N8: The 8th Species, #1

By Linda Mooney

Born with special abilities, N8 and the rest of "the children" have lived underground their entire lives, where they've been led to believe there was a nuclear war that left the Earth's surface uninhabitable. The scientists chose what information they were given, what TV shows and movies they could watch, as well as what they were allowed to eat. It was only a matter of time before he and the others started questioning their very existence.

 

They've endured brutal experiments and testing since birth, but to what end? When will it stop? They realize it won't, unless they do something about it.

Cydney Huddleston works for corporation, but she can't stand how the company is treating "the children." N8 and the others know nothing of real life outside of the underground labs they're forced to live in, or the lies they've been fed. When she's ordered to seduce N8, she makes a decision that will ruin her career, and possibly cost her her life, but it's worth it to free the innocent ones who have never breathed fresh air, seen the stars, or even felt love.

 

Out of thousands of attempts to create an 8th Species, only six survived, and they must stick together. The question is, who can they trust with their secrets?

 

Because the truth has the power to set them free. Literally.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Linda Mooney
• Release date: Feb 10, 2021
• ISBN: 9781953797056

Linda Mooney

Linda loves to write sensuously erotic romance with a fantasy, paranormal, or science fiction flair. Her technique is often described as being as visual as a motion picture or graphic novel. A wife, mother, grandmother, and retired Kindergarten and music teacher, she lives in a small south Texas town near the Gulf coast where she delves into other worlds filled with daring exploits, adventure, and intense love. She has numerous best sellers, including 10 consecutive #1s. In 2009, she was named Whiskey Creek Press Torrid's Author of the Year, and her book My Strength, My Power, My Love was named the 2009 WCPT Book of the Year. In 2011, her book Lord of Thunder was named the Epic Ebook "Eppie" Award Winner for Best Erotic Sci-Fi Romance. In addition, she write naughty erotic romances under the name of Carolyn Gregg, and horror under the pseudonym of Gail Smith. For more information about Linda Mooney books and titles, and to sign up for her newsletter, please visit her website. http://www.LindaMooney.com

Book preview

Forward

Scientists have determined there are seven species of life.

Single-celled micro-organisms

Plants

Insects

Fish

Birds

Reptiles

Mammals, including humans.

Until the Rexxt Corporation created an eighth species…

1 Obfusc8

They heard the familiar ding-dong announcing an incoming message. N8 and the others paused what they were doing and glanced up at the monitor overhead. Presently, Wembley came into focus, a smile on his always beneficent face as he stared back at them.

"Good evening, everyone! Glad to see you all busy and industrious. I have some wonderful news to impart! Tests this morning have detected a reduction in the band of radiation circling the planet. Our scientists tell us that for the first time since the war concluded, the level was just under eight hundred microsieverts. That’s fourteen days in a row that the radiation level has shown a definite reduction. And although the drop has been minuscule, the fact that it is dropping is something to celebrate. Now, as I’ve explained many times, an acceptable level for humans is two to three microsieverts per year, so we have a long way to go before it’s safe enough to return to the surface. But these past couple of weeks give us hope that one day, maybe not in our lifetimes, but someday humanity will once again take up residence on the Earth, rather than in it, as we once did almost a hundred years ago."

P8 leaned over his desk to whisper in N8’s ear, I’m betting dessert he mentions us being the future of mankind again.

N8 gave him a go-to-hell look and shook his head. He wasn’t taking that bet, and never would. The president used that phrase like a mantra. Personally, I don’t believe his bullshit, he murmured, earning an aghast look from his friend.

Why not? the young man challenged.

If we’re supposed to be the ‘future of mankind’… He made quote marks in the air with his fingers. Where are the other survivors? If we’re the future, wouldn’t that make us responsible for creating more children? The babies? For that matter, where the hell are all the people older than us?

You know they live and work in a different area of the station, his friend retorted, and waved a hand in the direction of the three people observing them from the other side of the room. What about Dorsey, and Bill, and Cydney?

