The Accidental Omega (The Omega Concord #1)

Chapter One

Elizabeth

“Absolutely the fuck not. That was a... a joke. A dare!” I stammer into my cell phone.

I turn, waving my co-worker, Kyle, away from my desk.

Why did I answer an unknown number? I ask myself as I stare at Jerry, my blue beta fish who is undisturbed by this awful news, swimming happily among the roots of his spider plant.

“I assure you, Miss Hudson, this is not a joke,” the comforting voice on the other end of the line responds.

“And if I may remind you, Earth’s status as an undisturbed sanctuary for near-intelligent life is dependent upon our participation in the Omega Concord.

I’m quite sure the testing center went over all of that before you had to show your ID to sign the legally-binding paperwork? ”

I don’t recall what the fuck I signed.

“That was over ten years ago!” I hiss, turning away farther, panic growing.

I hesitate, fingers tapping on my cluttered desk nervously; my eyes landing on a flyer for an upcoming fundraising event I’m helping with. Surely there’s a loophole somewhere? Contracts and government bullshit always have loopholes. How much money do I have in savings?

I cringe. Damn non-profit-pay scale. Probably not enough to buy my own ass.

“Is there no way out of this?” I ask, trying to sound pathetic. Not hard, given the lump of fear in my gut.

“Well...” there’s some clicking on her end of the line, “Since the records database doesn’t show that you have legally married or become a parent, I’m sorry, there is not.”

I feel like I’m about to pass out. I bend over, head between my legs. Probably a position I’m about to be in a lot.

The voice drones on, “You’re expected for processing at the facility nearest your registered address, over on Fir Avenue, on the ninth at eleven am. Please keep personal affects to the standard flight carry-on size. You have a nice day, dear.”

Yeah, I’m about to pass out, I realize just before my vision fades to black.