Traveler: Planet Athion Series (Equinox Book 1)

by Lily Harlem

  Traveler

  Planet Athion Series

  (Equinox Book #1)

  By Lily Harlem

  Traveler: text copyright © Lily Harlem 2018

  All Rights Reserved

  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 Lily Harlem.

  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 author’s written permission.

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

  Please note this book is intended for mature readers.

  Artwork and Editing by Studioenp.

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  Back Cover Information

  After escaping a fate worse than death, Uma Nixon knows she’s one lucky woman.

  She also knows Earth is no longer a safe place to be.

  Not wanting to fall into the same trap twice, she uses her skills to secure a job aboard Equinox as it travels between Earth and Planet Athion.

  Some might say it’s a grinding job. A long journey in hyperspace as a cognitive traveler isn’t for everyone. But throw four sexy guys into the mix—human and alien—a cheeky parrot, and a whole lot of flirting and desire, things soon get interesting out there in the abyss.

  When jealousy, curious quirks of evolution, and danger rears its head, Uma wonders if she’ll be able to handle the heat and the excitement. And if she can’t…there’s nowhere to run.

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  About the Author

  Find Your Next Great Planet Athion Read

  Prologue

  London wasn’t the same since the great asteroid strikes. It broke my heart that my city had taken such a beating from the skies. My favorite landmarks were damaged beyond recognition—Tower Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral, and Big Ben. Others were unrecognisable, not because of the asteroids but out of necessity. Buckingham Palace was now an observatory and run by boffins and housed spaceships, Westminster Palace a fortress to protect the International Government when they held meetings there, and the art galleries that remained only opened at weekends.

  When the burning rocks had fallen all over the globe, they’d hidden the arrival of a new breed of man. These men were dangerous, cunning, and incredibly alluring. The stories of them impregnating and kidnapping human women were enough to give me nightmares and my skin crawled every time I thought about them.

  But I tried to continue as normal. It was the only thing to do. Besides, the animals at the zoo depended on me. It wasn’t their fault aliens now roamed amongst us. Silent, beautiful, deadly aliens who had but one agenda.

  “Uma, are you ready?” Sadie, my colleague called. ”I’m dying for a drink.”

  “One minute. Just settling this little guy down.” I placed the small squirrel monkey back in its cage. “Sleep tight, cutie.” He would be fine until the next morning. Hopefully that would be the last day of having a dressing on his leg; he was just about better.

  “Uma!”

  “I’m coming.” I quickly washed my hands then dashed to the changing room. After switching scrubs for jeans and a silky red shirt and my sneakers for pumps, I joined Sadie at the front of the zoo’s small mammal care center.

  She was tapping away on her phone. Like me, she was old-school and hadn’t had a phone chip fitted into her arm as had been popular before the landings. Now people were having them removed, the sense of ‘big brother is watching’ gnawing at paranoia.

  “I’m ready, sorry.” I shrugged my purse over my shoulder.

  She scanned me up and down. “You don’t look ready for a night on the town.”

  “I thought we were only going to Zoomers?”

  “We are.” She frowned.

  “I’ll put some makeup on in the car.”

  “Okay.” She slipped her phone away. “You’ll never get a fella if you don’t slap on a bit of lippy.”

  “Maybe I don’t want a fella.”

  “Of course you do.” She got into her small silver car.

  I sat in the passenger seat. Sometimes it felt weird to be carrying on as normal when London was in a state of chaos.

  It was strange chaos, though, a bit like when terrorists had roamed the streets. Fear and suspicion lurked in the shadows of everyone’s mind. Sideways glances and a constant awareness of who and what was around seemed to dominate trips out of the home or the workplace.

  Not that workplaces were safe. I’d heard of two women at the post office who’d been duped by male workers supposedly from out of town. They’d joined the team, made every impression of being human, including northern accents, then seduced the unsuspecting females. Once impregnated—and one insemination was all it took—they were gone. Whisked off to Planet Tradrych for a life of reproduction and never seen again.

  I suppressed a shudder. As far as I was aware, I had never come across a Trad, but that was how they operated. They were undercover. They conducted their hunt with handsome, flawless faces and seductive smiles. With bodies worthy of any magazine cover, few women could resist them.

  Raindrops hit the windscreen, and Sadie flicked on the wipers. “Good, it’s raining.”

  “Why do you always think that?” I pulled out my favorite blood-red lipstick.

  “Because the Trads don’t like the rain.”

  “Says who?”

  “Me. It’s my theory. I reckon if they’re so gorgeous, they’ll want to show off their bodies to poor, unsuspecting human females. They’ll be in St. Tropez, Rio, California. We’re safe in rainy old London. Heck, at the moment, it’s not even light after five in the evening. Who would choose to come here?”

  “You have a point.” I swiped the color onto my lips then reached for mascara. “Are you expecting to see James at Zoomers?”

