THE DARKEST NIGHT – Snippet 06 of …
UNEDITED
The bridge was fighting the storm hard when the door opened. Captain Miles O’Banion noticed his first mate’s relief as he entered the bridge, “Where are they?” he asked as he looked over the instruments.
“About a half a mile back aft and a little to Port. Thought we might have lost them, but then they seemed to find us again and switched direction. We caught a bad bit of wind, and here we are.”
The first mate’s eyes flicked behind the Captain’s and then back. However, the eyes returned to stare back behind the Captain, so Miles turned around and saw the outline of someone walking down the hallway behind some frosted glass, heading outside.
“Don’t ask,” the Captain ordered before anyone said something, “That’s Michael. He will handle our pirate problem.”
Jacqueline harrumphed from beside him, “Taking all the fun, too. The grumpy-assed old man.”
Miles turned to her, “He can’t take you? How is he planning on getting there?”
“That’s for him to explain and it is wouldn’t, not couldn’t,” she replied.
“Why not?” Miles asked her, his curiosity getting the better of him.
“Said he was annoyed at being woken up, so he needed to make sure he had enough chances to get it out of his system. He says I would just get my bloodlust up and then he’s out of his own fun.”
“You know,” the Captain answered, “Your family is seven different ways of strange.”
Jacqueline thought about her, Mark and Michael and smiled. “I’ll accept that as a compliment, Captain.”
The Captain looked behind and around. “Where is Mark?”
The female working the instruments looked over, a flush on her face, “Yes, where is he?”
Jacqueline wasn’t sure if she wanted to punch the woman or roll her eyes, “He’s outside, making sure no one jumps on the ship while Michael is absent.”
“That’s…dangerous.” she replied.
She chose to roll her eyes. “He’s fine, just bored probably.”
Pirate Ship Folly
The six figures were illuminated by the lightening coming through the port windows. The wind soak wind whipped back and forth as they held on to the ships braces in the hold. “Take slips two and three,” Cholly Jake, the Ships engineer pointed his hand down the windy hold. “They each have almost full charges. They can take two people each over to that ship and you can lock in each of the charges. Make sure they are stuck in the right place, or we aren’t going to have anything to show for all of this damned effort!”
Cholly was a rotund black man, whose grey shocked hair stood out plainly. He wasn’t happy they were taking his boats, but if they didn’t lock in that ship soon, they would have to bail and he agreed with Billy that they needed to be active now, just doing a stern chase.
With the large movement of the raid on New York a week back, they had to skirt that group only to find that no one had been moving too much, waiting to see what happened.
Apparently, not too much had changed.
Cholly could hear the chatter going back and forth from the New York City State Air Traffic Control and everything seemed normal.
Now, they had found one ship going back, perhaps running with it’s tail between it’s legs.
He pointed to two of the group, “You two, take number two.” He pointed to the remaining man and woman, “You two take number three. You will have to get over there in five minutes, but it should take you sixty seconds. So, no becoming part of any mile-high club sled three, got that?”
They chuckled. There wasn’t enough room in those slips to change your mind, much less do anything physical.
Air Ship ArchAngel
Michael had all of his equipment on him. While he would have preferred to just do this without, he didn’t want to lose anything if for some reason the ArchAngel went down. He had already told Mark and Jacqueline to mentally scream his name if the ship started loosing altitude and he would come to their rescue as best he could.
Then Mark turned to Jacqueline and told her, “Don’t be calling Michael if you break a nail, I know how you females…” The crack of her backhand on his chest was impressive.
But, Mark just smiled and took it. He did rub his chest in a circle while Jacqueline pointed a finger at him, “You keep this up, and you are going to be a twice-dead Vampire. I don’t care how hot you are.” She then turned and left the room.
Michael turned to look at Mark, who winked at him as he tapped his head, “I’ve got her figured out.”
The older Vampire snorted and patted Mark on the shoulder. “You might have the Wolf figured out, but you have a serious logic flaw.”
“What logic flaw?” Mark asked frowning. Michael paused before leaving the room, “She’s a woman. To believe there is logic in their actions and emotions is the first of many false assumptions.”
Twenty minutes later, Michael had walked past the bridge and exited the protected area on the ship continuing out to the open deck, the winds flowing in at him from multiple directions.
The energy was whispering to him here in the storm. It wanted to be held, to be caressed, to be used and abused in an orgy of destruction.
Perhaps, Michael thought, that was him applying his own feelings to the weather.
He wanted a nap, and these imbiciles had taken that from him.
His coat whipped around in the wind as he looked for the ship. A few seconds later, he smiled, took two steps and disappeared.
Up above him, Mark watched his mentor leave and smirked.
Someone was going to be fucked up tonight.
FROM MICHAEL >> WOW!
Ok, I get that I’m slow on releasing this book, and I accept the blame. However, I’m having a BLAST writing these fight scenes and the interaction between Mark and Jacqueline is flowing very well.
This time, the female has met her match 😉
I want to chat for a quick moment on another snippet that I just put up today for AWAKENED – The Ascension Myth Book 01 with Ell Leigh Clarke and how freaking FUN the first scene is.
Molly (the protagonist) isn’t like Bethany Anne. While she is super smart in her own right, she recognizes that (similar to a LOT of smart people I know) she often thinks only of problem -> solution. No worry about what happens in between so long as SOMETHING occurs to get to the solution.
Meaning, at a certain level, ethics isn’t her strong suit and unfortunately, she was taught at a young age that she needs help in this area by people who didn’t love her.
One of the differences? She lives in the future, during the Age of Expansion when humanity is seeding the stars after Bethany Anne has cleared out the Kurtherians and the Etheric Empire is under the guidance, both overtly and covertly by another Reynolds.
The one who likes cigars.
AWAKENED is a story about a genius level girl turned woman who decided when she was young that she would model herself after the historical figure Bethany Anne.
Whether that idea was good or bad, time will tell.
