Short Story: Blood Bond (Blood Samples 2)

 

This short story takes place before Bloodhunters v1: Bad Blood. If you enjoy it, please consider purchasing my other books here.

ED02499.08.06

“What’s wrong with her eyes?” Mr. Venderson asked, examining the photo.

Every time, Lerveen thought. “Don’t worry, it’s just a genetic thing. She sees just fine.”

“How old is she?” Mrs. Venderson asked.

“We don’t have a birth certificate, but we think she’s about eleven.”

The couple looked at each other. Lerveen knew what they were thinking. They were actually hoping for a younger child, perhaps just old enough to already be potty trained. But Lerveen always showed clients Sekka first, because she knew Sekka would be the hardest to get rid of. Get rid of? she thought, admonishing herself for the thought. But it wasn’t a lie. Raising Sekka required a lot more effort than the other girls, and while Lerveen truly cared about Sekka, it would be a great relief to see her get adopted.

“Just come meet her,” Lerveen said. “I’m sure you’ll love her.”

Sekka sat in the fenced-in play yard. The other girls played in groups of three or four, but Sekka sat alone, on the grass, watching a bird build its nest. It was fascinating to watch the process. The way the bird wove twigs and grass into a stable structure was so impressive. Sekka knew the bird couldn’t think like a person, and yet it seemed to know more about construction than most people did.

She felt a tap on her shoulder. “Sekka!”

“What?” Sekka asked.

“I’ve been calling you for five minutes,” Lerveen said. “Come inside, there’s a couple I want you to meet.”

The Vendersons looked skeptical as Lerveen approached, Sekka in tow. The girl was pretty, but her clothes were covered in dirt, and she kept looking in every direction except at the Vendersons.

“I don’t know,” Mrs. Venderson said. “Does she play outside a lot?”

“Just ask her some questions,” Lerveen said. “I know you’ll love her.”

Mrs. Venderson got down on her knees, looking into Sekka’s white-irised eyes. “So, Sekka,” she asked. “Do you like dolls?”

“No,” Sekka said.

“Do you like flowers?”

“No.”

“Do you like... boys?”

“No.”

“Why is she so standoffish?” Mr. Venderson whispered into Lerveen’s ear.

Instead of answering his question, Lerveen said, “Ask her about animals.”

On hearing this, Sekka didn’t even wait for them to ask a question. “I love animals,” she said. Suddenly she was very animated, like a wooden puppet that had just been turned into a real girl. “There’s a bird outside right now, building a nest. I’ve been watching it all morning. It’s so smart! And there’s this squirrel that visits me every day. I’ve been teaching him to dance. And there’s rats in the walls here. They’re so cute! And...”

Lerveen watched the prospective parents carefully during Sekka’s passionate rant. They seemed confused, and with good reason. Lerveen herself had been perpetually confused ever since Sekka was dropped off as an infant. She still had the note. “Please take care of this baby. She was my sister’s. I don’t know who the father was. I can’t give her the care she needs. I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.” Lerveen had reread the note many times over the years, and now had it memorized.

Sekka would require a special set of parents. Patient ones, people who didn’t have any preconceived notions about what it was like to raise a child. Lerveen knew that Sekka was borderline... something, but the orphanage didn’t have the budget for a psychological evaluation. Unfortunately, not a lot of people on Cytrine Delta were looking to adopt, and even fewer would be willing to take on a special needs child.

She knew she’d lost this one. She could always tell when a connection was being made, and the Vendersons just weren’t into Sekka. They didn’t want a kid they’d have to chase around the woods all day. They wanted a girl they could dress up like a doll, who would look cute in family portraits. That was fine, Lerveen knew just who she would show them next. 

“You can go back outside now, Sekka,” Lerveen said. Sekka smiled, and left without saying another word.

It was now after lunch, and Sekka once again sat in the dirt in the play yard. The rest of the girls were inside doing chores, but Sekka couldn’t stand the sound the laundry machines made, so Lerveen allowed her to play outside whenever they were running. It wasn’t exactly fair, but they made up for it by giving Sekka extra chores at night, while the rest of the girls played board games together. Sekka didn’t mind. She preferred to do her chores alone.

Her favorite visitor had come by, a pink-furred squirrel she called Nutters. He was only about six weeks old, and Sekka had pretty much known him since birth. His family lived in the tree back by the fence. Sekka had been teaching him tricks lately, and he seemed to learn really fast.

But today he seemed agitated. He kept running up to Sekka, then running back towards the tree, as if trying to get her to follow. While the creature wasn’t sapient, he was smart for a squirrel, and Sekka was the only human he trusted.

Sekka reached the tree, and Nutters climbed up the fence, looking out over the nearby street. The wooden fence was too tall for Sekka to see over, and there were no gaps between the slats, so she had to climb the tree to see what was wrong.

Across the street, another squirrel was in trouble. Two boys had overturned a metal trash can, trapping the poor animal. The receptacle was made of a wire mesh, with diamond-shaped holes too small for the squirrel to squeeze through. A red-haired boy sat on top of the trash can, while a boy with brown hair lit firecrackers and fed them through the holes. The squirrel ran in circles around the inside of the trash can, scared to death of the small explosions and desperate to escape.

Sekka was livid. It didn’t even occur to her that it was against the rules to leave the play yard. The only thing going through her mind was, Save the squirrel. She used the tree to climb over the fence, hopped down to the ground, and ran across the street. It was a good thing the street didn’t get much traffic, because she didn’t even look both ways. She barged up to the boys, pushed the one off of the trash can, and lifted the can so the squirrel could escape. It scampered down the street and climbed up the side of a building.

“Hey, what’s the big idea?” the brunet said.

“Leave the squirrels alone,” Sekka said. She turned back toward the street.

“Just having a little fun,” the redhead said, grabbing Sekka by the shoulder.

She turned around and hit him, her fist catching him in the stomach. It didn’t hurt, but it knocked the wind out of him.

The red-haired boy grabbed her from behind. “Now you’ve done it,” he said. He trapped her in a bear hug, tightly holding her arms to her sides. Sekka fought back, but he was much stronger.

The other boy lifted the trash can. “Put her under here,” he said.

Working together, they got her under the trash can, and set it down on top of her. Once again, the redhead sat on top of it. Sekka screamed, but no one was around. She was very cramped, and she pushed and kicked as much as she could, but the can wouldn’t budge. The brunet started to light another firecracker.

“Boys!” came a man’s voice, as someone came running around the corner. Sekka could only see his legs from her position. “Get out of here!” he shouted, and the boys ran. The man bent down, saw Sekka’s predicament, and helped her get out of the trash can. “Kids these days,” the man said.

“Thank you,” Sekka said, and turned back toward the street.

“Wait,” the man said. “Do you need a ride?”

“No,” Sekka said, and kept walking.

