Alien Refuge Read online

  ALIEN REFUGE

  Clans of Kalquor Book 7

  By

  Tracy St. John

  © copyright February 2013, Tracy St. John

  Cover art by Erin Dameron-Hill, © copyright February 2013

  This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and places are of the author’s

  imagination and not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living persons or

  events is merely coincidence.

  Smashwords Edition

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  To J-Rock and all the A-Team. You are perfection.

  To Sarah and Derek. Thanks for the help.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS:

  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

  Prologue

  The Kalquorian Empire was and still is a civilization of great importance to the Galactic Council of Planets. The fierce but intelligent species has been at the forefront of technological, medical, and scientific breakthroughs for millennia. Their military might has never been in question; even their ancient enemy, the opportunistic race of Tragooms, hesitates to attack a Kalquorian force half its size.

  However, Kalquor’s survival is in jeopardy. The force that threatened this mighty race was not one that wielded weaponry. It could not even be seen with the naked eye. It was a virus.

  Centuries ago, this virus struck the home world of Kalquor, wiping out a substantial number of its people, particularly the females. Symptoms included massive bleeding of the body’s major organs, along with those of the female reproductive tract. Damaging the x-chromosome of the Kalquorians, the virus’ effects went beyond death. The majority of women not killed outright were rendered infertile, and daughters born to those who could bear children were not guaranteed the ability to do the same. The virus altered the very DNA of the entire race.

  In an effort to keep their race from going extinct and prevent fighting amongst the men, family groups called clans were formed. Each clan was made up of one female known as the Matara (childbearer or ‘lifebringer’) and representatives of each of the three breeds of male: the Dramok (leader), Imdiko (caregiver), and Nobek (protector).

  Despite their efforts, the numbers of Kalquorians continued to decline. So few children were born that extinction was thought by many to be inevitable. Despite all their medical expertise and attempts to find compatible species to mate with, the Kalquorian culture seemed destined to disappear.

  A little over a decade ago, a scout ship from a small, isolated planet no one knew of flew into the Galactic Council of Planets’ space. These newcomers, searching for a new planet to house the overflow of their ever-growing population, called their home planet Earth. It was immediately remarked upon how incredibly similar they were to Kalquorians. The doomed race took note at once, and hope was restored. It was theorized that perhaps the Earthers were the fabled Lost Tribe of Kalquor’s ancient ancestors.

  Earth, however, was not as enthralled with their potential distant cousins. Ruled by a government based on fanatical religious beliefs, Earthers were taught they were God’s Chosen, made in his wondrous image. They looked upon Kalquor with hostility and outrage, particularly since the beleaguered inhabitants of that empire suggested compatibility testing for purposes of interbreeding.

  The leaders of the Kalquorian Empire, feeling they had no other recourse, decided the time had come to seduce Earther females and convince them to come to Kalquor. Women on Earth were treated as lesser creatures and second-class citizens by their government and religion, and the Kalquorians with their near-worship of women hoped they could entice these lifebringers to join their clans. And if the women would not be seduced, Kalquor was no longer above the distasteful necessity of abducting them outright.

  Almost 2000 Earther women went to Kalquor, putting the Empire and Earth at each others’ throats. Then the unthinkable happened: an Earther woman joined the aliens’ ruling clan, making her Kalquor’s empress. Earth immediately declared war.

  The fighting was horrific, with Earth’s greater numbers slowly overwhelming Kalquor’s more advanced technology. With its already dwindling numbers reaching crisis stage, the Empire was desperate to find a way to win the war and secure its future. They staged an invasion of Earth itself. Earth’s answer was to set off nuclear explosions beneath its own major cities, devastating the population and dooming the planet.

  Most of the survivors have been rescued by Kalquor. The Earth females have been given the option of living on colonies with their own kind, hopefully to salvage their species; or they can live on Kalquor and join clans in order to continue the alien culture. Many, still terrified of their recent enemy, opt to remain with their native species. Others, traumatized by their experiences under Earth’s tyranny, have dared to start anew with the Kalquorians. There are still too few to guarantee Kalquor’s survival, and they are held by most of the alien men in the highest regard.

  But not all Kalquorians are happy to have the Earthers among them. Some are downright determined to see Kalquor go extinct rather than mix the species. A revolt, led by a shadowy figure known only as ‘The Boot’, is brewing among the disaffected Kalquorians as well as Earthers. When the two former enemies join forces, no one is safe – no man, woman, or child.

  Chapter 1

  The snow blower vibrated hard in Iris Jenson’s gloved hands. Despite the quaking, it had been doing an efficient job of clearing a path from the snow crawler’s shed to her home’s front door. She was halfway there when it suddenly made a horrible ratcheting sound. It sounded like an iron monster chewing on metal screws, a racket fit to make her ears bleed. Iris immediately shut it off.

  As fast as she quieted it, she was still too late. Her six-year-old son Thomas was already screaming, his hands clapped to the sides of his head. He bounded through the knee-high snow, running away from her and straight for the travel lane that ran in front of their dome-shaped house.

