Invasion: Earth: A Chuck, Yu, and Farley Book

By Penny L. Samms

Chuck Holloway is a typical teenager who struggles with self-esteem, nurtures a secret crush on a girl, and wonders if he will ever feel like anything more than a loser. But his entire existence changes when aliens Begin invading Earth and abducting humans from their homes. Life as he knows it has ended.

Suddenly, Chuck and his friend Farley are trapped in the crossfire between family and an unknown menace while simultaneously attempting to deal with their own issuestwo bullies who are becoming increasingly dangerous and violent. In the interest of defending their families and themselves against the aliens and the bullies, Farley and Chuck travel to another planet to learn martial arts skills from dojo master, Yu, who is notorious for being a death machine. As Chuck and Farley begin to discover strength and courage they did not know they possessed, they become more determined than ever to overcome their weaknesses.

In this suspenseful science fiction adventure, two teenagers who join forces with an unexpected ally in the battle against aliens soon realize that they must be the ones to save Earth. Now only time will tell if they are truly ready for the responsibility.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jul 18, 2013
• ISBN: 9781475997279

Penny L. Samms

PENNY L. SAMMS was born in Newfoundland, Canada, and grew up in Toronto, Canada, where she still resides. She worked in the corporate world for 23 years before making the life-changing decision to pursue a career in writing along with other passions. Penny fulfilled her life-long dream of publishing a book in July 2013 with her first novel, Invasion: Earth – A Chuck, Yu, and Farley Book. Invasion: Eris – A Chuck, Yu, and Farley Book is the second in the trilogy. Penny has always loved science fiction, and her favorite nightmares have always been the ones involving aliens invading, albeit they’ve been the most terrifying nightmares for her too. Being a fan of other genres, Penny has also written books for children, and not wanting to leave the adults out, she was successful in obtaining permission from Wolf Blass Wines in Australia to write a wine-pairing book based on their delicious wines. Penny looks forward to concluding the last book in the trilogy and presenting it to the world.

Book preview

Copyright © 2013 PENNY L. SAMMS.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

iUniverse books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:

iUniverse

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.iuniverse.com

1-800-Authors (1-800-288-4677)

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4759-9725-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4759-9726-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4759-9727-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013911805

iUniverse rev. date: 07/10/2013

Contents

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Epilogue

About the Author

For Moomerhead, Boom, and Will

Acknowledgements

Thank you to my mother, Elaine Shears, and my brother, Boom Samms, for being my biggest supporters and having my back while I wrote my first novel. When I left my career after 23 years to pursue writing, they didn’t hesitate to applaud and encourage me to follow my dreams. I love you both more than anything.

Thank you to Will Turpin, a long-time friend who, when I needed a place to stay (since I could no longer afford my condo after leaving my career), took me in without a moment’s hesitation.

Thank you to Jane Haskins, Bruce Ross, Amanda McElhinney, Tracy Koetsier, Marten Holden-ried, Shari Valja, and Crispin Haskins for providing feedback and helping me with the editing process. Your input has been invaluable.

Thank you to the rest of my family and friends. They have cheered me on and helped me through meltdowns over the last couple of years. I couldn’t do it without you.

Invasion: Earth

37682.png

A Chuck, Yu, and Farley Book

Chapter 1

Friday morning’s weather was bitchy; the rain threw itself at Chuck’s window waking him. He wanted to stay in bed but he knew he had to face the day and have his butt kicked. Mike was a mean guy who hated Chuck for no good reason and had been picking on him for years. Being a coward, he avoided Mike as much as possible. Chuck wished someone would invent teleportation so he wouldn’t have to take the school’s hovercraft with Mike each day. Rock and roll, he thought as he sighed deeply and pulled himself out of bed.

Chuck showered and then dressed in a black T-shirt and jeans. His pet lizard, Morpheus, watched him from her tank. Chuck went over to her and shook a few crickets out of their container into the tank. Morpheus pounced and caught a cricket in her mouth. It tried to wriggle free but was no match for the lizard. He then turned on his holo-machine and danced to his favorite band, Grimy Toes, with a holographic image of himself repeatedly snapping its fingers. His hologram knew more words to the song than he did. Maybe I should kick my own ass if Holo-Chuck can sing it better than me, he thought. He danced away until he noticed the time and realized his little dance party was going to come to an end. Holo-Chuck spun in a circle, his long, blond hair fanned out behind him.

