Alliance

By Kate Hughes

The year is 2066, and the planet Earth is running out of resources. The company WEM, World Exploration Mission, was established to help find a habitable planet to move the population of Earth. Twins Sky and Zee started training at a young age for this mission and soon were top of their class. They trained academically and physically in math, science, and hand-to-hand combat.

After being picked for this mission, the twins board their ship that will house them until they come across a planet to explore. Unexpectedly, the ship crashes onto a mythical planet in the middle of a war. Their ship gets blown apart, separating the twins, Zee on one half and Sky on the other.

After the crash, Zee loses her memory, and Sky suffers the loss of her leg. Will the twins be able to overcome the physiological and physical challenges and get back to each other? Will good or evil win, or will they succumb to the war?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Newman Springs Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 26, 2022
• ISBN: 9781638815396

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ALLIANCE

Kate Hughes

Copyright © 2021 Kate Hughes

All rights reserved

First Edition

NEWMAN SPRINGS PUBLISHING

320 Broad Street

Red Bank, NJ 07701

First originally published by Newman Springs Publishing 2021

ISBN 978-1-63881-538-9 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63881-539-6 (Digital)

Printed in the United States of America

To Maddison Elizabeth Boyd

CONTENTS

Prologue

Chapter 1: Training Day

Chapter 2: Walkers (Part 1)

Chapter 3: Walkers (Part 2)

Chapter 4: Into the Unknown

Chapter 5: Landing

Chapter 6: Back in the Office

Chapter 7: Welcome

Chapter 8: Don’t Be Scared

Chapter 9: What Next?

Chapter 10: Elder

Chapter 11: Kec

Chapter 12: The Note

Chapter 13: Berries

Chapter 14: You Did It

Chapter 15: Two More Days

Chapter 16: Hellhounds

Chapter 17: Fight to Win

Chapter 18: Rovers

Chapter 19: Lochriver

Chapter 20: Elf

Chapter 21: More the Merrier

Chapter 22: More the Merrier (Continued)

Chapter 23: Don’t Move

Chapter 24: Yes

Chapter 25: High Drop

Chapter 26: Computer and Batteries

Chapter 27: Lilly

PROLOGUE

The Prophecy

Long, long ago, two Dorians arrived on Dwelldom, claiming their threshold. The Dorians where hunched over with a forty-foot wingspan, their hands like talons, and their skin wrinkled from the thousands of years they had lived. Their skin was a dingy white, and their eyes a cold, pale, gray blue. They had light gray wings and spoke in a hissing voice. Their names were Zielark and Sefire.

Zielark, known as the Dorian of Evil, wanted a bad side to Sefire’s perfect world, so the planet was split in two. A war began between the two Dorians, because Zielark was unhappy splitting good and evil. He believed that there should not be a world without evil in it. But Sefire vowed never to hurt any living thing because she felt that nothing should ever have to feel pain. So, in revenge, Zielark made a promise to feed on her creations. The war now beginning between the Dorians had sprung out of control. Zielark saw what Sefire was creating and made the same, but his had an evil twist to carry on his vow. Sefire’s creations were in danger of Zielark. She was forced to put up a barrier to protect her creations. Zielark used his godly power to overcome the barrier to fight Sefire on her half of the planet. The fight lasted almost two thousand years. The war only came to an end when they both perished.

Sefire’s lifeless corpse now lay helplessly on the ground. Suddenly, a ray of light almost the color of sky blue, came darting out of Sefire’s chest. The light fluttered around Sefire, transforming her into her true form, now a beautiful young woman with the same dull eyes. She had long, thick, dark-brown hair flowing around her body, her skin a fair white, and her lips the lushest red. She wore a pure-white lace dress that fell just above her knees. The light held the key to all of Sefire’s creations, her soul. It whirled around and made itself into a large blue stone. She held the stone in her cold hands as her initial, S, appeared on the surface. Her half of the planet was renamed Sefire in honor of the sacrifice she had made to protect life.

