by Imogene Nix
A Total-E-Bound Publication
www.total-e-bound.com
Hesparia’s Tears
ISBN # 978-1-78184-412-0
©Copyright Imogene Nix 2013
Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright July 2013
Edited by Sue Meadows
Total-E-Bound Publishing
This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Total-E-Bound Publishing.
Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Total-E-Bound Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.
The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.
Published in 2013 by Total-E-Bound Publishing, Think Tank, Ruston Way, Lincoln, LN6 7FL, United Kingdom.
Warning:
This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a heat rating of Total-e-sizzling and a sexometer of 1.
This story contains 154 pages, additionally there is also a free excerpt at the end of the book containing 9 pages.
HESPARIA’S TEARS
Imogene Nix
Two unlikely lovers from Hesparia and Earth. Can they overcome misunderstandings, their pasts and the desperate plight of his planet? Hesparia’s Tears.
What will happen when the past catches up?
Galan is from Hesparia, a prince on a planet where the females are dying out his people need an alliance with the humans.
Jessa has a past, one she hasn’t earned but cannot escape. What will happen when opportunity knocks?
Galan travels to earth, hoping to plead the case for Hesparia. He doesn’t expect Jessa or The Quickening. Can he make the case for women to migrate to Hesparia? Can he get the humans to trust him enough to form an alliance? And is there hope for this couple to overcome the obstacles in their way?
Dedication
My dedications are always hard to write, because so many people have a hand in writing these books.
First up, I can’t miss Fiona, Kylie, Jenny, Tracey and Bianca for their ongoing help reading and commenting.
To the AOS crew and the Hotter Than Hades girls—your friendship continues to humble me.
To Sue and the Total-E-Bound team… What can I say, except thank you?
To my husband, Mark and daughters, Charlotte & Beth, you truly rock!
Prologue
Jessa heard the hubbub in the courtyard as she stepped out of the bathroom. “Oh my God!” The voice of a woman, high pitched and shocked, grated and Jessa looked around, noting the stunned looks on the men and women in the café.
What is going on? Jessa glanced around, catching sight of the large screen pointed towards the patrons. ‘Alien contact made. More details to come.’ The sound was turned off but they didn’t need it. The words scrolling across the bottom of the screen said it all. For a moment, a sense of unreality swept through her.
It wasn’t April first, was it? But as quickly as the thought had come, it rolled away. Urgency filled her. She needed to get back to work.
Quickly, Jessa strode inside the café and ordered a coffee to go. After all, they would likely be run off their feet, she was sure. The woman looked at her as if immobilised, and Jessa had to restrain her frustration, the urge to roll her eyes overcoming her.
“So aliens are really coming, I never thought it would happen in my lifetime.” She peered at the woman over the counter who looked shell-shocked. “Are you okay?”
“They’re coming… They are real.”
“Well if what the news is telling us, I guess it’s real.” She leaned away from the counter. “So, can I order my coffee now?”
The woman nodded and distractedly prepared the cappuccino, still casting scared looks towards the television from time to time.
Once she’d paid for the coffee and scooped it up, she strode quickly to her small car, where she had parked it under a shady tree. It started on the first turn of the key, the motor revving quietly and she indicated, then pulled out. She turned on the radio.
“There’s no cause for alarm.” The soothing and calming voice of the woman on the news continued. “After all, they are likely to make landfall somewhere in the United States, though we won’t know until they respond to our hails.”
“But how do we know they aren’t interested in forcibly taking us prisoner?” The commentator asked the question Jessa was sure was on everyone else’s mind.
“Realistically, we don’t. But my own thoughts are that, if they are so technologically advanced as to be able to undertake space travel on this level, surely they are more higher minded. I doubt our abilities would even rate on their scale of interest.” The self-satisfied tones angered Jessa.
“Like you’d even know,” she muttered, changing gears smoothly as she headed towards the observatory.
The commentator recapped the very few facts known, thanked the guest and reminded everyone listening to, “stay tuned as we’ll share the information as it comes to hand.” Jessa ground her teeth. Surely this was a joke? Her mind still wanted to find a way to dismiss it.
She drove quickly to the observatory and once parked Jessa hurried inside, looking for Seth, her friend of many years. Her workmate was nowhere to be seen. Then again, that wasn’t a surprise, he mainly worked the night shift, monitoring the equipment, while Jessa maintained the small on site shop. She sighed heavily.
* * * *
Jessa trudged home. The airwaves were constantly filled with updates on the security situation, though very few seemed to know what the truth was. It had been a whole week since the announcement of the imminent arrival of the aliens and it seemed like those here on Earth still had no idea why they were coming.
