This series is heating up and if you like alien viruses that bring people together rather than keep them separated then you’re going to love this one. After a year of being socially distanced this book has everything I needed. It’s my dearest wish that you enjoy this escape into my fictional universe.

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• DE https://www.amazon.de/dp/B08W8GPYSR
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• AU https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08W8GPYSR

I spent a lot of time making friends online instead of in-person while trying to get this series together. I’m not complaining, it could have been a lot worse but when I say I MISS PEOPLE. I’m not kidding. I dream about malls, concerts, and theaters.

Once you’re vaccinated where’s the first place you’re going to go?

Enjoy this book and please hit me up with your thoughts or leave a review on the platform you like best.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The virus won’t kill them but the honesty might

Captain Dana Pinet and the crew of the Starship Hope have tracked down the thieving pirates who stole their embryos. A chance at finding a new planet for their people to settle is finally within their grasp. But when an alien truth-agent infects everyone on board, their survival will fall into the hands of an android, an escaped criminal, and a girl with uncanny abilities. 

Everyone’s emotions are running as high as their temperatures when keeping a secret becomes impossible. The android may have an antidote, but with time quickly running out, the ship may be destroyed before he can distribute it. 

If you like close encounters of the dangerous kind, then you’ll love Viral, the third book in the space opera adventure series Starship Hope. 

Get your copy of Viral on Amazon today!

Captain’s Personal Log: 4327.10.5

Those stinking, lying Begarans. They have our embryos, and I want them back. 

They pointed us toward the Fashin Teku ship that stole from us, but only some of our cargo, and three of the Teku survived after the truth serum the Begarans gave them. Dr. Jabar cleared them for duty, helping refit the ship as we race back to the Begaran home-world. The crew’s been working tirelessly. They were on twenty-four-hour shift rotations to make repairs after the explosion of the Des freighter knocked out propulsion, thermal regulators, life-support, and damaged the hull on decks eleven and twelve. 

It’s been two days, and the crew is dragging. Most days, everyone’s work requires scrutiny, including mine. I know that, but we’re moving again, at last. Without the Teku, it would have taken us over a week to get to the Begarans. At least with their help, we can cut that time in half. I don’t trust them anymore than I could pick one up and throw them, but at this point, my people don’t have a choice. 

This morning I woke up in a pool of sweat. Not because of them, but because of Peter Barnes. I’d been running away from him again in my dream. Sometimes he’s coming after me, other times it’s like it was on Zelenia, where everyone gathered together behind him to accuse me. Between the nightmares and the repairs, the sleepless nights are showing under my eyes and in the headaches, though there’s not much I can do about it. The ship has continued off-kilter since his escape, and worst of all, he knows my secret. It’s not what he knows, but what he’ll try to do with it that keeps me awake. 

Rido’s healing treatments have been helping, but to be honest, I find myself struggling with how I feel about him. He’s a great guy, with wonderful bedside manner, but beyond the basic attraction, I’m not sure I can go deep with someone like him. We don’t have the same beliefs or ideals, and though I’m fascinated by him, there’s something missing. It’s not easy like it was with Wade. I know I shouldn’t compare, but I can’t help it. Wade makes me think and laugh without even trying. Of course, he’s going to marry Maggie any minute, and I need to come to terms with it. I had my chance with him, and I blew it. I’ll put on a smile for the event, even if it kills me.

Today I’m going to take a nanodot. 

Dana reached into her side table and pulled out the tin of nanodots. There were only five left, a reminder that Barnes had already taken three. Her hand trembled, the small tin rattling. She put it down on the table and stared inside. Each white anti-anxiety dot was nothing more than a means of control. For the Zelenian Space Fleet, it was against regulation for any Captain to be using them, let alone being dependent on them, as she’d been. A captain dependent on anything artificially manufactured was in trouble. 

She’d saved them after her psych treatments. After Kristoff’s explosive betrayal, a former friend and member of the Coalition Against the Hierarchy, she’d been a wreck. It had taken her months to come to terms with losing those who’d gathered to throw her surprise party at the Breezy Blue. After, Dana had kept the remaining nanodots hidden in a treasure box her father had made her as a little girl, regulating them for emergencies only. Before the incident, she’d worn an unreadable mask when she was anxious. Now, there were times she couldn’t disguise the anxiety. Dana reasoned it was just taking her longer than expected to get back to her old self. 

No one needed to know about the dots. She wasn’t out of control or anything. She just wasn’t ready to lose the comfort knowing they were there gave her. 

But now Barnes knew about them. 

The question wasn’t if Barnes would say anything, it was when. The longer he went free, the greater the anxiety grew within her, disrupting her dreams. He’d taken three of the nanodots as if to taunt her. He knew she couldn’t go to the doctor and request more. Did he think he could use them to barter for his life? Would he threaten to expose her lie in order to get what he wanted? 

Dana scoffed at the idea. She could quit whenever she wanted, she just needed a little more time. She wasn’t going to let Barnes back her into a corner. Should the truth about her anxiety get out she’d deal with it, but for now, she’d have to wait for him to make his move.

She popped the white nanodot to the back of her throat and took a sip of water, swallowing both down.

CHAPTER 2

Even with the anti-anxiety drug coursing through her, Dana sat on the bridge, tapping her fingers on the arm of her chair. After four hours they still weren’t going fast enough. She waited for the latest report on their engines with the patience of a two-year-old. Who knew what the Begarans could do with their stolen embryos by the time they finally reached full speed again?

The chair on her left where Wade should be sat empty. Her First Officer was out overseeing their progress in the engine room where the Fashin Teku were hard at work getting their tech integrated with the ship’s propulsion systems. In Dana’s opinion, it was the least they could do after stealing something so precious from them. The technology behind their upgrades was complex, but as far as she understood it, their advanced drive system, when coupled with their targeting coordinates, could propel them by bending space. 

Ensign Cliff Harden cleared his throat from his standing station on her left. “Is everything all right, Captain?” he asked, glancing from her tapping fingers back to her face. 

She waved him off. “I’m fine. I just want to know where we are on the upgrades. Any other reports coming in?”

He rolled his eyes. “No, but I’ll check again.” 

Dana’s eyes flew to his face. “Was that a tone, Ensign?”

“No, ma–Captain. No tone intended.”

