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  Pausing, I wait for Tier to continue our circuit. He’s almost invisible in the dim light as he smoothly and silently passes by before disappearing into the dark ahead.

  “Is there anything else I should know?” My murmur is almost too low for even me to hear. When he doesn’t answer, I repeat the question slightly louder.

  Nothing.

  I’ve lost him then. It was inevitable out here. Without the Discovery rotating around the planet, it’s impossible to bounce the signal into every corner of the planet. Satellite installation is high on my priority list of items to discuss with Bren.

  When Bren and I arrived on Dactyles, where Matthias knew his mate was located, it became obvious that the Earth females who’d landed here before us were being hidden. The Warden Benard had quite a self-serving set up here. The atrocities committed by the previous warden and his guard followers were outrageous and criminal.

  As Bren’s first-in-command, he left it to me to stay on the surface of the planet when he left to race back with Shelly and Beth at the Council’s bidding. I was tasked with purging the previous corrupt leaders and restructuring the entire facility so that it’s being run by qualified—but kind males.

  It’s been challenging!

  There’s no other way to put it. It’s really no wonder that some of the outlying groups have been so inhospitable. The corrupt policing structure of the prison dome of the past encouraged killing as an option. So far, we’ve only had one casualty, a young male named Tuono. He was a Junior Support Technician left with me by Bren and less than seven rotations ago, his body was found without a head.

  Based on where it was recovered, we believe whoever perpetrated the crime wanted us to find it. I just don’t understand why. Tuono was young and kind, the way many of us are when we first begin our tours. I’ve been on board the Discovery longer than most, joining at the same time as Bren. But without the family commitment, I can stay in active service indefinitely if I desire.

  It’s only a matter of time before all the positions on board the Discovery are taken by older males. It’s hard to get the placement but once you do, without family commitments—and if you’re willing to give up on ever having a family of your own—you can stay on. Look at Mavick, the engineer I have scheduled to look at the energy disperser here under the dome. He’s been on board for twenty-three Quasar annual rotations.

  As I take my turn in our formation moving ahead to the lead, I come to an abrupt halt. Blinking rapidly, I try to decipher if my eyes are actually seeing what I think?

  Less than a stone’s throw away, is a face that looks eerily familiar. Only there’s no body… just a large branch of wood that the head was impaled on.

  Well, I guess I’ve found Tuono’s missing head.

  CHAPTER THREE

  - Karen

  “What’s that?” The tightness in my chest expands as I look at Jo-Anne with surprise. Leaning on the long pole I’ve been using as my jo—a short staff I’m training with, I wait for it to pass. There’s not a lot of room in here, but I’m positive she didn’t hit me in the mid-section.

  “What do you mean?” Using both her hands to pull stray hairs that have begun to detach from her braid, she blows out a breath across from me. We’re in the cargo area of this spacecraft they call The Top Pick. Of course, it was a shock when I woke up to find out I was out in space, but looking back at what happened at college, I’m not surprised.

  Running my palm against my chest, I try to identify any tight muscles that would be causing the constriction I feel across my tits. I’m not wearing a bra—much to my chagrin, but instead the tight, form-fitting jumpsuit that’s all the rage around here, and it’s tight enough that it straps them down adequately.

  When I woke up with Jo-Anne standing over me, at first I thought I’d imagined the whole thing. The bright, strange light at our study group could have been a figment of my imagination… but not the little, gray men that Jo-Anne call the Ashen. To say there’s been a period of adjustment is an understatement.

  What’s really fascinating is how different Jo-Anne is now. When we met at school, she was timid and almost shy. Definitely concerned with making sure that she avoided anyone and anything that would make her talk about her “alien encounters”. Now, it’s all we talk about.

  “I’m not sure. Maybe I pulled something?” Jo-Anne waves me towards the door as she turns to take a few steps before looking back.

