Foreign Land, page 1
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FOREIGN LAND
This Foreign Universe – Book 1
Copyright © 2021 J.S. Sherwood
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ISBN (EPUB Version): 1622537424
ISBN-13 (EPUB Version): 978-1-62253-742-6
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Editor: Becky Stephens
Cover Artist: Sam Keiser
Interior Designer: Lane Diamond
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE:
At the end of this novel of approximately 80,762 words, you will find two Special Sneak Previews: 1) FOREIGN PLANET by J.S. Sherwood, the next installment (Book 2) in the “This Foreign Universe” series of Sci-Fi adventures, and; 2) DOWN TO DIRT by Kevin Killiany, the critically-acclaimed first book in his “Dirt and Stars” series of Young Adult Sci-Fi adventures. We think you’ll enjoy these books, too, and provide these previews as a FREE extra service, which you should in no way consider a part of the price you paid for this book. We hope you will both appreciate and enjoy the opportunity. Thank you.
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eBook License Notes:
You may not use, reproduce or transmit in any manner, any part of this book without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations used in critical articles and reviews, or in accordance with federal Fair Use laws. All rights are reserved.
This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only; it may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, please return to your eBook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
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Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or the author has used them fictitiously.
Books by J.S. Sherwood
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THIS FOREIGN UNIVERSE
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ARC ONE: THE BATTLES THEY FOUGHT
Book 1: Foreign Land
Book 2: Foreign Planet
Book 3: Foreign Home
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ARC TWO: THE EARTH THEY LEFT BEHIND
Book 4: Almost Pathless
Book 5: Almost Homeless
Book 6: Almost Earthless
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ARC THREE: THE SEEDS THEY PLANTED
Book 7: The Engineer
Book 8: The Explorer
Book 9: The Sage
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www.WorldsByJSherwood.com
BONUS CONTENT
We’re pleased to offer you not one, but two Special Sneak Previews at the end of this book.
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In the first preview, you’ll enjoy the First 2 Chapters of J.S. Sherwood’s novel, FOREIGN PLANET, the next installment (Book 2) in the “This Foreign Universe” series of Sci-Fi adventures.
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[Cover Image Coming Soon]
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TO STAY UP-TO-DATE ON ALL DEVELOPMENTS IN
THIS SERIES, PLEASE STAY TUNED TO OUR WEBSITE HERE:
JAKE SHERWOOD at Evolved Publishing
In the second preview, you’ll enjoy Chapters 1-3 of Kevin Killiany’s DOWN TO DIRT, the critically-acclaimed first book in his “Dirt and Stars” series of Young Adult Sci-Fi adventures.
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“Down to Dirt is YA hard science fiction with an attitude, full of technical details as engaging as the characters. I was immediately drawn into the story.”
~ Kevin J. Anderson, New York Times bestselling author of Eternity’s Mind
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“DOWN TO DIRT [is] an entertaining and effortless read... close to perfection. Everything you could want in a YA, coming of age, sci-fi, dystopian world drama is here.”
~ Readers’ Favorite Book Reviews
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YOU’LL FIND LINKS TO YOUR FAVORITE RETAILER HERE:
DIRT AND STARS Series at Evolved Publishing
Table of Contents
Copyright
Books by J.S. Sherwood
BONUS CONTENT
Table of Contents
Dedication
FOREIGN LAND
PART ONE
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
PART TWO
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
PART THREE
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
PART FOUR
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Special Sneak Preview: FOREIGN PLANET by J.S. Sherwood
Acknowledgements
About the Author
What’s Next?
More from Evolved Publishing
Special Sneak Preview: DOWN TO DIRT by Kevin Killiany
Dedication
For Meaghan,
Forever my person.
PART ONE
Chapter 1
Smith stood on a small mound of gray dirt, leaning on his shovel. His eyes were bloodshot with exhaustion and despair. His son sat a few yards away, knees bent, bald head hung down. Abe was nearly sixteen, but in that moment, Smith saw him as the young boy who had been afraid of the dark.
A cool wind blew Smith’s long, gray hair into his sweat-soaked face as he drew deep breaths. The helmet of his survival suit lay on its side at his feet, the clear glass cracked. Thankfully, the air was breathable, so now he only wore his issued suit—crimson red with black side stripes—to keep him warm. Something in the air of this new world irritated his skin, and he kept scratching at the speckled scruff that covered his face.
This new planet. Aethera.
His new hell.
