The Girl From Mars

  The Girl From Mars

  A Starstruck Novel

  Brenda Hiatt

  THE GIRL FROM MARS

  * * *

  A Starstruck Novel

  Copyright © 2017 Brenda Hiatt

  * * *

  Cover art by Ravven Kitsune

  All rights reserved

  This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance between the events or the characters in this story and actual events or persons, living or dead, are purely coincidental.

  License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  * * *

  Dolphin Star Press

  ISBN: 1-940618-38-X

  ISBN-13: 978-1-940618-38-8

  DEDICATION

  For everyone who has ever doubted they would find their happy ending

  The Starstruck series by Brenda Hiatt

  Starstruck

  Starcrossed

  Starbound

  Starfall

  Fractured Jewel: A Starstruck Novella

  The Girl From Mars

  The Handmaid’s Secret

  Contents

  Synopsis

  Preface

  I. Kira of Nuath

  1. Caidpel

  2. Sean O’Gara

  3. Populists

  4. Hollydoon

  5. Cannarc

  6. Launch window

  7. Doolegar

  8. Horizon

  9. Dun Cloch

  10. Threoirach

  11. Emileia

  12. Rundacht

  13. Moill

  II. Jewel

  14. Away game

  15. Rejected

  16. Unsportsmanlike conduct

  17. Rebound

  18. Sparring match

  19. One-on-one

  20. Play-action fake

  21. Incidental contact

  22. Head in the game

  23. Charging

  24. Incomplete pass

  25. Technical foul

  26. Out of bounds

  27. Fadeaway

  28. Double coverage

  29. Turnover

  30. Double reverse

  31. Bounce pass

  32. Field goal

  33. Swish

  34. Blind side

  35. Cooldown

  36. Delay of game

  37. Box out

  38. Free agent

  39. Personal foul

  40. Fourth down

  41. Assist

  42. Crunch time

  43. Prayer shot

  The Handmaid’s Secret (preview)

  A Martian Glossary

  A Note from Brenda Hiatt

  Also by Brenda Hiatt

  About the Author

  Synopsis

  We’re going where??

  * * *

  Kira’s life in Nuath is getting better and better. She’s a rising star on a prestigious sports team and the guy she’s been crushing on has just started to notice her. When her parents announce they’re all moving to technologically backward Earth for the good of their underground Martian colony, Kira is aghast—and furious. The last thing she wants to do is leave Mars to “blend in” with inferior Terrans. Worse, once she’ll be expected to make nice with the new Sovereign, a girl no more fit to rule their people than Kira herself. When Kira is offered a chance to undermine Sovereign Emileia, she leaps at it.

  * * *

  During the past year, the life Sean O’Gara eagerly anticipated has crashed and burned. He was excited to move to Jewel, Indiana. Excited to take his place as the destined Royal Consort of Princess Emileia, a girl he’d fantasized about for years. But nothing turned out the way he expected. Emileia already had a boyfriend and no matter how hard he tries, Sean can’t deny those two share a special bond—a bond that benefits their people. A bond he can’t share. Sean’s once-bright dreams turn to dust, leaving him nothing to hope for…until a new girl from Mars comes to town.

  * * *

  To Kira, Sean represents everything she’s always resented about the ruling class—even if he is awfully cute. And the more Sean learns about Kira’s political views, the more he suspects she’s a threat to their people—no matter how strongly he’s attracted to her. Are their differences too great to overcome, or can they transcend them to discover a future beyond anything either imagined?

  * * *

  The much-anticipated continuation of the electrifying Starstruck series, where teen romance blends with science fiction to open a whole new world of action, adventure and discovery!

  Sign up for Brenda Hiatt’s newsletter and get a FREE Starstruck short story! (CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE)

  Preface

  An Introduction To Nuathan History, 83rd Edition

  * * *

  (Basic curriculum text—use in place of previous editions)

  * * *

  Overview

  Nuath’s true origins have been lost in the mists of time. However, it is generally believed that nearly three thousand years ago, a technologically advanced alien race created the underground cavern on Mars with its Earth-like environment. The aliens then transplanted the inhabitants of a small Earth village to this cavern, in order to conduct genetic and social experiments on their captives. As the human population increased from a few hundred to many thousands, the habitat was gradually expanded to its present size. Then, approximately one thousand years after establishing this underground Martian laboratory, the aliens departed for reasons unknown, leaving no record of their nature or their future plans.

  Without their alien overlords, the abandoned community, by then known as Nuath, continued to evolve on its own. By necessity, a system of government emerged, the earliest leaders chosen from among the most gifted colonists. This led to the formation of the first fine, or bloodline, which divided a few generations later into the Royal and Science fines. Most of Nuath’s governing body is still drawn from those two groups. Meanwhile, increasing specialization of various skill-sets led to the rise of numerous other fines. There are currently no fewer than ten major fines, most further divided into several sub-fines.

