“You didn’t have to drag me.” Zara sat up while rubbing the back of his head.
Sicar ignored him while he looked at the building they had crashed into on Jory’s world.
“Are you listening to me?” Zara said.
Sicar turned to face Zara.
“What do you have to say for yourself?” Zara asked.
“I was mad.”
“That’s it?” Zara stood up and looked at his ripped clothes. “First you knock me out and then drag me?”
“You missed a part. I tried to get paid for your return. If Jory would have made the trip financially fulfilling, then I would not have caused you more pain.” Sicar turned toward the house again. “We need to find a way out of here.”
“I need to understand something first.” Zara stood his ground and waited until Sicar noticed he wasn’t moving.
“Ordinarily, I kill those who do not do what I want. Since I do not want to die here, I will indulge your childish behavior because I might need your help.” Sicar stood up, wrapped his legs around himself, and moved in front of Zara. “What do you want?”
Zara could see multiple faint reflections from under Sicar’s hood when they stood dangerously close.
“What are you?”
“Excuse me?”
Zara pointed to Sicar’s legs and then to his cloak. “Are you some kind of experiment?”
Sicar reached out a hairy leg and held it under Zara’s nose. “I was hoping to be free like everyone else. In order to do that, I collected the bounties on others when I returned them dead or alive.”
“I don’t care about your job. Are there others like you?”
Sicar turned away. “Let’s go.”
“No. I am asking you this for a reason. What the Alkaskre did to me was unspeakable and still does not completely make sense to me. Did they create you?”
“I never heard about the Alkaskre until I met Jory.” Sicar continued walking toward the crash site. “Let’s go.”
“I think I am responsible.”
Sicar stopped and looked back at Zara. “Does any of this matter? We need to escape this place.”
“We need to find Theterm.”
“I plan on that whenever you are finished overthinking the situation. He is going to answer for switching places and stranding me with you. Ready?”
Zara looked at his wounds that were almost completely healed. “Actually, I think I understand now.”
“Whatever.” Sicar closed the distance to the front of the house quickly.” We can easily get in through here.” He pointed at a large hole in the wall.
“This place doesn’t look too safe. Are you sure we need to do this?” Zara scratched the top of his head as he bent low to look inside. “The place is wrecked.”
“If we can find a way to communicate with someone, then it will be worth the risk. Do you open Ways?”
Zara laughed. “No. I’ve seen a few use a little box, but most of them do it like Theterm. If I see one of those devices, maybe we can figure it out. Can’t be too complicated, right?”
“I have no idea. Squeeze through and look around.” When Zara didn’t move, Sicar gave him a gentle push. “Go ahead.”
“You’re supposed to be the big tough one, why don’t you go first?”
“Fine.” Sicar pushed Zara out of the way and went inside. “Stay close.”
When nothing bad happened, Zara entered and caught up to Sicar. “The place isn’t as badly damaged as I would have imagined. What now?”
Sicar noticed there was a flight of stairs leading downward, so he moved in that direction.
“Does that look odd?”
“It looks like someone was trying to hide the steps behind this sliding wall.” Zara ran his hand over the panel and then made a disgusted expression. “It’s wet or something. Might as well go down and check it out since the lights are on.”
“That’s what I’m concerned about.” Sicar moved cautiously to the top of the stairs and peered down. Slowly, he descended until he was at the bottom. The open space in front of him was walled in thick transparent glass with an open glass door. “You can come down, Zara.”
When Zara looked at the glass door at the bottom of the stairs closely, he could see that there were several smeared handprints on it and the floor inside was dirty with muddy footprints. “Someone was here recently. All those footprints lead in, but nothing leads out. Would you agree?”
Sicar crouched low and moved into the glass room following the path. Around the walls, glass books were organized neatly from floor to ceiling on beautifully carved wooden bookcases. Several comfortable chairs and a table showed signs of frequent use.
“Why is everything glass?”
“I was wondering that too.” Zara pulled a book from the shelf and opened it. “This one is actually very light, and the pages are extremely thin. It must be worth a fortune.” He put his hand behind a page so he could read the text, which was very small. “Not too easy to read though, but really nicely done.”
“Why glass?”
“Maybe to outlast paper?” Zara licked his finger and tried to smudge the words. When nothing happened, he tried to scrape at the letters with his fingernail. “I think the ink, or whatever it is, is trapped in the glass. Could it be between two pieces?” He squinted and looked closely. “I have no idea how it was made, but it looks like it would last forever. The edges aren’t sharp even though the pages are almost as thin as paper.”
