Where am I? Her eyes skittered about the darkness.
“Tor?” Ujaku said.
Her bed. Their new quarters in New Eden. She felt something wet against her skin. Oh, ick. Her favorite XoXo pajamas were soaked with sweat. Gross!
“Hey, are you okay?” he said, more sternly.
Her heart slowed, while mortification set in. “Fine … yeah, I’m ah, I’m okay.”
“What happened?” he said while Maro climbed back into her bed.
“I guess just a bad dream.”
“You mean another bad dream,” Maro said.
She shrugged.
“How long have you been having them?” he asked.
“A while. I didn’t want to bother anyone. So much was going on …”
Ujaku sat on the edge of the bed and gave a reassuring smile. “Wanna talk about it?”
She shrugged, feeling foolish.
“Might help.”
“Might be stupid,” she said, cheeks turning red.
“The sooner you tell him, the sooner we get to sleep,” Maro added.
She huffed. “Fine. Okay. But you said to …” The memories replayed in her mind. “It’s the same most nights. I’m back on Tericn in the Murai Dome—but not version 10 like we know. It felt like, gosh, I dunno, maybe version 4.”
“Four? That’s a while back.”
“I know, right?” She shrugged and laughed. “Maybe I’ve looked at the archives too much. It all seemed pretty real.”
“So what about it,” he said.
She patted next to her. Spark barked and jumped up, snuggling into her. Scratching her head, she tried to string the river of images together in a way she could explain. “There’s these people—dressed all weird, kind of robe-ish things, funny tall hats. You’d laugh. But what they were doing wasn’t funny.”
She cringed. The words hesitated to come out. It felt like saying them would make them happen or something.
“There’s a man, he looked almost Human—short black hair, but funny amber eyes. Something wasn’t right about them—artificial-looking. He kind of looked like Una now that I think about it. They were pounding metal bars through his wrists, right into crossed beams. But he didn’t bleed, not blood like ours anyway. It was a silver liquid. People were cheering. And there was this sign, but I’m never able to read it—it’s always blurry.”
“No more horror movies for you, please,” Maro said.
“And you’re seeing this a lot?” Ujaku said, concerned.
“Almost every night now.”
“Maybe you should talk to someone about this?” he said.
A flurry of holographic cherry blossoms swirled overhead. They gleamed, and from the light, Minea formed before them. “I’m sorry for bothering you guys, I know it’s late and I normally wouldn’t do this, but since you’re up …”
“What, Minea?” she said, fatigue finally catching up with her.
“Una and I were talking, and she said she wanted to talk to you.”
“Sure, I’ll be up in a few hours.”
“No … now. She said it’s important.”
“Right now?” she said, unable to disguise annoyance.
Minea’s head bobbed.
Toriko waved in surrender.
A projection of Una appeared beside Minea. She held in her hand a picture of a man with amber eyes. Toriko gasped, her eyes transfixed upon it.
“What’s wrong?” Ujaku asked.
“Toriko …” Una said. “We need to talk.”
“Una, who is that man?” she asked.
“The man you’re dreaming about is a Metallic from Tericn. A very important one, and we both need your help.”
Author Bio
Michael Zummo was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1974. Some know him as a software developer, others as a usability expert, still others as a board and video game designer. One little boy calls him father.
From his earliest days he was enthralled by computer games, specifically the Sierra On-line adventure games. They inspired his sense of exploration in strange lands, and interactive storytelling.
In 1996, he graduated from Caroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin with a double degree in computer science and communications.
Throughout his winding career in interactive marketing, video game design, and creating user interfaces, each adventure held the same root. What motivated him wasn’t just understanding people and creating digital interactions. Taking people through an experience—on a journey—is his true passion.
Writing has become the ultimate vehicle to make it happen.
Final Note
Thank you very much for reading D’mok Revival: New Eden. I hope you’ve enjoyed the latest installation of this epic adventure, and the first book of the New Eden Saga.
The next book will be the first spin-off series, Weun Academy: The Boy with the Green eyes. Please head to http://www.dmokrevival.com for developing news.
In the meantime, I love getting feedback from fans. Hearing what you liked and didn’t like helps me refine future stories and become a better writer. If you’re interested, you can email me directly at [email protected]. You can also post comments or send me messages on the D’mok Revival Series Facebook page.
Lastly, my goal is to share this story with as many people as possible. I truly love the characters and believe many people will be able to identify with their experiences and personal struggles. If you could, I would deeply appreciate if you would post your review of D’mok Revival: New Eden on Amazon.com.
Regardless of how good or bad you felt about the story, feedback is paramount not only for me as a writer, but also for the community of science fiction fans. We will all benefit from your honest opinion. Please provide as many non-spoiler specifics as possible when you post.
Thank you again for your time and support.
Sincerely,
Michael Zummo
Table of Contents
Copyright
Dedication
Author's Note
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapters 1: The Dark Heart
2: Retaking Abunai
3: Spaced Man
4: New Eden
5: The Nasidrac
6: Enemy Outpost
7: Incursion
8: The Snare
9: Cat & Mouse
10: River of Beasts
11: Monster Hunting
12: Return to Argosy
13: Road to Liberation
14: Godly Intervention
15: The Prison Planet
16: The Hole
17: Fists of Fury
18: The Infirmary
19: Liberation
20: Fallout
21: The Aloans
22: Anaka
23: The Ruse
24: The HoverDome
25: Wounded Warriors
26: Eclipse of the Son
27: Return to Aeun
28: Jask's Wrath
29: Filicide
30: All against One
31: Karmic Law
32: Remediation
Epilogue
Author Bio
Final Note
D'mok Revival 4: New Eden Page 38