Her ray of light had caused all her creations to come out of hiding to see their now-dead mother. They moved her body and made a castle on the tallest mountain; it was built to have one level and was as big as the mountain itself. All her creations gathered around her to watch as they took their mother up to her new resting place. They laid her in a glass coffin, on the softest of cotton, with rose petals matching the color of her lips all around her. This coffin preserved her young body for all time.

After Zielark thought he was finally free to rain down evil, he felt something rip from him. He then knew that he and his sister were created as one and were meant to fight side by side. Desperate to preserve himself, he sought out the stone that Sefire rested with to bring it back to his side. When he found it, he scratched a black Z into the stone next to the S and transferred his own soul into it. A ring formed around the two letters. On Sefire’s side, a transparent light-blue color appeared; on Zielark’s side, a transparent red. After he put the rest of his life into the stone, he faded.

Now he lay dead next to his throne, and a dark-red light came out of his chest, transforming him into his true self. A young man six feet tall, hair as dark as night, skin as pale as bone, and teeth as sharp as a razor blade. If he were to have shown his true form in battle, he would have been significantly weaker. That ray held life but evil. This evil wasn’t all the same; it had Sefire’s creations developed within it. He copied her creations to help disguise the evil so that it may prosper, invoking evil and remaining hidden. Sefire’s trolls, centaurs, and pixies were all copied and made evil. The other half was renamed Zie in honor of Zielark, who gave his life to have evil rain down on Sefire.

The stone was cherished by both lands, causing another war to break out. Only now a bright light erupted from the stone, creating a barrier and once again splitting the world in two. The light was a mix between red and blue, some rays darker than others. The two kingdoms flourished alone for centuries, not forgetting the love they had had for their creators, and the hate they had for each other.

One day, many generations later, a ship crash-landed on their precious planet, Dwelldom. The foreigners were looking for resources for their dying planet, Earth. The ship hit the barrier, and the barrier shattered into nothing, breaking the stone holding it up into two halves.

Now that the barrier had been broken, the Zies began to plan an attack to steal back their half of the stone. It was told that if their half of the stone was brought back to the body of the Dorian, it would return life. The kingdom of Sefire knew that Zie might be planning an attack. So they helped the foreigners fix their ship quickly in order for them to return home. In return, the foreigners promised never to tell a soul of Dwelldom, so they would be safe from Earth. They feared that Earth would try and take over Dwelldom, destroying the beautiful planet. But before leaving Dwelldom, one of the foreigners found an odd-looking broken rock and took it back home to study.

The foreigners took this broken rock along with some of the driest sand they could find. They hopped that taking this sand would show Earth that where wasn’t anything resourceful about this planet other than rocks and sand.

The prophecy was told that one day, the stone will be found, bringing peace and ending the war and hatred between the two kingdoms. If the stone was put back together, it would bring the barrier back, once again protecting the two sides.

CHAPTER 1

Training Day

Zee, catch! exclaimed Skylar, a girl with dark-brown hair pulled up in a neat bun.

Thick black eyelashes outlined her light gray-blue eyes perfectly. She had fair skin that was a pale creamy white, making her eyes and light-red lips stand out. She was wearing a black tank top with the WEM (World Exploration Mission) logo on the back; it fit her thin body and showed her faint S-shaped birthmark on her right shoulder. She was wearing tight black pants that fit her perfectly with black combat boots on her feet.

Thanks, it’s about time, said Zee, catching the spear Skylar had tossed to her. Zee had white hair, the color of snow, also pulled back in a neat bun at the back of her head. She was wearing the same fitted WEM shirt as her twin, Skylar, which showed her birthmark that was the opposite of Skylar’s, a faint Z on her left shoulder. Her skin was almost the same color as Skylar’s but with an olive undertone, her eyes gray. Her lips were almost the color of her skin but shaded with a tint of pink. After catching the spear and stabbing the hologram with it, she looked back as the timer buzzed and a voice from above called out.

