Decima - One Mission: Decima, #2

By Lori Svensen

Hrista Hollins knew one thing when her mother died – that she had to find her father across the Irolean Sound, except that she has never been there, doesn't know where her father and brothers are… She stows away on a ship, no ticket or documents, hoping that the stranger she has met can live up to his promises – to keep her safe. Who is this Kjane Issyk anyway and can she trust him?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Viking Ventures
• Release date: Jun 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9781386749998

Lori Svensen

Student-of-the-world, jill-of-many-trades; mother and dreamer ready to share dreams with the reader.  Lori has never been able to follow everyone else, nor always follow directions or social expectations. Hence, her writing also tends to cross genres to create her own unique blend. A'mara Books are stories about personal relationships with strong flavors of fantasy, sci-fi, action and adventure, all wrapped into one plus a sense of social and moral responsibility that tends to be lost in today's world. 

Book preview

Dedication

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To my children:

Our combined imagination gave birth to Terrenden and our A’mara in the beginning. It is ultimately for you that I have worked to give A’mara breath.

♥

To all who aspire to be A’mara:

You make the world a better place through your love of peace, knowledge and understanding. May we use this to bring people together.

♥

Last, but not least

To my husband:

My number 1 fan.

Terrenden Atlas Pages

Also mentioned:

Tranas – an island off Almara in the north.

Pronunciation Guide – People

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Groups

A’mara   - (uh-MAR-uh) -  sub-race of leya-talented

Balan - (BAY-lan) -  rebellious leya-talented

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A’mara Allies on Irola

Hraeva Hollins - (HRAY-vuh) (age 45) - wife of abári

Hrista Hollins - (HRISS-tuh) (age 18) - their daughter

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A’mara & Allies on Çtarest

Fain Kulun (age 48) Terrenden abári

Gaela Newton (age 23)

Hamon Kulun (age 26)

Hergil Kulun (age 22)

Nashan Reyner (age 21)

Oiŝiina Saalo – (age 263) - Çtarest stella 

Phoebe Kulun (age 23)

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A’mara & Allies in Tranas

Anney Vost (age 18) Varice’s niece

Varice Vost (age 36)  Tranas abári

Vinnia Vost (age 20) Varice’s daughter

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Truth Resistance for Autonomy Solidarity and Harmony (T.R.A.S.H.)

Breith Dalston - (BRAYTH)

Darrey Savar

Euli Harrow - (YOO-lee)  - expelled member

Jukanya Garren - (jew-KAHN-yuh)

Kendra Aylett - (AYE-lett)

Kimmel Aylett - right-hand man

Kjane Issyk - (KEEANE EYE-zik) - founder

Seyth Marson - (SAYTH) - tech guy

Svínna King - (SVEE-nuh) - aquaponics guru

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Imperial Palace Irola & Belmara’s Army

Empress Belmara Wolfkin -

Lant Wolfkin - Belmara’s son

Mariah Wolfkin - Oleana’s niece

Oleana Wolfkin Maharl - Belmara’s daughter

Thorsa Maharl - (muh-HARL) Oleana’s daughter

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Belmara Mountain Institute

Harriett Berg

Hervé Berg

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Others & Mentions

The Curator - late Balan controller

Jeremy Marsh 

Nampe Whillans

♥♥♥

The Calendar

Terrenden operates on a 9-day week.

The days are named after gods except Terraday which represents the world or the void in popular mythology.

Muranaday (mur-AHN-uh)

Majanday (MA-JAHN)

Rinday (RIHN)

Terraday – midweek break – holy day for Faldur sects.

Fenjaday (FEN-ya)

Tharnday

Wirnday

Silnaday (SILL-nuh) – weekend – holy day for Silatians.

Vasanaday (vuh-SAHN-uh) – weekend – holy day for followers of Vasana and other Faldur.

