“Step inside and you will be in Gosia’s realm. I’m sure he’ll be glad to see you. Perhaps our paths will cross again Alfred Moreno. Until then or until never- I wish you well.” Dorsen bellowed.
Henry walked up to the large television screen and Alfred reached out his hand and put the tips of his finger against it. To his surprise they went right through it, and he felt the gentle breeze against his fingers.
“So long wolf! So long Alfred!” Gardtrof called to them.
Alfred gave the two birds one last grin, and then urged Henry to go forward into the screen. Henry steadied himself for a moment and then leaped into the television. Suddenly they were on the dirt path, feeling the gentle sunshine and soft breeze. Alfred turned his head to look behind him, expecting to see the blue and red lit room he had been in before. But the path just stretched on down some rolling hills as far as he could see. It looked like there were mountains way off in the distance.
“Alfred. I have sensed that you don’t need to be in physical contact with me in this place.” Henry spoke in his normal voice, cheerful as ever.
“You sure?” Al asked.
“Positive.”
Alfred swung his legs to one side and let himself fall to the ground. He let his hand off of Henry’s back, and sure enough he was still in his body. Al stepped in front of Henry and began to lead the way down the dirt path towards the cottage.
It was white in color with a reddish-orange roof and matching shutters. There were many beautiful flowers arranged in beds near the porch of the cottage, which had a wooden swinging bench on it made of polished mahogany. As they neared the porch Henry stood beside Alfred, who shrugged and knocked on the green front door. They waited several minutes, but no one answered.
“Perhaps we should try the backyard?” Henry suggested.
Alfred nodded and walked around the back side of the cottage, which had a patio leading to the beach and sea within a few dozen yards. There was a dock with a small row boat tied to it. The pair walked down the wooden planks to investigate.
“Maybe he’s not here. But then what am I supposed to do? I have to get a new sun for Hemphion.”
“Alfred, look! Out there on the water!” Henry announced.
Alfred looked out and didn’t see anything at first, but then sure enough he noticed a small row boat like the one next to them. It was out quite a ways from the shore. It looked as if there were someone standing in it, but Alfred couldn’t make out any details.
“Maybe we can ask him. Give me a hand with this rope.” Alfred said to Henry.
The wolf chomped through the rope that held the boat to the dock. Then the two of them scrambled into it and Alfred found a pair of oars sitting in the bottom. He picked them up and began to row out towards the other boat. Although he wasn’t exactly sure how things worked in this place, he could feel the heat of the sun beating down on him. He stopped rowing for a moment and took off his jacket. Then he took off the plaid button up shirt under it as well, which had become quite dirty and even ripped in a few places.
“Do you feel hot?” Alfred asked the wolf.
“I do not feel things such as temperature in this place. I feel content.” Henry answered.
“Then take care of my jacket for me.” and as he said this Alfred took his leather jacket and draped it over the wolf’s back.
“You like the jacket then sir? You really do?”
“It grew on me Henry, and so have you. Anyway, I guess I feel more qualified to wear it now.”
Henry seemed pleased, but said nothing more. Al continued to row on towards the boat, and by the time they were close enough to see who it was his body was glistening in a coat of sweat. Al was surprised when he saw it was Gosia standing up in the boat.
“Well would you look at that, you finally made it. Hold on a minute Al.” Gosia spoke, he had the wizened voice of an older man.
Alfred had seen Gosia a couple times before. One other time he was in the form of this same old man. The first time Alfred had witnessed the god in his genuine form. But it had been too overwhelming so Gosia made himself appear as the old man, who apparently enjoyed fishing- as he was reeling something in when he spoke to Al.
He was tall and wiry in stature, and had long hair braided tightly into two pigtails which fell evenly onto his back. His hair was a fine blonde and he had a thin whitening beard. Overtop of his head he had on a fishing hat, with lures stuck in all around it. He wore a soft pink long sleeved shirt and light brown pants with his bare feet tucked into a pair of white sandals.