N8 glanced over at where the three people stood, watching both the monitor and them. For a split second he caught Cydney’s gaze lock onto his. A slight flush pinked her cheeks, and she averted her eyes.

Cydney. A dozen words hadn’t passed between them since she arrived last week, and it wasn’t for lack of trying. He was beginning to think she was deliberately avoiding him. If that was the reason, why? What had he done or said to cause her to keep her distance?

A soft punch to his arm brought him back to the present. P8 pointed to the screen where the president was wrapping up.

"…keep working hard to provide the kind of life we deserve. We are the last survivors of this devastated planet. You, my young friends, are the hope and future of mankind. And from what I’m seeing and being told, that future looks greater and brighter with each passing day.

Have a pleasant evening, everyone. Here’s to a better tomorrow!

Wembley faded from view. With the man’s end of day report done, it signaled the end to their day, as well. N8 powered down his computer and pushed away from the desk as T8 ambled up to him.

Hey, we’re having a friendly game of B-ball after supper. Care to join us?

N8 caught a familiar stare in the young man’s eyes, and nodded. Sounds good. Count me in.

Great! T8 playfully slapped his shoulder and left.

N8’s gaze immediately went to the threesome standing in the doorway leading into the small office. A pane of glass enabled him to see the trio as they discussed something. He quickly shifted over to where F8 sat, appearing to be engrossed in whatever she was reading. But he knew better. They all knew better.

As he expected, the two older adults went inside the office, shutting the door behind them. Cydney began going from station to station to pick up the floppy disks containing their day’s work. Rather than leave his sitting on his desk, he held it in his hand and waited for her to come around.

She stopped in front of him and gave him a reproachful look as she held out a hand in silent request. Answer me one question first, he inquired, deliberately keeping it out of her reach.

It was a game they sometimes played. Otherwise he wouldn’t know a thing about her. This time, though, he was prepared to take the next step.

What? she asked. She knew she might as well go ahead and get it over with. Otherwise he’d keep this up indefinitely.

Go out with me tomorrow night? He made sure to make it sound like a request, rather than an order.

She shook her head. Sorry. I have other plans.

It was a lie. He could feel her tenseness coming off of her in waves. All right. How about when you have a free few minutes? We could have a cup of coffee, or maybe an ice cream cone. You pick the time and place.

He caught her glancing over at the office. Her nervousness amped up considerably. S-sorry. Maybe later, okay? Some other time?

He flashed her a smile. Then it’s not a definite no?

It was not his imagination when he caught a brief glimpse of fear in those blue eyes that came and went faster than a heartbeat. Again, she checked the duo inside their office. We’ll have to see, she finally conceded, and stretched her hand out to him again.

He dropped the disk into her palm. I’m holding you to that promise. He added another grin.

She didn’t say anything in response and continued toward F8’s desk to retrieve the last disk before taking them to the two people in the office.

He continued to watch her when K8 slid into his field of vision. He raised an eyebrow at her, wondering if he was seeing one or two of her, when he noticed her two different colored eyes. That told him she was singular.

"Hey. I got my hands on some Outer Limits videotapes. Want to come over Sunday and watch them with us?"

Us? Who else will be there? The question was moot. What was more important was the little write-on wipe-off board she produced from inside her blouse.

F8 has info

Oh, the usual bunch, the young woman answered, keeping her back to those in the office so they wouldn’t be aware of the second messaging going on between them. They had to obfuscate any and all subliminal conversations, to prevent those watching, observing, and listening in on everything they said and did.

N8 gave a nod. Sure. I’d like to. What time?

She shoved the slate back inside her blouse. Seven. Right after dinner.

Gotcha.

He got to his feet as the others departed the office. Casting one last glance over at Cydney, he noticed her intently watching him. He wasn’t able to read her expression. Not this far away from her. But what he’d sensed from her earlier gave him hope for a more positive interaction in the future.

The very near future.

