She banged a palm on the table in frustration and let out a cry of anguish as someone knocked on the door. Jules tapped the console, sending her voice through the keypad’s speaker. “Who is it?”
It’s me.
Jules perked up. Something about the bird-like man always cheered her up, and she darted to the door, pressing it open. “Come in.”
Not surprisingly, Fontem was with Regnig, and the Terellion waited to enter until the small bird had hobbled into the office, his cane clattering loudly as he used it to assist his walking.
“How are you feeling?” Jules asked. Regnig didn’t look well, and she thought his eye was more bloodshot than usual; his feathers had a slight greasy tinge to them.
He waved a dismissive claw at her and shook his head. Do not dwell on me. My health is unimportant at the moment.
“I hardly think…” Fontem started, but a sharp glance from Regnig shut him down.
It’s time the three of us had a discussion. Regnig pointed to a chair, and Fontem took the seat. Jules found it hard to believe the antiquities collector was hundreds of years old. He looked like he was in his thirties, handsome and with smooth skin. His tan made him appear like he’d been in the sun a lot lately, but she knew he’d been staying in the library for the most part.
“What is it?” Jules asked.
Tell Fontem about the Delineator. Regnig climbed up on to a chair, and his short legs stuck out in front of him.
“You have it?” Fontem asked.
“You know we don’t.”
“It’s very dangerous.”
“I thought you said it was nearly useless. You can’t change the past, or at least not the present… or something.” Jules was quite confused by the concept of time travel, and Fontem’s explanations had made sense at the time, but it gave her a headache nonetheless.
“That’s true, but if it falls into the wrong hands…”
We believe that someone is trying to get their hands on a version of it, and that they may be working on finding a way to merge the timelines into one.
Jules squinted at Regnig, trying to decipher what that would mean. “How could they do that? There are so many versions of each of us, by Fontem’s explanation. Which version of me would be there when the dimensions merged?”
“I don’t have the answers, but if that happens, I suspect all variants would pour into one, creating a disruption large enough to trigger the end to everything,” Fontem said.
“Fontem, this is the second time you’ve warned me of the universe ending. Can’t you ever say anything positive?” she asked, trying to add some levity to the conversation. Neither of them laughed.
“Can you imagine? Each timeline coming together. What that would do to our brains…” Fontem’s eyes were wide open, his fingers intertwined over his stomach.
“Okay, do you want me to guess who’s behind this research?” Jules asked.
“You don’t have to.”
“It’s Pleva Corp, right?”
That’s correct. Regnig stared at her. Since Lom is unable to return to exact revenge, we have a feeling that he’s somehow instructing his people from another dimension. A version of the Shifter, perhaps.
Jules recalled her father telling her how badly Lom had wanted that device, and how Pleva Corp had attacked Bazarn Five, starting a war and incapacitating the tourist planet for months. Only Papa had taken it and used the sought-after tool to send the Iskios vortex to another dimension.
“If they merged, the Vortex would return…” Jules gulped, wishing her parents were here with her. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because you might be the only one who can stop it,” Fontem told her.
She thought about what she’d heard and sighed in frustration. “Okay, enough with the secret encoded messages. What is this all about? How can I do anything?”
Fontem and Regnig looked to each other, and Fontem took the lead. “We think that the Deities were able to slip through time, but there are very few references to them. I’ve exhausted my research, but it’s clear there were numerous random sightings of them for millions of years, long after the Zan’ra had been destroyed.”
“Are you saying you want me to find a Deity, even after they tried to eradicate a race from existence?” Jules didn’t like the way they were talking.
“A race they created.”
“As if that makes any difference. If anything, it’s far worse. The Zan’ra would have been like children to them, and the mere fact they could betray their bond proves there’s no way I could trust them,” Jules said, trying to keep her calm.
We wouldn’t suggest this if we didn’t think it was imperative. Regnig’s beak opened slightly, and she felt betrayed by him for the first time in her life. It was like he was trying to use her, and she hated it.
