Dimension Lapse II: Return to Doomsday (Dimension Lapse Series Book 2)

by Nicholas Davis

  "You must be hungry," Jeff said. "Why don't you come get some dinner? You can't beat George's roast boar."

  "Thanks, don't mind if I do," he said, and they headed toward the dinner tables.

  Carver sat to eat dinner with Jeff and the remaining lingworts and men who were starting to clean up. George, who had been busy cooking most of the day, also finally sat down with them. Jeff introduced George to Carver; who heard of him, but never actually met him.

  "So how come I never ran into you on Alokia?" Carver asked him. "Or on Mars for that matter?"

  "On Mars, I was restricted to the research area, under the direction of Colonel Steve Rollings," George said. "On Alokia, I was in imprisonment on a higher level than your underground operation. I was scheduled for medical research. Instead of me dissecting a pig now, I could have been the one dissected then!"

  "You sound like you knew Rollings well," Carver said.

  "All too well!"

  After they finished dinner, Jeff noticed Lori bruiting outside their hut. Jeff turned to George and Carver, and finished drinking his wine.

  "Looks like I've got some explaining to do," he said. "Who would have thought that on my wedding night, I'd have to kiss and make up already!"

  "Well," George said. "You know what they say. Make up sex is always better."

  "And how would you know?" Jeff laughed, as he shook his head and walked to his hut.

  "I talked to John," he said, and put his hand on her shoulder."

  "And what did the men decide?" Lori asked.

  "I decided that you should at least listen to what I have to say," Jeff said. "Then, I'll leave it up to you to decide. I don't want to fight with you. Let's go inside and talk."

  "Fair enough."

  They went into the hut, and Jeff was face to face with the tiger rug, the head's teeth pointing up at him, shining from the dim light of the oil lamp on their dresser. He was both annoyed, and terrified at the same time.

  "What the hell is that doing here?"

  "It was a gift from George," Lori answered. "He thought you might want it as a souvenir."

  "Well, I guess I can live with it for now. " He walked over to the bed, sat down, and Lori joined him. "When we went through this all before, I thought I would never see you again. I lost you, I lost everyone that I knew on Mars. I came here, and I was so lonely for a human face, I couldn't stand it. Then I learned these creatures here weren't human, but they were just as compassionate. And then I thought, that you don't have to be human to be a friend and companion. I guess what I'm trying to say, is, it doesn't matter where I am in the universe, as long as I'm with you."

  "Then what's wrong with staying right here?"

  "Because he's out there," Jeff answered, "And he's a danger to all of us.'

  "You couldn't stop him before, what makes you sure you can now?"

  "I'm not. But I have to at least try to stop him."

  "This is not our war!"

  "Two years ago," Jeff began, angered. "They came here and attacked and imprisoned my friends! They came to Pluto and attacked me. In our own solar system! And then they destroyed Mars base! Don't tell me it's not our war!"

  "But we have a new life here," Lori pleaded. "Why do you want to give that up?"

  "We only have a new life because they're gone, " Jeff said. "Sooner or later, they'll be back here. I can guarantee it!"

  "So what's this job that John had for me?"

  "Communications, you wouldn't even have to leave the ship."

  "But you will?"

  "I'm afraid so."

  "Then I'm going with you."

  "Lori, be reasonable."

  "You are not leaving my sight."

  "It's too dangerous! I'm trained for combat, you're not.'"

  "I'll stay on the smaller ship with you."

  "And you won't leave the ship?''

  "No, I won't leave the ship."

  "You promise?"

  "I promise," she reluctantly said. "Dormiton and Milgic have also said that if you go, they want to go with you as well."

  Jeff grew very angered.

  "No!" he said. "Absolutely not! I need trained people with me, and I won't put them in that kind of danger again. You, of all people should understand that!"

  "I do, " Lori said, as she put her arm around his back, and hugged him tight. "I'm just relaying what they told me."

  "Well," Jeff sighed, a little more calm. "I'm just telling you, it's not gonna happen. If we go, then it will be just us. George and the lingworts can take care of this place while we're gone. I don't want any hindrances to get in the way."

  "Is that what you call your friends, hindrances?"

  "I just don't want to put their lives in jeopardy."

  "I understand," she said, as she stood up and proceeded to take off her homemade jewelry.

  "Then it's settled. We'll leave early in the morning."

  "Not before we salvage what's left of our wedding night."

  "What did you have in mind?" Jeff smiled, as she dropped her dress to the floor, and climbed into the bed, naked. "I hope I have enough energy to get through this night. I'm not as young as I used to be.

  "Why don't you join me and let me be the judge of that?" With that, he undressed, turned off the oil lamp, and lay in the bed next to her.

  "Maybe you're right," he said, as they both began to embrace in the darkness. "Maybe I'm not so old after all!"

  The next morning, Jeff grabbed some basic provisions that he would need on the mission; two lasers pistols he brought with him, some clothes he might need, as well as some light sticks that were left over from the supplies that were there. He went to his dresser and opened a box, which contained a headband with a bright red stone in the middle of it. His dead arthropod friend, Zarcon used this before to communicate with Jeff and the lingworts. He didn't know if he would need it or not, but he felt he should bring it anyway. He left a couple of lasers for George, but he left instructions not to use them unless absolutely necessary. He tried to say goodbye to his friends, but Dormiton and Milgic were no where to be found that morning. He assumed they ran off somewhere fishing, or picking berries in the jungle.

