Chapter 1: Prologue and Summary of The Last Hope

It was a logical decision for many to leave Earth. It was facing turmoil and uncertainty. Horti, her friends, and her family expected to find the advanced Dinnion society snobby but stable and safe—little did they know. They expected challenges; they had a lot to catch up and learn, but they also found the Dinnion society teetering on the verge of a coup.

Horti’s life on Earth had not been wonderful even before aliens attacked, and Earth decided to join the Empire of Cassius, two galaxies away. She was small, plump, and a nerd. She had good friends and a supportive family but didn’t feel good about herself. Everything got worse—she had a nasty accident in her early twenties, lost her right leg above the knee, and sustained disfiguring burns.

It was hard to find work, and her boss showed a cruel streak after he employed her.

Then her boyfriend became abusive following his involvement with drugs and alcohol.

Her boss fired her, and she ended her relationship with her boyfriend after he cheated on her and dealt drugs on a cheapskate date with her at MacDonald’s.

Horti’s family decided it was time to pack up and leave Earth after telling Horti they intended to live on Dinnio Prime, a planet in another Galaxy that housed the most advanced humanoids in the Uzliumbax Empire.

Horti’s grandparents believed they were all from an ancient civilization.

Horti had a life-threatening accident at the University in the capital just before the summer break. That triggered a series of events that led to the discovery of a significant threat to the Dinnion and several other civilizations.

Horti helped unravel the story behind the insurrection and discovered an ancient enemy, which she helped the Empire vanquish.

She discovered a portal to her people in another multiverse. Her mission had begun. Yet nothing happened.

It was a time of waiting before the storm. The Empire knew of the other multiverse and the people trapped there, but everyone was holding their breath, and no one knew what to do. Horti was enjoying a simple life, trying to keep her mind off her task. It was so big she preferred not to think about it. It was there, shadowing her every move, but she was happy not to do anything until the spider priestesses, the Azloc, told her it was time for her and the team she selected to get the necessary training they needed to go to the other side. Her friend, who had traveled through the portal to guide her, told her nothing of value and then returned to the other multiverse.

Some jobs are too big and daunting to face. Many days Horti hoped the whole problem wasn’t real and would disappear.

Before going, the team faced a grueling training regimen. Then they invaded a vast underground complex before forming an alliance and moving to meet Horti’s people, who were demoralized and had lost all hope. Crime was rampant, and a terrorist was wreaking havoc. Horti and her team discovered they must deal with the critical problems, and time was running out fast.