Return to Dark Earth Read online

  Return to Dark Earth

  Anna Hackett

  Return to Dark Earth

  Published by Anna Hackett

  Copyright 2015 by Anna Hackett

  Covers by Croco Designs

  Edits by Tanya Saari

  ISBN: 978-0-9943584-3-1

  This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, events or places is coincidental. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form.

  Contents

  What readers are saying about Anna’s Science Fiction Romance

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Preview of Hell Squad ~ Marcus

  Also by Anna Hackett

  About the Author

  What readers are saying about Anna’s Science Fiction Romance

  At Star’s End – One of Library Journal's Best E-Original Romances for 2014

  The Phoenix Adventures – SFR Galaxy Award Winner for Most Fun New Series

  Beneath a Trojan Moon – SFR Galaxy Award Winner and RWAus Ella Award Winner

  The Anomaly Series – #1 Amazon Action Adventure Romance Bestseller

  Hell Squad – Amazon Bestselling Science Fiction Romance Series

  “At Star’s End is a fun, thrill ride of a science fiction romance.” – Mstcat, Goodreads review

  “A wonderfully written space adventure.” – Corrinthia, Amazon review of In the Devil’s Nebula

  “An action-packed sci-fi adventure with some smoking hot sexy times, I highly recommend On a Rogue Planet.” – KatieF, Amazon Review

  “High action and adventure surrounding an impossible treasure hunt kept me reading until late in the night.” – Jen, That’s What I’m Talking About, review of Beyond Galaxy’s Edge

  “Action, danger, aliens, romance – yup, it’s another great book from Anna Hackett!” – Book Gannet Reviews, review of Hell Squad: Marcus

  “Another spectacular Hell Squad Story. Holy cow! Action, adventure, heartache and hot steamy love scenes.” – Amazon reviewer, review of Hell Squad: Cruz

  Sign up for my VIP mailing list and get your free box set containing three action-packed romances.

  Click here to get started: www.annahackettbooks.com

  Official Document

  Galactic Institute of Historical Preservation

  Ancient Starship Record #RE-991-458 - Captain’s Log

  Subject: Dark Earth

  Today the starship, Endeavour Horizon, entered orbit around the planet Earth. The most recent recorded visit since the planet’s destruction during the Great Terran War.

  The planet is covered in dense clouds, but what could be glimpsed through the cloud cover showed the seas are as black as space. Radiation levels are off the charts—consistent with records that experimental nuclear weapons were used in the war and have decimated the planet’s surface. Radiation levels are too high for the Endeavour Horizon to risk landing.

  Scans of the surface are also hampered by the radiation, but show no human life signs. There are large and confusing biosigns, and the science team can only speculate that they belong to mutated animal lifeforms.

  There have long been rumors that many valuables and pieces of Terran history remain on the planet, but it is the conclusion of my best advisors that it is far too dangerous to attempt any recovery. Possibly in the future, bold explorers may risk the journey.

  I report that the planet that seeded much of the life in our galaxy is nothing but a dark Earth.

  Captain James P. Darra

  Endeavour Horizon

  Out of Australia II Colony

  Chapter One

  He hated the jungle.

  Niklas Phoenix pushed aside a giant green leaf the size of his body and ducked under a thick branch. Here on Mazona V, the jungle was so dense, he could only see a few meters ahead. According to his Sync communicator, he was following a path, but he sure as hell couldn’t see it. He stopped and slapped at a huge insect with a long proboscis that was buzzing around him, trying to find a spot to land.

  Nik lifted his laser machete and started swinging again, cutting at the dense wall of vines in front of him.

  “Can you see it yet?”

  His brother Dathan’s voice came through Nik’s tiny nano-earpiece. “All I can see is jungle, jungle, and more jungle.”

  A laugh came through the line. “Sounds like you aren’t having fun, big bro.”

  That voice was his youngest brother, Zayn. Zayn could sound cheery while handcuffed to an explosive device and traveling toward a black hole. He’d always been the easiest-going of the three of them, and since he’d married the love of his life, his cheer had become almost unbearable.

  “Nik not having fun? Never,” Dathan said.

  Oh, and now Dathan with the sarcasm. Nik glowered at the vines in front of him and put some extra swing into his hacking. “You guys should give up treasure hunting and go into comedy. I hear the casinos on Cardon Prime are looking for stand-ups.”

  He swung again, the orange laser making a quiet hum, and the vines fell away. A tiny clearing was visible and overhead, some unknown animal screeched.

  Thankfully the sun was still up, so the animals were of the friendly, curious variety. It was after night fell that Mazona’s less-savory denizens made an appearance. Nik and his brothers really wanted to be gone by then.

  “Who the hell can have fun while they’re sweltering on this godforsaken planet, surrounded by choking jungle?” Nik grumbled.

  “Focus on the treasure, Nik,” Dathan said. “A beautiful golden idol said to originally be from Earth.”

  Right. Legend said that a thief had stolen the Terran artifact from a private collection, not long after the Great Terran War had devastated Earth. Many people had left the planet, heading out into the galaxy to form new colonies and to populate new worlds. And they’d taken priceless old Earth treasures with them.

