The Great Talisman (Intersect Book 2)

by M C I Hinchliffe

  From his full lips came a single word, "Life!" and swung his arms together in front of him connecting the inside of his wrists and the bracelets. The entire volume of insurmountable power was expelled from his arms to the planet surface omitting a deafening thunderclap. At the point of impact, the ground rumbled violently as a great quake inflicted the calm surface. Massive ripples of red earth hundreds of metres in height poured out in all directions of the compass obliterating the terrain in its path. Vast plains were engulfed in the waves, while soaring mountains came crashing down to merge with the endless stream of tsunamis. The lone wizard and his flying machine were unaffected by the upheaval as the waves passed through them like phantoms. Soon, the ancient Martian landscape that had formed over billions years was wiped out, but the rolling waves continued. Each surge then left tens of metres of sedimentary Rock in select points on the planet surface, resulting in a rapidly forming landscape of a specific design. Mountains of majestic beauty formed and at their feet deep furrows were left for great oceans to fill. The formation waves reduced in frequency as the landscape formed, then as the last metre of soil was laid, the upheaval ceased. From the point of impact sprouted thick, lush grass that spread rapidly over the Martian landscape. Towering trees of unearthly beauty shot from the ground creating vast forests to blanket the new mountain ranges.

  Overhead, great eddies of orange gas formed, swirling and bellowing as they blotted out the starry sky. From the turmoil above came a vast dark grey cloud bank that thundered and flashed as it crossed the land with terrible ferocity. A downpour of unnatural magnitude drenched the planet, and quickly filled the deep furrows with fresh water. As the flooding rains eased, the vast cloud bank tempered to a cluster of soft white clouds, serene as the landscape they overbore. The wild orange fray of the sky harmoniously joined the new calm by settling into an oxygen rich atmosphere, giving its lone watcher a brilliant sunset to behold.

  Within the wizard's head spoke a peaceful voice of timeless wisdom. "The Rings of Karn are much more than weapons of unspeakable power my Liege. See the beauty they wield."

  "My god! Is there no limit to their power?" He said as he glanced down at the two glowing bracelets.

  "You cannot bring back the dead." Stated the mystic voice.

  The words cut at old wounds within the wizard and the expression of awe fell away to reveal a stern stare.

  “The Rings were designed to create not destroy, there lies their true power. Brute force will only get you so far, it will not bring you triumph. This I learned a long time ago.” The words of ancient wisdom rang strong in his head.

  “How can creation conquer the beast of war?” He asked.

  “My opportunity to solve that riddle passed by aeons ago, now it is for you to resolve.”

  From the far reaches of the galaxy, came an invisible wave of hate that tore through the ether like a bludgeon. It impacted with the wizard with the force of a locomotive throwing him to the grass covered ground; the bright glow of the bracelets turned to a blood red. A sharp throbbing inflicted his brain followed by a strange coldness that pained his soul. Around him, the lush tranquil world twisted and shrivelled as if it had been exposed to a hideous pollutant. The grass dried out and turned to dust as the lush trees lost their leaves then rotted finally collapsing. The great oceans dried out to vast dust bowls while the majestic mountain ranges broke apart to leave jagged rocky outcrops. The soft white clouds dissipated as a red dust storm ate away at the rich atmosphere. Finally, a cold harsh emptiness remained. Quicker than the wondrous world was created, the planet Mars had returned to its former desolation.

  The agony that poisoned his soul was horribly familiar. He had experienced it once before and knew all too well its source. With the defiance in his heart he forced back the painful onslaught to its wielder thousands of light years away. He stood from the now dusty landscape and with the same stern gaze he projected it to the heavens.

  He was Ryan Williams, the Commander and Chief of the vast space force, INTERSECT, and the sole survivor of the human race. Most of all, he was the wielder of the two lost segments of the Great Talisman that were forged by the Creator's own hands; the all-powerful Rings of Karn.

  "Zardon has returned to weave Venal's vile web!" stated Lord Valour in his deep rhythmic tone.

