Jasper T Scott [Scott - Broken Worlds- The Complete Series

Broken Worlds: The Awakening

(1st Edition)

by Jasper T. Scott

JasperTscott.com

@JasperTscott

Copyright 2018

THE AUTHOR RETAINS ALL RIGHTS

FOR THIS BOOK

Cover Art by Tom Edwards

TomEdwardsDesign.com

Content Rating: PG

Swearing: made-up euphemisms only

Sexual content: PG, very minimal

Violence: mild to moderate

Acknowledgements

This book comes to you in its typo-free state thanks to my volunteer editor, David Cantrell, and to each and every one of my advance readers. Thank you, B. Allen Thobois, Chase Hanes, Daniel Eloff, Dave Topan, David Brotchie, Davis Shellabarger, Donna Bennett, Earl Hall, Gary Matthews, George P. Dixon, Gerald Geddings, Gregg Cordell, Harry Huyler, Henry Espinoza, Ian F. Jedlica, Ian Seccombe, Jacqueline Gartside, Jeff Morris, Karl Keip, Karol Ross, Lisa Garber, Mary Kastle, Mary Whitehead, Michael Madsen, Paul Burch, Peter Rouse, Raymond Burt, William Dellaway, William Moore, and William Schmidtyou guys make editing easy! Also, I owe a big thank you to my wife and daughter for being so supportive of my work, and for being such a great inspiration.

And finally, many thanks to the Muse.

To those who dare,

And to those who dream.

To everyone whos stronger than they seem.

Believe in me / I know youve waited for so long / Believe in me / Sometimes the weak become the strong.

STAIND, Believe

Dramatis Personnae

Darius Drake Spaceman

Human male.

Cassandra Drake

Human female.

Claire Drake

Human female.

Lisa Davies Blondie

Human female.

Blake Nelson

Human male.

Gatticus Thedroux Slick

Male.

From Hades

Captain Mako Riker

Human male.

Primus Kathari Ra Sievros / Catman / Sassy

Lassarian male.

Titara Tita

Dol Walin female

Ectos

Sicarian male.

Veekara

Vixxon female.

The Exiles

Tanik Gurhain Scarface

Human male.

Ikatosh Ike / Abominable Snowman

Korothian male.

Tik Batman

Murciago male.

Dyara Dya / Hottie

Human female.

Kithisiosakata Kithisios / Kit / Flipper

Dol Walin male.

Cygnians / Phantoms

King Assuraga

Male

Queen Cithasi

Female

Minor Characters

Captain Okara

Human female.

Lieutenant Reed

Human male.

Deliverance Crew

Bridge

Lieutenant David Neelson

Comms

Lieutenant Aaron Fields

Helm

Lieutenant Commander John Carter

Flight Ops

Other

Senior Chief Petty Officer Bill Harmond

Quartermaster

Prologue

The Year 2045 AD

D arius dragged his chair closer to his daughters bedside. How are you feeling, Cass?

Tired. She gave a brittle smile that shattered before it could reach her eyesvivid blue eyes, the color of a cloudless sky.

Darius nodded and let out a shaky breath. Doctor Allister should be back with your test results soon. You can sleep if you want. I can talk to him. Darius shrugged. Im sure its nothing anyway. People get headaches, headaches can make you dizzy, and dizziness can make you sick.

Cassandra laid a hand on his knee, and it was only then that he realized hed been bouncing it uncontrollably ever since he sat down. Dad, stop.

I had too much coffee. I cant help it.

No, not that . Dont lie and tell me Im fine. I know Im not fine. I know, and its okay.

Darius felt an angry knot form between his eyes. No, its not okay. Youre twelve. You dont get to be okay with thisand besides, Im not lying. Im hoping for the best, and you should too. I read somewhere that being positive can help your body fight, and even prevent, major diseases. Cassandras cheeks flushed and bulged with a reply, but Darius raised a finger to stop her. No backtalk, young lady.

She winced and subsided, gasping for air.

Whats wrong? Darius asked quickly.

Cassandra shook her head. It hurts.

Where?

She touched the side of her face, as if she had a toothache.

Probably the headache. Pain can radiate like that.

Cassandra raised one eyebrow and fixed him with a meaningful look.

A new idea occurred to him that could explain her symptoms. Darius chewed his lower lip. Youre not, uhh... going through any changes lately, are you?

Cassandra gave him a blank look. Like what?

Like... you know, girl stuff.

Cassandra looked horrified. No, Dad.

Darius arched an eyebrow. Well, that can cause headaches, and mood swings, and

Dad, its not my period. Its the cancer. Its back.

Darius threw up his hands. They removed your kidney. Doctor Allister said you were cancer-free.

He also said that cancer-free is a misnomer.

Darius frowned. Yeah, well, maybe we should get you a new doctor.

No, I need to hear the truth. I can take it.

Darius frowned.

A knock came at the door, drawing their attention away from each other. Come in, Darius said.

The door swung wide, and in walked Doctor Markus Allister. He was a tall man with wavy black hair, dark, deep-set eyes, a heavy brow, and a drooping mouth and mustache that made him look like he was always frowning. Hed definitely chosen the right specialty.

Darius rose to his feet, wielding a smile like a shield to ward off any bad news. You have her results?

Doctor Allister stopped at the foot of the bed and nodded. Yes, he said quietly, and his face twitched with sorrow. Im sorry.

A sharp spike of dread went through Dariuss heart, and his whole body grew cold. Suddenly his legs wouldnt hold him, and he had to sit back down.

Its back, isnt it, Cassandra asked, but there was no hint of a question in her voice.

Darius grabbed his daughters hand in a tight fist. Well fight it, he said. Drakes never say die, remember?

Cassandras mouth quirked into a lopsided smile. Cant kill a rock, she added, nodding slowly.

Thats the spirit. Darius gave his attention back to the doctor. What are our treatment options?

Doctor Allisters gaze flicked to Cassandra and then back to him. Perhaps we should step outside for a minute to discuss that.

Darius felt some of the fight leave him as he noticed the grim look on the doctors face and the tone in his voice. He let out a breath and released Cassandras hand to rise on numb, wooden legs that didnt feel like they belonged to him anymore.

Our treatment options? Cassandra asked in a loud voice. Dont you mean my treatment options?

Darius turned to look at her and saw the fire burning in her eyes. Cass

No, Dad. Whatever this is, I need to hear it too. This is my fight, and Im not running from it.

Darius stared at his daughter, his heart aching and swelling with pride at the same time.

Very well, Doctor Allister said, and let out a sigh of his own. Your cancer is back, and its spread to your brain, liver, and bones. Theres a tumor in your brain that is likely the cause of your headaches and nauseapossibly the mood swings too.

How do you treat that? Darius demanded.

We can operate to remove the tumors and use drugs to target the cancer in her bones.

What are my chances of survival? Cassandra asked.

Doctor Allister looked uncomfortable. Theres really no way to say for sure... response to treatment varies, but we should be able to significantly slow the growth of the cancer.

But not cure it? Cassandra pressed.

The doctors mustache twitched. No.

Darius scowled. What do you mean, you cant cure her?

We can extend her life significantly, and new advances are being made all the time.

So how long can you give me? Cassandra asked.

As I said, its impossible to say. We need to see how you respond to treatments.

How. Long. Cassandra insisted quietly.

With cancer this aggressive and this advanced, you could get anywhere from six months to a year. Maybe two.