Secret of the Crystal - Omnibus Edition Books 1-3 (Time Travel Adventure)

by Larson, Brian K.

  He powered down the engines, and you could hear the whine of the turbines slow. The hum from the engines lowered in pitch and finally came to a stop.

  He flipped up the canopy switch. There was a swoosh that sounded as the outside air rushed into the cockpit. The lid of the shuttle opened to the cool brisk air of early evening. He stopped and soaked in the pleasant scent and looked up to the bright red-orange colored sky that Ackturra’s unique curve and planetary orbit is best known for.

  The two moons, in full view, with the right moon slightly lower than the left, appeared low on the horizon as the sun began to set. He sat for a moment and closed his eyes, soaking in the scent, not seeing the woman that approached from the distance.

  As Jhahnahkan climbed down from the cockpit, he turned to approach the council hall and was greeted by a smiling blond-haired woman.

  She was dressed in a lavender smock that went down just below her waist with tight slacks and ankle-high boots. Her dark green cloak flowed down, touching the ground behind her. Her arms stretched out as she grabbed Jhahnahkan and hugged him tightly and then kissed him on his left cheek.

  “My brother, it is so good to see you after all this time,” Tamika said with a huge grin.

  “Sister Tamika! I have longed to see your blue sparkling eyes and beaming smile. It is very good to see you too.”

  Our father has prepared a wonderful banquet in your honor. Tomorrow you will be confirmed as one of the council members.

  Jhahnahkan only now noticed that Tamika was speaking to him without moving her mouth. “How did you do that?” he asked.

  Tamika projected with her mind to Jhahnahkan, It is one of the abilities that I trained with my crystal”

  The two joined arms and started to slowly walk to the council hall.

  “What else have you been able to do with your crystal?” Jhahnahkan asked.

  I have the ability to protect myself and others in close proximity, if I choose, Tamika said with a sheepish grin. I am still working on my teleportation skills, which is much harder and takes more concentration. The last time I tried, I was unconscious for over an hour!

  “What about my brother? What has he perfected with his crystal?” he asked inquisitively.

  Rumor has it that he has perfected teleportation and can actually teleport large groups with little energy drain, Tamika said with her thoughts. He can also fire energy pulses from his crystal, although I don’t think he has critically injured anyone yet.”

  “How long did it take you to communicate with your mind?”

  It really did not take me but a few days once I obtained my crystal and had it trained to me.

  “Amazing,” Jhahnahkan said with a chuckle.

  “You will see. Once you go up into the Crystal Mountain caverns and seek out your crystal, you will almost immediately begin to realize your powers.” Tamika answered, only this time Jhahnahkan sensed a much different emotion from his sister, an emotion of great passion and desire for power.

  “Why is it that only the council members have been allowed to have a focus crystal if having one is so beneficial?” he asked.

  “It is simply a necessity of order and to continue our authority that controls Ackturrian society. Sure, there have been others that try to steal a crystal from time to time. They are dealt with by swift justice to ensure that others are not tempted to commit the same offence,” Tamika said, speaking with her voice this time.

  “Why is it you decided to cease speaking with your mind just now?”

  “It is harder to communicate one way in that manner. You will understand soon. Speaking with your mind with two or more is much more efficient when you are not bound by words,” Tamika said as she tried to convince her brother.

  “I am not so sure that I want a crystal,” Jhahnahkan said with a slight hesitation. “I do not like the feeling I was sensing from you a moment ago.”

  Tamika interrupted her brother with a noticeably irritated voice, “Do not be foolish, my brother. You simply must have a power crystal. It is a requirement for council admittance.”

  “I felt an impure desire for power that…”

  Tamika cut off her brother off, “Never speak of that again! You must not let the others know how you feel,” she said with a concerned tone. “Hide those feelings deep down. Bury it forever, especially when our brother is near. He will use that against you.”

  The two entered the hall of the council chambers and the towering door slowly closed behind them. Tamika grabbed Jhahnahkan by the arm and hurriedly led him down a corridor off into a private room.

