Haunt & Havoc

by Jeremy Dwyer

  It was even claimed by Xal’Kativok that one of these waters had the ability to give control over animal and plant life: not by the animal drinking it or the plant being irrigated by it, but by the person drinking the water and then controlling the animal or plant. Another water was said to be associated with spirit magic – magic, of course, was just unexplained science, and spirit was religious nonsense. Zilara’Rasina’Nuatium was a rational woman – so much so that she had no time for lasting relationships, ever, since she discovered a love for science and mathematics at the age of twelve (12). She was forty-six (46) now, and had occasional intimate male companions, though they were only to keep her latent physical needs from distracting her in the laboratory, where she pursued the knowledge that was her first and only love. The occasional children she had as a result of these relations were given over to the military youth training program.

  Zilara’Rasina’Nuatium worked day and night, using the water samples sparingly, and she inspected them with various instruments. Powerful arrays of computers analyzed the moving images of the water crystals seen through tunneling microscopes, gathering data and formulating and fitting complex regression models to describe the crystal behavior as a function of the types of water taken individually and then combined. She soon learned that most combinations were volatile, and could corrode the container vessels. Some combinations had slow reactions, and a few had explosive reactions. At one point, the model fitting program even instructed her to not perform additional combinations due to the volatility predicted by analyzing the results of earlier experiments.

  Interestingly, one (1) of the waters seemed to be volatile on its own, and was luminescent. There was an indication on the vial that it had come – not from the surface like the other thirteen (13) waters – but from an underground ocean. This water did not get included in any of her combinations. Of the other thirteen (13) waters, another proved to be inert when combined with each of the others. Zilara’Rasina’Nuatium did not doubt her chemistry experiments or her mathematical analysis thereof, but she did not yet have a causal explanation for these differences, or for the luminescence of the highly volatile water.

  One (1) of her experiments, however, was different from all of the others. The claims that had been made about these liquids – it seemed strange to call them ‘waters’ – intrigued her, most especially the one (1) about the water that gave power over the darkness, because light was an energy, according to her understanding of physics, but dark was the absence thereof, rather than an energy unto itself.

  Throughout this research facility, there were numerous cameras recording events along with the readings from instruments, but Zilara’Rasina’Nuatium had occasionally disabled the ones in this laboratory prior to performing some of her nonstandard, or even exotic, experiments with elevated risk. She had never been reprimanded for this secrecy, because she was in a position of trust, and she answered directly to Admiral Quin’Va’Pitar, who was the only person with authority to monitor her.

  Now, she was overcome with curiosity, and decided to risk conducting an experiment on herself by drinking the last few drops of one (1) water-like liquid and letting it affect her. She immediately felt different – she felt a surge of an unusual energy – and then saw something truly different: she saw herself descend into the darkness, so that when she looked at her arms or legs, she saw only the walls and floors of the room, as if she weren’t there. Startled, she lost concentration and the powers of darkness eased, and then she reappeared. She briefly concentrated again, and then was cloaked by the darkness again, although this time she was not afraid or startled, but only mystified. She eased the powers of darkness again and reappeared. As she was alone in the laboratory at the time, this experiment wasn’t witnessed by anyone, and the cameras had been disabled.

  Darkness, Zilara’Rasina’Nuatium now knew, was a power of its own, yet there was no clear reason why. She immediately formed hypotheses about the bending of light, but that was a power that was said to be associated with one (1) of the other water-like liquids. And it was quite clear that she could not drink another, due to their volatility in combination. She preferred that she would only have to wait until it left her system so that she could try alternatives, but what she read in the reports were claims that any one (1) of these waters permanently changed a person, so her decision – called a waterbinding – was final.

