by Grant Fausey
Captain Relnar found himself at the mercy of the Senator’s puppet, Admiral Titann. Watching the projection from a large oval screen, the image covered one wall, while the likeness of Senator Clarion Starr filled the center of the Omar's bridge. Relnar was tense and worried about shady dealings with dangerous paybacks. The captain lowered his long neck, pulling up the cloak that embraced his buffalo shaped head and grotesque body. "That's all we have to go on, Captain," snapped the Senator. "We have no clue as to the intention, or the destination."
"Understood, Senator," nodded the Captain. He could feel the hair on the back of his neck rise to the occasion. “I'll recall the Admiral immediately and report our findings upon our arrival."
The image faded, and Relnar looked around the room. Three officers stood at the other end of the bridge, and two more Del-fians were behind him. "Maintain standard orbit until we receive the recognition codes for departure and get me Admiral Titan. He is with Salnex aboard the station."
"Aye, Sir," answered one of the officers. Relnar nodded, then turned away to address Salnex and the Admiral on the holo-scanners. Titann was a dark skinned man, dressed in the Industry's finest blue sapphire armor. His holographic image towered over Relnar, standing seven meters high in the center of the bridge. His hair was as dark as his skin and accented by the glow of his blue eyes. Relnar felt like his shadow, obstructed from view. Salnex was a shifty eyed mechanical, seated next to the Admiral, surrounded by his henchmen.
"Yes Captain," spoke the Admiral.
"We've been ordered to investigate the Robotoid deployments out of Rampia, Admiral," said Relnar. "We're awaiting the departure codes. I would suggest your timely return."
"Understood, Captain. Proceed as planned. I've just one more thing to take care of here," commanded the Admiral. "We'll return to Rampia, but under my direction. Set course for our rendezvous with Light Ship One--the home system."
Relnar glared at his navigator and nodded then turned with a smile to the Admiral. "Aye, Sir, with pleasure."
Relnar's smile faded from his face, he knew he would have to have his crew back aboard the Omar by nightfall. They couldn't be underway in a shorter time than expected; after all, the Senator's priority recognition codes gave him an edge.
The Captain felt like a taxed man, under a lot of pressure. There was more to be aware. None of the information could leave the bridge. He wanted his ship back, at any cost. When this mission over he was going to have the Admiral off his bridge one way or another. Most of his crew was loyal. Scuttlebutt had it most of his crew felt the same way he did, although they just kept their feelings to themselves. Relnar spoke with most of them, hearing complaints on a regular basis. Normally, they wanted more money, better living conditions, peace and quiet. Things seldom found on a battle cruiser, especially a retired one. Yet, there was choice; destiny controlled the Omar's mission, and reluctantly, the captain had no choice but live his life the way the Source dictated. He was proud of his ship, proud enough to die with her. He'd been assigned aboard more than a four decades ago and had been forgotten by his superiors at the request of Admiral Titann. He had no chance of promotion, no chance of restoration. His only way off the Omar was by his own death. Something he contemplated more than once. He had considered all the possibilities, all the avenues of escape, even suicide. Nevertheless, he hoped to die in a glorious battle as a warrior. He was a good man, strong and a good officer; loyal to the rebellion against the Industries. Yet, somewhere inside of him, his he was screaming for the chance to get out. However, for the moment, he had to be content to go over the departure logs, options, and regulations one more time: at least, in his head. With pinpoint accuracy, he deconstructed the coming events; there was little hope of time for him self. Duty called, and a captain had to answer the call.
The facts were all to present; to calculated and refined to chance a meeting of minds, let alone a venture that allowed him to be who he wanted to be. He was trapped just like his ship, in a future controlled by something more than fate. Nothing seemed constant, nothing. The universe had changed like it never did before. The Omar maneuvered into position; it's bow aligned to face the departure ring station's future wave corridor. The journey to the other side of the galaxy would take only moments.
