The Purification: Book 3 of the Evaran Chronicles

• Title
  
• Copyright Page
  
• The Story so far
  
• Evaran’s Technology
  
• Prologue
  
• 01
  
• 02
  
• 03
  
• 04
  
• 05
  
• 06
  
• 07
  
• 08
  
• 09
  
• 10
  
• 11
  
• 12
  
• 13
  
• 14
  
• 15
  
• 16
  
• 17
  
• 18
  
• 19
  
• 20
  
• 21
  
• 22
  
• Note from the Author
  
• About the Author
  
• Dedication
  
• Acknowledgements
  
• Books in the Series
  

Title

Copyright Page

Copyright © 2016 Adair Hart

All rights are reserved to the author. No part of this ebook may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Editing done by Laura Petrella

Cover done by Tom Edwards

Interior design done by Colleen Sheehan

Proofread done by Red Adept Publishing

Published by Quantum Edge Publishing

ISBN: 978-0-9967172-2-9

www.AdairHart.com

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The Story so far

Dr. Albert Snowden and his niece, Emily, were abducted by an alien race known as the Krotovore. They were rescued by a space- and time-traveling being known as Evaran, who dropped them back off on Earth.

When Evaran returned to check on them, they asked to travel with him, and Evaran accepted. They have been on one adventure that helped the people of Fredoria, a planet of human ex-slaves, become a full trade partner with the Kreagan Star Empire, the local galactic superpower in Earth’s region of the galaxy.

This book takes place after that adventure.

Evaran's Technology

Torvatta—
his ship that can travel through time and space

Universal interface card (UIC)—
a credit-card-sized device carried on his belt that allows access to any technological system

Augmented reality interface (ARI)—
an interface that only he can see around him

Utility handle—
a hilt-like device carried on his belt that can extend morphable matter in any shape, typically extended into a baton or staff; can also fire repulsion and stun beams

Illumination orbs—
small orbs on his belt that provide lighting and can hover

Projection orb—
an orb that allows projections to be sent to it from remote sources, such as Evaran’s ring or the Torvatta

Ring—
a ring that can provide holographic projection and also scan

Prologue

The Purification must be stopped.
The thought jumbled around in John Holington’s mind as he sat at his desk, planning the next assault on the Purifiers. He had been fighting them for almost a hundred years, but their human supremacist movement had enveloped a large portion of the galactic region surrounding Earth.

Although his small spaceship had limited firepower, it was fast and well suited for the guerrilla tactics of his crew. Nonhumans were still around, but their numbers were low and scattered to aging ships like his. Still, he held hope that the tide would change in their favor at some point.

Lord Vygon, the deceased and former leader of the vampire house he belonged to, had entrusted him to deliver a message to a being known as Evaran. John had never seen this person or anyone that knew of him. It seemed hopeless, but he would honor it as long as he could. His attention turned to the doorway of his office.

“They’re here!” said Miles O’Bannon.

John looked up from his desk at the large, pale man with curly red hair trying to catch his breath. “Who?”

“Evaran, Dr. Snowden, and Emily.”

John’s heartbeat raced. If it was true, then maybe this mission would finally be over. He scrambled out from behind his desk and slapped Miles on the chest. “I’ll meet you in the command room. Assemble the others. Go.”

Miles nodded and took off.

John walked over to a steel panel on the wall and tapped it twice. A reflective surface appeared. He smoothed out his short, straight black hair and stared at the mirror, where his silver eyes stood in stark contrast to his dark skin. Looking at his form, even after a thousand years, never got old. With a final glance, he double-tapped the panel, causing it to shut down the surface, then headed to the command room. It took him several minutes to get there through the cramped hallways.

The quiet hum of the ship echoed around the room as he scanned his crew of five. There was Miles O’Bannon, who, with his immense strength and rhino power armor, was the muscle when needed. Then there was Hermes, the last of the Greek God Pantheon. With his bronze skin and brown hair and eyes, he served as the pilot, mechanic, and comic relief. He knew Hermes and Lord Vygon were close, and that friendship had been extended to John, something he placed a high value on.

Dizz and Cantol were the last members of Lord Vygon’s death squad. They were in the same vampire house as John and specialized in assassination. He did not possess their skill with weapons or training, but he was quick on the draw and could hold his own. Both were lean, and their builds allowed them to move without effort.

Rounding out the last spot was Shandra Everoak, a tree shifter and the last of her kind. Her medium build, tan skin, green eyes, and long green hair were emblematic of the Everoak family line.

In the center of the room sat a central table that had consoles hanging off the edges at sixty-degree angles. Miles tapped at one of the consoles, causing the large screen at the front of the ship to flick on.

A shaky view of the expansive interior of a space station appeared. The view wheeled around to show a fair-skinned middle-aged man’s face with sweat rolling down the sides. He had on a one-piece gray suit with a green mantle across his shoulders. “Brills here. The Evaran Protocol has been activated. Just saw Evaran, Dr. Snowden, and Emily. The Purifiers got ’em, but they’re here.”

The view pivoted back around to show what Brills saw as he walked toward one side of the interior shown before. Brills reached a hand up to his ear, and the view zoomed into the far side of the room.

A group of guards wearing advanced light silver armor over a gray mesh suit escorted three prisoners. A Purifier symbol stood out on the guards’ upper arms and on their chests. It was a red triangle with a circle in it that had lines to each point in the triangle, all outlined in black.

Brills pointed to the first prisoner. “That’s Evaran. He looks different than what I imagined.” He then waved a finger between an older male and a younger female. “That’s Dr. Snowden and Emily. Has to be. Station hasn’t been this active since I’ve been here. A transport ship is coming, supposedly, but still working on getting details. Anyways, I’ll be around. Contact me through the usual channels when you get this.”

John let out a quick breath when he realized he had been holding it. He studied the projection. Evaran’s light-gray, lightly armored, advanced-looking suit seemed out of place for someone of his status. His fair skin and dirty-blond hair reminded him of Dizz, except a bit bigger.

John scrutinized Dr. Snowden next. Dr. Snowden had on a pair of brown twill slacks with a complementary brown jacket. His brown bow tie and cotton vest stood in contrast to his white-striped shirt. It was definitely not something John had ever seen. Emily wore light jeans, a shirt, and shoes that looked like they were more for comfort than battle. John shook his head. How were these three a threat to the Purifiers?

John focused on his crew. They had been loyal to him and part of his group for almost a hundred years. John’s blood boiled as he thought of all his friends the Purifiers had killed. He took deep breaths to clear his mind. Their final mission was upon them. He was aware of the crew staring at him as he contemplated what he would say.

After a moment, he raised his head. “The time has come. We’ve waited for this moment for a very long time. The Purifiers have finally met their match. We were entrusted with a message from Lord Vygon long ago, and through many generations … and here we are. We’ve sustained losses and setbacks … and here we are. The Purifiers tried to cleanse us for being what we are … and here we are. Evaran has arrived and will clean this corrupted timeline. All he needs is the message … and here we are.”

The crew nodded in silence as they looked around.

“We prepare for our final mission. Although this may be our last one, I want each and every one of you to know—it’s been an honor to serve with you,” said John. His voice cracked. “To our countless fallen Daedrould, Outsider, Wildborn, and other nonhuman brothers and sisters, we will avenge you.” His voice rose as he jabbed a finger on the table. “No more will we hide in fear. The end of this timeline approaches. The Purification brought upon us will be removed, and with it, a new timeline created. One where humans and nonhumans alike are equals! So says Lord Vygon!”