Zosma by Jason Primrose - Book Tour
Science Fiction
Date Published: November 1, 2018
Publisher: Mascot Books
Zosma opens the series on Earth in 2052 A.D. as Allister Adams, a young superhuman, begins his search for the planet’s possible savior: Zosma Caster. Zosma is an intergalactic refugee and the vessel for an otherworldly energy source from the Andromeda Galaxy. The rogue organization C20 has been interested in Zosma’s power, but are its intentions entirely pure? Allister’s search for an alien becomes a search for truth as the walls, literally and figuratively, are closing in.
CHAPTER ONE
Intrusion
Allister Adams
Marrakech, Morocco, 2052 AD
Heavy breathing. racing heartbeats. The intentional pitter-patter of people moving from place
to place. No, moving closer to him.
to place. No, moving closer to him.
Allister Adams came to face-up in a heap of sand. Every mus- cle throbbed,
his brain included. He grunted and pushed himself onto his elbows as unfamiliar terrain
and untrustworthy vision demanded his concentration. He blinked at an image of three
identical buildings blending into one another and the darkness abound.
his brain included. He grunted and pushed himself onto his elbows as unfamiliar terrain
and untrustworthy vision demanded his concentration. He blinked at an image of three
identical buildings blending into one another and the darkness abound.
Navy gloom thwarted moonlight from reaching the rooftops.
Clustered together, the far from welcoming buildings defined themselves in rectangular
shapes and varied shades of grey. They towered over Allister, as if demanding an
explanation from him, the outsider.
Clustered together, the far from welcoming buildings defined themselves in rectangular
shapes and varied shades of grey. They towered over Allister, as if demanding an
explanation from him, the outsider.
Turning toward the direction of the last step he’d heard, he squinted, suspicious
of what lay beyond a stone wall’s decompos- ing edge.
of what lay beyond a stone wall’s decompos- ing edge.
“Get up! Hands in the air!” someone shouted.
The building showed its allegiance to the city by hiding the body that carried this robust
and confident voice.
and confident voice.
“I’m getting there,” he mumbled. He couldn’t believe it worked.
He’d completed a successful transport before, but it had never taken this long to recover
from its physiological side-effects.
He’d completed a successful transport before, but it had never taken this long to recover
from its physiological side-effects.
Six simultaneous click-clacks and a collective, fearsome whirring confirmed new military
weapon prototypes charging for action.
weapon prototypes charging for action.
“Hands in the air intruder!” the same voice shouted from somewhere above him.
“Yeah, okay, give me a second!”
Gun-toting soldiers slinked into view: behind opposite build- ings, two waited for him to walk
forward; a third stepped in front of him; a fourth emerged behind him. On the adjacent roof,
a fifth and sixth aimed at him sniper-style. The double-barrel chrome weapons in sight
wore prized core-reactor technology near the trigger.
forward; a third stepped in front of him; a fourth emerged behind him. On the adjacent roof,
a fifth and sixth aimed at him sniper-style. The double-barrel chrome weapons in sight
wore prized core-reactor technology near the trigger.
Their possession of the proprietary war tech doubled his heart rate and paused his
sarcasm. He was incapable of tearing his concentration from the plasma energy building
in the gun’s glass sphere to obey their request.
sarcasm. He was incapable of tearing his concentration from the plasma energy building
in the gun’s glass sphere to obey their request.
“Those aren’t on full power, right?” he asked aloud. He needed the nausea to go away like
now. The aches pulsed with less inten- sity, the fever subsided, and his body cooled.
Better. He sat back on his heels, hands up, as instructed.
now. The aches pulsed with less inten- sity, the fever subsided, and his body cooled.
Better. He sat back on his heels, hands up, as instructed.
