by Angela Timms
Kyla was on her third cup of tea when she went to the sink, washed it up and turned to Kel. “Come on, we might as well go and take a look in the Church. It’s pointless us standing around here waiting. What do the rest of you say? Shall we go and see what we can find out?”
Rennon looked up from screwing down a loose wire. “It would make sense but it is likely to be a place where there is going to be something you might activate. Without the scanners you might not know. Sorry Kyla, I think you and Kel are going to have to sit things out for a bit. Why don’t you take a walk over to the shop and pick us up some supplies. Eating at the Tavern is fine but we’re likely to do some late nights so having something in the cupboard will come in handy.”
The shop was pretty much outside the Tavern, just a little way along the street. It was a small building that was stuffed full of the basics in life as well as a few luxuries like jam and spreads. There was also the stand of souvenirs, soft toys, maps and other pieces of information about the island. They picked up a basket and started by the door. The bread was just as they had been told, in the freezer so Kel grabbed a loaf out and put it in the basket. Kyla was a little thrown as she hadn’t really had a chance to think about what to buy. Also seeing Kel in ordinary Earth clothes was unnerving her. He did look quite different. His slim waist and well-toned muscles set off the loose fitting white cotton shirt, faded jeans and trainers. His hair was neatly brushed and tied back at his neck. He was busy trying to decide what else they needed. Kyla reached across him and put some butter in the basket. Then they made their way around until the basket was brimming full of snacks and staples.
The woman behind the till was smiling at them. She had mid length blonde curly hair and an optimistic look about her. “Welcome to Lundy, is this your first visit?”
Kel put the basket on the counter and looked to Kyla for help. She pushed the handles of the basket down and smiled back at the lady. “Yes, we’re staying at the Castle.”
The woman started cashing up the goods. “Let’s hope this weather holds and you should have a good time. Are you staying long?”
Kyla jumped a little as she didn’t really know how long they were expecting to stay. “Oh I hope so. It all depends on his job, he might get a phone call and we’ll have to go.” Her mind raced. She’d forgotten Kel’s assumed name but the woman didn’t seem to have noticed.
She was turning a jar looking for the price. “That would be a pity. One of the good things about Lundy as a peaceful place was that there was only one phone in the Tavern. With the invention of mobile phones all that changed. It is no longer the escape it once was. You came on the helicopter didn’t you? I’ve always preferred that, much easier than the boat if you don’t take well to that sort of thing. You are that group coming to look over the place for another roleplaying game aren’t you? I’ll never forget the one many years ago, that was quite an experience. You know they were doing a 1920 type game and someone even bought a bath chair. Then there was the one with the film quality props, something to do with a book or a film, or both, I think. There were some strange creatures walking about then. There was another one like that later. What era are you planning?”
Kyla took a deep breath and looked at Kel for some support but he was subtly looking at something on the display stand. “We thought modern day with a bit of an aliens twist.”
The woman smiled broadly. “Well that sounds like fun. Make sure you get down to the cave near the castle and you’ll do well to put one of your players at Admiralty Lookout, it’s a spooky old place on occasion. There have been a few things going on there, especially when there are games going on. Then there seem to be various things that happen when there are games on that don’t happen any other time.”
Kyla took a step forwards and Kel started to pay more attention. “Really, any chance you could tell us about it. I’d like to be forewarned. What sort of happenings?”
The woman looked pleased with herself and settled down into a steady rhythm of putting the goods through the till. “Well, it started off fairly small. There have always been sightings of a lady in a blue dress in the big house but we had a psychic staying in the house a few years back and it all stopped when she left. My guess is that she dealt with the unquiet spirit. Then there were the faces at the window that someone saw on one event. The crew swore they were in the camping barn across the way and that was quite a way from the building where it happened.”
Kyla tried to be as fascinated as she could manage. “And what about the Castle?”