  “He’s hoping to make it but he’s not feeling great. Had a long day in the tower.”

  “It must be stressful being responsible for ships coming and going from space.”

  “Yes, the observatory is getting busy now regular flights are going to Planet Athion.”

  “Have you seen any of the Athions yet?”

  “No, but James has.”

  “And is their skin really blue?”

  “Apparently, yes, it is.”

  “Wow. What else did he say?” I applied a squirt of perfume.

  “That they’re friendly, speak all of Earth’s main languages, and seem keen to build an alliance with us.”

  “Which is what their Emperor Elrin said when he made contact after the landings.”

  Sadie took a right then pulled into a parking lot behind Zoomers, our local. A public swimming pool had once stood next to it, but a fragment that came in with the asteroids had flattened it, and the local government hadn’t deemed it a priority to fix. Educating Earth’s women about the Trad’s evil intentions and deceptive ways was more important.

  “Sho
cking, isn’t it,” I said, fluffing up my hair and checking the small cobalt earrings my parents had bought me for my eighteenth birthday. “How two different planets have approached the same problem.”

  “I know. Tradrych and Athion both need women, and one comes in and kidnaps, the other befriends.”

  We got out of the car and quickly went into Zoomers. It wasn’t a salubrious establishment, but it was always open, and there were enough people in there for it to have some life about it.

  As usual, I scanned the room looking for new faces. There were three—a woman and two men. The woman was with one of the men, but the other guy sat alone at the end of the bar nursing a drink. He had mid-length blond hair, a strong jawline, and wide shoulders. His head was dipped as though he didn’t want company or was trying to keep a low profile.

  My hackles rose.

  Is he a Trad?

  “What are you having?” Sadie asked.

  “Er…a pearl shot.”

  “Coming right up.” She held her hand up. “Hey, Tom, two of our usual shots.”

  “Sure.” He grinned. “How are you two girls this gray evening?”

  “Fine, thanks.” Sadie glanced at her phone. “You?”

  “Yes, been busy, but that’s a good thing.” He poured the drinks then set them on the bar.

  Sadie swiped her phone over the pay station to settle the bill. “Thanks. Here you go, Uma, that will help you forget the day.”

  I had no desperate need to forget the day. I considered myself one of the lucky ones. Since the landings, my life hadn’t changed too drastically. My parents were unharmed and lived quietly in the countryside, and my job had continued as it had before. For some around the globe it was unrecognizable, for others it was over.

  I perched on a stool. Sadie spotted the new faces and raised her eyebrows at me.

  “I saw.” I jerked my head at the man and woman near the window. “They’re okay.”

  “I’d say so, but watch him.” She gestured down the bar “Too handsome to be real.”

  Again I looked at the man at the end of the bar. He’d raised his head and was staring straight at me.

  Fuck.

  He was one. I was sure of it.

  He turned away and ran his hand through his hair. His t-shirt tightened around his biceps and shoulder.

  “Don’t go near him,” Sadie said. “You hear me?”

  “I won’t. And neither should you.”

  She frowned. “I need to call James again. He said he’d be here by now.” She tapped her phone then put it to her ear.

  I listened to her side of the short conversation. It seemed James had a migraine and was unable to get out of bed. When she ended the call, she sighed. “I need to go. I’m so sorry.” She downed her shot.

  “That’s okay. I’ll finish my drink and head off, too.”

  “I’ll drop you home.”

  “No, no, it’s the wrong direction. I’ll get a cab.”

  Her frown deepened. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, there’s that female driver company, what’s it called… Her Lift. I’ve used them before.”

  “Ah yes.” She hesitated. “Are you sure you’re sure?”

  “Of course, and don’t worry. I won’t go near him.” I nodded to the end of the bar. “Just in case.”

  “Don’t you dare.”

  “I think we’ve had it drummed into us enough now, don’t you, not to get seduced by handsome strangers.”

  “As long as the authorities keep up the education so the younger generation are wise to it, maybe we’ll stand a chance against the Trads.”

  “You want another?” Tom asked Sadie with a smile.

  “No, I have to run. I’ll see you later in the week.”

  “You will.” Tom picked up her empty glass. “And I’ve got those old DVDs at home for you. I’ll bring them in.”

  She smiled suddenly. “You’re a star, thank you. My collection is really growing.”

  “No problem, anything for my best girls.”

  She chuckled. “Are you flirting? Because I’m taken, you know.”

  “I know.” Tom winked at me. “But flirting never hurt anyone, did it?”

  Sadie smiled a little wider then gave a small wave and turned.

  I watched her go. She’d once confessed that if she hadn’t already been with James she’d have hooked up with Tom. He was a nice-looking guy with chiseled features, a trendy, floppy haircut, and beneath his slogan t-shirts and ripped jeans it was easy to tell he was in great shape.

  “So how was your day at the zoo?” he asked, picking up a wet glass and drying it.

