by Celeste Raye
He picked her up and swung her around. The sheer strength he possessed thrilled her. The happiness sliding through her heart and body made her laugh aloud in real pleasure.
He set her feet back down onto the floor. His eyes twinkled. “I don’t want to rush any of you, but it seems that the Federation may be coming to jail me very soon. So perhaps we should go.”
Joshua bolted to his feet. Benson and Megda were right behind him. Clara said, “I’m ready when you are.”
Renall said, “Then we should likely head toward the ship.”
Clara’s hand met his. They smiled at each other.
Joshua interrupted the moment by asking, “So, maybe now is the time to run?”
Renall roared laughter.
Clara said, “I think yes, but I need to stop and get my credits from the safe in my room and some clothes.”
Megda asked, “What will we do for clothes?”
Renall said, “There are outlying planets along the route where credits speak louder than the Federation’s fugitive reports. We will stop at several in order to purchase more necessary things.”
Clara knew it would be hard, that journey. She knew it would be hard to live in a place where things were so unfamiliar. But as long as Renall was with her, she was willing. Her grin got bigger and then she burst into laughter.
Renall lifted an eyebrow. “What is it?”
She guffawed out. “I was on a bride ship after all.”
He burst into laughter. Then he kissed her soundly. When he stopped kissing her, he said, “It seems so. It also seems I have inherited a family.”
The happiness in his voice filled her heart with a lightness she had never known in her entire life.
Hand in hand, they headed for the door, and their future.
Chapter 17
The planet was stunning. The atmosphere mimicked the world she had come from but the way it had been centuries before. The air was clean and fresh. The grass was green. The river they stood before was wide and clear and brimming with life. The wind blew soft and scented from the tall stands of trees. The flowers grew in profusion along long fields that held no life but for her and Renall.
Clara said, “I can see why you wanted it so badly.”
Renall smiled as he watched birds take flight, winging their way upward into the clear sky. “I hope you do. I know it is primitive. There are no halls.”
“And no re-circulators.”
He chuckled. “No major docks.”
“And no interference from the Federation.”
His lips curved upward. His eyes danced. “No medi-centers or food printers. No fabrics on hand. We have to start all the way over. We will be a primitive people living off the land of a planet.”
Clara drew a cleansing gulp of air into her lungs. “I read, in an old book, that that was how it was many centuries before on my homeland. That people lived sparsely and that they had to build things with just their wits and whatever they could fashion.”
Renall said, “Well, we have the good fortune of also having quite a lot of credits to bring things here that will make it much easier. I have already had several shipments brought here and a structure built that will house us for now. We’ll learn how to live here.”
“And we won’t have to worry about a bill for resources at the end of the day.”
Renall’s eyes danced. “Oh now, you know you will miss being charged extra to breathe fresh air.”
Clara let her head tilt back. She pulled in a might gust of air. “Um, no. I won’t. I think I am going to love it here. I think we all will.”
His face darkened. “I hope so. None of us can really leave again now. Talon’s taking the ship with him. “
Clara knew how worried about his sibling Renall was. “He’s a hell of a fighter and a hell of a pilot. And he has not just his crew but Jessica with him. She’s just as skilled at combat as any I have ever seen.”
Renall’s eyes went up to the belly of the ship hovering overhead. His concern showed in his visage. “I wish he could let go of the past, but I understand how hard it is to do that. Especially for him. He was the one who was subjected to the worst of the abuse, and he was the one who truly worshipped our father. He took it as a personal strike against him when Father was killed. I understand that too. He is determined to eradicate the Gorlites and if that means his capture he is at peace with that decision.”
Her eyes surveyed his face. “But you are not.”
His dark head shook from side to side. “No. I understand his need for revenge, but I no longer share it and have not for a very long time.”
“I can see that.” Clara dipped her hand down to touch the petals of a pretty flower. It was a ruby red color, and the petals were velvety soft. She had no idea what it was, but she found herself marveling at it anyway. “I am sorry, about Lois I mean. I had no idea she was a cycle spy.”
“How clever of the government.” Renall’s voice dropped lower. “Her own father sent her to suffer to pay a political debt and planting the cycle spy circuit was done so his foes and debtors could watch her shame and misery. I have to wonder about beings who are so cruel.”
Her eyebrow rose. “Not all humans are so.”
Renall took her hand in his. “This I know. I was just…it is astounding, that level of cruelty. It was not lucky for me that they also happened to catch me and the others in the act of stripping.”
“You know what? Lois was very happy in the hall. Dana had no idea that Lois was not her daughter and Sanara had no clue she was not her sister either. They had no idea that they had had a memory implant. They still do not know that. I only hope they never discover that or what really happened to Lois.”
Renall said, “I shall never tell, and I know none of the rest who know will either.”
Clara frowned. “Do you think there might be a chance that their wipe and memory implants might falter?”
“I don’t know. If they do, then we will tell them the truth, but only then. And only if we have to.”
