Origin Equation

by Charles F Millhouse

  The Highlander Encampment –

  Dalnaspidal, Scotland

  October 20, 2442

  The news went through the encampment that Colin McGregor had returned just minutes after his arrival. He expected a lynch mob coming after him since the last time he was there he was accused of killing Lord Langland’s adjudicator, Darmon Hill.

  Instead the people came out in droves to meet him, and not in angry protest, but in surprising exultation. The men called his name, the women cheered, and the children circled him as if he was some kind of hero. Overwhelmed, Colin didn’t try to make a big deal out of it. Instead he returned their greetings, shook some hands as he made his way to the middle of the camp, figuring he would find Lord Langland waiting for him.

  Instead, Locklorn DeGray stood outside the tent. He was a man well over six-foot-tall, with wide shoulders, tree trunk sized arms and strong muscular, harry legs. A beaming smile shone through his thick strawberry-blonde beard and he offered one of his hands in kindness.

  Colin’s hand became swallowed by Locklorn’s massive hand and they stood there eyeing each other, their hands still clasped.

  “We never expected to see you again, Colin,” Locklorn said squeezing his hand tighter and tighter by the second.

  “I never thought I’d be back,” Colin grunted a replied trying to tug his hand away from Locklorn’s vice grip.

  “Why did you come back?”

  “Why is everyone so excited to see me?”

  Locklorn let go of Colin’s hand and slapped him on the shoulder, grunting out, “You know why – don’t you?”

  Colin roared with laughter, Locklorn bellowed and the people in attendance also laughed. After a few long moments of raging jubilance, Colin replied, “No – no I don’t know what the fuck is going on?”

  The crowd’s merriment lessened. Someone in the group yelled, “Tell him.” Followed by resounding agreement from everyone.

  “Locklorn, what is going on?”

  “You’ve freed us Colin, you’ve saved the camp.”

  “I what?” Colin said scratching the back of his neck.

  “When you killed Darmon Hill, you freed Lord Langland. He saw that Darmon was a manipulator, and he turned his attention back to the camp. Even though the land is worse than it’s ever been, life here has never been better.”

  Colin looked past Locklorn expecting to see Langland come out of his tent, but when he didn’t see the old man he asked, “Where is he?”

  Everyone in the group bowed their heads, and Locklorn said, “Our Lord died last month, days before his seventy-fifth birthday. It was his dying wish that his successor should be the man who freed the village from Darmon’s curse. He wanted you to take his place, Colin.”

  Colin’s mouth bled dry. The stares from the crowd bore into his skin like hot needles. His forehead reddened. He eyed Locklorn and grabbed him by the arm and towed him aside, and whispered, “You were the one that killed Darmon. Why does everyone think it was me?”

  “I told them it was you. I figured there would be no incrimination for a man that may never return to us. And I thought it would be safer for me when it came to Lord Langland.”

  “We need to tell everyone it was you,” Colin whispered. “You should be in charge, you should be...”

  Locklorn grabbed both of Colin’s shoulders in his massive hands, gave a firm squeeze and said, “It was Langland’s dying wish you take his place. Even if the clan knows it wasn’t you who killed Darmon, it’s out of our hands. You are Lord. You are our leader now.”

  The world spun around Colin and he corrected his footing to prevent himself from falling down. It would make matters a lot simpler. He’d returned to the Earth to convince Lord Langland of Uklavar’s threat. But if he was in charge, there would be no one to convince.

  Unsure if the clan would follow him in such a risky endeavor, Colin arched his brow and said, “We need to talk... in private.”

  Locklorn exhaled and nodded. He raised his hands into the air, and in a projected voice said, “My friends, Lord McGregor and I need to speak. In the meantime, a celebration in his name shall be given this night. Light the fires, prepare food and drink for tonight we rejoice, and tomorrow begins our journey anew.”

  The crowd cheered, hand slaps fell to Colin’s back and handshakes followed. The looks on the clan’s faces were ones of joyfulness and triumph. Many older members of the population looked relieved, while the younger looked up to Colin with glares of hero worship and respect. What kind of man would he be if he asked them to fight a war that wasn’t theirs?

