“What do you think you are doing my brother?!” Tamika shouted as she tried to stop him from jumping.
“No time to explain!” Jhovahkan shouted, “I must stop this from hitting bottom!”
Jhovahkan gave Tamika a wink as he stepped on ledge and then leaped in a swan dive down into the fissure head first; cable securely fastened which kept him from bouncing off the walls as he descended.
The Rune crashed down killing some of the men below as they were unable to get out of its way. Others leaped and barely missed the descending Rune as they fled for their lives. It landed on the ceiling of the Forge crating a massive quake. The tumbling stones that once made up the ceiling now plunged down the two hundred foot drop, vanishing into the silver pool and leaving a fifteen foot gaping hole in the ceiling above.
Jhovahkan landed on the top of the Rune as it came closer to the Silver Pool in the Forge chamber. He took out his crystal and activated the crystal shield below the falling Rune.
Holding the cable with one hand and his crystal in the other, he concentrated with all his might and willed the Rune to stop just before it came in contact with the silver pool.
There he continued to stand on top of the Rune and held the cable as the Rune dangled within inches of contacting the silvery liquid.
* * *
Chapter 11
Ambassador
Leif Erikson – Sector 5-2-3
Year: 2984
“Glenda, anything back from the Karillian ship? Can you confirm they received our signal?” Jhahnahkan asked.
“Nope, not one peep from them,” She replied.
“Rex, are you getting anything?” Lanatek asked.
Rex calmly rested at the helm control monitoring the station as he appeared in deep thought, “I’m trying to remember. I think we’re just about there. I’ll take her out of slipstream in five minutes.”
“Excellent.” Jhahnahkan said, “Tactical, ready your stations in case they are hostile.”
Rex pulled the Leif Erikson from slipstream and slowed the ship down rather rapidly bringing her to a full stop, “There you are my friend.”
“There what?” Jhahnahkan asked.
“I bring you to Portov of the Zeroditha.”
“Where?” Jhahnahkan asked as he scanned from his command chair. “There isn’t anything out there.”
“There will be,” Rex said with a wide smile gazing out the front of the bridge windows.
The entire bridge crew leaned closer as if to improve their seeing a ship. Some got up and walked up to the front so there would be no obstruction to their view.
In the distance a vessel began to take form out of the darkness of space. It was massive and grew with every second it approached.
“Sir, they’re powering up weapons,” Chuck reported from the tactical station and getting the confirmation from his brother on the new readings.
“Shields up!” Lanatek ordered, “Helm hard about. Arm all weapons and wait for my signal!”
“Delay those orders!” Jhahnahkan barked, “I’m already in communications with him now.”
The massive ship rolled up to the Leif as close as its captain dared. His ship, the Zeroditha, was still carrying the Telenian within its cargo hold, but only half way, which is as much as the hold would fit.
“Milanaka,” Jhahnahkan said addressing his strange ally, “You had better go down below and out of sight.
Milanaka stood and began to raise one of his pointy fingers in the air when Jhahnahkan interrupted anything he was about to say, “Just until I’ve had a chance to prepare Portov. He might not take too kindly being face to face with a Zelinite right now.”
Milanaka lowered his arm, turned and muttered something about “Ambassador…” and “That’ll be the day…” as he made his way to the bridge exit with the rest of the Zelinite party.
Jhahnahkan stood and produced his crystal sphere and opened a vortex to the bridge of the Zeroditha. He looked over at Lanatek and Kate, “I’ll be back in a few minutes” and then stepped through to the other side.
Portov stood on his command bridge with his guests from the Telenian, Captain Sagrit and his first officer, Torvon. They turned toward the opening vortex and watched Jhahnahkan step through from the Leif.
The vortex closed and Jhahnahkan immediately stepped up to greet the Ackturrian crew and made sure they were alright before turning his attention over to Portov, who stood near his command chair with his arms crossed returning a stern glare at his new guest.
Jhahnahkan spread his arms wide and stepped over to Portov, “Greetings old friend.”
“Old friend?” Portov said in disagreement. “Our world being destroyed is your fault. No, I do not consider myself an old friend.”
“Then why not strike me dead where I stand?” Jhahnahkan said placing his arms at rest.
“Because, I need your help,” Portov said.
“I see.”
The room was quiet for several uncomfortable moments before Portov broke the silence, “We are stuck in this time.”
“So you want me to send you back to your own time?” Jhahnahkan said.
“Exactly!”
“There must be a reason why you were pulled here to this timeline,” Jhahnahkan stated, “There must be a reason why the others were brought here as well… Release the Telenian.”
“No!” Portov said coldly, “Do you take me for a fool now?”
“Why?”
“Because you think I am stupid enough to let go of my insurance policy,” Portov said coldly with his arms crossed.
“There is no need for this hostility,” Jhahnahkan assured, “Portov, let me explain to you what the real issue is.”
He stood right in front of Portov, once ally and now seemingly an adversary. Portov stared back at Jhahnahkan’s eyes not flinching with him being so close to his face. He raised his hand to Portov’s temple and began transmitting the needed information that would let his old friend understand.
