Perfect Worlds Omnibus

by Eric Filler

  PerfectWorldsOmnibus

  ByEricFiller

  Copyright2013EricFiller

  PublishedbyPlanet99Publishing

  PartI:TheStoneofChange

  Part1

  Chapter1

  Karihadtowaitattheentranceofthecaveforthethicklensesofher glassestoadjust.Inthedaylightoftheplanet’ssurfacethelenseshadturned darktofilterouttheUVradiationoftheplanet’ssun,butonceundergroundthey wouldhavetorevertbacktotheirnormalclearstate.Herassistant,notstricken withthishandicap,brushedpasther.

  “Waithere,”Karisaid.

  “But—”hebegantoinsist.

  “Theymayhavelefttraps,”sheexplained.Sheresistedtheurgetoshake herheadwithannoyance.TaiLecauwasbrighterthantheothermaleson campus,buthewasjustashotheadedastherest.Shewouldhavepreferreda femaleassistant,butnonehadbeenavailable,atleastnonewhohadany knowledgeofarchaeology.

  “I’msorry,Dr.Chomar,”Taisaid.“Imeantnodisrespect.”

  “I’msureyoudidn’t.”Herlensesfinallyclearedenoughthatshecouldsee intothecave.Itwastoobadthelensescouldn’tchangetolightamplificationor infraredsoshecouldseebetterinthedark.Shewouldhavetorelyontheold-fashionedwayofaflashlight.

  Shetooktheleadagain,movingslowlytoexaminetheloosedirtonthe path.Theancientsofthisplanettypicallyburiedtriggersbeneaththedirt,which wouldthencauseahiddenbedofspikestoappear.KariandTaihadseen enoughofthese—andnearlybeenimpaledbythem—thatshecouldnotethe subtlebumpsintheground.Whenevershenearedone,shebentdowntomarkit withastripoforangetape.

  Afterhoursofwalkinginthisfashionitseemedtheyhadn’tgonemorethan akilometer.SweathadbeguntodripdownKari’sforehead,ontoherlenses.

  Shepausedtowipethelenseswithhershirt.Themomentshetookthelenses off,theworldmorethanamillimeterinfrontofherturnedtodizzyingblurs.

  TheWembleySyndromehadtakenholdwhenKariwasfiveyearsold.It robbedhersightalittleatatime,requiringthickerandthickerlensessothatshe couldsee.Thedamagewassowidespreadamongherneuralpathwaysthatno surgerycouldbeperformed.Giventhecurrentthicknessofthelenses,she estimatedwithintwoyearsshewouldbelegallyblindandwithinfiveyearsshe wouldn’tbeabletoseeatall.

  Thatmadethisexpeditionsoimportant.Beforeshebecameaninvalid, Kariwantedonechancetogetintothefieldanddiscoversomething.Nomatter howmanytimesValhadassuredherthatshedidn’tneedanysuchdiscoveryto

  beagoodscientist,Karirefusedtobudgeonthispoint.FinallyValhadhelped tomakeithappenbyconvincinghersupervisorstotakethelabmodulealong duringaroutinemappingmissionofthissector.

  Theonlyprovisionwastheyhadexactlytwomonthstostudytheplanet beforeValreturnedwiththerestoftheship.Thentheywouldhavetotaketheir findingsbackhome.Thatwasallthebudgetoftheuniversityandmilitary wouldallow.

  Twomonths,oneofwhichthey’dalmostusedup.Theyhadfoundsome interestingglyphsinruinedvillagesandsamplesoffaunaandrockstotakeback, butnothinganautomatedrovercouldn’tdo.ThatwaswhyKarihopedthiscave wouldbedifferent.Ithadtobe.Ifnot,sheandTaiwouldlikelyleaveempty-handedandKariwouldneverhaveanotherchanceatasignificantdiscovery again.

