Return: Engine of Creation, #4

By Frank Carey

Her first day on the job as an Earth Security Officer, Rista Adon wonders if she can live up to her father's legacy.

Gabe Adon's worst nightmare killed him more than 200 years ago, but now his universe and his family is threatened by the same evil once more. Can Gabe survive the most powerful poison in the League a second time?

If you like tech-heavy sci-fi, relatable characters, and stories of family and redemption, you'll love the fourth book in Frank Carey's Engine of Creation series. 68 pages.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Frank Carey
• Release date: Apr 22, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386299622

Frank Carey

Frank Carey has been formally writing and publishing works of science fiction since late 2013. Over the years prior, he had dabbled in various forms of writing including haiku poetry, but that all changed when he and his wife, Jo, decided to try their hand at writing and self-publishing. Since then, he has written and published a collection of flash fiction and short stories, two anthologies, a pentalogy, and a trilogy. All his work, to date, has been in the science fiction genre. Most of his stories take place about two centuries in the future when Earth joins the League of Planetary Systems. Many of his protagonists are strong females. He is an inveterate pantser who believes the story will go where the story wants to go. Frank’s background includes degrees in physics and extensive work as a scientific programmer and technologist.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Rista Adon jumped directly from the shower into the drying booth while grabbing a hair brush off the nearby shelf. As warm jets of air blew her dry, she brushed and coiffed her fur into some semblance of a style. Some days she wished she had taken the human-side of her mixed heritage like her younger sister, Saffron. Today, though, she was just worried about making a good impression with her unit commander. Being a rookie cop with a famous father like Gabriel Adon made things tougher for the rookie, but she loved her father and wouldn't want to change a thing.

"Rista! Breakfast! Gabe called up the stairway to the apartment's bedroom level.

Coming, Dad! She yelled as she put on a robe and headed downstairs. She hit the lower floor and stopped dead in her tracks when the aromas from the kitchen hit her.

Bacon! she yelled while running into the food prep area.

Yes, little one, Gabe said. With your mom on a business trip and your sister not due in until this afternoon, you and I get to partake in an old Earth custom: a bacon/egg/pancake breakfast with fruit, coffee, and maple syrup.

But, Dad, you know I'm on a diet!

Right. You've got the figure of Aphrodite and your mother's nuclear furnace metabolism. You can eat some breakfast.

Rista gave him an embarrassed look. You think I have Aphrodite’s figure?

Yes, and remember, she's a good friend of mine.

I thought she wanted to be more than your friend...

Shhhh. Anyway, that was when she thought I was her boyfriend—Adonis—reincarnated. You know I only have eyes for your mother.

Of course, silly. I also know Mom would scratch them out if she thought you were looking.

And eat them in a salad with a light balsamic vinaigrette, he added. Being married to a Katalan woman had its share of risks. So, today's the big day: Training Day. Who's your training partner?

Officer Clemtah. I hear she's tough.

Yeah, tough, yet calm, especially for a Canuran. I saw her go into Canuran overdrive only on one occasion—some moron got drunk and shot up a bar with a black-market blaster. She read him the riot act after disarming him and slapping cuffs on him. The sight of a four-foot tall Canuran verbally taking down a drunk, seven-foot tall Goranthi is truly a sight to see.

Rista stared at her father. You're kidding, right?

He shook his head and mouthed, No. He handed her a plate of food, then when she sat down, he brought over coffee and juice before sitting down with a cup of coffee and his paper.

Why do you insist on reading the paper version? You do know you can easily read the electronic version. It has everything the dead tree has...

One cannot fully enjoy the New York Times unless you can feel the paper and smell the ink. Remember, I'm the living embodiment of an anachronism.

She smiled. You wouldn't know by looking at her father that he was born almost three hundred years ago, long before Earth became part of the League. Yes, Dad. We will always keep that in mind. By the way, any word from Saffron?

He looked over the top of his paper. You two have something planned? Maybe a party? Perhaps a party with boys?!

Dad! she replied with an appropriate amount of exasperation. I just haven't seen her in a while, and I miss my little sis.

As do I. She'll be home sometime this afternoon. I'll text you when she arrives.

Thanks, she said as she finished the food. I've got to go. Breakfast was wonderful as usual.

You're welcome, he replied as she headed upstairs to change. He returned to reading the Times. A headline told of a group of robots robbing a bank. Gabe looked at the photo and saw three strykers standing guard over a dozen or so bank patrons while a fourth stryker had its hand buried in a terminal node. Dammit, I knew it was too good to be true. Zoe's people are back... he mumbled. Throwing down the paper, he initiated a call. Computer, connect me with Earth Security. Access code Adon actual."

Working...

Meena Gershon's office. Please hold.

Dad, I'm off. How do I look? Gabe looked up and saw his daughter standing there in uniform, ready to start her first day as a beat cop.

Absolutely beautiful, he said with a tear in his eye. He got up, hurried over, and hugged her.

Daddy! she said, hugging him back.

Take care, he said as she headed out the door. One more thing: Clemtah is rumored to be a truth sayer, so never try to bullshit her. Just tell her what your heart says and you'll be fine.

I will, she replied as the door closed behind her.

"Gabriel,