QSFer Cari Z has a new MM sci fi book out: “Evergreen.”
Soldiers. Explorers. Lovers.
Broken apart.
Cy Konstantin and Scottie Andrews are supposed to make Project Evergreen’s one-way trip to Mars together. A near-fatal accident during training knocks Cy into a coma for half a year, and out of Project Evergreen. He works his way back to Scottie’s side, but he can’t rejoin the mission. Once Scottie leaves, they’re destined to live millions of miles apart for the rest of their lives.
A deadly accident on Mars might spell the end of their distant romance, though—or be the thing that saves it.
This is a rerelease.
Get It At Amazon
Excerpt
The International Space Agency (ISA) welcomes you to your new position as a candidate for Project Evergreen, the next stage in humanity’s cooperative exploration of our closest planetary neighbor, Mars. Congratulations on everything you have accomplished in order to make it to our advanced training program. Now that you’re an official candidate, we recommend you assess your commitment to the goal of Project Evergreen, which is permanent residency for all crew members at Martian Base One (MB1). If this is incompatible with your expectations, please remove yourself from the candidate pool before we continue to invest in your training. We want only the most motivated candidates available. Remember, for every one of you who reaches this stage of training, ten thousand others are vying for your place. –ISA Project Evergreen Handbook
Cyril’s first week in the space program wasn’t at all what he’d expected.
He had anticipated plenty of tests, naturally; the governments and corporate sponsors in charge of the program only accepted the best of the best, and that meant you didn’t stand a chance of getting in unless you knew your specialty inside and out. Competition in the private sector was stiff, but competition within the military was insane, which was why Cyril was glad he’d spent the past three years not just boning up on aerospace propulsion engineering, but going all out on his fitness as well. All those agonizing 5:00 a.m. runs felt a lot more gratifying now that he was the only person still standing after the two-mile sprint.
“You call that running?” Sergeant Malloy shouted from her place on the side of the track as she watched the last of the brand-new military recruits stagger toward the finish line. “I’ve seen better times out of eight-year-olds! You are supposed to be the best, the brightest, the most motherfucking capable that six different nations have to offer! And this is what you give me? China, nine minutes? Really?” She stood over one of the gasping men and glowered at him. “What’s your name, soldier?”
“Commander Xiao, ma’am.”
“At least you can get it out without vomiting, unlike Captain America over here.” She gestured to the soldier who was bent over retching in the aftermath of his run. “Or maybe that’s just because it took you nine fucking minutes to run two miles! Honest to god, I am embarrassed for your home countries, soldiers.
“And here comes Australia and India, joining the class at last,” the sergeant yelled sarcastically as they stumbled in. “Ten goddamn minutes, which is two minutes too long as far as I’m concerned. No, don’t lie down!” she added as both the soldiers dropped to the ground. “You don’t get to lie down and take a break for getting the worst times in the group! Did you think I’d go easy on you because you’re a woman, Flight-Lieutenant Brown? Both of you, take another lap.”
The sergeant cast her eyes to the sky. “This is what we’re manning missions to Mars with now? Sad. Just sad. You all better make the most of your ability to suck wind while you can, because breathable air’s gonna be in short supply once you get to MB1. You’ll have to work, you’ll have to think, you’ll have to fucking live with the constant threat of running out of oxygen, so remember that when you’re cursing me for being a hard-ass about this. You’re soldiers, not civilian scientists. You don’t get to play by their rules. If there’s a sacrifice to be made, you’ll be the ones at the front of the line, which means you have to be ready! You have to be better! You have to be the best!” Sergeant Malloy crossed her arms. “And as of right now I see only one person who I would even marginally qualify as acceptable. Russia! Come here!”
“Yes, ma’am.” Cyril stepped forward, very aware of his fellow recruits’ attention. He squared his shoulders and looked straight at the sergeant. He didn’t care what they thought of him. They could hate him, he could handle that. He was never going to do less than his best for anything.
“Lieutenant Commander Konstantin, correct?” Sergeant Malloy asked.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Well, whatever that stick up your ass is made of, boy, don’t pull it out just yet. It might be all that’s holding you up.”
Stick…what? Cyril had split his time evenly between the US and Russia as a child, but he hadn’t heard that particular expression before. It had to be old. He heard the man referred to as “Captain America” snicker, and forced himself not to react. “Ma’am,” Cyril said evenly.
“Exactly.” Sergeant Malloy cast her gaze at the two stragglers who were just now finishing their extra lap. “I think it’s time for a nice, long hike. Get your packs out of the shuttle and meet me at the foot of Flagstaff Mountain in five.” She waited for a second for it to sink in, then yelled, “Now, soldiers!”
The ones on the ground hauled themselves, groaning, to their feet, except for the American, who looked over at Cyril and held up a hand. “Help a mate out?” American, with a British accent? It shouldn’t have been surprising, everyone here had multiple nationalities—it was one of the major requirements for every member of the fourth mission to Mars—but for some reason that accent made Cyril start. He stared blankly at the man.
“I know I’m pretty, but there’s no need to stare, now,” he said cheekily. “You’ll get plenty of chances to ogle me later, luv. Gimme a hand before our little reprieve is up.”
Cyril walked over, took his hand, and helped him to his feet. The man moved easily, despite his ostensible exhaustion and the fact that he had at least twenty pounds more muscle than Cyril. “I’m Scott Andrews. Captain Scott Andrews of the USAF, if we’re being specific about it, but you can call me Scottie.”
“Lieutenant Commander Cyril Konstantin, Russian Air Force,” Cyril said. “Um, call me Cyril.”
“Well, I would, but you don’t really look like a Cyril to me,” Scottie said brightly. “Bit too prissy, despite what our dear sergeant says about that stick in your ass. How d’you feel about Cy?”
“Cy?”
“No, I’m not meant to respond to it, you are,” Scottie said with a wink.
“If you children are done holding hands and playing nice,” Sergeant Malloy thundered at them, “may I remind you of the schedule you people are on? Get your asses up the mountain!”
“Will do, Sergeant!” Scottie called out, then gently disengaged his hand from Cyril’s grip. Cyril flushed. He’d completely forgotten he’d been holding on. “Now, Cy,” Scottie said.
“You’re a lovely sprinter, but I’ll wager I can make it to the top of Flagstaff before you can.” He turned around and took off toward the mountain.
After a moment, Cyril swore and ran after him.
Author Bio
Cari Z is a Colorado girl who loves snow and sunshine. She likes edged weapons, prefers books to television shows, and goes weak at the knees for interesting men and exciting explosions (but not at exactly the same time—that would be so messy).
You can find her at carizerotica.blogspot.com, follow her on Facebook as Cari Zee, or on Twitter as @author_cariz. She has several novels available on Amazon as well, please check them out and leave a review!
| Author Website | http://www.carizerotica.blogspot.com |
| Author Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008212125132 |
| Author Twitter | https://twitter.com/author_cariz |