Winter's Legacy by Andre Alan - Chapter One Exclusive

Chapter One – The New Addition

Thame Elliot stood rigid, feet planted firm on large black tiles.  He breathed slow and relaxed.  He wore brown cargo pants and a dark green, short sleeve collared shirt underneath a black leather jacket.  Brown eyes simmered behind dark shades with an intense, razor sharp focus.  

Stretching from floor to ceiling was ten centimeter thick, fiber filigree bullet proof glass that protected him on either side.  He riddled off consecutive shots from the latest toy developed by Valant Corporation, the las-bow.  At Thame’s waist hung several cartridges, containing cylindrical shells five millimeters long.  When activated by pressing the small circular button located at the back end of the shell and placed against the bow string, the cartridge sprung to life with a long, blue laser in the shape of an arrow.  Las-bow technology was the latest invention from the weapons manufacturing division of Valant Corporation; intelligent, heat seeking and laser accurate tracking projectiles that were not available to the international market, yet.

Small, circular bulls eye targets slid back and forth across the range in multiple rows, varying in distance and height.  Thame raised the bow and arrow to his cheek, pulling back on the string, feeling the taut pressure in his muscles, breathing in pain.  The laser cast a pea-sized dot on the target.  Thame followed the moving target until a confirmation beep sounded in his ear signaling that the las-bow had locked onto the target.  He let fly the laser arrow which streaked toward the moving bull’s eye.  Nano-bots inside the cylindrical shell curved the arrow’s trajectory automatically due to its internal GPS navigation and homing capability toward the metallic bull’s eye, locking on and colliding, detonating with a small explosion on contact.  Another blue laser arrow soared in from Thame’s right and caught a bull’s eye in the center and exploded.

               “These new weapons from V.C. are incredible,” said Cyrus with a wide smile.  He pulled another shell from the spring loaded cartridge strapped to his waist.  Wearing the metallic grey exo-suit with helmet concealed in the collar along with gloves that were retracted; each could be deployed in a matter of mili-seconds should danger arise.  He had striking, deep blue eyes and brown hair tipped with blue that stood straight into the air like porcupine quills.  “They say if you use these in live combat the laser arrow will carve through anything in front of it until it reaches an object that the laser can’t penetrate and then the ordinates in the shell will detonate; can’t wait until we can use these things in combat against the Orcs.”

               The exo-suit was also developed by Valant Corporation and distributed to the Eioda Nation States military.  Valant Co was unmatched by any other human corporation when it came to weapon manufacturing and although the exo-suit could be considered defensive armor, it was also a weapon.  The sleek, skin tight armor was practically indestructible and made with a variety of precious metals and plastics that gave it unmatched maneuverability. 

               “Lately you’ve seemed a tad bit battle hungry Cy,” said Thame notching another laser shell.  “Everything okay?  Anything you want to talk about?”

               “We’ve been sitting around and doing nothing.  It’s been months since the wedding,” replied Cyrus.  “We need to get a move on--”

               “Get a move on what?  Starting the next world war? ” interrupted Charlotte leaning against the door frame of the sound proof shooting gallery.  Her blue streaked brown hair loosely hung past her shoulders.  Despite being nine months pregnant, she still moved with the stealth of a Felidae jungle cat stalking prey.  Wobbling over to stand next to her twin brother and husband with a hand resting on her watermelon sized stomach, Charlotte gave Thame a peck on the lips.  She smelled of fresh linen and dressed comfortably in baggy sweatpants and a long white t-shirt.

               Glaring at his twin sister through blue eyes narrowed in a slit of frustration, Cyrus shook his mop of spiky brown hair.  “There is so much more to accomplish if we’re going to make this world a better place,” replied Cyrus.  He could not help but look down at his unborn niece or nephew as he spoke.

               “Starting a war is more likely than not the only thing you can hope to accomplish by--” Charlotte tried to say before being interrupted.

               “We’re already at war!” said Cyrus through clenched teeth.

               “In that case it is all the more reason for you to let me hold that new las-bow,” said Charlotte changing the subject with a sly smile while reaching for the weapon and missing.  She stared up at Cyrus with round saucer like eyes, pleading and innocent, identical deep, pools of blue.