“I don’t like this. We still don’t know anything about the Zan’ra, or whether the Four still live,” she said.
“The Four?” Fontem asked.
She’s referring to the last four that fled the great purge. Fontem, we believe Jules is indeed one of the Four, and this Lan’i is another.
“I’ve seen the other, the one with orange eyes.” Jules decided there was no point in holding anything from these two.
You have?
She told them about the projected visit from the one who’d called herself Dal’i, and told them how the two had referenced her as Ja’ri.
This confirms our suspicions. This only leaves O’ri.
Jules pictured the tall and thin figure from the drawing, the one with the piercing purple crystal eyes. “Tell me what you think will happen.”
“Regnig, this is your theory, so would you mind describing it to her?” Fontem appeared nervous, and Jules turned her focus to the old bird man.
If the timelines do manage to merge, we think the Deities could prevent it, or at least fix it. I don’t know how for sure, but I do think they have a way to skip through dimensions and time, allowing them to make changes that would stick in any present they choose.
“You’re saying we could return to the past and kill Lom before any of this happened?” Jules didn’t like the idea.
That would create such a strong chain of effects that I don’t think something so rash could be done without serious implications. It’s the whole butterfly effect we’ve discussed before.
“Then what?”
“We presume you’ll have to go to the future and stop Lom from sending back messages to his team in the past. Our present,” Fontem finished for Regnig.
Jules smiled grimly. “You make it sound so simple.”
“There’s one more thing,” Fontem whispered.
“I need to rouse a god from its slumber first.” Free me! The voice echoed in her mind, and Jules closed her eyes. “I think I know where he’s resting.”
____________
The Ginda system was beautiful through the panoramic viewscreen. The bridge bustled with activity as we slowed from the hyperspeed Light traveled at. We’d decelerated a day prior so we didn’t surpass the slower Pleva Corp freighter, and we could finally see it from the zoomed-in image onscreen.
“Captain, the vessel still has the blue barrier around it, likely a shield of some kind,” Suma told me.
Slate stood beside me front and center, between the two sets of helm consoles.
“Orders?” Sergo asked, his eyes large and dark.
I glanced past the ship to the giant purple planet. It was quite the sight and reminded me of the last missing Zan’ra from Jules’ book, the one we guessed was O’ri.
The wormhole appeared smaller than I’d expected, and we could only see it from a direct vantage point. It had taken us an hour to even spot the thing, the energy readouts so minute, the probes had struggled to locate it.
“Whatever created this isn’t natural, Dean… Captain Parker,” Suma said, her snout moving nervously.
“Do we risk it?” Loweck asked.
“Entering?” I asked.
“
That’s right. We’re oblivious as to what’s on the other side, and the drones haven’t come back.” Slate’s hands rested on his hips, and he stood calmly, staring at the images.
“Brik swears it goes to the world his people settled,” I told them.
“But that was so long ago, and he hasn’t seen it with his own eyes. The Collector nabbed him first,” Loweck reminded us.
“And the kid. What the hell is he doing here?” Slate asked. From the anger on his face, I’d guess he’d have already fired at the freighter if Patty wasn’t on board.
“That’s what we’re going to find out.” I was nervous for a few reasons, but mostly because we still hadn’t heard from Magnus and Natalia. Sarlun was investigating, but no one along their path had heard from or seen Horizon in at least three weeks. Just what had happened to them?
The bridge doors hissed open, and a Keppe guard stepped forward, a familiar shape looming behind him.
“Sorry, Captain, Ms. Parker says it’s urgent.” The man moved to the side, and Jules stood there with Dean hovering near her.
I waved them onto the bridge. “Come over.”
“Papa, he’s here.”
“Who is?” I asked.
