Benlon: Lunar Uprising, #5

By Cyndi Friberg

Can a brilliant physician and a brave outcast find happiness while battling potential genocide?

 

Olarra sacrifices everything to warn Benlon about a Pylorian plot that threatens his entire species. Their attraction smolders and flares while they battle the destructive nanobots wreaking havoc inside each lunar raider. They try to stay focused on the crisis, but bonding fever is impossible to ignore. The Pylorians sabotage their progress at every turn, and time is running out!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cyndi Friberg
• Release date: Dec 13, 2022
• ISBN: 9798223188469

Cyndi Friberg

Passionate Sci-Fi with a touch of danger and a whole lot of sass. Cyndi has written about rock stars, vampires, and cat shifters, but she’s currently focused on outer space. Her stories are fun, fast-paced, and seriously hot. Her books have made the USA Today Top 100, and frequently land on Amazon Best Seller lists. She is currently working on the Shadowborn Rebellion, a spin-off series set in the Outcasts universe.   She loves to hear from readers: [e-mail] https://facebook.com/fribergc https://twitter.com/Cyndi_Friberg

Book preview

Chapter One

Olarra Kreth strolled along in the wake of Addison and Julia, feeling lost and alone. Ten days ago Olarra had betrayed the Pylorians and fled to Lunar Prime seeking asylum. She didn’t regret her decision. If she’d remained silent, millions would have died, but she felt displaced and isolated, despite the best efforts of her companions.

The two humans chatted happily, pointing out the various areas within the cavernous spaceship that they intended to renovate and develop into an unrivaled leisure resort. The enormous transport ship had landed on the moon four days ago, but Vosic, the prime commander of the lunar outpost, ordered an in-depth security assessment before he let the females onboard. The ship had been controlled briefly by the Morax, so the precaution was probably wise. Leaving behind explosive traps and biological weapons would have been in character for the savage Morax.

The Morax and the Pylorians had despised each other long before either species entered Earth’s star system. The thought made Olarra cringe. The Morax didn’t just happen upon Earth. They followed the Pylorians, her father’s people, to this secluded sector of space. And because of it, Earth was now embroiled in a bloody war.

Olarra was only half Pylorian, but she couldn’t help feeling guilty about the war. Her father governed one of the domed cities so he had wealth and influence. They had both known that Earth’s leaders were being deceived and manipulated. It simply took Olarra time to find a creative way to do something about it.

This should give us plenty of room for a formal restaurant as well as a café, Julia decided as they toured one large open space after another. With golden brown hair and hazel eyes, she was likable and engaging.

Do we want a dance-centric nightclub or more of a laidback pub? Addison wanted to know. She had owned and operated a neighborhood bar for years so she could easily manage either attraction. Tall and curvaceous, she was the type of female humans referred to as a blonde bombshell. Both females had recently found mates among the lunar raiders, genetically enhanced hybrid soldiers who served as Earth’s planetary defense force.

Olarra envied the women’s happiness, but she found lunar raiders barbaric and intimidating. Still, the way both species had been lied to and abused by Pylorian leadership was inexcusable. When she stumbled across Addison’s podcast it seemed like the perfect opportunity to expose Pylorian lies while remaining in the shadows. No one knew Addison’s identity. Her subscribers knew her only as the Oracle. If the human host was protected by anonymity, wouldn’t her sources be safe as well? Olarra contacted Addison through the podcast and had been passing her information ever since. The arrangement had worked well for almost three years.

Then Olarra learned a terrible secret that the lunar raiders desperately needed to know. Unfortunately, there was no way to warn them without incriminating her father. Her only choice was to protect him by taking the blame herself. She flew to Lunar Prime and explained what she had learned, then she asked the prime commander for protection. The Morax might be animalistic, but the Pylorians were just as ruthless when crossed and Olarra had become a traitor the first time she passed information to Addison.

Julia looked back at Olarra and smiled. What do you think?

The ship is massive, she finally responded. Can’t you create a dance club and a pub?

Vosic only allocated one-fifth of the space for Bella Luna, Addison explained. The rest is reserved for their use.

We haven’t finalized that name, Julia cautioned. Cat hates it and Marisol will vote with Cat.

Well, you will vote with me which makes it a tie. So all we have to do is convince Olarra to vote with us. Bella Luna is a fabulous name. It strikes just the right tone. It sounds classy yet slightly exotic.

It sounds Italian because it is, Julia objected. The name of our resort needs to be entirely unique, something otherworldly.

"Nelana Vanu, Olarra suggested softly. It is the same phrase, beautiful moon, in Dox Tory."

