by Tew, J. D.
I hear the soothing voice of the nurse, warming my heart. “He is malnourished and the brain scan shows his neural levels are consistent with depression and periodic hallucinations. He may die any moment. I have to check his eyes.”
“Ma’am. Don’t place yourself between us and the prisoner!” the veteran shouts, but she carries on, ignoring him.
“It will only be a morget, guard—relax,” she snaps back. She peels my lids upward. This is the first time I have seen her face up close. Stiffening, I fight back every urge to avoid jump up embrace her, because I recognize her. I remember her from the planet Karshiz. She is a member of the Rangier faction for the resistance. I cannot put a name to her face, but man, am I glad to see we are still working in solidarity together.
“Back off, back off,” she shoos away the guards. “I need a better view so I can check his pulse. First, I will make sure our equipment is functioning properly.”
She leans in again. I smell her delicate perfume. She whispers to me, “Theo, hold on.”
After examining me thoroughly with an excellent bedside manner, she finally steps aside, and says out loud, “Prisoner should be stable after about fifteen minutes.” With a tilt back of her head, and jutting out her hip to one side, she addresses the personnel at the turrets. “I will be at the bar Cridovian for drinks later, with the girls. Anyone wanna join me?”
“I’ll be there!” the veteran guard says with a note of delight in his voice.
“I am not going,” the rookie sullenly says, and there is a moment of silence. I sense a stand-off between these two guards. The younger one is attempting to insinuate that the older guard is forsaking his responsibilities, even if it is during his off-duty time.
“Alright, Cridovian it is,” she says, while winking seductively at the veteran guard. “See you, maybe.” The veteran grins, bows slightly, and tips his hat at her.
The hard soles of boots scuffle against the floor and mask the woman’s steps. The closing vault brings me back to reality, but with an inkling of hope. I need to remain still, to carry out my pretense further. Finally, after an agonizing fifteen minutes, as my arms and legs scream out “creeping sleep sensation!” I stretch and restore circulation to my body. Acting groggy, I spend another ten minutes acting as if I were arousing myself.
It is important to act normal. They are watching me. Focus. The warden wants an account, and I will give him one. Time to go back to recording my story.
I use the tablet. It powers up and I say, “Let’s see. I escaped from the Uriel, and then I met Ed for the first time. Oh yeah.”
I heard my trusted emergency robot speak. He said, ‘Please don’t make any sudden movements. You have been asleep for five hours human time. When I examined you with the electrodes, I found the impulses within your brain were firing in a way consistent with an implanted device. You were exhibiting implantitus, an inflammation caused from a software virus within your implant. I removed the device, cleared the virus and rebooted your implant so that it is now clear of any prior programming. I had to reinsert it, which is why you have an excruciating headache and a bandage around your head. But now your implant is clear for any new use, should you wish to do so.’
‘I don’t feel that good,’ I said, groaning.
I stood up with my back to the command shield, and Ed handed me a dry towel to wipe the sweat off my face. I turned around to grab some water.
‘We are approaching a planet as well, sir,’ he said. ‘Its name is Tritillia.’
In front of us was a green planet, vibrant and alive, bathed by the rays of a nearby star. I sat, transfixed by the image on the main screen. Up until now, I only saw pictures of planets in encyclopedias at the library and at school, as well as on the Internet. This planet was different. There were no large bodies of water like Earth, but I did see long and wide river systems.
‘I remember this planet well,’ I said. ‘I’ve never been there, but it was a very popular backdrop for much of our training back on the Uriel.’
‘Very good, sir. I can’t say anything of the Uriel, for it would be most disrespectful,’ Ed said.
I swiveled to my tin companion. ‘Can’t, or won’t?’
Ed blinked. ‘Very astute. I won’t. Indeed, a most nasty ship.’
‘I admire you. Is there still someone following us?’ I asked.
‘There has been no indication, sir. If you would like, I can take evasive actions once we enter the planet’s atmosphere. I have been programmed with numerous techniques to avoid capture.’