  Tamika removed her crystal from her cloak and held it in her hands. “Look and see for yourself, Jhahnahkan. There is nothing wrong with the crystals. They are not harmful or cause any pain. They give the possessor comfort and peace. How could that feeling be wrong?”

  She held her crystal in the palm of her hand and took her brother’s hand; she placed it over the crystal.

  “There! See? It is fine,” she said with a comforting voice.

  Immediately the crystal began to glow an iridescent green, which began to envelop the two. The shimmering light grew in size and brilliance. The two stood in the midst and soaked in the well-being and harmony the crystal provided.

  I can feel the power you speak of, my sister, Jhahnahkan said as he stood in the light. He quivered with an overwhelming feeling.

  Yes, I told you this was a good thing, she said with her mind. Do you realize you spoke to me with your mind, Jhahnahkan?

  No, I did not realize that I did. I just thought it, and you received it.

  The feeling became so strong that Jhahnahkan jerked backward, catching Tamika off guard. The two separated, and the crystal began to fall to the ground in what seemed like slow motion. The feeling turned to despair as the crystal lost its luster. Tamika shrieked with terror as the crystal struck the floor and bounced. She dove after her power crystal and grabbed it before it had a chance to strike the floor a second time. She rolled on the ground and landed back on her feet. When she snatched it from hitting the ground, she felt a loss of power in the crystal as it slowly stopped vibrating. Tamika carefully inspected the crystal and noticed that there was a splinter that had broken from the side. She scanned the floor for the broken crystal, but their privacy was suddenly interrupted as the door burst open. It was their father, Qiaoshan. Tamika quickly tucked her focus crystal back into her cloak, her father taking notice.

  “What is going on in here?” Qiaoshan asked.

  “Nothing, Father,” Tamika answered. “We…I… I was just showing my brother.”

  Qiaoshan stopped his daughter, it is okay, he said with his mind. I understand Jhahnahkan’s trepidation with the focus crystal. He will soon understand the mystery as soon as he claims his crystal.

  Father, I know I am to have one. I was only curious how it is used, he replied in thought. Tamika only showed me her crystal after my prompting.

  Qiaoshan stood for a moment, bringing his hand up to his temple and concentrated on his son. He continued to probe Jhahnahkan’s mind, searching for what had happened, trying to confirm his son’s explanation.

  “My son,” he said, “I sense you are telling me the truth. You two come with me. Your brother is here and is waiting for us to join the banquet.”

  The three left the room, and as Tamika slowly closed the door behind her, she looked over her shoulder one last time to see if the broken shard was in visible range. Without seeing it, she finally closed and locked the door.

  Qiaoshan led the two down the long hallway while Tamika looked over at her brother with inquisitive eyes, wondering how he was able to shroud the truth of what had happened from their father. As they were led down the hallway, Qiaoshan began to ask Jhahnahkan about his journey back home. The two conversed casually about Jhahnahkan’s journey on the far side of the galaxy over the last decade.

  Jhahnahkan,” Tamika probed, Jhahnahkan? Do you hear me?

  He answered with his mind back to Tamika while
continuing his vocal conversation with his father, Yes, strange as it is, I do hear you, and I can continue to speak to our father.

  I broke my crystal! There is a shard that fractured when my crystal hit the floor! I could not find it. It has to be on the floor somewhere, How did you hide the truth of what happened from Father?

  I simply thought of the way I wanted him to see the truth and projected that thought back to him as he probed my mind, Jhahnakan replied with his mind.

  That is very odd, Tamika once again replied with her mind, No one has been able to do that with their mind without having a tuned crystal.

  Just as she was finishing relaying her thoughts to Jhahnahkan, Qiaoshan interrupted his concentration. “Son, you have many stories and experiences from what I can see of your great journey. You will have plenty of time to tell us all over the following years as you take your place on the council by your brother’s side.”