“Just wait,” the man said again, putting his arm on her shoulder. Sekka jumped. She didn’t really like being touched, especially by people she didn’t know. She turned and looked at him. He was in his mid-thirties, with black hair and a mustache. Sekka was pretty sure she’d seen him before. She wasn’t good with faces, but his mustache looked familiar. “I really don’t mind,” he said. “My hovercar’s just around the corner.”

“So’s my door,” she said. Her phrasing perplexed him a bit, going by his expression. Sekka was used to seeing that expression on people. What she meant was, there was no back entrance to the orphanage, so she would have to walk around the block to the front of the building. It might be a little farther than this man’s hovercar, but it still seemed pretty silly to hitch a ride there.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“Sekka,” she said.

“I thought so,” the man said. “You’re from the orphanage, right? I’ve seen you on my walks.”

That’s where she’d seen him. Sometimes Lerveen took Sekka with her when she ran errands, and she’d seen this man walking down the street sometimes. He seemed to hang around the orphanage an awful lot.

“I could never forget eyes like yours,” he continued. “Listen, the lady that works there, oh, what’s her name again?”

“Lerveen?” Sekka asked.

“Yes! She told me you’d gotten out, and asked if I’d give you a ride back.”

“That doesn’t make any sense,” Sekka said. “It’s right there.”

The man frowned, thinking. Sekka was about to walk away again, when he said, “You’re right, you should head on back. But first, can you help me with something real quick?”

Sekka cocked her head, genuinely confused. What could this man possibly need, that she’d be able to help with? “What?” she finally asked.

“I found a lost kitten,” he said. “I need help finding its mother.”

“Kitten?” Sekka asked. It was like flicking a switch. She was no longer distracted with trying to leave; the man now had her full attention.

Checkmate, the man thought.

Sekka woke up in a strange room. She couldn’t remember how she got here. She knew she’d followed the man back to his hovercar, and he’d had her lean into the side door, but she didn’t see the kitten. Then she’d felt a sudden jab, like a needle. She couldn’t remember anything after that.

The room wasn’t well-lit, but it was bright enough to make out the details. She was lying on a mattress on the floor. The room reminded her of the basement at the orphanage - gray brick walls, no windows. There was a washing machine against one wall, next to a sink and a toilet. Some stuffed animals and other toys lay against the opposite wall. One of the toys was a creepily realistic child-sized doll, its mouth open in a permanent O-shape. There were some posters on the wall, mostly of cartoon girls in schoolgirl uniforms. The room’s light came from a single luminescent disk mounted to the ceiling, directly over the mattress.

In one corner, a wooden stairway led up to a door. Sekka stood up and climbed the stairs, then tried the door. Locked. She knocked at the door, and when nothing happened, she pounded on it.

After a few minutes, the door unlocked, and the man stepped through it. Sekka tried to rush past him, but he held her firmly by the shoulder and locked the door behind him. He grabbed her by one hand and pulled her back down the stairs.

“Where am I?” Sekka asked.

“This is your new room,” the man said, smiling. He got down on one knee so he could look her in the eye. “Surprise! I adopted you.”

“I don’t want to be here,” Sekka said.

“You’ll love it here,” he said. “Listen, you can call me Mick. I’m your new father, but I’m also your new best friend. Anything you need, let me know, I’ll get it for you. Seriously, anything.”

“I want to go,” Sekka said.

“Anything but that,” Mick said. “But believe me, you’re not going to want to leave. I have some things to do right now, but I’ll be back down in a couple of hours with dinner. And then we’ll play together. I have a lot of new games I want to teach you.”

“I want to see Lerveen,” Sekka said.

“You will!” he said. “We’ll go see her tomorrow, I promise.”

“I want to see Lerveen!” Sekka wailed this time, and slapped him on the arm. It couldn’t have hurt him, but a flash of anger crossed his face.

“Now that’s just rude, little lady,” Mick said. “I have feelings too. You need some quiet time. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.” He stood up, climbed the stairs, and locked the door behind him.

Sekka ran after him, but reached the door too late. As she heard the lock click, she pounded on the door, screaming. After five minutes of shrieking, she sat down on the stairs, put her head between her hands, and closed her eyes.

After a few minutes, she realized she could hear something moving. She walked down the stairs, only to see something scurry away. Hmmm. She walked over to the mattress and sat down. She sat as still as a statue, not moving a muscle. After ten minutes, she saw it. She remained perfectly still, not wanting to scare it off. A rat carefully crept along the far wall. Every once in a while it stopped to sniff the air. Finally it looked in Sekka’s direction.

Bingo, Sekka thought as their eyes locked. Her eyes glowed for a second, and the rat was mesmerized. It scurried toward her, stopping about a meter from her, and sat at attention.

“Go get your friends,” Sekka said. “All your friends.”

Mick got back from the fast food restaurant, kicked off his shoes, and unlocked the door to the basement. “Dinner time!” he shouted down into the darkness. Wait, he thought. Why was it dark? Kids don’t like the dark. Was she taking a nap? He flipped the switch, but the light didn’t come on. “Sekka?” he carefully stepped down the stairs, feeling oddly uncomfortable. Something didn’t sound right, and he thought he saw odd shapes moving in the darkness. “Where are you?” he asked.

He reached the bottom of the stairs and stepped on the floor. Only it wasn’t the floor. Something furry moved out of his way as he took that last step, and he could feel more somethings moving around his ankles. In the meager light that made it down from the kitchen above, the floor appeared to undulate, a great mass of moving fur. “What in the world,” he said.

“Now,” he heard Sekka say, though he still couldn’t see her.

Rats swarmed over Mick, dozens, hundreds, probably more. He shrieked like a five-year-old, tried to run up the stairs, tripped, and hit his face on a step. Then he tried crawling up the stairs, but the rats were in his face now, squeaking and crawling on him. He tried to stand, but fell backward down the stairs. He got to his feet again, freaked out, fled in a random direction, and ran straight into a wall. He hit the ground, out cold.

Sekka called emergency services from Mick’s kitchen. The police took her back to the orphanage, and Mick was taken to a hospital, where he would stay until he was well enough to stand trial.

A few weeks later, Lerveen was on her way to the grocery store when she saw a golden-haired woman walk out of a bank. Lerveen did a double-take. “Excuse me, ma’am?” she asked, tapping the stranger on the shoulder.

“Yes?” the woman said, turning around. She had gold-tinted skin that matched her beautiful blond hair. She had purple freckles across her face. She obviously wasn’t human, yet she looked strangely like Sekka. Especially her eyes.

“Lerveen McTonnel,” Lerveen said, shaking the woman’s hand.

“Lemondrop Vermon,” the gold woman said, confused. “Can I help you?”

“This is a long shot, but do you know a little girl name Sekka?”

Lemondrop shook her head. “I’m sorry, I’m here on business. You must have me confused with someone else.” She started to turn back around.

“She has your eyes!” Lerveen blurted out. “And your nose. Please, I’ve been looking for her family for such a long time.”

“That… sounds like someone I should probably meet,” Lemondrop said, and the two walked back to the orphanage together.