When Wade returned from engineering, Dana leaped out of her seat. He looked like he was fuming. She leaned in, whispering, “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” he said, his voice several decibels louder than hers had been, causing the bridge crew to turn in their direction.

Dana raised an eyebrow at him, and he shook his head. It was all right if he didn’t want to talk about it, but he didn’t need to shout. She tried not to let it bother her, though it grated on her nerves that he’d behave this way in front of the others. 

Their interactions had been off since she’d refused to officiate his wedding ceremony. Dana wanted to put it behind them as soon as possible. Rido, the Healer, had agreed to perform the ceremony in her place—thank the Merciful. Neither the bride nor groom had said much to her since. Dana couldn’t even be sure she’d be welcome at the wedding anymore. She didn’t particularly want to attend the wedding of her ex, but she’d been willing to put that aside. Marrying them, however, was an entirely different matter. To Dana, it seemed more than a little inappropriate.

“Commander, report,” Dana ordered, adjusting her tone and volume to match his terse one.

Wade blinked, as if he didn’t understand her. Dana frowned. 

“Commander? Are you sure you’re all right?”

Wade shook his head muttering to himself. Then he lifted his hands and let them drop slapping hard against his sides. “I did my best, Captain. They’re about as worthless as fleas on a dog.” 

It was Dana’s turn to blink. He hadn’t been down there that long. Perhaps there were some compatibility issues they hadn’t considered. She needed every advantage she could get against the Begarans.

“Aren’t the Fashin Teku helping you?” she asked. “If they’re not pulling their weight, they can get off a lot sooner than the space station.” Dana wasn’t about to tolerate anything from them. They’d done enough damage.

“That would be way too good for them,” Wade muttered, sitting down beside her and then standing up again in agitation.

“That’s all you had to say. Have security escort them to the brig. I’ll deal with them myself later.”

“Ensign, have security escort our Fashin Teku guests to the brig,” Wade said.

“Yes, sir,” Cliff said as he relayed the message. A moment later, he looked back up, confusion on his face. “Um, I’m sorry, sir . . . they won’t do it.”

Dana stood from her seat to face him. “What do you mean they won’t do it?”

Cliff cleared his throat. “Well, um, they sent an audio message. Would you like me to play it for you?”

“Out with it, Ensign,” Wade snapped. 

Cliff looked nervous. “Are you sure you want me to play it aloud?”

Dana placed her hands on her hips. “Ensign, either play the message, or relay it, if that’s not asking too much.”

Cliff shrugged and pressed the buttons on the panel that would allow the entire bridge to hear the message:

“Tell the Commander we’re a bit busy at the moment, and if he’d like to get off of his backside, he can take care of the lousy pirates himself.”

Dana’s mouth fell open a beat before she was able to recover. “Who was that, Ensign?”

“I’m not sure, Captain. There’s no identification code. It’s from a panel on level four.”

“Send security to—” 

Wade cut her off by reaching over the panel, grabbing Cliff by the front of his shirt, and lifting him off the floor.

“Commander!” Dana reached out and pulled on the back of Wade’s uniform. “Let him go! What’s wrong with you? The message didn’t come from him, it came from our security.”

Wade was breathless. He couldn’t seem to focus on her voice. 

Dana clutched him by the back of the shirt, and with the help of Valente, pulled him off of Cliff. “I think you need to take a breather.”

Wade blinked as if she’d slapped him. His eyes were a pinkish color. “What?”

“Valente,” she continued, “escort the Commander to his quarters.”

***To Be Continued***

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I’m sure you’ve got some questions like what is SFWA and how is buying this bundle any different than buying each book from my regular ebook platform?

First of all, Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA) is an organization dedicated to promoting and supporting science fiction and fantasy writers in the United States and worldwide.

Amy Duboff curated this bundle for SFWA featuring award-winning authors and fresh new voices. The Expansive Futures StoryBundle is designed for fans of futuristic sci-fi and space opera.

StoryBundle was created to give a platform for independent authors to showcase their work and a source of quality titles for thirsty readers. StoryBundle works with authors to create bundles of ebooks that can be purchased by readers at their desired price.

So how much is it, really?

For a limited time, StoryBundle lets you decide what price you want to pay for these stellar sci-fi stories. For $5 (or more, if you’re feeling generous), you’ll get the basic bundle of five books in any ebook format—WORLDWIDE.

Seriously!

You get to choose how much of your purchase goes to the authors and how much goes to help keep StoryBundle running. No matter what you donate, part of the proceeds goes to supporting SFWA and the indie authors.

Donate more and get bonus books. Even if you don’t have the money to give financially, you can help out by spreading the word.

Check out the links below to read the synopses for each book and share the Storybundle with your friends.

For more information, visit our website at storybundle.com, tweet us at @storybundle and like us on Facebook.

ABOUT THE BOOK

How far is too far to save the human race?

Captain Dana Pinet is struggling to put her demons to rest while carrying the last of humanity still reeling from the loss of their world onboard the Starship Hope. 

She and the crew will be tested yet again when they come into contact with a group of plucky aliens enthralled by their circumstances and eager to befriend them. Things turn ugly when the aliens make off with precious cargo and half their dwindling supplies. 

In pursuit of the thieves, the crew discovers they’re not the only ones after the pirates, and getting caught in alien cross-fire will only make matters worse. If Dana can’t track down the pirates and their stolen cargo, it may bring about the extinction of the human race. 

Marauders is the thrilling second book in the science fiction series Starship Hope. If you like intriguing first contact with aliens and survival at all-costs scenarios, you’ll love this second book by T.S. Valmond.

Marauders is now available on Amazon!

The beginning…

Captain Dana Pinet pulled back her elbow, sweat dripping into her eyes. She held her arm extended palm out, fingers curled, waiting for the next strike. She made slight adjustments to her stance, shifting the weight between her feet before she used her body’s momentum to propel her forward. 

She missed kicking Commander Wade Chance’s head by millimeters. 

He lunged at her, lifting her from the waist, the impact of the forward motion dropping them both to the yellow mat under their bare feet. Dana struggled to take in a breath underneath him. Wade didn’t give her long to recover. He straddled her, one leg on either side of her waist, his arms keeping her pinned to the mat. Dana used a scissor kick to buck him off, and it took another quick kick to his chest to force him back and off of her. She scrambled to her feet again, ready for the next advance. Wade wasn’t normally so predictable, charging again from the same direction. At the last moment, Dana dodged to one side while extending her right leg to trip him. He fell facedown onto the mat. 

