Dark Empire Book One: Shadows Approach Chapter Four Scene 1

 

Today we'll wave a brief hello to our old friends Piper and Ulof (Alien Outcast). They'll have a bigger part to play in Dark Empire in a later book. Can you believe Shadows Approach is out the day after tomorrow?

"The characters in Shadows Approach are vividly portrayed and incredibly well-developed. Their complexities and inner struggles make them relatable and add a layer of depth to the narrative. I found myself emotionally invested in their lives, eagerly rooting for their successes and fearing their failures." -Amazon review

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Earth II

Piper Warren inhaled the air with pleasure as she trotted atthe side of her Imdiko clanmate, her blond ponytail bobbing. She’d walked theground of Earth II many times, but filling her lungs full of its oxygen nevergot old.

She was amused at herself. She’d visited several worlds,including Kalquor and its moon Lobam, which were as Earthlike as a human couldwish for. Nonetheless, the idea this planet was a reincarnation of the oneshe’d come from made its air sweeter and its breezes purer.

The man striding next to her, his wild and handsome facetense, had been a part of transforming…terraforming…a dead rock in theunclaimed border area between Joshadan space and the Kalquorian Empire. Thesmall planet orbiting a small star had been deemed worthy of the attempt tobuild displaced Earthers a new home planet.

They neared the outcropping of a mountain, where Piper haddiscovered her favorite view. It had no official name, but she referred to itas Ulof’s Valley. She grinned up at her Imdiko, bursting with pride.

“I wish we could stay, just so we could build a home hereand I could see your work beyond my door each day.”

Ulof shrugged, but a smile threatened to break over hisstormy features. “I had the least to do with it. It was the only section I wasable to contribute to.”

“You were an important part of the team. If you hadn’t been,they wouldn’t be keeping you on. Give yourself some credit before I kick you inthe pants.”

He broke into a real grin, appearing as the caring Imdiko ofhis official designation. Piper was glad to see it, though she intuited itwasn’t his Nobek half making Ulof stormy. It was the ever-present concern hewas incompetent robbing him of his deserved pride.

“I knew you could do it,” Piper enthused, her twangySouthern accent growing pronounced in her eagerness to prove to him what he’dproven to her. “Overcoming adversity is your calling card. You did good, Ulof.”

“I guess. It’s a start, anyway.” The fact he could work inany fashion in terraforming was a big deal to him. It spoke well of hisdetermination to overcome a learning disability. Taking part in Earth II’sdevelopment was a dream come true.

They reached the outcropping. Piper sighed in love andregret. She’d miss the place, but Ulof’s continued success meant moving on tothe next project. Their entire clan was bent on giving him every opportunity torealize his full potential. Fortunately, there were plenty of opportunities forthem all to enjoy success in their given fields.

Voices rose behind them. Piper and Ulof turned from thestunning view of the valley, teeming with yellow, blue, and purple flowers,which surrounded a picturesque lake.

Four Kalquorian men climbed the trail to join them on theoutcropping. Given the varied hues of blue shirts and commanding expressions,Piper guessed them to be Dramoks. The foursome paused and bowed respectfullywhen they sighted her and Ulof. Ulof returned the bow.

One beamed at them as if they were the best of friends, andPiper thought he looked vaguely familiar. He stepped ahead of the rest.

“Hello! I recognize this fellow. One of the terraformingteam, aren’t you? I’m Dramok Ospar.”

Ulof, whose first instinct was to regard strangerssuspiciously, managed a diplomatic smile. “Imdiko Ulof, Flora PlottingSpecialist Trainee. You toured the valley I worked on a few months ago, but wehaven’t spoken.”

“I knew I’d seen you before. This view is spectacular. Isn’tthis the valley you’re responsible for? It’s gorgeous. Congratulations on suchamazing work.”

His enthusiasm made Ulof flush. “I had little to do with it,but thank you.”

“The lake and its configuration were his suggestion.” Piperwasn’t about to let the chance to showcase Ulof’s abilities pass by.

“Indeed, Matara—? Oh, you look familiar too.”

“This is Piper,” Ulof supplied. “We belong to Clan Nako.”

“Clan…not that Clan Nako? From the Battle OverBi’is?”

“That Clan Nako, yes.” Ulof chuckled.

Ospar grinned at them. “Salvation of the empire and nowcreator of planets. If I’d known you were involved, I’d have doubled mycontribution to the Earth project.”

“You’re kind to say so.”

“My friends and fellow investors, Dramoks Rajhir, Diltan,and Falinset.”

More of the traditional bows of respect, then the groupturned their attention to the valley again.

“The lake is the jewel of the scenery. Can you tell me aboutthe flowers, Specialist Ulof? These are all seeded from the plants of theoriginal Earth, aren’t they?” This from the tallest of the group.

His goateed face was as familiar to Piper as Ospar’s and athird member of the party, and not merely because they’d invested so heavily inthe development of Earth II. Even the most casual observer of the KalquorianEmpire would recognize Dramoks Rajhir and Falinset. Like Ospar, their nameswere synonymous with past scandal and gradually growing redemption amongKalquorians…much like Piper’s clanmates, who’d had their own checkered pastsbefore playing a major role in fending off an invasion from Bi’is five yearsprior.

