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Weight of Gravity
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Table of Contents
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Title
Copyright
Acknowledgments
An Alien Planet
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
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Inside Information on the author and her other works
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by
Sheron Wood McCartha
Available in print and eBook on Amazon
Amazon Central https://www.amazon.com/Sheron-McCartha/e/B0045K0HD6
The Alysian Universe Series
Caught in Time: Book 1
A Dangerous Talent for Time: Book 2
Cosmic Entanglement: Book 3
Past the Event Horizon: Book 4
Space Song: Book 5
Touching Crystal: Book 6
Someone’s Clone: Book 7
Time’s Equation: Book 8
The Terran Trilogy
A World Too Far
Somewhat Alien
Weight of Gravity
Weight of Gravity
(Terran Trilogy book 3)
by
Sheron Wood McCartha
Digital Imagination Publishing
Beaverton, Oregon
Copyright 2019 by Sheron Wood McCartha
Weight of Gravity
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means, digital, electronic, or otherwise, or conveyed via the internet or a website without prior permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotes embodied in critical articles or reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations, or events in this novel are inventions of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to anyone living or dead is entirely coincidental.
Cover art by Toni Boudreault
Published by Digital Imagination Publishing
Beaverton, Oregon
ISBN 978-0-9978274-4-6
Acknowledgments
I have enjoyed writing about the Terrans and their struggles within the Alysian Universe. Writing for me has been fulfilling and fun.
However, I have had a good group of people helping me polish my stories to make them even better than if I had written them alone. For more than six years, I have been part of a writers' critique group. We meet every other Thursday and follow up on e-mailed sections of our work and comment on current manuscripts. This interaction has been invaluable. So, I would like to acknowledge Ted, Clayton, Chelsea and earlier in the process, Diana for all their help.
In addition, several outside readers have offered ideas and technical suggestions. Both Sue Peterson, Scott Wood, and Kat Reynolds volunteered their time and attention.
Cover artist Toni Boudreault willingly worked with me and my endless tweaking until we got it just right.
At home, my scientific husband, Bland, offered many great suggestions on all aspects of the book.
Now, at the end of this Trilogy, I want to thank all those, named and unnamed, who have contributed their time and ideas to make this a better series.
An Alien Planet
Chapter 1
New Beginnings
Married to an alien.
Fleet Commander Elise Fujeint Series II grimaced as she attempted to sit up in the huge bed that featured an elaborate hand-carved headboard. The weight of the alien planet’s gravity pressed down on her poor abused body. Muscles complained with renewed vigor, and her mouth felt as dry as the Ching T’Karre Desert at mid-day. She stared out a nearby window as the realization of her predicament overwhelmed her. More than just gravity weighed on her.
Everything’s changed. No longer Fleet Commander Elise Fujeint, but now plain Elise Steele, she murmured her new name thinking, What have I done? Will I ever get used to living on this god-forsaken, gravity heavy planet?
She surveyed the large bedroom. Since she’d lived most of her life in the tight quarters of a spaceship, this waste of space boggled her mind. She felt like a pea rattling around in a bucket. It was another thing to get used to. Alysia’s open spaces made her feel vulnerable and exposed.
A belly twitch reminded her of her condition. When she’d encouraged her biologist, Dr. John Luttrell, to find a way to cure the sterility decimating the fleet, she never expected to become one of his test cases. Unfortunately, he had woefully underestimated the aphrodisiac effect of the alien rabbit-like gebbits’ reproductive hormone on humans. As the primary ingredient in his fertility serum, it proved all too effective. But never in her wildest dreams did she imagine she would become pregnant by some alien, albeit one with human DNA from a long-ago Earth colony, who had dreamy blue-gray eyes, and a fine body, truth be told.
“I’ve brought you coffee, darling.”
She contemplated her new husband as he entered, balancing a cup in each hand. His dark hair had a tousled bedroom look, and a wide grin emerged as he regarded her.
Well, maybe, he did possess a few commendable qualities.
Director Richard DeVane Steele was the means by which she had finally gotten her people onto this world they called Alysia when most of the inhabitants considered them unwanted alien invaders. He’d claimed to wield the influence needed to convince the Alysians to let them land safely. At times, she’d doubted him, but he finally helped them achieve their goal. However, not before most of the fleet got discouraged with the native’s hostile attitude and elected to leave. Most, but not all. She’d chosen to stay, but left her ship tethered to the orbiting space station Earth2 as an available get-away vehicle, just in case.
The deep rich aroma of coffee enveloped the room, causing a familiar craving to well up within her.
Coffee. Coffee. Coffee.
A bright smile was in order for his thoughtful act of bringing her favorite morning beverage. She reached out, but he frowned and pulled the cup back. “Dr. Luttrell did say it was okay to drink coffee in your condition, didn’t he?”
