The Morgos Incident: Elizabeth Thorne Book 1

By Olivia Smith

Elizabeth Thorne is a Botanist, as well as an empath. She is assigned a mission with Captain Bianchi of the Starship Draco, and they are increasingly attracted to each other.
Someone has created a toxin that has destroyed the ecosystem of a planet - it is Elizabeth’s job to identify the toxin, and kill it while her Captain and his Crew battle the aliens who are trying to take over the Alliance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Olivia Smith
• Release date: May 31, 2009

Olivia Smith

I'm a busy mortgage loan processor, living in AZ with my husband and 2 mutts. I love to write, and use my stories as a way to get away from the daily grind. Aside from writing, I enjoy taking the dogs to the park, watching silly crime dramas, and spending quality time with my family.

Book preview

The

Morgos

Incident

-an Elizabeth Thorne novel-

BY

Olivia Smith

copyright 2009 by Olivia Smith

All characters herein are fictional, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be

re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with

another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it

with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased

for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your

own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people in my life who have supported me and believed in me.

Many thanks to my husband, Jim, who has stuck by me in good times and in bad times. Without his support I wouldn’t have had the guts to put my thoughts and ideas on paper, much less to let anyone else see them.

To my parents, Janet and Arthur, who have always believed that I could do anything I wanted, even when I didn’t know what I did want - thank you for allowing me to take my time figuring things out, and for giving me the tools with which to accomplish my goals.

To my brother Harry, and my sister-in-law Natalie, who were there for me when I needed nothing more than non-judgmental comfort - thanks for being there. You have been an inspiration for much more than some of the themes in this book.

I love you all.

Thank you.

-Olivia

Introduction

**************

It was never in my plans to be living and working aboard a starship. I was not a child who aspired to be a traveler, much less a space traveler. I was born on a Colony. Unit Twelve, it was called. A huge cylinder, filled with people, in high orbit around Earth. At least that’s how it felt to those of us unlucky enough to have had to live there. My parents had been born there, and it was not easy to find a way off, either to a Colony on a planet or down to Earth. You were stuck where you were unless you could figure a way to save credits enough to buy your way off. That was also before they were allowing regular people to move to the Colonies on the Discovered Planets. The aliens who occupied those planets probably knew nothing of the Earth Government’s rules for emigration, but there it was. The old Units are not used anymore, except for scientific experiments run by Oldtimer researchers who can’t get grants to work in Labs here on planet. They were decommissioned only a few years after we left Unit Twelve. My folks moved us down to Earth as soon as they were able to, and never looked back. It took some doing, I know, they had to work long and hard hours in the recycling plant. They had to give up any and all comforts for themselves to get enough credits for the trip down. Then they had to buy their way in to a living unit on planet. I know they did it mostly for me, their only child, so that I could have a good life, and I have never been able to express my overwhelming gratitude and love for them.

Luckily for me, their names were drawn for a living unit up in Northern Province, an area which used to be called Northern California and Oregon. I grew up in and around the most beautiful hills and mountains on Earth. Clean air, friendly people, work aplenty for those who were able-bodied and willing. Probably the last such clean place left on the planet. And a good place for one such as me with my special certain abilities. Not so crowded as the Cities were in those days. Not so many people.

I am what is known as an Alpha One Sympath. That means I can feel other people’s feelings. Not just in the way of the usual empath who can sense feelings and perhaps know if someone is lying or whatnot. I can literally feel what people are feeling, especially if it’s directed at me, and if I want to I can direct my feelings at them as well. This may sound like a great thing, fun, but it can be overwhelming. As a Sympath one has to learn at a young age to filter what one receives, or else it can literally drive you mad. I heard about a Sympath who went mad a while back. He blew up a Station because he couldn’t stand the pressure of all the people aboard. My folks were shocked that I turned out to be Alpha, neither of them are. But it’s in my family somewhere I guess, so here I am. I haven’t had a chance to do any research on that yet.

When we moved to the Province it was such a relief for me. The sheer number of people aboard the Colony was like a pressure in my mind at all times. I had to pay attention and filter or else it would come crashing in on me. Once in the Province, I didn’t have to be on guard all the time. I could concentrate more on what I was interested in. Which turned out, to everyone’s surprise including my own, to be plants.