The woman hesitated. “Well that place used to be open inside; the cottages are a recent addition in the grand scale of things. It used to be open to the elements and the Mariscos who used to live here, a bunch of pirates, used to keep their slaves in there before transporting them. They’d hide them from the customs men. Anyway, by all accounts many died and they left unquiet spirits around there. There was one report of a young psychic staying at the castle who was standing in the kitchen one day talking to someone in the living room. She felt someone behind her, a bony finger down her back and her bra strap was undone. Now that is about as physical as I have heard of something being but that would have terrified me.”
Kyla looked up at Kel who smiled reassuringly.
The woman had finished running the goods through the till. “I wouldn’t worry with a strong man like him here to protect you. You’ll be quite safe. Now I’ve been told that you are putting everything on account and it will be settled at the Tavern, which is fine by me. Is there anything else you would like? It isn’t as if you can run away without paying.”
Kyla reached out and put a couple of extra torches onto the counter. “Just to be sure.”
Kel raised an eyebrow.
Kyla looked a bit sheepish. “I’d like one beside my bed and one as a spare.” Kel smiled and shook his head. “Scaring the tourists must be good for business. Go on, have the torches. It can’t hurt.”
They grabbed the bags, said goodbye to the woman and left the shop. They were just about to pass the Tavern when Kel turned to Kyla. “Would you like a coffee or something? I’d like a chance to have a chat and we’re bound not to be needed for hours yet.”
Kyla looked at the bags and thought through what they had bought in case anything would spoil. The only thing frozen was the bread and they needed that unfrozen anyway. “Sure, sounds like a good idea.”
Kel went in first, followed by Kyla and they wandered down to the main bar. It was empty except for the barman. He was there wiping up cups and setting out cutlery that had come from the kitchen washed. “Good morning, can I help you?”
Kel stepped up to the counter. “Two coffees sound like a good idea. Kyla, would you like anything else?”
Kyla shook her head. The barman poured the coffees and handed them to Kel. He followed Kyla into the main room and they went upstairs onto the balcony.
Somehow the atmosphere was different up there; it felt much more rustic and maritime. The rail was a bit like that on a ship and the tables long wooden ones with chairs running along their length. They were lined up with the narrow end close to the rail, the chairs then arranged around them. There was a small single table near the window.
Kyla slid along the chairs and sat on the end one overlooking the balcony. Kel sat opposite her and put her coffee down in front of her. He sat looking awkward.
Kyla smiled into her coffee and almost took a sip but it was too hot. “Kel, you don’t need to feel awkward. Just say what is on your mind.”
Kel looked down. “I still feel guilty about what happened when we met.” Kyla put her cup down. “If I say it a hundred times it isn’t going to have any more effect than the first. What happened was not you, it was the drugs that were affecting you. There is violence in your nature, but I’m no dainty princess terrified of her own shadow. We are people who have come from worlds where we have to survive. I survived it, I healed. Forget it or at least put it aside or it will needlessly spoil your future.”
&nbs
p; Kel looked deep into her eyes. “But did you heal? I still see you feeling pain sometimes.”
Kyla jumped slightly. “I didn’t think anyone noticed. I have lots of old battle scars, you gave me one or two more but that was in our battle against the Followers. I forgave you a long time ago if that is what you are worried about.”
Kel smiled slightly. “Well yes and no. I know you have forgiven me, I just haven’t forgiven myself. I should have been stronger willed.”
Kyla took his hand. “There was nothing you could have done against that drug; it was a complete mind overwrite with excessive violence. I bless the violence in your nature that you have tamed and use against our enemies. It is a part of who you are, you have embraced it and weald it like any other weapon. That doesn’t stop you being a kind and gentle man as well. We all have darkness and deep down violence in our nature. That is how we are created and what we need to survive. It is in embracing all facets of our personality that we can become balanced and able to use those aspects when they are appropriate. It is that quality in you that I truly admire. You are a master of your art. That drug removed the balance and you can’t punish yourself for that. You have protected me on countless occasions since that day. So, can we forget it? Actually, no, better than that, I have an idea. When we get back to Mission Command I want you to book the training room. I’m going to meet you on my own terms and see how you feel after I kick your butt.”
