Roog

By Linda Mooney

Scientist Leigh Readon and her colleagues have done the unimaginable. They've invented a machine that can transport matter to other platforms of the same machine. When the US government gets wind, they want it shut down immediately, or so they say. In an effort to save the technology from falling into the wrong hands, the group deletes all of the schematics and research information, and Leigh takes the risk of transporting herself to France where one of their landing pads is located. When she gets there, she plans to give the French scientists a heads up.

 

Only she doesn't land in the France she expected. She finds herself among…cavemen? Is that even possible? Accepting her fate, Leigh tries to navigate the primitive world of the Stone Age, and soon finds herself in the arms of her hero, Roog, who protects her from the elements and the not so friendly inhabitants, and teaches her the way of his people.

 

The other scientists are still trying to figure out where she is, or worse, when she is. With the government breathing down their necks and trying to shut them down, can they find her before it's too late?

 

If given the chance, would Leigh go back to her time, or make a life for herself with Roog?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Linda Mooney
• Release date: Sep 18, 2021
• ISBN: 9781953797117

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

Chapter 1

Test

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Good morning, Leigh!

Leigh beamed a smile at the security guard who’d greeted her when she’d entered the building. Good morning, Randall! Did the Packers win or lose last night?

They were robbed! He chuckled and watched as she slid her key card into the slot next to the elevator. When the door slid to the side, he added, Have a great day!

You, too! she managed to respond before the door closed. She punched the button to the second floor, when the door suddenly opened again, and Powell breathily stopped her.

Hey! Glad I caught you in time! We’re getting ready for the next round of tests. Mumphree sent me to come find you since you weren’t in your office.

Sure, but I’ve already hit the up button.

He stepped aside to let her exit. We’ll take the stairs, then. C’mon!

They dashed for the stairwell at the end of the short hallway and hastened down the steel steps to a fireproof door labeled SUB 1. She carded the lock, and he opened it after it buzzed.

The main lab sat at the end of a short corridor. When they walked in, she noticed the organized chaos of the place that always prevailed whenever a major experiment was about to commence.

An older man glanced up from where he sat in front of a laptop. Seeing her, he waved her over, and she went to join him.

Glad you were able to make it, the scientist remarked. Here. Take over while I concentrate on conducting the experiment. He got up and moved aside to let her get at the computer keyboard.

Leigh slid into the vacated seat, dumping her purse on the floor beside her. Ready.

Send-Matic Test…whatever, Dr. Mumphree said, giving a wave of his hand to indicate she needed to fill in the appropriate number.

Seven-A. This is the first one today, right? she verified.

The man nodded but didn’t reply. Once he was focused on a project, his responses would be reduced to grunts or single-syllable words, but she was accustomed to it.

She noticed he must have just turned on the computer and pulled up the form. The spaces on it were still blank. Fill me in on the specs, she requested as she began inputting the data. What new little gizmos are we sending inside Mr. Muscles today?

We’re not sending him, a voice spoke from behind her.

Leigh turned around in her seat to see Powell holding what appeared to be an animal in his arms. Automatically, she awwwed at the sight of the white furry bundle when he brought it over for her to pet. It took her a second to grasp the import of his words. Wait. We’re sending a rabbit through the machine?

We named him Magellan, Brisco spoke up. The red-headed engineer popped up from behind a piece of equipment, then strode over to the console a few feet away from her. Dr. Mumphree, I’ve finalized that fifth numerical address for you.

Good! Leigh, make a note, the scientist ordered.

All right. But tell me what the significance of that is. She looked to Brisco for clarification.

The man tapped the console. Not every address in the U.S. goes up to just a four-digit number. Some have five digits. I’ve rectified that by adding a fifth setting.

Got it. Thanks. But before she started adding that information into the computer, she chanced another look at Powell, who was placing the rabbit inside a small cage sitting on the transport pad. So we’ve finally decided to go from inanimate objects to living creatures, she intoned to no one in particular.

It’s the most logical next step, Powell answered. So far we’ve managed to transport Mr. Muscles from here to our office in France. At some point we’ll need to be able to send living material.

