by Isaac Hooke
“Yes, it’s gone, but I know where to find more lenses,” Tane said.
Lyra raised an eyebrow. “How?”
“I have some memories from the dark artifact,” Tane said. “Memories from a man named Tiberius Tribulantes. He was the last person to wield the White and Dark Essence a millennia ago.”
“Ah,” Lyra said. “I heard what you told Sinive.”
Tane frowned.
“Sorry, when you’re in a starship, the bulkheads have ears,” Lyra said.
“I’ll have to learn that Silence Cage Essencework sooner rather than later,” Tane grumbled, though in truth he didn’t mind that Lyra knew. When he had told Sinive in sickbay, he had already expected Jed to reveal everything he overhead to Lyra anyway.
“Yes, well, I already know much about Tiberius,” Lyra said. “Or as much as reading his ancient treatises has imparted, anyway. He didn’t reveal all his secrets, but there was enough to figure out how the dark lenses worked.”
Tane stared at her in disbelief. “Tiberius wrote treatises? That I didn’t know. I don’t have all his memories...”
“He wrote several, in fact,” Lyra said. “Fairly dry reading, for the most part. Maybe someday I’ll show them to you.”
He frowned. He supposed he didn’t really need access to those treatises, since he had memories from the actual man himself.
“The memory of these lenses came to you only recently, and not when you first touched the artifact?” Lyra continued. “If so, then the near death experience you had out there was a catalyst, I think.”
“I think so as well,” Tane said.
“So then, where are these other lenses?” Lyra asked.
“Tiberius distributed them on planets and moons throughout the Umbra,” Tane explained. “Sort of a bug-out bag for him in case things went south, which can happen real quick in the Umbra, as you know. The lenses for inter-dimensional travel would let him leave the Umbra in a hurry, even if he was too exhausted to Siphon. They contained mostly Dark Essence, but also White Essence, too, since the Inter-dimensional Distortion Tunnel was an Essencework of Dark and White mixing. Whenever he arrived on a new world in the Umbra, the first thing he did was place one of those lenses. I have the planet and surface coordinates of every single one of them up here.” Tane tapped his forehead.
“Not all of the lenses store inter-dimensional jumps, but other Dark and sometimes White Essenceworks,” Tane continued. “As you already guessed, since you read Tiberius’ treatises apparently, there is a Dark Essence ability that allows one to store an Essencework in a lens, along with the necessary Essence to use it. Once used, the Essence is gone, and the lens vanishes from existence. They were keyed to activate only when someone who could Siphon both Dark and White touched them, which explains why the dwellers couldn’t use them, nor any human explorers of the Umbra who came across them. Since he was the only one around with that ability, it was safe to say he designed them for himself. Even so, I think he meant them for me as well: the future human being who would someday touch both Essences again.” And maybe other Essences besides those two.
“All right,” Lyra said. “So are you going to tell me precisely where we can find one of these lenses? Preferably one storing an inter-dimensional distortion tunnel?”
“There are two on Sigma 231, in the Vantaar system,” Tane said, maybe a little too eagerly: there was another reason he wanted to go to Sigma 231 besides those dark lenses, but he wasn’t ready to tell Lyra just yet.
Lyra apparently hadn’t noticed his eagerness. Or maybe she had, but didn’t want to let on, because instead she said: “Sigma 231. That’s a populated moon in our universe. Two lenses, you say?”
“Yes. On opposite sides of the moon. In different cities.”
She nodded. “Then we’ll jump to Vantaar as soon as we can. I want the coordinates for the lens located within the less-populated city—kraals seem to congregate in the bigger metropolises. More places to hide.” She glanced at Nebb. “We’re jumping to Vantaar.”
Evidently she had lowered the Silence Cage, because Nebb looked at her and said: “Nice of you to join us again. That was a little rude, don’t you think?”
“We had to discuss important Volur matters,” Lyra said.
“Is that what he is now?” Nebb said, giving Tane an incredulous look. “A Volur? I thought you had to go through at least five years of training, take some life or death test, and graduate in a big hall or something.”
