Resurgence: Imortum

by JK Stone

  He remembered having supper, and Crystal heading off for the night shift at the hospital. A good half hour later he felt the exhaustion of the day begin to overwhelm him, so he called Crystal and told her he needed to get some sleep and he would see her when she got home. But after pulling the covers up, he couldn’t recall anything else though.

  What he did know for a certainty at this point was that he was lying in the bed of his truck slowly bleeding to death, and with each sharp turn his truck made, his body would slide from one side of the bed of the truck to the other slamming him painfully to the opposite side.

  Braydon thought wryly, If you don’t slow down, I’ll die before you get me to the hospital.

  With that thought, the combination of the pain and lack of air had finally pushed Braydon past his physical limit, and he lost his bid for consciousness.

  *****

  Once the sun had fallen past the trees, Krysali awoke to the cold wind as it blew through the clearing. She let out a shiver, but she soon realized that her back was very warm. Looking behind her, she stifled a laugh.

  Arcas had cuddled up tightly against her and had fallen asleep. Krysali slowly got to her feet, and folded the solar blanket over the beast, then proceeded to don her body suit and pick up the mess she had made by unwrapping the food. She was just about to head into her ship for another solar blanket when a noise from the wooded area just to the south caught her attention.

  Krysali evaluated her suits energy stores and groaned, it had absorbed some solar rays, but the energy in her body was used to control the suit, and after healing Arcas, she didn’t have much energy to run the suit for long.

  It was very dark out and if Krysali had to guess, it was either a new moon or close to it. She saw a glint of light through the trees and began to step in that direction when Arcas let out a low guttural growl.

  Turning back, Krysali sighed and quietly said, “Placidu Arcas,” and Krysali placed her hand on Arcas’s head, and she seemed to calm considerably.

  Krysali entered the wooded area and could hear what sounded like speech, and though she couldn’t place the language, it did sound as if it were coming from humanoids. Her heart raced at the thought that she was no longer alone on this rock of a planet, but almost instantly her hackles arose as she felt an almost evil air surrounding them. She covered her head with the protective hood of her bodysuit and activated the cloaking and tracking systems despite the limited amount of energy she would have to use it.

  Once the thermal and echo imagery had activated, Krysali was able to see better than if it were daylight out, and that was when she realized that these people were definitely humanoids.

  To assess the information later, she proceeded to record their conversation despite not understanding a word of what they were saying. In the last thirty-five thousand years, Krysali had never encountered any life forms while out of stasis, and though she wanted so badly to be rescued, what she saw the two doing vexed her, and she was in no hurry to make her presence known to them.

  Upon examination Krysali found two people, one taller and male and the other a smaller female dragging a man who appeared to be mortally wounded deeper into the surrounding woods, all the while speaking heatedly with each other. She followed them and every once in a while they would say a word that was familiar to her, but for the most part, the conversation was unintelligible.

  Krysali crept closer and had to prevent a gag from escaping. These humanoids were not very evolved, and though she could not understand their words, the emotions connected with their thoughts spoke more than enough to let her know what they were up to.

  They had killed this man. She took a closer look at the man being dragged by the feet and performing a spectral and echo scan she saw that he was not quite dead yet, though these two would be murderers didn’t seem to know that.

  Krysali felt sure that if the tall male had known he was alive, then he would have pulled the knife from the wounded man’s chest and would have finished him off right then and there.

  The very evil man had said something, and then dropped the wounded man’s leg, and a moment later the smaller female beside him did the same. The female said something, and after another hostile exchange between the two of them, they both picked up the injured man’s legs and began dragging him back down the hill to where they had come from, but a second later the woman said something else and the man struck her for her comment.

  Krysali’s anger mounted at the thought of them mistreating this injured man, and Arcas must have felt her anger, because a moment later Arcas let out an almost deafening roar, and the man and woman dropped the injured man’s legs and began running and tripping as they hurried away from them.

  Keep reading for an Excerpt from book six: in the Imortum series:

  Lantins Ascending

  Doctor Saleria Tones had been sitting in her office re-examining the results from an experimental procedure she and her colleagues had performed, knowing that no matter how hard she stared at the paper, the results were not going to change. Saleria worked in the Immunogenetics research lab trying to find treatments and cures for diseases using stem cells and she had finally hit the wall as it were.

  Saleria would usually distance herself from patients, and in her case, they were all in the pediatric and neonatal wards. She always knew that if she ever had to put a child’s face to her research, it would make her job all the more difficult. With a disgruntled sigh, she discovered that it was nearly time for lunch and she took off for her favorite spot before she was late.

  One day several months prior, Saleria had been sitting under the very same tree eating her lunch, when a screech sounded from above her. She had looked up to see a little girl hanging from a limb and calling for help, and rushing to her feet Saleria extended her arms just in time as the girl fell.