               “No way.  Look at your belly.  You’re on the verge of bursting.  Remember the doctor said no strenuous activity,” said Thame positioning himself between his brother-in-law and the mother of his unborn child.

               “Ha, that’s not strenuous,” said Charlotte.  “It’s regular exercise.  Now toss it over so I can try.  I like to blow up stuff too you know.”  She reached for the weapon trying to stretch her arms around Thame playfully.  That is until she let out a grunt and bent over, face screwed up into a grimace of pain.

               “Are you okay?” asked Thame tossing aside the new bow.  He supported the bulk of his wife and unborn child in his arms.  He tried to ease his wife out of the gun range.

Cyrus hovered on the other side of his sister, watching carefully with concern etched on his olive complexioned face.

               “I think I just burst,” said Charlotte, concern in her deep blue orbs.

               The two young men looked down with eyes wide at the spreading pool of clear fluid expanding across the concrete.

               “Gross,” said Cyrus with a look of disgust.  “Don’t tell me this stuff was just inside you.”  His lips twisted in a snarl as he looked at the bottom of his exo-suit boots.  “That’s nasty Char.”

               He was silenced with a surprisingly powerful punch to the chest by Charlotte.  “Don’t just stand there, get me to a hospital!” shouted Charlotte, fist balled up, ready to deliver another blow.

               Thame scooped up his wife in both arms and carried her out of the room.

               “I can still walk you know,” said Charlotte.

               “No, no, no, sweetheart,” said Thame on the verge of being frantic.  “I’m not taking any chances. Cyrus!  Call the shuttle!”  He shouted to his stunned brother-in-law who was in the corner wiping down the souls of his exo-suit covered feet.

               Cyrus made no move to respond at first.  Ultimately with a huff, he resigned to his role as an administrative assistant to his twin sister’s first birth.  He slumped his shoulders and tapped a series of buttons on the exo-suit forearm panel.  He spoke nonchalantly into the speaker, contacting the Landry family driver who was on twenty four-seven stand by alert.

               Thame and Charlotte exited the indoor range and stepped onto the well-manicured lawn of the Landry estate.  The hover-shuttle came to a rest a meter away from the mansion.  Scuttling to the awaiting shuttle with Charlotte holding on tightly, Thame tried to keep her head from bobbling too violently while in his arms.  The hover shuttle with remote controlled doors slid to the side to offer a wide entrance while floating several dozen centimeters off the grass on blue ion propulsions flames.  Thrusting themselves into the hover-craft before it could come to a complete stop.  Thame strapped Charlotte into her seat with a seven point harness that required major adjustments due to her large stomach.

               Cyrus sprinted from the range and leapt to collide with the bottom step of the hover shuttle as it lifted off.  “Little help,” he said straining to pull himself aboard.  The automatic sliding doors repeatedly bounced off his elbows, trying to close.

               Thame pulled Cyrus aboard the ship.  An agony filled shriek ripped through the shuttle cabin that had plush black leather seats.  The hover shuttles interior was five meters in height and ten meters in width for ample area to stretch out.  Thame was by Charlotte’s side instantly.  He took her hand within his and instantly regretted that decision.  She squeezed his hand with a monstrous strength never before displayed that could crush a bear, thought Thame.  Clenching his teeth to avoid screaming out, he found himself down on one knee from the pain.  He tried to pull his hand away before the bones were crushed to dust but his wife held tight.

               Cyrus looked at the couple interlocked together, each grimacing in pain.  He smiled to himself and let out a slight chuckle that was hidden behind his hand.  Pressing a button on the door panel console, a round table rose from the center of the hover shuttle.  In a chilled compartment built into the metallic, round center table leg, Cyrus pulled out a glass bottle of brown liquor and poured himself a generous helping while chuckling at the expense of his sister and brother-in-law.

Quest for the Ancients - Sneak Peek

Violence in America

 

I have never been the rah-rah type, the type to get out in front and lead the way but despite the past, change needs to take place in order to have a bright future. With gun violence running rampant across the United States and the local and national news constantly focusing on the turbulence rocking our world, it is time for us as humans to look at ourselves and ask what can we each do to contribute.