“He is a Volur in training,” Lyra said.
Am I? Tane thought, but decided not to say anything. Let her believe he was coming with her to train. It would suit his purposes for the time being.
Nebb shook his head. “Vantaar. He put you up to this, didn’t he?” Nebb looked at Tane. “We can’t just go to a planet on your whim. I don’t care who you are. Bender of Whorls or whatever it is.”
“Worlds,” Tane said. “Though I’m not sure I’m really a bender of anything, to be honest.”
“We have a way to leave this universe without traveling through the Anteres Rift,” Lyra said.
“Well that’s great!” Nebb said. “Tell me where to fly the Red Grizzly so we can all go through.”
“Actually, we can’t take the ship,” Lyra said.
“Ah,” Nebb said. “Why did I know that was coming?”
“You’ll drop us off via shuttle to Sigma 231,” Lyra said. “After you retrieve the shuttle, you and Sinive will continue on to Anteres on your own. Unless you want to give up the Red Grizzly.”
“Not a chance!” Nebb said.
“Thank you,” Grizz said. “At least someone cares about me.”
“It’s more the cost I’m worried about,” Nebb said. “You’re a nice dude and all that, don’t get me wrong, even if you are an AI. But I’m not even close to paying you off, and the Volur expects me to give you up!”
“I didn’t say that,” Lyra told him. “I merely said if you wanted, you could leave the Red Grizzly behind in this universe.”
That was kind of what Tane was hoping. He didn’t really like the idea of leaving Sinive behind to return through the Anteres Rift. But the Red Grizzly wouldn’t be able to jump to Anteres without her.
“What happens if the TSN captures us when we emerge from Anteres?” Nebb said. “Or the dwellers shoot us down before we pass through?”
Lyra shrugged. “Avoid the dwellers, and make sure Sinive is rested enough to make a jump immediately after you pass back into our universe.”
“I can’t believe it.” Nebb rubbed his eyes. “The betrayals run thick among the Volur. And here I thought we were friends.”
“Like I told you already, you can come with us,” Lyra said.
“Yeah, and I already told you that I’m not abandoning my ship,” Nebb said.
“Does Sinive have a say in whether she stays or goes?” Tane asked.
“She’ll choose to stay,” Nebb replied. “She’s grown attached to Grizz.”
“Then it’s settled,” Lyra said. “So tell me, how is the hull looking? Will you have to stop on Sigma 231 for repairs?”
“That’s right, change the subject,” Nebb said. When she didn’t answer, he continued: “So far, the crillia have been strangely quiet out there. Probably a good thing, considering the beating our hull took getting here. My guess is that whatever your Golden Boy did earlier must have spooked them, and they don’t want a repeat of the experience soon. I wouldn’t either. Anyway, more will come eventually I’m sure. They always do. I’ll keep you updated.”
“Thank you,” Lyra said.
“Well, I think I’m going to lie down in my quarters,” Tane said.
“In six hours time I’ll be rested enough to make the jump to Vantaar,” Lyra said. “I’ll notify you.”
“What about Sinive?” Tane said.
“She could make the jump as well by then,” Lyra said. “But I’d rather keep her in reserve, in case we need to jump out of Vantaar in a hurry. She has a higher skill, and can bring
us farther, faster. So be sure to keep a backup system in mind.”
“Will do.” Tane thanked her and departed.
He paused on the way to the guest quarters he shared with Jed. He wanted to see Sinive first. There was something he wanted to tell her.
As he approached the hatch to her quarters, he suddenly started to tremble uncontrollably.
What the hell? It’s just Sinive. Calm down. We’ve been through hell together. We’re friends. Nothing more. Why wasn’t I this nervous when talking to her earlier?
Because before he was already in her presence, and hadn’t been over thinking everything. And because he hadn’t wanted to tell her what was now on his mind.
Have to get out of my head.
But he couldn’t. He considered accessing his endocrine system, but that would only make things worse, considering he didn’t really know what he was doing.
He went to the hatch and was about to knock but stopped at the last moment. His hand shook in front of him.