  Saleria caught the small child moments later and with her heart still pounding a furious beat she had asked her what she was doing up there. The little girl looked at her with wide eyes and didn’t miss a beat as she told Saleria that she loved to climb trees, and that was the closest one. Then she proceeded to chatter on about all manner of things.

  The child continued rambling on, and Saleria had looked around and asked what the little girl’s name was and where her parents could be found. The little girl had frowned then told Saleria that her parents were with her brother who was sick. Then the little girl told Saleria that her name was Celeste, Saleria’s heart had faltered a moment.

  Saleria recalled the pain she felt in her heart at hearing the child’s name, because Saleria’s mother had the same name. Hearing it out loud, brought back the memory of both of her parent’s deaths. Saleria and her triplet sisters Terrah and Vellia were only eight years old at the time, and though it happened several decades ago, Saleria still felt the pang of loss.

  Saleria had told the girl that it was not safe to just wander off alone, and her parents must be worried sick looking for her.

  Saleria had seen the pain and worries in Celeste’s eyes and tried to comfort her as she took hold of Celeste’s hand and escorted her back into the hospital and found the parents who had been frantically searching the hospital grounds for her.

  Saleria had soon realized that Celeste’s brother was one of the patients she was attempting to develop a treatment for, and try as she might the little girl just wouldn’t let Saleria keep her distance.

  Over the following three months, Saleria had struck up a friendship with the precocious little girl. Celeste was very smart for a four-year-old, with more questions than Saleria thought possible of a youngster her age.

  Celeste was preoccupied with space and knew far more details about the solar system and the Universe than Saleria had ever known. Over the months, Saleria noticed a lot more than that, however, Celeste was unable to make or hold eye contact, and she absolutely hated loud noises and change to her routine.

  Saleria found that out one day when she missed her lunch due to a very detailed laboratory experim
ent that ran longer than anticipated and she missed her lunch, which facilitated her current need to be on time for lunch. Celeste was angry that Saleria was not where she was supposed to be and it did not take long after that for Saleria to diagnose Celeste’s condition.

  Celeste had Asperger’s syndrome, which is a high functioning version of Autism. She was on the wall about informing her parents. They didn’t ask for the diagnosis, and she was not sure they would be happy for the information, seeing as how their eldest son was not doing well. But in the end, Saleria spoke to a colleague in behavioral sciences along with their Administrator, and together they decided it was in the child’s best interest to inform the parents.

  Saleria had been correct, Celeste’s parents were none too happy to be given the diagnosis, but they were informed that the hospital had a research grant to study and treat the syndrome, and they would allow Celeste to benefit from the study pro bono, so they agreed to let her be part of the program.

  *****

  Saleria sat down and taking out her lunch, she peered around, but couldn’t see Celeste anywhere. Saleria closed her eyes and took in the serenity, and not knowing if she was right Saleria said, “What are you doing up there you little space monkey.” And she peered up to find Celeste hanging upside down from a branch. “You know that isn’t safe up there.”

  Celeste just giggled and Saleria helped her down and shared her lunch with the little girl before heading back to her office.

  The following morning Saleria was in her office quietly studying a medical chart, and wondering if she could have missed something.

  Celeste’s brother had succumbed to his ailment the night prior, and her parents said they would be going home within the week.

  *****

  A few day later Saleria said her goodbyes, and she felt great anguish for Celeste at the pain the little girl was feeling at the loss of her brother. And as Celeste disappeared in the distance, Saleria silently mourned the fact that she would never see the sweet young girl again. And she took a leave of absence to try to clear her head.

  *****

  Saleria was proven wrong, however, because not quite a year later the same precocious girl met Saleria under the tree during her lunch break. This time, Celeste had a name band around her wrist, and her parents were standing nearby with completely devastated expressions etched across their faces.

  Saleria had never been so driven to find a treatment or a cure in her life. Celeste had Acute Myelogenous leukemia, and it was accelerating at a rate Saleria had never seen before. Within a month, Celeste had undergone two bone marrow transplants and countless blood transfusions.

  By the next month, there were twelve other children from their neighborhood in the hospital, and that was finally enough to get the CDC in to investigate.

  The CDC found that a corporation had been illegally dumping and burying toxic waste in the wooded area by their houses for years, and it was that which caused the cluster of cancer patients.

  The company upon being exposed liquidated their assets and within days of the announcement, the upper CEO’s fled the country, leaving all of the children and young adults to fend for themselves, and the families were left to try and pick up the pieces of their shattered lives, all because shareholders wanted an extra buck.