Chuck! What’s taking you so long?! his mom, Sheila, called. Dammit, he thought. He didn’t even want to go to school because he thought it was lame. But, Lexi would be there. She was popular and pretty and he had wanted to ask her out for years. Lack of courage held him back and he only allowed himself to steal glimpses of her when he knew no one was looking. Lexi had long, blond hair like his but with a gorgeous pink streak down one side. Chuck thought about putting a pink streak in his hair too but knew that would increase his regular ass-whoopings. Chuck ignored his mom and changed the holo-image to one of Lexi. Together, they danced up a storm that was even crazier than the one outside his window. I’m not giving out any candy. It’s for me! He screamed out the lyrics at the top of his lungs, imagining that an adoring Lexi was blowing kisses at him.

"Aaaahahahaha, what are you doing? Sheila asked. She walked in on Chuck unannounced and her sudden appearance startled him. He jumped. You look ridiculous but I still love you." Sheila Holloway, Chuck’s mom, always said it how she saw it, which was acutely embarrassing at times for Chuck and his friends. Her general nature was also embarrassing to Chuck as Sheila, despite being forty-five, dressed like she was twenty.

I see you’ve got your mini-skirt and tight top on again. And I just love all that blue stuff you’ve smeared all over your eyes, Chuck said sarcastically. He wished his mom would dress like other moms. You might want to be careful about that hair style too; you’ll have rats living in that nest one day. She just laughed.

If you love Lexi so much, why don’t you invite her to your birthday party? You’re going to be seventeen. It’s about time you had a girlfriend. You’re cute, you’re smart, and you’re funny. I have no idea why you’re so shy with the girls.

Chuck scrambled to turn off the holo-machine. Are you kidding me? She’d laugh in my face, just like you did. I love you, too, but don’t tell anyone.

Get downstairs and eat something before you head to school. The hover will be here in ten minutes, Sheila said smiling as she took in the piles of clothes littering Chuck’s floor.

Fine, I’m going, Chuck replied. He grabbed his electro-card, an electronic device that held all his textbooks and school notes. And I’ll clean my room later. You don’t need to come back in here. Chuck ushered her out of his messy bedroom and closed the door behind him. A quick glance into his mother’s bedroom showed her bed neatly made and no clutter. "Maybe I should let you clean my room."

What a lovely thought, Sheila laughed.

Chuck and his mom took the stairs down to the tiny kitchen that was just big enough to fit a small table and two chairs. Sheila had painted the walls a bright, cheery yellow and the table and chairs were painted to match. Chuck wolfed down some multigrain toast and cereal; Sheila only served healthy food. He saw the shuttle hovering outside their house and said, Bye, Mom. Stay freaky! He grabbed his lunch from the table and took off. Through the stormy weather he could make out Farley flipping him the bird from the shuttle window and sent a double bird right back.

Farley opened a can of Coke as Chuck sat down. Dude, Sheila’s lookin’ fine this morning. Love that hot pink, silky top—

Shut up about my mom. Don’t look at her and don’t think about her, Chuck said. He was pretty ticked off and wished his friends would ignore her barely-there clothes. Chuck fake sucker-punched Farley startling him. The Coke sloshed out of the can into Farley’s face as he bobbed when he should have weaved.

Calm down, man! I was just joking. Anyway, what’s for lunch? Farley asked him, wiping his face clean with his sleeve.

None of your business, Chuck said back. You’re not getting any. What’s wrong with your mouth? Chuck stared at Farley. Farley’s lips appeared to move as though there were little bugs crawling around them on the inside.

I can’t stop running my tongue on this wire they glued in when I got my teeth fixed.

Well, your mouth is kinda moving, and your lips are pursed. Are you going to kiss me or something?

Hardly.

Farley, also known as Fat Farley, pulled out a slab of chocolate and started sucking on it. It was his version of the breakfast of champions and Chuck was a bit jealous after his overly nourishing meal. So, you gonna ask Lexi out before school ends or what? Farley was much like Chuck’s mom and said things as he thought them.

Get out of here! What, did you talk to my mom this morning? She told me to invite Lexi to my birthday party. You don’t exactly talk to Dagny either.

Whack! Chuck’s head flung forward so hard, he probably got whiplash. With a stunned look on his face, he turned to Farley with indignation, when whack! Farley’s head bounced off the seat in front of him.

