(The novel is still out on resubmission, might hear something by the end of October.)
Set in the same universe as my WRECK of the NEBULA DREAM. Andrianda (Andi) Markriss, a planetary representative for Loxton Galactic Trading, has been spending a lazy summer with her best friend in the highly exclusive summer compound of the planet Zulaire’s ruling nobility, networking. On a day when a number of strange and disturbing things have already happened, Captain Tom Deverane, Sectors Special Forces, unexpectedly shows up with a troop of soldiers and demands she leave with him. Immediately.
Andi doesn’t take this very well….in fact, she refuses to go. Later in the evening, all hell has broken loose, as the captain predicted.
Trying to avoid spoilers here, after certain “events”, she and the soldiers are on the run.
Finding a massive roadblock ahead of them, they’ve taken shelter in a rock formation, and are fighting a gallant last stand. Tom agreed to Andi’s demand take part in the fight and for now they’ve beaten the enemy back. (Skipped ahead a bit from where we left off last week – you guys can only take so much tension, right?) The alien enemy has arrived on the scene, however, and is applying its unique mental powers to kill Andi. Tom wants Andi to attempt her own mental defense.
Obediently she shut her eyes, ignoring increasing pressure in her chest and flashes of pain in her head from the Betang’s mind scan. What says protection to me? A wall, as he’d suggested – no, walls crumble or fall down. Fire? Shivering, Andi remembered what it had been like, caught in the burning Tonkiln mansion. Definitely not fire.
Stay tuned next week…will she figure out a defense before the Betang succeeds in killing her? (Well, there IS an HEA LOL) What would you visualize to defend yourself?
I LOVE and appreciate your comments….
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Yeah, fires probably not a great shield. Look forward to seeing what is. Great six!
Cool idea. It works beautifully. Great 6!
For me, I would say bring on the Avengers…Anyway, I know she’ll come up with a great shield.
I don’t think Andi’s heard of the Avengers; too bad for her LOL.
Wow, interesting extract. 😀
I’d love to know what she chooses!
It would be so romantic if it ends up being HIM she focuses her mind on. (I’m a sucker for romance, LOL!) And…excuse me, still tense!! GREAT six! I hope you get this pubbed soon. Would love to read it beginning to end.
Thank you very much – I really appreciate the support on this book! I still have my fingers crossed…
Hope she finds a shield soon. As for me, Kryptonite!
I will be back for more of this story. Love your world building. 🙂
Can’t wait to see what she chooses.
I wonder what she does choose. Water, maybe? I love the tension in this and the way that she can’t instantly work out the best action to take. Great 6.
No more tension, HA! 🙂 There was fabulous tension here, love it. I’m on pins and needles to read what she’ll pick next and whether or not she’ll throw the idea out too. Fab.
Mirrors? I have a character using a mirror shield in Homecoming, but he’s set it up on instinct and doesn’t know how to turn it off.
I’m betting she visualizes Tom. (After all, you said there’s an HEA.) 😀
Went back to catch up on last week’s! Dang! Much tension? And you nailed the way it feels, waiting for an attack. This week? I love her trying to find what will work to block the mind probe. I wonder if Monica is right? 😉
Terrific. Not fire so what? Next week will be fun.
She can build protection with her mind!? Terrific premise. Maybe it will be Tom or maybe Andi’s strong enough on her own? Except where’s the romance in that, lol?
Great six! I bet she decides on him as the image of protection! 🙂
Hmmm. Great six and great question. I like how some suggested that she’d imagine Tom. I think I’d choose the vacuum of space, or music, or water. . .
Wow, this is very powerful and intense.
Interesting worldbuilding!
Thanks to everyone for the feedback and comments! I will say it’s not going to be Tom she visualizes…although that’s a great idea. wish *I’d* thought of that LOL! But it’s going to be something else….
I wonder what says protection to her? Mother or home come to mind–that says protection to me. Can’t wait to see what it is! Great, tension filled six!
Maybe she can mentally visualize herself in another place as she thinks up a plan of attack. I know how to punch with both hands, but that probably wouldn’t be a good enough defense against aliens!
Great scene, lots of tension! Good luck on resubmission! This should definitely find a home!
I’d visualize french vanilla coffee. I know it SOUNDS innocent enough, but that’s how I get through day after day of homeschooling six kids. There MUST be something to it! ;c) (PS … don’t think you toned down the tension much, lol.)