Alex Morgan

In the 22nd century, Earth has been harvested by a race of aliens known as the Xini. In the aftermath, all the planet’s resources have been stripped. Dakota sets out from Dallas in search of his lover, Grayson, who vanished on his way to St. Louis after the invading fleet departed.<br><br>Dakota faces unknown dangers in the devastated plains of northern Texas and southern Oklahoma as scavengers -- human beings reduced to shells after the Harvesting -- roam the earth attacking anything that moves in an effort to survive.<br><br>He finds a group of survivors struggling in what little remains of Oklahoma City, led by the tough, handsome Colonel Welch. While Mother Nature unleashes a fury of natural disasters to purge herself of the Xini rape, Dakota must decide whether to stay with the colonel and help him make the colony viable, or continue onto St. Louis to find Grayson.

Harvested

“No, Howie,” Beth scolded with little conviction in her tone. “This is a friend.”


Dakota knelt and held out his hands, palms up, allowing Howie to sniff them. He remained motionless until the dog had completed his investigation. Apparently, Howie decided he wasn’t a threat and returned his attention back to Beth, who scratched his ears and patted his head. Howie huffed and wagged his tail appreciatively. 


“Let me introduce you to my grandson.” She led him toward a small mound in the soil where an opening in the red clay led to concrete steps descending into the ground. “Chip!” she called into the darkness below.


“Grandma!” a voice answered. Dakota had expected a boy but the response was too deep. It sounded much more like a young man.


“I found another survivor. He says he’s from Dallas.”


Sounds of movement and unintelligible words of surprise came from below and a second later, a figure appeared at the bottom of the steps. 


Chapter 7