Second Don: Ardulum, Book 2 by J.S. Fields

Author:J.S. Fields [Fields, J.S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: NineStar Press, LGBT, aliens, bonded, captivity, coming of age, criminals, pilot, religion, science, slow burn, smugglers, space, spaceships, telekinesis, telepathy, Action, Futuristic, Space Opera
Publisher: Nine Star Press
Published: 2017-10-14T16:00:00+00:00

FOLLOWING THE OTHER group proved much easier than Arik had anticipated. Their route had obviously been closer to the central hub, as the body count increased the farther they went. After five minutes of winding around smoking corpses of guards and scientists, Kisak and Arik finally saw Tik’s backside jutting out through the opening of a double door.

Tik! Arik called. Our turn was a dead end. What did you find?

Tik was still visibly charged, but his body slumped when he turned, his long, thin arms hanging dead at his sides. Arik thought he remembered Tik having more color to his face, but the skin now was ashen. Want to know why there are so few staff here, Arik? Want to know why we were all shoved in that room together? Come see.

He moved to the side to allow Arik and Kisak entrance. Arik stepped down into the circular room, stepping over bodies. It was definitely the central communication hub. Seven desks sat in a circle around a large projector. Each of the chairs held a body except for the one Ukie sat on, its former occupant slumped on the floor, disemboweled. Kallik stood next to Ukie, looking vaguely sick. Above the desk, a screen hung suspended from the ceiling. Arik marveled at the finely woven cellulose that made the screen shimmer before realizing that a feed was playing.

Look familiar? Tik asked.

The common area. Arik returned. Where are the rest of us? Did they shove them all into the bedrooms? I can’t imagine everyone would fit.

No one answered. Instead, Ukie flicked the console, and the viewing angle changed. Now the screen showed the floor of the common room—a floor that wasn’t visible because covering every centimeter were the bodies of the other flares. Dried blood was visible near their mouths and noses. Not a single person was moving.

Kisak pushed Arik out of the way and stood as close to the screen as zie could. Arik could make out Waiketh’s form slumped in a corner, huddled next to two young second dons like himself. The edges of her mouth were stained maroon, as were patches of her clothes.

What happened in there? Arik demanded. We disabled all the guards between here and our rooms. Did they kill them remotely?! To himself, careful not to broadcast to the others, Arik offered up a small prayer. I’m sorry, Waiketh. May you be with the andal. May we see you again.

Kallik, trembling, tossed a rolled-up tablet to Kisak. Read for yourself. The Eld are trying to save energy before the move. Bringing only some of us here was their first cull. Those of us that made it here were randomly selected from our peers to be housed at this facility. We were all supposed to live here until after the move, when they’d redistribute us, but it seems something changed their minds. Instead, the Eld ordered complete termination. Didn’t even shoot them, although I can’t figure out how they died. It wasn’t chemically induced, of that I am sure.

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