“O’ri.” Jules’ gaze drifted to the screen, and my suspicions had been confirmed. The purple world was home to this O’ri, the one we’d heard tales of from Regnig. Apparently, he’d done some terrible things to a race he’d championed called the Stor. I wondered if this was their home planet orbit we were about to enter.
“Are you certain?” I asked, and Jules nodded.
“I…” She peered at the crew, but she was in a safe place, where everyone was on her side and respected her abilities. “I saw him in my sleep.”
“You did? Why didn’t you say something sooner?” I asked, but the reality was, I hadn’t seen her yet that day. She’d been out until late with Fontem and Regnig, who’d come to stay with us on this last leg of our journey. I wanted to know what they’d discussed, but assumed they’d tell me when it was necessary.
“What did he say?” Mary asked from behind us. I hadn’t heard her enter the bridge. She looked like she’d had a sleepless night, and she’d been absent from bed when I’d woken in the morning.
“He didn’t say anything. He only stood there, watching me.”
“Then we know why Lan’i brought my sister here,” Dean said.
“Why?” I asked, feeling like I was missing out on something.
“Because he’s trapped. They need a vessel,” Jules said quietly.
“A vessel?” Mary asked. “Patty!”
Jules nodded, and I ran a hand through my hair, trying to think of how we could stop the Zan’ra from carrying Patty onto the planet. “Sergo, how close can you bring us to the freighter?”
“I could give it a kiss with the hull if you want,” he bragged, and I didn’t doubt it. He was proving himself more than adept at being a bridge crew member.
“Then take us in, and do it quickly. I want to surprise them, and Loweck, lock on with the tractor beam. Jules, I need you to see if you can assist the beam in any way, maybe strengthen it so this Lan’i can’t break free.” I stared at my daughter, and she gave me an understanding nod of her head. I was so proud of her. Despite the difficult changes in her life, she’d handled them so well, with more composure than anyone I knew could have.
“Come on, Jules.” Suma stood. “The tractor beam’s main generator is in the hangar.”
“Papa, I’ll do everything I can,” Jules told me, hurrying from the bridge. Dean trailed after Suma and my girl, and I silently wished them luck.
The freighter didn’t acknowledge there was a wormhole nearby; or if the Zan’ra was aware, he didn’t seem to worry. The freighter was under a thousand kilometers from its entrance, heading for the purple-tinged planet below. Even the bodies of water were tinted lavender, and I expected most of the planet would be made of crystals, much like the world we’d found the Iskios on in the first place, where Jules’ Zan’ra had been stored.
“Captain, on your mark, I’m prepared to jump to the freighter,” Sergo buzzed.
I waited for confirmation that Jules was in position at the hangar, and when Suma pinged the bridge, I made the order. “Bring us in, Sergo.” The ship flashed as our immense thrusters came to life, shooting us at the craft Patty was on.
Twenty-One
The tractor beam was powered by a device half the size of the twenty-by-twenty room off to the right edge of the hangar. The beam shot out from under the ship, and Jules tapped into the computerized tower, sending tendrils of green energy out with it. She kept her eyes closed, pushing and pushing more power into it.
Dean stood behind her, holding her steady, and she appreciated his assistance. It grounded her, made her remember she was human.
“How are we doing?” Suma asked.
“I’m fine. Is it working?” Jules asked, lids pressed tightly together. She vibrated with her power, restraining her intensity so she didn’t cause harm to the ship and her friend.
“It’s doing the trick. It looks like we’ve got them trapped.” Suma’s voice was comforting, but this wouldn’t be over quickly. She’d still need to face Lan’i in order to save Patty, but she had the crystal gadget to deal with him. Thinking about it made Jules set a hand to the device strapped to her left forearm.
“Sergo’s moving us away from the planet,” Dean said, his approval clear from his tone. He was on the verge of bringing his sister home, and Jules couldn’t wait until this misadventure was behind them.
Jules snapped her eyes open and peered at the screen Suma had activated along the wall. The freighter was inside a green barrier, being dragged toward Light. Jules smiled but remained vigilant. She had to be cautious, because she didn’t expect Lan’i to go quietly.
