At last! New novel published!

Hi!

I've just published the first book in my sexy sci-fi series 'Inversion Chronicles'. It is entitled 'Only who are left'. Six further volumes are planned - indeed, most are already written - and will be released as soon as they are ready. It has been a long time since the first seeds were planted and I am very excited to have the first volume out there. Here's a taster xxx Hope you can find the time to take a look xxx

Find 'Only who is left' on Amazon.

It was now or never. The Earth was dead. War had decimated her then had tortured, raped and burnt her. Nothing grew. Nothing flew, swam, walked or crawled. Seas were poisoned. The land was charred. The air was acrid. This journey was humanity's final, most desperate act. It was our last chance. We had but one ship, and I, Alex5, was its captain.

Extract from 'Only who is left', book I of the Inversion Chronicles.

'Captain!'

Erica hailed me across Hold 2. Her face was ashen. I waited till I was beside her then spoke quietly.

'Is it as the computer predicted?'

An unreadable thought flickered across her taut lips.

'There are no female casualties...'

'None?' She nodded. I cried out. 'Thank god! And the men?'

Her face darkened.

'Holds 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 have no survivors. They've all been dead for a long time.'

I shook my head in disbelief.

'How many? How many survived?'

'Including yourself, forty-one.'

It made me incredibly uncomfortable to do so, but I had to immediately reduce them to data.

'Is there a pattern?'

'None that I can see. Three from your hold. Two each from Holds 12, 14 and 16; thirty-two from Hold 20. Two in Hold 14 were very recent deaths. The rest...'

It was her turn to shake her head. I broke the mournful silence.

'You've done a great job, Erica. How is Carmel?'

'Not good. She and her brother were very close. I gave her time...'

'And the other Wakers? How have they coped?'

'Twenty-seven have partners or male kin on board. None of their men have survived. A handful have insisted on working. The others are being looked after.'

There was another lengthy pause. We stood together, exchanging much but saying nothing. Around us, small groups of women - all clad in tight stasis greys - spoke urgently then split and strode purposefully between the rows. Erica gave instructions to a petite young woman with long red hair, who nodded and took off for another hold. I watched her trim figure turn the corner and vanish from view. 

'I know her. Who was that?'

Erica's frown was unreadable.

'Jane.'

'Jane?'

'No further nomenclature. There's only one Jane on board.'

'Ah, yes. Astrophysicist. I read her application. She's brilliant.'

'Most of the crew are experts in their fields.'

I recognised a hint of irritation in Erica's voice and decided against adding to it.

'Of course.'

'What now, Captain?'

'Autopsies. Choose two from each hold. It's fewer than regulations stipulate, but we are short of both medical staff and time. Suit up and apply the strictest quarantine conditions. Erica?'

Her eyes had glazed over and all colour had left her face. I placed my hand on her upper arm and she jumped as though I had woken her. It took a moment for my words to sink in.

'Sorry, Captain.' She smiled weakly. 'I'll see to it. Have you any thoughts on what killed them?'

'Yes. I believe it was asphyxiation. Though please keep an open mind.'

'You think they suffocated?' I nodded. She was incredulous. 'How do you know?'

'Because I almost succumbed myself. And,' I raised an eyebrow, though the movement seemed lost on her, 'I've had a chat with the computer.'

'And the... others? What shall we do with the others?'

'We won't even open their pods. Eject them intact. A lot of work, I know, but less than the cleaning and sterilising. And we won't be needing those pods now, will we?'

'No, Captain.'

'Clear Shuttle Deck and assemble the affected pods there, where they can be easily ejected. Transfer will take some time, but we have vehicles suited to the job. How long do you think it will take?'

Her response was almost immediate.

'At least thirty-six hours. We will have to work on a plan first - nothing on this scale was ever considered.'

'Have you enough bodies...' I instantly regretted my choice of words, 'er, enough manpower...' and those, 'without waking another hold?'

'We will cope. The fewer who have to witness this, the better.'

'Agreed. You have worked brilliantly today, Erica. I won't forget it.'

She smiled a sad twisted smile.

'There will be a service for the dead?'

'Of course. After the autopsies and the clean up, and once all the crew have been woken, we will be able to say our goodbyes.'

'Aye aye, Captain.'