Fallen: The Warriors of Kelenthor, #2

By Billie Hart

For the young space mechanic Lisa, helping the human race colonize the new planet of Kelenthor is her life purpose. But after a devastating gravity pulse strikes her floating city of Metropolis, she and the man she likes, Corden are roped into a citizen’s investigation over the attack.

At first, she takes the role with pride for Metropolis. But the more she explores the districts and the underground tunnels of her home city, the more the deep-running secrets surrounding the gravity pulse tear her innocence apart. But what hurts her most is figuring out how she can help the man she likes from pulling away.

Military trained stud and pilot General Corden has been Lisa’s strength during their short time together. So when he sees her distressed from the investigation, he decides he needs to be there for her. But when the investigation uncovers strange memories from his murky past, he fears he is not who he thinks he is. And that there is no choice but to keep himself from her.

Fallen: The Warriors of Kelenthor Book Two is a stand alone science fiction romance with a happy ending.

Intended for mature audiences only (18+).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Billie Hart
• Release date: Nov 20, 2015
• ISBN: 9781516391400

Book preview

Fallen

The Warriors of Kelenthor - Book Two

Billie Hart

Copyright © 2015

Billie Hart

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All Rights Reserved

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook or any portion of it may not be reproduced or used in any way without the express permission of the author.

This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

This work contains adult material and is intended for mature audiences only.

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Fallen: The Warriors of Kelenthor (Book Two)

For the young space mechanic Lisa, helping the human race colonize the new planet of Kelenthor is her life purpose. But after a devastating gravity pulse strikes her floating city of Metropolis, she and the man she likes, Corden are roped into a citizen’s investigation over the attack.

At first, she takes the role with pride for Metropolis. But the more she explores the districts and the underground tunnels of her home city, the more the deep-running secrets surrounding the gravity pulse tear her innocence apart. But what hurts her most is figuring out how she can help the man she likes from pulling away.

Military trained stud and pilot General Corden has been Lisa’s strength during their short time together. So when he sees her distressed from the investigation, he decides he needs to be there for her. But when the investigation uncovers strange memories from his murky past, he fears he is not who he thinks he is. And that there is no choice but to keep himself from her.

CHAPTER ONE

Arrival Day

Everything she’d worked for had culminated in this day.

Lisa the space technician stood frozen, stone still. Her gaze was trained on the raised, black podium in the middle of Central Plaza. Knowing she would soon be up there accepting the award scared her to death. All her fellow citizens in the crowd dressed in silly costumes would be staring back at her. She heard children playing; there were loud shouts, whistles and drums beating to music, and she saw the colorful red banner over the plaza: Happy Arrival Day.

You’re shaking like mad, a man’s voice comforted her. It was the smooth voice of an angel, and she was still not used to its blessed presence. Deep breaths, relax.

I’m sorry, I’m just freaking out… Lisa tried to smile, but her lips were pushing in and out like a fish sucking for air.

Her stud of a man named Corden chuckled, You’ll be fine! Look, you’ve rehearsed your acceptance speech right? So you have nothing to worry about.

When she felt his hand upon hers, a wave of relaxed calm washed over her body. Corden did that to her every time. It was partly why she couldn’t keep his hands off him. Apart from the fact that he was tall and muscular.

She drew in a deep breath and focused on Corden’s bright blue eyes. Her eyes lifted to meet his athletic height. She took in the sight of him, and a smile spread across her face. Everything would be alright.

General Corden Griffinheart, the Hunterwing pilot, was there, right next to her. And just like the first day they’d met, she still felt giddy under his touch. It had been six months since they first met in the workshop she supervised. They’d kicked off with an amazing date and explosive night of love-making that took them both by surprise. And although Corden was travelling, performing his military role for the east district, Lisa was happy she at least got to spend some time with him.

For six months they’d spent most weekends together. On weekdays, when Corden was performing his military-liaison rounds through the other workshops, Lisa returned to her day job in the western industrial district and had been promoted to supervise integrated systems. Though she enjoyed learning more about communication systems and software, she found the amount of work exhausting. That made coming home to Corden on weekends all the more rewarding.

With him, she was the sexiest girl in the galaxy. Corden had eyes that watched her—and only her—with laser focus. The blue in them brought her right back to every evening she spent with him in her apartment, the thrilling chills she got up her spine when her door whooshed open and he was standing there to greet her. Or even the many times she had swung by Corden’s apartment in the eastern military district as a visitor and been swept off her feet and into his bed.