  Zilara’Rasina’Nuatium analyzed the data she had – and reflected upon her personal experiment – so that she could prepare a report for her commanding officer. She knew that he would soon demand that she give a detailed account.

  ~~~

  From his observation room in one of the tallest buildings of the military headquarters, Admiral Quin’Va’Pitar – commander of the entire navy of the Caval’Rukero’Nyptic Empire – looked through the powerful telescope that was fixed upon the world known as Thalariveth. He had been watching it closely for months now, and saw the many suns that orbited around it were fading considerably in their intensity. He very much wanted the waters from its oceans, as he knew from Xal’Kativok’s report that they did, in fact, provide tremendous and varied energies. These would be a rich harvest, and would not only alleviate resource shortages, but give particular advantages in the many conflicts that beset the territorial worlds of the empire. The energy wasted on suppressing revolts would be better spent enriching the civilization of all the worlds. Some of the populations of the various worlds, Quin’Va’Pitar believed, were incredibly greedy and unwilling to contribute their fair share of resources to the best of their ability.

  “The time to return to Thalariveth is fast approaching,” Admiral Quin’Va’Pitar said to the two (2) officers accompanying him.

  “Captain Mendis’Kanto’Petarin: You will pilot the primary cargo shuttle on the procurement mission. Collecting twenty thousand (20000) gallons of water from each of the thirteen (13) oceans on the planet’s surface is the objective. You must choose a second in command to pilot the reserve shuttle in which a ten (10) percent portion of each water will be stored,” Admiral Quin’Va’Pitar said.

  “Yes, Admiral. I have just the officer in mind,” Captain Mendis’Kanto’Petarin said. He had several in mind, in fact, and intended to ask for a volunteer, rather than ordering any of them. Enthusiasm for a particular mission was a strong indicator of the likelihood of success, in his experience.

  “Commander Doriv’Natix: You will lead the ground troops, to provide support for the cargo shuttle’s procurement mission. You will be assigned one hundred ten (110) combat troops and twenty (20) scouts. In addition, you will obtain a smaller sample – two hundred (200) gallons of water from the underground ocean,” Admiral Quin’Va’Pitar said.

  “Yes, Admiral,” Commander Doriv’Natix said.

  “Captain: You have the coordinates. Begin making preparations for transporting the cargo shuttle. The burnpath trailblazer will need adequate time to charge, given the cargo shuttle’s volume. After initializing it, you will select and brief your second in command,” Admiral Quin’Va’Pitar said.

  “Yes, Admiral,” Captain Mendis’Kanto’Petarin said.

  “Commander: Brief and ready your ground troops, who will arrive ahead of the shuttle,” Admiral Quin’Va’Pitar said.

  “Yes, Admiral,” Commander Doriv’Natix said.

  “Dismissed,” Admiral Quin’Va’Pitar said.

  The lower ranking officers then left the observation room.

  ~~~

  Admiral Quin’Va’Pitar then held up a small tablet and spoke into it, saying: “Lieutenant Zilara, is your analysis of the waters complete?”

  The face of Lieutenant Zilara’Rasina’Nuatium appeared on the tablet, and she spoke to him through it, saying: “Admiral, I have initial results, with significant details.”

  “I will come to the laboratory for your report,” Admiral Quin’Va’Pitar said.

  At this, the admiral walked toward a doorway and a metal door slid to the side. Within was a small pod which opened,
and he entered the pod and it closed around him. A screen with a map of several buildings appeared on the inside surface of the pod and a computerized voice said: “Touch the location on the map to move the transport pod.”

  Admiral Quin’Va’Pitar touched one of the building images on the map and it zoomed in to show the floors of that building. He then touched the image of that floor on the map and the pod in which he was in suddenly accelerated, changed directions and then stopped and opened.

  The admiral exited the pod and walked down a hallway where another doorway opened to reveal a large laboratory with many tubes, vials and computers, along with a military woman in her later forties who was fit, and still attractive enough given her age, but not because of any effort put into her looks. Instead, she was intent on her studies, and Admiral Quin’Va’Pitar didn’t care to have it any other way. He felt no desire for her physicality – only for her brilliantly incisive mind and the knowledge that it unlocked.

  “Admiral,” the woman said.

  “Lieutenant Zilara, I await your report,” Admiral Quin’Va’Pitar said.

  Lieutenant Zilara’Rasina’Nuatium held a large tablet with a bright screen and she tapped on the screen several times and it displayed graphs and charts.