Piper wouldn’t have known Diltan on sight, the handsomest ofthe group. She’d heard of him, however. As an investor and Royal Councilman,his name came up on occasion in her hearing. He was also clanned to a cousin ofEmpress Jessica.

She listened proudly as Ulof answered the financiers’questions confidently. He’d come so far from the angry, insecure man she’d meton board a rogue Kalquorian raider. He was still often unsure of himself, butthere was no sign of it as he explained the challenges the team had faced interraforming the planet in general and the valley in particular.

It occurred to her that she was surrounded by secondchances. Ulof had embarked on a career he hadn’t dreamed possible, and itappeared he’d continue to succeed. The men who’d helped fund the planet’stransformation were restoring battered reputations. The planet itself had beenreborn, made viable and alive. Piper’s people were getting another opportunityto build a healthy society on Earth II, free of the corruption of their parentworld.

“All this in less than five years,” Falinset breathed afterUlof had answered their last question. “What a wondrous time to be alive.”

Piper agreed wholeheartedly.

“Here you are,” a female voice called. “I wondered when we’drun into you four. Have you been avoiding us on purpose? And by us, I mean me.”

Piper’s first thought was the outcropping was becomingridiculously popular as an additional six people emerged from the path. Thenshe realized whom she was looking at.

The Imperial Clan and the new governor of Earth II,accompanied by a stern-looking Nobek, had arrived. Piper and Ulof edged asideas the dignitaries approached.

It was the eternally beaming Ospar who laughed at theempress’ question as he bowed. “Avoid you, my empress? I count the secondsuntil I find myself in your presence once more.”

Emperor Egilka snorted. “You’ll never change, Dramok Ospar.”

“Incorrigible as ever,” the empress laughed. Jessica’s gazelit on Piper and Ulof, despite their attempts to remain invisible. She blinkedin surprise. “Piper Warren? What are you doing here?”

The emperors bowed deeply upon recognizing her. “So good tosee you again, Matara,” Clajak enthused. “How are you? And your clan?”

“We’re very well, thank you.” Her cheeks burned at theeffusive greeting. Her brief and unintended hero turn of five years priorwasn’t a comfortable fit, and she rushed to deflect the attention. “Youremember my Imdiko, Ulof? He’s part of the terraforming crew.”

“Trainee,” Ulof rushed to explain, looking flustered.

“Governor Nichols, this young woman escaped from Bi’is towarn us about their attack. She and her clan almost singlehandedly stopped themand brought our civil war to an end.”

“It’s a privilege to meet real heroes,” Nichols said,eagerly shaking Piper’s hand and returning Ulof’s bow.

“I was just the ship’s cook.” Ulof mumbled. He looked moreembarrassed than before.

“Now he’s concocting entire planets. Come and look at thevalley he’s responsible for,” Ospar urged the women. “Gorgeous, isn’t it?”

They commented enthusiastically on the view. “Orchids and marigolds.Look at the lake. I could spend a month just lying next to it!” GovernorNichols rhapsodized.

“You shouldn’t build here. It’s too beautiful to develop,”Jessica insisted.

Ulof whispered to Piper, “Can we sneak off?”

She was just as uncomfortable and nodded. Seeing the nearbyunidentified Nobek eyeing them with amusement, Piper put her finger to herlips. He nodded, his grin deepening.

“Thanks, Nobek Kuran,” Ulof whispered.

They slunk to the path. A few steps into their escape, Piperglanced back to note Kuran had planted his big frame at its head, hiding theirretreat.

“I guess Ulof’s Valley isn’t just ours any longer,” Pipersighed as they climbed down the mountain trail. “You’ll have to make meanother.”

The prospect of a new project brightened Ulof’suncomfortable expression. “I have a proposal for the moon we’ll terraform next.I’m hoping to present it to my supervisor this week.”

Piper lived to see him excited. “The moon near Bi’is space?Can you tell me about it?”

His features were bright, making her love him with afierceness that filled her heart fit to burst. “I’ll show you. I’ve beendrawing it up for the last two months. There’s an island in the middle of thesea I hope to fill with plant life both beautiful and medicinal…” 

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A new planet. A newenemy. Is the end coming for the Kalquorian Empire?

In the aftermath ofthe Kalquorian civil war and the defeat of the Bi’is invasion fleet, the empirehas enjoyed peace. A new Earth has been born. A Kalquorian leads the GalacticCouncil of Planets. An era of harmony seems assured.

However, new dangersarrive on the horizon. Governor Stacy Nichols finds herself at odds withpowerful opponents who want Earth II to return to the old ways that led to thedemise of their original planet. They’ll do anything to stop her, especiallywhen they discover her newfound romance with Clan Rihep of Kalquor.

After five years and aterrifying encounter with an unknown entity, Clan Piras is finally leavingtheir spy duties in Bi’is space. Now they must face enemies closer to home: thefamilies of those they sacrificed while on a secret mission during theKalquorian civil war.

A new threat to theexistence of Kalquor and the entire Galactic Council of Planets arrives in themidst of these challenges, a dark menace unlike anything faced before. Oneyoung, inexperienced spyship ensign is all that stands between the galaxy andutter destruction. Can he warn the empire in time…or is it already too late?

DarkEmpire 1: Shadows Approach releases Friday! Pre-order now at Amazon, Amazon UK, Nook, Smashwords, Kobo, Apple, and print.