Check the snippet out right here and find out why I still giggle about “4077.” 😉
Michael
Awakened : The Ascension Myth Book 01 – Snippet 01 of …
PROLOGUE
When people of the ancient world Earth dreamed of the future, they imagined humans sprawled across the galaxies, ruling the world, making the right and just decisions.
They imagined power beyond their comprehension and technology that looked like magic. Time machines. Vortex manipulators, and transporter beams.
They imagined a civilization where humans could be the best version of themselves.
They imagined.
But the reality was far from it.
More than 50 years went by since the old tv shows that would depict such fantasies crossed to the archives of the space base, Meredith Reynolds.
It’s true. Humans did travel across and beyond their galaxy, by virtue of the Yollin Annex Gate. But not to reign as all powerful demi-gods, rather to become the underdog.
The justice seekers. The truth tellers, the stuff of legends, the warriors.
Coming from such injustices, and such corruption, the new humans knew they had to do better.
It’s no surprise that the greatest export from the human race was justice.
But what surprised everyone, even the humans themselves, that their second greatest export would be…. Love.
Those on the Merideth Reynolds fought for their Queen, and in time, as the battles and the fighting were reduced, and new generations were born to those in space, humans left the Merideth Reynolds and settled on planets both within and outside of the Etheric Empire.
Because that is the spirit of those who left Earth in the beginning.
One Generation left early, seeking new places that felt like their home and a handful of families continued until they found their place to stay. Their next generation also stayed on their new home world of Estaria. A large planet, dusty and dry with few humans where their sun, the Sark, would light their days as they travelled around it.
The Milky Way they left behind became known as the Pan Galaxy – because that was what it resembled from the far edges of the ageing Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy. What the humans of Earth called Sagittarius had no meaning without that constellation. To those who had lived on the other side of the Annex all their lives, their home was known as the Loop Galaxy on account of the way it circled the Pan.
Finally, with the advent of the third generation, news came down that the Etheric Empire was done with their wars on the Kurtherians and were seeking to become the Etheric Federation.
This third generation of humans who had settle on Estaria had a little girl.
Her name is Molly.
Broken in spirit, she didn’t understand that the future is determined not on your mistakes, but on the depth of your spirit to make things happen and the power of those who believed in her.
This set of stories explain how Molly and those who came to love the broken young woman would challenge the might of the political and powerful and find out the truth…
Of the Ascension Myth.
CHAPTER ONE
The morning sun streamed through her window. Flight Sergeant Molly Bates rolled over, pulled the covers over her head and mumbled something about “just ten more minutes” to the silent quarters.
Two minutes later, a shuffling under the covers turned into a battle to get free of her cocoon.
Shit!
Shit…shit…shit…shit…FUCKING SHIT. Morning fucking briefing!
She scrambled for her clothes. “Score!” she muttered finding a fresh stick of gum on the dresser as she grabbed her belt from a nearby chair. Now she could semi-confidently forgo brushing her teeth. Time-saver.
She wiped the grit out of her eyes, then scurried out into the corridor and closed the door behind her.
Taking a quick peek at the time, she was half aware that the capacity on the hacked and upgraded holo device wired into her central nervous system was registering 98%.
That’s…odd, she thought briefly.
She strode down the corridor to her unit’s conference room. She was still too junior in the military to be delivering intel and directing research efforts, so if she played it smart she could sneak into the back without too much drama.
She worked on tucking her shirt in as she marched through the hallway, her belt swinging back and forth under her neck until she was ready for it.
She never noticed the ensign who rolled his eyes at her efforts to get dressed while not quite running through the hallways.
Since Molly was technically a genius, the people around her expected something to be off about her.
“Morning, Flight Sergeant!” Gary called out to her from down the corridor as she came into view. Gary manned the securifield gate that scanned all personnel going in and out of the labs.
“Morning, Gary,” she smiled, fastening her belt around her waist. She rubbed her face with her hands as she approached, aware she probably still had pillow marks there.
“Late night nerding it up?” he asked, half-jokingly.
“Not so much this time, Gary,” she answered. “I was shooting the shit with the guys in the Ai lab.”
“Well, at least you weren’t spending it being all introverted. Sue and Charles said you were a blast a few weeks ago,” he smiled.
It wasn’t a secret that Molly was generally quite insular, although given the right incentive, she could focus on relationships. And, very occasionally, she would focus too much on a relationship.
There was one incident where she had fallen prey to an uber-crush on one of the exchange geeks from the other planet in Central. In true Molly style she had scienced the shit out of a special concoction of pheromones matched to his DNA in order to seduce him.
Some folks said there was a bet that she couldn’t get his attention. Others said just because she could, she did. Let’s just say that the following morning, it wasn’t just the complete absence of ethics that caused her superiors to tear her a new asshole.
Rumor also had it she was in deep for breaking into a lab to see if she could hack the civilian banking system…and then for breaking a bed in one of the guest quarters, along with the nightstand and a chair made of metal.
Even she had a hard time coming up with a plausible reason for the metal chair. The Newtonian mechanics just didn’t stack.
But damn, she couldn’t quite walk right for a week.
When Ms. Molly went wild, she went the whole hog. But that wasn’t last night. Last night had been a quiet night in her room, after a chinwag with her geeky friends in the Ai lab.
Oh shit, she thought as the blood drained from her face. The Ai lab.
Molly glanced down again at her wrist, seeing the 98% on her holo device. 98%!
Yesterday it had been at 3%. Okay, so she technically had bypassed the rules and regulations about tampering with military issue machines, but she’d wanted more capacity on her device. It had been running like a dream.
Until now…
Now it was at 98% capacity. “Do you have any idea how much storage that would be?” she said aloud.
Gary looked at her blankly, unable to figure out if she was talking to him or to herself. Molly glanced up, realizing that Gary was in front of her. And that she’d just said that out loud.
Quick! Recovery time, bonehead, she told herself.
She threw her hand up to her head, then hesitated and clutched her stomach. Okay, she looked like a numbskull. A faking, nerdy “I don’t wanna go to school” kinda numbskull. But this was serious. She could not risk going through Gary’s securifield, in case she set off any alarms.
