A Love Story: The Enran Chronicles Book One
Sometimes a novel's release is pre-planned, well-publicized, and meticulous organized. And sometimes a book's publication occurs during quiet time on a busy Sunday afternoon. The latter is my choice because if I don't do this now, who knows when I'll get this series started, insert laughing face here.
The Enran Chronicles has been my fictional obsession for over a year. Tia Sorenson and Nathan Zanetti are characters tightly stitched in my heart, Tia's sisters Lucy and Wynn, as well as Shirl Wentz like members of my own clan. Their neighbor Dana Noth and Lucy's six-year-old son Bobby are just as dear, as well as two aliens from hundreds of years and millions of miles away, known as the Doc and Captain to Tia and Nathan, who have been inadvertently entwined not merely with each other.
Love at almost first sight as well as life with aliens slam into familial tragedy right along my North Coast home, as well as lots of smirks and sisterly affection. Set in 2003, phones don't matter much, but telepathic dialogues mesh with verbal sparring, enhancing this tale of what happens when college sophomores are invaded, as well as an unplanned pregnancy which coincides with unexpected heartache. And, as Tia often sighs, don't forget the @&*#+? aliens!
The first of four already written novels, A Love Story is actually the starter for a series that will probably go much further. I hesitate to say just how many books, but certainly the current plan is at least eight, perhaps ten depending on how nervy is this cast as well as how gutsy is the muse. Currently this novel is available on Smashwords, but within the next week or so it should appear at other online retailers.
The quiet time timer is about done, so more about this book, and series, when I get a chance. In the meantime, here is the first scene, heavy on the sci fi, but Chapter Two is all about Tia, so if romance, new adult, chick lit, and a few flustered aliens are your thing, download this free novel today! And thanks for reading an independent author.
Chapter 1
Sentient beings crowded around the ship; sparkling with light, the creatures made it difficult for those inside the Royan vessel to view precisely where they had landed, this planet long known for its enigmatic landforms and encompassing cloud dispersal. Exactly how many creatures was another mystery, but an exploratory crew departed the ship, dressed in heavy protective gear, frustrating many of the beings attempting to integrate with what had infiltrated their world.
The failed incorporations were assumed by some of the beings as merely another example of their exclusivity within their universe. This invasion wasn’t the first, nor would it be the last, yet until one of these species permitted adaptation, or was brazen enough to take aboard their vessel even a minute fraction of what swarmed the ship, no collective information could be shared. After an appropriate interval, most of the beings flitted away. The communal agenda of what continued to buzz around the bipeds remained, an insistent group, one of the Royans announced to the others.
“Shall we detain some of these?”
The commander swatted away a few of the beings, then was again met by a throng. “That is not our mission.”
“But they are so insistent. And pervasive.”
“I see that. But under no circumstance are we to….”
The pause was so brief, none of the other Royans noticed. “Actually yes,” the commander stated. “A maximum level containment field should be sufficient. If they so badly want to know us, we will see how they fare.”
“And if they seem incompatible with that degree of restraint?”
“Then we will release them, agreed?”
The group assented to the plan, which was communicated to those still on the vessel. Within moments a force field was erected around a small selection of the beings, which immediately darkened all within it. The beings were released, regaining their illumination. The majority drifted away, but a few remained, over one hundred, a Royan announced. “Perhaps they wish to be enclosed.”
“That is too many,” the commander said. “I only want to study five. We do not know how they reproduce.”
The containment field was reestablished, but reduced in size, those squeezed out ricocheting off the sides. “They are not happy in being excluded,” a crew member observed.
“I am not concerned with that,” the commander replied. “But I am grateful to see they cannot infiltrate it. We will explore these coordinates in groups of two and meet back at my mark.”
“And the containment field?”
“We will bring it with us if what inside it survives that long.”
The Royans left the area, but the commander remained near the beings collected while life forms attempted to breach the commander’s protective gear. It was merely a ruse, although the commander’s consciousness remained undisturbed, reassuring those aboard the vessel that these beings, while curious, posed no threat to the ship’s complement of thirty-six personnel.
