The Renegades

By L.G. Daery

A cyber-fi adventure ride through space and time; running from swine in full-pursuit of an innocent crime.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Sep 4, 2016
• ISBN: 9781365374418

Book preview

The Renegades

The M&MD series

L. G. Daery

Legendaery.com

2016

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I dedicate this book to my mom, dad and sisters who have always supported my creative endeavors. Thank you. Without your love, support and patience,

I would have never achieved my dream.

And

To Leo the lion who inspired the fire that gave me the desire to become a writer.

I love you forever.

Published with

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Copyright © 2016 by L.G. Daery

Cover Design © 2016 by Rhonda Childress

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

First Printing: 2016

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Table of Contents

1: A Rude Awakening                  6

2: Caduceon                              11

3: Cryoboutit                              25

4: Happy Loft                              31

5: Just Like That                        35

6: Moving On                              38

7: Tita                                    48

8: Formal Invitation                        52

9: Lucky                              61

10: World Leader                        65

11: The Bottom                        70

12: Fuck You, Pay Me                  75

13: Fight or Flight                        84

14: Home, Sweet Home                  91

15: Run                                    96

16: Ashes                              100

17: Savior                              106

18: Skeleton Key                        119

Chapter 1: A Rude Awakening

A sharp whistling hiss suddenly jolted her into consciousness. When she slowly came to, she instinctively attempted to open her eyes, but it was as if they were fused shut. Completely unaware of her surroundings, the next impulse was to call out; but her mouth, unresponsive to what her mind was commanding, didn’t flinch. Just breathe, she thought as she heard indistinct sounds gradually becoming clearer as they approached… the voices of a man and a woman.

Can you imagine how long she’s been out here? the woman asked.

Long enough. We can’t take the whole chamber so let’s take her out of there and go.

"Captain, I’m thawing her as quickly as I can with the heat saber. If we attempt to transport her in this state, we’re risking her life. She’s very fragile. One wrong move and any one of her extremities could just snap off!"

" If we stay here much longer, we’re risking our lives, and yours. They could be here any minute! Take her out of the chamber or leave her there. Those are your options, Dr. Solstice.

…A lengthy pause followed; then a sigh.

Alright. I have to give her this shot first… to speed up the process.

"A shot!?I hate needles!" she thought to herself. In her mind she cringed at the prospect of a needle pricking her as she mentally braced herself for the pain.

Okay, done. Tell your men they can take her now.

She didn’t even feel the shot. Come to think of it. She couldn’t feel anything at all. Her thoughts raced: "Am I paralyzed? Where am I? Who are these people?! Where are they taking me?"

"Captain, we must hurry, she’ll begin to feel the mollification process in approximately 2 minutes and after that it’ll be quite unpleasant. Make her as comfortable as possible on the transport," Dr. Solstice spoke, suddenly sounding very serious and concerned.

She heard the shriek of a whistle from the captain, commanding the advancing patter of several pairs of boots kicking up dust as they came closer.

Men, quickly carry this female to the transport and wait on my call to evac. We’ll be out of here in five.

Yes Sir! A squad of at least a half dozen, from what she could hear, replied in unison.

"Ah! Please be very, very gentle with her. Strap her down! Do not let her hit anything! Go…QUICKLY!"

More questions flooded her mind as she was beginning to become concerned with the anxious tone of Dr. Solstice’s voice, when, all her thoughts and questions disappeared all at once, replaced by the most severe and excruciating pain she had ever experienced. The piercing sting coursed through her spine and spread throughout her body affecting every fiber of her nervous system like a jellyfish sting on every single nerve ending, magnified 10 times and she couldn’t cry out. She felt her fingers beginning to twitch.

"Oh no! It’s beginning! Get her to the transport NOW!"

