Empty space was surprisingly beautiful; haunting, and yet somehow serene. The starlight you saw in the distance was actually a ghostly trail long since separated from its source, millions, maybe billions of miles away. There were planets and moons scattered throughout the blackness, of course, but they were few and far between compared to the vast emptiness of the velvet blanket that wrapped around everything on this side of reality. Sometimes it filled me with dread, made me worried I would fall into an endless abyss. Other times it inspired me, made me think I could do quite literally anything when I lived within the closest thing I could understand as infinite.

  I wasn’t sure about all the other people aboard the Specialty Resource and Research Vessel The Radiance, living out in space rather than some planet, but as a simple human from Earth—the only human citizen of the Tritentarian Empire, I found myself constantly drawn to stargaze through any open or available viewport, letting my thoughts wander as I looked deep into the beautiful, endless black ocean of stars.

  Of course you couldn’t have space without time, and as I looked at the distant stars though the viewport, I couldn’t help but think of all the time that passed.

  It was wild to think I’ve been in the Empire for well over a year now, but what was even crazier was how fast that time seemed to move sometimes. We’d been on the planet Vyrane on our last mission for just two cycles, and yet with all the death and destruction, the hardest mission we’ve ever been on, it felt like I was on Vyrane for a lifetime.

  But what was even harder to accept was since Vyrane had shorter orbital days of 20 hours compared to the standard 32, it wasn’t even a full two Imperial cycles—probably only one cycle and some change compared to those who stayed behind on The Radiance.

  Even in such a short amount of time, we lost a lot of people on that mission, some the direct result of our team’s actions, others just for the sake of the mission in freeing an alien world from the control of a dangerous Predazoan. And just like that we left that planet to return to space and prepare for the next mission, leaving an entirely different life behind to assimilate into the next one—and the next one, and then the one after that, until all the Predazoans had been contained one way or another.

  I looked over at Eve sitting beside me on the bench of the dropship, resting her head on my shoulder, a content look on her face as she watched me, always so curious about what I might be thinking. Looking at her now, she appeared to be a beautiful, pale-skinned aquatic alien—a celicapoz, petite and feminine, almost dainty looking. Underneath that disguise was the most dangerous lifeform in the universe, an Alpha Predazoan, tasked with hunting down her sisters with me as her handler, all with the goal of achieving our freedom from the Empire should we prove ourselves useful and complete our task.

  I wanted to be hopeful, but as we killed another Predazoan under the orders of our Imperial masters, I wondered if they would ever turn on us, especially with all the other Predazoans dead; would they really allow one to remain free, or would they finish the mission by keeping Eve contained forever?

  Or worse, would they just try to kill her?

  I didn’t want to dwell on those negative thoughts, not now with so much time before we needed to worry about that since there were still so many Predazoans out there, and also not after we successfully completed another mission—should be riding high on the optimism now.

  Still, I worried, and I wanted to have a meeting with the Lord Generals in charge of our mission and our containment to see where we stood, see if our good behavior would afford us anymore freedoms.

  Our company was returning to The Radiance from the dropship they sent for us, so few of us left after the ordeal on Vyrane. There were me and Eve who lived through it all, and all the researchers since they were smart enough to stay well away from the danger; Doctor Kianna, Doctor Gorgam, Doctor Hennor and Doctor Ryo. The only agents left were Kotlokk, Lobae and Vinnago, and despite my distrust for any clandestine agents working for the Empire, I had to admit I was glad they all survived as I once considered them friends. And then Captain Seash and his lieutenant, Bryx made it back with us as well, with only six of their soldiers and marines remaining.

  The ride back in the dropship was quiet, somber even, thinking over what all we lost and who we were leaving behind; we made promises to the vyranes after they proved themselves courageous and capable, saying we’d like for them to work as planetary liaisons in helping to maintain the Predazoan secret, maybe even bring them aboard The Radiance as soldiers down the line. I hoped it was all true and it wasn’t just another trick to keep the Empire’s secrets from coming to light once again; I didn’t know what all the agents did to keep Imperial citizens from learning the truth about the dangerous Predazoans they revived and cloned, and to be honest, part of me simply didn’t want to know.

  It seemed like we were still holding onto the sense of danger after everything we endured, feeling like a threat could be lurking around any corner. It wasn’t until we touched down in the hanger bay of The Radiance we all let out weary sighs of relief as we finally felt safe.

  Seash stood up at the front of the dropship interior, looking back at his remaining crew.