At the arranged time, the Royans reconvened at the commander’s position, then were returned to the ship along with the containment field, which was sent directly to the medical lab. The beings continued to sparkle, at times clustered together, then separating from one another. But they didn’t increase in number, nor did they exhibit any sign of consciousness. This was reported to the commander, who then visited the lab. “Would you deem them harmless?” the commander asked the chief medical officer.
“I would not go that far, yet they do not display any hostile behaviors. Our encounter with them seems to be an initial sighting. Nothing in the database describes a previous meeting.”
“Curious,” the commander said, stepping close to the beings, who had backed away, then grouped together.
“They seem to be stirred by you.” The medical officer swept a device all around the containment field. “I have scanned them repeatedly and am now tracking massive amounts of energy being released.”
“Does it harm them?”
“I cannot tell, but your presence is off-putting.”
The commander peered closely at the beings, now in one large cluster. “Run a test with a variety of staff, then inform me of the results.”
“I will alert you as soon as I have a report.”
Departing the lab, the commander returned to the bridge, finding a change of course had been demanded by the Royan government. The commander sighed, then altered the ship’s heading to Saran Six, where the beings could be studied at this sector’s scientific base. Soon afterwards the medical officer contacted the commander. “You are the only one who elicits such a response. Can you return so I can again study their reactions?”
“I am on my way,” the commander replied.
At the medical lab, the commander approached, then stepped away from the beings. They grouped together when the commander neared them, then separated when the commander backed off. “I find this most curious,” the medical officer said. “May I scan you Commander?”
“Certainly.”
The medical officer used the same device on the commander. “I find no change in your physiology. And yet you were the one who permitted them onto the ship. I cannot explain it.”
“Put it in your report so when we reach Saran Six these can be tested against others in my position. And keep me informed if there is any change in them.”
“I will do so.”
Approaching the lab’s exit, the commander turned back. “I am going to retire to my quarters, but contact me regardless if there is any alteration.”
“As you wish.”
The commander glanced at the beings, now floating freely in the containment field. “Curious creatures indeed.”
“They exhibit no significant intelligence. They have only reacted to you.”
The commander rejoined the medical officer. “Are we alone?”
“Yes.”
“I wish to speak freely.”
“Please do so.”
The commander grasped the medical officer’s shoulder. No words were spoken, but the medical officer nodded, then slumped in the commander’s grasp. The commander then released one of the creatures from the containment field; it landed on the medical officer. Immediately the biped was revived, then stood erect beside the commander. They communicated telepathically, then the medical officer walked to a communication device near the door. “Report to the lab and bring three officers with you. The commander has been overtaken by one of the beings.”
Within moments a security team arrived, finding the commander and medical officer lying on the floor. Kneeling beside them, all four were immediately subdued by those now influenced by the beings. The commander stood, dropping the containment field, allowing the other life forms to light upon the security officers. All four went to their feet, then gazed at the commander. Telepathically the commander ordered them to restrain the rest of those on the vessel. After the security team exited the lab, the commander silently addressed the medical officer: How long do we have in these bodies?
Perhaps no more than enough time to reach Saran Six, the medical officer answered inwardly. But you know as well as I do there are not enough of them to ferry us further than that base. And from there, we cannot travel far.
We need to find a species with more compatible lifespans.
Agreed, the medical officer said. Unless this experience meets your criteria.
It does not. And there are so few of us.
But we cannot return for the others.
A shame, the commander then shrugged. But we shall not perish in this state. We will rotate through this crew in the hopes of reaching a species that will be more durable.
And if we do not succeed, the medical officer inquired.
Then we will cease to function as we are. A pity, the commander sighed, but relief nonetheless.
Agreed. Go with the others. Inform me when we have control of the vessel.
The commander nodded, then exited the lab. The medical officer went to a work station, inputting messages to the species’ database, that a pathogen had emerged from the life forms collected on the planet. Most of the crew was infected, but the commander had been saved, as well as a small team, the medical officer included. They would continue to a nearby moon to take all precautions. The communique was acknowledged, an isolation facility on the moon used by various species. The medical officer smiled, then responded in the affirmative. Then the officer left the lab to assist in the takeover of what crew remained noncompliant.