  Withthesethoughtsinmind,shepressedahead,pickingupthepaceas muchasshedared.Itwasstillgrueling,butitwasbettertocontinuewalking safelyandmarkingtheirpaththantogetdisemboweledbythespiketraps.

  Afterwhatseemedlikeadayoftravel,Kariheardarumble.Sheputahand toawall,wonderingifperhapsitwereaquake.Shedidn’tfeelthewalls trembling.Sheclosedhereyestolistenbetter.Itwasn’taquake;itwasthe soundofrushingwater.

  “Lookslikewe’realmosttotheend,”shesaid.“There’safallupahead.”

  “Good.Icoulduseabath.”

  ForthatmattersocouldKari.Theyhadspentthelasttwoweeksinthe jungle,withonlydirtystreamstobathein,notthatthosekeptthemcleanfor long.Areallakeorriverwoulddefinitelyfeelrefreshing.

  Despitethosethoughts,Karididn’tpickupherpacemuch.Shecouldn’t affordtogetcareless.Behindher,shecouldsenseTaigettingrestless.Typical male,shegrumbledtoherselfagain.Therewasareasonthereweresofew malesinthesciences;mostdidn’thavethepatienceforit.Theyweremuch bettersuitedtotheunskilled,labor-intensivejobs.

  Karipushedthisthoughtasideasshecontinued.Thesoundofthewater becamelouder.Finallyshesawtheendofthepath.Shehadhalf-expectedthe falltobeblockingtheirway,butitwasn’t.Thefallwasprobablyacityblock awayfromthem,attheendofastonecourtyardlinedwithstatuesthathadtobe atleastfiftymeterstall.

  “Ohmy,”Kariwhispered.Shehadherdiscovery.

  ***

  Theplace—sheassumeditmustbeatemplefromthestatuesofgodsshe hadseendepictedinglyphs—wasunlikeanythingKarihadseensofaronthe

  planet.Thevillagestheyhadseenbeforehadbarelybeenthesizeofthisplace andthecraftsmanshipofthestonefarbelowwhatshesawinthelevelofdetail onthestatues.Thisplacemusthavebeentrulyimportanttoexpendsomuch timeandeffortbuildingit.

  Asusual,Taiwantedtorunheadlongthroughthechamber.Kariputouta handtoholdhimback.Shemotionedtooneofthetriggersonthefloor.“It’s stillbooby-trapped,”shesaid.“I’llgofirst.”

  ForthenextsixhoursKariwalkedalongthecourtyardofthetemple, markingthetriggers.Taifollowedbehindherwitharecordertotakeimagesof theplaceforfuturestudy.Karifeltapangofsadnessatthethoughtitwould takemuchmorethanamonthofstudy.Someonewouldhavetocomeback here,butitwouldn’tbeher.Still,itwouldbehernamelistedinthetextbooksof thefutureasthediscovererofthistemple.

  “What’sthatoverthere?”Taiasked.Hepointedtoapoolofwaternearthe baseofthefall.Therewasastoneplatform,onwhichsatanegg-shapedblack stone.Fromthewayitwinkedinthelight,Kariamendedherthoughttoitbeing ablackjewel.“Thatmustbeworthafortune.”

  Karionlygruntedatthat.Shehadn’tcomehereformonetaryreward.

  Thoughiftheydidsellagemlikethat,theycouldcertainlyfundanother expedition,evenwithoutthesupportoftheuniversityormilitary.Karicould buyawholefleetofshipstotakeherbackhere,whereshecouldcontinueher studiesuntilhereyesfailed.Orperhapsshecouldevenbuyneweyes,robotic implantsthatwouldallowhertoseeinplaceofherownfeebleones.

  “Stayhere,”shetoldTai.Thenshebeganmakingherwaytothepool.At theedgeofthewatershetookoffherbootsanddroppedherbackpack.The waterdidn’tappeardeep,butthatmightonlybeanillusion,anothertrap.

  Thisinstinctwasproventruethemomentshesteppedintothefreezing water.Thestonebeneathherfootimmediatelygaveway.“Dr.Chomar!”Tai shouted.