  “I just wanted to say congratulations and thank you for a job well-done; it was a hard mission, and I expect most of you will want to take some time off to recover. For now, we still need to complete our reports and go through our individual debriefs, and once that’s all over, I’m sure we’ll be afforded a break.” Seash gestured towards me, “Adam, I expect you to head to the medical bay right now to get those injuries looked at.”

  Out of all the regular people on the team, I was the only one able to fight our Predazoan adversary, Beta-09, thanks to Eve’s genetic manipulation that gave me superhuman abilities; superstrength, superspeed, enhanced durability and regeneration. Still, fighting a Predazoan was way beyond me even with those enhancements, and after unleashing a single attack to provide Eve with an opportunity during her fight against her sister Predazoan, I was struck once—batted aside really, and I suffered for it.

  I waved him off dismissively, “It’s no big deal, I’m sure I’ll be walking around fine in a few days.”

  Seash ignored my comment and looked right to Eve, “Eve?”

  Eve nodded and helped me up from the bench, careful to get under my good arm, “You don’t need to even ask; I’ll get him over right away.”

  I was sure I was sporting a few broken ribs, a dislocated or fractured shoulder, maybe even a mild concussion with the dizziness and blurred vision; I thought I would be fine with my newly enhanced regeneration, but Eve always babied me and wouldn’t even think of letting me heal on my own, making sure nothing serious was happening under the hood I imagined.

  I knew there was no point in protesting, so I just sighed as I allowed her to lead me out of the dropship.

  “We’ll check on you in a little while, okay Adam? We’ll let you get settled first.” Kianna offered sweetly.

  I just nodded along as we walked down the dropship ramp and into the hanger bay as the rest of our crew started getting up to collect themselves and their gear, ready to complete the final stage of the mission.

  I might not have protested at first, but when I saw Eve leading me over to a hover-stretcher—a fancy, futuristic white hospital bed—I threw a glare at her.

  “Are you serious? I can walk just fine.” I insisted.

  Eve just shrugged, “For now, but you forget how large The Radiance is; I don’t want you to overexert yourself.”

  I sighed again as Eve lowered the hover-stretcher down and I climbed on in.

  “This is so embarrassing…” I grumbled.

  Eve took her spot at the head of the stretcher and leaned over, looking down at me, her face just inches above mine, “Adam, please don’t make a fuss, okay? For me?”

  Eve watched me with those shimmering blue eyes of hers—the celicapoz eyes. Even in her disguised form she was still my Evie, and I was putty in her hands to mold—no matter what shape her hands might take.

  I turned away from her hypnotic gaze, “Alright, fine…”

  Eve smiled and leaned down to kiss me on the forehead, tenderly pressing her black lips against me for a few seconds, “I love you darling, never forget that.”

  I rolled my eyes, sure she was just working me with sweetness now, “Yeah yeah.”

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  Eve trilled an adorable giggle and started pushing the stretcher out of the bay and into the long halls of The Radiance.

  There were people moving all around us, always busy aboard the clandestine mission vessel, and considering we were still docked with The Judicator—the high-command control station, there were more crew members aboard than ever before. Still, I never felt crowded as the chrome halls of the vessel were so wide, surprisingly spacious and almost luxurious, despite being a military vessel.

  “I also wanted to apologize for the fact you were even hurt in the first place; I should’ve protected you better, but Beta-09 took too much of my attention.” Eve looked down again, a sad expression on her face, “I’m sorry.”

  I just chuckled, “Evie, it’s fine, really—this is what we’re supposed to be doing, supporting each other. You can’t always be the one putting your life on the line, you know? I need to make myself useful too.”

  Eve shook her head, “I’m never putting my life on the line, not really.” She smirked and gestured to herself with a quickly manifested tentacle from her shoulder, “Immortal, impossibly powerful Outsider god, remember?”

  I held up a finger from my good arm to interject, “Fighting other immortal Outsider gods.”

  Eve rolled her eyes, “None of whom are as powerful as me.” She looked down again, “Until it’s time to confront another Alpha, I don’t want to hear a word about it, alright?”

  I held my god hand up in surrender, “Alright, alright, sheesh.”

  Eve narrowed her eyes at me, as though not sure whether to believe me, but decided to not get after it.

  Eve let out a sigh, “Really though, you’re sure you’re alright?”

  I smirked, “Wanna kiss my booboo to make it all better?”

  Eve smiled mischievously in response, “I could suck your dick instead, that would really make you feel better.”

