WIP: Discovery, Book One of The Last Men on Earth Series

Blurb:
Earth has been rebornThe Planetary Six, a group of astronauts who all have degrees in other areas, are sent off to investigate some disturbing images of planets imploding and then reappearing in space. Seen as world heroes, the PS barely reach the edge of the galaxy before they see that the planets look fine and return home.And they are the only survivorsThey are shocked to see images and hear recordings from their communication buoys that reveal that Earth has succumbed to the same fate as the other planets. Upon landing, the PS discover that they are the only survivors of this devastation. Using their wits they search for a way to live on New Earth.So when New Earth's vegetation begins to change the men, how will they cope? And are they truly the end of humanity or will humanity find a way to survive?
Excerpt:
Earth 2320
                No one expected it when it happened. One minute Neptune was there and in the next minute, scientists watched in amazement as Neptune blinked out and then just as quickly reappeared. A strange anamoly that they may have been able to explain away as being a glitch in their hi-tech computer system, but just five months later Uranus "blinked," as well. Observing the planets a little more closely than usual, the scientist were amazed to find that the planets that had once seem inhabitable now appeared to have life forms on it. Flora and fauna life form of course, but the oxygen levels were just a little too low for humans to live there.                When three months passed and nothing happened, the scientists of Earth held the first ever Science and Earth Crisis Meeting, called SECM, to discuss what they thought had happened. No one expected the panicked and anxiety ridden red-haired intern, Troy Cooperstone,  freckles displayed prominently upon his face to come running into the room, yelling and screaming, his arms waving madly, dressed haphazardly in a brown and tan checkered sweater vest, beige button down, and brown pants, about how Saturn had disappeared. When one of the more prominently known scientists, and easily named the smartest man in the world, Dr. Kamberstein, corrected the young man and told him that Saturn had "blinked" out temporarily, but had returned, the intern, with hands on his slim hips huffed in annoyance and held up his iPad to the know-it-all scientist.                "No. Saturn disappeared," Troy stated emphatically, barely holding back the smug grin of satisfaction as he heard every man in the room gasp as they watched the planet disappear completely and this time, unlike the others, never return.                "What the hell?" Dr. Lewis Bradley, a young, very handsome scientist whispered in shock and awe, standing to his feet. Dr. Bradley was the youngest scientist in the room. Extremely handsome, the African-American man didn't speak much, but when he did everyone took notice. His voice, normally low and soothing, was filled with an almost reverent fear as he watched his favorite planet disappear.                Troy watched as Dr. Bradley walked towards him and hoped that the older man couldn't see the way he watched him with admiration and hero worship. His dad had grown up in a city just five hours away from the well-known Ecologist, but had never met the man, though he admired him greatly. Troy couldn't wait to tell his dad that he'd met his idol, even though he was sure that his dad wouldn't care. Troy held his breath as he watched Dr. Bradley, watch the video footage. When the scene ended, Dr. Bradley stood to his fully impressive, six foot six inch height and turned to stare down every man in the room.                "Well okay men, it looks as if we have a planet that has disappeared. So…what do we do now?" Dr. Bradley inquired and the room burst into an explosion of sound. Troy jumped slightly when he felt Dr. Bradley's hand land on his slim shoulder and squeeze slightly. Looking up the tall man's frame, his gaze slowly taking in every aspect of the other man's grey slacks, black button down, grey tie, and open white lab coat, before moving over the other man's nut brown skin, his prominent Adam's apple, square jaw, full lips that looked to be an almost red color in the areas where the other man had been nibbling his lower lip, up past his nose and up to the doctor's gorgeous grey eyes. Wow, he thought, I don't think I've ever seen grey eyes before. I totally see why dad's gay though. Some guys are just…hot.                Comfortable enough with his sexuality to make that statement…mentally, Troy shook Dr. Bradley's hand when the other man offered it.                "Good catch there kid. Gonna make a really good scientist one day. Keep up the good work." Unable to speak a word after being given the amazing compliment Troy only nodded and watched as Dr. Bradley returned into the fold of debating scientists and sighed. He really couldn't wait to tell his father now.