Clara said, “That is something I can agree to.”
She looked over her shoulder at the others. Several hundred beings from various planets and systems were laughing or exploring or just standing still, heads back and their eyes on the blue skies.
Three people broke off from the group and came toward her and Renall. Clara’s heart lifted even higher as Joshua said, “It’s so beautiful.”
Megda echoed that sentiment then added, “Renall, you said that there is housing of some sort already?”
He nodded. “A very large commune type structure. It will be difficult at first but the ship has brought us enough food for now, and we can grow things and…” His head lifted to the sky. His eyes scanned the horizon. His head dropped, and his eyes met Clara’s, “live and love in peace.”
She took his hand. Overhead, Talon’s ship hovered for a moment and then lifted away. Happiness filled Clara. She was helping to build something new and a world worth living in, and she was doing it with Renall and her family beside her.
Renall peered at her. “What are you thinking?”
Her lips curved even more widely. Her laughter rang through the air. “I’m thinking that this is worlds away from the place I thought I’d always be, and how glad I am to be here.”
He said, “I was thinking perhaps we should name the planet, but I don’t know what to call it, exactly.”
“Of course you know,” she said softly. “It’s Revant Two.”
He took a breath. His eyes held hers. “But there’s more than my race here.”
“One day our races, mine, yours, and all the others on this place, will have whatever remains of your race’s blood in their veins. They should have the right to the name.”
He swallowed hard. “You’re right. Revant Two it is.”
His smile was equally wide. He swept her into an embrace and kissed her. Hard. Then they set off across the grassy fields of the virgin planet, hand in hand.
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next book “Talon” Book Two of the Revant Warriors series on the next page!
Bonus Book-Ohber
Warriors of Milisaria
(A Sci Fi Alien Abduction Romance)
By Celeste Raye
Chapter 1
Valeri Cavanaugh was nervous and excited as she dressed for work. Today was the big day: she would finally be allowed to work directly with the aliens. She considered it a huge promotion. Until this point, she had only been working in the background, running tests on blood and fluids, mixing potions, and recording results. Valeri had never seen any of the aliens, not even in pictures. Today, she would meet them face to face. Would they be repulsive or frightening? She didn't want to appear shocked upon seeing them for the first time. Maybe she could get her father to tell her what to expect. He was, after all, the founder of these experiments.
Valeri checked her makeup one last time. She saw that her green eyes were sparkling with anticipation. In an effort to appear more serious, she pulled her long, dark hair back and knotted it at her nape. She sighed when she realized the new hairstyle didn't hide her youthful beauty. Her black slacks and green silk tank accentuated her curves and highlighted her green eyes. She couldn't do anything about her eyes, but she covered her body with a loose white lab coat. She was as ready as she could get. It was time to leave the mirror behind and start her new job.
The building that housed the lab was fifty stories high. It's silver-and-gold exterior reminded her of rockets that had been launched hundreds of years ago. She had seen film of them many times in school. Appropriate, she guessed, for an alien project. The lobby was spacious and yet awfully crowded. It always amazed her that so many people could share such a small space. Valeri's first stop was the conference room. She had to meet with the scientists for a briefing. They would confirm the progress being made with the testing and explain what else they were looking for. She looked forward to meeting her associates, putting names and faces to the lab requests.
Valeri was surprised to see four scientists and four nurses enter the conference room. She hadn't known there were that many people involved in the experiments. The trials were supposed to be secret. The more people involved, the more chances there would be for information leaks. Why so many nurses? Only one was needed to take blood samples and give injections. There was obviously more to the program than Valeri had been told. Perhaps, this briefing would clarify matters.
Valeri's father, Reginald Cavanaugh, was the last to join the group. He was the founder of the alien experiment program. The program was intended to use alien blood, DNA, and antibodies to find cures for human diseases. Most alien species did not suffer from the types of debilitating or life-ending diseases that humans were prone to have. It was groundbreaking work. Humans all over the world would benefit from the answers the scientists got from these experiments. Valeri was proud to be a part of such important work. She was also proud to be the daughter of the mastermind behind it. She hoped she could live up to his expectations.
Reginald had a grandfatherly look that encouraged trust. His silver hair and beard made him appear kind and gentle. His steely gray eyes told a different story. Hidden in their depths were anger, greed, and a determination that was frightening. Valeri saw only his intelligence and the love that he saved for her and his son. She gave him a big smile, and he winked in return. His stately manner made the other scientists look up at him with admiration and respect. Valeri looked at him with love and a heartfelt yearning to make him proud of her.
Reginald began, "Before I give the floor to Dr. Sparks, I wish to welcome our new member, Valeri Cavanaugh. Yes, she is my daughter, but I believe she has earned her place in this program. I am positive she will earn your respect as well. She has been doing much of the research on the blood work you all have been sending in and recording the results for your benefit. Now she will be participating in the actual experiments. In the next few weeks, I expect you all to bring her up to date on all the aliens, the experiments, and the possible cures we have found. Her input should be an integral part of this program. Valeri, I want you to pay attention to what Dr. Sparks, our resident Ph.D., has to say this morning. It may prove to be enlightening."
