Origin Equation

by Charles F Millhouse

  Origin Equation

  The Origin Trilogy Book II

  Charles F. Millhouse

  Stormgate Press

  Also From Charles F Millhouse

  The Origin Trilogy

  Book I Origin Expedition

  Book II Origin Equation

  Captain Hawklin

  The Secrets of Monster Island

  The Subterranean Empire

  The Jade Dragon

  The Underwater Menace

  The Shadow Men

  The Skyhook Pirates

  The Ghost Army (Coming Summer 2020)

  The Serena Darkwood Adventures

  Absolution

  Visit www.stormgatepress.com for a full list of published works.

  I write stories about far-off places with heroes fighting against incalculable odds.

  In reality, those heroes are the first responders, who struggle everyday against an invisible villain – saving lives and giving hope to people who may have none.

  This book is respectfully dedicated to those men and women who give us hope.

  May 2020

  Copyright © 2020 by Stormgate Publishing/Charles F. Millhouse

  All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced or transmitted in any form.

  This is a work of fiction. Names characters, places and incidents either are the product of the authors’ imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  ISBN: 9798646445491

  Imprint: Independently published

  That Marvel of the universe is dying – and it is by his own hand.

  The world cries out, ‘save me’ but its pleas go unheard.

  The wealthy are deaf, the meagre restrained – death comes to those undeserving life.

  At the quickening of sunset, the chance for redemption is unattainable – fleeting.

  It is at this moment the realization of helplessness sets in.

  The end is at hand.

  – Poem of Solitude

  Robert Trudeau – late twenty-second century poet

  Written from his prison cell 2193

  PLEASE TAKE TIME TO LEAVE A REVIEW FOR THIS BOOK. EVEN IF IT’S A “I LIKE THIS BOOK, OR I DIDN’T LIKE THIS BOOK.” ALL REVIEWS MATTER,

  Author’s Note: Please pay attention to the dates at the beginning of each chapter, as this story will jump back and forth in time.

  Earth – High Orbit

  Space Platform, Evergarden –

  Home of the Family Everhart

  July 29, 2152

  The transference through time and space ripped Avara Rodan apart, cell by cell, rearranging them and improving upon them down to the smallest atom. When she emerged from the temporal vortex, Avara was gifted with the knowledge of the ages. Her mind was filled with facts, dates, events that she’d never known before. She was a simple woman, the wife of a farmer. But now she was a walking, living textbook of knowledge. What she knew about history frightened her, but now she was a part of the annals of history.

  She traveled backward in time. Back to the Purge. The day man abandoned the Earth because it could no longer sustain its population. It was either escape the dying world or die with it. Scientists warned for decades of the mistreatment of the planet, that its eco system could no longer repair itself while harboring so many. World governments refused to act, and with their inaction, anarchy raged throughout the world. Food was scarce, water was undrinkable. The air stale and heavy. The human race was on the brink of extinction and no one could decide what to do.

  Wars raged and there wasn’t a place on the planet untouched by death, disease and destruction.

  From the chaos, the Union was born, governed by the nine wealthiest families on the planet – their plan, move the whole of Earth’s civilization into orbit, a bold undertaking that took over seventy years to accomplish. Once completed, every man, woman and child moved onto massive space platforms stationed around the Earth.

  The Purge, as history called it, also had another name. The Lottery. For only those lucky enough to have been chosen by a computer were allowed to go into orbit, and those who remained on the planet would have to survive any way they could. Millions left behind died in those first weeks, as lack of food and medical supplies became even more scarce during the transition into orbit. Millions more died in the weeks that followed. The Union considered it acceptable losses. The less people left behind meant Earth had a chance to cleanse itself.