I’m sorry. I still don’t think I deserve this award. I mean, Metropolis’ best citizen and now Civil Enforcer—can you even imagine?

Corden gave her another look. He knew she needed to vent.

Lisa went on, I’ve just stuck to my own business since I was a kid. I went to college, got a job, and do my duties day in and day out. Then suddenly, I get a visit from the southern district director herself telling me I’m going to get an award… and for what, really? I’m just doing what I’m supposed to be doing. Working my job, learning more, trying to reach Kelenthor… Lisa noticed her words coming out faster than normal.

The man’s hand squeezed over hers, and he walked her along the side of the festival stalls. Well that’s exactly why you deserve it. You’re a hard worker, and you do everything the best you can, so you should take it as a compliment that the people recognize you, Corden said.

Lisa looked around at the festival-goers. As it was their space city’s founding day, participants had a day of fun and a free pass to dress in whatever silly alien, aristocratic or silly clown costumes they wanted. Not that they were restricted to those things, she thought, as a jellyfish-like costume of Metropolis city bobbed past.

Her heart sank for a moment when she saw a red-clad group of people chanting to one side. They were lined up and holding placards.

Well I don’t know who to thank, really. Nobody but Andy ‘fessed up to voting for me. It just feels weird, I guess, getting something you never expected. She smiled to herself. She wasn’t sure if she was talking about the citizen’s award or Corden himself.

She looked up to the simulated afternoon sky. Over the orange, cloudy backdrop, birds and clouds floated across the digital display on the LifeDome covering Metropolis. It was the curved lid over their space city that flashed circadian cues to keep their human bodies functioning, provided ultraviolet protection from the two Kelenthorian suns nearby and a sealed space so breathable atmosphere could exist.

When she looked at the podium again, she felt better. The orange in the sky reminded her of the orange planet Metropolis had come here for. Kelenthor, a few hundred thousand kilometres from the floating city, showed signs of life and life forms. It was their hope for a better future and Lisa’s reason for working hard.

God, not those guys again, Lisa grumbled.

Who? Corden asked, lifting his chin over the other festival-goers’ hats and banners.

That’s right, you don’t usually come to the Arrival Day Festival. Those guys call themselves the Kelenthor Truth Alliance. They protest every year and disturb the real celebrations.

What do they want?

She looked at the banners that seemed to be aged repeats every year. She sighed. They think Kelenthor belongs to Metropolis and want the government to begin colonizing it as soon as possible. They say we’re running out of time.

Corden huffed and looked back to Lisa. Hm… Metropolis is run on its forefathers’ unlimited power technology and has sustainable hydrofarms to make food perpetually.

Exactly. Best to stay away from them, Lisa said and continued walking. She did her best to ignore their protesting chants that droned in the distance.

The couple passed the sugary scent of a space-floss machine. A lady twirled a stick with the void-colored glittering floss and handed it to a cheering child being restrained by his father.

Corden motioned toward the stand and took Lisa’s hand with him. I know you love these things. Would you feel better if I gave you one of these?

Kinda like pretending it’s an award? Lisa smiled.

Corden nodded to the lady behind the counter with that perfect smile. One for the lovely lady, please. He reached into his pants pockets and pulled out a small pager device.

It was called a SafeTrack device. The black plastic device with a hologram touch screen had been introduced before Lisa’s time. It was controversial when it was first rolled out, but threats of alien infiltrations and its flawless biometric authentication were sold to the people.

While Metropolis citizens were still weary of it, Lisa knew better. When it wasn’t used by citizens as a communications, payment or tracking device, when matched with DNA samples, it was used as extra proof that one was indeed a citizen on Metropolis, including her. Its usefulness outweighed the accusations of invasion of privacy.

Corden lifted his SafeTrack to the counter and brought it back to his pocket.

Then Lisa watched the spinning transparent floss grow on the paddle stick like something out of nothing. It was the same way she felt about Corden. He was a true blessing from out of nowhere. She liked him not because he liked to take her out and treat her, but because of his ever kind heart.

Corden handed the invisible floss to her. So pretend this is the award. See, just take it and say thank you.

That’s no award, General. It’s Space-Floss, Lisa felt her lips purse forward as she replied playfully. She made the duck face often, not to put him down but only to show him