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Hello everyone! hope you enjoy this excerpt from Chapter 14 of Intergalactic Mind Games:

Anderson and Ace are escorted to the middle of the battlefield by the
Soldier of Royalty.
“Humans can be so barbaric at times,” Dibdyb remarks in his growly
voice.
“May I remind you that I too have human genes, and all species can
be barbaric, Mr. Dibdyb,” Duke Reion retorts.
Dibdyb smirks as he and Duke Reion focus on the battle at hand.
“You might have the other guys fooled, but not me,” Ace affirms. “I
know you’re scared.”
“Of course, I’m scared, Ace,” Anderson says. “Look at us; we’re on an
alien planet, fighting to go back home to our loved ones.”
“I got my loved one here, and all anyone ever seems to want to do is
take her away from me!” Ace agonizes.
“You got this all wrong, man. We don’t want to steal her away from
you; we’re just trying to work as a team,” Anderson tries to reason.
“They took my buddy Dean from me, but no one is going to take Izzy
from me!” Ace yells before lunging for Anderson.
Anderson darts out of the way, dodging his crazed competitor. “Use
that anger against Pryme; he’s the one responsible for Dean’s banishment!”
Anderson scolds. “Don’t use it against me; we’re on the same team!”

Hello everyone! hope you enjoy this excerpt from Chapter 13 of Intergalactic Mind Games:

Meanwhile, Isabella is escorted back to her cell by a Soldier of Royalty.
As she walks by Anderson, he asks, “Are you okay?”
Isabella turns to answer him, but Ace grabs her arm in a jealous rage
and pulls her toward him.
“Are you kidding me, dude?” Ace shouts. “She’s with me, not you!”
“I’m fine, I’m fine,” Isabella assures everyone, but Ace and Anderson are not listening. Both men are locked in an intense staredown.
“I was just asking her how she was, man! Relax!” Anderson aggressively responds to Ace.
Ace points his finger in Anderson’s face and, with teeth clenched, angrily shouts, “I am so tired of you!”
“Get that finger out of my face!” Anderson yells, swatting Ace’s hand away.
“All right, all right.” Ace cowers as he puts his hands up, backing away.
Anderson sees Ace backing down and turns to talk to Isabella when . . .
BANG!
Ace blindsides Anderson with a punch to the back of the head.
Anderson is dazed but still on his feet.
Before anyone can intervene, Ace clutches the back of Anderson’s
head and thrusts him, face first, into the vision screen, causing the glass to shatter everywhere.
Anderson lies on the ground and feels himself starting to fade. He cannot hear anything except a loud ringing between his ears as he slips in and out of consciousness.
He sees Elmer and Billy Bob standing over him with a look of concern, while Ace looks to be throwing insults as Isabella holds him back. Suddenly, everything becomes blurry and then eventually goes dark as Anderson falls unconscious.

Hello everyone! hope you enjoy this excerpt from Chapter 12 of Intergalactic Mind Games:

The Intergalactic Team Games is a living board game type competition.
The entire battlefield is transformed into a triangular board with various odd-shaped symbols depicted on it.
Each team starts from the bottom end of the triangle with the objective to get to the top of the triangular board.
One team consists of three small extraterrestrials with sphere-like heads, black oval eyes, and tiny openings for noses, mouths, and ears.
Their gel suits cover up their steel grey skin.
The opposing team of four is of reptilian descent. They are tall, stout
humanoid crocodiles in gel suits ready for battle.
The jumbo screen presents symbols for each team at random that match those on the triangular board, instructing the participants to land on the marked symbols. If the same symbol appears for both teams, both teams will be forced to oppose one another for that spot. The board also displays objects of monsters, meaning the contestants not only face one another on the battlefield but also killer beasts when called upon. The game continues this way until there is a winner, or in some cases, survivors.
“I think I get how this game works,” Anderson says.
“Ya do?” Billy Bob replies, more confused than ever. “Wonder if they gotta manual with instructions on how to play. And what’s up with all the triangles on this here planet?”
“The first test challenge we had, the tug-of-war, was probably to see how strong we are and how we work together as a team. When Dean and Praagan were limited to using their hands, that was probably to see if we can follow the rules. Darm and Bundo’s fight likely was to see how we work individually. Billy Bob and Elmer, your challenge must have been to see how our team does as a duo. Maybe it was also to see our compassion level since we had something else fight the battle for us or to see how we interact with the beasts,” Anderson explains, thinking out loud. “Every challenge we’ve seen is to mentally and physically prepare us for the Intergalactic Team Games. The game looks intense; teams have to play on instinct, which is why we need the challenges to prepare us.”