  Avara Rodan, was one of the strong. Being born hundreds of years after the Great Purge, she learned what it meant to be a hard worker, what it meant to survive while the High-Born in orbit lorded over her. In subjugation, she married her love, bore a daughter, buried her husband and through events that still confused her, traveled to the stars, came face to face with the malevolent creature, Uklavar and traveled in time... back and back to the beginning. Though she was still dealing with the fact that she had traveled almost three-hundred years – the thought she would never again see her daughter, Veranda, was beginning to sink in.

  Standing at a large window, on the main deck of Evergarden, staring at the Earth. Avara had watched a group of black dots growing larger against the brown of the planet for several long minutes. They’d slowly began to take shape into a cluster of shuttles, bringing more people from the Earth.

  Security was tight on the nine platforms. Only servants under the utmost scrutiny were allowed anywhere near members of the Nine, and even then, they remained under careful watch.

  The lower class, those not associated with one of the Nine, and who were chosen in the lottery were assigned a residence in one of the other fifty platforms, to begin adjusting to life in orbit. It was a process that would take years to accomplish. Billions would die before the final purge in seventy years. By Avara’s time, in Twenty-Four-Forty-Two, there would be less than twenty-thousand people on the planet, seeking out a meager, uncertain life.

  The facts were undeniable – facts that Avara knew in every detail. Though in reality she shouldn’t know them at all. Something happened to Avara when she chose to step into the portal on that alien world. She remembered Colin McGregor pleading with her not to do it, but she was so scared. The idea that she wasn’t on Earth, that she’d come face to face with a creature out of mythology frightened the hell out of her. All she wanted was to see her daughter once again. But that was then. After plunging herself into the time portal – she came out the other side, changed, aware of events that were still decades away, and although she knew what she faced was hard to comprehend, it was something she couldn’t hide from.

  What was ahead of her was monstrous. Uklavar – a God-like creature that killed every living being in the galaxy a millennium ago, will rise from his tomb, in three centuries time, to wreak havoc and destruction once again. She searched her newfound knowledge – saw the war fought against the creature. The sacrifice of every sentient being in the galaxy, save one. Humans of Earth were still a primitive race of bipeds that barely had time to get their feet dry, when the war raged against Uklavar. Their presence was largely unknown, and Earth was spared the ravage of the endless war that took everything and everyone to stop one creature.

  Avara cringed at the face of the beast burned into her memory. She looked at her reflection in the window glass. Her honey eyes dulled. She eyed the blue dress she wore; it was the prettiest thing she’d ever seen. She smelled of blossoms and her hair was like silk. Is this even real? She asked herself. Reaching up she touched the glass expecting it to be cold.

  “It’s warm, isn’t it?”

  A breath caught in Avara’s throat. She spun around to find Lord Everhart in his wheelchair gazing up at her. He wore a gray suit.
His shirt was buttoned up to his neck, but he wore no tie. There was a dark blanket wrapped over his legs – his right hand was under it. His face was smooth, and although old, there weren’t any wrinkles apparent. It was amazing how modern medicine and cosmetics hid a person’s real age – especially if there was enough money involved.

  He wore wire thin spectacles that reflected the light in the room, and his eyes sparkled behind them. “Everything is temperature controlled on a platform,” he said. “Far be it that we allow a noble-born to get chilly, wouldn’t you think?”

  Avara’s lips curled up into a crescent smile. She drew a breath and replied, “I suppose not.” It was really the first time she took stock of her surroundings. The main deck of Evergarden was filled with the finest in decorations and furniture. Large draperies hung along the walls, and ornate carpets adorned the floors. Several candles were burning, and although there was ample light from above, they added a pleasant atmosphere.

  “So, I guess we should begin with introductions. You are...”

  “My name is Avara Rodan–”

  “Wrong–” the old man snapped, his voice sharp, but he spoke with the ghost of a smile. “You are Moyah Everhart. My granddaughter and only living heir.”

  When Avara arrived from her journey in time, she found herself aboard a parting shuttle bound for orbit. Lord Everhart was being strong-armed and abused by a security team refusing him travel without his heir. When Avara went to his aid, the old statesman lied, claiming Avara to be his granddaughter.

