Doors of Destiny

by Bronwyn Leroux

  “I didn’t have a chance. Before I’d even fully shared the idea, you were all listing the things that could go wrong. Then you wanted to bring the gliders into it. There wasn’t time. I couldn’t wait for you to thrash out all the pros and cons. I had to go!”

  “And you thought it was a good idea to join him on this foolish expedition?” Taz snapped at Han.

  “It’s not his fault,” Jaden interjected. “I talked him into helping me.”

  “And I suppose you also made him fly?” Taz fumed. “You lifted those great wings of his and made them flap?”

  Jaden almost laughed. The idea was ludicrous. Laughing would’ve been a terrible idea, though. Kayla and Taz were glaring as if they wanted to roast them like pigs on a spit.

  “It’s alright, Jaden,” Han said. “Tazanna, I beg your forgiveness for the manner in which we left. We should’ve at least informed you.”

  Just like that, the wind went out of Taz’s sails. Jaden watched as she opened and closed her mouth a few times, but no words came out. Finally, she sighed. “I suppose I cannot fault you for supporting your voyager.”

  “Thank you,” Han murmured.

  Taz’s radical change in behavior was odd, but Han’s was even more so. Jaden turned curious eyes on Han. Had there been a real thread of emotion there when Han addressed Taz? How much trouble would Han have been in if something happened to Jaden? Jaden felt sick. How could he not have considered what this meant for Han?

  “Han, I’m sorry I put you in that situation.” Jaden placed a hand on Han’s massive head. “I shouldn’t have asked that of you.”

  Han turned his head and gave Jaden his toothy smile. “I made the choice. It wasn’t something you bullied me into.”

  “I see your relic stone is missing. Did your plan work?” Kayla’s tone was still snippy.

  Jaden would have to do damage-control there, and soon. Since he couldn’t get close to Kayla or speak to her without the others hearing, she would have to make do with what he could offer right now. “Kayla, I’m sorry for worrying you. I should’ve been more patient and at least allowed you—and the others—to hear that my plan was based more on one of my ‘feelings’ than just a random idea. Will you forgive me?”

  Kayla chewed on her cheek as she considered. “I will. But don’t do that again. Why is it that I have to keep telling you not to do things?”

  Her last sentence conveyed the vestiges of her irritation. Yes, he would have to do some serious groveling when they were back on solid ground. He was tempted to throw back a humorous reply, but that wouldn’t fly. “I’m sorry.”

  Kayla rolled her eyes. “Yes, you already said that. Now tell us if your plan worked.”

  Han turned his head and added his request. “Yes, what happened while you were in the house?”

  “You left him alone in the alternate timeline?” Taz exploded.

  Uh-oh. We aren’t out of the woods yet—not with either female.

  Han took charge this time. “Tazanna, you have already made it clear that you disapprove of our actions. Can you at least hear what the boy has to say before offering up more judgements?”

  Yes, there’s definitely a tone there that only Taz can understand.

  Taz glared at Han, then addressed Jaden. “Well?”

  “I was able to not only pass the relic stone across the timeline but speak with my mother as well,” Jaden elaborated. “That is, as long as we were both touching the ring.”

  “Your assumption was correct then,” Taz commented. “Artifacts can cross timelines.”

  Jaden hesitated. Should he share the rest? Yes, he’d already done enough harm to the trust they shared. “Maybe not all my assumptions were correct.”

  Taz pounced on this. “Explain!”

  “When I actually passed the relic stone over to my mother so that I could return, I got a really bad feeling,” Jaden admitted.

  “One of those feelings?” Kayla asked.

  “Yeah. It felt like something had changed, but I don’t know what or whether the change is beneficial. Maybe I was projecting, and I felt that way because it wasn’t the best idea for me to hand over my relic stone. It’s the one weapon we had in our arsenal whose powers we don’t fully understand yet. Or it could be more than that. I simply don’t know.”

  A loud beeping interrupted him. Jaden was too startled to make the connection.

  “Jaden, is that your PAL?” Kayla asked, her eyebrows raised in surprise.

  Jaden glanced down. “Yeah. Huh, I don’t remember our PALs ever working before when we were with our gliders.”

