The Books of Kaltar Farsara Boxed Set - Books 1 through 3 (The Kingdom Kaltar Farsara Built)

by Ivan Bridgewater

  "I regret destroying his computer device," I said. "I had just reached the ninth level, and the images had become very intense."

  "Carl said he never saw anybody do that before," April said. "He said you took out the whole system in under seven minutes. That even another computer couldn't do that." Our eyes met, and she quietly said, "He said you scare the hell out of him!"

  "That was never my intention!" I replied. "I believe his simulations may be very helpful to me. I'm very grateful for his help, and regret any damage I may have caused."

  April stood to leave, and I followed her to the door. We paused, and she suddenly leaned close, and kissed me softly. As usual, I was caught off guard, and stood there stupidly as she said, "See ya later!" and then shut the front door as she stepped out.

  I must have stood there for a full minute in the empty apartment before my heart rate returned to normal. After scanning so many humans, I'm shocked that a simple kiss from April could have such a strong effect on me. I finally calmed my thinking, and folded space for Remaca. It was time to play at war.

  I started simple. I would create a drone aircraft of the type I had seen in the simulations, and then practiced destroying it in various ways. Unlike the simulations, this was real. Several large pieces of smoking debris could soon be seen dotting the distant hills. I was getting very good at destroying unmanned drones.

  Reaching out mentally. I began to affect the magnetic fields and orbits of a dozen large stones in space. In minutes, I had them moving toward Remaca in a stream that would enter Remaca's atmosphere soon without intervention. Then I started to debate the best way to stop them.

  I focused my mind on the nearest rock. It took several minutes, but by focusing my thoughts, I could break the rocks apart. They would explode as the pressure reached the breaking point. One by one, I destroyed the stones. Just dust was left to show where the rocks had been. When I reached the sixth stone, I decided there had to be a better way. I was tiring, and the majority of the stones were still on their way.

  I tried variations of hot and cold. The rocks didn't explode, but just broke up into far smaller rocks. As I reached the eighth rock, I realized I was running out of time. The remaining rocks would be here soon.

  And I was growing weaker.

  I started to realize the folly of what I had started. I began trying to alter the trajectory of the remaining stones, so they would bounce off the atmosphere, and skip into space. Their mass made it difficult to deflect them, and they were now picking up speed as they came into the gravity field of Remaca.

  The eighth stone finally skipped. The last four were too close to deflect now, and I was in trouble. Overhead, I heard the roar as the first stone entered the atmosphere. I looked up, and could see it burning far up in the air as it started down. A giant flaming rock. It had to be several hundred feet across. I poured every bit of energy I had into the rock, and it flashed white, and exploded. The air rushed around, and I was knocked to the ground by the blast wave.

  I was in pain! I could hear at least one of the elephant trumpeting off in the distance. It was too far away to see. There was a loud bang, and another stone started down. I laid on the ground, looking up. The stone was smaller than the last one had been. I pulled power from the ground, and focused the last energy I had. The rock flamed for a moment, and then vaporized.

  At that same instant, another rock started down. The shock wave from the last rock breezed past me. It was nothing after the previous wave. As I watched. The latest rock flared, and I realized this rock was far larger.

  In what appeared to be a far shallower angle. The huge rock arced across the sky, and disappeared beyond the horizon. Seconds ticked by, and the ground shook slightly.

  Then the final rock started down. I was still just lying on the ground looking up. It arced across the sky for a few seconds, and then simply went, "Pop!" and was gone.

  I laid there, thinking how lucky I was to still be alive. After a full minute, I slowly stood up, and dusted myself off. I started to limp toward the house, and the shockwave hit me. It flipped me twice, and pressed me up against the steps to the house. The blast from the stone that hit the far side of Remaca had finally reached here.

  I laid there for some time. Then looked up to see the two elephants coming to investigate what had occurred. They walked up, looked around for a moment, and then discreetly left. I suppose they were embarrassed that I had no more sense.