  Ryan replied, “And this time I'm ready for him!"

  **********

  Her soft blue eyes stared at the projected three dimensional text in front of her as her sharp mind interpreted the information. Her decision: life or death for the subject described. John Cerrico was a twenty four year old computer programmer from Melbourne, Australia, and who worked as a consultant for a new software company in Malaysia. He was a brilliant programmer, and a sizeable wage was offered by the software company to entice him from his homeland. The six digit figure worked. But the money was not enough, he wanted more and he wanted it fast. Utilising a contact from his university days, he sealed another lucrative deal with the Malaysian Triads. His only task, smuggle a CD ROM disk into the country, and deliver it to a certain place at a certain time. The payment for services rendered, $20,000 US. This he did, only he left the CD ROM in a safe place and instead, he brought his skill of bargaining. If someone was to pay that much money for just delivering it, then what was on the CD must be worth millions.

  A scanned newspaper clipping was attached to the end of the computer file. The headline read, "Melbourne man executed by Malaysian Triads."

  She had researched his background extensively. Every aspect of his life that had been logged into a computer database was hers to peruse. From the information, she had to deduce a physiological and skills profile of John to see if he would be of any use to Intersect. Would he be capable of adjusting to the technologically advanced lifestyle? Could he contribute to Intersect? Most of all, would he accept her offer to join? After days of careful deliberation, she came to the conclusion to intervene his untimely death, and give him the all important ultimatum.

  To the emptiness about her, she said aloud, "Toggle screen to remote scanner". The monitor flicked from the text screen to a high angled view of a back street in Kualalumpur. Apart from the lone pedestrian that paced back and forth, the street was deserted. "Increase zoom by two hundred percent". The view enlarged to show the lone pedestrian was John Cerrico.

  He was of average build and one hundred and seventy centimetres tall. His shoulder length black hair was tied back in a ponytail and his dark eyes reflected the poor street lighting. The aquiline nose cast a meagre shadow over his thin lips as they moved from the chewing motion of the teeth behind.

  His mannerisms clearly displayed his nervousness, as a group of four entered the dark alley way and approached him. The three of the four Asian men wore long black coats that concealed their muscular bodies, while the fourth wore a brown coat unbuttoned to expose his expensive suit underneath. From his mouth he removed a partly burned cigarette and replied in broken English, "Nice night for walk, don't you think?"

  John spat out the chewing gum and answered, "The moon is full tonight". He thought how ridiculous this cloak and dagger stuff was, especially as the moon could not be seen this night.

  "Do you have the disk?" Asked the man in the brown coat, who was undoubtedly the gang leader.

  "Do you have the money?' John replied. The man to the left of the gang leader produced a suit case from under his coat and presented it to John. John reached for the case, but the man returned the case to its former concealment.

  "Do you have the disk?" Repeated the gang leader.

  "It’s nearby, in a safe place."

  "The deal was to bring it here!" A cruel expression formed on the gang leader’s middle aged round face that made John feel even more edgy.

  "I've changed my mind." His heart raced as he made the new offer." I want fifty thousand!"

  The gang leader’s face changed again, but to John's surprise, it was a smile. "That is a lot of money for someone who has nothing to bargain with."

>   "I think the disk should be enough." Something was wrong. The gang leader's reaction was too relaxed for John's liking.

  "You mean the disk that you left in a blue back pack in an airport locker. A back pack like this one." The gang leader produced a back pack that looked the same as the one John had left in an airport locker; the back pack with the disk inside. The gang leader reached inside and pulled out the disk. "You see Mister Cerrico, with merchandise as valuable as this, I cannot afford take any chances. We have been following your every footstep since you left the aircraft. I am a man of my word Mister Cerrico, and I would have completed our deal as previously agreed." His expression turned sinister. "But, there is one thing I cannot stand, and that's being double crossed!"

