2288 A.D. - ALTERNATE DIMENSIONS: To the End of Infinity (The Ashlyn Chronicles)

by R. Brown

  Steven had learned from the Keeper that at the moment of their insertion point into the battle, Enki’s original fleet of forty-one ships would be down to just five. Five battered and barely operational vessels that were on backup life-support. The four remaining support vessels were limping toward their own Flagship, seeking nothing more than to die honorably beside Enki, their Lord Commander and friend.

  Enki’s own battlecruiser, the Flagship Destiny 1, which had been provided to him by his father Anu—was inoperable. She was in a slow tumble to her starboard side. Small explosions were erupting around her hull, sending yet more pieces into the junkyard of drifting debris. The tattered ship was little more than a coffin for the dead and dying aboard her.

  Enlil’s larger fleet of fifty-nine ships, now reduced to twenty-one were moving in for the kill. The battle was over, his victory certain. Striking the final blow, each of Enlil’s ships released a volley of missiles.

  There was nothing in the way to stop them—except the Destiny 2. “Fire,” shouted Steven. The moment Steven and the Keeper had strategized for had arrived. In a devastating barrage, dozens of laser turrets began systematically knocking out Enlil’s fired missiles with flawless precision. Near simultaneous plasma explosions turned the dark depths of space into day. In a matter of seconds every missile of Enlil’s was destroyed. Not a single one got through to Enki’s floundering ships.

  “Fire all missiles,” ordered Steven. From Destiny 2’s fifty-two missile turrets, more than a thousand missiles launched.

  The tactical data the Keeper had provided to Steven of the battle, revealed that Enlil’s weakened ships would be caught off-guard, unable to evade the flanking surprise attack.

  “Engage boosters and take us in.” The Destiny 2 rocketed forward, trailing only seconds behind the curtain of missiles closing on Enlil’s fleet. “As soon as we’re beyond the debris field, extend our shields around Enki’s fleet.”

  The field of view through the forward window was a blur of motion. Like a threatened beehive, the enemy fleet was scattering, disjointedly fleeing in all directions. The desperation of the vessels was evident as two of the larger destroyers chose similar vectors and careened into one another.

  In front of Destiny 2, ships began exploding as the missiles closed on their targets. Debris was sent hurtling in all directions. “Prepare for impact,” announced the Keeper as they started to pass through the core of the debris field. Even with the shields at maximum, the concussions from the larger impacts rocked the ship hard. The noise was deafening. The lights flickered as the Keeper rerouted power, fortifying the strained shields.

  “Five seconds until we clear the debris field.”

  A wide-eyed Ashlyn was holding her breath as the Keeper dipped beneath a massive, tumbling section of a destroyed ship. Her grasp upon Steven’s arm tightened drawing his gaze away from the display on his chair. Like Ashlyn, he stared in awe as it rolled past, just feet above them.

  Destiny 2, now clear of the main debris field, “Extending shields around Lord Enki’s fleet,” announced the Keeper. The light blue haze of the shields could be seen enveloping the five ships of Enki’s fleet. Destiny 2 came to a stop, her massive hull now providing a barrier of protection for Enki and his ships. “Enlil’s support ships have all been destroyed.”

  “Bring all weapons to bear upon Enlil’s ship and fire!” ordered Steven. In unison, while the lasers were firing, the missile turrets aboard Destiny 2 swiveled into position toward Enlil’s own Class One, Battlecruiser.

  “Missiles launched.” A tremor vibrated through the hull as the missiles left their launch arrays.

  Steven would have given near anything to see the look on Enlil’s face. In a matter of seconds, he had gone from absolute victory to utter defeat. On the enhanced screen, Steven could see the lasers striking the battlecruiser’s shields.

  “Enlil’s shields are at twelve percent and falling.”

  As Steven watched the missiles closing on Enlil, he recalled the information the Keeper had shared with him. He’d explained the layered dynamics of the resulting paradox effect from their journey back in time. The two ships, Enki’s and Steven’s, were in fact the same vessel. The Destiny which Enki now commanded being the same one Steven brought back from the future, almost seven-thousand years distant.

