“I do require sustenance,” he admitted, “but I have an inexplicable yearning for human food. Is there any here?”
“There’s a snack pantry our human operatives use,” she answered, selecting a sports drink and a bag of potato chips. “You should start with something bland.”
Kevak took a few sips of the drink. As it passed down his esophagus, he felt a stirring within him. “It’s as if the nanobots are waking up.”
After ingesting some of the chips, he felt his former vigor being restored and surpassed. “I know now what I must do.”
Nadia followed him down the corridor to the inner hatch. “Kevak, no! You can’t go out there without a solar protection!”
“This is the culmination of transmutation,” he explained. “It must be done.”
He opened the inner hatch, stepped through, then closed it behind him. At the end of the bridge, he uttered a silent prayer as he opened the outer hatch. Daylight flooded into the bridge. He tightly shut his eyes in reflex against the light.
His body temperature began to rise, but not in the way it had when he had been caught outside at dawn in the fifteenth century. Instead of agonizing pain, he felt a frenzied exhilaration, as if his life force was being renewed.
He opened his eyes slowly to adjust to the light then tentatively stepped outside. As his lungs inhaled the frigid air, he felt himself continuing to become stronger. “Iam be praised!”
Nadia anxiously watched the monitors until Kevak returned through the bridge.
“You did it!” she exclaimed as he opened the inner hatch. “You walked into the sunlight without any protection!”
“And so shall you, my dear,” he said, offering her his hands.
“But don’t I have to undergo transmutation first?”
Kevak shook his head with a smile. “I became a Touch Healer on Vambiri, and now that I have completed transmutation, I am the ultimate host with the ability to cure all hybrids of their ‘infirmities,’ namely, exposure to sunlight and the sole consumption of hemoplant products.”
“You can restore my human form?” she asked.
“Even better,” he said.
She placed her hands on top of his outstretched palms. Glowing light emanated between their points of contact, and she could feel rays of warmth course through her body. She began to swoon, but Kevak steadied her. “Just a little while longer,” he assured her.
Although she was not technically sick, she perceived an intense healing sensation. Just as Kevak had experienced, she felt not only renewed but invigorated beyond anything she had ever known.
“Come outside and enjoy the sunlight,” said Kevak, reopening the inner hatch.
DELUSION
Oval Office
May 4, 2049 AD
“It’s the image of the Devil himself!” shrieked Josephine. “An entire planet populated with demons!”
“What happened?” Sebastian asked Jirza.
“Everything was functioning properly,” said Jirza. “The bridge had been established, and after checking the stabilization levels, Kwetz entered. Tolum and I were preparing to follow when a sonic pulse was fired from the other side. All of us were disabled, but the lab assistants were the ones standing closest to the booster panels, and they were rendered unconscious. The bridge was still holding, so we deployed a drone to record what was going on at the other side.”
“These creatures that the drone recorded — are they the ones responsible for the anomalies on Earth?” asked Sebastian.
“It’s worse than that, Mr. President,” said Jirza. “They’ll be launching an invasion soon.”
“How do you know that?” demanded Josephine.
“As soon as Kwetz emerged on their planet, they erected a force field around him and were preparing to execute him with their weapons when the transmission cut off,” said Jirza. “They obviously have no interest in diplomacy, and now they know that we too are capable of generating a wormhole. We must strike first, Mr. President.”
“How?” asked Sebastian. “If the United Nations catches a whiff of what’s happened, they’ll insist on a diplomatic approach, and Congress will side with them as long as it makes me look weak. They’ll be alerted if I put the military on a war footing.”
“We can generate a wormhole that will deliver us into orbit above Kepler-186f from where we can launch a nuclear attack,” said Jirza. “All we need is one of those skiffs that space station personnel use.”
“Skiffs aren’t fitted with missile delivery systems, and by the way, where would you get the missile?” asked Sebastian.
“There are so-called ‘zombie warheads’ marked for dismantlement,” said Jirza. “They’re in silos all across American. Some have been there for decades. Security at these facilities is practically nonexistent. As long as we have top-secret clearance, removal of any material should be routine. Tolum can determine which sites have minimum security. We’ll figure out a delivery system later.”
“I’ll organize your security clearance immediately,” said Sebastian.
ASCENSION
The Lost Sea
May 6, 2049 AD
J’Vor sniffed the air. “The grass is pungent in the heat of the day, Father.”
“What was once fatal will now make us stronger,” said Kevak as he closed his eyes and lifted his head toward the sunlight. The feeling of warmth filling his cheeks was nothing short of miraculous. “I will never grow tired of this sensation.”
“Why are you still wearing your space suit?” asked J’Vor.
“It has constantly monitored my vital signs throughout transmutation,” explained Kevak. “I’m keeping it on for a few more days — Ikato will have a thorough record of the changes that have taken place once I return.”
“We will have to say goodbye to each other again,” said J’Vor. “I still ache from our parting when you left in the Newisla.”
“Ah, but that time we all believed the Vambir would never see Earth again,” said Kevak. “That is no longer the case. If we can eliminate the threat posed by Jirza and Tolum, then once the Vambir have gone through transmutation, travel between our two worlds will become commonplace.”
