by Ava Ryant
Mating Spark
- Praesidio Corp Book One -
By Ava Ryant
Copyright © 2017
All Rights Reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical or otherwise without written permission from the author.
Book Cover Design Copyright © 2017 A. Reed
Stock Images Purchased through Shutterstock License
WARNING!
This book contains explicit sexual content and graphic language not suitable for anyone under 18.
BE ADVISED!
This is a work of fiction and I take poetic license with some of my “scientific” facts and theories!
Table of Contents
Glossary of Terms
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Epilogue
Glossary of Terms
Praesidio - Transformed Humans
Un-Alt - Slang for an Unaltered Human
Kraith - Parasitic Alien Race of Pirates/Invaders
Laren - Ancient Alien Race
La’Ra - Mother
La’Ro - Father
Ey’La - Grandmother/Elder Female
Ey’Lo - Grandfather/Elder Male
La’Rianne - Madam/Lady
La’Ronne - Sir/Lord
Principal - Senator
Ainm - Family Group/Clan
Annum - Earth Year
Ailon - Timespan equal to 60 Earth Days
Revs/Revolution - Day
Annex - Male Reproductive Organ
Lunet - Derogatory Insult for a Female
Prologue
“Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.” - Arthur C. Clarke
Earth was invaded by aliens. It was still so surreal to even think that, but it actually happened. Six years ago, I remember my twenty-one year old self, taking off from college for a long weekend in New York City with her two best friends. Happy, excited and eager for some fun, what happened next was…nothing but a nightmare.
The days that followed the invasion are a red haze of chaotic, pain-filled memories and terror in my mind. I remember walking in Times Square and suddenly looking up as darkness clouded overhead and seeing a massive shape in the sky…a spaceship…an alien spaceship. It was…unthinkable. Humans hadn’t managed to explore much of space, we knew of no other sentient life in the universe. But it appears they knew about us.
Massive creatures started to appear on the streets, they were easily twenty feet tall, they reminded me a little of Sigourney Weaver’s “Alien” movie, but with less tentacles and what looked like scaly leather green and yellow skin. They were horrifying to look at. I could see them firing some type of electrical pulse weapon from a silver staff into the crowd as people began running and screaming. They fell down instantly, unconscious or dead, I didn’t know which. Rebecca and Leigh were screaming something to me, I felt them tugging on my arms to run but I stood frozen. That was when it happened. My mind seized. I don’t know how else to describe it. Pain wracked my body but I couldn’t move. I stood frozen as burning, searing lightning spread throughout my limbs and I was sure I would die from the agony of it. What was happening to me? It seemed to go on forever but in fact lasted maybe a minute or two. When the tortuous pain finally left my body I was transformed.
DNA was discovered in the 1950’s, tons of research and development had been poured into understanding the human genome. Scientists found a lot of what they called junk DNA. They said it was the Leftovers, as we humans evolved we didn’t need it anymore. Turns out…not junk after all. Power unlike any I’d ever felt spread through me. I saw the Aliens in front of me and instinct took over. A powerful need to protect, to fight, to act stole over me. Instinct is a powerful thing.
I fought not with my body but with my mind. I ripped apart the alien in front of me like he was made of tissue paper and kept going. It turns out I was not the only one who was changed. Others around the city had gone through the same metamorphosis and the instinct to fight, to survive, dominated us. All we knew was that they were invaders, Alien. We banded together and battled for our planet, but not every human changed. We still don’t know why. The Aliens, we found out later they were called the Kraith - a parasitic alien race - appeared stunned when we managed to fight back.
Our planet was an undiscovered one to the majority of sentient life in the Universe and the Kraith had wanted to plunder our resources before they could be stopped. That included taking the seven billion humans on our planet as slaves. Their massive fleet of ships hovered over every major city and continent in the world. They were expecting no real defense or resistance as our technology was vastly inferior. Turns out mother-nature built in her own little backup. That junk DNA was there for a reason, acting much like the human immune system. Once detecting a harmful invader to the body the immune system kicked into overdrive to protect and destroy.
We were there to protect the planet from outside forces. For five days we battled. Once they realized we were a true threat they fought back viciously and tried to retreat. By this time we had managed to form a planet-wide resistance between those who had transformed and we were able to communicate and coordinate our attacks. We were zealots; they could not be allowed to leave and come back. We had to destroy them. We tried to protect the unaltered humans but they were virtually defenseless against the Kraith, who killed indiscriminately in an effort to defeat us. So many died. When it was all over our planet was shattered. Most of us lost family, friends, homes, businesses, everything. Entire cities fell to the slaughter. It was heartbreaking, devastating and painful; we managed to defeat the Kraith but lost so much in the process.