Julia’s brows drew together over her nose. You speak Italian?

Surprised by her reaction, Olarra hesitated. Learning a new language requires a simple neurological transfer. I have uploaded eleven human languages in the eight years I’ve been on Earth.

Wow, Addison muttered. I wish it were that easy for us. I would love to be multilingual. Now, what was the Dox Tory phrase again?

"Nelana Vanu, beautiful moon."

The humans looked at each other and said, I like it, in unison.

Addison offered Olarra a bright smile. See, you’re part of the team already.

Olarra tried to reciprocate, but the smile refused to form. She shook her head with a heavy sigh. I am glad you like the name but I should probably go back to my apartment. I am not very good company right now.

Nonsense, Addison insisted. You’ve spent the past three days in your apartment and your mood has not improved. I told everyone to give you space but clearly it’s making you more depressed not less. It’s time for a different strategy.

Julia nodded. I agree. The more time I have to think about my family the more upset I get about the entire situation.

Both Addison and Julia were rebuilding their lives after extremely stressful situations, so Olarra chose to follow their advice. What do you suggest instead?

Have you been up to one of the observatories? Addison asked.

Twice. The view is beautiful, but it only holds my attention for so long.

Addison’s forehead furrowed as she searched for other options. What about the common?

Olarra finally managed a gentle smile. I strolled through it earlier today, and nearly every day since I arrived. The massive park would have been remarkable in any location. On Earth’s moon it was miraculous.

I think we should go work out, Julia suggested with a grin Olarra didn’t understand.

I prefer to exercise in private, Olarra insisted My routine conditions my mind as well as my body, but it requires quiet and concentration.

Now Addison was grinning too. You need to see a demonstration of the spar-bots at least once while you are here. It’s very...educational.

The stubborn humans ignored all of Olarra’s objections, so she reluctantly followed along as they retraced their steps through the rounded corridors of the grounded ship. Once the transformation was complete, which would take several months, the ship would be renamed Lunar City Five. The ship had been ordered to land slightly apart from the other four cities so they took a small shuttle over to LC Four. Even after its completion, LC Five would remain separate from the existing complex. Many humans were anxious to visit Lunar Prime, but security was a serious concern. The primary function of the outpost was military. There were dangerous weapons and highly guarded secrets all over the base. Keeping the resort separate would make it much harder for spies and saboteurs to gain access to anything vital.

Has anyone from Earth tried to contact you? Julia asked, her tone hesitant.

It was a polite way of asking if Olarra’s father cared enough to verify her whereabouts and wellbeing. The answer was no. Sentimentality was not the Pylorian way. Olarra had chosen her new life path and her father would honor her decision. Whether she succeeded or failed in the new environment was entirely up to Olarra. I did not expect them to.

Not even—

Addison cut Julia off with a shake of her head and a warning look. Starting over is what Lunar Prime is all about. We have all been through the process and are stronger because of it.

All of the human females were rebuilding their lives with the support of a loving mate. Addison and Julia were trying to support Olarra, but it wasn’t the same. She still felt isolated and adrift. What little purpose she had eked out among the Pylorians was gone now and she had no idea how to go about redefining herself within this new context.

The shuttle, which operated automatically, landed on top of one of the towers in LC Four. Olarra paused to take in the view. The barren surface of the moon led to a velvet black sky and finally to Earth perched in the distance. The contrast was captivating and demanded attention.

What was Pyloria like, you know before? Julia asked as she climbed down from the shuttle.

Before meant before the Morax obliterated the planet ensuring that the Pylorians could never return to their homeworld. Parts of it were rather like Earth. Others were very different. Each region had its own personality. It was smaller and much less densely populated. It was far from perfect, but it was home.

Melancholy threatened to overwhelm her again. The pointless war with the Morax robbed her of her homeworld and now the paranoia and deceit of her father’s people was costing her the home she had built for herself on Earth. She wasn’t sure she had the emotional stamina to start over again.

Come on, Addison urged. This will be fun.

Olarra didn’t argue, but she wasn’t really in the mood for fun. In fact, the human obsession with being entertained had never made sense to her. She had been raised among the Pylorians and they were by and large a serious, even somber species. According to them, humor was a waste of time and energy.

Her mother’s image surged to the surface, contradicting the conclusion. Her mother was always smiling and found humor in the most unusual places. Her father had seemed happier, much more content while she was alive. Olarra had been happier too. She shook away the memory. The last thing she needed right now was to think about another devastating loss.