  “Who is it?”

  “Oh. It’s Markov.”

  “Well, answer it!”

  Jaden swiped his hand across his PAL so that the holoscreen popped up. Everyone would be able to see and hear. “Hey, dude, what’s—”

  Jaden was cut short as Markov interrupted. “What did you say those monsters of yours looked like?”

  “You mean the Gaptors?”

  “What other monsters would I be talking about?’ Markov barked.

  Jaden shook his head. “They . . .”

  “Do they have crazy-scary beaks and weird, fingered wings and a badass stinger for a tail?”

  Jaden didn’t remember giving him that much detail. “How do you know that?”

  “Because I’m looking at them right now. They’re all around our house. And I think they’re trying to get inside!”

  “Wait, you can see them?”

  “Dude, get your head in the game. They’re here, and I need you and Atu and those weapons of yours!”

  “You said ‘them.’ There’s more than one?” Jaden persisted.

  “Way more! And—whoa, what are those things? Jaden, I think they’re trying to break the—”

  They all heard the crash as the glass behind Markov shattered. Markov had to be diving away from the chaos because the screen rolled and lost focus as it moved.

  “Markov, are you okay?” Jaden shouted.

  Markov’s face appeared again. “Yeah, but you’d better hurry. They broke the window, and now they’re clawing at the frame. I’m heading for the basement. Get here already, would you?”

  Markov cut the connection. Jaden looked up to see the others gaping back at him. What stood out the most was Kayla’s pale face. “Atu, you and Iri okay with heading over to Markov’s? Kayla and I will join you as soon as we’ve checked on her parents.” Kayla’s bleak smile was all the thanks he needed. “And we’ll bring what part of the Legion Pallaton can spare.”

  “Yeah, Iri and I can take care of that,” Atu agreed, although Iri looked dubious.

  Right, because of his actions, she hadn’t had the time she had wanted to get up to speed on things. Jaden nodded at her. “Iri, you’ll be fine. Atu will help you.”

  “As will I,” Tinks affirmed.

  Taz nodded. “Yes, your glider has been a quick learner, the same as you. You and Atu are capable of the work assigned to you.”

  Iri grimaced. “I hope so.”

  “Aren, let’s go,” Atu said, not giving Iri any more time to think.

  Aren streaked away, and Tinks followed. As Jaden watched them leave, he hoped that he hadn’t been overconfident in Iri’s ability. They would have to hurry so he could join them as soon as possible. “Han, let’s get to Kayla’s.”

  But Han was already en route with Kayla and Taz right behind. When they reached Kayla’s home, Jaden was relieved to find no battle in progress and no incoming Gaptors. But one glance told him Pallaton had been expecting them.

  “Good, you’re here,” Pallaton said. “My scouts report Gaptors coming through not far from here. What are your orders?”

  There it is again. All of them expecting me to make the decisions. Mustering his thoughts, Jaden said, “Kayla, you and Taz should stay here with some of the Legion. If you spot any Gaptors headed this way, use your comms to let us know. I’ll take the bulk of the Legion over to Markov’s. If there are as many as he says, I think it’ll be the f
ulcrum of the battle. Any objections?”

  “No. Just—be safe.” Kayla’s face told him she wished she could’ve expressed herself with more than words.

  Jaden could’ve kissed her because she didn’t argue. “I’ll be fine. And so will you.”

  At least she’ll be out of the battle. It was the best he could do to keep her safe right now. Unfortunately, he wouldn’t be able to protect her forever. He’d have to deal with that when the time came.

  No point worrying about it now. Jaden had a battle to win. “See you and Taz later.” Jaden nudged Han to take them away.

  Han needed no second invitation. As they streaked towards Markov’s home, Jaden turned, surprised to find the bulk of the force circling Kayla’s house following them. How had Pallaton communicated the order? They would have to find out when they had more time.

  Jaden’s attention shifted back to the sky in front of them. Markov hadn’t been kidding. Scores of Gaptors circled the area, attacking anything that moved. Frightened people huddled behind transports and under trees to escape the menacing skies. They scrambled to get inside houses whose owners were opening the doors to anyone in need.

