by Mel Todd
He leaned back, watching the TV. All prime-time shows had been suspended and other than networks focused on kids, everything centered on the invasion.
Making notes as he watched, he tried to see what he would be able to salvage from this.
A news item showing someone shift into what looked like a half-jackal, half-human monster, extend huge claws and fight with an invader had his eyes narrowing as he watched.
The privacy of his home was absolute. He'd made sure of that. A disgusted sigh slipped out of him.
"You'll never know. And you know you want to know." The words hung in the air. He glanced at the 1911 again thinking then shrugged. With quick efficient movements he stripped off his slacks, tie, shirt, and underwear, folding them neatly before placing them on the leather club chair.
Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath in and out, repeating it, then his body flowed into an animal form, low slung, vaguely cat-like face. A fossa, a more useless animal he couldn't have found, and had refused to even admit he could shift, avoiding it since that first day. With a soft snarl, the animal closed its eyes and flowed upward into the more useful warrior form.
He opened his mouth and a garble came out. A soft snarl, then another garble, though less. Another five minutes of practice and clear words came out of his mouth.
"This has promise. I'll have to keep it in mind for later." Raymond spent another fifteen minutes testing out the abilities of this form. The animal form had no use to him, but this, this had possibilities.
A blare of noise from the TV caused him to shift his attention. A scene of invaders landing in England, and the Royal Guard firing on them.
"Morons. I guess Britain will learn that having an armed populace has value in many ways." The sneer in his voice came through the Kaylid form intact. With a shake of his head he let himself go back to human. Dressing, he headed to the kitchen for some food. Minutes later, a sandwich in his hand, he kept taking notes about how this could be used. They would win of course, because if they didn't, well, none of this mattered at that point.
Plans are being made to attack the ships in orbit. The president has provided a press release stating: "All efforts are being made on altering existing weapons to attack the ships. We have no ETA at this time for when we will be able to successfully attack their ships, but understand we are working as fast as we can and coordinating with the space station to have them standing by to help rescue our people. We understand all the complications involved in this and be assured we understand the risks and are keeping in mind the danger to all humans." We will provide you more information as we receive it. ~ TNN News
"Shuttles incoming, all technicians report to shuttle bay 3 to collect incoming specimens. Culling and evaluations will happen prior to storage and education. Repeat all technicians are to report."
The announcements and sounds of clawed feet running through the halls were background noise. Ash tuned it all out as he sat in the tiny room that served as his office and his quarters. A high compliment for his ability and years of service. It proved he was a very well-trained pet. He blinked his eyes as he looked at the information on his display. A single word sat there, blinking at him meaning nothing to anyone, except it was the culmination of centuries of trying.
"Alara."
He gave himself another few moments to look at it, then he deleted it, rising to look out the mock window at space. A reward they'd said. It simply reminded him of everything he could never have - freedom.
But for the first time it had worked. Contact made with a Kaylid on the planet. A Drakyn brought in. Maybe, just maybe, he might see the Elentrin brought down in his lifetime. Or more accurately, before they realized that he had subverted his AI centuries ago and had been conspiring with the Drakyn to stop their madness.
"Good luck," he whispered, looking at the blue and white planet hanging in his view. "You're going to need it." He shifted his gaze to the shuttles heading out to start pulling in asteroids to send at the unsuspecting planet.
Authors Note:
I hope you enjoyed the third novel in the Kaylid Chronicles. Things are ramping up for Earth and does this visitor mean good or bad things?
Visit my website at www.badashpublishing.com to sign up for my newsletter and find out about the next books coming out in this series.
If you haven't already read my other books you can get them by these links.
Kaylid Chronicles Book 1: No Choice
Kaylid Chronicles Novella 1: New Games
Kaylid Chronicles Books 2: Commander
Kaylid Chronicles Novella 2: Home Alone
Kaylid Chronicles Novella 3: Decisions
Kaylid Chronicles Book 3: Incoming (well this one)
Expect book 4 in 2019!
Happy reading!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mel Todd has three cats, none of which can turn into a form with opposable thumbs, which is good. If they could do that they wouldn't need her anymore. While writing and starting her empire, she decided creating her own worlds was less work than ruling this one.