Alfred and Henry watched as the old man reeled in his line. Whatever was on the other end must have been a decent size. Alfred could see that Gosia’s image was quite muscular for the age he had chosen, for the old man’s muscles flexed through his shirt as he fought to reel in his catch.
“There she is! What a beauty!” he lifted up a very flat but large red fish, his hand holding it by the mouth.
“Nice catch old man.” Alfred said to the god.
“So, I believe you’ve brought me something Rift Resolver?” Gosia asked, his voice becoming serious as he sat down in his boat.
Alfred tossed a small anchor that was in his own boat into the water so it wouldn’t float away as they talked.
“Yes, I have the crystal.” Alfred replied, preparing himself to be bold enough to ask the god for a favor.
“Well, toss it over here. Where is it?” the old man laughed a little as he spoke.
Alfred realized for the first time he actually had no idea where the crystal was. He thought he was inside it, but maybe not anymore. He fumbled his hands into his pants pocket and to his relief they found something small and hard. It seemed to gleem brighter than ever before in the dazzling sunlight reflected by the sea. Alfred stared at the crystal sitting flat in his palm for a minute.
“Why do you hesitate Rift Resolver? Was it not foretold to you that you were to return me my crystal, so that horrific events did not end up occurring in the Universe? Few creatures of flesh can use such an artifact, and those that can would likely use it for vile purposes. You have fulfilled all of your responsibilities Alfred Moreno, and you have fully earned my trust. The trust of a god is a valuable thing.” Gosia’s voice seemed to linger on his last statement, as if warning Alfred to be careful with what he said next.
“I need a favor.” Alfred choked out.
“Oh is that so? And what might this favor be?” the god narrowed his eyes.
“The planet Hemphion. It needs a new sun or it’ll be destroyed and melted- killing everyone left on it and making the others evacuate never to see their homes again.”
“I see.” Gosia began, giving Alfred a deep look of understanding before he spoke again, “I do see your motives behind such a request. I admire them. But I’m afraid I can’t grant you this favor. It is not the way of the gods to interfere in something as natural as a star dying out. Besides, Hemphion is not under my jurisdiction. If I were to intervene and replace every dying star for every planet that was to be destroyed- I’d completely throw off the balance of the Universe. So as much as I’d like to help you Al, I cannot with this particular request.”
Alfred swallowed hard. He had thought this would likely be the god’s answer. What he said next however, he didn’t realize until he got it out that he had the guts to say it at all.
“Then I guess I’m sorry too. Because I can’t give you this crystal until Hemphion gets a new sun. There’s someone I owe it too.”
“And love is a powerful thing. But I’m afraid I can’t allow you to leave here with my crystal.”
“I hope you understand Gosia. I will return it soon. Henry do something!” as Al finished speaking, he saw something few people in the galaxy had ever seen before. A look of surprise came across the god’s face.
Henry opened his mouth wide and blasted a gold beam that completely destroyed half of Gosia’s boat.
“Stupid! You are both so stupid! DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU’RE MESSING WITH?” the old man boo
med, scrambling to hold onto the half of the boat that still remained afloat.
Meanwhile, Alfred was paddling the oars as fast as he possibly could back toward the cottage.
“I hate to do this to you Al, but I need that crystal back!” yelled the old man to the escaping boat.
Gosia picked up the fish he had caught earlier, which was still flopping around on the half of the boat that wasn’t destroyed. He raised it above his head with both arms and energy started filling into the fish, making it glow bright red. Gosia then threw the fish in Alfred’s direction. The old man pulled his shirt off and dove into the same spot, disappearing beneath the surface of the water.
“You are crazy sir. Why are we angering the god we’re supposed to be helping?” Henry questioned, sounding panicked.
“Because I can’t. Let. Marcie. Down.” Alfred spoke through his intense paddling.
“Um sir. Don’t look now, but there’s a shirtless old man riding on the back of a giant red sea monster chasing after us.”
Ignoring Henry’s advice, Alfred turned and looked behind him. The sea churned around them as a colossal red serpent rose in and out of the water. Holding onto one of its incredibly long whiskers from each side of its face was a shirtless Gosia. With these, he directed the beast as if it were a horse and he held the reins.
