Strangers in a Strange Land Episode 1: Strangers In a Strange Land, #1

By C. B. Maurice

Millennia ago an advanced race seeded Earth with the cultures in their galaxy so they could find out what would happen when those cultures left their home planets and started to mingle. Then they vanished…

Dr. Livy Valens couldn't pass up the opportunity to discover a lost language even if it means traveling to another galaxy to do it. Her friends, Jessie Hartner and Kevin Blake, think she's being kidnapped when her escort comes to pick her up and they refuse to let her go without them. But what starts out as an intellectual puzzle turns into an adventure when they get to the other side and find a complicated political structure they don't entirely understand and a galaxy on the brink of revolt.

The Magyar rule this galaxy with an iron hand. They own and control everything. The band of rebels wants to overthrow them, but before they can do that they need to learn to work together, both to overcome their prejudices and to move beyond their personal baggage. Daig was a famous poet, traveling between worlds until his performances led to his parents forced to retire early, his older sister losing her position at a prestigious hospital and his younger sister arrested. He would like to spend more time with Dr. Valens, but he needs to right the wrongs he feels he's caused first. Lars is in a contract marriage with Saida, but it is strictly a business arrangement. He believed in the cause, but had no funding. She had funding, but couldn't command troops. The deadline for that marriage is looming and he's feeling more than professional respect for former gunnery sergent Jessie. Meanwhile Saida is intrigued by Kevin, but she isn't sure she can trust him. With reason.

This is an ongoing series. More Science Fiction with Romantic Elements than Sci Fi Romance.

Episode 1: Livy and her friends are transported through the portal to the Venedae stronghold where Livy only knows the basics of the language and none of them know how the society works, but it seems that the situation is much more precarious than Livy was led to believe.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christa Maurice
• Release date: Mar 12, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386396154

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright 2018 C B Maurice

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Also by C. B. Maurice

In the second episode

Episode 2 Bonus

Strangers In a Strange Land

Episode 1

By

C. B. Maurice

Copyright 2018 C. B. Maurice

eBooks are not transferable. All Rights Reserved. This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

PUBLISHER'S NOTE:

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.

Keep in touch!

Website

Newsletter

Facebook

(but remember to follow or you’ll never hear from me again)

Dedication

to my mom

for all those Saturday afternoons folding laundry in front of Star Trek reruns.

Chapter 1

The beefy, gym addicted security guard dragged Livy through the convention like she was some kind of criminal.

You can’t kick us out, Livy shouted. Her guts churned. Everyone was staring. I was defending myself. He grabbed my ass.

I never touched you, the world’s worst Spiderman snapped. He was being dragged by the gym addict’s evil twin.

You little fanboy creep, Jessie snarled. A third security guard had Jessie’s elbow.

Jessie and Kevin must hate her for getting them thrown out of the con. At least, they all looked good. Livy’s Kaylee coveralls were perfect down to the teddy bear patch she’d had to sew on this morning. She’d meant to sew it on during her flight, but her seatmate had ratted her out to the flight attendant because she was obviously planning to take over the plane with a needle and thread. Jessie had chosen to dress as Inara and the floor length scarlet dress showed off her perfect figure, which begged the question, why had Spiderman grabbed Livy’s ass and not Jessie’s?

He’d probably intuited that Jessie could break him in half with her pinky while Livy’s best defense would have been her ability to craft a cutting insult in more than a dozen languages.

Her gym addict propelled her through the hall’s entrance allowing the people still trying to get their badges in the atrium to take their turn staring. This was not going well. All her other efforts to expand her boundaries had been great. Disneyland with Dr. Field’s family. Paris with Dr. Piaget. The con should have been the easy one and here she was getting kicked out on the first day. Gym Addict hauled her past the registration tables before he stopped. His buddies, one with Jessie by the elbow and another with the creep, also stopped.

Give me your badge. Gym Addict held out his hand.

Livy yanked the con badge over her head. This was a terrible omen for her next trip. The biggest one of all. You better take his, too or I’ll sue for sexual harassment.

Gym Addict stuck out his hand to Spiderman who huffed before yanking off his badge.

Jessie ripped off her badge and threw it at Gym Addict. It bounced off his sculpted chest and fell on the carpet. Kevin looped his badge over his head and leaned down to scoop up Jessie’s. I guess I won’t be coming back either. He held out the badges.

Too bad. Kevin looked so sharp in his Simon Tam cosplay. Almost a perfect match for the character except his hair was lighter brown and his eyes were blue.

Gym Addict and his bulky buddies retreated into the con.

You bitch. Spiderman rubbed his throat where Livy had elbowed him at the beginning of the melee. Further proof that she didn’t know how to behave outside of Ames, Iowa academia. I can’t believe you got me kicked out.

Maybe that’ll teach you to keep your hands to yourself. Livy brushed her hands over her coveralls. What she really needed to straighten were her jangled nerves. Such a good costume, too. Livy had even dyed her hair a lighter shade than normal to complete the look, though she’d refused hazel contacts. Her own brown eyes were good enough, and she was sure if she tried to insert contacts, she’d poke out her own eye.

I should have you arrested for assault, Spiderman snarled.

I doubt that would work, Kevin said.

You should be arrested for assault on the senses, Jessie barked over Kevin. She folded her arms. What made you think a Spiderman costume would look good on that fat bod?

Spiderman’s face turned a shade that matched his costume and took a step toward Jessie, but a tall, impressive blond stepped in front of him.

That’s enough. You should go, the guy said in a deep, authoritative voice. His white blond hair brushed his shoulders. If he’d dressed as Thor, he’d have been a dead ringer, but Livy couldn’t place his accent. Norse-ish, but not from any of the Scandinavian countries.

Spiderman’s face drained of color and he stumbled backward. Then he huffed and stomped away, muttering.

That was awesome. Jessie stepped forward with her hand out. Are you a Browncoat, too?

The blond looked down at his clothing. Black pants, white shirt, black vest, holster. Cosplaying Mal from Shindig? Brown coat? the blond asked.

Or not.

Doesn’t matter. Thanks for the assist.

I saw what happened in there. You were robbed. He totally grabbed your ass.

Totally? Was he a Viking Valley Girl? Wait. Livy frowned, glancing at Jessie and Kevin. They didn’t grok the new guy’s wobbly English, but Livy’s alarm bells were ringing. Did Alexy send you?

Yes. The blond smiled, menacing