Before she could enjoy the view from above him, he rolled up onto his feet. Face to face again, she had to duck to dodge his left swing. She blocked several open-handed hits with her arms, but he hit like a hammer, even with his palms. Dana stumbled backward, grasping for balance. Wade took the advantage, using his entire body to plow her back onto the floor. In a practiced maneuver, he slid behind her, keeping most of his weight on her hips, wrapped his right arm tight around her neck, and held. She pulled at his arm, but it might as well have been a steel pipe. Trapped, with no way up, she couldn’t take in a full breath. Stars swam in her eyes before her hand slapped twice against his arm in surrender. 

He released her in an instant. She gasped for breath for a moment, coughing when the air came in too fast. Then she stumbled to her feet.

Wade circled her, preparing for another charge. “You all right?” 

Wade circled her preparing for another charge. Dana wanted to wipe that triumphant smirk off his face. 

She cleared her throat before speaking. “I’m fine. Don’t look so disappointed.”

“What can I say, I’m glad you’re out of practice. You almost had me.” 

He wiped at the sweat streaming down his face with the bottom of his shirt, revealing the toned stomach underneath. 

Dana glanced away from him, letting her eyes settle on the matted wall behind him. She rolled her shoulders as a bead of sweat made a trail down her back. Her arms and legs burned with exertion. 

Their morning runs had turned into morning workouts, and earlier that week, Wade had taken his first swing at her. He’d taunted her to the mat until she’d flung herself at him to shut him up. They’d both ended the workout sopping wet and with exhausted smiles on their faces. 

 This morning they’d run for ten minutes before sparring again. They were both fresh and energized this time, and Dana planned to nail him to the mat. Wade was lean and strong, with lightning-fast reflexes, but he lacked the strategic thought that had kept her out of his grasp for the better part of an hour. The only reason he’d gotten her the last time was because she could feel herself tiring.

“How many fingers am I holding up?” Wade asked, flashing three fingers at her and wiggling them.

“Why?” 

She stopped circling and stood still.

“You look like you took a major beating. Besides, I don’t want the captain to pass out in front of the crew. It’s bad for morale.” 

Her unwavering charge at his chest, head down, cut off Wade’s laughter. He tried to dodge, but she anticipated the movement. He had all of his weight balanced on his right front foot, and she corrected her course in time to bash him in the side. He groaned before he hit the ground. She used her legs to pin down his arms. He wiggled and squirmed but couldn’t get free. Instead, he managed to get his legs underneath him and lift her off the ground. With his hands released, he forced her back to the mat. The thud as she hit made him hesitate, but she groaned, proving she had some breath left. 

He wrapped his arms and legs around her until she couldn’t move, pinning her to the mat. 

“Such a cheater, plowing into my ribcage,” he said, still holding her tight. 

Dana wasn’t ready to give up, but as she struggled, he only tightened his physical hold on her body like a snake. She placed her hand flat to the floor and slapped it twice, releasing Wade’s hold on her. She didn’t bother getting up, but turned her head to face him when he lay down on the mat beside her.

“Not bad. Better than the first time.”

Dana wiped the back of her hand over her forehead. 

“I can’t wait to knock that smug smile off your face.” 

Dana wiped the back of her hand over her forehead.

“You and how many more?”

“I don’t want to bring someone else in on this, but if you don’t start letting me win, I might have to.” 

“Don’t be a poor loser. I’m sure you’ll be better next time. Maybe stretch a little more.” 

She punched him in the shoulder. 

“What did you do that for?” he howled.

It was Dana’s turn to smirk. She knew he’d never hit her back, and it hadn’t hurt him as much as he complained. 

They both fell into a comfortable silence, not filling it with frivolous conversation as they stretched out their sore muscles. Dana winced when she reached her left arm over her head.

“Sorry about that.” Wade’s expression changed, his eyebrows drawing together in genuine concern and his voice softened. “Sorry about that.”

He was biting his lower lip in the way he did when he felt guilty about something. She hated that face. She’d seen it before, back when they used to date. Maybe that was why she wanted to plant him face-first into the mat.

“Don’t,” she said.

“What?”

“Don’t do that.” Dana waved a hand in the air around his face. “Don’t act like you’ve broken me.”

Wade’s face tightened, and he looked like he was gritting his teeth.

“I’m fine,” she insisted.

Dana waved a hand in the air again, this time as if encompassing the room and everything in it. Needing to fill the now-awkward silence with conversation, she leaped on the first thing that came to her mind.

“Have I mentioned that every time I watch my mother’s vid message, I cry at the sight of my dog?”

Wade’s eyes came up and met hers for an instant longer than she could take without looking away. 

“Really?”

Dana laughed at herself, but the same sadness gripped her chest even now. She swallowed back the emotion, willing herself not to cry. 

“When I watch my mother talking about her day, we’re as close as ever. Then…” Dana’s voice hitched as she fought back tears. “She mentions Viktor, and she shows him sitting by the door. I break every time. Seems wrong to be mourning my dog more than my mother.”

“It doesn’t surprise me. She was larger than life. The woman was shameless. Fearless.” He huffed out a laugh. “Remember the officer’s ball? She came with you and stole the entire night, as I recall.”

Dana could picture her mother that night, dressed in one of her new evening gowns, twirling in front of the dignitaries and political figures of the time as if she were their queen. They loved her, and even a few of the husbands got angry jabs from their wives when she passed by them.

 “She knew how to light up a room.”

“Yeah. You have it, too, but you wield yours a little different. You command a room where she entertains it.”

Dana had never thought of her and her mother sharing anything other than DNA. She was most often compared to her father. Even after months of mourning, her mother couldn’t seem to bond with Dana the way she could with everyone else. 

Wade continued circling back around to her mother.

“You cry for your dog because Viktor lived, ate, and ran with you,” Wade continued. “He was your constant companion, and an innocent. He didn’t understand why you left or how little time he had. Your mother would have lived out her last days to the fullest, you know that. Oh, I’m sorry,” he said when he caught her crying. 

He lifted his hand to touch her, but then dropped it as if she were on fire. It only made it worse. Rebellious tears sprang into her eyes and he reached out a hand again, this time to hold her shoulder.

“I think that’s it. Viktor didn’t understand, and somehow that’s worse.” Dana wiped an angry hand over her face, but she didn’t shrug him off. “Enough,” she said, more to herself than to Wade.

