The Last Drop
by Andrea Perno
Jeremy always said Space Academy was Earth’s last hope. People only dream of leaving a dying
planet in search of better lives. Avery never expected he would be forced to do just that.
On the heels of his brother's murder, his father's disappearance and Earth's dwindling water
supply now contaminated with a deadly virus, Avery and his younger brother have no choice but
to leave Earth behind and join the survivors migrating the nearest habitable planet.
What they don't know is that the rarity of water extends far beyond Earth and they aren't the only
ones fighting for survival.
Excerpt
“Christ, Mom,” I curse under my breath and cast a cautious glance over my shoulder even
though the heavy lead door is closed behind me. I shove the bag deep inside the backpack and
bury it with the other supplies. No wonder our water rations look low. It would take nearly all of
Dad and Jeremy’s rations to grow fresh fruit like this. Where did she even get the seeds? If the
government knew she was using water rations to grow food without a permit, she could face jail
time, even be exiled from base.
I’m contemplating destroying the fruit when a satisfying thought pops into my head. What a kick
in the face it would be if the government knew food grown on base without a permit was being
smuggled directly to the outsiders they refuse to provide rations to. Mom’s subtle act of defiance
suddenly feels liberating.
I throw the backpack over one shoulder, clomp up the steps and cut through the drifting sand in
our backyard toward the guard tower. It’s about a mile and a half hike to the barrier at the edge
of Asik where the south guard tower stands. During the day, the hike would be brutal, especially
on crutches, but the sun isn’t up and there’s still a comfortable chill to the desert air.
When I’m a few paces from the tower, a hostile voice hisses from inside my pants pocket, “Can
you move any slower?”
I grumble and yank my CARDD from my pocket. Bruce’s flushed face on the screen is annoyed.
“Shut up, Bruce. You’d be slow, too, if you were crippled. Just have the gate open.”
“You sure you want to do this? Jeremy’s due back in like—”
“Shut up. I can do it.”
“Fine. You better make it fast, gimpy. Patrol goes out in half an hour,” Bruce says, pushing
a button on the device so the gate dematerializes.
“Right.” I shove past him and head straight across the room, around the center security desk
to the gate directly opposite the one I came through. It’s the only other barrier between the
military base and what lies beyond. Bruce grabs one of my crutches and I nearly eat floor trying
to keep my balance on the polished marble.
“What the fu—”
“Dude,” Bruce snaps, his dark eyebrows knitting in frustration. He presses a handful of letters
into my hands. “I’ve got people out there, too, remember?”
“Right. Sorry.” I dip my head but keep moving. I should show more respect. Bruce was my
superior at the beginning of basic. He, his father and twin brother, were summoned away right at
the beginning of training to lead a mission in Brazil. Bruce was the sole survivor. He still refuses
to talk about what went down out there. His uncle is the only one who really knows. He raised
a big stink about what happened to Bruce, but it only got him kicked off base. That left Bruce
alone with no other family members aside from an elderly grandmother with severe dementia.
The only reason he stayed was so she’d still have family ties to the military and a safe place to
sleep. She’d be thrown out in a heartbeat if he left. The decision to stay has weighed heavily on
Bruce. Now he’s just another rifle-carrying body on base that will occasionally turn a blind eye
to what I’m about to do. Hell, Bruce practically begged me a week ago. Jeremy would be the one
to do this kind of reckless stuff, but with him gone...Bruce and I both know it’s illegal, but we
also both have people on the outside now.
Bio
Andrea Perno writes futuristic science fiction. She divides her time between being a full time
art teacher in Baltimore and writing. With very little "sit down" time to herself, she creates most
of her writing through voice notes on her phone while driving to and from work. She grew up
in Florida and Pennsylvania and now resides in Maryland where she enjoys the company of her
husband, family and friends. In her spare time she can be found writing, creating artwork or on
the back of a horse soaking up the sunshine outdoors.
Protectors of the Vale (THE HEROES OF DAE'RUN Book 1)
by Curtiss Robinson
Book 1 in The Heroes of Dae’Run begins with Protectors of the Vale
The days are dark and terrifying for the defending forces of the Alliance, a steadfast coalition
of elves, dwarves, gnomes and humans. Yet dual lights of hope spring from the lush forests of
Celes’tia...
Rosabela, an elven shapeshifter and healer, and her twin brother Wavren, a hunter and
beastmaster, leave their home to join the Protectors of the Vale, an elite band of heroes who are
the world’s best defense against the dark forces.
Treacherous infiltrators hinder preparations for the approaching conflict as the enemy draws ever
nearer. Rosabela and Wavren will need every ounce of their cunning, courage and skill to fight
for the freedom of all as blades clash, arrows fly and magic shatters the air.
Excerpt
Just as he was preparing to meld into the darkness himself, a voice called out in poor, but
understandable, common: “Wel-come to For’stedge, ci-ty of the orcs,” the voice called loudly.
You have walk-ed right in-to our trap.” Captain Helio froze and scanned the area with his fine
night vision. He saw no one, which was inexplicable given the nature of elven sight. He knew
he was exposed, but his men were not. They would cover him at all costs, so he dared to call
out to the orc. “You say we have walked into your trap, but I see no warriors. I think you are
foolishly all alone, but I admire your courage. Come out and settle this in the open; settle this
according to the code of honor the orcs claim to live by.” Captain Helio was scanning the streets
carefully and still saw no one. He knew the entire Dae’gon Alliance Army was soon to arrive.
He held his position, wondering if the orc would in fact show himself. He decided to move out
of sight just in case. As he silently became one with the shadows, he carefully drew his wickedly
curved polearm from its strap on his back. He crept forward a few steps and felt a tiny, almost
imperceptible, breeze across the back of his neck. He knew he was no longer alone, but before he
could react, a massive arm came in from behind, and searing pain shot through his back. As he
looked down, he could see the tip of his attacker’s sword push through his fine armor. A voice
whispered in poor common, “The war-ri-or code of hon-or is not my way. I am Night-shade,
mas-ter of shadows.
Bio
Curtiss Robinson (1970-Present) was born in Key West, Florida, grew up in South Carolina, and
joined the US Army in 1989. For twenty years he served in Ft. Bragg, NC, Schofield Barracks,
HI, Ft. Bliss, TX and returned to work in Charleston, SCwith the SC Army National Guard.
During his second combat tour (OEF 2007) he wrote his first adventure novel, "Protectors of
the Vale", which mirrored the successes and failures of his PMT team in Afghanistan. In 2009,
wrote "Defenders of Griffon's Peak" which further detailed the adventuers of his sword weilding
and spell casting fantasy characters. Curtiss is a lifelong martial artist and RPG enthusiast which
contributes greatly to his combat scenes and vivid imagery but it is love for epic heroes and tales
of legend that fuel his love of writing.
these sound interesting
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