The plasma bonfires, though contained, gave the muddy fore- ground a distinguishable
glow. Arriving with the orange energy’s light were the details in the soldiers’ uniforms,
their impatient expressions, and their enlarged, exaggerated shadows. The shadows passed
over Allister in an effort toward intimidation. Little did they know, he was intimidated enough
by the promise of the plasma’s ferocity. Still, he’d come for answers, and he’d leave with
them.
glow. Arriving with the orange energy’s light were the details in the soldiers’ uniforms,
their impatient expressions, and their enlarged, exaggerated shadows. The shadows passed
over Allister in an effort toward intimidation. Little did they know, he was intimidated enough
by the promise of the plasma’s ferocity. Still, he’d come for answers, and he’d leave with
them.
Dressed in a grass green uniform and matching beret, the lead soldier motioned the gun
barrel skyward. “Hands higher, where I can see them. How’d you get in here?” he asked.
barrel skyward. “Hands higher, where I can see them. How’d you get in here?” he asked.
“None of your business.”
The soldier wouldn’t understand anyway. I transported, he thought, imagining the
conversation play out. I transported here from the United States because I’m looking for an
alien refugee named—
conversation play out. I transported here from the United States because I’m looking for an
alien refugee named—
“How?” the soldier demanded, voice now unsteady. His finger inched back on the trigger.
One foot situated on the ground for support, Allister launched upward and said,
“I think you heard me the first time.”
“I think you heard me the first time.”
Click. Snap. Boom. A plasma bolt seared the upper flesh on his back. He yelled out and
tumbled over, scrambling to get air back into his lungs. The weapons were on full power.
tumbled over, scrambling to get air back into his lungs. The weapons were on full power.
“Should’ve killed him,” the soldier behind him said. “Charge ‘em up and hit him again!”
Allister shook away the stinging. Through clenched teeth, he seethed,
“You might as well put your guns down.” An adrenaline rush refueled his gumption.
More bolts whistled past him as he moved forward. Zoom. Twisting sideways. Zoom.
Zoom. Dipping and spinning. Zoom. Zoom.
“You might as well put your guns down.” An adrenaline rush refueled his gumption.
More bolts whistled past him as he moved forward. Zoom. Twisting sideways. Zoom.
Zoom. Dipping and spinning. Zoom. Zoom.
He cried out. Nicked in the bicep. Not fast enough, not nimble enough, he was distracted by
the first wound’s pain. It had chased him, caught up, and kicked him behind both knees.
One knee gave up and fell, pushing the sand beneath it outward. The other stayed at a
ninety-degree angle, supporting his upper body’s hunched weight. Nostrils flaring,
he reached his dry, cracked fingers around the opposite shoulder to touch his back.
Allister glanced at the blood they collected, dragged it along the thigh of his joggers and
chose to keep the insults and obscenities to himself.
the first wound’s pain. It had chased him, caught up, and kicked him behind both knees.
One knee gave up and fell, pushing the sand beneath it outward. The other stayed at a
ninety-degree angle, supporting his upper body’s hunched weight. Nostrils flaring,
he reached his dry, cracked fingers around the opposite shoulder to touch his back.
Allister glanced at the blood they collected, dragged it along the thigh of his joggers and
chose to keep the insults and obscenities to himself.
The lead soldier, out of arm’s reach, backed away to let the gun recharge but kept
it pointed at the space between Allister’s eyes. Smoke, reeking of overheated metal,
rose from its mouth.
it pointed at the space between Allister’s eyes. Smoke, reeking of overheated metal,
rose from its mouth.
“He’s not slowing,” the one behind him said.
“Hit. Him. Again,” commanded another, coming around the corner. “Superhuman or not,
these were designed—”
these were designed—”
“To kill, I know, believe me, I know,” Allister said. “Those hurt like shit, but in case you
haven’t noticed, they won’t kill me.”
haven’t noticed, they won’t kill me.”
The lead soldier’s mouth twitched in recognition. “Akhrus,” he said, as a fist-led arm
shot into the air bent at the elbow. “You know the law, American. Our borders are closed.
I suggest you leave the way you came.”
shot into the air bent at the elbow. “You know the law, American. Our borders are closed.