Wade cleared his throat. “While we’re on the subject of vids, I need your help with something.”

Dana latched onto the change of subject like a life raft.

“What’s wrong? What happened?” 

Wade shook his head. 

“It’s what’s not happening.”

Dana waited for him to continue. It sounded personal, and she gave him the time and space to share when he was ready, as he’d done for her. They’d come so far in such a short time. She would never have dreamed just a few weeks ago that they’d be here, talking about their grief like old friends.

“I shouldn’t be bothering you with this, but I’m worried about Maggie.”

Dana kept her eyes from widening and pressed her lips together to hide her surprise. The last thing she wanted to talk about with Wade was Maggie. His boisterous reporter girlfriend was his business. Maggie was a woman used to getting what she wanted, and Dana wasn’t sure she trusted her. She told herself it wasn’t just that she always seemed to have unblemished skin and perfect hair. Or the fact she’d brought more shoes with her onto the Hope than any one woman in space deserved. 

She banked the jealousy creeping through her and focused on Wade. He was her friend now, and she would be there for him. She waved him on with both hands. 

“I get it. You need a female opinion. Let’s have it.”

“That’s it. You’ll tell me if I’m being an insensitive tool.”

“Most likely, but I’m listening.”

He grinned and gave her an exaggerated eye roll before he continued. 

“She hasn’t been the same since we received our messages.”

“Everyone’s been unsettled by those videos. They were essentially carrying voices from the grave,” Dana said, thinking of her own sleepless nights, the nightmares she’d been having.

“True, but at least you’re talking about yours.”

“Maggie isn’t?”

“No. She won’t tell me anything about what’s in her message. Worse, if I come in and catch her watching it, she’ll turn it off. Then she’ll pretend like I didn’t just see her crying over whoever sent the message.”

“That doesn’t seem suspicious. Have you shared your message with her?”

Wade tensed as his face grimaced.

“Not really. We’ve talked about it, though. It’s from my mom. Dad doesn’t say much of anything, but I can’t exactly show her the vid.”

“Why not?”

It was Wade’s turn to clam up. His cheeks reddened, and he shook his head, as if deciding about something. 

“She… says some things about you that Maggie wouldn’t appreciate.”

“About me?”

Wade stood up, then gave Dana a hand to her feet. It was even harder to bank her curiosity after that statement. She wanted to know more––needed to know more.

Wade must have read her expression because he raised an eyebrow. “Put it this way, if Maggie saw it, she’d be unhappy.”

“Has she met your mother?”

“Yes, several times,” Wade said before looking down at the floor.

Dana cleared her throat. 

“I see your point. Well… maybe that’s why she’s been holding back. Because you haven’t shared yours.”

Wade bit his full lower lip while he thought about it. 

“No, I don’t think that’s it. We’ve talked about mine at length. She hasn’t asked to see it, and she’s satisfied with my summarizing it. With hers, there’s nothing. She won’t even say if it’s from a family member or a friend.” He ran a hand through his brown curls. She’d seen that tick before when he was anxious. “I wish she’d say something about it like you have. You and I have no problem talking about our messages. What’s on hers that she doesn’t want me to see?”

Dana was pondering the same question. Maggie was hiding something. Something so big she didn’t want her boyfriend to know. Though it fed into her suspicions of the woman, this wasn’t the time to tell Wade that.

“I can’t answer that. But you obviously care for her as much as she cares for you. There’s no reason to push her. Be there for her when she’s ready.”

The words were out of her mouth before she’d thought about them. Dana leaned down, putting her hands to the floor attempting to hide her face as she changed the subject. 

“You could invite her to come workout with you in the mornings. Maybe that will get her talking. She’ll be too exhausted to resist.”

“Yeah, right,” he scoffed. “Have you met Maggie? She doesn’t wake up until noon, and she works until midnight. Besides… she doesn’t exactly know I meet up with you every morning.”

His words caught up to her brain a second later, and she took a step back from him. 

“Wait, what?”

His mouth opened to answer when a loud boom, followed by the rocking of the room, brought them to their knees. They both scrambled to get back to their feet, running for the comms a moment later. Dana put her hand over the panel and spoke.

“Status? Are we under attack?”

“No, it originated inside the ship.”

Something rocked the ship a second time. A wave of electricity ripped through the panel to her hand, coursing up her arm. She flew backward hard against Wade, who’d been right behind her, and crashed onto the mat several feet away. They peeled themselves off the floor and crawled for the door. Wade reached it first. Dana watched him grip its edges through blurred vision, trying to force the sealed doors apart. He was beating on the door and calling for help when dizziness overtook her. 

She shook her head in a feeble attempt to force back the blackness creeping along the edges of her vision but failed.

Dana opened her eyes, trying to make sense of her surroundings, but everything was so dark, she couldn’t make them out. 

Panic filled her when she realized she couldn’t see. 

She must have screamed, because suddenly heavy hands grabbed at her. She slapped at them. The annoying humming in her ears blocked all sound from getting through, even her own voice. 

Then she felt the soothing touch of fingers on the side of her face. The figure leaned closer, and she could barely make out Wade’s features. She wasn’t blind, her eyes were beginning to adjust to the dark. Dana stopped hitting at the hands and relaxed into them.

His mouth opened and closed in wide, exaggerated movements. He wanted to kiss her? That had to be it. He’d turned off the lights and lit the candles. She arched her back and lifted her chin toward him. He was so handsome. She remembered the feel of his kisses as her eyes fluttered closed, awaiting the warmth of his mouth on hers. 

Then his strong hands shook her. Her eyes went to his shadowed face again. Something had made his features so severe. Why was he so angry? No… not angry… worried. Something made his features so severe. What had she done to cause that facial expression? Did it have something to do with the dark.

The room was still tilting and spinning as Dana reached out a hand to rest it on the side of his face. She wanted to make the dizziness stop and after a long span of silence the room’s gyrations slowed. Wade smiled down at her, his mouth moving again. What was he saying? 

Even with the buzzing gone, it was like listening through water. Dana reached up to rub her ears, finding they were wet. Had they been swimming? She tried to look at her brown hand, but it was invisible in the dark. The skin of her hand hurt as if it had been burned, and she couldn’t see why. The buzzing in her ears was still too loud. Her hand went to her mouth where Wade hadn’t kissed her, then to her face. 