  I rolled my eyes, “Settle down girl, not in the hallway.” I tilted my head back and forth, “If they have me laid up in some medical bay bed for a couple days, I’ll take you up on the offer then.”

  Eve smiled brightly, “Deal.”

  Eve took me through the long hallways and winding turns of The Radiance. We didn’t have that far to go since the medical bay was supposed to be in a central location, but since the vessel was so big, it was still a bit of a walk.

  Seash must’ve called ahead because when Eve led me inside there were some doctors waiting for us at an open bay.

  “Right over here please, Eve.” The alien doctor offered.

  Eve followed along diligently and put my stretcher in the right bay, then moved over to hold my hand beside me, “I’ll be waiting right here while they work.”

  I nodded, and she reluctantly let go of my hand as the doctors moved in.

  Same with all things aboard The Radiance, the medical bay was futuristic and sophisticated; the floors were black same as out in the hallways, with reflective white walls instead of the usual chrome, it looked like the nicest, most pristine emergency room you’d find on Earth, and then supercharged with advanced technology I would probably never understand. I’d been a paramedic-firefighter back on Earth, but even with my medical training I had no idea what all the gizmos and gadgets around me were for. On the walls there were screens and scanners, holograms that could perform X-rays and beyond with just the touch of a button, rather than require a massive, clunky machine like on Earth. The doctors wore specialized black and white coats, almost looking like a mix of what a normal doctor or researcher would wear, with a sort of military armor flair, and a bit of regality thrown in. They stepped forward with their various probes that looked like they belonged in some hillbilly’s story about the time he was abducted with his cows on the farm, waving them over my face and body while looking at the corresponding data on their holograms.

  “Let’s get that armor off him right away, I’m noting quite a few skeletal fractures.” The lead doctor stated, a male version of the feline alien race Lobae belonged to, with much darker blue skin and short violet hair.

  Even though my Imperial battle armor was easily removed with the clasps, most medical personnel loved cutting clothes off, both on Earth using trauma shears or here in the Empire using space-age lasers. In just a few seconds, they had me totally stripped naked on the bed and covered me up in a sheet to help preserve my decency.

  I hadn’t been around the medical doctors much, mostly hanging with the researchers instead, but I was surprised how fast they all worked—or I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised since they were doctors aboard a top-level military vessel, probably had the best medical staff available. Still, I was impressed.

  “Four rib fractures, numerous torn ligaments through both legs, shoulder dislocation with hairline fracture, mild concussion as well…” One of the doctors read off their tablet.

  I looked over at Eve and smiled, “See? No big deal.”

  Eve just rolled her eyes, looking like she was planning to hide me away in a box so I wouldn’t hurt myself further.

  I was pretty sure my pain tolerance back on Earth was relatively normal, never had any major trauma to compare it to, never broke a bone before. Now of course I was pretty sure I was tolerating everything so well thanks to my enhanced durability; I felt like the sensation of pain was dulled by quite a bit, so at least there was that.

  Or I was delirious from the concussion.

  The doctors sprayed me with something that made my skin feel all numb, then they reset my shoulder and I didn’t even feel it. Next they put some silver binder around my torso that felt pleasantly warm, probably something for the ribs. They moved down to my legs and used some strange gun that made them feel like jelly. And finally, they put a silver helmet on my head that was strangely cooling, and right away my vision seemed to focus and my headache went away.

  “Holy shit doc, I feel so much better—” I said, starting to rise.

  The head doctor placed a hand firmly on my chest and settled me back into bed, “Three days bed rest and observation, Agent Samson; we want to make sure you heal right and stay healed.” He insisted.

  I sighed and settled back into bed, and they pushed my stretcher through the far doorway in the main medical bay into a hallway that straight-up looked like the floor of some hospital, with private recovery rooms and everything. They moved me into a much more comfortable bed, then left me alone with Eve once they were sure I was all settled.

  The room was wildly white, and same as everything else looked like a futuristic version of something I recognized from Earth; there was a floating TV set in front of me with a private bathroom off to the side, other than that the room was quite sparce except for a few chairs in the corner.

  I patted the spot on the bed beside me, “Hop in, sweet-thing.”

  Eve favored me with a soft smile and climbed in no problem, snuggling up next to me, being careful of the binding around my torso.

  “Feeling better?” She asked, speaking softly.

  I tapped at the anti-concussion helmet, “Can’t beat this crazy space-age magic technology.”

  Eve’s smile fell as she looked away from me, “You know if I wasn’t contained within the inhibitor field, I’d be able to heal you instantly.”