Enter Mike, the whack king.

You guys are such losers, man. Gaz is with Dagny, and I’m with Lexi. You two will end up being boyfriend and boyfriend one day soon, I’m sure, Mike said. The muscles in his arm bulged as he ran his fingers through his black, greasy hair.

Gaz laughed and said, There’s more where that came from. Gaz reached over the seat and plucked a hair from Chuck’s head. Blond is out; red is where it’s at. Gaz pulled out one of his own red hairs and placed it on top of Chuck’s head.

Chuck and Farley just sat there silently, facing forward. Chuck wondered where Mike and Gaz had come from since he didn’t see them when he sat down. He knew it was going to be that kind of day. Everyone knew it was his birthday weekend and if he said anything back, he’d get an extra-special birthday beating. Farley wanted to find the chocolate he had dropped but preferred to avoid the fat jokes. He kept his eyes focused ahead and willed his face to turn a lighter shade of red.

They arrived at their last pick-up stop and Dagny and Lexi got on. Despite the heavy rains, the girls looked perfectly put together with Dagny wearing a teal top cinched at the waist with slim, black pants and Lexi in a deep blue shirt-dress. The rain had soaked their hair but both girls slicked it back, giving them a sophisticated look. Chuck was relieved that the girls sat at the very front and wouldn’t have to witness any further humiliation he and Farley were to suffer. He just wanted to get to school and away from Mike and Gaz.

Once at school, they waited for Mike and Gaz to get off first and then jumped off the shuttle once the coast was clear. Mike and Gaz caught up to Lexi and Dagny and walked the rest of the way to the school with them.

Smell ya later, Farley said to Chuck.

I’m smelling you right now, Chuck said back.

They parted ways and went to their classes.

34631.png

The day dragged on but was uneventful. They neither crossed paths with their nemeses again, nor did they see their hearts’ desires, Lexi and Dagny. It was a day where their class schedules didn’t match up with the girls’. Even though the girls hadn’t seen what happened on the shuttle, Chuck and Farley were still too embarrassed to face them. No doubt Mike and Gaz had told them about their experience on the hovercraft shuttle that morning.

School finished for the day, and the shuttle waited to take the students home.

You know what, man? This is ridiculous. You’re terrified and you need to stick up for yourself. Farley’s words of wisdom were bestowed upon Chuck as they climbed the ramp and took seats in the front. They’d seen their enemies, Mike and Gaz, sitting in the far row and they figured they’d be safe staying near the doors and the shuttle pilot.

Who are you talking to?? You didn’t exactly stand up for yourself either. You got punched in the back of the head just like I did and you did nothing! Chuck seethed. He was angry now and wasn’t going to back down.

Farley said nothing.

So? What am I supposed to do anyway? Mike’s tougher than both of us put together.

But aren’t you sick of it? Farley asked. I know I am. Farley looked as though he undoubtedly meant it.

Dude, if you come up with any ideas I’m here. Until then, keep quiet about it and stop whining. Chuck was still angry but he calmed down because he knew Farley was right.

Fine. You gonna go home and holo-image Lexi?

Yeah, you gonna holo-image Dagny?

Yeah.

Okay. See you at the party, Farley.

Rock and roll.

Chuck got off the shuttle and went into his house.

Chapter 2

"He’s a back-flipping genius!"

Yu does all that old-school jujutsu and aikido. It’s all about using your opponents’ force and momentum against them. When someone runs at you, side step, grab them, and throw them in the same direction they’re running in. You can really launch them! And you don’t even hurt yourself!

I heard he’s really cute.

He’s the strongest, most powerful person in all of Eris!

He’s at least 7-feet tall.

This is what Chuck heard as he walked through the crowd at his birthday party. Several people were standing in a group talking about some new guy. He wondered who Yu was as he bumped into Lexi.

Ow! she said jokingly, with a smile on her face that lit up the room.

Lexi! What are you doing here? he asked, thinking she looked stunning. She was prettier than he had ever seen her. She wore a blue dress and her hair was in a bun with her usual pink streak wrapped around it like candy swirls. Chuck noticed two long, silver chains sparkling between her boobs, catching the bouncing glow of the strobe light his mom had hung above the makeshift dance floor. His eyes met hers and he quickly looked away, embarrassed.

Well, uh, I came with Dagny. Um, Farley invited her and said it was okay for me to come too. I hope that’s cool. Lexi had always seemed so confident but she was close to stammering.