♥

The month is roughly 45 days always ending with the double full moon and beginning with a festival. Terrenden has 8 months in a year as follows:

Solstice

Brezanari

Kalinari

Equinox

Komanari

Lashanari

Solstice

Casminari

Vestharya

Tulinari

Equinox

Sebenari

Avrinari

Solstice / Year End

♥

Note: glossary and image credits at the end.

♥

1

(Mid-Komanari

888 Terrenden Common Era)

(Wirnday)

Imperial Hospital Irola

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Beep... beep... beep...

The medical equipment made lots of noise. How could anyone rest here, Hrista Hollins wondered as she watched her mother labor just to breathe. She wondered how a healthy, mature woman who was laughing and scheming in their apartment  two weeks ago could be so ill now! She wiped a tear from her eye. She must be strong – strong for Mother, strong for Father, in a land across the Sound... strong for her brothers who had left to find him, and not returned. She was all her mother had left on Irola. Hrista had to be strong!

She stood and looked out the window. In the distance, she could just about see a sliver of shining blue as the sun sparkled on the water. She imagined that the clouds were the distant shore and the slopes of Mt. Çtarest, the highest point on Kranisis.

You mustn’t blame him, her mother’s weak voice reached her.

Hrista pivoted and returned to her mother. "But you need him!"

She nodded. But if someone were to see him... kill him... I would take the guilt with me to the grave. I do love your father so. Even now.

Why did the people ever have to elect such a horrible person? Hrista asked as she thought about the dollops of truth her mother had given her over the past two weeks. Little bits that wouldn’t threaten anyone, but Hrista knew there was a lot more her mother couldn’t tell her while in a hospital run by the Empress.

Her mother shook her head. "People do what they think is best for their own situation. Belmara promised wonderful things for the planet. She promised good health, good education, good life in general. People want to believe they can be happy, if only the right stroke of luck happens. They want the easy way. It’s human nature, Hrista."

"What do they think is wrong with you, Mom? What is Decima?"

The doctors aren’t sure. It seems to be a new virus which popped up in the Distant Lands – escaped a laboratory, it seems. I will be all right in a few days, then you and I are going on a trip together.

Are we going to see my brothers?!

We can try, she said with a weak smile. Then a coughing fit overtook her. Hrista... if I don’t make it... don’t hang around. Promise to find your father and your brothers... Take my love to them. She started coughing again, gasping for breath between each fit.

You’re going to be fine, Mother. You just said you were.

Get out of the way! an order was barked as half a dozen medical personnel crowded around the bed.

Hrista backed out of the way into a corner.

Who are you? someone asked.

Her daughter.

You need to go. Now!

Hrista left the room and stood at the window, watching the doctors try to save her mother. The machines started making strange noises and more doctors came, all arguing about how best to treat her.

the thought came to her mind. It sounded like her mother’s voice, but they had never spoken telepathically.

Hrista fought back the tears and oriented herself.

So young too, a nurse said with shame, shaking her head. Too young to die.

But she has, a doctor replied. This is a very serious disease. All who are exposed must be quarantined for the good of the planet.

Who has been exposed to her?

There was a young woman in here when we came in. She needs to be found and quarantined immediately.

Hrista stopped listening and started walking towards the zip-lifts.

Excuse me, miss. Are you the woman who was with the deceased earlier?

No, Hrista lied, and kept walking.

She is, the doctor’s voice said. I had to tell her to leave the room. Miss, you need to come with us. You have been exposed to a deadly virus.

Hrista ignored them and jogged to the zip-lift.

Stop! a doctor commanded. Quarantine that woman!

A wave of Hrista’s hand opened the zip-lift in front of her and another wave shut the doors behind her. She pressed the button that said, Street level.

Only a minute passed as the lift descended faster than usual. Hrista didn’t waste time musing about the fact she had always been able to make the zip-lifts move faster than they were meant to go. Normally, it was a cool little trick to play on her friends. Today, it could just save her freedom.

Out of the zip-lift, she resumed her jog through the crowds. As she reached the corner, she turned to see the doctor and nurse emerge from the hospital. They didn’t pursue her, but used their PCS links.

