The Continuum Dealer: the Brethren

By Robert Colling

THE POSSIBILITY OF OTHER WORLDS, BUT THE CERTAINTY OF ANGELS.

The second installment in The Continuum Dealer series kicks off with a greater intensity in Ethan's romantic relationships: Anna is pregnant and Ethan is fighting a gladiator-style match to undo Lee's slave status. The action and intrigue only increase from there, as the shadow group The Brethren increases its effort to eliminate The Continuum Dealer by any means possible.

As Ethan continues his mission to bring people their true names, he visits places he's never seen before, including the restricted Clone Island. True to the gripping pace of the first installment Beginnings, The Continuum Dealer: The Brethren is an electrifying adventure that readers will find hard to put down.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9781664125841

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Anna

Ethan made his way upstairs to Anna’s door. He pressed the button and then stroked the leethur one time down its back. It glowed green until the door opened and then faded to a dark forest green.

Come in. I’ve got exciting news for you, Anna said and smiled wide.

Go ahead. I can’t wait to hear.

I’m pregnant. Anna realized she had shouted quite loudly.

Great. Ethan knew he had hesitated one beat too long.

Anna wasn’t ready for the way Ethan responded. She had expected him to be overjoyed.

Ethan instinctively reached to hold her hands. They stood silently, Anna with a big smile and Ethan with the best smile he could hold. Ethan took one step back, and then panic set in.

I will have to get time off from naming, maybe twelve months or so. We can both stay here until the baby’s born. Then we will have to get all the necessary supplies and maybe hire a full-time nanny to help you with the boys. We can get a house and all live as a family together. Won’t that be a nice change for us all? Ethan heard himself talking in rapid, machine-gun sounds.

Anna saw Ethan’s panic attack and tried to develop a strategy.

We should get married, Ethan said next. Then he got down on one knee. I don’t have a ring with me, but I can get one.

I’m a surrogate, Anna blurted out. I’m acting as a surrogate,

she repeated.

What are you saying? Ethan asked, regaining his composure and rising off the floor.

I didn’t say, ‘We’re pregnant,’ I said, ‘I’m pregnant.’

I don’t think I get this.

My planet lost so many people when the station came crashing down on the planet. Many of us volunteer as surrogates to help repopulate the planet. Anna hoped her strategy was working.

So you are helping a couple back home? Ethan said, calming down.

Yes, silly. I have always loved being pregnant, and this is a way that I can help at the same time.

Great, I can help some too, you know. Ethan felt himself back to normal.

Sure, we can even pretend practice if you want. Anna was not sure what she was saying.

Ethan and Anna sat down and talked the rest of the morning. The boys came in from playing on the roof, and they all had lunch.

Ethan told Anna he had to go off planet for a week or two. He promised them all that he would see them as soon as he could. He reflected on Anna’s news all the way home. He was glad the leethur had not changed any colors during his meltdown.

Anna withdrew to her room as soon as Ethan had left. She knew she was carrying Ethan’s child. Once she saw his desperation, she knew she had to think quickly, and she came up with the surrogate story on the fly. She was proud of herself for that much.

Tears came slowly to her eyes. She knew he wasn’t prepared for that kind of news. What was she thinking, blurting out news like that?

One certainty she knew for sure deep in her heart: She knew she couldn’t bear to lose Ethan.

I need time to think, she said out loud, trying to self-motivate. I have eight months to figure this out.

CHAPTER TWO

Birthday

Ethan returned to the Grinden for his normal two-week rotation. He walked the length of the main corridor with a general down attitude with a dash of back to reality. The corridor seemed longer than usual this day, and the walls seemed a darker gray.

Just as he pushed through the swinging doors and entered the grand room, he heard many people shout, Happy Birthday. There in front of him were roughly a hundred staff, crew, and guests. There was the customary backdrop and party favors on the wall and a table with a cake and several different punch bowls.

Anna walked out of the crowd and stood directly in front of him. Surprise! I thought you would enjoy a little birthday party. She was smiling her brightest smile. She immediately waved a vid drone over to take a picture. She leaned in and hugged his waist, making sure Lee and the rest were watching.

Wow, thanks. Ethan felt a little overwhelmed. Soon all were forming a line to greet and shake his hand. Once done, he moved over for the song, and he blew out twenty-six candles in one breath.

How did you know how old I am and what day my birthday is?

Lee stepped in front of Anna and said, I was happy to research you. She felt herself blush, and she tried to recover by saying, It wasn’t all that hard. I just went through your past. She knew she was stuck and couldn’t find the right words to get out. She decided to end it there and smiled as she withdrew. She started devising a plan to get him alone later and tell him that he was all she ever thought about.

Ethan felt another hand on his arm. Hi, I’m Amber.

Amber was in uniform, and her name tag read Crew – Head Chef. She stood Ethan’s height and had soft-looking, long, red hair. She pulled him across the floor slowly toward the punch tables, making chitchat all the while.

Anna was left standing next to Lee in an uneasy silence. They both observed Amber and Ethan talking and bristled each time Amber put her hand on Ethan’s arm.

After a few minutes, Anna exclaimed, That’s enough of this. She crossed the floor and picked out a rather handsome uniformed man. Rich, is it? she asked, reading off his name tag. What is it you do around here?

Rich sized her up quickly and said, I’m the second officer. I’ve seen you around the ship. You’re friends with the Dealer.

Anna maneuvered herself so that Ethan could see them both. She leaned in on Rich. Boy, that punch has a little kick.

Ethan eyes were drawn to them. He quickly assessed the situation and tried to hide the smile starting at the corner of his mouth. As he turned away and back to feign listening to Amber, Lee caught his eye. She was alone next to the gift table. He somehow knew that was where he really wanted to be, so he made his apologies and started to cross back to Lee. Guests intercepted him to pass on more congratulations as he made his way.

Rich sensed Anna’s gaze following Ethan. He decided to make a move. I’m bored. Do you want to get out of here? Anna