“I’m glad you are impressed. Now what?” Sicar continued to move around the room, looking for something useful. “Put that back and find us a way home.”
Zara continued to look at other books, putting each one back carefully. “All these are from before,” he mumbled. “They weren’t lost.”
Sicar stood behind Zara and attempted to be patient. “Why don’t you pick your favorite so we can go?”
Zara chuckled. “I am sure I could find—” He stopped talking and felt his strength fade when he saw something land on the shelf in front of him. When he was sure of what it was, he stood completely still.
“Sicar,” he whispered. “It’s one of those things from my suit. Do you see any more?”
Sicar looked toward the door without moving. “How many were there before?”
“Maybe fifty. They multiply quickly, but there was only so much of me to eat. Why do you ask?”
“Well, this is a guess, but I can see thousands of them. Most of them are outside of the room. So what’s the plan?”
Zara gritted his teeth noisily when he turned around to see the insects crawling over everything. “If we can close the door, then we will be safe but trapped. We will be dead if we do not. There is no way we can make it outside again without starting a feeding frenzy. Trust me, I spent years being eaten alive by these things for the benefit of the Alkaskre. Unless you have a better idea, we need to act quickly before this room fills up with them.”
“I’ll do it.” Sicar sprung forward and closed the door hastily. A faint crunching sound alerted him to those that were crushed and now spastically convulsing around the door’s edge.
Outside the room, those near the door began to fly aggressively against the glass as they consumed the dying. Inside the room, the survivors began to fly around in an agitated manner, bumping into the lights and glass walls.
“We will be attacked soon.” Zara began scratching inside his shredded jumpsuit as the swarm began forming more coherently. “Any more ideas?”
“What is over there?” Sicar pointed to a section of floor that looked mirrored. On the wall, a box with several blinking lights drew their attention.
Zara moved cautiously to the box to avoid stepping on any more insects. “There’s four buttons and a knob. Should I try pushing and turning things?”
Sicar watched as hundreds of the swarm began hitting the glass from the inside and out. “At this point, anything is worth a try.”
Zara turned the knob and pressed a button. Lights from above bounced off the mirrored floor, and slowly, a figure of a man wearing a white robe appeared as if floating in midair.
“Hello?” Zara said.
“Yes?” came the reply.
“I need assistance getting out of Jory’s house.”
Zara moved in front of the image. “Can you help?”
“How did you get there?” the robed man demanded.
Sicar moved forward and stood behind Zara. “Tell him that Jory needs help,” Sicar said quietly but with a real sense of urgency.
“There’s been an accident at Jory’s house. Can you open the Way?”
The image of the man faded for a moment, and then another image formed. “I’m actually fine, but thanks for your concern.” Jory rubbed his beard and smiled. “What are those things in my library?”
“Those are the things you made me create for you.” Zara pointed at Jory. “Get us out of here!”
“Bugs were never my thing, that was someone else. I can’t run the risk of them spreading. Sorry.” Jory waved, and the image faded as the swarm began to attack.
“Are you sure you will remember the name of the Way?” Laird asked Dack in private as the others slept.
“Yes,” Dack replied confidently.
“After we escape, it will be important that you get away from the Alkaskre, but do not make it too obvious. Once you are finished here, join us, or we will return to help you.” Laird looked around the room. “I plan to hold open the Ways to where your friends have been taken. However, we must all accomplish our goals quickly, or Jory will be notified too early.”
“What about you?”
“There is no turning back. If any of us fail, then Jory will convince the council to move along a dangerous path.”
“I do not understand, what does he really want?”
Laird stared at the lantern’s dim light for a moment before speaking. “Jory lost a very close friend that he believes is still alive. She was working on a project for the Alkaskre that he has continued with the highest priority. He is willing to do whatever it takes to complete her task.”
Dack laughed. “Is that it?”
Laird nodded.
“Then I have no idea what is going on. What was she hoping to do?”
“Step in and out of time.” Laird saw that Dack did not understand. “Imagine if you could have stopped Fixx from getting hurt. Would you? Think of all that could have been avoided.”
“That is impossible, right?” Dack sniffed.
“The council saw some of the results from Jory’s experiments and wants him to keep at it. He has devoted his entire life to this. Some of the council see success as a chance to have unquestioned power while a few of us think it should not be pursued even if it can be done.”
Dack leaned back and looked at the ceiling to collect his thoughts. “Stopping Jory will be enough?”
