Defying Gravity

  DEFYING GRAVITY

  By

  Cherie Reich

  Defying Gravity

  Copyright © 2012

  By Cherie Reich

  Cover illustration by Aubrie Dionne © 2012

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes. If you are reading this book and you have not purchased it or won it in an author/publisher contest, this book has been pirated. Please delete and support the author by purchasing the eBook from either Surrounded by Books Publishing or one of our many distributors.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, any place, events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  If you are interested in purchasing more works of this nature, please stop by www.cheriereich.webs.com.

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  Dedication

  To Shannon

  With your role-playing game idea, you inspired my creation of Linia.

  CHAPTER ONE

  It’s only a year.

  Linia stepped upon the silver staircase leading to the SS Perseid. Her moment was finally here. After her years of linguistic studies and weeks of private training, she was the youngest crewmember to board this mission to brave new worlds and greet intelligent life in their neighboring galaxies.

  Three Persean crewmen stood ahead of her. Vines twisted in her peripheral vision, nearly encroaching upon the launch pad. How could she leave her verdant planet for a sea of stars? But this spacecraft held her future. She shifted from foot to foot, anxious for her turn to enter.

  “Saying goodbye to your mommy and daddy, Linia?” An all-too-familiar tenor voice taunted her.

  “Griffon?”

  At three years her senior, she thought she’d left him behind in secondary school. Her head cocked to the side as she stared into his weak yellow eyes. She ignored his fine cheek bones and pure cerulean flesh. So what if he was a fine Persean specimen to every other female? He was a trorc’s ass. She moved closer to the entrance. “What are you doing here?”

  He chuckled and eyed her up and down while leaning against the railing. “It looks like we’re going to spend a year together in very close quarters. I’m the tenth crewmember.”

  Her jaw dropped and her antennae drooped. “You’re kidding me.”

  “Nope.” He nudged her bag. “It’s your turn.”

  Her mouth opened a couple of times, but no words would form. In the distance, she spied her parents. Dad wrapped an arm around Mom’s shoulders. Her wheat blond hair, so like her own, waved in the gentle breeze. Linia’s throat tightened as they waved to her, but she couldn’t bear to return the gesture. Why didn’t anyone else’s family show up? Her embarrassment singed her cheeks and even made her antennae burn. She’d thought there would be more fanfare for their important departure. Instead, she probably looked like a child to the rest of the crew.

  Turning away, she stared at the spacecraft. An entire solar year with Griffon on board. Her body slumped at the prospect, and her leaden feet clomped up the remaining stairs. If she didn’t want this position so much, she would’ve turned around and forgotten the entire mission. With a dry mouth, she said, “Linia, linguist,” to the Persean with the clipboard.

  “Head to your right. Mixi’ll be waiting for you.” The woman turned toward Griffon. “Your name and occupation?”

  “Griffon, engineer.”

  Linia gasped when she overheard this information and stumbled through the entryway. How did that arrogant jerk get an engineer position?

  Stark white walls lined the interior of the spacecraft. The light hurt her sensitive eyes, and she blinked to adjust her vision. A sterilized scent, like cleaning fluids, caused her nose to wrinkle. She turned down another smaller hallway. If two people could pass each other without brushing shoulders, it would surprise her.

  “You’re the linguist?” An older woman’s sharp voice echoed down the corridor.

  “Yes, ma’am.” She couldn’t place Mixi’s age, since her white-blond hair was pulled back in a bun so tight it gave her a face lift. A small silver triangle sparkled upon her crisp dark blue uniform. So Mixi was a third of the head crew’s triumvirate, consisting of Captain Bous and Corporal Kavin.

  “You will address me as Lieutenant Mixi.” She placed her palm upon a panel, and the door vanished into the wall. The room contained a small tube-like bed no bigger than a coffin and a closet barely big enough for her bag.

  “These are your quarters. I suggest you dress quickly and meet me outside.” The lieutenant thrust a SS Perseid standard uniform at her and snapped her heels.

  The door closed Linia into the small room. Good thing she wasn’t claustrophobic, right? She gulped and ran her fingers over the golden swirl upon her uniform. She was the bridge between the Perseans and aliens, their one link to communication. A surge of pride and authority roared through her while she dressed in the uniform. The dark blue blended well with her lighter complexion. She pulled back her hair from her face and tied it in a ponytail before checking her appearance in a compact mirror.

  “Linguist Linia, any day now,” Mixi called in her crisp voice.

  Linia snapped the mirror shut and dropped it in her bag. Would she hold up the ship? She scurried out the room, nearly bumping into the lieutenant in her rush. Mixi glared at her, and she shuddered. Without another word, the woman marched down the corridors.

  She jogged to keep up with the lieutenant’s long strides. Her gaze sought out the Perseid’s interior, but the same sterilized walls enclosed her. Each hall was nearly identical. How would she find her way around?

  Mixi halted and placed her palm on another panel. The door slid open, and they entered the control center of the SS Perseid.

