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?
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Earth II
Piper Warren inhaled the air with pleasure as she trotted at the side of her Imdiko clanmate, her blond ponytail bobbing. She’d walked the ground of Earth II many times, but filling her lungs full of its oxygen never got old.
She was amused at herself. She’d visited several worlds, including Kalquor and its moon Lobam, which were as Earthlike as a human could wish for. Nonetheless, the idea this planet was a reincarnation of the one she’d come from made its air sweeter and its breezes purer.
The man striding next to her, his wild and handsome face tense, had been a part of transforming…terraforming…a dead rock in the unclaimed border area between Joshadan space and the Kalquorian Empire. The small planet orbiting a small star had been deemed worthy of the attempt to build displaced Earthers a new home planet.
They neared the outcropping of a mountain, where Piper had discovered her favorite view. It had no official name, but she referred to it as Ulof’s Valley. She grinned up at her Imdiko, bursting with pride.
“I wish we could stay, just so we could build a home here and I could see your work beyond my door each day.”
Ulof shrugged, but a smile threatened to break over his stormy features. “I had the least to do with it. It was the only section I was able 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 in the pants.”
He broke into a real grin, appearing as the caring Imdiko of his official designation. Piper was glad to see it, though she intuited it wasn’t his Nobek half making Ulof stormy. It was the ever-present concern he was incompetent robbing him of his deserved pride.
“I knew you could do it,” Piper enthused, her twangy Southern accent growing pronounced in her eagerness to prove to him what he’d proven to her. “Overcoming adversity is your calling card. You did good, Ulof.”
“I guess. It’s a start, anyway.” The fact he could work in any fashion in terraforming was a big deal to him. It spoke well of his determination to overcome a learning disability. Taking part in Earth II’s development was a dream come true.
They reached the outcropping. Piper sighed in love and regret. She’d miss the place, but Ulof’s continued success meant moving on to the next project. Their entire clan was bent on giving him every opportunity to realize his full potential. Fortunately, there were plenty of opportunities for them all to enjoy success in their given fields.
Voices rose behind them. Piper and Ulof turned from the stunning 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 the outcropping. Given the varied hues of blue shirts and commanding expressions, Piper guessed them to be Dramoks. The foursome paused and bowed respectfully when they sighted her and Ulof. Ulof returned the bow.
One beamed at them as if they were the best of friends, and Piper thought he looked vaguely familiar. He stepped ahead of the rest.
“Hello! I recognize this fellow. One of the terraforming team, aren’t you? I’m Dramok Ospar.”
Ulof, whose first instinct was to regard strangers suspiciously, managed a diplomatic smile. “Imdiko Ulof, Flora Plotting Specialist Trainee. You toured the valley I worked on a few months ago, but we haven’t spoken.”
“I knew I’d seen you before. This view is spectacular. Isn’t this the valley you’re responsible for? It’s gorgeous. Congratulations on such amazing work.”
His enthusiasm made Ulof flush. “I had little to do with it, but thank you.”
“The lake and its configuration were his suggestion.” Piper wasn’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 Over Bi’is?”
“That Clan Nako, yes.” Ulof chuckled.
Ospar grinned at them. “Salvation of the empire and now creator of planets. If I’d known you were involved, I’d have doubled my contribution 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 group turned their attention to the valley again.
“The lake is the jewel of the scenery. Can you tell me about the flowers, Specialist Ulof? These are all seeded from the plants of the original Earth, aren’t they?” This from the tallest of the group.
His goateed face was as familiar to Piper as Ospar’s and a third member of the party, and not merely because they’d invested so heavily in the development of Earth II. Even the most casual observer of the Kalquorian Empire would recognize Dramoks Rajhir and Falinset. Like Ospar, their names were synonymous with past scandal and gradually growing redemption among Kalquorians…much like Piper’s clanmates, who’d had their own checkered pasts before playing a major role in fending off an invasion from Bi’is five years prior.
Piper wouldn’t have known Diltan on sight, the handsomest of the 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 of Empress Jessica.
She listened proudly as Ulof answered the financiers’ questions confidently. He’d come so far from the angry, insecure man she’d met on board a rogue Kalquorian raider. He was still often unsure of himself, but there was no sign of it as he explained the challenges the team had faced in terraforming the planet in general and the valley in particular.
It occurred to her that she was surrounded by second chances. Ulof had embarked on a career he hadn’t dreamed possible, and it appeared he’d continue to succeed. The men who’d helped fund the planet’s transformation were restoring battered reputations. The planet itself had been reborn, made viable and alive. Piper’s people were getting another opportunity to build a healthy society on Earth II, free of the corruption of their parent world.
“All this in less than five years,” Falinset breathed after Ulof 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’d run into you four. Have you been avoiding us on purpose? And by us, I mean me.”
Piper’s first thought was the outcropping was becoming ridiculously popular as an additional six people emerged from the path. Then she 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 aside as the dignitaries approached.
It was the eternally beaming Ospar who laughed at the empress’ question as he bowed. “Avoid you, my empress? I count the seconds until 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 gaze lit on Piper and Ulof, despite their attempts to remain invisible. She blinked in surprise. “Piper Warren? What are you doing here?”
The emperors bowed deeply upon recognizing her. “So good to see you again, Matara,” Clajak enthused. “How are you? And your clan?”
“We’re very well, thank you.” Her cheeks burned at the effusive greeting. Her brief and unintended hero turn of five years prior wasn’t a comfortable fit, and she rushed to deflect the attention. “You remember 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 to warn us about their attack. She and her clan almost singlehandedly stopped them and 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 more embarrassed than before.
“Now he’s concocting entire planets. Come and look at the valley 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!” Governor Nichols 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 nearby unidentified Nobek eyeing them with amusement, Piper put her finger to her lips. He nodded, his grin deepening.
“Thanks, Nobek Kuran,” Ulof whispered.
They slunk to the path. A few steps into their escape, Piper glanced back to note Kuran had planted his big frame at its head, hiding their retreat.
“I guess Ulof’s Valley isn’t just ours any longer,” Piper sighed as they climbed down the mountain trail. “You’ll have to make me another.”
The prospect of a new project brightened Ulof’s uncomfortable 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 a fierceness that filled her heart fit to burst. “I’ll show you. I’ve been drawing it up for the last two months. There’s an island in the middle of the sea I hope to fill with plant life both beautiful and medicinal…”
* * * *
A new planet. A new enemy. Is the end coming for the Kalquorian Empire?
In the aftermath of the Kalquorian civil war and the defeat of the Bi’is invasion fleet, the empire has enjoyed peace. A new Earth has been born. A Kalquorian leads the Galactic Council of Planets. An era of harmony seems assured.
However, new dangers arrive on the horizon. Governor Stacy Nichols finds herself at odds with powerful opponents who want Earth II to return to the old ways that led to the demise of their original planet. They’ll do anything to stop her, especially when they discover her newfound romance with Clan Rihep of Kalquor.
After five years and a terrifying encounter with an unknown entity, Clan Piras is finally leaving their spy duties in Bi’is space. Now they must face enemies closer to home: the families of those they sacrificed while on a secret mission during the Kalquorian civil war.
A new threat to the
existence of Kalquor and the entire Galactic Council of Planets arrives in the
midst of these challenges, a dark menace unlike anything faced before. One
young, inexperienced spyship ensign is all that stands between the galaxy and
utter destruction. Can he warn the empire in time…or is it already too late?
Dark Empire 1: Shadows Approach releases Friday! Pre-order now at Amazon, Amazon UK, Nook, Smashwords, Kobo, Apple, and print.
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