  As the colonists learned to use and adapt technology left behind by their alien abductors, they were able to advance scientifically to the point of building and launching spacecraft of their own. 523 years ago, under Sovereign Arturo, Nuathans first visited their nearest neighbor, Earth, and discovered it was their planet of origin. More expeditions followed, with small groups of Nuathans occasionally emigrating to Earth despite the harsher conditions found there. Those earliest Echtrans, or expatriate Martians, are believed to have sparked Earth’s Renaissance period. To facilitate communication, Nuath eventually adopted the calendar and measurement system of Earth’s Ireland, home of the first real Echtran outpost. Because the planet remained socially and technologically backward by Nuathan standards, it was early decided to keep emigrants’ origins and abilities secret from their Earth (or Duchas) neighbors.

  Safely concealed on Mars, Nuath remained peaceful and prosperous, if not perfect, until fifteen years ago, when the ambitious upstart Faxon began sowing discord, stirring up resentment in the less-prestigious fines against the Royals and Scientists. Over a two-year period, Faxon gathered enough support to stage a coup, deposing and then assassinating Sovereign Leontine and his wife. A general purge of the Royal bloodline followed, though some survived Faxon’s depredations by fleeing to Earth. Among those were Leontine’s son, Mikal, with his wife and infant daughter.

  The majority of Nuathans, even those who had helped Faxon
rise to power, were horrified by his excesses. As his support waned, Faxon resorted to intimidation and repression to maintain control. Fearing Mikal and his family could become a rallying point for the fledgling Resistance movement, Faxon sent a few still-loyal adherents to Earth with orders to eliminate them. When word came back that the last of the Sovereign line had been killed, most Nuathans were thrown into despair. Rebellion having been largely bred out of the early colonists, the Resistance faltered and would have failed but for the efforts of a few Royals, most notably the O’Gara family, who obscured their origins to remain on Mars and rally their people’s spirits, restoring to them a measure of hope.

  This hope was greatly bolstered when Nuathans learned that the last of Sovereign Leontine’s line had not, in fact, perished. The news that his granddaughter, Princess Emileia, had been discovered alive on Earth galvanized the Resistance, allowing them to finally cast off the yoke of Faxon’s oppression and remove him from power. Since then, Nuathan society has begun to rebuild itself, striving for an eventual return to its former prosperity and security. It is hoped that the recent return of the Princess, lately Acclaimed Sovereign Emileia, will hasten that recovery.

  Part I

  Kira of Nuath

  1

  Caidpel

  caidpel (KAYD-pel): predominant sport played in Nuath, combining elements of the Irish sports of hurling and Gaelic football

  * * *

  “Kira! I’m open!” My teammate Brady’s call comes from across the caidpel field as two opposing players box me in.

  Whirling to face him, I toss the ball from my hand to my camman, then use the stick to flick it his way over my opponents’ heads. Brady barely has to stretch to catch the schlitur on a dead run toward the other team’s goal. My way no longer blocked, I’m free to assist. As I streak down the caidpel pitch, the opposing goalposts loom up like a giant letter “A” with two crossbars, one above the other.

  Brady lobs the ball toward the middle goal, between the two crossbars, five feet above the goalie’s head. Not high enough. She extends her stick and jumps, deflecting it at the last second, but now I’m in position.

  I leap in front of the man she’s aiming for, knocking his camman aside with my left hand as I snag the ball in my right. Two quick steps, then I hurl the ball twice as high as Brady did. The schlitur sails through the small, triangular goal at the top, between the short upper crossbar and the pointed peak where the two posts converge twenty feet above the ground.

  Five points! Seconds later the final chime sounds, ending the game with our team up 12-10 over the Healers.

  My teammates converge on me, cheering wildly. “You did it, Kira!” screams Leitis, our goalie and my best friend on the team.

  “Again,” adds Brady, grinning at me over the top of Leitis’s head. “Was a good day for the Ags when you joined us, Kira. Glad now I didn’t make that three-pointer and throw us into overtime. Gave you a chance to go for the win. Well done!”

  “Thanks.” I grin back at him.

  This is only my second season in the elite Senior Caidpel League, though I started playing on Hollydoon’s girls’ team when I turned twelve, nearly five years ago. Playing caidpel, even becoming one of Nuath’s top players, might not be as world-changing as helping the Resistance was, but I still love it. Especially at moments like this, when I’ve just helped advance the Agricultural fine’s team into the playoffs.