Short Story: Blood Hunt (Blood Samples 1)

This short story takes place before Bloodhunters v1: Bad Blood. If you enjoy it, please consider purchasing my other books here.

ED02499.08.02

The planet Cytrine Delta looked more advanced than it actually was. Once considered the technological center of the galaxy, now most of its citizens struggled to survive. State-of-the-art buildings, originally constructed to show off the latest breakthroughs, now served as homeless shelters and illegal drug dens. But despite the failed economy, the planet still had a thriving scientific community, mostly because the scientists couldn’t afford to move anywhere else.

The SportsDome’s flickering neon signage was the only thing illuminating Quantum Street, as the local gangs had stripped the solar cells off of the streetlights. The darkness and the frigid rain might have deterred a few customers on most worlds, but here, the line to the ticket booth stretched all the way down the block.

In a futile effort to boost the economy, the Cytrine government lobbied to hold major sports events at their stadiums. This drew in wealthy sports fans from all over the galaxy, whose off-world credits would trickle down to the local population. At least theoretically. So far it hadn’t made a difference to the average citizen’s wallet, but it did boost their morale. Locals were allowed to attend sporting events for free, to fill out the crowds for the cameras.

Across the street, in a run-down hotel, Detanna Taush got dressed. A successful bounty hunter like her could have afforded a nicer place to stay, but she wasn’t in town to relax. She’d chosen her lodgings based on location, and the room’s poor quality barely registered with her. Even when she saw a glyph-roach scurry across her mirror, she just ignored it and continued applying her makeup.

On most jobs, Detanna would have been more decked out, with weapons and body armor and dozens of hidden gadgets. But tonight she didn’t want to be recognized as a bounty hunter, and she was dressed to blend in with the crowd. Besides, she couldn’t have smuggled any weapons past the stadium’s security.

She gave herself a final check in the mirror. She wore a black shirt, pants, and boots. Her purple vest matched her hair and lipstick, a bright contrast to her dark brown complexion. She thought she looked pretty good. Maybe a bit more well-off than the average Cytrine citizen, but not so much that she’d look out of place. The locals were mostly human like Detanna, and while they were poor, they still often wore bright colors. She’d fit right in. But… did she pass?

Detanna scrutinized her reflection, judging it as objectively as possible. Yes, she was here on business, and nothing mattered but her target. But it was still important to her to be recognized as a woman. It wasn’t about vanity, it was about identity. Besides, she didn’t want to run into any violent transphobes. She was confident in her fighting skills, and knew she’d win any potential altercation, but getting into a fight at the stadium would endanger the mission.

Looking good, she thought. Yes, the reflection was tall and muscular, but beyond that, she saw a woman looking back at her. She wasn’t going to win any beauty contests, but no one was going to question her gender. Satisfied that she could complete her mission without being clocked, she locked up the hotel room and crossed the street.

The view wasn’t bad, and if Detanna had actually cared about the sport, she would have been pleased with how well she could see the action. Currently in the ring, a six-armed wrestler called “The Ahraknoid” grappled with a beefy, yellow-scaled Vhelran. Most of the crowd was captivated by the exciting match, but Detanna’s eyes were elsewhere. She knew her target would have the most expensive seats available, so she scanned the front row. She recognized several celebrities, but not the person she’d come here to find. Still, a few of the seats were empty, so maybe they were being fashionably late.

In the middle of the second match, she spotted her target. Arvanna Nethridge had just arrived, flanked by a pair of bodyguards. Nethridge was the founder and CEO of Aonic Industries, a company that mostly manufactured weapons and surgical equipment. But Detanna didn’t care about her. The actual target was Lyon Kreet, one of the Nethridge’s bodyguards.

Kreet was a Sethran, which was an offshoot of the human race. He looked human, but with pale skin and short, white hair. With his physique, he wouldn’t have looked out of place in the wrestling ring itself. Nethridge looked like a child next to him. No wonder Kreet made such a good bodyguard. For Nethridge, it had to be like having her own personal brick wall following her around.

In addition to being a bodyguard, Kreet was also a criminal. Or at least, Detanna believed so. There had been eight robberies in the past two months, across three different planets. There was video footage of the perpetrator, but he was always masked. The IGP, bless them, had done their best at sifting through data and had come up empty. But Detanna had software of her own, programmed to look for patterns the InterGalactic Police wouldn’t consider. And she’d discovered that each robbery had occurred while Nethridge was in town.

Nethridge had a sporadic schedule, hopping from planet to planet to visit her company’s factories. It was too much of a coincidence for the robberies to have matched her itinerary so closely. The suspect in the video obviously wasn’t Nethridge, but their musculature was certainly a potential match for Kreet.

The IGP had posted a reward of twelve hundred credits for the capture of the man in the video. Alternatively, they were offering two hundred credits for information that led to his arrest. The IGP had a sample of the thief’s blood, but it didn’t match any blood in their database. All it would take was one call, and Detanna could turn over her evidence and collect an easy two hundred credits. But that wasn’t her way. It was all or nothing for her.

Detanna watched her prey from the cheap seats, waiting patiently for an opportunity. She couldn’t just tackle him out in the open; she’d find herself fighting off all of the SportsDome’s security, and probably wind up in jail. Besides, she didn’t want to look like an idiot. She wanted to prove to herself that Kreet was guilty before she turned him in. 

She’d already hacked the IGP database and downloaded their blood analysis. Tonight she would get a sample of Kreet’s blood, take it back to her hotel, and analyze it. If her suspicions were correct, she would capture Kreet tomorrow. Nethridge was scheduled to deliver a speech at the Science Center while she was in town, so they wouldn’t be leaving until tomorrow evening. It was a tight schedule, but Detanna was sure she could pull it off.

As she watched Kreet, she wondered why he would turn to a life of crime. Surely he was well paid. Maybe he just didn’t want such a risky job anymore, and was trying to make enough credits to retire early. Detanna could relate. She enjoyed bounty hunting, but it had become a grind. She was saving up for multiple surgeries, and hadn’t been taking any time for herself. She no longer even knew what she’d do with an actual day off.

Early in the fourth match, one of the bodyguards – not Kreet – got up and left. Ten minutes later he returned with some popcorn and a beer for Nethridge. During the seventh match, Nethridge herself stood up and left, and both bodyguards went with her. Detanna stood and headed for the lobby.

In the circular outer hall that surrounded the arena, Detanna spotted the two bodyguards standing outside the women’s restroom, one on each side of the door. Detanna casually strolled towards the doorway, as if she were just another attendee who’d had one too many sodas. Before she could enter, the two bodyguards stepped sideways, blocking the restroom entrance. “Occupied,” Kreet said.

“There’s like, ten stalls,” Detanna protested, trying to sound like it was really urgent.

“You’ll have to wait,” the second bodyguard said.

“Is there like, a celebrity in there?” Detanna asked, pretending to take a peek past the bodyguards.

“None of your business,” Kreet said. “Step away from the door.”