  The other three men produced large hand guns from their coats and pointed them at John. The gang leader turned to walk away, then stopped and glared back at him. "By the way, this disk contains information that is worth billions to my associates. I would have paid one hundred times than what you asked for! Good evening to you Mister Cerrico." He turned and walked away. With his death immanent, fear had immobilised every muscle in his body. All John could do was stand there and await his fate. The sound of his heart beat was so loud in his head that it was almost deafening.

  A tingling sensation passed over him, followed by his vision being disrupted by a bright light. Was this what it was like to be shot? He expected to feel the impact of the bullets hitting is body and throwing him to the ground, but no pain was felt. He couldn't recall hearing any sound of gunfire? Had one of the bullets penetrated his brain cutting off the senses of sight and pain? All seemed so tranquil in this current state that the thought of death didn't seem so bad anymore.

  The bright light faded from John's vision while his sense of touch returned. For a moment, his perception of up and down was disrupted causing him to loose balance. His hands and knees hit a smooth solid surface that was nothing like the rough ground of the alley. John gazed about at his unfamiliar surroundings. He was kneeling on a low dais that was featured in the corner of a poorly lit room. The room was only a few metres square with no visible features to speak of. At one end of the room was a closed aperture that was about the size of a door way. At the opposite end was a similar sized aperture but was horizontal and centred on the wall. John stood and checked his body for any signs of bullet wounds, but found none. He drew a deep breath and found the air was remarkably fresh. The room was silent, only the sound of his racing heart beat gave his ears something to hear. He stepped out onto the floor that was covered by some sort of padded latex and thought to himself, "Where the hell am I?!"

  A couple of meters away, the air appeared to ignite into a wall of light drowning out any shadows from the room. As quickly as the wall of light appeared, it dissipated, leaving behind a metallic clad humanoid. Fear rampaged through John's mind. He staggered back from the humanoid to put as much distance as possible between it and himself. He only managed a few steps before falling backwards. His desperation forced him to crawl the rest of the way until his back hit the wall with a thud. John sat there staring at the humanoid, terrified and confused. The only thing he could be certain of was that he was still alive.

  The humanoid did nothing but stand there facing in his direction. Its face, if it had one, was concealed by a visor that reflected nothing. Finally, the humanoid spoke in artificially synthesised words. "You are safe now." it said.

  John gathered the courage to ask a question, "Where am I?"

  "You are aboard our ship that is orbiting the earth. See for yourself." The horizontal aperture on the wall behind him opened.

  John slowly stood and peered out of what was now a window. What he saw resembled a scene from one of the space shuttle missions, only the view he saw was crystal clear and not through a grainy TV screen. The earth looked peaceful and inviting far below. Slowly the Sun came into view causing John to shad his eyes; up until then the view was breath taking. He managed to only formulate one word as he continued to stare out of the window despite the Sun's brightness, "How?"

  "This vessel has been constructed with thirty-first century technology. Matter transportation and intergalactic space travel are common place." Informed the humanoid.

  John tried to come to grips with what he heard - thirty first century technology! How?...... Why?...... He made a quick assumption, "Time travel as well?"

  "Yes."

  John turned around to face the humanoid. There was one question that he feared most, but he had to ask it, "Are you human?"

  No reply came from the humanoid. Instead, it reached for the hoses that connected to the back of its head and unscrewed them. As each came free from the helmet the hose emitted a loud hiss, coupled with the expulsion of some sort of gas. The humanoid grabbed the helmet and began to lift it above its head. John's heart raced like the hooves of a galloping horse as he prepared himself for the hideous alien face beneath.

  What John beheld was to take him by complete surprise. As the helmet was lowered, a cascade of long blond hair escaped from underneath. John stared into a pair of deep blue eyes, as warm as tropical waters. Below the eyes was a child like nose that overlooked a pair of full pink lips. Surrounding the features was an angelic face with smooth milky white skin as beautiful as loving nature could create. The face glanced down at the left wrist and pressed a button on the small panel that presided there. In a flash of brilliant white, the metallic like suit had disappeared, and was replaced by a skin tight silver uniform. Much to John's delight, the uniform concealed none the voluptuous contours of the perfectly formed female body. John's jaw dropped as he beheld the most exquisite woman he had ever seen!

