by Imogene Nix
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Levia Endrado never wanted to be a warrior, but at seventeen she was deemed suitable for battle. After intense training and multiple enhancements, which gave her superior strength and healing ability, she was sent off to defeat the enemy—a killing machine with a mission.
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When the war was over, she had to find a new life. At twenty-seven she's a washed-up veteran without a future. Or she was, until she met Sandon Daria.
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Serving as a pilot aboard Sandon's spaceship the Golden Echo makes Levia long for a different and gentler life. But old hurts and even older enemies aren't so easily forgotten. Particularly when they come back for her.
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Sandon is determined to show Levia that she's more than just a BioCybe…she's the woman who completes him. Getting close is just the first step, keeping her alive is an even bigger challenge, but one he's willing to take because the prize is their combined future.
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Levia scanned the long line of other hopefuls entering the chamber. The large building in the center of town was cold, and she dragged her wrap around her body, even as she craned her head, looking to the high ceiling. She’d never before had an occasion to enter the testing complex, yet she’d seen the lines of teenagers every time they passed the building.
Once she’d asked her parents why the teens were lined up and her mother’s face had shuttered. Her stepfather had just shaken his head and growled. They’d stopped her questions with a carefully uttered, “You’ll know soon enough, Levia.” The pain in her mother’s eyes had been enough to shush her questions. For endless months afterward, her parents had traveled different routes to the educational facility she attended and Levia lost interest in the puzzle of that building.
Now, as she looked around, remembering that long ago spring day, it was her opportunity to find out. But she felt a surge of concern at what lay ahead. She likely wasn’t the only one, given that there were probably two to three hundred seventeen-year-olds gathered in the one place. Ahead of her, she caught sight of a couple of girls, their arms linked together and wide smiles on their faces. Scanning the crowd, she became aware that, by far, a majority of those gathered displayed both fear and trepidation.
“All female subjects will enter through doors three, six, and seven. All male subjects will enter through gates four, eight, and ten.” The speaker above her was loud, and she jumped before checking the numbers etched on the black metal sign over her head.
The massive doors beside her swung open, and now an uncertain silence reigned. Many of the youngsters hung back, clearly discomforted by whatever testing regime lay ahead. This was where they’d been told their futures would be determined.
“Oh gosh, I hope they only have an aptitude and psych eval. I don’t think...” Levia turned to see the white face of the girl behind her. The girl had uttered what many must silently be thinking.
Levia dragged an unsteady breath in, her hand resting flat against the plane of her belly as she looked around. No one had entered yet. It was clear many were on the verge of taking the step, but still they hung back.
She straightened her shoulders. “I’m not afraid.” It was always wiser to approach things head-on, she believed. When her biological father had died, she’d been one of the few to view his capsule before it was sent into the massive gray structure built to accommodate those who’d moved onto the next life realm.
Her legs shook as she wobbled toward the entrance. Beyond the doorway, she spied sealed cubicles and her heart stuttered. Why cubicles? Usually testing—med and psych—were in eval-units, hidden only by billowing white curtains. She glanced back, noting that others had taken the first step.
“Move along, subjects.” Once again, the androgynous voice of the address system blared.
Of course, given it was her seventeenth anniversary of birth, she was technically considered an adult now.
She thought longingly of baby Rald and her half-sister, Elda, waiting at home for her to return, and the celebrations to be held that night. That made her smile. She would need to make them proud of her.
She entered a row and the tall Educational Specialist, the edu-specs as her peers laughingly called them, stopped her. “Present your credentials to the scanner.”
She’d done this many times since the tiny implant had been slipped below the dermal layer of her skin at birth. The small unit in her wrist heated as her details were checked.
“Enter the first cubicle, Levia Endrado, and follow the instructions to complete your assessment.”
Thus dismissed, Levia moved to the first unit, laid her palm against the scanner, and the door slid open soundlessly.
“Welcome, Levia Endrado. Take your place in the eval-unit.” The soft contralto of the voice echoed after the door closed silently behind her.
“What are you evaluating?” Her voice was breathy, and she peered around.
“Your skills—physical and psychological. Your emotional and medical status. Your educational attainment levels.”
It was an answer that shed little insight into the many things she was hungry to know. “Why do all seventeen year olds—”
“Take a seat, Levia. Then we may begin your testing.”
If she’d expected an answer, she was sadly mistaken, she considered sourly. She dropped into the seat, the soft leather-like surface molding to her body.
“Levia Endrado, you are required to remove all non-specified apparel.”
She jolted in the chair. “It’s cold.”
“The temperature will be amended. Remove the non-specified apparel.”
Her misgivings grew as she dragged off the light wrap she’d brought with her, and then threw it to the floor at the side of the unit.
“We will begin, Levia Endrado. At any time, should you experience any malfunctions of the unit, simply depress the red button.” It glowed and she grimaced.
Levia reclined against the chair and waited for the testing to begin.
The first examination was based on her understanding of the political system, where she saw herself, and her knowledge of the rights and responsibilities accorded through citizenship of both her planet and the commonwealth.
The second test was mathematical and scientific proficiency. It felt like hours had passed by the time she’d finished, and she lay limp on the seat, exhausted.
