Lindsey's Rescue: A World Beyond Book 3 Read online

  Lindsey’s Rescue

  A World Beyond

  By Michelle Howard

  Published by Michelle Howard

  Copyright © 2015 by Michelle Howard

  License Notes

  This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. The eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this novel with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this eBook and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please buy an additional copy for each recipient.

  No part of this book may be distributed in any format, in whole or in part without the express written consent of the author.

  Thank you for respecting the author's hard work.

  This is a work of fiction and is not a reflection or representation of any person living or dead. Any similarity is of pure coincidence.

  Chapter 1

  Lindsey slammed the door of the transport with her hip and hiked her duffle higher on her shoulder. She couldn’t help the bright smile stretching her lips as she did a two step across the busy streets to the front of the space station. Horns honked and blared in her wake but her inner excitement muted the negative sounds. Armed guards in dull grey uniforms marched down the sidewalk, weapons visible. She imagined security had to be tightened a few years ago as a result of Earth’s Singles Program. Too many women trying to force their way onto flights in a bid to circumvent the program.

  Per the instructions in her packet, Lindsey walked straight to the outside ticket counter. She handed the manila slip to the grim-faced worker.

  “ID please.” He voiced his demand in a gruff bark.

  Lindsey increased the wattage of her smile, hoping to brighten his day. The result had his unibrow dipping to the side, giving his face an odd, surprised expression. She held in a chuckle and dug her fingers into her front pocket for the requested ID. He stared at the square longer than she thought necessary, then scrounged in his top drawer and brought out a pen light to shine the red beam on the holo image of her really bad head shot.

  Her heartbeat kicked up a notch. “I have my acceptance letter from the SP if you need it.”

  The coveted letter guaranteed Lindsey a spot on one of the many outgoing ships to far off worlds inhabited by alien men willing to accept Earth women as wives. The Singles Program or SP as many were starting to call it had taken off like a shot. SP represented the government’s attempt to meet the constant demands of the female population. It was a life saving solution to the problem caused by a virus that had wiped out a large chunk of the men on Earth.

  If approved after application submission, a woman had to pay an exorbitant fee of twenty thousand dollars within seven days of notification. Failure to comply resulted in immediate rejection and another received your slot. It seemed ninety percent of life forms on other worlds were compatible with humans from Earth.

  Now that men were a limited quantity here, Lindsey, like plenty of others, raced for a chance of a happy life and family elsewhere. Of course, she’d worked more overtime hours than she could remember while busting ass at not one but two part-time jobs to raise the ridiculous twenty-thousand dollar fee.

  “Please continue on,” the worker said at last, handing back the ticket and her ID. Lindsey’s fingers clenched on the documents and she exhaled in relief, sending him one more smile for good measure.

  “Thanks.”

  “Gate C.”

  Lindsey repeated the instructions for good measure and headed inside the station. In truth, her heart pounding hadn’t lessoned when the worker sent her through. If anything, it increased. Nerves jangled as she read the overhead signs of the busy terminal to figure out in which direction she needed to go. The crowd jostled her aside in their haste to get to where they were going. A large portion of those rushing were women.

  Lindsey followed the overhead signs but found no Gate C. She stopped a woman laden with two suitcases, hair slightly damp and wide brown eyes. “Excuse me. I need Gate C. Is it this way?”

  The woman’s lip curled as she snorted. “And I need to get rid of my extra suitcase, then still get back to make my flight.” The woman pointed at her short cap of dark curls. “I didn’t even dry my hair from my shower in my hurry to get here and they won’t cut me slack for violating the one bag rule.”

  Lindsey didn’t get to respond as the woman hurried off. She sighed and turned in a full circle. Her gaze scanned the electronic signage until she spotted Gate C. Lindsey joined the long line and pushed back her sudden trepidation. She’d thought long and hard about this before sending in her application. Her mother claimed she was crazy and that was a whole other story.

  Lindsey didn’t bother reaching out to her father. With seventeen kids to his credit, Byron Chandler loved life and himself without a care for the plight of those he used by selling sex to women desperate for children.

  “Please step forward. Store your bag on the side and stand in the yellow circle.”

  Lindsey and the others in line watched in fascination as each person moved forward, received a body scan then proceeded to the large waiting area to the right of the double tracks.

  “You’re next, miss.”

  Lindsey jumped. This was it. Her moment to fly away among the stars. She’d find a husband and hopefully there’d be children. Just not seventeen like her father. With that in mind, Lindsey tossed her duffle to the side and ran to the yellow circle with a rebel yell. She threw her hands in the air and turned in a full circle for the scan.

  Several people laughed and tittered though the guard didn’t find her funny at all. Lindsey bit her bottom lip when he waved her forward with an abrupt motion. She grabbed her bag and searched the overflowing waiting area for a place to sit. Every woman she approached glared until she spotted a lone woman with brown hair seated on a single piece of luggage.

  Lindsey bounded over and announced, “I’m Lindsey Ferra.”

  She waited with baited breath for the woman to dismiss her. Instead, friendly brown eyes greeted her when the woman lifted her head. Small tension lines creased her forehead and Lindsey had the feeling she and this woman shared the same fears minus the snooty attitude of the others. At least she hoped this was the case as she plopped herself down beside her and extended her hand.

