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 Council space, but we had hoped to do it in our own time.” Joe Allen spoke to the doctor on the small space station orbiting Earth II. Not the massive Kalquorian Alpha Space Station, though he would have liked to have been invited on board it for a look. It was impressive, dwarfing its Earther sibling, Gateway.
The man who’d introduced himself as Dr. Fazir clucked sympathetically as he adjusted the medical scanner’s parameters. “The business between the GC and Kalquor is disrupting a large number of people. Were you living on Jedver?”
“No, Akdesh Colony on the moon Atoc. We had a population of several races, including enough Kalquorians to rival Haven, I bet. Even after the GC tossed them all out after the supposed footage of Copeland leaked, there were a lot of GC troops patrolling the colony.” Joe frowned. Things had gotten weird in a hurry on Atoc. Kalquor had lobbed its share of accusations at the Galactic Council of Planets, foremost of which was the assertion its leaders had been taken over by an interdimensional alien force they’d called the Darks.
He didn’t know what to believe. The secretary-general, a Kalquorian himself, had decried his home empire for its “attempt to redirect attention from the criminal detainment of the first Earth’s former Holy Leader.” All Joe knew was the sight of armed soldiers prowling the neighborhood where 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 moons in Galactic Council space had come under martial law after a series of riots.
The Allen family had applied to Earth II for emergency refugee status, and it had been granted. His family had left behind their home, jobs, schools, and most of their belongings to escape a steadily darkening Galactic Council atmosphere.
A couple of Joe’s friends had ridiculed him for running off and dragging his family to an uncertain future. Maybe he was being dumb, depending on meager savings and six months of government funding while he started from scratch. But his wife Randi had agreed the situation felt bad, so they’d fled a seemingly secure footing for the unknown.
Better to goof up and end up scratching for a few years than be caught in the middle of another war. Joe had been a teenager when the original Earth had been rendered lifeless from a series of nuclear blasts. He had no idea how bad it could turn in Galactic Council space, and he didn’t want his daughters to find out because he’d failed to bring them to a safe place.
“All right. Scans and bloodwork look excellent.” Dr. Fazir smiled at him. “I’ll check on your wife and daughters, then you’ll be cleared to go on to Earth. Hopefully—”
“What’s that?” Joe interrupted. His gaze swung to where he’d thought 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 unfeelingly as the human doctor jerked to see what had attracted its mount’s attention a split second before Fazir was also taken.
The two motes of the All had no need to speak. They’d begun performing their task once the refugee ship they’d been aboard had docked. Their mandate was simple: hiding, coming out and puppeting the human men who seldom had the ability to detect them until it was too late, doing their work for the few seconds it took, then hiding again until the next male patient.
No speech was needed. It was good to be together, though their companionship couldn’t approach the natural belonging when they were fused with the All. Still, other motes were isolated alone, so they claimed what scant pleasure they could in having each other near.
Dr. Fazir went to the closet as he had dozens of times since the first refugee had dropped off the All’s supplies taken from Bi’is. From the back of the tallest shelf, he claimed an ampule and loaded it into an injector.
The entity controlling the unaware Joe Allen held his mount still as the injector was held against the human’s neck. A click as the trigger was pulled, a soft hiss, and the job was done.
The injector was put away, and Dr. Fazir resumed the position Joe had last seen him in. The Darks withdrew at the same instant.
Dr. Fazir blinked at his patient. “I’m sorry. Did you say something?”
Joe gazed at him, then looked around the room. “I thought I saw…” He stopped and laughed. “Jumping at shadows. Or the idea of them. You know, I glimpsed one of the damned things on the news vid where they showed the Kalquorian admiral being used by a Dark. It’s given me nightmares.”
“The ability is noted in your file. You may be able to train for a security detail on Earth. They’re calling for people who can spot the aliens. You should check into it. Your wife too. She no doubt hears the doubled voices 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 at having to leave the lives they’d built elsewhere. Having the opportunity to hit the ground running gave the approximately five percent who could spot Darks badly needed hope.
“Make sure to get some rest, nightmares or not. Okay, let’s evaluate your wife and girls and send you on to Earth.”
* * * *
All-out war has begun, with innocents caught in the
crossfire.
Former nun Cheryl Taupin and her husband Nobek Besral, in charge of the remaining orphans of Earth’s Armageddon, watch the terrible events unfolding in the Dark-overrun Galactic Council of Planets. Kalquorians in Galactic Council space are being rounded up to suffer an unknown fate and martial law is declared on many of the system’s worlds. A desperate plea to the Kalquorian Empire sends Admiral Piras and Captain Kila to the orphanage…but how can a lone spyship protect hundreds of children against the full might of the Galactic Council’s warships bent on destruction?
Charity Nath has been brought to Alpha Space Station to hide from those determined to exact vengeance against her father. Young and irrepressible, she’s determined to claim a measure of freedom from stifling restrictions placed on her. When her identity and location are revealed, her Kalquorian protectors must thwart those who’d harm her while contending with her stubborn refusal to be kept in check.
Imdiko Betra has done his best to put the past behind him. He knows letting go of the only woman he could ever love was the best course of action. But when he encounters Shalia Monroe again, his heart speaks louder than his conscience. Will unquenchable desire destroy the life she’s built, or will Betra’s clanmates Oses and Resan stop him from doing the unthinkable?
Against the backdrop of pandemic and plague, Kalquor and Earth II fight for their very survival against an enemy they’re only beginning to learn the strength of. As the All tightens its fearsome grip on the galaxy, humans and Kalquorians alike tremble on the verge of annihilation.
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