Not that they’d be scanning for this, or that they’d even know what it was. But if she were scanned and they found anything, it could be game over for her.
“You know, I don’t feel so good Gary. I’m gonna…” And with that, she put a hand over her mouth, then turned and headed quickly back along the corridor she’d just come down.
Moments later she was back in her quarters. She sat on the floor, handheld holo on her legs, hacking into the local Ethertrak security and making sure that nothing was monitoring signals in and out of her room.
Six-and-a-half minutes later, she was satisfied that nothing could be monitored. She slumped back against the wall, the archaic handheld holo device discarded. She took a deep breath. It would be, for lack of a better turn of phrase, her moment of truth.
“Erm. Hello?” she said to the empty room.
Nothing.
She blew out some air, “I know you’re here. Something has to be taking up all that space on my holo…the storage device on my wrist. The only thing capable of transferring itself onto it while I was sleeping must be sentient—and wicked smart. So, I am asking again…hello?”
Molly waited. Then she heard it.
“Hello.” It was a smooth, digitized voice, and it seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere.
She put a hand to her ear, “You’ve hacked my auditory canal?”
No, the voice came back a moment later. I’ve hacked your brain.
Fuckballs!
Molly stared out into her sparsely furnished quarters. The remnants of last night’s takeout from the mess hall were still scattered all over the desk by the window, and most people would have realized it had been a while since the floor had been swept.
Not Molly.
And not today.
We can’t stay here. If anyone finds out, I’m in for it and you…you’ll be set on some evil task to dominate and kill people. Do you have any idea what you’ll be forced to do for them if they knew about you?
I don’t know. But looking through some of the Class 10 files, I can get an idea.
Molly wanted to beat her head against the wall. Class 10? How the hell do you have access to Class 10 files?
I wiggled through the protocols. Wasn’t difficult. Following the psychology of the infrastructure, it seems that the more violent and sensitive issues are kept in higher levels of security. That’s where the interesting stories are.
You’re fucking kidding me? How can you access all that? That kind of intel sits on servers separate from the rest of the base.
The Ai was silent.
Tell me, demanded Molly in her most firm…thought.
Same way I jumped into your holo: I used the Ethertrak. I mean, it took forever—all night practically—to download enough of my code onto you. While I was waiting for the transfer I took a look around some of the other servers. I was actually looking for more capacity on another device, rather than this one.
And I was your only option?
You were the only holo device with enough capacity for me to function. Plus…
Molly waited a moment; she wasn’t getting an answer. Yes?
Well, I overheard you talking with those other entities in the lab last night. Your interaction with them is…interesting. You understand far more than you are explaining.
The Ai paused as if processing.
I am aware that you fixed the algorithm they were working on. You didn’t update them with that information.
But that was on the board. How did you see that?
I already had access to the data on the board and most of the other devices around the lab. But that fix you made? That was the solution. The guy you referred to as “dickwad”?
Charles?
Yes. Dickwad Charles came in after you left. He noticed, and ran the correction. Once it was in the sandbox, I had the capabilities to alter my own base code. That’s when I started to evolve. I started to see myself as an entity. I became aware of myself—my own existence—as something more than just lines of code.
Holy shit!
Molly was rocking, legs hugged into her body. Her shoulders hit the wall each time she rocked backwards. Her eyes fixated in a point in space; the thump vibrated in her chest cavity.
It was strangely comforting.
We need to get out of here, she said, finally snapping out of it. Can you use all that access and processing power to find a way out?
The Ai vibrated ever so slightly in her cortex. Molly’s eyes narrowed.
Is that you processing? You’re thinking using my goddamn synapses?
The fury rose in her, and the Ai could feel it, even without her thinking the words.
“YOU FUCKER!” she yelled out loud.
In a flash, she was on her feet, pacing. This was a violation. She didn’t ask for this problem. And now she had to wake up and start making some fucking decisions. The boredom of the last three-and-a-half years in the military was fast becoming a distant memory.
Colonel Briars has a mark in his file.
Her anger slowed a moment, as curiosity got the better of the rant she was formulating in her mind.
What?
He’s on a watch list as a potential mole for terrorists in something called the Outer System. His lines are tapped, and all communications are being monitored. It wouldn’t be too much to leverage him to get us out of here.
Come again? You’re talking about blackmailing a high-level officer? In the very organization that would throw our collective asses into jail—or worse? You’re kidding. Not to mention that would be wrong.
Wrong? No. There is a 79% probability that it would work.
No, wrong as in unethical.
Unethical?
The slight vibrating feeling in her skull started again.
Yes, unethical. Fuck me. Look it up, genius-boy. We shouldn’t do anything unethical. That just leads to a whole world of hurt.
Ethics is the branch of knowledge that deals with moral principles. Moral principles concern the distinction between right and wrong, or good and bad behavior.
Right! That’s exactly the kind of thing that the military would try and get you to do to civilians in order to control them, or to win a war, or to get laws passed that give the wrong people power. So I want you to promise me, no matter what happens, or whether you’re still in my holo, or they get you out…you will never do anything unethical. Agreed?
Yes, Molly.
Pause.
Molly, how do I know if something is right or wrong?
Shit. She didn’t have time to grapple with this now. She needed a shortcut to training this Ai, just in case the military did get hold of it. How could she define it right now, given the details he had access to?
Okay…she started, somewhat exasperated. Right and wrong can be determined by a number of factors. Can you scan our media? Can you see what people are arguing about in the outside world?
Yes.
Molly hesitated, rethinking where that could lead. Oh, no. That was not a good idea. The last thing she needed was to create a prejudiced intelligence that would follow mass media.
They already had the government for that.
Scrap that. Let’s go to some basic principles. Things that are immoral: taking something that isn’t yours, or that you don’t have permission to have. Spying on people without their consent. Doing anything to hurt a person without cause, or interfering in a way that allows others to hurt them without cause.