Then, there was his annoying side. He usually wanted to be in charge. She hated being helpless like this.
“Absolutely allowed.” She tried to keep the desperate tone out of her voice as she smelled the rich brew.
After he placed the cups on a table next to her, he reached out to grab an arm. “Here, let me help you sit up.”
“No, I can manage.” She yanked away from his grip.
With a frown, he pulled back his hand, hurt by her response. “Only trying to help.”
She brushed back an errant strand of short, burnt-auburn hair. “I commanded an entire fleet; I certainly can manage to sit up in this ridiculous
ly over-sized bed.”
After several unladylike grunts and lots of flailing about, she managed to overcome the unaccustomed gravity and bulky weight in her stomach and prop herself up among several pillows. She sent him a triumphant smile, then eyed the cup that sat innocently next to her on the bedside table.
With an intent expression, he picked up the cup and carefully handed it to her as if he expected the silly thing to jump out of her hand. Then, he turned to pull up a chair.
She inclined her head and took what she hoped looked like a graceful sip just as a vigorous kick erupted from the child within. “Oh, no!”
She stared at a large brown stain slowly spreading over the expanse of pure white sheets that covered her.
Patting her shoulder, he said, “Don’t worry. I’ll get someone to clean it up.” He leaned forward to put a hand on her belly. “Quite the active one, isn’t she?”
Elise suffered the hand and the proprietary attitude by taking a sip of the coffee and closing her eyes. “Ummm,” she responded, savoring the taste.
She heard a chair move next to her. Opening her eyes, she noted his concerned expression as he raised a dark worried eyebrow at her and sat his long lean body down.
In an attempt to divert his attention and move on to more critical issues, she peered over the cup’s rim and asked, “Did Trace’s men locate any more kidnapped Terrans? Every moment we waste could mean life or death for those still in hostile hands.”
He rubbed his cup thoughtfully. “Deuce and Merek claim to have several leads.”
“Merek? Isn’t Amanda due the same time I am? I should hope you don’t make him part of the rescue team.”
“That poses a problem, but I’m low on experienced operatives whom I can trust.” He paused. “He’s proven successful, and this operation could be tricky.”
She folded over a sheet to hide part of the offending blotch. “Where does Trace suggest they are?”
“A reliable source claims to have spotted female Terrans hidden in a harem deep in the Ching T’Karre. A wealthy potentate from the area is bragging that he recently added two unusual wives to his tent. A prominent, local nomad named Bashar de Fyre Elitas served as my brother’s helm on The Seeker. He knows the area and is related to the fellow. He has offered to take us to visit him and make an introduction, so we can check the lead.”
Shifting to a more comfortable position, she asked, “What about my security officer, Jacob? He’s good.”
Richard’s brow crinkled. “He’s tied up with the Earth2 space station … but isn’t there a woman named Mika who was your bodyguard? Would she be good?”
“Yes, Mika is very competent.”
“She would balance out the team nicely. Two Terrans and two Alysians would be best, with one of them a woman, in case we need someone undercover.”
She took a sip of coffee and nodded. “I want to get back all of the abducted Terrans and shut down that slave ring. Those brought back have reported cruel treatment.”
He leaned forward. “Talk to Merek and Mika. I’ll contact Deuce and Bashar. My goal is to rescue everyone missing who is being held against their will.”
“I agree. They should be found and given the option to return safely. No Terran should be held in bondage.”
Chapter 2
Ching T’Karre
Bashar de Fyre Elitas closed his eyes against the glare of the sun, feeling the hot breeze caress his face. Blowing sand skittered across the land in an evolution from fertile land to arid desert. His white kassock billowed and snapped about him. Opening his eyes, he flicked mutated membranes to clear his vision of sand and dust.
Once shipboard pale, his skin now glowed with a golden tan, and his previously gravity-unsteady legs finally stood firm against the planet’s press. Upon returning from space, he’d originally been intimidated by the openness of the sky, but now he enjoyed the vastness of the land. Due to additional recent acquisitions, his expanded holdings spread out in all directions further than the eye could see.
Satisfaction filled every fiber of his being as he surveyed the altered landscape before him. The catastrophe of an unexpected comet hitting Alysia’s second moon had caused torrential rains to occur in his birthplace of the Sunglast Desert, but marriage had offered him the Ching T'Karre in its place. A variation in the tilt of the planet’s axis, caused by the collision, now affected climate patterns, and the Ching T’Karre region grew parched. No longer the breadbasket of the Dynasty, it now resembled a desert similar to his original Sunglast home.
As the planet had changed, so, too, had Bashar. No longer the landless son of a Sunglast tribal chief, or the retired helm for a spaceship captain, he was nowe a respected Ching T’Karre lord. With a powerful father-in-law, once an adversary but now an ally, Bashar had carved out a prominent position in this part of the world.