  The three entered into a white banquet hall. The circumference of the room was a hundred feet around. The dome-shaped ceiling towered above them thirty feet, which was all held together by five pillars, all decorated in hand carvings. The carvings all told stories of Ackturra’s triumphant battles throughout history. The room had corridors exiting between each of the five pillars and was lit by a low-hanging crystal chandelier suspended from the center of the dome.

  You could hear the sound of beautiful harmonics resonating as the crystals on the chandelier shimmered with the cool breeze that flowed through the room.

  There was a twenty-foot long oval banquet table in the center of the room. The table was covered with a silk cloth and each place setting had been set with the council’s finest dinnerwear. Each place setting was meticulously arranged to perfection, seating ten on either side.

  There were several other council members and their families mingling and talking in various groups.

  Jhahnahkan scanned the room and found his brother standing over on one of the sides of the room, leaning against the wall with his leg crossed and slightly bent behind him. Jhovahkan sported his usual sheepish grin and was wearing his full military dress with his cloak draped over his shoulders flowing down behind him.

  Jhahnahkan approached him while his brother stood straight to greet him, “Ahhh, my good brother! It is a pleasure to finally see you after all of these years,” he mused.

  “My good brother, indeed you do tell a truth,” Jhahnahkan repeated back. As he came in arm’s length, Jhahnahkan put his left hand on his brother’s chest, “I sense lies and deceit within your heart, my brother.”

  “Nonsense! That is preposterous.”

  “I know you are hiding something from me,” Jhahnahkan interrupted. He probed his brother’s mind as if he already had the knowledge on how to do that, “You took my ship!” He gasped with surprise.

  Jhovahkan shoved his brother up against the wall, pressing his left forearm on his throat. He stared into his brother’s eyes, furrowing his brow and penetrated his brother’s mind.

  He scanned, wondering how he could have known, “Yes, I did take your precious Telenian! I relieved you of your command.”

  “You had no right to do that!” Jhahnahkan shouted back.

  Jhovahkan pressed him even harder against the wall, squeezing his airway even more, “You are going to be admitted to the council. You will learn the council’s ways. To do that, you need to be here, and not out gallivanting about the galaxy!”

  Jhahnahkan’s face started to turn red, his eyes bulging. He started to become weak, struggling for air.

  Tamika rushed to her brothers, taking her crystal out of her cloak and commanding a shield to be placed between them. The green sparkling force separated the two and sent Jhovahkan sprawling to the ground.

  “Stop it!” she shouted. “Just stop it before you kill each other,” she commanded them, holding her crystal before her. She kept the green shield up that separated the two brothers.

  Qiaoshan stood over his older son, who was now on the ground, “Get up, Jhovahkan! You will not make this banquet a spectacle,” he said in a calming voice.

  Tamika lowered her power crystal and the shield disappeared. She replaced her crystal back inside her cloak and came to Jhahnahkan’s side.

  “Are you okay, my brother?” she asked with a concerned voice.

  “Yes, I think so,” Jhahnahkan said, gasping for air.

  He turned and looked at his father and asked, “Did you know?”

  “No, this action was not sanctioned by the high command,” Qiaoshan said with dismay, “Jhovahkan, you need to explain your actions.”

  “I do not need to let the high council know of my every command decision. After all, I am the fleet commander!”

  “The Telenian has been under my command for over twenty years. My crew is very loyal to me,” Jhahnahkan said, looking at his father as if to gain his permission to keep his command.

  “My sons,” Qiaoshan began, “you both have had your differences throughout the years. You will never settle this dispute with lies and deceit. I would agree that Jhovahkan is in command of the flagship. However, removing your brother by force is not honorable. There are wise motivations behind the removal of Jhahnahkan, at least for the time while he trains and learns the ways of the council.”

  “But, Father!” Jhahnahkan exclaimed.

  Qiaoshan stopped him from finishing, “My decision is final! You will be admitted to the council and relinquish your command…for a time.”

  “Wait,” Jhovahkan chimed in, “we could have a contest.”