I suggest you leave the way you came.”
“Or what? Listen, I’m not going anywhere until I speak to—”
Scattered click-clacks interrupted. Allister leapt to his feet, maneuvered in a burst
of speed, wrapping an arm around the lead soldier’s neck. He wrenched the gun away,
took aim, and let loose its firepower. The foundation holding the snipers at an elevated
advantage caved, forcing them to evacuate their posts, while burying soldiers on the
ground. He spun the man locked in his grip to face him, and kicked him in the chest
so hard, he flew back unconscious.
of speed, wrapping an arm around the lead soldier’s neck. He wrenched the gun away,
took aim, and let loose its firepower. The foundation holding the snipers at an elevated
advantage caved, forcing them to evacuate their posts, while burying soldiers on the
ground. He spun the man locked in his grip to face him, and kicked him in the chest
so hard, he flew back unconscious.
His menacing glare sent the last soldier stumbling away.
“Princess Celine will make you pay,” he said, dropping the weapon.
“Princess Celine will make you pay,” he said, dropping the weapon.
Good, at least I’m in the right place.
Allister held onto his commanding stance for appearance’s sake.
The orphaned gun’s energy charge dwindled and its afterglow shrunk below his
clenched jaw, flexed neck, and stretched shoul- ders. Staying attached to the man’s
silhouette as it waded into the grey horizon became irrelevant. Irrelevant too, was pretending
to ignore the lingering sensation where the initial bolt had hit him.
The orphaned gun’s energy charge dwindled and its afterglow shrunk below his
clenched jaw, flexed neck, and stretched shoul- ders. Staying attached to the man’s
silhouette as it waded into the grey horizon became irrelevant. Irrelevant too, was pretending
to ignore the lingering sensation where the initial bolt had hit him.
His nerve faltered, and he gasped, wobbled, then took a step back to steady himself.
Pain he couldn’t picture compelled him to caress the area, certain flames frolicked atop
already scorched skin. Yes, his shirt’s fabric had been singed from existence, and his flesh
remained in the same condition, tender, swollen, exposed, but there were no flames.
His mother had warned him of his overactive imagination. More blood joined what had
smeared and dried across his fingers the first time. Inhale through the nose, exhale
through the mouth. Repeat. There was a pounding in his eardrums, while he desperately
sought concentration to inspire his regenerative powers. Inhale through the nose, exhale
through the mouth. Repeat.
Pain he couldn’t picture compelled him to caress the area, certain flames frolicked atop
already scorched skin. Yes, his shirt’s fabric had been singed from existence, and his flesh
remained in the same condition, tender, swollen, exposed, but there were no flames.
His mother had warned him of his overactive imagination. More blood joined what had
smeared and dried across his fingers the first time. Inhale through the nose, exhale
through the mouth. Repeat. There was a pounding in his eardrums, while he desperately
sought concentration to inspire his regenerative powers. Inhale through the nose, exhale
through the mouth. Repeat.
He ran a hand through his afro. The brown ringlets, a result of mixed African-American and
Caucasian heritage and infrequent grooming, deposited sand back to its home, unwilling
to bring them along the next leg of the journey.
Caucasian heritage and infrequent grooming, deposited sand back to its home, unwilling
to bring them along the next leg of the journey.
Marrakech, the Red City, had flourished as the Moroccan epi- center of merchant trade and
melded cultures. Allister wandered its streets. As the wind tiptoed around him,
it swept sand flecks between the abandoned civilization’s haunting echoes.
Overturned, paint-stripped vehicles with blown out windows. Tattered sheets hung from
clotheslines. Stone temples and infamous rose-colored buildings overrun by leafy vines,
cork oaks, and olive trees. The country’s gem, suspended in tragedy.
melded cultures. Allister wandered its streets. As the wind tiptoed around him,
it swept sand flecks between the abandoned civilization’s haunting echoes.