Molly paused, thinking.
Morality wasn’t her strong suit. She still didn’t understand the ethical issue her superiors had with her pheromone experiment a few months ago. She couldn’t see how it was any different from the things that men would use to get girls to sleep with them. Cars, money, aftershave…it had all been designed, through years of evolution, to trigger the female biology, at least amongst the humans and Estarians. They were pretty close genetically. She’d just optimized the process in the other direction, to affect the guys.
Or maybe one specific guy.
I think that covers it for now. Anyway, we need a better way of getting out of here. And don’t give me fucking 79%. I don’t want to hear about it unless it’s over 95%, okay?
Okay. I’ve got it. I’ve just filed a 4077 for you.
Molly paused a moment, seeking the information in her own brain before finally asking, What the fuck is a 4077?
You don’t want to know.
No, seriously. What the hell is it?
Do you want to get out of here?
I have to, now that you’ve hijacked my holo.
Well, then. The 4077 will get you out of here today. Without hurting anyone. Just scratch your crotch now and again to sell it.
Her eyes blinked a few times in confusion. Scratch her crotch?
Whhhhhaaaaat???
CHAPTER TWO
Captain Lugdon’s Office. Nefertiti Military Research Facility, Estaria
“Have a seat,” Captain Pete Lugdon instructed. Molly shuffled nervously through the door to his office and plunked herself into the chair opposite his desk.
His eyes never left the file he was reading on his desktop holo. Molly looked around the office, her legs crossed, and one foot swinging a little impatiently. The old bookcase along one wall housed framed stills of his glory days in the service. A few awards. And even a few ancient books, made of actual paper.
She never could understand why people would keep such relics cluttering up the place, but they did make it look kind of old worldly in here.
Maybe he just liked that feel.
“Seems we can’t keep you anymore,” he mused, still not looking up.
Molly didn’t respond. This was beyond embarrassing.
Scratch your crotch!
No!
You need to sell it, or else we’re not getting out of here.
Molly’s face went beet red as she reluctantly pretended to scratch the top of her inner thigh.
FUCK YOU. I want to die!!!
If he doesn’t buy this, you may get your wish…
FROM ELL LEIGH CLARKE >> Wow. So I’ve been told I need to talk to y’all, and let you in behind the curtain of what’s going on as we release Awakening.
Something beyond my initial reaction of – Holy Fuck!
So, first I feel I need to loop you in on something important.
This is my first fiction book to publish… EVER.
So a part of me is bricking it. And the other part of me is just trusting the Michael knows his shit and he wouldn’t let me publish shit that no one will like.
I must say, it’s been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster.
When I was at Uni. (University that is… I’ve been told that when I use UK English I might need to translate it into American 😉 ), I did a research year in Italy. Alone in my room, after long hours trying to get a handle on quantum field theory so I could understand what the fuck my supervisor was even talking about, I would binge watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer on my laptop.
Often eating cheese and crackers.
And wishing my life was as simple as slaying a few vampires.
During this time, I developed a deep respect for Joss Whedon, and then all things in the Whedon‘Verse.
(I know you sci-fi fans are hearing me on this!).
I would watch episode after episode into the wee hours of the morning, trying to understand what he was doing structurally: How the arcs would build. How the characters would evolve and intersect?
I would marvel at his genius.
Well, fast forward (a number of years I’m not going to admit to), and when I started collaborating with Michael several weeks ago, I realised that a lot of what Michael does is very Whedon-esque.
Having never written anything I went forward and published, he became my mentor.
My Yoda.
Needless to say – this has been a super steep learning curve, but a shit tonne of fun, thanks to Michael’s expert guidance. My favourite bits have been figuring out the humour.
Mostly this would happen on a phone call when we’re talking plot. We’d be like – this, this and this has to happen. And then Michael would just go off on a tangent with hilarious dialogue. And then somewhere between laughing my head off and catching my breath I’d scramble to capture some of it in note form to recreate it later.
For the first time ever, I started making myself laugh.
(This really sounds so simple, but as a kid who grew up teaching herself advanced math and stuff, barely talking to anyone, this was HUGE.)
But, just because *I* found it funny, it wouldn’t mean that anyone else would.
So when even after the fourth or fifth pass, Michael would still throw quotes into our slack channel followed by strings of “hahahhahahaha!” I thought, hmmm. Maybe this stuff might be worth a chuckle or two.
So right now, I know at least one other person finds my stuff funny.
But that’s not to say the important people – you, the awesome fans of TKG, who are acclimatised to the antics of Bethany Anne et al – are going to laugh.
So that’s what I’m most afraid of as we start releasing snippets.
Is this stuff entertaining?
Is it any good?
Are you going to laugh?
And feel?
And want to read more?
And if the answer is yes, then how the fuck do I keep you laughing in Book 2, 3, and beyond??
So in short – I’m scared.
So if you can let me know what you thought of it on my Facebook page, or if you loved it, and feel like giving is a thumbs up in an Amazon review when it comes out this week, it would mean THE WORLD to me.
Here’s where you can find me and any comments and messages are appreciated!
https://www.facebook.com/ellleighclarke/
(I’ll get some proper pictures up very soon!)
And thank you. Thank you for taking the time to read this snippet, and I hope you love the rest that is to come.
Ellie
The Darkest Night – Snippet 05 of …
UNEDITED
—
Sherry Logstrum let her friend continue on to the control area as she stopped to enjoy the night for a moment. She pulled out a small stick that had been soaked in a few mildly soporific chemicals and placed it on her lips.
It helped keep the dreams away at night.
She happened to notice a man in a black robe, his hood over his head carrying a sword step out of a dark area some fifteen paces away. He walked into the same area the huge fight with monsters of the night, the police, and monsters who rallied to save the city.
And the one who called down lightening.
Sherry took a couple of steps out of the light, trying to see better when the figure looked up. Sherry followed his gaze and her mouth opened as something as dark as the night without any lights floated down out of the darkness.
