconsciously began cracking her knuckles together at the unpleasant thought of the after-dinner "festivities." Although she seemed outgoing and friendly in public, she was, in reality, very uncomfortable meeting new people in unfamiliar surroundings. Here we go. No rest for the weary, she thought as the MC finished thanking everyone for coming.

  Sure enough, no sooner had the last words left his mouth than elegantly dressed "well-wishers" immediately surrounded Rebecca. For the next half hour, she was caught up in a whirlwind of questions, compliments, and congratulations until she felt her face would crack from smiling.

  Lost in the flurry, she didn't notice the slight pressure on her arm until a familiar voice spoke near her right ear. "Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen, but I need to borrow Mrs. Evans for a moment," Dr. Goldsmith said as he led her by the arm out of the throng of guests.

  "My knight in shining armor has finally come to rescue me," she whispered to him after they had turned away from the group.

  "You're welcome, fair maiden." He leaned in toward her and, with an air of mystery, said, "There's someone who would like to speak with you."

  She pulled away and gave him a look of mock indignation. "Betrayed! Out of the frying pan and into the fire." However, after noticing his expression of excitement, she quickly became curious and returned her attent
ion forward in an effort to locate their destination.

  Two distinguished-looking men standing near the back of the room immediately captured her gaze. The one on the left was an elderly gray-haired man with thin, wire-framed glasses and wearing a navy blue double-breasted suit. The man on the right looked to be about in his mid-forties and was dressed in a shirt and tie underneath a dark blue flight jacket. His hair was cut in typical military style. The insignia on his jacket's left breast caused Rebecca to catch her breath in shock.

  Wait a second! Is this about...Are they here to...Do they want... Her thoughts were whirling around at such a dizzying rate that when she found herself standing in front of them, it took her a moment to realize the elderly man with the glasses was addressing her.

  "I said it is a pleasure to meet you, Gunnery Sergeant Evans," he repeated in a deep, gravelly voice. She looked down and, to her embarrassment, saw that he had his right hand extended toward her. She quickly reined in her jumble of thoughts and emotions and politely shook his hand.

  He continued, "You look even lovelier in person."

  Standing under his scrutiny, Rebecca suddenly became self-conscious about her appearance. She had never been considered beautiful as she was growing up. However, she had a plain kind of attractiveness that was brought out further by her bright, intelligent brown eyes and her friendly smile. She thanked the gods of fortune that she had gone through the extra trouble of putting on makeup tonight, even though she absolutely despised it. "Thank you, sir," she managed to say.

  "My name is Henry Bremen, and this is Captain Jonathan Coffner," he said, indicating the man in the flight jacket.

  Rebecca shook his hand politely and smiled, her confidence and strength returning. "It's a pleasure to meet you, gentlemen."