“Dana, can you hear me?” Wade’s voice filtered in through the buzzing. He still sounded too far away.

“My ears are ringing,” Dana said as she tried to sit up. “What happened?”

His hand was heavy against her chest, forcing her back down. 

“Not yet. You’re hurt. Let me find something to help.”

The haze in her mind was parting, and she was beginning to remember where she was. Dana lay still, her back against the mat of the exercise room floor, assessing her injuries. It was taking her mind longer than it should have to replay the last things she remembered. They’d been sparring a few moments ago… had he knocked her out? No… they’d both been on their feet near the door. They’d been talking about Maggie… 

Her face burned as she realized she’d almost reached up and kissed him in her semi-conscious delusion moments ago. She was thankful the dark hid her embarrassment. She’d almost reached up and kissed him in her unconscious delusion. 

Wade gave her just enough time to revel in her embarrassment before he returned with a round, palm-sized flashlight. He set the flashlight down, face up between them, as he worked. He held a couple tubes in one hand and blue bandages in the other. He rubbed a medicinal cream from one tube over her hand, then wrapped it before moving along to tend to the wounds she hadn’t yet noticed further up her arm. Only when he’d finished did he ease her into a sitting position. 

“How long was I out?” 

“A few minutes,” he said, passing her an open water tube. “What’s the last thing you remember?”

She sipped the cool liquid, easing the scratch of her dry throat. “A loud boom.”

“Do you remember me speaking to Cliff over the comms?”

“No, what did he say?”

“That the cause was internal. Then an electrical surge took out the comms with your hand still on it. Blew us both back onto the mat. We shook it off. We were both headed back to the door for help, but when I turned around, you’d passed out.”

“Did anyone hear you?”

“No, and if it took out the communications system and the doors, the damage must be pretty extensive.”

 “So we’re stuck here for now.” Dana looked up. The nearest crawling tubes were three men high. The ceiling was even further up. They’d never reach an exit conduit in a room designed for intense climbing and jumping.

“I’ve already assessed the room,” Wade told her. “There’s no way out of here without help, but at least we’re safe. The equipment is stable, and there’s nothing dangerous to us here.”

Dana hadn’t even considered the equipment; how easily a running machine could have fallen on her while she was out cold. 

Wade positioned himself beside her, his back against the wall. 

“What are you doing?”

“Getting more comfortable,” he said, stretching out his legs and leaning his head against the wall, his eyes closed. 

“Why aren’t you figuring another way out of here?”

“Like I said, there’s no way out.”

How could he be so calm? He sat there, seemingly without a worry about how they’d get out. It was infuriating.

Dana leaned forward until she was on all fours before getting her feet under her. Her knees wobbled, but she stood on her own. She looked back to flash Wade a smile filled with pride, but his eyes were still closed tight. Dana poked out a finger toward his face to catch him peeking, but he didn’t flinch. She snatched up the flashlight and took a tour of the room. 

It was as Wade had told her. The heavy equipment was undisturbed. The vents were too high. Even if there was double the equipment to pile on top of each other, she still wouldn’t be able to reach them. Dana checked behind panels and shifted a rack of towels to one side to look for more ventilation shafts, but found nothing. 

She circled the room until she stood in front of the main doors again, the charred remains of the console reminding her of what had happened. Thankfully it hadn’t been a full console terminal, or she might not have survived the electrical surge. Dana beat the edge of her left fist against the doors and shouted for help. Then she leaned against the door, pressing her ear to it, and listened for anything coming from the other side. 

Nothing.

Defeated, Dana returned to where she’d been sitting and slid down to sit next to Wade to wait, placing the flashlight face up again between them.

His smirk was back. “Told you.” His smirk was back.

“I needed to see for myself.”

“Feel that?”

Dana put her palms against the mat and nodded. “We’re not moving.”

“I think whatever it was took out the engines. We’re not going anywhere.”

“I should go stand by the door in case someone passes by.”

Dana moved to stand, but Wade’s hand snaked out and grabbed her shoulder, avoiding her burned arm. He turned his head and opened one eye.

“Not so fast. You need to relax.”

“I’m the captain of this ship. I believe you take your orders from me, not the other way around.”

The look she gave his hand, still on her shoulder, would have melted any other officer. Wade, however, held her gaze. His hand remained firm, keeping her in place.

“You’re injured, and the dizziness could return,” he reasoned. “It would be great if you didn’t make things worse for me.”

“For you?”

“Yes. As you said, you’re the captain. If you become incapacitated because of your stubbornness, I’ll be in command of the ship, and then I’ll be forced to work.”

The laugh escaped before she could slap her good hand over her mouth. Dana quickly regained her composure and shrugged off his hand. He let go, and she settled in next to him, careful not to touch him. She still gave him a side glare, though, wanting to wipe that know-it-all smirk off his face. 

“They’ll come for us,” he said. “Just wait.”

“Fine.” 

They sat in companionable silence. Dana had lost track of just how long they waited before something knocked against the gymnasium doors. Before Wade managed to pull her to her feet, something else hit the door with a loud metal-on-metal thwack. She and Wade were standing side-by-side when a male ARI with short blond hair forced the doors apart.

From behind it, Maggie came rushing in, the flashlight in her hand shining blindingly into their eyes.

“Hey, do you mind?” Dana asked, throwing up a hand.

“Oops.” 

The light in Maggie’s hand lowered, and Dana could make out their features again. The ARI remained at the door, but the corridor behind it was still black. It seemed the power was off throughout the ship. She was about to ask about it when Maggie stopped in her tracks, looking Wade up and down. Then her eyes went to Dana’s burned arm. 

Maggie lifted her left hand to her hip and shook her head. “Well. Looks like you figured out how to get him out of his clothes again, Captain.”

Dana’s mouth fell open, but before she could respond, Wade was moving forward and wrapping his arms around Maggie. 

“Come on, Mags, it’s nothing. I sacrificed my shirt to save my Captain’s injured arm.”

To her horror, Dana looked over and realized that the blue strips wrapped around her hand and arm had come from the shirt he’d been wearing during his workout. He’d been sitting there bare-chested the entire time, and she hadn’t even noticed in the dark. 

Maggie’s pink lower lip protruded in a pout. She glanced around the room, as if expecting to see someone else. No doubt she was wondering what they were doing in the gym alone together.

Wade shrugged it off. 

