Future Perfect - S2
Page 19
"Rararrrah woof!"
"Yes, you can come back and visit. Who knows? Maybe one day even stay."
"Rarrahh rrahhraah."
"Well, you know you're going to have a very important job. Their child is going to need someone to look after her. No matter how exceptional her moms are, they can't do it all by themselves."
"Wawwoof."
"Exactly. Now, how about you get some sleep. I'm exhausted."
Jain rolled onto her side and wiggled deeper into the bed.
I do so love dreams. Her arm curled around the warm body next to her.
"Are you okay?" a husky, sleepy voice asked.
"Perfect. I'm perfect," Jain replied happily.
"Not perfect, Cherié. Almost, though. Eet eez so much better that way. We both have sometheeng to work at, eh?"
"Most definitely." Jain grinned. "Most definitely."
"Then sleep, mon couer. There eez much time to make up for, oui? Een a few hours you weel need your energy." The implied threat didn't escape Jain and she smiled happily.
Only thing better than a dream is reality.
Epilogue
September 26, 2099
A LOUD WAIL filled the Eisriesenwelt Ice Caves and a cheer echoed through the empty caverns. Closed for the season, no one was present to hear the excited chatter of the women standing in a circle next to the small bonfire.
"Behold the first child born to the Seesterhood," Syblis announced, holding the infant high in the air. "She eez our future. Seeng! Seeng to her! Let her know she eez loved."
All twenty-one sisters raised their voices and sang, each in their own language, knowing it would add more strength to the energy they were sending to the child and mother.
Lowering the infant, Syblis nestled her against Chantelle's breasts and folded the blanket around both of them.
"You have done well, Cherié."
"We've done well," Chantelle corrected, looking past her friend to the mother of their daughter. "Thank you."
Looking somewhat embarrassed, Primeris gave a faint nod and then leaned forward to get a better look at the newborn infant. Dark, wavy hair covered the baby's head. For an instant she opened her eyes, giving Primeris a glimpse of the color... sparkling brown with gold flecks. Touching her cheek tentatively, Primeris looked proudly at her partner.
"What will we name her?" she asked.
"How about Primeris? After you."
"No, she deserves better. We'll name her after you."
"I don't think so. It would be too confusing."
Primeris and Chantelle looked at each other helplessly and then at Syblis hopefully.
"She weel not be named after me. Eet sounds too much like a disease. I do have a suggestion.... an old-time name we rarely hear anymore."
"What?" Chantelle asked, clutching her daughter tightly against her breast.
"Annabelle. Eet's believed to be Latin for 'lovable.' Look at her. Who can deny eet? She eez our future, our hopes, our dreams. She has a great destiny ahead of her."
"First, she'll have to get past the present," Primeris said. The infant suddenly let out a squall. "And so will we. I believe from the smell, she has expressed her opinion of her destiny quite well, don't you Scootie?" The dog had been conspicuously silent during the entire birthing.
"Aarr Rrharr Pfft!" Sniffing the air, Scootie sneezed, shook her head vigorously and stalked off. Laughing, the Singers moved in closer for a better look at the baby. Some saw hope for themselves in the child's face, while others silently mourned their own loss, knowing they were too old to bear children. All, however, rejoiced in the knowledge that there was, now, hope forevery Singer. And Scootie? Although she didn’t understand why, Scootie knew she had come home. Long, forgotten memories resurfaced. Her own mother and all the mothers before her carried the image of a moment in time when one of their ancestors lay curled on the lap of a human in these same caves.
* * *
Colonel Harlie looked at the hand-written note. Paper was rarely used anymore. Computers were faster, more efficient and environmentally friendly. Unfortunately, they were also vulnerable to hackers. The best way to insure security was by courier, especially Vitiate.
The Council had waited anxiously for word on Primeris and the Healer. The women had disappeared in Europe. Tracking them had been difficult, but not impossible. The Hubot was extremely good at hiding their movements and staying invisible.
Without the cloak, Harlie thought. What a waste of money that was. If it hadn't been for that dog, we'd have never discovered the design flaw. Who'd have thought uric acid would neutralize the chemical coating. Shaking her head in disbelief, she reread the message.
Mission accomplished. Subjects located in Austria. Female child born three days ago. She is perfect... perfectly normal. No further action needed.
Impossible.
End
About The Author
FRAN HECKROTTE lives in sunny South Carolina with her husband, three dogs, Boris, Skipper and Sophie, as well as the neighbor’s free-ranging chickens and peacock. Her life experiences include living in Alaska for three years, gold-panning, bull riding, scuba diving, flying, motorcycling, training gaited horses and more. After spending five years in law enforcement, she switched to construction and eventually opened her own property management company. She loves water gardening, going to the beach and photography. Favorite towns are South Beach and Montreal. Fran loves interacting with her readers and encourages them to email her at franheck@hotmail.com or chatting on IM.
Other Titles by This Author
The Illusionist (First in the Illusionist Series) Available in paperback, eBooks, audio
Summary
DAKOTA DEVEREAUX, an investigative journalist, is on a mission to uncover the secrets of Yemaya, the Illusionist. However, in her quest for an exposé on this mysterious woman, she uncovers more than she bargained for. Dakota is targeted by a power-hungry CEO, determined to learn the Illusionist's secret at all costs, and a madman intent on fulfilling his perverted fantasies.
