Finding Mogha: Before The Fall, #2

By Kyndra Hatch

Can the sound of a voice ignite a soul-deep passion in a sworn enemy?

 

Dani Myers is on the run and running out of time. Her discovery of a young Korthan Hellhound in a lab sends her on a desperate mission. The pup isn't some obscure test animal; it is a sentient mogha that can speak. The last thing she needs as she tries to save the creature is to have her ship shot out from under her.

K'vyn doesn't hate all humans, just the ones that won't cease terraforming Korthan worlds. Their disregard for life has driven his people to the brink of all-out war. When a human supply freighter shows up in Korthan territory near the beloved mogha home world, he is duty bound to rid the galaxy of another human ship. A distress call as the ship crashes creates an unexpected soul-deep pull inside him.

 

Dani's decision to smuggle the mogha called C'hase back to his home world might not have been her smartest move, but she felt she had no choice when she overheard plans to terraform the animal's home planet. Now, without help from the Korthan who shot her down, she'll never be able to warn the Mogha inhabitants of impending doom.

 

She isn't sure which surprises her more after she crashes on an unknown planet—the fact that she is still alive, or the mutual attraction between her and K'vyn, the Korthan who did the shooting. Is it possible a Korthan and a human can work together to save C'hase and the mogha home world, or will they be caught between those that want to terraform and the Korthans determined to save the mogha from extinction?

 

This book was previously published in Pets In Space 5. Thank you for supporting the Hero Dogs charity!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Letahatchee Books
• Release date: Aug 23, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201841614

Kyndra Hatch

Kyndra Hatch grew up with a fascination for science fiction and a deep interest in ancient civilizations, a combination which fuels her active imagination. After twelve exciting years as an archaeologist, Kyndra pursues a passion for writing and has discovered her works have a decidedly science fiction romantic flair. She is a USA Today bestselling author. Kyndra also writes science fiction, horror, and dark humor short stories as L.K. Hatchett. Visit her Facebook page or sign up for her newsletter for more info. Thanks for reading! Website: https://kyndrahatch.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kyndrahatch/ Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cpLDG9 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kyndrahatch/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kyndrahatch

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Author’s Notes & Dedication

F inding Mogha is set in the same universe as my stories from Pets in Space® 3 & 4, After The Fall and Interrupting Starlight, respectively. The events of Interrupting Starlight and Finding Mogha occur before the events of After The Fall, but they all can be read as standalone stories. All have mischievous moghas, cyborg Korthans and living ships, and I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them.

I want to thank the organizers of Pets in Space® for bringing me onboard for yet another anthology. Being a part of Pets in Space® continues to be the best author experience of my life. It is a true joy being a part of the team. None of my stories in ‘The Fall’ universe would exist if it weren’t for these wonderful anthologies. Creating this universe has been so much fun. And contributing to Hero-Dogs.org is near and dear to my heart. Pets in Space® is an inspiration on so many levels. Thank you!

I want to thank my husband, who suggested I go to the ‘river house’ to get this story finished. I was having a hard time concentrating during the time of COVID and uncertainty and literally had to unplug from everything. I wasn’t sure where I could do that, and going to my childhood home was the perfect solution.

I thank my parents, who were more than happy to let me unplug from the distractions of life at their place on the river. We had a wonderful time during those several weeks.

I dedicate this book to the Reagans, fabulous friends, fantastic neighbors, and whose son, Chase, was a big inspiration.

And I thank all you readers. Without you, pursuing my dreams wouldn’t be possible.

–Kyndra Hatch

Chapter 1

T hey’re shooting at us. Talking out loud, Dani’s voice sounded high-pitched, even to her ears.

Taking a hellhound puppy from a lab didn’t warrant a death sentence. But shooting at them now? All the way out here?

Even when the Human Colony Alliance pursued her from the science station three days ago, none of the warfighter ships fired at her.

Said hellhound pup stood alert in the middle of the bridge, feather-tipped antennae sticking straight up, bushy gray tail pointing backwards. A small tan-furred, trumpet-eared creature perched on top of his head, tiny snout sniffing at the air. 

The freighter slipped into another fishtail as a second volley of bolts hit them from behind. The gray hellhound crouched on unsteady feet.  

C’hase, get under my chair, Dani said to the pup. She didn’t want to see him go flying across the room.

The blackness of space felt even blacker as her eyes scanned the dimmed distant stars. Dani couldn’t see the aggressors, but they were out there; one had appeared as a blip on her radar. Gaining visual was another thing. Perhaps if she noticed a group of stars disappear, that would indicate where the ships were.

There—

Sitting forward over the console, squinting at the bottom of the transpari-steel viewscreen, Dani’s blood froze.