  A Gaptor dived for a man sprinting across an open area. The beast’s trajectory was wrong, and Jaden knew it would miss before it did. Intrigued, he watched as another Gaptor swooped down on a teen dashing out from behind an antiquated car. Huh, same thing. The Gaptor missed. Was it deliberate?

  Jaden spotted another Gaptor, this one headed their way. It didn’t seem as self-assured as the Gaptors they encountered in their other battles. In fact, Jaden noticed a slight wobble in the Gaptor’s flight. Calmly, he drew his DD and called the play. “Four.”

  Han waited until the monster was almost within striking distance. Then he tucked his wings and dropped the few feet needed for Jaden to reach overhead just as the Gaptor passed. Jaden sliced open its belly. Foul black blood sprayed from the wound. Adeptly, Han shifted so that they avoided most of the gore.

  “That was almost too easy,” Jaden muttered. Speaking louder so his comm system would register, he said, “Atu, Iri, where are you?”

  “Southwest of Markov’s home. Look for the giant hole in the sky,” came Atu’s terse reply.

  Giant hole in the sky? Is everyone losing it today?

  “You heard right,” Atu hollered. “Could you hurry it up?”

  Jaden scanned his surroundings but couldn’t find a “giant hole.” Han didn’t bother. He sped toward an area where the sky was black with Gaptors. No wonder Jaden couldn’t see anything.

  “Ready for Gaptor blood?” Jaden asked.

  “Always,” Han grinned.

  And into the fray they plunged. Jaden had no time to call plays. He could only slice through Gaptors left and right. The Legion went to work, killing Gaptors with impunity. It was almost too easy—these Gaptors were nothing compared to the ones they’d faced at the tower. But he couldn’t dwell on it. Another monster was always replacing the one he’d just struck down.

  Furiously, he swung his DD in arcs. When the blade didn’t hit quite right, it sheared off limbs, but when it hit home, it sent Gaptors to oblivion with a flash of light, sound, and smoke. The smoke soon polluted the air, and Jaden was thankful for his aerolator. A Gaptor’s neck stretched toward him, and Jaden slashed it with his DD, closing his eyes against the light as it was destroyed.

  When he opened them, they were in empty sky. No more Gaptors obscured his view. But what he saw made Jaden suck in a sharp breath. Circling in front of him was a massive round opening, its rim defined by a ring of light. The only thing visible beyond the opening was inky blackness. Gaptors poured through it.

  Jaden couldn’t quite accept it. He was seeing the actual breach.

  “Jaden!” Han’s urgent voice wrenched him back.

  “What?”

  The question was unnecessary. The stream of Gaptors now swung toward them, like they knew Jaden was there. Of course they did. They could sense his medallion. For a second, Jaden wished he still had his relic stone. The Gaptors were lined up like pins in a bowling alley. The relic stones would’ve taken care of them perfectly. If he . . . No, it was in a better place. Besides, he would’ve needed Kayla here with her relic stone to pull that off.

  The Gaptors closed in.

  “Atu, we’re at the opening. Where are you and Iri?” Jaden bellowed.

  “No need to shout! Sheesh, my ears,” Atu complained.

  Jaden was about to repeat his question when Iri and Atu popped up on either side of him. Jaden grinned maniacally, then called the play. “Seven.”

  Iri, Atu, and their gliders shot off along the lines of an imaginary V while Han and Jaden stayed where they were at the V’s point. Would this play work with so many Gaptors lined up in their sights? Only one way to find out.

  “Now!”

  They all let loose with their DDs. Gaptors crashed into one another, trying to avoid the sizzling currents. In seconds, the swathe of Gaptors was reduced to less than ten. As they finished their run and neared the breach, Han and Jaden prepared to turn. Unexpectedly, Iri and Tinks smacked into them.

  Dazed, Jaden fell. His limbs whipped around as his smart suit tried to compensate. A bright light to his right. The opening! He was going to fall right into it. He was going to—

  An electric surge speared his body. Not unpleasant. More like it was boosting his energy levels. No, it was power. Jaden grappled with the strange sensation. Whatever it was, it was all bottled up inside him now. He felt like a loaded spring. If he flexed his arms and threw them outward—

  The light was unbearable, the sound deafening. A powerful blast knocked him sideways. Blackness consumed him.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Kayla tried again. “Jaden!” He still didn’t move. “Han, what happened up there?”

