The Tenth Legion (Book 6, Progeny of Evolution)

by Mike Arsuaga

  “You thought wrong. I’ve known the male all my life and the female since we located her ten years ago. I knew we’d have this kind of problem. Next time, follow your orders.” Turning on her heels, Cynthia walked away, leaving behind a thunderstruck attendant.

  “Are you lost, Commander?” A loud, jolly voice erupted from behind as she approached the bridge of the mother ship.

  “Leo Barclay, you old space rat, what are you doing here?”

  A wiry, straight-shouldered vampire who stood a couple of inches shorter than Cynthia’s vertical, blue-crowned loftiness threw back a russet mane of hair. Leonidas “Leo” Barclay fixed a pair of smoky, gray eyes on her. “You’ve been Earth side too long. Hello, I have a Command Pin now.” The left half of a uniform shirt thrust toward her, displaying a small gold badge in the shape of a five-pointed star. “You’re looking at this mission’s master.” Continuing to close the distance between them, he enveloped her taller, slimmer frame in two sinewy arms as she kissed his cheek.

  “They must be handing out Command Pins in the birth control allocation these days,” she quipped.

  “What would you know about that, you old dyke?”

  Both laughed, slapping one another on the back in continuation of the unexpected reunion.

  “Blue hair? That’s different,” he said, stepping away for a better look.

  “You know me. New mission, new color.”

  “I can’t understand why you change so much. Your natural shade suited you perfectly.”

  A memory of the glossy, sable tresses she had when she’d arrived on Mars crossed her mind. She scowled. “That belongs to somebody else.” The “somebody” was her grandmother.

  Leo understood and changed the subject. “Have you connected with a voyage mate?” he asked, raising his eyes to meet hers.

  “Not yet. I just got two elderly relatives settled in. I thought I’d check out the bridge area first. I worked up something promising before leaving Earth. We’ll see how it turns out. Why, are you interested?”

  Staring at her crotch, he said, “Not unless you’re packing a penis these days. You know me.”

  “Some things never change.” They met shortly after she arrived on Mars. His softness of feature contrasted with the sculpted, rugged angles of typical males of their kind. The lack of physical formidability made him less threatening, allowing her to feel relaxed in his company.

  Leo pulled her back to the present. “Well, if your arrangements don’t work out, there’s still the Jump-off party.” A twinkle of eye accompanied a glow of rosy cheek as he smirked.

  “That’s where we agreed to meet. I took the corporation stateroom. It has a self-contained cocoon which I won’t need.” Only for the voyages beyond Mars did radiation become an issue for The Others. “But a human guest will appreciate use of a luxury model.” She gave him a mischievous once-over. “Promise to behave and maybe I’ll keep you company.”

  Small, pink lips pursed to the shape of a Cupid’s bow indicated that he was considering the idea. “I suppose it’ll be all right when I’m not knocking boots with one of the boys in Navigation.”

  “Navigation? What about corporation rules against fraternization?”

  He smiled. “There are ways around that. I’ll find an Indenture who works the back half. On the second part of the trip, I’ll get one who’s completed obligated service.”

  “Frat rules don’t apply to me.”

  “I’d love to talk more, but I’m into pre-underway checklists.” He glanced in the direction of a timepiece on the bulkhead across from them. Brushing lips across her cheek he added, “Better get hopping. You have only four hours and forty minutes before jump off.”

  Leo’s concise, well-proportioned form retreated from Cynthia’s warm gaze, warmed by the pleasantness of crossing paths with a close friend. “Got it covered.”

  Prior to leaving Earth, Cynthia searched the networks for sexually like-minded individuals making the same voyage. For two nights she sat in the green glow of the corporation’s master computer monitor at the Rocket City Florida base, evaluating the replies to her inquiry. Most conducted their own searches, but Cynthia engaged a professional matching site. Family members frequently reminded that her position within the corporation demanded caution. Many stories circulated of blackmail, extortion—or worse—stemming from careless pairings on voyages. Particularly hazardous were Indentures seeking a wealthy patron they could manipulate into paying off their contract.

  Of the four matches provided, “Hopeful Traveler” was simple, sincere, and seemed safe compared to “Ready to Lick”, “Hot and Eager”, or “Cum to me”. When emailing her, Cynthia gave minimal personal information. Besides security concerns, telling too much often scared them off. “Hopeful Traveler” appeared similarly cautious. After three days Cynthia only knew she belonged to the mother ship crew, and her initials were C.S. She provided the blurred photograph of a blonde woman. Even with the distortion, Cynthia could tell Hopeful Traveler was young with clean cut, even features.

  How will I recognize you? Cynthia emailed from Moon base the day they arrived. Despite the reluctance to provide a clear picture, which implied a physical flaw, the traveler still captured her interest.

  Look for three of us together, in uniform. I’ll be in the middle.

  Until the minute she left Leo behind on the ship’s bridge, Cynthia doubted she wanted to follow up. However, the thought of him spilling seed into compliant young men while she spent the trip in stasis or wandering deserted passageways decided the issue for her.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Mike (his pen name of M.J. Segar for his Sci-Fi stories) completed careers in the United States Navy Submarine Force and the Transportation Security Administration. Although his careers have taken him all over the world, he now lives in Orlando, Florida with wife and Editor-in-Chief Cynthia, daughter Jennifer, granddaughter Larrna, and Fitzy, a Silky Terrier.

  Mike’s extensive travels took him throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, the Caribbean, and the Middle East which provide accurate and vivid settings for all his stories. Although Mars figures prominently in at least one installment of The Progeny of Evolution series, he hasn’t been there yet. The trip is high on his “bucket” list. The First Servant, re-released with I Heart Book Publishing, LLC under M.J. Segar. The story is his first foray into the Steampunk genre. In this Science Fiction Romantic thriller involves two civilizations reach out to each other across time. For one, the past becomes the future.

  Mike and Cynthia have co-written two books, Top Dog and Love and Death in the Big Easy, chronicling the story of a special shape shifter. Currently, they have adapted Top Dog into a screenplay for motion pictures or a television series.

  Mike Arsuaga can be found on:

  Website: http://mikearsuaga.weebly.com

  Facebook: www.facebook.com/mike.arsuaga1

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/Leondegranz

  LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/pub/mike-arsuaga/26/667/49

  Books that appeal to the eye and the heart.

  http://www.IHeartBookPublishing.com