Dark Empire Book Five: Desperate Measures - Chapter One, Scene One

 

In this first excerpt of the latest entry of the Dark Empire series, the Darks strike at Earth II

* * * *

Gateway Station, orbiting Earth II

“We were always planning to move from Galactic Councilspace, but we had hoped to do it in our own time.” Joe Allen spoke to thedoctor on the small space station orbiting Earth II. Not the massive KalquorianAlpha Space Station, though he would have liked to have been invited on boardit for a look. It was impressive, dwarfing its Earther sibling, Gateway.

The man who’d introduced himself as Dr. Fazir cluckedsympathetically as he adjusted the medical scanner’s parameters. “The businessbetween the GC and Kalquor is disrupting a large number of people. Were youliving on Jedver?”

“No, Akdesh Colony on the moon Atoc. We had a population ofseveral races, including enough Kalquorians to rival Haven, I bet. Even afterthe GC tossed them all out after the supposed footage of Copeland leaked, therewere a lot of GC troops patrolling the colony.” Joe frowned. Things had gottenweird in a hurry on Atoc. Kalquor had lobbed its share of accusations at theGalactic Council of Planets, foremost of which was the assertion its leadershad been taken over by an interdimensional alien force they’d called the Darks.

He didn’t know what to believe. The secretary-general, aKalquorian himself, had decried his home empire for its “attempt to redirectattention from the criminal detainment of the first Earth’s former HolyLeader.” All Joe knew was the sight of armed soldiers prowling the neighborhoodwhere he and his wife were raising their three young daughters was too much.Especially in light of the rumors that a number of planets, stations, and moonsin Galactic Council space had come under martial law after a series of riots.

The Allen family had applied to Earth II for emergencyrefugee status, and it had been granted. His family had left behind their home,jobs, schools, and most of their belongings to escape a steadily darkeningGalactic Council atmosphere.

A couple of Joe’s friends had ridiculed him for running offand dragging his family to an uncertain future. Maybe he was being dumb,depending on meager savings and six months of government funding while hestarted from scratch. But his wife Randi had agreed the situation felt bad, sothey’d fled a seemingly secure footing for the unknown.

Better to goof up and end up scratching for a few years thanbe caught in the middle of another war. Joe had been a teenager when theoriginal Earth had been rendered lifeless from a series of nuclear blasts. Hehad no idea how bad it could turn in Galactic Council space, and he didn’t wanthis daughters to find out because he’d failed to bring them to a safe place.

“All right. Scans and bloodwork look excellent.” Dr. Fazirsmiled at him. “I’ll check on your wife and daughters, then you’ll be clearedto go on to Earth. Hopefully—”

“What’s that?” Joe interrupted. His gaze swung to where he’dthought he saw a shadow, a glimpse of moving darkness at the corner of his eye.

Then all was quiet.

 

The entity who’d grabbed control of Joe watched unfeelinglyas the human doctor jerked to see what had attracted its mount’s attention asplit second before Fazir was also taken.

The two motes of the All had no need to speak. They’d begunperforming their task once the refugee ship they’d been aboard had docked.Their mandate was simple: hiding, coming out and puppeting the human men whoseldom had the ability to detect them until it was too late, doing their workfor the few seconds it took, then hiding again until the next male patient.

No speech was needed. It was good to be together, thoughtheir companionship couldn’t approach the natural belonging when they werefused with the All. Still, other motes were isolated alone, so they claimedwhat scant pleasure they could in having each other near.

Dr. Fazir went to the closet as he had dozens of times sincethe first refugee had dropped off the All’s supplies taken from Bi’is. From theback of the tallest shelf, he claimed an ampule and loaded it into an injector.

The entity controlling the unaware Joe Allen held his mountstill as the injector was held against the human’s neck. A click as the triggerwas pulled, a soft hiss, and the job was done.

The injector was put away, and Dr. Fazir resumed theposition Joe had last seen him in. The Darks withdrew at the same instant.

 

Dr. Fazir blinked at his patient. “I’m sorry. Did you saysomething?”

Joe gazed at him, then looked around the room. “I thought Isaw…” He stopped and laughed. “Jumping at shadows. Or the idea of them. Youknow, I glimpsed one of the damned things on the news vid where they showed theKalquorian admiral being used by a Dark. It’s given me nightmares.”

“The ability is noted in your file. You may be able to trainfor a security detail on Earth. They’re calling for people who can spot thealiens. You should check into it. Your wife too. She no doubt hears the doubledvoices of the Dark-ridden.”

“We will. Thanks.” Joe appeared brighter at the suggestion.Many of the refugees streaming to Earth II were frightened and depressed athaving to leave the lives they’d built elsewhere. Having the opportunity to hitthe ground running gave the approximately five percent who could spot Darksbadly needed hope.

“Make sure to get some rest, nightmares or not. Okay, let’sevaluate your wife and girls and send you on to Earth.”

* * * *

All-out war has begun, with innocents caught in thecrossfire.

Former nun Cheryl Taupin and her husband Nobek Besral,in charge of the remaining orphans of Earth’s Armageddon, watch the terribleevents unfolding in the Dark-overrun Galactic Council of Planets. Kalquoriansin Galactic Council space are being rounded up to suffer an unknown fate andmartial law is declared on many of the system’s worlds. A desperate plea to theKalquorian Empire sends Admiral Piras and Captain Kila to the orphanage…but howcan a lone spyship protect hundreds of children against the full might of theGalactic Council’s warships bent on destruction?

Charity Nath has been brought to Alpha Space Stationto hide from those determined to exact vengeance against her father. Young andirrepressible, she’s determined to claim a measure of freedom from stiflingrestrictions placed on her. When her identity and location are revealed, herKalquorian protectors must thwart those who’d harm her while contending withher stubborn refusal to be kept in check.

Imdiko Betra has done his best to put the past behindhim. He knows letting go of the only woman he could ever love was the bestcourse of action. But when he encounters Shalia Monroe again, his heart speakslouder than his conscience. Will unquenchable desire destroy the life she’sbuilt, or will Betra’s clanmates Oses and Resan stop him from doing theunthinkable?

Against the backdrop of pandemic and plague, Kalquorand Earth II fight for their very survival against an enemy they’re onlybeginning to learn the strength of. As the All tightens its fearsome grip onthe galaxy, humans and Kalquorians alike tremble on the verge of annihilation.

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