  Supposedly, the thief who’d stolen this golden idol had crash-landed here on Mazona V. He’d convinced the less-advanced, jungle-dwelling natives that he was a god, and he lived out his life here in relative luxury. A small monkey-like creature dropped down from a tree and landed on Nik’s shoulder, making him stiffen. It tugged at his hair, sniffed, then leapt off into the vegetation.

  Nik shook his head. Even being waited on hand-and-foot by the natives wouldn’t have made this place worth it. The jungle-dwellers were long gone now, but the legends said they’d worshipped the idol the thief had brought with him.

  Being a born skeptic, Nik was guessing they’d find a gold-plated tin can at best and at worst, nothing. Until he saw the idol, scanned it and verified it, he wasn’t getting excited.

  The thing that excited him the most was that a certain rival treasure hunter of theirs was reportedly after the idol as well. He smiled. Yes, he’d very much like to get his hands on it before her.

  Nik stepped into the clearing, and froze.

  Amongst the tangled vegetation, he saw a worn stone statue. It was as tall as Nik’s six feet, two inches, and the rain ha
d eroded it down over time. But it was clearly a man, with dark holes carved out for eyes and one arm held outstretched. Pointing.

  Nik turned his head to follow the direction of the carving’s hand.

  And saw the cave entrance.

  He touched his ear. “Dath? Z? I’ve found the cave.”

  “Nice work.” Dathan sounded excited. “Hang on, we’re coming your way.”

  “I’m going in to investigate.” Niklas studied the rounded mouth of the cave. It appeared a little too regular to be natural, and there were carvings along the arch, too worn to be able to decipher.

  He stepped inside. It was dark and dank, vines hanging down in the enclosed space. He grabbed his ion light out of his vest, flicked it on and shone it around. Nearby, a vine moved and Nik controlled a start. Not a vine—a Mazonian viper. It hissed at him and he gave the highly venomous creature a wide berth.

  As he moved deeper into the cave, he pondered how his life had turned out. Here he was, one third of the galaxy’s best-known, treasure-hunter trio. It wasn’t at all how he’d planned his career. He’d always loved knowledge, had been starved for it by a childhood that had lacked…just about everything. Their mother had left when they were young, and their father… Well, Brocken Phoenix had been a washed-up, drunken treasure hunter who survived on a diet of bitterness, high-octane kila, and smacking his boys around.

  Nik shook his head. As soon as he was eligible, he’d won a scholarship and left their homeworld of Zerzura. Its ancient ruins had sparked his love of history, and he’d happily entered the Galactic Institute of Historic Preservation’s academy and never looked back. He’d dreamed of well-funded digs, of running the Institute’s grand, old museums, and maybe one day sitting on the Institute’s board. It had been a haven for him, a place dedicated to knowledge, learning and history. It had fed his soul.

  Up until the day he’d discovered it was all a lie.

  His jaw tightened and he headed deeper into the cave. Screw the Institute. He’d left it behind and he enjoyed working with his brothers. They were damn good treasure hunters. He still spent time learning and collecting history. He might miss the long excavation digs on occasion. Treasure hunting meant their jobs were quick, in-and-out incursions, where they tried not to get themselves killed…or worse, lose their treasures to someone else.

  And now they were doing good work. Especially since Dathan had married Eos. The astro-archeologist had worked hard to convince Dathan to sell a number of their discoveries to reputable dealers and clients, and even to donate some of their finds.

  The Phoenix brothers made a good team. Zayn was fast. Dathan was cunning. And Nik…well, he was smart. Put that together, and you had all the essential ingredients for successful treasure hunting.

  Nik took another step and felt a stone depress under his boot. A click echoed around him.

  Oh, shit.

  He knew the jungle-dwellers had been renowned for their booby traps.

  He followed instinct and dropped to the floor. His cheek pressed to cool stone just as he heard a twang of release. Then, there was a whoosh as something whizzed over him.

  When everything went still, he turned his head and saw a sharpened spear buried in the wall behind him. Damn thing would have passed right through his gut. He also knew the natives had been experts at creating poisons. There was a faint, neon-green glow on the end of the spear tip, which Nik was sure would have left him writhing in pain and puking his guts up.

  Yep, great gig this treasure-hunting thing.

  “Nik? You okay?” Zayn’s voice.

  Nik pushed to his feet. “Yeah. Triggered a booby trap.”

  Dathan cursed. “I told you to wait.”

  The words didn’t just come through the earpiece. They echoed through the cavern. A second later, Nik’s brothers stepped into view.

  Nik dusted his hands off on his khaki cargo pants and studied his brothers for a second. It was clear the three of them were related. They all had similar, muscular builds, although Nik had always been a few inches taller and broader than the other two. Dathan always forgot to cut his hair, and the dark strands were getting really long, giving him a rakish look. Zayn kept his hair shorter—a trait left over from years in the military—and it was a few shades lighter and often turned tawny if he spent any time in the sun. Nik swallowed. Jesus, he was glad he had them. Not that he’d ever tell them that.