‘Yes, please do that.’ I rubbed my chin. ‘Why this planet?’
“Sir, you cannot meander in space forever. You need food and water. I have sources that indicate to me that the Elons on this planet could be valuable allies.’
‘Whoa. What are Elons?’
‘I know very little about them. I will brief you now. But there is no other planet close by. Given the huge risks that face us, I recommend an attempted landing.’
‘Very good. How long will it take me to recover from my wounds?’
‘Your wounds? On a human body, at least two weeks,’ he said.
‘I have this syrup. Do you think it could help?’ I asked, and handed him the vial that I had seen upon my escape.
‘This is dephlocontis mucilage. Yes, very good. With this substance your wounds will be healed within minutes, maybe an hour at the most. I should have queried you. Since you are irrational, you have failed to disclose important information. I am going to rub some of this on your wounds, and I want you to consume three tablespoons. We’ll save the rest in case you sustain another injury later on. We make our descent once you are finished with this medicine.’
There was no sign of the tailing ship. They might have been cloaked as we were, or just out of our radar range.
As I gazed at the awe-inspiring planet, I finally started to reflect what had happened upon my last moments aboard the Uriel. There was no way to escape any savaging of my reputation aboard the Uriel, even though I might have been controlled by Odion’s mind. I fervently prayed for my friends, fretting that they would hate me by now.
Wait. I froze as my thought seized me. Nezatron had mentioned a traitor, someone who had attempted to hack into the database aboard the Uriel. It wasn’t me, that’s for sure. And I distinctly remembered King Trazuline’s voice as he guided me to my escape. Was it really him? I was in a stupor most of the time during my mad scramble—was I recalling correctly?
Why would Trazuline be covertly undermining Zane? My blood gelled. Tez! These sweet hushed tones she had conveyed to me—was she part of her father’s plot too? I tormented myself, and pleaded to no one that nothing would happen to her.
We orbited the planet for about an hour, searching for a port of entry. Ed was concerned that we might be risking our lives. To my surprise, he informed me that this ship wasn’t really designed for a planet’s atmosphere. It was only designed to shuttle in between ships in outer space, nothing more.
‘I don’t care,’ I told him. ‘I’m not going to stay stuck in space forever. Land the craft.’
‘Aye-aye, sir.’
Ed was emotionless. He sat and did exactly what I told him to do. He only engaged me if I asked something of him. I realized how amazing the artisanship and science behind the Dietons was, compared to the limitations of robotics. Since he was not composed of Dietons, Ed was limited. At least I had nothing to fear from him. There was no way Zane could control him.
‘Ed, can you get a . . . virus, like me?’ I asked. Then I remembered what Migalt said about allowing Odion into my mind. The whole idea of it made me nauseated. Thankfully, Ed had removed the virus. I was now safe too. The thought made me more relieved than I could ever imagine. Zane could no longer access my mind.
‘I think you are referring to the software patch as a virus. The nanocom that you had, allowed all thoughts to be extracted and processed by a central authority. Horrible things, really. Such viruses are capable of causing serious damage to a
CPU in a robot. I made it a point to avoid contact with yours while you still had it,’ he said.
‘Ed, I really appreciate what you did for me. I feel like myself again.’ I sighed with relief.
‘Anytime, Master Ted.’
‘Ed who made you?’ I took a seat in the captain’s chair.
‘I was developed by Rangiers,’ he said.
‘What are Rangiers?’ I asked, butchering the word he had previously said. In a heartbeat, I recalled the Rangier Cliguire dragons. Were they developed by Rangiers?
‘Rangiers are known specifically for their ability to construct languages and cultures for newly founded or colonized planets. Rangiers live in a solar system near where you are from—Earth, I presume. Their home planet is known to my database as Foita.’ I nodded my head, ‘They live under the surface of Foita. They do so because the weather on Foita is extremely volatile and they cannot survive in it without heading underground. Are you processing, Theodore?’
‘Do you mean understanding? And yes—I guess,’ I said.
