The Acolytes of Crane Updated Edition

by Tew, J. D.

  ‘Yes, Theodore.’

  ‘And who are the Karshiz? Oh, you mean those under King Trazuline—ruler of the planet Karshiz?’

  ‘Correct. The race is named Karshiz, after the planet. This makes it easy to remember.’

  I nodded.

  Nezatron’s voice took on an urgent tone. ‘You now know one important thing. Zane and I believe there is an evil presence aboard the Uriel. A traitor. Someone is here on the orders of Odion. Stay sharp, and see if you can sniff out this evil.’

  My blood ran cold. ‘How do you know?’

  The robotic Sepheran hesitated. ‘Last week, before your team arrived, we found an unauthorized forced attempt to access the nerve center of the ship.’

  ‘Did you find out who did it?’

  ‘No, Theodore. What is puzzling is that our Ophanims were recording all visuals within the command room. There is no recording of anyone at the exact time and location this authorized entry was attempted. Nonetheless, we are dealing with a very cunning adversary.’

  ‘Is it possible there was a probe of the Uriel by another ship, like one of the Dacturons?’

  ‘No. There was no record of transmission by any outside source into our ship. We record all incoming and outgoing transmissions, even that of subterfuge,’ Nezatron said. ‘Therefore, it must be someone on this ship.’

  ‘Nezatron,’ I said, thinking of something that could help ease his mind.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘I have some of my grandfather's research. There is something I think you should read in here.’

  ‘Your grandfather was under our Dieton surveillance. We are aware of his revelations and are working hard to ensure we can protect ourselves from the horrifying predictions he had formulated. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. I will notify Zane of your loyalty. You will make a wonderful Messiah, Theodore. We are certain of it. I will see you at the gathering.’

  A traitor maybe, as if I didn’t have enough on my plate to think about that day! Getting up from my bed, I went to my closet to inventory my equipment. When I walked over to the closet door, I touched the sensor, and it slid over mechanically.

  I laid my bracers next to my flying kicks, and I noticed a few other things that were peculiar, but there was one special item lying in my closet: a gun blade, similar to the one that Migalt had on my first trip to the Uriel. Whoa! I stood there, transfixed by its terrible firepower.

  It wasn’t as big as Migalt’s of course, but it was majestic. I remembered how he activated the blade, and I had to test it out for myself. Picking it up gingerly, I caressed the emblem on the titanium handle of the sword in order to activate it. I remembered the technique from watching Migalt back then. Upon my command, the tritium phosphoritite and magnesium substance rapidly jutted out.

  My blade was a fiery teal, and I could see Dietons around me spark as they hit the edge of the blade. The edges were burning hot. Excited, I parried the gun blade, pretending to fight an unseen foe. Oops! I burnt my sheets on my bed as I wasn't properly trained. Thank goodness I did not sear my leg with the red-hot object. I smelled the smoke arising from the rips in my bed sheets, trimmed with blackened burn marks.

  Oh no! When I lifted up the sword in reaction to my accident, I became even clumsier and destroyed the shield to the lighting mechanism on the ceiling. Sparks flew down from the ceiling and rained harmlessly on me. Gulping at my ineptitude, I turned off the lethal weapon.

  I heard Nezatron laughing over my nanocom. ‘Theodore, it is time for dinner, please head down to the dining hall. Teddy, let’s put the sword away. I will send a Dietonian to fix what you destroyed. Oh and by the way, that sword was wielded by Zane during our dark ages when he was being hunted by Odion and the Dacturon Elite. Wrath is its name—it’s one million years older than you are. It would be wise to respect it—weapons like these are unforgiving, and evolve based on their user. I can see it has already changed to suit you.’

  ‘Wait, Nezatron,’ I said.

  ‘Yes, Theodore?’

  ‘I need to know more about our sworn enemy—Odion. How can I best fight him?’ I demanded to know.

  ‘I figured we may have this conversation,’ Nezatron said, ‘You have met him once, and that’s far more than the vast majority of any other beings in the universe. You have first-hand witness of his power. Imagine the hatred that Travis has, and multiply that by infinity, and you will have Odion. In the beginning of this mess, when Zane was created, there was another—’

  ‘Another Omnian? Yes, I do remember. He and Zane are brothers, and they are still the only Omnians in the multiverse,’ I said.