From Moldova, land of the legendary werewolf, to Transylvania and the Carpathian Mountains, two souls must battle the dark forces of evil for their lives and their love.
* * *
Bloodlust (Second in the Illusionist Series) Available in paperback, eBooks, audio
Summary
YEMAYA AND DAKOTA have just returned to the Illusionist's homeland for a well-earned vacation when they are informed that several villagers had been savagely attacked and killed by something or someone. At the same time, a young Carpi woman is found lying unconscious near the outskirts of Teraclia. Comatose, she is unable to tell anyone what has happened and science can provide no answers. Two small wounds on her throat raise the old specter of the vampire, a legend the locals of the Transylvanian community are very familiar with and still believe in to this day.
The Illusionist and her partner search for the truth behind these attacks. Will they fall prey to this murderous bloodlust that surrounds them, or will they succeed in stopping this heinous reign of terror?
* * *
Lilith (Third in the Illusionist Series)
Summary
YEMAYA, the Illusionist, and her journalist partner, Dakota, find themselves embroiled in a search for the person responsible for the rape and torture of a young Carpi woman attending a university in the States. When they decide to visit a local nightclub for "women only," they find the owner and her employees unusual. Dakota feels mysteriously attracted to one of the clientele while Yemaya recognizes a kindred spirit in Lilith, the club's owner. Spiritual ancestors, missing whores, a sadistic exporter and new acquaintances lead the two lovers into an adventure of biblical proportion.
Lilith! She was a demoness, as old as humanity itself. Now, the owner of a "women only" nightclub and part owner of the Sisterhood, a small group of whores who have banned together to create a better life for themselves, it was her job to protect the women who were putting so much trust in her. When a local
pimp decides to eliminate his competition, Lilith and her two demon partners want revenge, and no one knows better how to exact it than demons. This is a revelation of the past, the present and the events that forever changed the course of human history.
* * *
Les Gris, The Shadow People (Fourth in the Illusionist Series)
Summary
THEY WERE Les Gris, the Shadow People, and they are as much a part of us as we are them. As children we talked to them, played with them and disclosed our innermost fears, secrets and dreams; and they patiently listened, comforted and encouraged us. In time, though, most humans outgrew their imaginary friends and eventually forgot them. For those few who didn't, humanity's very existence would be determined by the strength of the bond between a small group of women and their life partners, the les gris.
* * *
Saira (Fifth in the Illusionist Series)
Summary
SAIRA WAS A TRAVELER. Even her name meant 'traveler.' Her entire existence was dedicated to making the journey to seek answers to the questions that plagued her. Sometimes she felt as if she were a pawn in a game she didn't understand, but knew her destiny was hers to decide. She chose to let the uncertainty of time make the decisions for her.
Unfortunately, her curiosity not only gets her into trouble but creates a series of events that affects not only the mortal world but the spirit world too. Yemaya, Dakota, Mari and Maopa will find their lives turned topsy-turvy and Saira will learn an emotion she had never experienced before... fear
* * *
Warrior Demoness (Sixth in the Illusionist Series)
Summary
SHE WAS SABNOCK, a demon, who, like the Phoenix, lived and died many times because she chose to live amongst mortals rather than spend eternity babysitting the legions of the Underlord. There were no longer battles to be fought in the Underworld so the ex-commander left her realm to live with the humans as a human. Falling in love, she now had to choose between her vow to live and die as a mortal or love and live as a demon, not knowing if her lover could accept the truth. The wrong decision would condemn her to a life of loneliness — and for a demon, life was eternity.
* * *
Solaria (Futuristic Science Fiction)
Summary
THE FIRST AWARENESS of existence was a chaotic flash of colors, meaningless and yet in an odd way logical; why, she wasn't sure. Birth is the most significant event in life, and yet it is never memorable — at least not for the newborn — but then she really wasn't a newborn, even though it was the first day of her life. She was 1A526, the first of her kind, an artificially intelligent blend of technology and bio-mechanics. Created to serve humans, Solaria and her AI programmer, Carley, soon discover the company funding the Hubot Project had more sinister motives. If Solaria were to fulfill the hopes of the woman who had given her existence meaning, she would have to become the human her programmer had dreamed of and take down Future Dynamicon, the company that created her.
Back Cover Summary
Future Perfect (Sequel to Solaria — Futuristic)
Summary
PRIMERIS WAS a Hubot, designed to serve humans. Her existence depended on her ability to complete her assignments... which she always did with a cold, emotionless detachment. Now, her perfect record was going to be tested to its limits. In her attempts to find and capture Solaria, another Hubot, Primeris is forced to either disobey her directive of obedience or become the human she never wanted to be.
The Order of the Healers was exactly that, healers. Their mission was to move humanity forward, even if it meant saving the worst of mankind. Chantelle is a Singer, a member of a small sub-group of Healers, whose latest calling takes her on a mission that will test her gift to its limit, and leave her wondering if her success will lead to humanity’s downfall.
* * *
Thank You for Purchasing and Reading
Future Perfect.
L-Book ePublisher, LLC
Table of Contents
Future Perfect
Prologue
Scootie The Early Years
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
Primeris — First Mission
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
Chantelle
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
Book I Present Perfect
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
Book II Past Imperfect
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
Book III Perfect Future
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
Epilogue
About The Author
Other Titles by This Author
Back Cover Summary