Relnar took in the customary deep breath. He knew he would wait for that single moment when the Omar shuttered, engulfed in the field generated by the vortex; a moment later, being swept away into infinity, he knew his ship would snapped like a rubber band along the length of the future wave corridor then disappear into oblivion. He prayed it would hold together one last time until the stars changed places and the Omar emerged on the far side of the galaxy. If it didn't, he would be dead and his troubles over. Relnar smiled; for an instance, the worries were lifted from his shoulders––there was nothing to lose. He gave the order to recall the ship's crew then stepped silently into the front of the elevator.
"Captain's cabin," he ordered in a pleasant voice. He stepped in. "Deck seven," he said nearly silent. This time there was much more to compute than the simple figures of navigation.
––– 4 –––DESTINATION EARTH
The third dimension ... the third universe.
The Earth slowly rotated into view; its wind swept clouds curling over one another in an escapade of overlapped rituals that danced across the vast oceans to the islands of blue-green valleys in a virtual wonderment, devoid of the influences of the Industries. Earth was a place set aside for mankind to once again enter the infinite universes of the Source. Isolated from the traffic of the Empire, forgotten so man had a second chance: A new generation of humanity derived from this garden paradise in the Eden sector, yet its populous fought like a warring mongrel bent on its own destruction.
As I had foreseen, through eyes of my other incarnation and now through Maccon’s life experiences, Earth was the place the galaxy would least expect a revolution to cast its tentacles? Although those in charge planned carefully, attention given to every thought and detail, each executed in a vibrant arena giving way to the mistakes of past, the current generation of man declined to follow the same course of their heritage and the first galactic civilization. This was the world of which Jolland was destined to be a part.
The Source's plan marked time keeping to itself, remaining well hidden in the secrecy of the past. A simple coffer left alone among the mysteries of life, perhaps from the horrors of regeneration. The arrangement altered nothing but the future course of mankind. Fate was in the hands of no one individual; however, the valiant efforts of a select few, mostly those governed by the influence of the infinite universes; each an allotted messenger with a watchful eye on the great exodus taking place amidst manmade arks destined to roam the universe. The haulers as they were known, left little impression on the everyday trivial activities of man, but made the essence of many Earths orbiting dead moons, filled with tiny traveler set amongst the gargantuan vessels destined to find the future. An unpleasant task even for mankind or the tapestry of unwanted worlds stretched out against a never-ending course of relentless, unforgiving self-captivated iron–fist grip of the Industries.
Not more that a solar day passed since Relix and Tee first laid eyes upon the giant carrier abducted for their own safety. Now, it felt like a noose about their necks. Jerolda Manchi was anxious. The warmth of the sunlight that bathed the surface of the planet beneath them spilled across the world's median, dividing the world into a complacent dark and light.
The young explorer longed for open spaces and, of course, freedom. Space travel was claustrophobic. Especially for Jerolda Manchi, who sighed a deep exhale of stale air, holding back the whine of joy, but he couldn't. The mathematical equations, recalculating time and space, era and eon, were preoccupying most of his internal systems. Little else consumed Relix in such matters and the single fact that it drove the tree-dweller crazy put a shit eating grin of Tee’s face. But smiles went anyway, giving awe to the sight of a great ocean, which definitely intrigued him.
The Beamrider rose to the sky like a hand, grasping a toy out of the air with luminous fingers.
Jerolda Manchi climbed over Tee to get a better look; the view of the beacon was spectacular. He felt the ship slip downward, being drawn along a course that led to the planet's surface. Tee screamed, but nothing came out. The air rushed from his lungs––the glorious feeling of weightlessness driven from his insides. They were in planetfall.
Tee’s eyes widen. The destination rotated into view. Jerolda Manchi saw it first and jerked on Tee's arm, pulling him to the window. A vast island, a single continent thousands of miles across rose out of the planet sized ocean like a serpent's back in the central ocean. Jerolda Manchi, on the other hand, remained ecstatic over the possibilities of island life, birds chirping, sweet songs, roaring rivers and, of course, thundering waterfalls. He couldn't wait, every cell in his swelled. The ship was heading for paradise and he was only moments away from touch down.
