Proteus - The Lost World (Book One)

By Alexander Nassau

"For Zenni Quinett, all she wanted was a quiet life. After a horrific accident she retired from her life as a test pilot, living a simpler life growing borra beans on her plantation and healing her host of her injuries. With the shocking news that their world was coming to an end, she finds herself reluctantly thrust in to her old life, dealing with a secret that no one can know. Miras, the living ship she is charged with piloting is more than just a machine of sorts, but a living being with a wilful and arrogant mind of her own.
As the end comes sooner than expected, Zenni find her charge impossible to control. In the chaos, they escape to dead space, the only survivors of Alphius Prime, no clue where they are. She was not responsible, Miras deciding her own fate, ignoring her instructions and acting on her own accord, and so damaged and low on fuel, Miras finds a new world.
Disgraced and dishonoured, unfairly blamed for the mess, Zenni find herself exiled to the Mountains, returning to her simpler life bearing the burden of the secret for the good of her people. For a time they prospered, rebuilding their civilisation but eighty years on, a mysterious plague strikes their world. As their proud city is overrun by the infected, the survivors flee to the mountains and so began two hundred years of hell. Shrouded in a thick red fog, the streets of New Meylon are stalked by foul nightmarish creatures, monsters that were once her own friends and family. For two hundred years they try to survive and find a cure to save those trapped, consumed by this plague without success.
When a little girl from the camp is blighted by the disease, Zenni find herself flung in to a dangerous mission. Together with Prina, her slightly mad friend, they must return to New Meylon, find a drug stored on her former charge and rescue an impulsive teenager hell bent on saving her sister.
Things are not what they seem though. Under that thick red fog, hidden from the world, things are happening. They are being watched by a mysterious force and as their mission unravels, they find something beyond reason.
In the heart of the death and destruction, they find a little girl whose name means hope."

Proteus - The Lost World is an action adventure set on the strange world of Neo Alphius where the survivors of Alphius Prime struggle to survive, fighting not only the world, but their own kind now mindless zombies stalking the streets of their ruined city.
Proteus tell the story of Miras and Zenni, ship and pilot as they struggle to make good the mistakes of their past and bring their people back from the nightmare they are trapped in.
Included with the book is the mini story / reference guide "A Curious Mind" which explains the technology behind Proteus.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alexander Nassau
• Release date: Jan 20, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370869855

Alexander Nassau

November News: I know it has been a while and this is probably a surprise, but I have finally released a new book. Alphius Prime - Of Beasts and Monsters is an epic fantasy style book set on the world of Alphius Prime more familiar with my fans for being in Symbiotica and Proteus. Set in a medieval world you follow the epic journey of Echo Sana and her rather unusual family she was adopted by... unusual in that they are Kinar Beasts. There is a free preview to be had, so take a look and I hope you enjoy! I am pleased to see that I am currently rated as a 4.5 out of 5.0 Author on Good Reads. Thank you to those who took the time! It is really good to see the appreciation my fans have and that does spur me on to do even better for you! If you have any questions I am on Good Reads so throw me your thoughts and I will be happy to answer! Thanks for reading! _________________________ Finally, I am very pleased to say I actually produced a proper website and blog. Covering all my titles, with artwork, sneak peaks and so much more, it is the best place to find out exactly what I am up to and what books are coming soon. Like me on facebook now too! The link is easy enough to find on the page. Enjoy your reads! Alexander Nassau is an established science fiction author and artist with many well known mainstream works to his name, best known for his detailed and strong character driven stories. With a keen scientific mind and a strong attention to detail, he also is a commercial artist with a strong creative drive. Living in the UK, he spends his down time with his family and has something of a passion for classic Volkswagens.

Book preview

Proteus: The Lost World

The first book in the Proteus Series

and the first part of the Neo Alphius Saga

Second Extended Edition

Copyright © 2017 / 2018 Alexander Nassau

Published by Alexander Nassau at Smashwords

ISBN: 9781370869855

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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

"For Nisha.

The most precious gift of all is for wisdom and experience to be seen through the

eyes of the young with wonder, joy and innocence.

Of all the things I have in my life, I am most thankful of you."