  Dirty, tired, and injured. I almost crawled into the house. It seemed undamaged, and I was grateful for that. I made it up to my bed, collapsing into it without caring about the blood and dirt I instantly smeared into the covers. My energy levels bottomed out, and I slept.

  The next thing I heard, was the screams of my teacher as he moved through the house. He was calling my name, and judging by the sound, he was coming straight to me.

  Sure enough! My door burst open, and the Rock stepped through. He was carrying a large wooden staff, and looked like he was ready for a fight. He took one look at me, and demanded, "What has happened here boy? It looks like this place was bombed from space? Were you attacked? There is debris everywhere outside!"

  "It is a mess left by my miscalculations," I mumbled. "I thought I was ready for more than I really was."

  He stood looking at me for a moment. Then said, "At least you did it here, instead of on Earth." He smiled and noted, "The far side of Remaca has a smoking crater half a mile across etched into its surface. The people of Earth would have been very cross with you for such an error."

  I crawled out of the bed, and started to clean up. The Rock waited for me, and as we went out the front door, he said, "You are learning very well Kaltar. Frankly, I'm very pleased with your progress. I had not expected such results so soon."

  Some of the debris up on a hill in the distance was still smoking. I looked around, and said, "I shall try to be a little less messy in future."

  That brought a smile to the Rock's face. He said, "Tell April I said you are doing well, and that I'm proud of you!" He smiled even wider, and then said, "That will make her nervous!"

  I failed to see the humor of the remark, but it seemed to mean something to him. We each waved, and I folded space to return to Earth.

  I have always gone to April's room of living in the past. I actually forgot I now had my own home on Earth. I arrived on Earth, to find April sound asleep on her couch. I stood watching her for a moment, and then started toward the door.

  As I did, I heard April say, "Who's there? Kaltar? Is that you?" She rolled over, and sat straight up on the couch. Staring at me, she slowly got up and moved closer. She finally said, "Kaltar! You're all scratched up! What happened to you?" She got even closer, and loudly said, "Look at you! You're a mess!"

  "I made a mistake," I admitted.

  "A mistake!" April said very loudly. "I thought you were resting! It looks like a bomb hit you!"

  "They were meteors," I replied. Her eyes widened, and I repeated, "I made a mistake."

  "What made you think that would be a good idea?" she questioned.

  "The simulations Carl showed me," I replied "I had been conducting the same type of testing in the game. I just went home to Remaca, and tested the methods on real meteors." I looked into her eyes, and again said, "I made a mistake."

  "On real meteors!" she repeated. "Lucky you weren't testing nukes!"

  "They were next," I said quietly.

  "You're kidding! Right?" April was very irritated with me. I could tell I was in trouble. I started moving toward the door. She reached for my arm, and took a grip on me. I began to scream. She jumped back and yelled, "What is it?"

  Pushing up my shirt sleeve, a large bruise was exposed. I hadn't noticed it myself until April grabbed me. Her eyes grew even larger, and she said, "Take off your shirt!" I pulled the shirt off with some help. Looking horrified, she said, "This bruise covers half your back!"

  "It was from the blast wave," I observed. "It pushed me into the outside wall of the house."<
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  Rolling her eyes, April said, "I thought you understood the simulations aren't real. You can't really do those things. You'll get killed." Her hand ran lightly across my back, and she said, "You're lucky you don't have internal injuries. You could have broken some bones, judging by the marks I see here."

  I flinched away, and said, "It's pretty sore back there."

  "I can see why!" she observed. "It's more black than blue!" She stepped around me, and started to gently pull the shirt back on. There was a tap at the door, and as April swung it open, Cindy happened to look in, and see my back.

  "My God!" she gasped, "What happened? You look like a truck hit you!"

  "It was a meteor," I said.

  "It was all just a big mistake!" April said in a mocking voice.

  Cindy looked very confused, and I was starting to feel that way myself. "I need to go home and rest," I said. "I'm supposed to see Carl soon, and I am very tired."