  “My name’s Lindsey Ferra.”

  “I’m Fai—Faye.”

  Lindsey relaxed for the first time in weeks since receiving her approval letter. Faye’s eyes glazed over as she glanced around at the milling people. The air vibrated with taut expectation. Women hoping and wishing for a new life and at the same time worrying something might go wrong at the last minute. Lindsey probably had the same look on her own face. “Nice to meet you, Faye. Have you decided where you’re going?”

  Faye’s brown eyes mirrored a startled doe. Lindsey relaxed further. Thank goodness she wasn’t the only one scared but if this woman didn’t have a place picked out already, she was really behind the game. Lindsey dragged her duffel onto her lap, pulling out all of the information she’d received during the preparatory process.

  She found what she needed and waved the stack at Faye who accepted them. “I’ve narrowed my choices down to three.”

  Faye’s eyes widened further, eyeing the brochures as if they’d bite her. “I thought we had the whole trip to decide.”

  Lindsey just shook her head. This girl. Faye could use more help than she’d initially thought. “Sure, if you don’t care where you’re going. Otherwise you might get stuck on Ontar Z.”

  A puzzled frown creased Faye’s mouth and her brows furrowed. “I thought most of the planets in SP were compatible wit
h humans.”

  Was this chick crazy? This was their life.

  New life-check.

  New home, new planet-check.

  New husband-coming right up.

  Lindsey reached for a stick of gum and offered it to her new found friend. “Well, yeah.” Faye waved away the gum. “Compatible is as compatible does.”

  She scrimmaged through her duffle and pulled out a wrinkled paper. “Ontar Z.”

  Faye took one look and blanched at the seven foot hairy giant on the cover. Lindsey smiled. She’d had the same reaction, but, hey maybe some women dug the monster type in need of a full body shave.

  “Now him,” Lindsey continued. “I’m not interested in.”

  Faye let loose a nervous chuckle. “I’m not either.”

  She rifled through the other papers Lindsey had given her. Confusion shifted to curiosity. “Why these three?”

  Lindsey leaned over, and popped her gum. “Langhorn.” She tapped the top page. “Men are highly sexual and very fertile. Average families run up toward seven kids per couple.”

  Faye flinched. “Seven kids.”

  Lindsey snickered. “I know, right. But I chatted in a couple of forums and the women are pleased with their lives. They don’t have to work and the men adore them. They just don’t believe in birth control on Langhorn if you decide to go there.”

  “Hmm.” Faye set the paper on the side, clearly not interested in populating a world all by herself either.

  She flipped to the next brochure and paused.

  “Ooohhhhh, this is my top choice.” Lindsey fanned herself and pretended to swoon, earning a smile from Faye.

  Encouraged by the reaction of the first friend she’d had since her neighbors moved away when she was eight and taking her playmate with them, Lindsey grinned again.

  “Why is…” Faye struggled over the name. “Garulax your favorite?”

  Easy answer. Lindsey couldn’t control her sigh. “Menage. On Garulax every woman is shared by two husbands. Can you imagine? Two men devoted to your happiness.”

  Faye dropped the brochure of the orange planet as if it was on fire. Lindsey didn’t blame her. At first she’d hesitated with the idea of having more than one man. After all, it was no different then what Earth men did to women by stringing them along. Then she’d read the description of life on Garulax.

  Unlike Earth, Garulax had always had a shortage of women, leaving their men acclimated to the idea of sharing. The result of this shortage created Triad marriages in which their society encouraged the men to share and love a single woman.

  Faye pulled out Lindsey’s last choice although she’d already decided Enotia wasn’t for her. When Faye flipped it open, there were muscled-bound, shirtless men in leather. Long hair, short hair, some holding swords, others flexing fists. The bottom of the page read- ‘Every woman will be honored and loved by her Chosen.’

  “This one looks good.” Faye barely glanced up.

  “Maybe.” Lindsey reached for the paper and tapped her newly painted nail on the small print. “You have to go through an auction or something silly. The men line up and the women have to pick which one they want for a husband. No meet and greet or anything. Plus, what if someone picks the guy you’re eyeing.”

  Faye looked up, mouth puckered. “Well, why is it in your good stack?”

  Lindsey chuckled. “Duh…did you see what the guys looked like?”

  They both laughed because the men were hot.

  “I think I’m going to Garulax. You should pick early too so you don’t get stuck with just any world. I hear they fill up fast because they include women from other worlds in the Singles Program as well.”

  Faye straightened. “How do I do that?”

  Apparently Faye had yet to read her stuff. “As soon as you get to your cabin, log in with the password in your packet and pick your planet. It’s best to get it out of the way.”

  “Thanks.” Faye’s smile beamed forth.

  Overcome with her own excitement, Lindsey leaned over and hugged Faye. “We women from Earth have to stick together, right?”

  “Absolutely.”

  Lindsey sat back on her heels. “Now why’d you sign up? A man of your own or the thought of little, wittle babies?”

  Faye accepted her teasing and grinned. “Both. My parents are dead and I was an only child.”