Yes, plants. All plants. Big one, little ones, tall ones, short ones, even the bad smelling ones. I grew a food-plant garden. I grew a decorative plant garden. I planted trees. I took seminars at the Cooperative. I dragged my best friend to every seminar, and made her help me with my experiments and labwork for school. She was quite patient with me, I have to say, she never complained. I guess I was a bit forceful when it came to my interests. I graduated with honors from the local school and was given a scholarship to the University. The University is in Central Province, very near where the Headquarters of the Federation Alliance is located. They do a lot of their recruiting from there, both for the Naval Fleet Crew and Officers, and for civilian workers as well.

There, with a lot of hard work, and support from my family and friends, I became Elizabeth Thorne, Doctor of Botanical Immunological and Virological Development.

That’s what the Diploma on my office wall says. What it means is that I am a plant doctor. A darn good one, too, if I do say so myself.

And all because my parents had the strength and will and ability to get us off that horrid Unit Twelve. Thanks, Mom and Dad.

I still had absolutely no intention of going off planet. But I took a position at a Lab in the Headquarters of the Federation Alliance. The Galactic Federation Alliance is the controlling organization for all the Allied Worlds, and the Earth Colonies. They are the Government, the Military, the Fleet, and the hub for the major Research and Development in mostly every field. I had no idea that anything I was doing would ever become so important as to require my presence anywhere but in my Lab. I didn’t think that way, I just wanted to do my research and work with my gardens. My team and I worked to develop antivirals and inoculations for Earth, the Colonies, and the Allies. Earth had a few Colonies still, and we were friendly with many of the member worlds of the Alliance. So I was requested to help when they ran into a blight, or an infestation, or anything that threatened their crops. Or even their flower fields. It was a fun job for me. I worked with great people, they were mostly brilliant, and fun, and I didn’t have too many run-ins with negative emotions. We developed treatments and systems for protecting the planets’ plant life, and water, and the production of Oxygen for those planets that required that as well. It was a very rewarding job.

In addition, that was where and how I learned how to really control and filter my psychic receptors, so to speak. The facility was attached to the huge Headquarters building. I probably ran into or was exposed to hundreds of people every day. It was great practice. Practice for something I never expected, nor thought I ever wanted. I learned how to not only filter others’ feelings, but to direct my own.

I dated a bit over the years, but it was hard to meet men, busy as I was. When I finally thought I was in love, we were married within a few months. It lasted a few years, but I was never completely satisfied. I never felt the comfort or warmth that I thought I should as a woman in love. And if I couldn’t feel my own, likewise I couldn’t feel any of that from him. So our relationship fizzled out, and we filed for a divorce. It was almost amicable, but there is still some resentment on both sides. It was a mistake that neither of us should have made, we should have known better. Love should be something that fills you up and spills out. Whether you are Sympath or not. There can be no half-measures.

So I threw myself into my work more than usual, and after a few more years was given the ultimate promotion. I was made the Head of Research and Development for Botanics and Agrics. Head of the Lab. A team of researchers all working to the goal of making life better for folks on the Colonies and on a multitude of other planets. I was happy as could be for many years. Working with my team of brilliant scientists and researchers. Still dating on and off, mostly off. Nothing serious, nothing except my job.

And then everything changed.

********************************

chapter 1

*********

What are they doing up there? I heard as I started up the steps to the main lobby of the Federation building.

They seem to be agitated about something, better stay out of their way.

I could not see who was speaking, but I looked up to see what the comments were about. There, at the top of the stairs, I saw them. Three huge Agrints, arguing with a Human man in a Federation Uniform, who looked like a child next to them.

A sigh escaped me, but I kept moving. My team and I had been working since before daylight on our current project, a treatment for a diseased water system. The water was infected with a growth of algae, and could not provide proper support for the occupants of Vinda 3. I was not sure exactly where that was, all I knew was that the inhabitants were in need of my help. My job as the Head of the Botanics Department for the Federation was to take on such projects, work out what the cause of the problem was, and solve it. This one had been easy to figure out, but the treatment had required many hours of careful research and testing.

At the moment, I was on my way to meet a friend for lunch. The Federation Headquarters for Earth is located on a very large campus almost exactly in the middle of Central Province. My Lab, of course, was in the very furthest building from the main Headquarters building. There were trolleys that went between the buildings, but most of the time I enjoyed the walk. It became part of my exercise routine.

I looked again toward where the argument was taking place.