He looked around at what had been accomplished in the last few hours. Fifteen shiny colony domes sat in a perfect row, fresh from their vacuum-sealed packaging. The purified white of the structures shone even brighter against the bland landscape. Fourteen of them were exactly fifteen feet across. The last was twice that size and had been meant for the captain and her family. Now it was being used as triage for the injured. Smith watched as two men carried a woman through its doors. Even from that distance, he could tell she’d lost a leg.
To the east of the domes, in the distance, a range of mountains stretched north and south as far as he could see. The base of the mountains were ashen just like the dirt he dug in. It slowly changed to a dusty red as the elevation increased, and the top of each was white with snow. They pierced into a gray-orange sky that Smith would have found beautiful under different circumstances. But that night it felt ominous, as if it would simply cave in at any moment. And if it had, he wasn’t sure he’d mind all that much.
They had planned to land on the other side of the mountains, where the treetops reached to the sky and the roots weaved strongly into moist, healthy soil. But they had ended up in the dark, dusty emptiness that surrounded him. With no rover or ground transports in working order, they had decided to set up where they were.
South of where he stood, the desert went on and on. To the north, past the horizon, was a vast ocean that covered over half of the planet. Based on the pictures the drones had sent back, the largest animals on the planet lived in those waters. Cascading, clear green water estimated to reach depths of over ten thousand feet. Shadows appeared just below the surface. Long, oval-shaped creatures that sped through the waters at blistering speeds. Smith had been most excited to see the ocean; he’d never had the chance to see it on Earth. But now he wondered whether he would survive long enough to see it. Whether any of them would. Across the ocean, two continents. One covered in sand and natural stone pillars, the other a massive tangle of overgrown plants.
A few hundred yards past the domes to the west lay the bent, smoldering husks of their ship. Something had gone wrong when they entered the atmosphere. All Smith knew was that he had seen flames, heard explosions, and awoke covered in burns, cuts and dirt. He helped the others salvage who and what they could: 121 survivors, fifteen colony domes, some clothing, enough foodstuffs to last 121 people about two months, two crates of tools, and one crate of weapons. Between Smith and the mangled metal were at least twenty other survivors, all digging for the same reason Smith was.
All burying their loved ones.
Smith, burying his wife.
Evalee. Gone.
Sylvia, Evalee’s s
With a gut-wrenching cough, Smith turned back to his mound and shovel. The gravity here was much stronger than what he was used to. Double what it had been back on the Ship of Nations. Half a G more than on Earth. Slowly, painstakingly, he scooped up some dirt. Let it drop into the hole that held her body. Each time the dirt landed in the hole with a soft thud, Abe flinched. Smith’s wife had always been the one to comfort the boy. Smith loved his son, loved his wife, but how was he to comfort him? It seemed impossible to do when it felt as though his very soul had burned away, left his body in a trail of smoke that he was sure would never return.
She was somehow still intact when he had found her. Dead, but intact. Yet, as Smith looked at the body of the woman he knew and loved, it was both her and not her. It was still her sleek brown hair and olive skin. It even still smelled like her, despite the burns that covered her body. But something had changed, and Smith would have to consider what that meant.
He continued to fill the hole, scoop after agonizing scoop. All he could think of were the dreams he had of what that day was supposed to be. He had imagined it so clearly the night before.
They would land amid towering trees that rose dozens of feet above them, the fresh breeze weaving through the branches. The day would be spent planting row after row of seeds with his son. When afternoon came, he would spend it with Evalee, filling their small dome with what little they had. They were supposed to be making a home together. Eating a meal in open air. Talking together on what the future would bring. Living a beautiful life. He had even planned on asking her if she was ready for another child. He knew he was. Or had been the night before as he fell asleep next to his wife.
Was it worse to ponder on happy memories that would never be, or to burden one’s thoughts with the sorrows that might yet come?
***
Twenty years ago, Smith never would have left Earth. Sure, it had turned bad, but it was his home.
A home ravaged by wars that set energy advancements back decades, leaving many nations scrambling to find what fossil fuels they could. This only led to more violence, more fighting over territory and political control.
The new generation ship and colonization plan was funded by a non-profit organization known as Humans for Humanity. They were determined to send “the best of humanity” out to colonize the universe. Multiple fresh starts in the hope that at least one planet would get it right.
Smith had seen humanity and was never completely convinced.
The ship was leaving to colonize other planets, but also to leave the deteriorating Earth behind. The divides between various groups continued to grow so vast that many believed those gaps would never be closed. Many wanted to leave on the Ship of Nations, but not all who wanted to were accepted aboard.
For Smith, he had an easy in with his occupation as a biotech farmer. They needed someone like him. Someone who could maintain healthy crops for years in the vastness of space, using recycled water and cutting-edge biotech to do so. Smith had won multiple accolades for his advancements in the field and was well-known in the industry. And, at the time, he had no personal ties to keep him on Earth.