  “Are you alright to walk?” She rushes over as I sink down onto my butt cross-legged and lay my staff next to me. I know I look ridiculous cupping my chest, but it’s the strangest thing.

  I can’t identify exactly where the pain is, and now that I think about it, it’s not pain. Panic. I’m frightened? Is something bad about to happen?

  “I don’t… honestly, I’m not sure.” Jo-Anne’s crouched over me and looks like she’s ready to sprint for the door for help. Before she can, I grip her hand tightly. “I feel scared. Could this be a premonition or something?”

  Using my other sleeve, I wipe the beads of sweat that have broken out on my skin. I shouldn’t be sweating in here. It’s only about sixty degrees in this cargo area and our workout had just begun. Jo-Anne and I have been stretching and I’ve been teaching her Aikido for the last couple weeks once a day. She does it once a day with me anyways, but I tend to spend a lot of spare time here.

  Stretching, meditating, and trying to come to terms with the new world I’ve been exposed to.

  It all started with the dimension portal. According to Jo-Anne, it was important for me to learn how to find it like she could, and the Grays—I mean Ashen, were sure it was something I could do. Sure enough, all it took was dropping into a light meditative trance, and I was able to pick up the “feeling” and then visual confirmation right along with Jo-Anne.

  She thinks it’s great! But until that happened, I was questioning my purpose here. Why me? Why now?

  After all, things were going great for me—unlike Jo-Anne. And as much as I like her, I wouldn’t have chosen to leave my family and set off on a space adventure with aliens. Not only have we seen the Ashen, but Jo-Anne now has a mate. Remus is great but…

  “Was there anything you’ve been worried or afraid about yourself?” Jo-Anne settles across from me on the cold floor still holding my hand.

  “No.” I shrug as her eyes narrow skeptically. “Well, besides the obvious?” Pulling my hands from hers, I wave around us at all the strange contraptions that this spacecraft holds. No one would believe anything that’s happened to me over the last couple weeks.

  “Are you worried about meeting your mate?” Jo-Anne’s question is legitimate, but we talk about this every day. After all, it’s one of the main reasons I’m still here. Supposedly, I have a mate back on the prison planet we’re heading toward. So far, I don’t have the “mating marks” that are the standard tip-off for everyone. Jo-Anne had them when she woke up on what she calls “New Earth”, her name for Earth in the dimension with the Grays.

  “No. No, I don’t think so.” Leaning back on my arms, I let the cold floor seep into my hands as I look up at the strange metal ceiling. “Maybe everything is just starting to catch up to me.”

  Jo-Anne’s hand rests lightly on my knee, and I tilt my head towards her. “Well, I’m extremely grateful for everything. I know I don’t always spend a ton of time with you, but I’m not sure how I’d feel if you weren’t here.” Tears shimmer in her eyes as she looks at me seriously.

  The door behind her slides open silently, but she doesn’t need to hear it to know Remus is walking toward us quickly “Is everything alright out here?”

  Jo-Anne’s smile as she turns toward him lights up her face. “Yes.”

  We both scramble to our feet as he stops next to us, reaching for her before she’s totally on her feet. “Karen just had a weird feeling we were discussing—”

  “We’ve received an update from the planet Six Two Four.” Gilip’s dire tone over the central intercom system has us looking a
t each other before moving toward the exit. Carefully, I place the long metal rod I’ve been using as a training staff securely into one of the cargo nets by the door. It’s not identical to what I’m used to. It’s a little longer, but the weight and circumference are perfect.

  “I just left when I felt your worry, so I don’t know what this is about.” Remus pulls Jo-Anne tight to his body as he waves me through the door ahead of him.

  Walking through the narrow, compact hallway, I head straight for the front where Gilip is manning the controls. He doesn’t glance up from where he’s studying a read-out of the Quasar language that I don’t understand.

  According to the Ashen, once I complete my mating I’ll be able to understand their language as easily as Jo-Anne. Something about their nanos that will be shared with me through—get this—their bodily fluids. Completing my mating is just a fancy and polite way of saying having sex with him.