Agrints are big ugly aliens, sort of a cross between lizards and apes. They are almost three meters tall, on average, with greyish green scales, and sharp claws on their four-fingered hands. They have ugly mouths that remind me of Gila Monsters, and their language always sounds like they are angry. It definitely fits their appearance, and their demeanor. They can be pretty brutish, and I wouldn’t want to be on the other side of an argument with one. But they were a part of the Federation Alliance, and most of them can control their baser urges. However, if you were to see a few of them together in a bad mood, it would be a good idea to move away. I decided to stay on the opposite side of the landing, and kept on up the stairs. I had heard something in passing about a treaty that the Federation was considering with the Agrints, but I was not involved in political matters. I briefly wondered if this group had anything to do with that, and if it had anything to do with why they were arguing.

My focus was on not running into that scene, I didn’t want to get in the middle of a ruckus. So much so, in fact, that I almost missed the whiff. That’s what I call it when I feel someone that I don’t know directing a feeling at me. I felt a waft of warmth, quite pleasant, and looked around to try to see where it came from.

I couldn’t see much, as it was lunchtime and there were a lot of people in the plaza. I just had to shrug and keep going. I finally reached the top of the steps, and went on into the building. It was quite impressive, even to me. Even though I had worked for the Federation for so many years and had been in this building hundreds of times, I still had to stop and admire the beautiful architecture. Huge glass doors led into the spacious lobby. Heavy protective glass, embossed with the emblem of the Federation, a shield with a rather generic-looking planet surrounded with intertwined many-leaved vines. Marbled tile floors led to the grand staircase that nobody ever used, or at least I never saw anyone using it. It had been constructed mostly as decoration, and as a tribute to the former Governments of Earth. The ornate banister was carved with leaves and vines, and the beautiful but cold marble steps always gleamed as though they had been freshly polished. The stairway didn’t look like it led anywhere, but it actually ended on the second floor where the bulk of the Administration offices were located. There was a landing up there with another Reception desk, manned at all hours of the day and night as the lobby desk was, just in case someone got lost.

The large and impressive main Reception desk sat in the middle of the lobby. Real wood and glass, it was proportional to the lobby and it also had ornate carvings and embossing with the symbols of the Federation. The Receptionist sat behind that huge edifice of a desk, greeting everyone coming in, and going out, and logging it all in her terminal.

Hey Liz!

Hi Jenny, I greeted my friend, who was the Receptionist. Ready for lunch break?

You bet, Jenny said, as she waved her hand over the sensor screen and shut her terminal down. She touched a button behind the desk.

Leaving for break now, Sir.

I heard a voice over the communication channel. I recognized the voice of Admiral Wilson, the head of this facility, of all the Federation Alliance Headquarters.

Logged, Jennifer. You may go. I am sending your relief down to the desk now.

Thank you, Sir.

Where are we going? I’m starved, I said, I’ve been working since Zero Six Hundred, and even our coffee maker is busted.

Let’s go to that new place over by the park, Jenny suggested, I hear they have a great menu.

OK.

We left the lobby and made our way over to the stairs to get back down to the street. I felt the whiff again and it was stronger this time. It felt warm, comforting. I looked around and saw a group of people standing on the middle landing. They were all in uniform, and looked familiar, as if I had seen them all somewhere before.

Hey Jenny, I asked, Who are those folks in uniform down there? I feel like I’ve seen them before.

Jenny of course knew who they were, Jenny knew everything. She saw and heard all that went on in the Headquarters lobby. Everyone who had a meeting or any kind of business with the higher-ups of the Federation had to go through her. She was an endless source of the best stories, and most of them were true.

Those are the Senior Staff of the Draco. It’s here in orbit so they can refit some stuff and get some new crew on board. You’ve probably seen them on the news casts. They have been meeting with the Admiral about a new mission, or project, they have going on.

Ah yes! We’ve been working on something for one of the Allied Planets, I wonder if their mission has to do with that. So that must be Captain Bianchi? And Lieutenant Walker? Or is it Commander Walker? Nice looking boys they are... I was feeling that whiff again and I was pretty sure where it was coming from now.

Captain Bianchi was looking as though he was trying not to look my way. A woman can tell these things. I, however, could not tear my eyes away. What a strong, handsome man. A man who of course was the Captain of the fastest, strongest starship in the Fleet. Tall, well built, slightly receding hairline, but that’s ok. Muscular and strong. I don’t know how I knew that, but somehow I could tell. I felt a flush come over me, a tingly feeling all over my body.