They took an elevator down to one of the lower levels then used a tube-like walkway to access another building. All four of the existing cities were large and heavily developed. Each one served a different purpose, however, so the interiors were unique. LC One was the command center from which all lunar raider activities were orchestrated. LC Two contained main medical as well as research and development. Infantry-class was housed within LC Three so there wasn’t room for anything but barracks. LC Four was the primary training center, as well as fleet maintenance and the full-scale spaceport. Shuttles could land on elevated platforms in all four cities, but larger ships were always routed to LC Four. It was unbelievable to think that none of this had existed six years ago.

And thinking about why all of this had been developed always filled Olarra with frustration and regret.

Devastated by the loss of their homeworld, the Pylorian refugees looked for a place to start over. Pylorians were separatists. They cared about intellectual and technological advancements and little else, so the small blue planet in the middle of nowhere seemed perfect.

The Guiding Council had never interacted with humans, however. After much debate, they decided to deceive Earth’s leaders. They used advanced technology to make themselves indispensable to the humans. Making Earth dependent on Pylorian technology also kept humans from retaliating once the Morax arrived, which they did several years later.

To soften the blow, Pylorians cultivated an army to defend the planet so humans would not be directly involved in the war. Of course, the Guiding Council lied about lunar raiders as they had lied about everything else. Lunar raiders were not biological computers who did not think and feel. They were fully sentient beings ruthlessly controlled by programming and emotional suppressors. The truth had been exposed when the lunar raiders hacked their control programming and freed their minds from the suppressors.

We’re trying to cheer you up, Addison reminded. You’re not cooperating.

Olarra sighed. I’m sorry. I warned you that I am not very good company right now.

Julia waved away the statement and hurried Olarra toward the archway at the end of the corridor.

The rumble of deep voices and the clang of primitive weapons reached Olarra’s ears before she reached the archway. Julia and Addison were smiling again, apparently amused by what Olarra was about to see. Reluctantly, she moved into the archway and felt her eyes round. She sucked in a breath, but was unable to release it.

Beyond her spread a large training center filled with half-naked males. They wrestled and fought, some with bots but most with each other. Everywhere she looked she encountered rippling muscles and gleaming skin. Worse was the violence of their movements. Some of it was simulated, but split lips and bloody noses proved much of it was real. They punched and kicked, swung swords and threw knives. Shocked, she tried to back up, but Julia was right behind her.

The periphery of her vision blurred, while the center became hyper focused. She sucked in air, feeling dizzy. Why had her friends brought her here? This display was wrong on so many levels. Gradually, her vision cleared and the dizziness abated. She still felt odd, however, agitated and angry.

You both have bonded mates, Olarra reminded, confused by her companions’ reaction to such an inappropriate display. The warrior right in front of them fought a spar-bot. There was no blood, but his movements were savage. He swung his sword, lunging then twisting so he could swing again.

Julia laughed. That doesn’t mean we can’t appreciate the esthetics of perfectly proportioned bodies.

Besides, we are here for you, Addison added, but her voice rippled with humor.

This is... Words failed Olarra. She shook away the discomfort and slipped past Julia, escaping into the corridor. Females are not meant to gawk at unclothed males.

Says who? Addison argued. I assure you they don’t mind being observed. In fact, they start showing off as soon as any female walks into the room.

Julia glanced at Addison, clearly confused by Olarra’s reaction. How do Pylorians locate their mates if they aren’t even allowed to look?

Olarra hurried down the hallway, wanting to be as far away from the warriors as possible. Deep cleansing breaths were clearing her head, but she still felt edgy. She knew the raiders were just advancing their skills, but the scene had been animalistic.

Addison and Julia were mated with raiders. Is that what they wanted in a male? Someone who would stalk them, overpower them, and then rut with them like animals? She shivered, but it was not fear making her heart pound.

She had still been too young to talk about Dox Tory mating rituals when her mother died. Olarra had studied Dox Tory customs as she matured, but her sources focused more on religious beliefs and governmental structures than on sex and courtship. She understood the biology of procreation, but not how couples connected emotionally.

Pylorians do not have permanent mates. She focused on her answer, using information to calm her reaction. Sexual relationships are established for the purpose of reproduction and they only last until that goal has been achieved. Many choose to remain nonsexual their entire lives.

Wow, that sucks, Addison muttered, hurrying to keep up with Olarra’s long strides. If there are no long-term couples, who raises the children, mom or dad?

Female offspring is reared by the mother, male offspring by the father. Any other method is highly inefficient.

Addison still seemed bothered by the explanation. Pylorian moms are fine with handing over their infant sons and never seeing them again?

Olarra refused to defend the Pylorians. With the exception of her father, Pylorians had little use for her and had done nothing to conceal