  “It took some fancy talking before that security team believed our story, considering you arrived in clothing matching a Low-Born. Do you know what would happen to us if the other eight houses found out you weren’t my granddaughter? They would send us both back to the planet. But where I would go back to my estate outside of London, you would be dropped into God knows where. I daresay you wouldn’t last long. For this ruse to work, you must be my granddaughter, or all will be lost,” Lord Everhart said.

  “What about your real granddaughter, won’t she – what will she say when she gets here and I’m pretending to be her?”

  Lord Everhart’s face went slack, and he replied, “She died. A year ago. I’ve been covering up the tragedy because without her, the Nine Great Families in orbit, would now be eight. I hoped I would be able to bluff my way onboard, until that security officer stopped me. It was fortuitous that you arrived when you did. Or maybe it was providence.”

  Avara grimaced at that thought. Little was known about Moyah Everhart. Even in her time, no one had seen the woman for centuries. There were stories that the old woman died ages ago, and her family carried on the ruse that she was still alive and in control of the family. It added mystery to the Everhart name, and kept the other members of the Union guessing. “Now, you want me to be her?” Avara asked. She drew a breath, it seemed inevitable.

  “I want you to save both our lives. Or, would you rather be back on the planet, starving?”

  “Well – I...”

  “Do you know how many women on the Earth below would jump at the chance to live up here, with me. To be rich.”

  “I don’t want...” Avara caught her words. Ideas flooded her thoughts. She was here, on Evergarden now, two-hundred and ninety years before Uklavar’s return. This can’t be a coincidence. This was her chance – the only chance mankind had from extinction. If she could use her newly achieved knowledge, and the wealth and power of the Everharts, she could prepare Earth for his arrival. Prepare them to fight, to survive.

  Avara thought about the endless war, and the worlds that fell to the horned beast’s power, his army of devilish creatures were unstoppable. But even with Earth unprepared, Avara believed there was time to organize a resistance before the beast’s return.

  “If you aren’t interested in being my granddaughter...”

  This was her chance, Avara’s only chance. She couldn’t go to the Earth in this century, she had no allies, no way to survive. Leveling her eyes on the old man, she blurted out, “Who are you?”

  Lord Everhart’s amber eyes flared, and he said, “I beg your pardon. Everyone knows who I am.”

  Avara steadied her voice, and said, “I should know what my grandfather’s name is, shouldn’t I?”

  Lord Everhart relaxed in his wheelchair as if the weight of the world had been lifted from him. He drew a breath and said, “I am Rothchild Everhart. Last of my line.”

  Avara took a half step toward Rothchild and extended her hand.

  Rothchild stared at it for a minute, and then reached up and clasped his hand into hers. The two shared a silent moment.

  Avara offered a reassuring smile and said, “So, shall we try again?”

  Rothchild nodded, and asked, “What’s your name?”

  Avara swallowed. She was about to abandon a part of her life for the greater good. Do I have that right? To throw away everything that I am – my life with Veranda. But it didn’t take a second for her to realize, I’m saving the future for her. “I’m Moyah, Moyah Everhart,” she said with a twinge in her voice.

  “There,” Rothchild’s voice lightened. “Wasn’t that easy?”

  Moyah took a step back toward the window and glanced out at the Earth, collecting her thoughts she said, “There’s something I need to say... need to tell you. But I’m afraid you might not believe me.” She narrowed her gaze on the old man and after a fleeting second continued, “In fact, you might think me insane.”

  “Insanity is a matter of perspective,” Rothchild said. “Anyhow, who am I to judge who’s insane and who isn’t?”

  Moyah liked the old man. There was something honest about him. Honesty from a High-Born was inconceivable. The only honesty a High-Born knew was wealth. Wealth was their only concern. Yet, Rothchild carried a sense of nobility from a generation that didn’t wear wealth like a glittery coat, and class was a matter of perspective.