Living material? Like people?

It’s inevitable, the man emphasized. Once we’re able to send non-living objects, we’ll get the patent to start our own mailing system. But if we can include people…

Won’t that devastate the airline industry? And the trains, and buses, and cars… She shuddered. The possibilities are staggering!

Yes, they are, the engineer agreed. But we have to use baby steps. We can’t just jump into this thing without thoroughly testing it first.

She looked over her shoulder and spied the sixteen-inch action figure now resting on top of a nearby bookcase. Sitting next to it was Brisco’s pampered potted geranium. Why don’t we send a plant instead of a rabbit? she suggested, and turned back to the men.

Mumphree rose up from where he’d been working behind the machine. I’d thought of it, but there’s no way we can determine the effects of the transporter on the tissues and blood, or the internal organs and the brain.

She looked over at the doll again. Its internal stuffing had been removed and all sorts of miniature devices had been crammed into it to measure a crap load of information only the doctor and Brisco, and two other scientists located in Nice were able to read and interpret.

So why not put some of the gizmos you had in the doll onto the plant?

Not hearing an answer, she swiveled back around to the computer to find Brisco giving her that look that told her not to pursue the topic any further. She mentally shrugged and continued inputting the data into the form on her monitor.

We’re sending the rabbit straight to Nice?

Yes, someone replied.

How long do you think it’ll take for it to get there? She poised the cursor over that blank box in the form.

It was Mumphree who answered. Five minutes. Hopefully less than that.

Leigh nodded and added it. Are we going to bring it right back?

No, Powell told her. They’re going to run some tests on Magellan first to see if he’s still physically fit. They’re going to keep him overnight. If he has no severe reactions, we’ll return him tomorrow. You ready, Bris?

Yeah. Hold on. The engineer took his position behind the console. Setting address for 3400 Rue de Chevalier. Got that, Leigh?

Got it. Staring at the destination address, she frowned. Hey, Brisco. Just curious. You said there were five numeric indicators on the destination console?

Yeah. What about it?

What if the destination is less than five numbers? She pointed toward the rabbit. He’s going to thirty-four hundred.

Leigh, have you ever looked at the destination settings? the engineer inquired. At the shake of her head, he gestured for her to come over. She looked to Mumphree, but he appeared preoccupied with something, which told her they had another minute or two before the man needed to commence transport.

She got up from her seat and hurried over to the console. She half-expected to see another computer keyboard, and was surprised to see a set of dials instead. It looks real steampunkish.

Real what?

I can’t believe you’re not running this through a computer.

Brisco snorted. Computers can be hacked. If we try to send something to a customer, and some hacker’s got our number, no telling where the shipment could end up. Boom. Lost revenue. Lost returning customer. Hello bankruptcy for a multi-billion-dollar enterprise.

So show me how we prevent sending a package to a different address.

He pointed to the five knobs lined up in a row. Underneath each one was a window. Peering closer, she saw where the first knob was turned to the number three, the digit aligned to a black arrow. The window below it read 3. The second window showed a 4, to match the 4 on the knob. The next two knobs were turned to zeros, and those windows also showed 0. The fifth knob looked a tad shinier than the other four. She pointed to it.

It’s set to a black dot. She checked the window. It was blank. I’m guessing if there’s no number in the window, the machine is set not to recognize it?

If the knob isn’t set to a number, the machine doesn’t acknowledge it, Brisco corrected.

She looked at the next six windows. They were long and thin. Raised lettering indicated which one was for the street name, one for apartment or unit, one for the city, one for the state, and one for the zip code. Below it, the last one simply read COUNTRY. Beneath the window was a keyboard, but with a few extra keys.

Curious to see how it works?

Sure. She hadn’t been able to get this close to the machine’s console, much less have the opportunity to find out how to set the destinations. You won’t get in trouble for showing me? she somewhat teased.

He’s already checked with me. Mumphree’s voice came from where the scientist was crouched behind the machine. Presently, his head popped up. I told him it would be a good idea if he showed you the ropes, in case we ever needed somebody else to man the display.

