by Gun Brooke
Table of Contents
Synopsis
Praise for Gun Brooke
By the Author
Acknowledgments
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Epilogue
About the Author
Books Available From Bold Strokes Books
Synopsis
Following the Advance team, the Exodus ship heads toward a new homeworld. Here they will build a future without the threat of mutated changers. Chief Engineer Adina Vantressa, responsible for keeping the Exodus vessel operational, stays far away from her vast family. She doesn’t trust them. Nurse Briar Lindemay shares a secret with her younger sister Caya, an unregistered changer whom Briar has unlawfully brought with her aboard Exodus.
Adina and Briar meet, and their attraction grows despite their attempts to stay apart. Briar fears that acting on her feelings will take her focus from Caya. Adina’s emotional scars hinder her, but she can’t ignore how Briar makes her feel.
When disaster strikes and the only way to save the Exodus is to trust what the people aboard fear most, will the authorities listen? Or is the journey over and everything lost?
Praise for Gun Brooke
Fierce Overture
“Gun Brooke creates memorable characters, and Noelle and Helena are no exception. Each woman is “more than meets the eye” as each exhibits depth, fears, and longings. And the sexual tension between them is real, hot, and raw.”—Just About Write
Coffee Sonata
“In Coffee Sonata, the lives of these four women become intertwined. In forming friendships and love, closets and disabilities are discussed, along with differences in age and backgrounds. Love and friendship are areas filled with complexity and nuances. Brooke takes her time to savor the complexities while her main characters savor their excellent cups of coffee. If you enjoy a good love story, a great setting, and wonderful characters, look for Coffee Sonata at your favorite gay and lesbian bookstore.”—Family & Friends Magazine
Sheridan’s Fate
“Sheridan’s fire and Lark’s warm embers are enough to make this book sizzle. Brooke, however, has gone beyond the wonderful emotional explorations of these characters to tell the story of those who, for various reasons, become differently-abled. Whether it is a bullet, an illness, or a problem at birth, many women and men find themselves in Sheridan’s situation. Her courage and Lark’s gentleness and determination send this romance into a ‘must read.’”—Just About Write
Course of Action
“Brooke’s words capture the intensity of their growing relationship. Her prose throughout the book is breathtaking and heart-stopping. Where have you been hiding, Gun Brooke? I, for one, would like to see more romances from this author.”—Independent Gay Writer
September Canvas
In this character-driven story, trust is earned and secrets are uncovered. Deanna and Faythe are fully fleshed out and prove to the reader each has much depth, talent, wit and problem-solving abilities. September Canvas is a good read with a thoroughly satisfying conclusion.—Just About Write
The Supreme Constellations Series
“Protector of the Realm has it all; sabotage, corruption, erotic love, and exhilarating space fights. Gun Brooke’s second novel is forceful with a winning combination of solid characters and a brilliant plot. The book exemplifies her growth as inventive storyteller and is sure to garner multiple awards in the coming year.”—Just About Write
“Brooke is an amazing author, and has written in other genres. Never have I read a book where I started at the top of the page and don’t know what will happen two paragraphs later. She keeps the excitement going, and the pages turning.”—MegaScene
Pathfinder
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Please respect the rights of the author and do not file share.
Pathfinder
© 2015 By Gun Brooke. All Rights Reserved.
ISBN 13: 978-1-62639-465-0
This Electronic Book is published by
Bold Strokes Books, Inc.
P.O. Box 249
Valley Falls, New York 12185
First Edition: November 2015
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.
Credits
Editor: Shelley Thrasher
Production Design: Stacia Seaman
Cover Design: Gun Brooke
Cover Design By Sheri ([email protected])
By the Author
Romances:
Course of Action
Coffee Sonata
Sheridan’s Fate
September Canvas
Fierce Overture
Speed Demons
The Blush Factor
Soul Unique
Supreme Constellations series:
Protector of the Realm
Rebel’s Quest
Warrior’s Valor
Pirate’s Fortune
Exodus series:
Advance
Pathfinder
Novella Anthology:
Change Horizons
Acknowledgments
I’ll start by thanking those who make it possible for me to write one book after another—you, my much appreciated readers! Thank you for all the e-mails, the Facebook befriending, the messages in my website shout box, etc. It means so much and it helps keep the muse on track as well. Knowing that my stories somehow touched someone is humbling and so very cool. I hope you will enjoy this novel too.
Thank you, Len Barot, for yet another year working with you wonderful people at Bold Strokes Books. Shelley Thrasher, my beloved editor, whom I work so effortlessly with. This is due to her knowledge and professionalism, and because she knows my writing so well. Stacia Seaman, Cindy Cresap, and Sheri the graphic artist…all directly involved with the creative process at one point. Then there are Connie Ward, Lori Anderson, and tons more people I never know the names of but truly appreciate for the entire process.