  In the chieftain’s tent, Locklorn DeGray sat quiet among a plethora of pillows and burning candles of jasmine and listened in disbelief as Colin finished his story of a far-off planet, brutish alien attackers, and a horned beast set free after a thousand years of imprisonment to wreak havoc and destruction the likes that were only heard of in stories.

  “The Earth is near death,” Colin said. “It is time to take our people off this planet to another world. Only then will we have a chance to thrive and grow. But first we must face the beast and stop him from freeing his army. If he succeeds in doing so, I’m not sure even the might of all our clans together can stop him.”

  Locklorn’s expression was hard to read. Colin couldn’t tell if his friend believed him or thought him a madman. The next few moments would decide if the human race would have a fighting chance to survive or be crushed under the might of the horned beast’s foot. No matter if Locklorn agreed to convince the others, or if Colin would go alone, a war to save the galaxy would be waged.

  Colin steadied his breath. What he had to say next would determine how Locklorn would react. Though he was glad it wasn’t Lord Langland determining this matter. Langland might have been harder to convince. Locklorn was a different matter altogether, considering their past. Boyhood chums who faced many challenges growing up.

  “I know it’s insane,” Colin said sitting across from Locklorn. “If I hadn’t of seen any of what I saw, I wouldn’t have believed it either, but it’s all true. When Uklavar releases his army from their prison, he’ll be unstoppable. All life in the galaxy, including those here on and around the Earth will be in danger.”

  “What are you trying to tell me?” Locklorn said through gritted teeth.

  “The human race hasn’t had an army since before the purge. There have been no wars, no cause to build weapons in defense for this kind of threat. Those people in orbit are sheep, with no knowledge of how to fight and survive. The Highlanders have fought wars with other clans, we know what it is like to fall in battle. We are all the Earth has.”

  Locklorn reared back and roared with a bellowing laugh, grabbing his knees and rocking backward trying not to fall over.

  Colin grimaced, his face went red hot and the hairs on the back of his neck tingled. Holding the anger in his voice in check, he said, “It’s not that unbelievable. The threat is coming, trust me.”

  Even-keeled, Locklorn said, “It’s not that I don’t believe you, Colin. I trust you in this. It’s the part where we are supposed to fight a war to defend the High-Born that is so amusing. Why would you even think any Highlander would spill blood for the overbearing despots that lord over us from orbit is beyond me.”

  Colin stood up from the pillow where he sat and said, “You believe me, you actually believe my story about Uklavar? I’m not even sure I believe it, and I saw it firsthand.”

  Straight faced, Locklorn kept his composure and said, “Do you remember when we were ten, and I came to the village with a story of a monster ripping its way through the garden, destroying the crop, the crop I was supposed to be guarding? Lord Langland said I fell asleep and allowed stray deer to eat their fill. He ordered my father to give me fifteen lashes for my failure. Everyone hated me because there might not be enough food come winter. But you came to me, and do you remember what you said to me?”

  “I said, if there is a monster, we should hunt it down, and we should kill it.”

/>   “You believed me and together we went off in search of that monster, tracking it to its den.”

  “Where we found the biggest wolf ever seen,” Colin said.

  “We were ten years old, Colin. Any wolf would have been monstrous compared to us.”

  Colin gave a toothy smile and nodded.

  “There we were, two boys doing battle with this giant beast, bold enough to charge into its den with spears and kill it.”

  “I doubt anyone older would have been so brave,” Colin said,

  “The look of utter shock on everyone’s faces, including Lord Langland’s, when we drug the dead beast into the center of camp was one of complete surprise. It was my greatest moment, and do you know why?”

  Colin shook his head no.

  “Because you believed me,” Locklorn said looking up into Colin’s face. “You believed me, when no one else would.”

  “If I had to, I’d do it again,” Colin said. “That’s what true friends would do.”