  “I’mallright,”shesaid.Shepulledherfootfromthestone.Thenshe begantopaddletowardsthecenterofthepool,keepingherfeetasmuchoffthe stoneaspossible.

  Anothertrapawaitedheratthestonepedestal.Themomentshetoucheda pieceofstonejuttingout,sheheardaclick.Karihadjustenoughtimetopress herselfdownbeforeawaveofdartsshotoverhead.That’sanewone,she thought.

  Apparentlytherewasonlyonewaveofdarts,whichallowedKaritousethe stonetopushherselfup.Shetookafewcautiousstepstothetopofthepedestal, butapparentlytheancientshad
n’tthoughttoincludeanymoretraps.

  Atthetopshesawaringofglyphsaroundthestone.Asoneofonlythree scientistswhocouldreadtheancientlanguage,Karihadnotroubledeciphering them.Theglyphsidentifiedthegemasthe“StoneofChange.”Whatdidthat mean?Perhapsitmeantthestonewasgiventowhoeverledtheancienttribe, likeacrownorscepter.

  Shereachedoutwithonehandtotouchthesurfaceofthestone.Assoonas herhandtouchedtheexteriorthatwasascoldasthewaterbelow,awhitelight begantoradiatefromthecenterofthecrystal.Shetriedtopullherhandback, butcouldn’t.Shewasstuck!

  ItoccurredthentoKarihowstupidshehadbeen.Ithadallbeenaruse.

  Thisprobablywasn’teventherealStoneofChange.Itwasprobablyafaketo trickenemiescleverenoughtoevadetheothertraps.Andlikeafoolshehad walkedrightintoit.

  Thelightfromthestonebrightened.Kariwaitedforittovaporizeor otherwisedestroyher.Butallshenoticedwasthesleevesofhershirtgetting longerandtheceilingofthecavernseeminglybecomingfartheraway.Evenas sheconsideredthis,awaveofhairdroopedoverherrighteye.Asshetriedto shakeitaway,shenotedhowloosehershirthadbecomeoverherbosomwhileit hadtightenedinhermidsection.Shebegantounderstandwhatwashappening ashershirtsleevesbegantoshrink,thefabricchangingfromgreentobright pink.Forjustamomentshecaughtaglimpseofherself,herplumpercheeks dottedwithacnewhileherhairflowedfreelydowntohershoulders,andthen shewasthrownbackwardsfromthecrystal,throughtheair.

  Kariblackedoutbeforeshecouldland.

  ***

  SheawoketoTaisayinghername.“Kari?Canyouhearme?”

  Shemoanedalittle.Shehadbeenhavingtheworstnightmare.Shehad foundaspectaculartempleandabeautifuljewelonlytohavethatjewelturnout tobeyetanotherbooby-trap,onethathadbeenmakingheryoungerbeforeit shotherasiffromacannon.

  HereyesflickeredopenandpastTai’sworriedfaceshesawtheceilingof thetemple.Shemanagedtoturnherheadslightlytoseetheenormousstatues alongthewalls.Sothetemplehadn’tbeenadream.Beforeshecouldwonder abouttherest,awaveoflightbrownhairdroopedoverhereye.

  Shemanagedtositupenoughtoseeitwasn’tanightmare.Thecrystal reallyhadmadeheryounger.Sheheldupapudgyhandforamomentbefore runningitalongagreasycheekdottedwithacne.Fromtheacne,smallsizeof herbreasts,andlargersizeofherpotbelly,shehadtobeaboutfifteenyearsold, inthatawfulnetherworldbetweengirlhoodandwomanhood.

  “Whathappened?”sheasked.

  “Ittossedyouintothepool.Imanagedtofishyououtbeforeyou drowned.”

  “Thanks,”shesaid,hervoicemoreofasqueakatthispoint.

  “Sowhatdidyousee?”