Kel took a sip of his coffee and laughed. “I’d like to, hurting you haunts my dreams.”
Kyla smiled wryly. “Well, believe me giving you a beating won’t haunt mine. A fair fight is what you need. I never really thanked you for sorting the tribe out.”
Kel hesitated. “Do you miss your old
life?” Kyla looked sad. “Of course I do.”
Kel contemplated his coffee. “If you had the opportunity, would you go back?”
Kyla smiled at him. “No, that is a stage of life that is over. I’d go back to visit but I don’t belong there anymore. My home, my life and my family are on the base now.”
Kel smiled broadly. “That is good to hear.” He put his hand over her hand and their eyes met across the table. “This bloodline fascinates me. If we are of the same tribe I am wondering why I haven’t got it.”
Kyla thought for a moment. “Well, there is one family which may have come to your planet and met someone there. Only their descendants would have the bloodline, not the whole population. It is supposed to be something “from the stars” but how it can be the same everywhere mystifies me. It must have started somewhere.”
Kel was thinking too now. “So if we can find out where the bloodline originated it might help.”
Kyla thought about that. “It might but wanting and needing to know is personal. That it may help in general is just a bonus.”
Kel nodded. “The bone faced warriors worry me. That carapace is created and it is possible that has some influence from the entity or individual that they follow. That is a very chilling thought.”
Kyla paused. “I thought that the bone faced warriors were mutated? So what if what we are looking for is through that portal?”
Kel smiled. “I was watching and listening enough to pick up that they are putting their own gate on the portal. That will mean that if we can activate it we can control who goes in and out.”
He reached across the table, leaning forward as if to kiss her. He waited a moment, expecting a slap or for her to pull away but she didn’t. He reached forwards and cupped her head with his hand, feeling the soft silkiness of her hair.
Someone clattered some cutlery downstairs and they both pulled away as if guilty. Kyla took a drink of coffee. “I, well, I. Look, it’s a long story. I’ll tell you one day. I can’t but can we just get on with life and be friends?”
Kel smiled. “Well I’m sure you’ll tell me one day.”
Kyla smiled back. “We’d better be getting back or they will be worrying.” They left the Tavern and headed back to the Castle.
9
Rennon sat in the cave, a laptop on his lap, a paper notebook on the dusty floor beside him. Damien sat beside him, he too had a laptop and they were both typing away franticly. Results sprang up simultaneously on both screens.
Damien looked at Rennon. “Well I never, Eion Particles. I wasn’t expecting that.”
Rennon looked just as surprised. “Last thing I expected. So, that means whatever technology they have here is the same as the drives we use to move through the corridors between the dimensions. You know what that means? We may well have a gateway here or at least some sort of gateway technology similar to that set up in Wales. You’ve heard about them I presume?”
Damien looked down at the scanner readout. “Eion Drives I have heard about but that’s a technology of your world, not ours.”
Rennon lay back against the cave wall. “Finding that Eion technology here means we are looking at what could be a gateway to a dimensional space. If its latent technology and what I mean by that is that it was left for many years just holding the gateway shut then it would be using the particles as they never run out as infinite dimensions collide at any one point so theoretically there is a constant supply of them. The machine wouldn’t need to be manned or recharged. There has to be a device somewhere in this cave and my money is on this wall not being as solid as it looks. It is disappointing in a way as it could mean that whoever put that gateway there or at least locked it could be long gone.”
Damien looked down at his results. “Shall we get Kyla in here? She may well be able to make it function and then we can locate where it is.”