I know people are probably asking themselves, what can I do; I’m only one person and I’m not even from that area. Me personally, I ask myself that question all the time and I also wonder why anyone would even bother to listen to me. But history has shown that one person and one voice can make a difference. It only takes one person to decide to take a step in the right direction and before you know it, a nation is walking beside you.

We should start by contacting our local officials as well as officials from across the nation. We can contact civil rights organizations and try to effect real and lasting change by getting laws in place that punish officers for committing these crimes against unarmed black youth. Right now, police officers receive a slap on the wrist and not only that but they are protected and insulated by their follow officers as opposed to being condemned for their actions. It’s only natural to want to form a bunker mentality around someone that you perceive to have a bond with but what happens when that bunker mentality which is meant to protect becomes distorted and ends up actually assisting that person in committing atrocities.

Many people of my color like to using a saying “It’s open season” when stories hit the news of young, unarmed African Americans being shot and killed in the streets of America for no reason. I’m sure the police officer will tell you that he had probably cause but what else is he supposed to say; at that point the officer is in CYA (Cover Your Ass) mode. Not only that but with the proliferation of guns in America, normal civilians take the law into their own hands and shoot and kill young African Americans. When I hear the phrase, “It’s open season” I think back to the old Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd cartoons where the tricky hunter would put up a fake sign that reads: “Rabbit Season is Now Open.” There might as well be a sign up on every street in America that reads: “Killing Black People Season is Now Open.” I mean, they basically gun us down in the streets now without any repercussions as if we were wild animals and to be honest, I would not be surprised if that is how some people see us. Although I am no scientist, I do know that despite skin color, when a black or white person is shot, red blood leaks out.

It has also been revealed that police officers on the city and state level have been receiving military vehicles, equipment and weaponry that was built for WAR, not for maintaining the peace in a community of American citizens. When police officers open fire on peaceful protesters and arrest journalist then this is no longer the America that is advertised to the world. Instead of trying to aid every other country and nation around the globe, we need to focus on home and (pardon my French but) get our shit together.

Winter's Legacy By Andre Alan - Prologue - Sample

Prologue

It had been a time of great unrest.  The world was on edge since the humans had obtained the sacred, ancient artifacts from the Consummate of the Trust.  Despite the vast mixture of advanced technology that was owned by the humans, their eastern shoreline was still battered by the Orc landing party several months ago.  The western hemisphere’s most advanced humans living on Eioda had been bracing itself for the prophecies to come.  Some believed that war was inevitable while some knew that war was already here.  In this time of political uncertainty, the humans would somehow be in need of its savior; The Winter’s Legacy…, Thame Elliot.

Despite the times and mounting turmoil that ravaged the nation of Eioda, the love of two people would not be swayed by what was to come.  It was Thame and Charlotte’s time….

Gathered together in a three tiered church in the human country Eioda’s major military city of Ardile, a packed house watched as Charlotte Landry was escorted down the aisle by her father, the Admiral of the Eioda Naval Fleet, Bareq Landry.  

Dad, Bareq Landry throughout his years of service had earned the tag-name Flash, wore his dark brown wavy hair swept back and hung lose about his neck with a thick line of grey stretching from temple to ear.  He wore a black tux and a slight chuck of fat extended the waist line of the suit due to lack of proper exercise.

Charlotte wore a gleaming white dress with flowing gown that trailed a meter.  Her bright blue eyes gleamed while those same, matching eyes of her father walked beside her wearing a proud smile which was uncharacteristic of the usually stoic soldier. He kept his face reserved as he handed his daughter over to her soon to be husband, Thame Elliot.  These two families were considered royalty in the eyes of the people living in Eioda and a packed church watched eagerly with smiles and tears as the two became one.

“Dear family and friends… We are gathered here today, to witness the love of two people, bound together for eternity, in the eyes of Enigmone,” said Pastor Clay Reynold, a disciple of Ren Saint Paul and the Tarrin Faith.  Thick, silky greased back black hair of Pastor Reynold’s was tied into a ponytail with long streaks of gray.  He wore a black suit and black shirt with a clerical collar showing a square of white under his chin.  Completing the priestly outfit, a long necklace of wooden prayer beads with a cross hung to his stomach.  Looking into the faces of the couple that stood side by side in front of him, pastor Reynold displayed a proud smile showing a toothy grin with a large gap between his two front teeth.  “Let us celebrate the union of Thame Elliot and Charlotte Landry in Holy Matrimony,” said pastor Reynold.