“Levia Endrado, you may rise. The sanitary unit will emerge once you trigger the yellow button at the door. Should you require refreshment, press the blue button and a restorative will be made available.”
“Can I leave?”
“Negative, Levia Endrado. Your needs will be catered for in this capsule.”
“Why?” Her voice hitched and true fear rose for the first time. Why did they keep her in the alcove?
“All will be revealed at the end of the testing cycle.”
Levia looked at the now empty screen before hurling a curse word. It was met with silence.
The urgent throb of her bladder reminded her that she needed to use the facilities, so, with
a sigh, she rose and clambered from the seat. After attending to the needs of her body, she walked around the unit, peering at the door, but it was obviously programmed remotely. She poked and prodded, but it made no difference. With a huff, she headed back to the chair.
The moment she’d settled in, the viewing screen shone bright. “Welcome back, Levia. The next sequence will evaluate your psychological reflexes, then that will be followed up with the general knowledge portion of the evaluation.”
“When can I leave?” It seemed better to ask bluntly, she told herself.
“Once the examination is completed. After the next set of evaluations, you will be subjected to the physical aspect.”
“Then I can go home?”
“Levia Endrado, you will now complete the psychological test. This will be undertaken by one of the center’s personal evaluators.”
She fr
owned. Personal evaluators? She bit her lip, and the sting reminded her that this wasn’t something to joke about. In her seventeen years, she’d only heard of personal evaluators being brought in once before, and that was when one of the girls at her academy had been in a serious accident. Both legs were amputated and her body’s ability to keep her alive had been gravely compromised. Her peers had been informed that the girl had requested the assessment before she could request her support systems be disconnected.
“Levia Endrado, are you ready to recommence processing?” The emotionless voice echoed once more and she gulped.
“Yes.”
* * *
Available from Beachwalk Press
http://www.beachwalkpress.com
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Direct Autographed Books
http://bit.ly/BioCybe
Also by Imogene Nix
Warriors of the Elector
Star of Ishtar
Starline
Starfire
Star of the Fleet
Starburst
The Star of Eternity
The Star of Ishtar & Starline - Print
Starfire & Star of the Fleet - Print
Starburst & The Star of Eternity - Print
Blood Secrets
The Blood Bride
The Illuminated Witch
The Sorcerer’s Touch
House Secrets (The Blood Secrets Continuation)
As Dawn Breaks
Immortal Consequences
The Automaton Series
Haven House
Nobel Crest
The Search Duology
Miss Elspeth’s Desire
Miss Isabelle’s Craving
Reunion Trilogy
War’s End
The Assassin
Executing Justice
The Reunion Trilogy in Paperback
Sex Love & Aliens
Tangled Webs
False Webs (Sex Love & Aliens Vol 1)
Covert Webs (Sex Love & Aliens Vol 2)
21st Testing Protocol
Cyborg: Redux
Children Of A Greater Evil
When Evil Came To Stay (Not Yet Released)
Finis: The War To End All Wars (Not Yet Released)
Celtic Cupid Trilogy
Blame The Wine
A Stranger’s Embrace
Revenge On Cupid
The Celtic Cupid Trilogy in Paperback
Zombieology
The Reset (2018 - Love At The End of The World)
I Dream of Zombies
The Six Million Dollar Zombie
Knights of Pleasure
Silken Knights (Not Yet Released)
Single Titles
The Chocolate Affair (also in Print)
Falling In Love Again (Previously A Sapphire For Karina)
BioCybe (also in Print)
Hesparia’s Tears (also in Print)
Tomorrow’s Promise
A Bar In Paris (also in Print)
Inheritance Of The Blood (also in Print)
The Plan
Loving Memories (also in Print)
Hero of Heartbreak Hill (also in Print)
My One & Only
Curse Bound (coming 2021)
Raspberry Dreams (Not Yet Released)
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Non Fiction
Self Publishing: Absolute Beginners Guide (With Suzi Love)
Written as Ciara Cave
25 Curated Ways To Get Rid Of Telemarketers
Book Signings for Absolute Beginners
About the Author
Imogene is published in a range of romance genres including Paranormal, Science Fiction and Contemporary. She is mainly published in the UK and USA.
In 2010, Imogene Nix (the pen name not Imogene herself) was born. Imogene sat down and worked tirelessly for 3 months culminating in the book Starline, which became the first in a trilogy titled, "Warriors of the Elector." Since then she’s had over 30 titles published and is now focusing on hybridising herself - with a mixture of traditionally published and self-published works.
In fact, she’s taking control of many of her back catalogue books, which are slowly re-releasing as self-published titles.
Imogene is a member of a range of professional organisations world wide, and believes in the mantra of mentoring and paying it forward and is actively involved in mentorship (through NaNoWrimo and her vlog: In The Chair With Imogene Nix) and tutoring of new and upcoming authors.
In her spare time she loves to drink coffee, wine & eat chocolate and is parenting her spoiled dog and a ferocious cat along with her husband and 2 human daughters and looks forward to weekends away with her husband in their caravan “The Seven Year Hitch!” Do look forward to her caravan romance at some point!
To Contact Imogene
www.imogenenix.net
[email protected]