Time’s up, take five, said Russ, a tall young man from the railing above. Russ had short brown hair and was wearing a well-fitted suit. He wasn’t wearing a full suit, just the pants and a white, collared, long-sleeved shirt. The long-sleeved shirt showed off his toned and muscular body.

I think I dislocated my shoulder on that last one, Skylar said to Zee, holding her left arm.

Don’t be such a wimp. Hold still, Zee said with a mocking smirk as she hit it into place. Skylar let out a squeak of pain, then moved her shoulder around, being able to move it again. No wonder that toss sucked.

Whatever, Sky, smiling as they both giggled and walked toward the door. So what should we do to celebrate our eighteenth birthday?

Watching you, probably train more. Plus, we have no clue what’s ahead of us, do we? Zee replied as they exited the training room.

Oh, shut up. Sky bumped into Zee with her shoulder as they walked side by side down the long white corridor.

Okay, what about that Josh dude. He seems to be into you. Why don’t you go and talk to him? Zee teased as they entered the resting room.

Oh, god. That creep who keeps stalking me! You know he showed up at our dorm the other day with a box of roses. And that’s not even the worst part! There was a knife at the bottom. A knife! Sky turned around to see Zee sitting on a white sofa laughing so hard she couldn’t breathe. Skylar stared back at Zee with her arms crossed, waiting for her to stop laughing and get up.

That’s hilarious! You’re being overdramatic. Zee looked up at Sky. Come on, be real. There wasn’t a knife, and if there was, you’re more than capable of holding your own.

You planned it, didn’t you! Sky accused Zee.

Maybe I did, but it was just to see if you could really fight, said Zee, shrugging with a teasing smile. She got up to get a glass of water from the machine.

The machine had a white casing that blended in with the white room. The water would come out of a nozzle, and the other side held the water. Sky and Zee watched as the bubbles floated up in the water machine. They turned to see Russ close the white door behind him as he entered the room.

Bad news, guys. Russ walked into the resting room. We might have to send you sooner than we expected. He walked over to a white sofa and sat down, setting his tablet down on a table. The table had thin black legs that looked like vines with a glass top. Both Sky and Zee’s moods changed quickly.

What! What are you talking about? Sky exclaimed in shock.

This better be a joke, Zee said, taking a sip of water and looking at Russ.

It’s not. The world is running out of water faster than we thought and there is no telling on how long it will take for the two of you to find another planet and come back, Russ said, looking at Zee. You both will be fitted for your suits tomorrow morning at 5:00 a.m. sharp. Russ moved his eyes away from Zee and on to Sky.

And I swear if we go through with this and anything happens, it’s your fault, Russ. You got that? She is not ready yet, Zee said harshly and playfully.

So does that mean you’ll do it? Russ asked the two of them with a little hope in his eyes, knowing they didn’t have a choice.

I don’t know. It depends. What’s in it for us? Zee walked over and took a seat on the sofa next to him.

Well, Russ started, turning to face Zee. You’ll both be known as heroines, and on top of that people will praise you, maybe even look to you for guidance. In doing so, look up to you. So you see, you’d both end up being rulers of the new world, with me by your side of course, Russ joked.

Rulers? Is that right. Zee turned to Sky. You think we’d be rulers?

Not a chance, replied Sky. You do know us, right?

Okay, okay, maybe not rulers, but you will be known, and known for being heroines, he confessed. Zee got up and walked toward the door, stopping and holding it open as she looked back, waiting for Sky. So that’s a yes?

What if we don’t want to be heroes? Sky said.

Don’t you want to save an entire planet? Russ asked.

Not if it means killing off another! Sky argued.

Think of it this way, Zee said, still holding the door for Sky. If we get there first, we can make sure no one gets hurt.

Okay, fine. But we need more training, Sky replied, storming out of the resting room.

Zee and Russ stood there looking after her. She’s just overwhelmed with everything, she told Russ before going after her.