Dr. Sparks stood and pointed to the large television screen. He said, "The chart you are seeing here shows how different the blood of these aliens is from our own. As you can see, the oxygen level of subject number three is far lower than all the others, meaning it needs far less in the atmosphere to survive. Subject number two has three times the amount of white blood cells than that of a human. Its disease-fighting capabilities are enormous. Subject number one is the closest to our human species. As for subject number four, we have yet to understand what we are seeing. We are using the white blood cells of subject two for research in combating life-threatening illnesses. Subject number one is part of an experiment in fighting off more common diseases. Some progress has been made, though we would like to have more subjects of the same species to make things go faster. It is doubtful that we can obtain those subjects because this planet has a new king and is not approachable.
Valeri was confused. Dr. Sparks hadn't told her anything enlightening. He was obviously being evasive. The only thing she had learned was that there were indeed four aliens involved. She had surmised as much from the blood samples she had been sent for testing. Valeri asked, "What planets are these aliens from? What other tests or experiments are being performed on them? Why would you need a king's permission to gather more of a sub-species?"
Dr. Sparks replied, "As you are indoctrinated into the study, those questions will be answered. It is best not to consider that information until you have been apprised of all other information concerning the subjects."
Valeri considered his words. They were pompous and pretentious. They told her absolutely nothing and seemed to be used to hide something of actual importance. She tried again. "Why are so many nurses needed? I would think one was sufficient. After all, we are trying to keep this project under the radar."
Dr. Sparks’ eyes grew suspicious and angry. He answered, "Each subject has its own nurse. That is all you need to know. Too many questions can lead to being shut out of this program. Just do as you're told and leave the rest to us."
Valeri started to protest, but her father caught her eye and shook his head to silence her. Now, she was not only confused, but angry. How could she do her job well if she wasn't told everything? She was determined to address that problem immediately.
The briefing ended without Valeri learning anything of real importance. She hadn't even been introduced to the other scientists or the nurses before they were swept from the room. Only her father remained behind. Valeri turned to him and asked, "Is that it? Aren't they going to tell me anything more? I can't do my job like this. You have to make them talk to me. They must answer my questions."
Reginald patted her shoulder and said, "You'll do fine. Don't worry. It's a learn as you go process. Dr. Sparks is very protective of his research. You will be told things on a need-to-know basis. For today, this is all you need to know. Do everything you're told and nothing more. Is that understood?"
Valeri didn't like his patronizing tone or his rebuke. She held back the angry retort that leaped into her mind. She wanted to stay on this project and find out what was being hidden from her. The best way to accomplish that was to keep her mouth shut for now. She simply replied, "Sure, dad; you know I always do as I'm told."
Reginald smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. He hoped that letting Valeri into the experiment wasn't a mistake. She was intelligent, observant, and tenacious when it came to her work. If she had a problem or a concern with how the experiments were performed, there could be major trouble. On the other hand, if she could be convinced of the importance of the experiments, she would be a strong ally.
"I am so proud of you, my dear," Reginald answered. "You are a real asset to our lab and have shown great progress. Your work, so far, has been impeccable and precise. Your reports are clear and de
tailed. They have helped our little project immensely. That is why I have given you this promotion. You earned it. Now, don't let me down. Be the intelligent, cooperative girl I raised you to be, and all will go well. Come, let's tour the facilities. You are sure to find some of the new equipment fascinating."
Valeri couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her father had never talked to her like this before. Not only did the praise sound condescending, but the admonishment to behave made her feel childish and immature. It saddened her to realize that the father she worshiped had flaws.
Valeri tried to remain attentive as Reginald showed her through the facilities. They truly were incredible. All the newest equipment was there, shiny and expensive. She figured they must be getting excellent funding from somewhere. There were x-ray machines, MRIs, defibrillators, surgical equipment, and dialysis machines mixed in with the normal lab equipment. Valeri almost asked why they felt the need for such things, but stopped herself. She knew it was still best to keep her mouth shut. Besides, she would never get a straight answer from her father. He would just remind her to stick to her own job and leave the rest to the others.
There were several locked doors in the facility. When Valeri asked what was in those rooms, her father only said, "They are the surgical suites that are necessary for our endeavors."
Valeri was shocked. They were performing surgeries on the aliens. How sad. She hoped they were treated well and not in any pain. Surely, the surgeries were just exploratory in nature, used only to gather information on anatomy. She wondered what the aliens looked like. She imagined odd little creatures, without much of a brain. She knew many planets had intelligent, humanlike inhabitants and had met many during their visits, but they would never do experiments on anyone they had a treaty with. These had to be species that she had never met, right?