  “Come on. Let’s find this alleged idol.” He headed deeper into the cave. “And keep your eyes open for more booby traps. Check the walls, floors and roof.”

  “Hell, look at the size of that snake.” Zayn edged away from the viper. “Can’t stand snakes.”

  “Come on, flyboy.” Dathan clapped Zayn on the back. “We’ll have you back in your cockpit before you know it.”

  They dodged two more traps, and Dathan accidently set off one that had small darts whizzing out of the walls. Luckily, he was good at dodging.

  The tunnel opened up into a wide cavern. Far above, a small opening let in a shaft of light.

  “Engravings.” Nik’s gaze sharpened on the worn etchings on the wall. No language, just pictographs of daily life and rituals. Fascinating stuff. He lifted his Sync and snapped a few pictures. The geometric style certainly was reminiscent of some of the ancient Terran cultures.

  “More over here. But be careful.” Dathan pointed to the floor. “There’s a ledge here and a big drop.”

  Nik saw a ring of engravings in the floor. These were more sinister. Images of skeletons and demon-like creatures. Sure enough, the floor ended and below he saw yawning shadows.

  He picked up a rock and tossed it over. They waited, and waited. Finally, he heard the distant thunk as the rock found the bottom.

  Zayn whistled. “I’m guessing we don’t want to go that way.”

  Nik stared out to where the shaft of light shone from above. “No. But I think we want to get over there.” The light illuminated an isolated platform that was covered in more engravings. It looked like a small island in a black sea of shadows.

  “Fancy a jump?” Dathan was eyeing the distance across the gap.

  “It’s too far,” Nik said.

  “Not if we use this.” Dathan pulled a grappler off his belt and smiled. He aimed it, fired, and the line released. The pointed head whizzed across the expanse and hit the side of the platform. Small hooks exploded out of the head, embedding into the rock. Dathan tested the line, then he set the end he was holding on the floor. More metal hooks sprang out, digging into the floor.

  “You going to show off your tightrope skills?” Zayn asked.

  “Hell, no.” Dathan grabbed the line, then swung underneath. He started making his way across, keeping his gloved hands and crossed ankles on the slim metal line.

  Once he was on the platform, he waved them over. Nik went next. They all kept in good shape. He might like poring over books and e-records, but he worked out diligently. Treasure hunting wasn’t for someone who kept in shape with an annual sculpting appointment at the salon. You needed real muscles to climb, leap and run.

  He reached the platform and grasped Dathan’s hand to climb up. Zayn started over.

  Soon, the three of them stood on the platform that measured about ten meters by ten meters. Nik crouched, running his fingers over the engravings. These ones were much clearer.

  “This looks promising.” Dathan stalked to the middle, his gaze on a circular pedestal set into the center of the platform.

  Nik looked at the images under his fingertips and saw an engraved square. In a flash, he registered what the image meant. “Wait, Dath! Don’t touch—”

  Dathan had already reached out, his fingers touching the stone pedestal.

  There was a grinding sound—rock on rock.

  Then the platform tilted.

  “Shit!” Zayn leapt away from the edge. As he moved, the platform changed direction, tilting to the other side. Now Dathan cursed, windmilling his arms to keep his balance.

  Nik stepped cautiou
sly toward the center, fighting to keep upright. “We need to balance it. Spread out evenly and then stand still.”

  The other two did as he asked, and soon they had the platform mostly level. Nik bent his knees, trying to keep the thing steady. He felt like he was surfing.

  “So, now what?” Dathan asked.

  It was a good question. As soon as one of them moved, the platform would tilt. Nik craned his neck and looked down. Black darkness loomed below them.

  Another grinding sound.

  Dathan groaned. “What now?”

  The stone pedestal in the center sank downward, then a moment later, it rose up again.

  The shaft of light from above glinted off the gold idol that now sat in the center of the pedestal.

  Dathan swore. Zayn whistled. Nik just stared. The damn thing certainly looked like it was made of gold.

  Nik’s pulse began to race. The idol was the image of a squat man with an elaborate headdress. His pulse raced. He’d seen this before. In historical records. “It can’t be.”

  “What?” Dathan demanded.

  “It looks Incan.” One of Nik’s areas of expertise. He took a step closer and the platform rocked again. He stilled. “The Inca were skilled metalworkers, especially in gold. And see the green-blue inlays? That looks like turquoise. If I’m not mistaken, this is a statue of the Inca sun god, Inti.”

  “Inca,” Dathan said reverently. “Highly valuable and collectable. Private collectors go nuts for Inca artifacts.”

  “Dathan? I think we have trouble.” The female voice came through their earpieces.

  “Babe, now isn’t a great time,” Dathan responded to his wife.

  “I know you’re in the middle of the hunt,” Dr. Eos Rai-Phoenix said drily. “But a ship has just entered orbit around Mazona V. And they’re being stealthy about it.”

  “They spot you?”

  “No. The Infinitas is safely tucked behind Mazona’s moon.”

  “Is it Darc?” Nik asked. But even as he asked the question, he knew that if their rival, Nera Darc, was here, they’d never see her coming.

  “No,” Eos answered.