  I quirked an eyebrow up, “Really?”

  Eve nodded, and as though to accentuate her point, she grabbed my hand and intertwined our fingers, and even though it looked like we were touching, that staticky barrier was between us, preventing our skin from touching. It was all part of the Lord Generals’ game to keep Eve under their control—keep both of us controlled so we’d continue hunting the rest of the Predazoans. Bound within the inhibitor field, Eve couldn’t create additional forms or clones, couldn’t manipulate anyone else’s biomass, couldn’t unleash her spores or lasers, and worst of all we recently discovered it even cut off her source of void energy—her spirit and soul that resided outside our dimension. She suffered daily for it, and yet we had no idea what we could do to fight against them since we both had bombs implanted inside us, all under the orders of the Lord Generals.

  My idea was to just complete their missions and hope by proving ourselves loyal and compliant, eventually we would be free. Eve, however, seemed to have other ideas, but she hadn’t revealed them to me now.

  “You shouldn’t have gotten hurt in the first place, and even if you were, I should be able to heal you—take away all your pains and replace them with pure pleasure.” Eve looked up into my eyes, “I hate this.”

  I sighed, “I know, I do too, but what can we do?”

  Eve shook her head slowly, but if she had any thoughts on the subject she kept them to herself and just laid her head on my shoulder, holding against me as close as we could get, though it was still never close enough with the infernal inhibitor field between us.

  But peace was never meant to last for Eve and myself, and before too long the door to my recovery room opened, and in stepped the rigid red alien lieutenant I knew belonged to The Judicator and answered directly to the Lord Generals. He was accompanied by six power armor soldiers pushing forward a mobile containment cell.

  “Are you fucking serious?” I demanded, rising from the bed.

  Eve pushed me back down easily but gently, “What do you want?” She asked mildly.

  The red lieutenant gestured to Eve, “Your presence is requested aboard The Judicator for the Vyrane mission debriefing.”

  I gestured angrily towards the containment cell, “And the fucking containment unit?”

  The lieutenant nodded once, “You know the protocol, Agent Adam; Alpha-03 can’t move through The Radiance or The Judicator on her own without your direct supervision, so while you’re recovering, she’ll need to remain within the containment unit.”

  I was really getting heated now, all the work we did on Vyrane—a perfectly successful mission, and they’re going to treat us like this?

  “Listen here, you stupid fu—”

  Eve placed a gentle hand on my lips as she got up from the bed, “Very well, best get this over with.” She said easily.

  I looked up at Eve, more than confused at her willingness to play their game, “Eve, are you sure?”

  Eve looked back at me and smiled, then leaned down and gave me a long, tender kiss. She pulled back, eyes shimmering with adoration, trailing her delicate fingernails along my cheek, neck and then chest.

  “Better to let your temper cool before you think how best to talk to the Lord Generals. As for me, I can tolerate this disrespect knowing you’re here recovering, waiting for my return.” She said.

  Who was this reasonable stranger who stole my Eve’s identity? Was this an imposter before me?

  Although, honestly, I still had no idea what to do or say to try to get the Lord Generals to free us, and with Eve’s supercomputer brain and her master manipulation, maybe it really was best for me to sit this one out and cool off. We could always deal with them together later.

  “If you’re sure.” I smiled then, holding onto her hand, “I love you, sweet-thing.”

  Eve smiled brightly in response, “I love you too, darling. Now hurry up and heal so I can break you in again.” She winked at me, then the playfulness dropped from her face so fast it was almost frightening as she turned to the red lieutenant, “Let’s go.” She said coldly.

  Eve went into the containment cell without protest, and the soldiers shut her away once again. I felt a brief flash of panic thinking over the last time this happened, what all we lost, hoping beyond hope things would be different this time.

  Eve waved to me cutely, and then without any further preamble, the lieutenant and his men turned and took her away from me, leaving me totally alone.

  I didn’t think it was possible, and considering I’d been separated from Eve before it didn’t make sense, but right then I felt lonelier than I had in my life inside that hauntingly empty, futuristic recovery room.

  Welcome to Volume 5 everyone! I have to say this was probably my favorite and most fun adventure to write so far, and I'll warn you the dynamics will shift as the story moves to classic sci-fi/horror with our heroes stranded in deep-space. Inspired by the classics like the Alien series and The Thing, join Adam on this new heavy tension adventure! As always, thank you all for the support, and consider checking out the Patreon that's already started Volume 6. Enjoy!!