Hello everyone! hope you enjoy this excerpt from Chapter 11 of Intergalactic Mind Games:

“Ahhh!” Dean screams in anguish as he awakens. He finds himself
lying in a hammock with his right leg from the knee down in a pail filled
with boiling hot water.
“It’s okay, it’s okay,” a woman sitting beside him says. “Leave your
ankle in there. I’ve put a burgundy enchanted vine in the pail; it has
healing powers. It won’t make your ankle a hundred percent better but
likely eighty to eighty-five percent. Just give it a few more minutes.”
Dean examines his leg and squints in pain. He then peers over at the
woman, who stares back at him, and in her alluring voice implores, “Please. Trust me.”
Dean nods before asking, “What’s a burgundy enchanted vine?”
“There is a tree located at the center of the Corpse Jungle that has been taken over by burgundy enchanted vines. These vines are magical, with healing powers only being one of its gifts. Rumour has it that the tree was here before the jungle, and it wasn’t until after the vines took over the tree that the jungle grew around it.”
She then offers him water from her canteen and a pouch of food to
eat, consisting of berries and branches.
“My name is Neemyn-K,” the woman says tenderly.
Neemyn-K comes from planet Kearilia. Keariliaons are almost
identical to humans in appearance, with the only physical difference being their pointy ears and nose.
She has warm, sincere amber eyes, long, black lustrous straight hair,
and a honey skin tone. Neemyn-K wears a shabby aqua blue one-piece
outfit—a collared blouse connected to a knee-high dress—with white
polka dots, scruffy orange knee-high boots, and long faded orange gloves that go from her hands to just past her elbow.
Neemyn-K is strong-minded and strong-willed with an optimistic
attitude. She is kind-hearted and always willing to help those in need.
Dean looks around and sees that he is in a small hut. The hut is a small,
enclosed dwelling where the walls and roof are made of branches, leaves, vines and logs from fallen trees.
The ground is composed of exposed dirt, with giant leaves spread
around like mats. A few large rocks are used as chairs around a table made from two smaller rocks with a plank of wood balanced across them. Dean is lying in a hammock that is tied amongst two logs planted deep into the soil, working as pillars to keep the roof up.
“Thank you,” Dean says with appreciation. “If not for you, I would
have died out there.”
Neemyn-K smiles before replying, “You’re welcome.”
“I’m Dean. I was sent to the Corpse Jungle by that son of a . . .”
Dean stops himself, realizing his emotions are still high. He gathers his
composure and continues, “Sorry, I shouldn’t be cursing, especially in front of such a beautiful lady.”
Neemyn-K giggles as the attraction between the two intensifies.
“Where am I exactly?” Dean wonders.
“The Compound of Light,” Neemyn-K answers. “Just like yourself,
I was also ousted to this life-sucking jungle. It was horrible. It happened
about six months ago. There were eight of us abducted from my planet, but we all got separated once we were banished. I was lucky because I found this community—a community filled with different life forms—and they took me in. It’s a community for the Banished Crew; that’s what we call ourselves. It’s a place where we look out for one another and survive.”
“Did anyone else from your team make it here eventually?” Dean asks sympathetically.
Overcome with grief, Neemyn-K puts her head down before responding, “No.”
“I’m sorry,” Dean comforts her. “My team is still battling in the palace. Hope they don’t end up here.”
“Yes, hopefully they can make it back home,” Neemyn-K responds with encouragement before insisting, “I have to introduce you to Majics.”
“Who?” Dean asks curiously.
“Majics, our community leader,” Neemyn-K explains. “He was banished here many years ago and created this camp. If not for him, none of us would last out here. He’s a true father figure to us all. I’ll introduce you once you’re feeling better.”
“I’d like that,” Dean says with a grin, and the two continue talking
throughout the day and into the night.