Detanna tried to push her way past Kreet and he grabbed her. She fought back, scratching him with her fingernails and drawing blood. Just then, three SportsDome security officers ran up and asked if there was a problem. Detanna apologized, and the security officers escorted her out of the building. Then she rushed back to her hotel room to examine the blood sample under her fingernail.

It was a match. Kreet was definitely guilty, even if his motives didn’t make a whole lot of sense. Some of the objects that had been stolen had a niche market, the kind for which it would be difficult to find a buyer. Detanna wondered what Kreet’s plan was.

Now that she could prove Kreet was the culprit, the ethical thing to do would be to pass the information along to the IGP. Detanna laughed at the very thought of it. Not only would it mean giving up a larger reward, but the police would probably screw it up, and Kreet would go into hiding. No, Detanna would be the one to bring him in, no question.

She considered going back out tonight. After the match, Nethridge would return to Georgina Suites, the only luxury hotel in this armpit of a city. Her bodyguards would stay in her suite, sleeping in shifts. Detanna considered stealing a hotel employee uniform, or taking a shuttle and parachuting onto the penthouse balcony, or even scaling the outside of the building.

But this was a job that called for patience. It wouldn’t do to get herself arrested by acting too quickly. Security would be more relaxed at the Science Center tomorrow. She set out her clothing and equipment for the morning, in a meticulously organized pattern. Then she spent an hour exercising, while watching the news on the room’s old-fashioned, non-holographic video screen.

The following morning, Detanna dressed more conventionally than she had the night before. She wore dark slacks with a professional-looking gray blouse, and darker makeup that complemented, rather than contrasted her skin tone. She wore a shoulder-length black wig over her short, purple hair. She wondered if Kreet would still recognize her. With Detanna’s height and physique, she wouldn’t be surprised. She briefly considered dressing as a man, but at this point, that would have been more work than she had time for.

She still couldn’t wear her bounty hunter gear, at least not without attracting attention, but she was much more equipped than she had been the night before. While the SportsDome had prohibited all sorts of tech, the Science Center would only be checking for weapons. Detanna packed several high-tech gadgets, most of them disguised as other devices. Her comm unit was also a stungun, her wristwatch could fire miniature tracking devices, and even her boots had sound dampeners in case she needed to sneak around.

Convinced that she was ready for any situation that might arise, she locked up and headed for the Science Center.

It had once been a beautiful building, state-of-the-art in every way, with a retro-futuristic architectural style. But now it was covered in graffiti, its broken windows covered up with welded panels of sheet metal. Nine-year-old posters still advertised the 2490 Galaxy Expo, though the signs were now faded, torn, and defaced. A giant phallus was spray painted directly above the front door, and some rude words appeared on the doors themselves. There had been a few attempts to repaint and repair the building over the years, but the local youths always ruined it again within days, and the scientists didn’t have the budget for round-the-clock security.

Inside, however, was a different story. The hallways were clean and brightly lit, and the many labs and showrooms were packed with cutting-edge technological breakthroughs. 

Even though she’d already checked it online, Detanna looked over the lecture schedule to make sure there weren’t any changes. She was a couple of hours early, but she wanted to get a feel for the place in case she had to chase Kreet through the building.

She walked through the hallways, nodding at passing visitors and scientists, reading the posters next to each doorway. Each room had its own display, showing off the latest inventions. Detanna wasn’t a scientist, but she was into tech, and she didn’t see anything she found particularly impressive. Most of it was just new applications of existing technology. A faster hovercar. A more precise AON scalpel. More durable types of cloth. More powerful Levatech emitters. Skirts with pockets. Binoculars that could see fine details on other planets.

Then she turned a corner and saw a poster that gave her pause. What? she thought. She read the poster three times before entering the lab. There was a huge metal cylinder against one wall, connected to several pieces of monitoring equipment. Three scientists – one man and two women, all human – stood in front of the machine. They wore white lab coats and were engaged in an animated conversation. One woman turned when she saw Detanna walk in.

“Hello,” she said, with a big smile. “I’m Doctor Vartan. Would you like to take a look at our invention?” The scientist handed Detanna a flyer from a stack on a nearby desk.

“So, how does it work?” Detanna asked, almost unable to speak. She stared at the machine in awe.

“The True-U 3000 is the latest breakthrough in gender affirmation technology,” Doctor Vartan said. “It actually rewrites the patient’s DNA, changing their chromosomes from XX to XY or vice versa, altering every cell in their body. It’s almost like cloning a brand-new body over their skeleton. No more hormones. No additional surgeries. After a few weeks in this tank, the patient won’t even think of themselves as trans anymore. They’ll emerge as their authentic self, and never look back.”

“It changes… everything?” Detanna asked.

“Every cell,” the scientist replied. “Face, genitals, you name it. Plus the patient can tweak it for their personal tastes. No more unwanted body hair. It can remove their Adam’s apple, or give them one. The patient’s vocal cords are calibrated to give them their desired voice. The machine can’t change their height, and they won’t be able to bear or sire children, but believe me, the True-U is going to be a miracle for those who wish to transition.”

“Does… does it really work?” Detanna asked, her eyes transfixed on the tank.

“It worked on me,” the woman answered, winking.

Detanna looked at Doctor Vartan, really seeing her for the first time. She appeared to be in her mid-thirties, with short, brown hair. While she was a bit taller than the average woman, there was no way anyone would have mistaken her for a man. Her face, her voice, her entire body was perfect. Not a shred of masculinity remained. To be fair, Detanna had met other trans women who were just as beautiful, but they’d walked a hard road to get there, and some of them still weren’t satisfied with the results.

What this machine promised was difficult to believe. Detanna leaned against the desk, feeling slightly dizzy. “How… how much does it cost?”

“Well, there’s only one machine in existence so far,” the scientist said, “so it’s really not for sale yet…”

“The procedure, I mean,” Detanna clarified. She’d already been saving up for several surgeries, but this device may as well have been sent from heaven. All her current transition plans vanished from her mind. She had a new goal now. It was this machine or nothing.

“Currently?” The woman tapped a few keys on her comm unit, paused, and tapped a few more. “We estimate the procedure would cost… just over six million credits.”

Detanna felt like she’d been punched in the stomach. “Six… million?” she asked, hoping she’d heard wrong.

“For now,” the woman confirmed. “Once we refine the process, we can probably get it down to half that. And eventually, who knows?”

Detanna took a few deep breaths, started to say something, then stopped. Her mind was reeling. Everything she’d ever dreamed of stood just a few meters away, and it might as well have been in a different galaxy.

“Are you okay?” the scientist asked, looking concerned.

Do you know a lot of transgender multi-millionaires? Detanna wanted to ask. Instead, she just said, “Thank you for your time,” and stumbled back out of the lab. She leaned against the wall in the hallway. Six million. She’d saved up nearly two hundred thousand credits so far, and that had taken her entire bounty hunting career. She already lived as cheaply as she could, only splurging on tech that would help her catch fugitives. She took the highest-paying jobs, regardless of how dangerous they might be, and never spent money on entertainment or frivolities.