I said, trying to keep my voice steady, OK, let’s go, I’m hungry.

I had to force myself to tear my gaze away.

Jenny looked at me sideways for a moment, then just shrugged. All right then, here we go.

We started down the steps. I had forgotten all about the Agrints, arguing at the top of the landing on the other side. I was trying very hard to concentrate on where I was going, trying not to get caught up in the warm feeling that I was still receiving from the Captain of the Draco. He was looking at me out of the corner of his eye, and trying unsuccessfully to hide it. He couldn’t know that I could feel what he was directing my way. But I did feel it, I felt it loud and clear. I didn’t want to let my feelings escape and flow over to him, that would have shocked him and perhaps embarrassed him. That was the last thing I wanted to do. If I was going to make a good impression on this powerful man, I surely did not want to begin by embarrassing him in front of his Crew. However, I did not have complete control of my feelings at that point, and some of them may have escaped me. The tingly feeling grew, the Captain’s warmth washing over me as I got closer to the group of Officers.

Apparently the argument between the Agrints and the Human man was still on, and it was getting louder, and closer. I paid no attention to the footsteps that were coming ever nearer, and the raised voices made no impact on me.

Jenny took my arm and tried to lead me over to the railing on the side of the steps, where we would be out of the way. I felt her tugging at me, but ignored her and kept going.

As we passed the group of Officers, I turned to look at Captain Bianchi. I couldn’t help myself. He was so very magnetic. He had an air of Power about him, it was irresistible. He was still trying not to stare at me but I could not mistake that whiff of his warmth, the trace of desire, it was certainly directed at me. I caught my breath. I had a brief flash of throwing myself into his arms...

And suddenly there I was.

The darned Agrints, and the man they were arguing with, had worked their way over to the side of the plaza steps where we were. I hadn’t noticed, I was too distracted by the Captain and that waft of warmth I was feeling. Somehow one of them had bumped me, or thrown me, more likely, right into the Crew of the Draco. Right into the arms of the Captain.

It couldn’t be... it just couldn’t, I heard myself mumbling. It’s just a coincidence.

My dear lady, are you all right?

I looked up from my sprawled position on the concrete of the plaza into the most gorgeous grey eyes I had or have ever seen. I pulled my gaze away and said, Yes, I think so, Captain.

I couldn’t believe it. How had this happened? I had tried so hard not to let this sort of thing happen, my whole life. My Sympath abilities are alarming to most people, I have to try to hide them. I have to try to cover, to keep my feelings to myself. I can’t help the feelings I get from others, though. I thought I knew that the Agrints couldn’t have felt my emotions, that had never happened before. I only received feelings from, and could only send feelings to Humans and Human-like aliens. Never before had I caused a reaction in reptilians. I wondered if they really had felt my emotions, my feelings, my dilemma or if they were simply the big brutes that they were said to be.

Let’s try to get you on your feet then.

Captain Bianchi took my hands in his and pulled me gently upwards. I felt a sharp pain in my ankle, cried out, and sat back down. Next thing I knew, he was putting my arms around his neck, lifting me up, and moving me over to the side of the plaza where there were fewer people moving around. He put me down onto the grass near the sidewalk, under one of the shade trees that lined the walkway, then sat down beside me. He looked me over, appraisingly. My heart pounded, and not only with the residual fear and surprise of the sudden attack. My skin warmed, and the tingly feeling increased.

Captain Paolo Bianchi, at your service, Ma’am.

Elizabeth Thorne, in your debt, kind sir.

He looked at me with a slight smile curving his lip. My heart skipped a beat. He looked up at his group of Officers.

Let’s get that ankle wrapped up. Doctor? Would you assist, please?

A woman I had not noticed before came over. Her uniform was the same as the men’s except more form fitting. She was quite beautiful. Long blond hair swept back from her heart-shaped face. Blazing blue eyes, very intelligent-looking eyes, but something else was in there as well. I couldn’t get a good reading of what she was feeling. She was cold, though, not friendly. She introduced herself to me as Doctor Amy Morris. I remembered her name as being the Chief Medical Officer of the Draco. I also thought I remembered hearing or reading something about her and the Captain having a relationship in the past. But then, the gossip broadcast is just that, and anything we hear there may or may not be true. Jenny would know. I would have to ask her later.

I rolled up my pants leg and took off