  Steven had learned that it was Anu who’d been the coordinator behind their backward trip through time. He and the Council had intentionally created a time paradox, knowing it would result in there being two Flagships. Anu knew that Enlil’s larger fleet could overcome one Destiny and her accompanying support ships—but not two.

  “Enlil’s shields have dropped to four percent. Missiles arriving in 10-9-8 … Lord Steven, my scans show that Enlil’s battlecruiser is opening a wormhole.”

  “Will our missiles get there before—” In a flash of light, the wormhole collapsed and Enlil was gone. He’d escaped a split-second before the missiles arrived.

  “Keeper, I have a question,” said Ashlyn. “What’s to stop him from going through the gate like we did and going back in time, starting this all over again?”

  “Enlil does not have access to the time gate. It cannot be opened without a unanimous decision from all twelve members of the Council. Each member has a sequential piece of the code. Therefore, if even one member disagrees, the gate cannot be opened. It is a precaution against the gate being misused. It is a power that is too great for any one person to possess.

  “Lord Steven, Enlil’s ship was badly damaged by our first volley of missiles. Scans recorded several explosions from his vessel, even as he made the jump.”

  “Thank you. Keeper, look for survivors among the wreckage,” ordered Steven. “If you find any, beam them straight to—”

  “There are no survivors,” said the Keeper. “And the term you are looking for is Spatial Transference.”

  Steven grimaced. “Don’t be so stuffy, Keeper. I know the terminology, but I want to change the term to beaming. It holds great nostalgia to our people.”

  “As you wish, Lord Steven.”

  “Why didn’t you warn me about the battle we were flying into?” asked Ashlyn. “I wasn’t expecting anything like that at all.”

  “And spoil all the fun. No way,” responded Steven. “You ready to go?”

  “Yeah. It’s time to make some new friends,” said Ashlyn.

  “All right, Keeper. Beam us over to Destiny 1,” said Steven through a crooked grin.

  “Hold up a sec.” said Ash interrupting. “Steven, why didn’t we just go back a few minutes earlier in time? Maybe we could have saved Enki’s entire fleet, saving hundreds of lives?”

  “Keeper, I’ll leave that one to you, if you don’t mind.” Steven reclined in his chair, waiting for him to explain.

  “We already did that once, Lady Ashlyn. You and Lord Steven were successful in helping Enki win the battle—but you and Lord Steven did not survive the encounter. The consequences of your deaths were severe. In that timeline’s future, there were other dangers that presented themselves, but because you were not there to confront them, your world died. No one survived.

  “Because of this, Anu called for the Council of Twelve to intercede. He fought on behalf of your people, your world. He told them that Earth should not suffer for a situation that his own son had caused.

  “The Council agreed, and they decided to reset the timeline. They chose to insert you into the battle at a later point in time, the moment when Enlil’s fleet would be at its weakest—the element of surprise at its greatest—and your safety assured. The results you achieved today are the outcome they had hoped for.”

  “Now you know why we were needed here,” said Steven.

  “You already knew?” questioned Ash. “You knew that the other Steven and Ashlyn had failed—that they were dead?”

  Steven wagged his head and shrugged. “Yes—it was part of the downloaded information the Keeper gave me.”

  “It doesn’t make senses. Why the Anunnak
i would sacrifice most of their own fleet to save us,” said Ashlyn. “Why would they put the fate of our world ahead of their own people?”

  “We may never know, Ash—but one thing is certain, we owe them.”

  “I am sorry, and I do not want to rush you, Lady Ashlyn, but Lord Enki urgently needs you.”

  “Me?” said Ashlyn to the Keeper. “Why?”

  “I urge you to hurry. We have delayed too long already.”

  Steven took a deep breath and put his hand out, inviting Ashlyn. As they joined hands, “Beam us over to the Destiny 1, Keeper.”

  Chapter 6

  “They are coming,” said Enki, his voice weak and barely audible over the sound of crackling circuitry and electrical fires on the bridge. A light haze of smoke was drifting through the air, creating deep shadows that the dim lights of the strained emergency backup system could not erase.

  Ninmah leaned closer to the lips of her dying husband and asked, “Who is coming?”

  Sitting in a pool of Enki’s blood, Ninmah coddled Enki in her lap, a wide gash across his abdomen. Enki coughed, spatting yet more blood upon Ninmah’s bare chest.