Thame wore a wide grin that nearly split his olive complexioned face in half. He leaned in, black hair cut short and closed his brown eyes and planted a deep kiss on his wife.

               Seated in the stands, Empress Autumn Augustus with her unique grey eyes discreetly caught the attention of Admiral Bareq Landry’s striking blue eyes from across the pew and gave a slight nod.  The movement was barely visible to the other guests who were focused on the reception and the two young people smiling wide, drowning within each other’s eyes.

****

“How was the wedding, Empress?” asked Violet Inkhorn, looking at her Royal Highness’s beautiful caramel complexion and dirty blonde hair that fell past her shoulders as she entered the Temporary Command and Control Center located on the black sand beaches of Ardile, the main port on Eioda’s eastern shore.  Violet had worked for the empress since her ascension to the highest seat of power in the human territories.  She thought of the empress as a rare beauty of sorts. She had heard the rumors spread about her empress’ sexuality since every suitor that came to Autumn’s door had been turned away despite their social standing or wealth. What people did not realize, what people did not see behind the scenes was how much pressure the empress carried, relationships would only serve as a distraction.

The Empress’ secretary sat in the corner behind a makeshift desk which was a broken, plastic door resting on scavenged, mismatched table legs and even a bat. Violet pushed her thin, square framed glasses back onto her olive skinned face with plush pink lips that were made for kissing. Her dark hair was tied into a pony tail that hung over her shoulder while her white blouse was buttoned to the top and her black, leather skirt matched her high heels.

“The ceremony was wonderful,” replied Autumn, “but I am glad that it’s completed and out of the way.  Now I can deal with more pressing matters.”  She nodded to her military brain trust seated around the large table in the center of the tent that was the temporary CCC.  She took her seat at the head of the table. 

Outside, several tents were setup along the black sand beach of Ardile with the ruined roof of the Pyramid casting a deep shadow over their operations.  The building was currently undergoing construction, after the destruction caused by the Orc attack had bombed the other major military installations along the Eioda eastern shoreline, from Ardile to Queens.  Until the damage was fixed, anyone flying overhead could look down into the halls of the Pyramid.  

Several Eioda Marines were guards standing strategically around the tent that held the powerful military brain-trust, soldiers that blended into their surroundings, almost invisible.  This group of high ranking officials sat around a large mahogany table.  The heavy wooden table had been levitated into place when it was brought through a portal from the Capital City of Eioda, Consonance.  The chairs however were a scattered assortment of whatever could be found in the camp.

               “The most pressing matter should be wiping these filthy green skins off the face of Threa,” said Admiral Bareq Landry, stepping through the flap of carbon composite vinyl that was the tent entrance.  Bareq Landry was decked out in full military regalia: a double breasted, dark blue, full length coat with a shining collection of emblems, metals and pins plastered on his right breast.  Underneath the formal attire was all business with light weight reinforced carbon Kevlar body armor of the skin tight exo-suit.   On the right hand side of the Empress, he took a seat.  “They attacked us and actually put their filthy green feet on our soil and for that they should be punished. Not to mention the fact that because of those actions they are now in violation of the Elven-Dwarf Maritime Peace Treaty.”

               “Is the H.A.E.M.P. ready to go Admiral?” asked Empress Autumn Augustus.  She kept her face calm and took a deep breath.  There was a cold, cool gleam to her grey eyes while she swept them across the generals seated before her.

               “Ready and waiting your Highness,” replied Bareq Landry.

               “Initiate launch sequence,” said the Empress.  Autumn pulled the nuclear football from a lockbox underneath the mahogany conference table.  The Admiral of the Fleet and the Empress of Eioda inserted their detonation keys.  After each of them punched in their confirmation launch codes, and then at the count of three, turned.