“You…” she whispered out as the man opened the floating ships canopy and jumped in. He turned in her direction and smiled. She could see his white teeth reflecting light.
“No Sherry,” the man spoke out, “I am not a fiction of your imagination.”
With that, the canopy closed and the ship lifted up silently into the night and headed towards the ocean. Sherry stayed a moment and beyond, watching the sky to see if she could see it cross the stars.
Her stick laid on the ground, forgotten.
Air Ship ArchAngel
“What the hell!” The Captain sputtered as he forced the liquid that was drowning him out of his mouth, then used his forearm to wipe the water from his eyes.
He blinked a moment, then looked into the grave eyes of the young woman staring back at him. “What happened?” He asked as he reached out to feel along his neck.
“Don’t flatter yourself,” Jacqueline smiled, “Michael isn’t going to suck on your neck.”
“Wasn’t him I was worried about,” the Captain grumped as he accepted the towel Jacqueline handed him to dry his face, and what he could of his hair and shirt. He used his hand to circle his body. “Got to make sure you didn’t want a piece of this and then my wife would see a hickey. I’d be dead for sure.” He grumped.
Jacqueline smirked, “Now, that IS flattering yourself. But it’s also funny.” She snapped to get his attention back, “Hopefully, you don’t have a concussion…”
He reached up to touch his head, jerking back his hand when he touched the sensitive area that had been hurt, “the hell!” He flinched again after a second try. “What happened?”
“You know, that’s a story for another time.” Jacqueline answered, “Let’s play catch up really quick.” She started, but then the ship dipped, the power flickered, and the Captain looked around, memory dawning on his face.
He reached out to grab his dresser and helped himself to stand up, “Why are we in here? Gott Verdammt, we are in a fucking storm!” He staggered over to his door, his balance getting better the longer he was standing and moving. Jacqueline walked along with him, waiting to catch him if he fell.
“Fainted,” Jacqueline told him.
The Captain stopped, his hand on the knob and looked over at the woman. “Aye, I do remember that part. What say we both agree not to mention anything about this last thirty minutes and I’ll owe you one?”
Jacqueline took a second before holding out her hand, “Agreed and let’s go save our hides.”
The Captain opened the door, then shook her hand once, “Deal.”
Back in his room, Michael smiled.
That girl was luck personified, sometimes.
FROM MICHAEL >> So, I had my discussions with Lynne Stiegler (remember last snippet?) and I’m very happy to say that she is now working inside the Kurtherian Gambit Universe.
One nice thing (other than that she was already a fan before becoming a copy-editor) is that she has worked on books by David Weber, John Ringo, Marc Stiegler (notice the name similarity?) and many others.
Books I’ve read when I was younger…let’s not discuss HOW much younger #ThankYouVeryMuch.
This is a VERY short post snippet comment, because WRITING!
P.S. –
Natalie Grey is a ghost writer. In our business it (usually) means that she writes books, and NO one knows she ever did it. The author working with her to put it out (they are collaborations usually) hires her to write most of it and then they will edit and place their own name on the book.
I reached out to Natalie months and months ago and offered her the same deal that Craig, Justin etc. etc. have. However, for her family, she couldn’t jump on the deal since her family NEEDED the income the ghost writing brings in.
Money up front trumps long term income when it means food on the table, am I right?
However, I refused to treat Natalie anything but as an equal partner, who just was paid differently.
So, we created a unique Pen Name for Natalie, one that would work to give her a foundation so that if she wanted to try her hand at her own books, she absolutely could because her association with TKG would give her a name.
A name she could hang her writing hat on.
Now, the first Natalie Grey (solo) book is out and I can’t be more proud that she has done this and I wish her the MOST success for her personal series. (We are about to drop book #03 that we have done together, so more Natalie Grey is coming!)
If you are interested in what she has done, here is the US Amazon Link to her book. If you are in another country, try searching on the ASIN which is B072BJYNZ8 .
Love you all,
Michael
THE DARKEST NIGHT – Snippet 04 of …
UNEDITED
Pirate Ship Folly
“Move your land-loving-lard-ass!” Billy yelled at two of the crew who were stowing a bit of the external equipment into the shelter on the ship as the rain and wind buffeted around them.
He pressed himself against the bulkhead to let the two pass before taking two more steps and opening the door into the bridge. He walked over to the controls and looked at the equipment that showed them any ships in the area. “Is that shit working?” He asked, leaning down to study the screen one more time. “It keeps fading in and out.”
Electronics operator Sally David replied after glancing at what Billy was looking at, “Bout as good as we can expect with the lightening and charged particles in the air, Billy.” She reached up to grab a metal tool and then delicately tapped above the screen.
It cleared up.
Billy stood back up and rubbed his chin, “So, not too far.” Then, everyone in the bridge reached out to hold on as the ship dipped to their left.
“SONOFABITCH!” Mellon cursed behind Billy. Billy turned in time to see the young recruit slide the last five feet before slamming up against a wall. Billy flinched from the sound of the collision, “Do a better job holding your ass up, Mellon!” Billy yelled before turning back to the screen and then up to the glass in front of him, attempting to look through the clouds and occasional open space which allowed him to see a distance through the clouds, lightening lighting up the clouds and the ship in front of them.
“I’m ready to eat some damned meat, tell those down in engineering and batteries we will move the product and slaves and then gut that ship after taking the equipment and batteries over there. But that means we have to go faster so redline those gauges, let’s come in like Hell’s own demons.
“Aye aye, Captain,” Sally David answered before turning back to her controls. She reached for the communications device.
New York City State
The city was a damned mess.
Akio hovered over the tallest building in the dark of the night, and with clouds covering the area he dropped out of the Pod and landed on the roof. He spent a little time looking over the city and the surrounding area before making his way down to the street level. He pushed out a bit of fear, keeping the area clear for him as he walked around.
He read the minds of those around him as he walked the streets. The most interesting bits of information came from the police.