Canberra was in lockdown, as were all major cities in Australia. The United States had closed its borders to all traffic, as had most countries in Europe. Every radio and television station ran wall to wall coverage and the people of Earth waited to see what would happen.
The locals acted initially in their usual laid-back manner, until the threat loomed large, then representatives of the local churches door-knocked, giving people an opportunity to repent of their sins. The stores were almost empty of long life stock and she even knew of some who had headed ‘out west’ claiming they knew of deserted caves where no one would find them.
For Jessa, it was the opportunity of a lifetime. Something she had never expected to see. But on the downside, strict curfews had been enacted. Only those with passes were able to drive after sundown. Jessa kept hers stashed away, having had to battle to obtain one. It had only been allowed as she worked at the observatory, but she was under strict conditions. It chafed having to be more cautious than the general populace, but at least she could finally come and go as necessary.
The ongoing questions swirled through the airwaves. What would they be like? Why were they coming? Most of all, would they be friendly to the humans? Of course, the television and radio broadcast twenty-four seven with stories about the history of alien human interactions. The whole Area 51 thing taking on greater importance than ever before. Documentaries were interrupted with special broadcasts calling for peace among the masses. And astronomers and computer geeks were regularly interviewed to get their perspective.
/> She parked her car in its usual spot outside her parent’s house. The lights shone and the sound emanating from within told her that her parents were watching the news. That seemed to be all they did these days. Jessa sighed and climbed out, locking the car behind her with a beep and headed to the door.
Thoughts of the B-Grade horror flicks from the fifties and sixties filled her mind. Were they coming here for some nefarious reason? Would they use them for slave labour or take the natural resources of the earth? She laughed at the fanciful notions even as the rumble of an army truck trundling past caught her attention momentarily. Then Jessa blinked. Thoughts of any form of alien war on the planet ricocheted for a moment then subsided. Surely not? But even as the thought settled, she knew, if that was their reasons for coming to Earth, there was probably little they could do. They would be technologically outgunned. She shrugged, hoping that wasn’t what this was all about.
Jessa opened the door and entered the house.
“Jessa? Is that you?” Her mother. Great.
Frustration filled her. “Yes, Mum! It’s me. Not some alien intruder.” The minute the words had escaped, she knew they were the wrong ones to utter.
“Jessa, you shouldn’t make light of it! Who knows why they are coming? It could be to rape or pillage. You silly girl. Get inside before you get us all in more trouble. Then help me make dinner. Be useful for once in your life.”
The rumble of the television came from the lounge. She ducked in, to see her father sitting in his usual chair. “Hey, Dad. Anything new?” He accepted the light kiss on the forehead with a frown then shook his head.
“No. But you’d better go help your mother in the kitchen.” Jessa dropped her bag on the newel post and headed to the kitchen.
Chapter One
The spaceship entered orbit and Jessa watched the tracking on the television. Since learning of the existence of extraterrestrials, it was about all she wanted to do. See where they were and where they planned to land.
The reporter came back on the screen. “We believe they will make their landing somewhere on the continent of Australia. There have been no further radio communications from the craft, however. So it is, at best, an educated guess right now.”
Jessa giggled at the sober face of the young, twenty-something reporter standing outside the Parkes Observatory and the inane follow up comment made by the thirtyish female news anchor.
“Jessa, it’s time for bed!” her mother yelled again.
She sighed dramatically. At twenty-four she was no longer a child, even though her parents seemed to struggle with that small fact.
Maybe it’s time to move out. As quickly as the thought had crossed her mind, she dismissed it. Leaving home meant more expense than she could possibly afford. The thing that really irked her was paying an outstanding legal bill for something she hadn’t even done. It was a refrain that had played through her mind over and over again since the event had taken place. It may have happened years ago, but she continued to pay for her youthful indiscretion. One she had long regretted.
Jessa stood, before heading down the old hallway to the bathroom. Living at home meant sharing a bathroom with her little brother, Ben. Of course, being a boy of sixteen, he was disgusting. There were used razor blades, splashes of water, foam from his recent shaving experience and hairs in the sink. Knowing it would make no difference complaining about it she carefully picked up the discarded detritus and placed it in the bin beside the vanity unit, wiped away the mess and began her own night-time ritual.
Emerging from the bathroom, she spied her mother, standing at the end of the hall in her fluffy blue dressing gown with matching slippers, and her blonde hair sitting high on her head in soft curlers. It was the same scene every night. “Night, Jessa.”
“Night, Mum.” What else was there to say? In a funk, Jessa entered her room, before closing the door then sat down on her single bed. She breathed deeply, letting the oxygen flow through her system, before slowly levering herself down across the mattress. Her blinds were open so she had an excellent view of the star-studded sky. It was a major positive to living on the edge of town, the absence of bright lights.