Jhahnahkan knew of the risk and focused all his energy on only transmitting what Portov needed and to keep the memories of his Zelinite guests singled out so he wouldn’t be dissuaded from once again becoming an ally.
Portov’s eyes widened as if they weren’t wide enough at the information being transmitted. He raised his hands to his face in amazement and then welled up with tears once he finally understood. Portov now had an ally, and a good one. He also shared a common enemy. Now that he knew the people of Karillia would be restored, he knew that he must help prevent this Rune from reaching Ackturrian space.
He uncrossed his arms and rested one of his hands on Jhahnahkan’s shoulder as he managed to return a smile, “We have a common goal and we must not fail.”
“Fail, we will not!” Jhahnahkan said with resolve. “It is written… so shall it be done!”
Lanatek sat patiently in Jhahnahkan’s command chair when Glenda reported that the cargo bay doors were beginning to open on the Zeroditha.
“Confirmed!” Tim said from his station, “The doors are releasing the Telenian and its engines just fired up.”
“He did it!” Lanatek smiled, “He did it again!”
“That’s my Jhahnahkan,” Kate said with pride.
Jhahnahkan returned to the Leif with Portov and reported that Sagrit and his first officer were back on the Telenian.
“Resume course to the Zelinite home world!” Jhahnahkan said motioning to Rex, “We need to step it up too, the latest Intel from Portov is that the Rune is gathering itself on the surface and getting ready to launch!”
“If we can get there before it leaves the planet,” Portov said, “we have a chance at defeating this threat before it even begins. Then we can set our rudders on solving the problem of returning our people to Karillia and repairing this fractured timeline.”
“Send a message to the Zeroditha and Telenian to link up their helm controls to the Leif; we’re all going.”
“You can bring your Zelinite party to the bridge now,” Por
tov said, “They will be safe, for now.”
“You know about them?” Jhahnahkan said in wonder, knowing he had blocked those memories from the transfer.
“Sagrit and Torvon explained that one to me.” Portov said taking a seat next to Jhahnahkan.
“Glenda, open a ship wide channel.”
“Ready sir,” Glenda said with a smile.
“Ambassador Milanaka,” Jhahnahkan called on the com system, “Your presence is now requested on the bridge.”
A few moments passed and the channel crackled to life with Milanaka’s voice, “What... Now you need me? Before it was like, get lost buddy. Don’t call us, we’ll call you.”
“Now ambassador, I simply wanted to protect your graciousness from, from being killed by any hostiles that could have boarded during the conflict,” Jhahnahkan winced.
“Hmmm.” Milanaka snorted, “You really wanted to save me from the Karillian?”
“Absolutely!” Jhahnahkan exclaimed as he struggled to keep from laughing.
“Well, at first I was going to resign myself as Ambassador because I didn’t think you really were serious about me being that and all…”
“Nonsense!”
“…But now I see that you are truly sincere in your offer for me to be Ambassador to Ackturra…”
“Ambassador, please,” Jhahnahkan said as he stopped him from continuing, “Just come to the bridge, Jhahnahkan out.”
All three ships powered up their engines simultaneously as provided by the link now established by the computers and directly controlled by the bridge of the Leif Erikson.
They turned and sped away leaving sector 5-2-3 with the nuclear war head floating, somewhere in the sector, waiting for someone to wander close enough.
“Entering Multi-Slipstream in 3…2…1,” Rex counted.
The familiar glow before them took the place of the stars as the vessels entered slipstream velocity together and on course for the Zelinite home world.
* * *
The Forge Chamber
Year: 2984
Jhovahkan held his force shield under the Rune chamber which was dangling from a cable only inches from the surface of the Silver Pool.
Loose chunks of brick fell and splashed into the liquid all around him from the breached ceiling above. The Rune chamber swayed slightly back and forth as Jhovahkan held on with one hand. He began to weaken and the force shield lowered in beam strength.
In the distance he heard the sound of a metal clasp making a zipping sound high above his head. He glanced up only to see Tamika sliding down the cable and then slowing herself for landing on the Rune chamber next to her brother.
“What are you doing?” Jhovahkan exclaimed.
“Did you think I was going to let you have all the fun?” Tamika said grabbing the crystal with her free hand with her brother, “Besides, it looks like you could use a hand.”
“Very funny my dear sister!” Jhovahkan sneered, “How very observant you are. Now do you have any plan or did you just slide down that cable to die with me?”
“We will not fail my dear brother!” she sneered back, “You must trust your instincts!”
“Why do you think I plunged down here? Do you think I do not have a plan?” Jhovahkan defended.
“Well, what is it then?” Tamika shouted back.
“I don’t know, give me a minute!”
“You didn’t have a plan, did you?” Tamika celebrated, “You were going to sacrifice yourself to save the rest of us, weren’t you!”
“Do not tell anyone my sister!”
“I knew it!” She exclaimed out loud.
“What did you know?”
All Tamika could do was smile and tell him, “That there is good in you!”
The two were too busy with their bantering back and forth that they failed to notice a very large silver colored pool of liquid forming into a human shape just out of their reach.
