Here’s the link to the Weekend Writing Warriors central page, so you can visit all the participants sharing excerpts today…a fun way to sample new books and find new authors! (Also welcome to the Sunday Snippet visitors!)
I’m excerpting Hostage To The Stars, which was released in June. Edited from published version. This is the last excerpt (the book is available, the author said with a smile) as next week I need to move on to snippets from Star Cruise: Stowaway, my story in the upcoming Pets In Space anthology, out October 11th.
I thought I should end by giving you the first meeting between Johnny and the woman he’s determined to rescue. (And yes, the much reviled Captain Scortun and the military shuttle are long gone but Johnny has a plan – of course! The challenges of escaping the planet together and in one piece fill the rest of the book LOL.) He’s found Sara at the warlord’s small spaceport, awaiting delivery to the Shemdylann who are alien pirates and slavers. She’s been held captive close to two months.
The interior of the dimly lit building was mostly taken up with a large holding cell, currently caging only one occupant. Staring at him wide eyed, a gaunt woman in ragged clothing was rising from the floor, bracing herself on the wall. Chains at her ankles clinked as she moved.
He held one finger to his lips and moved to the door of the cell, blasting it open with a single low intensity pulse from his blaster, “Sara Bridges?”
Hands to her mouth, eyes wide, she gave him a jerky nod.
“I’m here to get you out, Ms. Bridges, Sectors Special Forces.”
He thought she might collapse but instead she straightened her spine with an effort. Moistening her cracked lips with her tongue, she stared at him, tears in her eyes, but said nothing until he removed the chains with care.
“We’re going out the back, into the hills – can you walk?”
Swallowing hard, closing her eyes, Sara whispered, “Yes.”
The story:
He rescued her from space pirates … but can he keep them both safe from the far greater evil stalking a deserted planet?
Space travel without Kidnap & Ransom insurance? Not a good idea. University instructor and researcher Sara Bridges can’t afford it, so when pirates board her cruise liner, she’s taken captive along with the mistress of a wealthy man, and brought to a deserted planet. When a military extraction team sent to rescue the mistress refuses to take Sara too, she’s left to the mercies of a retired Special Forces soldier, along as consultant.
Reluctantly reactivated and coerced into signing up for the rescue operation to the planet Farduccir where he once was deployed, Sgt. Johnny Danver just wants to get the job done. But when the team leader leaves one captured woman behind, he breaks away to rescue her himself.
As Johnny and Sara traverse the barren landscape, heading for an abandoned base where they hope to call Sectors Command for help, they find villages destroyed by battle and stripped of all inhabitants. A lone survivor tells a horrific tale of the Sectors’ alien enemy, the Mawreg, returning after being pushed out …
Searching for evidence to give the military, Johnny is captured. He regains consciousness in a Mawreg cage–with Sara next to him. Death is preferable to what the aliens will do to them… And even if they do escape their captors, can they alert the military in time to prevent another invasion of the Sectors?
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All I can think of whilst reading this is: YES!
What an immense sense of relief she must feel at finding out someone has come to rescue her. Great snippet!
Intense! She’s been through the wringer, but I like that she still has the grit to help in her rescue.
She must feel relieved beyond words to find a rescuer, though I imagine that’s only half of the battle. They still have to get to safety.
The hero is acting heroic and the heroine kept her cool. Good for them … so far. I don’t imagine they’re in the clear yet, though.
All the elements are in place now for the makings of a good tale. 🙂 As always, Veronica, you paint a complete picture with your words. 🙂
Great description of caged woman. I’m surprised she can walk though. Maybe they gave her time to exercise.
Perfect cliffhanger to end with. My TBR stack just keeps growing and growing! 🙂
Oh my dearest V, what a lovely scene with so much strength and fearlessness. Big Hugs!
Looks like he rescued her just in time. Now to get off the planet. I think I will be buying this book. It looks like a great read.
I can only imagine how grateful she must feel. Go Johnny!
Whew! Rescued – now to get off the planet.
I can’t tweet like I normally do when I comment – I’ve been locked out of my acct – got hacked by spammers 🙁
Thanks for all the comments! I thought it was important to show that while Sara had been naive, she’s got an inner core of resolve and strength. Johnny didn’t necessarily expect that but comes to rely on her as the book progresses. I enjoyed writing these two!
I love her strength.
Yeah, I’d be the same way. If this is my only way out, I could run. Great snippet, Veronica. So glad he went back for her.
Intense! Great reaction on her part. Nice 🙂
Sorry but I can’t see the reviled Captain’s name without misreading it as Scrotum. Love this clip! It’s so visual.
What a powerful scene–finally gaining freedom. And now into the great unknown! Very well done, Veronica! 🙂
I’m really liking this guy. The descriptive passages are great.
Great scene. Very brave woman.
All right! She’s getting out–nice snippet.
I’m sure she is both relieved at being rescued (finally) and scared that it won’t ocme to be, perhaps that is why she is so committed to doing as much as she can. Great & emotional snippet.
It would be so easy–but so unhelpful–to collapse with relief. Love that she keeps it together! Tough lady.
So strong and resilient. Wonderful character insight.
Glad he’s getting her outGreat snippet
I pictured the scene so well. And I can imagine all the thoughts going through her mind at this man rescuing her.
What a hero! I can just imagine her relief that she’s being rescued.
Strong girl for not just breaking down, she’s still got some will and fire in her. I suddenly just gained a lot of respect and like for Sara. Great scene. Wish we could see how it plays from here.
Poor Sara. I like that, even after two months, she’s got grit. I have a feeling she and Johnny are gong to need that.