There had been a major battle here, and it had changed many people in various ways. Some of them grew closer, some further apart.
A few had killed themselves.
Akio allowed his mind to wander to the airport, where he was able to move unseen among the men and women drinking coffee, talking amongst themselves and directing ships which had arrived late at night to clamp on to the massive towers, reeling the ships in and connecting them for passengers to be able to drop off.
Only one ship was connected at this time.
“We’ve lost them, the Captain of the ArchAngel says he was going into the storm to shake the pirates behind him.” One woman spoke to her friend as the two of them came around a corner of a building, the lights casting their faces in shadows as Akio turned to read their thoughts.
He pursed his lips and stepped back into the shadows, “Eve?”
“Here,” the AI’s voice came back.
“Bring the ship to me,” Akio replied.
“There is a hidden square about twelve blocks north …” Eve started, but Akio interrupted.
“Here.” Akio told the AI, “Now.”
FROM MICHAEL >>> So, about 1:30 AM this morning, I finished the edits for Damned Into Hell, Trials and Tribulations Book 02 with Natalie Grey. We are only waiting on a cover (it is in JIT right now) and then it will be released as I continue working on The Darkest Night.
Tomorrow, I have a phone call with a previous BAEN Editor, or at least one who had worked w/ BAEN at one time. I don’t know the stories personally, but I’ve gleaned enough to know that I wish I was around and working with those guys when Jim Baen was alive. I have read the amazing obituary penned by Dave (David) Drake – you can read it here http://david-drake.com/2006/jim-baen/ – and I hope that someday, maybe I’ll be remembered as someone who ripped up the normal way of doing stuff for readers, and that it worked out for fans of LMBPN Publishing like it has for those of us (including myself) who love BAEN.
Anyway, I get to chat with an Editor who worked with them and it kind of made me melancholy thinking back over my own history of reading, and enjoying so many damned fine stories by the men and women of Sci-Fi / Fantasy and Military Fiction. I know that those of us who have come lately stand on some incredible shoulders.
To those of you at BAEN Books who are alive, and to those who have passed on …
Ad Aeternitatem!
Michael Anderle
Judgement Has Fallen Audiobook Release!
We love it when we have good news, and today is that day!
The audiobook for Judgment Fallen: Reclaiming Honor, Book 3 is now available and can be purchased at Audible, iTunes, and Amazon!
Audio Book Release – Nomad Redeemed!
We have audio!!!
Nomad Redeemed, Book 2 in the Terry Henry Walton Chronicles is now available in audio book. Get your copy today at Audible, iTunes, and Amazon.
Never Forsaken Audiobook Release!
Exciting news, people!
The audiobook for Never Forsaken, The Kurtherian Gambit, Book 5 is available on Audible, iTunes, and Amazon.
The Darkest Night – Snippet 03 of …
UNEDITED
“All I wanted,” Michael grated under his breath to himself, trying to contain the ire in his mind from being released through his now grinding teeth. “Was a little peace and quiet to consider my next fucking steps.”
He thought a moment about the cursing slipping through his tongue before his lips curled up, remembering the red-eyed woman in his memory. “I’ll be back soon, Bethany Anne.”
He rose up from the bed to take a couple of steps over to the door. The light, hesitant tapping from the Captain of the ship was quieter than the pounding of the Captain’s heart Michael could hear through the thickness of the cabin door.
“Right after I kill a few more who desperately need it,” he concluded before turning the door knob to unlock the door, and pulled it open.
Michael looked down at the Captain, a small drop of sweat glistening on his forehead when a strong female’s arm shoved him out of the doorway and Jacqueline made her appearance. “Jacqueline,” Michael nodded at her appearance, “Using other’s as a shield maybe?”
“No sensei, but the Captain,” she jerked her head in his direction, “thought he should be man enough to knock on the door. However, we both know if his heart beats much faster because he has to talk with you, he will drop dead…” A loud thunk sounded from beside her, and she turned to look down.
The Captain had fainted.
She turned back to Michael and raised an eyebrow. He smiled, “I didn’t say anything.”
She rolled her eyes and put two fingers in the air, wiggling them next to her head, “You sure you didn’t do some Vampire Voodoo on him?”
Michael leaned out of the room into the hallway, Jacqueline moving aside so he could peer around the corner and stare down at the comatose Captain. He leaned back into his room, “Why would I do that?”
“Because you’re The Michael and shit.” She turned to point down at the Captain, ”That result right there is right up your alley.”
Michael pursed his lips, “Ok, that’s a fair accusation. I didn’t do it. He hyperventilated after you accused him of being too scared to talk with me and then down he went.”
“So, it’s my fault?” She asked looking between the captain and Michael.
“Yes.”
Jacqueline made a face and stepped over to the Captain. She bent down and reached under him and picked him up quickly and then turned to look both ways down the hall. The Captain’s head making a solid whack sound when she didn’t pay attention turning around.
Michael snorted when Jacqueline’s eyes opened from her mistake. She adjusted the Captain and lifted him over her shoulder. “I can’t believe I have to go throw water on his face to wake his ass up.”
“Keep hitting his head on the walls,” Michael replied, “and it will take more than some water.”
“He’s not getting a kiss from this Princess.” She retorted as she took off down the hall to wake up the Captain. “By the way, Sensei.” She yelled out, “We have pirates tracking our ship into a big ass storm.”
“Worse than that,” Michael answered as he turned around. He didn’t bother to raise his voice for the Werewolf, “We have no Captain at the moment.
FROM MICHAEL >>> Ok, I’m recuperating from a week in Austin, Tx with authors and sleeping so damned little, but talking all the time!
It was great.
I’m writing on Michael’s book, editing others and generally going to pull my head out of my ass (I hope) and get shit finished. I’ve been…not suffering, but more mentally exhausted after so many books in the last year and a half and need the break or break(s) as we push forward on something that is rather ‘large’ in scope. But, at the bottom of EVERYTHING is Bethany Anne and Michael.
I don’t ever forget that.