Rennon nodded. “The scanner doesn’t seem to be able to pinpoint any technology so it might be our only option. Whatever is here has been hidden here for a very long time and no doubt countless tourists have been down here and touched the wall. Thank goodness none of them had the bloodline. I’ll go and get her; they should be back by now. You coming?” Damien looked down at the readings. “No, I’ll stay put here and see if I can get an idea of whether there is any sort of event horizon. It doesn’t take two of us.”
Rennon smiled. “So much for don’t split the party. Ok, I’ll be as quick as I can. Watch yourself.” He set his laptop on the ground and left it monitoring. “I’ve set it to watch the Eion Particles and to look for any spikes. If you see anything, get out of here fast.” He then walked out of the cave and ran up the path to the Castle not stopping until he got to the courtyard. Kel and Kyla were there chatting to Connor about the star constellations the night before.
They looked up as Rennon jumped down the stairs. “Good, just the person I’m looking for. Kyla, we have detected Eion particles. Sorry, better explain, Eion Particles are what we use for a power source for IDT, sorry, Inter Dimensional Travel. We store them in imploded glass; they also power blasters and a lot of other things that need a power source. The type of Eion Particles down there is the same as we use in travel and they are harvested while travelling through the corridors so they do not occur naturally in any dimension. So there may be some sort of dimensional travelling device hidden in the cave. We can’t find it with scanners so we were hoping you could activate it so that we could try to pinpoint where it is.”
Kyla smiled. “Sure, where’s Damien?”
Rennon turned to go. “He’s still doing some tests and monitoring the cave so I don’t want to be too long and leave him by himself just in case something happens.”
Kyla sprang up the stairs and followed him to the cave. Kel stuck to her like glue and Connor wasn’t far behind after calling to the others to join them. Rennon was first into the cave and he skidded to a halt. The equipment was strewn about the floor and there was no sign of Damien. The laptop that had been on his lap was lying on its side like an open book. Rennon’s laptop was still where it had been, showing its readings. Rennon went straight to it and tapped a few keys. “Looks like there were a couple of spikes really close together. I told him to run if he saw anything. I shouldn’t
have left him.”
Kyla shook her head. “Get ready to do your detecting I’m going to see if I can’t make this work.” She stepped forwards.
Kel stepped in behind her, his pistol drawn, safety off. He put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed his fingers closed gently. “I’m right behind you, just be careful eh?”
Kyla rested her cheek on his fingers. “Sure, I’ll be as careful as I can. If I was being careful I wouldn’t be here. I’ve no idea what I’m doing but I’ll just try touching the wall to start with.”
She reached forwards and touched the wall with her fingers. Immediately she felt a tingling which ran up her arm. “There’s definitely energy coming from the wall but that may be the shield. I’m going to put my hand on it and try to make it open. I want anyone who isn’t monitoring or involved in this outside the cave. You too Kel.”
Kel looked down. “No way, I’m staying put.”
Kyla shrugged. “Well you be careful then. Rennon, I want you monitoring but not as close.” Rennon looked up from typing. “Not really, I need to be able to move the device to detect precisely where the object or machine may be. I’m going to have to try to triangulate it by using my device and Damien’s. I’m ready, how about you?”
Kyla took a deep breath. “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. I’m going to put both hands on the wall and then move about until I get some sort of energy signature. If you’d like to move the scanner with me hopefully we can get a reading fairly fast.” Kyla put her hands on the wall in the center and was pushed back by a rush of energy. Kel managed to catch her and to hold her up. She stepped forwards and put her hands on the wall again and this time it began to shimmer. A white light pentagram began to glow on top of it. “That’s the shield, the protection that was put on it all those years ago. I’m going to go for reaching beyond that now. It isn’t a complete shield; it seems to be specific and will only protect us from certain things. I’m going to reach beyond and try to touch the wall itself. Rennon, any readings?” Rennon was moving the wand of the scanner over the wall. “I’ve got Star Energy mixed with Earth Energy, that must be the shield and I’m starting to get trace Eion Particles. Definitely getting stronger, oh boy, look at that, I think we’re about to get a spike, heads up people.”