  That’s another thing I’m not sure about. Jo-Anne says not to over think it all, that it’ll happen naturally, but I don’t know. It’s never happened naturally for me before. I’m not sure why she thinks this time will be different for me. I’ve never met anyone I’ve been attracted to enough to bother.

  “What is it?” Jo-Anne asks the question we’re all dying to know. I’m startled when I look up and see a large planet off to the left of the view screen in front of us. I knew today was the day, but seeing it makes it so real.

  I don’t know what I was expecting, but from this distance, the globe looks a lot like Earth. Greens and blues dominate the planet although it’s impossible from this distance to make out the land masses.

  “The Ashen told you your mate was heading up the prison planet right now, right?” Gilip swivels his chair to face where I’m sinking into a few extra seats behind him.

  “Yeah.” The plush material conforms to my butt as I grip the arm rests next to me.

  “Well, according to what was just broadcast out on their central system I’m now monitoring, Selas Topac is running the prison. He must be your mate. Does that mean anything to you?”

  I shake my head no as Jo-Anne moves into the chair next to Gilip. “Do you guys know him?”

  Gilip nods curtly, but it’s Travek who answers from the door we just came in. Lisa’s right behind him and smiles brightly at me before being pulled onto Travek’s lap while he answers. “I know him. He’s Bren’s second and a good male. I mean, maybe a little uptight, but great at his job.” His voice trails off as he looks at Gilip.

  What aren’t they telling me? “A little uptight?” Sometimes their grasp of the English language doesn’t translate perfectly. It’s made for some funny jokes, but this is not the time for a miscommunication.

  “You know. Serious.” Gilip calling someone else serious means he’s really, really serious.

  Travek’s looking at Lisa as he continues to explain. “I just mean he doesn’t socialize. No one really knows him very well. That’s why he’s so high-ranking on the ship, and probably why Bren left him there on Dactyles when he took off to head back to Quasar. He’s capable and willing to work long hours to get something done right.”

  My heart sinks at this explanation. Travek probably thinks he’s making me feel better, but just the opposite. A workaholic. Like my dad. Great.

  “That’s super, right?” Lisa’s chipper voice is a direct contradiction to what I’m feeling.

  When I don’t answer, Gilip cuts in. “That wasn’t all. He’s missing along with two others. Just happened, too. There’s a bunch of chatter about it right now.”

  Jo-Anne’s gasp of surprise makes all of us look at her. “That’s why you felt like that!” She turns to lift my hair like she’s done every day since I’ve woken up here. “Yes!”

  Lisa’s by my other side immediately, lightly running her fingers down my neck as I shiver. Prickles of awareness shoot to my nipples and they tighten uncomfortable. It takes studious concentration not to look down and make sure they’re not obvious in this get up.

  Reaching up, I run my own hand along the back of my neck but there’s nothing obvious to feel. “I have them? The marks?”

  Jo-Anne is nodding as she smiles at me tentatively. “Do you want to go look at them?”

  “Wait.” Even though it’s kind of cool the marks have shown up like the Ashen proclaimed they would, there’s more to worry about. “He’s missing?”

  “Yes. I don’t know a lot of information about it yet, but as we get closer, I’ll be sure to find out more.” Gilip and Travek exchange a glance, and I know they’re not telling me everything.

  “What?” I can see Lisa giving Travek a meaningful look and wonder what she knows too. “Just tell me already.”

  Travek turns back toward us with a sigh. “It’s just… there have been casualties… others killed by the outlaws outside the dome. They’re concerned he might have been captured by the same group that killed Tuono a few rotations back…”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  - Selas

  By the time I realize the head on the stake is Tuono’s, there’s a sharp pain in my side and another at my throat. Fetid breath hits my sinuses as a low voice growls directly in my ear. “Don’t move.” Multiple hands pat me down, relieving me of my communicator and stunner.