  Han puffed out air. “Satinka and Iri crashed into us —”

  “We didn’t mean to,” Iri babbled. “I just couldn’t remember which way we were supposed to turn at the end of that run. Tinks told me we should be going the other way, but I didn’t listen. I’m so sorry!”

  Kayla put a hand on Iri’s arm. “It’s alright. It was an honest mistake. You haven’t had much time to practice the plays.” Kayla returned her attention to Han. “Then what?”

  Han ruffled his wings and rearranged them, tucking them tightly against his large frame. “He fell off. Right into the gate.”

  “When you say ‘into the gate,’ do you mean he fell through that hole or just touched it?”

  Han thought about it. “It’s impossible to say. He got near the edge, then there was that explosion, and then the gate was gone and severed Gaptors were dropping like flies.”

  “Do you think the Gaptors coming through the hole were sliced when the gate vanished?” Atu asked.

  “Yes. But I don’t think the gate vanished. I think it was slammed shut.”

  “Because if the gate vanished, it would’ve taken the Gaptors with it. But if it closed, it would be like that light around the edges cut through the Gaptors, the same as our relic stones and DDs can,” Kayla mused.

  “Exactly.”

  Kayla glanced at Jaden. His head was cushioned on her lap. She ran her hands through his long, dark blonde hair. “That still doesn’t explain what happened to Jaden.”

  “Do you think he’ll be alright?” Markov asked.

  Kayla had almost forgotten he was there. What with Taz hovering over her shoulder like a mother hen and hopping from one foot to the other as she eyed Jaden, Taz had all but blocked Markov out. “I don’t know. There are just so many things we don’t know. Most of the time we’re guessing what we have to do. Atu, are you sure none of your potions can help?”

  Atu shook his head regretfully. “I’ve tried everything I have. And I can’t think of any other remedies that would help.”

  Kayla felt Jaden’s head move. “Jaden?”

  His eyes blinked open. “Hey you!” Putting a hand to his head, Jaden groaned. “Where are we?�
��

  Kayla threw her arms around him and bent over, kissing him, not caring that the others might be watching. He was conscious! She tried to stem the tears that suddenly spilled over. She pulled away, then stroked her hands down his cheeks and cupped his face. His handsome face. And those eyes. So blue. Awake! Alive!

  Kayla smiled through her tears. “We’re on Markov’s roof. Our gliders are becoming experts at catching and conveying unconscious voyagers.”

  Jaden nodded slowly, moving his hand from his head to her face as he traced away a tear with his finger. “Hey, there’s no need for tears.”

  Kayla gulped back the hysterical giggle, forcing a smile instead. “Says you! You gave us quite a scare. What do you remember?”

  Jaden moaned as he eased up. He rubbed a hand over his face and then the back of his neck, rolling his shoulders. “Blackness.”

  “Jaden, come on,” Kayla begged. “No teasing. Not now, please.”

  Jaden took her hand in his. Looking into his eyes, Kayla could see how exhausted he was. And that little furrow that appeared between his eyes when he was thinking seemed deeper than usual, like the lines were becoming permanent. This mission was aging them all.

  “I’m not teasing. That really is all I can remember. One moment Han and I were getting ready for the next run, then—oh!” Jaden’s head turned as he looked around for Iri. “You’re alright. Is Tinks okay?”

  Iri smiled. She clearly had used her senses to gauge how genuine Jaden’s relief was. Kayla wasn’t sure whether Jaden’s pleasure that Iri was unharmed or his lack of blame about her crashing into him pleased Iri more. Either way, Iri was more reassured by Jaden’s reaction than Kayla’s words. And wasn’t that a beautiful thing for someone so uncertain of her place with them?

  “Tinks is fine. We just turned the wrong way at the end of the run. Sorry!” Iri offered.

  “It happens.” Jaden grinned.

  Taz finally ran out of patience. “What else do you remember?”

  Jaden took a moment. “That’s about the last thing I do remember. Colliding with Iri and Tinks, then falling, then . . . blackness.”