Hrista boarded the first hoverbus that stopped even though it was going the wrong direction. She put a token in the box and sat in the first seat, heaving to catch her breath.

A news bulletin came onto the HPS screen at the front of the passenger area.

It has been confirmed that Irola has had its first death from the Decima virus, the plague known for killing one tenth of those affected. Attempts are being made to contact next of kin before releasing the name of the deceased. We would like to emphasize that anyone exposed to this deadly virus must submit to quarantine for the good of all!

Hrista’s tears began running down her face.

I will find Dad, Hamon and Hergil, Mother. I will tell them that you loved them! she muttered quietly.

She got off at the next stop and transferred to another bus.

Finally, she arrived at the building where she had shared a flat with her mother after her father and brothers had left them alone.

She opened the zip-lift and stepped out. She turned the corner of the corridor and pulled back as quickly as she could. There were people outside her door!

She looked again, but more carefully. They pressed the bell to her door again. Then someone used something and opened her door anyway. They went inside, leaving someone outside to guard.

Shit! she breathed. Then she went back to the zip-lift, making sure the doors closed behind her quickly. Using her gift, she engaged the zip-lift to extra fast again, but went below the street level into the Understory. She felt her heart beating fast as she did. No one chose to go into the Understory unless their situation was one of need. Hrista’s situation was now dire.

♥♥♥

2

(Wirnday)

T.R.A.S.H. Base 7

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They’ve done it, Kjane Issyk said sadly as he turned off the HPS unit. He turned to his fellow T.R.A.S.H. members and continued. The Empress has taken full control of everyone’s lives. Right now, they’re just looking for Ms. Hollin’s daughter. Tomorrow, they’ll be looking for anyone who has come into contact with her... they will be looking for us too. And anyone else who disagrees with the government view of things.

You don’t think there should be a quarantine? Breith asked from a comfortable chair that he shared with his girlfriend, Jukanya. Surely, a quarantine will save millions of lives if this thing keeps spreading as it is now.

"We don’t even have proof that it’s a virus! What is this thing that has killed scores of people in the Distant Lands? And is now on Irola? Do we know her daughter is infected? I think it’s just an excuse to control the movements of the people," Kjane expressed.

Breith nodded.

What do we do? Jukanya asked.

We make sure we are completely prepared for hiding, Kjane advised.

For how long?

As long as we have to.

A scuffle was heard outside.

Kjane sent to everyone’s heads.

A moment later, the room looked empty. The moment after that, the door opened and a small group of officers came in. Wearing the midnight blue uniforms chosen by the Empress, they scoured the room, looking for someone, it was clear. Kjane held his breath and kept his aura tight around him. He hoped the others would remember the lessons he’d given them.

This is the T.R.A.S.H. base? an older man with silvering hair asked.

A younger woman replied, They could certainly use some help with their décor!

Where are their secret hiding places, Thorsa? the man demanded.

I don’t know, the teen replied. Kjane struggled to keep his anger contained as he observed the traitor.

What good is their base if we can’t catch Issyk and his gang? the man asked.

I don’t know...

Issyk raped you? the woman confirmed.

Thorsa nodded.

Where? the woman asked.

Thorsa pointed and showed them to the bedroom where Kjane remembered waking up naked next to her a couple of weeks ago. He had no memory of what had happened. Still, he couldn’t help the bad feeling that the woman with Thorsa knew exactly what had happened and was looking for a mental reaction. Kjane wished his comrades were better at telepathy.

There must be surveillance somewhere, the man indicated.

Thorsa shrugged. They’ve hidden the comms station.

What use are you if you can’t even give us the surveillance recordings?! the man scolded. The videos would give us all the evidence needed to imprison Issyk for life.

Sorry, Thorsa replied timidly.

The man looked at the woman. What is it, Oleana? he asked.

Not sure, Captain, she replied. I’m getting impressions... like those of leya-sensitives.

Lead the way if Thorsa won’t.

Sorry, Thorsa repeated.

The elders ignored the teenager.

We should have brought Teng. He’s better with electronics, the