The Essence Chronicles

Troy, with his irrational fears, is the least likely person to lead a war. But that doesn't mean he can escape his destiny. A trip to New Orleans with his friends turns deadly when aliens called Pirans kidnap him. A perfect doppelganger for their dead general Tohmas, Troy is thrust into the front lines of battle against Reptauran invaders. To do that, the Piran leaders hatch a plan to convince their own that "Tohmas" rose from the dead and will lead them to victory.

Troy is no longer himself. Kidnapped by the aliens known as Pirans, infected with the essence of the dead General Tohmas, Troy grasps at his only hope of survival. He merges his soul with the alien parasite trying to possess him, leaving him forever changed - and not entirely for the worse. Once plagued by crippling phobias, Troy is now fearless, willing to fight his enemies with his bare hands. But with this new strength also comes a new weakness: women. 

Troy has plans for revenge on the Reptauran race that annihilated most of the peaceful people of Pira. Even as the alien species prepares for another attack, this time on Earth, Troy races against the clock; he must find a way around Alta’s control over him, save what remains of the Piran people, prevent an attack on his home planet of Earth, and keep his soul intact from alien technology working to destroy him from within.