Overturned, paint-stripped vehicles with blown out windows. Tattered sheets hung from
clotheslines. Stone temples and infamous rose-colored buildings overrun by leafy vines,
cork oaks, and olive trees. The country’s gem, suspended in tragedy.
“This is Marrakech now.”
He dusted the tan particles sticking to his bare arms and shoulders, then untied a
bandanna from his left wrist. A government-issued device known as the Cynque
watch was hid- den beneath. “What’s Celine’s location, Cynque?” he asked it, and retied the
bandanna around his neck.
bandanna from his left wrist. A government-issued device known as the Cynque
watch was hid- den beneath. “What’s Celine’s location, Cynque?” he asked it, and retied the
bandanna around his neck.
“Updating,” it replied and repeated, “updating,” and answered minutes later:
“Celine Nephthys location not found.”
“Celine Nephthys location not found.”
Either the device was as useless as he’d come to believe, or Celine had evaded
mandatory enrollment in the global surveil- lance network. Cynque, a one-stop shop
for personal information: occupation, age, nationality, and citizen status (i.e. fugitive),
dou- bled as a communication device and source of entertainment. To an average person,
the watch’s pros outweighed its cons. Allister was far from an average person, and his
skepticism had blos- somed into theories of an all-seeing government cloaked in the
shiny guise of convenience. “ We are all Cynqued!” the newest commercial tagline
propagated. Allister liked their initial slogan better: “Cynque makes life easier.”
mandatory enrollment in the global surveil- lance network. Cynque, a one-stop shop
for personal information: occupation, age, nationality, and citizen status (i.e. fugitive),
dou- bled as a communication device and source of entertainment. To an average person,
the watch’s pros outweighed its cons. Allister was far from an average person, and his
skepticism had blos- somed into theories of an all-seeing government cloaked in the
shiny guise of convenience. “ We are all Cynqued!” the newest commercial tagline
propagated. Allister liked their initial slogan better: “Cynque makes life easier.”
Humidity clung to him like a needy lover, and he reached the grand La Mamounia Palace
Hotel’s fading memory drenched in perspiration. The prospect of confronting Celine kept him
in the sweltering heat until he gathered the courage to go in.
Hotel’s fading memory drenched in perspiration. The prospect of confronting Celine kept him
in the sweltering heat until he gathered the courage to go in.
The statuesque entrance was lined by half-broken pillars spread like downed trees along
the ground. In rare cases, they leaned against sturdier companions, held up by the
embrace of roots connected to the palace’s upper fixtures.
the ground. In rare cases, they leaned against sturdier companions, held up by the
embrace of roots connected to the palace’s upper fixtures.
Damaged chandeliers lowered his expectation for decent light. He roamed the hall’s
darkness. He called Celine’s name over and over. Allister scowled and turned each
direction in the deteriorated lobby, before he yelled, “I need to talk to you!”
darkness. He called Celine’s name over and over. Allister scowled and turned each
direction in the deteriorated lobby, before he yelled, “I need to talk to you!”
A rumble, similar to a high-speed train, foretold the wind-propelled storm.
Arm over his face, Allister scrunched down, using the pillar for stability and to protect his
back. Sand swarmed from all sides, carving a woman’s curvy hips, cinched waist,
and squared shoulders—then solidified. Smooth, radiant skin sat between a chorus
of twisted braids the color of midnight.
Arm over his face, Allister scrunched down, using the pillar for stability and to protect his
back. Sand swarmed from all sides, carving a woman’s curvy hips, cinched waist,
and squared shoulders—then solidified. Smooth, radiant skin sat between a chorus
of twisted braids the color of midnight.
He left the pillar’s support and huffed, “Celine. You look . . . different.”
“Bow,” Princess Celine Nephthys commanded, in a French-inspired North African accent.
Already crouched halfway to the ground, he replied, “I don’t think that’s necessary.”
Fingers curved in, she yanked her arm to her body. He dropped to his knees and swayed
upright. She flattened her palm, causing him to pitch forward, both hands on the floor.
upright. She flattened her palm, causing him to pitch forward, both hands on the floor.