  “I’m here to help. I’ve been sent—” Pain radiates from the back of my head, spreading across my face as my vision wavers. Whatever they hit me with was substantial.

  “We know why you’ve been sent. We’ve heard all about it. On your knees.” Not waiting for me to lower myself down, solid kicks to the back of my legs have my limbs collapsing, and I catch myself on my hands just before my face crashes into the undergrowth.

  Firm pressure on my back from what’s probably a boot, lowers me into the vegetation until another weight settles onto the back of my neck and my face grinds into the dirt. Turning my head, I sputter, coughing out leaves and twigs that litter the ground under me.

  “The Council appointed me as a representative from the Discovery—”

  “We heard. Warden Benard told us all about how they’re cleaning up the planet now.” The pain in my shoulders escalates as they begin binding my arms behind me at my wrists. Well, that explains where the Warden has managed to get off to. He’s out here somewhere. Great.

  Groaning, I try to brace myself as they lift me by my elbows pulling my arms uncomfortably behind me. “I don’t know what Benard has told you, but he’s no longer the warden—”

  “Oh, we know that too.” I get my first look at my captor as he moves in front of me while I settle onto my feet. Wearing only a scrap of clothing for modesty, his dirty features and rotten teeth make him look crazy, as well as angry, as he glares at me. “They can’t just eliminate us like garbage. We’ll fight to the death and take as many of you as we can.”

  Spit splatters my face as I stiffen at his words. “No one is planning on eliminating you. Benard was replaced because he was abusing inmates. He went into the general population until the Council reviews his case since he was found harboring females in his dwelling. I’m here to let you all know that he no longer runs the prison dome, and you’re welcome to come back—”

  “Why would we want to come back?” His appearance is a direct contradiction to his question. Based on the lack of clothing and filthy appearance, you’d think they’d want to come back in for regular bathing and food.

  “Food, shelter—”

  “Females.” Kene’s declaration just beside me has us both turning. We agreed we aren’t sharing this with the outsiders as a lure. It isn’t fair to dangle it over anyone as a potential option. Earth may have females we can mate with, but any future promises are still pending.

  Offspring, families… those things are still unknowns. We don’t know if any more females will even be able to be removed from Earth and out of the Ashen zone.

  “Yes. We heard about the small females that are from Earth. Benard says that’s why you’re cleaning up the prison planet. Because new mated couples w
ill be coming to live here, and they need the undesirables eliminated.”

  “Benard said this?” I’m baffled they believe him. This warden has dominated them and abused them and they’re still believing what comes out of his mouth?

  “Yes.”

  I’m pushed forward by the males behind me and notice Tier is further ahead. Even with the dark canopy blocking out the sun, I can make out the blood running down the side of his face as he glances back at me.

  “The council had no idea what was going on here. Benard is the problem—not us. We’ve been working to restructure the guards and those in power—” A sharp pain shoots through my shoulder and throws my weight forward again. Without my hands and arms available to catch me, I crash all the way to the ground, gritting my teeth as debris grinds into the side of my face.

  Throbbing pain settles down my entire back as the male in front of me laughs, crouching down to taunt over my head. “Do you think they’d tell you the truth? You’re just another lowly male out doing their bidding. Everyone knows that eliminating all the males on this planet was inevitable. Quasar’s dying and in a few more generations, family units will be migrating somewhere to settle. Have they found anywhere else?”

  His hypothetical question bounces through my head as my vision wavers in and out, and pain begins to dominate my thoughts. Yanking me to my feet by shoulders already straining in their sockets, they drag me quickly through the brush, not even bothering to try and follow a trail. It’s Kene who answers his taunts.

  “Well, there have been some discoveries recently—”

  “Yeah… discoveries. No place as well developed as here. Benard told us about how they’re panicking about the new matings. He isn’t even sure if the matings are real, but honestly, none of us here could care less. It’s always been survival of the fittest outside the dome.”