  They were greeted by Carver as they boarded. "Morning, Jeff, Lori," he said. "I'm glad you decided to come. You won't regret it."

  "I have a feeling that I already do," Jeff said.

  "It won't be as hard as last time," Carver said. "You'll have help this time. I'll make sure of that."

  "I'm glad to hear that, " Jeff said. "There is one condition, however."

  "What's that?"

  "Lori's going with me on the mission."

  "You're both okay with that?"

  "Yes, "Lori answered. "We talked it over last night.

  "Well then," Carver laughed. "Shall we get started?"

  The ship's door closed, Carver turned on the main propulsion system, and the two strapped themselves into their seats and prepared for liftoff. There were three other men on board, which seemed to be enough to pilot the ship. Jeff watched the viewing screen, as they rose above the beach, and stared at the blue ocean below. He began to wonder once again what he was about to get himself into; he faced Balta three times before, and every time, he scared the hell out of Jeff.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Cely's defense system was operational now, but he didn't dare use it within the confinement of the ship. The electrical field emitted might interfere with the ship's operating system, and get them all killed. At least all of his other systems were working properly now, even though he was still missing an arm.

  The others felt just as helpless, as they sat in the brig of the Tolarion ship. Angelica felt as though she failed her father. If there was only some way she could've stopped her father from entering the singularity, she could've stopped this whole chain of events from happening in the first place. She kept asking herself why he created these beings, and what his end motive must have been. She felt if she could only get an ounce of truth out of someone, she would get her a
nswer, but didn't see that happening any time soon.

  As they sat in the quiet solitude of the brig, she bent over to Rollings, who was across from her, and the only one awake, other than Cely. "I'm sorry I slapped you earlier," she told him, touching his hand.

  "Forget it," he said, as he looked into her pretty brown eyes. "I warned you he was dangerous, you should have heeded my warning." He moved his hand away, a little apprehensive of her show of affection.

  "Do you think we have a chance at getting out of this alive?"

  "Not if he gets to Garlicia," Rollings answered. "Once he gets us there, he'll either kill us, or work us over until we're dead. You'll live until he no longer needs you. Then he'll kill you too."

  "Then we've got to come up with some kind of a plan. Do you think you can get the others to go along with it?"

  "They may not like it, but they will if they have to go along with it if they want to live."

  Cely turned towards Angelica.

  "My defense system has regenerated itself, but it is risky to use within the ship," he said. "If I can somehow get next to Balta, I could shock only him, but no one can interfere when I do, or they will be affected as well. I have to get him totally alone, and away from any machinery that will affect the propulsion or life support systems."

  "That will be hard," Rollings said. "There has to be another way."

  "Perhaps if one of us agreed to cooperate with him? " Malone suggested, as he awoke. "He would've let us go by now."

  "What is your problem?' Angelica snapped, as she rose to her feet. "Can't you see what he just did? He has no intention of letting any of us go!"

  "Malone knows that," Rollings stated. "He's just got a beef with everybody. When are you going to take that chip off your shoulder?'

  "When I'm lying on a beach somewhere, drinking a Valles Marineris Sunrise," he said.

  "Well, the way things are going lately," Rollings said. "That could be a very long time."

  "Perhaps if I were to talk to him," Angelica said. "With Cely, I could get him to give me a tour of the ship. Then we could get him alone."

  "You tried talking to him already, remember?" Garlona added, as he and Varloo also awoke.

  "This time maybe I could be more friendly, and get him to trust me, by asking more about my father," Angelica suggested.

  "What excuse do you have for the robot being with you?" Malone asked.

  "I am an android, not a robot," Cely said.

  "I'll say that if he wants my cooperation, Cely must accompany me," Angelica said.

  "You presume an awful lot, Ms. Avery," Rollings said. "Balta will never buy it."

  "He might," Garlona said. "You know how he likes to sensationalize. It will give him an excuse to brag."

  "Do you really think he's that stupid?" Malone said.

  "I will ask to speak with him alone with Cely and one guard," Angelica said. "Then at least the odds will be even."

  "How do you figure?" Malone asked. "Balta and his guard are twice as strong as you and that one armed hunk of metal!"

  "You don't like me very much, do you?" Cely asked.

  "You just computed that assumption?" Malone quipped.

  "Enough of this bickering!" Rollings yelled. "We have to at least give it a try. He is partial to you, Angelica, and won't kill you until he gets what he needs from you. It might be our only chance."

  "I tend to agree with Rollings," Garlona stated. "We have at least try something. In the meantime, we've got to keep the other guards occupied."

  "How," Malone asked. "We're stuck in here."

  "A diversion," Varloo said. "You're about to be ill, Malone."

  The four feet high gray humanoid placed his hand on Malone's forehead, and he became dizzy and fainted. Garlona picked him up and placed him on one of the makeshift beds in the brig. Angelica then turned towards Varloo.