Chuck was partly seething inside and partly impressed. Farley hadn’t mentioned a word about inviting Dagny, which was totally all right, but he felt he should have been warned that Lexi was coming too. He would have spent more time on his hair and what he was wearing, and he would have hired protection in case Mike and Gaz showed their faces.

Sure, it’s cool, he said back to her, before taking off up to his room abruptly. Lexi stood there awkwardly for a moment before walking quickly to the table with the food and drinks. She poured herself a glass of punch and drank it back. She was pouring a second glass when Dagny joined her.

Hey, is something wrong? Dagny asked.

Only that I shouldn’t be here. Lexi said fairly loudly before chugging a second glass of punch. She liked the way it burned her throat.

What do you mean? Dagny looked around to see if anyone was listening.

Well, Chuck asked what I was doing here and then took off upstairs. He obviously doesn’t want me here. This isn’t going to work and Mike is going to be pissed.

That’s crap. He likes you. I know he does. Farley told me.

Weird way of showing it. I should just leave and you can complete the mission, Lexi said. She surveyed the small group of Chuck’s friends and thought they were all losers.

Stay here. I’ll talk to Farley and find out what the deal is.

Be quick.

I’ll be right back. Drink some more punch and don’t move. Dagny looked around, saw Farley, and walked towards him.

The party was happening. Loud music, lots of munchies, and drinks—including punch that someone had spiked with a hint of alcohol (unbeknownst to Chuck’s mom). Pickles Need Love Too by Grimy Toes blasted while girls posed as though they were models doing a photo shoot. Most of them had streaks of blue or pink in their hair.

Hey, Dagny, you’re looking quite lovely tonight. Can I get you a drink? Some tasty punch perhaps? Farley was a bit tipsy, having enjoyed some tasty punch already. He looked Dagny up and down, admiring her appearance.

Dagny looked down at her outfit. She wore a silver dress covered in sequins. She always felt that Lexi was the popular, prettier one of the two, but tonight she felt better than pretty—sexy! Thank you for saying that. She tilted her head to the side and looked up with her eyes squinted as though pondering something deep before turning back to Farley. I wasn’t going to drink tonight but screw it. I would love a drink. Sheila’s pretty cool with letting us have a bit of booze and providing all the hovers home.

She’s providing the hovers but doesn’t know about the booze, although I think for tonight, she’ll let it go if she finds outs. Or, she’d say something completely embarrassing to Chuck and me about it in front of everyone. Then again, I walk around feeling embarrassed most of time on my own anyway. Farley was shocked that he admitted something like that to Dagny. Had to be the booze talking, he thought. He made a mental note not to drink when he was around Dagny again, and marveled at how he even got up the courage to invite her to the party.

The memory of it swam through his head. It was earlier that day at school. She walked towards him smiling. He thought it was a mocking smile but then realized it was legit. He smiled back, albeit awkwardly. And then something momentous happened. She said, Hi, Farley. He’d melted and before he even knew what he was doing, he told her about the party and said that she should swing by. Then she said that she would try. He kept the conversation to himself.

Farley, Earth to Farley. Dagny’s voice brought him out of his daydream.

Uh, I was just thinking about that guy everyone’s talking about. Some guy named Yu. Have you heard of him?

Yes. Yu is supposedly an amazing fighter, but who cares? Do you know where Chuck went? Dagny asked. He was talking to Lexi and suddenly went upstairs. I thought you said he liked her.

He definitely likes her but can be shy. Maybe he just got nervous. Farley straightened his black tie that had little, red, bursting suns all over it.

Well, Lexi will make us leave if she’s not having a good time so maybe you should go and find him.

Okay, wait right here. Farley was amazed at his continued boldness in telling her to stay put, as if she would listen. He was sure she’d be gone by the time he got back.

Farley made his way through the crowd of dancing teens, bobbing his head to the music. It was quite a mishmash of people in that none of them belonged to any specific group at school: no jocks, no metal-heads, and no popular kids. It was just a bunch of misfits, but even misfits belonged somewhere. He heard a couple of guys arguing, "He does exist! My brother’s friend’s girlfriend knows someone who used to work with his brother and says he’s a kung fu master, to which the response was, Your brother’s friends don’t even have girlfriends, and neither do you."

Farley kept walking and went into the kitchen where he was distracted by all the food. Chicken wings,