  On Saleria’s off time, she would sit at Celeste’s bedside and would talk for hours on end, in an attempt to make Celeste feel less frightened, but it only managed to build Saleria’s anxiety, and despite the tremendous toll the contact was taking on her, Saleria continued to comfort the child.

  The lighter moments were when Celeste would change the subject to Saleria’s sisters, and Saleria would tell her stories of the three of them growing up. Normally she would not discuss her family with patients, but these stories really seemed to lighten Celeste’s mood so she opened up to the little girl.

  A few days later Saleria was sitting in her office staring at the results of the last test they had performed, and a tear rolled down her face. The latest procedures had not been successful. Celeste showed signs of progress for the first few days, but soon after that the mutated white blood cells were back with a vengeance and she had to make the call to Celeste’s doctor.

  Celeste’s Pediatric Oncologist gave her parents the prognosis and informed them of their options. But it was Celeste saying she didn’t want to die in the hospital like her brother did, that convinced her parents to take Celeste home and allow her to die in a familiar place in the company of those who loved her.

  *****

  It had been just over three weeks since Celeste left the hospital, and not a day went by that Saleria didn’t pick up the test results. She kept wondering what she could have done differently that could have spared that sweet little girl’s life, but nothing came to mind.

  The call Saleria had been dreading came in on the fourth week, Celeste’s parents called to let Saleria know that in Celeste’s final days, Celeste spoke nonstop about the Make a Wish trip she was going to take to NASA to see their museum. But her strength had waned, and she passed before she had the chance to go.

  Celeste’s mother then told Saleria that Celeste appeared to be alright a few days prior, and she wasn’t feeling any pain, but the doctors told her that Celeste was just asymptomatic and she wasn’t in remission. But Celeste had insisted it was her guardian angel named Abnearu, who made her pain go away, and this Abnearu kept telling Celeste that she was going to take her to a special place when it was time.

  Saleria was having difficulties staying on the phone while Celeste’s mother was speaking. Her hands were shaking and the burning in her eyes and throat were almost too much to bear.

  “You were the last name Celeste spoke of before her passing. My husband and I want to thank you for everything you did to comfort Celeste. And Celeste wanted me to tell you that she missed your lunches together.”

  Saleria ended the phone call, stood and crossed her office to the door and locked it before getting back to her desk. Then in a fit of rage and anguish she threw the chart she was holding as well as her cell phone across the room and falling to her knees, Saleria curled up under her desk and broke down and cried like she had never cried before.

  Saleria had ignored all of the calls to her office phone, and the knocking then pounding on her door. When one of the administrators opened her office in an apparent attempt to locate her, Saleria remained silent under her desk until they left. Then she’d continued to mourn in silence.

  Hours later Saleria pulled herself together and made it to her feet. She took a look around her office, saw the chart spread across the floor, as well as the shattered remnants of her cell phone and stepping toward the mess there was a blinding flash and she experienced a nauseating vertigo that forced her eyes shut.

  Wryly she thought, great now I’m having a stroke. As she dropped to the floor. A moment later the muddle in her head cleared and Saleria opened her eyes to find that she was no longer in her office, but in a strange square room with no doors. All she could see were a lot of fixtures that looked like shower heads in the ceiling and a spongy floor. She looked around again and had to wonder how she got into a room that had no doors. And to top that off she didn’t remember even leaving her office.

  About JK Stone

  I am a longtime resident of the great state of Nevada. Over the years, I have seen many strange and unexplained things. I have a vivid imagination, which helps me in my storytelling, not to mention getting my family’s eyes rolling with my far-out theories. I served this fine country during the first Gulf War in the Air Force, where I was trained in my undisclosed field. I wish I could say more about it, but I wouldn’t want “them” coming after me. I live in a small town with my wife, who is also an author, my two daughters, who are both in college studying to be authors as well. I am constantly being hounded by my four menacing dogs, who interrupt my writing whenever they feel I have neglected them too much, which is always. I hope you enjoy my fourth novel in the Erotic Imortum series: Doran
& Terrah.

  Thank you for reading.

  JK Stone

  Please Let Me Know What You Think

  I appreciate hearing reader opinions about my books. You can email the author directly or join the mailing list at www.authorjkstone.com

  Copyright and Disclaimer

  Copyright © 2016 JK Stone

  ISBN:

  ASIN:

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  RESURGENCE Copyright © 2016 Kord Stone

  Edited by Frank Cary

  Published by Stone Age Publishing

  Cover design by Frank Cary

  Cover photography by Curaphotography-Canstock.com, Daniel Sroga-Dreamstime.com, NASA.gov

  Electronic book publication October 2016

  With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the Author.

  Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

  The publisher and author(s) acknowledge the trademark status and trademark ownership of all trademarks, service marks and word marks mentioned in this book.