Grinning, Brisco indicated the row of blue buttons at the top of the keyboard. First button says STREET. Punch it, then type in the information. When you’re done, hit ENTER. It automatically goes to the next window. Second button is the apartment, abbreviated to APT. Again, enter the info and hit ENTER. Now, if there’s no apartment or unit number, just leave it blank, but be sure to hit ENTER so the machine goes to the third window. That one’s for the CITY. Punch it and repeat. Always be sure to hit ENTER after each entry or it’ll write over anything you’ve typed in in that window.

She noted the zip code window. Countries outside the US usually have a six-digit country code. I’m guessing that’s not a problem with the keyboard.

You’re correct.

She motioned to the row of knobs. So why don’t you—

Use the keyboard for the numerical part of the address? Brisco finished for her. At her nod, he gestured to where the scientist was working. I don’t know. Something about the mechanism needing it separate. Ask the doc. He tells me what to do, and I do it, no questions asked.

Do you have to re-enter the destination address every time you use it?

Only if you plan to send something to a different location, he acknowledged. Eventually we plan to make it so the board automatically clears after every transmission.

And the computer confirms where you’ve sent the package, she noted, indicating her laptop.

Chuckling, Brisco pointed to her computer. Correct. It’s right there on your screen.

What if you accidentally send the package to the wrong destination?

The other side can send it back.

But what if they can’t? What if it’s something, say, perishable, and you need to get it back as quickly as possible, and the location is, I don’t know, closed?

Like an auto-recall? We’re working on it. Baby steps, Leigh. One thing at a time.

Brisco! Leigh! To your stations! Are we ready? Mumphree called out.

Yes, sir! Leigh answered, hastening back to her station.

Powell!

France is online and waiting! the man called out from his desk on the other side of the room.

All right! Stepping away from the machine, the scientist waved a hand at the engineer. Send it!

Leigh watched the man press the large red button with the word SEND on it, then turned her attention to the platform. There were no lights. No special effects. Nothing to indicate the device was working except for the low hum that gradually rose in volume. When it hit peak efficiency, the cage began to sparkle, as if someone had covered it in glitter. The same way all the other packages twinkled in past tests.

And then it was gone. No slow fade. Just poof! An empty platform.

For five long minutes everyone remained where they were. No one spoke as they waited for confirmation from the scientists from France. She couldn’t speak for the others, but the tension was starting to get to her. She’d witnessed all the other trials before, but those had been with a lifeless doll, not a living animal. Leigh kept her fingers crossed that the little creature wouldn’t suffer.

Five minutes became six, when Powell suddenly yelled, France confirms! Magellan arrived! And he’s still alive!

Leigh burst into happy tears as the others cheered with joy.

Chapter 2

Decision

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Leigh walked into the lounge to find Powell sitting in one of the chairs, his feet crossed at the ankles and propped on top of one of the tables as he read something on his tablet, a half-empty bottle of soda pop in his hand. She shoved her credit card into the vending machine and extracted a candy bar before going over to sit across from him. He barely glanced up to acknowledge her, then went back to his reading. She quietly consumed her sweet, since food and drink were forbidden outside the room.

Hey.

She jumped a little, startled by his sudden comment. What?

Just wanted to run something by you.

Okay. What?

Before we sent Magellan, Mumphree and I had debated whether or not we should have sent a smaller animal first. Like a mouse or hamster.

She stared at him in silence as she waited for him to continue, not quite sure where this conversation was going.

I wanted to send a rabbit, the lab tech admitted.

How did you manage to convince the boss to go with the bigger animal?

Powell grinned. We didn’t have a smaller cage. A mouse or hamster could have squeezed out between the bars.

She snickered. Okay. And we just happened to have a cage big enough for a rabbit here on the property?

No. It was mine, back when I was younger and used to have a pet rabbit.

Now she understood. Ah. Got it. So what are you wanting my opinion about? Other than the fact that I think the boss could’ve come up with a way better name for the machine.

Powell snorted. I agree. Send-Matic sounds…

Amateurish?

Like something you’d see on a kid’s cartoon show, yeah. No, I was thinking about sending something bigger.

Something alive again? Like a dog?