Look, if you don’t want to come then you don’t have to, Zee started, catching up to Sky. But we have been training our whole life for this day. If we don’t take this mission, it could fail. I don’t trust anyone but you. You know we are the ones for this mission. And the only reason you could get out of going on this mission is if they deem you mentally unfit for it. So if we’re leaving sooner than expected, we need to train as hard as we can and as fast as we can for as long as we can.

So we are doing this, like really doing this? Sky paused. You know my thoughts on this mission. And what if something happens and we fail? Skylar said, stopping to let Russ catch up.

Then we won’t be coming home, now, will we? If we fail, that means we die, Zee said standing in front of the door at the end of the corridor to look Sky in the eyes before opening the double doors back to the training room. That’s why we need to train harder than before.

Zee propped open the door to the training room and headed to the adjacent wall, grabbing a pod helmet and placing it on her head. The pod helmets were worn by people who went into deep space as an alternative method to oxygen tanks. The water was known as OH, which stood for Ozone-Hydro.

Once Zee put it on and locked it around her neck, the pod that was still connected to a hose allowed it to fill up. As it started filling up with OH, she took slow breaths as she put her hands on her knees and her head down, struggling to breathe. Skylar watched with concern at what Zee was doing, running over to see if Zee was okay. Are you crazy! You’re not ready for OH yet! Skylar knelt next to her and putting her hand on her back.

Zee slowly got used to the pod water and stood up. Sky put yours on. The Ozone-Hydro isn’t that bad, she said through a helmet mic that was set to pick up the sound waves through the liquid so that communication was easier.

No, no way. I’m not putting the pod on. I’m not ready! Sky took a few steps back.

Come on, Sky, Zee said in a comforting tone, pulling the hose off her pod.

Fine, but if I end up dying, my blood is on your hands, Sky swore.

It’s not like it hasn’t been before. You’re not the best at dodging. Zee shrugged.

Sky rolled her eyes and picked up the pod, placing it on her head. Once it started to fill up, she lost control of her body and fell against the wall, sliding down into a sitting position. Zee crouched down next to her and waited a few seconds before Sky could breathe easily. Zee pulled her off the ground and to her feet.

Wow! said Russ from the railway above like before. No one has ever gotten used to pods as fast as you two. It usually takes months for them to be able to function with them on!

Well, we aren’t just anyone, are we, Russ? Zee said up to him.

No, I guess not, Russ replied with a smile to himself.

Zee looked up at him angrily and walked to the control panel on the inside wall. She pushed the button hard, twisted the knob all the way up, then walked farther into the simulator. Sky stared after her with a flash of anger through her eyes. She walked toward the weapon rack, knowing Zee had just turned the difficulty as high as it went.

Here we go, Sky said, grabbing the spear and tossing it to Zee, who caught it effortlessly. Sky then grabbed six combat knives, putting them into a holster she tied around her right thigh. A hologram suddenly appeared in front of Zee, and she stabbed it with the spear, leaving it to disintegrate. Sky smirked and turned rapidly, throwing a knife at another one, hitting it between the eyes.

Sky walked over to Zee and put her back to her and watched as more holograms appeared.

You ready, Sky? We’re going batshit crazy! Zee exclaimed over her left shoulder.

I’m ready, said Sky over her right shoulder in response. Ten light-blue holograms appeared. Sky and Zee were ready. The holograms projected from cameras set up around the one-hundred-square-foot room. Zee raised her spear over her head and jumped forward, throwing it at one of the holograms. Hitting it square in the head. She landed, rolled, and picked up the spear. Then she hit another hologram with it over her left shoulder. She looked up at Russ, who was standing on one leg with the other one crossed over.

Russ looked back and smiled. Zee then turned her action back to the battle. She threw her spear straight up in the air and took out another hologram that tried to jump on her. She followed her spear with her eyes, catching it as it began to fall. Zee saw a hologram approaching her from the front; she quickly hit it with the tip of the spear and turned around fast enough to see the last hologram running toward her. She swung the spear around and cut right through its head.

