Ghost Planet (Terminus #2)

By John M. Davis

Opdyke is known as the Ghost Planet for good reason. Those who are forced to terraform the icy planet, never leave. When Val Lucas finds himself on the prison train bringing fresh souls to the labor camp, he has other plans. Earning the trust of several within the camp, Val begins to plan their escape. Now, it's a matter of surviving the frigid weather, packs of ferren (ice wolves) and the Continuum soldiers who will hunt them. That's only the beginning.
True adventure awaits them in the celestial stars above.

Look for these other Terminus novels:
Book 1 – Terminus – An Introduction (by Jason Halstead)
Book 2 – Ghost Planet (by John M. Davis)
Book 3 – Frozen Dreams (by Jason Halstead)
Book 4 – Fear The Gifted (by John M. Davis)

• Language: English
• Publisher: John M. Davis
• Release date: Feb 1, 2018

John M. Davis

John M. Davis is the bestselling author of Gunship, as well as Wicked, and the novelization of the motion picture REDD. Also known for his popular Book Commander Podcast, John is a former writer for the Legends Football League and owns a minority share of the Canadian Football League’s Saskatchewan Roughriders. He currently lives in Virginia with his wife of 18 years and their two spoiled kids. When he isn’t writing or podcasting, John enjoys reading, studying history, and listening to his favorite band, Evanescence.bookcommander.wordpress.com#bookcommander

Book preview

Ghost Planet

A Terminus Novel

Digital Edition

Copyright 2016 Serenity Valley Publishing

Written by: John M. Davis

Created by: Jason Halstead and John M. Davis

Editing: Daniél Lecoq and Blade

Beta Reading: Magnus Dernelius

johndavisbooks.wordpress.com

Digital Edition, License Notes

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. 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 use only, then please return to johndavisbooks.wordpress.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. This is a complete work of fiction and any resemblance to real persons, places or events is completely coincidental.

Other books by John M. Davis

Terminus

Terminus (Terminus, an Introduction)

Gunship

Gunship (Gunship, book 1)

Glimmeria (Gunship, book 2)

Reflections (Gunship, book 3)

Gears and Spears (Gunship, book 4)

Legendary (Gunship, book 5)

Space Rebels (Gunship, book 6)

Fleet

The Fleet (Fleet, book 1)

The Blood War (Fleet, book 2)

Chaotic Worlds (Fleet, book 3)

The Afterworlds (Fleet, book 4)

The Run (Fleet, book 5)

The Great War (Fleet, book 6)

Vampire Hunters (Fleet, book 7)

One Last Hero

One Last Hero (One Last Hero, book 1)

House of Wolves (One Last Hero, book 2) (Working Title)

Guardian Angel

Guardian Angel (Guardian Angel, book 1)

The Berlin War (Guardian Angel, book 2)

Days of Ruin (Guardian Angel, book 3)

Singles

Hammer (The Final War)

Atlantis

Rain of the Dead

The Colony

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: The Long Road

Chapter 2: Mister Sinister

Chapter 3: Shift Work

Chapter 4: A Plan

Chapter 5: The Phantom Ship

Chapter 6: Swollen Eye

Chapter 7: Unexpected Faces

Chapter 8: The Break

Chapter 9: On The Run

Chapter 10: The Pirate Map

Chapter 11: Outback

Chapter 12: The Paint Job

Chapter 13: In The Blink Of An Eye

Chapter 14: Bump In The Night

Chapter 15: A Whole New World

Chapter 16: The Awakening

Chapter 17: Up And Away

Chapter 18: The History

Chapter 19: Welcome Home

About the Author

Chapter 1

The Long Road

The cold alien planet made him regret the thought of living.

It was typical of a planet undergoing the terraforming procedure. Technically, he was a relocated worker. But, in his mind and the mind of every cursed soul aboard the train which screeched on its magnetized track, he was a slave that had been handed a death sentence of forced labor.

High winds blew outside of the transport train and ice trickled down from the sky in thick blankets. Shattering all around their train as the pellets bounced roughly and resembled the sound of fatty meat frying in a buttery pan. Frying meat – there was a thought that sparked his interest. With a grumbling belly, all he could do was imagine its smell filling his nostrils as the brutal winds and ice showers whipped across the harsh landscape outside.

What'd they get you for? a man asked.

His words sounded off from beneath a crude breathing device, which clicked every few seconds, as did everyone else's.

Turning, Val looked him over.

Name's Brian, the man replied. He was the typical look for a man who'd been in the work system for a few years. His face was speckled with dirt and his hair was caked with grease. Moreover, his issued clothes were filthy. Brian Turner. They said I killed a man, you know? he asked.

Val's stare continued.

I didn't though, Brian defended. Nobody on this train is guilty of anything would be my guess. Just in the wrong place at the wrong time. What about you?

Name's Val, he replied as he turned to stare out of the small window aboard the train of damned souls. Val Lucas.

What'd they throw on you?

I don't know, he admitted. No one has charged me with anything. They just picked me up one day for questioning and-

Well I'll be damned.

What? Val asked.

It's just that I was sitting here feeling sorry for myself and here you are. Mr. No Charges. I think I finally found something worse than being falsely accused for murder.

What does it matter? We're all pretty much dead anyway, right?

Val had a point. Humanity had long stretched beyond its home world of Earth and had since colonized many planets. The Continuum, they called themselves. The singular government which now controlled the fate of every swinging dick with an identification card. Terraforming a remote planet almost certainly meant death in the end. The conditions were harsh and the work was devastating to a person's body and soul. It wasn't something that a wealthy man would bother himself with and he certainly wouldn't pay money to have it done, either. Taking such an approach isn't what made him wealthy. Not when you could make people vanish against their will and force them to do the work instead.