See More from the Author on my Blog

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 recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Koli's Forward

Prologue

Chapter One - Thrill Seeker

Chapter Two - End of the World

Chapter Three - New Worlds

Chapter Four - Red Fog

Chapter Five - Lies

Chapter Six - Children

Chapter Seven - Truth

Chapter Eight - Heart or Head

Chapter Nine - Large mug of Borra

Chapter Ten - Storm Chasing

Chapter Eleven - A New Day

Chapter Twelve - The Beginning

Epilogue

Preview of Book 2 - The Long Way Round

More Books from the Author

A Curious Mind - Part One (The Science of Proteus)

Explain to an Alien what left and right is

A New Beginning - Thoughts on the world of Proteus

About the Author

Koli's Forward

Earth - The Island of Myra some time from now

Looking up at the sky, she missed her home. The stars and emptiness of space up there, but here, sitting by the camp fire by the ocean, she had a new home with her family. The little one almost bounded on to her knee, hugging her tightly as she smiled in a confused way. It felt strange to have someone so young look up to her and love her like this. Perhaps this is how her mother's felt about her.

As the flames of the fire danced a little, briefly casting their light she looked up at Phillipa and standing proudly at her side was a tall Alphian woman she had briefly met a very long time ago. It was odd to see the warmth and love they both showed as she turned her attention back to the little girl on her lap looking up at her with wide adoring eyes. Perhaps it was time to tell her their story.

This story started on a world far away and now long gone.... she began as her little friends ears pricked up, as she gave her the sweetest of smiles.

"On that world there was a race of creatures with the most unusual of lives. These creatures were not one, but two, a host and a symbiotic life that bonded to them, but I think you know that already.

It is said that one day, tens of thousands of years ago an Usha, a creature not dissimilar to humans, was gathering food when she found a most unusual animal by the side of a lake. It was very strange and small, its skin pure black yet pearlescent in the blue sun, shimming like the colours of the rainbow. The woman realised it was dying but as she touched it in curiosity, she found herself surprised that it talked to her in her mind. She did not understand why, but she took this creature home with her and cared for it, nursed it back to health and over time became her friend.

When it was healed, it was thankful but as she returned it to the lake, she felt its deep fear. The waters were not safe for these gentle and kindly creatures with predators that killed them. She did not know what to do to save her friend, but then it offered her something most unusual.

This Vu'kno, as they called their race told her of their nature. They spent their lives in a partnership with one of the primitive plant eating animals that lived within the lakes. Their partnership was one of mutual co-existence and they drew what they needed from their host and in return offered their host wisdom and knowledge as well as new abilities for protection, a relationship where they were truly more than the sum of their whole.

To the woman's surprise, the creature made her a proposition. For her generosity and kindness, she would offer her that partnership. She could draw on her wisdom, her intelligence and would be changed, made stronger and better protected, and together their lives would be greatly extended.

So began a new age, as the other Usha learnt of this union, some joined in this peaceful and mutual co-existence benefitting both of their races. In time, their partnership evolved and a new society was born where the mysteries of the universe were unravelled and their cities reached for the sky.

But then it ended."

She paused smiling as the little one jigged a little on her lap, enthralled by the tale.

"Sadly one of their kind learnt of a threat to their world from their own star, their life giver. It had grown unstable and was about to collapse, the explosion spelling the end of all life on their world. So they came up with an audacious plan in the shortest space of time they could afford.

They created living ships capable of evacuating their population and to take with them those unbonded Usha with enough wisdom to heed their warning, to escape the impending apocalypse and to search the stars for a new home. I think as you know, I am one of those ships.

They almost succeeded but with only days left, their star collapsed ahead of time, the cataclysm fuelled by an unforeseen event, their fleet of vessels stranded on the ground. Only the smallest of them escaped the firestorm, the eldest of the Proteus class of ships carrying only ten of their kind onboard. That ship was me.

For three hundred years, my friends searched the galaxy for a new home. Sadly over time their hosts died of old age and they transferred themselves to synthetic life giving bodies I helped build for them. They were lonely and frightened as they travelled the void but while they found new worlds and new races of intelligent life, sadly none of them were capable of supporting their unique telepathic bond.