  “You are on!” Jhahnahkan said, stepping toward his brother, not letting his father answer before he did. “I challenge you to Bant’tuuk. If you win, you keep the Telenian. If I win, then I resume my command, join the council, and you will step down as fleet commander.”

  Jhovahkan stroked his chin, thinking the proposal over, “Those are very high stakes, my brother,” he said with a smile. “We will hold the contest at sunrise, before the ceremony.” Jhovahkan said this with a laugh as he placed his hands on his hips, “You will not win, my brother. You are a fool. You just lost her forever.”

  Qiaoshan stepped between his two sons and placed his arms around their necks, “My sons, that is enough for today,” he said with a calming voice. “The other guests are arriving. Come and sit at the table for a great feast. This is a time of celebration, not to be at each other’s throats.”

  “Your father is right,” Ghaia said entering the banquet hall. “My husband is a very wise man,” she said, while turning to Qiaoshan. She stretched out her arm in the direction of the table, directing the party to take their places.

  Ghaia was dressed in a long purple flowing robe that was laced with gold trim that flowed down and draped the floor behind her as she walked. Her collar rose up in a half-moon shape, which proceeded up and over across the back of her head. Her long black hair was wrapped up on the top and fixed in place with a golden tiara that was dressed with many different jewels. Her robe was tied at the waist with a bronze colored sash that fell to her left side and ended with tassels.

  Walking over to the head of the banquet table, she stood with her arms stretched out and her palms up in the direction of each side of the table. She continued to stand, as if a statue waiting for all the guests to find their places.

  Ghaia raised her voice and said proudly, “Welcome… welcome council members... Welcome, family that is near and that is from afar. Welcome, extended relatives from the house of Sö’, tribe of the north and of the tribe from the south. Welcome, valued friends and countrymen.” she paused briefly and then continued, “I welcome you all to this special occasion: the return of our son from a very long deployment in the outer rim. Come and join us in congratulating him for being chosen to join the high council. It is with great pleasure and my honor that we present to you Jhahnahkan, son of Qiaoshan, of the house of Sö’ of the tribe to the south!” Ghaia lowered her arms to her side and said, “Please be seated.”

  Everyone standing at the ta
ble all sat in their padded chairs as the house staff began to serve the guests.

  Jhahnahkan sat at his mother’s right side while Jhovahkan sat across the table and stared at his brother with a sneer. Tamika sat next to her brother Jhovahkan while her mother, Luanren, sat next to Jhahnahkan. Qiaoshan sat at the opposite end of the table from Ghaia, and the guests filled in the remaining seats.

  “Tell me, my son, what did you find during your travels? I am sure we all want to hear about your many adventures.”

  Jhovahkan interrupted his brother as he began to speak, “I am not so sure everyone wants to hear about my brother and his rather boring escapades. I know I would be put to sleep, like a lullaby.” He yawned and motioned with his hand up to his mouth.

  Ghaia swatted at Jhovahkan’s arm, “You watch your tongue!” she said sternly, “You will not make this celebration a mockery. Now, Jhahnahkan, I believe you were about to say something.”

  Jhahnahkan looked at his brother with a smirk on his face, “I did find some very interesting facts about various planets that are located in our outer rim. Planets that we have not been in contact with for over a millennia. There are many tribes that have been oppressed by the Zelinite. Some have been overtaken and have become enslaved by our enemy to mine resources to help support the Zelinite war effort. They came across these people during the Zelinite migration into our system and set up encampments on their worlds. Our enemy has moved very close to our own star, but they depend on the resources that are being mined from other worlds they enslaved. I have negotiated with two of these worlds, and they have entered into a pact with us and have vowed to fight with us to remove the Zelinite threat. Some were too oppressed and afraid. They will not help openly, but they will slow in their productions. I feel that when the time is right, they too will join us.”

  Jhovahkan interrupted once again, “You dared to negotiate a treaty by yourself without the advice of the council? That is an invalid contract!”

  Tamika chimed in, “Jhovahkan, I fail to see the problem with this. I am sure the council would have accepted these treaties openly.”