  Nezatron said, ‘Yes Ted, he was taken from the Dacturon scientists who created him, and was raised by the Dacturon Council. Zane was also created in that same laboratory, but with different results, and he was exiled by the Multiverse Council. They could not handle his power.’

  ‘What makes Odion so powerful? He got to me, I guess,’ I asked.

  Nezatron said, ‘In terms of physical strength, he is nowhere as powerful as Zane. It is his power over the mind that sets them apart. Zane does not wage battles in the mind of man or beings of the multiverse, but Odion does and is capable of destroying an entire nation in your world with a simple notion of doubt or jealousy.’

  I said, ‘What’s stopping him from entering the mind of Zane? Or any of us, actually?’

  ‘Smart thinking, Theodore. Zane’s rolesk shields him with Dietons from any outside telekinetic stimuli,’ Nezatron said. ‘All this time, the Dietons have shield you personally, as you know. They also shielded your grandparents’ house. We were surprised when he was able to enter your mind that one time. We were also surprised that he was able to have Travis to enter your grandparents’ house, but we will ensure such a major breach of security never happens again. Make no mistake Theodore, he will try again, and when he does, it is your love of Earth that will save you. Now, enough. You have to go, enjoy dinner, and play some Jengitch.’

  It was a lot to take in for a fifteen-year-old. This was a feat for someone as brave or as valiant as King Arthur or Aragorn. How could Zane ever conceive that I would be able to handle Odion with all his might and paramountcy?

  My thoughts of inadequacy were eclipsed by my desire for food. I was close to nibbling on the potted plant in my room if I didn’t hurry to the chow hall.

  On my way to the cafeteria, I mulled over the looming threat ahead. I thought I sensed an ominous presence about me, but it was highly improbable for an enemy to sneak around within the Uriel.

  I continued on to the dining hall, and I used the Dietons to guide me. The rolesk was already proving to be handy. I just didn’t want to become too dependent on it. My grandma always told me if my skateboard broke, I would have to walk all the way home.

  I heard a shuffling of some feet, and when I turned back to look, I stumbled backwards over my own heel, grasping for anything to break my fall. I braced myself against a soft, warm body standing right behind me.

  ‘If it isn’t the puny human Messiah. It does not even know how to walk, let alone lead! I hope we don’t have to rely on this twerp,’ the young Bromel said nastily. He was about seven feet tall, which was small for a Bromel. ‘Do you have a name, tiny thing?’

  I sneered back. ‘My name is Theodore, thanks for breaking my fall.’ Drawing my glance upwards to meet his, I mocked him. ‘Looks like you have some food on your chin. A brute like you cannot even eat without getting food all over his face. Shocking!’

  Lincoln saved the day. He knew it wasn’t time to mess around with much bigger dude than oneself. ‘Come on Theodore,’ he whispered to me, out of earshot. ‘This guy’s head is as big as watermelon, but his brain works at a third-grade level.’ He pulled me into the dining hall.

  ‘Why were we hiding, Linc?’ I asked.

  ‘I was going to sneak-up on you to scare you, then you ran into that big dork,’ he said.

  Our attention turned to the magnificence of the hall, enclosed by glass everywhere
. There were mini-canals, or flumes of Elon water running at an elevated level, about waist height, along the walls. Everyone was passing by them one after another, rinsing their fingers in the turbulent water as if they were baptizing themselves, but not making any religious gestures. I noticed Lincoln didn’t dip his fingers into the water like everyone else. ‘Dude, aren’t you going to wash your hands or whatever?’ I asked.

  ‘Everyone’s dipping their grubby fingers into that water, if you want to put your fingers into a germ pool, be my guest,’ Lincoln stated. He had a valid point.

  There were three round tables in the center of the dining hall, with six settings of food placed upon the tables, groaning against the weight. Throughout the room, there was a hive of Sepherans bringing out mouth-watering food that appeared mystifying to me.

  At the front of the dining hall, Nezatron, preening himself, looked like he was preparing a speech, and the Sepherans were lining up in formation side by side, as if they were going to sing.