  Her soft feminine voice broke the prevailing silence. "Yes, I am human."

  John stood there, stunned.

  The silence began to make her feel uncomfortable, so she decided to continue without his input. "You must be wondering, why?"

  John only nodded.

  "In the thirty first century, mankind was at war with an alien race. These aliens travelled back in time and attacked Earth some six years ago. Fortunately, we were able to stop them. Unfortunately, their leader escaped and returned to the future. We believe that he will make another attempt. We want you to help us stop them!"

  "How can I help you when you have technology a thousand years more advanced?"

  "Thirty first century technology needs gifted people to make it work."

  "How am I gifted?"

  "Your expertise with computers, amongst other skills you may not yet to realise."

  "I'm flattered. Is there an alternative?"

  "Only one. You will be returned to the alley where you will be shot, dead!"

  Her words came through loud and clear. Surely she would not send him back to die. "As if you would?"

  "It wouldn't be the first time, or the last." It was a lie, though the expression on his face told her that he believed it.

  John stood up and looked out the window again, only this time his mind was on other things than the view. "What did you mean by mankind was at war?" He gave her no time to answer. "Why, had the war ended?" He turned towards her to await an answer.

  She knew where this was leading and she knew all too well that the answer was not good. "Yes."

  "We lost didn't we!?"

  "Yes." Her reply was slow and deliberate.

  "How many people survived?"

  This part she hated the most. "Only one."

  "Holy shit, they wiped us out!" For a moment he looked at her, stunned. "Are you that sole survivor?'

  "No. I am like you, from the twentieth century. The sole survivor is our commander in chief."

  "If they won the war, then why come back here to destroy earth?"

  A very good question that had bothered her for a long time. She repeated the answer that was given to her many years ago. "They hope to destroy the human race before it destroyed their home and families. So when they returned to the future all will be as if the war never happened."

>   "And you think they will return?"

  "We are certain of it. Will you join us?"

  “What if I change my mind some time down the track?”

  “Then it will be back to option two.”

  "Dead in the alley again! Great, not like there is a reasonable alternative. Okay, count me in."

  She extended her hand and shook his. John had one more question. "You never told me your name?"

  A smile grew across her angelic face that made John's heart skip a beat. "Colonel Katie Mitchell, and Chief Security Officer. Welcome to Intersect!"

  **********

  He sat in the comfortable seat that resided in the central and best advantage point in the large chamber about him. The chamber was about the size of football field and tiered in four levels like a grandstand. The chamber was designed to face the ten massive windows that covered the entire face of the wall it angled towards. The windows revealed the spectacular scene beyond them of the planet Saturn and its rings. The chair he sat in was the command point or helm of the vessel Endeavour, and the chamber was the brain centre that implemented the commands. This chamber was the bridge. On each tier was stationed a particular level of control and the higher the level, the greater the field of responsibility. The helm was stationed at the top level where the entry points to the bridge provided access.

  The bridge staff numbered eighty in all, and a continuous garble sounded from the staff communicating their various tasks. Rarely the hum from the vast amount of equipment about them had a moment to be audible. There were a number of screens mounted high on the roof above the windows displaying different views of the surrounding spacescape, and incorporated in the displays were various types of flight data. From here, total control over the massive battleship Endeavour was achieved, and Charlie Clark had that control.

  Charlie’s chubby face was unable to stretch out the wrinkles that had formed over decades of life. The meagre amount of grey hair about the back of his head framed the extensive area of bald scalp that reflected like a polished ball. Above a chubby nose were two grey eyes that had lost their colour over time. However, the keenness of the mind behind them shone through with superb clarity. The glasses that once occupied his face were gone as micro surgery had rectified his depleted eyesight. Under the nose was a thick white moustache that twitched in sequence with the motion of the mouth below. His bulky frame amply filled the helm as the fingers on his right hand tapped the communication panel beneath them.