Zones Book One: Lost in the Hills

"History isn't just a reminder of where we came from. It's a warning of who we should never again become. And the present doesn't just demonstrate what we've learned, it sets the tone for who we aspire to be ... "

The people of Nephelus hail from Earth. In droves, men sailed through a portal to her pristine and uninhabited shores. Nephelus' beauty was an inspiration, the landscape a beacon, and the planet's resources a prize to be won. It didn't take long for blood to run through its rivers or drain into its soils. Lucky were the ancient societies whose wars were quick. Others spent lifetimes claiming the dirt under their feet. When men finally laid their weapons down, the portal long since closed, they were no longer people of Earth. They were Nephelians. Towns turned into civilizations, trade ensued, government formed, and society advanced. Peace was the common language. Sadly, some habits never break. The belligerent exploitation of the planet led to the Nephelian Apex. Resources spent, and half the planet's life lost, a war again waged; this time not for claim, but for blame.

150 cycles post Apex, Nora awakes. Instinct keeps her calm, sharp, and prods her to evaluate her surroundings. The sounds are rhythmic and alarming. The room is sterile and foreign. She's bruised, battered, and restraints bite at her wrists and ankles. Worse, she has no recollection of why she's there, and her hold on rising panic begins to weaken when strangers arrive. A consolation-something courses through her veins. The pulsating under her skin craves a fight, demands blood ... but whose blood will be spilled?