{"id":10535,"date":"2016-05-11T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-05-11T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/?p=10535"},"modified":"2016-05-03T13:41:49","modified_gmt":"2016-05-03T19:41:49","slug":"captives-in-obscurity-excerpt-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/captives-in-obscurity-excerpt-6\/","title":{"rendered":"Captives in Obscurity \u2014 excerpt 6"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cWhat thinkest thou of the execution?\u201d<\/p>\n

A chill ran down Reva\u2019s back as she remembered watching the corporal get sucked out the airlock. \u201cIt was\u2026 unpleasant,\u201d she said, understating her own horror.<\/p>\n

\u201cIndeed, but \u2018twas also necessary,\u201d Gulchina told her. \u201cMutiny is a disease which must be purged. Every soul which doth not fulfill his duty is as a scourge, for the ship must operate as a body\u2014the many must unite as a single whole.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are you keeping me, then?\u201d Reva asked softly.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause I have a use for thee, which thou shalt learn of hereafter.\u201d<\/p>\n

What sort of use?<\/em> she thought. Fear froze her tongue, though, and she decided it would be best not to ask too many questions.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what did you think of my speech?\u201d Gulchina asked, switching abruptly to her own language.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat speech?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be coy with me, Reva. The speech about our celestial birthright. The speech that made the crew cry out for vengeance against the corporal\u2019s betrayal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reva\u2019s skin tingled as Gulchina traced the designs on her neck. She tensed as the henna chilled her, gripping the edge of the table as goosebumps shot across her arms. Lifting her chin, she did her best to hide her vulnerability.<\/p>\n

I think it makes you absolutely insane.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think I understood it,\u201d she said, figuring that Gulchina was really just looking for a way to lecture her on it. Better to open the door and move the discussion as far away from herself as possible.<\/p>\n

Gulchina\u2019s lip curled up into a sneer. \u201cWhat about it don\u2019t you understand?\u201d<\/p>\n

Crap<\/em>, Reva thought to herself, her mind racing.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just\u2014why this talk of a birthright among the unknown stars? What use are those stars if no one lives there?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAh,\u201d said Gulchina, her expression softening somewhat. \u201cReva, you must learn to expand your vision. What were greatest empires in the legendary history of Earth?\u201d<\/p>\n

So it\u2019s a test now, not a lecture,<\/em> Reva realized with some dismay. Gulchina was always testing her, and she never felt that she quite measured up.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were many great empires: the Babylonians, the Persians, the Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Turks, Mongols, British, Americans\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd how many of these empires survived?\u201d<\/p>\n

Reva frowned. \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow many of those empires last to this day?\u201d<\/p>\n

The question was nonsensical, considering that the Earth of Legend had long since passed into the realm of myth. Ever since the ancient colonization of Gaia Nova, the location of Earth had been lost, and none had been able to rediscover it. The only evidence that it had even existed was the legendary database the colonists had carried with them, the sum of human knowledge. The histories from that database had been handed down from generation to generation, and Gulchina had collected many of them. It was from those histories that she selected passages for Reva to study.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t know,\u201d Reva answered. \u201cEarth has been lost to us for thousands of years.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen how many empires survived long enough to reasonably still exist today?\u201d<\/p>\n

Is this a trick question?<\/em> Reva wondered, cold sweat beginning to collect on the back of her neck. She shivered, and not just from the henna drying on her skin.<\/p>\n

\u201cNone of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIndeed,\u201d said Gulchina. \u201cIt is the first rule of history that every empire must fall. The Earth of Legend was littered with their bones.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut what does that have to do with our birthright?\u201d<\/p>\n

Gulchina paused in her work to look Reva in the eye. \u201cDo you know what we are?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPirates?\u201d Reva guessed.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Reva, not merely pirates. The ancient Muslims divided the world into two parts: Dar Al-Islam, the lands of submission, and Dar Al-Harb, the lands of war. They inherited this concept from the ancient Romans, who divided the world between civilization and the barbarians. We are the barbarians, Reva\u2014or as the Muslims later called them, the \u201cHameji.\u201d We are the ones who reject civilization and refuse to submit to their control. And just as the barbarians overthrew Rome and Baghdad in turn, so too shall we tear down the Gaian Empire and lay waste the Coreward Stars.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut first,\u201d Gulchina continued, her cold eyes aflame, \u201cwe must journey into the wilderness, build our strength, and become a mighty people. That is where the birthright comes in.\u201d<\/p>\n

She\u2019s crazy,<\/em> Reva thought to herself. She\u2019s absolutely mad.<\/em><\/p>\n

Gulchina drew the tip of the brush across Reva\u2019s face, finishing the last details. \u201cIf you think that the stars are empty, my dear Reva, you are gravely mistaken. The near ancients realized this when they built their magnificent observatories and telescopes. As they gazed into the vastness of space, they recognized that it was the height of folly to believe that man is alone in the universe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d Reva asked, her voice barely louder than a whisper.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe human race is not the only intelligent race in the universe. Somewhere out among the unknown stars, there are sentient alien beings possessing intelligence like us. We do not know when or where we will find them, but if we are to claim our birthright, we cannot avoid making contact.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Captives in Obscurity,<\/strong> book 5 in the\u00a0Sons of the Starfarers<\/strong> series,\u00a0will be available in ebook form on May 15th. Pre-order or find out more below:<\/p>\n