  “Notmuch.Ijusttouchedthethingandthenitstartedtolightup,”she said.ShetoldTaiasmuchasshecouldaboutherexperiencewiththeStoneof Change.“Iguessitmeansliteralchange.Notchangeforthebettereither.”

  Taitousledhergreasyhair.“Comeon,I’msurewecanfindawayto changeyouback.Ifthecrystalchangedyouonce—”

  “Wecan’ttouchthatcrystalagain.Notuntilweknowmoreaboutit.”

  “Isthatso,MissChomar?”hesaid.Whenhesmiledtherewassomething predatoryinit.Ithadn’ttakenhimlongtounderstandhehadtheupperhand now.

  “JustbecauseIlookyoungerdoesn’tchangeanything,”shesaid.“I’mstill inchargeofthisexpedition.”

  Hegrabbedahandfulofherhair,yankingherheadback.“Youthinkso, younglady?”

  Karitriedtoshakefree,butcouldn’t.Tearsbubbledupbehindherlenses.

  “I’msorry,”shesaid.

  Heshovedherbackandthenletherhairgo.Shecriedsilentlytoherself foramoment,cursingherselfforherweakness.NowTaiwouldgorighton bullyingher.Excepthewouldprobablybesostupidastotouchthecrystaland turnhimselfintoakid.

  “Ithinkthere’sanewpeckingordernow.Fromnowonwe’lldowhatI say.”Heslammedhisbackpackintoherchest.“RightnowIsayyougetyour fatassbusymakingcampwhileIgocheckthatcrystalout.”

  “Allright,”Kariwhimperedandthengottowork.

  ***

  Sixhourslater,Karihuddledinfrontofthecampstove,tryingtodigestone ofthefreeze-driedpacketsoffoodthey’dbroughtwiththem.Asshetriedtoeat, shestaredupattheplatform,whereTaiwasstillstudyingthecrystal.From whatshecouldtell,Taiwasn’tdoingmuchupthere.Heseemedtomostlybe staringatthething,thougheverynowandthenhewouldmumblesomethingshe couldn’tmakeout.

  Asshesatthere,shecouldn’thelpthinkingofVal.InamonthValwould returntofindherlikethis.Theyhadtalkedabouthavingababyafterthis expedition,ababyKariwouldcarrytoterminsideherbeforeshelosther eyesight.NowhowcouldtheymakeachildwhenKariwasachild?

  Shetossedherfoodtothefloorandthenhuggedherself.Shecould imagineVal’shorrorwhenshecamebacktofindherfiancéeagreasy,bloated teenager.Theyhadbeenplanningtogetmarriedtooaftertheexpedition, anotherthingthatcouldn’thappennow.

  EvenifValdidn’toutrightdumpher,whatwouldKarido?Wouldtheylet hercontinueworkingattheuniversity?Orwouldtheyfireher?Wherewould shegothen?Wouldtheyinsistonputtingherintoafosterhomelikeanormal child?Wouldshehavetogobacktoschool?Highschoolhadbeentough enoughforherthefirsttime.

  HerthoughtsweredisruptedbyTaishoutingsomethinginaforeign tongue.Shecouldreadthealienlanguageandwriteitbutshehadnevertried speakingitbefore.Taihadn’tevenbeenabletodothatmuch.Howdidhe knowitnow?

  Shewatchedwithfascinationashereachedoutwithbothhandstowardsthe crystal.Karicouldn’thelpsneeringalittleatthis.Thefool.Hewouldendup justlikeher,ifnotyounger.Shedidn’tlookforwardtohavingtochangeTai’s diapersoranythinglikethat.

  Unlikewhenshehadtouchedthecrystal,apillaroflightshotfromthe centerofthecrystal,uptotheceilingofthecave.Anotherblastoflight envelopedTai’sbody.Kariputahandaboveherlenses,butdidn’tlookaway.It washappening;theStoneofChangewasgoingtoworkagain.