I’ve faced kraals. Dwellers. Defeated a whole fleet. Surely I can handle one woman.
He lowered his hand.
She’s probably sleeping anyway. Doesn’t want to talk to me now.
He started to turn away.
No, hell with it. Just knock.
He was still trembling, and did a quick jog on the spot to warm himself. Didn’t help.
He forced himself to knock on the hatch. “You awake?”
He wondered if she could hear him through the metal. Hopefully she hadn’t noticed the quaver in his words.
He was relieved when she didn’t answer, and was about to turn away when her muffled voice came from beyond.
“I am now,” Sinive said.
Tane’s heart rate shot through the roof.
The hatch opened. When he saw her there, looking all tired on the bunk, he decided he wasn’t going to tell her what was really on his mind. With that single thought, the tension ebbed from him like a deflating balloon.
Mostly.
“Come on in,” she said groggily, sitting up on her bunk.
The left strap of her white dress had slid down her shoulder, and the chest fabric along with it, revealing some of her left breast. He couldn’t help but stare.
She noticed, and quickly adjusted the strap.
“Did you come here to be a perv, or...?” she asked.
“Mostly to be a perv,” Tane replied. It felt so good to be able to act naturally around her. So good to be just friends. Safe.
“Funny man.” She rubbed her eyes. “So what’s up?” She patted the bunk beside her and Tane reluctantly sat down next to her. At least he’d stopped trembling.
“Sorry for being so rough earlier,” Tane said, thinking on his feet. “When you called me Bender of Worlds. I just, I don’t know, I don’t feel like anyone special. I’m just me.”
“I know,” Sinive said, giving him a smile. She wrapped her hand around his. “I shouldn’t have forced the title on you. You’re who you are. And that’s whoever you want to be. You don’t have to follow the rules and expectations others have set for you.”
Tane looked into her penetrating eyes. So blue. So captivating. “You sound a lot like Jed. You’re mature for your age.”
“Thanks, I guess.” She blushed slightly, looking away for a moment, before meeting his eyes once more. “But listen, because this is important: no one knows whether you’ll really destroy the galaxy, or save it. How could anyone? Like you said, no one can see the future. All the prophecies that sprung up around the myth of the World Bender are conjecture. Guesses.”
“All the prophecies?” Tane asked. “How many are there, exactly?”
“Well the dwellers have one, which you heard already,” Sinive replied. “And the Volur have another. I think there’s more, but I don’t know who else— oh, the Tereal have one. You probably have the memory from Tiberius already, though, since he made it.”
“Yes,” Tane said. “He told them one day another man or woman like him would be born again. I still don’t know why he called that future individual—me— the World Bender, though. It could have something to do with how I can travel between universes by utilizing Dark and White mixing...”
“You can do that?” Sinive asked, her tone taking on a mixture of excitement and awe.
“Yup,” Tane replied, as casually as he could manage, as if it were the easiest thing in the world. “It’s some Essencework I don’t know yet, though. Anyway, here’s what Tiberius says in the prophecy. ‘When the World Bender comes, the galaxy will tremble before him, and he will bring peace to the stars, or destroy them.’ And that’s a direct quote.” He suddenly smiled.
The smile was infectious apparently, because Sinive grinned, too. “What?”
“You know what Nebb calls me?” Tane said. “The Whorl Bender.”
“The Whorl Bender?” Sinive giggled. “How about the Whore Bender?”
“That’s nasty,” Tane said. He couldn’t help his next mischievous words: “Why, are you offering?”
She frowned, and immediately slipped her hand away from his. “A-hole.” She petted the stock of the pistol holstered to her waist.
“I can’t believe you sleep with that.” Tane nodded at the pistol.
“Don’t try to change the subject,” Sinive said.
Tane threw up his arms. “Hey, I was kidding. Come on. Of course you weren’t offering to whore out your body to me.”
Her eyes widened and she looked at him in disbelief. “Is that what you were saying? Now I’m really offended. I don’t think I’m going to talk to you anymore, Outrimmer.”