  “What are we looking at here, lieutenant?” Admiral Quin’Va’Pitar asked.

  “The energy emissions of each of these liquids, taken singly, and the volatility of the liquids when combined. It is now clear why, after drinking one (1) of the liquids, drinking another would cause a dangerous reaction. It is not clear, however, why they would confer their purported advantages of controlling light or sound or any other element or energy. There was too small a volume of each liquid to begin with to make that determination,” Lieutenant Zilara’Rasina’Nuatium said.

  “You will soon have a greater supply, to continue your analysis,” Admiral Quin’Va’Pitar said.

  “There is more, however, than the volatility, Admiral. Although I cannot explain how these liquids induce the effects that they are claimed to cause, I can verify at least one (1) of them,” Lieutenant Zilara’Rasina’Nuatium said.

  “Please explain, Lieutenant,” Admiral Quin’Va’Pitar said.

  Lieutenant Zilara’Rasina’Nuatium concentrated and a cloak of darkness appeared over her body, such that Admiral Quin’Va’Pitar could not see her but could see through her.

  Admiral Quin’Va’Pitar reached out to see if she was there and he touched her and said: “You have bent light around you, Lieutenant, but your physical form is still present to the touch.” He noticed his own hand had disappeared, having entered the cloak of darkness surrounding the lieutenant. He drew his hand back and it reappeared, having exited the cloak of darkness.

  Lieutenant Zilara’Rasina’Nuatium then eased her powers and reappeared. Then she said: “The mechanism is not clear, Admiral. There is another liquid that is purported to give the power to bend light. This, however, appears to do something else entirely. When I have a renewed supply of the liquid, I will continue my research into it.”

  “And research the other waters as well. I want to understand every single one (1) of these waters,” Admiral Quin’Va’Pitar said.

  “Yes, Admiral. But this is the one (1) I will personally commit to studying, as I can now drink no other,” Lieutenant Zilara’Rasina’Nuatium said.

  “Is the exclusivity permanent or will it dissipate in time, Lieutenant?” Admiral Quin’Va’Pitar asked.

  “I believe it to be permanent, Admiral. To drink another – ever – would be fatal, almost instantly,” Lieutenant Zilara’Rasina’Nuatium said.

  “You chose this particular water from among all the others. Why, Lieutenant?” Admiral Quin’Va’Pitar asked.

  “Because darkness is something I have yet to understand – something I believe, or did believe – was the absence of light. Now, it is as if darkness is a different form of energy altogether, and I need to understand it in minute detail,” Lieutenant Zilara’Rasina’Nuatium said.

  “As do I, Lieutenant. Your laboratory assistants will need to be assigned to each of the other waters, to research each of their particular effects, and give a full report,” Admiral Quin’Va’Pitar said.

  “I will assign them, Admiral, and begin our research immediately upon the arrival of the new supply,” Lieutenant Zilara’Rasina’Nuatium said.