She looked at the flyer one last time, then folded it neatly and tucked it into her pocket. Then she took a deep breath and cleared her head. She had a job to do, and there wasn’t any time for distractions.

Scientists, college students, and investors were starting to gather outside the auditorium. As they filed into the room, Detanna saw Nethridge and her two bodyguards come around the corner. Detanna turned her back to them as they approached, pretending to study a poster on the wall. Kreet didn’t even glance in her direction. As they walked past, Detanna turned and pressed her thumb to her wristwatch. Then she walked down the hallway in the opposite direction.

After turning right at the next hallway intersection, Detanna stood against the wall and loaded up an app on her comm unit. She wasn’t alone; several other visitors wandered the hall, killing time while waiting for various lectures to start. But while the others used their comms to play games or chat with friends, Detanna’s attention was focused on a map of the building, with a red dot indicating Kreet’s location.

She’d been right, the security wasn’t nearly as pervasive here. There was an officer at the main entrance, checking for weapons, and at least one other security guard wandering the halls, but there just wasn’t much call for police presence at a science convention. Detanna couldn’t remember the last time she’d heard of a crowd of drunk science fans getting rowdy and trashing a venue. Nethridge would be more relaxed as well, and wouldn’t require both bodyguards to stand by her side at all times.

The lecture was scheduled to start in ten minutes. The speech would take about thirty minutes, after which there would be another half hour of Q&A, and then Nethridge would tour the building to critique some of the projects. It was actually kind of funny; Nethridge was no scientist, just a trillionaire CEO who often invested in emerging tech. And yet, every scientist in the building would be swooning at her praise. Detanna felt it should be the other way around, with Nethridge bowing to the scientists’ expertise. But if there was one force more powerful than science, it was money.

Detanna hoped Kreet would take the opportunity for a restroom break before the speech began, so she could catch him alone. She doubted she’d get that lucky, but anything was possible. She studied the red dot on her screen, watching it move back and forth in the auditorium, most likely helping set up equipment for the lecture. Then, about five minutes before the lecture was to start, the dot left the auditorium and began walking down the hallway.

Was this her chance? Detanna stood up straighter and started moving towards the intersection. But no, the red dot walked right past the restrooms, and continued moving in Detanna’s direction. When Kreet reached the four-way junction, he looked left and right, until finally his eyes settled on Detanna. He stomped toward her, holding up the tracking device.

“Did you really think I didn’t recognize you from the stadium?” he growled. He struck an intimidating pose, clenching his fists in anger. He was a full head taller than Detanna, and probably twice her body weight.

Detanna was unfazed. “Lyon Kreet, I’m here to collect the bounty on your head. Please come with me.”

“You’ve got nothing on me,” Kreet said, throwing the tracking disc to the floor and stomping on it. “Now get out of here before I tear you apart.” Up and down the hall, visitors stopped looking at their comms and watched the drama unfold. Some of them started filming.

“Your blood was found at multiple crime scenes,” Detanna lied. Technically they’d only recovered a blood sample from one location, but Kreet didn’t know that. The crowd of onlookers grew, but stood at a respectful distance from the pair.

“Bull,” Kreet said, but a flash of worry crossed his face. His eyes darted across the crowd of visitors, not liking how many of them had their comm cameras up.

“Don’t make me use force,” Detanna said. “It’ll be so much easier to take you in if you can still walk, but I’ll drag you if I have to.”

Kreet laughed at her confidence. “Try it,” he said. “I’ll break you in half.”

Up and down the hallway, people started chanting “Fight! Fight!” A couple of the onlookers left to find a security guard.

Detanna knew a fight was inevitable, but she didn’t want to throw the first punch. “You’ll do no such thing,” she said. “Try it, and I’ll pound you into the ground, like the pathetic little worm you are.”

Kreet knew she was trying to goad him into a fight, but his anger overrode his common sense. Detanna easily sidestepped his fist, dropping to one knee and countering with a punch to his stomach. It was like hitting a wall, but Kreet still flinched at the impact. He tried to grab her, but she ducked between his legs, then kicked him in the back of the knee. By the time Kreet turned around to face her, it was just in time to get punched in the nose by the base of Detanna’s hand.

Detanna had him on speed, but Kreet knew it would only take one solid hit to take her down. He pulled his arm back, then paused. A security guard was coming around the corner, led by one of the visitors. Instead of following through with the punch, Kreet turned and bolted. He pushed his way through the crowd, tossing people aside like ragdolls as he ran. He burst through an emergency exit, setting off an alarm that rang throughout the building.

Once Kreet was outside, he kept going, looking for a place to hide so he could come up with a plan. He crossed the street, ran through an alley, crossed another street, entered a parking garage, and hid between two parked hovercars. He took a couple of slow breaths, regaining his composure. He just needed to think things through.

The police had his blood. Could he come up with a rational explanation? Probably not. He’d been ordered to commit those robberies. Nethridge often had him steal new technologies so her company could reverse-engineer them. Would his boss stand up for him in court? Of course not. In fact, she’d probably plant evidence of her own, just to keep her reputation clean. For that matter, Nethridge might have been the one who planted the blood at the crime scenes. Kreet didn’t specifically remember cutting himself during any of the robberies.

But if he was being used, he’d need to keep it to himself. He wasn’t about to mess with Nethridge. Any attempt to link his boss to the crime, and he’d meet with some sort of “accident.” If he were caught, he intended to plead guilty.

If he were caught. It wasn’t too late to run. Could he evade the IGP long enough to get off this planet? Or that bounty hunter? He wondered if she was still on his trail. He risked taking a look at the street. Peeking underneath the bumper of one car, he could see all the way to the alley he’d come through. He saw no sign of his pursuer. He did, however, see intermittent spatters of blood, leading from the alley to his location.

Kreet’s hand went to his nose, and came away bloody. It hadn’t hurt before, but now that he saw the blood, his nose started to throb. He knew he couldn’t stay here, not with the blood trail giving his location away. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief, and held it to his nose. Then he stuck his head out from between the cars, looked left and right, and stood up.

ZZZ-ZAP! Detanna’s comm/stungun caught him in the back of the head, sending wave after wave of electricity through his body. Kreet hit the ground, unconscious. Detanna hopped down from the roof of one of the hovercars, and looked him over. She still wasn’t sure how she was going to get his massive form back to her ship, but at least he wouldn’t resist.

Leaving a fugitive alone wasn’t the best idea, but there was no other way. Besides, she’d left him unconscious and cuffed to a metal pole, with a tracking device clipped to his clothing. She returned less than ten minutes later, driving her rented hovercar.

She knew there was a problem before she even entered the parking garage. A man in a blue uniform stood in front of Kreet, attempting to unlock Detanna’s bracers. For just a second, Detanna thought, Cop. But the uniform looked wrong; it fit too snug and held more weapons than IGP officers usually carried.

