by Lea Kirk
Storo chuckled. “What is so important that you have commed me in the midst of your—what did you call it? Ho-nee-moon?”
“I have a question about atolce. Sakura and I have been told by pretty much everyone that it’s effective immediately.”
“It is.”
“Are there any cases when it’s not?”
Silence. Then, “What is it you are not saying, Nick.”
There was no way to explain without telling Storo what they’d just discovered. He glanced down at Sakura again with what he hoped was an apologetic look. She shrugged. “Sakura’s about a month pregnant.”
Oh, god, it must have happened the night they christened the lab table. When his pants had been around his ankles. Jesus, if Storo ever found out he’d never hear the end of it.
“You mean you did not wait?”
“Wait?” A bomb was about to be dropped directly on his head, he could feel it coming.
A noise that sounded a lot like choking came from the comm.
“Is he laughing?” Saku asked.
“I think so.”
“Nick,” Storo’s tone was that of a person dealing with a confused child while trying to hide his amusement. “It is effective immediately if the atolce is already in your system, as it is for everyone in the villages, except the two of you. The first injection takes thirty days to become effective.”
The clunk he was sure he’d just heard must have been his jaw landing on the floor. “Are you fucking kidding us?”
“You know I’m not.”
Well, great. Just great. “Why didn’t anyone tell us that before?”
“Why didn’t you ask?”
“Argh!” Sometimes dealing with this particular Anferthian left him with the overwhelming desire to bash his head against a rock. Repeatedly.
“If you had told one of us you were going to use it, the information would have been given to you,” Storo explained.
“I’m putting a warning label on the stuff.”
“This sounds reasonable.”
Nick gave his head a shake. He and Sakura could have run tinan—they should have run tinan—but in the heat of the moment neither of them had. In reality they only had their own complacency to blame.
“Fair warning, my friends,” Storo’s voice interrupted his thoughts. “Do not expect to see too much of the child once it is old enough to be away from you. Already the little one is fyhen, you understand. All the Anferthian aunts and uncles will want their time.”
Nick released a gusty sigh. “Fine. Just keep this to yourself for now, please, Storo.”
“You know secrets do not keep in these villages,” Storo replied. “No one will disturb you today though, I assure you. Enjoy your day off.”
The comm clicked off and Nick met Saku’s gaze.
“I am so sorry about this, Nick,” she whispered.
“I’m not.” Despite the momentary shock of unexpected impending parenthood, it was the truth. He lifted the covers, climbed in next to her and drew her warm body against his. “We wanted kids eventually, right? This one is just coming a little bit sooner than we’d expected.”
Tears began rolling from her eyes at an alarming rate. “How did I not know I was pregnant?”
“Because you didn’t think to look?”
She sniffed. “No, I did not.”
He smoothed his hand over her hair. “And neither did I.”
Silence descended and with it a new batch of concerns rose up. Holy crap, they were having a baby. Life was about to change, again. Their child would grow up on an alien planet, see and do things he and Sakura never imagined as children.
A small chuckle slipped out.
“What?” Saku asked.
He covered her abdomen with his hand. “With all those Anferthian aunts and uncles hanging around, I hope our kid learns to walk before the age of twelve.”
Sakura’s eyes sparkled with humor. “We are going to have a good life, Nick, you know that, right?”
“I can’t wait.” He dipped his head to taste her lips. “I love you, Sakura Yamata.”
Her hand slid over his abs heading south. “I love you too, Nicholaus Bock.”
The End
Glossary of Words
A
Ades – (Matiran) Brother.
Anferthians – The alien race which invaded Earth and were repelled in Prophecy, Book One. Lanky & Tall 8.5-12 ft. on average. Skin color: various shades of green from sage to olive to forest green. Military wears black uniforms.