“You know me. I’m quick to provide help to a damsel in distress.” He gave her a playful pinch at her waist and a peck on the cheek. He guided Maggie toward the door, then turned to smirk at Dana behind her back.

Dana set her teeth and balled her left hand into a fist. 

To make matters worse, Wade paused leaning toward the ARI to speak, 

“The captain needs medical attention. Make sure she gets to the med-bay.”

Dana wanted to scream at him, but she had a pounding headache, and burns that needed attention. Besides, it wouldn’t do her any good to be seen wearing strips of her first officer’s shirt.

“See what’s going on in the engine room, Commander, then report to the bridge,” Dana said to his back. 

“Yes, Captain.”

Maggie giggled at something he said in her ear as he leaned on her for support. They didn’t appear to be a couple having problems, like Wade had hinted at. Maggie had come straight away to help him, knowing where he was even if she didn’t know with whom. Wade might have been exaggerating.

“I am perfectly capable of carrying you to the medical bay, Captain.” The ARI held out its arms. Both were covered by sleeves, but the left hand lacked the realistic skin of the right, exposing the internal wiring and metal.

Dana gave his arms a measured look before she turned her attention to its face. The ARI was almost twice her size, but she still managed to look down her nose at him.

“Try it, and I’ll have you disassembled and used for scrap.”

***To Be Continued***

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In case you’re just waking up, I have a huge announcement and it couldn’t wait for the second of January.

Starship Hope: Exodus has arrived and I can’t wait for you to sink your teeth into this new and improved story of Hope Saved.

The first version of the story was published a couple of years ago and didn’t have the beef it has now. I mean there’s a reason why people go boneless.

The story picks up where the prequel leaves off.

Wait! You haven’t read the prequel?

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VIP Readers already have the link to a digital copy in your inbox.

If you’re not signed up as a VIP then what are you waiting for?

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About the Book

One ship. One stowaway. Too many terrorists and no turning back.

Since the death of her father, Captain Dana Pinet has always wanted to follow in his footsteps and go on missions to deep space. The opportunity arrives when she’s chosen to lead an elite crew to explore uncharted space to find a new planet for her people. The world government is hiding the whole truth. A planet-killing asteroid is already on its way. The secret designed to keep their people from panicking has birthed a terrorist group bent on exposing the truth whatever the cost.

When rebels manage to escape the planet onboard the Starship Hope, Dana will be forced to make a choice between duty to her crew or following orders. Her choice right or wrong could be the thing that destroys the last remnant of humans in the galaxy.

If you like complicated female heroines committed to duty, heart, and home you’ll love the beginning of a new science fiction adventure featuring Captain Dana Pinet. Begin Exodus, the exciting first book in the action-packed space opera series Starship Hope by T.S. Valmond, today.

Exodus is now available on Amazon!

DAY 200

DANA

Dana Pinet watched world events unravel like a kitten’s worn-out ball of string. She processed the scattered bits of news, piecing them together to gain a better picture of where the world government was on the Hope project. The rise of taxes, the price of fuel, and the development of new technologies all got equal attention as she imagined the government stockpiling for the mission.

She followed former crew members’ movements and reassignments for clues on who would be part of Hope’s crew. Dana didn’t like the idea of having her crew picked for her, but this was a unique situation. Top-ranking government officials would screen and come to a consensus on every potential crewman, evaluating their deep-space compatibility, as well as analyzing their comprehensive abilities. 

In her dreams, Dana envisioned living with myriads of people from her past, exploring the galaxy beyond Zelenia’s backyard. 

One face always appeared in every dream, no matter how hard she’d tried to forget him. 

Wade Chance had saved her life. Dana was grateful to him for that, but after her father’s death, she’d ended things with him. Looking back, she knew she could have handled the whole ‘break-up’ situation better, but, at the time, he had been too painful a reminder of what she’d lost. 

Dana’s tablet signaled her next briefing would be starting soon, and she used the device to listen to the news broadcasts while she put on her running shoes. Occasional reports regarding asteroid sightings showed up in her feed. The news was filled with speculation and theories related to the world’s military organization and what they had planned to do about them, considering everything from a manned spacecraft to take them out, to a government conspiracy that the world was ending.

Dana picked up her keys. As soon as she did, Viktor, her golden retriever, came running. He pulled his leash down from the hook and, with it between his teeth, sat expectantly at her heels.

“Sorry, boy, not this time. I promise I’m not going out for a run without you. When I get back, I’ll take you, I promise.” 

She patted Viktor on the head and slipped out the door to her personalized transport, waiting in the drive. Most of her neighbors were heading out to work. Mrs. O’Malley, the grandmother of two who lived in the small sage house across the street, caught her eye. The older woman put down her laser hedge-cutter and waved. Dana waved back, then slid into the front seat of the small vehicle. The tablet connected with the audio system, broadcasting the latest world news as she settled into her seat, her eyes on the screen.  

The transport was the color of liquid silver, and traveled on the ground with four rubber wheels, like the antique cars from the Blue Earth’s documented history. The main difference between the two was the lack of glass windows beside each seat. The interior temperature was controlled by the COMP system, and the dash displayed her location and the positions of the other vehicles on the road, eliminating the need for glass windows to see out through Most of the time Dana used the self-driving option so she could focus on the news or her reports on her way to mission briefings. 

On the tablet’s screen, a man with an impeccable gray suit to match his salt and pepper hair broke down the latest information.

“Reports say that the asteroid conspiracy group has yet to choose a name for themselves, though they insist that the threat to the planet is real. They are not identifying themselves, they say, due to the threat to their lives.”

After a twenty-minute commute to the center of the city from her home, Dana parked her transport off to one side of the designated road, slipping her tablet into a hidden compartment under her seat. She climbed out holding her access card and ran down the beach, heading due east. A thin crowd of people dotted the sand, taking up residence on brightly colored blankets and portable chairs with large umbrellas to block out the morning sun’s intensity. 

Dana slowed down, scanning the spattering of faces until she spotted the man with the dark glasses over his eyes and the bald head. He wore a trench coat the color of wet dirt and sat on a wooden bench with his face tilted toward his shoes. A white cane with red paint halfway up its length rested at his side. She greeted him as instructed.

“Be careful, the sun is high today,” she said as she jogged by.

“Thank you, I will,” replied the man, and slipped a brown cap over his head.