“Yes, because he is so paranoid that someone else will figure it out before he does that he alone knows how it all works. I have been spending most of my time coming up with a plan that he cannot stop once it begins. Everyone here has a part in stopping him, even though they don’t know it completely.”
Dack sat forward and frowned. “So you are using us?”
“Yes.” Laird stared at Dack until she blinked. “Do you want me to tell everyone everything so Jory can get it out of them if they fail? If he could control Lucan or Maggie, then all of my years of planning would be over.”
“What about me?”
“You are different.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“No one can get into your head unless you allow them.”
Dack scratched the back of his neck. “Why?”
“Maybe it’s your Shadow Cult blood, maybe it is something else. Whatever the reason, you are perfect for replacing him.”
Dack noisily pushed his chair back and stood up. “Jory?”
Laird had to put her hands over her mouth to quiet her squeals of delight. “I meant Theterm.” Dack flushed with embarrassment as he quietly took his seat again. “However, the Alkaskre will need someone like you when we are done.”
“What about you? Can he control you?”
Laird sighed. “Right now he might try. He could attempt to do that to individuals from the council if he wanted, but I do not think he would do it. I have become very good at resisting control, but there’s no telling what he would do if he was desperate. Unless he controlled all of us at once, that action would fail.”
“Will Theterm be okay?”
“I have not been able to talk to him through our bond recently, but I plan to find out why as soon as we control the hub.”
“Hub?” Dack was confused.
“That’s what we call an area we created with many Ways. Remember where you first met me?”
Dack nodded.
“From those places, we have mobilized troops and other resources from hundreds of worlds to a single location. When the Alkaskre arrive, most worlds have no hope.”
“What about Storality?” Dack was very concerned.
“I will be helping all of you from the hub. Once in control there, it will be easy to cut off any new help while you accomplish your goal.” Laird yawned. “We need to get some rest. Tomorrow will be difficult at best.”
Fixx walked in front of the guards at the portal area fortress and looked at them. He reached down and picked up a small pebble. After carefully inspecting it, he licked his finger and cleaned it while tapping his foot. When the guards began moving toward him in an attempt to surround him, he started to grin, but he covered it up by coughing into his hand. He pointed to each of them and counted as he went around the circle.
“Eight. It will be tough, but I think it’s doable.”
“Where do you think you’re going?” a guard growled, pointing at Fixx with a short metal club.
“I have to tell you the rules first.” Fixx put his hands on his hips and leaned closer to the guard, who was still looking at him menacingly. “Can I call you Jack?”
“This area is restricted, you’ll have to leave now.” The guard moved closer and raised his arm, ready to strike. “Do you understand?”
“Please, you have to listen to me.” Fixx pouted and sat down. “No one ever listens to me.”
The guards looked at each other, shrugged, but kept silent.
“You’ll play along? If you do, I promise, I’ll leave.” Fixx stood up and clapped.
“What do want?” a guard asked, still annoyed.
Fixx pulled out a length of rope from his cloak and showed it to the group. He held one end and threw the other to a guard who dropped his club in order to grab the rope.
“Good catch. Now the fun part.” Fixx tossed the pebble high in the air, and they all watched it going up. As it started coming down, Fixx dashed forward, grabbed the club, and then wove his way through the guards, pulling the rope behind him. Within seconds of impact, he pulled hard on the rope, causing the guards to trip as they tried to grab him as he sprinted to Laird’s side in the portal area fortress.
During the confusion, the others also slipped unnoticed inside, and Laird opened the Way. All but Dack went through before it closed. He stood still with hands outstretched as the guards regained their footing and approached cautiously.
“I would not come any closer.” Dack whispered something, and the Way opened, this time with fire leaping out. “You’ll never take us alive,” he called.
As suddenly as it opened, the Way closed again. Once the guards regained their courage, they rushed in but found the portal area fortress empty.
“Unacceptable!” Jory screamed and slammed a thick book down on the table next to him. “Didn’t I tell everyone that I wanted those two dead?” He scanned the guards, who stood right in front of him. Each of the guards tried very hard not to catch his eye. “I understand we are stretched thin fighting on many fronts, but that request was personal.” He stopped in front of one of his bodyguards. “An experiment and the imbecile that accidentally created him! What is the chance that those two would ever find each other after so much time?”
There was a knock on his office door. Moments later, a furry gray-striped creature entered. It was wearing a white robe with a purple sash. It stood next to Jory and stared.