“I’m frightened, Father,” said J’Vor. “It sounds too good to be true.”
“We have been through dangerous times before,” said Kevak. “Remember, with Iam all things are possible.”
They looked back and saw Jasper walking hand-in-hand with Nadia. He plucked a vivid blue morning glory flower from a vine then placed it gently in her hair. Both Emanui and Tariq appeared to be in a daze as they walked aimlessly through the tall grass, taking in the sights and smells. Even though Devonna was fully human, she had a newfound wonderment of the daylight after watching everyone else’s reaction.
“How many hybrid operatives are in your network?” Devonna asked J’Vor.
“Over a thousand,” he answered.
“We need to organize a timetable for each one to be restored to the sunlight,” she said.
Kevak shook his head. “All of the other hybrids were fitted with cerebral implants, which the nanobots would attack. More research is needed to find a way to isolate the implants.”
“Father,” began J’Vor, “much has happened while you were in semi-stasis.”
“I know,” said Kevak. “Nadia brought me up to speed on the situation at ORELA during the flight down. I pray to Iam that the capsule you gave Kwetz will be enough to keep the contagion at bay if he has been exposed. Ikato will have a thin window of time to come up with something, if that is the case.”
Jasper’s palmcom buzzed. “Elgin is reporting that all ORELA staff who have reported for duty today have been told to go home.”
“They’re up to something,” said Emanui.
“They just tried to commit genocide,” said Devonna. “They won’t stop until they’re successful.”
“I’ll tell Elgin to stay in the vicinity,” said Jasper as he typed instructions into his palmcom. “We’ll meet up with him as soon
as we can get there.”
*******
“There’s Elgin,” said Jasper as he pulled the van to the side of the road.
“They took delivery of something big!” exclaimed Elgin. “It was covered in tarpaulins, but it had the shape of a small craft — it looks like an orbital skiff!”
“Orbital skiffs are for shuttling around one or two people,” said Jasper. “They don’t carry weapons.”
Suddenly, a rumbling could be felt.
“The anomaly!” cried Devonna. “They’re going through now and carrying some kind of weapon on that skiff!”
“They’re going to nuke Lun from orbit!” exclaimed Kevak as he grabbed his helmet and attached it to his suit.
“What are you doing, Father?” asked J’Vor.
“There’s no time!” shouted Kevak. “I must stop them!”
“But you’ll burn up in the atmosphere!” protested J’Vor.
“The suit was built to withstand atmospheric entry,” said Kevak as he quickly embraced him.
There was no time for goodbyes. Kevak used the suspensors and propulsion unit to speed off toward ORELA. He disappeared from sight when he deployed the cloaking device.
Getting through the outer levels of security was no problem, but when he arrived at the doors to the particle accelerator, he encountered Jirza’s Vambiri-based random code generator. The walls and floor were vibrating heavily — the wormhole was still open.
There’s no choice…I’ll have to use my lasgun to get through.
As soon as Kevak blasted through to the particle accelerator chamber, he could see straight into the wormhole and was just able to make out the tiny skiff in orbit above Vambiri. The wormhole was set to remain open indefinitely. Jirza had also used the Vambiri-based random code generator to lock out anyone who might attempt to dissolve the bridge before she and Tolum returned.
If I destroy the panel with my lasgun, then the wormhole will close. Jirza and Tolum will be forced to abort their mission; otherwise they will be marooned on an irradiated rock.
But Kevak had no way of knowing if they had already deployed the weapon. He would have to go through the wormhole in order assess the situation and relay a warning to D’Hal from his spacesuit — assuming that Ikato had been able to isolate the contagion that had been released earlier.
Use me well, Iam.
He powered up the suspensors and propulsion unit and accelerated into the vortex. As soon as he was through, he could see the skiff, but there was no missile attached to the underbelly. When he reached it, he activated the cloak and circled over the cockpit. Sitting in between Jirza and Tolum was a nuclear device.
They’re not going to drop it on top of Lun — they’re going to land and place it somewhere themselves before detonating it by remote control.
It made sense. Since Lun was an underground city and the particle accelerator was located at the lowest level, they could not be sure their objectives would be met by bombing Lun from above.
They’re going to use the lava tubes to place the device as close as possible to Lun!
“Primus!” cried Kevak as he pressed the communication button on his arm panel. “It’s Kevak! Do you read me?”
“I read you!” answered D’Hal. “Where are you?”
“In orbit above Vambiri,” said Kevak. “What’s your status regarding the contagion?”
“Kwetz was able to distract the probe long enough for a force field to be generated,” said D’Hal. “He was infected and has been sealed inside with the contagion. He’s holding on for the moment.”
Kevak wanted to know more about Kwetz’s condition, but he had to warn D’Hal about the new danger. “Jirza and Tolum have a nuclear device! They’re going to set it off in the lava tube that takes them closest to the particle accelerator! I’m going to try to stop them, but in the meantime, evacuate everyone to the city shelters that are farthest away from the lava tubes!”
“Copy!” said D’Hal.
*******
The wail of the emergency sirens could be heard throughout Lun.
“Vrin,” said Betana, “we must go now.”