He’d be signaling the door now. In her head, Dana counted the steps as she ran from the signal light post. It was green, so as soon as her foot hit the pavement, she began the count. She made it to forty-three before she reached the back door of the restaurant. Stretching out her legs, she pressed her hand to the panel on the wall and let the plate scan her palm print. The door opened, and a uniformed officer sitting on a metal chair stood up to salute her as she entered.

“Good morning, Captain. They’ve got your things in the changing room on the left.”

“Thanks, Charlie,” she said. “I saw the Cyclones lost again this week. How are you doing?”

From their first meeting, Charlie Kipke’s warm smile and round face welcomed her as if he’d always known her. She’d never gotten around to asking him if he’d worked with her father.

“I’m fine. They’ll get’em next time, Captain.”

“Dana,” she corrected. 

“Whatever you say.” His staunch refusal to call her by her first name was an ongoing joke.

“Okay, Charlie, see you next time.”

“No problem, Captain.” He held her gaze, making it clear he had no intention of ever calling her anything else. 

She shook her head and jogged down the corridor, where she reached the changing room on the left. The outside of the door was biocoded and marked: RESTRICTED ACCESS, to keep out the restaurant staff and droids. Her palm-print granted her access. The artificial lighting was dim compared to the bright sun outside and the room always carried the scent of floor cleaner. She spotted the enclave of lockers and sat down on the bench to remove her running shoes. Her last name with first initial was tagged on a locker in the second row third from the end. It popped open when she pressed her thumb to the biocoded lock.

They’d given her a uniform identical to the one she wore on assignment. By the time she’d dressed, her escort had arrived—a female guard with a no-nonsense gaze that didn’t waver as she turned to lead her to the room where Major Thompson waited with several others, including General Hughes, his eyes droopier than usual. 

The room, hidden behind the restaurant’s bar, was as unimpressive as it had been the first time she’d entered. Dana wondered why the world government continued to use the establishment for their monthly meetings on the new project. By now, they should at least be on the base where the starship’s being built, she thought. 

Plain, undecorated walls surrounded them on all sides, and a large oval table dominated the center of the room. The seven officials, introduced to her at previous meetings, sat waiting as she took her seat beside Major Thompson and across from General Hughes, who led the meetings. His droopy eyes were tired but sharp as he spoke.

“It’s time to inform the public about project Hope.” 

“Now?” The question came from Major Thompson.

“Yes. The ship is nearing completion,” General Hughes continued turning his attention back to Dana. “You’ll be leading our finest, carrying citizens chosen to be the foundation stones of our society in the unknown world. The date of your departure will need to remain classified until the last moment. We’ll release some details of your voyage to the press in the months to come.” 

Dana listened with interest. Until now, she’d had to keep her excitement at bay, unsure she’d get to keep her commission. She knew how these things went. At any moment, the project could get another mission, a better captain, a change of administration, and she’d be out. But now they were ready to go public with her name as the captain, finally making the whole thing real.

General Hughes looked her way. “Do you understand what’s next?”

“As I understand it, General, you plan to begin evacuations as soon as we have the coordinates of the new planet,” she said, reciting what she’d been told in previous meetings. 

“That’s correct, Captain. We have every confidence in your ability to find us a new home. Your name will be in the headlines as Hope’s new captain. As the face of this project, they’ll naturally be curious about you. Several reporting agencies will want to do some interviews with you.”

Dana didn’t like the idea of sitting down with nosey reporters and spilling her guts. However, she knew how these things worked. If she declined it would look bad for the fleet and cause more trouble than it was worth. Better she stick to whatever official statements they had for her.

“What would you like me to say, officially?”

“Officially, nothing. You are free to talk about how you’ll be a part of something top secret, etcetera. Other than your personal feelings and reflections, you cannot say anything. As far as you know, there’s no production schedule or flight trajectory. There will be experts to speak for the agency to the press, and we’ve got a digital file of talking points we’re sending to your tablet. In general, stick to things you know, like your own business, and perhaps even your father. Reminding the public of what your father did for us will install confidence in the project and help the public perception of our activities.”

“Understood, sir.” She didn’t like the idea of using her father’s memory in that way, though she understood the need for the public to be on their side. 

General Hughes must have misinterpreted her facial expression for uncertainty. “Without specific details, you won’t have to lie. This will make all of your appearances and interviews more genuine. There’s nothing worse than military personnel trying to make a lie look believable.”  Hughes glanced around the table and then with a nod stood. “That’s all we have for you today, Captain.”

“Thank you, sir.” Dana stood. 

Major Thompson rose from his chair and waved her over to join him. “A moment, Captain.” He lowered his voice as he walked her to the door, letting the others file out ahead of him. “Your mother will know there’s more to it. Do your best to keep it from her.”

A twinge of pain struck her heart. She shook her head. “She won’t ask questions.” 

Major Thompson waited for a beat, as if wondering if she would say more. She didn’t.

“Oh. Well… if she does, and you find yourself in a tough spot, I’ll be happy to talk to her for you.”

The major had known her mother since Dana was a child. He’d served with her father, like many retired Space Fleet officers. Despite him and his wife spending time with her parents while Dana was young, he didn’t know her mother anymore. The woman hated any reminder of the past, including her own child. 

Dana wished she could confide in him—or anyone, for that matter—but it felt too much like a betrayal. Her mother was her problem, and Dana couldn’t imagine her father wanting his old friends prying into the dysfunction that was her mother. She didn’t want them digging into her repressed emotions, either. Dana admitted to herself, alone, that she didn’t want any of them knowing what her father’s death had cost her.

EARTHA

“I can’t believe we’re doing this,” Eartha said. She was so nervous it was like a buzzing along her skin that never stopped even as she bounced up and down on the end of her best friend’s twin bed. She envied the bubble-gum-pink color on the walls and the posters of famous boy band members Becky’s mother let her put up. Eartha complained to her parents her own eggshell-colored walls were too boring, and that she wanted more than the displays of the galaxy and scientific tables. What she got was a boy band calendar with twelve months of touring pictures that hung on the back of her bedroom door. 

Though drab in comparison, Becky never said a peep about it when she came over.

“Just take a deep breath and remember to smile,” Becky said, taking a deep breath and smiling to demonstrate.

“Why would I smile? It’s not like he can see me.”

“He’ll hear it in your voice, making him smile, too. It’s psychology.”