“Give me back my damn crystal, Moreno! Before I have ol’ Red here blast you a new one!” the god’s voice boomed at Alfred’s boat.
Alfred turned and looked at Henry, “Think you can match him? I just need you to buy us some time so I can reopen the portal and we can get out of here.”
“I’ll see what I can do sir!” Henry chirped back quickly.
The gold wolf jumped into the water that surrounded the boat. Alfred continued to furiously row, trying to stay ahead of the giant monster that was quickly gaining on him. In the water behind him Henry swam out until he was at the midway point between the boat and Gosia.
Henry’s body began to glow as he dived under the water. Alfred looked back a few moments later, and saw no sign of the A.I. Damn it, he thought, where is he? Gosia’s serpent was about to reach where Henry had disappeared.
Just then, an enormously bright gold light flashed in the depths of the sea- all the way up through the water. Gosia’s monster was just crossing over the light when a magnificent beast, very similar to the red one- rushed up and broke the surface. It was Henry, who had taken the form of a massive golden sea dragon. Henry grabbed the red serpent’s neck in his rows of jagged sharp teeth.
Gosia was shaken off and began to slide down the length of his beast, but was able to get a grip on a scale and began to make his way back up. The red beast somehow managed to break free from Henry’s grasp. Henry rose into the air, beating a scaly pair of large golden wings. Alfred watched as Henry the dragon opened his jaws and blasted a golden beam of energy into the side of the red serpent. Alfred couldn’t believe his eyes. There was a massive gaping hole, all the way through Gosia’s serpent. And better yet, Gosia had slid off during the damage and was now swimming in the water next to it. The red creature groaned in pain.
“You bastards! You shot a hole through ol’ Red!” Gosia yelled out to Alfred, who had started rowing away.
“Come on Henry, give me a lift to the shore!” Al yelled to the flying A.I.
The dragon swooped down and gently clutched Al in his claws, carrying him to the shore. When he set him down, Henry shrunk back down into the wolf he had been before.
“Great shot by the way! Get ready to go!” Al praised.
Taking the crystal out of his pocket and his Rift Blade from his belt, Al prepared to open the portal back to his dimension. Gosia had swam closer and was approaching the beach with unnatural speed.
“You lowered my sea monster’s self-esteem Moreno! And you owe me my crystal!” the old man yelled as he reached the sand and began to run toward the pair.
“Jump in Henry!” yelled Al as he slammed his blade into the center of the crystal which sat on the sand. This time Al could see the portal open as if he had cut a rift in time, and in front of him was the swirling circle that led into the colorful tunnel. Al climbed quickly onto Henry’s back, who immediately leaped into the portal. Just before it closed behind them, Alfred yelled back to the god.
“I’ll bring it back I promi-” and then the portal closed.
Gosia sat down on the beach, shaking his head for a moment before succumbing to a chuckle.
“Sometimes it’s better to see how these things play out than to intervene. I would be surprised after all, if Moreno could find a way to use my crystal to create a new sun. HA HA HA!” the old man laughed to himself as if the idea was ridiculous.
Just then the red sea monster swam up, and Gosia approached it as it sat near the rolling tide that washed repeatedly onto the shore.
“I am sorry master. I have failed you.” the red serpent slithered to the god in an ancient tongue.
“It’s okay my friend. Come now, let us fix that hole!” Gosia led the way back up to his cottage with the giant serpent slithering up the beach after him.
7 Not quite a black-tie affair
Alfred flew back out of the portal, landing on the ground roughly. Getting his bearings, he realized he was once again fully clothed. And other than what would likely turn out to be a decent sized bruise tomorrow, he was unscathed. Not a single bead of sweat was on his forehead that had been covered just moments before. But something was different- the whole room was shaking. His attention snapped back to the Rift Sanctum as he got up and Marcie yelled.
“Alfred, you’re back already? Something’s happening!”
“What do you mean already? And why’s the whole place shaking?” Alfred asked, confused.