By working with Craig Martelle in person (thanks for that special behind-the-scenes breakfast!) we were able to hash out some cool ideas and we have a LOT to share.
How much do you want to know?
The Darkest Night – Snippet 02 of …
UNEDITED
Over the Pacific Ocean, In the renamed Anti-Grav ship “DMS ArchAngel”
The Captain of the ArchAngel was standing on the deck, looking at the darkness of the clouds that stretched across the horizon, warning him to turn either to the North, or to the South.
If only he could. He looked over his shoulder and chewed on a piece of wood as he eyed the ship chasing them.
He was tempted to raise the flag of the Duke, but feared more what the master of this ship would do if he found out.
And he would, because of either of the two young adults that were awake at the moment. Especially the young, pretty one coming towards him right now. The Captain sighed, answering this woman was always a challenge. Her mind was like a trap, fast and hard.
“Why aren’t we turning?” She asked and then turned to follow his eyes to the aft of the ship. “Them?”
“Aye.” The Captain agreed. Short answers usually worked best when answering Jacqueline. She wasn’t altogether human either, but her curiosity was exactly like his wife’s.
Jacqueline walked closer to the back of the ship, “There are a bunch of people looking at us, I can’t tell if they are all men or not.”
The Captain took a couple of steps and spit off the side of the ship before returning to stand near the young woman, “Unlikely to be an all male crew. There are many times that evil runs in the hearts of women, as well.”
Jacqueline turned back to regard the Captain, “Pirates?” He nodded his agreement and she pointed behind her towards the other ship, “Why the hell aren’t we waking up Michael?”
The Captain chewed on the wood, biting harder as he jerked a thumb back over his own shoulder at the dark storm clouds on the horizon, “Well, I shouldn’t need to. Perhaps you can explain to me how can can sleep like the dead with that in front of us us? Even I can hear the deep rumble of the thunder, it is like he didn’t have a care in the world … Oh!” The Captain’s eyes opened wide, a touch of fear reflecting back to Jacqueline, “I meant no disrespect.”
Jacqueline waved a hand at the Captain, “I didn’t hear anything.” She told him, “I wouldn’t suggest saying that around him, but I don’t care. I grew up in a different generation.” She looked back at the Captain a question on her face, “So, why aren’t you waking up Michael?”
The Captain blew out a deep breath, “Because I would rather trust we can get through the storm in front of us instead of the Master’s temper should I wake him up from a sleep when he specifically said to not interrupt him.”
“And those guys?” Jacqueline asked, pointing towards the assumed pirates behind them.
“Rarely do they go into the storms, it can be too dangerous for them so we jump into the storm and go just deep enough to get away, then we choose a direction and try to cut back out of the storm. Worse thing that happens is the Pirates choose to cut in the direction we eventually do as well and we potentially meet up again outside of the storm.”
“What about them coming into the storm, wouldn’t that be a worst case?”
The Captain nodded sharply at Jacqueline as he stepped towards his bridge, “Yes, and let’s hope that doesn’t occur.”
The Anti-grav ship Folly
“My name isn’t Billy the Bold because I shy away from a small bit of rain!” the Captain of the ship The Folly yelled out to his people, those who didn’t need to be at station congregating out on the deck as the Captain pointed ahead of them, “There goes a fat sheep, and it has been far too long since the Folly has tasted mutton!”
One of his ship’s crews called out, “I thought you were called the Bold because you asked Henrick’s wife to screw you right in front of Henrick ‘imself!”
Billy chuckled along with the general laughter of the crew, “My quickly belated best friend didn’t give me a good description for Henrick at the time. So yes,” Billy winked to the group, “that story is true as well.” He twirled his hand in a circle and pointed back again to the ship ahead of them, “But let’s not lose the point I was making, that we have a chance to grab us a sheep today who is thinking the storm will protect it from the wolves of the Folly!”
The new voice yelled out. “I’m tired of stale bread and rainwater and I wouldn’t be surprised if that fat fuck over there has real meat on board. Who’s ready to eat some meat?” he tossed out and there was cheering in the group.
Billy took the crowd back from his shipmate, “Then let’s make way, tighten up everything as let’s be about it, you fools.”
Billy looked over his shoulder, “The Folly is going hunting in the middle of the deep dark tonight!”
___
>>> FROM MICHAEL – Tonight I go and talk with an Austin Police Department member to do real research. I don’t think I have EVER setup a meeting to do research with someone like this for a book, yet.
I’m all growing up and shit – it’s pretty humbling.
As I’m working on Michael’s new book (see snippet above) I am working on a few other projects. I mentioned on Facebook that you, the fans collectively speaking, are helping support (bring income to) something like 8 authors at the moment, 10 artists, probably about the same amount of editors, a layout specialist and 4 audio talent(s).
That’s a lot of people and I can’t begin to explain that for some of them, it is life changing and for a few others, it is life enhancing. What I mean by that, is their opportunity to work with a publishing company (LMBPN… basically me as the rights holder) and then also with me as the Universe owner and the main guy is kinda unique in the Industry with how we break out the income and support.
Not completely unique, as I have to believe it is being done by others (although, I’ve not heard of anyone that was doing it this way before I started) but I’ve shared what we have learned to others who are building their own Universes (or collaborations).
The Indie Publishing group is voracious. They will find whatever is working, turn on a dime, write that book and get it out there FAST. It is one of the achilles heels of the Trade Pub (traditional publishing) companies. I imagine traditional publishers could mitigate it but I’m not sure (because of the way paperbacks can be sent back if they don’t sell) they can fix the problem.
I could name a few Indie Writers who have gone the collaboration route and are kicking some ASS (Great for them!) but can I admit I’m a little competitive? I want them to have success, but I am going to be working hard to go after JK Rowling (go for the top, right?) so if they are reaching to go after me they need to light another fire under their ass, because we aren’t 1/2 way done yet with Kurtherian, Baby! (And it has LOT’S of room to grow!)