On the other side of the simulator, Sky was pulling her knives one by one out of the wall after hitting the holograms straight on. By then, all the ten holograms were gone, and Sky rested. Zee looked back and smirked. It’s on high, remember.

Damn. Sky picked up the last of her knives.

Hurry up! Zee yelled, stabbing another hologram as twenty more appeared within seconds, all running toward her.

Sky looked up and saw that Zee was surrounded. She ran over to the nearest wall, kicked off it, and did three and a half flips over the holograms, landing next to Zee. She took out three more holograms on her way down. Sky took out another knife and held one in each hand. She twirled her knives in her hands, slicing and stabbing more holograms with downward and upward motions. Then she watched them burst into nothingness.

Zee twirled her spear around and stabbed three more, leaving them to vanish from existence. Sky ducked almost instinctively as Zee thrust her spear above her head, removing more and more holograms. Sky threw the two knives she was holding in opposite directions, hitting two holograms at the same time. The knives passed through them as they turned into digital dust, hitting two more behind them, until they finally stuck straight into the wall. Sky grabbed two more from her pouch and linked arms with Zee. Zee bent over and Sky kicked up, kicking one square in the gut before flipping over Zee. The hologram flew backward and got back up.

Simultaneously, Zee threw her spear through her legs with such force and speed that it hit the hologram and pushed it five feet across the room before it disintegrated. This left her spear lying on the ground and her weaponless. Sky followed her kick through and landed on her feet, tossing a knife in the air to Zee. They both ran in opposite directions toward the only two holograms left.

Sky ran toward the hologram and fell into a slide. Diving past it, she took her knife and sliced through its leg. She rolled back to her feet, facing where the hologram was, to reveal it lying on the ground. Sky walked over to the hologram; kneeling beside it, she took her knife and thrust it into the hologram’s chest.

Zee ran up to the last hologram, getting it in a choke hold from behind and running the knife Sky gave her across its throat. She then threw the combat knife back at Sky. Sky looked up just in time to see the knife flying through the air toward her. Keep your eyes moving, Sky, Zee said walking over to her spear and picking it up.

You could have killed me, Sky whispered to herself, walking around the room and picking up her knives before removing her pod. She let the water out of the helmet, soaking her and forming a puddle on the ground around her.

Why so bitter, Sky? Zee made her way back to Sky and also removed her pod helmet, watching the water hit the ground.

I’m upset, okay, Sky said, putting her knives in the holder before walking back to the pod helmet rack. She placed her helmet back on the rack and grabbed two towels to dry her face.

I get that, Sky. We are under a lot of stress, but that doesn’t mean you have to keep everything inside, Zee said, stopping her. She took one of the towels from her and started drying off her face.

They are sending us into the unknown, Sky said calmly after taking a breath.

Let’s just go take a shower and back to our dorm, then we can talk about it. Zee nodded toward the door.

With a small nod, Sky followed. They left the training room and started down the corridor to their room. Yeah, that sounds perfect.

After they got to the dorm and got all the things they needed for the showers, they headed off to the bathroom. After they were done, they both walked out the showers at the same time. Better? Zee asked, looking at Sky. Sky kept her head down as they walked back to their room.

Oh, come on, Sky. I know it’s shit having to go into a place that you feel we aren’t ready for, but look at it this way. Russ thinks we are ready. He knows what he’s talking about. Sky, think about it. We are on top of all of our classes, and no one is even close. It’s a pleasure to have the honor of being sent up there. Most of the cadets who work for WEM never get to experience going into space. Zee stopped as Sky interrupted her.

You think we are ready? Yeah, we’re good, but are we good enough to be sent into a place where we don’t even know what lives there? Are we good enough to take on anything that comes our way? Zee, we are good, but we aren’t that good. Sky took a seat on her bed and held her tongue from saying any more.

"We are at the top of our class. No, scratch that.