  "Well, I'm coming too!" announced April. "I'm going to make sure you actually get some rest." Cindy made an odd noise, and April said, "No! I'm serious Cindy! I'll make sure he gets some rest!"

  We all were in the hallway now. April closed her door, and opened mine. Leading me through the house, she informed me I needed a shower. I soon found myself aching badly from the shower, but looking and smelling much better. I found fresh clothes waiting for me, and when I stepped out into the room where the bed was, I felt much better.

  April said, "Lay down!" I did, and she switched off the light, and then laid down next to me. She said, "I set the alarm so we can go to Carl's! Now go to sleep!" Then she grew quiet, and I laid there trying to go to sleep.

  The problem was, that April was laying right next to me. I was very aware of how soft, warm, and fragile, she was as she laid there beside me. I found I wasn't sleepy at all. I laid there for what seemed like an eternity.

  Then I guess I fell asleep. I woke up snuggled up to April. I was shocked that I had fallen asleep, and could tell by the clock device, that I had slept for several hours. The light from the room Earthers called the restroom was the only light visible. I started to slowly get up, when I heard April quietly ask, "Where are you going?"

  I froze for a moment, and said, "I actually don't know, I just woke up, and started to get out of bed."

  "Sleep another hour," she said. "The alarm will get us up."

  "I can't sleep," I replied. "You're too soft and beautiful."

  She looked at me in the darkened room for a long time. Then she said, "You need your rest! Spoon up to me, and get some sleep!"

  I complied, and laid there for several minutes. April rolled over slightly, and then said, "Do you really think I'm beautiful?"

  "You are very beautiful," I assured her. "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever met!"

  "After your Mother," she corrected.

  I thought for a moment, and then said, "I loved my Mother! But you are more beautiful than she is!"

  There was a silence, and then April said, "Go back to sleep Kaltar! You need your rest!"

  I must have dozed off, because I jumped as the alarm device screeched several times before April could shut it off. Confused, and trying to wake up, I stretched out in the bed. Abruptly, I looked up to see April looking down at me. She leaned down, and kissed me very softly. She hovered over me a moment, smiling down at me. Then she quietly said, "Get up lazy! Nap time is over!"

  Her touch was so soft. It was like a dream. I could have gone back to sleep, but Carl was waiting. April slowly moved away from me, and stood up next to the bed. I said, "I'm getting up! I'm just doing it very slowly!"

  Snapping on the light next to the bed, she said, "I thought that if there was time later, we might practice kissing again."

  Properly motivated, I started getting out of bed, and cleaned up. A few minutes later we were at Carl's door. He answered the door smiling, and said, "I've been waiting for you!" Then he guided us both to seats.

  "What are you up to Carl?" asked April. "You're looking far too happy."

  Still smiling, Carl handed me the visual headpiece for the simulator. "I wish him Iuck burning this system up!" he said. "I spent every cent you gave me, and a little more."

  I started to put the headset on, and April put her hand on my arm. I could sense her unease in the link. She quietly said, "This won't hurt him will it?"

  Carl paused, and then said, "If I thought for a second, it might hurt him. I wouldn't let him near it." He pointed at the other table, and said, "I can see his status on this tandem system. If I see a problem, I'll pull the plug!"

  Within seconds, the earphones were in place, and I started the simulator. I ran the last simulations over again, and then started the next level. In a short time, I ran through three more sets of warfare programs.

  It was as I started the next set of simulations that I started to have problems. The parameters of the situation involved dealing with time inversion and various forms of multi-dimensional time travel. I was moving swiftly through the variable outcomes, when April snatched the visual and audio devices off of my head. I could tell at once Carl was having troubles.

  Blood was running down his face. He had a nose bleed. And just a drop of blood was running down from his right ear. April looked white as a sheet.

  "I saw the first drop of blood, and pulled the hood off him!" she said. Her voice was at the breaking point. "What should we do?" she asked.