  Our green-clad fans start streaming onto the pitch to congratulate the players—especially me. Though I enjoy the adulation, seeing so many of my teammates being hugged by their families is a sharp reminder that my own didn’t come. Never come.

  Dad claims it’s because the crowds spook Mum so much. Maybe it’s true. She’s never quite been herself since Faxon’s goons arrested her last year, two weeks before the dictator was overthrown. I should probably cut her more slack.

  Retrieving my smile, I turn to a few younger fans thrusting their tablets toward me. I’m autographing the last one when I spot my little sister making her way through the crowd. Scanning the area behind her, I see no sign of our parents.

  “Hey, Adina. Did you come by yourself?”

  “I came with Bronwyn’s family. They figured I wouldn’t want to miss your big game and they were right—you were awesome!”

  I return her hug, absurdly touched. “Thanks, Sprout. You want to stick around and celebrate with the team? Coach said something about Sheelah’s.”

  Adina’s amber eyes widen at the name of the best restaurant in Newlyn—one of the best in Nuath, in fact. “Oh, wow, Sheelah’s! I’d…no, I’d better not. The water dispenser in the sheep pen has been glitching lately and Mum never remembers to check it. Besides, I said I’d be home for dinner.”

  “You and your sheep.” I ruffle my sister’s short blonde hair.

  While my parents and I have the skills with plants typical of most Ags, Adina has always had a special affinity for animals. Dad sometimes teases that Adina is a throwback to the time before Horticulture and Husbandry split into separate Agricultural sub-fines, five or six hundred years ago.

  “I’ll see you later then, okay?” I say. “Tell Mum and Dad not to wait dinner. And thank Bronwyn’s folks for bringing you.”

  When the happy crowd finally disperses a little while later, our team heads to Sheelah’s for our celebratory dinner. Coach assures us he called ahead to reserve their party room, but when we arrive the owner tells him it’s already taken.

  “But…I just called to confirm fifteen minutes ago,” Coach protests. “You said you were holding that room for us.”

  The man, both shorter and noticeably pudgier than the average Nuathan, shrugs apologetically. “Sorry about that. They arrived just ahead of you, so what could I do?”

  He jerks a thumb over his shoulder toward the archway leading into the room in question—the only one large enough to accommodate our whole team. Looking, I spot the unmistakeable tall, copper-headed figure of Sean O’Gara, the Sovereign’s future Consort, laughing and talking with a dozen other guys around the same age. They all look pleased with themselves for pulling rank to snag the best room—the room that was supposed to be ours.

  Even as I watch, Sean O’Gara turns his head and spots our team, still hovering by the door. Nudging a couple of his buddies, he grins widely and gives us a cocky thumbs-up. Gloating. Arrogant, Royal twilly.

  “Seriously?” I say to our coach. “They bumped us for the Sovereign’s lapdog and his Royal friends? They don’t even need a room that big!”

  “Shh!” Coach hisses at me. “Do you want to get us all in trouble?” Then, more loudly, “C’mon, everybody, we’ll celebrate with fish and chips next door instead. My treat.”

  There’s quite a bit of grumbling as we file back out, but no one dares protest too loudly. I glance back over my shoulder as I leave the restaurant and see Consort Sean still grinning at us, like he’s daring us to try to oust him and his gang of Royals from the room we reserved.

  “Jerks,” I mutter. “They’re as bad as Faxon’s favorites used to be, lording it over everyone else.”

  The only one close enough to overhear is Brady, who immediately falls into step beside me. “You still miss it, don’t you?” He slants a glance down at me with those dark blue eyes that make all the girls swoon.

  I look up at him, startled. “Miss—? You mean…when we were still working to change things and caidpel was more than just a game?”

  Brady is the only other member of our team who used the sport as cover to help the Resistance last year, when Faxon was still making everyone miserable. Our matches and practices take us all over Nuath, so it was easy to pass messages without Faxon’s bullochts—who were everywhere—getting suspicious.

  He nods. “I’m not criticizing, you’re playing better than ever this season. But I can tell you don’t have quite the same fire you did then. Am I wrong?”

  For a second I don’t answer, then I shake my head. “Not wrong. But we’re supposed to be happy about
it, right? The Resistance did what it set out to do—got rid of Faxon. Brought back the Sovereign.” I can’t quite keep the bitterness out of my voice on that last word.

  Brady keeps watching me, not saying anything else until the team is busy placing their orders at the fish and chips counter. Then, softly, “What if I told you there are still ways to make a difference?”

  “What do you mean?” I whisper back. “How?”

  “Ask me tomorrow, after our practice in Monaru. ’K?”

  I nod eagerly and he moves off. Leitis immediately takes his place at my side.