That does not look like a human ship—

SEND ANOTHER WARNING shot, K’vyn said from the pilot seat of his scout-class cruiser, having decided there was no need to report such an insignificant incident to the Cyborg Corps.

Lounging in the seat, leaning on his elbow, he casually flicked his wrist.

The ship did as he asked, laser fire grazing the back of the invading ship’s hull, just as the others had.

Humans were so arrogant. They thought they could just amble around the galaxy in their clunky inferior ships and claim what they wanted. Their entitlement galled him.

Watching the Invader ship from a distance, his lip curled. Could their ships be more offensive?

It was the clunkiest monstrosity he’d ever seen, like most human ships. However, this one was especially clunky. How were these beings even space-faring?

It probably couldn’t cause much damage to anything, might not have even had any weapons. But damned if he was going to allow some Invader this close to Mogha, sworn to protect the planet and its beloved inhabitants.

Wait, he scooted to the edge of his seat. I feel something.

Could this finally be his mogha companion? He had almost lost hope of ever finding one—

L’iza’s ghostly holographic form suddenly appeared next to him, concentration twisting her features. We are too far from Mogha for you to be detecting one.

The bond with his ship wasn’t as deep as a cyborg would have had, but L’iza could detect his thoughts, especially if they were accompanied with strong feelings.

Strange, she said next. There is something there.

Of course, there was. He knew what he felt.

The Korthan watched the human freighter, standing, clasping his hands behind his back. They weren’t that far from the home world. What else could it be?

He couldn’t allow his elation with finding his mogha distract him from the problem at hand, however.

Send a holo-transmission, he said.

WAS THE SHIP KORTHAN?

They were in neutral territory, in an unarmed cargo freighter. No Korthan should be shooting at them.

Heart leaping as the ship flew closer, it swooped in front of Dani’s freighter in a graceful arc before hovering overhead.

Sleek in design, it had four swept back wings, all seeming to move independent of each other. Defying logic, it didn’t look anything like the Korthan ships she’d seen before.

This couldn’t have been Korthan. With ships like this, the humans were going to lose the war—

Not for the first time since Dani rescued the hellhound, she lamented the lack of a crew. A co-pilot would have been nice right about now.

Can I come out? C’hase’s innocent voice sounded from under Dani’s seat.

The young hellhound sounded so much like a human child, his voice was as startling as it was when she first heard him in her mind.

No, stay where you are, Little One, Dani said.

But I want to see the ship.

Ignoring the pup, Dani concentrated on the task at hand.

Mogha companion, I reach out to you. Can you hear me?

Dani blinked. C’hase, is that you?

There was movement under her seat that abruptly halted.

I’m not doing anything, C’hase said. Why did he sound like he’d just been caught doing something? Hedge isn’t doing anything either.

Hedge, the little space rat he couldn’t live without— Yup, definitely up to something he shouldn’t be.

The console cackled, comms coming to life with a screech before fading to silence again.

She covered their ears, wincing.

What was that? C’hase said.

Dani’s fingers danced over the controls. I think they’re trying to hack our comms.

She had no idea if they could do that, but by the looks of that ship, she was surprised someone hadn’t beamed aboard somehow.

A vertical beam of white light suddenly came to life between the console and her view screen. Dani froze. She sure hoped something wasn’t about to beam aboard her ship. Not possible by human standards, and she’d never heard of a Korthan doing it, there was a first for everything.

The beam of light became more focused until a Savage of Korth appeared. So, not some other being after all.

Black hair cropped close to grayish blue skin, he wore a black uniform. Somewhat transparent, Dani was relieved that it was just a hologram and not the actual man standing there.

But what a man he was, with striking silver eyes that pierced Dani’s soul. The sight of him stirred something unexplainable, her heart swelling. It was similar to what she felt with C’hase, but deeper— Soul deep—

Blinking, she stamped down the feeling. This man, this savage, this enemy, was shooting at them.

CAN THEY SEE ME? K’VYN asked, still standing, hands clasped behind his back, he glanced at L’iza.

Yes, she said. A group of colorful control holograms floating in front of her, she swiped her hand in the air as she scrolled through one.

Why can’t I see them?

I know what you look like, so I can project an image of you. She looked up. But I don’t know what they look like or what they’re doing, so I can’t project an image back.

Nodding, he turned back to the green hologram floating in front of him. A projector, it scanned his image and broadcast a hologram of himself through the easily hacked systems of the human ship.

Human vessel, he spoke at the projector. Turn around or I will be forced to destroy you.

He also tried speaking to his mogha again, projecting his mind outwards in all directions. Mogha companion, I feel you out there somewhere. I am here.

DANI REACHED OUT, HER hand flowing through the focused light. It was a hologram.

Ask him if he knows where Mogha is, C’hase said, tone chipper.

"I don’t think he’d be