Dark Metamorphosis
Page 30
“Are they using a Peleusian imaging chamber?” a second voice called out.
Delcor’s newly glum expression revealed how well he understood the implications of that revelation. Calandra’s internal satisfaction seeped out on her face in the form of a triumphant smile. The chief sovereign would not uncover their location through the contact block. The virtual imaging chamber enabled a signal to travel from one side of the planet to the other.
“This is not the last time our faces will be seen and our voices will be heard in Ra’ahm,” Xttra said.
Delcor seized the glowing block as soon as the assembly member approached his chair. He hurled the device to the floor, smashing it into several pieces. That became the final image Calandra saw before the assembly chamber faded away. Rows of narrow vertical lights rematerialized before her eyes.
“You took a major step forward today.”
Calandra wheeled around on the circular platform and faced Kevin. Her Earthian friend cracked a smile. She stepped down from the platform. The vertical lights automatically switched off once she exited the virtual imaging chamber.
“Where is he?” Calandra’s eyes darted around the room. “Where’s Xttra?”
At once, a door slid open to a neighboring room. Xttra stepped through. They ran to each other, and he caught her in a tight embrace. Their lips locked together in the deepest, most passionate kiss Calandra ever experienced. She did not want to let him go. She wanted time to stand still and soak in his lips and his touch for a lifetime.
“I thought I lost you. I missed you so much,” she said.
Tears rushed forth unbidden and choked her voice when Calandra pulled back and spoke to him for the first time in a year. Xttra’s eyes also brimmed with tears, and he embraced her again.
“You’re all I thought about over the past year,” he said. “I missed you too. I love you.”
“I love you too,” she whispered.
They shared a tender, shorter kiss this time. Calandra tilted her head at Kevin after the second kiss. So many questions flooded her mind. She let go of Xttra and approached their Earthian friend.
“How did you find him? Where did you find him?”
“We tracked him down through a Confederation contact who aids our underground refugee network,” he said. Kevin cast his eyes at the ceiling and back at her. “I won’t bore you with the details. The important thing is we brought Xttra home.”
“So, is this home now?” Xttra asked. “We obviously can’t go back to Ra’ahm as long as Delcor remains the chief sovereign.”
Kevin walked over to a nearby window and opened metal slats covering the glass. Sunlight filtered into the room holding the virtual imaging chamber. Calandra and Xttra clasped one another’s hands and approached the window. Her eyes fell on the skyline of Daracos—an expansive Lathoan city. Many rectangular towers climbed skyward around her. Each tower featured a partially embedded spiraled column on every side. Numerous windows covered the columns.
“I’m told you’re welcome to stay in Daracos,” Kevin said. “Daraconiah will grant you asylum. You’ll love it here. A free nation populated by good people.”
“Will Bo’un also be resettled here?” Calandra asked.
“You bet. Once he’s fully healed from his injuries, they’ve got a place waiting for him. Your families and his family will also be granted asylum in this land. The underground refugee network is gathering them from their homes as we speak.”
Xttra looked over at him and nodded. He returned his gaze to the Daracos skyline.
“So, this is our new home.”
Calandra stared out the window, letting those words soak into her mind. It did not matter what place they called home now.
She and Xttra were together again. His presence was more than enough to turn any place into her home. And, for the first time in their lives, they had a chance to experience true freedom.
THE END
ALIEN WORDS PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
Names:
Calandra (Kaw-lan-druh)
Bo’un (Bow-un)
Xttra (Ex-tra)
Kyra (Kai-rah)
Ominade (Aw-min-aid)
Doni (Doh-knee)
Delcor (Dell-core)
Talan (Tay-lun)
Janthore (Jahn-thor)
Zatoriah (Zay-tor-eye-ah)
Sarianna (Sar-e-ahn-na)
Cavac (Kay-vak)
Oogan (Ooh-gun)
Mikkah (Mee-caw)
Menankar (Men-ann-kar)
Ohnro (on-row)
Bathal (Baw-th-all)
Ryollo (Rye-all-oh)
Valadius (vah-lay-de-us)
Alayna (Ah-lay-na)
Locations:
Lathos (Lay-thos)
Rubrum (Rube-rum)
Ra’ahm (Ray-ah-m)
Aramus (Air-am-us)
Thetia (Thet-she-ah)
Sendala (sen-doll-ah)
Peleus (Pell-e-oose)
Aracian (ar-ay-she-un)
Luma (Lou-mah)
Animo (ann-e-moe)
Fengar (Fenn-gar)
Serranta (Ser-ran-tah)
Nectura (Neck-tur-ah)
Daracos (dar-ah-cos)
Daraconiah (dar-ah-co-ne-ah)
Plants, Animals, & Technology:
Ebutoka (E-boo-tow-kaw)
Russakin (Roose-ah-kin)
Cala (Kaw-lah)
Ictus (Ick-tuss)
Sapinoa (Sap-eh-noah)
Setaworm (see-tah-worm)
Senosa (See-nose-ah)
Lupine (lou-peen)
Fraxa (Frax-ah)
Trique (Try-cue)
Arca vox (arc-ah-vox)
Mokai (Moe-kye)
Syri’nai (sear-e-nye)
Maidron (May-drawn)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Being a storyteller is second nature to John Coon. Ever since John typed up his first stories on his parents’ typewriter at age 12, he has had a thirst for creating stories and sharing them with others. John graduated from the University of Utah in 2004 and has carved out a successful career as an author and journalist since that time. His byline has appeared in dozens of major publications across the world.
John has published several popular novels. His debut novel, Pandora Reborn, became an international bestseller on Amazon and ranked as the no. 1 horror novel in Japan for a brief time. His novel Alien People earned distinction as a Top 100 new release and Top 100 bestseller in numerous science fiction categories on Amazon.
John lives in Sandy, Utah. Bookmark his official author page, johncoon.net, to get news and updates on his fiction. You can also connect with John on Twitter (@johncoonsports), Instagram (@jcoon312), and on Facebook (@jcoon).
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Also by John Coon
Alien People Chronicles
Alien People
Dark Metamorphosis (Coming Soon)
Standalone
Pandora Reborn
Under a Fallen Sun
Watch for more at John Coon’s site.