There were lots of planets undergoing the beginning stages of terraforming, but Opdyke was rumored to be the worst. The ghost planet, they called it. Simply put, if a person was sent to Opdyke to work, they were as good as dead. Some lasted only weeks and the strongest, well, they lasted a bit longer. The death of a man or woman who'd been erased from society could be replaced easily enough, though. Val knew his fate. He understood his lot in life.

Yes, sir, Brian said with a nod. I can't argue with that. It's about the quality of life, now. Hell, I've worked three different moons and I've got two complete years under my belt. I suppose I've only got a little time left.

Val heard the conversation. Most of it, at least. There was something about the rocks outside of their train, though. Something he couldn't place. The planet itself was rocky and frigid, as proven by the thin coating of ice which glazed the hard surface of his window. Still, on occasion he would see a well-stacked pile which resembled a small hill. They looked to be meticulously placed and, in his opinion, they were markers of some type. Seven. That's how many the slave train had passed before he saw movement just beyond the ridge. Quickly, Val's head jerked a bit with curiosity as his eyes began to follow it.

Ferren, Brian said. Damn ice wolves. That's be my explanation, anyway. I've seen a few in my day but they say the ghost planet is full of 'em. I once saw a man shredded into bits of meaty strings by a small pack of 'em. They're ravenous and you'd do well to stay clear of 'em when you're out here working.

Val nodded in agreement. He'd never seen a ferren, or even heard of one for that matter. But he suspected that they made any escape attempt impossible.

I've seen that look before, Brian said. Forget about it. Every man who's new to the life of a work detail has dreamed of escape. They'll shoot you if you try and you'd be wise to take the bullet. Dealing with the extreme cold and those ferren – no thank you. I'll take a quick death anytime.

Val was already beaten. Surely, if a stranger on the train had seen his intentions of escaping, the guards would see it, too.

Just some advice, Brian said as their train came to a complete stop. Sparks flew from beneath its frame as everyone aboard lunged forward just a bit. Keep your head low and your belly as full as you can. We may be forced to die on this planet, but what you make of your last few weeks is up to you. Keep to yourself in there and understand that most of us may have come here with innocence on our hands, but there's blood on 'em, too. Most of these folks will kill you for your jacket if given the opportunity.

Why are you helping me? Val asked.

Just a bit of advice, that's all, Brian replied. I've got a soft spot for the new meat being thrown into the grinder. It reminds me of a time when I was new to all of this.

Standing to his feet, Brian nodded.

You forgot your- Val began.

His new friend had forgotten his small bag of belongings. Val had meant to see that Brian got 'em back. It was the least he could do. Soon enough, though, he understood Brian's own plans for escaping the hell of the ghost planet.

Rushing forward quickly, Brian prepared to overtake the guard who was positioned at the train's exit.

Halt, prisoner! the guard shouted.

There was no halt in Brian's sprint of revenge. Moments later, the guard's pulse rifle fired. A single shot that would hit the hopeless man and slice a softball-sized hole through his chest without doubt.

Brian had chosen death by soldier and Val knew it. As the rest of the prisoners sat there, horrified, Val understood what had happened. Through the single burst of a rifle, Brian had indeed escaped the planet and all of its horrors.

It had only taken a couple of minutes to remove the man's dead body and what large, fleshy pieces that could have been swept off. The speckled blood and fragments which cooled quickly would remain. Those in charge weren't concerned with minor details when it came to their work crew's train. As for Val, his thoughts quickly shifted.

Eight.

As he and the other prisoners, a few dozen of them in total, were shuffled from the train, they formed in lines outside in the frigid air. It was artic by every definition and Val immediately began shivering. He also found it hard to breathe – very hard to breathe. It made him wonder which came first, snugging his light jacket tight as to fight against the elements around him or gasp as best he could for precious oxygen. Throwing Brian's sack to his feet, now his sack of supplies, Val began to breathe deep and pull his jacket around with desperation.

"My name...is Warden Jestin Farris. Or, as you'll affectionately come to know me – Captain. a well-built man said. A specially designed mask rested on his mouth and a portion of his face, as did all of the prisoners. It clicked intravenously and followed with a hiss. Without the coat you see across my back, your body will be frozen stiff in just under five minutes. You are now in hell and I am your master, the man boasted. I own you and I own every aspect of your pathetic and miserable lives. Learn to accept it."

One of the prisoners fell out of formation and tumbled to the ground. Perhaps it was a lack of oxygen or too damn cold for his body to function properly.

Nodding, the captain instructed his men.

You see this? he asked. This is weakness, pausing for a moment, his soldiers fired their rifles onto the struggling man and ended him right where he was. Weakness will not be tolerated here. Nor will assaults on my officers. He would have died from the cold without a jacket, but I've no time to waste on his sorry ass. Hence the gunfire. As far as escape is concerned, if you want to test the shooting abilities of my men... Be my guest. If, by some miracle you get away, there's enough damn ferren out here to hunt you down long before you make it out of this camp's line of sight, which you won't – the elements will kill you.

His soldiers began handing out thin thermal jackets which would prove themselves vital to the survival of everyone. They fit tight and were the last line of defense against the cold which swooped in with terrifying bite.

You see, there will come a time when civilized people will live on this planet and they'll have no need for such a device, the Warden said. Meanwhile, Val pushed his arms through the tight rubber-like jacket. It was just warm