Over five years later, the world was a vastly different place from before the invasion. We no longer had separate governments based on territorial borders. With so many dead and the survivors looking for leadership and help…we, took control. Creating one central government, uniting humans as we had never been in our history before. The Republic of Earth was born and the Praesidio created.
Chapter 1
Alexa sighed silently as she listened to the debate between two of her Lieutenants, squabbling about new family housing. She caught the eye of her younger sister and rolled her eyes. Anabel was an Empath and knew what she was feeling even if Alexa’s expression never changed. Anabel gave her a smirk, her blue eyes sparkling with mirth unlike Alexa’s stoic expression. As Chancellor of the Mars Colony she knew she needed to keep an outward appearance of professionalism, even if she wanted to laugh at the absurdity in front of her. Ryker and Justine were inches apart, face-to-face, screaming at each other. They had completely forgotten that the rest of the Council was in the room. Alexa really wished she could order them to just get it on already, she wasn’t even an Empath and the sexual tension between the two were enough to give her hot flashes. Alexa knew that many in the colony had bets going, waiting for it to finally happen.
“You overgrown big-headed asshat!” screamed Justine in the face of Ryker’s mocking grin, they were now bot
h standing and gesticulating wildly. Alrighty then, time to step in.
“Enough.” She used what her sister referred to as her “cold, scary Chancellor voice”.
Justine and Ryker sprang apart in surprise. They looked around guiltily, as they both remembered where they were.
“I have spoken with the Meyer’s and for now the housing will remain as is. Carrie is only three months pregnant and with no other children in the colony they don’t want to live all alone in the family complex.” Anabel said quickly as both Justine and Ryker resumed their seats.
They each had a confused look on their faces as if they had no clue what Anabel was talking about. Since their argument over housing was just an excuse to snipe at each other, Alexa wasn’t sure they even knew what they were arguing over. This needed to stop now. As amusing as it was to see them dance around each other, it was starting to affect their jobs. For example; this Council meeting. She stood and spoke.
“I think that’s all for now. Excused.” She dismissed the other Lieutenants but called to Justine and Ryker before they could depart.
“Lieutenant Mills. Lieutenant Ryker. My office.”
Alexa preceded them out the door and down the hall to her “Chancellor’s” office. It was designed to be intimidating. With a large black lacquer desk and chair, floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over the vast red desert of Mars…and no other seating. The left side wall was a huge vis screen that would project any information she needed to see. It was currently a blank white, since she rarely used this office. It was a sleek and austere room. Basically, it was the principal's office no one ever wanted to be called in to. She rarely ever confronted someone in her “Chancellor’s” office unless she needed to make an impression. Alexa much preferred to use her private salon/office, next door, that offered comfortable lounge seating and a relaxed serene atmosphere.
But today she needed the full spectacle of her Office. Alexa sat behind her desk as they followed in behind her, the door slid silently shut behind them. Silence reigned as tension dominated the air. She read her data pad as they stood at attention in front her. They didn’t speak and she forced them all to remain like that for a full five minutes. It was good to remind them that, although she was their friend, she was also their superior; and that they had crossed a line bringing their squabbling into the Council meeting. Alexa set her pad down and looked up. Their faces were blank and perfectly still. She stared at them, taking time to peruse them.
Justine was a tall woman, almost six foot with long, bright copper-red hair and a sprinkling of cinnamon freckles across her nose. She was a gorgeous, curvy woman who was a tomboy at heart. She wore army fatigues, a olive green tank top, black boots and a utility belt. She was a level 7.31 on the power gradient with a Magnetic ability; think Magneto from x-men. In a new world filled with bizarre superpowers, it was funny to think how accurate some of the comic books were in these modern times. Rampant speculation about this occurrence was one of the most debated in modern scientific circles. Coincidence or forecasting from our subconscious? Who knows. She turned her eyes to Ryker.
Ryker stood about two inches taller than Justine with buzzed, ash brown hair, black t-shirt and black jeans. His chest was wide and muscular, he was built along the lines of a linebacker. Ryker projected strength and power just standing there; he was a dominant Shifter, with a terrifying beast-form, and second-in-command of the Colony. As Head of Security and a level 9.05 on the gradient, he was also a notorious hardass. She often teased him about the running bet in the colony concerning his first name. Ryker was his surname and no one, other than herself, knew his first. She had access to all his files so she knew what it was. Eugene. Eugene Milton Ryker. Every time she thought about it she laughed. Ryker was so not a Eugene. He was the epitome of badass and absolutely hated his given name. Alexa threatened to accidentally-on-purpose let it slip out every time he annoyed her. She was tempted to do so now but had a better punishment in mind.
