Alphard, the main character, is one who stands apart. In a group-oriented, telepathic society, that makes him an oddity. Even more because he is Dark, non-telepathic.
That very oddity allows him to save members of a Research team who will die without his help.
Yet when those of his species abduct two members of a potentially intelligent alien race — they call themselves Humans — his abilities will be taxed to their limits.
He and his team members, Rose and Violet, must learn to communicate with these Humans and return them to their people before the military on both sides intervenes and everything spirals out of control.
The intent is to have it available on iBookstore soon.
Whether working alone to save Researches from the worst thing that can happen to his people, or with Rose and Violet facing the answer to the question "Are we alone in the Universe?", Alphard must risk his own life and Rose and Violet's sanity.
He cannot do otherwise. The fate of two species rests on the choices he makes. He mustn't fail.
The book can be found at:
The intent is to have it available on iBookstore soon.
Below is a taste of the first chapter:
~~~
Her hands were a blur they moved so fast — trying hard to keep up with her thoughts. I could see her emotions chase one another, from one eye facet to another, from one eye to the other.
Receptionist (How can you do that? How is it possible? Aren’t you Dark?)
All movement in the Great Hall of Administration ceased. What had been but moments before a hive of activity was now a great light-filled space full of statues. The hand movements our species makes to help shape thought, all stopped. I waited and watched as colored spots lit up the Receptionist’s skin and her eye facets flickered. The Receptionist glanced around. I noted movement begin again.
Her anger wasn’t directed towards me. Well, not all of it. It’s often like this, the reaction of others to my disability. Those not disabled as I am often feel diminished by what I can do.
I signed for calm, the suggestion of a compensating gift, a hint of forgiveness. Her embarrassment was almost palpable, and I saw exactly when she remembered the insult — Dark. I watched her emotions flow over and through her. Sometimes I feel grateful that I cannot experience the thoughts and emotions of others the way she did. This way of dealing with her, and those like her, is exhausting enough.
I signaled readiness and a question: Why had I been summoned? With an effort that must have been painful, it certainly was painful to watch, she pulled herself together. I also caught the hint of her being reprimanded by someone unseen.
Receptionist (Please enter. The Administrator is ready for you now.)
She signed the most abject apology I have seen since, well, the one two days ago. Dealing with others of my species could often be tiring.
I gestured my thanks, moved past her, and entered the cavernous office of the Administrator who’d summoned me.
~~~
It was dark in the office, darker than these places tend to be. Ironic in a way, given that I was to meet Administrator Dawn. I suppose you could think of him as brightening up the gloom of his office. He didn’t.
He rose to meet me and gestured welcome. His signing was precise. A disciplined body suggesting a mind accustomed to managing detail.
I signed gratitude for his graciousness and continued in the formal manner.
Me (Is there some service I may render your honor?)
He gestured for me to sit and dedicated some time to arranging information on his desktop. Images flickered into and out of view. I took the opportunity to look around, to view the environment where I was to deal with this Administrator. The more information I can gather, when it doesn’t look like I’m gathering information, the greater advantage I have.
A massive desk with an angled desktop. It seemed a little out of the league of the person in front of me, at least at first blush. I wondered what that might mean. Off in one corner, just at the edge of the Administrator’s range of vision, a small screen played the light pattern of a well-known musician’s early work. So, our Administrator favored the older styles of music rather than those now in fashion with the young. Given the stresses of the job and the title of Administrator, no less might be expected.
Shelving behind the desk held volumes of documents. Some were even of the older single-use paper variety though others, the majority, were electronic.
Again, this seemed out of the range of the Administrator Dawn in front of me.
He looked at me, and I began to pay close attention. Perhaps now I might find answers to the increasing number of questions that were presenting themselves.
Administrator (You know why you are here?)
I signed the negative with an emphasis stressing the absence of any reason, to my knowledge, that would bring me here. For any reason I should find myself in the office of such an obviously important and senior Administrator. He preened.
That’s all it took. Whatever he might communicate ceased to be of interest. It had absolutely nothing to do with my being here and probably little to do with what was wanted of me.
The good Administrator Dawn was simply a test. A test of me. A test of whatever ability his Superiors thought I might possess.
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