Bit by bit she felt the onset of agonizing convulsions coursing through her body.  In a moment, her breathing went from a slow rhythm to short, labored and ragged panting as her temperature immediately rose, drenching her with sweat that dripped down her face. She heard the metal hatch on the convoy slam shut as she began to retch, violently dry heaving between desperate gasps for air. Death was a more than welcome escape from  the pain and she expected it at any moment; welcomed it, even.

Doctor! She’s going into shock!! a subordinate yelled.

Her lips parted slightly and through her wheezing, a small shaky whimper escaped.

...help...

She felt a hand supporting the back of her head as she lay flat against the cold floor of the emergency vehicle.

"Breathe… Just breathe…" 

The doctor’s voice cooed in an attempt to calm her, but to no avail. The soft whimpering escalated instantly into piercing, blood-curdling shrieks that all but deafened those nearby, as the seizure became more violent, her eyes jolted wide open to a blinding light, then… silence.

The soft, steady beeping sound of her monitored heart rate, slowly brought her to the surface of a sedated haze as her eyes opened slightly to the brash heat and brightness of an overhead lamp. As a haloed silhouette appeared over her, a sandy brown-haired young man in his mid 20s gradually came into focus as he hovered overhead. He had kind blue eyes and a radiant smile.

You’re awake! He proclaimed with a bright smile.

She made a weak attempt to move.

"Whoa! Take it easy. You’ve had a very RUDE awakening. Doctor Solstice isn’t usually this careless. Don’t get me wrong she’s a good physician but to inject you with a thawing complex, after the extensive duration of your freeze, was a risky move. We were lucky that you survived in your condition."

With all of her strength she managed to muster up words barely audible above the level of a whisper.

Who are you? W-where am I?

I’m a nurse. My name is Nathan and you are in the Medical Wing. he said, shining a tiny flashlight into her eyes."

She weakly shook her head, dismissing his vague answer.

Where?

We’re in a facility called Caduceon.

How did I-…

"You should rest- Save your strength for recuperation. We don’t know how long you were in cryostasis. All of your questions will be answered when you are well. For now, just rest."

No… I can’t… can’t stay…here…

The young woman trailed off into silence as she once again faded into unconsciousness while Nathan walked over to the video-comm near the entrance and contacted Dr. Solstice with the news.

The patient has regained momentary consciousness, Doctor. From the data I’ve gathered and analyzed, all the tests show that she's healthy and will likely make a full recovery in just a few days.

Have you determined her age yet?

Not yet. But her chamber was made by a company that was short-lived in the early 21st century.

What are you waiting for? Just take a small sample of her bone marrow and analyze it.

May I make a suggestion, doctor?

Doctor Solstice pursed her round,dark red lips impatiently and fixed Nathan with a glare of abject scrutiny before removing her rectangular specs and massaging the bridge of her nose in an attempt to alleviate some measure of stress.

What is it, Nathan?

Why not just ask her when she comes to?

Nora hesitated.

Fine. She conceded, slightly irritated. But if she’s incoherent the next time she wakes up, test her marrow.

Understood, Doctor.

Autumn leaves fluttered by on a warm fall breeze when a familiar voice called out to her.

Roxy!

She turned to see a young green-eyed girl, approaching her with an excited smile. Unruly, auburn coils framed her tan, round freckled face as she warmly ran into Roxy’s arms.

"Are you going to the movies today with Bendigo?"

Rosie, You know, mami won’t go for it! Roxy laughed.

"Can I come too? PLEEEASE!?" Rosie tugged on Roxy’s sweater sleeve.

I’ll ask her. I can’t promise anything though. She explained gently to the child as she crouched to see eye-level with her.

Yayy! Rosie squealed, giggling as her big sister stood, spinning her around and throwing her in a pile of freshly raked leaves.

Chapter 2: Caduceon

She awoke with a start in an unfamiliar place, breathing heavily and covered in cold sweat. She sat up in the bed trying to place her surroundings in the dark hospital room. Squinting against the headache pounding at her temples -  all she could remember was a fragment of a dream of autumn, while feeling around in