Page 1 of Resisting the Alien Commander

Chapter1

*If your book opens to this page, please refer to prior page for CW

Quinn

The scent of garbage and shit lingers inside the sanitation facility’s break room. It seeps under the door, through the vents, and it’s embedded in the clothing of the thirty women gathered around two tables pushed together. The air is filled with nervous anticipation—or, in my case, dread—for the President’s special address.

“My stomach’s in knots,” Olivia says.

“Mine, too,” echoes another coworker from the opposite side of the table.

“Considering I have the worst luck, I doubt she’ll be announcing my name.”

My only fear is the President sayingOlivia’sname. If she does, then that’s one more person I’ll lose. I’m not sure I can handle it. There are over three hundred million people in the bottom tier alone. Even if only a fourth of that number is women of child-bearing age, it’s just a one in seventy-five million chance she’ll be called. That’s nearly impossible, right?

“Can you believe some of us will be heading to space in a couple days?” Olivia asks.

Her words cause the knot in my stomach to tighten. For purely selfish reasons, I really, really hope she’s not one of them.

From the head of one table, the datapad chirps and the black screen comes to life. We all wait with bated breath. At least I do. Another second passes, and the President appears, the giant blue and gold seal on the wall behind her. She stands at a podium, appearing as put together as always in her tailored beige suit and her short gray hair styled without a strand out of place. Her gaze is fixed on the camera in front of her.

Hushed voices grow and Olivia shushes everyone. I can’t glance away from the datapad or the woman on the screen.

“Good evening, my fellow Americans,” she says. “This is a day filled with amazing possibility for twenty women. You will leave the bottom tier for something better. Something exciting.”

I snort. “How does she know it’ll be better?”

Olivia shushes me, too.

“Any of the women whose names are announced tonight can decline the Bohnari’s offer,” the President continues. “However, understand that by doing so you will invalidate your lottery entry and not be given a second chance. You have until eight tomorrow morning to accept. Any time after that, you will forfeit your place and another name will be announced.”

Tomorrow morning? That’s barely any time to commit to a life-altering decision like moving to an alien planet and leaving everything behind. Sounds a little suspicious to me. Then again, the women who entered the lottery did so of their own choosing so they must truly want this.

“I will start by reading the first name,” the President announces.

Nausea churns in my belly for some weird reason. It’s the icky feeling I get when I know something bad is about to happen.

“Olivia Jean Morrison,” she announces and my heart stops beating for a second.

Olivia grabs my hand and clutches it tightly. I blink back the tears. My best friend is leaving me. Just like everyone else in my life. I can’t—won’t—cry here. Not in front of everyone. I’ll wait until I’m home and can lock myself in my room.

Three more names are read and then the next.

“Devon Marie Jackson.” The woman across from me widens her eyes and her mouth flaps open and closed.

“Lindsey Anabel Taylor.” She and Devon turn to each other with the same shocked expression.

I sit there completely numb. Three people within feet of me—women I see nearly every single day—will be gone in days. Just like thatI’ll be alone once again. All except for my mother. This is why I stopped making friends. It hurts too much when they’re taken away.I don’t hear any of the rest of the names being announced. There’s a white noise buzzing in my ears instead.

I blink and focus on my surroundings. Only to find all the women staring at me.

I turn to Olivia. Her eyes are wide and there’s a slightly unhinged look to her as she stares back at me. My gaze takes in everyone a second time. They all continue gaping.

“What? Why are you all looking at me like that?”

Olivia recovers first and clears her throat. “The President called the name of the last woman chosen.”

So?

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