  Locklorn stood and faced Colin, and said boldly, “That is why I believe you about your monster. I will fight alongside you Colin McGregor. Not to save a lot of peacocks in orbit, but because we are true friends. You once helped kill my monster, and now I will help kill yours.”

  Colin looked at the opening of the tent wondering if the others would be so easy to convince. He turned back to Locklorn and drew a breath to speak.

  “Don’t you worry about them,” Locklorn said with a strongminded expression. “Together we will convince them, and those of the other tribes. We might not be many, but we are not afraid to fight.”

  “We may have to take the battle off this planet, I’m not sure where we will go, or...”

  “Wherever we go to fight,” Locklorn said with passion. “We will bring along the generations of our forefathers with us. This Uklavar creature will know the sting of Highlander steel before it is all done, I swear to you.”

  Locklorn’s appetite for battle was real, every tribesman’s desire was to face their fate at the hands of an enemy instead of dying in bed like Lord Langland. Colin desired it too. But he couldn’t share in Locklorn’s boast. He was reserved and cautious, for Uklavar had tasted Highlander steel before and it did nothing more than leave a bitter taste in the creature’s throat. It would take something more powerful than swords to topple the monster. How many of his kinsmen would die before the beast fell? Colin hoped he was doing the right thing.

  The Watchtower, High Earth Orbit

  Inside the Union Council Chamber

  October 20, 2442

  A loud hush filled the Union chamber after Da’Mira finished her tale. She stood in front of the council members, their scrutinizing stares slicing into her like rusty blades. They didn’t have to say they didn’t believe her, the twisted looks on their faces told her of their discontent. She didn’t expect them to believe her, but she did think they would be more vocal.

  Many of the Union members returned to their seats, either with their heads in their hands, or offering bewildered stares. Even the blank expression on Quinton’s face was one of disbelief and astonishment. Da’Mira had left nothing out. At first the council members seemed to listen to her story with interest. Some asked questions as Da’Mira recounted the death of the Requiem’s captain, who gave his life so she might live. Even Jackman Pike seemed absorbed in her description of the frozen ice tombs and the monstrous creatures that broke out from them.

  When the recounting of her story reached Uklavar, their stares became impassive and incredulous. Some snickered out loud while others scoffed in muted whispers and threw heckles in her direction. The jeers came so intense that Commander Martin had stepped into the Union chambers – the telecom devices remained at the chamber door.

  The commander positioned himself behind Quinton. Da’Mira gave him a cautionary glance before turning her attention back to the council.

  Havashaw Orlander sat back in his chair – his arms folded in front of him. “Your story is original,” he said holding a laugh at the back of his throat.

  “You didn’t believe your story would carry any support in this chamber, did you?” Brandon Hyguard asked.

  “I’m confused,” Jackman Pike chimed in. “What happened to the two explorer ships?”

  “Have you any idea how outlandish your story is?” Warner Cromwell asked. “I think you’re covering up the true events and hoping your story will deflect what really happened.”

  Strangely, Avery Lexor and Lucinda Xavier were quiet, not adding anything to the discussion. Both held the same emotionless looks on their faces – the same hollow stares in their eyes. Da’Mira studied them both. Their expressions were best described as idle computers, absorbing all the data before offering a solution.

  Havashaw Orlander leaned forward in his seat, projecting his voice, said, “I think she’s hiding something.”

  Gregaor perked up, and in a raised tone fueled the skepticism by saying, “Don’t judge Da’Mira so harshly. She’s traumatized, living through such a grueling ordeal has scarred her mind in some way and replaced it with something she could believe.”

  The room grew hot and Da’Mira’s heart hammered against her chest wall. The muscles in her legs wound tight, preparing to leap over the table and snag Gregaor by the throat. Instead she jabbed a finger in his direction and said, “What did Uklavar offer you Gregaor? Was it control of the Earth after he freed his army? Because if it was, he lied to you, because there will be no Earth left when he’s done. That’s what the beast does. He controls, manipulates and destroys everything in his path. The horned beast bathes in death and destruction and if the Earth isn’t prepared for his arrival, we will all die.”