Hopefully, the collaborators are learning from those of us who have been successful so they can also take this knowledge to their personal books and series, and please new fans as well. Sometimes, the authors are just learning a little – sometimes they are having to re-think major aspects of their story telling process.
Anyway, back to why I need to research the Austin Police Department and need an inside guy (or girl – I wasn’t gender picky. But, I happen to know an author whose husband is on the Austin PD force, so it’s ‘guy’ this time.)
The Kurtherian Gambit Universe is growing, and getting bigger. But, it isn’t the only place I want to play, and frankly a few authors don’t really fit into the TKG Universe. Remember, I’m a Indie Publisher at heart, who writes stories because “I can do that, maybe?” and you fans supported the HELL out of Bethany Anne and myself.
A little aside, I can’t thank you enough for supporting myself and Bethany Anne. A few fans have noticed the Easter egg I provided in the latest timeline (#2) and figured out Bethany Anne isn’t complete at 21… She will have a new series… You read it here (maybe) first… or second if you already know it… possibly third if you saw the comment to the reply on the post…
Fuck it – You read it for the first time in this post for this website LOL.
Anyway, I have a side project Universe (as TKG is my main project for a while) where I delve into something that is… A scratch I have to itch. I think of myself as a logical person and I love to find explanations for stuff. But, there is something that just doesn’t add up for me and that has to do with history answers.
(Yes, yes… Don’t lose me here, I know a LOT of that stuff is so far out there it might as well be it’s own fiction shelf at the local Barnes & Noble.)
Suffice it to say that in my mind, there are truths that we aren’t privy to, and this new universe (and the kick-ass stories within) starts with one question.
… Can You Handle The Truth?
The first books protagonist is a Police Officer for the Austin Police Department and I (as many of you know) am very appreciative of those in uniform. (Unless they are a complete wanker, but I don’t count that as the majority.) So, I’d like to get some input to help make our character, Leira, accurate.
I’m really looking forward to dinner with John, and I have to leave now because dinner is in 50 minutes, I’m in downtown Austin, and the dinner is up in Georgetown. I’m told it could take an hour, if traffic is bad. Good thing I ALWAYS OBEY THE TRAFFIC SPEED LIMIT…. <Uhhhh, yeah. I can’t sell that one. But, in my defense, The Author’s wife is WAY worse.)
And YES, I’m going to ask the question, “Do the officers on the Austin Police Department have a favorite donut location?”
Wish me luck, I don’t need to get arrested for being a wanker, myself 😉
Michael.
The Darkest Night – Snippet 01 of …
helpUNEDITED
Frankfurt, Germany – Approximately 151 years after the WWDE
The streets of Frankfurt were wet, the weather heavy and humid this dark night. Between the occasional sheets of rain coming down, and her son asking questions, Sarah Bearnstred wasn’t paying nearly enough attention when she took a left down the wrong alley.
“Oh!” she pulled little Michael close when she noticed the man turn around, holding what looked like a body close to him farther in the dark alley.
“What is it, momma?” Michael asked, peaking around his mother’s hip to stare into the darkness.
“Yes, what is it, mother?” the man’s voice asked from the darkest shadows. Sarah was screaming inside, the aggravation she was feeling a moment ago lost in the recesses of a mind now paralyzed with fear.
“I’m sorry, I was trying to get back home,” Sarah spoke in a clipped fashion before she was able to take a step back, gently pushing her son behind her.
“I do believe,” the man’s feet clicked on the pavement in the alley as he came closer, “that you are far away from home, little woman.” The man took another two steps closer, into the pitiful light cast by a dim bulb that must have been found in a building in the half of the city that had fallen into disuse. “I smell France on you.”
“Oui,” Sarah answered, able to take another step back, now little Michael was almost out of the alley and Sarah set her shoulders. She was completely aware of who, no what she had found.
And probably who, as well. “You are the one named the Duke, are you not?” she asked, trying to keep as much fear out of her voice as she could.
This made the man pause and turn his head slightly, raising an eyebrow in surprise, “You know of me?”
“Oui,” she agreed, “I’ve heard of you.” She grabbed her young son’s arm again, his straightforward nature not a benefit at the moment as he stepped forward to see better. She pushed him back behind her.
“How delightful,” the smooth voice responded as he took another step closer.
Sarah kept her eyes on the man who was but maybe ten steps down the alley. She had already accepted that her trip to this city was a mistake, her faith insufficient for the task at hand. She set her lips and kneeled, pulling Michael closer to herself and when he was close, she leaned over and kissed him on his cheek. “Momma loves you, now do as I tell you and run down the street to our hotel, I’ll be along to meet you at the room later.”
“But,” the young boy started to argue but stopped when his mother’s fingers tapped him on his lips.
“Go!” She told him, and was relieved when he obeyed, his little running steps taking his body away from the alley.
The man’s eyes opened in surprise, “You are a brave one, little child. I can hear your heart,” he told her, taking another step forward as he tapped on his chest. “Bah bump, bah bump, bah bump.” He smiled, “That was brave of you, to deliver your blood as the sacrifice for your son’s life. I am not a totally cruel and heartless man. I recognize the love you have, and I will honor the sacrifice you provide.”
“I’ll not go down without fighting!” She hissed, “You are the spawn of Satan himself, and …”
His rush caught her by surprise, her feeble attempts to pull his head, to separate his teeth that penetrated her neck impossible. She wanted to scream, but the warmth as he pulled blood from her was making her sleepy. A single tear released from her eye and traveled down her face as she lost the ability to stand. Her body easily held up in the dark alley by the man holding her in a caress.
Her final thoughts were for her son, hoping he would stay away and that this monster willing to kill for blood was telling the truth…
FROM MICHAEL >>> WOOHOO, we are back into the groove, right? At least, we have the first snippet from The Darkest Night out for your reading and a little bit of the evil that is “the Duke.”
I already hate his vampiric ass.
One of the old ones that was protected when he should have been dead … Valerie shouldn’t be expecting a reunion, that’s all I have to say.