  On the bridge of Destiny 1, a soft whirring sound could be heard. The crew recognized it as the sound of the Spatial Transporter. They drew their weapons and formed a circle around Enki, protecting him from Enlil’s boarding forces.

  As the figures within the field coalesced and the crew saw that the two people arriving were unarmed and not a threat, their weapons slowly lowered. Those protecting Enki parted, letting him see the strangers that had appeared.

  Steven and Ashlyn were taken aback by what they saw. Like Destiny 2, the bridge was in its battle configuration. The stations were unmanned as a dozen or more of the crew were scattered around the room, dead—some dismembered. Part of the hull was missing, blown-out. The Keeper had erected a temporary containment field, saving the lives of those left on the bridge. The survivors were beaten, weary, and not bothering to mend their wounds. They were prepared to die.

  Enki was lying on the floor between them in the arms of his wife. The crew was gathered around him, resigned and supportive of their dying commander. Steven and Ashlyn couldn’t help but notice that the seven women on the bridge—the four dead and the three living, were all unclothed. Neither Steven or Ashlyn had ever known that it was natural for Anunnaki women to be naked. Though Tynabo had hinted at such in the recording back in Denver, Steven now understood fully the reason behind Ashlyn’s loathing of clothes. It was natural to her genetics.

  Though he was dying, Enki’s eyes brightened at seeing them. “See, Nin. My father had promised help would come.”

  Looking up at Steven and Ashlyn, though overwhelmed by sadness, Ninmah’s lips formed a narrow smile. Her endearing gaze invited them to come closer.

  They approached and knelt beside Enki, though it be in the pool of blood. He, like the other men were dressed in black leathers—those befitting a warrior.

  Enki’s eyes were as deep and compassionate as they remembered in their discussion with him, two days before.

  Steven spoke. “Your crew is safe, Lord Enki. Enlil’s fleet is destroyed. Only his battlecruiser escaped.” It was a welcome revelation to the crew. With their sensors down they hadn’t been able to see the battle taking place outside.

  “You did that?” said Ninmah. “You destroyed all his ships?”

  “All but Enlil’s. He initiated a jump to Hadaesia before our second volley of missiles arrived.”

  “Hadaesia?” Ninmah looked at him with questioning eyes. While the word held meaning to her as an Anunnaki, using it in the context Steven had, bewildered her.

  “Excuse me, Earth. Hadaesia is what your Earth’s name will someday become,” said Steven, wondering if he had made a mistake in explaining.

  “I think I understand. Hadaesia? It will be a fitting name for the place where Lord Enlil will die. But still, you must go after him.” Ninmah paused. “I am sorry. I do not even know your names.”

  “This is Ashlyn. I am Steven. We have come a long way to be here today. We are aboard the Destiny. Our Destiny.”

  Enki stiffened, a jolt of pain making him grimace as he sought for the strength to speak.

  The eyes of Ninmah and Enki locked. They were talking to one another, silently—within their minds. When they looked up, Ninmah spoke. “We understand. We do not know how you were able to do so, but we understand.”

  Enki strained to reach out and take Ashlyn’s hand. With the touch, Enki inhaled deeply. His eyes drifted upwards to meet with Ninmah’s. Ninmah’s eyes tightened, and she cocked her head to the side as if she were questioning Enki’s thoughts. When she looked up, her eyes were fixed on Ashlyn. “You—you are a Transor?”

  The room grew quiet. The shoulders of the crew straightened. They exchanged glances. The word Transor had tapped into deep memories and fearful emotions in their subconscious.

  Enki coughed again, spouting more blood.

  “Though I am a doctor, his wounds are beyond my skills. And he is too weak and injured to shift form and save himself—but you can save him,” said Ninmah, her face pleading for Ashlyn to try.

  “I don’t have that ability,” answered Ash, saddened that she even had to utter the disappointing words.

  “Yes, you do. Enki senses it. He is a very strong and gifted empath. He can see inside the soul of an individual.” Ninmah looked down at Enki, and nodded before again looking up. “He says that you are just unskilled. That you do not yet know the power you possess. He asks you to try. Please.”

