Colony Lost Read online

  Theo nodded. The tentacle tongues that grew from inside his face remained tight, and mimicked human form as he worked out speech.

  “When others need strength; we are the ones who respond. Welcome.”

  “Sooo . . . now what?”

  “Don’t know. We are changed. Not like before. Not done changing.”

  Theo pointed to some of his number with additional limbs, and greatly disturbed facial features. Some had extra eyes and jaws filled with fangs; others had lolling tongues that dripped a milky blue substance from a hollow center, or extra limbs, joints and digits. They couldn’t be described as sharing a single species anymore.

  Dustin felt a surge of pity for them.

  “I’m sorry we killed so many of . . . us. We did what we thought was best at the time. That was short sighted.”

  Theo shook his head vehemently. “Stop. Not all would be like us. You did right. I would have done the same. We will stay near. On this side. There are building parts to make a home of. We will protect you from the others that might come.,” Theo said. “Community.”

  “Thank you. Is there anything we can do to help?”

  “Rope. Knives. Tools.”

  “Okay. Anything else?” Dustin asked. “We don’t have much, but we’ll share everything we have.”

  Theo’s voice dropped, and he took a tentative step forward into the foamy water that separated them.

  “Will you tell my family that I did the right thing? That I am . . . I am still a good man?”

  Dustin felt tears well up. He has kids. And a wife. A life.

  “Yeah. Of course. I’ll get a message back,” he said after fighting through the emotion that threatened to choke him up.

  “Tell her I didn’t quit? Tell my family I changed, but I am still good? Tell all our families that? We cannot disappear. We cannot fade away. We cannot.”

  “You won’t. We’re doing this together. No matter what. We came here to build a future, and that future still exists. You’re still one of us.”

  Dustin thought of the friends and family he’d lost since landing on this planet.

  Theo smiled with what remained of his human face, and it was no less a gesture.

  “You are humans. We are Changed. But now, we are all Selvans.”

  The End

  About the Author

  Chris Philbrook is the creator and author of the urban fantasy series The Reemergence, as well as the dark fantasy series The Kinless Trilogy and the post apocalyptic epic Adrian's Undead Diary.

  Adrian's Undead Diary, the story that got Chris on the literary map now has all eight titles available in print, eBook and audio. In order, they are Dark Recollections, Alone No More, Midnight, The Failed Coward Wrath, In the Arms of Family, The Trinity,and Cassie. Also set in the world of Adrian Ring Unhappy Endings and London Burns.

  Chris' first book in print was The Wrath of the Orphans, the initial book of The Kinless Trilogy, set in his Elmoryn fantasy world. You can get it here on Amazon in print and for the Kindle as well. Book two and three are The Motive for Massacre, and The Echoes of Sin.

  Tesser: A Dragon Among Us is Chris' first foray into the world of urban/contemporary fantasy. It's the story of an ancient dragon that is misplaced in time, and wakes up underneath the city of Boston in modern day. The sequel, Ambryn & the Cheaters of Death is out and the third novel Fyelrath & the Coven's Curse is in the works.

  Chris is the owner of Tier One Games LLC, his game development company.

  Chris calls the wonderful state of New Hampshire his home. He is an avid reader, writer, role player, miniatures game player, video game player, painter and procrastinator. He and his wife welcomed their first daughter Willow to the world in April of 2016.

  If you would like Chris to sign your eBooks, head over to http://www.authorgraph.com for a personalized message from him.

  For more info on Chris, head over to his official author website and sign up for his newsletter at: http://www.thechrisphilbrook.com

  Or follow him on Twitter @PhilbrookAuthor

  Can’t Wait for More?

  Look for Chris Philbrook’s FREE short fiction eBook, At Least He’s Not on Fire.

  Find it on Amazon, Goodreads, or Smashwords today!

  Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JSGEKIK

  Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21948978-at-least-he-s-not-on-fire

  Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/430970