  “It was a bold decision to drink of it, Lieutenant. Yet, it may have been the right one. Strategic and tactical possibilities were suggested by this demonstration,” Admiral Quin’Va’Pitar said, and then he returned to his observation room via the transport pod.

  ~~~

  Flames came down from a strange sky filled with many suns – some few that were blue, some more which were yellow and many more which were red – and delivered destruction to the lands and ships below. The ships were burnt to a crisp and the oceans – many oceans – swallowed them. There was the sound of a horrid song of death coming from a man standing on an island with many crystal towers, whose colors were like those of the suns. The fear and sense of doom were overwhelming and Ra’Naka’Tuveo woke up terrified from this dream. She then awakened her husband next to her and said: “I don’t want you to go! Not on this mission!”

  Mendis’Kanto’Petarin was startled from his sleep to the sounds of Ra’Naka’Tuveo pleading with him to withdraw from his assignment.

  “I don’t have a choice – this is my obligation. And why would I not go? Why even ask that?” Mendis’Kanto’Petarin asked her.

  “I had a dream – fire came down from the sky and destroyed the land and the ships,” Ra’Naka’Tuveo said.

  “Fire from the sky? Is this one of those religious dreams of yours again?” Mendis’Kanto’Petarin asked her.

  “It was an omen. A warning. There were different suns in the sky: blue and yellow and red, and a man was singing a horrible song and then fire came down,” Ra’Naka’Tuveo said.

  “Your religious fantasies have taken you over. You can’t keep saying these things. It’s all nonsense,” Mendis’Kanto’Petarin said.

  “It’s not nonsense! You don’t seriously believe that the universe – and everyone in it – just came into being on their own. There is a Creator, who willed us into being. He made laws for us to live by, and he holds the people of the universe accountable for their sins,” Ra’Naka’Tuveo said.

  “You hold onto that belief and it’s going to destroy you – you’ll be sick. Let it go, and then you won’t keep having these bad dreams,” Mendis’Kanto’Petarin said.

  “These are more than dreams. They’re too real. Something’s going to happen – something bad – when you go. That other world is special – and going there will be dangerous…extremely dangerous,” Ra’Naka’Tuveo said.

  “I’ve traveled to other worlds before. It’s just a resource extraction mission, and we’ll have reinforcements. I don’t need you to make up these fears and stories because you believe in some bedtime stories you heard as a kid,” Mendis’Kanto’Petarin said.

  “My parents believed in Him. They told me that the Creator loves me, and everyone, but is very sad – and very angry – over their evil behavior. This empire is no civilization – it’s a greedy, murderous organization that steals everything it sees, which is against the Creator’s laws. He wants us to live justly, but we think we know better. That’s why there’s always revolts…the powerful people have no ethics: they just steal from the weak and kill them to get more power. Everyone sees this. Why don’t you?” Ra’Naka’Tuveo said.

  “Before this empire, things were worse: there was nothing but war. I don’t like all their tactics, but we’re not at war, and we’re not stealing. There’s plenty for everyone…we’re just taking a few drops of a large ocean,” Mendis’Kanto’Petarin said.

  “That place is a special world. No one is allowed to steal from it, or they’ll face the wrath of the Creator,” Ra’Naka’Tuveo said.

  “Special world?” Mendis’Kanto’Petarin asked.

  “Yes
. Those waters are sacred. Don’t take them. Don’t offend the Creator. He loves you, too, so he gave me the dream to warn you not to do this,” Ra’Naka’Tuveo said.

  “If that world is so special, why can’t we share some of their waters?” Mendis’Kanto’Petarin asked.

  “Some things are reserved for a special purpose. Don’t do this,” Ra’Naka’Tuveo said.

  “I’m under orders to go. If you’re worried, pray to your Creator for me,” Mendis’Kanto’Petarin said.

  “I will…right now,” Ra’Naka’Tuveo said.

  Ra’Naka’Tuveo knelt down beside her bed and prayed like never before. She prayed daily, and had done so since she was three (3) years old. Now, twenty-eight (28) years later, she still prayed, only more intensely. “I pray to Thee, Creator of all the universe and every living being, to You who loves us, that my husband remains safe,” she said.

  A thought occurred to her – a sudden revelation – and she said: “You will be safe, if you refuse to go, and say that you and I are expecting a child. She was surprised at herself as she said this, not knowing for sure that it was so.

  “We are?” Mendis’Kanto’Petarin said, also surprised.

  “I didn’t know, either, until now,” Ra’Naka’Tuveo said.

  “I still have to go. Once I accepted the assignment, there is no declining. When I return, then I will request a leave from service for the baby,” Mendis’Kanto’Petarin said.

  “Please! Listen! You’re here with me now! You can stay and let someone else go,” Ra’Naka’Tuveo said.

  “It doesn’t work that way. I’m sorry. Just relax until I get back,” Mendis’Kanto’Petarin said.

  “I love you. But this was your last chance. If you go, the prayer won’t protect you, because you are knowingly disobeying the Creator,” Ra’Naka’Tuveo said.

  “I do what I have to, or we’ll both be executed for treason. You know that,” Mendis’Kanto’Petarin said.