  One glass wall in the dining room showed off a slice of flora and fauna only found on other worlds. The giant aquarium had teeming plant life everywhere within. Trees and foliage lined the walls within this huge enclosure. The oxygen fed in from this conservatory was so clean—I could breathe deeply and comfortably. Visually quixotic birds were fluttering about within, and grotesquely formed yet alluring animals were prancing about. What a spectacle to those dining, to be able to see a whole new world across the thick glass.

  I was gazing intently. At one end of his gigantic nature conservatory were guests of the ship who had entered through a secure door from the dining hall in order to entertain themselves.

  ‘Come on, Ted, let’s take a look, we can eat later,’ Lincoln tugged at me to go inside the world of vitality, clearly enthralled. We ducked in through an electronic entrance that checked our identity and beeped as we successfully passed through.

  Enchanted, I looked around at the beguiling ecosystem. There was wild grass on the floor of the room, and various beings—Bromels, Karshiz, and Sepherans—were joyfully playing a type of hacky-sack. It looked like they were playing PELT, which was a game we made up on earth. To my immediate left, a tree stood about ten feet tall and looked a lot like a Venus flytrap. I leaned in closer to touch a leaf.

  ‘I would not do that if I were you; it is said that it can engulf and slowly digest its prey for eternity,’ a familiar soft Karshiz voice said from behind.

  I turned around. ‘I wasn’t going to touch it. What is this place?’

  ‘This is the Hall of Efran, and that tree that stands before you is a deflicontis.’ Tez said. She was excited for knowing something I didn’t. Again, she was awesome on the eyes of budding young men. Unlike their male counterparts, the women’s entire body was covered in luscious thick hair of about one inch, with only the eyes easily visible.

  ‘I think you are pulling my leg for sure now,’ I said.

  She looked at me bewildered and asked, ‘How could I pull your leg? I am standing over here with my hands on my hips.’ She rolled her eyes as she thought some more, then frowned. ‘Oh, I see! This is one of those human idioms.’

  ‘Well, I am not sure what an idiom is, I just know that it means joking. I felt you must have been joking with me. So this is where things are created?’ I asked.

  ‘It is a more complicated than that. . .’ she said, before being interrupted by the voice of Nezatron.

  ‘Attention everyone, please take your seats back in the dining room. I see all are engaged in a game of Jengitch over there. Please stop your game for a moment, so I may have a word,’ he waited about five minutes for everyone to take his or her seats, chatting among themselves.

  Once everyone was sitting before the food, Nezatron positioned himself at the front of the dining hall. ‘I see that you have been fascinated by The Hall of Efran just across from this room. This fascination is well deserved. This Hall was used millions of years ago in the raising of newly created species. The ship has since then outgrown this Hall, and now instead all of our creations are fathered from the massive Garden of Odion which is located on the second level of the Uriel.’

  Odion? I thought, puzzled. Why was such an honored enclave on the ship named after Zane’s most mortal enemy? I’ll find out later, I told myself.

  The voice continued, ‘I must add that this Garden of Odion is strictly forbidden for many reasons, one of which being the existence of unpredictable predators, who can kill you if you are foolish enough to try to enter. The only person having a safe passage through that realm is Zane himself. Not even Migalt steps into the Garden of Odion without a gun blade close by.’

  Nezatron paused for dramatic effect. ‘Dacturons are invading your planets. They are not doing it in a manner that causes widespread panic, but by stealth. You are here on the Uriel to train for your entry into the fight. The resistance is comprised mostly of three major species: the Bromels, the Karshiz, and the Humans. The Valeon Galaxy has yet to be tainted by this wicked plot, but there is no telling what may be going on beneath our noses. Now please enjoy the food, have an open mind, and embrace the unknown because that is what will make you succeed in these dark times. Acceptance of meaningful change leads to evolution.’

  Tez was so enthusiastic that she clapped before Nezatron had finished, then a resounding escalation of applause followed. The cheering and noise subsided, then there was much imbibing, munching, laughing, and backslapping among three vastly different species of beings.

  The tamed wildlife in the hall grew quiet as well and watched us through the secure glass while we ate. Everyone was digging into their roast beast and vegetable-like items. There were sauces that glowed, and huge colorful bugs that were piled into pyramids and presented as entrées.