  Iris dropped the blower and waded through last night’s snowfall after him. “Thomas, it’s okay! The noise is gone!”

  He was too panicked to hear. His blue hand-knitted cap came off as he ran, sending his shaggy dark blond hair to bounce about his head. He sobbed as if his heart might break. “It’s broken! Hurry! Hurry!”

  Under his terrified shrieks, Iris heard another sound, one that made her heart speed up. It was the low hum of an oncoming shuttle, heading down the travel lane Thomas blindly galloped for. The quickly growing throb of the vehicle’s engines warned her it was coming faster than the speed laws dictated.

  She started running, moving as fast as the impeding snow and her heavy boots would allow. “Thomas! Stop!”

  But Thomas almost never stopped on command. The horrific sound of the snow blower breaking down had pained and terrified him, sending his senses into overload. All the boy knew at this moment was that he had to put as much distance between himself and the source of the hideous noise that had hurt his hypersensitive ears. The deep snow should have slowed him
down, but he was a strong boy and he was a fast boy. His boots also had traction soles, unlike Iris’. With funds so low, she’d opted this winter to get by with her old, worn boots.

  Iris shot a panicked glance down the lane as she fought through the snow to get to her son. The sky over Haven Colony was bright following last night’s storm, and it glinted off a metal surface racing ever closer. The oncoming shuttle was a cargo hauler, flying close to the ground as colony regulations dictated for a vehicle that size. The glance told her all she needed to know: she’d never get to Thomas before it was on him. He was already in its path, his bulky tan coat not nearly enough contrast against the blinding snow. The speeding shuttle pilot would not see him in time to stop.

  She screamed desperately, “Thomas! Danger! Danger! Get out of the lane!”

  He knew the word danger, but her shout had been a deadly mistake. Iris had drilled that word in his head, trying to head off the lack of impulse control that often had him running right into travel lanes, exactly as he’d done this time. Instead of getting out of the lane, he halted immediately. He turned around and looked at her with wide eyes.

  Iris had a moment of perfect clarity as Thomas stood still and waited to get run down. Every detail stood out in that instant: his wild, flyaway hair, rarely cut because he was too sensitive to cope with the sound of clippers. His perfectly almond-shaped brown eyes. A cherubic Rafael-esque round face, a face so beautiful that it made people pause and comment. His sturdy little boy’s body made thick by layers of thermal pants, jeans, snowpants, shirt, sweater, and coat. A perfect, angelic boy lit in the light of snow-reflected sun.

  Iris screamed as the speeding shuttle bore down on Thomas, who was only now realizing something was coming at him. Then there was a lightning flash of white and darkness that swept her child from the travel lane in a blur. The stream of movement halted at the side of the lane, resolving itself into a tall, ebony-haired Kalquorian in a white snowsuit. Thomas dangled from the bend of one of the alien’s arms while the other raised a battle-grade percussion blaster. The Kalquorian fired on the shuttle, and the blaster’s shoo-whup made the air shiver.

  The shuttle squalled to a halt, dipping and rocking violently as it did so. Then it dropped, falling a couple of feet to the ground with an earthshaking thud.

  Iris was barely interested in the shuttle. Her eyes were all for her son, who goggled up at the Kalquorian who held him.

  “Thomas. Thomas,” she choked, sobbing his name. He was alive. Unhurt. Completely secure in the grip of the man who held him. It was nothing short of a miracle.

  The Kalquorian turned towards her and watched her stagger to them as he holstered his weapon on his belt. A part of Iris’ stunned brain registered the man’s long black hair, his large purple eyes, the dimple in his curved chin. His handsome face had the fierce set of the warrior Nobek breed. His body, hugely muscled like all his kind, was clad in a form-fitting armored snowsuit that blended well with its surroundings. His matching boots reached to just below his knees. He seemed somehow familiar, though he shouldn’t. Iris didn’t socialize with the alien race.

  Iris held out her arms. “Please. Let me have him.”

  The Kalquorian looked at her, then down at Thomas who still stared up at him. The little boy plucked at the arm holding him and imperiously demanded in his musical voice, “Here, Mommy. Give Thomas to Mommy.”

  The alien man’s brows drew together. One end of his mouth twisted slightly up. Iris could understand his confusion. Usually, Earther children on Haven ran and hid from Kalquorians. Most of them were frightened as much by their parents’ stories of their former enemies as by the massive size of the aliens. Any other little boy held by one would probably be screaming his head off right now.

  But then, Thomas Jenson wasn’t like most children.

  The Kalquorian gently set Thomas on his feet and gave him a little push towards Iris. “Go to your mother, boy.”

  Iris shivered at the deep, slightly accented voice. It was the voice of quiet thunder, full of command and strength. Thomas seemed just as impressed. He sloshed a single step awkwardly through the snow towards her, still staring over his shoulder at his rescuer.