               Several hundred thousand kilometers away, high above the heads of the unsuspecting humanoid citizens of the planet Threa, a satellite stationed in geosynchronous orbit above the planet received a signal.  The satellite responded by sliding open a rectangular panel to expose four High-Altitude Electro Magnetic Pulse missiles.  The laser guided HAEMP missiles propelled themselves from their holding case.  Two missiles headed towards the Orc territory while the remaining two traveled to the Goblin Nation; both in the eastern hemisphere of Threa where were far away from the humans of Eioda in the west.  An electromagnetic pulse of radioactive energy detonated in the late evening night above the Capital Orc City, Heldefolan and the Goblin capital, Bengali.

               In the makeshift forward command post, the handheld Plan Position Indicator screen located at the center of the table lit up like a flash of lightening.  The P.P.I. was a handheld, circular device that projected three dimensional terrain of the Orc capital, Heldefolan as a projection, suspended in mid-air, a few centimeters above the table.  Gazing down at the terrain of the city, everyone at the table watched lights wink out of existence across the city as power died, computer chips, circuits and anything else that relied on electricity fried beyond repair from the EMP blast.  Backup generators exploded at several sites on the map from overloading power stations that could not handle the strain. 

Sitting at the eastern edge of the mahogany table in a flimsy, plastic, puke green, low back chair, Colonel Samuel Temple with his shiny bald head watched the three dimensional representation of the EMP blast with ravenous green eyes rimmed with black from no sleep and sunken in below a protruding, cave-man-like brow.  Colonel Temple did not bother to dress up for this meeting, electing to go with functionality over good looks. He wore a skin tight brown and green camouflage exo-suit that protected him from neck to toe in carbon composite Kevlar infused with the indestructible adamantite.  The EMP blast spread out across both cities like water expanding across a plate.  Assessing the amount of damage displayed by the projection, he gave a nod to the other brass sitting around the room.  The largest regiments of Marine troops were under the direct control of Colonel Temple. His advanced combat knowledge, troop placement skills, and outside of the box strategic thinking gave him the unique experience that was needed to lead all of the Eioda military infantry ground troops.

               Seated across the conference table from Colonel Temple was General Cadence Hightower.  She too wore an exo-suit but chose an all-black model.  She had slanted, almond shaped black eyes and black hair that was cut short and barely reached her neck.  “We can finally proceed with the Normandy plan and finish the assault. We need to launch the combined ground forces of the ENS Army and Marine Corps troops to destroy the Orcs and the Goblins weapon manufacturing, production installations and all transport aide stations,” said General Hightower.  “If we launch an attack after the sun goes down we can catch them unawares and decimate their ground forces and disrupt their supply lines. Before they would even know what hit them we could wipe out half of their military personal.”

               “Not so fast,” said Admiral Landry.  “Now that the Orcs and Goblins can no longer use their electronics, it doesn’t mean they cannot still fight.”

               “We will have them in our grasp if we move quickly,” said General Hightower.

               “All of their electronic equipment is now worthless. We can take our time--” Colonel Temple tried to say before being cut off.

               “Take our time until what!” said General Hightower slamming her fist onto the table.  The black exo-suit fist drove a small crater into the polished wood.  “Until the Orcs are marching on our shores again but this time with Trolls and Giants to accompany them!”

               “Calm down,” said Empress Augustus with hands extended, fingers spread wide as she patted the air, hoping her calm gestures would keep the hot blooded general relaxed and thinking rational. “We need time to bring our neighboring countries to the north and south of Villus and Seldor to join us. Hopefully the Elves and Gnomes across the Mizuki Ocean will agree to provide military aid when the time comes.  We will need to send emissaries to each respective nation. Not only that but have you forgotten, we are still rebuilding major installations here in Eioda and bolstering our defenses.”

               “So you are suggesting we sit back on our hands and continue to do nothing!” said General Hightower, heat in her dark almond eyes. She rose furiously and towered over the seated members of the Council.

               Giving her General a scathing look, Autumn Augustus’ grey eyes were ice cold and held the promise of pain.

Receiving the message, crystal clear, General Hightower swallowed hard and relaxed back in her seat.  Her head was hanging, eyes averted, thin lips held in a pout.

“I am suggesting that we proceed with caution,” said Empress Augustus.  “I will hear no more of it. This meeting is dismissed.  You all have your assignments.  Remember that there is a dark cloud spreading not only across the nation but across people’s hearts.  May the light forever shine upon you.” She stood with a slight nod of the head and marched out the tent, dirty blonde hair swaying as she walked.