Page 1 of Triplets for the Barbarians

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Jewel

Six years ago, I was doing the math in my head, counting the days until I could find a way back to Earth. Today, I’m counting the days until we find and destroy yet another Sky Tribe starship.

Six years ago, my most dangerous missions involved flying across the Persian Gulf during times of political and diplomatic unrest. Today, my most dangerous missions have me facing death too often. I almost got myself blown up twice in the past month alone. I’m done counting the times I was nearly killed by the Sunnaites’ laser weapons.

I never imagined I’d still be here and that I’d make a home here on Sunna.

We were supposed to be slaves, nothing more, women for the Sunnaites to breed with so they might save their dying species. So much has happened since that fateful day. I can barely remember that night in Vancouver—what we did prior to being abducted by aliens, anyway. We were celebrating Amber’s breakup. We’d had plenty to drink. And look at us now. Warrior women, each and every one of us. Pushed way beyond our limits and forced to adjust to an environment that was anything but kind to humans.

Yet we pulled through. We found a place where we belonged. Three of us found love, the kind written about in books. They built homes and families with their mates. I’ve gotten used to the Sunnaite culture at this point. I understand the biological and emotional bond that happens between a female and her two males.

I think I feel it as well. But I’m not ready to live it. I’m scared one or more of us will die, and I don’t know if I could bear the loss of a true soulmate.

“That black mist is remarkably good at keeping people away,” Fadai says as we approach Opal City in our long-range buggy.

We’ve been traveling for a few days, but the trip is worth it. A couple of weeks ago, Alicia came back to Sapphire City after Solomon’s widows summoned her and her Tallas men for a show-and-tell. I can still see the stars in her warm, brown eyes as she described the military base that Sarin, Neya, and Leela built against Kaos Volcano, along with its exquisite weaponry.

I had to come to see for myself.

“We don’t know for how long, though,” I tell him and Yossul. “If our people figured out the labyrinth and the diversions, others will, too.”

“Not today,” Yossul replies, his eyes on the dusty road ahead.

It’s his turn to drive. I called shotgun earlier in the morning, so I get a nice view of his handsome profile for the remainder of this journey as Opal City rises in the distance with its cloak of black smoke and obsidian-plated walls.

No man in his right mind would dare approach it, especially since most people know this place was ground zero for the plague that practically destroyed the entire Sunnaite society.

“Besides, the traps and bands of Fire Tribe soldiers we’ve positioned along the way since Opal City was liberated from Solomon’s rule have helped keep the curious away.”

“Jewel is right,” Fadai says. “It’s only a matter of time.”

“Your optimism is infectious,” Yossul grumbles.

I chuckle. “I think we’re all just tired, Yos. It’s been a long month for everyone involved.”

We’re nowhere close to finding the sixth wretched starship, and rumor has it that the Sky Tribe is just about ready to launch it. Our intel is scrambled at best, and the enemy has gotten better at protecting their communications since I got involved.

After the truth about the plague’s origin was revealed, Cynthia worked overtime to reproduce Solomon’s cure for the virus. The last of his vials were destroyed while he tried to escape his own reckoning, but his widows gave us everything of his—every note and memo, every report and folder from each of his drawers—so that we might put an end to this nightmare.

Cynthia has developed an effective vaccine, and the Fire Tribe’s scarce but cherished female population has been inoculated. We still need a cure, though. The virus is still on the loose, and only a cure will stop it for good. The vaccine, in turn, will prevent future generations from becoming infected by the inevitable mutations.

Alicia has put considerable effort into studying Sunna’s culture and history, predicting their military and political models. That has also helped me and the Kreek pack, in particular. We’ve devised our strategies to stay one step ahead of the Sky Tribe. For the most part, it’s been working.

The Fire Tribe now has the upper hand—though not for long. The enemy still holds most of the cities, resources, and military equipment. But they’re spread thin because of our many small-scale but effective sabotage missions.

Much like the virus itself, however, they’ve learned how to adapt, which is why we’re still looking for the sixth starship, which is the bane of my existence.

As Opal City looms ahead, I take a deep breath, trying to mentally prepare for what I’m about to see. I’m sure Alicia’s description doesn’t really cover the magnitude and the importance of those long-range laser weapons.

“I still can’t believe how proactive Solomon’s widows have been,” I say to my friends.

“They felt cheated and lied to. What was it Alicia once said? Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned?” Yossul replies.

“Yeah, makes sense. It’s a good reminder not to mess with women in general, especially women who have authority over the engineering corps,” I chuckle dryly.

Fadai rests a hand on my shoulder, squeezing gently. “We’ve already learned our lesson of women scorned since the day you crash-landed on Sunna.”

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