Arruch Party –The political party in power on Anferthia. disposers of the Ymero (emperor of Anferthia). Lead by Divine Warden Isel T’orr who masterminded the coup to dispose of the Ymero (emperor of Anferthia)
Atolce –Anferthian contraception shot
Animi – Matiran term of affection for “my soul”.
B
Byssys – A Matiran manufactured all-season material.
C
D
Dimmi – (Matiran) Forgive me.
Diorga –Matiran healing process of reorganizing memories.
Disipula – (Matiran) Personal student. The disipula-magister relationship is deeper than that of a regular student-teacher. They become like family. Although the magister may teach other students, they make a personal investment in their disipula and is their advocate.
Dissenters – A group of Anferthian military personnel who defied the Arruch party and helped free Terr from their control. The dissenters are now considered traitors and marked for death by their own government. They have been given sanctuary at an undisclosed location on Matir.
Doen – (Anferthian) Yes.
Dormio – (Matiran) Healing command to put a patient to sleep.
E
Eno anim – (Matiran) Union of Souls, or the birth of soul mates.
Evo – (Matiran) The command to wake someone from an induced slumber (dormio).
F
Fusil – (Anferthian) An Anferthian gun similar to a Matiran telum.
Fyhen – (Anferthian) My Own. A person, or persons, so important and treasured by an Anferthian that they’d lay down their life for them.
G
Gift – A genetic preternatural power that causes each Matiran to excel in a particular area. Healing, strategy, empathy. Gryf Helyg has a rare gift of being able to instill reason in the midst of chaos, which is especially handy in volatile situations.
H
Healing – The vocation or calling of a particular Matiran’s preternatural Gift.
I
-iad – (Anferthian) An endearment added to the name of an Anferthian’s love, lover, sweetheart.
Ithemba – Outlawed drug historically used to torture or interrogate another. Originally from a planet called Zuatia.
J
K
Kagi – (Matiran) The ammunition used for telums.
Kilots – Matiran unit of measure equal to a kilometer.
L
Labu-ba – (Anferthian) An Anferthian short-bladed knife.
Lambich – (Anferthian) Word to turn on a voice activated lighting fixture
Lini – (Anferthian) Little one, a term of affection.
Lutep – (Matiran) Portable solar-powered units which provide light and heat.
Luz-ba – (Anferthian) And Anferthian long-bladed knife.
M
Magister – (Matiran) Mentor or master. The magister- relationship is deeper than that of a regular teacher-student. A magister may teach other students, but they make a personal investment in their disipula, becoming their advocate.
Matir – The mother world of the Matiran people; very much like Earth, except the sky is lavender instead of blue.
Matiran – The indigenous peoples of Matir; hair & eye colors vary but all have skin in similar shades of blue.
N
Nac – (Anferthian) No.
Nulk – (Anferthian) To fuck.
O
P
Pas – (Matiran) Peace.
Patoma tree – indigious tree in the mountainous regions of Matir’s southern hemisphere. Its leaves are thick and spongy.
Profetae – (Matiran) Alexandra Bock & Gryf Helyg together as the fulfillers of the Profeti.
Profeta – (Matiran) Alexandra’s title as the female half of the Profetae.
Q
R
Reliquary – A pendant worn by Anferthians. Very little is known about the purpose of a reliquary, but it’s sacred to the Anferthians.
Ropo – (Matiran) Male friend.
S
Ska – (Matiran) An all-purpose swear word.
Sobin – (Matiran) Cousin. One of the few gender neutral words in Matiran.
T
Terr – Matiran for Earth. Short for Terrinia. Derived from the Matir word “terrania”, meaning kindred.
Terrian – What the Materians and the Anferthians call Earthlings.
Telum – (Matiran) Gun. It is a stealth weapon and is virtually silent when shot.
Tinan – Matiran word used with their Gift to prevent pregnancy.
Tirik – (Anferthian) The ritual plait or braid traditional plait worn by Anferthian adults.