  Eight Perseans sat at a metallic, semi-round table in the center of the room. Ten silver chairs, bolted to the floor, had seatbelts along the waist and over the shoulders. A window panel spread along the wall in front of the table. Slight raised edges appeared on the other walls, and she assumed they led to various instruments and cabinets.

  Mixi motioned for Linia to take the vacant chair at the end of the table before she stormed to the captain’s right.

  With some reluctance, she lowered herself into the chair beside Griffon. He gave her a diabolical grin, and she ignored him, or tried to. Her gaze focused on the window. A mixture of emeralds, crimsons, and purples bloomed before them. She breathed in, already missing Persea’s warm floral air. This would be her last glimpse of the planet before they lifted off into space.

  “Welcome, everyone. As the first to explore our neighboring galaxies, we have quite an adventure before us, don’t we?” Several chuckled and nodded, but Linia’s lips pursed into a line. She thought she’d be sick. “As you know, I’m Captain Bous.” The captain rested his hands across his bugling belly. The bright lights glistened off his perspiring forehead while he introduced the crew and their positions. “Buckle your seatbelts. Let’s fly.”

  The seatbelts clicked into place, and her heart rate increased as the countdown began. Tingles, like lying down in a bed of prickly grass, coursed through her body. Her hand fluttered to her neck as she traced the smooth sapphire stone of her choker, the same one all Perseans wore.

  A flurry of activity surrounded her. The captain placed his hand upon the table, and the flight instruments shifted into place. Several other Perseans did the same. She felt left out. A linguist’s skills would only be necessary when they met other intelligent life.
Until then, she was no one, and the thought sank home. Her chest strained against the restraints.

  What was she doing here?

  A deep rumbling sound rose like a furious draken. The ship trembled as if in anticipation for the journey.

  “Countdown. Three, two—”

  She needed off this ship. She couldn’t be gone an entire solar year with these people.

  “One.”

  The SS Perseid rocketed into the air.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Alezandros shielded his eyes from the lukewarm sun. His two nephews, Karros and Madden, leapt over the barren ground like giant bulltoads. He smiled faintly. It’d been a while since they had a reason to enjoy surface time. He glanced over to his sister as he adjusted his bag upon his back. The breathing mask hid most of her expression, except for the twinkle in her green eyes.

  “Look at them go! They have more energy than a red giant.” He nudged her arm with his elbow.

  Quick, hissing laughter burst from her lips and puffed the mask’s soft material up. “Little brother, you haven’t gotten that old, have you?”

  “Of course not! Let’s show them what we Underdwellers can do.”

  They jogged after the boys into the old city. Forgotten buildings stood as crumbled relics. Kaire and he had been the first generation of Underdwellers. Her children and her grandchildren would suffer the same fate. A silent curse flitted upon his forked tongue, but he held it in. He saw no point in upsetting their outing.

  Her gloved fingertips trailed along one forgotten wall while she hummed a simple tune. Oh, no. He knew that look. “Boys, not too far. Stay in our view,” she called to them before cocking her head to the side. “Have you heard from Sophisa lately?”

  Ugh, not this again. His eyes rolled, and he resisted the urge to smack himself in the forehead, or his sister for mentioning his former pairing. “There’s nothing we have to say about her.”

  “Has she dropped by, though?” She halted beside him. “She was good for you. You shouldn’t have parted from her.”

  He hadn’t had the heart to tell her that she parted from him. “She’s dwelling with someone else the last I’ve heard. And, no, I don’t know his name. Sophisa and I don’t talk. Final.”

  She held up her hands, palms facing him. “Fine. Final. Not another word.”

  “Good.”

  “So when are you going to settle down?” She threw the question over her shoulder as she strolled farther into the city.

  If she wasn’t his sister, he would strangle her. “Never, if I can help it. Besides, why are you so interested in this?”

  “Well, I was thinking—”

  “That’s dangerous for you, and the answer is no.”

  She crossed her arms and huffed. “But I haven’t even asked you yet.”

  “I’m sure it’s another screened pairing, and the answer is no.” It’d taken three months to get his singed hair back in place after the last one.

  “Oh, come on, Alezandros. She’s really nice.”

  Translation: She’s as boring as a hibernating slog. Were there any of these furry-stomach walkers left on the planet?

  “No.” He leaned over and picked up a rusted bowl. If he could clean it, perhaps they could sell it on the market.

  “Why not?”

  He tucked the object into his bag and ignored her question. She didn’t need to know his reasons. In fact, he should tell her, but he couldn’t. Not today.

  She shifted closer to him. “What’s going on? You don’t pair up anymore. Surely you haven’t gone through all the eligible women in Medusa.”

  “I’m just bored with them.” And he was. He needed adventure, excitement, a life above the ordinary. It’s one reason he took them on these trysts to the surface. The women were boring, complacent, drained of all life from the drudgery of living underground.

  “Bored.” She scoffed at him, and his fists clenched from a flash of anger. “Little brother, you just need to grow up.”

  “I’m tired of this . . .” He spotted his nephews picking through a pile of rubble nearby and edited his curses. “. . . this stuff, Kaire. It’s why I’ve joined the army.”

  Merdre! He’d told her his secret already.