 

Hello everyone! hope you enjoy this excerpt from Chapter 10 of Intergalactic Mind Games:

Emperor Pryme rises to his feet to address the challengers. “For this
challenge, your fate will be in the hands of another. We have secured
six creatures from the Corpse Jungle, and each of you will select your
champion. The beasts will battle to the death, and the surviving creature will secure victory for their team.”
Several Soldiers of Royalty go into Pryme’s Pit and wheel out six crates
into the stadium, each one holding a different creature from the Corpse Jungle.
The first crate contains a raptor-looking beast called a Haridonyx.
It stands at seven feet tall with a flat round snout, and a sharp spear-like tipped tail. The Haridonyx is brown and has razor-sharp claws.
The second crate contains a Chamuida, an animal resembling a
unicorn. It is yellow with a long bouncy blue mane, two exquisite horns,
four strong legs, and two short, diminutive arms.
The third crate harbours a predator mirroring a tiger. This orange and
black striped killer is called a Dayrylla and is a larger version of a Bengal
tiger with deadly spikes along its back.
The fourth crate contains a flying bird-like species called a Winghwant.
The flying hunter resembles a vulture but is much larger in size with dull red and green feathers. What makes the Winghwant deadly is the highpitched sound it makes to disorient its prey and deem them defenceless. The only way to subdue it would be to have it muzzled.
All that looks to be in the fifth crate is a large grey boulder, but unlike
boulders on Earth, this one is alive. It does not have arms or legs, but it
has a visible eye, mouth with thin lips, and jagged teeth. Its nose and ears are simply holes hidden in its rock formation.
This life form is called a Jakamrock. It cannot run or grab its prey but
can roll over and crush its victims before devouring them.
The last crate contains the creepiest of them all—a giant ten-legged
spider. This alien arachnid is called a Sporachnia, and it stands at a
whopping ten feet tall.
“We select the Haridonyx!” Figerress chooses on Team Shelorin-2’s
behalf.
“Very well,” Emperor Pryme acknowledges. “Team Earth-7, have you
decided on your champion?”
“Which one?” Elmer whispers to Billy Bob.
Billy Bob, frozen in fear, mutters, “S-s-s-s-spider . . . big . . . huge . . .
creepy . . . crawly . . . spider! I hate spiders!”
“We choose the Sporachnia!” Elmer yells.
“Really? The spider-lookin’ thing?” Billy Bob asks.
“Sure,” Elmer says. “Maybe the Haridonyx is scared of spiders too!”

Hello everyone! hope you enjoy this excerpt from Chapter 9 of Intergalactic Mind Games:

As Team Earth-7 eat their breakfast, none of them notice Goat
standing by the great hall entrance. Goat watches from afar with twisted thoughts and a deceitful smirk.
He then saunters over to Team Earth-7, saying, “I come here in peace.
I don’t know what came over me. Please accept my humble apologies. I
know what I have done is immoral, unethical, and it’s cheating. I can’t
change what I did, but I promise I will stay out of your way going forward.”
Goat looks over at Darm and sympathizes, “I feel terrible for the
position you were put in when you had to face Bundo on that scaffold.
That wasn’t your fight; it was your captain’s, but you were very impressive. Team Earth-7 is very lucky to have you.”
Goat pats Darm on the back, which Darm seems to appreciate.
“Well, I’ll let you all get back to your breakfast,” Goat says before
walking away.
“What was all that about?” Anderson asks as Goat leaves.
“I don’t know, but he sounded pretty sincere to me,” Darm counters.
“It sounded like he was questioning our leadership.”
“Leadership? What leadership?” Ace chimes in from a short distance
away. “I’m the assistant captain, and I don’t want anything to do with any of you. It’s everyone for themselves as far as I’m concerned.”
Anderson pounds his fist on the table and interrupts, “Enough is
enough; we need to band together!”
“Just because they made you captain doesn’t mean I have to listen
to you, dude,” Ace says as he gets up to leave. “Izzy, let’s go before I do
something our captain here will regret.”
A tentative Isabella stands up and walks with Ace to the great hall’s
entrance, where a Soldier of Royalty assigned to escort them back to their cell is stationed.
Darm looks over at Anderson and says, “Way to go, captain.” He then
cautions, “Just stay out of our way . . . leader.” He then, too, gets up and
leaves with Ace, Isabella, and the Soldier of Royalty.
“Pay no attention to them, Anderson,” Billy Bob says. “I don’t gotta
clue what their problem is, but we with ya.”
Anderson nods and gives him a half-smile, but he feels like the weight
of the world is on his shoulders.
“Listen, guys,” Anderson starts to say, “this upcoming challenge,
whatever it is, won’t be easy. You both need to focus and take your
opponents seriously.”
“We know, Anderson,” Billy Bob says. “We understand what ya sayin’
and . . .”
Before Billy Bob can finish his sentence, Team Shelorin-2 enters the
great hall, leaving Billy Bob speechless.