“You mustn’t let the Rune chamber come in contact with the silver liquid,” The entity said in a deep human like voice.
Tamika almost let go of the cable in a start at the being speaking to them. Jhovahkan was not in the slightest shocked by the presence as he was still focused on keeping the force beam in place.
“Explain!” Jhovahkan said back to the entity. “What will happen?”
The ancient one spoke in a deep liquid sounding voice at the two, “The Rune substance will integrate with our essence. We all will perish… the Rune material is toxic to us…”
“We are open to any suggestions Ancient One,” Tamika added.
“What the Runic do not know is that we are also toxic to them.”
“Then why do you not tell them this?” Jhovahkan asked.
“It is because they have not asked. We do not wish to join them, but they force their presence on us.”
“Well just tell them then!” Tamika said, “Maybe they’ll listen.”
“There is more danger,” the Entity continued, “Not only will each of our essence vanish with the contact of the Rune, but the release of its energy with the energy in the pool, it will overload the planet core.”
“Um, that’s no good,” Tamika said.
“No kidding my perceptive sister,” Jhovahkan again sneered.
“The Runic are convinced that joining with us will make them obtain an even higher level of consciousness than they have already achieved.”
“They are misguided,” Tamika said. “I was very close to them… I was a part of them, for a short time.”
Just then the Rune jumped, connecting with the power shield that the two held in place. The power drain on them was immense with the Rune chamber floating on the surface of the silver pool. The only thing separating the two was the power shield that was still intact. Together they had the power to keep the shield up and it was enough to prevent the chamber from being disintegrated by the very nature of the silver liquid.
The Ancient one leaned back in the pool as if he was taken by surprise, “I cannot assist you. I may be able to manifest into human form, but my physical attributes are made up of the silver liquid and cannot touch the physical object referred to as the Rune chamber.”
“Then what can you help us with?” Jhovahkan said now beginning to struggle to maintain his grip on the force shield that he was holding with Tamika.
Tamika looked over at Jhovahkan and saw a desperate look on his face as he returned her stare. “Don’t do it brother,” she said.
“There is no other way my sister.” He said as he began to let loose of the cable.
“No! Wait!” The ancient one said just before Jhovahkan released his grip from the cable, “There is another way.”
Jhovahkan tightened his grip and prevented himself from falling into the pool and looked up at his sister now with a glimmer of hope in his eyes. He managed to muster the strength to continue just a little longer to see what this wise old ancient entity would say that could possibly be of any use in this physical realm.
The Ancient one formed an arm and stretched out his hand toward the glowing crystal that Tamika and Jhovahkan were gripping.
“What are you doing?” Tamika shouted.
“Do not worry madam,” the entity assured, “I can touch the crystal and impart my energy. The crystals’ physical make up are our essence; they are part of this silver pool in solid form.”
The entity reached out with the point of a finger and touched the open side of the power crystal. The cavern lit up with a brilliant silver white glow, emanating from the tip of the ancient one’s silver finger, and traveled into the crystal. Then the energy surged up Tamika and Jhovahkan’s arms with swirling power that enveloped them and provided them much needed strength. The entity gave them enough strength to hold this force shield in place for a very long time.
The energy traveled up the cable all the way to the top of the mountain where the extraction team was working feverishly to restore their systems so they could recover the Rune chamber. The bolt of energy that traveled
up the cable connected with the machines on the surface resulting in an exposition of power. The massive power surge sent men flying through the air and caused sparks to fly and then traveled into the power grid causing all the panels to begin working.
The men on the surface gathered themselves up and began checking their systems. Tamika’s radio squawked in her ear, “Tamika, this is ground control. Do you read us?”
“Yes!” Tamika shouted, “We read you.”
“Hold on, our power has been restored. We will begin raising the chamber in two minutes.”
“Can’t you get that moving just a little quicker?” Jhovahkan begged.
“We are getting our systems back online as fast as we can sir,” The surface crew replied.
They turned again to the ancient one and thanked him for his assistance as he withdrew himself from the power crystal. The Forge once again returned to its normal illumination, only the ceiling glowed by the reflection of the silver substance.
“Keep the Runic from coming here,” The Entity pleaded. “They must be stopped at all costs… this planet will die if they succeed.”
“We will do our best to prevent that from happening,” Tamika said, “This is our world too.”
The two looked up as more falling debris began to drop from the ceiling. The cable pulled up on the Rune and it began to rise up at a slow pace.
Tamika and Jhovahkan transferred the power shield from below the Rune to above their heads to keep the falling rocks and bricks from impacting on them. Several large stones fell and bounced off the shield and vanished in the silver pool as it landed.
They looked down and noticed that the form of the entity had disappeared and the pool returned to its once calm stillness which was only being disturbed by the falling ceiling.
They continued to ride the cable through the hole in the Forge ceiling and up through the crevasse that the Rune had traveled down.
* * *
Leif Erikson
Year: 2984
Several hours passed and Milanaka finally strolled onto the bridge. They were very close to his planet now. He swung his arms with much pride and held his head as high as he could. He stood on the deck and cleared his throat a couple of times trying to get Jhahnahkan’s attention.
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