  “Go on child, I won’t toss you out an airlock, no matter how insane a story you tell me.”

  Glancing back to the Earth, Moyah had little choice. In less than three centuries mankind would be in a fight for its very existence. She had that time to prepare them for that fight. She drew a breath, nodded at Rothchild, said, “Alright. My real name is Avara Rodan and I come... from the future.”

  The Planet Kepler 369, aka the Planet Shin’nor’ee

  The Origin Chamber

  October 9, 2442 – Earth time

  I AM ORIGIN.>

  “Alright, Origin let’s go over this again,” Professor Charles Long stood in the center of the Origin chamber, a palm pad in hand. There was a chill in the large room. The echoes of other members in the expedition team, laboring, filled the oversized space, and although he wasn’t alone, he’d been working by himself for several weeks.

  The Lady Da’Mira Tannador, and the Highlander, Colin McGregor had set off on an expedition of their own into the subterranean caverns below the planet, taking Charles’ apprentice Jonna Grace and the Xavier boy Van, with them.

  There was a sense of dread among the remaining members of his team. Their whispers were carried through the immense chamber, amplified on the curvature of the room and it functioned almost like a natural speaker system. Most of the team expected to be dead by the end of this expedition, and Charles couldn’t blame them for having those feelings, though he didn’t share their beliefs, he did understand the anxiety. What they faced was monumental, and the struggle ahead difficult, but Charles believed they could overcome what faced them.

  Standing among the remains of the stone prison that once trapped the horned beast, Uklavar, reminded Charles that this was no longer a normal expedition. The fate of mankind was in their hands.

  Charles swirled through the information on the palm device that he gathered over the last five months. Planets, races, and cultures lost in a war that ended everything, or so Origin tells it.

  It was a war fought against Uklavar. The combined might of every planet in the galaxy came together to do battle, but
in the end, it came down to the Cosmea, a gifted race of humanoids, necromancers with powers far beyond conventional weapons. The Cosmea, it was learned, traced its roots back to the Cosmos, a prototype vessel that tested the first wormhole engine and was launched from Earth in twenty-one thirty-eight. A fatal mistake sent the ship propelling back in time, over eight thousand years, and in doing so altered the crew’s genetic makeup, giving each of them special powers.

  Although Origin was forthcoming with information like the fate of the Cosmos, it avoided Charles’ one simple request, the most important question of them all, where is Uklavar’s army?

  Origin was ancient. More than a simple computer, it contained the sum knowledge of all history since the dawn of time. Built before recorded history by a race of beings called the Shon’mirah. Any more information concerning its construction was buried deep in Origin’s mainframe and as far as Charles had found, unattainable. The great computers panache for anonymity bordered on mistrust and Charles found its lack of cooperation discouraging to the point he considered smashing his palm device into a million pieces on the floor, but instead he brushed his fingers through his dark brown hair and cursed under his breath. It was such a simple question and an answer from Origin would help stop Uklavar before he could regain control of his army. “Why won’t you answer me?” he asked, as he thumbed through his palm device, indignantly.

  “You won’t give up, will you?” Hyta Winter asked.

  Charles turned toward his colleague. Hyta Winter sat in a wheelchair, dressed in dark brown coveralls. Her long white hair was tied into a ball atop her head. Her reset dark eyes looked tired and Charles took notice how old she looked. Older than he had seen her before. Maybe this expedition had taken more of a toll on her than he realized, or maybe age had finally caught up with her, Charles didn’t know. “Origin has been forthcoming on a number of subjects. It’s given us locations to find weapons to fight this inevitable war, he’s told us what areas of this planet to explore – hell, it’s even told us about a cluster of planets that don’t appear on any star charts and are unknown to Uklavar. Perhaps we will find life there, or maybe we will find more trouble, I don’t know. But no matter how many questions I ask, and how many answers Origin gives, he clams up when it comes to Uklavar’s army.”