I was growing ill and with their lives on the brink, all hope was lost. Then I did something naughty. I took control and jumped them to a new world with the last of my strength and found this small blue planet on this spiral arm. It is an unremarkable, but very unique world. The intelligent life here may be primitive, but within their population a small number of these humans had the gift.

My friends scattered to the world, hoping they would be accepted and much to their joy, they were.

These kind and generous humans took them in, gave them new hope and a new world. They slowly found each other, changing their new host's lives for the better, meeting new friends and creating a new family. As for me, I came down from the stars to live with them. They looked after me and healed my injuries and finally I revealed myself to them, creating this body so I too could experience this world like my family did."

She wriggled a little smiling happily as she found herself feeling a warmth and pride in herself, even if Phillipa was giving her a disapproving look.

So what happened next? the little girl squeaked up excitedly.

"Well, as the final members came home, they arrived with a sad message from the darkness.

The softest cry for help from the past.

They were shocked to learn they had not been the only survivors. Terrik, one of my sisters had managed beyond reason to survive, serious injured, but holding so many souls. So a plan was made.

They would bravely return to the ruins of their home, rescue the survivors and I would try to save my sister, bringing them back to their new home, this beautiful Earth.

And we succeeded, but there were some tragic costs to our adventure.

As the dust settled though, a new secret emerged. While I was in orbit of Alphius Prime, I had scanned the world and learnt a shocking truth.

While two of the Titan's, my giant sisters lay long dead in the lifeless sands of the once lush world, it seemed one may have risked everything to escape death. We knew then, somewhere out there could be over twelve thousand survivors, a third of their population. With no clue if they had survived or where in the vast galaxy she could be, all we could do was to wait and listen."

The little one jigged around excited, putting her hand up and seeming to hold her breath making her laugh affectionately.

I know! I know! she squeaked fit to burst, I know what happened next.

She looked up as the tall Alphian nodded and laughed very motheringly at the little girl as she bounced on her knee.

Of course you do, she soothed in a soft way, kissing her forehead, Because that is your story.

PROLOGUE

There is a story. This story starts with the end of the world and a brave group that escaped, leaving its decimated remains behind. In that story, they found a new home on a distant world far from their old one. They thought they were last survivors of their race, but they were wrong.

In all the chaos that followed, all the pain and destruction, it became known that they had not been the only survivors of the catastrophe. Others had escaped the firestorm and were stranded in their original star system crying out for help. It was her older sister, Terrik and her brave crew.

If she had known before now that Terrik had survived, she would have tried to go back for her. She was her family, but back then she was young and frightened.

So terribly frightened.

She brought them here, damaged and low on fuel, a new world where perhaps she could fulfil her objective to carry them all to a new land where they could be safe and once again prosper.

It was not an ideal world, but with her injuries, it was the best she could find and for a time, things had gone as she had hoped they would. They rebuilt their city, waking the survivors from stasis and on this world their new home slowly came to life, the great city of New Meylon rising out of the ground. For eighty years, their civilisation was slowly restored, new hope being brought to her people. Life returned to normal for the survivors, but it would not last.

The Necrotites came, a terrible disease that afflicted the Usha, her new home, her friends and guardians succumbing to this plague. Even she was not immune. She had watched her friends, the very people she had tried to save turned in to mindless monsters.

Many had survived escaping to the mountains where the disease would not follow, but here in the remains of New Meylon, her depleted and dying body at its very core, she was surrounded by the nightmare, a dreadful nightmare she had made. As much as she could make the excuse she was young, her inability to listen had caused this. She was in her own way responsible for everything that had happened.

Even in this darkness though, her friends stood by her and in a way she never could truly understand, they never gave up this concept of hope. When that message arrived over fifty years ago, the softest cry for help from the darkness, their hope was given a new form and purpose. She could no longer reach for the stars and rescue Terrik. With the most brilliant minds of Alphius Prime resided on her sister, there was hope of a cure for the afflicted.

She would make this right, and bring hope to those she had been charged to protect and they would rescue Terrik and her crew. She needed help though. The few that remained at her side were incapable of bringing hope back. She had no choice but to turn to the one person on this world who was capable, a person she had wronged and hurt, someone she had not seen for over three hundred years.

She needed her friend and pilot, and together they could bring hope back, even if it cost her own life.