“Whoever you are, I certainly hope you’re friendly,” Jessa muttered, before closing her eyes, rolling onto her side and willing herself to sleep. For some reason, an excited thrill ran through her system.
Finally, visitors from the stars. No longer was it a figment of someone’s imagination or something from a science fiction novel. The time had come for them to have contact with another species. That was a sobering thought. The Prime Minister had sent a radio message to the ship. God, I hope the Prime Minister didn’t act like a pompous dick. Jessa snuggled down under the covers, waiting for the touch of sleep. Her mind wandered and she drowsed.
Her mobile, sitting on the bedside table buzzed and vibrated. Jessa muttered in the dark, groping for the device. She reached out and found the red leather covered item and dragged it to her ears.
“‘lo?”
“Jessa, it’s me. Seth. Can you come to the office at the telescope? I need you.” He sounded excited.
She squinted. “I was asleep, Seth. Besides which, I’m off duty until Saturday.” The room was gloomy and she screwed her face up into a scowl, knowing sleep would probably elude her now. “What could be so important that I need to come in right now?” Jessa pushed back the covers, swung her legs over the side then slipped her feet into her old grey slippers beside the bed.
“I can’t tell you over the phone.”
“What?” Something was happening. An agitated thrill filled her chest and for an instant her mind warred with the interest that spiked.
“Jessa…”
He didn’t need to plead. Jessa was already getting up to hunt out clothes. “Sure. Yeah, I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Thanks. You really won’t regret it.” The delight in his voice was contagious.
Jessa hurriedly tapped the end call button.
* * * *
The land, so alien with hues of blue and green, grew larger as the craft descended. “Captain, do you really intend to land here? After those transmissions?”
Galan sat in his chair, watching the view-screen, hearing the concern and horror in the voice of his second-in-command. “I do, Joras. We must remember our primary objective.” He knew his words sounded unconcerned, yet he too had reservations after the tone of the communications he had received from the…what did they call themselves? Oh right, yes, Earthlings… “It’s obvious they had no imagination, calling themselves Earthlings. Especially the woman who had called herself the Prime Minister, whatever that is.” He shook his head. “But what did pique my interest was the other transmission I received—the young man, who had called himself Seth. He sounded like he might be a possible go-between for us. Something our people had always found helpful in the past when dealing with new planets.”
Frustration pulled at him as he rose from his seat, making his way to the navigator’s position. “How long until landing?”
“Sir, on our current course, I estimate no more than three horanas.” Galan nodded absently. Three horanas to prepare. It wasn’t much, but it would have to do. “Joras, have your security team ready and fully briefed. We’ll have to treat this as an ambassadorial meeting. I will prepare a communiqué for our Liege, concerning our position and plans.” Galan turned back to his friend, rubbing a hand absently along his hairless jaw. “Joras, when we land, I need you to remain here.”
Joras opened his mouth but Galan stopped him with a look. “No. As captain, it is my right to be the one to make contact.”
Joras looked at him hard, no doubt wondering at the wisdom of his decision, then nodded wordlessly. Galan turned towards the automatic doors, and headed to his small office.
He felt the heavy burden of duty to his people. The state of the females on his planet weighed on him, like a heavy chain around his neck. All but fifty had passed through the gates of forever due to a problem
of their scientists making. They had only made the discovery in the last several jahr, as the women died in childbirth or even younger and the few children who were born had already died in the womb.
The genes that had been cloned into their females had degraded, meaning they could neither reproduce, nor enjoy a full lifespan. He himself had felt the telling grief as his own partner, Gospah, had died in childbirth, some fifteen jahr, she had been among the first and the healers hadn’t known the cause. Not then, anyway. It had only come to light as the waves of loss had gripped his planet. He knew that Joras too, faced a bleak future, with his partner Doreanh passing through only three jahr ago, one of the reasons this ship was so ably crewed. Not one member aboard was unaffected.
The few unpartnered men of his planet needed companions and his people would die without women to share their lives.
So he and his crew came seeking potential partners for the males of his kind. At least seventy, his father, the ruler had requested, but he knew better than that. Seventy would only make the situation worse, as other men would not form a partnership. It would cause angst and anger on a planet which was quiet and sometimes even somnolent.
His small home was a rock of misery with thousands of males now with no hope of a life partner. It was imperative that they convince as many females as they could find, to both replenish the gene pools and to accept a place in their world. He hoped to at least gain agreement from the ruling government to request three hundred women to join them. His stomach churned. They may not find any women who would agree, or the government may not be supportive. All those things kept him awake at night and worried him ceaselessly. True, some men had left their agrarian lifestyle to seek a life and partner elsewhere. But for those who remained, the future was, indeed bleak—unless they were successful in this aspect of their mission.