“Wait. Something’s happening.” Suma’s tone was panicked, and Jules saw why. The tractor beam’s color shifted from green to blue, and just as suddenly, it vanished, the freighter racing away, moving for the world below.
“Damn it!” Dean shouted. “We can’t let them take Patty.”
“You’re right,” Jules said, pushing past him. She darted into the hangar, finding one of the Kraski ships nearby. It was the same one her parents had used so many years ago, and Jules pressed the ramp open with the slap of her palm. “You coming?” she asked Dean, and he ran to her.
“Of course.”
“Stop! Jules, you can’t do this!” Suma was chasing after them, but Jules ignored her, shutting the door as the two of them entered the ship. She ran to the compact cockpit and powered it up as quickly as she could. Dean sat beside her, and soon they were lifting from the floor.
“Jules, what do you think you’re doing?” Papa’s concerned voice carried through the speakers, and she almost muted it before replying.
“I have to save her. I can’t let Patty be taken by O’ri. I can’t.” Jules maneuvered the sleek white Kraski vessel from the hangar floor, flew it through the open barrier along the edge of Light, and chased after the freighter. They were already near the planet, and it filled their viewscreen.
“If this wasn’t so scary, I’d be mesmerized by the sight,” Dean told her. “Thank you.”
“For what?” she asked, her stare not breaking from the viewer.
“For helping.”
Jules gave him a wry grin. “It’s what I do.”
The ship jostled as they moved deeper in orbit, lowering along the same trajectory as Lan’i flew, and soon they were within the atmosphere. Jules wished they were wearing their armored Gatekeeper EVAs, mostly for Dean’s sake. Judging by the lack of vegetation, she doubted there was breathable air on the surface.
“See if there’s an EVA on board,” she told him. “Anything.”
Dean nodded, hopping over the bench seat toward the cargo hold. She continued flying lower, and he returned a few minutes later wearing an older model of the Alliance’s EVAs. “I think it’s your dad’s. Almost fits,” he said through th
e external speakers. It wasn’t armored, but at least he wouldn’t die if he stepped off the ship. She imagined she could have sent a shield around him, but truthfully, she was going to need all her focus.
The landscape was coming to them quickly, and she gasped as the sunlight reflected off the deep purple crystals jutting from the ground. Here it was darker than any other spot they’d seen from above, telling her this was where the Zan’ra rested.
The freighter was ten times the size of the Kraski ship, and it settled to the surface, the long landing gear deploying from the belly of the Pleva Corp craft. She lowered a few hundred yards away, and they darted for the rear of the ship.
Jules didn’t risk breathing the air as she pushed the shield around her. Dean stood with a pulse rifle in his grip, staring toward the freighter, his eyes intense behind the glare of his helmet’s mask. They stepped onto the planet, Jules first, Dean instinctively remaining a foot behind.
“Where are they?” he asked.
“I don’t know. Still on board.” Jules wanted to tell Dean to stay on their vessel, but there was no way he’d listen. Plus, a part of her needed him there. She walked for the freighter, taking careful steps over the uneven gemstone beneath her feet. Dean nearly tripped on it, but quickly recovered, cursing under his breath.
The freighter finally opened, and when Jules was only a hundred yards away, Lan’i emerged, covered in a blue shield. Patty was enclosed in one too, and Jules looked closely, seeing tendrils connecting the two spheres of energy.
“Patty!” Dean shouted, and Jules saw the older girl’s smirk even from here. He ran toward his sister, and Jules hurried after him, shouting a warning.
He stopped when he was close enough to speak to her without yelling, and Jules heard the desperation in his voice. “Patty. What are you doing? Come to Light with me.”
Patty continued smiling, her eyes open too wide, her smile too broad. “I don’t think so, big brother.”
The Survivors (Book 12): New Discovery Page 19