Detanna pulled into a space and got out of her vehicle. The interloper turned around, drawing his energy pistol. He wore modified police armor, but all the IGP logos had been painted over. He was a Canik, with Doberman-like facial features, pointed ears, and black fur. Detanna stayed informed about rival hunters, and she recognized him as an up-and-comer who called himself Darkhound.

He growled as he looked Detanna up and down. “Back off, he’s mine,” the dog-man said, holding his pistol on her.

“Carrion hunter,” Detanna said. It was a serious accusation. Carrion hunters were lowlifes who followed more successful bounty hunters around, stealing their prey out from under their noses. It was considered bad etiquette among bounty hunters, and if proven, such conduct could even get one barred from the Bounty Hunter Registry. “How long have you been following me?” she asked.

“I don’t even know who you are,” Darkhound said. “I smelled his blood from a kilometer away. Matches the sample the cops have. Now beat it.”

Of course. Detanna remembered reading that Darkhound had once been an IGP officer. The first Canik to join the IGP. But he’d been put on permanent leave for brutality. Apparently he still had access to IGP resources.

Detanna still didn’t have any weapons on her, and her comm was currently charging on the front seat of the hovercar. She considered arguing with Darkhound, but she knew she wouldn’t get anywhere. And if she reported him to the BHR, it would just be her word against his. But she wasn’t about to let him steal her captive, either. She’d put too much time into this hunt to leave empty-handed.

“Fine,” Detanna said, and turned to get back into her hovercar. As she did so, she pressed a button on her wristwatch. The tracking device on Kreet began to emit a high-pitched whine.

Darkhound’s hands went to his ears, and he turned towards Kreet, looking for the source of the sound. Detanna tackled Darkhound from behind, knocking him to the ground and sending his pistol flying. The two wrestled on the ground, rolling over each other, each trying to gain the upper hand. The Canik was stronger, but Detanna was more agile, and she managed to twist her way out of several attempted holds. Finally Darkhound rolled on top of her, nearly crushing her with his weight.

But she still had one free hand. Detanna reached up, her hand moving up and down his side, until she found a weapon dangling from Darkhound’s belt. Not caring what it was, she pulled it off of his belt and used it on him. The stun baton sent a powerful jolt of electricity through him, dazing him long enough for Detanna to wriggle herself free.

Darkhound started to stand up, but Detanna was already on her feet. She kicked him in the face, causing him to topple backward, and he landed on the cold concrete with a thud. Then she stood over him, holding the stun baton to his face. “I give, I give,” Darkhound finally said, holding up his hands in resignation. But as Detanna started to step away, he lurched forward and bit her on the leg.

Detanna whacked him with the baton. He released his grip, and she shocked him repeatedly until he was unconscious. “Bad dog,” she said, unsure if that was a racial slur in Canik culture. Leaving Darkhound on the floor of the parking garage, Detanna dragged Kreet into the backseat of the hovercar and drove away.

Detanna Taush turned in her captive and her evidence. Twelve hundred credits were transferred to her bank account. She left Cytrine Delta, took her shuttle through the nearest warp gate, and returned home. While eating her bland but nutritious dinner, she did some math. After expenses and taxes, she’d made a net profit of just over eight hundred credits. She averaged about three bounties a week, some paying more than others. At this rate, it would take her nearly fifty years to earn six million credits.

To be fair, by then the price of the procedure might be lower. Perhaps it would only take twenty-five years. She didn’t find that particularly comforting. Not for the first time, she wondered if she’d chosen the right career. Before becoming a bounty hunter, she’d mostly lived a life of crime, so she didn’t have much to put on her resume. With her computer skills, she knew she could earn a programming degree pretty quickly, but the thought of spending the next couple of decades behind a desk was almost as bad as the thought of living as a man. And she doubted it would pay more.

She needed a big score. She didn’t want to go back to crime, but she couldn’t imagine earning enough as a bounty hunter to reach her goal.

Detanna sat on her bed and slowly exhaled, looking at the flyer from the Science Center. She wasn’t given to flights of fancy, and that procedure on Cytrine Delta was just a pipe dream. It was time to be realistic. She folded the paper, and was about to tear it in half, but then she stopped herself. Instead, she stood up and attached the flyer to the wall, just above her computer screen. It didn’t hurt to have a goal, even an unrealistic one. 

Six million. She had a target number, and she’d take a day off when she reached it. Until then, a day idle was a day wasted.

She sat down at her computer and browsed the latest bounty listings.

New Short Stories Available

I've posted three new short stories to Wattpad. You can read them here:

Xine Fury on Wattpad

Blood Hunt: While staking out a target, a transgender bounty hunter discovers a machine that could grant her greatest desires.

Blood Bond:  An animal-obsessed orphan encounters a creepy stranger.

Blood Ties: A trans teen runs away from home, and has to make some new friends to survive on the streets.

All three stories take place on the planet Cytrine Delta, and take place a few months before Bloodhunters v1: Bad Blood. Eventually I plan to compile these into one volume to sell on the Kindle store, but I'm probably going to write at least two additional stories first.

Bloodhunters 101: Sapient Species

 

Here's a list of some of the more well-known sapient species in the Bloodhunters universe. There could be some minor spoilers ahead if you haven't read the books.

Aurorans

This xenophobic species is rarely seen away from their home planet. They can alter their skin color from pinkish to gray, and they can darken their eye color as well. They can blend in with the shadows and absorb sound.

Bufonid

A species of humanoids with mottled gray skin with purple splotches. They are about a head taller than humans, and have bulbous eyes. But their most unusual trait is the transparent skin on their chests, making most of their internal organs visible.

Canik

Hailing from the planet Galea, the doglike Caniks are slightly taller than humans, with similar body shapes. However, they’re covered in fur and have doglike heads and tails. Female Caniks often have “manes” of hair on their heads, that may be a different color than their fur.

Chelan

These are the native people of Chirminon, but they are now a minority on their own planet. Chelan have pale skin, no hair, and long earlobes. They have two eyes, but each eye has two irises and pupils. 

Ezarrans

Doglike humanoids with tiny yellow feathers instead of fur.

Gesh

Amphibious people from Miran. They are excellent swimmers who can breathe air or water. They look like bipedal crocodiles. Their iridescent scales come in a variety of colors, usually ranging from turquoise to magenta. They have a separate organ for speaking the guttural Gesh language underwater. The smell or taste of blood can cloud their minds, especially while underwater. 

Gleeghans 

These are amphibians who can climb walls using the sticky pads on their fingers. Since they are cold-blooded, they must wear temperature-regulating bodysuits when away from their home planet.

Glorkans

These humanoids have a single eyestalk instead of a head, with one large eye the size of a cantaloupe. Their language consists of chirps and clicks, and they often wear a translation speaker box when away from their home planet. They have a wide variety of skin and eye colors. 

Grunthians

A brutish species of soldiers, bred and cloned for maximum strength. They have four arms, two of which are larger than the other two. They also have two pairs of eyes, one of which is better for seeing in the dark. Their bodies vary greatly, depending on the whims of the cloner who designed the batch. Some Grunthians are apelike, others are covered in horns, spikes, or armadillo-like plating. Grunthians don’t have any obvious secondary sexual characteristics. Male and female Grunthians look the same except for their genitals, but the females have dual vocal cords that make it sound like two people talking at once.