‘Yes. The original home planet of the Rangiers was destroyed in a supernova explosion thousands of years ago. Fortunately, before then, they had the technological know-how to locate a new planet suitable for what they needed. The Rangiers colonized this planet and named it Foita, which means: heart within. They are responsible for the creation of the Mecca Dietonical database, called Eppa. Are you familiar with Eppa?’ Ed asked.
‘No one told me about Eppa. I am in overload anyway. The last several days have been too overwhelming for me. How do you know so much about everything?’
‘It is part of my programming complex. I was given this information by my creators.’
‘I am going to walk around the ship. I know there is not much to see, but…’ I stood up. I really needed some exercise, even on a ship this small.
‘Please, don’t touch anything, master. I am afraid you are not capable of handling the responsibility of this ship,’ he said.
I fought off the impulse to get annoyed with him. Even if he was right, I didn’t need to be reminded of my helplessness. Walking around, I decided that I would henceforth be my own man. Zane brought me into this fight for his end purpose, but now that would change. I had to be as unpredictable as my enemies were. I was free.
Before I grabbed some shut-eye on the cockpit floor, I proudly stroked my sword, Wrath. This sword had made me ferociously dangerous. I proved that by defeating the Ophanims and one of the Uriel’s formidable Sepheran Guards.
As well, my bracers made my hands indestructible. My rolesk afforded me limited control over all Dietons that were within my range. My mechanical kicks, enclosing my ankles, well, they made me highly unpredictable, with the ability to fly, move faster, and make myself invisible.
True, all my adversaries were equipped with some variation of my gear. However, Zane saw something in me, and the Dacturons wanted me dead. I felt immensely contented with how much I had accomplished.
I stared at the planet ahead. I was going to finish my mission, without Zane’s help.
I no longer was Theodore Crane, the scrawny platinum-haired jerk. I was Theodore Crane, born-again vigilante, and my desire was to destroy Odion. If Travis stepped into my path, well, he was going to have to answer for what he did to my peace.
14 Lincoln: The missing linc
“Guard thirty-four, to command center—request to engage prisoner eight-six-seven-six.”
“Go ahead, thirty-four—guns are hot—over.”
“Opening view box to deliver the message—over. Prisoner! You know the drill! Restraints now!”
Another goon is at my cell’s entrance, with orders from the warden. I place my arms into these derogatory wall restraints, to alleviate the paranoid worries of the frightened guard behind the vault.
“Audible message from the warden is as follows: ‘If I am correct, you and your rogue human crew were separated from Theodore Crane at some point. If possible, I want an account of your separation, and the events leading up to the battle of Tritillia. These are your orders. Comply and you will have your request granted.’ Message finished. Disengagement of prisoner eight-six-seven-six complete. Request temperature sweep of room and disarmament of wall restraints—over.”
“Fine! I hope you can hear me! Because if you don’t terminate me, I will terminate you, warden! You hear me! I will end you! There is no prison that can hold me,” I shout.
The wall restraints release me, and I fall upon the floor. There is no greater urge than to show hate for the warden. Where was I in my story? Let’s see—after our savior left us.
I narrow down my database search to a couple of files within my processing unit, and start with the first.
“After this, I’m done! I will not give any more information until I am guaranteed termination!”
“Before Karshiz, it was a tough time for us. After all, Theodore went rogue, to escape the clutches of Zane. Yeah—Mariah was knocking on the door, and my best friend was marooned in space. We were stuck in a sick joke. I left Earth for this?”
‘Lincoln, come on, let’s go. You take too long to do the simplest things,’ Mariah said, as she tapped on my door with her petite hands. I peered through the window, and saw Dan and Liam behind her.
Throughout our travels, Mariah always seemed to be the one that was underestimated. Tiny hands are no measure of strength when referring to the power of talent and skill. A dainty finger can still pull a trigger. I don’t think we were in store for what she was capable of doing.
I was trying to figure out what to wear when she summoned me. Simple decisions were difficult for me, because I always overthought them. My fears were that the next choice I would make was going to be the last. These were my only fears, until Theodore left us. It was two days after my best friend Ted stormed the Garden of Odion to kill Zane, with his own sword—wild man.
