Mascot Trilogy

Donte is a Mascot – a genetically modified human. He is the offspring of Mascots designed by a group of scientists known to the inhabitants of Purlieu only as "The Parliament." Mascots were programmed for leadership. They lived longer, were stronger and more intelligent than their human counterparts. And yet, the humans were resistant to a plague that swept through all the colonies but one. The plague killed many of the male Mascots and left most of the remaining sterile. Donte, safe in his mother's womb throughout the plague, was an exception. Being the only fertile male Mascot in two colonies made him distinctive enough, but Donte was also a descendant of the leaders of two colonies. His heritage had made him a target and his integrity kept him a captive.Donte is a captive in Nyumbani, one of the original five colonies of the Purlieu Experiment. Their insane king has been conducting raids on other colonies, but for Donte, he crosses the line when his raiders take a captive and plan to kill her. Donte does the only thing he can to save her – he kills the king.A last-minute change in punishment from execution to being exiled from the colony means his escape route is over the snow capped mountains in scant clothing. He must take the girl over the mountain and across a desert to her colony.Donte believes the only way the colonies can progress is to unite. He gets help and resistance in some unexpected areas. In spite of all the obstacles thrown in his path, Donte keeps his momentum until tragedy makes him falter and lose faith in himself. He must retain that faith if he is to meet the final challenge. Linda Rigsbee, aka Linda L. Rigsbee, L. L. Rigsbee and Linda Louise Rigsbee, is a multi-genre author with over 50 books in print. She writes science fiction/fantasy, westerns, clean romance, children's and young adult. Rigsbee has been publishing since 1986 in fiction and non-fiction story lengths from flash fiction to novels.She is founder of ProActive Writer's Group and has placed in numerous writing contests. When a scientific company on Planet Oriel illegally creates humans contaminate by animal genes, it uses them to guide and protect colonists on a newly discovered planet. After an accident, the company abandons the experiment and claims the planet is contaminated and therefore uninhabitable. Thirty years later, the colonies are beginning to unite and a young mascot is prophesied to lead them to freedom from Oriel. Donte has no manual or instructions on how to do this. He must depend on his unique skills - and pray it all works out.

Book 2 in the Mascot Series is a novel that can stand on its own but leaves the reader hungry for Book 3. Book 1 ended with Donte's discovery that he was the chosen one in a prophesy. The colonists were prophesied to rise up against the mascots (humans genetically altered with animal genes.) Donte and Princess Celyn were prophesied to lead the planet of Purlieu to freedom from, the Fontalo, the company that created the mascots, and the scientists of the planet of Oriel, who conducted the Purlieu Experiment.In an attempt to prepare for his role in the Prophesy and his eventual position as Ruler of Bergen, Donte serves three years on the spaceship Moeder. He knew nothing about combat before he joined. Hopefully the experience will be unnecessary, but he wants to be prepared. The spaceship Moeder once belonged to the Fontalo. In forty years their technology has probably advanced, but at least Donte has increased his knowledge.Donte returns to Purlieu ready to assume his responsibilities in the Prophesy only to discover that his grandfather, the current Ruler of Bergen, considers the Prophesy nothing more than folklore. Pieter wants Donte to forget about the Prophesy and concentrate on his training to be Ruler of Bergen. Pieter believes that only mascots should rule, but Donte believes that human colonists should have equal say in the governing of the colonies. Their conflict grows until Pieter threatens to ban Donte from the colony. But Donte feels he can't back down without betraying all the colonists of Purlieu.Pieter isn't Donte's only, or even his biggest problem. If he is to fulfill his role in the Prophesy, he must learn to work with Princess Celyn, a teenager who feels she has prior claim on Donte. She had a vision that she and Donte would exchange vows when she turned nineteen. Donte's mate, Rianne, has an idea, but Donte is concerned it could put their relationship at risk.As Donte assumes his role in the Prophesy, some begin to fear him. He doesn't know who he can trust and assassination attempts threaten people he loves. Donte can't give up. The colonists and mascots of Purlieu are depending on him. Linda Rigsbee, aka Linda L. Rigsbee, L. L. Rigsbee and Linda Louise Rigsbee, is a multi-genre author with over 50 books in print. She writes science fiction/fantasy, westerns, clean romance, children's and young adult. Rigsbee has been publishing since 1986 in fiction and non-fiction story lengths from flash fiction to novels.She is founder of ProActive Writer's Group and has placed in numerous writing contests. When a scientific company on Planet Oriel illegally creates humans contaminate by animal genes, it uses them to guide and protect colonists on a newly discovered planet. After an accident, the company abandons the experiment and claims the planet is contaminated and therefore uninhabitable. Thirty years later, the colonies are beginning to unite and a young mascot is prophesied to lead them to freedom from Oriel. Donte has no manual or instructions on how to do this. He must depend on his unique skills - and pray it all works out.

In book 3 of the Mascot Trilogy, a Fontalo spaceship arrives at the planet of Purlieu and demands the return of all their mascots (humans genetically modified with animal genes.) Donte is a mascot, the Ruler of Bergen Colony, and the prophesied Anialwch Connection. According to the Prophesy, Donte and Princess Celyn will lead the planet to freedom from the Fontalo. Fontalo is the company that created the mascots and abandoned them in the middle of a plague they created forty years ago.In the forty years the Fontalo has been gone, the experimental colonies have managed to keep Purlieu nearly as pristine as when they arrived. They have united and prospered. They have tasted freedom and they don't want to give it up. They are willing to fight the Fontalo and they want Donte to lead them.The captain of the Fontalo spaceship has a list of mascot leaders to collect, but Donte has no intention of turning anyone over to him.The captain of the Fontalo spaceship considers the mascots to be animals, not human. Donte tries to negotiate with the captain, but turning the mascots and spaceships over to the captain is not a negotiable choice. When Donte refuses, the Captain sends shuttles to destroy the tram station on Bergen. Donte responds by destroying the shuttles. The situation escalates to battle.When a spaceship from the mother planet of Oriel arrives, Donte discovers that the Fontalo has been charged with a crime in connection with the creation of the mascots. Apparently the Captain's list contains mascots to be eliminated in order to destroy evidence.The Fontalo is influential on the planet of Oriel and Purlieu has no representation. It is possible that the Fontalo could win the court battle and Purlieu might be forced to turn the mascots and the spaceships over to the Fontalo. That would include Donte's mate and children. All his life Donte has thought of the mascots being different from the colonists. Now he must convince Oriel that Mascots are human.Donte can think of only one way to win freedom for the colonists and mascots. It could be dangerous for the people he loves. He decides to take a chance with something that isn't in the Prophesy. Linda Rigsbee, aka Linda L. Rigsbee, L. L. Rigsbee and Linda Louise Rigsbee, is a multi-genre author with over 50 books in print. She writes science fiction/fantasy, westerns, clean romance, children's and young adult. Rigsbee has been publishing since 1986 in fiction and non-fiction story lengths from flash fiction to novels.She is founder of ProActive Writer's Group and has placed in numerous writing contests. When a scientific company on Planet Oriel illegally creates humans contaminate by animal genes, it uses them to guide and protect colonists on a newly discovered planet. After an accident, the company abandons the experiment and claims the planet is contaminated and therefore uninhabitable. Thirty years later, the colonies are beginning to unite and a young mascot is prophesied to lead them to freedom from Oriel. Donte has no manual or instructions on how to do this. He must depend on his unique skills - and pray it all works out.