My eternal thanks to my first readers (aka beta readers) Laura, TX; Eden, AZ; Maggie, Sweden; and Sam, South Africa. Without you, and your encouragement, it would be a much lonelier experience to write. You are so loyal and such good friends.
Privately, my family is always behind me on my writing endeavors. Ready to discuss plot points, tech stuff, and any subject I might want to dwell on. Elon, my soulmate for thirty-five years and spouse of thirty-four, you are my rock. And what’s really cool is that I’m your rock right back. Malin and Henrik, the kindest and best kids any parent can hope for, bring me joy as they always have. The rest of the gang, grandkids, son-in-law Pentti, and my brother Ove and his Monica—you are all priceless.
I lost my dog Seven during the creation of this novel. She was a seven-year-old Labrad
or retriever and her unexpected passing took a toll. Now we have welcomed a new little friend into our family, Hoshi, a retriever mix. Jarmo, you slightly grumpy old German shepherd, I owe you a lot of what peace of mind I retained after losing Seven. You’re just so good for me and my writing.
My American extended family always asks about my writing and shows an interest, and for that I’m happy. I miss you guys a lot.
To “Jack”
Helping me to stay afloat and for spotting the subtext ☺
To Elon
I want 35 more years
To my family
Children, grandchildren, in-laws…SO much love
To Jarmo the Wonder-Dog—the world’s best grief counselor for helping me after losing Seven, the Labrador.
And welcome to Hoshi, our new puppy!
Prologue
“Commander Vantressa! Behind you!”
Adina Vantressa pivoted, her tall, lithe body in perfect balance as she kept her rifle at eye level. Several more changers approached, two of them bouncing what looked like balls of plasma between their hands, getting ready to throw. A strange, burned odor emanated from the crackling phenomenon.
“Stay back,” Adina said, her low alto voice carrying through the turmoil. The street along the park of the capital’s most prestigious area looked like a war zone. Overturned vehicles, injured civilians, and burning structures had transformed the beautiful area into something unrecognizable. “If you don’t stand down, I have no choice but to open fire.” She didn’t want to shoot any of her fellow countrymen. Cursing the president’s idea to arrange a “unity” parade, Adina held her ground as the changers advanced.
During the last few decades, the security issues regarding the Oconodians who carried the previously dormant genetic markers that, when activated, gave them powers beyond what anyone could ever have dreamed up had escalated out of control. Poor political decisions served to make matters worse as the changers were treated less than humanely, some subjected to preemptive incarceration on sketchy grounds. Skirmishes with the authorities had led to deaths among the changers, and other changers had retaliated with even more deaths as a result. Families, torn apart when children or parents failed the screenings, sustained a heartache they would never recover from.
“She’s going for it, sir.” Lieutenant Dodgmer, her next in command, a burly man who’d sat behind her in the damn parade vehicle, spoke behind her. Stepping up next to her, he kept his crossbow armed with stun-arrows trained on the closest changer. The woman, tall, in her early thirties, and with long white hair, let the plasma-ball hover above her palm. She smiled as she approached them.
“That’s far enough. Take her out, Lieutenant.” Adina would rather he’d shoot with his non-lethal ammunition.
The arrow penetrated the woman’s shoulder but had no effect. Adina changed the setting on her rifle. So, this would get uglier yet. “My ammo isn’t as benevolent. Stand down.” One final warning, which the changer ignored. She tossed her head, making her long hair billow in the wind. Raising her uninjured hand, the changer looked ready to throw the ball. Adina’s rifle was set to take out a life form three times the woman’s size. She fired. The changer staggered back and sank to her knees. Her smile changed into an ugly frown. With a growl, she tossed the ball at them before she tumbled onto her back and remained still. The rest of her gang pulled back when they saw their leader fall.
Adina looked down at herself. Her left shoulder burned with a fizzing sound. Numbly she waited for the pain she knew was coming, but when the substance in the plasma-ball burned through Adina’s dress uniform, it was still worse than she’d expected.
“Ahhh!” Sinking to her knees, unable to work past the pain despite her training, Adina clutched her shoulder. This was a mistake, as it emphasized the agony.
“Sir!” Dodgmer was at her side. “Medic! I need a medic over here.”
“Just get me to the base.” Adina didn’t trust the civilian hospitals. Their security measures were hardly prioritized now when most people counted the days to the commencement of the Exodus operation. Over two million Oconodians were leaving to make a new home free of changers on another planet. An advance fleet had gone forward and secured a suitable world for them, and people were packed and ready to go.