Tee wondered if either of them could imagine the adventures this new world held. This was true awe of the unknown, and it had suddenly replaced all the fears that were building in him. Tee was on his way to recovery.
• • •
A light flashed in the honeycombed mountains beyond the landing site of the giant carrier. Jolland reined her steed to a halt and dismounted the beast a safe distance from the portal. She turned away, scanning the landscape with wide eyes. It was more beautiful than anything she had ever imagined. The vast green valley took her breath away. There were distinct sounds other than the vortex's arrival gate. Sweet smells please her every breath. This was paradise: A fine tapestry of miracles to delight the senses. The trees, the land, even the sky was breathtaking. "My God," she whispered, patting the neck of her dragon. Her feet submerge into a field of tall grass, and laughed, running her fingers over the blades of tall grass of wonderland. "I've never seen such beauty. It can't be real. It just can't be."
The forest was full of life, filled with the sounds and fragrance of nature. She gazed at the plants, feeling the surface of a leaf. Her eyes widened, a smile crossed her face, overwhelmed by the differences in the texture. This world was a masterpiece of nature. She felt her own feelings of contentment growing within her.
Jolland followed the slope. A small, fluffy tailed animal with cautious eyes, stared at her. There were no such beasts on Rampia; the only animals that coursed the deserts of her homeland brought death. One such beast trapped her when she was a child, and only Rallumn's intervention saved her. She considered herself lucky.
She relaxed; this creature wouldn't harm her. The animal ran up the side of a tree then leaped to a branch following the limb to the end, where the little grey creature disappeared into a cluster of leaves. The critter was a simple meadow inhabitant. Free and graceful, guided by life more afraid of her, then she was of it. The air was fresh, clean and then there was the sound of rushing water in the distance. This new life would take some getting used to; the blades of grass fascinated her. The strange feeling it gave her touch sent warmth through her body she never felt before. She tingled all over.
Sara Jolland jerked back. A tiny blue-grey bird soared into the sky joining two others of its kind. She smiled, dropped her guard realizing she was free for the first time in her life. She rolled over then sat up in the field, seeing the land from the summit. A creek zigzagged through the trees, disappearing into the depths of the forest beyond her. Like a schoolgirl, she followed the stream with her eyes, tracing the course to the horizon. One of the three birds settled to the surface beyond the grassy knoll. Her thoughts saddened, returning to her father and Rampia; her lost world. A moment with Maccon was worth a lifetime of silence, she thought. If only she could share this moment, but that was an empty wish. This moment like every other moment in her life, only rekindled memories of Rampia, which was nearly thirty thousand light-years away.
"Well––" she whimpered, letting her thoughts run away with her. "I'm here Father...” There was pain in her voice. She didn’t understand the pit in her stomach, and the feeling of insecurity. She was alone, but didn’t feel like it. It felt like she was being watched. But for what purpose, she wondered? “Why send me to such a place?” She asked talking mostly to herself. “To what end do you destine my life?”
However, there was no clue––at this point nothing would make her feel safer.
Of course, there was no answer, only the gentle breeze and the warm sunlight was there to glittering its golden glow upon her. Her heart bounded, covering the strain on her ears as she imagined his words, soft, and reassuring. It's okay, she thought, encouraging herself. You'll know soon enough. Still, being alone felt strange, being captive in a strange land was just as taxing. She figured it would require more than a lifetime of exploration to realize he had no choice but to send her away. Fate always looked to divine guidance.
Jolland brush back her hair with a sweep of her hand, mounted her steed, putting one leg over the ridge of the beast as she patted his neck. "I guess we've been idle long enough, Eos," she said in a whisper. Her mighty steed glared back at her, tilted his brawny skull anxiously. “We might as well get started.”
The beast snorted, and Jolland felt the beast’s weight shift. She held a loose grip on the reins, giving the beast a pat of reassurance then with a nudge of her feet; the beast galloped across the meadow and took flight leaving behind small clumps of upturned grass. The dragon climbed into the sky, looking to the distant heavens. Jolland caught a glimpse too, the glitter of a starship on the horizon.
