Taking excerpts from REEDE, my recent scifi romance release…
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!)
Punctuation may be wonky to comply with our guidelines here. May be edited a bit from published version.
If you haven’t read any of my Badari Warriors books, here’s the background:
Genetically engineered soldiers of the far future, the Badari were created by alien enemies to fight humans. But then the scientists kidnapped an entire human colony from the Sectors to use as subjects in twisted experiments…the Badari and the humans made common cause, rebelled and escaped the labs. Now they live side by side in a sanctuary valley protected by a powerful Artificial Intelligence, and wage unceasing war on the aliens.
The excerpt (follows right after last week’s excerpt. Reede was known as number 803 in the old Khagrish lab system before the Badari escaped.):
“So we did find you a mate,” she said to Reede eventually. Coughing from deep in her chest, she closed her eyes and wobbled a bit on her high heeled boots.
He took note of the way the other Khagrish exchanged glances and the techs fidgeted as if they wanted to move away from her. Flicking ash from her feelgood, Enishiggama glared at her underlings, “I told you, it’s merely a harmless rhinovirus I picked up at the conference.”
Reede decided to take the initiative, “These aren’t the proper surroundings for me to pursue the mate bond.” He gestured at the stark walls of the cell, “The human women are slow to accept the mate status and must be persuaded appropriately.”
Enishiggama coughed again, “I must admit to being fatigued today – too much partying with my fellow scientists last night.It may be best to wait a day or two to begin further experimentation. What are you proposing, 803?”
“This lab must have a fenced in area outside, like the facility where I was created did. Give me a few days with my soon-to-be-mate in the fresh air and wide open space, and I’ll seal the bond.”
“Doctor, we must ask ourselves why he’s being so co-operative,” said the tech he’d knocked out the day before…
VS: The tech hates Reede, not incidentally…and is Dr. Enishggama’s problem really a simple cold?
The blurb: Lt. Fallyn Damara was sent by the Sectors to investigate a strange transmission from an isolated planet and determine whether the residents of a vanished colony had been transported there by alien enemies. Fallyn’s ship crashes and she’s taken prisoner by the Khagrish scientists, to await her fate in the slate of horrifying experiments being conducted.
Reede, the second ranking enforcer in the Badari Warrior pack, volunteers to be recaptured by the Khagrish in an effort to locate and rescue Fallyn inside the deadly lab complex.
While a prisoner Reede discovers Fallyn is the woman destined to become his fated mate but the moment is bittersweet because Fallyn will be leaving their world at the first opportunity, to report back to the Sectors. He refuses to complete the mate bond, believing to do so will lead to nothing but lifelong misery for them both, separated by lightyears and interstellar politics.
For her part, Fallyn wants to shake up the rule-bound enforcer and persuade him to take a chance on love.
But first they have to escape the Khagrish.
Amazon Apple Books Kobo Nook Google
Hmm – why indeed? And her being fatigued as well as coughing leads me to think this might be something more than a harmless respiratory infection.
I think Reede has a plan. And there are so many hints as to what is to come next. Great snippet!
Oy! I had to laugh at the last sentence. That Reede is a tricky one. lol
Being cooperative is suspicious, eh? I wonder if he’ll use desire for the human as an excuse.
Because nothing gets you in the mood like fresh air . . . and a chance to escape. And nothing hints at infection like an “Oh it’s nothing” cough. Good stuff here!
I wish more men cared about their surroundings before “pursuing the mate bond.” 😀 Great snippet, Veronica!
I agree with Hywela and Jessica. She probably has something worse than the common cold and Reede certainly has a plan.
Sounds like he definitely has a plan to escape with his potential mate. Good snippet. Draws me right into the scene.
I would be suspicious too if I was an evil scientist. Luckily the boss seems to be off her game. Enjoyed everything about this snippet.
Yeah, I think he might have a plan. Hopefully it works
I think he has a plan and is preying on the scientists’ desire for him to mate. An outside pen has got to be easier to escape from. And yes, I think the doctor’s little rhinovirus is probably a lot worse than she thinks. At least I hope so. 🙂 Great excerpt!
Thanks for visiting and commenting! Yes, it’s been well established in the series that the Khagrish scientists are very arrogant and they refuse to believe (or won’t let themselves believe) the Badari are actually just as highly intelligent as the Khagrish themselves. (Lab techs and security guards tend to understand better what they’re actually dealing with when it comes to Badari.) And this scientist’s cold and cough just might be related to a earlier incidents that didn’t turn out well for the Khagrish involved. Mwahahahaha…And Reede does have a plan, as many of you suspect
I just finished reading Outbreak. I really enjoyed it. I also liked this excerpt.
I’m guessing it’s not just a cold!
I have to admit, negotiating for outdoor time does sound a little suspicious… is there an escape attempt on the cards…? Or is the tech just being needlessly wary?
I’m curious to know Reede’s plan.
I just read your blurb. I’m intrigued!