2 Investig8

They usually played shirts ‘n skins, with the women keeping theirs on while the guys stripped theirs off. Because there were more males than females, whoever played on the girls’ side kept his t-shirt on. And the men always took turns being the women’s teammate. That evening, N8 volunteered to be the odd man out, not because he felt inclined to step up, but because of the cryptic message Kate had given him.

F8 has info

T8 and G8 were already inside the gym. He noticed they’d lowered the nets and were now throwing balls into the hoops. K8 and P8 entered from the opposite side, and joined the other two, running patterns and practicing their slam dunks.

I’ll take shirts! N8 announced. His voice rang off the walls and metal beams hanging overhead. It joined the noise of the bouncing balls and the occasional shout. This was where they came whenever they needed to talk without being overheard, because the resonating sounds effectively masked their short conversations.

When F8 finally joined them, they went straight into a huddle to supposedly flip a coin.

Are they watching? P8 whispered.

Always, F8 answered, her head down as she bounced one of the balls. Mics, too.

Take north, G8 announced, and F8 immediately feinted to the left. As G8 tried to head her off, she passed the ball to N8. The instant she did, she held up five fingers. He nodded, and raced for the hoop.

Five. There were five pairs of eyes and ears observing them at that very moment. He mentally shook his head. The split-second of not being focused on the game cost him, and T8 slammed the ball out of his grasp. He took off after the guy, but the ball was seamlessly slipped into G8’s hands, and a leap landed a three-point shot for the men’s team.

Who’s keeping score? K8 yelled.

We all are! F8 hollered back.

Three-zip! P8 bellowed, and threw the ball onto the court from the sidelines.

They played for another few minutes. Every so often F8 would flash a number.

Three.

One.

It was after K8 managed to make both her free shots after P8 fouled her that the woman gave them a thumbs-up.

Zero.

T8 made the familiar T symbol with his hands. I call timeout! Let’s take a breather.

With the exception of P8, they made their way over to the far wall and collapsed into a close huddle. P8 soon joined them, passing out bottles of water he’d collected from the dispenser on the other side of the gym.

All right. Spill, N8 whispered, taking a swig.

There’s been an uptick in communications, F8 murmured, keeping her head bowed. The rest of them pretended to drink or mouth incoherent words, as if they were having an innocuous conversation. I think they’re getting ready to start another series of tests on us.

K8 gasped. The action drew water into her lungs, and she was hit with a fit of coughing that took her a minute to clear. N8 slapped her on the back to help her clear her lungs.

"What? More tests? G8 grumbled. When is it going to fucking stop?"

Don’t they run enough of those things on us already? P8 inquired, voicing what they were already thinking.

Any idea what kind of tests? T8 queried. In other words, would they hurt and cause pain to the point where they’d be hospitalized for several days the way some of them did?

F8 shrugged. Don’t know. Didn’t have the chance to hear anything more. She glanced sideways at N8. But they did say your name specifically.

He took a deep breath and straightened his shoulders. It made sense.

Why do they keep picking on you? K8 angrily denounced.

You fucking know why, T8 almost growled. The rest of us, our abilities were easily discerned. They knew early on when we were younger just what we could and couldn’t do. He saluted N8 with his water bottle. Except for you.

"They still don’t know the extent of what I can do, F8 reminded them. For all they know, I have extraordinary vision and hearing. They have no idea I can interpret the pulses in the electrical currents, or catch the magnetic wave forms in some of their communications. She managed a shy smile. I learned not to make any of that known whenever we were undergoing their trials."

Speaking of abilities… N8 gestured to G8. You’re starting to peel.

The young man nodded and fingered a sheaf of skin waving from his bicep. Yeah. Another couple of days, and I’ll be a whole new me. He chuckled, but there was no humor in it.

N8 addressed F8. Any idea when these new tests are due to begin?

In a couple of days. That’s all I managed to glean. I guess it’s going to take them that long to prepare whatever they have planned.

Shit. T8 looked at N8. That doesn’t sound good.

I agree, G8 remarked. That usually means a more elaborate test. And more elaborate almost always equates to painful.

N8? K8 laid a hand on his