“I don’t know, you’d only been gone a minute or so and then the floor started shaking beneath my feet, and then you came flying out of nowhere onto the ground! Did you see Gosia? Did he create a new sun for Hemphion?” Marcie asked, her face pleading for a yes.
Alfred looked away for a moment and then began to talk out loud to himself.
“Gosia...crystal. Where’s the crystal?” his voice grew louder at the end with worry.
Turning around, he was relieved to see it sitting on the table. He grabbed it quickly and went to put it in his inner jacket pocket, but felt something already inside. He reached his hand in and pulled out the golden egg.
“Hello sir! Glad to see we made it back through alright. Oh my, why is this room so unstable? You know they should have made this place much more structurally sound, there’s always meteor showers passing through this part of the Universe.”
“Looks like Henry’s back to being lame.” Alfred announced, tucking the crystal into his other pocket.
“Whaaa... what’s going on? Somebody vacuuming?” a concussed Aaron Flux asked as he blinked his eyes open, laying on the floor.
“No, nobody’s vacuuming moron. Alfred, why do you still have Gosia’s Crystal?” Marcie narrowed her eyes as she spoke.
“Come on, we need to get upstairs and quick. I’ll fill you in later.” he answered, beginning to run back up the stairs to the roller-rink.
Marcie and a dazed Aaron Flux stumbled up after him. Alfred reached the top and pushed a button, opening the secret door in the rink floor. He stepped out into chaos. Humans and aliens and everything in between were running for the doors, trampling over each other in an attempt to get out. Alfred covered his face with his arms as something blasted into the ceiling, shaking the entire building and causing rubble to fall all over the floor around him and his companions.
“Oh, shit.” Flux announced blatantly- to be fair it was about all one could say.
Above them a giant hole had been broken in the ceiling. Riding down from the roof were ten different men, each wearing a tuxedo of a different color.
Alfred looked to Marcie, “Friends of yours?”
“They’re an elite group of Sham-Bon’s men. His personal protectors and body-guards. If they’re here,
so is he.” she looked concerned.
“Looks like the big scary king is staying in his spaceship. Come on, we’ve got to hold this place down, it means everything to Papari and Jenni.” Al turned to Aaron, “Flux, you okay to fight?”
“I don’t know what day of the week it is. But hey, since when does any Rift Resolver? Let’s do it Moreno. You too red armor chick- um what was your name again?” Flux looked at Marcie.
Marcie simply rolled her eyes. They didn’t have time to talk any longer, Sham-Bon’s men were now landing on the rink. They had ridden down on collapsible hoverboards. Half of them remained in the air, each looked to be armed with an energy gun. Alfred looked like he was about to charge at them, but Marcie grabbed him by the shoulder.
“Alfred, you don’t have on any shoes. The roller-blades remember, we took them off after your little finale?”
“Right. Shoes. And how is it that I’m the only one not wearing shoes?”
Henry chirped gleefully from inside Al’s jacket, “I don’t have on any shoes either Alfred!”
A man in a neon green tuxedo, armed with a fully automatic energy rifle, approached them.
“Haha, get a load of this guy! The famous Al Moreno, barefoot. What, is the Rift Society not paying you losers enough to afford shoes?” the man laughed along with several of his associates.
Underneath the neon tuxedo the man wore a white undershirt and a tie that matched his jacket. He had short blonde hair that was slicked back. Alfred noticed that all of Sham-Bon’s men looked vaguely similar.
“Yeah yeah yeah. Laugh it up boys, what’d you all go shoot up a neon sign store before this?” Alfred laughed to himself as he spoke.
The Huck men stopped laughing, except one who was still up in the air on his hoverboard.
“This guy’s pretty funny- neon sign store!”
The man in front of Alfred began to frown, turning around he yelled up to the man in a violet suit.
“Shut it Violet. Don’t make me come up there.”
“I take it your name’s Green then? Or is it Leprechaun?” Alfred taunted.
Al Moreno And the Crystal of Gosia Page 6