  "If you had mental abilities, why didn't you use them earlier?" she asked.

  "I have my reasons," Varloo said. "Besides, they're limited. "I am only telepathic, not telekinetic. All Balta has to do is fire his weapon at me, and I'm finished. He'll be asleep for about twenty minutes. Then he'll wake up with an awful stomach ache, but it'll only last a couple of minutes. That's when we'll have to make our move."

  Angelica didn't really believe his explanation; and sensed he was holding back. Nonetheless, she approached the large door, and spoke into the radio.

  "I need to speak with Balta," she said. "I have something that I have to discuss with him."

  There was a slight silence, and then the guard answered. "He has nothing further to discuss until we reach Garlicia," he said.

  "I have to ask him something about my father, privately."

  There was another thirty seconds of silence, and then the guard responded. "He is coming back to see you in a moment."

  "Be careful," Rollings told her. "You don't know who you're dealing with."

  "I can handle myself quite well, thank you."

  "I can see that," he answered. The door opened, and Balta faced her again. Two guards stood behind him holding lasers.

  "What do you wish to talk to me about?" he asked.

  "I said in private," she retorted.

  "Tell me the nature of your question, and I might consider it."

  "It's about my father."

  "What about him?"

  "I believe my father might have stored some of the information that you seek in Cely's databank."

  "You're lying," he snorted.

  "Just like you lied about his death?"

  "I didn't lie. Jeff Walker did kill him."

  "Prove it."

  "Ms. Avery, " he laughed. "Like I said before, I have no reason to lie about it."

  "Maybe you want her to believe that," Rollings snapped. "As part of your plan."

  "Torga," he said to his guard on his left. "If he speaks again, shoot him."

  The guard stepped in the brig and pointed the laser at his chest. Rollings backed away, and sat down.

  "Now, Ms. Avery, back to the matter at hand," Balta stated. "Why should I believe that all of sudden, your robot has your father's records?"

  "I'm an android, not a robot," Cely corrected him, unable to comprehend why everyone had a problem differentiating the two.

  "I didn't realize it until his system was working properly," Angelica answered.

  "Very well," Balta said. "We can move over to the interrogation room. But I'll warn you, Ms. Avery. Any attempt to escape, I'll have your friends killed, and your android dismantled for parts. Is that understood?"

  She nodded, and she and Cely were directed to the room across the hall, while the door to the brig shut. One guard stayed in front of it, and Torga went in the room with them. The other two remaining Tolarions were up front navigating the ship.

  "Sit down, " he told her, as she saw there was a table and four chairs. She sat, and wondered what move she would have to make to get out of this situation. The guard remained in front of the doorway, to prevent her from escaping. "Now, perform whatever procedure you have to do to get your android to transfer the information to our computers."

  "A few questions first," Angelica boldly said.

  "Fair enough," he said. "I've got time to spare."

  "You said my father grew a hatred of the human race? Why?"

  "He felt they betrayed them. They didn't assist him in his efforts, and condemned his research."

  "Not all humans," she stated. "Just the ones he was working for. Besides, how would you know anything about NASA?"

  "He told me everything about his past, including the fact that you were an illegitimate child."

  "That's none of your business!" Angelica yelled in anger.

  "He seemed to think it was," Balta answered. "Ms. Avery, do not think because I'm willing to answer your questions, I will tolerate insubordination. I'll kill you, take your blood and embryos anyway, and extract the information I need from your android!"

  She calmed down, and sulked for a moment. "Why
would he create your race for conquest?" she asked. "He was a peaceful man. He didn't believe in war."

  "Apparently," he said. "You didn't know him as well as you thought."

  "And you knew him better than his own daughter?"

  "I am technically his son. As I am technically your brother."

  "I don't know what you are, but you're not my brother!"

  At that moment Cely looked at her, as if to prompt her for action.

  "Ms. Avery," he said. "I am ready for the transference of data to the main computer."

  "Well," Balta said. "That's more like it."

  Angelica and Cely stood up, as if to head for the bridge, and Balta stood up as well. As they did, Cely reached across the table, sending a surge of electricity into the ape-like creature, rendering him unconscious. He shook violently on the floor when he fell, dazed, but not dead. Before Torga could draw his laser, Angelica jumped over the table, and gave him a lethal roundhouse kick in the head, which broke his neck. She turned toward Cely, handing him Toga's laser. Angelica grabbed Balta's, and headed towards the door.

  "We make quite an effective team," she told him.

  "We're not out of this yet,” Cely reminded her. "There's still a guard outside, and two more up front."

  "When I open the door, shoot the guard."

  "Won't that alert the other guards?"

  "What do you suggest then?"

  "If you get him close enough, I will disarm him."

  Angelica opened the door device, and moved next to the door. When the guard saw Balta lying on the floor, he entered, and Cely gave him a karate chop to his neck, dropping him. The two exited and opened the brig control, allowing the others to escape. Varloo and Garlona helped Malone to his feet, as he started to recover, and Rollings followed.

  "Well, so much for the diversion, " Malone groaned. "Apparently she didn't need our help after all."