“Is there a problem?” It said, flashing its pointy teeth.
“No, Your Honor.”
“Good. The council needs to meet again now. We are still interested in seeing the progress you are making with your current projects. Our last meeting ended prematurely. Will you be ready soon?”
Jory moved away from the guards and waited for the creature to do the same. “Notomo, I am ready to give an update, but what is to be done with the traitor Laird?”
“Traitor?” The creature looked shocked. Dark black fur circled twinkling golden eyes that told Jory his old friend was toying with him.
Jory balled his fists and then relaxed. “We both know she is leading a rebellion against the council.”
The creature made sure the guards couldn’t hear them. “Do you really believe that?” Notomo grabbed Jory by the neck and pulled him close. Sharp claws tapped dangerously on Jory’s neck. “That is a very serious accusation.” Moving its arm down to Jory’s shoulder, it continued, “I look forward to your proof.”
Jory broke free, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yes. When we get together, you will see.”
Notomo walked away regally, nodding slowly to the watching guards.
Jory felt his anger growing as he imagined all his hard work being undone by a few loyal to Theterm. He turned again to his awaiting guards. “Change of plans. I need you to surround my house, but you are not to engage those two. I will see to them myself after I meet with the council. Go!”
The guards left quickly to avoid any more outbursts.
When all the others were gone, Jory sat in his chair and looked at his desk. There was a picture crookedly attached to a maroon piece of cardboard that had a heart and beads glued to it. He smiled and reached for it to get a better look. In the photograph was the most beautiful woman he had ever met.
“Lyssa, I will find you.” He looked at the picture for a while and then put it back on the desk.
Standing up quickly made him a little dizzy, so he held tightly on the desk until it passed.
Been pushing myself too hard, he thought as he grabbed his purple sash from a hook on the wall behind his desk. After tying it tightly around his waist, he grabbed some folders from his desk, looked through them, and then walked confidently out of his office.
Laird observed the action through the Way. People in white robes were running in all directions, going in and out of different Ways.
“Looks like the plan is working so far.”
When there was a break in the action, she stepped through and down a hall. Many doors lined the corridor, each with some sort of experiment going on inside. She shuddered at the thought of what the Alkaskre had already done and how stopping Jory now would be the only hope of ending any future projects.
After concentrating on where Theterm was located yielded no firm direction, she tried several doors until she found him strapped to a table and connected to a machine.
Theterm. “Theterm, can you hear me?” Laird didn’t get any kind of response from him. She shook him and even pushed one of his eyelids up slightly. Following the tangle of wires and tubes back to the machine, she hoped for a chance to reverse the process. In a desperate move, she flipped a switch and saw his body move.
“Theterm?”
Laird? Where are you?
“I am standing right next to you.” She touched his shoulder. “What is he doing to you?”
He made me remember the first time I met him.
“Why?”
I’m not really sure.
Laird looked up nervously when she heard some people running past the room. “I do not have much time, but I have a plan. Jory must be stopped at all cost.”
I agree. Is everyone safe?
“No, but the others are working on it.”
Where is Dack?
“He’s on Storality.”
Alone?
“For the time being.”
I must talk to Dack and Lucan before I die.
Laird squeezed Theterm’s shoulder. “That is not going to happen.”
I have chosen not to spend my life among the Alkaskre, my time is almost over.
“We have perfected something that can stop that, maybe even reverse the effects.”
I do not want more time. I just want to spend what is left with my friends.
More running and shouting outside of the room made Laird flinch. “Something is happening.”
That doesn’t matter right now. If I do not make it, please tell the others that I am sorry.
“What are you talking about?”
We both know all the mistakes I’ve made. Has Ghera told everyone?
“No, he’s actually behaving.” Laird sighed. “Lucan has a bag full of very old newspaper clippings.”
How did they survive? They would be at least a thousand years old.
“I was wondering the same. They must have been missed during the collection process.”
Yet another mistake I’ve made. It was all very hectic then.
“You aren’t going to tell them everything, are you?” Laird held Theterm’s hand. “It won’t change anything.”
It will hopefully teach them not to make the same mistakes. You will tell them if I can’t, won’t you?
Laird felt tears welling up. “No, those stories will die with you.” She reached over and flipped the switch again. “I’m sorry.”
Theterm convulsed and was still again.
“Good-bye, Theterm.” She took a moment to compose herself before opening the door slowly. When the hallway was clear, she walked out and toward the Way.