  A thin devious smirk graced Gregaor’s lips.

  “The woman is teched in the head,” Warner Cromwell said.

  Quinton went to his feet, his chest thrown out he said, “How dare you Sir.”

  Da’Mira regarded her brother and looked into his exasperated eyes. He was more vocal than she remembered. Perhaps it was because their father was dead, and he had no other choice. Or maybe it was because Quinton was meant to be a leader. House Tannador needed someone vocal like Hek’Dara. Da’Mira would have driven a wedge between their house and the rest of the Union. Quinton exuded authority and Da’Mira kept quiet. Anything she would say would negate his ability to govern.

  “I will not deny my sister’s story is farfetched,” Quinton said in an even tone. “Yet, she is here which refutes Gregaor’s claim that he alone was the sole survivor of both expeditions. Da’Mira’s presence should be proof enough that he’s lying.”

  Like Quinton, Gregaor also threw out his chest and flexed his muscles, but instead of throwing some challenge at Quinton, he said, “He’s insulting our family. Aren’t you going to do something, Mother?”

  Coldly, Lucinda looked up from her seat but offered no reply.

  “The information provided by both Gregaor and Da’Mira will need to be discussed in close council,” Avery said.

  “Second,” Lucinda replied so quickly that no one else had a chance to say a word.

  Da’Mira and Quinton shared a curious glance. There had never been love, or loyalty between the Lexors and the Xaviers in the past. The idiosyncratic look on Quinton’s face told Da’Mira he was just as baffled by the sudden alliance.

  “House Xavier and Tannador will have to adjourn from the chamber while the rest of us deliberate what has been said here today,” Avery said.

  “This is highly irregular,” Carmela Anders insisted.

  “Since House Anders has allied itself with the Tannadors, I’m afraid you’ll have to step out of the room as well,” Avery said in a rather cold and emotionless reply.

  “Since when did debate become segregated?” Quinton challenged. “Never in our history have families been expelled so others might decide their fate.”

  “This is not open for debate,” Avery exclaimed.

  Quinton leaned in toward Avery and said, “I call for a vote. A vote to
determine if this is legal and not some play for power. I call for a vote Mister Chairman, and I call for it now.”

  “I second,” Carmela said with do-haste.

  Avery relaxed in his chair, he steepled his fingers in front of him, laissez-faire he said, “I’m afraid it is not that easy. There will be a debate to decide what, if any charges must be brought against Gregaor or Da’Mira.”

  “You have no right,” Quinton snapped.

  “Oh, yes he does Brother,” Da’Mira said. She placed her hand on Quinton’s shoulder and pulled him back from his aggressive stance.

  “You will be sequestered in a waiting area until the debate is concluded,” Avery said.

  The temperature in the room dropped, and a dance of ice crawled up Da’Mira’s back. “You’re arresting us?” she asked.

  Martin took a step forward.

  “Call off your attack dog,” Avery said. “No one said you’re being arrested, merely looked after until you’re needed back here.”

  Quinton’s voice spiked and he said, “That sounds like being arrested to me.”

  Avery’s hands went to the table in front of him, and seconds later two armed Orlander security men entered at the back of the room. Martin turned toward them, and although he was unarmed it didn’t prevent him from taking a protective stance between them, Da’Mira and Quinton.

  “We can’t win this officer,” Da’Mira said.

  Quinton took a step next to Da’Mira and said, “She’s right Commander Martin. Stand down.”

  Martin relaxed and looked back at Quinton – his eyes were enraged but he nodded in agreement.

  “There,” Avery said. There was a flippant, almost feminine tone to his voice that reminded Da’Mira of the time she met Iris Lexor. “I knew we could come to an agreement.”

  Quinton turned on his heels, and stabbed a finger toward Avery, said, “There is no agreement Avery. There can be no agreement while we travel down this avenue, plotting a course to our own destruction. My father saw it coming. Witnessed it firsthand when our food processing plant was attacked by your heartless mother.”