The ark sailed through the clouds like a butterfly descending to a flower's pedal, shimmering in the sunlight rays of the Earth's gravitational field. It was magnificent vehicle, growing ever larger within its alternating pulses of energy. Jolland smiled at the spectacle, pulling the reins tightly to her grip. The dragon hurtled across the valley, on course to meet the ark.
––– 5 –––
DAWN RISING
The sun climbed higher into the morning sky, until it reached high noon; a beautiful day blossomed in paradise. Sara urged her winged dragon down through the clouds in the direction of a pool of fresh mountain water, more or less luring the beast to the ground with the promise of fresh liquids to quench its thirst. Besides, the tiny mountain pool was surrounded on three sides by stony flats; a short waterway through nature’s wonderland had taken a true course into the breathtaking beauty of the Source's universe. The setting was a real work of art.
The steed's flight ended in trot across a well-worn mountain trail. Eos headed straight for the running water, but a tug on the reins brought her transportation to a halt, as planned. She dismounted the beast, and pulled a nearly empty water sack from under a flap in her armor. She quickly wrapped the drawstrings around her wrist, and saturated the makeshift pouch against the flow of the pond.
The dragon submerged its head just as Sara Jolland pulled the water sack from her wrist and swept it along the rim, careful not to run it through the moss that covered the edge. The water flowed within, filling the sack with the cool stream that feed the tiny pool.
She tipped the bag over her head, letting the cool stream flow over her from above. Water soaked her skin, running down the length of her body to meet the ground below her feet. She gulped a drink, and refilled the sack.
"Thirsty, Eos?" she challenged, spilling the water over the beast's neck. "Yeah, me too."
Jolland finally tied the sack, corking the top and hooked it to her belt under the flap. The dragon, of course, inhaled the water, draining the fluid from the shallow end of the pool until its head jerked out of the basin and looked skyward. The sounds of roaring engines caught Sara Jolland's attention as well. And almost as quickly has her steed’s hearing. Whatever it was it was getting closer, coming from somewhere behind them. The engine sound sputtered, followed by an explosion. The dragon staggered jerking backward to one side, scrambling across the ground to the under side of a boulder. Jolland felt the shockwave and dove for cover. An odd flying machine, a ba
sket shaped contraption-hurtled overhead, winding into the mountains with a trail of black smoke pouring from its left engine.
Jolland couldn't believe her eyes. It was the silliest thing she had ever seen. The craft, about the size of a small biosphere, fell out of the sky impacting the ground in front of her. The nose struck a group of rocks, ripping its away through the bottom portion of the contrivance’s front. "Oh, my God!" screamed Sara Jolland, covering her face. The vehicle spilt in two, opening in halves of flaming rubble; the pilot trapped.
Sara Jolland yanking the side to clear of the formation and pulled away the debris in a vein attempt to reach the young male pilot. She pulled hard at the rim to flop him out of the basket. But it didn’t work. The youth landed flat on his face with a thud! "Well, that was easy enough," she said, dragging him by his arm from the flames. What was left of the basket, erupted into a bonfire engulfing the other contents of the craft as well … a blinding flash dismembered the body of a mechanical woman left in the rubble.
Sara Jolland raced back to the wreckage to help the machine woman, but it was too late. The body was already unrecognizable, engulfed by the intense flame, which consumed the basket. The flames burned out quickly and the young man behind her was more in need of attention than the mechanical woman. She was already toast.
The youth sat up; coughed, choking on the smoke. "Are you okay?" she questioned Jolland, pulling her sack of water from her belt. "Here–– have a drink of this."
He took a long gulp of the water, chocking on it as he swallowed it.
"Take it easy––" said Jolland. "Drink a little at a time. That's better ... are you okay?"
"I am now," answered the youth. She had rested him in her lap, beneath her delicate hands; comfortable where he was. There was more than just being taken in by her. She's beautiful, he thought. Her dark hair and green eyes captivated him.