  Ashlyn shot a quick glance at Steven seeking reassurance. She found it in his sympathetic and loving eyes.

  Taking in a large breath of air to strengthen her resolve, she took Enki’s hand between her two palms. She had no idea of what to do or how to tap into the ability, or if it even really existed. Closing her eyes, she focused on blocking out the sounds around her. As the sounds faded, her mind stretched, searching within herself for an emotion to cling to—a thought that could guide her. She tried to envision Enki’s wounds but found herself unable to do so. Her mind was clouded with doubt.

  Ash opened her eyes and looked at Steven. She shook her head.

  Into Ashlyn’s mind, Steven whispered, “You can do it, Ash. I believe in you. It’s Enki who saves us in the future. We can’t let him die. It might change everything for us.”

  Ninmah noticed the private conversation they were having and the shared nods between them. She could tell that Steven was giving Ashlyn encouragement.

  Taking a deep breath, Ashlyn tightened her grasp upon Enki’s hand. She refocused—determination framing her face. She began to feel the intense pain that Enki was feeling, and she reached out, embracing it. It became a part of her. What he felt, she felt. Ashlyn could feel Enki’s fading life-force. She could hear the slowing of his heart and feel his lungs fighting for every breath.

  She grasped onto the flow of energy surging within her. The transcendent manifestation of her desire to save him, held a calming warmth that was almost spiritual.

  Enki inhaled deeply. His head tipped back and his body stiffened. A moment later he went limp, exhaling the air in his lungs. His chest did not rise again. Ninmah’s head dropped; a sigh escaped her. A tear fell from her eyes upon Enki’s face as she leaned forward and swept her fingers across his cheek. She gave him a tender kiss on the lips.

  Steven saw Ashlyn’s closed eyes spasm, and he knew that she’d felt the moment when Enki’s heart stopped. Without warning, Ashlyn too suddenly collapsed. Steven caught her limp body as she was falling and laid her on the ground. He checked her pulse. “Her heart’s stopped!” Though he didn’t know why, he suspected that within the depth of their connection, they were as one. And when Enki’s heart stopped so had Ashlyn’s. With the first compression of her chest, Ashlyn’s head tipped back and she took a large, gasping breath that filled her lungs. Her eyes fluttered open to see that Steven was looking at her.

  As Ashlyn weakly moved closer
to Enki—Steven helped her, taking hold of her arm.

  Again, kneeling before Enki, Ash took his hand in hers and closed her eyes. She focused, recalling the warmth of the energy she had felt moments before. She found it within her heart. Her emotional desire to heal Enki carried an intense strength. Her mind latched on to it with an iron grip.

  When Ninmah finally looked up from her husband, she saw a light emanating from inside Ashlyn, from her heart. It grew in size and brightness, spreading to her shoulders and down her arms until it enveloped her hands. The surge of light then crossed into Enki’s hand and up his arm.

  Some of those watching took a step back, some a step closer—a simultaneous expression of their fear and their hope.

  The light spread over Enki, growing in brightness. Soon, like Ashlyn, he was radiating from within. Ashlyn’s mind could see his heart. She sent a surge of energy into it.

  Ninmah noticed it first and with a simple glance at Steven, conveyed her thoughts. Ashlyn had succeeded in restarting his heart. Ninmah lifted the flap of leather covering the worst of his injuries. Only Ninmah seemed unsurprised to see that Enki’s wounds were closing, healing.

  Though unconscious, Enki took an inhaling breath. With each passing moment as his breaths grew stronger and more steady, Ashlyn grew weaker. The life-force strengthening him was draining her. Her hands were trembling, her body twitching.

  Without warning, Steven felt the room begin to spin, his vision blurred. The linked aura between him and Ashlyn was draining his energy as well. He put his hand to the floor trying to regain his balance. Ninmah noticed his stagger and put her hand on his arm, steadying him.

  The light within Enki and Ashlyn dimmed. Ash slumped backwards, unconscious. Steven caught her shoulders and pulled her into himself, gently letting her head settle upon his lap.

  Ninmah reached for a device sitting atop the navigation array next to her. She ran it down the length of Enki’s chest. “He’s alive, barely—but he’s alive. If we can get him home to Heaven, he’s got a fighting chance.”