  The Bromels were devouring the crunchy bugs, and they seemed to enjoy them immensely. My crew just glared at the other tables with astonishment. The buffet style assortment of food, much of it unfamiliar to us, was quickly disappearing.

  ‘Alright, who is going to be the Guinea pig?’ I asked, hinting that I didn’t want to be that person.

  Liam looked at us and shook his head. ‘You guys don’t get it. Either you eat, or you don’t. One option leaves you satisfied and the other leaves you starving. I don’t know about you guys, but I am doing it.’

  After Liam was done speaking, he ravaged the food within his reach. He just couldn’t stop. We followed his lead, and for me, I had no regrets.

  The roast beast was juicy and savory, and what looked like a prehistoric bird leg, had actually tasted similar to chicken. There were these plant-like long purple stalks, with orange flowerets at the top; they tasted just like peanut butter, which was odd. Everything was cooked to perfection, and it was like an alien smorgasbord of awesomeness. I was satisfied.

  Then I noticed that Mariah and Lincoln were talking quietly. They seemed like they were hitting it off, and feasting on each other with swooning eyes.

  I was swept away by the atmosphere of the hall, and by the delicacy of the food. My friends were ecstatic. Enjoyment fulfilled —there was no sign of kids feeling torn about abandoning their lives on Earth. No symptoms of regret from a decision of self-exile.

  We all worked our way around the room to talk with people. It was as awkward as I thought it could be, given the clash of cultures, languages, and outlooks. I didn’t think it was going to be a quick adjustment for anyone.

  Dan ran up to me and said, ‘Okay, so listen here sweetie pie.’ He gave me a new nickname each week. ‘I have a few ideas for our team name. I went with downright simple first, how about B-Team, The Minnesota Loons, or Abominable Hockey Fans?’ I gave Dan a look of disgust for his suggestions, and told him I wanted something fresh and new. ‘Crap, okay, I saved the best ones, just in case you hated those. How about Regulators or Crane’s Five, okay—so you don’t like those either. Well, last shot: the Outsiders.’

  ‘That is good,’ I said, happy that he finally brought forth a good option, ‘but we don’t ne
ed a name.’

  ‘I guess you are right, dude,’ he said. We looked around, wondering what we were going to do next.

  Everyone was mingling well, there were cliques forming faster than gossip itself, but that was to be expected. There was a clique of a few Karshiz and Bromel folk playing a game of Jengitch near the entrance to the Hall, as we had seen earlier. Now, this time, we didn’t want to miss the fun. I grabbed Dan and dragged him over.

  ‘Excuse the interruption, you think we could jump in and play with you guys? This is Daniel, and my name is Theodore,’ I said, as politely as I could.

  The bullying Bromel who had attempted to trip me a few hours earlier was in the group, and he put his hands on his hips to respond. He muttered snarkily, ‘Honest, you think you’re worthy? My pals can beat you with their eyes blindfolded.’ He scoffed.

  A Karshiz stepped forward. ‘Don’t mind Drangle here. You’re welcome to join us. Jengitch is a game similar to your hacky-sack on Earth except the object we’re kicking around—a Jengitch—is way more potent than an ordinary hack-sack. A Jengitch ball can think on its own. It has different offensive and defensive moves designed to cause you to be frustrated enough to pull your hair out. It can spray you with water, or sling you up by your feet. You have to use your eye-foot coordination as well as your agility to escape its attacks. Just try to keep it going and watch out for unknown attacks by the object. This game is based on elimination. If you drop the Jengitch, or if you are messed up from its attacks, then you’re out.’

  Dan and I walked into the circle. I brought Dan into the equation, because after watching the gameplay, I thought he would be a natural. Drangle, the bully, served up the first Jengitch. It had a rainbow-like trajectory and dropped down near my waist. Acting instinctively, I kicked it up in the air.

  Before the ball even made its descent back to our circle, Drangle kicked it with what looked like a kick-boxing move. Once he kicked it, the Jengitch fired tranquilizer darts in all directions, I knew they were tranquilizers, because one kid was hit, and had fallen asleep for the rest of the game.