  Exceptitwasn’tmakingTaismaller.Instead,hisbodygrewtaller.Not onlythat,butthickeraswell.Evenfromthecampshecouldheartheseamsof hisclothestearingopen.Wasitchanginghimintosomekindofmonster?

  Abruptlyasithadbegun,thelightshowstopped.Tairemainedstanding wherehewas,cladonlyintornragsnow.Whilehehadn’tshrunk,thecrystal had.Karicouldnolongerseeitfromhervantage.Haditdestroyeditself?

  ShewatchedasTaiscoopedsomethingfromoffthepedestal.Thenhe turnedtofaceher,asilverchainaroundhisneck.Fromtheendofitdangledthe StoneofChange.

  Hecoveredthedistancebetweenthepedestalandthecampwithoneleap.

  HelandedonlycentimetersfromKari,loomingoverher.Hisbodyhadindeed gottenlarger,allofitmuscle,sothathelookedlikeabodybuildernow.Besides that,hishairhadturnedasblackasthecrystal,includingafullbeardalonghis cheeks.Strangeryet,hiseyesalsohadturnedasblackasthecrystal.

  Helookeddownonherwithasmuggrin.“Likewhatyousee,Miss Chomar?”

  “Tai,what—?”

  Hegrabbedherbythehairagain,yankingherheadback.“Youwillnever

  againaddressmeasTai.FromnowonyouwillcallmeYourHighness,forIam agodnow.”

  “W-whath-happened,Y-yourH-highness?”shestammered.

  “Imadecontactwiththestoneanditgavemeallitspower.”

  “Butwhy?”

  “Becauseyouwerenotaworthyvesseltospreaditsglory.”

  “Spreaditsglory?You’regoingtotakethatback?”


  “Ofcourse,youfoolishchild.WhatelsewouldIdowithit?”

  “Wehavetogetridofit.It’smuchtoopowerful.”

  “Toopowerfulforyou,maybe.”

  “ButTai—”Shedidn’thavetimetocorrectthemistakeashebackhanded heracrosstheface,sendingherreelingsideways,hairtearingoutofhisgrip.

  Shelayinasobbingheaponthecoldstone,tryingtoprocesswhathad happened.Inmerehourstheentireuniversehadbeenturnedupside-down.She hadonlywantedtomakeadiscovery,notunleashhorror.

  “Goonandbawl,youfool,”hegrowled.“Itistimeformetoleavethis place.”

  Kariliftedherheadenoughtostareupathim.“Leave?Buthow?”

  “TheStoneofChangewillprovide.”ThenTaileaneddowntogrinather.

  Ahandbrushedhercheek.“Don’tworry,Iwon’tleaveyoulikethis.”

  Shesawthecenterofthestoneglowagain.Taibegantoswellinher vision,asdidtherestofthetemple.Shecollapsedbackontoallfours,where shewatchedherhandsbecomeevensmallerandfatter.Lookingdown,shesaw herpotbellypushoutmoreandmoreasherbodycompacted.Hershirtand shortshadjustturnedintoatight-fittingdressdottedwithpastelfishwhen everythingturnedblurry.Puttingahandtoherface,sherealizedherlenseswere gone.Shefeltaroundher,butcouldn’tfindthem.

  Tailaughedatthisdisplay.“Thelensesaregone,Molegirl,”hesaid.

  “Fromnowonyou’reonyourown.”

  Molegirl.Karirememberedthenicknamefromgradeschool.Theyhad calledherthatbecauseofhernear-sightedness.Theboyshadlovedtostealher glassessothatshewouldhavetostumblearound,blindlygropinginsearchof thelensessheneededtosee.

  Shefelthishandtouchherhair.“Don’tworry,Molegirl,inamonthyour loverwillarrive.Ifyoucanlastthatlong,perhapsyou’llsurvivetoseemy visionunfold.”

  “Tai—”Hekickedherinthegut,doublingherover.Whileshelay wheezing,hesaid,“Seeyouaround,Molegirl.”