  Iris dismissed the Kalquorian for the moment, darting forward to snatch her child close. “Oh dear God, Thomas. Oh my baby, are you all right?” She patted over his body, not quite daring to trust her eyes that told her he hadn’t been smashed by the shuttle.

  He simply blinked at the Kalquorian looming over them. He stared up at the Nobek, unafraid. The alien stared back, seemingly transfixed by Thomas’ blatant wide-eyed curiosity.

  There was no sign of injury on the boy, and Iris managed a trembling smile for the man who had snatched him away from certain death. “Thank you. Thank you so much for saving him.”

  Before the Kalquorian could answer, the hatch of the downed shuttle slid open. Blaine Middleton, a local that lived only a few miles from Iris’ tiny homestead, emerged and stormed towards them. His open coat flapped around his gaunt frame. Iris tried hard to ignore the gossip that said Blaine drank most of his calories, but she’d heard plenty despite all her good intentions. She could believe it, looking at his bloodshot eyes and unkempt appearance.

  The scarecrow man who made most of his living transporting goods for other colonists was shouting before he’d taken half a dozen steps in their direction. “What the hell is wrong with you, Kalquorian? You fouled up my forward vision vid feed and my navigation is offline! You coulda got me killed!”

  The alien turned towards Blaine. He pulled a small handheld computer off his belt and spoke commands to it, seemingly ignoring the irate man.

  Thomas brightened to see the portable computer device. “Thomas’ handheld,” he declared, reaching towards the Kalquorian. “Here, Thomas.”

  Iris held him back and whispered in his ear. “No baby, that’s his handheld. He’s doing work on it. You can’t have it.”

  Meanwhile Blaine had drawn near, and he halted a few feet away. His fists went to his hips and he stood spraddle-legged, as if bracing himself to remain upright. He kept yelling at the Kalquorian. “Hey, you damned oversized ape! I’m talking to you!”

  The Nobek regarded him coldly. His rolling thunder voice filled the air despite the low tone. “This vehicle is registered to Blaine Middleton. Is that you?”

  Blaine glared back with bloodshot eyes. “Yeah. So?”

  “This is your third piloting offense in six months. I am confiscating your shuttle.”

  “My offense?” Blaine screeched. “My offense? You’re the one firing percussion blasters at innocent Earthers!”

  “You were flying at an excessive speed on a travel lane in a dwelling area. A dwelling area that is also clearly designated as having a child with a disability on premises.” The Kalquorian glanced at Iris and Thomas. His gaze lingered a moment, then he marched past Blaine to the shuttle. He boarded it while its owner stared after him in shock.

  Finally the Earther spluttered in furious indignation. “Hey! You’ve got no right. That’s my property!” He plowed towards his craft.

  The Kalquorian came back out before Blaine got there. He typed on his handheld. “The vessel’s warning mechanism that indicates the need for slower operation on this lane has been disabled. I’m assuming that was done by you. That’s another offense. Your pilot’s permit is hereby suspended pending review. I have locked out all your pass codes that enable you to use this vehicle.” He looked at Blaine. There was no threat on his expression, but it was cold enough to make Iris cringe. She felt glad that stare wasn’t directed at her.

  The Kalquorian continued, “You may return home now, Mr. Middleton. You will be contacted later with information on how to file any challenge you wish to make and final judgment on your case.”

  Blaine stood there for a few moments, his mouth hanging open. It took at least ten seconds before he found the sense to respond. When he did, it was in a shriek.

  “And how the hell do you propose I get home without m
y shuttle, you stupid shit?”

  Iris’ grip on Thomas tightened. She waited for the alien to crush Blaine.

  Instead, the Kalquorian only lifted an eyebrow. “You can walk. As it is less than an hour until dark and your address indicates it will take you about that length of time to reach your address, I suggest you start now.”

  Blaine was shaking with fury. Iris was afraid he’d say something else to anger the alien titan, or even worse, attack him. However, it turned out Blaine had a little bit of self preservation, at least enough not to tangle with a big, muscled Kalquorian twice his weight. The Earther turned away from him and leveled a black look at Iris instead.

  “When are you going to teach that damned kid of yours to be normal, Iris? Or at least put him on a leash! You and your retard son—”

  There was that blurring motion again, and the Kalquorian suddenly stood right in front of Blaine. His voice came out in a growl. “You are in the wrong here. You will speak with respect to the woman or I will pull your filthy tongue from your mouth.”

  Iris gasped and Thomas laughed, no doubt delighted by the alien’s amazing feat of speed and not his words. Blaine stumbled back in shock. His gloved hands came up in a defensive posture. When the Kalquorian only stood there, not increasing his threat, the Earther walked around him, giving him a wide berth.

  He still couldn’t resist running his mouth. His voice a grating whine, Blaine said, “You’d better believe I’m talking to Governor Hoover. You can’t threaten me like that!”

  The Kalquorian simply watched as Blaine stomped away, muttering under his breath. When the man had gotten several yards up the lane, the alien turned his attention to Iris and Thomas. He approached them carefully, as if concerned he might frighten them.