He sighed. Now, the renown Richard Steele came seeking a favor. Never before had that man's appearance offered him comfort or security. Both Richard and Braden lived up to their last name—Steele. Braden had wrung every ounce of skill from him when Bashar had piloted the Seeker through space for him, even once navigating out of an exploding nova. He had expected every second to be his last during that voyage, and yet here he was—a survivor.
In addition, the brother, Richard, had demanded no less from him. Bashar had first thought the man a poseur, but now he knew better. Both had been thrown together in a succession of dangerous situations where Richard had proven himself capable, even heroic. Now, Richard came to visit. And, he would only ask a favor if it was important, but it wouldn't be an easy favor. Bashar sighed and gazed across the land, wondering what Richard would ask, and how it would change his life yet again.
They’re almost here. Come welcome them.
Solanje Blue T’Kai, royal Ching T’Karre, now Solanje de Fyre Elitas, interrupted his thoughts with her own. The beautiful Solanje had raven black hair, snapping dark eyes, and a once shapely figure, currently rounded by pregnancy. She’d also crewed for Braden Steele on the space ship the Seeker, and Bashar had fought hard to win her heart away from its charming captain. In addition, he’d needed to overcome the strong cultural biases of her royal Ching T’Karre family against those of his Sunglast Desert tribe in order to marry her … and he had succeeded on both counts.
Upon returning home, Braden’s crew realized that space had mutated them. They’d evolved into more than human, and his fellow Alysians had a hard time accepting their new differences. Possessing telepathic abilities carried both a blessing and a curse. And there were other differences they dared not mention to others.
When Solanje’s mother opened the door for her daughter to attend Sunpointe Academy, her daughter had trained eagerly to become crew for The Seeker, much to her father’s dismay. Dishonored by her powerful father because she had elected to travel in space, marriage proved the coin to get back into his good graces. Shenji T’Kai wanted his daughter to settle down and breed a large family that would venerate him in his old age and continue his cultural heritage.
Bashar snorted a laugh. The man was delusional and obviously didn’t know his strong-willed daughter.
I am pregnant. Father is well pleased.
It pleases me too. You’ll make a fine brood mare for the great de Fyre dynasty.
Harrumph. Brood mare! You think overmuch on your famous Sunglast horses. Get in soon, or I’ll pour hot spices into your dinner and watch you choke in front of your precious guests. A tone of amused indignation accompanied her thoughts.
He sent the emotion of fake outrage, which she saw through immediately. His wife would never fit the Ching T’Karre mold of subservient woman that her father wanted. She would blaze her own path, never giving up her independence. She had not consented to marry Bashar until he’d promised the freedom of an equal for her. Nevertheless, he’d readily agreed. Besides, he loved her too much to put a rope on her. Like his horses, she ran proud and free.
Casting one last glance at the setting sun, he noticed s
everal bright stars emerge in the twilight sky. Right on time, the Alysian space station appeared and transited across in the dimming light. Soon, the second one, Earth2, a Terran space station, would follow in a lower orbit. He observed until the bright spark dipped down toward the horizon. Nostalgia threatened to catch hold as he watched the craft depart, but quickly he realized his life of floating in the dark void of space was no more. He now embraced a different future.
Bashar.They’re here and you are not.
Coming, my love.
***
Bashar strode through his entrance, savoring the coolness of the courtyard. A small fountain sprayed a mist over exotic plants, and vividly colored umbrellas shaded round tables that stood on the warm, terra cotta tiles. An evening breeze eddied about, bringing relief from the stifling heat. Servants bustled in and out, lighting candles that flickered and brightened the courtyard, driving away the oncoming dark.
Richard stood to greet him. The rest followed suit as they put down drinks and pushed back chairs from a small round metal table near the splashing fountain.
“Bashar!”
Bashar reached out a hand to clasp Richard’s. “Welcome to my home, Director Steele.”
“Richard, please.” Glancing about, the Director’s eyes twinkled. “Quite the estate you have here.” His gaze traveled to the pregnant Solanje. “And congratulations on your upcoming child. You have done well.”
A blush suffused Solanje’s face as she lowered her eyes to the smooth tiles.
Bashar gestured a hand and said with pride, “For those who haven’t met her, this is my wife and supreme joy, Solanje T’Kai de Fyre Elitas.”
She lifted her head and smiled.
“We are both excited to have our first child.” Bashar stepped to his wife side and clasped her shoulder. “I hear you also await the birth of a first child. Congratulations.”
Richard rolled his eyes. “My life will be changed forever. But now, let me introduce you.” He nodded to the man on his right. “This is Deuce Card who works for Trace Walker of I.N.Sys. He’s been of immeasurable assistance organizing the Earth2 space station in the past.”