  I scanned him. He was stunned, and as I scanned him, he lurched slightly, looked around, and said, "What happened? It was all moving so fast, and..." He looked into my eyes, and said, "You were phasing out of our dimension. I could see it in the link." He seemed to mentally replay the memory, and then said, "You were dragging me with you. I held on as long as I could." He closed his eyes, and finally said, "I don't remember anything after that."

  "Well, that's the end of that!" April said. She was looking into Carl's eyes as they started to lose focus slightly. I could tell in my scans that he was alright. He looked awful, but April was cleaning him up with a wet towel.

  With a sudden lurch, he seemed to be fully in control again. His eyes were fully focused now, and in a strong voice, he said, "How the hell did you do that?" He was so excited, he couldn't speak for a moment.

  "You were making the simulation really occur!" He was bubbling over. "I never dreamed you could do such a thing!"

  April said, "You need to see a doctor, Carl!"

  He ignored her totally, and said, "You were actually able to control the field variations in real time. You could walk through dimensions like I walk through my apartment’s front door." He reached out, gripping my arm at the wrist with one hand. He excitedly asked, "Can you teach me?"

  "Don't you dare!" said April. She waved at the various electric devices, and said, "I forbid you to ever use this stuff again!"

  "I must discuss this with the Rock," I replied.

  "I'd like to be there when that discussion occurs," April said. "Carl should be there too!"

  "Cool!" said Carl. I could tell in the link that his mind was running amok with the possibilities. He was in his own little world.

  I said, "I'm going home Carl!" He just nodded, and smiled.

  April said, "Carl! I still say you should see a doctor!"

  Carl gave her a dirty look, and finally said, "And tell him my alien friend almost sucked me into another dimension! Not going to happen April! I'll be fine!"

  I looked at April and said, "His scans show him to be alright. He just needs some rest."

  "Wow! You're a doctor!" she replied a little sarcastically. "I wasn't aware you even went to college."

  "Carl's computer has allowed me to see far more than I hoped," I said. "I have absorbed the combined knowledge of a thousand libraries on Earth. These devices are a valuable teaching aid. I may require their future use. Please secure these things until they are needed again."

  April stared at me for a full ten seconds, and then said, "Are you alright Kaltar? You sound different!
" She looked at me closely, and after a moment more, she said, "I think you both need to see a doctor!"

  Repeating Carl's last remark, I said, "Not going to happen April! I'll be fine!"

  "I can't believe you two!" she noted in obvious irritation. "We're leaving, Carl!" she said as she moved toward the door. "I'm sending Cindy down to check on you. Be nice to her!"

  "Yeah! I'll be nice!" growled Carl. I could tell in the link he really cared for Cindy with all his heart. I decided he had issues with relationships. Especially family relationships.

  Seconds later, we were out the front door at Carl's, and walking down the hall. My mind was racing with all the information I had absorbed. Millions of books raced past me in a string of data that I was trying to sort out. As we walked, April stopped, and asked, "Where are you going?"

  I realized I had walked right past my own doorway. I stopped, and said, "It appears I'm not functioning well."

  April tugged at my shirt lightly, and said, "Let's go inside."

  I could tell, mentally, that something was happening. It was like a revelation. My mind was sorting vast groups of material. Far more than warfare. Organized knowledge about medicine, chemistry, and mathematics, to name just a few. The ability to call up material instantly slapped me in the face like a fist.

  I almost fell, and could hear April's voice, as if from a distance, yell out, "Cindy! I need help!"

  There was a snap, as Cindy's door came open. Then I heard, "What the hell happened?"

  "I don't know!" exclaimed April. "We were standing here, and he just folded!"

  "Let’s get him inside!" said Cindy.

  I could tell I was being dragged into my home.

  Then I passed out.

  Chapter 11

  Minion Attack

  I awoke to find the Rock, Carl, Cindy, and April, all sitting, quietly watching me sleep. As I opened my eyes, it was as if I had returned from the dead.

  April started crying, and said, "He's still alive!"