“But what about my son?”
“It’s not possible to move him,” said Betana.
“I’m not leaving him!” cried Vrin.
Ikato motioned to an Enforcer to physically remove Vrin from the chamber.
“No,” said Betana to him. “It’s her choice. I’ll stay with her.”
“Betana—” began Ikato.
“That’s my choice,” she said.
Ikato sighed and dismissed the Enforcer. “It looks like we’re all staying.”
*******
“Get all of the children and adolescents to the shelters,” D’Hal ordered the Enforcers. “I’m remaining here in the Chapel of Transfiguration with any Newlunders who wish to stay.”
“But Primus,” protested one of the Enforcers, “the chapel is too close to the lava tubes!”
“You have your orders!” she said, waving them away.
*******
Kevak could see that Jirza and Tolum were maneuvering the skiff into an angle for atmospheric entry. If he used his lasgun to fire on them, the nuclear device would be detonated. Although Lun would be safe, the blast radius would not only destroy him, but it would also reach the open wormhole and travel through to Earth.
There was only one way to avert disaster: he would have to secure himself to the skiff and use the thrusters in his suit to change the angle. If successful, the skiff would either burn up or bounce off the atmosphere into the cold reaches of space.
Activating his suit thrusters, he stretched his body straight, placed his arms tightly at his sides, and bent his head forward. When he was within range of the skiff, he deployed the suit’s grappling hooks, and they found their mark on the towbar.
If he were going to use his own propulsion unit to force the skiff to veer off course, then he would need to be close to one of its thrusters in order to upset the equilibrium. Once he was in place, he firmly secured himself and set his propulsion unit to maximum thrust.
“We’re veering off course!” exclaimed Jirza. “I can feel it!”
Tolum checked the panel readings. “The output of the two thrusters is the same.”
“We’re leaning to port! Compensate by decreasing output in the starboard thruster!” ordered Jirza.
“The thrusters can’t be controlled separately,” said Tolum. “They operate in sync.”
“Something is causing us to list!” insisted Jirza.
The skiff began to vibrate and spin out of control. Like a stone skipping over water, it bounced off the atmosphere and careened back into space.
“The wormhole!” Jirza shouted to Tolum. “Take us back through!”
“I can’t stop the rotation in time,” he said. “Once it’s under control, we’ll have to go around the moon and use the gravity as a slingshot to get back.”
Kevak’s propulsion unit was overheating. He had pushed it well past its maximum capacity, and it would give out any minute. When that happened, Tolum would regain complete control of the skiff.
If they return to Earth, they’ll simply bide their time until they can attempt another attack on Vambiri. I won’t allow that to happen…
Kevak’s arm panel lit up.
PROPULSION UNIT MALFUNCTION.
AUTOMATIC SHUTDOWN ENACTED.
“I’ve got it under control!” exclaimed Tolum. “Whatever was causing the thruster imbalance is gone! Brace for slingshot maneuver!”
Kevak removed the lasgun from his utility belt. The time had come to act. If he fired on the skiff now, it would crash into the moon. He gritted his teeth and said a silent prayer as he pointed the lasgun directly at the skiff’s thrusters. He knew it would be the last thing he ever did.
*******
D’Hal opened her eyes. The flashing lights had interrupted her prayers. Looking down into the altar, she saw that the lights were emanating from the stasis pod.
The revival sequence has been activated!
The hatch moved aside, and D’Hal gasped as the eyes of the Christ opened. He sat up and levitated until he was face to face with her. Smiling serenely, he spread His arms and slowly dematerialized.
*******
“He’s dying!” cried Vrin in her automated chair.
Ikato and Betana remained silent and gently placed their hands on her shoulders in an attempt to console her. Vrin was right — the veins in Kwetz’s face were protruding and turning black again.
Light began to flash in the chamber, and they could smell the pungent scent of ozone. Before their eyes, a figure materialized.
“It’s the Christ!” exclaimed Ikato.
Vrin watched in bewilderment as the human figure floated above Kwetz and easily extended its hand through the force field. A light beam brimming with particles emanated from the hand and passed over Kwetz, and the protruding veins in his face once again returned to normal. The weaponized probe dissolved. Kwetz opened his eyes and stood up, completely restored to health. The figure then advanced toward Vrin.
“Let Him help you, Mother,” said Kwetz.
Vrin looked into the eyes, and in an instant her visceral hatred of all things human disappeared. He passed His hands over her legs, and she felt a healing warmth swirl through them that was much more intense than what she had experienced with Kwetz or Kevak.
Walk, the figure said to her, although His mouth remained closed. It was as if He was communicating telepathically with her.
Vrin rose from her chair and walked into the arms of Kwetz.
Ikato and Betana fell to their knees.
Betana could hear the voice of the Christ in her head.
Accept this gift and become a conduit of transmutation.
She felt an intense heat between her eyes. As soon as it dissipated, she knew what she had to do and fled the chamber.
Faithful servant, beloved architect of the Creator, the Christ communicated to Ikato. Your work is unfinished. A great migration is at hand, and you are needed to facilitate it.
The Nosferatu Chronicles: Return to Vambiri Page 21