Becky’s mom was a psychologist. It was no wonder her daughter knew all kinds of things about body language and behavior she’d read from the antique books her mother kept in their study. Becky’s bright eyes slanted like a cat’s when she was pleased about something. At the moment, they were wide open, her lashes reaching up to her sculpted eyebrows. 

Eartha shook her head, already losing her nerve. “This is dumb.”

“Don’t be silly. Do you want a boyfriend this summer, or not?”

Eartha bit down on her lower lip. She weighed the pros and cons in her head, as she did for any choice, and came up with more cons to having a boyfriend than to not having one. The problem was that being kissed weighed heavily on the pro side. 

“You’re going to be thirteen soon. Are you going to wait until high school to find your first boyfriend?” Becky placed the palm-sized phone in Eartha’s hand. The purple, sequined case had been the only decorative concession her mother allowed. 

Becky’s reasoning made sense. She and Becky had been best friends since the fourth grade. Back then, Becky had been friends with Tammy. When Becky decided she preferred hanging out with Eartha, Tammy had gotten jealous and planned to beat up Eartha after school. Becky stepped in, giving Tammy a hard hit across the nose, which kept the girl from ever bothering either of them again. From then on Eartha had gone along with all of Becky’s plans no matter how insane. 

Becky had no fear when it came to trying new things. It was a quality Eartha envied, but often needed help to accomplish. This was just another one of Becky’s adventures, and Eartha needed a push if she was going to keep up with her friend. Eartha didn’t want to be the only girl in high school who’d never had a boyfriend, but that didn’t mean she was ready to call up a boy and ask him out.

“Okay, but what if he says no?”

“He’s not going to say no. Boys are desperate. The fact you’re even giving him any attention at all will make him like you. I swear.” She shrugged. “And if you don’t want to start with James, we have six more we can try.”

Eartha didn’t want to do this one time, let alone six. Besides, the rest of the list had been more for Becky’s benefit than her own. Eartha had a major crush on James Geyer. At fourteen, he was a year older, and had wavy brown hair and killer dimples. Last year, they’d been in some of the same classes but this year he’d already gone to high school. He was the only boy she’d ever noticed in school. He played every sport and had tons of friends. They’d watched James on the field once, so confident in leading the other boys. Eartha saw how the others respected him and had developed the embarrassing habit of sighing whenever he was around. The rumor was he didn’t have a girlfriend yet, which according to Becky, meant she had a chance.

Once Becky learned of Eartha’s interest, she’d made it her mission to get them together. Eartha didn’t think James had even noticed her. Becky swore he’d looked over at her during soccer practice two days in a row. Eartha struggled to believe it, but ever since she couldn’t stop picturing James holding her hand at the high school and telling everyone they were a couple.

“My dad won’t let me have a boyfriend,” Eartha said, pushing the phone back at Becky. Yes, she knew she was wimping out, but it wasn’t a lie. She remembered a vague lecture from her father one night after she’d admitted she wanted to go out on dates to fancy restaurants.  

Becky got up from the bed and moved to her vanity to put on more lip gloss. She didn’t actually need any, she just liked the strawberry flavor. 

“We already talked about this. I know you’re freaked, but you’re going to have a boyfriend this summer. Don’t worry, I’ll cover for you. Every time your dad asks you about where you’re going and who you’re with, tell him you’re with me.” Becky sat back down on the bed and passed Eartha the gloss to apply to her own lips. She didn’t need the gloss either. Her lips were oversaturated with the sticky stuff already, and the added gloss just slipped over her lips. Becky picked up the phone, James’ number already cued up, and pushed it toward her friend.

This would be her fourth attempt at calling him in two weeks. The first two times she hadn’t gotten past putting the number in. The third time she’d hung up while it was ringing. But like a dog with a bone, Becky would never let her hear the end of it if she didn’t go through with it this time. 

Eartha closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Becky reached out to grab her hand to steady her and nodded enthusiastically. When she was ready, she smiled and Becky handed her the phone again. Her eyes had gone to pleased cat-like slits.

Eartha’s hand shook as she pressed the link to his preset number. Her heart pounded harder in her chest with each ring. Her forehead broke out in a cold sweat, and she ran the back of her hand over it. When someone finally answered, her eyes flew to Becky’s face.

“Hello?” It sounded like a boy’s voice, but deeper.

“Hi, uh-James?” 

“Sure, just a sec. Hey, Jamie, your phone!” he called out. 

Eartha grabbed for Becky with one hand and the two girls clasped hands. Becky let out a steady, high-pitched squeal in anticipation.

In the background, Eartha heard James answer.

“Who is it?”

“I don’t know, some girl.” 

James’s voice moved closer to the phone. Eartha clutched Becky to her.

“Hello?” he said.

“Hello?” Eartha’s throat was so dry the word barely scratched through.

“Hello,” he said again.

Becky reached up and put her finger into the side of Eartha’s cheek to force her to smile. She smiled, but she couldn’t get the words out.

“Hello?” James said into the phone. “Are you there?”

“Hello, James?” 

Before he answered, she hung up and threw the phone across the room. It slid along the carpet before it hit the door with a dull thunk. Eartha looked at Becky, and they both broke out into hysterical laughter. When Becky’s mom opened the door to investigate the commotion, they both jumped as if on fire. She looked down and noticed the phone but didn’t move to pick it up.

“Are you two all right?” 

Eartha looked at Becky before they both fell back on the bed, rolling with laughter.

“You two are silliness to the second power. Come downstairs, they’re about to announce the next winner of the Hope passenger lottery.”

“Do you think we’ll win, mom?” Becky asked hopefully. 

“I don’t know, but we’ll never find out sitting up here giggling.” 

Her mother led the way into the living room and Eartha plopped down on the couch next to Becky who snuggled up next to her mom. The announcer was already up on the vid stream. Becky and her mom had identical straight brown hair and big blue eyes. At their last hair appointment, they’d each gotten bangs, making them look even more alike. Eartha wished she and her mom looked alike. Eartha’s wild black curls stood up all over her head and were nothing like her mother’s blunt bob.

“It’s starting,” Becky’s mom said, excitement tinging her voice. She sat with her legs tucked underneath her and passed them each a small bowl of popcorn from the coffee table.

Eartha murmured her thank you prompting Becky to do the same Then Becky reached for Eartha’s hand, and they clasped pinkies, each chanting at the same time in a whisper:

“Us for one, and one for us.”

***To Be Continued***

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