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<\/a>\r\n
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Captives in Obscurity<\/h1>\r\n\t\t
\"Captives<\/div>\t\t
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There is no escape beyond Star's End.<\/h2>\t\t\t
\r\n\t

Isaac and Reva are running out of time. Gulchina's cruelty knows no bounds, and on the edge of known space, no one can stop her. But an unexplored planet holds an ancient alien secret that may prove to be a game changer.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n

<\/div>\r\nOrder Now!<\/a>\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t
<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/a>\r\n
\r\n\t
About the Book<\/div>\r\n\t
\r\n\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t

There is no escape beyond Star’s End.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The deadliest pirates in the galaxy have stolen the technology that will transform it. Now, on the edge of known space, they are poised to start an empire of their own.<\/p>\n

Isaac and Reva are running out of time. Neither of them knows the extent of Gulchina’s plans, or whether the madwoman will keep them both alive after she achieves them.<\/p>\n

But an unexplored planet beyond the Far Outworlds holds an ancient alien secret that not even Gulchina has uncovered. That secret will tip the balance in<\/p>\n

SONS OF THE STARFARERS<\/strong>
\nBOOK V: CAPTIVES IN OBSCURITY<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/a>\r\n

\r\n\t
Details<\/div>\r\n\t
\r\n\t\t
\r\n\t\t\tAuthor:<\/span> Joe Vasicek<\/a><\/span>
\t\t\tSeries:<\/span> Sons of the Starfarers<\/a>, Book 5<\/span>
\t\t\tGenres:<\/span> Science Fiction<\/a>, Space Opera<\/a><\/span>
\t\t\tTag:<\/span> 2016 Release<\/a><\/span>
\t\t\t\t\t\tPublication Year:<\/span> May 2016<\/span>
\t\t\t\t\t\tLength:<\/span> short novel<\/span>
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tList Price:<\/span> $9.99<\/span>
\t\t\teBook Price:<\/span> $2.99<\/span>
\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/a>
Order Now<\/div>
$1 off the ebook with coupon code: BUY DIRECT<\/a><\/div>
FREE ebook when you buy the audiobook direct!<\/a><\/div>
\"Buy<\/a><\/div>
\"Buy<\/a><\/div>
\"Buy<\/a><\/div>
\"Buy<\/a><\/div>
\"Buy<\/a><\/div>
\"Buy<\/a><\/div>
\"Buy<\/a><\/div>
\"Buy<\/a><\/div>
\"Buy<\/a><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a>
\t
<\/div>\t
\t\t
Joe Vasicek<\/div>\t\t

Joe Vasicek fell in love with science fiction and fantasy when he read The Neverending Story as a child. He is the author of more than twenty books, including Genesis Earth, Gunslinger to the Stars, The Sword Keeper, and the Sons of the Starfarers series. As a young man, he studied Arabic at Brigham Young University and traveled across the Middle East and the Caucasus Mountains. He lives in Utah with his wife and two apple trees.<\/p>\n<\/div>\t<\/div>\t

<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a>
Other Books in the \"Sons of the Starfarers\"<\/div>
<\/a><\/div>
Brothers in Exile<\/a><\/div><\/div>
<\/a><\/div>
Comrades in Hope<\/a><\/div><\/div>
<\/a><\/div>
Strangers in Flight<\/a><\/div><\/div>
<\/a><\/div>
Friends in Command<\/a><\/div><\/div>
<\/a><\/div>
Patriots in Retreat<\/a><\/div><\/div>
<\/a><\/div>
A Queen in Hiding<\/a><\/div><\/div>
<\/a><\/div>
An Empire in Disarray<\/a><\/div><\/div>
<\/a><\/div>
Victors in Liberty<\/a><\/div><\/div>
<\/a><\/div>
The Complete Sons of the Starfarers<\/a><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Some of the links in the page above are \"affiliate links.\" This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. You will not receive any additional charge.\r\n\r\nAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.<\/div><\/div> <\/div> \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cWhat thinkest thou of the execution?\u201d A chill ran down Reva\u2019s back as she remembered watching the corporal get sucked out the airlock. \u201cIt was\u2026 unpleasant,\u201d she said, understating her own horror. \u201cIndeed, but \u2018twas also necessary,\u201d Gulchina told her. \u201cMutiny is a disease which must be purged. Every soul which doth not fulfill his… Continue reading Captives in Obscurity \u2014 excerpt 6<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[964,855],"tags":[474],"class_list":["post-10535","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ssf-v","category-ssf","tag-excerpts","entry"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7iXK-2JV","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10535","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10535"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10535\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10554,"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10535\/revisions\/10554"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10535"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10535"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10535"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}