  I glanced at the Trad at the end of the bar then set my attention back on Tom. His familiarity was reassuring. “Good actually. A juvenile squirrel monkey with an injury that I’ve been looking after is out of danger, and we had a delivery of meerkats which will keep me busy tomorrow.”

  “Meerkats. Aren’t they from Africa?”

  “Yes, some are.”

  “I’d like to see them. They’re comical.”

  “You should come to the zoo and have a look around. It was pretty unscathed in the landings, thank goodness.”

  “A private tour.” He raised his eyebrows. “How could I resist?”

  “I…er…” Did he mean me show him around?

  “I wouldn’t want to take you away from important duties, of course.” He held up his hand. “I understand, Uma, that now, more than ever, zoos are playing a vital role in sustaining our planet’s wildlife and assisting Athion with their meagre one.”

  “Er, yes, you’re right. And…I could show you around on my lunch break.” I didn’t usually take one but perhaps I’d make an exception for Tom.

  What will Sadie say?

  Hell to it, she was with James—happily with James—and Tom and I were both free and single. Plus, he was pretty damn hot and a friend.

  He could easily be more than a friend.

  “Cool, how about tomorrow?” I asked, “or are you working?”

  “Day off tomorrow.” He grinned, flashing a cheeky boy smile complete with dimples. “Seems the stars have aligned for us.”

  I finished my shot. “Indeed they have.” I slid from the stool. “I’ll see you tomorrow then. Ask the front desk to give me a call when you arrive.”

  “I will do.” He set the polished glass on the bar.

  “Great.” I clasped my purse and turned.

  “Oh but, Uma.”

  “Yes?”

  “I don’t know your surname.”

  “Nixon.”

  “Good name. Mine’s Smith, by the way.”

  “I can’t believe I’ve known you for months and this is the first time we’ve swapped full names.”

  “Funny old world.” He picked up another glass and wiped it. “You take care now, stick to the rules.”

  “I will.”

  I wandered outside, pleased I didn’t have to walk past the Trad at the end of the bar. He gave me the creeps.

  It was still raining, and dark, too, so I tucked myself into a doorway and called the cab company. They told me it would be ten minutes.

  Resigned to the wait, I listened to the sounds of London. Overhead planes still flew, along with the unmistakable low rumble of a spaceship either taking off or coming in to land. A single car went past, its tires hissing on the wet road. A soft thud told me people were still going in and out of the pub.

  A sudden figure appeared next to me.

  I started and pressed my hand to my chest. “Fuck!”

  “Sorry.” Tom grinned at me. “Didn’t know you were here. I came out for a fag break.” He pulled a pack of old-fashioned cigarettes from his pocket. “Where’s your cab? I presume that’s what you’re hanging about for.”

  “They said ten minutes.”

  “Want one of these while you wait?” He offered me the packet.

  “I’m supposed to be giving up.” I took one. It would have been rude not to.

  He smiled, popped a cigar
ette between his lips, then clicked a lighter to life.

  As I inhaled, the shadows of the flame danced around his face. Was he someone I could fall in love with? I already knew I liked him, a lot. And he was gorgeous to look at. Damn, and I could have fun with that hot body.

  “What?” he asked, noticing my study.

  “Nothing.” I blew out a stream of smoke.

  He puffed on his cigarette and did the same. “Tell me, Uma.”

  I shrugged. “I was just thinking how hard it is for humans now, don’t you think?”

  “To couple up, yeah.” He stepped a little closer to me. “Girls are so suspicious. We human guys don’t stand a chance. The Trads are clever, they can mimic everything.”

  “Including DNA, so forensics is no good.”

  “Exactly.”

  “And they’re everywhere.”

  “There was one in the bar tonight.”

  “There was?” He paused. “Sitting alone at the end?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ll kick him out when I go back in. Cunning bastard. I won’t have his sort in my bar, around women I care about.” He came closer still.

  I backed up. My shoulders hit the wall and I looked up at him.

  “Women I care about a lot.” He lowered his face to mine.

  I licked my lips, and a small flutter attacked my belly. Was he going to kiss me? After all the flirty banter we’d shared, was this it? The next step was about to be taken. We were going to move out of the friend zone and into something else.

  “Tom,” I said, dropping my cigarette. “What are you doing?”

  “I want to kiss you.” He tossed his cigarette away. “You’ve captivated me with your pretty smile, your gorgeous eyes, and your sweet, caring nature for so long, Uma.” He cupped my face. “Say I can kiss you. Let’s put this crazy world to one side, just for a minute, and pretend nothing changed and a guy can just be with a girl.”

  “Yes.” I placed my hands on his chest. Beneath his t-shirt his pecs were solid and his skin warm. “Kiss me.”

  He tipped his head and pressed his lips to mine. It was a gentle kiss that was bursting with unspoken words. In that moment, I knew we were right together—that Tom was the man for me.