We were lost, like a bike with no wheel and a broken chain. Theodore was so good to us, indeed, too good for us. I believe that Theodore wanted more for the future of the multiverse than Zane could ever have the capacity to imagine.
Some people die by courage, and live through fear, but Theodore—he feared nothing, and anyone that planned to jump from a cliff to prove a point had courage—or they were nuts. I had it in my head that it could not end with Ted dislocated from his team. Not on my life.
‘One sec, can you be patient?’ I asked at the door, with my friends eagerly behind it.
I knew what to do. Ted’s plan was to bring balance to the multiverse, but I could not lead his crew. I was not the right person to be a leader. At least, not in the way that he did. I was only capable of devising a plan. I never had the guts to implement this plan before I met Theodore.
He was passionate about the cause and yes, there were some dark days before he knew his time was up. I knew him best, and he wasn’t a quitter. If he wanted Zane dead, then Zane should have taken his last stroll through the Garden of Odion that day.
‘Hey guys, okay-okay, I’m done. What’s up?’ I asked.
‘We are going to the debriefing or whatever. Let’s try to stay close to each other. People have been somewhat upset about the thing with you-know-who,’ Mariah said, she looked around to suggest people were watching, ‘People think we may have been in on to it.’
Dan jumped in, and it was obvious how he felt. He said, ‘Yeah, everyone is pissed. Ted leaves us high and dry with a bunch of aliens that flippin’ hate us. Now we are going to some bullshit debriefing. They are probably going to enslave us with some more contraptions and turn us into robots. What a bummer.’
‘Okay, everyone. We have to talk before we go,’ I said, with caution to the possibility of eavesdroppers. I opened the door and everyone filed into my room. ‘Something is wrong here. I don’t know what it is, because I don’t have the facts. What I do know is this . . . pull in close so you can hear me.’ I lowered my voice to a whisper and pulled everyone into a huddle, ‘We are going to be viewed as traitors, and the on
ly way we are going to survive is if we act like we are totally clueless about what Ted did. Keep your eyes open and watch for clues. There is something bigger going on here, and we have to figure it out. Let’s go to the debriefing.’
‘Easy for you to say. You sound like a Ted-groupie,’ Liam said, as he walked away from me. I ignored him. I knew that enormous stress, coupled with unfamiliar surroundings, could cause emotions to run high.
Everyone strolled down the hallway when, through a doorway, I was grabbed.
‘What the heck?’ I yelped.
It was Tezmarine. ‘Lincoln, I don’t think Theodore was himself. He would never do that,’ she pleaded. ‘He cares too much to do such a thing.’ It was tough to watch the Karshiz Messiah cry. The sight of her bawling made me feel like we had no hope.
‘Tez, it is alright. I will find Theodore, and when I do, he is going to be just the same,’ I said. ‘Trust me, there is something weird going on, and if anyone is going to make all this right, it will be me.’
‘If you find him, Lincoln, tell him to hold on,’ she said, and then she bolted through the door.
I combed my hair with my hands, and hurried to catch up to the others. My hair was greasy and my teeth had a plaque carpet on them. In my family, it was important to have good oral hygiene. Apparently space creatures from outside Earth had never bothered to reflect upon the concept of the simple toothbrush or the much-maligned dental floss.
My dad was a dentist. He always complained about the dental assistants after work. He hated that they threw empty cardboard boxes in the trash. He wanted them to recycle, and they always ignored his demand to protect the environment.
I could just see him in the dental office telling his minions to quit chatting about the latest on-screen heartthrob and get back to work. He wanted me to be a dentist from the day I left the womb.
We didn’t shower for the entire month we had been on the Uriel. It was barbaric. Eventually, we became okay with the dirt. I thought there would be some sonic shower technology to scrub dirt and skin oils from our bodies in this future, but there was nothing—yet. It was funny, really. They had this advanced, top-notch technology to eradicate all disease within your body, but nothing, really, for basic hygiene on your skin. It was baffling.