He realized she was exaggerating her outrage and he couldn’t hold back a soft chuckle. “It’s good to be back here. With you.” He stared into those eyes, those all-consuming, amazing eyes. “When I was floating in space, with my oxygen running out, I swore when I got back here, I’d...” Suddenly he couldn’t meet her eyes anymore and he found himself unable to finish the sentence.
“You’d what?” Sinive said.
He glanced at her, and she looked so cute and innocent, sitting there beside him in her white dress, that he had the overwhelming urge to kiss her. His eyes drifted to her lips before he realized what he was doing, and he forced himself to lock his gaze with hers once more.
As he watched, her own eyes momentarily flicked toward his mouth. The movement was so fast he wasn’t even sure she’d actually done it. Had he imagined...?
“Well I should be going.” Tane stood up quickly, hitting his head on the empty upper bunk.
“Wait, what?” Sinive said.
He touched the painful bump that was forming.
“I gotta... review some... Branchworks Jed gave me,” he lied. “And you have to sleep, and recoup your energy for the coming jump.”
She gave him a sad look.
Tane hurried to the hatch, feeling her eyes drilling into his back the whole time.
Go back and kiss her, dummy!
Tane left, letting the hatch close behind him.
8
Tane awoke to a ping from Lyra. He answered, voice-only.
“I’ve made the jump to Vantaar,” Lyra said, sounding weary.
“Already?” Tane said groggily. He glanced at the time indicator. Six hours had passed since he had closed his eyes. He had been more tired than he thought, apparently.
“Yes, and we’re approaching Sigma 231,” Lyra said. “We’ll be there in four hours. I’ll keep you posted.”
“Four hours. Okay.” He closed his eyes and set the alarm on his HUD to wake him in three hours.
He ended up mostly tossing and turning during that time, and when the alarm went off he sat up and tiredly rubbed his eyes.
He stared at the moonscape surrounding his bunk. It was an augmented reality environment, generated in realtime by his chip. The rocky terrain, the stars above, the gas giant that overlooked it all… those helped ground him, and remind him of who he was.
He dismissed the moonscape and the
cramped bulkheads of the compartment appeared around him. He looked at his overhead map, and saw that Jed was no longer in sickbay, but had moved to the cockpit area, where Lyra was. Tane was a little surprised to find Lyra’s indicator there, and he wondered if she had borrowed stamina from Jed or Nebb, because he was expecting her to be sleeping off the latest interstellar jump. Then again, maybe three hours was enough time to get her back on her feet.
Sinive remained in her quarters, according to the map. He thought she was awake, because she wasn’t on the bunk, according to her indicator, though seated against one of the bulkheads.
He retrieved the clothes suitcase from his storage pouch and picked out an ordinary looking shirt and pants. He carried the items with him to the head outside his quarters, took a sonic shower, and then donned the new clothes. By the time he finished and made his way to the cockpit, half an hour passed. Yes, he took his time.
Lyra, Nebb and Positron sat in the available seats, while Jed leaned against the bulkhead beside them. The Volur warrior was wearing his full battle armor, but he had shrunk it down so that it was more like a skintight outfit, similar to Tane’s gauntlets. The armor still glowed slightly, indicating the Essence enhancement.
Lyra, in her metal-plated dress, sat slumped in her seat, and didn’t look up when Tane appeared: she hadn’t taken anyone’s stamina after all.
Tane assumed his customary position in the passageway just outside the crowded cockpit.
“How’s it look out there?” Tane asked.
“Quiet as the rump of a dead dweller,” Nebb answered.
“So nothing out there,” Tane said.
“Nothing out there,” Nebb agreed.
“Are we on schedule to make Sigma 231 in half an hour?”
“Have I ever let you down?” Nebb said.
“Actually, you have,” Tane said.
Out of courtesy to Tane, Nebb had given Tane access to the external nose cam—the video feed was projected onto the bulkhead in front of him, thanks to his chip. However, Tane didn’t have access to the tactical display. It probably would have appeared blank at the moment anyway, just like the camera feed.