She’s still upset about what happened, he thought. His core mus- cles contracted,
fighting gravity. He bowed his head. “Is this what you wanted?”
fighting gravity. He bowed his head. “Is this what you wanted?”
She shook her wrist, erasing the increased gravitational pull. “It will suffice,” she said.
“What are you doing in my country?”
“What are you doing in my country?”
“I need info on C20.”
“How inconvenient for you.” Celine’s frown straightened. The piercing brown darkening in
her eyes ignited to the purple energy of her geokinetic superpowers. Sand spilled in from
the outside and sloshed like a furious ocean, flooding the room.
her eyes ignited to the purple energy of her geokinetic superpowers. Sand spilled in from
the outside and sloshed like a furious ocean, flooding the room.
Ankle deep. Knee deep. Waist deep. Mouth hanging open, he edged back and debated
whether to defend himself. “Don’t make me fight you,” he stammered. “That’s not why I
came here!”
whether to defend himself. “Don’t make me fight you,” he stammered. “That’s not why I
came here!”
“You thought I forgot what you did? When you saw me impris- oned and failed to give me
a second glance. I’ve heard so much about this hero, Allister Adams. All I see is an
impulsive, self-serving child.” She raised her arms.
a second glance. I’ve heard so much about this hero, Allister Adams. All I see is an
impulsive, self-serving child.” She raised her arms.
Okay, she’s pissed about what happened. “Celine, calm down. I’m sure we can—”
More sand poured in. It swelled into a tsunami and crested, breaking against
his chest. Knocked upside down, he flailed inside the earthen trap whipping en
masse around his body.
his chest. Knocked upside down, he flailed inside the earthen trap whipping en
masse around his body.
“You left me to die! I beg you to find a reason . . . ”
Her muffled words refused the tumultuous trek to his ears and kept their distance.
Swallowing, a bigger mistake than paddling through the rip current, filled his mouth with
flavorless particles and panic.
Swallowing, a bigger mistake than paddling through the rip current, filled his mouth with
flavorless particles and panic.
Stabbing sensation beneath the skin in his left arm, blood-bloated veins, and a blue glow
were signs he’d tapped into Z-energy, the peculiar energy inside him.
He closed his fists in an attempt to contain the power to no avail. It erupted from
his forearm, dis- persed the sand and blasted Celine back.
were signs he’d tapped into Z-energy, the peculiar energy inside him.
He closed his fists in an attempt to contain the power to no avail. It erupted from
his forearm, dis- persed the sand and blasted Celine back.
Allister rolled onto his stomach, gagged, gagged again, and threw up the grains
lodged in his esophagus. Fighting the puddle of sick’s smell, he turned sideways.
“Crap, I didn’t . . . mean to use that. Did . . . did I hurt you?”
lodged in his esophagus. Fighting the puddle of sick’s smell, he turned sideways.
“Crap, I didn’t . . . mean to use that. Did . . . did I hurt you?”
He held his left wrist, palm exposed, demanding the Z-energy’s cooperation under his
breath as he waited for an answer. It behaved like lightning, crackling until its temper
waned. Zig-zag shapes sank into his skin, and the energy’s soft flare dulled to his natural
honey complexion.
breath as he waited for an answer. It behaved like lightning, crackling until its temper
waned. Zig-zag shapes sank into his skin, and the energy’s soft flare dulled to his natural
honey complexion.
She stood over him, arms crossed.
“Look, I didn’t save you, because C20 had my moth—” He coughed and wiped saliva from
his chin. “I was scared. For all I knew, you were on their side.” He reached for her to
help him stand, to which she let out a scoff and slapped his hand aside.
his chin. “I was scared. For all I knew, you were on their side.” He reached for her to
help him stand, to which she let out a scoff and slapped his hand aside.
“Don’t be an opportunist. Just tell me why you’re here.”
“I told you. I need to find C20.”
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