Torpe – Matiran word for a healer to set up a pain block
U
Unified Defense Fleet – A joint military venture between Terr and Matir. The UDF replace the Matiran Defense Fleet and the Guardian Defense Fleet from Prophecy, Book One. Uniforms are dark grey.
V
Vis-comm – Intergalactic word for long-distance Visual Communication.
W
X
Y
Ymero –A dynasty of leaders who have ruled Anferthia for millennia. Overthrown in a coup by the Arruch Party. (Fem.: Ymere). The last ymero’s name was Zular B’aq.
Z
To my dear readers:
Thank you for the privilege of entertaining you for a while. Writing Salvation was a joy and a challenge, and I hope you enjoyed your time on Matir. True to form, Nick was a stinker from the beginning, refusing to tell me his story in anything more than dribs and drabs. I have come to think of him as the sixth child in my nerd-herd. (For those of you who don’t know, I have five real-time children who I refer to as my nerd-herd.) Fortunately, he and I finally reached an understanding and he started talking to me. This story got out a little later than I’d anticipated, but it is out. Yay!
A little side note, Sakura is part of me in a way no other character in the series is. She represents my childhood, most of which was lived in Japan. The Japanese cherry trees hold a special meaning to me. Many childhood memories were made playing in their branches every spring.
Nick and Sakura’s story is essential to the arc of the Prophecy Series as they play a role in the next book, Collision, which will be out sometime in 2017.
Keep an eye on my website and other social media sites for excerpts and progress reports for Collision. Also, take a look at the end of all this back matter for another gift from me to you. I think you’ll like it.
Until next time, happy reading!
~Lea Kirk
Other Books by Lea Kirk
Prophecy (Book One)
All of Me (Novella)
Acknowledgments
Now, a huge THANK YOU to all those who walked this path to Salvation with me. (Pun totally intended.)
~ To my critique partners, Dena and Dianne, who haven’t changed their phone numbers or blocked me online, yet.
~ To my cousins Taron and Yoshino for being my Japanese translators and cultural advisors. And to Scott for explaining to me that not only is the weather pattern on Matir possible, but also how it’s possible.
~ To my street team beta-readers, Ana, Cherri-Anne, Florrie, and Missy. Also, Dawn, Maggie, Rachel, and Sabine. You gals rock!
~ To my cover artist, Danielle. You did it again!
~ To my editors, Sue and Laurel who keep me in line. Any errors in this book are totally and completely my fault.
~ To my formatter, Nina, who is still a dream to work with.
~ To my blurb-writing team, Cynthia, Kyndra, KM, and Eileen. You jumped in and saved me from losing my mind.
~ To my sisters of the CLAW, Therese and Gail, for keeping it real. Next time we meet, should I bring something “special” for our tea? Beth for urging me out of the house, listening, and just being there to chill with. And to my other sisters and brothers at SFA-RWA and the SFR Brigade for keeping my spirits up.
~ To every single one of you who have bought my books, left reviews, and/or sent me emails. I wish I could thank each of you by name. You are the ones who keep me going. Consider yourselves thoroughly and completely hugged.
~ And, most especially to my family. My hubby, kids, parents, sister, both brothers-in-law, and cousins. You all know me the best and you still put up with me. I couldn’t have asked for a better family.
Author Bio
Lea Kirk loves to transport her readers to other worlds with her science fiction romances. Her fascination with science fiction began at six years old when her dad introduced her to the original Star Trek TV series. She fell in love with the show, and was even known to run through her parents’ house wearing the tunic top of her red knit pantsuit and her white go-go boots pretending to be Lieutenant Uhura. (Hey, it was the ‘70s!)
Her first book, Prophecy, debuted in January 2016. It was followed in April of the same year by a short story, All of Me, which is set in the Prophecy universe. A second Prophecy series short story, Space Ranger, is a part of the Pets in Space anthology. It will be available on its own in 2017.