CHAPTER ONE

Thrill Seeker

Alphius Prime - 560 years ago

She could feel the anticipation tickling her senses like a fine wine as she took in the beautiful piece of artwork before her. The world was moving on as it always did, but she could not help but appreciate the engineering and design put in to the suit standing before her. It did everything that was required, protecting her from the extreme forces that she was about to endure, supplying oxygen and protecting her from the inhospitable environment, yet somehow they added elegance and flare.

Looking around the locker room it was quiet as she ran her finger over the suit, a fusion of biology and technology unlike anything she had ever seen. She knew the origins of these so called environmental suits, a way for Vu'kno to transfer their conscious mind to a synthetic body, a project doomed from the outset, but repurposing these for deep space work was a stroke of genius. She reached out her finger to touch the button on the chest, gently brushing against it as the suit came to life, a soft blue glow emanating from the joints as almost silently it prepared to accept its cargo. Elegantly the suit started to break apart as it stood upright, pieces of it shifting until the inner shell was revealed, the living black liquid inside glistening in the light.

Now for the tricky part, she mused to herself turning around as she glanced over her shoulder, her back facing the suit as she manoeuvred tentatively back putting her left foot in to the open section of the leg, quickly followed by the other as she pressed herself in to the custom tailored prototype.

Instinctively the suit seemed to sense her presence as the biofluid started to crawl over her skin like she was being immersed in water, the strange awareness of this technology touching her mind as she felt the suit reacting to her, the pieces of protective armour started to move once more, sections grasping at her, encasing her body. She closed her eyes and relaxed, as the tugging and nibbling continued until eventually it stopped.

Opening her eyes she stepped forward almost seamlessly, the suit effectively part of her body now as she examined it, looking at her hand covered in the black reflective armour, the only clue of its nature the soft blue glow coming from the finger joints and her wrist. Walking over to the mirror at the far side of the locker room, she was more than impressed.

The previous high pressure suits were cumbersome affairs, nasty to wear, restrictive and irritating. This was no more irritating that wearing a summer dress, and feeling it effectively boosting her reflexes and strength, they really had outdone themselves.

Pausing for a moment she smiled taking in Junett features. Usha were such beautiful creatures although her host was particularly attractive. Looking at her beautiful face markings, her deep black eyes and the elegant patterns that ran down her thick tendrils on her head she was always surprised in her own way. Junett could have chosen anyone to bond with, yet for some reason she had picked her, something she could never really understand.

She smiled as Junett laughed softly in her head, her host always teasing and playful with her.

What did I do this time? she questioned in her mind affectionately.

You're just a dozy twit, Junett sighed trying to stifle her amusement, We scored well on compatibility and anyone who can make me laugh as much as you do only proves the Vu'kno initiation program does what it says on the tin. I know I could have bonded with anyone, but you are by far the most exciting and fun person to be with. Not sure I could have put up with being bonded to a scientist and being stuck in a lab all day.

In good company then, she replied smiling to herself, I don't think I could ever get used to the idea of spending all day cooped up. I know I have a scientific background but I would much rather be testing this stuff than building it. Are you happy with testing this new prototype? It is highly theoretical and this is by far the most dangerous shakedown run we have ever been involved with.

You even have to ask? Junett laughed back, her partners thoughts on the matter clear in her mind. Stop fussing you daft Shem and let's just get on with it. I'm geeking out just as much as you are over testing this. If this works, it will mean a whole new world in space flight for us all.

She laughed out loud smiling at her reflection in the mirror as she turned around shaking her head taking in her back, the two thicker pieces of technology on her back moving almost seamlessly.

They even made your tail look cuter, she quipped almost instantly feeling Junett pouting at her.

They didn't have to say anything more as she nuzzled her partners mind. After being with each other for over two hundred years, they were used to the playful banter and teasing. Junett was nervous though beyond her bravado and she had to admit she was as well.

Walking over to the door she smiled at the fact these environmental suits were self contained, the system giving direct feedback in to her mind over its status or errors. Walking down the corridor, the blue sunlight streaming in through the door at the end it was time to put apprehension and doubts behind them.