As Adina’s lieutenant half carried, half dragged her along the park fence line, she thought how ironic it would be if the Exodus ship lost its chief engineer before the journey even began. For the last fifteen years she had worked alongside the creator of the twenty-some cube-shaped vessels that could maneuver independently or be docked in several patterns as one. The designer, Admiral Korrian Heigel, had handpicked Adina, and together with Meija Solimar, the social anthropologist who was also Korrian’s wife, she’d reveled in the task of working toward a solution to save their people…
“Sir! Stay alert, Commander. We’re almost at the end of the street. There’s a checkpoint with hovercraft and they’ll get you to the base in no time.” Her lieutenant’s voice sounded as if it came through bubbling water.
“Good.” Slurring her words now and barely able to breathe, Adina couldn’t see through the haze surrounding her. Voices cried out, and the acrid odor from the burn on her shoulder made her sick. She tried to blink and clear her vision, but the dark became impenetrable. Adina thought she heard the telltale sound of a hovercraft nearby. She had to close her eyes despite Dodgmer’s frantic words. So tired, she needed to rest for a moment. She slumped at Dodgmer’s side, her legs giving in.
“Sir, just a few more steps. We’re nearly there.” Dodgmer dragged her, her numb legs refusing to cooperate, toward the fluttering sound. “You can do it, sir. We need you aboard the Exodus ships. Don’t you dare die on me.”
“Not dead yet.” Adina forced her eyes open, groaning against the blinding light as she did. “Get me on the damn hovercraft. That’s an order.”
“Aye, sir.”
The last thing Adina knew was how she slammed into a hard, vibrating surface. It smelled of singed metal.
Finally, the hovercraft. She might just stand a chance.
Chapter One
“I can’t believe we made it, Briar. If you hadn’t risked everything, I’d have been left behind.” Caya Lindemay stood in the midst of their quarters, regarding her sister with huge turquoise eyes.
Briar pulled her young sister close as she turned her attention to the large screen showing the view of the space dock and, behind that, Oconodos, their home planet. Former home planet. She kissed the top of Caya’s head. “You’re wrong. If we hadn’t been able to fake our records, I would’ve stayed behind with you. No matter what.”
Teary-eyed now, Caya only nodded. She was a petite, deceptively fragile-looking nineteen-year-old possessing an ethereal beauty. Normally quite headstrong and willful, Caya had changed during these last months. Briar prayed their being safely aboard Pathfinder would restore her personality. She never thought she’d miss their butting heads over trivial matters, but she did.
“Why don’t we go to the closest common area and experience the launch with the rest of our neighbors?” Briar smiled encouragingly. “I’m on duty in six hours, and by then we’ll be well under way.”
“All right.” Perking up, Caya gazed down at herself. “What should I wear?”
Briar laughed, delighted, as this was such a normal question for Caya. “You’re fine. Just do something about that mane of yours. You’ll catch people with those wild curls.” Briar thought Caya looked otherworldly, and she always had, with her waist-long golden-blond hair and transparent turquoise eyes. Now Caya tied her hair into a high ponytail.
“How about me?” Briar turned and held out her arms. She knew she couldn’t even compare to Caya. Where Caya’s hair was a golden hue, Briar’s was copper red and only reached her shoulders. Briar’s eyes, transparent light green, were the only of her own features that pleased her whenever she had a rare moment to examine her appearance. Caya claimed Briar’s pink freckles were cute, but having
been teased about them as a young girl, Briar disagreed.
“You look awesome. That aqua trouser suit fits you perfectly. Aren’t you glad I persuaded you to buy it?”
“Well, I suppose.” Briar nodded. “I admit I found it an unnecessary expense then, but you were right.”
Caya brightened. “See?” She checked her reflection in the mirror just inside the door. “Let’s go then.”
They weaved their way through the crowded corridor. People were either trying to find their quarters or on their way to the common area.
“It’s so big,” Caya said, sounding breathless. She clung to Briar’s hand. “I’ll never find my way around here!”
“I’ve studied the blueprints, and once we become familiar with our part of the ship, we’ll be able to apply that knowledge to all the other areas.” The Pathfinder consisted of twenty-three units, cube-shaped, that were able to move by changing the polarity of powerful magnets. It could also be divided up in twenty-three separate ships if need be. Each cube could host 100,000 individuals, which Briar thought was an unfathomable number. Some units held hospitals, and others hosted vital functions like engineering, the bridge, and law enforcement. The ship designers had thought of everything: schools, universities, places for worship, and parks. The passengers also enjoyed stores, factories, restaurants, libraries, and recreational areas within a close distance.