“Outpost 12 has been experiencing some minor issues with the satellite uplink. It needs to be completely overhauled and inspected. I want no issues down the line. The two operators are in the rotation schedule for return to the colony in three days. I am assigning you both as their replacements. A full rotation. You’ll need to bring your Seconds up to speed as they will need to step in to cover for your shifts here.”
Alexa saw their eye’s widen in shock. She just assigned them to fourteen revs at an isolated outpost, all alone. The overhaul was simple enough and normally a low-ranked engineering tech-team of two would do it. It was a scut job that newbies got and those who were being punished. Justine cleared her throat and stepped forward.
“Chancellor…do you think that is a valuable use of our time?” She asked, her voice quiet, respectful and desperate. Ryker also stepped forward.
“Chancellor, my responsibilities in the colony are considerable, especially this close to the upcoming visit. I’m not sure my Second could handle everything along with his own duties. I respectfully request that you assign another team.”
“Request denied. My decision is final. If you choose not to abide by it, I’ll have you shipped back to Earth for a Reprimand tribunal. Dismissed.” Her tone sharp leaving no doubt that, that, is exactly what she would do.
Alexa watched them leave and smiled to herself. She got up and walked to the private entrance on the right; her private salon. This room was vastly different from her Chancellor’s Office. It was made up of green, blue and gold tones with comfortable seating, artistic decor and accents pieces. One wall held an inbuilt bookcase with cabinets, filled with hardcover books, silver picture frames and odds and ends she treasured. Opposite the bookcase she had beautiful flowering plants lining the floor next to the floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over the austere Mars landscape. Alexa had a feminine antique desk and chair in the corner that she did most of her work from, with two armchairs facing it. Across from that was a seating area with a couch, loveseat, coffee and side tables.
This was her real office. Where she met with colonists for most issues. Only disciplinary problems were dealt with in her “Chancellor's” office. She had an open-door policy with all residents in the colony. Alexa made it her business to know each and every person under her care. Taking random duty shifts in every department, from maintenance to the horticulture and farming division, she wanted her people to know she cared and that no job was too menial or unimportant. This also meant she could keep a closer eye on any trouble or problems among the colonists.
In truth Alexa felt a deep responsibility to all the colonists whether they were Praesidio, military or civilian. The Mars Colony was made up of a little over four thousand residents, four thousand one hundred and twenty-five to be exact. Only eleven hundred were civilians. The Mars Colony existed for multiple purposes; first as the official post for extraterrestrial visitors. No Alien species was allowed on Earth. Period. Second, it was a military installation designed as a first-response, front-line assault against the Kraith. Lastly, it offered those who had lost everything a chance to start over. A new exciting opportunity away from the horrible memories on Earth. When the opportunity had been announced they had been inundated with applicants. A selection committee had gone through and chosen the best fit for the first colonists. The plan was to add a few hundred new colonists every year as they continued to expand the base until they reached ten thousand.
After the invasion from the Kraith, when we were in the process of recovering and rebuilding we were contacted by a Coalition, The Coalition of Planets to be exact. The Kraith were not recognized members but rather criminals and pirates - the parasites of the universe. The Coalition sent several ambassadors and our leader, a once-tenured history professor out of Ohio who had developed a terrifyingly powerful gift during the invasion, agreed to meet with them. To say the Praesidio was suspicious and leery of these new Aliens was an understatement. In the end, an agreement was struck.
The Coalition was sympathetic and aghast at
what the Kraith had done to our once beautiful, populated planet. They offered assistance and military support but our species wanted no Alien anywhere close to our planet. They also offered us entry to the Coalition but that usually came with certain requirements. A compromise was made.
The Mars Colony would be the official post for Aliens in the Coalition, only preapproved Alien visitors were allowed access. All others would be seen as hostile. In return we gave the Coalition another ally against the Kraith. Since we had managed to defeat them, while others were not so lucky, they wanted us to help defend the Coalition. They knew it would take us some time to rebuild and create an outpost so a six year seclusion was granted, in which the Coalition would give us the rights of being a Coalition member but not expect anything in return during this time. No Alien visitors, no fighters expected, no trade agreements, nothing but communication. Distant communication.
The Mars Colony had been finished two years ago. Alexa and two other candidates had been nominated as possible Chancellors. After an exhaustive and intense interview process, she was chosen. It had been a bit of a surprise. She was the youngest of the three but often in the Praesidio that didn’t matter; Power did and most knew who she was. Alexa was a bit famous. It was not something she liked to think about, but during the invasion, she was one of the most powerful that had been altered. Her gift of Telekinesis or Tk was very strong, perhaps even the strongest on the planet. In the Praesidio, she was ranked as level 9.98 on the Power metric scale. No one got a perfect ten.