Ms. Kirk lives in California with her wonderful hubby of twenty-six years and their five kids (aka, the nerd herd). She’s also proud of her seven times great grandson. Apparently her stories will serve as the inspiration for James T. to join Star Fleet Academy. She learned this in the 1980’s when James sought out her counsel on where to find a pair of humpback whales.
Keep in touch with Lea Kirk
Website
Facebook
Goodreads Author Page
Twitter: @LeaKirkWrites
Here’s a sneak peek at Collision, Book Three of the Prophecy Series:
Collision
Chapter One
Near future Earth
This is stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Flora Grace MacDonald Bock ground her teeth together, and bunched the skirt of her sundress in her fists. She didn’t want to stand in the hot sun with her adoptive parents, brother, sister, and countless dignitaries from Terr and Matir … and the entire town of New Damon Beach. She didn’t want to smile and be polite. And she definitely did not want to give a warm, New Damon Beach style welcome to the first ever Anferthian ambassador to Earth.
But since when did a ten-year-old’s opinion on politics matter? It was her “duty” as the daughter of the Profetae—the peacemakers. Mama and Poppy had freed Earth from Anferthian occupation, and they still worked to strengthen Terrian and Matiran relations with those killers. How were they going to keep the peace if they allowed the invaders back on Terr?
Mama’s cool fingers slid over her knuckles and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Ambassador K’nil’s party will disembark from their shuttle soon, sweetie.”
Translation from Mom-ese: Stop wrinkling your dress, Flora.
She forced her hands to release the tortured teal material. Who really cared how her dress looked, or if the Anferthians were impressed by the condition of her clothes? Why did they have to come anyway? They invaded Earth. They killed Mother and Father. She hated them—all of them. Stinking oversized, green-skinned ’Ferths.
She glanced up at her adoptive parents. Mama’s dark hair was pulled into a bun, her fair skin shaded by a white, wide-brimmed sun hat. On her other side, Poppy held Mama’s hand, looking so handsome in his full-dress Unified Defense Fleet admiral’s uniform. The dark grey material complimented his blue Matir
an skin tone. Three years ago Flora didn’t think she’d ever be happy again, but Mama and Poppy changed that when they adopted her and two other orphans of the invasion, Juan and Maggie.
But they were more than just her parents, or the Profetae. They were also soul mates, bound together in this life and the next, which was the most romantic thing ever. If she had soul mate, he would be noble, and strong, and they’d keep the Anferthians from invading anyone’s planet ever again. Just like Mama and Poppy.
She loved them so much, and that was the only reason she was standing here on the hottest day of the year. No matter how she felt, she never wanted to disappoint them.
She blew her breath through her teeth with a soft hiss. If only the ambassador didn’t have to bring his eleven year old grandson. But he was, and that meant she was part of the entertainment committee for the little green monster. Argh.
Okay, maybe he wouldn’t be so little. Adult Anferthians were nine to twelve feet tall, so he’d be a lot taller than her for sure. Although, she was pretty tall for a ten-year-old Terrian—five feet, four and three quarters inches. And when she grew up, she’d be taller than Poppy’s six foot one. At least that’s what Uncle Dante said, and he was a healer, so he would know.
The Unified Defense Fleet honor guard snapped to attention, and Flora jerked her head up. Here they come. She squinted at the ambassador’s delegation, their figures distorted by waves of shimmering heat as they crossed the new-mowed tarmac. Time to paste a fake smile on her face and pretend she was happy to see them. Ha!
As their forms emerged from the wavy mirage, her gaze settled on the shortest member of their delegation. The little monster. She drew her brows together. No way was he eleven. He was too short, only a few inches taller than her, and she was five feet six inches. Super tall for her age, but still. The little monster should be at least a foot taller than her.
She leaned close to her brother’s ear. “He’s a shrimp.”
Juan glared at her. Oops. Height was a sore subject for him, especially since he was only four months younger, and only four and a half feet tall. Words like shrimp made him cranky.