  Her eyes widened, and she stumbled back as if he punched her. “The army? Why?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. To serve my planet, perhaps. I’m training on the space cruisers.” Plus, he loved flying fast and hard.

  “But they’re talking of war again, stealing a new planet. After what happened to mom and dad, I can’t believe you’d do this.” Tears brightened her eyes.

  He expected anger but not that fear, that sadness. A lump formed in his throat as his heart cracked in two. “I won’t die like they did in the wars. I’m not a hands-on fighter, and I’m a merdre good flyer too.”

  “Boys, come here now. We’re going back.” Her voice was shrill. She wouldn’t even look at him now.

  “Aw, do we have to go?” Their voices chorused as one.

  “Yes. Now.” She spun around and stalked off.

  “We don’t have to leave yet,” Alezandros said when the boys passed him and caught up with their mother.

  “Yes, we do.” She grabbed their hands and left him to catch up.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Linia’s soft breath fogged the window. After wiping it down again, she stared at the black void. In the distance, the blue light of her fair Persea twinkled.

  Oh, she missed home.

  She breathed deeply while resting her forehead against the cool glass. Tears stung her eyes, and she closed them. She’d never make it through the rest of this journey, if she couldn’t pull herself together now.

  She stiffened at the whoosh of a door sliding open. Had anyone seen her? Her hands slapped at her damp face, but she froze when snippets of conversation floated to her.

  “See to it that everything is ready, Griffon.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ve got everything under control. Does Linia know?”

  “No, and keep it that way. We can’t let our linguist ruin our plans when we make contact.”

  “Aye, aye, Lieutenant.”

  “Oh, stop that silly saluting.” Mixi laughed, high and girlish.

  Linia’s hand flew to her mouth. What in the world was going on between Griffon and Lieutenant Mixi? And, more importantly, what couldn’t they tell her?

  Her heart pounded in her ears when she heard footsteps, but they went the other direction. With a sigh of relief, she turned around and bumped into Griffon’s broad chest.

  “Hello, Linia.”

  “Hi.” She squeaked her greeting. His voice caused her heart to flutter like a pegasifly’s wings. Did he know she’d overheard them? Would he turn her in? Fear flowed through her veins, and she backed into the wall.

  “What are you doing in this part of the ship?” He blocked any chance of escape with his hands.

  She glanced anywhere but on him. His presence intimidated her more than it should. A surge of adrenaline combined with her panic as she focused upon their distant planet. “I-I was looking out the window . . . at home.”

  He moved closer, and she closed her eyes. “You can see Persea from here?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  He touched her chin and lifted it up, so he could look at her face. “Linia?”

  “Yes?” Her breath hitched. She could suffocate under his intense gaze. Griffon was dangerous, off-limits, and handsome. She shouldn’t think like that. Remember what he did to your friend, her mind screamed the warning.

  He leaned closer, and for a second, she thought the known womanizer was going to kiss her. “Keep to your own areas.”

  She nodded.

  “And be careful.” His words caressed her. As if he hadn’t said anything to her, he left.

  Linia breathed out the breath she’d been holding. Goose bumps rose over her arms and along the back of her neck.

  What did he mean by that?

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Alezandros’s eyeli
ds drooped. The commander had been talking for two hours straight, and he’d had enough. The six other Medusans propped heads up with hands. Was one actually asleep? The other five seemed close to it. Perhaps his sister was right. The army would kill him, but it’d be by sheer boredom rather than war. She was correct about another thing too. There would be war.

  “Our sources have returned, and a spacecraft has left Persea. We do not have their mission status, but they should be heading our way soon,” the commander said as he pointed at the galaxy map looming above them. Alezandros gazed at the blue spot amongst the sea of black. Farther upon that map was the red planet Aresia, where his parents were killed. “As our closest neighbor, we’ve had war with Persea before when they wouldn’t give us aid after the asteroid strike, but we’ll be ready for this attack. We have nothing for them, and they have everything. If luck is on our side, one day their planet will be ours.”

  In other words, if they didn’t find a new planet soon, all the Medusans would perish.

  Karros and Madden might not have a place to call home in the next few years. This thought tightened his throat and made it hard to swallow. Now, the Perseans would attack them on their home soil. No, it couldn’t be. His fingers tightened around the scribbler and snapped it in half.

  Merdre, it was his last one.

  The commander touched a quadrant close to their rust-colored planet. “We believe the Perseans’ spaceship is around here. When they enter our planet’s airspace, we’ll send some cruisers to stop them. We do not want another war, but if it comes to it, we’ll fight.”

  From the way his eyes blazed, Alezandros doubted his words. The man wanted a battle. Maybe they all did after how they were treated fifty years ago.

  He scanned the round table. All the men there had that look in their eyes, as if they were burning to destroy something. Even the one who’d been asleep had woken at the commander’s recent words. Why didn’t he feel the same way? Like the others, he hated the Perseans. He wanted a good life for his fellow Medusans. Adventure enflamed his soul, but he wanted no part in actual war. He couldn’t believe how stupid he’d been to join the army in the first place. Why wouldn’t they go to war?