  Lindsey’s mouth dropped. “They were monogamous?”

  “Yes.”

  Amazing. Many couples on Earth didn’t bother staying together longer than it took to have sex. Envy filled her. “I can’t imagine. My dad stuck with my mom long enough to get me planted and went on his way five-thousand richer. From last count, I have sixteen siblings somewhere and my donor’s a rich man from selling his stud services.”

  The volume of chatter in the waiting area increased. People started gathering their one allotted piece of baggage. Lindsey came to her feet and slung her duffle over her shoulder, jamming her three choices back in the top. “That life’s not for me.”

  “Now boarding Gate C.” The announcement blared overhead.

  Lindsey jerked and bit her bottom lip. “It was nice meeting you, Faye. Good luck.”

  Faye rose from the floor, her hand latching onto the handle of her rolling suitcase. “Good luck.”

  They both rushed toward the crowd forming a line for the ship that would take them to their future.

  After the check-in process, Lindsey settled in her room, the narrow space consisting of a wall-mounted bunk and a vid-screen. She logged on with her access code and took one last look at the three brochures, placing Garulax on top.

  “Here goes nothing,” she muttered under her breath and keyed in her selection. Lindsey held her breath as the scrolling progress bar took its time moving. Once the screen read accepted, she slumped back on the bed and wiped imaginary sweat from her brow.

  Chapter 2

  “Senate Leader Baruk, your absence at tomorrow’s vote is highly unlike you. Is there a way we can persuade you to postpone your personal matter to attend to the vote?”

  Baruk kept his face a smooth mask as High Councilor Jakil asked his question. The query to postpone his request for one day off was not unusual. Senate meetings required the attendance of the majority members for votes to pass on any new measures. Baruk’s problem with Jakil’s request stemmed from the fact that ten of the twelve members would be present. He’d confirmed it himself before moving forward.

  “There will be sufficient numbers for the vote. I’m sorry, High Councilor, but I insist my request for time off stand as is.” Baruk folded his arms over his chest, staring at the holo-screen and waited for the inevitable rebuttal.

  Jakil’s mouth formed a grim line as he studied Baruk with brown eyes circled in gray. “Yes. Well, it’s just that,” he paused and cleared his throat before continuing. “Your vote carries more weight among the members.”

  In other words, his fellow Senate Leaders wanted to hear what Baruk thought before proceeding on anything. Baruk held in his frustration. It negated the purpose of having a senate body if they all followed the lead of one. Then he thought of another. “What about Senate Leader Zadal? He and I may not always get along but we have similar political views.”

  Baruk didn’t necessarily care for Zadal, finding him harsh in his demeanor and unmoving in his stance when presented with opposition but he did have the good of Garulax at heart when it came to official business.

  The High Councilor huffed. “It has come to my attention that Senate Leader Zadal has requested time off tomorrow as well.”

  This bit of news surprised Baruk. The odds of the other man taking off on the same day as he to attend the upcoming Triad Bridal Meet would be incredible. All single men of eligible age and status received an open invitation to participate in selecting a bride among those present. On their world it was a common enough practice for Triads to form.

  The only reason Baruk had not attended a meet in the past was due to his lack of a Triad spouse to par
tner with. Every man Baruk considered, he dismissed for some reason or another. Now that he was entering his thirtieth year, he’d decided to persevere and attend alone in hopes of finding a bride and a partner to form a Triad while there. Many men did the same and successfully formed a match.

  “Senate Leader Baruk, would you reconsider in light of this news?”

  Baruk snorted. “I’m afraid, High Councilor, that won’t be possible. Good day.”

  He ended the transmission before Jakil could go on and on about the importance of the vote or whatever else was on the agenda tomorrow. Baruk needed a bride for professional reasons but he wanted one for personal reasons. Someone to share a restful evening with and most importantly a woman he could use to relieve himself. Female sex workers, though beautiful, were out of the question. They looked for a man in his position to take care of them financially or to elevate their status but never to form a Triad and never to have children. Baruk wanted a legacy to leave behind, a family and in order to do that, he needed a wife.

  “Senate Leader, will you need further assistance?”

  Baruk turned toward the voice and faced his first assistant. The dark-haired woman held her data pad close to her chest and rocked back on her heels. He smiled. “Thank you, Mala but I’m done. If anything comes up, I’ll use second assistant.”

  Her shoulders eased and she grinned, revealing the twin dimples she hated. “Thank you. My husbands planned a special get away this weekend and I promised work would not interfere.”

  Baruk chuckled. As first assistant, Mala, covered all of his meetings and correspondence for work purposes, while his second assistant, Kimsha, handled his correspondence and financials for his personal life. “Enjoy your vacation and give Tarden and Emjor my best.”

  She nodded and practically ran from the room. Baruk sighed and turned off the sensors for the lighting system in his office. He closed out all of his running computer programs and shut down for the day. His fingers stroked the petals of the fresh flowers he changed out once a week. If he was to put his best foot forward tomorrow, he needed to meet with Kimsha about what to wear. His senate robes would not do and Baruk couldn’t recall the last time he’d gone out for an evening and dressed strictly for pleasure.