Kalarans

This species is often described as looking like humanoid spiders. They have two arms and two legs, but they have dark, chitinous skin, and no obvious sexual dimorphism. They are mostly hairless except for their elbows and chins. They have eight eyes, two of which are larger than the other six. Each of the large eyes has a cluster of three smaller eyes underneath. Kalarans have unique patterns etched on their skin, in bright, weblike designs. While not aquatic by nature, Kalarans can hold their breath for long periods of time. 

Knarvans

These humanoids look human, but with no outer ears. They have bright skin colors, usually in shades of yellow or pink. They have a knack for reading body language, and they can regenerate lost limbs. They are born in litters, and usually have multiple identical siblings.

Marae

This is a species of shapeshifters. They are not common in the galaxy, and are often raised to be slaves, concubines, and soldiers. They can change their shape but not their mass. Mostly they’re able to mimic the appearance of other humanoids and animals, and can transform their limbs into tentacles. More complicated forms are possible, but are more difficult to pull off.

Meu

The planet Galea is home to two humanoid species: The catlike Meu and the doglike Caniks. The Meu are slightly shorter than humans, with similar body shapes, but they’re covered in fur and have feline heads and tails. The Meu also have claws that can protrude from the tips of their fingers. Female Meu often have “manes” of hair on their heads, that may be a different color than their fur. 

 

Navorans

Navorans are a race of telepaths. They have no vocal cords, and only speak telepathically. They two arms, but their arms split at the elbows to so that each arm has two forearms. Each of their four hands has two fingers and two thumbs, the thumbs being on opposite sides of the hand. They have a variety of skin colors, and their skin changes color when they experience strong emotion. They can breathe underwater, and their skin is immune to acid.

Navorans can use telepathy to transmit their thoughts, and are highly receptive to the telepathic transmissions of other psychic species. They can’t actively invade other minds, but they occasionally pick up the surface thoughts of nearby telepaths. They have telekinesis which allows them to manipulate small objects from a distance of about ten meters. Navorans only have one sex and no concept of gender. Most of them use they/them pronouns.

Nithari

The Nithari is a species of vampire-like humanoids. They look like humans, but they have pale skin, pointed ears, and no hair. They sunburn easily and have excellent night vision. To the Nithari, human blood is both a narcotic and has medicinal values. Because of this, there are rumors of Nithari serial killers who drink human blood, but this is a rare occurrence. In fact, most Nithari are vegetarians.

Rosmar

Hailing from the arctic region of planet Glayss, these people look like walruses with human arms. They are very strong and have tough skin. They are highly resilient to cold weather, and are excellent swimmers.

Scallen

A reptilian species with armored scales. Their scales can come in any color. They are slightly taller than humans, usually stronger, and much heavier. Scallen are rare in the galaxy, their homeworld long forgotten. Some have been spotted on Itropa.

Sethran

This is an offshoot of the human race. Sethran describes both the species and their religion. They have pale skin and white or blond hair.

Vhelrans

This humanoid species has yellow or orange scales and three nostrils. They have no unusual abilities that set them apart from humans. Vhelrans are widespread throughout the galaxy, and can be found on as many planets as humans.

Bloodhunters 101: Characters

Welcome, visitor! The year is 2500. Thanks to warp gates, we can travel to other planets as quickly as taking a trip to the grocery store. Levatech emitters provide us with artificial gravity and hovering cars. Superheated AON knives allow us to cut through steel. We have holographic televisions, cybernetic limbs, and genetically-enhanced pets.

It’s truly an incredible time to be alive, but not everyone lives very long. With violent crime on the rise, the galaxy becomes more dangerous every day. The InterGalactic Police (IGP) does their best to keep citizens safe, but they often have their hands full. More and more often, people have to rely on bounty hunters to bring criminals to justice. Most recently, the IGP space station exploded, sending the galaxy on a massive manhunt for the terrorist responsible.

So good luck, and be safe out there! Here are some of the people you might meet in your travels. (Minor spoilers ahead.)

Bloodstone is the galaxy’s most notorious bounty hunter. Armed with a weapon for every occasion, this skilled mercenary is the stuff of legend. But what lies under that red-domed helmet? Some have speculated that Bloodstone isn’t even human, but rather a machine programmed to be the perfect hunter. One thing’s for certain though. If Bloodstone is after you, you might as well turn yourself in.

Whisper is a master of stealth and martial arts. Absolutely silent, she can slip into the shadows, striking when it’s least expected. And yet, for all her roguish skills, her heart is pure. As a bounty hunter, she cares less about the reward, and more about making the galaxy a safer place by recovering dangerous criminals. She is armed with an electric whip, and her knack for reading body language allows her to predict her opponent’s moves.

Raven Vermon is a doctor and a scientist. At first glance, she could be mistaken for a cyborg, with her metallic torso and limbs. But her robotic body is more like a complex prosthesis, restoring her mobility after she tragically lost her arms and legs. She has white eyes and short, black hair. She is mildly telepathic, and can tell when people are lying.

Trenyn is a Navoran, an alien species who can only speak telepathically. While most Navorans are also masters of telekinesis, Trenyn’s telekinetic abilities are severely stunted. Navorans only have one sex and no concept of gender. Therefore, Trenyn uses they/them pronouns. They have four hands, and their turquoise-colored skin changes color to match their emotions.

Dervish is a Marae, a species of shapeshifters. Originally conditioned to be a slave, she joins the bounty hunters in the hopes of gaining a sense of independence. Though she’s naïve and lacks experience, her abilities make her a formidable fighter.

Vik Lambert is a former IGP officer, who now hunts for the terrorist responsible for destroying the IGP space station. Bent on revenge, he won’t stop until the fugitive is brought to justice. Vik’s Levatech implants allow him to climb walls, manipulate objects from a distance, and leap to great heights.

Yna is an ex-pirate, who can transform into a fiery energy form. While it’s a powerful ability to have, to Yna it feels more like a curse. She has no idea how she got this way, or if there’s a cure. She is often accompanied by Panther, a black cat the size of a lion.

Lord Teykor Vermon is the ruler of planet Valos, as well as the head of a secret criminal organization known as the Inner Eye. He is also Raven’s father, and is responsible for the attack that left her without limbs. He has white eyes, which he can use to control minds.

Vraxx is a Marae shapeshifter, and Lord Vermon’s bodyguard. He is extremely dangerous, powerful, and loyal to his master.

Alterra Sarr is a fugitive, wanted for the destruction of the IGP space station. Once a member of the IGP, she is now wanted by every bounty hunter in the galaxy. The reward for her capture is the highest ever posted, and whoever catches her will never have to work again.

Doctor G’Heesh Eshton is a scientist who works for the IGP’s research division. He was the head of the project that granted Vik his Levatech implants. Doctor Eshton is a tall humanoid with pale skin and large, black eyes.