He, as with everyone else, went through exhaustive academic, physical, psychological, emotional and even spiritual testing. Academic and physical were his strongest areas, while spiritual was his worst. This was due to his lack of faith in anything of a religious or spiritual nature, and H for H believed faith was an integral part of a “full human experience.” It wasn’t that he was supposed to believe wholeheartedly what Humans for Humanity taught. If that were the case, only a handful of zealots would have been allowed aboard. H for H did not believe traditional family units were the best way to raise a family, nor the way families would be in the afterlife. According to H for H:
“Humans are most productive and happy when in a workplace family. Multiple adults and children living and working together, each with a designated role to play. As post-humans in the afterlife, this is how our lives will be. We will each be assigned a role in the After that correlates directly to how we worked, played and treated one another.”
Smith and many others would never adhere to this lifestyle. On top of that, everyone who adhered strictly by H for H standards rarely showed emotion. It was a common joke that the zealots had had their human brains replaced by computer chips. So, H for H compromised, and chose people of various ideologies. They decided, after days of debate, that what a person believes was not as important as how a person treats and cares for others. And the hope they had that humanity could be better than what they’d become on Earth.
What they wanted, the people they thought should spread humanity across the cosmos, were those who would accept and embrace all humans, whether they agreed or not. After all, it was the lack of such people that had continued to widen the chasms between the various groups.
Smith had been seeing H for H ads for months before he finally went into their massive complex. Every time he sent a message, he would be told it was sent “Thanks to the help of Humans for Humanity.” When he walked past their looming complex, his watch would shout, “Humans for Humanity needs you, Smith, to help spread the best of humanity across the universe.” For a long time, he had no intention of leaving Earth. Sure, things were bad, but Earth was his home. Until it wasn’t.
Chapter 2
After the living were done burying their dead in the new soil of Aethera, the survivors gathered outside the small circle of domes. The pale red sun hung in the sky straight above them, the rays sending off less warmth than Smith would have liked. There was a light, cold breeze. Winter had been Evalee’s favorite season on Earth. The cold air felt fresher, she would say. The crispness of it made her feel more alive. When they were selected to be part of Colony Six, the first thing she did was research the weather on Aethera. With an annual average of sixty-five degrees Fahrenheit, she couldn’t wait to get off the ship and breathe in the brisk, chilled air unsullied by human creation.
Morbidly ironic, then, that her first breath on that planet had also been her last.
Just knowing, even believing, a part of her still existed somewhere, anywhere, would have lightened Smith’s load. He opened his eyes and, for a moment, imagined his wife’s beautiful, smiling face floating in the sky. Then it disappeared as he remembered the look of her lifeless face in the ground.
The children that had survived played inside a dome while a group of adults gathered outside to discuss what had happened. Although, Smith thought, it wasn’t really a discussion at all. At least not in the way Evalee would have held a discussion.
One man yelled at the two remaining engineers, his sharp blue eyes wet with grief. “How the hell do we still not know what went wrong?”
It was Jonstin, a small, stubborn man Smith had known for many years. It was nearly impossible to convince him he was ever wrong, even if spit right in his face. He had been piloting the vessel when it went down.
“You checked everything,” he continued, “and told us we were clear for entry! I trusted you and led over three hundred of our people to their deaths.”
Jonstin stepped back, and many shouted similar questions at the engineers.
Evalee’s sister, Sylvia, the lead engineer, stepped into the middle of the group. She was tall, sturdy and sharp. Her hair was so short it barely poked out of the gray hat she always wore.
“Shut. The hell. Up. All of you,” she said.
They followed her request.
“Look, I’m sorry for everyone’s loss,” she continued. “I truly am. But you seem to be forgetting that I, too, lost someone. I found my sister’s corpse this morning. Do not talk to me as though this was my fault, or that I am unaffected by this tragedy simply because you think I could have stopped it from happening.”
She looked around, daring anyone to question her again. No one did.
Her voice calmer, she said, “As far as we can tell, it was a malfunction with one of the computers. We’re not sure, but it seems that the heat shields meant to protect the hull on entry went active only on certain sections of the ship. The other sections were exposed to the full heat and force of entry.”
The colony ship they had flown to Aethera was made using raw materials excavated from various asteroids the Ship of Nations had passed since leaving Earth. The hull ended up not being as impervious to heat as they had hoped. To counteract this, the computer engineers created energy shields to protect the ship’s integrity. Yet these, too, proved to be less effective than hoped.