Opening the door, she looked over the polished flat spaceport towards the elegant test vehicle resting on the ground as engineers and technicians readied it for departure. Again, she could not help marvelling at that sense of aesthetics the team had put in to this craft as in the distance one of their Orius class star ships came down to Alphius once more to deliver its precious cargo.

Soon, those cumbersome and outdated turbine and ion drives would be rendered useless if this work and as Junett said, this would be a whole new world.

All they needed was someone mad enough to test the new hybrid engines and who better than the best test pilot on Alphius Prime?

* * *

You know, this feels so much better than the jump ships did.

Stop getting distracted, Liora grumbled through the comm, her eyes watching the telemetry screen in front of her.

This was the first test flight of the hybrid propulsion system and considering the company she was in, she didn't want to screw things up. Ion drives had already been developed for space flight but this new engine design was far ahead of anything they had. The systems worked for space, but utilising a hybrid oxygen ignition engine combined with their ionic thrust drive had they had created a whole new design that was capable of atmospheric and space work.

When Zenni had offered to be the test pilot, she had initially grumbled at the idea, Zenni well known for her showboating. Even she couldn't deny that she was the best pilot on Alphius Prime though, expert in telepathic control systems and with this new engine, probably one of only a few who could really put it through its paces.

There was no response from Zenni but looking at the satellite tracking, she was not exactly behaving herself, playfully dancing around her escort vessels much to her disapproval. On the monitor she could see they had now easily traversed the Liariac Ocean and would shortly be banking around to make the final high altitude test run over the water.

Glancing over her shoulder she felt quite nervous, the hospitality viewing room above her hosting Grand Council Neyra and other members of the Seleke Council watching over proceedings. The Council had a vested interest in these engines for their replacement long range space vessels. Having ships capable of atmospheric and space work would cut the need for the two stage transport process from their orbital stations. Still, that was not what she was nervous of, as she briefly glanced at Verish Loria, head of Mere Science sitting there quietly composed, with only the vaguest hint on her lips of a smile. The development team were running a pool on what she would pull this time. She had put twenty Delar on it being an exploding foam party bomb in the hospitality room. The various stories of Verish and Neyra's ongoing feud were now nearly legendary and having them in such close proximity would only spell trouble of the most amusing kind.

She refocused herself on the screen again, watching Zenni playing with her escorts.

You're enjoying this, aren't you? she muttered shaking her head.

Oh come on. What's not to enjoy? Clear purple skies, a prototype test vehicle and a brand spanking new engine to put through its paces. Not had this much fun since I tested the first gen deep space vessel, Zenni's almost playful voice came back, If it makes you feel any better, I am starting my turn now and we can get down to the science. Anything I should be aware of?

There's a small storm brewing in your path, but at the altitude you are going to be at, it shouldn't cause you any issues, she replied checking over the screens, Proceed to ten percent altitude and you are cleared to start your run.

Confirmed, Zenni's voice came back, her tone now far more professional, Powering up inertial dampeners, setting wing configuration for velocity and sonic dissipaters are ... dissipating. Climbing to ten percent altitude. Tell the slow pokes to catch me if they can.

Zenni, acceleration at your discretion, she said tapping the ear piece as she looked at the flight team around her as they set about their tasks.

Spooling the drive up, Zenni stated as the dot seemed to lurch forward on the screen, Passing the speed of sound and dissipaters absorbing the vibrational wake. All checks for supersonic flight confirmed.

Excellent work, everything feeling good at your end? she asked watching the dot starting to move increasingly faster across the screen.

Everything is in the green. You been tweaking the interface again? This feels far more intuitive.

We may have made some adjustments. Take her up to quarter speed when you are ready.

Attenuating the dissipaters and accelerating to sonic four, Zenni confirmed before letting out a little laugh, Send my commiserations on to my escorts. Too slow!

I will pass that on, she replied glancing over to Verish trying to remain professional.

Sonic four confirmed. Got minimal vibrations, engine feels sweet. This is one gorgeous streamliner you have built Liora. Do you want me to push her a little more?

She looked around at the control team wanting their input. She could feel herself wanting to hold back as this was still a first test flight and she was being cautious. The numerous scientists and engineers in her group all checked the telemetry data being fed back, each one in turn nodding they were happy as