Jeke “Berdawg” Skeeper is an Ezarran, a doglike humanoid with yellow feathers. While many people find him hard to take seriously, he’s more dangerous than he looks, and not to be underestimated.

Detanna Taush is a highly skilled bounty hunter. She’s a trans woman, and is saving up for an expensive medical procedure. When she hears about the size of Sarr’s bounty, she’s one of the first ones on the case.

Analon Leebo is a Glorkan, a species of people with an eyestalk instead of a head. He was part of the same program that gave Vik Lambert his Levatech implants, only Leebo’s granted him additional abilities the designers hadn’t foreseen.

Crossbones is a pirate who dresses like a ninja. Or is he a ninja who hangs out with pirates? Regardless, he’s a dangerous assassin with no scruples to speak of. He wields two AON swords, but he’s just as deadly without them.

Remember, if you see Alterra Sarr, make sure to report her to the nearest IGP agent. Do not attempt to apprehend her yourself, as she is extremely dangerous.

Bloodhunters 101: Planets and Moons

Welcome back! Here is a quick guide to a few of the planets you might find yourself visiting in the year 2500. (Minor spoilers ahead.)

Belaum - This planet is plagued by constant storms after its moon exploded in 2472. The remaining cities are under transparent domes on cliff tops.

Chirminon - An Earthlike planet with many large cities and a variety of environments. The planet is home to many species of humanoids, but mostly humans and Vhelrans. The native Chelan people are becoming increasingly rare. On the Northern continent of Greenvale, the city of Trasa is a haven for criminals and bounty hunters. The BotCo factory in Trasa is one of the foremost robotics companies in the galaxy, but they have a reputation for poor management and disgruntled workers. The Southern continent of Exotera is populated by worshipers of Talo-Ka, a dragonlike goddess.

Cleesia - An Earthlike planet with very little remaining foliage.

Cytrine Delta - An impoverished world that is also a center for scientific research.

Earth - Home to the IGP, and one of the more influential planets in the galaxy. English has practically become the universal language, and EarthDate (ED) has become the standard of time. Due to human stubbornness, Earth is often thought of as a planet full of Karens. The three largest countries on Earth are the United States of North America (USNA), the Associated Asian Nations (AAN), and the Euro-Russian Union (ERU).

Ferna - An Earthlike planet with excellent (if unusual) medical facilities. It leads the galaxy in organ donations and coma patient care. They will keep any body alive for one full year, regardless of how unlikely they are to recover. This care is free, and the doctors spend the year doing everything in their power to revive the patient. If the patient is still in a coma after a year, their organs are harvested.

Fertilund - An Earthlike planet, more known for its moon, Itropa. Tourists visit to Fertilund to watch Itropa through telescopes, so they can see its primitive society develop. Fertilund Parks & Preservation strictly monitors who can land on Itropa, to prevent cultural contamination.

Frella - A resort planet with a quaint charm. It is known for using outdated technology and it has unusual weather patterns.

Fresna - An Earthlike planet with a single, worldwide government. They have a two party system, but they are gradually sliding toward a more totalitarian government.

Galea - A planet with two major species – the catlike Meu and the doglike Caniks. Much of their civilization is modeled after Earth in the 1980s. Due to their relations with other planets, the Meu and the Caniks often refer to themselves as “cats” and “dogs.” They think the similarity to the Earth animals is uncanny, and have embraced the monikers. Note that only the cats call the planet “Galea.” The dogs refer to it as “Boof.”

Glayss - Home to a species of Walrus people called the Rosmar.

Gleegha - A swamp planet. Home to an amphibious humanoid species.

Grunthar - A planet of warriors, Grunthians lead the galaxy in weapons manufacturing. They often consider conquering the rest of the galaxy, but their frequent changes in leadership mean that very little progress is actually made in their society.

Haktet - A sparsely-populated desert planet. Three-fourths of planet covered in orange sand and dry rock, with the only surface vegetation surrounding the planet’s single ocean. The terrain is prone to sinkholes, and the weather is dangerously hot. Watch out for sandstorms.

Itropa - Moon of Fertilund. The people of Itropa live in a medieval-style society, and believe technology to be magic. Fertilund’s government is oddly protective of its moon, and has laws against cultural contamination.

Jetsam - A cosmopolitan planet with purple skies and very few laws. People come from all over the galaxy to purchase illegal goods. Outdoor vendors line the streets of major cities.

Kalara - A planet of spider-like humanoids, but it’s not as scary as it sounds. They are very open to visitors from other planets, and their annual festivals are quite popular with off-worlders.

Kithia - An Earthlike planet with very beautiful parks and mountains.

Korrigan - Settled by humans with traditional values, the planet Korrigan looks like tribute to 1950s America.

Mars - Mars has been terraformed but unsettled due to land disputes. Many of Earth’s corporations use Mars for storage, to the point that the planet is sometimes referred to as “Earth’s Attic.”

Miran - Home to two sapient species: human settlers from Earth, and the amphibious Gesh, who mostly live in underwater cities. The two cultures get along well, with the occasional hiccup.

Montara - An Earthlike planet with a gothic aesthetic.

Mortos - The moon of Vivas. The moon is one massive graveyard.

Muerte - The people of Muerte are practical cannibals. They don’t like waste, so they eat their dead and use their bones for construction.

Rabinaar - The citizens of Rabinaar are devout worshipers of one of two gods: Ris Kiree or Norgalla. The two religions are constantly at war.

Saffron Mesa - A planet themed around Earth’s Wild West. While the planet is popular with tourists, it’s also quite dangerous. Laws are lax, and crime is widespread. The city of Kresno in particular is a popular vacation destination.

Sandhaven - A resort planet for the galaxy’s wealthiest people, Sandhaven is full of beautiful beaches and other natural wonders.

Snud - This is the most popular planet for college students on spring break. The population holds one massive party all year long. The tourists are huge targets for kidnappers and scam artists.

Tropis - A jungle planet. Few visitors are allowed on the jungle floor, which is a massive wildlife reserve. Tourists stay in treetop cities that overlook the jungles.

Umbra - A moon that is mostly used as a prison.

Valos - One of the galaxy’s more beautiful planets, Valos was used as a prison until there was an uprising. Now it's home to the Inner Eye, a massive criminal operation. The planet is also home to virtrinium mines.

Vhelra - An Earthlike planet. With their planet overcrowded, the Vhelrans were one of the first cultures to get out and explore the universe.

Vivas - An Earthlike planet. They use their moon as a graveyard.

Safe travels!

Bloodhunters v2 is Now Available on the Kindle Store

Now available:

Bloodhunters v2: Blue Blood

It’s been one year since the destruction of IGP Earthstation 1, and the terrorist responsible is still on the loose. Meanwhile, the heirs to the throne of Valos conspire to build a weapon that will spell doom for everyone on Earth. The hunters become the hunted in this exciting sequel to Xine Fury’s Bloodhunters!