Hello everyone! hope you enjoy this excerpt from Chapter 8 of Intergalactic Mind Games:

Suddenly, a loud pounding sound pulsates through the cell walls. The
echoing noise is coming from Ace and Isabella’s room. Isabella slowly walks toward the room with a look of concern. As she stands a few feet away, the door abruptly swings open.
Ace can no longer control himself. He storms out of his room and
straight into Anderson’s with revenge on his mind.
Ace stands in Anderson’s doorway, breathing heavily and clenching his
teeth. With seething eyes and a snarl, Ace starts to bark, “First, you bring us to this hell hole of a planet, then you take Dean away from us, and now you proposition my wife? Who in the hell do you think you are?”
Bothered by Ace’s comments, the emperor responds, “It seems you
have an issue with me. Given the circumstances, I can understand the
reasoning. Soldier, escort him to my office.”
The Soldier of Royalty enters the cell and approaches Ace, who has his
back turned. As the Soldier of Royalty puts his hand on Ace’s shoulder, Ace quickly grabs the soldier and flips him over and onto the ground. He then wraps his arm around the soldier’s neck, putting him in a sleeper choke hold, hoping to render the Soldier of Royalty unconscious.
Another soldier appears and enters the cell. Isabella walks in front of
the Soldier of Royalty, obstructing his path to Ace. With tears running
down her cheeks, she begs the soldier to stop.
Billy Bob and Elmer start to creep up behind the distracted Soldier
of Royalty while Darm enters Anderson’s room, ready to pounce on the
soldier Ace has subdued. As chaos is about to ensue in Team Earth-7’s cell, Emperor Pryme shouts, “Stop! This is unnecessary behaviour. I am simply taking your team member to discuss our situation, that is all.”

Hello everyone! hope you enjoy this excerpt from Chapter 7 of Intergalactic Mind Games:

Duke Reion enters the stadium and walks directly toward his father
with news of Team Earth-7’s replacement. He does not acknowledge Goat but instead leans over his great-uncle to whisper the substitution into his father’s ear. Goat tries desperately to listen in but is unable to hear anything but light muttering.
As Duke Reion backs away, Emperor Pryme looks over at Goat in
amusement. “Like you, I too am looking forward to this challenge,” the
emperor says with a smirk.
While the duke exits the venue, the Soldiers of Royalty escort Bundo
into the stadium.
Bundo peers into the audience, searching for Goat and spots him. Goat
also sees Bundo, and the two of them share a smug look, giving a mutual nod of acknowledgment to one another.
Emperor Pryme, who sees the exchange, rises to his feet.
“It has recently been brought to my attention that there was an injury
to Team Earth-7’s captain, and he will not be able to compete at this time,” the emperor announces in disappointment.
Bundo raises his arms in celebration while Goat stands and applauds,
believing they are victorious by forfeit.
“However,” Emperor Pryme continues with delight, “given the
circumstances of the injury, Team Earth-7 has been given permission to name a substitute.”
Bundo and Goat share a look of concern after hearing the emperor’s
ruling as the two soldiers escorting Darm arrive in the stadium. Bundo
starts pounding his chest with his fists. He then paces back and forth,
growling like an animal, ready to pounce. Bundo works himself into a
frenzy before power walking toward the Soldiers of Royalty with a desire to maim and mutilate the man behind them. He peers past the soldiers and sees Darm enter the stadium.